Longman., ..
Language - "-
 The Worll's First - '
..
Production l)ictionary - ....:.: 
Calling all students and teachers of English -
this revolutionary dictionary v ill help you
expand our ocabulary and increase your
proficiency in English!
1 If you are a student at intcrmediatd to
advanced level, the Activator will help you
choose the right word or phrase to
express your deas.
II If you are a teacher, the Activator vill help
ou prepare our students br exams.
Bascd on a 5-year research P It° ect using
computeri .cd corpora ot both spoken and
u ritcn Enllish , this is the first-met
prolucton tctonaQ/. rhe extensive
examples and ultra-cmar grammatical
atterns and collocations make it possille
r you to act'ivate the words an115hrascs
y(u learn from usin the book, inclu(-lin
tbr the first time t-he most natural way o
expressing yourself in speech.
Mice Walker
(Written Corpus)
.:
..
Stephen
Hawking
(Written
Corpus)
..
•
...:..> .-
; . .. "-'' /'r!i "
• ў  ._
.
,..-,, .. .=.- . .  te. ,,...
Key Word RN
The Spoken
Corpus
--s.
'Thas' " s" the book
the world has
been waiting for."
Professor Sir
Randolph Quirk
 LONGMAN
Icorpus
NKFWORK
ISBN
0-582-04093-0
LONG ,MI
DICTIONARIES "

Pronunciation table
consonants
symbol example word
b back
d day
b then
d3 jump
f fat
g get
h hot
j yell
k key
] led
m sum
n sun
r sung
p pen
r red
s soon
j fishing
t tea
t J" cheer
e thing
v view
w wet
Ч Ioch
z zero
3 pleasure
vowels
symbol
i:
!
!
Q:
13
U
U
U:
3:
CI
31
la
example word
sheep
ship
happy
acid
bed
bad
calm
pot
caught
put
actuality
ambulance
boot
cut
bird
cupboard
make
note
bite
now
boy
here
peculiar
there
poor
ritual
player
lower
tire
tower
employer
special signs
I'1
I,I
I"1
Irl
separates British and American pronunciations:
British on the left, American on the right
shows main stress
shows secondary stress
shows stress shift
at the end of a word means that the Irl sound is
produced in American English, but usually not
pronounced in British English, except when Irl
comes at the end of a word and the word that
follows begins with a vowel sound
means that some speakers use I,I and others
use I1
means that some speakers use/u/and others
use lal
means that I1 may or may not be used
Ii IIIII -- | I I IIIIII III III

Longman Group UK Limited
Longman House, Burnt Mill, Harlow,
Essex CM20 2JE, England
and Associated Companies throughout the world.
© Longman Group UK Limited 1993
All rights reserved," no part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the Publishers.
Activator is a trademark of Longman Group UK Limited
The examples in the Longman Language Activator are
based on the original texts in the Longman Corpus Net-
work. The fact that names that may be trademarks are
included in examples but not marked as such does not
affect the legal status of such trademarks. Other types of
information given in the examples are intended as examples
of use and do not represent the opinions of the publishers
and editors of this dictionary.
First published 1993
Seventh impression 1997
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the
British Library.
Cased Edition:
ISBN 0 582 o4o92.2
Paperback Edition:
ISBN 0 582 04093.0
Set in Agfa Compugraphic 9600G 7 on 7 pt Nimrod
by OTS (Typesetting) Lid, Caterham, Surrey
Printed in Great Britain by Clays Lid, St. Ives plc
We are grateful to the following for their permission to
reproduce copyright photographs.
Back cover:
Gareth Boden for middle right. Camera Press London/
Homer Sykes for top right. Longman Photographic Unit for
top left and bottom right. Photofusion/Julia Martin for
middle left. Rex Features for bottom left.
Inside photography by Gareth Boden, except for page 1424
by Allsport (UK) Limited/Gray Mortimore.

Contents
Pronunciation table
Preface
- Professor Sir Randolph Quirk
Introduction to the Longman Language
Activator
- Della Summers, Editorial Director
The scope of the Longman Language
Activator
- Professor Geoffrey Leech
Vocabulary acquisition and the
Activator
- Dr Paul Meara
Page
inside front cover
F7
F8
F12
F15
The conceptual map of English and the
Activator
- Philip Scholfield
Semantic analysis and the Activator
- Professor Y. Ikegami
Informal, formal, and spoken language
and the Activator
- Professor Gillian Brown
The value of the Activator to students
of English
- Professor Albrecht Neubert
Explanatory page
How to use the Longman Language
Activator
F17
F20
F22
1724
F26
F28
The dictionary A-Z
Key Word pictures
Is CUT the right word?
Is DRAW the right word?
Is FALL the right word?
Is FRIGHTENED the right word?
Is LISTEN the right word?
Is LOOK FOR the right word?
Is RUN the right word?
Is STEAL the right word?
Is THROW the right word?
Is TIRED the right word?
Is WALK the right word?
Is WET the right word?
298
378
464
528
782
802
1150
1296
1412
1424
1522
1548
Key Words
Longman Defining Vocabulary
Grammatical information
B1
B5
inside back cover

Editorial Director
Della Summers
Managing Editor
Michael Rundell
Developmental Lexicographer
Nick Ham
Senior Lexicographers
Patrick Gillard
Ted Jackson
Lexicographers
Imogen Bentley
Deborah Brewer
Isobel Connelly Cutforth
Huw Davies
Sue Engineer
Caroline England
Chris Fox
Jane Hansell
Emma Hilditch
Stella O'Shea
Laura Wedgeworth
American Editors
Karen Cleveland Marwick
Coleen Degnan-Veness
Brock N Brock
Production Editors
Cathleen Jennings
Sarah Gumbrell
Alison Steadman
Pronunciation Adviser
Professor J C Wells
Resources and Systems Manager
Steve Crowdy
Systems and Corpus Software
Eric Briggs
Brian Chandler
Ken Moore
Design
Paul Price-Smith
Ken Brooks
Production
Clive McKeough
Typesetting
Peter White
Peter Wray
Administrative Assistants
Joanna Russell
Penny Clark
Tracy Tucker
Jane Whittle
Pronunciation Editor
Dinah Jackson
Thanks are due also to those who were members of the editorial team for shorter
periods during the course of the project:
Darren Conway, Andrew Delahunty, Kirsty Fullarton, Katharine Hughes,
Christopher Jeffries, Nicola Jones, Nicholas Jones, Fiona McIntosh, Fred
McDonald, Catherine Nalty, Christine Paris, Deborah Tricker, and Jane Walsh.
Longman Language Activator Editorial Board
Professor Geoffrey Leech (Chair) Dr Paul Meara
Dr Vivian Cook Robert O'Neill
Dr Winifred Crombie Philip Scholfield
Professor Yoshihiko Ikegami Professor Katsuaki Togo

Linglex Dictionary and Corpus Advisory
Professor Sir Randolph Quirk (Chair)
Professor Geoffrey Leech (Vice-Chair)
Louis Alexander
Professor Douglas Biber
Rod Bolitho
Professor Gillian Brown
Professor Christopher N. Candlin
Professor David Crystal
Committee
Dr Philip Johnson-Laird
Dr Paul Meara
Dr Karen Sparck Jones
Philip Scholfield
Professor Peter Trudgill
Katie Wales
Professor J C Wells
Professor David Wilkins
We would like to thank the many teachers and students from all over the world
who have helped us in piloting different aspects of this dictionary, in particular
the staff and students of:
Bell Language Institute- London
Brighton Polytechnic
British Council- Tokyo
Cambridge School of English- London
Central School of English
Ealing College
Eurocentres - Lee Green
Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute
Hampstead School of English
Hendon College of Further Education
HILF, Reinhardswaldschule, Fuldatal
International House - London
International House- Hastings
Kanda Gaigo- Tokyo
London Study Centre
New School of English - Cambridge
Oxford College of Further Education
Oxford House College
Pittsburgh University - Japan
Queen Mary and Westfield College
Simul Academy- Tokyo
St Giles School of English- London
University of St Andrews
Waltham Forest College
Westminster College
Readers and Advisers
Jan Bell
Professor Broder Carstensen
Dr Roger Bowers
Christoph Edelhoff
Eckhard Fiedler
Roger Gower
Eryl Griffiths
Nina Hajnal
Jeremy Harmer
David Heath
Professor Thomas Herbst
Andy Hopkins
Reimer Jansen
Glyn Jones
Professor Gerhard Leitner
Seth Lindstromberg
Susan Maingay
Keith Mitchell
Sue Mohamed
Jon Naunton
Professor Albrecht Neubert
Lynette Murphy O'Dwyer
Martin Parrott
Professor H-E Piepho
Dr Gillian Porter-Ladousse
Dr Peter Rekowski
Dr Michael Sharwood Smith
Professor Peter Skehan
Professor Masanori Toyota
Chris Tribble
•.. and the thousands of students who have contributed samples of their work to
the Longman Learners' Corpus

Preface
The conventional dictionary has become better and better
during the many generations since Longman published
Samuel Johnson's great work in 1755. But better and better
at basically the same job: explaining what someone else has
said or written; that is, converting words into meanings for
the passive partner in communication.
For the active partner, striving to convert meanings into
words, such a dictionary is less helpful, and the Longman
lexicographers have now produced a radically different type
of dictionary with precisely this active partner's needs in
mind.
Moreover, by attracting users to major 'Key Word' entries
such as SUMMARIZE, The Longman Language Activator
performs a double function. It presents linguistic - not just
lexical- information in a rich, convenient and production-
oriented way. This transcends word boundaries (in short is
there) and grammatical categories (a rundown is there,
but also to sketch out). Secondly, the Activator gently
obliges users by this format to train themselves in prepara-
tory thought and planning. They are encouraged to single
out a word representing the beginnings of what they want to
state and are then helped to home in on 'ideas boxes' in
which semantically relevant and suggestive expressions are
presented. An initial skeleton can thus be fleshed out and be
given not merely a satisfying fullness but the desirable
linguistic precision.
Professor Sir Randolph Quirk

Introduction
The Longman Language Activator is a dictionary of
ideas and how to express them in English. This is a
new type of dictionary, aimed at helping intermedi-
ate to advanced students produce language, in other
words, to encode their ideas. As such, it is a major
departure from, some would even say a reversal of,
the traditional role of the dictionary, which is pre-
dominantly used by students of English to decode
the meaning of unknown words.
The Language Activator has been produced in re-
sponse to need, the need often expressed by stu-
dents, to have a dictionary that would tell them
which word is right in which context, which sub-
jects and objects go with particular verbs, and what
are the phrases or collocations that words are nor-
mally used in. Students wanted a dictionary that
would enable them to use new words themselves, to
expand their vocabulary, and to improve their abil-
ity to express themselves.
Meaning first
One of the most important innovations in this book
is the grouping together of individual word-mean-
ings or phrase-meanings that generally share the
same idea, concept, or semantic area. They mean
the same thing in a general way, but they entail
certain key differences. These differences govern
why one word sounds natural or correct in a particu-
lar sentence and why another word, apparently very
close in meaning to the first word, does not sound
right or jars with native or highly proficient speak-
ers of English. Sad and unhappy seem to be almost
synonymous, and indeed most dictionaries define
them as if they are, but in the sentence I was desper-
ately unhappy at school it would sound distinctly
odd if sad were to be substituted for unhappy. This
is because it actually has a different meaning from
unhappy. In order to be able to use words appropri-
ately, students need to understand the precise mean-
ings that words have, and this is the raison d'etre of
the Activator.
How have the creators of this dictionary identified
these apparently small, but actually highly signifi-
cant meaning differences, many of them never
before registered in a reference book? We have made
extensive use of two powerful tools: 1) large repre-
sentative corpora of written and spoken language,
and 2) a computer-aided semantic analysis system
with which we can formally distinguish between
the meanings of similar words.
The whole analysis process began with the assign-
ment of words and phrases to their appropriate
concepts. This was very much a 'bottom-up', prag-
matic approach, which took a great deal of intellec-
tual effort by the lexicographic team, but it was an
essential process and we now feel considerable satis-
faction with the results. We believe that we have
identified the core concepts of English in a new,
F8
meaningful, and most of all, helpful way for the
students and teachers of English for whom this
dictionary was created.
Key Words or concepts
There are 1052 concepts in the Longman Language
Activator. These concepts express the meanings at
the heart of the English language. It should be
pointed out straight away, however, that the Activa-
tor does not address itself to words for 'real world'
items, some of which, of course, also belong to the
core of English. We believe that concrete nouns,
and content words in general, present fewer, less
serious problems of correct use for students, so you
will not find different types of transport, dogs, ma-
chinery or buildings here. That is left to the Long-
man Lexicon, which deals effectively with semantic
fields, including real world items.
The concepts (or as we call them Key Words) have
clear, direct names such as FAR, SAD/UNHAPPY,
HOPE, INTEND, EASY, FAULT/STH WRONG, and
BUT. The words are intended to be the ones that
students know well and are happy with, and we
have conducted tests in classrooms in the UK and
checked all the Key Words against the Longman
Learners' Corpus in order to validate them. Starting
from the Key Word, the word that students already
know, they can access the other appropriate ways
of expressing their ideas in English.
Each Key Word is divided into smaller sections,
and these are shown in a numbered menu of mean-
ings. The user simply selects the number that most
closely corresponds to the idea they want to express
and goes to that section to discover the various
words and phrases presented to him/her.
•
Corpus revelations
All our work is corpus-based. The corpora used for
this project are described collectively as the Long-
man Corpus Network. The main corpus, the Long-
man Lancaster Corpus, is about 30 million words
made up of chunks of text up to 40,000 words long
from over 2000 books, periodicals, and unpublished
material from British, American, and other varie-
ties of English. The 10 million-word Spoken Corpus,
developed by Longman as part of the British Na-
tional Corpus, is the first large-scale corpus of truly
natural spontaneous speech. The Longman Learn-
ers' Corpus of students' writing has given us in-
sights into the problems shared by students from
over 70 different countries as well as the words and
structures which students at different levels can
already use successfully.
We believe that the meanings explained in detail in
the Longman Activator will strike a chord with
proficient users of English, particularly teachers,
but there may be other times when users are sur-
prised by the definitions of meanings. For example,

mean in the sense of 'not generous' is defined as a
British use in the Activator. This is because our
analysis of the written corpus, which is 40%
American, demonstrates convincingly that mean is
very rarely used in this sense in American English,
where mean is predominantly used to express the
idea 'deliberately unpleasant or nasty'.
Spoken language
Our work with the first large-scale corpus of spoken
English, as part of the British National Corpus
breaks new ground. Working with the first-ever
large-scale corpus of spontaneous speech has given
us unprecedented access to the language of spoken
English. The Activator is consequently full of new
insights into the natural ways of expressing ideas
in the spoken medium as well as in written lan-
guage.
Many of these lexical items are phrases rather than
single words, and this has forcibly reminded us that
native speakers often use a phrase rather than a
single word to express their "ideas.
The Language Activator includes items such as be
going (as in Is there any more wine going? under
the Key Word AVAILABLE), something to eat
(under FOOD), and not the easiest and it's easier
said than done (under DIFFICULT).
It was the Spoken Corpus that initially alerted us to
the surprisingly frequent use of such phrases. But
we have often found that words and phrases which
seem distinctly 'spoken' also crop up in the written
corpus, so the dividing line between spoken and
written vocabulary is not as clear cut as might be
supposed.
When a word or phrase has been identified as being
predominantly spoken rather than written, this is
indicated in the dictionary by introducing the defini-
tion with 'you say'. For example, in between you
and me under the Key Word SECRET:
you say between you and me when you tell
someone something which you expect them to
keep secret from other people
The use of 'you say' here shows that this is a phrase
which is typically used in speech.
Informal, formal, and other restricted
contexts
One of the most important factors that affects word
choice is register. For example, hush-hush is
an informal word offered as a way of expressing the
idea SECRET, as opposed to covert, undercover,
or secret itself, which are all fairly neutral in regis-
ter. This information is often essential to choosing
the right word, so in the Activator informal or
formal restrictions are 'fronted', which means that
the register is stated at the beginning of the defini-
tion, as in:
hush-hush / ... / an informal word meaning
officially secret
Where there is a more specific restriction on the
typical use of a word or phrase, this is also specified
in the definition, for example:
w|th a h®mr h®aў/... / an expression used
especially in stories...
This is to warn students against using this expres-
sion except when they are trying to create a story-
like effect in what they are writing.
Interestingly, informal expressions are much more
common in the Activator than formal ones, and this
again reflects the fact that the dictionary is con-
cerned with the core of the language, the more
frequent words and phrases, rather than less fre-
quent formal usage. Some students have a tendency
to use a word that is too formal for general use, and
so an important benefit of the Activator is to guide
students away from such words. For example, under
the Key Word CAN'T, the entry for impotent says
clearly:
impotent/... / a formal word meaning unable
to deal with a situation because you do not have
enough power
This is intended to deter students from using the
word impotent in contexts where other less formal
expressions may be more appropriate, such as not
be able to do something or not be in a position
to do something.
Frequency
Frequency has been of fundamental importance to
this dictionary in various ways. All the lexical
choices, i.e. the words and phrases offered to the
student in the Activator, are relatively frequent. We
do not include items that are highly infrequent or
that are typical of only one or two text types, such
as technical or very literary writing. The whole
book may in fact be seen as a series of recommenda-
tions or selections by our lexicographic team, based
on the empirical evidence of the written and spoken
corpora.
The words and phrases given as options to express
the idea chosen by the user are also shown in order
of frequency, the first word or phrase being the
most general and usual. Often the definition of the
section is exactly the same as that of the first option
listed and in such cases the definition is not re-
peated at the first option (such as declare under
section 6 of the Key Word SAY/STATE).
If a phrase or spoken item has been judged more
frequent this will be placed before a single-word
item. This is because it is often a more natural item
to express the meaning (for example, get off the
subject is the first option given at section 5 of
the Key Word SUBJECT, before the single word
digress).
Examples
Examples are of the greatest importance to students
in helping them to see the typical contexts, signifi-

F10
cant nuances of meaning, and grammatical behav-
iour of words and phrases. Because this is a produc-
tion dictionary, examples as models of use are even
more important, and we have therefore included
many more examples than in a traditional reference
dictionary.
The examples in this dictionary are all strongly
influenced by corpus evidence, but not all of them
are taken directly from the corpora. The group of
examples often begins with at least one 'pedagogic'
example, i.e. one that demonstrates the meaning
particularly clearly, such as a teacher might use in
class when asked for an example by a student. Re-
search has shown that teachers and students value
this type of example at least as much as purely
corpus-based examples. However, most of the exam-
ples are-either closely modelled on sentences from
one of the corpora or taken directly from them.
When sentences are taken directly from the
American or the British side of the main corpus the
original vocabulary and spelling are preserved.
Clarity of access and definition
We believe that we have devised an easy-to-use
access system to the core meanings of English,
which have been resolved to a flat hierarchy of the
1000 or so Key Words. But the success with which
students can make use of the Activator depends
very much on whether we have achieved sufficient
clarity in defining:
a) the menu of meaning under each of the Key
Words (the comprehensibility and accuracy of
the numbered menus under the Key Word) and
lary, but the treatment of grammar and collocation
in the Activator is also designed to be particularly
direct and straightforward.
Grammar- grammatical constructions that are
available for use are described using only 4 codes
and the restrictions shown on the inside back cover.
The major innovation in grammatical presentation
is the use of bold phrases (which we call proposi-
tional forms) to show the grammatical patterns in
'written-out' form. The treatment of grammatical
behaviour is explained more fully in the 'How to
Use the Longman Language Activator' section
(pages F28-F33).
Collocations - the Activator lays great emphasis
on providing students with the appropriate colloca-
tions of words and these are shown in bold type too,
because we believe this is the clearest way of pre-
senting the information. See for example deny at
SAY/STATE 8, . .. vigorously/strenuously/
categorically deny (=strongly deny) North cat-
egorically denied all the allegations made against
him.
In the same Key Word, SAY/STATE 10, the colloca-
tions for allegation are shown thus:
... allegation that The commissioner will inves-
tigate allegations that the election was rigged:
allegation of The company finances will be ex-
amined closely after allegations of corruption. I
make an allegation Several newspapers have
made false allegations about a government minis-
ter's private life. refute/deny an allegation
(= say that it is not true) My client refutes the
allegation that he leaked these documents to the
newspapers.
b) the clarity of the definitions of the individual
words and phrases.
The user will only know that a new word or phrase
is appropriate for her/his context, if the individual
definitions of the range of possible expressions are
so clear that she/he can clearly see the difference.
We believe that this has resulted in the definitions
being very clear: they have been written, as always,
within the 2000-word Longman Defining
Vocabulary to ensure that no difficult words
impede the user's comprehension.
The key differences in meaning have been identified
by the lexicographers using a diagnostic semantic
analysis system. This has enabled them to compare
the differences and similarities among all the words
and phrases in a given semantic grouping.
Alphabetical order
Although the dictionary uses grouping by concept
as a very important aid to production, the diction-
ary is in alphabetical order. The Key Words them-
selves are in alphabetical order, and all the indi-
vidual word- and phrase-meanings are also in alpha-
betical order. If you already know the word allega-
tion and want to find out how to use it correctly,
you look in A, and are directed to the appropriate
Key Word SAY/STATE in S.
We hope and believe that we have made a new type
of dictionary for students of English in this book.
The Longman Language Activator has many new
features and innovations, and has been expressly
designed to overcome the problems that students
have had up to now in using their existing dictionar-
ies for production purposes.
Using new vocabulary -grammar and
collocations
The Activator helps the user to choose an appropri-
ate word or phrase for their context: it also gives
clear guidance on how the words and phrases are
normally used. The examples are, of course, essen-
tial to appropriate production and use of vocabu-
I personally have to thank all the people who have
been involved in the project for embarking with me
on such a daring and massive undertaking. I must
thank most of all our Managing Editor, Michael
Rundell, without whose linguistic and lexicographic
skill and insight none of this would have been possi-
ble. Next, our Associate Lexicographer, Nick Ham,

Fll
who brought so much commitment and logical
thought to the realization of the ideas behind the
book. From our Editorial Board, Professor Geoffrey
Leech, its Chair, helped us to feel confident in our
proposals, and both Paul Meara and Phil Scholfield
gave long-term and consistent support which the
Longman team greatly needed and appreciated. In
fact, my thanks to all the teachers, academics and
students, and of course our highly dedicated lexico-
graphic team, notably Ted Jackson, Patrick Gillard,
Jane Hansell, Chris Fox, Stella O'Shea, and Cathy
Jennings, who were involved in the last, extremely
exhausting, stages of the book.
I know they would all join with me in wishing
every success to the forthcoming generations of stu-
dents and teachers of English who will work with,
and we hope greatly benefit from, the Longman
Language Activator- the World's First Produc-
tion Dictionary.
Della Summers
Editorial Director

FI2
The scope of the Longman Language Activator
Every so often a new conception of what language
reference books can do reaches the vast public of
English dictionary users. For example, in the nine-
teenth century, a century after Samuel Johnson's
epic achievement of his Dictionary of the English
Language, came another great one-man success,
Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases.
Peter Mark Roget supplied a 'treasure store' of
words organized in terms of the meanings, rather
than the spellings of words.
Activating vocabulary for productive
use
The Longman Language Activator can be measured
alongside such past achievements as a new concept
in dictionary-making. Its subtitle, The World's First
Production Dictionary, reminds us that previous dic-
tionaries have almost inevitably suffered from a
bias towards the needs of the passive user of a
language- the reader, or listener- rather than the
active user, who wishes to speak or write in that
language. The reason is self-evident. The way we
recognize words, and gain access to their meanings,
is through their spelling and pronunciation. Our
commonest dictionary need, in reading in a lan-
guage, is to find the meaning of an unfamiliar word
or word use- and this need is met by looking up the
word in its alphabetical position in the dictionary,
arbitrary as that may seem. But from the productive
end, when we want to find the words to express our
ideas, there is no simple solution to the correspond-
ing problem: if we know the meaning (roughly) that
we want to express, how can we find a word to fit
it? The Longman Language Activator provides us
with ways of dealing with this problem, and so
merits its subtitle as "the World's First Production
Dictionary:
Roget met this need for native-speakers - by arrang-
ing the words and phrases of English in groups,
under headings, according to their similarity of
meaning. So, speakers and writers suffering from a
'tip of the tongue' problem- knowing there is a
word with a particular meaning, but not being able
to remember its precise pronunciation or spelling -
could jog their memories by looking through a list
of near-synonyms and recognizing the word they
were looking for. But this was only part of the task,
because it was assumed that users already knew
how to use the word when found. For example,
looking up anger in Roget's Thesaurus (via the
alphabetical key at the back of the book), I discover
that the near-synonyms of angry include irritated,
livid, and furious- but how can I choose the most
appropriate of these words for a particular purpose,
unless I already know enough about their meaning
and use? We cannot take that knowledge for
granted, when we are thinking about the needs of
non-native users of English.
To put it another way, thesauruses such as Roget
assume that we already have the necessary diction-
ary information handy- in our head or on the
printed page of a dictionary.
But our favourite desk dictionary would not give
enough detail. A true production dictionary of a
language needs to give far more information about
meaning and use than the traditional desk diction-
ary. In a dictionary for the passive user (reader or
listener), all that is needed is enough information
for the user to make the mental connection between
form (especially spelling) and meaning and use.
(The fact that we have met the word in a book will
normally be a guarantee that it is being used appro-
priately according to the lights of the native
speaker.) Then, all that is needed is to find, from
the dictionary-defined meanings, the one which fits
that context most closely. But for the active user,
writing, let us say, an essay or a letter, the need is
to satisfy the conditions of appropriate use oneself:
to find not merely a word, but with the word, all the
conditions which enable us to fit it into a suitable
context.
So a production dictionary is a dictionary which
finds the mot juste- the right word - with a full
account of why it is right for its context. To use the
jargon of our modern age, it aims to meet the crite-
rion of specifying communicative appropriateness-
giving explicit information to enable the speaker or
writer to pick out one word as being more appropri-
ate than others. This means giving information not
only about the various meanings a word may ex-
press, but also about the style or the types of text to
which it is appropriate, the kind of communicative
function to which it is linked, and (not least) the
range of grammatical patterns or 'frames' in which
it may be used. Including only frequent, generally-
used words will also be important.
Gaining access to meaning through
ideas or 'Key Words'
However, a production dictionary does not only
have to deliver communicative appropriateness. An-
other special function it has is that of providing
channels of access to this information. Admittedly,
all dictionaries suffer, from the arbitrary 'tyranny
of the alphabet'- which means you cannot look up
a word unless you know its spelling. But in a true
production dictionary, we need to find access even
to words we have never heard of before. Can we
escape from the alphabetic tyranny? Even Roget
succumbs to its arbitrariness - providing an alpha-
betical index almost as long as the thesaurus
itse So how can we gain access to meanings
without knowing the words that express them?
The Longman Language Activator provides an in-
genious answer to this question, in the form of a
two-level strategy.

F13
The first-level strategy is to look up one of the
1000 or so Key Words such as SAD or ANGRY in
its normal alphabetical position in the dictionary
- yes, the dictionary /s alphabetical, to enable
easy access to the Key Words. These are the
main organizing divisions of the dictionary, and
the regular user will soon grow familiar with a
large number of these major headings.
At SAD/UNHAPPY many items in the same area of
meaning are presented and compared: depressed,
dejected, despondent, down in the dumps and
so on - and the fact that all these items begin with d
is, for our purpose, purely accidental!
The second access strategy is to look up a word
or idiom, again in its normal alphabetical posi-
tion in the same wordlist as the Key Words.
Frequently, speakers and writers have partial
knowledge of a word or phrase, but are not sure
of the full details of how to use it. For example, if
you know the word downcast, but do not think
it is quite right for the purpose in hand, you can
look it up alphabetically, and find a cross refer-
ence to the Key Word SAD/UNHAPPY.
So- the tyrannous alphabet is not defeated, but
tamed, as it were, and put to use in the recognition
of Key Words themselves.
The 1000 Key Words have been arrived at as a
result of years of practical work - sifting of words
and their meanings- by a skilled team of lexicogra-
phers, so the concepts presented in the dictionary
have gone through a stringent selection process. By
means of Menus, too, they are subdivided into sec-
tions which specify a 'subconcept' important
enough in the language to boast a range of near-
synonyms to express it. For example, under the
general category of SAVE MONEY we find the sub-
headings
1 to save money, e.g. save up
2 to have some money that you have saved, e.g.
have something put by
3 the money that you have saved, e.g. nest egg
Under each of these subheadings, in turn, the near-
synonytns are distinguished, so that (for example),
in comparison with the more general expression
savings, nest egg is defined as 'an amount of money
that you have saved for the time when you stop
working, get married, etc.' In this way, the diction-
ary provides an illuminating conceptual map of the
language.
A third important mode of access should not be
ignored: browsing. All dictionaries invite brows-
ing by the reader who scans through the pages
at will (perhaps following up cross-references for
interest's sake). This dictionary, however, pro-
vides a particularly rich and recreative
language-learning experience for the browser:
each column, each concept entry, each subentry,
provides a fresh revelation of the resources of
the language in expressing varying foci of mean-
ing, or meanings in varying contexts. The brows-
ing process can on the one hand suggest the 'off-
duty' reader's casual skimming through the
book. But on the other hand, it can also extend
to the more purposefully-structured learning
tasks of the classroom. In either case, browsing
is not to be neglected as a means to achieving
productive control of the language's vocabulary
resources. The more the reader browses, the
more he or she becomes familiar with the range
of Key Words, so that these become fixed refer-
ence points in the memory. The arrangement of
the dictionary, whereby the alphabetical list is
interspersed with the entries for Key Ideas, aids
this process.
The means of production: rendering
meaning
Clearly a production dictionary cannot ignore the
means of expression: the forms of language by
which we render meaning. Indeed, for productive
use, more exact information is needed on the forms
that can be used, and their variability.
(1) Words and other expressions- Firstly,
what units of language are we looking for, for ex-
pressing meaning? We need to recognize that the
word is not the only unit to consider. Recent re-
search has emphasized the extent to which writers
and speakers create messages by making use of pre-
formed sequences of words. These sequences,
whether we call them idioms, fixed expressions, or
habitual collocations, mediate between the diction-
ary and the grammar of a language, and in fact
show that the distinction between these two reposi-
tories of linguistic knowledge is not at all clear cut.
We often need to be formulaic in our use of gram-
mar, and creative in our use of the dictionary. The
Longman Language Activator satisfies this need to
get away from the word as the only unit for encoding
meaning. Hence it is revealing to look at a section
of the alphabetical list such as the following, in
which the various idioms involving chance are re-
lated to their Key Ideas:
chance CHANCE/BY CHANCE 2, 3
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 1, POSSIBLE 2
chance: by chance CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
chance: get sth by chance/accident/luck GET 6
chance: grab the chance CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY4
chance: have/stand a good chance PROBABLY 6
chance: have/stand little chance PROBABLY 10
chance: Jump at the chance/opportunity
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
chance: little chance/hope/prospect
PROBABLY 10
chance: not stand a chance IMPOSSIBLE 2
chance: outalde chance PROBABLY 10
chance: take a chance RISK 3
chance: there's a chance MAYBE 1
chance: there's a fifty-fifty chance UNCERTAIN 3
From this list, we note that the word chance crops
up in 15 locations - involving 8 distinct Key Words
- in the dictionary. But 12 of these locations apply to

FI4
the use of chance in multi-word sequences. This
case is typical, in the light it throws on the essential
role of word sequences in the productive resources
of the language.
(2) Grammar - Secondly, what about grammatical
information? We need to be precise as to the kind of
'grammatical frame' a word or other expression can
occur in, with a given meaning. For the visual
sense of the verb to see, for example, the user needs
to know
• that see can be a straightforward transitive verb
with a direct object - We'd better get out of here
before your father sees us;
• that see can also be used in the more advanced
constructions see sb/sth do sth (He saw the car
cross the road...) and see sb/sth doing sth
(I could see her standing outside our house...);
also in see who/what/where (...it was too dark
to see who it was);
• and that in none of these is the progressive form
normally used (we could not say ... before your
father is seeing us).
• We also need to know, for example, that the
construction see that (as in I'll see that you
come to no harm) cannot be used in the visual
sense of seeing.
All these facts have to be at our fingertips, if we are
to communicate an appropriate message, but many
such details have traditionally been avoided by dic-
tionary makers as too difficult to explain to the
average non-grammarian. The Activator gets such
information across to the user in a simple, largely
self-explanatory way, reducing to a minimum the
grammatical symbols and terminology which can
be a burden for the average user.
Turning passive knowledge into active
knowledge
In conclusion, let us emphasize the continuity be-
tween passive and active knowledge of a language.
When learning how to improve our active ability in
using the language, we continually need to draw
upon our passive knowledge.
The Activator takes students' active knowledge, the
1000 basic building blocks of the language, the Key
Words, and helps to activate their passive knowl-
edge of words and phrases and so make a greater
range of vocabulary available for their productive
use. The carefully-chosen textual examples used to
illustrate each sense in the dictionary, many of
them taken from the Longman Lancaster Corpus,
show this continuum, with the first examples being
simpler, clearer sentences, and the later ones going
up to more 'authentic' and advanced production. In
sharpening the precision of the insight into the
meaning of words, and in making this accessible in
an easily usable form for students of English, the
Longman Language Activator deserves to be seen
as an important step forward in modern English lexi-
cography.
Professor Geoffrey Leech
Lancaster University

F15
Vocabulary acquisition and the Activator
Not so very long ago, it was very unfashionable for
teachers to worry about vocabulary. It was gener-
ally believed that learners could get by with a basic
vocabulary of about 2000 words. People also thought
that the best way to pick up this basic vocabulary
was to work through a carefully graded textbook,
which introduced 2000 words slowly and cautiously,
perhaps only a couple of hundred words a year.
This method had the advantage of leaving the learn-
ers free to concentrate on what people thought was
the real business of learning a language: grammar
and sentence structure. Nowadays, not many people
hold these views. Vocabulary is beginning to occupy
a central place in the way people learn a language.
Learning words and their meanings and how they
are used is increasingly seen as the key to learning
a language, not just an annoying or irrelevant side
activity.
These new attitudes have yet to make a serious
impact on textbooks and courses, however. English
language textbooks are often built around a basic
vocabulary of only 2000 words. This core vocabulary
consists of highly frequent words, which you are
likely to find in almost any text you pick up. It
includes words like SEE and THINK, but excludes
words like 'rheumatism' or 'paralysis', which nor-
mally only occur in specialist texts. This core vo-
cabulary is surprisingly powerful: if you count the
number of different words in an ordinary news-
paper article, for example, you generally find that
80 or 90 percent of the words belong to the core
vocabulary of English. This is a very high figure.
Because the core vocabulary plays such an impor-
tant role in English, some people have suggested
that a basic vocabulary of 2000 words will allow you
to understand 80 or 90 per cent of everything that
you hear or read in English. In fact, things are
more complicated than that. What actually happens
is that with a vocabulary of 2000 words, you can
understand everything you see or hear a lot of the
time, but other times you won't understand any-
thing at all. It depends on what kind of situation
you are dealing with. 2000 words will let you deal
with a large number of ordinary everyday situa-
tions- buying drinks or bus tickets, for example-
but once you leave these predictable situations, you
will find it hard to get by with only a limited vocabu-
lary.
Because lots of English language courses rely on
core vocabularies of about 2000 words, many learn-
ers get stuck at that level. In fact, learners who
have studied English systematically from a good
textbook usually have a very good grasp of basic
grammar and sentence patterns. Their biggest prob-
lem is learning new words, learning what these
words mean, and how to use them. This type of
learning is very different from what they will have
encountered in a basic course. Because of this, some
learners find it difficult to make any progress
beyond the basic levels, and even good learners
often feel that they have reached a sort of plateau,
where progress is very slow.
Some teachers underestimate just how many words
students need to know in order to increase their
fluency, and these expectations strongly influence the
way we think about teaching vocabularies. An unoffi-
cial, but often quoted, figure for the Cambridge First
Certificate examination, for instance, suggests that
students with a vocabulary of less than 3500 words are
unlikely to be successful in the exam. Figures like this
provide a useful rule of thumb, but they can often be
very misleading because they underestimate just how
big native speakers' vocabularies are, and therefore
badly underestimate how many words learners really
need. The best current research suggests that native
English speakers who have been educated up to 18
years old or beyond know at least 16,000 English 'word
families'. (A word family is a set of words that all share
a common root, like 'happy', 'happily', 'unhappy',
'happiness', and so on. If you count all these words
separately, then the number of words that people
know is very much greater than 16,000.)
If you already speak a language like Spanish, Greek,
German or Swedish, you will find that many of
these words are words that you know already, be-
cause they are similar to words in your native
language. This is obviously a great help. For most
learners, however, there are no short-cuts: you just
have to work very hard at understanding but you
can meet a surprisingly large number of unusual
words in even a 'simple' text. When we analysed
some comic strips in the Tintin series, for instance,
we found that they each typically contained about
500 words that weren't part of the core vocabulary.
Learning to understand a large number of words is a
key part of becoming a fluent speaker of a language,
but learning to use these words accurately is also
very important - and very much harder. One of the
best ways to pick up new words is to read a lot,
preferably stories that you find interesting or excit-
ing. It often pays to read the same book over and over
again: each time you read it, you will learn different
new words, and the familiar context helps to fix them
in your mind. But often when you pick up a word from
reading, you have a general idea of what it means,
without being clear about the detailed meaning of the
new word, and, more importantly, how it can be used.
Suppose for example, that you learn the word
burgle from watching a movie on TV. You know
that it has something to do with stealing things
from somewhere. That might be all you need to
know if you are watching a film, but it's easy to
make the wrong inferences about words like this.
For instance, can you burgle a person, or some-
body's wallet? Can you burgle an idea? If you

F16
take something from a shop without paying for it,
have you burgled? What exactly is the difference
between burgle, and other words you might know
with a similar meaning like shoplift, loot, pinch,
mug, embezzle, hold up and so on. All these
words share parts of their meaning with STEAL but
they are actually very different in meaning and it is
often difficult for a non-native speaker to choose
correctly between them.
If you were a horribly efficient and serious language
learner, you might try making a list of all the words
you could think of that had something to do with
stealing. You could then systematically compare
them all, until you really understood the difference
between burgle and all these other words. With
an ordinary dictionary, this would be a mammoth
task. You would only be able to identify words that
you already knew anyway, so you could never be
sure that you had uncovered all the relevant words.
And then, you would have to jump about from one
part of the dictionary to another comparing half a
dozen definitions, which might only differ in one or
two words. Although this is a good idea in theory,
in practice it would only appeal to masochists.
The Longman Language Activator, however, makes
it very easy for you to get to know well words that
you have only just met. It brings together all the
most frequent words that share a meaning with the
words you are interested in- not just the ones you
know well already, but others that are completely
new - and the definitions show you exactly how
these words are related to each other. It will also
remind you of other words that you perhaps once
knew but have now forgotten. You won't be able to
learn all these words at one go. Your brain will
make subconscious associations between the words,
however, and these associations will make it easier
for you to recognize them when you meet them
again, and it will be more likely that you remember
them in the long term. The Activator does make use
of the 2000-word core vocabulary- all its definitions
are written within the 2000-word Longman Defining
Vocabulary to make sure the definitions are all
totally clear. Its 1052 Key Words are all expressed in
words well within the FCE or intermediate students
active vocabulary. Its 23,000 word- and phrase-mean-
ings, if we exclude concrete or real-world items, are
those usually used by native-speakers, or fluent
non-native speakers, to express themselves in Eng-
lish. Using the Activator systematically should help
you to remember these new words, because they
will be linked by meaning with words you already
know.
Dr Paul Meara
University College, Swansea

F17
The conceptual map of English and the Activator
The vocabulary production problem
Dictionaries organized in the traditional alphabetic
way have immeasurably improved in recent years-
witness for example the new ground broken by the
Longman Dictionary of English Language and Cul-
ture. What more could anyone need in a contempo-
rary reference work on words? Well, dictionaries
are just what is needed by someone who has read a
word or phrase they don't know, and wants to know
the meaning.
But what happens where someone knows the mean-
ing they want to express, but doesn't know, or
can't recall, the appropriate word or phrase to use?
This is the fundamental 'production' problem
faced by intermediate and advanced learners of a
language. They need to be able to choose appropri-
ate words or phrases, and have guidance on how to
use them, starting from their meaning rather than
their form. They need another form of reference
work.
The bilingual dictionary as a 'solution'
Non-native speakers of English may attempt to re-
solve this problem by resorting to a bilingual diction-
ary. But such works are rarely foolproof for finding
words successfully much beyond those for common
animals, objects etc. that have straightforward trans-
lation equivalents. Often an insufficient range of
target language equivalents are offered: particularly
often omitted are the phrases rather than single
words that a native speaker would use to express
the desired meaning. Often guidance on choice
among alternatives is lacking; there may be no infor-
mation on the grammatical behaviour of the equiva-
lents offered, their stylistic restrictions, and colloca-
tions. Consequently someone relying on such a
work may go on not so much to use new words as to
misuse them.
Above all, bilingual dictionaries do not offer words
and phrases in comprehensive meaning-related
groups for the user to 'choose and use'. It is far
more likely that the right word or phrase will be
identified when the range of candidate expressions
is fully dealt with side by side. Indeed where a user
starts with a hazy idea of more than one expression
that might be appropriate to their intended mean-
ing, such treatment is virtually essential.
Conceptual organization
Much psycholinguistic research (e.g. on word asso-
ciation) has shown that native speakers of lan-
guages store words in their minds in meaning-re-
lated groups. In other words, their 'dictionary in
the mind' (or 'mental lexicon' as researchers call it)
is not organized alphabetically, but fundamentally
on a conceptual or meaning basis. Clearly this must
be a particularly effective way of remembering
words and being able to access them when needed.
Teachers of foreign languages are also aware of the
value of encouraging learners to establish such
groupings as part of the learning process, rather
than trying to remember words in isolation.
Reference works using conceptual
grouping
Unfortunately thesauruses and other conceptually
organized reference works frequently have features
which make them far from ideal as solutions to the
'vocabulary production problem' for the foreign
learner of English. I merely mention here the inclu-
sion of obscure vocabulary items and the corre-
sponding lack of attention to common phrases.
Above all, such works often lack information about
the meaning of the items listed or about exactly
how and where to use them appropriately, so
making a suitable choice becomes impossible.
The Longman Language Activator
Against this background emerges the Longman Lan-
guage Activator, a new concept in vocabulary refer-
ence books - a production dictionary in the fullest
sense. In this we find a unique synthesis of
meaning-based and alphabetical organization com-
bined with all the information needed to choose and
use current English words and phrases success-
fully.
How it was done
Longman have tackled this in a characteristically
pragmatic way. The lexicographic team has indeed
exploited insights arising from research in lexical
semantics and psycholinguistics, but the conceptual
analysis was very much 'bottom-up', beginning with
the vocabulary items themselves- the large set of
English words and phrases that native-speakers use
to express the core ideas of the language. The words
and phrases, selected originally on the basis of their
inclusion in the Longman Dictionary of Contempo-
rary English, were subsequently subjected to rigor-
ous conceptual analysis, using the evidence of the
extensive Longman corpora.
Working over some five years the grouping of words
into distinct concepts and subentries of concepts
evolved constantly to produce a scheme which im-
measurably improves on what has gone before and
is also friendly and usable. Some key features of the
scheme are the following:
The names of the major conceptual
groups of words and phrases
The basic unit in the conceptual organization, and
the main point of access fog users, is the concept
entry, of which there are just over a thousand,
presented in alphabetical order by concept name. A
crucial feature here is that the names of the con-
cepts are familiar English words or phrases like

F18
ABOUT, DEAL WITH, EAT, NEED and POWER
which aptly characterize the general meaning area
of the group of items covered under that head. No
mind-numbing category labels like NECESSITY or
MORTALITY in the Activator! Rather, the labels
(called Key Words) are expressly chosen as likely to
be well known to students already. They are words
which research on 'communication strategies'
shows might well be used as an approximate make-
shift if no work such as this were available to help
us find the expression we really wanted - e.g. EAT
for grab a bite to eat, EXPECT for anticipate.
Users can also get to the group of words they need
simply by looking up a specific word they know
(e.g. anticipate as above) in the alphabetical list
and using the cross references to the right concept,
but it is expected that students will rapidly get used
to accessing the concept entry they need directly
through the common Key Words.
The number of words and phrases to
try and choose between
The scheme articulates English production vocabu-
lary into meaning-based groups of manageable size
for a user to scan successfully. Since the Activator
deals with the core of English, the entries are
• common words. Sometimes there are large numbers
of individual words and phrases to express core
ideas. For instance there are around fifty common
words and phrases in English relating to the general
notion of EAT which the user might need to pro-
duce. The Longman Language Activator presents
them in some fourteen subentries, each itself a natu-
ral mini-conceptual group. For instance, grab a
bite to eat will be drawn to the user's attention
along with dine under 'to eat a meal', but pig out
is under 'to eat too much'. These natural subsections
of the concepts generally contain under ten items to
choose among- a fully realistic task for the produc-
tion user.
The defmitions of the concept subsections such as
to eat a meal are themselves periphrases formed in
simple English - within the famous Longman Defin-
ing Vocabulary. These 'meaning menus' are listed at
the start of each concept entry so the user can select
the aspect of the concept he/she needs. Thus opti-
mum success in finding the specific word or phrase
to use, in the shortest time, is achievable.
The homogeneity of meaning within
the groups of words and phrases
The groups of items which appear together in suben-
tries of concepts eminently belong closely together
by virtue of their meaning. Thus they will all be
legitimate alternatives to be considered for what
you want to say or write in a specific context, not a
collection of items which just share some rather
loose meaning connection like 'eat', 'table' and
'bread'. In pursuit of this goal it has often proved
valuable to enter in the same subentry group both
phrases and single words, and not necessarily all of
the same part of speech. Though for some users this
may be disconcerting at first, it represents a real
advance in aids to expression, since we know that"
often the best alternative way to say something is
not by substituting just one word (of the same part
of speech), but by starting again and recasting a
whole stretch of what you want to say in quite a
different form. For instance The level of radiation
is not dangerous can be well improved to The level
of radiation poses no threat, He ate a little food to He
had a snack, and so forth.
A consequence of the strict adherence to meaning-
based grouping is of course that the same word or
phrase will often appear several times under quite
different concept entries or subentries. Thus echo
appears not only under the concept SOUND but also
under REPEAT. This is entirely as it should be.
Someone seeking a more refined alternative way of
saying The minister repeated what Mr Major had
said will naturally look under REPEAT and not
SOUND because of the meaning they want to ex-
press (The minister echoed what Mr Major had
said).
The links from one major conceptual
group to another
The underlying model of how the concept groups of
items are themselves interconnected is not that of a
hierarchy but a network. This work does. not sup-
pose, as some have, that it is natural to think of all
the items of the vocabulary of English as related to
each other in an enormous tree from more general
concepts down to more specific. Today psycholin-
guists visualize the mental lexicon as more like a
road map where each town is linked crisscross to a
range of others, both nearby and distant. This is
reflected in the access maps that appear above some
of the concept entries and ask users 'which mean-
ing?' Their function is to guide users from one
major concept entry to other ones that may be of
use to them. Thus at EAT one is not referred hierar-
chically to some supposedly useful, more general
concept such as 'motion in space' (of which some
would claim EAT was an instance!), but rather to
other related concepts of the same approximate level
of generality, such as FOOD, DRINK and HUNGRY.
The connections given are restricted to ones that
are incontestably psychologically real ones: thus
FOOD is related to EAT but not to 'excretion' as it
would be in one famous concept-based work.
Conclusion: travelling around in the
Longman Language Activator
Overall then, in the Activator the concept map of
English is one expressly designed to be, above all,
practical and easy to use to find the right word or
phrase for production purposes as quickly as possi-
ble. And, like a geographical map, it helps the user

wherever he/she starts from. Ideally you would
start by looking up the general concept name, or
Key Word, appropriate to the specific meaning you
want to express. Within that, you are then immedi-
ately directed to the subentry for the right specific
articulation of that concept and look through the
short list of relevant items there to find the right
word or phrase. If you don't hit the right Key Word
first off, the access maps help you rapidly move
F19
from one concept to a related one. Even if the only
word you can think of in the general area of mean-
ing required is not a Key Word at all, you will find
the word readily in the alphabetical list and thence
be guided by cross references to the right concept
subentry and so to the right target item.
Philip Scholfield
University of Wales, Bangor

F20
Semantic analysis and the Activator
As a speaker of language, you both receive and
produce messages. The processes are called 'decod-
ing' and 'encoding' respectively. In the process of
decoding, you may find a word you are not sure
about. You then consult a dictionary like the Long-
man Dictionary of Contemporary English to check
what meaning or meanings the word has. Dictionar-
ies of the traditional kind thus help you when you
decode a message. They are designed to lead you
from words to their meanings.
In the process of encoding, you may not readily
think of the proper word to apply or may not be
sure which word is the right one to use even if you
can think of some. You then turn to the Longman
Language Activator. The Longman Language Activa-
tor is a new kind of learners' reference book spe-
cially designed for encoding purposes. It goes from
ideas to words.
One important point to remember about the role
you play as a speaker in the encoding process is
that you can refer to one and the same situation by
using different linguistic expressions. There is noth-
ing mysterious about this. If, for example, you find
a group of people having a lot of money or posses-
sions, you can refer to them as rich. But rich is of
course not the only word you can apply. You can
also refer to them as wealthy, well off, affluent,
prosperous, and so forth. These words, however,
cannot be applied indiscriminately. Wealthy sug-
gests possession of land and property, well off a
/
comfortable and easy life, affluent the capability
of buying expensive things, prosperous success
in business, and so forth. They have different conno-
tations over and above their common semantic core
and it is up to you to decide which one to pick up.
Language thus offers you - in almost all cases - a
set of linguistic alternatives from which you can
choose the one that best suits your purposes.
It is important to realize that you play a very
active (and sometimes even creative) role when
you encode a message. Your capacity for applying
different linguistic options (associated with deli-
cately different meanings) to one and the same situ-
ation derives ultimately from the fact that we
human beings .are blessed with a gift of making
sense of a situation in a number of different, and
sometimes even divergent ways. For example, we
can say that someone snuffed it if we want to
be rather callous or humorous about someone
dying, as well as using pass away if we are trying
to be sensitive and refer only obliquely to a
friend's relative dying. It will not be difficult to
see that something like this is involved in all
kinds of 'rhetorical' use of language, as in exag-
geration, humour, irony, euphemism, and metaphor.
In language, each word or phrase has distinct mean-
ing. Semantically, these words and phrases group
naturally under subdivisions of very general ideas.
I
These are shown in the Activator under 1052 Key
Words. For example, at EXPERIENCED there is a
natural cluster of words and phrases to express the
idea of being experienced in life (sophisticated,
streetwise, hard-bitten, hardened, and worldly).
There is also another subdivision of the general
idea of being EXPERIENCED that is the converse of
this (inexperienced, innocent, naive, green, and
unsophisticated).
The precise meaning of these expressions can be
pinpointed by semantic analysis. For example,
saunter and stride exhibit a difference in the
semantic feature of 'manner' (saunter meaning
to walk in a leisurely way, stride meaning to walk
energetically or purposefully). Peckish (slightly
hungry) and ravenous (extremely hungry) show
a contrast in the semantic feature of 'degree'.
Other relevant features characterizing semantic
contrasts include 'means/instrument', 'function',
'cause', 'time/duration', "and 'result'. Differences
and contrasts as regards these features are duly
incorporated into the definitions of the words and
phrases given as options. Special attention should
be paid to this point as the definitions offered in
the book are the main guide to choosing the right
word.
There are also other cases in which the contrast in
meaning concerns more specific points. Thus
cheap, inexpensive, reasonably priced, and com-
petitively priced can very well be applied to one
and the same object for purchase: they all describe
the object as something which does not cost much.
Over and above this common semantic core, how-
ever, there are individual differences. Cheap is per-
haps semantically the least 'marked' option, but it
may imply that the object in question is not of
particularly good quality. Inexpensive does not
have this implication: it may imply rather that the
quality is good, considering the price. When the
price of the same object is described as reasonable,
the price is considered fair, while the price is being
judged specifically in comparison with the prices
offered by rival companies, when it is referred to as
competitive.
Remember in any case that an important lesson
about language is that difference may count more
than similarity. If you know that the words copy
and forge are similar in meaning, this is all very
well, but it may not help you in choosing the correct
word to be applied to the particular situation you
have in mind. You have to know in what particular
respects the conditions for use of the two words are
distinguished. (The same thing happens with
sounds. It will not help you much, for example, if
you simply know that/r/and/1/are similar sounds.
You need to know how they differ articulatorfly

and acoustically.) In language, difference is all im-
portant.
Another set of important distinctions you have to
keep in mind in order to correctly use a language is
what linguists call 'selection restrictions'. Gram-
matically, an adjective can combine with a noun,
but it is not necessarily the case that an adjective
can take any noun as its partner. Adjective-noun
collocations like green leaves and green pastures
are perfectly all right, but not green wishes (unless
strongly supported and justified by the particular
context in which it occurs). Thus over and above
fulfilling the grammatical conditions for being an
appropriate combination, the words in combination
must also fulfil the semantic conditions in order to
pass as appropriate. In the example just given, the
adjective green (used as a colour term) cannot
combine just with any noun: the noun it combines
with must be one referring to some concrete entity
(capable of having a colour). This is the selection
restriction for the colour adjective green.
Selection restriction applies to other types of word
combination as well. Especially important is the
one which operates between the verb and the noun.
A verb can take a noun as its subject: if it is a
transitive verb, it can also take a noun as its object.
Here again it is not the case that the verb can take
any noun as its subject or object. A very recurrent
restriction on the subject noun is that it should be
human. Verbs like 'laugh' and 'think' are of this
type. Some of the verbs which are primarily of this
type can also be extended to higher animals and
other animate beings and then it is not always easy
to know where to draw the line of demarkation.
Thus singing is primarily a human activity but it is
commonly said of birds as well. Some selection re-
strictions are more narrowly defined. Thus the
object noun of the verb assassinate (as contrasted
with murder) cannot be any human. A person
who is assassinated is typically a head of state or a
military-style leader.
An important thing to remember about selection
restrictions is that they are just norms and not
strict rules. They can be overridden whenever the
context sufficiently warrants it. Thus whereas the
adjective affordable may normally (as shown by
an analysis of a thirty-million-word corpus) be ap-
plied to large items such as housing or cars, it can
still be applied to other things, such as an affordable
version of 'designer' underwear (as actually found
in an advertisement).
Finally, some cautionary notes are in order on
F21
crosslinguistic differences. As we have seen, differ-
ent words are associated with different ways of
encoding a situation. While there is a sizable
amount of crosslinguistic similarity in the way in
which a particular situation is linguistically proc-
essed, there are cases of divergence and discrep-
ancy. Especially tricky are those cases in which the
words provided by different languages approximate
to each other quite closely, but differ in certain
significant details. To give just one example, you
can infer from the English sentence, Mary helped
John [to] solve the problem that John was able to
solve the problem, but the same inference does not
necessarily hold for the corresponding Japanese sen-
tence (i.e. John may not have been able to solve
the problem in spite of Mary's help). The English
verb 'help' used with a direct object and an infini-
tive complement focuses on the achievement of the
goal intended by the action, while the focus of the
corresponding Japanese verb is on the action of
helping and thus leaves the question of achievement
unanswered.
Selection restriction can also vary crosslinguisti-
cally. Again, especially tricky are those cases in
which the restriction differs for a pair of words
which otherwise correspond quite well semanti-
cally. For example, the English verb 'flow' takes as
subject a noun referring to a fluid (i.e. either a
liquid or a gas), as in water flows or the fog flows,
but not a log flows. There is a Japanese verb which
behaves in a parallel way vis-a-vis a fluid, but this
verb can also be applied to a solid (in which case
English will have to use a different verb, namely
'float', followed perhaps by an adverbial phrase re-
ferring to direction, as in a log floats down the
river. You will find this point made very clear in
the Activator: float is under the Key Word ON TOP
OF ('to stay on top of the water'), and flow under
the Key Word LIQUID ('liquid that is moving in a
particular direction').
As will have been quite clear by now, the Longrnan
Language Activator is specifically concerned with
the productive aspect of your language use. It offers
you a whole range of linguistic resources from
which you can choose to talk about a given situation
in a way that suits best what you have in mind. The
Activator will certainly serve you as the most reli-
able guide in your efficient and effective command
of English.
Professor Y. Ikegami
Tokyo University

Informal, formal, and spoken language and the
Activator
In an ideal world it would be possible to identify a
neutral core of words in a language which could
appropriately be used in any circumstances by a
foreign language learner. Then you would simply
put those neutral words into a dictionary and leave
out all those which are only used in particularly
formal, or technical, or informal circumstances.
This is what we tend to do when we first begin to
learn a new language. However, quite quickly learn-
ers find that they need to express more specific and
differentiated ideas and then they need to use new
and different words, just as native speakers do.
If you were to use only the Key Words in this
dictionary you would produce a rather plain, bland
but perfectly acceptable type of English. The Key
Words are taken from the neutral core vocabulary
which should be understood by students who have
reached intermediate level. However, you will often
find if you use only these words that you fail to
make distinctions that you would like to drdw. Con-
sider the difference between the Key Word LISTEN,
which has a very general meaning and a specific
type of listening, to eavesdrop. If you want to indi-
cate that some character is deliberately and secretly
listening to a conversation between other people,
and listening in order to find out some specific
information the word eavesdrop will give you all
of that wrapped up in a single word. Just using
'listening' would not indicate all of this extra infor-
mation.
As soon as you look at the range of words given
under each Key Word, you will see that these offer a
wider and more expressive vocabulary. Advanced
students of English, who need to use the language
for a wide range of purposes, will frequently need to
use this wider vocabulary. They will need to be able
to distinguish between words which are mostly used
in formal written language, for when they are writ-
ing essays and preparing for academic examina-
tions, and words that are more appropriately used
in informal speech. Sometimes a student may
wonder if an expression picked up from a film is
specifically American, or can be used in British
English as well. How does the Activator help the
student to identify such variations?
The simplest variation to mark in a dictionary entry
is where there is a clear difference between British
and American usage. A much more complex issue
is how to show when it is appropriate to use a
particular expression. You will find that when a
word or phrase is restricted in its usage, this is
shown in the definition. You will find, too, that
some words and phrases have the warnings 'formal'
or 'informal' in their definitions. These warnings
suggest that you should be careful about using such
words and phrases, since they have a particularly
restricted usage in the language. As a rough guide,
'formal' will usually mean that this is a word which
is most likely to be used in highly formal writing or
in formal speech read aloud. If you look under the
Key Word SEE, you will find observe marked as
'formal'. This means that in normal conversation,
or in a letter to a friend, you would not expect to
say 'I observe that you are worried about some-
thing'. Very occasionally you will find an entry
which is used in formal spoken language, for in-
stance the entry I stand corrected (under ADMIT)
tells you that this is 'a formal British expression'.
Indeed it is formal, and I believe that I have never
used it in my life. You would only expect to find it
in places where forms of ceremonial and ritual
debate are found, as in Law courts or in the British
Parliament.
You will also find some, rather more frequent, exam-
ples of the warning 'informal'. Such a warning sug-
gests that you should probably only use the expres-
sion in writing letters to friends or in chatting to
them. An example of this would be the entry right
off the bat. under the Key Word IMMEDIATELY,
which warns you that this is 'an informal American
expression'. You might use this expression appropri-
ately in speech but not in academic written work.
Th.se warnings about restricted usage should be
taken seriously since using informal expressions in
an inappropriate context can suggest that you are
not taking the discussion seriously enough. Equally
you can give the impression of being stiff and pedan-
tic if you keep using long formal words in an infor-
mal conversation. Choosing to use rare formal
words where common neutral ones will express the
meaning adequately is not considered good style in
modern English.
On the whole you will find that written language
tends to be more characteristically formal than
spoken language and it typically contains more
specific vocabulary. Of course there are informal
written genres- like chatty letters between friends,
some types of chatty journalism - and of course you
may find inform.al conversation represented in
novels, short stories and plays but it still remains
true that the vast bulk of written language produced
everyday is more formal than informal. The spoken
language yields a more mixed picture. Much every-
day speech in English between family, friends and
people who work together is characteristically infor-
mal. However there are some social relationships,
perhaps between employer and employees, perhaps
between older people and younger people who do
not know each other well, or where one person
wields more power in a relationship, where the
language used may be chosen from the more neutral
part of the vocabulary, carefully avoiding being in-

formal but without necessarily being formal. Posi-
tively formal spoken language is more likely to be
found in social situations where people who nor-
mally talk to each other informally will temporarily
adopt a much more formal style of speech- as in a
meeting with a chairman who is always addressed
as 'Chairman' or 'Chair'.
Apart from the question of formality or informality,
there are other ways in which expressions are not
equally neutral in all contexts. To discriminate be-
tween the subtler differences, you will need to look
in the dictionary at the examples under each defini-
tion. All the entries show you a wealth of natural
examples based on a corpus of naturally-occurring
English. So you will find some examples which
clearly come from spoken conversation and others
which come from a range of written registers. Com-
pare:
this minute/right now/... /
(under IMMEDIATELY 1)
If someone such as a parent or employer orders
you to do something this minute or right
now they want you to do it immediately [adv
phrase]
Katie, put that down this minute or you'll go
straight to bed. I Back to work this minute/D'you
hear?lI want an explanation for this dreadful
behaviour, right now.
outright/... / (under IMMEDIATELY 2)
If someone is killed outright they die immedi-
ately from an attack or an accident [adv usually
after verb]
He was killed outright when his car crashed at
high speed. IOn August 6th the first bomb was
dropped on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people out-
right.
In the first set, the extracts are all concerned with
the present and what is to be done in the immediate
future, within seconds of a speaker having stopped
speaking. You can see from the simple language
and the use of the present tense and of address
forms like 'Katie' and 'you' that these examples are
taken from speech. The second set is concerned
with reporting (either in speech or writing) events
in the past and what happened immediately follow-
ing those events. The appropriate contexts for using
this minute and outright are clearly brought
out in the definitions. The first seems to be used in
speaking to someone directly. (Indeed this
minute is a form which cannot be carried over
into a past report- you cannot write He told them
to go back to work that minute, you would have to
change it to He told them to go back to work at once*
immediately.)
The second example, outright, is obviously appro-
priately used when speaking or writing of some-
thing that happened in the past.
If several examples for an entry contain quotations
from what looks like informal conversation, particu-
larly if the present tense is used, it is probably the
case that the word or phrase is most often found in
the spoken language. If the examples are exclusively
in the past tense and contain several particularly
long words, then it is more likely that they are
drawn from written language.
Although the extreme ends of the formal/informal
scale are indicated in the definitions, there are obvi-
ously-some words which are quite (but not ex-
tremely) formal and others which are quite (but not
extremely) informal. A useful short cut for judging
whether or not a word or expression is likely to be
nearer the formal or informal end of the normal
range of use is simply to look at its length. It is
often (but not always) the case that longer words
are likely to be more used in formal contexts and
shorter ones in informal contexts. Under the Key
Word LUCKY for example, you would suppose if
you followed this advice that fortunate would be
more likely to be more used in formal contexts than
lucky, and you would be correct, as you can see
by checking the helpful examples under the entries.
Compare also words like clear/transparent, view/
panorama, and dim/indistinct. In each case the
dictionary will show you examples which will
strengthen such predictions.
Another useful short cut, which again is not 100%
reliable, is to look at whether an expression is a one
word item or a multi-word item. In general, the
multi-word item is more likely to be used in infor-
mal contexts. Compare lucky/be in luck, chat/
have a chat, admittedly/let's face it,
immediately/at once, see/set eyes on, clear/see-
through, look/have a look, bathe/have a bath.
In each case the dictionary will show you that you
are more likely to find the multi-word item in infor-
mal contexts, and you are particularly likely to find
it in conversational speech. Putting the multi-word
items alongside their one-word equivalents reminds
you of the existence of this choice and allows you to
select the expression which is appropriate to the
context in which you wish to use it.
If you use such short cuts, together with a careful
study of the definitions and the examples under
each definition which the Activator offers, you will
be able to judge whether or not the word you are
looking at is suitable for your current purpose, ffthe
word is more formal, you (an appropriately use it in
formal written language, in scientific reports, news-
paper articles, and essays (and also in formal spoken
language, though this is quite rarely encountered).
ff the expression occurs in examples of speech, you
could use it appropriately in letters to close friends
and in normal chatty conversation- it would prob-
ably not be appropriate in a formal interview or in
addressing someone who is senior to you. The clear
definitions in the Activator, together with the indica-
tions of the extreme ends of the formality/informal-
ity scale and the wealth of examples, will give you a
really good chance of getting the choice right.
Professor Gillian Brown
Cambridge University

F24
The value of the Activator to students of English
For the non-native speaking learner, dictionaries
are guides to the new world of unfamiliar words.
They provide passwords to otherwise closed lexical
territories.
So far, the two most common ways of entering the
land of unknown words have been by direct or by
indirect means. Either the words of the target lan-
guage are presented side by side with the learners'
own words from their native languages. Or the lexi-
cal items unknown to the learner are explained by
simpler words of the target language. The two
modes of entry into the target lexicon are the well-
known bilingual and monolingual dictionaries.
These two time-honoured ways of giving access to
the target lexicon have been quite successful in
helping learners to master their vocabulary prob-
lems. They have become better and better over time.
In particular, the presentation of target lexical infor-
mation by way of carefully selected explanations
and well picked-out examples of use has been stead-
ily improved. Learners' dictionaries of the English
language, in-particular, have become very effective
ih allowing the user entry into the new lexicon.
Yet non-native learners find out, time and again,
that they do not really feel at home in the new
lexical territory. True, they have been informed
about what the target words mean. Lexical gaps in
their knowledge have been filled- to some extent.
With the knowledge extracted from such dictionar-
ies users can get an idea of what speakers and
writers of another language had in mind. They can
decode what is encoded. From a bilingual dictionary
they carry the word meanings into their native
language: 'apologize' French s'excuser, German sich
entschuldigen, Spanish excusarse. From a monolin-
gual dictionary they have them transformed into a
lexical version that is easier to understand: 'apolo-
gize' say one is sorry, e.g. for having done something
wrong or for causing pain or trouble. In both cases
non-native users can learn a lot about what words
mean but not enough about what they can do with
these words and how they have to do it if they
themselves want to use these words as advanced
learners of the target language.
Conventional dictionaries are mainly for passive
understanders. This new dictionary attempts to
train active users. It is a production dictionary: it
helps users to produce the right target words in the
right place. With the help of the Longman Language
Activator non-native language learners can move
about more freely and securely in the lexical world
of the target language. It is not only a map of the
lexicon, where they identify words, discover and
explore descriptions and explanations of the lexical
items: it is also an active guide to put what they
know about the words into action. It encodes
whereas other dictionaries only decode. More pre-
cisely, the Longman Language Activator tells you
not only about English words but it makes you use
them correctly and idiomatically. By correctly, we
mean the use of a word that suits the idea one has
in mind. By idiomatically, we mean the right, that
is, the typical or natural word, which natives would
use to express a particular idea. Knowledge of what
words mean becomes enriched by knowledge of
what you can do with them, how you can use them
effectively and with ease.
How can non-native learners get the most out of the
Longman Language Activator to achieve this aim?
Where does its productivity come from? In particu-
lar, what is the advantage of such a dictionary
compared to a so-called 'active' bilingual dictionary,
which gives non-natives of English one or several
target words, placed one after the other on the
right-hand side of an alphabetic word list? Often
enough learners get lost in the maze of 'equivalents'
that are offered in exchange for their own familiar
language. The well-known fact that words do not
normally match from language to language blocks
the learners' attempts to get away from words in
their own language more than it enables them to
express ideas 'directly' in the target language.
The production dictionary takes an entirely differ-
ent route. All the entries are in alphabetical order,
but the learners can either go in at an individual
word that they already know, such as apologize, in
A, or they could go straight to one of the Key Words,
in this case, SORRY/APOLOGIZE, in S. It is at the
Key Words that all the semantic and usage informa-
tion for the various aspects of the idea of saying
sorry or apologizing is given. The individual entry
for apologize therefore refers the learner to the
Key Word SORRY/APOLOGIZE.
Quite often, the user can choose between different
directions depending on the idea to be expressed.
For instance:
sophisticated ADVANCED 1, EXPERIENCED 2,
STYLE/ELEGANCE 2
means that the word sophisticated can be found
under three different Key Words.
The Key Word is the first step to language produc-
tion. At the Key Word framed 'idea boxes' meet the
learner's eye. They function as control centres for
the advanced learner to convert ideas into adequate
words later. This is a crucial second step to stimu-
late the learner's meaning awareness.
For SORRY/APOLOGIZE we have four numbered
paraphrases defining distinct variants of the key
idea.
1 to tell someone that you are sorry for something
bad, unkind etc that you have done

F25
2 what you say to tell someone that you are sorry,
for example if you have upset them or done some-
thing wrong or unfair
3 what you say to apologize for something unimpor-
tant, such as a small mistake
4 a spoken or written statement in which you apolo-
gize to someone
Now the non-native learner can proceed to the third
step to the words that are available to express each
of the four ideas. This is like getting the right ticket
to proceed on a specific lexical course. Thus for
idea ! (to say that you are sorry when you have
done something bad, unkind etc) there are again
four options, namely,
say you are sorry / say sorry
apologize
be apologetic
swallow your pride
Now you are offered 'real' English words, indeed
the right words for the user to express ideas. But
before this decisive step can be taken learners are
given an important fourth help. It consists of more
specific information in the definitions as to exactly
what you mean when you choose to say or write
any of the three lexical items given. Incidentally,
phonetic assistance is given after the definitions.
This is another sign that genuine production, in
speech or writing, could now proceed.
The fifth way that the production dictionary works
for you is in distinguishing between levels of style
that are not 'neutral', when they are either formal
or informal, when the words or phrases are either
British or American only, or when the distinction
between the written or spoken medium is in order.
For example, sorry is a neutral way of saying you
are sorry when you make a small mistake, etc, but
excuse me is an American expression used in
this situation. This is indicated in the definitions.
The Activator tells you that I beg your pardon is
a formal expression which you use when you touch
someone accidentally. Another variant is please
accept my apologies, which is used when you want
to apologize in a formal letter for a mistake or a
problem.
These are not only words for ideas but ideas turned
into words in a sentence. You reach this sixth step
by noting the form of the grammatical information
placed in square brackets after each of the three
entries, namely, say you are sorry / say sorry [v
phrase] apologize [v I] be apologetic [v phrase].
Note that for ideas to get converted into words the
word class that suits best should be chosen. To
express yourself adequately the right sentence
counts. Ideas are not directly related to particular
word classes. For example at the Key Word PROUD,
the words conceited [adj] and be full of your-
self [v phrase] are shown in the same section.
Along with the grammatical information, in square
brackets, e.g. about possible objects [v T] or none at
all |v I] non-native learners - in order to use the
words in a sentence correctly- must be given more
grammatical information, such as the many small
function words that make sure that the intended
ideas get properly connected with the rest of the
utterance. This is the seventh step to productivity.
It is shown in bold with one or several examples
that act as key models for the users.
say sorry to Go and say sorry to your mother,
Andrew. ]say you are sorry for Oliver said
he was sorry for causing everyone so much
trouble, lsay you are sorry (that) She rushed
in through the door, saying she was sorry that
she was so late.
This kind of contextual information often includes,
step number eight, typical collocations. They bring
out additional shades of meanings of the words
offered in bold type. And what is more, they add
idiomaticity to the use of a particular word.
Thus for apologize the dictionary lists and illus-
trates
apologize for sth I must apologize for my son's
behaviour-he isn't usually this moody. I The
bank wrote to apologise for overcharging
me. I apologize to sb The US apologized to Brit-
ain for the accident that cost nine British lives
apologize That was an awful thing to say-1 think
you should apologize, l apologize profusely
(=apologize very much) She apologized pro-
fusely for being so late.
You will soon find out that these eight steps will
help you to put your ideas into idiomatic English.
You can either start with an individual word you
happen to remember about an idea you want to
express: this becomes your stimulus to a whole
conceptual area with its typical lexical repertoire.
Or you can check your productive power by starting
directly from any of the Key Words in order to
make sure you are on the right track when using a
particular word or phrase in English.
Being a genuine production dictionary the Longrnan
Language Activator will prove its worth by provid-
ing non-native speaking learners with the specific
assistance they need according to their various
kinds of knowledge. It offers your ideas a safe route
into the rich and varied field of English. In short, it
progressively increases your competence to produce
words for your ideas, that is, to speak and write in
English as native-speakers do.
Professor Albrecht Neubert
Leipzig University

F26
Explanatory page
Alphabetical Word List throughout - directs you to
the right Key Word
difficult DIFFICULT 1, 5, 7, 8, 9
difficult: find sth difficult DIFFICULT 10
difficult: make life difficult PROBLEM 9.10
difficult: not difficult/hard EASY 1
difficult position: be in a difficult/awkward position
PROBLEM 7
Access Maps - help you decide on the right Key Word
difficult
which meaning?
not easy to do,
understand etc
a problem or difficulty
complicated
DIFFICULT
PROBLEM
COMPLICATED
Key Word - the 1052 Key Words are listed on pages
B1-B4. They are the basic meanings of the core of
English
Meaning Menu - choose from these meanings, then
go to the numbered section you want
"You say" is used in definitions of
some words or phrases to show they
are especially used in Spoken English.
DIFFICULT
1 difficult to do or understand
2 words for describing something that you need
all your skill, knowledge etc to do
:3 very difficult to do, especially because it
involves a lot of hard physical work
4 difficult to do be(ause it is complicated,
involves working with small objects etc
,5 words for describing a situation or subject
that is difficult to deal with, talk about etc
6 to make a situation more difficult
1' words for describing someone who is difficult
to live with, work with, or do things with
because they are unhelpful, they always
disagree etc
6 words for describing a situation or period of
time that is full of problems, worries etc
g words for describing difficult conditions that
make what you are doing more difficult
10 to have a lot of difficulty when you are trying
to do something
11 to make something that you are doing seem
more difficult than it really is
Numbered uctlons - major aspects of the Key Word
Menu of words and phrases - the ways of
expressing this aspect of the Key Word, shown in
frequency order, the most general one first
A word or phrase - shown in frequency order, the
most general one first
Grammatical patterns - the most usual constructions,
presented in the order of frequency revealed in our
corpora
Examples of grammatical patterns - immediately
follow the patterns for maximum clarity
Examples - based on the Longman Corpus Network,
starting with the clearest examples, with more
authentic ones later
1 difficult to do or understand
 difficult take some doing
hard be a tall order
tough it's easier said
daunting than done
be no easy task not the easiest
difficult I'dffkaltl [adj]
The book is full of long difficult words. I I couldn't answer
the last question - it was far too db'ficult. I difficult for sb
It was db']"wult for us because we'd never studied French
before. I difficult to see/hear/describe etc The insects are
so small that they are difficult to see without using a micro.
scope. I it is difficult to do sth Itfs dUf'wult to imagine how
anyone could possibly find .the film enjoyable. I find sth
difficult She found it extremely dUzcult to forgive him after
what he'ddone to her. I make it difficult for sb to do sth
My mother's illness made it dfficult for her to walk.
hard/ha:rd/difficult and needing a lot of mental effort or
understanding [ adj]
I thought the exam was really hard. I Trying to forget her
- that's the hardest thing of all. I it is hard to do sth They Ye
both really good - it's hard to know which one to choose. I
hard for sb It's hard forparents to understand how a child
feels. I find it hard to do sth I find it hard to believe that
he didn't know the gun was loaded.
tough It, ll very dLtTlcult and needing a lot of mental or

F27
physical effort [adjl
The reporters asked her a lot of tough questions. I It's tough
being at the top of any company. I tough to do/beat etc The
Chicago Bears are an excellent team and they're going to be
tough to beat.
daunt|rig ! da:nt1(I] if something that you are going to do
is daunting it seems very difficult and makes you worried
that you may not succeed [adjl
Climbing Everest is a daunting challenge for any moun-
taineer. I daunting task Rescue workers now face the daunt-
ing task of clearing up after the earthquake. I find sth
daunting She found the prospect of playing against
Navratilova both daunting and exciting.
be no easy task/bi: nao ,i:zi 'to:sk II -'task/if doing
something is no easy task, it is very difficult and takes a
lot of time and effort Iv phrase]
Finding a solution to the present crisis in the Middle East
is no easy task. I The roads are often dangerous, and getting
food to the civilian population has proved to be no easy task.
take some do|rig I tck sam du:rj/an informal expres-
sion: if something takes some doing it needs a lot of effort,
skill, or determination, and you admire someone who does
it Iv phrase not in progressive]
Winning 3 gold medals in the Olympic Games takes some
doing. I I'm amazed she could write a new book every 6
months - it must have taken some doing.
be a trail order/bi: a ta:l a: rdor/an informal expression:
if you say that something you have been asked to do is a
tall order, you mean that it seems very difficult and you
think it is unlikely that you will be able to do it [vphrase]
"'Can you finish all this work by Friday? .... Sounds like
rather a tall order to me. I'll see what I can do. ""
it's easier sa|d than done/Its i:zia r ,sed an d^n/
if you say that a suggested action or plan is easier said
than done, you mean that it is more difficult than people
realize
"'Why don't we save some money and buy a house? .... That's
much easier said than done." I I'm always saying In going
to give up smoking, but it's easier said than done.
not the eas|est /not /)i: i:zist/not the easiest thing
to do/place to find/dish to make etc (=a British expres-
sion meaning it is actually very difficult to do these things)
[adj phrase only before noun]
I'll take you there myself- it's not the easiest place to get to
 you don't have a car.  "Why don't you invite Tom?"
"'Because eight o 'clock on a Sunday morning isn't the easiest
time to contact him!"
2 words for describing something that you need
all your skill, knowledge etc to do
challenging taxing
demanding exacting
be a challenge stretch
testing
challenging I tj'mlSnd3tQl difficult in an enjoyable and
interesting way because you need to use all your skill,
knowledge, and determination to do it [adj]
Teaching young children is certainly challenging, both men-
tally and physically. I She lgft her last job becauseshe didn't
find it challenging enough.
demanding Id[ raamdrj [[ d] mam-/a job or something
that you have to do that is demanding is difficult because
you have to work hard and use a lot of effort [adj]
My doctor has told me that l shouldn't try and do anything
too physically demanding. I The new recruits ho to get used
to a demanding schedule of training and study,
be a challenge Ibi: a t'aehnd3/ff something you are
planning to do is a challenge, it seems exciting because
it is difficult and you will need to use all your skill,
knowledge, and determination to do it Iv phrase]
I chose to study law because I thought it would be a challenge.
testing/qest]ry a testing time/experience/situation
etc (--one that makes you use all your effort, patience, and
determination and shows how strong you are mentally)
[adj usually before noun]
First we lost our business, then our house - it was a testing
time for both of us. I Fighting in a battle is probably the most
testing experience that anYone ever has to face.
Longman Defining Vocabulary - the famous, unique
2000-word Defining Vocabulary, now incorporating
changes based on word frequencies in our corpora
Collocations- again revealed by corpus research,
followed by examples of their use
British and American pronunciations - both are
given, using IPA symbols (see inside front cover)
Informal expression - essential information for
appropriate choice of word and therefore shown at
beginning of definition
Spoken Corpus example - from the BNC Spoken
Corpus, the first corpus of truly natural speech
Spoken expression - from the Spoken Corpus,
indicated by "you say" in the definition
British and American - when a word or phrase is
usually used only in a particular variety of English
Word class label
Subject restriction - to show natural, typical subjects
of an adjective or adjectival phrase
Clear definitions - show essential differences between
words' meanings
Typical subjects of adjectives or verbs - when the
choice of word is determined by the subject
Grammatical restriction - written out, not
abbreviated

How to use the Longman Language Activator
Getting the most out of the Longman
Language Activator
The Longman Language Activator is simple to use.
It is a production dictionary, designed to help you
expand your vocabulary and to produce good, appro-
priate English. The Activator is not like an ordinary
dictionary, which you probably use for reference
purposes, to look up words you do not know to t'md
out what they mean. The Activator begins with the
words that you do know and takes you to new
words and phrases so that you can use them
actively.
Putting your ideas into words with the
Activator
Suppose you have just been to a concert and were
very impressed by it, and you want to express that
idea in your English class.
You can look up IMPRESS (a word that you prob-
ably know already) in alphabetical order in the
Activator. There you will see
IMPRESS
to make someone notice something good
about you so that they admire you
1 to impress someone
2 to impress someone very much
3 to feel impressed
4 words for describing someone or
something that impresses you
5 to not impress someone
6 doing something simply in order to
impress people
You can select section 2, 'to impress someone very
much'. Go to section 2.
2
to impress someone very much
dazzle
knock sb out
wow
e / ... / to impress someone very much by
doing something special, unexpected, or unusual
Iv T]
The Princess's off-the-shoulder dress dazzled the
waiting crowds. I He's used to dazzling the audience
in his home town, but New York will be very differ-
ent.
knock sb out / ... / an informal expressioh
meaning to impress someone so much that it
makes them feel full of admiration and surprise
[phr v T] Madonna was amazing in that film - she
knocked me out. I really knock sb out Why don't
you start the gig with that song you wrote yourselff.
That'll really knock them out.
wow/... / an informal word to impress someone
very much by doing something very exciting or
unusual Iv T]
As usual Freddie Mercury wowed the crowds es-
pecially in the big songs such as "Barcelona : l She's
been wowing them at the Arts Centre with her
amazing one-woman show.
You are given three ways of expressing the idea you
have in mind. Two of them knock sb out and
wow are marked as informal, so they would be
more suitable if you wanted to talk to your friends
about being impressed by the concert. The in'st
option, dazzle, can be used generally, so if you were
writing you could use the word dazzle.
The definitions show clearly the differences in mean-
ing between the three options so that you can choose
the one that suits your idea best.
Using new words and phrases
The Activator also shows you how words and
phrases are used in English. If you chose knock sb
out and you wanted to know how to intensify the
phrase, you can see that you can use the expression
really knock sb out, which is given in bold type
with an example to show how it is used. This is how
collocations are shown in the book.
You could also look under section 3 'to feel im-
pressed'. If you weren't sure whether to use a prepo-
sition with be impressed, for example, the Activa-
tor shows this very clearly, like this:
be Impressed /... / to realize how good,
clever, or skilful something is, so that you feel
admiration Iv phrase]
It was a superb performance - even the critics
were impressed, l be impressed by I am im-
pressed by the quality of the management in this
firm. I be impressed with We are very impressed
with your progress. I be impressed (that) rm very
impressed that you "re learning Chinese.
This tells you that be impressed is often used with
the prepositions by or with. You can also see that
be impressed (that) is a typical grammatical pat-
tern.
In this way, the Activator helps you choose the
appropriate word or phrase for the context and then
helps you use it in the right grammatical and stylis-
tic way. Now let's look at how the Activator works
in more detail.

F29
Improving your English with the Activator
Like all Longman dictionaries the Activator has
been written with the needs of students and teachers
in mind. It is based on a research project that in-
cludes the analysis of the Longman Corpus of Learn-
ers' English. This helps us to understand what infor-
mation learners really need. We know some of the
problems that students have by analysing exam
scripts that have been included in the Learners'
Corpus.
Preparing for an exam
Choosing the right word when writing
Let's suppose you were writing an essay to practise
for the Cambridge First Certificate exam, and the
task was to write 50 words on why you as an em-
ployer might choose a particular candidate for a job
that had been advertised.
You could use the Longman Language Activator to
enrich the vocabulary you use in the answers, and
to make sure that the grammar and collocations are
right.
For example, if you wanted to say that you chose a
person for the job because she seemed able to deal
with situations and people, and her appearance was
right for the job, you might write: I chose Gill Smith
for the job because she was efficient and well-dressed.
This is OK, but it does sound a little bit brief. Let's
see how the Activator can help.
Look up EFFICIENT in the Activator. This is easy
because all the words are in alphabetical order.
EFFICIENT is a Key Word, one of the 1052 headings
that represent the key meanings of English. Any
user of the book should know these words, because
they are the most important and frequent words
which express the core of the English language.
They are printed in bold capital letters with a grey
circle to make them stand out.
Let's go through what you find at the Key Word
EFFICIENT then, in E. There is a general definition
of the idea of efficient, followed by a list or 'menu'
of numbered meanings that the word efficient has.
: EFFICIENT
working well and effectively without
wasting time, money, or energy
1 words for describing an organization
or system that is well-organized and works
well, without wasting time, money, or energy
2 words for describing a machine that
works well and efficiently
3 words for describing someone who does
their work efficiently, uses their time well,
and achieves good results
4 to make a business or system more efficient
5 not efficient
You have to choose the meaning that best fits with
what you want to say.
Choose the best one for the meaning you are trying
to express. You would probably choose 3, because it
refers to a person and their work. At 3 you would
find the following menu of words and phrases which
you could choose:
3
words for describing someone who does
their work efficiently, uses their time well,
and achieves good results
efficient well-organized
efficiency businesslike
effective run a tight ship
capable productive
Look at the first one, efficient. There is no further
definition because the definition at the top of section
3 applies very well to efficient. Look at the exam-
ples and you will see a particularly appropriate
one: When going for a job interview it is important
that you present a smart efficient appearance! So
efficient would be a good choice, but look at the
other options. Another good word to choose would
be capable: 'someone who is capable does things
well and confidently and does not need any help or
advice'. The examples give further support of what
the usual contexts of the word are.
Look at some of the other words. Well-organized,
business-like and productive might also be
items of vocabulary that could be used in the rest of
your answer. But remember you should read the
definitions carefully. Important distinctions in
meaning are presented there for you.
Now let's look at the other word well-dressed. Look
it up in W. You will see that it is in small letters in
bold type. It is not a Key Word, but refers you
instead to the Key Word SMARTCELL-DRESSED,
which is where all the information you need to
choose the word is given. In fact, you are referred to
section 1 of that Key Word.
Look at the menu of words and phrases under sec-
tion 1. They are listed in frequency order, with the
most general way of expressing the meaning put
first. So the first word or phrase is often the safest
choice.
1
words for describing someone who wears
good clothes and has a tidy appearance
smarl well-groomed
well-dressed sharp
presentable dapper
well turned out snazzy
Select the one you think looks most promising. Let's
look at smart. Again, always read the definition;

F30
it's in the definition that the differences in meaning
between words and phrases are clearest.
The definition says 'a British word meaning wear-
ing neat, clean, attractive clothes and having a gen-
erally tidy appearance'. If you do not want a mainly
British word, you need to look at one of the other
options. (Smart means clever in American Eng-
lish.)
choice from amongst a range of words. The Activator
can help you a lot here. This exercise is taken from
the Longrnan Language Activator Workbook by
Susan Maingay and Chris Tribble in the section
called Preparing for Exams. (It is a very good idea
for teachers to practise using the dictionary through
this workbook, to ensure that students can get the
most out of the dictionary. It will provide valuable
classroom activities as well.)
Look at well-dressed. The definition says 'wearing
good or expensive clothes'. Does this fit with what
you want to say about your imaginary job candi-
date? Perhaps the clothes sound a bit too expensive,
so try another- well turned out. Here the
definition 'someone who is well turned out has
taken care that their clothes and general appearance
are clean and neat, for example for a special occa-
sion' sounds quite appropriate.
Let's look at the examples to understand the nu-
ances of the meaning: The Principal expected every-
one to be well turned out on Graduation Day. I It
used to be accepted that everyone would be well
turned out on Sundays.
The examples also sound appropriate for someone
attending a job interview, trying to make a good
impression. But if you read the definition of smart
that fits well too. In fact either smart or well
turned out would be a good choice for your
sentence, whereas the original word well-dressed
has other overtones - of the clothes being rather ex-
pensive.
So by using the Activator you could write sentences
like:
I chose Gill Smith for the job because she was
smart and seemed capable.
I chose Gill Smith for the job because she was
well turned out and seemed efficient.
You could add to that in the rest of your answer,
using other words from the same Key Words in the
Activator.
But before we leave SMART, take a look at the
other entries for smart just before the Key Word.
They are:
smarl INTELLIGENT 1, 4, 9. SMART/WELL-
DRESSED 1
smart: not intelligent/bright/clever/smart
STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
These cross-references show you that smart is a
word that has several meanings. It is therefore of-
fered as a way of expressing the different ideas at
different Key Words. Look up the Key Words to see
how this works. Note the use of smart in the nega-
tive to express the idea STUPID. It is very common
in English to use negative expressions in this way,
for example, to say not pleased instead of saying
displeased.
Helping you with multiple-choice exercises
In exams you often have to select the correct or best
Let's choose the best word for the sentence, using
the Activator.
At one point in the meeting there was a heated
.......... between the chairman and Dr Bootle on a
matter of financial policy.
a. tiff c.
b. feud d.
squabble
exchange
The entries for three of these words (tiff, squab-
ble, and exchange) in the Activator are at the Key
Word ARGUE at section 5 'a situation in which
people are arguing'. You should be able to tell from
the definitions which word is the 'right' one.
tiff / ... / a word used especially in British
English meaning a short argument about some-
thing unimportant, especially between two
people who are in love
This is clearly not the right context and tiff is
therefore not the right word.
The definition for squabble is 'a noisy argument
about something that is not important', so this
makes it less suitable to fill the gap.
Feud is at ARGUE 6 'a situation in which there is
a serious disagreement between people, especially
concerning important public matters'. The defini-
tion of feud reads: 'an unpleasant and often vio-
lent situation between two groups, especially fami-
lies, in which people have been arguing for so many
months, years etc that they cannot remember the
cause of it'.
This does not apply to the gap-fill sentence, which
is about a formal meeting.
This is the definition of exchange: 'a very short
argument between people or groups, especially in a
formal or official situation such as a political meet-
ing'
This sounds quite appropriate for the sentence
given, and in fact exchange would be the right
choice here.
If you then go back to the examples for exchange
you will see that in fact heated exchange is given
in bold as a common collocation of exchange, and
this gives further strength to your choice of ex-
change to fill the gap in the sentence. Note how the
definition of the whole section and the definitions
of the individual words or phrases work together.
Always remember to read them carefully in order
to select one of the words.

F31
Remember as well that there is often more than one
suitable answer, although in this exercise a heated
exchange is definitely the answer the examiners
were looking for.
The Activator definitions
Different types of definition are used depending on
what makes one word or phrase the right one to use
to express a particular meaning, for example if there
is a restriction on the subject or object.
Selection restrictions
In many cases the key distinguishing feature of a
word is a 'selection restriction' of some kind: that is
a restriction on the type of subject or object a verb
is normally used with, or on the type of noun that
an adjective normally qualifies. If the key point is a
selection restriction of some kind on the subject of
a verb, an if-style definition will be used. For exam-
ple, under the Key Word FAIL, we have not come
off ... if an arrangement or business deal
does not come off, it is planned and discussed, but
then something happens to stop it...
With adjectives that show a selection restriction,
i.e. that are usually used with a narrow range of
nouns, the style we use is to show this in a bold
phrase, like this entry under SECRET:
clandestine /... / clandestine meeting/
organization/ force/ operation (= one that is
secret and usually illegal)
For verbs where the objects are restricted to a small
set of possibilities, this is also shown in bold type,
as under SUGGEST:
float / ... / float an idea/plan/proposal, etc
(= suggest it in order to find out what people
think about it)
It is essential for users to read the definition closely
because that is where word-and phrase-meanings
are distinguished from one another. Compare the
definitions for daunting and challenging under
DIFFICULT, where the difference is made very
clear:
daunting/... / if something that you are going
to do is daunting it seems very difficult and
makes you worried that you may not succeed
challenging/... / difficult in an enjoyable and
interesting way because you need to use all your
skill, knowledge, and determination to do it
Helping you get the grammar right
You should get a lot of help from the Activator in
using words in the correct grammatical construc-
tions. Here is another sample exercise from the
Maingay/Tribble Workbook:
Use the Activator to rewrite these sentences using
the word given underneath
My doctor has advised me to give up smoking.
recommend
Look up recommend in the Activator. It is under
the Key Word ADVISE. The entry reads:
recommend/... / to advise someone to do some-
thing, especially when you have special knowl-
edge because of your job or because you have
studied a situation closely
recommend that Doctors recommend that all chil-
dren be immunized against polio and tuberculo-
sis.
This shows that you have to use that with recom-
mend, so the correct grammatical use would be:
My doctor has recommended that I give up smok-
ing.
Note that there is no mention of recommend me
that. This is because this is not a pattern found in
normal speech or writing by native speakers or
other proficient speakers of English: you should
therefore not use it when you are writing or speak-
ing very correctly, for example when doing an exer-
cise or taking an exam.
Grammatical patterns are shown simply and
clearly, in bold type
As you can tell from the example above, the gram-
matical constructions that are typical of the words
and phrases are shown in bold in front Of an exam-
ple that shows how the pattern is used.
Remember is a word with a lot of grammatical
patterns. First we are told that remember can be
either intransitive or transitive [I/T/, but that it is
not usually used in the progressive.
remember /... / [v I/T not usually in pro-
gressive]
Then the grammatical constructions are listed in
order of their frequency.
remember sb Yes, I remember Jean. She has
blonde hair and blue eyes.
remember sth I was going to phone you, but I
couldn't remember your number.
remember who/why/how etc Remember
where we lived when we were first married?
They've knocked it down now.
remember that I remember that the atmos-
phere was tense between mother and father for
years before they divorced.
remember doing sth He took a long look at the
girl and faintly remembered seeing her at a
party somewhere.
remember What did I do with my car keys? Oh,
I remember, I left them on the kitchen table.
as far as I remember (= what I remember is)
As far as I remember he was a short man with
fair hair.
So all grammatical patterns are shown in bold type
in front of examples that show the use of that
pattern.
Transitive and intransitive
If a verb can be both transit.ive and intransitive,
[I/T] is given after the definition. For example, steal
is marked [I/T]. The simple transitive form (taking
a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun as its object) is
shown clearly in bold type (steal sth), as in Some-

F32
one had stolen my bike. The intransitive form (not
taking any form of object) is also shown in the bold
type (steal), as in The children were taught that
they must never steal.
is shown as another bold construction indicating
that for is the correct preposition to use with this
phrasal verb.
Grammar patterns are presented in frequency
order, that is the most common patterns come first.
This is based on the evidence from our computer-
ized Corpus Network. So you will find the single-
word pattern does not always come first. With the
example above, steal is more common in the transi-
tive (i.e. with an object) than in the intransitive (i.e.
without an object), so steal sth is shown first.
The use of the passive
If a verb is shown as [T], you can assume that it
can be passivized unless there is a note saying [not
in passive]. When the passive is very frequent this
will often be shown as a full phrase (such as be
involved ulder section 1 of the Key Word TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED) or in the bold forms as a
grammatical pattern, e.g. be confined to under sec-
tion 2 of the Key Word KEEP SB IN A PLACE.
The meaning of sb and sth
Note that when sb and sth are used in the Activator,
these abbreviations can stand for a wide range of
noun or pronoun objects. When the actual words
someone or something (as in have something
against) are part of the phrase they are written out
in full.
Sometimes you will find that the first example does
not have a bold grammatical construction. This is
only done when an intransitive use or a simple
transitive use is the only grammatical pattern.
Helping you with phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs are treated in great detail in the
Activator.. Because they are so problematic, we
'write out' all the patterns they can be used in,
again in bold type. We use the bold form to show
when transitive phrasal verbs allow the object to be
used before and after the particle and when they do
not.
Let's look at save up under section 1 of the Key
Word SAVE MONEY.
save up / ... / to save money in order to buy
something or to do something [phr v I/T]
Dave's been saving up for months to buy a new
camera. I save up sth She's saved up enough
money to take a course in computer science. I
save up for I can't possibly afford that car
now - I'll have to save up for it.
This shows you that save up can be either transi-
tive or intransitive [I/T]. The first example is of the
intransitive use save up. In the transitive use
you can say either save sth/it up or you can
move the up to before the object save up sth
(unless the object is a pronoun- you cannot put a
pronoun after a phrasal verb particle). Another im-
portant use of save up is save up for and this
Collocations - using the right words
together
English, like other languages, has many set phrases
or words that are often used together in natural
speech or writing. These collocations are shown in
the Activator when corpus evidence has shown that
the words frequently occur together.
In the previous exercise, we saw that heated ex-
change was given in bold type to show that it was a
frequent combination of words. You can also say a
heated argument, but you can only say a blazing
row, and this is shown in the Activator.
Equally important are prepositions that are used
with words and phrases. These are shown in bold in
the same way as collocations and grammatical pat-
terns are, in front of examples of how they are used.
You will find that many phrases which might be
regarded as collocations in other dictionaries are
shown in the Activator as one of the phrases offered
to you as ways to express ideas. For example, under
PRETEND, pose as is one of the options under
section 2: it is not just pose because in fact we
always say pose as.
Using the right kind of language for
the situation - informal and formal
language
A very important factor in choosing the word or
phrase that is appropriate to the context is whether
you are writing or speaking formally or informally,
or whether you are intending to be neutral. You can •
read Professor Gillian Brown's essay Informal,
formal, and spoken language and the Activator for
further explanation of when various types of lan-
guage are more suitable than others (page F22).
Because you have to be careful not to use informal
language in an inappropriate context, the informa-
tion that a word or phrase is informal is stated first
in the definition. For example, under the Key Word
SAY:
clam up/... / an informal expression meaning
to suddenly become unwilling to talk [phr v I]
So you are told here that clam up would not be
appropriate in a neutral or a formal context.
There are fewer formal words in the Activator, be-
cause they are less common in general and therefore
not really part of the core of the language. You can
take the fact that a word is not entered in this
dictionary as a sign that it is not very frequent, and
you should hesitate before using it, particularly in
speech.
Some students have a tendency to using overly

F33
formal words, which can sound unnatural, so the
fact that a word is formal is stated at the very
beginning of the definition.
Note that very often a word may sound formal, but
actually be the right word in appropriate situations.
For example, under BUY, this is the definition of
the meaning of purchase:
put©base/... / a word used especially in busi-
ness meaning to buy something big or expensive
such as a house, a piece of land, or shares in a
company etc
This means that although it would sound odd to
say: I just purchased a new dress (bought would be
the natural word in this context), it would be quite
appropriate to say My company has just purchased
a new office building.
You should find the Activator particularly helpful
in such cases, where a much more specific indica-
tion of the appropriate context and meaning is given
than in other dictionaries.
New insights into spoken English
We know much more about spoken English because
of our use and analysis of the Spoken Corpus of the
British National Corpus, and these findings have
been included -for the very first time - in the Long-
man Language Activator. When corpus analysis has
shown that a word or phrase is used mainly in
speech, we indicate this by the use of 'you say' at
the beginning of the definition. In fact, the division
between spoken and written English is not as dis-
tinct as many people think. Almost anything from
spoken language is also used in written language.
However, there are some phrases which are mainly
used in speech, such as words fail me at SAY:
you say words fail me when you are so shocked
or angry that you cannot think of anything to
say to express how you feel
Just look at this mess. Look at it. It's ... Words
fail me!
lary. This is because the examples came from specifi-
cally British or American books or newspapers in
the corpus, so the original spelling has not been
changed.
But what if you cannot get to the right
Key Word?
The Activator has special 'Access Maps' to help you
if you look up a Key Word that is close to other Key
Words in meaning, or where it is not easy for users
to know which is the right Key Word. For example,
at break:
break
which meaning?
break something
destroy something
completely
broken and not
working
a break from work, an
activity etc
in bad condition • CONDITION/
STATE OF STH
tear something • TEAR
strong and not easy • STRONG
to break OBJECT
damage something • DAMAGE
explode • EXPLODE
BREAK
DESTROY
BROKEN
PAUSE
This shows you which meanings are covered at the
Key Word BREAK, and which other Key Words you
could also look up for other similar meanings.
British English and American English
are both fully covered
The Longman Activator includes both British and
American (and other varieties of English), since it
is based on the Longman Lancaster Corpus which
includes books and periodicals from all the major
varieties. This enables us to mark items that are
used in only American or British English, and this
is shown at the beginning of the definition like this:
visit / ... / an American word meaning to talk
in a friendly way with someone, especially when
you have come to see them Iv I]
My grandmother used to love to sit and visit, but
now she's too deaf to follow the conversation. 
visit with I've been over to his house and
visited with him a few times.
Sometimes you will find British and American ex-
amples showing the different spellings and vocabu-
All the Key Words are printed at the back of the
book (page B1), so you could also look there for a
good Key Word to go to.
Meanings are always clear through the
Longman Defining Vocabulary
Like all other Longman dictionaries, the Longman
Language Activator has definitions that are control-
led as regards the vocabulary that can be used. This
is so that the definitions will not contain any diffi-
cult words that will stop users understanding the
meaning. The Longman Defining Vocabulary is
printed at the back of the book so that you can see
the words that are used. It is particularly important
that the definitions should be clear in the Activator,
because the differences in meaning are of such im-
portance to you, the user, in producing good, appro-
priate English and choosing the best word.

F34
The purpose of reference dictionaries
You will not find words such as sacroiliac or rott-
weiler in the Activator. These are words that you
generally only need to know receptively. To find
out the meaning of such words, you will need to go
to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Eng-
lish, which has 57,000 words and is an excellent
reference dictionary to use alongside the Activator.
If you also want to know the meaning of cultural
items, such as Rodeo Drive or Coronation Street,
you should use the Longman Dictionary of English
Language and Culture, which covers cultural refer-
ence items as well as the words found in the Long-
man Dictionary of Contemporary English.
Together we hope that the Activator and one of our
advanced reference dictionaries will provide you
with all that you need to succeed in your English
studies.

Grammatical information
[C] countable: a noun that can be counted and has a plural form: I'm sorry, I
made a mistake. I There are a lot of mistakes in your essay.
[U] uncountable: a noun that cannot be counted and that has no plural form:
There isn't much food left. I The book contained some interesting
information about the town.
[C/U] a noun that can be either countable or uncountable: Tell me all your
troubles. I They've had a lot of trouble at the factory.
[I] intransitive: a verb that has no direct object: He died in his sleep. I We
set off at 7 o'clock.
IT]
[I/T]
[determiner]
[quantifier]
[predeterminer]
transitive: a verb that is followed by a direct object, which can be a
noun, a noun phrase, or a clause: She hit him with her umbrella. I He
made up a good excuse. I I suggest that we go by bus. I You can
always rely on me.
a verb that can be either intransitive or transitive: I sometimes read
when I'm on the train. I She was reading a magazine.
a word that comes before a noun and shows whether or not the noun
refers to a specific thing, person etc: The dog is in the garden. I Every
student must bring a book.
a word or phrase which answers the question 'how much?' or 'how
many?' A quantifier may be followed by a noun as in several people,
plenty of money, or it may be a pronoun: If you need some envelopes, I
can give you a few.
a word used at the beginning of a noun phrase in front of the determiner:
It was quite a good film.
[not in passive]
[not in progressive]
[only before noun]
[not before noun]
shows that a verb is not used in the passive: This bird resembles an
eagle. (NOT An eagle is resembled by this bird.)
shows that the verb is not used in the progressive aspect, (that is not
following the verb be in an -ing form): He hates rock music. (NOT He is
hating rock music.)
an adjective that is used only before the noun that it describes: the main
road lan indoor swimming pool
an adjective that is used only following the noun it describes, usually
after a verb such as be, become, seem etc: The children are ill. I He
seemed glad to see me.
adj
adv
etc
n
phr v
prep
pron
sb
sth
V
adjective
adverb
etcetera; and so on
noun
phrasal verb
preposition
pronoun
somebody
something
verb

YOUNG
1587
9 looking or behaving like a young person,
even though no longer young
youthful
well-preserved
youthful/'ju--efll [adj]
At 61, she seems remarkably youthful. ] Although middle-
aged, he had a youthful appearance. I Her hair was tied back,
giving her a youthful expression. I She still manages to bring
a youthful enthusiasm and energy to her work.
well-preserved /wel pn za:rvd/someone who is well-
preserved does not show the signs of age, although they
are now getting old [adj]
Your grandmother is well-preserved, I must say. She looks
about 50 to me. [ Cliff Richard is remarkably well-preserved,
don't you think?
younger YOUNG 3
younger sister/brother YOUNG 4
youngster CHILD 1
your: my/your/his etc OWN 7
yours: be mine/yours/hers etc OWN 3
yours for the taking/asking AVAILABLE 2
yourself/herself/myself etc PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 1
yourself: be yourself again BETTER/RECOVERED 2
yourself: not feel yourself/not be yourself ILL 2
youth YOUNG 5, 6, S
youth: have youth/experience etc on your side
ADVANTAGE 3
youth: the youth YOUNG 7
youthful YOUNG 9
yuppie RICH 5
zealot
zealous
zero
zigzag
zip up
zit
zone
EXTREME 3
ENTHUSIASTIC 1
NONE/NOTHING 3
BEND 8
FASTEN/DO UP 1
MARK 4
AREA 1, 2
zone

above 2 ACCEPT
above ABOVE 1, BEFORE 14, MORE THAN A
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
above: be above/beyond reproach GOOD/MORAL 5
above all ESPECIALLY 1, MAIN 5
above board LEGAL 1
ABOVE
1 in a higher position than something
1 in a higher position than something
above overhead
over overhang
above/o'b^v/[prep/adv]
There's a light above the table. I We looked up and saw a
helicopter hovering directly above us. I La Paz, the highest
capital city in the world, is 3600 metres above sea level. I At
that time, we lived in a little apartment above a grocery
store.I Above the door a sign read "Members Only: I The
people in the room above always play their music too loud.
I from above (=seen from above) From above, the city's geo-
metric design is clearly visible.
ever/'ouvr/directly above something, or moving in the
air above something, or covering all the area above some-
thing [prep/adv]
Black clouds hung over the mountains. I The lights over the
stage suddenly grew dim and the actors came on. I Scientists
have discovered a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. I
The accident happened while the plane was flying over the
Andes in heavy cloud. I John tried to jump over the stream
and fell in. I We ran towards the wall and jumped over.
everhead ], ov r,hed! in the sky directly above you [adv]
A flock of birds passed overhead. I Her voice was drowned
out by the noise of fighter planes flying low overhead.
overhead ]' ovorhed! [adj only before noun ] The power is
carried by overhead wires.
evehang ],ov r,hO! if something such as a tree or a
rock overhangs something, it sticks out over it [v T]
The bird was sitting on a branch overhanging the water. I
The beach is overhung by black cliffs. I An ancient vine over-
hangs the terrace.
overhanging / ' ouvorherj 1/[adj] Julian waited under an
overhanging rock until the rain stopped. I We rowed down
the river beneath overhanging branches.
abreast NEXT TO 4
abreast: keep abreast of/keep up to date with
OUT 6, KNOW STH 9
abridged SHORT/NOT LONG 4
abroad FOREIGN 3
abroad: go abroad TRAVEL 4
abrupt SUDDENLY 2
abruptly SUDDENLY 1
absent THERE 8
absent: be absent HERE 7, THERE 7
FIND
absent-minded FORGET 5
absolutely COMPLETELY 1
absorb TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 4,
UNDERSTAND 5
absorbed INTERESTED 3
absorbed: be absorbed in ATTENTION 3
absorbent TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 4
absorbing INTERESTING 3
abstain NOT DO STH 2, NOT HAVE 5
abstract REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 5
absurd STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 6
absurdly: ridiculously/absurdly VERY 2
abundance: an abundance of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 4
abundance: in abundance LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 4
abundant LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4
abuse CRUEL 5, 6, INSULT 1, 3, USE STH 11
abuse: drug abuse DRUG 3
abuse: hurl abuse at INSULT 1
abuse/sexually abuse SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 10
abusive INSULT 2
abyss HOLE 3
academic INTELLIGENT 5, TEACH 5
accede to ACCEPT 4
accelerate FAST/QUICK 11
accent SPEAK A LANGUAGE 10
accent: with the accent on EMPHASIZE 1
accentuate EMPHASIZE 1
accept ACCEPT 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, BELIEVE 1
accept: finally accept ACCEPT 4
accept: take/accept ACCEPT 8
accept no responsibility for RESPONSIBLE 10
l accep t
wn  cn
accept an. Offer,
,:ggestion o request
ACCEPT
LET/ALLOW
REJECT/NOT
ACCEPT
AGREE
ACCEPT
to take something that someone offers you,
such as money, a gift, or a job
to say yes when someone asks you to do
something or offers you a chance to do
something
to say that you think a suggestion, piece of
advice etc is good or worth considering
to unwillingly accept someone's suggestion,
offer, or demand, after first opposing it or
refusing it
to accept a situation which you do not want
to accept but which you cannot change or
improve
to officially agree to accept a new law,
proposal etc, especially by voting
to accept that something has legal or official
authority
to accept something as a way of paying for
goods or services
1 to take something that someone offers you,
such as money, a gift, or a job
accept take up
take take sb up on sth
accept/ok'sept/to take something that someone offers
you, especially after considering the advantages and dis-
advantages of taking it Iv T]
accept sth I've decided to accept the job. [ She thought about
the offer for a while, but in the end decided not to accept it. [
We hope you'll accept this small gift. ] accept sth from sb
He is charged with accepting bribes from local companies.
acceptance In U] Miss Trent phoned the personnel depart-
ment to confirm her acceptance of the post (=confirm that she
was accepting it).
take/tek/to take something that someone offers you Iv T]

ACCEPT 3 ACCEPT
take sth Take the money - it's yours. I If I were you I'd take
the job. I take sth from sb My mother always warned us
never to take candy from strangers.
take up ],teik '^p! to accept an offer of money, employ-
ment, help etc after thinking about it for some time [phr
v T]
take up sth Eventually he took up his parents" offer of a
loan. I Why didn't you take up that job offer? It sounded
really interesting. I The ballet dancers decided to take up the
Norwegians" offer of asylum.
take sb up on sth/,tetk (sb) '^p on (sth)/to accept some-
one's offer to do something for you, especially some time
after the offer was made Iv phrase]
I'd like to take you up on your offer to type my report. I "If
you ever need a babysitter, let me know. "" "'Thanks, we might
take you up on that some time. ""
2 to say yes when someone asks you to do
something or offers you a chance to do
something
accept take on
say yes agree to do sth
jump at the chance/
opportunity
accept/ok'sept/Iv I/T]
accept an invitation/offer/suggestion etc It was
announced that the president had accepted an invitation to
visit Beijing. I I immediately accepted the offer. A chance like
that rarely comes around again. I accept We've asked the
professor to be the speaker at our annual dinner and he has
accepted.
say yes/,sel 'jes! an informal expression meaning to
accept an invitation or request to do something [vphrase]
We'd really like you to come to France with us this summer.
Please say yes! I Thanks for the invitation to your party. I'd
like to say yes but unfortunately I'm busy that evening. I say
yes to sth Do you really think that your mother will say yes
to lending you Ј1007
jump at the chance/opportunity /'d3^m p ot bo
,tfa:ns, po,tju:nIti II-,tfmns, a:por,tu:-/to quickly and
eagerly accept a chance to do something Iv phrase]
When I was offered a job with the BBC I jumped at the oppor-
tunity. [:jump at the chance/opportunity to do sth He
was crazy about football and jumped at the chance to play
for Michigan. [jump at the chance/opportunity of doing
sth "There are dozens of musicians who would jump at the
chance of working with me, "" he boasted.
take on /,tetk 'n II-'o:n/to accept an offer to do or
become responsible for more work [phr v T]
take on sth Thank you for asking me, but I'm afraid I just
can't take on any more work at the moment. [ The job
involves you taking on a considerable amount of extra
responsibility. [ Tim was quite happy to take on all the house-
hold chores while his wife went out to work.
agree to do sth/o,gri: to 'du= (sth)/to accept an invita-
tion or request to do something, especially when this will
involve a lot of work Iv phrase]
I've agreed to help Sarah move house this weekend. I I don't
know why you agreed to teach her to drive -you'll only lose
your temper. [ kindly agree to do sth (=used when telling
people that you are grateful that someone has agreed to do
something) Officer Browning has kindly agreed to come into
the school and give a talk on Crime Prevention.
3 to say that you think a suggestion, piece of
 advice etc is good or worth considering
accept embrace
welcome I take your point
take on board
accept/ok'sept/[v T]
accept sth Did your boss accept your suggestion or did he
just decide to ignore it? I Eastern European governments
have finally accepted the need to reform. I accept that I
accept that the school has a problem with discipline, but not
all the students are badly behaved.
acceptance In U] These theories have not found much accep-
tance among professional psychiatrists (=they do not accept
that the theories are true).
welcome/'welkom/to be very pleased to accept some-
thing that someone has suggested, because you think it is
a good idea, you strongly support it etc Iv T]
The cafeteria welcomes any suggestions for improvements. I
Companies have generally welcomed the idea of job-sharing. I
We welcome these proposals and will start implementing
them as soon as possible.
welcome [adj] Any suggestions as to what to do with all our
scrap paper would be extremely welcome (=we would wel-
come them very much).
take on board /,teik on 'b:rd/ a British expression
meaning to realize that a new idea or suggestion is
important and that it needs to be thought about seriously
Iv phrase]
take sth on board I've told him that he will have to spend
some time learning about computers but I don't think he's
completely taken this idea on board yet. I take on board sth
The management says that it will take on board suggestions
from employees about child-care facilities.
embrace/im'breis/a formal word meaning to eagerly
accept ideas, opinions etc Iv T]
In his book, Macmillan embraces this view enthusiastically.I
embrace sth wholeheartedly (=embrace it completely)
Russian President Boris Yeltsin said he wholeheartedly
embraced the need for economic reform.
I take your point/aI ,telk ja:r 'painq you say I take
your point when you accept that what someone is saying
is right
I takeyourpaint about needing new furniture but where will
we get the money? I "'It's so unfair that some women get paid
less than men for doing the same job. "" "'Yes, I take your
• point. ""
4 to unwillingly accept someone's suggestion,
 offer, or demand, after first opposing it or
refusing it
finally accept bow to
give in accede to
back down
finally accept/,fainal-i ok' sept/to accept someone's sug-
gestion, offer, or demand, after having refused it for some
time Iv phrase]
After a 3 week strike the company has finally accepted the
union's pay demands. [ The present owners of the house we
are buying finally accepted our offer of Ј62,000.
give in/,giv 'm/to unwillingly agree to accept someone's
demands after they have argued with you, asked you
repeatedly, or threatened you [phr v I]
He kept begging me for money for a new bicycle and in the
end I gave in. [ give in to President Saddam Hussein said
he refused to give in to blackmail from the United States. [
You shouldn't always give in to other people - you should
learn to stick up for yourself more.
back down / ,bmk 'daon/to agree to stop demanding that
someone must obey you or saying that your position in an
argument must be right [phr v I]
Even though it was obvious Emma's ideas were unworkable,
she wouldn't back down. I back down on Congress has
backed down on its demand for an increase in federal
spending.
bow to /'bau tu:/ bow to sb's wishes/opinions/
demands/pressure etc (=to agree to do something
because many people want you to, even though you do not
want to do it) Iv T]
The government finally bowed to public opinion and with-
drew the unpopular tax. I Industry has to bow to consumer
tastes and people want environment-friendly products.
accede to/ok'si:d tu:/a formal expression meaning to
accept someone's demands Iv T]
The chairman refused to accede to demands that the debate

ACCEPT
be adjourned. I Israel declared its support for the US policy
of not acceding to terrorist demands.
to accept a situation which you do not want
to accept but which you cannot change or
improve
accept make the best of
resign yourself to resignation
be resigned to
accept lak'sept/Iv T]
There's nothing we can do - we'll just have to accept the sit-
uation. I Lionel's father came to accept the fact that his son
didn't want to continue working in the family business.
acceptance In U] Her husband had been ill for some time,
and she received news of his death with calm acceptance.
resign yourself to/ri 'zain j:rself tu:/to decide that you
have to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation because
you do not think that you can change or prevent it Iv
phrase]
The children have had to resign themselves to the fact that
their father has gone. I I might as well resign myself to the
fact that I'm not going to get a job as a TV producer.
be resigned to/bi: rI 'zaind tu:/if someone is resigned
to an unpleasant situation, they have decided not to try and
change or prevent it because they think there is nothing
they can do Iv phrase]
Pat knew that her husband wasn't coming back and she was
resigned to being alone. I The prisoners were resigned to their
fate and were not making any form of appeal.
resigned [adj] With a resigned expression on her face,
Louise started to pack her suitcase.
make the best of I,meik 6a 'best ov/ to accept an
unsatisfactory situation and try the best you can to enjoy
it, make it successful etc Iv phrase]
Our vacation's been canceled and there's nothing we can do,
so we'll just have to make the best of it. ] I know it's cold and
raining but we're here now, so let's just make the best of it,
all right?
resignation /,rezig'neIan! the feeling that you must
accept an unpleasant situation because you cannot change
or prevent it In U]
Paul accepted the news with resignation. I Her sorrow gave
way to despair and then grim resignation.
6 to officially agree to accept a new law,
proposal etc, especially by voting
pass be carried
approve uphold
ratify rubber-stamp
pass/po:s l[ pros/if a government or a group.of people in
power pass a law or proposal, they vote to accept it Iv T]
The bill was passed unanimously in the House of Represen-
tatives last November. [ Students were generally content with
the school until the parent-teacher association passed a
motion to introduce a uniform.
approve I'pru:v! to officially accept a proposal or plan
Iv T]
The Medical Research Council said it could not approve the
use of the new drug. I The deal has already been approved
by shareholders. [ It was clear that the President was not
going to approve Congress's plans for cutting the arms
budget.
approval In U] The proposal to build the new parking lots
had been given city approval.
ratify/'rmtfa/ratify an agreement/treaty (=to offi-
cially agree to accept an agreement that someone else has
already agreed to accept) Iv T]
The US Senate refused to ratify the defence agreement. I
Under US law and a 1961 treaty ratified by 125 nations, it
is forbidden to produce cocaine except for medical use.
ratification ! I i,
,rmtf kean/ In U] Without ratification
(=unless it is ratified) the agreement cannot be implemented.
accident prone
be carried/bi: 'kmrid/ifa suggestion, proposal etc is car-
ried, most of the people at an official meeting vote in favour
of it and it is accepted Iv phrase]
Mr Black's proposal for a new health club was carried at
yesterday's meeting. [ be carried by 20 votes/lO0 votes etc
The motion to ban the sale of guns was carried by 76 votes
r(= 76 more people voted for it than voted against it). [ declare
the motion carried (=state officially at a meeting that
most people voted for it) I hereby declare the motion carried.
uphold/,^p'hoold/if a court or a judge upholds a legal
decision, they decide that it is right and they accept it Iv T]
On November 28th 1862, the court rejected the petition and
upheld the previous decision. I Each time Gleason stood up,
Judge Bart upheld his objection and ordered the jury to dis-
regard what had just been said. "
rubber-stamp / ,r^bo r 'stamp/if an official committee
or someone in authority rubber-stamps a decision, they
approve it immediately without thinking about it or dis-
cussing it because they have no real power of their own
Iv T]
In the former Soviet Union, parliament's only role was to
rubber-stamp decisions made by the party leadership.
7 to accept that something has legal or official
authority
accept
recognize
acknowledge
accept/ak'sepq Iv T]
The former President of the Philippines refused to accept the
authority of the court. I Once these principles and policies are
accepted as law, working conditions will improve immedi-
ately. I The principle of an energy tax has now been accepted
by trade associations throughout the EC.
acceptance In U] It is hoped that the regulations will meet
widespread acceptance.
recognize (also -ise British) I'rekagnaiz/recognize a
court/government/qualification (=to officially accept
that it has legal or official authority) Iv T]
Papua New Guinea became the first country to recognize the
new military regime in Fiji. I British medical qualifications
are recognized in many countries throughout the world.
recognition I ,rekag'man! In U] It was many years before
the Communist government in Peking gained official recog-
nition from the USA.
acknowledge /okinDhd5 [[-'no:-! to officially accept
that a government, court, organization, or person has legal
or official authority Iv T]
Katanga, in Zaire, was forced to acknowledge the authority
of the Congolese state. [ be acknowledged as In 1932 De
Valera was elected to be Prime Minister, and was acknow-
ledged as leader of the Irish people.
8 to accept something as a way of paying for
goods or services
take/accept
take/accept/tek, ok'sept/[v T]
Will you take a cheque? [ Many large stores now only take
their own credit cards. I I'm afraid we only accept cash.
acceptable GOOD ENOUGH 1, LET/ALLOW 12,
RIGHT/PROPER 2
accepted RIGHT/PROPER 1
access ENTER 11
accessible REACH 5, UNDERSTAND 10
accident ACCIDENT 1, 2, CHANCE/BY CHANCE 4
accident: be an accident DELIBERATELY 5
accident: be involved in an accident ACCIDENT 3
accident: by accident CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
accident: get sth by chancelaccidentlluck GET 6
accident: have an accident ACCIDENT 3
accident prone CLUMSY 1

ACCIDENT 5 accurate
ACCIDENT
an event in which someone is hurt or killed,
or something is damaged or destroyed, as a
result of bad luck or carelessness
1 an accident that someone has while doing
something, using equipment etc
2 an accident involving cars, trains, planes etc
3 to have an accident
4 happening as a result of an accident
1 an accident that someone has while doing
something, using equipment etc
accident
mishap
disaster
accident/'mksIdant/[n C]
Can you come to the workshop, Mr Harris? There's been an
accident. [ The cause of the accident is still unknown, but
human error seems the most likely explanation. [ serious
ace/dent Most serious accidents in the home involve electri-
cal equipment or hot liquids. [ shooting/riding/skiing etc
accident He had never recovered from the death of his best
friend in a shooting accident.
mishap/'mishmp/an accident that does not have very
serious results, especially one caused by someone making
a mistake In C]
It was just a slight mishap, with no apparent damage to the
aircraft. I In spite of a mishap at the nuclear plant there was
never any danger of a radiation leak. I without mishap
(=safely,with no accidents or problems) We managed to get
all three boats through the rapids without mishap.
disaster/di 'zo:sto r [[ di'zms-/a very serious accident in
which many people are killed and great damage is caused
[n C]
The Great Fire of 1666 was probably the biggest disaster in
London's history. I the Chernobyl/Three Mile Island etc
disaster Since the Chernobyl disaster people have become
much more worried about nuclear power.
2 an accident involving cars, trains, planes etc
accident pile-up
crash , disaster
wreck collision
accident/'mksdant/In C]
I'm sorry I'm late. There was an accident on the Tadcaster
road. [ She was in an automobile accident but she's not seri-
ously hurt. [ An accident on the runway caused the closure
of Brussels airport today. I bad/nasty/serious accident
As usual, the fog and icy roads had led to several very nasty
accidents.
crash/krmf/an accident in which a vehicle or plane hits
something violently and is damaged or destroyed In C]
Her husband died in a car crash in 1981. I We can only guess
at what caused the plane crash. It could have been an engine
fire. I Seat belts can prevent you from being knocked uncons-
cious in a crash.
wreck /rek/ an American word meaning an accident
involving cars or other vehicles In C]
There's a wreck out on Highway Nine. [ Nobody could have
survived the wreck.
pile-up/'pad ^p/a serious road accident in which many
cars or other vehicles crash into each other In C]
The pile-up happened in thick fog and caused a seven-mile
tailback on the motorway. I Amazingly, no one was hurt in
a 17 car pile-up on the expressway near Boston.
disaster/d;'zo:sto r ][ d;'zms-/ a very serious accident
involving a train, plane, or ship, in which many people are
killed In C]
The city has a contingency plan for dealing with a major
disaster such as a rail crash. I the Paris air disaster/Zee-
brugge disaster etc The Paris air disaster was caused by
a faulty cargo bay door.
collision /ko'lISan/ an accident in which two or more
vehicles, planes, or ships hit each other while travelling
fast In C]
collision with A school bus has been involved in a collision
with a fuel tanker. [ collision The risk of a mid-air collision
over central London has increased dramatically. I head-on
collision (=between two vehicles moving directly towards
each other) These inflatable air bags are designed to pro-
tect car drivers in head-on collisions.
3 to have an accident
have an accident
crash
be involved in an accident
have an accident /,hmv on 'mksdnt/[vphrase not in
progressive or passive]
You shouldn't go so fast on that motorcycle, you'll have an
accident! I Jack's had an accident at school! They've taken
him to the hospital.
crash/krmf/to have an accident in a car, train, plane by
violently hitting another vehicle or something such as a
wall or tree Iv I]
Prost lost control at the first bend and crashed. I The plane
crashed shortly after take-off. [ crash into/onto The bus
crashed into an embankment before bursting into flames.
be involved in an accident /bi: [n,volvd ;n on
'mksdant I[ -,v:lvd-/a formal or official expression mean-
ing to have an accident [v phrase]
If you are involved in an accident, wearing a seat belt will
halve the risk of death. I Stolen cars are more likely to be
involved in accidents.
4 happening as a result of an accident
accidental
accidental/,mks 'dentl-/accidental death/damage/
injury etc (=happening in an accident) [adj]
The statistics for accidental deaths show mining to be one
of the most dangerous occupations. I Your car insurance
covers all accidental damage and related injuries. I The com-
pany had to prove that Jim's back injury was purely
accidental.
accidental ACCIDENT 4, CHANCE/BY CHANCE 2,
DELIBERATELY 5
accidental death DIE 2
accidentally/by accident DELIBERATELY 4
acclaimed PRAISE 4
acclimatizelacclimatize yourselflbecome acclimatized
USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO :3
accommodate HOME
9
accommodating HELP 7
accommodation HOME :3
accommodation/accommodations STAY WITH SB, IN
A HOTEL ETC 4
accompanied: be accompanied by WITH 1
accompany WITH 2
accompanying WITH 6
accomplice HELP 8
accomplish DO :3
accomplished GOOD AT 1
accomplishment DO 9
according to DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 3, SAY 12,
SAY/STATE 11
account DESCRIBE , EXPLAIN 6
account: give an account of DESCRIBE 2
account: on account of BECAUSE 1
account: on no account ADVISE 2
account for BE 3, REASON 7, 8
accountable: be accountable RESPONSIBLE 3
accumulate GET 7, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5
accurate CORRECT 1, EXACT 2, TRUE 2

accusation 6 ACCUSE
accusation ACCUSE 3
accusations: make accusations
accuse ACCUSE 1
ACCUSE 1
ACCUSE
to say that someone is guilty of a crime or of
doing something bad
to accuse someone
to officially accuse someone
a statement accusing someone
an official written statement accusing
someone
someone who accuses someone else
someone who is officially accused in a court
of law
I tO accuse someone
accuse confront
make accusations charge
allege point the finger at
make allegations accusingly
accuse 10'kju:z/[v T]
accuse sb of doing sth Are you accusing me of telling lies? [
The report accuses administration officials of "hiding the
facts and misleading the public'. [ accuse sb of sth Pro-
testers angrily accused the police of violence and intimida-
tion. [ accuse sb How can you accuse me without knowing
all the facts?
make accusations/meik I ekj°'zeifanz/to make state-
ments accusing someone of doing something bad or illegal
[ v phrase ]
During the argument he made several accusations which he
later regretted. I make accusations against A number of
students have made accusations against the police. I make
wild accusations (=make accusations without knowing
all the facts) You can't go around making these wild accu-
sations.
allege Io'leds/to say publicly on TV, in a newspaper etc,
that something bad or illegal has been done, but without
giving any proof Iv T]
it is alleged that It has been alleged that senior officials
were involved in a $20 million drugs deal. I allege that In
a statement to the press, she alleged that her husband had
planned to kill her. [ be alleged to have done sth She is
alleged to have used public money to buy expensive presents
for her friends. [ allege corruption/dishonesty/wrong-
doing etc Letters alleging racial discrimination in local
government have been printed in all the newspapers.
alleged [adj only before noun] When questioned about the
alleged incident (-the incident that was alleged to have hap-
pened) he claimed to know nothing.
allegedly/o'ledsIdli/[adv] Troops allegedly fired into the
crowd (=it is alleged that they fired into the crowd) killing
twelve people.
make allegations/meek ,mli'gelfanz/to make public
statements that something bad or illegal has been done,
without giving any proof Iv phrase]
The newspaper made several allegations, none of which
turned out to be true. I make allegations against The
allegations that the press made against him have seriously
damaged his career. [ make a serious allegation Be
careful! That's quite a serious allegation to make.
confront/kontfrAnt/to accuse someone of doing some-
thing by showing them the proof against them Iv T]
confront sb with the evidence/proof etc When he got
home his father was there to confront him with the evidence. [
When they'd confronted him with proof of his criminal activi-
ties, he knew that he had to tell the truth.
charge /to:rdS/ to publicly accuse someone of doing
something illegal or bad Iv T]
charge sb with sth The newspaper is going to publish an
article charging the government with corruption. [ charge
sb with doing sth He made a very long speech charging the
delegates with being ineffective and wasteful.
point the finger at/,pant 6o 'fiogor rot/to accuse some-
one when you think they are likely to be guilty but you do
not have any proof Iv phrase]
Someone's lost the letter and my boss is pointing the finger
at me. I A report from NASA pointed the finger at gases used
in aerosols as the probable cause of the contamination.
accusingly/o'kju:zIOli/if you look at, point at, or speak
to someone accusingly you do it in a way that shows you
are accusing them of doing something bad [adv]
She suddenly pointed at me, and everyone looked at me accus-
ingly. [ "'You did it, Tom, "'she said accusingly. "7 know you
didn't mean to, but you did do it. ""
accusing [adj only before noun] "'Where have you been?"
She asked in an accusing tone of voice.
2 to officially accuse someone
charge impeach
bring charges/ prosecute
press charges put sb on trial/
indict bring sb to trial
charge /to:rd3/ if the police charge someone with a
crime or an offence they make an official statement accus-
ing that person Iv T usually in passive]
be charged with sth The man they arrested last night has
been charged with murder. [ be charged 12people involved
in the demonstration have been arrested and charged. ]
charge sb with sth They're going to charge him with
dangerous driving.
bring charges/press charges /,brirj 'tfo:rdSoz,
,pres-/to make an official statement accusing someone of
a crime or an offence, so that they will be judged in a court
of law Iv phrase]
bring/press charges against Curran decided to bring
charges against the man who attacked him. I Charges have
been brought against the demonstrators. 1 bring/press
charges He's in trouble this time. The police have said
they "re going to press charges.
indi©t/m'daq a word used especially in the American
legal system meaning to officially accuse someone of a
crime or an offence, so that they will be judged in a court
of law Iv T ]
be indicted A leading cocaine-trafficker has been indicted
by the United States government. I indict sb for sth He was
indicted for perjury before a grand jury.
indictable [adj] Drug trafficking is an indictable offence
(=an offence for which someone can be indicted).
indictment In U] The prosecution must give notice at the
time of indictment (=when someone is indicted) if it is seek-
ing the death penalty.
impeach IIm pi:tf! a word used especially in the Ameri-
can legal system meaning to officially accuse an important
public official or politician of a crime while in a position
of trust Iv T]
impeach sb Congress voted to impeach President Nixon, but
he resigned before any action was taken. [ impeach sb for
sth The governer was to be impeached for accepting bribes.
impeachment In U] The President faced impeachment by
Congress for "high crimes and misdemeanors'.
prosecute/'pmsikju:t 11 'pro:-/to start the official legal
process of accusing someone of a crime and punishing
them for it Iv I/T]
prosecute sb She is determined to prosecute the owner of the
dog that attacked her child. [ People who give the police false
information will be prosecuted. ] prosecute sb for sth A few
newspapers have been prosecuted for libel. [ prosecute If you
don't pay those bills soon we'll be forced to prosecute.
prosecution/,pmsikju:lan [[ ,pro:-/ In U] evidence that
could lead to the arrest and prosecution of car thieves
put sb on triailbring sb to trial/,pot (sb) n 'traiol,
,brIrJ (sb) to 'traml/to send someone to a court of law where
they will be officially accused of a serious crime and will
be judged Iv phrase]

ACCUSE ? across the board
be put on trial It was unusual for political offenders to be
brought to trial. I put sb on trial for sth A Glasgow girl
was put on trial for poisoning her lover. I These men were
bought to trial for a crime they did not commit. I put sb on
trial When are the police going to catch these terrorists and
bring them to trial?
a statement accusing someone
accusation
allegation
charge
accusation I,mkj'zeSanl a statement that someone is
guilty of a crime or of doing something bad In C]
I have listened to your accusations, and there isn't a word
of truth in them. [ accusation of sth A judge is investigat-
ing accusations of torture by the secret police. [ accusation
against sb How do you answer the accusations made
against you by your ex-wife? [ face an accusation (=to be
likely to be accused of a crime or an offence) The company
chairman faces serious accusations of fraud. [ wild/un-
founded accusation (=not based on facts and so very
unlikely to be true) I demand that you withdraw these wild
accusations.
allegation/,ml 'geSanl a public statement on TV, in a
newspaper etc accusing someone of doing something bad
or illegal, but without giving any proof [n C]
allegation about The book contains shocking allegations
about his private life. I allegation that There are allega-
tions in the press that the fire was started deliberately. I
allegation of bribery/brutality/torture etc There was
a very serious allegation of brutality made against thepolice
in a TV programme. I serious allegation These are seri-
ous allegations. Have you any evidence to support them?
charge/ta:rdS/a public statement accusing someone of
doing something bad or illegal |n C]
charge that The President denied the charge that the plane
was on a spying mission. [ charge of sth/doing sth Trans-
port managers found themselves open to charges of ignor-
ing safety precautions. [ charge against sb These charges
against my colleague are clearly false and must be with-
drawn. [ counter a charge (=to say that a charge is not
true) Those involved in the scandal were quick to counter the
charges made against them.
4 an official written statement accusing
someone
charge
indictment
charge/ta:rdS/an official statement made by the police
accusing someone of a crime or an offence In C]
charge against sb What are the charges against the
accused? [ on a charge He appeared in court on a murder
charge. [ charge of burglary/theft/fraud etc He faces a
charge of armed robbery. [ drop charges (=decide to stop
accusing someone) Police have dropped the charges due to
lack of evidence.
indictment/n'daitmant/a word used especially in the
American legal system meaning an official written state-
ment accusing someone of a crime or an offence In C]
The indictment charged him with murder. [ A 15page indict-
ment was placed before the panel of judges.
5 someone who accuses someone else
accuser
prosecutor
the prosecution
accuser/a'kju:zor/someone's accuser is the person who
accuses them of doing something bad or illegal In C]
I'm not afraid to meet my accusers and I am prepared to
prove my innocence. [ He listened in silence and then turned
to face his accuser.
prosecutor/'pms;kju:ta r l[ 'pro:-/the lawyer who offi-
cially accuses someone of a crime or offence in a court of
law and tries to prove that they are guilty In C]
The chief prosecutor told the court that Johnson was guilty
of a horrible crime and asked for the maximum sentence. [
A specialprosecutor was appointed to deal with thatpartic-
ular case.
the prosecution/6a ,pros; 'kju:fan [I -,pro:-/the group
of lawyers in a court of law who try to prove that the person
accused of a crime is guilty In singular with singular or
plural verb in British English]
The prosecution alleged that the men took part in a plot to
kill the President. [ McFarlane will appear as a witness for
the prosecution.
6 someone who is officially accused in a court
of law
the accused
defendant
be on trial
the accused 16i a'kju:zd/the person or group of people
who are officially accused of a crime or offence in a court
of law |n singular or plural]
The witness told the court that she had never seen either of
the accused before. [ The judge asked the jury if they found
the accused guilty or not guilty.
defendant/d 'fendant/someone who is officially accused
of a crime or offence in a court of law In C]
The police officer said the defendant had resisted arrest. I The
lawyer for the prosecution began to cross-examine the defen-
dant carefully.
be on trial/bi: on 'traIal/if someone is on trial they have
been accused of a serious crime in a court of law, and the
court will judge whether they are guilty Iv phrase]
be on trial for Tomkins is on trial for murdering his wife. I
be on trial There were four defendants on trial, all sitting
together in a line.
accused: the accused ACCUSE 6
accuser ACCUSE 5
accusingly ACCUSE 1
accustomed: be accustomed to USED TO/
ACCUSTOMED TO 1
accustomed: become/grow accustomed to USED TO/
ACCUSTOMED TO 3
accustomed: not be accustomed to USED TO/
ACCUSTOMED TO 6
ache HURT/CAUSE PAIN 31 PAIN 1
aches and pains PAIN 1
achieve DO 3
achievement DO 9
achievement: sense of achievement PROUD 2
achiever SUCCESSFUL 5
acknowledge ACCEPT 7, ADMIT 1, ANSWER/REPLY 5,
THANK 1
acknowledged: be recognized/acknowledged as
THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
acknowledgement ANSWER/REPLY 6
acknowledgements THANK 5
acoustic SOUND 3
acquaintance KNOW SB 3
acquainted: be acquainted with KNOW SB 1, KNOW
STH 3
acquainted: get acquainted KNOW SB 2
acquainted: not be acquainted with NOT KNOW 2
acquire BUY 1, COLLECT 1, GET 4, 7
acquired taste: be an acquired taste LIKE SB OR STH 4
acquit yourself well DO WELL 1
acquitted: be acquitted INNOCENT/NOT UILTY 3
acrid SMELL 5
across CROSS 1, OPPOSITE/FACE 1
across: 2 miles/1 metre etc across WIDE 2
across the board EVERYONE 4

act 8 ACTOR/ACTRESS
act ACTOR/ACTRESS 2, BEHAVE 1, DO 9, DO
STH/TAKE ACTION 1, LAW 1, PERFORM 7
act: catch sb in the act CATCH 4
act: get in on the act TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 2
act: get your act together ORGANIZE 1
act for REPRESENT 1
act up/play up BEHAVE 3
acting ACTOR/ACTRESS 3, REPLACE 3
action DO 9, DO STH/TAKE ACTION 3
action: be out of action BROKEN 2
action: course of action/course DEAL WITH 6
action: in action DO 8
action: put sth out of action BREAK 6
action: take no action DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
action: take action DO STH/TAKE ACTION 1
action-packed EXCITED 6, HAPPEN 13
activate START STH/MAKE STH START 4, SWITCH ON
OR OFF 1
active DO 8
active: be active in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
activist REBELLION/REVOLUTION 5
activities DO 9
activity DO 9, 10
activity: be a hive of activity/industry BUSY PLACE 1
actor ACTOR/ACTRESS 1
actress ACTOR/ACTRESS 1
ACTOR/ACTRESS
someone who performs in plays, films etc,
especially when this is their job
to be an actor or actress
the job or skill of being an actor or actress
to perform in a play, film etc as a particular
character
ways of saying that a play, film etc has a
particular actor or actress in it
the most important actor or actress in a play,
film etc
all the actors and actresses in a play, film etc
to perform with too much emotion or
movement
1 someone who performs in plays, films etc,
especially when this is their job
actor star
actress film star/movie star
actor/'mktar/someone, especially a man, who performs
in a play or film In C]
Harrison Ford is myfavourite actor - he's so good looking![
I didn't think the actor who played Macbeth was particularly
good. [ Los Angeles is full of out-of-work actors.
actress / ' mktrs/a woman who performs in a play or film
[n C]
I've always wanted to be an actress, ever since I was a young
girl. I The advertising campaign featured actress Joan
Collins.
star/sto:r/a famous actor or actress [n C]
Eddie Murphy is one of the most successful stars in Holly-
wood. [ Stars of screen and stage gathered at the funeral of
Alfred Hitchcock.
film star (British) I movie star (American)/'film sto: r,
'mu:vi-/a famous actor or actress who acts in films In C]
After becoming a movie star, she moved into a luxurious
home in Bel Air. [ Film stars like Michael Caine are trying
to revive the British film industry by making movies in
England.
• to be an actor or actress
act
go on the stage
act laktl Iv I]
In recent years Lewis has been acting in television dramas. I
He learned to act when he was in high-school. I That woman
just can't act/
go on the stage / ,gao tn 6a ' sted3/to become an actor
in the theatre as a job Iv phrase]
After the war David went on the stage and often appeared
in Shakespearian roles. [ My first visit to the Globe Theater
made me all the more determined to go on the stage.
3 the job or skill of being an actor or actress
acting
acting I'mAIOI [n U]
While James Dean was in New York he studied acting with
Lee Strasberg. I You shouldn't take up acting as a career; it's
a very risky business.
4 to perform in a play, film etc as a particular
character
play/play the part of
as
portray
play/play the part of/pie;, ,pie; 60 'pct:rt t)v/[v T]
After Vivien Leigh played Scarlett O'Hara she became a
household name. I I'm playing Hamlet in a local production
at the youth theatre. I In his early movies James Mason
always played the part of the bad guy. I The part of the police-
man was played by Bob Hoskins.
as/az; strong mz/if someone is in a play or film as a par-
ticular character, they act the part of that character [prep]
What did you think of Glenda Jackson as ueen Elizabeth
the First? I Clint Eastwood was excellent as the strong, silent
hero in his many westerns.
portray/po: r'treq to act the part of someone in a way that
gives a particular idea of their character Iv T]
be portrayed as In this production Lady Macbeth is por-
trayed as a strong-willed, evil woman. I portray sb as Sean
Connery portrays James Bond as a man of action who can
be both ruthless and compassionate.
portrayal In C/U1 His portrayal of Hitler (=the way he
portrayed Hitler) became famous.
5 ways of saying that a play, film etc has a
particular actor or actress in it
star with
co-star be in/appear in
feature
star/stozr/if a play or film stars someone, they are the
most important actor in it Iv T not in passioe]
Our film this evening is "Midnight Cowboy', starring Dustin
Hoffman and Jon Voight. I The 1944 production of "Henry
V" starred Lawrence Olivier as the heroic young king.

ACTOR/ACTRESS 9 ADD
co-star /'kaosto:r/ifa play or film co-stars two or more
people, they are equally important actors in it Iv T not in
passive]
The film co-stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. I A
Broadway production of "Miss Saigon ; co-starring Jona-
than Pryce and Lea Salonga, opens tonight.
feature/' fi:tfar/ifa play or film features someone, they
are an important actor in it but not the most important
actor Iv T not in passive]
The play features two promising young actresses. [ ...and
featuring Ernest Borgnine as the butler
with/wi6, w0/a play or film with a particular actor or
group of actors is one in which they act [prep]
We saw a Hitchcock thriller with Cary Grant and Grace
Kelly. I Have you seen the re-make of'King Kong" with Jessica
Lange? I Dawson is now producing a stage version of the
story with a cast of young actors from New York.
be in/appear in/bi: In, a'ptar in/to act in a film or play,
especially as one of the most important actors Iv T not in
passive]
Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh appeared together in "Gone
with the Wind'. [ Who's in the new play at the National
Theatre? [ Dustin Hoffman is currently appearing in a new
production of 'The Merchant of Venice'.
6 the most important actor or actress in a play,
film etc
star star in
co-star play the lead
star/sto:r/In CI
John Travolta was the star of'Saturday Night Fever'. I Mil-
lions flocked to watch and hear A1Jolson, the star of the first
talking picture.
co-star/Ikaosto:r/ one of two or more actors who are
equally important in a play or film In C]
Stan Laurel appeared in many comedies with his co-star
Oliver Hardy. I The girl's father is played by Fonda "s co-star,
Donald Sutherland.
star in / 'stozr :n/to be the most important actor in a play
or film Iv T not in passive]
Marilyn Monroe starred in 'Bus Stop" and 'Some Like It
Hot'.l After starring in several successful plays, the actor
made his first Hollywood film.
play the lead/,ple 6a 'li:d/to act the most important
part in a play or film Iv phrase]
Linda Evans is now playing the lead in a new romantic
drama. [ He got an unexpected chance to play the lead after
the film's original star fell ill.
7 all the actors and actresses in a play, film etc
cast
cast Iko:st II kmstl In C with singular orplural verb in Brit-
ish English]
The entire cast of the play deserves praise for this perfor-
mance. I Films like 'Ben Hur" were made with a cast of thou-
sands. I Despite a very impressive cast, the movie never really
comes alive.
8 to perform with too much emotion or
movement
overact
ham it up
overact/,ovar'mkt/[v T/T]
overact a part/role/character I thought the man who
played the mad scientist overacted the part a little. I over-
act Lucy tends to overact, even when playing roles that call
for restraint.
ham it up / ,hem t '^p/an informal expression meaning
to perform with too much emotion or movement [vphrase]
Sam's not a good actor; he always hams it up, shouting and
rushing around the stage. I It was a dull play, so Liz used
to ham it up just to get a few laughs.
l actual or now? I
actual REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 1
actually IN FACT 1, 3
acute SERIOUS SITUATION 1
ad ADVERTISE 3
ad hoc PLAN 11
ad-lib PERFORM 2
ad nauseam KEEP DOING STH 1
adamant: be adamant INSIST 1
adapt CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 2
adapt to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO :3
adaptable CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 6,
CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 8
add ADD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, COUNT/CALCULATE 4
add on ADD 1
add to INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 4,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7
add up COUNT/CALCULATE 4, LOGICAL 2
add up: not add up LOGICAL 5
add up to BE 2, TOTAL3
add variety INTERESTING 7
add variety to VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 8
add D-be:to.ether  ..... g  COUNT/
/put N:ething.together ..... ::.:. e ADD
............................... ' ............... " ............. •
ADD
to add a new part or piece to something, in
order to improve it
to add something to something you are
cooking or mixing
to add more to an amount of something or to
the cost of something
to add a quality or characteristic to something
to add something to what has just been said
or written
something that is added
1 to add a new part or piece to something, in
order to improve it
add
add on
put on
add/ed/Iv T ]
add sth If you need more storage space it's possible to add
more shelves. I By changing the display and adding a new
word-processing feature, the manufacturers have dramati-
cally improved this computer. I add sth to sth He's asked his
lawy'er to add a clause to the contract that gives him a share
of the profits.

ADD 10 ADDICTED
add on/,rod 'on II -'o:n! to add something to a building
in order to improve it or make it larger [phr v T]
add on sth Weve added on a guest room to the house, and
another bathroom too. I add sth/it/them on By adding a
garage on, you can increase the value of your home.
put on/,pot 'on II -'o:nl to add something to a machine
or piece of equipment, in order to make it work better [phr
vT]
If you put lighter wheels on your bike you can go faster. I She
put a telephoto lens on her camera.
 to add something to something you are
cooking or mixing
add
put in
add ladl [v T]
add sth to sth Add milk to the mixture before heating it.I
John added some water to the paint to make it thinner. I add
sth I think you need to add a little more salt.
put in I lpot 'ni to add something to a mixture [phr v T]
put in sth When the sauce is cooked, put in a drop of
brandy. I Mix the concrete - if it's too hard, put in more water.
 to add more to an amount of something or to
the cost of something
add
supplement
build on
add / ' ad/Iv I/T ]
add sth They seem to have added a 10% service charge - is
that legal? I add sth to sth Last week I added five new
stamps to my collection. I New fire-safety equipment had to
be installed, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the
repairs. I add to sth Catherine won't mind if you add to her
workload - she needs the extra money.
supplement ! 's^pl ament/to add something, especially to
what you earn or what you eat, in order to increase it to
an acceptable level Iv T]
She gives her children vitamin pills to supplement their diet. [
Mary found it necessary to supplement her earnings by writ-
ing articles for magazines.
build on/'bald on [[ -a:n/to do something that will add
something to what has already been achieved Iv T]
Her new job would help her build on her experience in adver-
tising. [ They are trying to build on their success by opening
new branches overseas.
4 to add a quality or characteristic to something
add
give
lend
add Imdl Iv T not in progressive]
add sth to sth Fine champagne always adds glamour to an
occasion. I Unfortunately the loud music added nothing to
their enjoyment of the dinner. I add sth The car chase isn't
really necessary to the story, but it adds an element of
excitement.
giv® Igv! to add a quality or characteristic to a person,
place, or organization [v T not in progressive]
give sth sth The new sponsor gives the theatre some respec-
tability. I give sb sth His beard gave him an air of authority.
lend/lend/to add a good quality to something, for exam-
ple by making it more interesting, attractive, or enjoyable
Iv T not in progressive]
lend sth to sth The strange music lends an air of mystery
to the movie. I The presence of the vice-president lent some
dignity to the proceedings. I lend sth Using genuine army
uniforms should help lend some authenticity.
 to add something to what has just been said
or written
add
tack on
add lad/Iv T]
"'Finally, "" she added, "'I would like to thank my family for
all their help. "" I add sth That's my report. Is there anything
you'd like to add, Peter? I add that The judge added that in
other circumstances the sentence would be longer. I ! might
add (used especially when adding something in order to
complain) The bus was two hours late and, I might add, they
tried to charge my children the full adult fare!
tack on/,trek on II -a:n/to add something to what you
have already said or written, especially something you con-
sider to be less important [phr v T]
tack on sth The company gave a very long and confusing
explanation and just tacked on a short apology right at the
end. [ tack sth/it/them on As an afterthought, they tacked
a vote of thanks on at the end of the speech.
6 something that is added
addition supplement
additive extra
addition la'dfanl [n C]
Additions are made to the list from time to time. ] addition
to There has been a last minute addition to the programme
for the President's visit. I Soon there will be a new addition
to their family.
add|tiv®/mdtiv! something added to food in order to
make it last longer, taste better or look more attractive In C]
Kids may be badly affected by some food additives. I This
product contains no artificial additives.
supplement /'s^plmant/ something that is added to
something else in order to improve it or make it complete
[nC]
Doctors believe that vitamin supplements are largely
unnecessary. I supplement to He sometimes eats fish as a
supplement to his vegetarian diet. I You'll find the very
newest words in the supplement to this dictionary.
extra /'ekstra! something which is added to a basic
product or service which improves it and also costs more
[nC]
An ensuite bathroom is an extra - it's not included in the
basic charge. [ optional extra (=one that you can choose
whether to have or not) Tinted windows and a sunroof are
optional extras.
 added MORE/EXTRA 1
.--.ii addict ADDICTED 2, 5
i addicted: be addicted ADDICTED 1, 5
ADDICTED
having a strong need for drugs, alcohol, or
other things that are bad for your health
I addicted to drugs, alcohol, or something
harmful or dangerous
2 someone who is addicted to a drug
8 words for describing a substance that makes
people addicted
4, the need to have something regularly
because you are addicted to it
5 to be addicted to something such as
chocolate, television etc, which you enjoy but
some other people disapprove of

ADDICTED 11 ADMIRE
1 addicted to drugs, alcohol, or something
harmful or dangerous
be addicted
dependent
be hooked
be addicted/bi: a'diktd/to have a strong physical and
mental need to regularly take something harmful such as
a drug, alcohol, or tobacco, and to be unable to stop taking
it even when you want to [v phrase]
be addicted to Rock star Eric Clapton became addicted to
heroin in the late 60s and had to go to a special clinic for treat-
ment. [ The children of mothers who use crack or cocaine are
often born addicted to the drug. [ be addicted I tried to give
up smoking several times before I realized I was addicted.
dependent/d'pendant/addicted to alcohol or to drugs,
especially to legal drugs which a doctor gives to you, so that
you feel you cannot live or work without them [adj]
be dependent on About 10% of the population is dependent
on some form of drug. [ Far more people are dependent on
alcohol than we realize. [ dependent It's almost impossible
to take tranquillizers for long without becoming dependent.[
drug/alcohol dependent Many drug addicts are also
alcohol dependent.
be hooked/bi: 'hokt! an informal expression meaning
to be addicted Iv phrase]
be hooked on She's been hooked on heroin since she was 15.[
get hooked Don't let your children start smoking - it's so
easy for them to get hooked.
2 someone who is addicted to a drug
addict
user
junkie
addict/'adkt/[n C]
drug/heroin/morphine ere addict A lot of women drug
addicts become prostitutes in order to get money to buy
drugs. [ Heroin addicts also run an increased risk of contract-
ing AIDS. [ addict It's difficult for most smokers to admit
that they are addicts, in the control of a very powerful drug.
user ] 'ju:zr/someone who regularly takes an illegal drug
[nC]
drug user The city has proposed a plan to register all drug
users at a special clinic. [ user Once a user himself, Gary now
works as a counsellor helping other addicts.
junkie 1' d3^rjki/an informal word meaning someone who
is addicted to drugs, especially very powerful illegal drugs
In C]
It is a dangerous part of town - there are thieves and junkies
everywhere. [ The toilets are often used by junkies who leave
their needles lying around on the floor.
3 words for describing a substance that makes
people addicted
addictive
addictive/'dIktIv/[adj]
Most addictive drugs are illegal. [ highly addictive (=very
addictive) Crack is a potent, highly addictive form of co-
caine.[ mildly addictive (=slightly addictive) The caffeine
in coffee is mildly addictive.
4 the need to have something regularly
because you are addicted to it
addiction
habit
dependence
addiction I'dIk.anl [n C/U]
drug addiction Drug addiction is now the biggest social
problem in American cities. [ addiction to Eventually she
managed to overcome her addiction to alcohol. I addiction
When you give up smoking, it is best not to try and tackle any
other addictions you may have at the same time.
habit/'habt/an addiction to an illegal drug or to tobacco
In C usually singular]
drug/cocaine/heroin etc habit His cocaine habit was
ruining his life. I By the time Thomson left prison he'd lost
a lot of weight and had a serious opium habit. [ kick the
habit (=give up the habit) Some smokers use chewing gum
containing nicotine to help them kick the habit.
dependence/dI 'pendans/addiction to alcohol or drugs,
especially legal drugs which a doctor gives you, so that you
feel you cannot continue to live or work without them In U]
drug/alcohol dependence The first thing we do is to try
to assess the client's level of alcohol dependence. [ depen-
dence on Dependence on sedatives or anti-depressants can
have a serious effect on someone's relationships and career.
5 to be addicted to something such as
chocolate, television etc, which you enjoy but
some other people disapprove of
be addicted
addict
junkie
be addicted/bi: a'diktld/if you are addicted to some-
thing, you do it, eat it, watch it etc a lot because you enjoy
it so much and you feel you cannot stop doing it [vpassive]
be addicted to He's addicted to computer games - he hardly
ever comes out of his room. [ be addicted I only started
watching it out of curiosity, but now I'm addicted!
addict I'dlkt I someone who enjoys doing, eating, watch-
ing etc something so much that they feel they cannot stop
[nC]
ehoeolate/TV ete addict My girlfriend's a real television
addict - she watches it all the time. [ Chocolate addicts are
sometimes known as "chocoholics'. [ addict I enjoyed the
programme so much when I first saw it that I quickly became
an addict.
junkie/'d3^Iki/TV/news/soap opera etc junkie (=an
informal word meaning someone who is addicted to TV etc)
[nCl
I must admit I'm a bit of a TVjunkie - I watch about 6 hours
a day on average.
addiction ADDICTED 4
addictive ADDICTED 3
addition ADD 6
addition: in addition AND/ALSO 1
additional MORE/EXTRA 1
additive ADD 6
address HOME 1, SEND 2, TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1
address: be of no fixed address/abode HOME 10
GOOD AT 1
adept
adequate ENOUGH 1, GOOD ENOUGH 1
adhere STICK 2
adhesive STICK 3
adjacent NEXT TO 5
adjoin NEXT TO 3
adjoining NEXT TO 5
adjourn PAUSE 2
adjournment PAUSE 4
adjudicate JUDGE 5, 6
adjust CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 3
adjust to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO :3
adjustments: make adjustments CHANGE/MAKE STH
DIFFERENT 3
administration GOVERNMENT 1
admirable GOOD/EXCELLENT 4
admiration ADMIRE 4
admire ADMIRE 1, LOOK AT 4
ADMIRE
to admire a person, or their abilities, qualities,
or achievements
continued

ADMIRE 19. admission
ADMIRE
continued
2 to admire someone very much or too much
3 someone that you greatly admire
4 the feeling of admiring someone
1 to admire a person, or their abilities, qualities,
or achievements
admire
respect
look up to
think highly of
have a high opinion of
be an admirer of
hold sb in high
esteem/regard
admire/admaar/to have a very high opinion of some-
one, either because of something good they have achieved,
or because they have abilities and personal qualities that
you would like to have yourself [v T not in progressive]
admire sb/sth I've always admired Sarah, ever since I rea-
lised how much she has suffered. [ He shouldn't have risked
his life just to save a cat but you have to admire his courage. [
What I really admire about her is the way she always stays
calm. [ admire sb for Lewis was probably, best known and
admired for his work on medieval literature. [ greatly
admire The book is well-researched and well-written, and
has been greatly admired.
respect/r' spektl to admire someone, even if you do not
agree with them or want to be like them, because they have
high standards and good personal qualities such as fair-
ness and honesty Iv T not in progressivel
He's not the most popular teacher, but all the students respect
him. I Logan, a long-serving Congressman and a skilled
debater, was feared and respected by his political opponents. I
respect sb for She always told us exactly what she thought,
and we respected her for that.
respected [adj] The speakers will include John Cole. the
BBC's respected political editor.
look up to/,lok 'Ap tu:/to respect and admire someone
who is older than you or in a position of authority [v T not
in progressive l
I've always looked up to Billy because he has so much
courage and determination. I The children need a father.
someone they can look up to.
think highly of/,0rk 'hadi ov/to admire someone very
much, especially because they do their job very well and
always work hard [v phrase not in progressive]
The boss thought very highly of her and was planning to pro-
mote her. I be highly thought of Sally is an excellent stu-
dent who has always been highly thought of in the school.
have a high opinion of/hev a ,hai a'pInjan ov/ to
admire a person or their abilities very much, especially
because they have special skills or very high standards in
their work [v phrase not in progressive]
The management had a very high opinion of Jeff's negotiat-
ing skills. [ She's well-organized but also very creative - I've
always had a high opinion of her.
be an admirer of/bi: an ad'maIarar ov/to admire some-
one and the work that they do, especially an important
public figure or a writer, artist etc [v phrase]
My tutor was a great admirer of Shakespeare and quoted
him constantly. I I was sorry to hear about Nureyev's death
- I'd always been one of his biggest admirers.
hold sb in high esteem/regard/Ihaold (sb) In hai
i'sti:m, r 'ga:rd/a formal expression meaning to admire
and respect someone very much [v phrase]
She was held in high esteem by all who knew her.
2 to admire someone very much or too much
idolize put sb on a pedestal
revere hero-worship
worship
idolize (also -ise British)/'aidal-aiz/to greatly admire and
love someone, especially someone such as a popular
musician or a famous sportsman or sportswoman iv T not
in progressive]
Almost 20 years after his death, Elvis is still idolized by
millions of fans. [As a child he idolized his father, until his
parents divorced.
revere Iri 'vlar/to respect someone very greatly for their
achievements or personal qualities, especially someone in
public life [v T not in progressive]
He was one of the best actors in Hollywood and was revered
by his fellow artists. [ When the scale of corruption was rev-
ealed they turned against the leader they had once revered.
worship/'wa:rIp/to admire and love someone so much
that you cannot see any faults in them [v T not in
progressive]
He had worshipped his wife and was absolutely devastated
when she died.
put sb on a pedestal/,pot (sb) on a 'pedIstal/to admire
and love someone so much that you regard them as being
very special and you will not believe anything bad about
them Iv phrase]
I suppose I did put him on a pedestal but I was young at the
time.
hero-worship / 'hIarao ,wa:rp/to greatly admire some-
one, especially someone who is older than you, such as
your father or an older school friend, and want to be like
them [v T not in progressive]
The brother Ion had once hero-worshipped was now a failure
and turning to him for help.
3 someone that you greatly admire
idol
hero/heroine
idol/'aIdll someone such as a famous actor, musician, or
sportsman who is greatly admired by other people [n C]
The idol of her teenage years was an exiled Russian ballet
star. I The former President, once the idol of the nation, now
lives in total obscurity. I The book tells the story of screen idol
Marilyn Monroe's rise to stardom.
hero/heroine/'hIrao, 'heraoIn/your hero or heroine
is a man or woman that you admire very much because
they are very intelligent, very skilful etc [n C]
I was 15 when I first read Virginia Woolf, who later became
my heroine. I I love stories about Babe Ruth, he's my abso-
lute hero.
4 the feeling of admiring someone
admiration
respect
adulation
admiration/,edma'reij'n/In U]
He watched with admiration as she quickly made an entire
meal out of some ham, eggs and cheese. I full of admiration
I am full of admiration for the charity work you have done.
respect/ri ' spekt/admiration for someone, especially for
their good personal qualities or for the way they do their
job, so that you feel they deserve to be respected [n U]
have respect for I've known Rosa for over six years and I
have the greatest respect for her judgement. I win/earn/
gain the respect of(=get someone's respect) With hisfirm
and decisive handling of the dispute, he had earned the
respect even of his political opponents. I mutual respect
(=when two people respect each other) The talks will only
succeed if there is mutual trust and respect between the two
sides.
adulation/,eds°len/great love and admiration for
someone, especially for a famous public figure [n U]
She had to admit that she enjoyed the adulation that came
with being a famous film star. I The worry is that the exces-
sive adulation she receives from her followers may make her
lose touch with political realities.
 admirer: be an admirer of ADMIRE 1
 admission ADMIT6
 admission: gain admission ENTER 6

admit
 admit ADMIT 1, 3, 5, ENTER 8
... admit: I must admit/I must confess
ADMIT 3
ADMIT
1 to accept unwillingly that something is true or
that someone else is right
2 how you say that you admit something is true
3 to tell someone unwillingly about something
you have done, something you like etc,
especially when you are ashamed or
embarrassed about this
4 to admit that something you said or believed
was in fact wrong
5 to admit that you have done something
wrong, especially something criminal
6 a statement in which you admit that you were
wrong or admit that you have done
something wrong
I to accept unwillingly that something is true or
that someone else is right
admit
acknowledge
concede
admit/d'rmt/[v T]
"'Well, I suppose there is some truth in what you say, "" she
admitted. I admit (that) In the end he had to admit that I
was right, t Sara finally admitted that her son was very ill
and needed to see a doctor. I You may not like her, but you
have to admit that she's good at her job. I admit it You
enjoyed the concert, didn't you? Come on, admit it.
acknowledge/ak'nolid 5 [[ -'no:-/to admit unwillingly
that something is true, especially if you do not intend to
let this change your opinion or your plans Iv TI
acknowledge (that) He acknowledges it's going to be a
tough job, but he's going to try it anyway. I The senator"
acknowledged there was an acute homelessness crisis, but
could not guarantee the passage of the appropriations bill. I
acknowledge sth You have to acknowledge the truth of
what she says.
acknowledgment/acknowledgement In C/U/ We have
yet to hear any acknowledgement from them that a problem
actually exists.
concede /kan'si:d/ to admit that something is true
although you wish that it was not true Iv T]
concede (that) He had to concede that some of her suspicions
had been justified. I Janis was forced to concede that much
of her argument was based not on knowledge but on prej-
udice. [ "'OK, so Communism has never worked in practice, ""
he conceded. "'But that doesn't mean it never can. "'
2 how you say that you admit something is true
 admittedly let's face it
it's true that there's no getting
I grant you/granted around it
admittedly lad'mItaldli/[adv]
Admittedly, Tony's always been a lousy husband, but he does
have some good points. [ Yes, I have studied Japanese -
though not for long, admittedly.
it's true that/its tru: 6at/(used when you admit that
what someone has said is true, but you want to add some-
thing new or different that is also important)
Of course it's true that a lot of women like looking after chil-
dren, but that doesn't mean that's what all women want to
do.
I grant you/granted/aI 'gra:ntju:, 'gro:ntId [[-'grent-/
(used when you admit that what someone had said is true,
but you do not think it is very important or makes much
difference)
13
ADMIT
I grant you it's a nice piece of furniture, but is it really worth
all that money? I She doesn't have much experience, granted,
but she's eager to learn. I Oh, he's intelligent, I'll grant you
that.
let's face it/lets 'fe[s it/(used when you mean that it has
to be admitted that an unpleasant fact is true)
Let's face it, Tony, there's no way they're going to give us a
raise. [ People are basically selfish, let's face it.
there's no getting around it/6earz ,nao getlrj a' raond
t/(used when you admit that something is true and that
it must be considered when making a decision)
There's no getting around it - my husband is in love with
another woman. [ there's no getting around the fact that
There was no getting around the fact that Dr Casey was by
far the most experienced candidate for the job.
3
to tell someone unwillingly about something
you have done, something you like etc,
especially when you are ashamed or
embarrassed about this
admit to be honest/to tell the truth
confess I must admit/I must confess
admit/ad'mit/[V T]
"'Yes, I was scared, '" Jenny admitted, "and I realize now that
I should have taken more care. "[ admit (that) The prime
minister admitted that mistakes had been made. [ She admits
that she occasionally bets on horses. [ admit doing
sth/admit to doing sth A quarter of workers admit to
taking time off when they are not ill. [ freely/openly admit
(=willingly admit something that other people would be
ashamed to admit) Phillips freely admits to being a racist.
confess/kan' fes/to admit something about yourself that
you are embarrassed about, especially something about
your character or your abilities Iv T]
"'I've never dared go there on my own, "'Phil confessed. [ con-
fess (that) I tried to get Alan to confess that he didn't really
understand the system. [ confess to sth He confesses to
having a secret admiration for his opponent in the election.
to be honest/to tell the truth/ta bi: 'on,st, ta ,tel 6a
'tru:0 [[ -'o:n-/(you say to be honest or to tell the truth
when you admit something that other people might dis-
agree with or disapprove of)
"'What did you think of John? .... To be honest, I didn't like
him at all. "" [ No, I didn't miss that train. To tell the truth
I forgot all about our appointment. [ To beperfectly honest,
Katy, I don't really care whether I pass or fail.
I must admit/I must confess/m ,mASt ad'mlt, aI ,mAst
kan' fes/(you say I must admit or I must confess when you
admit that you do not know something, cannot do some-
thing etc)
I must admit I never was very good at dancing. [ When I was
offered the job I was tempted, I must admit. [ I don't really
like kids, I must confess.
4 to admit that something you said or believed
was in fact wrong •
take back climb down
I stand corrected eat your words
take back/,te;k 'bmk/to say that a criticism you previ-
ously made was wrong [phr v T I
take back sth Itake back everything Isaid. [ take it back
She had no right to talk to you like that. You should go in
there and make her take it all back.
I stand corrected/aI ,stand ka'rektd/(a formal Brit-
ish expression used when you admit that something you
previously said was wrong, after someone has told you you
were wrong)
Sir Humphrey is perfectly correct, last year's profits were Ј12
million, not Ј14 million. I stand corrected.
climb down/,kla[m 'daon/if someone, especially some-
one in a position of power, climbs down, they admit that
they were wrong, especially when they were previously
very certain that they were right [phr v I]

ADMIT 14 ADULT
climb down on The President refuses to accept that he has
climbed down on the issue of tax cuts. I climb down Euro-
pean Court decisions have forced several employers to climb
down and change their policy on women's pay.
climb-down/klaim daon! In C/the most spectacular and
unexpected climb-down in recent political history
eat your words / li:tj3: r w3:rdz/if you have to eat your
words you have to admit that you were wrong because
what you said would happen did not in fact happen Iv
phrase]
Inever thought Clare would be any good at this job, but I've
had to eat my words. I make sb eat their words As for all
those journalists who said she was bound to lose, well, she's
certainly made them eat their words.
5 to admit that you have done something
wrong, especially something criminal
admit own up
confess come clean
admit/ad'mIt I [V T/
admit (that) Derek finally admitted he had stolen the
money. I The company is now admitting that pollution regu-
lations were breached. I admit doing sth/admit to doing
sth He admits to having used cocaine and heroin. I Jacob-
son admitted giving false information. I admit it Admit it!
You lied to me!l admit sth He admits robbery but not
assault. 1 admit responsibility/liability/negligence
(=admit publicly that something is legally your fault) The
hospital refused to admit liability for the deaths of two young
children.
confess /kan'fes/ to admit formally, especially to the
police, that you have done something criminal or illegal
Iv I/T/
confess (that) She confesses that she killed her husband, but
says she was severely provoked. I confess to doing sth
Edwards confessed to being a spy for the KGB. I confess to
a crime/robbery/murder etc Occasionally people will
confess to crimes just to get attention. I confess After two
days of questioning, the suspect finally confessed.
own up ! zon ^Pl to admit that you have done something
wrong, especially something that is not serious [phr v I/
own up to sth/to doing sth No one owned up to breaking
the window. I own up Unless the guilty person owns up, the
whole class will be punished.
come clean /,kAm 'kli:n/ an informal or humorous
expression meaning to admit that you have done some-
thing wrong, especially when you have been trying to avoid
admitting it Iv phrase]
It was you who used up all the coffee, wasn't it? Come clean! l
come clean about It's time the CIA came clean about its
attempts to destabilize the Castro regime.
6 a statement in which you admit that you were
wrong or admit that you have done
something wrong
admission
confession
admission/ad'mJIan/In CI
by/on your own admission (=as you yourself admit) On
his own admission, Richard has always been impatient. I
admission of guilt (=an admission that something is your
fault) The police interpreted his nervousness as an admis-
sion of guilt. I admission that The senator's admission that
he had lied to Congress shocked many Americans. I admis-
sion Do you mean to say you only married Jack for his
money? What an admission!
confession/kan' fen/a formal statement, usually given
to someone in a position of authority, saying that you have
done something wrong or illegal In C/
Sergeant James wrote down every word of Smith's confes-
sion. I false confession Police are sometimes accused of
bullying suspects into making false confessions. I make a
confession At three o'clock this morning, Maxwell finally
made a confession.
 admittedly ADMIT2
.. adolescence YOUNG 5
 adolescent YOUNG 6
adopt
adorable
adore
adorn
adulation
adult
adult life
LOOK AFTER SB 5
NICE 3
LIKE SB OR STH 2, LOVE 3
DECORATE 2
ADMIRE 4
ADULT 1, GROW/GET BIGGER 2, SEX/HAVE
SEX WITH 11
ADULT 2
@ ADULT
someone who is fully grown and not a child
any more
the time when someone is an adult
to become an adult
1 someone who is fully grown and not a child
any more
adult n grown-up adj
adult adj grown man/woman
grown-up n full-grown/fully grown
adult/'ed^lt, a'd^lt/[n C/
Most children are taught to obey adults without question. [
Since I left school my parents have started to treat me like
an adult. I Children cannot be admitted to the museum unless
they are accompanied by an adult.
adult/'ed^lt, ad^lt/someone who is adult has reached
the age when they are fully grown and not a child any more
[adj only before noun ]
Over 30% of the adult population were illiterate. I Although
the book is intended mainly for adult readers, it should
appeal to most children. I In a wolf pack, a single adult male
becomes dominant.
grown-up/, graon 'Ap-/a word used especially by or to
children meaning an adult In C/
Grown-ups are so boring! All they want to do is talk! I At
home there was always a grown-up to turn to if you were in
trouble.
grown-up I' graon Ap/a word used especially by or to chil-
dren: someone who is grown-up is an adult [adj]
"'I wish I was grown-up, "" said Albert. I She has three grown-
up sons. I grown-up party/clothes/food etc (=for people
who are grown-up) At twelve years old, this was the first
grown-up party she'd been to.
grown man/woman / ,graon ' men,  women/an expres-
sion meaning an adult man or woman, used especially
when you think someone is not behaving in the way an
adult should behave In C/
He should be able to cook for himself- he's a grown man.I
I think it's disgraceful, all those grown men acting like
children. I She's crazy - a grown woman letting a girl like
that order her around.
full-grown/fully grown/,fol 'graon, ,foE-/an animal
that is full-grown or fully grown has reached its full adult
size [adj]
A full-grown blue whale may be up to 30 metres long. I Many
of these animals die before they are fully grown. I On the
branch in front of me I saw the massive head of a full-grown
python.
2 the time when someone is an adult
adulthood
maturity
adult life
adulthood/'edAlthod, a'd^lthod/[n U/
Children often want to leave home as soon as they reach
adulthood. I At that time only six out often children survived
to adulthood.

ADULT 15 ADVANTAGE
maturity/ma'tSoarlti/the time when a person, animal,
or plant has grown or developed completely [n U]
The plant reaches maturity after two years. [ The coming of
maturity is marked in many cultures by a special ceremony.
adult life/, edhlt lalf/the part of someone's life when
they are an adult [n U]
He has spent most of his adult life in the States. [ Never before
in my adult life had I been unable to cope with a situation
like this.
3 to become an adult
grow up
mature
come of age
grow up/,grao '^p/[phr v I]
What do you want to be when you grow up? I Theprocess of
growing up can be very difficult for some adolescents. I Many
women don't want to take a job outside the home until their
children have grown up. I Of course I know him - I grew up
with him in New York.
mature/ma ' tJ'oar/to become more like an adult and have
emotions and reactions more like an adult's [v I]
Girls tend to mature more quickly than boys, both physically
and emotionally. °
come of age [ IkAm av 'eldsI to reach the age, usually 18
or 21, when you have the legal rights of an adult [vphrase]
Emma will inherit a fortune when she comes of age. I Dan
will come of age in January. I They planned to marry as soon
as she came of age.
adultery UNFAITHFUL 3
adulthood ADULT 2
advance BEFORE 3, FORWARD 2, PROGRESS 1 3
'
advance: further/advance your career SUCCESSFUL 1
advance: in advance BEFORE 3
advance: pay in advance PAY FOR 3
advance/further HELP 5
advance on TOWARDS 2
advanced ADVANCED 1, 2
ADVANCED
words for describing machines, systems,
countries etc that use the most modern
equipment, ideas, and methods
1 words for describing advanced machines,
systems etc
2 words for describing advanced countries
1 words for describing advanced machines,
systems etc
advanced be ahead of its time
sophisticated at the leading edge of/
high-tech/hi-tech cutting edge of
state-of-the-art
advanced/ad'vo:nst II ad'venst/[adj]
The factory has installed advanced machinery at enormous
expense. I Modern armies now consist of fewer soldiers and
more advanced weapons systems. I In fact, Soviet technology
was much more advanced than Western analysts realized at
the time.
! I I
sophisticated [sa fIstake;tad/very advanced, and more
cleverly designed or skilfully made than other things of the
same type |adj]
The development of computers and other sophisticated
machines has made industry much more efficient. I The mis-
sile has a sophisticated guidance system. I highly sophisti-
cated Operations of this type often involve the use of highly
sophisticated equipment.
high-techlhi-tech /,haI 'tek-/ high-tech industry/
company/equipment/age etc (=using very advanced
electronic equipment and machines, especially computers)
[adj]
The city has become a popular location for high-tech indus-
tries. I The baby was born in the high-tech surroundings of
the local hospital. I On display at the exhibition will be a
range of "hi-tech homes of the future'.
state-of.the-art /ste[t av 6i o:rt-/ using the most
advanced and recently-developed methods, materials, or
knowledge [ adj]
The movie was made with state-of-the-art camera equip-
ment. I Increasingly, advertising relies on inventive graphic
design and state-of-the-art technology.
the state of the art [n phrase] Opus III represents the state
of the art (--the most advanced type) in word processing
packages.
be ahead of its time/bi: ahed av its 'ta;m/if something
is ahead of its time, it is so new and different that people
do not understand or like it at first, but later realize how
good it is [v phrase]
The Vortex graphic system was ahead of its time. Few were
sold but it strongly influenced later designs. [ Her educa-
tional theories were way ahead of their time and were widely
misunderstood.
at the leading edge of/cutting edge of/at 6a ,li:-
drj 'ed5 ov, ,kntIrJ 'ed5 tv/ in a more advanced position
than other organizations, companies etc, in developing and
using new methods, systems, equipment etc [prep]
The company is trying to regain its position at the leading
edge of electronics research. ] These developments really are
at the cutting edge of the techological revolution.
leading-edge/cutting-edge [ adj only before noun] an excit-
ing new project, using cutting-edge technology
2 words for describing advanced countries
advanced
developed
advanced lad'vo:nst II ad'venstl using advanced indus-
trial methods, equipment etc, and having a modern eco-
nomic and political system [adj]
There is no reason why China should not become as
advanced as Taiwan or Korea in 5 to lO years. [ High levels
of unemployment are a feature of many advanced capitalist
countries. [ Slowly these nations have come to rely on their
more technologically advanced neighbours.
developed/di 'velapt/having modern industries, equip-
ment, buildings etc [adj]
In developed countries, workers'pay is relatively high. [ This
disease has mostly been eliminated, at least in the developed
nations. [ While the war continues there is little hope of the
area becoming developed.
advancement UP 12
advantage ADVANTAGE 1, GOOD POINT OR
CHARACTERISTIC 1
advantage: be at an advantage ADVANTAGE 3
advantage: be to sb's advantage ADVANTAGE 4
advantage: give sb an advantage ADVANTAGE 4
advantage: have an advantage ADVANTAGE 3
advantage: have an advantage over BEttER 1
advantage: take advantage of USE A PERSON 1, USE
STH 4
ADVANTAGE
something that helps you to be in a better
position than other people, more likely to
succeed etc
1 an advantage
2 the advantages and disadvantages of a plan,
system etc
3 to have an advantage over other people
continued

ADVANTAGE 16 ADVANTAGE
ADVANTAGE coninue
ways of saying that something gives one
person an advantage over others
1 an advantage
advantage
asset
privilege
advantage/ad'vo:ntId II ad'v  .-/In c]
advantage of She's had all the advantages of a university
education. I What are the advantages of living in the coun-
try rather than the city? I have an advantage over Com-
pact discs have an advantage over records because they do
not scratch or break. I definite advantage (=a big advan-
tage) If you want to work in publishing, keyboarding skills
are a definite advantage. I unfair advantage Financial sup-
port from the government gives these firms an unfair advan-
tage over their competitors.
asset /'aseq something or someone that is valuable
because they help you to succeed In C/
asset to Ms Pinlake is a great asset to the company. I asset
Having our best player back on the team for Saturday's
game will be a real asset. I A sense of humour is an enormous
asset when working with children.
priviiege/' privaIhds/a special advantage that only some
people have, because they have been born into a family
with a lot of money, have a special relationship with some-
one, have an important job etc In C/
As an aristocrat he enjoyed privileges that were denied to
others. I Countries within the European Community grant
certain commercial privileges to each other. I the privilege
of Not everyone has the privilege of a private education.
2 the advantages and disadvantages of a plan,
system etc
advantages and disadvantages
pros and cons
pluses and minuses
advantages and disadvantages/ad,vo:ntid3z an
'dlsad,vo:ntldS lz II -,v;n-/[nphrasel
Being an only child has both advantages and disadvan-
tages. I What advantages and disadvantages does raising
interest rates have on the economy? I the advantages and
disadvantages of Store owners need to consider the advan-
tages and disadvantages of buying goods direct from the
producer.
pros and cons/,praoz an 'kDnz II -'ko:nzl the advantages
and disadvantages of a course of action which you consider
when you are trying to decide what to do In phrase]
the pros and cons of There has been a lot of discussion
about the pros and cons of making certain types of drugs
legal. I US policy makers are discussing the pros and cons
of retaliatory action. I weigh up the pros and cons (=think
about the advantages and disadvantages) The union hasn't
decided whether to take action yet. They're just weighing up
all the pros and cons.
pluses and minuses /,plAs aZ an 'malnasz/the advan-
tages and disadvantages of something such as a plan, a
method, or a course of action which you consider before
you do something or which you notice after it has been
done [n phrase] 
the pluses and minuses of Do consider carefully the pluses
and minuses of starting your own business. I Soviet indus-
try has seen both the pluses and the minuses of perestroika.
3 to have an advantage over other people
have an advantage
be at an advantage
have youth/experience etc on your side
the odds are stacked in sb's favour
have a head start
have everything going for you
hold all the cards
have the upper hand
be in a strong positionla position of strength
have an advantage/heev an ad'vo:ntId 5 II-'vain-/ [v
phrase not in progressive]
Mr Davis" class had an advantage because the subject he had
spent most time on came up in the test. I Cinderella is poorer
and less refined than her sisters but she has one great advan-
tage - her beauty. I have an advantage over The winning
boxer had an advantage over his opponent because he was
four pounds heavier.
be at an advantage/bi: at an ad'vo:ntId5 II -van-/if
someone is at an advantage, they have experience or qual-
ities which make them more likely to succeed in doing
something or more likely to do something well ]v phrase]
Students with computer training will be at an advantage
next year when the statistics course starts. ] be at an advan-
tage over Although he does not have a degree he has a lot
of work experience. For this reason, he is at a distinct advan-
tage over young graduates.
have youth/experience etc on your side/hav
(youth, etc) Dn j:r 'said/to have an advantage over others
because you are young, have a lot of experience etc Iv
phrase not in progressive]
McEnroe is a strong player but his opponent will have youth
on his side. [ With knowledge of the company on her side, she
was more likely to get the job than any of the external
candidates.
the odds are stacked in sb's favour/6i ,dz o: r
stakt n (sb's) 'feIva r II -,o:dz-/to have a strong advantage
in a competition, election etc so that you are very likely to
win
The odds were stacked in the Democratic Party's favour, and
it was a great surprise when they were not elected. [ In the
competition for new defence contracts, the larger, wealthier
companies will have the odds heavily stacked in their favour.
have a head start/hav a ,hed ' stozrt/to have an advan-
tage over others in a particular activity, especially because
you started doing it before them Iv phrase not in
progressive]
have a head start in sth I had a head start in driving
because my father was an instructor. [ have a head start
on sb Electronics is a very competitive business and the
Japanese have a head start on us. [ give sb a head start
Before she started the English course she spent a year in
Florida and that's given her a head start over the other
students.
have everything going for you Ihav evri0irj gaoIl]
fa r ju:/to have all the qualities that are likely to give you
an advantage over others and make you succeed in
whatever you decide to do Iv phrase not in progressive]
She was bright and pretty and had everything going for her. I
Barry had everything going for him - charm, looks, intelli-
gence, but still he was unemployed.
hold all the cards/haold ,a:l 6a 'ko:rdz/to have all the
advantages that give you power when you are trying to
persuade someone in an argument Iv phrase]
As soon as we sat down at the negotiating table it became
clear that the employers held all the cards.
have the upper hand/hav 6i iApa r 'hand/to have an
advantage over someone, especially someone who is fight-
ing against you or who does not agree with you Iv phrase
not in progressive]

ADVANTAGE 17 ADVERTISE
have the upper hand against The generals believed that
their superior air power would give them the upper hand
against the rebels. I have the upper hand The medical ser-
vices now have the upper hand in their struggle against this
latest epidemic of the disease.
be in a strong positionla position of strength
/bi: in a strtrj pa'zij'an, a pa,zij'an av 'stre0/ to be in a
position where you have an advantage over someone, espe-
cially in discussions to get something from them [vphrase]
The government claims that as long as they have nuclear
weapons, they can negotiate from a position of strength. I Any
buyer who has ready cash is in a strong position when the
bargaining starts.
ADVERTISE
to publicly inform people about a product or
service, in order to persuade them to buy it
or use it
1 to advertise something
2 the activity of advertising products or services
3 a picture, set of words, film etc that is used to
advertise a product or service
4 ways of saying that something gives one
person an advantage over others
give sb an advantage be in sb's favour/favor
give sb the edge favour/favor
be to sb's advantage
give sb an advantage/,giv (sb) an ad 'voJntId 3 II -'veen-/
Iv phrase l
give sb an advantage over The ex-policeman's knowledge
of the law gave him an advantage over the other people train-
ing to be lawyers. I Its location and its lower distribution
costs give the company an advantage over its competitors. [
give sb an advantage The fact that Liverpool had only ten
men playing for them gave the other team an advantage.
give sb the edge/,glv (sb) 6i ed3/to give someone a
slight advantage, for example in a competition or election
[ v phrase]
give sb the edge over He tried to find out as much as he
could about the company, believing that it would give him
the edge over the other interviewees. I give sb the edge H/s
ten years" experience of boxing will give him the edge in
tomorrow "s fight.
be to sb's advantage/bi: ta (sb's) ad Ivo:ntld5 II -'ven-/
if something is to your advantage it will give you an
advantage and put you in a better position than you were
in before Iv phrase]
I think you should accept Stove's offer to talk about your
interview - it could be to your advantage. I If you listen to
the announcement about our special offers, you may hear
something to your advantage. I be to the advantage of A
change of government might be to the advantage of the poor.
be In sb's favour (British) I favor (American)/hi: In
(sb's) feIvar/if something is in someone's favour it will
give them an advantage over someone else Iv phrase]
The present economic situation is clearly in the Democrats"
favor. I Investors are hoping that the new system of share
dealing will operate in their favour. I tip the balance in
sb's favour (=to give someone a slight advantage) It will
be a closely fought match but Becker's stronger service is
likely to tip the balance in his favour.
favour (British) I favor (American)/'felvar/ifa situation
or conditions such as the weather favour someone, they
give them an advantage over someone else Iv T]
The weather favours the Australians, who are used to play-
ing in the heat. I German negotiators denied that economic
circumstances had favored their companies and given them
a significant export advantage.
advantages and disadvantages ADVANTAGE 2
advent: the advent of BEGINNING 2
adventure EXCITED 7, EXPERIENCE 1
adventurous BRAVE 3, 4
adversary ENEMY 1
adverse DIFFICULT 9
adversity SUFFER 3
advert ADVERTISE 3
advertise ADVERTISE 1 PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to advertise something
advertise
promote
market
hype up
plug/give sth a plug
sell
push
advertise / advartaIz/to advertise something on TV or
radio, in magazines or newspapers, or on large public
notices, in order to persuade people to buy it Iv I/T]
advertise sth This company pays a famous singer to adver-
tise their product. [ All posters advertising cigarettes must
carry a government health warning. [ advertise We are a
small business so we can only afford to advertise in the local
press. [ advertise sth heavily (=advertise it a lot) You must
have seen those computer games - they've been heavily adver-
tised on TV and in all the Sunday papers.
promote/pra' raaot/to make sure that people know about
a new product, film, book etc, for example by arranging
special events, by offering it at a reduced price, or by
talking about it on television Iv T]
Barbra Streisand is doing a series of TV interviews to
promote her latest film. [ To promote their new brand of
shampoo, they are selling it at half price for a month.
market /'mo:rkt/to make sure that a product or serv-
ice is sold in the most effective way, for example by decid-
ing how much it should cost, how it should be advertised,
and where it should be sold Iv T]
In order to market a product well you need to be aware of
public demand. [ In Japan we use a Japanese company to
market our shoes.
hype up/,haIp '^p/an informal word meaning to try to
make people think that something is much better than it
really is, by repeatedly advertising it, saying it is the best
one of its kind etc [phr v T usually in passive]
Like most Hollywood movies it was so hyped up that when
I saw it I felt rather disappointed.
plug/give sth a plug/pl^g, glv (sth) a pl^g/informal
words meaning to try to make people interested in a book
you have written, a film you are appearing in, etc, for exam-
ple by mentioning it in a TV or radio conversation when
you are supposed to be talking about something else Iv T]
The only reason she agreed to be interviewed on the radio
was to plug her new record. [ The author used the opportu-
nity of appearing on TV to give his latest book a plug.
sell/sel/to advertise something and persuade people that
it is a very good product, so that they want to buy it [v TI
sell sth to sb It's not a question of producing a product and
people buying it - we have to go out and really sell it to them. [
sell sth Many w.omen object to the use of pictures of women
in bikinis to sell cars.
push/po/an informal word meaning to advertise a new
product very heavily, with a lot of advertisements Iv T]
Revlon is really pushing its new range of beauty creams.
' the activity of advertising products or services
advertising hype
promotion hoopla
marketing
advertising/'advartaizirj/the activity of advertising
something on television, in newspapers etc, in order to
persuade people to buy it In U]

ADVERTISE 18 ADVISE
The big cigarette manufacturers spend billions of dollars a
year on advertising. I CBS/Fox said that its advertising was
mostly aimed at young adults between the ages of 18-23. I
Sara is looking for a job in advertising or the media. I adver-
tising agency (=a company that advertises other compa-
nies' products) Deutsch is the biggest advertising agency in
the world.
promotion Iprama(@nl the activity of making sure that
people know about a new product or service, for example
by arranging special events, by offering it at a reduced
price, or by mentioning it in conversations on TV ]n U]
Madonna arrived in New York to do a week of promotion
for her new album. [ The author was signing copies of his
new book as part of the publisher's promotion campaign. [
Local tourist offices are involved in the promotion of skiing
in Vermont.
promotional [adj only before noun] I've managed to get
hold of a promotional copy (=one that is used to promote
something) of the Rolling Stones" latest album. [ a promo-
tional video
marketing/'mo:rktiI]/the business of making sure that
a product or service is sold in the most effective way, which
includes deciding how much it should cost, how it should
be advertised etc [n U]
The business course includes classes on marketing. I mar-
keting strategy/campaign The reason their cars sold so
well was that they had a brilliant marketing strategy.
hype ]haip! an informal word meaning the activity of
trying to make people think that a new book, film, record
etc is much better than it really is [n U]
There has been a lot of hype about Michael Jackson's latest
video. I Is it really Kevin Costner's best film performance, or
is that just media hype?
hoopla / Ihu:plo:/an informal American word meaning a
lot of excited attention from the newspapers, radio, and
television [n U]
The gala performance, with all its press and hoopla, was an
event not to be missed. I NBC, with a good deal of hoopla,
showed an extended version of the TV interview.
3 a picture, set of words, film etc that is used to
advertise a product or service
advertisement advert
commercial campaign/advertising
ad campaign
advertisement/ad'v3:talsmant II ,edvar'taiz-/[n C]
Tobacco advertisements have been banned for several years
now. I advertisement for At this time of year, the papers
are full of advertisements for skiing holidays.
commercial/ka' ma:rj'all an advertisement on television
or radio [n C ]
McEnroe has been signed up to do a series of coffee commer-
cials. I The kids are always singing songs from TV com-
mercials.
ad/xl/an informal word meaning an advertisement [n C]
We put an ad in the 'Times'and got a terrific response. I She
had started her acting career by doing shampoo ads on TV.
advert/' edva:rt/an informal British word meaning an
advertisement [n Cl
You know that couple in the "Gold Blend" advert? I advert
for Did you see that advert for her new book?
campaign/advertising campaign /kmm'pein,
' dvortaIzIIJ kem,pein/a planned series of advertisements
intended to advertise a product or service [n C]
The company got into a lot of trouble over its last advertis-
ing campaign. I run a campaign General Motors is running
an aggressive campaign to publicize its 1994 models.
 advertisement ADVERTISE 3
 advertising ADVERTISE 2
- advice ADVISE 5
 advice: ask sb's advice ADVISE 3
. advice: follow sb's advice ADVISE 4
 advice: give advice ADVISE 1
 advice: on sb's advice ADVISE 4
advice: take advice ADVISE 3
advice: take my advice ADVISE 2
advice: take sb's advice ADVISE 4
advisable SHOULD/OUGHT TO 2
advise ADVISE 1
advise: you'd be well advised to do sth
advise on ADVISE 6
ADVISE 2
ADVISE
to tell someone what you think they should do
1 to advise someone to do something
:2 ways of telling someone what you think they
should do
3 to ask someone to advise you about a
particular subject or problem
4 to do what someone advises you to do
5 advice that is given to someone about what
they should do
6 someone whose job is to give advice, for
example about technical matters, work, or
personal problems
1 to advise someone to do something
advise give advice
say sb should do sth/ recommend
ought to do sth urge
advise /ad'vaz/ to tell someone what you think they
should do in a particular situation, especially when, you
have knowledge or information that they do not have [v T]
advise sb to do sth I advise you to think very carefully
before making any decision. I Customers are advised not to
leave their bags unattended. I advise sb against doing sth
(=advise them not to do it) Her lawyers have advised her
against making any statement to the press. I advise cau-
tion/restraint/patience Health experts advise extreme
caution when handling these materials, as they are known
to cause cancer. I strongly advise I would strongly advise
you to take out medical insurance for your skiing trip.
say sb should do sthlought to do sth/iseI (sb) j'od
'du: (sth), ,a:t ta du: (sth)/to tell someone what you think
they should do, especially when this is your own personal
opinion and not the result of particular information or
knowledge [v phrase]
My mother says we should phone the police. I People keep on
saying to me that I ought to retire. I When Harry told me he
was bored, I said he should join the golf club.
give advice ! gIv advals/to advise someone about a par-
ticular problem or subject [v phrase]
give sb advice Can you give me some advice? I'm thinking
of buying a car. I give advice to sb The plan was set up to
give expert advice to first time house-buyers. I give advice
She's always quite willing to give advice when asked. I give
advice on/about The bank can give you plenty of advice
about pensions and financial planning.
recommend / rek mend/to advise someone to do some-
thing, especially when you have special knowledge because
of your job or because you have studied a situation closely
[v T]
recommend that Doctors recommend that all children be
immunized against polio and tuberculosis. I recommend
doing sth I would always recommend buying a good qual-
ity bicycle rather than a cheap one. I recommend sth The
Forsyth Report recommended stricter supervision of the trade
in live animals. I highly/thoroughly recommend I
thoroughly recommend that you take out insurance before
you travel. I strongly recommend I strongly recommend
that you get your brakes checked before you go on a long
drive.
urge/3:rdS/to strongly advise someone to do something
because you think it is very important [v T]
urge sb to do sth The trade unions are urging employers

ADVISE
to invest more money in training. I urge that He gave copies
of the report to all those present at the meeting, urging that
they read and digest its contents.
19
' ways of telling someone what you think they
 should do
if I were you take it from me
you should do sth/ you'd be well
you ought to do sth advised to do sth
you'd be better off on no account
take my advice
if I were you/if ,ai wa r 'ju:l (used when you are giving
someone friendly advice)
I wouldn't do that ifI were you. I Here's your money - ifI
were you I'd go and put it in the bank before you spend it.
you should do sthlyou ought to do sth/ju: l! 'du:
(sth), ju: ,a:t to 'd: (sth)/
You should go to the doctor with that cough. ] I think you
should stay here until you've sobered up. I That new restaur-
ant,s great -you really ought to try it. I Do you know what
you ought to do? You ought to go to her house and tell her
exactly what you think of her.
you'd be better off/ju:d bi: ,betor 'of/(used when you
are advising someone to do something different from what
they have planned or started to do)
The ferry takes about eight hours/You'd be better off going
by plane. ] I think you'd be better off using a knife rather than
scissors for that job.
take my advice /tek ,mat od'vais/ (used when you
think that someone should do something because you
know from your own experience how unpleasant or
difficult things can be)
Take my advice, don't go into teaching unless you're abso-
lutely committed. [ Divorces are a nightmare. Take my advice
and stay single.
take it from me /,teIk It from 'mi:/(used when you are
telling someone that they should trust the advice you are
giving them because it is based on your personal
experience)
Take it from me, you'll regret it if you waste your time at
school. I Love affairs with colleagues never work out - take
it from me.
you'd be well advised to do sth/ju:d bi: wel od vaizd
to 'du: (sth)/(used when you are strongly advising some-
one to do something, especially because they may have
trouble if they do not do it)
Before your interview you'd be well advised to have another
look at what you put on the application form. I There are
parts of New York City you'd be well advised to avoid.
on no account/o I noo o,kaont/(a formal or official
expression used when you are strongly advising someone
not to do something because it would be dangerous or
stupid) [adv phrase]
On no account should you attempt this exercise if you "re preg-
nant. I not on any account You shouldn't sign the contract
unless you are sure you understand it - not on any account.
3 to ask someone to advise you about a
particular subject or problem
ask sb's advice take advice
seek advice consult
ask sb's advice/,o:sk (sb's) od'vals II ,ask-/[vphrase]
Can I ask your advice? I'm not sure which is the best cough
medicine to buy. I Although he was very helpful when I asked
his advice, he left the decisions to me. I ask sb's advice on/
about There's a Citizens" Advice Bureau in almost every
town, and you can go and ask their advice on almost any-
thing. I I've come to ask your advice about buying a car.
seek advice/,si:k od'vais/to ask someone to advise you
or to try to find someone to advise you, especially some-
one who has special or professional knowledge [v phrase]
seek advice from sb The best thing to do is to seek advice
from an expert. I seek advice Women come here seeking
ADVISE
advice and consolation when they have been beaten by their
husbands. I seek sb's advice on I came round to seek your
advice on a personal matter. I seek sb's advice He stared
across the table at the two clients who had come to seek his
advice. I seek professional/medical/legal etc advice She
had been having headaches for several weeks before she
decided to seek medical advice.
take advice / ,tetk od'vas/take legal/medical/profes-
sional advice (=ask someone who has special knowledge
to advise you about a problem that you cannot deal with
on your own) Iv phrase]
If the debt is not paid within seven days, we will take legal
advice. I Pregnant women should take medical advice before
using any kind of drug. I take legal etc advice on She has
told her employers that she will be taking professional advice
on her rights.
consult/kon IsAlt/to ask someone for their advice before
making an important decision, especially someone who
has special knowledge [v T]
consult sb Consult your doctor before going on a diet. [ con-
sult sb about sth/doing sth I think he's annoyed because
he wasn't consulted about sending mother to a nursing home.
4 to do what someone advises you to do
take sb's advice listen to
follow sb's advice on sb's advice
take sb's advice/,telk (sb's) od'vais/[v phrase]
She took her parents" advice and came home to Minneapolis. I
I've decided to take your advice. I'm going to art college. I
take advice from You know what Henry's like - he won't
take advice from anyone, especially his parents.
follow sb's advice/tfoloo (sb's) odvais II fo:-/to do
what someone advises, especially when you have to do
something over a long period of time [v phrase]
If you follow your doctor's advice, your knee will soon heaL]
Parents who are worried about their child's education often
find it hard to follow teachers" advice. ] dust follow this
simple advice - avoid sugary food and brush your teeth
regularly.
listen to /lsan tu:/to do what someone advises you to
do, especially because you respect their opinion [v T not
in progressive]
You tell him Dad, he'll listen to you. ] Children are saying
we should take more care of the environment, but of course
no one ever listens to the young. I Will you try and get her
to do her physiotherapy - we thought she might listen to
someone who's been through the same thing.
on sb's advice/o (sb's) od'vats/if you do something on
someone's advice you do it because they have advised you
to do it lady phrase]
On the manager's advice, Miss O'Brien is taking a month's
leave. I The government is to lower interest rates on the advice
of the Bank of England. I act on sb's advice It wasn't the
President's own idea - he was acting on the advice of his
aides.
5 advice that is given to someone about what
they should do
advice guidance
tip counselling/
recommendation counseling
advice/od'vaIs/[n U]
I need some advice. What do you do when your baby won't
sleep at night? l advice on/about The book offers some good
advice on how to cope with stress at work. I medical/legal/
professional etc advice If symptoms persist, seek medical
advice. I a piece/word of advice (=some advice) Let me
give you a word of advice - never let a man think he's better
than you. I sound advice (=good advice) That's sound
advice, I'll definitely bear it in mind.
tip/tip/a small but useful piece of advice about how to do
something or how to get something [n C]
Here's a good tip: if you spill red wine on your carpet, pour
salt on it to remove it. I tips on If you're going to Barcelona

ADVISE 20 AFTER
you should talk to Emma, she can give you some useful tips
on where to stay.
recommendation !, rekamen'den/advice about how
to deal with a problem, especially given by a group of people
who have made a detailed study of the problem In C usually
plural]
make a recommendation The committee made a number
of recommendations for improving safety standards in air-
planes. I recommendation Unless the report's recommen-
dations are implemented soon, the future for industry could
be very bleak indeed.
guidance/=gaIdans/advice on the kinds of things you
should be doing, especially in your job or in your private
life In U]
There are so many careers to choose from - maybe your
teachers could offer you some guidance. [ The council pro-
vides practical guidance and support for students wishing
to study abroad. [ guidance on/about There is a special
police department that offers information and guidance on
all aspects of crime prevention.
counselling (British) I counseling (American)/'kaon-
SSIIIJ/professional advice on how to deal with a personal
or emotional problem In U]
The telephone helpline offers counselling for any child with
a problem. I Victims of violent crime may need prolonged
counseling to help them get over the shock.
6 someone whose job is to give advice, for
example about technical matters, work, or
personal problems
adviser/advisor counsellor/counselor
advise on consultant
advisory guru
adviser (British) I advisor (American)/ad'vaIzar/some-
one whose job is to give advice to a person or organization,
especially in business, law, or politics In C]
Consult an independent financial adviser before making any
major investments. I adviser on the Prime Minister's per-
sonal adviser on economic affairs I adviser to sb Fred Howe,
a trusted advisor to the White House, was asked to investigate
the strike.
advise on/ad'valz on II -mR/to be employed by an organi-
zation to give advice about a particular subject Iv T]
advise on sth After retiring from professional athletics he
was asked to advise on the training of young athletes. I
advise on where/how/when etc If your child is a slow
learner, his teachers will be able to advise on where to get
help. [ advise sb on He had studied law and economics in
Italy and advised his government on currency reform.
advisory lad =vaizri/advisory body/committee/role/
capacity (=which exists for the purpose of giving advice)
[adj usually before noun]
The Science Council is mainly an advisory body. I I will be
present at committee meetings, but purely in an advisory
capacity. I Although such advisory committees do not have
any formal powers, their opinions carry a lot of weight.
counsellor (British) I counselor (American)/'kaonslar/
someone who gives professional advice to people, espe-
cially about personal problems In C]
I never realizedyou were so depressed. Haveyou been to see
a counselor? I Each child in the summer camp can see a
trained counselor if they have any problems. I The hospice
is appealing for more people to work as bereavement coun-
sellors.
consultant/kan sAltant/someone who gives special tech-
nical advice to companies or other organizations In C]
He's left his job as a computer programmer and is working
as a consultant for a German firm. I consultant on Booth
is a consultant on language with one of the national press
agencies. [ consultant to sb As a consultant to NASA, Cock-
burn had access to confidential details of the US space
program.
guru /'goru:/ someone who is highly respected within
their area of work, and to whom people go for advice In C]
Peter Drucker, the management guru, has just published a
new book. I It soon became apparent that Colin was the guru
of the whole department.
adviser/advisor ADVISE 6
advisory ADVISE 6
advocate SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP OR PLAN 1
advocate: be an advocate of APPROVE 2
aerobics: keep-fit/aerobics EXERCISE 3
affable FRIENDLY 1
affair HAPPEN 11, RELATIONSHIP 5
affair: have an affair RELATIONSHIP 4
affect EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
affected PRETEND 5
affection LOVE 2
affectionate LOVE 4
affiliation MEMBER 2
affinity RELATIONSHIP 2
• affinity: have an affinity with LIKE/SIMILAR 1
affirm SAY/STATE 3
affluent RICH 1
afford: can afford ENOUGH 6, PAY FOR 13
afford: can't afford ENOUGH 13, EXPENSIVE 4
affordable CHEAP 1
affront INSULT 3
afloat ONION TOP OF :2
afloat: stay afloat SURVIVE 3
afoot: be afoot PLAN 9
aforementioned BEFORE 14
. afra,d" I
.-'.-" ;-: r-:  L :'::
feel. afraid -
  - FRIGHTENED
afraid: be afraid/scared/frightened FRIGHTENED 2
afraid: be afraidiscaredifrightenedlterdfied
FRIGHTENED 4
afraid: be afraidiscaredifrightenediterrified of
FRIGHTENED 3
afraid: I'm afraid not NO 1
afraid: I'm afraid so YES 1
afresh AGAIN 1
afresh: start afresh/make a fresh start/make a new
start START DOING STH 9
after AFTER 1 2, 4, 8, 10
after: be after AFTER 9, LOOK FOR 3
after: one after the other/one after another SERIES 4
after-effectslafter effects RESULT 5
after that AFTER 1, :3
AFTER
after a time or event or after something in a
list or series
I after a particular time or event
2 after a certain period of time has passed
 starting to happen after now or a particular
time, and then continuing
4 words for describing someone or something
that comes after someone or something else
8 to happen after something else
6 the person who does a job or takes an
important position after someone else
7 a book, film etc that comes after an earlier
one by the same writer, film-maker etc
8 after someone or something else in a list,
series, piece of writing, line of people etc
g to be the next person or thing after another in
a list, series, piece of writing, line of people etc

AFTER 21 AFTER
10 ways of saying after a particular hour, which
you use when you are telling the time
11 ways of saying that something will not be
done now, but will be done after what is
being done at the moment
1 after a particular time or event
after later on
afterwards su bsequently
next after that
later
after/' a:fi r II [prep/adv/conjunction]
We went for a walk after lunch. I After the party a few of us
stayed behind to clean the place up. I I'm busy right now.
Could you come back sometime after 4 o'clock? I What are
you going to do after you graduate from the university? I
After the war ended the long process of reconstruction began. I
What did you do after leaving school? I an hour/two days/
a year etc after My father died two days after I was born. I
soon after/not long after He joined the army in 1914, and
soon after was promoted to the rank of captain. I straight
after sth (=immediately after) Paul rushed home straight
after school.
afterwards (also afterward in American English)
/'ozft3rw3rd(z) II 'mr-/after an event or time that has just
been mentioned [adv]
The operation was rather painful, but I felt a lot better after-
wards. I We finished our game and afterward we went back
to Pete's apartment for coffee. I two years/three months
etc afterwards A couple of years afterwards I bumped into
her in a supermarket. I His wife fell ill in June and died soon
afterwards.
next/nckst/immediately afterwards [adv]
Everyone started fighting and someone threw a bottle. I
forget what happened next. I Which of the candidates shall
we interview next? I First of all you chop up two large onions.
Next you fry them until they are golden brown.
later/'letr/at a later time [adv]
I'll tell you about it later when I'm not so busy. I Ronald
Reagan joined the Republican Party in 1962 and later
became Governor of California. I much later (=a long time
later) Eventually I found out about the affair but that was
much later. I later that day/month/year etc Later that
month we got another letter from them asking for more
money. I later in the morning/day/year etc They've asked
me to show them some samples of my work later in the year.
later on / ,letar ' on/later in a period of time or after an
event that you have already mentioned [adv phrase]
later on in the week/evening etc Later on in the evening
I met someone called Andy who said he had gone to college
with you. I later on The first part of the film is really boring
but it gets much more interesting later on.
, I
subsequently / sAbsakwantli/a formal word meaning
after an event in the past [adv]
The book was published in 1954 and was subsequently trans-
lated into fifteen languages. I The six men were subsequently
acquitted of all charges, but only after they had served 17
years in prison. I They started their research using a method
which was subsequently proved to be unsatisfactory.
after that/,a:ftar 'Omt II mf-/an expression used espe-
cially when describing a list of two or more events or
actions [adv phrase]
I cleaned the windows and after that I washed the curtains. I
It was terrible: first the gearbox seized and after that the
radiator burst.
2 after a certain period of time has passed
after in
within from now
after I'a: r II '  f-/after a week/several hours/a long
time/a while etc [prep]
After half an hour we got tired of waiting and went home. I
If, after a week, you are still getting headaches, go back and
see your doctor. I At first I was very nervous, but after a while
I began to feel more confident. I after a year/a week/an
hour etc of The war eventually came to an end, after a year
o f fighting.
within/w:6':n [[ w:6':n, wO'n/within a month/two
weeks/a year etc (=less than a month etc after something
has happened, especially when this is a surprisingly short
time) [prep]
He was bitten by a snake. Within three hours he was dead. [
The fire alarm went off and within minutes the building had
been cleared. [ within a month/a few days etc of doing
sth Within six years of joining the company he was Manag-
ing Director. [ within a short space of time (=surprisingly
quickly) Within a short space of time, Gerry had managed
to offend everyone in the group.
in/:n/in a minute/a few hours/a month or two etc (=a
minute, a few hours etc from now) [prep]
She'll be here in a few minutes. [ I'll see you again in a day
or two. [ in an hour's/a few minutes' etc time In a few
weeks' time I'll be back home with my family in the States. [
in a few hours/days/years etc from now In a few days
from now you'll be feeling much better.
from now/fram 'nao/24 hours/a week/six months/
100 years from now (=at a future time 24 hours, six
months etc from now) lady phrase]
A week from now we will be in Paris. ] What do you think
you'll be doing six months from now? [ 100years from now
people will look back and think how wasteful we were.
3 starting to happen after now or a particular
time, and then continuing
from now on from then on
as from henceforth
after that thereafter
from now on/fram ,nao 'on/ if something is going to
happen from now on, it is going to start from now and then
continue in the future [adv phrase]
From now on you 71 be working with me. [ From now on I'll
come to every meeting, I promise. [ From now on Nell is
responsible for publicity and marketing.
as from /'mz from/ as from today/tomorrow/next
week/August 28th etc (used when a new rule, system, or
situation will start from today, tomorrow etc and then
continue) [prep]
As from the first of July, all back seat passengers must wear
seat belts. [ The new timetable will come into effect as from
January 1994. [ As from today Miss Carey will be in charge
of the Sales Department.
after that/,azftar '6at Jl ,af-/(used when a situation
starts to exist after something happens, especially if the sit-
uation is caused by what has happened) lady phrase]
He found out that I had lied to him and after that he never
trusted me again. [ The company started a big new adver-
tising campaign and business really improved after that. [
I'm going to help you for the first two weeks, but after that
you'll be working on your own.
from then on /fram ,6en 'on/ (used especially when
something starts to happen or exist from a point in the past
that you have just mentioned) [adv phrase]
By Monday his breathing was normal again and from then
on he improved every day. [ I discovered Jazz music when
I went to university. From then on I thought of little else.
henceforth / ,hens'f3:ro, 'hensf3:ro/a formal word mean-
ing after now, used when stating that a change or a new
situation is starting from now and will continue in the
future [adv]
Henceforth all financial decisions must be approved by the
managing director. [ The college will henceforth be known
as the University of the Atlantic.
thereafter/6ear'a:fia r l[ -'mf-/a formal word meaning
after that, used especially in written instructions, rules, or
agreements [adv ]

AFTER 22 AFTER
The plants should be watered every day for the first week and
twice a week thereafter. I On retirement each employee will
receive a lump sum ofЈ10, 000 and a regular annual pension
thereafter.
4
words for describing someone or something
that comes after someone or something else
next succeeding
following ensuing
later after
subsequent future
next /nekst/ the next day/flight/week/train/prog-
ramme etc (=the one that comes immediately after the
present one or the most recent one)[adj only before noun]
What time's the next flight to Miami? I The next day I went
back to Minneapolis. I Let's hope our next race is more suc-
cessful than the last one. I next Thursday/week/August
etc (=the one after this Thursday, week etc) Next week I'm
going on a training course in Lancaster.
following/'folzoO II 'fa:-/the following day/month/
year ere (used especially about periods of time in the past)
[adj only before noun]
The following day she woke up with a terrible headache. [
The company's profits rose sharply during the following
year.
leter/'letr/a later stage/model/version/year/cen-
tury ere (=one that comes at a later time but not immedi-
ately after) [adj only before noun]
We can sort out the final details at a later stage. [ Later
models have a bigger engine and much better acceleration. [
in later years/months/centuries ere In later centuries
Venice lost its former importance and began to go into
decline.
subsequent/, sAbs Ikwznt/subsequent events/gener-
ations/difiiculties/experiences etc (=coming later than
the event, experience etc that you have already mentioned)
[adj only before noun]
These skills were then handed down to subsequent genera-
tions of craftsmen. I Many of Marx's theories were proved
incorrect by subsequent events. I This research formed the
basis of subsequent work by Liebig and other scientists.
succeeding/sk'si:do/succeeding weeks/months/
years/generations-(=all of the ones that come regularly
after the one that you have mentioned) [adj only before
noun ]
The government star.ted to borrow money in 1961 and the
national debt has steadily increased with each succeeding
year. [ The effects of exposure to atomic radiation at
Hiroshima have been passed on to succeeding generations.
ensuing/n'sju:O [[ -'su:O/the ensuing battle/scuf-
fle/silence/days/months (=a formal word meaning
coming immediately after the event you have mentioned)
[adj only before noun]
Someone shouted "'fire!" and in the ensuing panic several
people were injured. I They met each other several times over
the ensuing six months.
after /'a:ft r II 'mf-/ the day/Thursday/month/year
etc after (=the day etc that comes after the time or event
that you have just mentioned) [adv/prep]
Helen arrived on July 20th and I arrived the week after. [ The
party's not this Thursday but the Thursday after. [ The trou-
ble started the day after we arrived. [ The weekend after the
wedding we went to visit my uncle. [ the one after (=the next
one) If we miss the ten o'clock train we'll just have to catch
the one after.
future /'fju:qr/ future generations/years/events/
work/employees etc (=the ones that will come in the
future) [adj only before noun]
It is our duty to us to preserve our culture for future genera-
tions. [ In future years some of you will regret the decision
you have made today. I The company is building apartment
buildings for future employees.
5 to happen after something else
follow sequel
come after follow-up
ensue
follow/'ftgl;)o II, a:-/if an event or period of time follows
another event or period of time, it happens after it [v I/T
not in progressive]
be followed by The church ceremony will be followed by
another ceremony at the town hall. I Suddenly there was a
shout from above, immediately followed by a loud bang. I
follow sth As a result of the economic crisis that followed
the war there was mass unemployment. [ follow Pete and
Jennifer saw more of each other in the months that followed. [
there followed/follows (=after that there was) There then
followed a long and painful silence. I be closely followed
by (=be followed very soon by) China's first nuclear test in
October 1964 was closely followed by a second in May 1965.
come after/,k^m 'a:ftz r II -'ef-/to happen after some-
thing else, especially not immediately [v I/T not inprogres-
sive or passive]
come after sth The peace treaty came after four years of
bitter fighting. I The Napoleonic Wars came after the French
Revolution. I come after The New Stone Age lasted about
1200years in Britain. The period which came after is known
as the Bronze Age.
ensue/n'sju: II n'su:/a formal word: if something such
as an argument or a fight ensues, it happens after some-
thing else, often as a result of it [v I]
I objected to what he had just said and a heated argument
then ensued. I The police were called in to quell the riot that
ensued.
sequel/'si:kwzl/an event or series of events that came
after something that happened in the past, especially fis an
unexpected result [n C usually singular]
There was an unexpected sequel to my meeting with Colonel
Orloff," I received an invitation from the Soviet ambassador. I
The events of that December night had a strange sequel.
follow-up/'folzo Ap II 'fa:-/follow-up meeting/visit/
interview etc (=one that is arranged after an event or a
process in order to continue its effect or see if there have
been any problems) [adj only before noun]
After each training programme everyone has a follow-up
interview with their manager. I Once you have installed solar
heating you will receive regular follow-up visits from our
experts.
6 the person who does a job or takes an
important position after someone else
successor
succeed
next in line
successor/sk'sesr/[n C/
sb's successor Mrs Thatcher's successor was John Major.I
Two weeks after the death of Pope John Paul, the cardinals
met to elect his successor. I successor to Many people regard
him as a likely successor to the current managing director.
succeed/sk' si:d/to be the next person to take an impor-
tant position or rank after someone else [v I/T]
succeed sb Eisenhower was succeeded by John F. Kennedy. [
succeed to the throne/the presidency/the champion-
ship etc (=become the next King, President etc) Louis XIII
succeeded to the throne when he wasonly nine years old. I
succeed sb as King/President/Secretary General etc
Dr Boutros-Ghali succeeded Perez de Cuellar as UN Secre-
tary General.
next in line/,nekst in 'lain/someone who is next in line
has the right to be chosen as the next ruler, leader etc, when
the present one dies [adj phrase]
He knew that if the President and Vice-President were killed,
he would be next in line. I next in line to the throne (=next
in line to become king or queen) Edward VIII was succeeded
by h'.ts younger brother, who was next in line to the throne.

AFTER 23 AGAIN
7 a book, film etc that comes after an earlier
one by the same writer, film-maker etc
sequel
sequel ! 'si:kwl/a book, play or film that continues the
story of an earlier book, play or film, usually by the same
writer, film-maker etc [n C]
sequel to "Return of the Jedi" was the sequel to "Star Wars'. I
This story is being presented as a sequel to "Gone with the
Wind'. I sequel Batman 2 was a rare example of a sequel
being better than the original.
 after someone or something else in a list,
series, piece of writing, line of people etc
after later
next further on
after/' a:fiar II 'mf-/[prep]
My name is after yours on the list. I I always get off the bus
at the stop after the hospital. I You'll find a reference number
after each item in the catalogue.
next/nekst/the next person or thing on a list, in a line etc
is the one that you will come to or that will be dealt with
immediately after the present one [adj]
What's the next word on the list? I Look at the diagram on
the next page. I And the next question is... What is the capi-
tal of Chile? I Tell the next person to come in. I Take the next
turning on the left.
later/'leitar/later section/chapter/passage etc (=one
that comes in a later part of a book, document etc) [adj only
before noun]
The author returns to the same subject in a later section of
the book. I I will explain how to deal with this problem in
a later chapter.
later [adv] Later in thepoem (=in a later part of the poem)
there is a reference to the poet's unhappy childhood.
further on !,f3:r5ar 'on/in a later part of a book, docu-
ment, journey etc after the point where you are now [adv
phrase]
Further on in the book we find a full description of the
system. [ There are some houses further on - we might be able
to get some food there.
9 to be the next person or thing after another in
a list, series, piece of writing, line of people etc
come after be next
come next be after
follow
come after/,lm 'a:ft r II -'mf-/[v T not in progressive
or passive]
My name should come after yours if the list is alphabetical. [
In British and American addresses the name of the town
always comes after the name of the street. I The first line of
the poem is "I wandered lonely as a cloud." What comes after
that?
come next / ,kAm ' nekst/to come after something that has
just been mentioned Iv phrase]
This book's called 'The Third Dimension ". Which book comes
next in the series? l Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon... who comes
next? [ next comes The first three sections of the course are
just an introduction. Next comes the difficult bit.
follow I folu II 'fo:-I to come after something in a book
or in a series of letters, words etc Iv I/T not in progressive]
be followed by In English the letter Q is always followed
by a U. [ Each chapter of the book is followed by a page of
explanatory notes. ] follow In the pages that follow, Rous-
seau explains the difference between individual freedom and
collective freedom. I follow sth This remarkable diatribe
follows a quite reasonable assessment of Larkin's impor-
tance as a poet.
be next/bi: 'nekst/an informal expression meaning to be
the next person or thing in a list, series, line of people etc
[v phrase]
Hey stop! I'm next. I was here before you. I Right. Who's next?
be after/bi: 'Щ:fa r II -'f-/Iv T]
You go first, then Chris, then I'm after Chris. J We must have
missed her house because the traffic lights are after it.
1 0 ways of saying after a particular hour, which
you use when you are telling the time
past
after
past /po:st II pmst! a word used especially in British
English when you are telling the time and you want to say
how many minutes it is after the hour [prep]
past twelve/one/six etc We usually have lunch at half past
twelve. I past I'll meet you down there at about ten past. I
ten/20 minutes etc past the hour The trains leave regu-
larly at twenty past the hour.
after/'o:ft r [I 'mf-/a word used in American English
when you are telling the time and you want to say how
many minutes it is after the hour [prep]
ten/20 minutes ere after seven/twelve/six ere "'Excuse
me, do you have the time? .... Yes, it's a quarter after seven. "'l
after It's 3 now, so we'll leave about 20 after.
1 1 ways of saying that something will not be
done now, but will be done after what is
being done at the moment
it can wait/it will wait
later
it can wait/it will wait/t kan 'weit, t wil 'wet/you
say it can wait or it will wait when something is not
important and so does not have to be done immediately
I was going to finish my essay tonight but I suppose it'll
wait. I Never mind cleaning your bike - that can wait. Go and
do your homework.
later/'letor/at some time in the future but not now lady]
Tell me about it later. Can't you see I'm busy? l Do you want
these figures now? No, later, later. There's no hurry.
aftermath RESULT 5
aftertaste TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 1
afterwards/afterward AFTER 1
again AGAIN 1, 4
again: all over again AGAIN 2
again: do sth again AGAIN 2
again: take up again CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1
again: try again TELEPHONE 3
again: would do the same thing again REGRET/FEEL
SORRY 8
I
aga,n .............................................
use
 8 USE STH
...... :.;,
  START DOING
  HAPPEN
AGAIN
ways of saying that something happens again
or that you do something again
to do something again, for example in order
to practise it or because it was not done
properly the first time continued,

AGAIN 24 AGAIN
@ AGAIN
continued
3 to start doing something again or talking
about something again that you had been
doing or talking about before
4 back to the same state or situation that you
were in before
5 to do an examination or test again because
you failed it or did not do it well enough the
first time
1 ways of saying that something happens again
or that you do something again
again afresh
once again/ fresh
once more repeated
yet again recurrent/
one more time/ recurring
once more
again/o'gen, o'gein II o'gen/[adv]
If you're late again we'll leave without you. I I think you
should go on the cruise. You may never have a chance again. I
The floor needs cleaning again. I At first she couldn't open
the box, but she tried again and this time it opened easily. I
The police even came to ask questions but again I was lucky.
once again/once more /,WArtS 'gen, ,WArtS 'ma:r/
again, especially for at least the third time [adv phrase]
Once again the French army attacked the fort, and once
again they were driven back. I Famine threatens the people
of the desert region once again. I Once more he wrote to her
proposing marriage, and again she refused him.
yet again/,jet 'gen/if something happens yet again, it
happens again after happening many times or too many
times before, especially if this is surprising or annoying
[adv phrase]
It had rained all through their vacation, and now on their
last day it was raining yet again. [ When their rations were
yet again reduced, they became desperate. [ Don't you think
they may be annoyed about you turning up yet again?
one more time/once more/,wAn m:: r 'ta,m, WAnS
'ma: r / if you do something one more time or once more,
you do it again and usually for the last time lady phrase]
Can we practise that one more time before we finish? l I'm
going to ask you one more time, Mr Waite: "'Did you see Mr
Holton on the night he died?" I He wanted to see his children
once more before he died.
afresh/a' fre[! if you do something afresh, you do it again
from the beginning in a new way lady]
We need to look afresh at the whole problem of population
control. I After the scandal they thought the best way to start
their life afresh was to move to another town.
fresh/fre[/fresh attempt/look/start etc (=done again
from the beginning in a new way) [adj only before noun]
I think we need to take afresh look at the problem. I The sol-
diers are planning a fresh attempt to regain control of the
embassy.
repeated /ri'pi:t]od/ repeated attempts/efforts/re-
quests/warnings etc (=that someone makes several
times, so that finally they become annoyed) [adj only before
noun ]
Even after repeated warnings Mr Lewis still insisted on play-
ing his music too loud and now has to pay the fine. I Despite
my repeated efforts to convince Lucy that I love her, she still
won't marry me.
recurrent/recurring /r,'kAront, r, tk3:ro II -'k3:ront/
recurrent or recurring problems, illnesses, ideas etc
happen repeatedly, especially in a way that is difficult to
stop or control [adj usually before noun]
Flooding is a recurrent problem in countries such as Ban-
gladesh. I Patients who suffer from recurrent attacks of
insomnia may benefit from treatment with the new drug I
recurring dream/nightmare She had recurring dreams
in which she tried to kill people who she disliked. I recur-
ring theme/recurrent theme The idea of a man trying to
escape from a difficult situation is a recurrent theme in
Greene's novdls.
2 to do something again, for example in order
to practise it or because it was not done
properly the first time
do sth again over
repeat all over again
redo
do sth again I,du: (sth) 'gen/]v phrase]
You made a few mistakes. Why don't you do it again? I She
spilt coffee on the letter and had to do it all again.
repeat/r; 'pi:t/to do something such as a test, operation,
or process again, especially in order to make sure of some-
thing [v T ]
The experiment was repeated with different subjects and the
same results were obtained. I When the music stops go back
to the starting position and repeat the exercise.
redo/ri: du:/an informal word meaning to do something
such as an examination, test, or.piece of work again [v T]
If you can't get the answer the first time try redoing the
calculations. I The first coat of paint came off and we had
to redo the whole wall.
over/'aovr/an American word: if you do something over
you do it again from the beginning, usually because your
first attempt was not good enough [adv]
Igor it all wrong the first time and had to do it over. I If the
plan doesn't work, you'll have to go back to the beginning
and start over.
all over again/aft ,aovar a'gen/if you do something long
and difficult all over again you repeat it from the begin-
ning lady phrase]
Rodden had to go to the police station and tell his story all
over again. I She's spilt water on her painting so now she's
got to start all over again. I The prospect of writing the report
all over again filled me with gloom.
3 to start doing something again or talking
about something again that you had been
doing or talking about before
return to
go back to/get back to
return to/r,'ta:rn tu:/[v T]
He took a drink, wiped his brow and returned to his digging. I
Two months later, Fisk returned to the subject in an article
in "The Times'. I I think we can return to this argument at
the end of the chapter.
go back to/get back to/gao 'bmk tu:, get-/an infor-
mal expression meaning to start doing something again or
to start talking about something again, especially when
you are changing the subject of a conversation [v TI
Now that the excitement's over you can go back to what you
were doing. I But going back to what Jerry said, do you think
we could get enough together to buy a car? I To get back to
your other point about wasting time, I think we should make
office changes.
4 back to the same state or situation that you
were in before
again
once more
again/a'gen, a'gen II a'gen/[adv]
When I was safely back in my apartment again, I took out
the letter and read it. I The fresh mountain air soon made
her strong again. I Yes, phone him. He should be home again
by now.
once more !,WArtS 'ma:r/if someone or something is in
a particular state once more they were in that state once
and are now in it again [adv phrase]

AGAIN 25 AGAINST/OPPOSE
By the end of 1944 the German armies were once more in full
retreat. I After her marriage she became once more the emo-
tional support for the whole family. I The United Nations is
once more a real force for peace in the world.
 to do an examination or test again because
you failed it or did not do it well enough the
first time
retake
resit
retake/ri:'teikJ to do a written examination or other kind
of test, such as a driving test, again because you have failed
it or because you have not done well enough Iv T]
Many people fail their driving test first time and have to
retake it. I It only makes sense to retake old subjects if there
is a real chance of you doing better than before.
retake/'ri:teik/[n C] The exam is in June. Retakes will be
held in September.
res|t ]ri: stl a British word meaning to do a formal writ-
ten examination again because you have failed it Iv T]
If you fail your final exams at university you can't resit them.
resit ]ri:st! In C] The resits will be held in November.
 against: as against COMPARE 3
 against: be against AGAINST/OPPOSE 1,
 DISADVANTAGE 4
;; against: be against/play against AGAINST SB IN A
• ;..,;.,... GAME 1
:i against: be up against PROBLEM 6
- against: come up against PROBLEM 8
 against: have something against DON'T LIKE 2
lagainstl
AGAINST/OPPOSE
to think that something is wrong and, in
some cases, try to prevent it
t to oppose something
2 a person or group that opposes something
3 words or behaviour that show that you
oppose something
4 to say that you oppose something, especially
in public
1 to oppose something
oppose anti-
be against hostile
be opposed to antagonistic
oppose/'paoz/to think that a plan, idea etc is wrong and
to try to prevent it from happening or succeeding Iv T]
The referendum showed that 92% o f the population oppose
the use of nuclear weapons. I They simply ignored anyone
who opposed their views. ] strongly oppose Chemical com-
panies will strongly oppose any legislation that prevents
them from dumping their waste in the sea.
be against/bi: 'gcnst/to think that particular actions
or behaviour are wrong and should not be allowed Iv T]
We are against the plan and we intend to fight it. ] be
strongly against I am strongly against the use of corporal
punishment in schools. I be dead set against (=be very
much against something) She wants to get married but her
parents are dead set against it.
be opposed to/bi: 'pozd tu:/to think that particular
actions or behaviour are wrong, especially when this is
your permanent opinion Iv phrase]
be opposed to sth Many people are opposed to the use of fur
for clothes. I be strongly/totally opposed to He was totally
opposed to eating meat. I It became clear that she was
strongly opposed to his suggestion.
anti. /'anti II 'ant, -ta/ anti-war/-smoking/-Ameri-
can etc (=that is against war, smoking, America etc)
[prefix]
There was a big anti-war demonstration yesterday. I The
anti-smoking campaign is becoming much more powerful as
people realise the dangers. I anti-Communist propaganda
hostile /'hostafl II 'ho:stl, 'ho:staI1/ someone who is
hostile to a plan or idea opposes it very strongly, and
expresses this in an angry way [adj]
hostile to/towards Local people are hostile towards the
plan, which would involve building a railway line through
the town. [ hostile Mr Patten's speech drew a hostile response
from many teachers who think his ideas are unworkable. [
openly hostile (=showing very clearly that you are
hostile) Mr Lydon was openly hostile to our suggestions and
refused to discuss them further.
antagonisti© /mntmga'nstik-/ someone who is
antagonistic towards a person, organization, plan, or idea
dislikes and disagrees with them very strongly, and
expresses this in a very angry or unpleasant way [adj]
antagonistic to/towards Workers at the factory have
become increasingly antagonistic towards the management
and its modernization plans. [ antagonistic It was impos-
sible to work with Paul. His manner was aggressive and
antagonistic.
2 a person or group that opposes something
opponent
the opposition
enemy
opponent/a'paonant/[n C]
In some countries, any opponent of the government is likely
to lose their job. ] One notable opponent of the proposal was
the club captain. I The controversial 'Kill Crime" campaign
had many opponents.
the opposition/8i ,opa'zan II -,o:p-/a group which is
opposing another group, especially the political party or
parties whose elected representatives oppose the official
government In singular with singular orplural verb in Brit-
ish English]
Newspapers must reflect the views of the opposition as well
as of the government. I The opinion polls show that we're
beating the opposition on this issue.
enemy/'enmi/someone who opposes something very
strongly and tries to prevent it or harm it In C]
enemy of The enemies of democracy are trying to sabotage
these elections. I The organisation Greenpeace, a long-
standing enemy of the chemical industry, is pressingfor new
legislation about waste controls.
3 words or behaviour that show that you
oppose something
objection hostility
opposition antagonism
objection/b'd3ekn! something that you say because
you oppose one particular detail of a plan, course of action
etc In C]
My only objection is that the program will be very expensive. I
raise an objection (=state an objection) The children
raised one objection after another, but eventually went
to bed.I have no objection (=not say that you oppose

AGAINST/OPPOSE 26 AGE
something) Ronny had no objection to the plan, provided
Fielding agreed to take most of the responsibility.
opposition/,pa'z[fn II ,o:p-/things that an organized
group of people do over a period of time, in order to oppose
a plan or idea In U]
opposition to The diary makes clear the opposition within
the Cabinet to some of the reforms. I opposition There has
been much more opposition than we expected. I express
opposition Thousands of people gathered in the town's
stadium to express their opposition to the plan. I strong
opposition There was strong opposition to the sale of more
land to developers. I in opposition to (=against) The
Afrikaner Nationalist party was founded in 1914 in opposi-
tion to the more moderate policies of Botha and Smuts.
hostility/h'st[lti IJ ha:-/angry remarks or behaviour
that show someone opposes a plan or idea very strongly
[n U]
hostility to/towards Recently there has been hostility
towards the Prime Minister from members of his own party. I
hostility The plan met with scepticism, and later hostility. I
open hostility (=obvious or public hostility) Given his
open hostility, it seemed pointless to try and continue with
the plan.
antagonism/mn'taganzam/angry and unpleasant feel-
ings or behaviour that show someone dislikes and dis-
agrees very strongly with a person, organization, plan, or
idea [n U]
antagonism to/towards Hines made no effort to conceal
his antagonism towards the director. [ antagonism
between These moves have failed to end the antagonism
between the leaders of the party and its more left-wing mem-
bers. I antagonism Their constant and bitter antagonism
has made it very difficult for us to proceed with the project.
4 to say that you oppose something, especially
in public
object to
voice/express opposition to
raise objections
object to/b'd3ekt tu:l to say something to show that you
oppose a plan or action because you think it is unfair or
morally wrong Iv T not in passive]
No member of the Council has ever objected to this princi-
ple. I At the very first meeting I objected to being called a
Zionist. I strongly object to Several distinguished citizens
strongly objected to the Communists dictating national
educational policy.
voice/express opposition to /,vais, k,spres p-
'zI]9n tu: II -o:Pa-/a formalexpression meaning to publicly
object to a plan or action Iv phrase]
Thousands gathered at the township's largest soccer stadium
to voice their opposition to the plans. I Oil company execu-
tives expressed strong opposition to any tax changes. I The
letter states formally that the American Jewish Committee
expresses its opposition to this proposal.
raise objections I reIz ab' dsekanz/to give specific rea-
sons for opposing a plan or action Iv phrase]
raise objections to Some of the older members of the church
raised objections to the new service. I raise objections He
didn't want me to go and kept raising objections like - it's
too expensive and you've got a lot of work to do here.
AGAINST SB IN A
GAME
1 to be against someone in a game or
competition
2 someone that you are against in a game or
competition
1 to be against someone in a game or
competition
be against/play against
versus
vs
be against/play against Ibi: a'genst, 'pleI a,genst/to
play against someone in a game or competition and try to
win Iv T]
In the next round we were against Bristol City, a good team. I
McEnroe would usually get angry with the umpire, not with
the person he was playing against.
versus/'va:rsas/against another person or team [prep]
Yesterday in the semi-final we saw Becker versus Lendl. I The
women decided to play versus the men in a friendly game of
basketball.
vs (also v in British English)/'va:rsas; vi:/(written abbrevi-
ations of versus)
Today's games include the Chicago Bulls vs the Boston
Celtics. I Gascoigne was back in the UK, to play in the
England v France match.
2 someone that you are against in a game or
competition
opponent
opposition
opponent/'paonnt/[n C]
My opponent was the same age and height as myself. I
Karpov defeated his 24-year-old opponent in 57 moves.
opposition/,opa'z:an II ,o:P-/the person or team that
you are playing against [n singularC]
The team won all their games against local opposition, but
lost in the international competition. I The opposition fought
hard, but had no chance of winning. I Soles had reached the
semi-finals without really facing any serious opposition.
age AGE 1, OLD/NOT YOUNG 6, PERIOD OF TIME 2
age: come of age ADULT 3
age: in this day and age NOW 2
age: show your age OLD/NOT YOUNG 6
age group AGE 5
age-old OLD/NOT NEW 1
AGE
1 the number of years that someone has lived
or something has existed
2 ways of saying how old a person or animal is
3 ways of saying how old a building, car,
machine etc is
4 to be the same age as someone or
something else
5 all the people of the same age
1 the number of years that someone has lived
or something has existed
age
how old
age/eds/[n C/U]
sb's age I tried to guess her age. I When you reach my age,
you don't need so much sleep. I The children's ages ranged
from three to seventeen. I the age of The age of the car is less
important than the way it has been driven. I age The differ-
ent factors affecting income - age, sex, class etc are all taken
into account. I at the age of 10/20 etc (=when you are 10,
20 etc) I left school at the age of 16 and worked on a farm.I
At what age did you get married? I small/big etc for your
age (=small, big etc compared to other people of the same
age) Jim is small for his age, but quite strong.

AGE
how old/hao 'aoldl what age someone or something is
[ adj phrase]
How old are you? [ I'm not sure how old my cat is - maybe
ten months. [ With radiocarbon dating, archaeologists can
find out how old the bones are.
:2 ways of saying how old a person or animal is
be 5110/35 etc
be 5/10/35 etc years old
be 5110/35 etc years of age
aged 5/10/35 etc
of 5/10/35 etc
5-year-old/10-year-old etc
have turned 20/30 etc
be 5110135 etc/bi: (5, etc)/Iv phrase]
dulie will be 30 on her next birthday. I When I was eighteen,
I thought I knew all the answers to the world'sproblems.
Luke is three and Marie is seven.
be 5110135 etc years old /bi: (5, etc) jIrz
Iv phrase]
Simon is nearly fifteen years old. I When she was seventy-
three years old she amazed us by getting married again!
If you're eighteen years old there's nothing to do in this town.
be 5110135 etc years of age/bi: (5, etc)jmrz v reid3/
[v phrase]
He appeared to be about 35years of age. I Elephants become
sexually active at about 15-20 years of age.
aged 5110135 etc/eId3d (5, etc)/[adj phrase]
Emilia Gonzales, aged 10, was found dead in a vacant lot
on Bishop Street. I Police are looking for a man, aged
between 40 and 45, who was seen at the scene of the crime.I
Males aged 35 to 55 have an increased risk of contracting the
disease.
o| 5110135 et©/zv (5, etc)/(used especially in British
English) [adj phrase]
If a man of 45 loses his job in this town he'll never get
another.I It's so simple a child of 5 could use it.
5.year.oldllO.year.old etc (=aged 5/10/35 etc) [adj
only before noun]
Helmut's ninety-five-year-old great-grandfather had actually
fought in the First World War. I He picked up his twelve-year-
old son from school and took him swimming. I 16-year-old
Elizabeth Parker will be the soloist in tonight's concert.
5/lO/35-year-old In C] To our surprise, the competition was
won by a seventeen-year-old who was still at school.
have turned 20130 etc/hv ta:rnd (20, etc)/to have
recently become 20, 30 etc Iv phrase]
"'How old is Mr Cook?" "I don't know but he must have
turned 40. ""
3 ways of saying how old a building, car,
machine etc is
be 5/50/100 etc years old
5-year-old/100-year-old etc
be 51501100 etc years old/bi: (5, etc) jIrz 'old/[v
phrase]
It's a Volvo and it's only two years old. I The house is over
a hundredyears old. I Fossils found in these rocks were over
200 million years old. I The pyramids were already 2000years
old when Herodotus visited them.
5-year-oldllOO.year.old etc [adj phrase only before
noun ]
A 500.year old church in Reading is being threatened with
demolition, l a 1500.year-old Latin manuscript l We've noth-
ing in our kitchen but a broken fridge and a ten-year-old
oven.
4 to be the same age as someone or
something else
the same age
the same age 16 ,sem 'ed3/ [n phrase]
of the same age (=the same age as each other) Blood
27
agree with
samples were taken from a group of patients of the same age. I
be the same age as Leonard is the same age as me. I Our
house is about the same age as yours. I be the same age (=be
the same age as each other) Cliff and Gerry are the same age.
It's amazing isn't it!
5 all the people of the same age
generation the under-5s/11s/25s etc
age group the over-30s/40s/50s etc
generation /,d3en're[an/all the people in a society who
are about the same age In C usually singular]
sb's generation People of my father's generation are not
used to computers. I She writes more perceptively than any
other author of her generation. I generation In the 1960s
there was a sense of security which the present generation
doesn't have. I generation-gap (=large differences in atti-
tude between different generations) There's an obvious
generation-gap in present-day German society.
age group/'e:d5 gru:p/all the people who are between
two particular ages, considered as a group In C]
New mothers in the 40-45 age group are more likely to suffer
some neonatal complications. I Most unemployed people in
Scotland are in the under-25 age group. I These vacations are
designed for the 20-30 age group.
the under.5sllls125s etc /hi ^nd r (5s, etc)/ an
expression used especially in education or sport, meaning
a group of people, especially children or young people, who
are all below a certain age In plural]
She is a teacher who mostly works with the under-5s. I As an
athlete he was one of the best of the under-18s in his club.
the over-3Osl4Osl50s etc 16i $Ov r (30s etc)/a group
of people, but not usually children or young people, who
are all above a certain age In plural]
We provide special vacations for the over-50s I The tennis club
has a section for the over-4Os.
 aged OLD/NOT YOUNG 1
 aged 5/10/35 etc AGE 2
 ageing/aging OLD/NOTYOUNG 1, 6
: agenda LIST 4
-' agenda: be at the top of the agenda IMPORTANT 4
 agenda: be on the agenda DISCUSS 3
 agent REPRESENT 3, SPY 2
 ages LONG TIME 1
 ages: take ages/years/forever LONG TIME 3
; aggravate WORSE 5
 aggregate TOTAL 1
 aggression ATTACK 6, VIOLENT 6
i aggressive FIGHT 3, VIOLENT 1
 aggressor ATTACK 7
 aghast SHOCK 3
 aging/ageing OLD/NOTYOUNG 1, 6
 agitated NERVOUS 2
 agitator REBELLION/REVOLUTION 5
 agnostic BELIEVE 7
 ago PAST 6
i ago: a moment/minute ago JUST/A MOMENT AGO 1
 ago: a short/little while ago RECENTLY 1
 agog: be all agog EXCITED 3
 agony SUFFER 3
 agony: be agony HURT/CAUSE PAIN 3
. agony: be in agony PAIN 2
 agree AGREE 1, 2, 3, SAME 7
 agree to LET/ALLOW 1
 agree to do sth ACCEPT2
 agree with APPROVE 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

AGREE 28 AGREE
agree
AGREE
DISAGREE
ACCEPT
AGREE
1 to have the same opinion as someone else
2 to agree with someone else's plan or
suggestion
3 ways of saying that two people or
organizations agree and make a decision,
after talking together about what they should
each do
4 words for describing a plan, price,
arrangement etc that people have agreed
5 to reach an agreement with someone by
accepting less than you really want
6 a situation in which people agree with each
other
7 an arrangement about what should be done,
which has been agreed between two people,
organizations, or countries
1 to have the same opinion as someone else
agree subscribe to
be in agreement concur
be of the same opinion be agreed
share the view that unanimous
agree/'gri:/if someone agrees with someone else or if
two or more people agree, they have the same opinion
about something [v I/T not in progressive]
"'Yes, I'm sure you're right, "" agreed Tony. I Teenagers and
their parents rarely agree. [ agree with sb Everyone agreed
with Ralph that it was important to have rules and stick to
them. [ Mr Johnson thinks it's too risky, and I tend to agree
with him. [ agree that Most experts now agree that global
warming is a serious problem. [ agree on sth We all agree
on the importance of reading skills, but there remain crucial
differences as to how they should be taught. [ I quite agree
(British) Yes, I quite agree (=I agree completely). Why
should poor people pay so much tax?[ I couldn't agree
more (=I agree completely) "'It's time they banned all these
cigarette adverts. "" "'Oh, yes. I couldn't agree more. ""
be in agreement/hi: m 'gri:mnt/if two or more people
are in agreement, they agree about something, especially
as a result of talking about it in detail [v phrase]
A decision will not be made until everyone is in agreement. [
be in agreement on Although the two countries appeared
to be in agreement on the need for more talks, no date was set.
be of the same opinion/bi: v 6 ,seim 'pnjn/a
formal expression meaning to agree with someone on a
particular subject [v phrase]
Both teachers were of the same opinion - she should be
expelled from school immediately. I Mrs Ford clearly dis-
approved and her sister appeared to be of the same opinion.
share the view that/,e r 6 'vju: bq a formal expres-
sion meaning to agree with an opinion that someone has
written or spoken about, or that a lot of people have [v
phrase not in progressive]
I share the view that peace can only be achieved through
dialogue. I share sb's view Many shared Duvald's view of
technology as "the road to destruction'.
subscribe to/sb' skra:b tu:/to agree with an opinion or
belief that a lot of other people have, especially a general
belief about how people should live, work, study etc [v T
not in progressive]
She has always subscribed to the view that children should
be given responsibility from an early age. I There is a busi-
ness philosophy I subscribe to which says that if you are not
making mistakes you are not doing it right.
concur/kn' ku:r/a formal word meaning to state that you
agree with something someone has said or with someone's
opinion [v I not in progressive]
"'My opinion exactly", concurred the bank manager. I
concur with Furthermore, we concur with Keshler and
Holmnitz that these bacteria may protect the organism.
be agreed/bi: 'gri:d/if two or more people are agreed,
they finally agree with each other about what to do after
discussing it for a while [v phrase]
Okay, we're all agreed. We'll go tomorrow. I be agreed on
All parties are now agreed on a rescue plan estimated at $18
million.
unanimous/ju:'nmnoIms/ifa group of people is unani-
mous, they all agree about something, especially about
what should be done or who should be chosen or elected
[adj]
unanimous agreement/choice/decision/vote etc Mr
Harada was elected by a unanimous vote. I Rachel was the
unanimous choice for the job thanks to her communication
skills. I be unanimous When the matter was put to the vote.
the committee was unanimous.
unanimously ]adv ] The union members voted unanimously
for a strike.
unanimity /,ju:na'nimti/ [n U] There was complete
unanimity on the decision to go on strike (-the decision was
completely unanimous).
2 to agree with someone else's plan or
suggestion
agree fall in with
go along with go with
agree/'gri:/[v I not in progressive]
Charles suggested going for a picnic and we all agreed. I The
project can't go ahead until the finance committee agrees. I
agree with Few people expect the rebels to agree with the
peace plan. I agree wholeheartedly (=agree completely
and very willingly) When Iproposed that in future we should
hold our meetings in the bar, the others agreed whole-
heartedly.
go along with/,gzo zlorj w6 II -z 'lz:rj-/ to agree with
someone's plan or suggestion because there is nothing else
you would prefer to do, or because you want to please them
Iv T not in passive]
John's plan wash "t great but nobody could think of a better
one, so we all went along with it. I Convincing others to go
along with new ideas is always difficult. I The bank decided
to go along with our proposal and lent us the two million
pounds we needed.
fall in with/,f:l 'in w]S/a British expression meaning
to accept someone's plan or suggestion and do what they
want you to do [v T not in passive]
She expects her friends to fall in with everything she wants
to do. I He was irritated by her refusal to fall in with his
plans.
go with/'gao wi6/an American expression meaning to
accept someone's plan or suggestion [v T not in passive]
We considered all the options and decided to go with John's
original proposal.

AGREE 29 AGREE
3 ways of saying that two people or organizations
agree and make a decision, after talking
together about what they should each do
agree make a deal
reach agreement come to an
strike/make a bargain agreement
agree/'gri:/[v I/T not in progressive]
agree on The whole team should get together and agree on
a plan of action. I agree to do sth We agreed to meet up later
and talk things over. I agree Ultimately the two sides could
not agree and negotiations were abandoned. I agree a
price/plan/strategy etc After a few minutes" discussion we
had agreed a price and the car was mine. I agree that After
some tough negotiating it was agreed that the workforce
would be reduced by 10%.
reach agreement/, ri:tf 'gri:mnt/to agree on some-
thing after discussing it for some time, especially in offi-
cial talks Iv phrase not in progressive]
reach agreement on After a week of talks, Britain and
Iceland reached agreement on fishing limits. I reach agree-
ment with sb We are determined to reach agreement with
the IMF before the end of the year. I reach agreement There
is little chance of the two sides reaching agreement while they
both maintain such inflexible positions.
strlkelmake a bargain/,straik, ,meIk  Ibo:rgn/to
agree to do something for someone else if they will do some-
thing for you Iv phrase]
strike/make a bargain with Eventually she struck a bar-
gain with him. She would get him a job if he would help her
with her singing. I strike/make a bargain Let's make a
bargain. I'll tell you what you want to know provided you
don't breathe a word of it to anyone else. I strike/make a
bargain that They made a bargain that they would stick
together no matter what.
make a deal (also do a deal in British English)/,meik
 'did, ,du:  'did/ to agree on something, especially in
secret, in order to achieve what you want Iv phrase]
make/do a deal with The government made a deal with
the kidnappers to free their hostages. I He looked at me sus-
piciously. "'Have you made a deal with them?" I make/do
a deal Somehow the rebels had got everything they wanted
without doing deals or compromising their position.
come to an agreement / ,kam to an z'gri:mznt/to agree
on something by discussing it until both people or all the
people involved are satisfied with what is decided Iv
phrase]
We came to an agreement - I would have the large bedroom
for six months and then we would change. I come to some
agreement (=find a way to agree) If you can'tpay all the
money now, I'm sure we can come to some agreement. I come
to an agreement with Danvers had come to a private agree-
ment with the owners of the land which secured his right to
purchase it.
4 words for describing a plan, price,
arrangement etc that people have agreed
agreed
agreed/z'gri:d/[adj only before noun]
We refused to pay because the goods were not delivered by
the agreed date. I When nobody was looking, Al slipped out
and met her at the agreed rendezvous. I A set of agreed objec-
tives was established before the workshop began.
5 to reach an agreement with someone by
accepting less than you really want
compromise
make concessions
meet sb halfway
compromise/'komprmaIz II 'ka:m-/[v I]
The strike is likely to continue because neither side is will-
ing to compromise. I compromise on Hostage-taking was
not an issue on which Reagan was prepared to compromise.
make concessions / ,meek kon' sej'anz/if someone in
authority makes concessions, they let their opponents
have something that they are asking for, in order to reach
an agreement Iv phrase]
We will have to make concessions if we want the talks to
continue. I make concessions on The government has
already made significant concessions on pay and conditions. I
make concessions to sb By making even greater conces-
sions to its coalition partners, the CDP managed to stay in
power.
meet sb halfway/,mi:t (sb) ho:f'we II -hmf-/ffyou say
that you will meet someone halfway, you mean that you
will do part of what they want if they will do part of what
you want Iv phrase]
I'll meet you halfway. You can work at home but you must
be available to answer the phone. I They won't pay the all
our expenses, but they might be prepared to meet us halfway.
6 a situation in which people agree with each
other
agreement
consensus
harmonious
agreement/'gri:mnt/[n U]
agreement that There is general agreement among doctors
that pregnant women should not smoke. I agreement on We
have achieved a large measure of agreement on all the impor-
tant issues.
consensus/kzn' senszs/general agreement among most
of the people in a group, especially an official group that
makes important decisions In U]
consensus on/about There is still no general consensus on
what our future policy should be. I consensus of opinion
The consensus of opinion seems to be that the Prime Minister
should resign. I reach a consensus (=achieve agreement)
The delegates will continue to meet until a consensus is
reached.
harmonious /ho:rmonis/ harmonious meeting/
relations/alliance ere (=in which there is friendly agree
merit) [adj]
The meeting was surprisingly harmonious -for once every-
one agreed with each other. I International free trade pro-
motes harmonious relations between nations.
harmony /'ho:rmzni/In U] The President is attempting to
restore harmony to an assembly (=to make the assembly
harmonious again) that has been torn apart by party rival-
ries.
harmoniously [adv] a system in which people work.
together harmoniously to achieve common goals
7 an arrangement about what should be done,
which has been agreed between two people,
organizations, or countries
agreement pact
understanding contract
treaty
agreement/'gri:mnt/In C]
agreement on The USA and the USSR signed an agreement
on arms limitation. [ agreement Eventually all the parties
signed the agreement. I under an agreement Under the
Sino-British agreement Hong Kong will come under Chinese
rule from 1997. I have an agreement that I thought we had
an agreement that you would keep me informed about any
changes in the programme.
understanding / ,Ando r ' stmndl]/an informal, not writ-
ten agreement between two people or organizations In C]
have an understanding Adams and the police have an
understanding - he gives them information and they don't
ask any questions about his activities. I come to an under-
standing that (=agree after discussion) We came to an
understanding that I would go out to work and my husband
would look after the baby. I understanding between elec-
toral pacts and unwritten understandings between political
parties

AGREE 30 AIR
treaty / 'tri:fi/a formal written agreement between two or
more countries, especially to end a war or to improve rela-
tions In C]
The European Community was created by the Treaty of
Rome. [ Some countries are still refusing to sign a treaty ban-
ning chemical weapons. [ peace treaty (=a treaty that ends
a war) On June 28th 1919 Germany and the Allies signed a
peace treaty ending the First Worm War.
pact/pmktl a formal written agreement between two or
more countries or political parties in which they promise
to support each other or defend each other In C]
In 1939 Stalin was actively negotiating a pact with Hitler. [
Fourteen Spanish political parties signed a pact aimed at
ending Basque separatist violence.
contract/'kontrmkt [[ 'ko:n-/a written legal agreement
containing all the details and rules connected with a job
or business arrangement In C]
According to the contract you have to work 37hours a week. [
We are negotiating a contract to supply the army with leather
boots. [ breach of contract (=breaking of the rules of a con-
tract) The company was prosecuted for breach of contract.
agreed AGREE 4
agreed: be agreed AGREE 1
agreement AGREE 6, 7
agreement: be in agreement AGREE 1
agreement: come to an agreement AGREE 3
agreement: reach agreement AGREE 3
ahead FORWARD 1, FRONT 5, FUTURE 4
ahead: be ahead WIN 7
ahead: be ahead of your time BEFORE 12
ahead: get on/get ahead SUCCESSFUL 1
ahead: go ahead DO 5, LET/ALLOW 4, YES 2
ahead: up ahead FRONT 5
ahead of BEFORE 12
ahead of: in front of/ahead of BEFORE 8
ahead of schedule EARLY 1
ahead of time EARLY 1
ahead of time: be ahead of its time ADVANCED 1
ahead of time: be ahead of your time BEFORE 12
aid HELP 5, 6, 9, 10
aid: come to sb's aid/assistance HELP 3
aid: with the aid of HELP 6
aide HELP 8
ailment ILLNESS/DISEASE 1
aim PURPOSE 1, SHOOT 6
aim: take aim SHOOT 6
aim: with the aim of PURPOSE 2
aim: with the aim of doing sth TO/IN ORDER TO 1
aimless PURPOSE 4
air AIR 1, 2, 5, ARMY 3
air: an air of SEEM 1
air: be on the air TELEVISION/RADIO 4
air: by land/aidsea TRAVEL 2
air: clear the air ARGUE 8
air: it's up in the air UNCERTAIN 1
air: up in the air HIGH 1
air: with an air of WAY/MANNER 2
air your grievances COMPLAIN 1
air your views SAY/STATE 2
AIR
the air that we breathe
fresh air that is pleasant to breathe
words for describing rooms or buildings
where the air is pleasantly fresh
words for describing places that are
uncomfortable to be in because there is not
enough fresh air
to let fresh air into a room or building
to fill something such as a tyre or balloon with
air
1 the air that we breathe
air
atmosphere
air/ear/[n U]
The cold, damp air made him cough. [ There was a strong
smell of burning in the air. [ Use unleaded gas to minimize
a ir pollu tion.
atmosphere/'etmasflar/the air in a particular place [n
singular]
A warm, moist atmosphere is best for these plants. [ the
polluted atmosphere of downtown Tokyo [ We were glad to
escape from the stuffy atmosphere of the bar.
2 fresh air that is pleasant to breathe
air
fresh air
air lear/In U]
Open a window and let some air in. I He stepped outside into
the cool, pleasant air of the valley. I a breath of air (=some
fresh air) I'm just going out for a breath of air before [ go
to bed.
fresh air/,freJ" 'ear/clean natural air, which is good for
your health In U]
You need exercise and fresh air. I I opened all the windows
to let some fresh air circulate. I fresh air fiend (=person
who likes fresh air so much that other people think they
are strange) Terry's a real fresh air fiend. He always has the
windows open, even in the winter.
 words for describing rooms or buildings
where the air is pleasantly fresh
airy
well-ventilated
airy/'earl/a room or building that is airy has plenty of
fresh air because it is large, has big windows, or is not full
of furniture [adj]
She liked light, airy rooms. I Store the seeds in a dry airy
place.
well.ventilated/,wel 'ventalleItald II -'venfl-eltd/a room
or building that is well-ventilated has open windows or
has been built in a way that allows air to move freely
around it [adj]
Keep the patient in a warm, well-ventilated room. [ A firm
must ensure that its offices are well-ventilated.
4 words for describing places that are
uncomfortable to be in because there is not
enough fresh air
stuffy close
airless stifling
stuffy /'StAff/a room or building that is stuffy does not
have enough fresh air, often because it is small or there are
too many people in it [adj]
The hotel room was hot and stuffy, and I woke up with a ter-
rible headache. I He had a small, stuffy apartment crammed
with shabby furniture. I The hall was crowded, and rather
stuffy. I It's getting stuffy in here - shall I open the window?
stuffiness In U] It was pleasant outside, after the hot stuffi-
ness of the house.
airless/'earlas/a room or building that is airless does
not have enough air in it for you to breathe properly [adj]
The classroom was hot and airless, and she thought she
would faint. I a tiny, airless room with one small window
that wouldn't open
close/klaos/unpleasantly warm, especially when the air
feels slightly wet [adj not before noun]
It's very close in here. Would somebody open the window,
please? I The atmosphere was close and sticky, as though a
storm was coming.
closeness In U] The closeness of my cabin became unbear-
able.

AIR 31 ALL/EVERYTHING
stifling /'staIflirj/ very hot and uncomfortable, and
without enough air for you to breathe properly [adj]
It was stifling in there; I was glad to get out. ] It was ten
o'clock and already the apartment was stifling. [ We waited
in the stifling heat for two hours. [ The room was stifling hot
and full of flies.
 to let fresh air into a room or building
air
ventilate
air/eor/to let fresh air into a room or building, especially
one that has been closed or not used for a while Iv T]
She was opening windows and shutters to air the empty
rooms. ] The bedrooms are aired and cleaned every morning.
vent|late / 'ventIleIt [[ -tl-elt/to let air move into, out of,
and around the inside of a room, building, vehicle etc Iv T]
Put a few holes in the side of the box to ventilate it. [ Air bricks
are used to ventilate the space under the floor of a house. [
well/properly/adequately ventilated Is the building
.well lit and well ventilated? ] badly/poorly ventilated
Working in a poorly ventilated area could affect your health.
6 to fill something such as a tyre or balloon with
air
blow up
inflate
pump up
blow up/,bloo ^p/to fill something with air to make it
large and firm [phr v T]
blow up sth We blew up fifty balloons for the children's
party. [ blow sth/it/them up Your bike's got a flat tyro.
You'd better blow it up.
In|late/in'flelt/a formal or technical word meaning to
blow something up [v T]
You can inflate the mattress in 30 seconds, using a foot
pump. [ Tyros should always be inflated to the correct pres-
sure.
IUml up ] ,p^mp '^p] to blow something up using a pump
[phr v T]
pump up sth
football needs
I must stop and pump up these tyres. [ This
to be pumped up - it's a bit flat.
airforce ARMY 1
airhead dTUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 3
airless AIR 4
airman ARMY 2
airy AIR 3
ajar OPEN 9
aka/a.k.a. NAME OF A PERSON 3
akin to LIKE/SIMILAR 1
alarm FRIGHTENED 7
alarm: sound the alarm WARN 1
alarm: set the alarm bells ringing
alarming WORRIED 8
alarming rate: at an alarming rate
alarmist WORRIED 8
alcohol DRINK 5
alcoholic DRUNK 6
alcove HOLE 5
alert WARN 1, WATCH 7
alert: be on full alert READY 4
alias NAME OF A PERSON 3
allen FOREIGN 2
align yourself with UNITE 1
alike LIKE/SIMILAR 1
alimony MONEY 8
WARN 4
FAST/QUICK 9
alive
alive . LIVING/ALIVE 1
alive: feel alive ENERGETIC 2
alive: stay alive SURVIVE 1
all ALL/EVERYTHING 1, 2, EVERYONE 1, ONLY 2
all: for all EVERYONE 4
all: give your all TRY TO DO OR GET STH 3
all: the be all and end all IMPORTANT 5
all along ALL THE TIME 2
all around/round AROUND/ROUND 1, EVERYONE 1, 4
all but ALMOST 2
all day/night/summer etc long ALL THE TIME 2
all ears: be all ears INTERESTED 3
all-embracing ALL/EVERYTHING 4
all go: it's all go BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 3
all in all/all things considered IN GENERAL 2
all or nothing EXTREME 1
all out: go all out TRY TO DO OR GET STH 5
all over EVERYWHERE 2, 3
all-powerful POWER 2
all-purpose USE STH 14
all right/alright YES 3
all right: be all right/OK GOOD ENOUGH 1
all right: it's all right/alright/OK FORGIVE 2
all right: it's all right for some LUCKY 2
all right: that's all right/that's OK THANK 6
all right for: be OK for/be all right for ENOUGH 5
all round/around AROUND/ROUND 1 EVERYONE 1, 4
all-rounder GOOD AT 7
all talk: be all talk BOAST 2, DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
all that: for all that BUT 2
all the same BUT 2
all the time ALL THE TIME 1, 2, KEEP DOING STH 1
all there: be all there COMPLETE 1
all told: altogetherlin total/in all/all told TOTAL 2
all-weather WEATHER 4
all
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
ALL/EVERYTHING
all the things in a group or set
the whole of a single mass or amount
continued

ALL/EVERYTHING 32 ALL/EVERYTHING
ALL/EVERYTHING
continued
3 any or all of the things that are wanted,
needed, or possible
4 affecting or including everything
1 all the things in a group or set
all every
everything each
the lot without exception
all/:I/[predeterminerCuantifier[
all the/these/their etc Do we have to answer all the ques-
tions? l All his clothes were spread around the room. I All
these chairs are broken. I all of sth I've used up all of my
traveler's checks. I Yes, he broke all of them! I all things/
cars/buildings etc All road vehicles have to pass a special
safety test. I them all/they all What! Have you eaten them
all? l All you need are a few simple tools. I all Thanks for
all you've done to help. I There are no trees left on the island.
They've all been cut down.
everything/'evri0irj/all the things in a group or all the
things that someone does, says etc [pronl
The customs officer asked us to take everything out of our
suitcases. I Don't believe everything politicians say. I The
Langhams had spent a year planning their daughter's wed-
ding, so they were sure that everything would go well. I
everything else (=all other things) I have a tent and a
sleeping-bag, and Ben said he'd lend me everything else I
need for the camping trip.
the lot/6a 'lot II -'lint/an informal British expression
meaning all the things in a group or set, considered
together In singular]
I left my purse with my cheque book and car keys on the
kitchen table and thieves broke in and stole the lot. I Janine
bought four cream cakes, but her friends didn't turn up for
dinner so she ate the lot herself.
every/'evd/all the single things that make a group or set
of things [determiner]
Every room in the house was beautifully decorated. I It rained
every day of our vacation. I a book containing advice on every
aspect of skiing I every single Unfortunately the President
disagreed with every single thing his aides said. I every
single one I've been to every single one of David Bowie's
concerts.
each/i:tJ'/all of two or more things in a group, considered
separately or one after the other [determiner/pron]
each thing/house/ear ete In the exam there must be one
metre between each desk. I They read through each job appli-
cation very carefully. I each of sth We will consider each of
these questions in turn. I each one George and Elizabeth had
visited 15 apartments and had found something wrong with
each one. I each She went along the row of holes, putting a
couple of seeds in each.
without exception/wI6,aot ik'sepfan/a formal expres-
sion used to show that something is true of every single one
of the things in a large group lady phrase]
Without exception the paintings in the royal palace are origi-
nals. I Every type of plant, without exception, contains some
kind of salt.
2 the whole of a single mass or amount
all every bit of/inch of/ounce of/drop of
whole in its entirety
entire from start to finish
the lot the whole of
all/:1/[predeterminerCuantifier[
all the/that/their etc Don't eat all that pie - leave some
for Jenny. I She lost all her money. I It seems that all our work
has been wasted. I all of sth It wasn't Bob's idea of fun to
clean all of Ruby's house from top to bottom. I it all What's
happened to the rest of the paint? Did you use it all? l Yes,
I made a lot of money, but it's all gone now.
whole/haul/all of something that is large or has many
parts [adj only before noun]
We lost it all - the whole $10,000! [ "I want the whole area
searched!" said the chief of police. [ Vicki felt a chill over her
whole body as she heard the dreadful news. [Nora had spent
her whole life trying to find happiness.
entire / in'taior/all of something, especially something
that seems very large or complicated or that seems to last
a long time [adj only before noun]
At last, I had an entire day to myself. [ We realized that our
entire conversation had been recorded. [ This function of the
word-processor allows you to correct the entire document
before printing.
the lot/6o 'lm 11 -'la:t/an informal British expression
meaning the whole of a single large mass or amount In
singularl
"7 want to buy this old furniture.'" "'Well you can have the
lot for Ј350. ""
every bit of/Inch of/ounce of/drop of/evri 'bit ov,
'Intj" t)v, 'auns t)v, 'drt)p t)v II-'dro:p/the whole of some-
thing that is very large [quantifier]
Andy bought a huge bottle of coke and drank every bit of it
himself. I Posters of pop groups covered every inch of wall
space in Jackie's bedroom. I We're going to need every ounce
of our strength to move this piano. I "'I've bought another bag
of cement. "' "'Good, we're going to need every bit of it. ""
In Its entirety/in ItS in'talarIti/if something is done, per-
formed, affected etc in its entirety, all of it is done, per-
formed etc, and nothing is left out lady phrase]
The show had been performed in its entirety at the Sydmon-
ton Festival. I We cannot accept this argument in its entirety
because parts of it are contradictory. I We will be publish-
ing the "Camillagate" transcript in its entirety.
from start to finish/from ,sta:rt ta 'flnlJ'/including all
of something such as an event, process, or piece of writing
[adv phrase]
I've read the book three times from start to finish. I Removal
of wisdom teeth is a mnor surgical operation which, from
start to finish, takes about half an hour. I Frankly, I think
the whole case has been badly handled from start to finish.
the whole of/6a 'haul v/all of something, especially
something that is not a physical object [quantifier]
Our English course covers the whole of English Literature
from 1600 to 1900. I We spent the whole of the morning clean-
ing out the garage. I It's not just our computer. The whole
of the network is down!
3 any or all of the things that are wanted,
 needed, or possible
whatever everything but the kitchen sink
anything you name it
whatever/wot'eva r II wo:t-/[pron]
"'Can I have a cake, Mummy?" "'You can have whatever you
want, darling." l You should find whatever you need in the
cupboard under the sink. I Here was an audience eager to
listen to whatever I had to say.
anything/, eniOi/everything that you may want, need
etc, especially when there is a very big choice [pron]
I wasgoing to throw all these things away anyway, soplease
take anything you like. I Paul goes to all the auctions in the
area looking for anything in Art Deco style. I The one thing
he wanted more than anything else was a glass of cold water.
everything but the kitchen sink/,evriOirj bat 6o
, kltJ'n ' SIlk] an informal expression meaning all the equip-
ment you need and also a lot of other things that you do not
really need In phrase]
When my parents come to stay with us, they bring everything
but the kitchen sink!
you name it/,ju: 'nelm it/you say you name it when
you are telling someone that there is everything that they
want or need or can think of
We specialize in dancewear - you name it, we sell it. I I had
so many different jobs while I was a student: waiter, sales
clerk, bartender -you name it.

ALL/EVERYTHING
4 affecting or including everything
total global
blanket all-embracing
overall
total/'tautl/[adj only before noun]
a total ban on all forms of tobacco advertising I The satel-
lite TV station is providing total coverage of the Olympic
Games.
blanket/'blarjkt/blanket decision/statement/term
etc (=one that affects every part of a situation) [adj only
before noun/
A blanket requirement was announced by education officials
- all schools had to cut their budgets by 25%. I Dementia is
a blanket term for various different types of psychiatric
disorder.
overall / 'aovar:l/including or involving all or almost all
the parts of a situation [adj only before noun]
Her overall approach to the job is very good, I'm sure she'll
do well here. I Even though some of the details are badly done,
the overall effect of the painting is very dramatic.
overall [ adv ] One or two products didn't do so well, but over-
all we've had a highly successful year.
global !' glaubal! involving allpossible parts of an idea or
system [adj usually before noun]
He has a global vision of how business will progress. I This
philosophy course deals with global concepts.
all.embracing/,:l m'bresI]! all-embracing con-
cept/statement/term/demand etc (=one in which all
features of a situation have been thought of and included)
[adj usually before noun]
The prison governor now has all-embracing powers, to deal
with any situation in the way he thinks fit. I Physicists are
searching for one all-embracing theory that covers matter,
energy, radiation and gravity.
ALL THE TIME
1 all the time
2 during the whole of a particular event or a
period of time
1 all the time
all the time constantly
the whole time permanently
always perennial
at all times unfailing
all the time/aft 6a 'taim/[adv phrase]
I don't have to wear my glasses all the time - just for read-
ing. I He used to go away twice a week but he's with us all
the time now. I My French is quite good now - I use it all the
time in my job. .
the whole time/6a ,haul 'talm/if something, especially
something annoying, happens the whole time, it happens
all the time [adv phrase]
He's a little terror. You have to watch him the whole time. I
How would you like to be followed around by a detective the
whole time?
always/,o:lwz, -welz/all the time without changing
[adv]
The temperature of the lake is always below 55 degrees
celsius. I "Is he always this moody? .... No, not always -just
when he's had an argument with his wife. "'1 Mr Piotrowski
always kept to himself, so we had no idea that he had been
a violinist.
at all times/at ,a:l ItaImz/an expression meaning all the
time used especially in official notices and rules [adv
phrase]
There must be silence in the library at all times. I Strict secu-
rity is maintained at all times.
constantly /'kDnstantli [[ 'ko:n-/ all the time continu-
ously [adv]
33 allegation
She was constantly trying to impress her boss. I The general
public is constantly exposed to radiation.
constant [adj] The local population was in constant danger
from Renamo attacks. I the need for constant vigilance
permanently/' pa:rmanantli/all the time and never likely
to change [adv]
The fish on the sea floor live permanently in darkness. I In
Harlem the windows of some stores are permanently
barricaded.
permanent [adj] The country seems to be in a permanent
state of crisis.
perennial /pa'renial/ perennial problem/concern/
struggle etc (=one which people are concerned with all the
time, and have been concerned with for a long time) [adj
only before noun]
The supply of food and water is a perennial problem for
desert expeditions. I Her poems all come back to the peren-
nial theme of love.
unfailing/^n'fcIhrj/unfailing support/devotion/good
humour etc (=that you can depend on because it never
changes or grows weaker even when there is trouble or
difficulty) [adj only before noun]
She was a loving daughter who cared for her mother with
unfailing devotion. I His honesty and unfailing good humour
made him popular with his fellow workers.
2 during the whole of a particular event or a
period of time
all the time
throughout/
all through
the whole time
all day/night/
summer etc long
all along
from start to finish
all the time lad 6a 'taim/[adv phrase]
all the time (that) Ididn't really enjoy my holiday because
I was sick all the time I was there. I All the time I was talk-
ing to him he just stared at the television.
throughout/all through/0ru:'aut, '3:1 0ru:/during all
of a particular period of time, especially when this is a long
time [prep]
They walked all through the night and got home as the sun
was rising. I His hair was blond all through his childhood,
darkening as he reached adolescence. I Yvonne lived in Swit-
zerland throughout the war.
the whole time/6a ,haul 'taim/ during a particular
period of time and lasting for what seems a long time [adv
phrase]
The elevator was broken while we were there and we had to
use the stairs the whole time. I the whole time (that) The
whole time that we were in Spain the sun shone and it was
hot. I Peter complained the whole time he was working in the
shoe store.
all day/night/summer etc long/,a:l (day, etc) 'lDrj II
-'la:rj/during all of the day, night, summer, winter etc [adv
phrase]
They stayed in their house by the beach all summer long.
Maria wrote to me from England saying that it usually
rained all day long.
all along lad a'loo II -a'la:/ifa particular situation has
existed all along, it has existed all the time right from the
beginning, although you may not have known about it [adv
phrase]
The end of the movie didn't surprise me - I knew all along
who had murdered the policeman. I She looked everywhere
for her keys and found that they had been in her purse all
along. I When the results were published he realized that he
had been mistaken all along.
from start to finish/fram ,sto:rt ta 'flnif/if an event
or something that you do is good, bad etc from start to
finish it is like that from the time it begins until it ends
[ adv phrase]
Her driving test went very well from start to finish. [ It was
an awful day at work -problems from start to finish.
,, allay REDUCE 2
...... allegation ACCUSE 3, SAY/STATE 10

allegations
allege
allegedly
allegiance
allegory
alleviate
alley
alliance
allied
allocate
allocation
allotted
allegations: make allegations ACCUSE 1
ACCUSE 1, SAY/STATE 5
SAY/STATE 5
FAITHFUL 2
STORY 3
REDUCE 2
ROAD/PATH 1
TOGETHER 5
CONNECTED WITH 4
GIVE 5
SHARE 6
GIVE 5
allow
allow LET/ALLOW 1, 6, 8, POSSIBLE 3
allow for PREPARE 3
allowable LET/ALLOW 12
allowance MONEY 7
allowed: be allowed LET/ALLOW 5, 12
allowed: not be allowed to do sth FORBID 2
allude to MENTION 1
alluring SEXY 1
almost ALMOST 5, 6
almost/nearly ALMOST 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
almost all/nearly all MOST 1, 2
almost certain PROBABLY 3
almost didn't JUST/ALMOST NOT 1
almost no FEW/NOT MANY 2, LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 9
l almost or most? I
ALMOST
almost a particular number, amount, time,
age etc
ways of saying that something has almost
reached a particular point or state, is almost
finished etc
ways of saying that someone almost does
something or that something almost happens
almost the best, worst, nastiest etc or almost
impossible, unbearable etc
so similar to something else that it almost is
that thing
almost a particular colour, shape etc
almost all, everything, or everyone
34
ALMOST
1 almost a particular number, amount, time,
age etc
almost/nearly
close to
close on
approaching/nearing
getting on for
not quite
be pushing 40/50 etc
almost/nearly/'a:lrnaust, 'nIorli/[adv]
I've been a teacher for nearly lO years now. I lhadmoney and
nearly ЈI000 in traveller's cheques. I John is three years old
and Sally is almost six.
close to /'ldous tu:/ almost a particular number or
amount, especially when you are guessing at a large or high
number or amount [adv]
Bill was amazed at how many people there were in the hall.
There must have been close to a hundred. I His body temper-
ature was close to 40 degrees so they called a doctor. I The
federal government today spends close to $100 billion a year
on education.
close on I'lds on/a British expression meaning almost,
especially when you are guessing at a number, age, time
etc [ adv ]
A crowd of close on a thousandpeople gathered at the con-
cert. I They walked close on 18 miles on the first day but only
six miles on the second. I It was close on 7 o'clock by the time
Anthony got home.
approaching/nearing /a'prautj'irj, 'nlarlrJ/ almost a
particular number, amount, time, age, etc, and still increas-
ing or getting nearer to that number [adv]
It was approaching 3 o'clock, the time when they could all
go home. I The dropout rate in large city high schools is
approaching 60percent. I Only eight million out of a total
nearing 45 million had the vote.
getting on for /,getirj 'on fa:r/ an informal British
expression meaning almost a particular number, amount,
time etc and still increasing or getting nearer [adv]
It's getting on for 25years since we last saw one another. ]
Getting on for 50% of the product budget is spent on adver-
tising. I It must be getting on for lunch time, I'm starving.
not quite/not 'kwalt/almost but still slightly less than
[adv]
He's not quite six feet tall, which is short for a heavyweight
boxer. I It was still not quite ten o'clock but the tension was
becoming unbearable.
be pushing 40150 etc/bi: posit j (40 etc)! an expression
used when you are guessing an older person's age mean-
ing to be almost forty, fifty etc Iv phrase]
I don't think he's very young, he must be pushing 50.
2
ways of saying that something has almost
reached a particular point or state, is almost
finished etc
almost/nearly
very nearly
just about
practically/virtually
all but
as good as
to all intents and
purposes
nearing/approaching/
near to/close to
verging on/
bordering on
more or less
pretty well/
pretty much
not quite
almost/nearly/'o:lmaost, 'nIarli/[adv]
We were almost at the top of the mountain when it began to
rain. I The river has nearly dried up, there's been so little rain
this year. I As the bus rattled round the last bend the jour-
ney was nearly over.
very nearly/,veri 'nlarli/[adv]
James will have to sell the house because he is very nearly
bankrupt. I Her jacket was very nearly the same colour as
his trousers.
Just about/,ds^st a'baotl just about finished/ready
etc (=extremely close to being finished/ready etc)[adv]
Dinner's just about ready, so wash your hands now. I I've
just about finished with the newspaper, you can have it in

ALMOST 35 ALMOST
a minute. I Her glamorous career appears to be just about
over.
practically/virtually/'praktikli, 'va:rtj'uali/ if some-
thing is practically or virtually finished, empty, ready
etc it is so near to being finished, empty, ready etc that
there is almost no difference [adv]
The cupboard was practically empty: one tin of beans and
a packet of rice. I Communist parties have virtually disap-
peared in Northern Europe.
all but/'a:l bat/all but completed/destroyed/perfect
etc (=very nearly completed, destroyed, perfect etc) [adv
phrase]
After two and a half years work the building was all but
completed. I The earthquake was so bad that the town has
all but disappeared.
as good as/oz 'god oz/ as good as done/finished/
yours etc (so nearly done, finished, yours etc that you
could say it is already) [adv phrase]
The job's as good as done. We'll be finished in an hour or
so. I We're signing all the contracts tomorrow. The house is
as good as mine. I as good as say sth/call sb sth etc He
has as good as said that he will sell me his bike. I The jour-
nalist as good as called him a liar.
to all Intents and purposes/to ,aft intents ond 'p3: r-
posz/if a situation is true to all intents and purposes,
it has the same effect as if it was completely true [adv
phrase]
Kate got a big pay rise, so to all intents and purposes she had
been promoted. I By the end of 1981, elephants had, to all
intents and purposes, been wiped out in the region.
nearing/approaching/near to/close to/'nlarIr3,
opmotJ'Irj, 'nm r tu:, Ikloos tu:/ifa state or situation is near-
ing, approaching, close to another, usually more
extreme, state or situation, it is like it already and is becom-
ing more and more like it all the time [adv]
The police describe the situation as approaching crisis
proportions. I Dr Dunstaple was in a state nearing nervous
collapse. I When I saw Henry with another woman I felt some-
thing close to jealousy.
verging onlbordering on/'va:rdSID on, 'ba:rdorlO
verging on chaos/madness/anarchy (=very close to this
extreme and harmful state) [adv]
When we arrived the situation was verging on chaos.
more or less/,ma:r a: r les-/if something is more or
less finished, ready, done etc it is almost completely
finished, ready, done etc in a general sense but not in every
detail [adv phrase]
The document is more or less ready - it might need to be
checked once more. [ My injured shoulder has been more or
less cured by this new treatment. ] During the 18th century
the region remained more or less independent.
pretty well/pretty much /prlti 'wel*, pr;ti IrnAtJ'/an
informal expression meaning almost [adv]
She worked pretty well the whole day and went out for a
drink in the evening. [ Apart from meal times the adults left
us pretty much alone.
not quite/not 'kwaIq not quite right/sure/finished/
enough etc (=very close to being right, sure, finished etc
but still having something missing or still to be done) [adv]
Yes, that's a very good answer but it's not quite correct. I We
haven't quite finished but you can wait here if you like. I If
you look closely you will see that the two copies of the book
are not quite the same
3 ways of saying that someone almost does
something or that something almost happens
almost/nearly be on the brink of
very nearly come within an Inch/
come close to/near to inches of
be on the verge of be well on the way to
almost/nearly/'o:lm0ost, 'nmrli/[adv]
I almost fell down the stairs this morning. [ Jay nearly
screamed with anger, but managed to restrain herself. I The
bathtub was almost overflowing - he turned the water off
just in time.
very nearly/,veri 'nIorli/[adv]
Trevor suddenly stood up and very nearly upset the boat. [
The campaign to change the tax laws very nearly succeeded. I
That year, Michael Caine very nearly won an Oscar.
come close to/near to/kAm 'k10os tu:, 'nio r tu:/to
almost do something or almost be in a particular state
Iv phrase]
come close/near to doing sth She was so angry that she
came very close to hitting him. ] The old man came very close
to tears and had to sit down for a moment. [ be close/near
to sth The negotiations were very near to breaking down but
things are more controlled now.
be on the verge of/bi: on/5o 'v3:rd5 Dv/be on the verge
of tears/death/hysteria/bankruptcy etc (=almost be in
that state) Iv phrase]
He returned to Europe just when it was on the verge of war. I
Kerry was so weak after her illness she was on the verge of
a nervous breakdown. I "'But it's not fair, "" insisted Daisy,
on the verge of tears.
be on the brink of/bi: on 6o 'brirjk ov/to be almost in
a new situation, especially one that is important or very
different from the one before Iv phrase]
She is on the brink of a brilliant dancing career. I His latest
experiments had left him feeling very excited, waiting on the
brink of a great discovery. I Years of drug abuse have pushed
him to the brink of insanity.
come within an Inch/Inches of/,kAm wI6In on ' ;ntf,
' ;ntj'olz ov/to very nearly do something, especially some-
thing dangerous or unpleasant Iv phrase]
Without knowing it, we had come within an inch of death.I
She burst into tears, realising that her mistake meant that
she had come within inches of injuring her baby.
be well on the way to/hi= ,wel on 5o 'we] tu=/if some-
thing is well on the way to happening, it is almost hap-
pening Iv phrase]
The town is well on its way to becoming a major tourist
centre. I He thinks that he is well on the way to promotion.
4 almost the best, worst, nastiest etc or almost
impossible, unbearable etc
almost/nearly verging on/
practically/virtually bordering on
just about
almost/nearly/'a:lmaost, 'marli/[adv]
You are almost the worst student in the whole school. I Per-
suading David to change his mind is nearly impossible.
practically/virtually /'praktlkli, 'va:rtJ'uoli/ very
nearly impossible, unbreakable etc [adv]
It is virtually impossible to catch these drug dealers. I The
new carbon fibre tennis racquets are virtually unbreakable.
Just about/, d3Ast o'baot/an informal expression mean-
ing very nearly the best, worst, impossible etc [adv]
This is just about the best wine I've ever tasted. I She's just
about the nastiest girl in the school. I It will be just about
impossible to get a ticket for Saturday's game.
verging on/bordering on/'va:rdSilJ
verging on the impossible/the ridiculous (=almost
impossible or ridiculous) [adv]
Getting someone to come and fix the television is verging on
the impossible.
5 so similar to something else that it almost is "
that thing
almost
practically/virtually
almost/'a:lmoost II 'a:lmoost, a:l'moost/[adv]
After years of living in the jungle with a group of gordlas,
they seemed almost human to her. I In this light he looks
almost handsome.
practically/virtually/'praktikli, 'va:rtJ'uoli/so similar
to another thing that any difference is not important [adv]
Years of living abroad had made her practically a foreigner
in her own country.

ALMOST 36 ALONE
 almost a particular colour, shape etc
almost practically/virtually
more or less not quite
almost I':lmoost II =3:lmotJst, :l'motJst/[adv]
The hole in the ground was almost perfectly round. I Her hat
is almost blue, but not quite.
more or less !,ma:r a:r 'les-/if something is more or
less a particular colour, shape etc it is so near to being that
colour, shape etc that any difference is not important [adv
phrasel
The camp site is more or less square. I Where the two walls
joined they made more or less a right angle.
practically/virtually /'prekt]kli, 'va:rt[uali/ if some-
thing is practically or virtually a particular colour, shape
etc is so near to being that colour, shape etc that any differ-
ence is not important [adv]
Her hair is so dark that it is practically black. I The road
from here to the next town is virtually straight.
not quite/nt)t 'kwalt/an expression meaning nearly, used
when you want to say that even though something is nearly
but not perfectly square, circular, straight etc [adv]
The orbits of the planets are almost, but not quite, circular. I
It's not quite Burgundy red, it's more like a maroon colour. I
The front and back wheels are not quite in line with each
other.
7 almost all, everything, or everyone
almost/nearly more or less
practically/virtually just about
pretty well
almost/nearly/':lmaust, 'nI)rli/[adv]
Almost all the wine has been drunk. I Burglars have stolen
nearly everything in the house. I A flu virus has been going
round - almost everyone in the office has had it.
practically/virtually /Iprakttkli, Iva:rtj'uali/ practi-
cally/everything/everyone/all etc (=so nearly every-
thing etc that any difference is not important) [adv]
Virtually everyflower in the garden was killed by the frost. I
There have been virtually no women holding judicial office
this decade. I Consumerism is firmly lodged in the minds of
practically everyone in the West today.
pretty well/prlti 'wel-/an informal expression mean-
ing almost [adv]
Pretty well everyone in the hotel is Japanese. I I've packed
pretty well everything I need for this trip.
more or less !,m:r a:r 'les-! more or less everyone/
everything/all etc (=almost everyone/everything/all etc
in a general sense but not in every detail) [adv phrase]
It's raining more or less everywhere in the country at the
moment. I Tim knows more or less all the restaurants in
town.
just about / ds^st albaut-/just about everything/any-
thing/everyone etc (=very nearly everything/anything/
anyone etc; an informal expression) [adv]
Anne's bedroom wall was covered in postcards from just
about every city in Europe. I That shop sells just about any-
thing if it's in good condition. I Our new word processor can
do just about everything necessary to put together documents.
 alone/on your own ALONE 1
 alone: go it alone INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
alone
ALONE
alone
doing something alone and without the help
of anyone else
words for describing someone who spends a
lot of time alone, especially because they like
being alone
alone and unhappy
to feel lonely because someone that you love
is not with you
1 alone
alone/on your own
by yourself
unaccompanied
alone/on your own/a'laon, on ja:r 'aon/without any
other people [adj/adv]
Mrs Owen lives alone. I Was she on her own when she was
robbed? I Women travelling on their own late at night have
been advised to take extra care. I all alone/all on your own
It was scary being all alone in a strange house. I leave sb
on their own I don't want to leave the children on their own
- can you look after them for me?
by yourself/bai ja:r'self/not with any other person, espe-
cially when you expect or want someone else to be with you
[adv phrase]
She doesn't like going on vacation by herself. I It takes some
time to get used to living by yourself. I all by yourself His
parents are both in the hospital and he's all by himself in
that big house.
unaccompanied / ^na'kAmpanid-/if you go somewhere
unaccompanied, you go there alone, especially when it is
more usual to be with someone else [adj/adv]
Children flying unaccompanied are looked after by the cabin
crew. I She was unaccompanied, and I decided to ask her if
she wanted a drink.
doing something alone and without the help
of anyone else
on your own/
by yourself
unaided
single-handed/
single-handedly
solo
leave sb to their
own devices
in isolation
self-made
on your own/by yourself/n ja:r 'aon, ba ja:r'self/
[adv phrase]
After her husband left her she had to bring up the children
on her own. I The wardrobe is too heavy to move on my own. I
Mark is old enough to travel on an airplane by himself. I all
on your own/all by yourself Did you make that whole
thing all by yourselfl?
unaided/An edd/if you do something difficult unaided
you do it without the help of anyone or anything lady]
After his illness he was unable to walk unaided. I With no
one else in the office I had to deal with the problem unaided.
single.handedlsingle.handedly/,slrjgl 'hendId,
,sirjg9l 'hendIdli/if you do something very difficult or very
impressive single-handed or single-handedly you suc-
ceed in doing it without the help of anyone else lady]
When grandpa talks about the war he makes it sound as if
he won it single-handed. I Hitchcock single-handedly
changed the face of modern cinema.
solo / saolao/if you do something solo, especially a sport-
ing or musical activity, you do it alone lady]
She was the first woman to sail solo across the Atlantic
Ocean. I go solo (=start doing something on your own) John
played with the band for five yeai's before going solo.
solo [adj usually before noun] He made a solo attempt to
climb Mount Everest.

ALONE 37 ALTHOUGH
leave sb to their own devices/,li:v (sb) to 6eor ,oon
di 'vaxso;z/to allow someone to spend time, do a job etc on
their own and without any help or suggestions from you
Iv phrase usually in passive]
My parents were busy that day, so I was left to my own
devices. I His sense of direction was so bad that, left to his
own devices, he would get lost coming home from school.
in Isolation/in ,aIso"lexJ'an/if someone does something
in isolation, they have chosen to do it alone and with no
help from anyone else lady phrase]
The tribe now lives in isolation, keeping hold of its tradi-
tions. I Any of these groups could, working in isolation, do
the job efficiently.
self-made /,self "mexd-/ self-made man/business-
man/millionaire etc (=someone who started without
much money but has become rich and successful simply
through their own efforts and work) [adj only before noun]
Harold Winter, selfimade man and business tycoon, trusted
no one and left nothing to chance in his business affairs.
3 words for describing someone who spends a
lot of time alone, especially because they like
being alone
solitary prefer your own
loner company
recluse solitude
solitary/'stdItri II 'so:lteri/[nail
She was a very solitary woman who didn't make friends
easily. I Philip had always led the solitary life of an only
child.
loner / "boner/someone who prefers to do things alone and
has few friends In C]
I had always been a loner, and I hated sharing an apartment
when I went to college. I Joe is one of our best workers but
he's too much of a loner to be a good leader.
recluse/rI 'klu:s 11 "reklu:s/someone who lives alone and
avoids meeting other people [n C]
Old Mr Grimes was a bad-tempered recluse, rarely seen in
the town. [ The great man had the reputation of being some-
thing of a recluse.
reclusive/ri' klu:siv/[adj] Howard Hughes was very reclu-
sive (=he avoided meeting people) and rarely gave
interviews.
prefer your own company Ipr ,f a: r ja:r on "kampani/
someone who prefers their own company prefers to be
alone rather than being with other people Iv phrase]
We asked him to come and eat with us but he said he
preferred his own company.
solitude/'stdItju:d II "so:lo]tu:d/the state of being alone,
especially when this is what you enjoy In U]
I need solitude in order to paint my pictures. [ Herpeaceful
solitude was broken by the arrival of some distant relatives
from Australia. [ in solitude He spent his free time in soli-
tude, reading or walking in the hills.
4 alone and unhappy
lonely
lonesome
isolated
lonely/'10onli/unhappy because of being alone or without
friends [adj]
When David first moved to New York he didn't know anyone
and he felt very lonely. I In spite of all his money he is a very
lonely man. I lonely day/house/life ete (=when you are
lonely) Sarah hated the lonely days in the empty house.
loneliness In U] Many people without a job complain of
loneliness (=feeling lonely).
lonesome /'lonsm/ an American word meaning
unhappy because of being alone or without friends [adj]
I get so lonesome here with no one to talk to. I She watched
his truck drive away and all of a sudden she felt lonesome.
Isolaled/'asoleIto]d/if you feel isolated, you feel that
there is no one you can talk to or have as a friend [adj]
Young, single mothers often feel isolated and unhappy. I
Talking to a psychiatrist, a doctor, or even a friend, can help
you feel less isolated.
5 to feel lonely because someone that you love
is not with you
miss
miss/mis/[v T]
I miss him so much, now that he's gone away. I This little
girl keeps crying. I think she's missing her morn.
along NEXT TO 2
along: string sb along TRICK/DECEIVE 3
along with WITH 6
alongside NEXT TO 2, WITH 7
aloof UNFRIENDLY 2
already NOW 1
alright: all right/alright YES 3
alright: it's all right/alrightJOK FORGIVE 2
also
AND/ALSO
also AND/ALSO 1, 2
alter CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 1
,
CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 1
alteration CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 3,
CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 7'
altercation ARGUE 5
altered CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 9
alternate CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 2,
SERIES 4, SHARE 4
alternating SERIES 3
alternate: alternative/alternate DIFFERENT 6
alternative CHOOSE 7, CONVENTIONAL 2, DIFFERENT 6
alternative: have no alternative MUST 1
although ALTHOUGH 1, BUT 2
ALTHOUGH
words used to introduce a statement that
makes the other main statement seem
surprising or unlikely
1
words used to introduce a statement that
makes the other main statement seem
surprising or unlikely
although
though
even though
while
as ... as
despite the fact that/in
spite of the fact that
just because ...
doesn't mean
may be ,.. but ..,
although/aft'6ou/[conjunction]
Although I missed my train, I still arrived at work on time. I
Although we are a small company, we manage to produce
over lO, O00cars a year. I She was happy to be having achild,
although being pregnant had not been a pleasant
experience. I although old/tired/brief ere Yoko, although
shy, managed to speak to everyone in the room.
though 15ul [conjunction]
Though they are brothers, they don't look like each other at
all. I The boy had won two gold medals playing hockey,
though he was still only 15years old. I though old/tired/
brief etc The marriage, though brief, was a happy one. I
strange though it may seem Strange though it may seem,
I quite enjoy living alone.
even though/,i:van '6u/(used to introduce a statement

ALTHOUGH 38 ALWAYS/EVERY TIME
that makes the other main statement seem very surpris-
ing) [conjunction]
She always buys us expensive presents even though she can't
really afford them. I He hated to go to Springville, even
though he had had a happy childhood there. I Even though
he was so much older than me, I was actually his first
girlfriend.
while ]wail! (used to introduce a statement that you accept
as being true, which makes your main statement more sur-
prising) [conjunction]
While a Rolls Royce is a very nice car it is extremely expen-
sive to run. I While I understand that you are busy at the
moment, I really think you ought to see these notes. I While
she is a likeable girl, she can be very difficult to work with.
as ... as/az ... az/as strong/young/fast etc as (used
when someone or something being strong etc makes the
main statement very surprising)
Even Charles, as strong as he is, couldn't move it. ] As
accurate as we try to be, we are always going to make a few
mistakes. [ Incredible as it seems, nobody saw how many
robbers there actually were.
despite the fact that/in spite of the fact that
/d= Ispait 6a Ifakt 6at, In =spait av-/(used when you want to
make it very clear that the statement you are introducing
makes the other main statement very surprising)
She travelled to Spain alone, despite the fact that her doctor
had told her to rest. I In spite of the fact that the]lowers were
white, Matisse painted them as pink. [ He gives a lot of money
to the poor despite the fact that he has barely enough to live
on himself.
Just because ... doesn't mean /d3Ast bIktz ...
'dAzant mi:n II -bI,ka:z-/(used when you are telling some-
one that although a particular fact may make them believe
something, what they believe is not necessarily true)
Just because he's a policeman doesn't mean he won't ever
break the law. I Just because you have a larger than aver-
age figure doesn "t mean you can't wear attractive clothes.
may be ... but .../me bi: ... bat .../(used when you are
telling someone that although what they have said may be
true, something else that seems very different is a fact)
He may be intelligent but he has no common sense. I Going
to the beach for two weeks might seem like a good idea to you
but I don't think we can afford it.
altitude HIGH 3
altogether/in total/in all/all told TOTAL 2
altruistic SELFISH 4
always ALL THE TIME 1, ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 1,
ALWAYS/FOREVER 1, 2, KEEP DOING STH 1
@ ALWAYS/EVERY
TIME
ways of saying that something always
happens or that someone always does
something
ways of saying that when one thing happens
something else always happens or is done
1 ways of saying that something always
happens or that someone always does
something
always habitually
invariably automatically
without fail
always/'a:lwIz,-weiz/[adv]
I always say my prayers before Igo to bed. I Poirot will solve
the crime. He always does. I Our cat always managed to find
a way into the house on cold nights.
invariably /nveariabli/ if something invariably
happens, it always happens so that you always know it is
going to happen [adv]
The children had never been close and invariably ended up
arguing. [ The prison food stocks, invariably rice and beans,
were slowly running out. I almost invariably This care is
almost invariably empty, I don't know how they manage to
make a profit.
without fail /wlaut Ifell/ every day/week/year etc
without fail (=never missing a day, week etc)lady phrase]
My mother goes to church every week without fail. [ This
medicine has to be taken every day without fail, otherwise
it is not effective.
habitually Iha'bitj'uali/if someone habitually does some-
thing they do it so regularly that it becomes a habit for
them [ adv ]
Bernstein was not very punctual and habitually arrived at
airports minutes before his plane was due to leave. I Reagan
habitually quoted from letters from people who supported
him.
automatically/,a:ta'matIkli/if you do something auto-
matically, you always do it because you have become used
to doing it [adv]
I'm so used to getting up for work at seven o'clock, that I auto-
matically wake up early at weekends. I At first you mayfind
it difficult to follow the procedure, but soon you will be doing
it automatically.
automatic [ adj] She's so used to being criticized, her auto-
matic response is defensive.
' ways of saying that when one thing happens
something else always happens or is done
every time
whenever
every time/,evri 'taim/[adv/conjunction]
Every time my father snapped his fingers, his dog would
come to him. [ I hate travelling by boat, I am sick every time. [
every single time (=never missing even one time) Every
single time I phone her up, the line is busy.
whenever/wen'evar/if something happens whenever
something else happens, the first thing always happens
when the second thing happens [conjunction]
Whenever my aunt comes to visit, she brings us home-made
cookies. I Justin goes riding whenever he can spare the time. I
Whenever it snows in England, public transport grinds to
a halt.

ALWAYS/FOREVER 39 AMBITIOUS
ALWAYS/FOREVER
1 ways of saying that something will always
happen or always continue in the future
2 ways of saying that something always
happened or was always true in the past
3 lasting or continuing forever
1 ways of saying that something will always
happen or always continue in the future
always for keeps
forever for all tim
permanently for life
for ever and ever to/until your dying day
for good
always/'a:lwz,-we]z/[adv]
I'll always remember the day we first met. I Don't worry,
classes won't always be this disorganized. [ You must real-
ize that I won't always be here to look after you.
forever/for evor/if something lasts or continues forever,
it lasts or continues for all future time [adv]
Our love will last forever. ] It felt as if my head would go on
aching forever. ] Nothing in politics is forever, as we learned
in 1989 and 1990. [ The memory of that awful day is forever
etched in my mind.
permanently/, p3:rmonontli/a word meaning forever, for
a very long time, or for the rest of your life, used especially
when talking about changes that you expect to last forever
[adv]
The tragic accident has left him permanently disabled. I
It is possible that the earth's climate has changed perma-
nently. I After some years in South America, Kevin decided
to settle permanently in Peru.
for ever and ever/for ,evor ond 'evor/an expression
meaning for all future time, used especially by children or
in children's stories when someone feels extremely happy
[ adv phrase]
These are the most beautiful gloves I've had in my whole life!
I'll keep them for ever and ever. [ It was a beautiful day and
Ellie wanted it to go on for ever and ever.
for good/fo r 'god/an informal expression: if someone
does something for good, for example leaves, comes back
etc, they do it permanently [adv]
Are you home for good or are you off travelling again soon? l
We've separated from each other before, but I think it's for
good this time.
for keeps/fo r 'ki:ps/an informal expression meaning
forever, especially when you say someone can have some-
thing forever [adv phrase]
I'm not just lending it to you, you can have it for keeps. ] He's
given it to me for keeps.
for all time/for ,a:l 'taIm/a formal expression meaning
forever, used especially when saying that something will
last or be remembered forever because it is very good,
special etc [adv phrase]
These moral values are right not only for our own time but
for all time. [ The deeds of those who died in the Great War
will be remembered for all time.
for life/fo r 'lair/for the rest of your life [adv phrase]
It's put me off playing golf for life. I Once he is your friend
he is a friend for life. [ scarred/maimed/crippled/blind
etc for life The accident left him scarred for life.
to/until your dying day/tu:, on,ti1 j:r ,dai-II] 'dell an
expression used especially in stories, plays etc, meaning
for the rest of your life [adv phrase]
She kept a tiny lock of her son's hair until her dying day. I
I will remember that dreadful moment to my dying day.
2 ways of saying that something always
happened or was always true in the past
always in living memory
for as long as you ever
can remember
always/'3:lwolz,-welz/[adv]
I always knew those two would get married. I I've always
admired Sean Connery. I I don't know why, but Mr Pope
always seemed to be unhappy.
for as long as you can remember/for oz ,1o 0zju:
kon r= membz r II -,b:rJ-/during all the time that you can
remember [adv phrase]
Mr Watson has lived on our street for as long as I can
remember. [ I don't know when the custom first started - it's
certainly been going on for as long as anyone here can
remember.
in living memory /in liviIJ memari/ for as long as
people who are still alive can remember [adv phrase]
It was the hottest summer in living memory. I For the first
time in living memory, Old clack had left the island. I within
living memory The site had onlyflooded once within living
memory.
ever/'evor/at any time in the past [adv]
The first year after the revolution was the most difficult time
the republic had ever experienced. I best/biggest/worst etc
ever The winter of 1973 was the coldest one ever. I more/
better/worse etc than ever Douglas loved her more than
ever during those first few months in Paris.
3 lasting or continuing forever
permanent
eternal
everlasting
permanent/'p3:rmonont/lasting forever, for a very long
time, or for the rest of your life [adj]
The car accident has caused permanent damage to her eye-
sight. [ I am hoping that this meeting will produce a perma-
nent solution to the problem. [ The police keep a permanent
record of all crimes committed in this country.
eternal/I 't3:rnl/lasting or continuing forever [adj]
Most religions promise eternal life after death. [ Scientists
working in America may have discovered the secret of eter-
nal youth. [ The eternal problem of the artist is that he needs
money to live and buy materials but often works for nothing.
eternally [adv ] If you can do this I will be eternally grateful.
ever|astlng ],evor'la:stirj II-'la-[ a word used espe-
cially in religious contexts, meaning lasting forever [adj]
God has promised everlasting life to all who believe in His
holy name. I the Buddhist's search for everlasting peace and
contentment
amalgamate UNITE 6
amass GET 7
amateur JOB/WORK 11
amaze SURPRISED 4
amazed SURPRISED 2
amazing SURPRISED 6
amazing/incredible GOOD/EXCELLENT 2
ambassador REPRESENT 5
ambiguous CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 4,
MEANING 11
ambition AMBITIOUS 1, WANT 11
ambition: achieve your ambition SUCCEED IN DOING
STH 2
ambitious AMBITIOUS 1
AMBITIOUS
determined to be successful and to become
rich, powerful, or famous

AMBITIOUS 40 AMOUNT
I determined to be successful and to become
rich, powerful, or famous
ambitious power-hungry
ambition competitive
go-getter pushy
ambitious lam'bs/[adj]
John was very ambitious, and even at the age of 21 he had
planned out his career in great detail. I Women have to be
better qualified than men, and more ambitious too, if they
want to get to the top. I Clinton had always been an ambi-
tious politician.
ambition/am'bian/determination to be successful and
to become rich, powerful, or famous In U]
He's not especially bright, but he has tremendous ambition. I
"'Your problem, "" said Arthur, "'is that you have no
ambition."
go-getter/Igau 'getr/an informal word meaning some-
one who is very ambitious and hard-working, in a way that
you admire In C]
You can't help admiring her - she's a real go-getter.
power.hungry/pao r h^rjgri/very determined to get
power and control in business or politics even if you harm
other people by doing this [adj]
She's the kind of ruthless power-hungry boss that employees
fear most. [ a power-hungry dictator
competitive/kom'petltxv/determined to be more suc-
cessful than other people in work, sport etc [adj]
Sullivan was as competitive in business as he was on the
tennis court. I fiercely/intensely competitive (=very com-
petitive) Fiercely competitive at all times, Ravi is a difficult
man to work with.
pushy !'poSi/unpleasantly ambitious and always trying
to do better than other people or make them do what you
want [adj]
I can't stand Adrian. He's too pushy. [ It's not fair - ifa
woman is ambitious, everyone labels her "pushy'. I These
pushy middle-class parents make life difficult for teachers.
 amble WALK3
!°: ambush ATTACK 2, 6
i amend CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 3
.:: amendment CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 7
 amenities SERVICES 1
 amiable FRIENDLY 1
 amicable FRIENDLY 4
ammunition WEAPON 1
 amnesia FORGET6
.. amnesty PUNISH 9
 _ among INCLUDE 1
-. amorphous ,SHAPE 5
" amount AMOUNT 1, 7
ill;; amount: a certain amount of
::.:-:.: amount: a fair bit/amount of
;': OR AMOUNT 1
 amount: a small amount of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 1, 8
amount to BE 1, MEANING 9, TOTAL 3
SOME/A FEW 2
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
. amount
-::: ...................................  .......................... ..
• .-- :., ,,.,,, ......  ; '.' ..
. . .. . -, ... ........ .. .. .  :., ,',  ::.;
. - . . - . - - . .  :Pe,. :-:
which mean ::-
.......... . .. .  [ --.  
an amount of ,: .::::::::  .......  AMOUNT
• =  ." . ............  : ...... ,.,, ,. ,, .........
of.people or things  ......  .....  '.;; ...... 
some, a few ,,  SOMEIA FEW
:, .,:  ::. -::. ;"
. -  • .. :. . . - .Ј.H5i
a small amount of-.A.  LITTLE/NOT
something ..  :,,: .... MUCH
a small humor-a .... * FEW/NOT MNY
,  ....
.... .., .. .... .... ,. : ..... . ...... :: ..... 4{ '., .....
people Јr th!gs .... , ...... ,,,, ,-;,,, .......
a.:]arge amount-of "  ..... .e LOT/A RGE
something; a,lrge NUMBER OR
... . . . 
n.u:mber-of .people or , AMOUNT
.....  ........... "#":"": .,7 ',::: ,
I.evet.ofat:,eight,; .,,,,, .. LEVEL
.................................................... , . ..........  ...........................................................................
AMOUNT
an amount of something such as money,
time, a substance etc
an amount of something that can be counted,
such as cars, people, houses etc
an amount of food that someone is given, or
that someone eats
a measured amount of products or goods
an amount of money, food, workers, goods
etc that an organization or country has and is
available to be used
an amount of a drug or medicine
the amount of a problem such as crime or
damage
1 an amount of something such as money,
time, a substance etc
amount proportion
quantity sum
level how much
volume Ј10015200 etc worth
percentage
amount/a'maont/[n C]
The amount of money you pay each month depends on how
much you earn. I Greg was a train enthusiast who spent an
enormous amount of time at railway stations. I If the sauce
is too thick, increase the amount of water you put in. I Soil
contains small amounts of iron, manganese, calcium and
phosphorus. I Tell us the amount you require and we'll mail
it to you immediately.
quantity/kwntti II kwazn-! an amount of something
you can measure In C]
During the operation she lost a considerable quantity of
blood. I in small/large etc quantities Expensive spices,
like saffron, are only produced in small quantities. I Use flour
and fat in equal quantities.
level /'leval/ the measured amount of something that
exists at the moment, but which is changing all the time,
either increasing or decreasing [n C]
We will not be able to give our personnel a pay increase until
sales have reached a satisfactory level. [ A country's pros-
perity is directly linked to its level of investment.

AMOUNT 41 AMOUNT
volume /'volju:m II 'vo:  jom/ the volume of traffic/
mail/trade/business etc (=an amount that is usually
large or increasing) [n singular]
We're finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the volume
of mail we are receiving. I The volume of traffic on our roads
has risen by 50 per cent in the past three years.
peentage/par I sentds! an amount of something, stated
as part of a whole which is 100 In C usually singular]
The percentage of nitrogen in the soil has increased dramat-
ically in recent years. I The writer only receives a small per-
centage of the profits from each book sold. I Most of the coffee
we produce is for export - a high percentage goes to the US.
proportion/pra'p:rfan/the amount of something that
there is in a whole, or that there is compared to something
else In C usually singular]
proportion of sth to sth Make sure you get the right
proportion of paint to water, so it doesn't get too runny or
too thick. [ proportion What proportion of the country is
industrialized? [ The compound is made by mixing the two
solutions together, in roughly equal proportions. [ a high
proportion of sth Car theft accounts for a high proportion
of crime in the area.
sum/SAm/an amount of money [n C]
The car would cost at least $20,000 and we would have to
borrow the entire sum from the bank. [ sum of money When
I was a kid, five dollars seemed an enormous sum of money. [
lump sum (=a single amount of money given all at once)
Instead of paying him a regular pension they gave him a
lump sum when he retired.
how much/,hau Irntf/what amount of time, money, food
etc [quantifier]
how much timeConeyCood ete How much time do we
have left? [ how much How much do they pay you? [ About
80% of American women report that they are worried about
how much they eat. [ how much of You received Ј50,000.
How much of that money is still in your bank account?
Ј10015200 etc worth/(Ј100, etc) wa:r0/the amount
of something that is worth Ј100, $200 etc [quantifier]
Ј100/$200 ere worth of sth The corporation owns $6
million worth of real estate in the city. [ Ј100/$200 ete
worth "'How much gas do we need?" "'About $20 worth
should do it. ""
2 an amount of something that can be counted,
such as cars, people, houses etc
number proportion
how many ratio
numbers Ј100/5200 etc worth
percentage
number / ' nhmbar/[n singular with singular or plural verb
in British English]
The caterers need to know the number of people who'll be
coming to the party. [ Each worker gets a certain number of
days off each year. [ We have sold all my father's books -
apart from a small number that we have kept for sentimen-
tal reasons.
how many ! hao meni/what number of cars, people,
houses etc [quantifier]
how many of How many of the.people who voted understood
the policies? [ how many people/things ere How many
children do you have? [ I'll want to know how many phone
calls you've made.
numbers/nAmbarz/how many people there are, espe-
cially people attending an event or doing an activity
together [n plural]
"'How many people came to the concert?" "'I don't know. I'm
not very good at estimating numbers. "" [ Of course I'll do the
food for the party, but I'll need to have some idea of numbers.
percentage/pa r, sentIdS/a number of people or things,
stated as part of a whole which is 100 In C usually singular]
The percentage of girls who study science is rising every
year.[ A high percentage of patients are completely cured
after the operation. [ Some of the cars have minor faults, but
this is only a very small percentage.
proportion/pra'po:rfan/the number of people or things
of a particular type that there are in a group, or that there
are compared to other people or things in a group
In C usually singular]
proportion of sth to sth What's the proportion of men to
women in your office?[ proportion This legislation is
intended to dramatically reduce the proportion of road acci-
dents caused by drunk drivers. [ a high proportion of sth
A high proportion of the products tested were found to
contain harmful chemicals.
ratio/'reiao [[ 'reiao/the number of people or things of
one type compared to people or things of another type,
usually written as a number compared to the number one,
for example 2:1 or 5:1 [n C usually singular]
ratio of sth to sth The ratio of patients to doctors at the
hospital is roughly 15:1. [ Current estimates suggest a ratio
of one car to every three people, and the figure is rising. [ a
high/low ratio With such a high pupilCeacher ratio,
educational standards are bound to fall.
Ј10015200 etc worth/(Ј100 etc) w3:ro/a number of
things that together are worth Ј100, $200 etc [quantifier]
I used to sell a lot of these books - about Ј20,000 worth a year. [
Ј100/$200 etc worth of sth $100,000 worth of toys and
children's clothes were destroyed in the fire.
3 an amount of food that someone is given, or
that someone eats
portion intake
helping ration
serving measure
portion I'p:ran/an amount of food that is considered to
be enough for one person as part of a meal In C]
Two portions of French fries please. [ My mother always gave
the boys bigger portions than she gave me.
helping/'helpir3/the amount of a food that is served as
part of a meal, especially at home [n C]
I'd love another helping of dessert. It's delicious. [ Joanne had
two helpings of everything, and Bobby had three. [ second
helpings (=another helping of food after you have finished
the first one) There's lots of food left. Does anyone want
second helpings?
serving/sa--rv! the amount of food that is cooked or
prepared for each person In C]
How many servings will Iget from this chicken? [ This recipe
makes enough minestrone soup f or four to six servings.
intake /  nteIk/a word meaning the amount of a particu-
lar food or substance that someone eats, used especially
when saying that this is good or bad, should be increased
or reduced etc [n singular]
Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables for a
healthier diet. [ We're all being encouraged to reduce our
daily salt intake.
ration /'raan [[ 'ra-, 're]-/ an amount of food that is
limited and carefully measured because there is not much
of it available or because you are. trying to eat less of it In C ]
During the war, the weekly ration of cheese was 2 ounces. [
I'm trying to cut down on the amount of chocolate I eat. This
is my ration for the day.
measure/'mesar/an amount of a strong alcoholic drink,
especially a legally fixed amount In C]
They didn't give me a full measure, so I went back to the bar
and asked for more. [ He poured hirnself a measure of Scotch
and added soda.
4 a measured amount of products or goods
quota
load
quota / kwaota/an officially fixed amount or number of
goods and products that a person, organization, or coun-
try is expected to produce or is allowed to produce or sell
[nC]
Employees are given certain targets or quotas to fulfil. [
quota system Under the new quota system there will be a
strict limit on milk production.

AMOUNT 42 AND/ALSO
load/laod/the amount or number of goods or products that
can be carried in a vehicle [n C]
The first load of supplies will be arriving at the camp next
week. I carload/vanload/truckload etc Jed drove up with
a truckload of sheep, packed so tight that some stood on their
hind legs.
5 an amount of money, food, workers, goods
etc that an organization or country has and is
available to be used
pool
stock
reserves
pool/puff/an amount or number of workers, cars, money
etc that can be shared or used by a number of people In C]
Most countries have a pool of surplus labour. I There is a
much smaller pool of houses to rent than there used to be.
stock Istok II sto:kl an amount of something that you keep
and can use when you need to In C]
Jodie always had a large stock of brandy in her cupboard. I
The government hopes that stocks of coal are large enough
to last the winter.
reserves/ri 'za:rvz/an amount of money, goods etc that
a country or organization has available to be used if they
are needed In plural]
Kuwait has large reserves of oil. I The government has
exhausted almost all its foreign currency reserves.
6 an amount of a drug or medicine
dose
dosage
dose Idaosl a measured amount of a drug or medicine
[nC]
His mother gave him a large dose of cough mixture and put
him to bed. I To be effective the pills should be taken over a
period of months and then the dose can be reduced gradually.
dosage /'daosId3/ a word used especially in medical
instructions meaning the fixed amount of medicine that
must be taken In C usually singular]
It is dangerous to exceed the recommended dosage. I The
usual dosage of the drug is 250 mg daily.
7 the amount of a problem such as crime or
damage
extent level
incidence rate
amount
extent /k'stentl the amount of damage, trouble etc
In singular]
Considering the extent of his injuries, he's lucky to be alive. I
Investigators have been called in to assess the extent of the
damage. I to such an extent (=to such a large degree) Dis-
content had grown to such an extent that the government had
to withdraw the new tax.
incidence/' :nsdans/the number of times something bad
happens, for example how many people have a particular
illness, or how many crimes or accidents there are
[n singular]
The incidence of skin cancer is highest among red-haired
people with freckled skin. I Social deprivation is one of the
reasons for the high incidence of crime in this district.
amount/a' maont/the amount of something bad, such as
violence, which is not usually measured In singular]
mount of There is growing alarm at the amount of violence
on the streets of our city.
level/'leval/the measured amount of a particular problem
that exists at the moment, but which is increasing or
decreasing all the time In C]
Pollution levels in some rivers are already dangerous. I
public concern about the rising level of unemployment
rate/re:t/a word meaning the number of times something
happens within a certain period of time, used especially
when talking about social problems In C]
Nassau now has the third highest crime rate in the world. I
There is a 40% unemployment rate in the region.
amphibious WATER 7
ample LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4,
ENOUGH 7
amputate CUT 4
l amuse or emov.
I I .. 
funny, amsi. %    FUNNY
enjoy doing , ,-{  E$OYILIKE
methina   DOING
amuse FUNNY 1, LAUGH 7
amused FUNNY 4
amusement FUNNY 4
amusing FUNNY 1
anachronism OLD-FASHIONED 4
anaesthetize/anesthetize UNCONSCIOUS 3
analogy: by analogy COMPARE 3
analogy: draw an analogy COMPARE 1
analysis EXAMINE 3
analysis: in the final analysis/last analysis
analyst DOCTOR 3
analyze/analyse EXAMINE 1
ancestor FAMILY 7
ancestry: be of Scottish/Russian etc ancestry
FROM/ORIGINATE 1
ancient OLD/NOT NEW 1, OLD/NOT YOUNG 1
and AND/ALSO 1, 2
and so on AND/ALSO 3
and suchlike AND/ALSO 3
BASIC 4
COME
AND/ALSO
words meaning and
ways of adding something new to what you
have just said
ways of saying 'and others' at the end of a list
1 words meaning and
and so do I/so has she/
also so are they etc
too in addition
besides not to mention
as well likewise
and/and, an, strong and/[conjunction]
We had coffee and hot buttered rolls. I Maria finally turned
around and confronted the man. I Come in and sit down. I
"'We've got about ten friends coming to the party. '" "And half
of your family. "1 This is a flexible and user-friendly system
suitable for beginners and advanced users alike.
also !'a:lsao! (used when you are adding another fact
about someone or something) [adv]
Francois speaks perfect English. He also speaks German and
Italian. I Sugar is bad for your teeth. It can also contribute
to heart disease. I Sarnia came from Delhi. Salim also. I not
only .... but also Meissner was not only commander of the
army but also a close friend of the President.
too/tu:l (used after adding a fact or remark which is also
true about someone or something) [adv not at the beginning
of a sentence or clause]
"Ilike that green dress." "This one's nice too. "'1 "Have a good
weekend." "You too." I Evans was not only our doctor - he
was a friend too.

AND/ALSO
besides Ib'sadz/in addition to what you are mention-
ing [prep/adv ]
Besides being a beauty, she's a really nice person. I Martina's
got other things to think about besides work. I She's bought
a fridge, a freezer, a microwave, and lots of other things
besides.
as well/az 'wel / at the same time as something else lady
phrasel
While you're at the store, could you get a few things for me
as well? l Our vacation was a disaster: not only was the food
terrible, the weather was awful as well. [ as well as As well
as being a community worker, he's a fully qualified nurse.
so do I/so has she/so are they etc (used when the
same thing is true about yourself or another person)
"I hate these long business meetings. "" "'So do I. "'1 We've been
waiting here for over an hour, and so have all these other
people. I Jack's away playing golf today and so's Bobby.
in addition/n a'dfn! (used when you are adding a fact
which makes an amount of money, work, information etc
even larger) lady phrase]
in addition to We'll have to pay $800 travel insurance in
addition to the air fare. I In addition to their normal teach-
ing duties, teachers these days have stacks of paperwork to
do. I in addition Our survey will produce the essential statis-
tics. In addition, it will provide information about people's
shopping habits.
not to mention /,not ta menfanl (used to introduce
something which makes the situation worse, more
interesting, more surprising etc) [prep]
They have to pay all the bills and rent out of $800, not to men-
tion the seven kids they've got to feed. I Climbers have to carry
all their equipment on their backs, not to mention their tents
and bedding. I Several rare South American mammals
escaped from the zoo, not to mention a three-metre long
python.
likewise/'la:kwaz/(used when you want to say that
another thing is also done or is also true, in the same way,
following the same rule etc) lady]
The patients" clothes and bed linen must be washed regu-
larly. Likewise their towels and washclothes. [ At school,
jeans were not allowed. Likewise long and untidy hair.
2 ways of adding something new to what you
have just said
and besides
also by the way
furthermore/moreover incidentally
what's more
and/and, an, strong end/[conjunction]
You're dinner's in the oven. And there's some beer in the
fridge. I I didn't hear the doorbell. I was reading, and when
I read I never notice anything else.
also / 'a:lsao/[adv]
No, I won't stay for a drink - I'm driving. Also, I have to get
up early tomorrow. I Think carefully about whether you
really want the job. Also, are you able to move house if you
do get it?
furthermore/moreover /,fa:6a'ma:r, ma:r'auva r II
'fa:r6arma:r/(formal words used especially to introduce
more information that will help persuade people to agree
with what you are saying) [adv]
Furthermore, more machines will mean fewer jobs. I The
drug has powerful side effects. Moreover, it can be addictive.
what's more / wDts 'mo:r/(an informal expression used
to introduce more information that makes what you are
saying stronger or more effective) [adv phrase]
What's more this stuff is cheap to manufacture so we should
make a big profit. I and what's more The prisoner has a
gun, and what's more he's prepared to use it.
besides/bi'sa:dz/(used especially when you are giving
another reason for something) [adv]
I don't mindpicking up your things from the store. Besides,
the walk will do me good. I Sonya says she couldn't get here
through all the snow. Besides, her car's broken down.
43
ANGRY
by the way/,ba: 6a 'weq (used when you want to change
the subject and talk about something else you have thought
of or remembered) [adv phrase]
I'll meet you at eight o'clock. Oh, by the way, could you ask
John to come too? l The course is organized by Sheila Dean
who, by the way, is head of marketing now. I How is she, by
the way? I hear she's been ill.
Incidentally /ms 'dentali/ (used when giving a little
more information about something you have mentioned or
when you want to talk about something else you have
thought of or remembered) [adv]
Incidentally, these products can be dangerous if used care-
lessly. I He was offered a pay rise of 18% which, incidentally,
is double what the rest of us got.
3 ways of saying 'and others' at the end of a list
and so on and/or whatever
etc and suchlike
and so on/and sau 'tn/(an informal expression used
when you expect someone to guess what the other things
are)
When you leave, make sure you lock the doors and windows,
turn off the heating and so on. I and so on and so forth
Ethnic minorities living in this country should have the right
to their own religion, traditions and so on and so forth.
etc/et  setara/an abbreviation for et cetera used at the end
of a short list to mean 'and others of a similar kind'
Near the exit was a stand selling sandwiches, hot dogs etc. I
Please bring pens, pencils, rulers etc.
and/or whatever/and, a: r writ'eva r II -wo:t-/(an infor-
mal expression used when someone is making a choice and
can have what they want)
Please help yourselves to tea or coffee or whatever. I The can-
teen isn't bad, you can have a salad, some soup and what-
ever. I If I buy him a gift-voucher for his birthday he can get
what he likes, a record or whatever.
and suchlike/and 's^tflalk/a British expression mean-
ing 'and other things of a similar kind'
You could spend the day doing the garden, cleaning the win-
dows and suchlike. I A fertilizer ideal for trees, bushes and
suchlike.
 anecdote STORY 2
 anesthetize: anaesthetize/anesthetize
: angel GOOD/MORAL 2
 anger ANGRY 5, 8
.....
 angle OPINION 5
 angle for TRY TO DO OR GETSTH5
t angry ANGRY 1, 7
.-: angry: get angry/mad ANGRY 4
 angry: make sb angry/mad ANGRY 8
UNCONSCIOUS 3
angry
ANGRY
1 feeling angry
2 feeling extremely angry
3 angry because you think that something is
wrong or unfair continued

ANGRY 44 ANGRY
ANGRY
10
11
continued
to become angry
an angry feeling
to behave very angrily, especially by shouting
and walking around noisily
words for describing meetings, arguments,
etc in which people express angry feelings
to make someone angry
words for describing something that makes
you angry
to .deliberately try to make someone angry
to try to make someone less angry
1 feeling angry
angry be in a temper
mad pissed off
annoyed pissed
cross be worked up
angry I' egri/[adj]
angry with sb She was really angry with them, but tried
not to show it. I In a moment I"m going to get very angry with
you. Pick your things up now! I angry about sth Teachers
are angry about cuts in government spending on education. I
angry that Mary seemed very angry that no-one agreed with
her suggestion. I angry A group of angry farmers gathered
to protest at Calais. I The fact that people laughed made me
even more angry and upset. I He was too angry to speak.
angrily [adv] Basil slammed the door angrily on his way
out. I "'Be quiet, can't you?" exclaimed Tom angrily.
mad Imedl a word used especially in American English
meaning angry [adj not before noun]
Tom 'll be mad when he finds out what you've done to his car. I
mad at sb Why are you mad at me? Have I upset you ?
annoyed/ln3id/a little angry [adj not before noun]
The policeman got very annoyed and asked to see my ID
card. I annoyed with sb John's annoyed with his sister
because she forgot his birthday. I annoyed at Charlotte was
very annoyed at finding me asleep instead of working.
annoyance In U] Bill didn't come, much to my mother's
annoyance (=it made her very annoyed).
©ross Ikros II kr:sl a word used especially by children or
to children meaning a little angry [adj]
I've broken the window. Do you think Dad'll be cross? I cross
with sb Miss Ellis gets cross with anyone who comes to
school scruffily dressed.
crossly [adv] "'Just leave me alone, "" said Lucy, crossly.
be in a temper/bi: In z 'temper/to be very angry for a
short time, especially when other people think you have
no real reason to be Iv phrase]
Jeff was in a temper this morning so I left the house as early
as possible. [ be in a bad/foul temper She ran off to bed
in a very bad temper.
pissed off/,pst 'of/an informal and impolite expression
meaning angry, especially about something that someone
has done [adj phrase not before noun]
I don't know why you're so pissed off - I told you I'd prob-
ably be late. [ pissed offwith Wendy's really pissed off with
you because you left the kitchen in such a mess.
pissed/pist/an informal and impolite American word
meaning angry [adj not before noun]
You're pissed because he found out you were cheating.
be worked up/bi: w3:rkt 'Ap/an informal expression
meaning to be angry and upset, especially when there is
no good reason to be Iv phrase]
He got very worked up after you stormed out of the meeting. [
Why are you so worked up? I didn't break your glass deliber-
ately. I be worked up about sth She's all worked up about
someone stealing her purse from the car.
2 feeling extremely angry
furious livid
irate seething
incensed be on the warpath
furious I'fjodrisl [adj]
furious with sb She was furious with him for doing a deal
with a rival company. I furious at Every evening their father
came home furious at something his boss had done. I furi-
ous Don't tell Jan I read that letter - she'll be furious.
furiously [adv] "'You hear me, cut it out!" Jesse shouted
furiously.
Irate /al 'ret-/very angry because someone has done
something to offend you or upset you ladj]
After the programme the radio station received hundreds of
phone calls from irate listeners. I For most of the day he had
been listening to irate complaints from the company's clients.
in©ensed/n' senst/extremely angry about something
someone has done, and ready to react very strongly or
violently [adj]
I was incensed to find that my orders had been disobeyed. I
Incensed by the police action the students began to riot.
livid/'lvd/so angry that it is difficult for you to think
clearly or speak properly [adj not before noun]
"'Was she angry when you arrived so late?" "'Angry? She was
livid!" I I knew I shouldn't have started the argument but
I was absolutely livid.
seething/'si:6u/extremely angry, but unable or unwill-
ing to show it [adj not before noun]
seething with anger/rage/indignation Tim looked at his
ruined car, seething with anger. I seething Betty went to bed,
still seething after being humiliated in front of so many
people.
be on the warpath /bi: on 6o w3:rpo:0 II-pe0/an
informal expression meaning to be very angry about some-
thing and to be planning to criticize and argue with the
person you think has caused it Iv phrase]
After two accidents outside the school the Parents" Associ-
ation is on the warpath.
3 angry because you think that something is
wrong or unfair
indignant resent
be up in arms in a huff
sore be disgusted
indignant/In'dgnantl [adj]
Anne was very indignant when her boss suggested she wasn't
working hard enough. I She's one of those people who's
always writing indignant letters to newspapers. I indignant
at sth Students are protesting in London, indignant at the
withdrawal of their right to cheap accommodation.
indignantly [adv ] "'It's not fair,'" he shouted indignantly.
indignation I ndg'nedn! In U] We felt great indignation
at being asked to leave the restaurant.
be up in arms/bi: ,Ap In a:rmz/ifa group of people are
up in arms, they are protesting angrily about something
that has been done or decided, especially by the govern-
ment or some other official group Iv phrasej
Residents are up in arms about plans to build a cinema com-
plex on a local nature reserve. I We must respect the law, or
else we'd be up in arms every time a judge made a decision
we didn't agree with.
sore/sa:r/an American word meaning angry, especially
because someone has treated you unfairly [adj not before
noun ]
He was real sore when he heard the news. I sore about sth
I saw Howard yesterday - he's still sore about the divorce
settlement. I sore at sb Marlene got sore at Joe for borrow-
ing her car without asking.
resent/r;'zent/to feel very angry about an unfair situa-
tion that affects you, or something that someone has done
to you, especially something you cannot do anything to
change Iv T]

ANGRY 45 ANGRY
I resent having topay taxes for health care and then having
to pay again when I'm ill. I Kids often end up resenting par-
ents who push them too hard at school.
in a huff/n a 'hAf/if someone does something in a huff
they do it in a way that is meant to clearly show that they
are angry, especially when other people do not think that
what has made them angry is very serious [adv phrase]
leave/go off in a huff Jill walked in, read the message on
her desk and went off in a huff. [ in a huff "'Stop teasing me,"
said George, in a huff.
be disgusted/bi: dis 'g^std/to feel very angry and dis-
appointed because you think that someone's actions are
very wrong, dishonest, or immoral iv phrase]
I'm disgusted. How could you be so rude to my guests! [ be
disgusted at/with Disgusted with the political corruption
in her homeland, Stepanowicz settled in France.
4 become angry
get angry/mad get stroppy
lose your temper go berserk
fly off the handle
blow your top/hit the roof/go crazy/go nuts/
have a fit
get angry/mad/get 'egri, 'maid/iv phrase]
Everyone gets angry from time to time. I Mike gets very angry
when he loses at tennis. I Calm down - there's no need to get
mad!
lose your temper /,lu:z ja:r tempar/ to suddenly
become angry, especially after you have been trying not to
iv phrase]
"'I've been waiting for hours, "said Helen, trying not to lose
her temper. [ lose your temper with R's understandable,
but not helpful, to lose your temper with very small children.
fly off the handle /fla of 60 handl/ an informal
expression meaning to unexpectedly become very angry,
especially about something other people do not think is
important or serious iv phrase]
You have to be very careful what you say to him - he often
just flies off the handle for no reason.
blow your top/hit the roof/go crazy/go nuts/
have a fit /,blaoja: r tDp, ,hzt/50 'ru:f, gao 'krelzi, gao 'hAtS,
hev a fzt II - to:p-/informalexpressions meaning to sud-
denly become very angry iv phrase]
I don't know what made him so angry but he really blew his
top. I You can't tell Dad we've crashed his car - he'll hit the
roof l Betty would go crazy if she found out you'd been seeing
him. I Lenny went nuts when his new bike was stolen. I When
Tommy saw the mess his friends had left, he had a fit.
get stroppy/get 'stropi II -'stro:pi/an informal British
expression meaning to start behaving and talking to people
in an angry way, especially when other people think this
is unreasonable iv phrase]
She's the sort of boss who gets really stroppy if the work isn't
exactly right. [ Don't let Mum see this mess - we don't want
her getting stroppy.
go berserk/gao ba:r sa:rk/an informal expression mean-
ing to suddenly become extremely angry and often violent
[ v phrase[
If his wife ever finds out about this, she'll go berserk. I All
I said was that I was going out and he just went beserk.
5 an angry feeling
anger
rage
resentment
anger/'arjgar/[n U]
The awful news filled him with anger and resentment. I
Many people find it difficiult to express anger. [ feel anger
towards Andrea could not hide the anger she felt towards
her parents. [ do sth in anger When she was young her
mother hardly ever shouted at her in anger.
rage/reIdS/a very strong feeling of anger that someone
has, especially over a long period of time, that is either not
expressed at all, or is expressed very suddenly or violently
in U]
Steffie felt nothing but rage at the lies she had been told. I
From the garage came a shout of rage as he discovered the
damage.
resentment/r 'zentmant! a feeling of anger because you
feel that you are being treated badly or unfairly, and cannot
do anything about it in U]
"You haven't paid me nearly enough, "" he said with resent-
ment in his voice. I The door slammed shut in her face and
she stood therefor a minute, full of anger and resentment. [
Resentment and jealousy can often build up in relationships.
6 to behave very angrily, especially by shouting
and walking around noisily
make a scene shake your fist
have/throw a tantrum stamp your foot
outburst let off steam
make a scene /,meik a ' si:n/to start a loud angry argu-
ment with someone, especially in a public place and in a
way that is embarrassing iv phrase]
damie could see that Andrea was getting annoyed with the
shop assistant and prayed that she wouldn't make a scene.[
I'm not telling my husband about dackie skipping school,
he'll only make a scene.
have/throw a tantrum /hev, 0rao  'tentrm/ if
someone, especially a child, has or throws a tantrum they
shout angrily and cry, especially because they cannot have
what they want iv phrase]
Whenever it's time for bed she throws a tantrum. I All two-
year-olds have the occasional tantrum.
outburst/' aotba:rst/a sudden expression of very strong
angry feelings, especially because you cannot control your
anger any longer in C]
She was usually so quiet, her friends were amazed at this
sudden outburst. I He apologized for his outburst at the meet-
ing, saying he had been under a lot of strain at the time. I
He used to try and protect his mother from his father's
frequent outbursts of temper.
shake your fist Ij'e;k ja: r fist/to hold up your hand
with the fingers tightly dosed and shake it in order to show
that you are angry iv phrase]
The old man shook his fist angrily at the naughty children.
stamp your foot/,stamp ja: r 'fut/to bring your foot
down hard on the ground because you are angry about
something iv phrase]
"'How dare you say that!" shouted Tanya, stamping her foot
with rage.
let off steam/,let of 'sti:m/to shout, hit something, or
do a hard physical activity in order to express your anger
in a way that does not harm anyone iv phrase]
When she was very angry she used to let off steam by digging
the garden. [ Gary's favourite way of letting off steam is to
work out in the gym.
7 words for describing meetings, arguments,
etc in which people express angry feelings
angry furore
furious uproar
stormy feelings run high
heated
angry/' argri/[adj only before noun ]
They never exchanged an angry word in 25 years of mar-
riage. I There were angry protests from demonstrators
outside the embassy.
furious/' fjoarias/something such as an argument or dis-
cussion that is furious is one in which people express very
angry feelings [adj only before noun]
There has been a furious argument about where the new
school should be built. I Strict new import laws have pro-
voked furious complaints from business groups.

ANGRY 46 animate
stormy / sta:rmi/something such as a discussion or rela-
tionship that is stormy is one in which angry feelings are
often expressed [adj]
After a stormy discussion a decision was finally reached. [
The peace talks are likely to be stormy. [ It was a very stormy
relationship that nonetheless lasted over seven years.
heated / hi:td/heated argument/debate/discussion
ete (=angry and excited) [adj usually before noun]
We used to stay up all night, having endless heated argu-
ments about politics. [ This is a problem which has been the
subject of heated debate over the years.
furore/fjo'r:ri, 'fjoam: r [[ 'Oodm:r/a situation in which
a lot of angry feelings are expressed, especially about some-
thing that concerns the public [n singular]
His theories caused a furore in the academic world. [ the cur-
rent furore over lack of security in prisons
uproar /Ap-m:r/ a situation in which people express
angry feelings, shock, or disappointment at something they
think is very wrong or unfair [n singular]
There was an immediate uproar when employers suggested
a pay cut. [ in uproar A police decision to cut back on night
patrols has left the community in uproar.
feelings run high /tfiIlI1]Z ran thai/fffeelings run high
a lot of people are feeling very angry and excited about
something, especially something that affects them per-
sonally, or that they have very strong opinions about
With widespread famine in the country feelings against the
President ran high. I Feelings always run high in games
between two top football teams.
8 to make someone angry
make sb angry/mad make your blood boil
infuriate make you sick
anger rile
enrage
make sb angry/mad /,meik (sb) 'a]gri, 'mahdi
[ v phrase ]
I don't want to do anything that might make him angry. [
The way everyone used to tease him would make me mad. I
It makes Karen angry to have to clear up everyone else's mess.
infuriate/nfjodrielt/to make someone very angry espe-
cially by doing something that they cannot control or
change Iv T]
Her stubborn refusal to answer any questions infuriated the
police. I Infuriated by the President's speech, Clare got up and
left the conference hall.
anger / ' erjgr/a formal word meaning to make someone
angry Iv T]
The police's insensitive handling of the affair has angered
local residents. [ This article will anger most people who read
it.
enrage/in'red3/to make someone extremely angry so
that they cannot think clearly or make sensible decisions
Iv T]
Adam's willingness to agree to everything enraged her even
more. [ He was so enraged by the murder of his brother he
decided to find the killer himself.
make your blood boil/melk j3:r blnd bII/if some-
thing makes your blood boil it makes you extremely
angry, especially because you think it is wrong or unfair
[ v phrase]
It makes my blood boil the way they experiment on innocent
animals.
make you sick I,meikju: IsIk/if something makes you
sick it makes you very angry, especially because it is some-
thing that you strongly disapprove of Iv phrase]
Any form of racism makes me sick. I Look at the way people
just throw litter down in the street - it makes you sick, doesn't
it?
rile Iradl to make someone angry, by saying or doing some-
thing you know will annoy or upset them, for example,
because it goes against their beliefs or principles Iv T]
The Governor's speech attacking working mothers is certain
to rile feminists. I What really riles me is that he didn't bother
to come and tell me himself, he just left a note.
9 words for describing something that makes
you angry
infuriating
maddening
galling
infuriating/In'Ooarieitirj/making you very angry and
impatient [adj]
Her attitude towards the other people in her office is infuri-
ating. [ David has an infuriating habit of tapping his pencil
on his teeth.
maddening I, madamrjI something someone does that is
maddening makes you very angry, and there is nothing
you can do to stop them doing it [adj]
He always has a maddening expression of superiority on his
face.
galling/'g:l! a fact or situation that is galling makes
you angry because it is unfair or disappointing [adj]
The fact that they had been so confident before the game
made defeat all the more galling. [ It was especially galling
to know that the guy who got promoted wasn't even properly
qualified.
10 to deliberately try to make someone angry
provoke be like a red rag to a bull/
wind sb up be like a red flag to a bull
needle
provoke Ipra'vok/[v T]
provoke sb I'm sure she wouldn't just hit someone for no
reason. You must have provoked her. [ provoke sb into
doing sth Amos saw the danger of provoking his father into
violence and stopped shouting.
provocation/,pmvakefan II ,pro:-/In U] They attacked
without any provocation at all.
provocative/pm'voktw II -'vo=-/ [adj] The inquiry heard
that such a strong police presence was highly provocative to
local youths (=likely to make them angry).
wind sb up/wa[nd (sb) 'Ap/ to deliberately say or do
something in order to make someone angry, especially
because you enjoy making them angry [phr v T]
She's married again? You're winding me up! I He only pre-
tends to be a sexist in order to wind me up.
needle/'ni:dl/to deliberately make someone angry by
continually mentioning something, even though you do it
in a way that seems fairly polite Iv T]
All through the evening she was needling me about my
working-class background. I Quit needling me, you smug
little shit!
be like a red rag to a bull (British) I be like a red
flag to a bull (American)/bi: laik :) red ,raeg to a 'bol, bi:
laik a red  flaeg to-/if something is like a red rag to a bull
you know it will make a particular person angry because
they always get angry about it Iv phrase]
Whatever you do, don't mention his ex-wife. It's like a red rag
to a bull. [ The very sight of kids with long hair is like a red
flag to a bull to him.
1 I to try to make someone less angry
pacify
mollify
pacify I'pasfa/to make someone less angry and more
calm Iv T ]
The government sent a representative to try and pacify the
angry miners. [ She pacified her boyfriend by saying she was
late because she'd been choosing a present for him.
mollify/'rnloIfa II rno:-I to make someone feel less angry
and upset Iv T]
He did manage to mollify her a little, by buying her some
flowers.
!iiili anguish WORRIED 6
-- animal VIOLENT 5
- animate LIVING/ALIVE 1

animated ,t? ANNOY
animated ENERGETIC 2, 3, EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 2
animosity HATE 3
annihilate BEAT/DEFEAT 3
announce PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1, SAY/STATE 1
announcement SAY/STATE 9
announcer PRESENT/INTRODUCE A SHOW 2
annoy ANNOY 1
ANNOY
to make someone feel a little angry
ways of saying that something or someone
annoys you repeatedly or continuously over a
long period
to annoy someone by continually asking them
questions, asking them to do something for
you, or doing something they do not like
feeling a little angry
words for describing a person, fact, or
situation that annoys you
the feeling of being annoyed
1 to make someone feel a little angry
 annoy get sb going
piss sb off much to my annoyance
gall it ticks me off/it hacks me off
annoy/0'nq [v ]
annoy sb Jane's constant talking was beginning to annoy
him. I The only reason she started smoking was to annoy her
parents. I what annoys sb is What annoys me is that every-
one parks on the pavement as well as on the road. I it annoys
sb that/when It really annoys me that she never returns the
books she borrows. I annoy sb intensely (=annoy someone
a lot) He annoyed me intensely by refusing to admit he was
wrong.
piss sb off IpIs (sb) 'tf II -':f! an informal and impolite
expression meaning to annoy someone [phr v T]
Shut up Bernard, you're really pissing me off/ I it pisses sb
off the way Doesn't it piss you off the way your husband
makes you do all the housework?
gali Ig-'l] if something galls you, it annoys you because
you think it is very unfair or disappointing Iv T]
it galls sb to see/hear/think It galled her bitterly to think
that her boyfriend was going out with another girl. I what
galls sb is What galls me is that whenever I tell my stepson
off he just says, "'You're not my mother, you can't tell me what
todo."
get sb going !,get (sb) goi! an informal expression
meaning to deliberately say or do something that you know
will annoy someone and will make them start arguing with
you or criticizing you Iv phrase]
That comment about women drivers really got Amy going.
much to my annoyance/,mAt tO ma onIons/you
say much to my annoyance when you are talking about
something that has annoyed you very much [adv phrase]
Much to my annoyance, the hotel hadn't received our reser-
vation. I He kept me waiting for over an hour, much to my
annoyance. I She found out, much to her annoyance, that her
dress wouldn't be ready for the party.
it ticks me off/it hacks me off/It ,Uks mi: 'Dr, ;t hks
mi: 'tf/informal American expressions: you say it ticks
me off or it hacks me off when you are talking about
something that annoys you, especially something that
happens a lot
It really hacks me off when they cancel a meeting without
telling you.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
ways of saying that something or someone
annoys you repeatedly or continuously over a
long period
irritate
bug
get on sb's nerves
get under sb's skin
frustrate
drive sb crazy/nuts/
up the wall
exasperate
irritate I'rtet/Iv T]
I listened to the clock for some time until its ticking began
to irritate me. I The dumb expression on her face always irrit-
ated him. I Tom's attempts to apologize simply irritated her
even more.
bug /bAg/ an informal word: if something bugs you, it
annoys you because it is always there or is always happen-
ing, so that you cannot stop thinking about it or noticing
it Iv T]
I just can't remember that girl's name, it's really bugging
me. I I wish you'd tell me whatever it is that's bugging you.
get on sb's nerves Iget on (sb's) 'na:rvz/if someone
gets on your nerves, they annoy you, especially by
continually saying or doing something that you do not like
Iv phrase]
She never stopped complaining while we were on vacation.
It really got on my nerves. ] Sit down James. You're getting
on my nerves pacing up and down like that.
get under sb's skin/get ,Ando r (sb's) skn/if someone
gets under your skin, they do something that annoys you
a lot but which may not annoy other people Iv phrase]
What really gets under my skin is people who talk while I'm
trying to concentrate on my work.
frustrate/frA'stre;t ]] 'frAstrelt/if someone or something
frustrates you, they annoy you and make you feel very
impatient, by making it impossible for you to do what you
want, say what you think etc Iv T]
Little kids are often frustrated by their inability to express
themselves to adults. ] Sitting in traffic jams frustrated her
so much that she decided to buy a bicycle.
drive sb crazy/nuts/up the wall (also drive sb
mad British)/,dralv (sb) 'krelzi, 'nAtS, Ap 60 'Wad, ,draIv
(sb) 'med/to annoy someone very much by continually
doing something they do not like, especially after they have
asked you to stop, so that they feel unable to change or
improve the situation Iv phrase]
He'll drive you crazy by changing his mind every five
minutes. ] Turn that music down - it's driving me mad. I
Being in the house all day with these two screaming kids is
driving me nuts. I Sally's driving me up the wall with her
constant talk about her new house.
exasperate / ig zo:sporelt II ig'za-/if someone exasper-
ates you, they annoy you very much because you cannot
make them understand you, or you cannot change or con-
trol what they are doing Iv T]
That man exasperates me - he never listens to a word I say. ]
Many parents are exasperated by their teenage children's
apparent lack of manners.
3 to annoy someone by continually asking them
questions, asking them to do something for
you, or doing something they do not like
pester harass
nag antagonize
hassle
pester/pestor/to annoy someone by repeatedly asking
questions or making requests, especially when they are
trying to pay attention to something else Iv T]
pester sb I wish you'd stop pestering me. We're not going
to the beach and that's final. [ pester sb for sth He wouldn't
stop pestering her for her phone number, so she got up and
left. [ pester sb to do sth Steve pestered theprison authori-
ties to allow food to be brought into the jail.

ANNOY 48 ANNOY
nag Ingl to annoy someone by repeatedly complaining
to them about their behaviour or asking them to do some-
thing that you think they should do [v I/T]
nag sb My mother's always nagging me. [ nag Stop nag-
ging. I'li clean up my room tomorrow. [ nag sb to do sth
For the last week he's done nothing but nag her to get her
hair cut.
nagging [n U] I don't know how she puts up with Eddie's
constant nagging.
hassle/' hsal/an informal word meaning to continually
ask someone questions or ask someone to do something,
especially something that they intend to do but have not
yet done [v T]
hassle sb Stop hassling me. I'II fix the car when I've got
time. [ hassle sb for sth My boss keeps hassling me for that
report, but I haven't finished it yet.
harass / heeras, ha'rees 1[ ha'rees, heeras/ to annoy or
upset someone by continually behaving in a very
unpleasant way and causing them trouble [v T]
Her ex-husband began harassing her by banging on her
door during the night and shouting at her in the street. [
Sam's objections to moving house were designed only to
harass his stepmother.
antagonize (also .ise British)/en'teganaz/to annoy
someone very much, especially someone who is important
to you, by doing something they do not like Iv T]
It is very important not to do anything that might antagonize
your customers. I Jem continually antagonized her, some-
times to the point of physical violence.
4 feeling a little angry
annnoyed frustrated
irritated ticked off/hacked off
miffed
annnoyed la'ndl [adj not before noun]
I hope you won't be annoyed if I make a few criticisms. [
annoyed with sb Grandad gets a bit annoyed with us if we
don't put things back in the right place.
irritated/'rolteitid/a little angry and impatient about
something, especially an annoying situation that you think
has continued for too long [adj not before noun]
Sally gets irritated if things are left messy or dirty. ] irri-
tated with sb She was irritated with her daughter for
behaving so awkwardly. I irritated at sth The teacher
seemed irritated at having his class interrupted.
miffed Irnlftl an informal word meaning a little angry
because you feel that you have been treated unfairly [adj
not before noun]
Jim Austin felt miffed that he had not been invited. [ She was
somewhat miffed to find that her desk had been moved to
another office while she was away.
frustrated/frA'streitod II 'frAstreItod/a little angry and
impatient because of an unpleasant or difficult situation
that you feel unable to change or control [adj]
Tim feels really frustrated because, despite his qualifications,
he can't get a job. I Food shortages in the capital have led
to frustrated shoppers smashing store windows. I He was just
one of the thousands of drivers frustrated by delays at the
Dartford Tunnel every day.
ticked off/hacked off/'tlkt of, heekt of II -a:f/expres-
sions used especially in American English meaning a little
angry about something that annoys you, especially some-
thing that happens a lot [adj phrase]
When she heard what a good time we'd had, she looked really
hacked off. I ticked offwith/by John didn't turn up on time
again - I'm so ticked off with him. I hacked off with I'm
really hacked off with the way Sally always complains about
everything. If she doesn't like it she can leave.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
5
words for describing a person, fact, or
situation that annoys you
annoying be a pain in the neck
Irritating be a pain in the
frustrating ass/butt
galling stupid
exasperati ng bloody
be a nuisance be a drag
annoying/a'naI-It]/[adj]
Jane is the most annoying person I have ever met. [ Just as
I stepped into the shower the phone rang. It was so annoy-
ing. [ The annoying thing was that we'd already got rid of
all the baby things when Alice got pregnant again. [ You're
so annoying. Why didn't you tell me all this before?
annoyingly [adv ] Colonel Welch's instructions were annoy-
ingly vague.
irritating/' Irtelm3/annoying, especially because some-
thing keeps happening that makes you a little angry [adj]
Sammy has an irritating habit of leaving the fridge door
open all the time. I Long and irritating delays at airports
mean fewer people are travelling abroad.
frustrating/fr^'streltlr 3 [I 'fr^stremrj/a situation that is
frustrating is annoying and makes you feel very impa-
tient by making it impossible for you to do what you want
[adj]
It's so frustrating when you can "t make yourself understood
in a foreign language. [ Recovery from a serious accident can
be a slow and frustrating process.
galiing /'ga:hl]/ a fact or situation that is galling is
annoying because it seems very unfair or disappointing
[adj]
What I find galling is the fact that other people with less
experience than me are being paid bigger salaries. I Isn't it
galling when youknow you could do a job really well and
they won't even give you the chance?
exasperating/Ig'zo:spareitit] II -,zms-/a situation that
is exasperating is very annoying because you cannot con-
trol it or change it, even though you try [adj]
It's so exasperating when you're in a hurry and the machine
breaks down. [ She finds the way the workmen always leave
the apartment in a mess really exasperating.
be a nuisance/bi: o 'nju:sdns II -'nu:4 someone or some-
thing that is a nuisance is annoying because they make
problems for you, prevent you doing what you want to do
etc [v phrase]
My car's broken down again. It's a nuisance, isn't it? [ The
reason she never comes to visit is because she doesn't want
to be a nuisance. ] The post office closes early today, which
is a bit of a nuisance. [ what a nuisance (=how annoying)
The train's been delayed and there's nothing we can do about
it. What a nuisance!
be a pain in the neck/bi: a ,peln In 6a nek/an infor-
mal expression meaning to be very annoying [v phrase]
That kid's always complaining about something. He's a pain
in the neck. [ This application form is a real pain in the neck
- it's so complicated!
be a pain in the ass (also butt in American English)
/bi: a peln In 6i ees, bAt/an informal American expres-
sion meaning to be a very annoying person [v phrase]
Bobby's being a real pain in the ass today. I wish he'd just
go home.
stupid/'stju:piod II 'stu:4 an informal word used when you
are talking about something that makes you feel very
annoyed or impatient, for example because it does not work
properly [adj only before noun]
We'd be OK if we could get this stupid gate to open properly. I
You can never sleep round at his place because that stupid
burglar alarm keeps going off.
bloody /tblAdi/an informal and rude British word used
when, saying that you find something or someone very
annoying [adj only before noun]
I woke up late this morning - the bloody clock had stopped. ]
That bloody woman! She always calls around just when
we're about to eat.

ANNOY 9 ANSWERIREPLY
be a drag/bi:  'drag/if someone or something is a drag,
they annoy you especially because they are boring or
prevent you from enjoying yourself Iv phrase]
Don't invite Joshua - he's such a drag. I Having to stay in
and work on a sunny day like this is a real drag.
6 the feeling of being annoyed
annoyance displeasure
irritation exasperation
frustration
annoyance/a'nJians/In U]
Susan made no attempt to conceal her annoyance at having
to drive her mother into town. I Much to my annoyance, the
only answer was from his answering machine.
irritation /lr'te;[an/ the feeling of being annoyed,
caused especially by someone or something that is repeat-
edly annoying In U]
The doctor's irritation grew with every question she was
asked. I a source of irritation (=something that causes
irritation) Unofficial public protests are a constant source
of irritation to the government.
frustration /frA strei[an/the feeling of being annoyed,
caused especiatly by a difficult or unpleasant situation that
you are unable to change or control In U]
Being unemployed can lead to frustration and boredom. I
Imagine the frustration of a patient who cannot speak, but
can hear and understand what is being said about him.
dispieasure Ides Iplesar/a formal word meaning annoy-
ance, caused especially by the behaviour of someone that
you consider to be less important than yourself In U]
Their father had given them an indication of his deep dis-
pleasure by ordering them to go to their rooms. I incur sb's
displeasure (=make someone annoyed)Adam'spolicy was
to minimize every risk of incurring his boss's displeasure.
exasperation/;g,zo:spa'reian II -,z  s-/the feeling of
being very annoyed because you cannot control a situation,
learn to do something, or understand something, even
though you are trying very hard In U]
He was finding it very hard to hide his exasperation with
Jenny, who could not understand a word he said. [ in
exasperation "'For the last time, you "re not going out with
that boy, "' said her mother in exasperation.
annoyance ANNOY 6
annoyance: much to my annoyance
annoyed ANGRY 1, ANNOY 4
annoying ANNOY 5
anomaly UNUSUAL 1
anonymous NAME OF A PERSON 8
ANNOY 1
another
which m-eomng?. """°;';
• not the same i '"  DIFFERENT
more. extra  -,:'  MORE/EXTRA
.
another DIFFERENT 6, MORE/EXTRA 1
another way: to put it another way EXPLAIN 2
answer ANSWER/REPLY 1, 4, 5, 6, 7,
ANSWER/RESULT 1, 2, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A
PROBLEM 2
answer: give an answer ANSWER/REPLY 1
answer: in answerlresponse to ANSWER/REPLY 1
answer: not answer ANSWER/REPLY 8
answer: won't/wouldn't take no for an answer
INSIST 1
answer back/talk back ANSWER/REPLY 3
answer for RESPONSIBLE 6
answer
ANSWER/REPLY
to say something to someone as an answer
when they have asked you a question, made
an offer or suggestion etc
to answer someone angrily, especially
because they have annoyed you or criticized
you
to answer someone rudely, for example a
teacher or parent
something you say as a way of answering
someone
to write a letter to someone when they have
written to you or sent you an invitation, or
when they have advertised something that
you want
a written answer to a letter, invitation,
advertisement etc
to answer when the telephone rings or when
someone knocks at the door
not answer someone when they ask you a
question or speak to you
1 to say something to someone as an answer
when they have asked you a question, made
an offer or suggestion etc
answer in answer/response to
reply give an answer
in reply get back to
respond to
answer lla:nsa r II 'an-/[v I/T]
answer a question/criticism etc Would you please
answer the question. [ How do you answer the criticism that
your government has done nothing to help the plight of home-
less people? I answer Julie thought for a long time before
answering. [ "'How old are you?" asked the barman.
"'Twenty-two, "answered Paul in a very deep voice. ] answer
that When questioned about the robbery, Hughes answered
that he knew nothing about it. [ answer sb How much did
you spend? Come on, answer me!
rep|y /rplaq a word meaning to answer a question,
request, or remark, used especially when reporting what
someone said Iv I/T]

ANSWER/REPLY
I waited for Smith to reply, but he said nothing. I "'You could
earn more money in America, "Rupert remarked. "'So what?'"
Rafaella replied defiantly. I reply to a question/offer/
accusation etc The jailers refused to reply to the prisoners"
questions about where they were being taken. I reply that
We asked Jane to help, but she replied that she was too busy.
in reply/m ri 'plaI/if you say or do something in reply
to what someone has said, you say or do it as a way of
answering their question, request, remark etc [advphrase]
Mayor Daly welcomed the Japanese visitors to his city, and
in reply they expressed their appreciation of his hospitality. I
"'Where are we going?" Jill asked. The driver only lifted his
hand in reply, as if to silence her. I in reply to In reply to
your question, may I remind you that we have already pub-
lished details of our immigration policy.
respond to/rI 'spend tu: [[ -'spa:nd-/to answer someone,
especially someone who has criticized you or disagreed
with you, in a clear and detailed way Iv T]
How do you respond to the allegation that you deliberately
deceived your employers? [ The official sent to respond to
these criticisms sounded irritated about the whole business. [
Dawkins responds to Lorenz's argument by saying that evo-
lution is for the good of the individual gene.
in answer/response to/in ' o:ns) r, ri 'sp[ns tu: [[ -'an-,
r 'spo:ns-/if someone says or does something in answer
or in response to a question, suggestion ere, they say or
do it because they have to. give an answer [prep]
In response to your question, no, I don't think a meeting is
necessary. [ In answer to recent criticism the President has
issued a statement explaining his policies.
give an answer /,gv an to:nsar 11-ten-/ to answer
someone by telling them what you have decided or by
providing them with the particular piece of information
that they have asked for Iv phrase]
give sb an answer They're offering us a new contract and
we have to give them a definite answer by the end of the
month. [ He didn't give me a satisfactory answer. He said,
"'Oh, I'll have to think about it. "" [ give an answer If you
cannot give an answer, just say that you don't know but
you will try to find out.
get back to/,get 'bmk tu:/to answer someone at a later
time especially by telephoning them, usually because you
need to think about their question or find out more infor-
mation before you can give an answer [v T]
She's promised to get back to me as soon as she hears any
more news from the hospital. I Tell you what, let me talk it
over with the guys and I'll get back to you.
2 to answer someone angrily, especially
because they have annoyed you or criticized
you
retort
retaliate
jump down sb's throat/bite sb's head off
retort/n 't:rt/[v T not in progressivel
"'Are you afraid?" Brenda asked coyly. "'Of course not, "" he
retorted angrily. [ retort that I felt tempted to retort that this
matter was none of his business.
retaliate/n 'tmlielt/to answer someone angrily, usually
by being rude or criticizing them, because they have been
rude or criticized you Iv I]
If she criticizes you again, don't retaliate. Just ignore her. [
Terry had insulted her so she had to retaliate, she had to find
a reply that would sting.
jump down sb's throat/bite sb's head off/,dsAmp
daon (sb's) 'Omot, ,bat (sb's) 'hed Df/informal expressions
meaning to answer someone angrily, especially when there
seems to be no good reason for you to talk to them like this
[v phrase]
There's no need to jump down my throat every time I ask you
a question. I Ididn't mean to biteyour head off. R'sjust that
I'm tired.
5O
ANSWER/REPLY
3 to answer someone rudely, for example a
teacher or parent
answer back/talk back
back chat/back talk
sass
answer back/talk back/,o:nsa r 'bak, ,ta:k 'bak l[
,n-/to answer someone rudely, especially your parents,
teacher, or employer, when they criticize you or tell you
to do something [phr v I/T not in passive]
answer sb back We were all scared of Mr Williams, but here
was a girl who actually answered him back. I talk back to
That Lucy is a sassy little brat - you should just hear the way
she talks back to her parents. I answer back/talk back
Don't answer back. It's rude.
back chat (British) I back talk (American)/'bak tet,
'bak t:k/rude remarks that someone makes when they
answer their teacher, parent etc In U]
Any more of your back chat and you'll have to stay behind
after school. I You think you're so smart - I've had enough
of your back talk.
sass /ses/ an informal American word meaning to
answer a teacher or parent rudely Iv T not in passive]
sass sb Don't sass me, Mary Ellen Geer! [ sass sb back I
got sent home from school for sassing the teacher back.
sass In U] I don't have to take your sass.
4 something you say as a way of answering
someone
answer response
reply retort
answer/'o:nsa r II 'en-/In C]
I've asked Yvonne to come on vacation with us but I'm still
waiting for her answer. I The police questioned each of us
in turn, and when it came to me I had my answers ready. I
the answer is no/yes If you're asking me for money, the
answer's no! I answer to a question The answer to your
question is very simple; you failed the exam because you
didn't do any work.
rep|y/r'pla! a word meaning an answer, used especially
in written English when you are reporting a conversation
[nC]
Dr Kleinert murmured a reply, but I couldn't hear what it
was. I "'I'm just borrowing your black dress, OK?" said
Maxine, without waiting for a reply. I reply to a criti-
cism/a question etc Railway officials say it isn't their fault
- which is their standard reply to customers" complaints.
response/rI'spns 11 rI'spo:ns/an answer that clearly
shows your reaction to a question, suggestion etc In C]
response to Her response to his suggesion was a simple
refusal. I Over a period of years I have been hearing the same
kind of responses to my question about favorite books. [
response Having put forward his proposals, Senator
Carson sat down and awaited the governor's response.
retort/r; 't:rt/an angry or cleverly humorous answer,
especially to someone who has made you angry [n C]
Ellie's sarcastic retort surprised Max. He hadn't realized she
would be so annoyed. [ She could never think of a clever retort
to counter Buster's string of jokes and witticisms.
5 to write a letter to someone when they have
written to you or sent you an invitation, or
when they have advertised something that
you want
reply write back
answer acknowledge
reply/rI 'pla;/[v I]
reply to a letter/invitation/advertisement ete Dear Sir,
I am replying to your letter of June 19th. [ Since Margaret
hasn't replied to the invitation, we're assuming she isn't
coming. [ Did anyone reply to your ad in the New York
Times?[ reply Your mother wrote to you three weeks ago and
she's worried because you haven't replied.

ANSWER/REPLY 51 ANSWER/RESULT
answer/' o:nso r II ,  n-i to send a reply to a letter, adver-
tisement etc when the letter or advertisement asks for a
reply Iv T]
Igor the job by answering an advertisement in the paper. I
Miss Millar hired a secretary to answer her mail while she
was on vacation. I Think carefully before answering that
memo.
write back/,rat 'beck/to answer someone's letter by
sending them a letter, usually very soon after you receive
their letter [phr v I]
Sara wrote asking if she could help, so I wrote back and said
yes. t write back to He's a really bad correspondent - he
never writes back to anybody.
acknowledge/ak'nol:d5 [[ -'no:-/to write a letter tell-
ing someone that you have received a letter, parcel etc that
they have sent you [v T]
I have just sent offa letter acknowledging their message. [
aeknowleflge receipt of (=offmially acknowledge that you
have received something) Please acknowledge receipt of this
document by signing and returning the enclosed form.
6 a written answer to a letter, invitation,
advertisement etc
reply
answer
acknowledgement
reply/rI 'plax/In C]
It is usual to send a formal reply to a wedding invitation. [
We advertised for a secretary in the local paper and got 24
replies. [ I wrote to them three weeks ago and I haven't had
a reply back yet.
answer/' o:nsa r 11 'an-/a written answer to a letter, espe-
cially a letter asking for something In C]
Did you ever get an answer to your last letter? [ Our treas-
urer has written to the bank requesting a loan, and we're
expecting an answer in this morning's mail.
acknowledgement/ak'nolldsmant [[-'no:-/a formal
letter or note stating that a letter, parcel etc has been
received In C]
I received an acknowledgement from Toshiba yesterday tell-
ing me that they were considering my application for the job. [
letter of acknowledgement He's still waiting for a letter
of acknowledgement of the last cheque he sent them.
7 to answer when the telephone rings or when
someone knocks at the door
answer
get
take a call
answer I'o:nsa r [I 'am-I Iv I/TI
answer the telephone/a call/the door One afternoon I
answered the telephone, and was surprised to hear Mark's
voice. [ She hasn't answered any calls since Monday. I think
she must be away. [ answer I knocked on the door for a long
time, but no one answered.
get/get/you say I'll get it, would you get it? etc when
you hear the telephone ringing or hear someone knocking
at the door and you intend to answer it or want someone
else to answer it Iv T]
get it/the phone/the door The phone's ringing. Shall I get
it?[ I'll get the phone. I think it's for me. [ There's someone
at the door. Would you get it?
take a call / ,texk a 'ka:l/to speak to someone on the tele-
phone because the person that they want to speak to is not
available Iv phrase]
I was out that day, and my mother took the call. [ Do you
want to take the call in your office? [ take a call for sb Some-
one wants to speak to Professor Welch, but I can't find him.
Would you take the call for him please.
not answer someone when they ask you a
question or speak to you
not answer
make no reply/response
no answer/reply
not answer/not 'o:nsa r II -'een-/Iv I/T]
not answer sb/sth I'm afraid I can't answer that question. [
I knew there was something wrong when she didn't answer
me. [ not answer "'What are you doing here?" The child's
mouth trembled a little, but he did not answer.
make no reply/response/me;k ,nau r 'pla, rI '.sptms [[
-' spo:ns/to deliberately remain silent when someone asks
you a question or talks to you Iv phrase]
"'Who are you?" said Maisie, beginning to panic. The man
made no reply. [ Alan tried to start a conversation, but when
Lockwood made no response, he gave up.
no answer/reply/nao ' o:nsa r, r 'plax [[ -' een-/[nphrase]
I called Stevie's name but there was no answer. [ "'Are you
all right Jim?" No reply. [ He phoned to make an appoint-
ment, got no reply, and suddenly remembered it was Sunday
and they were closed.
ANSWER/RESULT
1 the answer to a question in a test, exercise, or
competition
2 to give an answer to a question in a test,
exercise, competition etc
3 to find the answer to a question by thinking
about it carefully or by doing calculations
1 the answer to a question in a test, exercise, or
competition
answer
result
solution
answer/'o:nsa r 11 'an-I In C]
Write your answers on the form and send it to this address. I
Think carefully before you give the answer. [ answer to The
answer to question two is Washington DC. [ the right/
wrong answer The first person to phone in with the right
answer will win a bottle of champagne.
result/r:'z^lq an answer that you have found after cal-
culating or doing tests In C]
I've tried three different ways of adding these figures and
each time I get a different result. [ We have completed our
experiments and we are now analysing the results. [ The
results of our accountant's calculations show that we are on
the verge of bankruptcy.
solution Isa'lu:fan/the correct answer to a problem which
you have to think about very carefully, do calculations etc
In CI
It was a difficult equation, but it took her only five minutes
to work out the solution. [ solution to The solution to this
week's puzzle will be published in next week's magazine.
2 to give an answer to a question in a test,
exercise, competition etc
answer
answer/'o:ns r II I/T]
Before Jimmy could answer, another child had shouted out
the answer. [ answer a question If you can answer these
questions, you could win a colour TV! [ Answer as many
questions as possible in the time provided.

ANSWER/RESULT 52 APPEAR
 to find the answer to a question by thinking
about it carefully or by doing calculations
solve
work out
solve Isolv II so=Iv, sa:lv/to find the correct answer to a
question, problem, or sum by thinking about it carefully
or doing calculations Iv T]
I'm never going to solve this puzzle, it's impossible. I The
class's homework was to solve a number of complicated equa-
tions. I According to Greek legend, Oedipus went to Thebes
and solved the riddle of the Sphinx.
work out /wa:rk aot/ to find the answer, usually a
number or amount, to a calculation [phr v T]
work sth/it out It's alright, I don 't need a calculator, I can
work it out in my head. I I'm sure they owe me more money
than that - I'll have to sit down and work it out. I work out
sth Using a calculator, work out the answers to the follow-
ing questions.
 answerable: be answerable RESPONSIBLE 3
 antagonism AGAINST/OPPOSE 3
 antagonistic AGAINST/OPPOSE 1, UNFRIENDLY 1
 antagonize ANNOY 3
,, antenatal/prenatal BABY/HAVE A BABY 8
! anti- AGAINST/OPPOSE 1
: anticipate EXPECT 1
i! anticipation: in expectation/anticipation of
-'. EXPECT 3
 anticlimax: be an anticlimax DISAPPOINTED 3
i! antics BEHAVE 5
': antidote CURE 3
i antiquated OLD-FASHIONED 1
 antique OLD/NOT NEW 3
 antisocial UNFRIENDLY 2
i antithesis: be the antithesis of OPPOSITE/REVERSE 1
 anti-war PEACE/NO WAR 5
'i anxiety WORRIED 6
 anxious WORRIED 1, 8
if:: anxious: be anxious to do sth WANT 3
i any EVERYONE 2
::,:: any day: give me sblsth any day! PREFER 1
! any fool/any idiot EVERYONE 2
,i any luck? SUCCEED IN DOING STH 6
:, any minute now/any moment now SOON 2
; any more: not any more NOW 7
any place: anywhere/any place EVERYWHERE 4
i!: any time now SOON 2
!i any Tom, Dick, or Harry EVERYONE 2
.:,! anybody's guess: it's anybody's guess NOT KNOW 8
: anyone/anybody EVERYONE 2
:i anyone can EASY 2
: anything ALL/EVERYTHING 3
:.i anything: not anything NONE/NOTHING 1
anything: would do anything WANT 3
 anyway BUT 2
.! anywhere EVERYWHERE 4
i  anywhere: it won't get you anywhereldo you any
-
- good POINTLESS 2
 anywhere/any place EVERYWHERE 4
.:
, apart DISTANCE 3, SEPARATE 1, SPACE/GAP 3
iii. apart: be worlds apart/be poles apart DIFFERENT 2
, apart: can't tell them apart SAME 2
 apart: drift apart SEPARATE 9
 apart: keep apart AVOID 1
..... apart: keep sb apart SEPARATE 6
 apart: keep sth apart SEPERATE 2
 apart: set sblsth apart DIFFERENT 11
 apart: tell sblsth apart DIFFERENT 10
i!? apart from/aside from EXCEPT 1
apartheid
apartment
apathetic
apathy
ape
aperture
SEPARATE 6
HOME 2
DON'T CARE 4, INTERESTED 7
INTERESTED 7
IMITATE 1
HOLE 2
apologetic: be apologetic SORRY/APOLOGIZE 1
apologies: please accept my apologies
SORRY/APOLOGIZE 2
apologize SORRY/APOLOGIZE 1
apologize: I apologize SORRY/APOLOGIZE 2
apology SORRY/APOLOGIZE 4
apology: I owe you an apology SORRY/APOLOGIZE 2
appalling BAD 1
appalling/atrocious BAD 2, 3, BAD AT 2
apparel CLOTHES 1
apparatus EQUIPMENT 1, SYSTEM 1
apparent OBVIOUS 1, SEEM 4
apparently SAY 12, SEEM 3
apparition GHOST 1
appeal ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 7, 10,
ATTRACT 5, TRIAL 1
appeal to ATTRACT 3, LIKE SB OR STH 1
appealing ATTRACT 4, NICE 1
appear APPEAR 1, ARRIVE 4, PERFORM 1, SEEM 1, 2
appear: be in/appear in ACTOR/ACTRESS 5
appear: it appears SEEM 3
appear on TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 6
appear
APPEAR
1 to start to be seen or to suddenly be seen
1 to start to be seen or to suddenly be seen
appear
become visible
come into view/
come into sight
appear Io'pmrl [v I]
come out
loom/loom up
reappear
surface
An image started to appear on the screen. I Asyou round the
corner, a wonderful view of the mountains appears in front
of you. I appear from Suddenly the manager appeared from
his office and asked us to be quiet. I appear from behind/
under etc I saw a large spider appear from under my chair.
appearance In U] He was disturbed by the sudden appear-
ance of red marks on his skin.
ecome lslble [b kAm vIzball to gradually start to
be seen, especially by getting nearer to you Iv phrase]
As he moved forward flashing lights became visible ahead. I
With a powerful microscope, the rock's surface lines become
visible.
come Into view/come into sight/,kAm znta 'vju=,
,kAm nta  sait/ if something, especially something large,
comes into view or comes into sight it slowly appears as
it gets nearer to you, or as you get nearer to it Iv phrase]
As our boat moved along the coast one of the larger islands
came into sight. I Over the next few weeks the satellite will
be coming into view.
come out /,kAm 'aut/ if the sun, the moon, or a star
comes out it appears in the sky [phr v I]
We watched as the stars came out one by one. I The moon
came out from behind a cloud and bathed the fields in its
silvery glow.
loom/loom up/lu:m, lu:m  ^p/if something large or tall
looms or looms up, it suddenly appears in a way that
makes you feel nervous or frightened, especially when it
is difficult to see clearly in the dark Iv I]

APPEAR
As the men rowed their boat through the fog a huge ship
loomed up in front of them. I Suddenly a dark figure loomed
out of the shadows.
reappear / iri:alpIar / to appear again after not being seen
for some time Iv I]
Mr Baines went back inside and reappeared a few moments
later carrying an umbrella. I If you press RETURN your
document should now reappear on screen. I The stream goes
underground here and reappears further down the
mountain.
reappearance [n U] People were amazed at the magician's
sudden reappearance at the other side of the stage.
sur|ace/'s3: rf s! to appear on the surface of water from
beneath the water Iv I]
She dived into the pool and surfaced several metres away. I
A nuclear submarine has surfaced off the coast of Norway. I
As the tide ebbed, black boulders surfaced one by one.
! appearance APPEARANCE 1, 2, SEEM 8
. appearance: be smooth/dark/young etc in appearance
 APPEARANCE 3
 appearance: have the look/appearance of
 APPEARANCE 3
 appearance: keep up appearances PRETEND 1
 appearance: make an appearance GO TO/ATTEND 1
,. appearance: put in an appearance GO TO/ATTEND 1
 appearance: to/by all appearances SEEM 3
53
APPEARANCE
the way something or someone looks to other
people
the way someone dresses, wears their hair
etc
to have a particular type of appearance
I the way something or someone looks to other
people
appearance
look
looks
appearance la'prns/[n C/U]
The two toadstools have a similar appearance so you need
to be very careful. I Concentrate on the content of your essay,
not its appearance. I A white stripe down the horse's nose
gave it a slightly comical appearance. I in appearance
They're very alike in appearance, but quite different in
character.
look/lok/ the appearance of something, especially an
appearance that has been deliberately planned or made In
C usually singular]
The text is fine but the look of the page is all wrong. I Just
to improve the look of the dish put a few sprigs of parsley in
the centre. I by/from the look of sth (=judging by its
appearance) From the look of it, I'd say it was about 100
years old, maybe 150.
looks/loks/someone's appearance, especially when con-
sidering how good-looking they are In plural]
sb's looks Girls of that age are always worried about their
looks. I good looks (=a good-looking appearance) He was
20 years older now, but had kept his rugged good looks.
2 the way someone dresses, wears their hair
etc
appearance
look
image
appearance/'pmns/In C]
Can't you do something about your appearance? I'm
ashamed to be seen with you! I Sometimes it seems that
appearance is the only thing that counts in job-hunting.
look/lok] a particular fashion or a particular combination
approach
of clothes, hair etc that someone chooses [n C usually
singular]
I'm not sure what kind of look you're trying to achieve so I
can't tell you whether it's OK. I the Bohemian/ethnic/
1960s etc look It was the typical Bohemian look: black polo-
neck, round glasses, silly little beard! [ Her long straight hair
and dark eye make-up give her a sort of late-sixties look.
image 1' imIdS/the appearance and character that some-
one deliberately tries to produce by dressing or behaving
in a particular way In C usually singular]
I like the new image. Have you got rid of your jeans then?[
No, you don't actually wear the sunglasses. They're just part
of the image.
3 to have a particular type of appearance
look
look like
have the look/appearance of
be smooth/dark/young etc in appearance
look/luk/Iv not usually in progressive]
The house looked different at night. Smaller and cosier. [
Doesn't she look beautiful! [ This food looks revolting. I With
his dark hair and dark eyes he looked Italian. [ I'm glad
you've shaved off that beard. It makes you look ten years
younger!
look like Illuk lak! to have an appearance that is simi-
lar to something or someone else Iv T not in passive]
She looks a bit like my sister. [ In the moonlight the plane
looked like a huge eagle soaring across the sky. [ Prize-
winning architecture? It looks like a rabbit-hutch to me!
have the look/appearance of/hev 6 'luk, a'piamns
v/an expression used especially in written descriptions
of people, places etc, meaning to look like something or
someone or to remind you of something or someone Iv
phrase not in progressive]
With his rich robes and heavy jewellery, he had the look of
an Indian Sultan. [ The lake, by moonlight, had the appear-
ance of a silver dish.
be smooth/dark/young etc In appearan©e/bi:
(smooth, etc) In apiaransl an expression used especially
when describing something exactly, meaning to have a par-
ticular type of appearance Iv phrase]
The underside of the fungus is wrinkly in appearance with
a faint purple colouring. [ The snake's skin, although slimy
in appearance, is in fact smooth and leathery. [ She was youn-
ger in appearance than her letter had suggested.
appetite
appetite: give sb an appetite
appetite: work up an appetite
appetizing DELICIOUS 3
applaud PRAISE 8
applause PRAISE 8
appliance MACHINE 1
applicant ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 8
application ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 10, USE
STH 6
apply ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 2, PUT 8,
USE STH 2
appoint CHOOSE 4, JOB/WORK 10
appointment: make an appointment ARRANGE A
MEETING, EVENT ETC 2
apportion blame BLAME 1
appraise JUDGE 2
appreciate KNOW STH 2, THANK 3, UNDERSTAND 3,
VALUE 6
appreciate: I appreciate it THANK 2
appreciation THANK 4
appreciation: show your appreciation THANK 1
appreciative THANK 3
apprehensive WORRIED 1
apprentice LEARN 4
approach ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 1 10,
CONTACT SB 1 DEAL WITH 3, 6, NEAR 7,
'
TOWARDS 3, WAY/METHOD 1
HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 2, WANT 8
HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT :3
HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT :3

approachable 54 APPROXIMATELY
approachable FRIENDLY 1
approaching/nearing ALMOST 1
approaching: nearing/approaching/near to/close to
ALMOST 2
appropriate RIGHT/PROPER 1, 2
appropriate: inappropriate/not appropriate
WRONG/UNSUITABLE 1
approval APPROVE 3
approval: meet with sb's approval APPROVE 1
approve ACCEPT 6, APPROVE 1
., approve ....................
which meaning?
approve of.so.me,hi.n.'it .:  APPROVe
..  iii#.:-, ',i  "  "
not approve of :". ........ :: -, ;- DISAPPROVE
..
APPROVE
to think that a person, idea, or action is good,
right, or sensible
to approve of something or someone
to approve of something very much
someone's favourable opinion
1 to approve of something or someone
approve believe in
think sth is right meet with sb's approval
agree with condone
approve/'pruzvl [v I not in progressive]
approve of sb/sth Bob doesn't approve of alcohol. I I'm sure
that most athletes will approve of the new rules on drug test-
ing. I approve Don will only buy the motorcycle if his
parents approve. I approve of (sb) doing sth Do you
approve of doctors using human embryos for research? l
thoroughly/heartily/wholeheartedly approve R's an
excellent idea and I must say I thoroughly approve of it.
think sth Is right /Ok (sth) z rmt/to approve of a par-
ticttlar situation or type of behaviour, especially when
some people do not agree with it [v phrase]
The team coach lets his players relax however they want, and
I think that's right. I think it is right (for sb) to do sth
The bank invests a lot of money in the tobacco industry: do
you think it's right for them to do that? I He doesn't think it
is right for someone so young to be learning about sex at
school.
agree with/a'gri: w6/to say that you approve of a deci-
sion, suggestion, or course of action Iv T not in progressive ]
Most people agree with the decision of the court. I I have never
agreed with animal experimentation.
believe in Ib li:v m/to approve of a type of behaviour
or way of doing something, especially because you think
there are important principles involved Iv T not in
progressive]
Hilary doesn't believe in sex before marriage. I believe in
doing sth We believe in letting everyone have the right to see
their own medical records.
meet with sb's approval/,mi:t w6 (sb's) a'pru:vM/a
formal expression: ifa plan, decision, or way of doing some-
thing meets with someone's approval, they approve of
it Iv phrase]
I hope these arrangements meet with your approval. I Lucy's
choice of career does not meet with her father's approval.
condone/kan daon/to say officially or publicly that you
approve of something that most people think is wrong Iv T]
The state appears to condone police brutality. I I'm not con-
doning his behaviour, but I can understand why he wanted
revenge on his daughter's attacker.
2 to approve of something very much
be all for/be all in favour of
be a great believer in
be an advocate of
be all forlbe all in favour of/hi: ,3:1 ' f3:r, ,3:1
v/to approve of something very much, especially some-
thing that other people think you disapprove of Iv phrase].
be all for (sb) doing sth I'm all for people going out and
enjoying themselves, so long as they don "t drive when they're
drunk. ] Don't get me wrong - I'm all for cutting taxes if we
can do it without hurting the poor. I be all for sth The priest
is all in favour of music in church, but he doesn't think rock
music is appropriate.
be a great believer in /bi:  gret bli:var n/ to
approve of a particular way of living or of doing things
because you think it brings good results Iv phrasel
Alan is a great believer in vegetarianism. I I have always
been a great believer in co-ed schools.
be an advocate of/bi: an advakt ov/to state publicly
and often that you think something is the correct thing to
do Iv phrase]
She has always been an advocate of natural childbirth.
be a strong advocate of Gandhi was a strong advocate of
non-violent protest.
 someone's favourable opinion
approval
approval/a'pru:vl/[n U]
approval of sb/sth It is important for the president to have
the approval of everyone in the country. I win/earn
approval By doing well at school he hoped to win his par-
ents" approval. I nod/smile/watch with approval "'Is the
house clean enough?" Her aunt nodded with approval.
 approved RIGHT/PROPER 1
! approximate APPROXIMATELY 6
 approximately APPROXIMATELY 1, 4
@ APPROXIMATELY
either a little more or a little less than a
particular number or amount
1 approximately a number or amount
 approximately, especially when you are
talking about a number or amount that is
surprisingly large
3 approximately a number or amount, or
perhaps even more than that
4 at approximately a particular time or date
5 approximately correct
6 words for describing a number or amount
that is approximately right
1 approximately a number or amount
about give or take
approximately at a guess
roughly
about/a'baotl [adv]
"'How far is the church?" "'About half a mile away. "1 The
chance of men being colourblind is about I in 12. I You have
about ten pens already - I'm not buying you another one. I
I haven 't a clue what he looks like. It must be about 20years
since I saw him last.
approximately/a'proksoImtli ii oPro:k-/a word used
especially in written English meaning either a little more
or a little less than a particular number or amount [adv]

APPROXIMATELY 55 APPROXIMATELY
Approximately 113,000 bicycles were reported stolen last
year. I These floppy disks will store approximately 144pages
of text each.
reughiy ] r^fli/approximately, especially when you are
trying to give someone a general idea of the number or
amount [adv]
A new kitchen would cost roughly $6,000. I The man was
roughly my own age. I Printers" wages were roughly the same
as those of other skilled workers.
give or take/gv a: r te]k/ if a number or amount is
correct or exact give or take a few seconds, a pound, a
week etc, it is so dose to that number or amount that it can
be considered to be correct [adv phrase]
give or takeaa few minutes/a penny/a mile etc The baby
was born at half past seven, give or take a minute or two. I
It's a hundred miles away, give or take a mile or so. I give
or take "How long will it last? .... Oh, a couple of hours, give
or take. ""
at a guess/at  ges/approximately, especially when you
do not know the correct number or amount and are guess-
ing what it is [adv phrase]
At a guess, there are about 3000 people here today. I "'How
much will it cost?" "'A hundred and twenty pounds, at a
guess."
2
approximately, especially when you are
talking about a number or amount that is
surprisingly large
something/somewhere in the region of
an estimated
some
something like
something/somewhere in the region of/,sAm0;rj,
sAmwear tn 6a ri:dsan t)v/a little more or a little less than
a particular number or amount that is surprisingly large
[ adv phrase]
The business is worth something in the region of $25m. I
Their star player is expected to earn something in the region
of $3 million. I Workers here are having to face temperatures
somewhere in the region of 40 degrees.
an estimated/an estmetd/an estimated 3000 peo-
ple/one million pounds/90% of profits etc (=approxi-
mately that number or amount especially because you have
no exact or detailed figures on which to calculate the exact
number) [adj phrase]
An estimated 10% of new mothers suffer from severe depres-
sion. I The Gambia welcomed an estimated 80, 000 visitors in
1988. I Medical costs have risen to an estimated $6.5 billion.
some/sAm/some 100 people/50 years/2000 establish-
ments etc (=approximately that number or amount, espe-
cially when you think it is impressive or surprising) [adv]
Only the richest parents, some 10%, can afford private edu-
cation. I 30, 000 people have been taken prisoner, of whom
some I0,000 are teenagers. I He lectured at the Institute
Pasteur for some 50 years.
something like / shm0trJ lalk/an expression used espe-
cially in spoken English meaning approximately [adv]
Smiddy was already something like $I0,000 in debt. I In
Ireland something like I000 people a week are leaving the
country.
3 approximately a number or amount, or
perhaps even more than that
or so
odd
or more
or SO/:):r 'sao/a minute/fifteen/3 days etc or so [adv
phrase]
The baby usually sleeps for an hour or so after breakfast. I
He was told to take a week or so off work. I "'How many
oranges shall I buy? .... Oh, five or so should be enough. ""
odd /od II o=d/a hundred/forty/thirty etc odd (used
especially in spoken English) [adv]
There were a hundred odd passengers on the ferry. I "'How
old do you think he is?" "Oh, I don't know. Seventy odd.'"
or more /a: r ma:r/ 5000 people/20%/9 days etc or
more (=5000 people/20% etc or even more than that) [adv
phrase]
How can you be tired? You slept for ten hours or more last
night. I There were a thousand or more fans at the airport
to welcome the Rolling Stones.
4 at approximately a particular time or date
 about or thereabouts
around circa
approximately some time
round about
about la' baut/a little later or a little earlier than a partic-
ular time or date [adv]
It's two-thirty. They should be arriving about now. [ In about
the middle of the eighteenth century society began to change
dramatically. [ About six months before he died he had
suffered a major heart attack.
around/a' raund/at some time a little before or after a par-
ticular time, day, date etc, especially because you cannot
remember which [adv]
It was around eight o'clock before I remembered I was sup-
posed to pick her up. I We first met around 1948, didn't we? I
I don "t remember the exact date of the party but it must have
been around December 8th because that's her birthday.
approximately/aproksmtli II aPro:k-/a word used
especially in written English meaning either a little later
or a little earlier than a particular time or date [adv]
The gate will close approximately two minutes before the
train leaves. I The suspect seemed to leave the house at
approximately the same time every day.
round about /'raond a,baut/ an informal expression
meaning at some time a little before or after a particular
time, day etc, especially because you cannot remember
which [adv phrase]
He left the house round about four o'clock. I It was built
during the height of the Inca empire, round about 1500. I The
job should be finished round about March next year.
or thereabouts /a: r 6earabaots/ you say or there-
abouts after you have stated a time, date etc, that is not
exact, especially when it is not important to know the exact
time, date ere
They're old apartments, built in the 1930s or thereabouts. I
The book will be published in May or thereabouts.
©ir©a / s3:rka/circa 1920/1850/1492 etc (used especially
when you are saying when something happened in history)
[prep]
This plate was manufactured circa 1865. I Evidence shows
that he lived circa 980 AD.
some time/, s^m 'ta,m/at a time in the past, but you do
not know exactly when or it is not important exactly when
[ adv phrase]
Some time between 1477 and 1480 the Pope visited Milan. I
A historic change in public attitudes took place some time
in the 1960s. I This animal began living on land at some time
during the last hundred million years.
5 approximately correct
roughly
more or less
roughly/'r^fli/[adv]
Yes, that's roughly the right answer. I As long as you know
roughly how to do it that's OK.
more or less/,ma:r a: r 'les-/ if something is more or
less correct, it is good or correct enough to be accepted even
if it is not perfect [adv phrase]
"'Have I done this right? .... Yes, more or less. "" I OK it wasn't
perfect - but it was more or less in the right position.

APPROXIMATELY 56 AREA
6 words for describing a number or amount
that is approximately right
approximate ballpark figure
rough approximation
approximate Io'prt)ksmt II o'prmk-/an approximate
number or amount is approximately the correct number
or amount especially because it has been calculated to be
so [adj usually before noun]
An expert could give you the approximate value of the
picture. I It's important to know the approximate date of
manufacture. I Before we accept a reservation we have to
know approximate numbers.
rough/rAf/rough guess/calculation/estimate/indica-
tion (:approximately correct, and therefore not to be used
for detailed or important work) [adj only before noun]
It's only a rough calculation, but it gives us some idea of how
much food we'll need. [ These results are only rough esti-
mates. [Evidence from fossils can give us a rough indication
of how old the rock is.
ballpark figure / Iba:lpo:rk f[ga r ii -fIgjar/an American
expression meaning a number or amount that is approxi-
mately correct In C]
A ballpark figure for the cost of the construction is $2.5 mil-
lion. [ The price of houses in the new development is yet to
be set, but you can expect a ballpark figure of $200,000.
approximation /prokso I 'meJ'an l[ pro:k-/ a formal
word meaning a number or amount that approximately
correct In C]
$5,000 seems to be a reasonable approximation of the actual
cost. [ The figure they give you is only an approximation of
the total amount, but it'll give you a good idea.
:: approximation APPROXIMATELY 6
.: apt RIGHT/PROPER 2
:: apt: be apt to doeth OFTEN2
. aptitude CAN 6
:i aptitude: have an aptitude for GOOD AT 3
 aquatic WATER 7
i: arbitrary CHANCE/BY CHANCE 5
.::
.if,: arbitrate JUDGE 6
-. arbitration JUDGE 6
: archaic OLD-FASHIONED 4
 archetypal TYPICAL 1
architect DESIGN 3, PLAN 8
architecture BUILD 2, 3
archives
arctic
ardent
arduous
area
RECORD 2
COLD 5
STRONG FEELING OR BELIEF 1
DIFFICULT 3
AREA 1, 2, 4, AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES,
STUDY ETC 1, SIZE :2
area'of
du[ms, stud, etc.,
,.-,=, ..- . .
AREA
part of the world, a country, town, the earth's
surface etc
an area of land that forms part of the world or
part of a particular country
an area in or around a town or city
the area around a building, around the place
where you live etc
an area in a house, garden, office etc that is
used for a particular purpose, although it is
not a completely separate room
a large area of land, especially an open area
without buildings or crops
an empty area in the middle of a larger area
that is not empty
an area of a country, town etc that a person
or group controls or is responsible for
part of a surface that is different from the
parts around it
1 an area of land that forms part of the world or
part of a particular country
area country
region locality
zone
area/'eriN [n C]
People in many areas of the world suffer from a shortage of
water. I The Lake District is one of the most beautiful areas
in England. [ Police think the troublemakers came from out-
side the area. I sb's area (=the area where someone lives)
If you want to find out what's going on in your area, listen
to your local radio station.
region / 'ri:d3vn/a large area which is part of a country
or part of the world [n C]
The South East region of England is densely populated. I
There has been a series of explosions in the Basque region
of Northern Spain. I This variety of rice is grown mainly in
cool temperate regions.
zone/zoon/a large area which is different from other
areas, for example because it has particular types of
problems or because a war is taking place there In C]
San Francisco and Tokyo are both located in earthquake
zones. I For many years the Tibetan border was a forbidden
zone for western tourists. [ war/battle/combat zone It was
difficult to believe we were in a war zone, for there was no
sound of gunfire or aircraft flying overhead.
country/'k^ntri/an area of land which is of a particular
type or which is used for a particular activity, lived in by
particular people etc In U]
Not many people live in the dry hill country. I The Midwest
is largely farming country, where huge wheatfields stretch
in every direction. [ This was all Iroquois country, stretch-
ing from the forest across the plain to the river.
locality/bo kalti/a formal word meaning a small area
of a country In C]
In some localities the price of housing has risen by more than
50% in less than 6 months. I The city council is responsible
for the provision of fire services in each locality.
 an area in or around a town or city
area zone
district block
neighbourhood/ suburb
neighborhood sector
quarter precinct
area /'eria/[n C]
We lived in Mochfeld, a working-class area of Duisburg. I
The house is situated in a quiet residential area. [ In other
areas of the city, fighting continued.
district / 'dstrkt/ a particular area of a town or city, espe-
cially one that has official borders for the purpose of
governing the city [n C]
The riots took place in the Toxteth district of LiverpooL I
In some outlying districts mail deliveries were still very
slow. I They drove through the old warehouse district of the
city.

AREA 5? AREA
neighbourhood (British) I neighborhood (American)
/ neIbarhod/a small area of a town or city where people live,
especially where people know each other, are friendly with
each other etc In C]
Gloria grew up in a Cuban neighborhood in Miami. [
Ogikubo is a quiet, rather sleepy neighbourhood in the west
part of Tokyo. [ This used to be a really nice neighbourhood
before the property developers moved in.
quarter / kwa:rtar/an area in a town or city that is lived
in by people of a particular type or nationality In C]
They rented a house in the Creole quarter of New Orleans. [
The Dahdah palace in the old Jewish quarter of Damascus
is a fine example of decorative architecture.
zone Izaon/part of a city that is officially divided from
other parts because it is of a particular type In C]
This is a residential zone, where no commercial buildings
are allowed. [ pedestrian zone (=a zone where'cars, motor-
cycles etc are not allowed) Most of the city centre is now a
pedestrian zone.
block/blok [[ bla:k/one of the regular square areas, sur-
rounded by four streets, into which some cities and towns
are divided In C]
Most of the families on our block were Italian Americans. [
He used to walk around the block ten times every day to get
some exercise.
suburb ] sAb3:rb/an area that is on the edge of a city, espe-
cially a newly-built area of houses with no factories In C]
They bought a house in a quiet suburb of London, called
Bromley. I The western suburbs of Philadelphia stretch for
miles.
sector/'sektr/a part of a city that is completely divided
from other parts, usually because there is fighting between
the different parts In C]
The bombings took place in the eastern sector of the city. I
Western visitors to the Russian sector of Berlin all used to
have to go through Checkpoint Charlie.
precinct / pri:sijkt/an area of an American city which
is officially divided from other parts and which has its own
police department etc In C]
They're having trouble up at the fourteenth precinct. I Every
precinct in the city is suffering financial problems.
3 the area around a building, around the place
where you live etc
surroundings
surrounding area
surroundings/sa'raonditjz/[n plural]
It's taken me a few weeks to get used to my new surround-
ings. I The old docks are quite unusual surroundings for a
theatre. I The house is set in beautiful surroundings near
Lake Coniston.
surrounding area/sa,raondrj 'eria/the area all around
a building, street, city etc [n C]
The city is ugly, but the surrounding area is beautiful and
unspoilt. [ Police have searched the surrounding area, but
they have still not found the boy.
4 an area in a house, garden, office etc that is
used for a particular purpose, although it is
not a completely separate room
area
area I 'ear/a/[n C]
Part of the factory has been designated a no-smoking area. I
The kitchen area has a beautiful tiled floor. I The long huts
have a sleeping area at either end and a communal area for
eating and working.
5 a large area of land, especially an open area
without buildings or crops
expanse
stretch
tract
expanse /ik'spens/ a large continuous area of land,
water, or sky In C]
expanse of water/sand etc Jake gazed out over the
expanse of desert that lay before him. I expanse Their ances-
tors had crossed these great expanses in small wooden boats. I
vast expanse (=very large expanse) What chance did we
have of making it across this vast expanse of ocean?
stretch/stret/an area of land or water, especially one
which is long and narrow In C]
stretch of road/water etc The stretch of coastline between
Barcelona and the French border is called the Costa Brava. I
The two lovers walked hand in hand along a deserted stretch
of beach. I stretch The road is very icy along this particu-
lar stretch.
tract/trakt/a very large continuous area of land of a par-
ticular type, especially an area which is difficult to cross
In C usually plural]
Vast tracts of virgin rain forest are being cut down every year
in order to supply timber. I Siberia has huge tracts of frozen
tundra, rich in oil and minerals.
6 an empty area in the middle of a larger area
that is not empty
clearing
space
clearing I'khorio/ a small empty area of land in the
middle of a forest or wood, especially where the trees have
been cut down [n C]
A small deer stood on the edge of the clearing. I In the clear-
ing ahead of them they saw what looked like a plane.
space/spe,s/a small empty area which is available for
you to sit down in, stand in, leave your car in, etc In C]
an empty space in the car park I There's a space over there
by the bar where we can sit.
7 an area of a country, town etc that a person
or group controls or is responsible for
territory
patch
turf
territory/'teroltari II-ta:ri/InC/UI
Each of the company's salesmen has a particular territory
to look after. I Many birds will attack other birds which enter
their territory. I neutral territory (-an area which no one
controls) The negotiations will be held on neutral territory.
patch/patfl an informal British word meaning the area
that someone such as a policeman works in and controls
[n C usually singular]
Detectives listen for rumours of anything happening on their
patch. I He knew his patch so well that he could have walked
round it with his eyes closed.
turf It3: rf/an informal American word meaning the area
that a person or group, controls and defends against anyone
competing for it In U]
Police are worried that a gang war over turf is about to
begin. I When times get hard, people stop working together
and just protect their own turf.
8 part of a surface that is different from the
parts around it
patch
spot
patch Ipetl a small area which is different or looks differ-
ent from the area which surrounds it In C]
Even at in the afternoon there are still often icy patches on
the road. I a triangular patch of sweat on the back of his
shirt I A man with a gun was crouching in a patch of shade
next to the wall.
spot/spot II spo:t/ a small area that has been changed,
especially damaged, and looks different In C]
There's a damp spot behind the washing machine.

AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC 58 ARGUE
AREA OF
KNOWLEDGE,
DUTIES, STUDY
ETC
1 an area of knowledge, duties, study etc
1 an area of knowledge, duties, study etc
area - realm
field sphere
world branch
domain province
area / ' eria/[n C l
I don't know how Philip got the computing job, he's never
been very good in that area. I The President has won popu-
lar support because of his reforms in two key areas, health
and education. I As part of his research, Dr Friedman has
been carrying out investigations in the area of heart disease. I
One area of concern is the increase in juvenile crime.
field/fi:ld! a particular subject or area of study, especially
one that you know a lot about In C]
She is a psychiatrist, one of the most brilliant in her field. I
What field of research are you working in at the moment? l
I'd better consult an engineer on this one. Electronics isn't
really my field.
world /w3:rld/ a word meaning a particular area of
activity or work, used especially when talking about all the
people who work in that area In C usually singularl
Ronald Reagan was an actor who went into the world of
politics. I He is now one of the richest and most successful men
in the business world.
domain/da men, dao-/a formal word meaning a particu-
lar area of activity, interest, or knowledge to which some-
thing belongs In C]
For centuries housework and shopping have been identified
as female domains. I The question of child safety has shifted
from the educational domain to the political domain.
realm/relm/a formal word meaning a general area of
thought, interest, or knowledge In C]
This question takes us into the higher realms of scientific
knowledge. I The film examines the realms of human
fantasy. I military strategy, the realm in which soldiers have
to display intellect as well as courage
sphere /sfmr/ a particular area of activity, interest,
knowledge etc, especially one that people consider should
be respected or admired In C]
His greatest achievements have been in the diplomatic
sphere. I Even in the most advanced spheres of learning his
work has been recognized as being infiuential.
branch/bro:ntJ" l[ brentJ'/one part of a large area of study
or knowledge In C]
Geometry is a branch of mathematics. I Photography has in
the last twenty years become a respectable branch of fine
arts. [ The organization has provided funding for various
branches of agricultural research including pesticides.
province/'pmvns II 'pro:-/ira particular subject or area
of activity is someone's province, i is a subject or area of
activity about which they know a lot or for which they are
responsible In singular]
I have read a little about divorce law, but it isn't really my
province. I Some people think that teaching a child morals
is the teacher's province, rather than the parents'.
 argue ARGUE 1, SAY/STATE 3
ARGUE
1 to argue with someone about something
2 to argue about something very unimportant
3 to argue about very small details, in a way
that is annoying
4 to deliberately try to start an argument
5 a situation in which people are arguing
6 a situation in which there is serious
disagreement between people, especially
concerning important public matters
7 words for describing someone who often
argues or likes arguing
8 to agree to stop arguing
9 ways of saying that a bad situation or
unpleasant problem makes people argue with
each other
1 to argue with someone about something
argue be at each other's throats
have a row clash
quarrel reason with
fight
argue/'o:rgju:/[V I]
Jim and Beth seem to spend all their time arguing. I argue
with sb He said there was nothing wrong with the car, and
I wasn't going to argue with him. I argue about sth We
started to argue about stupid things, like who last did the
ironing. I Two men were sitting at a table, arguing loudly
about politics. I argue over sth (=argue especially about
who should have something) The family argued bitterly
over who would inherit the house.
have a row/hav a 'rau! a British expression meaning
to argue angrily and noisily with someone, for a short time,
especially with someone you know very well Iv phrasel
I could hear the neighbours shouting. I think they were
having a row. I have a row with sb Jenny had a terrible
row with her father last week. I have a row over (=have a
row, especially about who should have something) Kelvin
and his wife have endless rows over money. I have a blaz-
ing row (=a very serious row) My husband and I had a
blazing row last night - he's not speaking to me now.
quarrel/'kworal II 'kwa:-, 'kwo:-/to argue angrily, espe-
cially for a long time and in a way that seems silly or
unnecessary to other people Iv Il
Whenever my sisters meet they always end up quarrelling. I
quarrel with sb Bob left his job after quarrelling with his
boss. I quarrel about/over We often quarrel about money. I
The two reporters quarrelled over who should write the news
article.
fight/faiq to argue in an angry and violent way for a fairly
long time, especially with someone you know well Iv I]
Kerry's parents are always fighting - I'm not surprised she
left home. I fight over/about The pro-lifers have been fight-
ing over the rights of unborn children. I If you two don't stop
fighting about what to watch I'll turn the television off.
be at each other's throats/bi: at i:tJ',A6arz 'OratJts/
if two people or groups are at each other's throats they
are always arguing in a very violent or nasty way because
they cannot agree about something Iv phrase]
Our management and union leaders are always at each
other's throats over pay and working conditions.
clash Ikle.[I if two groups of people clash, they argue
publicly with each other about a particular subject Iv I]
clash with sb Democrats clashed with Republicans in a
heated debate about unemployment. ] clash over sth France
and Britain are likely to clash over the proposed space
programme.

ARGUE 59 ARGUE
reason with / ri:zan wI6] to argue calmly with someone
who you think is behaving in an unreasonable way and try
to persuade them to change their mind Iv T not inpassive]
Her parents have tried to reason with her, but she just won't
listen to them.
2 to argue about something very unimportant
squabble
bicker
squabble I'skwobl II 'skwo:-I Iv I]
Listen to those players squabbling/Why don't they just get
on with the game? I squabble about/over I don't see the
point of squabbling over a few cents. Just give him his money.
bicker /bikar/ to continually argue about something
unimportant in a way that annoys other people Iv I]
Whenever we go shopping together we always start bicker-
ing. I bicker about/over If you two don't stop bickering
over who goes to the store, neither of you are going.
bickering [n U] She never visits her parents because she
can't stand the constant bickering.
3 to argue about very small details, in a way
that is annoying
quibble pedantic
split hairs fussy
nitpicking
quibble I'kwbdl/to argue unnecessarily about unimpor-
tant details, especiatly about whether something is exactly
correct Iv I]
quibble over They spent the whole holiday quibbling over
the best exchange rates for traveller's cheques. [ quibble She
said I owed her twenty dollars. I thought it was only fifteen
but I wasn't going to quibble.
quibble In C] The question is whether sociology can be called
a science. This is not just a quibble (=an argument in which
someone is quibbling) over words.
split hairs ! spllt hearz/to argue that there is a differ-
ence between two things when really the difference is too
small to be important Iv phrase usually in progressive]
"'Her degree isn't in mathematics, it's in mathematical
science. "" "'You're splitting hairs. We just want someone who
can teach math&'" [ I think there's a difference between
democratic socialism and social democracy, but perhaps I'm
splitting hairs.
nltpicklng/'nltpkIO! an informal word meaning the
annoying habit of arguing about unimportant details, espe-
cially in someone's work In U]
I've had enough of your constant nitpicking. Why can't you
say something encouraging?
nitpicking [adj only before noun] these nitpicking old
teachers, who get upset if you miss out an apostrophe
pedantic/p 'dantik] someone who is pedantic is always
arguing about small details of correctness and unimpor-
tant rules, especially in speech and writing [adj]
Don't be so pedantic, does it really matter if I didn't
pronounce it exactly right? [ He was an elderly, pedantic
teacher who was more interested in punctuation than poetry.
fussy /fAsi/ someone who is fussy is always arguing
about unimportant details of correctness, neatness, com-
fort etc and is hard to please [adj]
fussy about He's very fussy about his drinks being served
in the right kind of glass. [ fussy Mrs Pritchard is the fussi-
est person I've ever met. She gets upset if she finds even a hair
on her precious carpet.
4 to deliberately try to start an argument
start an argument make an issue of
pick a fight/a quarrel have a bone to pick with
stir it/stir it up play sb off against
start an argument/,sto:rt on o:rgj°omant/Iv phrase]
I didn't want to start an argument, so I kept quiet.
pick a fight (also pick a quarrel in British English)
/,pIk a 'faxt, a 'kworal II -'kwa:-/to deliberately start an
argument by saying something that you know will make
the other person angry Iv phrase]
Just ignore him, he's always pickingfights. I pick a fight/
quarrel with Burton was at the bar, trying to pick a quarrel
with a stranger.
stir It (British) I stir It up (American) / st3:r t, st3r t ^p/
to deliberately do or say something to make other people
argue because you want to cause problems for them Iv
phrase]
Ignore him - be's just trying to stir things up because he's
jealous. I Jackie had to come and stir it just as we were begin-
ning to get on with each other again.
make an issue of/'meik on 'x/u: ov/to decide not to
ignore something wrong or unfair and to do something
about it even though it might cause an ent [vphrase]
I don "t think he's going to make an issue of the missing pens. I
Although she was annoyed that Ian had given her secret
away she decided not to make an issue of it.
have a boe to pick with/hev a baon to =plk WI6/
to want to start an argument with someone in order to criti-
cize them for something that they have done which has
annoyed you Iv phrase not in progressive]
I've got a bone to pick with you. Why have you been interfer-
ing in my private affairs? l Mansell believes he was wrongly
disqualified and so has yet another bone to pick with the race
judges.
play sb off against /plei (sb) of agenst II-'a:f/to
encourage two people or two groups of people to argue with
each other in order to gain an advantage for yourself [phr
vT]
Stalin managed to play the two opposing groups off against
each other and thus stay in power. I He's a very clever kid
and manages to play both parents off against each other.
5 a situation in which people are arguing
argument exchange
row showdown
quarrel altercation
disagreement rumpus
squabble ruckus
tiff spat
argument I'o:rgj°omant/In C]
We don't see each other very often and, when we do, we have
arguments. I I'm sorry I'm late - I got involved in an argu-
ment about fares with the ticket collector. I The pitcher
refused to be drawn into the argument between the umpire
and the other players. I heated argument (=very angry
argument) A heated argument developed between them over
who should get custody of the children.
row/rao/a British word meaning a loud, angry argument
which lasts for a short time, especially between people who
know each other very well In C]
There were always rows when my dad got home. I blazing
row (=very serious row) A blazing row broke out down
below in the street between a young man and a woman.
quarrel/'kwt)ral II 'kwa:-, kwo:-/a loud, angry argument
which lasts for a fairly long time In C]
I had a lot of quarrels with my parents when I was a
teenager. I Cara rang up her friend in tears to tell her about
the quarrel.
disagreement /d:sa'gri:mant/ a situation in which
people argue, especially in a polite way, because they do
not agree about something In Cl
They've never had a disagreement in all the years they've
been working together. I We've had a small disagreement
about how much to spend on the renovations.
squabble/skwobdl II skwo:-/a noisy argument about
something that is not important In C l
Squabbles frequently break out among the kids but they're
soon forgotten.
tiff/uf/a word used especially in British English mean-
ing a short argument about something unimportant, espe-
cially between two people who are in love In C]

ARGUE 60 ARGUE
lover's tiff It was just a silly lover's tiff- we couldn't even
remember why it had started. I tiff She gets very upset over
the smallest tiff.
exchange / I ks tSe IndS/a very short argument between
people or groups, especially in a formal or offmial situation
such as a political meeting In C]
During angry exchanges in Parliament the Prime Minister
said he would not change existing policies. I The exchange
was typical of the continuing friction between committee
members. I heated exchange After a heated exchange, the
two leaders refused to sign the agreement.
showdown / 'j'aodaon/a serious argument that comes at
the end of a period of time during which there has been a
lot of disagreement and angry feelings In C usually
singular]
Everyone in the office knew that there would be a showdown
sooner or later, the way things were going.
altercation /a:ltar'kein/ a formal word meaning a
short argument between two people, used especially when
you do not want to say how violent, emotional etc it was
[nC]
They were embarrassed by a slight altercation between Mr
Smithers and a hotel porter. I An altercation occurred at the
back of the bus.
rumpus/'rAmpas/a situation in which a lot of people are
arguing, especially in a noisy angry way In singular]
There was a terrible rumpus over the lost money. I The Prime
Minister's announcement of new tax rises caused a rumpus
in Parliament.
ruckus/'rAkes! an American word meaning a situation
in which a lot of people are arguing, especially in a noisy
angry way In singular]
There was a hell of a ruckus when I told them I'd crashed
the car.
spat/spat/a word used in American English meaning a
short, angry argument, usually about something unimpor-
tant In C]
The girls were having a spat in the back of the car over who
got to use the armrest. I It was just a little spat over who did
the dishes last.
6 a situation in which there is serious
disagreement between people, especially
concerning important public matters
row
dispute
feud
row/rao/a British word meaning a situation in which
there is serious disagreement between people, especially
concerning unimportant public matters In C]
Great Britain is seen as the main cause of the row. I row over
The newspapers are full of stories about the continuing row
over private education.
dispute /dspju:t, dispju:t/ a situation in which two
countries or groups of people are publicly opposing each
other, for example, when employers and workers cannot
agree In C ]
There seems to be no end in sight to this long and bitter dis-
pute. [ Carrington was asked what he thought about the dis-
pute between South Africa and Namibia.
feud /fju:d/ an unpleasant and often violent situation
between two groups, especially families, in which people
have been arguing for so many months, years etc that they
cannot remember the cause of it In C]
The feud between the Hatfields and the McCogs raged for 20
years in America at the end of the last century. [ He has been
accused of letting personal feuds affect his judgement.
7 words for describing someone who often
argues or likes arguing
argumentative
quarrelsome
stroppy
argumentative I,o:rgj°'mentativ/[adj]
When he drinks too much he becomes argumentative. I A par-
ticularly argumentative section of the committee kept rais-
ing objections to the proposals.
quarrelsome /'kwDralsam [[ kwa:-, kwo:-/ someone
who is quarrelsome is easily annoyed, with the result that
they have a lot of arguments [adj]
Paul has always had a quarrelsome and violent nature.
stroppy /'stropi II stro:pi/ an informal British word:
someone who is stroppy is easily offended or annoyed and
is always getting into arguments with people [adj]
Some of the customers that come in here are so stroppy, you
have to be really careful what you say. [ She's got much more
stroppy since she gave up smoking.
8 to agree to stop arguing
make up/make it up clear the air
bury the hatchet conciliatory
be reconciled
patch up/settle your differences
make up/make It up/,meIk np, ,meik t 'ap/if two
people who know each other wellmake up or make it up
they stop arguing and start being friendly to each other
again [phr v I/T]
I'm glad to see you two have made it up. I make it up/make
up with Have you made it up with your mother-in-law yet? l
kiss and make up (=to stop arguing and become friends
again) She wants to kiss and make up, but he's being really
stubborn.
bury the hatchet/,beri 6a 'hatJ't/to agree to stop argu-
ing and forgive each other, especially a long time after you
first had the argument Iv phrasel
It's about time they buried the hatchet after all these years. I
Since those two buried the hatchet, life in the office has been
much quieter.
be reconciled/bi: rekansalld/to agree to stop arguing,
especially because someone has helped you to become
friends again Iv phrase]
After a few days Jim and his mother were reconciled. I be
reconciled with Although they are prepared to be recon-
ciled with one another, neither is prepared to make the first
move.
reconciliation/,rekansilieij'an/ In U] Most of our argu-
ments end in reconciliation.
patch up/settle your differences/,patj" ^p, setl ja:r
'dl faransz/to end an argument by agreeing to ignore what
caused it and by saying you are sorry, because you want
to remain friends Iv phrase]
Their final attempt to settle their differences ended in disap-
pointment and separation. I patch up/settle your differ-
ences with Gary's first priority on his return home was to
patch up his differences with his sister.
clear the air / klla r 6i ear/to talk calmly and seriously
with someone about what you have been arguing about, in
order to end the disagreement and feel better Iv phrase]
You were absolutely right to say what you did. It's much
better to clear the air. I Some people say that a good fight is
the best way to clear the air.
conciliatory/kan sdiatari [[ -t:ri/conciliatory gesture/
message/tone etc (=intended to make someone stop argu-
ing with you) [adj]
The tone of my letter had been friendly and conciliatory, so
I was disappointed by the cold reply I received. [ American
intelligence flights over Cuba had been stopped as a concilia-
tory gesture.
9 ways of saying that a bad situation or
unpleasant problem makes people argue with
each other
cause/lead to an argument
come between
cause a rift between
cause/lead to an argument/,k:z, ,li:d to an ,:rgj_
mant/if an unpleasant situation or problem causes or leads
to an argument, it makes people argue Iv phrase]

ARGUE 61 ARMY
Don't tell him about the missing money. I'll only cause an
argument, i The cleaning rota always leads to arguments in
our house.
come between ! ,knm bi 'twi:n! if a bad situation or a
problem comes between two people, it makes them argue,
usually with the result that they stop being friends [v T]
We were such close friends that I didn 't think anything could
come between us. [ The death of their baby soon came between
them and they were divorced the following year.
cause a rift between /,ka:z  'nil b ,twi:n/ifa bad sit-
uation, a problem etc causes a rift between two people,
it causes them to have a small argument with the result
that they are not as friendly as they were before [v phrase]
The street fighting has caused a slight rift between the com-
munities involved. [ Gossip columnists are speculating about
what caused a rift between the two stars.
argument ARGUE 5, REASON 4
argument: cause/lead to an argument ARGUE 9
argumentative ARGUE 7
arid DRY 2
arise HAPPEN 2, START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 2
arise from RESULT 8
aristocracy CLASS IN SOCIETY 2
ark: out of the ark OLD-FASHIONED 4
arm WEAPON 5
arm: take sb by the arm/hand etc HOLD 7
arm: twist sb's arm PERSUADE 3
arm: would give anything/give your right arm WANT 3
arm yourself WEAPON 4
armchair TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 11
armed WEAPON 2
armed forces ARMY 1
armistice PEACE/NO WAR 4
arms WEAPON 1
arms: be up in arms ANGRY 3
arms: lay down arms PEACE/NO WAR 3
arms: put your arms around HOLD 7
arms: take sb in your arms HOLD 7
arms race WEAPON 4
army ARMY 1, 3
army: the army ARMY 1
ARMY
1 an army
2 a member of an army
3 used by or connected with the army
4 the system by which people have a legal duty
to join the army for a certain period
The German and British navies clashed at Jutland. [ the
navy There was an intense rivalry between the US army and
navy. [ My father was in the navy during the war.
airforce/ carfo:rs/the part of a country's military forces
that is trained for fighting a war in the air In C]
The Americans have a very powerful airforce. [ the airforce
The airforce played a huge part in the Gulf War.
troops/tru:ps/soldiers, especially the ordinary soldiers
of an army rather than the officers In plural]
When the riots did not stop, the troops were sent in to deal
with the situation. [ Troops in poor physical condition are
worthless.
forces/' fa:rs z/groups of soldiers from a country's army,
navy and airforce In plural]
The town was captured by Italian forces under the command
of General Ciano. [ The United Nations could see the advan-
tages of using the British forces already present in the
island. [ This air attack almost wiped out the Burmese forces
on the ground.
the military 16o 'miltari [1 -ted/an expression used espe-
cially in American English meaning the army, navy and
airforce In singular with singular or plural verb in British
English]
Several Senators called for the military to be sent in to deal
with the riots. [ The military also opened fire on a women's
demonstration. [ a company that supplies electronic equip-
ment for the military
armed forces /,o:rmd fa:rsz/ the army, navy, and
airforce of a particular country considered as a group
In plural]
the armed forces A new government minister is now
responsible for the armed forces. I armed forces They
mobilized armed forces for an attack on the enemy.
the services/6 'sa:rvs z/an expression meaning the
army, navy, and airforce, used especially when you are
talking about someone having a job in the army etc
In plural]
The family has a tradition of going into the services. I I learnt
a lot of basic engineering skills when I was in the services.
2 a member of an army
soldier
sailor
airman
soldier/'soold3r/a member of the army [n C]
He has been a soldier all his adult life.
sailor/'sellar/a member of the navy In C]
Jane married a sailor in the French navy.
airman/'carman/a member of the airforce In C]
Three airmen were killed during the battle.
1
an army
army forces
the army the military
navy armed forces
alrforce the services
troops
army/o: rmi/a large organized group of people trained
to fight together on land in a war In C]
Units of the Nigerian army were quickly sent to the border. I
Napoleon's defeated army lost many soldiers in the winter
retreat from Moscow. i raise an army (=collect and
organize an army to fight a battle) In 1066 William raised
an army and invaded England.
the army/6i ' a:rmi/the part of a country's forces that is
trained for fighting on land in a war In singular with sin-
gular or plural verbs in British English]
My sons are both in the army. i Does the army still have an
important role in society? [ He joined the army when he was
seventeen.
na/'neivi/the part of a country's military forces that
is trained for fighting a war at sea In C]
3 used by or connected with the army
military naval
army air
military/'mxltri II -teri/used by or connected with the
army, navy, or airforce, especially the army [adj only before
noun]
Kuwait is buying military equipment from the Americans. [
The President visited a military cemetery at Bitburg. [ All
military personnel are ordered to report to their bases
immediately. [During the Suez Crisis, families were moved
into military camps for protection.
army I'o:rmi/ army officer/vehicles/base etc (=con-
nected with or used by the army) [adj only before noun]
There's an American army base nearby. [ An armyjeep was
parked outside their house. [ Army officers have overthrown
the government in a well planned coup d'etat.
naval/'neval/naval officer/base/attack/hospital etc
(=connected with or used by the navy) [adj only before
noun]
He recovered from his injuries in the naval hospital. [ The
general had to protect the river from naval attack.

ARMY 62 AROUND/ROUND
air/eor/air base/attack/field/power etc (=connected
with or used by the airforce) [adj only before noun]
The island's defences have been badly damaged by recent air
attacks. I an American airbase in southwest Germany
4 the system by which people have a legal duty
to join the army for a certain period
military service be conscripted
conscription be called up/be drafted
military service/,mIhtari 'sa:rvIs II -teri-/the period of
time when someone has a legal duty to be in the army,
navy, or aifforce In UI
He did miliatry service in Vietnam. [ All males between the
ages of 18 and 60 were liable for military service. [ My father
was exempted from military service on the grounds of ill
health.
conscription (also the draft in American English)
/knsknpfan, 6 dro:ft II-mdreft/ the system by which
every person in a particular age group has a legal duty to
join the armed forces, especially during a war In U]
The draft was introduced at the beginning of the war. I
Right-wing politicians are trying to bring back conscrip-
tion. I Young men tried to avoid conscription by escaping to
Switzerland.
be conscripted/bi: knmskrIptaId/ if someone is con-
scripted they are made to join the army forces by law
Iv phrase]
Some of the men were volunteers, but most of them had been
conscripted and taken away from their families. I Bad feel-
ing grew as newly-conscripted soldiers were promoted more
quickly than regular soldiers. I be conscripted into Many
of the young soldiers who were conscripted into the army in
World War I did not want to fight.
be called up (British) I be drafted (American)/bi: ,k:ld
'^p, 'dro:ftd II -'dref-/if someone is called up or drafted
they are officially ordered to join the armed forces during
a war Iv phrase]
I was called up 3 months after the First World War broke
out. I Thousands of young Americans were drafted to fight
in the war in Vietnam.
aroma SMELL 2
aromatic SMELL 4
around the clock CONTINUOUS 3
around APPROXIMATELY 4
around: be around HERE 5, THERE 4
around: get around to DO 4
around: go around in circles PROGRESS 4
around: have been around EXPERIENCED 2
around: not be around HERE 6, THERE 7
around here HERE 2
around the corner NEAR 4
around the corner: be around the corner SOON 5
around there THERE 1
AROUND/ROUND
around something or moving around
something
1 around
2 to move into a position where you are around
someone or something
3 to be around something orsomeone
4 to move around something or someone in a
circle
5 to go around the outside of an area or place,
rather than going through it or across it
1 around
around
all around
on all sides/on every side
around (also round especially in British English)
I()raundl in a circular shape, movement, or arrangement
around someone or something [prep/adv]
A group of boys sat in a circle around a campfire. I The com-
plex consisted of a central courtyard with houses all around. I
Insects were buzzing noisily around the lamp. I I pushed the
gate open and walked around the back of the house, watch-
ing out for the dog. I He put his arm round her. "'We'll be all
right, darling, "" he said. I Why don't you tie some string
around it?
all around (also all round in British English) I,:1
()'raond-/around someone or something in every direc-
tion [prep/adv phrase]
My eyes moved slowly all round the room, taking in every
detail. I With snowflakes swirling all around him, he could
hardly see ahead. I The prison yard is the size of a tennis
court, with a high fence all around.
on all sides/on every side/on ,:1 'sadz, on ,evri 'sald/
around in every direction, especially in a way that gives
you a feeling of being unable to move or escape [advphrase]
As the sea came in, water flowed around the boat on all
sides. I They were hemmed in by the mountains on all sides. I
Traces of history were visible on every side; a mosaic here,
and a piece of broken pottery there.
2 to move into a position where you are around
someone or something
surround crowd around
gather round mob
encircle
surround/so' raond/ifa group of people surrounds some-
one or something, they move so that they are all around
them, especially in order to attack them or take them away
[vT]
The plan was to surround the enemy camp and cut off their
escape route. I Security guards surrounded the singer to pro-
tect her from her fans.
gather round/,ge6 r 'raond/if a group of people gather
round someone, they move so that they are around them,
especially in order to listen or to see what is happening
Iv I/T]
gather round sb A crowd gathered round the speaker in
the park. I Passers-by quickly gathered round the injured
man, and comforted him until the ambulance arrived. I
gather round Gather round, children, I have something to
tell you.
encircle / Insa:rkdl/if a group of people encircle some-
one or something, they move so that they are completely
around them, making it impossible to escape Iv T]
Troops encircled the city and began firing rockets at the
government buildings. I Military police began encircling the
marchers with their cars.
crowd around (also crowd round in British English)
/ ,kraod ()' raond/to form a crowd standing closely around
someone or something, often pushing forward to see what
is happening [v I/T]
crowd around sb/sth A group of people crowded around
the injured cyclist. I Women crowded round the market stalls,
eager for bargains. I crowd around The corridor was full
at break time, with all the students crowding around to look
at the examination results.
mob/mob II rno:b/to move forward in a noisy and excited
way and form a crowd around someone, for example in
order to express admiration or to attack them Iv T]
The Beaties were mobbed by fans wherever they went. I
Angry crowds were waiting outside the courthouse ready to
mob the rapist as police brought him out.
3 to be around something or someone
surround be framed by
ring enclose
surround/s'raond/Iv T]
be surrounded by The house was surrounded by a low
hedge. I Grandmother sat in an armchair, surrounded by her

AROUND/ROUND 63 ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE
family. I We have the building surrounded/Throw your
weapons on the ground and come outside with your hands
up. I surround sb/sth A thick layer of insulating material
surrounds the electric cables.
ring/rIrJ/to surround something circular, forming a line
around it Iv T usually in passive]
be ringed by/with The field was ringed by a row of
cottages. I Her large eyes were ringed with black eyeliner. I
ring sth A low line of trees rings the clearing at the edge of
the forest.
be framed by/bi: ' frelmd hal/if something that you are
looking at is framed by something, you see it within the
borders of that thing Iv phrase]
I could see the church tower framed by the windows. I Her
small face was framed by a mass of red hair. I be framed
in His tall body was framed in the light of the doorway.
enў|ese/inkloz] to form a wall or covering around
something, which keeps it separate from everything out-
side it Iv T usually in passive]
be enclosed by The garden is completely enclosed by a high
wall. I The fish live in a shallow tropical lagoon, which is
enclosed by a coral reef. [ be enclosed in Jerry had to spend
two months enclosed in a huge plastic bubble, to prevent him
from catching germs from other children. [ enclose sth The
fence enclosing the prison compound is constantly patrolled
by armed guards.
4 to move around something or someone in a
circle
go around in orbit
circle lap
orbit circuit
go around (also go round in British English)/,gu
(o)'raundl Iv T]
In the old days people believed that the sun went around the
earth. [ We went round the field a couple of times to get some
fresh air.
circle /'s3:rkal/ to go around something in a circular
movement, especially above it in the air [v I/T]
circle sth Our plane had to circle the airport twice before
landing. [ circle over/above There were a number of
vultures circling over the dying animal.
orbit/a:rbt/if something orbits the earth or a star, it
goes around it in a continuous circular movement Iv T]
The spaceship will orbit the earth for 7days. I Satellites orbit-
ing the planet send back photographs every few minutes.
in orbit/in ':rbt/if something is in orbit, it is travel-
ling around the earth, the sun, a star etc [adv phrase]
The shuttle can remain in orbit around the earth for up to
9 days. I go into orbit (=start travelling around the earth
etc) The rocket shot up into the sky and went into orbit.
lap/lep/one complete journey around a race track In C]
She ran two laps before stopping for breath. I Here comes the
rider in the lead, about to start the last lap now.
circuit/' s3:rkt/one complete journey all the way around
a large area In C]
We made a complete circuit of the bay before heading out to
sea. I After completing 3 circuits of the park, Rodney sat down
on a bench for a rest. I A fast driver can do a circuit in under
30 seconds.
5 to go around the outside of an area or place,
rather than going through it or across it
skirt
skirt/sk3:rt/Iv I/T]
skirt sth I skirted the village, and presently came to a main
road. I Skirting the lake she made her way slowly across the
field.I skirt around/round We trudged on, skirting round
the houses as widely as possible.
:; arouse CAUSE 4
i; arouse expectations EXPECT 5
 arrange ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE 1,
 ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 1
arrange
arrange: a group of
things or people
arrafge a-meeting,
event etc
.:;
, i..,.!:..
...... @ ARRANGE A
GROUP OF
THINGS OR
PEOPLE
.....  ..... ;: ..,:Јfi:
;;;= @ ARRANGE A
MEETING,
EVENT ETC
, • .... : ....... - _ : .
@ ARRANGE A
GROUP OF THINGS
OR PEOPLE
to arrange a group of thtngs or people
the way in which a group of things or people
are arranged
1 to arrange a group of things or people
arrange order
set out put sth in order
be laid out rearrange
line up
arrange/'reIndS/to put a group of things or people in
a particular order or position Iv T]
arrange sb/sth The photographer was busy arranging the
children for their group photograph. [ arrange sth in
pairs/rows/groups etc The desks were arranged in pairs.
arrange sth/sb in a circle Can you arrange yourselves in
a circle so that everyone can see me? [ arrange sth alpha-
betically (=according to the letters of the alphabet) The
books are arranged alphabetically according to author.
arrange sth/sb in order of height/importance ere The
vases were arranged in order of height.
$®| cut ] ,set aut/arrange a group of things on a surface
so that they can be used or looked at [phr v T]
set out sth We need somebody to set out the chairs before
the meeting. [ John set out all his pictures on the floor for us
to see. [ set sth/them out He set the trophies out on the shelf,
so we could admire them.
be laid out/bi: .leid 'aot/if a town, building etc is laid
out in a particular way, it is arranged in that way accord-
ing to a particular plan Iv phrase]
I like the way your office is laid out - it's still open-plan but
everyone has some privacy. [ Kyoto is laid out according to
a grid system.
line up/,lain ^p! to arrange people or things in a line [phr
vT]
line up sb/sth "'Line up your men, "" said the police inspec-
tor. [ line sb/sth ere up "'Do you want me to put the bottles
on this table? .... Yes - line them up.'"
order !'azrdar/to arrange a group of things so that one
comes after the other in a particular order Iv T]
The psychology books are ordered according to title, not
according to author.
put sth in order/,put (sth) in 'a:rdar/to arrange a group
of things so that they are in the correct order Iv phrase]
Put these numbers in their correct order. [ Can you put these
papers in order, please?
rearrange ! .ri:a' reInd31 to arrange a group of things so
that they are arranged in a different way from before Iv T]
"'This room looks different, have you painted it? .... No, I just

ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE 64 ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC
completely rearranged the furniture. "1 Writing is a lot easier
with a word processor. I can even rearrange paragraphs at
the push of a button.
2 the way in which a group of things or people
are arranged
arrangement
formation
arrangement/mrend3mnt/[n C]
There was a beautiful arrangement of jTowers on the table. I
The picture is based on an interesting arrangement of shapes
and designs.
formation /f:rmme:$an/ the way in which a group of
planes, ships, soldiers etc are arranged In C/UI
Formations of Iraqi tanks were lined up along the border
with Kuwait. [ in formation (=in a particular formation
used when flying or sailing together) The planes jTew over
in formation.
ARRANGE A
MEETING, EVENT
ETC
t to plan and make preparations for something
such as a meeting, a concert, or a party
2 to arrange to meet someone
.3 to carefully or secretly arrange the way
something happens, so that you get the result
that you want
4 the events or details that have been arranged
5 someone who arranges a large public event
1 to plan and make preparations for something
such as a meeting, a concert or a party
arrange make the arrangements/
organize take care of the arrangements
fix/fix up line up
set up pencil in
promote
arrange/'rends/[v I/T]
arrange sth It is very difficult to arrange meetings with her
when she is so busy. I I've been trying to arrange a surprise
party for her 30th birthday. I He arrived at 11 o'clock, as
arranged. I arrange to do sth Let's arrange to have dinner
together some time soon. I arrange for sb to do sth Icould
arrange for you to come along with us if you like. I arrange
for sth Alan will take you to a hotel and arrange for your
accommodation there. I arrange when/where/how etc
Let's arrange where to meet and then we can decide what to
do next.
organize (also -ise British)/':rgnaz/to arrange and
be responsible for an event, especially one that involves a
lot of effort and preparation Iv T]
I've been asked to organize a party for the children. I The
exhibition was organised by the Fine Arts Society. I More
than 500,000 took part in the demonstrations organized by
the Civic Forum and other protest groups.
organization/a:rganax'zeidn !1 -na-/ In UI Who will be
responsible for the organization of social events?
fix/fix up Iflks, ,flks '^pl to arrange something, especially
for someone else, in order to help them or because they
cannot arrange it for themselves Iv T]
fixsth/fix up sth Don't worry, Jean has already fixed
everything. I We have done our best to fix up a meeting but
they haven't shown any interest. I fix sth/it/them up We
need to get all the sales staff together for a conference - could
I leave it to you to fix it up, Jane? I fix it for sb to do sth
She can fix it for you to see the show free if you want.
set up / set '^p/to arrange everything that is necessary
to start or establish something, especially an important
public meeting [phr v T]
set up sth They set up a committee to study the possibility
of equal pay for women. I An accident inquiry was immedi-
ately set up by the Transportation Commission. I set sth/it/
them up It was Isobel who had set the whole thing up, right
down to the last detail.
make the arrangements/take care of the
arrangements I ,meik i ' fend3mnts, teIk ,kerr v i-/
to arrange all the details of an event after you have decided
what you are going to do Iv phrase]
Uncle Bill has made all the funeral arrangements. I make
the arrangements for Margot and Paul went up to London
to make the arrangements for the wedding. I The marketing
people will take care of all the arrangements for the presen-
ration. I make arrangements to do sth The local news-
paper made arrangements to record an interview with
Professor Stein.
line up/,la;n '^p/to make arrangements so that someone
or something will be available for you or for someone else
when they are needed [phr v T]
line up sb/sth I've lined up some people to help me at the
party. I line up sb/sth for Eventually he took the job that
his father had lined up for him with an electronic company. I
I've got a really good video lined up for tonight.
pencil in /,pensal 'In/ to arrange to meet someone or
arrange for something to happen on a particular date know-
ing that the arrangements may have to be changed later
[phr v T]
pencil sb/sth/it/her etc in I'll pencil you in but we might
have to change the meeting to Thursday. I pencil in sb/sth
Let's pencil in the 19th for now, and you get in touch later
if you can't make it. I pencil sb/sth in for I'll pencil you
in for October 17th, and we can confirm it nearer the time.I
Dates for the concerts are pencilled in for late next year.
promote/pmmzut/ to be responsible for arranging a
large public event such as a concert or sports event Iv T]
Both concerts were promoted by the World Music Co-
operative. I It is wrong that tobacco companies promote
sports events in order to get publicity.
2 to arrange to meet someone
arrange to meet
make a date
make an appointment
arrange to meet Imrend3 t 'mi:t/[v phrase]
Tony and Maria arranged to meet in a bar on 14th Street. I
Reagan had arranged to meet Gorbachev the following
Spring.
make a date/,me;k  'de;t! to arrange to go out with
someone to a restaurant, cinema etc, especially a friend or
someone that you want to have a sexual relationship with
[ v phrase]
make a date with sb If you like her so much, you should
try and make a date with her. I make a date to do sth I can't
come to the party tonight, I've already made a date to go to
the cinema.
make an appointment/ime;k an 'pntmnt/to offi-
cially arrange to meet someone such as a doctor or a busi-
ness person Iv phrase]
You can't see the bank manager unless you make an appoint-
ment. [ make an appointment with sb/to see sb I've made
an appointment to see my dentist next Tuesday.
3 to carefully or secretly arrange the way
something happens, so that you get the result
that you want
orchestrate engineer
stage-manage contrive
orchestrate / a:rkaIstret / to make sure that something
happens, by making careful and often secret arrangements,
especially so that people do not realize it has been arranged
[vT]

ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 65 ARRIVE
Treasury officials are trying to orchestrate a sharp decline
in the dollar. I The so-called "revolution' was in fact orches-
trated by the CIA.
orchestrated [adj] The newspaper article is part of a
carefully orchestrated campaign to persuade people to stop
smoking.
stage-manage/msteId3 mmmdb/to secretly and care-
fully arrange for an event, especially a political event, to
happen in exactly the way that you want, without giving
the appearance that everything has been arranged Iv T]
Most of the 'spontaneous demonstrations" supporting the
President are stage-managed.
engineer /,endb'nIar/ to arrange for something to
happen without anyone knowing that you have planned it
Iv T]
The socialist party secretly engineered the defeat of the
government. I They engineered his transfer to a different
department because he was so unpopular.
contrive/kntraiv/to arrange an event or situation in
a clever way, especially secretly and by tricking or deceiv-
ing people Iv T ]
He contrived a meeting between his mother and her ex-
husband. I In the play Arnos contrives a scheme to rnake Paul
pay back the money he owes him.
4 the events or details that have been arranged
arrangements
arrangements/o'reIndbmonts/[n plural]
What exactly are the arrangements for tomorrow, then? I The
President doesn't want any special arrangements for her
visit. I seating/travel/sleeping arrangements I'm not
very happy about the seating arrangements.
5 someone who arranges a large public event
organizer
promoter
organizer/m:rganalzar/[n C]
The organizers will give all profits from the show to char-
ity. I Police criticized the organizers of the game for not
taking adequate safety measures. I Chief festival organizer
Josephine Barnfield insists that the concert will go ahead
despite the ban.
promoter/pr'motor/someone who arranges, pays for,
and advertises a public event, especially a concert or sports
event In C]
Nichols is the biggest concert promoter on the West Coast. I
Tour promoter Charlie Baines expects audiences of over
15,000 at the band's first performances in Hong Kong.
;'- arranged marriage MARRY 6
i! arrangement ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR
:i,, PEOPLE 2
= arrangements ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 4
iili; arrangements: make the arrangements/take care of
, the arrangements ARRANGE A MEETING,
i::: i EVENT ETC 1
:" arrears OWE 4
;i!. arrears: be in arrears LATE 5
;" arrest CATCH 3, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 1
i
arrest: be under arrest KEEP SB IN A PLACE 3
• arrival ARRIVE 1
:" arrival: new arrival NEW 8
i! arrival: the arrival of BEGINNING 2
arrive ARRIVE 1, 2, 3, BABY/HAVE A BABY 4
ARRIVE
arrive at the place you are going to
ways of saying that someone or something
arrives at a place where you are waiting for
them
ways of saying that a plane, train, bus, ship,
or passenger arrives at the airport, station etc
to arrive unexpectedly
to arrive at a place which you did not know
you were going to
1 arrive at the place you are going to
arrive get to
arrival reach
get there make it
arrive/=ralv/[v I]
Give me a call to let me know you've arrived safely. I They
were due to arrive on February 1st but were delayed by bad
weather. I arrive at/in/from We arrived at the airport on
time, only to be told our flight was cancelled. I Arriving in
Kunming after a tiring journey, the only thing we wanted
was a good, long sleep. I Special facilities are being provided
for the thousands of refugees arriving from Northern Iraq.
arrival/a'raivdl/[n U]
Let me know the date and time of your arrival (=when you
arrive). I After my arrival (=after I arrived) in London, I ran
out of money. I Joe's sudden arrival (=the fact that he
arrived suddenly) spoiled all our plans. ] on arrival
(=when you arrive) On arrival in Addis Ababa report to the
Ministry of Education.
get there/t get 6ear/an informal expression meaning to
arrive at the place you intended to arrive at [v phrase not
usually in progressive]
It'll take us half an hour to get there. I You can get there by
ferry. I If the package doesn't get there, will it be covered by
our insurance? ] What time are you planning on getting
there?
get to /get tu:/an informal expression meaning to arrive
at a place Iv T not in progressive]
We'll call him when we get to California. ] They drove until
they got to a restaurant Jimmy knew. ] Turn left, and walk
down the street until you get to some traffic lights. I How are
you getting to the theatre? By train?
reach/ri:tf/to arrive at a place, especially after a long or
difficult journey Iv T not in progressive]
By the time the expedition reached the summit, they had only
five days' supply of food left. ] At about 9 o'clock that night,
they reached Belvedere, and set about looking for a motel.
make it / meik it/to manage to arrive at something such
as a party or a meeting Iv phrase not in progressive]
If we don't make it on time, start without us. I make it to
Do you think you'll be able to make it to the party?
get here
come
turn up/show up
ways of saying that someone or something
 arrives at a place where you are waiting for
them
arrive show
be here
here's Jane/
the parcel etc
arrive la'raiv/Iv I]
Half our guests arrived late, making the usual excuses. I New
shipments arrive every day at 10.00. I After an hour, we were
still waiting for the soup to arrive. I What time does the mail
arrive in the morning?
arrival In U] Sandy waited nervously for his arrival.
arrival at/in Shortly after your arrival at the hotel, you will
be shown around the premises.
get here !mget hlar/an informal expression meaning to
arrive at the place where you are now Iv phrase not usually
in progressive]
I'll have a good dinner waiting for you when you get here. i
What time did she get here? ] The delivery got here at 6o'clock
-just in time.
come/kAm/if someone or something that you are expect-
ing comes, they arrive Iv I not in progressive]

ARRIVE
When they come, send them straight in. I George came home
early to help out before the party started. I My mother's
saying she won't come if Richard's here.
turn up/show up /,ta:rn 'Ap, ,o 'Ap/if someone turns
up or shows up they arrive at the place where you already
are, used especially when they arrive late or do not arrive
when they are expected [phr v I not usually in progressive]
Only five people came to the meeting and most of them turned
up late. [ If Tina shows up, tell her we waited as long as we
could.
show Iol an American word meaning to arrive, used
especially when someone arrives late or does not arrive
when they are expected [v I not in progressive]
Do you think Ben will show? I We stuck around for a couple
of hours, but he didn't show.
be here/bi: 'hlor/if someone or something is here they
have arrived at the place where you are waiting for them
[ v phrase]
Your friends are here/[ Here they are. Go and open the door,
will you? [ Is Andy here yet?
here's dane/the parcel etc/hlorz (Jane, etc)/you say
here's Jane, here's the parcel, etc when you see them
arrive
Here's Gabriella - late as usual. [ Here's the letter you've been
waiting for.
66
ways of saying that a plane, train, bus, ship,
or passenger arrives at the airport, station etc
arrive pull in
get in come in
land be in
dock Incoming
arrive I'raIv/[v I]
arrive at/in/from Our]light arrived in Tokyo two hours
ahead of schedule. I Supply ships have started arriving at
ports along the East coast. I arrive What time does Jim
arrive? I The train isn't due to arrive until 4.30.
arrival [n U] Would passengers awaiting the arrival of
flight 405from Honolulu please make their way to gate 14.
get in/get 'in/if a train, plane etc gets in, it arrives at
a particular time, especially the time that it is planned to
arrive at [phr v I not usually in progressive]
You could catch the 9.20 train, which gets in to Glasgow at
11.46. I Hopefully the bus should get in by 8 o'clock.
land/lend! if a plane lands, it arrives somewhere [v I]
Despite severe weather conditions the Boeing 727 landed as
scheduled. I land in/at/on Before landing in Algiers, we
circled the airport several times. I Do you think it's possible
that man could ever land on Mars?
dock Idt)k II do:k/if a ship docks, it arrives at a port [v I]
dock at/in When the ship docked at Southampton its cargo
was immediately inspected. I We finally docked in Portland,
Maine, glad to set foot on dry land again.
pull in ! tpul 'in/if a train pulls in, it arrives at the sta-
tion where you are waiting for it [phr v I]
Finally the train pulled in, forty minutes late. [ Just as the
train was pulling in, there was a shout and someone fell onto
the track.
come in /tkAm 'in/ifa plane or ship comes in, it arrives
at the airport or port where you are waiting [phr v I]
Has Air India flight 621 come in yet?[ A group of villagers
would gather on the beach every evening waiting for the fish-
ing boats to come in.
be in/hi: in/if you say that a plane, train or ship is in,
it has arrived at the airport, station etc where you are wait-
ing [phr v I]
Their plane's in, but it'll take them a little while to get
through customs. [ As her train wasn't in yet, she went to the
bookstall and]lipped through the magazines.
incoming It:nkAm:l incoming plane/flight/train/
passenger etc (=one that is arriving rather than leaving)
[adj only before a noun]
All incoming ]lights are being delayed by fog. [ Incoming
passengers are requested to have their passports ready for
ART/CULTURE
inspection. [ The crash occurred when a freight train collided
with an incoming passenger train.
4 to arrive unexpectedly
 appear talk of the devil/
turn up/show up speak of the devil
come along
appear/o'pmr! [v I not in progressive]
We were just having breakfast when Chris appeared. I
appear at/in/from Three soldiers suddenly appeared at the
gates. I All these people seem to have appeared from nowhere.
turn up/show up/,ts:rn 'Ap, ,OO tap/to arrive unex-
pectedly, especially when it is difficult or not convenient
for other people [phr v I]
Brian has a habit of turning up just at the wrong moment. I
At midnight Joanne's boyfriend showed up drunk.
come along/,k^m 'lvj ]1 -'b:rj/if someone or some-
thing comes along, they arrive, especially in a way that
is unexpected or slightly unusual [phr v I not in progressive]
The party was goingfine until Ronnie came along. I You wait
an hour for a bus, and then four of them come along at once.
talk of the devil (British) I speak of the devil (Ameri-
can)/t:k ov 6 'devil, ,spi:k av 6a devllj you say talk of
the devil when someone you are talking about or have just
mentioned comes into the room or appears unexpectedly
Talk of the devil/I was just telling everyone about your pro-
motion. [ Let's ask Amy what she thinks - speak of the devil
here she is/
5 to arrive at a place which you did not know
you were going to
come to
end up
come to / 'kAm tu:! [v T]
We were walking through the woods when we came to a
waterfall. I Ian stopped at the next house he came to and
asked to use the phone.
end up /,end 'Ap/if someone or something ends up some-
where, they finally arrive at a place they were not planning
to go to [phr v I]
end up in/at We arrived in Rome okay, but our luggage
ended up in Bangkok/[ It was a great evening, with every-
one ending up at Tom's place.
arrogance PROUD 6
arrogant PROUD 4
arsenal WEAPON 1
art ART/CULTURE 1
art form ART/CULTURE 1
ART/CULTURE
the expression of ideas and feelings through
paintings, literature, music etc
connected with art or culture
someone who produces art, especially
someone who produces paintings or
drawings
showing skill or imagination in any of the arts
words for describing someone who knows a
lot about the arts and is very interested in
them
1 the expression of ideas and feelings through
paintings, literature, music etc
art culture
the arts art form
art/o:rt/the representation of images or expression of

ART/CULTURE 6? ARTIFICIAL
ideas, especially through painting, drawing, or shaping
things out of wood, stone etc In U]
I studied art at school. I The statue is a fine example of early
Christian art. I a well-known art critic I modern art There
was an exhibition of her work at the Museum of Modern Art. I
abstract art (=art that does not show people or objects as
they really look, but shows colours and shapes) Mostpeople
find it difficult to understand abstract art.
the arts/6i  a:rts/art, music, theatre, film, literature etc,
all considered together In plural]
The government should provide more money for the arts. I
They have drama classes at the arts centre every Thursday
night. I a TV program about new developments in the arts
in the former Soviet Union
culture/'kAltfor/art, music, theatre, film, literature etc
especially that which is produced by a particular society
or a particular group in society In U]
Professor Jackson is an expert on ancient Greek culture. I
The Samba is an important part of Brazilian culture. I a
magazine devoted to rock music, fashion, and other aspects
of youth culture
art form ! l a:rt f:rm/one of the ways that people express
themselves through art In C]
These days poetry is a relatively neglected art form. I At its
highest level, photography becomes an art form.
2 connected with art or culture
artistic
cultural
artistic/o:rltlstlk/[adj only before noun]
Czechoslovakia has a long artistic tradition. I I'm not sure
about the artistic merit of many of Dali's pictures. I His occa-
sional tantrums were put down to his "artistic temperament'.
cultural / kAlffzrl/connected with culture [adj usually
before noun]
The Principal feels that cultural education is very impor-
tant.I This new music is part of a broader cultural
movement.
3 someone who produces art, especially
someone who produces paintings or
drawings
artist
artist/'o:rtlost/In C]
Leonardo was the greatest artist of his time. I "Tm an artist,"
said Fran, "not just a cheap novelist." l The obituary
described Nureyev as "a great dancer and a true artist'.
4 showing skill or imagination in any of the arts
artistic
creative
artistic Io: r't:stIk/[adj]
Both my parents were artistic - my father used to play the
piano and my mother studied at the Royal Ballet School. I
That's a lovely picture - I never realized you were so artistic.
creative/kri'e]uv/having a lot of imagination and able
to think of new and original ideas in art [adj]
We encourage the children to use their creative abilities. I
She's very creative and likes working with her hands.
5 words for describing someone who knows a
lot about the arts and is very interested in
them
cultured
culture vulture
arty
cultured I'lqordl [adj]
It was one of those parties full of very cultured people, all
talking about the latest play or exhibition they'd been to. I
highly cultured Many of the programmes on Channel 4 are
intended for a highly cultured audience.
culture vulture I'kAlffo r ,vAlt.far/ an informal word
meaning someone who is very interested in all the arts,
perhaps too interested In C]
While the culture vultures looked round the ruined temples,
the rest of us headed straight for the beach. I He's a bit of a
culture vulture, he goes to the theatre just about every week.
arty/'o:rti/someone who is arty tries to appear artistic
or pretends to know a lot about the arts [adj]
Jake's having a party for all his arty friends.
. article LAW 3, THING 1
!!i: article: piece/article/item of clothing
. articulate EXPRESS 3
i artifact/artefact THING 1
,,;,,,,.
ii# artificial ARTIFICIAL 1, 2, PRETEND 5
CLOTHES
@-ARTIFICIAL
not made of natural materials or substances
artificial but intended to look real or natural
1 not made of natural materials or substances
artificial man-made
synthetic processed
artificial/,o:rto I 'h$dl-/ [adj]
Many people use artificial sweeteners in their coffee instead
of sugar. I This product contains no artificial flavors or
coloring agents. I Most people look better under artificial
light than in bright sunlight.
sytttltetic/snOetik! not natural but made by a chemi-
cal process [adj]
The rug is made from a mixture of wool and synthetic fibres. I
Old herbal remedies like yarrow and mugwort disappeared
and were replaced by synthetic drugs.
matt-made / men Imeid-/made by humans but similar
to something that exists naturally [adj]
A canal is a man-made waterway. I man-made fibers such
as nylon and acrylic I Freak weather conditions may actu-
ally be man-made, a direct result of environmental damage.
processed/'prosest I! 'pro:-/processed food has not
been left in its natural state, but has been chemically
treated, especially in order to preserve it or make it look
more attractive [adj only before noun]
Processed foods may lack the vitamins and minerals found
in fresh produce. I a can of processed peas
2 artificial but intended to look real or natural
artificial imitation/simulated
false mock
fake
artificial/,o:rt 'fIj'M-/not real or natural but deliber-
ately made to look real or natural [adj usually before nounl
On the table was a glass bowl filled with artificial cherries. I
We have one of those electric heaters with artificial logs. I My
Uncle Herbie has an artificial leg.
false/f:ls/not real, but made to look like or do the job
of something real [adj usually before noun]
Nearly a third of adults in the UK have false teeth. I She was
heavily made up, with false eyelashes and bright red lip-
stick.I The truck had a false floor, under which was hidden
a million dollars' worth of cocaine.
fake/felk/fake fur/jewellery/antiques etc (=made to
seem like real fur, jewellery etc, especially in order to make
people think it more valuable than it really is) [adj usually
before noun]
Her coat had a fake beaver collar and cuffs. I a house with
a fake Elizabethan front
imitation/simulated/, mo  telfn-, slmjo°leltod/made
to look like something made of natural materials, but of a
much lower quality and less expensive [adj usually before
noun]

ARTIFICIAL 68 ASHAMED
Molly was wearing a jacket of imitation sheepskin. I an imi-
tation gold bracelet. I It was one of those horrible simulated
leather "executive' chairs.
meck/mk II ma:k/intended to be very similar to a real
substance, material, or situation, but not so that people
believe it actually is the real thing [adj only before noun]
We stage mock job interviews to prepare students for the real
thing. I My grandmother had an excellent recipe for mock
cream. I war games with mock battles
artist ART/CULTURE 3, PAINT 3, PERFORM 4
artistic ART/CULTURE 2, 4, BEAUTIFUL/
GOOD-LOOKING 4
arts: the arts ART/CULTURE 1
arty ART/CU LTU RE 5
which        m-eaning  ..,
=. [
. ,
":':==i  "  ;-| ......... .i
• , t ....  
because .= ..... ,,. : B E CA U S E
for example :   , EXAMPLE
• . • . -.  ; ....  ....  -
Ike, smilar;    LIKE/SIMILAR
at thesame tme #4,; -} # flElf THE
:-;i'#-%#;;.; ..... =.::,,,  ...................................
...........................................................................................................
as ACTOR/ACTRESS 4, BECAUSE 1, TIME/AT THE
 SAME TIME 2
as .,. as ALTHOUGH 2
:.: as from AFTER 3
i{ as if/as though WAY/MANNER 2
;!, as it comes: take sth as it comes PLAN 12
as it is SITUATION 6
!.
old/strong/long etc as EQUAL 1
one TOGETHER 1
as
as
as well AND/ALSO 1
ascend UP 3, 6
ascertain FIND OUT 1
ashamed ASHAMED 1
ashamed: be/feel ashamed
GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 1
ashamed
ashamed of
wh.a.-: you:
ASHAMED
feeling embarrassed or guilty because
something you have done or said has made
people lose respect for you
1 feeling ashamed
• a feeling of being ashamed
$ the experience of losing other people's
respect, which makes you feel ashamed
4 to make someone feel ashamed
5 not feeling ashamed
1 feeling ashamed
ashamed can't look sb in the face
humiliated shamefaced
ashamed I'cmdl [adj]
I knew I shouldn't have hit her and I felt really ashamed. I
ashamed of sth She was so ashamed of cheating in the test
that she went and told the teacher. I ashamed (that) I real-
ize now that you were telling the truth, and I'm ashamed that
I didn't believe you. I ashamed to do sth She really needed
me but - I'm ashamed to admit it - I didn't offer to help her. I
ashamed of yourself Fighting with someone younger than
you - you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I ashamed about
sth There's nothing to be ashamed about - lots of people
have money problems. I bitterly/deeply ashamed The
knowledge that I had made him lose his job made me bitterly
ashamed.
humiliated /hju:'mflietd/ feeling very ashamed and
upset, especially because you have been made to look weak
or stupid and you think that no one will respect you [adj
not usually before noun]
The teacher told me off in front of the whole class - I've never
been so humiliated in my life! I Many women who have been
assaulted feel too frightened and humiliated to report their
ordeal. I He felt humiliated because she earned more than
he did.
can't look sb in the face /ka:nt lok (sb) in 6
'fe;s II kant-I to be so ashamed about something you have
done to someone that you find it difficult to be with them
or talk to them [v phrase]
I wish I hadn't told her a lie - I'll never be able to look her
in the face again. [ He insulted his boss at the party and now
he can't look her in the face.
shamefaced/,e;m'fe;st-/showing in the expression on
your face that you are ashamed about something and you
know you have behaved badly [adj]
"'That's a terrible thing to say, Ian." Ian nodded, shame-
faced. I She made a shamefaced apology for the trouble she
had caused.
a feeling of being ashamed
shame
stigma
shame/Ie;m/the uncomfortable feeling that you have
when you know you have behaved badly and have lost
people's respect [n U]
She remembered her angry words with a deep sense of
shame. [ Young people today do not feel the same shame and
guilt about sex that theirparents did. I "'Please don't tell my
dad about this, "he said, blushing with shame. I hang/bow
your head in shame He hung his head in shame as the
details of his arrest were read out in court.
stigma /  stigma/a very strong feeling of being ashamed
and of being hated by society because of your situation or
your actions In C usually singular]
the stigma of At first I found the stigma of being unem-
ployed very difficult to cope with. I there is a stigma
attached to In many countries there is still a strong social
stigma attached to homosexuality. I stigma This dreadful
stigma affects all rape victims - the hidden assumption that
they were "asking for it'.
 the experience of losing other people's
respect, which makes you feel ashamed
shame indignity
disgrace lose face
humiliation
shame/em/the loss of other people's respect, especially
as a result of something bad or criminal that you have done
In U]
She couldn't stand the shame of being publicly exposed as
a thief. [ It's not just the lack of money that getspeople down,
it's the shame of not having a job.

ASHAMED 69 ASK A QUESTION
disgrace/dis'grels/the complete loss of other people's
respect, especially in public [n U]
The whole family suffered the disgrace of their father's
imprisonment. I When the affair became known, he killed
himself because he could not bear the disgrace. I in disgrace
She left the school in disgrace, and I never saw her again.
humiliation/hju:,mlli'elfan/a situation in which you are
made to look weak or stupid, which makes you ashamed
and upset [n U]
She had to face the humiliation of apologizing. I What really
upset me was the humiliation of having to ask her for money.
indignity/in'dlgnoti/a situation in which you feel that
you have no pride or self-respect, because people treat you
as if you were completely unimportant [n C/U]
I had to endure the indignity of being strip-searched for
drugs. I He suffered insult and indignity in silence. I Many
of my friends were on welfare, but I found a job and was
spared that indignity.
lose face/,lu:z 'fels/to lose other people's respect for
you, especially by doing something that makes you look
weak or stupid [v phrase]
Rather than giving in and losing face, she carried on her
needless quarrel with her father. I Criticism should never
cause the recipient to lose face or self-respect.
loss of face/,los av fels II lo:s-/[nphrase] The government
suffered a severe loss of face when details of the scandal
emerged.
4 to make someone feel ashamed
humiliate humiliating
disgrace degrading
shame/bring shame on
humiliate /hju:mIliet/ to make someone feel very
ashamed and upset, especially by making them look weak
or stupid [v T]
Why do you always have to humiliate me in front of your
friends? l Minority groups have been abused, humiliated and
insulted in their struggle to get equality.
disgrace/dis greis/if you disgrace yourself or disgrace
your family, your school etc, you behave very badly so that
other people lose respect for you or for your family or
school Iv T ]
Don't disgrace yourself by getting drunk again. I She didn't
tell anyone that she was pregnant for fear of disgracing her
family.
shame/bring shame on/fem, bri1] 'em n II -o:n/to
bring dishonour and make people lose respect for you and
for the family or group that you belong to Iv T]
The Senator was accused of bringing shame and humilia-
tion on the whole party. I cowardly and dishonest behaviour
that shames the entire police department
humiliating/hju:'mflieiti1]/causing a complete loss of
self-respect, especially because you have been made to look
weak or stupid [adj]
Prisoners are subjected to humiliating treatment and
frequent beatings. I We had been beaten by a team of
amateurs - it was a humiliating defeat. I She tried to erase
the whole humiliating episode from her memory.
degrading Id'gredo/ a situation or way of treating
someone that is degrading makes them lose all their self-
respect and makes them feel that they are completely
worthless [ adj ]
These poor people live in the most degrading conditions. I
Pornographic pictures have been attacked for being degrad-
ing to women.
5 not feeling ashamed
shameless
brazen
shameless /'J'eimls/someone who is shameless does
not seem to feelashamed about something that most people
would be very ashamed about [adj]
She's quite shameless - she doesn't care what she says. I
Everyone was shocked by your shameless behaviour.
brazen /'brelzdn/behaving in a very confident way that
shows that you do not feel shame that you are doing some-
thing wrong [adj]
His wife could no longer tolerate his brazen love affairs.
They were shameless and brazen, wearing outrageous
clothes designed to shock their parents.
 ashes BODY 4
aside: put/set sth aside for KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 3
, aside: set aside SAVE MONEY 1
,ii! aside from: apart from/aside from EXCEPT 1
i ask ASK A QUESTION 1, ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO
.;.. DO STH 1, INVITE 1, LET/ALLOW 2
: ask: don't ask me/search me NOT KNOW 7
ask: if you ask me THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 2
ask around ASK A QUESTION 2
i!i ask/invite sb out INVITE 1
i!i I ask/invite sb over INVITE 2
ask sb in ENTER 2
ii: ask sb's permission LET/ALLOW 2
i ask sb to do sth TELL/ORDER SB TO E)O STH 1
. askl ......
ask a .question
..... , .,.ў  ASK A
ask for something,   ASK FOR STHI
ask to do something SK SB TO DO
invite someone to-do  7;. -INVITE
:::.. :. ,,..:.z= ,:,'# :. .: g,. .
ASK A QUESTION
t to ask someone a question and try to get
information from them
2 to ask several people questions in order to
get information from them
.3 to ask someone a lot of questions
4 ways of saying that a police officer, a lawyer
etc asks someone about a crime
5 to ask someone questions for a newspaper,
TV programme etc
 to ask someone questions in order to decide
whether to offer them a job, university place etc
? a question that you ask in order to get information
8 a report or piece of work in which a large
number of people are asked questions
9 a piece of paper with questions on it
1 to ask someone a question and try to get
information from them
ask
ask a question
want to know
consult
sound sb out
put sb on the spot
inquire
ask/o:sk II esk/[v I/T]
ask sb For information about the new treatment ask your
local doctor. I ask If you have any questions don't be afraid
to ask. I ask what/how/why etc Iasked how long she had
been living in the States. ] ask sb where/what etc If you
get lost you can just ask somebody where the gas station is. ]
ask if/whether Ask if you can borrow Greg's car while he's
on holiday. ] ask (sb) about The interviewer asked me about
my qualifications and previous work experience.

ASK A QUESTION ?0 ASK A QUESTION
ask a question/,o:sk o 'kwestj'an 11 ,esk-/to ask some-
one a particular question in order to Find out something
[ v phrase]
If you want to ask a question raise your hand. [ ask a ques-
tion about The interviewer only asked questions about
Stallone's latest movie. [ ask sb a question People are
always asking me questions about my work.
want to know/,wont to 'nao [[ ,wa:nt-/an expression
meaning to ask something, used especially when you are
reporting what someone else has asked [v phrase]
"'Why didn't you write to me?" Barbara wanted to know. [
want to know where/how ete Jason wants to know where
you keep the kitchen scissors. [ want to know sth The police-
man wanted to know our names but we wouldn't tell him.
Inquire (also enquire in British English)/In'kwajar/to
ask someone for information, especially in an official
situation [v I/T]
"'How far is hat?" my uncle inquired. I inquire about It's
best to enquire about duty-free goods when you get to the air-
port. [ inquire if/whether She stopped a guard and
enquired whether the train went to Evesham. I inquire
how/when ere We rang the hospital again to inquire how
the old man was.
consult/kans^lq to ask for information or advice from
someone who knows more about the subject than you, espe-
cially because it is their job to know about it Iv I/T]
consult sb Before you go on a strict diet you should consult
your doctor, t consult sb about sth The Advice Bureau says
an increasing number of clients are consulting them about
Social Security changes. [ consult with sb The President
is going to consult with European leaders before making his
decision.
consultation/konsl'teian [I -ka:n-/ [n U] The Depart-
ment of Education promised consultation (=that they would
consult) with teachers before changing the school year
calendar.
sound sb out !,saond (sb) 'aot/to find out what someone
thinks about your plan or idea by asking them questions,
especially because you want their help or support [phr v
T not in passive]
I think she'll like the idea, but you'd better sound her out
first. I Before launching the project they sounded a number
of leading experts out. [ sound sb out about/on The govern-
merit had sounded him out about the possibility of working
for them.
put sb on the spot/,pot (sb) on 6a 'spot II -'spa:t/to
deliberately ask someone a question that they find difficult
or embarrassing to answer Iv phrase]
When the interviewer put Don on the spot he panicked and
couldn't think of anything to say. ] Senators will put the
President on the spot today about progress in the arms
control talks.
2 to ask several people questions in order to
get information from them
ask around poll
make inquiries canvass
ask around/,a:sk a'raond II ,esk-/to ask several people,
especially people that you know, in order to get informa-
tion from them [phr v I]
I'm not sure where you can find a babysitter - I'll ask
around. ] ask around about Stephen asked around about
the best places to go in the evenings.
make inquiries (also make enquiries in British
English)/meik In'kwaIariz/to ask several people questions
in order to get information and details about something or
someone, especially in order to help yourself decide
whether to do something Iv phrasel
After making a few inquiries we realised that it wasn't a
good idea to buy such an old house. [ make inquiries about
We graduate next month and most of my classmates are
already making enquiries about jobs. [ The bank had to
make inquiries about her financial situation before agree-
ing to the loan.
poll/paoli to ask a lot of people questions about a subject
that is important to the public, especially politics, in order
to find out the general opinion about it Iv T]
33% of the women that were polled said they would vote
against this administration. I "'We didn't poll everyone, "says
Mr Mason, "'only a percentage of people in each political
party. '"
canvass/' kenvas! to go around the streets and to people's
houses and ask a lot of people questions, in order to find
out their political opinions and gain their political support
Iv I/T]
Party members were out canvassing as soon as a date for the
election was announced. [ canvass sb Representatives can-
vassed all the farms in the area so they could anticipate the
result of the meeting.
3 to ask someone a lot of questions
question pump
shoot/fire questions at quiz
grill/give sb a grilling pick sb'sJ;)rains
question/'kwestJsn/[v T]
question sb about Liz was very well-informed and ques-
tioned me about the war. [ question sb On the subject of her
age Simon's boss refused to be questioned. [ question sb
closely (=carefully, asking a lot of difficult questions) The
interviewer questioned Miss Jarvis closely about her
knowledge of the use of computers in schools.
shoot/fire questions at / du:t, ,faa r 'kwestj'anz et/to
ask someone a lot of questions very quickly in order to con-
fuse them or make them admit to something Iv phrase]
The lawyer fired questions at me so quickly I didn't have time
to think. [ The teacher kept shooting questions at the fright-
ened girls until they confessed everything.
grill/give sb a grilling/'gril, ,g]v (sb) a 'gr]l]rj/to ask
someone a lot of difficult questions in order to make them
explain their actions, plans, or opinions Iv T]
Tonight you'll have the chance to watch the four presiden-
tial candidates being grilled by a panel of ordinary voters. I
Hilda's teacher gave her a real grilling about why she'd
missed so many classes.
grilling In C] But the President will not escape a grilling
from (=being grilled by) more conservative senators who
believe he is too liberal.
pump/pAmp/to ask someone a lot of questions about a
particular subject or event in order to get as much infor-
mation as possible Iv TI
pump sb about We all sat drinking coffee in my room and
I pumped them about their experiences in the Cultural Revo-
lution. [ pump sb for Lovestone was pumped for his intimate
knowledge of Communist organizations.
quiz/kwz/to ask someone a lot of questions, especially
because you want to find out what they have been do.ing,
and often in a way that annoys them Iv T]
quiz sb When Start eventually came home from the party,
his wife quizzed him for hours. [ quiz sb about/on My par-
ents never stop quizzing me about where I go at night. [ The
journalists quizzed Clinton on tax policy and Central
America.
pick sb's brains/,pIk (sb's) 'breinz/to ask someone for
information about something because you think they know
more about it than you Iv phrase]
You know all about engines - can I pick your brains for a
minute? [ We've come up against a big problem in the
Stavanger case - I've come to pick your brains.
4 ways of saying that a police officer, a lawyer
etc asks someone about a crime
question cross-examine/cross-question
interrogate carry out door-to-door inquiries
question/' kwestan/to ask someone a lot of questions to
find out what they know about a crime Iv T]
question sb They questioned me for three hours, then
released me. I question sb about The lawyer questioned me
about how money was transmitted to Mexico. I keep/hold
sb for questioning (=keep them somewhere in order to

ASK A QUESTION 71 ASK A QUESTION
question them) Mr Hayes is being kept at Newham police
station for questioning. I question sb closely (=carefully,
asking a lot of difficult questions) North was questioned
closely about his involvement in the illegal arms deals.
interrogate /in'terogeit/to ask someone a lot of questions
about a crime, especially in a threatening way and over a
long period of time Iv T]
interrogate sb The police interrogated Sutcliffe for 24 hours
until he confessed. I Army officers have been accused of using
unorthodox methods when interrogating enemy prisoners. I
interrogate sb about I was interrogated at length about
my activities and movements on the day of the attack.
interrogation/inlterolgelSan/In C/U] Most of the informa-
tion about the bombings came from the interrogation of
terrorist suspects.
cross.examine/cross.question /IkrDs igzemn,
,krDs 'kwestSan II ,kra:s-/ if a lawyer cross-examines or
cross-questions someone in a law court, they ask them a
series of questions about their previous statements in
order to find out whether they have been telling the truth
Iv T]
The first lawyer cross-examined the defendant for over three
hours. I The main police witness admitted, when cross-
examined, that his earlier evidence had been false.
cross-examination /krlas igzmaneifan II Ikra:s-/ In
C/U] Although Mr Sayle claimed he was innocent his guilt
became clear under cross-examination (=when he was cross-
examined).
carry out door.to.door inquiries/,kri aot da: r to
da:r [nkwariz/ if the police carry out door-to-door
inquiries, they go to all the houses in a particular area to
ask the people living there what they know about a crime
Iv phrase]
Police are carrying out door-to-door inquiries on the Hazel-
wood Estate.
5 to ask someone questions for a newspaper,
TV programme etc
interview v
interview n
interview I, Intorvju:/[v T]
She was the first Western journalist ever to interview Mr
Gorbachev. I At the end of the race the winner was inter-
viewed by NBC news.
interview/' intorvju:/a meeting in which one person asks
another person questions for a newspaper, TV programme
etc In Cl
During the interview the actress was so drunk she couldn't
answer any of the questions. I TV/radio/newspaper inter-
view In his latest TV interview the lead singer talks about
his drug problem. I give an interview (=allow yourself to
be interviewed) The new president gave his first full-length
American TV interview last night.
6 to ask someone questions in order to decide
whether to offer them a job, etc
interview v
interview n
interview I' Intorvju:/to ask someone a lot of questions
as part of a formal process, so that you can decide whether
they are suitable for a job, a chance to study at college etc
Iv T]
interview sb I'll be interviewing two candidates today and
three others tomorrow. I interview sb for a job/post etc
We've interviewed a woman for the job already but she
wasn't very well-qualified.
interview/' Intorvju:/a formalmeeting in which a person
or group of people ask someone questions in order to find
out whether they are suitable for a job, a chance to study
at college etc In C]
So you have your interview today? Good luck. I interview
for I've been asked to go for an interview for a course I
applied for at Manchester University. ]job interview (=an
interview for a job) Brenda is taking a course on how to sell
herself in job interviews.
7 a question that you ask in order to get
information
question inquiry
query leadinglloaded question
question/'kwestfn/a spoken or written sentence asking
for information In C]
There were several questions Melanie wanted to ask the inter-
viewer. I That's a very difficult question to answer. I Does
anyone have any further questions? I question about Sally
always felt nervous when people asked her direct questions
about herprivate life. I bombard sb with questions (=ask
them a lot of questions) As soon as the envoy finished his
speech he was bombarded with questions by all the reporters.
query / Ikwlari/a question that you ask when you have not
completely understood something or you are not sure that
something is true or correct In C]
If anyone has a query I'll deal with it at the end of the meet-
ing. I I would be happy to answer people's queries if they
write to me at my home address. I query about Since the TV
programme the advice bureau has received lots of queries
about maternity rights. I raise a query (=ask a question)
One of the students raised a query about the grading system.
inquiry (also enquiry in British English)/In'kwaIri II
In'kwaxari, 'ItJkwori/ a question you ask in order to get
information or find out the details about something [n C]
We have only just put the house up for sale and we've already
received lots of inquiries. I inquiry about All inquiries
about flight cancellations should be made to your travel
agent, not to the airport.
leading/loaded question/,li:dltj, Ilooda[d 'kwestan/
a question that deliberately tricks someone so that they
give you the answer that you want or say something that
they do not intend to say In C]
The reporters asked General Markson a lot of leading ques-
tions, in the hope that he would tell them when the invasion
would begin. I You don't expect me to answer a loaded ques-
tion like that do you?
 a report or piece of work in which a large
number of people are asked questions
poll
survey
poll/pool/an attempt to find out the general public opin-
ion about an important matter, especially to find out about
politica] opinions, done by questioning a number of people
In C]
The polls suggested that slightly more women than men want
the death penalty brought back. I opinion poll (=a poll to
find out people's political opinions) Opinion polls show 70%
of voters oppose the Prime Minister's privatisation plans. I
carry out/take a poll In a nationwide poll carried out in
January, only one person in ten said they were happy with
the tax reforms.
survey/s3:rveI/a set of questions that you ask a large
number of people in order to find out about their opinions
or behaviour In C]
A recent survey found that 36% of the women asked did not
feel safe walking alone at night. [ A nationwide survey rev-
ealed that fewer than 48% of all factory workers use the
cafeterias provided for thorn. [ carry out/conduct a survey
In a survey conducted by a leading travel firm, the Canary
Islands were the most popular vacation spot.
!9 a piece of paper with questions on it
form
questionnaire
form/fazrm/a piece of paper with a set of written ques-
tions that you answer in order to provide information
about yourself for an organization, employer etc In C]
Make sure you sign and date the form before you return it. [
application form (=a form with questions you must
answer if you want a job, a chance to study etc) Before you

ASK A QUESTION ?2 ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH
can join the army you'll have to complete an application form
and attend an interview. I fill in/out/up a form (=write
the answer to the questions on a form) Just fill in the form
and take it along to your local bank.
questionnaire /IkwestSlne r, I kes-! a set of written
questions that companies or organizations ask people in
order to find out information and facts about a particular
subject In C ]
The questionnaire was designed to find out how many people
use certain parts of the thruway. [ Our research-is based on
the conclusions drawn from the 100, 000 questionnaires sent
out to women's organizations.
ASK FOR STHIASK
SB TO DO STH
10
1 to ask for something or ask someone to do
something
2 to write to someone or telephone them asking
them for something
3 to ask strongly for something or for someone
to do something
4 to keep asking someone to do something or
asking them for something, in an annoying
way
5 to ask someone for something such as food,
cigarettes etc because you do not have any
or cannot buy any
6 to ask a professional person to do some work
for you
7 to ask for help or kindness
8 someone who officially asks for something
9 someone who always asks for and expects
other people to give them things without
trying to get their own
a statement, letter, message etc in which you
ask for something
1 to ask for something or ask someone to do
something
ask invite
request approach
seek
ask/a:sk II sk/Iv I/T]
ask for Ask for our free 40page brochure at any branch of
the store. I ask sb for She didn't know how to write a formal
letter so she had to ask her English teacher for advice. I ask
sb to do sth I think I'll ask Mary to water the plants for me
while I'm away. I ask to do sth (=ask to be allowed to do
something) Watkins walked up to the main desk and asked
to see the hotel manager. I ask if you can do sth Letty's been
asking me if she can take the dog out for a walk. I ask sb
She's a wonderful child. She'll do anything that you ask her. I
ask If you ever need any help with anything, you only have
to ask.
request Ir  kwest! to officially ask someone for something
or ask someone to do something Iv T]
request sth The pilot requested permission to land, but this
was refused. I Officials in Seoul are requesting the drug
dealer's extradition from Bahrain. I request that It is
requested that all hotel residents wear a black suit for the
ceremony. I be requested to do sth During the treatment
the patient is requested to note any changes in his own tem-
perature.
seek/si:k! a formal word meaning to ask for something
such as advice or help from someone who has the
knowledge, right, or power to provide it Iv T]
The Carsons sought advice from their lawyer. I Two tablets
to be taken every four hours. If symptoms persist, seek
medical advice. I We are clearly within our rights to seek sub-
stantial compensation for injuries and loss of earnings.
invite/in vaItl to politely ask someone to ask questions,
or give their answers, opinions, or suggestions Iv T]
invite sb to do sth When invited to do so, the Minister
declined to give his opinions regarding the recent strikes. I
invite sth Applications for this position are invited from
individuals with relevant experience.
approach 1 ' pmotj'/to officially ask someone that you do
not know well for something or ask them to do something,
especially when you are not confident that they will do it
Iv T]
Will you be approaching the bank for a loan? I They had
approached Barlow to see if he was prepared to contribute
to the charity's work. I I have been approached regarding
the possibility of selling the house to a local manufacturer.
2 to write to someone or telephone them asking
them for something
apply order
put in for send away for/send off for
claim write off for/write away for
apply IplaII to ask someone for something such as a job,
legal document etc, especially by writing to them or writ-
ing your answers to the questions on a form Iv I]
apply for How many jobs had you applied for before you
were offered this one ? I apply "I still haven't received my
passport .... When did you apply?" [ apply to do sth We go
to the sports club so often, we decided that we might as well
apply to join.
put in for/Ipot in f:r/to ask someone for something
such as a job, government money etc that is available, by
officially writing to them to say that you want it Iv T]
I've put in for a transfer to one of our overseas branches. I
All those who lost their jobs put in for compensation. I Stu-
dents must put in for grants at least six months before their
course begins.
claim/kleim/to ask someone for something, especially
money, that you have a legal right to have, usually by writ-
ing to them explaining why you should have it Iv Tl
The government intends to make legal aid harder to claim. I
Because the accident had not been her fault, Barbara was
able to claim damages. I If you had medical treatment
abroad, claim your insurance as soon as you return.
order ! '3:rdr/to write or telephone someone because you
want to buy a particular product and you want them to get
it for you, bring it to your house etc Iv T]
We had ordered a pale blue armchair but the one that was
delivered was red. [ I've ordered a green skirt from the cata-
log and I'm praying that it comes in time for the wedding. [
I'm afraid we don't have that style of shoe in your size at the
moment, but I can easily order a pair from another branch.
order In C] I'm very sorry, but we seem to have lost your
order.
send away for/send off for / send we f:r, I send  of
fa:r II -a:f-/to write to someone to ask them to send you
a product usually by sending the money for it with the
letter Iv T ]
Have you seen these CDs on special offer? Shall I send off for
them? I We've sent off for our tickets for the concert, but I
think they may have already sold out.
write off for (British) I write away for (American)/,rait
of fa: r, IraIt gweI fa: r [[ -a:f-/to write to someone to ask
them to send you something such as information or a free
product Iv T]
You can write off for information about the Children's Soci-
ety. I She's so bored. She spends half her time writing away
for kitchenware catalogs.
3 to ask strongly for something or for someone
to do something
demand call on/upon
press for/push for hold out for
call for petition

ASK FOR STHIASK SB TO DO STH ?3 ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH
demand/d 'mo:nd II d'meend/to ask strongly for some-
thing or for someone to do something, especially because
you think you have a right to it Iv T]
demand sth I demand an explanation for this appalling
behaviour. I The laboratory was surrounded by protestors
demanding an end to the animal experiments. I The chief
demanded a thorough investigation into this particularly
vicious murder. I demand to do sth The police officer made
Nell get out of the car, and then he demanded to see his
driver's licence. I demand that I just went into the shop,
handed over the dress, and demanded that they give me a
cash refund.
press for/push for/'pres fa: r, 'pof fa:r/to ask strongly
and repeatedly for something important such as a change
in the law or the rules, because you think it is necessary
Iv T]
People in the medical profession are pressing for genuine
reforms in policy. I Now they have won their pay claim the
union will push for a cut in working hours. I Women have
been pressing for equal rights and pay for years.
call for/'k:l f:r/if someone, especially a group of people,
calls for something such as justice, equality etc they ask
for it strongly and publicly because they think an unfair
situation needs to be changed Iv T]
Amnesty International has consistently called for the release
of political prisoners. I The FootbalI Association is likely to
call for a ban on alcohol at football games. I A group of
teachers have publicly called for an investigation into the
abuse of some of their students.
call on/upon/'ko:l on, pDn II -a:n, pa:n/ if someone,
especially an organization in a bad situation calls on some-
one to do something, they ask strongly and urgently for that
person to do it because their help is needed Iv T]
call on sb to do sth The government has called on parents
to work with teachers in the education of their children. I The
Association for the Homeless were called upon to help solve
the problem. I call on sb for The dance company has called
on ballet-lovers everywhere for financial support.
hold out for/,hotJld 'aut fa:r/ if someone, especially a
group of people, holds out for something that they have
been asking for, they refuse to accept what they are offered
because they hope to get something better Iv T]
The union held out for a 20 per cent pay increase. I Some
people think the nurses should have held out for a better deal.
petition/p 'tidn! a formal word meaning to ask some-
one such as the government or an organization to do some-
thing that it does not want to do, by sending them a writ-
ten request signed by a lot of people Iv I/TI
petition for We've been petitioning for pollution controls for
years. I Residents decided to petition the local authorities for
better bus services. I petition sb So far only the rebels have
petitioned the UN over this violation of human rights.
4 to keep asking someone to do something or
asking them for something, in an annoying
way
nag
go on at
pester
nag Inegl Iv I/T]
nag sb Look, I don't want to keep nagging you but do you
think you could move your car. I nag sb to do sth My chil-
dren are always nagging me to get new videos. I nag He
nagged and nagged until she made him a cup of tea.
go on at/gou 'on et II -'o:n-/to keep asking someone to
do something that you think they should do, so that they
become annoyed Iv T]
go on at sb Look, I'll do the dishes when I've finished writ-
ing this letter. Just stop going on at me .t t go on at sb to do
sth Mum was always going on at me to do something with
my musical talent, but I was more interested in sport. I go
on about Mick went to have his hair cut just to stop his wife
going on about it.
pester /'pestar/to keep asking someone to do something
or asking them for something in an annoying way Iv TI
pester sb She used to pester her father until she got exactly
what she wanted. [ pester sb to do sth I was the only kid
without a bike so I pestered my parents to buy me one. I
pester sb for He didn't really want to give her a lift but she
kept pestering him for one.
S to ask someone for something such as food,
cigarettes etc because you do not have any
or cannot buy any
scrounge mooch off
cadge beg
bum
scrounge/skraondsI to ask someone for food, cigarettes
etc especially because you have not got enough money or
would prefer not to pay for them Iv I/T]
scrounge sth off/from Nigel scrounged a drink off us
before we left. [ scrounge sth We managed to scrounge some
cigarettes because we had no money left. [ scrounge When
I was a kid I never had enough money for the bus so I had
to scrounge.
cadge/kinds/an informal British word meaning to ask
someone for something such as food, cigarettes etc because
you have not got enough money or would prefer not to pay
for them Iv T]
Sonia is always cadging lifts home and she never offers any
moneyfor petrol. [ The two boys moved around the bar, cadg-
ing free drinks and cigarettes.
bum/hAm/an informal word meaning to ask someone for
something such as food or cigarettes, in a way that annoys
or embarrasses people Iv T]
bum sth off sb He's always bumming drinks off people and
it really gets on my nerves. [ bum sth I think Steve managed
to bum a lift home.
mooch off/'mu:t of [[ -a:f/an informal American word
meaning to ask someone for something such as food or
cigarettes in a way that annoys or embarrasses people [phr
vT]
mooch sth/it/them off This old guy mooched a beer off
Hal. [ mooch off sb He never pays for anything - he'd even
mooch off his own mother.
beg/beg/to ask someone for something such as money or
food, because you are very poor and have no money Iv I/T]
beg sth She was desperate, with nothing to eat except some
crusts she'd managed to beg. [ beg for sthAt the back of the
church were a couple of old tramps begging for food. [ beg
Things got so bad that at one point she thought she'd have
to go out and beg.
6 to ask a professional person to do some work
for you
send for get in
send out for call in
order bring in
send for / 'send fa:r/to ask a professional person or profes-
sional service to come and help you do something because
you do not have the knowledge yourself Iv T]
Send for an ambulance, then try and ring his mother. [ You'll
have to send for the plumber to mend this leak. [ I can 't under-
stand what the man's saying. We'd better send for someone
who speaks Italian.
send out for/,send 'aut fa:r/to ask someone such as a
restaurant or a food shop to deliver food or drink to you
at your home, work etc [v T]
I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's send out for a pizza. I
During the meeting we sent out for some coffee.
order /a:rd)r/to tell someone such as a person serving
you in a restaurant, hotel etc what food and drink you
would like to have Iv I/T]
order sth Waiter, we ordered our meal half an hour ago,
where is it? [ order sb sth I've ordered you a gin and tonic. [
order sth for sb I'll be back in a minute, could you order

ASK FOR STHIASK SB TO DO STH ?4 ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH
a vegetable lasagne for me. I order Good evening, are you
ready to order, Sir ?
get in/,get 'in! an informal expression meaning to ask
someone who provides a particular professional service to
come to your home to do something |phr v T]
get sb/her/them etc in They got the electrician in because
the central heating had stopped working. I It would be much
easier if we got somebody in to do all the catering. I get in
sb After the party we can get in professional carpet-cleaners
to do the job.
call In/,karl 'm/to ask someone who provides a particu-
lar service to come and help you with a difficult situation
or problem because they know more about it [phr v T]
call in sb They were so impatient with the progress of the
case that they called in a private investigator. I Eventually
the teenager's behaviour got so bad that the police had to be
called in. I call sb/her/them ere in It wasn't me that called
them in!
bring in ! ,brio 'In/if someone especially an organization,
brings in a particular service or profession person, they
ask them to come and help with a difficult situation or
process [phr v T]
bring sb/her/them etc in The crisis worsened and the
government had no choice but to bring troops in. I The
increased demand meant that the factory had to bring tem-
porary workers in.I bring in sb Many schools are now
bringing in private contractors to do the cleaning.
7 to ask for help or kindness
ask a favour beg
turn to plead
call on/upon impose on
appeal implore
ask a favour I,a:sk a 'feiva r II ,ask-/to ask someone to
be kind or generous by helping you do something or by
doing something for you Iv phrase]
Could I ask a favour? I need someone to collect the children
from school tonight. Are you free? I ask sb a favour I'd like
to ask Mandy a favour. Do you think she'd mind looking
after my dog for the weekend?
turn to /'ta:rn tu:/if someone in a very bad situation turns
to someone, they ask that person for help, comfort, sym-
pathy etc Iv T]
After my wife died I didn't know who to turn to. [ Eventu-
ally I turned to an organization that helps people who are
homeless. [ All alone?No-one to turn to? Why not try coming
to our friendly self-help group?
call on/upon/'karl o, apDn II -a:n, apo:n/to ask some-
one for help when you have a problem and especially when
they have offered to help you when they can Iv T]
call on sb If you ever have a problem you know that you can
always call on us. I call on sb for sth Almost everyone we
called on for advice told us the same thing. I call on sb to
do sth Being the only person in the office who speaks
German, I'm often called upon to translate.
appeal/a'pi:ll to make a strong and urgent public request
for help, money, information etc, especially to help some-
one in a very bad situation Iv I]
appeal for sth We are appealing for funds on behalf of Save
the Children. I Ann Morgan's mother came on television and
appealed for clues as to the identity of her daughter's killer.I
appeal to sb for sth A national newspaper yesterday
appealed to the government for information regarding a
journalist who went missing in Iraq. I appeal to sb to do
sth The speaker had appealed to the miners to vote for their
union.
beg/beg/to ask someone very strongly to help you, in a
way that makes you feel ashamed or makes other people
lose respect for you Iv I/T]
beg sb to do sth Miles was innocent and he begged his
lawyer to do everything possible to clear his name. [ beg for
sth The theatre has been forced to beg for donations in order
to keep it running. I beg I don't want to have to beg but I'm
desperate for someone to work late tonight so we can finish
the work. I beg sb I'm begging you, please don't leave me!
plead/pli:d/to ask someone very strongly and in a very
emotional way to help you because you are very frightened
or upset, especially when they do not want to help you Iv I]
plead for sth The wife of one of the hostages appeared on
TV last night to plead for her husband's life. [ plead with
sb The girl pleaded with her attackers to let her go. [ plead
"Please forgive me," she pleaded "I'll never do it again."
impose on/im'poz Dn [I -a:n/to ask someone to help you
without thinking about whether it is polite to ask, or
whether they really want to help Iv T]
Don't ask Pat to help you, she's very busy. You mustn "t keep
imposing on her like this. I He has a tendency to impose on
his neighbours whenever he has a problem in the house.
imposition/, impa'zian/In C] Kevin and Mandy expected
me to drive them all the way home, which I felt was a bit of
an imposition.
Implore/1m'pla:r/a formal word usually found only in
literature, meaning to ask someone very strongly and
emotionally to do something or to change their mind about
something Iv T]
implore sb to do sth Umberto implored her to let him see
his son, but she refused. I Finally she wrote to the President,
imploring him to intervene in the situation. I implore sb
Think again, I implore you, or the consequences may be too
dreadful to imagine.
8 someone who officially asks for something
applicant
claimant
applicant/'plikant/ someone who officially asks for
something such as a job, official document etc by writing
or answering the questions on a form In CI
applicant for Applicants for teacher-training courses need
to have at least one year's experience. I applicant The appli-
cant will not be eligible for a student grant if he is living with
his parents.
claimant I'kleImant! someone who asks someone for
something, especially money, that they have a legal right
to have, usually by writing to them and explaining why
they should have it In C]
All tax allowance claimants must be able to prove they have
worked for the previous 12 months. I The company will settle
the lawsuit and provide compensation for claimants.
9 someone who always asks for and expects
other people to give them things without
trying to get their own
scrounger
parasite
scrounger/' skraondsar/someone who always asks other
people to give them something such as food, cigarettes,
money etc, especially because they are too lazy to earn
money In C]
You're such a scrounger - why don't you try to get a job. I
"The problem of scroungers must be solved soon, "" said a
government official yesterday.
parasite/'perasait/someone who expects society to pro-
vide them with money, food, a home etc but who is not pre
pared to work for it, and is therefore strongly disapproved
of In C]
You shouldn't feel sorry for these people - they are just para-
sites! t He's a lazy, good-for-nothing parasite, taking advan-
tage of your good nature.
1 0 a statement, letter, message etc in which you
ask for something
request appeal
claim demand
petition approach
application plea
request/rI'kwest/[n C]
My grandfather's last request was that there should be no
flowers at his funeral. I request for The pop star's wife

ASK FOR STHIASK SB TO DO STH ?5 ATTACH
politely refused any requests for interviews. I bombard sb
with requests (=to make a large amount of requests) The
store has been bombarded with requests for the new "Space-
blob" computer game. I at sb's request (=when someone
makes a request) The hospital have closed two of the wards
for quarantine, at Dr McNab's request. I on request (=when
it is requested) We do not teach shorthand here but a short
course can be provided on request.
claim/ldeIml a request for something, especially money,
that someone has a legal right to have In C]
claim for The local people's claims for compensation from
the chemical factory have so far been ignored. I make a
claim (=formally request it) We've made a claim on our
insurance for the jewellery that was stolen last month.
petition Ip I 'tij'n/a document signed by many people that
is given to a government or other organization asking them
to do something that until now they have been unwilling
to do In C]
A petition signed by 1000 hospital doctors will be handed to
the Minister of Health at lunchtime today. I The residents
have collected a 500-signature petition in protest against the
new road which will destroy many of their gardens.
application / ,plI 'keIfgn/a letter or form that someone
sends when they are asking for something such as a job,
official document etc In C]
Since I left university I've sent off nearly fifty job applica-
t/ons. I application for It is important to get in your appli-
cation for a renewed licence well before the old one expires. I
There are 500 applications by Chileans for political asylum
each month.
appeal/o'pi:l/an urgent request for something important
such as freedom, money etc, especially in order to help
someone in a bad situation In C]
The government promised 2 million pounds to the Ethiopia
appeal launched last week. I appeal for The war continues
as fresh United Nations appeal for a ceasefire has been
rejected.
demand/dI 'ma:nd II dI Imeend/a strong request for some-
thing that you want to have and which someone does not
want to give you In C]
demand for The police received the kidnapper's demand for
one million pounds at 6pro. I Demands for change have come
from many individuals and organizations. I demand The
union presented the company executives with a list of seven
demands.
approach/'pmotJ'/a word used especially in British
English meaning an official request for someone that you
do not know well to do something, especially when you are
not confident that they will do it In C]
An official approach has been made but the hostages are
unlikely to be released. I The footballer said he'd received an
approach from another team. and that he was considering
the offer..
plea/pli:/a strong, emotional request for someone to help
you or be kind to you In C]
A homeless mother of six made a tearfulpleafor a home for
her family. I Ignoring the man's pleas, Colonel Hartz shot
him in cold blood.
asking: yours for the taking/asking AVAILABLE 2
asleep: be asleep SLEEP 1
asleep: fall asleep SLEEP 3
asleep: half-asleep TIRED 2
aspect PART 9, SUBJECT 2
aspirations WANT 11
aspire to WANT 7
aspiring WANT 7
ass: be a pain in the ass/butt ANNOY 5
assailant ATTACK 7
assassin KILL 4
assassinate KILL 1
assassination KILL2
assault ATTACK 1, 5, 6
assemble GET 8, MAKE 1, MEET 3
assert SAY/STATE 3
assert yourself CONFIDENT 2
assertion SAY/STATE 10
assertive CONFIDENT 1
assess COUNT/CALCULATE 3, JUDGE 2
assessment EXAM/TEST 1
asset ADVANTAGE 1
assets MONEY 6, OWN 6
assign JOB/TASK 3
assignment JOB/TASK 2
assimilate UNDERSTAND 5
assist HELP 1, 6
assistance HELP 10
assistance: can be of help/assistance HELP 1
assistance: come to sb's aid/assistance HELP 3
assistant HELP 8, LOW POSITION OR RANK 3,
MANAGER 4
associate CONNECTED WITH 6
associated CONNECTED WITH 4
associated: be associated CONNECTED WITH 1
association ORGANIZATION 4
assorted VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
assortment GROUP OF PEOPLE 3, GROUP OF THINGS 1
assortment: an assortment of VARIOUS/OF
DIFFERENT KINDS 1
assume PRETEND 5, THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
assumed name: under an assumed name NAME OF
A PERSON 3
assuming/assuming that IF 2
assumption THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
assurance PROMISE 5
assurance: give an assurance PROMISE 1
assurance: give sb an assurance PROMISE 3
assurance/self-assurance CON FIDENT 4
assure PROMISE 1, 3
assured: be assured of CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
assured/self-assured CONFIDENT 1
astonish SURPRISED 4
astonished SURPRISED 2
astonishing SURPRISED 6
astound SURPRISED 4
astounded SURPRISED 2
astounding SURPRISED 6
astray: lead sb astray BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 5
astronomical EXPENSIVE 2
astute INTELLIGENT 4
asylum HOSPITAL 2
asymmetrical REGULAR 5
at PLACE 3, TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME 1,
TOWARDS 1
at: be at GO TO/ATTEND 2
at: be at sth THERE 5
atheist BELIEVE 7
athletic FIT PERSON 1, STRONG PERSON 3
atmosphere AIR1
atmospheric WEATHER 2
atrocious: appalling/atrocious BAD 3, BAD AT 2
atrocities CRUEL 5
atrocity BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 7
attach ATTACH 1
ATTACH
to attach one thing to another so that it stays
in position
to attach one thing to another, especially to
something larger, so that it stays in position
continued

ATTACH ?6 ATTACK
 1 ATTACH
continued
2 to attach something to a wall, piece of
clothing etc, so that it can be seen
3 words for describing something that has been
attached to something else
1 to attach one thing to another, especially to
something larger, so that it stays in position
attach fix
fasten nail
attach /a'tt/ to place one thing onto another using
something such as glue, string, or wires to keep it there Iv
T]
attach sth to Attach a recent photograph to your applica-
tion form. [ The doctor will attach a special monitor to your
stomach so that she can listen to the baby's heart. [ attach
sth I've attached copy of the document in Turkish so as to
prevent any misunderstanding.
fasten I'fa:san II 'f-/ to attach one thing to another
firmly but in a way that makes it easy to remove again Iv T]
fasten sth to Christine fastened the brooch to her dress. [
Fastening their boat to a tree, they went off to explore the
island.[ fasten sth on/around/over Divers fasten weights
around their waists to help them stay under water. [ The
license plate fell off and I had to fasten it back on again with
a piece of string.
fix/flks/to attach one thing to another so that it will stay
permanently in this position, for example by using nails,
screws, or strong glue Iv T]
fix sth to He fixed the lamp to the wall above the bed with
a couple of screws. [ fix sth on I managed to fix the top on
with some glue.
nail/ned/to attach one thing to another using nails Iv T]
nail sth to Someone had nailed a sign to the tree. [ nail sth
on The man began nailing the lid on the coffin. [ nail sth
down I got a hammer and nailed down the floorboards.
 to attach something to a wall, piece of
clothing etc, so that it can be seen
put up pin
hang nail
put up I ,pot I^p/to attach something to a wall, such as a
picture or a notice, so that it can be seen [phr v T]
put sth/it/them up Sarah had put posters up all around
her room. I What shall I do with this photograph - do you
want me to put it up over here? I put up sth Someone's put
up a notice in the library saying they'll look after children
for $8 an hour. I The thing to remember when you're putting
up wallpaper is to use lots of paste.
hang/hў/to attach something to a wall, tree etc so that
it can be seen, especially by using string or wire Iv T]
hang sth on I decided to hang the picture on the wall above
my bed. I When are we going to hang the lights on the
Christmas tree, Mommy? I I hung the washing out to dry on
the line, but unfortunately it started to rain. I hang up sth
The children are hanging up the decorations for the party.
pin/p;n/to attach something using a pin, especially to your
clothes [ v T]
pin sth to He had pinned a red rose to his jacket. I Jean
pinned the length of material to her dress, and looked at her-
self in the mirror. I pin sth on The soldiers had rows of
medals pinned on their chests. I She had pinned a notice on
her door saying 'DO NOT DISTURB'.
nail/ned/to attach something to a wall, tree etc using
nails, so that it can clearly be seen Iv T]
nail sth to I nailed the bird house to the tree in the garden. I
nail sth up The owners had nailed up a notice which read:
Private Property.
 words for describing something that has been
attached to something else
attached nailed
fastened secure
fixed
attached/a'tatSt/[adj]
The handles are attached by mean of tiny screws, t A list of
supplies can be found on the attached form. I attached to
Make sure the label is firmly attached to the parcel before
you mail it.
fastened /Ifa:sand II  fee-/ attached to something, espe-
cially in a way that makes it easy to remove again [adj not
before noun]
fastened to He had several badges fastened to his cap. [
fastened over/on/around ete The huts were made of mat-
ting fastened over a framework of sticks.
fixed/fikst/attached firmly to something so it cannot
easily be moved [adj]
fixed to The ladder was fixed to the outside of the house by
means of two rusty old screws. [ I can't move these cupboards,
they're fixed to the wall. [ fixed on The hook's fixed on with
some kind of glue.
nailed/neild/attached by a nail [adj not before noun]
nailed to There was a 'For Sale" sign nailed to the wall.[
The table was so heavy it felt as if it was nailed to the floor.
secure/si kjuar/firmly attached or tied so that it will be
safe and will not move |adj not usually before noun]
Make sure that everything in the boat is secure before the
storm comes. I I tested the shelf I had just put up, and it
seemed quite secure.
attached ATTACH 3
attached: be attached to LIKE SB OR STH 2
attack ATTACK 1, 3, 5, 6, CRITICITE 1, 6,
ILLNESS/DISEASE 2
attack: be under attack ATTACK 8
attack: be/come under attack CRITICITE 8
attack: launch/mount an attack ATTACK 3
attack
ATTACK
to deliberately use physical violence against a
person, an army, a country etc
I to deliberately use physical violence against
another person
2 to attack someone suddenly and
unexpectedly
8 to attack an enemy's army, country, or
property in a war
4 to attack someone who has attacked you
5 an act of violence against a person
• a military attack
7 someone who attacks another person or
country
8 a person or place that is attacked
8 words for describing a person or place that is
easy to attack

ATTACK ?? ATTACK
1 to deliberately use physical violence against
another person
attack set upon
assault mug
go for confront
lay into
attack Itkl Iv I/T]
attack sb Jim was attacked by a man in the park. I The bull
attacked him again as he writhed in agony on the ground. I
attack sb with She started attacking the burglar with a
piece of wood. I attack Police dogs are trained to attack in
certain circumstances.
assault/a' sa:lq a legal or official word meaning to attack
someone Iv T]
Can you identify any of the men who assaulted you? I Some
supporters ran onto the field and assaulted the referee.
go for/'gnu fa:r/to attack someone with a sudden violent
movement Iv T]
go for sb Suddenly Bob went for Mick, pushing him onto
the.floor. I go for sb with sth One day Grandma got so mad
she went for Grandpa with the kitchen knife. I go for sb's
throat/ears/eyes etc The dog lunged over the gate, going
straight for my throat.
lay into /'lei intu:/to attack someone very violently, hit-
ting them repeatedly and without control Iv T not in
passive]
lay into sb The two children laid into each other like wild
animals. I In the second round, Muhammad Ali really
started laying into his opponent. I lay into sb with sth She
lay on the ground while the man laid into her with a wooden
stick.
set upon I' set apo li -apa:n/to attack someone violently
and for no reason, especially someone who is weaker or
smaller or on their own Iv T usually in passive]
On my way home from work, I was set upon in a subway by
a gang ofyouths. [ The dog set upon thepostman and nearly
bit his leg off/
mug/mAg/to attack someone in a public place in order to
rob them Iv Tl
mug sb People are mugged in the park every night, t If
anyone ever tried to mug me, I would throw my bag and run. I
get mugged I'll walk you home - I don't want you to get
mugged.
confront/kan' fr^nt/to face someone in a threatening way,
as though you are going to attack them Iv T]
Shaking with uncontrollable fury, she stood up to confront
him. "'If you lay a hand on my daughter, I'll kill you. "'[ Open-
ing the door. he found himself confronted by a dozen police-
men with guns.
2 to attack someone suddenly and unexpectedly
turn on pounce
strike jump
ambush
turn on I'ts:rn on II -o:nl to attack someone suddenly,
when they are not expecting it Iv T]
I came a little too close and the bear just turned on me
without warning. [ Suddenly the crowd turned on the few
policemen guarding the defendant.
strike/straxk/to make a quick sudden attack especially
on someone who is not expecting to be attacked Iv I]
They knew the killer would probably strike again but could
not say when. [ The police struck at dawn and caught the
thieves while they were still asleep.
ambush / ' embuj'/ifa group of people ambush someone
they hide and wait for that person to arrive so that they can
attack them by surprise Iv T]
At least once a month the train was ambushed and all their
wages were stolen. I The only way to stop the soldiers was
to ambush them in the middle of the jungle.
pounce/paons/to suddenly jump on another person from
a place where you have been hiding, in order to catch or
attack them Iv I]
She suddenly noticed a man waiting in the bushes, obviously
ready to pounce. [ pounce on He pounced on his sister and
pushed her into the water.
jump/ds^mp/an informal word meaning to attack some-
one suddenly and usually from behind, in order to injure
them or to rob them [v T l
I got this bruise when two men jumped me in the park last
night. I He came over the wall and jumped the guard, easily
overpowering him.
3 to attack an enemy's army, country, or
property in a war
attack storm
invade raid
launch/mount an attack besiege
attack la'takl Iv I/T]
attack sb/sth On 25 April British and Australian troops
attacked the enemy at Gallipoli. I The village had been
attacked by American warplanes. I attack The special unit
attacked at dawn, inflicting heavy losses. I General Powell
consulted with the President before giving the order to
attack. I attacking army/forces Almost two-thirds of the
attacking force had been wiped out.
invade/in'void/to enter an enemy's country by force with
the intention of taking control of it Iv I/T]
invade China/Britain/Iran etc On 17 September 1939 the
Soviet Union invaded Poland. I It's about a bunch of weird
aliens that decide to invade Earth. I invade Enemy forces
were almost certainly preparing to invade.
launch/mount an attack/,la:ntj', ,maont an a'tekl to
start to attack an enemy's army, country, or property, in
a planned way [v phrase]
The commander launched his first attack early in the morn-
ing of the 14th. I A fresh attack was mounted on the last
remaining rebels.
storm/st:rm/to suddenly attack a city or building that
is well-defended by getting inside it and taking control Iv T]
Half their men were lost when they stormed the fortress. I
Nicholson had been killed leading the troops as they stormed
Delhi.
raid/reid/if a small group of soldiers raid an enemy's
town, camp etc, they attack it quickly in order to cause a
lot of damage, and then leave again |v T]
Colonel Newman got a medal for his bravery when he raided
the town and blew up the bridge. [ Again the tribe had raided
a neighbouring village, inflicting many casualties.
besiege/b 'si:dsI to surround an enemy city or building
with soldiers in order to take control of it by waiting for
the people inside to run out of food Iv T]
Leningrad was besieged by the Nazis during the war. I The
rebel army planned to besiege the palace and kill the
President.
4 to attack someone who has attacked you
retaliate hit back/strike back
cou nter-attack tit-for-tat
retaliate/r 'teliet/to angrily attack someone because
they have attacked you first Iv I]
When police tried to push back the crowds a few youths
retaliated by throwing stones at them. I My administration
wants peace, but we will not hesitate to retaliate if we are
attacked.
retaliation / r , teli ' e ij'an/[n U ] After the attack on the cap-
ital. retaliation was expected at any time.
counter.attack/' kaontara, tek/an attack that an army
makes after it has been attacked by another army In C]
The enemy had started a vicious counter-attack, forcing the
French into the woods. I launch/mount a counter-attack
A/lied forces were re-grouping in order to launch a counter-
attack.
counter-attack Iv I] It looked as if the British were prepar-
ing to counter-attack.
hit back/strike back/,hit 'bek, ,straxk 'bek] to attack

ATTACK ?8 ATTACK
a person or army that has attacked you first, especially in
order to show that you will not allow anyone to attack you
[phr v I[
The boy raised his fists to hit back. I When the Ethiopians
struck back, refugees began pouring across the border, t Less
than 24 hours after this cross-border raid, Israeli jets hit back
with a devastating air strike. I hit/strike back at The
youths were planning a fight to hit back at a rival gang.
tit.for.tat i, t ]t far , tet/tit-for-tat killings/murders/
response (=done because someone has killed someone in
your group) [adj only before noun]
Any hope of peace in Northern Ireland is destroyed by these
tit-for-tat killings. I The murder of Gillespie is thought to
have been a tit-for-tat response by the Mafia to an earlier
gangland killing.
an act of violence against a person
attack
assault
mugging
attack Ia'wekl in C]
The attack took place as she was walking home. [ The police
are not investigating enough cases involving racial attacks. I
attack on They finally caught the gang responsible for the
armed attacks on foreigners in Dakar. [ New statistics show
a further increase in attacks on women. [ vicious attack
Police could find no motive for this vicious attack.
assault/'sa:lt/the crime of attacking someone in C/U]
The charges against the prisoner include criminal damage
and assault. [ assault on Assaults on public transportation
workers have doubled in the last 10 years.
mugging/'mAgu3/an attack on someone in a public place
in order to rob them in C]
Police officers were called out to investigate a mugging on
the subway last night. [ Reports of muggings have risen
sharply in the last 12 months.
6 a military attack
attack raid
invasion offensive
assault aggression
strike ambush
attack i'tk/in C/U[
The attack began at dawn. I The shelter is designed to with-
stand attack by cruise missiles. [ attack on Four commandos
carried out a carefully-planned attack on the air base.
invasion /in'veisan / an attack made on a country by
entering it and trying to take control of it in C/U]
the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 I Castro
claimed that US forces were planning an invasion.
assault/, sa:lt/a strong well-planned attack that is aimed
at taking control of a place or area which is at present
controlled by enemy forces in C]
The Allied assault would have to wait until more men
arrived. [ assault on/against Only a successful assault on
the rebel's headquarters could have ended the civil war.
strike/straik/an air/nuclear/missile strike (=a sudden
attack from the air, especially using bombs) in C]
After the first air strike nobody expected there would be
another that same evening. I A nuclear strike could bring
about the absolute destruction of humanity.
raid/reid/a quick short attack on an enemy's town, camp
etc in order to cause as much damage as possible in CI
On returning from a raid all the pilots were exhausted. I raid
on They made several raids on the enemy villages in an
attempt to weaken their defences before the invasion. I air
raid (=one carried out by planes dropping bombs) Some of
the most beautiful architecture in the city was destroyed in
the air raids.
offensive I'fensivl a planned attack involving large
forces and often taking place over several weeks or months,
especially as part of a plan to win a war in C]
The great military offensive had failed and it seemed victory
was escaping them. I launch/mount an offensive In July
1916, allied forces on the Somme launched a massive offen-
sive, with disastrous results.
aggression /a'grcan/ the act of attacking a country,
especially when that country has not attacked first in U[
The country is determined to defend itself against foreign
aggression. I aggression against The UN Security Coun-
cil has condemned Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. I an act
of aggression The Kurds claim they have been the target
of bombings and other acts of aggression.
ambush/'embuS/a sudden attack by a group of people
or soldiers who have been hiding in order to surprise the
person they want to attack in C[
Six or seven of the passengers were killed in an ambush on
the narrowest part of the road. I lie in ambush (=wait in
order to ambush) They moved slowly, knowing that in the
next clump of trees enemy soldiers might be lying in ambush.
7 someone who attacks another person or
country
attacker
assailant
aggressor
attacker I'tekar/someone who attacks another person
in C[
The police need your help to find your attacker.
assailant /a'sellant/ a formal or legal word meaning
someone who attacks another person in C[
"Do you think you could describe your assailant?" the defence
counsel asked.
aggressor/a'gresar/a country that attacks another coun-
try, especially when that country has not already attacked
first In C[
The situation is complex and it is not easy to determine
exactly who is the aggressor in this case.
8 a person or place that is attacked
victim
target
be under attack
victim/'vktm/a person who has been attacked In C[
In most sexual offences, the attacker is known to the victim. [
victim of a crime/assault/attack She had been the victim
of a particularly vicious attack.
target I'ta:rgtl a person or place that is deliberately
chosen to be attacked In C[
The bomb missed its target by several kilometres. [ Their new
strategy is to attack civilian targets. I target zone/area
When the plane gets to the target area it drops the missile
and returns to base. [ prime target (=very obvious and
probable target) Holding a US passport makes these tourists
a prime target for terrorists.
be under attack/bi: ,Andar 'tek/if an army or place
is under attack, it is being attacked Iv phrase]
The rebels are under attack and may surrender at any time.[
It would be impossible to evacuate a whole population under
attack. I come under attack (=begin to be attacked) Once
again we came under attack from enemy fighter planes.
9 words for describing a person or place that is
easy to attack
vulnerable
sitting duck
be an easy target
vulnerable I'vAlnambal/easy to attack, damage, or enter
by force [adj]
vulnerable to The tanks'positions made them vulnerable
to enemy gunfire. I vulnerable Ground floor windows are
particularly vulnerable and secure locks should befitted.
sitting duck/,SXtltJ 'dnk/someone who is very easy to
attack because they cannot move or they can only move
very slowly in C[

ATTACK 79 ATTENTION
The troops in their bunkers were sitting ducks for the enemy
missiles. I We were stranded in the desert with no radio and
no fuel - sitting ducks waiting for the local bandits to
pounce.
be an easy target/bi: an ,i:zi 'ta:rgIot/to be very easy
to see or find and therefore easy to attack [v phrase]
The convoy of tanks and trucks made a very easy target. [
People walking alone at night are easy targets for muggers
and other criminals.
attacker ATTACK 7
attain GET 1, REACH 2
attainable POSSIBLE 1
attempt TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1, 8
attempt: in an attempt to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET
STH 7
attempt: make an attempt TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1
attempt on sb's life KILL3
attempted murder KILL 3
attend GO TO/ATTEND 1, 2
attend to DEAL WITH 2, LOOK AFTER SB 6
attendance THERE 6
attendance: be in attendance THERE 5
attention ATTENTION 8
attention: be the centre of attention ATTENTION
8
attention: be the focus of attention ATTENTION 8
attention: bring sth to sb's attention ATTENTION 7
attention: call attention to ATTENTION 7
attention: come to sb's attention/notice FIND OUT 2
attention: draw attention to yourself ATTENTION 6
attention: focus attention on sth ATTENTION 7
attention: get attention ATTENTION 6, 8
attention: give sth/sb your undivided attention
ATTENTION 2
attention: hold your attention INTERESTING 2
attention: not pay any attention to/pay no attention to
IGNORE 1
attention: not want to draw attention to yourself
ATTENTION 10
attention: stand to attention STAND 3
attention: turn your attention to ATTENTION 2
-.!.._:m..i.-.:..m m m,'.....m.m.mm.m,.......m !ii:;.'.i!$iiiii.,.  .;:.;::zii!iii,r-- :.,-
pay- Or gt°ttention .:, .@. ATTENTION
n :.:. in NOTICE
..... :; .. . " -
: .. . . ;.-.   .;,. &.,}.j  ,  i, : ..,..  ..... :;.:.;; .....
..... ,,, .,,  :.=..... .;; ..,.,. .;
not .pay eny:aention  =---.  I
someone :"" ,,:::::!i, :#,, "  ::,'b,,.,,,
..........................................................
ў. ATTENTION
to pay attention to something or get
someone's attention
I to pay attention carefully to what you are
doing, so that you do it properly and do not
make mistakes
• to pay attention to a particular subject,
problem, or piece of work, by discussing it,
thinking about it etc
:3 paying so much attention to what you are
doing that you do not notice anything else
4 to stop paying attention to something that you
are listening to, watching, or doing
5 to not pay attention to something that you
should be listening to, watching etc
10
to make someone pay attention to you
to make people pay attention to a particular
subject, problem etc
to receive a lot of attention from people
to try to make someone stop paying attention
to something
to avoid making people pay attention to you
1 to pay attention carefully to what you are
doing, so that you do it properly and do not
make mistakes
pay attention keep your mind on
concentrate take note
concentration attentive
pay attention /,pei a'tenSan/to listen to and watch care-
fully what you are doing, what is happening, or what some-
one is saying Iv phrase]
Judith never pays attention in class, but she always does her
homework. [ pay attention to You should pay more atten-
tion to your teacher and less to the conversation around you. [
If you'd been paying more attention to what you were doing
you wouldn't have burnt the pan. [ Careful attention should
be paid to sterilizing all your baby's utensils.
concentrate/'konsantret 1[ 'ka:n-/to fix your mind and
thoughts on something so that you pay careful attention
to it and do not think about anything else at the same time
[v I]
I really dislike driving at night becauseyou have to concen-
trate all the time. I I tried to read a few pages but I found it
hard to concentrate. I concentrate on There were so many
people talking that I just couldn't concentrate on the music. I
I couldn't concentrate on my work so I went out for a walk.
concentration /,kosan'treIan II ,ka:n-/ having your
mind and thoughts fixed on something, so that you pay
careful attention to it and do not notice what is happening
around you [n UI
It takes a lot of concentration to study in here - it's far too
noisy. [ The teacher's report said that doey lacked concentra-
tion, and this was affecting his work. [ A young child has
only a short concentration span.
keep your mind on/,ki:p ja:r 'maind o/to continue
to pay attention to something even if you are very excited
or worried about something else [v phrase]
It was difficult to keep her mind on her work when she had
such exciting news to tell Raymond. [ Throughout the day
he couldn't keep his mind on anything except the forthcoming
wedding.
take note/,teik 'naot/a formal expression meaning to
pay attention to and think about something that someone
has said, often allowing it to affect a decision Iv phrase]
There is a lot of criticism of the new law and a number of
politicians are beginning to take note. [ take note of sth
Members of the jury should be careful not to take note of any-
thing in the press relating to the trial.
attentlwe [a'tentiv[ someone who is attentive pays care-
ful attention to someone that they are listening to, watch-
ing or looking after [adj]
The professor was pleased to have such an attentive
audience. I attentive to The crew were extremely attentive
to the passengers" safety.
2 to pay attention to a particular subject,
problem, or piece of work, by discussing it,
thinking about it etc
pay attention to concentrate on
devote attention to give sth/sb your
turn your attention to undivided
focus on attention
pay attention to I,peI a'tenJ'an tu:/[v phrase]
In this part of the course we will pay special attention to the

ATTENTION 80 ATTENTION
spoken language. I The government never pays any attention
to pre-school education.
devote attention to/d[ ,vaot attnJ'an tu:/to pay atten-
tion to something difficult or very important iv phrase]
You'll need to devote attention to your stadies if you want to
pass these exams. I She decided to devote more attention to
her charity work after seeing a film about famine.
turn your attention to / t3:rn ja:r  Itenj'an tu:/to begin
to pay attention to someone or something different or new
iv phrase]
After she'd finished decorating the house, she turned her
attention to the garden. [ Having dealt with the problem of
energy sources, let's now turn our attention to the question
of nuclear power.
focus on /foks on.ll-a:n/ to give one particular
problem or subject all of your attention because it is so
important iv T ]
The conference will focus on the issue of population control. I
The movie focuses on the parallel lives of two families, one
black, one white.
concentrate on/konsantret on II tka:n-, -a:n/to give
more attention to one particular problem or subject than
to others iv TI
The President tended to concentrate on foreign policy and
neglected domestic issues. [ We will achieve more if we con-
centrate on preventive medicine.
give sthlsb your undivided attention/g:v (sth/sb)
ja:r And t va d d a  tenan/to give all your attention to some-
thing or someone and not do anything else at the same time
[ v phrase]
I don't want to go back to work yet - I want to give the chil-
dren my undivided attention. [ Once I had finished my exams,
I could give my undivided attention to looking for a job.
3 paying so much attention to what you are
doing that you do not notice anything else
be engrossed in be immersed in/
be wrapped up in immerse yourself in
be absorbed in preoccupied
be engrossed in Ibi: in tgrotJst In/to be paying so much
attention to something you are doing, for example reading
a book or having a conversation, that you do not notice
what is happening around you iv phrase]
Helen was sitting up in bed, engrossed in a novel. I He was
so engrossed in what he was doing he didn't even hear the
doorbell ring. I She hadn't wanted to go to the party but she
was soon engrossed in conversation with the host.
be wrapped up in/bi: ,rmpt '^p in/to be so involved in
something that you do not notice other people or things,
or do not seem to care about them iv phrase]
She's totally wrapped up in the new baby. I He doesn't have
much time for a social life, he's too wrapped up in his work.
be absorbed in/bi: bts:rbd in/to pay so much atten-
tion to something, especially because you want to hear or
watch what happens next, that you do not notice anything
else around you iv phrase]
I was so absorbed in the game on TV that I didn't hear Alexis
come in. I The little boy sat at the edge of the pond, totally
absorbed in watching the fish in the water.
be immersed in/immerse yourself in/bi: i m3:rst
in, i 'ma:rs ja:rself in/give all your attention to something
such as studying or work so that you do not want to think
about anything else iv phrase]
Wendy was so immersed in her painting that she hadn't left
the house in over a week. I I blame myself- totally immersed
in my latest project, I failed to notice that something was
wrong with him. t He immersed himself in his work and tried
to forget about Julia.
preoccupied /pri:okjOpatd II-o:k-/ paying so much
attention to something or so worried about something that
you cannot think about or remember other things [adj not
before noun]
Peter is sometimes vague, even preoccupied, but he always
remembers my birthday. I preoccupied with At the moment
she is totally preoccupied with her exams. Ask her again next
week.
4 to stop paying attention to something that you
are listening to, watching, or doing
switch off/turn off
switch off (British) I turn off (American)/,swtJ" 'of,
,ta:rn 'of II -':f/[phr v I]
In the end Igor sick of the conversation and switched off.I
It's difficult for teachers to turn off when they go home at
night.
S to not pay attention to something that you
should be listening to, watching etc
not pay attention your mind wanders
daydream inattentive
be miles away
not pay attention/not ,peI 'tenJ'n/iv phrase]
What did the announcers just say? I wasn "t paying attention. I
not pay attention to I didn't know we were going to be
tested on grammar, so I wasn't paying much attention to the
lecture.
daydream /deldri:m/to not pay attention because you
are thinking about pleasant things or imagining things
that you would like to happen iv I]
He suddenly realised he had been daydreaming and hadn't
heard a word his mother had said. I daydream about What
have you been daydreaming about? You haven't been listen-
ing at all.
be miles away/bi: madz we/to not be paying atten-
tion to anything or anyone around you and seem to be
thinking about something very different iv phrase]
I'm sorry, Virginia, I was miles away. What did you say? [
Sorry to disturb you, you looked miles away - but there's a
call for you.
your mind wanders/ja: r ,maind twond)rz II -'wo:n-/if
your mind wanders you are no longer paying attention,
usually because you are bored or because something is
worrying you
He began to read the story, but his mind began to wander. I
let your mind wander Don't let your mind wander, it's
important that you understand how to work this machine.
inattentive I, inatentiw/someone who is inattentive
does not pay attention to something when they are expected
to [adj]
Sally is a lazy and inattentive child who never listens. I inat-
tentive to Employees were indifferent and inattentive to
their work, making the factory highly unproductive.
6 to make someone pay attention to you
get attention
attract attention
draw attention to yourself
get attention/,get o' tenanl to make someone pay atten-
tion to you by doing something they will notice [vphrase]
Unhappy kids often steal just to get attention, l His tantrums
are just a way of getting attention. I get sb's attention It's
impossible to get the waiter's attention in this restaurant.
attract attention/a,trkt altenJ'an/to have people pay
attention to you, even if you are not deliberately trying to
iv phrase ]
Tall and beautiful, she attracted attention wherever she
went. I attract sb's attention He wore a large coat and dark
glasses to avoid attracting anyone's attention.
draw attention to yourself/,dra: a tenj'an tojo:r self/
to deliberately do something in order to make people pay
attention to you because you want them to notice you iv
phrase]
She always tries to draw attention to herself by wearing
bright clothes and speaking loudly.

ATTENTION 81 ATTITUDE
7 to make people pay attention to a particular
subject, problem etc
draw attention to point out
call attention to focus attention on
bring sth to sb's highlight
attention
draw attention to/,dr: a'tenj'an m:/to tell people about
a problem, unpleasant subject etc that you think they
should pay attention to Iv phrase]
His article drew attention to the lack of funding in modern
scientific research. I draw sb's attention to The women's
movement drew people's attention to the discrimination
against women in traditional jobs.
call attention to / Ik:l a Itenj'an tu:/to make people con-
scious of a bad problem or situation that you think people
should pay attention to so that they can help Iv phrase]
The only way to raise money is by calling attention to the
famine in Africa. I call sb's attention to It may be a good
idea to call your employer's attention to those broken
windows.
bring sth to sb's attention/,brirj (sth) to (sb's) o'tenan/
to inform someone in a position of power or authority
about a problem, bad situation etc so that they can do some-
thing to help or stop it Iv phrasel
It was one of the other students who brought your misbeha-
viour to my attention.
point out /paint 'aot/to tell someone about a mistake
they have made, something they have forgotten etc [phr v
I/T]
point out sth Hepointed out the danger of a mountain trek
at this time of year. I point sth/it out I didn't realise I'd
made a mistake. Thank you for pointing it out. I point out
Clearly (as the employers were quick to point out) keyboard-
ing had nothing in common with programming.
focus attention on/,fookos o'tendn o/to make a large
group of people, especially the public, pay attention to one
particular problem or bad situation because it needs their
help [ v phrase]
The publicity campaign helped to focus attention on the needs
of old people in the community. I focus sb's attention on
The new education policies focus teachers" attention on rais-
ing teaching standards.
highlight/'hafla;t/to make people pay attention to one
particular problem or subject by giving more facts or
details about it than about other problems or subjects Iv T]
The report highlights some areas for future research. I Some
of her more modern poems highlight the oppression of
women in society.
8 to receive a lot of attention from people
get attention be the centre of attention
attract attention be the focus of attention
attention
get attention/,get o'tendn/[v phrase]
Solar power has been getting a lot of attention recently. I All
the media attention she's been getting is making her value
her privacy.
attract attention/oltrakt o tenj'an/to be receiving a lot
of attention, even if it is not wanted Iv phrase]
The film has attracted considerable attention since it was
released last week. I The outspoken young senator is attract-
ing a lot of attention.
attention /o'tenan/ the interest that people show in
someone or something In U]
Some people hate having to appear in public but Jerry just
loves all the attention. ] She was very flattered by all the atten-
tion he was giving her.
be the centre of attention/bi: 6o ,sentor ov o tenfan/
if someone is the centre of attention everyone is very
interested in them and gives them a lot of attention Iv
phrase]
I loved talking and being the centre of attention, so I was
chosen to be spokesperson. I Bill was a flamboyant guy -
always the center of attention.
be the focus of attention/bi: 6o ,fookos ov o'tenfan/
if something, especially a bad situation, is the focus of
attention, everyone is paying it a lot of attention because
they are warned about it, interested in it etc Iv phrase]
The earthquake has made skyscrapers the focus of attention. ]
In this chapter, the topic of child abuse is our main focus of
attention.
9 to try to make someone stop paying attention
to something
distract sb's attention
divert attention
distract sb's attention/di,strekt (sb's) o'tenJ'n/to
deliberately stop someone from paying attention to some-
thing important Iv phrase]
Sophie is a naughty child who constantly distracts the other
children's attention. I distract sb's attention from The
bomb could have been planted in order to distract people's
attention from the robbery.
divert attention/din ,v3:rt ot tenan/to deliberately make
someone pay attention to something different from the
thing they should be paying attention to Iv phrase]
The reduction in tax is designed to divert attention, an
attempt to make thepublic forget the elections. I divert sb's
attention Hopefully she can divert the guard's attention
long enough for me to escape. I divert attention from The
newspapers were eager to divert attention from the riots, run-
ning stories about Hollywood movie stars.
to avoid making people pay attention to you
not want to draw attention to yourself
keep a low profile
low key
not want to draw attention to yourself/not ,wont
to ,din: ottenan to j:rtself [[-two:nt-/ to avoid making
people pay attention to you, especially by behaving in a
very quiet or inoffensive way Iv phrase]
I don "t want to draw attention to myselfi I think I'll sit in the
back row.
keep a low profile/,ki:p o ,loo 'proofall/to try not to
make anyone notice you for a period of time, for example
because you have done something bad Iv phrase]
She's keeping a low profile until the scandal is forgotten.
low key /,loo 'ki:-/ low key approach/attitude/
behaviour (=when you do something in a controlled or
quiet way, because you do not want people's attention) [adj
phrase]
After years of expensive advertising the company is trying
a more low key approach to selling their product.
attentive ATTENTION 1
attitude ATTITUDE 1, OPINION 1
ATTITUDE
your opinions and feelings about something,
especially as they are shown in what you say
and do
your opinions and feelings about something,
especially as they are shown in what you say
and do
attitude outlook
mentality world view/world-view
way of thinking

ATTITUDE
attitude/'et]tju:d II -tu:d/In C]
attitude to/towards His attitude to his new job seemed to
be very negative. I In order to change attitudes towards
employing women, the government is bringing in new laws. I
an attitude of They maintained an attitude of defiance to
social conventions. I attitude When I told them I was a
doctor their whole attitude changed. I What I don't need is
somebody with an attitude problem.
mentality/men Italti/an attitude that a particular group
of people has, which makes them behave in a way that you
think is stupid or wrong In C usually singular]
I can't understand the mentality of these teenagers. I She
despised the bourgeois mentality of the professional class. I
You know, I wonder if this is a male kind of mentality.
way of thinking/,we: ov 'O:nk:o/the attitude of a person
or group, especially about what other people should or
should not do In phrase]
You'll come to understand my way of thinking when you're
my age and you have your own children to worry about. I
I was glad to be with people who shared my way of thinking.
outlook/'aotlok/someone's general attitude to life In C/
After a good vacation, you'll have a completely different.out-
look. I The farmers were narrowly provincial in their out-
look. I outlook on life/the world (=attitude to life etc) His
outlook on life is largely a result of his strict education.
world view/world.view/I w3:rld 'vju:/the attitude that
aperson, group or nation has towards life or the world In
singular]
The traditional Indian world-view is based on certain
definite concepts. I the Communist world-view I He believes
the change in the world view has occurred because of the new
developments in communications.
! attract ATTRACT 1, 2, 3
 attract: be attracted to ATTRACTED TO SB 1
 attract attention ATTENTION 6, 8
attract
ATTRACT
1 ways of saying that something has qualities
that make you want to have it or take part in it
or that make people feel very interested in it
2 ways of saying that something or someone
makes people or things come towards them
3 to make someone interested in you sexually
4 having qualities that make you want it or feel
very interested in it
5 something that attracts people
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
82
ATTRACT
1 ways of saying that something has qualities
that make you want to have it or take part in it
or that make people feel very interested in it
attract
tempt
seduce
attract Io'trektl [v TI
attract sb It seems to me that it's the successful teams that
attract football hooligans. I attract sb to sth What attracts
me to the job is the high salary and the possibility of foreign
travel. I attract interest/support/attention etc Politi-
cians still risk having affairs, knowing the massive media
attention they attract. ] Her equal-pay campaign has been
attracting a lot of support.
tempt/tempt/to make someone want to have or do some-
thing, even though they know they really should not [v T/
tempt sb Don't leave valuables on view in your car to tempt
thieves. [ The Parisian shops have things to tempt even the
strongest of wills. [ tempt sb to do sth I'm tempted to sell
my car and buy Steve's.
seduce /s'dju:s [[-'du:s/ to attract someone to buy a
particular product, support a particular political party etc,
by making it seem very attractive Iv T/
seduce sb The government has been accused of bringing
down taxes simply as a means of seducing voters. [ seduce
sb into doing sth TV advertisements seduce people into
buying a particular kind of chocolate bar,. washing powder
or car.
2 ways of saying that something or someone
makes people or things come towards them
attract bring in
draw lure
attract Io'trakt/Iv T/
attract sb/sth Leftover food attracts flies. [ attract sb into/
to/towards etc There were swarms of children, attracted
into the street by the ice-cream seller. [ The special low rent
is designed to attract new businesses to the area.
draw/dra:/if an event or place draws a large number of
people, it attracts them, because it is very popular Iv T/
draw sb The football game is expected to draw a crowd of
around 50,000. [ Such was the reputation of the school that
it drew boys from all over the south of England. [ draw sb
to/into London had completely outgrown its neighbouring
towns, drawing population and wealth to itself.
bring in /brrtJ I in/to make people want to attend an event,
take part in something, or join an organization [phr v T/
bring in sb/sth It's the star players like Gazza who really
bring in the crowds. [ The police force has introduced a new
advertising campaign, in an attempt to bring in more
recruits from the ethnic minorities.
lure/loo r, ljoo r [[ loor/to try to make someone come to a
place, especially by offering things you may not intend to
give them Iv T/
lure sb to/into/away ete He lured her into his home with
offers of food and warmth, then brutally attacked her. [ Ever
since I left the company they have been making attempts to
lure me back. I lure sb The bolas spider lures moths with
its scent, then catches them on a blob of glucose.
3 to make someone interested in you sexually
attract
be attractive to
appeal to
attract Io'trakt/[v T/
Tania always seems to attract married men. I The tanned
muscular body that had first attracted me was now pale and
.flabby.

ATTRACT
be attractive to/bi: o'traktv tu:/to have physical fea-
tures or a character that makes people feel interested in
you sexually Iv phrasel
He had never really thought of his wife as being attractive
to other men. I The survey suggests that "brainy" men are
much more attractive to women than big muscular types.
appeal to/o'pi:l tu:/to have physical features or a charac-
ter that makes a particular person or a particular kind of
person interested in you sexually [v T]
dane is an aerobics teacher, so she should appeal to your son. I
Older women don't appeal to me at all. ] It was his sense of
humor that really appealed to her.
83
4 having qualities that make you want it or feel
very interested in it
attractive irresistible
tempting enticing
appealing
attractive/'traktiv/[adj]
It's a very attractive offer, but I'm afraid I can't accept it. ]
You must choose the career you find most attractive in terms
of pay, working conditions and job satisfaction. ] attractive
to Banks have to think of ways of making long-term saving
more attractive to individuals and business.
tempting/'tempt=o/something that is tempting is some-
thing that you want to do or have very much, but which
you have doubts about doing or having [adj]
I've recently received a very tempting job offer from IBM. I
Go to Java with you? It's tempting I must admit, but I don "t
think I'll be able to afford it. I it is tempting to do sth It
is tempting to believe the government's promises.
appealing/o,pi:ltj/something that is appealing makes
you think seriously about having it or doing it, especially
because it will make your life easier or more comfortable
[adj]
Having someone to do all my cleaning for me was an appeal-
ing prospect. I I find the idea of earning an extra $5000 a year
very appealing. I Although a warmer climate may sound
appealing, the effects of the heat can be difficult to cope with.
irresistible/, r'zstbdl/so good or attractive that you
feel you must have it or do it |adj]
The trolley was filled with irresistible cream cakes. ]
irresistible to High interest rates have made these saving
plans irresistible to small investors.
enticing/n'tas0/something that is enticing attracts
you very strongly, especially because it is interesting and
you want to find out more about it [adj]
enticing smells coming from the kitchen I enticing to The
scars of time make objects more enticing to photographers.
5 something that attracts people
attraction temptation
appeal charm
the lure of
attraction/'trekSdn/In C/UI
A lot of young people take drugs. Personally, I can't see the
attraction. I attraction of For many mothers, the attraction
of a workplace creche is the chance to be near their children
all day. I a tourist attraction (=something that attracts
tourists) The Eiffel Tower is France's major tourist
attraction.
appeal/'pi:l/a quality that someone or something has
that makes people like it, want it, or feel interested in it
In UI
The appeal of personal computers is particularly strong for
people with large amounts of paperwork. I Much of Corfu's
appeal lies in its lively night life. I have a wide appeal (=be
attractive to a large number of people) Her music has a wide
appeal.
the lure of/6 lor v/(=a strongly attractive quality
that makes you want something very much, even though
you know it may be bad for you) ]n phrase]
the lure of money/power/adventure etc It was the lure
atypical
of power and prestige that made me take the job. I I tried so
hard to settle down, but the lure of travel and adventure was
too much for me.
temptation Itemp'teiSan/ something that makes you
want to do or have something, even though you know you
should not [n C/U]
Life in New York had far too many temptations. ] resist
temptation (=not do something that you would really like
to do) I thought of taking a day off work, but resisted the
temptation.
charm/to:rm/a pleasant quality that someone has which
makes other people like them, feel attracted to them or be
easily persuaded by them In U]
With her charm and good looks, she's sure to be a success. I
He still had a kind of boyish charm that everyone found
lovable and amusing. I She was a leader of great character
and tremendous personal charm.
ATTRACTED TO
SB
1 to be sexually attracted to someone
1 to be sexually attracted to someone
be attracted to want
fancy lust after
be interested in take a fancy to
be attracted to/bi: o'trektold tu:/to feel attracted to
someone, so that you would like to have a sexual relation-
ship with them Iv phrasel
I've always been very attracted to blondes. I I don't know why
I was ever attracted to him in the first place. I strongly
attracted to She didn't really like him as a person, but she
felt strongly attracted to him.
fancy/'fensi/an informal British word meaning to be
sexually attracted to someone Iv T]
Everyone knows you fancy Sara. Why don't you ask her out?]
Fenella really fancied the drummer and went over to chat
to him after the concert.
be interested in Ibi:-, intr st d in/an expression mean-
ing to feel sexually attracted to someone, used especially
when you are being polite and do not want to say that you
have sexual feelings about them Iv phrase]
She's not really been interested in anyone since the divorce.
want/wont II wo:nt, wa:nt/a word used especially in sto-
ries meaning to feel very attracted to someone and to want
to have sex with them Iv T]
"'I want you," she whispered, "I want you now. "" I He was
obsessed with her and wanted her desperately.
lust after/'last o:fta r II-ef-/a humorous or informal
expression meaning to be strongly sexually attracted to
someone and think about having sex with them Iv T1
You must really enjoy it, having all those fans lusting after
you!
take a fancy to/,tek a 'fansi tu:/an informal British
expression meaning to start liking someone and feel sexu-
ally attracted to them, especially in a way that is not very
serious ]v phrase]
Petra's taken a fancy to my elder brother. I He seems to have
taken quite a fancy to his English teacher - he's always hang-
ing around her.
attraction ATTRACT 5
attractive ATTRACT 4, BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 2,
4, GOOD/EXCELLENT 3, SEXY 1
attractive: be attractive to ATTRACT 3
..:;:{ attractively BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 6
•  attribute CHARACTER OF STH 2, CHARACTER/
 PERSONALITY 3
} attribute sth to CAUSE 13, RESULT 10
.-- atypical TYPICAL 5

auction
 auction SELL 6
• ii auction: put sth up for auction SELL 6
' audacious BRAVE 4
, audible HEAR 2
..::$
-- audience LISTEN 5, 6, WATCH 5
•  augment INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7
 auspicious HOPE 7
 austere SIMPLE/PLAIN 2
 authentic REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 1
 author WRITE 16
....;:' author: the author WRITE 17
i!i authoritarian STRICT 1
! authoritative BELIEVE 11
i!i: ! authorities: the authorities GOVERNMENT 3
ii authority KNOW STH 6, ORGANIZATION 2, POWER 1
= authority: in authority POWER 3
:ii authorization LET/ALLOW 9
. authorize LET/ALLOW 8
 autobiography STORY 8
..: autograph SIGN YOUR NAME 1, 2
i:- automatic MACHINE 2, THINK ABOUT 10
automatically ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 1, THINK ABOUT 9
=; autonomous INDEPENDENT COUNTRY OR
• ., ORGANIZATION 1
avail: to no avail FAIL 2
: available AVAILABLE 1, 5, USE STH 8
ii available: not available BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
•
ii. available: not available/unavailable AVAILABLE 6
AVAILABLE
available for someone to have or use
available for anyone to have or take if they
want it
available because no one is using it
words for describing a job that is available
available to do something, not busy
not available
I available for someone to have or use
available at your disposal
obtainable be on tap
available/'vedbal/people or things that are available
are easy to find or get because there is enough of them, they
are not being used by someone else, someone is selling
them etc [adj]
What kind of accommodation will be available? t We have
tried to make the best use of the available space. I We had
already used up all the funds available. I available from/
at These books are available from any good bookstore. I
available to A free counselling service is available to all
students. I readily/freely available (=very easy to find
and available to anyone) Crack, heroin and other Class A
drugs are readily available on the streets these days.
availability/a veilab;lIti/In U] The availability of books
and magazines has been threatened by the strike.
obtainable /ab'tenabal/ goods or products that are
obtainable are easy to ffmd or buy because someone is sell-
ing them [adj not before noun]
Ski boots are obtainable in a range of sizes. I By 1941 many
basic foodstuffs were no longer obtainable. I obtainable
from Copper piping is obtainable from most builders'
suppliers.
at your disposal/at ja:r di 'spaozal/if something is at
your disposal, someone has provided it for you to use
whenever you want or in any way that you want [adj
phrase]
If I can help in any way, my laboratory is totally at your dis-
posal. I have sth at your disposal He behaved as if he had
unlimited funds at his disposal. I put/place sth at sb's
disposal (=make something available for someone) She
placed her car completely at my disposal for the week.
84
AVAILABLE
be on tap/bi: tn 'tep/an informal expression: if some-
thing that you like or enjoy is on tap it is available to you
all the time so that you can have it whenever you want it
Iv phrase]
It's a great place for a rest:food, music, alcohol -everything's
on tap. I When he left home he realized that his parents"
support and advice was no longer on tap.
2 available for anyone to have or take if they
want it
be going yours for the taking/asking
be up for grabs be going begging
to be had
be going/bi: 'guO/an informal expression used espe-
cially in British English: if something is going it is avail-
able for anyone who wants it Iv phrase]
Is there any more wine going? l There aren't many jobs going
in this part of the country.
be up for grabs/bi: ,^p fr 'graebz/an informal expres-
sion: if something such as a job, chance, or prize, is up for
grabs it is available to anyone who wants to try to have
it, especially if no one has yet decided who should have it
[ v phrase ]
When I leave here my job's going to be up for grabs. [ There
are plenty of opportunities up for grabs in this sector of the
market.
to be had/t bi: 'hed/something that is to be had is
available to anyone who knows that they want it and where
to get it from [adj phrase]
When no work was to be had he borrowed money from
friends. I There wasn't a decent pizza to be had in the whole
of the city. [ She knew of a place where designer clothes were
to be had at bargain prices.
yours for the taking/asking /j:rz fr (3 tekit],
'o:sk;g l[ -'esk-/something important, expensive, desir-
able etc that is yours for the taking or asking is easily
available to you, so that you can get it without making any
effort
If you wantpromotion, it's yours for the taking. I She thought
that all the good things in life were hers for the asking. I We
need to show them how to use all the resources that are there
for the taking.
be going begging/bi: ,gouIO 'begig/if something is
going begging it is easily available either because there
is a lot of it or because no one else wants it Iv phrase]
I think you'll find there are plenty of tickets going begging
for Saturday's game. I People who think there are jobs going
begging in New York are going to be very disappointed.
3 available because no one is using it
free
empty
vacant
free/fri:/something such as a chair or a room that is free
is not being used by anyone and no one has asked for it to
be kept empty so that they can use it later [adj]
Is this seat free? I There are never any free parking spaces
on Saturday mornings. [ We're very busy at the moment.
There are no free rooms at the hotel at all.
empty / 'empti! something such as a room or seat that is
empty has no one using it at the moment and is therefore
available for someone else to use [adj]
They have three empty rooms now that the kids have moved
out. [ I think there's an empty seat in the back row.
vacant /veikant! a building, home, room, or office that
is vacant is available because it is not owned or rented by
anyone [adj]
There don't seem to be any vacant rooms in the whole of
London! l If you're looking for somewhere to rent, I think
there's a vacant apartment in my building. I Of the build-
ings the company owns, only 3% are vacant.

AVAILABLE 85 AVOID
4 words for describing a job that is available
vacant
vacancy
open
vacant/'vekant/not being done by anyone at the moment
and therefore available [adj]
Our company only has one or two vacant positions at the
moment. [ When the post became vacant it was offered to
Wendy Brooks. [ fall vacant (=become vacant) He applied
for the job of Eliot's personal secretary, which had just fallen
vacant.
vacancy / Iveikansi/an available job in C]
There are over 3 million people unemployed and only 400, 000
vacancies. [ I'm sorry, the firm has no vacancies at the
moment.
open / upn/a job that is open, especially a job that needs
a lot of skill, is still available because it has not yet been
given to anyone else [adj not before noun]
Is that job you told me about last week still open? [ open to
sb The position is open to graduates in any subject.
5 available to do something, not busy
available
free
available I'vedobal/someone who is available is not
doing anything now and is therefore available to do some-
thing, especially a piece of work for someone else [adj]
We need someone to work on this job immediately. Who's
available? ] Most of the staff is away today so you'll have to
use whoever is available. [None of the witnesses were avail-
able for comment.
availability/a,vedo'bflti/In U] It is the hospital manager
who should match the availability of staff with the needs of
the patients.
free lfri:! someone who is free is available because they
are not doing anything now or have finished what they
were doing [adj]
I'll be free in about five minutes. Can you wait?[Ask one of
the free sales assistants to help you choose your colour.
6 not available
not available/unavailable
unobtainable
not to be had/found
not available/unavailable /,not a'veilabal, ,hna-
'veilabal/[adj not before noun]
She took a temporary job because a permanent job was not
available. [ This type of specialized treatment is not availa-
ble at all hospitals. [ In many Russian cities basic foodstuffs
are unavailable.
unobtainable / ,Anab teinabal/goods or products that are
unobtainable are impossible to get or buy [adj not usually
before noun ]
Fresh fruit is unobtainable at certain times of the year. [
Many of our usual products are unobtainable at the moment
but we will inform you when they are in stock.
not to be had/found/not ta bi: hed, Ifaund/if some-
thing that you really want is not to be had or not to be
found you know it is not available at all because you have
tried to get it everywhere [adj phrase]
At the moment warm woollen socks are not to be found in
the whole of Bucharest. I Good legal advice is simply not to
be had, because of the shortage of lawyers.
avalanche: deluge of/avalanche of LOT/A LARGE
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
-..
avant-garde MODERN 3
: avenge REVENGE 1
average ORDINARY 1
• average: on average USUALLY 1
: averse: not be averse to LIKE SB OR STH 3
... aversion DON'T LIKE 5
"-.:i avert PREVENT 2
;'.-..' avert your eyes/gaze LOOK AT 9
 avid ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 6
avid: be a great/keen/avid reader READ 7
: avoid AVOID 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, PREVENT 2
;; avoid: to avoid sth/in order to avoid sth TO/IN
--
;': ORDER TO 2
avoid
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prevent som-et.h.in-g ,.,:i!! @ PREVENT
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AVOID
to avoid something or someone that is
unpleasant, dangerous etc
to avoid doing something that you have to do
or have promised to do
to avoid a problem or bad situation
to avoid obeying a law or legal responsibility,
especially dishonesty
to avoid talking about a particular subject, or
answering a question
to avoid being hit by something, or being
seen by someone etc
to avoid travelling through, or going near, a
place
1 to avoid something or someone that is
unpleasant, dangerous etc
avoid give sth/sb a wide berth
stay/keep away shy away from
steer clear of keep apart
avoid/a'v3Idl to deliberately not get involved with some-
one or something or not do something because it is
unpleasant, dangerous etc |v T]
avoid sb/sth These drugs are dangerous. I would avoid
them, if I were you. I I have the feeling you've been avoiding
me recently. I avoid doing sth The best way to lose weight
is to avoid eating fatty foods. I best avoided When prepar-
ing for exams late-night parties are best avoided. I avoid
sb/sth like the plague (=completely avoid someone or
something) Ever since I found out that I'm allergic to dairy
produce I've been avoiding it like the plague.
stay/keep away/,ste, ,ki:p o'wei/to avoid someone or
something, usually because they are very dangerous,
unpleasant etc [phr v I]
stay/keep away from Keep away from Sam; he's crazy. [
The doctor told him to stay away from coffee, tea and alco-
hol. [ Tourists were warned they should stay away from
black market money exchanges. [ stay/keep well away
(=make a great effort to avoid something) My cousins, sens-
ing trouble, were keeping well away.
steer clear of / stio r khar ov/to make an effort to avoid
someone or something especially because there could be
serious problems if you do not iv phrase]

AVOID 86 AVOID
Steer clear of that crowd - they're trouble! I The film steered
clear of the political argument. I steer well clear of(=avoid
someone or something completely) Visitors to the troubled
region are advised to steer well clear of demonstrations. I
steer clear She's a strange character, and I would steer clear
if I were you.
give sthlsb a wide berth /=gIv (sth/sb)  wald =b3:ro/
an informal expression used especially in British English
meaning to be careful to avoid someone or something
because they are unpleasant or cause problems [v phrase]
I'm going to give the boss a wide berth at the party - she'll
only want to talk about work.
shy away from / I.[aI alwei from/to avoid a subject, idea
or situation because you are afraid of it, do not understand
it etc [v T/
shy away from sth The author does not shy away from the
major topics of death, sickness and old age. I shy away from
doing sth He shied away from the prospect of working in
an office. I Manyfirms shy away from adopting this policy.
keep apart /,ki:p apo:rt/ to avoid being with other
people so that you do not have to talk to them, in a way that
seems unfriendly [phr v I]
Anne's very shy and likes to keep apart. I keep apart from
Being such close friends we tended to keep apart from the
other students.
2 to avoid doing something that you have to do
or have promised to do
avoid wriggle out of
get out of worm your way out of
duck out of duck
avoid I'vdl [v T/
avoid doing sth Do you think he's gone away to avoid talk-
ing to the police? I She's a good manager, because she never
avoids dealing with the problems of her staff. I avoid sth
You can't continue avoiding your responsibilities.
get out of/get aot ov/an informal expression meaning
to avoid doing something that you have promised to do
[v T/
get out of sth "'I can "t see you this afternoon. I have a meet-
ing. "" "'Can't you get out of it?" l Get out of the dinner party
and come around to see me. I get out of doing sth Sue
always tries to get out of doing the dishes by disappearing
to the bathroom.
du©k out o|/dAk aot ov/an informal expression mean-
ing to avoid doing something that you have to do or have
promised to do especially in a way that makes people not
like or respect you Iv T/
duck out of sth She's really good at ducking out of things
they ask her to do - why did they promote her? I duck out
of doing sth He ducked out of going to the party by saying
he had to look after his kid brother - can you believe that?
wriggle out of (also weasel out of in American
English) I Irgdl aot ov/ to avoid doing something you
should do by using clever or dishonest explanations or
excuses [v T/
wriggle out of sth He tried to wriggle out of his responsi-
bilities. I She's not very reliable. She always weasels out of
her share of the work. I wriggle out of doing sth Unless
he can wriggle out of writing the report again, he'll have to
do it today.
worm your way out of/w3:rm jo:r we aut ov/to
avoid doing something that you have been asked to do, by
making an excuse that is dishonest but is also very clever
[ v phrase]
I managed to worm my way out of the party by telling them
that I had to visit my parents. I I don "t know how, but he suc-
ceeded in worming his way out of going to the meeting.
duck/d^k/duck an issue/decision/responsibility etc
(=avoid doing anything about it although it is your duty
to do so) [v T/
Politicians always duck the most difficult problems until
after an election. I He hasn't made any enemies so far, because
of his success in ducking tough decisions.
to avoid a problem or bad situation
avoid
get around
avoid/'vId/[v T/
avoid sth I'm sure he wants to avoid a scandal. I To avoid
danger of suffocation, keep this bag away from babies and
children. ] avoid doing sth Take whatever precautions you
can to avoid being involved in an accident.
get around (also get round in British English)/get
()raond/get around a problem/difficulty/argument
etc (=find a way to deal with the problem so that you can
continue with what you want to achieve) Iv T]
The administration got around this problem by introducing
a new law. I If we can get round these difficulties, we'll be
able to discuss the really important points.
4 to avoid obeying a law or legal responsibility,
especially dishonesty
avoid bypass
evade get around
dodge
avoid/'voId/[v T/
avoid doing sth You may be able to avoid paying income
tax on the money that you save. I Some men entered teach-
ing to avoid serving in the army. I avoid sth Import duties
on some goods can be avoided if you know how.
avoidance [n U/This country loses millions of pounds every
year because of tax avoidance (=legal ways of not paying
tax).
evade/ Ived/to avoid a law or duty by doing something
illegal [v Tl
evade sth Clever businessmen often manage to evade taxes.
He's managed to evade several drunk driving convictions. I
evade doing sth You are trying to evade paying the com-
pensation.
evasion/[ vei3dn / [n U/The authorities are becoming stric-
ter about tax evasion (=illegal ways of not paying tax).
dodge/dod3 II da:ds/an informal word meaning to avoid
obeying a law or duty especially by being dishonest [v T/
Nobody likes paying taxes, but it is unfair to dodge them. I
Drivers who drink will find it hard to dodge random breath
tests once the new law is introduced.
dodge [n C/He was the kind of person who always knew
about the latest tax dodge (=the latest way to avoid paying
taxes).
bypass /baipo:s II-pes/bypass a law/restrictions/
rules etc (=avoid it legally, especially because you know
a lot about the laws and can use them cleverly) [v T/
The authorities bypassed the building regulations, and
started work on the new supermarket. [ The rules can be
bypassed in certain circumstances.
get around (also get round in British English)/,get
() raund/to find a legal way of avoiding a law or rule that
prevents you from doing what you want to do [v T/
We asked him how we could get around the legal require-
ment. I The government could have got round the inter-
national rules for disposal of waste at sea.
5
to avoid talking about a particular subject, or
answering a question
avoid
evade
evasive
sidestep/dodge/duck
fudge
beat about the bush/
around the bush
avoid/a'vId/[v T/
avoid sth Try to avoid subjects like sex or religion as they
can cause offence. I To avoid further questioning, he got up
and left the room. I avoid doing sth They both avoided talk-
ing about Charles.
evade/ 'void/to avoid a particular subject or a question
because you are trying to hide something [v T/

AVOID
Steve evaded the question when I asked him why he had left
work so early. I I tried to discuss it with him, but he evaded
the issue and talked about baseball. I The best interviewers
make it impossible for politicians to evade their questions.
evasive ]i.veisiv] someone who is evasive tries to avoid
answering particular questions or talking about particu-
lar subjects, because they want to hide something [adj]
When I asked about his future plans, he suddenly became
evasive. I President Reagan was accused of being evasive,
particularly in regard to the Iran-Contra affair. I All of their
questions were met with vague, evasive answers.
evasively [adv] "'I am not in a position to comment, "" she
replied evasively.
sidestep/dodge/duck/'saidstep, diodE, dAk I[ -do:dE-/
informal words meaning to avoid answering a question,
usually by talking about something else so that people do
not realize that you have not answered it Iv T]
He sidestepped the question he had been asked, and talked
instead about plans for the future. ] The management dodged
the issue of salary increases. ] She had asked a difficult ques-
tion, and he had ducked it.
fudge/fAd3/to avoid giving an exact or clear answer when
someone has asked you a difficult question Iv T]
He has fudged some of his answers, rather than admit the
facts. [ fudge an issue (=avoid giving a clear answer on a
particular subject) He was under a lot of pressure and
seemed to fudge the issue.
beat about the bush (British) I around the bush
(American)/,bi:t baot 6 'bu, raund-/to avoid talking
about the most important detail of something and talk
about other details instead, because you are embarrassed,
not confident etc Iv phrase]
Don't beat about the bush; get to the point. I Why don't you
just ask her to go out with you, instead of beating around
the bush?
87
6 to avoid being hit by something, or being
seen by someone etc
avoid duck
get out of the way dodge
avoid/a'vid/[v T]
avoid sb/sth I saw my boss at the party, but I avoided him
by going into the kitchen. I I swerved to avoid the oncoming
truck. [ avoid doing sth She threw herself to the ground to
avoid being hit by the ball.
get out of the way/get ,aot av 6a 'weiI to move, usually
very quickly, in order to avoid something Iv phrase]
"'Get out of the way, "" he shouted, as the tree began to fall. [
There was a sudden move to get out of the way as the bull
began to run towards us. [ get out of the way of Ionlyjust
had time to get out out of the way of the rock as it rolled down
the hill.
duck/dAk/to avoid something by quickly lowering your
head and upper body Iv I]
He didn't duck in time, and hit his head on the low ceiling. I
dosie saw the rock coming and ducked, but it struck her on
the ear. I duck behind/into/through ere The boy ducked
behind the wall when he saw his teacher.
dodge/dd5 ]] do:dE/to avoid something or someone by
moving quickly to the side [v I/T]
dodge sb/sth I dodged the book he threw at me. i Dodging
the policeman, he ran through the gate. I dodge I dodged to
get out of his way. I dodge behind/into etc When Kevin saw
the soldiers, he dodged into an alley.
7 to avoid travelling through, or going near, a
place
avoid make a detour
stay/keep away bypass
stay/keep clear of
avoid/o'v3Id/[V T]
We avoided the main road because there had been an acci-
dent there. ] If you suffer from hayfever, avoid gardens full
awkward position
offlowers on hot summer days. I be best avoided (=it is
better if it is avoided) Downtown is best avoided on national
holidays and on Sundays in summer.
stay/keep away / ,steI, ,ki:p  'weI/to not go near a place
because of a particular reason, for example because you do
not like it [phr v I]
stay/keep away from I stayed away from the busy shop-
ping centre as much as I could in summer. [ Martin kept
away from concerts, in case he met her again. I stay/keep
well away (=make an effort to avoid something) There had
been warnings of a bomb in the town, so we kept well away.
stay/keep clear of/,stei, ,ld:p 'kliar vvl to avoid a place
because of some danger or trouble there Iv phrase]
You'd better keep clear of the city for a time, as there may be
a riot. I We had to be careful to stay clear of towns where we
might be recognised. I stay/keep well clear of (:not go
anywhere near) When they were on vacation, they kept well
clear of tourist traps. I stay/keep clear Because of the
situation in the north of the country, we were advised to keep
clear.
make a detour I,mek a 'di:tur/to travel around a place
instead of through the centre of it, especially to avoid a
traffic problem [v phrase]
When he realised the police were on the road ahead, the
driver made a detour. I We had to make a long detour to get
around the blocked road.
bypass/'baipa:s [I -pes/to avoid a town or city by taking
a road around it rather than through the centre of it Iv T]
You should take the expressway because it bypasses the
town. [ A lot of drivers bypass Lockport, but it is worth stop-
ping to look at the locks on the Erie Canal.
bypass In C] A new bypass (=a road bypassing a town) is
being built round the town.
avoidable PREVENT 10
await WAIT 1
awake CONSCIOUS 1, SLEEP 17, WAKE UP/GET UP 1
awake: be awake WAKE UP/GET UP 1
awake: lie awake SLEEP 11
award GIVE 5
awarded: be awarded GET 3
aware: as far as I'm aware THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 3
aware: be aware KNOW STH 2
aware: be aware of KNOW STH 14
aware: become aware/conscious NOTICE 1
aware: become aware that REALIZE 1
awash WET 1
away DISTANCE 3
away/off FUTURE 6
away: be away HERE 6
away: be away/off HERE 7, THERE 8
away from DISTANCE 3
awe-inspiring IMPRESS 4
awfulltetriblelhorrible BAD 1:3
awkward CLUMSY 2, DIFFICULT 5, 7, EMBARRASSED 1
awkward position: be in a difficult/awkward position
PROBLEM 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

baby
B
:g baby BABY/HAVE A BABY 1 2
{,.. baby: be going to have a baby/be having a baby
i. BABY/HAVE A BABY 7
baby: have a babyltwinslkittenslpuppies etc
 BABY/HAVE A BABY 5
BABY/HAVE A
BABY
10
11
12
13
14
a human baby
a baby animal
a baby that is still developing in its mother's
body before birth
ways of saying that a baby is born
to give birth to a baby
to help with the birth of a baby
words for describing a woman or female
animal that has a baby developing in her
body
designed for or provided for women who are
having babies
the period before birth during which a baby
or young animal is developing in its mother's
body
to lose a baby before it is born
to get rid of a baby before it is born
to be able to have babies
to be unable to have babies
ways of saying that humans or animals
produce babies
the method or process by which humans,
animals, or plants produce babies
1 a human baby
baby child
infant newborn
baby I'bebi/a very young child, especially one who has
not yet learned to speak or walk In C]
Would you mind looking after the baby for us on Saturday
afternoon? [ baby girl/boy A four day old baby girl today
underwent a liver transplant operation at St Bartholomew's
Hospital. [ baby clothes/food/milk etc (=for babies)Let's
see if there are any nice baby clothes in the sales.
infant/I infant/a word used especially in literature or in
technical contexts, meaning a baby In C]
The infant, cradled in Miriam's arms, began to cry. I There
are clear differences in temperament and speed of learning
between infants at this early stage.
child/tSadd/a baby at the time when it is born or before
it is born In C]
Roberta's first child weighed over four kilos at birth. I Med-
ical staff, realizing that the child was in distress, had decided
to deliver it by caesarean section.
newborn /Inju:b:rn II nu:-/ newborn baby/child/
infant (=that has just been born) [adj]
Newborn infants spend a lot of time sleeping. I Relatives and
friends all wanted to see the newborn baby.
newborn In C] It is normal for newborns (=newborn
babies) to have very large heads.
88
BABY/HAVE A BABY
2 a baby animal
young
baby
newborn
young/J^]l a wild animal's or bird's babies [n plural]
The mother bird's main concern is to provide food for her
young. [ Kangaroos carry their young in a pouch
baby/'beibi/baby animal/rabbit/elephant etc (=a very
young animal, rabbit etc, used especially by or to children)
[adj only before noun]
In the zoo there is a small farm where children can look at
the baby animals. I Baby monkeys cling to their mother's fur.
newborn I'nju:b:rn [I 'nu:-/a newborn animal is one
that has just been born [adj]
Many newborn animals cannot open their eyes. I The horse
lay in the straw with the newborn foal nestling into her side.
3 a baby that is still developing in its mother's
body before birth
unborn child/baby
foetus/fetus
embryo
unborn child/baby/,^nb:rn 'tSadd, 'bebil In C]
Doctors do not know what the long-term effects of the drug
will be on the unborn child. [ Petra could feel her unborn
baby moving inside her.
foetus/fetus 1, fi:ts/a medical word meaning a baby
that is still in its mother's body, especially at a stage when
the baby's body is fully formed In C]
By the end of the third month of pregnancy the foetus is a
miniature human being. [ High blood pressure severely
endangers the lives of mother and fetus.
embryo I'embriu/a medical word meaning a baby that
is in the earliest stage of development in its mother's body
In CI
After settling in the womb, the embryo begins to develop. I
The sex of human embryos can be established at eight weeks.
4 ways of saying that a baby is born
be born arrive
birth come along
be born/bi: 'b:rn/[v phrase]
The baby was born two months early and had to be kept in
the hospital. [ At this time of year, as many as twenty lambs
are born every night. [ All our children were born at home.
birth/b3:rO/the fact or process of being born In C/U]
It was a difficult birth. I There have been four births in our
family this year. [ It's common nowadays for fathers to be
present at the birth of their babies. [ at birth (=at the time
when someone is born) Most birds cannot identify the&par-
ents at birth and simply follow the first moving object they
see.
arrive/'raiv/to be born, especially at a particular time
[v I1
The baby arrived attire minutes past midnight. [ Has your
sister's baby arrived yet?
arrival In U] The arrival of our first child brought a new
joy into our lives.
come along I,lcm lm3 l[ -b:rj! a word meaning to be
born, used especially when talking about how the baby's
birth affects its parents' lives [phr v I]
I was studying to be an accountant, but then the baby came
along and I had to give it all up. [ By the time her third child
came along, Mrs Jones had strong ideas on how children
should be brought up.
5 to give birth to a baby
have a baby/twins/
kittens/puppies etc
give birth
become a mother
childbirth
labour/labor

BABY/HAVE A BABY 89 BABY/HAVE A BABY
have a babyltwinslkittenslpupples etc/hav (a
baby, etc)/[v phrase]
Having a baby changes your life completely. I After my wife
had the twins we were really broke for a while. I Our cat had
six beautiful little kittens while we were on vacation.
give bigh/,giv 'ha:r0/an expression meaning to have
a baby, used especially when talking about the actual
process of doing this [v phrase]
Zelda was admitted to the hospital at one o'clock, and gave
birth two hours later. I The female gives birth in a nest-like
bed made of grasses. I give birth to a child/daughter etc
When Pablo was three, his mother gave birth to a daughter.
become a mother/bi,kAm a mA6ar/to have a baby for
the first time [v phrase]
Rachel was looking forward to becoming a mother. I
become the mother of a son/twins etc Nine months later
she became the mother of a son, who was named George.
childbirth/'tafldba:r0/the process of giving birth [n U]
Many drugs have been used in the past to ease the pain of
childbirth. [ die in childbirth (=die while giving birth)
Samuel's mother died in childbirth, and he was brought up
by his aunt. [ natural childbirth (:without drugs, medi-
cal operations etc) Natural childbirth has become more
popular over the last 20 years.
labour (British) l labor (American)/'lebar/the whole
process of giving birth, from the time when the baby starts
to be pushed out of its mother's body |n U]
Connie knew that labor had started so she called the doctor. I
in labour By the time I arrived she was already in labour
with her first, eagerly awaited baby. I go into labour
(=begin the process of giving birth) One of the horses had
gone into labour so the farmer called the vet.
6 to help with the birth of a baby
deliver
delivery
deliver Id 'hvar/[v T]
Our family doctor delivered the baby. I The birth was so
quick that my husband had to deliver the baby himself. I
Julia's third child had to be delivered by caesarean section.
delivery/d 'hvari/the process of giving birth, especially
when the birth is helped by doctors and nurses ]n C]
A hospital is usually the bestplacefor a safe delivery. I Meg
was recovering from a particularly complicated delivery.
7 words for describing a woman or female
animal that has a baby developing in her body
pregnant be expecting
be going to have a baby/ expectant
be having a baby
pregnant/'pregnant/[adjl
The health centre provides milk and vitamins for pregnant
women. I When our hamster was pregnant she looked like
a round, furry ball. I get pregnant We can't stop these kids
having sex, but we can help them to avoid getting pregnant. [
pregnant with When I was pregnant with Mandy I used to
wear those denim dungarees. I twenty weeks/three
months etc pregnant When Janette was three months preg-
nant she caughtflu. I heavily pregnant (:when the baby
is almost ready to be born) By this time I was heavily preg-
nant and could hardly get into any of my clothes.
be going to have a baby/be having a baby Ibi:
gaoirj ta hav a 'belbi, bi: hvirJ a 'belbil an expression
meaning to have a baby developing in your body, used espe-
cially when you are telling someone that you or another
person is going to have a baby [v phrase]
Isn't it wonderful! Susie's going to have a baby! [ The doctor
told Delphine that the tests were positive and she was going
to have'a baby. [ My boss is having a baby in March, but
she's only taking maternity leave for three months.
be expecting /bi: ikspektl0/ an informal expression
meaning to have a baby developing inside you [v phrase]
They'd only been married a couple of months and already
Rebecca was expecting. [ be expecting a baby/child Steffi's
expecting another baby, so she'll probably stop work in June.
expectant Ikspektant/ expectant mother/father
(:whose baby will be born soon) [adj only before noun]
Expectant mothers sometimes have cravings for unusual
foods.
designed for or provided for women who are
having babies
maternity
antenatal/prenatal
maternity/ma't3:rnti/maternity care/dress/ward/
leave etc (=for women who are going to have a baby or
have just had a baby) [adj only before noun]
Maternity clothes are more stylish than they used to be. ] Most
women who take maternity leave look forward to returning
to their jobs. [ Which way to the maternity ward?
antenatal (British) I prenatal (American)/,a:nu 'netl,
pri:neitl-/ antenatal classes/clinic/care etc (=pro-
viding special care for women who are going to have a
baby) ]adj only before noun]
Pregnant teenagers often do not want to attend antenatal
classes. I Towards the end of a pregnancy, doctors recom-
mend more frequent prenatal check-ups.
 the period before birth during which a baby
or young animal is developing in its mother's
body
pregnancy
gestation period
pregnancy/'pregnansi/[n C/U]
Many wornen find their skin is at its best during pregnancy. I
Mothers who smoke during their pregnancies are more likely
to have small babies. I It had been a difficult pregnancy, and
for the last 4 months she had been forced to lie down.
gestation period/d3estelfan piariad/a technical or
medical word meaning the length of time a human or
animal baby develops in its mother's body [n C]
The gestation period of an elephant is almost two years.
10 to lose a baby before it is born
lose the baby
miscarry/have a miscarriage
stillborn
lose the baby/,lu:z 6a 'beibil [v phrase]
"Am I going to lose the baby?" she asked the doctor. I Your
wife is recovering well, but I'm afraid she lost the baby.
miscarry/have a miscarriage/mls kari, hmv a 'mls-
karldS/to lose a baby because it is born too early for it to
live, usually because of illness, shock etc [v I]
I think my wife's having a miscarriage. Send an ambulance
immediately! I Janine miscarried twice before eventually
giving birth to a son.
stillborn I stllba:rn, stl'b:rn/a baby that is stillborn,
is born dead but fully developed [adjl
Sadly, the baby was stillborn. I Libby had still not recovered
from the shock of giving birth to a stillborn child.
1 1 to get rid of a baby before it is born
have an abortion
terminate a pregnancy
have an abortion / hav an aba: rj'an/to have a medical
operation in order to prevent a baby from being born alive
[ v phrase]
A friend of mine got pregnant when she was fifteen and had
an abortion.
abortion [n C/U] Abortion was illegal (=it was illegal to
have an abortion) in most European countries until fairly
recently. ] Abortions are performed only on women who are
less than 28 weeks pregnant.

BABY/HAVE A BABY 90 BACK/BACKWARDS
terminate a pregnancy/,t3:rmneit o 'pregnonsi/ a 
legal or medical expression meaning to perform the oper- 
orion that prevents a baby from being born alive [vphrase] 
Doctors may terminate a pregnancy when the life of the
mother is at risk.
12 to be able to have babies
be able to have children
fertile
be able to have children/bi: ,eibal to hev 'tJ'ildron/
to be able to have a baby because there are no physical rea-
sons to prevent you from doing this Iv phrase]
After the operation will I still be able to have children?
fertile/'f'3:tai1 II 'fa:rtl/a technical or medical word mean-
ing able to have a baby or be the father of a baby [adj]
While most men remain fertile into old age, women do not.
fertility/fo r Itfllti/In U] Certain drugs have been found to
put women's fertility at risk (=make them less fertile).
13 to be unable to have babies
be unable to have children
infertile
sterile
be unable to have children /bi: ^n,eibal to hav
'tj'ildron/Iv phrase]
The doctor told the couple that they couldn't have children. I
Young girls often ended up having back-street abortions,
which left them unable to have children in the future.
infertile/In I f3:tafl II -'f3:rtl/a technical or medical word
meaning unable to have babies [adj]
These new medical techniques provide hope for infertile
couples.
infertility/, info r 'tdti/In U] It took her a long time to come
to terms with her infertility.
sterile I'steraI1 II -roll unable to have babies, especially
when this is a permanent condition [adj]
Susan thought that her illness had made her sterile.
sterility/sto' rfl ti/In U] Exposure of the sex glands to radi-
ation can cause sterility.
14 ways of saying that humans or animals
produce babies
reproduce
breed
reproduce /,ri:pro'dju:s II-'du:s/ a word meaning to
produce babies, used especially when talking about the
method by which this is done or the rate at which it hap-
pens Iv I]
In some parts of the world, humans are reproducing very
rapidly, causing overpopulation. I Jellyfish reproduce by
releasing eggs and sperm into the sea.
breed/bri:d/if animals breed, they produce babies Iv I]
Rabbits breed very quickly.
breeding In U] Birds make nests in preparation for
breeding.
1 5 the method or process by which humans,
animals, or plants produce babies
reproduction
reproduction/,ri:pro'dAkj'an/In U]
These insects have two different methods of reproduction. I
Dr Weiss has spent many years doing research in the sphere
of human reproduction. I This complex patternofbehaviour
is in fact essential to the survival and reproduction of the
species.
 babysit/sit
babysitter
I bachelor
back
LOOK AFTER SB 1
LOOK AFTER SB 2
MARRY 16
BACK OF STH 4, BACK/BACKWARDS 1, 3,
GAMBLE 2, PAY FOR 11, REACT 2, RETURN 1,
SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 2
back: at the back BACK OF STH 3
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back:
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back
back-up/backup
be back RETURN 1
be back on your feet BETTER/RECOVERED 1
be back to normal BETTER/RECOVERED 2
be on your way back RETURN 1
behind sb's back SECRET 6, UNKIND 2
call back RETURN 2
come back RETURN 1
get back RETURN 1
go back RETURN 1
in back of BEHIND 1
in the back BACK OF STH 3
over and back RETURN 4
put your back into it/put some muscle into it
WORK HARD 8
stop back RETURN 2
talk about sb behind their back CRITICIZE 5
the back BACK OF STH 1, 2
there and back RETURN 4
turn your back TURN 2
turn your back on REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 7
will be back RETURN 1
away BACK/BACKWARDS 2
burner: put sth on ice/on the back burner
STOP DOING STH 3
chat/back talk ANSWER/REPLY 3
down ACCEPT 4
off BACK/BACKWARDS 2
out of/through/towards etc BACK/BACKWARDS 2
street ROAD/PATH 1
then THEN 1
to front WRONG/INCORRECT 5
together: be back together TOGETHER 4
up BACK/BACKWARDS 2, 3, PROVE 2, SUPPORT
A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 2
HELP 10
back
BACK/BACKWARDS
moving backwards
to move backwards
ways of saying that a vehicle, or the person
driving it, moves backwards
1 moving backwards
back
backwards
back/bek/away from the direction in which you were
moving or facing before [adv]
The police were pushing the cheering crowds back from the
edge of the road. [ Whenever a wave came near their feet, the
children jumped back laughing. [ Allie looked back over her
shoulder.

BACK/BACKWARDS 91 BACK OF STH
backwards (also backward in American English)
I'beckword(z)l move/walk/fall etc backwards (=move
away from the direction in which you are facing) lady]
Sarah fell backwards in the snow. ] Can you skate back-
ward? I Stepping backwards, Harry trod on the foot of the
woman behind him. ] backwards and forwards A dang-
ling rope was swinging slowly backwards and forwards.
2 to move backwards
back out of/through/ retreat
towards etc step back
back away recoil
back off pull away
back up
back out of/through/towards etc/beck (out of, etc)/
to walk backwards in a particular direction, especially in
order to leave a room or building |v T]
Simms quietly backed out of the office in embarrassment. I
When she was sure the baby was asleep she backed softly
through the bedroom door. I I was backing slowly towards
the exit while he talked, hoping that he would turn round
long enough for me to get out.
back away/,beck o'weq to walk slowly backwards in
order to get away from a frightening or threatening situa-
tion [phr v I]
"'Are you crazy ?'" cried the doctor, backing away. [ back
away from They both began to back away from the bar,
aware that the situation was getting out of hand.
back off !,beek 'f II -'aft/to walk slowly backwards in
order to get away from someone and avoid trouble |phr v I]
I backed off, afraid that he was going to hit me. I Back off,
pal. This is nothing to do with you. I The strangers backed
off wordlessly, still glaring at us.
back up/,beck '^p/an American expression meaning to
move backwards a little, for example in order to give some-
one enough space to move [phr v I]
Hey everybody, back up a few steps so we can open the door. [
The crowd backed up to let the motorcade make its way down
Pennsylvania Avenue.
retreat Ir'tri:t/ to walk backwards or away from the
direction you were walking before, especially in order to
avoid an embarrassing or unpleasant situation |v I]
Jim saw the man approaching and retreated a few steps. I
retreat from/into/to ere "'You haven't heard the last of
this!'" shouted Spencer, retreating up the stairs.
step back/,step 'beck! to take one step or a few steps
backwards [phr v I]
She opened the door and stepped back, letting me pass into
the room. I I saw her quickly step back into the house when
she caught sight of us.
recoil/ri 'kail/to suddenly move part or all of your body
backwards, away from something that is unpleasant or
frightening Iv I]
I've been a detective for fifteen years but I still can't look at
a murder victim without recoiling. I recoil from Esther
recoiled from the stove as hot steam rushed out of the unco-
vered pan.
pull away I,pol a'wel/to move quickly and suddenly
backwards in order to get further away from someone espe-
cially because you are upset or angry [phr v Il
When Helen took his arm he tried to pull away. I I tried to
kiss her but she pulled away violently.
 ways of saying that a vehicle, or the person
driving it, moves backwards
reverse
back up
back
reverse IrI'va:rs/ a word used especially in British
English meaning to move backwards in a car, bus etc Iv
I/T]
reverse out of/into/round etc As I approached the house
a car reversed out of the driveway and sped down the road. I
reverse You'll have to reverse to let that truck pass. i
reverse a car/bus etc (=make it reverse) Dave is going to
reverse the van into that parking place so that it's not block-
ing the entrance.
back up /,beck 'Ap/ an expression used especially in
American English meaning to move backwards in a car,
bus etc [phr v I/T not usually in passive]
The driver backed up, and in doing so ran over a bag lying
on the road. I back sth/it/them up (=make it go back-
wards) Back the truck up a little more, will you? ] back up
sth I called hello as Cindi backed up the car and stopped in
front of the door.
back/beck/to move backwards in a vehicle or make a
vehicle go backwards, especially in order to get into or out
of a space Iv I/T]
back out/in/into I wouldn't park there - it's going to be
very difficult to back out again. I back sth out/in/into
Slowly, carefully, Morris backed the truck into the shed.
BACK OF STH
the back part of an object, vehicle, building etc
the back of something flat such as a piece of
paper
at the back of an object, vehicle, room, or
space
words for describing something that is at the
back
1 the back part of an object, vehicle, building etc
the back
the rear
the back 150 'beck/the part that is furthest from the front
In singular]
The front of the new car is the same, but the back has been
completely redesigned. I You can leave your bike around the
back. I They walked past the back of the college. I Did you
know you have paint on the back of your skirt? I "'How do
I turn the computer on? .... There's a switch at the back. "'
the rear/60 'nor/a formal word meaning the back part
of a vehicle or building In singular]
A man in a raincoat was standing by the rear of the Volks-
wagen. I Access to the kitchen is from the rear.
2 the back of something flat such as a piece of
paper
the back
the reverse
the other side
the back 160 'beck/In singular]
the back ofsth I wrote down the message on the back of an
envelope. I He was trying to scrape the wax off with the back
of a knife. I on the back If you look on the back, you'll see
the artist's signature. I "'I can "t see the wine list. "" "'It's on the
back. '"
the reverse 160 r 'v3:rs/ a word meaning the back of
something, used especially in written instructions or
descriptions In singular]
on the reverse Please sign your check on the reverse. I the
reverse side The President's head is on the front of the coin;
the reverse side carries the date and the value. I the reverse
The front of the board shows the company's name, the reverse
shows the address.
the other side/6i ,A r 'said/the back of something,
especially when it is not clear which is the back and which
is the front In phrase]
Write your name on the card and on the other side put your
age.

BACK OF STH 92 BAD
 at the back of an object, vehicle, room, or
space
at the back
at the rear
in the back
at the back lot 6o 'beck/[adv phrase]
We sat at the back of the restaurant so as to be away from
the door. [ There's something rotting at the back of the
refrigerator. [ a tangle of wires, like you would find at the
back of a radio [ I found your passport - it was right at the
back of the drawer.
at the rear/t 6 r:r/a word used especially in instruc-
tions or in written descriptions meaning at the back of a
building, room, or vehicle lady phrase]
Passengers for Birmingham should sit at the rear of the
train. [ Most cars have their engines at the front; this one has
it at the rear. [ Brenda sat at the reception desk at the rear
of the main hall.
in the back/n 6 beck! at the back of a car or other vehi-
cle [adv phrase]
Don't let the dog sit on the passenger seat - he has to go in
the back. ] Just chuck all your bags in the back. [ She couldn't
see out of the rear window because of all the junk in the back
of her truck.
4 words for describing something that is at the
back
back
rear
back Ibakl [adj only before noun]
The burglars crossed the yard and broke into the house
through the back door. [ an old bicycle with worn back
brakes [ You can put your suitcase on the back seat of the car.
rear/rIar/rear window/exit/light etc (=a formal word
meaning one that is at the back of a building or vehicle)
[adj only before noun]
In the distance she could see the car's rear lights. [ They made
their way slowly toward the rear exit. ] The two rear carri-
ages of the train are reserved for non-smokers.
backbone MAIN 4
" backbreaking/back-breaking DIFFICULT 3
 backfire FAIL 4
background BEHIND 2, CLASS IN SOCIETY 1, COME
 FROM/ORIGINATE 4, FAMILY 1
 background: in the background BEHIND 1
backhander MONEY 10, PAY FOR 17
' backing SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 5
backlash REACT 4
backlog JOB/TASK 1
backtrack CHANGE YOUR MIND 1
 backup/back-up HELP 10
, backward STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 2
backwards/backward BACK/BACKWARDS 1, ORDER/
" SEQUENCE 5
:: backwards: a step backwards PROGRESS 6
backwards: bend over backwards to do sth TRY TO
DO OR GET STH 6
backwards: know sth backwards/backwards and
forwards KNOW STH 4
backwater FAR 5
backyard: in your own backyard NEAR 1
i bad BAD 1, 2, 3, BAD AT 1, BAD BEHAVIOUR OR
;i ACTIONS 1, 2, BAD PERSON 1, 5, DECAY 4,
!!i' DIFFICULT 8, SERIOUS SITUATION 1,
•
 WRONG/INCORRECT 1
bad: be bad for CONVENIENT 2, HARM/BE BAD FOR 3
bad: be bad for you/be bad for your health HEALTHY 9
!i bad: feel bad about GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 1
! bad: go bad DECAY 3
4 bad: go from bad to worse WORSE 4
' bad: not bad CHEAP 2
!', bad: not be bad GOOD/EXCELLENT 9
bad: poor/bad BRIGHT 5
bad: too bad PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
bad language SWEAR 2
bad-mannered: ill-mannered/bad-mannered
RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
bad-mouth CRITICIZE 5
bad move: be a bad move MISTAKE 3
bad tactics MISTAKE 3
bad-tempered BAD-TEMPERED 1
bad time: a bad time CONVENIENT 2
bad time: a bad time/not a good time TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME 4
. bad l ..................
bad.i.: qUl:.i } 2 ..... } : BAD
.... .--" " -"}:z:-.:"# ,,.-
a b#,.pemo&,%,: .... :} ... BAD PERSON
...... .2Ј ............ : ....... ,' ';t :} #
bad behavio.ur:"or.,,;i%  . BAD BEHAVIOUR
aio-ns ...,.' ...../?;.:  OR ACTIONS
.. .
ha-t:h co.n:dition, " ,@ e HARM/BE BAD
.... health:;uccess,..etc 0f  FOR
a ba'situation ,i;:'=....! :*"?" $ SERIOUS
:7!.?[2 %;:2  ....... SITUATION
..tre.atn:gNple very ;., ,,,,,.  CRUEL
:-- :: .., ;t &:c # , . .Ј ::-  .......................... '' ............
. : . "  ..... " :";;,,Ii :'. L "
n .con..ton. :,,:.,,,;%,.. ,   CONDITION/
,:,.:,,,,,,,, ,...- ,,, .......... : ,-, - ..... STATE --. STH
i umlllUl n i i i .... I1 II ii ,,, ,, ,,
BAD
words for describing something such as a
book, a film, or a meal that you do not enjoy
at all because it is of very low quality
words for describing a performance, a piece
of work, or a service that someone provides
that is of a very low standard
words for describing an event, experience,
situation, or type of weather that is very
unpleasant
words for describing something that is of bad
quality or has been made badly
not very bad, but not as good as it could be
or not as good as you expected it to be
not much good/no
good/not any good
not be up to much
awful/terrible/horrible
dreadful
lousy
appalling
1 words for describing something such as a
 book, a film, or a meal that you do not enjoy
at all because it is of very low quality
bad ghastly
be rubbish/
a load of rubbish
be garbage/
a load of garbage
be crap/a load of crap
be the pits
suck

BAD 93 BAD
bad Ibedl [adj ]
The meal was so bad I couldn't eat any of it. I That is one
of the worst films I have ever seen. I The comedian's jokes
were really bad and no one laughed at them. I I don't know
which is worse, the band or the music. I pretty bad (=quite
bad) Her first book was pretty bad, but this one's ten times
worse.
not much good/no good/not any good/nut mntf
'god, noo 'god, nDt eni *god/of very low quality [adjphrase]
The movie wash "t any good. I I wouldn "t go there - the beer's
no good. I These poems aren't much good, anyone could're
written them.
not be up to much/net bi: tap to 'mAtf/to be of a lower
standard than expected Iv phrase]
The soup was cold and the wine wasn't up to much.
awful/terrible/horrible/'a:fal, 'terlabal, 'hDrbol ii 'ha:-,
'ho:-/very bad [adj]
It's such an awful programme! How can you watch it?] These
pictures of me are horrible! ] I thought every single one of
the songs they sang was absolutely terrible.
dreadful / 'dredfl/a British word meaning very bad [adj]
This sauce tastes dreadful! I "'How did you like the film?'" "'It
was dreadful. ""
|eusy/'lauzil an informal word meaning very bad [adj]
The food was lousy and the service was terrible. I It was a
lousy game of football.
appalling ]o'pa--lit! so bad that you can hardly believe it
or are shocked ]adj]
The play was incredibly bad - it really was appalling.
ghastly/'ga:stli II 'gestli/a word meaning extremely bad,
used especially humorously [adj]
"'What was the hotel like? .... Ghastly!" l He used to be in that
ghastly quiz show on Friday evenings.
be rubbishla load of rubbish/bi: 'r^b, o ,lood ov
'rAb/an informal British expression meaning to be very
bad Iv phrase]
"'What did you think of my essay?" "'I thought it was rub-
bish!" l I don't know why you're watching that film, it's a
load of old rubbish.
be garbagela load of garbage/bi: 'go:rbId3, o ,lood
ov, go:rbld3/an informal American expression meaning
to be very bad Iv phrase]
I've never read such a load of garbage in my life. ] Most of
the food in these fast food joints is garbage.
be a load of crap (also be crap in British English) Ibi:
o ,lood ov 'krep, bi: 'keep/an informal expression, which
some people find offensive, meaning to be very bad Iv
phrase]
The book was supposed to be good, but I thought it was a
load of crap.
be the pits/bi: 60 'pits/an informal expression: if you
say that something is the pits you mean that it is
extremely bad Iv phrase]
Let's leave, this place really is the pits! ] Rap music? I think
it's the pits.
suck/sAk/an informal and impolite American expression
which some people fmd offensive: if you say that something
sucks, you think it is very bad Iv I]
Horror movies suck. Let's go see a comedy instead.
2 words for describing a performance, a piece
of work, or a service that someone provides
that is of a very low standard
bad terrible
poor appalling/atrocious
lousy pathetic
bad Ibedl [adj ]
Don't eat there. The food is expensive and the service is really
bad. t Bad management has put the company in a difficult
financial position.
badly [adv] Her books are usually very badly written.
poor/poor/not as good as it could be or should be [adj]
The runner claimed that illness had contributed to his poor
performance in the Olympic final. I As a result of severe flood-
ing, communications in the area are very poor. I Poor sani-
tation can lead to the spread of diseases such as cholera.
poorly [adv] This information in the pamphlet is poorly
presented.
lousy/'laozi/an informal word meaning very bad [adj]
There's no excuse for lousy management. I The corporation
has a lousy record on health and safety.
terrible/'terbl/very bad [adj]
The train service between here and the city is terrible, it's
always late. I The service in the restaurant was terrible - they
kept getting our orders wrong.
terribly [adv] We deserved to lose, we played terribly.
appalling/atrocious/o'po:llrj, a'trooas/extremely bad
[adj]
The spelling in this letter is atrocious. I Tanja's singing was
appalling, her voice totally lacked expression.
appallingly/atrociously [adv] Mr Barton spoke atro-
ciously, he almost seemed drunk.
pathetic/po'Oetik! so badly done, especially because of
lack of effort or care, that it makes you annoyed [adj]
I'm fed up with her pathetic excuses for being late. I The serv-
ice in this hotel is pathetic, I'll never stay here again.
3 words for describing an event, experience,
situation, or type of weather that is very
unpleasant
bad appalling/atrocious
awful/terrible/horrible horrendous
dreadful nightmarish
hellish horrific
god-awful
bad Ibedl [adj]
The weather's been really bad lately and we haven't been
able to go out much. ] It had been a very bad year for Gil-
bert, what with losing his job and his wife. ] It was the worst
party I've ever been to.
awful/terrible/horrible/' a:fl, 'ter Iobal, 'herbal
'ho:-/very bad [adj]
I've had an absolutely terrible day. I Conditions in the
hospital were awful. The place was falling apart and it was
understaffed.
dreadful /'dredfal/ a word used especially in British
English meaning very bad [adj]
We had a dreadful journey back home in the rain.
hellish ! heh/an informal word meaning very bad, espe-
cially because you have had so many problems and difficul-
ties to deal with [adj]
"'How were things at the office?" "'Oh it's been hellish - I've
been rushed off my feet all day. "" l We had a hellish time
trying to get our visas.
god.awful/,god 'a:fal- II ,go:d-/an informal American
word, which some people may fmd offensive, meaning very
bad [adj only before noun]
What's that god-awful noise? Turn that radio off! l It's been
a god-awful day - I wish I'd stayed in bed.
appalling/atrocious/o'po:llrj, o'troofos/extremely bad,
especially with the result that you are shocked [adj]
Living conditions in the refugee camps were atrocious. I The
appalling weather continued, with harsh winds, fogs and
heavy rain.
horrendous /hD'rendos II ho:-, ha:-/ extremely bad,
unpleasant, and often frightening [adj]
It was a horrendous storm. I We were all nearly killed - it
was about the most horrendous experience in my whole life.
nightmarish / 'naItmeari/a situation or experience that
is nightmarish is so bad that it seems unreal, like a bad
dream [adj only before noun]
Joanne's husband had been arrested for smuggling. It was
a nightmarish situation, and she didn't know what to do
next.
horrific/hD'rlfIk II ha:-, ho:-/extremely bad, especially in
a way that is frightening or upsetting [adj]
It was a horrific experience. We really thought we were going

BAD 94 BAD AT
to die. I The racewas stopped after a horrific accident in
which two drivers were killed. I Conditions in the refugee
camps can only be described as horrific.
4 words for describing something that is of bad
quality or has been made badly
badly-made inferior
shoddy jerry-built
badly.made /,baedli 'meid/made without, care or skill
[adj not usually before noun]
This table is really badly-made - it won't last 5 minutes.
shoddy/'odi II 'a:-/badly and cheaply made, using low
quality materials [adj]
Never buy goods when you know they are shoddy - it's
always worth spending a little more. t shoddy workman-
ship (=bad work) Look at the way this house has been deco-
rated - it's really shoddy workmanship. I shoddily made
I wouldn't pay Ј200for that jacket - it was really shoddily
made.
inferior/in'fiariar/inferior products are not as good as
other similar ones because they have been cheaply and
badly made [adj]
Consumers buy foreign goods because they believe that Brit-
ish made goods are inferior. I I want the best - I don't want
some inferior model that's going to break down the first time
I use it.
jerry.built /'dseri bllt/buildings that are jerry-built, are
not strong because they have been badly and carelessly
built using cheap materials [adj not usually before noun]
The houses on the reservation are jerry-built and infested
with cockroaches.
5 not very bad, but not as good as it could be
or not as good as you expected it to be
not very good lacklustre
mediocre so-so
not be up to scratch nothing special
patchy
not very good/not veri 'god/[adj phrasel
The food wasn't very good, considering how much we paid
for it. I The standard of teaching at the school isn't very good.
not very well [adv phrase] She didn't sing very well (=her
singing was not very good).
mediocre/, mi:di  uk r, / not very bad, but not very good
or interesting especially because it is done without skill
or imagination [adj]
The England team gave another mediocre performance in
last night's game against Denmark. I Most of the paintings
in the exhibition were fairly mediocre. I pretty mediocre
(=fairly mediocre) It's a pretty mediocre play, especially
compared to his other work.
not be up to scratch/not bi: ^p ta 'skraet/work that
is not up to scratch, is not as good as it should be Iv
phrase]
I'm sorry George, this report really isn't up to scratch -you'll
have to do it again.
patchy/'peffi/a performance, piece of work etc that is
patchy is good in some parts, but bad in others and in
general is not good [adj]
The film is patchy, despite one or two good performances. I
At the end of the term she produced a pretty patchy essay on
the Russian Revolution.
iacklustre / leek,l^str/lacklustre performance/effort
etc (=not very bad, but not as good as was expected) [adj
usually before noun]
The corporation's profits increased dramatically this year,
after a rather lacklustre performance last year.
so-so / so so/an informal expression meaning not very
good, but not very bad either [adj not before noun]
"'How is your meal? .... So-so. "'1 The hotel was in a lovely loca-
tion, but the facilities were only so-so.
nothing special/,nnOirj 'speal/an expression meaning
not better than average, used especially when you were
expecting something better and are disappointed [adj
phrase not before noun]
"'What was the concert like? .... Oh, nothing special. "'1 It was
nothing special. Just an ordinary little country house. I
there's nothing special about There's nothing special
about them. Their success is just a combination of luck and
good contacts.
BAD AT
not good at something such as a job or a game
because of a lack of skill
I not good at doing something
2 very bad at doing something
1 not good at doing something
bad
be no good
not be very good
not be much good
not be up to much
mediocre
bad Ibedl [adjl
second-rate/thi rd-rate
weak
•
poor
incompetent
not be much of a ....
She's a bad teacher, I hardly learned anything in her
classes.I Horses can be easily frightened by bad riders. I
Mark's an even worse singer than I had imagined. I He's the
worst driver I've ever seen. I bad at Sorry, I've forgotten your
name - I'm really bad at remembering names.
badly [adv] She does dance, but very badly.
be no good/bi: ,nao 'god/to not be at all good at doing
something Iv phrasel
be no good at sth/doing st^ I'm no good at drawing birds,
animals are much easier. I Paul was no good at mathematics
and never would be. I I love tennis, but I'm just no good at
it. I be no good Your lawyer's no good - I think you should
find another one.
not be very good /,not bi: veri 'god/to be bad at doing
something Iv phrase]
not be very good at sth/doing sth I'm not very good at
chemistry. I You're not very good at reading maps, are you?
Let me try. [ not be very good Her French isn't very good,
but she tries hard.
not very well lady phrase] "Do you speak Italian? .... No,
not very well, but I can read it. "" [ He doesn't speak very well
in public.
not be much good/,not bi: mAt 'god/to not be very
good at doing something Iv phrase]
not be much good at sth/doing st^ Thepoor boy was not
much good at either lessons or games. I He has never been
much good at dealing with people. [ not be much good as
She's a nice person, but not much good as a boss.
not be up to much/not bi: '^p ta mAt/an expression
used especially in British English meaning to be unable
to properly do what you are supposed to be doing [vphrasel
The secretary really isn't up to much - her typing's terrible,
full of spelling mistakes. I The goalkeeper's bad and the other
defenders aren't up to much either.
mediocre/, mi:di' aoka r 4/neither especially bad nor espe-
cially good at doing something [adjl
He's a mediocre player and will find it hard to keep his place
on the team. I We have no room in this team for mediocre
performers.
second.ratelthlrd.rate !,sekand 'reit, ,03:rd 'reit/
not very good, especially not as good as other people who
do the same thing [adj]
She's a second-rate singer whose voice just can't be compared
with the best. [ The bridge was built by third-rate engineers
and will probably collapse in the next storm.
weak/wi:k/someone who is weak does not do as well at
something as would usually be expected [adj]
Someone who is an excellent reader may be a very weak

BAD AT 95 BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS
speller. I weak at science/history etc She's weak at
mathematics, which affects her physics results as well.
poor/poar! bad at something, especially because you do
not have the necessary skills [adj]
You won't get a job in the navy if you're a poor swimmer.I
When managers" leadership skills are poor, productivity
suffers. I He's a poor actor. He just can't express emotion in
a real way.
incompetent/Inlkomptant [1 -Iko:m-/so bad at your job
that you cannot do it properly [adjl
There are too many incompetent teachers in private language
schools. ] Jones had tried six solicitors, but they all seemed
to be either corrupt or hopelessly incompetent.
incompetence In U] Laziness and incompetence (=being
incompetent) had lost this company too many customers.
not be much of a .... /nt bi: 'mAt av a .... / not be much
of a cook/dancer/swimmer etc (:not be very good at
cooking, dancing, swimming etc) [v phrase]
He's not much of a swimmer; he can only swim a few metres
at a time. I I hope you don't mind eating a takeaway; I'm
afraid I'm not much of a cook. I Dave isn't much of a singer,
but he plays the piano quite well.
2 very bad at doing something
terrible pathetic
lousy can't do sth to
useless save your life
hopeless inept
appalling/atrocious
terrible/'terbdll [adj]
At school I was terrible in Biology. I couldn't stand the sub-
ject. I Don't ask me to translate. My Chinese is terrible. I We
have no confidence in the army - their generals are terrible,
their discipline even worse.
lousy/ lauzi/an informal word meaning not at all good
at something [adjl
I'm a lousy cook, so my husband does most of the cooking. I
I'm sorry we paid so much to see such a lousy comedian.
useless I'ju:slas/ very bad at doing something, and
having almost no skill or ability in doing it at all [adj]
You're useless, Clare, you can't do anything right. ] useless
at I'm useless at skiing, I'll probably break a leg.
hopeless / haoplas/very bad at something and unlikely
to improve [adj]
I was a hopeless runner, so I was usually last when we had
races at school. I He's always getting lost, he has a hopeless
sense of direction. I hopeless at The manager made John
a barman as he was obviously hopeless at waiting on tables.
appalling/atrocious/a'pa:l Ill, altrauas/extremely bad
and showing no skill or ability at all [adj]
She's a perfectly appalling writer; I can't understand how
her books sell so well. I I tried to explain in my appalling
Turkish but she didn't understand a word. I He'll never pass
the exam - his spelling is atrocious.
pathetic/pa' Oetlk/extremely bad at something so that
other people become angry or impatient [adj]
She's clever, but as a teacher she's pathetic. I You're such a
pathetic liar no one's going to believe you.
can't do sth to save your life / ko:nt du: (sth) ta i SClV
ja: r 'latf II kant-/an informal expression meaning to be
very bad at something even though you have tried very
hard to do it properly Iv phrase]
can't draw/paint/cook/act etc to save your life Adrian
can't draw to save his life! I You don't expect me to take part
in the play, do you? I can't act to save my life.
inept /i Inept/someone who is inept does something very
badly and without skill [adj!
That waitress is completely inept, she has forgotten every-
thing I have ordered. I My father is always shouting at inept
drivers. I You are sure to win. The other candidates are so
politically inept and colourless that nobody will vote for
them.
BAD BEHAVIOUR
OR ACTIONS
1 words for describing behaviour that is evil or
morally wrong
2 words for describing a situation that makes
you angry because you think it is wrong and
should not be allowed to happen
3 words for describing someone's way of living
when this shows that they have very low
moral standards
4 words for describing rude or disobedient
behaviour, especially by a child
5 to influence someone so that they behave in
a bad or immoral way
6 bad or immoral behaviour, or the quality of
being bad or immoral
7 an extremely bad or evil action
1 words for describing behaviour that is evil or
morally wrong
bad wrong
evil reprehensible
wicked shameful
immoral shameless
bad Ibadl |adj]
The crimes that were committed during this phase of the war
were so bad they defy description. I Telling lies is bad enough,
but betraying your family is unforgivable. I It never occurred
to Sally that the man had any bad intentions.
evil /i:wl/ behaviour or actions that are evil are
extremely bad, especially because the person doing them
seems to enjoy hurting people and does not care about how
much other people suffer [adj]
The judge described the woman's crime as evil. I It is remark-
able how he seems to be so unaffected by his evil deeds.
wicked/'wkd/behaviour or actions that are wicked
are bad, especially because the person doing them seems
to have no concern for normal morality |adj]
The way newspapers can print what they like about people
is wicked. I a wicked attempt to steal money from his mother
immoral/ mral II  ma:_-/behaviour or actions that are
immoral are very bad and wrong because they are against
your ideas of what is morally right [adjl
Racial segregation is immoral and people have a duty to pro-
test against it. I Wearing colorful clothes is considered
immoral by the Amish people, who always wear simple
clothes in white or dark colors. I highly immoral James
considered any kind of gambling to be highly immoral.
wrong/rail II ra:  /against accepted standards of what is
morally right [adjl
Colin knew that it was wrong but he couldn't resist taking
the money. I Theresa's mother brought her up to believe that
sex before marriage is wrong.
reprehensible /reprlhensbal/ a formal word:
behaviour that is reprehensible is considered to be bad
and morally unacceptable, and people think it should be
punished lad j]
In those days it was seen as highly reprehensible for a young
unmarried girl to have a baby. I The parents of the abused
child demanded her teacher's resignation, saying his
behaviour had been reprehensible.
shameful / emfal/behaviour that is shameful is so bad
that people think the person who did it should be ashamed
[adjl
I think you should apologise for the shameful way you
treated your mother. I It's shameful the way people leave their
dogs in hot cars with no air.

BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 96 BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS
shameless /J'eimls/ behaviour, especially sexual
behaviour, that is shameless, is considered by some people
to be immoral or unacceptable [adj]
My grandmother still thinks that wearing skirts shorter than
knee length is completely shameless. I The school will not
1olerate such shameless behaviour. You are suspended.
2 words for describing a situation that makes
you angry because you think it is wrong and
should not be allowed to happen
bad scandalous
wrong be a crime
disgusting criminal
shocking be a sin
disgraceful deplorable
be a disgrace gross
outrageous
bad Ibcdl ladj]
It's very bad that tons of food are going to waste while people
are starving. I What's really bad is the way the government
promises new housing and never provides it.
wong /rol] II ro:! morally unacceptable, unfair, and
against normal ideas about what should be allowed to
happen [adj]
It's wrong that old people should die of cold in this day and
age. I Detaining prisoners without trial is wrong.
disgusting/dis Ig^stlrj, dlz-/something that is disgust-
ing makes people feel shocked and angry, because it is com-
pletely immoral, wicked, or unfair [adjl
She's written to the press saying how disgusting she thought
their coverage of the divorce was. I It's disgusting the way
politicians use their position to their personal advantage.
shocking/'fDkirj II very immoral, unfair, or cruel,
in a way that people think is unnecessary and unaccept-
able [adj]
The amount of money spent on nuclear weapons is shocking. I
a shocking waste of httman life
disgraceful /dis'greisfal/ very wrong, unfair, or
immoral, in a way that people think should never be
allowed to happen [adj]
• It's disgraceful that rapists are given such short sentences
forsuch awful crimes. I This is disgraceful! How can a dis-
aster of this kind be allowed to happen?
disgracefully [adv] I think they've been treated
disgracefully.
be a disgrace/bi: a disgre]s! if.you say something is
a disgrace, you think it should not be allowed to happen,
because it is very unfair or unkind Iv phrase]
it's a disgrace (that) It's a disgrace that the only hospital
in the town has been closed. I be a disgrace The way they
treat their workers is a disgrace.
outrageous/aotreId3as/a situation that is outrageous
is extremely bad and unfair in a way that makes people
very angry [adj]
I've always thought it outrageous that the poor have to pay
for tax cuts for the rich. I The General criticized America's
outrageous intervention in his country's internal affairs.
scandalous 1 skendalas/a situation that is scandalous
is wrong because the people responsible for it do not con-
sider what is really important or valuable [adj]
The state of the country's health system is scandalous. I This
criminal has shown a scandalous disregard for human life•
be a crime/bi: a kraim/you say that a situation is a
crime when you mean it i very bad, especially because
it is not fair and could easily be prevented Iv phrase]
Look at all that money being wasted when we need a new
school. It's a crime. I it's a crime to do sth You girls should
pay her a visit now and again. It's a crime to leave an old
lady all alone like that.
criminal /'krimInal/ a situation that is criminal is
morally wrong, but not illegal [adj]
I think keeping animals locked up in cages is criminal. I
Having such beautiful paintings and not letting the public
see them is a criminal waste of the nation's art treasures.
be a sin/bi: a 'sin/you say a situation is a sin when you
mean that it is very bad because it shows a lack of respect
for people and their rights Iv phrase]
No one should be in such a bad way that they have to beg.
It's a sin. ] it's a sin to do sth Mrs Clark said it would be
a sin to evict them just because they hadn't paid their rent.
deplorable/dl 'pla:rabl/a formal word: a situation that
is deplorable is very bad, especially because it allows
people to suffer in a way that could be prevented [adj]
Something must be done about the deplorable situation in
Somalia. ] UN officials described the prisoners" conditions
as 'inhuman and deplorable'.
gross/graos/gross negligence/injustice/misconduct
etc (=a formal word meaning very bad or serious, making
you feel very angry or offended) [adj only before noun]
The court found the doctor guilty of gross negligence.
3 words for describing someone's way of living
when this shows that they have very low
moral standards
decadent
dissolute
degenerate
decadent/'dekadnt/a way of living that is decadent is
concerned mainly with pleasure and enjoyment, and not
with hard work or serious matters [adj]
We spent the whole summer drinking, smoking and lying
around. It must sound totally decadent.
decadence In U] the decadence of Berlin in the early 1930s
dissolute /'disalu:q a dissolute way of life involves a lot
of behaviour that many people think is immoral, for exam-
ple, drinking a lot of alcohol, taking drugs, and having a
lot of sexual partners [adjl
The public was scandalized by reports of the King's disso-
lute lifestyle. I They were reprimanded for their dissolute
habits and threatened with expulsion if it happened again.
degenerate/dl 'dsengrt/not keeping to many of soci-
ety's accepted moral standards, for example, in your sexual
behaviour [adj]
Revelations about the degenerate life of the dancers are
continuing to shock the public.
4 words for describing rude or disobedient
behaviour, especially by a child
naughty
mischievous
naughty/na:ti II =no:ti, no:ti/[adj]
That's naughty Charlotte. Go on, pick up all those toys you've
thrown around. ] It's very naughty of you to keep hitting your
sister. Stop it!
naughtiness In U] She's a serious child who never shows
the slightest sign of naughtiness.
mischievous/'mlstfgvas/behaviour that is mischie-
vous is rude or disobedient, but in a way that amuses
people rather than making them angry [adj]
I warn you, the children's tricks range from mischievous to
spiteful. ] The class are notorious in the school for their mis-
chievous behaviour.
mischievously [adv] Once, Emma mischievously hid her
father's cigarettes.
mischief/mIstIf/In U] The kids are always getting up to
mischief (=behaving in a mischievous way).
 to influence someone so that they behave in
a bad or immoral way
lead sb astray corrupt
set a bad example be a bad influence
lead sb astray /,li:d (sb) a'streq to encourage someone
to do bad or immoral things that they would not normally
do Iv phrase]
They're afraid their son will be led astray by the older boys. I
The Rolling Stones were accused of leading thousands of
young people astray.

BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 9? BAD PERSON
set a bad example/Iset  bed Ig'zct:mpl ]l -'zeem-/if
someone in a position of authority, such as a parent or
teacher sets a bad example, they influence others to
behave in a bad or immoral way because they themselves
behave in a bad or immoral way Iv phrasel
Doctors who smoke set a bad example. I set a bad example
to sb Not only was it wrong of him to steal from the shop,
he was setting a very bad example to his younger brother.
corrupt/ka'r^pt/to make someone who would not nor-
mally behave badly behave in an immoral way, especially
by having some influence over them over a long period of
time Iv T]
The prison system does not work because many of the youn-
ger offenders are being corrupted by older, long term
prisoners. ] Their enormous wealth has corrupted them and
made them terrified of losing their material possessions.
be a bad influence/bi: a beed 'influzns/someone who
is a bad influence encourages someone else, especially a
young person or someone who is easily influenced, to
behave in the same bad or immoral way as themselves Iv
phrase]
I want you to stay away from those boys after school - they're
a bad influence. [ be a bad influence on sb Her new
boyfriend has been a very bad influence on her.
6 bad or immoral behaviour, or the quality of
being bad or immoral
immorality wrongdoing
wickedness misconduct
evil
immorality/,im'relti/[n U]
Chicago is a dangerous city and she felt surrounded by
corruption and immorality. I I don't see any immorality in
gambling. It's my money to do as I want with.
wickedness /'wkoIdns/ a quality in someone that
makes them enjoy behaving in a very bad or immoral way
In UI
We sensed a wickedness in him that made us feel sick inside. I
I don't know what wickedness in me made me steal like that.
evil/'i:wl/the force for badness, cruelty etc and the oppo-
site of good [n U]
Children learn to distinguish between good and evil from a
relatively early age. t Some people say that money is the root
of all evil.
wrongdoing/' rDl] ,du:II] II ,m:rj'du:01 bad or immoral
behaviour, especially involving breaking rules or not being
fair or just In U]
The investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing and the
company's managers were cleared of all charges.
misconduct/mislkond^kt II -'ku:n-I bad behaviour by
someone in a position of authority or trust, who is expected
to behave according to the rules of their profession In U]
The tribunal was investigating the allegations of misconduct
of the doctor towards his patient, t professional miscon-
duct At present, therapists cannot be found guilty of profes-
sional misconduct. I gross misconduct (=very serious mis-
conduct) The police officer found guilty of being drunk on
duty was dismissed for gross misconduct.
7 an extremely bad or evil action
outrage
atrocity
outrage /'autreId3/an extremely bad, and often cruel and
unfair action that people think is shocking In C]
It's an outrage the way they treat homeless people these days. I
The terrorist attack, in which two innocent Australian law-
yers were murdered, is the third outrage of its kind this year.
! I
atrocity/ trosti II tr(]:-/an unusually cruel and vio-
lent action, usually against someone who has done noth-
ing wrong, that is unacceptable even during a time of war
[nC]
The brutal destruction of an entire village was one of the
worst atrocities of the Vietnam war. I Nazi war atrocities
BAD PERSON
1 bad or evil
2 words for describing someone who behaves
in an unusually cruel and shocking way
3 words for describing someone who carefully
plans to do something bad that will bring
them advantage
4 words for describing someone who has low
moral standards, and whose way of living
shows this
5 words for describing someone, especially a
child, who behaves badly, for example by
being rude or disobedient
6 words for describing a place such as a bar,
hotel etc where bad or immoral people go
1 bad or evil
bad evil
no good sinister
wicked villain
bad Ibadl [adj]
He makes a lot of mistakes, but I don't think he's really a bad
man. I She wasn't just bad - she was an absolute monster. I
Like in most movies, the bad guy gets killed at the end.
no good/no 'god/an informal word meaning not at all
honest, helpful or kind [adjl
That friend of yours is no good. She'll get you into all sorts
of trouble. I My first husband was a no good, low down son
of a bitch.
wicked/wikd/very bad and having no morals [adjl
The victim's mother said she hadn't thought such wicked
people existed. I The judge described the defendant as wicked
and perverted.
evil/'i:wl/having no morals and not caring at all how
much other people are harmed in order to achieve or gain
something [adjl
He was an evil man who loved seeing other people suffer. I
There was an evil glint in her eyes as she brandished the
knife.
sinister/'snstr/someone who is sinister looks bad or
evil, so that other people are frightened of them [adj]
To the child, the old woman always seemed sinister and
strange. I The man was dressed in a black suit and wore dark
glasses. There was something sinister about him.
villain/'vbn/the bad person in a story, film, play etc,
especially someone who breaks the law or who is cruel to
others In C ]
At the end of the story, the villain is caught and punished. I
The role of the villain is often the most interesting and
challenging one for an actor.
2 words for describing someone who behaves
in an unusually cruel and shocking way
twisted depraved
sick monster
perverted pervert
twisted/'twisted/behaving in an unusually cruel and
shocking way, that is not at all normal [adjl
Whoever sent you these disgusting letters must be twisted. I
He was a miserable, twisted old man.
sick/sik] someone who is sick does very cruel and strange
things, and enjoys this so that other people think they must
be mentally ill [adjl
Anyone who can sexually abuse a child must be sick. I I keep
getting obscene phone calls from some sick pervert.
perverted/pr Iv3:rt Id/behaving sexually in a way that
is considered immoral, unnatural and harmful Iadjl

BAD PERSON
The newspaper has described the killer as perverted and sex-
ually deviant. I They saw the affection she had for such an
old man as unnatural and possibly perverted.
depraved/d'preivd] completely evil and morally unac-
ceptable [ adj ]
He was described as dangerous and depraved and a menace
to society. I All the testimony indicates that he is a totally
depraved young man, naturally given to violence.
monster I'mDnstar [[ 'ma:n-/someone who is so violent
and dangerous that people find their behaviour impossi-
ble to understand or forgive In C]
They said it was a crime only a monster could have commit-
ted. [ a description that makes him sound like a homicidal
monster
pervert ] 'pa:rv3:rt/a man who is thought to be bad or evil,
especially because his sexual behaviour is unnatural or
offensive In C]
Until recently, homosexual men were considered to be freaks
or perverts. ] Some pervert's been spying on women in the
ladies" room.
3 words for describing someone who carefully
plans to do something bad that will bring
them advantage
calculating
scheming
calculating/'kaelkj°leituj/making careful and clever
plans in order to get what you want, without caring about
what happens to other people [adjl
a cold, calculating criminal [ Over theyears his experiences
had turned him into someone who was both calculating and
ruthless.
scheming/'ski:mrj/always trying to cleverly control sit-
uations in order to get what you want, especially by deceiv-
ing other people [adj only before noun l
Nobody realises what a low scheming crook Ian really is. [
That scheming old bastard! I'll kill him when I find him.
4 words for describing someone who has low
moral standards, and whose way of living
shows this
Immoral degenerate
decadent black sheep
Immoral I 'moral II 'ma:-/[adjl
When someone such as a teacher is immoral they should be
removed from their position of authority. I In many such
stories, women are portrayed as untrustworthy or immoral.
decadent l'dekadant/spending a lot of money on living
in an immoral way, such as drinking a lot of alcohol, taking
drugs, or being very sexually active [adj]
The book portrays a decadent, capitalist society where moral
values count for nothing. I Many of the artists living in the
1920s considered themselves totally decadent.
degenerate Id'dsenart! having such low moral stan-
dards that there is no hope that you can change [adj]
The police had picked up a number of degenerate characters
that night, most of them drunk. ] Very few young people
reduced to begging in the big cities are degenerate, most of
them cannot stay at home and are too young to get work.
black sheep I ,blek 'j'i:p/a person in a family who does
not behave in the way that other members of the family
expect them to, and so is thought to be immoral or a failure
[nC]
the black sheep of the family Seema was the black sheep
of the family, always staying out late, getting into trouble
and so on. ] black sheep Tony's the black sheep. He won't
get a job and just sits around the house smoking all day.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
98
badly-writter
S words for describing someone, especially a
child, who behaves badly, for example by
being rude or disobedient
naughty mischievous
badly-behaved spoiled/spoilt
bad brat
naughty/'na:ti II 'na:ti, 'na:ti! [adj]
It was only when David started school that he began to be
naughty. I You're a very naughty girl for running away like
that.
naughtiness In U] I've had just about enough of your
naughtiness for one day - go to your room immediately.
badly.behaved / ,baedli b 'hevd! not behaving in a way
that people think is acceptable, especially by being disobe-
dient [adj]
She is very badly behaved, always shouting or being rude
in class. ] The fans were so badly behaved that they have been
banned from future football matches.
bad/baed/a word used when speaking angrily to a child
who has done something bad [adj]
You "ve been a bad girl -you know you "re not a llo wed to play
with my clothes.
mischievous/'mstf]vasl behaving badly, but in a way
that amuses people rather than making them angry [adj]
As a child she was mischievous, often playing tricks on
people, even strangers. [ The young prince is quite mischie-
vous; he's always sticking his tongue out at photographers.
mischievously [adv] I could see Hamad laughing mischie-
vously, and so I ran over to see what behad done.
spoiled/spoilt/spadd, spaflq a child that is spoiled or
spoilt is badly behaved, rude, etc, because their parents
have always allowed them to do whatever they want and
have not taught them to think of other people [adj]
Just stop screaming and acting like a spoilt kid, and play
the game properly. [ She's so spoiled that when I told her to
make her own bed she sulked for an hour!
brat/bretl an informal word meaning a child that behaves
badly, is rude etc In C]
The brats in my class were awful today, misbehaving and
being rude - why did I decide to become a teacher? [ spoiled/
spoilt brat She said he was nothing but a spoiled brat who
needed to learn a few manners.
6 words for describing a place such as a bar,
hotel etc where bad or immoral people go
seedy
sleazy
seedy I'si:di/a club, hotel, bar etc that is seedy is a little
dirty and is a place where slightly immoral people go [adj]
For the first few weeks I stayed at a seedy but friendly hotel
in the centre of town. [ The club was a dark, seedy-looking
place, popular with students and small-time gamblers. [ Mr
Duggan ran his mail-order business from some seedy offices
on the East Side.
sleazy / ' sli:zi/a club, hotel, bar ete that is sleazy is dirty
and unpleasant and is usually a place where men go to see
sex shows, meet girls for sex etc [adj]
She worked as an exotic dancer in a sleazy nightclub. [ The
Prince Hotel was just another sleazy place where men came
to visit prostitutes.
badly: do sth badly DO BADLY 1
badly-behaved BAD PERSON 5
badly-made BAD 4
badly off POOR 1
badly-paid/poorly-paid PAY SB FOR WORK 6
badly-run EFFICIENT 5
badly-timed/ill-timed TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 5
badly-written READ 14

BAD-TEMPERED 99 BAD-TEMPERED
BAD-TEMPERED
behaving in an angry, unfriendly way
1 often bad-tempered
2 bad-tempered at the moment or for a short
period of time
3 words for describing someone who refuses to
talk and is unfriendly because they are angry
about something
4 easily annoyed by unimportant things
5 words for describing someone who gets
angry very easily and quickly
I often bad-tempered
bad-tempered disagreeable
grumpy cantankerous
grouchy uptight
bad-tempered/,beed 'tcmprd/[adj]
Her father was an extremely bad-tempered man, who was
always rude to her friends. I Don't be so bad-tempered, I was
only trying to help. I As my aunt's aches and pains grew
worse, she became too tired, too depressed and too bad-
tempered to see anyone.
grumpy /'grAmpi/ someone who is grumpy is bad-
tempered, complains a lot, and looks unhappy all the time
[adj]
The early mornings and long working hours made her tired
and grumpy. ] Since his retirement he was often silent and
grumpy.
grumpily [adv] "I could freeze to death for all you care, ""
he said grumpily.
grouchy /Igraotfi! someone who is grouchy is bad-
tempered and complains a lot [adj not usually before noun]
I'm sorry I was so grouchy this morning. I didn't get enough
sleep last night. I Resentment can make people grouchy,
sullen and moody.
grouch |n C] Don't let that old grouch (=grouchy person)
worry you. He's always grumbling about something.
disagreeable /,d;s'gri:bdl/someone who is disagree-
able is bad-tempered and very unfriendly and behaves in
an unpleasant way towards people [adj]
The landlord was an extremely disgreeable man who
wouldn "t allow us to have visitors in our rooms. I It's impos-
sible to have a normal conversation with him, he's always
so disagreeable. I I'm fed up with you. You've been
thoroughly disagreeable all day.
disagreeably [ adv ] Joe scowled disagreeably.
cantankerous/keen'teejkgms/someone who is cantan-
kerous, especially an old person, is bad-tempered and com-
plains and quarrels a lot [adj]
The desk clerk was a cantankerous old man who seemed to
dislike having guests at the hotel. I As she grew older she
became more and more cantankerous.
cantankerously [adv] "'There's no way you "re putting me
in a nursing home, "" said Grandad, cantankerously.
uptight/'^ptait, ^p 'tat/ behaving in a bad-tempered way
towards other people, especially because you are always
nervous or worried about something [adj]
uptight about My parents have always been pretty uptight
about me and boys. I uptight He's been a bit uptight lately
- I don't think it's a good time to discuss the vacation.
2 bad-tempered at the moment or for a short
 period of time
be in a bad mood
be in a huff
be in one of his/her moods
got out of bed on the wrong side/
got out on the wrong side of bed
be in a bad mood/bi: In ) ,beed 'mu:d/[v phrase]
Why are you in such a bad mood this morning? l I had to
wait 2 hours for the train. It really put me in a bad mood. [
be in a foul mood (-be in a very bad mood) Jack arrived
home in afoul mood, and started shouting at the children.
be in a huff/hi: n a 'h^f/if someone is in a huff they
are feeling bad-tempered, especially because someone has
just offended, upset, or annoyed them [v phrase]
She's in a huff because I won't take her to the cinema. [ be
in a huffabout There's no need to get in a huff about it, I'm
sure she didn't mean any of what she said. ] go offin a huff
(=go away in a huff) Michael made a rude remark about her
hairstyle and now she's gone off in a huff.
be in one of his/her moods/bi: n ,w^n v hIz, ,h3: r
'mu:dz/if someone is in one of his or her moods they are
bad-tempered at the moment and you know that they often
get bad-tempered for no good reason [v phrase]
It's no use trying to reason with the boss right now; she's in
one of her moods. I When Kurt was in one of his moods he
took it out on everyone, including his dog!
got out of bed on the wrong side/got out on the
wrong side of bed/,got aut av ,bed Dn Oa ,rDlJ 'sad, got
,aot tn 6a rDrj- II -,ra:rj-/you say someone has got out of
bed on the wrong side when you think they have been
behaving in a bad-tempered way all day Iv phrase]
"Why was she so rude just now? .... She must have got out of
bed on the wrong side. ""
3 words for describing someone who refuses to
talk and is unfriendly because they are angry
about something
sullen sulky
surly sulk/be in a sulk
sullen I, s^ln/someone who is sullen behaves in a bad-
tempered, unfriendly way and does not smile or talk much
to people [adj]
He sat there with a sullen frown on his face, refusing to
speak. [ If anyone criticized him, he would become resentful,
sullen and unco-operative.
sullenly lady] She looked at me sullenly and waited for me
to leave the room.
surly/s3:rli/someone who is surly behaves in a bad-
tempered, rude, and unhelpful way when dealing with
people [adj]
Passengers using the railway complained about the frequent
delays and surly staff. I The sales assistant answered me in
a surly manner and refused to give me my money back.
sulky/'sAlki/someone who is sulky is bad-tempered and
silent with an unhappy look on their face, because some-
thing has annoyed them, or because they think that they
have been treated unfairly [adjl
He was a sulky little boy who always got his own way. [ Dad
turned off the television and left Keith sitting in sulky silence.
sulkily lady] She just looked at him sulkily and refused to
walk any further.
sulk/be in a sulk/s^lk, bi: in ) 'sAlk/if someone sulks,
they are deliberately silent and bad-tempered for a period
of time, because something has annoyed them, or because
they think that they have been treated unfairly [v I]
She always sulks when I tell her to go to bed. [ He's been in
a sulk ever since I told him he couldn't go to the ball-game. [
sulk about What are you sulking about? You haven "t spoken
all evening.
4 easily annoyed by unimportant things
irritable petulant
crotchety fractious
Irritable /'rtabdll easily annoyed by unimportant
things, especially because you already feel bad-tempered
about something [adj]
The builders" constant hammering made everyone irritable. I
The long drive home from work left him feeling tired and
irritable. [ Susan was in an irritable mood and snapped at
anyone who offered to help her.

BAD-TEMPERED 100 BALANCE
irritably [adv] "I wish you'd stop fussing, "" said Eric
irritably.
crotchety/'krt)tSti [[ 'kro:-I someone who is crotchety,
especially an old person, becomes angry about unimpor-
tant things and complains a lot [adj]
Nothing I say seems to please him. He's just a crotchety old
man. I Looking after her crotchety grandfather was a
difficult and thankless duty.
petulant/'peff°lnt/ behaving in a bad-tempered way
because of something unimportant or for no reason at all,
like a child [adj]
Henry became petulant and started stamping his feet. ]
Harris treated his staff with petulant rudeness.
petulantly lady] "'I don't want to go shopping with you, ""
he snapped petulantly.
fractious/, freekSs/someone, especially a child, who is
fractious becomes angry or upset about unimportant
things, usually because they are tired [adj]
Babies tend to be fractious when they are teething. [ After the
long car journey the twins were in a fractious mood.
5 words for describing someone who gets
angry very easily and quickly
short4empered/quick-tempered
have a short fuse
temper
short.tempered/quick.tempered/,a:rt 'temprd-,
,kwk-/[adj]
Nicholas was violent, quick-tempered, and always seemed to
be shouting at people. I "'I don't know why you can't use your
own car anyway, "" came Jack's short-tempered response.
have a short fuse /hev  3:rt fju:z/ an informal
expression meaning to often get angry quickly and easily
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Don't argue with the judge. I've heard he has rather a short
fuse.
temper I'tempr/a tendency to become very angry sud-
denly In C usually singular]
That temper of hers will get her into trouble one day. I If he
can't control his temper, he should give up teaching. I His
wife left him because of his violent temper. I bad temper I'm
sick of you and your bad temper. Just go away and leave me
alone!
baffle CONFUSED 3, SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 2
baffled CONFUSED 2
baffling CONFUSED 4
bag: it's in the bag CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 3
bag: let the cat out of the bag TELL A SECRET 3
bag: not be your thing/bag DON'T LIKE 1
bag-lady HOME 11
baggy LOOSE 1
bags of LOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4
bail out ESCAPE 2, SAVE/RESCUE 5
bake COOK 2, 3
baking/baking hot HOT 5
balance BALANCE 1, 2, 3, EQUAL 8, 9
balance: be/hang in the balance UNCERTAIN 2
balance: keep your balance BALANCE 1
balance: on balance IN GENERAL 2
balance: redress the balance EQUAL 8
balance: strike a balance EQUAL 8
balance out EQUAL 6
BALANCE
1 to remain steady and not fall, especially when
this is difficult to do
2 to make something balance on a point or
surface
3 the ability to remain steady and not fall
4 to become unsteady and start to fall
5 unsteady and likely to fall
6 feeling unsteady and unable to balance
1 to remain steady and not fall, especially when
this is difficult to do
balance steady
keep your balance poised
balance/'beelons/[v I]
balance on Balancing awkwardly on one leg, he lowered
himself into his wheelchair. [ Diva will balance on a tight-
rope and juggle with flaming torches. [ balance The beam
is very narrow - you may find it difficult to balance. 1
balance precariously (=balance in a very dangerous posi-
tion) A fairy was balancing precariously on top of the
Christmas tree.
keep your balance I tki:p jo:r 'beebns/to manage to
remain steady and not fall, especially when something hap-
pens to nearly make you fall Iv phrase]
The horse tried to throw her off but she managed to keep her
balance. I It's hard enough just keeping my balance on ice,
let alone actually skating on it. I HIS arms flailed violently
in an effort to keep his balance, but his chair collapsed and
he fell to the floor.
steady/'stedi! completely balanced so that there is no
chance of falling [adjl
She held on to hand rails to keep herself steady. I We need
a steady platform above the waves before we can start
drilling.
poised/pxzd/a person or object that is poised is so care-
fully balanced on something that they may fall at any
moment [adj]
poised on/upon/at/above She was poised on the edge of
her seat, desperate to hear what he was going to say. I As he
opened the door, a bucket of water that had been poised on
top of it spilled over him.
2 to make something balance on a point or
surface
balance
steady
balance I'belonsl [v T]
balance sth on His favourite party trick is balancing tin
cans on his head. I We tried to balance the aerial on top of
the TVset, but it kept falling over. I balance sth Balancing
my cup of coffee in one hand, I managed to open the door.
steady Istedil to make something or someone become
balanced again, especially when they are falling over Iv T]
When she looked as though she was going to fall, Eddie's arm
immediately went out to steady her. I He steadied himself by
leaning against the rock and closing his eyes.
3 the ability to remain steady and not fall
balance
balance/'bel)ns/In U]
This circus act tests the performers" balance to the limit. I
sense of balance I hate climbing ladders, I have no sense
of balance at all.
4 to become unsteady and start to fall
lose your balance
totter
lose your balance /,lu:z ja: r 'belans/ to suddenly
become unsteady and start to fall Iv phrase]
Put your arms out to the side so that you don't lose your
balance. I Several times when I was on the stilts I lost my
balance and fell off. "
totter/'tota r II 'to:-/if someone or somethingtoters they
move unsteadily from side to side and look as though they
are going to fall Iv I1

BALANCE 101 BASIC
I could feel the tray tottering and suddenly all the drinks
crashed to the floor. I She tottered under the weight of the box,
very nearly collapsing under it.
 unsteady and likely to fall
unsteady
unstable
precarious
unsteady/An stedi/someone who is unsteady is unable
to balance properly, for example because of illness, old age
or too much alcohol [adj]
For a few moments he was pale and unsteady but his colour
gradually returned. [ His unsteady walk to the stage
reminded the audience of his age, despite the freshness of his
work. I unsteady on your feet She'll be a little unsteady
on her feet until the anaesthetic wears off.
unsteadily [adv] She moved unsteadily towards the table,
everyone expecting her to fall into a drunken heap.
unstable /Ansteibal/ something that is unstable is
unsteady because it is too large for the thing supporting
it, or not properly fastened to something etc, so that it is
dangerous [ adj l
We've had reports of a truck with an unstable load travel-
ling too fast through the town. ] That scaffolding looks unsta-
ble, get all the building workers off the site immediately.
precarious/prikearis/someone or something that is
precarious is unsteady and seems likely to fall, especially
because they are in a high position or on the edge of some-
thing [adj]
She looked very precarious, right at the top of the ladder. [
I could feel the precarious hold my feet had on the thin ledge.
precariously [adv ] When we found the girl she was perched
precariously on the window ledge, twelve floors up.
6 feeling unsteady and unable to balance
dizzy
giddy
sb's head is swimming
dizzy/'dIzi/feeling confused and unable to balance, espe-
cially after spinning around or standing up too quicldy [adj
not before noun]
Sometimes I get dizzy at the top of staircases and escalators. [
If you feel dizzy or short of breath, stop exercising immedi-
ately.
dizziness in U] A fall in the glucose level results in nausea,
dizziness and faintness.
giddy /gidi/ feeling unsteady and unable to balancb,
usually with the result that you want to be sick [adj]
She suddenly became giddy and had to find somewhere to
sit down. [ Just before I fainted I had a giddy sensation and
felt unable to stand.
sb's head is swimming /(sb's) hed ]z ,swimirj/ if
someone's head is swimming they feel unsteady, unable
to see properly and as though the room is spinning around
them very quickly, for example because they are ill or
drunk
My head was swimming, and the floor seemed to be moving
up and down. [ He stood up, his head swimming, and found
himself unable to move for fear of falling over.
balanced FAIR 2
balancing act EQUAL 8
bald HONEST 4
ball DANCE 5, ROUND 2
ball: be on the ball INTELLIGENT 3
ball: the ball is in your/their court DECIDE 4
ball game: be a whole new ball game DIFFERENT 2
ballot VOTE/ELECT 2
ballot: cast a vote/cast a ballot VOTE/ELECT 1
ballot box: the ballot box VOTE/ELECT 1
ballpark figure APPROXIMATELY 6
balmy HOT 6
ban FORBID 3, 8, 11
ban: put/impose a ban on FORBID 3
banal ORDINARY 2, USE STH 15
band GROUP OF PEOPLE 4, LINE 2
band together UNITE 2
bandwagon: climb/jump on the bandwagon TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED 2
bang EXACT 6, HIT/BUMP INTO 1, 5, SOUND 6, 10
bang: get a bang HIT/BUMP INTO 5
bang on time ON TIME 1
banish LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 5
bank LINE 6
bank: it won't break the bank CHEAP 1
bank on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 1
bankroll PAY FOR 11
bankrupt MONEY 16
bankrupt: go bankrupt FAIL 10, MONEY 16
banned FORBID 9
banned: be banned FORBID 4
banquet MEAL 5
bar ENTER 9, EXCEPT 1, FORBID 7, PIECE 2,
PREVENT 5, 6, SHUT/CLOSE 5
barbaric CRUEL :2
bare EMPTY 2, NAKED 1
barely JUST/ALMOST NOT 3, 5
barely/scarcely/hardly JUST/A MOMENT AGO 1
barely: can hardly/barely/scarcely JUST/ALMOST NOT 4
barf: puke/throw up/barf SICK/VOMIT 1
bargain: be a bargain CHEAP 6
bargain: keep your side of the bargain PROMISE 7
bargain: more than you had bargained for EXPECT 9
bargain: strike/make a bargain AGREE 3
bargain with CHEAP 10
bargaining DISCUSS 2
barge PUSH 7
barge in ENTER 1, INTERRUPT 1
barmy: mad/barmy CRAZY 1
barrack INTERRUPT 2
barrage SHOOT 8
barren GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 5
barrier PREVENT 7
barring IF 4
barter EXCHANGE 1
base BOTTOM 1
based: be based PLACE 8
based on: be based on COME FROM/ORIGINATE 8,
DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1, 2
bash HIT 1, HIT/BUMP INTO 1, PARTY 3
bash/give sth a bash HIT 6
bashful SHY 1
basic BASIC 1, SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1,
SIMPLE/PLAIN 2
@ BASIC
more important or necessary than anything
else
the feature or part of an idea, plan, or system
that everything else depends on
the basic ideas or principles of a subject,
belief, or system, that everything else is built
on and develops from
words used when you are-explaining the
basic facts of a situation, the basic reasons
for something etc
1 more important or necessary than anything
else
basic central
fundamental underlying
essential

BASIC 102 BASIC
basic/'belslk/[adj]
The government regards housing as a basic need. I The basic
ingredients of this cake are eggs, flour, and butter. I I can't
really speak Spanish, I just know a few basic words so I get
by. [ basic human rights I Killing is not in fact a basic
instinct of primates. I basic to We consider the right to vote
basic to our way of life.
fundamental /f^ndmentl-/ something that is fun-
damental is very basic and must be done, accepted etc
before something else can exist, go ahead etc [adj]
Raising your child to tell the difference between right and
wrong is one of t he fundamental tasks of parenthood. I the
fundamental beliefs of Christianity [ You cannot have real
justice without fundamental changes in the law. I funda-
mental to Water is fundamental to survival.
fundamentally [ adv ] The two approaches are so fundamen-
tally different that it is surprising that they have both been
successful.
essential / i ' senJ'al/essential difference/feature/point
etc (=the most important and noticeable) [adj]
The essential difference between apes and man is intelli-
gence. I I've outlined seven essential points which I think the
article should cover.
central /sentral/ a subject, idea etc that is central
receives more attention, time etc than others because it is
more important than them [adj]
The central theme of this novel is the desire for money. [Polit-
ical rights have always been the central concern of feminism. I
The use of weapons became the central issue dividing the
tribes. [ central to His alibi was central to his defence.
centrally Iadv] It is the subject of death that their book is
centrally concerned with.
underlying I ,anda r ' laI-irj-/underlying reason/cause/
aim etc (=the most important one, but which is not easy
to see) [adj only before noun]
The underlying aim of an advertisement is to attract atten-
tion. I When treating any health problem, the underlying
cause should always be looked for.
2 the feature or part of an idea, plan, or system
that everything else depends on
basis cornerstone
foundation the key
basis/'belss/In C usually singular]
The basis of his argument for discrimination was that men
are stronger than women. I basis for Expert advice and sup-
port are the basis for the rehabilitation programme. I form
the basis of Roman law still forms the basis of our own
legal system.
foundation Ifaon'del]anl the idea, fact, or principle on
which something is based In C]
His accusations have no real foundation at all. [ Her manage-
ment skills were the foundations on which she built her
career. I solid/sound foundation for (=strong foundation
for) The soundest foundation for peace is universal pros-
perity.
cornerstone/'ka:rnorstoun/the method, principle etc
that plans, ideas, or systems depend on in order to be suc-
cessful In C]
The treaty of 1946 has been the cornerstone of European har-
mony. ] Increased sales to the under-25s will be the corner-
stone of our marketing strategy in the coming year.
the key/6o 'k i:/the fact, idea, or action that makes it pos-
sible to do or understand something In singular]
the key to Nixon saw the improvement of relations with
China as the key to his foreign policy. I The theory of natural
selection remains the key to our understanding of the natural
world. [ the key We want to improve living standards and
we see a better health service as the key.
3 the basic ideas or principles of a subject,
belief, or system, that everything else is built
on and develops from
basics
fundamentals
first principles
basics /beisiks/ the basic ideas and rules of a skill,
subject, system etc, that you must learn before you can
continue In plural]
I still haven't mastered the basics of English grammar. I
Once you've learnt the basics, you can learn all the intricate
dance steps. [ basics in Unless we get back to basics in teach-
ing, the standard of literacy will fall.
tundamentals! ,f^ndo'mentlz/a formal word meaning
the basic rules or ideas of a method, belief, activity etc,
which form a strong base which its existence depends on
In plural]
This course provides an opportunity to learn more about the
fundamentals of film-making. I More intellectuals than ever
before were questioning the fundamentals of Marxism. I
After an embarrassing fall I decided to ask my skiing
instructor for further coaching in the fundamentals.
first principles/,fa:rst 'prinspalz/the most important
rules or features on which a belief, subject, system etc is
based in plural]
No one can become a scientist without a knowledge of the first
principles of mathematics. I To understand Keynesian theory
we have to return to first principles.
4 words used when you are explaining the
 asic facts of a situation, the basic reasons
for something etc
...... basically at the end of the day
essentlally in the final analysls/last analysis
In essence
basically I'belsikli/[adv]
Basically the only reason I do this job is because the salary
is so good. I If you don't study harder you're going to fail the
test, basically. I We only took a few shirts and a pair of jeans.
That's basically it, really. I The film appears to be quite com-
plicated but it's basically a love story.
essentially/]'sen[nit/(used when you are explaining
what the basic truth about something is) [adv]
The two computer systems appear to be different but they are
in fact essentially the same. I a poem which is essentially in
praise of the poet's wife [ Essentially, their marital problems
arose out of their cultural differences.
In essence/m 'esans/(a formal expression used when
you are explaining what the basic truth about something
is) lady phrase]
Einstein developed the theory of relativity which is, in essence,
very simple. I In essence, the Second World War was a mere
repetition of the war of 1914-18.
at the end of the day lot 6i ,end ov 6o 'dell (a British
expression used especially in spoken English when you are
saying what you think is basically true about a situation
after considering all the facts) [adv phrase]
Only you can take that decision, at the end of the day. I You
may be workingfor yourself but at the end of the day you still
have to pay tax on what you earn.
in the final analysis/last analysis /n 6o ,fainl
o'neloss, ,lo:st o'nelos.s II-,lest-/(used when you are
stating what you judge to be the basic truth about a situa-
tion after considering all the facts carefttlly) lady phrase]
In the final analysis Stalin was just as much a dictator as
Hitler. [ The responsibility for the accident must, in the last
analysis, rest with the captain.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

basically
basically BASIC 4
basically/essentially MEANING 9
basics BASIC 3, IMPORTANT 9
basis BASIC 2
basis: be the basis of COME FROM/ORIGINATE 8
bask in ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 10
bass LOW SOUND OR VOICE 1
bastard UNPLEASANT 1
bastard/nasty piece of work UNPLEASANT 1
bat: right off the bat IMMEDIATELY 4
batch GROUP OF PEOPLE 3, GROUP OF THINGS 2
bath/bathe WASH 3
bath: be in the bath/in the bathtub WASH 2
bath: have a bath/take a bath WASH 2
• bathroom TOILET 1
batter HIT 2
battered CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
battle COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 2, FIGHT 5,
FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 4, WAR 3
battle: the field/the field of battle WAR 7
battlefield WAR 7
batty: dotty/batty CRAZY 2
bawl SHOUT 1
be BE 1, BEHAVE 1, CHARACTER/PERSONALITY
4, COST 2, FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED
ETC 1, HAPPEN 3, MEASURE 5, PLACE 7, 8,
WORK/DO WORK 2
be: be red/green etc COLOUR/COLOR 2
be: feel/be FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 1
be all: the be all and end all IMPORTANT 5
to be
ways of saying that a number of people or
things, when considered together, are
something
ways of saying that a number of people or
things form a particular part or amount of
something
1 to be
be form
represent make
amount to constitute
be/bi; strong bi:/[v]
January is the first month of the year. I The state of the econ-
omy is our biggest problem. I The Somme was the bloodiest
battle of the First World War. I When it's finished, it will be
the biggest office development in Europe.
103
BE
represent /,reprI*zent/ a word used especially in
newspapers or in formal or technical writing meaning to
be something, especially something important or serious
Iv not in progressive l
Childbearing before a woman is physically mature may
represent a serious risk to her health. I Einstein's theory
represented a significant departure from previous theories
about the origins of the universe. I There is no doubt that this
new type of tyre represents a major advance in road safety.
amount to/a'maont tu:l if actions or behaviour amount
to something they are considered to be that thing because
they have the same effect Iv not in progressive]
The judge ruled that helping the victim to kill herself
amounted to murder. I Telling a lie or denying the truth -
it amounts to the same thing! I You think our financial exper-
tise doesn't amount to practical help?
|orm/fa'rm/if something forms something else, it has
physical qualities that make it be or act as that thing Iv not
in progressive]
The river formed a natural boundary between the two coun-
tries. I Oils produced by the skin form a protective barrier
against infection and disease.
make [mek/to have the necessary qualities to be a par-
ticular thing or a particular type of person Iv not in
progressive]
The table didn't make much of a barrier. I He'll make a good
father. I You're quick but you'll never make a football player.
constitute /'kDnsttju:t II *ko:nsttu.-t] if actions or
behaviour constitute something, they are officially or
legally regarded as being that thing Iv not in progressive]
Boarding a train without a ticket constitutes a breach of rail-
way regulations. I The Court will determine whether the
army's action constituted an abuse of the prisoner's human
rights. I It is up to the teacher to decide what constitutes 'satis-
factory work" - not you.
ways of saying that a number of people or
things, when considered together, are
something
make up constitute
form add up to
make up / mek ^pl ifa group of people, places etc make
up something, together they are a single organization,
country etc [phr v not in progressive]
The six states that make up New England are Maine, Ver-
mont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Rhode Island. I Many of the unions which make up the
Trades Union Congress are against the idea of secret voting.
form/fa:rm! to be part of a particular group of people or
to be the thing on which something else is based Iv not in
progressive]
People from worker, peasant or soldier backgrounds now
formed a sizeable core of the teaching profession. I There
should be more MPs representing the ethnic minorities,
wherever these form a substantial part of the electorate. I The
results of these studies formed the basis of state education
policy in the 1960s.
constitute /'kDnsttju:t I[ 'ko:nstotu:t/ if a number of
people or things together constitute something, they are
the parts that together make up that thing [v not in
progressive]
Alaska is the largest of the fifty states that constitute the
USA.I It is sometimes difficult to believe that the different
groups living within our borders constitute a single society. I
Lee Miller's photographs constitute an important body of
work.
add up to /  ad I^p tu:/if a group of different things add
up to something, together they are that thing or they pro-
vide what is needed for the thing to exist Iv not in
progressive]
Good wine, excellent food and interesting company; it all
added up to a splendid evening. [ It adds up to a recipe for
financial disaster.

BE 104 BEAT/DEFEAT
 ways of saying that a number of people or
things form a particular part or amount of
something
make up account for
constitute represent
make up /,meek '^p/[phr v not in progressive]
Temporary workers make up 64% of the work force. [Police
are concerned about violent crime, which made up a large
proportion of total crime last year. I Only half our foreign
earnings come from industry; the rest is made up o f finan-
cial services and tourism.
constitute/'kDnstotju:t [I ko:nsttu:q a word used espe-
cially in economic or scientific contexts meaning to be a
particular part of something Iv not in progressive]
Nitrogen constitutes 78% of the earth's atmosphere. [ Semi-
skilled and unskilled operatives constituted one in eight of
all self-employed workers.
account for/a'kaunt fa:r/an expression meaning to be
a particular amount or part of something Iv not in
progressivel
In Japan, firms employing over 1000 people accounted for
50% of total employment. [ Antibiotics account for two thirds
of Beecham's business.
represent/,repr'zent/to be a particular part of some-
thing, especially when this is surprising or worth notic-
ing [v not in progressive] "
Women now represent 48% of the workforce. [ This project
alone represents half of the department's budget.
beam SEND 5, SMILE 1
beans: be full of beans ENERGETIC 2
bear CARRY 1, STAND/BEAR 1, SUPPORT/HOLD UP 1
bear: can't bear STAND/BEAR 3
bear: can't bear to leave LEAVE A PLACE 14
bear: can't stand/can't bear HATE 2
bear fruit SUCCEED IN DOING STH 4
bearlkeep in mind REMEMBER 9
bear out PROVE 2"
bear with me WAIT 2
bearable STAND/BEAR 2
bearing DIRECTION 1
bearing: have no bearing on CONNECTED WITH 9
beat BEAT/DEFEAT 1, BETTER 1, HIT 2, 4, MIX 2
beat: be beaten LOSE A OR WAR 1
GAME,
COMPETITION,
beat: can beat sb with one arm tied behind your back
EASY 5
beat: if you can't beat 'em join 'em TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 2
beat: it beats me UNDERSTAND 13
beat: you can't beat BEST 2
beat/dead beat TIRED 1
beat down: beat sb down CHEAP 10
beat it LEAVE A PLACE 3
beat sb to it BEFORE 12
beatsbup HIT2
beat-up CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
beat upon HIT2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION, i
BEAT/DEFEAT
to defeat someone in a game, competition,
election, war etc
1 to beat someone in a game, competition,
election etc
2 to beat someone very easily
3 to defeat an army or enemy in war
4 to gain an advantage over someone by using
your intelligence
5 a situation in which a person, army, political
party etc is defeated
1 to beat someone in a game, competition,
election etc
beat outplay
defeat be more than a match for
beat/bizt/to get more points, votes etc than an opposing
team, person, or political party Iv T]
beat sb Do you think the Socialists will beat the Liberals in
the election? [ Everyone thought Liverpool would win the
championship but they were beaten in the final. [Lewis was
a tough boxer, and a hard man to beat. I beat sb at My
Father used to let me beat him at chess. [ beat sb by 2{}
points/5 seconds/50 votes etc The Swedish runner beat
the Canadian by just under two seconds, making it a very
close race indeed. [ beat sb easily He's a much stronger
athlete - he should beat the Kenyan easily.
defeat Id fi:t/a word used especially in written English,
meaning to beat an opposing team, person, or political
party Iv T]
defeat sb For the sixth consecutive year, Oxford defeated
Cambridge today in the annual boat race. [ Supporters of
the Maastricht Treaty came close to being defeated in the
French referendum. [ defeat sb by 20 points/two goals to
one ete Once again the Dodgers played brilliantly, defeat-
ing the visiting team by almost 30points.
defeat In U] A brief post-war depression coincided with the
defeat of the Conservatives in the general election.
outplay/aut ple] to beat an opponent or team in a game
by playing with more skill than they do Iv T not usually in
progressive]
outplay sb McEnroe completely outplayed Lendl in the semi-
final. [ We believe we have enough skillful players to outplay
anyone. [ outplay sb at I was outplayed at cards and lost
all my money.

BEATIDEFEAT 105 BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING
be more than a match for/bi: Imo: r 6an a 'matS f:r/
to beat your opponent in a game, especially when people
were not expecting you to do this iv phrase]
I thought I might beat Tracy at tennis but she was more than
a match for me. I Cram, fully fit again, was more than a
match for his challengers in the 1500 metres.
2 to beat someone very easily
thrash/lick clobber/hammer
rout skunk
smash/slaughter
thrash/lick/0raJ', hk/informal words meaning to beat
someone very easily in a game because you are much
stronger or more skilful Iv T often passive]
be/get thrashed Portsmouth were licked by Liverpool in
the semifinal replay. I Even though Mike got thrashed in his
first two fights, he was determined to continue with his
boxing career. I thrash/lick sb We didn't expect to win the
game, but we thrashed them 9-0. I thrash/lick sb at Sue
thrashed me at raquet ball yesterday.
rout ]raot] to easily beat an opposing team in a game
because you are so much better that they have no chance
of winning iv T not in progressive]
Evans was bowling extremely well and we routed the
Shannon side.
smash/slaughter Ismaj', 'sla:tar/ informal words
meaning to completely defeat a sporting or political oppo-
nent Iv T]
smash/slaughter sb We played badly and we were slaugh-
tered. I The party strategy was to form an alliance to smash
the communists.I smash/slaughter sb at Brad just slaugh-
tered me at badminton - I didn't realize he was such a good
player.
clobber/hammer I'klob r, 'ham r 11 klo:-/ informal
words meaning to beat an opposing team very easily, in a
way that is embarrassing for the team that loses iv T]
We've been clobbered twice now by Central High's basket-
ball team. I Chicago hammered Boston in an away game on
Saturday.
skunk/sknk/an informal American word meaning to
defeat a player or a team easily iv T]
skunk sb at Your Dad skunked me at cribbage again. I
skunk sb 3 games to 1/50 points to 10 etc The Gold-
diggers skunked their opponents 3 games to one.
3 to defeat an army or enemy in war
defeat rout
overwhelm bring sb to their knees
conquer annihilate
defeat/dltfi:t/iv T]
The army was well-trained and well-armed, and had little
difficulty in defeating the rebels. I heavily defeat The
Republicans were heavily defeated in the Spanish Civil War.
defeat in U] Complete victory would only be possible with
the military defeat of Hannibal.
overwhelm /aovar'welm! to completely defeat an
enemy's army because your armed forces are larger, have
better equipment etc iv T]
Napoleon's army was strong enough to overwhelm any
potential enemy. I With their greatly superior technology, the
Western forces completely overwhelmed Saddam's conscript
army.
conquer /'kt)qka r [[ 'ko:q-/ to completely defeat the
armed forces of an enemy country, with the result that you
have complete control over it iv I/T]
conquer BritainCpainCrance ete Julius Caesar con-
quered Gaul, which we now know as France. [ Mr Gorbachev
stressed that the Russian goal is not conquering the West. [
conquer Sailors travelled to the New World with the urge
to conquer and explore.
rout/mot/to completely defeat an enemy's army in battle,
causing great disorder and loss of life iv T not in
progressive]
The general was killed and his armies were routed in a
magnificent cavalry charge.
rout in U] After the rout of the Fifth Army (=after it had been
routed) in March 1918 the war was clearly over.
bring sb to their knees/,bri] (sb) ta 6e r 'ni:z/to cause
the final defeat of an enemy, especially after a long war, so
that they are too weak to be able to fight back iv phrase]
The disastrous Battle of the Boyne finally brought the
Catholics to their knees. [ After years of trench warfare, the
Kaiser's army had finally been brought to its knees.
annihilate/'nailet/to defeat an enemy's army in a war
or battle so that all or nearly allof its forces are killed iv T]
After a long and bloody battle the army succeeded in anni-
hilating Seged's forces. [ In 1945 dapan was helpless, with
its military power annihilated.
4 to gain an advantage over someone by using
your intelligence
outwit/outsmart
be too clever for
outwit/outsmart/aot' wt, aot' smo:rtl to gain an advan-
tage over someone that you are fighting against or compet-
ing against, by clever tricks and planning rather than by
force iv T ]
We can't fight them. We'll just have to try and outsmart
them. [ None of the thieves was prepared to admit that they
had been outwitted by a couple of teenagers.
be too clever for/bi: tu: 'kleva r f:r/ if you are too
clever for someone they have tried to trick you but you
have discovered their intentions, and so prevented them
from being successful iv phrase]
Molly tried to hide the presents but the children were too
clever for her and found them within minutes.
5 a situation in which a person, army, political
party etc is defeated
defeat
rout
defeat/di'fi:t! in C]
After his third successive election defeat he decided to retire
from politics. [ suffer a defeat In the last game of the season
they suffered a humiliating defeat, losing 7-0 to Real Madrid.
rout/raotl a situation in which one player, team or army
easily defeats its opponents in C]
The game was a rout with the home team winning by 10
goals to nil.
i beaten: be beaten LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR
• WAR 1
,,, beaten track: off the beaten track FAR 5
 beating: give sb a beating HIT 4
!i! beating: take a beating LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION,
; OR WAR 1
! beats me: it beats me NOT KNOW 1
ii!i::i beautiful BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 3, 4, 5
BEAUTIFUL/
GOOD.LOOKING
words for describing a beautiful woman
words for describing a good-looking man
words for describing a beautiful child
words for describing a beautiful object,
picture, vehicle, building etc
words for describing a beautiful area or place
ways of saying that something or someone is
arranged, decorated, dressed, painted etc in
a beautiful way
the beautiful appearance of something or
someone

BEA UTIFUL/GOOD-L OOKING 106 BEA UTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING
words for describing a beautiful woman
beautiful lovely
good-looking gorgeous
pretty stunning
attractive ravishing
striking of great beauty
handsome elegant
beautiful I'bju:tfl/extremely good-looking, much more
so than most women [adj]
She was even more beautiful than I had remembered. I The
female characters in this book are all the same - beautiful,
desirable women with rich husbands. [ Madam de Mon-
tespan, the most beautiful woman at the court of Louis XIV
good-looking/,god luklrj/pleasant to look at [adj]
Mary was tall and good-looking. I A good-looking young
woman dressed in black came into the room. I No, she's not
plain at all. In fact, she's rather good-looking.
pretty/'priti/good-looking in an ordinary way but not
really beautiful or sexually exciting [adj]
She's short and pretty, with curly red hair. I The movie star
sat at a cafe table, surrounded by pretty girls. I Shirley's
certainly pretty, but I wouldn't call her beautiful.
attractive/a trektv/good-looking, especially in a way
that makes you feel sexually interested [adj]
Sophia is very attractive in a strange kind of way. I Why are
you surprised? Your mother is still an attractive woman! I
I don'tfind her attractive at all.
striking /  stralklrj/very attractive, especially because you
have a particular feature, such as hair or eyes, that is beau-
tiful and unusual [adjl
With her mass of black hair and pale skin she looked very
striking. I Celia had striking brown eyes like some Russian
icon. I I remember Alice as a woman of striking beauty.
handsome /hensam/ a handsome woman is good-
looking in an unusual way, especially because she is tall
or strong or looks as if she has a strong character [adj]
She was a tall, handsome woman of forty-five with a proud
intelligent expression. I The general's daughter is handsome
and spirited.
lovely/' IAvli/very good-looking, with an attractive and
pleasant character [adj]
Claire is young and lovely, but rather shy. I He told his wife
that evening that she had never looked lovelier.
gorgeous/ga:rdsos/ an informal word meaning very
good-looking, especially in a way that is sexually attractive
[adj]
He always came to parties with his gorgeous girlfriend by
his side. I "'You're as gorgeous as ever, "" he declared, "'the
years have been kind to you!"
stunning/'st^nIlJ/extremely good-looking and sexually
attractive, so that everyone notices and admires you [adj]
You look stunning in that purple dress. I Yvonne was one of
the most stunning-looking girls I've ever seen in my life.
ravishing / 'reevlSIrj/a word meaning very good-looking
and sexually attractive, used especially in humorous
descriptions [ adjl
The farmer had three daughters, all three blonde and
ravishing.
of great beauty/ov ,grelt bju:ti/an expression used
especially in literature meaning very beautiful [adjphrase]
In her youth she had been a woman of great beauty.
elegant/ elIgont/good-looking, well-dressed, and grace-
ful [adj]
They were a very attractive couple: he was dark and hand-
some, she was tall and elegant. I An elegant young woman
sat at the next table, sipping a cocktail.
2 words for describing a good-looking man
good-looking rugged
handsome striking
attractive gorgeous
cute be a fine figure of a man
hunky dashing
good-looking/,god 'lukIlJ/pleasant to look at [adj]
My boyfriend isn't very good-looking, but that's not impor-
tant. I A tall good-looking man asked me if I wanted to
dance. I Malkovitch is not good-looking in the conventional
sense, but women find him attractive.
handsome/ hens9m/a word used especially in written
descriptions or stories meaning very good-looking, with
the strong regular features that good-looking men are
usually supposed to have [adj]
Jane wants to marry a handsome young doctor. I He is the
most handsome boy in the class. I The story ends, as usual,
with the girl being rescued by a handsome prince.
attractive/o trektv/good-looking, especially in a way
that makes you feel sexually interested [adj]
Mr Frazer, her dentist, was young, unmarried and attrac-
tive. I To be honest, Sophie, I've never really found him very
attractive.
cute/kju:t/an informal American word: a young man who
is cute is good-looking [adj]
"'Billy, '" said Martha, "'I think you're cute." I He's so cute, and
I just love that accent!
hunky / ' h^qki/an informal word meaning very attractive
and strong-looking [adj]
Ha veyou seen the new sports instructor? He's really hunky. I
The best part of the film is when hunky truck driver, Ken,
falls in love with sophisticated businesswoman, Land.
rugged /rAg Id! good-looking and strong but also rather
rough-looking [ adj]
When I first arrived at the camp a rugged corporal showed
me around. I The captain's face was rugged and tanned from
his years spent at sea.
striking / ' stralkirj/very attractive, especially because you
have a particular feature such as hair, eyes etc that is
attractive and unusual [adj]
His appearance was striking, with a mop of dark curls fram-
ing his very pale face.
gorgeous/'g:rdSos / an informal word meaning good-
looking and sexually attractive [adj]
I couldn't believe it when an absolutely gorgeous guy asked
me to dinner. [ Did you see the film with Harrison Ford?Isn't
he gorgeous?
be a fine figure of a man/bi: o Ifaln rigor ov o men 11
-flgjar-/an expression used especially in a humorous con-
text or in literature meaning to be a strong-looking, attrac-
tive man Iv phrase]
Her husband was a fine figure of a man - tall, broad-chested
with a bushy black moustache.
dashing/'deJ'l]/a word used especially in literature
meaning good-looking and well-dressed in a way that
makes people notice you Iadj]
Steve was looking very dashing in a light-coloured suit. I She
was the daughter of a merchant in Berlin and a dashing
hussar had fallen in love with her.
3 words for describing a beautiful child
beautiful
lovely
cute
beautiful/'bju:tfM/[adj]
Parents always believe that their baby is the most beautiful
baby in the world. [ On her desk there was a photograph of
two beautiful children.
lovely /l^vli/ beautiful and usually with a pleasant
character [adj]
They married and had three lovely children. [ He's a lovely
baby and when he smiles everyone goes all gooey-eyed.
cute/kju:t/an informal word meaning having a pleasant,
attractive appearance [adj]
Jack looked so cute all wrapped up and ready to go to bed. [
I know he's rude and scruffy, but he's cute, isn't he?

BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 107 BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING
4 words for describing a beautiful object,
picture, vehicle, building etc
beautiful magnificent
attractive stunning
pretty superb
lovely exquisite
gorgeous elegant
splendid artistic
beautiful/'bju:Qfal/a beautiful object is very good to
look at and it gives you a feeling of great pleasure or joy
[adj]
When Marcus arrived he had a beautiful bunch of flowers
for my mother. I The church dates from 1540 and there is a
beautiful fresco above the altar. I "Do you like the house?"
"'Like it? It's beautiful!'"
attractive/atraktiv! pleasant to look at [adj]
Kitchen utensils should be attractive as well as functional. I
We went for long walks through the attractive grounds that
surrounded the mansion. I The puppy was an attractive little
creature with a sweetly expressive face.
pretty !'priti/something that is pretty, especially some-
thing small or unimportant, is pleasant to look at but is not
really beautiful or impressive [adj]
What pretty curtains! Where did you get them? I Look at those
geraniums. Pretty, aren't they? I For our holiday I had found
a pretty cottage with a lawn running down to a stream.
lovely/, IAvli/something that is lovely is pleasant to look
at and makes you feel happy [adj]
The dress was such a lovely colour, a deep blue that really
suited her. I It was a lovely big house with a big garden out
the back. I Karl bought a lovely old guitar for Ј15.
gorgeous/ga:rdSas/an informal word for describing
something that you think is very beautiful, especially
something that you would like to have yourself [adj]
Oh! What a gorgeous dress! Where did you get it? l They live
in a gorgeous apartment in the old, historical part of town. I
It's an ideal holiday resort, With cheap hotels and gorgeous
beaches.
splendid /Isplendd/something such as a building, piece
of furniture, or work of art that is splendid is beautiful and
impressive [adj]
Milan contains many splendid churches. I In the centre of the
room was a splendid 18th century oak table.
magnificent /mecg'nQsant/ very beautiful and very
impressive [adj]
Elizabeth Taylor wore a magnificent floor-length cloak of
red velvet. I French Classicism produced magnificent
architecture.
stunning / ' stAnirj/very beautiful so that everyone notices
and admires it [adj]
Rafaella wore a stunning white satin wedding gown. I Every
season young fashion designers produce a number of stun-
ning creations.
superb/sju:'pa:rb, su:- II su:-/extremely beautiful and of
the highest quality [adj]
The carnations we got from the flower market were abso-
lutely superb. I a superb collection of Chinese porcelain I The
superb Lascaux cave-paintings had been preserved for thou-
sands of years.
exquisite [Ik  skw izt, 'ekskw-/something that is exqui-
site is extremely beautiful and very delicate, and usually
has many colours or details [adj]
She was wearing an exquisite pearl necklace. I The co]ours
of the tapestry were rich and exquisite.
elegant/'elgantl beautiful and showing good taste and
style [adj]
The first apartment we were shown was extremely elegant,
but not at all suitable for a family with children. I I'd much
rather have a sleek elegant car than an ugly box on wheels.
elegantly [adv] The doorway is elegantly carved in red
sandstone.
elegance In U] London, with the sleaziness of Soho to the
east and the elegance of Mayfair to the west, is a city of
contrasts.
artistic/o:rtstk/ an arrangement, design etc that is
artistic looks attractive and has been done with skill and
imagination [ adj]
I love your Christmas decorations - they're very artistic. I
The food was presented in an artistic way.
artistically [adv] Red and blue flowers were artistically
arranged to form a pattern.
5 words for describing a beautiful area or place
beautiful picturesque
lovely magnificent
pretty beauty spot
scenic
beautiful/'bju:Qfal/[adjl
The woods around Bewley are very beautiful. [ We're stay-
ing in a beautiful hilltop village about thirty miles from
Avignon. I The film is set in the beautiful alpine scenery of
Austria. I a beautiful view over the bay
lovely Il^vli/beautiful, in a way that makes you feel
happy |adj]
The hills will be lovely at this time of year. I You are so lucky
to live here with all this lovely countryside around you.
pretty/'prti! pleasant to look at but not really impressive
[adj]
We walked down the pretty, tree-lined avenue. I It's a pretty
village on the Suffolk border but in summer it's packed with
tourists.
scenic / si:nlk/ scenic journey/route/tour/railway
etc (=going through beautiful country)[adj usually before
noun]
We travelled to the coast by a very scenic route. I The most
scenic stretch of railway line in England runs through our
valley.
picturesque/pikt.fresk/picturesque village/cot-
tage/bridge/garden etc (=beautiful especially because it
is old-fashioned) [adj]
Essex is only 20 miles from London but its villages are still
very picturesque. I She had albums filled with sketches of
churches, old bridges, and picturesque cottages.
magnificent/mag nlfa sant/something such as a moun-
tain or a large area of country that is magnificent is very
beautiful and very impressive [adjl
Taking a train through the Canadian Rockies is one way of
seeing this vast stretch of magnificent country. I Travelling
through northern Spain we saw some magnificent scenery.
beauty spot/'bju:ti spot 11 -spo:t/an area or place that
people visit because it is especially beautiful In C]
There are several beauty spots to visit in Crete. [ People were
protesting because the council planned to build a new road
through Burleigh Wood, a local beauty spot.
6 ways of saying that something or someone is
arranged, decorated, dressed, painted etc in
a beautiful way
beautifully attractively
prettily exquisitely
beautifully/'bju:tfali/[adv]
She was beautifully dressed in pink silk. [ the beautifully
delicate jewellery of the Indians
prettily / priuli/in a way that is pleasant to look at [adv]
Helen was always prettily dressed. [ The soap is prettily
wrapped with old-fashioned labels.
attractively/a'trektivli/in a way that makes something
very pleasant to look at, especially in order to make people
want it [adv]
We hope to sell goods by packaging them attractively. [ All
her friends were younger, prettier and more attractively
dressed.
I I
exquisitely/k skwzatli/in a very delicate, careful and
beautiful way [adv]
In the box was a pair of exquisitely shaped old earrings. I
The vase she presented him with was exquisitely ornate.

BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 108 BECAUSE
7 the beautiful appearance of something or
someone
beauty
looks/good looks
beauty/,bju:ti/[n U]
Her beauty was accentuated by the dark clothes she wore. I
the beauty of The beauty of the countryside and the friend-
liness of the people made him decide to settle in Tuscany. I
visualChysical/natural etc beauty The sheer physical
beauty of the Malagasy people was a constant surprise to me.
looks/good looks/loks, god loks/a person's appear-
ance, especially when they are beautiful or sexually attrac-
tive In plural]
She had everything - good looks, intelligence, wit and style. I
Looks don't count for much in this business - it's much more
important to be friendly and a good talker. I sb's looks His
writing was affected by his alcoholism, but he never lost his
looks.
beautifully BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 6
beauty BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 7
beauty: of great beauty BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1
 beauty: the beauty of GOOD POINT OR
CHARACTERISTIC 1
ii beauty spot BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 5
' beaver away WORK HARD 1
:. because BECAUSE 1
 because of BECAUSE 1
BECAUSE
words used when you are explaining why
something happened, why you did something
etc
words used when you are explaining why
something happened, why you did something
etc
because out of
the reason .... is that on account of
because of as a result of
since due to
as owing to
through seeing as
thanks to
because/b 'kuz, b  'kz II b 'k3:z, b  'kz/[conjunction[
She's in a bad mood because her father won't let her go to
the party tonight. I "This photograph doesn't look like you. "'
"That's because it isn't me - it's my sister". I Because you've
worked so well, I'm giving everyone a 100% bonus. [just
because (=when you think an explanation is not a good
enough reason for something) You mean you dumped him
just because he forgot your birthday? l simply because
(when there is a very simple reason for something) We're
not going on holiday this year, simply because we can't
afford it.
the reason .... is that/6, ri:zn .... z (%tl (used when
you are explaining something carefully, especially when
you have been asked to explain why something happened)
The reason we didn't consider you for the job was that you
didn't have enough experience. I The reason we are here this
evening is to say thank you to Brian for all his hard work.
because of/b 'k,z v II bI lozz-/[prep]
I had to move because of my job. [Because ofyour incompe-
tence we have lost a lot of business. [ The house isn't really
suitable for an old person because of all those stairs.
since/sins/(used to introduce the reason why you decide
to do something or suggest doing something) [conjunction]
We had planned to play tennis but since it was raining we
decided to go swimming instead. [ Since you're going to be
in the area anyway, you can pick up the order for me. [ Since
we've got some new people here, maybe we should recap what
we've decided so far.
as/z; strong aez/(used to introduce the reason why a par-
ticular situation exists, why someone decides to do some-
thing or suggests doing something etc) [conjunction]
As he had been in prison several times, he was a prime sus-
pect for the case. [As it's late, why don't we get a take-away
meal instead of cooking for ourselves?
through/Oru:/(used especially when you Want to explain
why something has succeeded or why it has failed) [prep]
We succeeded through sheer hard work. [ Hundreds of work-
ing days have been lost this year through illness. [ The Com-
munity Association collapsed through lack of support.
thanks to I'Oeks tu:l thanks to your hard work/a
donation/sb's good luck etc (used when you want to
explain why something good has happened and especially
when you are grateful to the person or thing that made it
possible) [prep[
The play was a great success, and it was all thanks to the
effort and commitment of everyone involved. I Nickel prices
have rocketed, thanks to a record output of stainless steel. I
thanks to sb's carelessness/stupidity etc (used when
you are annoyed with someone) Thanks to your careless-
ness, those important documents have been lost.
out of/'aot v/out of curiosity/desperation etc (used
especially when someone has done something they would
not usually do) [prep[
I came to you out of desperation -you've got to help me. I I
think I should like to taste apiece of octopus, just out of curi-
osity. I You didn't really want that last cake, you only took
it out of spite.
on account of/on 'kaont v[ (used especially when you
want to explain the reason for a difficulty, problem, or
failure) [prep[
We had to move to London on account of my job. I Ican't run
on account of my asthma. I You're in enough trouble on
account of me already.
as a result of/z  r 'z^lt v] (used especially in news
reports and public statements to introduce the cause of
something that has happened, usually something
unpleasant) [prep[
Many people are now homeless as a result of the civil war. I
As a result of adverse weather conditions, all trains will be
subject to delays. I The race had to be stopped as a result of
people crowding onto the track. I as a direct result of Mr
Logan died as a direct result of the injuries he received in the
accident.
clue to/'dju: tu: II du:-! (used especially in official state-
ments to introduce the reason for a difficulty or failure)
[prep ]
Our :flight was delayed due to a strike by air-traffic con-
trollers. [ Due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret
to inform customers that this store will close early.
owing to/'on3 tu:/(used especially in official statements
to introduce an explanation of why something happened)
[prep ]
Owing to Princess Diana's ill-health, her visit to the new
school is to be postponed. [ This is one of the most commonly
used metals in modern industry owing to its widespread
availablity.

BECAUSE 109 BECOME
seeing as / I si:o az/(an informal expression used espe-
cially to introduce a situation that causes you to decide or
suggest something that you had not originally intended)
[conjunction ]
Seeing as you're here, you might as well help me get the wash-
ing in. I It was a great idea to go to the cinema but seeing
as no one had any money, we couldn't go.
beck and call: be at sb's beck and call OBEY 5
beckon SIGN/GESTURE 2
become BECOME 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
become: getlbecome MORE THAN BEFORE 3
-become/grow accustomed to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED
TO 3
become a member JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 1
BECOME
to become angry, happy, bored, frightened
etc
to become rich, old, famous, popular etc
to become a different size, shape,
temperature etc
to become a different colour
to change completely and become something
or someone else
to start doing a particular kind of work or
activity, or start to have a particular position
ways of saying that a situation becomes
different, especially when it becomes worse
than before
get/get/get old/rich/fat/good etc (used especially in
spoken English) Iv]
As we get old we lose our strength. I His father had got rich
in the 1960s property boom. I He was worried that if he got
too fat his wife would leave him - and she did. I Have you
been practising? You "re getting really good at it.
grow/gmo/to gradually become rich, old, famous, popu-
lar etc over a long time Iv]
Most people are frightened of growing old. I It was a long
summer and the ground grew hard. I Over the years she has
grown more and more independent, and she finally left home
last year.
 to become a different size, shape,
temperature etc
become
get
grow
become/b 'kAm/[v]
In hot weather the blood vessels become wider. I The inside
of the furnace had become hot enough to melt iron. I While
he'd been away at school the child seemed to have become
taller.
get/get/to become larger, colder, wider etc, especially
quickly [vl
We crossed the river at a point where it got narrower. I The
kittens seem to be getting bigger every day. I I got really cold
sitting out on the balcony.
grow/gmu/to gradually become larger, hotter, wider over
a long time Iv]
Day by day the stain on the ceiling grew larger. I As the days
grow warmer, we spend more time outdoors. I While we were
waiting the queue behind us was growing longer and longer.
1 to become angry, happy, bored, frightened
etc
become grow
get work up
become/b 'kAm/ [v]
I became more interested as the film continued. I She could
see that the children were becoming bored so she changed the
activity. I As the players ran out onto the field the crowd
became really excited.
get/get/to become angry, happy, nervous etc, especially
quickly Iv]
When she gets angry she shouts a lot. I The actors were begin-
ning to get nervous before they went on stage. [ Look, it's no
good going to the funeral if you're just going to get upset.
grow/gmo/to gradually become angry, happy, bored etc,
over a long time Iv]
She grew impatient with his constant excuses for not doing
his homework. I All her family crowded round the bed until
she grew too tired for visitors. I The old man is growing even
more fearful of his own death.
work up/,w3:rk Ap/ work up interest/enthusiasm/
concern etc (=try to become interested, keen, concerned
etc, especially over a long time) Iv T not in passive]
I hope they can work up some enthusiasm for their studies. I
I'm desperately trying to work up enough courage to go to
the dentist. I She could not work up any sympathy for Roy
- it was all his fault.
2 to become rich, old, famous, popular etc
become
get
grow
become Ib'kAml [v]
Stallone became famous, but only after a lot of hard work.I
Short skirts and short haircuts for women first became popu-
lar in the 1960s. I I've spent so much time fixing car engines,
I've become fairly expert at it. I It's becoming apparent that
nobody in the class has understood a word I've said.
4 to become a different colour
turn
go
turn It3:rn/to become a different colour, especially as part
of a number of changes in the colour of something Iv]
It's so beautiful in the evening when the sky turns red. [ All
the leaves on the trees have turned brown. [ My father's hair
turned grey when he was only 25.
go/gaol to become a different colour, usually for a short
time, especially because something has made it change
colour Iv]
Her face had gone red in the hot sun. I I dropped a brick on
my finger and the nail went black.
5 to change completely and become something
or someone else
become grow into
turn into develop into
change into
become/hi 'k^m/[v]
Since winning all that money he's become a very unpleasant
person. I Day became night and all was quiet. I The war has
helped this small colony become a strong independent nation.
turn into /'ta:rn ntu:/to become something different over
a long period of time, often so that you do not notice it
happening Iv]
It's difficult to believe that this little brown thing will even-
tually turn into a beautiful butterfly. [ What used to be a quiet
village has gradually turned into a busy holiday resort. I
During the brewing process all the sugar turns into alcohol.
change into/tfexnd5 xntu:/ if someone or something
changes into someone or something else, they become
completely different so that there is no connection with the
way they were at first [v]
I read her a story in which a frog changes into a prince. [
Since she started college she's slowly changed into a beauti-
fulyoung woman. [ change from sth into sth After seeing
a therapist he changed from a dangerous criminal into a
well-adjusted young man.

BECOME 110 BEFORE
grow into/gmo mtu:/to gradually change completely
over a long time so that you become someone or something
else Iv]
He's grown into a fine young man. I Who would have thought
that a few people's protests would have grown into a national
.movement. I The crowd's cheers slowly grew into a loud
crescendo of noise.
develop into /d: vebp mtu:/ to gradually and slowly
change into something or someone that is completely
different, especially as a result of hard work or planning [vl
Over the years the college developed into one of the finest
language institutions in all of South East Asia. I He was a
bit naive at first but has developed into a versatile and effec-
tive player.
6 to start doing a particular kind of work or
activity, or start to have a particular position
become
get to be
become/b'k^rn/[v]
become a doctor/teacher etc He studied at Oxford Univer-
sity and later became a writer. I My friend Pare stayed with
the company and became a departmental manager. I
become president/chief etc Sir Richard has just become
Chief of Police.
get to be /'get t bi:/an informal expression meaning to
have a particular job especially without trying to achieve
that position or have that job Iv]
get to be a lawyer/a doctor etc If all goes well she may
even get to be an airline pilot. I get to be boss/president
etc I wanted to ask him how he got to be boss of such a big
company.
7 ways of saying that a situation becomes
different, especially when it becomes worse
than before
become grow
get turn
become/b'knm! [v]
It was only when their marriage became unbearable that
they considered a divorce. I The relationship between the two
nations has become much worse since the bombing incident. I
The atmosphere in the room became more festive as Connor
opened some beers. I it has become difficult/hard etc/t's
become much more difficult to find a job in London.
get/get/to become different, especially quickly [v]
Things are getting worse. They're worried that they may
have to sell the house. I The situation in the factory is get-
ting out of hand - yesterday only two people turned up for
work. I It seems to me that the worm is getting more and more
unpleasant - people just don't respect each other any more.
grow/gro/if a situation grows different in some way,
it gradually becomes like that over a long time Iv]
The atmosphere in this town has grown less friendly. I The
situation slowly grew tense as everyone awaited the results.
turn/t3:rn/turn dangerous/nasty/unpleasant etc (=to
become dangerous, nasty, unpleasant etc, especially when
it is not expected to happen like that) [vl
It started out as a friendly game of soccer but it turned
unpleasant. I Their friendship was beginning to turn sour.
before BEFORE 1, 2, 4, 8, IF 3
before: the day/week/month/year before BEFORE 7
before: the one before BEFORE 6, 9
before long SOON 1, 3
before the year/month/day is out FINISH/COME TO
AN END 2
before you know it SOON 2
before
which meaning?
before an event or
time; before someone
or somethingin a list,
series etc
BEFORE
at a time in the past : @ PAST
in front of someone or . FRONT
something . . ,.-
I I I ii II II i IIIIIIrlll 'f ....... f ......... : : ........   .........
BEFORE
ways of saying that one thing happens before
another, or that something comes before
something else in a list or series
I before something happens or is done
2 before now or before then
3 ways of saying that someone does
something, or something takes place, before
a particular event
4 ways of saying that something must be done
before a particular time
5 before a particular hour of the day, when you
are saying what time it is
8 happening before or existing before someone
or something else
7' words for describing a time, a day, month etc
that comes before another one
8 before something in a list or series of things
or before someone else in a line of people
9 words for describing something that comes
before something else in a list or series
10 to happen or exist before something or
someone else
11 to come before something else in a list or
series
12 to do something before someone else does it
13 a person or thing that existed before another
person or thing
14 words used in written English for describing
someone or something that has been
mentioned earlier in the same piece of writing
bed BOTTOM 4
bed: get out of bed WAKE UP/GET UP 4
bed: get sb into bed SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 6
bed: get sb up/out of bed WAKE UP/GET UP 7
bed: go to bed SLEEP 5
bed: go to bed with SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
bed: got out of bed on the wrong side/got out on the
wrong side of bed BAD-TEMPERED 2
bedraggled UNTIDY 2
bedtime SLEEP 5
beefy STRONG PERSON 2
beeline: make a beeline for TOWARDS 2
beer gut FAT 6
1 before something happens or is done
before on the eve of
prior to pre-
before/b] ,f:rl [prepConjunction]
They were lucky enough to get out of Germany before the war
started. I Think carefully before you give your final answer. I
We used to live in Seattle before we got married. I Before he
could finish his sentence, she had already walked out of the
room. I Ialways take a bath before breakfast. I Richard left
the course three weeks before the end of term. I Before join-
ing IBM, she worked for Toshiba. I Make sure you check the
oil and tyres before setting out on a long journey.

BEFORE
111
BEFORE
prlor to ! I praIo r tu:! a formal expression meaning before,
especially before a particular event or date [prep]
Prior to the introduction of microcomputers, most computers
were extremely expensive and difficult to maintain. I There
were rumors of a possible assassination attempt in the days
just prior to President Kennedy's death. I All legislation prior
to July 14th 1789 was declared null and void. I The doctor
should have warned the patient of the possible side effects
prior to commencing the treatment.
on the eve of Ion 6i 'i:v ovl if something happens on the
eve of an important historical event such as a war, or an
election, it happens just before it [prep]
Stalin made a pact with Hitler on the eve of World War ILl
The early exploration of the New World by Columbus and
eta Gama took place on the eve of the Reformation. I Napoleon
wrote on the eve of the battle that he was certain of victory.
pre- !pri:-! pre-war/pre-school/pre-Christmas/pre-
Roman etc (=before the war, before school etc) [prejax]
An exhibition of photographs of life in pre-war Britain opens
tomorrow. I In pre-Roman times the field was used as a
burial ground. I The study found that the more intelligent
pre-school age children tended to sleep less.
2 before now or before then
before previously
earlier previous
formerly
before IbI'fa:rl [adv/prep]
He always seemed such a nice guy before. I I don "t think I've
ever seen anything quite like it before or since. I She's never
been up in a plane before and she's feeling very nervous. I
before that/then/this Before that, I worked as a teacher
in Italy for a year.
earlier !' 3:rlior! at a time, date, year etc before now [adv]
Didn't I give you the key earlier? l earlier on You should
have told me about this earlier on, instead of waiting until
it was too late to do anything about it. I earlier in the day/
year etc She was a lot healthier than she had been earlier
in theyear. 1 20 years/10 minutes/moments etc earlier
The original experiment was carried out 20years earlier, in
1887. I Edwards had been seen near the scene of the crime only
moments earlier.
formerly I ' fa:rrnorli! if someone or something formerly
did something or was formerly something, they did it or
were it in the past, but not now [adv]
He was formerly head of the NBC. I Before its independence
from Britain Zimbabwe was formerly known as Rhodesia. I
Plants such as garlic and foxgloves were formerly thought
to have special healing powers.
previously !' pri:viosli! before a time or event in the past
[adv]
The new road changed people's lives enormously - previ-
ously the only way of reaching the village was on foot or by
helicopter. I She had previously been one of my closest friends
and I was surprised by this sudden outburst against me. I
The increase in the number of people without jobs was even
greater than had previously been expected. I The attack was
carried out by a previously unknown group of terrorists.
previous ! 'pri:viosl a previous event or situation is the
one that happened before the one that is happening now
[adj only before noun]
She has two children from a previous marriage. I I seem to
remember us talking about this in a previoas conversation. I
Every time I go for a job interview they always ask if I have
any previous experience of that type of work.
They agreed beforehand not to discuss the Palestinian issue. I
Let us know beforehand if you are planning on visiting
Boston. I You should have thought about the consequences
of your actions beforehand.
in advance ! n ad'vo:ns II -' vens! if you do something in
advance, you do it before a particular event takes place or
before the time when something is expected to happen [adv
phrase]
This meal can easily be made in advance and requires :very
little preparation time. ] 6 months/a year ete in advance
Landlords often want rent 6 months in advance. [ You have
to reserve your seat at least 3 weeks in advance. [ give sb
cash in advance (=give someone the money first before
you get the goods that you are buying) The owner of the car
insisted on being given cash in advance.
advance/l'vo:ns 11 l'vens/advance warning/notiti-
cation/payment/booking ete (=given or done before the
time that a particular event takes place or before the time
that something is expected to happen) [adj only before
noun ]
There was no advance warning of the attack and the people
had no time to get to the air raid shelters. ] The Government
Office in Kyoto require at least 2 days advance notification
if you want to visit the Imperial Villa. I Advance bookings
for the Paul Simon concert start today.
prior I 'praio r! prior warning/notice/discussion/con-
sultation/approval/consent etc (=taking place before
something else happens or before someone is allowed to do
something) [adj only before noun]
The bomb exploded without any prior warning. I All reports
about the war have to be submitted for prior approval by
military censors before publication. I Couples under the age
of 18 cannot get married without their parents" prior consent.
4 ways of saying that something must be done
before a particular time
before not later than
by at the latest
before !bI'f:r! [prep]
Can you call me back this afternoon before 5.3071 The family
who are buying our house say they want to be in before the
summer. I The exhibition starts on the 15th, so we'll have to
get everything ready well before then.
by Ibaq before or at a particular time but not after it [prep]
He'll have the shoes ready for you by tomorrow morning. I
When I was young we used to have to be home by midnight. I
The bridge was supposed to have been completed by 1992. I
by then/now John should have been back by now, I wonder
what's happened to him.
not later than/not leto r 6an! before or at a particular
time but definitely not after it, used especially when tell-
ing someone the time by which they must have done some-
thing [prep!
I want this essay back on my desk not later than Wednesday
at 9 o'clock. [ Entry forms for the competition should arrive
no later than Friday 5th February. ] Notice of objections to
the planning committee's proposals must be submitted not
later than seven days before the meeting.
at the latest lot 6a 'leltasq if you say that something will
happen at a particular time, day, date, etc at the latest you
mean you expect it to happen at or before that time [adv
phrase]
The boss should be back by Monday at the latest. [ We
thought that the film would be over by ten thirty at the very
latest.
3 ways of saying that someone does something
or something takes place before a particular
event
beforehand advance
in advance prior
beforehand !b' fa:rhmnd! if you do something before-
hand you do it before you do something else, especially in
order to make the situation easier [adv]
5 before a particular hour of the day, when you
are saying what time it is
to
of
to/to; before vowels to; strong tu:! [prep]
It's twenty five to three. I The train left at four minutes to
eleven.

BEFORE
of/av, a; strong tv II av, a; strong o:v/an American word
meaning before a particular hour of the day [prep]
It's a quarter of six. I We'll leave at ten of seven.
6 happening before or existing before someone
or something else
previous earlier
old former
last prior
the one before
previous/'pri:vis/happening or existing before the one
that you have now [adj only before noun]
Please ignore my previous instructions. [ Mr Abe was the
Foreign Minister in the previous administration. [ Our previ-
ous teacher was terrible - we've learned so much more since
the new one arrived.
old laold/ old girlfriend/teacher/job/company/car/
system etc (=the one that you had or used before, espe-
cially for a long time) [adj only before noun]
I much preferred my old job. [ Did you know that Sarah's
going out with one of your old boyfriends? [ Under the old
system you had to wait 3 months to get a passport - now you
can get a temporary one from your local post office.
last/lo:st 11 lest/the last person or thing is the one that
existed or that you had just before the present one so that
you still remember them well [adj only before noun l
Our last apartment was much smaller than this one. [
They're still trying to blame everything on the last govern-
ment. [ His last girlfriend finished with him because he was
more interested in football than in her.
the one before/60 IwAn bl Ifa:r/the person or thing that
existed before the one you have just mentioned [pron]
I've seen Arnold Schwarzenegger's most recent film, but not
the one before. I She really liked her last boyfriend, but she
wasn't very serious about the ones before.
earlier /a:rliar/an earlier person or thing is one that
existed or happened at some time in the past before the one
you have just mentioned, especially a long time before [adj
only before noun]
Our car is the same car as yours, but it's a much earlier
model. I Let me go back to my earlier question. I Eric Clap-
ton's playing is heavily influenced by the music of earlier
blues musicians such as Robert dohnson. I A lot of so-called
western science is based on earlier work done by scientists
and mathematicians in India and Arabia.
former /'fa:rmar/ former president/leader/life/
friend/home/company etc (=a formal word meaning
happening or existing before the one that you have now)
[adj only before noun]
His former wife still writes to him regularly. I Jean Kirk-
patrick, former US ambassador to the United Nations. I Mrs
Marcos was prevented from returning to her former home
for more than 6 years.
prior /'pramr/ a prior agreement, arrangement, or
appointment is one that was made before the present situ-
ation [adj only before noun]
Under a prior agreement the US will destroy all its short
range nuclear weapons in future. I I asked if I could buy the
house from them, but they said they'd already made prior
arrangements. I Why don't we go for coffee - or do you have
a prior appointment?
7
words for describing a time, a day, month etc
that comes before another one
previous
yesterday morning/afternoon/evening
last
the day/week/month/year before
preceding
previous I'prizvios/[adj only before noun]
The previous day she seemed perfectly OK. I The corporation
recorded a 50% increase in profits over the previous year. I
Jane's first baby had been born the previous July, while she
was still in England.
112
BEFORE
yesterday morning/afternoon/evening/,jestardi
'ma-'rnI0, o:fto'nu:n, 'i:vnlrj II -eftor-/the morning, after-
noon, or evening of the day before today [adv phrase]
Yesterday morning I went shopping. I I spoke to my boss
about it late yesterday afternoon.
last rio:st II lest/ last night/week/month/year (=the
one before this one) [adj only before noun]
Last night you said you loved me. I We still haven'tpaid last
month's rent yet.
the daylweeklmonthlyear before/6a ideI, wi:k,
tmAn0, jla r bi I fzr.r/the day/week/month/year before the
one in the past that you have just mentioned [adv phrase]
Last week she was in Paris, and the week before she was in
Rome. ] The day before the exam I was incredibly nervous.
preceding /pri'si:dir/ a formal word; the preceding
months, years etc are the ones just before the time in the
past that you are talking about [adj only before noun]
During the preceding days and months America had sent
nearly half a million troops into the war zone. ] Russia had
already slaughtered 180 whales in the preceding 12 months. ]
The company made more profit in that one month than it
made in the whole of the preceding year.
 before something in a list or series of things
or before someone else in a line of people
before
in front of/ahead of
before/bI'f:r/[prep]
"p" is before "q ". I Aren "t you before those people in the queue? l
Harajuku station is one stop before Shibuya station on the
Yamanote Line. I In the chapter before this one she. talks
about her early life in Jamaica.
In front of/ahead of ]In fr^nt av, ahed avl before
another person in a group of people who are waiting to do
something [prep]
The man in front of me let me go first because I looked so ill. I
There were over a hundred people ahead of us in the queue
to get into the cinema.
9 words for describing something that comes
before something else in a list or series
previous earlier
preceding the one before
previous / pri:vias/coming before the one that you are
dealing with now [adj only before noun]
In a previous chapter we examined how children learn lan-
guage. I Each number in the series is the square of the previ-
ous number. I As was shown in the previous examples, the
distance around a circle can easily be obtained by multiply-
ing the diameter by pi.
preceding/pri 'si:dirj/a formal word meaning coming
before the one you have just mentioned, or the part of a
book where you are now [adj only before noun]
In the preceding paragraph she argues against this theory. I
From the preceding discussion it becomes clear that Leib-
nitz's theory is based on a false supposition.
earlier/'a:rliar/coming before the one you have just men-
tioned, especially a long way before [adj only before noun]
The earlier chapters of the book describe her life in Africa
- after that the scene moves to Australia. I A lot ofpeople got
out of the train at earlier stations, so we had the carriage to
ourselves.
the one before 160 wnn bI fazr/the thing that comes
before another in a sentence or series [pron]
In the series 2,4,8,16 each number is twice as big as the one
before. I "'Do you want this one? .... No, the one before. "'1 On
the last page of her lettdr she says she really misses me, but
on the one before that she said she hates my guts!
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

BEFORE 113 BEFORE
10 to happen or exist before something or
someone else
come before lead up to
precede come first
predate be a prelude to
come before/,kAm bi 'f:r/[phr v I/T not in progressive
or passive ]
come before sb/sth Elizabeth I came before James I. I I
much prefer the Beatles" records which came before "Sgt
Pepper'. I come before Phillip's new CD system sounded far
better than anything that had come before.
precede/prI Isi:d/a formal word meaning to happen or
exist before something or someone else, especially just
before [v T]
Churchill was a much stronger leader than the man who
preceded him. I The negotiations which preceded the signing
of the treaty took place over a number of years. I be preceded
by The snowfall was preceded by a sudden drop in temper-
ature. I In most cases the illness is preceded by vomiting and
headaches.
predate/pri:'deit/if one historical event or object pre-
dates another, it happened or existed before it Iv T]
A skeleton found in Northern China maypredate the oldest
known human remains. [ predate sth by 50/100/250 etc
years The root causes of the current crisis in the Middle East
predate Israel's occupation of the West Bank by more than
2000 years.
lead up to / ,li:d ^p tu:/if an event leads up to another
event, it comes before it and often causes it to happen Iv
T not in passive]
The book describes the trial and the events leading up to it
in great detail. [ In order to understand the committee's deci-
sion it is necessary to examine the process that led up to it.
come first/,kAm ' fa:rst/if one of two events comes first,
it happens before the other event Iv phrase]
The rains came first, then the storms. [ Which came first, the
chicken or the egg?
be a prelude to /bi: a 'prelju:d tu:/ if an event is a
prelude to a more important event, it happens just before
it and often makes people expect it Iv phrase]
The air-strike was just a prelude to the invasion. [ Idealists
saw the revolution as a prelude to a better world and a richer
life.
1 1 to come before something else in a list or
series
come before
precede
come before / i km bI i f3:r/[phr v I/T not in progressive
or passive]
come before sth At a formal meal, the fish usually comes
before the meat. I In the Greek alphabet, the letter delta comes
before the letter epsilon, just as "d" comes before the "e" in the
Roman alphabet. I come before The next paragraph said
the same thing as the paragraph which came before, only in
a different way.
precede/pri 'st:d/a formal word meaning to come just
before something else in a pattern or series Iv T usually in
passive]
be preceded by On car license plates the numbers are
preceded by a letter which indicates the year when the car
was made. ] precede sth The number which precedes the
account number is the code for your bank.
12 to do something before someone else does it
do sth first ahead of
be first be ahead of your time
beat sb to it
do sth first /,du: (sth) 'fa:rst/if you do something, go
somewhere, see something etc first, you do it before
someone else Iv phrase]
These seats are ours, we got here first. I It's mine, I saw it
first.I The person who gives the right answer first gets the
prize.
be first/bi: fa:rst/to be the first person to do a particu-
lar thing Iv phrase]
It's my seat; I was here first. I be first to do sth My sister
always said I would be first to get married, but she was
wrong.
beat sb to it /bi:t (sb) 'tu: It/ an informal expression
meaning to get or do something before another person,
when both people are trying to do it first Iv phrase]
I wanted to buy the car but someone else had beaten me to
it. [ I reached to take the last chocolate only to find that Cathy
had beaten me to it. [ You'd better get down to the shop
quickly before someone else beats you to it.
ahead of/ahed av/if you arrive somewhere or finish
something ahead of someone, you arrive there or finish
it before them [prep]
Carrie arrived at the pub ahead of us. [ Coe finished the race
ahead of Ovett.
be ahead of your time/bi: a,hed ov ja: r 'taxm/if some-
one is ahead of their time they do something, especially
by having new ideas before anyone else does it Iv phrase]
My grandfather had several aviation ideas which people
laughed at. He was completely ahead of his time.
13 a person or thing that existed before another
person or thing
predecessor
forerunner
precursor
predecessor/'pri:dosesa r II 'pre-I the person who had
a job before another person In C]
Kennedy inherited the Cuban problem from his predecessor
President Eisenhower. I On my desk was a book of poems
which had been left by one of my predecessors.
forerunner/'fa:,r^nar/the first person, organization,
machine ere which existed before the one that we have now
and which was a model for the one we have now In C]
The suffragettes were the forerunners of the women's move-
ment. I Many of these old planes were forerunners of today's
supersonic jets.
precursor/pri ka:rsar/a formal word meaning a person
whose ideas or style are later used by another more famous
person, or an organization, movement or machine which
later develops into one that is more important In C]
precursor of/to The abacus was the precursor of the
modern electronic calculator. [ The concept of manned fiights
in space was developed by NA CA, which was the precursor
to NASA.
14 words used in written English for describing
someone or something that has been
mentioned earlier in the same piece of writing
above
aforementioned
above/'b^v/[adj only before noun]
If you want to find out more about holidays in Spain please
write to the above address for a free booklet. I The path of
the light through the lens is shown in the above diagram.
above [adv] None of the points mentioned above seem to have
much relevance to this discusssion.
the above [n singular orplural] The above (=what has been
mentioned above) is just a further example of this govern-
ment's unwillingness to tackle environmental issues.
aforementioned/a' f:rmenSand/a word used especially
in legal documents to describe someone or something that
was already mentioned earlier in the same piece of writ-
ing [adj only before noun]
In the event of my death the aforementioned persons will each
receive half of my estate.

beforehand 114 BEGINNING
beforehand BEFORE 3
befriend FRIEND 6
beg ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 5, 7
begging: be going begging AVAILABLE 2
race. I Have your assignment ready for the start of the next
semester. I a good/bad etc start to It wasn't a very good
start to the vacation - our car broke down on the first day. I
from the start Jill and Amy had been friends from the
start.I a good start in life Breast-feeding will give your
baby a good start in life.
the onset/I Dnset II I o:n-, 'a:n-/the time when something
begins, especially something unpleasant such as an illness
In singular]
the onset of Many old people in Britain dread the onset of
winter. [ Fred's not been able to do much at all since the onset
of his illness. [ The onset of the Depression meant starvation
and suffering for millions of people.
make somethipg .....
START STHI
MAKE STH
START
START TO
HAPPEN, EXIST
ETC
begin START DOING STH 1, 13, START STH/MAKE
STH START 1 START TO HAPPEN EXIST ETC
 
begin: start by/begin by START DOING STH 5
begin: to start with/begin with BEGINNING 4, FIRST
START DOING STH 5
beginner LEARN 4
beginning BEGINNING 6
beginning: at the beginning/start BEGINNING 3
beginning: from the beginning/start BEGINNING 5
beginning: in the beginning BEGINNING 4
beginning: the beginning BEGINNING 1
BEGINNING
the beginning of an event, process, period etc
the time when an important new idea, method
or product is first used or discovered
at the beginning of an event, story, period of
time etc
happening at the time when an activity,
situation, or process begins
from the time when an event, situation, or
activity began
the first part of a story, book, film etc
a written or spoken explanation at the beginning
of a book, speech, or piece of music
1 the beginning of an event, process, period etc
the beginning
start
onset
the beginning/6 b'giml [n singular]
the beginning of It was Friday night, the beginning of the
weekend. I Bobby's unexpected visit was to mark the begin-
ning of a series of strange events. I the beginning of a rela-
tionship I back to the beginning It's so long since I spoke
German, I'd have to go right back to the beginning if I took
a class in it now.
start/stozrq the particular point or time where something
begins In C usually singular]
the start of The athletes are warming up for the start of the
2 the time when an important new idea,
method, or product is first used or discovered
the arrival of the dawn of
the coming of the advent of
the birth of
the arrival of/6i o'raival ov/the time when an impor-
tant new idea, method, or product is first used or
discovered, especially one that will lead to important
changes In phrasel
With the arrival of scientific methods in the twentieth cen-
tury, we have made great progress in treating many ill-
nesses. [ the arrival of democracy I The arrival of convenience
foods took much of the hard work out of preparing meals.
the coming of/6 'kAmirj ;)v/the time when an impor-
tant new system, idea, product, or method begins to exist
or be used, causing great changes to society In phrase]
The coming of Western-style democracy to Eastern Europe
has been very sudden. [ The Middle East changed dramati-
cally with the coming of lsiam 600years after Christ. [Before
the coming of the railways in the late 1860s these old roads
were the only link between towns.
the birth o| ]6 bazro v] the beginning of something,
for example a new political movement, that will become
more and more important, and will change the way many
people behave or think In phrase]
More than anyone else, Elvis Presley was responsible for the
birth of rock and roll. [ Attacks on Black people grew with
the birth of Afrikaner nationalism. [ The birth of modern
science was to fundamentally change people's attitudes
towards religion.
the dawn of 16 dazn av/the beginning of an important
period of time in history In phrase]
People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization. [
Ordinary life would never be the same again after the dawn
of the Industrial age. [ A small group of poets and writers
ushered in the dawn of the Romantic era in literature.
the advent of/6i 'advent av/the time when something
first begins to be widely used, especially a new machine
or scientific method In phrase]
Pollution has got much worse since the advent of the motor
car. ] The advent of TV has led to major changes in our social
and family life. ] Women workers tended to lose their jobs
with the advent of new technology.
3 at the beginning of an event, story, period of
time etc
at the beginning/start
early
at the beginning/start/t 6 b'gnirj, 'sto:rt/ [adv
phrase]
at the beginning/start of We pay our rent at the beginning
of the month. [ There's an incredible car chase at the start
of the film. I At the start of the century, barely 3% of the popu-
lation was literate. [ at the beginning/start At the start
it looked as though Italy would win, but Argentina improved
as the game went on.
early ]'3: rli] near the beginning of an event, story, period
of time etc [adv]
early in the game/story/century etc The goalkeeper sus-
tained an injury early in the game. [ Early in the story we

BEGINNING 115 BEGINNING
are told that the heroine is bored with life in the countryside. I
early on You can make a good impression early on by the
way you come in, introduce yourself and shake hands with
the interviewer. I early If the tumour is dealt with early there
is less chance of cancerous cells developing elsewhere in the
body.
early [adj only before nounl In the early fifties (=the first
few years of the 1950s) Scotland's housing shortage was still
severe.
4 happening at the time when an activity,
situation, or process begins
in the beginning initial
at first preliminary
to start with/begin with starting point
initially opening
at the outset
in the beginning/m 6o bI'gini/[adv phrase]
In the beginning I was criticized for not being quick enough
but after a week or two my typing speeds had improved. I In
the beginning, priority was given to those with families look-
ing for accommodation. I Snowflakes began to fall, gently
in the beginning and then with more force.
at first lot ' fa:rst/at the beginning of a situation or event,
especially when things get worse or better later [adv
phrase]
The treatment worked well at first, but then the patient began
to get worse. I Barney was at first shy with his uncle, but little
by little he gained in confidence. I At first the boys had plenty
of food and water, but supplies ran out quickly.
to start with/begin with/to ' sto:rt wI6, b Igln wI6/at
the beginning of a situation, especially one that changes
later [adv phrase]
The new taxes won't raise much money to start with, but will
in a few years" time. [ Even children who are healthy to begin
with wouldn't survive long in these terrible conditions.
initially 11 'nQ'alil a formal word meaning at the beginning
of something, especially a situation or arrangement that
changes later [adv]
The appointment is initially for three months, but may be
extended later on. I Initially, all attempts to set up peace talks
were greeted with suspicion.
at the outset lot 6i 'aotset/ if something is known,
believed, decided etc at the outset it is known etc from the
very earliest point in a period of time or activity [adv
phrase]
Sylvia knew at the outset what her ultimate goals were. I It
had been decided at the outset that Theresa would be our
spokesperson.
initial/I' nlj'al/initial feelings/costs/reaction etc (=feel-
ings, costs etc that exist or are experienced at the begin-
ning of an event or process) [adj only before nounl
Simon's initial feeling when he heard about the accident was
sadness which then turned to anger. I Their initial burst of
enthusiasm died down when they realized how much work
the job involved. I The initial cost of the computer system is
more than made up for in terms of eventual profit.
preliminary/prl 'llmnari II -neff/happening at the begin-
ning of a process or event, especially in order to prepare
for the rest of it [adj only before noun l
The architect's plans are still in the preliminary stages. I
Preliminary market research has shown that most Ameri-
cans would choose environmentally-friendly products.
starting point /'sto:rtltJ paint/ something such as an
idea, a piece of information, or an action that provides a
beginning to something [n C usually singular]
When teaching someone to swim, a good starting point is to
show them how to breathe properly in the water. I A good
lecture should provide students with a starting point from
which they can do further research. I starting point for His
comments gave me a useful starting point for my speech.
opening/' oupanrj/said or written at the beginning of a
speech, book, play etc [adj only before nounl
Monica Dickens" latest novel is a delight to read from the
opening paragraph onwards. I The audience strongly
objected to the opening remarks of the club president's
speech. I Hilary makes a brief appearance in the opening
scene, but doesn't have a major part.
5 from the time when an event, situation, or
activity began
from the beginning/ since/from day one
start from the outset
from the word go
from the beginning/start/from 6o bi'gnltj, 'sto:rt/
[adv phrase]
I remember everything that happened from the beginning. I
Terence and Barbara's marriage has been on the rocks from
the start. I right from the beginning/start (=from the
very earliest time) Right from the beginning she has had
one lucky break after another. I Right from the start I said
"'don't trust him. ""
from the word go/from 6a ,wa:rd 'gaol an informal
expression meaning from the beginning, used especially
when something has happened or existed continuously
since the beginning [adv phrase]
Eva's been very supportive from the word go. [ The Elfin
Theatre Company was obviously doomed to failure from the
word go.
since/from day one/sins, from ,deI 'wAn/if something
has been the situation or has been someone's purpose since
or from day one, it has clearly been the situation or their
purpose ever since the beginning [adv phrase]
Stewart decided that from day one he wouldn't talk to the
other prisoners. [ Right from day one the headmaster had
us all quaking with fear.
from the outset/from 6i 'autset/from the time when a
continuing activity or process began [adv phrase]
The new group had, from the outset, campaigned for an
improvement in childcare provision. [ I was determined from
the outset to make the most of going to university.
6 the first part of a story, book, film etc
beginning the first part
the start opening
beginning Ib 'glni/[n singular]
the beginning of The beginning of the movie is very vio-
lent.I A real sense of jealousy and suspicion is established
at the beginning of the novel. I beginning School children
are taught that stories should have a beginning, a middle
and an end.
the start/6o ,sto:rt/the point where a film, book, story
etc begins [n singular]
the start of/wonder what the piece of music played at the
start of that film is. I Speakers often give an overview at the
start of a lecture and a summary at the end. I the start I
found the start quite boring so I never really got into the
story.
the first part/5o 'fa:rst ,pa:rt/the first part of a piece
of writing that has several parts, especially parts that can
be studied separately [n phrase]
the first part of The first part of this textbook deals with
mechanics. [ Please turn to the first part of the report, which
relates to general considerations. I the first part An impor-
tant place has been given, in this first part, to establishing
the scene and the characters.
opening/' oupanirj/the first words or phrases of a book
or play which are very important because they tell you
about the scene, the characters, and the writer's ideas [n
singular]
the opening of The opening of Charles Dickens" "Bleak
House" describes a thick London fog. I the opening to Such
is the impact of the opening to this tragedy that the audience
feels involved at once. [ opening After a slow dream-like
opening, the play explodes into life.

BEGINNING 116 BEHAVE
7 a written or spoken explanation at the
beginning of a book, speech, or piece of
music
introduction preamble
intro prologue
Introduction I, xntr' dAkJ'an/a shortexplanation, descrip-
tion, or discussion at the beginning of a book, piece of
music etc In CI
After an introduction by the chairperson, we'll get on with
the day's discussions. I introduction to In the introduction
to his collection, Eliot tries to analyse the state of poetry today.
intro/' [ntrao! an informal word for the introduction of a
speech or piece of music In C]
No one knows anything about this subject, so could you give
us a brief intro before you start. I On this show, we like to
keep the intros short so there's more time for the music. I The
drummer gave a four-bar intro before the other musicians
.joined in.
preamble/pri:'embal II 'pri:mmbal/an introduction to a
speech or piece of writing, especially one that is boring or
too long In C]
There's usually a boring preamble at the beginning of Mr
Taylor's lectures. I There's a big difference between the docu-
ment's lengthy preamble and the actual content.
prologue/'praolog II-la:g, -lo:g/ an introduction to a
piece of writing, for example a play or a long poem In C]
The brief prologue sets the scene for what is to follow. I pro-
logue to In his prologue to "Faust; Goethe said some very
interesting things about art.
begrudge: not begrudge JEALOUS 3
behalf: on behalf of REPRESENT 1
behalf: on sb's behalf INSTEAD 2
behave BEHAVE 1, 2
behave: badly-behaved BAD PERSON 5
behave: well-behaved POLITE 5
behave badly BEHAVE 3
behave towards/toward TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDS 1
BEHAVE
to behave in a particular way
to behave well
to behave badly, unfairly, or illegally
to change your behaviour in order to become
a better person
the way someone behaves
I to behave in a particular way
behave conduct yourself
act be
behave/b'helv/Iv I]
She's very good at home - but how does she behave at
school?l Babies are all different: they won't all behave the
same. I The government has accused TV stations of behav-
ing irresponsibly by interviewing known terrorists. I behave
as if/as though He knows he's upset me, but he's behaving
as f nothing has happened. I behave like Be sensible, won't
you? You're behaving like a two-year-old. I behave towards
sb (=behave in a particular way to someone else) The way
a man behaves towards his mother can be a good indicator
of how he will behave towards his wife.
act leekt/to behave in a particular way, especially in a way
that is noticeable or a little unusual Iv I]
Passengers who left the flight in Rhodes said they had seen
two men acting suspiciously. I act like/as if/as though
Redlly, that man acts as if he's the only person in the world
who has problems. [ The next time Marsha saw him, she
acted like she had never seen him before.
conduct yourself/kn'dAkt ja:r,self/to behave in a par-
ticular way, especially in a situation where people will
notice and judge the way you behave [v phrase]
Public figures have a duty to conduct themselves responsi-
bly, even in their private lives. I By the end of the course, you
should be able to conduct yourself with confidence in any
meeting.
be/bi:/be rude/helpful/silly etc (=to behave in a rude,
helpful, silly etc way) [v]
He's being very friendly and generous all of a sudden - what
do you think he wants? l Stop being so stupid. I John is
always rude when my mother comes to stay. I Michelle was
deliberately unco-operative when I asked her to help. I Try
and be nice to your cousins.
2 to behave well
behave
be good
well-behaved
be on your best behaviour/behavior
stay out of trouble
keep your nose clean
orderly
behave/bI heIv/to behave in a way that people think is
good or correct, for example by being obedient and not
causing any trouble Iv I]
English soccer teams could soon be allowed back into Euro-
pean tournaments, but only if their fans behave. [ lf you kids
behave this afternoon I'll take you to a movie later. [ Some
people simply don't know how to behave. [ behave yourself
(=behave well) She says she'll let me stay - but only if I
behave myself.
be good/hi: 'god/if a child is good, he or she behaves
well [v phrase]
"'Were the kids good while I was out? .... Yes, they were no
trouble at all. "" I Bye now, Jessie. Be good! I be as good as
gold (=to behave very well) Judy's teacher says she's been
as good as gold today.
well-behaved/wel bi'heivd/behaving well on a partic-
ular occasion [adj]
The children were very well-behaved on the train. I Most of
the fans are usually well-behaved, but you do get some
trouble-makers.
be on your best behaviour (British) I behavior
(American)/bi: on ja: r ,best bx'heivjar/to try hard to behave
as well as you can, especially in order to please someone
Iv phrase]
There's an inspector visiting the school today, so l want you
all to be on your best behaviour. I Our family Christmases
were always very formal, with everyone on their best
behavior.
stay out of trouble/.ste aot av tr^bl/to try not to
behave badly, especially because you do not want to be
noticed or caught Iv phrase]
Don't forget what the Colonel said - have a good time, but
stay out of trouble. I Off you go, boys. And mind you stay out
of trouble, I don't want the neighbours coming round here
complaining again.
keep your nose clean/,ki:pja: r 'naoz ,kli:n/an infor-
mal expression meaning to behave well, especially by not
doing anything wrong or illegal Iv phrase]
It's not a great job, but f you keep your nose clean, you should

BEHAVE 117 BEHAVE
be promoted by the end of the year. I He's been sentenced to
seven years in prison, but he'll be out in four if he keeps his
nose clean.
orderly /ta:rdorli] an orderly crowd/demonstra-
tion/march etc (=well-behaved and not violent or out of
control) [adj]
Police said it was an orderly demonstration and there were
no arrests. I The crowd were orderly and in good spirits.
 to behave badly, unfairly, or illegally
behave badly
misbehave
get into trouble
be up to no good
act up
mess around/
muck about
try it on
step out of line
be asking for trouble
behave badly/b,heiv 'badlil to behave in a socially
unacceptable way, for example by upsetting other people
or by being very irresponsible Iv phrase]
I knew I'd behaved badly, and I was sorry. I After years of
being a good wife and mother she felt like behaving badly
and just doing what she wanted for once. I Getting drunk is
no excuse for behaving badly.
misbehave/,m;sbI 'hexv/to behave badly and cause trou-
ble, for example by fighting, making noise, or causing
damage [v I]
Kids tend to misbehave when they are bored or tired. I The
police removed several people from the stadium for misbe-
having during the game.
get into trouble/,get into 'trAbal/if someone gets into
trouble, they do something that is illegal or against the
rules, especially something not very serious, and get
caught doing it Iv phrase]
get into trouble with At the age of fifteen he got into trou-
ble with the police. I get into trouble Tony is always get-
ting into trouble at school. I Don't copy my work or we'll both
get into trouble.
be up to no good (also be up to mischief in British
English)/bi: ,Ap tO noo 'god, bi: ,Ap to 'mIstj'ofl if someone,
specially a child, is up to no good or up to mischief, they
are planning or doing something that they know they
should not do, usually in secret Iv phrase]
She knew that her brother was up to no good but she didn't
tell anyone. I It's been hours since Steve went out; I hope he's
not getting up to mischief.
act up (also play up in British English)/,akt 'Ap, ,ple]
' Ap/if a child acts up or plays up, they deliberately behave
badly in order to annoy their parents or teachers, espe-
cially because they want to get attention [phr v I]
Susie always seems to start playing up just as we "re about
to go out. I Divorced fathers often allow their kids to act up
when they see them at weekends, which can cause problems
at home during the week.
mess around (also muck about in British English)
/,mes o'raond, ,mAk o'baot/an informal expression mean-
ing to behave in a silly way when you should be working
or paying attention [phr v I]
Stop messing around and pay attention! ] They just mucked
about all afternoon and went home early. I I never mess
around when I'm using machinery of any kind.
try it on /,traI It ton/ an informal British expression
meaning to behave badly in order to find out how bad you
can be before someone gets angry with you or punishes you
Iv phrase]
For your first few days" teaching, the kids will probably try
it on just to see how you react. I At home she's allowed to tell
everyone what to do, but she wouldn't dare try it on at work.
step out of line I, step aot ov 'laln/to behave badly by
breaking rules or disobeying orders, especially in a situa-
tion where everyone is expected to be very obedient Iv
phrase]
The prisoners were warned that if they stepped out of line
they would be severely punished. I The boss is very tough on
anyone who steps out of line.
be asking for trouble/bi: to:skill fo r ,trAbal II -'esk-/
an informal expression meaning to behave so badly that
if something bad happens to you as a result, you deserve
it Iv phrase]
You're asking for trouble if you keep on turning up late every
morning. I You really shouldn't drink so much when you
have to drive - it's just asking for trouble.
4 to change your behaviour in order to become
a better person
reform
mend your ways
turn over a new leaf
reform IrI'fa:rml Iv I]
There's no point in punishing criminals if we can't also help
them reform. I He was like an evangelist, standing in the
pulpit urging the sinful people to repent and reform.
reformed [adj] A reformed drug abuser, William now helps
other addicts fight their addiction.
mend your ways/,mend j:r tweiz / to change the way
you behave, and start being obedient, hard-working etc,
after behaving badly for a long time Iv phrase]
It's possible the college might take you back, but first you'll
have to convince them you've mended your ways. I If he
doesn't mend his ways he'll be in jail by the time he's eighteen.
turn over a new leaf/,tb:rn ouvo r o ,nju: 'li:f ]l -,nu:-/
to decide that you will change the way you behave, because
you really want to stop behaving badly, breaking the law
etc Iv phrase]
I know I've done some bad things in the past, but now I'm
turning over a new leaf. I The defendant promised to turn
over a new leaf and begged not to be sent back to jail.
5 the way someone behaves
behaviour/behavior manner
antics demeanou r/demeanor
conduct
behaviour (British) I behavior (American)/bl 'heIvjor/
[n U]
Some people believe that violence on TV can cause aggres-
sive behavior in children. [ The prisoner was released be-
cause his recent behaviour suggested that he was no longer
dangerous. I Sarah is doing research into animal behavior. I
The best way to raise kids properly is to reward good
behaviour and discourage bad. I behaviour/behavior
towards sb (=the way you behave to someone else) Their
behaviour towards their guests tends to be rather formal.
antics /'antlks/ behaviour that some people think is
stupid or irresponsible but others think is funny [nplurall
Today we can look back and laugh about our student antics. I
The Queen is said to disapprove of the antics of some of the
younger members of the Royal Family.
conduct/tkondAkt ]1 'ko:n-/a legal or official word mean-
ing the way someone behaves in public, in their job etc,
especially in matters where moral principles are involved
In U]
A middle-aged banker has been fined Ј200for violent con-
duct on a train. I The Medical Committee found the doctor
guilty of unethical conduct towards three of his patients. I
code of conduct (=rules of professional behaviour) A new
code of conduct for civil servants will be issued next week.
manner / tmanor] the way someone behaves when they
are dealing with other people In singular]
She impressed us all with her business-like manner. I His
fluent English and informal manner have won him friends
in high places in Washington. I I thought his manner was
a little unfriendly.
demeanour (British) I demeanor (American)/dI 'mi:-
nor/the way someone looks and behaves, which gives you
a general idea of their character [n UI
The chairman's serious public demeanour is in sharp con-
trast with that of his humorous deputy, i He was only in his
early thirties, but already had the demeanour and failing
constitution of an ageing invalid.

behaviour/behavior 118 BELIEVE
behaviour/behavior BEHAVE 5
behaviour: be on your best behaviour/behavior
BEHAVE 2
behaviourlbehavior towards TREAT/BEHAVE
TOWARDS 2
behind BEHIND 1
behind: be behind LATE 7, LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION, OR WAR 3
behind: be behind sb SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP,
OR PLAN 2
behind: be behind melyoulthem
END4
be behind with LATE 5
fall behind/drop behind SLOW 8
lie behind REASON 7
put sth behind you
FINISH/COME TO AN
behind:
behind:
behind:
behind: FORGET 4
behind/drop behind SLOW 8
behind sb's back SECRET 6, UNKIND 2
behind schedule: be behind schedule
behind the times: be behind the times
FASHIONED 2
LATE 7
OLD-
behind your back: can beat sb with one arm tied
behind your back EASY 5
BEHIND
behind
the area behind something or someone in a
picture
belief BELIEVE 5, 14, RELIGION 1
belief: be beyond belief BELIEVE 12
belief: mistaken belief BELIEVE 15
belief in yourself CONFIDENT 4
believable BELIEVE 11
believe BELIEVE 1, THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 1,
THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
believe: can't believe SURPRISED 2
believe: make believe PRETEND 9
believe: not believe BELIEVE 6
believe: not believe in BELIEVE 7
believe in APPROVE 1, BELIEVE 3, 4, TRUST 1
THINK/HAVE
THE OPINION
THAT
TRUST
I behind
behind
in back of
at/to the rear of
in the background
behind/bI 'ha:nd/at or towards the back side of some-
thing, and often hidden by it [prep/adv]
Put a cushion behind you. You'll feel more comfortable. [ I
got stuck behind a truck all the way to the airport. [ As I
entered the room I noticed an enormous desk wlth an old man
sitting behind. [ Now, put your hands behind your back. [
The sun has just disappeared behind a cloud.
in back of/m bak vv/an American expression mean-
ing behind, especially behind a building [prep]
Our street ran in back of the movie theater. [ Cook heard a
loud explosion from a building in back of him.
at/to the rear of/vt, t 6 'rlor ov/behind something,
especially something big such as a building or large vehi-
cle [prep]
A Chevrolet wasparked at the rear of the truck. [ To the rear
of the houses are the remains of an old barn.
in the background/in 6 'bakgraond/if someone or
something is in the background, it is behind the place
where the main activity is happening [adv phrase]
The postcard showed a beach with mountains in the back-
ground. [ I could hear muffled conversation in the back-
ground. [ A statue of Lenin stood in the background.
2 the area behind something or someone in a
picture
background
background /'bakgraond! the area behind someone or
something in a picture or pattern [n C[
an abstract pattern on a green background [ The thatched
houses blended almost indistinguishably with a background
of trees. [against a background The figures in the picture
show up starkly against a plain black background.
 being: come into being/existence START TO HAPPEN,
EXIST ETC 2
 belabor the point: labour the point/belabor the point
-i EMPHASIZE 2
 belated LATE 3
BELIEVE
12
13
14
15
16
17
I to believe that something is true or that
someone is telling the truth
2 to believe something that is not true or may
not be true
3 to believe that someone is able to do
something and that they can be trusted
4 to believe that something or someone exists
5 the act or feeling of believing in something or
someone
6 to not believe that something is true or that
someone is telling the truth
7 to not believe that something or someone
exists
8 to not believe that someone can do
something or that they can be trusted
9 too ready to believe what other people tell
you
10 tending not to believe what other people tell
you
11 words for describing something that can be
believed because it seems possible or likely
words for describing something that cannot
be believed because it does not seem
possible
words for describing stories, explanations etc
that cannot be believed because they are
obviously invented and untrue
something that someone believes, which
other people may not believe
something that someone believes but which is
definitely not true
what you say to someone when you do not
believe what they have told you
someone who believes very strongly in
political, moral, or religious ideas

BELIEVE 119 BELIEVE
1 to believe.that something is true or that
someone is telling the truth
believe take sth on trust
accept take sth at face value
take sb's word for it
believe/b 'li:v/[v T not in progressive]
believe sth Did the police believe his story? l You shouldn't
believe everything you read in the papers. I believe (that)
People used to believe that the sun moved around the earth. I
believe sb No one believed me when I said I hadn't taken
the money. I believe it or not (=you may find it hard to
believe this) I asked them for a $10,000 loan, and believe it
or not they said yes.
accept/aksept/to believe something, especially some-
thing that you do not want to believe or that seems difficult
to believe at first [v T not in progressive]
accept that She'll never accept that her husband has been
unfaithful. I accept sth He seems to accept everything they
say without question. I She succeeded in persuading the jury
to accept her version of the events.
acceptance [n U] The late nineteenth century saw an
increasing acceptance of Darwin's theories.
take sb's word for it /,teik (sb's) 'wa:rd far It/to believe
what someone tells you even though you have no proof of
it [v phrase]
She hadn't known that he'd been in the army, but she took
his word for it. I "'Do you want to check for yourselfl?. .... No,
I'll take your word for it. ""
take sth on trust/,teik (sth) on 'tr^st/to accept that
what someone tells you is true without asking for any
proof, because you have decided to trust them [v phrase]
I'm afraid I can't let you see the letter, so you'll just have to
take what I'm saying on trust. I He said he'd never been in
trouble before, which I was content to take on trust.
take sth at face value/,teik (sth) at ,feis 'vmlju:/to
believe what someone says or what you read, without
thinking that it may have another meaning Iv phrase]
Everyone gets embarrassed if their humorously intended
remarks are taken at face value. I The letter, if we take it at
face value, suggests that Richard is quite happy in his job.
2 to believe something that is not true or may
not be true
swallow buy
fall for hook, line, and sinker
swallow /'swolao II ,swo:-/ to immediately believe a
story, explanation etc which is not actually true, in a way
that makes people think you are stupid [v T]
You mean to tell me you swallowed a story like that? [ The
kids told her a pack of lies and she swallowed the whole lot.[
He says he was at work till midnight - that's too much to
swallow I'm afraid.
fail for / fa:l fa:r/to believe an unlikely excuse or some-
thing that someone tells you in order to deceive you [v T]
They told me I'd earn over a thousand dollars a week and
I fell for it. I She knew better than to fall for that old excuse.
buy/bail an informal word meaning to believe an untrue
reason or explanation that someone gives you [v T]
We could tell him it was an accident, but he'd never buy that.[
He said his cat was sick all over his homework - as if I'd buy
a story like that!
hook, line, and sinker /,hok ,lan and 'SIlJkar/if'some-
one believes something hook, line, and sinker they
believe it completely even though it is so silly that it could
not possibly be true lady phrase]
What an idiot! He believed the whole story hook, line, and
sinker! ] The people seem to have swallowed the government's
promises hook, line, and sinker.
 to believe that someone is able to do
something and that they can be trusted
believe in
have confidence in
have faith in
believe in/b 'li:v in/ [v T not in progressive]
How do you expect anyone to believe in you when you are so
unreliable? I After the Watergate scandal the US public
wanted a President they could believe in.
have confidence in/hev tkonfidans in II-  ko:n-/to
believe that someone will be able to do something well, for
example because you know that they are good at it or
because they have often done it before Iv phrase not in
progressive]
She's not worried about the operation - she has complete con-
fidence in her doctor. I have every confidence in I'm sure
he'll do a good job - I have every confidence in him.
have faith in/hzev 'felO in/to believe that someone can
do something and feel sure that you can trust them Iv
phrase not in progressive]
I have complete faith in denny - she's the most reliable person
I know. I No, I don't worry when I'm away - I have great
faith in my employees.
4 to believe that something or someone exists
believe in
believe in/ba 'li:v In/ [V T not in progressive]
Do you believe in God? l It's amazing the number of people
who believe in ghosts.
 the act or feeling of believing in something or
someone
belief
faith
belief/b I 'li:f/[n C/U[
belief in She never lost her belief in God. [ religious belief
There are countless different forms of religious belief.
system of belief Christianity as a system of belief became
more popular in the Western worM. [ shake sb's belief(=to
make someone doubt what they believe) The judge's deci-
sion shook her belief in the legal system.
faith/fe]0/strong belief that something is true or can be
trusted, especially religious belief [n U]
Working for the charity certainly gave me faith. [ faith in
It was her faith in God that helped her survive the long years
in prison. [ He places a great deal of faith in people's honesty.
6 to not believe that something is true or that
someone is telling the truth
not believe incredulous
disbelieve take sth with a pinch of salt
doubt disbelief
not believe/not b I 'li:v/[v T not in progressive]
not believe sth/sb She just didn't believe anything he said.I
The government has promised so much in the past, it's not
surprising that people don't believe them now. I not believe
(that) I don't believe you meant half the things you said. I
not believe a word of it (=not believe it at all) He says he'll
marry you but don't believe a word of it. He's married
already.
disbelieve/dxsb li:v/a formal word meaning to not
believe something, especially something that someone has
told you [v T not in progressive]
He had nothing to gain from lying so we saw no reason to
disbelieve him. I Kim, of course, disbelieved every word the
boy said.
doubt/datJq to think that something may not really be
true or that someone may not really be telling the truth [v
T not in progressive]

BELIEVE 120 BELIEVE
doubt sth/sb In all the years I knew him I never once
doubted his story. [ He wondered how he could ever have
doubted her. [ doubt (that) He doubted that th4car was hers
because everyone knew she had no money. I doubt
whether/if They seriously doubted whether the letter had
ever existed.
incredulous/in'kredj oUlas II 3  -/unable to believe some-
thing because it is so surprising that it seems impossible
[adj]
"'A millionaire!'" she was incredulous. "'Like hell he is!"[
Everyone looked incredulous when they heard that Rosemary
used to be a nun. [ The announcement was met by
incredulous laughter.
incredulously [adv] When I said I had been offered a place
at Harvard, my father looked at me incredulously.
take sth with a pinch of salt/IteIk (sth) WI6 a IpInt S
av 'sa:lt/to not completely believe what someone says to
you because you know that they do not always tell the truth
[ v phrase ]
It's best to take what he says with a pinch of salt - he's always
exaggerating. I If you're not strict about things like time-
keeping, they "re going to take everything else you say with
a pinch of salt.
disbelief/,d]sb li:f/the feeling that you cannot believe
someone or something In U]
When people hear tragic news their first reaction is usually
one of disbelief. I My story was met with a mixture of disbelief
and contempt. ] stare/watch etc in disbelief I stared at
him in utter disbelief.
7 to not believe that something or someone
exists
not believe in
atheist
agnostic
not believe in/not b 'li:v In/[v T not in progressive]
I don't believe in life after death. [ My kids don't believe in
Santa Claus'anymore.
atheist/'eiOi-st/someone who does not believe in any
god In C]
A lot of young people in England these days are atheists.
atheism In U] Christianity still flourished there, despite the
official state doctrine of atheism.
agnostic/ag'nostik, ag- l[ -'no:-/someone who believes
that it is impossible to be certain whether God exists or not
[nC]
She likes to keep an open mind in religious matters and so
refers to herself as an agnostic.
agnos.ticism /eglnmtisizam, ag-II-no:-/ In U] Despite
their arguments, I still saw no reason to abandon my
agnosticism.
8 to not believe that someone can do
something or that they can be trusted
have no faith in
doubt
have no faith in/hev ,nao 'felO in/ [v phrase not in
progressive]
I have no faith in her. How can you trust someone who
always tells lies? l She won't go to see a doctor - she has no
faith in the medical profession at all. I have little faith in
I always use my old Leica. I have little faith in these modern
cameras.
doubt ]daotl to think that someone may not be able to do
something, or that it may be unwise to trust them Iv T not
in progressive]
He wondered how he could ever have doubted her loyalty. I
We knew you'd succeed - we never doubted you for one
moment.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
9 too ready to believe what other people tell
you
credulous
gullible
superstitious
credulous/'kredjUlas II-d3a-I [adj]
You may be able to persuade a more credulous audience, but
these people are pretty sophisticated.
gullible/'g^lbM! too ready to believe what other people
tell you, so that you are easily deceived [adj]
How can you be so gullible! She's not really a ballet dancer. I
He seemed to treat me as if I were a gullible schoolgirl.
superstitious/tsu:parstIS;s, Isju:- II ,su:-! too ready to
believe old-fashioned ideas about particular objects or
actions being lucky or unlucky [adj]
You know how superstitious he is - he would never walk
under a ladder. I Surely you don't believe all that supersti-
tious nonsense about black cats.
1 0 tending not to believe what other people tell
you
sceptical
cynical
doubter
sceptical (also skeptical in American English)/'skep-
tIkal/[adj]
The more I read about the causes of the war the more scepti-
cal I become. [ sceptical of/about I'm sceptical about any-
thing to do with psychology. ] highly sceptical Most doc-
tors remain highly sceptical about the value of alternative
medicine.
sceptically [ adv ] "'I don't think that's very likely to happen, ""
said Lucille sceptically.
scepticism/'skeptsizam! [n U] You don't think we can
manage it? A year ago I would have shared your scepticism.
sceptic In C ] Lots of people believe in astrology but I'm some-
thing of a sceptic myself.
cynical/ sinikal/not willing to believe that people have
good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something [adj]
He's become cynical and withdrawn since he lost his job. [
cynical about She has had a series of disastrous relation-
ships, and now she's pretty cynical about love.
cynically [advl "'Life's not as easy as that," she said
cynically.
cynicism/:slnIsizam/ In U] It's nice to see someone so
unaffected by the cynicism of modern times.
cynic In C] It's obvious even to the most hardened cynic that
she really means what she says about wanting to help people.
doubter/'dautar/someone who does not believe that a
plan or suggestion will succeed or that it is the right thing
to do In C]
I hope to convince any doubters in the audience that our
policies will work.
I 1 words for describing something that can be
believed because it seems possible or likely
believable authoritative
credible reliable
plausible trustworthy
convincing have a ring of truth
believable/bo  'li:vobal/[adj]
Hardly anything they put on the news programs these days
is believable [ The murder charges against him were believ-
able, but could not be proved.
credible/'kredbal/something that is credible can be
believed because it seems likely or because you trust the
person who is saying it [adj]
Her story is completely credible. She doesn't usually exag-
gerate. [ Make it sound more credible. Tell her you were at
my house. [ It seems hardly credible that the government
should suddenly have started caring about the environment.

BELIEVE 121 BELIEVE
credibility /,kred 'bilti/[n U/ Your story lends credibil-
ity to one of the witnesses" statements (=makes it seem
credible).
plausible/'pla:zbal/a statement or claim that is plau-
sible deserves to be believed because it seems reasonable
or correct [adj]
Commercials on TV often use scientists to make their claims
sound plausible. I His explanation sounds fairly plausible
to me.
convincing/kon'vlnslrj/convincing statements, facts,
or explanations make you believe that they must be true,
even if they seem unlikely at first [adj]
His excuses just aren't convincing any more. I There is some
convincing evidence that women are more intelligent than
men. I Iqbal Mirza put up a convincing and spirited defence
in court.
convincingly [adv] If you lie convincingly enough, people
will believe you.
authoritative/a:0ortatlV, a- I[ a0o:rateltlV, '0a:-I an
authoritative statement, account, or opinion is believable
because the person who makes it knows a lot about the
subject [ adj]
Lewis's authoritative history of the area will tell you all you
need to ktow. I Your doctor will give you authoritative reas-
surance that your baby is perfectly healthy.
reliable/ri lalabal/reliable sources/information/evi-
dence etc (=that can be believed and trusted) [adj]
The Washington Post only publishes information from relia-
ble sources. I I don't think his evidence is at all reliable. I At
this stage of the battle, the generals were not receiving any
reliable information from the front.
trustworthy/'trAst,wa:r6i/spoken or written statements
that are trustworthy can be believed because they come
from someone you can trust or someone who has a good
knowledge of the subject [adj]
I heard last night from a trustworthy source that she was
leaving the country. I Historians have no trustworthy con-
temporary record to work from.
have a ring of truth/hmv a iri 0 )v 'tru:O/a story or
explanation that has a ring of truth contains something
that makes you believe it, even though it does not at first
seem believable [v phrase not in progressive]
I don't really trust her, but some of what she says has a ring
of truth. I Fairy tales have survived so long because most of
them have a ring of truth.
12 words for describing something that cannot
be believed because it does not seem possible
unlikely
unbelievable
be beyond belief
incredible
inconceivable
implausible
improbable
be/seem too good
to be true
unlikely/Anllaikli/stories, explanations, or excuses that
are unlikely cannot be believed because they are so
unusual [ adj]
That sounds a pretty unlikely story to me! I Students invent
all sorts of unlikely explanations as to why they can't do their
homework. I highly unlikely He told me he was an
astronaut - highly unlikely, I thought.
unbelievable/,Anb 'li:vobl/ a fact, piece of news, or
story that is unbelievable is difficult or impossible to
believe because it is so surprising [adj]
The things he had heard about her were almost unbeliev-
able.] it is unbelievable how/that It's unbelievable how
fast trains can go these days. I I find it unbelievable that so
many people could buy such a boring book.
be beyond belief/bi: bi jond b li:f II -,Jo:nd-/a story,
statement etc that is beyond belief is so unusual that you
cannot believe it really happened [v phrase]
His story about how he escaped an avalanche is totally
beyond belief.
Incredible/in' kredbal/something that is incredible is
so surprising or strange that it is difficult to believe, even
though it is probably true [adj]
This line was capable of producing an incredible 100 cars
per hour. I It's incredible! We've been here a month already. I
it is incredible that It is incredible that the police still
haven't caught him.
inconceivable/, Inkan si:vbal/something that is incon-
ceivable is so surprising or strange that it seems com-
pletely impossible, and you cannot believe that it could pos-
sibly happen or be true [adj]
it is inconceivable that It's inconceivable that the missing
children could havd survived so long without food. I incon-
ceivable Twenty years later, he was still trying to get over
Marcia's death. It seems almost inconceivable, doesn't it.
Implausible/imlpla:zlabal/a statement or explanation
that is implausible is difficult to believe because it does
not match your experience of the way things usually
happen in life [adj]
His ideas are imaginative, but they seem pretty implausible
to me. ] Gill says she can earn $50,O00 from the job, but this
is an implausible figure.
improbable/Improbbal [1 -'pro:-/a statement or event
that is improbable is difficult to believe, even though it
may in fact be true or may actually have happened [adj]
It was one of the most improbable coincidences I had ever
experienced. ] highly improbable "'What's your name?"
"Jack Kennedy," came the highly improbable answer.
be/seem too good to be true/bi:, si:m tu: god ta bi:
'tru:/if you say that something is too good to be true, you
mean it is very diWmult to believe because normally things
like this do not happen [v phrase]
A free holiday if you buy this car? That sounds too good to
be true.
13 words for describing stories, explanations etc
that cannot be believed because they are
obviously invented and untrue
lame not wash
far-fetched not hold water
glib unconvincing
lame /leim/ an excuse or explanation that is lame is
difffmult to believe, because the person who says it has not
tried hard enough to make it sound believable [adj]
She's always got some lame excuse for being late. [ "'I'm sorry
but I've lost my ticket." It sounded lame but it was the truth.
lamely [adv] He smiled lamely. "'I don't really have an
explanation for it. '"
far.fetched/,fo: r 'fetft-/an idea, story, or explanation
that is far-fetched is difficult to believe because it sounds
so surprising, unusual, or impossible [adj]
The idea of travelling to other solar systems may sound far-
fetched but scientists now see it as a real possibility. ] He came
up with some farfetched story about how his train had been
held up by terrorists.
glib/glib/glib remarks or answers are diiT;cult to believe
because they are made easily and without thinking [adj]
She won't talk to me honestly about it - all I get is glib
answers. [ It would be glib to say that all men like football.
not wash/not 'wof JJ -'wa:/an informal expression: if
you say that someone's excuse or explanation doesn't or
won't wash, you mean that it cannot be believed, or
trusted, or regarded as sincere Iv I/
Try telling the American people what you ve just told us. It
won't wash. I It's no use telling me you've been at your
mother's all this time - it just doesn't wash.
not hold water/not hauld 'w:tor/a reason, explana-
tion, or argument that does not hold water cannot be
accepted because it does not make sense or agree with the
facts that are known Iv phrase not in progressive]
I'm sorry, I don't think your theory holds water at all.
unconvincing/,Ankn'vinsirJ-/ideas, statements, and
arguments that are unconvincing do not seem to be true
or right and you cannot be persuaded to believe that they
are [adj ]

BELIEVE
122
Peter had to face his parents that evening with a totally
unconvincing story about what had happened. I The argu-
ments for this theory are unsatisfying and unconvincing.
14 something that someone believes, which
other people may not believe
belief
superstition
old wives' tale
belief IbXo'li:fl In C/U]
People thought that the earth was flat and this belief con-
tinued until at least the 14th century. I In some countries you
can still be persecuted for your religious beliefs. I contrary
to popular belief(=despite what most people believe) Con-
trary to popular belief, most students are hardworking and
responsible. I belief that It is my belief that women should
fight for their country alongside men.
superstition/,su:par'stIj'an, ,sju:- II ,su:-/a belief that
some objects or actions are lucky and some are unlucky,
based on old ideas of magic In C/U]
Native religious practices were referred to by European mis-
sionaries as superstition. I superstition that It's an old
superstition that walking under a ladder is unlucky.
old wives' tale/,oold 'walvz ,tell/a popular belief or
piece of advice that has existed for a long time but which
you think is stupid In C]
It's not true that if trees have a lot of fruit in the autumn it
will be a cold winter - that's just an old wives' tale.
1  something that someone believes but which is
definitely not true
illusion delusion
fallacy, mistaken belief
myth misconception
Illusion/I 'lu:san/a belief or idea that is false, especially
a belief in something good about yourself or about the sit-
uation you are in In C]
She thought he loved her but it was just an illusion. I Alco-
hol gives some people the illusion of being witty and confi-
dent. I illusion that In Australia there is a widespread illu-
sion that there are no class barriers. I under an illusion
People had bought these houses under the illusion that their
value would just keep on rising.
fallacy I ' fmlasi/something that a lot of people believe but
which is completely untrue In C]
The idea that a good night's sleep will cure everything is a
complete fallacy. I They still cling to the sentimental fallacy
of a cosy family life.
myth/mO/something a lot of people believe because they
want to believe it, not because it is based on fact In C]
The first myth about motherhood is that new mothers ins-
tantlyfall in love with their babies. I Men often blame their
problems on their hard childhood. Nine times out often this
is a myth.
delusion/di'lu:3an / a completely mistaken idea about
yourself or the situation you are in, especially one that
everyone else knows is wrong In C]
She now had to finally forget the dreams and delusions of
her youth [ I was still under the delusion that everyone was
trying to cheat me.
mistaken belief/mistelkan bl'li:f/a belief you have
which is wrong, although you do not realize it is wrong at
the time when you have it In C]
When I started as a teacher I had the mistaken belief that
all kids are interested in learning.
misconception/,mlskn'sepj'an/something which is
not true but which people believe because they do not have
all the facts or they have not properly understood the situ-
ation In C]
No, it's not actually true that rail travel is more expensive
- that's a misconception. [ misconception that Employers
seem to share the general misconception that young people
are more efficient than old.
below ground
16 what you say to someone when you do not
[ believe what they have told you
come off it pull the other one
a likely story you could have
I wasn't born yesterday fooled me
come off it IkAm 'of [tl (used when you think that what
someone has said is definitely not true and that they prob-
ably do not really believe it either)
"'I'm sure I'm going to fail, you know. "' "Oh come off it, you
couldn't possibly fail after all the work you've done."
a likely story/a 'laikli ,sW:ril (used when you think
someone is making a very unlikely excuse)
"'I was going to pay the money back as soon as I saw you."
"A likely story!'"
I wasn't born yesterday lax woznt ba:rn 'jestardi II
-,wo:znt-/ (used when you think someone is trying to
deceive you and you want to show them that you are not
stupid)
You can't expect me to trust you after all the other promises
you've broken, you know. I wasn't born yesterday. I They
must think I was born yesterday, giving me apathetic excuse
like that!
pull the other one/,pul 6i 'A6a r WAn/(used when it is
quite clear that someone is not telling you the truth or that
they are trying to trick you)
Oh, pull the other one, John. You can't seriously expect me
to believe that!
you could have fooled me/u: ,kod hav ,fu:ld 'mi:/
(used when someone has said something which they
believe to be true but which seems to you to be clearly
untrue) .
"He was forty last birthday." "'Well you could have fooled
me. "' l "They're a hard-working and dedicated team. "' "'Well,
you certainly could're fooled me!"
17 someone who believes very strongly in
political, moral, or religious ideas
idealist
believer
Idealist/ai 'dialst! someone who believes in, and tries to
live their life according to moral principles which are very
pure and honourable but not very practical or useful In C]
He was one of those old-fashioned idealists who believed that
humans were basically unselfish.
idealistic [ ,aldl)'llstlk/[adj] YOU probably think I'm hope-
lessly idealistic, but I believe in letting my students decide for
themselves what they should study.
believer/b 'li:var/someone who believes in a particu-
lar god, religion, or system of beliefs In C]
How can you get married in church if you're not a believer?[
The policy was supported by all true believers within the
party.
 believer BELIEVE 17, RELIGION 3
believer: be a great believer in APPROVE 2
•  belittle UNIMPORTANT 4
  belligerent FIGHT 3
bellow SHOUT 1
i belong: go/belong PLACE 11
 belong: not belong DIFFERENT 4
belong to MEMBER 2, OWN 3
belongings OWN 6
., below LESS 2, UNDER/BELOW 2
below ground: underground/below ground
 UNDER/BELOW 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

bemused 123 BEND
below
bemused CONFUSED 1
benchmark JUDGE 8
bend BEND 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, TURN 4
bend: drive sb around the bend CRAZY 5
bend: go round the bend CRAZY 3
bend down BEND 2
bend over BEND 2
bend over backwards to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET
STH 6
BEND
1 to bend something
2 to bend your body or part of your body
3 ways of saying that something becomes bent
4 words for describing something that is easy to
bend
5 not easy to bend
6 words for describing an object, material etc
that has been bent, especially by natural
forces
7 words for describing a line that bends
8 ways of saying that a line, road, river etc has
a bend or bends in it
9 words for describing a surface that bends
outwards or inwards
10 the place where something bends
bend your arm/knee/finger etc "'Bend your knees.'"
shouted the ski instructor.
bend over/,bend 'Otrvor/ to bend your body from the
waist, usually in order to pick something up Iv I/T]
He bent over to pick up the ball. I My back hurt as I bent over
to pick blackberries from low bushes. I bend over sth My
earliest recollections are of my mother bending over my cot
to kiss me goodnight.
bend down /,bend 'daon/to bend your body low enough
to pick something up, touch the floor etc [phr v I]
You have to bend down to put things away in the bottom cup-
board. I After that, she bent down and started hacking at the
weeds again. I He was bending down, pulling on his socks.
bow/bao/to bend your head and upper body slightly, as
a formal greeting or as a sign of respect or obedience Iv I]
We stopped and bowed and allowed the Imperial messenger
to pass. I "'Good morning sir. "' said Stephen, bowing to the
Principal.
crouch/kraoql to bend your legs under you, in a sitting
position, and lean forwards, especially in order to hide
from someone or jump forwards Iv I]
We crouched in the bushes about twenty metres from the
house, watching the door. I There were six people in the clear-
ing, crouching around the campfire. I crouch down She
crouched down to watch a spider spinning its web.
stoop/stu-.p/to bend down low, especially to pick some-
thing up, then stand up again Iv I]
There were two letters by the door. He stooped and picked
them up. I She stooped and hugged the little dog.
curl up/, k3:rl '^P/to lie down and bend your legs, arms,
back, and neck into a circular position, so that you feel
warm and comfortable |phr v I]
She curled up in her bed that night, thinking of Michel. I The
two cats curled up together in the armchair. I I was so tired
all I wanted to do was just curl up and watch TV.
flex/ticks/to bend part of your body backwards and for-
wards, especially because it feels stiff or tired Iv T]
He stood up, flexed his powerful shoulders and pulled on his
coat. I A baby's natural position is with their arms bent at
the elbow and their legs flexed.
1 to bend something
bend
twist
bend/bend/to make something ha'*ve a curved shape, or
fold something at an angle, by pushing or pressing it Iv T]
bend sth Bend the wire and hook it through the hole in the
top of the lamp. [ Someone's bent the aerial! [ bend sth
back/away from/down ete We had to bend the branches
back so we could get through the bushes and back onto the
path. [ The middle part needs to be bent down then it acts like
a spring.
twist/twist/to bend and turn something several times,
such as a piece of wire, cloth, or rope, especially in order
to tie it to something or make something with it Iv T]
twist sth Laura twisted the handkerchief in her hands ner-
vously. ] We twisted a wire coat-hanger and used it to open
the car door. [ twist sth into/around/through ete Her
long blonde hair was twisted into a knot on the back of her
head.
2
to bend your body or part of your body
bend crouch
bend over stoop
bend down curl up
bow flex
bend/bend/to move your body forwards or move it down-
wards, so that you can lift something, touch something etc
Iv I/T]
He bent and kissed the child on the head. [ The doctor says
no bending or lifting for at least six weeks. ] bend across/
towards She bent towards me and whispered in my ear. [
3 ways of saying that something becomes bent
bend buckle
curl warp
bend/bend/[v I]
The branches of the tree bent over into the water. [ The air-
craft is designed so that the wings bend up to ten degrees. [
It's no good. I tried opening it with the knife but the blade
bent.
curl/k3:rl/if a leaf or piece of cloth curls, it gradually
bends, starting at its edges, especially as a result of heat
or dryness Iv I]
I threw the letter into the fire. It curled, then darkened, then
burst into flames. I The trouser cuffs were so tattered and
worn they had started to curl.
buckle/' bAkal/if something strong and hard buckles, it
bends in the middle, usually because of great pressure or
great heat Iv I]
When the train hit the wall even the eight-inch-thick steel sup-
ports buckled. I Windows shattered with the heat from the
blaze and metal doors buckled like cardboard.
warp/wa:rp/if something made of wood warps, it bends
and twists slightly as a result of too much heat, dryness,
age etc, so that it is no longer flat or straight Iv I]
To prevent the violin body from warping, there is a strong
wooden "spine' along its whole length. I As the planks dry
out they warp slightly.
words for describing something that is easy to
bend
flexible
supple
jointed

BEND 124 BEND
flexible /I fleksbal/able to bend easily or be bent easily,
especially because it has been made like this to do a par-
ticular job [adj]
The fishing rod is strong but flexible. [ The brake fluid is
transmitted by a system of rigid metal tubes and flexible
pipes. [ Swiss designers have come up with a novel technique
for making skis more flexible. [Although the turtle's shell
seems very hard it is in fact slightly flexible.
supple/' s^pal/leather, skin, wood etc that is supple is
soft but strong and bends easily [adj]
These boots are made from top quality calf leather, which
is soft, supple and durable. I Even when old, the strips of
hamamelis wood are remarkably supple.
Jointed/dsamt]d/a part of a machine or a part of an
animal that is jointed can bend because it is made of
several pieces that are joined together in a way that allows
them to move [adj]
It was a blue-black beetle, with long, jointed antennae. [ The
microscope had a powerful lamp on a jointed stem, for
illuminating the slides.
not easy to bend
stiff
rigid
stiff/st[f/a substance such as cloth or paper that is stiff
is hard and is difficult to bend [adj]
You will need a sheet of stiff cardboard to make the box. [
The frost was melting on the stiff blades of grass as the sun
rose higher. [ In the extreme cold our clothes froze stiff, like
plywood.
rigid/rdsd/a word used especially in a technical con-
text: an object or structure that is rigid is strong and will
not bend or change its shape [adj]
The framework of the aircraft must be rigid yet light. [About
a dozen large rigid plates make up the Earth's crust. [ We
tend to think of the skeleton as rigid, but this is not strictly
true.
6 words for describing an object, material etc
that has been bent, especially by natural
forces
bent warped
twisted curved
bent/bent/something that is bent has lost its original
shape and is not flat or straight [adj]
How did this spoon get bent? [ Do not try to straighten the
rotor-shaft if it is bent. [ The hinge was bent and the lid
wouldn't shut properly.
twisted/'tw;stld/something that is twisted has been
bent in many directions so that it has lost its original shape
and may be impossible to recognize [adj]
Where the plane had stood there was now just a mass of
twisted wreckage. ] the gnarled and twisted trunk of an old
olive tree
warped/wa:rpt/a wooden object that is warped has bent
and twisted because of heat or dryness, so that it is no
longer flat or straight [adj]
An old man was sweeping the warped boards of the front
porch. [ I struggled with the warped drawers under the gun
rack, searching for cartridges.
curved/ka:rvd/having a long, smooth bend in it, usually
because it has been made that way [adj]
The soldier carried a "kukri', the traditional Nepalese knife
with a heavy curved blade. [ The temple had a curved roof,
in the Thai style. ] A curved black plastic moulding was fitted
to the fender.
7' words for describing a line that bends
wavy
crooked
wavy I'weIvi/ a line or edge that is wavy has smooth
bends in it in a regular pattern [adj]
A series of wavy lines appeared on the video monitor. [ The
wavy line indicates the direction of the radiation.
crooked/krukId/something such as a line, row, pipe,
or tree that is crooked is not straight but bends sharply
in one or more places [adj]
He had difficulty walking with nothing to support him but
a crooked stick. [An untidy huddle of wooden huts, built in
crooked lines, followed the lake shore.
ways of saying that a line, road, river etc has
a bend or bends in it
bend zigzag
curve winding
wind tortuous
twist
bend/bend/Iv I[
After the railway bridge the road bends and that's where the
hotel is. [ The international dateline bends to avoid passing
through any continents or groups of islands.
curve/ka:rv/ifa road, track, coast etc curves, it has a long
smooth bend in it Iv I[
curve away/round/towards ete The dusty white road
curved away towards the mountains. [ Her eyes were drawn
to where the river curved round a wooded promontory. [ The
heavily-studded oak banister curved down into the darkness
of the hall.
wind/wand/if a road, track, or river winds, it has many
smooth bends and is usually very long Iv I[
wind through/along/around ete From there the nature
trail winds iround the hill then descends the valley towards
Ironhorse Falls. [ He turned his eyes to the grey gleaming
river, winding along towards Dublin. [ wind its way We
reached the National Transcontinental Highway, which
winds its lonely way through the desolate landscape.
twist/twist/if a track, road, or stream twists it has many
sharp bends and changes direction many times Iv I/
twist around/along/through etc The narrow stone-
walled lanes twist between innumerable tiny fields. [ twist
and turn The streams twist and turn and are difficult to
follow in the dense jungle.
zigzag /'zlgzmg/if a road, track, or path zigzags it has
many sharp bends Iv I/
It was a very steep path that zigzagged from side to side of
the gully. [ On the map our route looks illogical, zigzagging
over the mountains from village to village.
winding /'waxnd;o/a winding road, river, flight of stairs
etc is long and has a lot of bends in it [adj only before noun ]
The car climbed the winding road up into the hills. [ The
forest villages were linked by winding paths but had no
proper roads. [ a quiet little town on the banks of a peaceful,
winding river
tortuous/'ta:rtfuas/a tortuous path, stream, road etc has
a lot of bends in so that it is very difficult to travel along
[adj usually before noun]
To reach Kandahar we had to follow narrow, tortuous path-
ways over the mountain ridges. [ The old city was a maze of
gates and walls and tortuous alleyways. ] the tortuous bends
of the river
9 words for describing a surface that bends
outwards or inwards
curved/curving
convex
concave
curved/curving/ka:rvd, 'ka:rvl/[adj]
The chapel is a very modern design, with curved walls and
a central altar. I The new Volkswagen is much more stream-
lined and almost all the body panels are curved. I Jan leaned
back against the curving wall of the cave.
convex/,kon'veks,, kan- II ,ko:n-/a word used especially
in a technical context: a surface that is convex bends out-
wards in a smooth curve so that it is higher in the middle
than at the edges [adj]

BEND 125 BEST
The lower surface of an airplane's wing is flat; the upper
surface is convex. I The archaeologists recovered an ornate
cylindrical vessel with slightly convex sides.
concave/,kon'keiw, kn-II ,ko:n-/a word used espe-
cially in a technical context: a surface that is concave
bends inwards so that it looks like a bowl or dish [adj]
The telescope contains a large concave mirror to focus light
into the magnifying lenses. [ For stripping paint from con-
cave surfaces you need a specialtool with a flexible blade.
10 the place where something bends
bend kink
curve joint
twist
bend/bend/the place where something bends, especially
a road or river [n C]
We flew low, following the bends of the river. [ You need a
brush with a bend in it to reach back there. [ You go around
a bend and the farm is on the right. [ sharp bend (=one that
bends a lot very quictdy) There were no very sharp bends
on the track.] hairpin bend (=an extremely sharp bend)
From the hairpin bend you have a spectacular view over the
jungle.
curve/ka:rv/a long smooth bend in a surface, line, or
object [n C]
Slater looked out at the blue sea and the long curve of the
shore. [ On the fast curve after the straight, Mansell lost con-
trol of the car. [ She wore a belt, which accentuated the curve
of her hips.
twist/twist/a sudden sharp bend in something [n C[
The path has a lot of twists and turns. [ You could have a
twist in the upper bowel - a condition called diverticulitis.
k|nk/ku31q a small sharp bend in something, especially
something that is straight for the rest of its length [n C[
The water isn't coming through properly. There must be a
kink in the hose somewhere. ] There was a kink in the path
just before the bridge.
Joint/d3oInt/the place where two parts of someone's body
or two parts of a machine are joined, so that they can bend
at this place [n C]
I've had a lot of pain in my joints recently, especially in my
wrists and shoulders. ] The ball-joint connects the driveshaft
to the gearbox.
 beneath UNDER/BELOW 1, 2, 3, 4
i beneath: be beneath PROUD 9
benefactor GIVE 18
beneficial HEALTHY 6, HELP 6
... benefit GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 1, MONEY 7
benevolent KIND 4
bent BEND 6, DISHONEST 2
bequeath GIVE 9
berate TELL SB OFF 2
bereaved DIE 7
berserk: go berserk ANGRY 4, CRAZY 4
berth: give sth/sb a wide berth AVOID 1
beside COMPARE 3, NEXT TO 1
besides AND/ALSO 1, 2
besiege ATTACK 3
besotted: be besotted LOVE 8
best BEST 1, 8
best: as best you can TRY TO DO OR GET STH 2
best: at your best BEST 6
best: be the best you can do BEST 7
best: do the best you can TRY TO DO OR GIT STH 2
best: do your best/try your best TRY TO DO OR GET
STH 2
best: hope for the best HOPE 1
best: the best BEST 3
best: the best part/bit BEST 4
best: to the best of my knowledge THINK SO/NOT BE
SURE 3
best-seller POPULAR 3, SELL 15 ,
 best-selling SFLL15
BEST
better than all others
so good that nothing else or no one else is as
good
the best people or things in a group
the best part of an event, performance, or
activity
the best thing that a company has produced
or that an organization has completed, which
shows how successful it is
doing something better than anyone else or
better than you have ever done before
to be the best thing that you can do, even
though it is not very good
words for describing the activity, subject,
sport etc that someone is best at doing
better than all others
best foremost
finest ultimate
greatest optimum
the prime
top record-breaking
number one
best/best/of a higher quality than anything or anyone
else, or more successful, more skilful, or more suitable
[adj]
The best ice-cream in the world is made in Italy. ] She won
an Oscar for "Best Actress" for her performance in "Silk-
wood'.[ What's the best way to cook sweet potatoes?] Take
a look at the photos and choose whichever one you think's
the best. ] by far the best/easily the best (=much better
than any others) It was by far the best vacation I've ever
had. [ I've read most of his books, but "Mosquito Coast" is
easily his best.
best [adv] I've tried them all, but this is the one I like best.]
It was the best-organized conference (=the most well-organ-
ized) I'd ever attended. "
finest /'fainst/of the very highest quality or producing
work of the highest quality [adj]
Fitzgerald was the finest American writer of his generation. [
The Silver Pavilion is one of the finest examples of Japanese
architecture. [ Many people regard Beethoven's Fifth Sym-
phony as his finest work. [ The gallery's collection of early
Impressionist paintings is one of the world's finest.
greatest/'greltSt/the best and most important [adj]
New Yorkers think they live in the greatest city on earth. ]
Picasso is generally regarded as the greatest artist of the 20th
century. [ Gorbachev's greatest achievement was ending the
Cold War.
the 16a; before vowels 6i; strong 6i:/the place/shop/per-
son/authority etc (used especially with strong pronun-
ciation, to say that someone or something is the best one
of its kind) [determiner]
East Manhattan is the place for discos and exciting night-
life. ] Our guest speaker today is the authority on Chinese
politics.
top/top [[ to:pl the most skilful, most successful, and most
famous [adj only before noun ]
Ballesteros is one of the world's top golfers. ] Several top rock
acts will be appearing at the concert, including The Rolling
Stones and Michael Jackson. [ The prize is to have your hair
done at a top New York salon.
nMmber one [ ,nAmba r 'WAn/number one salesperson/.
player/model etc (=the one who's most successful in their
company or in the type of work that they do) [adj only before
noun ]
For three years he was the company's number one computer
salesman. [ Sweden's number one model has married a little-
known American actor.

BEST 126 BEST
foremost / 'fa:rmst/foremost scientist/expert/auth-
ority/writer etc (=the most important and most
respected) [adj only before noun]
The conference was attended by some of the world's foremost
environmental scientists. I Professor Wilson is America's
foremost authority on ants.
ultimate ]'^ltaImt] the ultimate person or thing is the
very best of their type that there has ever been, and it is
hard to believe that anything could ever be better [adj
usually before noun]
For many people Monroe was and is the ultimate Hollywood
movie-star. I The new phone, which is the size of a pencil, is
the ultimate yuppie accessory. I the ultimate in Our First-
Class passengers enjoy the ultimate in luxury and service.
optimum/optimom II a:p-/optimum results/perfor-
mance/efficiency/temperature/speed etc (=the best
that can be achieved or the best for a particular purpose,
especially in scientific contexts) [adj only before noun]
It is important to keep the factory working at optimum effi-
ciency all the time. I The optimum temperature for produc-
ing. steel is around 1200°C.
prime/praim/prime land/meat/condition (=of the very
best quality and the greatest value) [adj only before noun]
Because it is prime building land it is worth an enormous
amount of money. [100% prime US beef. l The hotel occupies
a prime site in the middle of downtown Tokyo.
recocd.breaklng/'reka:d ,breikIO [[ -kord-/a record-
breaking score, jump, time etc is the highest, fastest etc
that has ever been achieved [adj only before noun]
Alan won the game with a record breaking score of 560
points. ] The votes were collected and counted in record-
breaking time.[ a record-breaking 5 seconds/90 feet/7
years etc Bannister ran the mile in a record-breaking 3
minutes 59 seconds.
2 so good that nothing else or no one else is as
good
be second to none unbeatable
be in a class unsurpassed
of its own you can't beat
incomparable there is no substitute for
unrivalled there's nothing like
be second to none/bi: ,sekond to 'nAn/[vphrase]
The studio's recording facilities are second to none. I As a
soccer player Maradona was second to none.
be In a class of its own/bi: [n o ,kla:s ov ItS 'oon II
-,ldms-/to be clearly much better than all of the other things
or people of the same type [v phrase]
The new Mercedes 190 is so comfortable, it truly is in a class
of its own. I There are plenty of good athletes around, but
Carl Lewis is in a class of his own.
Incomparable /inkomprobM li-'ko:m-/ so good that
nothing else can even be compared to it [adj]
Ashkenazy is a pianist of incomparable skill. I the incom-
parable beauty of the Scottish Highlands
unrivalled/An'ralvald! better than all the others, espe-
cially in skill, knowledge, or achievement [adj]
The British Museum possesses an unrivalled collection of
early Egyptian and Greek art. I He spoke with unrivalled
authority on all aspects of grammatical theory. I unrivalled
in Horowitz was unrivalled in his mastery of the violin.
unbeatable/Anbi:tobM/a word meaning better than
anything else, used especially when telling someone how
good something is and persuading them to buy it, use it etc
[adj]
Renault's new small car offers unbeatable value for money. I
The food's excellent and the service is unbeatable.
unsurpassed/,^nso r 'p:st- I] -'pmst-/a formal word for
describing something such as a skill, quality, or achieve-
ment that is so good that nothing else has ever been better
than it [adj]
Shakespeare's genius as a dramatist is still unsurpassed. I
Venice, a city of unsurpassed beauty I Bob Beamon's Olym-
pic long jump record of1968 remained unsurpassed for more
than two decades.
you can't beat/ju: ,kmnt 'bi:t II -,kmnt-/you say you
can't beat something, when you like it and think it is the
best, most suitable, or most enjoyable thing of its kind
You can't beat a good French wine. I I've always said you
can't beat those old Hollywood movies. I nothing can beat
If you're looking for a romantic present nothing can beat a
bouquet of red roses.
there Is no substitute for/Seor iz ,nov 'sAbstItju:t
f:r [[ -tu:t-/you say there is no substitute for something,
especially for a particular way of doing something, when
you think that it is the best and that other possible ways
are not as good
If you want to stay healthy there's no substitute for hard
physical exercise. I Watching sport on television can be excit-
ing, but there's no substitute for the real thing.
there's nothing like/6eorz 'nAOIl] lalk] you say there's
nothing like a particular activity or method when you
mean that this is the best and most effective way of doing
something
If you "ve had a long hard day there's nothing like a nice hot
bath to make you feel better. I There's nothing like a good
cry to get all your worries out of your system.
3 the best people or things in a group
the best elite
star the pick of the bunch
the cream of
the best/5o 'best/In singular]
I chose a Japanese camera because I wanted to have the best. I
She was the best in her year at college. I the best in his/her
field (=the person who knows most about a particular sub-
ject) When it comes to cancer research, Professor Williams
is probably the best in her field.
star/sto:r/the most successful and most admired of a
group of people In C]
The team was full of fine players, but Baggio was undoubt-
edly the star. I the star of Clinton's new team in the Treas-
ury Department I the star of the show (=the best actor in
a play, film etc) I really like the little girl who played the
hero's daughter - she was definitely the star of the show.
star [adj only before noun] My teacher was so pleased with
me, she said I was her star pupil. I Bob Woodward, the
Washington Post's star reporter
the cream of/6o kri:m ov/the small number of people
who are the very best in a particular group, because they
are the most intelligent or the most highly skilled [n
phrase]
The cream of Britain's scientists are being attracted abroad
by highly paid jobs. I After three years of military govern-
ment, the cream of the country's intelligentsia were either in
jail or had been shot.
elite/ei'li:t, I-/elite troops/forces/members etc (=the
best and most highly-trained) [adj only before noun]
The palace is guarded by elite troops loyal to the president. I
the CRS, France's elite corps of riot police
the elite In singular] The Parachute Regiment are the elite
of the British armed forces.
the pick of the bunch/5o ,plk ov 5o 'bAntf/an infor-
mal expression meaning the one that you think is the best
among a group of people or things, especially a small group
In phrase]
The other boys are clever enough but Henry is the pick of the
bunch. I This last poem's my favorite - definitely the pick of
the bunch.
4 the best part of an event, performance, or
activity
the best part/bit
highlight
piece de resistance
the best part/bit/6o ,best 'pa:rt, 'bit/[n phrase]
The best bit of the movie is when the monster gets killed. I
What was the best part of your vacation? I It started to rain
and we had to miss out the best parts of the walk.

BEST 127 BETRAY
highlight /'hadaiq the best and most exciting part of
something such as a journey, a film, or a period of time [n
C]
When I was young Christmas was the highlight of the year. I
We were looking forward to seeing the pyramids, .which
promised to be the highlight of our trip.
piece de resistance/pi,es do rezi:' sta:ns/the best and
most impressive part of something that someone has made,
especially a meal [n phrase]
And now for my piece de resistance - mushrooms cooked in
red wine, served with Stilton cheese sauce.
the best thing that an organization has
produced or achieved, which shows how
successful it is
showpiece
flagship
showpiece/'faupi:s/something such as a new factory
or building that an organization wants people to see,
because it shows what it has achieved and how successful
it is [n C usually singular]
The university's computer engineering department has
become something of a showpiece. I The Romanian dictator
built the "People's Palace" as a showpiece for his govern-
ment's policies.
showpiece [adj only before noun] The new bakery is a show-
piece project designed to bring more jobs to the area.
flagship/' fleg,J'lp/the most important and impressive
product that a company produces or owns [n C usually
singular]
The company owns several newspapers, of which the flag-
ship is "The Los Angeles Times'. I Jaguar's new "supercar'
 the flagship of its range.
6 doing something better than anyone else or
better than you have ever done before
at your best be at the height of
be on top form your powers
be at your peak take the lead
be in the lead
at your best/at ja: r 'best/when you are at your best you
are performing at your highest level of skill lady phrase]
At his best, Becker is one of the most exciting tennis players
in the world to watch. I This recording captures Grappelli
at his very best.
be on top form/bi: on ,tDp 'fa:rm II -,to:p-/if someone
who is good at doing something is on top form, they are
doing it as well as they can [v phrase]
"Sue gave a really good speech last night. .... Yes, she was on
top form. " l If the French rugby team are on top form there
is no team in the world that can beat them.
be at your peak/bi: at ja: r 'pi:k/if someone, especially
a sports person is at their peak, they are at the time in
their life when they are playing best, running best etc [v
phrase]
Long distance runners are usually at their peak in their mid
30s. [ When he was at his peak Nicklaus was one of the best
golfers there's ever been.
be at the height of your powers/bi: at 6a ,halt av
j:r ,pauarz/if someone such as a great writer or musician
is at the height of their powers, they are doing the best
work of their whole life [v phrase]
When Orwell wrote "Animal Farm' he was at the height of
his powers as a writer. [ The film shows Jimi Hendrix, at
the height of his powers, giving a storming version of "All
Along the Watchtower'.
take the lead/,te;k 6a 'li:d/to become the most success-
ful person, organization, country in a particular field of
business or study [v phrase]
French universities have produced some interesting research
but the Germans hae recently taken the lead. I take the lead
in The Americans are trying to prevent rival corporations
from taking the lead in other fields of technology.
be in the lead/bi: in 6a 'li:d/to be the most successful
person, organization, or country in a particular field of
business or study [v phrase]
If we are to survive as a car manufacturing country, we need
to be in the lead in our domestic market. I Sweden is certainly
in the lead when it comes to producing good technical
machinery.
7 to be the best thing that you can do, even
though it is not very good
be the best you can do
be the best you can do/bi: 6a ,best ju: kan 'du:/[v
phrase]
I hope the food tastes alright - it was the best I could do in
such a short space of time. I This essay is terrible! Are you
telling me it's the best you can do?
8 words for describing the activity, subject,
sport etc that someone is best at doing
best
speciality
best/best/[adj]
My best subject at school is English. I He is a good all-round
athlete but his best event is the high jump.
spe©iality/,spei' mlIti! the particular activity that you
have most skill and experience in doing In C]
He's an excellent chef and his speciality is souffl& I Christie
also runs the two hundred metres, but the one hundred is his
speciality.
bet
bet:
bet:
bet:
bet:
bet:
GAMBLE 2
I bet SURE 1
I bet/my bet is EXPECT 2
it's a safe bet/it's a sure bet (that)
CERTAI N LY/DEFI NITELY 3
place a bet GAMBLE 2
you can bet your life/bet your bottom dollar
CERTAIN LY/DEFI N ITELY 2
bet: your best bet DEAL WITH 6
bet/have a bet GAMBLE 1
betray BETRAY 1, 2, 3, SHOW A FEELING OR
ATTITUDE 2, SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 1
BETRAY
to be disloyal to your country, your group, or
to someone who trusts you, often causing
them serious harm as a result
to betray your country
to betray a friend or someone who trusts you
to betray your beliefs, ideas, or moral
principles
the act of betraying your country, friends, or
someone who trusts you
someone who betrays their country or
organization
1 to betray your country
betray
turn traitor
collaborate
betray/b 'trod to be disloyal to your country, for exam-
ple by helping your enemies or giving them secret infor-
mation [v T]
The general betrayed his country by giving away vital mili-
tary secrets. I France was betrayed by the Vichy government
in World War Two.
turn traitor !,ta:rn 'treltar! to betray your country by
joining its enemies [v phrase]

BETRAY 128 better off
At first he fought on the Republican side, but he turned trai-
tor when he thought they would lose the war. I The junta
could not survive after two leading officials turned traitor.
collaborate/k'lebreiq to betray your country by help-
ing its enemies when they have defeated your country and
taken control of it Iv I]
collaborate with He was imprisoned in Italy in 1945for col-
laborating with the Nazis. [ collaborate Those suspected of
collaborating during the occupation were tried and shot.
collaboration/k,leb'relfn/[n U] Newly-released records
show there was extensive collaboration with the occupying
army.
2 to betray a friend or someone who trusts you
betray
stab sb in the back
sell sb down the river
betray IbI'treI/Iv T]
betray sb He betrayed his family and friends in order to save
hi own life. I betray sb to the police/government etc
(=give the police etc information about someone, for exam-
ple where they are hiding) Olga's best friend betrayed her
to the secret police. I betray sb's trust (=betray someone
who trusts you) You have betrayed our trust in you, and for
thatyou must be punished. I feel betrayed (=feel that some-
one you trust has betrayed you) When I heard what my
friends had said about me I felt angry and betrayed.
betrayal In U] feelings of betrayal (=that you have been
betrayed)
stab sb In the back/,steb (sb) in ) 'bek/to betray
someone who trusts you, especially someone that you work
with, by saying or doing something that will cause them
a lot of harm Iv phrase]
He seems friendly, but he wouldn't hesitate to stab you in the
back if he thought it would help him get your job.
sell sb down the river /,sel (sb) datJn  'rIvor/to betray
a group of people who trusted you to help them, in order
to gain money or power for yourself Iv phrase]
The peetsant farmers have worked that land assuming that
they'd be allowed to buy it, but the owners have sold them
down the river.
3 to betray your beliefs, ideas, or moral
principles
betray
sell out
betray/bI 'trei/betray your beliefs/ideals/cause/the
revolution (=give up your beliefs and principles, for exam-
ple in order to gain power or avoid trouble Iv T]
The new government has betrayed the ideals of the revolu-
tion. I Greene was denounced for betraying his Catholic
beliefs and siding with the Communists.
sell out/,scl 'aut/to give up your beliefs in order to get
more money, a more comfortable life, or political advan-
tage [phr v I]
When the Socialists changed their policy on nuclear weapons
they were accused of selling out. I Most of the hippies of the
1960s sold out and became bankers and businessmen.
treachery I'treqari/ great disloyalty to someone who
trusts you, for example by secretly tricking them, or help-
ing their enemies In U]
When the King found out about his brother's treachery he
ordered him to be killed. [ act of treachery A single act of
treachery has brought the downfall of the government.
sell.out/'sel aot/an agreement between two opposing
groups in which the leaders of one group betray their sup-
porters by allowing the other group to gain too much
advantage [nC usually singular]
Anti-nuclear campaigners are calling the President's accep-
tance of nuclear tting a complete sell-out. I The settlement
of the dispute was a sell-out, leaving the miners worse off
than they were before.
treason/'tri:zn/the crime of betraying your country by
helping its enemies In U]
He was arrested in Italy and flown back to Washington to
stand trial for treason. I commit treason The two men are
charged with committing treason against the state, for which
the maximum penalty is death.
S someone who betrays their country
traitor
collaborator
renegade
traitor I'treItr/In C]
They're all traitors, they should die! [ At the end of the war
Mata Hari was hanged as a traitor. [ traitor to your
country/principles/party ere When he left Nicaragua to
go and live in the US he was denounced as a traitor to the
revolution.
collaborator/ka'lebareitar/someone who helps their
country's enemies, for example by giving them secret infor-
mation, especially when the enemy has taken control of
that country In C]
One of the university's professors had been a Nazi collabo-
rator. 1 Women who were suspected of being collaborators
had their heads shaved in public.
renegade/'ren]ogeId/renegade soldiers/troops/Com-
munists/Royalists etc (=who have left an army or group,
especially in order to join its enemies) [adj]
The town was recaptured by renegade troops who had previ-
ously been supporters of the King. I O'Hare, a renegade
member of the INLA known as "the Border Fox; was shot
dead in an ambush.
betrayal BETRAY 4
better BETTER 1, 3, 4
better: be better BEI-I-ER/RECOVERED 1
better: do better BETTER 5, 6
better: feel better RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
better: get better IMPROVE 1, 2, RECOVER/GET
BETTER 1
better: had better do sth SHOULD/OUGHT TO 1
better: like sb/sth better PREFER 1
better: make sb better CURE 1
better: make sth better IMPROVE 3, 5
better: you'd better WARN 3
better off: you'd be better off ADVISE 2
4 the act of betraying your country, friends, or
someone who trusts you
betrayal sell-out
treachery treason
betrayal/bi'treiol/In C/U]
Her family regard her marriage to a non-Muslim as a
betrayal. I act of betrayal Mr Paisley described government
plans to separate Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom
as an act of betrayal. I betrayal of sb's trust/friendship/
confidence etc The judge said that what Evans had done
amounted to a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the
company.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

BETTER 129 BETTER
better
RECOVER/GET
BETTER
BETTER
of a
1
higher standard or quality
better in quality or skill than someone or
something else
very much better in quality or skill than
someone or something else
better than before
words for describing a way of doing
something that is more suitable or more likely
to be successful
to perform better or reach a higher standard
than someone or something else
to perform better or reach a higher standard
than you reached before
1 better in quality or skill than someone or
something else
better
superior
of a higher standard/
of higher quality
a cut above
beat
have the edge on
have an advantage
over
be more than a
match for
special
better/'betar/[adj]
better than Your school is better than mine. I She's a better
driver than me. I The sales figures were better than we
expected. I better We could either go to Florida or Califor-
nia - which do you think is better? I better at sth/doing
sth Lucy's better at mathematics than I am. I far better/
much better/a lot better The Japanese government seems
to be much better at running the economy than our
government.
better [adv] You can see much better from up here. I Ralph
would be able to explain this a lot better than I can.
superior/su:'plari) r, sju:- II so-/products, skills, or serv-
ices that are superior are better than those that you are
competing against [adj]
Our aim is to provide our clients with a superior service at
all times. [ In the end it was Agassi's fitness and superior
technique that won him the game. [ superior to There's no
real reason to say that French wines are necessarily superior
to Italian.
superiority/su:,piari'oroti, sju:- l[ so,pIari'a:-, -'o:-/ [n U]
Its chief selling point is the undoubted superiority of its after-
sales service.
of a higher standard/of higher quality/av a haio r
stendord, ov haio r kwolIti II kwo:-/ goods or services
that are of a higher standard or higher quality are better
than they were previously or better than goods or services
of a similar kind provided by others Iadj phrase]
Polish electrical industries are now producing goods of much
higher quality with the aid of modern technology. I of a
higher standard/quality than Government officials are
claiming that the health care available here is of a much
higher standard than in neighbouring countries.
a cut above/o ,kt atbAv-/an informal expression mean-
ing clearly better than others of the same type [adjphrase]
Oprah's latest talk show is certainly a cut above any of the
rival shows. I a cut above the rest The first applicant we
interviewed was definitely a cut above the rest.
beat/bi:q an informal word meaning to be much better
and more enjoyable than something else [v T not in
progressive]
beat sth Jake's home-made burgers beat anything you can
get at McDonald's. I beat doing sth It's not a particularly
good job, but it certainly beats being unemployed.
have the edge on/hev 6i ed3 on/to be slightly better
than something or someone else Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Both cars are terrific, but I think the Peugeot has the edge
on the Renault because it has four doors. I Having spent a
year in Brazil, she hoped she would have the edge over the
other language students.
have an advantage over/hev on od vo:ntId 3 oovo r II
-'ven-/to be better, more effective, and more useful than
something else [v phrase not in progressive]
The fact that this computer is so simple to use means that it
has an advantage over most other systems. I have a distinct
advantage over (=have a clear advantage over) For certain
types of work, natural wood has distinct advantages over
plastics.
be more than a match for/bi: ma: r 6n o 'mat fa:r/
to be much more skilful and more successful at doing some-
thing than someone else Iv phrase]
When it comes to TV debates, Senator Murphy's more than
a match for any of his rivals. I The rebel army's tactics are
more than a match for the nation's military forces.
special I'speal! better than something of the normal type,
for example by being more enjoyable, more useful, or of
higher quality [adj]
I don't want a normal wedding. I want something speciaL]
Even though they are princes, William and Harry are not sin-
gled out for special treatment at school. [ This is no ordinary
sofa. It's a special one that turns into a bed.
2
very much better in quality or skill than
someone or something else
be head and shoulders above/be heads above
leave sb standing
put sb/sth in the shade
eclipse
be in a different league
run rings around
put sb to shame
be streets ahead
there's no
comparison
be head and shoulders above (British) I be heads
above (American)/bi: ,bed and 'fooldorz obAv, bi: 'hedz
obAv/ to be dearly doing very much better at something
than someone else Iv phrase]
We are certain that Fatima will win - she's head and shoul-
ders above the other contenders. I There was no difficulty in
deciding who to give the job to - Ms Kamen was heads above
the other applicants

BETTER 130 BETTER
leave sb standing/,li:v (sb) 'stmndirj/to be so much
better at something than other people that they cannot pos-
sibly compete successfully with you iv phrase]
It seems that in this campaign the Democratic candidate has
left the opposition standing. I Julie's an excellent typist - her
speed and accuracy leave the rest of us standing.
put sblsth in the shade/,put (sb/sth) in 60 Iferd/a Brit-
ish expression meaning to be so much better than others
that their achievements are made to seem ordinary and
unimpressive | v phrase]
Coca Cola's prize-winning advertising campaign has put all
others in the shade. I The generous response of the public to
the disaster puts the government's contribution somewhat in
the shade.
eclipse /I 'klps/to be so much better than someone or
something else that they are made to seem unimportant
and not worth paying any attention to iv T]
Channel 5's tremendous line-up of TV programmes has
eclipsed its competitors" best efforts. ] Eclipsed by the US
champion at last year's Olympic games, the former British
champion has decided to retire.
be in a different league/bi: in o d;fdront li:g/if some-
one is in a different league they are so much better and
more skilful than someone who does similar work that it
would be stupid even to compare them iv phrase]
You can "t possibly compare Mozart and Beethoven. Mozart
is in a different league.
run rings around /rAn 'rirjz oraond/to perform with
much greater skill than someone else in a competitive
activity such as a sport or an argument iv phrase]
It's no use arguing with Sophie - she can run rings around
anyone who disagrees with her. I Tottenham Hotspur are
running rings around their rivals in what must be the most
exciting cup final in years.
put sb to shame/,put (sb) to 'j'e;m/to beso much better
than someone else that they feel slightly embarrassed by
their own lack of skill or quality iv phrase]
The elegant way she was dressed put the rest of us to shame.
be streets ahead/bi: 'stri:ts o,hed/to be very much
better than something of the same kind or than someone
you are competing with iv phrase]
The script is original and funny, streets ahead of any other
situation comedy. ] We don't need to worry about this year's
sales figures - they're streets ahead of the competition.
there's no comparison/6eorz ,noo kom'pmrsan/you
say there's no comparison when something or someone
is so much better than something or someone else that it
is not worth comparing the two
"Which apartment do you prefer? .... Well, there's no compar-
ison. The first one we saw is bigger, quieter, and has really
nice furniture. '"
3 better than before
better be an improvement on
improved that's more like it
better/'betor/[adj]
The following day, the weather was a little better. I better
than Today, people's general health is a lot better than it
used to be. I get better The standard of work from the class
is getting better all the time. I far better/much better/a
lot better Angle spent last week painting her bedroom - it
looks much better.
better [ adv ] This country's people are wealthier, healthier,
and better educated than ever before. I Relief agencies are
hoping to cope better with the famine than they did in 1990.
Improved/;m'pru:vd/better than before as a result of
changes that have been made [adj usually before noun]
Perhaps you'd like to have a look at our new improved
model? I Using unleaded gasoline in cars definitely leads to
improved air quality in cities. I much/greatly/vastly
improved This vastly improved information system means
that doctors can see patients" medical histories at the flick
of a switch.
be an improvement on/bi: on im'pru:vmont on/to be
better than something similar, such as a product or
method, that existed before Iv phrase]
The new heating system is certainly an improvement on the
old one. I be a big improvement on I wouldn't say it was
my favorite show, but it's a big improvement on her last
series.
that's more like it/16ets mo: r Ilaik it/you say that's
more like it when something that is not happening or
being done in the way that you want suddenly gets better
"'Well ifЈ30 isn't enough, would Ј40 be all right? .... That's
more like it. "" I Faster, faster - good, that's more like it. I
What's wrong with this bloody TV set? It doesn't seem to be
working - ah, that's more like it.
4 words for describing a way of doing
something that is more suitable or more likely
to be successful
better
preferable
better/'betor/[adj]
it is better to do sth If you want to get there quickly it's
better to go by plane. I I think it would be better not to tell
Gail about the accident. She'd only worry. I it is better Nina
decided to write to George about the bad news instead of
phoning - it would be better that way. I a better idea/way/
approach About Jock and Mandy's wedding reception - a
garden party would be nice, but a better idea would be to rent
a hall.
preferable /'prefarobal/ more likely to be successful,
effective, or enjoyable [adj]
it is preferable to do sth Wouldn't it be preferable to take
our vacation in the spring? I preferable to For young
offenders, probation is usually preferable to prison as a form
of punishment.
5 to perform better or reach a higher standard
than someone or something else
do better outclass
outdo outstrip
outshine
do better/,du: 'betor/[v phrase]
do better than She achieved 95% in all the tests. No one in
the school did better than that. I do better The British cham-
pion has completed the course in three minutes - let's see if
his US rival can do better.
outdo/aut'du:/to do better than someone you are compet-
ing with, especially because you want to prove that you are
better Iv T]
Kids always try to outdo each other in attracting the teacher's
attention. I Western Europe and Japan managed to outdo
their American competitors in some economic areas.
outshine/aut'Jaln/to be clearly more attractive, popu-
lar, or skilful than someone else Iv T]
In her beautiful white satin dress, Sammie easily outshone
the rest. I The young Japanese violinist outshone every other
musician at the concert.
outclass /aotklo:s II-kles/ to perform with much
greater skill or success than someone or something else
iv T]
In the first game of the season, the Miami Dolphins simply
outclassed their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. I There's
never been a jet engine to outclass the Rolls Royce Avon.
outstrip/aut' strip! to do very much better than someone
or something else, especially when the person or thing you
are competing with used to be of the same standard [v T]
Between the ages of ll and 14, girls tend to outstrip boys in
schoolwork. I The new magazine's circulation of 210, 000 out-
strips that of all of its closest competitors.
6 to perform better or reach a higher standard
than you reached before
do better
improve on/upon
do better/,du: 'betor/Iv phrase]
I was convinced that many of the students could have done

BETTER
131
better if they'd tried. [ Mark ran the distance in 30 minutes
last year, but we:re hoping he'll do better this year.
improve on/upon/Im'pru:v on, opon II -a:n, opa:n/to do
something better than before or make it better than before,
especially by working harder Iv T[
. I'nfsureyou could improve on your assignment if you spent
a little more time on it. I The Reagan administration did not
believe anyone could improve upon its economic record.
BETTER/
RECOVERED
1 to be better after illness or after you have hurt.
yourself
2 to be better after experiencing problems or
an unpleasant situation
1 to be better after illness or after you have hurt
yourself
be better
be well
be fully recovered
be cured
be over sth
be back on your feet
be up and about
be fit
be better Ibi: 'betorl Iv phrase]
Derek's had a bad cold, but he's better now. I I'll just rest
today, and, hopefully, I'll be better tomorrow. [ The doctor
told me to stay off work until I felt better.
be well/bi: 'well to be better after an illness [v phrase]
As soon as you're well we'll go to Florida and have a few
weeks in the sun. [ They couldn't really make any firm plans
until Luis was well again.
be fully recovered/bi: ,foil ri 'kAvord/to be completely
well again after an illness Iv phrase]
Do not give your baby any solid food until he is fully reco-
vered. [ We were relieved to find that Barnes was fully reco-
vered and able to take part in the race.
be cured/bi: 'kjoord! if someone is cured, they are com-
pletely better because their illness has been treated suc-
cessfully Iv phrase[
When the patients are cured, they are allowed to leave the
hospital and return to their families. I She's still rather weak,
but her bronchitis seems to be cured. [ Joseph had returned
from Nairobi two days before, apparently cured, but then the
fever flared up again.
be Over sth/bi: oovo r (sth)! to be better after a particu-
lar illness Iv T[
You've had a bad attack of malaria, but I think you're over
it now.
be back on your feet/bi: ,bmk on jo: r 'fi:t/an infor-
mal expression meaning to be well again and able to live
life as usual after being ill Iv phrase]
After a day or two in bed I'll be back on my feet again. ] Wait
till you're back on your feet again before you start worrying
about your exams.
be up and about/bi: ^p ond o'baot/to be out of bed and
well enough to walk about again, after an illness or acci-
dent has forced you to stay in bed Iv phrase]
She's up and about now, and should be back at work in a
day or two. [ You must be bored lying in bed all day, but
never mind, you'll soon be up and about.
be fit/bi: 'fit/to be healthy, especially after having been
ill, so that you are now able to move about as usual, take
exercise etc Iv phrase]
Don't come back to work until you're completely fit. [ Peter's
treatment has been a success - he should be fit again very
soon. ] be fit as a fiddle (=be extremely fit) Helmut was very
ill last year, but he's as fit as a fiddle now.
beyond
2 to be better after experiencing problems or
an unpleasant situation
be over sth
be yourself again
be back to normal
be over sth/bi: 'oovo r (sth)/Iv T[
Experts believe that Colombia is now over the worst of its
troubles. I I think Sharon is over her reading difficulties, but
she still has problems with math.
be yourself again/bi: ja:rself o,gen! to feel mentally
and physically well again after worries, problems etc
Iv phrase[
All morning she had been bad-tempered and moody. Then
suddenly she was herself again, brisk and cheerful. I It
wasn't until six months after my husband's death that I
started to feel myself again.
be back to normal/hi: ,bmk to 'na:rmal/ifa person or
a situation is back to normal, they are just as they were
before their problems or troubles started [v phrase]
Everything's back to normal now. It almost seems as if the
riots never happened. I I think Judith was affected by shock
but she's back to normal now.
between BETWEEN 1
between: in between BETWEEN 1
;. between you and me SECRET 1
BETWEEN
1 words meaning between
1 words meaning between
between in the middle
in between be sandwiched between
between/bi 'twi:n! if something is between two or more
things, the things are on either side of it [prep/adv]
The stone rolled between the boy's feet. I The house is some-
where between here and the airport. I Between the trees and
the river, the slope was covered with beautiful daffodils. I
Ahead of us were steep hills and a small valley between.
In between/in bi 'twi:n/ffsomething is in between two
or more things, it is in the space that separates those things
[prep /adv ]
She found a small pool in between the rocks.[ The farmer
knocked off the lumps of earth in between the blades of his
plough. [ Why don't we put a wardrobe against each wall
with the bed in between?
In the middle/In tSo 'mldl/in or near the centre of the
space between two things [adv]
My parents sat at either end of the sofa with me in the
middle. [ As far as I can see, Jane's leading the race, Clare
is near the back, and Sally is somewhere in the middle.
be sandwiched between/bi: senwld3d bI,twizn [[
-'sendwitj't-! to be between two people or things that are
so close that there is not enough space to move Iv phrase]
I spent a very uncomfortable evening at the concert sand-
wiched between two fat old ladies. I Alan got back to the
parking lot only to find his car sandwiched between a pick-
up and a big truck.
beverage DRINK 4
beware WARN 3
bewildered CONFUSED 1
bewildering CONFUSED 4
beyond MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
beyond: it's beyond me/it's a mystery to me
UNDERSTAND 13
beyond: be beyond belief BELIEVE 12
beyond: be beyond dispute CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
beyond: be beyond repair REPAIR 7
beyond: be beyond sb's control CONTROL 21

bias 132 BIG
bias PREJUDICED 3
biased UNFAIR 1, 4, 5
bicker ARGUE 2
bid OFFER 5, 6
bid: make a bid for TF{Y TO DO OF{ GET STIl 5
bid sb farewell GOODBYE 1
big BIG 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, FAT 1
big: be big POPULAR 2
big: be big inside BIG 6
big: be too big/small FIT/BE TIlE RIG/IT SIZE 3
big: great big BIG 2
big: how big SIZE 1
big shot POWER 2
big time: hit/make the big time FAMOUS 6
.JbigJ
Which-meaning?
big in size-,:ii!!
x.
tall in ;height
tall building.,
BIG
14
I words for describing an object, building,
animal, organization etc that is big
:2 words for describing an extremely big object, .
building, animal, organization etc
8 much bigger than other things of the same
type
4 words for describing cities, countries, or
areas of land that are big
5 words for describing extremely large places,
areas, or distances
6 words for describing rooms or the insides of
buildings or vehicles where there is a lot of
space
7 words for describing large numbers or
amounts, for example of money or people
8 words for describing extremely large numbers
or amounts
9 large in degree, for example a serious
problem, an accident that involves a lot of
people, or a job that involves a lot of work
10 words for describing changes that are very
big or have important effects
11 the fact of being big in size or degree
12 to get bigger
13 words for describing a part of the body that is
bigger than usual because of illness, injury
etc
to make something bigger
I words for describing an object, building,
animal, organization etc that is big
big fair-sized
large be a fair size
biggish good-sized
bulky be a good size
big/big/of greater than average size (slightly more infor-
mal than large) [adj]
He lives in a big house in New York. [ "'Which is your car?'"
"'The big red one next to the wall. "'[ Jim is the biggest in his
family. [ The wind got louder and the waves grew bigger and
bigger. [ She struggled up the hill, carrying the baby and her
bg black bag.
larg ]la-.rdS] of greater than average size (slightly more
formal than big) [adj]
On the other side of the fence there was a large bull. [ The
hotel was quite large and really cold. [ a large brown enve-
lope [ Take the larger cushion to sit on - you'll be more com-
fortable.
biggish  bg! an informal word meaning quite big, but
not very big [adj]
These chocolates cost $2 for quite a biggish box. [ "'What's
the house like? .... Well, it has a biggish kitchen but all the
other rooms are quite small ""
belkҐ  b^lki! a bulky object or parcel is bigger than the
usual type and is difficult to carry or store [adj]
The men were carrying bulky packages under their arms. ]
Bulding materials are often too bulky to store easily.
fair-sized/fea r sazzd/fairly big, especially big enough
or bigger than you expect [adj only before noun]
It's a fair-sized book. You won't finish it in one day. [ We ate
a fair-sized meal. [ They are a fair-sized company with
profits of Ј15m this year.
be e felt size/bi: a fea r salz! to be fairly big, especially
bigger than usual [v phrase]
It's a fair size but not enormous. [ The table was a fair size,
and difficult to move up the stairs.
good-$ied Igod sazd! big enough to be usefulor satis-
fying [adj only before noun]
She gave me a piece of bread and a good-sized hunk of cheese.
be  ood $1e/hi: a ,god salz/to be big enough to be
useful or satisfying Iv phrase]
Even though it's meant to be a portable TV, it's still quite
a good size. [ The fish he caught was a good size but not quite
big enough to win the competition.
2 words for describing an extremely big object,
building, animal, organization etc
huge/enormous gigantic
massive great big
colossal be a whopper
great be quite a size
huge/enormous/hju:ds, I'na:rms/[adj]
She wears an engagement ring set with a huge diamond. [
My grandmother was wearing an enormous hat. [ She looked
at the huge motorcycle. "'I'll never be able to ride that!"[
There was an enormous spider in the bottom of the bath. [ By
the time of his death the company had grown into an enor-
mous multi-national operation.
m$$ivo ! mmslv! extremely big and impressive, espe-
cially because it is solid and extremely heavy [adj]
Her house is massive. [ The ancient temple's massive stone
pillars had begun to crumble. ] The bell is massive, weigh-
ing over forty tons.
colossal/ka'losal [[ ka'lo:-/extremely and surprisingly
big [adj]
There was a colossal statue of the King in the middle of the
square. [ How does he manage to grow such colossal
watermelons on that dry little patch of land?
great/grelt/a word used especially in literature meaning
very big and impressive [adj only before noun]
Like great sailing-ships, the clouds sped across the sky. ] As
far as the eye could see, there stretched a great herd of buffalo.

BIG 133 BIG
gigantic/dsa: 'gmnUk/unusually big, in a way that you
cannot ignore [adj]
The ship was sunk by a gigantic wave. I A gigantic hot-air
balloon floated across the sky. I In the middle of the factory
stood a gigantic machine.
great big/'grelt big/an inforrnal expression meaning
extremely big [adj only before noun]
They've built a great big shopping mall in the centre of town. I
There are fish in the pool, great big ones. I She was given a
great big bunch of flowers.
be a whopper/bi: a 'wtp r [[ -'wo:-/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be extremely big compared to the usual
size Iv phrase]
Look at the size of that marrow - it's a whopper.
be quite a size/bi: ,kwait a 'SalZ/to be so big that it is
impressive or surprising Iv phrase]
As you can see from the remains, the temple was quite a size.]
The. car was quite a size, and that sometimes made it difficult
to park.
3 much bigger than other things of the same
type '
outsizel outsized
giant
extra large
outsizeloutsized / 'autsaIz, 'aotsazd/som,thing, espe-
cially something you wear, that is outsize or outsized is
bigger than the ones that are normally available [adj]
The store sells outsize clothes for larger women. [ It's hard
to describe - it's rather like an outsize pair of pliers.
giant/'dsaIant/a giant plant or animal is one that has
grown to an unusually large size or one of a type that is
always much larger than normal plants or animals [adj
only before noun]
Giant cabbages grew in the garden. ] Be caref I. The forest
is full of giant snakes and spiders.
extra large /,ekstra lo:rdS-/ an extra large packet,
bottle, or product is much bigger than the size that is
usually sold [adj phrase]
an extra large packet of cornflakes ] Extra large eggs are
generally a better buy than medium or large.
4 words for describing cities, countries, or
areas of land that are big
big fair-sized
large be a fair size
extensive
big/big/[adj]
The nearest big town is twenty miles away. ] Which is bigger,
Tokyo or London? ] We've got a big park fairly near our
house. [ Germany is much bigger than Britain.
large/lo:rdS/big in area [adj]
He lived alone on the edge of a large forest. [ The farm build-
ings are spread over a large area. [ Philip found himself in
a large playground surrounded by high brick walls.
extensive/ik'stenslv/covering a very large area [adj]
Before the Romans came, the Gauls" kingdom in France was
extensive. [ Downstairs, there is a large kitchen area and
extensive staff quarters. ] Only a small pool remains in the
basin of what was once an extensive lake.
fair-sized/'fe r salzd/a fair-sized town or area of land
is fairly big, especially bigger than you expect [adj only
before noun]
The house has a fair-sized yard at the back and a smaller
one in front.
be a fair size/hi: a ,fea r 'salz/to be fairly big, especially
big enough or bigger than you expect Iv phrase]
Braintree is a fair size but it isn't exactly a lively town. ] I'm
sure it would hold 500 cars. It's quite a fair size.
5 words for describing extremely large places,
areas, or distances
huge vast
immense enormous
huge/hju:ds/[adj]
Archeologists have found the remains of a huge city in the
middle of the desert. [ The drawing room looked out over a
huge lawn. [ The farm's huge, stretching for over fifteen
miles.
immense/ mens/a word used especially in literature:
an immense distance or area, especially a very flat area,
is extremely large [adj]
They spent the summer working in the immense potato fields
south of the capital. [ Migrating birds cover immense dis-
tances every winter. [ 60 million years ago, the whole area
was an immense marsh.
vast/va:st [[ vast/vast areas of land, deserts, distances
etc are extremely large and usually have very few people
in them [adj]
Vast areas of the Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. [
Vast distances separate one isolated community from
another. [ a vast area of waste land
enormous/ 'na:rmas/an enormous city or distance is
extremely big [adj]
The distances between cities in Russia are simply enormous. ]
Enormous places like New York must be very difficult to
administer.
6 words for describing rooms or the insides of
buildings or vehicles where there is a lot of
space
spacious cavernous
roomy be big inside
spacious/'speiJ's/large, with a lot of space [adj]
The holiday villas are spacious, airy, and close to the sea. ]
a spacious, well-designed kitchen [ Spacious and luxurious
apartments are available to company employees.
roomy /'ru:mi/ a house, car, or flat that is roomy is
pleasantly and comfortably large with plenty of space [adj]
The new Toyota saloon is both roomy and comfortable. ] Her
office is much roomier than mine. [ Their new apartment's
very roomy.
cavernous / kmvarnas/somewhere such as a room or a
building that is cavernous is large, dark, and high or deep
[adj]
They sheltered from the rain in the cavernous entrance hall
of the main station. ] The only people in the cavernous audito-
rium were the sound and lighting technicians.
be big inside/bi: ,big n'said/to have more space inside
than you would expect Iv phrase]
It looks small from the outside but is surprisingly big inside. ]
Most modern small cars are relatively big inside.
7
words for describing large numbers or
amounts, for example of money or people
large substantial
big significant
high generous
sizeable/sizable handsome
considerable hefty
large/lo:rdS/[adj usually before noun]
She's used to working with large sums of money. [ Large
numbers of seabirds have been killed by pollution following
the oil spillage. [ A large proportion of the audience consisted
of women.
big Ibg! big crowd/group/tip/bonus ere [adj]
Charles noticed that a big group of people had gathered out-
side the police station. ] The crowd was even bigger this
week.] The wealthiest customers don't always leave the
biggest tips.

BIG 134 BIG
high/hail high salary/level/proportion etc (=a bigger
amount than is usual or acceptable) [adj usually before
noun ]
Someone on such a high salary shouldn't have to borrow
money. I High levels of radiation have been reported near the
nuclear plant. I I always try to avoid foods with a high fat
content.
sizeable/sizable /Isazbal/ fairly large [adj usually
before noun}
She receives a sizable income from her investments. I There
is a sizeable minority of people who claim never to dream. I
Peter stands to inherit a sizeable fortune when his aunt dies.
considerable/knisidambal/large enough to have an
effect or make a difference [adj usually before noun]
Ј1000 is a considerable sum for most people. ] The number
of voters who changed their minds at the last minute was con-
siderable. [ Sugar is added in considerable quantities to most
soft drinks.
substantial/sab  stmnSal/substantial amounts/sums/
numbers ete (=large amounts, numbers etc) [adj]
The union is calling for a substantial pay increase this year.[
The sums paid out to various charities are really quite sub-
stantial. ] The survey showed that substantial numbers of
15-year-olds were already smoking twenty cigarettes a week.
significant/sg'nIfiknt/large enough to be noticeable
[adj]
Women began to enter the British Parliament in significant
numbers in the 1980s. [ A significant proportion of drivers
fail to keep to speed limits. [ Investigators found that the
amount of money that remained unaccounted for was fairly
significant.
generous /'d3enams/ an amount that is generous is
larger than the amount that is needed or expected [adj]
We are not expecting a generous pay rise. ] She served us help-
ings of meat and potato pie that were very generous. [ I
usually stir a generous quantity of rum into the cake mixture.
handsome I'hensam! handsome reward/donation/
tip/profit etc (=a large amount of money, especially one
that is generously given) [adj usually before noun]
Ozzie left a very handsome tip on the plate. I She received a
handsome reward for finding the wallet.
hey/hefti/hefty fine/charge/bill etc (=an amount of
money that you have to pay that you think is unfairly large)
[adj only before noun]
He received a hefty fine for causing an accident while driv-
ing. I The goods were delivered in three days, accompanied
by a hefty bill.
8 words for describing extremely large numbers
or amounts
huge/enormous colossal
vast immense
massive whopping
huge/enormous/hju:ds, :'na:rmos/[adj]
A huge number of people turned up for the demonstration. ]
Their profits are enormous. ] Joan had very little money and
her hotel bill was huge. [ Enormous sums of money have been
spent on the construction of the Channel Tunnel.
vast/va:st 11 vmst/a vast amount, sum, number etc is so
large that it cannot be easily measured [adj usually before
noun ]
The refugees arrived in vast numbers from villages all along
the border. [ Vast quantities of food and drink were con-
sumed at the wedding.
massive/mmsivl so large that it is hard to imagine or
deal with [adj]
My overdraft is massive. I'll never be able to pay it off [ The
sums involved are massive - over $12 billion in the first year
alone.
colossal Iko'lDsal [[ ko'lm-I an amount, especially of
money, that is colossal is extremely and surprisingly large
[adj]
They spend a colossal amount of money on their children. [
Jack managed to run up colossal debts with his credit card.
Immense I i'mens! extremely large, and often causing
difficulty or problems [adj]
Immense numbers of rats occupy the sewers of London. I Mick
and Keith used to drink immense quantities of rum.
whopping/'wopirj [[ 'wo:-/an informal word: a whop-
ping sum of money or number is extremely large and sur-
prising [adj only before noun]
He managed to get a TV celebrity to open the theatre - but
at a whopping fee. I At the divorce proceedings she demanded
the car and a whopping two-thirds of the family business.
9 large in degree, for example a serious
problem, an accident that involves a lot of
people, or a job that involves a lot of work
big large scale/large-scale
great huge/enormous
major immense
considerable tremendous
big/big/[adj only before noun]
The city has a big problem with drugs. [ We had a big argu-
ment and she left me. [ If you think I'm coming with you,
you're making a big mistake.
great/greit/having a big and important effect or result,
especially a good effect or result [adj only before noun]
Thanks. You've been a great help. [ It would be of great
assistance if customers could have the exact money ready. [
I have great difficulty in reading without my glasses.
major/'meidsor/big, especially in a way that could cause
serious difficulties [adj only before noun]
Heavy traffic is a major problem in most cities. [ Think care-
fully before you decide on such a major undertaking. [
Nuclear weapons are a major obstacle on the road to peace.
considerable /kon'sidarobal/ a formal word meaning
large enough and important enough to have an effect or
make a difference [adj usually before noun]
It was so icy that Mabel had considerable difficulty in reach-
ing the top of the hill. ]After applying for a visa there is
always a considerable delay before you receive it.
large scale/large-scale /,lo:rd5 'skeil/affecting a lot
of things or people at the same time [adj]
Large-scale development has given new life to the inner city.]
large scale investment in the industry's future ] on a large
scale Developing countries will need help on a large scale
for many years to come.
huge/enormous Ihju:ds, [ Ina:rmos/extremely big [adj]
The city of Detroit has a huge crime problem. ] Having
famous parents is an enormous help in any career. [ The
difference between living in the country and living in the city
is huge. ] They took on the huge job of teaching Fast Euro-
peans about Western business techniques.
Immense ] I I mensl needing or involving a large amount
of attention, effort, money etc [adj]
Running an organization of this size is an immense respon-
sibility. [ His contribution to the team's success has been
immense.
tremendous Itri'mendos/big, important and often excit-
ing [adj ]
My new job will be a tremendous challenge. [ Your advice
has been a tremendous help to us. [ It was a tremendous
thrill, meeting her in person.
10 words for describing changes that are very
big or have important effects
big radical
major fundamental
sweeping
big/big/[adj usually before noun]
There are going to be some big changes around here when
the new chairman takes over. [ It's a big improvement. [ The
council has had a big change of policy and no longer favours
centralization.
major/'meidsar/having a big and important effect [adj
usually before noun]

BIG 135 bill
We have been told to expect major changes in the Earth's
weather during the next ten years. I a major rethink of our
long-term strategy •
sweeping /Iswi:pIq/ sweeping changes/reforms
(=ones that affect every part of a system, organization etc)
[adj only before noun]
The Government has announced sweeping changes to Bri-
tain's National Health Service. I While he was in office he
made sweeping reforms affecting the justice system.
radical ]lrmdikl] producing a very different situation
from the one that existed [adj]
He made radical alterations to his flat and then sold it at a
huge profit. I There has been a radical improvement in
Keith's behaviour since he changed schools.
radically [adv] She's changed radically since she got
married.
fundamental / f^ndmcntl/fundamental changes/
differences etc (=affecting even the simplest and most
important part.s of something) [adj usually before noun]
There must be a fundamental change in the way we live our
lives if we are to save the planet. I After the break-in the chief
ordered a fundamental review of the security arrangements, t
There will clearly have to be fundamental alterations to the
country's economic structure.
fundamentally [ adv ] The two players have fundamentally
different styles.
1 1 the fact of being big in size or degree
size
magnitude
size/saiz/In U]
He was very rude to his schoolfriends and only his size
stopped them from hitting him. I The sheer size of the build-
ing was amazing. I I hadn't realized the size of the problem
until now. I of that size They shouldn't keep a dog of that
size in such a small apartment.
magnitude I'megntju:d II-tu:dl the magnitude of a
problem/disaster/decision ete (=a formal word meaning
great size and importance) [n U]
I cannot emphasize too strongly the magnitude of this
problem. I of this/such magnitude Decisions of this mag-
nitude should not be taken by one person alone. I The oil spil-
lage in the Gulf was of such magnitude that its effects will
last for decades.
12 to get bigger
get bigger
expand
grow
swell up
stretch
• get bigger/get 'bIgar/Iv phrase}
Mexico City is getting bigger every day. I That damp patch
on the ceiling has got bigger since yesterday. I As things get
nearer, they seem to get bigger.
expand/ikspmnd! a word used especially in a technical
or scientific context meaning to get bigger Iv I}
Metals expand when they are heated. I Physicists think that
the universe is expanding. I The computer industry expanded
rapidly in the 1980s.
expanding [adj] There is an expanding market for Mexi-
can beer.
expansion/Iklspmnfan/ [n U} Industrial expansion des-
troyed much of Britain's woodland.
grow/groo/to gradually get bigger or gradually increase
in degree Iv I]
Mark's business grew rapidly in the first year. I This town
has grown a lot since I was a boy. I Her excitement grew as
she approached his house.
growth/grooO/[n U} Economic growth is the only thing that
can save the country.
growing [adj} Drug abuse is a growing problem among the
young.
swell up ! tswel '^p/if a part of your body swells up, it
becomes larger than usual, especially because of an illness
or injury [phr v I]
I dropped a brick on my foot and it swelled up like a balloon. I
The side of his face swelled up after he had two teeth taken
out.
stretch/stretf/if something such as a piece of clothing
stretches, it gets bigger and changes its shape especially
because it has been pulled Iv I}
Your jeans will stretch a little once you start wearing them. I
The elastic stretches so that the shoe can be slipped on and
ofj: I This fabric will stretch if you wash it in hot water.
13 words for describing a part of the body that is
bigger than usual because of illness, injury
etc
swollen
swollen/'swaolan/[adj]
The child's stomach was swollen from malnutrition. I What's
the matter? Your eyes look swollen. I I can't play today - I've
got a swollen ankle.
puffy/'p^fi/puffy eyes/face/mouth/skin etc (=bigger
and softer than normal because part of your skin is raised
as a result of being hit, rubbed etc) [adj]
Her eyes were puffy from lack of sleep. I Gabe had the red,
puffy face of a hard drinker. I After a day in the sun our skin
was already puffy and sore.
14 to make something bigger
extend blow up
stretch magnify
enlarge
extend IIk'stend/to make something larger in area or
range by adding something to it Iv T}
They want to extend their house by building a bedroom over
the garage, t The public gardens cannot be extended because
the town council is bankrupt. I Soft drinks companies are
constantly battling to extend their share of the market.
extension/Ikstenan/In Cl The extension to the National
Museum houses the Picasso collection.
stretch/stret/to pull something, especially cloth, so
much that it loses its shape and increases in length, width,
or area Iv T l
The weight of the fish stretched the net until it almost broke. I
I lent him my sweater and he stretched it so much that now
it reaches my knees.
enlarge/in'lo:rdS/to make something, such as a photo-
graph or a space, larger Iv T}
That's a nice photo, why don't you get it enlarged? I If the
opening is too small, you can always enlarge it later. I The
new photocopier will enlarge documents by up to 100%.
enlargement In C} an enlargement oft he wedding photo
blow up/,blau '^p/to make a photograph much larger,
especially in order to examine its details [phr v T}
blow sth/it/them up You should blow that photo up and
frame it. I blow up sth This section of the print has been
blown up and the enemy's tanks can be clearly seen.
magnify / mmgnfaI/to make an image or detail larger
especially by using a micr6scope Iv T}
This microscope can magnify an object up to forty times. I
The image is magnified by a series of lenses within the
telescope.
i bigger: get bigger
:.- bigger: get taller/bigger
: biggest MAIN 1
 biggish
 bighead
! bigheaded
bigot
bigoted
bigotry
,::. bilingual
i bill
-:
bill: fit the
BIG 12
GROW/GET BIGGER 1
BIG 1
BOAST 2
PROUD 4
PREJUDICED 1
PREJUDICED 1
PREJUDICED 3
SPEAK A LANGUAGE 9
LAW 1, PAY FOR 15, 16
bill SUITABLE 1

bill 136 black and white
bill: foot the bill PAY FOR 9
bimbo STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 3
bind TIE 3
binding STRICT 4
biography STORY 7
birth BABY/HAVE A BABY 4
birth: be American/French/Japanese etc by birth
COME FROM/ORIGINATE 1
birth: give birth BABY/HAVE A BABY 5
birth: place of birth COME FROM/ORIGINATE 2
birth: the birth of BEGINNING 2
birthmark MARK 4
birthplace COME FROM/ORIGINATE 2, g
birthright RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 6
bisexual HOMOSEXUAL 1
bit PART 1, PIECE 1
bit: a bit LITTLE/NOT VERY 1, SHORT TIME 1
bit: a bit of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 1, 3, 8
bit: a tiny bit LITTLE/NOT VERY 1
bit: do your bit HELP 1
bit: every bit of/inch of/ounce of/drop of
ALL/EVERYTHING 2
bit: not a bit NOT 2
bit by bit SLOW 3
bit much: it's a bit much UNFAIR 2
bitch COMPLAIN 2
bitch about CRITICIZE 5
bitchy U N KIN D 2
bite BITE 1, 2, 3, MEAL 7
bite: bite your tongue SAY 9
bite: give sb a bite BITE 2
bite: grab somethingla bite to eat EAT 2
bite: take a bite BITE 1
bite into BITE 1
bite off BITE 1
bite sb's head off/jump down sb's throat
ANSWER/REPLY 2
BITE
to bite something
to bite someone
a wound caused by an animal or insect biting
you
to bite something several times, especially
food
1 to bite something
bite bite off
bite into take a bite
bite/bait/Iv T]
I never bite my nails. I Barry bit the corner of the packet to
open it.
bite In C] After two bites of the apple he realised it was rotten.
bite Into/'bait intu:/to bite a piece of food [v T/
He took out a sandwich and bit into it. I One of my teeth broke
as I was biting into an apple.
bite off/,bait tf II -'a:f/to remove something by biting
it [phr v T/
bite off sth The dog's bitten off the heel of my shoe. I His
favourite trick is to bite the tops off bottles. I bite sth/it/
them off Just bite it off if you can't cut it.
take a bite/,teik o 'bait/to bite a piece of food and eat
it Iv phrase]
She nodded and took a bite of doughnut. I I took a bite, and
it tasted good.
2 to bite someone
bite
give sb a bite
sink your teeth into
snap at
bite/bait/[v I/T/
bite sb You can stroke the cat, she won't bite you. I bite sb
on the face/hand/leg etc She was bitten on the face and
hands by a vicious German Shepherd dog. I bite Do not feed
these animals. They may bite.
give sb a bite / ,gIv (sb) o 'bait/to bite someone, not very
hard Iv phrase]
The puppy gave me a bite while I was playing with it. [ I
thought you said your parrot was tame? It's just given me
a nasty bite.
sink your teeth Into/, Slrjk ja: r 'ti:0 intu:/to bite a part
of the body very hard and violently Iv phrase]
The dog jumped forward and sank its teeth into my leg. I She
sank her teeth into his hand, kicked him in the groin, and
ran for her life.
snap at/, snep eq to try to bite someone by making quick
biting movements Iv T/
Every time your puppy snaps at someone, you should let it
know it is doing something wrong. I Sean came running
down the road with a small dog snapping at his heels.
 a wound caused by an animal or insect biting
you
bite
bite/bait/[n C/
Animal bites should be treated immediately. I We woke up
to find ourselves covered in mosquito bites.
4 to bite something several times, especially
food
chew gnaw
chew your nails/a pencil etc peck
chew/tJ'u:/to bite food several times before swallowing
it Iv I/T/
chew sth Don't eat so quickly. Chew your food. I chew He
filled his mouth and began to chew.
chew your nallsla pencil etc/tSu: (your nails, etc)l to
bite something repeatedly, especially because you are
bored or because you are thinking about something else
Iv phrase]
Helen sat chewing her pencil, unable to write a word. I I like
chewing gum, it helps me to concentrate. I chew on sth
Babies like to chew on their fingers when their teeth start to
come through.
gnaw/na:/if animals gnaw something they bite it repeat-
edly with their sharp front teeth in order to eat it or des-
troy it Iv I/T/
gnaw sth The dog sat in the yard and gnawed its bone. [
gnaw at/on Beavers have teeth strong enough to gnaw at
wood for hours. [ gnaw through The mice must have
gnawed through the pipe.
peck/pek/ if a bird pecks something, it makes quick
repeated movements with its beak to try to bite it Iv I/T/
peck sth A bird flew down and pecked my head. [ peck at
chickens that were pecking at the breadcrumbs [ peck Wood-
peckers have a long beak, specially designed for pecking.
peck In C/With a quick peck, the bird made a hole in the
eggshell.
bits: be falling apart/falling to bits CONDITION/STATE
OF STH 5
bits: fall to bits/pieces/go to pieces BREAK 10
bits and bobs THING 2
bits and pieces THING 2
bitter SOUR 1
bitter end: to the bitter end FINISH DOING STH 7
bitter experience: know from bitter experience
KNOW STH 1
bitterly cold/bitter COLD 5
bizarre STRANGE 6
blab TELL A SECRET 2
black: be in the black OWE 8
black and white COLOUR/COLOR 7
black and white: In black and white COLOUR/COLOR 7,
WRITE 13

black and white 13"7 BLAME
black and white: see things in black and white
SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 4
black look: give sb a dirty/black look LOOK AT 7
black magic MAGIC 1
black market SELL 5
black out/have a blackout UNCONSCIOUS 2
black sheep BAD PERSON 4
blacklist FORBID 3
blackmail THREATEN 2
blackmail: emotional blackmail FORCE SB TO DO STH 2
blame BLAME 1
blame: be to blame FAULT/BE $B'$ FAULT 1
blame: do not/cannot blame CRITICIZE 9
blame: get the blamelget blamed BLAME 2
blame: only have yourself to blame FAULT/BE SB'S
FAULT 1
blame: put/lay the blame on BLAME 1
blame: shift the blame BLAME 4
blame: take the blame BLAME 2
blame yourself FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 1
say that something is
someone's fault
say publicly that
someone is guilty of a
crime
BLAME
@ ACCUSE
be responsible for
something bad that
happens
FAULT/BE SB'S
FAULT
BLAME
1 to say or think that someone is responsible for
something bad that has happened
2 to be blamed for something bad that has
happened even if it is not your fault
3 someone who is unfairly blamed for something
4 to blame someone else for something that is
really your fault or responsibility
5 to say that someone who has been blamed
for something is not in fact responsible
6 the act or feeling of blaming someone
1 to say or think that someone is responsible for
something bad that has happened
blame apportion blame
say sth is sb's fault hold sb responsible
put/lay the blame on reproach yourself
blame/bleIm/Iv T]
blame sb You always blame someone else when things go
wrong. I I think your plan is crazy, so don't blame me if it
doesn't work! [ blame sb for sth The investigators blamed
the driver for the train crash. I Susan never said anything,
but secretly she blamed her sister for the child's death. I
blame sth on sb/sth Whenever children behave badly,
people always try and blame it on the teachers.
say sth is sb's fault/,seI (sth) [z (sb's) 'fa:lt/to say that
someone is responsible for something bad that has hap-
pened [v phrase]
She says it's my fault, but I was just doing what she told me
to do. I Would you say that unemployment is always the
government's fault? l He's always said it was her fault that
he lost his job.
put/lay the blame on/,put, ,lez 6o 'blem on/to say
who you think is responsible for something bad that has
happened, often unfairly or wrongly Iv phrase]
After their separation he laid the blame on his wife. I
put/lay the blame on sb for sth The press will put the
blame on the president for the breakdown of negotiations. I
put/lay the blame for sth on sb/sth Farmers have laid
the blame for their problems entirely on EC policies.
apportion blame/o,pa:rj'an 'bleIm/to officially state
which people are responsible for something bad that has
happened Iv phrase]
It is not easy for the Committee of Inquiry to apportion blame
in such a complicated case.
hold sb responsible I,hoold (sb) rI 'sponsbal II -'spa:n-/
to say that it is someone's fault that something bad has
happened because it was their duty to prevent this from
happening Iv phrase]
hold sb responsible for It's not fair - our boss is holding
us responsible for all the company's problems. I hold sb
responsible If the buses do not run on time, the drivers
should be held responsible. I hold sb partly/largely/
entirely responsible The shipment never arrived, and we
are holding the freight company entirely responsible. I hold
sb personally responsible (=blame one person only) If the
team fails to increase sales this time, I shall hold you
personally responsible.
reproach yourself/r[ 'prootf ja: r ,self/to feel that some-
thing is your fault and wish that you had done more to pre-
vent a bad situation from happening Iv phrase]
There's no point in reproaching yourself, there's nothing you
could have done. I reproach yourself for He reproached
himself constantly for not having visited his sick mother
before she died.
 to be blamed for something bad that has
happened even if it is not your fault
get the blame/get blamed take the rap
be in the firing line carry the can
take the blame take the fall
get the blame/get blamed/,get 6o 'blem, get 'blemd/
[ v phrase]
Hurry up! It's me who'll get the blame if we're late. I The
airline usually gets blamed if there's a major disaster. I get
the blame/get blamed for sth The other boys all ran
away, and Billy got the blame for the accident. I get the
blame/get blamed for doing sth Karen got blamed for
losing the deal.
be in the firing line/bi: In 6o 'faIarirj laln/if a person,
group, or organization is in the firing line, they are pub-
licly blamed for something bad that has happened because
they are officially responsible Iv phrase]
Rail bosses are in the firing line again following last week's
accident. I When the shareholders find out about this, you're
going to be in the firing line.
take the blame/,telk 6o 'blem/to accept that people
will blame you for something, either because it is your fault
or because they think it is your fault Iv phrase]
take the blame for I don't see why I should take the blame
for all your mistakes. [ He must realize that he's done some-
thing wrong and that he'll have to take the blame for it. [
take the blame If this plan goes wrong we'll both take the
blame.
take the rap /,teik 6o 'rep/ an informal expression
meaning to be blamed and punished for a crime or a mis-
take, even if you did not do it Iv phrasel
take the rap for The police will make sure someone takes
the rap for this, and they don't care who it is. I take the rap
It was a bad mistake and I'll probably take the rap.
carry the can /,keri 6o 'ken/ an informal British
expression meaning to be blamed and punished for some-
thing when it is someone else's fault as well as your own
[ v phrase]
The others all escaped, and I was left to carry the can. [ carry
the can for They can sort it out themselves. I'm not carry-
ing the can for them!

BLAME 138 blue
take the fall/,tek ba 'f:l/ an American expression
meaning to be blamed and punished for a mistake or a
crime, even if you did not do it Iv phrase]
take the fall for lf you think I'm going to take the fall for
the scandal just to protect the Senator, you're crazy. I take
the fall He won't go to jail, he'll get one of his associates to
take the fall.
someone who is unfairly blamed for something
scapegoat
fall guy
scapegoat / 'ske;pgot/someone who is unfairly blamed
or punished for something, because the public want to see
that someone is blamed or punished for it In C]
The captain was just a scapegoat. The real villains were the
people in charge of the shipping company. I The public is
looking for a scapegoat, but no one will be punished until
a full inquiry has been held.
fall guy/'fad gai/an American word meaning someone
who is blamed for something because they have been
deceived by the people who are really responsible In C]
Journalists asked if the Secretary of State was going be the
fall guy for the President's secret arms deal. I There's no
better fall guy than a dead man.
to blame someone else for something that is
really your fault or responsibility
shift the blame
pass the buck
shift the blame /,.lift Oa 'bleIm/[v phrase]
shift the blame onto sb You can't always shift the blame
onto your secretary. I shift the blame for sth Nato shifted
the blame for escalating the arms race onto the Soviet Union.
pass the buck /,po:s 6 bAk [1 ,pes-/ an informal
expression meaning to try to blame someone else for a
problem at work that you are responsible for Iv phrase]
pass the buck to sb It was his mistake but he tried to pass
the buck to another manager. ] pass the buck You can deal
with these complaints yourself. It's no use trying to pass the
buck.
 to say that someone who has been blamed
for something is not in fact responsible
exonerate
exonerate /;g'zonaret II g'zo:-/ to publicly and offi-
cially show that someone who has been blamed for some-
thing is not in fact responsible for it Iv T]
False accusations were made, but he was eventually exoner-
ated. I Twice Bryson was tried and twice exonerated of all
blame.
6 the act or feeling of blaming someone
recriminations
reproach
recriminations/rI ,krIma I ' neifanz/a situation in which
people are blaming each other In plural]
Family life had become unbearable for her - the arguments,
the recriminations, the accusations - so she left. I Always the
coward, he left a note and slipped away quietly, avoiding the
recriminations which he knew would follow.
reproach /n'prtnf/ sadness that someone has done
something that they should be blamed for In U]
I was sure he was guilty and I couldn't talk to him without
a feeling of reproach. I denny turned to her mother with a
look of reproach. "'Did you throw away my dolls?" she asked.
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
bland ORDINARY 2, STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 3,
TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 3
blank EMPTY 5, EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 3
blank: draw a blank/come up with empty hands FAIL 2
blank: your mind goes blank FORGET 3
blanket ALL/EVERYTHING 4
blare/blare out LOUD/NOISY 8
bias0 DON'T CARE 4
blast EXPLODE 4, TELL SB OFF 2
blast: at full volume/at full blast LOUD/NOISY 8
blast: be a blast ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
blast: have a blast ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 2
blast-off UP 5
blatant OBVIOUS 4
blaze FIRE 1, SHINE 1
blazing BRIGHT 2, BURN 1
bleak HOPE 10, SAD/UNHAPPY 10
bleary-eyed TIRED 8
bleeding: be bleeding INJURE 4
bleep SOUND 14
blemish MARK 4
blend MIX 2, 7, 8
blend in SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2
blend into/blend in with DISAPPEAR 1
blessed: be blessed with HAVE 4
blind HIDE/NOT SHOW 5, SEE 15, SIGHT/ABILITY TO
SEE 3, 4
blind: blind as a bat SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 2
blind drunk DRUNK3
blind eye: turn a blind eye IGNORE 3
blind faith TRUST 2
blindfolded: can do sth blindfolded EASY 5
blinding BRIGHT 3
blindingly obvious OBVIOUS 3
blink SHINE 4
blink: be on the blink BROKEN 4
blinkered PREJUDICED 2
bliss HAPPY 8
blissful HAPPY 7
blissfully happy HAPPY 2
blitz: have a blitz on DEAL WITH 1
bloated FULL 3
blob LIQUID 8
block AREA 2, BUILD 3, PIECE 2, PREVENT 3, 6, 8,
SQUARE 3
block up SHUT/CLOSE 6
blockade PREVENT 6
blockbuster POPULAR 3
bloke: guy/bloke/chap MAN 1
blood-curdling FRIGHTENED 6
bloodthirsty CRUEL 1
bloody ANNOY 5, VERY 1
blot on the landscape UGLY 4
blot out HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 4
blotch MARK 4
blotchy MARK 5
blow BREATHE 3, HIT 3, SHOCK 7, SPEND MONEY 3
blow: be a serious blow to HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
blow: come to blows FIGHT 1
blow-by-blow account DETAIL 4
blow hot and cold about CHANGE YOUR MIND 3
blow it/blow your chances CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
blow out STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 11
blow the gaff TELL A SECRET 3
blow the whistle TELL 11
blow up AIR 6, BIG 14, EXPLODE 1, 3
blow sth up out of all proportion EXAGGERATE 2
blow your own trumpet/horn BOAST 1
blow your top/hit the roof/go crazy/go nuts/have a fit
ANGRY 4
blubber/blub CRY 3
blue SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
blue: be blue with cold COLD 6
blue: feel blue SAD/UNHAPPY 2
blue: out of the blue EXPECT 9, SUDDENLY 1

blue-collar
blue-collar CLASS IN SOCIETY 4
blue-eyed boy FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 2
blue moon: once in a blue moon RARELY 1
blue streak: can talk a blue streak TALK TO SB 15
blueprint PLAN 5
bluff PRETEND 4
blunder MISTAKE 3, 4
blunt HONEST 4, SHARP 4
blur CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 6
blurred CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 3
blurt out SAY 4
blush EMBARRASSED 2
board GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 1
GROUP OF PEOPLE 9, STAY WITH SB, IN A
HOTEL ETC 2
board: on board/aboard GET ON OR OFF A BUS,
PLANE ETC 1
board: take on board ACCEPT 3
board: the board MANAGER 3
board: sweep the board WIN 4
boast BOAST 1, HAVE 4
boast
BOAST
to talk too proudly about your abilities,
achievements, or possessions because you
want to make other people admire you
I to boast
;2 words for describing someone who boasts a
lot
1 to boast
boast crow
brag nme-drop
blow your own trumpet/horn
boast Ibusq [v I/T]
boast about She's always boasting about how clever her
children are. I boast Listen, I know you came first in the
class, but there's no need to keep boasting. I "'I'm not afraid
of any of them, "" she boasted. I boast (that) Hank used to
boast that he had killed over a dozen men. I boast of Two
young men in suits were standing at the bar, boasting of how
much money they'd made that week.
boast In C] One of his boasts (=things that he boasts about)
is that he can tell from someone's accent exactly where they
come from.
brag/bra:g! to boast in a way that annoys other people
Iv I/T]
brag about I wish he'd stop bragging about how rich his
parents are. I brag I'm the only person he'll listen to. I'm not
bragging - it's true. I brag (that) Kevin used to brag that
he took a different girl home every night.
blow your own trumpet (British) I horn (American)
/blau j:r un 'trAmpaIt, 'ha:rn/informal expressions mean-
ing to boast, especially about what you have achieved
Iv phrase]
139
BODY
He was telling us again last night how he saved the team
from certain defeat. He just loves blowing his own trumpet.I
Sometimes you have to blow your own horn a little if you
want to get on in life.
grow/krau! a British word meaning to boast about some-
thing you have achieved, especially when other people
have been less lucky or successful Iv I]
Just because you got the job and Tony didn't, I don't think
you should crow. I crow about/over We shouldn't start
crowing about these profits yet. I The crowd was crowing
over the West Indies" early victory.
name.drop /neim drop II -dro:p/to frequently mention
the names of famous or important people that you have met
or spoken to, to make people think that you know them
very well Iv I]
"'When I met Mrs Thatcher, "" said Edwina, name-dropping,
"'she seemed a very pleasant woman. ""
name-dropping In U] The book is full of name-dropping
and gossip, but not much else.
2 words for describing someone who boasts a
i lot
!i( j boastful be all talk
big head name-d ropper
boastful I'boustfal/[adj]
I can "t stand him. He's just a boastful, conceited little man. I
After more wine had been drunk, everyone became loud and
boastful.
boastfully [adv] "'Yes, we have a Mercedes and a Rolls, ""
said Jay boastfully.
bighead /'bghed! someone who thinks they are very
important and who shows this by often boasting about
their abilities or achievements In C]
None of the other kids like him, because he's such a bighead. ]
Billy was a bighead even before he won that prize.
be all talk/hi: a:l 'ta:k/if you say that someone is all
talk, you mean that they make all their plans and their
achievements seem more impressive than they really are,
and people should not believe them Iv phrase]
Sam's all talk. I wouldn't take him too seriously ifI were you.
name-dropper/nelm drtp r []-dro:p-/ someone who
often mentions the names of famous or important people
that they have met or spoken to, in order to make people
admire them In C]
A very distant relative of the Queen, she's one of the worst
name-droppers I've ever met.
boastful BOAST 2
boat: miss the boat CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
bobs: bits and bobs THING 2
bode well/ill SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 6
bodily BODY 5
body BODY 1, 2, 3, 4, ORGANIZATION 2
body of opinion OPINION 2
BODY
the body of a person or animal
the shape, size, or strength of a person's
body
a part of the body
the body of a dead person or animal
affecting or concerning your body
1 the body of a person or animal
body
body/'bodi II 'bo:di/In C]
By the time I got home my body ached all over and I knew
I was gettingflu. I The human body is like an incredibly com-
plex, delicately balanced machine. I Mammals are charac-
terized by having hair on their bodies and giving birth to

BODY 140 bolt
live young. I 70 to 80 per cent of the energy required by the
body is supplied by carbohydrates.
2 the shape, size, or strength of a person's
body
body figure
build physique
body I'btdi II 'bo:di/the shape of someone's body In C]
Jane Fonda has an amazing body for a woman of her age.I
A lot of people feel ashamed of their bodies and don "t like
taking off their clothes in public.
bu|ld/bild! the natural size and shape of someone's body
In singularC]
You're exactly the right build for a rugby player -you'vegot
good strong broad shoulders. I He looks rather like me - we
both have the same build. I of medium/slim/large/small
etc build The man the police are looking for is about thirty
years old, tall, blond and of medium build.
figuro/lfigo r II Ifigior/the shape of someone's body, espe-
cially a woman's body In C usually singular]
She has a fantastic figure - she could be a model if she
wanted to. I Susie wore a close-fitting black dress which made
the most of her figure. I keep your figure (=keep your body
an attractive shape) She eats enormous meals but still
manages to keep her figure. I get your figure back (=make
your body an attractive shape again after having a baby
etc) Exercise and a sensible diet will help you get your figure
back after having a baby.
physique/fI a'zi:k! the shape of someone's body, espe-
cially a man's body, used when saying how strong they look
In singular]
William was tall and handsome and had a slim, muscular
physique. I His boyish good looks and powerful manly
physique make him very attractive to women.
3 a part of the body
part of the body limb
body organ
torso
part of the body I,po:rt ov 60 bodi II -'bo:dil [nphrase]
The cancer may have spread to other parts of her body. I More
heat is lost through the head than through any other part
of the body. I Each exercise is designed to build up muscles
in a different part of your body.
body/btdi [I bo:di/someone's body, not including the
head, legs, or arms In C]
Mr Price's long body and short arms and legs gave him a
rather strange appearance. I The black widow spider has
red-orange markings on its body. I Baby monkeys cling to
their mothers" bodies until they are old enough to start climb-
ing by themselves.
torso/ w: rsoo/the main part of a person's body, especially
the upper part including the chest, but not including the
head, arms, or legs In C]
The painting showed the torso of a naked woman. I Kevin
liked to walk around the house in nothing but a pair of jeans,
showing off his muscular torso. I The search led to the dis-
covery of a headless torso in the woods.
limb/hm/a word used especially in literature and in med-
ical contexts meaning an arm or a leg In C]
When babies are born they have very little control over their
limbs. I Hundreds of children in Afghanistan have lost limbs
after stepping on mines. I The calf stood up slowly, with trem-
bling limbs and took its first, uncertain steps.
organ /la:rgon/a part of a body, for example the heart or
lungs, that does a particular job In C]
The liver is an extremely complex organ. I This diagram
shows the position of the main organs of speech. I The baby's
sexual organs are among the last to develop inside the
womb. I vital organs (=most important organs such as the
heart) Her vital organs are intact and she has a good chance
of recovery.
4 the body of a dead person or animal
body stiff
corpse remains
cadaver ashes
body /'bt)di II 'bo:di/ the body of someone who has
recently died In C]
Police found the body of a young boy in Epping Forest last
night. I The woman fell to her knees beside her son's body
and began crying and wailing. I The bodies of the two sold-
iers were buried with full military honors at Arlington
National Cemetery. I dead body What's the matter?Haven't
you seen a dead body before?
corpse/ka:rps/the body of a dead person, used when you
consider the body as an object and not as a person In C]
Thieves are digging up corpses in order to stealjewellery and
gold teeth. I The streets were filled with the stench of decaying
corpses.
cadaver /ka'dmvo r, kode - II ko'dm-/ a medical word
meaning the body of a dead person In C]
In the room was a stainless steel table, on which lay two
cadavers covered in white sheets. I Picasso studies an object
the way a surgeon dissects a cadaver.
stiff/st:f/an informal word meaning the body of a dead
person, used especially in a humorous way In C]
Hey Sarge! Did you hear? We found another stiff down by
the docks. I Stop standing there like a couple of stiffs and give
me some help.
remains /r:lme:nz/ the parts of someone's body that
remain after they die, especially after their body has been
dead for a long time [n plural]
They found the remains of a young woman under thejToor
boards. I These rocks contain the fossilised remains of extinct
animals. I The architect's remains are interred in St Paul's
cathedral.
ashes/efz/the white powder that is left after a body
has been burned as part of a funeral ceremony In plural]
She had brought her father's ashes back from England. I
They burned Gandhi's body and scattered the ashes on the
waters of the Jumna river.
5 affecting or concerning your body
physical
bodily
physical/'fizikal/[adj]
Your son appears to. be in good physical health. I She has
suffered terrible physical as well as emotional abuse for over
12years. I A lot of British people avoid physical contact with
strangers. I Man's primary needs are physical -food, drink
and sleep. I physical fitness a training programme that
produces a high level of physical fitness
physically [adv ] At the end of the race she was completely
exhausted, both mentally and physically. I At the age of 70
he's still physically very active.
bodily /bt)dli II ba:-/ bodily comforts/needs/func-
tions/sensations/suffering etc (=concerned with or
affecting the body) [adj only before noun]
When you're in these remote places don "t you miss your bodily
comforts? I perform your bodily functions (=go to the
toilet, get washed etc) The villagers have to go down to the
lake to perform most of their bodily functions.
bodyguard PROTECT 3
bogged down: get bogged down DELAY 2
bogus PRETEND 6
boil COOK 2, 3
boil: make your blood boil ANGRY 8
boil down to/come down to MEANING 9
boiling HOT 8
boiling/boiling hot HOT 1, 5
boisterous ENERGETIC 1
bold BRAVE 4
bollocking: give sb a bollocking TELL SB OFF 2
bolshylbolshie DIFFICULT 7
bolt EAT 4, ESCAPE 4, SHUT/CLOSE 5

bolt from the blue
t bolt from the blue SHOCK 7
 bolted SHUT/CLOSE 7
ii bomb FAIL 7, 8
,,,"
 bomb: cost a bomb/the earth EXPENSIVE 2
......
bombard SHOOT 1, THROW 8
 bombardment SHOOT 8
bombed/loaded DRUNK 3
!ii bombshell: drop a bombshell SHOCK 1
! bona fide REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 1
ii!i bond RELATIONSHIP 2
iiili bone: have a bone to pick with .ARGUE 4
ii bone dry/dry as a bone DRY 1
;'.[ bone ofcontention DISAGREE 7
..,.
i bones: feel sth in your bones PREDICT 2
! bones: make no bones about it HONEST 4
 bonfire FIRE 2
i! bonus PAY SB FOR WORK 3'
:ii bony THIN PERSON 4
 boob/booboo MISTAKE 5
i book: bring sb to book PUNISH 1
ii=. book: by the book RIGHT/PROPER 3
ii book: go by the book OBEY 2
 book: reserve/book BUY 4
,; booked: be booked up/fully booked SELL16
booking BUY4
 bookworm READ 7
{{ boom INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 11,
;; SOUND 10, SUCCESSFUL 7
oom out
;; booming LOUD/NOISY 2, SUCCESSFUL 6
;; boon: be a boon HELP 6
. boondocks: in the boondocks/boonies FAR 5
e
 boost: give sb a boost/a fillip/a lift CONFIDENT 5
 boost: give sth a boost HELP 5
 boost sb's confidence CONFIDENT 5
 boost sb's ego CONFIDENT 5
 boot KICK 1
 boot: give sb the boot LEAVE A JOB OR
4 ORGANIZATION 2
 boots: get too big for your boots PROUD 7
 booze DRINK 5
booze-up DRUNK 7
 border EDGE 1, 2, NEXT TO 3
boer: cross the border ENTER 5
" bowering on: verging on/bordering on ALMOST 2, 4
 borderline UNCERTAIN 3
'. bore BORING 3, 4, HOLE 8
bored BORING 7
 bored: be
boredom
boredom:
boring
bored to tears/bored stiff/bored out of
your mind BORING 7
BORING 8
relieve the boredom/monotony BORING 9
BORING 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
141
BORING
so uninteresting that it makes you feel tired,
annoyed, or impatient
t words for describing an event, activity, or
something that you have to do that is boring
2 Words for describing a job or way of life that
is boring
 words for describing something such as a
book, a speech, or a story that is boring
4 words for describing a boring person
 words for describing a place that is boring to
live in
6 words for describing scenery, buildings etc that
have no interesting or unusual characteristics
7 how you feel when you are doing something
boring
8 the feeling of being bored
BORING
9 to try to make a situation less boring
IO ways of saying that something becomes
boring after a time
1 words for describing an event, activity, or
sometfiing that you have to do that is boring
boring uninteresting
not very interesting tedious
dull uneventful
boring/'b:r/[adj]
All kids find schoolwork boring sometimes. I Jimmy could
never understand why so many people thought golf was
boring. I Somehow I got involved in a boring conversation
about food prices.
not very interesting /nt veri 'intrsti0/ activities,
events, etc that are not very interesting are ordinary and
not particularly enjoyable or interesting [adj phrase]
The experiment we do today won't be very interesting but the
results will be useful. I The film wasn't very interesting but
we had a nice meal afterwards.
dull/dAl/boring because nothing different, interesting, or
exciting happens [adj]
We spent a dull afternoon with some of Harold's business
associates. I She got fed up with the dull routine of washing
. and cooking for the family.
uninteresting /An':ntrst:0/ something that is unin-
teresting is boring and ordinary, and there is nothing new,
surprising, or different about it [adj]
Journalists often have to write exciting reports based on
quite uninteresting events. I Used to dealing with interna-
tional politics, Terri thinks our local affairs are remarkably
uninteresting.
tedious/,ti:dbs/something that is tedious seems to take
or last a long time because it is uninteresting and always
the same [adj]
Caring for old people has its rewards, but most of the time
it's tedious. I I didn't want to start a game of cards with John
- I knew it would be tedious.
uneventful ! ,An: 'ventfvl-/a period of time, journey etc
that is uneventful has nothing interesting or unusual in
it [adj]
The jTight to Los Angeles was long, uneventful and tiring.
2 words for describing a job or way of life that
is boring
boring stultifying
not very interesting soul-destroying
h u m .,d ru m re pet it ive
monotonous
boring/'b:r0/[adj]
Since she retired, her life has become extremely boring. I a
boring nine-to-five job in an office I I can't think of anything
more boring than living with just one person for the rest of
my life.
not very interesting/nt veri 'ntrstI0/a job that is
not very interesting is boring because the work is always
the same and is not very exciting or unusual [adj phrase]
Computer programming isn't really a very interesting job. [
Temping pays well, but it isn't very interesting.
humdrum /'h^mdrAm/ humdrum existence/life/job
(=one in which nothing interesting or exciting ever hap-
pens and nothing changes) [adj]
Occasional holidays abroad were the only things that bright-
ened up her otherwise humdrum life. [ Going to night school
might improve your chances of getting out of that humdrum
job.
monotonous/ma'ntanas II ma'no:-/boring because you
always do the same thing or because the same thing always
happens [adj]
Some people think being a fashion model must be exciting
- in fact it's very monotonous. I Without good qualifications,
you could easily end up in some monotonous job.

BORING 142 BORING
stultifying /'st^ltfai-irj/ a formal word meaning so
boring that you feel that you are losing your ability to think
intelligently Iadj]
Women spend 10 hours a day at this stultifying factory work,
where they are not even allowed to talk to each other. [ Soon
after her marriage, she began to find her existence as a house-
wife quite stultifying.
soul-destroying /'saol di  strai-irj/a job or an experience
that is soul-destroying is extremely boring and makes you
very unhappy because you feel that you are a useless
person and your life has no meaning [adj]
They spend all day sticking paper labels on toy cars - it's
soul-destroying. [ Going to the unemployment office and
having to wait there for hours can be a soul-destroying
experience.
repetitive/ri pettiv/if something such as a speech or
a piece of writing or music is repetitive, it is boring
because parts of it keep repeating again and again [adj]
This is the sort of repetitive operation that is best performed
by a computer. I Half the students fell asleep during the long
and repetitive lecture.
3 words for describing something such as a
book, a speech, or a story that is boring
boring turgid
not very interesting bore
long-winded send you to sleep
tedious
boring/'b:rirj/[adj]
Once she starts a book, she always finishes it, even if it's
really boring. I He always ends up telling us one of his boring
stories about the war. I On their first date, Brian took Liz
to some boring exhibition of 18th century pottery.
not very Interesting/nt veri 'intrI stirj/a book, speech,
story etc that is not very interesting is boring because it
has nothing new or exciting in it [adj phrase]
HIS autobiography is well-written, but not really very
interesting. I I didn "t think that lecture about Goethe was very
interesting.
long-winded/,ltrj 'wmdd- II ,l:rj-/a speech, descrip-
tion, or statement that is long-winded is too long and uses
a lot more words than are necessary [adj]
Our teacher gives such long-winded answers to any question,
it's best not to ask him anything. I There was another long-
winded and unconvincing speech about the economy.
tdious/ti:dias! a speech, story etc that is tedious is
boring and tiring, especially because it is too long [adj]
Tania gave me a tedious account of what she did at the
weekend. I Introducing too many characters at the beginning
of a story makes it tedious and confusing.
turgid/'ta:rdsId/a turgid style of writing uses difficult
language with the result that it is boring and difficult to
read [adj ]
The ideas in the book are good, but the style's so turgid that
no one will enjoy reading it. I I spent a whole day ploughing
through piles of turgid legal manuscripts.
llre/ba:r/to make someone feel bored, especially by talk-
ing too much about something they are not interested in
Iv T]
bore sb Am I boring you?l bore sb with (=bore someone
by talking about a particular subject) He bores everyone
with his stories about his girlfriends. I bore sb to death/to
tears (=make them very bored) Being with babies all day
bores her to tears.
send you to sleep /,send ju: ta 'slizp/ an informal
expression: if a speech, performance etc sends you to
sleep ,it is extremely boring so that you completely stop
paying attention to it Iv phrase]
All his talk about his financial problems just sends me to
sleep. I We tried to pay attention to the priest, but his sermon
was enough to send anyone to sleep.
4 words for describing a boring person
boring
bore
dull
boring/'b:rirj/[adj]
He's so boring - all he ever thinks about is football. I We've
got a really boring History teacher. I Once Sean gets onto the
subject of computers he can be extremely boring.
bore/b3:r/someone who is boring, especially because
they talk too much about themselves or their own interests
In C]
Since she got pregnant she's become a real bore - always
talking about babies. I Everyone used to go to great lengths
to avoid talking to the office bore.
dull Id^ll someone who is dull is boring because they do
not do or talk about anything interesting or exciting [adj]
She "s a nice, polite girl but rather dull. I On the whole, Bill's
friends are a pretty dull bunch. They just talk about money
the whole time.
 words for describing a place that is boring to
live in
boring one-horse town
dead nothing ever happens
boring/'b:rrj/[adj]
The kids might find it boring living in the country. I This
is a really boring town - all they have is a bar, a cinema,
and a Chinese restaurant.
dead/ded] a town that is dead is boring because nothing
interesting or exciting happens, and there is nothing
interesting to do there [adj not before noun]
In summer we get a few visitors, but most of the time this
place is dead.
one-horse town /,wAn ha:rs 'taon/an informal expres-
sion meaning a smatl and boring town In C]
He comes from some one-horse town in Oklahoma.
nothing ever happens/,mOrj eva r 'hmpanz! ffyou say
nothing ever happens in a town or a place, you mean
nothing interesting or exciting happens there
Nothing ever happens around here. Why can't we move to the
city? I I can't stand this place any longer - nothing ever
happens!
6 words for describing scenery, buildings etc that
have no interesting or unusual characteristics
boring featureless
drab dreary
boring I'bz:r:oI [adj]
The countryside around here is flat and boring. I We drove
for hours along the deserted, boring road.
drab/drmb! buildings and places that are drab are not
colourful or interesting to look at Iadj]
We sat for over two hours in a drab uncomfortable waiting
room. I When I came to Manchester from Brazil everything
seemed so drab and colourless.
featureless/'fi:tSorlas/featureless landscape/plain/
coast etc (=a large area of land that has no interesting or
unusual features) [adj]
It was flat, featureless coastline. I We were now flying at
lO, O00 feet above the featureless plains of the Mid West.
dreary ! 'driari/a place that is dreary is not interesting,
attractive, or cheerful [adj]
Bob paced up and down the corridors of that dreary old
hospital. I Off I went to another dreary government office.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

BORING 1,13 BORROW
7 how you feel when you are doing something
boring
bored
be bored to tears/bored stiff/
bored out of your mind
sb's eyes glaze over
bored/ba:rd/[adj]
Dad, can we go home now?I'm bored! l She seems to get bored
very easily. I Gangs of bored teenagers roam the streets. I
bored with After a while Julia got bored with lying on the
beach, so she went off to explore the town. I I'm bored with
pasta and tomatoes - I want something different.
be bored to tears/bored stiff/bored out of your
mind/bi: ,b:):rd to 'tIarz, ,ba:rd 'stIf, ,ba:rd aot av jz): r
mand/ informal expressions meaning to be extremely
bored Iv phrase]
You've been checking these figures for hours, you must be
bored to tears. I Your students aren't stupid, they're just
bored stiff- that's why they're not learning. I Elaine hung
about, bored out of her mind, while the two boys talked about
motorbikes.
sb's eyes glaze over/(sb's) alz glelz ';)ov;)r/if some-
one's eyes glaze over, their eyes become very still and
without expression, as if they are going to fall asleep,
because they are very bored, especially by what someone
is telling them
I could see her eyes were glazing over, so I quickly said:
"Shall we take a break now?" l As the speech progressed my
eyes started to glaze over, and I felt myself falling asleep.
8 the feeling of being bored
boredom
monotony
boredom/'ba:rdam/In U]
She could no longer stand the boredom of being unemployed. I
It's boredom that drives these kids to crime and vandalism. I
sheer boredom (=complete boredom) Can you imagine the
sheer boredom of doing the same job day in, day our for fifty
years?l out of boredom (=because you are bored) She says
she started having affairs out of boredom.
monotony /mo'notni II me'no:-/ the feeling of being
bored because you do the same things all the time, see the
same people etc, and never do anything different In U]
The monotony of prison life is enough to drive anyone
insane.I sheer monotony (=complete monotony) The sheer
monotony of the work is itself exhausting.
9 to try to make a situation less boring
relieve the boredom/monotony
relieve the boredom/monotony/ri ,li:v a 'ba:rdam,
ma'notni II -me'no:-/Iv phrase]
Sometimes she would try out different routes to relieve the
monotony of her daily journey. I Harry tried to relieve the
boredom by singing and whistling.
10 ways of saying that something becomes
boring after a time
the novelty wears off
the novelty wears off/6a ,novalti wearz 'of II -,no:v-/
if the novelty wears off, something that was new and
interesting for a short time is no longer interesting
Once the novelty has worn off most of these kitchen gadgets
just sit in the cupboard, unused for years. I We played com-
puter games non-stop for a day or so, but the novelty soon
wore off.
born GOOD AT 3
born: be born BABY/HAVE A BABY 4, START TO
HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 2
born: not know you're born LUCKY 2
born yesterday: I wasn't born yesterday BELIEVE 16
borrow BORROW 1, 2
bor
BORROW
to get something from someone which you
must give back to them later
I to borrow money from someone
• to borrow something such as a car, book, or
pen
8 to pay money so that you can borrow and
use something for a fixed period
4 words for describing something such as a
car, machine, or money that has been
borrowed
8 money that is borrowed
1 to borrow money from someone
borrow
take out a loan
borrow/'borau II 'bo:-, 'ha:-/Iv I/T]
borrow sth She needs to borrow some money to pay the
doctor. I borrow sth from/off Can I borrow five pounds
off you till next week? l By the end of the war the Canadian
government had borrowed over $5 billion from its own
citizens. I borrow Companies normally expect to borrow at
cheaper rates than ordinary people have to pay. I borrow
heavily (=borrow a lot of money) Maxwell had borrowed
heavily to finance his business projects.
borrower In C] The fall in interest rates is bad news for
savers but good news for borrowers.
take out a loan /iteIk aot a 'leon/to borrow a large sum
of money from a bank or other financial institution
[ v phrase]
We're still paying off the loan we took out to buy our car. I
take out a loan from If you take out a loan from the com-
pany you have to pay it back within two years.
2 to borrow something such as a car, book, or
pen
borrow
have the use of
borrow/'borao II 'bo:-, 'ba:-/[v T]
borrow sth Could I just borrow your pen and I'll write that
down. I I wish Steve would buy himself a bike. He's always
borrowing mine. I borrow sth from/off She found thepoem
in a book she'd borrowed off Mrs Parsons.
have the use of (also have the loan of in British
English)/hmv 6a 'ju:s ov, hmv 6a 'laun ovl to have someone's
permission to borrow something, especially something
large or expensive such as a car or boat for a particular
length of time [v phrase]
Could we have the loan of your video camera this weekend? l
let sb have the use ofsth Dad usually lets me have the use
of his car when he's away on business.

BORROW 144 BOTH
3 to pay money so that you can borrow and
use something for a fixed period
rent lease
hire/rent charter
rent/rent/to pay a certain amount of money regularly for
the use of a house, office, telephone etc over a period of
months or years Iv I/T/
rent sth We rented a small apartment until we had saved
enough money to buy a house. I It's hard to find an office to
rent in this town. I rent sth from You can rent a fax machine
from the telephone company. I rent My main reason for rent-
ing was I couldn't afford a mortgage.
hire (British) I rent (American) Ihalo r, rent/to pay a sum
of money to borrow something such as a car, or a piece of
equipment or clothing for a- period of hours or days Iv T]
hire/rent sth Let's hire a car for the weekend and go and
visit Jenny and Steve. I Why pay fifty pounds to hire a suit?
It's ridiculous. I hire/rent sth from When she got to Dallas
she rented a Ford convertible from the Avis desk.
lease/li:s/to pay rent for the use of buildings, land, or
equipment for a long time, especially for business purposes
Iv TI
lease sth The Cider Press Company leases the machinery
and buildings for $1000 a month. I It would work out cheaper
overall to lease the computers for the project. I lease sth
from The building is actually owned by the government -
we're leasing it from them.
charter/'tlm rto r/to pay money to a company for the use
of one of their planes or ships Iv T]
A group of journalists chartered an airplane toffy them to
Addis Ababa. [ International Aid Agencies have chartered
ships to transport supplies to the disaster area.
 words for describing something such as a
car, machine, or money that has been
borrowed
borrowed rented
be on loan hired/rented
borrowed/'borod II 'ba:-, 'ba:-I [adj]
She seems to have a lot of clothes but most of them are bor-
rowed. I The takeover bid was financed mainly with bor-
rowed cash.
be on loan/bi: on 'loon/if something is on loan from a
library, art collection etc, it has been borrowed from it Iv
phrase]
These pictures are on loan from the Paul Getty Collection. I
be out on loan (=not be available because it has been bor-
rowed) The librarian phoned to say the book you want is out
on loan to someone.
rented /renQd/ a house, office, telephone etc that is
rented has been borrowed by someone who regularly pays
a certain amount of money to live in it or use it [adj]
Do you own this apartment or is it rented? I We've lived in
rented accommodation since we were married so we're
desperate to get our own place.
hired (British) I rented (American)/haiord, 'rented/a car,
boat, suit etc that is hired or rented has been borrowed
by someone who pays a sum of money to use it for a short
period of time [adj]
No, the skis aren't mine. They're hired. I I packed everything
I owned into a hired van and drove out of town. I The bride
arrived at the church in a rented limousine.
money that is borrowed
loan
mortgage
loan/loon/an amount of money that is borrowed, espe-
cially from a bank or other financial institution In C]
We had to ask the bank manager for a loan. I repay a loan
The loan has to be repaid at Ј110 per month. I bank loan
(:a loan from a bank) I'm hoping my parents can lend me
the money. You have to pay so much interest on a bank loan.
mortgage /'m3:rgIdS/a large amount of money that is
borrowed from a financial institution in order to buy a
house In C]
They intend to buy the house if they can get a mortgage. [
mortgage on The mortgage on our apartment is worth
about $90,000. [ take out a mortgage (=arrange to get a
mortgage) Anyone taking out a mortgage should be aware
that interest rates can go up at any time. ] pay off a mort-
gage (=pay all of it back) It took us nearly thirty years to pay
off our mortgage.
borrowed BORROW 4
borrowings OWE 4
boss IN CHARGE OF 4, MANAGER 2
boss: be the boss CONTROL 4
boss: be your own boss WORK FOR SB 3
boss sb around/about TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 8
bossy TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 9
botch/botch up DO BADLY 1
both BOTH 1
BOTH
affecting, involving, or connected with two
things, people etc
1 affecting, involving, or connected with two
things, people etc
both mutual
the two of them/us/you share
the pair of them/us/you either
each neither
both/boo0/[predeterminerCuantifier/
they/you/we both We should share the housework - after
all we both live here. I I don't see why they're always so short
of cash. They are both earning a full wage. I You'll have to
decide. You can't both wear the same dress. I both sth and
sth Although both Britain and the States are English-
speaking countries, there are many differences between the
two. [ both the people/things etc Both the boys went to col-
lege. [ She raised both her hands in the air. [ both things/
people etc Both doors had full length mirrors attached. I
both of you/them/the people etc It was hard to believe
that both of them were the same age. [ Both of the envelopes
were marked "Not known at this address'. I them/you/us
both I have two packets of sugar. Will I need them both? I
both If you can't decide which of the two books to borrow,
why don't you take both?
the two of them/us/you/6o tu: ov 6am, AS, jU:/both
the people that you are talking about [pron]
While the two of them talked about engines, I went into the
kitchen to make coffee. I a romantic dinner -just the two of
us I I want the money to be shared equally between the two
of you.
the pair of them/us/you/6o peo r ov 6om, AS, ju:/an
expression meaning both the people that you are talking
about, used especially when you are angry or disappointed
with them [pron]
Get out of here, the pair of you! I I'm sick of Fred and Liza.
I'd love to play a joke on the pair of them. I There we were,
stranded in the middle of nowhere with no money between
the pair of us.
each /i:tf/ both of two people or things considered
separately [ determiner/pron ]
each side/hand/end etc He was holding a gun in each
hand. I each There are two bedrooms, each with its own
washbasin and shower. I we/you/they each My wife and
I each have strong political opinions and we usually
disagree.
mutual /mju:tfuol/mutual feelings/friends/interest
etc (=those that both people share) [adj]
The couple were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. I
An investment in my company would be to our mutual

BOTH 145 BOTTOM
benefit. I They would meet every week to discuss matters of
mutual interest. I We were drawn together by feelings of
mutual respect and admiration.
share ]earl to both have the same characteristic, attitude,
feeling etc Iv T]
My husband and my mother share the same birthday. I They
share an interest in 16th century architecture.
either ] aiba r II 'i:-] one or the other of two people, places,
or things, or both of them [determiner/pron]
either side/hand/end etc There was a soldier standing on
either side of the palace entrance. I She didn't really like
either suggestion. I You can operate the controls with either
hand. I either of you/them/the people I cannot recall
meeting either of the men before. I either We had two sets
of tools and we seemed to have no use for either.
neither/nalba r [[ ni:-/not one or the other of two people,
places, or things etc [determiner/pron]
neither person/thing/side ete When the fight started
neither teacher knew what to do. [ neither of you/them/
the people Neither of the children was aware of what was
going on. [ neither "Do you want tea or coffee? .... Neither,
thanks. "'[ neither sth nor sth He had neither beauty nor
intelligence.
:i bother DISTURB 1, WORRIED 7
iii bother: it doesn't bother me/it's all the same to me/it
makes no difference to me DON'T CARE 2
•
iili bother: not bother NOT DO STH 6
!ii bothered WORRIED 1
! .... bothered: can't be bothered/couldn't be bothered
i ; LAZY 1
!!!!; bottle: hit the bottle DRUNK 4
iiiii bottle sth up HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
!i!!... bottom BOTTOM 2
-i;..-"i bottom: at the bottom BOTTOM 5
,,
ia bottom: be at the bottom LOW POSITION OR RANK 1
 bottom: be at the bottom of the pile LOW POSITION
ii OR RANK 1
:' bottom: be at the root of/the bottom of CAUSE 11
i!!,, bottom: hit/reach rock bottom WORSE 6
 bottom: the bottom BOTTOM 1, 3, 4
 bottom dollar: can bet life/bet bottom
you
your
your
:. dollar CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
!;i bottom line: the bottom line LIMIT 2, MAIN 2
BOTTOM
the lowest part of something
1 the lowest part of something
2 the lowest one of two or more things that are
on top of each other
3 the flat bottom surface on the outside of an
object
4 the bottom surface inside something such as
a box, cup, swimming pool or lake
5 next to the bottom of something such as a hill
or mountain
1 the lowest part of something
the bottom
base
the bottom/6a 'botam II -'bo:-/In singular]
the bottom of The bottom of the wall is cracked. I the flowers
down near the bottom of the hill I The answer is at the bottom
of the page. I Hold the bottom of the pole and keep it upright. I
on/around ere the bottom She wore a long flowery skirt
with a frill around the bottom.
base/beis/the lowest part or the wide bottom part on
which something stands In singular]
It was a black china vase with a round base and a wide rim. ]
the base of The base of the column is made of marble. [ I
had an injection in the base of my spine.
2 the lowest one of two or more things that are
on top of each other
bottom
lower
bottom I'bvtm II 'b:-I bottom drawer/shelf/layer etc
(=the one at the bottom) [adj only before noun]
The bottom layer of the cake was made of chocolate. I She
rummaged in the bottom drawer of the chest. I Then you take
your bottom card and put that on the table.
lower 1 boar/lower deck/edge/lip etc (=the one at the
bottom when there is one at the bottom and one at the top)
[adj only before noun ]
We drove onto the lower deck of the ferry. I The dentist filled
two teeth in her lower jaw. I "'How can you do this?" she
asked, her lower lip quivering with emotion.
;3 the flat bottom surface on the outside of an
object
the bottom
the underside
the bottom/6a 'bvtem II -'bG:-/In singular]
the bottom of The bottom of the glass is wet, so don't put
it on the table. I On the bottom of the vase there was a maker's
stamp. I the bottom I flipped over the rock and found a snail
stuck to the bottom.
the underside 16i AndarsaId/the bottom surface on the
outside of something large In singular]
the underside of The mechanic lay down to look at the
underside of the car. I There was a layer of foam rubber on
the underside of the carpet. I the underside The boat had
been badly damaged in the accident - its underside ripped
open completely.
 the bottom surface inside something such as
a box, cup, swimming pool or lake
the bottom
the floor
bed
the bottom/6a 'btam II -'bo:-! In singular]
the bottom of Put a blanket in the bottom of a cardboard
box to make a bed for your puppy. I She found the keys right
at the bottom of her handbag. I the bottom The giant octo-
pus lives on the sea bottom.
the floor/ha 'fla:r/the wide area of flat ground at the
bottom of a valley, the ocean etc In singular]
the floor of They found fossilized bones on the floor of the
cave. [ the floor of the Indian Ocean [ the ocean/valley
floor Jules Verne travelled to the ocean floor in a diving bell.
bed/bed/the flat ground at the bottom of a river, lake or
sea In C]
the bed of She caught a frog in the marshy bed of the old
canal. [ the dry bed of the river[ the river-bed/sea-bed/
ocean-bed Smooth stones covered the river-bed.
S next to the bottom of something such as a hill
or mountain
at the bottom
at the foot of
at the bottom/at 6a 'botam II -'bo:-I next to the bottom
of something such as a hill., mountain, stairs, or a ladder
[ adv phrase]
at the bottom of Jordan waited for her at the bottom of the
stairs. [At the bottom of the ladder there was a large tin of
paint. I at the bottom "I'll meet you at the bottom, "she said,
and started down the mountain.
at the foot of/at 6a 'fot av/an expression used especially
in British English meaning next to the bottom of some-
thing such as a hill, mountain, stairs, or a tree [prep]
The hotel is situated in a beautiful village at the foot of the
Malvern hills. I Bill stood at the foot of the tree and yelled,
"Katie. Get down, now!'"

bottomless 146 BRAVE
bottomless DEEP 1
bounce: jump up and down/bounce up and down
JUMP 1
bounce back RECOVER/GET BETTER :3
bounce off HIT/BUMP INTO 4, REFLECT 2
bound RUN 1, TOWARDS 1, TRAVEL 15
bound: be bound for GO 1
bound: be bound to CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
bound up: be bound up with CONNECTED WITH 1
boundary EDGE 2
boundless LIMIT 8
bounds LI M IT 4
bounds: be out of bounds FORBID 6
bourgeois CLASS IN SOCIETY :3
bourgeoisie: the bourgeoisie CLASS IN SOCIETY 3
bout: a bout of ILLNESS/DISEASE 2
bow BEND 2
bow out STOP DOING STH 8
bow to ACCEPT 4
bowl THROW 4
box: the box/the tube TELEVISION/RADIO 1
boy CHILD 1
boycott PROTEST 2, 4
boyfriend GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND 1
boys/lads MAN 1
brace yourself PREPARE 3
bracing COLD 4
bracket GROUP OF PEOPLE 4
brag BOAST 1
brainchild: be the brainchild of INVENT 1
brainless STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
brains INTELLIGENT 5, 11
brainwash TEACH 3
brainwave/brainstorm IDEA 2
brainy INTELLIGENT 1
brake STOP MOVING 4
brakes: slam on the brakes STOP MOVING 4
branch AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC
1, PART 5
branch out VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 7
brand CALL/DESCRIBE AS 1, TYPE :3
brand name NAME OF A THING 1
brand new NEW 1, 3
brandish HOLD 5
brash CONFIDENT 3
brat BAD PERSON 5
brave BRAVE 1
brave: be brave enough to do sth BRAVE 5
brave face: put on a brave face HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
BRAVE
words for describing brave people or brave
actions
the ability to behave bravely when you are in
a dangerous or frightening situation
not afraid of doing things that are very
dangerous, even when there is a risk of death
not afraid of taking risks or doing something
new and different
to be brave enough to do something
not at all brave
to not be brave enough to do something that
you wanted or intended to do
1 words for describing brave people or brave
actions
brave hero/heroine
courageous valiant
heroic
brave/breiv/not afraid in a dangerous or frightening sit-
uation, especially when other people would be afraid [adj]
We must remember the thousands of brave men and women
who died for freedom. I In the end, father's brave attempts
to keep the business going came to nothing. [ Confronting the
attacker was the bravest thing I've ever done. [ brave to do
sth I think they were very brave to criticize the government
so openly. [ be brave (used to tell someone to behave
bravely) Come on, be brave. Just grit your teeth and it will
all be over in no time.
bravely [adv] Most of the soldiers who fought so bravely in
the war were no older than twenty.
courageous /ka'reldSas/ brave, especially when you
suffer illness or pain, or when other people are opposing
you [adj]
After a courageous struggle against cancer, he died at the
age of thirty. I Few will forget her courageous stand against
inequality and injustice. I But for the actions of a few coura-
geous individuals, we might all have died.
courageously [adv] This was a triumph for all those who
had courageously demanded reform.
heroic/h'raolk/extremely brave and admired by many
people [adj]
Amy Johnson is famous for her heroic solo flight from Bri-
tain to Australia in 1930. I Although the nationalists put up
heroic resistance, the revolt was crushed in three days. I The
film is a warm tribute to the heroic pilots of C Division.
heroism /'heraozam/ In U] Nelson's heroism (=heroic
behaviour) in battle won him many honours.
hero/heroine / harao, 'heraon/a man or a woman who
does something extremely brave and is admired by many
people In C]
A famous World War Two hero, he later became a US sena-
tor. I Don't try to be a hero. You "ll only get hurt. I She was
a heroine of the French Resistance, who saved hundreds of
Jews from the gas chambers.
valiant/'vmliant/valiant attempt/effort/struggle etc
(=one that is very brave because it has very little chance
of succeeding) [adj only before noun]
Despite their valiant efforts, doctors were unable to save the
child's life. I Between 73 and 77, Wheelan made several vali-
ant attempts to secure the world championship.
valiantly [adv] Friends tried valiantly to put out the fire,
but in vain.
2 the ability to behave bravely when you are in
a dangerous or frightening situation
courage guts
bravery nerve
courage/kArId5 II 'k3:r-/the ability to behave bravely
when you are in danger, suffering illness or pain, or when
other people are opposing you In U]
She showed great courage during her long illness. I Nelson
Mandela will be remembered for his courage and integrity
in the struggle against apartheid. I take courage (=require
courage) Driving again after his accident must have taken
a lot of courage.
bravery/'brevari/the ability to behave bravely in a dan-
gerous situation, for example when fighting in a war In U]
After the war, my uncle was awarded with a medal for brav-
ery. I Gina surprised us all with her bravery and endurance. I
It was an act of the utmost bravery and disregard for per-
sonal safety.
guts/gAtS/the ability and determination to do something
difficult or dangerous that other people are afraid to do In
plural]
I don't think he can possibly win, but you've got to admire
his guts. I Whatever else you may say about Sally, she cer-
tainly has guts. Just look at the way she handled the boss
this morning. I it takes guts to do sth (=you need guts to
do something) It took guts and determination to overcome
such a severe handicap.
nerve/na:rv/the ability to remain calm and confident in
a dangerous, difficult, or frightening situation In U]
In a scary situation like that you need someone with plenty

BRAVE 1? BRAVE
of nerve. [After a three day siege the kidnapper's nerve failed
and hegave himself up to thepolice. I it takes a lot of nerve
to do sth (=you need a lot of nerve to do something) It takes
a lot of nerve to report a colleague for sexual harassment.
3 not afraid of doing things that are very
dangerous, even when there is a risk of death
daring intrepid
adventurous daredevil
fearless
daring /Idearir]/not afraid of taking risks or doing dan-
gerous things [adj]
He would often do very foolish things just to prove how
daring he was. I Hatchard became famous after he led a
daring attack on the German shipyards at Bremen. I It is a
particularly daring stunt, involving being tied up and sus-
pended in mid-air.
adventurous /ad'ventSaras/ someone who is adven-
turous enjoys going to new places and having new, possi-
bly dangerous experiences [adjl
The higher slopes are for the more adventurous skier. [ As
they become more mobile, children become increasingly
adventurous. [ She was naturally adventurous and loved the
wild landscape of Columbia with all its beauty and danger.
fearless /fiarlas/a word used especially in literature
meaning not at all afraid of doing dangerous things, so that
other people admire you [adj]
The Comanche Indians were great and fearless warriors. [
Her fearless opposition to the military dictatorship has won
admiration from around the world.
fearlessly [adv] He dived fearlessly into the sea from the
highest cliff.
fearlessness [n U/ When entering the ring, it is essential
that bullfighters give an impression o f fearlessness.
intrepid /intrepId/ intrepid explorer/pilot/astro-
naut/climber ete (=a word used especially in literature
or in newspapers meaning not afraid of going on danger-
ous journeys) [adj only before noun]
This was a place visited by only dedicated and intrepid
explorers. [ Thanks to new technology and the work of
intrepid test pilots, the sound barrier had finally been
broken.
daredevil /deardeval/ someone who enjoys doing
extremely dangerous things and taking great risks [n C/
World famous daredevil Evel Knievel will attempt to cross
the Grand Canyon on a rocket powered motorcycle.
4 not afraid of taking risks or doing something
new and different
daring bold
adventurous audacious
daring I'der/[adj]
When she was young, everybody thought my grandmother
was terribly daring because she smoked. [ She has always
been very daring in her choice of clothes. [ Richard Eyres has
come up with a daring new production of 'Hamlet" on
Broadway.
adventurous /ad'ventSaras/ someone who is adven-
turous enjoys trying new things or taking risks [adj]
This is Delta's most adventurous project to date. [ Le Cot-
busier was the most adventurous architect of modern times,
always experimenting with new forms and structures.
bold/bauld/not afraid of taking risks and making difficult
decisions [adj]
What we need is a strong leader, someone who is bold enough
to take tough decisions. [ He was one of the boldest and most
innovative composers of his day. [ This is a bold attempt to
tackle the problem of inflation.
boldly [advl Overcoming her instinctive shyness, she boldly
stepped forward to speak to the crowd.
audacious/a:'defas/an audacious action or piece of
work is considered brave and shocking because it involves
taking risks or breaking rules [adjl
The theft of these paintings was one of the most audacious
crimes of the decade. [ Wickes had taken part in an audacious '
plan to take over rival companies and gain complete control
of the market.
 to be brave enough to do something
be brave enough to do sth
dare
have the guts to do sth
have the nerve to do sth
pluck up the courage to do sth
have the courage of your convictions
be brave enough to do sth/bi: ,brev InAf t 'du: (sth)/
[v phrase]
Which of you is brave enough to fight me? [ He wished he were
brave enough to tell Alice that he wanted a divorce. [ Anyone
brave enough to get this far would then find an electrified
fence blocking their way.
dare/dear/to be brave enough to do something that is dan-
gerous or that you are afraid of doing [v I not in progressive ]
dare to do sth No one dared to go into the old house at
night.[ dare do sth Dare we take this decision without con-
sulting the President?[ dare My sister used to steal things
from stores, but I would never dare.
have the guts to do sth Ihev 6a ,gAts ta 'du: (sth)l an
informal expression meaning to be brave enough to do
something unpleasant or difficult that other people are
afraid to do [v phrase not in progressive]
I know he made a mistake, but at least he had the guts to
admit it! [ She's the only one who has the guts to speak her
mind.
have the nerve to do sth/hev 6a ,na:rv ta du: (sth)l
to be calm and confident enough to do something that is
frightening or dangerous [v phrase not in progressive]
Not many people have the nerve to stand up and speak in
front of a lot of people. I I don't know how he's got the nerve
to show his face after all the harm he's done.
pluck up the courage to do sth /iplAk Ap 6a ikArd5
ta 'du: (sth) II -,kazr-I to force yourself to be brave and do
something that you are afraid of doing, after thinking about
it for a long time [v phrase]
I eventually plucked up the courage to tell my parents that
I was going to go and live in Canada. [ David loves Julie but
he can't pluck up enough courage to ask her to marry him.
have the courage of your convictions/hev 6a
,knrld5 av ja: r kan'vikj'anz II -,ka:r-I to be brave enough to
say or do something that you believe is right but that other
people may think is wrong [v phrase not in progressivel
It's a pity she didn't have the courage of her convictions and
finish writing her book. [ If they had the courage of their con-
victions I think they might get more people voting for them.
6 not at all brave
cowardly spineless
coward wimp
cowardly/kaoardli/[adj]
He was too cowardly to say what he meant. [ The new require-
ments have been used by cowardly managers to avoid hiring
blacks. [ Those who refused to fight in the war were consi-
dered cowardly and were badly treated. [ it is cowardly of
sb to do sth His friends thought it was cowardly of Slender
not to admit he had once been to prison.
cowardice/' kava rd as/[n U ] I hated myself for my cowardice
in dealing with people. [ Showing cowardice in battle was
always severely punished.
coward/'kaoard/someone who is not at all brave [n C/
He called me a coward, because I wouldn't fight. I Sigurd is
not a coward; he is aware of fear but can overcome it. ] be
a coward about She knew she was an awful coward about
going to the dentist.
spineless/' spanlas/someone who is spineless is afraid
to say what they really think or defend themselves against
people who try to control them, cheat them etc, and because
of this it is impossible to respect them [adj]

BRAVE 148 BREAK
Don't be spineless - you have to stand up to people like that. I
The President has been accused of being spineless in the face
of naked aggression.
w|mp/wimp] an informal word meaning someone who is
afraid to do something you want them to do or think they
should do, so that you find them annoying or do not respect
them In C]
Don't be such a wimp, Simon. Tell her you want to break up. I
Her uptight parents were making the boy into a wimp. I
Because they don't risk money, corporate financiers are
considered wimps by traders.
7 to not be brave enough to do something that
you wanted or intended to do
lose your nerve chicken out
get cold feet not have the guts
not dare not have the nerve
lose your nerve/lu:z ja: r 'n3:rv/to suddenly lose the
confidence and calmness that you need in order to do some-
thing dangerous or frightening Iv phrase]
Dan was just about to ask his boss for a day off when he lost
his nerve. I I stood at the top of the ski-slope for a minute then
lost my nerve.
get cold feet/get ,kauld 'fi:t/to suddenly find at the last
moment that you are not brave enough to do something
that you have planned to do Iv phrase]
The morning of her wedding she got cold feet and refused to
go to the church. [ On the verge of signing a four year con-
tract with MGM studios, Rafferty got cold feet and backed
out of the deal.
not dare/not 'dear/to not be brave enough to do some-
thing because you are afraid of what might happen if you
do it Iv I not in progressive]
not dare do sth The older boys used to bully me but l didn't
dare complain. [ not dare to do sth The child stood on top
of the rock, not daring to jump down. [ not dare I'll have
to tell the neighbours to be quiet because John "ll never dare.
chicken out/,tkn 'aot/an informal expression mean-
ing to refuse at the last moment to do something that you
have said you will do, so that people do not respect you [phr
vii
I was supposed to make the introductory speech, but I chick-
ened out at the last minute. [ chicken out of doing sth She
chickened out of telling her father that she and David were
going to live together.
not have the guts/not hv 6a 'g^ts/an informal expres-
sion meaning to not be brave enough to do something that
people think you should do Iv phrase not in progressive]
not have the guts to do sth Peg has done all the things I
never had the guts to try. [ not have the guts I was going
to phone his wife but didn't have the guts. [ He wouldn't have
the guts to speak for himself. [ be without/lack guts doe's
a weak character, without guts or ambition. [ She's intelli-
gent enough, but she lacks the guts.
not have the nerve/not hav 6a 'n3:rv/to not be brave
or confident enough to do something because you think it
is too difficult, dangerous or embarrassing [v phrase not
in progressive]
not have the nerve to do sth He doesn't have the nerve to
tell the boss what he really thinks of her. I not have the
nerve How can he stand so close to the edge of the clif]?. I
wouldn't have the nerve.
bravery BRAVE 2
brawl FIGHT 4
brawn STRONG PERSON 5
brawny STRONG PERSON 2
brazen ASHAMED 5
brazen it out PRETEND 4
breach ILLEGAL 2
breadwinner EARN 6
break BREAK 1, 5, 7, 11, CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 1,
DESTROY 6, DISOBEY 2, HOLIDAY 3, PAUSE
3, REST 3
break: have/take a break PAUSE 2
i break: make a break for it ESCAPE 3
:::iii::i break: without a break CONTINUOUS 2
f:. break down BROKEN 5, CONTROL8, CRY 4, SEPARATE 4
:::.
 break even PROFIT6
: break for lunch/dinner/coffee etc PAUSE 2
- break free/break away/break loose ESCAPE 3
. break in ENTER 4, INTERRUPT 1 SPACE/GAP 1
 break-in STEAL8
 break in two: break sth in two/in half BREAK 2
% break in two/in half BREAK 8
 break into SPEND MONEY 8
: break into pieces/bits BREAK 9
i break new ground FIRST 7
;:il break off BREAK 4, 10, REMOVE 2, STOP STH THAT IS
 HAPPENING 9, TALK TO SB 17
break open OPEN 6
 break out BURN 3, ESCAPE 3, START TO HAPPEN,
 EXIST ETC 4
-"ii break out in a sweat/break into a sweat SWEAT 1
 break/recess PAUSE 4
break sb's train of thought/chain of thought
.!}i D I STURB 1
.. break the bank: it'won't break the bank CHEAP 1
break the door down OPEN 6
break the law ILLEGAL 3
break the news/break it to sb TELL 8
;ii:; break the rules ILLEGAL 3
' break up BREAK 9, CROWD 5, DISTURB 2,
 FINISH/COME TO AN END 2, SEPARATE 4, 8, 9,
STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 7
break with the past TRADITION 5
break with tradition TRADITION 5
CONDITION/
BREAK
to break something
to break something into two pieces
to break something into many small pieces
to break a piece from the main part of
something
to break a bone in your body
to stop a machine from working by damaging
it, taking parts out of it etc
ways of saying that something breaks

BREAK 149 BREAK
10
8 ways of saying that something breaks into
two pieces
9 ways of saying that something breaks into
many small pieces
ways of saying that something breaks easily
into pieces, especially because it is weak, old,
or badly made
11 the point or place in an object where it has
broken
12 words for describing things that break easily
or are easily damaged
1 to break something
break
bust
crack
break/brek/to break something, either accidentally or
deliberately Iv T ]
Leave that clock alone - you'll break it. [ See if you can put
the plates away without breaking them. I A gang of youths
had been roaming the town, setting fire to cars and break-
ing windows. [ What upset her most was that the burglars
had broken her entire collection of African ornaments.
bust/bAst/an informal word meaning to break something
Iv T]
He fell flat on his face and bust his glasses. [ Hell! I busted
the heel of my shoe.
crack/krk] to break or damage something so that cracks
appear in its surface Iv T]
Who cracked my mirror? [ Be careful not to crack those wine
glasses - they're crystal.
 to break something into two pieces
break sth in two/in half
snap
split
break sth in two/in half/,breik (sth) in 'tu:, n 'ho:f II
-'haf/to break something into two, fairly equal, pieces Iv
phrase]
That's a big bar of chocolate. Why don't you break it in half
and share it with your brother? [ The block of stone was so
huge that it had to be broken in two before it could be moved.
snap /snap/ to break something, usually a long thin
object, so that it makes a sudden, short loud noise Iv T]
snap sth in two/in half The teacher picked up a stick of
chalk, snapped it in two, and handed me one of the pieces. I
snap sth He was snapping pieces of firewood over his knee
and throwing them onto the fire.
split/spl;t/to break something such as wood or bone into
two parts along a straight line Iv T]
His hammer fell on the box, splitting the lid. I split sth open
(=split something so that you can see inside) Looking at the
skeleton's head, you could see where a sharp instrument had
split the skull open.
3 to break something into many small pieces
smash
shatter
smash IsmaS! to break something into many small
pieces, especially in a violent way, by dropping, throwing,
or hitting it Iv T]
A gang of young men came into the bar and started push-
ing people around and smashing glasses. [ Her camera was
smashed by the soldiers when she tried to take photographs. [
smash sth to pieces/to bits (=smash something into very
small pieces) Every piece of china we possessed had been
smashed to pieces.
smashed [adj] He cut his foot on a smashed bottle someone
had left on the grass.
shatter I'Satrl to break something, especially glass, into
many very small pieces Iv T]
The explosion shattered office windows 500 metres away. [
A bullet flew past her head and shattered the vase on the
mantelpiece.
4 to break a piece from the main part of
something
break off
chip
break off/,breik 'of II -'a:f/to break off a piece of some-
thing, especially so that you can use it or give it to some-
one [phr v T]
break off sth He broke off a piece of bread and gave it to
me. [ break sth/it/them off Don't turn the knob too far,
you'll break it off. I break sth off sth Why don't you break
a branch off that tree and use it as a walking stick?
chip/tj'pl to accidentally break offa small piece from the
edge of something, such as a cup, plate, or piece of wood
Iv T]
I'm very sorry, but I've chipped this cup. [ She won't do any
housework in case she chips her finger nails! [ He fell forward
onto the ground, chipping one of his front teeth and cutting
his face badly.
S to break a bone in your body
break
fracture
shatter
break Ibrek/[v T]
I broke my leg last time I went skiing. I Let go ofme! You're
breaking my arm. I The window slammed shut on her hands,
breaking two of her fingers.
fracture/' fraktJar/a word used especially in a medical
context meaning to partly break a bone so that a large crack
appears in the surface of the bone Iv T]
My grandmother fell down the stairs and fractured her
ankle. I I think we'd better give him an X-ray - he may have
fractured his skull.
shatter /'j'etar/to break a bone in someone's body into
many small pieces, especially by shooting or hitting them
[vT]
The man hit him over the head with a baseball bat and shat-
tered his skull. I His left arm had been shattered by shrap-
nel in the war.
6 to stop a machine from working by damaging
it, taking parts out of it etc
disable
put sth out of action
immobilize
disable /ds'ebll a word used especially in written
instructions meaning to make a machine or a system
unable to work, for example in order to repair it Iv T]
The robbers had disabled the bank's security system. I The
tank's navigational system had been disabled during a
grenade attack.
put sth out of action /,pot (sth) aot av 'akan/ to
deliberately stop a machine or piece of equipment from
working properly by damaging it, especially because you
want to stop an enemy from using it |v phrase]
During the night, enemy troops had managed to put seven
aircraft out of action. I Reporting from the area was difficult
even before terrorists put all the telephone lines out of action.
immobilize (also -ise British) /i'maob]laiz/ to stop a
vehicle from working, especially a military vehicle Iv T]
Demonstrators immobilized tanks by using gasoline bombs. I
The general gave instructions to immobilize the enemy
aircraft.

BREAK
7 ways of saying that something breaks
break crack
get broken give way
break/break/Iv I]
She dropped a plate and it broke. I Be gentle when you're
handling the equipment - it's very fragile and might break.
get broken /get 'braokan/ if something gets broken
someone breaks it accidentally [v phrase]
lf you leave your toys there they'll get broken. [ A few of the
cups got broken while we were moving house.
crack/krak/if something cracks, lines appear in its sur-
face and it becomes damaged or starts to break Iv I]
Old china cracks very easily. [ I could hear the ice beginning
to crack under my feet. [ As a result of the earthquake the
walls had cracked and part of the roof had fallen in.
give wall /,gv 'wei/if something such as a floor, wall,
or bridge gives way, it finally breaks because there is a
lot of pressure or weight against it Iv phrase]
The bridge was never built for heavy traffic and it finally
gave way last year. [ I think you ought to get off that balcony;
it looks as if it's about to give way. [ The crowd surged for-
ward and the fence gave way under the strain.
8 ways of saying that something breaks into
two pieces
break in two/in half
snap
split
break in two/in half/,breik in 'tu:, in 'ha:f II -'hef/[v
phrase]
I dropped the thermometer and it broke in half. I The log
broke in two and sent up a shower of sparks.
snap/sheep/if something snaps, especially something
long and thin, it breaks into two pieces making a short loud
noise Iv I]
A twig snapped under his foot with a loud crack. I Don'tpull
the elastic too hard, or it will snap. I I can't play my guitar
at the moment. One of the strings snapped while I was tuning
it.
split/split/if wood, bone etc splits it breaks into two parts
along a straight line Iv I]
The window frames are old and the wood is starting to split. I
split in two/half The back of the chair had split in two. I
split open (=split so that you can see inside) The egg split
open as we watched, and a tiny crocodile appeared.
!9 ways of saying that something breaks into
many small pieces
break into pieces/bits shatter
break up splinter
disintegrate burst
smash
break into pieces/bits/,breik into 'pi:sIaz, 'bits/ [v
phrase]
A mug fell off the table, breaking into bits on the stonefloor.I
Eventually the ice began to thaw, and broke into pieces that
floated on the surface of the pond.
break up I,breIk '^P/ifa large object breaks up, it breaks
into many pieces especially as a result of natural forces,
or serious damage [phr v I]
The ship was breaking up under the pressure of the ice. [ The
Mercedes burst into flames and broke up, with the burning
wreckage being thrown into the air. [ The comet was formed
when a planet broke up at some time in the distant past.
disintegrate/dis' ]ntoIgreIq ffsomething disintegrates,
it breaks into many smallpieces so that it is completely des-
troyed or so that it completely changes its form Iv I]
The book was so old that when I tried to pick it up it just dis-
integrated in my hands. [ The harbour wall had been beaten
by countless storms and was slowly starting to disintegrate. [
disintegrate into The vases had disintegrated into a
reddish-brown powder.
150 BREAK
smash/smeS/to no{sily break into pieces as a result of
being dropped or hit Iv I]
I heard something smash in the kitchen. Dad must have
dropped a dish. [ smash to pieces/bits It fell off the table
and smashed to pieces on the hard floor.
shatter /'Sator/if something, especially glass, shatters,
it breaks suddenly into many very small pieces because it
has been dropped or hit Iv I]
The glass had shattered, but the photograph itself was
undamaged. [ The bowl shattered into a thousand pieces as
soon as it hit the floor.
splinter /  splIntor/if something such as wood splinters,
it breaks into thin, sharp pieces Iv I]
Soft wood splinters easily. [ Our dog died when a bone splin-
tered in his throat.
burst/b3:rst/if something such as a tyre or a pipe bursts,
the force of the air, water etc inside makes it break into
many pieces Iv I]
The accident was caused by a tyre bursting. [ An oilpipe had
burst and high octane fuel was pouring into the river.
burst [adj only before noun] The flood was caused by a burst
pipe.
10 ways of saying that something breaks easily
into pieces, especially because it is weak, old,
or badly made
fall to bits/pieces/ come off
go to pieces come away
fall apart/come apart crumble
break off
fall to bits/pieces (British) I go to pieces (American)
/,fad to 'bits, 'pi:soz, ,goo to 'pi:sz/to break into many
small pieces, especially because of being weak, old, or badly
made Iv phrase]
The books had been well-used, and finally fell to pieces. [
I used to buy cheap cigarettes which went to pieces before you
had finished smoking them. [ He cleaned the brass handles,
rubbing them so hard that the sponge fell to pieces.
fall apart/come apart/,fad o'po:rt, ,kAm-/ to break
easily into pieces, especially because of being badly made
[phr v I]
I only bought these shoes last week, and they're falling apart
already. [ When Don picked up the chair, it came apart in
his hands.
break off /,brelk tf [[ -'a:f/ifa part of something breaks
off, it becomes separated from the main part of it, by break-
ing [phr v I]
One of the plane's wings broke off and it crashed into the
ground. [ When I tried to turn the tap on it broke off in my
hand.
come off/,kAm 'f [[ -'a:f/if part of something comes off
it becomes separated from the main part of it because it is
not fastened to it firmly enough Iv I/T]
Can you fix the door? The handle's come off. [ come off sth
She saw something in the road. Her first thought was that
a wheel had come off a car.
come away /kAm o'wei/ to easily become separated
from a surface when touched, pulled etc [phr v I]
When she tried to open the closet the entire door came away
and fell on top of her. [ come away in sb's hand (=become
separated very easily or without you realising it) Itook hold
of the steering wheel and it came away in my hand.
crumble/, krAmbal/to break easily and become a powder,
especially as a result of being old or dry Iv I]
I knew the wine wouldn't taste good because the cork crum-
bled when I opened the bottle. [ Some of the tiles around the
bath had crumbled.
crumbling [adj] Nestling amongst the magnificent hills
were the crumbling ruins of an old monastery.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

BREAK 151 BREATHE
1 1 the point or place in an object where it has
broken
break
fracture
crack
break/brexk/the point where something has broken In C]
The plate had been so well repaired that you could hardly
see the break.
fracture /  frektSr/a small crack in the surface of some-
thing hard, such as bone or metal [n C]
An X-ray showed that there was a fracture in the skull. ]
Large fractures had appeared in the surface of the metal.
crack/kroek/a thin line that appears in something hard,
for example glass, stone, or plastic, when it has been
damaged but not broken into pieces [n C]
The room was prettily decorated but there were cracks in the
ceiling. I The mirror had a big crack in it. I hairline crack
(=a very thin crack) Inspecting the vase, Judith could see a
hairline crack near the rim.
BREATHE
9
10
I to take air into your lungs and send it out
again
2: to take air, smoke etc into your lungs
,3 to send air, smoke etc out of your lungs
4 the act or process of breathing
5 to breathe noisily
6 to breathe with difficulty
7 having difficulty breathing, because of illness,
hard work, exercise etc
8 to breathe normally again after running or
making a lot of effort
to be unable to breathe
to kill someone by stopping them from
breathing
1 2 words for describing things that break easily
or are easily damaged
breakable brittle
fragile crisp
delicate
breakable /'breikbal/objects that are breakable break
easily because they are made of glass or other thin, hard
material, and must be handled carefully (adj]
Before you pack, wrap your breakable possessions in tissue
paper, t I hope there's nothing breakable in that case. Look
at the way the baggage handlers are throwing it around/
fragile/'fredsal [] -dsal/not strong and therefore very
easily broken or damaged (adj]
The parcel was marked FRAGILE - HANDLE WITH
CARE.I A butterfly's wings are very fragile.
delicate/Idelikt/something that is delicate is easily
broken or damaged, especially because it is made of very
thin material, and is attractive to look at (adj]
The tea was served in delicate china cups. [ Around her neck
was a delicate gold chain, glittering against her skin.
br|ttie / Ibrtl/hard and easily broken, especially because
of being old and dry [adj]
The branches of dead trees are brittle, and break off easily. I
Perming makes your hair more brittle.
cr|$p/krisp/something that is crisp is hard, thin, and
breaks easily, when you press on it [adj]
The toast was crisp and hot. I The crisp, dry leaves crackled
underneath her bare feet.
 breakable BREAK 12
i-!;;: breakages DAMAGE 2
breakdown: have a nervous breakdown MENTALLY
;; ILL 3
- breakfast MEAL 2
; breakneck speed: at breakneck speed FAST/QUICK 2
breakout ESCAPE 7
-, breakthrough PROGRESS 3, SUCCEED IN DOING STH 8
i{i breath BREATHE 4
breath: get your breath back BREATHE 8
' breath: hold your breath WAIT 4
breath: out of breath BREATHE 7
, breath: take a breath BREATHE 2
ill breathe BREATHE 1
::'" breathe: can't breathe BREATHE 9
ii breathe: not breathe a word/not tell a soul TELL A
-: SECRET 4
ii:,. breathe down sb's neck TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 8
:iii breathe down sb's neck: be breathing down sb's
:.,.': neck FORCE SB TO DO STH 2
breathe in BREATHE 2
!; breathe out BREATHE 3
1 to take air into your lungs and send it out
again
breathe
breathe/bri:6/[v I/T]
The air was so smoky it was difficult to breathe. ] The doctor
listened to the man's chest to see if he was still breathing. I
breath air/fumes People nowadays are becoming more
and more concerned about the quality of the air they breathe. I
breathe deeply (=take a lot of air into your lungs each time
you breathe) I want you to breathe deeply and try to relax.
2 to take air, smoke etc into your lungs
breathe in inhale
take a breath gasp
breathe in/,bri: 'in/[phr v I/T]
Every time I breathe in I get a pain in the left side of my chest. I
breathe in sth I put my handkerchief over my nose to avoid
breathing in the smoke. I He stopped to breathe in the mouth-
watering aroma which was coming from the kitchen.
take a breath I,texk a 'breO/to breathe in once [vphrase]
It was so quiet that I hardly dared to take a breath. I take
a breath of Every timeyou took a breath of that foul airyou
could feel it polluting your lungs. I take a deep breath
(=take a lot of air into your lungs) Taking a deep breath she
dived into the cool water.
inhale/n'hell/a word used especially in a technical or
medical context meaning to breathe air, smoke, or gas in
through your month Iv I/T]
inhale sth It is dangerous to inhale the fumes produced by
these chemicals. I Keep the talcum powder away from the
baby's face so that he doesn't inhale it. I inhale Every time
he inhaled, his lungs made an awful wheezing sound. I
inhale deeply (=inhale a lot of air or smoke) Stella lit up
a cigarette and inhaled deeply.
gasp/go:sp II gesp/to breathe in suddenly and sharply,
making a slight noise, especially because you are very
surprised or shocked Iv I]
I gasped when I heard how much the ring had cost. I His
hand was so cold it made her gasp.
gasp In C] There were gasps of amazement (=people gasped)
because they were amazed when the fireworks started.
to send air, smoke etc out of your lungs
breathe out
exhale
blow
breathe out/,bri:6 'autl [phr v I/T1
The doctor told her to breathe out slowly. I When I'm swim-
ming I breathe in through my nose and breathe out through
my mouth. I breathe out sth He took his cigarette out of his
mouth and breathed out the smoke.

BREATHE 152 BREATHE
exhale leks'he[l/a word used especially in a technical or
medical context meaning to breathe air, smoke etc out of
your mouth Iv I/T]
Hold your breath for 5 seconds, then exhale slowly. I She took
a longpull on her cigarette, exhaled and coughed loudly. [
exhale sth The lungs exhale carbon dioxide and water.
blow /blaol to breathe out strongly, especially while
making a circle with your lips Iv I/T]
I put the balloon to my lips and blew as hard as I could. [
blow on/into etc "'This coffee's too hot to drink. "" "'Blow on
it - that'll cool it down. "" I blow sth He blew smoke rings
across the table.
4 the act or process of breathing
breathing
breath
respiration
breathing I'bri:6irj/the process of breathing air in and
out In U]
The disease in his lungs made breathing very painful. I deep
breathing (=breathing a lot of air into your lungs) Deep
breathing is good for relaxing your mind and your body. [
heavy breathing (=loud breathing) When I picked up the
phone all I heard was heavy breathing.
breath Ibre0! the air that you breathe out or in In U]
The horse came so close that I could feel its breath on the back
of my neck. I bad breath (=breath that smells unpleasant)
His teeth were rotten and he had bad breath.
respiration/,respo reSanl a medical or technical word
meaning the process of breathing in and out In U]
The patient's respiration appears to be perfectly normal. I
The heart, brain, and respiration are all affected by the
poison.
5 to breathe noisily
sniff snort
snore sigh
sniff/snIf/to breathe in noisily through your nose, for
example because you have a cold or because you are crying
Iv I]
Stop sniffing and blow your nose. I "'I'm sorry I got so upset, ""
she sniffed. I The dog raised its nose in the air, sniffed, and
then started to follow the scent.
sniff[n C] His mother gave a sniff and asked if he had been
smoking in his bedroom.
snore /sna:r/ to breathe noisily through your nose or
mouth while you are asleep Iv I]
My husband snores so loudly that I find it difficult to get to
sleep. I I wish you wouldn't sleep on your back - it makes
you snore.
snoring In U] Isn't there something you can do about your
snoring?
snort ]sn'.rt] to breathe out very noisily through your
nose, especially to show that you are amused, annoyed etc
Iv I]
She was laughing so much she started to snort. I The horse
lowered its head, and snorted at them.
snort In C] From the other side of the library came a loud
unmistakable snort - it was the professor.
sigh ]sai! to breathe in and out deeply and loudly, making
a long sound, especially when you are disappointed, bored,
or tired Iv I]
Frank sighed deeply and stared out of the window. I "'That's
life, I suppose, "she sighed. I Sighing wearily, she began her
routine of getting ready for bed.
sigh In C] Andrew handed over the letter with a sigh.
6 to breathe with difficulty
gasp pant
puff wheeze
gasp/go:sp [[ gesp/to breathe very quickly and deeply
because you find it difficult to breathe normally, for exam-
ple after running fast or because you have been injured Iv I]
The hill was very steep and they were all gasping by the time
they got to the top. I "'Do you think you can walk?" I asked.
"'I'll try, "" he gasped. I gasp for breath (=gasp because you
can hardly breathe) His mother was coughing so much that
she kept gasping for breath.
puff/p^f/to breathe loudly and with difficulty, because
you are doing something which needs a lot of physical
effort |v I ]
You could see her puffing as she carried the heavy washing
basket. I "'Sorry I'm so late Maxie, "" he said, puffing
breathlessly.
pant /pent/ to breathe quickly and noisily with your
mouth open, for example, because you are running or
because you feel excited Iv I]
Matt was still panting after his run. [ When I reached the
top of the stairs I was puffing and panting like an old steam
engine.
wheeze/wi:z/to breathe with a whistling noise in your
throat and chest because you are ill or unhealthy Iv Il
That evening his chest was really bad and he was wheezing
all the time. [ When she coughed she made a terrible wheez-
ing sound.
7 having difficulty breathing, because of illness,
hard work, exercise etc
breathless
short of breath
out of breath
breathless/'bre01as/having difficulty breathing, espe-
cially because you are excited or very tired after hard phys-
ical effort [adj]
She sounded rather breathless, as if she had been running. [
breathless voice/whisper Tania was talking to him, in
an enthusiastic, slightly breathless voice.
breathlessness In U] The poor lady, judging by her breath-
lessness and flushed cheeks, was exhausted.
breathlessly [adv ] "'I can't walk another inch, "'said Mary
breathlessly.
short of breath I da:rt av 'bre0/unable to breathe easily,
especially because you are unhealthy [adj phrase]
When I wake up in the morning I'm often very short of
breath. [ She got short of breath very easily because she was
so overweight. ] The fog irritated his lungs and made him
short of breath.
out of breath Iaot av bre01 having difficulty breathing
because you have just been running, climbing stairs etc
[adj phrase]
We were all a little out of breath when we got on the. train. ]
Can we have a rest? - I'm a bit out of breath.
8 to breathe normally again after running or
making a lot of effort
get your breath back
get your breath back/,get ja:r 'breO bekl [v phrase]
It took me a few minutes to get my breath back after climb-
ing the stairs. [ If you've got your breath back we can do a
few more lengths of the pool.
9 to be unable to breathe
can't breathe
choke
suffocate
can't breathe I,ko:nt 'bri:6 II ,kant-I [vphrase]
It's so hot in here! I can't breathe! I The worst thing about
asthma is feeling that you can't breathe.
choke/tfaok/to be unable to breathe because your throat
is blocked or because there is not enough air |v I]
The fumes from the chemicals took his breath away and
made him choke. I At last I reached the shore and fell onto
the sand, choking and spluttering. I choke on The old king
died after choking on a chicken bone.
suffocate /'sAfakeit/ to die because you are unable to
breathe because you cannot get any air Iv I]

BREATHE 153 BRIGHT
More than half of the birds had suffocated during the jour-
ney. I It was red-hot and all the windows were closed - she
felt as though she was go.ing to suffocate. I I nearly suffocated
when the pipe of my breathing apparatus broke.
10 to kill someone by stopping them from
breathing
choke suffocate
strangle smother
choke/tfaok/ifa person or smoke, gas etc chokes some-
one, they make it very difficult or impossible for them to
breathe Iv T ]
Don't hold so tight, you "re choking me. I I felt myself being
choked by thick, yellow fumes. I choke sb to death He
grabbed her around the neck and choked her to death.
strangle ] I strerjgal] to kill someone by pressing on their
throat with both hands or with something such as a piece
of string so that they cannot breathe Iv T]
Police said that the victim had been strangled. I He slid his
hands around her neck and tried to strangle her.
suffocate/'sAfake[tl to kill someone by preventing them
from getting any air Iv T]
Don't let your child play with plastic bags which could suffo-
cate him. [ They found her half-suffocated from the poisonous
gases given off by the burning furniture.
smother/'srnA6ar/to cover someone's face so that they
cannot breathe Iv T]
One night, as he lay beside her, she took a pillow and
smothered him.
breather: take a breather PAUSE 2
breathing BREATHE 4
breathing space PAUSE 3
breathless BREATHE 7
breathtaking IMPRESS 4
breed BABY/HAVE A BABY 14, CAUSE 6, TYPE 2
breeze: be a snapla breeze EASY 2
breeze in ENTER 1
breeze through: sail through/breeze through PASS A
TEST 1
brewing: be brewing SOON 6
bribe MONEY 10, PAY FOR 12, 17
bribery DISHONEST 5, PAY FOR 12
brick wall: it's like talking to a brick wall POINTLESS 3
bride MARRY 10
bride-to-belhusband-to-be MARRY 7
bridegroom: groomlbridegroom MARRY 10
brief INSTRUCTIONS 1, SHORT TIME 3, SHORT/NOT
LONG 2, TELL 3
brief: be brief SHORT/NOT LONG 5
bright BRIGHT 1, 4, INTELLIGENT 2
bright: not Intelligent/bright/clever/smart
STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
bright and breezy ENERGETIC 2
and EARLY 6
bright
early
bright future: have a bright future SUCCESSFUL 4
bright idea IDEA 2, INTELLIGENT 9
BRIGHT
words for describing a light that is bright
extremely bright
so bright that it hurts your eyes or prevents
you from seeing properly
words for describing a place where there is
plenty of light
not bright
1 words for describing a light that is bright
bright good
strong harsh
bright Ibra[tl [adj]
I followed the doctor into the bright light of the consulting-
room. I After so long indoors the bright sunshine hurt Jack's
eyes. I There was a flash of bright light beyond the forest and
the thunder exploded again.
brightly [adv] The harbor lights, twinkling brightly in the
distance, were a welcome sight.
brightness In U] Amina blinked in the dark at the bright-
ness of the lanterns.
strong Istrorj II stra:rj! lights that are strong are bright
and make it easier for you to see, especially a long distance
[adj]
Our headlamps weren "t strong enough to penetrate the dense
fog. ] You have to be careful about which make-up you wear
under these strong studio lights.
strongly [ adv ] Daylight shone strongly through the cracks
in the blinds.
strength/stret]O, strenO/[n U] I was surprised at the strength
of the spotlights (=how strong they were).
good Igudl good light in a place where you are working
is strong enough for you to see what you are doing Iadj]
We had windows put in the roof which gave us a good light
to work by. I You'll be able to see the colours better if you go
and stand by the window where the light is good.
harsh/ho:rf/so strong that it is unpleasant and may hurt
your eyes [adjl
In the harsh light of the street lamps Michelle looked tired
and old. I The lighting in these offices is so harsh, it gives
me a headache.
harshness In U] The harshness of the naked lightbulbs
made the room seem stark.
2 extremely bright
blazing
brilliant
blazing I'blezn31 very bright and strong, especially when
seen from a distance Iadj only before noun]
The blazing lights of the casino shone out across the har-
bour. I At twilight, the blazing orange sunset turned into a
muted pink.
brilliant ! 'brdjant/very bright and strong, but also attrac-
tive and pleasant [adj]
A shaft of brilliant sunlight shone through the dusty attic
window. I All of a sudden the stage was flooded with bril-
liant light. I The ballroom was illuminated by brilliant
crystal chandeliers.
brilliance In U] The brilliance of the sun on the lake was
quite breathtaking.
so bright that it hurts your eyes or prevents
you from seeing properly
blinding
dazzling
blinding I'bla;nditl so bright that you cannot look into
it, and it makes you unable to see for a few moments after-
wards [adj ]
There was a blindin flash followed by a loud explosion. I
The sun on the snow,s blinding. I The rabbit was petrified
by the blinding glare of our headlights.
dazzling I'deslirJl so bright that it hurts your eyes and
makes it a little difficult for you to see [adj]
An unshaded light bulb in the ceiling seemed dazzling after
the radar room's semi-darkness. I Steep cliffs fell away to a
dazzling beach of white sand fringed with coconut palms. I
The houses, when the sun catches them, are of a dazzling
whiteness.
dazzlingly [ adv ] We stepped out of the elevator into a room
so dazzlingly bright that we had to screw up our eyes.
4 words for describing a place where there is
plenty of light
bright
light
well lit

BRIGHT 154 BROKEN
bright/braIt/[adj]
The big windows in this room make it nice and bright. [ Wor-
kers welcomed a move to new, bright and fully air condi-
tioned offices. I We emerged from a dark corridor into a
bright, airy countyard.
brightness In U] After the brightness of the yard it took my
eyes some time to adjust to the dim kitchen.
light/lat! a room that is light has plenty of light in it, espe-
cially sunlight from its windows [adjl
The theatre has a light and spacious rehearsal room. I These
changing-rooms should be lighter -you can't really tell the
color of the clothes.
well-Ill/,wel 'ht-! a place that is well-lit has plenty of
light because the sun shines there or there is electric light
[ adj phrase]
To avoid eye strain make sure your desk is well-lit. I Always
use headlamps in built-up areas at night unless the road is
well-lit.
5 not bright
pale poor/bad
dim soft
weak low
pale/pe[l/light that is pale is not bright and has very little
colour in it [adj]
I couldn "t get to sleep until I saw the first pale light of dawn. I
The sunlight through the thick clouds was pale and cool that
morning. I The banks of the river are bathed in pale moon-
light.
dim/dm! a dim light or lamp is not bright, especially
because it is not very powerful [adj]
The lighting was so dim Icould hardly see. I There was noth-
ing in the room but a table, a chair, and a dim lamp. I Dying
embers gave out a dim glow in the hearth.
dimly [adv] a dimly-lit corridor
weak Iwi:k! not very bright so that you cannot see very
well [adj] ,
In the weak light inside the bus Tom couldn't see to read. I
the weak glow of the dashboard lights
weakly [adv] A candle flickered weakly at the end of the
table.
poor/bad/pu r, bred/not bright enough, so that it is
difficult to work or see what you are doing [adj]
Reading in poor light is very hod for the eyes. I It was difficult
to find our way down the mountain in the mist and bad
light. I The light in the brewery was too poor for us to be able
to judge the colour of the beer.
soft Isoft II s:ftl not too bright, in a way that is pleasant
and relaxing [adj only before noun]
In the soft evening light Sonya looked ten years younger. I
The restaurant has a romantic atmosphere with soft lights
and background music. I That first summer at university,
the city had seemed full of a soft warm light.
softly [adv ] Coloured lanterns shone softly in the trees and
bushes.
softness In U] The softness of candlelight added atmosphere
to the evening.
low Ilzo/low lighting, especially electric lighting, is not
bright so that a place seems pleasant and relaxing [adj]
It was a while before Samuel's eyes got used to the low light-
ing of the intensive care unit. I They keep the light so low at
that restaurant, you can't really see what you are eating.
: brighten up HAPPY 9
: brilliance INTELLIGENT 11
i brilliant BRIGHT 2, GOOD AT 2, GOOD/EXCELLENT 3, 4,
 INTELLIGENT 1
. brim: be full to the brim FULL 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
bring
bring
bring
bring
bring
bring
bring
bring
CAUSE 5, 10, HAPPEN 8, TAKE/BRING 1, 2, 5
about CAUSE 5
around: bring sb around/round CONSCIOUS 3,
PERSUADE 4
back START STH/MAKE STH START 5,
TAKE/BRING 4
down FALL 11
down: shoot down/bring down DOWN 8
in ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 6, ATTRACT
2, FASHIONABLE 4, START STH/MAKE STH
START 2, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 7
bring off: pull off/bring off/carry off SUCCEED IN
DOING STH 2
bring out SELL 12, SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 5
bring together MIX 6, UNITE 5
bring up LOOK AFTER SB 4, MENTION 2, SICK/VOMIT 1
bring up: bring sb up to do sth TEACH 3
brink: be on the brink of ALMOST 3
brittle BREAK 12
broach MENTION 2
broad DETAIL 5, MOST 5, WIDE 1
broad-minded STRICT 10
broadcast PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1,
broaden
broil
broiling
broke
broken
broken: get broken BREAK 7
broken-down BROKEN 1
broken-hearted/heartbroken
TELEVISION/RADIO 3, 5
INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 2
COOK 2
HOT 5
MONEY 17, POOR 3
BROKEN 1, 2, SPEAK A LANGUAGE 7
SAD/UNHAPPY 5
BROKEN
words for describing objects, furniture, or
parts of the body that are broken
words for describing machines, pieces of
equipment etc that are not working
completely broken, so that it cannot be
repaired and must be replaced
not working properly or well
to stop working properly
not broken or damaged
1 words for describing objects, furniture, or
parts of the body that are broken
broken bust
chipped busted
cracked broken-down
broken I 'brokanl [adj]
The floor's covered in broken glass. I Her toes were blue with
cold, her fingernails black and broken. I In the corner of the
room were a broken chair and a rickety old desk. I Sam can't
play - his leg is broken. I How did this get broken?
chipped/tj'lpt/a cup, plate etc that is chipped has a small
piece broken off the edge of it [adj]
Why do I always get the chipped cup? l The food was care-
lessly served on chipped enamel plates.

BROKEN 155 BROKEN
cracked/krmkt/something that is cracked is not com-
pletely broken, but has cracks on its surface as a result of
damage [adj]
Throw that jug away. It's cracked. I She put on her cracked,
steel-rimmed glasses. I All the archaeologist unearthed was
some broken pottery and a few cracked tiles.
bust/bAst/an informal British word meaning broken [adj
not before noun]
I can 't carry all the shopping home in this bag - it's bust. I
The door's bust again. Can you get it fixed?
busted/bAstd/an informal American word meaning
broken [adj]
That little dog got in where the fence is busted. [ The car's
got a busted window.
broken-down / ,braokan daun-/broken-down fences/
chairs/buildings (=broken or in very bad condition) [adj
only before noun]
Matt wa out on the patio, slumped in a broken-down deck
chair. ] In the town there was one dilapidated hotel and a
few broken-down lodging houses.
2 words for describing machines, pieces of
equipment etc that are not working
not be working busted
doesn't work be out of order
broken be out of action
bust down
not be working/nt bi: 'w3:rkIrJ/[v phrase]
The phone's not working. [ Our car isn't working at the
moment, so I'm having to use the bus. ] The elevator didn't
seem to be working, so we walked up the stairs.
doesn't work /dAzant ws:rk/a machine that doesn't
work is not able to do the job it is supposed to do because
it is broken [v phrasel
The headlights don't work and the brakes need fixing. [ This
camera doesn't work - I'll have to take it back to the store.
broken /Ibmokan/a small machine, or a part of a machine
that is broken is not working [adj]
"'What's the time?" "I don't know, my watch is broken. "'1
Something is the matter with the engine. I think the fan belt's
broken. ] There's a place down the road that repairs broken
washing machines.
bust/bAst/an informal British word meaning broken or
badly damaged [adj not before noun]
Our television's bust, and so's the radio. [ There's no point
in trying to mend it, it's completely bust.
busted/'bAsQd/an informal American word meaning
broken or badly damaged [adj]
Morn! My bike's busted. ] There was nothing much in the
room except for a busted TV and a couple of old chairs.
be out of order /bi: aot av a:rdr/ if a machine,
especially one used by the public, is out of order it is not
working for a temporary period [v phrase]
I can't call a taxi, the phone's out of order. [ The toilets are
almost always out of order. [ When we finally got to the gas
station the pump had a sign on it saying 'Out of order'.
be out of action /bi: ,aot av 'ekSanl if a vehicle or
machine is out of action, it cannot be used at the moment
because it is broken [v phrasel
Three of our tanks are out of action. [ These planes may be
out of action for a week, just for regular maintenance. [ Our
washing machine's out of action at the moment, so we use
the laundry down the road.
down/daon/ifa computer system is down, it is not work-
ing [adj not before noun]
The computer system was down all afternoon so we went
home. ] go down (=stop working) The network has gone
down again and information may have been lost from the
files.
3 completely broken, so that it cannot be
[] repaired and must be replaced
has gone/is gone
has had it
has gone (British) I is gone (American)/hoz 'gDn, IZ
gDn ]] - 'ga:n/if you say that part of a machine, especially
a car, has gone, you mean that it has stopped working
properly [v phrase]
I'm not sure what's wrong with my car - I think the clutch
has gone. i If the gearbox is gone it'll cost you a fortune. [
is/are going (=be about to stop working) "'What's that
noise?'" "'It sounds like the suspension's going. ""
has had it/haz 'hed it/if you say that a machine has had
it you mean that it is completely broken and cannot be
repaired Iv phrase]
I'm afraid that tape recorder has had it.
4 not working properly or well
there's something wrong with
faulty
defective
be on the blink
there's something wrong with/6earz ,sAm0[rj ror]
wi6 [[ -ra:r-/ if there is something wrong with a
machine, it does not work properly and you do not know
exactly why [v phrase]
I can "t take any photos today - there's something wrong with
my camera. [ There's something wrong with my car, I think
it's the starter motor. [ have something wrong with If the
VCR has something wrong with it, take it back to the store.
faulty /  fa:lti/something that is faulty, especially part of
a complicated machine, is either not working or was not
made properly [adj]
A faulty cable may be causing the problem. [ Renew any
spark plugs that are faulty. ] Fires in the home are often
caused by faulty electrical equipment.
defective/d  fektxv/a machine or a piece of equipment
that is defective does not work properly because it was
badly made [adj]
If any of our products are defective, let us know immediately, i
Companies that produce defective cars must be held respon-
sible for the accidents that they cause. ] a defective engine
be on the blink/bi: tn 6a Iblrjk/an informal expression:
if a piece of electrical equipment such as a television or
washing machine is on the blink, it sometimes works and
sometimes does not ]v phrase]
My TV's on the blink again. [ go on the blink (=start not
working properly) Every time Diane's dishwasher goes on
the blink, Ron goes over and fixes it.
5 to stop working properly
go wrong crash
break down pack up
cut out malfunction
fail
go wrong/,go 'roll II -'m:OI [v phrase]
Modern computers don't often go wrong. [ go wrong with
If something goes wrong with your car, check the obvious
things first. [ Something's gone wrong with this washing
machine.
break down / breik daon/ira large machine, especially
a vehicle, breaks down, it stops working completely [phr
vii
She was late for the meeting because her car broke down. [
The elevators in this building are always breaking down.
breakdown I'brekdaon/ [n C/U/ Red hazard warning
lights are installed in the car in case of breakdown (=in case
the car breaks down).
cut out/,kAt 'aoq if an engine cuts out, it suddenly stops
working [phr v I/
Every time Mark slowed down the engine cut out. [ If the
machine overheats, the engine cuts out automatically.
fall/fed/if a part of a machine or of a piece of electrical
equipment fails, it stops working [v I/
The brakes failed and my car ran into the car in front. [ In
the last ten minutes of the game, one of the television cameras
failed. [ One of the engines failed at 30,O00 feet.
failure [n U/Investigators traced the cause of the crash to
engine failure.

BROKEN 156 BUILD
crash/kra/if a computer or a computer system crashes,
it stops working Iv I]
My computer has crashed again so I can "t give you that infor-
mation right now. I Hundreds of hospital records were wiped
out when the network crashed.
pack up/,pzek ^p/an informal British expression: if a
machine packs up, it stops working, especially because it
is old [phr v I]
When this record player packs up, I'll buy a CD player. I They
won't know what to do if a pipe bursts or if the heater packs
up. I Don't tell me the bloody grill's packed up.
malfunction/mal  f^rjk.an/a formal or technical word
meaning to stop working properly Iv I]
This is a sign that the computer's hard disk is malfunction-
ing. I Tape recorders or projectors may malfunction during
a presentation.
malfunction In C ] His job is to spot computer malfunctions
(=problems with the way the computer is working) and
deal with them immediately.
6 not broken or damaged
intact
in one piece
intact /m'takt/not broken or damaged, in spite of being
hit, dropped etc [adj not before noun]
Despite the bombing, the house was still intact. I Our furni-
ture survived the long journey more or less intact. I He dealt
the door a tremendous blow but it remained intact.
in one piece/n w^n 'pi:s/if something arrives or is
moved in one piece, it does not get broken in spite of being
moved [adv phrase]
I don't know how we got the piano down in one piece! [ The
china arrived all in one piece, thank God.
brood THINK ABOUT 6, WORRIED 2
browbeat FORCE SB TO DO STH 2
brown-nose FRIENDLY 7
browse LOOK AT 10
browse through READ 3
bruise INJURE 2
brunch MEAL 2
brush CLEAN 6, TOUCH 3
brush-off: give sb the brush-off REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 6
brush up IMPROVE 3
brush your teeth/clean your teeth WASH 4
brusque RUDE/IMPOLITE 4
brutal VIOLENT 1, 3
brutality VIOLENT 6
I brute VIOLENT 5
bubble SOUND 16
: buck: pass the buck BLAME 4, RESPONSIBLE 10
bucket: kick the bucket DIE 1
buckets: sweat like a pig/sweat buckets SWEAT 1
buckle BEND 3
bud: nip sth in the bud PREVENT 2, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 8
budding WANT 7
buddy FRIEND 1, MAN 6
budge MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 2
budge: won't budge/can't budge sth MOVE STH OR
SB 6
budget SPEND MONEY 5, 9
buff KNOW STH 6
bug ANNOY 2, FAULT/STH WRONG 1,
ILLNESS/DISEASE 1, LISTEN 3
bug: get the travel/surfing/DIY etc bug INTERESTED 5
bugger all NONE/NOTHING 1
build BODY 2, BUILD 1, MAKE 1
build on ADD 3
build up INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 3,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5
..y build up sb's hopes HOPE 6
ii-: build-up INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 6,
ў-. INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 9
BUILD
to build a house, a factory, a wall, a road etc
the process or art of building
a building or group of buildings
1 to build a house, a factory, a wall, a road etc
build construct
put up erect
build/bfld/to make a house, wall, road etc [v I/TI
build sth His ambition is to build his own house. [ The city
council is going ahead with plans to build a new sports com-
plex. ] Why are they knocking down that warehouse?It's only
just been built. [ The road was originally built in Roman
times. ] build Are they going to build on this land?
building In U] There's a lot of building going on around
us (=a lot of houses, offices etc are being built).
put up / pot ^p/to build a wall or a tall building [phr v T]
put up sth They've put up a big new multi-storey hotel on
the edge of town. I put sth/it/them up Isobel and Peter have
put a stone wall up along the side of the garden.
construct/ken' strAkt/to build a large public building, a
bridge, road etc Iv T]
The city council has plans for constructing two new schools
and a hospital. I This elegant two-storey stone building was
constructed in 1889. I Later they began to construct high walls
to defend the town against the invaders.
construction /kanstr^kJan/ In U] The contract for the
construction of the new Olympic stadium has gone to a
French company.
erect/irekt/a formal word meaning to build a public
building or structure Iv T]
This ancient church was erected in 1121. I When the fighting
was over the Spartans erected a memorial to their dead on
the battlefield. I Throughout 19th-century Europe industri-
alists competed to erect grand public buildings in their
capital cities.
2 the process or art of building
architecture
building
construction
architecture I' o:rktektr/the art and practice of plan-
ning and designing buildings In U]
She's studying architecture at college. I Le Corbusier's
influence on the development of modern architecture
r II
architectural/,o: k, tektj'aral-/[adj] He returned to Paris
and went to work in an architectural firm (=a firm that
plans buildings).
building/'bfldio/the process of building In U]
Basic methods of building have changed little in the last
century. I It was the invention of pre-stressed concrete that
really transformed building techniques. I building indus-
try Thousands of workers in the building industry will lose
their jobs as a result of cutbacks.
construction Ikn'strAk.[an/ the process or method of
building large public buildings, bridges, roads etc In U]
He is an expert in road construction. I construction on Con-
struction on the tunnel will begin in April. I construction
industry The construction industry has been severely
affected by the recession.
3 a building or group of buildings
building structure
block architecture
development
building I'bIldrJ/[n C]
The whole building shook when a train went past. I There's

BUILD 157 BURN
a plan to convert the farm buildings into private apart-
ments. I We saw brick and timber buildings dating back to
the 15th century.
blo©k/blok II No:k] a large building divided into smaller
parts In C]
He owns an entire commercial block in downtown Chicago.I
They are developers of big blocks of apartments designed for
successful young people. I office/apartment block There's
another new office block going up behind the station. I high-
rise block (=a very tall block) His studios are on the tenth
floor of a high-rise block overlooking the river.
development/d 'velapmant/a group of new buildings
that have all been planned and built together on the same
piece of land In C]
This is a small residential development aimed at first-time
buyers. I No further housing or office developments will be
allowed in areas of natural beauty.
structure / ' str^ktfar/a word meaning a large building or
a part of a building, used especially when saying what it
is made of or how strong it is In C]
University Hall is a solid structure in brick and concrete. I
These walls are made of light materials and thus will not
support heavy roof structures. I The stone arch is one of the
oldest existing structures.
architecture I'o:rktektfr/the style and design of a
building or buildings In U]
We spent the afternoon walking around Rome, admiring the
architecture. I The cathedral is a fine example of early
Renaissance architecture.
building BUILD 2, 3
bulge STICK OUT 1, 3
bulging FULL 1,
STICK
OUT
bulk: buy in bulk BUY 2
bulk: the bulk of MOST 1, 2
bu,  y 1
bulletin: news bulletin NEWS 2
bullshit: craplbullshit UNTRUE 4
bully CRUEL 6, FORCE SB TO DO STH 2
bum ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 5, HOME 11
bum around/round TRAVEL 7
bump HIT/BUMP INTO 5, SOUND 6, STICK OUT 3
bump into HIT/BUMP
INTO
1
bump into/run into MEET 2
bump off KILL 1
bumpy COMFORTABLE 10, FLAT 4
bunch GROUP OF PEOPLE 3, GROUP OF THINGS 3
bunch: a bunch of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 2
bunch: the pick of the bunch BEST 3
bundle GROUP OF THINGS 3, PUSH 3
bundle: make a bundlelfortune RICH 7
bundle of nerves: be a bundle of nerves NERVOUS 2
bung PUT 5
bungle DO BADLY 1
burden RESPONSIBLE 11
COMPLICATED 2
bureaucracy
bureaucratic COMPLICATED 2
burglar STEAL 6
burglarize STEAL 3
burglary STEAL 7, 8
burgle STEAL 3
burly STRONG PERSON 2
burn BURN 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
burn down BURN 7, 8
burn itself out STOP HAPPENING 2
burn out/burn yourself out TIRED 4
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
burn
BURN
10
to burn and produce flames
to burn weakly or without flames
to start burning
to make something start burning
to injure yourself by burning part of your
body
to damage something by burning it or letting
it get too hot
to destroy something by burning it
to be destroyed by fire
words for describing things that can be
burned or that burn easily
words for describing things that do not burn
easily
1 to burn and produce flames
burn be in flames/be ablaze
burning blazing
be on fire
burn/ba:rn/to produce flames and heat [v I]
Some wood was burning in the yard. [ The candle flickered
briefly, then burned with a steady flame. [ The campfire was
now burning away merrily. ] These logs are still damp. Do
you think they will burn?
burning/'ba:rnrj/[adj only before noun]
Everyone escaped from the burning building. I The smell of
burning rubber filled the air.
be on fire/hi: on 'faar/if something such as a building,
ship, or car is on fire, it is burning especially because of
an accident but it is not supposed to be burning [vphrasel
Wake up! The house is on fire! I The captain radioed an
S.O.S. to say that his ship was on fire. I Large areas of the
forest are reported to be on fire.
be in flames/be ablaze/bi: n 'flemz, bi: ble[z/to
be on fire with a lot of flames, causing serious damage Iv
phrase]
When the fire department arrived the whole school was in
]lames. I Twelve hours after the bombing raid, many parts
of the city were still ablaze.
blazing /'ble[zirj/ burning very brightly with a lot of
flames and heat [adj only before noun]
They sat on the sofa in front of a blazing fire. I The heat from
the blazing car could be felt several metres away.
2 to burn weakly or without flames
smoulder/smolder
flicker
smoulder (British) I smolder (American)/'smuldarl to
burn weakly so that the thing that is burning is red or
smoking, but there are no flames Iv I l
The fire in the chemical factory was so intense that it was
still smouldering a week later. I A small fire smouldered in
the fireplace. I a pile of smoldering leaves

BURN 158 BURN
flicker /'fldarl if a fire or flame flickers, it burns
unsteadily Iv I ]
A welcoming fire flickered in the grate. I By the light of a
flickering oil-lamp, she told us her story.
3 to start burning
catch fire flare up
burst into flames ignite
break out
catch fire/,ket] 'faIar/to start burning accidentally Iv
phrasel
Two farm workers died when a barn caught fire yesterday. I
A pile of rags caughtfire and the fire spread quickly to the
whole factory. I Diesel engines are safer than petrol engines,
which can catch fire in an accident.
burst into flames / ba:rst inta 'fle]mz/to suddenly start
burning very strongly Iv phrase]
The plane crashed into the side of the mountain and burst
into flames. I She was standing too close to the fire, and her
dress suddenly burst into flames.
break out [ ,break 'aot/ifa fire breaks out, it starts burn-
ing accidentally, causing a lot of damage [phr v I]
Over Ј20,000 worth of damage was caused when afire broke
out in the cellar. I Would you know what to do if afire broke
out in your school?
flare up [ ,fleer '^p/to suddenly begin to burn, or suddenly
burn more strongly than before, with a strong, bright flame
[phr v Il
The spilt gasoline suddenly flared up in a sheet of flame. I
They threw some dry wood onto the bonfire and it flared up,
showering sparks into the night sky.
ignite/:g'naq a technical word meaning to start burn-
ing Iv I]
Scientists could not explain why the gas had suddenly
ignited. I a compound that ignites at 450 degrees Celsius
4 to make something start burning
set fire to sth/ burn
set sth on fire put a match to
light ignite
set fire to sthlset sth on fire/set 'fa1 r ta (sth), ,set
(sth) Dn 'far/to make something burn, especially some-
thing that is not supposed to be burnt Iv phrase]
The soldiers piled up the books and set fire to them. I Teresa
wondered if the burning log might set fire to the curtains. I
Vikings attacked the villages along the coast and set them
on fire. I The heat from the stove almost set the wallpaper
on fire.
light Ilatl light a flre/a candle/a cigarette/an oil-lamp
etc (=make it start to burn, especially using a match) Iv T]
It's freezing in here! Let's light afire. I Ricky lit two cigarettes
and gave one to Lauren. I She lit the gas under the saucepan.
burn/ba:rn] to make something burn, for example in order
to provide warmth or protection Iv T]
That winter they had to burn some of their furniture to keep
warm. I They used to burn a special type of incense to keep
mosquitoes away. I The rioters burned tyres in the streets.
put a match to/pot o 'met5 tu:/to make something start
to burn by using a match, especially something small or
something that burns easily Iv phrase]
I tore the letter up and put a match to it. I Filling his pipe
with tobacco, he put a match to it and puffed away con-
tentedly.
ignite Jig'halt/a technical word meaning to make some-
thing start to burn, especially something that burns easily
such as a gas or chemical Iv T]
The gas is ignited by an electrical spark. I If the mixture
proves difficult to ignite, increase the proportion of ethylene.
5 to injure yourself by burning part of your
body
burn
scald
burn/b3:rnl Iv T]
burn yourself Don't touch the iron. You'll burn yourself.I
burn your mouth/fingers/arm etc This soup's really hot
- it's burning my mouth. I be/get burnt Simon was badly
burnt in the explosion and has had to undergo extensive plas-
tic surgery.
scald/sk:ld/to injure part of your body by accidentally
pouring very hot liquid on it Iv T]
scald yours elf If yo u "re not carefu I you "ll scald yo urself on
that kettle. I scald your arm/leg/hand etc Peter scalded
the whole of his back when a hot cup of coffee was acciden-
tally spilled over him.
6 to damage something by burning it or letting
it get too hot
burn singe
scorch charred
burn/ba:rn/[v T]
Look, Gerry, you've burnt the toast again! I Don't let him do
any cooking. He always burns the pans. ] They rescued some
of their furniture, but most of it was badly burned. ] burn
a hole in sth (=make a hole in something by burning it)
I'm afraid I dropped my cigarette and burned a hole in the
carpet.
burn In C] The sofa was covered in cigarette burns (=holes
made by cigarettes burning).
burnt [ adjl He cut away the burnt part of the cloth (=the part
which had been damaged by burning).
scorch/ska:rtJ'/if a fire or something that is very hot
scorches something it burns it slightly and leaves a dark
mark Iv T]
The heater was left on all night and it scorched the wall. ]
Having the iron on a very high heat can scorch the fabric.
scorch mark [n C] This shirt is ruined - there's a big scorch
mark on the back.
singe/sIndS/to damage something such as hair, wool, or
paper by burning it slightly so that the ends or edges are
burnt [v T]
George singed his moustache while he was lighting his
cigarette. I The rug had been singed by a piece of burning
ўoal that had fallen from the fire.
charred ItSa:rd! wood, sticks, bones etc that are charred
are black because they have been damaged by burning [adj
usually before noun]
In the cave they found some charred animal bones. [ I looked
sadly at the charred remnants of the burnt-out ship.
7 to destroy something by burning it
burn
burn down
incinerate
burn Ib3:rn/[v T]
When I had read the letter I burned it. I We gathered up all
the dead leaves in the garden and burned them. I All infected
cattle have to be slaughtered and the carcases have to be
burnt.
burn down / ba:rn 'daon/to completely destroy a build-
ing by burning it [phr v T]
burn down sth Last year rioters burned down the prison. I
burn sth/it/them down The terrorists inside the embassy
threatened to burn it down.
incinerate [ i nsnaret/ to destroy unwanted things by
burning them in a special machine Iv T usually inpassive]
Household waste is usually incinerated after it has been col-
lected. I All the clothes that were affected by radiation had
to be incinerated.
8 to be destroyed by fire
burn down
be destroyed by fire
go up in flames/go up
gutted
burnt-out/
burned-out

BURN 159 BUSINESS
burn down /Ib3:rn 'daon/if a building burns down, it
is destroyed by a fire, especially one that is an accident [phr
vii
Kids have had to be taught in the local church since the
school burnt down. I Alexandra Palace has burnt down
twice.
be destroyed by fire/hi: d[ I stra[d bai faIrl an expres-
sion used especially in literature or in newspapers mean-
ing to be destroyed by a fire, especially one that is an acci-
dent [v phrase]
The town's sports centre was destroyed by fire last night,
causing damage estimated at $15 million. [ Tokyo was des-
troyed by fire during the great earthquake of 1922.
go up in flames/go up/gao Ap In flemz, gao Ap/ if
something such as a building goes up in flames, it starts
burning very strongly and usually burns until it is des-
troyed [v phrase]
Be careful with those matches, or the whole place will go up
in flames! I The fire spread slowly until it reached the gas
cylinders, then the factory went up inflames. [ If the oil tanker
goes up, it could burn for weeks.
gulled/'gAQd/a building that is gutted is still standing,
but its inside has been completely destroyed by fire [adj
not usually before noun]
Was there anything worth saving after the fire? No, theplace
was completely gutted. [ The old school, gutted by fire, stood
at the corner of the road.
burnt-out (British) I burned-out (American)/,ba:rnt
aot-, ba:rnd 'aot-/a building or a vehicle that is burnt-
out or burned-out has had everything inside it destroyed
by fire [adj usually before noun]
In the main square the burned-out shell of the Palace of
dustice still smouldered. I The van was burnt-out and com-
pletely blackened by smoke.
9 words for describing things that can be
burned or that burn easily
burn flammable
inflammable/flammable combustible
burn/ba:rn/to be able to be burned [v I]
Everything that would burn was thrown onto the fire to give
more heat. I burn well/easily/badly etc a hard wood that
doesn't burn very well I This mixture of gases burns readily.
Inflammable (British) I flammable (American)/in-
'flmmobal, 'flmmobal/materials, chemicals, or gases that
are inflammable will start burning very easily and
quickly, so they can be dangerous [adj]
These armchairs are made from inflammable material, and
are therefore very dangerous. ] The report stated that inflam-
mable substances were found near the building's heating
system. ] A sign on the container said: Danger Flammable
Liquid.
flammable / flembal/a technical British word mean-
ing able or likely to burn very easily, and possibly danger-
ous [adj]
The transportation of flammable substances is carefully
regulated.
I I
combustible ]km b^stbal/a technical word: materials
or substances that are combustible burn easily [adj]
Harry started collecting any combustible material he could
find in the house. I Lignite is less combustible than the higher
grades of coal.
1 0 words for describing things that do not burn
easily
fireproof
flameproof/flame-resistant
fireproof 1' faIarpru:f/not easily damaged by flames [adj]
Theatre curtains have to be fireproof.
flameproof/flame-resistant ! fleimpru:f, fleim ri-
,zistant/ clothes or substances such as glass that are
flameproof or flame-resistant have been specially made
so that they are not damaged by fire [adj]
Heat the mixture in a flameproof dish. I Children's night-
clothes are usually made from flame-resistant material.
burner: put sth on ice/on the back burner STOP
DOING STH 3
burning BURN 1
burning hot HOT 1
burnt-out/burned-out BURN 8
burrow DIG 1
burst BREAK 9
burst in ENTER 1
burst into flames BURN 3
burst into song SING 1
burst into tears CRY 4
burst open: blow/burst/fly open OPEN 2
burst out laughing LAUGH 3
bursting: be bursting at the seams FULL 1
bursting with energy: be full of energy/bursting with
energy ENERGETIC 1
bury HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 1
bury the hatchet ARGUE 8
bury your head in the sand IGNORE 3
bus TAKE/BRING 5
bush: beat about the bush/around the bush AVOID 5
bush: not beat about the bush HONEST 4
bushed
business
business:
business:
business:
business:
business:
business:
business:
business:
business:
business:
TIRED 1
BUSINESS 1, 2, 3, 5, COMPANY 1, HAPPEN
11, JOB/WORK 2, SUBJECT 1, WORK THAT
SOMEONE DOES 1
be in business BUSINESS 6
do business BUSINESS 6
have/run your own business WORK FOR
SB 3
it is sb's joblbusiness RESPONSIBLE 2
it's none of your business
PRIVATE/PERSONAL 6
line of work/business JOB/WORK 2
mean business DETERMINED 1
mind your own business INTERFERE 3,
PRIVATE/PERSONAL 6
on business WORK/DO WORK 3
set4Jp in business START DOING STH 12
BUSINESS
the general area of activity that companies
are involved in
1 all the people, companies, methods etc used
in business
 business activities such as buying and selling
3 words for describing something that is
connected with business
4 a business activity, for example an
agreement, sale, or contract between two
companies
5 the amount of business a company is doing
6 ways of saying that a company or person
takes part in business activities
7 someone who works in business
1 all the people, companies, methods etc used
in business
business private enterprise
commerce industry
business/'bznsl [n U]
Many churches are now run by people with experience in bus-
iness and not in theology. I business trip/lunch/meeting
etc (=arranged for business reasons not pleasure) This is
a business trip andyou knowIdon't like to mix business with
pleasure!l business associate (=someone you do business
with) I've known Mr Henry for years. He's one of my father's
old business associates. I head for business (:good under-
standing of business) Spending a year working for a big

BUSINESS 160 BUSINESS
company will be good for him - at the moment he has no
head for business at all.
commerce/'kDma:rs I[ 'ka:-I the general area of buying
and selling goods and services, especially between compa-
nies or countries In U]
The government's new measures are aimed to help commerce
and industry. ] There is an increasing number of openings
for women in commerce. ] He had a genuine flair for com-
merce and soon had a brilliant career working for the World
Bank.
private enterprise / ,pralv t 'entarpralz/business that
is owned by a private person or group of people and not by
the government In U]
People are more likely to invest in private enterprise than in
government-owned businesses because it is more profitable. [
The new bridge will be paid for by private enterprise and
there will be a charge for using it. ] Yugoslavia always had
more private enterprise than the other communist states of
Eastern Europe.
industry I' mdastri/the general area of making large quan-
tities of goods to be sold to people, especially in factories
In C/U]
The government has been criticized for not putting enough
money into industry. I More and more women are entering
managerial positions in previously male-dominated fields
of industry. I heavy industry (=industry making steel,
cars, ships etc) The Ruhr valley has always been the centre
of German heavy industry. I the textile/motor/engineer-
ing etc industry Many people moved from Pakistan to work
in the British textile industry, where jobs were plentiful.
business activities such as buying and selling
business operations
trade venture
dealings
business/'bizns/In U]
European business now makes up 40% of our total turnover. I
It doesn't matter if we don "t have enough staff. We can "t turn
business away.
|fade/trexd! the buying and selling of goods and services,
especially between countries In U]
Trade between the majority of European countries will be
much easier because of the EC. I trade agreement/control/
deficit/embargo etc Keeping imports low may help reduce
France's trade deficit. I foreign/world/international/
overseas trade Improvement of the methods of production
and increase in overseas trade enlarged Europe's sphere of
inffuence. I balance of trade (=the difference between the
amount a country buys and the amount it sells) The balance
of trade between the two countries showed a large Japanese
surplus.
dealings/'di:lit]z! business activities, especially those
that involve the movement of money between companies,
countries, banks etc In plural]
The company has to pay a lot of tax on its financial dealings
during the 1986-87 tax year. I dealings with The tax inspec-
tor is making an investigation into Mr Stockwell's dealings
with a large number of Third World banks.
operations /,Dpa'rexfanz II ,o:p-/ a company's opera-
tions are all its activities, especially in one country or one
area of business In plural]
UK/overseas/international/foreign etc operations
Salco may have to close down its UK operations with the loss
of l5OOjobs. I He was an important decision maker in terms
of GM's overseas operations. I The company has grown from
16,000 to 28,000 staff as its electronics operations have
expanded.
venture [ ' vcntj'r/a new business activity which involves
risking money In C]
We are prepared to lose money on this venture - it is in our
long-term interest. I He is planning to risk everything to get
his next venture off the ground. I business venture His
bankruptcy was the result of several reckless business ven-
tures.
words for describing something that is
connected with business
business
commercial
entrepreneurial
business/'biznIs/[adj only before noun]
During the first week of the secretarial course we learned how
to write business letters. I Grant's four years at Harvard bus-
iness school opened the way to a promising career. I Men and
women in impeccable business suits hurried up and down
the corridors clutching files.
commercial /k'ma:rdl/ a commercial activity or
organization is concerned with the business of buying and
selling goods and services [adj only before noun]
His first commercial venture was opening a small corner
shop. ] The British Empire was built for commercial as well
as political reasons. I This computer has all the features
which make it ideal for commercial use.
entrepreneurial/,t)ntrapra'na:rial II ,o:n-/entrepren-
eurial skills/ability/initiative/spirit etc (=making you
successful in business, because you are willing to risk your
own money to make a profit) [adj only before nounl
Everyone in our sales team has the entrepreneurial skills
needed to secure important deals. ] Entrepreneurial judge-
ment is an essential quality in property trading. ] Candidates
will be chosen on the basis of individual entrepreneurial
initiative.
4 a business activity, for example an
agreement, sale, or contract between two
companies
deal
transaction
deal/di:l/In C]
Wickes lost a lot of money on two large property deals. I sign
a deal Daihatsu is due to sign a deal soon with the Polish
car manufacturer, FSO. I finalize a deal (=finish it)/t is
expected that the deal will be finalized before the end of May.
transaction/tran' zmkan/a business deal between two
or more people or companies where money is given and
something is bought or sold In CI
When the transaction is complete it will be at least 2 weeks
before you receive your copy of the contract. I Most transac-
tions are processed by computer at our Head Office.
 the amount of business a company is doing
business
turnover
business/'bIzns/In U]
Business is really bad at the moment. They may have to sell
some of their shops in Asia. I Business was good until June
and then sales fell because people were on vacation. I busi-
ness is booming (=there is a lot of successful business) In
the old days, when business was booming, he used toffy to
New York twice a week.
turnover /'ta:rn,aovar/the amount of goods or services
that a company sells in a particular period of time In
singular]
Our corporation has an annual turnover of $3.2 billion. I
Longwood made a profit of ЈI 7m on a turnover of Ј64m. I
Turnover is expected to double now that the recession is over.
ways of saying that a company or person
takes part in business activities
do business deal in
deal with operate
trade be in business
do business !,du: 'bIzns! Iv phrase]
do business with We don't do business with anyone outside
the European car industry. I She's very efficient - the kind

BUSINESS " 161 BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO
of person you want to do business with. I do business I hope
you'll think about my offer. I'm sure we can do business. I
do good business ( =do a lot of successful business) They've
been doing very good business lately. They will probably
even expand their operations.
deal with ! di:l w6! an expression meaning to do busi-
ness with a particular person or organization Iv TI
I deal with farmers, selling them things like cattle feed and
insecticides. I They don't buy their office supplies from a store
- they only deal with the manufacturers. I We don't deal with
the actors directly - we usually have to go through their
agents.
trade/treld/ira country or large organization trades with
another country or large organization, they buy, sell, or
exchange goods with each other Iv I]
trade with Japan needs to trade with Europe and the US
to ensure economic stability. I They produce high quality
crops for their own consumption and they trade with the rest
of the countries on the continent. I trade Since a disagree-
ment about deliveries, the two companies have ceased to
trade.
deal in /di:l in/to do business buying or selling a partic-
ular product Iv T]
He admitted that he dealt in drugs, always doing business
in the safety of international waters. I The main commodi-
ties he dealt in were rice, tea and lentils.
operate/opare:t II o:-/if a company or organization
operates it takes part in business activities, especially in
one country or in one kind of business Iv I]
Olivetti operates in all the major computer markets in the
worM. I There is a high degree of employment security among
these firms because they operate in tight regional labour
markets. I Screenview are a small company operating from
a converted barn in a village near Norwich.
be in business/bi: n blzns/to take part in business
as the owner of a shop or company Iv phrase]
In all the twenty years I've been in business this is the worst
period I've seen for sales. I The insurance companies are in
business to make money, not waste it. I set up in business
(=start a company, shop etc) When I qualified I set up in
business as a financial consultant.
7 someone who works in business
businessmanlbusinesswoman
entrepreneur
middleman
businessman/businesswoman/Ibiznsman, IbIz-
nswuman/someone who works in business, especially as
the owner or manager of a company In C]
A successful businesswoman, she had made her first million
before she was 21. I He is a high-powered international busi-
nessman with a good reputation as a negotiator.
entrepreneur /,ontraprana: r II ,o:n-/ someone who
arranges business deals and is willing to risk their money
in order to make a profit In C]
A few months ago a young property entrepreneur bought a
vacant house, redecorated it and sold it for twice the origi-
nal value. I It is impossible for entrepreneurs to insure
against commercial losses.
middleman/'mIdlmen/someone who helps to arrange
business deals for other people or who buys things in order
to sell them to someone else In Cl
We buy some goods directly from the manufacturers and
others through middlemen. I act as a middleman (=work
as a middleman) He had acted as a middleman for British
companies seeking contracts in the Gulf. I cut out the
middleman (=avoid having to use a middleman) Selling
your house privately cuts out the middleman and saves
money on agent's fees.
businesslike EFFICIENT 3
businessman/businesswoman BUSINESS 7
buss KISS 1
bust BREAK 1, BROKEN 1, 2
bust: fold/go bust FAIL 10
bust: go bust MONEY 16
 busted BROKEN 1 2
-%."i ,
!iii. bustle BUSY PLACE 2
.....
 bustling BUSY PLACE 1
i busy BUSY PLACE 1, 3, BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO
 1,3, BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 2
 busy: be busy BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
iii busy yourself SPEND TIME 2
Ibu_,z.___v ............. o o.o o .........
he('']ot of !n : ?} • BUSY/HAVE A
:...-... ::: ............. : ............ : ....... , ;:,. ............. 
le.
d
'not available:to:do :: -,  BSYINOT
so-methmg :::;--;:N "%:-::# AVAILABLE
BUSY/HAVE A LOT
TO DO
busy because there are a lot of things that
you have to do
extremely busy, because you have a lot to do
and not enough time to do it
words for describing a time or situation in
which you are very busy
busy because there are a lot of things that
you have to do
busy
have a lot to do
have a lot on/have a lot going on
have your hands full
be on the go
busy/'bIzi/[adj]
She's very busy - it's her daughter's wedding next week. I
The doctor is a very busy man. He doesn't have time to do
his own washing and ironing. I Angela was becoming more
and more unhappy, but her husband was too busy to notice. I
busy doing sth One day when I was busy cleaning the
house, some relatives arrived unexpectedly. I busy with At
a time when she was busy with business matters we decided
not to burden her with our problems. I keep sb busy He's
retired now, but his work for the youth club keeps him busy.
busily [adj] The chefs were busily preparing hundreds of
tantalizing dishes for the banquet.
have a lot 1o do/hev z lot tz 'du: II -lo:t-/to be busy
because there are a lot of things that you have to do, espe-
cially when this means that you must hurry and work hard
Iv phrase not in progressivel
Let's get started. We've a lot to do and not much time to do
it. I There's always a lot to do when you have a big family.
have a lot on (British) I have a lot going on (Ameri-
can)/hev a lot 'tn, hev a ilot gao]rj Ilan II -,lo:t-/to be busy,
especially because you have arranged to do a lot of things
during a short period Iv phrase not in progressive]
He says he'll try and see you as soon as possible, but he has
a lot going on this afternoon. I We've got so much on at work
I couldn't possibly go on holiday now.
have your hands full/hev ja: r hendz fol/to be busy
because you have to deal with a lot of different jobs or
problems, especially ones concerning people [vphrase not
in progressive l

BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 162 BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE
Things are very difficult at the moment. The boss has his
hands full at times. I have your hands full with You must
have your hands full with all this work to do and the chil-
dren to look after. I have your hands full doing sth The
car was a real wreck. The mechanic would certainly have
his hands full repairing it.
be on the go/bi: on 6a 'gaol an informal expression
meaning to be very busy for a period of time, especially
when this makes you tired Iv phrase]
I've been on the go all week - I'm looking forward to a relax-
ing weekend now. I She's always on the go. I don't know how
she does it.
2 extremely busy, because you have a lot to do
and not enough time to do it
be rushed off your feet
be up to your ears/neck in
be under pressure
be snowed under
be rushed off your feet/bi: rAft ofj: r 'fi:t! a British
expression meaning to be extremely busy and always rush-
ing around because you have a lot of things to do, especially
for other people Iv phrase]
It's my son's birthday party tomorrow. I've been absolutely
rushed off my feet getting ready for it. I All the sales assis-
tants are rushed off their feet. The shop ought to take on more
staff.
be up to your ears/neck In/bi: Ap to ja:r 'Iarz, nek
In/an informal expression meaning to be extremely busy
because you have a lot of work to do in your job, especially
with paper Iv phrase]
I'm sorry I can "t talk to you now - I'm up to my neck in paper-
work. I Teachers nowadays are up to their ears in adminis-
tration and don't have much time for teaching.
be under pressure/bi: ,Anda r preJ'ar/to be very busy,
especially because other people are making you work hard,
or because you have to do something by a fixed time
[v phrase]
Jerry says he's under a lot of pressure at the moment from
his boss. I An editor who cannot work accurately under pres-
sure is no good to me. I be under pressure to do sth The
miners are complaining that they are under constant pres-
sure to produce more and more coal, and that safety regula-
tions are being ignored.
be snowed under/bi: snaud Andar/to be extremely
busy and hardly able to do all the work you have to do
Iv phrase]
be snowed under with Since the hurricane, builders and
roofers have been snowed under with work. I be snowed
under Don't expect any help from them - they're snowed
under at the moment.
3 words for describing a time or situation in
 which you are very busy
busy hectic
full it's all go
busy/'bizi/[adj]
I'm going to bed. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. I
When you are in the police force, the night shift is always bus-
iest. I Restaurant managers often employ temporary staff at
busy times of the year.
full/fol/full day/morning/week etc (=one in which you
have arranged to do a lot of things) [adj usually before noun]
Tomorrow will be a very full day. You have several clients
to see and two meetings in the afternoon.
hectic /hekuk/ a time or situation that is hectic is
extremely busy and you are always rushing and often
excited or worried [adj]
Mrs Anderson went home at the end of another hectic, tiring
day. I I like being in charge of the office, but it can be very
hectic.
it's all go/its a:l gao/you say it's all go when you are
very busy and have no time to relax, especially because a
lot of things are happening
It's all go around here this morning. Ten new orders, all
marked 'URGENT'.
BUSY/NOT
AVAILABLE
not available to do something because you are
busy or you have already arranged to do
something else
1 to be busy
2 words for describing a telephone line that is
busy
1 to be busy
be busy
be tied up
have sth on/be doing sth
have a previous/prior engagement
be otherwise engaged
not available
be busy/bi: 'b[zi/Iv phrase]
If your wife is busy you're welcome to come to the party on
your own. I Not now Stephen, I'm busy. I be busy doing sth
I was too busypreparingfor my exam to watch the football
game.
be tied up/bi: ,tald Ap/to be busy in your job, for exam-
ple because you have a lot of work to do or you have an
important meeting, and therefore unable to do anything
else Iv phrase]
I'm sorry, he's tied up at the moment. Could you call back
later? I I can't see you tomorrow, I'm tied up all day.
have sth on/be doing sth/hav (sth) 'tn, bi: du:Irj (sth)/
to have already arranged to do something, for example to
meet someone or to go to a party, so that you are unable
to do something else that someone has invited you to do
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Do you have anything on on Saturday night? I It's strange
that they always seem to be doing something whenever we
invite them around. I If you're not doing anything tomorrow,
you could come to the beach with us.
have a previous/prior engagement/hav a ,pri:vias,
,praiar in geidsmant / a formal expression, used especially
when replying to an invitation, meaning to have already
made a firm arrangement to do something, so that you
cannot do something else Iv phrase not in progressive]
I'll just check her diary, she may have a prior engagement. I
Mr Lewis regrets that he is unable to attend, owing to a previ-
ous engagement.
be otherwise engaged /bi: A6arwalz ingedsd/ a
formal expression meaning to have already arranged to do
something, so you cannot do something else Iv phrase]
We hope to see you on Tuesday, unless you are otherwise
engaged.
not available/nt a'veflabal/if you are told that some-
one is not available when you ask to see them or to speak
to them on the telephone, you cannot see them or speak to
them at the present time because they are busy doing some-
thing else [adj]
I'm sorry, Mrs Evans isn't available at the moment. Shall
I get her to call you back?
2
words for describing a telephone line that is
busy
busy
engaged
busy ! 'bIzi/a telephone line that is busy is already being
used by the person that you want to telephone, so you
cannot speak to them [adj not before noun]
Every time I try to phone Emma at work, her phone's busy. I
He tried Nick's suite again. This time the line was busy.

BUSY PLACE 163 BUSY PLACE
engaged / In'geId3d / a British word for describing a tele-
phone line that is busy [adj not before noun]
Janice's number is still engaged. She must have been on the
phone all morning. I It's pointless phoning the company in
the morning, the lines are always engaged.
BUSY PLACE
words for describing a place where there are
a lot of people and where there is a lot of
activity
1 words for describing a busy place
2 busy activity in a place
3 words for describing a time when a place is
busy because there is a lot happening or a lot
of work to do
4 not busy
5 words for describing a time when a place is
not busy
1 words for describing a busy place
busy be a hive of
bustling activity/industry
lively
!
busy/'bzi/[adj]
Even though it was eight o'clock the market was still busy. I
Paris nowadays is a busy and crowded metropolis. I The
main road is busy, so be careful when you try to cross it. I
This is a very busy area, what with the school, the bus station
and the new shopping mall.
bust|lng [ 'bAsllO/a bustling town, street, area etc is busy
and noisy, with a lot of people walking about, going in and
out of shops etc [adj usually before noun l
The bustling downtown area of Chicago is dotted with mas-
sive new office developments. I The old market is a busy,
bustling place, full of local colour.
lively/'laivli/a bar, restaurant, club etc that is lively is
noisy and full of people who are enjoying themselves [adj]
We got to the disco at about 10 o'clock and it was already
quite lively. I It's the liveliest bar in town, very popular with
the tourists.
be a hive of activity/industry/bi: a ,haiv av ekttIvti,
' mdastri/ff a room, office, or factory is a hive of activity
or industry it is full of people who are working hard or
doing things in a very active way Iv phrasel
The family was getting ready to go on a picnic and the
kitchen was a hive of activity. I With only three hours until
the deadline the newspaper office was a hive of industry.
2 busy activity in a place
bustle comings and goings
the hustle and bustle to-lag and fro-lag
the hurly burly
bustle / 'basal/busy and noisy activity when a lot of people
are in one place working together, doing business etc In U]
Helen enjoys being a journalist; she loves the bustle and
excitement of the Press Room. I The market is an exciting and
colourful part of town, full of noise and bustle.
the hustle and bustle/6a ihAsal an 'basal/very busy
and exciting activity in a place where all the people are
doing business, working, shopping etc In phrase]
Relax on the beach or enjoy the hustle and bustle of the busy
fishing-port. I It's hard to imagine that the park's only a few
minutes" walk from the hustle and bustle of midtown
Manhattan.
the hurly burly/6a ,ha:rE 'ba:rli/the busy movement of
people who are very dose together and moving very
quickly so that it is difficult to see exactly what is happen-
ing In phrasel
In the burly burly of a football game it's easy to get injured
without knowing how it happened. I I loved working on the
fishing-boat, with long periods of doing nothing and then
the hurly burly of pulling in the nets.
comings and goings /Ik^mIljZ an 'gaorjz/ busy
activity where people are continually coming to and going
from a particular place In phrase]
Anybody watching the comings and goings at the house
would have thought it was a hotel! I The detective observed
the suspicious comings and goings of the men with interest.
to-ing and fro.ing /,tu:IlJ an 'fraoiO/busy and nervous
activity where someone is continually moving about or
going between two places, without ever seeming to achieve
anything In phrase]
I watched my brother's desperate to-ing and fro-ing as he
tried to decide what to pack and what to leave behind. I to-
ing and fro-lag between All this to-ing and fro-ing between
the church and the dressmaker and the caterers - I'll be glad
when the wedding's over.
3
words for describing a time when a place is
busy because there is a lot happening or a lot
of work to do
busy rush hour
hectic the rush
peak the season
busy I'bizi/[adj]
The morning is our busy time here. It's quieter in the after-
noon. I July is our busiest month, when all the tourists come.
hectic/'hekuk/extremely busy, with no time to rest or
relax [adjl
In the last hectic weeks before the show started we were prac-
tically living in the theatre to get it ready on time. I There
are two hundred guests arriving in one hour! That's why
things are so hectic!
peak/pi:k/ the peak time or period is the time when
shops, roads, trains etc are busiest [adj only before noun]
There should be more buses to cope with the extra passengers
at peak times. [ We usually have two people working in the
shop, but at peak periods we employ extra staff. [ In the peak
month of July the market sold three hundred tons of melons
a day.
rush hour (also peak hour in British English) I'rA.[ aoa r,
'pi:k aoar/the period in the morning and in the evening
when a city's roads, trains, and buses are very busy and
full of people travelling to or from work In singular]
The rush hour in most British cities does not start until about
8 o'clock. I The buses are so crowded during the rush hour,
you never get a seat.
the rush/ha Ira,/a very busy time when a lot of people
are shopping or travelling In singular]
the Christmas/summer/weekend etc rush We're build-
ing up our stocks of books and toys, ready for the Christmas
rush. I the rush Buy your tickets early and avoid the rush.
the season/6a 'si:zan/the time of year when a tourist
area is busy and a lot of people go there In singular]
The season begins in May, and most of the hotels open then. I
This place gets so crowded during the season. It's much nicer
in the winter when the tourists have gone. I in season
(=during the season) Don't travel to Benidorm in season.
The hotels are crowded.
4 not busy
quiet
sleepy
quiet I'kwa]at/[adj]
I was enjoying the tram ride down to the quiet suburb of
Arkawa. I The city is so quiet now that the Olympics are
over. I Madison Plains, Ohio, is a quiet, thriving community
with 1?00 inhabitants.
sleepy I' sli:pi/a sleepy place, especially a small town or
village, is never busy and very little happens there [adj
usually before noun]
I stood at my window which overlooked the sleepy fishing
village. I Sticklepath is a sleepy little town right in the heart

BUSY PLACE 164 BUT
of the Devonshire countryside. I It was a sleepy provincial
hotel, not used to having more than two people staying there
at any one time.
S words for describing a time when a place is
not busy
quiet off-peak
slow out of season/off-season
quiet/'kwamt/a quiet day, weekend etc is one in which
there is very little business or activity and very few people
[adj]
It's been a very quiet morning so far. Only two people came
in, and neither of them bought anything. I Even on a quiet
weekend there are plenty of people on the beach. I This time
of the year is always quiet; it gets busy again after Winter.
slow/slau/a slow period of time in a shop or business is
one in which there are very few customers and there is
very little business [adj]
Things have been slow, real slow, for months now. I Febru-
ary is the slowest month in the tourist trade.
off.peak/.of pi:k/a British expression: the off-peak
time, period, etc is the time when trains, hotels, tourist
areas etc are not busy [adj]
At off-peak times senior citizens can use the sports centre at
reduced rates. I Take advantage of off-peak reductions for
package holidays.
off-peak [adv] If you can travel off-peak (=during the off-
peak period) it will be cheaper and the trains will be less
crowded.
out of season/off-season /aot av sizzan-, I)f
si:zdn-/if you go to a tourist area out of season or off-
season you go there during that part of the year when it
is not busy and is usually cheaper [adv phrase]
We had arrived in Biarritz out of season and most of the
hotels were closed. I If you go for a holiday off season, you'll
find some real bargains.
off-season/lof si:zan/ In singular] During the off-season
(=the period that is not busy) only the caretaker and
gardener live in the hotel.
i busybody INTERFERE 2
:iii i but BUT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, EXCEPT 1
:,;- but for EXCEPT 1, IF 7
BUT
1 ways of saying that although someone wants,
tries, or promises to do something, in fact
they do not do it, or that although something
seems to be true it is not true
2 ways of saying that something is actually true
in spite of facts or problems that make it
seem very unlikely
3 ways of introducing an opinion that is different
from the opinion you have just given
4 ways of saying that although something is
true of one person, thing etc it is not true of
another
5 ways of saying that although one person,
thing, or situation is similar to another, there is
a particular difference
6 ways of saying that something could happen
but something else prevents it from
happening
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 ways of saying that although someone wants,
tries, or promises to do something, in fact
they do not do it, or that although something
seems to be true it is not true
but
however
but/bat; strong bat/[conjunction]
She tried to read the message, but couldn't. I I keep telling
Roger that what he's doing is illegal, but he won't believe
me. ] Sarah told me she was coming to the party, but she
hasn't turned up yet. I You may think this is a democratic
country, but the fact is that only a minority has the right to
vote.
however/hauevar/(used especially in written English)
[adv]
I was hoping to deal with this matter quickly. However, the
situation is much more complicated than I thought. I The
newspapers always carried stories of new advances and
glorious victories. In reality, however, the war was not going
well.
2
ways of saying that something is actually true
in spite of facts or problems that make it
seem very unlikely
but all the same
yet in spite of this/
still despite this
nevertheless for all that
even so though
anyway although
but/bat; strong bat/ [conjunction]
Tom's grandfather is over 80, but he still plays golf. I I was
in terrible pain after my fall but I carried on walking. I Julia
often feels homesick, but she likes working in India and plans
to stay. I It had been raining heavily all morning but thou-
sands of people turned up to watch the procession.
yet/jet/(used to introduce a fact that seems surprising or
difficult to believe in relation to what you have just said)
[conjunction]
The sun was shining, yet it was quite cold. I Last summer
there was a drought, yet some people were still watering their
lawns every day. I Going to aerobics is such an effort and yet
I enjoy it so much.
still/sul/(an informal word used to introduce a fact that
makes the problem you have mentioned seem less serious)
lady]
There isn't a lot of space in here. Still, it's a cosy little room. I
It'll cost us over $300 to go by bus. Still, that's a lot cheaper
than the air fare. I It rained a lot when we went camping,
but still, we had a great time.
nevertheless /inevar6a les/(a formal word meaning in
spite of the fact you have just mentioned) [adv]
I know you all think this crash was just an accident.
Nevertheless, I must be sure before I can write the official
report. I The survey was on quite a small scale. It did,
nevertheless, provide a lot of useful information. I The
teacher's tone was soft and considerate, but nevertheless
commanding.
even so /i:van 'sao/(in spite of the fact you have just
mentioned) [adv phrase ]
Our new system is extremely simple. Even so, it is possible
to make mistakes. I She had only seen Matthew Godden once,
but even so she could not forget him.
anyway/'eniwe/(an informal word used when you are
saying that someone does something in spite of a problem)
[adv]
I knew it was a crime, but l did it anyway. I If it rains, never
mind. We'll go ahead with the game anyway.
all the same ! a:l 6a 'seEm/(used when someone has a
particular feeling or a particular situation exists in spite
of something) [adv phrase]

BUT 165 BUT
Poppy seems quite happy to lend me the money. All the same,
I do feel guilty about it. I Harry had been looking forward
to going abroad for months, but all the same, leaving his
home and family wasn't easy.
in spite of this/despite this/in ispait av 8is, dl Ispat
61s/(used when something happens even though there are
difficulties or problems) [adv phrase]
I am partially blind, yet I manage to do my job in spite of
this. [ Peter had a very busy schedule. Despite that, he made
time to read the manuscript I had left with him. [ The Public
Order Law effectively banned strike action. Despite this the
independent unions continued to call for strikes.
for all that/far la:l 16et/(used when something is true
in spite of many facts that make it seem unlikely) [adv
phrase]
Julia was often bad-tempered, impatient and careless, but
for all that,she was a lovable person. [ I admit there is a great
deal wrong with democracy. For all that, it is probably the
best form of government we can devise.
though 16ao! (a word used especially in spoken English
when you are adding a fact or opinion which reduces the
effect of what you have just said) [conjunction]
Dan's been very ill. He's getting better now though. [ I think
she's Swiss. I'm not sure though. [ I don't really like classi-
cal music, though I did enjoy that Pavarotti concert.
although/a:ll6ao/(used to introduce a fact or opinion
which reduces the effect of what you have just said)
[conjunction ]
We've only spent about Ј500, although that doesn't include
the hotel bill. [ What has happened is disgraceful, although
not surprising. [ They're a very nice couple, although I very
seldom see them these days.
3 ways of introducing an opinion that is different
from the opinion you have just given
but at the same time/
however having said that
on the other hand mind you
but/bat; strong bat/[conjunctionl
"Gone with the Wind" was a great movie, but it was much too
long. I I'm very fond of Howard, but he can be so selfish. I I
don't mind a little discipline, but I can't stand cruelty.
however/haoevarl (used especially in written English)
[adv]
War is a terrible thing. However, I believe that we must
defend our country. I The same cannot be said of all our
employees, however. I Wise investments can produce large
profits. It should be remembered, however, that share prices
can fall.
on the other hand /tn 6i A60 r .heend/ (used when
introducing another opinion that is as important to con-
sider as the one you have just given) [adv phrase]
This is a wonderful opportunity to make a lot of money. On
the other hand there are risks involved. J We have good
reason to feel pleased with our progress. On the other hand
we mustn't get complacent.
at the same time/having said that/at 6a sem
'tam, hmvu] sed '6at/(used when adding a different opin-
ion that should be considered, because the opinion you
have just given was too general or too strong) [adv phrase]
We cannot ignore the increase in violent crime. At the same
time it is important not to exaggerate the problem. I I respect
judges as legal experts. At the same time I feel that no one
should regard them as infallible. I Every historian has to
start off with a theory. Having said that, some theories are
better than others.
mind you ]malnd ju:/ (an informal expression used
when introducing a point that suggests an opposite
opinion)
Grandad doesn't like going out much. Mind you, he enjoyed
coming out with us last Saturday, didn't he? I I really enjoyed
having my nieces to stay. Mind you, it was pretty exhaust-
ing - they're so demanding and noisy.
4 ways of saying that although something is
true of one person, thing etc it is not true of
another
but while
however by contrast
whereas conversely
but/bat; strong bat/[conjunction]
In the US it is normal for the police to carry guns, but not
in Britain. I I would never pay that much for a bottle of
mineral water but a lot of people would.
however/hao levar/(used especially in written English)
[adv]
Laurel may have been deceived. L however, was not. I Saman-
tha is a quiet, secretive girl. However, her twin sister is out-
going and friendly.
whereas/wedr' ez/(used especially when you are argu-
ing or trying to prove something) [conjunction]
American cars are generally too large for the Japanese
market, whereas Japanese cars are popular in the US. I Why
are some cancers cured by chemotherapy alone, whereas
others are unaffected by drugs?
while /wa:l/ (used especially in written English)
[conjunction ]
The colourful picture books are perfect for young children
while the story books will appeal to older children. I Some
house plants thrive if placed near a window with plenty of
sunlight while others prefer to be in a more shaded spot.
by contrast /bal kontro:st II-'ko:ntra  stl (used when
there is a big difference between one thing, person, or sit-
uation and another) lady phrase]
The Russian Federation has an area of 17 million square
kilometres. The tiny state of Monaco, by contrast, has an area
of only 1.6 square kilometres. [ Light industries, like elec-
tronics, are expanding rapidly. By contrast heavy industries,
like shipbuilding, are in decline.
conversely /kantva:rsli, Ikonv3:rsli I[ Ika:n-/ (a word
used especially in a scientific or financial context when one
situation is the opposite of another) lady]
$1 will buy lOO yen worth of Japanese goods. Conversely, 100
yen will buy $1 worth of American goods. [ If we know a star's
distance from the Earth we can work out its luminosity. Con-
versely, if we knew the luminosity of stars, we could calcu-
late their distance from the Earth.
5 ways of saying that although one person,
thing, or situation is similar to another, there is
a particular difference
but
only
except/except for the fact that
but/bat; strong bat/ [conjunction]
He looks just like Mick Jagger, but not as tall. I It's quite
hard to tell an alligator from a crocodile, but a crocodile has
two long protruding teeth.
only/aonli/(an informal word)[conjunction]
A viola is like a violin, only larger. I Molly does thesamejob
as my sister, only she doesn't work full-time.
except/except for the fact that Ilksept, Iksept fa r
6a, fekt 6at/(used when giving one small detail that makes
two things different) [conjunction l
Our house is just as nice as yours, except it doesn't have such
a big garden. I The Persian alphabet is very similar to the
Arabic except for the fact that several letters have been added.
6 ways of saying that something could happen
but something else prevents it from
happening
but
only/except
but/bat; strong bat/[conjunction]
Clark would probably have won the race but his car went

BUT 166 BUY
out of control and crashed. I I'd offer to help you, but I'm busy
just now.
only/except / aonli, Ik'sept/(an informal word used to
introduce the reason why something is not possible)
]conjunction]
I'd like to come and live here, only it's too expensive. [ We
could have invited your friends to stay with us, except we
don't have enough beds.
butch MAN 4
butt MAKE FUN OF 5
butt: be a pain in the ass/butt ANNOY 5
butt in INTERFERE 1, INTERRUPT 1
butter up PRAISE 9
butterflies: have butterflies NERVOUS 1
button FASTEN/DO UP 1
button: push a button SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
buy BELIEVE 2, BUY 1
buy: be a good buy CHEAP 6
buy/get a round BUY 3
buy in BUY 2
buy in bulk BUY 2
buy off PAY FOR 12
buy up BUY 2
BUY
1 to buy something
2 to buy a lot of something
3 to buy something for someone else
4 to arrange for something such as a seat in a
theatre, plane, or restaurant to be kept for
you so that you can use it later
5 to go to shops in order to buy things
6 to regularly use a particular shop
7 someone who buys goods or services
1 to buy something
buy
get
purchase
acquire
snap up
pick up
splash out on
buy ]bai I [v I/T]
buy sth "'Where did you buy that dress?", "I bought it at
Benetton. "" I John makes his living buying and selling used
cars. I Sony has bought a controlling interest in RCA
records. I buy sb sth Keith was going to buy me a ring, but
now he says he wants to buy me a watch instead. I buy sth
for sb I really like that tie - I was thinking of buying it for
my husband for his birthday. I buy st^ from sb I wouldn't
buy anything from him - I don't trust him. I buy sth for
$10/Ј200 etc The ranch, which was originally bought for
$20,000, is now valued at over $2 million. I buy Now is prob-
ably as good a time to buy as any.
get Igetl to get something by buying it, especially ordinary
things such as food, clothes, or things for your house [v T
not in passive]
get sth Let me get the drinks. It's my turn to pay. I Did you
remember to get the bread? I Our car's on its last legs - it's
time we got a new one. I get sb sth Guess what he got her
for her birthday, an electric train set! I get sth for sb Here's
$30 - get something nice for your pa. I get sth for Ј20/$50
etc What do you think of this leather jacket? I got it for $40
in the market.
purchase I 'p3:rq;as] a word used especially in business
meaning to buy something big or expensive such as a
house, a piece of land, or shares in a company etc [v T]
Foreign investors are not permitted to purchase land. I MBI
has agreed to purchase an additional 7 million shares of
Boxon stock. ] If this product does not give complete satisfac-
tion, please return it to the manufacturer stating when and
where it was purchased.
purchase [n U] Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank's purchase
of Midland Bank will create one of the largest banking
organizations in the worM.
acquit® ]a kwaia r/a formal word meaning to become the
owner of something such as land, a company, or a valuable
object, especially over a period of time [v T]
In 1982 the business was acquired by a Dutch company. I The
statue was acquired at great expense by the City Corpora-
tion. I In recent years Japanese investors have succeeded in
acquiring many of the most prestigious buildings in New
York.
acquisition I,akw 'zian] [n U] The National Gallery has
set aside Ј10 million for the acquisition of the painting.
snap up I, Sharp '^P/to buy something immediately, espe-
cially because it is very cheap or ybu want it very much,
and you are worried that someone else might buy it first
[phr v T]
snap up sth If I were you, I'd snap up that dress before some-
one else sees it. I The best bargains tend to be snapped up
immediately. I snap sth/it/them up If you see one for under
$100, snap it up!
pick up I,pIk '^p] to buy something that you have found
by chance, especially something that is unusually cheap
[phr v T]
pick up st^ He's hoping to pick up a few bargains in the
sales. [ It's just a little thing I picked up when I was in Kath-
mandu. [ pick sth/it/them up That picture? Oh, I picked
it up on the market last week.
splash out on/,splej" 'aot on II -o:n/an expression used
especially in British English, meaning to buy something
you want such as an expensive meal, dress etc, which you
would not usually buy because it is too expensive Iv T not
in passive]
We splashed out on a bottle of champagne to celebrate her
promotion. I Despite his small salary, Danny allows himself
to splash out on fashionable clothes occasionally.
2 to buy a lot of something
buy a lot of/lots of buy in
stock up buy up
buy in bulk import
wholesale
buy a lot of/lots of ],baI a 'lot ov, 'lots ov II -'lo:t-I [v
phrase]
You've been buying a lot of clothes recently. Have you decided
to change your image? [ We've bought lots o f food and drink,
so it should be a really good party.
stock up/stok '^p 11 sto:k-/to buy a large quantity of
something you use regularly because you may not be able
to buy it later, or because you are planning to use more of
it than usual [phr v I]
stock up on We always stock up on cheap cigarettes when
we go to Holland. [ stock up The supermarkets are full of
people stocking up for the New Year's holiday. [ We might
as well stock up while we're here - it'll save us having to come
back.
buy in bulk ] ,baI In 'bAlk] to buy a large quantity of some-
thing, especially because it is cheaper [v phrasel
We always buy in bulk. It is so much more economical. [ buy
st^ in bulk Since we got our freezer we always buy things
in bulk. It's so convenient. [ bulk buying (=buying goods
in large quantities) Bulk buying has enabled the company
to cut costs.
whoiesal® ] 'haolseil] if you buy something wholesale,
you buy a large quantity of it directly from the company
that makes it because it is cheaper [adv]
Mark buys the earrings wholesale and then sells them in the
market. I Let's see if we can get them wholesale and save our-
selves a few dollars.
wholesale [adj] The shopkeeper buys his fruit and vegeta-
bles at wholesale prices.
buy |n ]ba 'in] a British expression meaning to buy
enough of something to last for a long time, for example
because it may be difficult to buy later. [phr v T]

BUY 167 BUY
buy in sth People had to buy in candles during the electric-
ity strike. I buy sth/it/them in Villagers club together to
buy enough food in to last through winter.
buy up ]lbai I^p] to quickly buy all of something such as
land, tickets, food etc, when there is only a limited amount
available [phr v T]
buy up sth In the last five years development agencies have
bought up almost all the land in the area. I buy sth/it/them
up You'd better hurry if you're hoping to get a ticket for the
Michael Jackson concert, people are buying them up fast.
import ]mpa:rt] to buy goods from another country to
be sold, used etc in your country, especially in large quan-
tities Iv T]
The United States has to import some of its oil. I Most of the
wines served in this restaurant are imported from France.
imports ] lmpa:rts] In plural] In 1989 our imports (=goods
that were imported) greatly exceeded exports.
 to buy something for someone else
treat stand sb a drink
buy/get a round be on sb
treat / tri:t/to buy something such as a meal for someone,
especially because you like them or you want to celebrate
something Iv T]
treat sb to sth He had not seen the children for a week so
he decided to take them out and treat them to a meal. I treat
sb As it's your birthday I thought I'd treat you.
buy/get a round/baI, iget o raond/to buy a drink for
everyone in the group that you are with, in a place which
sells alcoholic drinks Iv phrase]
I'll get this round. What would you like? I Jack always leaves
when it's his turn to buy a round.
stand sb a drink/stnd (sb) o IdrI0k/to buy a drink
for someone especially when they cannot afford to buy one
for themselves Iv phrase]
"'Here's the money. "" "Put it away. I think I can just about
afford to stand you a drink!" I I'm short of money today. Can
you stand me a drink?
be on sb/hi: on (sb)/if you say something, especially the
drinks, are on someone, you mean that person is going to
pay for them Iv T]
"Everything's on me tonight, "" said Grimes, "I've just been
paid. "'1 the drinks are on the house (=the bar or restaur-
ant is paying for the drinks) The manager apologized and
told us our drinks would be on the house for the rest of the
evening.
4 to arrange for something such as a seat in a
theatre, plane, or restaurant to be kept for
you so that you can u.se it later
reserve/book
reservation
booking
reserve (also book in British English) Ir['z3:rv, buk/
[v I/T]
reserve/book sth I'd like to reserve a seat on the next plane
to Atlanta. I We're thinking of booking a holiday in Malay-
sia this year. I be booked up/be fully booked (--all the
tickets, seats etc have been booked) The lady at the bed and
breakfast says she's booked up till February. I booked solid
(=all the tickets for a play, show etc have been completely
booked and it is impossible to get any) The show was booked
solid for months to come. I reserve/book We'd better reserve
well in advance or we'll end up miles from the ski slopes.
reserved [adj] I'm afraid this table is reserved, sir.
reservation /rezo r vc`[an! an arrangement to keep
something such as a seat on a plane, a hotel room, or a table
in a restaurant so that you can use it later In C]
Hotel reservations have dropped by more than a third since
last year's IRA bombing campaign I have a reservation
"'I'd like a table for two please. '" "Do you have a reservation,
madam?" l make a reservation She packed her bags, then
called the airport and made a reservation on the last flight
out of Los Angeles.
booking I'bokrJI a word used especially in British
English meaning an arrangement to keep something such
as a room in a hotel or a seat in a theatre so that you can
use it later In C]
I'd like to cancel my booking, please. I Advance bookings for
the show currently total more than Ј100,000. I make a book-
ing You can make a provisional booking over the phone.
5 to go to shops in order to buy things
go shopping shopper
do the shopping shop around
go to the shops/ go window shopping
go to the store
go shopping/,goo '`[DpIrJ II -,`[o:-I to go to shops to look
at and buy things, often for enjoyment [v phrase]
Let's meet in town. We'll go shopping together and have
lunch. I I'm just going shopping. Do you want anything?
do the shopping !,du: 6o 'j'vprj [I -,`[a=-I to go to shops
in order to buy the things that you need regularly such as
food Iv phrase]
On Saturdays we usually do the shopping and clean the car. I
She sent her husband out to do the week's shopping. I do
my/your etc shopping I did all my shopping yesterday.
go to the shops (British) I go to the store (Ameri-
can)/,goo to 8o '`[t:)ps, ,goo to 6o 'sta: r II -'`[o:psl to go out
to the local shop or shops in order to buy something, espe-
cially the things that you need regularly such as food Iv
phrase]
"'Where's Julie?'" "'She's gone to the shops. '" I Mr Parker, my
next-door neighbour, is getting quite old and I sometimes go
to the shops for him. I Alfred went down to the store to get
some whiskey to celebrate the occasion.
shopper/'`[opo r I[ U'°:Por/someone who is at the shops
buying things In C]
The streets were crowded with late-night shoppers. I The dis-
plays are intended to attract shoppers into the store.
shop around /,op olraond II i`[a:P-I to go to several
different shops comparing goods and their prices before
deciding which ones to buy [phr v I]
If you shop around you could probably get the camera a lot
cheaper than that. I shop around for I think it might be
worth shopping around for a more recent model.
go window shopping Igoo wlndoo `[tpI1j II -a:p-! to
look at the things that are shown in shop windows without
intending to buy anything Iv phrase]
I thought I'd go window shopping while my wife was having
her hair cut.
6 to regularly use a particular shop
shop
patronize
shop/.[up II `[o:pl to regularly use a particular shop, espe-
cially to buy things that you need regularly such as food
[ v I not in progressive]
shop at/in I usually shop at Safeway. It's just around the
corner from my house. I A lot of people have stopped shop-
ping there since the new supermarket opened.
patronize (also -ise British)/'pzctronalz II 'pe[-, 'pzc-/a
formal British word meaning to use a particular shop,
hotel, restaurant, etc, especially one which is very expen-
sive or high class Iv T not usually in progressive]
The shop is patronized by Hollywood's rich and famous. I
The kind of people who patronize the boutique are mostly
yuppies in their late 20s.
7 someone who buys goods or services
customer buyer
client consumer
patron custom
clientele
customer I 'kAstomor/someone who buys goods from a
particular shop, restaurant, or company In C]

BUY 168 CALL/DESCRIBE AS
We don't get many customers on Mondays - Saturday is our
busiest day. I The barman was serving the last customer of
the evening. I Ford has launched a big new sales campaign
in an effort to bring in new customers. I biggest customer
(=customer who buys the most goods) The Defense Depart-
merit is one of Lockhead's biggest regular customers.
client ] klamnt! someone who pays for services or advice
from a professional person or organization In C]
The bank manager's secretary said he had an all-day meet-
ing with some important clients. I I'll have to meet with your
client before I can accept your terms. I oldest client (=client
who has been using your company's services for the long-
est time) The firm is one of our oldest clients - we don't want
to lose them.
patron / Ipetmn/a word used especially on public notices
meaning someone who uses a hotel, cinema, restaurant etc
[nC]
Car park is reserved for patrons only. [ The hotel restaur-
ant is open to patrons and non-residents.
clientele ! kli:n Itel [[ klain tel, kli:-/the people, espe-
cially rich people, who regularly use a shop or restaurant,
or the services of a professional person In singular with
singular or plural verb in British English]
Their clientele used to include exiled Russian aristocrats but
today it's just an ordinary care. [ Madame Zara caters for
a very select clientele.
buyer /bair/someone who is buying something expen-
sive such as a house, company, or painting, usually from
another person In C]
We coulcln't find a buyer for our house, so we weren't able
to move after all. I They've had a lot of enquiries about the
company - there's no shortage of potential buyers.
consumer/kznsju:mz r 11 -'su:-/a word used especially
in a business or economic context meaning a person who
buys and uses goods and services [n C I
A new consumer advice center has opened next to City Hall. [
Companies have been forced to give in to consumers"
demands for more environmentally friendly products. [ the
consumer (=consumers in general) We may have to pass
increases in the price of raw materials on to the consumer.
custom /knstom/ a word used especially in British
English meaning the business that people give to a shop,
restaurant etc when they use it In U]
Local shops have lost a lot of custom to the supermarket up
the road. [ The stores in the main street rely heavily on the
tourists for their custom. [ The restaurant was forced to close
due to lack of custom.
buyer
buzz
by
by
by
by
by
BUY 7
SOUND 14
BEFORE 4, NEXT TO 1, WAY/METHOD 6
all means YES 2
and large IN GENERAL 1
boat/plane/train TRAVEL 2
choice CHOOSE 1
day/by night DURING 1
heart: know sth by heart/off by heart KNOW STH
8
heart: learn sth by heart LEARN 2
by land/air/sea TRAVEL 2
by-pass ROAD/PATH 5
by-product RESULT 4
by sight: know sb by sight KNOW SB 1
by that time THEN 2
by the way AND/ALSO 2
by yourself ALONE 1
by yourself: on your own/by yourself ALONE 2, HELP
13, INDEPENDENT PERSON 4
bye GOODBYE 2
bygone PAST 4
bygones: let bygones be bygones FORGET 4
bylaw LAW 1
bypass AVOID 4, 7
cabinet GOVERNMENT 2
cache KEEP/STORE 2
cack-handed CLUMSY 1
cackle LAUGH 5
cadaver BODY 4
cadge ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 5
cagey SECRET 7
cahoots: in cahoots with WITH 4
cajole PERSUADE 2
cake: biggest slice of the cake MOST 2
cake: take the cake WORSE 6
caked COVER 3
ca/amity DISASTER 1
calculate COUNT/CALCULATE 2
calculated DELIBERATELY 3
calculated risk: take a calculated risk RISK 3
calculating BAD PERSON 3
calculation COUNT/CALCULATE 9
call CALL/DESCRIBE AS 1, 2, NAME OF A PERSON
5, NAME OF A THING 6
call: be on call READY 4, WORK/DO WORK :3
call: give sb a call/ring TELEPHONE 1
call: make a call/phone call/telephone call
TELEPHONE 1
call: pay a visit/a call VISIT 1
call: phone/call TELEPHONE 1
call: take a call ANSWER/REPLY 7'
call a halt to STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
call at STOP MOVING 6
call at/stop at GO 3
call attention to ATTENTION 7
call back RETURN 2, TELEPHONE 3
call back/ring back TELEPHONE 3
call for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 3, NEED 7,
REASON 10
call for/come for MEET 4
call-girl SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 9
call in ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 6
call in/call round VISIT 6
call it a day STOP DOING STH 7
call off CANCEL 1, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 2
call on VISIT 1
call on/upon ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 3, 7
call out SHOUT 1
call/phone call TELEPHONE 4
call sb names INSULT 1
call up: be called up/be drafted ARMY 4
call up: ring up/call up TELEPHONE 1
CALL/DESCRIBE
AS
to describe something or someone in a
particular way
to give someone or something a name that
describes their character or behaviour
a word or name that is used to describe the
character or behaviour of someone or
something
1 to describe something or someone in a
particular way
describe sthlsb as label
say sthlsb is brand
call hail sth/sb as

CALL/DESCRIBE AS 169 CALM
describe sthlsb as/dI 'skraib (sth/sb) ez/[phr v T]
I can only describe the film as a total disaster. [ Critics have
been describing him as a creative genius. I Eliot was
described by Lewis as arrogant, sly and insincere. [ How
would you describe your relationship with your parents?
say (that) sthlsb is/tseI 6at (sth/sb) IZ/ [v phrase]
People say she's too ambitious. I It is an over-simplification
to say that Britain is a democracy. I You could say that New
York is a city that never sleeps.
call/karl/to use a particular word or phrase to describe
someone or something in order to show your opinion of
them [v T)
call sb sth Are you calling me a liar? I "'You idiot/ .... What
did you call me?" l Already his followers were calling him
a saint. I call sth sth Some people are calling this the art
sale of the century.
label/'leibal/to describe someone, usually unfairly, as
being of a certain type or belonging to a certain group that
you disapprove of [v T usually passive]
label sb as The unemployed are often labelled as lazy or
unreliable. I All those who disagreed with the government
were labelled as communists. I label sb a troublemaker/
alcoholic/dissident etc She answered her critics who had
labelled her an alcoholic.
brand/breend/to describe someone or something as a very
bad type of person or thing [v T)
brand sb/sth as Stalin's opponents were branded as spies
and traitors. I The United Nations branded apartheid as the
true slavery of the twentieth century. I brand sb a racist/
traitor/coward etc The newspapers branded him a racist.
hail sthlsb as / Ihei1 (sth/sb) ez/if someone hails some-
thing or someone as something, they publicly describe it
in a particular way that shows that they admire it [phr v T1
This new drug is being hailed as the biggest breakthrough
in the treatment of cancer. I Critics are hailing it as the best
Italian movie since Fellini's "8Ѕ:
2 to give someone or something a name that
describes their character or behaviour
call
christen
dub
call/karl/[v T ]
call sth sth They call Chicago "The Windy City'. I call sb
sth We used to call him The Gentle Giant. I He's really tough.
They don't call him "The Killer" for nothing.
christen !  kr[san! to invent a name for someone, and use
it whenever you talk about them, especially because you
think it suits them or is funny [v T)
christen sb sth In the hotel was a girl my own age who wore
lace dresses. I christened her Lacy Skirts. I By his fifth visit,
Jane had secretly christened him Romeo. I The engine was
affectionately christened 'Puffing Billy'.
dub/dAb/to give someone a name, often a humorous name,
that describes their character, especially when the public
start to call them by this name regularly [v T)
dub sb sth Journalists dubbed the robbers 'the Kalashnikov
Gang" because of the guns they used. I Margaret Thatcher
was dubbed "the Iron Lady'.
3 a word or name that is used to describe the
character or behaviour of someone or
something
label
tag
label I'leIball a word used regularly as a description of
someone or something, showing that people think of them,
often unfairly, as belonging to a particular type In C]
He objects to the sexist label. He doesn't think he's sexist at
all. I They called him an anarchist, a label that Frankie came
to accept as a compliment.
tag ltegi a word or phrase used regularly in connection
with a particular person's name to describe their charac-
ter, behaviour etc, especially in a way the person does not
like [IC ]
During one game I accidentally scored against my own side
and thus acquired the tag "wrong way'Jones. I Now that he
is a respectable politician he is anxious to shake off the
'Mafia man" tag.
called: be called NAME OF A PERSON 4, NAME OF A
THING 2
caller TELEPHONE 5, VISIT 7
calm CALM 1, 2, 4, NOT MOVING 5, PEACEFUL 1, 2
calm down CALM 3, 5
calm sb down CALM 4
.]calm ....
! ":; "2.
which meaning?
.o
• :ot becoming excited, @ CALM
nervous, angry etc
a calm, quiet place @ PEACEFUL
CALM
1 remaining calm in a difficult situation
2 words for describing someone who is usually
calm
3 to become calm after you have been angry,
excited, or upset
4 to make someone calmer
5 what you say to someone to make them
calmer
1 remaining calm in a difficult situation
calm
cool
keep your head
composed
keep/maintain/not
lose your composure
presence of mind
unruffled
not fazed
keep a stiff
upper lip
calm/ka:m II ka:m, ka:lm/staying sensible and relaxed
in a difficult situation rather than getting angry, excited,
or upset [adj]
keepCtayCemain calm Teri tried to stay calm but her
hands were shaking. [ calm When I felt calmer I prepared
myself to talk to the police. [ Everyone praised Douglas for
the calm and competent way he handled the situation.
calmly lady] Calmly and slowly Edie told them to phone for
an ambulance.
cool/ku:l/calm and not showing your emotions, especially
when other people are getting excited [adj]
Doctors are expected to be cool and act quickly in an emer-
gency. ] Underneath his cool exterior his heart was beating
like a drum. ] keep/stay/remain cool She stayed cool even
when she was threatened with a knife.
coolly [adv] Coolly, she grabbed the thief's gun and shouted
for help.
keep your head / ki:pj: r 'hed/to manage to stay calm
so that you can think clearly about what to do, especially
in a dangerous situation Iv phrase]
Claire welcomed responsibility and kept her head in every
crisis. I The car started to spin on the ice, but Ron kept his
head and managed to get control of it again. I keep a cool
head It's important to keep a cool head in business.
composed/kam pozd/in control of your emotions so
that you look and feel calm in a difficult or upsetting situ-
ation [adj]

CALM 170 can
It was a tremendous strain for her but she looked composed. I
It was several minutes before he felt composed enough to
speak to anyone.
keep/maintain/not lose your composure/,ki:p,
mein,tein, not ,lu:z ja:r kam,pausar II -man-/to succeed in
staying calm in front of other people although you are in
a difficult or annoying situation Iv phrase]
"'Get out!'" said Miss Rochdale, just managing to maintain
her composure with a strong effort. I He stood very still,
ignoring their laughter, trying hard not to lose his
composure.
presence of mind/prezans av Ima[nd/the ability to
stay calm that makes someone able to do the right thing
immediately even in a very dangerous or diffmult situation
In phrase]
presence of mind to do sth Even though she was injured
she had enough presence of mind to rescue her friend from
the wreckage. [ presence of mind His presence of mind
prevented a serious accident.
unruffled/^n  r^fld/calm and not upset by a difficult sit-
uation, especially one in which someone is trying to upset
you [adj]
Mark was known for his ability to remain totally unruffled
even in the most trying and difficult situation. I She was a
determined politician who appeared unruffled by such
criticism.
not fazed/not 'felzdl an informal expression meaning
calm in a difficult situation, especially one in which some-
one is trying to confuse or upset you [adj]
He didn't seem at all fazed by her question and he seemed
to enjoy talking about it.
keep a stiff upper lip/ki:p a ,stlf Apa r tllp/to make an
effort not to show your feelings and to stay calm in a
difficult situation in which most people would show their
feelings, become upset etc Iv phrase]
The British have a reputation for keeping a stiff upper lip. I
She managed to keep a stiff upper lip even when they jailed
her husband.
2 words for describing someone who is usually
calm
calm even-tempered
placid laid-back
relaxed
calm/ko:m II ko:m, ko:lm/always sensible and relaxed
rather than getting angry, excited, or upset in a difficult
situation [adj]
My sister was always calm and careful, whereas I would get
excited and upset by the slightest thing. I The nurse had the
kind of calm and patient voice that makes you feel better
immediately.
calmness In U] Everyone depended on her calmness and
efficiency.
placid I'plesdl someone who is placid is always calm
and satisfied, so that they never cause problems or get
angry [adj]
She's a sweet, placid child who rarely gets upset or angry. I
There was a worried look on her normally placid face.
relaxed/ri lzekst/someone who is relaxed is calm and
friendly, so that people like being with them [adj]
Our teacher welcomed us in his friendly relaxed way. I He
is usually so relaxed but at the moment he's under a lot of
stress.
even-tempered /i:van tempard-! always calm and
never getting angry [adjl
I can't imagine why he reacted like that - he's usually so
even-tempered. I Both of the Harrisons are remarkably even-
tempered.
laid.back/,le[d 'bmk-/an informal expression meaning
calm and having a relaxed attitude to life, especially in sit-
uations where most people might feel anxious or get angry
[adj]
They are the classic odd couple. He is laid-back and easy-
going; she is more outgoing and nervy. I laid-back about
I can't believe he's so laid-back about his kids smoking.
3 to become calm after you have been angry,
excited, or upset
calm down compose yourself
cool down/off steady your nerves
calm down I,ko:m 'daonl [phr v I]
Harris waited until the audience calmed down before con-
tinuing his announcement. I I could hardly wait to tell him
the good news but I had to calm down before I could speak.
cool down/off/,ku:l 'daon, 'of II -':fl to calm down after
you have been very angry [phr v I]
The police kept him overnight in one of the cells so he could
cool off. I Leave her alone until she cools down a bit.
compose yourself/karnpaoz j:r self/to deliberately
make yourself look and feel calm after you have been upset
Iv phrase ]
She took several deep breaths in an effort to compose herself
before going downstairs. I He waited a moment outside the
door so that Philip would have time to compose himself.
steady your nerves /stedij3: r n3:rvz/if you do some-
thing, especially have an alcoholic drink, to steady your
nerves you do it to make yourself calm [v phrase]
They finally found him in the bar where he had gone to
steady his nerves.
4 to make someone calmer
calm sb down
calm
calm sb down /,k(a:m (sb) 'daon/to make someone calm
especially after they have suddenly become angry or
excited [phr v T]
The doctor gave him a tranquillizer to calm him down. I I
laid my hands on her shoulders to calm her down but she
pushed me away. I Take a few deep breaths, that'll calm you
down.
calm/k(a:rn II ko:m, ko:Im/to make someone calm if they
are worried and upset [v T not in passive]
Although no one really believed her, they did their best to
calm her. I Mothers learn to calm crying children by caress-
ing them.
5 what you say to someone to make them
 calmer
calm down take it easy
relax chill out
calm down/,ko:m 'daon! (used when someone is angry,
upset or excited and you want them to become calm enough
to think and speak clearly)
"'I can't be late again. "" "Calm down, don't get so excited
about things. ""
relax Irileks/ (used when someone is worried about
something and you want them to be calm because it is not
necessary or helpful for them to worry)
Relax! Thepolice won't find us here. I Look, relax, will you.
There's nothing you can do about it.
take it easy/telk it 'i:zi/(used when someone is wor-
ried or angry and you want them to be calm and not act so
quickly or wildly)
Take it easy, Father. The officer is only asking a question. [
"Oh my god, we're lost!'" "Take it easy! Just follow the signs
to the George Washington Bridge. ""
chill out /ql aotl (an informal American expression
used when someone is worried or nervous and you want
them to be calm)
OK, it's alright -just chill out!
: camouflage HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 3
 campaign FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 1, 2, 4, TRY TO
DO OR GET STH 8, VOTE/ELECT 10
 campaign/advertising campaign ADVERTISE 3
ii4: can CAN 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, LET/ALLOW 5, POSSIBLE 2
; can: can be done POSSIBLE 1
 can: carry the can BLAME 2

can 1"71 CAN
can: do everything/all you can TRY TO DO OR GET STiff 3
can I LET/ALLOW 3
can
1 to be able to do something because you
have the physical ability, the mental qualities,
or the equipment, money etc that is needed
in order to do it
:2 to be able to do something because you
have learned how to do it or you have the
skill that is needed to do it
3 to be able to do something because you
have enough time and you are not too busy
4 to be able to do something because the
situation makes it possible for you to do it
5 to be able to do something because you
have the power, legal rights etc that you need
in order to do it
6 the ability to do something
7' to make someone able to do something
1 to be able to do something because you
have the physical ability, the mental qualities,
or the equipment, money etc that is needed
in order to do it
can have the ability to do sth
be able to do sth be equipped to do sth
be capable of have it in you
can/kon; strong ken/[modal verb]
can do sth He can run faster than me. I They've invented a
computer that can talk. I How many hamburgers do you
think you can eat? I The man at the garage said he could have
the car ready for you by Friday. I Why didn't they ask me?
I could have done it for them for half the price. I If we had
a boat we could row across to the island. I can "'Doyou think
we can afford to take a vacation this year? .... Yes of course
we can!'"
be able to do sth Ibi: tebal to tdu: (sth)l be able to do
something, especially something that needs a lot of effort
[ v phrase]
Those bags look really heavy - are you sure you'll be able
to carry them on your own? I After the accident it was a long
time before she was able to walk again. I When you're driv-
ing you have to be able to'use your feet and your hands at
the same time. I be able to My grandpa's getting old now
and he can't do all the things he was able to before.
be capable of/bi: 'kepobal Dvl to have the power or abil-
ity to do something, especially something very difficult or
unexpected Iv phrase]
be capable of doing sth Lewis is capable of running the
100 metres in under 9.9 seconds. I a hydroelectric power sta-
tion capable of generating enough energy for half the region l
be capable of sth It's difficult to imagine, that an innocent-
looking young person like her would be capable of murder. I
be perfectly capable of doing sth (=be capable of doing
something by yourself without anyone helping you) Leave
the boy alone, I'm sure he's perfectly capable of fixing it
himself.
have the ability to do sth/hev 6i otbllolti t 'du: (sth)l
to have the ability to do something, especially something
unusual or something that most people, machines etc
cannot do [v phrase not in progressive]
This computer has the ability to 'think" and teach itself how
to do things. I People who have a photographic memory have
the ability to remember whole pages by just looking at them. I
For thisjob you need to have the ability to work under intense
pressure.
be equipped to do sth/bi: lkwipt to Idu: (sth)/to be
able to do something, especially to deal with a particular
problem, because you have been properly prepared or had
the right training Iv phrase]
By the end of the course, students should be equipped to deal
with any business situation. I The emergency services are well
equipped to cope with disasters of this kind.
have It in you/,hev it in ju:/to have the ability to suc-
ceed in doing something difficult, especially when you or
other people doubt that you can do it Iv phrase not in
progressive]
I admired the way you refused to let him bully you - I didn "t
think you had it in you. I have it in you to do sth No one
thought I could win, but I knew I had it in me to do it if I
really tried.
2 to be able to do something because you
have learned how to do it or you have the
skill that is needed to do it
can
be able to do sth
know how to do sth
can/kon; strong ken/[modal verb]
can do sth Can you swim? I He says he can fly a plane but
I don't believe him. I Jane could play the piano before she
was 5. I can I don't think he knows how to sew but if he says
he can, let him try.
be able to do sth/bi: tebal to tdu: (sth)/to be able to
do something, especially something that involves a lot of
skill or knowledge Iv phrase]
I've always wanted to be able to speak Japanese. I She regret-
ted not being able to drive. I In a few weeks" time you should
be able to type up to 60 words a minute. I be able to If you
want to run as fast as I can, train hard and you'll soon be
able to.
know how to do sth l lnoo hao to tdu: (sth)l to be able
to do something, especially something practical such as
operating a machine, because you have learned how to do
it Iv phrase not in progressive]
Do you know how to use this computer? I I'd turn the thing
off if only I knew how. I Young Katie here knows how to say
'thank you" in 10 different languages.
 to be able to do something because you
have enough time and you are not too busy
can
be able to do sth
it is possible for sb to do sth
can/kon; strong ken/[modal verb]
can do sth Can you come around to my apartment tomorrow

CAN 172 CAN
and help me move some furniture? I I don't have an appoint-
ment, but I wonder if the dentist could see me today. I can I'm
sure I can't make it, but if I can I'll phone you.
be able to do sth/bi: elbal to du: (sth)/[v phrase]
She wished she had been able to study more when she was
younger instead of looking after her children. [ Despite his
enormous workload the president still seems able to go fish-
ing. I be able to I've promised to help her move house and
if l get this work done I'll be able to.
it is possible for sb to do sth/,t z ,posbal fo r (sb)
to du: (sth) II -pa:-/an expression used especially when
you are arranging something with someone, meaning that
you are able to do something because you have enough
time or are not too busy
Would it be possible for you to wait? Mrs Thorpe is with a
client at the moment. I Dr Griffigis says that it should be pos-
sible for him to fit you in on Tuesday afternoon. I I was won-
dering if it would be possible for you to have the coat ready
by tomorrow?
4 to be able to do something because the
situation makes it possible for you to do it
can
be able to do sth
get to do sth
can/kon; strong ken/[modal verb]
can do sth I hope we can find a parking space. I You can
probably get most of the stuff you need from any hardware
store. I can If you phone after 3 o'clock you 7l catch him. You
usually can at that time.
be able to do sth/bi: ,ebal to du: (sth)/Iv phrase]
She was able to get her watch repaired the same day. I Prices
start at around $500, but you may be able to get a second
hand one much more cheaply. I be able to At first he thought
we couldn't afford it but we saved for over a year and were
soon able to.
get to do sth/,get to 'du: (sth)/to be able to do something
that you have wanted to do for a long time, or something
that you are not normally allowed to do Iv phrase not
progressive]
I've always been a fan of Madonna and last week I actually
got to see her in concert. I Do I get to stay up late when Dad
comes home from his business trip?
5 to be able to do something because you
have the power, legal rights etc that you need
in order to do it
can
have the power to do sth
be in a position to do sth
can Ikon; strong ken/[modal verb]
can do sth Now they are both sixteen they can get married. [
In the old days the king could dismiss parliament if they dis-
agreed with him. I It's my house and Ican do whatever I want
here. [ can Many people are not mature enough to vote but
the law says they can.
have the power to do sth Iheev 6 paoa r to du: (sth)/
to be able to do something because you are in a position
of power or authority Iv phrase not in progressive]
The judge has the power to order a witness to give evidence. I
Critics have the power to make or break a play on Broadway.
be in a position to do sth/bi: tn o po,zj'an to 'du: (sth)/
to have enough authority or power to be able to do some-
thing Iv phrase]
Only the president is in a position to order the release of the
prisoners. I The only person who's really in a position to criti-
cize my work is my tutor. I The discovery of the new drug
means that doctors are now in a position to help patients
suffering from the disease. I be in a good/excellent/better
position to do sth When I have read the whole report I shall
be in a better position to comment.
6 the ability to do something
ability power
capability powers
capacity resources
skill aptitude
ability/o'bxltil In C/U]
Our ability to think and speak separates us from other mam-
mals. I She possesses the rare ability to get on well with
almost anyone. I It all depends on the level of ability of the
student. I sb's abilities as a teacher/doctor etc When I
first started teaching I had little confidence in my abilities
as a teacher.
capability / ,kep'b ! ti/the ability of a person, machine
etc to do something, especially something difficult that
needs a lot of knowledge, skill, advanced equipment etc In
C/U]
capability to do sth Only two countries - Russia and
America - have the capability to send humans into space. I
capability of doing sth This computer system gives the user
the capability of accessing huge amounts of data. I capa-
bility Man Ray explored the capabilities of the camera to
their fullest extent.
capacity/ko'pesti/the ability to do something or to
behave in a certain way, especially when this is a special
ability that most people do not have In C always singular]
capacity for He has an enormous capacity for hard work. I
Billy possessed a seemingly infinite capacity for self-
deception. I capacity to do sth Like all great leaders, she
showed the capacity to take bold imaginative decisions.
skill/sk;l/the ability that you need to have learned in
order to do a particular activity or job In C]
This course is designed to develop the student's reading and
writing skills. I Being a good manager requires a number
of highly specialized skills. I Too many children leave school
without having learned a skill that they can use in the
workplace.
power/'paoor/a natural ability to do something, espe-
cially to see, hear, speak etc In C]
the power of sight/speech/hearing etc She was so sur-
prised that for a few seconds she lost the power of speech. I
The ostrich is a bird that no longer has the power of flight. I
the power to do sth Patients with AIDS do not have the
power to fight against common infections.
powers/ paorz/powers of judgement/observation/
persuasion/understanding etc (-the ability to do some-
thing that involves mental effort or skill, such as persuad-
ing, judging etc) In plural]
I must admit I don't have much confidence in his powers of
judgement. I This problem is designed to test your powers of
observation. I She impressed us all with her dazzling intellec-
tual powers.
resources/r'z:rsz/qualities such as courage and a
strong mind which someone needs in order to deal with a
difficult situation In plural]
Sailing alone across the Atlantic Ocean is no easy task, and
I had to use all my resources - both mental andphysical. I
She's tough - I'm sure she has the emotional resources to
handle it.
aptitude/'epttju:d II -tu:d/the natural ability that some-
one has to learn a new subject or activity and become good
at it In C usually singular]
aptitude for At an early age Susan showed an aptitude for
languages. I aptitude A trainee with normal aptitude can
learn these techniques in a few months. I aptitude test All
applicants are given aptitude tests before being invited for
interview.
7 to make someone able to do something
enable sb to do sth
make it possible
equip
enable sb to do sth/ nebal (sb) t du: (sth)! [vphrase
not in passive]

CAN 173 CAN'T
The eagle's long wings enable it to glide for long distances. I
The youth opportunities programme is designed to enable
young people to find work. I Economists say the ending of the
Cold War will enable the US to cut its defense budget virtu-
ally by half.
make it possible/,mek it 'pDsbal ][ -'po:-/to provide
the situation in which someone is able to do something Iv
phrase]
make it possible to do sth The new direct air service will
make it possible to travel from London to Tokyo in less than
12 hours. [ Recent advances in biochemistry have made it pos-
sible to produce these drugs in huge quantities. [ make it
possible for sb to do sth Changes in the law will make it
possible for men to stay at home to look after young children. [
make sth possible I'd like to thank everyone - my family,
my friends - who helped to make the whole thing possible.
equip/i 'kwp/if education or training equips you to do
something, especially something such as a particular kind
of job, it prepares you and makes you able to do it Iv T]
equip sb to do sth The school aims to equip students to deal
with the kind of problems they will face in the outside world.[
equip sb for My training as a doctor was intended to equip
me for just this kind of emergency.
:,ii cancel CANCEL 1
--. cancel out EFFECTIVE 5
 cancel out: cancel each other out EQUAL 7
cancel I
which meaning?
tmncel a-meetingi
event etc
arrange to do
something late than
lanned
.... N CANCEL
POSTPONE/
DO LATER
We haven't really got enough money for the trip - let's scrub
it, shall we?
be off/bi:'f II -':f/if an event or activity is off, it has
just been cancelled because of a sudden problem or change
in someone's plans [phr v I]
I'm afraid the party's off. Nick won't let us use his flat. I It's
bad news. The deal's off. I Does this mean the wedding's offl?.
shelve/elv/shelve a project/plan/idea/proposal etc
(=decide not to continue with it at the present time,
although it may be considered again in the future) Iv T
usually passive]
Plans for a new airport terminal have been shelved. I The
idea was considered to be uneconomical, and was shelved in
1975.
candid HONEST 3
candidate EXAM/TEST 3, VOTE/ELECT 9
cannot CAN'T 1, 2, 3, 4
canny INTELLIGENT 4
can't/couldn't IMPOSSIBLE 3
can't do sth FORBID 2
can't do sth to save your life BAD AT 2
can't/not be able to do sth CAN'T 2, 4
can't
which
' ......... :!i'.!i " .::i;i;i!iL '
not be able to do , @ CAN'T
something
.:
cannot be d0n or ,. @ IMPOSSIBLE
cannot happen ....
.not be allowed to do. @ FORBID
something
.bad at doig Ti:ii! ......  @ BAD AT
=something
CANCEL
1 to arrange that a planned event will not now
happen
I to arrange that a planned event will not now
happen
cancel be off
call off shelve
scrub
cancel/' kansl/to arrange that an event or activity that
has been planned will not now happen Iv T]
We've had to cancel our visit to Langley because Jim is ill. I
She called the restaurant and cancelled the reservation. I He's
had his driving test cancelled. I And when we got to the air-
port the flight had been cancelled!
cancellation !,kansa'len/ [n C/U] Cancellation of the
order would mean the loss of several jobs. I The bad weather
has caused many delays on the subway, but so far, there have
been no cancellations (=nothing has been cancelled).
call off / ,k:l 'of [I -'a:f/to cancel an event that you have
arranged and that is just about to begin, because there is
a sudden problem or change of plan [phr v T]
call offsth The unions will call off their strike now that they
have accepted the management's offer. I call sth/it/them
off When they saw the state of the field, they called the game
off. I Hardly anyone can come to the meeting, so we'll have
to call it off.
scrub/skrAb! an informal word meaning to cancel some-
thing you have arranged, especially because something
forces you to do this Iv T]
@ CAN'T
I to be unable to do something because you
do not have the physical or mental ability, or
the equipment, money etc that is needed in
order to do it
:2 to be unable to do something because you
have not learned how to do it or you do not
have the skill that is needed to do it
3 to be unable to do something because you
do not have enough time or you are too busy
4 to be unable to do something because you
do not have the power, legal rights etc that
you need in order to do it
5 to make someone unable to do something
1 to be unable to do something because you
do not have the physical or mental ability, or
the equipment, money etc that is needed in
order to do it
can't/not be able to do sth
cannot
be unable to do sth
sb's inability to do sth
be incapable of/not be capable of
not be equipped/be ill-equipped
powerless
can't/not be able to do sth/,ko:nt, ,not bi: ,ebal t
'du: (sth) II ,keent-/[modal verb]

CAN'T 17 CAN'T
She can't see anything without her glasses. J The silly man
packed so much into his suitcase that he couldn't carry it. I
We won't be able to sleep tonight until we know she's home
safely. I I've looked all over the house but I haven't been able
to find my keys anywhere. I I could never have climbed that
ridge - I'm too scared of heights. I can't/not be able to
"'Can you touch your toes? .... No I can't. ""
cannot !'kenot, -not II -no:t] (used especially in written
English) [modal verb]
Human beings cannot exist without oxygen. I Lucy could not
answer - tears were running down her face. I Scientists
cannot predict what will happen to the earth's atmosphere
if the ozone layer continues to be depleted.
be unable to do sth/bi: An,eibol to 'du: (sth)/(used espe-
cially in written English when the fact that someone
cannot do something is a condition they are in for a long
time or permanently) Iv phrase]
The doctor told us we would be unable to have children. I
Many children are unable to read and write properly by the
time they finish school. I Those who are unable to pay the
fines are sent to jail. I Bobby tossed and turned, unable to
sleep.
sb's inability to do sth/(sb's) [no,bIlti to 'du: (sth)! the
fact that someone is unable to do something, used espe-
cially when you are annoyed with them because you think
they should be able to do it and are too weak, lazy etc In
phrase]
He was angry at my inability to understand what he was
saying. I The most obvious symptom of the disease is an in-
ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. I US voters
were becoming frustrated at the inability of the Bush
administration to do anything about the debt crisis.
be incapable of/not be capable of/bi: in'kelpobal
Dv, not bi: 'kelpobal Dvl to not have the physical or mental
strength or abilities to do something, often used when you
are criticizing someone Iv phrase]
be incapable of doing sth He "s so stupid he's totally incapa-
ble of doing the simplest task. I Francesca was so surprised
by the question that for a minute she was incapable of
answering. I be incapable of sth Nero was a cruel man,
utterly incapable of pity or sympathy.
not be equipped/be ill-equipped/not bi: i ,kwlpt, bi:
t ll  'kwlpt/not be equipped to do sth to be unable to do
something because you do not have the right training or
experience Iv phrase]
The young teacher wasn't equipped to deal with such a
difficult class. I Many judges have little experience of every-
day life and are ill-equipped to judge other people. I not be
equipped for Victor does not deserve promotion, he is not
equipped for the job.
powerless /'paoorlos/ unable to control or stop some-
thing because you do not have the strength or the
knowledge to do this [adj not .before noun]
powerless to do sth Fire swept through the house as we
stood watching, powerless to stop it. I powerless against
The Hungarian protesters were powerless against the might
of the Red Army. I powerless I stood there terrified and
powerless as they stole my money and possessions.
powerlessness In U] His injury gave him a sense of power-
lessness that made him irritable.
2 to be unable to do something because you
have not learned how to do it or you do not
have the skill that is needed to do it
can't/not be able to do sth
cannot
not know how to do sth
can't/not be able to do sth/,ko:nt, ,not bi: ,eIbal to
'du: (sth) II ,kent-! [modal verb]
I can understand quite a bit of Russian but I can't read it. I
Not being able to drive is a big disadvantage. I can't/not
be able to "'Can you cook?" "'No, I can't. ""
cannot/'keenot, -no II -no:t/(used especially in written
English) [modal verb]
There are many diseases which doctors still cannot cure. [
The boy felt frustrated because he could not put his feelings
into words.
not know how to do sth/not noo ,hao to 'du: (sth)/to
be unable to do something because you have not learned
how to do it Iv phrase not in progressive]
No one here knows how to use this video camera. [ Our
physics teacher loved her subject, but she just didn't know
how to get it across to the students. I I'd like to use the auto-
record facility, but I don't know how.
3 to be unable to do something because you
do not have enough time or you are too busy
can't/not be able to do sth
cannot
be unable to do sth
not be possible for sb to do sth
can't/not be able to do sth I,ko:nt, ,not bi: ,ebal to
'du: (sth) II ,kent-/[modal verb]
I can't go out to lunch today, I have too much work to do. [
Joe couldn't come to our party last weekend - he was moving
house. [ She has a meeting with her boss tomorrow, so she
won't be able to come. [ can't/not be able to Look, I know
I said I'd come, but I can't.
cannot/'kenot,-not [I -no:t/(used especially in written
English) [modal verb]
I regret that I cannot attend the conference on Wednesday. [
The doctor cannot see you without a prior appointment.
be unable to do sth Ibi: An,elbM to 'du: (sth)/(used espe-
cially when you want to be polite about the fact that some-
one cannot do something) Iv phrase]
I'm sorry, but Mrs clones is unable to see you now. Please
come back at 6 o'clock. [ Unable to deal with so many
problems at once, she left her desk in chaos.
not be possible for sb to do sth/not bi: ,pos Iobal fo r
(sb) to 'du: (sth) [] -,po:-/(used especially when you want to
give an excuse or reason for not doing something) Iv
phrase]
I have a full schedule all next week, so I'm afraid it won't
be possible for me to see you then. I We had so many other
orders that it wasn't possible to deliver yours any earlier.
4 to be unable to do something because you
do not have the power, legal rights etc that
you need in order to do it
can't/not be able to do sth
cannot
not have the power to do sth/
it is not in your power to do sth
not be in a position to do sth
be out of sb's hands/
be no longer in sb's hands
powerless
impotent
sb's hands are tied
can't/not be able to do sth/,ko:nt, ,not bi: ,eibM to
'du: (sth) II ,keent-/[modal verb]
The manager can't fire you for being pregnant. [ We couldn't
get in to see the movie - we weren't old enough. I If you don "t
register your name you won't be able to vote at the next elec-
tion. I can't/not be able to I don't care if you want to buy
cigarettes for your mother, until you're 16you won't be able
to.
cannot/kenot,-not l[ -no:t/(used especially in written
English) [modal verb]
Members of the public cannot enter the building unless they
have an identity card. I In those days a woman could not
divorce her husband except in the most extreme cases.
not have the power to do sthlit is not in your
power to do sth/not hev 5o ,paoo r to 'du: (sth), it iz not
in jo: r ,paoo r to 'du: (sth)l to be unable to do something
because your job does not give you the right to do it Iv
phrase not in progressive]

CAN'T 1'75 CAREFUL
It is not in her power to increase your salary, but she can
recommend it. I Doctors are trained professionals, but they
do not have the power to decide when someone may die.
not be in a position to do sth/not bi: in a palzfan
to I du: (sth)/to be unable to do something because you do
not have the power, knowledge, or the right to do it Iv
phrase]
Police say they won't be in a position to say who planted the
bomb until they have done more tests. I We are not in a posi-
tion to disclose any information about our former
employees. I scarcely/hardly in a position to do sth The
US is hardly in a position to criticize other countries for wast-
ing energy supplies.
be out of sb's hands/be no longer in sb's hands
/bi: aut av (sb's) hendz, bi: nee lt)rjgar ]n- II -b:rj-/ if a
problem or situation is out of someone's hands, they are
no longer responsible for dealing with it because it has
been taken over by someone with more power, or because
it must now be decided according to the law Iv phrase]
My attorney said he couldn't help us anymore, as the matter
was out of his hands. I It's no longer in my hands, I'm afraid
- I've sent a report about your son's behaviour to the police.
powerless/Ipaoarlos/unable to control or stop some-
thing because you do not have the power or legal right to
do this [adjl
powerless to do sth The law is wrong, but we are power-
less to change it. I powerless against Protesters were
rounded up and imprisoned, powerless against the might of
the government. I powerless The average citizen feels com-
pletely powerless faced with the rising tide of crime and
violence.
powerlessness In U] For many, the feeling of powerlessness
in a world of bureaucracy leads to complete apathy or
depression.
impotent/mpotont/a formal word meaning unable to
deal with a situation because you do not have enough
power [adj]
impotent against The Czech nation was impotent against
the Russian invasion. I impotent rage/fury He sat staring
at his father in impotent fury. I impotent to do sth The drug
barons were so powerful that the Bolivian government was
impotent to act against them.
impotence In U] She felt frustrated by her own impotence,
unable to stop him taking her children away.
sb's hands are tied/(sb's) hendz o r 'taid/if someone's
hands are tied they cannot do what they want to do
because of particular conditions, rules etc, especially ones
made by someone else
His hands were tied. If he suggested any changes he was
always ignored. I The company's hands are tied because of
Government regulations.
5 to make someone unable to do something
prevent
make it impossible for sb to do sth
prevent/pn vent/if something prevents you from doing
something, it makes you unable to do it Iv T]
prevent sb from doing sth His prideprevented him from
saying how he really felt. I Fear of reprisals agains't their
families prevents gang members from helping the police. I
prevent sb I wanted to run into the building to save her but
the flames prevented me.
make it Impossible for sb to do sth/meek t m-
iposbal fo r (sb) to du: (sth) [I -,pa:-/ifa situation or event
makes it impossible for someone to do something it
makes them unable to do it Iv phrase]
The war has made it almost impossible for people from the
two nations to trust one another. [ make it impossible to
do sth Bad light was making it impossible to see the ball. [
make sth impossible The sudden movements of the train
made sleep impossible.
cantankerous BAD-TEMPERED 1
.., canvass ASK A QUESTION 2, VOTE/ELECT 10
:,, cap COVER 5
• i...-: capability CAN 6
 capable EFFICIENT 3, GOOD AT 1
i capable: be capable of CAN 1
i capable: be incapable of/not be capable of CAN'T 1
- capable: be quite capable of PROBABLY 7
iii: capacity CAN 6, JOB/WORK 6, SIZE 3
!i! capacity: be full to capacity FULL 1
..,. capital MONEY 14, TOWN 2
::,!i} capital offence/crime KILL 10
ii capital punishment KILL 10
!!!!i: capitalize on USE STH 4
i!; capsize TURN 7, 11
iii!i captive KEEP SB IN A PLACE 4
iii captive: hold sb prisoner/captive KEEP SB IN A
 PLACE 1
' captivity KEEP SB IN A PLACE 5
..... captivity: be in captivity KEEP SB IN A PLACE 3
capture CATCH 2, 5
'.:';i carbon copy: be a carbon copy of SAME 2
;: cards: be on the cards/be in the cards PROBABLY 1
i cards: hold all the cards ADVANTAGE 3
;i cards: lay/put your cards on the table HONEST 2,
d INTEND 3
il;i cards: play your cards close to your chest/vest
SECRET 7
................  " "" ............. .<"-' ".'   "; ............. " ." $$i;i:::!! !I i,   }i!! ...:'
. . .. ---: ... ...
about ,proble.  etc
....  ::.. ,..-.,., # ,,   #} #;: .:..::::::. ..........................
;qookafter a person: ;;
Ik :affr"a thing,.;! :" @ LOOK AFTER
love 80eOe =:-:;:'; ::
...::,;,, ,,, ...-. , $ LOVE
:.,.;:;;: ::::.: . ,,,,,, ................................................................
-  ii 1     i iui ':`'::r'''
care IMPORTANT 5, LOOK AFTER STH 2, LOVE 1
care: couldn't care less DON'T CARE 1
care: for all I care DON'T CARE 1
care" not care DON'T CARE 1
care: take care CAREFUL 1, 4, 8
care: take care of DEAL WITH 2, LOOK AFTER STH 1
care: with care CAREFUL 1, 6
care: without a care in the world WORRIED 11
care for LOOK AFTER SB 3
career HIT/BUMP INTO 2, JOB/WORK 2
carefree WORRIED 11
careful CAREFUL 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, SPEND MONEY 7
careful: be careful CAREFUL 1, 8
careful: be careful to do sth CAREFUL 6
careful: take care/be careful WARN 3
careful ....
i- .,,..',. !;i', ' ,,,,-}!:"t:"t .....
which __ o
careful .... ' ....  CAREFUL
t careful  CARELESS
  i i  .............
CAREFUL
to be careful when you are doing something
and try hard to avoid making mistakes
continued

CAREFUL ' 176 CAREFUL
CAREFUL
continued
2 words for describing someone who is always
careful to do things properly and to avoid
making mistakes
3 words for describing work or actions that are
done carefully, so that everything is done
correctly and nothing is missed out
4 words for describing someone who is careful
to avoid danger or risk
5 careful about what you say or tell people
6 ways of saying that someone does something
in a careful way to avoid danger or risk
7 to do everything that is necessary to avoid
danger or risk
8 what you say to warn someone to be careful
to avoid danger or risk
9 words for describing actions, statements etc
that are done or made to avoid danger or risk
1 to be careful when you are doing something
and try hard to avoid making mistakes
be careful pay attention to
take care with care
be careful/hi: Ikcrfal/[v phrase]
Your handwriting is so messy. Can't you be more careful? l
You should always be extremely careful when moving some-
one with a back injury. I be careful to do sth They were
careful not to touch anything until the police arrived. I be
careful about As a lawyer I have to be very careful about
everything I say. I be careful with If he's going to pass his
English test he'll have to be more careful with his grammar.
take care l lteik kear/to be careful when you do some-
thing, especially because you want it to be good Iv phrase]
take care with She doesn't take enough care with her work. I
take care over Helen always takes a lot of care over the
arrangement of the flowers. I take care to do sth She took
great care to make sure that the evening was a success. I take
care You are making too many mistakes. You really must
try and take more care.
pay attention to /tP el a ttenS an tu:/if you pay attention
to the details of something, you are particularly careful
about them in order to make sure they are right Iv phrase]
You need to pay more attention to your spelling if you want
to get a better grade. I A lot of actors pay too much attention
to the sound of the words, and not enough attention to the
meaning. I Whenever I'm drawing someone's face I always
pay a great deal of attention to the eyes.
with care/WI6 'kearl if you do something with care, you
do it carefully in order to make sure that you do not make
any mistakes [ adv phrase]
She has to work slowly and with great care in order to get
the picturejust right. [ Her room was beautifully furnished,
with a great deal of care and attention to detail. [ The soup
tasted wonderful. The ingredients had obviously been chosen
with a lot of care.
") words for describing someone who is always
careful to do things properly and to avoid
making mistakes
careful
meticulous
conscientious
methodical
thorough
careful/'kearfal/[adj]
He's a slow and careful worker, and prefers to take a long
time getting things just right rather than rushing them. I
Don't worry, she's very careful - you can trust her to do a
good job. I A careful translator reads every word before
beginning a translation.
methodical /m]a'Oodikal II m'Oa:-/ someone who is
methodical always does their work in a carefully planned
way and is careful to check everything they do [adj]
Poirot, always deliberate and methodical, made a list of all
the possible suspects. [ Barnes is a conscientious and method-
ical journalist who would have checked all of the facts before
writing the story.
thorough /rOAr:)11 'OAr:)o, tOAro/ someone who is
thorough makes sure that all the work they do is complete
and correct, and is careful not to miss anything radii
Dr Jordan is certainly thorough - if there is any doubt about
the symptoms, she does further tests. [ The tax people will
want to see every invoice you've made in the past 5 years -
they're very thorough.
thoroughness |n U] The way he prepared his court cases
had given him a reputation for thoroughness (=for being
thorough).
meticulous/m tlkj°l)s/someone who is meticulous
pays great attention to every detail in order to make sure
that everything is done correctly [adj]
This beautiful jewellery is the work of a meticulous crafts-
man. [ My mother was extremely meticulous and always
made sure that every room in the house was spotlessly clean. [
meticulous about Our accountant is very meticulous about
his work. I can't imagine him ever making a mistake.
meticulously [ adv ] The investigators worked meticulously
through the evidence for several months, but found no real
evidence to connect Murray with the crime.
conscientious/,konJ'i'ens [[ ka:n-/someone who is
conscientious has a serious attitude to their work or their
duties and tries hard to do everything they have been asked
to do in the way that it should be done [adj]
She was a very conscientious student and attended all her
lectures. I His previous employer recommends him highly
and refers to him as honest, hard-working and conscien-
tious. I conscientious about I wish everyone was as con-
scientious as you are about getting to work on time.
conscientiously [adv] She can be trusted to carry out her
duties conscientiously and effectively.
3 words for describing work or actions that are
done carefully, so that everything is done
correctly and nothing is missed out
careful close
thorough scrupulous
methodical painstaking
systematic rigorous
careful/'kearfal/[adj only before noun]
They gave the map a careful look before walking in the direc-
tion of the church. [ A careful inspection showed cracks in
the foundation of the building. [ Careful attention must be
paid to the times of the tides in the area if you plan on cross-
ing over to the island.
carefully [adv] Think back carefully to last Monday and
tell me exactly what happened.
thorough/rOAm II 'OAru, 'OAr / thorough search/in-
vestigation/check-up etc (=when everything is checked
carefully so that no detail is missed) [adj]
The police have made a thorough search of the area. [ My
doctor gave me a thorough check-up and told me there was
nothing wrong with me. [ After recent allegations of insider-
trading on the Japanese stock-market opposition MPs are
calling for a thorough investigation into the whole affair.
thoroughly [adv] The proposal will need to be studied
throughly before any conclusions are reached.
thoroughness In U] Congress praised the thoroughness of
the inquiry (the thorough way in which it was done).
methodical /mlOodill [[ mO:-/ methodical ap-
proach/way etc (=one that uses a series of carefully
planned steps in a particular order) [adj only before noun]
To be a successful researcher you have to have a patient and
methodical approach to your work. [ I admired the cool and
methodical way in which she set about tackling the problem.
methodically lady] He worked slowly, methodically putting
all the pages back into their files.
systematic /is;sQ'metik,/ something such as a
search or a study that is systematic is carefully organized

CAREFUL 177 CAREFUL
according to a system or plan so that everything is checked
or studied thoroughly [adjl
The police carried out a systematic search of the house. I You
need to organize your work in a more systematic way so that
the main points are shown more clearly.
systematically [adv] In his book, Barthes systematically
explores the relation between signs and their meaning.
close /klaos/ close look/examination/questioning/
scrutiny etc (=paying very careful attention to details) [adj
only before noun]
Take a close look at this photograph. I On closer examina-
tion of the facts it became clear that the boy was innocent.
closely [adv] The police questioned him closely about his
involvement in the robbery.
scrupulous /I skru:pj°olas/scrupulous care/attention to
detail/precision/cleanliness etc (=very carefully
making sure that every detail is exactly right, so that it
cannot be criticized) [adj only before noun]
Scrupulous cleanliness is necessary when preparingfood in
a restaurant. I The investigation was carried out with
scrupulous fairness.
scrupulously [ adv ] You must keep the wound scrupulously
clean to avoid infection.
painstaking / Ipemztck10/painstaking work/study/
research/effort etc (=taking a lot of time and effort
because so much attention is given to every detail) [adj only
before noun]
After years of painstaking research we have finally come up
with the right formula. I They began the long and painstak-
ingjob of making a catalogue of all the books in the shop.I
Preparing a text for publication requires painstaking revi-
sions by the author.
painstakingly |adv] The university has published all the
evidence that has been painstakingly collected over the past
century.
rigorous /rlgars/ rigorous tests/checks/examina-
tion/study etc (=that check very carefully whether some-
thing is safe, suitable etc or of the right quality or standard)
[adj]
Every new drug has to pass a series of rigorous safety checks
before it is allowed to be put on sale. I The entrance tests for
people wishing to enter the diplomatic service are par-
ticulalrly rigorous.
rigorously [adv] The plane had been rigorously checked
before taking off on its last flight.
4 words for describing someone who is careful
to avoid danger or risk
careful
take care
cautious
circumspect
wary
watch your step
be on your guard
tread carefully/warily
keep/have your wits
about you
careful/kearfdl/[adj]
He was always very careful when handling chemicals. I
You'll be safe with Jane. She's a careful driver. I I'm a care-
ful sort of person. I always lock doors and windows before
going out. I careful about You really must be more careful
about accepting rides from strangers.
take care /telk Ikear/to do something in a slow, sensible
way in order to avoid danger or risk Iv phrase]
If you don't take more care when you're driving, one day
you'll have a serious accident. I take care with I always take
great care with diets, so I don't lose too much weight too
quickly.
cautious/k:fas/someone who is cautious does not like
taking risks and is careful to avoid them if possible [adj]
For a week Sykes was more cautious than ever, only emerg-
ing from his hiding-place at night. I A more cautious leader
might have avoided confrontation with such a powerful
enemy. I cautious about I've always been very cautious
about giving people my address and phone number.
caution /k:fdn/In U] She stressed the inherent risks of such
a plan and the need for caution.
circumspect / sa:rkamspekt/ a formal word: someone
who is circumspect thinks very carefully before deciding
to do something [adj]
A less circumspect businessman might have authorised the
loan, but Casson asked for further information. I Gilbert sus-
pected that this question was a trap. His response was polite
but circumspect. I circumspect about Since our car was
broken into, we have been much more circumspect about
where we park it.
wa//weari/someone who is wary does not easily trust
people and thinks very carefully before getting involved
in any situation that might be dangerous or cause problems
[adj]
wary of She had become extremely wary of relationships as
a result of her childhood experiences. I wary of Wary of
becoming entangled in her friend's family quarrels, Eileen
made an excuse and departed. I wary about The problems
with selling the house had made her much more wary about
financial matters. I keep a wary eye on (=watch something
or someone in a wary way) One of the guards was fiddling
with his radio, all the time keeping a wary eye on the five
prisoners.
warily [ adv] He made his way up the stairs glancing warily
over his shoulder and keeping close to the wall.
watch your step /iwttj'j:r step li ,wo:t/-/an informal
expression meaning to be careful, used especially when
you are warning someone that they are likely to make
someone else angry or likely to get into trouble [vphrase]
You "d better watch your step or you'll be in trouble with the
boss again. I The teacher got really angry when I started
arguing. I'll have to watch my step in future.
be on your guard/bi: tnj: r gct:rd II _j:r_/to pay care-
ful attention to what is happening and not easily trust
people, in order to avoid getting into danger, being tricked
etc Iv phrase]
Be on your guard - they always try to cheat tourists. I Drivers
have to be on their guard, as faults or signal failures can
occur at any time.
tread carefully/warily ! tred Ikearfali, wearli/to be
careful in what you say or do especially when there is a risk
of offending someone or causing trouble Iv phrase]
She knew that she must tread carefully as the subject of abor-
tion was a very controversial issue. I Trade worth billions
of dollars was at risk and this forced the government to tread
very warily on the diplomatic front.
keep/have your wits about you /  ki:p,  hev ja:r wIts
a ibatJt ju:/to watch and listen very carefully when you are
in a situation that might be dangerous, or in which people
might try to cheat you Iv phrase]
It was only because John kept his wits about him that the boys
managed to get home safely. I Buying a second-hand car can
be very tricky. You really have to have your wits about you.
5 careful about what you say or tell people
careful
discreet
guarded
careful/kerfl/[adj]
You have to be careful what you say to her, she's very easily
offended. I "'Failing your exams isn't the end of the world, ""
said Kay's mother, careful not to sound disappointed.
discreet/dE  skri:t/very careful about what you say or do,
so that you do not make people feel angry, upset, or embar-
rassed [adj ]
We don't want to say anything that would offend the Chinese.
I'm sure you can trust our ambassador to be discreet. I People
might gossip if we arrived together. It would be much more
discreet for us to go there separately. I A private detective was
sent to make discreet inquiries about Miss Hutton's finan-
cial situation.
discreetly [adv] The maid entered after knocking discreetly.
discretion/dE  skredn/In U] I should stress that this affair
must be handled with the utmost discretion (=in a very dis-
creet way).
guarded /go:rdd/ a guarded statement, remark etc
deliberately does not show too much about the thoughts or
feelings of the person who is making it [adj]

CAREFUL 178 careless
In Washington there has been a guarded response to the
latest Soviet proposals on disarmament. I Their message was
expressed in very guarded language. [ "qVhat do you want?"
Her tone was guarded and hesitant.
guardedly [adv] "'I'm not sure about it any more, "' said
Alice, guardedly (=in a guarded way).
6 ways of saying that someone does something
in a careful way to avoid danger or risk
carefully gingerly
cautiously be careful to do sth
with care feel your way
with caution
carefully/'keorfdli/[adv]
Drive carefully - the roads are icy. [ He cleaned the machine
thoroughly, carefully avoiding the blade. I I thought that if
I trod carefully, I wouldn't stand on any broken glass.
careful [adj] Fencing is a sport which requires careful
supervision (=needs to be carefully supervised).
cautiously I'ko:fosli/ if you do something cautiously
you do it slowly and carefully, because you know you are
in a dangerous or diff"lcult situation [adv]
He tiptoed to the door and peered round cautiously. [ The US
has reacted cautiously to Mr Yeltsin's speech. [ Cautiously,
she moved closer to the edge of the cliff.
with care/w6 ' ker/a formal expression used especially
in warnings or written instructions: if someone must do
something with care they must do it carefully to avoid the
risk of harm or damage [adv phrase]
When the roads are wet drive with extra care. [ The label
says: "Explosives. Handle with care'. [ with great care/
with the utmost care (=very carefully) The operation of
lowering the engine must be carried out with the utmost care,
so as not to damage the chassis.
with caution/w16 'ko:fdn/ if you do something with
caution, you are very careful and you do not take any risks
[ adv phrase]
These animals are potentially dangerous and should be
approached with caution. [ Evidence given by convicted
criminals must always be treated with caution. [ The fleet
proceeded with the utmost caution into the Mediterranean.
gingerly /'dbndSorli/ ]f you move gingerly or touch
something gingerly you do it in an uncertain way, because
you are afraid it will be dangerous, unpleasant, or painful
[adv]
Gingerly, he picked up the dead rat by its tail. I Treading
gingerly she edged her way across the tin roof of the garage. I
I removed the bandage gingerly and looked at the wound.
be careful to do sth/bi: ,keorfM to du: (sth)/to care-
fully remember to do something, so that you prevent some-
thing dangerous or unpleasant from happening Iv phrase]
Be careful to turn off the stove when you have finished with
it. [ He examined the knife, careful to avoid touching the
blade. ] When you first start exercising, you should be care-
ful not to overdo it.
feel your way [ ,fi:lja: r 'wel / to deal with things slowly
and carefully especially because you are doing something
new, for example a new job Iv phrase usually in progressive]
I've only been in this job for a few weeks so I'm still feeling
my way. ] feel your way towards (=carefully try to reach
a result) Peace talks were held and both sides began to feel
their way towards a truce.
7 to do everything that is necessary to avoid
danger or risk
take precautions
play safe
take no chances
take precautions/,telk pr 'k:anz/to make prepara-
tions before doing something, in order to avoid the risk of
something unpleasant happening Iv phrase]
The accident would never have occurred if they'd taken
precautions. ] take precautions against The villagers had
already taken precautions against random raids by the
militia. I take the precaution of doing sth Bennet had
taken the precaution of transferring his house into his wife's
name before his company collapsed.
play safe /ple 'sef/to choose a careful way of doing
something instead of a way which has more risks or danger
Iv phrase]
My friends keep advising me to invest my money in stocks
and shares but I've decided to play safe and leave it in the
bank. I The Film Club could haveplayed safe by starting the
season with one of the ever-popular Hitchcock movies, but
instead they chose to show an avant-garde documentary.
take no chances/,teik noo 'to:nsz II -'ten-/to do
something in a very careful way, by avoiding any possible
risks [v phrase]
This time we're taking no chances. Everything will be
planned down to the last detail. [ take no chances with It
may be dangerous and it may not, but I'm taking no chances
with it.
8 what you say to warn someone to be careful
to avoid danger or risk
be careful watch it
take care mind out
look out/watch out
be careful/bi: 'keorfl/[v phrase]
There's ice on the roads tonight so be careful. I be careful
with Please be careful with that revolver. I be careful (not)
to do sth Be careful not to spill any of that clear liquid; it's
acid. I be careful(that) you do sth You'll have to be care-
ful you don't fall overboard. I be careful what/where/
who/how The whole interview will be recorded so you'd
better be careful what you say.
take care/,teik 'keor/(used when you are warning some-
one about something, especially when they do not realize
there is a danger or a risk)
Take care. That gun's loaded. I Take care when you open the
van door, sometimes it springs open suddenly. I take care
not to do sth Take care not to leave any money in the chang-
ing rooms.
look out/watch out Ilok 'aot,
(used when you are warning someone about something
that is dangerous)
Look out! You nearly hit that wall! I look out for/watch
out for Anyone who goes swimming beyond the reef has to
watch out for sharks.
watch it/'woq It II 'wo:q-/(used when someone has just
done something dangerous and you are telling them to be
more careful)
Watch it/You nearly knocked my head off with that stick!
mind out ! ,mound 'act! (used when you want someone to
move to one side, to avoid possible danger)
Mind out - there's a snowball coming towards you!
9 words for describing actions, statements etc
that are done or made to avoid danger or risk
careful
cautious
careful/keorfM/[adj]
Careful preparation is necessary before a parachute jump.
carefully lady] In a carefully worded statement, the Presi-
dent called for an end to the hostilities.
cautious / ' ko-J'os/an action or statement that is cautious
is carefully prepared or done slowly, because you think
something dangerous or unpleasant might happen [adj]
She took a few cautious steps towards the dog, then started
to stroke it. ] the union "s cautious reaction to management's
proposals
carefully CAREFUL 6
carefully: tread carefully/warily
careless CARELESS 1, 2, 3, 4
CAREFUL4

CARELESS 179 CARELESS
careless
CARELESS
not doing things properly or safely and
therefore making mistakes or causing danger
1 paying too little attention to what you are
doing, so that you make mistakes and do
things badly
2 taking too little care in situations that involve
danger or risk, so that accidents happen
3 done or made in a careless way
4 said carelessly and without thinking about the
possible results
5 words for describing someone who decides
too quickly to do something, without thinking
enough about the possible results
1 paying too little attention to what you are
doing, so that you make mistakes and do
things badly
careless slack
not take care lax
negligent remiss
careless / I kearlas/not taking enough care with what you
are doing, for example in your job or in your schoolwork,
so that you make mistakes, lose things, or do bad work [adj]
Your work is full of spelling mistakes. Try not to be so care-
less in future. I Careless thieves had left fingerprints on the
safe door and were easily tracked down by the police. I care-
less with I'm surprised Beth got the job at the bank - she's
always been very careless with money. I it is careless of sb
to do sth It was very careless of you to leave your passport
on the seat of the car.
carelessly [ adv ] Someone had carelessly left the gate open,
letting the dog escape.
carelessness In U] These mistakes are entirely due to care-
lessness.
not take care/not telk Ikear/to not pay enough atten-
tion when you are doing something that you should do
carefully, especially because you are doing it too quickly
[ v phrase]
He just wasn't taking care while he was cleaning the glass
and it broke. I not take care to do sth It was obvious she
hadn't taken enough care to check the essay before giving it
to the teacher. [ not take care with You don't take enough
care with your work - you really must try harder.
negligent /t negIIdsant/someone who is negligent, espe-
cially someone in a responsible position, does not take
enough care in their job, so that serious mistakes are made
[adj]
Her husband died during an operation and it has taken her
three years to prove that the medical staff were negligent. I
The missing documents were eventually traced back to a
negligent official in the Pentagon. I negligent about Heavy
fines will be imposed on dog owners who are negligent about
controlling their animals.
negligently [adv] The inquiry found that the oil company
had acted negligently and would have to pay compensation
for the environmental damage.
negligence In U] The government has been accused of negli-
gence in tackling the AIDS crisis.
slack/slak] careless and lazy, especially in your work or
studies, so that things are not done thoroughly or finished
by the expected time [adj not before noun]
He never fills in forms right, his files are in a mess, and in
general he's very slack. I slack about The course is very
demanding and you can't afford to be slack about your
assignments.
lax/laks/not paying enough attention to details, because
you do not care whether things are done according to the
proper rules or standards [adj not before noun]
lax about You don't need to show your official pass - they're
very lax about security here. I lax Another thing that I think
is very lax - they don't wash their hands before they prepare
the food. I Although rather lax in the routine of housekeep-
ing she was a caring mother.
remiss/rl ms/a formal word meaning failing to do some
thing that you usually do, and that is your duty or respon-
sibility to do [adj not before noun]
I had been remiss and let a few days go by without attend-
ing to the accounts. I it is remiss of sb to do sth It was
unusually remiss of her not to notice those mistakes - she's
generally so good at her job!
2 taking too little care in situations that involve
danger or risk, so that accidents happen
careless heedless
reckless irresponsible
careless I' kerlas/not taking enough care in what you
are doing because you do not think about the possible
danger or risk [adj]
Some careless idiot left this bag lying in the middle of the
floor. I It's true that he drives very fast but I wouldn't say
he was careless.
carelessly [adv] Cigarettes thrown carelessly from cars can
cause forest fires.
carelessness In U] Anna is lying in the hospital, and all
because of your carelessness.
reckless/reklas/behaving in a stupidly careless way
and not thinking at all about the possible danger to your-
self or other people [adj]
He's always been a reckless driver - it's a miracle he's never
had an accident. I You might think that it's funny but I think
letting fireworks off in the kitchen is reckless.
recklessly [adj] people who recklessly risk their lives in dan-
gerous sports
recklessness In U] An odd feeling of recklessness had taken
possession of her.
heedless /Ihi:dlas/ doing something without paying
attention to other people's warnings about the danger or
risk involved [adj]
I was silly and heedless, ignoring the advice ofpeople who
were trying to help me. I heedless of warnings/advice etc
Heedless of our warnings, they attempted to climb the moun-
tain and fell to their deaths.
irresponsible/ rl sponsbdl li -spo:n-/failing to think
carefully about the possible results of your actions, so that
you put other people in a position of danger [adj]
It's totally irresponsible - leaving the children all alone at
night. I Irresponsible reporting has been blamed for the sui-
cide of a man involved in the trial.
irresponsibly [adv] The company has been accused of
acting irresponsibly in its attempt to gain competitive
advantage.
irresponsibility/ rlspons Ibllati II -spo:n-/In U] It would
be the height of irresponsibility to alarm the public
unnecessarily.
3 done or made in a careless way
careless haphazard
sloppy superficial
slapdash/slipshod

CARELESS 180
careless/'kerls/[adj]
You have plenty of time, so there is no excuse for careless
work. I The building had been finished in a very careless
way, with loose wires and unpainted ceilings. I Careless
handling of pesticides causes dozens of accidents on farms
every year.
sloppy/'slpi [[ 'slo:pi/done in a careless and lazy way,
without proper attention to detail [adj]
The report condemned inadequate supervision and the
sloppy approach to safety measures. [ Employers are among
those now complaining about the sloppy teaching of English
in our schools.
sloppily lady] The houses were built very sloppily and are
in fact very dangerous.
sloppiness In U] There's no excuse for workmanship like
that. It's just plain sloppiness!
slapdash/slipshod /IslapdaJ', Islipj'od II-j'o:d/done
extremely carelessly and quickly, without paying any
attention to the correct ways of working [adj]
Such slapdash work is completely unacceptable - you're at
university now. [ We complained to the airline that the in-
flight service was hurried and slapdash. I The entire invest-
igation had been conducted in an unsystematic, almost slip-
shod, manner.
haphazard / ,hzep'hezard/done without any clear plan
or system [adj ]
Communication between services was haphazard; roads that
had been resurfaced one week were torn up the next for gas
mains repairs. I Feminist groups are angry at the apparently
haphazard use of hormone treatments on women patients.
haphazardly [ adv ] While they argued she was haphazardly
throwing all her clothes into a suitcase.
superficial /isu:parlfiSgl,, isju:- II su:-/ superficial
examination/study/inspection/glance etc (=done very
quickly without looking at all the details) [adj]
The officer on duty made a superficial inspection of the sol-
diers" uniforms. I Major decisions had been taken, on the
basis of the most superficial of studies.
4 said carelessly and without thinking about the
possible results
careless
tactless
indiscreet
careless / kearlas/careless remarks/talk/words etc
(=said without thinking about what effect they might have,
and so often causing trouble or embarrassment) [adj only
before noun]
You say a few careless words to a neighbour and suddenly
everyone knows about it. I One careless word and you could
be fired for telling company secrets. I It was at this press con-
ference that the President made a few careless remarks which
led to a political crisis.
carelessly [adv] The newspaper had carelessly described
him as an "'Indian chief".
tactless /taktlas/ carelessly saying something that
upsets or embarrasses someone, especially by mentioning
something that it would be kinder or more polite not to talk
about [adj]
How could he be so tactless as to make jokes about funerals
when her father's just died? l She considers it tactless to men-
tion her friend's disability. I I wanted to know about her
divorce but thought it would be tactless to ask.
tactlessness In U] "'I can't believe you told her what he said
about her, "" said Steve, amazed at my tactlessness.
tactlessly [adv] "'Would you like to come and have dinner
with me?" asked Eddie, and then added tactlessly, "'Some-
one I invited has cancelled. ""
indiscreet/, indl skri:t/careless about what you say,
especially by talking about things that should be kept
secret [adj]
I wouldn't trust him with a secret; he can be very indiscreet. I
it is indiscreet of sb to do sth It was very indiscreet of her
to tell them the sales figures.
carry the day
5 words for describing someone who decides
too quickly to do something, without thinking
enough about the possible results
rash hotheaded
impulsive hasty
impetuous without a second thought
rash/rS/doing something without careful thought, so
that you wish later you had not done it [adj]
I think they've been very rash in marrying so young. I I'll
have to check it out carefully before I make any rash deci-
sions. I it is rash to do sth It would be rash to make any
changes before we have consulted the experts.
rashly [ adv ] She'd rashly asked him to marry her and now
she was regretting it.
impulsive ! [mlpAlS IV/doing things as soon as you think
of them, without considering the possible dangers or
problems [adj]
She's so impulsive - she saw the house for the first time and
said she'd buy it straight away. t As a child he was impul-
sive and headstrong but now he's terribly indecisive. I As a
very large man began walking towards me I began to regret
my impulsive interference in the fight.
impulsively [ adv ] He kissed her impulsively, forgetting that
she would now think he was in love with her.
impulsiveness In U] His impulsiveness surprised her. He
was normally so careful.
Impetuous /impetj'uos/ behaving without careful
thought, especially because you have an emotional nature
and easily get angry, excited etc [adj]
If you weren't so impetuous you wouldn't have lost yourjob
-fancy telling the boss you think his company is stupid. I
He says she's a typical woman - impetuous and emotional.
impetuously [adv] "'Of course I'll help you with the decorat-
ing, "" he said, impetuously.
impetuosity/mpetj'u 'sIti II -'o:s-/[n U] All her problems
are caused by her own impetuosity.
hotheaded/hothedId, II ho:t-/strongly influenced by
your emotions, rather than thinking in a sensible way
about the possible results of your actions [adj]
He had always regretted his hotheaded decision to join the
army. I You're too hotheaded. You should have sat down and
discussed this with your husband instead of walking out on
him.
hasty /heIsti/ saying things, making decisions etc
without taking enough time [adj]
I think I may have been a little hasty about firing him. Do
you think I should give him his job back? I Go home and
think about whether you really want to have the operation
- I don't want you to make any hasty decisions.
without a second thought Iw15aot a isekand O:t/if
you do something without a second thought you do it
immediately without thinking whether it is a good idea or
not [adv phrase]
Without a second thought I agreed to take the job. [ He saw
someone screaming at the window and dashed back to the
burning house without a second thought.
carer LOOK AFTER SB 3
cares WORRIED 9
caress TOUCH 2
caricature PICTURE 5
caring KIND 3
carnage KILL 9
carpet: sweep sth under the carpet HIDE/NOT SHOW 2
carried: be carried ACCEPT 6
carried away: get carried away CONTROL 8
carrot
.carry
carry on
carry out
carry the can
carry the day
PERSUADE 11
CARRY 1, 3, HEAR 2, SUPPORT/HOLD UP 1,
TAKE/BRING 5, 6
CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, 4, 5,
CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1
DO 2
BLAME 2
WIN 2

CARRY 181 catch
CARRY
to take something somewhere in your hands
or arms, on your back etc
1 to carry something or someone
2 to carry something that is heavy
3 to regularly carry something in your pocket,
bag etc when you go somewhere
4 designed so that it can be easily carried
5 holding or carrying a lot of things
1 to carry something or someone
carry
bear
tote
carry/'kari/Iv T]
carry sth/sb A porter helped me carry my luggage. I In
Nigeria women carry their babies on their backs. I The
waiter approached our table carrying a tray of cocktails. I
carry sth to/out of/around etc Mrs Browning hasn't
regained consciousness since she was carried to the ambu-
lance. I She carries that little teddy with her everywhere she
goes.
bear/bўor/a word used especially in literature meaning
to carry something, especially something important Iv T]
A messenger arrived, bearing a letter from the ambassador.I
At the head of the procession a group of dark-suited men bore
the coffin into the church.
tote/tout/an informal American word meaning to carry
something Iv T]
I wouldn't tote that camera around Kabul if I were you. I
Jimmy earned some extra money by toting golf bags for the
neighbors. I a gun-toting cowboy
2 to carry something that is heavy
lug
cart
lug II^gl an informal word meaning to carry or drag some-
thing that is heavy, with great effort or difficulty Iv T]
Breathless, we lugged our suitcases up the hotel steps. I I've
got enough to carry, without lugging that big box as well.
cart Iko:rq an informal word meaning to carry something
that is awkward or heavy Iv T]
cart sth Madge threw all the empty bottles into a bag and
carted it out to the back yard. [ cart sth around I'm not
going to cart your shopping around all afternoon! [ cart sth
away/off (=to remove something by carrying it some-
where else) There were frightening stories of people being
carted away on stretchers during the night.
3 to regularly carry somet.hing in your pocket,
bag etc when you go somewhere
carry
carry I'kari/ carry money/a chequebook/a gun etc
(=regularly carry something valuable or something that
you need in your pocket or bag) Iv T]
These cards should be small enough for the client to carry
at all times. I Thepolice here don't carry guns. I Is it true that
the Queen never carries any money?
4 designed so that it can be easily carried
portable
portable/'pa:rtobal/portable TV/radio/word proces-
sor etc (=fairly small and designed so that it is easy to
carry) [adj]
Bonita has a portable TV in the kitchen which she sometimes
takes up to watch in bed. I I found Tony sitting in a corner
speaking into his portable tape recorder. I The latest laptop
computers are by far the best because they are portable.
5 holding or carrying a lot of things
be loaded with under the
be laden with weight of
be weighed down with/by overloaded
be loaded with Ibi: 'loodld w61 if someone or some-
thing is loaded with a lot of things, they are holding or
carrying so many that they cannot hold or carry any more
Iv phrase ]
I was loaded withparcels, unable to walk any faster. [A van
loaded with newspapers arrived at the gates. I be loaded
down with They returned home with the wheelbarrow
loaded down with firewood.
be laden with/hi: Ilerdn wI6/an expression used espe-
cially in literature meaning to be holding or carrying a lot
of things Iv phrase]
Whenever her uncle visited he was always laden with gifts. [
She was carrying a tray laden with glasses of orange juice. [
be heavily laden with Every bus that clattered by was
heavily laden with passengers.
be weighed down with/by/bi: iweId 'daon WI6, bad
to be carrying or holding so many things that it is dillicult
to move or impossible to hold any more Iv phrase]
The branches of the trees were completely weighed down with
fruit. I She struggled back along the beach, weighed down
by bags, toys, and towels.
under the weight of / andor 6o wert v] if someone or
something falls or moves unsteadily under the weight of
something, they do this because they are carrying some-
thing that is too heavy for them to support [prep]
He was staggering under the weight of two backpacks. [ The
washing-line sagged under the weight of all our newly
washed clothes. [ Your table is simply groaning under the
weight of cook books, gardening books, and trashy novels.
overloaded I oovo r loodd-/if a vehicle is overloaded,
it is holding or carrying too many things, with the result
that it can only move slowly and it may not be safe [adj]
That plane is dangerously overloaded. We cannot allow it
to take off. I The progress of the overloaded Chevrolet was
agonizingly slow.
cart CARRY 2
carte blanche: give sb carte blanche
cartoon PICTURE 5
LET/ALLOW 7
ii  carve CUT 5, 10
 carve up SHARE 1
] case EXAMPLE 1, SITUATION 5
 case: be a case in point EXAMPLE 3
• ,.', case: in case IF 5
 case: in case of IF 1
:*-:
 case: in most cases MOST 7
--, case: in that case IF 1
' case: it is the case TRUE 1
4 case: not be the case UNTRUE 1
cash MONEY 1, 4
 cash down PAY FOR 3
:. cash in on PROFIT 7
• ii cast ACTOR/ACTRESS 7
 cast a ballot: cast a vote/cast a ballot VOTE/ELECT 1
!i cast a shadow over SPOIL 4
a:; cast a spell MAGIC 3
: cast-offs/castoffs CLOTHES5
cast/throw SEND 6
cast your mind back REMEMBER 2
;.
::. caste CLASS IN SOCIETY 1
 casual DON'T CARE 5, SOMETIMES 2
 casualty INJURE 5, SUFFER 4
 cat: let the cat out of the bag TELL A SECRET 3
 catalogue/catalog LIST 1, 5
:': catapult/propel THROW 9
; catastrophe DISASTER 1
ii, catastrophic DISASTER 2
 catch CATCH 1, 3, 4, 5, GET 15, ON TIME 3,
.... PROBLEM 1
 catch: not catch HEAR4

catch a glimpse of
catch a glimpse of SEE 2
catch a whiff: get/catch a whiff of SMELL 9
catch fire BURN 3
catch it: be going to catch it/get it/cop it PUNISH 6
catch on UNDERSTAND 7
catch sb in the act CATCH 4
catch sb off guard READY 7
catch sb on the hop READY 7
catch sb out MISTAKE 6
catch sb red-handed CATCH 4
catch sb with their pants down READY 7
catch sb's eye NOTICE 1
catch sight of SEE 2
catch up IMPROVE 1
catch up: be catching up NEAR 9
catch up with CATCH 1, FAST/QUICK 13
catch-22 PROBLEM 3
CATCH
1 to catch someone who is trying to escape
from you
2 to catch someone and not let them leave
3 ways of saying that the police catch a criminal
4 to catch someone while they are actually
doing something wrong or illegal
5 to catch an animal using special equipment
or methods
I to catch someone who is trying to escape
from you
catch catch up with
get hunt down
corner trap
catch Iktfl to stop someone from escaping, especially by
running after them and then catching them Iv T]
The bigger boys ran while the little boys tried to catch them. I
"'You'll have to catch me first!'" she said, running out of the
room. [ If the guerrillas catch you, they will kill you.
get/get/to catch someone, especially before doing some-
thing unpleasant to them or punishing them Iv T not
usually in passive]
He ran for his life, but they got him in the end. [ When I get
you I'm going to kick your head in.
corner/'k:rnr/to catch someone by forcing them into
a room or space etc that they cannot escape from Iv T]
The man cornered me - there was no way to escape. [ Even-
tually, Lambert was cornered in a hotel room and arrested.
catch up with/,katf 'np WI6/to catch someone that you
have been chasing or trying to catch for some time Iv T]
If those guards catch up with us, they'll kill us. [ You can't
avoid her forever, she'll catch up with you in the end.
hunt down /IhAnt Idaon/to catch someone in order to kill,
hurt, or punish them, after chasing them or trying very
hard to catch them [phr v T]
hunt sb/her/them etc down Don't try to run - they "ll hunt
you down and kill you. [ hunt down sb They had orders to
fly to America, and hunt down the drug barons.
trap/tr0ep/to catch someone by skill and cleverness, or
by forcing them into a place where they cannot escape Iv T]
The police trapped the thieves at a road block. [ Don 't phone
for help from a call box, the attacker could trap you inside.
trap In C] Only when I arrived at the meeting point did I
realize it was a trap.
2 to catch someone and not let them leave
capture take sb prisoner
round up recapture
capture/Ikaptar/to catch a person in order to make
them a prisoner Iv T]
182
CATCH
That day they captured twenty enemy soldiers. [ Two days
after landing he was betrayed, captured, and killed. [ I
wanted to teach my students what it felt like to be captured
and enslaved.
capture [n U] There was a big reward for his capture.
round up/,raond 'Ap/ to catch several people by bring-
ing them together from different places [phr v T]
round up sb After the riot, the police rounded up thirty-six
of the leaders. [ round sb/us/them up The army rounded
the protestors up and shot them all.
round-up/' raund Ap/ In singular] This Jewish boy was
photographed in 1943 during a round-up in the Warsaw
Ghetto.
take sb prisoner / ,tei k (sb) ' przdnor/to catch someone,
especially in war, and keep them as a prisoner Iv phrase]
The enemy sent a boat out from Spezia to take us prisoner. [
In World War H he was taken prisoner by the Nazis.
recapture/ri:'keptJ'r/to catch someone for a second
time when they have escaped after being caught once Iv T]
The prisoners were recaptured a few hours after their escape. I
I don't care if they recapture me, now that I've done what I
set out to do.
3 ways of saying that the police catch a criminal
catch nick
arrest take sb into custody
get
catch Ikffl Iv T]
catch sb We are putting all our efforts into catching the mur-
derer. [ be/get caught The thieves were never caught and
got away with 5 million dollars.
arrest/'rest/ if a police officer arrests someone they
catch them, tell them officially that they have done some-
thing illegal, and take them away Iv T]
Police arrested 26 demonstrators, over half of them women. [
arrest sb for Wayne was arrested for dangerous driving.
arrest In U] Their confessions led to the arrest of six others
(=to them being arrested). [ Don't move. You are under
arrest (=I am arresting you).
get/get/to catch and punish someone for something ille-
gal they have done Iv T]
Did the police get the man that stole your car? [ They never
got the actual hitman.
nick link/an informal British word meaning to catch
someone, tell them officially that they have done something
illegal, and take them away Iv T]
nick sb for sth She was nicked for shoplifting. I They nicked
him for speeding.
take sb into custody /itelk (sb) inta kAstadi/to catch
someone and take them to a police station until a court
decides what their punishment will be [vphrase usually in
passive]
He was taken into custody by waiting FBI men. I Police
officers arrived to take him into custody.
4 to catch someone while they are actually
doing something wrong or illegal
catch
catch sb red-handed
catch sb in the act
catch Ikaffl [v T]
catch sb doing sth She had caught her daughter stealing
money from her purse. I catch sb If I catch you again, there'll
be trouble! l be/get caught I could lose my job if I get caught
selling alcohol to a child.
catch sb red.handed/katf (sb) red handd/to catch
someone who is in the middle of doing something bad or
illegal, especially stealing, when they are not expecting it
Iv phrase usually in passive]
be/get caught red-handed Alison had been caught red-
handed stealing money from the till. I I've caught you red-
handed now, haven't I? How long has this been going on?

CATCH 183 CAUSE
catch sb in the act/,ktf (sb) m (i 'kt/to catch some-
one who is in the middle of doing something bad or illegal
by seeing them do it Iv phrase]
We can't prove she's been stealing from us. We'll have to catch
her in the act. I catch sb in the act of doing sth She blushed
guiltily, caught in the act of looking at his private letters.
5 to catch an animal using special equipment
or methods
catch capture
trap round up
snare
catch/ketJ'/[v T]
Last time we went fishing I caught a huge trout. I a trap to
catch mice I The children were out with their nets, catching
butterflies.
trap/trmp! to catch an animal or bird using special equip-
ment that will hold them so that they cannot escape Iv T]
Some of the birds had been shot, others trapped. I They have
a way of trapping locusts at night, using bright lights.
trap In C] The wolf had been caught in a trap.
snare Isnear/to catch a small animal or a bird using a wire
or rope that holds the animal or bird so that it cannot move
Iv T]
His father showed him how to snare rabbits. I The poacher
went about the fields, checking to see if he had snared
anything.
snare In C] A hare had been caught in a snare.
capture ] 'kaptj'a r] to catch an animal after chasing or fol-
lowing it Iv T]
They managed to capture a young elephant. I We could not
get close enough to capture the stallion.
capture In U] the capture of the great whale
round up i, raond '^pl to catch farm animals, especially
cows, horses or sheep, by bringing them together [phr v T ]
The cowboys rounded up the cattle.
catching SPREAD 11
catching up: be catching up NEAR 9
catchphrase SAYING 4
catchy REMEMBER 7
categorize GROUP/PUT INTO GROUPS 1, TYPE 5
category TYPE 4
cater for PROVIDE 5
cater to PROVIDE 6
caught up MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 7
caught up in: get caught up in TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 3
cause CAUSE 1, 14, REASON 3
cause: be the cause of CAUSE 1
cause: with good cause/reason RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 2
cause a rift between ARGUE 9
cause concern/be a cause for concern WORRIED 7
cause death KILL 6
cause doubt/cause uncertainty NOT SURE 3
cause embarrassment EMBARRASSED 3
cause for complaint COMPLAIN 4
cause inconvenience PROBLEM 11
cause/make trouble PROBLEM 10
cause offence OFFEND 5
cause pain HURT/CAUSE PAIN 2
cause problems PROBLEM 10
cause/create problems PROBLEM 9
cause sb/sth to do sth CAUSE 2
cause uncertainty: cause doubt/cause uncertainty
NOT SURE 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
cause
- r,-... :-. % ...... •
happen or :.exist:
- .So:ethi:.ng h.ppens
'Ways of saying' {}:::,:;:,,, .... -,,,--,-@ BECAUSE
..... t}:,.,:i: .............. t :t::: :.:'e<:-%:L..... 27:;Ј:tЈ7 g":: ....... :.;.- t. :::'.:::::-- t:t::? *. .............
@CAUSE
10
12
13
14
to make something happen
to make someone or something do
something
to cause someone or something to be in a
particular condition
to make someone experience a strong
emotion, such as anger, excitement, or
interest
to cause a particular situation to exist
to finally cause a particular situation to exist,
at the end of a process or series of events
to cause serious trouble, such as fighting, war
etc
to deliberately try to cause trouble, arguments
etc
to be the reason that makes someone want to
do something or decide to do something
ways of saying that an event, action, remark
etc makes people reply or behave in a
particular way
to be the earliest and most important cause of
something
to be one of the causes of something that
happens
to decide or believe that what happens or is
done is caused by a particular thing
the action, event etc that causes something
1 to make something happen
cause
be the cause of
be responsible for
cause/ka:z/to make something happen, especially some-
thing unpleasant Iv T]
cause sth Heavy traffic is causing long delays on the roads. I
These chemicals may contaminate the water supply and
cause cancer. I The autopsy showed that her death was
caused by liver failure. I cause sb trouble/problems/
anxiety etc The children were always causing their parents
trouble. I Try to isolate the problems that are causing you
the most difficulty.
be the cause of/bi: 6a ka:z ovl to be the specific cause
of a problem or difficulty Iv phrase]
There was not enough evidence to prove that tobacco was the
cause of the disease. I I believe that these large wage increases
have been the cause of most of our economic problems. I It
was a shock to everyone that their marriage broke up, but
Sally and her jealousy was the cause of it. [ be the cause
After a long investigation into the accident, faulty warning
lights were found to be the cause.

CAUSE 184 CAUSE
be responsible for/bi: r:'spDnsbal f3: r 11-'spa:n-/ if
someone or something is responsible for a fire, accident,
death etc, they are the only cause or main cause of it and
deserve to be blamed for it Iv phrase]
Heart disease was responsible for most of the deaths. I He was
clearly responsible for the deaths and must be punished for
it. [ be largely/mainly responsible for Inflation was
largely responsible for the economic crisis. I be responsi-
ble After a rise in the number of skiing accidents it has been
found that a lack of adequate equipment is responsible.
2 to make someone or something do
something
make sb/sth do sth
cause sb/sth to do sth
make sbisth do sth/,meik (sb/sth) 'du: (sth)/]vphrase]
Sarah's very funny. Her jokes always make me laugh. I I
wish you wouldn't slam the door. It makes the floor shake. ]
The things she said make me wonder if she is in some kind
of trouble. [ be made to do sth I was made to wait for over
an hour.
cause sblsth to do sth/k3:z (sb/sth) t du: (sth)/a
formal word meaning to make someone or something do
something [v phrase not in passive]
A dog ran into the road, causing the cyclist to swerve. [ A
strike by nurses and doctors might cause many innocent
people to suffer. I Suddenly there was a power cut, causing
the whole computer system to shut down.
3 to cause someone or something to be in a
particular condition
make render
have plunge
get
make/mek/Iv T]
make sb late/sick/hungry ete That chicken I ate last
night made me sick. ] Don't bother me now - you 71 make me
late for work. I make sth safe/interesting/dirty etc
Engineers have been working through the night to make the
• bridge safe. [ Let's give the house a new coat ofpaint to make
it more attractive. I make it impossible/necessary/diffi-
cult etc for sb to do sth The new treatment will make it
necessary for patients to stay in hospital overnight. [ make
sth difficult/easier/unpleasant etc for sb He could make
things very difficult for us.
have [% v, hv; strong hev/to make someone or some-
thing be in a particular condition, especially for a limited
time Iv T not in passive]
have sb worried/interested/fascinated etc He really
had me worried when he said he'd lost the keys, but I think
he was only joking. I The film was full of suspense, it had
the audience on the gdge of their seats. I have sth ready/
organized/prepareli etc We'll have your car ready by 3
o'clock.
get/get/to cause someone or something to be in a partic-
ular condition, especially when this is what you intend to
do or what you are trying to do Iv T not in passive]
get sth dirty/working/ready etc There's something
wrong with the television. I can't get it working. I These shirts
are as clean as I can get them. I get sb fit/organized/mo-
bile etc We are determined to get the champion fit in time
for the next fight.
render / rendr/a formal word meaning to make some-
one or something unable to do something, work properly
etc Iv T]
render sth useless/impossible/harmless etc Both run-
ways have been rendered useless by enemy bombings. [ His
past affection for Emily rendered any new relationship
impossible for him. I render sb unconcious/helpless etc
Suddenly Parfuri struck a blow that rendered his victim
unconscious.
plunge/plAnd31 to cause someone or something to sud-
denly be in a very bad situation Iv T]
plunge sb/sth into All the equipment was ruined in the fire,
plunging the school into debt. I The growing hostility be-
tween the two parties is threatening to plunge the country
into civil war. t Suddenly the theatre was plunged into dark-
ness. Another power failure!
4 to make someone experience a strong
emotion, such as anger, excitement, or
interest
excite whip up
arouse reduce sb to
evoke
excite / =k'sait/excite interest/jealousy/suspicion etc
(=make people feel interested, jealous etc) Iv T not in
passive]
Stories about the king's private life excited a good deal of
interest. [ Arthur's enormous wealth excited the envy of his
rivals.
arouse /'raoz/ arouse anger/suspicion/fear etc
(=make people have strong feelings of anger, fear, dislike
etc) Iv T]
The resignation of the managing director is certain to arouse
new fears about the future of the company. I Suspicions were
aroused when two men were seen running from the bank. I
The issue of women's rights is sure to be discussed; the pas-
sions it arouses are as strong as ever.
evoke/i'vuk/to cause someone to have a very strong
emotion or reaction Iv T]
She started to cry in order to evoke sympathy and pity from
her parents. I The latest terrorist incidents are bound to evoke
a wave of revulsion in mostpeople. I Herspeech today evoked
surprise and resentment from many French officials.
whip up /,wIp 'np/to deliberately make a lot of people feel
interested, excited, angry etc about something that you
think is important [phr v T]
whip up sth The concert has been organized to publicize
and whip up support for the campaign for nuclear disarma-
ment. I It's difficult to whip up people's interest in the environ-
ment. I whip sb/sth/it/them etc up The speaker has been
accused of whipping crowds up into frenzies of violent
hatred.
reduce sb to/ri'dju:s (sb) tu: II-'du:s-/ reduce sb to
tears/silence/a bag of nerves ere (=make someone cry,
be silent, be nervous etc, especially deliberately) [phr v T]
Those romantic old films always reduce me to tears. I Our
teacher's bad temper had the effect of reducing the pupils to
nervous wrecks. I One look from him was enough to reduce
anyone to absolute silence.
5 to cause a particular situation to exist
bring about generate
bring be a source of
create effect
produce make for
bring about/,bri]  baot/to cause a situation to exist,
especially by working hard for a long time [phr v T]
bring about sth Education is the only method of bringing
about changes in world population. [ The President will
support any efforts to bring about a ceasefire. [ bring sth/it/
them about improvements in working conditions and the
union negotiations that brought them about
bring/bro/if something that happens or something that
someone does brings a particular situation, it causes it to
happen as a natural result Iv T]
bring disruption/victory/chaos etc A postal strike has
brought disruption to most of the city. I A goal in the last 5
minutes of the game brought victory to the home team. [
bring sb trouble/wealth/happiness etc His new wealth
has brought him nothing but trouble.
create/kri'eit/to cause a particular condition that did not
exist at all to suddenly exist Iv T]
Margot's outburst created an unpleasant atmosphere and
most of the guests left early. I If you create a diversion, I'll
be able to esape through the window when no one is looking.[

CAUSE 185 CAUSE
The white walls and mirrors helped to create an illusion of
space.
creation ]kri  ean] [n U] The government's main economic
aim has been the creation of wealth.
poduce ]pm'dju:s II -du:s] if something produces a par-
ticular situation, it has the effect of causing it to exist [v T]
The new laws have produced a stream of protests from
human rights campaigners. I New characters were
introduced into the programme, producing highly favorable
reactions from the public. I Careful investment in industry
will certainly produce a feeling of confidence in the economy.
generate/d3enret/a formal word meaning to cause
something such as a feeling to exist and to grow [v T]
The discovery of the Titanic generated enormous interest on
both sides of the Atlantic. [ By completing a task on sched-
ule you may generate a feeling of pride and accomplishment. I
Realistic programmes about crime only serve to generate fear
among the public.
be a source of/hi:  s3:rs ov/if something is a source
of amusement, confusion, anxiety etc it causes that feel-
ing to exist in people [v phrase]
His extraordinary clothes were a source of great amusement
at the party. I The two players have the same name and this
has been the source of some confusion.
effect /  ' fekt/a formal word meaning to cause a particu-
lar situation to exist, especially after a lot of work or effort
[v T]
During his term of office, the minister effected substantial
reforms in the education system. I At last a reconciliation has
been effected between the warring factions.
make for / mek fa:r/if something makes for a particu-
lar good situation that people want, it makes it easier or
more likely for the situation to exist Iv T not in passive]
Regular pruning makes for easier management of trees and
shrubs. [ All these sudden changes of plan don't make for an
easy life.
6 to finally cause a particular situation to exist,
at the end of a process or series of events
result in breed
lead to sow the seeds of
give rise to spawn
result in Ir 'z^lt In/ [V T not in passive]
Secret talks with the kidnappers took place which finally
resulted in the release of the two hostages. I More attention
to road safety and an update of driving standards can only
result in a decrease in road accidents. [ Constant pressure
to the optic nerve will cause infection and eventually result
in blindness.
lead to 1 li:d tu:/to cause something to happen or exist
after some time Iv T not in passive]
It was a medical error which led to the death of the patient. [
The new regulations should lead to an improvement in our
water supply. [ There will be a reward for any information
leading to the arrest of the robbers.
give rise to I,gv raz tu:/a formal expression: if some-
thing such as an event or action gives rise to a particular
feeling, situation etc, it starts the process that makes it
happen Iv phrase]
The President's absence from the dinner has given rise to
speculation about his health. [ Two things are giving rise to
world-wide concern - mass unemployment and the poverty
of underdeveloped countries.
breed/bri:d/ if something breeds unpleasant feelings,
such as anger, fear or unhappiness, it makes more people
have those feelings Iv T]
Teachers shouldn't have favourite pupils. It only breeds
resentment. [ Ignorance only breeds fear and contempt of the
unknown. [ Years of mismanagement and injustice have bred
discontent and a lack of confidence among workers.
sow the seeds of/,sao 6a 'si:dz ovl to do something
that will cause a bad situation to exist a long time in the
future Iv phrase]
In sacking these 3 men, the employers have sown the seeds
of future conflict. I By not taking care of the planet, human-
kind is sowing the seeds of its own destruction.
spawn/spa:n/if a situation or change spawns a growth
of something or new situation, it causes it to exist [v T]
The current obsession with physical fitness has spawned a
growth in the number of health clubs. I The rock and roll
revival spawned a new generation of Elvis Presley imitators.
7 to cause serious trouble, such as fighting, war
etc
set off
trigger/spark off
precipitate
set off/,set 'of II -3:f/if someone or something sets off
a fight, war etc, it makes it start happening [phr v T]
set offsth Nobody knows what set off the riot. [ set sth/it/
them off The revolution lasted several weeks and experts
think that it was the execution that set it off.
trigger/spark off/,trga r, ,spo:rk 'of [j -'a:f/ifa small
action or event sparks serious trouble, it causes it to
happen very quickly Iv T]
trigger sth Even the smallest diplomatic incident can trig-
ger a major international conflict. I spark sth/it/them off
When Franz Josef was assassinated it sparked the First
World War off. I spark off sth Riots, sparked off by the
arrest of seven student leaders, have spread to other univer-
sities.
precipitate /prgsptelt/ a formal word meaning to
cause something serious to happen, especially more
quickly than was expected Iv T]
On 6 May troops invaded the Port, precipitating the Battle
of the Coral Sea. I The 1929 slump was so severe that it
precipitated the collapse of the American banking system.
to deliberately try to cause trouble, arguments
etc
incite stir up
provoke instigate
incite/:n'salt/a word used especially in a legal context
meaning to deliberately encourage people to cause trouble,
fight, argue etc Iv T]
incite sth Four men were executed for inciting a rising
against the communist regime. I incite sb to do sth She was
charged with inciting the crowd to rebellion.
incitement In U] By publishing the book they were guilty
of incitement to (--inciting) racial hatred.
provoke/pra'vaok/if something provokes an angry sit-
uation or a reaction, they cause it, usually deliberately Iv T]
The new laws have provoked violent demonstrations in some
towns. [ The ambassador's offensive remarks provoked
widespread criticism.
stir up/,sta:r 'Ap/to deliberately try to cause arguments,
fighting etc between people [phr v T]
stir up sth I hope you're not trying to stir up trouble. I It
is not a good idea to stir up any existing rivalry between the
two brothers. [ stir sth/it up He was accused of trying to
stir rebellion up among the peasants.
instigate/ nsto get/a formal word meaning to start trou-
ble by persuading someone to do something bad Iv T]
A foreign government was accused of having instigated the
bloodshed.
9 to be the reason that makes someone want to
do something or decide to do something
lead sb to do sth induce
motivate prompt
lead sb to do sth I,li:d (sb) t 'du: (sth)/to be the thing
that causes someone to do something, especially after some
time Iv phrase]
What led you to take up teaching as a career? I It was my
interest in gardens that led me to study Biology. I Her war
experiences led her to set up a fund for disabled soldiers.

CAUSE 186 CAUSE
motivate/'maotvet/to be the thing that causes some-
one to have a lot of determination to do something that
others consider to be difficult [v T/
motivate sb He's a brilliant doctor, motivated only by the
desire to help mankind. [ I don't know how he managed to
convince the newspapers to print the story - I think it was
his extreme anger that motivated him most. I motivate sb
to do sth What on earth motivated you to learn Latin at your
age?
induce /:n'dju:s II :ndu:s/ to be the thing that causes
someone to do something stupid or careless [v T/
induce sb to do sth Nothing would induce me to vote for
them. I Whatever induced her to buy such an expensive car?
prompt/prompt II pra:mpt/to be the thing that causes you
to do something, especially something you have been
thinking of doing for a long time [v T not usually in
progressive]
prompt sb to do sth It was reading his book that prompted
me to write to him. i What exactly prompted you to sack him?
play a part in Besides dieting, taking exercise plays a part
in losing weight. I The genius of the two designers has played
a big part in the company's recent success. I play a part
There are many factors which influence a baby's behaviour,
and even the type of birth plays a part.
contribute to/kan'tribju:t tu: II -bjat-/if something con-
tributes to a situation or event, it is one of the causes that
make it happen [v T not in passive]
An increase in the price of drugs has contributed to the rising
cost of medical care. [ It is thought that pilot's negligence may
have contributed to the disaster. I Air-conditioning, indi-
vidual desks, and lots of space all contribute to a healthy
working atmosphere.
contributory /kan'tr:bjtari II-ta:ri/ contributory
cause/factor (=one of several causes of something that
happens but not the main cause) [adj only before noun]
Malnutrition was considered to have been a contributory
cause of death. I Alcohol is a contributory factor in at least
50% of the violent crimes reported.
1 0 ways of saying that an event, action, remark
etc makes people reply or behave in a
particular way
prompt
bring
draw
prompt/prompt II pra:mpt/to make people interested in
something or want to study something more Iv T not
usually in progressive]
Officials are amazed that the exhibition has prompted so
much interest in the public. [ The outcome of Conzen's work
has prompted further research by others.
bring/bno/to cause a particular reaction such as criti-
cism or anger Iv T not usually in progressive]
The decision to close the school brought a storm of protests
from parents. [ The newspaper's attack failed to bring any
response from the Palace. I The clown's wonderful perfor-
mance brought loud applause from the spectators.
draw /din:! if someone's action or behaviour draws
praise, criticism etc, it causes people to praise it, criticize
it etc Iv T]
The idea of closing the hospital drew heavy criticism from
local doctors. [ Complaints about the actress' dress drew a
stinging reply from her manager. [ Locals have drawn a
great deal of praise for the way they handled the riots.
1 1 to be the earliest and most important cause of
something
be at the root of/the bottom of
underlying
be at the root of/the bottom of/bh at 6 I ru:t or, 6
botm ov II -ba:-/to be the basic cause of a problem or seri-
ous situation Iv phrase]
At the root of the country's problems is 25% unemployment.[
lie at the root of I wonder exactly what lies at the root of
his sudden concern for our welfare.
underlying/,nnda r Ila-:rj-/underlying causeCeasonL factor (=the one that is the most important and earliest,
but which is not easy to see or find and is not noticed by
most people) [adj only before noun]
Nobody really understands the underlying causes of the
war. I Psychiatrists treated the underlying problems behind
her illness, rather than her actual symptoms.
1  to be one of the causes of something that
happens
play a part
contribute to
contributory
play a part/,pleI  'pa:rt/if something plays a part in
something, especially the success of something, it is one
of several causes that makes it happen or be successful
[ v phrase]
1  to decide or believe that what happens or is
done is caused by a particular thing
put sth down to
attribute sth to
put sth down to /,pot (sth) 'daon tu:/to explain a situa-
tion, event or behaviour that you do not understand or
cannot explain, by saying that it is the result of something
[phr v T]
He's changed a great deal lately. I put it all down to his
family problems. I We can put his bad manners down to his
lack of education. I Her restlessness was put down to excite-
ment and nobody realised she was seriously ill.
attribute sth to /atrlbju:t (sth) tu: II-bjat-/a formal
expression meaning to explain a situation or fact, espe-
cially one that you do not understand, by saying that it is
the result of something [phr v T]
The management attributed the success of the company to the
new Marketing Director. I I have never been good at
mathematics, which I have always attributed to missing
several years of school when I was a child. I 1,150 deaths a
year can be attributed to drunk driving.
1 4 the action, event etc that causes something
cause stimulus
factor spur
origins impetus
root
cause/k:z/[n C]
Doctors cannot find a cure for the illness until they have iden-
tified the cause. I The underlying causes of the present dis,_,,,
pute date back to 1987. I root cause (=main cause) One of
the root causes of unemployment is the computerization of
industry.
factor/ fektor/one of several causes of a situation or con-
dition In C]
The choice of school for your children will depend on a
number of factors, including the size of it. [ deciding factor
(=the factor that finally makes you decide to do something)
The closeness to the river was the deciding factor in choos-
ing the site for the factory. I key factor (=main factor) Money
will be the key factor when we decide to buy a new house. I
factor in His girlfriend lives in London and I'm sure this
was a factor in him deciding to move there.
origins/'ordsnz Jl ':-, 'a:-I the fin:st causes from which
a situation, condition etc has developed In plural]
The committee has ordered an inquiry into the origins of the
Vietnam war. I Other cultures" beliefs about the origins of
disease and supernatural cures differ from our own. I have
origins in Most of our attitude to racism has its origins in
the colonialism of days gone by.
root/ru:t/the main or most important cause of a situation
or condition In C]
root of We need to get to the root of the problem. [ The roots
of the war of 1692 go back to long before 1680.

CAUSE 18"/ certainly not
stimulus/'sumj°las/an event or an action that helps a
process to develop more quickly or more strongly In
singularC/
The renewal of international trade ought to provide a stimu-
lus to the economy. [ The appointment of a new director gave
the project immediate stimulus.
spur/spa:r/a fact or event that helps something to happen,
especially something that needs effort or determination
In singular]
Big profits have been a spur to investment. [ Competition
from Japanese firms acted as a much needed spur to
efficiency.
impetus/impXtas/an influence that helps a process to
develop more quicldy In singularC/
The impetus for change in the industry was provided by a
new management team. [ It is believed that press criticism
has been the main impetus behind this sudden improvement
in catering services. [ The Surgeon General's speech will give
new impetus to the anti-smoking campaign.
caustic UNKIND 2
caution WARN 1, 2, 6
caution: with caution CAREFUL 6
cautionary WARN 5
cautious CAREFUL 4, 9
cautiously CAREFUL 6
cave in FALL 10
cavernous BIG 6
cease STOP DOING STH 1, STOP HAPPENING 1
cease to exist DISAPPEAR 3
ceasefire PEACE/NO WAR 4
ceiling LI M IT 1
celebrate CELEBRATE 1
CELEBRATE
to show that an event or occasion is
important by doing something special or
enjoyable
I to celebrate something
:2 a special event that has been arranged to
celebrate something
1 to celebrate something
celebrate mark
commemorate in celebration of
do sth in sb's honourl
honor
celebrate / 'selXbreIt/to show that an event or occasion
is important by doing something enjoyabl, for example by
having a party Iv I/T/
Congratulations on your promotion - we must go out and
celebrate! [ celebrate sth My mother bought a dozen bot-
tles of champagne to celebrate my twenty-first birthday. [
celebrate sth with sth Harry celebrated his thirtieth birth-
day with a meal in a posh restaurant.
commemorate/kamemreIt/to do something to show
that you remember, respect, and are grateful to someone
who did something special or important in the past, espe-
cially someone who is now dead Iv T/
The annual parade commemorates the soldiers who died in
the two World Wars. [ The concert commemorated the
singer's first recordings which were made in 1948.
commemoration Ikamemo'reSan/ In U/Candles were lit
in commemoration of Hiroshima's dead.
do sth in sb's honour (British) I honor (American)
/,du: (sth) In (sb's) 'ona r II -'o:nor/to do something in order
to show your respect for someone, for example because
they have been very brave or have achieved something
very special Iv phrase]
A parade was organised in honour of Madame Blier, who
had risked her life to save the villagers from enemy soldiers. I
When Mr Johns retired after 45years'service, the company
held a party in his honour. I A statue has been erected in
honour of all the children who have died in South Africa.
mark/ma:rk/if you do something in order to mark an
occasion, you do something special as a way of honouring
or remembering an important day or event Iv T/
A firework display was organized to mark the Queen's birth-
day. [ celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of
Columbus" voyage
in celebration of/in isel I Ibrelj'an av/in order to cele-
brate an important event or achievement [prep]
A special song was composed in celebration of the space-
craft's safe return.
• a special event that has been arranged to
celebrate something
celebration
celebration/,sel] 'breij'an/an event such as a party or
a special public occasion that is held because people want
to celebrate something In C/
New Year celebrations in Scotland go on for three days. [
When Charles and Diana got married the whole nation
joined in the celebrations. [ Janine had her birthday celebra-
tion a week early.
celebrated FAMOUS 3
celebration CELEBRATE 2
celebrity FAMOUS 8
celebration: in celebration of CELEBRATE 1
celibate SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 12
censor FORBID 8
censorship FORBID 8
censure TELL SB OFF 3
central BASIC 1, IMPORTANT 3, MAIN 1, MIDDLE 2
centrelcenter IMPORTANT 8, MIDDLE 1, 2
centre: at the centrelat the center MIDDLE 3
centre: be the centre of attention ATTENTION 8
centre: the centrelthe center MODERATE 1
centre onlcenter on ABOUT 2
ceremonial TRADITION 4
ceremony TRADITION 3
cert: be a dead cert CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 3
certain
certain .CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 6, SURE 1
certain: be sure to/be certain to
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
certain: make sure/make certain CERTAINLY/
DEFINITELY 4, CHECK/MAKE SURE 1
certain: not be certain UNCERTAIN 1
certain: not be sure/not be certain NOT SURE 1
certainly CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1, 2, YES 2
certainly not NO 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

CERTAINL Y/DEFINITEL Y " 188 CERT AINL Y/DEFINITEL Y
CERTAINLY/
DEFINITELY
1 ways of saying that something is certainly
true, certainly happened etc
2 ways of saying that something will certainly
happen
3 ways of saying that someone or something
will certainly win or succeed
4 to do something in order to be certain that
something will happen
5 certain to happen and impossible to avoid or
prevent
6 words for describing something that is
certainly true, will certainly happen etc
 certainly
definitely
there is no doubt
undoubtedly
without doubt/
without a doubt
1 ways of saying that something is certainly
true, certainly happened etc
unquestionably
be beyond dispute
there's no denying
there are no two
ways about it
there is no question
certainly/'s3:rtnlil [adv]
I'm sorry if I upset you. I certainly didn't mean to. I Selling
an apartment is difficult at the moment, but you "ll certainly
have no trouble buying one. I Incredible as they seem, these
events certainly took place. I It's a very good idea, certainly. I
Certainly you can.
definitely / definltli, Idefantli/so certain that there can
be no doubt at all [adv]
I definitely posted the cheque last week. Hasn't it arrived yet? l
"This new blouse will match my red skirt won't it?'"
"'Definitely. ""
there is no doubt/6ear z ,nao 'daot/if you say there
is no doubt about something, you mean that it is definitely
true
there is no doubt (that) There's no doubt that he completely
dominates her. I there is no doubt about it/that You can
see they're short of staff- there's no doubt about that. I There
was no doubt about it that, without the peacekeeping force,
the civil war would have continued. I there is not a shadow
of a doubt (=there is definitely no doubt at all) There is not
a shadow of a doubt that these men are guilty.
undoubtedly/Anldaotdli/if something undoubtedly
exists, is true etc, everyone agrees that it certainly exists,
is true etc [adv]
The years my parents spent in Kenya were undoubtedly the
happiest of their lives. I Racism undoubtedly exists at all
levels of society. I Undoubtedly there's a lot that we don't
know about early mankind.
without doubt/without a doubt /wI6aot tdaot,
wI6 taot  tdaot/you say without doubt when you are cer-
tain that something is true, especially when you want other
people to believe that it is true lady phrase]
He is without doubt one of our most successful businessmen. J
Without a doubt, taxation is going to be the key issue in the
President's campaign.
unquest|cnabiy ]^n kwes@nabli! a formal word mean-
ing certainly, used especially when you are certain that an
opinion or idea is true [adv]
Japan has unquestionably one of the most successful econo-
mies in the world. I Unquestionably money is one of the main
causes of disagreement between couples.
be beyond dispute/bi: bI tjond d[ spju:t 1[ -ijo:nd-/ifthe
fact that something happened or exists is beyond dispute
it certainly happened or exists and no one thinks differ-
ently Iv phrase]
That the reports were stolen is beyond dispute, what we need
to know is who took them. I Her professionalism is beyond
dispute.
there's no denying/6erz tnao dl tnaI-;rj/ if you say
there's no denying that something is true, you mean that
it is true even if you do not like the fact that it is true, or
do not want to admit it
there's no denying (that) There's no denying Bess likes
country life, but I think she still misses New York. I there's
no denying it Anna's looking much better since her opera-
tion. There's no denying it.
there are no two ways about it/bear )r nau tu: wez
baut t/if you say there are no two ways about it, you
are so certain that something is true that you do not think
someone should be arguing with you about it
there's/there are no two ways about it There's no two
ways about it, if we go on vacation this year we can't afford
a new car. [ no two ways about it Julia is a very intelli-
gent little girl. No two ways about it.
there is no question/6eor iz tnoo 'kwes@n/if you say
there is no question, you want people to know that you
are very certain about something you have said or are
going to say
there is no question (that) He says there's no question that
guerillas are homing the hostages. [ there is no question
about it They're having an affair all right - there's no ques-
tion about it.
2 ways of saying that something will certainly
 happen
certainly be only/just a matter of time
definitely cut and dried
be bound to you can bet your life/
be sure to/ bet your bottom dollar
be a certainty
be a foregone conclusion
for sure
be certain to
be assured of
certainly/'sa:rtnli/[adv]
I'll certainly be glad when this course is over. [ Roger and
Andy are certainly coming to the party, but I'm not so sure
about Nancy.
definitely /def[n tli, Idefan]tli/so certain that there can
be no doubt at all [adv]
She said she'd definitely be back by dinner time. [ US offi-
cials have promised that they will definitely review their Star
Wars defense program.
be bound to/hi: baond tu:/if something is bound to
happen it is certain to happen, especially because that is
what always happens Iv phrase]
The kids are bound to be hungry when they get home - they
always are. [ My car broke down today. It was bound to
happen sooner or later.
be sure to/be certain to/bi: fu r tu:, bi: Isa:rtn tu:/
to be definitely going to happen especially because of what
you know about the present situation Iv phrase]
Have you asked Ted? He's sure to know. I Word was sure to
get around that Mrs White was ill. I The drop in prices and
lack of demand are certain to affect the manufacturing
industry. I We are certain to see this technique widely used
in the future.
be assured of/bi: '.oord ov/a formal expression mean-
ing to be certain to get something good or to be successful
Iv phrase]
After the success of its recent single, the band is now assured
of a contract with a major record company. I Our clients are
assured of comfortable accommodation and the attention of
our trained staff.
be only/Just a matter of time/bi: aonli, ,dsnst 
,moetor ov ttam/if you say something is only a matter of
time, you mean it is certain to happen but no one knows
exactly when Iv phrase]
You'll learn how to do it eventually - it's only a matter of
time. [ Your father is dying and there's nothing we can do
I'm afraid. It's just a matter of time. [ be only/just a matter

CERTAINLYIDEFINITELY 189 CERTAINLYIDEFINITELY
of time before It was only a matter of time before Lynn
found out Phil's secret.
cut and dried /kAt an draid/if a situation is cut and
dried it is certain to happen because it has already been
planned or decided, and nothing can be done to change it
[ adj phrase]
My future was cut and dried. I would join my father's firm,
and take it over when he retired. [ We made the arrangements
weeks ago. It's all cut and dried.
you can bet your life/bet your bottom dollar/ju:
kan ,betja: r 'la;f, ,bet ja: r ,botam 'dola r II -,ba:tam 'do:-/if
you say you can bet your life that someone will do some-
thing, you mean you are very certain that they will do it,
because you know them very well
you can bet your life/your bottom dollar (that) If the
kids see something advertised on TV, you can bet your bottom
dollar they'll want it. [ He said he'd arrange a babysitter for
tonight, but you can bet your life he hasn't done it.
be a certainty/bi: a 'sa:rtnti/ if something is a cer-
tainty, it is certain to happen, especially because the situ-
ation has changed and made it certain [v phrase]
An election is a certainty in the near future. [ Being left alone
in her old age, the fate she had always feared, now became
a certainty.
be a foregone conclusion/bi: a ,fa:rgon kanlklu:san II
-ga:n-/if something, especially a result, is a foregone con-
clusion, it is certain to happen even though it has not yet
been officially decided [v phrase]
Ian's bound to get the job - it's a foregone conclusion. [ The
outcome of the battle was a foregone conclusion.
for sure/fa 'fear/if you say that something will happen
for sure, you mean it will certainly happen lady]
Yeah, you'll see him, he'll be therefor sure. I Milan are going
to win the cup for sure. They are so much better than the
opposition.
3 ways of saying that someone or something
will certainly win or succeed
can't go wrong it's a safe bet/
be a dead cert it's a sure bet (that)
it's In the bag foolproof
can't go wrong/,ko:nt gao 're0 11 ,k0ent gao 'ra:0/you
say that someone or something can't go wrong if you are
sure that they will be successful [v phrase]
We've been through the plan a dozen times. It can't go
wrong. [ Just follow the instructions and you can 't go wrong.
be a dead cert/bi: a ,ded Is3:rt/ an informal British
expression meaning that someone or something will
definitely win or succeed Iv phrase]
I'm betting on Sceptre. He's a dead cert to win the Gold Cup.
it's in the bag/;ts ;n 6 'b0eg/ffyou say it's in the bag,
you mean that you will certainly get something you want,
or something you want will certainly happen, because you
have almost got it or it has almost happened already
You're bound to get Bill's job when he leaves. Don't worry,
it's in the bag. [ be in the bag If we win the next game, the
championship's in the bag.
it's a safe bet/it's a sure bet (that)/ts a ,sef bet,
ItS ; ,fl.l) r 'bet 6atl informal expressions meaning that it is
almost certain something willhappen because of what you
know of the situation
If the president supports him it's a sure bet that he'll get a
seat in congress. [ As it was the first concert of the season it
was a safe bet all the critics would be there.
|ooiproof/fu:lpru:f/foolproof method/system/plan
etc (=one that is certain to work or be successful) [adjl
Faxing is virtually a foolproof method of getting informa-
tion from one place to another at great speed. [ We have deve-
loped a foolproof plan for rescuing the hostages.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
4 to do something in order to be certain that
something will happen
make sure/make certain
insure/ensure
see that/see to it
make sure/make certain/meIk 'j'oo r, meik 'sa:rtn/[v
phrase]
make sure/certain (that) You must make sure that your
dog is vaccinated against illness. I The producer must make
certain there is enough material to fill the one-hour
programme. I make sure/certain I think Harry knows the
way, but I'll go with him just to make sure.
insure (also ensure in British English)/zn'j'tjar/a formal
word meaning to do something to be certain that something
will happen [v T]
insure/ensure that It is important to insure that univer-
sities have enough funds to carry out important research. I
A new television campaign has been launched to ensure that
the hostages are not forgotten. I insure/ensure sth To
insure accuracy, three consultants worked closely with the
producer during filming.
see that/see to it (that)/'st: 6at, 'st: to it bat/to make
sure that something someone has asked you to do is done
[ v phrase]
I'll see that Jason isn't late for school again! I Will you please
see to it that this work is finished by the end of the week! I
It's up to the police to see that vandalism in shopping malls
is stamped out. I see to it "'This letter must be posted today. ""
"'Don't worry, I'll see to it. ""
5 certain to happen and impossible to avoid or
 prevent
inevitable predestined
whether you like it be meant to be
or not pre-ordained
willy nilly doomed
be fated to the inevitable
be destined to
inevitable / 'nev]tbal/[adj]
Many people believe that a nuclear war is inevitable. I Nina
could never escape the inevitable comparisons that people
made between her and her twin. I it is inevitable that It
was inevitable that he'd find out her secret sooner or later.
inevitably [ado] Tax cuts for the rich inevitably lead to
worse provision for the poor.
inevitability/I ,nev tabll]ti/[n U] He's never been able to
accept the inevitability of change.
whether you like it or not/we6a r ju: tlalk t ::r 'ntl
you say whether you like it or not when you are telling
someone that something is certain to happen and that they
cannot prevent it even if they do not like it
You're going to have to face him one day, whether you like
it or not. I Whether she likes it or not, she's got to accept that
her kids are grown up now.
willy hilly Iwdi InIli/something that happens willy nilly
happens whether you want it to or not [adv]
The government's forcing all these unpopular laws through
willy hilly.
be fated to/bi: t fetd tu:/if something, especially some-
thing bad, is fated to happen, it seems that it is certain to
happen because of some mysterious force Iv phrase]
It seems that she was fated to be alone in life. } It was fated
to happen. He should have had his brakes repaired months
ago.
be destined to/bi: 'dest]and tu:/if someone is destined
to do or become something, they will certainly do it or
become it, especially something that will make them
famous or admired [v phrase]
She was convinced that her little boy was destined to become
President. I Hollywood is the ultimate destination for those
destined to become stars.

CERTAINLYIDEFINITELY
190
predestined /pri'destnd/ something that is predes-
tined will certainly happen and cannot be changed because
it has been decided in advance by a power or force beyond
our control [adj]
Life isn't a series of predestined events: we have some control
over what happens. [ predestined to Many religions teach
that man is predestined to suffer.
be meant to be/hi: i ment t bi:/if you know that a sit-
uation is meant to be you know it is certain to happen,
especially because it is right and suitable [v phrase]
Although saying goodbye was difficult for her, she knew it
was meant to be. ] We tried to be happy together but it was
never meant to be.
pre.ordained/,pri: a:rldelnd-/something that is pre-
ordained is going to happen and cannot be changed
because God or a god has already decided that it will
happen [adj not before noun]
Are our lives pro-ordained or do we have free will?
doomed/du:md/ifa situation is doomed it will certainly
end in a very bad way for example, in death, failure, etc
[adj]
doomed to do sth Marx taught that capitalist economies
are eventually doomed to collapse. I doomed The film is
about a set of aliens living on a doomed planet. I doomed
to failure In the novel, Jude's marriage is doomed to failure
from the start.
the inevitable /6i Inevtbal/ something that is
definitely going to happen and cannot be avoided or
prevented In singular]
It's time they accepted the inevitable and got a divorce.
6 words for describing something that is
certainly true, will certainly happen etc
certain
definite
conclusive
certain/'sa:rtn/[adj]
The results are now certain. Clinton will be the new Presi-
dent of the United States. [ Ignoring all warnings, the general
led his men to certain death.
definite/'defnIat, 'defnq if something is definite it is
certain because someone has stated that it will happen, is
true etc [adj]
I don't know what time she's coming. She won't give me a
definite answer. I We have some statistics, but we really need
something more definite before we can make any firm
decisions.
conclusive/kan klu:s;v/conclusive proof/evidence/
argument etc (=that is certainly true and cannot be
doubted) [ adj]
We still have no conclusive proof that he was involved in the
crime. I These experiments will provide conclusive evidence
of the connection between smoking and cancer. I They have
been able to collect some data, but as yet nothing really
conclusive.
conclusively [adv] The documents show conclusively that
she was aware of and took part in corrupt deals.
certainty: be a certainty CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
certify SAY/STATE 6
chain of thought: break sb's train of thought/chain
of thought DISTURB 1
chain reaction RESULT 6
chain-smoker SMOKE 3
chain store SHOP/STORE 1
chair IN CHARGE OF 5
chaidchairperson IN CHARGE OF 6
chairman IN CHARGE OF 6, MANAGER 2
chairwoman IN CHARGE OF 6
chalk and cheese: be like chalk and cheese
DIFFERENT 2
challenge: be a challenge DIFFICULT 2
challenging DIFFICULT 2
champ WIN 9
champion WIN 9
CHANCE/BY CHANCE
champion/be a champion of FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST
STH 1
championship COMPETITION 1
chance CHANCE/BY CHANCE 2, 3,
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 1, POSSIBLE 2
chance: by chance CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
chance: get sth by chancelaccidentlluck GET 6
chance: grab the chance CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
chance: have/stand a good chance PROBABLY 6
chance: have/stand little chance PROBABLY 10
chance: jump at the chance/opportunity
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
chance: little chance/hope/prospect PROBABLY 10
chance: not stand a chance IMPOSSIBLE 2
chance: outside chance PROBABLY 10
chance: take a chance RISK 3
chance: there's a chance MAYBE 1
chance: there's a fifty-fifty chance UNCERTAIN 3
chance it RISK 3
chance of a lifetime CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 2
CHANCEl
BY CHANCE
the way that things happen unexpectedly and
seem to have no cause
1 ways of saying that something happens by
chance
:2 words for describing something that happens
by chance
3 the way in which the result of something
depends on chance
4 something that happens by chance but
seems to have been planned or intended
5 ways of saying that things are done, chosen
etc simply by chance, and not according to a
plan or system
1 ways of saying that something happens by
 chance
by chance as luck would have it
by accident by coincidence
happen to do sth as it happens
by chance/bai 'to:ns II -'tensl if something happens
by chance, it happens unexpectedly and seems to have no
cause [adv phrase]
By chance I met an old friencl on the train. I quite by chance
(=just by chance) I'd been looking for this book for years and
I found it quite by chance in the bookstore along the street.I
It was quite by chance that I saw your father's photOgraph
in an old newspaper. I by sheer chance/purely by chance
(=completely by chance and surprisingly) By sheer chance
someone had cancelled their air ticket so I was able to go to
Miami after all. I Sometimes we stumble on the answer to
a problem purely by chance.

CHANCE/BY CHANCE 191 CHANCE/BY CHANCE
by accident/ba 'eksdant/if you do something by acci-
dent, you do it by chance and without intending to do it
[ adv phrase ]
I realized that by accident I had started a dangerous
rumour. I Fleming discovered penicillin almost by accident. I
The trigger of the gun is locked so that it cannot be fired by
accident. I quite by accident (=just by chance) Lombardi
heard about their plan quite by accident.
happen to do sth/,hepan ta du: (sth)! if you happen
to do something, you do it by chance and not because of
any particular reason or plan [v phrase not in progressive]
She hadn't arranged to meet him - she just happened to see
him in the street. [ I'm sorry I didn't phone first - I just hap-
pened to be passing and thought I'd drop in. [ We're not
related - we just happen to have the same name.
as luck would have it/az lAk wod 'hev It/you say as
luck would have it when you are telling how something
happened by chance, especially when it was something you
did not want to happen [adv phrase]
This was the first time I had ever seen a panda, and as luck
would have it I didn't have my camera with me. [ As luck
would have it, the professor had left only minutes before I
arrived.
by coincidence/bai kao' ;nsgdgns/if something happens
by coincidence, it happens by chance and in a surprising
way, because something that is similar or connected with
it happens at the same time, in the same place, or to the
same person [adv phrase]
My mother is called Anna, and by coincidence my wife's
mother is called Anna too. [ by a strange/sad/happy etc
coincidence By a strange coincidence the king was assas-
sinated on the very spot where his grandfather had been
killed.
as it happens/az It 'hepanzl you say as it happens
when you are mentioning a situation that is surprising
because by chance it is connected with something else that
has been noticed or mentioned [adv phrase]
We've just seen a really beautiful house and, as it happens,
it's for sale. I "Do you own any guns, Mr Wright? .... Why,
yes, as it happens, target shooting is my one hobby. '" I I
needed to borrow a car, and as it happened Andrew wasn't
using his.
2 words for describing something that happens
by chance
chance
accidental
fortuitous
chance/tSo:ns II tJYens/chance meeting/remark/dis-
covery etc (=one that happens unexpectedly and was not
planned or arranged) [adj only before noun]
Their friendship was the result of a chance meeting. I He over-
heard a chance remark which made him realize that his
friend was in trouble. I A chance encounter at the conference
gave him the opportunity to tell the professor about his work.
accidental I,eksaI 'dentl-I happening by chance, without
being planned or intended, and especially in a way that has
a bad result [adj]
Are you insured against accidental damage to your
property? l A system of valves limits accidental releases of the
substance.
accidentally [adv] Don't tell Sarah about our plan. She
might accidentally mention it to the wrong person. I I wasn't
sure whether he kicked me accidentally or on purpose.
fortuitous/fa:r'tju:aItas II -'tu:-/a formal word meaning
happening by chance and especially in a way that has a
good result [adj]
• This fortuitous meeting made him decide on a career in
politics. I Only her husband's fortuitous absence enabled her
to speak freely.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
3 the way in which the result of something
depends on chance
luck
chance
fate
luck/IAk/the way in which good or bad things happen to
people by chance In U]
There's no skill in a game like roulette, it's all luck. [ Find-
ing the right person for the job is largely a matter of luck.
chance/to:ns [[ tens/the way in which things happen
to people without being planned, intended, or controlled
by them In U]
It was just chance that we saw each other in the street that
day. [ Chance played a very small part in those political
changes. I leave sth to chance (=let things happen by
chance) You must plan ahead. You can't leave these things
to chance.
fate/fet/the power or force that is supposed to control
the way everything happens, so that people cannot control
their own lives In U]
He believes that everything that happened that day had been
decided by fate. I They saw themselves as victims of fate. I by
a twist of fate (=because fate made things happen in an
unexpected way) By a strange twist of fate the judge died
on the very day that Cordell was executed.
4 something that happens by chance but
seems to have been planned or intended
coincidence
accident
coincidence/kao' nsI ddns/a surprising situation which
happens by chance when two things that are alike or con-
nected happen at the same time, in the same place, or to
the same people In C/U]
You "re going to Bermuda? What an amazing coincidence. So
am I! I Well, isn't that a coincidence! I never expected to meet
you here! I It must be more than coincidence that he
organized the competition and his daughter won the first
prize.
coincidental Ikaolmsa I Identll [adj] Any resemblance
between the characters in this novel and the teachers at any
real college is purely coincidental (=is just the result of a
coincidence).
accident/'eksalddnt/something that happens by chance
with no plan or intention In C]
I only met her again through a fortunate accident. I It was
a cruel accident that Kramerfound himself sharing a cell
with the man he hated most in all the world.
ways of saying that things are done, chosen
etc simply by chance, and not according to a
plan or system
at random
random
arbitrary
at random/at 'rendaml if you do or choice things at
random, you do or choose them without using any plan
or system [adv phrase]
The forms were distributed at random to people passing by. I
She picked up a magazine and started reading here and
there at random. I Twenty students were chosen at random
to take part in the experiment.
random /  rendam/something that is random is done or
chosen without using any plan or system [adj]
The union believes that the random drug testing of employees
is an unwarranted invasion of their privacy. I Afew random
shots were fired, but the battle was over.
randomly [adv] Participants for the show are randomly
selected from a long list.
I r I
arbitrary I o: batrari, -tri II-treri/ something that is
arbitrary is decided or arranged without any reason, plan
or system, especially in a way that seems unfair [adj]

CHANCE/BY CHANCE 192 CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY
The way the programme of events is organized seems com-
pletely arbitrary to me. I The fans complained about the
apparently arbitrary distribution of tickets for the next
game.
arbitrarily I I cnblotmrli II Io:rb trerIli/[adv] They seem to
have decided quite arbitrarily that our school must close
down.
CHANCEl
OPPORTUNITY
1 a situation in which it is possible or
convenient for you to do something that you
want to do
2 an extremely good opportunity that is very
unlikely to happen again
3 the possibility of doing things that you want to
do or that will bring you an advantage
4 to use an opportunity when you have it
5 to fail to use an opportunity
1 a situation in which it is possible or
convenient for you to do something that you
want to do
chance break
opportunity place
opening
chance Iffo:ns II teensl In C]
I haven't phoned the garage yet because I haven't had a
chance. I chance to do sth While we were in New York we
had the chance to go up The Statue of Liberty. I chance for
sth The job in Australia would be the chance for a new start
away from all her problems. I chance for sb to do sth The
state fair was the perfect chance for him to display his
flowers. I chance of sth The new police patrol has ruined
the only chance of escape. I second chance (=another
chance after you have failed the first time) No second
chances for him. He was warned about this.
opportunity/,opa'tju:nti II ,o:par'tu:-I a chance to do
something, especially something important In C]
opportunity to do sth All he needs is an opportunity to
show his ability. [ opportunity of doing sthAfter they had
refused him the opportunity of improving his position, he
resigned. [ opportunity for sb to do sth This system is a
perfect opportunity for young people to work together in the
community. I equal opportunities (=the same opportuni-
ties as other people) All over the world women are demand-
ing equal opportunities. [ an opportunity arises/presents
itself Ira suitable opportunity presents itself, we will sell the
house and move to the States.
opening / '$opanIO/a chance to do a job or business that
you have not been able to do before because the situation
was not helpfttl or suitable In C]
Anita knew she could start up a successful business - she just
needed an opening. [ opening in Keep looking and sooner
or later you will find an opening in broadcasting, I'm sure.
break Ibreik/ an informal word meaning a sudden or
unexpected chance to do something, especially to be suc-
cessful in your job In C]
Gary wants to work in television. He's just waiting for a
break. [ lucky break Seeing that advertisement in the paper
was a lucky, break for me.
place/pleis/ a chance to study at a school, college or
university In C]
Victor has a place to study law at Harvard. [ British univer-
sities are offering more higher education places this year
than ever before.
2 an extremely good opportunity that is very
unlikely to happen again
golden opportunity
chance of a lifetime
golden opportunity I,goldan p'tju:nolti II -o:pr'tu:-/
[n C]
golden opportunity (for sb) to do sth The management
course is being paid for by the company and it's a golden
opportunity to improve your skills. I golden opportunity
I got a grant from my university to study in the USA for a
year. It's a golden opportunity!
chance of a lifetime I,ffo:ns v  'laiflam l[ ,ffens-I
the chance to do something very exciting or important that
you might never be able to do again In phrase]
This job is the chance of a lifetime. You'd be a fool not to take
it. [ She won a chance of a lifetime trip to Thailand.
3 the possibility of doing things that you want to
do or that will bring you an advantage
opportunity scope
room prospects
opportunity I,opo'tju:nti II ,o:por'tu:-/In C/U]
Large companies offer so many more opportunities. I oppor-
tunity for The good thing about this job is that there's a lot
of opportunity for travel. [ opportunity to do sth Travel-
ling gives you the opportunity to find out about other
cultures.
room Iru:m, rum/a chance to do things you want to do, in
the way that you want to do them In U]
room for sth In our lessons there is always room for dis-
cussion and argument. [ I have two jobs, which doesn't leave
much room for socializing. [ room to do sth We've left the
course deliberately vague, so there's room to concentrate on
your particular areas of interest.
scope Iskop/a chance to improve your life, your job, or
an area of work without being restricted in any way [n U]
He refused the post because he felt it didn't offer him much
scope. [ scope for sth The department prides itself on the
constant scope for further improvement. I scope to do sth
Better paid labour means greater scope to increase the
company's profits.
prospects I'prospekts I[ 'pro:-/the chance of being suc-
cessful at something in the future, especially your job
In plural]
He had no job, no family, no home, no prospects. [Employers
are now offering more jobs with quality training and excel-
lent career prospects. [ prospects for The prospects for an
alliance between the two nations do not look good.
4 to use an opportunity when you have it
take the opportunity
grab the chance
jump at the chance/opportunity
strike while the iron is hot
opportunist
take the opportunity/,tcIk 6i opo'tju:nti II -por'tu:-I
Iv phrase]
take the opportunity to do sth I vould like to take this
opportunity to thank you all for your help. [ take the oppor-
tunity of doing sth The local people are used to me now and
take the opportunity of practising their English with me.
grab the chance I,greb 6 'to:ns II -'tJ'ens/an infor-
mal expression meaning to quickly use an opportunity to
do something, especially when you think you might not get
another chance Iv phrase]
grab the chance to do sth Knowing how difficult it is to
find a job I grabbed the chance to be trained as an electri-
cian. [ grab the chance It may be the last time he offers you
the job so I'd grab the chance while you can.

CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 193 CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT
Jump at the chance/opportunity /'d3^mp at 6a
,tj'a:ns, Dpa,tju:nti II-,q  ns, a:par,tu:-/ to eagerly and
quickly use an opportunity to do something [v phrase]
jump at the chance of doing sth You're so lucky. I'd jump
at the chance of meeting Tom Cruise. I jump at the chance
The early retirement plan is excellent and I'm surprised that
people haven't jumped at the opportunity.
strike while the iron is hot/straik wail 6i laIarn IZ
hot II -Iha:q you tell someone to strike while the iron is
hot when you think they should act quickly while the sit-
uation is most likely to be successful
Don't wait until tomorrow before you tell him, strike while
the iron is hot/
opportunist /opatju:nst II ,o:par'tu:-/ someone who
always looks for and takes chances that might make them
more successful especially when other people are suffer-
ing In C]
It is difficult to tell whether he really wants to help May or
whether he is just an opportunist. [ As the finance company
started to fail a few opportunists managed to make more
money out of it.
5 to fail to use an opportunity
miss a chance/an opportunity
miss out on
blow it/blow your chances
miss the boat
a lost opportunity
miss a chance/an opportunity/,mis a 'ta:ns, an
,opa'tju:ngti II -'tens, -,a:par'tu:-/Iv phrase]
miss a chance/opportunity Jerry's already sold the car
to someone else. You've missed your chance. [ miss a
chance/opportunity of Denise never misses the chance of
a free meal. I miss a chance/opportunity to do sth Don't
miss this great opportunity toffy for half price.
miss out on/,mis 'aot on II -a:nl to fail to use the chance
to do something enjoyable or useful Iv T]
Her family made her leave school very young so she really
missed out on her education. I If you don't come to the picnic
you'll miss out on all the fun.
blow it/blow your chances /'blao It, ,blao jo: r
't.  o:ns  z II-'tj'  en-/ an informal expression meaning to
waste a chance that you had to do or get something good
[ v phrase]
blow your chances of doing sth She started running much
too fast at the beginning and blew her chances of winning
the race. I blow it Don 't panic and talk too much in the inter-
view or you'll really blow it.
miss the boat Ims 6a bautl an informal expression
meaning to be too late to use an opportunity to do or some-
thing good Iv phrase]
Buy your shares in the company now or you "ll miss the boat. [
He didn't get his application in early enough so he missed
the boat.
a lost opportunity/a lost t)pa tju:nti II -b:st o:partu:-/
an opportunity that you wasted by not using it to become
successful, enjoy yourself etc [n phrase]
If you don "t take the job it'll just be another lost opportunity
in your life.
•  chances PROBABLY 8
' chances: blow it/blow your chances
i{! CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
: chances: take no chances CAREFUL 7
chances are PROBABLY 1
change CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1,
3, 6, CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 1, 3,
:. CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 1, 5, 7,
: EXCHANGE 1, MONEY 4, REPLACE 6, TAKE
:  OFF CLOTHES 1
' change: a change of heart CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
 change: hasn't changed a bit/at all SAME 3
change: make changes CHANGE/MAKE STH
, DIFFERENT 1
!: change places/partners etc EXCHANGE 1
change course TURN 3
change direction TURN 3
change into BECOME 5
change your mind CHANGE YOUR MIND 1, 2
change your tune CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
make something :
change  .... .. ',..... ......
become different ..... "-- ....
CHANGE/MAKE
STH DIFFERENT
CHANGE/
BECOME
DIFFERENT
change from one
thing to another
CHANGE FROM
ONE THING TO
ANOTHER
change your plans,
decisions, or opinions
CHANGE YOUR
MIND
slowly change as part
of a process
become something
else
@ DEVELOP
@ BECOME
not change, stay the
same
@ SAME
give someone
something in return
for something that
they give you
take a thing or person
away and put another
there instead of them
EXCHANGE
REPLACE
-@ CHANGE/BECOME
DIFFERENT
ways of saying that people, places, ideas,
situations etc change and become different
to change often or continually
a situation in which things change
words for describing something that keeps
changing
words for describing someone who has
changed completely
willing or able to change when change
becomes necessary
very unwilling to change, especially in the
way you do things
to be in a situation in which your life or work
never changes, even though you would like it
to change
words for describing amounts, levels etc that
do not change

CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 194 CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT
I ways of saying that people, places, ideas,
situations etc change and become different
change
changing
alter
change IteIndS/iv I]
She's changed a lot since she went to college. [ It's amazing
how much things have changed since we were young. I This
area will change dramatically in the next five years. I The
weather changed before midday to a thick drizzle of rain. [
Her expression did not change, and she answered me calmly. I
change eolour (=change in eolour) I think the paint in this
room has faded or changed colour.
changing/'teIndbI/[adj only before noun]
I find it hard to keep up with changing fashions. I His book
is concerned with the changing role of fathers. I Ansel Adams
loved wide landscapes and changing light.
alter/'a:ltar/if something alters, it changes, especially
gradually and over a long period iv I]
My hometown had hardly altered since when I was last
there. [ The study shows how the social and economic posi-
tion of women has altered since 1945. I Her face hadn't altered
much over the years.
2 to change often or continually
keep changing be in flux/be in a
fluctuate state of flux
vary
keep changing /ki:p 'teIndbl Iv phrase not in
progressive]
The weather kept changing as they crossed the mountains. I
His ideas about what he wants keep changing. [ I'll check the
regulations for you, they keep changing.
fluctuate /flAktfuet/ if something such as a price or
amount fluctuates it changes very often from a high level
to a low one and back again iv I]
The car industry's annual production fluctuates between 5.1
million and 9.2 million vehicles. [ Cholesterol levels in the
blood fluctuate in the course of a day. [ fluctuate wildly
Share prices on the New York Stock Exchange often fluctu-
ate wildly.
fluctuating [adj] Your savings will earn fluctuating rates
of interest.
fluctuation/,flAktfu'efan! in C/U] Is there any way of
avoiding fluctuations in coffee and tea prices?
vary/'veari! to change often iv I]
His mood varies according to the weather. I it varies "How
much milk do you use per day? .... Oh it varies." I We played
chess at six o'clock every evening. It never varied in twenty
years. I vary from day to day/week to week etc The
wealth produced by land may vary from year to year, depend-
ing on the weather.
be in flux/be in a state of flux/hi: in 'flAks, hi: in a
,steit v 'finks/if something such as a system or a set of
ideas is in flux or in a state of flux, it is changing a lot
all the time, especially in a confusing way, so that you do
not know what it will finally be like iv phrase]
The computer industry is in constant flux, responding all the
time to changes in technology. [ Our education programme
is in a state of flux, as new approaches are being developed.
a situation in which things change
change upheaval
alteration revolution
turnaround/tu rn rou nd
change ItJ'eind3/in C]
change in There was a sudden change in the weather. I He's
very sensitive to changes in temperature. I The delay was the
result of a change in the way that we administer the grants. I
change There have been so many changes around here lately
that I'm not sure what's happening anymore.
alteration I,a:lt'reian/a change in something, espe-
cially one which has happened gradually or naturally in C]
She noticed the alteration in his looks and manner. [ histor-
ical alterations in the language [ The relationship between
the United States and the USSR has altered: how should this
alteration be exploited?
turnaround (also turnround in British English)/'ta:rn -
araond, 'tar rnraond/a complete change from a bad economic
situation to a good one in C usually singular]
This year's profits will confirm the company's remarkable
turnaround. I BRITCON's turnround has been achieved by
drastic reductions in manpower.
upheaval /Ap'hi:wl/ a sudden great change that is
difficult to deal with and makes people completely change
their way of living or thinking in C/U]
1989 was a year of political upheaval in Eastern Europe. I
the social upheavals of the last fifty years I The 1920s were
years of consolidation, following the upheavals of war. I
Moving to a different school can be a big upheaval for young
children.
revolution I reva'lu:an/a complete change in the way
of doing things or thinking, because of new ideas or
methods in C]
His ideas caused a revolution in education. [ Einstein's
General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scien-
tific thinking. [ Computers are perhaps the greatest techno-
logical revolution of the twentieth century. [ Each scientific
revolution alters our view of the world.
4 words for describing something that keeps
changing
changeable variable
erratic inconsistent
volatile u nsettled
unstable
changeable I'teInd3bal/feelings or conditions that are
changeable keep changing so that it is difficult to know
what they will be like in a short time [adj]
You love him now, but at your age feelings are changeable. I
I'm a changeable sort of person. I changeable weather
erratic ]I ratlk/behaviour or a process that is erratic
changes in an irregular and surprising way, when it would
be better if it remained the same [adj]
Her behaviour was becoming more and more erratic. I Heat-
ing was difficult owing to erratic supplies of gas, electricity
and water. I The company's erratic performance is a cause
for some concern.
erratically [adv] My car has been performing very errati-
cally (=giving a very erratic performance), some days it's
great and others it just won't start.
volatile /'vDlatad II 'va:latl/ a volatile situation or
character is likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly
[adj]
The current political situation in the Middle East is
extremely volatile. I The Brazilian former world champion
is known for his volatile Latin temperament. [ She formed
enduring relationships with women and more intense, vola-
tile ones with men.
volatility / ,vDla'tdti II ,vo=-/[n u] Manufacturing compa-
nies are experiencing increasing volatility in their markets
(=their markets are becoming more volatile).
unstable ]An'sterbal/a person, country, or system that is
unstable is likely to change suddenly and unpleasantly
because something in them is not firmly established [adj]
Regimes governed by violence are always unstable. I He
believed that capitalism was an unstable system. I Was it safe
to trust someone who was so emotionally unstable?
I I
instability ]  Insta bIlati! in U] The area is going through
a period of instability (=being unstable) and social crisis. [
Government policies have resulted in higher inflation and
financial instability (=an unstable economic situation).
variable Iveariabal/changing from time to time [adj]
Demand for the company's products is variable. I the vari-
able central European climate
Inconsistent !  inkan' s istant-/inconsistent behaviour
or work changes too often from good to bad or from situa-
tion to situation [adj]

CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 195 CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER
People feel threatened when decision-making is inconsistent
and arbitrary. I A succession of injuries produced an incon-
sistent season for one of our best players. I highly inconsis-
tent (=very inconsistent) She is highly inconsistent as a
recording artist - one good album is often followed by a
string of second-rate albums.
inconsistency In U] The inconsistency of her work (=the
fact that it is inconsistent) makes a really good result
unlikely.
unsettled/^nsedd! weather, conditions or situations
that are unsettled keep changing so that it is impossible
to make plans or know what will happen [adj]
It is dangerous to live there while the political situation is
so unsettled. I The weather has been very unsettled lately. I
wonder what's causing it? I Eliot led a strangely unsettled
life, drifting from place to place and job to job.
 words for describing someone who has
changed completely
a changed man/woman
reformed
a changed man/woman/ ,t.feIndsd 'meen, 'woman/
if you say that someone is a changed man or woman you
mean they have changed greatly from what they were like
before by an important or powerful experience In phrase]
She returned from her travel a changed woman. I My father
is a changed man now that he is captain of his own ship.
reformed/r[ tfz):rmd/someone who is reformed has com-
pletely changed their behaviour and stopped doing things
that other people disapprove of, for example stealing or
drinking too much [adj]
Since the birth of his baby, Mark has totally reformed. I a
reformed character I never drink - except on Fridays -
I'm a reformed character.
6 willing or able to change when change
becomes necessary
flexible
adaptable
flexible/'fleksbdl/willing and able to change the way
you think or the way you do things so that you can deal
with a new situation or reach agreement with other people
[adj]
If you're looking for a job you need to be flexible about where
you're prepared to work. I He said the key to his business suc-
cess was not forgetting to stay flexible.
flexibility /,fleksl blloIti! [n U] Successful negotiation
requires flexibility (=being flexible).
adaptable/'deptbdl/able to change the way you do
things or the way you think so that you can live or work
successfully in a new place, situation, or conditions [adj]
In this job you need to be adaptable and able to cope with
unexpected situations. ] highly adaptable (=very adapt-
able) Young children are highly adaptable - I'm sure they
won't mind moving to a different area.
adaptability/odept'bilti/[n U] All the recent changes
had tested the limits of her adaptability (=how adaptable she
could be).
7 very unwilling to change, especially in the
way you do things
inflexible
be set in your ways
conservative
I !
inflexible /In tick%ball not willing to change the way you
think or the way you do something [adj]
Once she has made a decision she is inflexible. [ his inflexi-
ble will and intense patience [ Union negotiations criticized
the employers for being inflexible on the issues of pay and
working conditions.
inflexibility/in,fleks 'bllti/In U] The inflexibility of both
the unions and management will make reaching agreement
very difficult.
be set in your ways/bi: ,set nja: r wezl to be unable
to change the way you do things because you have done
them that way for a long time Iv phrase]
I'm too old and set in my ways to try living in a foreign coun-
try now.
conservative/k;}n's3:rv;}tIV/preferring things to stay as
they are and disliking any kind of change [adj]
He's rather conservative and believes the old methods are
best. [ Do women tend to be more conservative than men?[
The German banks have a deeply conservative approach to
economic policy.
8 to be in a situation in which your life or work
never changes, even though you would like it
to change
be in a rut
be in a rut/hi: In  'rAt/to be living or working in a situ-
ation which has been the same for a long time and which
you are not satisfied with and would like to change Iv
phrase]
I'm in a rut at work, it's probably time for a change. I Once
you get into a rut it's often really difficult to get out of it and
make a new life for yourself.
9 words for describing amounts, levels etc that
do not change
constant
steady
stable
constant/'konstont II 'ka=n-I an amount, rate or level of
something that is constant does not change over a long
period of time [adj]
The patient's blood pressure remains constant. I We live next
door to a busy street and there is always a constant level of
noise in the background.
steady / ' stedi/not changing over a long period, especially
when this is good [adj]
We drove all day at a steady 65 miles an hour. I Larger fami-
lies were being rehoused at a steady rate. I It's important to
keep the temperature of the oven at a steady high heat.
stable / tstelbal/an amount, level etc that is stable is no
longer changing, after a period of time when it has been
changing a lot [adj]
When your temperature becomes stable you can stop taking
the medicine. I The level of water in the lake is now stable
after last year's drought.
CHANGE FROM
ONE THING TO
ANOTHER
to change from one thing to another
to keep changing from one thing to another
a change from one thing to another
a gradual change
words for describing things that can be
exchanged but still used in .he same way
to change from one vehicle to another as a
part of a journey
1 to change from one thing to another
change go from
switch go over to
transfer convert to
move go from one extreme to the other
change/tj'eIndS/to change from one thing to another so

CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 196 CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER
that you have something different from what you had
before iv I/T]
change sth I'm going upstairs to change my clothes. [
They've changed their phone number. [ We had to change the
tyro because we had a flat. I change jobs/cars etc (=move
from one to another) Women have to be ambitious and will-
ing to change jobs frequently if they want to get to the top
of their profession. [ change direction/course (=start
moving in a new direction) I tried to follow him but he kept
changing direction. [ change to sth Japanese industry is
changing to alternative marketing techniques. [ change
from sth to sth We've changed from traditional ways of
work to an automated system.
switch/swt/to change, especially suddenly, from one
thing to another iv I/T]
switch to sth I used to play golf but I switched to tennis to
get more exercise. [ It took a long time for Americans to switch
to smaller cars. I switch from sth to sth He switched easily
and fluently from English to French to German. [ I have
switched from the night shift to the day shift. [ switch chan-
nels (=change from one programme on television to
another) If you don't like the programme you can always
switch channels.
transfer /trains f3:r/ transfer your affection/allegi-
ance/support etc (=change from liking or supporting one
person or group, to liking or supporting another) Iv T]
The generals are transferring their allegiance to their new
leader. I Fed up with the performances of the team he'd been
watching for years, he transferred his support to their rivals.
move/mu:v/to change, especially gradually, from one
thing to another Iv I]
move from sth to sth In the book we follow the hero as he
moves from childhood through boyhood to maturity. I The
bank has moved from private client work to banking for
large corporations. I move away from Many socialists were
moving away from faith in revolution towards a more realis-
tic approach.
go from/'gao from/go from hot to cold/happy to sad
etc (=change from one state or feeling to another) Iv T not
in passive]
In seconds this mysterious man had gone from violent anger
to pathetic tears. I We've gone from cool winds to hot humid
weather in the space of a week.
go over to/,gu 'o r tu:/to change from one system
to a new one, especially a more modern one Iv T not in
passive]
Britain went over to decimal currency in 1971. I The factory
is going over to computerised machinery and many workers
are losing their jobs.
convert to/kanva:rt tu:/to change to another religion,
especially because someone has persuaded you to do so Iv
T]
In 1976 he converted to Islam. I Large numbers of people are
converting to Eastern religions such as Buddhism and
Hinduism.
go from one extreme to the other/go from ,wAn
xkstri:m t 6i IA6r/to change from being extreme in one
way to being extreme in another way [v phrase]
This movie goes from one extreme to the other, mixing
romance with horror to entertain its audience. I The hous-
ing market has swung from one extreme to another over the
past eight months.
2 to keep changing from one thing to another
alternate chop and change
vary rotate
alternate /'a:ltarneIt/ to change repeatedly from one
thing or condition to a different one and back again Iv I/T]
alternate between She would alternate inexplicably
between kindness and cruelty. [ The guide explained the sit-
uation, alternating between Spanish and German. [ alter-
nate with He has periods of inertia, which alternate with
frenzied activity. [ alternate sth with sth He alternated aer-
obic exercises with weight training to improve his stamina. [
alternate Good and bad luck seem to alternate in my life.
vary / 'veari/to regularly change what you do or the way
you do it so that you are more effective or do not become
bored. Iv T ]
Teachers can keep students" interest by varying their lessons. [
One of Dickens'great skills as a writer is the way he varies
his style. [ If you're bored with the trip to work, try varying
your route. I My doctor said I should vary my diet a little
more.
.
chop and change I,tDp an tJ'eind 5 II ,tfa:p-/a British
expression meaning to keep changing plans, activities, or
opinions Iv phrasel
You can't chop and change after you "ve started your career. I
There was a lot of chopping and changing in government
policy during those years.
rotate/rao'teIt II raotext/if people rotate, they each do
something such as a piece of work once, then another
person does it, then another, and then the first person again
iv I/T]
We rotate - I teach French grammar one week, and she
teaches it the next. I rotate a job/task etc We usually rotate
the worst jobs so that no one gets stuck with them.
3 a change from one thing to another
change move
switch reversal
change/tfends/[n C]
change of The police must be notified of any change of
address. I There are more broken promises with each change
of government. I change to Typing work could be speeded
up considerably by a change to word processors. I change
from sth to sth The change f.rom living in the city to living
in the countryside made her feel a lot healthier. I change
After a number of changes, she settled into a job with a major
bank.
switch/sw:t/a complete, and usually sudden, change
from one thing to another in C]
switch to A sudden switch to new food may cause stomach
upsets. I switch from sth to sth The switch from political
activity to family life was hard to handle. I switch of His
sudden switches of mood are difficult to deal with.
move/mu:v/a change from one job or kind of work to
another in C ]
move to It's probably time to think about a move to a new
job. I This picture marks the move to the big screen of some
of our best television comedians. I move Let's face it - going
from an academic life to the world of business is never an
easy move.
reversal/r[ 'va:rsal/a change to an opposite process or
course of action in C usually singular]
reversal of This appears to be a complete reversal of govern-
ment policy. I this dramatic reversal of traditional attitudes l
reversal The profits of supermarkets declined until 1975
when a reversal began.
4 a gradual change
transition move
trend movement
transition/tren z Q'an, -Is 1-/the process of change, espe-
cially gradual change, from one state or situation to
another In C/U]
transition from sth to sth The transition from a com-
munist system to a free market economy will be difficult. I
transition to sth It's difficult for someone who's been a
stage actress to make the transition to television. I be in tran-
sition (=be changing at the moment) The textile industry
is currently in transition. I transition period The new
system will be introduced gradually over a six month tran-
sition period.
trend/trend/a general change in the way people think or
behave, which is happening at the moment In C]
trend towards There is a growing trend towards payment
by credit card. I The current trend in this area is towards
part-time employment. I trend If present trends continue, the
earth will be considerably warmer in fifty years. I Our
managers are very alert to new trends in the industry.

CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 197 CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT
move/mu:v! the gradual change of a country or society
towards something different In C]
move towards/to There is a move towards greater equal-
ity for women in the workplace. I Planners hope to encourage
the move towards increased use of public transport. I The
United Nations was supposed to supervise the move to
independence. I move away from The South African
Government's latest policies show a significant move away
from apartheid.
movement/mu:vmnt/a gradual change, especially a
political or social change, in which a lot of people are
involved In C/U]
movement towards There is a gradual movement towards
tolerance and understanding. I The modern age of movement
towards democracy began with the French Revolution in
1789.
5 to change the way something is done or
organized
6 to change something so that it is completely
different from the way it was before
7 a change that has been made especially in
order to improve something
8 words for describing a system, method, rule
etc that can be changed or is easy to change
9 words for describing something or someone
that has been changed and is now different
10 ways of saying that something has been
decided or settled and will definitely not be
changed
11 difficult or impossible to change
5 words for describing things that can be
exchanged but still used in the same way
interchangeable
interchangeable/ Into r'tfendSobal/if two words or two
things are interchangeable, you can exchange one for the
other and use it in the same way [adj]
The two words have the same meaning and are virtually
interchangeable. [ The 'Dents" electric toothbrush is supplied
with two interchangeable heads.
6 to change from one vehicle to another as a
part of a journey
change make a connection
transfer connecting
change/qend3/[v I/T]
Is this a direct flight or do we have to change? ] Passengers
for York change at Leeds. ] change trains/planes/buses
ete We stopped at Los Angeles, just to change planes.
transfer /transfa:r/ to change from one vehicle to
another, as part of a journey, especially when all the other
people in the vehicle do the same Iv I]
transfer from/to The train broke down so we transferred
to a bus. ]At Frankfurt you will transfer from a DCIO to a
Jumbo Jet. ] transfer I must have lost my luggage when we
transferred.
make a connection /,me;k  ko'nekj'an/to change from
one vehicle to another that leaves a place at a particular
time Iv phrase]
If this bus arrives on time, we should be able to make a con-
nection at 4 pro, and be home by 6pro. ] make your con-
neetion (:manage to change to the vehicle you intended
at the time you intended) I wish this train would hurry up
- I'm not going to make my connection.
connecting /k'nekt0/ connecting flight/service/
train etc (=one that takes you from one part of your jour-
ney to another, where you continue it) [adj only before
noun ]
Due to engineering work, there will be a connecting service
between Broxbourne and Cheshunt. I Once in Australia, a
connecting flight will take you to Darwin.
@ CHANGE/MAKE
STH DIFFERENT
1 to change something or someone
2 to change something for a particular use or
purpose
3 to make small changes to something in order
to improve it
4 to deliberately change facts or information, for
example in order to influence people's
opinions
1 to change something or someone
change alter
make changes revise
change Iqe;nd31 [v T]
They've changed the timetable, and now there's only one bus
an hour. I Going to college changed him a lot. It made him
much more mature. I Having a baby changes your life com-
pletely, whatever your age. I Advertising has changed the
way people think about tobacco and alcohol.
make changes/,meek 'tfendsz/ to change parts of
something but not change it completely Iv phrase]
make changes to/in We'll have to make changes in the
family routine when the baby is born. I Will you be making
any changes to your new house? I make changes Don't make
any major changes yet. I I've analysed the system and made
changes where I thought they were needed.
alter/'a:ltar/to change one part of something, in order to
make it better or more suitable Iv T]
The Soviet leader altered his plans to include a chat with
local workers. I Can we make this product more cheaply
without significantly altering its quality? I You can alter the
appearance of a room by moving the furniture. I The sleeves
will have to be altered. I don't want to look like Minnie
Mouse.
alteration/,:lta 're,dn/[n U] This programme may require
some alteration as our circumstances change.
revise/re vaz/to change an idea or plan because of new
information Iv T]
This discovery made them revise their old ideas. I You should
review and revise the plan in the light of events as they
unfold. [ He may revise his opinion of journalists.
2 to change something for a particular use or
purpose
adapt
customize
convert
adapt/'dapt/to change something so that it can be used
in a different way Iv T]
adapt sth They have adapted their house so they can look
after their disabled son more easily. [ The movie was adapted
by Forsyth from his own bestselling novel. [ adapt sth to a
situation/needs/circumstances etc The Japanese adapt
their products to the needs of their customers. I adapt sth
for The material can be adapted for students of any age.
adaptation/,eedap'teIfanl In U] Adaptation of existing
equipment would be much cheaper than replacing it all with
new technology.
customize (also -ise British) I'kAstmaz/ to change
something, such as a car or a piece of equipment, to suit
a particular person or group of people [v T1
General Motors will customize Cadillacs for special clients I
The computer programs can be customised for individual
users.

CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 198 CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT
convert/kniv3:rt/to change something completely so
that it has a different form and can be used for a different
purpose Iv T 1
convert sth into A Swiss company has found a way to con-
vert animal waste into fuel. I This computer system converts
typed signals into synthesized speech. I convert sth We've
converted the basement to give the children more room to
play.
converted [adj] The nightclub is in a converted church.
conversion/kan v3:rJ'an II -3an/In C/UI The conversion was
carried out by a local building company.
3 to make small changes to something in ord6r
to improve it :
modify amend
adjust revise
make adjustments
modify/'modofa= II 'me:-/to make small changes to some-
thing such as a piece of equipment, a set of ideas, or a way
of behaving in order to improve it or to make it more suita-
ble for a particular purpose or situation iv TI
We can modify the design to make it suitable for commercial
production. I Many adults modify their speech when speak-
ing to young language learners. I The university is inves-
tigating ways of modifying drinking behaviour in
alcoholics.
modification/,modf 'keqan II ,ma:-/[n C/U] The govern-
ment is more interested in the modification of existing poli-
cies than the introduction of new ones.
adjust/ ds^st / to make small changes in the position or
level of something in order to get the best possible result
IvT]
Check and adjust your brakes regularly. [ I don't think the
colour control on this TV is properly adjusted. [ The amount
of any of these ingredients can be adjusted according to your
taste. ] "You don't have to come, "' Lewis said, as he adjusted
his tie in a mirror.
adjustment In C/U] Correct adjustment of the brakes will
ensure safe driving.
make adjustments/,meek 'd3^stmnts/to make small
changes to something such as a machine, a system, or the
way something looks Iv phrasel
You can use this tool to make adjustments in all kinds of
machines. I Scientists" were able to locate the star by making
a few minor adjustments to their original calculations.
amend /omend/ to make small changes to something
written, such as a law or legal agreement Iv T1
Congress amended the Social Security Act in 1967 to help the
disabled. I The law was amended so that profits from drug
dealing could be seized by the government. I Programs writ-
ten in languages such as basic and Q are very easy to edit
and amend.
revise/r= 'va=z/to check a piece of writing from beginning
to end and make any changes that are necessary to improve
it Iv Tl
He gave his work to his friend to revise, because he found it
hard to see his own mistakes. I Thepublisher will not accept
your manuscript until it has been thoroughly revised.
revision IrI'vIsan I In U] The essay was in need of careful
revision (-it needed revising carefully).
revised [adj] A revised edition of the novel.
4 to deliberately change facts or information, for
example in order to influence people's
opinions
twist falsify
misrepresent put words into sb's mouth
distort cook the books
twist/tw  st/to dishonestly change the meaning of a piece
of information or of something that someone has said, in
order to get some advantage for yourself or support your
own opinion Iv T]
The lawyers twisted everything I said to make it appear that
I was guilty. ] A good salesman can twist the latest news to
support his sales pitch. I Write very clearly so that he cannot
twist your meaning.
misrepresent/,msrepn zent/to give people a wrong
idea about someone or their opinions, by what you write
or say Iv T]
Your reporter has completely misrepresented my opinions
about immigration. [ Many women feel that the history books
either ignore or misrepresent them.
distort/d' st:rt/to explain facts, statements etc in a way
that makes them seem different from what they really are
[vT]
Journalists were accused of distorting the facts. ] a simpli-
fied and often distorted version of events I These incidents
were grossly distorted by police witnesses.
falsify /'f:lsfa=/ to dishonestly change official docu-
ments or records so that they contain false information
[vTl
She falsified her birth certificate to get the job. [ A whole team
was kept busy falsifying official government records. [ Their
accounts had been falsified over a long period of time
put words into sb's mouth /pot w3:rdz nt (sb's)
'mao0/to pretend that you think someone has said some-
thing that is not what they actually said or meant [vphrase]
I didn't mean that at all -you'rejustputting words into my
mouth! [ You're putting words into her mouth. You don't
know what she thinks.
cook the books/, kuk 6 'buks/an informal expression
meaning to dishonestly change a company's financial
records, in order to steal money Iv phrase]
We've just found out Alec's been cooking the books. [ The
directors of the company made millions from cooking the
books before the fraud investigators caught them.
5 to change the way something is done or
organized
change restructure
reorganize reform
change ItJendsI Iv TI
The government is considering changing the local voting
system. I Agriculture must be changed to reduce damage to
the environment.
change [n U] Without change, there can be no progress.
reorganize (also -ise British) Irk 3:rgna=z/to change the
way that a system or a group of people is organized Iv T I
During the 1980s, the government reorganized the civil serv-
ice. [ The proposals for reorganizing the company have made
many people in the workforce feel very insecure.
reorganization/ri:o:rgona 'zeIIn II -gn-/[n UI Consul-
tants have recommended the reorganization of management
roles within the company.
restructure Iri:str^kqrl to completely change the way
something is organized, especially a large political or eco-
nomic system or a big company, in order to make it more
effective Iv T]
Mr Gorbachev's attempt to restructure the Soviet economy
met with criticism from traditional communists. I In the
coming years a lot of money will go into restructuring the
education system.
restructuring In U ] In many cases restructuring results in
a leaner, fitter business organization ready to meet the
challenges of today's world.
reform /r f:rrn/ to change something such as a law,
system, or public organization, so that it operates with
more justice and fairness Iv T]
They reformed the voting system, and introduced a secret
ballot. [ We are working to reform the nation's prisons.
reform In U] The vast size of China made radical reform
almost impossibly difficult since the central government had
little contact with many areas. [ Our legal system is in urgent
need of reform (=urgently needs reform).
reformed [adjl a reformed appeals procedure

CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 199 CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT
to change something so that it is completely
different from the way it was before
transform
revolutionize
reverse
transform/trens tb:rm/to change something completely,
especially in a way that improves it Iv T]
The changes in Eastern Europe have transformed the Euro-
pean political scene. I Well, you've certainly transformed this
place. A new coat of paint and it looks great. I As he spoke
I was very conscious of the smile which transformed his
usually inexpressive face.
transformation /trensfrmej'dn/ [n C/U] Pressure
groups are demanding Egypt's immediate transformation
into a strict Islamic state. [ Fortunately there has been a
transformation in attitudes to women working.
revolutionize (also -ise British)/,rev'lu:onaizl to com-
pletely change the way people think or do things, especially
because of a new idea or a new invention Iv T]
This important discovery has revolutionized our under-
standing of the universe. [ The new technology is revolu-
tionizing the way music is played, composed and studied. [
The use of lasers has revolutionized medicine.
reverse/ri 'v3:rs/reverse a decision/policy/process/
trend etc (=change it so that it is the opposite of what it
was before) Iv T]
The judge reversed the original decision and set the prisoner
free. I Many of the former administration's policies were
reversed by the new president. I The longer the economic
decline is allowed to go on the more difficult it will be to
reverse it.
reversal In C] This decision marks a dramatic reversal in
the policy of the USSR.
7 a change that has been made especially in
order to improve something
change reform
modification amendment
alteration shake-u p
change/ffends/[n C]
We need some changes if we are going to make this company
successful. I I can't get used to all these changes. I change
to He hates all changes to his routine. [ The computers will
record any changes to the system. I change in We are work-
ing to bring about changes in the laws concerning the rights
of children.
modification/,mDdf'kedn II ,mo:-/a small change
made to something in order to improve it or to make it
more suitable for a particular purpose In C]
modification to The editor suggested a few modifications
to the text. I We need to make some modifications to our teach-
ing methods. I modification The new modifications made
it the finest of aircraft.
alteralion / :lt'rein/a change made to something,
especially a small change which makes it different but not
completely different In C]
I've sent the suit to a tailor for alterations. I alteration to
We're having some alterations made to our house. I minor
alterations (small changes) Your essay looks fine - I've sug-
gested one or two minor alterations here and there in the
margin.
reform/r; 'f:rm/a change made to a system, especially
a political system, in order to improve it In C]
The new parties have promised to carry out radical politi-
cal and economic reforms. I Feminists sought legal reforms
to ensure that women had genuinely equal opportunities.
amendment/a Imendmant/a change to a law or a rule
In C]
amendment to The committee proposed some amendments
to the rules. I amendment Congress passed an amendment
ensuring that the law was fairer to everyone.
shake-up / 'j'eIk np/a situation in which a lot of changes
are very quickly made in a system, company, or organiza-
tion in order to make it more effective In C]
The Administration is planning a thorough shake-up of the
welfare system. I The department has not performed well and
is badly in need of a shake-up.
8 words for describing a system, method, rule
etc that can be changed or is easy to change
flexible
adaptable
flexible I'fleksball [adj]
We need a flexible management system, able to meet the
changing needs of our customers. I Unions would like more
flexible working hours to replace the nine-to-five, forty hour
week. [ The rules are deliberately left flexible as each case
is different.
flexibly [adv] The course is flexibly organised to allow for
a variety of approaches.
flexibility/,fleks bIlti/ In U] This computer system is
popular with users for its flexibility and speed of operation.
adaptable/z'deptzbl/a system or way of doing some-
thing which is adaptable can be changed so that it is suita-
ble for very different uses and very different situations
[adj]
The Roman alphabet is an extremely adaptable writing
system used by many different languages. I highly adapta-
ble (=very adaptable) The parliamentary system has proved
highly adaptable to changing circumstances. I Because they
are for specialized structures, few of the designs are adapt-
able for other purposes.
adaptability/,dept'bilti/[n U] The economic welfare of
the country depended on the vitality and adaptability of the
national economy.
 words for describing something or someone
that has been changed and is now different
changed
revised
altered
changed/tendsd/[adj]
When he came back from the war he seemed changed, quieter
and more serious than before. I Because of changed condi-
tions in these countries travel is now much easier. I After all
these years I found the town utterly changed, almost
unrecognizable.
revised/ri va;zd/revised edition/version/document/
statement etc (=one that has been changed in order to
improve it or remove mistakes) [adj only before noun]
In the revised edition of the book, some of the charcaters"
names had been changed. I The revised version contains a
substantial amount of new material. I She was asked to
produce a revised document giving a more detailed analy-
sis of the figures.
altered /:ltrd/ changed by a process, event etc and
therefore different in behaviour, character or appearance
[adj]
Long-term use of the drug can result in an altered personal-
ity. I As a result of years of industrial development, the land-
scape appeared dramatically altered. I Research is being
carried out on genetically altered rabbits.
10 ways of saying that something has been
decided or settled and will definitely not be
changed
final definitive
irrevocable there is no going back
once and for all
final/' fanll something such as an agreement or a decision
that is final cannot be changed, especially because it has
been made by someone with authority [adj]
The judges" decision is final. I They thought carefully before
making a final commitment to buy. I The officials have final
authority when making decisions.
finally [adv] The new school timetable has not been finally
decided yet.

CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 200 CHANGE YOUR MIND
irrevocable/ revakabal/a formal word: a decision or
choice which is irrevocable cannot be changed after it has
been made [adj ]
Her decision was immediate and irrevocable. I There were
also occasions in life when an irrevocable choice had to be
made.
irrevocably [adv] Britain could be irrevocably tied to a
single European currency.
once and for all/, w^ns and far 'a:l/if you settle, decide,
or prove something once and for all, nothing else needs
to be done about it or can be done about it lady phrase]
Let's get this business settled once and for all. I After a series
of meetings the policy was changed once and for all.
definitive ]d Ifmuv/something, such as a description
or an explanation, that is definitive is accepted as right
or true, so that it cannot or need not be changed [adj usually
before noun]
The report aims to give a definitive explanation of the inci-
dent. I With blood samples from mother, baby and possible
father, a definitive answer can be given in a few weeks.
there is no going back/ear z Inao gaoirj 'bek/if
there is no going back after you have made a decision or
started an action, that decision or action is permanent and
cannot be changed
You've committed your time and money to the project now
- there's no going back. I It had started as a casual affair
but they both knew that now there was no going back.
difficult or impossible to change
inflexible fixed
rigid irreversible
inflexible/in' fleksIbal/difficult or impossible to change,
even when a change would be better [adj]
The regulations are precise and inflexible in such matters. [
It is a huge, inflexible and impersonal organization.
inflexibility/n,fleks I 'bflti/ [n U] There has been little
change in sexual behaviour because of the inflexibility of
social attitudes.
rigid / IrIdsaId/a system that is rigid is extremely difficult
or impossible to change and is therefore annoying [adj]
I get very frustrated with rigid bureaucracies. [ The Presi-
dent will not be able to meet enough people if he is kept to
an unnaturally rigid schedule. I The rigid class distinctions
which characterised British society are beginning to break
down.
fixed/flkst/times, amounts etc that are fixed, have been
decided and cannot be changed [adj]
The lessons began and ended at fixed times. I The policeman
told me there was a fixed penalty of Ј2O for driving without
a rear light. I In Communist Russia prices of all common
commodities used to be fixed.
irreversible/t IrIivaxrsbal/something such as damage
or a decision which is irreversible cannot be changed in
order to return things to the way they were before [adj]
The decisions of the supreme court are irreversible. I The
process of rainforest destruction may be irreversible. I Most
heavy drinkers do irreversible damage to their livers.
CHANGE YOUR
MIND
to change your plans, decisions, opinions etc
1 to change your mind about something you
intend to do or something you said you would
do
:2 to change your opinion about something or
someone
3 to keep changing your mind
4 words for describing someone who refuses to
change their opinions or attitudes
5 to refuse to change your mind
1 to change your mind about something you
intend to do or something you said you would
do
change your mind backtrack
have second thoughts U-turn
change your mind/,tj'eInd3 jo: r 'mand/Iv phrase]
No, I'm not going out tonight. I've changed my mind. I What
if she changes her mind and doesn't turn up? I change your
mind about If you change your mind about the job, just give
me a call. I Barry hadn't changed his mind about leaving.
have second thoughts Ihev ,sekand 'Oa:ts/to feel less
sure about something that you intend to do, and start to
wonder whether it is a good idea Iv phrase]
have second thoughts about It was obvious that my father
was having second thoughts about the whole project. I Are
you having second thoughts about emigrating? l have
second thoughts Couples contemplating divorce often have
second thoughts when they realize how it will affect their
children.
backtrack/'bektrek/to change your mind about some-
thing you have publicly promised to do, by saying that you
will only do part of it or that you might not do it at all Iv I]
If union leaders start to backtrack now, they'll lose their sup-
porters. I backtrack on The President seems to be back-
tracking on some of his election promises.
U-turn/'ju: ta:rn/a complete change in the plans of a
government or political party so that it decides to do the
opposite of what it said it would do In C]
do a U-turn (=make a complete change of plans) The
government was forced to do a U-turn after angry protests
about their taxation policy. I U-turn The party lost all public
support after a series of U-turns and policy failures.
2 to change your opinion about something or
someone
change your mind
change your tune
a change of heart
revise your opinion
come around/
come round
recant
shift
change your mind/,tSeind 5 jo: r Imalnd/ [v phrase]
change your mind about I'm hoping Dad will change his
mind about Louise after he meets her tonight. I I've changed
my mind about the Riviera. I do like it after all. I change
your mind At first the doctor was quite convinced that I was
suffering from a virus, but now he's changed his mind. I
"'You'll change your mind again before you're fourteen, '"
Peter told me.
change your tune/,tSe:nd5 ja:r 'tju:n II -'tu:n/to change
your mind about something and talk about it in a very
different way than you did before [v phrase]
She used to be a Communist, but she changed her tune when
her parents left her all that money. I You've changed your
tune all of a sudden! Only yesterday you were saying you
thought Christmas presents were a waste of money.
a change of heart/a tJ'eInd5 av ho:rt/ a complete
change in the way you feel towards something or someone
or in the attitude you have to a particular matter, especially
so that your feeling or attitude improves In phrase]
have a change of heart He didn't want kids at first, but
he's had quite a change of heart. I change of heart lt's hard
to explain this apparent change of heart. I a change of heart
about We can only hope Congress may have a radical
change of heart about welfare, benefits.
revise your opinion /ri,vaiz ja:r a'pinjan/ a formal
expression meaning to change your opinion because some-
thing has happened that has made you realize that you
were wrong before Iv phrase]
revise your opinion about/of Your mother revised her
opinion of me when I was accepted into law school. I Since
visiting the refugee camps, I have revised my opinion about
immigration quotas.
come around (also come round in British English)
I ,kAm (a)'raundl to change your mind so that you gradually

CHANGE YOUR MIND 201 CHANGE YOUR MIND
begin to agree with someone else's idea or opinion, espe-
cially after they have persuaded you that they are right
[phr v I]
come round to sb's view/way of thinking etc We had
to talk to Sam for a long time before he came round to our
way of thinking. I come round/around If we leave her to
think about it for a while, she may come round. I He'll come
around eventually. He doesn't have any choice, does he?
recant In  kent/to say publicly or formally that you have
changed your mind and stopped believing what you used
to believe, especially about religion or politics Iv I]
During the Moscow Show Trials in the 1930s, prisoners were
forced to publicly recant. I After the Reformation, many
Catholics recanted to avoid punishment.
shift/f ft/an important but usually gradual change in the
way people think about something In C]
shift in attitude/approach/policy etc There has been a
big shift in attitudes towards sex during the past 50years. I
marked shift (-an obvious shift) We've seen a marked shift
in our approach to the social issues. I shift away from The
emphasis on human rights was a shift away from the poli-
cies of Nixon. I shift towards the shift towards capitalist
thinking in Eastern Europe
3 to keep changing your mind
chop and change blow hot and cold about
vacillate fickle
chop and change/,flop on 'tJ'end3 II ,ta:p-/an infor-
mal British expression meaning to keep changing your
mind about what you are going to do, in a way that annoys
people Iv phrase]
She can never stick to one plan - she's always chopping and
changing. [ Howard chopped and changed so much, it drove
me mad.
vacillate/, vesleIt/to keep changing your mind about
what you believe or what you are going to do, especially
when you have two choices and you cannot decide which
one is best Iv I]
vacillate between The writer seems to vacillate between
approving of Collins' actions and finding them disgusting. I
vacillate The longer you vacillate the less time you'll have
to do anything worthwhile.
vacillation/ ves  lej'dn/In U] After months of vacillation
the Administrator has finally reached a decision.
blow hot and cold about/bloo ,hot on koold II -ha:t-/
an informal expression used especially in British English
meaning to keep changing from being keen to do something
to being unwilling to do it Iv phrase]
She hasn't decided yet - she's still blowing hot and cold
about going to India. ] The whole country's in suspense while
the President blows hot and cold about US involvement in
South East Asia.
fickle 1 fi kdl/someone who is fickle is always changing
their mind about the people or things that they like so you
cannot depend on them [adjl
You're so fickle! I thought Melanie was meant to be your best
friend! I She had been a great star once, but the fickle public
now ignored her movies.
4
rigid
have fixed ideas
inflexible
hidebound
entrenched
words for describing someone who refuses to
change their opinions or attitudes
reactionary
stick in the mud
diehard
intransigent
rigid/'r,d3d/someone who is rigid will never change
their mind about what is right or wrong or about how
things should be done [adj]
Our manager was so rigid, he'd never listen to our ideas. I
rigid in your ideas/opinions etc Andrew was even more
rigid in his attitudes towards child-rearing than his father,
who was himself quite strict. I rigid ideas/attitudes/
policy etc Any major changes were prevented by the rigid
conservatism of the Church.
have fixed ideas/hav ,fikst a Id;oz/someone who has
fLxed ideas has opinions and attitudes that never change,
and often seems unreasonable Iv phrase not in progressive]
These old teachers tend to have fixed ideas. I have fixed
ideas about He has very fixed ideas about the way a wife
should behave.
inflexible Infleksbal/someone who is inflexible will
not make even the slightest change to their plans or opin-
ions and will not allow other people to change the way they
do things [adj]
Don Antonio, an inflexible, arrogant man, failed to recog-
nize his son's artistic talents. I Foch was inflexible. Once he
had made a plan, nothing could persuade him to revise it. I
a woman of inflexible will and determination
inflexibility / n  fleks  bil ti/In U] The lack of change may
be ascribed to the inflexibility of social attitudes.
hidebound / haidbaond/a group of people or an institu-
tion that is hidebound has very old-fashioned ideas and
attitudes and is unwilling to change them [adj]
It was predictable that the medical establishment, so hide-
bound and reactionary, would reject Dr Stone's ideas. I The
hidebound attitudes of Russia "s powerful aristocracy made
any kind of progress impossible.
entrenched/n Itrentt/entrenched attitudes/habits/
positions ere (=which people have had for a long time and
which will be difficult to change) [adj usually before noun]
firmly/deeply entrenched Many English men still have
very firmly entrenched attitudes about women's role in soci-
ety. I In the small towns white hatred of blacks was deeply
entrenched.
reactionary/ri eekfonri II -oneri/someone who is reac-
tionary is strongly opposed to change, especially social or
political change, in a way that you think is wrong [adj]
The seventy year old president has been condemned as reac-
tionary by his radical opponents. I He is known for his reac-
tionary views on immigration and the reintroduction of the
death penalty. I Cultural attitudes to women were more reac-
tionary than in most of Western Europe.
reactionary In C] a bunch of right wing reactionaries
stick in the mud/stk in 6o m^d/an informal expres-
sion meaning a person who has old-fashioned attitudes and
is unwilling to change or try something new In phrasel
Come on, don't be such an old stick in the mud. I She accused
him of being a stick in the mud.
diehard / da ha: rd/diehard opponents/loyalists/sup-
porters (=who refuse to change their beliefs, even when
most other people have changed theirs) [adj only before
noun ]
Diehard opponents of the scheme say that they will appeal
against the court's decision. I The attempted coup was staged
by a group of the ex-president's most diehard supporters.
diehard In C ] Apart from a few union diehards most of the
men have accepted the new productivity agreement.
inlransigenl/Jntrensd3nt/a formal word: someone
who is intransigent will not change their ideas or inten-
tions, even though many people strongly oppose them ladjl
The Church has been criticized for being intransigent on the
issues of abortion and birth control. I For many years the
South African government remained intransigent, despite
mounting world opposition to apartheid.
intransigence In U] Britain's intransigence (=Britain
being intransigent) is preventing any chance of a settlement
to the conflict.
5 to refuse to change your mind
stand firm
stand your ground
stick to your guns
stand firm/, stend 'f3:rm/to refuse to change your opin-
ions or plans even though other people are trying to make
you do so lv phrase]
When you know that you are right, you have to stand firm
and defend your principles. I stand firm against We stood
firm against any deal with the terrorists. J stand firm on
The French were standing firm on the issue of agricultural
subsidies.

CHANGE YOUR MIND 202 CHARACTER OF STH
stand your ground/,stand ja: r 'graond/to refuse to
change your position in an argument even though other
people are trying to make you change it Iv phrase]
They tried to make him change his mind, but he stood his
ground. I stand your ground against Richard always
went along with Ella's plans, never once daring to stand his
ground against her.
stick to your guns /IstIk ta j:r 'g^nz/ an informal
expression meaning to refuse to change your opinion or
your decision about something even though other people
are trying to persuade you that you are wrong Iv phrase]
I knew I was right and I stuck to my guns. I If you just stick
to your guns, you'll beat them in the end.
changeable CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
changed CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 9
changed: hasn't changed a bit/at all SAME 3
changed beyond all recognition RECOGNIZE 3
changed man/woman CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 5
changing CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 1
changing: keep changing CHANGE/BECOME
DIFFERENT 2
channel TELEVISION/RADIO 6
chaos DISORGANIZED 3
chaotic DISORGANIZED 1
chap: guylblokelchap MAN 1
chapter
character
character:
character:
character:
character:
PART 6
CHARACTER OF STH 1, CHARACTER/
PERSONALITY 1, PERSON/PEOPLE 1, 5,
REPUTATION 1
a character INTERESTING 6
be in character TYPICAL 2
be out of character TYPICAL 6
have character INTERESTING 5
character
CHARACTER OF
STH
the particular combination of features or
qualities that make something different from
anything else
1 the character of something
2 one part of the character of something
1 the character of something
character
nature
essence
character / 'kr kta rW[ n singular/U ]
the character of The whole character of the school had
changed. I This unpleasant episode reveals the true charac-
ter of the government. I character Marx's view of society
stressed its dynamic character. I in character Liquids are
different in character from both solids and gases.
nature/' neItj'ar/the true character of something, which
you must understand in order to know what it is really like
In singularC]
the nature of The doctor explained the nature of Julie's ill-
ness. I We must try to understand the nature of this political
movement. I by its nature (=because of its nature) Com-
puters, by their nature, tend to change the way offices are
organized. I be in the nature of sth (=be a permanent part
of its nature) It's in the nature of elections that campaign-
ing sometimes gets quite tough.
essence / 'esansl the central or most important part of the
something's character In singularC]
the essence of This is the essence of the problem, as I see
it. [ The movie brilliantly captures the essence of Calcutta's
street life. [ Sharing is the essence of friendship. [ in essence
(=most importantly) His speech was, in essence, a plea for
understanding and conciliation.
 one part of the character of something
 characteristic attribute
quality thing
property there's something about
feature
characteristic / ,karkta'ristik-/a part of the charac-
ter of something that makes it clearly different from other
things In C usually plural]
If we compare the main characteristizs of these two lan-
guages, we can recognize important differences. I One of the
characteristics of this species is the dark blue markings on
its back. I share characteristics/have characteristics in
common (=have similar characteristics) The UK shares
many characteristics with other European countries. I The
two diseases have a number of characteristics in common.
quality /'kwoloti 1[ 'kwo:-/ an important part of the
character of something, especially a part that is good In C]
There are certain qualities in Orwell's prose that I greatly
admire. I Despite its many qualities, the school simply isn't
getting results. I This wine possesses a unique quality. I a
quality of There is a wonderful quality of innocence in these
paintings.
property/'proparti II 'pro:-/a scientific or technical word
meaning a characteristic that a particular substance or
chemical has In C ]
The properties of the soil influence the growth of the plants. I
We test the chemical and biological properties of the sam-
ples. [ The conducting properties of solids vary widely.
feature/'fi:tsar! an important and noticeable characteris-
tic of something In C]
The school's most notable feature was its air of calm. I Afea-
ture common to all these buildings is a spacious entrance
hall. I Patriotism was a prominent feature in Bush "s election
campaign. I a feature of Information on employment is a
central feature of this training course.
attribute/, etrbju:t! a characteristic of an organization
or system, especially a good characteristic In C]
He possesses the essential attributes of a journalist. [ Justice
must be an attribute of an ideal society.
thing IOn]! an informal word meaning a characteristic of
something, especially one that you like or dislike In C
usually singular]
The thing that I really hate about this job is having to work
late at night. [ All that lovely fresh air - that's the best thing
about living in the country.
there's something about/6earz 's^mOIl] abaot/you
say there's something about a thing, a place, someone's
behaviour etc, when you mean that it has a certain qual-
ity which you recognize, although you cannot say exactly
what it is
There's something very strange about this whole affair. I
There was something about the place that gave me the creeps.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 203 CHARACTER/PERSONALITY
CHARACTER/
PERSONALITY
the particular combination of feelings,
behaviour, attitudes and desires that make up
a person's character
1 the type of character someone has, that
makes them behave and think in a particular
way
2 a definite character that makes someone
different from other people
3 one part of someone's character
4 to have a particular type of character
5 what someone's real character is, when this is
different from what they pretend to be or
appear to be
1
the type of character someone has, that
makes them behave and think in a particular
way
character
personality
make-up
temperament
nature
disposition
what makes sb tick
character/, kerktar/the combination of qualities that
makes someone a particular kind of person, for example
a good or bad, honest or dishonest person In C usually
singular]
Her character has a very serious side. I More important than
past experience were a candidate's character, education and
state of health. I What strikes me most about Hamlet is his
noble character.
personality ! Ip3:rsa InelIti/a word meaning someone's
character, used especially when you are talking about how
they behave towards other people, whether they are
friendly or unfriendly, confident or easily frightened etc
In C]
Yun has a lovely, warm personality. I This election should
be about issues and policies, not about the personalities of
the candidates!
make.up / meik ^P/a word meaning someone's charac-
ter, used especially to suggest that their character is com-
pletely fixed and they cannot change it or control it In
singular]
Her constant attempts to justify her actions tell the reader
a lot about her emotional make-up. I This behaviour ispart
of our genetic make-up rather than our cultural con-
ditioning.
temperament /Itemprmnt/ the emotional part of
someone's character, especially how likely they are to
become angry, happy, sad etc In CI
She's got rather a fiery temperament and gets angry very
quickly. I My father and I got along very well, having very
similar temperaments.
nature /neitj'r/a word meaning someone's character,
used especially when you are saying whether someone is
naturally good or bad, gentle or severe etc In C/U]
Jim was warned that the landlady had an unforgiving
nature and that he shouldn't offend her. I Kindness and sym-
pathy were in his nature. I Their electioneering successfully
appealed to the worst side of people's nature.
disposition / ,dsp'zU'n/a formal word meaning a par-
ticular type of character, which makes someone more
likely to behave or react in a particular way In C]
Her sweet and cheerful disposition made Miss Mortimer a
great favourite with the school children. I Only someone with
the disposition of a saint could tolerate Aunt Agatha for more
than a few hours. I This is a violent film and it is not recom-
mended for people of a nervous disposition.
what makes sb tick/wt)t ,meiks (sb) 'tk/if you know
what makes someone tick you understand their charac-
ter, desires, and what makes them behave in the way they
do In phrase]
After working with him for five years, I still don't know what
makes him tick. I Barber really gets under the skin of the
people she interviews, to show you what makes them tick.
2 a definite character that makes someone
different from other people
personality
individuality
identity
personality /,pa:rsa'n3el ati/the quality of being interest-
ing, friendly, and enjoyable to be with, that makes some-
one seem very different from most other people In U]
She has everything: beauty, intelligence, personality. It's not
fair! I Yes, he's got plenty of talent and ambition, but he's
got no personality. I Billie Holiday or Bessie Smith had more
personality than a hundred of today's pop singers.
individuality /, ndI,vd3u'zelIti/ the quality of being
clearly different from other people and having your own
personal character In U]
It's difficult to be part of a highly organized group such as
the armed forces without losing some of your individuality. I
We have a close working relationship while retaining our
individuality and separate interests.
Identity/a; 'dentIti/the definite character that a person
or group sees themselves as having, which lets them feel
different and separate from everyone else In U]
I suddenly felt as though I had no identity and that I was
completely alone in the world. I The islanders are proud of
their strong regional identity. I sense of identity (=the feel-
ing that you have a strong identity) Some women find that
getting married reduces their sense of identity and self-
esteem.
3
one part of someone's character
quality trait
attribute streak
characteristic quirk
side thing
part of there's something
good points about
quality/'kwt)lti II 'kwa:-/something such as an ability
or a way of behaving that is part of someone's character
In C]
Besides intelligence and charm, Bella had some less desira-
ble qualities. I There was considerable agreement in Vic-
torian society about the qualities required by a "good father'.l
Joseph's essential quality is world-weariness.
attribute/' zetrbju:t/a part of someone's character, espe-
cially a part that is thought by other people to be good and
useful In C]
One attribute of a good manager is that they listen very care-
fully to other people. I Hope is one of mankind's most endur-
ing and rewarding attributes. I He had all the attributes of
a great leader: charisma, energy, discipline and resourceful-
hess.
characteristic /kerkt rstik-! a quality in someone's
character that is easy to recognize In C]
All great leaders share certain characteristics which must
be seen as the key to their success. I Ralph can be very mean
sometimes. It's one of his less endearing characteristics.
side/sad/romantic/serious/funny etc side (=a part of
someone's character, especially one that is very different
from the rest of their character) In C]
Canning was a very traditional Englishman but he had a
surprisingly romantic side to him as well. I The prank with
the wig showed the lighter side of Alice's character. I After
his arrest people realized that there had always been a
darker side to his nature.
part of /'pozrt ov/one part of someone's character, which
makes them behave or feel in particular ways In C]

CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 204 cheap
Part of me loves going to parties but there's anotherpart that
prefers staying at home. I There is a part of her that I just
don't understand.
good points/Igud Ipnts! the parts of someone's charac-
ter that you like or approve of, especially when you think
that they also have many faults In plural]
Fred was a bad manager but he had his good points -for
instance, he was very loyal to his friends. I a self-pitying man
with very few good points I When you're dead people don't
remember your faults - only your good points.
trait/tre, tret [] treq one type of feeling or behaviour that
is particularly noticeable in a person or group of people
In C]
There was a trait in his personality that encouraged people
to trust him. [ family trait (-a trait shared by members of
a family) Pride seems to be one of our family traits. [ perso-
nality trait There are particular personality traits which
make people more likely to become victims of violent crime.
streak/stri:k! a part of someone's character that is quite
different from the rest of their character, especially one
that makes them behave badly In C]
When he's drunk he has a violent streak that really frightens
me. I His otherwise serious nature was lightened by a streak
of mischief.
quirk/kw3.'rk/a strange or unusual habit or part of some-
one's character In C]
She always went for a three minute walk at exactly 10:45 and
the robber took advantage of this little quirk. [ Children often
have these little quirks which they overcome in later life.
thing/{h/an informal word meaning a part of someone's
character, especially one that you like or dislike [n C]
One of the things I like about Mary is the way she always
keeps smiling, even when there are problems. [ The nicest
thing about Richard is that he doesn "t mind being criticized.
there's something about/6erz s^m{}irj baut/you
say there's something about a person when you mean
that they have a certain quality in their character which
affects you in some way, although you cannot say exactly
what that quality is
I don't know what it is, but there's something about that man
which really irritates me.
4 to have a particular type of character
be
by nature
be of a nervous/jealous/amiable disposition
be in sb's nature
be/bi; strong bi:/[v]
She's funny, intelligent, and talented. [ The new teacher was
dour and unfriendly and didn't talk much. [ I'm not very con-
fident with strangers.
by nature/bai neItj'r/if you have a particular quality
by nature it is part of your character and you cannot
change it [adv phrase]
She's generous by nature. [ His mother, mistrustful by
nature, never accepted that Lori's offer was genuine. [ I am
not by nature a violent man, but these insults were more than
I could bear.
be of a nervous/jealous/amiable disposition/bi:
ov  ,na:rvos, ,dselos, ,emiobal dIspa'zIJ'an/a formal expres-
sion meaning to have a character that makes it likely that
you will behave nervously, jealously etc Iv phrase]
He's considerate and sweet-tempered but of a very nervous
disposition. [ The young man was of a jealous disposition,
as his fiancee soon discovered.
be in sb's nature/bi: In (sb's) 'neItJ'or/if it is in some-
one's nature to do something, they have the sort of charac-
ter that makes them likely to do it Iv phrase]
It was not in his nature to take risks. I I can't believe she'd
be so deceitful. It's just not in her nature.
5 what someone's real character is, when this is
different from what they pretend to be or
appear to be
true colours deep down
underneath at heart
true colours / tru: kAlarz/if someone shows their true
colours they do something that shows what they are really
like, when they have been pretending to be something
different [n plural]
With the elections safely behind him, Hitler began to show
his true colours. [ When someone suggested a karaoke even-
ing, I revealed myself in my true colours, as a real stick in
the mud.
underneath /IAndrni:O/ if someone is nice, jealous,
frightened etc underneath, they really are nice, jealous,
or frightened even though their behaviour shows a differ-
ent character [adv/prep]
I know that she seems very aggressive, but underneath she's
really quite shy. [ Underneath all that boastful talk you'll
find that he's actually quite a nice guy. [ underneath it all
Underneath it all, isn't she just lonely and confused?
deep down /di:p daun/if someone is cruel, dishonest,
good etc deep down, that is their true character even
though they hide this in their usual behaviour [adophrase]
Deep down, I think she's really very ambitious. [ Yeah, some-
times he can be really nice and polite but, I tell you, deep
down he's an animal!
at heart lot ha: rt/if you are a particular type of person
at heart that is your true character even though you may
sometimes think you are different [adv phrase]
She's a traveller at heart. You'll never get her to settle down. [
Paul was an easy-going fellow at heart who wanted only to
enjoy himself.
characteristic CHARACTER OF STH 2,
CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3, TYPICAL 2
characterize TYPICAL 3
charade PRETEND 8
charge ACCUSE 1, 2, 3, 4, COST 1, 4, RUN 1
charge: be in charge IN CHARGE OF 1
charge: be in charge of RESPONSIBLE 1
charge: bring charges/press charges ACCUSE 2
charge: free of charge FREE/COST NOTHING 2, 3
charge: no charge FREE/COST NOTHING 2, 3
charge: put sb in charge RESPONSIBLE 8
charged NERVOUS 5
charitable KIND 2
charity GIVE 20, ORGANIZATION 3
charlatan PRETEND 6
charm ATTRACT 5
charm: works like magic/like a charm EFFECTIVE 1
charmed life: lead a charmed life LUCKY 2
charming NICE 3
charred BURN 6
chart RECORD 1
charter BORROW 3, RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 7
chase FOLLOW 2
chase: give chase FOLLOW 2
chase after/go after FOLLOW 2
chasm HOLE 3
_
chat TALK TO SB 4, 7
chat: have a chat TALK TO SB 4
chat up TALK TO SB 11
chatter TALK TO SB 6
chatterbox TALK TO SB 15
chattering: sb's teeth are chattering COLD 6
chatty TALK TO SB 15
chauffeur DRIVE 4
chauvinism: male chauvinism PREJUDICED 6
chauvinist PREJUDICED 7
chauvinist: male chauvinist PREJUDICED 7
chauvinistic PREJUDICED 5
cheap CHEAP 1, 4, 7, TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC
ETC 6

cheap
cheap: be going cheap CHEAP 5
cheap: not come cheap EXPENSIVE 1
cheap: on the cheap SPEND MONEY 6
cheap and nasty CHEAP 4
CHEAP
10
words meaning cheap
cheap and having a fair price when
compared to other similar things
very cheap
cheap but bad in quality
cheaper than usual because the price has
been reduced
ways of saying that something gives you
good quality for the price you pay
ways of saying that someone does, buys, or
sells something for very little money
to make something cheaper by reducing its
price
a period of time when a shop reduces its
prices
to persuade someone to reduce the price of
something
1 words meaning cheap
 cheap
inexpensive
not cost much
affordable
low-cost
economical
be low in price
economy
it won't break the bank
low-budget
cheap/tJi:p/costing very little money, less money than
usual, or less money than expected, though often not of the
best quality [adj]
I only pay $20 a week for the room - it's really cheap. [ The
furniture's slightly damaged - that's why it was so cheap. [
The Russian economy has for a long time been dependent on
cheap imports of grain from the US. [ The cheapest way of
getting to Chicago is to take a bus. [ cheap hotel/rest-
aurant/garage ete (=one that has low prices) There are
plenty of cheap hotels in the "Marais" area of Paris.
cheaply [adv ] It's possible to live in Japan fairly cheaply.[
You can pick up several things quite cheaply at our local
market.
inexpensive/, i nik' spens I v /a word used especially in
written English meaning not expensive and of good qual-
ity for the price you pay [adj]
The car requires a powerful, but inexpensive and easy-to-
maintain battery. [ The friendliness of the people and its inex-
pensive accommodation make Denmark an ideal place for
tourists. [ We can thoroughly recommend this inexpensive
but excellent red wine. [ relatively inexpensive Most of the
tools needed are relatively inexpensive and can be bought in
any local hardware store.
not cost much/n. k.t m^tf [[ -k:st-/an informal
expression meaning to not be expensive Iv phrase not in
progressive[
We had a very nice meal and it didn't cost much. [ Second-
hand furniture doesn't usually cost much. [ not cost much
to do sth It doesn't cost much to get from here to London.
affordable /'f:rdbal/ affordable housing/ear/
health care ete (=cheap enough for most people to be able
to buy, although it costs quite a lot) [adj usually before
noun ]
The Association exists to provide affordable housing for
working class families. [ a health-insurance program that
would guarantee all Americans affordable, high-quality
medical care [ Curry's have a vast range of cars to choose
from at affordable prices.
205
CHEAP
low-cost /,l:}J 'kost l[ -'k:st/low-cost housing/heat-
ing/transport etc (=that is designed to be cheap to use)
[adj only before noun]
If you want low-cost transport and regular exercise, a bike
is ideal. [ the provision of low-cost housing for the elderly I
The US is giving low-cost loans to help under-developed coun-
tries in the region.
economical /eko'nmlkl., ,i=- II -'no:-/a vehicle or
machine that is economical is cheap to run or operate
[adj]
The house has a very economical heating system so bills are
not a big problem. [ the most economical and efficient wash-
ing machine ever
be low in price/bi: loo In 'praIs/an expression used
especially in written English: ifa product is low in price,
it is cheap to buy Iv phrase]
Nikon's latest camera is low in price and easy to use. J The
"Pocket-Pack" range of toys are very low in price and will pro-
vide hours of pleusure for the kids.
economy/1knorni II i'ke=-/economy flights/fares/
package etc (=the cheapest type you can buy) [adj only
before noun]
I got an economy]light to Spain for Ј99 return. I Economy
fares don't really seem all that cheap these days.
it won't break the bank/it ,woont breik 6 'bejk/an
informal expression used especially in British English: if
you say that something won't break the bank you mean
it is fairly cheap and you can therefore afford to buy it
"'I'm not sure if I should buy this suit. "" "'Come on. t It won't
break the bank.t"[ How much is it? Two pounds? Oh well,
that won't break the bank.
low.budget /,lo 'bAd3t / low-budget film/movie/
production etc (=one that is cheap to make) [adj only
before noun ]
My first acting job was in a low-budget horror movie with
a terrible plot.
' cheap and having a fair price when
 compared to other similar things
reasonable
competitive
not bad
reasonable I'ri:zanobal/reasonable prices are not too
high and you think they are fair [adj]
Hitachi are offering a very good product at a reasonable
price. [ The restaurant has a wide menu and the prices are
quite reasonable.
reasonably priced [adj phrase] Visitors to New York may
find it difficult to get reasonably-priced accommodation
(=accommodation at a reasonable price)
competitive/kom'pettiv/ff the prices charged by one
shop or company are competitive, they are as low as or
lower than the prices charged by other shops or companies
[adj]
I thinkyou'llfind ourprices are extremely competitive. [ The
hotel offers a high standard of service at very competitive
rates.
competitively priced [ adj phrase ] Call this number for our
free catalogue of competitively priced software.
not bad/n. 'bad/if you say that the price of something
is not bad you mean it is fairly cheap compared to the
prices of similar things [adj not before noun]
I paid Ј1500 for the car. It's not bad considering how many
miles it had done. [ They got the house for $52,000, which
wasn't bad.
3 very cheap
dirt cheap
be a snip
be a steal
at rockbottom prices/
at giveaway prices
dirt cheap /,d3:rt 'tJ'i:p../an informal expression mean-
ing extremely cheap [adj not usually before noun]
You can get beautiful leather jackets in the markets and
they're dirt cheap.

CHEAP 206 CHEAP
dirt cheap [adv] She buys all her clothes dirt cheap in
charity shops.
be a snip/hi: a 'snip/an informal British expression
meaning to be extremely cheap at a particular price [v
phrase]
be a snip at Ј10/$50 etc The new word processor package
is a snip at only Ј399 plus tax. I be a snip It was only fifty
pence - it was a snip!
be a steal/bit, a 'sti:l/an informal American expression
meaning to be extremely cheap Iv phrase]
She says her new Dior outfit was a steal. I be a steal at Ј10/
$50 ete Our new cheeseburgers are a real steal at only $1.10.
at rockbottom prices/at giveaway prices /at
mkbotm praisz, at ,givawe=- II -,ra:kba:tam-/expressions
used especially in advertising: ifa shop is selling goods at
• roekbottom prices or at giveaway prices, it is selling
:them extremely cheaply [adv phrase]
Fox Hi-Fi specialize in selling top quality CD players at rock-
,bottom prices. I In our Summer Sale we have clothes from
top designers at giveaway prices.
4 cheap but bad in quality
cheap
cheap and nasty
cheap/t$i:pl [adj usually before noun]
The hotel room was very small and filled with cheap furni-
ture. I Her hair smelled of cheap perfume and stale tobacco. I
Joe was wearing a cheap looking thin yellow sports jacket
and dirty white shoes.
cheap and nasty/tj'i:p an 'na:sti II -'nas-/furniture,
jewellery, or clothes that are cheap and nasty look cheap
and of very bad quality [adj phrase]
What do you think of these bracelets? They look really cheap
-and nasty to me. I I don "t like plastic shoes. They always seem
cheap and nasty.
5 cheaper than usual because the price has
been reduced
reduced on sale
cut-price be on offer
Ј1/$20/20p etc off special offer
be going cheap special
reduced/rI 'dju:st II -'du:st/goods that are reduced are
being sold at a lower price than usual [adj not before noun]
I thought I'd make a lemon souffle because lemons were
reduced. I Everything's reduced because the store's closing
down next month. I CDs are reduced from $I0 to $5.
reductions/rI 'dAkfanz/[n plural] massive reductions on all
Christmas goods ]final reductions on all menswear and chil-
dren's clothes
cut-price/kt 'prais/cut-price goods or services are
.sold at prices that are much lower than the usual price,
either because they have been specially reduced or because
they are being sold by someone who always sells things
cheaply [adj only before noun]
Tottenham Court Road is the best place for cut-price stereo
equipment. I They always have some special offer at the
supermarket; cut-price cigarettes or free gifts or something.
Ј11520120p etc off/(Ј1 etc) 'of/if there is Ј1, $20, or
20p ete offsomething, its usual price has been reduced by
that amount In phrase]
We got $10 off because the chair had a scratch on it. ] 20%
off all computers in the Dixons summer sale!
be going cheap/hi: ,gaOll] 'tfi:p/if something is going
cheap, it is being sold more cheaply than usual [vphrase]
If they have any bicycle lamps going cheap, can you get me
one? I Have a look in the travel agent and see if there are any
flights to Toronto going cheap.
on sale In 'seil/an American expression: if you buy
something on sale in a shop, you buy it for less than the
price it is usually sold for [adv phrase]
"'How much was your jacket?" "'I got it on sale in Mont-
gomery Wards. It only cost $45. "'1 They were on sale, I got
four for only $30.
be on offer/bi: on 'ofa r [I -'a:f-/ifsomethingis on offer,
it is being sold at less than the usual price for a short period
of time Iv phrase]
Big sale at Sears next week! Hundreds of bargains on offer.]
"Where did you get that lovely pine table? .... They had them
on offer at Habitat. ""
special offer/,spej'al 'ofa r [[-3:f-/ an unusually low
price for something, usually only for a short period of time
to encourage more people to use the shop [n C[
It's a special offer. You get two sweaters for the price of one. [
When she was out shopping Maggie used to look out for all
the special offers. [ Today's special offer! Potatoes at lOpence
a pound.
special/' spej'al/an American word meaning something
that is sold at an unusually low price for a short time, espe-
cially to encourage more people to use the shop In C[
This week's special: Levi jeans at $20. [ on special (=being
sold as a special) We have Bud beer 6-packs on special at $5.
6 ways of saying that something gives you
good quality for the price you pay
be good value be a good deal
value for money get your money's worth
good be a bargain
be a good buy
be good value/bi: ,god 'velju:/to be well worth the
price that you have to pay [v phrase]
The meal was really good value - we got at least six courses
all for under ЈI0. [ Ј600 might seem expensive for a two-week
holiday, but when you look at all the extras it's quite good
value. [ Though they range from $200 to $450, they're all good
value.
value for money/ velju: fa r 'mAni/ if something that
is being sold is value for money or gives you value for
money, it is well worth the price that you have to pay [n
phrase]
At $80 the Sony tape player is the best value for money of the
machines we tested. [ The show was less than one hour long
and we didn't really get value for money.
good/god/if you say that a price is good when you are
buying something, you mean it is fairly low and is worth
what you pay [adj]
We got a coffee table and three chairs for quite a good price
in the market. [ Ј20 for a Centre Court ticket? That's good!
be a good buy/hi: a ,god 'bail if something is a good
buy, it is worth the price you pay for it because it is of good
quality, will last a long time, etc [v phrase]
This car was a really good buy, I've never had any trouble
with it. ] Oranges are a good buy at the moment. ] The Tandy
1000 series is a good, safe buy.
be a good deal/bi: a ,god 'did/if something is a good
deal, it is worth the price you pay, because it includes a
lot of additional things or services Iv phrase]
The price of the holiday includes free use of the tennis courts,
the pool and unlimited alcohol. It's a really good deal. I They
gave me an excellent deal on my camera.
get your money's worth/,get jo: r 'mAniz w3:r0/ if
you get your money's worth when you pay to see some-
thing or do something, it is well worth the money you pay
[ v phrase ]
The Rolling Stones played for over three hours and the fans
certainly got their money's worth. I It's a fantastic show -
I can guarantee you'll get your money's worth.
be a bargain/bi: a 'bo:rgn/to be very cheap for what
you get [v phrase]
I got this shirt when I was in Thailand. It was a real
bargain.
bargain [n C[ We picked up some good bargains in the
antiques market yesterday.

CHEAP 20? CHEAT
7 ways of saying that someone does, buys, or
sells something for very little money
for very little money
cheap
for nothing
for very little money/fo r ,veri litl 'mAnil [adv phrase]
You can pick up video recorders for very little money if you
know where to look.
cheap/tfi:p/if you buy or sell something cheap, you buy
or sell it cheaply [adv]
Where did you get that camera from?Igor it cheap from my
brother. I It was a lovely old VW Beetle but I had to sell it
cheap because I needed the money.
for nothing/fr 'nA0rJl an expression used especially in
American English meaning very cheaply [adv phrase]
We got the car for nothing because the woman wanted to get
rid of it fast. I it costs nothing to do sth (=you can do it
very cheaply) Turkey is a great place for tourists. It costs
nothing to eat out and the hotels are very reasonable.
8 to make something cheaper by reducing its
price
reduce/cut slash
knock Ј1/$20/20p etc off discount
reduce/cut In'dju:s, knt II rI'du:s-/ to make prices,
charges, etc cheaper Iv T]
Unless daguar can reduce their prices, they will soon be
unable to compete on the American market. I There is a lot
of pressure on electricity companies to cut their prices. I The
company needs to cut costs drastically if it's going to survive. I
reduce sth by 10%/Ј20 etc Transworld airlines are to
reduce fares by up to 10% in some areas.
reduction/cut/r[ 'dAkfan, kAq In C] If there was a reduc-
tion in fares (=if the fares were reduced) more people would
want to use the service. I Further cuts in oil prices seem
unlikely.
knock Ј11520120p etc off/,nok (Ј1 etc) Iof II Ino:k-/
an informal expression meaning to reduce the price of
something that you are selling [phr v T]
I expect ifyou ask him he'll knock a couple ofpounds off. I
Knock fifty bucks off and I'll buy it.
slash/sleeS! a word used especially in advertising mean-
ing to reduce the price of something by a very large amount
Iv T]
Sony has slashed the price of its new CD player, the D50. I
Final Sale. All prices slashed. Everything must Go! I slash
sth by 50%/Ј50/$100 ere British Airways have slashed
fares by over 50%.
discount /d[skaunt/a reduction in the price you have to
pay for something, which is given to you for a particular
reason, for example because you work for the organization
that is selling, or because the goods are damaged In C]
Is there a discount for cash? I 15%/30% etc discount
Students get a 15% discount on some theatre tickets. I They
gave me a discount on the carpet because it took them so long
to deliver it.
9 a period of time hen a shop reduces its
prices
sale
sale/sed/In C]
People queue all night for the first day of the Harrods sale. ]
The January sales. I I hear Smiths are having a closing-
down sale. There should be some good bargains. I the sales
(=the time a shop has a sale) When are the sales on again?
1 0 to persuade someone to reduce the price of
something
beat sb down
bargain with
haggle
beat sb down/,bi:t (sb) daonl to persuade someone to
reduce the price of something by arguing with them about
it [phr v T]
beat sb down to $50/Ј20 ere The owners originally wanted
$1000 for the horse, but I managed to beat them down to $850. ]
beat sb down I beat him down and got the bracelet for $2.
bargain with/'ba:rgn w6/to try to persuade someone
to reduce the price of something by discussing it with them
Iv T not in passive]
I bargained with the woman who was selling theplates and
managed to get them for half the usual price. I The locals
were used to bargaining with each other and it was difficult
for me to get a good price.
haggle / ' haegal/to try to persuade someone to reduce the
price of something by arguing with them about what it is
worth, especially in countries where this is the usual way
of deciding a price Iv I]
haggle over The driver haggled bitterly over the fare. I
haggle If you go to a street market, you're going to have to
be prepared to haggle.
cheapskate GENEROUS 3
cheat CHEAT 1, 5, 6
cheat on UNFAITHFUL 2
act dishq.stly-in
:. order to get-mo.ney;
win a game etc
.make someone
believe something
"°:; " " °°
that is not
a dishonest person
.
CHEAT
TRICK/DECEIVE
DISHONEST
CHEAT
to behave unfairly or dishonestly, in order to
get money or advantages for yourself
 to cheat someone, especially in order to get
money from them dishonestly
2 to cheat someone by making them pay too
much money for something
8 to use dishonest methods to get money from
companies, organizations etc
4 a dishonest method that is used in order to
get money from a person or organization
5 someone who cheats people in order to get
their money
6 to cheat in a competition, game, or
examination
7 to arrange something dishonestly, for
example a game or election, so that you get
the result that you want
1 to cheat someone, especially in order to get
 money from them dishonestly
cheat pull a fast one
swindle take sb to the
con cleaner's
trick sb out of you've been had
do sb out of double-cross

CHEAT 208 CHEAT
cheat/tfi:t/Iv TI
cheat sb These salesmen are very clever. Don't let them cheat
you. I It was only when I saw the painting on sale for half
the price I paid for it that I realized I'd been cheated. I cheat
sb out of He tried to cheat me out of my share of our father's
money. ] That company owes us Ј3000 and we're not going
to be cheated out of it by some legal trick.
swindle 1 swJndl/to get money, usually a lot of money,
from a person or organization by cheating them [v T]
swindle sb He ended up in jail for swindling the govern-
ment. [ They gave me full market price for my apartment -
no, they didn't swindle me. I swindle sb out of There have
been allegations that senior officials have swindled star ath-
letes out of millions of dollars.
con/kon I] ko:n/to get money from someone by deceiving
them, after you have persuaded them that you are honest
and that you will help them [v T]
con sb out of The old lady was conned out of her life sav-
ings by a crooked insurance dealer. I con sb into doing sth
The dealer conned my aunt into selling her ring for half its
real value. I con sb You paid $300 for that? You've been
conned.
trick sb Out of/'trJk (sb) aot or/to get money or posses-
sions from someone, by tricking or deceiving them lphr v
T1
The boss tried to trick us out of our money. I It was only when
he studied the documents that he realized he had been tricked
out of his inheritance.
do sb out of/Idu: (sb) aot or/to cheat someone by not
giving them money that they deserve or that they are owed
[phr v T]
The way I see it, they've done me out of three weeks" wages. I
She's convinced the sales assistant did her out ofЈ15.
pull a fast one/,pol o 'fo:st wan II -'feest-/an informal
expression meaning to cheat someone by means of a clever
trick [v phrase]
pull a fast one on sb I think she's trying to pull a fast one
on us. Don't sign anything! I pull a fast one It's been three
months since he promised us the cheque - he's pulling a fast
one.
take sb to the cleaner's/Itek (sb) to (5o kli:norz/an
informal expression meaning to cheat someone out of all
their money or possessions [v phrase]
We really got taken to the cleaners on that contract. Most of
the work they charged us for didn "t need doing.
you've been had/ju:v bin hed/you say you've been
had when someone has been cheated but they do not real-
ize it
"'I bought this antique ivory carving in Africa. "" "'You've been
had. It's plastic. ""
double-cross/,dAbal kros II -'kr3:s/to cheat someone
you pretended to be helping or working with, especially by
helping their enemies [v T]
I'm warning you - if you double-cross me, I'll kill you. I
Harry and Danny double-crossed the gang and escaped with
all the money.
2 to cheat someone by making them pay too
much money for something
overcharge
rip off
fleece
overcharge / ,oovo r to: rdS/to cheat someone by charg-
ing them more than the agreed or usual price for something
[v I/TI
overcharge sb We were quite sure the hotel had overcharged
us but there was nothing we could do about it. I People are
always complaining of being overcharged in that bar. I
overcharge It seems that the taxi drivers here always
overcharge.
rip off/,rip vf ]] -'3:f/an informal expression meaning
to cheat someone by charging them much more for some-
thing than the usual price [phr v T]
rip sb/her/them etc off It's better to buy theatre tickets
direct from the theatre. Agencies just rip you off. I rip off sb
He apparently earns his living by ripping off young kids who
are desperate to get into the music business.
rip-offl rp of [[ -a:f/[n C] Ј4 for a glass of Coke - what a
rip-off, r
fleece/fli:s/an informal word meaning to cheat someone,
especially someone who is easily deceived, by charging
them too much for something or by persuading them to
give you their money [v T]
Some airport shops are accused of fleecing their customers,
who don't have any choice but to use them. I When he grew
older and more confused, his children fleeced him for as
much as they could.
3 to use dishonest methods to get money from
companies, organizations etc
fiddle
defraud
be on the fiddle
fiddle/' fidl/to dishonestly get money out of an organiza-
tion by cheating it in small ways over a long period of time
[v I/T]
fiddle sth out of The company found out that he had fid-
dled $50,000 out of them over the last three years. I fiddle
Most of the staff were fiddling in one way or another. I fiddle
sth Anyone caught fiddling their expenses will be in serious
trouble. I fiddle sb If I find out you've been fiddling me you're
in big trouble.
defraud/d  fr3:d/to get money from a company or organi-
zation, especially a very large one, by deceiving it [v T]
defraud sb out of Between them they defrauded the com-
pany out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I defraud sb
They defrauded the Tax Department using false names and
forged documents.
be on the fiddle/bi: on 6o fIdl/an informal British
expression meaning to be getting money dishonestly from
a company or organization, especially one that you work
for over a long period of time [v phrase]
The till is Ј30 short again - someone must be on the fiddle. I
It was only after he retired to the Bahamas that the company
realized he'd been on the fiddle for years.
4 a dishonest method that is used in order to
get money from a person or organization
swindle fraud
fiddle racket
con scam
swindle/'swindl/a well-planned and often complicated
arrangement to cheat people [n C]
Five people have been charged with being involved in the lot-
tery swindle. I The whole property development proposal was
a swindle. They never intended to build anything.
fiddle/, fidl/a situation in which people are cheated, espe-
cially in small ways over a long period of time in C]
The firm realised some sort of fiddle was going on, but they
had no idea how much they were losing. I work a fiddle (=do
a fiddle) Managers don't reallygetpaid much here, but most
of them are working a few fiddles.
con/kon II ko:n/ a method or process of getting money
from someone, especially by pretending to be someone else
[n C]
A lot ofpeoplegave money to the charity collectors, not realis-
ing it was a con. ] con trick They worked a con trick on a
number of wealthy people by posing as financial advisers.
fraud/fr3:d/a method of illegally getting money from
someone, often by using clever or complicated methods In
C/U]
Police believe the company was involved in a series o f frauds
in banks all over Europe. I Financial losses due to theft or
fraud can be high. I She discovered that she was the victim
of an elaborate fraud.
racket /  rzekt/an illegal business that is used by crimi-
nals to make a large profit for themselves In C]
The FBI believe they have found the real criminals behind

CHEAT 209 cheering/heartening
a big gambling racket. ] The Mafia runs a highly sophisti-
cated drugs racket.
racketeer/Irek ItI;) r] [n C] The ghetto was a house for
.thieves, prostitutes and racketeers (=people who make
money from rackets) of every description.
scare /skeem/ an informal word meaning a method,
usually used by several people working together, who cheat
someone by making them believe something that is not
true In C]
I had been tricked and lied to. The whole thing was a scare. I
seam to do sth She and her boyfriend were involved in a
scam to get $5 million from the company.
someone who cheats people in order to get
their money
cheat con-man
cheater swindler
cheat IU'i:tl In C]
Don't pretend you can't afford to pay me that money back
- you're nothing but a cheat and a liar! I My grandmother
thinks all sales people are cheats.
cheater /'ti:tr/an American word meaning someone
who cheats In C]
You're a cheater! You only want to marry mother for her
money.
con-man/kn rnen II ka:n-/a man who cheats people
by lying to them or pretending to be helpful so that people
trust him In C]
Two con-men came to the door and offered to take my car
away to be serviced. They must think I'm stupid.
swindler /'swindler/ someone who regularly cheats
people or organizations to get money In C]
That firm is a bunch of swindlers. Don "t pay them anything
until the goods have been delivered and checked. I I wasn't
going to let any kid of mine work among those swindlers on
Wall Street.
6 to cheat in a competition, game, or
examination
cheat
cheat/tJ'i:t/Iv I]
That's cheating! Stop looking at my cards. I Anyone caught
cheating will automatically fail this exam. I cheat at
cards/games/darts etc Once, when someone accused Jesse
of cheating at backgammon, he pulled out his gun and shot
them dead.
cheating [U] Cheating and bad sportsmanship are common
in professional football.
7 to arrange something dishonestly, for
example a game or election, so that you get
the result that you want
fix
be rigged
fix Ifiksl to arrange the result of something, especially of
a sports game, so that it is to your advantage Iv T]
That's the man who fixed the World Series in 1922. I Many
people believe that the outcome of boxing matches are fixed.
fix In C] Supporters of the losing team protested that the
whole thing was a fix (-had been fixed).
be rigged/bi: IrIgd/if something is rigged, especially
a vote or an election, it is dishonestly arranged so that a
person or group gets the result they want Iv phrase]
The senator resigned after accusations that the election had
been rigged. I They would never have got into power if the
whole thing hadn't been rigged.
cheater CHEAT 5
check CHECK/MAKE SURE 1, EXAMINE 1, 3, PAY
FOR 15
check: keep/hold sth in check PREVENT 2
check out CHECK/MAKE SURE 1, TRUE 8
check over EXAMINE 1
check-up EXAMINE 3
CHECK/MAKE
SURE
to check something in order to find out if it is
true or correct
1 to check something in order to find out if it is
true or correct
check verify
make sure/make certain confirm
double-check check out
check/trek/to take action in order to find out whether
something that you think is correct or true really is cor-
rect or true Iv I/T]
check that Check that the meat is completely cooked before
you serve it up. I Sally's just checking that she turned off the
water heater. I check sth Dictionaries are most often used
to check spelling. I You'd better check these figures again to
make sure there hasn't been a mistake. I cheek I know it's
cheaper to buy the wine there - I checked.
check/check-up In C] Myra "s taken the baby to the clinic
for his six-month health check (=to check his health).
make sure/make certain /meik j'oz r, meIk sa:rtn/
to check because you want to be quite sure that something
is correct or true Iv phrase]
make sure/certain (that) I phoned the hotel to make sure
that they had reserved a room for us. I Before pulling out of
a parking place, look in your mirror to make certain there
are no vehicles or pedestrians behind you. I make sure/cer-
tain I don't think Sarah is in yet, but will you knock at her
door just to make sure?
double-check !,d^bdl 'tek/to check a second time, so
that you are completely sure Iv
double-check sth Add up the figures, and then double-
check them. I double-check that Double check that you
really do want to get rid of a file before you delete it. I double-
check "'Are you absolutely sure you locked the door? .... Yes,
I double-checked. ""
verify /'veQfaq to officially check a fact or statement and
show that it is correct Iv T]
verify sth You can verify the facts by looking at the audi-
tors" report. I verify that The police visited the clinic to verify
that Mrs Lewis was there.
verification/,verQ  keJ'n/In U1 The documents are being
sent to the State Department for verification (=in order to
have the facts in them checked).
confirm/kon'f3:rm/to check that an arrangement you
have made has happened or is still going to happen in the
way you arranged Iv T]
confirm sth When I phoned to confirm my flight, I was told
there was a strike at the airport. I Ask Miss Peterson to send
a memo confirming the times of tomorrow's meeting. I con-
firm that Let me just confirm that the money has arrived
in your account.
check out ] tek laot/to make sure that something, espe-
cially something that someone else has told you, actually
is true [phr v T I
check out sth We got in touch with the bank to check out
the suspect's story. I We checked out dozens of leads about the
Watergate burglary, many of them useless.
checklist LIST 1
cheek: have the nerve/cheek RUDE/IMPOLITE
cheeky RUDE/IMPOLITE 2
cheer PRAISE 8
cheer sb on SUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 2
cheer sb up HAPPY 10
cheer up HAPPY 9, SAD/UNHAPPY 13
cheered: be heartened/be cheered HAPPY 9
cheerful HAPPY 1, 3
ўheeringlheartening HAPPY 10

cheerless 210 CHILD
cheerless SAD/UNHAPPY 10
cheers DRINK 7
cheers: ta/cheers THANK 2
chef COOK 10
chemistry RELATIONSHIP 2
cherish KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 2
chest: get sth off your chest TELL 9
chest: play your cards close to your chest
chew BITE 4
chew sb out TELL SB OFF 2
chew your nails/a pencil etc BITE 4
chic FASHIONABLE 1
chicken out BRAVE 7
chief MAIN 1, MANAGER 2
chief executive MANAGER 2
chiefly MAIN 5
child BABY/HAVE A BABY 1, CHILD 1, 2
child-rearing LOOK AFTER SB 4
child
which meaning?
a child @ CHILD
baby  BABY/HAVE
A BABY
young people,
teenagers etc
@ YOUNG
SECRET 7
@ CHILD
1 a child
:2 someone's son or daughter
3 a child whose parents have died
4 the period during which someone is a child
1 a child
child
kid
youngster
boy
girl
toddler
child/tj'afld/a young person from the time they are born
until they are aged about 14 or 15 In C]
When I was a child I was afraid of the dark. I By the age of
two the average child can speak nearly 300 words. I Children
under 14 pay half the adult fare; children under 3 travel free. I
Several people were killed in the bomb attack, including a
child of six.
kid/k:d/an informal word meaning a child In C]
I loved the movies when I was a kid. I You couldn't move in
the swimming-pool today - I've never seen so many kids! [
Christmas is great when there are kids around. I You surely
don't expect a kid of eight to be interested in politics.
youngster/IjAqstr/ a word used especially by adults
meaning a young person of around ten years and older In C ]
I don't think you remember me. I was only a youngster when
you saw me last. I Doctors say that parents who smoke are
partly to blame for youngsters taking up the habit.
boy/b3/a male child In C]
Most boys like playingfootball. I Say hello to Uncle Trevor
and Aunty Edie, there's a good boy. I little boy (=very young
boy) When I was a little boy, grandpa would sit me on his
knee and tell me stories.
girl/g3zrl/a female child In C]
The Jenson's first baby had been a girl. [ Girls tend to mature
more quickly than boys. [ The film portrays apartheid as seen
through the eyes of a young white girl and her mother. [ little
girl (=very young girl)A little girl stood sucking her thumb,
watching us warily.
toddier/Itrdl r [[ ta:d-/a small child who is just learn-
ing to walk In C]
Mrs May was standing outside the school with a baby in a
buggy and a toddler clinging to her skirt. [ As toddlers begin
to explore, make sure that all harmful substances are well
out of reach.
2 someone's son or daughter
child daughter
kid little boy/little girl
son offspring
child/tJ'aild/a son or daughter of any age In C]
Maria was expecting her first child. [ Both my children are
married and have children of their own. [ Now that the chil-
dren are at school I'm looking for a part-time job. [ an only
child (=one that has no brothers or sisters) Alexandra was
an only child and the centre of her mother's world.
kid Ikdl an informal word meaning someone's son or
daughter In C often plural]
Carla and Brad have three kids - two boys and a girl. [ I
thought this wallpaper would be perfect for the kids"
bedroom.
son/sAn/someone's male child In C]
I felt sorry for Bob and Eileen's sons when they split up. [
You've got a postcard from your son in Wales. [ "'What does
your son do? .... He's a doctor. "[ grown-up son (=adult son)
Linda's grown-up son is away at college but the younger one
is still at home.
daughter/da:tr/someon6's female child In C]
Clarice is the daughter of a wealthy lawyer. I I have to take
my daughter to nursery school at 1.30. I Her daughter works
in an advertising agency. ] grown-up daughter (=adult
daughter) We have two grown-up daughters.
little boy/little girl /lJtl b::)e, l]tl ga:rl/ someone's
young son or daughter [n C]
Hilary's son is ten, and her little girl is nearly six. I On
Sunday mornings Jack and Sophia "s little boy used to crawl
into their bed while they were still asleep. I Clare wanted to
buy some sports shoes for her little girl.
offspring/ofsprirj [1 '3:f-/a formal or humorous word
for someone's child or children In singular or plural]
Parents are generally anxious to protect their offspring. [
Hardly a day goes by without Mrs Molt or one of her off-
spring calling around to borrow something.
a child whose parents have died
orphan
orphan/' 3: r fan/[n C ]
Pepino was a ten-year-old orphan. His parents had been
killed in the war. I Dr Barnardo founded homes for orphans
in the late nineteenth century.
4 the period during which someone is a child
childhood
infancy
childhood/'taildhod/the period during which someone
is a child In C/U]
Since childhood Margot had longed to be a dancer. [ Steven
had happy memories of his childhood on the farm. [ child-
hood illness/experiences/dream etc (=that you have
when you are a child) Of course, I had all the usual child-
hood illnesses, like measles and mumps. [ In their autobio-
graphical novels, Tolstoy and Gorky portray two very differ-
ent childhoods. [ early childhood Much of my early
childhood was spent with my Aunt in California.
infancy /  nfnsi! a formal or technical word meaning the
period during which someone is a very young child In U]
A child needs a great deal of love and attention during
infancy. [ She had had ten children, and nine of them had
died in infancy.

child's play
child's play: be child's play EASY 2
childbirth BABY/HAVE A BABY 5
childhood CHILD 4
children: be able to have children BABY/HAVE A
BABY 12
children: have children FAMILY 8
childish STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 2
childminder LOOK AFTER SB 2
chill COLD 8
chill: take the chill off HOT 12
chill out CALM 5, REST 2
chilled COLD 9
chilling FRIGHTENED 6
chilly COLD 2, 3
chime SOUND 15
chink HOLE 4
chip BREAK 4, PIECE 6
chip in GIVE 14
chip off the old block: be a chip off the old block
LIKE/SIMILAR 6
chipped BROKEN 1
chivvy/chivy sb along HURRY 6
chock-a-block: be chock-a-block FULL 1
choice CHOOSE 6, 7, 8
choice: by choice CHOOSE 1
choice: have a choice CHOOSE 1
choice: first choice FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 1
choice: leave sb with no choice/option FORCE SB TO
DO STH 3
choice: make a choice CHOOSE 1
choice: of your choice CHOOSE 8
choir SING 3
choke BREATHE 9, 10
choose CHOOSE 1, 4, 5, DECIDE 1
choose: there is little to choose between/not much
to choose between LIKE/SIMILAR 9
choose: there's nothing to choose between EQUAl 4
choose: to choose from CHOOSE 7
CHOOSE
to decide which one you want
to finally choose something after carefully
considering all the possibilities
to choose a particular one from among many
similar things
to choose someone for a job, position, team
etc
to choose someone or something for a
particular purpose
the act or process of choosing
the range of people or things that you can
choose from
words for describing a person or thing that
has been chosen
to be very careful when you choose
something
1 to decide which one you want
choose take your pick
select make a choice
pick have a choice
go for by choice
choose Itu:zl [v I/T[
choose sth She chose that house because she liked the
garden. I Why did you choose such a bright colour? l The
story had been chosen from a selection of stories from the
Middle East. I choose to do sth Few women, offered the
chance of such a career, would choose to stay at home. I
choose whether/which/when etc The workers could
211
CHOOSE
choose whether to be paid by cheque or in cash. I choose
between (=choose one of two things) We had to choose
between leaving early or paying for a taxi. I choose I can't
decide which of these vases to buy - I'll let you choose.
selec| ]so I 'lekt] to choose something by carefully think-
ing about which is the best, most suitable etc Iv T]
Farmers select only the healthiest animals for breeding. I It
is crucial that parents select the right school for any child
with learning difficulties. I You will have to consider the evi-
dence, select from it what is relevant, and disregard the rest.
o|ck/pik/to choose something, especially without think-
ing carefully about it Iv T]
He held out a pack of cards. "'Pick a card. Go on, any card.
You've picked a bad time to ask for a pay rise - he's just
crashed his car on the way to work. I The names had been
picked at random from the telephone book.
go for /goo f:r/ an informal expression meaning to
choose something because you are very attracted to it, or
interested in it [v T not in progressive or passive]
Whenever we eat out, she always goes for the most expensive
dish on the menu. [ I probably wouldn't normally go for a
foreign car but I really liked the steering on this one.
take yolr pick / te;kj:r p;k] ff someone can take their
pick, they can choose exactly the thing that they want
without anything limiting their choice Iv phrase]
You can have whichever prize you like, just take your pick.
With so many houses for sale, a buyer with cash can take his
pick. [ take your pick of He got hundreds of replies to his
advertisement and was able to take his pick of the applicants.
make a choice / ,me;k  t;s/to make a decision, espe-
cially a difficult decision, about which thing to choose by
thinking about all the different possibilities first [v phrase]
You're going to have to make a choice. Which dress do you
prefer?[ To leave her family or to stay in an unhappy mar-
riage was a difficult decision, but she had made her choice.
Before you can make the right choice about which course to
follow, you need a lot more information.
have a choice/,hmv  'ts/to be in the situation where
it is.possible for you to choose [vphrase not in progressive ]
You have a choice. You can go to university now or wait until
next'September. [ If I had a choice, I'd work part-time, but
I just can't afford to. [ have a choice between On Wednes-
day afternoons the children have a choice between sports and
art.
by choice Ibai ItDIS/if you do something by choice you
do it after thinking about it and making a free decision to
do it [adv phrase]
In fact he's quite rich, he just lives in that tiny apartment by
choice. [ She stayed in her country by choice when many were
leaving to live in a free political climate.
2 to finally choose something after carefully
considering all the possibilities
decide on plump for
settle on opt
decide on /di'saId on II-a:nl Iv T not usually in
progressive]
Decide on a colour scheme for the room and stick to it. [After
a lot of discussion we finally decided on Wednesday October
2rid as our wedding day. [ Having decided on how much we
wanted to spend it was fairly simple to organize the holiday.
settlo on/setl on [[ -a:n/if someone, especially a group
of people, settles on something, they finally agree to choose
that thing after considering all the possibilities, discuss-
ing it etc Iv T not in progressive]
Hiroaki wanted white and I wanted black, so we settled on
grey. [ Can we at least settle on a date for our next meeting?[
When the baby was born the parents had still not settled on
a name.
olmo foe I pl^mp fa:r/an informal expression used espe-
cially in British English meaning to choose one of two or
more things that you could choose, because you have to
make a decision, but without knowing which one you
really want [v T not in passive]
They thought of going to Madeira or mainland Spain, but

CHOOSE 212 " CHOOSE
finally plumped for the Canary Islands. I She looked at every
sweater in the shop before plumping for a red mohair one.
opt ] 'Dpt II ' o-.pt/a formal word meaning to choose some-
thing after carefully considering all the possibilities Iv I[
opt for sth Most viewers are consistently opting for light-
hearted TV instead of serious documentaries. I Tests have
shown that girls tend to opt for languages whereas boys are
more likely to study science or maths. I opt to do sth The
society has opted to hold its annual conference in Madrid in
preference to Paris.
3 to choose a particular one from among many
similar things
single out
pick out
single out/, s IrJgal 'aot/to choose someone or something
from among a group of similar people or things, especially
in order to praise them or criticize them [phr v T[
single out sb/sth I don't want to single out any one player.
I think the whole team played well. [ Could you single out
one factor that is more important than the others?[ single
out for sb/sth Captain Withers was singled out for special
mention and was awarded the Military Cross.
pick out/pik aot/to consider a group of similar people
or things and to choose the one that you like most [phr v T[
pick sb/sth/it/her ete out The editor looked through the
file, picking the best models out. [ There's a whole wardrobe
of clothes over there. Why don't you pick something out? [
pick out sb/sth He looked through the tourist guide and
picked out a few exhibitions to see while he was in town.
4 to choose someone for a job, position, team
etc
choose name
select nominate
appoint be shortlisted
pick
choose It[u:zl Iv T[
choose sb The board of directors was criticized for choos-
ing someone who had no experience in legal matters. [
choose sb for The team manager has chosen a stronger side
for the rugby tour than last year's squad. [ choose sb to do
sth Choosing a suitable actress to play Ophelia will be
difficult. [ choose sb as I sometimes wonder why she chose
Jerry as her assistant. He's useless.
select/s lektl to choose someone for a particular job,
position, team etc by carefully thinking about who is the
best, most suitable etc Iv T[
select sb The college selects only twelve students from the
many thousands who apply. [ select sb for I am pleased to
tell you that you have been selected for interview on 2nd
March. [ select sb to do sth Lieutenant Maines selected the
best five soldiers to blow up the bridge in preparationfor the
attack.
appoint/paint/if someone in a position of power, espe-
cially an employer, appoints someone, they officially
choose someone for an important job or position in an
organization Iv T[
appoint sb The company have appointed a new sales direc-
tor. [ appoint sb as The President has appointed Irene
Waters as his chief press officer. [ appoint sb sth John
Campbell was appointed team coach. [ appoint sb to do sth
A committee was appointed to consider changes to the Prison
Service.
appointment In U[ Since her appointment (=since she was
appointed) Sarah Robinson has had to deal with two major
crises as ambassador.
pick/pik/to choose someone to be a member of a sports
team Iv T[
pick sb The hockey captain picked his team the evening
before the game. [ pick sb to do sth She was never picked
to play on teams at school.
name/neim! to publicly say who has been chosen for an
important job or position in an organization Iv T[
name sb as The Principal will be retiring soon. Mr John-
son was recently named as her replacement. [ name sb sth
We are naming Dr Bob McClure head of the IRC in China. [
name sb The editor of'the Times' has resigned amid a polit-
ical storm. HIS successor has not yet been named.
nominate /'nDmneit [j 'na:-/ if someone, especially a
group of people, nominates someone, they officially choose
that person for a particular job, piece of work to do etc,
because they are the best person to do it [v T[
nominate sb to do sth Someone had to go out and speak
to the press, so everyone nominated Sykes. [ Through the
influence or friends he was nominated to represent his coun-
try at the meeting. [ nominate sb as They nominated her
as the British spokesperson at the International Arms
Conference.
be shortlisted/bi: '[a:rtlisQd/a word used especially
in British English: if you are shortlistefl for a job or a posi-
tion, you are one of a small group of people who have been
chosen from other people who want the job, and from that
small group one person will be chosen for the job [vphrase]
be shortlisted for Three applicants have been shortlisted
and will be invited for interview next week. [ She's been provi-
sionally shortlisted for the Tokyo directorship.
to choose someone or something for a
particular purpose
choose earmark
designate target
choose Iqu:z/Iv T[
choose sb/sth as Seattle has been chosen as the venue for
next year's conference. I choose sb/sth for Many of the
industries chosen for government investment have in fact
already gone bankrupt. [ choose sb/sth to do sth The
fabric that she chose to be made into a dress is a combina-
tion of silk and cotton.
designate/dezigne;t/to officially choose someone or
something for a particular purpose with the result that
they cannot be used for anything else Iv T[
designate sb/sth They're going to designate this side of the
canteen a no smoking area. [ designate sb/sth as The whole
area has been designated as a redevelopment zone. [ desig-
nate sb/sth for One of the queues was designated for people
with an ECpassport. [ designate sb/sth to do sth He's been
designated to organize a new filing system for the whole
office.
earmark/Iarmo:rk/to choose someone or something
from among a larger group so that they can be used for a
particular purpose in the future Iv T]
earmark sb/sth for 20% of the budget has already been
earmarked for a new computer system. [ earmark sb/sth
to do sth The government has already earmarked some of
the troops to be called to the war zone at a moment's notice.
target/'to:rglat / to choose a particular group of people or
a particular place as the one that you are going to do some-
thing to, give something to etc Iv T usually in passive]
target sb/sth Of the countries that Amnesty International
targeted, some of them were found to be still committing
crimes against human rights. [ target sb/sth for Many of
the hospitals targeted for closure are in the poorest parts of
London. [ target sb/sth to do sth Some of the people who
have been targeted to promote the book are major celebrities.
6 the act or process of choosing
choice
selection
choice Itais/[n C]
They could have a mortgage or a car. Alf left the choice to
Jinny. I The decision to leave home has been a difficult choice
for me to make. I The board denied that financial consider-
ations had influenced their choice.
selection/s lekan/a choice made by carefully think-
ing about which is the best, most suitable etc In U]
The final selection has been very difficult due to the high stan-
dard of applicants for the post. I What exactly are your

CHOOSE 213 chop
criteria for selection for entry to the academy? I The survey
reveals that some hospitals are biased in their selection of
patients.
7 the range of people or things that you can
choose from
choice alternative
option to choose from
choice Itfosl In singular]
Caravan, hotel, camping, youth hostel - the choice is end-
less. I choice of In your exam you will have a choice of ques-
tions to be answered. I wide choice (=large choice) The shop
had a very wide choice of cheeses on display.
option/'opfan II 'o=p-/one of the range of things, espe-
cially a course of action, that you can choose to do in a par-
ticular situation In C]
What were our options? We could either sell the house or ask
my parents to lend us the money. I The Minister said that
there were four available options, but did not say which one
the Government favoured. I keep/leave your options open
(=try to delay any decision so that you can choose later)
We didn "t make a public statement because we wanted to keep
our options open until after the election.
alternative/:l'ta:rnot[v ]] :l-, al-/one of the things you
can choose, especially one that you can choose instead of
another that you do not want In C]
Check out the alternatives before deciding whether to go to
a nearby college. ] alternative to Medical evidence suggests
that these tonics are useful alternatives to more powerful
drugs. ] have no alternative (-be in the situation where
you cannot choose to do anything else) It will take a long
time to get there by train, but we don't have any alternative.
to choose from/to ,tu:z from/if there is a particular
range of things or people to choose from, you can choose
what you want from that range [adj phrase]
There wasn't a very good selection of stories to choose from. ]
There was a tempting array of cakes to choose from. ] Ameri-
can television blew his mind. So many stations to choose
from.
words for describing a person or thing that
has been chosen
chosen selected
choice handpicked/hand-picked
selection of your choice
chosen/'qaozan/[adj only before noun]
I want my children to be successful in their chosen careers. ]
You have two minutes to answer questions on your chosen
subject. ] well-chosen (=carefully and successfully chosen)
Her dress was very simple but looked stunning with a few
well-chosen accessories.
choice/tJ:s[ a person or thing that someone has chosen
In singular]
Italy was our second choice - all the flights to Greece were
booked up. ] I don't think much of your choice of car but it's
your money. ] A Beatles" song is an unusual choice for wed-
ding music.
selection/s 'lekJ'an/a small group of things that have
been carefully chosen from a larger group because the
person who chose them thinks that they are the best, most
suitable etc In C usually singular]
She showed me a selection of her best drawings and asked
me to choose one. [ The designer produced a selection of gar-
ments for the woman to try on. [ Tests were made on a selec-
tion from the bacteria to prove the scientist's theory.
selected /s lektd/ carefully chosen from a group,
usually for a particular purpose [adj only before noun]
There is a discount of 10% off selected items in this store. [
The book is a collection of selected essays by D.H.Lawrence. [
specially/carefully selected Six specially selected students
were offered places on the new postgraduate course.
handpicked/hand-picked / ,hmnd 'p kt-/people who
are hand-picked have been specially chosen because they
are the best or most suitable people for a particular job,
position etc [adj]
The handpicked staff in this school are o fan excellent stan-
dard. ] With a small, hand-picked squad of ex-paratroopers,
Collins managed to get through the defences.
of your choice lay j:r 'tJbs/something of your choice
has been chosen by you, with nothing limiting which one
you choose [adj phrase]
The magician told her to hold up three cards of her choice. I
You could win a fabulous weekend break at a luxurious hotel
of your choice. ] The success of the game depends on each
person signalling a message to a team member of their
choice.
9 to be very careful when you choose
something
shop around picky
pick and choose be particular about
selective be fussy about
choosy
shop around I,j'op a'raond II ,lo:p-I on informal expres-
sion meaning to look at or try several different possibili-
ties before choosing one, so that you choose the best one,
the cheapest one etc [phr v I]
Never buy the first car you see. Always shop around. [ When
you are looking for a good dentist, shop around. [ shop
around for Shop around for the best price.
pick and choose /:pk an tju:z/if someone can pick
and choose, they are in the situation where they can
choose what they want because there are plenty of things
available to choose from Iv phrase]
pick and choose sth With so many unsuspecting tourists,
London taxi drivers can pick and choose their passengers. [
pick and choose In areas of high unemployment job-
hunters cannot afford to pick and choose.
selective/s 'lekuv/someone who is selective chooses
things very carefully because they want to choose the best,
most suitable etc [adj]
selective about Teenagers are becoming more selective
about the clothes they buy. [ People are becoming more and
more selective about what foods they buy these days. [ selec-
tive You've got to be very selective when choosing your
companies.
choosy /'tj'u:zi/ an informal word: someone who is
choosy chooses things very carefully, because they are not
prepared to have what is not the best [adj]
When you need to find somewhere to live urgently you can't
always be too choosy. [ choosy about I'm very choosy about
who I invite to my parties. [ Europeans are getting choosier
about what they eat.
picky/'pki! an informal American word: someone who
is picky chooses things very carefully because they are not
prepared to have what is not the best [adj]
Don't be so picky! Eat what you are given. [ picky about
She's too picky about who she dates, I guess.
be particular about/bi: pa r tlk°lar abaotl to be very
careful about choosing only the very best of something, or
only exactly what you like, usually with the result that
people think you are too careful about it Iv phrase]
be particular about what/where etc Monica is particu-
lar about what tea she drinks. [ be particular about sth
He is particular about his appearance, boasting the best
clothes and shoes from France and Italy.
be fussy about/bi: 'f^si abaoq an informal expression
meaning to be very careful about choosing only the very
best of something, or only exactly what you like, with the
result that people think you are too careful about it iv
phrase]
be fussy about what/where etc Since the time she was ill,
she's been fussy about what she eats. I be fussy about sth
If you are backpacking in the Himalayas you can't be very
fussy about hotels!
choosy CHOOSE 9
chop CUT 6

chop and change
chop and change CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO
ANOTHER 2, CHANGE YOUR MIND 3
chop/chop up CUT 5
chop down CUT 7
chop off CUT4
chore JOB/TASK 1
choreograph DANCE 4
choreography DANCE 4
chosen CHOOSE 8
christen CALL/DESCRIBE AS 2
christened: be christened NAME OF A PERSON 5
Christian name: first/Christian name NAME OF A
PERSON 1
chronic LONG TIME 6
chronicle RECORD 2
chubby FAT 4, 5
chuck THROW 2
chuck away THROW AWAY 1
chuck out THROW AWAY 1
chuckle LAUGH 1
chunk PIECE 3
chunky THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL 1
church RELIGION 2
churlish RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
churn out MAKE 3
i'... cinch: be a cinch/a piece of cake EASY 2
: circa APPROXIMATELY 4
t.
 circle AROUND/ROUND 4, CIRCLE 1, FRIEND 3,
:.. TURN 5
 circle: come full circle HAPPEN 14
circle: move in literary/artistic circles SOCIALIZE 2
',:.: circle/ring CIRCLE 5
circ e
214
CIRCLE
ring/rio/a line that is in the shape of a circle, especially
of people or things surrounding something [n C]
The cottage was surrounded by a ring of trees. I Choose the
answer which you think is most correct, and draw a ring
around it. I The hostage's wrists had red rings on them where
the ropes had beenpulled tight. I in a ring (=in a shape like
a circle) The children sat around him in a ring, eager to hear
his story.
loop/lu:p/something such as a piece of string or wire that
is curved round to make a shape almost like a circle [n C]
The gate was attached to the post by a loop of rusty wire. I
a tattered old shopping bag with a loop of string for a
handle l The road goes round in a loop and rejoins the main
road about 2 kilometres past the town.
 having the shape of a circle
round
circular
round/raond/shaped like a circle [adj]
In the kitchen there was a round table with a vase of flowers
on it. I Violet stared at him with huge round eyes. I The moon
was perfectly round that night. I round-shaped What does
this round-shaped letter mean?
circular /'s3:rkjlr/ shaped exactly like a circle, or
moving in the shape of a circle [adj]
The cattle are kept in a large enclosure surrounded by a cir-
cular fence. [ The Villa Madama has a circular courtyard
with rooms leading off it in all directions. [ The procession
follows a circular route through the town, and finishes back
in the park.
3 an object that is shaped like a circle
ring
disc/disk
ring/rio/an object that is in the shape of a circle with a
large round space in the middle [n C]
Cut the onion into rings and fry in a little oil. I You have to
throw the wooden rings so that they land around the bottles. I
He sat in a corner blowing smoke rings.
disc/disk/disk/an object that is in the shape of a flat
circle [n C]
A small metal identity disc hung from the dog's collar. I He
gazed up at the pale yellow disk of the moon. I Each player
chooses a coloured disk and places it on the board in the space
marked "go'.
CIRCLE
a circle
having the shape of a circle
an object that is shaped like a circle
shaped like a circle but with slightly flat sides
to draw a circle around something
half a circle
1 a circle
circle
ring
loop
circle/'s3zrEal/an area or line that is in the shape of a
circle [n C]
The teacher drew a circle on the blackboard. I The Japanese
flag consists of a red circle against a white background. [ The
flashlight threw a dim circle of light onto the wall. [ The
circle of stones at Stonehenge is thought to have originally
been a temple. [ in a circle (=in a shape like a circle) The
soldiers stood around me in a circle. [ form a circle (=to
make a group of people or things in the shape of a circle)
I wantyou to form two circles, one inside the other. Boys on
the outside, girls on the inside.
4 shaped like a circle but with slightly flat sides
oval
egg-shaped
elliptical
oval/'auvdl/[adj]
In the dining room is a highly polished oval table with
matching chairs. I Sorne pies are oval in shape and some are
round.
egg-shaped/'eg .eipt/shaped like an egg, slightly wider
at one end [adj]
I could see Robert's little egg-shaped face peering out of the
window.
elliptical/I'lIptikdl/a technical word meaning in the
shape of a circle with two slightly flat sides [adj]
The earth moves around the sun in an elliptical orbit. I A
striking feature of this architectural style is the elliptical
windows.
5 to draw a circle around something
circle/ring
circle/ring/'s3:rkgl, rill/to draw a circle around some-
thing that is written or drawn on a page, especially in order
to make it easier to see or notice [v T]
Two of the advertisements in the paper had been circled. I
Someone had ringed all the important landmarks on the
map in pencil.

CIRCLE 215 CLASS IN SOCIETY
6 half a circle
semicircle
semicircle/'semi s3:rkal/ [n C]
The theatre was in the form of a semicircle. I Behind the
beach is a huge semicircle of limestone cliffs. I in a semicir-
cle The teacher had arranged the desks in a semicircle.
semicircular / ,semi' sa:rkj°obr/[adj] We ate at a small semi-
circular table which stood against the wall.
circuit AROUND/ROUND 4
circular CIRCLE 2
circulate SPREAD 3, 6
circulation READ 8
circumspect CAREFUL 4
circumstances SITUATION 2, 5
circumstances: force of circumstances SITUATION 6
circumstances: given the situation/circumstances
SITUATION 6
c ircu mstances: under/int he ci rcumstances
SITUATION 6
cite EXAMPLE 2
citizen COUNTRY/NATION 5, LIVE SOMEWHERE 8
citizenship COUNTRY/NATION 6
city TOWN 1, 4
civic TOWN 4
civil POLITE 1
civil disobedience PROTEST 4
civil liberties RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
civil rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
civil war WAR 2
claim ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 2, 10,
RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 4, SAY/STATE 5, 10
claim: lay claim to OWN 8
claimant ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 8
clam up SAY8
clamber CLIMB 1
clammy WET 4
clamour/clamor LOUD/NOISY 7'
clamp down on STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6,
STRICT :3
clandestine SECRET 4
clang SOUND 9
clank SOUND 9
clap PRAISE 8
clapped-out CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
clarify CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 2
clash ARGUE 1 FIGHT 1 5, SUIT/LOOK GOOD
TOGETHER 3, TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 3,
WAR 4
clasp HOLD 2
class CLASS/GROUP OF STUDENTS 1 CLASS IN
SOCIETY 1, CLASS/LESSON 1, GROUP/PUT
INTO GROUPS 1, TYPE 4
class: be in a class of its own BEST 2
class: middle class CLASS IN SOCIETY 3
class conscious PROUD 8
:g(OU:E 8,.!.[a  ' -  CLASS/GROUP
==sch-i''lie"etc %. OF STUDENTS
les# periOd  :. :[:' ,',,":-  CLASS/LESSON
- son ....... -- ,..  - ......... • --, ..... -
CLASS/GROUP OF
STUDENTS
group of students in a school, college etc
1 a group of students in a school, college etc
class year
grade set
form
class/ldo:s II U  sl In c]
There are twenty kids in the class. I She gets along well with
the other children in her class. I I'm going out with some
friends from my dance class. I They were a very badly
behaved class - the teachers were terrified of them. I The col-
lege has three photography classes at different levels.
grade/greid/a class or group of classes for children of a
particular age in an American school In C]
third/seventh/twelfth etc grade She's in the fifth grade. I
I really liked my eighth grade math teacher. I The third and
fourth grade classes are producing a play about the
Pilgrims.
third/fourth/fifth etc -grader In C] In the test, 39% of
sixth-graders (=children in the sixth grade)failed to reach
the required standard.
form/fa:rm/a class or a group of classes for all the chil-
dren of the same age in a British school for children
between 11 and 18 In C]
third/fourth/fifth etc form I'm in the third form. I Mrs
Davies took the fifth form to the science museum. I form She's
by far the brightest pupil in the form.
third/fourth/fifth etc -former In C] Some of the fifth-
formers (=children in the fifth form) have started a rock
band.
]fear/jia r, ja: r II jiarl all the classes for children of a par-
ticular age in a British school or for students in a particu-
lar year of study at a British university In C]
third/fourth/fifth ere year There are 130 children inthe
second year. I I hated teaching the fifth year. They were
always causing trouble. I year He works a lot harder than
most of the students in his year.
third/fourth/fifth ere -year In C ] A group of fourth-years
(=students in the fourth year) are collecting money for food
aid to Africa.
set/set/a class for children with a particular level of abil-
ity in a British school In C]
set one/two etc She's in set one for maths and English and
set two for history. I top/bottom etc set I was useless at
school - always in the bottom set in every subject. I set We
think you've improved sufficiently to go up to a higher set.
CLASS IN SOCIETY
the social group that someone belongs to, or
the position in society that they have,
according to their job, family, wealth etc
1 words meaning class
2 belonging to the highest class
3 belonging to the middle class
4 belonging to the lowest class
5 to move into a higher social class
6 words for describing a society that is not
divided into classes
1 words meaning class
class
background
status
social standing
caste

CLASS IN SOCIETY 216 CLASS IN SOCIETY
class/klo:s i[ kles/the general social group that someone
belongs to, because of their job, the kind of family they
come from or the amount of money they have In C/U]
It used to be accepted that people would marry into their own
class. [ Great inequalities existed between the different social
classes. [ Class isn't as easy to define as it used to be. [ The
social structure of Britain changed rapidly in the 18th cen-
tury with the rise of the new factory-owning class. [ class dis-
tinctions (=differences between social classes) Somepeople
argue that class distinctions do not exist in the US.
background/ bekgraond/the kind of home and family
you come from, and its social class In C1
The school takes kids from all sorts of backgrounds. [ My
mother liked to make sure my boyfriends came from a 'suit-
able' background. [ We come from the same town and share
a similar background. [ The new rules could deter children
from working-class backgrounds from going to college.
status /'stetts [I steitas, st-/ someone's position in
society, according to how much other people respect them
especially because of the kind of job they have in U I
Now that he was a bank manager, he wanted a car that
would reflect his status. [ high/low status Many mothers
feel that they have very low status in today's society. I status
symbol (=something that someone owns in order to show
their high status) He bought the painting as a status symbol,
not because he was particularly interested in art.
social standing / ,soJ'al stzend Irj/the position someone
holds in society according to how respected and admired
they are In singular]
What kind of social standing do teachers have in Japanese
society? I high/low social standing Priests used to always
have a high social standing in the community.
caste/ko:st II kest/a fixed and unchangeable division of
people in society according to the family they are born into,
especially within the Hindu religion In C]
In the south of India there are up to 20 different castes. I caste
system an attempt to break down the rigid caste system
2 belonging to the highest class
upper-class elite
aristocracy titled
privileged posh
upper.class /Apa r klo:s-II-'kles,/ belonging to or
typical of the class of people who have the most money and
power and are often from families that own a lot of land
Iadj]
Upper-class families still own most of the wealth in this coun-
try. I a young deb from an upper-class background I She
received a conventional English upper-class education at
boarding school and Oxford.
upper class/upper classes In singular or plural] He has
all the advantages of being born into the upper class. I
Democracy did little to destroy the wealth and security of the
upper classes.
aristocracy/,eer I 'stokmsi [[ -'sto:-/the group of people,
especially in European countries, who are usually very
rich, and whose families used to own a lot of land and hold
a lot of power In C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
Five hundred years ago, all political power belonged to the
crown, the aristocracy and the church. I It soon became
common for the daughters of rich merchants to marry into
the aristocracy.
aristocratic/eerstokretk [[ r[s-/[adj] old, aristocratic
families (=belonging to the aristocracy) I At one time, hunt-
ing was an aristocratic privilege.
privileged/privlid5d/having a high position in soci-
ety that has special, and usually unfair, advantages such
as power and money and the best education [adj]
In many countries today only a privileged minority get the
chance of going to university. I The new tax concessions give
additional benefits to the privileged classes.
privilege In U] Some of them are finding it hard to accept
that the days of white privilege (=the times when white
people were privileged) are over. I Katherine has the sort of
confidence that comes with privilege (=that only privileged
people have).
elite/el 'li:t, I-I a small group of rich and powerful people
who have special, unfair advantages that other people
cannot share In C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
The President has been accused of developing policies in
favour of a small elite. [ The sort of goods once reserved for
the elite are now available to everyone.
elitist [adj] The British House of Lords is seen by many as
an elitist institution.
titled/'taltld/someone who is titled belongs to an upper-
class family, especially in Britain, and is officially called
something such as Lord or Lady [adj]
A lot of the boys at this school are titled.
posh/pof [[ po:f/an informal British word for describing
someone who speaks or behaves as if they belong to the
upper class, especially in a way that annoys people [adjl
She felt very uneasy in the company of all those posh women
with their posh husbands. I rich lawyers with their designer
suits and posh accents
3 belonging to the middle class
middle-class the bourgeoisie
bourgeois white-collar
middle-class/,m[dl 'kla:s- II -'kles-/belonging to or
typical of people who are fairly rich and usually well edu-
cated such as doctors, lawyers, teachers or government offi-
cials, etc [adj]
My mother wanted me to marry a nice boy from a respecta-
ble, middle-class family. [ Most company bosses are white,
male, and middle-class. [ The "New Yorker" has a
predominantly middle-class readership.
middle class/middle classes In singular or plural] The
middle classes feel threatened by high crime rates in the inner
cities, and prefer to live in the suburbs.
bourgeois /'boswa: 11 borswa:/ typical of richer
middle-class people and their attitudes or way of life, espe-
cially their concern with money, property, and correct
social behaviour [adj]
She rejected her parents" conventional bourgeois lifestyle. I
They never married because they believed that marriage was
a bourgeois institution.
the bourgeoisie/6 ,bor3wo:'zi:/a word used espe-
cially in political or historical contexts meaning the class
that owns most of the wealth, property, and industry In sin-
gular with singular or plural verb in British English]
The poor viewed with envy the increasing wealth of the bour-
geoisie. I a revolution that threatened the bourgeoisie
white.collar/,wait kolr- ]] -'ko:-/white-collar wor-
kers work in offices, banks, government departments etc
as compared with people who work with their hands, for
example in factories or mines [adj only before noun]
The late nineteenth century saw a huge increase in the
number of white-collar workers employed in government
administration. I Statistics show that white-collar salaries
have risen, on average, by 3.5%.
4 belonging to the lowest class
working-class humble
lower-class popular
the masses underclass
blue-collar
working.class/,wa:rklrj 'klo:s- II -,m  es,/belonging to
or typical of the class of people who have very little money
or power and who work in factories, mines, and similar
jobs [adj]
Feminists have detected a slow but real change in the atti-
tudes of working-class women. I She's proud of her working
class origins. I a tabloid newspaper with a working-class
readership
working class/working classes In singular or plural]
She sees cuts in public spending as an attack on the work-
ing class.

CLASS IN SOCIETY 217 classy
lower.class/,lao r 'klo:s, [I -'klms,/an impolite word
meaning belonging to the class that has less money, power,
and education than anyone else [adjl
It has been shown that children of lower-class parents are
less likely to do well at school. [ My mother's parents thought
my father was terribly lower-class.
lower class/lower classes In singular orplural] a special
aid program aimed at the lower classes
the masses/6 'mesz/all the ordinary people in soci-
ety who do not have power or influence, especially when
they are thought of as not being very educated In plural]
Television has brought cheap entertainment to the masses. [
Lenin's position depended on the support of the masses.
blue.collar/,blu: 'ktfla r- Ii -'ka:-/blue-collar workers
work with their hands in factories, mines, and similar jobs,
as compared with people who work in offices, banks etc
[adj only before noun]
Most of his political support comes from blue-collar workers
in the auto industry. I The blue-collar unions are protestirig
about the introduction of computerized assembly lines.
humble / hAmbal/humble background/family/origins
etc (=from a low social class and without much money, but
often with a lot of determination to work hard and succeed)
[adj]
The school had originally provided a good education for chil-
dren of humble backgrounds. I Eisenhower, Nixon, and Ford
had all been men of humble origins and no inherited wealth.
popular /'popj°l r II 'po:-/ popular entertainment/
newspapers/music/TV programmes etc (=intended to
be suitable for ordinary people who are not highly edu-
cated, especially for working-class people) [adj not before
noun]
a TVchannel that provides non-stop popular entertainment I
the popular press I Avant garde theatre is never likely to have
much popular appeal.
undorclass/Andarklo:s II -kles/the lowest social class,
consisting of people who are very poor, often do not have
jobs, and cannot afford to buy the things considered normal
in society In singular with singular or plural verb in Brit-
ish English ]
The government has been accused of creating an underclass
of people who have no jobs, no homes, and who often turn
to crime. I For the black underclass in the United States life
has scarcely improved.
5 to move into a higher social class
move up in the world/go up in the world
upwardly mobile
social climber
move up in the world/go up in the world/,mu:v
'np In 6a ,wazrid, ,gao Ap-/ [V phrase]
Since they've moved up in the world they never go back to
visit their working-class parents. I Education, she believed,
was the only way that anyone could move up in the world.
upwardly mobile/,apwardli Imaobal II -'maobal/some-
one who is upwardly mobile is in the process of moving
into a higher class, especially because they have a well-paid
job [adj phrase ]
a highly educated, upwardly mobile young woman I The
dating agency specializes in finding partners for the young
and upwardly mobile.
social climber/tsaoJ'al kla[mar/someone who wants
very much to move into a higher social class, and tries to
do this by becoming friendly with people who have more
money and power than they do In C]
The new private schools cater for the children of social clim-
bers rather than those of the old upper classes. I The hotel
lobby was full of the usual hangers-on and social climbers.
6 words for describing a society that is not
divided into classes
classless
classless/'kla:slzs Jl 'klms-/a classless society is one
that is not divided into classes and in which there is social,
political, and economic equality [adj]
The aim of the revolution was to establish a classless society. I
People who believed that post-war Britain would be class-
less were to be disappointed.
@ CLASS/LESSON
1 the period of time during which a class is
taught
1 the period of time during which a class is
taught
class lecture
lesson seminar
period tutorial
session
class/klo:s II kles/the period of time during which some-
one teaches a group of people, especially in a school In C/UI
I was so busy playing football I was late for my geography
class. [ Joanne "s swimming class starts at 6pro at the Olym-
pic Pool. [ class on/about Girls at these schools attend
classes on cookery and flower arranging. [ in class (=during
the class) Yesterday in class we discussed global warming. [
take a class (=teach a class) Miss Pollock is ill so I will be
taking today's class.
lesson I'lesan/ the period of time in which someone
teaches a subject or a skill, such as driving or playing a
musical instrument, to a person or a group of people In Cl
I'm afraid Lucy can "t come to the phone at the moment - she's
having her piano lesson. [ Dad won't teach me to drive. He
says I have to take proper lessons. [ lesson in Miss Brown
comes every day to give me lessons in French.
period/pxarid/one of the periods of time that a school
day is divided into In CI
At our school we have four periods in the morning and three
in the afternoon. [ period of After lunch I have a period of
geography. [ double period (=one class which lasts for two
periods) On Monday mornings there was French, English,
and then a double period of maths.
session/' sedan/the period of time in which a particular
subject or a particular area of a subject is taught, especially
when this is one of a fixed number of classes In C]
We have 5 hours of English a week, including one session in
the language laboratory. [ In-company management train-
ing sessions give employees the opportunity to meet people
from other parts of their organization.
lecture /'iektar/ a class in which a teacher talks to a
group of students at a college or university In C]
Classes are a combination of discussion groups and formal
lectures. [ lecture on After I heard his lecture on women's
politics, I decided to read his book. [ give a lecture Profes-
sor Dodgson is giving a lecture this afternoon on French
Impressionist painters.
seminar/'semna:r/a class in which a teacher discusses
a particular subject with a group of students at a college
or university In C]
I have to do some work for next week's seminar. It's my turn
to introduce the topic. I seminar on 70% of the company's
female employees attended a seminar on breast cancer con-
ducted by the National Cancer Institute.
tutorial/tju: tz):ril 11 tu:-/a regular class at a British col-
lege or university during which a teacher discusses a par-
ticular subject with one student or with a small group of
students In C]
Small group tutorials are used to discuss problems which
come up in lectures. [ Oxford's one-to-one tutorials are an
effective but also costly way of teaching.
classic
classified
classify
classless
classy
GOOD/EXCELLENT 6, LONG TIME 8, TYPICAL 1
SECRET 1
GROUP/PUT INTO GROUPS 1, TYPE 5
CLASS IN SOCIETY 6
EXPENSIVE 3, STYLE/ELEGANCE 2

clatter 218 CLEAN
clatter SOUND 6
clause LAW 3, WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 3
clean CLEAN 1, 2, 4, 7, GOOD/MORAL 6, WASH 5
clean: come clean ADMIT 5
clean: get cleaned up WASH 1
clean: keep your nose clean BEHAVE 2
clean out CLEAN 7
clean up CLEAN 7, 8, IMPROVE 3, PROFIT 4
clean your teeth: brush your teeth/clean your teeth
WASH 4
CLEAN
words meaning clean
completely clean and free from bacteria or
infection
the practice of keeping things clean,
especially in order to avoid infection
to make something clean by moving a cloth,
your hand etc across a surface to remove dirt
to make something clean and shiny by
rubbing it or brushing it
to rub something hard with a brush or rough
material in order to clean it
to clean a room, house etc
to remove dirt and other unwanted things in
order to make a place clean
to make something clean and free from
infection
1 words meaning clean
clean
spotless/spotlessly clean
immaculate
spick and span
clean Ikli:n/ [adj]
Always make sure your hands are clean before you start
preparing the food. I We try to encourage the kids to keep
their rooms clean and tidy. I The waiter pulled out a cloth
and wiped the table clean. 1 It's lovely and clean. I I'm taking
some clean clothes with me in case I have to stay overnight.
spotless/spotlessly clean/'spotlas, ,spmbsli 'kli:n II
'spo:t-! clothes, furniture, rooms etc that are spotless are
completely clean because they have been washed or
cleaned [adj]
We all set to work and within half an hour the whole place
was spotless. I Hannah was busy folding piles of newly-
washed, spotlessly clean linen.
immaculate/'mekjaUalt/things that are immaculate
are completely clean and look new [adj]
Bobby wore an immaculate white suit. I He always wants the
place to look immaculate, but he won't do anything to help
keep it that way.
spick and span [ splk an 'spen! a room or house that
is spick and span is very clean and tidy [adj phrase]
She kept her kitchen very spick and span. I We'll have the
place spick and span in no time.
2 completely clean and free from bacteria or
infection
clean hygienic
pure sterile -
clean/kli:n/[adj]
The most important thing is to provide the villages in this
area with a supply of clean drinking water. I Drug addicts
have been offered clean needles in order to prevent the spread
of AIDS.
pure/pjuar/water or air that is pure is completely clean
and does not contain anything harmful such as dirt or
bacteria [adj ]
It felt good to get away from the city and breathe in some of
that pure mountain air. I The water in the lake is so pure
you can drink it.
purity In U] There is concern about the purity of our tap
water (=how pure it is).
hygienic/hal 'dsi:n[k II -'dse-, -'dsi:-/clean and likely to
prevent bacteria, infections, or illness from spreading [adj]
You should use cotton wool to clean the wound. It's much
more hygienic. I Dairy produce kept under hygienic condi-
tions lasts much longer. I Don't let your cat walk on kitchen
surfaces - it's not at all hygienic.
sterile/'sterad il-ral/ completely clean, free from bac-
teria, and safe for medical or scientific purposes [adj]
All babies" bottles and other feeding equipment should be
kept sterile. I Red Cross officials say they are running desper-
ately short of disinfectant and sterile bandages.
 the practice of keeping things clean,
especially in order to avoid infection
cleanliness
hygiene
cleanliness/'klenlins/[n U]
Although they're the victims of extreme poverty, the people
here pride themselves on their cleanliness. I As children, we
were taught that cleanliness is very important.
hygiene ! haidsi:n/the practice of keeping yourself and
the place where you live or work clean, in order to prevent
bacteria, infections etc from spreading [n U]
Restaurants may be closed down if they fail to keep up to
minimum standards of hygiene. I Lack of hygiene in the
kitchen meant that cockroaches and mice were endemic. I
personal hygiene (=the practice of keeping your body
clean) Many kids just aren't particularly concerned about
personal hygiene.
4 to make something clean by moving a cloth,
your hand etc across a surface to remove dirt
clean
wipe
dust
clean/kli:n/[v T]
Here's a mop - could you clean the kitchen floor? l Use a
special soft cloth to clean VDU screens. I She cleans the
windows twice a week.
clean In singular] The front windows need a clean (=need
to be cleaned).
wipe/walpl to move a cloth, your hand etc over a surface
in order to clean it Iv T]
You wash the dishes and I'll wipe the table. I She picked up
the can and wiped it with her hand to get some of the mud
off. I "'Sure is hot in here, "' said Reid, wiping his damp fore-
head with a grubby handkerchief.
wipe In singular] Wash the car inside and out and make
sure you give the windows a wipe (=wipe them).
dust/d^st/to remove dust from the surface of something
by moving a soft cloth across it Iv T]

CLEAN 219 clear conscience
dust sth When her parents visit, Monika dusts and polishes
all the furniture. I dust sth off (=quickly dust something
you are holding) She took the picture off the shelf where it
had obviously lain for years, dusted it off and handed it to
me.
 to make something clean and shiny by
rubbing it or brushing it
shine
polish/'plI II 'pa:-I to rub something, especially with
a cloth or brush and sometimes a special liquid or cream,
in order to make it clean and shiny iv T]
What's the best stuff to use for polishing silver? I He picked
a large apple from the bowl, polished it on his sleeve and took
a big bite.
polish in singular] Martha took off her glasses and gave
them a quick polish (=polished them quickly).
shine/J'ain/to make shoes clean and shiny by rubbing or
polishing them with a brush or cloth and shoe polish iv T]
If you're coming, you "d better shine your shoes and put on
a clean shirt.
shine in singular] Those shoes need a shine (=to be shined).
6 to rub something hard with a brush or rough
material in order to clean it
brush
scrub
scour
brush Ibr^.fl to rub something with a brush in order to
clean it iv T ]
Suede shoes should be brushed regularly to keep them clean
and new-looking. I I think you should brush your jacket -
it's covered in cat hairs.
brush in singular] Shall I give your coat a brush? (=brush
your coat)
scrub/skr^b/to rub something hard with a stiff brush,
soap, and water in order to clean it iv T]
My grandmother earned her living scrubbingfloors for rich
neighbours. I There's no need to peel potatoes and carrots -
just scrub them.
scour/skaoar/to rub a cooking pan or hard surface with
a piece of rough material in order to clean it iv T]
Stevie did odd jobs around the house, scoured the pots and
pans and sometimes helped in the garden.
7 to clean a room, house etc
clean sweep
clean out spring-clean
clean up
clean/kli:n/iv I/T]
clean a room/house etc Go upstairs and cleanyour room!l
As soon as I clean this place it gets messed up again! [ clean
Steve spent most of the afternoon cleaning and tidying up. [
Edna comes in to clean on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
cleaning in U] Ask me later. I have too much cleaning to do.
clean out /Ikli:n 'not! to completely clean a room, cup-
board etc [phr v T]
clean out sth The apartment needs to be cleaned out before
a new tenant can move in. [ I think it's time we cleaned out
the garage. [ clean sth/it/them out She says she doesn't
have time to clean all the cupboards out.
clean up/,kli:n '^p/to clean a place and make it tidy after
someone has made it untidy or dirty [phr v I/T]
Make sure you clean up and put everything away when
you've finished. [ clean up sth It took us hours to clean up
the kitchen this morning. [ clean sth/it/them up You can
play in your room as long as you promise to clean it up after-
wards. [ clean up after sb I'm tired of cleaning up after all
you kids.
sweep/swi:p/to clean a place, especially the floor of a
room, using a brush with a long handle iv T]
sweep sth When the last customer had gone, Ed put the
chairs up on the tables and swept the floor. [ sweep out sth
(=clean a room by sweeping) Guests at the hostel are
expected to make their beds and sweep out their rooms.
spring.clean /,spro 'kli:n! to clean everything in a
house thoroughly, especially during the spring, even clean-
ing things that you do not clean very often iv I/T]
I'll be busy spring-cleaning over the weekend, so I'll call you
next week. [ spring-clean a room/a house etc Lynda spent
the day spring-cleaning her house.
to remove dirt and other unwanted things in
order to make a place clean
clean up
sweep up
wipe up
clean up/,ldi:n '^p/[phr v T]
clean up sth You'd better clean up that coffee before it stains
the carpet. I clean sth/it/them up Is that your mess in the
living room? Well clean it up.
clean-up/'kli.-n ^p/in singular] The beaches are expected
to reopen shortly after the clean-up, which will cost $5m.
sweep up/, swi:p ^p/to remove dust, leaves etc from the
floor or the ground, using a brush [phr v T]
sweep up sth It was a cold damp morning, and the only
person in sight was an old man sweeping up leaves. I sweep
sth/it/them up Oh never mind your boots. Adam can sweep
the mud up afterwards. Come in.
wipe up/,wa:p '^p/to remove dirt or liquid from a sur-
face or the floor using a cloth [phr v T]
wipe sth/it/them up If you spill any of this paint, you
should wipe it up immediately. I wipe up sth Wipe up that
mess, will you.
e to make something clean and free from
infection
disinfect
sterilize
disinfect /,dis Ian'fekt/to clean a thing or a place with a
chemical that destroys bacteria, in order to prevent illness
or infection Iv T]
Any serious cut should be cleaned and disinfected right
away. I The public was warned to stay away, and experts
wearing protective clothing were sent in to disinfect the area.
sterilize/' steralaiz/to make something completely clean
and free from bacteria by heating it or treating it with
chemicals in order to make it safe, especially for medical
or scientific purposes [v T]
The doctor didn't sterilize the needle properly and my arm
became infected. [ Irradiation is commonly used to sterilize
medical equipment. [ Wine bottles can be sterilized using
boiling water.
sterilization/,sterolla 'zean II -mla-/In u] These chemicals
are used in the sterilization of water.
cleaned up: get cleaned up WASH 1
cleaner's: take sb to the cleaner's CHEAT 1
cleanliness CLEAN 3
cleanse WASH 4
clear CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 1, 2, CLEAR/EASY TO
UNDERSTAND 1, 3, EARN 2, EMPTY 8,
INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 3, JUMP 2, OBVIOUS
1, PAY FOR 5, SEE 12
clear: be in the clear INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 1
clear: get clear ESCAPE 2
clear: make clear CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 2
clear: make it clear SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 1
clear: not be clear UNCERTAIN 1
clear: stay/keep clear of AVOID 7
clear: unclear/not clear CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 3,
CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 4, 5
clear a space SPACE/ROOM 2
clear conscience: a clear conscience GUILTY/FEEL
GUILTY 3

clear-cut - 220 CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND
clear-cut OBVIOUS 1
clear off/out LEAVE A PLACE 3
clear the air ARGUE 8
clear the way for POSSIBLE 3
clear up SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 3,
SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 1, TIDY 2
. clear ............................
,: "  . '':: z [k;-, " ; " . ............ - ......... t- :,#   { 7#::
easy to understand  -.,  CLEAR/EASY T0
 ,.... , • ................
ey to  :,,,, ..... ::, ,, • CLEAR/EASY TO
 ....#... ,, . ;', ,,4--,
:obveous, asy .tO P ,,e ; :,  OBVIOUS
• " " • "  " "* "{" ::-:.::  z, ::"  ':-;;: , ::2: z%,.,. ,,, • -, :.-::    #- - ,   .
......  ......... • ....... r,::.-*.  ........ • .......... ,,# .-..,:,,. ......... 
' :. 'i.;,  : ::'{; ;; .... " .............
yoan'see :through ,.  ,  SEE
, ?  ......... - .... :;:, ......... ;: ,  .: ................. . .......... ... ......................
Iicat, bas.-on J  &: LOGICAL
. :. :.. ...:, :.,,;:#,; .............................
. . --.. .  . .,,--- .[::;  ..,,
posstble :to '- - ........ .  UNDERSTAND
CLEAR/EASY TO
SEE
clear and easy to see
words for describing a picture, photograph,
etc in which the objects or people are easy to
see clearly
not clear or easy to see
1 clear and easy to see
clear
distinct
clear/klIr/[adj]
He had left clear footprints in the wet sand. I Even after two
thousand years the writing is quite clear. I The shapes of the
houses were slowly becoming clearer in the early morning
light.
clearly [adv] We could clearly see a light glimmering in the
distance. I Bold black print shows up clearly against a white
or pale background.
distinct/dI  stlrjkt/an object, line, or shape that is distinct
is very clear so that you can easily see that it is separate
from the things around it [adj]
Far away, but distinct, was the dark shape of a boat. [ As
night fell, the outline of the mountain became less distinct.
distinctly [adv] Stars that we can see quite distinctly may
in fact have died millions of years ago.
words for describing a picture, photograph,
etc in which the objects or people are easy to
see clearly
clear
sharp
in focus
clear/kliar/[adj]
These Japanese televisions are fantastic - the pictui'e is so
clear. I The photographs of Mars sent back by the Voyager
satellite are amazingly clear.
sharp/j'o:rp/very clear, especially because the edges of
objects are very easy to see [adj]
This camera gives you crystal clear, sharp photos every time.[
Lichtenstein's paintings are full of strong colours and sharp
outlines almost like children's comics.
in focus/m 'faokas/photographs, films, or images that
are in focus have been photographed or filmed from the
correct distance or with the camera correctly set, so that
everything in the pictures is clear [adj phrase]
Her holiday photos came out over-exposed and blurred,
hardly any of them in focus. [ Roy adjusted the TVset so that
the picture was in sharper focus.
3 not clear or easy to see
unclear/not clear
faint
blurred
unclear/not clear/^n'kl) r, ntt kl[r/[adj]
The photographs were not very clear. I I'll try and read this,
but the handwriting's pretty unclear.
faint/feint/a picture, shape, image, writing etc that is
faint is unclear because it is a long way away, there is not
enough light, or it was very lightly drawn [adj]
There were a few faint pencil lines on the page. [ Most people
first see the island as a faint blur through the misty rain.[
On the wall you could see the faint outline of the place where
a picture used to hang.
blurred/bl3:rd/unclear so that only the general shape can
be seen, and not small details [adj]
I can see things close up, but, without my glasses, anything
more than a few feet away looks blurred. [ All I have is a
blurred photo to remind me of him. [ the blurred shape of
a submarine beneath the surface of the sea
CLEAR/EASY TO
UNDERSTAND
6
clearly expressed, in simple language, and
therefore easy to understand
to make something such as an explanation,
instruction, or rule completely clear
words for describing a piece of writing that
explains or describes something very clearly
not clearly expressed, so that there is doubt
or confusion about what is meant
words for describing a situation that is not
clear and is difficult to understand
to make a situation or subject unclear, so that
there is doubt about what is meant or what is
happening
1 clearly expressed, in simple language, and
therefore easy to understand
clear explicit
plain expressly
unambiguous unequivocal
clear/klI)r/[adj]
Very young children need clear rules about what is allowed
and what isn't. [ clear about/on sth The instructions aren't
really clear about where we should present our passports [
You are not allowed to use a dictionary in the test. The regu-
lations are quite clear on this point. [ clear to sb It may be
clear to you, but I've got no idea what it means. [ crystal
clear (=extremely easy to understand) Although Ron didn't
actually say so, his meaning was crystal clear. He wanted
us to leave.

CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 221 CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND
clearly [adv ] The contract says quite clearly that the land-
lord must pay for all repairs to the house. I Procedures for
making insurance claims need to be more clearly defined.
plain ]plcin! language, instructions etc that are plain are
easy to understand because there is nothing difficult or
unnecessary in them that might be confusing [adj usually
before noun]
She spoke slowly and carefully, using plain, simple lan-
guage. I The document is written in plain English, not in
legal jargon.
plainly [adv] Tell me plainly what you want. I The leaflet
states plainly what the party's position is on immigration.
unambiguous/^nmm'blgjuasl having only one possible
meaning and therefore very clear [adj]
President Bush made an unambiguous statement - there
would be no new taxes. [ Safety guidelines need to be plain
and unambiguous.
unambiguously [adv] Everything a computer has to do
must be clearly and unambiguously defined for it.
explicit /k'splist/ explicit instructions/account/
warning etc (=expressed very clearly and including every
detail, so that no part of your meaning is hidden) [adjl
The book gives an explicit account of the war from a child's
point of view. [ Mr Beazley left explicit instructions that he
wasn't to be disturbed. [ I don "t quite understand - could you
be a bit more explicit? [ explicit about He's not being very
explicit about his plans, is he?
explicitly |adv] You were explicitly warned about the
dangers of taking those drugs.
expressly/k'spresli/a formal word: if you expressly
state something, you state it very clearly and firmly,
usually in writing lady]
The new law expressly forbids the importation of radioac-
tive waste. [ Although it's not expressly stated in your con-
tract, you are expected to attend weekend training sessions.
unequivocai / ,nnl 'kwvakal/a formal word meaning so
clear that the meaning or intention cannot be mistaken or
doubted [adj]
The European Parliament has given the plan its unequivocal
support. [ The answer to our request was an unequivocal
"no'. [ This time his father was unequivocal: "'You're getting
no more money from me, and that's final. ""
unequivocally [adv] She unequivocally rejects any moves
towards conciliation.
2 to make something such as an explanation,
instruction, or rule completely clear
make clear spell out
clarify lay it on the line
make clear/melk klIar/ [v phrase]
make it clear (that) The new teacher made it clear that she
would not allow talking in class. I make sth clear We need
to make the ground rules clear. I She's anxious to make clear
exactly what she means. I make yourself clear (=make it
dear what you mean) Am I making myself clear?
clarify/' kleerfa/a formal word meaning to make some-
thing clearer, especially because people have not com-
pletely understood it Iv T]
clarify sth I hope this statement has helped to clarify a few
points. I clarify your position (=make it clear what you
think about something and what your intentions are)
Would the Senator please clarify his position with regard to
abortion?
clarification/, klmrf  kej'an/In U] Parts of the document
are ambiguous and in need of clarification (=need to be
clarified).
spell out I  spel 'aot/to explain something in the dearest
possible way, especially when you think it should be
unnecessary to make things so simple or to give so many
details [phr v T]
spell sth/it/everything out She doesn't understand her
job so you have to spell everything out to her. I Do I have to
spell it out for you? You are not wanted here. I spell out sth
When you're dealing with government departments it's
usually neccessary to spell out every detail.
lay it on the line /le It on 6a 'lan/an informal expres-
sion meaning to state something clearly and forcefully,
especially something that other people may be unwilling
to listen to or accept Iv phrase]
Okay, I'm going to lay it on the line. If you don't startpaying
more attention to the kids, I'm leaving.
3 words for describing a piece of writing that
explains or describes something very clearly
clear
clarity
lucid
clear/kllor/expressed using clear language and avoiding
difficult or confusing words [adj]
Orwell gives us a very clear description of life as a vagrant
in Paris. I There was a clear account of the meeting in "The
Washington Post" the next day.
clearly [adv] The manual explains clearly what to do if your
car breaks down when you're on vacation.
clarity/' klmrti/the dearness of language used in writ-
ing In U]
written/explained etc with clarity AIthough the book's
subject matter is very complicated, it's written with great
clarity. I clarity of expression/style etc Her wit and
clarity of style make her articles a delight to read. I clarity
Students are reminded of the need for clarity in their
answers.
lucid/'lu:sd/lucid explanation/description/prose etc
(=very dear and easy to understand because it has been
skilfully written even though the subject may be difficult)
[adj]
He has become well-known for his lucid explanations of com-
plicated scientific concepts. I clear and lucid prose
lucidly [adv ] Miller has written a series of lucidly expressed
essays on feminism.
lucidity/lu:'sdti/In U] written with characteristic lucid-
ity and insight (=written in a typically lucid way)
4 not clearly expressed, so that there is doubt
or confusion about what is meant
unclear/not clear vague
ambiguous muddled/garbled
imprecise
unclear/not clear/^n'kla r, not 'kllar/ [adj]
If the instructions aren't clear, you can't blame people for
making mistakes. I The terms of our tenancy are very
unclear, t unclear/not clear about Their letter tells us
when they're going to arrive, but it's unclear about the
purpose of their visit.
ambiguous/eem'bgjuas/having more than one possible
meaning and therefore confusing and difficult to under-
stand [adj]
The document's ambiguous wording makes it very difficult
to follow. I I don "t know how to interpret her remark. I think
it was deliberately ambiguous.
ambiguously [adv] ambiguously worded clause in the
contract
ambiguity /mmb gju:ti/In C/U] Dictionary definitions
should avoid ambiguity. I The report is full of ambiguities
that require clarification.
imprecise ], lmpr 'sas-! words or statements that are
imprecise are unclear because they do not describe or
explain something in an exact way when this is necessary
[adj]
I think I can just about manage to find the hotel, but the
directions are very imprecise. I Many of the terms used in this
book are so imprecise as to be almost meaningless.
vague /velg! unclear, especially because not enough
details are given [adj]
Vague rumours are reaching us about an attempted coup,
but we've had no official confirmation. I For too long we have
been fobbed off with vague promises of prosperity 'in the
future'.

CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 222 CLIMB
vaguely [adv] People of vastly differing cultural back-
grounds are all too often just vaguely defined as "Africans'.
muddled/garbled/'mAdld, 'go:rbald/if something that
someone tells you is muddled or garbled, it is very
unclear and confusing because they themselves have not
really understood it very well [adj]
I heard a garbled version of the story from one of my students,
who had heard it from someone else. I Bystanders were so
shocked and bewildered they could only give a very muddled
account of the events they had witnessed.
5 words for describing a situation that is not
clear and is difficult to understand
unclear/not clear
confused
unclear/not clear I^n'kla r, not 'kl;ar/[adjl
Although we know some of the causes of cancer, it is not clear
why it strikes some people rather than others. I The circum-
stances surrounding his death are still unclear.
confused /kan'fju:zd/ a situation that is confused is
difficult to understand because a lot of things are happen-
ing at the same time and you do not have enough informa-
tion about it to know exactly what is happening [adjl
The situation in the town's main square is getting increas-
ingly confused, and troops have been told to stand by. I Var-
ious newspaper reports give a rather confused picture of the
state of the economy.
6 to make a situation or subject unclear, so that
there is doubt about what is meant or what is
happening
confuse
blur
cloud/confuse the issue
confuse /kn'fju:z/ to make a situation unclear by
making it more complicated Iv T]
The bank already operates under two different names, and
to confuse matters further, they're planning to change both
of them. I The Press Secretary gave a completely different
version of events, which greatly confused the situation.
blur/bla:r/to make the difference between two ideas or
subjects unclear Iv T]
Social changes have blurred the differences between male
and female roles within the house. I His novels tend to blur
the distinctions between reality and fantasy.
blurred [adjl In the US the dviding line between political
and business interests has become increasingly blurred.
cloud/confuse the Issue/,]daod, kan,ju:z 6i I ]J'u:/to
make a subject or problem unclear by bringing in ideas,
information, etc that are not really connected with it Iv
phrase]
We're discussing last year's programme, so don "t confuse the
issue by asking questions about next year. I In talking about
social problems. Mr Bush is just clouding the issue when he
keeps referring to family values.
clearance LET/ALLOW 9, SPACE/ROOM 1
clearing AREA 6
clearly: obviously/clearly OBVIOUS 2
clever INTELLIGENT 1, 4, 9
clever: be too clever by half INTELLIGENT 7
clever: be too clever for BEAT/DEFEAT 4
clever dick INTELLIGENT 7
clich SAYING 5, WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 1
clich6d USE STH 15
click UNDERSTAND 7
click: it clicked REALIZE 1
client BUY 7
clientele BUY 7
climate SITUATION 2, WEATHER 1
climatic WEATHER 2
climax EXCITED 8
climb CLIMB 1, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1,
UP7, 14
climb/climb up UP 3, 6
climb down ADMIT 4
climb/jump on the bandwagon
INVOLVED 2
TAKE PART/BE
CLIMB
to climb up a wall, mountain, tree etc
someone who climbs hills or mountains as a
sport
the sport of climbing hills or mountains
1 to climb up a wall, mountain, tree etc
climb clamber
scale shin up/shinny up
climb/klam/to move up towards the top of something tall
or steep such as a wall, mountain, or tree, using your hands
and feet Iv I/T ]
climb sth Tom was climbing a tree in the park, when he fell
and broke his arm. I The assault course involves climbing
high walls and jumping ditches. I climb up/over/onto etc
To get a better view of the game, some of the spectators
climbed on to the roof of the refreshment bar. I One of the boys
lost his footing as he was climbing up the steepest part of the
cliff. I climb Trying not to look down, Stacey began to climb. I
climb down (=go down a wall, tree etc, using your hands
and feet) He had escaped by climbing down the side of the
building.
scale/sked/to climb to the top of something very high,
especially something that is very difficult or dangerous to
climb Iv T l
The rescuers had to scale a thousand foot cliff before they
could reach the injured climber. I The corn had been kept up
high in the barn, but the rats appeared to have scaled the
steep ladder. I The boat had no rigging harnesses or ad-
equate safety lines, yet our crew scaled the masts barefoot.
clamber / 'klambar/to climb in an awkward way or with
difficulty, but moving fairly quickly Iv Il
clamber up/down/to etc Somehow I managed to clamber
up the fence out of the dog's reach. I They clambered to the
top of the ruined castle, where there was a magnificent view
of the bay. I Koala bears, carrying their young, clamber up
the tree trunks.
shin up (British) I shinny up (American)/,j'in '^p, 'j'inJ
,^p/to climb up something tall and narrow such as a pipe,
tree, or rope, by wrapping your legs around it and pulling
yourself up with your arms Iv T not in passive]
I locked myself out of the house and had to shinny up a drain-
pipe to get in. I We watched as small boys shinned up palm
trees and brought coconuts down.
 someone who climbs hills or mountains as a
sport
climber
mountaineer
climber / ' klamr/someone who climbs hills or rocks as
a sport, especially using special equipment In C]
The search is still continuing for a group of climbers reported
missing in the Scottish highlands. I One of the most vital
things for any climber is a sturdy pair of boots.
mountaineer/, maonto I 'nIar/someone who climbs high
mountains using special equipment In C]
Most mountaineers dream of climbing Everest. I Sports
equipment stores in Alpine towns cater for the needs of
walkers, hikers and mountaineers.
3 the sport of climbing hills or mountains
climbing
mountaineering

CLIMB 223 CLOTHES
climbing/'klaimiql the sport of climbing hills or rocks
[n U:
She listed her hobbies as horse-riding, climbing and aero-
bics. I rock/mountain climbing Accident insurance does
not cover you for dangerous activities such as rock climbing.
mountaineering/,maonQ 'nrq! the sport of climbing
high mountains using special equipment [n U:
Mountaineering is one of the most dangerous sports. I He is
Director of the International School of Mountaineering in
Switzerland.
climber CLIMB 2
climbing CLIMB 3
clinch GET 2
clinch it DECIDE 5
cling to HOLD 2, NEAR 10
cling to the hope that HOPE 5
clinic HOSPITAL 1
clinical EMOTIONAL 6
clink SOUND 9
clip CUT 8, PART 7
clique GROUP OF PEOPLE 6
cloak-and-dagger SECRET 2
clobber/hammer BEAT/DEFEAT 2
clock: around the clock/round the clock
CONTINUOUS 3
clock: put/turn the clock back PAST 5
clock: work against the clock HURRY 3
clockwork: go like clockwork SUCCEED IN DOING
STH 7
clog PREVENT 8
" . . - " . • : : ::: ':. :-}; " .:-:',.
ae:.:!o-methmg or :::::::: ,,  NEAR
::::...fae,: piece.-f,ў:::t:;:  'ў FASTEN/DO UP
clothing ". .....
: close
i ' close:
 close:
}. close:
 close:
! close:
: - close:
AIR 4, CAREFUL 3, END 1, NEAR 1,
SHUT/CLOSE 1
be close LOVE 1
bring sth to an end/to a close FINISH DOING
STH 5
cut it fine/cut it close ON TIME 3
draw to a close/to an end FINISH/COME TO AN
END2
get near/close NEAR 7
stay close/keep close NEAR 10
close: up close NEAR 6
close a deal FINISH DOING STH 6
close at hand: be close at hand NEAR 4
close by NEAR 1
close down FAIL 10
close-fitting TIGHT 5
: close friend: good/close friend FRIEND 2
close in on NEAR 8
i  close on ALMOST 1
::- close quarters: at close quarters NEAR 6
i;ii close range: at close range NEAR 6
. close ranks UNITE 2
 close-run thing: be a close-run thing WIN 6
.,, close shave JUST/ALMOST NOT 2
:!"! close/shut SHUT/CLOSE 2, 4
IIL, close thing: be a near thing/close thing
_. JUST/ALMOST NOT 3
close to ALMOST 1
close to: come close to/near to ALMOST 3
close to: nearing/approaching/near to/close to
ALMOST 2
close up NEAR 6
close-up NEAR 6
close your eyes to: shut your eyes to/close your
eyes to IGNORE 3
closed: be closed FINISH/COME TO AN END 4
closed book: be a closed book NOT KNOW 4
closed doors: behind closed doors SECRET 6
closed-minded PREJUDICED 2
closeness: nearness/closeness NEAR 3
closer: get closer/nearer NEAR 8
closet SECRET 8
closing END 3, LAST 1
closing on: be gaining on/be closing on NEAR 9
clot THICK LIQUID 3
cloth MATERIAL 1
clothes CLOTHES 1
[I cloth or clothes?
c.lothss th's0m-n' ,, @- CLOTHES
he':Ci0;;;':%!; .. WEAR CLOTHES
wearing .lghes ... :}  ........ ' ............ ':=
ppt 0 : clothes. ,:::;-::"i:  @ PUT ON
take-o ootnes  "":? ,,',-  TAKE OFF
not wearing any , , .; ...... ..... NAKED
.......... , ...................................... . .... .............
CLOTHES
words meaning clothes
clothes that are worn together as a set
a special set of clothes worn by all the
members of a particular group or profession
such as soldiers, nurses, or police
clothes that are worn for sport
clothes that used to belong to someone else
before they belonged to you
1 words meaning clothes
clothes
clothing
something to wear
piece/article/item of clothing
garment
wardrobe
wear
apparel
clothes/klao6z, klouz/the things that you wear, such as
trousers, shirts, and dresses In plural]
I need to go home to get some clean clothes. [ Since I went on
my diet I've been able to get into clothes that I haven't worn
for ages. [ The new teacher is very peculiar. His clothes make
him look like an eccentric inventor or something.
clothing /'klao6rj/ what people wear, used especially
when you are talking about clothes in general and not
about a particular piece of clothing In U]

CLOTHES 224 CLUMSY
Employers should provide suitable protective clothing for
their workers. I In the poorest countries many people do not
have adequate food, clothing or housing. I heavier, looser
clothing of the type favoured in Arab countries
something to wear Its^mOil] to 'weor/ an informal
expression meaning clothes that you can wear, especially
clothes that are suitable for a particular event or place
[ n phrase]
I must buy something to wear at Julie's wedding. I She said
she's not coming with us because she hasn't got anything to
wear.
piece/article/item of clothing/Ipi:s, Io:rtfll, taitom
v ' klo]J/a single piece of a person's clothing [nphrase]
There were various articles of clothing on the bed. I Mark
each piece of clothing with the child's name. leach item of
clothing had to be washed separately.
garment/g:rmnt/a word used especially by people
who make or sell clothes meaning a single piece of cloth-
ing In C]
The price of each garment depends on the amount of material
in it and the time that it took to make. I Only two garments
may be taken into the changing room. I Monks wear a spe-
cial garment, called a habit.
wardrobe / 'w:rdroob/a word used especially by people
who write about fashion, meaning all the clothes that you
own In singular]
Enter our simple fashion quiz and win a whole new
wardrobe. I Their entire wardrobe seems to consist of jeans,
T-shirts and sneakers. I winter/summer etc wardrobe
(=the clothes you have that are suitable to wear in the
winter, summer etc) By adding a few bright buttons or belts
to your old clothes you can have a new summer wardrobe
for very little outlay.
wear /wer/ evening/casual/sports/children's etc
wear (=a word used especially by people who make or sell
clothes, meaning the clothes worn for a particular occasion
or activity or by a particular group of people) In U]
Every spring new beach wear comes into the shops. I You'll
find a nice range of silk ties in the menswear department on
the fourth floor. I a shop that specializes in evening wear
apparel/ Iperl/women's/men's/ladies' etc apparel
(=an American word used in the clothing business mean-
ing the clothes sold in a particular department of a large
store) In U]
Give me an hour and I'll meet you in Ladies'Apparel. I We'd
like to draw your attention to the sale of men's apparel on
the second floor.
2 clothes that are worn together as a set
outfit
costume
outfit/'aot,fit/clothes that are worn together as a set,
especially when the colours have been carefully chosen so
that they match in C]
Michelle was wearing her new outfit, a smart black and red
coat with shoes to match. I Pop singers sometimes wear the
strangest outfits on stage. I The doll comes with a whole
range of outfits that you can dress her in.
costume/'kmtjom li 'ka:stu:m/a set of clothes typical of
a particular place or historical period, especially those
worn by actors In C/U]
She used to work for a theatre company, designing and
making costumes. I The tourist guides at the castle all wear
medieval costume. I national costume (=the traditional
costume of a country)A group of Hungarian folk dancers
came on stage, all wearing beautiful national costume.
3 a special set of clothes worn by all the
members of a particular group or profession
such as soldiers, nurses, or police
uniform
uniform/'ju:nofa:rm/In C/U]
The uniform consists of a grey jacket and trousers or skirt,
black shoes and a black cap. i The young women all looked
very neat and tidy in their nurses" uniforms. I When I was
a child I used to hate wearing school uniform. I in uniform
(=wearing a uniform) A man in uniform entered the
building.
uniformed [adj only before noun] a uniformed policeman
(=a policeman wearing a uniform)
4 clothes that are worn for sport
kit
uniform
gear
kit/kit! a British word meaning a set of clothes that some-
one wears for sport In Ul
After the game he put his dirty kit into a plastic bag. I She
keeps her squash kit at the office and plays at lunchtime. I
We had to take our gym kit to school that day.
uniform/'ju:nfa:rm/an American word meaning the set
of clothes that a particular team wears in sport In C]
The distinctive uniform of the New York Yankees is white
with a fine blue stripe. I The boys" uniforms were filthy, but
they'd had a good game.
gear/gmr/an informal word meaning the set of clothes
that are worn for a sport or activity In U]
He has spent a lot of money on his new ski-ing gear. I Now
that I've got all the gear, Fm ready to come out riding with
you.
 clothes that used to belong to someone else
before they belonged to you
cast-offs/castoffs
hand-me-downs
cast-offs/castoffs/'ko:st ofs II 'kest a:fs/clothes that
you no longer wear and have given to someone else, espe-
cially someone who cannot afford to buy new clothes In
plural]
The two sisters often wore each other's cqst-offs as they grew
older. I Our mother kept a box of old castoffs and we spent
hours dressing up, pretending to be princesses or pirates.
cast-off/castoff [adj] She felt sorry for us and gave us
presents of cast-off clothes, some of them hardly worn.
hand-me-downs/hend mi: ,daonz/ clothes that are
given to a younger child in a family when their older
brother or sister has grown too big for them or stopped
wearing them In plural]
The youngest child in the family usually gets all the hand-
me-downs. I All my life I had to wear my brother's hand-me-
downs so I spent my first pay cheque on a brand new suit.
hand-me-down [adj only before noun] Diego wore a hand-
me-down jacket, still too big for him.
!!i- clothing CLOTHES 1
::: cloud/confuse the issue CLEAR/EASY TO
!i. U N DE RSTAN D 6
ii clout POWER 1
iX: club HIT 2, ORGANIZATION 4
 clue: have no idea/not have a clue NOT KNOW 1, 4, 7
- clued up KNOW STH 4
i!!! i GROUP THINGS WALK
• - clumsy CLUMSY 
CLUMSY
1 words for describing someone who does
. things in a careless way and often breaks
things or has accidents
2 words for describing someone who moves in
a clumsy and ungraceful way

CLUMSY 225 COLD
1 words for describing someone who does
things in a careless way and often breaks
things or has accidents
clumsy be all thumbs
ham-fisted accident prone
cack-handed klutz
clumsy I'k]^mzil [adj]
That hairdresser is such a clumsy idiot - look where she cut
my neck. I I was so shy and clumsy when I was seventeen. I
"'You've knocked over my glass!'" "'I'm sorry. How clumsy of
me!'" I I've learnt a lot about sailing since my first clumsy
attempts.
clumsily [adv ] Sam took a cigarette, lit it clumsily and sat
down.
clumsiness In U] He apolagized for his clumsiness (=for
being clumsy) and offered to pay for the damage.
ham.flsted ! ,hmm 'fstd-] clumsy with your hands, so
that you find it very difficult to do simple things [adj]
Even the most ham-fisted person could put up one of these
shelves. I My rather ham-fisted attempt to reverse around the
corner was what made me fail my driving test.
cack-handed I,kzek'hzendd,/ an informal British
expression meaning clumsy with your hands, so that you
often damage or break things especially when you are
repairing things [adj]
Don't ask Trevor to fix the light - he's so cack-handed he'll
only cause more trouble! I Then Sheila tried to repair the
watch in that cack-handed way of hers.
be all thumbs/bi: ,3:1 O^mz/to have difficulty doing
something with your fingers, especially because you are
in a hurry or feel nervous Iv phrasel
I just couldn't do up the buttons on my wedding dress. Mum
had to help me in the end - I was all thumbs! [ Jack seems
to be all thumbs when it comes to f/dally things like thread-
ing a needle.
accident.prone / 'inks dant ,przon/so clumsy that you
break things and have accidents more often than most
people [adj phrase]
As a boy I was very accident-prone, so no one would ever let
me carry a tray or wash the dishes. [ Studies have shown
women to be less accident-prone than men.
klutz/kl^ts/an informal American word meaning some-
one who does things in a careless way and often breaks
things or has accidents In C]
Don "t let Sheena set the table with the best china - she's such
a klutz. [ Tom's a real klutz when it comes to baseball; even
if he hit the ball he'd trip on the way to first base.
words for describing someone who moves in
a clumsy and ungraceful way
uncoordinated
awkward
ungainly
uncoordinated /,^nkzu'z:rdneQd/ someone who is
uncoordinated does not control their movements very
skilfully, and so is not usually good at sports or other phys-
ical activities [adj]
I can't play tennis - I'm too uncoordinated. I He's rather
uncoordinated so he looks a bit odd when he's dancing.
awkward/':kwzrd/moving in a way that looks clumsy
and uncomfortable [adj]
I feel so awkward in these high heeled shoes. I Jan/he smiled
as she remembered their first, awkward kiss.
awkwardly [adv ] Penny started to run awkwardly, because
of her injured foot.
ungainly/^n'gemli/moving in a way that looks ungrace-
ful [adj]
We laughed when we saw the bird because it looked so
ungainly with its long legs and tiny body. I Tessa trudged
towards the house with long ungainly strides.
! cluster GROUP OF PEOPLE 1, 12, GROUP OFTHINGS 1
! clutch HOLD 3
 clutter UNTIDY 5
:i! clutter/clutter up UNTIDY 4
 cluttered UNTIDY 1
--
 co-star ACTOR/ACTRESS 5, 6
!i co-worker WORKER 4
;: coach TEACH 1 5
": coarse ROUGH/NOT SMOOTH 1 RUDE/OBSCENE 3
:i!: coat COVER 1
- coated COVER 3
il;i coating COVER 6
 coax PERSUADE 2
 cobble together MAKE 2
.:: cock and bull story UNTRUE 3
,:
: cocktail party PARTY 1
;,:ii cocky CONFIDENT 3
i; code RULE/REGULATION 1
 code name NAME OF A THING 1
;i: coed SEX/GENDER 2
; coerce FORCE SB TO DO STH 1
!,:;i cohabit LIVE WITH SB 2
iii coherent LOGICAL 2, UNDERSTAND 10
i.
' coin INVENT 1
coincide SAME 7, TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 3
i coincidence CHANCE/BY CHANCE 4
 coincidence: by coincidence CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
: cold COLD 1,2, 3, 9, EMOTIONAL 6, UNFRIENDLY 1
cold: be/feel/look cold COLD 6
cold: feel the cold COLD 6
i!, cold: feel the heat/cold FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 4
i cold: get cold/colder COLD 7
i-i cold: ice-cold COLD 9
i; cold: leave sb cold INTERESTED 7
co,  : t.e co,
cold: turn cold/colder COLD 7
cold-blooded CRUEL 2
cold feet: get cold feet BRAVE 7
cold shoulder: give sb the cold shoulder
UNFRIENDLY 1
cold snap COLD 3
cold spell COLD 3
cold water: pour cold water on SPOIL 2
COLD
words for describing something such as an
object, liquid, or surface that is cold
words for describing a cold place, room, or
building
words for describing cold weather
words for describing pleasantly cold weather
words for describing extremely cold weather
ways of saying that someone is, feels, or
looks cold
to become cold or colder
to make food and drink cold, for example in
order to preserve it
words for describing food and drinks that
have been made or kept cold
1 words for describing something such as an
object, liquid, or surface that is cold
cold
cool
cold/kold/having a low temperature [adj]
I washed my face in cold water. [ There were no beds so we
had to sleep on the cold stone floor. I The car won't start when
the engine's cold. I feel cold (=be cold to touch) He took her
hand. It felt as cold as he. I stone cold (=very cold) Feel this
radiator - it's stone cold.

COLD 226 COLD
cool/ku:l/pleasantly cold but not very cold [adj]
We bathed our feet in a mountain stream. The water was cool
and refreshing. [ I slid into bed between cool white sheets.
2 words for describing a cold place, room, or
building
cold draughty/drafty
cool freezing
chilly
cold/kold/[adj]
This room's very cold - why don't you put the heater on? I
We spent hours waiting around on a cold station platform. I
The Antarctic in winter is the coldest place on earth. I feel
cold (=makes you feel cold) The office always feels cold first
thing on a Monday morning.
cool/ku:l/pleasantly cold but not very cold [adj]
It's much cooler over here in the shade. I Medicines should
always be stored in a cool place.
chilly/'tli/a little too cold and making you feel uncom-
fortable [adj]
I think the room's starting to get a little chilly - could you
close the window? I feel chilly (=makes you feel chilly) It
feels quite chilly indoors after being out in the hot sun.
draughty (British) I drafty (American)/'dra:fli II 'dref-/
a room or building that is draughty or drafty is cold
because cold air is blowing into it from outside [adj]
We had our lessons in a draughty classroom in the old school
building. I Her apartment's fine in summer, but in winter
it's very drafty.
freezing /  fri:zrj/an informal word: a room or building
that is freezing is extremely cold [adj]
"'It's freezing in here!'" Lisa exclaimed, as she entered the
bedroom. I No wonder I'm cold! I've been standing in a freez-
ing phone booth for the last twenty minutes.
3 words for describing cold weather
cold frosty
the cold wintry
chilly cold spell
nippy cold snap
cold/kold/[adj]
lt's so cold, I can't believe it's the middle of spring. I There's
something about very cold weather that gives you an enorm-
ous appetite. I We set out on a cold January evening.
coldness [n U] I remember the coldness of that north-east
wind blowing across the plain.
the cold Iz IkztJld/an expression meaning cold weather,
used when talking about being outside in the cold weather
[n U]
Come in. Don't stand out there in the cold. I Here in the valley
the people are sheltered from the worst of the cold.
chilly/ tli/cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable
[ adj ]
It was a grey, chilly day in early spring I turn chilly
(=become chilly) You'd better take a coat in case it turns
chilly later on.
nippy /  nipi/an informal word meaning a little cold [adj]
I'm going indoors. It's a little nippy out here. [ a sudden
change from nippy April weather to blazing sunshine
frosly/'frosti II fm:sti! very cold and clear, especially so
that the ground is frozen, although it is not snowing [adj]
It was a frosty autumn morning with spiders" webs glisten-
ing in the frozen grass. [ I like the clearness you get on frosty
days and the sharp bite in the air.
wint// wintri! cold and snowy or rainy, like the weather
you usually have in winter [adjl
We can expect a few wintry showers on the northern hills. I
It's starting to look a bit wintry out there -you'd better take
your overcoat.
cold spell / kld  spel/a period of several days or weeks
when the weather is much colder than usual [n C]
There was a cold spell at the end of last year and hundreds
of old people died. I During cold spells our water pipes
always freeze up.
cold snap/'koold ,snep/a sudden short period of very
cold weather In CI
It was a wintry day in April, in the middle of an unexpected
cold snap. I A cold snap was on, the temperature registering
15 below zero.
4 words for describing pleasantly cold weather
cool crisp
fresh bracing
cool/ku:l/pleasantly cold, especially after it has been too
hot [adj]
The day was delightfully cool after the blazing heat of the
past week. I A cool breeze blew in from the sea. I The animals
come out in the cool hours of the evening.
coolness In U] I shivered in the coolness of the night air.
fresh/fre/pleasantly cold and windy [adj]
We walked towards the sea with afresh breeze blowing in
our faces. I The hot weather will continue today, but tomor-
row will be fresher with cool, westerly winds.
crisp Ikrspl pleasantly cold, dry, and clear [adjl
I love to be out of doors on these bright, crisp Autumn morn-
ings. I The day was cold and crisp, and yesterday's snow
sparkled on the ground.
bracing /breslrj/ cold, fresh and clear in a way that
makes you feel healthy and cheerful [adjl
Many people visit Brighton because the sea air is so bracing. I
In the cool, bracing climate of the mountains she felt wonder-
fully refreshed.
5 words for describing extremely cold weather
freezing/ arctic
freezing cold subzero temperatures
bitterly cold/bitter
freezing/freezing cold I'fri:zrj, ,fri:zirj 'kold-/
extremely cold [adj]
In the desert, the days are as hot as hell, but the nights are
freezing. I A freezing cold wind whipped along the deserted
streets. I a long freezing winter
bitterly cold/bitter/bltrli ktJld-, btr/extremely
cold and unpleasant [adj]
Don't go out tonight. It's bitterly cold. I We arrived in
Chicago during the bitterly cold winter of 1935. I a bitter east
wind
arctic/' a:rktk/arctic conditions/winds (=extremely
cold, usually with ice and snow) [adj only before noun]
I wouldn't take the car out in these arctic conditions. I The
school was set in a flat high place where arctic winds cut you
to the bone in winter.
subzero temperatures !,s^bzrzu 'temprtJrz II
-zi:mo-/ temperatures that are very cold and below the
point at which water freezes [n plural]
Subzero temperatures can be expected for the next few days. I
Thousands of Kurdish refugees are spending tonight on a
mountainside in subzero temperatures.
6 ways of saying that someone is, feels, or
looks cold
be/feel/look cold
freezing/frozen
feel the cold
shiver
be blue with cold
goose pimples/
goosebumps
sb's teeth are
chattering
be/feel/look cold Ibi:, ,fi:l, ,luk 'kold/Iv phrase]
Aren't you cold, standing out there without a coat on? [ One
elderly patient kept complaining that his feet were cold. I Tell
me if you feel cold, and I'll turn the heating up.
freezing/frozen /fri:zlrj, Ifrozn/an informal word
meaning very cold [adj not before noun]
You may be nice and warm, but I'm bloody freezing. I He's

COLD 22"/ COLLECT
only got shorts on - he must be frozen. I You look absolutely
frozen.
feel the cold /tfi:l 6 'koldl to feel cold easily [vphrase]
Make sure her room's warm enough - you know how she
feels the cold. I ! never wear a sweater. I don't seem to feel
the cold as much as other people.
shiver /flVr/to shake or tremble a little because you are
cold Iv I]
I'm so cold, I can't stop shivering. I When they pulled him
out of the sea, he was shivering with cold.
shiver |n C] A shiver of cold ran through him (=his whole
body shivered because he was cold) when he stepped outside.
be blue with cold/bi: ,blu: wi6 t kaold/to be so cold that
your skin turns slightly blue Iv phrase]
He was huddled into his coat, his face blue with cold. I Look
at her. The poor girl's quite blue with cold.
goose pimples (British) I goosebumps (American)
/gu:s plmpalz, gu:sb^mps/the small lumps that you get
on your skin when you are cold [n plural]
She was shivering, her arms and legs covered in goose pim-
pies. [ I was wearing bermuda shorts and the wind raised
goose bumps on my legs.
sb's teeth are chattering/(sb's) ,ti:O o: r 'tJ'etrIO/if
your teeth are chattering you are so cold that your teeth
keep knocking together and you cannot stop them
Her teeth were chattering with cold. i They stamped around
in the frozen yard, their teeth chattering.
7 to become cold or colder
get cold/colder cool down
turn cold/colder cool
drop/fall
get cold/colder/get 'kold, 'kaoldr/[v phrase]
The weather usually begins to get colder around the middle
of October. I It's getting really cold. I reckon we're in for some
snow. [ Charlotte, come and eat your dinner or it 7l get cold.
turn cold/colder I t3: rn 'kold, 'kaoldar/if the weather
or the wind turns cold, it becomes much colder, usually
suddenly Iv phrase]
Get in a good supply of fuel before the weather turns cold.I
The wind's turned a lot colder since it moved round to the
north.
drop/fall/drop, f:l II dra:p-/if the temperature drops or
falls it becomes colder, often much colder in a short period
of time Iv I]
As autumn progresses, the temperature begins to fall. [ For-
tunately the temperature never dropped low enough for the
water to freeze. [ drop 10/20/30 ete degrees The tempera-
ture dropped 10 degrees during the night.
cool down /,ku:l 'daon/ if something cools down, it
becomes colder, usually after being very hot [phr v I]
It's 100 degrees in India all through the summer, but it begins
to cool down a little in September. [ If the engine overheats,
switch it off and do not start it again until it has cooled down.
cool/ku:l/if hot food or some other hot substance cools,
it becomes colder Iv I]
She took the cake out of the oven and left it on the kitchen
table to cool. I Most liquids contract steadily as they cool.
 to make food and drink cold, for example in
order to preserve it
cool refrigerate
chill freeze
cool/ku:l/to make food cold when it has been hot or warm
Iv T1
One way of cooling the sauce quickly is to place the pan in
a bowl of cold water. [ Stir the jam to cool it beforeputting
it into jars.
chill/tiI/to make something, especially food or drink,
very cold, without freezing it Iv T]
Chill the soup in the fridge for an hour before serving. [ White
wine always tastes better if it's been chilled a little.
refrigerate /r'frId3ret/ to put food or drink in a
refrigerator in order to keep it cold and fresh Iv T]
Always refrigerate canned food after you have opened it so
that it doesn't spoil. [ Poultry, fish and seafood should be kept
refrigerated.
freeze/fri:z/to make something extremely cold so that
it freezes, in order to preserve it for a long time Iv T]
He froze the vegetables in the freezer compartment of his
fridge. [ This dish is suitable for freezing.
frozen/'ffoozan/ [adj usually before noun] She bought a
package of frozen peas (=peas that had been frozen).
9 words for describing food and drinks that
have been made or kept cold
cold chilled
cool ice-cold
cold Ikold/[adj]
This is a delicious white wine that should be served very
cold. I There's nothing like a glass of really cold beer on a hot
summer's day.
cool Iku:l! pleasantly cold to eat or drink but not very cold
[adj]
It was a hot day, and I was looking forward to a long, cool
drink. I Summer is the time for cool, refreshing salads.
chilled/tild/food and drinks that are chilled have been
made very cold, especially by putting them on ice [adj]
Waiters carried trays of chilled champagne. I For a pleasant
summer dessert, serve chilled yoghurt with fruit.
ice-cold/,as kold-/ice-cold drinks have been made
extremely cold so that they are pleasant to drink, when you
are very hot [adj]
The kids were rewarded with ice-cold lemonade.
collaborate BETRAY 1, TOGETHER 3
collaboration: in collaboration with WITH 3
collaborative TOGETHER 7
collaborator BETRAY 5
collapse FALL 2, 10, UNCONSCIOUS 2
colleague WORKER 4
collect COLLECT 1, CROWD 3, GET 8, INCREASF IN
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5, MEET 4,
TAKE/BRING 3
collect: call collect TELEPHONE 2
COLLECT
to et and keep objects because you think
they are attractive or interesting
1 to collect things
2: someone who collects things
3 things that have been collected
1 to collect things
collect
acquire
collect/k'lekt/Iv T]
Nigel's hobby is collecting rare books. I Anyone who collects
jazz records should buy this book - it's full of information
on old recordings.
acquire/a'kwalar/to buy or get something, especially
something rare or expensive, in order to add it to a collec-
tion Iv T]
The Museum has acquired a small collection of paintings by
Dali. I He went to great lengths and spent an enormous sum
of money to acquire this very rare coin for his collection.
someone who collects things
collector

COLLECT 228 COLOUR/COLOR
collector/ka'lektar/[n C[
The gallery was full of artists, art collectors and dealers. I
She is an authority on, and a collector of, Dutch porcelain.
3 things that have been collected
collection
set
collection/k'lek.an/a group of things that a person or
organization has collected because they are attractive or
interesting In C]
After lunch I'll show you my stamp collection. I collection
of On the sideboard was his mother's collection of crystal
vases. I The museum has one of the biggest collections of
moths and butterflies in the country.
set/set/a complete collection of one type of object, espe-
cially a collection that has been gradually built up over a
long time In C[
I've been collecting American League baseball cards. I just
need one more now to complete the set. I set of My brother
has a complete set of Film Annuals from 1927 to 1963.
collection COLLECT 3, GROUP OF PEOPLE 3, GROUP
OF THINGS 1
collection: have a collection GIVE 14
collective EVERYONE 5, TOGETHER 7
collectively TOGETHER 2, 9
collector COLLECT 2
collide HIT/BUMP iNTO 3
collision ACCIDENT 2
collision: be in collision with HIT/BUMP INTO 2
colloquial LANGUAGE 1
collusion: in collusion with WITH 4
colony COUNTRY/NATION 2
colossal BIG 2, 8
colour/color COLOUR/COLOR 1, 6, 8,
EFFECT/INFLUENCE 4, RACE 1
colour: be an orange/brownish etc colour
COLOUR/COLOR 2
colour: in colour/in color COLOUR/COLOR 6
COLOURICOLOR
1 a colour
2 to be a particular colour
3 words for describing dark colours
4 words for describing light colours
5 brightly coloured or having a lot of different
colours
6 words for describing a photograph, film etc
that is produced in colour
7 words for describing something that has no
colour or is black and white
8 to change the colour of something
9 to lose colour, for example by being washed
or left in the sun
1 a colour
colourlcolor hue
shade colouring/coloring
tint
colour (British) I color (American) ['kA|;)r[ [n C/U]
Why don't you paint it yellow? That's a nice bright color. [
Look carefully at the rear door. It's not quite the same colour
as the rest of the car. [ What colour do you want? Choose any
one you like. [ The chameleon is one of the few reptiles which
changes colour.
shade [eIdl a particular type of one colour, especially
when compared with other types of the same colour that
are lighter, darker etc In C1
shade of blue/green etc Valerie's eyes are a beautiful
shade of blue. I In the fall, the woods are full of countless
shades of brown, yellow and orange. [ shade When buying
make-up, choose the right shade to match your skin. [ The
haze turned the wild summer colours into pastel shades.
tint/tint/a small amount of a particular colour in some-
thing that is mostly another colour In C[
The sun shining on her head gave her hair an attractive red
tint. [ The glass had a bluish tint to it, like ice. [ It was
October, and the leaves had begun to take on their warm
autumn tints.
hue [hju:! a word used especially in literature meaning a
colour or a shade of a colour In C[
The Prince wore majestic robes of a rich purple hue.
colouring (British) I coloring (American)/'kAlr8! the
colour of something, especially of someone's hair, eyes, and
skin In UI
This lipstick is perfect for your coloring. I People with very
light colouring need to protect themselves from the sun as
they burn easily. I The shape and pale green coloring of the
young foliage makes it ideal for flower arrangements.
2 to be a particular colour
be red/green etc coloured/colored
be an orange/brownish tinted
etc colour
be red/green etc/hi: (red, etc)[ Iv phrase]
The Japanese flag is white with a red sun on it. [ Frogs are
green, toads are brown. That's how you tell the difference. [
"'What colour is your car?" "It's black. ""
be an orange/brownish etc colour/hi: an (orange,
etc) kAlar[ to be a colour that is difficult to describe exactly
but is similar to orange, brown etc Iv phrase]
"'What colour is it? .... Well, I don't know .... It's a sort of a
yellowish-brown colour, I suppose." I Nectarines are an
orangey-red colour and look something like peaches. I Her
wedding dress was a delicate ivory colour.
coloured (British) I colored (American)/'kAlard/having
one or more colours and not black or white [adj usually
before noun[
The front door was painted blue and had a coloured glass
panel in it. I You can make Christmas decorations from
almost anything - beads, colored ribbons, sea shells - any-
thing. I brightly coloured The cages were full of brightly-
coloured tropical birds.
tinted [ 'unQd/glass that is tinted has a slight colour, so
that people cannot see through it, so that light does not
shine too brightly through it, or just for decoration [adj]
The President arrived in a black Mercedes limousine, with
dark tinted windows. I She wore a pair of disgusting pink-
tinted glasses.
 words for describing dark colours
dark
deep
rich
dark Ido:rk/[adj]
She has beautiful dark brown eyes. I If you're going to have
such dark walls I really think you should have a pale carpet. I
"'What do you think of this blouse?" "'It's a bit dark - navy
doesn't really suit you. ""
deep/di:p/deep colours, especially blue, red, or purple,
are strong, dark, and often very attractive [adj usually
before noun[
I'm looking for a deeper shade of purple to paint the
bedroom. I deep blue/red/purple etc She looked into his
eyes. They were deep blue. I In the lounge hung long curtains
of luxurious deep red velvet.
rich/rq/dark and giving a pleasant feeling of comfort and
warmth [adj]
I admired the warm, rich colors of her Persian rugs. I The
horse was splendid to look at, big, strong and well-muscled,
with a rich chestnut coat.

COL OU R/COL OR 229 COL OUR/COL O R
4, words for describing light colours
light pastel
pale faded
light [lait/[adj]
light blue/green/orange etc This is a nice jacket and we
also do it in a light green. I light They both have brown hair,
but Tina's is slightly lighter than Jan's.
pa|e/peil! very light in colour [adj]
pale pink/green/blue etc Her dress is pale pink, with a
smalljlowery pattern. I The old man's pale blue eyes moved
from the dartboard to the bar and then back again. I pale
There were dark rings under her eyes and her skin was pale,
because she had slept badly for several nights.
pa$1el/'pastl II Pe stel/pastel colours, especially pink,
yellow, green or blue, are very light and not at all bright
[adj only before noun]
Before the baby was born Jenny bought some pretty, pastel
baby clothes. I Mrs Singh preferred sarees in pastel colours,
such as salmon pink. I The dawn light, all pastel misty blue
and translucent, filtered through the trees.
pastels [n plural] White, cream, and pastels (=pastel
colours) suit me better than dark colours.
|aded I'feidd! if an object is faded, it is a lighter colour
than before because of being changed by the sun, washing,
or age [adj]
The woman wore a faded blue dress and old brown sandals. I
Joe dropped a faded newspaper picture on Woodward's desk.
brightly coloured or having a lot of different
colours
colourful/colorful gaudy
multicoloured/multicolored garish
colourful (British) I colorful (American)/'kAlOrfl/[adj]
The garden was full of colourful and fascinating flowers. I
You're looking very colourful today. I really like that dress. I
We came to a square, with colorful market stalls displaying
fruit and vegetables, toys, flowers and many other things.
multicoloured (British) I multicolored (American)
! m^lti kAlard/having several different colours, especially
bright colours [adj usually before noun]
A giant multicolouredflag waved in the midday sun. I A
group of African women sat around talking, their multi-
coloured dresses radiant against their dark brown skins.
gaudy /'g:di/something that is gaudy has too many
different colours or is too brightly coloured, with the result
that it looks cheap and in bad taste [adj]
There was nothing left in the room except a gaudy plastic
parrot which some friends had left after the party. I She
smelled of cheap perfume and wore gaudy clothing and fake
costume jewellery.
garish/gerJ'/ too brightly coloured in a way that is
unpleasant to look at [adj]
The rugs are still produced, but they are a little too garish
for western tastes. I The town was full of tourists wearing
shorts and garish T shirts.
6 words for describing a photograph, film etc
that is produced in colour
colour/color
in colour/in color
colour (British) I color (American)/'knlar/colour tele-
vision/photograph etc (=one that produces or shows a
picture in colours, not just black, grey, and white) [adj only
before noun]
You need a colour television to fully appreciate nature
programmes. I The outstanding feature of this book is its 45
full-page color photographs. I Does your new computer have
a colour monitor?
in colour (British) I in color (American)/In 'kAlar/if a
television programme, film, or picture is in colour, it is
produced in colour, not just black, grey, and white [adj/
adv]
"Is it a black and white movie? .... No, it's in colour. "'1 All
the illustrations in the latest edition of the book are in color. I
These 3-D movies are best seen in colour.
1 words for describing something that has no
colour or is black and white
colourless/colorless in black and white
black and white monochrome
colourless (British) I colorless (American) I'kAlarlas/
having no colour [adj]
Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very characteristic pun-
gent odour. I The bottle contained an oily, colourless liquid.
black and white/,blek an 'wait-/black and white
television/photograph/film (=one that has a black,
white, and grey picture) [adj phrase usually before noun]
Black and white TV sets are now very cheap to buy. I I love
the old black-and-white movies. [ The gallery is showing an
exhibition of black and white photos by Nigerian born Paul
Coher.
in black and white/in ,blek an waiq if a television
programme or film is in black and white, it has been
made using only black, white and grey [adj/adv]
"'Is the film "Casablanca" in colour? .... No, it's in black and
white. "" [ I hate watching theses scifi movies in black and
white, the special effects aren't as good.
monochrome/'monakraom [[ 'm:-/a technical word
meaning having no colour only black, grey, and white or
producing pictures or writing that is not in colour [adj]
A word-processor with a monochrome display is cheaper
than a colour one.
8 to change the colour of something
colour/color
dye
discolour/discolor
colour (British) I color (American) I'lari to put colour
into something [v T]
colour/color sth Last time I tried to colour my hair it
turned red/I Marigold petals were once used for colouring
butter and cheese. I colour/color sth in (=colour inside the
lines of a picture) Josie sat at the table coloring in her pic-
ture while her father made the dinner. I colour sth gold/
green/red etc The evening sun coloured the fields and trees
a golden yellow.
dye Idall to change the colour of material, hair, food etc
using a special liquid Iv T]
I'm bored with this skirt. I'm going to dye it. I Wool and silk
are the materials that are easiest to dye. I She's dyed her hair
blonde - it looks so unnatural.
dyed [adj] The Zulu boy wore a headdress of dyed ostrich
feathers.
discolour (British) I discolor (American)/dlsk^lar/if
something such as dirt, chemicals, or sunlight discolours
something, it causes it to change colour, especially with the
result that it looks unpleasant Iv T]
Do not leave expensive cushions near bright windows, the
sun could easily discolour them. I Pollution from the local
factory was discoloring the water in the river.
discoloured [adj] Fred smiled, showing his large dis-
coloured teeth.
9 to lose colour, for example by being washed
or left in the sun
fade
lose its colour/Iose its color
run
fade Ife]d/to lose colour because of sunlight, washing, or
age Iv I]
Over the years the green paint had faded. I Your natural hair
colour begins to fade as you grow older, and eventually you
go grey.
faded [adj] The curtains that were at one time bright and
cheerful were now faded and torn.

COLOUR/COLOR 230 COME FROM/ORIGINATE
lose its colour (British) I lose its color (American)
/ lu:z =ts  kAlar/if a material or object loses its colour, the
colour comes out of it, especially as a result of washing or
sunlight [v phrase]
Will this shirt loses its colour if you wash it? I The armchair
has lost its colour from standing by the window.
run I r^nl if the colours run on an article of clothing when
you wash it, some of the colour is lost from one part of it
and goes onto another part of it because the water is too
hot [v I]
I was so disappointed when I took myfavourite -shirt out
of the washing machine and found the colors had run.
coloured/colored COLOUR/COLOR 2
colourful/colorful COLOUR/COLOR 5, INTERESTING 4, 6
colouring/coloring COLOUR/COLOR 1
colourless/colorless COLOUR/COLOR 7
column LINE 7, 8
coma: be/lie in a coma UNCONSCIOUS 1
comatose UNCONSCIOUS 1
comb LOOK FOR 4
combat FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 2
MIX 4, 8
combination
combination: in combination TOGETHER 8
combine MIX 1, 2, 3, 6, 7,,UNITE 1
combined MIX 9, TOGETHER 7
combined with WITH 7
combustible BURN 9
come ARRIVE 2, GO 1, GO TO/ATTEND 1
come: to come FUTURE 4
come about HAPPEN 1
come across FIND 7
come across well/come over well IMPRESS 1
come across as SEEM 1
come after AFTER 5, 9
ARRIVE 4, BABY/HAVE A BABY 4, GO TO/
come
along
ATTEND 1, WITH 2
come along/come on PROGRESS 1
come apart: fall apart/come apart BREAK 10
come around CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
come around: come round/come around
CONSCIOUS 2
come away BREAK 10
come back REMEMBER 2, RETURN 1
come before BEFORE 10, 11
come between ARGUE 9
come by GET 6, VISIT 2
come clean ADMIT 5
come down DOWN 7, FALL 6
come down: go down/come down LESS 5
come down hard on STRICT 3
come down on PUNISH 1
come down to REACH 1
come down to: boil down to/come down to
MEANING 9
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
come
down with GET 15
for: call for/come for MEET 4
forward OFFER 3
from COME FROM/ORIGINATE 6, 7
from/be from COME FROM/ORIGINATE 1, 3, 5
in ARRIVE 3, ENTER 1,2, FASHIONABLE 3, GET 5
into: doesn't come into it/doesn't enter into it
CONNECTED WITH 9
into being/existence START TO HAPPEN, EXIST
ETC 2
into effect/operation START TO HAPPEN, EXIST
ETC 3
of RESULT 8
off BREAK 10, STOP DOING STH 5, SUCCEED IN
DOING STH 3
off: not come off FAIL 3
off it BELIEVE 16
on HURRY 2, SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
on in ENTER 2
out APPEAR 1, FIND OUT 4, POUR 2, WASH 9
out of RESULT 8
out of your shell/come out of yourself SHY 3
out on strike STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 1
out on top WIN2
out with SAY 4
over JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 4
over/round VISIT 1
over: come across well/come over well
IMPRESS 1
over all FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 1
round: come around/round CHANGE YOUR
MIND 2, CONSCIOUS 2
through SURVIVE 3, 4
to ARRIVE 5, CONSCIOUS 2, IDEA 3, TOTAL 3
to: come/grow/get to START DOING STH 13
to: it comes to HAPPEN 1
to grief FAIL 3
to rest STOP MOVING 2
to the rescue SAVE/RESCUE 2, 5
up HAPPEN 2, UP 9
up against PROBLEM 8
up to GOOD ENOUGH 2, REACH 1, TOWARDS 3
up with INVENT 1
what may NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC 1
with INCLUDE 3, WITH 2, 6
COME FROM/
ORIGINATE
to have something or somewhere as a starting
point or place
 ways of saying that someone comes from a
particular place, town, country etc
= the place that you come from
3 to come from a particular type of family or
social group
4 the particular type of family or social group
that you come from
• to be grown or made in a particular place,
town, country etc
6 ways of saying that a sound, smell, smoke etc
comes from somewhere
7 ways of saying that something such as an
idea, custom, problem, or organization has
developed from something that existed at an
earlier time
8 to have a particular idea, belief, etc as the
most important point from which something
develops
8 the place, situation etc that something comes
from or develops from

COME FROM/ORIGINATE 231 COME FROM/ORIGINATE
ways of saying that someone comes from a
particular place, town, country etc
come from/be from
be a native of
be American/French/Japanese etc by birth
be of French/Italian/Russian etc extraction
be of Scottish/Russian etc ancestry
come from/be from I'k^m from, hi: 'from/[v T not in
progressive or passive]
She came from a small town in Nebraska. I "'Where are you
from?" "'I'm from Paris, France. "'1 While we were on vaca-
tion we visited the Ukraine - that's where the Cossacks come
from.
be a native of Ibi:  'neitiv ovl be a native of Tokyo/
London/Wales etc (=to have been born n and to have
spent the early part of your life in that place) Iv phrase]
Hughes, who is a native Of Belfast, often uses the city as a set-
tingfor his novels. I He was a native of Jacksonville, Florida,
where he was born in 1869.
be American/French/Japanese etc by birth/hi:
(American, etc) ba 'ba:r0/to have been born in a particu-
lar country or to be a citizen of that country because your
parents come from there, especially when you now live
somewhere else Iv phrase]
She's lived in Australia for a long time, but she's Irish by
birth. I My parents are both Indian by birth, but they have
American citizenship.
be of French/italian/Russlan etc extraction/hi:
av (French, etc) ik'strekj'an/a formal expression meaning
to be from a French, Italian etc family, even though you
were not born there Iv phrase]
He married an American girl of French extraction. I Wealthy
families here employ domestic servants, mainly of Mexican
extraction.
be of Scottish/Russian etc ancestry/hi: ov (Scot-
fish, etc) ensestri/ if you are of Scottish/Russian etc
ancestry, relatives of yours that are now dead came from
that country a long time ago Iv phrase]
Many Americans are of Polish ancestry. I Her fine features
suggested she was of Arabic or Indian ancestry.
2 the place that you come from
home town place of birth
birthplace home
home town I,hvm 'tavnl the town where you live now,
where you were born, or where you spent most of your
early life In C]
She hated her home town so much she would never admit
where she was from. [ There had been so many changes in
the place, people often felt like strangers in their own home
town.
birthplace / b3:rOple;s/the place where someone, espe-
cially someone famous, was born In C]
We visited the birthplace of Lenin in Ulyanovsk. [ The people
of Stratford have made a lot of money from living in
Shakespeare's birthplace.
place of birth / Iple;s v b3:ro/an expression used espe-
cially in official documents meaning the place where you
were born In phrase]
Forms usually ask you your name, address, nationality and
place of birth. [ Where it says "Place of Birth" write the town
you come from, not the country.
home/hom/the place where you usually live or the place
that you come from, especially when that is the place where
you feel you belong and where you would most like to live
In C]
I've lived in California for years, but I've never really consi-
dered it to be my home. I Her home, she said, was in Southern
China, but she hadn't been there since she was a child.
3 to come from a particular type of family or
social group
come from/be from
be descended from
come from/be from I'kAm from, bi: 'from/[v T not in
progressive or passive]
Most of the people here come from very poor families. I His
wife came from the New Jersey bourgeoisie. I He's from a very
upper class background.
be descended from Ibi: dlsendd from/ if you are
descended from someone or a group of people who lived
a long time ago, you are related to them, especially some-
one powerful, rich or famous Iv phrase]
She always claimed her family was descended from the -
ancient Kings of Egypt. I The Japanese are thought to be
descended from tribes from the north of China.
4 the particular type of family or social group
that you come from
background
origins
background I'bmkgraondl In C]
How quickly kids learn to read will often depend on both
their ability and their backgrounds. I Sylvie had always
expected that she would marry someone of a similar back-
ground to herself. I working class/east side/Jewish etc
background Nearly all top judges are from wealthy back-
grounds.
origins/'orIod3nz II ,a:-, '0:4 the social position that you
were born into and in which you spent the early part of
your life, for example who your parents were, whether they
were rich or poor etc In plural]
Miller questioned her closely, about her present job, her
family, her origins. I Politicians always talk about their
humble origins - it wins them votes.
 to be grown or made in a particular place,
town, country etc
come from/be from
come from/be from I'kAm from, bi: 'from/Iv T not in
progressive or passive]
The oranges? They come from California. I Her most strik-
ing clothes are those that come from Italy. I All the medical
equipment here is from the USA.
6 ways of saying that a sound, smell, smoke etc
comes from somewhere
come from
emanate from
source
come from/ khm from/ Iv T not in passive]
Coming from outside in the street was the sound of children
playing. I There was an awful smell coming from one of the
refuse sacks. I Fortunately, the wind is coming from the west.
emanate from I emneit from/a word used in a formal
context or in literature meaning to come from Iv T not in
passive]
Delicious smells emanated from the kitchen. I A dim orange
light emanated from an open window.
source lea:re/the place that a sound, a smell, smoke, gas
etc comes from In C]
The sound came from an unknown source, far away in the
distance. I In the case of an electric shock, turn the power off
at its source. I The tank's losing water, but we can't find the
source of the leak.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

COME FROM/ORIGINATE 232 comfort
7
ways of saying that something such as an
idea, custom, problem, or organization has
developed from something that existed at an
earlier time
come from
originate
go back to
have its origins in
have its roots in
derive from/
be derived from
grow out of
develop from
evolve from
come from / km from/[v T not in progressive orpassive]
All his political ideas come from the newspaper he reads. I
The name "terrier' comes from the Latin word "terra" mean-
ing the earth. I Their main problem comes from the fact that
drinking water-is very scarce in the area.
originate/rid3nc:t/to have developed in a particular
place or from a particular situation Iv I not in progressive]
No one really knows how the solar system originated. I
originate in Most people's psychological problems originate
in their early relationship with their parents. I The concept
of 'zero' originated in India.
go back to/go bak tu:/to have developed from some-
thing that happened or existed a long time ago [v T not in
progressive or passive]
Many phrases in the language go back to early religious
writings. [ Jo just refuses to get into a car - it all goes back
to when she had that accident.
have its origins in/hav its 'ordsmz in [[ -':r-/if some-
thing has its origins in something that existed in the past,
that is where it comes from and is the reason for it being
as it is Iv phrase not in progressive]
Modern medicine often has its origins in ancient ways of
doing things. [ Many of our religious festivals have their
origins in early pagan traditions.
have its roots in/hmv ItS 'ru:ts In/if something such
as a belief or attitude has its roots in conditions that
existed earlier, it developed from them and is still
influenced by them Iv phrase not in progressive]
Economic policy in the US has its roots in the free market
system. [ Modern fairy stories have their roots in ancient
myths and folklore.
derive from/be derived from/dl'raIv from, bi: dI-
'raivd from/to have developed from something else, espe-
cially by a long or complicated process Iv T not in
progressive]
Much of the English language is derived from Latin and
Greek. [ Some children are allergic to milk and to products
derived from milk, such as cheese. [ Laws to restrict work-
ing hours derive from 19th century attempts to protect women
and child workers.
grow out of I,gmu aut ovl to develop from something
small or simple by becoming bigger or more complicated
Iv T not in progressive or passive]
Socialist ideals grew out of an earlier idea that all men are
created equal. [ The skill of writing grew out of a wish to put
speech into a permanent form.
develop from/di 'velap from/to come from an original
idea or form and change into something bigger, more
important, or more advanced Iv T[
The whole basis of her novel developed from a chance meet-
ing she had with an old friend. [ Within years, the site
developed from an area of waste ground into a thriving farm.
evolve from ]i volv from [[ i'vo:lv-/to gradually change
from an original form into something else, especially into
something better [v T not in passive]
The idea for the book evolved from some notes the author
jotted down while he was on vacation. [ Modern rock music
evolved from American Rhythm and Blues music.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
 to have a particular idea, belief, etc as the
most important point from which something
develops
be based on
be the basis of
be founded on
be based on Ibi: 'beist on/[v phrase]
Republican policy is based on the idea that people should
compete with each other. I The film is based on a popular
Bengali novel. I Your test questions will be based on the work
you have done in the past year.
be the basis of/bi: 6 'beIss ov/if an idea, plan etc is
the basis of another idea, plan etc, it is the original that
the other one is based on Iv phrase]
The idea that everyone is entitled to a decent schooling is the
basis of the government's policy on education. [ This legend
is the basis of many modern stories. [ We have made commit-
ment to the customer the basis of our new policy. [ on the
basis of On the basis of new information, police have
arrested a man at JFK Airport.
be founded on Ibi: 'faundd on/to have one main idea,
belief etc that something else develops from Iv phrase]
His view of society is founded on the belief that women are
inferior. [ The constitution in this country is not written. It's
founded on tradition and precedent. [ White resistance to
Civil Rights was founded on age-old fears of democracy.
9 the place, situation etc that something comes
from or develops from
origin birthplace
source starting point
cradle root
origin I'ordsn II ,a:-I the beginning of and the
reason for something's existence In C[
A team of top scientists are working to establish the origin
of the moon. [ The rumour is now so widespread, it's difficult
to be certain of its origin. [ a book that tries to explain the
origin of words and phrases
source/sa:rs/the point or place from which something
starts or comes In C[
They get their money from various sources. [ source of sth
Beans and lentils are a very good source of protein. [ Journal-
ists will usually refuse to reveal the source of their informa-
tion.
cradie / 'kreldl/ cradle of democracy/civilization/
human society etc (=the place or situation in which these
things first started) In C usually singular]
Ancient Athens is generally thought of as the cradle of
democracy. [ the African continent, cradle of human society
b lrthpiace/'ba:rOpleIs/the place where something first
started to exist In C[
birthplace ofsth New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz [Italy
is usually thought of as the birthplace of the Renaissance.
starting point/sta:rtlt3 po:nq the idea, piece of infor-
mation, situation etc that something develops from In C[
Most historians see the assassination of the Archduke as the
starting point of World War I. [ Your baby's birthweight is
her personal starting point for growth. [ Let's take the way
boys and girls are treated differently in school as our start-
ing point.
root/ru:t/the very first reason for or cause of something
else happening or existing In C[
The root of the unemployment problem is the lack of money
available for training youngpeople. [ The love of money is
said to be the root of all evil.
';.- comeback: make a comeback FASHIONABLE 3
;; comedian JOKE 5
!# comedy FUNNY 2.5
i!': comeuppance: get your comeuppance DESERVE 2
 comfort COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 1, 3,
.-....- COM FORTABLE 3
 comfort: in comfort COMFORTABLE 1

comfort 233 COMFORT ABLE
comfort
which meaning?
comfortable
be kind to someone
to make them feel
better
COMFORTABLE
COMFORT/MAKE
SB FEEL BETTER
@ COMFORT/MAKE
SB FEEL BETTER
to make someone feel calmer, more cheerful,
or more hopeful when they are worried or
unhappy
1 to comfort someone
2 words for describing something that comforts
you
3 a feeling of greater calmness, cheerfulness,
or hope when you have been worried or
unhappy
1 to comfort someone
comfort reassure
console soothe
comfort / kAmfort/to comfort someone, for example by
talking to them or putting your arms around them [v T]
He tried to comfort her by telling her that everything would
be alright soon. [ As a priest I often have to comfort those
whose loved ones have just died. I The two sisters hugged each
other, sharing their grief and comforting one another.
console /kn'sool/ to comfort someone when they feel
unhappy or disappointed, especially by saying something
that makes them realize the situation is not so bad [v T]
Susanna did her best to console her daughter by promising
to buy her another doll. I William consoled himself with the
thought that at least no one else had been involved in the
accident.
reassure / ri:a foar! to make someone feel less worried
or frightened about a situation, for example by being
friendly to them or by telling them there is nothing to
worry about [v T]
The company is trying to reassure investors about the safety
of the money they have invested. I My smile seemed to reas-
sure the waiter, and the embarrassment vanished from his
face.
soothe ]su:6] to make someone feel more calm and
relaxed when they are upset, anxious, or nervous ]v T]
soothe sb When the baby cried his mother soothed him by
stroking his hot little head. I soothe sb's nerves Maybe a
drink would help soothe your nerves.
2 words for describing something that comforts
you
comforting reassuring
soothing consoling
comforting/,kAmfrt[o/ladj]
It was comforting to see the lights of the town and know we
would soon be home. [ Stefan sat there with his head buried
in his hands and I tried to think of something comforting to
say.
comfortingly lady] "It doesn't matter if it's broken, I'll buy
you another one, "" said Gareth comfortingly.
soothing / su:6  01 something that is soothing makes you
feel calm and relaxed when you are upset, anxious, or
nervous [adj]
My aunt had a gettle soothing voice. I I love listening to
Bach's music - I find it very soothing, especially when I've
had a hard day at work.
soothingly [adv] She rocked the baby soothingly in her
arms until he fell asleep.
reassuring/ ri:'foar r].,/ making you feel less worried
or frightened about something [adj]
It's reassuring to know that the children are being well
looked-after. I The doctor laid a reassuring hand on Steven's
arm. "'There's nothing to worry about!'" he said. I enor-
mously reassuring I found his words enormously
reassuring.
reassuringly lady] Seeing Judith's worried face, Betty
smiled reassuringly.
consoling /kn sol[O/ something that is consoling,
especially something that someone says, makes you feel
better when you are unhappy or disappointed [adj]
It was consoling to learn from Melissa's mother that her
death had been very peaceful.
3 a feeling of greater calmness, cheerfulness,
or hope when you have been worried or
unhappy
comfort consolation
relief solace
comfort/'k,rnfrt/[n U]
The crying children clung together for comfort. I bring/give
comfort Your letter brought me great comfort after John
died. I take/draw comfort from Ingrid drew great com-
fort from her family's support. I We can take some comfort
from the thought that at least we are not the only ones facing
these problems.
relief /rJ li:f/ the feeling you have when something
worrying or frightening has ended or has not happened [n
singular/U]
When the plane finally landed, we all felt a tremendous sense
of relief. I It was a great relief to know that the children had
got home safely. I That's a reliefi/What a reliefi "'It's only
a greetings telegram. "" "Whew! That's a relief. For a moment
I thought it was bad news. "'1 to your relief (=making you
feel relief) Uncle Joe replaced the fuse and switched on the
motor. To everybody's relief, it worked. I heave/breathe a
sigh ofrelief(=breathe loudly to show your relief) One of
the guards stopped close to where they were hiding, then
walked away. They breathed a huge sigh of relief.
consolation /,k.s'len II ka:n-/ a thought or fact
that makes you feel less disappointed or sad, for example
when someone has died or when you have just heard some
disappointing news [n singularC]
It was some consolation to know that he could take the exam
again. I I really miss my mother. My one consolation is that
her suffering was not prolonged.
solace/'s.s II 'sa=-I a word used especially in literature
meaning a pleasant feeling of comfort and calmness that
you get from a kind person, a peaceful place etc when you
are very sad or worried [n U]
Carmen turned to her husband for solace. I find solace
Howard found solace in the beauty and tranquillity of the
mountains. I bring/give solace Religious faith brings
solace to many people when they need it most.
comfortable COMFORTABLE 1, 2, 9, RELAXED 1, RICH 2
COMFORTABLE
1 feeling comfortable
2 words for describing chairs, places, clothes
etc that make you feel comfortable
3 the feeling of being comfortable
4 things that make you feel comfortable
5 not feeling comfortable continued

COMFORT ABLE 234 COMFORT ABLE
COMFORTABLE
continued
6 words for describing chairs, places, clothes
etc that make you feel uncomfortable
7 the feeling of being uncomfortable
8 conditions that make you feel uncomfortable
9 words for describing a journey in which you
feel comfortable
10 words for describing a journey in which you
feel uncomfortable
1 feeling comfortable
comfortable in comfort
comfy snug
comfortable/'kAmftobol, 'kAmfot- II 'kAmfort-, 'kAmft-/
feeling physically relaxed and satisfied [adj]
I was so comfortable in bed that Ididn "t want to get up. I It's
very comfortable living in this house. I You'll probablyfind
it more comfortable if you tilt the seat back. I make your-
self comfortable You sit down and make yourselves com-
fortable while I get us some coffee.
comfortably lady] He was sitting comfortably in an arm-
chair by the window.
comfy/' k^mfi/an informal word meaning comfortable
ladjl
"'Do you want another pillow? .... No I'm quite comfy,
thanks. "' [ I hope you'll be nice and comfy here.
in comfort ! n kamfzrt/if you do something in comfort,
you are comfortable while you are doing it lady phrase]
Travelling first class allows you to enjoy your journey in
comfort. I Now you can watch your favorite movies in the
comfort of your own home.
snug/snag/feeling comfortable and happy when you are
sitting down or in bed because you are in a warm place
[adj]
She looks really snug under all those blankets.
snugly lady] It was freezing outside but we were soon sitting
snugly by the fire.
2 words for describing chairs, places, clothes
etc that make you feel comfortable
comfortable cosy/cozy
comfy snug
comfortable/'kAmftobal, 'kAmfot- l[ 'kAmfort-, 'kAmft-/
[adj]
Thomas can sleep on the sofa, but I'm afraid it's not as com-
fortable as a bed. I She has a big comfortable apartment
overlooking Central Park. I I've just got back from work and
I'd like to change into some more comfortable clothes.
comfortably [adv] Make sure you're comfortably dressed
before you start the walk.
comfy /'kAmfi/an informal word: a piece of furniture or
clothing that is comfy is comfortable and makes you feel
relaxed Iadj]
Grandpa likes to sit in the comfy chair beside the fire. I These
old shoes are so comfy. I don't want to get rid of them.
cosy (British) I cozy (American)/'kozi/a cosy room,
chair, or situation is very pleasant and makes you feel
warm, relaxed, and comfortable [adj]
The fire had been lit and the room looked bright and cosy. I
I wish I was at home in a nice cozy bed. I There was a cozy
atmosphere in the bar.
cosily/cozily lady] The bedroom was cosily furnished in
bright warm colours.
snug/snag/a room or space that is snug is small, warm,
and comfortable and makes you feel happy and protected
from the cold outside [adj]
The room looked neat and snug and I hoped she and 1would
be alone for the evening. I A cat will always find the snug-
gest sleeping place in the house.
3 the feeling of being comfortable
comfort
comfort I'kamfrt/]n U]
After he became rich, he lived a life of idleness and comfort. I
Her new family will provide her with the comfort and secu-
rity that she lacks at the moment.
4 things that make you feel comfortable
comforts
comforts /'kAmfrts/ things that make your life more
pleasant and comfortable, especially things that are not
completely necessary but which you are used to having in
your home In plural]
She was starting to miss the familiar comforts of her home
in Massachusetts. I material comforts (=comforts such as
money and possessions) Her new husband could offer her
all the material comforts she needed, but she knew she didn't
love him.
5 not feeling comfortable
uncomfortable
uncomfortable /An' kamftobal, -'kAmfot- II -'k^mfort-,
-' k^mft-/[adj ]
Sue's clothes were soaking wet, and she felt cold and uncom-
fortable. I They were forced to spend another uncomfortable
night at the airport waiting for theirplane. I The nurses have
to turn him over every few hours because he gets uncomfort-
able lying in the same position all the time.
6 words for describing chairs, places, clothes
etc that make you feel uncomfortable
uncomfortable
spartan
uncomfortable /An'kAmftobal, -'kAlaaf0t- II -'kAmfort-,
-'kAmft-/ [adj]
These chairs may look good, but they "re very uncomfortable
to sit on. I She was dressed in a very tight skirt and
uncomfortable-looking shoes.
spartan/' spe:rtn/a room, building, or conditions that are
spartan are very simple and without comfortable furni-
ture or unnecessary decorations Iadj]
The students' rooms are spartan but clean, with no carpets
or central heating. I The hotel was like a different world com-
pared to the spartan accomodation I'd had in the army.
7 the feeling of being uncomfortable
discomfort
discomfort/ds'kamfrt/In U]
There's a limit to the amount of discomfort anyone can put
up with. I acute discomfort (=great discomfort) The
disease causes acute physical discomfort.
8 conditions that make you feel uncomfortable
discomforts
discomforts/d  s ' khmfrts/conditions that make you feel
uncomfortable, for example lack of rest, nowhere to wash
yourself, or very hot or cold weather In plural]
I wasn'tpreparedfor the discomforts of living in aplace with
no electricity or running water. I Palin had become
accustomed to all the hardships and discomforts of life in the
desert.
9 words for describing a journey in which you
feel comfortable
comfortable
smooth
comfortable/'k^mftbal, 'k^mfzt-II 'k^mfort-, 'k^mft-/
[adj]

COMFORT ABLE 235 COMMON
"'Did you have a good flight? .... Yes, very comfortable thank
you. "'1 He was looking forward to a nice comfortable jour-
ney on board the big ship.
comfortably [adv] I always go by boat - it's the only way
to travel comfortably.
smeeth/smu:6/a smooth journey is comfortable because
your car or plane does not shake, or the sea is not rough
[adj]
Luckily we had a smooth :flight, in perfect weather condi-
tions. I The car has excellent suspension and the journey was
really smooth.
10 words for describing a journey in which you
feel uncomfortable
uncomfortable
rough
bumpy
uncomfortable /AntkAmftobol, -'kAmfot- II -'kAmfort-,
- 'knmft-I [adj]
I hate travelling by train - the carriages are always so dirty
and uncomfortable. I In those days visiting the island meant
a long uncomfortable voyage across choppy seas.
rough/r^f/a sea journey that is rough is uncomfortable
because bad weather makes the boat go up and down a lot
[adj]
It was a rough crossing and most of the passengers were
seasick.
bumpy / =bAmpi/a journey by car or plane that is bumpy
is uncomfortable bect'use bad road conditions or bad
weather make the car or plane shake a lot [adj]
After a bumpy landing, all the passengers cheered and
thanked the pilot. I To get to Agra we had to endure a long
bumpy ride in an old bus.
comfortably off: be comfortably off RICH 2
comforting COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 2
comforts COMFORTABLE 4
comfy COMFORTABLE 1, 2
comic FUNNY 2, JOKE 5
comical FUNNY 1
coming: had it coming DESERVE 2
coming: the coming of BEGINNING 2
coming: up and coming SUCCESSFUL 3
coming up: be coming up SOON 5
comings and goings BUSY PLACE 2
command TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 2, 7
command: have a good command of KNOW STH 4
commandeer TAKE STH FROM SB 3
commemorate CELEBRATE 1, REMEMBER 11
commend PRAISE 2
commendable PRAISE 7
commendation PRAISE 5
comment SAY 1, 11
comment: be a comment on SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 5
commentary DESCRIBE 5
commerce BUSINESS 1
commercial BUSINESS 3, PRIVATE/NON-GOVERNMENT 1,
ADVERTISE 3
commiserate SYMPATHIZE 2
commission JOB/TASK 3, PAY SB FOR WORK 3
commit CRIME 4, DO 6
commit sth to memory LEARN 2
commit suicide KILL 12
commitment WORK HARD 6
committed WORK HARD 4
committee GROUP OF PEOPLE 9
common LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 8,
COMMON 1, 2, EVERYONE 5, SAME 1
common: have a lot in common LIKE/SIMILAR 7
common: have nothing in common DIFFERENT 2
common: not common RARE 1
common: uncommon/not common RARE 2
common knowledge: be common knowledge KNOW
STH 12
common sense SENSIBLE 6
common
@COMMON
existing in large numbers or in many places
happening often or in many places
1 existing in large numbers or in many places
common be ten a penny/
be everywhere be a dime a dozen
commonplace
common I'kom0n II 'ko:-/radii
Rabbits are common in many parts of Europe. I Jones is a
very common name in Great Britain. I Flatheads are a
common type offish and good to eat. ] The commonest
aluminium-rich ore is bauxite.
be everywhere/bi; 'evriwer/to be extremely common
and be seen in many different places Iv phrase]
No one had even heard of mountain bikes ten years ago, but
now they're everywhere. I Girls with long, straight hair were
everywhere in the 1960s. I The new fashions may look strange
now, but they'll soon be everywhere.
commonplace /'komonpleis 11 'ko:-/ things that are
commonplace exist in large numbers so that they are not
considered to be special or unusual even though in other
places they may be much less common [adj not before noun]
Avocado pears are expensive and hard to find here but in
California they are commonplace.
be ten a penny (British) I be a dime a dozen (Ameri-
can)/bi: ten  peni, bi:  =dam  dAzn/informal expres-
sions meaning to be very common in a particular area and
therefore not be considered special or unusual Iv phrase]
Porsches are ten a penny in the area where we live. I These
days famous artists are a dime a dozen in New York.
2 happening often or in many places
common be rife
widespread prevalent
epidemic proportions pervasive
commonplace
common/'komon [I 'ko:-/happening often or in many
places [adj]
It's a common error. [ _Many of the commoner forms of cancer
can now be treated successfully. [ common among Bad
dreams are more common among children than adults. [ it
is common for sth to happen It's very common for new
fathers to feel jealous after the birth of a baby.
commonly [adv ] Computers are becoming more and more
commonly used in the classroom as a teaching aid.
widespread/'wadspred/happening in many places or
done by many people [adj]
This kind of problem is much more widespread than people
imagine. I The great advantage of this product is its low cost
and widespread availability. I the widespread use of anti-
biotics in modern medicine
epidemic proportions /epIo,demk pro'p:rJ'nz/
reach/grow to/increase to epidemic proportions
(=become so common that it is a serious problem) [nplural]
Street crime has reached epidemic proportions during the
last few years. I Incidents of burglary in the capital have
increased to epidemic proportions.

COMMON 236 COMPANY
commonplace /'komanpleis [I 'ka:-/ happening very
often, with the result that it is not considered to be special
or unusual [adj not before noun]
Heart transplant operations are now commonplace. [ It used
to be rare to see young people sleeping on the streets of London
- these days it's become increasingly commonplace.
be rife/bi: raf/if bad behaviour such as stealing or vio-
lence is rife in a particular area it happens very often there
[v phrase]
Drug-taking was rife on university campuses. [ The business
world should do something about the corruption which is
rife in the stock market. [ be rife with Hollywood is rife with
gossip.
prevalent !'prevlnq a formal word: a problem, idea, or
type of behaviour that is prevalent in one place, time, or
group of people is common there [adj]
Stress-related diseases are much less prevalent among rural
communities. [ The idea that dreaming is essential for sanity
has been prevalent in popular science since the eighteenth
century.
pervasive /prvelsiv] problems, behaviour, or situa-
tions that are pervasive are very common and are spread-
ing to more and more people or areas so that they are
impossible to prevent [adj]
Violence and crime are pervasive features of city life. [ What
can be done to counteract the pervasive influence of television
and advertising? [ The results of the survey show just how
pervasive these beliefs are. [ all-pervasive (=extremely per-
vasive) Modern society has been shaped and controlled by
these all-pervasive economic pressures.
commonplace COMMON 1, 2
commotion LOUD/NOISY 7
communal SHARE 3
communicable SPREAD 11
- communicate CONTACT SB 2, EЧPRESS 1, 2
•
. communication CONTACT SB 4, MESSAGE 1
" community SOCIETY 2, 3
 community: the community SOCIETY 1
.. commute TRAVEL 5
. commuter TRAVEL 11
,,, compact SMALL 1, 3
.. companion WITH 5
ii;;. companionship FRIEND 8
:" company COMPANY 1, 3, WITH 1
;:" company: be good company ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 7
company: have company VISIT 7
i.i : company: in sb's company WITH 1
-',: company: prefer your own company ALONE 3
COMPANY
an organization that makes or sells goods or
services in order to get money
1 a company
2 a company that is owned and controlled by a
larger company
3 connected with or belonging to a company
I a company
company multinational
firm conglomerate
business partnership
corporation
company / 'k^mpni/[n C]
My father works for an insurance company. I She's the boss
of a small company which makes greetings cards. I manage/
run a company When we first started I had to run the com-
pany on my own. [ set up/start a company The company
was set up just after the end of the war. I a company goes
bankrupt/bust/out of business (=it owes so much
money it has to stop doing business) A lot of well-known
UK companies have gone bankrupt in recent years. [ parent
company (=one that owns a smaller company) Ford UK's
parent company in America is planning big cut-backs in
production.
firm If3:rm/a company, especially a small one that makes
goods or provides services such as giving 1.egal or finan-
cial advice In C]
Before he became senator he worked for a law firm in Los
Angeles. [ The firm employs about lO full-time staff and 4
part-time workers. [ set up/start a firm He left Chrysler and
set up his own management consultancy firm.
business I'bznsl a shop or company etc that sells goods
or provides services, especially one that employs a small
number of people or even only one person In C]
Jack's a builder - he has his own business. [ manage/run
a business My husband runs the business when I'm away. [
small business A lot of small businesses have been badly
hit by the recession. [ set up/start a business When we first
set up our printing business there were only two of us - now
it's grown and there are 20people working here.
corporation I,k:rp'reianl a large company that
employs a large number of people [n C]
IBM is one of the biggest corporations in the US. [ Kodak
started out as a small business in Rochester, New York, and
expanded into a thriving multinational corporation.
multinational / mAltI 'nmj'anl/ a very large company
that has offices or factories in many different countries
[nC]
If you work for a multinational, it is quite likely that you will
be sent to work abroad. [ The major cigarette producers are
massive multinationals with a large and profitable market
to protect. [ multinational company/corporation R is the
big multinational companies such as BP, ESSO and Shell
which dominate the market.
conglomerate /kn'ghmart l[-gla:-! a very large
business organization that consists of several different
companies which have joined together In C]
A vast American conglomerate has announcedplans to buy
the site at a cost of well over a billion dollars. [ In the mid-
1980s the big financial conglomerates muscled into the
market.
partnership I'pa:rtnrIp/a company that belongs to two
or more people, especially a small company that provides
professional services In C]
My first job after I qualified was with a small accountancy
partnership. [ Jennings, McKeough and White, a leading
advertising partnership
2 a company that is owned and controlled by a
larger company
subsidiary
subsidiary Isob'sldiori II -dieril In C]
Harris-Daishowa is a subsidiary of Japan's second largest
paper company. [ subsidiary company Idemitsu plans to
establish a subsidiary company in the US with a capital of
around four million dollars.
3 connected with or belonging to a company
company
corporate
company I'kAmponi/company car/policy/profits/logo
etc [adj only before noun]
Company profits have more than doubled in the last four
years. [ It is not company policy to exchange goods without
a receipt. I The new job has the added attraction of the use
of a company car.
corporate /'k:rparIt/ corporate identity/image/
loyalty/planning ere (=connected with a large company,
especially with the general opinion that people have of it)
[adj only before noun ]
Managers are worried about the company's corporate
image.[ Computers play a large part in our strategic cor-
porate planning process.

comparable
comparable LIKE/SIMILAR 1
comparative COMPARE 4
compare COMPARE 1
compare: can't/doesn't compare with
WORSE 1
COMPARE
to consider two or more things, people, ideas
etc, especially in order to show how they are
similar to or different from each other
a description or examination that compares
things in order to show their similarities or
differences
words used when you are making a
comparison between two or more things,
people etc
having a particular quality when compared
with something else
1 to consider two or more things, people, ideas
etc, especially in order to show how they are
similar to or different from each other
compare draw an analogy
liken draw a parallel
make a comparison contrast
compare/km'peorl [v T]
compare sth/sb When they had finished their surveys, the
students were asked to compare their results. I Compare the
styles of the two poets. I compare sth/sb with If you com-
pare him with other children of his own age, he's not very
tall. I She was getting increasingly fed up with the way he
kept comparing her with his ex-wife.
iiken ] Ilaikon] to describe something as being similar to
something else, usually in a written description, especially
in order to make it easier to understand Iv T]
liken sth to The author likens dreams to normal waking
imagination. I Plato likened mental images to shadows.
make a comparison/meik o kompaersan/to compare
two or more situations or ideas, people etc, often in order
to show that one is better than the other Iv phrase]
make a comparison between The report allows the reader
to make a direct comparison between the two types of car. [
make a comparison with You could make a comparison
with schools in America, but it wouldn't be fair.
draw an ana|ogy/dr: on onelodsi! to compare two
similar situations or ideas in order to explain or prove
something about one of them [v phrase]
draw an analogy between The author draws an analogy
between the space adventures shown in 'Star Trek' and the
adventures undertaken by ancient Greek heroes.
draw a parallel / dr: o paerolel/to compare two differ-
ent situations in order to show that they have some similar-
ities [v phrase]
draw a parallel between/with Left-wing politicians are
drawing parallels between events leading up to the last war
and current political problems.
contrast/kon I trfl:st ][ - trmstl to compare two things, sit-
uations, ideas etc in order to show how they are different
from each other Iv T]
contrast sth with It is interesting to contrast life in the
country now with what it was like a hundred years ago. [ In
the film, the peaceful life of a farmer is contrasted with the
violent existence of a gangster. [ contrast sth Contrast the
styles of the two painters. [ compare and contrast (=show
the similarities and differences) Compare and contrast the
various methods of teaching grammar to advanced students.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
237
COMPARE
 a description or examination that compares
things in order to show their similarities or
differences
comparison
comparison Ikom'pmrsan/[n C]
a comparison of The magazine article is a comparison of
people's working habits in four very different countries. [ A
comparison of Barcelona and London found that both cities
had high levels of air pollution. [ a comparison between
You could do an interesting comparison between what the
town is like now and how it was in the eighteenth century.
 words used when you are making a
comparison between two or more things,
people etc
compared to/with beside
in comparison/ as against
by comparison by analogy
in contrast/ in proportion to
by contrast
compared to/with/kom'peord tu:, w6/[prep]
Americans think they "re good drivers compared to drivers
in other countries. [ Statistics show that there has been a 20%
reduction in burglary compared with last year. [ It has a lot
of extra features, which is why it's expensive compared to
other cars.
in comparison/by comparison/in kom'peer]san,
kom persan/as shown when compared with another sit-
uation, idea, person etc [adv phrase]
in/by comparison with In comparison with others of the
same size, this company doesn't employ many security staff. [
Black Americans are generally poor by comparison with
whites. [ in/by comparison My car is so slow that it makes
a bicycle look fast in comparison!
in contrast/by contrast/In 'kontra:st, bai 'kontra:st [[
-'ka:ntreest/an expression used when you are showing the
difference between the things, situations, people etc that
you are comparing lady phrase]
I was always reading when I was a kid, but my daughter,
by contrast, just watches television all day. [ in contrast to
In contrast to the hot days, the nights are bitterly cold.
beside Ib sald/a word used when you are showing that
something seems more or less impressive, important etc
when compared to something else [prep]
Tom's efforts at digging seemed so weak beside Martin's that
he soon gave up. [ Some parts of Delhi are so old that most
European cities look young beside it.
as against/oz o genst/an expression used when you are
comparing two pieces of information, facts, etc in order to
show how they are different [prep]
Last year there were 443 industrial accidents as against 257
in 1985. [ With only fifty seven inhabitants per square mile,
as against a world average of over seventy, the country is far
from overcrowded.
by anaiogҐ/bai o neelzd3i/an expression used when you
are showing the similarities between two different situa-
tions or ideas in order to explain something about one of
them [adv phrase]
by analogy with We talk about the 'memory' of a computer
by analogy with the brain of a human being. [ by analogy
He analyzes the violence in ancient Rome and, by analogy,
the violence in modern cities.
in proportion to/in pro'p3:ran tu:/an expression used
when you are showing that something does not seem cor-
rect, suitable, impressive etc when compared with the
things that surround it [prep]
Her feet are very small in proportion to the rest of her body. [
Tessa always thinks that, in proportion to her own problems,
other people's just don't exist.

COMPARE 238 COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT
4 having a particular quality when compared
with something else
relative
comparative
relative/'rebtiv/[adj usually before noun]
She was terrified of flying, so the relative advantages of air
travel didn't tempt her at all. I relative merits (=the advan-
tages and disadvantages of two or more things that are com-
pared with each other) The two men stood at the bar discuss-
ing the relative merits of various sports cars. I it is all
relative (=it can not be judged on its own, but must be com-
pared with others) It's all relative, isn't it? I mean someone
who is poor in this country would be considered well off in
a really poor country.
relatively [adv ] Once you've mastered the basic strokes of
squash, the rest is relatively simple.
comparative Ikm'prtiv/comparative happiness/
comfort/safety etc (=happiness, comfort, safety etc that
is fairly satisfactory when compared to another, or a previ-
ous state of happiness, comfort, safety etc) [adj only before
noun ]
After a lifetime of poverty, his last few years were spent in
comparative comfort. I In that region blackberries had
become a comparative rarity. I To escape the bombing,
familes shelter in the comparative safety of the sewers.
comparatively [adv] We were absolutely broke in those
days. Now we're comparatively well off.
 compared to/with COMPARE 3
. comparison COMPARE 2
 comparison: in comparison/by comparison
i COMPARE 3
iii comparison: make a comparison COMPARE 1
;.-:= comparison: there's no comparison BETTER 2
i! compassion SYMPATHIZE 4
i compassionate KIND 3
 compatible SUITABLE 2, TOGETHER 8
: compel FORCE SB TO DO STH 1
 compel sb to do sth FORCESBTODOSTH3
!i! compelled: be forced/compelled to do sth MUST 1
-::.; compelled: feel compelled to do sth MUST 4
 compelling INTERESTING 3, PERSUADE 9
., compensate PAY FOR 8
ii} compensate for EQUAL10
 compensation PAY FOR 8
ii!! compete COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 1, TAKE
:!.: PART/BE INVOLVED 1
Icompete]
COMPETE WITH/
TRY TO BEAT
to try be more successful than everyone else,
for example in business, or in an election or
competition
1 to compete with other people or organizations
:2 a situation in which people compete with
each other
8 words for describing a situation in which
people compete with each other very strongly
a person or organization that is competing
against you
words for describing people who enjoy
competing with others
1 to compete with other people or organizations
compete vie
be in competition with pit yourself against
fight contest
compete/km'pi:t/ to try to be more successful than
another person or organization, especially in business Iv I]
compete with They hope that with their new engine design
they will be able to compete with the larger manufacturers. I
compete for Throughout the 1980s, computer companies
competed fiercely for market share. I If British businesses
want to compete for European graduates, they will have to
improve working conditions. ] compete against Performers
came to the festival from all over. the world to compete
against each other. I compete Advanced technology and low
wage costs are helping the Taiwanese firms to compete inter-
nationally. I can't compete (=unable to compete, especially
with other businesses that are much larger or more
advanced) The small independent bookstores simply can't
compete with the big national chains.
be in competition with Ibi: m ,komp'tian wi8 ]l
-ko:m-/to be in the situation where you are competing
with another person or organization Iv phrase]
James's restaurant is now so good that it is in competition
with some of the best in San Francisco. I be in competition
for In some places, farmers are in competition for land with
expanding cities and industries. ] The brothers were in com-
petition with each other for the same woman.
fight/falq to compete strongly for something, especially
for an important job or position which you want very much
Iv I/T]
fight sb for In his speech, Kennet said he would fight
Thomas for the leadership of the party. I fight for If you
want the job, you'll have to fight for it. There are several
strong candidates.
vie/vai/to compete very strongly with someone, especially
over a long period and when the competing people or
groups are very similar in ability, determination etc [v I]
vie for Simon and Julian were vying for her attention all
through dinner. I vie with Helen was the brilliant girl who
vied with Vukani to be top of the class. ] The two major tab-
loid newspapers vied with each other for the best stories.
pit yourself against Iplt jo:rself genst/to compete
with someone in a fight or competition, especially some-
one who is stronger, more powerful etc than you [vphrase]
In a desperate bid to dominate the market, they had pitted
themselves against the giants of the computer industry. I pit
your wits against (=compete with someone in a test of
knowledge) In this quiz ordinary people pit their wits
against a panel of celebrities.
contest ]kn'test] contest the final/the US Open/the
election etc (=to compete in a sporting event or election)
[vT]
In 1991 White contested the US Open and the J G Scott
Trophy. I The leadership election will be contested by four
candidates.
2 a situation in which people compete with
each other
competition race
rivalry battle
fight straight fight
competition /,kompI'tian II ,ka:m-/ a situation in
which people or organizations compete with each other,
especially for something which they all want but which
only one of them can get In U]
competition between Sometimes there's a lot of competi-
tion between children for their mother's attention. I strong/

COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 239 COMPETITION
fierce/stiff/tough competition (=when people compete
strongly with each other) There is fierce competition between
the three leading soap manufacturers. I competition for
Competition for these jobs is very tough - we had over 200
applicants for just six posts.
rivai3/ ravalri/competition, especially friendly compe-
tition, between two or more people or organizations over
a long time In U]
rivalry between There is often rivalry between brothers
and sisters to do better at school. I rivalry The two women
are good friends but there is also an element of rivalry in
their relationship. I fierce/intense rivalry These acting
awards are contested in an atmosphere of intense rivalry.
fight/fa=t/a situation in which people compete strongly
against each other, especially for an important job or posi-
tion In C]
Truman was appointed President after a long and difficult
fight. ] fight for the fight for a major construction contract
race/rcJs/a situation in which people or groups, espe-
cially politicians or businesses, compete to win something
very valuable or important In C]
She won 40,000 votes in the San Francisco mayoral race. I
the arms race I race for In the race for the White House, can-
didates will do anything. I the race is on (=the competition
has started) The race is on to find a cure for AIDS, and drug
companies have already invested millions in research.
battle/'bmtl/a situation in which opposing organizations
compete over a long period, often very fiercely, for power,
control, or business In C]
battle for There was a long battle for control of the publish-
ing company. I battle The German company Daimler-Benz
won the aerospace contract after a bitter and protracted
battle.
straight fight/,streIt IfaJt/a British expression mean-
ing a competition involving only two people or groups,
especially after other people or groups have stopped taking
part In singular]
a straight fight between With only two competitors left,
it'll be a straight fight between them for the championship. I
in a straight fight The Socialist candidate beat the Liberal
!n a straight fight.
3 words for describing a situation in which
people compete with each other very strongly
competitive rat race
cut-throat the survival of the
dog-eat-dog fittest
competitive/km'pettiv/[adj]
I hate working in advertising. It's all so competitive. I
highly/fiercely competitive In such a fiercely competitive
environment, it's inevitable that some companies will go out
of business.
cut-throat/k^t Omot/ cut-throat competition/busi-
ness/politics etc (=very competitive, so that people are
prepared to do anything to be more successful even if they
hurt other people) [adj usually before noun]
Life is tough in the cut-throat world of politics. I There is cut-
throat competition between drug companies these days.
dog.eat.dog/dog i:t 'dog II -d:g-/a dog-eat-dog situ-
ation is one in which people are competing so strongly that
they care only about their own success and will do any-
thing to achieve it In phrase]
If we don't publish the story, our rivals will - it's a case of
dog-eat-dog. I dog-eat-dog world/business etc Advertising
is a dog-eat-dog business.
rat race/Irt res! a situation or way of life in which
everyone is competing strongly all the time, especially at
work, with the result that they always feel worried and
they do not enjoy their lives In singular]
The stress of the rat race is a major cause of health problems. I
Weary of the rat race, we left the city and bought a small
farm.
the survival of the fittest/6 sar,vaIval av 6a 'fItSt/
a situation in which only those people or organizations that
compete most strongly and with most determination can
continue to exist In phrase]
I was sorry to hear they had gone out of business, but I'm
afraid it's a case of the survival of the fittest.
4 a person or organization that is competing
against you
competitor
rival
the competition
competitor /kom'pettor/ a person or company that
offers the same goods or services as you In C]
This is secret information, which could be of great value to
our competitors. I We bought the same computer for less
money from one of their competitors.
rival /ra=vgl/ a person or organization that competes
against you to get something valuable or important In C]
The two girls were rivals for Jack's attention. I At thatpoint,
Gore was Mr Clinton's main rival for the Democratic
nomination.
rival [adj only before noun] Rival travel agents are selling
tickets cheaper and cheaper.
the competition /6 ,komptign II-,ka:m-/ all the
companies or people competing against you In singular
with singular or plural verb in British English]
Our sales figures are 10% ahead of the competition, t The
secret of success is to make sure that the competition never
catches up.
5 words for describing people who enjoy
competing with others
competitive
competitive Ikm'pettiv/[adj]
I hate playing tennis with Stephen. He's so.competitive. [
highly/fiercely competitive You have to be fiercely com-
petitive to survive in this industry.
competitiveness In U] His competitiveness tends to make
other people avoid playing with him.
competent GOOD AT 1, GOOD ENOUGH 1
competition COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 2,
COMPETITION 1
competition: be in competition with COMPETE
WITH/TRY TO BEAT 1
competition: the competition COMPETE WITH/TRY TO
BEAT 4
.[ competition
which meaning?
a competition
compete with
someone, try to be
better than them
COMPETITION
COMPETE WITH/
TRY TO BEAT
be against someone
in a game or
competition
take part in a
competition
AGAINST SB IN
A GAME
@ TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED
@ COMPETITION
an event or game in which people or teams try
fo do better than each other in order to win
1 a competition

COMPETITION 240 COMPLAIN
1 a competition
competition championship
contest tou rnament
competition I,komp 't:j'dn II ,ko:m-/an organized event
in which people or teams compete against each other, espe-
cially using their skill In C]
She won first prize in a crossword competition. I It's one of
those competitions where you have to make up a slogan about
some breakfast cereal. I take part in/enter a competition
Are you thinking of entering the fishing competition?
contest/'kontest II ko:n-/a competition, especially one
that does not involve skill and where the winner is chosen
by a group of judges In C]
beauty/baby contest (=to find the most beautiful woman
or baby) the annual 'Miss World' beauty contest i enter a
contest I entered the arm-wrestling contest at the local fair. i
enter sb in/for a contest Mrs Harris has decided to enter
Henry for the baby contest.
championship I tfmrnpianip/a competition to find the
best player or team in a particular sport, especially one that
involves several stages or games In C]
Disappointingly, Lendl was knocked out in the first round
of the US Open tennis championship. I We beat the Dodgers
in the semi-finals, and went on to win the championship. I
After several unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the cham-
pionship, this year he has won a place.
tournament /tornmnt/a competition in a sport or
game in which each player or team plays several matches,
and the winner is the one who wins the most matches In C]
Thirty matches were played during the chess tournament,
which lasted three weeks. I Laura has never actually won a
professional golf tournament, but she still earns a good
living by playing.
competitive AMBITIOUS 1, CHEAP 2, COMPETE WITH/
TRY TO BEAT 3, 5
competitor COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 4, PLAY A GAME
OR SPORT 3, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 10
compile WRITE 2
compile a list LIST 5
complacent PROUD 5
complain COMPLAIN 1
complain of HAVE 5
COMPLAIN
to say that you are annoyed or dissatisfied
about something
to complain continuously in an annoying way
a written or spoken statement complaining
about something
something that you complain about
1 to say that you are annoyed or dissatisfied
about something
complain
make a complaint
lodge a complaint/
file a complaint
protest
take it/the matter
up with
object
make a fuss/kick up a fuss
air your grievances
complain/km'ple;n/to say that you are annoyed, dis-
satisfied, or unhappy about something or someone Iv I/T
not in passive]
"You never ask my opinion about anything," she com-
plained. I They've already been given a 10% raise, so why
are they complaining I complain about Local residents
have been complaining about the noise from the airport. I
complain that People complain that they don't get enough
information. I complain to sb Stubbs complained to the chef
that the meat was overcooked. I complain bitterly
(=complain very strongly) Workers who had lost their jobs
left the factory complaining bitterly about the way they had
been treated.
make a complaint /,meik a kam'pleint/to formally com-
plain about something to someone in authority Iv phrase]
make a complaint about I will certainly be making a
formal complaint about this disgraceful incident. I make a
complaint to sb She made a complaint to the manager and
demanded her money back. I make a complaint against
sb If anyone makes a complaint against the police it will be
thoroughly investigated. I make a complaint I understand
that you wish to make some kind of complaint.
lodge a complaint (British) I file a complaint (Ameri-
can)/,lod5  km'plemt, ,fail - II ,lo:ds-/to make an offi-
cial complaint, usually in writing, to someone in authority
[ v phrase ]
lodge/file a complaint that A senior diplomat lodged a
complaint that he had been assaulted by a police officer. I
lodge/file a complaint against In response to recent lay-
offs the union is filing an official complaint against the
company.
protest/pratest! to complain about something, especially
publicly or officially, because you are annoyed and think
it is unfair Iv I/T not in passive]
He was carried away in a police van, protesting loudly. I "I
don't want to go to this new place, it sounds a real dump, "'
Sasha protested. I protest (to sb) about The journalists
have protested to government officials about the way they
were treated. I protest (that) Angry workers are protesting
that they are being made to suffer for the government's mis-
takes. I protest sth (especially American) She protested the
management's action very loudly.
take it/the matter up with /teik it, ) ,mtar ap WI6/
to speak or write to someone in authority complaining
about something and continue to do so, to make sure that
something is done about it Iv phrase]
If you miss school again, I shall have to take the matter up
with the principal. I "'I'm furious about them closing down
that hospital. .... Why don't you take it up with your MP?"
object/ab'd3ekt/to complain because you disapprove of
someone's action Iv I]
Do you think anyone would object if l park my car in front
of the gate? I object to I'm afraid you'll have to practise your
music somewhere else. Our neighbours are objecting to the
noise.
make a fuss (also kick up a fuss in British English)
/,meik a 'fns, kIk Ap a fns/ to complain about something
in an angry or excited way, and more loudly than is neces-
sary Iv phrase]
She made such a fuss about a little lump of mud on her
carpet. I I don't see why you're kicking up all this fuss, I
haven't done anything wrong. I Kate was very upset but she
didn't want to make a fuss in public.
air your grievances Ieo r jo: r 'gri:vdnsz/to tell other
people that you feel angry because you consider that you
have been treated unfairly Iv phrase]
There are regular meetings where workers are given an
opportunity to air their grievances. I Mrs Craddock had an
embarrassing habit of stopping him in the street and airing
her grievances in a loud voice.
2
to complain continuously in an annoying way
go on about whinge
nag whine
grumble bitch
moan misery
gripe fusspot
go on about Igu 'on baut II -'o:n-/an informal expres-
sion meaning to keep complaining continuously about
something Iv T not in passive]
Our neighbours are always going on about the noise our
dogs make. I go on and on about (=go on about something
for a long time) Look, I'm sorry I kept you waiting, but
there's no need to go on and on about it.
nag/neg! to keep complaining to someone about their

COMPLAIN
behaviour, work etc, especially in order to make them do
something that they do not want to do Iv I/T/
nag sb about My dad's always nagging me about my hair
and telling me to get it cut. [ nag at sb She left her last job
because the boss used to nag at her all the time. I nag I have
to stay at home and put up with Claire's incessant nagging. I
nag sb I wish you'd stop nagging me.
grumble /'grAmbal I to keep complaining in a bad-
tempered or unhappy way because you are feeling dissatis-
fied Iv I/
"Why are the trains always late?" he grumbled angrily. [
When I explained that the library was closed the old man
shuffled off grumbling to himself. [ grumble about She's
always grumbling about something or other - if it's not the
weather, it's her husband.
grumbler In C/Don't take any notice of Denis. He's just an
old grumbler.
moan/moun/to keep complaining in an unhappy voice
about the situation you are in or the things you have to do
[vI]
I can't understand why you lot are all moaning and groan-
ingjust because we have to get up early. ] moan about Look,
you "re always moaning about other people not helping you,
but you never help anyone.
moaner In C/She's such a moaner - to listen to her, you'd
think the whole world was against her.
gripe/graip/an informal word meaning to keep complain-
ing about something unimportant Iv I/
gripe about He came in griping about how cold it was in
the barn. [ I got really irritated when Christina griped about
the lack of co-operation from my kids. [ gripe I left home
because my mum was always griping.
whinge/winds/a British word meaning to keep complain-
ing in a very annoying way, especially about the conditions
you live or work in Iv I/
There's no place in the army for people who whinge. [
whinge about I don't know why you keep whingeing about
being underpaid. You earn a lot more than I do.
whine/wain/to keep complaining in a sad, annoying
voice about something unimportant Iv I/
whine about I wish you wouldn't whine about every little
thing that you don't like. I whine For heaven's sake stop
whining. Nobody has touched your precious records.
whiner In C/ We'd better leave the kids at home. They're
terrible whiners.
bitch/bit/to keep complaining in a nasty way about
someone when there is no good reason to complain Iv I/
bitch about Everyday she bitches about how slow her secre-
tary is. [ Don't trust him. He's always bitching about people
behind their backs. [ bitch Our afternoons were spent
gossiping and bitching in the kitchen.
misery/'mizari/an informal British word meaning some-
one who is always complaining, is never happy, and does
not like other people to enjoy themselves In C/
You are an old misery. Ever since we came away on holiday
you've done nothing but moan. [ If you think I'm inviting
Gall to the party, you're wrong. She's such a misery.
|usspot / I fAspDt [[ -pa:t/a British word for someone who
often complains about small, unimportant things and who
is very careful about things such as what kind of food they
will eat In C/
Don't be such a fusspot, that small amount of garlic won't
kill you![ What a fusspot! That's three times I've rewritten
this letter for her so far!
3 a written or spoken statement complaining
about something
complaint
protest
complaint/kom Ipleint/a statement in which someone
complains about something or someone In C/U/
If you get a complaint from one of our customers, you must
report it to me. [ Stevens had ignored complaints about his
noisy all-night parties. [ All day the airline's switchboard
has been jammed with complaints from disgruntled
241 complete
travellers about flight delays. I complaint that The prin-
cipal received a number of complaints from parents that
their children were being bullied. ] complaint against sb
The new committee will handle complaints against the
police. ] letter of complaint I'm very angry about this inci-
dent and I've already drafted a letter of complaint.
protest /|proutest/a public or official complaint about
something that has happened, especially because it seems
very unfair In C/U/
There were angry protests about the way the prisoners had
been treated. I The court's decision brought a furious pro-
test from the company which now faces alive million dollar
bill for damages. I make a protest I'm writing to you to
make the strongest possible protest about the increase in
rent.I shout/letter etc of protest There were shouts of
protest from the crowd when the referee stopped the game.
4 something that you complain about
complaint grumble
cause for complaint gripe
grievance
complaint Ikom'pleint/In C/
Our main complaint is the poor standard of service. I If you
have a complaint, you should write to the manager. I The
students drew up a document listing their complaints.
cause for complaint /,ko:z fa r kom'pleInq a good
reason to complain In phrase]
not have cause for complaint Wece helped him in every
way we can, so I don "t think he has any cause for complaint. I
not give sb cause for complaint "Is the food here good?"
"'Well it's never given me any cause for complaint.'"
grievance / 'gri:vdns/something that makes you feel you
have been unfairly treated and that you complain about
[nC]
I was glad to see that she had forgotten all her old grie-
vances. I We would like to tell the management about our
grievances regarding working conditions. I grievance
against Anyone who has a legitimate grievance against the
company can take it to the arbitration committee.
grumble/grAmbdl/a British word meaning something
that you are dissatisfied about and keep complaining about
in a quiet way In C/
When I was in the Navy, our main grumble was about the
food, but nobody dared to make a complaint. I If you have
any grumbles, you can bring them to me.
gripe/graip/an informal word for something unimportant
that you keep complaining about In C/
It is a common gripe among passengers that there are no
refreshments on these trains. I I have a couple of gripes about
the way my schedule is organized.
complaint COMPLAIN 3, 4, ILLNESS/DISEASE 1
complaint: cause for complaint COMPLAIN 4
complaint: lodge a complaint/file a complaint
COMPLAIN 1
complaint: make a complaint COMPLAIN 1
complement SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2,
SUITABLE 3
complete COMPLETE 1, 2, 3, FINISH DOING STH 1
complete: be complete FINISH DOING STH 8
. comalete ....... ........
mple,:it mi[Fgi *@-e COMPLETE
flns..:l ,,,,,,,,,,:, . @ FINISH DOING
. ... ......... : ..., tt :- ,..:.
: - .. .: - ,, . :=..
...................  .................................. .,_ ....,.. ............. . ........... . ....................................

COMPLETE
COMPLETE
1 with all its parts included, and nothing
missing
2 including every possible detail, fact, process,
or action
3 to make something complete
4 not complete
I with all its parts included, and nothing
missing
complete in full
full in its entirety
whole be all there
complete/kom'pli:t/[adj]
the complete works of William Shakespeare in one volume [
This sugar bowl doesn't look complete - shouldn't it have
a lid?l Archaeologists have discovered a complete and
almost undamaged skeleton of one of the earliest mammals. I
Buy one of these beautiful plates every month until your
collection is complete.
full/fu1/full name/address/set etc (=one that is com-
plete) [adj only before noun]
Please write your full address at the top of the form. ] A child
has usually developed a full set of milk teeth by the age of
three. I Sidney got married in his full army uniform.
whole/hou1/complete, especially when this is very good,
impressive, or unusual [adj only before noun]
You should see John's new hi-fi. He's got the whole outfit -
speakers, CD, double tape deck - the lot. I For years scholars
have been piecing together fragments and now we have the
whole original manuscript. ] Cindy ate a whole apple, core
and all.
in full/m 'fu1/ if something is paid in full or written,
described, explained etc in full, everything necessary is
included and nothing is left out [adv phrase]
The text of the President's speech will be published in full
in tomorrow's papers. I The bill had been stamped "Paid in
Full'.
in its entirety/,n ItS n'taiarti/ if something is read,
performed, seen, understood etc in its entirety, the whole
of it is read, performed, seen, understood etc, especially
when it is something very large or complicated [adv
phrase]
The show had been performed in its entirety at the Sydmon-
ton festival before a large audience. [ As we came nearer still
we saw the dreadful scene in its entirety. ] If we are to under-
stand the process of world revolution in its entirety, we need
to look far into the past.
be all there Ibi: ,a:l '6eor/to be complete and not lack-
ing in any of the parts that should be there [v phrase]
The Monopoly game is quite old but you'll find it's all there
- the dice and the cards and everything. I Check the police
reports. It's all there.
2 including every possible detail, fact, process,
or action
complete comprehensive
thorough exhaustive
full
complete/km'pli:t/[adj]
Police made a complete search of the area but were unable
to find the attacker. I This is a complete list of all British
publishers. I Before take off, the captain ordered a complete
baggage check.
completely [adv] The car was in terrible condition, but it
has now been completely restored.
completeness [n U] For the sake of completeness we should
add these figures tO the report.
242 completely
thorough /'OAro II 'OAmu, 'OArЩ/ a thorough search,
examination, check etc includes everything that can be
included [adj]
Have you had a thorough medical check-up within the last
year? I Since evidence of the fraud came to light, Congress
has been demanding a thorough investigation. I The more
thorough your notes, the more useful they will be for revision
purposes.
thoroughly [adv] These are the principles on which the
syllabus is based and every teacher should understand them
thoroughly.
thoroughness In U] Despite the thoroughness of their
research no new discoveries have been made.
full/full including all the important facts, information, or
details [adj only before noun]
The atlas also contains very full geographical descriptions
of each country I Full details of the travel arrangements will
be published as soon as possible. I The police chief wants a
full report of the accident by first thing tomorrow morning.
fully [ adv ] Tolstoy describes his early childhood very fully
in the novel. I Any complaints will be fully investigated.
comprehensive /,kmprI'hensIv [[ ,ka:m-/ very
thorough, especially because it is important that nothing
is left out and that every possible problem is dealt with
[adj]
The nuclear plant was given a comprehensive inspection
before being declared safe. I This is the largest and most com-
prehensive study ever made of the city's social problems. I We
offer our customers a comprehensive service to meet all their
needs when travelling abroad.
comprehensively [adv] The book deals comprehensively
with every aspect of Greek civilization.
exhaustive /Ig'za:stiv/ SO complete that not even the
smallest detail or possibility is missed [adj]
As a result of exhaustive inquiries the police are at last able
to issue a description of the murderer. [ The list shown here
is by no means exhaustive.
exhaustively [adv] The report has been exhaustively
examined for errors.
3 to make something complete
complete
make up
complete/kam'pli:t/Iv T]
That hat and the shoes really complete the outfit. [ Stefano
only needed one more volume to complete his collection. [ This
exercise involves completing sentences.
make up ! ,meIk 'Ap/to complete a group, set, or amount
by adding something or someone to it [phr v T]
make up sth We need two more players to make up the
team. I If you haven "t got enough to payfor that, I'll make up
the money. I The casserole dish made up Janine's set of expen-
sive Le Creuset kitchenware.
4 not complete
incomplete
partial
Incomplete/,nkam'pli:t/[adj]
Students are given incomplete sentences and must choose the
correct words to finish them. I Scientific knowledge in this
area is still incomplete. I For many, a good meal is incom-
plete without a fine wine.
partial /'po:ral/only containing or including part of
what is necessary to be complete [adj only before noun]
This only provides a partial explanation of what happened. I
From where I was standing I had a partial view of the house. I
At best, the mission was a partial success.
 completed FINISH DOING STH 8
... completely COMPLETELY 1

COMPLETELY
COMPLETELY
1 completely and in every way
1 completely and in every way
completely positively
fully in every way
totally in every respect
entirely in every sense
wholly through and through
absolutely whole-heartedly
utterly
completely/k0m'pli:tli/[adv]
Keith's dad was completely different from what I'd expected. [
She felt warm and comfortable, completely relaxed. [ Gradu-
ally, the country became completely isolated from the main
stream of European culture. [ I intended to give you the card
on Saturday but I completelyforgot. [ By your impatience you
have completely ruined all our work.
complete [adj only before noun] He needs a complete rest
(=needs to rest completely)for a few weeks. [ The whole
thing's a complete waste of time.
fully/Ifuli/[adv]
fully clothed/furnished/equipped etc The apartment
was fully furnished when we moved in. [ They must be fully
cooked before you eat them. [ fully conscious/aware/con-
vinced/informed etc I am fully aware of the problems
involved in this kind of operation. [ fully understand/
realize/appreciate etc The causes of the decline in the birth
rate are not fully understood. [ We were never fully consulted
before the plan was announced.
full [adj only before noun] You have our full support (:we
support you fully) in this campaign. [ A full explanation is
called for.
totally/taotl-i/[adv]
totally impossible/unacceptable/incapable etc The
French and the British have totally different attitudes
towards sex. ] If we found their terms totally unacceptable
we wouldn't do a deal. I My mind just went totally blank and
I couldn't remember the damn number. I totally refuse/
ignore/reject/fail etc The earlier surveys were almost
totally ignored.
total [adj usually before noun] A third world war might
result in the total destruction of our civilization (=might
cause it to be totally destroyed). I They have reached total
agreement on all issues.
entirely/;nta;rli/[adv]
The research results have been obtained by using an entirely
new experimental technique. I an entirely satisfactory con-
clusion to the episode I I was not entirely happy with the
arrangement. I She can go with you or stay till later, it's
entirely up to you. I entirely agree/disagree He thinks it's
all a waste of time and I entirely agree. I consist entirely
of/depend entirely on etc The programme consists almost
entirely of taped interviews with survivors of the Holocaust.
wholly/'haul-Ill (a formal word) [adv]
not wholly responsible/reliable/committed ere The
commission found that the duty officer was not wholly
responsible. I The evidence we have is not wholly reliable. I
wholly unacceptable/unexpected/unfounded ere I
regard these proposals as wholly unacceptable. I Help came
from a wholly unexpected source.
absolutely/Irebs01u:tli, rebsolu:tli/[adv]
absolutely right/perfect/correct etc Mr Moriyana is
absolutely correct - it would be impossible for us all to go. I
I am not absolutely sure that I know what it means. I abso-
lutely crazy/terrible/awful The movie I saw last night
was absolutely dreadful. I absolutely incredible/fan-
tastic/amazing etc "'How was the holiday?" "Absolutely
brilliant."l absolutely no/none/nothing/all/every-
thing He just sat there doing and saying absolutely noth-
ing. I There is absolutely no evidence against him. I They've
taken absolutely everything.
243
COMPLICATED
absolute/' ebsolu:q Iadj only before noun] We have no abso-
lute proof (=it has not been absolutely proved) that he is the
murderer. I What absolute nonsense.
utterly I ^torli/a formal word used especially to describe
things that are completely wrong, untrue, impossible ere
[adv]
utterly impossible/useless/worthless etc Without UN
help it would have been utterly impossible to arrange the con-
ference. I Whether you slept with her or not is utterly irrele-
vant. I utterly reject/spoil/destroy etc We utterly reject
the philosophy of compulsory wage control.
utter [adj only before noun] We all watched in utter amaze-
ment (=utterly amazed). ] the government's utter stupidity
in pursuing such a policy
positively/'pr)zouvli ]l 'po:-/(used when describing very
strong or surprising opinions or actions) [adv]
positively brilliant/ridiculous/awful etc Her perfor-
mance was positively marvellous. I The food in this place
isn't just bad, it's positively revolting! I positively
refuse/deny/promise etc He positively refuses to get
involved with them, no matter how much money they offer
him. I They had positively destroyed the place. Nothing was
left intact.
in every way /; n  evri  we;/suitable/identical/differ-
ent etc in every way (=suitable, identical etc in every
detail) [ adv phrase]
She is suitable for the job in every way, I have no hesitation
in recommending her. I The two drawings are identical in
every way.
in every respect/n evri r 'spekt/(used when a descrip-
tion is true in every way when you consider every detail)
[adv]
The proposals are unworkable in every respect, I cannot
recommend them to my members. I Grace was a fine woman
- perfect in almost every respect. It was a great privilege to
work for her.
in every sense/n levri sens/(used when a word or
phrase that you use is true in every possible way that it
could be understood) lady phrase]
There are still men who want to be in every sense, the "head
of the household'. I in every sense of the word She was a
true sportswoman - a professional in every sense of the word.
through and through/,Oru: on Oru:/ if someone is
good, bad etc through and through every part of their
character and behaviour shows that they are like that [adv
phrase]
I don't trust him. He's rotten through and through. I After
30 years there, he felt he was an Australian through and
through. I Einstein was a realist through and through.
whole-heartedly /hool ho:rtdli/ whole-heartedly
agree/approve/support/recommend etc (=completely
and willingly) [adv]
I whole-heartedly approve of your decision to get married.I
She suggested that the company needed a more modern
image and the directors agreed whole-heartedly.
whole-hearted [adj] The government has agreed to give the
plan its whole-hearted support (=support it whole-
heartedly).
complex COMPLICATED 1, 2, WORRIED 9
compliant OBEY 6
complicate DIFFICULT 6
complicated COMPLICATED 1, 2, 3
@ COMPLICATED
having many different parts and usually
difficult to understand
1 words for describing machines, equipmen.t
etc that have many different parts
2 words for describing a complicated system,
process, or way of doing things
3 words for describing a complicated
statement, explanation, or description

COMPLICATED 244 concept
1 words for describing machines, equipment
etc that have many different parts
complicated
complex
intricate
complicated/'komplkeiQd II 'ka:m-/[adj]
The brain is like a very powerful, very complicated com-
puter. [ DNA has a complicated chemical structure. [ All the
equipment they use for keeping fit these days seems pretty
complicated.
complex /'kampleks II Ika:mlpleks/ complicated and
difficult to understand [adj]
This is an extremely complex device that uses the latest laser
technology. ] The engines needed to power these cars are
highly complex in design.
complexity/km'pleksti/ [n U] Electronic equipment is
increasing in both efficiency and complexity.
Intricate /lintr;kt/ cleverly or skilfully made or
designed, with a lot of small details or parts [adj]
A telescope is an intricatepiece of equipment. I The workings
of this watch are incredibly intricate.
2
words for describing a complicated system,
process, or way of doing things
complicated red tape
complex bureaucracy
elaborate bu reaucratic
intricate
complicated/'komplketd 11 'ko:m-/involving a lot of
actions, details, processes etc, often more than are neces-
sary or helpful [adj]
The arrangements she makes always seem to be so compli-
cated. [ Eddie loves puzzles and sums. The more complicated
the better. [ A lot of the problems are caused by the compli-
cated instructions.
complex / kompleks 11 ka:m pleks/a process or system
that is complex involves a lot of different actions that
influence each other and that must be done correctly if it
is to be successful [adj]
Photosynthesis is a complex process which is not yet fully
understood. [ The honeybee will do a very complex dance in
order to indicate where food is.
complexity/km'pleks ti/In U] Many claimants are put off
by the sheer complexity of insurance company rules.
elaborate/ lmbart/very carefully planned and very
detailed, sometimes unnecessarily so [adj]
Scheele first produced oxygen by using an elaborate series
of experiments. [ The marking system for these exam papers
is rather elaborate.
intricate/, intrik lt/involving a lot of different processes
and needing a lot of attention to detail [adj]
Pocket calculators can solve the most intricate mathemati-
cal problem in seconds. [ The politics of the situation are
certainly intricate.
red tape /red 'tep/complicated official rules or an offi-
cial system that you have to obey before you can do or have
something, and which you find annoying [n U]
There's so much red tape involved in getting my work
permit.[ There must be a way to cut through all this red tape.
bureaucracy/bjoa'mkmsi, [[ -'ra:-/a complicated, offi-
cial system designed by a government or large organiza-
tion, with many rules, processes etc that must be obeyed
or followed, and which is annoying or confusing because
of this In U]
Hopeful immigrants can be totally confused by the
bureaucracy that controls citizenship applications. [ Govern-
ment departments have been urged to cut down on
bureaucracy in order to save money.
bureaucratic / Ibjoam'krmtk/involving a lot of com-
plicated official rules and processes [adj]
The procedure for registering is so bureaucratic! [ bureau-
eratie nightmare (=extremely complicated) Administer-
ing the new tax was always going to be a bureaucratic
nightmare.
3 words for describing a complicated
statement, explanation, or description
complicated
convoluted
tortuous
complicated/'kamplkeitod II 'ko:m-I [adj]
Senator Briggs gave some very complicated reasons for his
change in policy. [ I can't work out how to programme the
video. The instructions are too complicated. [ He knows all
the complicated Latin names for plants.
convoluted /,konvalu:td, [[ ,ka:n-/ convoluted
speech/explanation/language ete (=with a very compli-
cated structure and therefore difficult to understand or not
making good sense) [adj]
He always uses a lot of convoluted arguments to support his
theories, but no one's ever impressed. [ The structure of the
poem is extremely complex and its language convoluted.
tortuous / 'ta:rtj'uas/complicated and long and therefore
confusing or annoying [adj]
The book begins with a long, tortuous introduction. [ At last,
an end to the tortuous negotiations was in sight.
complication PROBLEM 1
compliment PRAISE 1, 5
compliment: pay sb a compliment PRAISE 1
complimentary FREE/COST NOTHING 1, PRAISE 6
comply with OBEY 2
component PART 3
compose WRITE 2
compose yourself CALM 3
composed CALM 1
composed of: be composed of CONSIST OF/
BE MADE OF 1
composure: keep/maintain/not lose your composure
CALM 1
compound MIX 4, WORSE 5
comprehend UNDERSTAND 2
comprehensible UNDERSTAND 10
comprehension UNDERSTAND 9
comprehensive COMPLETE 2
compress PRESS 4
comprise CONSIST OF/BE MADE OF
compromise AGREE 5
compulsion WANT 9
compulsive STOP DOING STH 9
compulsory MUST 5
compunction: have/feel no compunction GUILTY/
FEEL GUILTY 3
con CHEAT 1, 4
con-man CHEAT 5
concave BEND 9
conceal HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 1, 4,
HIDE/NOT SHOW 1, 2
conceal yourself HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
concealed HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE
concede ADMIT 1, LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION OR
WAR 2
conceit PROUD 6
conceited PROUD 4
conceivably MAYBE 1
conceive INVENT 1
conceive of IMAGINE 1
concentrate ATTENTION 1
concentrate on ATTENTION 2
concentration ATTENTION 1
concept IDEA 7
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
"You say" is used in definitions of some

concern 245 CONDITION/STATE OF STH
con©ern
concern ABOUT 2, WORRIED 61 7, 9
concern: cause concern/be a cause for concern
WORRIED 7
concern: not my concern DON'T CARE 3
concerned WORRIED 1
concerned: as far as I'm concerned THINK/HAVE THE
OPINION THAT 2
concerned: be concerned with ABOUT 2
concerned: not worried/not concerned/unconcerned
WORRIED 11
concerning ABOUT 1
concerted TOGETHER 7
concession LET/ALLOW 11
concessions: make concessions AGREE 5
conciliatory ARGUE 8
concise SHORT/NOT LONG 2 •
conclude DECIDE 3, FINISH DOING STH 1, 5, 6
concluding LAST 1
conclusion END 1
conclusion: be a foregone conclusion
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
conclusion: come to/reach the conclusion DECIDE 3
conclusion: jump to the conclusion DECIDE 3
conclusive CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 6
concoct INVENT 4, MAKE 6
concrete REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 2
concur AGREE 1
condemn DISAPPROVE 2, PUNISH 3
condemned CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4, KILL 11
condemned: be condemned to FORCE SB TO DO STH 3
condense LIQUID 6, SHORT/NOT LONG 3
condescending RUDE/IMPOLITE 6
condition CONDITION/STATE OF STH 1, CONDITION/STH
THAT MUST BE DONE 1, 2, ILLNESS/DISEASE
1, TEACH 3
condition: be in bad condition CONDITION/STATE OF
STH 4, 5
condition: be in good condition CONDITION/STATE
OF STH 2, FIT PERSON 1
condition: be in perfect/mint condition
CONDITION/STATE OF STH 3
condition: be out of condition/shape FIT PERSON 3
condition: on condition/on condition that IF 2
condition: on condition that CONDITION/STH THAT
MUST BE DONE 3
condition
.whtch meamng?
condition that ao. :.:ii,,... @ CONDITION/
..... .. .....
objt, machine, ,,.. STATE OF STH
.,.., .......... ....-v -'' ........ . ............. ?-,' .
.:!,?-tS.t-.ii "' @ CONDITION/ST"
. -, .. :., ......... .:;:.::::.: 
h . ,,,,,=.:,--, .......... THAT MUST BE
CONDITION/STATE
OF STH
the condition that something is in
to be in good condition
to be in very good condition
words for describing buildings, houses, and
places that are in bad condition
words for describing cars, furniture, and
machines that are in bad condition
words for describing cloth, paper etc that is in
bad condition
to gradually get into bad condition
1 the condition that something is in
condition
state
shape
condition Ikn'dIan/[n C/U]
The price of used cars varies according to their condition. I
How well your plants will grow depends on the quality and
condition of the soil. [ be in (a) good/bad/reasonable ete
condition We may need to decorate it, but the basic struc-
ture of the house is in very sound condition. [ I'm not buying
anything until I see what kind of condition it's in. [ Our
science laboratories were in such a terrible condition we've
had to close them.
state/steq a word meaning the condition that something
is in, used especially when it is in a bad condition because
it has been badly looked after In C]
the state of One of the things people complain of most is the
state of the sidewalks. [ Given the general state of his health,
it may take him a while to recover from the operation. [ in
a good/bad/reasonable ere state When Igot back home,
I was horrified to see what a terrible state the kitchen was in.
shape/eip/a word meaning the condition that some-
thing is in, used especially when you are surprised at how
good or bad the condition of it is In U]
in excellent/terrible ere shape Considering how old the
washing machine is, it's not in bad shape. [ Builders are
working on the house, trying to get it back into some kind
of reasonable shape. [ What sort of shape was your motor-
cycle in after the accident?
2 to be in good condition
be in good condition
be in good shape
be in good nick
be In good condition Ibi: in ,god kon'dn] [vphrase]
If you look after it, your CD player should remain in good
condition for a number of years. I an apartment within walk-
ing distance of the city, in good condition, and recently deco-
rated I be in excellent/great etc condition I bought a
couple of antique chairs yesterday - they're in excellent
condition.
be in good shape/bi: ;n ,god 'cpl if something is in
good shape, it is in good condition, especially when you
do not really expect it to be, or when it was not always in
such a good condition Iv phrase]
Doctor Morrissey told her that her leg was healing well, and
was now in very good shape. I To avoid accidents, it's impor-
tant to check that all your tools are in good shape before
starting.
be in good nick/bi: in god 'n;k/an informal British
expression: if something is in good nick, especially some-
thing old or used, it is still in good condition and working
well Iv phrase]
She keeps her car in really good nick. I My stereo's quite old
but it's still in pretty good nick.

CONDITION/STATE OF STH 246 CONDITION/STATE OF STH
3 to be in very good condition
be in perfect/mint condition
be as good as new
be in perfect/mint condition/bi: n ,p3:rfikt, ,mnt
kan'd,fan/if something is in perfect or mint condition,
it looks as good or works as well as it did when it was new,
especially because it has not been used or handled very
much iv phrase]
The book is 200years old, but it's still in perfect condition. [
Champagne will keep in perfect condition almost
indefinitely. [ I can't believe it. She's selling me her car for
only Ј800 and it's still in mint condition.
be as good as new/bi: az ,god z 'nju: 11 -'nu:/if some-
thing is as good as new, it looks almost as good or works
almost as well as it did when it was new, especially after
it has been cleaned or repaired Iv phrasel
l'll give this old chair a coat of paint and it'll be as good as
new. I Each time the carpet's cleaned it comes up as good as
new.
be in a state/bi: In  Isteit/a British expression mean-
ing to be in very bad condition, especially being dirty and
untidy Iv phrase]
The house is all right, but the garden really is in a state. I
be in a bad/awful/terrible etc state Inspectors said that
the school buildings were in a terrible state, and were poten-
tially dangerous.
condemned/k'demd/ifa building is condemned, it is
in such a bad condition that an official decision has been
made to destroy it, because it is no longer safe to use [adj]
Homeless people often gather in the condemned buildings on
the East Bank. I Hundreds of old people still live in con-
demned houses because the city cannot afford to find them
modern apartments.
crumbling /'kr^mbli13/ crumbling building/wall/
ruins etc (=breaking into pieces because it is so old and
so damaged by the weather) [adj only before noun]
We visited the magnificent crumbling remains of some
ancient Greek temples. I the old town houses with their crum-
bling facades
4
be in bad condition
be in bad repair
dilapidated
derelict
run-down
words for describing buildings, houses, and
places that are in bad condition
tumbledown
ramshackle
be in a state
condemned
crumbling
be in bad condition/bi: In ,bzed kan'dllan/iv phrase]
It's a lovely city, but most of the buildings are in very bad
condition. [ Considering the bad condition the place is in, the
price seems much too high. [ be in terrible/dreadful etc
condition The house really is in terrible condition - it would
cost far too much to repair.
be in bad repair/bi: in Ibmd rl pear/ifa building, road
etc is in bad repair, it has not been repaired when it
needed to be, and is now in very bad condition iv phrase]
Major roads in the UK are in very bad repair, not having
been designed to carry so much traffic. I It is the government's
fault that so many of our hospitals are in such bad repair.
dilapidated/d lepdetd/a building that is dilapi-
dated is in very bad condition because it has not been
looked after or repaired for a long time [adj]
We stayed in an old, dilapidated hotel with a leaky roof. [
Jesse was raised in a large, dilapidated house on the East
Side.
derelict ! derlikt/something, such as a house or piece
of land, that is derelict is in very bad condition because
it has been empty and unused for a very long time ]adj]
In the middle of town is a derelict building that used to be
the school. I At night they sleep huddled together in a derelict
barn. I The land behind the factory is stony and derelict.
run-down/r^n daon/a run-down area of a city is one
in which the buildings and roads are all in bad condition,
especially because the people who live there do not have
enough money to look after them properly [adj]
We drove through the run-down streets of Harlem. ] Since the
textile company moved out, the area's gotten very run-down. I
the run-down tenements, abandoned warehouses, and lit-
tered streets
tumbledown /tAmbaldaon/ tumbledown building/
house/cottage etc (-one that is old, in bad condition, and
beginning to fall down, but often in a way that is attractive)
[adj only before noun]
We arrived at a tumbledown cottage, surrounded by over-
grown rose bushes and a broken fence. I Sydney Tech was
a collection of tumbledown old buildings in Paddington.
ramshackle/'rzemzekal/a building that is ramshackle
is in very bad condition and looks as though it is likely to
fall down, especially because it was badly built, with cheap
materials [adj only before noun]
The river was lined with ramshackle houses that jutted out
over the water. I Surrounding the mine are muddy hillsides
packed with ramshackle tin huts.
5
be in bad condition
be in bad shape
decrepit
clapped-out
beat-up
words for describing cars, furniture, and
machines that are in bad condition
be on its last legs
has seen better days
be shot
rickety
be falling apart/falling to bits
be in bad condition/bi: n ,bed kn'dij'an/Ivphrase]
When I bought the car it was in very bad condition. [ In the
churchyard the graves were all in bad condition, choked with
weeds. [ be in terrible/dreadful ete condition It's a nice
piece of furniture, but in such terrible condition you won't
get much money for it.
be in bad shape/bi: in bmd 'eip/if something is in
bad shape, it is in bad condition, especially because it has
not been looked after properly [v phrase]
I should go to the dentist soon, my teeth are in really bad
shape. [ By the time they reached the shore, the ship was in
pretty bad shape.
decrepit/dl krept/something that is decrepit is in very
bad condition because it is old and has been used a lot, so
that it is now almost impossible to use it for what it was
designed to do [adj]
The decrepit old bed squeaked every time I turned over. [ The
bus looked so decrepit that I could not believe it would take
us to the next city without breaking down.
clapped.out/,klept 'aut/an informal British expres-
sion: a machine or vehicle that is clapped-out is in very
bad condition and does not work properly because it is old
and has been used too much [adj]
Of course the carpet's a mess - all we've got is a clapped-out
old vacuum cleaner. I She owns a clapped-out twelve-year-
old Ford.
beat.up/,bi:t '^p,/an informal American word: some-
thing that is beat-up is in very bad condition because it
is old, used a lot, and is not well looked after [adj]
They had a wooden box for a table and a couple of beat-up
chairs. I He drove a beat-up old Chevrolet that belched black
smoke into the air.
be falling apart/falling to bits/bi: ,f3:lirj atpo:rt,
I f3:l i 0 ta bits/if something is falling apart or is falling
to bits, it is so old and in such bad condition that it is break-
ing into pieces, is very weak, and is very easily damaged
[ v phrase]
I must get some new shoes. These ones are falling apart. [ She
had kept the letter all these years and now it was faded and
falling to bits.
be on its last legs/bi: on ItS lo:st legz [[-lest-/ if
something is on its last legs, it has been used so much and
is in such bad condition that you will soon not be able to
use it any more [v phrase]
We'll have to start looking around for a new car - this one's
on its last legs.

CONDITION/STATE OF STH 2? CONDITIONISTH THAT MUST BE DONE
has seen better days/hoz si:n Ibeto r Idez/if some-
thing has seen better days it is not in the good condition
it once was in, because it is old or has been used a lot
[ v phrase ]
The carpets, curtains, and cushions had all seen better days
but still looked quite pretty. I She lived in a rambling Vic-
torian house that had certainly seen better days.
be shot/bi: fot II -Va:t/if something such as a machine
or piece of clothing is shot, it has been used so much that
it is broken or very weak, and can no longer be used
[ v phrase ]
There's no point trying to repair the car. The engine's shot. I
be shot to hell (=in very bad condition) Sure, the uphol-
story's shot to hell but it's still a comfortable sofa.
rickety/'rkotil rickety chair/table/staircase etc (=one
that is in such bad condition it looks as if it might break
or fall down if you try to use it) [adj]
They sat around the card table on rickety old chairs. [ The
staircase was old and rickety. [ a rickety bamboo fence
6 words for describing cloth, paper etc that is in
bad condition
shabby
worn
battered
threadbare
ratty
ratty
dog-eared
shabby I'ebil clothes, books etc that look shabby are
no longer in good condition because they are old and have
been used a lot [adj]
John was standing in the doorway in his shabby blue suit.[
She wore shabby black clothes, with holes in the elbows of
her jacket. [ Jon looked around the room with its shabby
furniture.
shabbiness [n U] She tried to ignore the faded carpet and
the shabbiness of the curtains.
worn/w:rn/something such as material or cloth that is
worn is thinner or weaker in certain parts as a result of
being used a lot over a long time [adj]
There was a worn Persian rug on the parquet floor. [ We used
to cut up worn blankets to make sleeping bags for the chil-
dren. [ The brake pads are very worn.
battered/bmtord/something that is battered is old and
in bad condition because it has been hit, dropped etc
several times without being repaired [adj]
The professor got out a battered copy of Shakespeare's plays. [
Granny turned up at about six o'clock, wearing her winter
coat and a battered old purple hat. [ He carried everything
he owned in a battered suitcase.
threadbare /'Oredbeorl threadbare clothes/curtains/
carpets etc (=made of cloth that has become very thin and
weak because it has been used so much) [adj]
She stood shivering in her threadbare dress. [ There was a
clean but threadbare rug on the jToor beside the bed.
ratty/'rmtil an informal American word: clothes, books,
etc that are ratty are no longer in good condition because
they are old and have been used a lot [adj]
Spencer had on this very sad, ratty old bathrobe. I The houses
are all dark, like miserable ratty boxes.
ratty / teti/in bad condition and slightly torn as a result
of being used a lot [adj]
At the window of the cottage hang ratty, faded curtains. I
Some of our textbooks are starting to look rather ratty.
dog-eared/dDg Iord II 'd:g-/a dog-eared book/page/
photograph etc (=one that is in very bad condition as a
result of being used or handled so much) [adj]
Professor Brightly walked into the lecture hall with a pile
of dog-eared notes under his arm. I On the other wall was
a dog-eared calendar with faded pictures.
7 to gradually get into bad condition
fall into disrepair
go to rack and ruin
fall into disrepair/,fail Into Idsr'peor/if something
such as a building falls into disrepair, it is not well looked
after and never gets repaired when it needs t6 be, so that
its condition gradually gets worse [v phrase]
Dave and Sally couldn't afford to get anything done to the
house and it fell into disrepair. I Standing in the fields were
pieces of farm machinery that had long since fallen into
disrepair.
go to rack and ruin/gou to ,rink ond *ru:on/ffsomething
goes to rack and ruin, its condition is deliberately
allowed to get worse and worse until it becomes almost
impossible to save or repair [v phrase]
He's let his father's old house go to rack and ruin. [ It seems
that the government is prepared to let all our hospitals and
schools go to rack and ruin.
CONDITIONISTH
THAT MUST BE
DONE
1 something that must happen first before
something else can happen
2 something that is stated in an agreement or
contract as being necessary before
something else can happen or be allowed
3 ways of saying what the conditions of an
agreement are
4 without any conditions
I something that must happen first before
something else can happen
condition
precondition
prerequisite
condition Ikon'dI[nl [n C]
condition for/of Finance ministers claimed that all the
conditions for economic revival were already in place. I In
her view, women's full participation in the labor market is
a necessary condition of liberation.
precondition/,pri:kon'dan! a formal word meaning a
situation that has to exist before something else can
happen In C]
precondition for/of One of the most obvious preconditions
for economic growth is a stable government. [ To Marx, the
violent overthrow of capitalism was a precondition of
socialism.
prerequisite /pri.-rekwozot/ a formal word meaning
something that must happen, or something that someone
must have, before something else can happen or exist In C]
prerequisite forCf Adequate food and shelter are the mini-
mum prerequisites of a decent life. I Some measure of educa-
tional attainment is a prerequisite for employment there.
2 something that is stated in an agreement or
contract as being necessary before
something else can happen or be allowed
condition proviso
terms stipulation
requirements
condition/kon'dian/[n C]
One of the conditions of the agreement was that both sides
would call an immediate ceasefire. I It is a condition of my
contract with the university that I spend half of the summer
vacation doing research. [ As a condition of giving them the
rights to the movie, we insisted on a share of the profits. I
meet/satisfy a condition (=obey what is demanded by a
condition) The Worm Bank will only agree to make this loan
if certain conditions are met. I lay/down impose a condi-
tion (=state what must be done) The Pentagon laid down

CONDITIONISTH THAT MUST BE DONE 248 CONFIDENT
strict conditions regarding the export of these weapons. I
under the conditions of(=according to what is stated in
an agreement) Under the conditions of the GATT trade
agreement, farm subsidies would be gradually phased out.
terms/t3:rmz/the conditions that are stated in a written
agreement, contract, or legal document In plural]
President Bush refused to reveal the terms of the peace agree-
ment to the press. I Alan's lawyer wants to alter the terms
of his contract with the computer company. I under the
terms of (=according to the terms of) Under the terms of
the will, Mallory could only inherit the family home if he
agreed to continue living there.
requirements/rE Ikwamrmants/a set of things that you
must do or must achieve in order to be officially allowed
to do something or have something In plural]
A high grade in mathematics is one of the requirements for
entry to medical school. ] meet/satisfy/fulfil require-
ments (=do or achieve certain stated things) Restaurant
owners have had to improve hygiene standards in order to
meet new government requirements. I The business does not
satisfy all the requirements necessary to qualify for tax con-
cessions.
proviso/pralvaizao/a single condition that you make
before you agree to do something In C]
We will lend you the money, Mr Renton, but there is one
proviso - you must inform us before making any purchase
over ЈI000. I with the proviso that Bill had left all his
money to his grandson with the proviso that it must be spent
on his education.
stipulation /,stlpj°ole:dn/ a specific condition that is
dearly stated as part of an agreement [n C]
He was commissioned to write a play, the only stipulation
being that it must have some connection with the Russian
revolution. I The union is pressing for higher pay but has
made no stipulations about the numbers of workers to be
employed.
3 ways of saying what the conditions of an
agreement are
on condition that
be conditional on/upon
on condition that/on kandIan 6at/if you agree to do
something on condition that something else happens, you
will only do it if this thing happens [conjunction]
Ran lent me the money on condition that I paid it back within
three weeks. [ General Motors agreed to supply trucks to the
Chinese government on condition that they altered their pric-
ingpolicy on cars. [ on one condition (=if this one thing
is done) You can borrow the car on one condition - that you
promise to be back before midnight.
be conditional on/upon/kandianal n, alpn/if an
offer, agreement, or someone's permission is conditional
on something else, it will only be given if something else
happens Iv phrase]
Offers of financial aid were conditional upon the company
changing its management structure. I Permission to use fire-
arms is conditional on the consent of the Chief of Police.
conditional [adj] They have made us a conditional offer
(=an offer that is conditional on certain things being done).
4 without any conditions
unconditional
no strings attached
unconditional /AnkandJ'anal-/ unconditional sur-
render/release/agreement etc (=which someone agrees
to without any conditions) [adj usually before noun]
General Schwartz said he would fight on until the enemy
agreed to an unconditional surrender. I They are campaign-
ing for the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
unconditionally [adv] If you are not completely satisfied
with our service, we will unconditionally refund your money.
no strings attached /nau ,strIoz a'tmttl if you offer
something or ask for something with no strings attached,
you offer it or ask for it without stating any conditions
Emergency food aid should be given with no strings
attached. I Before you accept the loan you'd better make sure
that there are no strings attached.
!il conditional: be conditional on/upon CONDITION/STH
 THAT MUST BE DONE 3
iiiii conditions SITUATION 1, 2,.WEATHER 1
}il condolences: send/offer condolences SYMPATHIZE 2
,} condone APPROVE 1
conducive: be conducive to HELP 5
conduct BEHAVE 5, DO 1, SHOW/LET SB SEE STt 5,
TAKE/BRING 6
conduct an experiment TEST/EXPERIMENT 2
conduct an inquiry: hold/conduct an inquiry
INVESTIGATE 1
conduct yourself BEHAVE 1
confer GIVE 5
conference MEET 6
confess ADMIT 3, 5
confess: I must admit/I must confess ADMIT 3
confession ADMIT 6
confide in TELL 9
confidence CONFIDENT 4, TRUST 2
confidence: boost sb's confidence CONFIDENT 5
confidence: give sb confidence CONFIDENT 5
confidence: have confidence in BELIEVE 3, TRUST 1
confidence: in confidence SECRET 6
confidence: lack confidence/be lacking in confidence
CONFIDENT 7
confident CONFIDENT 1, SURE 1
@CONFIDENT
I words for describing a confident person
2 to behave in a confident way
3 too confident
4 a feeling of being confident
5 to make someone feel more confident
6 to make someone feel less confident
7 not confident
1 words for describing a confident person
confident assured/self-assured
self-confident assertive
sure of yourself
confident I'konfIodant II 'ka:n-/ sure that you can do
something, or deal with a situation successfully, and not
worried that you might fail, or do something wrong [adj]
Gemma seems so confident, it's hard to believe it's her first
month here. I She's a very confident public speaker. [ Hardy "s
relaxed, confident manner soon earned him the liking and
respect of his team. I confident about The more familiar
you are with this machine, the more confident you will be
about using it.
confidently [adv ] Ed walked up to the stranger confidently
and began to talk to him.
self.confident/self konfoIdant II -ko:n-/sure that you
have ability, that people like you, that you are attractive
etc, and not afraid or nervous in social situations [adj]
Latimer's elder brother was tall, handsome, and very self-
confident. I As a child he was always self-confident, happily
joining in with adult conversations. I Gradually the mer-
chants in the medieval cities developed into a powerful and
self-confident elite.
sure of yourself/'uar av ja:r self/very sure that your
actions and opinions are correct, even if other people do
not agree with you [adj phrase]
He sounded so positive and sure of himself that I didn't argue
any longer. I But of course the politicians were too sure of
themselves to bother what other people thought.
assured/self.assured laj'uard, self alj'uard-/ very
confident in the way that you deal with other people,

CONFIDENT
especially in public situations when people's attention is
fixed on you [adj]
She noticed the assured way Dr Saito responded to the
difficult questions. [ a brisk, assured introductory speech I
When I first met him, I thought he was very self-assured, but
he's actually quite shy.
assertive/alsa:rtIv/willing to calmly and confidently
say what you think, ask for what you want, or disagree
with other people, without being nervous or embarrassed
[adj]
The report shows that women are becoming more assertive
in the workplace. I He was an assertive young man who made
his presence felt.
assertively [adv] Students are taught how to make com-
plaints assertively, rather than agressively.
assertiveness [n U] Assertiveness is a skill that many people
have not developed. ] assertiveness training
2 to behave in a confident way
assert yourself
assert yourself/o's3:rt j3:r,self/to behave confidently,
for example, by saying what you think, in a way that makes
other people notice and respect you [v phrase]
You have to assert yourself if you want to be promoted. I
People just take advantage of him because he doesn't assert
himself enough.
3 too confident
overconfident
cocky
brash
overconfident/,ovr'kDnfdant II -'ka:n-/[adj]
After a few months of driving it's easy to become overconfi-
dent and start to take foolish risks. I Labour's overconfident
"victory" rally may have eventually lost them the election.
cocky/koki II 'ka:ki/an informal British word meaning
too confident, in a way that annoys other people ]adj]
I think she didn't get the job because she was too cocky in the
interview. I Don't praise him too much - we don't want him
to get cocky!
brash/brze/behaving too confidently, for example by
talking loudly, or being too friendly with people you do not
know., in a way that annoys other people [adj]
He was noisy, loud-mouthed and brash. I a brash New
Yorker with plenty of money I It needed a brash young poli-
tician, such as I was in 1949, to speak out.
4 a feeling of being confident
confidence morale
self-confidence belief in yourself
assurance/self-assurance
confidence/'konfdans II 'ko:n-/the belief that you have
the ability to do things well, or deal with situations suc-
cessfully [n U1
You need patience and confidence to be a good teacher. I I
went into the exam full of confidence, but it was more difficult
than I had expected. I restore sb's confidence (=give some-
one confidence again) Going back to work restored my con-
fidence and made me feel like a worthwhile person again. I
confidence to do sth It was a long time before I had the con-
fidence to tell other people what to do.
self.confidence /self konfdans 11-Ika:n-/ the belief
that you can do things successfully, that people like you,
that you are attractive etc, and the ability to behave calmly
and confidently in social situations [n U]
He's only seventeen, but he has enormous self-confidence. [
A lack of self-confidence often stems from your relationship
with your parents. [ She's acquired much more authority and
self-confidence since I last saw her.
assurance/self-assurance/ oarns, ,self 'oamns/
a feeling of calm confidence shown especially by the way
you behave in a difficult situation, which is often the result
of having a lot of experience [n U]
249
CONFIDENT
She envied the older woman's assurance. [ Her father had
all the self-assurance, power and knowledge that she lacked.. I
Danby spoke to the committee with the assurance of an
expert.
morale/rn'rўa:l II mrel/the level of confidence felt by
a person or by a group of people who work together [n U]
Letters from home are always good for the morale of kids
away on camp. I Morale is very low among the more junior
staff. I We used to sing songs and make jokes to keep morale
up.
belief in yourself/b li:f in j3:r,self/confidence in your
own abilities, value, and judgment, which makes it likely
that you will be successful at something [n phrase]
You mustn't lose your belief in yourself if you want to become
an actor.
5 to make someone feel more confident
give sb confidence
boost sb's confidence
boost morale/raise morale
boost sb's ego
give sb a boost/a fillip/a lift
give sb confidence/,gv (sb) 'konQddns II -'k:n-/[v
phrase]
Going to university was good for me. It gave me confidence. I
give sb the confidence to do sth Good training will give
a learner the confidence to enjoy skiing. I give you confi-
dence in yourself Surely this latest success should give us
confidence in ourselves.
boost sb's confidence /,bu:st (sb's) 'konfdans 1[
-'ka:n-/an event or action that boosts someone's confi-
dence quickly makes them feel more confident [vphrase]
Winning this race will really boost the team's confidence for
the Olympics. I To boost my confidence I went for a haircut
and bought some new clothes.
boost morale/raise morale/bu:st mo'ra:l, IreIz- II
-'rel/to raise the level of confidence and satisfaction of a
group of people [v phrasel
The prisoners organised regular football games to raise
morale in the camp. [ Involvement in decision-making boosts
the morale of any workforce tremendously.
boost sb's ego / bu:st (sb's) 'i:goo/to make someone feel
more confident about themselves, for example by saying
good things about their appearance, character, or work
[v phrase]
It was nice to have my work praised for once - it really
boosted my ego. [It would boost his ego no end if he found
out Jane fancied him.
give sb a boostla fillipla lift/glv (sb)  bu:st,  'filp,
 'lft/if something gives you a boost/a fillip/a lift, it
makes you feel happier and more confident [v phrase]
Nothing could have given the team a bigger boost than that
victory over Canada. [ A valuable order from Japan gave
the company a much-needed fillip. [ When I was feeling down,
talking to Marion always gave me a lift.
6 to make someone feel less confident
shake sb's confidence
demoralizing
shake sb's confidence /,J'eik (sb's) 'konfdns II
-k(a:n-/ if something shakes someone's confidence, it
makes them feel unsure of their abilities and less confident
l v phrase/
Losing his job really shook his confidence. I Her confidence
was badly shaken when she was involved in a car accident
some years ago.
demoralizing/d morla;z3 II-'mz:r-/making people
feel that they cannot be successful at something they are
trying to do, so that they become unwilling to continue
with it [adj]
I find my failure to stick to a diet very demoralizing. I the
demoralizing effects of unemployment
demoralize [v T] If we explain the problem clearly to the
staff, it shouldn't demoralize them too much.

CONFIDENT 250 CONFUSED
7 not confident
lack confidence/be
lacking in confidence
unsure of yourself
i n sec u re
demoralized
lack confidence/be lacking in confidence/,
Ikonfdans, bi: IIeki 0 in kt)nfdans [[ -'ka:n-/to not be con-
fident about your abilities, your popularity, your appear-
ance etc Iv phrase]
She could be very good at this work, but she lacks confidence. [
Not surprisingly, he was lacking in confidence and depressed
after his rejection. [ lack (the) eonf'lflenee to do sth Women
often lack the confidence to take part in union affairs.
lack of confidence [n phrase] A lack of confidence in his
abilities meant he did not publish his first volume of poetry
until he waft43.
unsure of yourself/^n'foar av ja:r,self/not confident
about your abilities, achievements, or character, especially
because you are young or have very little experience of
something [adj phrase]
The new trainee seemed shy and unsure of himself, but soon
became increasingly confident. [ Sheila had married very
young, at a time when she was unsure of herself and her
future.
Insecure/,ns 'kjoor/not confident about making your
own decisions, trying new experiences, or forming new
relationships, for example, because you are worried that
you will not be successful, or that people will disapprove
of you if you do [adj]
Most people feel insecure and homesick when they leave home
to go to college. [ These "paramilitary" team games generally
appeal to insecure young men who are trying to prove them-
selves. [ insecure about sth Although she's a model she's
very insecure about her looks.
insecurity In U] Extreme jealousy is usually rooted in deep
anxiety and feelings of insecurity.
demoralized Id 'mvmlaizd II -Ima:r-/a group of people
who are demoralized have lost all their confidence that
they can succeed at something they are trying to do, so that
they become unwilling to continue with it [adj]
The general was killed early in the battle, and his demoral-
ized army was soon defeated. I If the management is not
optimistic about the future, employees may become demoral-
ized.
confidential SECRET 1
confidentiality SECRET 10
confine KEEP SB IN A PLACE 1, 2, LIMIT 6
confined: be confined to ONLY 5
confines LIMIT 4
confirm CHECK/MAKE SURE 1, PROVE 2, SAY/STATE 3
confiscate TAKE STH FROM SB 3
conflict DIFFERENT 8, WAR 2
conflict: be in conflict with DISAGREE 2
conflicting DIFFERENT 8
conform OBEY 3
conformist CONVENTIONAL 1
conformity OBEY 3
confront ACCUSE 1, ATTACK 1, DEAL WITH 5
confrontation FIGHT 5
confronted: be confronted with PROBLEM 6
confuse CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 6, CONFUSED
confuse: cloud/confuse the issue CLEAR/EASY TO
UNDERSTAND 6
confused CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 5, CONFUSED
1, MENTALLY ILL 5
CONFUSED
worried and uncertain, for example about
what something means or what is the right
thing to do
2 confused because something is very difficult
to understand
3 to make someone feel confused
4 words for describing a statement, situation etc
that makes you feel confused
5 to make a mistake and think that one thing or
person is another, because you are confused
1 worried and uncertain, for example about
what something means or what is the right
thing to do
confused be in a muddle
confusion mixed-up
bewildered bemused
confused/kan'fju:zd/worried and uncertain, for exam-
ple about what something means or what is the right thing
to do, especially because there are several possible mean-
ings or several things that could be done etc [adj]
I felt very confused because I didn't know whether he wanted
to see me or not. [ Sorry, I'm a bit confused - do you mean
you want us to keep the vacancy open for you or not? l con-
fused about Many young people are confused about what
career to choose - there are so many possibilities. [ confused
face/expression ere Jamie was staring at the map with a
confused expression, trying to work out where they were.
confusion/kan'fju:3an/a situation in which people feel
confused In U]
confusion about/over There is still a lot of confusion about
how much fat it is safe to eat in your diet. I Confusion over
the new regulations has prompted the government to distrib-
ute information packs. [ confusion Fear, hatred and con-
fusion are the legacy of the Vietnam War. [ throw sb/sth
into confusion (=make them feel confused) The news that
the Managing Director was to resign threw the company's
future into confusion.
bewildered/bI wlldard/very confused, and often having
a surprised expression on your face, because you do not
know why something is happening, or because things are
happening very quickly [adj]
"What's happening?" asked the bewildered young man, as
he opened the door to four policemen. I Customers stood,
bewildered, as the bank robber made off with a stash of
money. I bewildered by/at My grandmother was bewil-
dered by the sudden and rapid change from poverty to
wealth.
be in a muddle/bi: In  mAdl/ an informal British
expression meaning to be confused, especially because you
are trying to do something complicated or because you
have a lot of things to do Iv phrase]
I wonder if you could help Emma sort out thepapers - she's
in a bit of a muddle. [ be in a muddle about There were
four phone calls at once and the secretary was in a muddle
about who wanted to talk to who. [ get into a muddle It's
best to paint the background first and then the pattern. That
way you don't get into a muddle.
mixed-up/,mikst ^p-/confused, especially over a long
period of time and unable to decide what to do, especially
because of personal or emotional problems [adj]
I'm so mixed up. I met this terrific guy six months ago and
now I've found out he's married. What should I do? [ His par-
ents are divorced and his father brings home a differeht girl
every week. No wonder he's a mixed-up kid.
bemused/b mju:zd! confused, surprised, and slightly
annoyed by what has happened, or by what someone has
said [adj]
When she told him to leave, he just sat there with a bemused
expression on his face. I The girl appeared bemused, even
upset. "What are you talking about?" she said. I bemused
by Bemused by the sudden change in events, the authorities
were slow to respond.

CONFUSED
2 confused because something is very difficult
to understand
puzzled perplexed
baffled mystified
puzzled/ pAzald/confused about something, especially
because you have no experience of it and cannot under-
stand it [adj]
The waiter looked puzzled and explained that he wasn't
familiar with Western-style cooking. [ puzzled by/at Doc-
tors were puzzled by the unusual marks on the child's face. [
We were both puzzled at the appearance of a horse in the
street. ] puzzled look/expression etc He admitted, with a
puzzled frown, that he didn't understand a word of the
speech.
baffled/'bafdld/confused about something that you have
tried very hard to understand, but have not been able to
[adj]
"'I still can't get the right answer, "" said Dane, looking baf-
fled. I Detectives admit they are baffled as to the identity of
the killer. I baffled by For years scientists have been baffled
by the strange circles that have appeared in cornfields.
perplexed/pa r 'plekst/a formal word meaning confused
and worried by an event or situation that you do not under-
stand [adj ]
Jim obeyed his boss's strange instructions, but remained per-
plexed and a little anxious. [ perplexed expression/
smile/face ere Stephen shrugged his shoulders. A perplexed
expression passed over his face. [ perplexed by Julie, per-
plexed by her boyfriend's sudden outburst, kept out of his
way.
mystified / 'm,stfad/completely confused about some-
thing because it is difficult or impossible to understand
[adj]
mystified by I am completely mystified by your son's
behaviour. [ mystified The children watched, mystified, as
their grandfather sniffed the powder from the back of his
hand.
3 to make someone feel confused
confuse baffle
puzzle throw
confuse/kan'fju:z/[v T]
His sudden change in mood completely confused her. [ Don't
show him the other way of doing it - it'll only confuse him. [
Confused by the noise and blinding lights, the horses
panicked and stampeded into the crowd.
puzzle / IphZal/if something puzzles you, it confuses you
because you cannot understand it, or why it has happened
[vT]
The fact that none of his letters had been answered rather
puzzled him. I what puzzles me is Whatpuzzles me is why
she doesn't just leave him.
baffle /bafal I if something baffles you, you cannot
understand it at all, even though you try very hard to [v T]
The exact nature of black holes continues to baffle scientists. [
Karen's best attempts" to explain the situation simply served
to baffle the children.
throw/Omu/if something throws you, it makes you sud-
denly feel confused because it is unexpected and surpris-
ing [v T]
I could answer most of the questions but the last one really
threw me. I Janice wasn't particularly pleased that we'd
arranged a surprise party - in fact it completely threw her.
4 words for describing a statement, situation etc
that makes you feel confused
confusing bewildering
puzzling baffling
confusing Ikn'fju:zo/ something that is confusing
makes you feel confused because its purpose or meaning
is not clear or simple [adj]
This is not a good title for the book - it is too confusing. [
251 conjunction
The London Underground can be confusing if you "re not used
to it.
puzzling /p^zalOI an event, situation or fact that is puz-
zling makes you feel confused because it is difficult to
understand [ adj]
The thing I find most puzzling is that she never mentions her
kids. [ He said someone was trying to kill me - it was all very
puzzling and distressing. [ Police are trying to make sense
of a puzzling chain of events that led up to the kidnap
attempt.
bewildering/b 'wldano/an event or situation that is
bewildering makes you feel very confused, especially
because you do not understand why it is happening, or
because it is something new and unusual [adj]
It was the first time she had ever been to a football game and
she found it all very bewildering. I Young children find
hospital a strange and bewildering place. I Everyone finds
the transition from child to adult bewildering and disturb-
ing to some degree.
baffling l'bflol extremely difficult or impossible to
understand, and therefore making you feel extremely con-
fused [adj ]
I found his sudden refusal to come to the wedding completely
baffling. [ New evidence has provided a clue to one of the most
baffling crimes the police have had to deal with.
5 to make a mistake and think that one thing or
person is another, because you are confused
confuse
mix sb up
get sth mixed up
confuse Ikn'fju:z/[v T]
Try not to confuse 'your" and "you "re'. [ confuse sth/sb with
Sparkling wine can easily be confused with champagne. [ I
always confuse her with her sister. [ not to be confused
with (=do not confuse with)former US politician Donald
Regan - not to be confused with Ronald Reagan
mix sb up/rnks (sb) '^p/to make a mistake and think
that one person is another person [phr v TI
My sister and I look so alike people are always mixing us
up. [ mix sb up with Donald never went to university - I
think you're mixing him up with Keith.
get sth mixed up/get (sth) mkst '^p/to confuse one
thing with another [v phrase]
get sth mixed up with Children learning to write often get
"b" mixed up with "d'. [ get sth mixed up They got his bag-
gage tags mixed up and sent the suitcases" to Seattle instead
of Portland.
confusing CONFUSED 4
confusion CONFUSED 1, DISORGANIZED 3
congeal THICK LIQUID 3
conglomerate COMPANY 1
congratulate PRAISE 10
congratulations PRAISE 10
congregate CROWD 3
conjecture GUESS 6
conjunction: in conjunction with WITH 3, 7
. connect ......
which meaning?
join two things
together
connected with,
related to
JOIN STH
TOGETHER
CONNECTED
WITH
attached to an object,
surface etc
ATTACH

connect 252 CONNECTED WITH
connect CONNECTED WITH 6, JOIN STH TOGETHER 2, 3
connect: connect up JOIN STH TOGETHER 1
connected: be connected CONNECTED WITH 1, JOIN
STH TOGETHER 5
connected: be connected with CONNECTED WITH 3
connected: well-connected FRIEND 5
CONNECTED
WITH
ways of saying that a fact, event etc is
connected with something else that causes it
or affects it in some way
to have a connection with something, for
example by being similar or related in some
way
to have a social or professional relationship
with another person or organization,
especially of a secret or dishonest kind
words for describing things that are
connected with each other, especially by
being similar in some way
having a clear connection with the subject
that is being, considered or talked about
to show or believe that there is a connection
between two facts, events, ideas, or people
something that connects two facts, events,
ideas, or people
not connected in any way
having no connection with the subject that is
being considered or talked about
be associated with Low educational achievement is
strongly associated with poverty and disadvantage. I He had
private troubles, associated with his family. I be associated
Financial problems and marital problems are often
associated.
there is a link/connection between/bear z 0 hrjk,
ko' nekj'an bitwi:n/if there is a link or connection between
two things they happen or exist together, and one is
affected or caused by the other
Parents often cannot see that there is a connection between
their behaviour and that of their children. I There's a definite
connection between modern central heating systems and
asthma. I There has always been a link between democracy
and ideas of equality.
there is a correlation between/with /bear z o
,korIa 'lei.fan bitwi:n, wb ]l -,ko:-I if there is a correlation
between two things, they happen or exist together and it
seems likely that one causes or influences the other
One of the students asked whether there was any correlation
between rainfall and temperature. I In tests, there was no
correlation found between diet and intelligence. I Asfar as
voting behaviour goes, there is a strong correlation with
social class.
be bound up with/bi: ibaond lap Wl6/if something is
bound up with something else, the two things are so
closely connected that neither of them can be properly con-
sidered or successfully dealt with on its own Iv phrase]
His problems are all bound up with his relationship with his
parents. I The political struggle in Romania was bound up
with what was happening in the rest of Eastern Europe.
go hand in hand/goo ,hend n Iheend/if two ideas, sit-
uations, or problems go hand in hand they tend to happen
or exist together and there is a close connection between
them Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
In most societies, wealth and power go hand in hand. I go
hand in hand with For a long time, education went hand
in hand with religion.
1
ways of saying that a fact, event etc is
connected with something else that causes it
or affects it in some way
there is a correlation
between/with
be bound up with
go hand in hand
be connected
be related
be linked
be associated
there is a link/
connection between
be connected Ibi: konektod/[v phrase]
It seems likely that the western diet and high levels of heart
disease are connected. I be closely connected The increase
in tobacco sales and the recent advertising campaign are
closely connected. I be connected with Changes in moral
values tend to be connected with changes in a society's eco-
nomic standing. I The most common illnesses among VDU
operators are connected with the eyes and vision.
be related /bi: rleItd/ if two or more things are
related, they are connected with each other because one
affects or causes the other Iv phrase]
be related to Each country has its own problems, which are
related to its economic and political position. [ Families
reported widespread hardship directly related to absentee or
alcoholic fathers. I be closely related The income of disa-
bled people is closely related to the severity of their disabili-
ties. [ be related It's fairly obvious that pollution and heavy
car use are related.
be linked Ibi: Ilirjkt/if two things are linked, one affects
or causes the other, although the connection is not always
easily seen and cannot always be proved Iv phrase]
Drug dealing and prostitution are often linked. [ be linked
with Aluminium in water is now being linked with prema-
ture aging. [ be linked to People need assurances that their
pension will be linked to increases in the cost of living.
be associated/bi: olsotffieitd/if problems or difficul-
ties are associated with a particular situation or event,
they are likely to happen because of it Iv phrase]
' to have a connection with something, for
example by being similar or related in some
way
be related
there is a connection between
have/be something to do with
be a relationship between
be intertwined
be related Ibi: ri'letodl [v phrase]
Scientists are conducting experiments to show how thought
and speech are related. I Most languages spoken in Europe
are related. ] The theory of evolution pointed out for the first
time that humans and other mammals were related.
there is a connection between/eor lZ o ko'nekn
btwi:n/if there is a connection between two things, there
are some things about them that are similar or related
[ v phrase]
There used to be a much closer connection between the arts
and sciences than there is today. I Is there any connection
between the poet's background and his political thinking?
have/be something to do with Ihev, bi: s^mOlrJ to
'du: w61 if something has something to do with or is
something to do with something else, the two things are
connected in some way, although you are not always sure
in exactly what way Iv phrase not in progressive]
I'm not sure what her job is, but it's something to do with
marketing. I Terri's going into hospital tomorrow - it's
something to do with her leg, I think. I have/be a lot to do
with (=be closely connected) His decision to move overseas
has a lot to do with his financial problems.
be a relationship between/bi: o ri IleLfanJ'i p bitwi:n/
to be connected in a way that you can see or explain Iv
phrase]
In most writing systems, there is a clear relationship between
pronunciation and spelling. I The book sets out to prove that
there is a strong relationship between violent behavior and
some types of food.

CONNECTED WITH 253 CONNECTED WITH
be Intertwined /bi: , nta r'twaInd/ if two things are
intertwined, they are so similar and so closely connected
that it is impossible to consider them separately [vphrase]
be closely intertwined Her religious and social concerns
are closely intertwined. [ be intertwined with In the middle
ages, foreign trade gradually became intertwined with every
aspect of economic activity.
3 to have a social or professional relationship
with another person or organization,
especially of a secret or dishonest kind
be connected with
have links/connections with
be linked with
be connected with/bi: ko'nektaId wi6/[r phrase]
He's connected with the City Police Department. I Senators
are demanding to know whether the vice-president is in any
way connected with the arms suppliers.
have links/connections with/hev hoks, k'nekanz
w6/to have a relationship with someone, especially with
an organization that most people disapprove of Iv phrase]
She strongly denies that she has any connections with the
IRA. [ have close finks/connections with The govern-
ment still has close trading links with South Africa.
be linked with/bi: 'hrjkt w6/to be connected with the
activities of an organization, especially one that people dis-
approve of Iv phrase]
Police are still saying the mafia may be linked with the
shooting.
4 words for describing things that are
connected with each other, especially by
being similar in some way
related
associated
allied
related/n 'leItIdl [adj]
Leaders will meet to discuss the debt crisis, investment and
other related issues. I closely related The two questions are
closely reTated but will need to be considered separately.
associated /a'souj'ietd, 'sosi-I associated prob-
lems/difficulties etc (=that are often connected with a
particular situation or event, and are likely to happen as
a result of it) [adj usually before noun]
The group tours schools, talking to kids about drug abuse
and its associated problems. I I was warned by the doctor
about the associated side effects of the new treatment.
allied/' ela;d, olai d/allied industries/organizations/
trades etc (=connected with each other because they are
similar or because they depend on each other) [adj usually
before noun]
There are strong trade unions in most of the motor and allied
industries. I the medical and other allied health occupations
5 having a clear connection with the subject
that is being considered or talked about
relevant
pertinent
relevant I'relIavntl [adj]
If you join in the discussion, make sure that what you say
is relevant. I Students will find a list of relevant articles at
the back of the book. I relevant to Tonight's documentary
will be highly relevant to any woman who has suffered dis-
crimination in the workplace.
relevance In U] I didn't really understand the relevance of
her comments.
pertinent / pa:rtInant/a formal word meaning directly
connected with and important to the subject that is being
considered [adj]
Please keep your comments pertinent and brief.I I think it
may be pertinent at this point to raise the question of how
the new department will be funded. I pertinent to The police
department is appealing for any information that may be
pertinent to this inquiry.
6 to show or believe that there is a connection
between two facts, events, ideas, or people
connect make a connection
link establish a link/connection
associate
connect/k'nekt/Iv T]
connect sth with I knew we had met before but I just
couldn't connect the face with the name. I connect sth
Despite some similarities between these attacks, police say
they are not connecting the two incidents.
link/lik/to show or believe that there is a connection
between two things, even though the connection may not
be easy to see or prove Iv T]
link sth and sth The study clearly links smoking in preg-
nancy and low birth weight in babies. I link sb/sth with
His name has been linked with several famous actresses since
he and his wife separated last year. I The health department
has linked several cases of food poisoning with contaminated
shellfish.
associate/'soiet, 'sausi-/ if you associate some-
thing with something else, the two things are always con-
nected in your mind Iv T]
associate sth with Shoppers tend to associate certain brand
names with high quality. I People associate the old days with
good times, and seem to forget the hardship they endured.I
associate sth and sth Many of us associate food and
comfort.
make a connection I ,mexk a ka ' nekj'an/to realize that
two things are connected Iv phrase]
make a connection between Young children quickly make
a connection between the pictures in books and the real
objects they see. I make a connection It's obvious to me that
drinking so much alcohol makes her put weight on, but she
seems unable to make the connection.
establish a link/connection /i,stebli o 'lrjk,
ka 'nek.rn/to prove or discover that something is connected
with something else Iv phrase]
Police have so far failed to establish a connection between
the two murders. I In the 1980s, a link was established
between ozone depletion and the use of CFC gases.
7 something that connects two facts, events,
ideas, or people
connection link
relationship point of contact
connection/ka'nekn/[n C]
The two incidents might have something to do with each
other, but I can "t see the connection. I close connection Close
connections exist between the various Christian churches. I
connection between sth and sth Five year olds are too
young to understand the connection between behaviour and
its consequences.
relationship/n 'lenp/the way in which two things
are connected and affect each other, or the way in which
the connection can be explained In C]
Interest rates and government spending are connected, but
the relationship is quite a complex one. I relationship to/
with What exactly is the company's relationship to the steel
industry? I relationship between sth and sth The rela-
tionship between the government and the press is constantly
changing.
link Ilnjk/a connection of some kind between two people
or between two events or situations In C]
link between Since their divorce, the only link between them
is their young son. I link with Children must study the past
in order to understand its links with the present. I sever/cut
finks (=break all connections) It was a condition of running
for political office that he should sever his links with the
banking business.
point of contact/,paint av 'kontakt II -'ka:n-/one way,

CONNECTED WITH 254 CONSCIOUS
or one of very few ways, in which two very different things
are connected ]n phrase]
The two cultures have very few points of contact. I point of
contact between R's difficult to find a point of contact
between the theory and the practice.
 not connected in any way
no connection
unrelated/unconnected
no connection I ,no k'nekj'dn/In phrase]
no connection between Police could find no connection
between the bombing and any known terrorist organiza-
tion. I no connection with What she said seemed to have no
connection with what had gone before. I no connection All
these events are random - there's no connection.
unrelated/unconnected /,^nn 'letd. ,^nL'nektd./
things that are unrelated or unconnected are not con-
nected, although there may be some similarities between
them [adj]
Memory training can help you remember strings of com-
pletely unrelated facts. I Two children have gone missing in
apparently unrelated incidents. I The images that flashed on
the screen seemed to be totally unconnected. I unconnected
with Advisors are supposed to be unconnected with any
political party.
9
having no connection with the subject that is
being considered or talked about
irrelevant
be beside the point
have/be nothing to do with
have no bearing on
be neither here nor there
doesn't come into it/doesn't enter into it
be a red herring
Irrelevant I1'relvnt/[adj]
Chris continued to annoy her with questions on totally irrele-
vant subjects. I "'But I didn't know it was illegal to park
here.'" "'That's completely irrelevant.'" [ irrelevant to To
many young people, the church seems outdated and irrele-
vant to modern times.
irrelevantly [ adv ] "'That's Mrs Wilson, "'she said "'the one
with the Aga stove, "" she added irrelevantly.
be beside the point/bi: bi,said 6 'p:nt/if something
is beside the point, someone has mentioned it but you
think it is not connected with or not important to what you
are talking about Iv phrase]
I know he's married, but that's beside the point. [ I couldn't
think of anything to say that didn't appear either dumb or
beside the point.
havelbe nothing to do with/hev, bi: n^Oirj t 'du:
w6/something that has nothing to do with a situation
is not connected with it in any way and does not affect it
Iv phrase not in progressive]
She has no proper qualification, but that has got nothing to
do with her ability as a teacher. [ I don't know what's the
matter with Billy - he says it's nothing to do with school. [
My father was a remote figure who had nothing to do with
my everyday life.
have no bearing on/hev ,no bedrI3 on/to not be con-
nected with something, and have no effect or influence on
what is done or decided Iv phrase not in progressive]
How many kids you have has no bearing on how much tax
you pay. [ A suspect's criminal record should have no bear-
ing on the trial.
be neither here nor there/bi: ,naI(3a r Ih:) r
you say something is neither here nor there when some-
one has mentioned something that they think is important
but you do not agree Iv phrase]
They kept telling me they didn't know about the new rule,
but I said that was neither here nor there. [ What I think
about your husband is neither here nor there.
doesn't come into it/doesn't enter into it/,d^znt
k^m 'nto ;t, d^znt enter-/ you say something doesn't
come into it or doesn't enter into it to tell someone that
something which they have mentioned does not influence
or affect what you are talking about Iv phrase]
Whether the applicant is a man or a woman doesn't come into
it. I I'm afraid this is company policy, and your own views
on the matter simply don't enter into it.
be a red herring/bi: z red her-3/facts or information
that are not connected with the matter that is being dis-
cussed or considered, and takes people's attention away
from what is really important Iv phrase]
The search for 100% reliability is a red herring. The impor-
tant issue is how to increase production.
connecting CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 6,
JOIN STH TOGETHER 3
connection CONNECTED WITH 7, JOIN STH TOGETHER 6
connection: establish a link/connection CONNECTED
WITH 6
connection: have links/connections with
CONNECTED WITH 3
connection: make a connection CHANGE FROM ONE
THING TO ANOTHER 6, CONNECTED WITH 6
connection: no connection CONNECTED WITH 8
connection: there is a connection between
CONNECTED WITH 2
connection: there is a link/connection between
CONNECTED WITH 1
connoisseur KNOW STH 6
conquer BEAT/DEFEAT 3, PREVENT 12
conquest WIN 3
cons: pros and cons ADVANTAGE 2
conscience GOOD/MORAL 10, GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 2
conscience: be on your conscience GUILTY/FEEl_
GUILTY 1
conscience: a clear conscience GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 3
conscience: clear your conscience GUILTY/FEEL
GUILTY 4
conscience: have a bad/guilty conscience
GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 1
conscience: salve your conscience GUILTY/FEEL
GUILTY 4
conscientious CAREFUL 2
conscious CONSCIOUS 1, DELIBERATELY 3
conscious: be conscious KNOW STH 2
conscious: be conscious of KNOW STH 14
conscious: become aware/conscious NOTICE 1
CONSCIOUS
able to think, feel, and know what is
happening around you
to become conscious again after being
unconscious
to make someone conscious again when they
have been unconscious
1 able to think, feel, and know what is
happening around you
conscious
awake
conscious/'konfs II 'ka:n-/[adj not before noun]
The driver was still conscious when the ambulance reached
the scene of the accident. I Aunt Martha died peacefully, cons-
cious to the end. I I was barely conscious but I knew Rob was
there, homing my hand.
awake/'weik/conscious again after having been given
a drug that made you unconscious [adj not before noun]
Will I be awake by the time I get back to the ward? I We won "t
be able to tell if the operation was successful until she's fully
awake and can speak.

CONSCIOUS 255 constrained
2 to become conscious again after being
unconscious
regain consciousness
come round/come around
come to
regain consciousness/r;,ge;n 'konsn]s II -'ka:n-I to
become conscious again after being unconscious, espe-
cially for a long time Iv phrase]
Doctor, do you think she'll ever regain consciousness? I Your
wife died under the anaesthetic without regaining conscious-
ness.
come round (British) I come around (American)/,lm
()raond/to become conscious again gradually, especially
after having been given a drug to make you unconscious
[phr v I]
She was coming around, but she still felt dizzy. I The police
are waiting for him to come round so they can question him
about the attack.
come to Iknm 'tu:/to become gradually conscious again
after being made unconscious, especially by being hit on
the head [phr v I]
He felt a sudden blow, and when he came to, he was tied to
a chair with a gag over his mouth.
3 to make someone conscious again when they
have been unconscious
bring sb round
resuscitate
bring sb round/,brItj (sb) 'raond/to make someone cons-
cious, especially someone who has been unconscious for
a short time, for example because they have fainted or been
hit on the head [phr v T]
An old woman fainted in church, and they had difficulty
bringing her round. [ In an effort to bring him round, some-
one threw a bucket of water on him.
resuscitate /ris^steit/ to use medical methods and
equipment to make someone conscious when they have
become unconscious and nearly died, because they have
had a serious accident, suddenly become very ill ere Iv T]
The emergency team tried to resuscitate the fire victims, but
they all died. I The family was kept out of the room while the
patient was being resuscitated with shock treatment.
resuscitation/ri ,SASo I teI[an/[n C ] Resuscitation equipment
should be kept in every operating room. [ mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation
consciously DELIBERATELY 2
conscripted: be conscripted ARMY 4
• conscription/the draft ARMY 4
=.i!:. consecutive SERIES 3
 consensus AGREE 6, OPINION 3
• ў consent LET/ALLOW 9
 consent: give your consent LET/ALLOW 8
:{! consequence RESULT 1
• i consequence: as a consequence SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
::. consequence: be of great consequence IMPORTANT 1
:,!i consequently SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
conservative CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 7,
 CONVENTIONAL 1
conserve SAVE STH TO USE LATER 1
 consider REMEMBER 9, THINK ABOUT 2, 4,
:;, THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
! considerable BIG 7, 9
:•: considerate KIND 1
considerate/thoughtful KIND 2
consideration: be under consideration THINK ABOUT 2
;:: considered" all things considered IN GENERAL 2
.... consist of CONSIST OF/BE MADE OF 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
CONSIST OF/BE
MADE OF
ways of saying that something is made of or
contains a number of parts, substances etc
ways of saying that something has a
particular thing or substance in it
1 ways of saying that something is made of or
contains a number of parts, substances etc
consist of be composed of
be made of comprise
be made up of
consist of/konsist ov/[v T not in progressive orpassive]
Bologna/so sauce consists of minced beef, onion, tomatoes,
mushrooms, garlic and seasoning. [ Lorna's whole wardrobe
consisted of jeans, tee shirts and sweaters. [ The senior
management team consists of John, Betty and Ken. [ He
mixed a special drink, consisting of gin, vodka and cherry
brandy.
be made of/bi: meid v/to contain a particular sub-
stance or material Iv phrase]
The candlesticks are made of brass. [ She mixed a batter
made of jqour, eggs and water. [ What's this carpet made o]?.
be made up of/bi: med '^p ov/to consist of a number
of separate things or people [v phrase]
The US government is made up of two legislative assemblies
- Congress and the Senate. [ The United Nations is made up
of more than 200 individual nations. [ The jury was mostly
made up of women.
be composed of/bi: kampaozd ov/ to be naturally
formed from a group of substances or parts Iv phrase]
The earth's atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen,
oxygen, and carbon dioxide. [ The human body is composed
of billions of tiny cells.
comprise/kam praz! a formal word meaning to consist
of a number of parts, groups, organizations ere [v T not in
progressive]
The house comprises 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living
room. [ The city's population comprises mainly Asians and
Europeans.
 ways of saying that something has a
particular thing or substance in it
contain
contain/kn'tein/[v T not in progressive or passive]
Water contains hydrogen and oxygen. [ It is important to eat
fish or eggs, as they contain protein and vitamins. [ The film
was banned because it contained a number of extremely
violent scenes.
consistency THICK LIQUID 4
consistent SAME 4
consistent: be consistent with SAME 7
consolation COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 3
console COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 1
consoling COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 2
conspicuous OBVIOUS 1
conspiracy PLAN 6
conspire PLAN 3
constant CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 9, CONTINUOUS
1, 4, KEEP DOING STH 2, SAME 4
constantly ALL THE TIME 1, KEEP DOING STH 1
constituent PART 3
constitute BE 1, 2, 3
constitution: to have a strong/good etc constitution
HEALTHY 2
constitutional LEGAL 2
constrained: be constrained LIMIT 5

constraints 256 CONTACT SB
constraints LIMIT 3
construct BUILD 1, MAKE 1
construction BUILD 2
constructive USEFUL 1
construe sth as UNDERSTAND 6
consult ADVISE 3, ASK A QUESTION 1
consultant ADVISE 6, DOCTOR 2
consume EAT 1, USE/CONSUME 1
consumer BUY 7, USE/CONSUME 2
consumption USE/CONSUME 3
consumption: unfit for human consumption
contact CONTACT SB 1, 4
contact: be in contact CONTACT SB 2
contact: come into contact TOUCH 3
contact: keep in contact CONTACT SB 2
contact: lose contact CONTACT SB 5
contact: make contact with CONTACT SB 1
contact: point of contact CONNECTED WITH 7
EAT 14
CONTACT SB
to write to, talk to, or telephone someone, for
example for business reasons or because you
are friendly with them
1 to contact someone
2 to regularly telephone or write to someone
3 to succeed in contacting someone by
telephone
4 the process by which people contact each
other
5 to no longer speak to or write to someone
1 to contact someone
get in touch with approach
contact get onto
make contact with
get in touch with/,get in 't^tj" wI6/to write to or tele-
phone someone, especially someone you do not see very
often [v phrase not in passive]
I really ought to get in touch with Penny. R's been ages. [ On
her friend's advice she got in touch with a lawyer specializ-
ing in family law. [ We're still trying to get in touch with the
person who wrote the original letter.
contact/'kontmkt [[ 'ko:n-/to write to or telephone some-
one especially for the first time, in order to give or ask for
information [v T ]
The missing girl's parents appealed to her to contact the
police. [ I've contacted the association secretary and she's
sending me more details. [ In a few days you will be contacted
by one of our staff and asked to complete a quick ques-
tionnaire.
make contact with/,mek Ikontekt w;6 [[ -ka:n-/to
succeed in contacting someone, especially when this
involves some difficulty [v phrase]
The pilot finally managed to make contact with the control
tower. [ Sometimes making contact with other people can be
the biggest problem for young people in a city. [ make con-
tact The signals had been growing weaker and by the fifth
day we were unable to make contact.
approach/a'praotS/to write to or speak to someone that
you do not know or have not contacted before, in order to
offer them something or ask them for something [v T]
The government has approached 15 major companies,
asking them to support the new training scheme. [ Instead
of going to wholesalers we approached the manufacturers
direct.
get onto /get 'ontu: II-'a:n-/ an informal expression
meaning to telephone or write to someone in order to com-
plain, explain, or ask for something [v T not usually in
progressive]
I'll get onto Eddy and find out what's happening. [ The store
manager said he would get onto the factory about the late
delivery.
 to regularly telephone or write to someone
be in contact keep in contact
keep in touch/stay in touch communicate
be in contact/bi: In 'kontekt l[ -'ka:n-/to regularly tele-
phone or write to someone so that you quickly find out
about any news [v phrase]
be in contact with If you are already in contact with the
school, it will be easier to discuss any difficulties. [ How did
he know about the baby? Was he in contact with the mother? l
be in contact We need to be in constant contact while the
business is expanding so rapidly.
keep in touch/stay in touch / ki:p ;n 'thtj', ,stei in ttj'/
to continue to see, speak to, or write to someone when you
are no longer working with them, living near them etc
[ v phrase ]
Bye now. Don't forget to keep in touch. [ They met in Greece
one summer and stayed in touch by sending occasional post-
cards. [ keep in touch with/stay in touch with Ihaven't
kept in touch with any of the people I went to school with.
keep in contact/,ki:p n 'kontekt 11 -'ko:n-/to continue
to write to or telephone someone although you are far away
from them Iv phrase]
keep in contact with I"ve managed to keep in contact with
all the girls in my graduating class. [ keep in contact The
two patrol units are able to keep in contact by means of short
wave radios.
communicate/ka'mju:n'keit/to exchange information
or conversation with other people, by telephone, letter or
in person [v I]
communicate with sb They kept him locked up forfive
days and even prevented him from communicating with his
family. [ communicate Modern technology makes it much
easier to communicate.
 to succeed in contacting someone by
telephone
get hold of
get through
reach
get hold of/,get 'hold ov/to manage to contact some-
one by telephone after trying several times Iv phrase]
Where have you been?I've been trying to get hold of you all
week. [ It's no use trying to phone her at work - she's impos-
sible to get hold of.
get through/,get 'Oru:/to manage to contact someone
by telephone, especially after some delay or technical
problem [phr v I]
get through to sb By the way, did you get through to
Sharon? I It takes ages to get through to the right person, even
if someone does answer the phone. I get through I finally
got through, but by then she'd gone home.
reach/ri:tS/a word meaning to contact someone by tele-
phone, used especially when you are saying whether you
can or cannot contact them [v T]
Will we be able to reach you here for the next few days, in
case there are any problems? I Neil was the last to know. He
was off in the mountains somewhere, and we couldn't reach
him.
4 the process by which people contact each
other
communication
contact
communication Ik,mju:nI'kean/[n U]
The computer is the best means of communication between
several partners at different locations. [ In a large compli-
cated organization, good communication is vital. [ There
have been a few communication problems but now we are
in regular contact.
contact/'kontekt 11 'ka:n-/a word meaning the process
of writing, telephoning, or speaking to other people, used
especially when you are talking about improving this
process [n U]

CONTACT SB 25? CONTINUE/NOT STOP
contact between We need more contact between staff and
management. I contact with Local clubs providefor regu-
lar contact for people with the same interests.
 to no longer speak to or write to someone
lose touch
lose contact
lose touch/,lu:z 'tAtS/to not speak to, write to, or see
someone for a long time, so that finally you do not know
where they are [v phrase not in passive]
lose touch with I've lost touch with all my old army
friends. I lose touch At the end of the summer everyone went
their different ways and we all lost touch.
lose contact/lu:z 'kontmkt I[ -'ka:n-/to no longer be
able to contact someone by radio or electronic signals, as
a result of technical problems Iv phrase]
Signals from the spacecraft had been growing weaker and
mission control has now lost contact altogether. I lose con-
tact with The plane's radio equipment failed and the crew
lost contact with air traffic controllers at the base.
!ii contagious SPREAD11
i contain CONSIST OF/BE MADE OF 2, CONTAIN/HOLD 1,
;;,. INCLUDE 1
; contain yourself CONTROL 7
CONTAIN/HOLD
ways of saying that a space or container has
something inside it
ways of saying that a space, container, room
etc is big enough to contain a certain number
or amount
something such as a bowl, tin, box etc that
can be used for keeping things in
3 something such as a bowl, tin, box etc that
can be used for keeping things in
container
receptacle
container/kn'teInr/[n C]
Ice cream comes in plastic containers. ] The sandwiches are
in those plastic food containers in the refrigerator. I The deck
was full of big cargo containers.
receptacle/r;'septkal/a formal word meaning a con-
tainer [n C]
Can't you find a more elegant receptacle for this excellent
wine? I Please put disposable diapers in the receptacle
provided.
iiili container CONTAIN/HOLD 3
i;ill contaminate DIRTY 5
--i contaminated DIRTY 2
!i;'i contemplate THINK ABOUT 4, 5
;,.. contemporary MODERN 3, NOW 5, TIME/AT THE SAME
: TIME 6
:' contempt HATE 3
:: contend: have to contend with DEAL WITH 5
contender: strong contender WIN 8
content HAPPY 1, SATISFIED 2
contented HAPPY 3
!": contentious DISAGREE 7
contentment HAPPY 8
contents IN/INSIDE 1, 7, LIST 3
contest COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 1,
COMPETITION 1
contestant TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 10
contingent GROUP OF PEOPLE 2, REPRESENT 4
contingent: be contingent upon DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1
continual CONTINUOUS 4, KEEP DOING STH 2
continually KEEP DOING STH 1
continue CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, 2, 4,
CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1, 2, 5
continue to be STILL 1
1 ways of saying that a space or container has
something inside it
be in sth
contain
be in sth I'bi: tn (sth)! [v T]
Is there any milk in the fridge?l "'Where's dad?" "'In the
kitchen.'" I There were a few pairs of socks in the drawer.I
The knives are in the left hand cupboard.
conta|n/konteln/to have something inside [v T not in
progressive]
He opened the bag, which contained a razor, soap, and a
towel. ] The tank contains two different species of tropical
fish. ] The first electric cars will probably contain a battery
weighing nearly a thousand pounds.
 ways of saying that a space, container, room
etc is big enough to contain a certain number
or amount
hold
take
hold/huld/to be able to contain a particular number of
things or a particular amount of something [v T not in
progressive or passive]
This jug holds about a pint. ] The hotel dining room can hold
up to 50people. ] The gas tank on a small car should hold
at least six gallons.
take/tek/to only have enough space to contain a partic-
ular number of things, people etc or a particular amount
of something Iv T not in progressive or passive]
My car can only take five people. ] The freezer will take about
50 litres of ice-cream. ] I'll have to throw out some clothes -
the closet can't take any more.
. continue ...........
.... which mbaning?
:continue doing :
-something and not
stop
continuous, not
stopping 
Start again after
stopping.
continue to be, feel
etc something
CONTINUE/NOT
STOP
CONTINUOUS
CONTINUE/
START AGAIN
STILL
%!.
CONTINUE/NOT
STOP
to continue doing something without stopping
to continue doing something wrong, bad, or
annoying
to continue doing something difficult in a
determined way
to continue happening without stopping
to make a situation, process, activity etc
continue

CONTINUE/NOT STOP 258 CONTINUE/NOT STOP
1 to continue doing something without stopping
continue drive on/play on/
go on read on/walk on etc
carry on get on with
keep keep up
pursue have not/never
looked back
continue/kn'tInju:/Iv I/T]
continue doing sth They continued arguing long after
everyone else had gone to bed. I We must continue searching
until we find all the missing children. I continue to do sth
She continued to live in the same house after the death of her
husband. [ Several underground organizations continued to
operate in secret during the war. [ continue sth The lights
went out and he was unable to continue his work. [ continue
I stopped the car because I was too tired to continue. [ con-
tinue with My teacher advised me to continue with my
studies.
continuation/kon,tnju'eifan/[n U] There is no justifica-
tion for the continuation of the war (=for continuing it).
go on/,goo 'on II -'o:n/to continue doing something that
you have started without allowing anything to stop you
[phr v I]
go on doing sth When I tried to interrupt, he ignored me
and went on speaking. I The marriage is a disaster. I don't
know why they go on living together. I go on The baby
started crying at ten and went on all night. I go on with The
delegates decided to go on with their meeting instead of
breaking off for lunch.
carry on I,kari 'on [[ -'n/an expression used especially
in British English, meaning to continue doing something
without allowing anything to stop you [phr v I]
carry on doing sth Peter carried on working until ten
o'clock last night. [ If you have been taking malaria tablets
while abroad, you should carry on taking them for a month
after you return. [ carry on It was almost too dark to see
properly, but he carried on to the end of the book. [ carry on
with Don't stop! Carry on with your writing.
keep /ki:p/ keep moving/going/listening/watching
(=continue to move, go etc, especially because it is neces-
sary) Iv T not in progressive]
We were so tired but knew that we had to keep moving. I Keep
going till you come to a crossroads. I Stay by the radio and
keep listening in case there's a message.
pursue/pr,sju: [[ -'su:/a formal word meaning to con-
tinue with a course of action that you have begun, until it
is finished Iv T]
The US intends to pursue vigorous programs in space
science. [ It's a domestic dispute and the police have decided
not to pursue the matter.
drive on/play on/read on/walk on etc/'draIv
plei on, 'rid on, 'wa:k on/ to continue driving, playing,
reading, walking etc when you could have stopped [phr v I]
It did not seem to. be a very interesting town, so they drove
on. [ One of the protesters ran onto the stage but the orches-
tra played on.
get on with/get 'on wi [[ -'o:n-/an informal expression
used especially in British English meaning to continue
doing a piece of work and not talk or do anything else Iv T]
Get on with your work, please. There's a lot to do. [ Get on
with it! We don't have all day. [ You'd better go now so Ican
get on with my homework.
keep up/,ki:p 'Ap/ an expression meaning to continue
to do something as well or with as much effort as you have
been doing until now, used especially when giving some-
one encouragement [phr v T]
keep it up You're doing a good job, boys. Keep it up. [ keep
up sth Keep up the good work everyone. We've almost
reached our target ofЈ50,000. [ The enemy have kept up the
attack all through the night.
have not/never looked back/hmv ,not, ,neva r lokt
'bmk/if you have not looked back or have never looked
back since doing something in the past, you have con-
tinued to be successful all the time since then Iv phrase]
The team hasn't looked back since winning their first game
of the season. [ I left school at 16 intending to start my own
design company and have never looked back.
2 to continue doing something wrong, bad, or
annoying
continue
keep/keep on doing sth
persist
continue/kon'Unju:/Iv I/T]
continue doing sth If you continue making that noise I
shall report you to your parents. I continue to do sth
Despite all the warnings people continue to use the drug. [
continue with If you continue with this stupid behaviour
we shall have no alternative but to expel you from the college.
keep/keep on doing sth I,ki:p, ,ki:p on 'du:0 (sth)/
to continue to do something which is annoying [v phrase
not in progressive]
That man keeps staring at me. I wish he'd stop it. [ He didn't
want to hear any more but Olivia kept on talking. [ The chil-
dren kept on complaining until we got back home.
persist/pr 'sIst/a formal word meaning to continue to
do something bad although you have been warned not to
do it Iv I]
persist in doing sth He persisted in smoking even when
lying ill in bed. [ persist in sth You know what the penalty
is and yet you persist in your disruptive behaviour.
3 to continue doing something difficult in a
determined way
persevere keep at
press on soldier on
stick at it/stick to it undaunted
persevere /,pa:rsa ] 'v;ar/to continue trying to do some-
thing in a very patient and determined way in spite of
difficulties Iv I]
persevere with Physics is a difficult subject, but if you
persevere with your studies I'm sure you'll do well. I perse-
vere in Scott never gave up. He persevered in his efforts to
solve this long-standing problem. [ persevere We haven't
managed to reach an agreement yet. but we'll persevere.
press on/,pres 'on 11 -'o:n/to continue doing something
or going somewhere in spite of difficulties, because you are
determined to finish your work, journey etc without delay
[phr v I]
I wasfinding the book hard to understand, but I decided to
press on to the end. [ We're nearly there, so let's press on while
it's still daylight. [ press on with Despite opposition the
government is pressing on with its welfare program. [ press
on regardless (=ignoring all difficulties) It started to rain
and a strong wind blew, but he pressed on regardless.
stick at it (British) I stick to it (American)/stIk 'at xt,
'stIk to It/informal expressions meaning to continue work-
ing or studying in a very determined way in order to
achieve something Iv phrase]
If you stick at it, I'm sure you'll pass your examinations
easily. [ It was hard work, but they stuck to it and got the
job done.
keep at / ki:p, rot/to force yourself to continue working,
practising etc in order to achieve something, even though
it needs a lot of effort Iv T]
keep at sth I wish I'd kept at my math when I was at school. [
keep at it You'll have to keep at it if you want to play the
piano as well as your father does.
soldier on/,saoldsar 'on [[ -'a:n/an expression used espe-
cially in British English meaning to continue doing some-
thing in a steady determined way even though it is very
difficult [phr v I]
The team were all feeling seasick but they soldiered on
valiently. I I'm soldiering on in the hope that things will get
better.

CONTINUE/NOT STOP 259 CONTINUE/START AGAIN
undaunted /^nda:nQd/ someone who is undaunted
does not give up because of difficulties, dangers etc, but
continues to do what they intend to do [adj]
People said he was attempting an impossible task, but he
went on with his work undaunted. I The cadets seemed
undaunted despite the dangers that lay ahead.
4 to continue happening without stopping
continue persist
go on proceed
carry on progress
continue/kan'unju:/Iv I]
The noise continued for several hours. I Unless there are seri-
ous negotiations, the fighting will continue. I Interest in Elvis
Presley continues years after his death.
continuation/kan,tinju'el.dn/In U] the continuation of the
war in China (=the fact that the war continued)
go on/,gao 'on II -ozn/to continue, especially for a long
time [phr v I]
The discussion went on for another four hours before agree-
ment was reached. I The applause went on for ten minutes
after Pavarotti left the stage. I go on and on (=continue for
a very long time) The noise went on and on. No one seemed
to know how to turn the alarm off.
carry on /ikari Ion II-Io:n! to continue, especially in
spite of problems or opposition |phr v I]
The celebrations carried on just as if nothing had happened. I
The struggle for liberation will carry on long after I am
dead.
persist/par'ssq a formalword: ifa problem or bad con-
ditions persist, they continue to exist because you cannot
stop them Iv I ]
See your doctor if the symptoms persist. I If these adverse
weather conditions persist the game will be cancelled. I If you
persist, I shall be forced to report you to the manager.
proceed/pra'si:d/a formal word meaning to continue in
the way that has been planned Iv I]
Work on the new tunnel is proceeding very well. I According
to the newspaper the negotiations are proceeding smoothly.
progress/pragres/if an activity or situation progresses
it continues to happen or develop gradually over a period
of time Iv I]
As the meeting progressed Jack became more and more
irritable. I As the war progressed it became increasingly
difficult to buy fresh food.
5 to make a situation, process, activity etc
continue
crry on keep up
maintain preserve
perpetuate
carry on I,keri 'on II -'o.-n/to continue something, often
when it has been started by someone else [phr v T]
carry on sth The old man expects his son to carry on the
family traditions. ] Who's going to carry on the project when
she leaves? I In the eighteenth century, his research was
carried on by Dubois.
maintain/mein tein II man-/to make something continue
in the same way or at the same high standard as before Iv T]
Air France has maintained a high level of service for many
years. I For the sake of the children he is maintaining
friendly relations with his ex-wife.
maintenance / tmentdnans/In U] At first a newly indepen-
dent country relies heavily on the maintenance of existing
links (=existing links being maintained) with the colonial
power.
perpetuate/pa r tpetSuelt/to make something bad con-
tinue to exist, especially an unjust situation or false ideas
[vT]
This new book perpetuates all the old myths about the
Kennedy assassinations. I The proposed law will perpetuate
existing economic and class inequalities.
keep up/ki:p tap/ to make something continue, espe-
cially when it is difficult and effort is needed [phr v T]
keep up sth We've kept up our friendship despite the recent
misunderstandings. ] Nature groups intend to keep up the
pressure until the government changes the law.
preserve/prt z3: rv/to make something good, especially
a situation, continue because you think it should not be
allowed to disappear Iv T]
We want to preserve friendly relations with all our neigh-
bouring countries. I All the names in the book have been
changed to preserve the victims" anonymity.
preservation/,prezar ve0"an/In U] The government is com-
mitted to the preservation of(=to preserving) law and order.
@ CONTINUE/
START AGAIN
1 to continue doing something after stopping
2 to continue talking about something after
stopping or after talking about something else
3 to start doing something again, especially
something bad or something you had
decided not to do again
4 to continue something that someone else has
started
5 ways of saying that something continues after
stopping
to continue doing something after stopping
continue resume
start again take up again
go on pick up where you left off
carry on reopen
return to restart
go back to renew
continue/kan'unju:/Iv I/T]
continue doing sth They continued playing tennis as soon
as the rain stopped. [ He's not sure whether he'll be able to
continue skiing competitively after the operation. [ continue
to do sth Bring the soup to the boil and when it has cooled,
continue to cook it in the oven. [ continue The referee decided
to stop the fight because Jones was too badly hurt to con-
tinue. [ continue sth He has decided to go back to Cambridge
to continue his medical studies.
start again/sta:rt a'genl to start again, continuing the
same thing that you were doing before you stopped Iv
phrase]
start doing sth again After a two week rest I was ready to
start running again. I Billy was afraid to say anything in
case she started crying again. I start to do sth again
Marian stared through the window. It was starting to snow
again. I start sth again I've had a good vacation and I'm
not exactly looking forward to starting work again. I start
again He gave up smoking, but recently he's started again.
go on/go on 11 -'a:n/to continue doing something after
a short pause [phr v I]
go on doing sth After a short break for coffee they went on
working until 3 o'clock. [ go on Occasionally he would stop
writing, read through what he had written, and then go on. [
go on with Let's stop now. We'll go on with this tomorrow.
carry on / ,kari Ion [[ -' a:n/an expression used especially
in British English, meaning to continue doing something
that has been planned or decided on [phr v I]
carry on doing sth She decided to carry on working after
having the baby. [ carry on It's one o'clock now. Shall we
carry on after lunch? [ carry on with As soon as Mr Saun-
ders gets back, we'll carry on with the meeting. [ Okay. the
fun's over. Carry on with your work.

CONTINUE/START AGAIN 260 continuous
return to/r 'ta:rn tu:/to start doing a particu]ar job again
after a period when you were doing something else Iv T not
in passive]
return to sth After many years in musical comedy Ginger
Rogers decided to return to more serious drama. I If compa-
nies provided good child care facilities it would make return-
ing to work a reasonable option for mothers. I return to
doing st^ She watched the television for a while and then
returned to cleaning the floor.
go back to/gao 'bmk tu:/ to start doing a particular
activity or job again after a short period when you were
doing something else Iv T not in passive]
go back to sth Melanie made herself a cup of tea and then
went back to her reading. [ Some mothers go back to full-time
work only a few weeks after their baby is born. [ go back
to doing sth Since Archie could not get regular work as an
actor he went back to being an electrician.
resume/r'zju:m [[ -'zu:m/ a formal word meaning to
start doing something again after a pause or interruption
Iv T]
Collins was so seriously injured that he was unable to resume
his career. I They stopped talking for a moment to see tvhere
the noise was coming from and then resumed their con-
versation. "
resumption/rI'z^mpSan/[n U] The New Year was marked
by a resumption of the hunger strike by political detainees.
(=they started their hunger strike again)
take up again /,tek '^p agen/to start doing something
such as a sport or artistic activity again after a long period
of time when you were not doing it [phr v T]
take sth/it up again I stopped playing the guitar when I
was fifteen. Now I would like to take it up again. I take up
sth again Although it's a long time since she won a compe-
tition, she is tempted to take up professional tennis again.
pick up where you left off/pk ,Ap wea r you left of/
to start something again, for example a discussion, rela-
tionship, or course of study, continuing from exactly the
point where you originally stopped Iv phrase]
I know I left you, Sandra, but why can't we pick up where
we left off?. I After a long absence I went back to college,
hoping to pick up where I'd left off.
reopen/ri:' aopan/reopen an inquiry/case/debate etc
(=start an inquiry etc again, especially because new infor-
mation has been found) ]v T]
Since important new evidence has been discovered, we have
decided to reopen the investigation. I Reports from the
medical scientists have reopened the debate on tobacco
advertising.
restart/ri:'sta:rt/to start something again, especially a
planned activity, after it has been stopped or delayed for
a period of time Iv T ]
We will restart training sessions after the Christmas break. I
Now that war is over, health organizations hope to restart
the immunization programme.
renew/r 'nju: II r; 'nu:/renew your efforts/attempt etc
(=start again with more effort, energy etc) Iv T]
Later John felt strong enough to renew his efforts to climb
the mountain. I The rebels waited until daylight and then
renewed their attack on the city.
2 to continue talking about something after
stopping or after talking about something else
continue return to
go on go back to/get back to
continue/kan'Unju:/Iv I/T]
continue sth We'll have to continue our conversation later.[
continue Continuing in a quieter voice, she asked how long
he'd been married. [ "There's another thing I wanted to tell
you, "" Joe continued.
go on/,gnu on II-'a:n/to continue talking especially
when you need to say more about something etc [phr v I]
"'Anyway, "" she went on, "'why do you want to know?'1 Go
on, tell us what happened next. I go on to say/tell/talk etc
about After talking about the tax increases, he went on to
say that some people would lose their jobs. I go on with Once
everyone was quiet he could go on with his story.
return to /rI'ta:rn tu:/ to start talking about a subject
again having already talked about it earlier in your con-
versation, speech etc Iv T not in passive]
Returning to what you said earlier, do you really think there
is a chance of a complete ceasefire? I "'As I was saying," said
Liz, returning to her favourite theme, "'men are such cowards."
go back to/get back to/,gnu 'bak tu:, ,get-/to con-
tinue talking about a subject that you started but did not
finish talking about before Iv T not in passivel
Getting back to what we were saying earlier, do you think
you'll be able to come? I Finally I'd like to go back to thepoint
I made at the beginning of my lecture.
3 to start doing something again, especially
something bad or something you had
decided not to do again
go back to
revert to
slip back into
go back to/,gnu 'bmk tu:l Iv T not in passive]
go back to sth Now that he's out of prison he's gone back
to a life of crime. [ go back to doing sth Do you think she'll
go back to using drugs?
revert to /rlva:rt tu:/ to start a particular kind of
behaviour again, especially bad behaviour, after you had
stopped for a period of time Iv T]
I hope she doesn't revert to her old ways and start gambling
again. I I went to a school where we had to speak French all
the time, but outside school hours I reverted to English.
slip back into/,slip 'bmk intu:/to gradually start doing
something bad again after you had stopped, because you
are not determined enough to prevent yourself from doing
it Iv T not in passive]
slip back into doing sth It's very easy for alcoholics to slip
back into having a few drinks after work. [ slip back into
sth Children will often slip back into babyish ways to get
what they want.
4 to continue something that someone else has
started
pick up/take up
pick up/take up I,pk '^p, ,tek '^p/[phr v T]
pick up sth Peter paused and John picked up the story. I In
the second movement the strings take up the theme from the
horns. I pick sth/it up Detectives started the investigation in
London and Paris police have picked it up at their end.
5 ways of saying that something continues after
stopping
continue
resume
renewal of
continue/kan'txnju:/Iv I]
The tour continued after a rest day in Bordeaux. I After a
while the rain stopped, allowing the game to continue.
continuation In U] Any continuation of the present crisis
(=a situation in which the present crisis continues) may
well lead to economic disaster.
resume/rx'zju:m II -'zu:m/a formal word meaning to con-
tinue after stopping or after a delay Iv I]
The game resumed when it had stopped raining. I It will be
a long time beforeproduction at the factory can resume. The
fire did a lot of damage.
resumption/rI'z^mEfan/ In U] The resumption of trade
between the two countries (=the fact that trade has started
again) is a sign of improved relations.
renewal of/ri'nju:al av Ii -'nu:-/if there is a renewal of
a particular feeling or activity, it starts again after stop-
ping for a period of time In singular]
There has been a sudden renewal of interest in ecology. I The
United Nations has sent negotiators to the area following the
renewal of hostilities along the border.
continuous CONTINUOUS 1, 5, 6

CONTINUOUS 261 CONTINUOUS
@CONTINUOUS
1 continuing to exist for a long time without
stopping, changing, or being interrupted
2 words for describing work or activity that
continues for a long time without ever
stopping
3 continuing for a long time without even
stopping at night
4 words for describing something unpleasant,
annoying, or frightening that happens
continuously or repeatedly
5 words for describing a process that continues
to develop or change over a period of time
6 words for describing lines, rows of objects etc
that have no spaces or breaks in them
I continuing to exist for a long time without
stopping, changing, or being interrupted
continuous uninterrupted
constant on-going
continuous/ka.'tmjuas/[adj]
Although we nearly always need extra drivers, we cannot
guarantee continuous employment. I Gas central heating
provides instant warmth and a continuous supply of hot
water. I an organization that provides continuous monitor-
ing of world health problems
constant/'konstant II 'ka:n-/something such as a state,
feeling or need that is constant is continuous so that it
seems to be there all the time [adj usually before noun]
During the war we lived in constant fear of being bombed. [
A new-born baby needs constant care and attention. [
Whenever our daughters visit us during the holidays there
is a constant flow of telephone calls from various friends and
boyfriends.
constantly lady] The country is very unstable and the
government is constantly in danger of being overthrown.
uninterrupted /,^nint'r^ptaId,/ something good or
pleasant such as peace or sleep that is uninterrupted con-
tinues for a long time with no interruptions [adj only before
noun]
That night she had the luxury often hours of uninterrupted
sleep. [ A long period of uninterrupted peace in the region
was ended when civil war broke out.
on-going/'on gauirj 11 'Ct:ll-[ an on-going activity, situa-
tion, or piece of work is not intended to end at a definite
time, but will continue into the future [adj only before
noun]
It is hoped that on-going talks between the superpowers will
lead to a reduction in nuclear weapons. I We have a major
on-going research programme into North Sea pollution.
2
words for describing work or activity that
cor)tinues for a long time without ever
stopping
non-stop/nonstop solid
without a break day in, day out
on end with no let up
at a stretch
non-stop/nonstop/,non 'stop. II ,na:n 'sta:p-/[adv]
She's been driving non-stop for hours. I Make sure he does
some homework - he'll watch TV nonstop if you let him.
non-stop/nonstop [adj only before noun] After four days
of nonstop partying at the carnival we were both exhausted.
without a break/wi6,aot a 'breik/without any pauses
for rest lady phrase]
Victor talked for forty minutes without a break. [ On aver-
age, the human mind cannot concentrate on spoken informa-
tion for more than six minutes without a break.
on end/on 'end/if something unpleasant or unusual con-
tinues for hours, days, weeks etc on end, it continues for
that time without stopping [adv phrase]
The rain had been falling for days on end. [ In Siberia the
temperature can stay more than twenty below freezing for
months on end.
at a stretch/at a 'stretf/if someone works or does some-
thing for ten hours, three days etc at a stretch, they do it
for that time without stopping, although this may be
difficult or unusual [adv phrase]
The miners were exhausted as they had been working for ten
hours at a stretch to finish the new tunnel. [ You will have
to be away.filming on location for three or four days at a
stretch.
solid/'solId 11 'sa:-/ if you do something for two solid
hours, three solid weeks etc you do it continuously for that
period with no breaks at all [adj only before noun]
After eight solid hours of driving, I was exhausted. [ We had
to sit there through two solid hours of loud brass band music.
day in, day out/de] ,In del 'aot/if something happens
day in, day out it happens every day and is always the
same, so that it becomes very boring [adv phrase]
Working in a factory involves the same routine day in, day
out. I the old brown jacket that he wears day in, day out
with no let up/wt6 ,nao tlet ^p/if something bad con-
tinues with no let up it happens continuously for a long
time and it does not stop or get any better [adv phrase]
It rained for three days with no let up. [ The Principal went
on, with no let up, telling us the reasons why we had failed.
3 continuing for a long time without even
stopping at night
day and night
around the clock/round the clock
twenty-four-hour
day and night/,deI n 'nait/continuously, all day and
all night [adv phrase]
The sky was lit up, day and night, by the fire in the factory. [
During his illness I was by his side day and night. [ During
the war people worked night and day making ammunition.
around the clock (also round the clock in British
English)/(a),raond 6a 'khk II-'kla:k/if you work around
the clock, you work all day and all night without a break,
especially because there is something very urgent which
you have to do [adv phrase]
Since the outbreak of war, journalists have been working
round the clock to keep up with the dramatic events in
Czechoslovakia. I Security guards patrol the perimeter wire
around the clock.
round-the-clock/raund 6a klDk [1 -kla:k/[adj only before
noun] We want a round-the-clock guard on the murder wit-
nesses for their protection.
twenty.four.hour / Itwenti fa:r auar/twenty-four-hour
service/guard/radio ere (=one that is done or provided
continuously, all day and all night) [adj only before noun]
Call any time of the day or night. We provide a twenty-four-
hour repair service. [ Radiotron FM, the only station that
offers you twenty-four-hour radio
4
words for describing something unpleasant,
annoying, or frightening that happens
continuously or repeatedly
continual endless/unending
constant without respite
perpetual persistent
incessant unrelenting
nagging never-ending
continual/kan'tInjual/[adj usually before noun]
The exhaustion felt by new parents comes from the continual
disturbance of their sleep patterns. I The deadline was get-
ting closer and we were under continual pressure to reach
our targets.

CONTINUOUS
continually [ adv ] I am continually amazed and depressed
by the way the government runs the country.
constant/'kvnstnt [[ 'ka:n-! constant argument/pain
ere (=annoying because it does not stop happening) [adj
usually before noun]
There was a constant ache in one of his teeth. [ He left the
office because he could no longer stand the constant gossip.
perpetual/pr, petul! a state or feeling that is perpetual
seems to be there allthe time and is very annoying, upset-
ting, worrying etc [adj only before noun]
For many working mothers, balancing the demands of chil-
dren and job is a perpetual strain. I Her husband's perpetual
jealousy made her feel anxious.
incessant / In sesant/something unpleasant and annoy-
ing, especially a noise, that is incessant continues over a
long period of time and never stops [adj only before noun]
The rush hour is awful, with the incessant noise of cars and
buses. I All of us were victims of incessant interrogation and
brutal mental and physical torture.
incessantly [adv] Mike smoked incessantly and his room
smelled disgusting.
nagging /nagll]/nagging doubt/fear/worry/suspi-
cion (=one that is probably incorrect or unnecessary but
which stays with you all the time and does not go away)
[adj only before noun]
He had a nagging suspicion that something terrible was
about to happen. [ Helen could not rid herself of a nagging
doubt about her sister's honesty.
endless/unending /endlas, An'endlrj/ something
unpleasant or tiring that is endless or unending con-
tinues for a long time without seeming to end [adj]
We were all irritable because of the children's endless quar-
relling. ] The wet winter days seemed at times unending.
without respite/wl6aut 'respit/a formal expression:
something difficult that continues without respite does
not stop or become easier [adv phrase]
The war continued without respite for eight long years.
persistent/par'srstant/a persistent problem or illness
is not very serious but it continues to exist even though
you try to get rid of it [adj]
He has a persistent cough because of his smoking. [ The
knocking was faint but persistent, making it impossible to
sleep.
unrelenting/,^nri 'lentiI]-/a formal word: an unpleasant
situation or feeling that is unrelenting continues for a
Iong time without stopping [adj]
The unrelenting pressures of the job started to affect her
health. [ Despite the unrelenting opposition of the authori-
ties, I have decided to educate my child at home.
never-ending / ,nevar 'endIO-/having no end, or lasting
so long that you think it will never end [adj]
The boredom of married life seemed never-ending. [ Life had
become a never-ending cycle of working, eating, and sleeping.
5 words for describing a process that continues
to develop or change over a period of time
continuous
steady
progressive
continuous/kn'tinjusl [adj usually before noun]
There has been a continuous improvement in the standard
of her spoken English. [ This bicycle is the product of years
of continuous development and refinement.
continuously [ adv ] The databaseis continuously updated.
steady/'stedi/a steady increase, decrease, change, or
movement is continuous or always happens at the same
speed [adj usually before noun]
This company's profits have been in steady decline since the
1980s. [ The 20th century has seen a steady improvement in
the rights of women. [ The exhibition is popular and is
attracting a steady stream of visitors.
steadily [adv] The divorce rate has risen steadily since the
1950s.
262 control yourself
progressive/pm'gresiv/getting continuously better or
continuously worse [adj usually before noun]
The progressive build-up of pollutants in the atmosphere has
led to a weakening of the ozone layer. [ Since the 1950s there
has been a progressive fall in the numbers of adults who
cannot read and write.
progressively [adv] Her fever is getting progressively
worse. I think we should call a doctor.
6 words for describing lines, rows of objects etc
that have no spaces or breaks in them
continuous
solid
unbroken
continuous/kn'tnjus/[adj]
The traffic was awful, a continuous line of vehicles extended
as far as the eye could see. [ A continuous sheet of paper was
speeding through the newspaper printing machines.
solid/sDld [[ 'so:-/without any spaces at all [adj usually
before noun]
The graph shows our profits as a dotted line and our sales
as a solid line. [ The tide had left three solid bands of white
shells on the beach.
unbroken/An'braukn/an unbroken line or space has
no breaks, changes etc in it that spoil it [adj]
The carvings ran in an unbroken line across the facade of
the building. [ When we left the tent we saw an unbroken
plain of white snow.
contour SHAPE 2
contract AGREE 7, GET 15
contradict DIFFERENT 8, DISAGREE 1
contradictory DIFFERENT 8
contraption MACHINE 1
contrary: on the contrary/the reverse
OPPOSITE/REVERSE 4
contrary to expectations EXPECT 9
contrast COMPARE 1, DIFFERENT 13
contrast: by contrast BUT 4
contrast: in contrast/by contrast COMPARE 3
contrast with DIFFERENT 1
contrasting DIFFERENT 5
contravene DISOBEY 2, ILLEGAL 3
contribute GIVE 14, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
contribute to CAUSE 12
contribution: make a contribution GIVE 14
contributor WRITE 15
contributory CAUSE 12
contrive ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 3
contrived REAL NOT IMAGINARY 5
control CONTROL 1, 2, 14, 17, 18
control: be beyond sb's control CONTROL 21
control: be in control CONTROL 1 10
,
control: be under sb's control CONTROL 5
ўontroh bring sth under control CONTROL 16
control: have sth under control CONTROL 10, DEAL
WITH 4
ўontroh have total control CONTROL 3
ўontroh keep sth under control CONTROL 12
control: out of control CONTROL 21
ўontroh take control CONTROL 15
control/have control of OWN 2
control yourself CONTROL 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

CONTROL 263 CONTROL
. control
 !,_ . !,: ........
w  ich meaning?
'control som#thig or ::.; :. @ CONTROL
.
be in charge of an !  @ IN
ativity, group of  ....  -
be the manager.gf a  ...,,. 
company, ' ., .:.: . :.:. ,,
organization tC ' ; ,:':
examine, check ,', -,; @ EXAMINE
something ::iiii;i  .,, ";
@CONTROL
1 to control a situation, person, or group and
make them do the things you want
:2 to control a process, system etc so that it
works properly and does not cause problems
3 to completely control a situation so that no
one else can influence it
4 to be able to control a person or group so
that they obey you, do what you want etc
5 to be controlled by someone else
6 to completely control someone so that they
have no freedom
7 to control your feelings and remain calm in
difficult situations
8 to no longer be able to control your feelings
9 to control yourself again after you have been
very angry, upset etc
10 to manage to control a difficult situation
11 to no longer be able to control something or
someone
t:2 to control something or someone carefully over
a period of time so that they remain the way
you want them to be, do not get worse etc
t 3 methods, laws etc that are used to control
situations or activities
14 to control machines, equipment, or vehicles,
using your hands, feet, tools etc
15 to get control of a situation, organization, or
place that someone else was controlling
t6 to get control of a situation that you could not
control before
1"/' to control a movement or physical action
t8 the ability or power to control someone or
something
t9 words for describing an action or movement
that someone has controlled
:21) words for describing someone or something
that can be controlled
:21 difficult or impossible to control
1 to control a situation, person, or group and
make them do the things you want
control be in the driving seat
manipulate be in control
be pulling the strings steer
call the tune/shots
control/kon'trool/Iv T]
He can't control the kids he teaches. I The rebels have con-
tolled the area since the revolution in 1986. I Martha controls
the financial side of the business. I Oloco is a huge company,
controlling over half the world's oil trade. I It's usually the
editor who controls what goes into a newspaper.
manipulate/mo'mpjlet/to cleverly control someone so
that they agree to do what you want them to do, even if it
harms them Iv T]
He's very clever, he knows just how to manipulate me so that
begets his own way. I The judge gave Miss O'Rourke a light
sentence, because she had been manipulated by her lover.
manipulative /mompjlotlV II-le-/ [adj] Because they
rarely get what they want by demanding it, children often
resort to manipulative behaviour.
manipulation/mo,m pjUa lean/In U] Manipulation might
win you a few arguments but it'll lose you friends in the end.
be pulling the strings/bi: pul[rj 60 'stroz/to secretly
control an organization, country or situation, by controll-
ing the person or group that is officially in charge of it [v
phrase]
In theory the President runs the country, but most people
know the banks are pulling the strings. I There must be some-
one behind all these riots, pulling the strings.
call the tune/shots/,k3:l
to control a situation so that everyone else has to do what
you say, agree with you etc Iv phrasel
He'll never admit it, but it's the wife that calls all the shots
in that family. I It's always been ourpolicy that the customer
should call the tune.
be in the driving seat/bi: n 60 dravirj si:q an infor-
mal expression meaning to have more power than every-
one else in a particular organization or situation, so that
you control everything, especially after a time when others
have controlled everything Iv phrase]
I started my own company because I like to be in the driving
seat. I be firmly in the driving seat This is how thegovern-
ment is now made up, with the Socialists firmly in the driv-
ing seat.
be in control/hi: n kon'troul! to be able to control a sit-
uation, organization or area, usually because you have
more military power of financial power than anyone else
Iv phrase]
be in control of The anti-government forces are still in con-
trol of the area. [ be in control No one is really in control
so the gangs just fight it out among themselves.
steer/stor/to control the way a situation develops, but
without using force, so that you achieve what you want to
achieve Iv T]
steer sth He's very good at steering the conversation so that
we talk about him. [ steer sb towards/away from She has
steered the company away fromfinancial ruin.
to control a process, system etc so that it
works properly and does not cause problems
control
regulate
govern
control Ikon'troul/Iv T]
control sth This button controls the temperature in the
building. I Rocky Head power station works 24 hours a day,
controlling the electricity supply to over five million homes. [
a new law to control theflow of immigrants [ control how/
what/which etc The valves in the heart control how quickly
blood is pumped round the body.
regulate /  regjle t/if rules, laws, principles etc regulate
a process or system, they carefully control it so that it oper-
ates properly and continuously Iv T]
Strict rationing has been introduced to regulate the food
supply. [ Wages and working hours are regulated by a series
of laws passed last year. ] Sweating and shivering both help
to regulate the body's temperature.
regulation/,regj'lefan/ In U] There should be stricter
regulation of the additives in our food.
govern/' gAvorn/if laws, rules, principles etc govern the

CONTROL 264 CONTROL
way a system or situation works, they control how it
happens, what happens etc Iv T]
There are very strict laws governing cigarette advertise-
ments. I The price of the metal is governed by the demand for
it. I Very few societies believe that our lives are governed
entirely by chance.
3 to completely control a situation so that no
one else can influence it
dominate stranglehold
monopolize have total control
monopoly
dominate/'domneit II da:-/to be the most powerful or
important person or thing in a situation and therefore con-
trol it completely Iv T I
Men still tend to dominate the worm of law, hardly any top
judges are women. I You shouldn't allow your job to
dominate your life like that. I A handful of multinational
companies dominate the economy.
domination/,dom ne=J'dn II ,do:-/[n U] the domination of
three or four companies in the coffee market
monopolize (also -ise British)/mnpalaz II mno:-I
to completely control an activity, situation etc and unfairly
prevent other people or organizations from having any con-
trol over it at all Iv T]
All night he monopolized the conversation, not letting
anyone else get a word in. I The nineteenth century saw a race
between European states to monopolize the African trade
routes.
monopolization/mntpla 'zeiJdn I[ -na:pl-/In U] the
almost total monopolization (=the act of monopolizing) of
the world's ivory supplies
monopoly/rna'nopali II rnona:-/a situation in which one
person or organization unfairly has complete control In C
usually singular]
monopoly of/over It was not easy to persuade the
monarchy to let go of its monopoly of power. I Within a few
years, the company had a virtual monopoly over all trade
with India. [ monopoly If you don't regulate broadcasting
you can end up with a monopoly.
stranglehold/stre3glhoold/total power and control
over a situation, organization etc especially when this is
thought to be unfair and not good for the situation, organi-
zation etc In singular]
have a stranglehold on For years, two giant recording
companies have had a stranglehold on the CD market. [
break the stranglehold (=to stop someone having com-
plete control) Satellite TVshould at last break the strangle-
hold of the big national TV channels.
have total control/hev ,ttrtl kantrtJl/to control a sit-
uation so much that other people are prevented from
having any power or control over what happens, the way
things happen etc Iv phrase not in progressive]
In modern politics, no one political group can expect to have
total control. I have total control over He has total con-
trol over the way his career is developing.
4 to be able to control a person or group so
that they obey you, do what you want etc
have a hold on/over
have sb eating out of your hand
wrap/twist sb round your little finger
have sb in your pocket
hold sway
be the boss
have a hold on/over / hev  hold on, atrvr/to be able
to control someone because you have some emotional
power over them, for example, because you know their
secrets Iv phrase not in progressive]
He.seems to have some kind of hold over all those kids - I'm
not sure I like it. I It's been two years since we divorced, but
he still has a hold on me.
have sb eating out of your hand Ihav (sb) i:t[I aot
v ja: r 'hend/to be able to control someone because you
have made them like you so much that they will do
whatever you want Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
I introduced Mr Wilkinson to my mother. Within minutes she
had him eating out of her hand. I He's brilliant in job inter-
views - he always manages to get the panel eating out of his
hand.
wrap/twist sb round your little finger I,raep, ,twist
(sb) raondja: r ! ltl 'fIogar/to be able to control someone so
that they do what you want especially because they are
very attracted to you Iv phrasel
Get Rebecca to ask Dad for the money - she can wrap him
round her little finger. [ A hard-bitten business tycoon, he
has a girlfriend of twenty-three who can twist him round her
little finger.
have sb in your pocket/hev (sb) nja: r 'pkt II -pa:-I
to be able to control someone such as a policeman or poli-
tician so that they do what you want, because you know
something bad about them, or because you are illegally
paying them money or threatening them [v phrase not in
progressive ]
Tradelli has the cops in the Eighth Precinct in his pocket. I
Drug smugglers often have one or two customs officials in
their pocket.
hold sway/,haold swe/ira person, group, or their ideas
holds sway in a place or society at a particular time, they
have the most power or influence over what people believe
or the way they behave Iv phrase]
He was raised in the Southern states, where the Ku Klux Klan
held sway. [ hold sway over This all happened long ago,
when priests held sway over the majority of the Irish people.
be the boss/bi: 6a 'bs II -ba:s/if you say someone is
the boss within a family or group, you mean they have the
most power over the other people in it Iv phrase]
You'd better ask Mom- she's the boss around here. I show
sb who's boss (:show them that you are in control) He
regularly beats up on other members of the gang, just to show
them who's boss.
 to be controlled by someone else
be under sb's control be at sb's mercy
be in sb's power doormat
be under sb's spell
be under sb's control/bi: ,^nda r (sb's) kantraol/ [v
phrase]
The whole town seems to be under the control of one family. I
Almost three thousand troops are under Captain Marsh's
control. I Roughly a quarter of the area came under Soviet
control.
be in sb's power/bi: n (sb's) 'paoar! if you are in some-
one's power you have to do whatever they want you to do,
especially because they have some emotional power over
you Iv phrase]
He'll do whatever I tell him to do: he's completely in my
power. [ have sb in your power She seems to have all the
senior party members in her power.
be under sb's spell/bi: Anda r (sb's) spel/if you are
under someone's spell they have almost complete power
over how you feel, the way you behave etc especially
because you love or admire them very much Iv phrase]
Marty couldn "t stop thinking about her all day. He was obvi-
ously under her spell. I come/fall under sb's spell (=start
to be under someone's spell) She loves the company of show-
biz personalities, and many have fallen under her spell.
be at sb's mercy/bi: at (sb's) 'ma:rsi/ if you are at
someone's mercy they have the power to decide whether
good or bad things happen to you, in a way that you cannot
prevent Iv phrasel
Children often find themselves at the mercy of other kids who
are older and bigger. I Is it really right to put the economy
completely at the mercy of international investors? I Once in
prison, inmates are at the guards" mercy.
doormat Idz: rmet/an informal word meaning someone
who lets other people treat them badly and who does not
complain or try to change their situation In C]

CONTROL 26,5 CONTROL
Why don "t you stand up for yourself?. You're such a doormat.
He treats her like a doormat and she lets him.
6 to completely control someone so that they
have no freedom
dominate
domineering
oppress
oppressive
keep sb down
repress
walk all over
dominate/'dDmnet II 'da:-/[v T]
He's a very aggressive person, totally dominating everyone
he works with. I The character at the centre of the film is a
lonely young man who is completely dominated by his
mother.
domination/,dDm 'neI.an II da:-/In U] The domination
of the mother is very well brought out in the book.
domineering/,dtm'nar=rj- II ,d(a:-/someone who is
domineering always wants to control what other people
do and never listens to what they want [adj]
Of the three friends, Hattie was the domineering one. 1 He's
arrogant and domineering and never ltens to anyone. I the
cartoon stereotype of the hen-pecked husband and the
domineering wife
oppress /o'pres/ to control large groups of people or
nations by using violent or unfair methods, for example
by not allowing them any rights Iv T]
Since colonial times, black ople in South Africa have been
oppressed by the white minority. ] Marxists have studied the
role of the family in oppressing women.
oppressed [adjl Gay people suffer just as much dcrimina-
tion as any other oppressed minority. I the oppressed nations
of Latin America
oppression Io'prean/ In U] He's spent a lifetime fighting
oppression and injustice.
oppressive/o'pres v/oppressive laws or government
actions control people so tightly that they have very little
freedom left [adjl
The Naz introduced a number of oppressive laws directed
at the Jewish population. I South African people bear the
brunt of racial violence, oppressive policing and fascist
activity.
keep sb down/,ki:p (sb) 'daon/to control someone by
not allowing them to use their natural abilities, intelli-
gence, or energy to improve their situation [phr v T]
be kept down Huge sectio of the population are kept down
by hunger, poverty and illiteracy. I keep sb down In
Marlowe's opinion, religion was invented in order to keep
people down.
repress /r'pres/ if someone in a position of power
represses people, they control them by using soldiers,
police etc to stop them having any social or political free-
dom Iv T]
It's a cruel and vicious regime that represses all opposition. I
They tried to repress us, but our faith kept us strong through
those evil times.
repressive Iadjl the repressive tactics of t occupying forces
repression/r' prean/In U] Most of the refugees are fleeing
from repression in their homeland.
walk all over/,w:k 3:1 'ovr/an informal expression
meaning to treat someone badly by doing whatever you
want to do and without caring about what they want or feel
Iv phrase l
Why do you let him just walk all over you, have you no
pride? [ Don't let your boss walk all over you, tell him you "re
too busy to do it.
7 to control your feelings and remain calm in
difficult situations
control yourself
self-control
discipline yourself
self-discipline
restrain yourself
contain yourself
restraint
keep your temper
control yourself/kn 'tmul j: r, self/to succeed in behav-
ing calmly and sensibly when you are actually very angry,
excited, or upset Iv phrase]
She annoyed me intensely, but I managed to control myself
and remain polite. I Bill was about to hit me, but then, with
an effort, he controlled himself. I At last the great day came.
Anne was so excited she could hardly control herself.
self.control / self kn tmul/the ability to behave calmly
and sensibly even when you feel very excited, angry etc In
U]
Girls in the convent were taught obedience, discipline and
self-control. I I think you showed great self-control in keep-
ing the news a secret for so long.
discipline yourself/d;saplan]  ja:rself/to control how
hard you work, how much exercise you get, how much you
eat etc because you know it is good for you Iv phrase]
discipline yourself to do sth She's disciplined herself to
run at least two miles a day. ] discipline yourself If you're
going to be successful in managing your own business you've
got to learn to discipline yourself.
self.discipline/self 'dspl nl the ability to make your-
self work hard, take a lot of exercise, not eat the wrong
foods etc because you know it is good for you to do so In U ]
I don't know if I've enough selfldiscipline to work full-time
and go to night school. I Successful volunteers need to learn
self-reliance and selfdiscipline.
restrain yourself/r stren ja:rself/ to stop yourself
doing or saying something that you really want to say, espe-
cially something that might have a harmful result Iv
phrase]
Conor couldn't restrain himself any longer: "/'m going to tell
that husband of yours exactly what I think if him. "" ] res-
train yourself from It was all I could do to restrain myself
from demanding to know everything.
contain yourself/kanten ja:rself/to be able to stop
yourself from showing how angry, excited etc you are Iv
phrasel
can hardly contain yourself( =be nearly not able to con-
tain yourself) The kids are dying to tell you all about it -
they can hardly contain themselves. I contain yourself I
know you're very excited, but can you try and contain your-
self till we get home?
restrainl/r 'stre[nt/the ability not to do something that
you very much want to do because you know it is more
sensible not to do it In U]
Jackson was commended for his restraint in dealing with
the criminal. I show/exercise restraint (=to behave in a
controlled way) Considering how angry I was; I think I
showed great restraint. I The government is urging investors
to exercise restraint and not to panic.
keep your temper / ki:pja: r tempar/to manage to stay
calm when it would be very easy for you to get angry Iv
phrase]
I knew they were trying to annoy me but I was determined
to keep my temper. I Police officers are expected to keep their
tempers whatever people say to them. I Go and see the boys
father about the broken window but please try and keep your
temper.
8 to no longer be able to control your feelings
lose control crack up/crack
get carried away break down
go to pieces give in to
snap
lose control/,lu:z kntmol/ [v phrase]
She always said she'd never ever hit a kid, but one day she
just lost control. [ Even the stiffest gun laws can 't protect us
against someone who loses control in a fit of madness. I The
police asked everyone to stay calm but a few people lost con-
trol and started screaming.
get carried away/get kerid o'we/to be so excited,
angry, interested etc that you are no longer able to control
what you do or say Iv phrase]

CONTROL 266 CONTROL
I'm sorry I shouted so much. I think I got rather carried
away. I She returned from her shopping trip with about
twenty bags. "I'm sorry - I got a bit carried away in
Liberty's, '" she said.
go to pieces/,go t 'pi:s z/to be so upset or nervous
that you cannot control what you are doing and cannot
think sensibly [v phrase]
I was so nervous in my driving test I just went to pieces. [
Keeping busy was the only thing that kept her from going
to pieces during the divorce.
snap/snaep/to suddenly become very angry or upset, after
you have been trying to stop yourself getting angry or upset
for a long time [v I]
Leroy tried to ignore the men's comments, but finally he
snapped.
crack up/crack I, krak '^p, krak/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be so upset that you cannot control your
emotions or what you are doing, especially after you have
been upset or unhappy for a long time Iv I]
She won't answer the phone, she never goes out and she's
really behind with her work - I think she's cracking up. [
A few months after the trial, Baldwin finally cracked.
break down/,breik 'daon/to be unable to stop yourself
from crying, especially in public [phr v I]
Several of the people at the funeral broke down and wept
openly. [ White House aides said the President was 'unwell"
yesterday after he broke down during a TV interview.
give in to Igv n tu:/if you give in to an emotion such
as anger or unhappiness you can no longer control that
emotion and begin to shout, cry etc [v TI
He eventually gave in to his anger and shot his wife's lover. [
Unhappy, but determined not to give in to melancholy reflec-
tions, she turned her thoughts to other things.
to control yourself again after you have been
very angry, upset etc
snap out of it
get a grip on yourself
pull yourself together
snap out of it/,snep aot av It/to suddenly start to con-
trol yourself after you have been very sad or upset and
make yourself feel better again [v phrase]
You've been in this mood for days now - I wish you'd snap
out of it. [ He's so depressed. He doesn't seem able to snap out
of it at all.
get a grip on yourself/,get  'grip tn j3:r,self/you say
get a grip on yourself when you want someone to stop
behaving in a very emotional way, especially when they
are so frightened or upset that they cannot control the way
they are behaving
Sheila started screamimg hysterically. Ruth shook her: "'Get
a grip on yourself.r We don't want to get caught. "" ] Occasion-
ally Georgie would find Tommy crying, and he'd tell him to
get a grip on himself.
pull yourself together/pol j3:rself tgeSr/you say
pull yourself together when you want someone to stop
behaving emotionally, especially when you are a little
annoyed or embarrassed at the way they are behaving
Pull yourself together. It's ridiculous to get upset about some-
thing so silly. ] He arrived at the courtroom, very white and
nervous. "Pull yourself together, Bradshaw,'" said the
lawyer.
10 to manage to control a difficult situation
be in control
have sth under control
have a grip on
be in control/bi: in kn'tmol/[v phrase]
Weber's one of those men who always seems to be in control. [
be in control of We're still in control of things here, but I
can't guarantee it'll stay that way. [ He's still not really in
control of his emotions.
have sth under control/hazy (sth) ^ndo r kon'trool/to
have succeeded in controlling a difficult or dangerous
situation [v phrase not in progressive]
Firefighters now have the blaze under control. [ The guests
will be arriving any minute now, but Gall says she has every-
thing under control.
have a grip on I,hev a 'grip on/to manage to control a
difficult or dangerous situation, where people are oppos-
ing you or trying to stop you, especially after a time when
you had no control [v phrase not in progressive]
President Garcia now seems to have a better grip on the army
andpolice. [ have a firm grip on (=have very strong con-
trol over) He has a firm grip on the company's finances.
1 1 to no longer be able to control something or
someone
lose control
lose your grip
lose control/,lu:z kn'tmol/[v phrase]
lose control of/over Coming round the corner, he almost
lost control of his car. I When people lose their jobs, they lose
control over many other aspects of their lives. I lose control
For years he ran the company efficiently but he recently seems
to have lost all control.
lose your grip/,lu:z ja:r 'grip/to no longer be able to
control a situation that you have had difficulty controlling
for a long time [v phrase]
By 1965, US troops in the area were beginning to lose their
grip. I lose your grip on Clive's been behaving very
strangely - I think he's losing his grip on the situation.
12 to control something or someone carefully over
a period of time so that they remain the way
you want them to be, do not get worse etc
keep sth under control
keep a tight rein on
keep sth under control/,ki:p (sth) Anda r kan'trool/to
control a situation carefully so that it stays the way you
want it to be and does not get worse [v phrase]
Jonson's been struggling for years to keep his drinking
under control. [ There is no foolproof way of keeping the
spread of HIV under control.
keep a tight rein on/,ki:p a tat 'rein on/to control
a person or situation very carefully so that you always
know what is happening [v phrase]
The finance secretary will keep a tight rein on government
spending in the coming year. [ keep sb/sth on a tight rein
She is used to keeping all her family on a tight rein.
1  methods, laws etc that are used to control
situations or activities
controls
restraints
controls/kan'troolz/[n plural]
Within months, most of the wartime controls on trading were
abandoned. [ rigid controls (=very strict controls) Rigid
rent controls ensured that no one paid too much for housing. [
tight controls (=strict controls) Ethnic groups around the
country are strongly opposing the introduction of tighter
controls on immigration.
restraints /rI 'strelnts/ laws or beliefs that control an
activity or situation, especially by not allowing people to
do exactly what they want to do [n plural]
Every society has its own restraints on moral behaviour. [
Travellers dream of living a free life, away from the res-
traints of urban existence. ] impose restraints (=make
rules in order to control someone or something) As they
grow older, kids begin to rebel against the retraints imposed
by their parents.

CONTROL 26?" CONTROL
1 4, to control machines, equipment, or vehicles,
using your hands, feet, tools etc
control work
operate be at the controls
•
control/kntraol/to make a vehicle work [v T]
She's a good driver and controls the car very well. ] It was
once thought that women wouldn't be able to control large
vehicles such as buses or juggernauts.
operate / opare[t [I 'o:-/to control a large or complicated
machine or piece of equipment Iv T]
Some medicines may cause drowsiness. If affected do not
drive or operate machinery. [ Do you know how to operate
the air conditioning? [ They passed a cement mixer that was
being operated by two men in dusty overalls.
work/wa:rk/to make a complicated machine or piece of
equipment do what it is meant to do Iv T]
Does anyone here know how to work this microwave? [
Jimmy took a look at the steam gauges, while Carrie worked
the controls.
be at the controls/bi: at 63 kan'traolz/if someone is at
the controls of a large vehicle or plane, they are-driving
it, flying it etc Iv phrase]
Though he had his parachute on, he remained at the controls
of the plane and told the crew to bale out. I When we were
kids we used to sit in a cardboard box, pretending to be at
the controls of a spaceship.
1 5 to get control of a situation, organization, or
place that someone else was controlling
take control seize
take over take
take control/te]k kan traol/[v phrase]
take control of Following requests from the police, the army
has now taken control of the area. I Anne Williams will take
control of the research division on August 5th. I take con-
trol He's invested a lot of money in the company since he took
control last May.
take over/,tek 'atJvar/to get control of a country or
organization, especially when the people in that country
or organization do not want it to happen [phr v I/T]
take over sth British Airways wants to take over a smaller
rival airline, i One of his greatest fears is that the media will
completely take over political life. I take over There have
been widespread reports of arrests and beatings since the
army took over.
take-over /telk auvar/ [n C] Thompson's attempted take-
over (-a situation in which one organization takes over
another) of Sun Tours was a failure.
seize/si:z/if an army seizes power or an area of land, they
get control of it by using force to suddenly take political
control Iv T]
The General has been Head of State since he seized power in
1982. I It wasn't until September lOth that the US heard of
the enemy's intention of seizing the island.
take/telk/to get political and military control of a coun-
try or part of a country, especially during a war Iv T]
Rebel forces have taken the northern part of the country.
16 to get control of a situation that you could not
control before
bring sth under control
regain control
bring sth under control/,brrj (sth) ^nda r kan'traol/[v
phrase]
Most farm animal diseases have been wiped out or brought
under control by regular inoculation I The Communists
brought the Resistance under control by imprisoning their
leaders. I Government attempts to bring the drug problem
under control have so far failed.
regain control/rI, ge[n kan' traol/to get control of a sit-
uation again after you had lost control of it Iv phrase]
regain control of Conservative Democrats now wanted to
regain control of the Democratic Party. I At last she seemed
to regain control of the situation, and started to speak. I
regain control After the police had regained control, they
set about arresting the ringleaders.
1 7 to control a movement or physical action
control
control/kan'traol/[v T]
Babies cannot control their neck muscles until they are about
three months old. I He had a nervous twitch in his cheek that
he could not control. I When exercising you should try to care-
fully control all your movements.
1 ;8 the ability or power to control someone or
something
control
control Ikan'traoll [n U]
control of/over The general's control over his supporters
has weakened in recent months. [ In divorce cases, custody
and control of the children usually goes to the mother. [ con-
trol Control is all-important to him: he can't stand anyone
disagreeing with him or not obeying him. [ Generally, her
driving's OK, but her clutch control isn't very good.
19 words for describing an action or movement
that someone has controlled
controlled
restrained
disciplined
controlled Ikan 'traold/ [adj]
Methods of relaxation include practising meditation and
controlled breathing. I All her movements were elegant and
controlled.
restrained/r strend/movements or expressions that
are restrained are more controlled than they would
usually be, especially because it seems more polite or
acceptable to control them [adj]
They noticed that Harry had appeared at the back of the
room, so now their laughter was more restrained, l Despite
the fact she was so angry, she closed the door in a quiet,
restrained way.
disciplined/'dsplnd/movements or actions that are
disciplined are carefully controlled, especially because
you have been trained to control them [adj]
The enemy conducted a disciplined retreat to another hill,
and then waited.
:2t0 words for describing someone or something
that can be controlled
controllable
manageable
controllable Ikan'traulaball [adj]
Some people prefer to cook with gas, saying theAlame is more
controllable. I The national debt is large but relatively
controllable.
manageable /'mend3abal/small or easy enough to be
controlled [adj]
Class sizes have got to be kept down to manageable propor-
tions. I You'll soon learn that stress can be manageable and
within your control. I The US economy would be more
manageable if defense spending were reduced.
21 difficult or impossible to control
u ncontrollable ru naway
unmanageable rampant
out of control be beyond sb's control
get out of hand wild
uncontrollable I,Ankan'traolabal,/ [adj]
She was shaking with uncontrollable anger, t Cancer need
not necessarily be an uncontrollable disease. I The spiral of
inflation and wage rises has become uncontrollable.

CONTROL 268 CONVENIENT
uncontrollably [adv] Mark laughed uncontrollably when
he saw what the dog had done to my hat.
unmanageable/^n'mamd3bal/too difficult, big, com-
plicated etc to be controlled [adj]
The problem of aid distribution is becoming almost
unmanageable. [ Her thick brown hair grew tangled and
unmanageable.
out o| control/,aot v kn tmol/no longer able to be con-
trolled [adj phrase]
Very few parents will admit that their teenage children are
out of control. I The fire was out of control by the time the
second fire engine arrived. I The car spun out of control and
hit a tree. I Nicky's determined that her spending won't get
out of control again.
get out of hand/get ,aot v 'hend/if something, espe-
cially a situation, has got out of hand, it has become so
serious or difficult that it can no longer be controlled [v
phrase]
Every year we say we'll spend less at Christmas, and every
year it still gets out of hand. ] We all knew that the costs were
totally out of hand.
runaway / ' r^nwe/increasing or spreading in an unex-
pected way that cannot be controlled [adj only before noun]
The President wants to raise living standards without caus-
ing runaway inflation. [ They see technology as a runaway
force that humans can no longer control.
rampant/'rampnt/growing, spreading or continuing
very quickly, in a way that is impossible to stop [adj]
It wasn't military action but rampant disease that finally
caused the population to surrender. I Corruption soon
became rampant.
be beyond sb's control/bi: bi,jond (sb's) kn'tmol [[
-,ja:nd-/a situation or force that is beyond your control
is one that you are not able to control, especially if some-
one else is controlling it or because no one can control it
[v phrase]
He might have been able to manage Minny on her own, but
Amy was beyond his control. ] circumstances beyond our
control (=a situation that we cannot control) Due to circum-
stances beyond our control, we have had to cancel tonight's
performance of 'Carmen'.
wild/walld! if something that is usually controlled is wild
it grows or develops in a completely uncontrolled way,
especially because no one has tried to stop it [adj/adv]
run wild (=develop or grow uncontrollably) New laws have
been introduced to stop property speculation from running
wild. [ The ivy on the empty old house had run wild. I wild
Occasionally, the laughter would erupt into wild hysterics.
controllable CONTROL 20
controlled CONTROL 19
controls: be at the controls CONTROL 14, DRIVE 1
controls CONTROL 13
controversial DISAGREE 7
controversy DISAGREE 6
convalesce RECOVER/GET BETTER 2
convalescence RECOVER/GET BETTER 5
convenience: at your convenience TIME/HAVE TIME 1
convenient CONVENIENT 1 NEAR 4
convenient: not be convenient CONVENIENT 2
CONVENIENT
1 words for describing something that is helpful
for you because it saves you time or trouble,
or does not spoil your plans or arrangements
2 not convenient
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
I words for describing something that is helpful
for you because it saves you time or trouble,
or does not spoil your plans or arrangements
convenient be good for
handy a good time
suit no trouble/
fit in with no problem
convenient Ikn'vi:nint/[adj]
TV dinners are convenient because they are ready to heat and
eat. ] A loose brick in the wall served as a very convenient
hiding-place for the spare front door key. [ convenient to
do sth I find it much more convenient to live near my place
of work. [ convenient for sb I'd like to set up an appoint-
ment for next Tuesday. Will 11 o'clock be convenient for you?
conveniently [advl Folding chairs can be stored con-
veniently when you have limited space.
convenience [n U] The bus is cheaper than a car but you
don't have the convenience of being able to park outside the
house do you?
handy / handi/an informal word: if something is handy
it is convenient for you, because it is easy to use or helps
you to do something [adj]
Many soft drinks are now available in handy little cartons. [
My mother said she wanted to help with the kids, which was
really handy when Al and I wanted a night out together. [
handy for sth Public libraries are handy for finding infor-
mation about local history.
suit/su:t, sju:t [[ su:q if an arrangement, especially a time
or date, suits you, it is convenient for you [v T not in pro-
gressive or passive]
"'Which day would suit you best?" "I'm free on Sunday. "[
Finding a date to suit everybody is going to be difficult. [ The
meeting will be held at the Conference Centre. I hope that
suits all the delegates.
fit In with /,fit 'in wi6/ifa suggested plan or arrangement
fits in with your plans, it is convenient for you because
you do not need to change your plans or arrangements in
order to do it [v T not in progressive or passive]
Meeting on Saturday would fit in with my plans perfectly
because I'm going into town that day anyway. [ We'd like to
go out for a meal on Thursday evening, but does that fit in
with what you're doing ?
be good for/hi: 'god fa:r/an American expression: if
something, especially an arrangement, time, date etc is
good for you, it is convenient because you do not need to
change your other arrangements in order to do it [vphrase]
Ten o'clock is good for me. Can you go at that time? [ So every-
one's meeting at the beach? That's good for me.
a good time/ ,god 't aim/the most convenient time to
do something, especially something you are delaying [n
phrase]
"" I'm too busy to talk to you now. "" "'Well when would be a
good time?"[ a good time for I'm afraid this isn't a good
time for me, I have to be somewhere in ten minutes. See you
later. [ a good time to do sth Perhaps Wednesday afternoon
would be a better time to talk about this.
no trouble/no problem/nee 'trAbal, noo 'problem [[
-pra:b-/if someone asks you to do something and you say
no trouble or no problem, you mean that you will do it
because it is very easy or convenient for you
"'Can you pick me up at 6 o'clock? .... No trouble - I'll stop
by after work. "[ "You'll have to make your own breakfast,
I'm afraid. .... No problem, I'm not really hungry anyway."
2 not convenient
inconvenient be bad for
not be convenient a bad time
inconvenient/, inkn ' vi:niant- / [ adj]
Having the bathroom downstairs is very inconvenient. [ The
computer couldn't have broken down at a more inconvenient
moment. [ inconvenient for sb It would have been incon-
venient for him to move out of his house just before his

CONVENIENT
exams. I inconvenient to do sth It would be inconvenient
to leave early today.
inconvenience In U] The library was closed for two weeks
for redecorating, at considerable inconvenience to the
students.
not be convenient/not bi: konvi:nbnt/if something
especially an arrangement, time or date is not convenient,
it is not suitable for you because you are busy, can not go
somewhere etc Iv phrase]
Susan said that two o'clock was not convenient, because she
already had an appointment then. I not be convenient for
If Wednesday's meeting is not convenient for everyone, we can
change it to another day. I it is not convenient to do sth
If it is not convenient to go to your local bank, just telephone
for advice.
be bad for/bi: bed f:r/ an American expression: if
something, especially an arrangement, time, date etc is bad
for you, it is not convenient because you have other plans
or arrangements Iv phrase]
Saturdays are bad for me. Could we play Fridays instead? l
Would it be bad for you if we didn't drive through St Louis?
a bad time/ baed Itaim] a time that is not convenient
because you are busy, have problems, have other arrange-
ments etc In phrase]
I can talk to you later if I've caught you at a bad time. I a
bad time for We'd love to go camping with you this weekend
but it's a bad time for us - we have a lot of work to do. I a
bad time to do sth You chose a really bad time to arrive,
I have got to pick the kids up from school.
convention MEET 6, RULE/REGULATION 2
conventional CONVENTIONAL 1
@ CONVENTIONAL
always following the opinions and behaviour
that most people think are normal, right, and
socially acceptable
words for describing conventional people,
attitudes, methods, or ways of living
not conventional
1 words for describing conventional people,
attitudes, methods, or ways of living
conventional conservative
conformist suburban
straight traditional
conventional Ikn 'ven.[anl/ [adj]
My mother is very conventional and finds it hard to accept
that I live with my boyfriend. I Rosemary led a quiet, con-
ventional life until she went to university. I Her outrageous
stage act is seen as a challenge to conventional morality. I
Some people believe in acupuncture but I still believe in a
more conventional approach to medicine.
conventionally lady] He was a very normal-looking young
man, conventionally dressed. It was hard to believe he was
a mass-murderer.
conformist/kn f3:rmst/always wanting to think and
behave in the same way as most ordinary people, so that
you never do anything different or original [adj]
Your problem is that you are too conformist in your think-
ing. I In some systems, students are expected to be conformist
and not to question what they are taught.
conformist In C] He's such a conformist.
conformity In U] All the work was carried out in an
,atmosphere of strict conformity.
straight/street/an informal word meaning conventional
,and often rather boring [adj not usually before noun]
I can't stand it when your friends come to visit - they're so
.straight. I Paul's quite nice but he's awfully straight.
,conservative/kn  s3: rvt v/someone who is conserva-
tive is rather old fashioned in their attitudes, beliefs, style
269
convictions
of clothes etc, and does not like change or new ideas ladj]
The wealthy middle classes form the most conservative sec-
tion of Western society. I middle-aged men in conservative
business suits
conservatively [adv ] The manager emerged, smartly but
conservatively dressed in a grey suit and striped tie.
suburban/so'b3: rbn/typical of the attitudes and way of
life of people who are always very conventional and ordi-
nary, and who disapprove of anyone who does not live or
behave like them [adj]
She hated her parents" suburban attitudes. I Despite her
suburban clothes and appearance she was popular at
college.
traditional/tmdfanzl/following ideas and methods that
have existed for a long time, and not interested in anything
new or different [adj]
Many traditional teachers still think of computers as useless
toys. I traditional male values
2 not conventional
unconventional nonconformist
alternative dropout/d rop-out
unorthodox
unconventional/, ^nkn' venfanl./[adj]
Their relationship will never last - she is much too uncon-
ventional for him. I His business methods were unconven-
tional but successful. I There was a time when you could be
accused of being a Communist just for wearing unconven-
tional clothes.
alternative /3:llt3:rnatlv [[ 3:1-, !-/ alternative
methods, ideas, ways of living etc are completely different
from the ones that most people regard as normal and right,
and are based on different principles ]adj only before noun 1
Alternative medicine can cure many problems but not dis-
eases like cancer. I an alternative lifestyle
unorthodox/An 3:rOadt)ks II -do:ks/ideas, behaviour, or
methods that are unorthodox are original and different
from what is normal, and so some people disapprove of
them [adj]
Because they are unorthodox, her ideas are often brilliant
and sometimes useless. I His unorthodox approach to violin
playing has offended the purists. I The authorities kept a
close watch on anyone with unorthodox views.
nonconformist /  nDnkn f: r m  st- II  no:n-/refusing to
think or behave in the same way as most ordinary people,
or to follow accepted ways of doing things [adj]
As a writer he remained nonconformist all his life, always
searching for new means of expression.
nonconformist In C] Nazi Germany was a society in which
nonconformists were not tolerated.
dropout/drop-out /'dropaot [I 'dro:p-/ someone who
decides not to work or take part in normal society, because
they want to be different and live life their own way In C I
Considering he was a college drop-out he has had a very suc-
cessful business career. I the army of hippies and dropouts
wandering about the roads
converge CROWD 3, JOIN STH TOGETHER 4
conversation TALK TO SB 7
conversation: be in conversation TALK TO SB 4
conversation: get into conversation/fall into
conversation TALK TO SB 5
conversation: make conversation TALK TO SB 4
conversationalist TALK TO SB 15
converse TALK TO SB 4
converse: the converse OPPOSITE/REVERSE 2
conversely BUT 4
convert CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 2, PERSUADE
4,5
convert to CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1
convex BEND 9
convey EXPRESS 1, TAKE/BRING 5, 6
convict GUILTY 5, PRISON 4
convictions: have the courage of your convictions
BRAVE 5

convince 2"/0 COOK
convince PERSUADE 6, SURE 2
convinced SURE 1
convincing BELIEVE 11, PERSUADE 9
convivial FRIENDLY 5
convoluted COMPLICATED 3
cook COOK 1, 2, 3, 10
cook the books CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 4
cook up INVENT4
COOK
10
to cook a meal or make something such as
bread, soup etc
to heat food in a particular way until it is
ready to eat
ways of saying that food is being cooked
words for describing food that has not been
cooked
to cook food too much so that it does not
taste good
the activity and skill of cooking
a style of cooking especially in a particular
country or area
a method of cooking a particular meal or dish
words for describing something that is used
in cooking
someone who cooks
1
to cook a meal or make something such as
bread, soup etc
cook prepare
make put sth on
fix rustle up
get
cook/kok/to cook a meal, or cook a particular vegetable,
meat etc Iv I/T]
cook sth What are you going to cook for tomorrow's lunch? l
He lived by himself and cooked his own meals. I I know a
great way of cooking steak. I cook I'm too tired to cook after
work. I do the cooking Virginia usually did the cooking,
and Diana did the washing.
make/meik/to cook a meal or a particular dish, such as
soup, bread etc Iv T]
Do you make your own bread? l I'm going to make a pie for
supper tonight. ] My mother used to make delicious straw-
berry jam.
fix/fiks/an informal word used especially in American
English meaning to cook or prepare a meal or part of a meal
Iv T]
fix sth I have to fix supper now. I fix sb sth You're too late
for dinner, but I can fix you some scrambled eggs.
get/get/an informal word meaning to cook or prepare a
meal Iv T not in passive]
get sth I'll get the dinner while you put the children to bed. I
get sb their lunch/dinner ere Grandpa's ill, so you'll have
to get him his dinner.
prepare/pri 'peor/to prepare a meal or part of a meal,
especially something that takes time, effort, and skill Iv T]
She was still preparing supper when her guests arrived. I
Prepare a vinaigrette sauce with olive oil, white wine vine-
gar and mustard.
put sth on /,pot (sth) 'Dn [I -'o:n/put the dinner/pota-
toes/vegetables etc on (=start cooking something) [phr
v T]
Put the dinner on, I'm hungry. I They'll be here in ten
minutes. You'd better put the potatoes on.
rustle up/,r^sal 'Ap/to quickly cook something without
any preparations and using whatever food you have avail-
able [phr v T]
rustle up a meal/dinner etc She managed to rustle up a
delicious meal with just a little salad and some eggs. [ rustle
something up "What on earth are we going to eat? .... Don't
worry, I'm sure I can rustle something up. ""
 to heat food in a particular way until it is
ready to eat
cook bake
boil roast
simmer grill
fry broil
cook Ikok/[v I/T]
cook sth You should cook the vegetables slowly in a pan of
salted water. I Smoked sausages must be cooked before you
can eat them. I cook Peel and cook gently for half an hour.
cooked [adj] Rose ordered a cooked chicken from the
butcher. I Cooked food should be left to cool before putting
it in the refrigerator.
boil/bzl/to cook food in boiling water Iv I/T]
boil sth I boiled the rice in a large saucepan for about eight
minutes. I Boil the onions until they are tender. I boil Boil
in hot water to remove the colour.
boiled [adj] She always has a boiled egg for breakfast.
simmer / ' smor/to cook food slowly in water that is boil-
ing very gently Iv I/T]
simmer sth Break the macaroni into small pieces and
simmer it in a pan of salted water. I simmer gently/slowly
Combine all ingredients and simmer gently for 30 to 45
minutes.
fry Ifraq to cook food in hot oil or fat Iv I/T]
fry sth Fry the onions until they're golden brown. I It's a
good idea to coat fish with breadcrumbs before you fry it. I
fry Fry in hot fat.
fried [adj] The doctor advised me not to eat too much fried
food. If tied eggs served with bacon
bake/beik/to cook food in an oven Iv I/T]
bake sth Bake the cake in a fairly hot oven for about 30
minutes. I On Monday she used to bake bread for the whole
week. I bake Bake on a low heat for two hours.
baked [adj] We often have baked potatoes with a cheese
filling.
roast/roost/to cook something, especially a large piece
of meat, in an oven or over a fire Iv I/T]
roast sth Roast the lamb carefully so that it is nicely
browned but not burnt. I Before roasting a chicken I usually
stuff it with herbs and onion. I roast Roast for 2 hours at
gas mark 6.
roast [adj] Roast beef can be served with a mustard sauce.
grill/grd/a British word meaning to cook food by putting
it close to very strong heat Iv I/T]
grill sth It's much healthier to grill food than to fry it. I grill
Grill with tomatoes and serve hot.
grilled [adj] Grilled steak should be served immediately.
broil/brad/an American word meaning to cook food by
putting it close to very strong heat Iv I/T]
broil sth Cover the chicken pieces with butter and broil them
until they're golden brown. I broil Brush the kebabs lightly
with sesame oil and broil for 20 minutes.
broiled [ adj] I ordered broiled steak, french fries and salad.
ways of saying that food is being cooked
cook simmer
be on bake
boil fry
cook/kok/Iv I]
While the potatoes are cooking, you can prepare the salad. [
How long will it take to cook?
be on/bi: 'vn II -'o:n/ if food is on, it is being cooked
[phr v I]
The sauce is on, so dinner will be ready in about twenty
minutes.
boil/ba;l/to be cooked in boiling water [v I]
When the rice has boiled for ten minutes, it should be ready
to serve.

COOK 271 copy out
boiling [adj] the smell of boiling cabbage
sintnter/Isimor/to be cooked in liquid that is just boil-
ing or is almost boiling Iv I]
Leave the soup to simmer for ten minutes or so.
bake/beik] to be cooked in an oven Iv I]
The pies are baking in the oven.
fry/fray/to be cooked in a pan of oil [v I]
While the onions are frying add the tomatoes and stir. I I
could smell bacon frying in the kitchen downstairs.
4 words for describing food that has not been
cooked
raw
uncooked
undercooked
raw Ir:l [adj]
His favourite cure for a hangover is a raw egg mixed with
a measure of brandy. I a salad made with raw carrots,
cauliflower, and onion
uncooked/^nlkokt-/food that is uncooked has not yet
been cooked, but it must be cooked before it is eaten [adj
usually before noun]
You can store uncooked beefsteaks in your freezer for up to
five months. I Wash a cupful of uncooked brown rice and put
it in a saucepan.
undercooked /innd;)r ikokt-/not cooked enough [adj]
It was a terrible meal. The meat was tough and the vegeta-
bles were undercooked, i It is dangerous to eat undercooked
pork as it may contain bacteria.
5 to cook food too much so that it does not
taste good
overcook
overcook/,ovr'kok/[v T]
Be careful not to overcook the corn. I Most vegetables go soft
and mushy if they have been overcooked.
overcooked [adj] I complained to the waiter that my steak
was overcooked.
6 the activity and skill of cooking
cookery
cooking
cookery I'kokari/ a word used especially in British
English meaning the art or skill of cooking In U]
Books about gardening or cookery are always popular. I
cookery class/book/lesson etc In our cookery classes we
are learning how to make a souffle.
cooking I kokiljl the activity of cooking [n U]
His hobbies include cooking and wine-making. I cooking
classes/lessons/course etc (American) She's taking a
cooking class at night school.
7 a style of cooking, especially in a particular
country or area
cooking
cuisine
cooking /'kokirJl the way food is cooked by a particular
person or in a particular place In U]
I can recommend that new Greek restaurant. Their cooking
is excellent. [ If you don't like my cooking, you can always
do it yourself. [ French/Chinese/Italian etc cooking
Karen loves Italian cooking. [ home cooking (=the kind
that you do at home) There's nothing quite as good as home
cooking.
cuisine/kwI 'zi:n/a formal word meaning a style of cook-
ing belonging to a particular country or area, especially
when the food is of high quality In U]
The cuisine on board the ship was as good as any you might
find on shore. [ French/Chinese/Italian etc cuisine a
restaurant specializing in French cuisine
 a method of cooking a particular meal or dish
recipe
recipe/'respi/a set of instructions for cooking a partic-
ttlar kind of food or meal In C]
recipe for Can I ha.ve your recipe for chocolate cake?[ recipe
chicken and mushroom pie made from a traditional recipe[
That was delicious. You must give me the recipe. [ recipe
book I've looked in all the recipe books but I can't find out
how to make a good Moussaka.
 words for describing something that is used
in cooking
cooking
culinary
cooking /'kokirj/cooking utensils/apples/oil/salt etc
(=used for or in cooking, and not usually for anything else)
[adj only before noun]
We keep all the cooking utensils on the bottom shelf. I That's
cooking chocolate - you shouldn't really eat it on its own.
culinary/kAlInari II kAl Ineri, kju:l-/a formal or techni-
cal word meaning used for or in cooking [adj only before
noun]
Mint is perhaps the best-known of culinary herbs. I The use
of garlic, whether for medicinal or culinary purposes, dates
back several centuries. I Her culinary skills leave much to
be desired.
1 0 someone who cooks
cook
chef
cook/kuk/[n C]
If you don't like your dinner blame the cook. I Over the
summer I worked as a cook at an oceans/de restaurant. I a
good/excellent etc cook (=someone who cooks well) H/s
mother's a marvellous cook.
chef I[ef/a skilled cook, especially the most important
cook in a hotel or restaurant In C]
Marco's boyhood ambition had been to become a chef in one
of the big hotels.
cookery
cooking
cool
cool down COLD 7
cool down/off CALM 3
coop sb up KEEP SB IN A PLACE 1
cooperate/co-operate TOGETHER 3
cooperative/co-operative HELP 7
cop it: be going to catch it/get it/cop it
cope DEAL WITH 4
copious LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4
copy COPY 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, IMITATE 1
copy: make a copy COPY 2
copy down COPY 1
copy out COPY 1
COOK 6
COOK 6, 7, 9
CALM 1, COLD 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, UNFRIENDLY 3
PUNISH 6
copy

COPY 2?2 COPY
COPY
1 to copy a piece of writing, a drawing etc
using a pen or pencil
2 to produce a copy of something written or
printed using a machine or computer
3 to illegally copy something, especially in order
to make money
4 to copy something that someone else has
written or thought of and pretend it is your
own work
5 words for describing a piece of work in which
many of the words or ideas have been
copied from someone else
6 something that has been made to look
exactly like something else
I to copy a piece of writing, a drawing etc
using a pen or pencil
copy copy down
copy out transcribe
copy/'kopi II 'ka:pi/Iv T]
copy sth Copy the map and label it carefully. ] I copied the
instructions into my diary. I copy sth from drawings copied
from photographs
copy out/,kapi aot IJ ,ka:-/to copy the whole of a piece
of writing using exactly the same words [phr v T]
copy out sth At school we often had to copy out whole chap-
ters from the Bible. [ copy sth/it/them out Why don't you
write a letter, and then I'll copy it out and send it.
copy down/,kvpi daon ]] ,ka:-/to copy a short piece of
written information such as a list or an address [phr v T]
copy down sth I looked at the theatre poster and copied
down the dates of the play I wanted to see. ] copy sth/it/
them down Roger copied the train times down on the back
of an envelope.
transcribe/tram' skrmb/to write an exact copy of a piece
of writing or a speech Iv T]
transcribe sth Samia spent many hours in the museum,
carefully transcribing the ancient texts. ] Reporters often
record interviews on tape and then transcribe them later. [
transcribe sth into (=transcribe something using special
signs or a different alphabet) transcribing words into
phonetic script
2 to produce a copy of something written or
printed using a machine or computer
copy photocopy/xerox
make a copy reproduce
copy/'kopi II kct:pi/ Iv T]
Would you go down to the print room and copy these docu-
ments for me? [ Copying files from one floppy disk to another
is a simple operation. I Film can be copied onto videotape.
make a copy/mek  'kopi II -ka:pi/Iv phrase]
make a copy of If the photocopier's working, 17l make a
copy of Dr Feynman's report for you. ] When you select the
original backup option, it automatically makes a copy of
your file before saving the edited version. I make a copy I
want to send out this letter to all our staff. Can you make
some extra copies?
photocopy (also xerox in American English) / footkopi,
I z]aroks II -ka:pi, -ra:ks/to copy a document or picture onto
a piece of paper by using an electronic machine that photo-
graphs it Iv T]
I photocopied the letter before sending it. [ Where can I get
these papers xeroxed?
photocopy/xerox In C] Please send a photocopy of your
birth certificate.
reproduce I ,ri:pra'dju:s II -du:s/to print a copy of a pic-
ture, document etc especially in a book or newspaper Iv T]
be reproduced The picture was reproduced in several
magazines. [ A photograph can be reproduced thousands of
times without much loss of quality. [ reproduce sth We are
grateful to the US information service for permission to
reproduce the original text of the American Declaration of
Independence.
;3 to illegally copy something, especially in order
to make money
copy fake
pirate counterfeit
forge
copy/kopi II ka:pi/Iv TI
R is illegal to copy another company's trademark. [ Unfor-
tunately, these keys are very easy to copy.
copying In U ] Unauthorized copying of this tape is strictly
prohibited.
pirate/ paart/to illegally copy something such as a book
or a recording and sell it without the permission of the
people who produced it Iv T]
The shop's owners are accused of pirating videos and stereo
recordings worth over Ј4000. [ As soon as the book was pub-
lished, it was translated and pirated all over Europe and the
Middle East.
pirate [adj only before nounl He made a lot of money sell-
ing pirate cassettes (=cassettes which have been pirated).
forge/f3:rd3/to illegally copy something, especially some-
thing written or printed on paper, in order to deceive
people Iv T]
The thief forged my signature on a cheque. I An expert was
called in to verify that the passport had been forged.
forgery In U] Spearman is now serving a three-year prison
sentence for forgery (=the crime of forging).
fake/feik/to make something that looks exactly like a
valuable object, such as a work of art, in order to deceive
people Iv T ]
We discovered that the antique vase was not genuine - it had
in fact been faked. ] There is a great deal of faking of tribal
art.
counteeit / kaontrfiq to illegally copy money in order
to use it for dishonest purposes Iv T]
There were fears that the ten-dollar bills could easily be coun-
terfeited.
couterfeiting In U] Detectives are conducting a major cam-
paign against counterfeiting (=copying money illegally).
counterfeit In C] The detective realized the $100 bill was a
counterfeit (=it had been counterfeited).
counterfeit [ adj] He entered the country using counterfeit
papers (=papers which had been counterfeited).
4
to copy something that someone else has
written or thought of and pretend it is your
own work
copy lift
plagiarize steal
crib
copy/'kopi [[ 'ka:pi[ [v I/T]
copy sth She was furious to discover that another scientist
had copied her ideas. [ copy New measures are being taken
to prevent students from copying in examinations. [ copy sth
straight from (=copy it without changing anything) This
isn "t your own work -you're copied it straight from the text
book.
plagiarize (also-ise British)/'pledsoraz/to copy words,
ideas etc from a book, article etc written by someone else,
and use them in your own work, pretending that you
thought of them Iv I/T]
Carl hasn't an original idea in his head. He simply plagia-
rizes from other novelists. I plagiarize sth The book was
published in 1923, and since then it has been blatantly
plagiarized by several writers.

COPY 2?3 CORRECT
crib /krb/ an informal British word meaning to copy
someone else's written work, especially in an examination
Iv I/T]
crib sth No wonder Kevin got such a good mark for his
homework - he cribbed it all from me. I crib I was once
caught cribbing at school and I was severely punished.
lift/lxft/to copy a part of a book, article, speech etc that
someone else wrote, and include it in your own work so
that you can pretend you wrote it all Iv T usually passive]
be lifted One paragraph of his essay has been lifted from
an economics textbook. I be lifted straight out of(=be lifted
from something using exactly the same words) As I listened
to her speech, I realized that whole chunks of it had been
lifted straight out of one of Churchill's speeches.
steal /stiff/ to take someone else's ideas and use them
without their permission in order to make money from
them Iv T]
Most of his ideas are stolen from other designers in his office. I
Rival restaurants started sending spies into our kitchens to
steal our secret recipes.
5 words for describing a piece of work in which
many of the words or ideas have been
copied from someone else
derivative
rehash
derivative /drIvotxv/ not original, but strongly
influenced by someone else's work or partly copied from
it [adj]
There is nothing new in her poetry. It is derivative in style
and unexciting. I In the twenties, white jazz was often com-
mercial and derivative.
rehash ! 'ri:ha/something such as a piece of writing or
a film which is really a copy of another earlier one,
although some things have been changed to make it look
original In C]
It's so obvious that Nathan's article is just a rehash of that
article I wrote a month ago. I Isn't this new film just a rehash
of the original 1959 version?
On the island they had built an exact replica of the famous
Opera House of Naples. I perfect and detailed replicas of real
weapons
reproduction/ ri:prd^kanl a copy of a painting, piece
of furniture etc that is produced and sold In C]
Of course this picture isn't the original - it's only a reproduc-
tion. I They have a beautiful reproduction of a Ming vase.
reproduction [adj] The company produces a range of
reproduction furniture.
forgery / 'fa:rd3ari! a copy of something such as a docu-
ment or money that has been illegally made in order to
deceive people In C]
The banknotes were forgeries. I Further investigation re-
vealed that the document was a forgery.
imitation/m teqan-/a copy of something such as an
expensive material that looks the same but costs much less
[adj only before noun]
Mrs Chesterfield wore an imitation fur coat. I Imitation
jewellery is sometimes difficult to distinguish from the real
thing.
imitation In C] The plants in the hall looked magnificent
but they were only imitations.
copybook: textbook/copybook PERFECT 1
cordial FRIENDLY 4
core MAIN 2, MIDDLE 1
corner CATCH 1
corner: around the corner/round the corner NEAR 4
corner: be around the cornerlbe round the corner
SOON 5
corner shop SHOP 3
corner the market SELL 17
cornerstone BASIC 2
corny USE STH 15
corollary RESULT 7
corporal punishment HIT 4
corporate COMPANY 3
corporation COMPANY 1
corpse BODY 4
correct CORRECT 1,3, 5, POLITE 3, RIGHT/PROPER 1,2
correct: be correct in saying/thinking etc CORRECT 2
6
something that has been made to look
exactly like something else
copy replica
duplicate reproduction
facsimile forgery
model imitation
copy/'kopi II 'ka:pi/In C]
I've requested a copy of my insurance policy. I This watch
looks like a Rolex but it's only a copy. I This statue is a copy
of the one in the Louvre. I exact copy Can you make an exact
copy of this picture?
duplicate/'dju:plkolt II 'du:-/an exact copy of something
that can be used in the same way [adj only before nounl
I've been given a duplicate set of keys to the house. I dupli-
cate copy A duplicate copy of the invoice will be retained
by our accounts department.
duplicate In C] The copy command is capable of creating
exact duplicates of your files.
facsimile/fek' s mo li/an exact copy of an old or valuable
document or piece of writing and the paper or material it
was written or printed on In C1
I was shown a facsimile of one of Voltaire's letters to Freder-
ick the Great.
model/'mol II ma:dl/a small copy of something such
as a building or a ship, made in exactly the same form and
shape In C]
We bought a brass model of the Eiffel Tower as a souvenir. I
working model (=one in which the parts move) a work-
ing model of Newcomen's steam engine
model [adj only before noun] a model car
replica/'replka/an exact copy of something such as a
building, a vehicle, or a weapon, usually the same size as
the original In C]
correct
which meaning?
correct answer,
information, position
etc
@ CORRECT
not correct
@ WRONG/
INCORRECT
behaving in a polite
or formal way
a way of doing
something that most
people accept or
approve of
POLITE
RIGHT/PROPER
CORRECT
without mistakes and based on true facts
1 words for describing answers, statements,
calculations etc that are correct
2 to be correct in what you say or think
3 in the correct order, position etc
4 ways of saying that someone does something
in the correct way
continued

CORRECT 2?4 CORRECT
CORRECT continued
to make something correct that was not
correct before
words for describing something that is always
correct
1 words for describing answers, statements,
calculations etc that are correct
correct
right
accurate
correct/k'rekt/something such as an answer, fact, or
calculation that is correct is true, has no mistakes etc,
especially because it is the only answer or result that is
possible [adj]
Can anybody tell me the correct answer? I That is not the
correct way to spell Mississippi. I Fortunately our calcula-
tions turned out to be correct and we arrived on time.
right/ran/something that someone says or thinks that is
right, is correct or true, especially because it contains the
true facts or details [adj]
"You're married now, aren't you? .... Yes, that's right. " l No,
Susannah, 57 is not the right answer. I Recent experiments
have proved Professor Hutchison's theories to be right.
accurate/'ekjo°mt/accurate information/report/des-
cription/prediction ere (=correct especially because all
the details are true or because it is as close to the truth as
is possible) [adj]
We expect the information in encyclopaedias to be accurate. I
The victim was able to give the police an accurate descrip-
tion of her attacker, i The spokesperson confirmed that the
report in this morning's newspaper was accurate.
accurately [adv] It is impossible to predict the weather
accurately.
accuracy [n U] The accuracy of the woman's portrait was
amazing.
2
to be correct in what you say or think
be right
get sth right
be correct in saying/thinking etc
be spot on
hit the nail on the head/put your finger on it
be on the right track
be right Ibi: 'raxt/[vphrase]
Yes, you're right. There isn't enough food for us all. [ be right
about I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I see you were right
about her all along. [ be right in saying/thinking etc He
was right in saying that Newton's theories needed
improvement.
get sth right/get (sth) ratl to say the correct facts or
details when you are telling a story, describing an event
etc Iv phrase]
Don't believe what he's saying, he never manages to get the
facts right. [ Orwell really got it right when he said that some
men are more equal than others.
be correct in saying/thinking etc/bi: k'rekt :n
(saying, etc)/if someone is correct in saying or thinking
a particular fact, the fact is correct, especially when they
are not sure if it is correct or not Iv phrase]
I believe that I am correct in saying that unemployment has
increased by 23% this year.
be spot on/bi: spot 'on [[ -,spa:t-/an informal British
expression meaning to be exactly right, especially by guess-
ing correctly Iv phrase]
"Is the answer 42?" "'Spot on! Well done, Mary. "'[ The jour-
nalist had certainly done his homework and his questions
were spot on.
hit the nail on the head/put your finger on it/ht
6a nefl on 6a 'hed, pot ja: r 'fIrjgar on t/to say something
that is exactly right and that is the answer to a problem
which people have been thinking about for a long time Iv
phrase ]
"/don't know why she's unhappy. Maybe she's homesick. "'
"You know, I think you've hit the nail on the head. "1 You
put your finger on it when you described Frank as pig-
headed. That's the exact word for him.
be on the right track/bi: o 6 ,rat 'trek! to not yet
know the complete answer to a question or problem, but
be close to finding it because you are already partly cor-
rect Iv phrase]
No, that's not quite right, but you're on the right track. [
Scientists have not yet found an answer to this problem, but
they are confident they are on the right track.
in the correct order, position etc
right the right way up
correct the right way round
right/rat/in the order, position etc that is correct or that
someone thinks is correct [adj]
These files aren't in the right order. They should be arranged
alphabetically. I She pushed the hat further back on her head
and asked me, "'Is it right now?" I No, that painting's not
right. You need to lower the left hand corner a little.
correct/k' rekt/the correct order/sequence/position
etc (=the exact one that is correct) [adj]
Skiing will be much easier if the correct arm position is held.[
He couldn't remember the correct sequence of numbers for the
electronic lock. I Rearrange the words in the correct order to
form a grammatical sentence.
the right way up/6 ,rat we lap/if something is the
right way up, the top of it is facing up, the way it is
intended to [adv phrase]
Make sure the box is the right way up before you open it. [
No wonder the picture doesn't make sense. You're not hold-
ing it the right way up.
the right way round/6 ,rat we: raond/ a British
expression: if something is the right way round, the front
is facing in the correct direction [adv phrase]
Your chairs aren't the right way round. Could you turn and
face this way please. [ "'Is this sweater the right way round?"
"'No, you've got it on back to front."
4 ways of saying that someone does something
in the correct way
correctly
rightly
right
correctly Iko'rektli/done or said without making any
mistakes or with the correct facts or details, especially
when there is only one possible way, answer or result lady]
The teacher asked the students some questions to see if they
had understood her instructions correctly. [ When handled
correctly, tools are perfectly safe for children to use. I This
is terrible. You have only spelled half the words in this sen-
tence correctly.
rightly /raitli/ done or said in a way that is correct,
because you have all the correct facts or details lady]
If I remember rightly, Jackie is six and Robert is nine. I As
she rightly said, no one deserves to be treated like that. [ He
rightly pointed out that there are too many people to fit in
the car.
right/rait/something that is done right is done correctly
and well, especially according to someone's own ideas or
opinions [adv not before verb]
I guessed right and won the competition! I I don 't mind how
long it takes, just as long as you do it right.
to make something correct that was not
correct before
correct put/set sb straight
correction put/set the record straight

CORRECT 2?5 COST
correct/k'rekt/[v ?]
The teacher was sitting at her desk, correcting her students"
essays. I Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't we met before? l
The great thing about word processors is that you can cor-
rect any mistakes you make before the text is printed out.
correction/k I rekSdnl [n U] Your small handwriting makes
correction of your work (=makes correcting your work) very
difficult.
correction/kolrekSdn/a mark or note correcting some-
thing on a piece of written work [n C]
My essay was covered in corrections in red ink. I It must have
been a rough copy - there were so many corrections.
put/set sb straight/pot, set (sb) streiq to tell some-
one the true facts when they have made a mistake, espe-
cially if you are annoyed by their mistake [v phrase]
He thought the food and drink was free, so we had to set him
straight. I put/set sb straight about Let me put you
straight about Andy, he is not a thief.
put/set lhe record slraight /put, set b 'rek3:d
street II -krd-/to tell people the true facts about something,
especially in public, because you want to make it very clear
that what is believed is in fact not correct Iv phrase]
It's time we set the record straight. The newspapers are
wrong - this factory will not be closing down, your jobs are
safe. I Let me set the record straight once and for all. I have
never accepted a bribe.
6 words for describing something that is always
correct
infallible
infallible/nfel]bl/[adj]
Cats have an infallible sense of direction and can always find
their way home. I I believed that all maps were infallible
until this one made me get lost. I Spelling checkers on word
processors are useful but far from infallible.
infallibility/nfel 'bd]ti/In U] I'm constantly amazed at
the infallibility of her memory.
i :: correction CORRECT 5
i correctly CORRECT 4, RIGHT/PROPER 3
! correlation: there is a correlation between/with
ii?i CONNECTED WITH 1
.ii0. correspond SAME 7, WRITE 3
i;;i:= correspondence LETTER 1
iiiil; correspondent REPORT 3
ii: corresponding SAME 8
;;.."i:
: corroborate PROVE 2
," corrode DAMAGE 6, DECAY 5, 7
iili! corroded 13ECAҐ 6
,,,,.; corrupt BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 5, DISHONEST 2
ii;,! corruption 131SHNE9T5
:;;,:- cosmopolitan RACE 3
': cost C9T 1 2, 3, LSE/NT HAVE ANY ME 2
:.
:..
,,,: cost: at a cost of COST 2
 cost: at a cost to SUFFER 2
 cost: at no extra cost FREE/COST NOTHING 3
 cost: at the cost of LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY MORE 2
 cost: it'll cost you EXPENSIVE 1
cost: kew/fid out to your cost SUFFER 2
cost: meet the cost of PAY FOR 1
i: cost: not cosl much CHEAP 1
:: -
'.=-' cost: whatever the cost DETERMINED 4
 cost a bomb/the each EXPENSIVE 2
 cost a fone EXPENSIVE 2
. cost a lot EXPENSIVE 1
' cost nothing/not cost anything FREE/COSTNTHIN1
 cost sb dearly/dear SUFFER 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
cost
COST
the amount of money you have to pay to buy
something, do something, or produce
something
ways of saying or asking how much
something costs
to calculate the cost of something or decide
how much something should cost
to take or ask for a certain amount of money
in return for something that you are selling
1
the amount of money you have to pay to buy
something, do something, or produce
something
cost fare
price toll
charge rent
fee rental
rate running costs
cost/kost II k3:stl In C usually singular]
The cost of electricity has fallen in the last twelve months. I
Inflation affects the cost of everything you buy. I As housing
costs rise, more and more families are being forced to move
out of the city into cheaper areas. I high/low cost Equip-
ment is sometimes available at a low cost for elderly people. I
cost of living (=the amount of money you need for things
such as food, clothes and housing) The government has got
to do something about the high cost of living. I cut costs
(=reduce the cost of producing something in a company)
Because of the recession, it is essential that we cut costs
wherever possible. I at no extra cost (=without having to
pay more) We will deliver and install the equipment at no
extra cost.
price/pra:s/the amount of money you must pay in order
to buy something In C/U]
This is a good product at a reasonable price. I high/low
price Don't buy anything from them - they charge the
highest prices in London. I You can get cars in Europe at very
low prices. I oil/food/house ere prices Food prices are now
relatively stable, but the economic crisis is far from over. I
charge a price They charge the same prices for a takeaway
as they do for eating in the restaurant. I half price (=half the
previous price) You should get down to Morley's - they're
selling beds at half price. I price rise (=increase in the
price) In the longer term, experts say they expect price rises
to begradual but persistent. I market price (=the price that
people are paying or are willing to pay for something) The
current market price for a house like this is around $60,000. I
the asking price (=the price that someone wants you to
pay for something they are selling) The asking price was
Ј50 but they said they'd accept Ј40.

COST
276
COST
charge ]tJ'o:rds] the amount of money that you pay for a
service, or that you pay in order to do something or use
something [n C/
Gas and electricity charges are set to rise at the end of the
year. I admission charge (=the amount of money you must
pay in order to go into a public place) There is an admis-
sion charge ofЈ6.50, but everything is free once you're inside. I
at no extra charge (=without having to pay more) Mem-
bers and their guests are permitted to use the recreational
facilities at no extra charge. I set charge (=one that is
always the same) There is a set charge of 15% for service. [
additional charge (=one that is added to the normal price)
Before buying, always check that there are no additional
charges.
fee [fi:[ the amount of money that you pay to a person or
organization for a professional service, for example medi-
cal treatment or education In C/
school/legal/medical fees Our parents worked hard to
pay our school fees, so we felt it was our duty to do well. I Last
year alone, the company paid over $12 million in legal fees. I
fee You can get dozens of benefits for a fee of just $20 a year.
rate/re/t/the usual cost of a service or job [n C/
We are able to offer a whole range of services at very reasona-
ble rates. I hourly/weekly/daily rate She charges an
hourly rate of $400, which is pretty high, but she's one of the
best agents in the business. I the going rate (=the rate that
people usually pay at the present time) What's the going
rate for an air trip to Mexico City? I fixed rate (=one that
is always the same) There is a fixed rate for the job, regard-
less of how long it takes.
fare/fear/the cost of a journey on a bus, train, plane etc
InC]
train/bus etc fare How much is the train fare from Toronto
to Montreal? [ In addition to her rent and food expenses, Suzi
spends another $15 per week on bus fares. [ fare She couldn "t
get home because she didn't have enough money for the fare. I
fare increases British Rail is to announce fare increases of
over 6% next month.
toll/tool/money that you have to pay in order to drive over
some bridges or roads [n C/
In France you have to pay tolls on many of the major roads. I
There was an uproar about recent proposals to double the
toll on the Severn Bridge between England and Wales.
rent/rent/the sum of money you pay every month or week
to live in or use a place that you do not own [n C usually
singular]
My rent is Ј250 per month, but I don't have to pay for elec-
tricity. I put up the rent (=increase it) The landlord is
going to put up the rent soon. I rent rise (=an increase in
rent) Rent rises have forced many small businesses out of the
city. I low/high rent 1800 francs per month? That's a very
low rent for central Paris?
rental [  rentl/the sum of money that you pay to use a car,
television, tools etc over a period of time [n C usually
singular]
Car rental is $45 a day and you need a clean driving licence. I
The rental on the TV includes maintenance and repairs.
running costs [r^nrj ,kosts II -Ika:sts/ the amount of
money you need to keep and use something such as a car,
house, building or factory [n plural]
The business has an annual turnover of $1 billion. Three
quarters goes on running costs, leaving a net income of $250
million.
ways of saying or asking how much
something costs
cost
how much
be
retail at
at a cost of
cost/kost II kz:st[ [v]
set sb back
be priced at
sell for
fetch
go for
cost Ј10/$5/a lot etc The holiday costs $600 per person,
including hotel accommodation, meals and transport. I How
much does it cost? I Although it costs considerably more to
do it this way, it does work out cheaper in the long run. I cost
a fortune/cost a bomb (=a very large amount of money)
How could you afford it? It must have cost a bomb?
how much [ihao 'm^q[ you ask how much when you
want to know the price or cost of something lady phrase]
That's a beautiful rug - how much did you payfor it? l "'How
much is that watch?" "'It's $300. '"
be/bi; strong bi:/to cost a particular amount of money Iv[
be Ј5/$20/a lot of money etc "'How much are the large
tomatoes? .... They're 65 cents a kilo. "[Look at this silk scarf
I bought. It was only $18/[ How much would it be to go by
plane instead of going by train?
retail at [r tel et[ an expression used especially in a
business context, meaning to cost a particular amount
when sold in shops [v T not in passive]
retail at Ј10/$50/Ј5000 etc Some of the fabrics from India
retail at over $100 a meter. I Retailing at around Ј5000, Ford's
new model will be difficult to beat for reliability and econom-
ical driving.
at a cost of lot o 'kost av II -tk3:st-/an expression used
especially in news reports: if something is done, sold etc
at a cost of a particular amount, that is how much it costs
[prep]
Surveys are being conducted in 10 European States at a cost
ofЈ50 million.
set sb ba©k/Iset (sb) baek[ if something that you buy
sets you back a particular amount of money, usually a
large amount, that is how much it costs, especially when
you think that it is very expensive lphr v T/
set sb back Ј200/$400 etc A really good quality sewing
machine will set you back at least Ј300. I set sb back What?
24 carat gold? I bet that set you back, I If she's hoping to buy
a new sportscar, it's going to really set her back a bit?
be pr|©ed at [bi: prast act/an expression used especially
in business: ifa product is priced at a particular price that
is how much the person who makes or sells it has decided
it should cost [v phrase]
The book, which is priced at Ј38, will be available in the
shops from September. I Later on I watched a demonstration
of their new cordless phone, priced at $350. I Alternatively,
you may decide to opt for the full a la carte menu priced at
700 francs, including wines.
sell for [ 'sel tb: r[ sell for Ј400/$600 etc (=cost a particu-
lar amount of money, especially when you think this is
more than it is worth) ]v T not in passive]
Houses in this area are selling for over $400,000. I Rare edi-
tions like this usually sell for about Ј200 apiece in antique
bookshops or from specialist dealers.
fetch/feq/if something fetches a particular price, it is
sold for that price or someone receives that amount of
money by selling it, especially at a public sale [v T not in
progressive or passive]
fetch Ј40/$500 etc Van Gogh 's 'Sunflowers" is expected to
fetch more than $20 million at tomorrow's auction. I I admit
the old car's a bit of a wreck, but I'm still hoping it'll fetch
Ј90 or so. I The chairs fetched a good price, almost double
what we paid for them.
go for j lgao f:r[ if something goes for a particular price
that is how much someone has paid for it, especially when
there was no fixed price Iv T not in passive]
go for Ј100/$250 etc Watches like that are going for about
Ј15 down the market these days. [ How much did those lovely
pine chairs go for in the end? [ go to sb for Ј100/$250 etc
The painting finally went to a private collector for $60
million, after some frantic bidding.
3 to calculate the cost of something or decide
how much something should cost
cost estimate
price quotation
cost /kost II k:st[ a word used especially in business
meaning to calculate the total cost of a plan or process [v T
usually in passive]
be costed Unfortunately, the project had been incorrectly
costed and the money ran out several months before

COST 2?? COUNTICALCULATE
completion. I get/have sth costed It would be a good idea
to get the plan costed before presenting it to the board.
pric® ]pras] to decide how much a product should cost Iv T
usually in passive]
No matter how good the.finished product is, if it's not cor-
rectly priced it won't sell. I When you have chosen your fruit
and vegetables, please take them to the checkout where they
will be weighed and priced.
estimate / estImIt/a statement of how much money a
piece of work will probably cost In C]
Simpson's Builders are good - they give free estimates and
the work is always done on time. [ It's always a good idea
to get an estimate and a guaranteed finishing date before put-
ting your car in for repairs.
quotation/kwu'tean/a written statement of exactly
how much money a piece of work will cost [n C]
Get a few quotations from different firms so that you can com-
pare prices before deciding which one to use. [ quotation for
They still haven't given us a quotation for the kitchen exten-
sion.
4 to take or ask for a certain amount of money
in return for something that you are selling
charge
want Ј20/540 etc for sth
charge Itj'o:rdS/if someone charges a particular amount
of money for a service or product, that is how much you
must pay them for it Iv T]
charge Ј5/$60 ete for They charge $25 for a half hour
class. [ Small shops charge much higher prices for the same
products. [ charge sb Ј5/$60 ete The cheapest doctor we
could find charged us four hundred francs for alive minute
examination and a bottle of pills. [ charge Ј5/$60 ete These
lawyers charge the most exorbitant fees, but they never seem
to be short of clients.,
want Ј201540 etc for sth /wot (Ј20, etc) f3: r
(sth) [[ wa:nt-/an informal expression meaning to ask for
or expect to be paid a certain amount of money for some-
thing that you are selling to another person [phr v T]
Yes, I might be interested in a new TK How much do you
want for it? [ Bob sam he'd give Frank private guitar lessons
- but he wanted $80 an hour.
costly EXPENSIVE 1
costs SPEND MONEY 9
costume CLOTHES 2
cosy/cozy COMFORTABLE 2
cotton on UNDERSTAND 7
cough up PAY FOR 2
could MAYBE 1
could: we/you/they could always SUGGEST 3
could do with NEED 1, 4
couldn't: can't/couldn't IMPOSSIBLE 3
council ORGANIZATION 2
counseilinglcounseling ADVISE 5
counsellor/counselor ADVISE 6
count COUNT/CALCULATE 1
count: keep count/keep track COUNT/CALCULATE 4
count/count up COUNT/CALCULATE 4
count/leave me out TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 13
count on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 1, EXPECT 3
count on: can count on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2
count the cost SUFFER 2
COUNT/
CALCULATE
to use numbers to find an amount, value etc
I to say numbers in order
2 to calculate an amount, price, or value
3 to calculate an amount or price, but without
being very exact
to count objects, amounts, numbers etc in
order to find the total
to take one number or amount from another
larger number or amount
to multiply one number by another
to divide one number by another number that
is usually smaller
to calculate or count wrongly
a number or amount that is calculated
1 to say numbers in order
count
countdown
count/kaont/[v I]
At nursery school the children start learning to count. I
count to Shut your eyes, count to twenty, then come and find
us.
countdown/'kaontdaon/the action of counting back-
wards in seconds, for example from ten to zero, when wait-
ing for something to happen at a particular moment, espe-
cially when a spaceship is sent into space In singular]
NASA has stopped the countdown for the space shuttle mis-
sion because of technical problems. I The countdown is now
underway; only five minutes to lift-off.
2 to calculate an amount, price, or value
calculate make
work out figure
figure out
calculate/'kelkj°oleItl to find out how much something
will cost, how long something will take etc, by using num-
bers Iv T]
calculate sth dim calculated the cost of travelling to
Chicago. i Oil prices are calculated in dollars. I calculate
how much/how many/how far ere I was trying to calcu-
late how long it would take to paint all the rooms. [ calcu-
late that Sally calculated that after paying all her bills she
would have Ј100 left.
calculation /,kalkj°oleIan/ In U] Details of sales and
expenses are used in the calculation of profits. (=to calculate
profits)
work out /iwa:rk 'aot/an expression used especially in
spoken English, meaning to calculate an answer, amount,
price, or value [phr v T]
work out sth You can work out the answer by adding all
the numbers. [ work sth/it/them out Before going ahead
with the project, you ought to work the costs out. i I'm not
sure how much money Gillian owes me. I'll have to work it
out. [ work out how much/how many ere You'll have to
work out how much food you need to feed six peoplefor a
week.
figure out/lflgar taot II tfigjar-/an expression used espe-
cially in American English meaning to calculate an
amount, answer etc [phr v T]
figure out sth It wasn't a difficult calculation, but Sam
seemed to have a lot of trouble figuring out the answer. [
figure sth/it/them out I don't know how much we spend
on groceries. I'll leave you to figure that out.
make/meik/an informal word meaning to calculate a
total Iv T not in passive]
make it 250/20 kilos/S50 ere "'How much do Ioweyoufor
the meal?" "7 make it $10.50. "'1 Will you count these figures
again? I make the total 248, but Chris made it 249. [ that
makes 250/20 kilos ete I paid for the taxi and the movie,
so that makes Ј15 you owe me.
figure/lflgar II 'fIgjr/an American word meaning to cal-
culate an amount Iv T]
Larry figured his expenses for the past month. [ This is the
current method for figuring social security retirement
benefits.

COUNT/CALCULATE 2?8 COUNT/CALCULATE
 to calculate an amount or price, but without
being very exact
estimate
assess
estimate/'estolmelt/Iv T]
estimate that The police department estimates that the
number of violent crimes will increase this year by about
15%. I estimate sth to be At that point, the public sector
deficit was estimated to be around Ј45 billion. I estimate sth
at The population of Adelaide is estimated at 917,000. I esti-
mate how much/how many/how far ere Our staff will
help you estimate how much fabric you will require. I esti-
mate sth Advanced technology enables us to estimate the
trajectory of the rocket to the nearest centimetre.
assess/ases/to calculate what the value or cost of some-
thing is, especially before buying it or selling it Iv T/
assess sth The garage assessed the cost of repairing the car. I
I took the ring to a jeweller to have its value assessed. ] assess
sth at The total value of the paintings is assessed at $20
million.
4, to count objects, amounts, numbers etc in
order to find the total
count/count up keep count/
add up keep track
add keep a tally of
at the last count plus
count/count up/kaont, kaont ^p/[v T/
The teacher counted her students to make sure none of them
was missing. [ Just count up the number of days you 've been
absent from work this year. [ It took us ages to count up all
the money.
add up/ed ^P/ to put together a set of numbers or
amounts and calculate the total [phr v T/
add up sth Now add up each column of figures. ] John added
up the bill and frowned. He had been overcharged. [ add sth/
it/them up Write down all your travelling expenses, and
then add them up and let us know how much we owe you.
add Iedl to put two or more numbers, amounts, prices etc
together in order to calculate the total Iv I/T/
add sth and sth If you add 24 and 36, you get 60. i add sth
to You can find the total cost of the trip by adding the air
fare to the price of hotel accommodation. [ VAT at 15% will
be added to the bill. [ add Some of these kids don't even know
how to add and subtract.
addition In'diVan/[n U/We were taught how to do addition
(-how to add numbers) at school today.
at the last count/at 6a ,lo:st 'kaont [] -,lest-/if there
is a particular number of something at the last count, this
is what the total was the last time anyone checked lady
phrase]
At the last count, only 18 dapanese firms were making car
parts in America. ] Greg has a special room for his collec-
tion of model cars, which totalled 235 at the last count.
keep count (British) I keep track (American)/ki:p
kaont, ki:p itrak/to keep a record of numbers, objects,
amounts etc over a period of time, so that you always know
what the present total is each time you add something new
Iv phrase]
keep count of/always keep count of the money I spend on
the car. I Keep count of the number of people you interview;
it's important for our research. I keep count I don't know
how many points our team scored; I didn't keep count.
keep a tally of / ki:p a Iteli ov/to keep a record of num-
bers that are to be added up, for example by writing or
marking them on paper or by collecting things that
represent the numbers Iv phrase]
Steve kept a tally of the days he spent in prison by scratch-
ing marks on the wall. I These plastic rings help the sales
assistants to keep a tally of the number of garments cus-
tomers have taken into the changing rooms.
plus/pins/(used in spoken English between numbers or
amounts that you are adding) [prep]
Eight plus six is fourteen. [ The'cost is Ј45 plus ЈS for delivery.
to take one number or amount from another
larger number or amount
subtract deduct
take minus
take away
subtract /sab'trekt/ a word used especially in educa-
tional or technical contexts, meaning to take one number
or amount away from another Iv I/T]
subtract sth from If you subtract lO from 100, you are left
with 90. I You calculate the overall profit by subtracting the
amount in column A from the amount in column B. I sub-
tract Todd could add and subtract faster than all the other
children.
subtraction/sab 'track, an/In U ] Jennifer finds subtraction
a little difficult.
take/tek/to take one number or amount from another
[vT]
take sth from If you take 17from 100 you get 83. [ Don't
forget to take Ј26 from the first total. [ take sth off I took
35% off the priceto work out the discount.
take away ! teik a we/a word used especially in spoken
English, meaning to take one number from another [phr
vT]
take sth away from Take 19 away from 48 and then add
15. [ Take this number away from the total. [ take away sth
Find the result by adding 9 and taking away 20.
deduct/d' dnkt/to subtract an amount of money, points
etc from a total, especially when following official rules or
an official system Iv T]
deduct sth from Your employer will deduct income tax from
your salary. [ Your monthly repayments will be deducted
from the total amount that you owe. [ deduct sth Marks may
be deducted for illegible handwriting.
minus /rnanas/(used in spoken English between num-
bers or amounts when you are taking one from another)
[prep]
30 minus five leaves 25. I Total receipts from sales minus the
total wage bill and overheads equals profit.
6 to multiply one number by another
multiply
times
multiply/'mAltpla/[v I/T/
multiply sth by Multiply eight by three. [ 14 multiplied by
II makes 154. [ multiply sth Mr James showed the class that
by multiplying the two numbers you could find the total. [
multiply by To find the price in Japanese yen, you multi-
ply by 86.
multiplication /mAltpl  kefn/In U/A calculator ispar-
ticularly useful for processes like multiplication.
times/tamz/(used in spoken English between numbers
that you are multiplying) [prep]
Five times six equals thirty. I What is nine times eighteen?
7 to divide one number by another
divide
go into
divide/d 'va ;d/to divide one number by another number
that is usually smaller Iv I/T/
divide sth by If you divide thirty byfive, you get six. I Figure
51 shows the total amount of revenue divided by the number
of men employed. I divide by It is easier to divide by 10 than
by 12. I divide sth into If you divide sixteen into sixty-four,
you get four.
division/d  v 5an/In U ] Division (=the process of dividing
one number by another) is quite a difficult area of maths
for children to learn.
go into/gao  ntu:/a word used especially by or to chil-
dren at school: if one number goes into a larger number
a particular number of times, the larger number can be
divided that many times by the smaller number Iv T not
in progressive or passive]

COUNTICALCULATE 2?9 COUNTRY/NATION
16goes into 80five times. I How many times will nine go into
eighty-one?
 to calculate or count wrongly
miscalculate
miscount
lose count
miscalculate Ims'kmlkjo°leIt/[v I/T]
miscalculate sth The company had seriously miscalculated
the total cost of the new offices. I miscalculate how much/
how many/how long etc We miscalculated how long the
journey would take and arrived late. I miscalculate We
have too many chairs. I must have miscalculated.
m|scount ],ms'kaunq to count something wrongly Iv
I/T]
miscount sth Officials miscounted the votes so the whole
process had to be repeated. I miscount I thought everyone
was here, but I must have miscounted.
lose count/,lu:z 'kaunt/to forget how many things or
people you have already counted, when you are counting
a lot of things over a long period Iv phrase]
I've been trying to keep a record of how many tickets we've
sold, but I've lost count.
9 a numberor amount that is calculated
calculation estimate
sum estimated
calculation/,kelkj°'leU'n/[n C]
This type of calculation would take several hours without
a computer. I According to our calculations, 2000jobs will
be lost. I do/make a calculation We can solve this problem
by doing a few simple calculations. I Once all the necessary
calculations have been made the experiment can proceed.
sum/snm] a word used especially in British English mean-
ing a simple calculation, especially one done by children
as an exercise in school In C]
It'll be quicker if I use a calculator for these sums. I We had
to do some really hard sums today.
est|mate/estImIq what you think the number, price,
or value of something probably is, after calculating it
quickly In C]
Here are some estimates of the amount of food we will need
for the wedding. I I'm allowing Ј300, but that's only an esti-
mate. I rough estimate (=not exact but good enough to be
useful) This proposal represents a rough estimate of the cost
of materials and labor. I conservative estimate (=an esti-
mate that is probably too low, so you can be sure that the
true amount will not be less than this) The paintings have
been valued at $3.5, which is probably a conservative
estimate.
estimated/'estolmeItIdl an estimated number/cost/
value ete (=a number, cost etc that is not exact but has
been roughly calculated) [adj only before noun]
The tunnel is being constructed at an estimated cost ofЈ15
million. I This country welcomed an estimated 800,000
tourists last year.
countdown COUNT/CALCULATE 1
counterattack ATTACK 4
counterbalance EQUAL 7
counterespionage SPY 1
counterfeit COPY 3
counterpart SAME 9
counterproductive FAIL 4
countersign SIGN YOUR NAME 1
counting INCLUDE 4
counting: not counting INCLUDE 7
countless LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
country AREA 1, COUNTRY/NATION 1, 4,
COUNTRYSIDE 2
country: go to the country VOTE/ELECT 3
country: home country COUNTRY/NATION 7
country: the country COUNTRYSIDE 1
[country]
COUNTRY/NATION
10
a country
a country that is partly or completely
controlled by another country
land that belongs to a particular country
all the people who live in a particular country
a person from a particular country
the legal right of belonging to a particular
country
the country where you were born
having a great love of your country
people or groups who want their country or
area to be independent
happening in, or concerning a particular
country
words for describing laws, policies,
organizations etc that belong to or concern a
particular country
happening in or involving many countries
1 a country
country power
nation land
state
country /'kAntri/ a separate independent area of land
whose people have their own government and president,
ministers, king etc In C]
Brazil is one of the biggest countries in the world. [ The
northeast of the country will experience heavy rainfall and
high winds. [ Most people in this country are worried about
the economy. [ all over/all around the country Women's
rights groups are being set up all over the country.
nation /  neU'an/a country considered especially in terms
of its people and its social and economic conditions and
structures In C]
Japan has become the richest nation in the worM. [ Represen-
tatives from the world's leading industrial nations will meet
in Geneva. ] We seem to have become a nation of borrowers.
state/steit/a country considered especially as a political
unit that has a particular type of political organization In
C]
In 1830 Greece became an independent state. ] For more than
70 years the Soviet Union was a one-party state. I At the
present time, OPEC has 13 member states. I In 1948 the state
of Israel was proclaimed, but its existence has been continu-
ally challenged by neighbouring countries.
power /'paor/a strong country which is able to influence
other countries politically or economically In C]
France was the only European power not to sign the treaty. I
world power (=having influence all over the world)
dapan's economic growth has made it a worm power. I
super-power (=one of the most powerful countries in the
world) The two super-powers came to the brink of a confron-
tation during the Cuban missile crisis.
land/lend/a word used especially in literature meaning
a country In C]

COUNTRY/NATION 280 COUNTRYINATION
His travels in Mediterranean lands provided him with the
inspiration for many of his poems and songs. I Our story
takes place in a far-off land, long, long ago.
;2 a country that is partly or completely
controlled by another country
colony
satellite
colony I'kolni [[ ko:-I a country that has no independent
government of its own and is controlled by another, more
powerful country, especially one that is far away In C]
The United States was once just a colony of Great Britain and
had to fight for its independence. [ In 1980 the former Brit-
ish colony of Rhodesia achieved legal independence as the
Republic of Zimbabwe.
colonial/kv'lonil/[adj] The people of Africa have success-
fully fought against colonial rule. (=rule by countries which
have made them into colonies)
satellite / satlaIt/a country that is under the political
influence of another more powerful country which is near
to or next to it In C]
At one time, most East European countries were satellites of
the Soviet Union.
3 land that belongs to a particular country
territory
soil
territory/terotari II-t  :ri/In U]
Utah finally became US territory in 1850. I It was claimed
that the guerillas had been operating within Angolan
territory.
soil/s3iI/on British/French/US ere soil (=a word used
in political contexts meaning on land that belongs to Bri-
tain, France, the US etc) In U]
The treaty will be signed on American soil. [ This was the
first time that a Swedish monarch had ever set foot on
Spanish soil.
all the people who live in a particular country
country nation
people population
country/kntri/all the people who live in a particular
country, considered especially with regard to their opin-
ions, beliefs, and feelings In singular]
The president doesn't seem to care what the country thinks
about his policies. [ People think our country has lost its
desire for success.
people I'pi:pal/all the people of a country, considered
especially with regard to their political beliefs and politi-
cal behaviour In C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
President Kennedy promised the American people a great
future. [ It was a fair election, the people have given their
verdict, and we have to accept it.
nation /IneU'an/all the people of a country, considered
together as one group, especially when talking about
important events that affect everyone in the country In
singular]
The President will broadcast to the nation this evening. [
When Churchill died the whole nation went into mourning.
population I,popj°'leian 11 po:-/ the total number of
people who live in a particular country or the total number
of a particular group of people In C usually singular]
In Western European countries the population is no longer
increasing. [ Since unification, the population of Germany
is about 80 million. [ The country's Jewish population was
angered by the TV programme on Hitler.
5 a person from a particular country
citizen
national
a native of
citizen IsitIzan/a person from a particular country, espe-
cially one who has special rights in that country, such as
the right to vote and the right to live there permanently [n
C]
She's a Japanese citizen but lives in Paris. I He became an
American citizen after living therefor some years. [ Citizens
of at least twenty countries have been delayed by the air
traffic controllers' strike.
national /  neJ'anol/someone who is a citizen of a partic-
ular country, but who is living in another country In C]
Hundreds of Polish nationals served in the Britsh army
during the Second World War. I Following the coup, most
foreign nationals were expelled from the country.
a native of/z 'netiv zv/a formal expression meaning
someone who was born in a particular country In phrase]
Picasso was a native of Spain, although he spent most of his
life in France.
6 the legal right of belonging to a particular
country
nationality
citizenship
nationality/,neJb'neloti/[n C/U]
French/German/British ere nationality Despite being
born in Germany, these children do not lave an automatic
right to German nationality. [ dual nationality
(=nationality of two countries) Sabine has dual national-
ity because her mother is French and her father is English. I
The form asks you to state your name and nationality.
citizenship/'sQzanip/the legal right of belonging to
a particular country, especially when this right is given
to someone who comes from another country In U]
After five years in the US, foreign nationals can apply for
full US citizenship. [ Zola Budd was granted British citizen-
ship and subsequently ran in the British Olympic team.
7 the country where you were born
home country
native land
home country Ihum 'kntri/[n C]
After the end of the Olympics, the athletes will all return to
their home countries. [ Racist groups are calling for all
immigrants to be sent back to their home countries.
native land / neitIV lend/an expression used in formal
contexts or in literature, meaning the country where you
were born In C]
Native Americans were killed or forced to leave their native
lands. [ The general's body was returned to his native land
for a military burial.
8 having a great love of your country
patriotic
nationalistic
patriotic/paetri'otIk, ipeI-II ,peltri'o:t,k-/[adj]
We're just good, patriotic Americans, ready to defend our
freedom. I The concert ended with the singers and audience
singing patriotic songs together.
patriot/petrit, -triot, 'pe-II petrit, -trio:t/ In C] De
Gaulle will always be remembered as a great French patriot.
patriotism/Ipetrizuzdm, pe- II peI-/In U] One of the fea-
tures of the Bush campaign was to question Bill Clinton's
patriotism.
nationalistic /  neJ'dnz listk*/someone who is nation-
alistic is very proud of their own country, but often has
no respect for people from other countries because they
believe that their own country is much better [adj]
At the time of the Falklands War the British newspapers
were very nationalistic. I German demonstrators attacked a
refugee camp in Rostock and chanted nationalistic slogans.
9 people or groups who want their country or
area to be independent
nationalist

COUNTRY/NATION
nationalist I Ine$nalst/ nationalist organization/
movement/party/politician etc (=one that wants to
make their country or area politically independent) [adj
only before noun]
The Scottish Nationalist Party wants Scotland to leave the
United Kingdom. I Nationalist politicians were arrested and
put in prison.
nationalist [n C] Indian nationalists finally won indepen-
dence for their country in 1947.
nationalism [n U] The end of the Cold War was followed
by an upsurge of nationalism in Eastern Europe.
1 0 happening in, or concerning a particular
country
national internal
domestic at home
•
national I  noon,nail happening in or concerning a partic-
ular country, as opposed to any of its parts or any other
countries [adj only before noun]
The national news will follow the international news. I
Today is National No-Smoking Day. I Winners of the
regional competitions compete in the national finals. I The
Prime Minister will try to protect Britain's national interests
at the conference.
domestic/da I mest:k/happening in or concerning a par-
ticular country, as opposed to any other countries [adj only
before noun]
They produce cars both for the domestic market and for
export. I This year's Presidential election is being fought
largely on domestic issues. I Domestic flights within Russia
remain extremely cheap, but international flights are pro-
hibitively expensive.
internal / in ta:rnll internal affairs/problems/matters
(=affecting a particular country, especially politically, but
not involving any foreign countries) [adj only before noun]
Each country has the right to control its own internal
affairs. I The nation's internal problerns have drawn public
attention away from the crisis abroad.
at home/at haom/events that happen at home happen
within your own country and do not involve any other
countries [ adv phrase]
Participation in the Gulf War, followed by economic difficul-
ties at home, has been very expensive for the government.
1 1 words for describing laws, policies,
organizations etc that belong to or concern a
particular country
national
state
federal
national I'nefanal/[adj only before noun]
Alitalia is the national airline of Italy. I The national cur-
riculum lays down rules about what students should learn
at particular stages of their education. I a national policy
for energy
state Istettl state education/pension/benefits/sup-
port etc (=provided and controlled by the government, not
by private organizations) [adj only before noun]
Parents can choose between state education and private
schools for their children. [ a reduction in the state subsidy
for the railways
federal/fedrall controlled by or involving the central
government, as opposed to the governments of the separate
states that make up a large country, especially the United
States [adj only before nounl
Most people want to see new federal gun laws introduced. I
A number offederal officials have been charged with corrup-
tion. I Medicaid is a large federal health care program for
the poor.
12 happening in or involving many countries
international
multinational
multilateral
281
COUNTRYSIDE
International I, :ntar'nef anal'l [adj]
The Olympic Games, of course, is the year's major interna-
tional event. I This is CNN, bringing you all the latest inter-
national news. I Sixteen countries are attending the confer-
ence in order to draw up an international agreement on the
disposal of toxic waste.
multinational ImAltineSanal,I multinational com-
pany/firm/corporation ere (=a company that is very
large and has offices in several different countries) [adj
only before noun]
Many multinational companies are finding trade is bad this
year. I His business has been taken over by a huge multi-
national oil corporation.
multinational In C] Shell was one of four multinationals
who were fined for environmental pollution.
multilateral I,mAltI 'laetral,I multilateral agreement/
treaty/negotiations/talks etc (=involving the govern-
ments of several different countries) [adj only before noun]
The foreign minister will propose a multilateral agreement
on arms controls.
iii countryside COUNTRYSIDE 1
COUNTRYSIDE
the parts of a country which are not near cities,
where there are farms, fields, villages etc
1 the countryside
2 words for describing something or someone
that is in or from the countryside
1 the countryside
countryside
the country
countryside/'kAntrisaid/(used especially when you are
talking about the beauty or appearance of this kind of area)
In U]
We spent a week walking in beautiful countryside. I We have
to act now to save the countryside for future generations. I an
expensive girls" school situated deep in the heart of the
countryside
the country 16o 'kAntri/(used especially when you are
talking about living in the countryside and the differences
between the countryside and the city) In singular]
We've found a lovely little cottage in the country. I The doctor
has recommended a trip to the country, away from the
stresses and strains of city life. I Living in the country, you
feel the changing of the seasons, you are so much closer to
nature.
 words for describing something or someone
that is in or from the countryside
country
rural
rustic
country I'kAntril [adj only before noun]
It took us an hour to reach the farm house, driving along
winding country roads. I Old country churches are a big
tourist attraction. I Country folk don't like people from the
towns buying up cottages in their villages and using them
as second homes.
rural/ roaral/a word meaning from the countryside or
existing in the countryside, used especially when you are
talking about social problems or conditions that exist there
Iadj usually before noun]
People who live in rural areas often depend on public trans-
portation. I If the number of tourists continues to expand,
they will pose a considerable threat to traditional rural life. I
Developing countries are often characterized by a widening
gap between urban affluence and rural poverty.
rustic/I r^stk/a word meaning from the countryside or
existing in the countryside, used especially when you are

COUNTRYSIDE 282 COVER
describing things or people that are interesting, attractive,
and old-fashioned [adj]
The picture showed a typical rustic scene. I American tourists
are fascinated by the village's rustic charm. I The rustic
simplicity of the furniture is highly appealing.
6 a thin flat piece or amount of something that
covers a surface
7 to remove the cover from something
coup/coup d'tat REBELLION/REVOLUTION 2
couple MARRY 11, TWO 2
couple: a couple of SOME/A FEW 1, TWO 1
courage BRAVE 2
courage: have the courage of your convictions
BRAVE 5
courage: pluck up the courage to do sth BRAVE 5
courageous BRAVE 1
courier MESSAGE 2, TAKE/BRING 9
course DIRECTION 1, MEAL 9, SUBJECT 7
course: be on course PROBABLY 6
course: in the course of/during the course of
DURING 1
course: three-course meal MEAL 6
course of action/course DEAL WITH 6
course of drugs/treatment/injections SERIES 1
course of events: in the normal course of events
USUALLY 1
coursework WORK THAT SB DOES 2
court FRIEND 7, JUDGE 9, TRIAL 2
court: come/be brought before the court JUDGE 12
courteous POLITE 1
courtesy POLITE 4
Coventry: send sb to Coventry TALK TO SB 19
cover COVER 2, 4, 5, ENOUGH 2, HIDE/MAKE IT
HARD TO FIND OR SEE 1, HIDE/NOT SHOW 5,
INELUDE 2, REPORT 1, SIZE 4, TRAVEL 3
cover/cover up COVER 1
cover for REPLACE 2
cover up HIDE/NOT SHOW 2
cover-up HIDE/NOT SHOW 3
cover your tracks HIDE/NOT SHOW 2
1 to put something on, over, or around another
thing, for example in order to protect it, keep
it warm, or improve its appearance
cover/cover up wrap up
put sth over coat
cover/cover up/'v r, ,vr '^Pl Iv T]
cover sth/sb Cover the food, so that flies don't touch it. I
cover sb/sth with Birds cover their eggs with straw to keep
them warm and safe. I They covered the old lady with a
blanket and waited for the ambulance to arrive. I cover up
sth (=cover something completely) She always wears a lot
of make-up to cover up her spots.
put sth over/,put (sth) 'uvr/to put a cloth, piece of
material etc on top of something in order to cover it [phr
vT]
An air hostess brought him a rug to put over his legs. I You
will need to put fine netting over the cage to prevent the insects
escaping.
wrap up / I rmp '^p/to put paper, plastic, cloth etc around
something in order to decorate or protect it or to prevent
it becoming too cold or too dry [phr v T]
wrap up sth Have you wrapped up all your Christmas
presents yet? I wrap sth/it/them up The butcher had
wrapped the meat up well before delivering it. I wrap sth
up in Trout is easy to cook. Just brush it with oil and wrap
it up in silver foil.
coat/kout/to thinly cover the whole surface of something,
especially food, with a liquid or other substance Iv T]
coat sth with/in A special machine coats the nuts with
chocolate. I Coat the fish completely in flour before putting
them in the egg mixture.
(:over
ways of saying that one thing partly or
completely covers another
cover
envelop
cover I,vrl Iv T]
Posters of Elvis covered practically the whole wall. ] As you
can see from the weather map, huge rain clouds are com-
pletely covering the South East. I He was about fifty, with
strands of fair hair covering a receding hair line.
envelop / mvclp/a word used especially in literature
meaning to cover something completely so that it is
difficult to see or touch Iv T]
The mist and rain enveloped the forest so that we could only
see the nearest trees. J At sunset, darkness enveloped the town
in a sudden rush.
enveloping [adj only before noun] The bomb threw up an
enveloping cloud of dust.
COVER
to put something on, over, or around another
thing, for example in order to protect it, keep
it warm, or improve its appearance
ways of saying that one thing partly or
completely covers another
words for describing something or someone
that has been covered with something
a piece of paper, cloth, or other material that
is used to cover something
something that is designed to fit on a
container or piece of equipment in order to
close or protect it
3 words for describing something or someone
that has been covered with something
covered caked
encrusted coated
plastered
covered I'khvrd/[adj not usually before noun]
covered with/in/by The desk was a mess, completely
covered with papers and pens. I When the children returned
home, covered in dust, parents began to complain. I The ice,
dangerously thin, was covered by a thin layer of snow.
encrusted /Inkr^std/ covered with something thick
and hard that is difficult to remove [adj not before noun]
encrusted with He took off his gloves, which were deeply
encrusted with dirt, and threw them into the washing
machine. I mud/dirt/blood etc encrusted (=encrusted
with mud dirt, blood etc) Evan reached into the pocket of his
mud-encrusted jacket and drew out a yellowing map.

COVER 283 crazy
plastered /'plo:stard ii 'plms-/ covered thickly with
something such as mud, especially in a way that looks
unpleasant [adj not before noun]
plastered with/in He looked at his garden tools, old and
plastered with mud. I Her face was plastered in make-up.
caked/keikt/covered with something thick and hard,
especially mud [adj not before noun]
caked with/in Matilda's boots were caked in mud. I The
walls, floors, and beams of the old house were caked with the
filth of a lifetime.
coated / kaoQd/food that is coated in sugar, oil, choco-
late etc is covered in sugar, oil etc, especially in order to
improve its taste [adj not usually before noun]
coated with/in Young new potatoes are best served coated
in butter and sprinkled with fresh mint. I evenly coated
Toss the aubergines in the oil until they are all evenly coated.
4 a piece of paper, cloth, or other material that
is used to cover something
cover
wrapping/wrapper
covering
cover I'kAvrl [n C]
Take your feet off the chair! I've just washed those cushion
covers. I Iron Maiden always have very striking record
covers. I Mr Evans gave him a Holy Bible with a soft, red
cover and pictures inside.
wrapping/wrapper / I rmpi, 'rmp r/the paper that is
put around something, especially food, in order to protect
it [n C]
The children's pockets were full of candy wrappers. I There
was garbage everywhere -food wrappings, empty tin cans
and rotting fruit. I Charlie tore the wrapper off the pack of
cigarettes and took one out.
covering /'kAvarxq] something that is used to cover a
large flat area [n C/U]
I can't decide what kind of floor covering to have in my new
kitchen. I The coverings had been removed, revealing dry
green tennis courts.
5 something that is designed to fit on a
container or piece of equipment in order to
close or protect it
cover top
lid cap
cover/'kvr/[n C]
Amos replaced the cover of the cheese dish. [ The engineer
removed the cover from the back of the TVand began search-
ing for a fault.
lid/l]d] something that is specially designed to fit on top
of a box, pan etc in order to close it [n C]
Does this saucepan have a lid? I He lifted the lid of the great
wooden chest and found his mother's old wedding dress.
top ]tDp [I to:p/something, especially something you push
or turn, to close a pen, bottle etc [n C]
Make sure the tops are securely on the bottles so that they
don't leak. I It really annoys me when Barry doesn't put the
top back on the toothpaste tube.
cap ]kep] something, especially something small, round
and flat that you press or turn on an object in order to close
it [n C]
Remove the gas cap by turning it twice to the left and then
back to the right. I He took a whisky bottle from his pocket,
unscrewed the metal cap and began to sip.
6 a thin flat piece or amount of something that
covers a surface
layer
film
coating
layer I'lemr/[n C]
Apply two or three layers of nail polish to prevent the colour
from chipping. I A thin layer of dust covered everything in
the room, as if no one had been therefor a long time. I She
cut the cake across the middle and added a layer of straw-
berry jam.
film ]film] a very thin, clear covering that has appeared
or been left on the surface of something [n C]
A film of oil lay on the surface of the water.
coating/' kaotItJ/a very thin covering of liquid that has
been put on the whole surface of something In C]
He gave the metal a coating of oil. I The nuts had a choco-
late coating.
7 to remove the cover from something
uncover
uncover/^n'knvor/[v T]
Miss Christie was in the kitchen uncovering dishes of food. I
Men working near the tomb of Saladin uncovered an
elaborate mosaic.
coverage REPORT 2
covered COVER 3
covered: be covered in EVERYWHERE 2
covering COVER 4
covert SECRET 2
coward BRAVE 6
cowardly BRAVE 6
coy SHY 1
cozy/cosy COMFORTABLE 2
crack BREAK 1, 7, 11, HIT/BUMP INTO 5, HOLE 4,
SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 1, SOUND 6
crack a joke: make a joke/crack a joke JOKE 4
crack down on STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6,
STRICT 3
crack of dawn: at the crack of dawn EARLY 6
crack sb up/break sb up LAUGH 7
crack up MENTALLY ILL 3
crack up: not all it's cracked up to be DISAPPOINTED 3
crack up/crack CONTROL 8
cracked BROKEN 1
crackers: be nuts/crackers CRAZY 1
cracking: get cracking HURRY 2, START DOING STH 2
crackle SOUND 11
cradle COME FROM/ORIGINATE 9
crafty INTELLIGENT 8, 9
cram FULL 6
cram for STUDY 2
crammed with: be crammed with FULL 2
cramped SMALL 4
crank STRANGE 7
crap/bullshit UNTRUE 4
crap: a load of crap/be crap BAD 1
crash ACCIDENT 2, 3, BROKEN 5, FAIL 11, SOUND 6
crash course FAST/QUICK 10
crash into HIT/BUMP INTO 1, 2
crash out SLEEP 9
crasher INVITE 4
crater HOLE 3
crave WANT 6
craving WANT 8
crawl FRIENDLY 7, SLOW 13
crawling with: be crawling with
FULL 8
craze
crazy
crazy:
crazy:
crazy:
crazy:
crazy:
crazy:
FASHIONABLE 6
CRAZY 1, 7, MENTALLY ILL 1
be mad about/crazy about LIKE SB OR STH 2.
LOVE 8
drive sb crazy/nuts CRAZY 5
drive sb crazy/nuts/up the wall ANNOY 2
go crazy/go nuts CRAZY :3, 4
go mad/go insane/go crazy MENTALLY ILL 3
not be crazy about DON'T LIKE 1

CRAZY 28,1 CRAZY
crazy
which meaning?
behaving in a crazy,  CRAZY
very strange way
mentally ill  @ MENTALLY ILL
doing things that are @ STUPID/NOT
not sensible SENSIBLE
CRAZY
so stupid or strange that people think you are
almost mad
1 words for describing someone who is crazy
2 behaving in a strange, often amusing way, so
that people think you are mad
3 to start feeling as if you are crazy, especially
when you are in a very unpleasant or very
boring situation
4 to start behaving in a crazy, uncontrolled
way, especially when you are very excited
5 to make someone feel crazy or behave in a
crazy way
6 someone who is crazy
7 words for describing crazy things that people
do or say, or crazy situations
1 words for describing someone who is crazy
crazy
be nuts/crackers
mad/barmy
need your head
examined
be insane
be out of your mind/
off your rocker
be stark raving mad
deranged
crazy I 'kre;zi/someone who is crazy does things that are
so strange or stupid that people think they are mad [adj]
We now have 12 ctts at our house - the neighbours must
think we're crazy! I The expedition was led by a crazy
Frenchman who didn't know the meaning of the word fear. I
completely/totally/crazy Put that gun down! Are you
totally crazy or something? I crazy to do sth You're crazy
to lend him all that money - you'll never get it back.
be nutslcrackers Ibi: n^ts, 'krmkorz/informal expres-
sions meaning to be crazy [v phrase]
"Michelle goes for a 5 mile jog every day before breakfast. ""
"She must be nuts. "" [ Usually when you tell people you're a
train spotter they look at you as if you're crackers. [ be com-
pletely nuts/crackers I expect you'll think I'm completely
nuts, but I've decided to give up my job and go and live in
India.
mad/barmy /maid, ba:rmi/ informal British words
meaning crazy [adj]
You spent Ј90 on a pair of shoes? You must be mad! [ com-
pletely mad/barmy Monica's new boyfriend is completely
barmy - he phones her up from Australia every day. [ mad/
barmy to do sth She's mad to turn down an offer like that.
need your head examined/,ni:dja: r 'hed g,zamnd/
if you say that someone needs their head examined, you
mean that you think they are crazy because they have done
something that you do not approve or agree with [vphrase
not in progressive]
"Her father's just given her a motorcycle for her 16th birth-
day. "" "That man needs his head examined!" l If you ask me
anyone who believes in UFOs needs their head examined.
be insane/bi: nlsen! to be behaving in a way that is
completely crazy, especially because it is dangerous [v
phrase]
"'I'm thinking of going parachute jumping this weekend."
"Are you insane? You could get yourself killed!"[ be com-
pletely/totally insane You'd have to be totally insane to
take a small boat out in this weather!
be out of your mind/off your rocker/bi: ,aut v ja: r
mand, ,Dfja: r 'mk r [[ -'to:k-/if you say that someone is
out of their mind or off their rocker, you mean that they
are suggesting something or intending to do something
which seems completely crazy [v phrase]
When I said I was going to retire at 45 my friends all thought
I was off my rocker! [ Tell thepolice? You must be out ofyour
mind!
be stark raving mad/bi: ,sto:rk ,re]virj medl an infor-
mal British expression meaning to be completely crazy
[ v phrase ]
He must be stark raving mad to go out in this weather
without a coat. [ Of course I'm not going to give away all my
money. What do you think I am? Stark raving mad?
deranged/dI' rend3d/behaving in a crazy and often dan-
gerous way, especially because of extreme feelings of
sorrow, anger etc or because of drugs [adj]
It was clear from his wild appearance and behaviour that
he was deranged. ] In his latest film he plays a deranged sex
killer.
2 behaving in a strange, often amusing way, so
that people think you are mad
dotty/batty
be out to lunch
flaky
dotty/batty/'doti, 'beeti II 'do:-/informal British words
for describing someone, especially anold person, who
behaves in a slightly strange, often amusing way, so that
people think they are mad [adj]
Next door to us lived a batty old lady who used to have long
conversations with her plants. [ My uncle frequently wore
shoes which didn't match, and everyone thought he was a bit
dotty.
be out to lunch/bi: ,aut t 'l^ntS/an informal expres-
sion: someone who is out to lunch behaves in a strange,
confused way and does not seem to know what is happen-
ing around them Iv phrase]
Our English teacher's really out to lunch - every week she
sets us homework, and then the following week she never
remembers to collect it back in again. [ be completely out
to lunch It amazes me how he got the job in the first place
- the guy's obviously completely out to lunch.
flaky/'fleiki/an informal American word for describing
someone who seems unable to think clearly and behaves
in a strange but often amusing way [adj]
Christy was kind of flaky, but everyone liked her. ] You
couldn't trust Sam to do anything important, he was too
]aky.
3 to start feeling as if you are crazy, especially
when you are in a very unpleasant or very
boring situation
go crazy/go nuts
go mad
go round the bend
go crazy/go nuts/,goo krezi, ,go 'n^ts/[v phrase]
He couldn't spend another lO years in prison - he'd go crazy. [
She's going crazy at the moment - she's desperate to leave
her husband but she can't find a job. [ I'd go nuts if I had
to get up that early every morning.
go mad /,gao 'maid/ an informal British expression
meaning to start feeling as if you are crazy, especially when
you are in a very unpleasant or very boring situation Iv
phrase]
Working in a factory's so boring - after a few weeks you start
to go a bit mad. ] I think I'll go mad if I have to spend another
day in this office.

CRAZY 285 CRAZY
go round the bend/goo ,raond 8 'bend/an informal
expression meaning to start feeling as if you are crazy, for
example because you have so much work to do, you are
extremely worried about something, or you hate the situ-
ation you are in so much [v phrase]
In my last year at college I had so much studying to do I
almost went round the bend. I We didn't know what had hap-
pened to our daughter - we were both practically going
round the bend.
4 to start behaving in a crazy, uncontrolled
way, especially when you are very excited
go crazy/go nuts
go mad
go berserk
go crazy/go nuts/,goo 'krezi, ,gou 'nAtS/ IV phrase]
The fans went crazy when Madonna came onto the stage. [
The carnival takes place in February and the entire city goes
crazy for a week. I As soon as the dog sees anyone at the door
he goes completely nuts.
go mad/,go  med/a British expression meaning to start
behaving in a crazy, uncontrolled way, especially when
you are very excited Iv phrase]
When Italy scored the winning goal the crowd went mad,
shouting, singing and waving their scarves. ] Karen goes
absolutely mad if anyone tickles her feet.
go berserk /,g)o b3-'r's3:rk/to suddenly start behaving
in an extremely wild, violent, and often frightening way
Iv phrase]
The man suddenly went berserk and began shouting at
everybody on the platform in front of me. I When the referee
gave Germany a penalty the Dutch fans went totally berserk
and started smashing up the stadium.
5 to make someone feel crazy or behave in a
crazy way .
drive sb crazy/nuts
drive sb mad
drive sb round the bend
drive sb crazy/nuts / draiv (sb) ' kreizi, 'nAtS/[V phrase]
I must look for another job - this one's driving me nuts. ]
Have you smelled my new aftershave? It's supposed to drive
women crazy! I Those kids are enough to drive anyone crazy
- I'll be glad when they go back to school.
drive sb mad/,dra,v (sb) 'meed/a British expression
meaning to make someone feel crazy or behave in a crazy
way Iv phrase]
I can 't wait to get my exam results!All this waiting is driv-
ing me mad! ] Stuart hates doing crossword puzzles - he says
they drive him mad!
drive sb round the bend/,drav (sb) raond 5 tbend/
an informal expression used especially in British English:
if something such as a lot of work, worry or doing some-
thing you hate drives you round the bend, it makes you
feel completely crazy Iv phrase]
I have so much work to do at the moment, it's driving me
round the bend. I She was really glad when she gave up
teaching. It was driving her right round the bend.
6 someone who is crazy
nut maniac/lunatic
nutcase/Ioony n utter
madman/madwoman weirdo
nut/nAt/[n C]
A lot of people think he's a real nut, but he's actually quite
harmless. I Why are you asking me all these questions about
my private life? Are you some kind of nut or something?
nutcaselloony/'n^tkes, 'lu:ni/someone who behaves
in a crazy and often amusing way and who has strange
ideas In C/
Our old maths teacher was a real nutcase - he used to eat
chalk because he said it was good for your bones. [ In the
1960s everyone thought that vegetarians were a bunch of
loonies - now one in ten people in this country is vegetarian.
madman/madwoman / 'medmn, ' medwomn/a word
meaning a person who is completely crazy, used especially
when saying that someone behaves like someone who is
mad [n C/
like a madman/madwoman Helen started laughing like
a madwoman. I Stan was rushing around like a madman,
trying to get the meal ready in time. I madman/mad-
woman Everytime I walk past her window she always stares
at me as if I'm some kind of madman.
maniacllunatic /Imenieek, lu:ntk/ a person who
behaves in a crazy and often violent or dangerous way In C]
He drives like a maniac. ] People are scared to go out at night
in case they're attacked by some maniac with a knife. I com-
plete/raving lunatic (=someone who is completely crazy)
We'd better get out of here quickly - that guy's obviously a
raving lunatic. I I was unable to make any sense of his letter,
and I decided that the man was a complete lunatic.
nutter /'nAtor/ an informal British word meaning a
person who has strange ideas or who behaves in a strange
and often frightening way In C/
Sometimes you get these nutters calling you on the phone at
3 o'clock in the morning. I complete nutter He's a complete
nutter, he's got no sense of danger whatsoever.
weirdo /'w,)rd)o/ an informal word for a person who
looks strange or who behaves in a very strange and often
unpleasant or frightening way In C/
Whenever I travel on the subway I always seem to end up sit-
ting next to some weirdo. I He had long hair and was always
smoking strange smelling cigarettes - most people thought
he was a real weirdo.
7 words for describing crazy things that people
do or say, or crazy situations
crazy insane
mad madness/lunacy
screwy
crazy I'krezi/[adj]
While I was at college I did some really crazy things. ] You
actually believe there really is a Loeb Ness monster! That
must be about the craziest thing I ever heard! [ com-
pletely/totally crazy "'There's one bus every week." "That "s
totally crazy!'"
mad Imedl a British word meaning crazy [adj]
It's mad - there are eight people working in that tiny office,
and the room next door is empty! I She felt a sudden mad urge
to tell him how much she loved him. I completely/totally
mad It would be completely mad to give up now, just when
you "re starting to become successful.
screwy /'skru:i/ an informal word used especially in
American English, meaning crazy and making no sense,
especially in an amusing way [adj]
"What do you think of Dan's idea? .... The whole thing sounds
pretty screwy to me. "'] She has all these screwy theories about
how psychic energy from crystals can cure all kinds of
illnesses.
insane ]n'sen/something that is insane is completely
crazy, because it can not possibly succeed or is very
dangerous [adj ]
For some insane reason he decided to do the whole journey
in one day. ] it is insane to do sth It would be insane to try
and land the aircraft there - the runway's not nearly long
enough.
madness/lunacy/tmedns, 'lu:nosi/if you describe a
situation or someone's behaviour as madness or lunacy,
you mean that it is completely crazy [n U}
Jean Renoir's film shows the madness of war. ] it's mad-
ness/lunaey They can't build a big road through all that
beautiful parkland - it's madness! ] it is madness/lunacy
to do sth R was lunacy to imagine that Hitler would stop
once he had reached Poland. ] sheer/complete/pure mad-
ness/lunacy The doctor said it would be pure madness for
someone in his condition to go back to work. ] It would be
sheer lunacy to close down Britain's coal industry and be
forced to rely on foreign imports.

creak 286 CRIME
creak SOUND 7
cream: the cream of BEST 3
creamy THICK LIQUID 1
crease FOLD 3, 5, LINE 3, 4
creased FOLD 5, LINE10
creased: get creased FOLD 5
. create .......
which .meaning?
make or produce ' @ MAKE
something
think of a new idea, @ INVENT
method, machine etc
create CAUSE 5, INVENT 1, MAKE 4
creation INVENT 3
creative ART/CULTURE 4, IDEA 5
creator: the creator of INVENT 2
credible BELIEVE 11
credit: be a credit to PROUD 3
credit: be in credit OWE 8
credit: get/buy sth on credit PAY FOR 4
creditor LEND 3, OWE 7
credulous BELIEVE 9
 creed RELIGION 1
creep FRIENDLY 7, OBEY 7, SLOW 13, WALK 8
creeps: give sb the creeps FRIGHTENED 7
creepy: spooky/creepy FRIGHTENED 6
crest TOP 1
 crew GROUP OF PEOPLE 5
. crib COPY 4
crime CRIME 1, 2
crime: be a crime BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 2
-'- crime: capital offence/crime KILL 10
 crime: turn to crime CRIME 4
CRIME
actions such as stealing or violence for which
people can be punished by law
t a particular criminal action
2 criminal activity in general
3 involving crime or the punishment of crime
4 to do something that is a crime
5 someone who is guilty of a crime
6 a group of people who plan and organize
serious crime
1 a particular criminal action
crime felony
offence/offense misdemeanor
crime/kraim/In C]
The number of crimes reported to the police seems to increase
every year. I crime against Violent crimes against the
elderly are becoming more common. I commit a crime (=do
something that is a crime) The statistics show that young
people are committing more crimes, particularly of theft and
violence. I serious crime A support group has been set up
to help the victims of serious crimes. I convict sb of a crime
(=decide officially in a law court that they did it) The men's
families claim they have been unjustly convicted of the crime. I
solve a crime (=find out who did it) Police are no nearer
to solving the crime than they were four years ago. I the
scene of the crime (=the place where it was done) When
detectives arrived at the scene of the crime, the victim had
been dead for over four hours.
offence (British) I offense (American)/o'fcnsl a word
used especially in a legal context meaning an action which
can be punished by law In C]
Tarrant is now in jail for various offenses, including rape. I
There has been a sharp increase in drug-related offences over
the past year. I offences/offenses against A man has been
charged with sexual offences against young children. I crimi-
nal offence/offense Are you aware that the possession of
stolen property is a criminal offence? I serious offence/
offense Two people are being held on suspicion of serious
offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. I minor
offence/offense (=one that is not very serious) an unjust
system that imposes heavy penalties for minor offences
felony/'febni/a word used especially in the American
legal system meaning a serious crime such as murder or
a violent attack In C]
You were carrying weapons for the purpose of committing
a felony. I dohnson was preparing his defense against the
felony charges of rape and armed robbery.
misdemeanor/,m;sd'mi:nor/a word used especially in
the American legal system meaning a crime that is not very
serious In C]
Horowitz had several misdemeanors on his file by the time
he was twelve. ] McFarlane pleaded guilty to four federal
misdemeanours based on charges that he had lied to
Congress.
2 criminal activity in general
crime
delinquency
criminal activity
crime/kraim/In U]
The police are introducing new measures to deal with the
growing problem of crime. I the continuing debate about
crime and punishment ] crime rate/statistics/prevention
etc Nassau now has the third highest crime rate in the
world. I There is a police officer responsible for giving advice
on crime prevention to local residents. I violent crime Vio-
lent crime increased by 36% in America last year. I serious
crime The new computer system speeds up administrative
work and releases more police time for tackling serious
crime. I petty/minor crime (=crime that is not very seri-
ous) Children who end up on the streets are likely to get
drawn into petty crime and prostitution. I crime wave (=a
situation in which there is a lot of crime) Mayor Daly called
for urgent action last night, to combat the escalating crime
wave in the city.
delinquency /dI'lIrjkwonsi/ criminal behaviour that
seems to have no reason, such as fighting or destroying
things, especially when this is done by young people, and
which is therefore considered to be a social problem In U]
Delinquency and drug addiction are more common in areas
of high unemployment. ]juvenile delinquency (=delin-
quency among young people) Education has an important
part to play in the battle against juvenile deliquency.
criminal activity/,krlmonal ek'tlVIti/[n U]
Without boxing, Wilson might have been involved in crimi-
nal activity at an early age. t The flow of information
between public and police is vital if criminal activity is to
be stopped.
3 involving crime or the punishment of crime
criminal
criminal/' krlmnal/[adj only before noun]
Once she had qualified as a lawyer, she decided to special-
ize in criminal law. ] criminal investigation (=inquiring
about a crime) The Mayor was furious when he heard there
was going to be a criminal investigation into his staff's
activities. ] criminal record (=a list made by the police of
so meon e' s crimes ) Because of h is criminal record Jack was
finding it very difficult to get a job. I criminal tendency
(=towards criminal behaviour) Blake was a restless, violent
young man with obvious criminal tendencies.

CRIME 28? CRITICIZE
4, to do something that is a crime
commit
get into trouble
turn to crime
commit Ikom[t/ commit a crime/offence/murder/
assault/rape etc (=do something that is a crime, espe-
cially a serious or violent crime) Iv T[
Brady committed a series of brutal murders. I Women
commit far fewer crimes than men. I It now seems likely that
Mason was sent to prison for an offence he never committed.
get into trouble/get nto 'tr^bdl/to get into a situation
in which you are blamed or punished for doing something
illegal Iv phrase]
He got into trouble in Holland for exporting arms to a bunch
of terrorists. I get into trouble with I'm worried about
Wayne. He's always getting into trouble with the police.
turn to crime /,ta:rn to 'kram/to begin a way of life that
involves crime Iv phrase]
Many young people turn to crime because they are bored and
frustrated. [ Steve^ came to London at the age of seventeen,
and when he could not find work, he turned to crime.
 someone who is guilty of a crime
criminal lawbreaker
offender felon
delinquent wanted
criminal /  kr[mnal! someone who is guilty of a serious
crime or of several crimes In C[
The police are hunting for a dangerous criminal named
Joseph DeCosta. I hardened criminal (=one who has a lot
of experience of crime) In prison young Oliver found him-
self among hardened criminals. I common criminal
(=guilty of ordinary crimes, not of political crimes) We treat
these terrorists as common criminals, but they think they're
revolutionaries.
offender/ofendor! a word used especially in an official
or legal context meaning someone who is guilty of a crime
[nC]
A first time offender is treated less severely than one who
already has a criminal record. I One area of theprison is used
exclusively for sex offenders, lAbour 30% of known offenders
are juveniles.
deiinquent/d lIOkwont/ a person, especially a young
person, who is guilty of criminal behaviour such as fight-
ing or destroying things In C[
Many children become delinquents because they are neglected
by their parents. [juvenile delinquent (=one who is still
a child) Peter can be accurately described as a juvenile delin-
quent, having been in trouble with the police several times.
delinquent [adj] an institution for delinquent children
lawbreaker /la:brekor/ a word used especially in
newspapers or on television meaning a person or organi-
zation that does something illegal In C[
The penalties must be severe enough to deter lawbreakers. [
What if the lawbreaker is a multinational corporation with
more power than the legal authorities?
felon /  felon/a word used especially in American English
meaning someone who is guilty of a serious crime In C[
Oakdale Prison holds over 600 dangerous felons. [ A pack
of young felons had knocked down an old woman and left
her for dead.
wanted/wntd [[ wo:n-/someone who is wanted is
being looked for by the police because they are believed to
be guilty of a crime [adj]
wanted for Richards is wanted for the murder of a security
guard at the City Bank on the night of December 5th. [ most
wanted The mass murderer known as the 'Yorkshire
Ripper" was for a long time the most wanted man in Britain.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
6 a group of people who plan and organize
serious crime
gang underworld
ring organized crime
syndicate
gang IgoI a group of criminals who work together in ille-
gal activities In C]
Lafferty was one of the gang that robbed the Cornville Bank. I
Gangs virtually rule East LA - there are neighborhoods
where even the police won't go. I armed gang (=with guns
or weapons) An armed gang has been operating in the area,
robbing jewellery stores and banks. I gang member
(=someone in a gang) Gang members are sworn to secrecy
when they join. I gang war (=between gangs) The killing
is thought to be associated with the gang war that has been
raging in the city.
ring [rItj[ a group of people who work together and
organize an illegal trade, especially drug dealing In C[
Drugs rings are now operating in most large cities of the
world. I The auctioneers organized a secret ring to control
antique sales.
syndicate/sIndakt/a word used especially in Ameri-
can English meaning a large and powerful organization
that controls illegal businesses and criminal activities In
C[
In Illinois sales of cocaine are so profitable that the big syn-
dicates are losing interest in other criminal activities. I
criminal syndicate Vito Genovese, former boss of New
York's most powerful criminal syndicate
underworld /  ^ndorw3: rid/the group of secret organiza-
tions that plan and organize crime in a particular city In
singular]
Owe^ has been active in the Boston underworld for many
years. I Only someone with underworld connections could
have known about the planned robbery.
organized crime/Io:rgonaizd 'kra:m/large criminal
organizations that plan and control serious crime such as
robbing banks or selling drugs In U]
The police need more resources to combat organized crime. I
In America organized crime is already moving into areas
of legitimate business.
criminal BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 2, CRIME 3, 5,
ii!: ILLEGAL 1
! criminal activity CRIME 2
 cripple INJURE 3
 crisis SERIOUS SITUATION 2
!i ' crisp BREAK 12, COLD 4
 criterion JUDGE 8
-,i critic CRITICIZE 3, JUDGE 7
; critic: be a critic of CRITICIZE 1
critical CRITICIZE 7, IMPORTANT 1, SERIOUS
SITUATION 1
critical: be critical CRITICIZE 1
criticism CRITICIZE 6, JUDGE 7
criticism: be open to criticism CRITICIZE 8
criticism: receive/come in for criticism CRITICIZE 8
criticize CRITICIZE 1
CRITICIZE
to say what you think is wrong or bad about
someone or something
to strongly criticize someone or something in
public, for example in a newspaper or on
television
someone who criticizes, especially someone
who publicly criticizes a politician, plan, or
system
to criticize someone or something in an unfair
or annoying way
continued

CRITICIZE 288 CRITICIZE
@CRITICIZE
continued
5 to talk about someone in a rude or
unpleasant way when that person is not
present
6 something that you say or write in order to
criticize something
7 words for describing people, remarks etc that
criticize
8 to be criticized by someone else
9 to not criticize someone
1 to say what you think is wrong or bad about
someone or something
criticize launch an attack on
be critical lay into
attack be a critic of
criticize (also .ise British) I'kritsaiz/[v I/T]
criticize sb/sth My mother is always criticizing my cook-
ing. I criticize sb/sth as The latest economic report has been
criticized as being too pessimistic. I criticize sb for doing
sth Police criticized drivers for travelling too fast in the fog. I
criticize It's easy to criticize, but you don't have to deal with
these problems. I strongly criticize The United Nations has
been strongly criticized for its failure to take action.
be critical/bi: 'kritkal/to express disapproval of some-
thing such as a plan, a system, or a way of doing something,
especially by mentioning its faults Iv phrase]
be critical of Miller was critical of the way in which the
company conducted its business. I be highly critical The
article is highly critical of US policies towards Central
America. I be critical Many judges disapproved of the new
law but were unwilling to be openly critical.
attack/o'tak/to criticize someone or something very
strongly, especially using powerful language and often in
public Iv TI
attack sb/sth The senator made a speech attacking George
Bush. I Osborne's play attacks middle-class attitudes and
values. I attack sb for sth Congress attacked the Adminis-
tration for its lack of concern for the unemployed.
launch an attack on/,13:ntf on o'ta.k Dn/to begin and
continue very strong criticism of someone or something,
especially using powerful language and in public [vphrasel
Several newspapers launched an attack on Churchill. I
France launched a bitter attack on European Community
proposals to reduce farm subsidies. I Purvis started his cam-
paign by launching a vitriolic attack on what he contemp-
tuously called "the cowards" charter:
lay into/'le: :ntu:/an informal expression meaning to
criticize someone very strongly for something they have
done Iv TI
lay into sb The teacher really laid into us this morning -
told us we'd all fail if we didn't start doing some work. I lay
into sb about You should have heard her laying into the
kitchen staff about the food being cold.
be a critic of/bi: o krtik Dv/if someone is a critic of
the government, a person in authority etc or what they do,
they regularly and publicly criticize them Iv phrasel
She has been a critic of this government's policies for many
years. I be an outspoken critic of (=one who is not afraid
to criticize strongly and publicly) He is an outspoken critic
of the police and their methods. I be sb's greatest/biggest
etc critic (=criticize them more than anyone else does) Mr
Levy has established a reputation as the committee's biggest,
most vehement critic.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
2 to strongly criticize someone or something in
public, for example in a newspaper or on
television
slam pillory
pan do a hatchet job on
tear to shreds
siam/slem/a word used in newspapers meaning to criti-
cize someone or something very strongly in a public state-
ment Iv TI
slam sb for doing sth Police slammed drivers for ignoring
safety warnings. [ slam sb/sth TV boss slams the press.
pan/pen/to strongly criticize something such as a film,
play, or a performance by writing about it in a newspaper,
talking about it on television etc [v T]
The movie was panned by all the critics.
tear to shreds /Iteo r to Ifredz/to find many faults in
someone's ideas or arguments and criticize them very
severely Iv phrase]
When the prosecutor had presented his case, the defence
lawyer tore his arguments to shreds.
pillory / pllori/if a lot of people pillory a person, they join
together in criticizing that person very strongly in public
Iv T usually passive]
be pilloried The minister was pilloried in the press for lying
to the country. [ Middleton suffered the ultimate humiliation
of being pilloried by his colleagues in front of the television
cameras.
do a hatchet Job on/du: o 'hmtt d3b n [[ -d3a:b-/an
informal expression meaning to criticize every part of
someone's character or work in a newspaper or on tele-
vision, in order to destroy their image Iv phrase]
Republican columnists did a hatchet job on Dukakis.
3 someone who criticizes, especially someone
who publicly criticizes a politician, plan, or
system
critic
critic I'krItk/[n C]
The President answered his critics in a televised speech. [
Critics of nuclear power point out that the problem of
storing radioactive waste remains unsolved.
4 to criticize someone or something in an unfair
or annoying way
find fault with denigrate
pick holes in put down
knock get at
run down
find fault with/, faInd ' fa:lt wib/to criticize someone for
a specific mistake or fault in their work, especially a small
and unimportant one Iv phrase]
Whenever the manager comes around, I always think he's
trying to find fault with my work. ] Even the most critical
reviewer could not find fault with her performance.
oick holes in ! pk hoolz n/to find and criticize small
incorrect details in someone's ideas, statements etc Iv
phrase]
It's easy to pick holes in his theory. [ I wish you "d stop trying
to pick holes in everything I say.
kneck/nt)k [[ no:k/to criticize someone, their work, or
their performance in an unfair and annoying way [v T]
When the critics knock your music, does it upset you? [ I know
it's become fashionable to knock Mrs Thatcher, but I think
she did a good job of running the country. [ don't knock it!
Hey, don't knock it! It's the only suit I've got!
run dewn !  ran Idaun/to keep unfairly criticizing some-
one or their work so as to make them seem less important
or less successful than they really are [phr v T]
run sb/sth/it/her etc down You have two clever children.
Why are you always running them down? [ run down sb/

CRITICIZE 289 CRITICIZE
sth She has no talent herself so she gets her satisfaction from
running down other people's work.
denigrate /'dengret/a formal word meaning to unfairly
criticize someone or what they have achieved, especially
when their actions might normally deserve approval Iv T]
They don't wish to denigrate the achievements of teachers,
only to point out opportunities for improvement. I Tradition-
ally, Communists tended to denigrate intellectuals.
put down/pot daon/to make someone feel unimportant
or stupid especially by criticizing them in front of other
people [phr v T]
put sb/her/them etc down I hate his habit of putting me
down in front of other people and humiliating me. I put
down sb He's very good at putting down people he doesn't
like.
get at/get et/an informal expression meaning to keep
criticizing someone by making remarks about their
behaviour or habits, especially in an unkind or annoying
way Iv T]
get at sb about My mother keeps getting at me about the
state of my room. I get at sb Whenever he talks to me Ialways
feel he's trying to get at me in some way.
5 to talk about someone in a rude or
unpleasant way when that person is not
present
talk about sb slag off
behind their back bad-mouth
bitch about
talk about sb behind their back/,t:k abaut (sb)
b,hand 6ea r bek/to talk about and criticize someone
when they are not present [v phrase]
I hatepeople who talk aboutyou behindyour back and then
pretend to be nice to you when they meet you.
bitch about/b=t S abaot/an informal expression mean-
ing to make nasty remarks about someone when that
person is not present Iv T]
People in our office are always bitching about each other.
stag off / sleg 'of [[ -'o:f/an informal British expression
meaning to criticize someone in a nasty way when they are
not present [phr v T]
slag off sb She spent the whole evening slagging off her ex-
boyfriend. [ slag sb/her/them ere off When the team isn't
winning everyone starts slagging them off.
bad-mouth / bed mauO/an inforral American expres-
sion meaning to say bad things about someone when they
are not present Iv T]
She's always bad-mouthing her old colleagues. [ Directors
have bad-mouthed him all over Hollywood, so he hasn't done
a film for three years.
6 something that you say or write in order to
criticize something
criticism slur
attack put-down
critique
criticism /kritszm/what you say or write when you
criticize someone or something In C/U]
The committee has made four specific criticisms of the
government's transport policy. ] The most common criticism
of the magazine is that it is not colourful enough. [ He's very
sensitive to any kind of criticism. [ constructive criticism
(=criticism which suggests ways to improve something)
I'm always ready to accept constructive criticism. [ severe/
fierce criticism (=very strong criticism) The article con-
tained fierce criticism of Mr Jeffries and his staff at the hospi-
tal. [ harsh criticism (=criticism that is too strong and
unfair) Admittedly, some of my criticisms may have been a
little harsh.
attack/atek/a very strong public expression of criti-
cism, especially in politics In C]
The communist newspapers often contained attacks on the
Church. [ This could not be called valid criticism, it was a
vicious personal attack. I scathing attack (=one that is
extremely strong and shows no respect) a scathing attack
on the Administration's handling of the crisis
critique/kr: 'ti:k! an article, book, speech etc which care-
fully examines a subject and points out what is wrong or
bad about it In C]
The speech was a devastating critique of Reagan's economic
policy. I Marx's critique of capitalism in the 19th century
siur/sl3:r/unfair criticism that reduces the good opinion
that people have about someone In C]
Your accusation of bribe-taking is a slur which I shall never
forgive.
put-down/pot daon/something that someone says to
someone, especially in front of other people, that criticizes
them and makes them feel stupid or unimportant In C]
It was a cruel put-down, and hurt her deeply. I She was a
master of the sarcastic put-down.
7 words for describing people, remarks etc that
criticize
critical
scathing
critical I'krtkal/ critical letter/remark/report etc
(=one which criticizes something or someone) [adj]
Critical remarks by a teacher can damage the confidence of
children. [ highly critical (=very critical) The government
has just published a highly critical report on the state of the
education system.
scathing /'ske6l]/ criticizing someone or something
extremely strongly and in a way that shows you have no
respect for them [adj]
Her new book is a scathing attack on American imperialism
in Central America. [ scathing about He is particularly
scathing about those consultants who charge ridiculously
high fees.
8 to be criticized by someone else
receive/come in for criticism
be under attack/come under attack
get/take a lot of flak
be open to criticism
target
receive/come in for criticism Ira,st:v, ,knm n fa r
krtszm/[v phrase]
The unions came in for strong criticism from the government
after the strike. [ Recent statements by the Secretary General
have received a good deal of criticism in the national press.
be under attack/come under attack/bi: ,^ndar
a'tek, k^m-/to be severely criticized, especially in public
[ v phrase]
His theories came under attack from other scientists. [ Bank
managers are under attack for their refusal to reduce interest
rates on loans to small businesses'.
get/take a lot of |lak/get, tek a lot av flek [[ -la:t-/
an informal expression meaning to receive a lot of strong
public criticism for something [v phrase]
If you become a politician, you must expect to get a lot of flak
during your career. [ The immigration department is taking
a lot ofpoliticalflakfor not moving faster to help refugees.
I I
be open to criticism/bi: ,aopan ta krtszarn/if some-
one or something is open to criticism, there are good
reasons for criticizing them Iv phrase]
The general is open to criticism for his handling of the war.[
Current reforms in the legal system may be open to criticism
if they appear to be undemocratic.
target / 'to: rg t/an organization, person in authority etc
that is criticized by a lot of people [n C]
target of The President is the main target of the newspaper's
attacks. [ target for The Communist Party has become the
main target for critical attack among left wing intellectuals.

CRITICIZE 290 CROWD
!9 to not criticize someone
do not/cannot blame
do not/cannot blame/,du: not, ,kenot 'bleim/if you
say that you do not blame or cannot blame someone for
doing something, you mean that you think it was a reasona-
ble thing to do and you cannot criticize them for it Iv
phrase]
Clive's going to move to a better job. I don't blame him. I I
can see you're annoyed with me for being late and I don "t
blame you. I do not/cannot blame sb for sth You can't
blame her for getting a divorce, her husband's always treated
her badly.
critique CRITICIZE 6
cronies FRIEND 3
crooked BEND 7, DISHONEST 2
crop GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 3
crop up HAPPEN 2
cross ANGRY 1, CROSS 1, TRAVEL 1
cross: a cross between MIX 8
cross-examine/cross-question ASK A QUESTION 4
cross my heart PROMISE 6
cross out REMOVE 4
cross-purposes: be/talk at cross-purposes
UNDERSTAND 11
cross sb's mind: enter sb's mind/cross sb's mind
THINK STHIHAVE A THOUGHT 1
cross-section PART 8
CROSS
t to go across a space, area etc
1 to go across a space, area etc
across cut across
over cut through
cross
across/'kms I] 'kro:s/[prep]
run/fly/walk/look etc across The little boy ran across the
road to meet them. I flying across the Atlantic I A group of
people were standing on the mountainside, gazing out across
the valley.
over /atjvar/ a word meaning across, used especially
when saying that someone goes across something and also
above something at the same time [prepl
go/fly etc over In the autumn, great flocks of geese fly over
the country heading south. I Take the third turning on the
left, go over the bridge, and you're there.
cross/kms II kra:s/to go across an area of, land, a road,
a river etc Iv T]
cross sth He plans to cross the Himalayas on foot. I Beyond
the houses the lane became a rough track crossing a bridge
towards the wood. I cross the road Children need to be
taught how to cross the road safely.
cut across I kAt o'kros [[ -o'kro:s/to go across an area of
land such as a field, instead of going around it on a path
or road Iv T]
Farmers have begun putting up fences to prevent visitors
from cutting across their land. [ They branched away from
the path and cut across the grass.
cut through/,kAt 'Oru:/to go across an area such as a
garden, a wood, or a group of buildings, instead of going
around it on a path or road, because it is quicker [v T]
Instead of taking the main road I cut through the church-
yard and jumped over the wall at the bottom. [ He found the
restaurant by chance, cutting through the shopping mall.
crossfire: be caught in the crossfire SHOOT 5
crossing TRAVEL 8
crotchety BAD-TEMPERED 4
crouch BEND 2
crow BOAST 1
crow: as the crow flies STRAIGHT 2
crowd CROWD 1, 4, FRIEND 3
crowd: follow/go with the crowd IMITATE 3
crowd: in-crowd GROUP OF PEOPLE 6
crowd around/round AROUND/ROUND 2
crowd in ENTER 7
crowd
which meaning?
lots of people
a place with a lot of
activity and people
full, no more seats or
places left
• . .
@ CROWD
 BUSY PLACE
@ FULL
CROWD
a large number of people who have gathered
in one place or who are all moving in the
same direction
an angry, violent crowd
to come together so that a crowd forms
ways of saying that people fill a place and
move around in it
ways of saying that the people in a crowd
separate and leave, so that the crowd
disappears
words for describing a place with large
numbers of people in it
1 a large number of people who have gathered
in one place or who are all moving in the
same direction
crowd horde
mass throng
swarm crush
crowd/kraod/In C]
I don "t go to football games because I don't like big crowds. I
crowd of The thief grabbed my handbag and disappeared
into a crowd of tourists. I By the time the police arrived the
small group of spectators had become an angry crowd. I
crowds of(=large numbers of people in the same area) The
streets were busy with crowds of Saturday morning
shoppers.
mass/mes/a very large crowd which is not moving and
which is very difficult to move through In singular]
mass of It was difficult to see the statue because there was
a mass ofpeople in front of it. I seething mass (=when there
are far too many people all pushing and trying to go some-
where) In no time at all the border had become a seething
mass of refugees. I solid mass (=when people cannot move
because they are so close together) The road was blocked
by a solid mass of protesters.
swarm/swa:rm/a large crowd of people who are moving
quickly in many directions in a very uncontrolled way In
C]
swarm of Outside the school a swarm of small children ran
around shouting and laughing.
horde/ha:rd/a large crowd of people, especially people
that you do not like or approve of, moving in an uncon-
trolled way In C]
horde of A horde of screaming kids ran into the playground

CROWD 291 CROWD
when the bell rang. I She ran down the steps of the court
house, pursued by a horde of reporters and cameramen. I in
hordes Every summer tourists arrive in hordes, making life
unbearable for the local residents.
throng/0m0 Ii 0ra:0/a word used especially in literature,
meaning a very large crowd In C]
They entered the main square and joined the swaying, laugh-
ing throng. I throng of Goats, mules and carts moved along
the dusty road with the throng of refugees.
crtish/kr^//a crowd of people who are all pressed close
together so that it is very difficult to move between them
In singular]
Unable to get out of the crush, Chris began to panic. I There
was chaos as people tried to escape they[ames and two chil-
dren were badly injured in the crush.
2 an angry, violent crowd
mob
rabble
mob Im. II mo:b] a crowd of violent and noisy people,
behaving in a way that is difficult to control In C]
The mob ran through the main street, breaking windows
and setting fire to cars. I mob of They found themselves
surrounded by a mob of angry youths.
rabble/' rmbl] a crowd of noisy, violent people who are
not organized or controlled In singular]
Their army was nothing more than an untrained rabble and
would never be ready for battle. I rabble of We watched them
passing by - a rabble of drunken, unwashed youths shout-
ing at the tops of their voices.
3 to come together so that a crowd forms
gather mass
collect congregate
form converge
gather/'ge6r/[v I]
By the time the President arrived a large crowd had
gathered. I gather on/at/in etc Nobody knew what was
happening. Small crowds began to gather on street corners. I
The whole family had gathered at the front door to wave
goodbye.
collect ]ko'lekt] if a crowd collects, people gradually
come together so that there is a crowd, usually because
they stop to watch or listen to something Iv I]
A crowd was collecting outside the building, waiting for us
to come out. I Crowds were starting to collect outside the
theatre to await the arrival of the royal couple.
form/fa:rm/ifa crowd forms, more and more people join
a group of people who have stopped to watch or listen to
something, so that there is a crowd Iv I]
A cheering crowd formed round the winner. [Already crowds
were forming as more and more people stopped to watch the
rescue operation.
mass ]mas] if a lot of people mass in a particular place,
they all go to that place at the same time so that there is
a very large crowd Iv I]
mass on/at/in etc Troops are massing all along the fron-
tier. I As the pleasure boat approached the harbour entrance,
sightseers massed on deck to take in the view.
congregate/ko0grgelt II ko:0-/if people congregate
in a particular place, they form a crowd in that place, espe-
cially because they want to meet each other Iv I]
congregate on/at/in etc Teenagers always seem to con-
gregate outside the cafe. I Hundreds of people had con-
gregated in the square to hear the Pope's message.
converge/kan'v3:rds/if groups of people converge in a
particular place, they come there from many different
places and meet together with others to form a large crowd,
in order to do something or go somewhere Iv I]
converge at/in etc The two groups of demonstrators con-
verged at Hyde Park. I converge on (--converge towards)
Thousands of hippies converged on the town for a rock
festival.
4 ways of saying that people fill a place and
move around in it
crowd mill around/about
fill swarm
crowd/kraod/[v I/T[
crowd sth Shoppers and tourists'crowded the market square
every day. I In the evenings artists and artisans crowd the
cafes and bars of Montmartre. I crowd in Fifty or more
people managed to crowd in, just to hear the reading of
uncle's will. I crowd around sb/sth Fans and pho-
tographers crowded around Madonna as she arrived at the
airport.
fill [fill if a lot of people fill a place, there are so many of
them in the place that there seems to be no room left for
anyone else Iv T]
Crowds filled the streets, bringing traffic to a standstill. I
Soon an audience of over 3000filled the entire theatre.
mill around/about / mil a  raond, a'baot/if a lot of people
mill around, they move around a place in different direc-
tions, without any particular aim, especially while wait-
ing for something [phr v I]
Students were milling around in the corridor, waiting to go
into the exam room. I Several trains had been cancelled and
the commuters milled around, grumbling and wondering
how to get home.
swarm/swa:rm/if a lot of people, especially people that
yo u do not like or approve of, swarm around a particular
place, they fill it and move around it very quickly in an
uncontrolled way Iv I]
swarm across/along etc Every day tourists swarm
through the narrow streets of the old city. I It was the first-
day of term and children were swarming around the school.
5 ways of saying that the people in a crowd
separate and leave, so that the crowd
disappears
disperse melt away
thin out break up
disperse/dl 'sp3:rs/ Iv I]
Once the ambulance had left, the crowd began to disperse. I
The troops used teargas and the demonstrators quickly
dispersed.
thin out ], 0In aOt / ifa crowd thins out, the people gradu-
ally start to separate and leave so that there are fewer
people [phr v I]
By midnight, the crowds outside the concert hall were begin-
ning to thin out. I If I waited until the crowd thinned out a
bit it would be easier to find Rob.
melt away ]melt oweq if a crowd melts away, the
people leave gradually and quietly, hoping that no one will
notice [phr v I]
The excitement of the arrest was over, and everybody began
melting away, not wanting to be questioned by the police. ]
As he went on with his speech, he could see that his audience
was losing interest and starting to melt away.
break tip /,break 'Ap/ifa large crowd breaks up, people
start to leave and move away in small groups [phr v I]
The crowd began to break up, leaving a few people staring
at the wreckage. I When the police arrived the crowd broke
up very quickly.
6 words for describing a place with large
numbers of people in it
crowded teeming
packed overcrowded
be swarming with
crowded/' kraod od/so full of people that it is difficult to
move or find a place to sit or stand [adj]
The trains are always very crowded first thing in the morn-
ing. I I really wanted a swim but the beach was crowded. I
crowded with Natalie knew the cafe would be crowded with
noisy teenagers.

CROWD 292 CRUEL
packed/peekt/so crowded that there is no space left and
it is impossible to move or find a place to sit or stand [adj]
The club is really popular. By 9 o'clock it's packed. I packed
with The train to Paris was packed with British soldiers.
be swarming with/bi: 'swa:rmI WI6/ if a place is
swarming with people it is very full of people who are
moving about a lot, especially people that you do not like
or approve of Iv phrase]
Since the invasion the town has been swarming with foreign
troops. I Long before the stars arrived the place was swarm-
ing with newspaper reporters.
teeming /'ti:mir/teeming city/streets/markets etc
(=very full of people and activity) [adj]
the teeming streets of Cairo I teeming with It was the start
of the new senmster, and the campus was teeming with
students.
overcrowded/,auvar'kraudd-/containing what you
think are too many people or too many things for the space
available [adj]
The room was overcrowded and it was difficult to breathe. I
Fertilisers should be used in small and overcrowded
gardens. I Britain is a uniquely overcrowded country.
overcrowding In U] A major cause of trouble in Britain's
prisons is overcrowding.
crowded CROWD 6
crucial IMPORTANT 3
crude RUDE/OBSCENE 3, SIMPLE/NOT
COMPLICATED 1
cruel CRUEL 1, 2, 3, UNKIND 1
cruel: be cruel to CRUEL 6
-CRUEL
1 deliberately causing pain, and not caring at
all if other people suffer
2 words for describing cruel behaviour, crimes,
punishments etc
3 very unkind in the way you talk to someone
or talk about them, and not caring if you
upset them
4 deliberately cruel and unkind to someone
because you really want to upset them
5 cruel behaviour or treatment
6 to treat a person or animal in a cruel way
7 words for describing people, activities,
actions etc that are not cruel
1 deliberately causing pain, and not caring at
all if other people suffer
cruel sadistic
ruthless sadist
heartless bloodthirsty
cruel/'kru:al/[adj]
Lieutenant Brand was a cruel man who made the lives of the
young soldiers a misery. I Teachers these days aren't nearly
as cruel as they were when I was at school. I cruel to Her
parents were very cruel to her when she was young. I it is
cruel to do sth I think it's cruel to kill animals for sport.
cruelly [ adv ] Prisoners from ethnic minorities were treated
especially cruelly.
ruthless /  ru:Olas/not feeling any pity for anyone and not
caring how many people suffer in order to achieve or gain
something [adj]
Government orders were carried out in a completely ruthless
way. ] Stalin made Russia a modern industrial power
through ruthless dictatorship.
ruthlessly [adv] Opponents within the party were ruthlessly
eliminated.
heartless/'ho:rtlas/not feeling any pity and not caring
about other people or their problems [adj]
How can you be so heartless as to abandon your children now
when they need you most? I She was a heartless, money-
grabbing woman who made her fortune from the misery and
desperation of others.
heartlessly |adv ] He heartlessly left us there in the middle
of the desert without food or water.
sadlst|c ]sald[stIk] cruel and seeming to get pleasure from
making other people suffer [adj]
The principal was a sadistic man who enjoyed tormenting
his students with threats and punishments. I Freya took a
kind of sadistic pleasure in the horrors she described. I "'I'm
afraid you will never see your children again, "" he said with
a sadistic smile.
sadistically [adv ] The man was taken deep into a Missis-
sippi forest by a local gang and sadistically murdered.
sadist / 'seIdoI st/someone who enjoys being cruel to other
people In C]
Andrea's father was an absolute sadist. It's not surprising
she hates him.
bloodthirsty /'blAdOa:rsti/someone who is bloodthirsty
is extremely violent and cruel to anyone who opposes them
and seems to enjoy violence or killing [adj]
The two soldiers were surrounded by a bloodthirsty crowd,
wielding axes, knives and clubs. I Parker's the most wicked,
bloodthirsty villain that ever darkened the doors of this jail.
2 words for describing cruel behaviour, crimes,
punishments etc
cruel inhumane
barbaric cold-blooded
inhuman tyrannical
cruel I'kruml/[adj]
People were shocked at the news of these cruel, sadistic
murders. I The American Constitution protects US citizens
from "cruel and unusual" punishments. I Children seem to
enjoy fairy stories where the villains receive cruel punish-
ments.
barbaric/bo:r'barIk/completely without normal con-
cern for the suffering caused to other people [adj]
A spokesman condemned the bombing which killed twelve
people as a barbaric act of terrorism. I Outside Spain, a lot
of people think bullfighting is barbaric.
Inhuman/in'hju:mon/very cruel and not showing any of
the pity or concern that normal people feel when they see
other people suffering [adj]
Most people think apartheid is a totally inhuman system. I
The government has been accused of using artificial and
inhuman criteria to decide which refugees should be
deported.
inhumane /, lnhju:'meIn/ inhumane treatment/cono
ditions/methods etc (=that are not considered acceptable
because they cause too much suffering) [adj]
Amnesty International is protesting against the inhumane
treatment of these political prisoners. I This method of
slaughtering chickens is now regarded by many as inhu-
mane.
cold-blooded/,kould blAdd-! cold-blooded murder/
killing etc (=violent acts done without any pity or sorrow
for the suffering caused by them) [adj usually before noun]
The whole community was horrified by the cold-blooded
murder of the young girls.
tyrannical/t 'rankl/if someone's behaviour is tyran-
nical, they use their power to cruelly force other people to
do what they want [adj]
He is a man with a tyrannical reputation. I Her behaviour
to us as children was always strict, sometimes tyrannical and
overbearing.
3 very unkind in the way you talk to someone
or talk about them, and not caring if you
upset them
cruel nasty
unkind mean

CRUEL 293 CRUEL
cruel / 'kru:l/[adj ]
He's not uglyWHow can you be so cruel? I Sharon got angry
and said some very cruel things. I cruel to Sam had always
been fat, and dreaded going to school because the other chil-
dren were so cruel to him. I it is cruel to do sth Don't laugh.
It's cruel to make fun of people's misfortunes.
cruelly [adv ] He suddenly and very cruelly broke off their
relationship.
unkind / ^n'kaInd-/saying things or behaving in a way
that you know will upset someone [adj]
Young children can be very unkind to each other. I How can
you be so unkind? You know we only want what's best for
you. I unkind to Sometimes my guardians were very unkind
to me but I didn't dare complain. I it is unkind to do sth
It was very unkind of him to criticize her like that in front
of everyone.
unkindly [adv ] Gemma remarked unkindly that Sarah's
dress looked awful.
nasty /na:sti II nesti/ deliberately and unnecessarily
unkind and unpleasant to someone [adj]
Sandy often makes nasty comments about her colleagues. I
My cousin has a nasty side to his character. I nasty to Don't
be so nasty to your sister!
nastily [adv] "Why should I care what you think?" he said
nastily.
mean/mi:n/unkind, unfair, and unpleasant to someone
[adj not usually before noun]
"We don't need any advice from you. "" "'Don't be so mean, I
was only trying to help. "'1 You did that on purpose, didn't
you? You're so mean! I it is mean of sb to do sth It was
mean of Jack to tell on his friends.
4 deliberately cruel and unkind to someone
because you really want to upset them
malicious spite
malice vindictive
spiteful
malicious Im'lisl deliberately cruel and unkind to
someone because you really want to upset them and enjoy
doing so [adj]
Miss Simms took a malicious pleasure in other people's mis-
fortunes. I I've had enough of the malicious gossip that goes
on in this village. I Mr Jameson dismissed the allegations
as malicious rumours.
maliciously [adv ] Beatrice maliciously delighted in Cather-
ine's dismay.
malice/'mels/the intention of wanting to hurt or upset
other people, especially if they have done nothing to harm
you In U]
There was no malice in his words, just disappointment. I "'I
see" she said, and her little eyes glittered with malice.
spiteful/' spa;ffdl/deliberately nasty to someone in order
to hurt or upset them, especially because you are jealous
of them or are angry with them [adj]
Then I did a spiteful thing - I told her husband about the
other man. I spiteful to I tried to like Camilla but I couldn "t
forget how spiteful she'd been to me in the past.
spitefully [adv] "Doreen never liked you, "" Rob said
spitefully.
spite/spat/a feeling of wanting to hurt or upset other
people by saying or doing cruel things, especially if you feel
jealous or think you have been unfairly treated In U]
Gerald's feelings of injustice turned to bitterness and spite. I
pure/sheer spite (=spite and nothing else) Ignore what
Martin says. It'spure spite. J out of spite (=because of spite)
Out of spite, Sylvia passed on the story of the affair to the
newspapers.
vindictive /vindikuv/ deliberately cruel and unfair
because you want to harm someone who has harmed you
[adj]
'Tll pay her back for this. .... Don't be so vindictive. It doesn't
help anyone. "[After the divorce, Sally's ex-husband became
increasingly vindictive.
vindictiveness In U] Tom's generosity to his friends was
matched by vindictiveness to those who fell out of his favour.
5 cruel behaviour or treatment
cruelty persecution
inhumanity atrocities
abuse sadism
mistreatment/ill-treatment/
maltreatment
cruelty/'kru:lti/cruel behaviour [n U]
Steve's wife had left him because of his cruelty. I As civilized
beings we have a duty to minimize the cruelty and suffering
we inflict on animals. [ treat sb with cruelty (=be cruel
to someone) The invading troops treated civilians with great
cruelty.
inhumanity /;nhju:menti/ cruelty which includes
violence and a complete lack of feeling for people's suffer-
ing In U]
Reformists were appalled by the immorality and inhuman-
ity of the slave trade. I The novel focuses on the inhumanity
of labour camps and long-term imprisonment.
abuse/ bju:s/deliberately cruel treatment of someone,
especially someone that you are responsible for or should
look after In U]
The abuse of slaves by their owners in 19th century America
was a common occurrence. I child abuse (=cruel treatment
of children) Social workers are most concerned about the
recent increase in cases of child abuse.
mistreatment/ill.treatment/maltreatment/mis-
'tri:tmont, iI tri:tmnt, mmltri:tmant/ cruel treatment of
people or animals [n U]
There can be no good reason for the ill-treatment o f factory-
farm animals. [ Jailers singled out certain prisoners for
maltreatment.
persecution ] ip3:rs  kju:j'dn/cruel treatment of people
because of their religious or political beliefs, or because of
the race they belong to In U]
Many Jews fled to America to escape persecution in Europe. [
After years of persecution, the Kurdish people are finally
receiving attention from the world's media. [ the relentless
persecution of American Communists in the 1950s
atrocities /'trtstiz [[ 'tra:-/ extremely cruel and
shocking actions against people, especially during a war
In plural]
Survivors from the concentration camps had witnessed
unspeakable atrocities. [ commit atrocities Retreating
soldiers told stories of awful atrocities committed by the
enemy.
sadism/ seidizam/taking pleasure in cruel acts In U]
Sadism may stem from a desire to dominate. I Bullying and
sadism were commonplace in the school.
6 to treat a person or animal in a cruel way
be cruel to pick on
mistreat/ill-treat victimize
abuse downtrodden
persecute bully
treat sb like dirt
be cruel to Ibi: 'kru:zl tu:/[v phrase]
My father drank too much and was often very cruel to my
mother. [ Does scientific research have to involve being cruel
to dumb animals?
mistreatlill-treat/ms'tri:t, 1 'tri:t/to deliberately treat
a person or animal in a cruel way, especially when you are
responsible for looking after them Iv T]
It looks as though this dog has been mistreated by its owner. [
Neighbours were sure that the young couple had been ill-
treating their children.
abuse/'bju:z/to treat someone in a cruel way, especially
someone you have a close relationship with, for example
a member of your family, or someone you are responsible
for [v T]
Anyone who is accused of abusing their children is inves-
tigated very thoroughly by the social services. I After sepa-
ration many women who have been abused by their hus-
bands return to face further cruel treatment.

CRUEL 294 CRY
persecute /Ip3IrsIkju:t/to be cruel to a person or group
of people over a period of time, because of their political
or religious beliefs or because of the race they belong to Iv
T]
For centuries these people have been persecuted because of
their religion. I Under the old regime, people with left-wing
beliefs were cruelly persecuted. I He was persecuted along
with all the other Jews in the village.
persecutor In C] She still bore a great deal of bitterness
towards her persecutors (=the people who had persecuted
her).
treat sb like dirt /,tri:t (sb) la[k 'da:rq an informal
expression meaning to treat someone as if they were com-
pletely worthless and not care about their feelings Iv
phrase]
She treats him like dirt but he still loves her. [ I don't know
how she put up with him treating her like dirt for all those
years. ] I wouldn't work for her - she treats her staff like dirt.
pick on/'pIk on 11 -o:n/an informal expression meaning
to choose someone from a group to treat cruelly and
unfairly especially by repeatedly criticizing them Iv T]
Bullies usually pick on younger children. [ Older members
of staff often pick on an apprentice and make his life a
misery. [ She couldn't understand why the teacher was
always picking on her - it seemed so unfair.
victimize (also -ise British)/'vikrtolmaiz/to treat some-
one unfairly especially by punishing them or making them
suffer for something that is not their fault because you dis-
like their religious or political beliefs or the class, race etc
they belong to Iv T]
The company say she was not dismissed because of her polit-
ical activities but she claims she was victimized. [ He wasn't
happy at the school and said he was victimized because of
his colour.
downtrodden /daontrodn [[-tro:dn/ someone who is
downtrodden has lost their self-respect and the respect of
others because they have let themselves be treated badly
and have not complained or tried to change their situation
[adj]
She hoped she would never become like one of those down-
trodden women she saw - struggling along with heavy shop-
ping and screaming children. I The workers were so down-
trodden that they had no spirit or energy to rebel.
bully/'boll/to treat someone weaker and less able to
defend themselves cruelly in order to hurt or frighten them
or to get something that you want [v T]
He started playing truant because he was bullied at school. [
He bullied her into going back to work. [ It is typical of an
ambitious ego to push and bully in order to get its own way.
7 words for describing people, activities,
actions etc that are not cruel
humane
humane/hju:'meIn/[adj|
Isn't there a more humane way of killing cows? [ Imprison-
ment is not a humane form of punishment.
cruelty CRUEL 5
crumb PIECE 5
 crumble BREAK 10
crumbling CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
crunch EAT 5
crunch: when it comes to the crunch/when it comes
:., to it DECIDE 4
crusade FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 4
crush CROWD 1, SQUASH 1, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 7
crush: have a crush on LOVE 8
crushed SQUASH 2
crux MAIN 2
cry CRY 1, 6
cry: don't cry CRY 8
cry: make sb cry CRY 7
cry out SHOUT 2
cry your eyes out CRY 2
CRY
to cry because of sadness, pain, or strong
emotion
to cry a lot
to cry noisily or in an annoying way
to start to cry
to be almost crying
to cry even though you are not sad or in pain
to make someone cry
ways of telling someone not to cry
1 to cry because of sadness, pain, or strong
emotion
cry tearful
weep have tears in your yes
be in tears
cry/kraal [v I]
The boy fell over and started crying. I "'Don't cry, please don't
cry'" he said, "I didn't mean to upset you. "" I Natasha cried
with happiness when she heard that the war was over. I cry
for sb (=cry because you want someone) a lost little girl,
crying for her mother I cry about/over She's crying about
her doll. I'm afraid I broke it. I Years later he still sometimes
cried over Maggie and the way she treated him. I cry your-
self to sleep (=cry until you fall asleep) At night I'd cry
myself to sleep, thinking about you.
cry In singular] You'll feel better when you've had a good
cry.
weep/wi:p/a word used especially in literature meaning
to cry because of sadness or strong emotion, usually quietly
and for a long time Iv I]
When their brother went away, the children found places to
weep alone. I Weeping mourners followed the coffin to the
churchyard. I weep bitterly (=cry strongly) His mother
wept bitterly and his father sat grim-faced.
be in tears/bi: in 'tmrz! to be crying, especially because
you are very unhappy [v phrase]
Most of us were in tears by the time he'd finished his story. [
My little girl came home in tears. "'What's wrong darling?"
I asked.
tearful/, tlarfal/someone who is tearful is crying a little
or almost crying because of sadness or other emotion [adj]
The family had a tearful reunion at the airport. [ Kate tried
to console the tearful child.
tearfully [adv] "It's... it's not fair'" she said tearfully.
have tears in your eyes/hzev 'tIarz In ja:r alz/to be
very sad and almost crying Iv phrase not in progressive]
Yusuf had tears in his eyes, and I knew he was thinking of
home. I Janet turned to me with tears in her eyes and begged
me to help her.
2 to cry a lot
cry your eyes out
tears roll/run down sb's cheeks
cry your eyes out /kraI ja:r aiz aot/ an informal
expression meaning to cry a lot or for a long time because
you are very unhappy Iv phrase]
It was such a sad film. I cried my eyes out. I Cecil came round
later, crying his eyes out, asking me to forgive him.
tears roll/run down sb's cheeks/,tlarz raol, ran
,daon (sb's) 'tj'i:ks/if tears roll down someone's cheeks
they are crying, probably without making a sound Iv
phrase]
He stood silently, tears rolling down his cheeks, while the
music played. [ She showed us the letter with tears running
down her cheeks.

CRY 295 cumbersome
 to cry noisily or in an annoying way
sob blubber/blub
snivel/sniffle crybaby
whimper
sob/so II so:b/to cry noisily while breathing in short
sudden bursts Iv I]
The child covered her face with her hands and started to Sob
uncontrollably. I He pressed his face into the pillow as he
sobbed, trying to muffle the sound. I "'It was all my fault, ""
she sobbed. "I did it. ""
sob In C] "I'll be fine, don't worry, "' she said, barely able to
hide her sobs.
snivel/sniffle / snlval, snlfal/to cry in a weak, complain-
ing way and at the same time draw in air noisily through
your nose Iv I]
The child snivelled and his mother told him to be quiet. [ She
kept sniffling into her handkerchief and saying how unfair
everything was.
whimper /wlmpor/ to make a quiet, continuous,
unhappy sound like an animal in pain, or to say something
with this sound in your voice Iv I]
He began to whimper with fear, "'It's coming closer!" he said.[
"'I'm sorry, "" she whimpered, but Richard wasn't listening.
whimper In C] The boy's crying died down to a whimper.
blubberlblub / blAbo r, blab/an informal word meaning
to cry loudly and without any control in a very annoying
way Iv I]
For goodness sake, stop blubbering and tell me what's
wrong. I He broke down and blubbed like a baby.
crybaby/'krabelbi/someone, especially a child, who
cries too much or too easily, often in a way that other chil-
dren think is a sign of weakness In C]
"'We don't like playing with Bobby, "" said Lucy. "'He's a little
crybaby."[ Don't be such a crybaby! It's only a little cut.
4 to start to cry
start to cry/start crying
burst into tears
break down
-turn on the waterworks
start to cry/start crying/,sto:rt to krm, tsto:rt 'ka]0/
[ v phrase]
Give the baby something to eat or she will start crying again. I
Jim turned away from me and started to cry.
burst into tears / tb3:rst Into ttorz/to suddenly start to
cry because you are upset about something Iv phrase]
Laura burst into tears and ran out of the room. I He managed
to get back inside the house before bursting into tears.
break down /,bre[k daon/to start to cry after trying to
control yourself for some time [phr v I]
As the funeral service began Frances broke down and cried
helplessly. I I left quickly, not wanting to break down in front
of the children. I break down in tears Anne broke down
in tears when she was told her son was safe.
turn on the waterworks/,ta:rn on 6o 'wz):torwa:rks/
an informal expression meaning to deliberately start to cry
in order to get someone's sympathy or persuade them to
do something Iv phrase]
It's no good turning on the waterworks. You can't stay home
from school, and that's final!
 to be almost crying
be close to tears/be on the verge of tears
have a lump in your throat
fight back tears
be close to tears/be on the verge of tears/bi:
,kloos ta 'tIorz, bi: on 6o v3:rd3 ov 'tIorz/[v phrase]
The lesson was going very badly and the student teacher was
close to tears. ] Her hands were shaking. She was on the verge
of tears but Paul didn't realise that.
have a lump in your throat Ihev o lAmp inja: r 0r0ut/
to have a tight feeling in your throat and feel that you might
start crying Iv phrase not in progressive]
There was a lump in my throat and I didn't speak because
Iknew Iwould cry. [ bring a lump to sb's throat The sight
of the soft green hills of her homeland brought a lump to her
throat.
fight back tears/,falt bak 'tlOrZ/to try very hard not
to cry even though you are almost crying [v phrase]
Bill fought back his tears and tried to comfort Sarah's
mother. I I banged my hand down on the table, fighting back
tears of rage and frustration.
6 to cry even though you are not sad or in pain
cry
sb's eyes water
cry/krai/[v I1
Peeling onions makes you cry.
sb's eyes water/(sb's) 'az two:tar/if someone's eyes
water, they have tears in their eyes, usually because of
something such as wind or smoke going into them
An icy wind blew into my face, making my eyes water. I Jo's
eyes were watering from the acrid smoke that filled the room.
7 to make someone cry
make sb cry
reduce sb to tears
bring tears to sb's eyes
make sb cry/,meik (sb) 'krai/[v phrase]
David often teases his little sister and makes her cry. I She
was so unhappy that the slightest thing made her cry.
reduce sb to tears/rl,dju:s (sb) to 'tmrz II -,du:s-/to
make someone cry by behaving unkindly or by making
them feel sad Iv phrase]
He nagged and complained, and reduced Louise to tears. I
She was often reduced to tears by the sight of children
begging.
bring tears to sb's eyes/brII] ,tlarz to (sb's) 'alz/if
a remark, song, film etc brings tears to someone's eyes
it makes them feel so sad that they cry Iv phrase]
His quiet words brought tears to my eyes. I The old song
always brought tears to Rick's eyes.
8 ways of telling someone not to cry
don't cry
there there
don't cry / ,daunt kraI/Please don't cry/You 'll make me
want to cry as well. I It's alright, he won't hurt you - don't
cry.
there there/,Sea r 'Sear/you say there there to some-
one, especially to a child, in order to comfort them when
they are crying
There there, don't cry - your Mommy'll be here soon. I She
stood rocking the sobbing girl, "'There there!'" she said softly,
"'It's all over now. ""
crybaby CRY3
crying out for: be crying out for NEED 2
cube PIECE 2, SQUARE 3
cuddle HOLD 6
:: cue: on cue ON TIME 1
cuff: off-the-cuff THINK ABOUT 10
cuisine COOK 7
culinary COOK 9
culpable GUILTY 1
culprit GUILTY 2
-' cult FASHIONABLE 1, RELIGION 2
cultivate FRIEND 7, GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 1
:... cultural ART/CULTURE 2
::- culture ART/CULTURE 1
-- culture vulture ART/CULTURE 5
iliii cultured ART/CULTURE5
: cumbersome HEAVY 4

cunning 296 CURE
cunning INTELLIGENT 8, 9
cup WIN 10
cup of tea: not be sb's cup of tea DON'T LIKE 1
curb STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
cure CURE 1, 3, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 1,2
CURE
to make someone better when they are ill,
especially by means of medical treatment
to give someone medical treatment in order
to try to cure them
something such as a medicine or form of
treatmert that cures someone who is ill
medical treatment that is intended to cure
someone who is ill
words for describing a disease that cannot be
cured
1 to make someone better when they are ill,
especially by means of medical treatment
cure fix
make sb better take sth for
heal
cure/kjur/to make someone who has an illness com-
pletely well again, especially by means of medical treat-
ment [v T]
cure sth The drug is used to cure heart disease. ] In the old
days they thought that tuberculosis could be cured by giving
people lots of fresh mountain air. [ cure sb Many cancer vic-
tims can be cured if the disease is detected early enough. [
cure sb ofsth The book is full of herbal remedies which can
supposedly cure people of all manner of ailments.
curable [adj] Some cancers are now completely curable
(=can be completely cured).
make sb better / imeIk (sb) Ibetr/to make someone who
is ill well again, especially when they have an illness that
is not very serious Iv phrase]
Take this - it'll make you a lot better. [ I've had all kinds
of medicines from the chemist, but nothing seems to make me
any better. [ make a headache/cold/pain ete better She
refuses to take anything to make her headache better.
heal/hi:l/ffsomething such as a cream heals a cut, wound
etc on someone's skin, it makes it completely better [v T]
This cream is used for healing minor cuts and bruises. [ The
seawater is now so polluted it would infect rather than heal
an open wound.
fix /f, ks/ a word used especially in American English
meaning to make a part of the body that is damaged com-
pletely better, for example a broken leg [v T]
Do you think the doctor will be able to fix my leg for me? [
As soon as I get this shoulder fixed I'll be back at work.
take sth |or/teIk (sth) fo:r! to take a drug or medicine
in order to cure an illness [phr v T]
That's a bad cough! Are you taking anything for it? [ The
drugs that he takes for his blood pressure can make him
rather irritable at times.
to give someone medical treatment in order
to try to cure them
give sb treatment
treat
operate
give sb treatment /gv (sb) 'tri:tmnt/[v phrase]
The ambulancemen gave him emergency treatment on the
way to the hospital. ] We'll start by giving you a course of
treatment with a new antibiotic. [ give sb treatment for
The disease was so far advanced that it was decided not to
give the patient any treatment for her condition.
treat/tri:tl to give someone the treatment that cures a par-
ticular illness or medical problem, especially when this is
the usual way of curing it Iv T]
treat sth The usual way of treating malaria is to give the
patient large doses of quinine. [ treat sb Some US hospitals
refuse to treat people who don't have medical insurance. ]
treat sb for sth The former President is in Bethesda Medi-
cal Hospital where he is being treated for a liver condition. [
treat sb with sth Doctors began treating AIDS patients
with the drug AZT in the mid 80s.
operate/, rporet [[ 'o:-/ifa doctor operates on someone,
they cut open their body in order to repair or remove part
of the inside of their body Iv I]
operate on A famous brain surgeon came up from Boston
and operated on Billy for three hours. I operate It looks seri-
ous - we may have to operate.
something such as a medicine or form of
treatment that cures someone who is ill
cure antidote
remedy medicinal
cure/kjoor/In C]-
cure for What's the best cure for a hangover? l As yet there's
no known cure for the disease. [ cure These tablets will ease
the symptoms but they're not a cure.
remedy I remdil a way to treat a health problem, espe-
cially a small unimportant problem such as a cold, a
stomach ache etc, using plants or other natural methods
[nC]
I tried everything, including herbal remedies such as drink-
ing camomile tea, but none of them worked. [ remedy for
Salt water is a good home remedy for a sore throat.
antidote /  ent[dot/a medicine that will stop the effects
of a poison or dangerous drug In C]
Unless an antidote is given immediately the patient could
die. [ antidote to There is no known antidote to a bite from
this snake.
medicinal/m dsanl/medical herbs/plants/proper-
ties etc (=useful for treating illnesses) [adj]
The Greeks used the leaves for medicinal purposes. I The
camomile plant is cultivated mainly for its medicinal
properties.
4 medical treatment that is intended to cure
someone who is ill
treatment operation
medical treatment surgery
therapy
treatment/'tri:tmnt/a method that is intended to cure
someone who is ill In C/U]
The doctor said she would have to go into hospital for treat-
ment. [ Penicillin is used in the treatment of a wide range of
illnesses. [ receive treatment for Doris received treatment
for cancer two years ago. [ course of treatment After a
course of treatment the patient's condition began to improve
rapidly.
medical treatment / 'medkgl i tri:tmonq treatment of an
illness by a doctor using drugs, hospital care, operations
etc In U]
Foreign visitors can get emergency medical treatment free
of charge. [Are you currently receiving medical treatment
for any other illness?
therapy/Oempi! a series of treatments for mental or
physical problems, usually without drugs or operations In
UI
The therapy involves getting the patient to tell the doctor
about their early childhood. [ This child is clearly very dis-
turbed emotionally and may require long-term therapy. [
have therapy After I came out of hospital I had to have ther-
apy once a week on my arm to help it move more easily.
operation 1, pa'reiJ'an [[ ,o:p-/in an operation, a doctor
cuts open your body in order to repair or remove part of
the inside of your body In C]

CURE 29? CUT
Your Grandmother's had to go into hospital for an oper-
ation. I operation on sth After three operations on my leg,
I could walk perfectly again. I have an operation He's had
several major operations on his hip already. I carry out/
conduct/perform an operation The surgeon who carried
out the operation said that it was 100% successful.
surgery/'s3:rdsari/treatment by doctors in a hospital
who cut open your body in order to repair or remove part
of the inside of your body [n U]
have surgery After the accident she had to have surgery. I
surgery on He went into Fort Worth Medical Centre to have
emergency surgery on his heart. [ carry out/conduct/per-
form surgery The surgery was carried out under a local
anaesthetic. I undergo surgery (=have surgery) The doc-
tors decided she wasn't strong enough to undergo surgery. I
major surgery (=complicated and possibly dangerous sur-
gery) She is still recovering from major surgery that she had
two weeks ago.
 words for describing a disease that cannot be
cured
incurable
incurable I n 'kjoarabll [adj]
My doctor told me that the cancer was incurable. [ Patients
with illnesses that are incurable often seek alternative treat-
ments such as homeopathy.
cured: be
curiosity
curious
curl
curl up
currency
current
currently
cured BETTER/RECOVERED 1
FIND OUT 9
FIND OUT 9, INTERESTED 1, STRANGE 2
BEND 3
BEND 2
MONEY 5
NOW 4, WATER 3
NOW 1
curriculum
curse
curse: put
cursory
curt
curve
curved
su BJ ECT 7
MAGIC 2, SWEAR 1, 2
a curse on MAGIC 3
FAST/QU ICK 6
RUDE/IMPOLITE 4
BEND 8, 10, TURN 4
BEND 6, ROUND 3
curved/curving BEND 9
cushy EASY 3
cuss SWEAR 1
custody: be in custody KEEP SB IN A PLACE 3
custody: have custody LOOK AFTER SB 4
custody: hold/keep sb in custody KEEP SB IN A
PLACE 1
custody: take sb into custody CATCH 3
custom BUY 7, TRADITION 1
customary USUALLY 3
customer BUY 7
customize CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 2
cut CUT 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, GO TO/ATTEND 3,
REDUCE 1, 8, SHARE 6
cut: reduce/cut CHEAP 8
cut above: a cut above BETTER 1
cut across CROSS 1
cut and dried CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
cut away REMOVE 2
cut back REDUCE 6
cut dead: cut sb dead IGNORE 4
cut down CUT 7, REDUCE 3, SHORT/NOT LONG 3
cut down: cut sb down to size PROUD 10
cut in INTERRUPT 1
cut it fine/cut it close ON TIME 3
cut it out STOP DOING STH 2
cut off CUT 4, REMOVE 2
cut off: cut sb off from SEPARATE 7
cut off: cut yourself off SEPARATE 10
cut off: get cut off TELEPHONE 7
cut-off point LIMIT 1
cut out BROKEN 5, CUT 4, 10, REMOVE 1, STOP
DOING STH 6
cut out for: be cut out for SUITABLE 1
cut out for: not cut out for WRONG/UNSUITABLE 2
cut-price CHEAP 5
cut short STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 2
cut short: cut sb short INTERRUPT 1
cut-throat COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 3
cut through CROSS 1, CUT 3
cut your own throat HARM/BE BAD FOR 2
@ CUT
10
11
to cut the surface of something using a sharp
instrument such as a knife
to accidentally cut part of your body
to separate something such as paper, string,
wood, or wire into two pieces by cutting it
to remove something by cutting it from
something else that it is connected to
to cut something such as food, paper, or
wood into several pieces
to cut food into a lot of small pieces
to make trees, bushes etc fall down by cutting
them
to cut plants, bushes, grass etc in order to
make them shorter or smaller
to cut someone's hair, beard, fingernails etc
to make them look better or heater
to make a shape by cutting
a mark, space, or injury made by cutting
1 to cut the surface of something using a sharp
instrument such as a knife
cut pierce
slit make an incision
slash
cut Iktl [v I/T]
cut sth You'll need a sharp knife to cut that steak. [ Cut the
carton across the top. I The stony road had cut the tyres pretty
badly. [ cut These scissors are blunt - they won't cut
properly. [ cut sth open Rescue workers had to use special
equipment to cut open the steel doors.
slit/slit/to make a straight narrow cut in the surface of
something such as skin or material, usually in order to
open it [v T]
He killed the animal by slitting its throat. [ When the zipper
on my jeans broke, I had to slit them up the side to get them
off. I slit sth open John slit the envelope open with a knife
and took out the letter.
slash/slm/to cut with a fast, violent movement, using
a knife, especially with the intention of causing damage or
injury Iv T]
Vandals had slashed the priceless painting with a knife. I
A drunk had slashed him across the face with a broken
bottle. I I wouldn't leave your car there - unless you want
to have your tyres slashed.
pierce/piers/to make a small hole in something using
an instrument with a sharp end Iv T]
Pierce the lid of the carton with the straw. [ One of the
museum's exhibits is a skull pierced by a spear. [ pierce a
hole in sth Jewellers use a special gun to pierce a tiny hole
in your ear and insert an earring at the same time.
make an incision /,meek n InsIsan/to cut into some-
one's body using a special knife during a medical operation
Iv phrase]
The surgeon began by making an incision about six inches
long. [ When making deeper incisions a larger scalpel is used.
to accidentally cut part of your body
cut
scratch
graze

298
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
cut 35%
slice 29%
other 36%
-+-" CUT
1 to cut the surface of something using a
sharp instrument such as a knife
2 to accidentally cut part of your body
3 to separate something such as paper,
string, wood, or wire into two pieces by
cutting it
4 to remove something by cutting it from
something else that it is connected to
to cut something such as food, paper, or
'wood into several pieces
5 to cut something such as food, paper, or
wood into several pieces
 chop/chop up
saw
dissect
slice/slais/to cut food, such as bread, meat, or
vegetables into thin flat pieces [v T]
What the 200 English and American teachers in
our survey said:
slice 72%
chop 20%
other 8%

CUT 299 CUT
cut Ikntl [v T]
cut your finger/knee/hand etc That knife's very sharp
- carefulyou don't cutyourfinger with it. I She's just cut her
hand trying to open a can of sardines. I cut yourself He
always cuts himself if he has to shave in a hurry.
scratch/skratl to accidentally cut part of your body very
slightly, and not very deeply Iv T]
"'What's that mark on your arm? .... Oh, I scratched it on a
rock!" l Ralph got scratched all over when he was running
through the bushes.
graze/grez/to slightly break the surface of your skin by
rubbing against something, for example when you fall on
the ground Iv T]
I fell over playing football and grazed my knee.
3 to separate something such as p'per, string,
wood, or wire into two pieces by cutting it
cut slice through
cut through saw through
cut IkAq Iv T]
She took a pair of scissors and carefully cut the piece of paper
down the middle. I Somebody had cut the rope during the
night and now the boat was gone.
cut through/'kAt 0ru:/to cut wire, string etc into two
pieces, especially when it is thick or difficult to cut [v T/
You will need special wire-cutters to cut through that wire. [
He struggled through the thick greenery, wishing he had a
machete to cut through the vines.
slice through /slals 0ru:/to cut through something
easily with one long movement of a sharp knife [v T/
A kitchen knife would slice through that thick cord with no
problem at all. [ The blade of the guillotine fell, slicing
through the man's neck.
saw through/'sa: 0ru:/to cut a piece of wood, metal etc
into two pieces using a tool that you push backwards and
forwards across its surface [v T/
Firemen had to saw through the railing to release the little
boy. I Michael was sitting at the top of the tree, sawing
through one of the branches.
4 to remove something by cutting it from
something else that it is connected to
cut off amputate
chop off snip
sever cut out
cut off/,k^t 'of II -'a:f/[phr v T]
cut off sth They had to cut off his leg. I cut sth/it/them
off Don't throw that cheese away! Just cut the mouldy part
off.
chop off J,tfo o [[ ,tj'o:p a:f/to cut something off by
hitting it with hard violent strokes, using a sharp tool [phr
vT]
chop off sth Chop off the head and tail and cook the rest
of the fish. [ chop sth/it/them off We had to chop the legs
of the table off to get it through the door. [ The King ordered
that all the rebels should have their heads chopped off.
sever/Isevor/to cut off a part of someone's body, espe-
cially in an accident or an attack Iv T]
Some motorcycle accidents involve victims having their
heads severed. I The sword severed his left ear.
severed [adj] Surgeons were able to sew the severed finger
back on.
amputate/' mmpjtet/to cut off someone's leg, foot, arm
etc in a hospital operation [v I/T/
amputate sth We will have to amputate the injured foot. [
Teresa was rushed to hospital to have her leg amputated
before the infection could spread. [ amputate When gan-
grene sets in, the doctor has no choice but to amputate.
amputation/imrnpjte:anl [n C/If the infection spreads
quickly, amputation may be necessary.
amputated [adj] Patients can often feel amputated limbs,
even though they have been removed.
snip/snip/to cut something offby making quick cuts with
a pair of scissors [v I/T/
snip around/along/through ete She quickly snipped
around the edges of the photo so it would fit in the album. [
snip sth off(=remove by snipping it) Wash the beans, snip
the ends off, and cut them French style.
cut out /kAt aot/ to remove something by cutting all
around it [phr v T/
cut out sth You can cut out the bad parts and use the apples
for cooking. ] She cuts out pictures of her favorite movie stars
and puts them on her bedroom walls. [ cut sth/it/them out
Doctors are considering the possibility of cutting the turnout
out.
5 to cut something such as food, paper, or
wood into several pieces
cut chop/chop up
slice saw
carve dissect
cut Iktl Iv T/
cut sth Who's going to cut the cake? [ cut sth up (=cut all
of it into pieces) The murderer cut up the body and hid it
under the floorboards. [ cut sth into pieces/chunks/
squares etc Melons and pineapples should be peeled and
cut into chunks before serving. I Things were in such short
supply that newspapers had to be cut into squares and used
for toilet paper.
slice/slas/to cut food, such as bread, meat, or vegetables
into thin flat pieces [v T/
The first machine slices the loaves, the second wraps them. [
Slice the lemon thinly using a sharp knife.
sliced [adj] a salad of lettuce and sliced cucumbers I sliced
white bread
carve /ko:rv/ to cut a large piece of cooked meat into
pieces for a meal with a big knife [v T/
He carved the beef thinly and evenly. [ carve sth into slices
Remove the meat from the pan, carve it into slices and
arrange in a hot serving dish.
chop/chop up/tfp, ,tt)p lap [[ qa:p-/to cut something
such as vegetables or wood into smaller pieces [v T/
He took his axe and went out to the back yard to chop some
wood. [ These old chairs can be chopped up for firewood. [
Chop this onion up for me will you?
saw/sa:/to cut wood or another hard material into pieces,
using a tool that you push backwards and forwards across
its surface [v T/
This piece of equipment will saw wood, plastic, and metal
equally well.
dissect/d: ' sekt, da-/to cut a dead animal or dead person
into parts for teaching or medical purposes [v T]
Next week in our biology class we're going to dissect a rat. [
The fossil specimens were carefully dissected and examined
under the microscope.
6 to cut food into a lot of small pieces
chop shred
grate dice
mince/grind
chop/flop II tJ'o:p/Iv T]
chop sth My mother was chopping vegetables in the
kitchen. I chop sth into pieces/segments/chunks etc She
took an onion and began to chop it into small pieces.
chopped [adj] Do not add the chopped meat until the oil is
very hot.
grate/gret/to cut food such as cheese or vegetables into
a lot of very small thin pieces by rubbing it against a special
tool which has holes in it [v T/
Grate some cheese and spread it over the top of the fish pie. [
He was grating some coconut over chicken breasts, an idea
he got from a Mexican cookbook.
grated [adj] Have you ever thought of using grated carrots
in your salads?

CUT 300 CUT
mince (British) I grind (American)/mine, graindl to cut
food, especially raw meat, into very small pieces by put-
ting it through a special machine [v T]
Cut the meat up small or mince it if you like. I She prefers
to grind her own beef because she thinks it's fresher.
minced (British) / ground (American) [adj] The main
ingredient of moussaka is minced lamb.
shred/J'red/to cut food, especially vegetables, into long
thin pieces before cooking it or eating it [v T]
Remove the outside leaves and shred the cabbage finely. I The
sauce should be added after the spinach has been shredded
or chopped.
shredded [adj] a salad consisting of a few bits of shredded
lettuce
dice/dals/to cut food, especially raw vegetables, into
small square pieces [v T]
Peel the cucumber and dice it. [ The potatoes are diced and
cooked in salted water.
diced [adj] Melt three tablespoons of butter in a saucepan
and add the diced vegetables.
7 to make trees, bushes etc fall down by cutting
them
cut down fell
chop down hack
cut down I,k^t 'daon/[phr v T/
cut down sth We had to cut down the cherry tree because
it was diseased. I Cutting down forests will only create worse
ecologicalproblems. [ cut sth/it/them down The rosebush
got so big that in the end I had to cut it down.
chop down/,flop daon II ,flo:p-/to cut down a tree or
a strong plant, using a sharp tool [phr v T/
chop sth/it/them down The oak was blocking the view
from our window so we asked our neighbour to chop it
down. I chop down sth The first thing we have to do is to
chop down those bushes.
fell/fell to cut down trees, especially a large number of
them, using special equipment [v T/
He earned a good living felling trees. I The trees they had
felled had vanished, stolen by rival timber merchants.
hack/hzek/to cut trees, plants etc by hitting them with
a heavy knife or other sharp tool using short violent move-
ments [v I/T ]
hack a path/road/your way through etc (:make a path
by cutting down plants and trees) Slowly they hacked their
way through the forest. I hack at Evans removed his knife
from his belt and began to hack at the bushes. I hack sth
down (=cut something down by hacking it) He spent his
days hunting, fishing, and hacking trees down.
 to cut plants, bushes, grass etc in order to
make them shorter or smaller
cut trim
mow clip
prune
cut /kAt/ cut the grass/the lawn/the hedge (=cut off
some of the grass or leaves to make it look nearer) [v T]
I'll cut the grass after lunch. I We usually cut the hedge every
month in summer.
mow/moo/to cut grass, using a special machine to make
it look nearer [v T]
It's time to mow the lawn again. I The gardener spent the
whole afternoon mowing the grass and sweeping up the
leaves.
prune/pru:n/to cut away some of the branches of a tree,
bush, or plant to control its growth [v T]
Spring is the best time to prune overgrown shrubs. I The rose
bush wasn "t pruned this year so I doubt if we're going to have
many flowers.
trim/trim/to cut small amounts off something such as a
bush or grass in order to make a neat shape or surface [v T]
Do you have time to trim the edges of the lawn before you go? l
We're not chopping the conifers down, just cutting the tops
off and trimming them a little around the sides.
clip/klIp/to cut small amounts off something such as a
bush, using small quick movements with a special tool
similar to scissors [v T/
Now that he's clipped the hedge the garden looks a lot tidier.
9 to cut someone's hair, beard, fingernails etc
to make them look better or neater
cut
trim
shave
cut/kAt/[v T]
Who cuts your hair? I Roy stopped to get his hair cut on the
way to work. I Do you mind not cutting your dirty nails over
the table?
cut [n singular] Your hair needs a cut (:needs to be cut).
trim/trim/to cut a small amount off someone's hair, beard
etc so that it looks neat [v T/
My grandfather would spend hours in front of the mirror
trimming his beard. I Could you just trim my hair and thin
it out on top.
trim [n singular] Give your fingernails a trim (:trim them).
shave LfeIv/to cut the hair on your face, head, or body
extremely short using a special sharp blade, so that your
skin feels smooth [v I/T/
I hate shaving with a blunt razor. I shave sth One side of
Maggie's head had to be shaved before the operation. I shave
sth off(=remove by shaving) She insisted that he shave his
beard off before she would marry him.
shave [n singular] He felt his chin to see if he needed a shave
(=needed to shave).
shaven [adj] All the prisoners had shaven (=shaved) heads.
10 to make a shape by cutting
cut
cut out
carve
cut/k^t/ Iv T]
cut sth Cut a 20 centimetre square from the middle of the
cloth. I Hal cut a notch in the stick and tied a string around
it. I cut sth to the shape of The carpet was cut to the exact
shape of the floor. I cut sth into a square/circle etc First
cut the paper into a triangle.
cut out / ,kAt 'aut/to make or remove a shape from a sheet
of paper or other material by cutting it [phr v T]
cut out sth Stella stood at the kitchen table, cutting out the
pattern for a new dress. [ cut sth/it/them out The children
drew Christmas trees on their pieces of paper and cut them
out carefully.
carve Ika:rv/to cut shapes out of solid wood or stone [v T]
These statues were probably carved during the reign of
William IlL I Michelangelo carved his figures from single
blocks of marble.
carved [adj] She glanced at the carved crucifix above her
bed.
1 1 a mark, space, or injury made by cutting
cut graze
scratch gash
slit
cut IkAtl [n C/
You're covered in cuts and bruises. Have you been in a fight? l
That's a nasty cut -you might need a couple of stitches in it.
scratch/skrzefl/a cut, especially one that is small and not
very deep on the skin, or on the surface of a hard material
such as wood [n C/
It's not very serious -just a scratch. I Look at the table now
- it's covered in scratches, l Always clean and dryyour skis
and check the bottoms for scratches.
slit/slit/a straight cut that goes right through a material
so you can see what is on the other side of it [n C/
He made a slit in the side of the tent with his penknife.

CUT 301 DAMAGE
graze/greiz! an area of skin which has been slightly cut
by rubbing against a surface, for example when you fall
onto the ground [n C]
There were grazes on his elbows and knees, but otherwise
he was alright.
gash Igeel a large, deep cut in someone's skin In C]
That's a nasty gash you've got on your knee. [ The accident
left her with a deep gash above the left eye.
 cute BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 2, 3
:i cutting UNKIND 2
"...! cutting edge: at the leading edge of/cutting edge of
::: ADVANCED 1
....-i
cyclist DRIVE 5
-i;..-- cylindrical ROUND 4
cynical BELIEVE 10
D
i';;i dab LITTLE/NOT MUCH 1
iiii dabbledab hand:in be a dabDo 1 hand GOOD AT4
 dad FATHER 1, 2
Daddy FATHER 2
daft STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1, 3, 4, 5
daggers: look daggers at LOOK AT 7
daily: hourlyldailylweeklylmonthly etc REGULAR 1
dainty SMALL 1
damage DAMAGE 1, 2, HARM/BE BAD FOR 1, INJURE
2, SPOIL 5
.. damage: do/cause damage DAMAGE 1
damage: harm/damage sb's reputation REPUTATION 3
.[damage ...
• .::.,.-..
which, meaning?
:damage something :'ii!:.::  @ DAMAGE
i-. @ BROKEN
.,i @ CONDITION/
DAMAGE
to do physical harm to something such as a
machine, building, or a natural structure
physical harm that spoils something's
appearance, usefulness etc
causing damage, especially to people's
health or to the natural world
to deliberately damage something such as a
building, room, or machine
to deliberately spoil the appearance of
something
ways of saying that weather, water, chemicals
etc gradually damage something over a long
period of time
to damage or destroy something by using it a
lot or for a long time
damage caused by continuous use over a
long period
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to do physical harm to something such as a
machine, building, or a natural structure
damage do harm
do/cause damage hurt
harm
damage /Idemld3/to damage something so that it no
longer works properly or looks as good as it did Iv T]
Be careful - you'll damage the paintwork. I Heavy rain and
storms have severely damaged this year's crop. I Your parcel
was unfortunately damaged in the mail. I Smoking damages
your health.
damaged [adj] He was on his way to Nakhodka to inspect
a damaged freighter.
do/cause damage /idu:, kzz demd3/an expression
meaning to damage something, used especially when
saying how much damage there is [v phrase]
Picture restorers have,to learn to clean a painting without

DAMAGE 302 DAMAGE
doing any damage. I do/cause damage to Too much sun-
light can cause a lot of damage to your skin. I do/cause seri-
ous damage/a lot of damage etc The explosion caused a
great deal of damage to the area.
harm/ha: rm/if something such as a chemical or a natural
process harms something, especially someone's health or
a natural structure, it damages it, usually permanently
lvT]
It is now clear that these gases harm the ozone layer. I Cover
young plants in plastic sheeting to stop them being harmed
by frost.
do harm/du: ho:rm/an expression meaning to harm
something, used especially when saying that something is
harmed a little, a lot etc Iv phrase]
Taking vitamins may not help but they certainly won't do
any harm. I do harm to Drinking alcohol during pregnancy
can do a great deal of harm to the developing foetus.
hurt/ha:rt/an American word meaning to damage some-
thing, especially by accident Iv T]
I backed into your car, but I don't think I hurt it. I You can
play baseball in the back yard, but be careful you don't hurt
anything.
2 physical harm that spoils something's
appearance, usefulness etc
damage
breakages
damage/'demds/In U]
The insurance company have said they'll pay for any
damage. I It's amazing how much damage a group of little
kids can do to a playground. [ irreparable/irreversible
damage (=damage that cannot be repaired) Lack of oxygen
can cause irreparable brain damage and death. [ serious/
extensive/severe damage (=a lot of damage) Having
suffered extensive damage already, it may now be too late
to save the ozone layer. I minor/superficial damage
(:damage that is not very serious)A small bomb had
exploded but damage to the building was fairly superficial.
breakages ! brekd3oz/things that have been broken
while being sent somewhere or borrowed by someone, and
that usually have to be paid for In plural]
You can hire wine glasses from the store but you'll have to
pay for any breakages.
3 causing damage, especially to people's
health or to the natural world
damaging
harmful
damaging /'dmmd30/ something that is damaging
causes damage, especially if you have too much of it [adj]
Many people do not realize the damaging effect on the liver
that too much alcohol can have. I The sunfilters screen out
damaging ultraviolet light. I The walls provide a shelter
from the damaging north winds.
harmful/ho:rmfl/something that is harmful always
causes damage to people, the natural world etc [adj]
The group are trying to encourage farmers not to use harm-
ful fertilizers and pesticides. I A lot of research has been done
into the possible harmful effects of television on children's
development. I Before it is sold, milk is heated to a very high
temperature to get rid of any harmful bacteria.
4 to deliberately damage something such as a
building, room, or machine
smash up sabotage
vandalize tamper with
vandal desecrate
smash up/, smmf 'Ap/to damage something completely
because you are angry, because you want to threaten some-
one etc [phr v T]
smash up sth Angry strikers broke into the factory and
smashed up all the new machinery. I smash sth/it/them
up As a final warning, the gang smashed his car up before
they left.
vandalize (also -ise British) / vandal-aiz/to deliberately
damage someone's property, especially public property, for
no good reason, but just because you are bored or enjoy
doing it Iv T usually passive]
The high school has been vandalized twice this month. [ It's
supposed to be impossible to vandalize the new style of public
telephone.
vandalism In U] It can be difficult for the police to protect
empty property from vandalism.
vandal /  vmndl/someone who deliberately damages some-
one else's property, especially public property, for no good
reason but just because they are bored or enjoy doing it
In C]
Vandals got into the doctor's office last night and nearly
wrecked theplace. I vandal-proof(=impossible for a vandal
to damage) The new vandal-proof telephone booths will be
introduced next year.
sabotage /  sabto:S/to deliberately and secretly damage
equipment, vehicles etc that belong to an enemy or oppo-
nent, so that they cannot be used Iv T]
Somehow someone managed to break in and sabotage the
computer system. I Every US fighter plane had been sabo-
taged by the enemy.
sabotage In U] Acts of sabotage against power stations were
not uncommon.
tamper with/ tampa r w8/to deliberately and illegally
damage or change part of something in order to spoil it or
prevent it from working properly Iv T]
Someone had tampered with the lock on my door. [ After the
accident police discovered that the car's brakes had been
tampered with.
desecrate /desikret/to damage a church or other holy
place Iv T]
The church had been desecrated by vandals. [ an article
about neo-Nazis desecrating a Jewish cemetery in Paris
desecration [ deso  ' krej'an/In U] the desecration of a Chris-
tian altar
 to deliberately spoil the appearance of
something
deface
deface/di'fes/Iv T]
The official portrait of Princess Diana was defaced by hooli-
gans who painted all over it. ] He was arrested for defacing
government property with graffiti.
6 ways of saying that weather, water, chemicals
etc gradually damage something over a long
period of time
wear away
corrode
erode
wear away/wer we/to damage something over a
long time with the result that it becomes gradually smaller
[phr v T]
wear away sth The action of the sea is constantly wearing
away the cliff face. I wear sth/it/them away The power-
ful winds have worn some of the brickwork away. •
corrode /karaod/ if a chemical corrodes something
metal, it damages it and makes it gradually disappear or
become weaker Iv T]
Salt corrodes metal. I If the batteries leak, they can corrode
the case of your flashlight.
corrosion/ka raosan/In U] The problem is how to protect
the metal surface from corrosion (=the process of corroding
something).
corrosive/ka  raos Iv/[adj] a bottle of corrosive acid (=acid
that corrodes)
erode / [ raod/if water, wind, air etc erodes rock, land,
soil etc, it gradually damages it over a long time by remov-
ing little pieces of it Iv T].

DAMAGE 303 DANCE
Rain, wind, ice, and running water have severely eroded the
nearby mountains. I The fields had been over-used and were
eroded and barren.
erosion/I raosan/[n U] Terraced paddy-fields on steep hill-
sides may lead to soil erosion and landslides.
dancing/Ido:ns II 'dmn-/In U/
The dancing went on until 3 o'clock in the morning. I It was
a great evening, with music, dancing and lots of food. I
disco/folk/jazz/tap ete dancing I'm not much good at
ballroom dancing.
7 to damage or destroy something by using it a
lot or for a long time
wear away
wear out
wear away/,wear a'we/[phr v T/
wear away sth Over the years the carpet had been worn
away, leaving bare patches in it. i wear sth/it/them away
Continued use is gradually wearing the stone steps away.
wear out/wear 'act/to cause a lot of dam'age to some-
thing, especially a machine, by using it a lot or for a long
time, so that it does not work any more [phr v T/
wear out sth He played the video again and again until it
was worn out. I wear sth/it/them out Don't use your wind-
shield wipers too often - you'll wear the motor out.
 damage caused by continuous use over a
long period
wear
wear and tear
wear/wear/In U/
Excessive tyro wear may be caused by faulty brakes. [ Every
six months examine the drive belt for wear and replace it if
necessary.
wear and tear / iwcar an tear/the amount of damage you
expect to be caused to furniture, cars, pieces of equipment
etc, by using them for a long period of time [n phrase]
Wear and tear means the value era new car can drop dra-
matically in the first couple of years. I normal/everyday
wear and tear (=the degree of wear and tear you expect)
Allowing for normal wear and tear, that cooker should last
you another five years.
damages PAY FOR 8
damaging DAMAGE 3, HARM/BE BAD FOR 3, SPOIL 5
damn: not give a damn DON'T CARE 1
damp WET 4, 5
dampen/damp WET8
damper: put a damper on SPOIL 4
dance DANCE 1, 2, 3, 5
DANCE
words meaning to dance
to do a particular dance
a particular set of movements performed to a
particular type of music
to invent a set of movements or steps to be
used in a dance
a social event at which people dance
I words meaning to dance
dance
dancing
dance/dams [[ deens/to move your feet and body in time
to music Iv I/
We danced for hours, until our feet were aching. [ Before
coming to America he danced with the Bolshoi Ballet. [
dance aeross/arounfl ere The couple danced across the
floor. [ fiance to music/jazz ete We spent the whole night
dancing to reggae at the 'Tropicana'. [ dance the night
away (=dance all night) To celebrate, they had an expensive
meal, then danced the night away in an exclusive nightclub.
dance In C/I went over to ask Lucy for a dance (=to ask her
to dance with me).
2 to do a particular dance
dance
do
dance/do:ns [[ deens/dance the waltz/the tango/the
polka ete [v T 1
Would you like to dance the tango with me?
do/du:/do a dance/the tango/the waltz ete (used espe-
cially when talking about whether someone knows how to
do a dance) Iv T/
Can you do the foxtrot? [ The men did a strange dance which
they said would bring rain.
 a particular set of movements performed to a
particular type of music
dance
steps
dance/da:ns II deens/In C]
She knew all the latest dances. [ I prefer oldfashioned dances
like the waltz or the tango. [ dance craze (=the style of
dance which is very popular at the moment) Michael Jack-
son's "Moonwalk" was the latest dance craze to hit America.
[ folk dance (=a traditional country dance) We were fasci-
nated by some of the local folk dances.
steps /steps/ the movements you make with your feet
which are part of a particular dance In plural]
Fm not very good at learning complicated dance steps. [ Can
you show me the right steps for this dance?
4 to invent a set of movements or steps to be
used in a dance
choreograph
choreography
choreographer
choreograph/'kriagra:f, 'ka:- II ka:riagreef/[v T/
The members of this dance group usually choreograph their
own work. [ She has been commissioned to choreograph a
modern ballet for the National Dance Theatre.
choreography /kDri Dgrafi, :- [[ ik:rio:g-/the art of
inventing steps and movements and combining them into
a dance In U/
She studied choreography at the Royal School of Ballet. [ I
thought Bejart's choreography was absolutely amazing.
choreographer /kori'ografa r, ka:- [[ ,ka:ri'a:g-/ a
person who invents the movements or steps to be used in
a dance In C]
He is resident choreographer of the Washington Ballet.
 a social event at which people dance
dance ball
disco prom
dance Ido:ns II dens/In C]
Giles loved going to dances and parties. I The annual dinner
and dance is next Friday at 7.30. [ hold a dance (=organize
a dance) They often hold dances in the church hall.
disco / dIskaol a social event at which young people dance
to popular music In C]
Are you going to the disco tonight? [ The youth club is
organizing a disco on Saturday night.
ball/bail/a formal social event at which people dance and
for which formal clothes must be worn In C]
The end of term ball is next week. I hold a ball (=organize
a ball) Lady Stevenson is holding a ball for her daughter's
21st birthday.

DANCE
prom/prom II pro:m/an American word meaning a dance
held every year for the students of a school, especially at
the end of their last year [n C usually singular]
Joey walked me home after the prom. [ high school prom
The group first played together at a high school prom.
dancing DANCE 1
danger DANGEROUS 7, 8, RISK 1
danger: be a danger to DANGEROUS 1
danger: be fraught with danger/dangers
DANGEROUS 3
danger: be in danger DANGEROUS 4, RISK 7
danger: be in danger of RISK 4
danger: be out of danger SAFE 1
dangerous DANGEROUS 1, 2, 3, RISK 2
dangerous ground: be on dangerous ground RISK 4
@ DANGEROUS
1 words for describing a dangerous person or
animal
:2 words for describing something that is likely
to cause death or physical harm, such as a
chemical, disease, or machine
3 words for describing a situation or activity in
which you risk being killed or injured
4 to be in a situation in which you may be killed
or injured
5 to put someone else in a dangerous situation
6 to do something that is dangerous and may
even lead to your own death
7 the possibility that you might be killed or hurt
8 something dangerous that can happen to you
when you are doing something
1 words for describing a dangerous person or
animal
dangerous
be a danger to
be a menace
dangerous l ldeindsorosl [ adj ]
A police spokesman said the man was armed and
dangerous. [ The jungle is infested with lions, tigers, and
other dangerous animals.
be a danger to/bi: o Ideind5 ar tu:/someone who is a
danger to people is behaving in a way that is dangerous
to other people, especially without realizing it [v phrase]
A drunken driver is a danger to himself and to other road
users. [ That man is a danger to the community. He should
be locked up.
be a menace/bi: a mens/someone who is a menace
behaves in a dangerous way, without thinking about the
safety of other people [v phrase]
be a menace to He is a menace to himself, to us, and to many
other innocent people. [ Poachers remain a constant menace
to wildlife. [ be a menace People like that are a menace. They
shouldn't be allowed on the road.
2 words for describing something that is likely
to cause death or physical harm, such as a
chemical, disease, or machine
dangerous
pose a threat
threaten
hazardous
dangerous/'dend3ms/[adj]
be a hazard
be a fire risk/
health risk
death trap
Several children have been injured playing with these dan-
gerous toys. [ Dangerous drugs such as heroin and crack are
freely available on the streets of Washington. [ Gastro-
enteritis can be extremely dangerous for babies. [ highly
3O4
DANGEROUS
dangerous These old gas heaters are highly dangerous if
not used with care.
dangerously [adv] The car swayed dangerously.
pose a threat I,pooz o 'Oret/ a formal expression: if
something poses a threat, its existence is dangerous to
people Iv phrase]
pose a threat to Chemicals in our drinking water could pose
a serious threat to public health. I The senator warned of the
threat posed to millions of people by the continued existence
of stockpiles of nuclear weapons. I pose no threat Scientists
feel that present levels of radiation pose no threat.
threaten/Oretn/if something such as an activity or a
problem threatens something such as a place, animal, or
way of life, it could cause it to no longer exist Iv T]
Illegal hunting threatens the survival of the African
Elephant. I The volcano has become so active it is now
threatening the town of Santa Marta.
hazardous / hazordos/hazardous chemicals/waste/
substances etc (-a technical word meaning dangerous
and likely to seriously harm people's health) [adj]
Hazardous waste is burnt under carefully controlled condi-
tions. [ Employees who were exposed to hazardous sub-
stances are now claiming compensation.
be a hazard/bi:  hazord/to be likely to kill people,
cause accidents etc Iv phrase]
Ice on the road is a major hazard at this time of the year. [
be a hazard to Polluted underground water sources were
a hazard to human health and to wildlife. [ be a fire/
health hazard That tyre dump is a serious fire hazard.
be a fire risk/health risk/bi: o Ifaio r ,rsk, 'helO rsk/
to be likely to cause a fire or to damage people's health [v
phrase]
You can't leave that gas heater on all night, it's afire risk. [
The court ruled that the restaurant was a health risk and
ordered it to be closed down.
death trap/deO trmp/something such as a vehicle or
building which is in such a dangerous condition that
anyone who goes in it risks being killed In C]
I wouldn't advise you to take that car out on the road. It's
a real death trap. [ Fire-safety inspectors described the base-
ment night-club as a death trap.
3 words for describing a situation or activity in
which you risk being killed or injured
dangerous be fraught with danger/dangers
perilous treacherous
hazardous high-risk
risky stunt
dangerous I 'deind3ams I [adj]
Motor-racing is a dangerous sport. [ Frank knew that the
river could be dangerous. [ a dangerous assignment [ it is
dangerous for sb to do sth It's dangerous for women to go
out on the streets at night. [ highly dangerous We could try
to cross the river here, but it would be highly dangerous.
dangerously [adv ] The bus was dangerously overcrowded.
perilous / perlas/a word used in literature or in news-
papers: a journey or adventure that is perilous is very
dangerous [adj]
The most perilous moment of the voyage was when their
small boat almost overturned in a storm. [ Climbers would
often be overcome by vertigo on the perilous descent.
hazardous / hezordos/hazardous journey/operation/
undertaking/occupation (=one that is dangerous for the
people involved in it) [adj]
Being the President's bodyguard was obviously a hazardous
occupation. [ In 1820 the voyage to Australia was a hazar-
dous undertaking. [ Here on the front line, life was more
hazardous. The regiment had lost fourteen officers.
risky / ' rI ski i an action or plan that is risky is one in which
it is easy to make a mistake and be killed or injured because
of it [adj]
Removing the fuse from an unexploded bomb is always a
risky operation. [ He'll have to land the aircraft in a field.
Risky! But there's no alternative.

DANGEROUS 305 DANGEROUS
be fraught with danger/dangers /bi: ,fra:t
' de: ndsar, , deIndSarZ/if a situation or activity is fraught
with danger, it is very dangerous, especially because it
takes place in a dangerous place iv phrase]
The peacekeeping operation along the frontier is fraught
with danger. I The life of a deep-sea fisherman is fraught
with dangers.
treacherous/ItretJ'aras/places or conditions that are
treacherous are very dangerous for anyone who is walk-
ing, driving, climbing etc in them, especially because it is
not easy to see the danger [adj]
The snow had frozen hard and the ski slopes were treacher-
ous. I Strong winds and heavy rain are making driving con-
ditions treacherous in some areas.
high-risk /iha 'risk/high-risk occupation/category/
behaviour etc (=in which the people involved do very dan-
gerous things) [adj only before noun]
Deep-sea diving is regarded as a high-risk occupation, [ high
risk behaviour among drug addicts, such as sharing dirty
needles
stunt/st^nt/a dangerous trick that is done to entertain
people, especially in a film in C]
Unlike most other Hollywood movie stars, Schwarzenegger
does all his own stunts. [ One of his favourite stunts was to
ride his motorcycle with the front wheel up in the air.
4 to be in a situation in which you may be killed
or injured
be in danger be in peril
be at risk be in trouble
be in danger/bi: n dendsar/iv phrase]
You are in danger. You must leave at once. [ I had not real-
ized what danger we were in until I noticed that the water
level was rising. [ be in grave danger (=be in a very dan-
gerous situation) It soon became clear that our wives and
children were in very grave danger.
be at risk/hi: at rlsk/to be in a situation in which you
are likely to be harmed by violence, an illness etc, espe-
cially because you are weak and easy to attack iv phrase]
be at risk from We need to protect wives who are at risk
from violent husbands. ] The people who are most at risk
from the flu epidemic are old people and people with chronic
lung conditions. I be at risk A special hostel is being set up
for young people who are homeless and considered to be at
risk.
be in peril/hi: in tperl/an expression used especially
in literature meaning to be in a dangerous situation iv
phrase]
The messenger warned the king that he was in great peril. [
The destruction of the forest had begun and it soon became
clear that the whole tribe was in imminent peril. [ be in
grave peril (:be in great peril) In 1940, when our country
was in grave peril, only one man stood between us and defeat.
be in trouble/hi: n 'trAbal/ to be in a dangerous and
difficult situation, especially because of an unexpected
problem iv phrase]
Our water supplies were low, and the food had almost run
out. We were in serious trouble. I Scott said nothing, but I
knew from his face that we were in trouble.
5 to put someone else in a dangerous situation
endanger
put sb's life at risk
endanger /indendsar/ endanger someone's life/
health/safety etc (=to put someone in a dangerous situa-
tion which would badly affect their health, safety etc) iv T]
Smoking during pregnancy could endanger your baby's
health. [ The city authorities complained that low flying air-
craft were endangering public safety. [ In some cases where
there is violence in the home, a child's life may be directly
endangered
put sb's life at risk / pot (sb's) lalf at rlsk] to put some-
one in a dangerous situation in which they could be killed,
especially by not obeying safety rules iv phrase]
It is important to carry out safety procedures. We don't want
to put people's lives at risk. [ The nuclear power industry is
putting at risk not only the health of its workers but also the
lives of their children.
6 to do something that is dangerous and may
even lead to your own death
risk your life dice with death
risk your neck at your peril
take your life in at your own risk
your hands
risk your life / rsk ja: r 'laif/to do something very dan-
gerous, especially in order to help someone, when you
know that you may get killed because of your action iv
phrase]
She risked her life to save the drowning child. I Every day
firefighters risk their lives in the course of their duty.
risk your neck/risk ja:r Inek/an informal expression
meaning to do something very dangerous in order to help
someone, used especially when you think the action is
unnecessary iv phrase]
Why should I risk my neck trying to rescue common crimi-
nals? I Don't try too hard. It's not worth risking your necks
for.
take your life in your hands /teik j:r lalf in j::r
 hndz/an informal expression meaning to put yourself in
a situation in which you may get killed, especially when
it is a situation which you cannot control iv phrase]
There's so much traffic on Saturday mornings. Every time
you cross the road you take your life in your hands. [ You'll
be taking your life in your hands if you let Eric drive you
home.
dice with death / daIs w:6 'deO/to deliberately do some
thing which is so dangerous that you may easily get killed,
especially when you do it for excitement iv phrase]
Anyone who tries to climb that mountain in this weather is
dicing with death. I And now stand by for more thrills as
those amazing acrobats, the Ballero Brothers, dice with
death on the high trapeze.
at your peril/at ja: r 'perll if you warn someone that they
do something at their peril, you mean that it would be
very dangerous for them to do it lady phrase]
Any climber who neglects these simple precautions does so
at their peril. I Ignore this warning at your peril.
at your own risk/at ja:r aon rlsk/if you do something
at your own risk you must accept that it is dangerous and
that it will be your own responsibility if you get killed or
hurt lady phrase]
The cliff path is dangerous. Anyone who goes beyond this
point does so at their own risk. I If you're determined to swim
in the river, I can't stop you, but it's entirely at your own risk.
7 the possibility that you might be killed or hurt
danger
risk
danger/'de:ndSarl in U]
As Jane entered the cave, she experienced a strange sense of
danger. [ Martin had been in battle many times and he was
accustomed to danger. [ Danger! Keep out!
risk/rsk/a word meaning the possibility that you might
be killed or harmed if you do something dangerous, used
especially when you want to say how great the possibility
is in U]
How much risk is there in this kind of operation?[ One of
the attractions of mountain-climbing is the risk involved. [
risk to Although the disease is known to affect cats, there
is no risk to humans.
something dangerous that can happen to you
when you are doing something
danger risk
peril hazard

DANGEROUS 306 DARK
danger/'demdSr/In C usually plural]
Young people should be warned about the dangers of drug
abuse. I Coalmining was a job with many dangers and few
rewards. I face dangers (-do something that involves
dangers) All boxers are well aware of the dangers they face
when they go into the ring for a fight.
peril/'per 'l/a word used especially in literature meaning
something that can cause danger, especially during a jour-
ney In C usually plural]
For the next four months Cook braved the perils of the
Antarctic seas. i None of the young cadets who set off on that
calm September morning could have foreseen the perils that
lay ahead.
risk /rsk/ something dangerous that might possibly
happen to you if you do something [n C usually plural]
A lot of children start smoking without realizing what the
risks are. I Of course you can't say there are no risks, but
flying is one of the safest forms of travel. I It's important that
you drive quickly, but don't take any risks.
hazard /'hezard/ something that may be dangerous,
cause accidents etc In C]
Divers are well aware of the hazards of their job. [ Stairs can
present a particular hazard to older people. [ Flashing signs
warned drivers of potential hazards ahead.
dangle DOWN 11
dank WET 5
dapper SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
dare BRAVE 5
dare: I dare say PROBABLY 1
dare: not dare BRAVE 7
daredevil BRAVE 3
daring BRAVE 3, 4
dark COLOUR/COLOR 3, DARK 1
dark: be in the dark NOT KNOW 5
dark: glow in the dark SHINE 5
dark: it gets dark DARK 4
dark: the dark DARK 1
. dark
Jr- .......................  ................... . ... . .........
DARK
words for describing a place where there is
little or no light
almost dark but not completely dark
dark in a sad, frightening, or unpleasant way
to become dark
1 words for describing a place where there is
little or no light
dark darkness
pitch dark/pitch black dim
the dark the half-light
dark/do:rkl [adj]
Thick curtains covered the window - the room was quite
dark. I Tony was attacked and robbed in a dark alley. ] I
shrank back into the darkest corner of the room, and prayed
that the soldiers would not see me. I No, you can't play out-
side, it's too dark. I It was a dark night and he was afraid
they might get lost if they went across the fields.
pitch dark/pitch black/,pItJ" 'do:rk, ,p:tJ" 'blak,/
completely dark, so that nothing can be seen [adj not
usually before noun]
It's pitch dark in there. I can't see a thing. I Inside the cellar
it was pitch black.
the dark 16 'dozrk/a situation where there is no light,
for example when you are in a room where all the lights
have been turned off, or in a forest at night In singular]
Most children are afraid of the dark. [ Don't sit there in the
dark. Put the light on.
darkness /'do:rkns/a place or time where there is no
light In Ul
The voice was coming from somewhere in the darkness. I As
my eyes became used to the darkness I could make out a bed
in the corner of the room. [ The attack took place during the
hours of darkness. I in complete darkness Colour films
must be developed in complete darkness.
dim/dim/light that is dim is not very bright [adj]
In the warm dim light the room looked curiously inviting. I
The evening light grew dim and they went inside.
dimly [adv] The moon shone dimly behind the trees.
the half.light/6a 'ho:fla:t II -'hmf-/dull, grey light like
the light of the early morning or early evening [n singular]
He urged the mule forward through the half-light of the
banana grove. I in the half-light It was difficult to see who
was standing there in the dim half-light of the hall.
2 almost dark but not completely dark
dim dimly-lit
unlit darkened
dim/dm/a room or place that is dim is fairly dark so that
you cannot see very well there [adj]
Inside the small room it was dim and cool. I A pale light flick-
ered in the dim passage. I The interior of the store was dim
and cluttered.
unlit / ^n'lt! an area, building, or room that is unlit is
dark because there are no lights on there [adj]
The path was unlit - she needed a torch to find her way. I
Behind the gasoline pumps the unlit garage stood like a huge
black shadow.
dimly.lit ] ,dirnli 'llt/an area or building that is dimly-
lit is fairly dark because the lights there are not very bright
[adj]
At night avoid shortcuts through dimly-lit alleyways or
across empty parks.
darkened/do:rkand/a darkened room or building is
darker than usual, especially because its lights have been
turned off or there are no lights [adj only before noun]
The prisoner lay in a darkened room.
3 dark in a sad, frightening, or unpleasant way
gloomy
dingy
the shadows
gloomy /glu:mi/ fairly dark, especially in a way that
seems sad [adjl
The bar was gloomy and smelled of stale cigar smoke, i
I never liked visiting Dr Allen in his gloomy old study.
the gloom In singular] Jon could hear her voice but was
unable to see anything in the gloom.
dingy/'dindsi/a room, street, or place that is dingy is
fairly dark and usually dirty and in bad condition [adj]
He ate lunch in a dingy little cafe next to the station. I The
room was dingy and damp.
the shadows/6a 'J'edaoz/the place near a building,
trees etc where it is darker than everywhere else because
it is hidden from the sun's light In plural]
Someone was hiding in the shadows at the end of the garden. I
Two figures moved out of the shadows into the moonlit street.

DARK 30? DEAD
 to become dark
it gets dark fall
the light fades be plunged into darkness
darken
it gets dark/It ,gets 'do:rkl when it gets dark, the sky
becomes dark, usually because it is night
It was starting to get dark outside and lights were coming
on all over the city. [ The men will leave as soon as it gets
dark. [ When we were camping we used to go to sleep as soon
as it got dark. [ It's getting very dark out there - there's going
to be a storm.
the light fades/6a ,lalt 'fedz/if natural light fades, it
gradually becomes weaker, because night is coming
The light slowly began to fade and the trees became mere
shadows.
darken /'da:rkan/ if the sky darkens it gradually
becomes darker than before, often because of bad weather
Iv I]
In a few minutes the sky darkened and heavy rain began to
fall. I Caine looked out over the darkening landscape.
fail/fail/night/evening/darkness falls (=a word used
especially in stories meaning that the night begins and it
becomes dark) Iv I]
We got back home just as night was falling. ] Darkness fell
on the town and the streetlights came on one by one.
be plunged into darkness/bi: plAnd5 d inta 'do:rkns/
ifa room, building etc is plunged into darkness it is sud-
denly made dark because all the lights have been turned
off Iv phrase]
Suddenly the light went out and the narrow stairs were
plunged into darkness. [ Lightning struck the power lines,
plunging half the city into darkness.
darken
darkened
darkness
dart
DARK 4
DARK 2
DARK 1
FAST/QU ICE 7
dash HURRY 1, LITTLE/NOT MUCH 3, RUN 1
dash: I must dash/fly LEAVE A PLACE 2
dash off WRITE 4
dash sb's hopes DISAPPOINTED 4
dashing BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 2
data INFORMATION 1
database INFORMATION 2
date FASHIONABLE 9, TIME THAT IS PLANNED 1
date: make a date ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 2
date: out of date OLD-FASHIONED 1
date: to date NOW 3
dated OLD-FASHIONED 1
dating: be dating RELATIONSHIP 4
daughter CHILD 2
daunt FRIGHTENED 7
daunting DIFFICULT 1
dawdle SLOW 7
dawn: at the crack of dawn EARLY 6
dawn: the dawn of BEGINNING 2
dawn on REALIZE 1
day: carry the day WIN 2
day: fix/name/set the day MARRY 4
day: give me sb/sth any day! PREFER 1
day: it's a little late in the day LATE 8
day: it's not my day UNLUCKY 2
day: win the day WIN 2
day: make sb's day HAPPY 10
day and age: in this day and age NOW 2
day and night CONTINUOUS 3
day in, day out CONTINUOUS 2
day off/afternoon off etc HOLIDAY 3
day one: since/from day one BEGINNING 5
day to day ORDINARY 1
day to day: live from day to day PLAN 12
day trip TRAVEL 10
daydream ATTENTION 5, DREAM 1, 2, IMAGINE 2
daylight LIGHT 1
 daylight robbery: be daylight/highway robbery
• : EXPENSIVE 5
 days LIFE 1
 days: has seen better days CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
!i!i! days: in those days THEN 1
;. days: it's one of those days UNLUCKY 2
=ii;: days: one of these days FUTURE 2
 days: these days NOW 2
dazed SHOCK 3, UNCONSCIOUS 1
 dazzle IMPRESS 2, SEE 15
dazzling BRIGHT 3, IMPRESS 4
dead BORING 5, DEAD 1, 2
dead: be dead to the world SLEEP 7
i dead: drop dead DIE 1
.;i dead: go dead FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 5
: dead: stone-dead/dead as a doornail DEAD 1
...
dead: stop dead/stop in your tracks STOP MOVING 1
dead end PROGRESS 5
 dead on your feet: be dead on your feet/ready to drop
TIRED 1
dead
b6dy ......
BODY
SURVIVE
DEAD
words for describing a person or animal that
is no longer alive
words for describing a plant or object that is
not living
1 words for describing a person or animal that
is no longer alive
dead late
deceased lifeless
stone-dead/dead as a doornail
dead/ded/[adjl
She's stopped breathing, and I can't feel any pulse - I think
she's dead. I A line of mourners waited to pay their last
respects to the dead President. I The doctor told him that
unless he stopped drinking he would be dead within a year.I
The first casualty reports we have from the fighting are 16
dead and over 150 wounded. I dead on arrival (=already
dead when arriving at hospital) She was rushed to the hospi-
tal by ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival. I the
dead (=dead people) At this time of year the villages make
offerings to the spirits of the dead.
deceased/dPsi:st/a formal word meaning dead, used
especially when talking about someone who died recently
[adj]
The President was an old friend of her deceased father, Dr
Bernstein. I the deceased (=the dead person, or people,
especially someone who has just died) The deceased are to
be buried at St Mark's church on Friday 15th.
stone.dead/dead as a doornail I,staon 'ded, ,ded az
a 'do:theft/informal expressions meaning dead, used when

DEAD
308
you are completely certain that someone is dead [adj not
before noun]
Tom poked the bird with a stick. "Yeah, it's as dead as a
doornail. ""
late/let/the late Mr Smith/professor/president etc
(a word for showing respect for someone who has died,
usually recently) [adj only before noun]
The painting was donated to the University by the late
Duchess of Windsor. [ My late wife always made her own
cakes. I His style reminds me very much of that other jazz
legend, the late John Coltrane.
lifeless / Ilaffis/lifeless body/corpse/face etc (=which
shows no sign of life) [adj]
He took the dead girl's hand. It felt cold and lifeless. [ A
couple of soldiers dropped the apparently lifeless body over
the side of a cliff.
2 words for describing a plant or object that is
not living
dead
inanimate
dead/ded/[adj]
It was autumn, and the path was covered in dead leaves. ]
These flowers look dead - shall I throw them away?
inanimate /:n'enmt/ inanimate object/thing/
matter (=that contains no living material) [adj]
In some cultures inanimate objects such as mountains are
worshipped as gods. I The painting was of a collection of
inanimate objects which had been placed on the artist's table.
 deaden/dull REDUCE 2
deadline: meet a deadline ON TIME 4
deadlock PROGRESS 5
' deadly KILL 7
deadpan EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 3, SERIOUS
PERSON 4
deaf HEAR 6
deaf: be stone deaf/be as deaf as a post HEAR 6
deaf ears: fall on deaf ears IGNORE 2
deafening LOUD/NOISY 3, 4, 5
deal BUSINESS 4
deal: a good deal/a great deal LOT/A LARGE NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 9
deal: a great deal of/a good deal of LOT/A LARGE
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, LOT/VERY MUCH 1
deal: be a good deal CHEAP 6
deal: close a deal FINISH DOING STH 6
deal: make a deal/do a deal AGREE 3
deal: no big deal UNIMPORTANT 1
deal in BUSINESS 6, SELl_4, 5
deal with ABOUT 2, BUSINESS 6, DEAl_ WITH 1, 2,
TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDS 1
DEAL WITH
to take action in order to find the answer to a
problem or make sure that something is done
properly
I to take action in order to find an answer to a
problem or improve a difficult situation
2 to take action in order to make sure that
arrangements are made properly, work is
done properly etc
3 to deal with a difficult situation in a particular
way
4 to deal successfully with a difficult problem or
situation
5 to be in a situation in which you have to deal
with something unpleasant or difficult
6 a particular way of dealing with something
DEAL WITH
1 to take action in order to find an answer to a
problem or improve a difficult situation
deal with grapple with
handle have a blitz on
tackle
deal with/'did w/[v T]
How should the government deal with the AIDS crisis? I Your
main duty will be to deal with complaints from customers. [
Troops are now in the border area dealing with the situa-
tion. [ It's really hard to deal with such aggressive people.
handle /hndl/to deal with a problem or a difficult situ-
ation in an effective and skilful or sensitive manner Iv T]
Rose could handle anything that went wrong with her car. [
If these issues are badly handled there may be civil war. [
Don't worry, I can handle him. [ There'll be some problerns,
but nothing that you can't handle.
handling In singular] A committee will examine the
Government's handling of(=the way it handled) the crisis.
tackle/'tkal/to make a determined effort to deal with
a difficult problem Iv T]
Right, that's the problem, how can we tackle it? I Extra cash
is needed to tackle alcohol abuse, i Talk to someone who's
been through all this, see how they tackled it. I Unemploy-
ment could be tackled by an investment programme.
grapple with/'grpal w/to try hard to deal with a
difficult problem or situation, especially for a long time Iv
T not in passive]
We have been grappling with this problem for months, but
without success. [ The government must now grapple with
the twin problems of unemployment and a weak economy. 1
The book grapples with a number of moral issues.
have a blitz on/hv  Ibl:ts phi to begin to deal, espe-
cially in a very determined way, with a problem which has
been ignored for some time Iv phrase]
The police are planning to have a blitz on drunk drivers this
Christmas. [ If we forget the other jobs and just have a blitz
on the filing, we should be able to get it done in a day.
' to take action in order to make sure that
arrangements are made properly, work is
done properly etc
deal with take care of
handle process
see to follow up/follow up on
attend to
deal with Idi:l WIb/ [V T]
Miss Jones deals with all requests for information. [ Every
call to the advice service is dealt with by sympathetic coun-
sellors. [ There is now only one doctor dealing with growing
numbers of patients.
handle/hndl/to deal with something in a skilful or
responsible way Iv T]
Could you handle this inquiry about accommodation at the
conference? [ Mr Trent's personal assistant handles his
affairs with great tact and efficiency. [ We've decided to let
the lawyers handle everything, that way we won't have to get
involved.
see to/'si: tu:/to deal with a practical matter, especially
for someone else Iv T]
"'We must send a telegram to John's mother. "" "'Don "t worry,
Lionel will see to that. "[ My brother saw to all the funeral
arrangements, which was a great help. i It's our job to see
to repairs and maintenance work.
attend to/'tend tu.-/to deal with business or personal
matters, especially small ones that are not very important
Iv T]
Our son attended to all correspondence, and kept the
accounts. [ I'm really busy right now. There are a lot of things
to attend to before the trade fair. I We were working late,
attending to last minute details.

DEAL WITH 309 DEAL WITH
take care of/,teIk 'kerr ov/to do everything that is
necessary to make sure that arrangements are made or
work is completed Iv phrase]
There are still a lot of things to take care of before we go on
vacation, i "'Sue is organizing the music, who's taking care
of the food? .... John said he'd do that. "'[ Leave it to us, we'll
take care of everything for you.
process/'pmoses [[ 'pro:-/if an organization such as a
government department processes a letter, official paper
etc, it deals with it [v T usually in passive]
You should allow two weeks for your visa application to be
processed. [ Computers have given banks the power to process
millions of transactions a day. [ By the time your applica-
tion for a mortgage has been processed, the survey should
have been done.
follow up (British) I follow up on (American)/,fobo
'^p, ,folao'^p on II ,fo:lao '^p o:n! to take further action
in order to deal with a complaint, request, letter etc [phr
vT]
follow up sth Our rule is that the complaints department
must follow up a letter within two days. I We always follow
up on our customers" comments. I follow sth/it/them up
Look here's the original memo. They simply forgot to follow
it up.
3 to deal with a difficult situation in a particular
way
treat
play
approach
treat/tri:t/to deal with something in a particular way and
with a particular attitude Iv T]
treat sth You will need to treat this very seriously. I All
claims for insurance compensation are treated equally.I
treat sth as We should treat crime as a social problem. I
According to police the fire is being treated as suspicious.
piay/pleI/to deal with a situation by behaving in the way
you think will be best in order to achieve the result that
you want Iv T]
play sth aggressively/carefully etc We need to play this
quite aggressively. 1 Have you decided how you want to play
it? I play it by ear (=decide what to do at the last moment
according to how the situation develops) Somepeople make
a plan for an interview, but I like to play it by ear.
approach I'proq/to begin to deal with a difficult situ-
ation in a particular way or with a particular attitude Iv T]
I don't think refusing to negotiate is the right way to
approach this problem. I Try to relax before the exam, and
you'll approach it in a better frame of mind.
4 to deal successfully with a difficult problem or
situation
manage
cope
come/get to grips with
have sth under control
overcome
rise above
rise to the occasion
take sth in your stride
manage /'meend! to deal successfully with a fairly
difficult but quite ordinary situation [v I/T]
"How did you manage while you were unemployed?" "'Luck-
ily, I had some savings. "'1 I'll be away for a week, do you
think you can manage on your own? I manage sb/sth Helen
was always a difficult child. None of her teachers knew how
to manage her. I The seminar discusses typical work-related
problems and strategies to manage them.
cope/kop/to succeed in dealing with a very difficult sit-
uation or problem Iv I]
I told her Icouldn't cope, I wash 't well enough, l She's very
inexperienced, but I'm sure she can cope. I cope with Young
Sam coped very well with his father's sudden death. [ We
must find a new way of coping with the situation.
come/get to grips with/,kArn, ,get ta 'grips wi6/to
consider, understand, and deal seriously with a very
difficult or important problem or situation [v phrase]
The present government has failed to come to grips with the
country's economic problems. I Teachers must be prepared
to spend time getting to grips with new technology. I No coun-
try has really got to grips with the problem of nuclear waste.
have sth under control/hev (sth) ,nnda r kan'traol/to
be dealing successfully with a difficult situation at the
moment Iv phrase not in progressive or passive]
The police have the situation under control. [ The flight was
very bumpy but the pilot assured us that everything was
under control. [ bring sth under control (=start to deal
with it successfully) The new government has the unenvi-
able task of bringing Poland's foreign debt under control.
overcome /,aovar'kAm/ to deal successfully with a
problem so that it no longer exists or is not as bad Iv T]
I've always wanted to overcome my fear of spiders. I The
school overcame the problem of funding by getting local
firms to sponsor them. I The factors that cause rioting cannot
be overcome quickly.
rise above / ,raz a'bAv/to deal with a problem or diff'lcult
situation, by being able to ignore it, so that you can suc-
ceed in what you are doing Iv T not in passive]
Kate rose above all the trouble at home and did well in her
classes. I Mervin had risen above his limiting social position
and made it as a successful businessman.
rise to the occasion/,raiz ta 8i a'keI3an / to deal suc-
cessfully with a sudden, unexpected situation or problem
[v phrase]
Steve, who was seldom surprised by anything, rose to the
occasion at once. [ There was a moment's silence, then Ella,
rising to the occasion said, "'Please come in, gentlemen. ""
take sth in your stride / tek (sth) In ja: r 'straid/to deal
with an unexpected or difficult problem calmly and confi-
dently Iv phrase]
They never get upset, they just take everything in their stride. I
Liz seems to be taking the divorce in her stride.
5 to be in a situation in which you have to deal
with something unpleasant or difficult
face have to contend with
face up to have sb/sth to reckon with
confront
face/feis/if you face a difficult problem, or a difficult
problem faces you, you must deal with it Iv T]
face sth Latin America faces a growing debt problem. I
McManus faced the biggest challenge of his career. I the
problems faced by learners of English I the situation now
facing the government I be faced with/by The doctor was
faced with the task of breaking the bad news to the boy's rela-
tives. I We are faced by a crisis in our society.
face up to /,f e is '^p tu:/ to accept and deal with an
unpleasant fact or something difficult instead of ignoring
it Iv T]
You should face up to things, notjust pretend that nothing's
happening. [ It's time the government faced up to spending
more on health and education. I The Principle accused par-
ents of not facing up to their responsibilities.
confront/kn' frAnt/to have to deal with something very
difficult or unpleasant in a brave and determined way Iv T]
confront sth We try to help people confront theirproblems. I
The union forced the management to confront the issue of
equal pay. I be confronted with/by On my first day at
work I was confronted with the task of chairing a meeting. [
As oil revenues slump, Saudi citizens are confronted by
recession.
have to contend with/hev ta ken'tend w6/to have to
deal with a problem or several problems, especially when
you are already in a difficult situation Iv phrase]
The speakers at the meeting had to contend with a faulty
microphone. I No one should have to contend with that kind
of drunken, violent behaviour. I have sth to contend with
Don't worry about me, you have enough to contend with.
have sblsth to reckon with/hav (sb/sth) ta 'rekan w6/
to be in a position where you must deal with something or
someone so difficult or powerful that you might not
succeed Iv phrase]

DEAL WITH 310 DECAY
You'll have the boss to reckon with if you go home this early. 1
Anyone attempting to invade the country will have to reckon
with the peacekeeping force.
6 a particular way of dealing with something
course of action/course option
approach your best bet
course of action/course/,k:rs ov 'akj'an, k:rs/an
action or several actions which could be taken in order to
deal with a particular situation In phrase]
The best course of action would be to speak to her and tell
her the whole story. [ One possible course of action is to
increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco. [ Jim didn't want to
start an argument, so sympathy seemed to be the safest
course.
approach/'pmotf/a way of dealing with a problem,
difficult situation, or job In C]
approach to Each of the delegates suggested a different
approach to the problem. [ the government's aggressive
approach to the whole question of homelessness [ approach
The company must adopt a much more radical approach.
option / 'Dpfan [[ 'a:p-/one of several ways that you could
choose in order to deal with a problem or a difficult situa-
tion [n C]
Working full-time may not be your best option. [ What other
option do I have? [ Have we discussed all possible options?[
Our only option now is to contact the police.
your best bet ]j:r 'best ,bet] an informal expression
meaning the best way of dealing with something In phrase]
We decided that our best bet was to leave him where he was
and go and get help. [ If you're thinking of coming here from
Bishops Stortford, a bicycle's your best bet, the roads get very
busy.
dealer SELL 9, 10
dealings BUSINESS 2
dear EXPENSIVE 1
dear: cost sb dearly/dear SUFFER 2
death DIE 1, 2, 6
death: accidental death DIE 2
death: be close to death/near to death DIE 5
death: beat/kick/stab etc sb to death KILL 1
death: cause death KILL 6
death: dice with death DANGEROUS 6
death: put sb to death KILL 10
death: sentence sb to death KILl_ 10
death: to death DIE 2
death by misadventure DIE 2
death penalty: the death penalty KILL 10
death row: be on death row KILL 11
death sentence KILL 10
death trap DANGEROUS 2
death warmed up: look like death warmed up/death
warmed over ILL 1
death's door: be at death's door DIE 5
deathbed: on your deathbed DIE 5
debatable UNCERTAIN 4
debate DISCUSS 1, 2, 5
debate: be the subject of debate/discussion
DISCUSS 3
debate: open to question/debate UNCERTAIN 4
debt OWE 4
debt: be deep/heavily in debt OWE 2
debt: be in debt OWE 1
debt: be over your head in debt OWE 2
debt: be up to your ears/neck in debt OWE 2
debt: get into debt OWE 3
debt: run up debts OWE 3
debtor OWE 6
debunk PROVE 4
debut FIRST 5
decadent
decay
BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 3, BAD
PERSON 4
DECAY 1, 8
DECAY
to go through natural chemical changes that
slowly destroy things like wood, dead flesh,
or vegetables
ways of saying that natural substances decay,
such as wood, plants, or flesh
words for describing natural substances that
have decayed
ways of saying that food decays
words for describing food that is no longer
fresh and has started to decay
ways of saying that metal decays
words for describing metal that has decayed
to make something decay
the process of decaying
1 ways of saying that natural substances decay,
such as wood, plants, or flesh
decay decompose
rot perish
decay/dI'keI] Iv I]
Over the years, the wooden staircase had slowly decayed. [
Freezing conditions will stop most things from decaying. [
In a warm climate where flesh decays rapidly, there is more
risk of infection from dead animals.
decaying [adj] They came across the decaying remains of
a sheep. [ The stream was blocked by decaying vegetation.
rot/rt)t [[ ra:q if something such as a plant, wood, or fruit
rots, it decays and becomes soft [v I]
The farmer cuts the grass, leaves it to rot, then ploughs the
field again. [ rot away (=rot very badly so that it becomes
extremely weak or gradually disappears) Istepped on some
fioorboards that had rotted away and my foot went right
through the floor.
rotting [adj] If you lg't up a rotting log you will find all sorts
of insects underneath.
decompose / di:km'puz/if something decomposes, it
decays and gradually breaks up or disappears Iv I]
Police could not establish the cause of death as the body had
completely decomposed. [Coal is formed from peat, which
consists of different kinds of organic matter that have
decomposed.
perish /'per:j'/if something made of rubber or leather per-
ishes, it decays and becomes weak, so that it breaks easily
[v I]
In the stable was an old horse's harness, but the leather had
perished. [ Diving equipment is treated with a chemical to
stop it from perishing. [ The cause of the leak was obvious:
the washer had perished and needed replacing.
2 words for describing natural substances that
have decayed
rotten mildewed
decayed putrid
mouldy/moldy
rotten /'mtn 11 'ro:tn/ something that is rotten has
decayed badly so that it is soft and usually smells
unpleasant [adj]
The drainpipe was blocked with rotten leaves, i These
window frames will have to be replaced. They're rotten.
decayed/di 'keid! going through the natural chemical
changes that make things decay [adj]
Bees will often build their nests in decayed wood [ The battle-
field was covered with.half-decayed corpses.
mouldy (British) I moldy (American) /'muldil some-
thing that is mouldy has bacteria growing on it that you
can see [adj I

DECAY
There were some mouldy fruit boxes in the corner. [ The room
hadn't been opened for years, and smelled of mice and moldy
cloth.
mildewed/'mIldju:d ii -du:d/leather, cloth, wood, etc that
is mildewed is covered with a white substance that is
caused by it decaying in wet conditions [adj]
Anthony looked at the mildewed leather chair and decided
to sit on the floor. [ Marjorie studied the mildewed old pho-
tograph with interest.
putrid/Ipju:trd/something that is putrid has decayed
very badly and smells extremely unpleasant [adj]
Neighbours alerted the police after they noticed an over-
powering smell of putrid fiesh coming from the cellar. I Vul-
tures and other birds of prey are able to feed off the most
putrid animal remains.
3 ways of saying that food decays
go bad go stale
go off go sour
go bad I,go 'bad/[v phrase]
Don't eat those tomatoes. They've gone bad. [ You should use
eggs, fish, and meat within a few days, as they go bad very
quickly.
go off/goo Df ii -la:f/meat, milk, or something cooked
that goes off has begun to decay and is no longer good to
eat [phr v I]
I think this milk's going off. Willyou smell it for me?l You'd
better throw that lamb away - I think it's gone off.
go stale ! goo  steil/bread, cakes etc that go stale become
dry and hard and unpleasant to eat Iv phrase]
The bread's gone stale - I had to throw it out. I Put the bis-
cuits back in the tin or they'll go stale.
go sour I,goo saoor/milk, fruit juice, wine etc that goes
sour has been kept for too long so that it tastes bitter and
smells bad Iv phrase]
Every day, farms are pouring away gallons of milk that has
gone sour. [ Wine in an open bottle will quickly go sour.
4 words for describing food that is no longer
fresh and has started to decay
rotten sour
bad rancid
stale off
mouldy/moldy
rotten I'mtn [[ 'ro:tn/fruit, vegetables, meat etc that is
rotten is very badly decayed, has gone soft, smells
unpleasant, and cannot be eaten [adj]
There were some very cheap oranges on the market but most
of them were rotten. [ The trash can had been overturned and
rotten vegetables covered the sidewalk. I the unmistakable
smell of rotten eggs
bad/bed/beginning to decay and no longer good to eat or
drink [adj ]
That sandwich looks bad to me - you'd better throw it away. I
I spent the week in bed, sick from eating bad seafood when
we first arrived.
stale/ste[l/bread, cake etc that is stale is hard, dry, and
unpleasant to eat [adj]
We had nothing to give them for lunch but stale bread. I We'd
better throw these crackers out - they're stale.
mouldy (British) I moldy (American) I'mvldi/covered
with bacteria that grow especially in slightly wet condi-
tions [adj]
It is dangerous to feed mouldy hay to horses. ] In the fridge
was some mouldy cheese and a rotten lettuce.
SOUr/saoar/milk, cream, wine etc that is sour tastes bitter
and smells unpleasant [adj]
Some spilt milk, sticky and sour, attracted a cloud of insects.[
The wine was so sour that I couldn't drink it.
rancid / ransdl rancid butter/oil/fat (=tasting bitter
and smelling unpleasant) [adj]
The little hut was full of the smell of rancid butter and wood-
smoke. I go/turn rancid (=become rancid) Most cooking
311
decency
oils contain a stabilizing agent that prevents them from turn-
ing rancid.
off Iof II a:f/a word used especially in British English
meaning beginning to decay and unpleasant to eat or drink
[adj not before noun]
Don't cook that steak, I think it's off. I Most of the food was
delicious, but the cheese tasted distinctly off.
5 ways of saying that metal decays
rust
corrode
rust jr^st/if something made of iron rusts, it decays by
becoming brown and rough, losing its strength, especially
because it has not been protected from the damaging effects
of water [ v I]
The tank is rusting badly and the water may start to leak
out at any time. [ Gold will not rust. [ rust away (=rust so
badly that something begins to break into pieces) My car
exhaust is beginning to rust away.
corrode/k rood/if metal corrodes it decays by becom-
ing weak and changing its colour, especially because it has
not been protected from the damaging effects of water and
air Iv I]
Both batteries had corroded badly. I The equipment hadn't
been in the water long enough to corrode.
6 words for describing metal that has decayed
rusty
corroded
rusty/'r^sti/rusty metal has become rough and brown
because it is decaying, especially because it has not been
protected from the damaging effects of water and air [adj]
In the shed were some damp newspapers, a tin hat and some
rusty tools. [ a rusty nail
rust In U] You can't see it, but underneath the car is covered
in rust.
corroded/ka'raodd/metal that is corroded has become
weak and has changed colour, especially because it has not
been protected from the damaging effects of water and air
[adj]
The doors swung loosely on their corroded hinges.
7 to make something decay
rot
corrode
rot/rot II ro:tl [v T]
Sugar rots your teeth. I The floor of the little boat had been
rotted by sea water.
corrode/ka  raod/ifa chemical or chemical process cor-
rodes a metal, it makes it decay Iv T]
Acid can corrode most metals. [ Over the years, rain, wind,
and sun had corroded the statue, turning the bronze a bright
green.
corrosion Ikarausanl In U] Zinc is resistant to corrosion in
the air.
corrosive/karausiv! [adj] That chemical is highly corro-
sive (=corrodes things very easily), so be careful.
8 the process of decaying
decay
decay/dI'ke[/[n U]
Toothache is one of the first signs of chronic tooth decay. [
Tiny organisms that live in soil assist the process of decay.
decayed DECAY 2
deceased DEAD 1
deceit TRICK/DECEIVE 9
deceitful TRICK/DECEIVE 10
deceive TRICK/DECEIVE 1
deceive: be deceived/tricked TRICK/DECEIVE 4
deceive sb into TRICK/DECEIVE 2
decency GOOD/MORAL 7

decent
decent GOOD ENOUGH 1, GOOD/MORAL 1, 3, 5
deception TRICK/DECEIVE 7, 9
deceptive SEEM 6
deceptively SEEM 6
decide DECIDE 1, 2, 3, 5
decide: be decided by DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1
decide: be for sb to decide DECIDE 4
decide: can't deўidelcan't make up your mind
DECIDE 9
decide: have not decided/have not made up your
mind DECIDE 8
decide: make sb decide to do sth DECIDE 5
decide on CHOOSE 2
decide
which meaning?
decide what to do,
decide that something
is true
DECIDE
choose something or
someone
@ CHOOSE
decide the result of
something
RESULT
DECIDE
1 to decide to do something
2 to decide after thinking carefully about what
you should do, especially when you have to
make an important decision
3 to decide that something is true or make a
judgment about something
4 ways of saying that someone has the right or
responsibility to decide
5 ways of saying that something makes you
decide
6 something that has been decided
7 good at making decisions quickly and firmly
8 to have not yet decided about something
9 to be unable to decide about something
10 not good at making decisions quickly and
firmly
1 to decide to do something
decide
choose
take it into your head to do sth
decide Id 'sad/to make a choice that you are going to
do something Iv I/T not usually in progressive]
decide to do sth She decided not to buy the dress because
it was too expensive. [ Both the kids are sick, so I've decided
to stay home today. [ decide (that) If you decide that you
don't want your bike any more, let me know - I'd like to buy
it.[ decide what/how/when etc Have you decided what to
get Tony for his birthday? [ I couldn't decide whether to go
with them or not. [ decide against sth/doing sth (=decide
not to do something) We've decided against going to Spain
this year. We can't really afford it. [ decide "'Which restaur-
ant should we go to?" "'Oh, I don't know - you decide. ""
choose/flu:z/to decide to do something because you
want to, often without considering what other people want
[v T]
312
DECIDE
choose to do sth I told him to drive slowly, but as usual he
chose to ignore my advice. I More and more young couples
today are choosing not to marry. [ if you so choose (=if you
choose to do this) He believes people should be allowed to
use drugs if they so choose.
take it into your head to do sth i tck t =ntj:r ,hod
ta I du: (sth)! if someone takes it into their head to do
something, they suddenly decide to do something that you
think is stupid or strange Iv phrase not in progressive]
He's only met her once and now he's taken it into his head
to ask her to marry him. [ For some reason they took it into
their heads to go swimming at midnight.
2 to decide after thinking carefully about what
you should do, especially when you have to
make an important decision
decide
make up your mind
make a decision
arrive at/come to/reach a decision
come down in favour of
resolve
decide/d 'sad/Iv I/T not usually in progressive]
decide to do sth In the end, I decided to leave college and
join the Navy. I decide They've been considering our offer
for two weeks now. It's taking them a long time to decide. [
decide on Having decided on a career in journalism, I wrote
to all the major newspapers asking for an interview. [ decide
(that) Kevin's finally decided that he wants to go back to
Chicago. [ decide how/what/which etc Students should
think very carefully before deciding what subjects to take. [
it is decided that It has been decided that there should be
no further investment in the nuclear industry.
make up your mind/,meik npjo: r 'maind/to decide in
a determined way to do something, especially after think-
ing about it for a long time Iv phrase]
make up your mind to do sth Now that she's made her
mind up to resign, there's no way you can persuade her not
to. [ make up your mind (that) They had made up their
minds when they married that they didn't want children. [
make your mind up I wish he'd make his mind up - we
can't wait forever! [ make up your mind how/what/
which etc Once we've made up our minds what day we're
going, I'll make reservations for the flight.
make a decision /mek a dl SlSan / to decide after think-
ing carefully about something, especially about something
that is very important Iv phrase]
It took me a long time to make my decision. [ An unmarried
girl who becomes pregnant obviously has some serious deci-
sions to make. [ make a decision to do sth She's finally
made the decision to leave her husband. [ make a decision
about We don't have to make a decision about that now, let's
think about it for a day or two.
arrive at/come to/reach a decision/a,raiv at, kAm
tu:,, ri:tf a d si3dn / to officially decide about an important
matter after discussion and careful consideration Iv phrase
not in progressive]
Before reaching a decision the chairman usually talks to
senior managers. [ arrive at a decision on/about The com-
mittee members have been holding discussions all day, but
they have not yet come to a decision on any of the proposals. [
Have the Directors arrived at a decision about the future of
the company?
come down in favour of/kAm daon In fevar Dv/an
expression used especially in news reports meaning to
decide finally to support one plan or action instead of other
plans or actions Iv phrase]
After long, heated discussions the union executive came down
in favour of accepting the new pay offer. [ The Senate has
come down in favour of the appointment of Judge Thomas
to the US Supreme Court.
resolve/r 'zDlv [I r[ 'zo:lv, ri 'za:lv/to make a firm deci-
sion to do something in the future, especially because of
mistakes or bad experiences in the past Iv T not inprogres-
sire or passive]

DECIDE 313 DECIDE
resolve to do sth After the divorce she resolved never to
marry again, t I returned to the laboratory, resolving to stay
there until the experiment was finished. I resolve that Even
before Kevin started school his mother resolved that he
should one day become a priest.
to decide that something is true or make a
judgment about something
decide jump to the conclusion
conclude deduce
come to/reach infer
the conclusion
decide/d[ 'said/iv T not in progressive]
decide (that) After testing the brakes on my car I decided
that they were safe. I He looked around the room again and
decided he did not much like the place. I decide whether/
which/what etc She couldn't decide whether the hat suited
her or not.
conclude/kon  klu:d/to decide that something is true or
to make a judgment about something after considering all
the facts iv T not in progressive]
conclude that The jury listened carefully to the evidence and
concluded that the man was guilty. I From what we know
about the moon it seems reasonable to conclude that it is
predominantly composed o frock. I conclude from sth that
Davis concludes from an analysis of traffic accidents that the
speed limit should be lowered.
come to/reach the conclusion/,k^m to, ,ri:tj" 6o
kon' klu:sdn/to decide that something is true or make a judg-
ment about something after considering all the facts care-
fully and for a long time iv phrase]
come to/reach the conclusion that After long consider-
ation the Administration has finally reached the conclusion
that taxes must go up. I I am gradually coming to the con-
clusion that you were right about this house. There's some-
thing strange about it. I come to/reach any conclusions
The proposal will need to be examined thoroughly before any
conclusions can be reached.
jump to the conclusion/,d3^mp to 6o kon klu:3dn/to
decide too quickly that something is true, without carefully
considering all the facts, especially with the result that
your decision is wrong iv phrase]
jump to the conclusion that For some reason the police
immediately jumped to the conclusion that I'd stolen the car. I
jump to conclusions about You shouldn't jump to conclu-
sions about things that you don't know enough about. I jump
to conclusions We mustn't jump to conclusions. There may
be a perfectly reasonable explanation for him being so late.
deduce/dI 'dju:s 11 d; 'du:s/a word used especially in a
scientific context meaning to decide that something must
be true because of other facts that you know [v T not in
progressive]
deduce that Darwin's observations led him to deduce that
plants and animals could adapt to their surroundings. I
deduce sth from sth The police surgeon was able to deduce
the probable time of death from the temperature of the body.
infer/nf3: r/to form an opinion or decide that something
is probably true because of other information you already
know [v T not usually in progressive]
infer that It would be wrong to infer that she is a communist
just because she was once seen at a demonstration. I infer
from sth that From archaeological evidence we can
reasonably infer that these people used stone cutting tools.
4 ways of saying that someone has the right or
responsibility to decide
be up to sb
rest with
be for sb to decide
the ball is in your/their court
when it comes to the crunch/when it comes to it
be up to sb/bi: ' AE to (sb)/if something is up to you, you
are free to decide about it yourself and without anyone's
help iv T]
it's up to sb "'Shall we finish the job now or leave it till
tomorrow?" "'I don't mind, it's up to you. "" I be up to sb
what/when/whether etc It's up to them what they do with
the money. I be entirely up to sb Whether or not you have
the operation is entirely up to you, Mr Dakin.
rest with/'rest wi61 if a decision rests with someone,
they have the authority to decide what should be done [v T
not in progressive or passive]
The committee has made certain recommendations, but the
final decision rests with the President. I The fate of the airline
rests with the Mr Branson. His decision is expected
tomorrow.
be for sb to decide/bi: f:r (sb) to d saId/if something
is for you to decide, you are the only person who can
decide about it [v phrase]
I'm not telling you which party to vote for. That's for you to
decide. I it is for sb to decide what/whether/when etc
It's for Joan to decide whether she wishes to continue living
with her parents.
the ball is in your/their court/6o ,b:l iz In ,j:r, ,6er
k3:rt/if the ball is in your court, it is your turn to make
a decision and other people are waiting for that decision
I've told you what I think of your idea - the bali's in your
court now. [ The employers have made a generous pay offer
and the ball is now firmly in the union's court.
when it comes to the crunch/when it comes to
it/wen It ,kAmz tO 6o 'krAnt.[, wen It 'kAmz tO t/an informal
expression meaning at the time when someone is forced
to make a difficult and important decision [adv phrase]
Many people say they haven't decided who to vote for yet, but
we believe that when it comes to the crunch they'll vote for
the Democrats. I Officially the Church remained neutral, but
when it came to it most of the priests supported the workers.
 ways of saying that something makes you
decide
make sb decide to do sth
decide
clinch it
make sb decide to do sth/meek (sb) dI,saId to 'du:
(sth)/iv phrase not in progressive or passive]
What made you decide to come and live here? I Two of my
best friends were soldiers. I suppose that's what made me
decide to join the army.
decide/d 'said/to make someone finally decide to do
something which they have been thinking about doing iv T
not in progressive or passive]
what decides sb is I had been thinking of giving up smok-
ing. What finally decided me was a TV programme about
lung cancer. [ decide sb to do sth My first meeting with
Preminger - that was the thing that really decided me to
come to Hollywood. [ decide sb against Orwell's experiences
in Burma decided him against a career in the army.
clinch it/'klnt t/to make someone finally decide to do
something which they had already almost decided to do
iv phrase not in progressive]
clinch it for sb I had almost decided to accept the job, but
the offer of a company car really clinched it for me. [ clinch
it We'd thought about living around here when we retired.
Then we saw this beautiful house, and that clinched it.
6 something that has been decided
decision
decision Id'ssanl [n C]
You may not like it, but that's my decision and I'm sticking
to it. [ Some of her decisions were highly questionable. [ deci-
sion to do sth My decision to leave school when I was only
15 was the worst mistake I ever made. [ decision on The
government is expected to announce its decision on an aid
package for famine victims tomorrow. [ big decision (=a
difficult and important decision) I need time to think - leav-
ing a job is a big decision to have to make. [ sb's decision
is final (=cannot be changed) The referee's decision isfinal.

DECIDE 314 DECORATE
1 I' good at making decisions quickly and firmly
decisive
decisive/dI'saIsIV/[adj]
We are still waiting for dim to make up his mind. I wish he
would be more decisive. I The firm needs strong, decisive
management if it is to survive the crisis. I Gilmore demon-
strated a talent for quick, decisive action.
decisively lady] If the police had acted more decisively, the
disaster could have been prevented.
decisiveness In U] The Mayor acted with speed and deci-
siveness (=in a decisive way) in response to the riots.
8 to have not yet decided about something
have not decided/have not made up your mind
be undecided
sit on the fence
keep your options open
have not decided/have not made up your mind
/hev ,not dI 'saidd, hev ,not me[d ^p ja: r 'maind / [vphrase]
have not decided what/how/whether etc I haven't
decided what I'm going to get my brother for his birthday. I
Steve hasn't made up his mind whether he's in favour of the
idea or not. I have not decided "'Are you selling your
house? .... We haven't decided yet. "'
be undecided /bi: ,^ndI'saldd/ someone who is
undecided has not yet decided about something, especially
something important Iv phrase]
"'Is Fred going to take the job? .... He's still undecided."[
undecided about/as to A third of the voters remain
undecided about how they will vote. [ undecided what/
which/whether ete He hesitated, undecided whether to go
or stay.
sit on the fence/,sit on 6a 'fens/to deliberately avoid
making a decision about which side to support in an argu-
ment Iv phrase]
Stop sitting on the fence and make up your mind whose side
you're on. I Throughout the bitter disputes between the two
groups the President sat firmly on the fence, refusing to get
involved.
keep your options open/ki:p ja:r 'Dpj'az ,aopan II
-' o:p-/to deliberately avoid or delay making an important
decision so that you are free to decide later Iv phrase]
She could have signed the contract there and then if she had
wanted, but she preferred to keep her options open. I There's
been no decision yet. I wanted to keep our options open until
we had a chance to analyze the results.
9 to be unable to decide about something
can't decide/can't make up your mind
be in two minds
dither
indecision
can't decide/can't make up your mind /,ko:nt
d['saId, ,ko:nt meik Ap ja:r 'maInd II kent-/[v phrase]
can't decide what/how/whether etc I can't decide
whether I like that colour or not. I She can't make up her
mind what brand of perfume to buy. I can't decide/cannot
make up your mind "'Are you going to marry John?" "'I
don't know. I can't make up my mind. "'
be in two minds/bi: :n ,tu: malndz/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be unable to decide whether or not to do
a particular thing Iv phrase]
be in two minds about My parents want me to study law,
but I'm still in two minds about it. I I was in two minds about
buying this car, but the salesman persuaded me. I be in two
minds whether to do sth Actually I was in two minds
whether to accept your offer or not.
dither/'dt6ar/a British word meaning to be unable to
make a firm decision about something and keep changing
your mind about it Iv I]
Stop dithering, man, and make up your mind. I dither over
I don't know whether she'll ever sign the contract - she keeps
dithering over it.
indecision I, indi'si3an / the state or characteristic of not
being able to decide about something In U]
After months of indecision the Mayor's office has finally
approved the plans for a new hospital. I She hates indecison,
deceitfulness, laziness.
1 0 not good at making decisions quickly and
firmly
indecisive
wishy-washy
weak-willed
Indecisive/,nd 'saIsIV/ [adj]
My boyfriend's so indecisive. I'm always the one who has to
choose where to go and what to do. I An indecisive com-
mander is unlikely to win the confidence of his men.
indecisiveness In U] The report criticized the chairman for
his indecisiveness (=for being unable to take decisions) and
lack of leadership.
wishy-washy /'wlfi,wt)j'i II -,wo:j'i, -,wo:j'il someone
who is wishy-washy does not like making decisions, and
does not have strong beliefs or opinions about anything
[adj]
There are too many wishy-washy politicians in Congress.
That's why nothing gets done. I She's so bloody wishy-washy
- never has anything to say about anything!
weak.willed/,wi:k 'wild-/someone who is weak-willed
is unable to make decisions because they do not have the
determination or strength of character to do it [adj]
I don't think David will ever be able to give up chocolate, he's
far too weak-willed. [ We always looked on her as rather a
weak-willed individual who was never going to get anywhere
in life.
dly
decide VERY 1
decimate KILL 6
decision DECIDE 6
decision: arrive at/come to/reach a decision
decision: make a decision DECIDE 2
decisive DECIDE 7
decked out: be decked out DECORATE 2
declaration SAY/STATE 9
declare SAY/STATE 1, 3, 6
declare war WAR 5
decline LESS 7, REFUSE 1, REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 1,
WORSE 3
decline/be on the decline LESS 5
decompose DECAY 1
decor DECORATE 2
decorate DECORATE 1, PAINT 2
DECIDE 2
DECORATE
to improve the way something looks by
adding something attractive to it
I to decorate something
2 decorated in a particular way
3 things that are used to decorate something
4 used to improve the appearance of a room,
building, piece of furniture etc
5 words for describing something that has a lot
of decoration on it
1 to decorate something
decorate
garnish
tart up
decorate/'dekareit/[v T]
decorate sth Are you going to decorate tle office for
Christmas? l The fiower arrangers had decorated the church
beautifully for the ceremony. I decorate sth with For the

DECORATE
parade the children are going to decorate old hats with
ribbons and flowers.
garnish /'go:rniS/ to improve the way food looks by
adding some other, usually colourful, food to it [v T]
garnish sth with You could garnish the soup with red and
green peppers. I Put the salad in the fridge for a few hours,
then garnish it with sprigs of mint. I garnish sth Before
serving the pie, add a little parsley to garnish it.
tart up /,to:rt 'Ap/an informal British expression mean-
ing to decorate a place so that it looks bright and new, but
often in a way that looks cheap and unpleasant [phr v T]
tart up sth I don't like the way they've tarted up our office.
It looked better the way it was before. [ tart sth/it/them up
"The Waggon and Horses" used to be a really rough pub but
now they've tatted it up.
 decorated in a particular way
decorated be festooned with
be decked out decor
adorn
decorated I'dekreitd/[adj]
decorated with The Christmas tree was decorated with
golden bells. I a wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with
colored ribbons I richly/elaborately decorated Sabina
stood in the centre of an elaborately decorated living room.
be decked out/bi: dekt 'aot/to be specially and colour-
fully decorated, especially for a celebration or party [v
phrase]
be decked out with The whole street was decked out with
flags and streamers to celebrate the wedding. [ be decked
out for Behind the door was another table, all decked out
for the party.
ado rn/'d3: rn/a formal word usually found only in liter-
ature meaning to decorate something in a beautiful or
artistic way [v T]
be adorned with The walls of the church were richly
adorned with carvings and pictures. [ adorn sth with The
bridesmaids adorn their heads with flowers. [ adorn sth
Exquisite carvings adorned the walls and ceilings of the
Sultan's private apartments.
be festooned with/bi: fe'stu:nd wi61 if a place is fes-
tooned with something, it has long chains of flowers, flags,
or material hanging all around it, giving a bright and
cheerful appearance [v phrase]
On the day of the festival the streets were festooned with flags
and banners.
decor/'deik: r II dei 'kIr/the particular way that a room
or building is decorated, including all the colours, furni-
ture, pictures etc [n U]
The hotel has been completely refurbished combining
modern decor with English antiques. I It was a comfortable
enough room, but I didn't think much of the decor.
3 things that are used to decorate something
decorations decoration
ornament garnish
decorations/,deklreij'anz/things used to decorate a
room, building, street etc, usually for a special occasion In
plural]
We've decided not to put up Christmas decorations this year
because we won't be at home. I I don't like the table decora-
tions in this restaurant. ] The church is collecting money to
help pay for the decorations at the Flower Festival.
ornament ! ':rnmnt/an object, often something fairly
small made of thin baked clay, glass etc, that is used in a
room or house to make it look more attractive In C]
There was nothing to brighten up the room except a few
Christmas ornaments. I The thieves didn't actually take very
much, but they smashed all our little ornaments.
decoration /dekz'rean/ anything that is used to
decorate a room or a piece of furniture [n U]
The only decoration in the room was a picture above the fire-
place. I Vines are often grown for decoration.
315
deep in thought
garnish/'go:rnIj'/food that is used to decorate and add
taste to a dish [n C]
Serve the fish with a garnish of lemon. [ Fresh parsley is often
used for garnishes.
4 used to improve the appearance of a room,
building, piece of furniture etc
decorative
ornamental
decorative I'dekaratIV II 'dekara-, 'dekarei-/]adj]
The oil lamp is purely decorative, and does not give much
light. [ The front of the building has many fine decorative
features.
ornamental / ,a:rna'mentl-/designed to decorate some-
thing and to look interesting [adj]
Large plants in ornamental pots stood on the patio. I Jona-
than peeped through the ornamental ironwork of the gate.
5 words for describing something that has a lot
of decoration on it
fancy
ornate
elaborate
fancy/'fensi/ having a lot of decoration, perhaps too
much [adj]
Underneath his jacket he wore a fancy red silk waistcoat. I
Everyone at the carnival had big fancy hats on. I I don't like
his paintings. They're a little too fancy for me.
ornate /:r'neIt/ something that is ornate, such as a
building or a piece of furniture, has a lot of decoration on
it, especially in a grand, expensive, and rather complicated
style [adj]
Our school is in an ornate building that was once a rich
man's house. I On the altar there were two ornate gold cand-
lesticks. I Her eyes were drawn towards the chamber's ornate
pink ceiling.
ornately [adv] Hilary sat down on the edge of an ornately
carved chair.
elaborate Ii 'lebargt/highly decorated, with a lot of small
details [adj]
All different kinds of metals had been shaped into elaborate
designs to make the great door of the church. I That poster
is difficult to read because it's so elaborate.
decorated DECORATE 2
decoration DECORATE 3
decorations DECORATE 3
decorative DECORATE 4
decorator PAINT 4
decoy TRICK/DECEIVE 8
decrease LESS 5, 7, REDUCE 1
decrease in value: fall/decrease/go down in value
VALUE 7
decree TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 2, 7
decrepit CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
decriminalize LEGAL 3
dedicated WORK HARD 4
deduce DECIDE 3
deduct COUNT/CALCULATE 5
deed DO 9
deep COLOUR/COLOR 3, DEEP 1, 2, LOW SOUND
OR VOICE 1, STRONG FEELING OR BELIEF 1
deep: not deep DEEP 5
deep: 40 metres/lO0 feet etc deep DEEP 3
deep down CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 5, REAL/NOT
FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 5
deep end: be thrown in at the deep end DIFFICULT 10
deep in thought: be lost in thought/deep in thought
THINK ABOUT 8
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

DEEP 316 defend
DEEP
words for describing seas, rivers, holes etc in
which the bottom is very far from the surface
1 words meaning deep
2 ways of saying that something is put or kept a
long way down from the surface of something
3 ways of saying how deep something is
4 to become deeper
5 not deep
1 words meaning deep
deep
bottomless
the depths
deep/di:p/something that is deep has a long distance
between the surface and the bottom [adj]
Be careful. The water is very deep here. I A deep hole had been
dug in the middle of the construction site. I Some kinds of
industrial waste can safely be dumped in the deepest parts
of the ocean. I There were deep drifts of snow on each side
of the road. I The blade had gashed her arm, leaving a deep
wound.
depth/depO/In U] Because of its depth (=because it is deep)
Lake Baikal is always very cold.
bottomless Ibotmls II 'ba:-/bottomless pit/abyss/
ravine etc (=extremely deep and seeming to have no
bottom) [adj]
Although the hole was not very deep, to the child it seemed
like a bottomless pit. I She described the sensation of losing
consciousness as like sinking into a bottomless black abyss.
the depths/6 'depOs/a word used especially in litera-
ture meaning the very deepest part of something [nplural]
As I peered into the well 1thought I heard a voice calling up
from the depths. I A dark cloud seemed to emerge from the
depths of the earth.
2 ways of saying that something is put or kept a
long way down from the surface of something
deep
deeply
deep/di:p! [adv]
deep in/down/below etc Turtles lay their eggs deep in the
sand and leave them there until they hatch. [ Putting his
hands deep into his pockets, he realized he had no money left. I
deep underground Hidden deep underground is a nuclear
research station. [ As we dug deeper, we uncovered a large
wooden chest.
deeply/' di:pli/deeply buried/submerged/embedded
etc (=a long way down from the surface) [adv]
They found rock with gold in it deeply buried beneath the
earth's surface. I It is said that there is an ancient city deeply
submerged in this part of the ocean. I The road followed the
deeply cut river valley.
3 ways of saying how deep something is
depth
40 metres/100 feet etc deep
depth/depO/In C/U]
What is the depth of the container? I a metre/two kilo-
metres ere in depth At this part of the river the water is
no more than a metre in depth. I to/at a depth of The cage
takes the miners down to a depth of about two hundred
metres.
40 metresll00 feet etc deep/(40 metres, etc) 'di:p/
having a depth of 40 metres, 100 feet etc [adj]
The swimming pool is two metres deep. [ The bomb had made
a crater five metres deep and had wrecked every building in
the street. [ ankle-deep/knee-deep etc (=deep enough to
reach your ankles, knees etc) There had been a flood in the
kitchen and the water was already ankle-deep.
4 to become deeper
get deeper
deepen
get deeper/get 'di:pr/[v phrase]
The water was getting deeper and deeper: it was already up
to his knees. I The snow got deeper overnight and by morn-
ing the fields were completely covered.
deepen /'di:pn/ a formal word meaning to become
deeper Iv I ]
In the middle of the pool the water suddenly deepens. I We
drove on for three miles through deepening snow until we
were forced to turn back.
5 not deep
not deep
shallow
not deep/nDt 'di:p/[adj]
Come into the water, it's not deep. [ The wound isn't very deep
so it shouldn't take long to heal. [ The oil well goes down over
a hundred metres, but in oil mining terms this is not deep.
shallow/,elzo/having only a short distance from the
bottom to the surface, and usually wider than it is deep
[adj]
Nigel waded into the shallow water at the edge of the pond. I
The river becomes very shallow at this point. I In a shallow
depression on the edge of the airfield there were three large
fuel tanks. I Cook the peppers in a shallow ovenproof dish.
deepen DEEP 4, INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS
ETC 3, WORSE 4
deeper: get deeper DEEP 4
deeply DEEP 2
deface DAMAGE 5
default OWE 3
defeat BEAT/DEFEAT 1, 3, 5, LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION, OR WAR 1
defeat: admit defeat/accept defeat LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION, OR WAR 2
defeat: suffer a defeat LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION,
OR WAR 1
defeated LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 6
defeated: be defeated LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION,
OR WAR 1
defect FAULT/STH WRONG 1, 2
defective BROKEN 4
defence/defense DEFEND 2, 3
defence: come to sb's defenceldefense DEFEND 1, 3
defence: in defence ofldefense of DEFEND 1, 3
defence: in sb's defenceldefense DEFEND 3
defencelessldefenseless WEAK 3, WEAPON 3
defencesldefenses DEFEND 2
defend DEFEND 1, 3
. defend .
which meaning?
defend someone or .;,.., @ DEFEND
something that is .:::-::' :.-:..
being attacked .-:.!:i
;. -:
prevent someone or @ PROTECT
something from being
•  : - }; .-.,..%.. 
...... ;-:.
harmed ::i:i? !i;!:::i ' .:-:.  ::

DEFEND 317 definitely
DEFEND
1 to defend a person, place, or country against
violent attack
2 actions, systems, military forces etc that are
used for defending a person, place, or
country
3 to defend a person or their ideas, rights, or
principles against criticism or attack
1 to defend a person, place, or country against
violent attack
defend
come to sb's defence/defense
in defence of/defense of
defend /d'fend/ to take action in order to prevent a
person, place, or country from being attacked [v T]
defend sb/sth At school he always defended his little
brother. I The city is defended by over 30,000 troops. I defend
sth from/against It became impossible to defend the base
from airborne attack. I defend yourself She picked up a
stick to defend herself against her attacker.
come to sb's defence (British) I defense (American)
/, kAm t (sb's) dI ' fens/to defend another person or country
that is being attacked [v phrase]
If we hadn't come to his defence, he might have been killed.[
Things seemed to be going badly until NA TO forces came to
their def ence.
in defence of (British) I defense of (American)/m
di 'fens ov/in order to defend a place, especially your own
country [prep]
Would you be prepared to fight in defence of your country?[
These brave young men have given their lives in defence of
freedom.
2 actions, systems, military forces etc that are
used for defending a person, place, or
country
defence/defense self-defencel
defences/defenses self-defense
defensive
defence (British) I defense (American) Idl 'fens II 'diz-
fens/[n U]
He is one of the President's top advisers on defense. [ The anti-
aircraft missiles are designed purely for defenee, not for
attacking neighbouring states. I defenee spending/bud-
get/cuts ete (=connected with the money that a govern-
ment spends on defence) There are plans to increase defence
spending by 6%. I The US defense budget is the biggest in
the world.
defences (British) I defenses (American) Id'fensz/
all the forces and equipment that are available for defend-
ing a place [n plural]
The new radar system is an important part of the country's
defences. I The city's defenses were not strong enough to with-
stand a prolonged air attack.
self.defence (British) I self.defense (American)/,self
d 'fens/actions that you take to defend yourself against
attack [n U]
How can the police describe these shootings as acts of self-
defence? [ Monica is an expert in karate, the Japanese art of
self-defence. [in self-defence (=in order to defend yourself)
The UN troops are armed, but they are only allowed to shoot
in selfldef ence.
defen$|ve/dl fenslv/actions or weapons that are defen-
sive are intended to be used only for defending yourself,
not for attacking anyone else [adj]
Police ofjwers claimed that their actions during the riots were
purely defensive. [ The arms embargo covers both defensive
and aggressive weapons. [ defensive measure (=an action
taken for defending something) These troop movements are
described by the South African government as a "defensive
measure'.
3 to defend a person or their ideas, rights, or
principles against criticism or attack
defend
come to sb's defence/defense
stand up for
stick up for
in sb's defence/defense
in defence of/defense of
defence/defense
defend Idl 'fend/[v T]
defend sb/sth The President appeared on TV to defend his
tax proposals. [ John was the only one who defended me
when things started going wrong. [ defend sb from/
against The Press Secretary has the difficult job of defend-
ing the Queen against these media attacks. [ defend your-
self As a politician you have to be able to defend yourself
when things get rough. [ defend sb/sth vigorously (=very
strongly) Union bosses have pledged that they will
vigorously defend their members" right to strike.
come to sb's defence (British) I defense (American)
l,kAm to (sb's) dl 'fens/to say something to defend someone
who is being criticized Iv phrase]
Dad seemed to think the accident was my fault, but Judy
came to my defence and told him what had happened. [ This
was the only newspaper that came to Prince Charles" defence.
stand up for/, stand tap fa:r/to strongly defend a person
who is being criticized, or strongly defend your own beliefs
or principles when they are being attacked Iv T]
You have to be prepared to stand up for the things you believe
in. I The rest of them used to be really nasty to me, but Susie
always stood up for me.
stick up for/,stIk 'np fa:r/an informal word meaning
to defend someone who is being criticized, especially when
no one else will defend them [v T]
It was really nice of you to stick up for me like that.
in sb's defence (British) I defense (American) In (sb's)
di 'fens/if you say something in someone's defence you
say it in order to defend them from criticism [advphrase]
As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing you can say in her
defence. [ I ought to say, in Jim's defence, that he only heard
about the meeting half an hour ago.
in defence of (British) I defense of (American)/,n
di fens ov/if you do or say something in defence of some-
thing, you do or say it to defend something that is very
important to you, such as your rights or principles [prep]
The miners went on strike in defence of their jobs. [ She spoke
bravely and defiantly in defence of freedom of speech.
defence (British) I defense (American)/di 'fens/a writ-
ten or spoken statement that defends something against
criticism, especially something that is very important to
you [n singular]
The article was a rather unconvincing defence of her eco-
nomic record. I robust defence (=strong defence) Delors
gave a typically robust defence of his vision of a federal
Europe.
defendant ACCUSE 6
defender/guardian PROTECT 3
defense: come to sb's defenceldefense
defense: in defence of/defense of
defense: in sb's defenceldefense
defensive DEFEND 2
defer POSTPONE/DO LATER 1
defiant DISOBEY 3
deficient ENOUGH 12
define MEANING 6
definite CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 6
definite: distinctJdefinite OBVIOUS 1
definitely CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1, 2
DEFEND 1, 3
DEFEND 1, 3
DEFEND 3

definition 318 DELAY
definition MEANING 2
definitive CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 10
deflated DISAPPOINTED 1
deformed SHAPE 4
defraud CHEAT 3
deftly GOOD AT 4
defy DISOBEY 1
degenerate BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 3, BAD
PERSON 4
degrading ASHAMED 4
degree: by degrees SLOW 6
degree: to a degree/to some degree PARTLY 1
degree: to a greater extent/degree MORE THAN STH
OR SB ELSE 1
degree: to a lesser degree/extent LESS 1
dehydrated DRY 5, THIRSTY 1
dejected SAD/UNHAPPY 4
delay DELAY 1, 2, 3, POSTPONE/DO LATER 1
delay: without delay IMMEDIATELY 1
DELAY
to make someone late or slow
I to delay someone or something so that they
arrive somewhere late
• to delay an event or process
8 a situation in which someone or something is
delayed
4, to deliberately delay something or someone
because you are not ready or for your own
advantage
1 to delay someone or something so that they
arrive somewhere late
delay keep
make sb late detain
hold up
delay Idi 'lei/[v T usually in passive]
be delayed Our plane was delayed by fog. I Mr Evans has
been delayed but will be joining us shortly. [ delay sb/sth
I mustn't delay you, I can see you're ready to leave.
make sb late/,meik (sb) 'leit/[v phrase not in passive]
make sb late for sth The accident made us late for work. I
Now I must hurry, or I shall miss my bus, and that'll make
me late for my appointment. I make sb late doing sth
Catching a later train made Frank late getting to the office.
hold up /,hold ' Ap/to delay someone or something when
they have started to go from one place to another [phr v T]
be held up On their way to the hospital they were held up
by heavy traffic. [ Her letter took a month to get here. It must
have been held up in the post office strike. I hold sb/sth/it/
her etc up The doctor should be here by now. I wonder
what's holding him up.
keep/ki:p/an informal word meaning to delay someone
when they are trying to go somewhere Iv T not in passive]
I know you're in a hurry so I'll try not to keep you longer than
is necessary. I He should be here by now. What's keeping him?
detain/d ten! a formal word meaning to delay someone,
especially by keeping them talking or working Iv T]
I won't detainyoufor much longer, Miss Reid. There are just
a few more questions that I need to ask you. [ Don't let me
detain you, I know you have a train to catch. [ be unavoid-
ably detained (=by something you can't prevent) He apolo-
gised for being so late and explained that he had been
unavoidably detained.
to delay an event or process
delay set back/put back
hold up get bogged down
delay/d leI/if something such as a problem delays an
event or a process, it makes it happen later than was
planned or interrupts it so that it takes longer Iv T usually
in passive]
be delayed The work has been delayed by a dispute. I The
completion of the tunnel was delayed for several months by
a series of technical problems. [ delay sth Bad weather
delayed the opening of the school fete.
hold up/,hoold '^p/if a problem holds up a process or
activity, it interrupts it so that it takes longer [phr v T]
hold sth/sb/it/her etc up We were hoping to finish the
repairs today; what's holding us up is the shortage of spare
parts. [ hold up sth A disagreement over some minor details
is holding up the negotiations. [ Production was held up
when one of the machines broke down.
set back/put back /set 'bek, pot bek/to delay a
planned process or activity by a number of weeks, months
etc [phr v T]
set sb/sth/it/her ete back Your mistake has set us back
several weeks.[ set back sb/sth The ambassador's state-
ment has set back talks to release the hostages by several
months. [ Then the civil war broke out, setting back the
modernization of the country by 10 years.
get bogged down/get bogd daon [1 -,bo:gd, ,ba:gd-/
if a person or planned piece of work gets bogged down,
they are delayed and prevented from continuing because
of complicated or difficult problems Iv phrase]
get bogged down in The project got bogged down in a series
of legal disputes. I get bogged down Try to avoid getting
bogged down by complicated bureaucratic procedures.
a situation in which someone or something is
delayed
delay
hold-up/holdup
delay/di'lei/[n C/U]
Any delay in the production process is costly to a company. [
You can expect long delays on the roads because of vacation
traffic. I A recent report blames airport security for the
majority offiight delays. [ three months'/several weeks'
etc delay After three months" delay work finally began on
the new project.
hold-up/holdup /'hzold np/ a delay, especially one
caused by an unexpected problem, that interrupts a jour-
ney or a piece of work [n C]
There's a major hold-up on the London-Brighton road
because of an accident. [ In spite of all the holdups we got
the bridge finished on time. [ We didn't know what was caus-
ing the hold-up in the accounts department, but we guessed
the computer had broken down.
to deliberately delay something .or someone
because you are not ready or for your own
advantage
stall
play for time
delaying tactics

DELA Y 319 DELl BERA T EL Y
stall/stz):l/to deliberately delay because you are not ready
to do something, answer questions etc Iv I/T]
stall sb Can you try and stall Mr Hill until next week? Ican't
pay him just now. I stall Quit stalling and tell me where
you've hidden the gun.
play for time / plei fo r 'taim/to deliberately try to delay
doing something or making a decision, because you are not
ready or want more time to think about it Iv phrase]
Helen knew that all she could do was to play for time until
the police arrived. I "'Tell me what you are going to do, "she
demanded. "'Well, "" I said, playing for time, "'there are several
possible options ... ""
delaying tactics/dl 'lei-I O ,taktiks/methods used, espe-
cially by politicians, in order to delay an action or plan so
that something can be done during the delay In plural]
Some politicians are prepared to use delaying tactics to
obstruct the course of justice. ] The peace negotiations were
being held up by the delaying tactics of France and Great
Britain.
delaying tactics DELAY 4
delegate REPRESENT 4, RESPONSIBLE 9, TELL/ORDER
SB TO DO STH 4
delegation REPRESENT 4
delete REMOVE 4
deliberate DELIBERATELY 3, SLOW 2
deliberately DELIBERATELY 1, 2
DELIBERATELY
deliberately, not accidentally
deliberately doing something bad or
dishonest
words for describing something that is done
deliberately and not accidentally
accidentally, not deliberately
words for describing something is done
accidentally and not deliberately
doing something without realizing you are
doing it
1 deliberately, not accidentally
deliberately pointedly
on purpose make a point of
intentionally
deliberately/d['llbarotli/[adv]
She did it deliberately, didn't she? l He deliberately mispelt
her name, so she would not think the letter was from him. ]
Deliberately ignoring him, I crossed the room and walked
out the door. [ Oh yes, I put it there deliberately so you would
notice it.
on purpose/on 'p3:rpos/an expression used especially
in spoken English : if you do something, especially some-
thing bad, on purpose you do it deliberately [advphrase]
I should think they've done it on purpose, to avoid paying
you the money. I He thinks I got pregnant on purpose, so that
he wouldn't leave me. I I didn't do it on purpose, you know.
It was a complete accident.
intentionally/in'tenJ'anoli/if you do something inten-
tionally you do it deliberately, especially after thinking
carefully about what will happen if you do it lady]
He had intentionally arranged to be out when his mother
called. I The article is intentionally provocative and looks
likely to cause a stir.
!
pointedly / poin%dli/if you say or do something point-
edly, you say or do it carefully and deliberately so that
other people notice it and pay attention to it [adv]
Miss Phillips looked at the clock pointedly and Irealized that
it was time for me to leave. I The shopkeeper made a rude
comment about shoplifters and looked pointedly at the boy
standing next to me.
pointed [adj] My father has been asking some pointed ques-
tions about how I spend my money.
make a point of /,meek o 'pInt Dv/to do something very
carefully and deliberately so that other people see you and
understand why you are doing it Iv phrase]
make a point of doing sth Kramer made a point of look-
ing very bored while the colonel was speaking. [ You should
make a point of arriving fifteen minutes early at the office
every morning - show that you're keen. [ make a point of
sth "'Did you complain about it? .... Yes, I made a point of it. ""
 deliberately doing something bad or
dishonest
deliberately consciously
knowingly wilfully/willfully
deliberately/dI 'lbarotli/[adv]
It is still not clear whether the fire was started deliberately
or not. [ Rogers was dismissed from the army for deliberately
disobeying an order. [ Groups like this deliberately stir up
trouble, encouraging fans to go on the rampage.
knowingly I' nooIOli/ if you knowingly do something
wrong or illegal, you do it deliberately even though you
know it is wrong lady]
If any employee knowingly breaks the terms of this contract
they will be dismissed immediately. I Stansfield would never
have knowingly become involved in political espionage.
consciously /konj'osli li kc]:n-/ if you do something
consciously, especially something unfair, you do it
deliberately and you realize what you are doing [adv]
Most school teachers do not consciously discriminate between
their students. [He proceeded, quite consciously, to destroy
their relationship through neglect and indifference.
wilfully (British) I willfully (American)/twflfali/if you
wilfully do something wrong or harmful, you do it deliber-
ately or with so little thought that it is almost as bad as
doing it deliberately [adv]
The new evidence was either not available or was willfully
ignored when earlier historians tackled the subject. [ You
imply that I acted wilfully but the truth is, I never realized
that my actions would cause so much harm.
 words for describing something that is done
deliberately and not accidentally
deliberate calculated
intentional premeditated
conscious
deliberate/dl 'lbart/[adj]
One of the runners has been tripped up but I don't think it
was deliberate. [ Recent demonstrations are a deliberate
attempt to force political change in an undemocratic way. [
This was murder - cold-blooded, deliberate murder.
Intentional/in tenJ'anol/an intentional action is done
deliberately rather than being the result of chance [adj]
I realized that the damage was not intentional but Icouldn't
help feeling annoyed. [ It was me that threw the stone that
hit you but I swear it wasn't intentional.
conscious /'konj'os [[ 'ka:n-/ conscious decision/
effort/attempt ete (=deliberate and carefully considered
in order to have a particular effect) [adj only before noun]
Julia made a conscious effort to appear detached and uncon-
cerned, even though she was very upset. [ Dylan's latest
record is a conscious attempt to break away from his old
image and try out a new style.
calculated/'kclkjleitd/a crime or dishonest action
that is calculated is deliberately and carefully planned and
thought out [adj]
They have been proved guilty of a calculated attempt to
deceive the American public. [ The cruelty with which Men-
gele "s orders were carried out was ruthless and calculated.[
cold and calculated (=deliberate and without any pity)
She got rid of her victims one by one, with cold and calcu-
lated precision.
premeditated Ipri:'medteitold ii pr-/ a word used

DELIBERATELY 320 DELICIOUS
especially in a legal context: a premeditated crime or act
of violence is one which is deliberate and has been planned
[adj]
The jury must decide whether the attack was premeditated
or simply an argument that got out of hand.
4 accidentally, not deliberately
accidentally/by accident unintentionally
by mistake not mean to do sth
accidentally/by accident I,aks 'dentli-, bai 'aks-
ddnt/lady]
If the computer is accidentally switched off, you may lose a
lot of data. I As I was standing up from my chair our hands
touched accidentally. I We discovered the formula quite by
accident while doing a piece of unrelated research.
by mistake /ba mi'stek/ if you do something by
mistake, you intend to do one thing but you accidentally
do something else instead [adv phrase]
She must have taken my keys by mistake. I It was so dark
I took a wrong turning by mistake. I What if they shoot me
by mistake?
unintentionally /,An;n'tenj'dnali/ if you do something
unintentionally, you do not intend to do it or you do it
without realizing what the result will be [adv]
Quite unintentionally I had annoyed him. I Whether inten-
tionally or unintentionally, the fact remains that she misled
the committee. I Research shows that most teachers uninten-
tionally quicken their pace as the lesson progresses.
not mean to do sth/not 'mi:n tu: du: (sth)/an expres-
sion meaning to accidentally do something, used especially
when you are saying sorry for something you have done
or when you are angry because someone is blaming you
Iv phrase not in progressive]
I'm sorry, I didn "t mean to hurt your feelings. I Whatever she
did, I'm sure she didn't mean to cause any trouble. I Why are
you shouting at me? I didn't mean to break it you know!
 words for describing something is done
accidentally and not deliberately
accidental
unintentional
be an accident
accidental !, eks' dentl-/something that is accidental
happens because of chance or luck and not because anyone
did it deliberately [adj]
They've charged too much for the wine but I'm sure it was
accidental. I The new labelling reduces the risk of an acciden-
tal mixing of reactive chemicals.
unintentional /nnin'tenj'anal-/ said or done acciden-
tally, especially when you are trying to say or do something
else [adj]
I know it looks like they were very rude, but I'm sure it was
quite unintentional. I If l gave you the impression I wasn't
interested in going out with you I can assure you it was
unintentional. I The referee ruled that the hand-ball was
unintentional.
be an accident/bi: an mksdant/if you say that some-
thing was an accident, you mean that you are sorry it
happened, but it was not done deliberately [vphrase usually
in past]
He didn't mean to break your guitar, it was an accident. [
It was an accident. The handle just came off when I picked
it up.
6 doing something without realizing you are
doing it
inadvertently u nconscious
unconsciously involuntary
inadvertently /,Ind'va:rtntlil if you do something
inadvertently, especially telling someone some secret
information, you do it without realizing because you are
not careful enough [adv]
The Finance Minister inadvertently revealed Budget secrets
to journalists. I My wife has suspected I'm having an affair
ever since I inadvertently mentioned the name of a female col-
league. I In a panic I inadvertently pushed the accelerator
instead of the brake.
unconsciously/An'konj'asli II-'ko:n-/ if you do some-
thing unconsciously, you do it without realizing that you
are doing it [adv]
When she told me her children had head lice I unconsciously
started to scratch my head. I Every time she phones her par-
ents she unconsciously drifts into a Scottish accent.
unconscious/An'konJ'as II -'ko:n-/an action, choice etc
that is unconcious is not done deliberately but it may
show your true feelings [adj only before noun]
Many women are the victims of unconscious discrimination
by men. I His comments were an unconscious insult to Irish
people.
Involuntary /nvDlontari II lnvo:lanteri/ an action or
movement that is involuntary is completely accidental
because you can not control it [adj]
We are all tax payers and therefore involuntary contributors
to the arms race. ] My involuntary exclamation shocked the
room into silence.
delicacy
delicate
delicious
FOOD 4
BREAK 12, DIFFICULT 5, ILL 3, STRONG
TASTE OR SMELL 3
DELICIOUS 1
DELICIOUS
1 words for describing food or drink that tastes
very good
2 words for describing food, especially meat
and fruit, that is full of juice and tastes good
3 words for describing food or drink that looks
or smells delicious
I words for describing food or drink that tastes
very good
delicious taste good/nice
tasty palatable
good
delicious/dI'l;Svsl [adj]
Thank you, that was a delicious meal. I The tomato soup was
hot and smelt absolutely delicious. I It is the nutmeg which
gives the dish its delicious flavour. I "'What do you think of
the wine? .... Mmm, delicious!'"
tasty/telsti/food such as meat, fish, cheese etc that is
tasty has a fairly strong taste which you like [adj]
These sausages are really tasty - where did you buy them? I
Served hot or cold, these tasty little cheese balls are ideal as
an appetizer. I It's hard to believe that something so tasty can
be prepared on one small gas ring.
good/god/if you say that a particular food or drink is
good, especially one that you are eating now or have just
eaten, you mean that it is delicious [adj]
This is a really good pizza. I think I'll have another slice. I
That was the best ice-cream I've had for a long time.
taste good/nice/,test god, nas/if you say that some-
thing tastes good or tastes nice, you mean that it is deli-
cious Iv phrase]
This casserole tastes nice. How did you make it? I Chopped
parsley tastes good with most vegetables. I I'd been looking
forward to my first glass of the local wine and was surprised
when it didn't taste good.
palatable/'peltball a formal word meaning having a
pleasant taste, but not really delicious [adj]
The wine is extremely palatable and is reasonably cheap. 1
We are doing our best to make hospital meals more
palatable.

DELICIOUS
321
words for describing food, especially meat
and fruit, that is full of juice and tastes good
juicy
succulent
Juicy ]'dsu:si! [adj]
I like my steaks to be tender, juicy and full offlavour. I As
a starter, we had delicious juicy tomatoes stuffed with rice.
succulent/' s^kja°lant/meat or fruit that is succulent has
a lot of juice and is very delicious [adj]
This part of the country is famous for its fine wines and suc-
culent peaches. I My mother had prepared a fresh, green
salad with succulent fat prawns nestling in it.
 words for describing food or drink that looks
or smells delicious
appetizing mouth-watering
tempting make your mouth water
appetizing /'aeptazij/ food that looks or smells
appetizing makes you feel that you want to eat it [adj]
An appetizing smell of baked apples filled the house. I The
soup didn't look very appetizing but it tasted delicious. I The
food supplied for the school trip was hardly appetizing but
we were so hungry we ate it all.
tempting /'tempto/food or drink that is tempting looks
or smells so good that it is difficult to stop yourself from
eating or drinking it, especially when you think you should
not have it [adj]
The tempting aroma of roast beef wafted up the stairs. I The
chocolate cake was tempting but I couldn 't have any because
of my diet.
mouth-watering / 'maoO  wa:tarn3/food that is mouth-
watering smells or looks delicious, especially in a way that
persuades you to buy or eat it [adj]
The waitress came round with a tray of mouth-watering
cream cakes. ] In our delicatessen we sell a mouth-watering
array of cooked meats and cheeses.
make your mouth water /Imexkj3: r ImaoO wa:tar/if
food or drink makes your mouth water, it makes you feel
very hungry and ready to eat because it looks or smells so
good [ v phrase]
The smell of dinner is making my mouth water.
< delight HAPPY 8
i:i delight: be a delight ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
i delight: take delight in/take a delight in
ii! ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4
,:!!:!! delight: the joys/delights of ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
i,}[ delight in ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4
.:,
! delighted: be delighted with PROUD 1
i!: delightful NICE 1
• ii! delinquency CRIME 2
iii!' delinquent CRIME 5
ii:i[ deliver BABY/HAVE A BABY 6, PROMISE 7,
:: TAKE/BRING 2
...... deliver a speech TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1
deliver the goods/come up with the goods DO 2
,. delivery BABY/HAVE A BABY 6
:- delude yourself WRONG/INCORRECT 6
:i'.. deluge WATER 2
117 deluge: deluge of/avalanche of LOT/A LARGE
., NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
i:il. delusion BELIEVE 15
delusions of grandeur: have delusions of grandeur
-::: PROUD 7
• ::, deluxe GOOD/EXCELLENT 1
.... • delve into INVESTIGATE 1
• demand ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 3, 10,
ii  INSIST 1, TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 1
demand: be in demand POPULAR 2
!i,: demand: meet the demand NEED 8
./::.: demand: there's no demand POPULAR 6
:- demanding DIFFICULT 2
depend on
 demeanour/demeanor BEHAVE 5
ii) demo PROTEST 4
!I demolish DESTROY 3, EAT 6
iiii demolition DESTROY 4
.....
.....
iilii demonstrate EXPLAIN 3, PROTEST 2, PROVE 1, SHOW
i;i!i A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 1, SHOW/BE A SIGN
...... OF 1
 demonstration PROTEST 4
} demonstrative SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 3
-! demonstrator PROTEST 5
.i;. demorallzed CONFIDENT 7
..-'.-..:
8 demoralizing CONFIDENT 6
 demote DOWN 13
 demystify EXPLAIN 4
 denigrate CRITICIZE 4
 denomination RELIGION 2
 denote MEANING 1
{: denounce DISAPPROVE 2
....
..... dentist DOCTOR 4
 deny REFUSE 4, SAY/STATE 8
deny: there's no denying CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
deny yourself NOT HAVE 5
depart LEAVE A PLACE 4
= department PART 5
;. department store SHOP 2
departure: be a departure from DIFFERENT 1
!!ii depend: it depends DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 3
...
i depend on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 1, DEPEND/IT
ii,, DEPENDS 1
depend on/rely on NEED 3
or..somethtng  do
what you need, wo.(k
opedy
pr.-..,: etc
depeadson something
believe that meone
is honest and will not ,

DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 322 DEPEND ON/RELY ON
DEPEND/IT
DEPENDS
1 ways of saying that the way something
happens or is done will be decided or
influenced by particular facts or possible
events
2 ways of saying that the truth of an idea or
statement depends on whether particular
facts or ideas are correct
3 ways of saying that something can change or
is uncertain because it depends on
something else that can also change
ways of saying that the way something
happens or is done will be decided or
influenced by particular facts or possible
events
depend on
be dependent on
be determined by
be dictated by
be based on
rest on
hinge on/hang on
be decided by
be contingent upon
depend on/di 'pend on II -a=n/if a result, fact, or decision
depends on something else, it is not certain or because it
changes if the other thing changes [v T not in progressive]
depend on sth The amount I earn depends on the kind of
work I'm doing. I Perhaps we'll go out tomorrow. It depends
on what your Dad's doing. I The price of a shirt depends on
the amount of material and labour involved in making it. t
it depends whether/where/when etc "'Can you give me
a lift?" "It depends whereyou're going. "[ it all depends We
may beat inflation; it all depends whether we can keep wages
down.
be dependent on/bi: dI'pendant on/a formal expression
meaning to depend on [v phrase]
The speed of the plane is dependent on the efficiency of the
engines. I Benefits paid will be dependent on length of serv-
ice with the company.
be determined by/bi: di 't3:rmmd bai / if the quality or
nature of something is determined by other things, it
depends on them [v phrase]
The colour of the rock is determined by the type of mineral
present in it. I The warmth of the sweater will of course be
determined by the sort of wool used. I An individual's metab-
olism is initally determined by his or her genetic make-up.
be dictated by/bi: dikteit]d bail if a decision, choice,
or result is dictated by something it depends very strongly
on it, and leaves no choice for the people involved [vphrase]
Fashion styles are often dictated by practical needs. I A coun-
try's choice of export products is dictated by geography,
climate, or natural resources.
be based on/bi: 'beast on/if an amount of something
that is calculated is based on certain facts, it depends on
them [v phrase]
Your pension will be based on the amount you are earning
when you retire. [ This year's funding for the program is
based on the number of applications that we received last
year.
rest on/'rest on II -a:n/if someone's success or achieve-
ment etc rests on something, it depends on it [v T]
Success in management ultimately rests on good judgement. [
Your reputation will rest on your achievements.
hinge on/hang on/'hind5 on, 'he- II -o:n/if a result,
especially an important result, hinges on or hangs on
something happening, it depends on it completely [v T]
The future prospects of a student hinge on his performance
in these examinations. [ They know the result of the champ-
ionship hinges on their actions in the next few minutes. [
Chicago's fate hangs on the future of the Stock Market in
New York.
be decided by Ibi: di 'sa;dd bai I if what someone does
or what happens is decided by something else, it depends
on it [v phrase]
The future of the school will be decided by the results of this
survey. I Your choice of tool will be decided by the hardness
of the wood you are working on.
be contingent upon/bi: kantlndSnt pon/a formal
expression meaning to depend on whether or not some-
thing will happen in the future [v phrase]
Whether the industry survives is contingent upon next year's
orders. I Victory is contingent upon winning the next battle.
2 ways of saying that the truth of an idea or
statement depends on whether particular
facts or ideas are correct
be based on
rest on
be based on Ibi: 'beast tn/if an opinion or an idea is
based on a set of facts or ideas, then it will be wrong if these
facts or ideas are not correct [v phrase]
His argument is based on assumptions that seem strange to
most readers. I The entire theory is based on these statistics.
rest on/'rest on II -:n/ifa decision, statement, or belief
rests on an idea, then it will be wrong if the idea is not true
[v T]
This policy rests on the idea that traditional ways are always
best. [ Your case appears to rest on the testimony of this rather
unreliable witness.
3 ways of saying that something can change or
is uncertain because it depends on
something else that can also change
depending on
according to
it depends
depending on/d 'pendirj on/if something happens or
changes depending on something else, if the second thing
changes, the first thing changes too [prep]
Inflation goes up and down depending on the state of the
economy. I In many languages there are different words for
'you' depending on who you are talking to. I Depending on
who you ask, you'll get various estimates for the cost of the
building work.
according to/a'ka:rdIrj tu:/if something happens or is
done according to something else, then the first thing
changes in order to be suitable or correct for the second
thing [prep]
Telephone charges vary according to the time of day. I We
group our students according to their level of competence. I
She wears jeans or a skirt, according to her mood.
it depends/It d 'pendz/if someone asks you a question
and you say it depends, you mean you cannot give a
definite answer because the thing that they are asking
about ma( change or may be different in different
situations _
"Are you coming out tonight? .... Maybe. It depends. "1 "'Do
you enjoy parties? .... Sometimes. It depends." I "Do you two
get on well?" "It depends."
@ DEPEND ON/
RELY ON
1 to trust someone or something to do what
you need or expect them to do
2 words for describing someone that you can
always rely on
3 words for describing something such as a
machine, method, or piece of information that
you can rely on
4 words for describing people or things that
you cannot rely on

DEPEND ON/RELY ON 323 DEPEND ON/RELY ON
I to trust someone or something to do what
you need or expect them to do
rely on count on
depend on bank on
trust
rely on/rI'lal on II
You're the only person who can fly this plane, so we're all
relying on you. I Truman was relying on the advice of mili-
tary experts. I rely on sb/sth to do sth We rely on the new
data system to give us the most up-to-date and accurate infor-
mation. I rely on sb/sth for sth During the voyage we relied
on the radio for news of the outside world. I rely heavily on
These projects have always relied heavily on Federal aid.
depend on/dI 'pend on I] -o:n/to rely on someone to do
what you need or expect them to do because you know that
they are the type of person that you can trust Iv T]
depend on sb to do sth You can depend on Alison to arrive
on time. I The manager depends on me to keep him informed
about production levels. I depend on sb It's good to know
I can depend on you any time I need help. I depend on sb
for sth We are now facing the most serious challenge in our
history and we depend on you, our allies, for support.
trust ]tr^st/to have confidence in someone's ability or will-
ingness to do what needs to be done Iv T]
trust sb to do sth We can certainly trust Sarah to look after
the house while we are away. I He was a man who could be
trusted to keep cool and act responsibly in a crisis. I trust
sb with sth I wondered how anyone could trust an idiot like
that with such an important assignment. I trust sb "But how
do I know it'll work? .... Just trust me. "1 trust sb's judge-
ment (=rely on someone's ability to judge well) I wasn't
sure what we should do, but I trusted his judgement.
count on / kaont on II -o:n/to rely on someone to do some-
thing that you need them to do, especially to give you help
or support Iv T]
count on sb to do sth We are counting on you to wake us
up in time. I count on sth "'Will my car be ready by five
o'clock? .... Possibly, but don't count on it. "" I I represent the
Socialists. Can we count on your vote? I count on sb for
help/support ete In the UN debate the Americans will be
counting on the British for support.
bank on / be0k on II -o:n/to rely on something happen-
ing or someone doing something so that you can make
plans for the future Iv T]
They might offer you another job, but I wouldn't bank on
it. I We are expecting to get government approval for our
plans, in fact we are banking on it.
2 words for describing someone that you can
always rely on
reliable solid
can rely on steady
dependable be a safe pair of hands
can count on be there
reliable Ir 'lambal/[adj]
Hasn't Mark arrived yet? That's odd, he's usually so reli-
able.I Select an honest and reliable dealer who will supply
you with high quality goods.
reliability/ri ,lamblti/ In U] This latest evidence casts
some doubt on her reliability (=on how reliable she is) as
a witness.
can rely on/kon r; 'la; on/if you say that you can rely
on someone, you mean that they can be trusted to do some-
thing that you need or expect them to do Iv phrase]
I can always rely on Helen. If she promises to do something,
she does it. I "'You won't tell anyone, will you? .... You can rely
on me. "'1 He's only a child. Can he be relied on? l I hope we
can rely on your discretion.
dependable/dI 'pendobal/someone who is dependable
can always be relied on to work or perform to the same
satisfactory standard, especially in a difficult situation
[adj]
She is one of the most dependable players on the team. I I have
the greatest confidence in John. He is honest, efficient and
wholly dependable.
dependability/dl pendo I bilti/ In U] Cardenas gained a
reputation for dependability (=for being dependable) and
sound judgement.
can count on/kon kaont on/if you can count on some-
one, you can always rely on them to help or support you
[ v phrase]
If you ever need any help, you know you can always count
on me. [ Paddock was not particularly intelligent but I felt
sure I could count on his loyalty.
solid/'sold 11 'so=-/someone who is solid can always be
relied on to be honest and to behave in a socially accepta-
ble way [adj usually before noun]
Rex was everyone's idea of a solid, respectable lawyer. [
Susan's husband was a good man - solid, decent, but so
boring/
steady/, stedi! someone who is steady is very honest and
has a serious attitude to their work [adj]
There's no need to worry about her, she's very steady. I
steady worker We know he has a drink problem, but he is
a steady worker, and it would be unreasonable to fire him.
be a safe pair of hands/bi: o ,serfpeor ov 'hmndz/an
expression used especially in newspapers: if someone is a
safe pair of hands you can rely on them do a difficult and
important job without making mistakes or taking risks
[ v phrase ]
The campaign has been entrusted to Mr Patten, widely
regarded as being a safe pair of hands.
be there/,hi: '63:r/an informal expression meaning to
always be ready to help someone or be sympathetic when
they have problems or worries Iv phrase]
be there for sb Don't worry - whenever you need me I'll be
therefor you. I Parents should always be therefor their chil-
dren, especially in the difficult teenage years. I be there
That's why I hated my father. He was never there when I was
in trouble or feeling down.
3 words for describing something such as a
machine, method, or piece of information that
you can rely on
reliable
can rely on
tried and tested/well-tried
reliable Ir'laoball [adj]
Luckily we had a reliable map of the area to help us. [ Vacci-
nation is the most reliable method of preventing infection. I
reliable source (=a source of information that you trust)
I've heard from a reliable source that Elizabeth Taylor is get-
ting married again.
reliability / r l, la o ' bl ti/[n U ] There is some uncertainty
about the reliability of the data (=about how reliable the
data is) used in this research. [ The advantage of this system
is its reliability and speed.
can rely on/kon r 'la on/[v phrase]
You can rely on the postal service. It's really very good. [ What
we need is some hard evidence that we can rely on.
tried and tested/well.tried /,trald on testad, wel
'traxd,/a method or plan that is tried and tested or well-
tried has been used many times before and is known to be
one that you can rely on [adj phrase]
Massage is a tried and tested method of treating stress-
related illnesses. [An experienced teacher will demonstrate
some well-tried practical techniques that have been found to
work in the classroom. [ This traditional medicine is made
to a tried and tested formula containing more than a dozen
herbs.
4 words for describing people or things that
you cannot rely on
unreliable
can't rely on

DEPEND ON/RELY ON 324 DESCRIBE
unreliable/i^nri']albal,,/[adj]
My old car is getting so unreliable; I think it's time I bought
a new one. I Amanda's the most unreliable person I've ever
known. You never know what time she's going to arrive. I
Long range weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable.
unreliability/^nrilaiobilti! [n U] the unreliability of
statistical evidence
can't rely on / ka:nt ri'lai on [[ kant-/[v phrase]
You can't rely on the buses. They're quite often late. [ Most
of the soldiers in the Emperor's army were inexperienced con-
scripts and could not be relied on.
dependable DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2
dependence ADDICTED 4
dependent ADDICTED 1
dependent: be dependent on DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1,
NEED 3
depending on DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 3
depict DESCRIBE 3
deplete REDUCE 5
deplorable BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 2
deplore DISAPPROVE 2
deport LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 5
deposed: be deposed GET RID OF 4
deposit PAY FOR 14, PUT 1, 16
deposit: put a deposit on PAY FOR 3
depraved BAD PERSON 2
depreciate VALUE 7
depress SAD/UNHAPPY 11
depressed SAD/UNHAPPY 2
depressing SAD/UNHAPPY 9, 10
depression FAIL 11, HOLE 1, SAD/UNHAPPY 12
deprive sb of sth TAKE STH FROM SB 2
deprived POOR 2
depth DEEP 3
depth: be out of your depth UNDERSTAND 12
depths: the depths DEEP 1
deputation REPRESENT 4
deputize REPLACE 2
deputy MANAGER 4, REPRESENT 3
deranged CRAZY 1
derelict CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
derisory LITTLE/NOT MUCH 7
derivative COPY 5
derive from/be derived from COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7
derogatory DISAPPROVE 4
descend DOWN 3, 5
descend on/upon VISIT 3
descendant FAMILY 7
descended: be descended from COME
FROM/ORIGINATE 3, FAMILY 7
describe DESCRIBE 1, 2
describe: be difficult/hard to describe EXPRESS 5
describe sth/sb as CALL/DESCRIBE AS 1, DESCRIBE 3
@ DESCRIBE
to describe a person, thing, place etc, by
saying what they are like
to describe an event, situation, or experience
to describe someone or something in a
particular way, for example to show that you
think they are good, bad, interesting etc
a written or spoken account that describes a
person, thing, place etc
a written or spoken account that describes an
event, situation, experience etc
1 to describe a person, thing, place etc, by
saying what they are like
describe
give a description of
describe/d ' skrab/to give a written or spoken account
of a person, thing, place etc, by providing a lot of details
about them so that other people can imagine what they are
like [v T]
Can you describe the man who threatened you? [ It's hard
to describe what he's like. Sometimes he's aggressive, some-
times be's friendly, lit was hopeless trying to describe such
an enormous country in just a couple of paragraphs. [ I had
to describe my symptoms to the doctor at the hospital. [ How
would you describe your job?
give a description of/glv o di ' skripj'an ov/to describe
someone or something, especially by giving details about
what they look like [v phrase]
It's important that you give the police an accurate descrip-
tion of the robbers. [ The brochure gives a general descrip-
tion of the island and lists all the amenities available to
tourists.
2 to describe an event, situation, or experience
describe give an account of
talk about tell of
write about
describe/d 'skralb/to give a written or spoken account
of an event, situation, or experience, by providing a lot of
details about it so that other people can imagine what it is
like [v T]
Many of the soldiers were asked to describe life on the
Western Front. [ Some of the events described in the article
have shocked our readers. [ Could you try to describe, in
detail, the procedures that you used in the operation? [ it's
hard to find the words to describe how I felt when she told
me the news.
talk about/to:k obaot/to describe something that you
have seen or experienced by talking to people about it [v T]
My grandfather loves talking about his experiences in Italy
during the war. [ It's best to talk about your problems to
someone - maybe they can help you.
write about/ralt obaot/to describe an event, situation
etc in writing [v T]
Get the children to write about what they do in their free
time. [ Graham Greene wrote about his experiences in Mexico
in his book 'The Lawless Roads:
give an account of /,gv on o'kaont o/to describe an
event, experience etc by just giving the details of what
happened, but without adding your own feelings or opin-
ions etc Iv phrase]
The book gives an account of the author's travels in Africa. [
He began his lecture by giving a brief account of the many
different religions in the region. [ give sb an account of
After regaining consciousness she was able to give police a
remarkably detailed account of the accident.
tell of/tel ov/to describe an event, situation etc, espe-
cially as though it was a story, in order to make it sound
more exciting or impressive [v T]
Many of the prisoners have told of the terrible conditions they
were kept in and how they were beaten. [ Some of the local
stories tell of a tragedy on the cliffs where a young girl fell
to her death. [ tell sb of On his return he told us of the many
terrible and wonderful things he'd seen on his journey.
 to describe someone or something in a
particular way, for example to show that you
think they are good, bad, interesting etc
describe sth/sb as depict
portray sb/sth as paint a picture
describe sthlsb as/dI 'skraib (sth/sb) az/[phr v T]
I wouldn't describe the job as boring, just a little repetitive. [
John describes himself as the intelligent but shy type. [ The
victim described her attacker as a well-built man in his late
40"s.
portray sblsth as /po:rtreI (sb/sth) ez/ to describe
someone or something by deliberately choosing certain
details about them in order to make people form a particu-
lar opinion about them, especially a bad opinion [phr v T]

DESCRIBE 325 DESERVE
In an attempt to descredit Biko, the police portrayed him as
a man of violence. I The treatment has been portrayed as a
painless way of curing cancer, which is untrue. I portray
sb The magazine has been criticized for the way it portrays
women.
depict/di'pikt/to describe someone or something, espe-
cially in writing, by providing a lot of details which give
a very true idea of what they are like Iv T]
depict sb/sth Dublin today is still very similar to the place
which James Joyce depicted in his novel 'Ulysses'. I His sto-
ries depict life in Trinidad as seen through the eyes of a young
boy growing up there in the early 1950s. I depict sb/sth as
In this new biography she is depicted as a lonely and
unhappy woman.
paint a picture / pent  pktSr/paint a bleak/grim/
rosy ere picture (=describe in a very pleasant or very
unpleasant way, which may be quite different from the
truth) Iv phrase]
He's painted a very grim picture of her but really he's not that
bad. I Visitors to the country bring back stories of dreadful
suffering, but the government-controlled press paints a very
different picture. I The picture of the Presidentpainted by the
media is one of an amiable, easy-going kind of guy.
4 a written or spoken account that describes a
person, thing, place etc
description portrayal
descriptive profile
description/d]'skrpSanl [n C]
The police have issued a description of the two men who were
seen running away from the scene of the crime. I I thought
his description of the house he grew up in was very beauti-
ful. I description of sb/sth as Her description of him as an
unfeeling and selfish beast is totally unfair. I answer/fit a
description (=look like the person who has been
described) A man fitting that description was seen leaving
the house shortly after the crime was committed.
descriptive Idlskrptv/ a piece of writing that is
descriptive contains a lot of details describing what some-
one or something is like, rather than telling a story or
describing events [adj]
The book contains many fine descriptive passages about
everyday life in China. [ There's far too much descriptive
writing in the novel. [ Some of Wordsworth's best poetry is
descriptive and recalls scenes of his childhood.
portrayal/pa:r Itreml/a description of a person, thing,
place etc that deliberately chooses certain details about
them in order to make people form a particular opinion
about them, especially a bad opinion [n C]
Steinbeck's portrayal of life in small-town America is very
realistic. [ Miss Jackson's portrayal of her father, both in
words and images, leaves us in no doubt as to his real
nature. [ portrayal of sb/sth as I cannot accept the article's
portrayal of these men as bloodthirsty terrorists.
profile/praofa[l/a short description of someone's life,
work, and character, especially of someone famous, which
is written in a newspaper, shown on television etc In C]
Listening to the radio profile of Mandela, I was amazed to
hear what his life has been like. I Every week the magazine
presents the profile of a well-known sports personality.
5 a written or spoken account that describes an
event, situation, experience etc
description report
account commentary
description/dI ' skr:pan/a written or spoken account of
an event, situation, experience etc, which gives a lot of
details so that people can imagine exactly what it is like
[nC]
The article contained a beautiful description of the wedding. [
vivid description (=very clear and realistic) He gave a
vivid description of the events leading up to the revolution. [
graphic description (=very clear description, usually
including unpleasant details) Her diary contains a graphic
description of her experiences in the prison camp.
account/'kaont/a written or spoken description of an
event that just gives the details and not someone's own feel-
ings or opinions In C]
In her diary she provides us with a detailed account of the
first time she ever met the king. i Both climbers published
accounts of their ascent of Everest. [ blow-by-blow account
(=an account giving all the details of an event just as they
happened) We got a blow-by-blow account of the interview
as soon as she arrived home. [ eyewitness account (=an
account given by someone who saw the events they
describe) A passer-by was able to give an eyewitness account
of the accident. [ firsthand account (:an account given by
someone who was present at or took part in the events they
describe) An American journalist's firsthand account of the
Revolution is the most objective view of events we have so far.
report/rx p:rt/an official written or spoken description
of a situation or event, which describes and explains what
happened In C]
As soon as you get back from China I want you here in my
office to give me a full report. I The report stated that the acci-
dent had been caused by human error. [ According to the
newspaper report there were three gunmen involved in the
robbery.
commentary /'komantari II ka:monteri/ a spoken
description of an event such as a game, a race, or an impor-
tant ceremony, which is given while it is happening, espe-
cially on television or radio In C]
commentary on George spent the afternoon listening to the
commentary on the game. I Chet Brinkley gave the televison
commentary on President Kennedy's funeral in 1963. I run-
ning commentary (=a continuous commentary all the
time that something is happening) Sarah was looking out
of her window and giving us a running commentary on what
was happening out in the street.
description DESCRIBE 4, 5
: .... description: give a description of DESCRIBE 1
descriptive DESCRIBE 4
i!i!. desecrate DAMAGE 4
!iii desert LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 7, LEAVE A
:?i RELATIONSHIP 1
..:::.
-; deserted EMPTY 3
ili! deserts: get your just deserts DESERVE 2.
ilii! deserve DESERVE 1, 2
 deserve: get what you deserve DESERVE 2
; deserve: well-deservedlwell deserved DESERVE 3
DESERVE
to deserve to receive something such as a
reward, punishment, or praise
ways of saying that someone deserves the
problems, difficulties etc that they are having
words for describing something, especially
something pleasant, that someone deserves
1 to deserve to receive something such as a
reward, punishment, or praise
deserve be sb's by right
merit have earned
be owed
deserve/d z3:rvl if someone deserves something such
as a reward or a punishment, it is right that they should
receive it for what they have done Iv T not in progressive]
deserve sth I'm glad she got the prize - she thoroughly
deserved it. [ After all that work you deserve a rest. [ Whatever
did I do to deserve such horrible children? [ deserve to do
sth The German team deserved to win the championship -
they played much better than any of the other teams. [ richly
deserve (=very much deserve something bad) She finally
got the punishment she so richly deserved.
deserving [ adj] The money is only given to the most deserv-
ing cases (=to the people who need it most and therefore
deserve it most).

DESERVE 326 DESIGN
merit/'mert/merit further attention/a closer look/
close examination etc (=be good enough or suitable to
deserve more attention, consideration etc) Iv T not in
progressive]
It's an interesting idea and it certainly merits further atten-
tion. I I didn't think his poem was of a high enough standard
to merit inclusion in the collection. I This is a major scien-
tific breakthrough which merits far greater acclaim than it
has so far received.
be owed/hi: 'aud/be owed an explanation/answer/
apology etc (=deserve to have something explained,
answered etc, especially by someone who does not want to
do this) Iv phrase]
She feels she's owed an apology after all the cruel things you
said about her. I Why didn't you come to my party - I think
I'm at least owed some kind of explanation.
be sb's by right/bi: (sb's) ba rat/if you say that an
important job, prize etc is someone's by right, you mean
it should definitely be given to them because they are the
person who most deserves it Iv phrase]
Mishima felt that the Nobel Prize was his by right, and was
surprised to hear that Kawabata had received it instead. [
This decision is beingfiercely contested by the Mohawk, who
claim that the land is theirs by right.
have earned/hev 3:rnd/to deserve something such as
reward, success, or someone's respect etc because you have
worked very hard Iv phrase]
I think Paul should getfirstprize - he's certainly earned it. i
Pri Anne has earned a lot of admiration and respect for
her work for the Save The Children Fund.
2 ways of saying that someone deserves the
 problems, difficulties etc that they are having
deserve serve sb right
had it coming get your just deserts
get what you deserve get your comeuppance
deserve/d z3:rv/ [V T not in progressive]
deserve sth What have I done to deserve all this trouble? l
deserve it I hit him but he deserved it. I deserve to do sth
The man is a brutal killer - he deserves to die. I deserve sth
for sth I said some cruel things to him, but he deserved it
for the way he treated me.
had it coming/,hed t  karnak3/you say someone had it
coming when you think they deserve the punishment or
bad experiences that they have got, and this is what you
expected to happen Iv phrase]
I don't feel sorry for him at all. He had it coming. I had it
coming to you/her etc I'm surprised he's complaining
about his wife leaving him - he's had it coming to him for
years
get what you deserve Iget wot ju: dx iz3:rv/you say
someone gets what they deserve when they receive a
punishment or something unpleasant happens to them as
a result of their own actions, and you think they deserve
it Iv phrase]
I don't care what happens to those English soccer fans - as
far as I'm concerned they 7l get what they deserve. I "Do you
feel sorry for him? .... No, he shouldn't have hit that guy - he
got what he deserved. ""
serve sb right /is3Irv (sb) ra:t/you say it serves some-
one right when you think they deserved to have something
unpleasant happen to them, especially when you think
they have been stupid or unkind [v phrase not progressive]
"'Tom's video's been stolen, '" "It serves him right - I'm always
telling him to lock the door but he never listens to me." I serve
sb right for doing sth No wonder you were sick - serves
you right for drinking so much. I it would serve you right
if It'd serve you right if I told your father about what you
did yesterday.
get your Just deserts/get jo: r ds^st dI za:rts/ifa very
bad person gets their just deserts, they finally get
punished or something very unpleasant happens to them,
after they have avoided punishment for a long time
Iv phrase]
The hated dictator finally got his just deserts. I In the end
Wild Bill got his just deserts when two lawmen shot him.
get your comeuppance/,get jo: r kAm'^pans/to finally
get the punishment or unpleasant experiences that you
deserve for something bad that you have been doing
[ v phrase]
The evil Mr Grove gets his comeuppance at the end of the
story. I Let them laugh. They 7l get their comeuppance sooner
or later.
3 words for describing something, especially
something pleasant, that someone deserves
well-deserved/well deserved
well-earned
well.deserved/well deserved/,wel dI 'z3zrvd-/[adj]
daguar has a well-deserved reputation for producing fine
cars. I Canada's victory against the US hockey team was well
deserved.
well-earned/,wel '3:rnd/well-earned rest/reputa-
tion/holiday ere (=one that someone earns because they
have worked very hard for it) [adj only before noun]
At the end of their walk they stopped off at a nearby hotel
for some well-earned rest. [ In 1971 dane Fonda won a well-
earned Oscar for her performance in "Klute'.
design DESIGN 1, 2, PATTERN 1
DESIGN
to decide and plan the way something new
will look and work
1 to design something
2 the way that something has been designed
3 someone whose job is to design things
1 to design something
design
plan
design Id 'zan/to design something such as a machine,
building or piece of clothing Iv T]
Sally's amazing. She designs and makes all her own clothes. I
He used to be a professional cyclist - now he designs bikes
for a French company. I The new office layout was designed
by a firm of specialists. I be well designed The school has
not been very well designed - the corridors are too narrow.
plan/plen/to design something such as a city or build-
ing by deciding how the different areas, rooms etc should
be arranged Iv T]
The town was originally planned in the 1950s, when there
were fewer cars. I They are having a new house built and they
are planning the garden themselves. I We planned the
stadium very carefully, with special facilities for the
disabled.
2 the way that something has been designed
design
design/dI izaIn/In U]
There is nothing wrong with the design, but the engine is
simply not efficient enough. I In a skycraper of this size, good
design is essential.
3 someone whose job is to design things
designer
architect
planners
designer Id 'zanor/someone whose job is to design new
machines, furniture, clothes etc In C]
She works as an industrial designer. I All theatres need
designers for the sets, lighting and costumes. I He claims he
was the first major fashion designer to sell to younger people.

DESIGN 32? DESTROY
architect/'o:rktekt/someone whose job is to design
buildings [n C]
The building was designed by the famous architect Frank
Lloyd Wright.
planners I plenrz/the people who are responsible for
planning something large such as a city, park, or large
public building [n plural]
I sometimes wonder if planners ever actually consider the
needs of the people the building is for. I The town planners
are responsible for the new shopping complex.
designed: be designed to PURPOSE 2
designate CHOOSE 5
designer DESIGN 3, FASHIONABLE 1
desirable SEXY 1
desire SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 4, WANT 8, 9
desired effect: have/achieve the desired effect
EFFECTIVE 1
desolate EMPTY 3, SAD/UNHAPPY 5
despair HOPE 9, 11
despair: drive sb to despair SAD/UNHAPPY 11
despair: in despair HOPE 12
despairing HOPE 12
despatch/dispatch MESSAGE 1, SEND 1 4
,
desperate HOPE 10, SERIOUS SITUATION 1
desperate: be desperate WANT 4
desperate: be desperate for NEED 2
despise HATE 1
despite DESPITE 1
despite the fact that/in spite of the fact that
ALTHOUGH 1
despite this: in spite of this/despite this BUT 2
DESPITE
even though the situation is difficult,
unusual, unpleasant etc
 words meaning despite
1 words meaning despite
in spite of
despite
in the face of
through
in spite of/in 'spait v/[prep]
In spite of everything I just said, I still enjoyed the trip. I
People became healthier in spite of the shortages, by eating
good, simple food. I In spite of the language difficulty, we
soon became friends.
despite/dI'spait/(used especially in written English)
[prep ]
Despite the heat, he wore a black leather jacket. I Greg is
determined to travel alone despite his friends' warnings. I
Despite my misgivings, I took the job. I She ran into Sam in
the bar, despite her efforts to avoid him. I despite yourself
(=despite efforts to behave or feel differently) At the end of
the movie, despite herself, Liz began to cry.
In the face of/in ba 'fe,s av/if someone does something
in the face of a very difficult or unpleasant situation, they
succeed in doing it even though that situation seemed
likely to stop them [prep]
She has shown extraordinary courage in the face of her crip-
pling illness. I They managed to pass anti-slavery laws in
the face of violent opposition from Southern whites.
through /0ru:/ if someone continues to do something
through a difficult or unpleasant situation, the situation
does not make them stop doing it [prep]
Dedicated nurses kept the hospital open through all the
shooting and bombings. I through thick and thin
(=through difficult as well as pleasant times) Jill had
always been a loyal girl, who supported her friends through
thick and thin.
despondency SAD/UNHAPPY 12
despondent SAD/UNHAPPY 2
destination TRAVEL 15
destined: be destined to CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
destiny FUTURE 7
destitute POOR 1
destroy DESTROY 1, 2, 6, KILL 6, 14, SPOIL 6
DESTROY
to damage something so badly that it cannot
be repaired or it no longer exists
ways of saying that bombs, fires, storms etc
destroy a building, town, or area
to deliberately destroy something so that it
cannot be repaired or no longer exists
to destroy a building because it is in bad
condition or in order to build something else
in its place
the act or result of destroying something
to destroy a car or other vehicle in an
accident so that it cannot be repaired
to destroy someone's hopes, friendships,
happiness, beliefs etc
causing great damage, so that things are
destroyed
1 ways of saying that bombs, fires, storms etc
destroy a building, town, or area
destroy be flattened
devastate obliterate
be ravaged by wreck
destroy/di'strai/[v T]
The earthquake destroyed much of the city. I Huge areas of
rainforest are being destroyed every year by multinational
companies seeking quick profits. I During the war, nearly
two and a half million homes had been damaged or
destroyed.
devastate [ devastelt/to cause so much damage to a place
or an area that most of the things there are destroyed [v T]
be devastated by The island was devastated by a hurricane
in 1970. I Some 600 acres of central K6ln had been devastated. I
devastate sth Floods and disease devastated the harvest.
be ravaged by/bi: revid3d bail ifa place or an area is
ravaged by war, fire etc, it is very badly damaged and a
lot of it is destroyed [v phrase]
Eritrea has been ravaged by war for the last 20 years. I
In summer huge areas of the French countryside are regu-
larly ravaged by forest fires.
be flattened/bi: 'fletnd/if an area such as a town or a
forest is flattened all the buildings or trees there are
destroyed by bombs, storms etc [v phrase]
be flattened by Thousands of miles of woodland were fiat-
tened by storms last month. I be flattened Our house in
Berlin was completely flattened.
obliterate/a'blrtaret/to destroy a place so completely
that nothing remains, and it is difficult to see or imagine
what was once there [v T]
The village had been obliterated a month earlier, and 61
people had been killed. I Frequent flooding eventually obliter-
ated all traces of the community that used to live there.
wreck/rek! to damage something such as a building so
badly that it cannot be repaired or used again [v T]
The power station was wrecked by a huge gas explosion. [
The air bases had been pretty well wrecked by the bombings.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

DESTROY 328 detail
:2 to deliberately destroy something so that it
cannot be repaired or no longer exists
destroy
wreck
destroy/d 'stroll Iv T]
Rioters soon reached the more affluent part of town, destroy-
ing property and looting stores. I Here is your replacement
credit card. Please destroy the old one. I Their mission was
quite clear - they were to destroy the US fleet.
wreck/rekl to deliberately damage a machine or all the
things in a room so badly that they cannot be repaired [v T]
He came home drunk again, threatening to wreck the apart-
ment. I Most of the public phones around here have been
wrecked by vandals.
3 to destroy a building because it is in bad
condition or in order to build something else
in its place
demolish
knock down/pull down
tear down
demolish Id 'mohS II d1 'mo-/to destroy a building using
heavy equipment Iv T]
When the Church of St John was demolished, a cave was dis-
covered beneath it. I Some of the apartment blocks were so
badly designed they had to be demolished within a few years
of being built.
knock down/pull down/,nok 'daon, ,pul 'daon II ,nok-/
to destroy a building or part of building, especially a house,
usually in order to build something new [phr v T]
knock down sth We made the living room bigger by knock-
ing down a few interior walls. I She was brought up in a tatty
little house that has since been pulled down. I knock sth/
it/them down We will have to knock a number of houses
down to build the new access road.
tear down / teo r ' daon/a word meaning to destroy a large
building or part of a building, especially because it is dan-
gerous [phr v T]
tear down sth During the occupation, several churches and
historic buildings were torn down. I tear sth/it/them
down The tower was so badly damaged in the storm that
the owners were forced to tear it down.
4 theact or result of destroying something
destruction demolition
devastation be in ruins
destruction Idl 'strAkJ'n/ [n U]
The war led to widespread death and destruction. I What can
we do to slow down the destruction of the ozone layer?
devastation/,devo' stednl the result of an area being
completely and violently destroyed In U]
The scene after the explosion was one of utter devastation.
demolition / derna'lfdnl the deliberate destruction of a
building, because it is in bad condition or in order to build
a new one In U]
The building of the new freeway is going to mean the demo-
lition of an entire housing complex. I The old factory will be
pulled down by demolition experts.
be in ruins Ibi: n 'ru:nzl ifa town, city etc is in ruins,
it has been completely destroyed Iv phrase]
The village was in ruins. Nothing had survived. I Four days
and nights of continuous bombing had left the city in ruins.
5 to destroy a car or other vehicle in an
accident so that it cannot be repaired
wreck
write off
total
wreck/rek/[v T]
I was stupid enough to lend him my car, and he completely
wrecked it!
wrecked [adj] Thousands of wrecked vehicles lay aban-
doned along the roadside.
write off/,rait 'of II -'a:f/a British word meaning to
damage a vehicle, especially a car, so badly that it can
never be used again [phr v T]
write off sth He's managed to write off two cars already this
year. ] write sth/it/them off She wrote her mother's car
off the first time she drove it.
write-off/'rart of II -a:f/[n C] Luckily he escaped with a few
scratches but the car was a complete write-off (=was so badly
damaged it could never be used again).
total / 'totl/an American word meaning to damage a vehi-
cle, especially a car, so badly that it can never be used again
Iv T]
It was a terrible accident. Both vehicles were totaled.
6 to destroy someone's hopes, friendships,
happiness, beliefs etc
destroy
wreck
break
destroy Id'str/Iv T]
Because of this dreadful experience, my faith in human
nature was completely destroyed. I Even close relationships
can be destroyed by alcoholism. I Norway has destroyed
England's chances of a place in the final.
wreck Irekl to completely destroy someone's relation-
ships, hopes, chances etc, especially by doing or saying
something without thinking of the likely results Iv T]
As everyone had warned him, the affair wrecked his marri-
age. I The minister's provocative speech wrecked any chances
of a peace settlement.
break/breik] break sb's spirit/resolve/will/resistance
etc (=destroy someone's determination although they have
tried hard to keep it) Iv T]
Years in prison had not broken Mr Mandela's spirit. I
Threats to harm her children finally broke Petra's determi-
nation not to betray her friends.
7 causing great damage, so that things are
destroyed
destructive
devastating
destructive Id'strAktiv/[adj]
We were shown a video about the destructive effects of carbon
monoxide on the environment. I Jealousy can be a powerful
and very destructive emotion. I Each of these bombs has ten
times the destructive power of the bomb that was used on
Hiroshima.
destructively [adv] Some of the scientists on the project
became worried that their discoveries would be used de-
structively.
I
devastating / devastet0/having the effect of damaging
something so badly that it is completely destroyed [adj]
The US then launched its most devastating attack of the
entire war. I The impact on the countryside around Cher-
nobyl has been devastating. I devastating effect Africa's
latest drought has had a devastating effect on its rural
population.
destroyed by fire: be destroyed by fire BURN 8
destruction DESTROY 4
destructive DESTROY 7
detach REMOVE 2
detach yourself from SEPARATE 10
detached EMOTIONAL 6
detail DETAIL 1
detail: give more details DETAIL 7
detail: go into detail/details DETAIL 4
detail:-go into more/greater detail DETAIL 7
detail: in detail DETAIL 4

DETAIL 329 DETAIL
DETAIL
one of the specific points or facts in
something such as a plan, description,
written agreement, or design
1 a detail
2 all the details about a subject, person etc
3 small details in something such as a contract
or set of rules
4 containing or giving a lot of details
5 not containing a lot of details
6 not containing enough details
7 to give more information about something by
adding details to what you have already said
or written
1 a detail
detail thing
point nuance
detail/'di:teil II dl'teill In C/U]
She looked closely at every detail of the plans before approv-
ing them. I I like the idea of a one-day conference, but we'll
need to work out all the details. I She had some problems with
her employer. I forget the details. I You've made some good
general points in this essay, but you need to pay more atten-
tion to detail. I Canaletto's pictures contain an enormous
amount of detail. I have an eye for detail (=be good at
noticing details and judging their effect) He'd make a good
interior designer, he has a real eye for detail. I full details
(=the complete details about something) For full details of
this exclusive offer, just send a stamped addressed envelope.
point Ipamtl a particular detail in something such as a
plan, a statement, or a written agreement that needs to be
considered In C]
I'd like to discuss one or two small points with you before we
publish the report. I At the end of her speech she summarized
all the points she had mentioned. I Almost everything has
been agreed. There is just one final point that has to be
settled.
thing IOirJI an informal word meaning one of the details
in something such as a plan, a story, or a written agreement
[n C]
I want to ask you about my contract. There are one or two
things I don't quite understand. I In this new version of the
story several things have been changed.
nuance/'njum:ns II 'nu:-/a very small and specific detail
in a language, for example a small and delicate difference
in meaning between similar words In C/U]
Living in a country helps you to understand the nuances of
the language. I F/ann O'Brien's work is full of subtle
nuances, which foreigners may find difficult to understand, t
I'm not disagreeing with the spirit of what he's saying - it's
more a question of nuance.
all the details about a subject, person etc
particulars the ins and outs of
specifics technicalities
particulars/pa r 'tkj a°larz/the exact details of a particu-
lar person, plan, agreement etc In plural]
I am not interested in the particulars of who does what. I just
want the job finished. I The treaty was signed despite some
haggling over the particulars of each country's stock of
weapons. I take down sb's particulars (:write down their
personal details, for example their name and address) After
the police officer had taken down their particulars, the two
men explained what had happened.
specifics/spa  sflks/all the separate facts and details
about something, especially a plan or statement In plural]
The proposals look good in broad terms, but are rather weak
on specifics. [ get down to/go into specifics (:consider or
talk about the details) Now that we've agreed on the general
principles of our policy, let's get down to specifics. I I can't
go into specifics at this time, but I can tell you that the Mayor
categorically denies all the allegations against him.
the ins and outs of/5i ,nz and 'aots ov/an informal
expression meaning all the exact details of something com-
plicated such as a problem, a situation, or a way of doing
something In phrase]
I can't tell you all the ins and outs of the situation over the
phone, I'll write to you next week. I I found I needed to spend
quite a while learning all the ins and outs of the system.
technicalities/, tekn ]a ' kmla tizl technical details of some-
thing such as a system, process, or skill which you can only
understand if you have special knowledge In plural]
I asked him to explain the technicalities of laser-printing. I
They discussed the technicalities of this delicate operation for
some time.
small details in something such as a contract
or set of rules
the small/fine print
technicality
the small/fine print 16a ,sma:l, ,fain 'print/details that
are included in a contract or agreement and are written in
small print, with the result that people do not always notice
them In phrase]
I'm afraid you can't cancel your contract now. You should
have read the small print. I A close study of the small print
will reveal that many of these insurance policies do not cover
the cost of repairing storm damage. I Sometimes special con-
ditions are hidden away in the fine print.
technicality I,tekn 'kelti/a small detail in a law or a
set of rules, especially one on which a decision is based In
C usually singular]
She was obviously guilty, but eventually we were forced to
release her because of some legal technicality. I on a tech-
nicality (=because of a technicality) England's 400m relay
team were disqualified from the Commonwealth Games on
a technicality.
containing or giving a lot of details
detailed go into detail/details
elaborate blow-by-blow account
in detail in-depth
detailed I'di:tedd II dI'teIld/[adj]
We couldn't find a detailed map of the region. [ We need as
much detailed information about the case as possible before
we can make a decision. I Police officers have put together
a detailed description of the man they want to interview. [
Market research is usually very detailed, involving thou-
sands of people answering hundreds of questions.
elaborate/'lebarat/elaborate plans/preparations/
notes/excuses etc (=carefully produced and full of details)
[adj]
Ela borate preparations were being made for the president "s
visit. I She had prepared an elaborate excuse for her absence. I
The diaries have been published in one volume, with
elaborate biographical notes by Professor Emson.
in detail/in di:texl II -d tefl/if you talk or write about
something in detail, you include a lot of details or pay
attention to all the details [adv phrase]
The victim was able to describe her attacker in detail. I
in greater/more detail (:more thoroughly and including
more details) I think we need to discuss the matter in greater
detail. I in some detail (=including quite a lot of details)
Fortunately he was able to recall the events of that evening
in some detail.
go into detail/details/,gnu Inta 'di:tml(z) II -d 'ted(z)/
to include a lot of details when you are describing or
explaining something, especially something that you have
already mentioned Iv phrase]
Without going into detail I can tell you that we have had a
very successful year. I Be brief. If you go into too much detail
people will get bored. I Chapter i is a brief outline of the

DETAIL 330 determined by
process, then the next chapter goes into all the technical
details.
blow-by-blow account/,bloo baI bloo olkaontl a full
and detailed description of an event, in which everything
that happened is described in correct order In phrase]
I want a blow-by-blow account of the whole meeting, what
was said, and what was decided.
in-depth /  in IdepO-/in-depth study/interview/analy-
sis/survey etc (-one that is done very thoroughly in order
to find out as much information as possible) [adj]
The committee has ordered an in-depth study of juvenile
crime. I We shall be conducting a series of in-depth interviews
with economic experts.
in depth [adv phrase] Going to college gave me an oppor-
tunity to pursue in depth some of the ideas I had gathered
from left-wing magazines.
5 not containing a lot of details
broad rough
general outline
broad Ibr:dl broad outline/generalization/under-
standing etc [adj only before noun]
Can you give me a broad outline of what the speech was
about. I It's only a short course, but it's enough to give you
a broad understanding of the subject. I To say that people
are healthier than they used to be is a broad generalization
- the reality is a little more complex.
general I dsenroll general account/description/idea/
picture etc (=which does not give detailed facts or infor-
mation) [adj only before noun]
This is a general account of the computer's facilities. For fur-
ther details refer to the instruction manual. I I need to have
a general idea of the programme before I can start detailed
planning. I The book gives a certain amount of general
advice on diet.
rough Ir^fl rough idea/plan/description/outline etc
(=which is intentionally not detailed, but provides enough
information to help you understand something) [adj only
before noun]
Can you give me a rough idea of what the building will look
like when it's finished? l We've drawn up a rough plan but
we haven't worked out all the costs. I The programme notes
give a rough outline of the story of the opera.
outline ]'autlain] outline agreement/knowledge/ap-
proval etc (=based on general principles, not on exact
details) [adj only before noun]
Students taking this course need to have at least an outline
knowledge of computing. I The two leaders have reached an
outline agreement on controlling short range nuclear
weapons.
6 not containing enough details
vague
sketchy
thin
vague ]veg/providing too few details to give a clear idea
about something [adj]
There were vague rumours of an armed rebellion. I His
instructions were rather vague. I They couldn't even give me
a vague idea of how much it was likely to cost. I vague about
She was extremely vague about her plans and merely said
that she was going to work abroad.
sketchy ] sketfi! sketchy information/notes/report/
knowledge ere (=not thorough or complete enough
because it lacks details) [adj]
It would be very unwise to change our policy on the basis of
such a sketchy report. [ I'm afraid my knowledge of the sub-
ject is rather sketchy.
thin loin] a piece of information or a description that is
thin is not detailed enough to be useful or effective [adj not
before noun]
I was disappointed with your history essay, it seemed a little
thin in terms of content. I I'm afraid the evidence is really too
thin as it stands. We need to investigate further.
7 to give more information about something by
adding details to what you have already said
or written
give more details
expand on
enlarge on
be more explicit
elaborate
go into morel
greater detail
specify
give more details /,gv ma: r 'di:te;lz JJ-d'teilz/ Iv
phrase]
Can you give me more details about the cost of these courses,
please? I The press officer was unable to give any more details
about the assassination attempt.
expand on/ik'spend on JJ -o:n/to provide more informa-
tion about something in order to make it easier to under-
stand Iv T]
Could you expand on your last comment, please? [ When
asked to expand on his accusations of injustice, the journalist
refused to say any more.
enlarge on IIn'lo:rd5 on II -o:n/to provide more facts and
details about something that you have already mentioned
in a general way Iv T]
At first the author simply lists the main points of the book,
without enlarging on them. I The interview will give you an
opportunity to enlarge on the ideas you put on your applica-
tion form.
be mere explicit/bi: ,ma:r ;k'splst/ to give much
clearer and more detailed information about something,
especially when you have been asked to do this Iv phrase]
I don't understand what your plan is exactly, could you be
a little more explicit? I be more explicit about The main
political parties need to be much more explicit about their
policies for the environment.
elaborate ] i lebaret/a formal word meaning to provide
more details about something that you have said or writ-
ten, especially in order to make it easier to understand [v
I/T]
elaborate on/upon I would like now to elaborate upon the
points raised in my introduction. I elaborate What exactly
do you mean by 'traditional education'? Would you care to
elaborate? I elaborate an argument/point ere This argu-
ment will be elaborated more fully in the next chapter.
go into more/greater detail ] goo Into ,mo: r, ,greIto r
'di:tei1 JJ -di tell] to give someone more details about some-
thing that you have already said or written [v phrase]
Her talk was interesting, but I wish she'd gone into more
detail about the early part of her career. [ I don't have time
to go into more detail, perhaps we could talk about this
tomorrow.
specify/'spesfai/to state something exactly and with
full details, so that it is completely clear what you want,
what must be done etc Iv T]
specify that The rules clearly specify that competitors are
not allowed to accept payment. I specify which/where/
how etc Architects usually specify which particular hard-
wood they want to use. I specify sth The order specifies a
December deadline for completion of the work.
detailed DETAIL 4
details INFORMATION 1
details: give more details DETAIL 7
details: go into detail/details DETAIL 4
detain DELAY 1, KEEP SB IN A PLACE 1
detainee KEEP SB IN A PLACE 4
detect NOTICE 1
detective INVESTIGATE 3
detention KEEP SB IN A PLACE 5, PRISON 2
deter PERSUADE 12
deteriorate WORSE 3, 4, 7
determination DETERMINED 6
determine FIND OUT 1
determined DETERMINED 1, 2, 3
determined by: be determined by DEPEND/
IT DEPENDS 1

DETERMINED 331 DETERMINED
@ DETERMINED
if you are determined to do something, you
have decided to do it and you will not let
anything stop you from doing it
1 to be determined to do something
2 words for describing behaviour or actions that
show determination in a difficult situation
3 always very determined to do what you have
decided to do
4 to be extremely determined to do something
5 determined to do something, even if you
have to hurt or cheat other people in order to
do it
6 the quality of being determined to achieve
whatever you have decided to do
I to be determined to do something
determined be resolved
be intent on mean business
set your mind on purposefully
be set on tenacious
determined ldi't3:rmnd/[adj]
determined to do sth She's determined to enjoy every
minute of her vacation, i Both sides in the dispute seemed
determined not to compromise. I determined (that) Ruth
was determined that nothing would get in the way of her pro-
motion. I He's determined the evening will be a success. I
determined in The tenants are determined in their opposi-
tion to the latest rent rises. I determined There's no point
in trying to stop her - it'll only make her even more
determined.
be Intent on/bi: re'tent Dn/to be determined to do some-
thing, especially something that other people do not
approve of or think you should do Iv phrase]
be intent on doing sth He's one oft hose people who always
seems intent on stirring up trouble among his workmates. [
There's not much you can do if people are really intent on
destroying themselves with drugs. I be intent on sth He's
intent on a confrontation. Nothing can persuade him
otherwise.
set your mind on/Iset j: r 'maind on/if you set your
mind on doing something, you are determined to do it,
especially something that you will have to work hard to
achieve Iv phrasel
set your mind on sth Once she's set her mind on something,
there's no stopping her. [ set your mind on doing sth She's
set her mind on having a big posh wedding.
be set on/bi: set on/if you are set on doing something,
you are determined to do it even if other people do not think
you should Iv phrase]
be set on doing sth Well, if you're really set on marrying
this man, I suppose we'll have to let you. [ be dead set on
doing sth (=be very determined to do something) I think
he's crazy, but he's dead set on travelling all that way alone.
be resolved/bi: ri 'zolvd II -'zo:lvd/a formal expression
meaning to be determined to do something because you are
sure that it is the right thing to do Iv phrase]
be resolved to do sth We were resolved to make our coun-
try a true democracy. [ be resolved that The city authori-
ties are resolved that the school will be built within six
months.
mean business/,mi:n 'biznIs/to be determined to do
something, even if it involves harming someone, especially
when other people think you are not serious about doing
it Iv phrase not in progressive]
I could tell from the looks on their faces that these guys meant
business, so I quickly handed over all the money I had. I He's
not kidding. This time he means business.
purposefully/'p3:rposfli/in a way which shows that you
are determined to do something [adv]
She strode purposefully up to the door and rang the bell
loudly.
tenacious/t'neos/bravely determined to do some-
thing you have decided to do and unwilling to give up
trying even when the situation is very difficult and people
are opposing you [adj]
He proved to be a worthy and tenacious opponent.
tenaciously [adv] Citizens fought tenaciously to keep the
troops out of the city.
2 words for describing behaviour or actions that
show determination in a difficult situation
determined resolute
stubborn dogged
steadfast
determined /d't3:rmnd/ determined resistance/
opposition/efforts (=when the people involved are very
determined) [adj usually before noun]
The French army met with determined resistance from enemy
troops. I Workers made a determined effort to stop the fac-
tory from being closed down.
stubborn/'st^born/stubborn opposition/resistance/
defenee ete (=when the people involved are very deter-
mined to get what they want in a difficult situation and
refuse to let anyone change their mind) [adj usually before
noun ]
People showed stubborn resistance to the plans for a nuclear
power station in the town. [ Despite the stubborn opposition
of the business lobby, the President managed to raise interest
rates.
stubbornly [adv] Kerry knew the policies would be stub-
bornly resisted by opponents.
steadfast /'stedfa:st II-fest/ steadfast actions or
behaviour show that you are determined not to change
your beliefs or your support for someone, especially
because you want to be loyal to them [adj]
steadfast belief/refusal/support ere Naomi's steadfast
belief in the cause never left her for one moment. [ My par-
cuts'steadfast refusal to support the dictator was to cost them
dearly later on. [ steadfast in your loyalty/determina-
tion Churchill could have remained in office only if his party
had remained steadfast in their loyalty.
steadfastly [ adv ] A few left-wing organizations steadfastly
opposed the war.
resolute/' rezzlu:t/resolute actions or behaviour show
that you are strongly determined not to change your opin-
ions or intentions, even though other people want you to
change them [adj]
She's best remembered for her resolute commitment to
women's equality. [ He had a resolute sense of purpose which
intimidated all his enemies. [ Our actions must be resolute
and our faith unshakable if we are to succeed.
resolutely [adv] He resolutely refused to reveal where he'd
got his information.
dogged /'dog]d II 'd:-/ dogged actions or behaviour
show that you are very determined to continue doing some-
thing, even though it is difficult or takes a long time, and
refuse to let others prevent you [adj usually before noun]
Everyone admired his dogged determination to teach him-
self to read. [ The dogged persistence of the police finally paid
off when Hooper told them where he'd seen the woman.
doggedly [adv] A little boy was doggedly stalking a butter-
fly with a net.
always very determined to do what you have
decided to do
determined strong-willed
single-minded uncompromising
determined ld 'ts:rmnd/[adj]
Eddie is a very determined and highly ambitious young
man. I My aunts were bold, and extremely determined; I knew
they wouldn't give up the fight easily.

DETERMINED 332 devastating
single.minded /sIOgal 'malndd-/ someone who is
single-minded has one main aim and works very hard to
achieve it [adj]
To be successful in this job, you have to be single-minded and
tireless. I Modern Americans very often spend their whole
lives in the single-minded pursuit of wealth. I Mrs Thatcher's
single-minded efforts to reverse Britain's industrial decline
strong.willed /,strorj 'wld-[[ stm:rj-/ always very
determined to do what you want to do, even if other people
think it is not a good idea to do it [adj]
At seventy-nine, she is as strong-willed as she ever was.
u ncompromislng / an ' komprarnalz 1rj II - ' ko:m-/un will-
ing to change your opinions or intentions because you are
sure you are right, even when other people think you are
being unreasonable [adj]
Many people know him as an uncompromising business-
man, but away from work he's kind and reasonable. I Her
father's uncompromising character meant she grew up to be
a shy, nervous young woman.
4 to be extremely determined to do something
go to any lengths
be hellbent on
whatever the cost
go to any lengths l,gau to ,eni 'lerjOs/to be willing to
do anything in order to succeed, even if you have to cheat,
be cruel, risk danger, or spend a lot of money [vphrase not
in progressive]
He's prepared to go to any lengths to find the men who killed
his daughter. ] No matter what she wants, he'll go to any
lengths to get it for her.
be hellbent on/bi: ,hel'bent on/an informal expression
meaning to be extremely determined to do something, espe-
cially something dangerous or something that may have
a bad result Iv phrase]
Bob's hellbent on going through with the plan, even though
everyone knows it'll end in disaster. I Gangs of youths ram-
paged through the streets, hellbent on destruction.
whatever the cost/woteva r 6a 'kost II -k3:st/if you
do something whatever the cost you are determined to do
it and do not care if you have to spend a lot of money, work
very hard, do something dangerous etc lady phrase]
I want him back here as soon aspossible, whatever the cost. I
They are determined to win back the disputed territories,
whatever the cost in human terms.
5 determined to do something, even if you
have to hurt or cheat other people in order to
do it
ruthless
stop at nothing
by fair means or foul
ruthless / ' ru:Olas/so determined to get exactly what you
want that you do not care if you have to hurt other people
in order to do it [adj]
When it comes to business, she's completely ruthless. [ He was
known as the most ruthless man in the entire army. [ the ruth-
less ambition of senior party workers
ruthlessly lady] Since he was seventeen he's been striving
ruthlessly to become a top business executive.
ruthlessness In U] It is her ruthlessness that got her where
she is today.
stop at nothing/,sto at 'nAOr3 II ,sto:p-/ if you say
someone will stop at nothing to get something, you mean
they will do anything in order to get it, even if it is cruel,
dishonest, or illegal Iv phrase]
Where her career is concerned, she'll stop at nothing to get
what she wants.
by fair means or foul/baI fea r mi:nz a:r  faol/if some-
one is determined to do something by fair means or foul,
they will use dishonest methods if honest methods do not
succeed [adv phrase]
He has to win every argument, by fair means or foul. I By
fair means or foul, we're going to win.
6 the quality of being determined to achieve
whatever you have decided to do
determination willpower
will spirit
resolve tenacity
d rive perseverance
determination/dI ,ta:rm 'neIj'an/[n U]
Mandy received an award for her courage and determina-
tion in overcoming her disabilities. I determination to do
sth He left home at eighteen, with the determination never
to return again. I Nothing will weaken our determination
to make our country free and democratic once again. I
dogged determination (=determination from someone
who will fight hard in order to achieve something) Thanks
to their dogged determination and hard work, they managed
to survive the recession.
will/wl/the strong desire to do or achieve something In U]
the will to live/recover/get better, etc When her hus-
band died, she seemed to lose the will to live. I the will to
do sth Without the will to succeed, you'll never make it to
the top.
resolve/r zolv II rl 'zo:lv, r 'za:lv/a formal word mean-
ing a strong determination to succeed in doing something
especially because you are sure that it is a good thing to
do In U]
Spending millions of dollars on anti-terrorist security
has demonstrated the President's resolve to the worM. I
strengthen/harden/stiffen sb's resolve (=make it
stronger) The abduction of her daughter strengthened her
resolve to make the city a safer place for children.
drive/dralv/the determination and energy that makes you
successfully achieve something In U]
Without my mother's drive and energy, our family would
have starved. I He's clever enough, but he lacks drive.
willpower / 'wl,paoar/the ability to control your mind
and body in order to achieve whatever you decide to do
In U]
Giving up smoking is a question of willpower. I by sheer
willpower (=by willpower only) She made herself walk
again by sheer willpower, when her doctors had given up
hope.
spirit/' sptQt/the courage and energy that someone shows
when are determined to achieve something or determined
not to let a difficult situation destroy their will In U]
She was defeated in the end, but showed a lot of spirit
throughout the game. I fighting spirit (=brave determina-
tion to keep fighting in a difficult situation) Konishiki
hadn't lost his fighting spirit yet. I break sb's spirit (=make
them lose their determination to fight, be brave etc) The
hours of interrogations and beatings were designed to break
his spirit.
tenacity/ta' nesti/a formal word meaning the determi-
nation to never stop trying to succeed in something or to
allow anyone to stop you from doing what you want to do
In U]
During the war years, Stalin relied heavily on the courage
and tenacity of the Soviet people. [ You may not like the man,
but you can't help admiring the skill and tenacity with which
he argued his case.
perseverance / ,p3:rs  'v iarans/the ability to keep trying
for a long time to do something which is difficult even
when you are unlikely to be successful In U]
Learning a foreign language requires patience and persever-
ance. I Nothing important can be achieved without per-
severance.
deterrent PERSUADE 13
detest HATE 1, 2
detonate EXPLODE 2
detour: make a detour AVOID 7
detract from SPOIL 1
detriment: to the detriment of HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
detrimental: be detrimental to HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
devastate DESTROY 1
devastating DESTROY 7

devastation 333 devil's advocate
devastation DESTROY 4
!; develop DEVELOP 1, 4,GET 15, GROW/GET BIGGER 1,
;i INVENT 1
.; develop from COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7
• ;:- develop into BECOME 5
change over a period @ DEVELOP
of time and become
bigger, stronger,
better etc
increase in number or
amount
INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
increase in activity,
feelings etc
@ INCREASE IN
ACTIVITY,
FEELINGS ETC
gradually move
towards achieving
something
@ PROGRESS
DEVELOP
to change over a period of time and become
bigger, stronger, better etc
in the process of developing
a process or period during which someone or
something develops
to cause something to develop
to help something to develop
1 to change over a period of time and become
bigger, stronger, better etc
develop
evolve
develop/dl'vcbp/[v 1]
The disease is so slow to develop that some patients may die
of old age first. I As the EC develops it will become stronger
both economically and socially. I develop from/into She
developed from a shy child into an international star.
evolve !i vlv II i 'va:lv! to develop and change gradually
over a long period of time, especially in ways which make
it easier to succeed or to continue to exist Iv I]
Life evolved on earth over millions of years. I The city's
importance as a financial centre has evolved slowly. I evolve
into Fish have evolved into around 30, 000 different species.
2 in the process of developing
developing
embryonic
emerging
developing/d 'vebpo/[adj only before noun]
Nourishing food and exercise are very important to a
developing child. I These drugs are effective in the develop-
ing stages of the disease.
embryonic/,embri'omk, II -'(a:mk-/plans, activities etc
that are embryonic are in a very early stage of develop-
ment, so that all the details have not yet been fully planned
or decided [adj]
The plans for the huge new conference centre are still
embryonic. I The embryonic wind industry is anxious to
persuade people to use this new form of energy.
emerging ] rn3:rdsrj/in an early stage of development
and only just beginning to be noticed [adj only before noun]
In 1911 the newly emerging car industry faced a crisis. I Many
Western economies are now encountering competition from
the emerging nations of Asia and Africa.
3 a process or period during which someone or
something develops
development
evolution
progression
development/dl'vebpmznt/[n U]
More research is necessary for the development of a cure for
diseases like AIDS and cancer. I Most other countries cannot
keep up with Taiwan's dramatic development as an indus-
trial economy. I A child's emotional development may be
severely damaged by a traumatic experience in its early
years.
developmental/dx ,vebp'mentl-/[adj] The new car is still
at the developmental stage (=still being developed).
evolution /,i:vz'lu:J'gn, ,evz-II ,evz-/ a long, gradual
process during which something develops and changes,
usually becoming more advanced In UI
The book explains the evolution of plant and animal life on
earth. I If you are interested in the evolution of our national
dishes, we have some recipes you can try.
progression/prgre.fan/a development from one situa-
tion or state to another In U]
Young children go through the normal progression of learn-
ing to walk, and then talk. I The progression of Storni's writ-
ing in later years reflects his private life. I progression from
sth to sth The progression from school to university is
difficult for many students.
4 to cause something to develop
develop
evolve
develop/d 'velpl [v T]
At school we're trying to teach young people to develop a sense
of responsibility. I The department is developing a strategy
to fight unemployment.
evolve / 'vt)lv 11 I 'Va:Iv, I 'V:):|V/ to change something
slowly over a long period so that it becomes better Iv T]
If you want to be a poet, you must evolve your own style of
writing.
5 to help something to develop
nurture
foster
nurture/' n3:rtj'r/to spend a lot of time and effort think-
ing about and helping a plan, idea or feeling t.o develop Iv T]
The President has nurtured the idea of nuclear arms reduc-
tion for at least seven years. I During those long years in the
refugee camp, deep grievances were nurtured.
foster/'ftsta r II 'f:-, ' fa.--/to help a skill, feeling, idea etc
to grow and develop over a period of time Iv T]
These classroom activities are intended to foster children's
language skills. I It had been the government's policy to foster
close ties with neighbouring states.
developed ADVANCED 2
developing DEVELOP 2
development BUILD 3, DEVELOP 3
developments NEWS1
deviant NORMAL 4
device MACHINE 1, TOOL 1, WAY/METHOD 5
devices: leave sb to their own devices ALONE 2
devil: be a devil DIFFICULT 3
devil: talk of the devil/speak of the devil ARRIVE 4
,, devil's advocate: play devil's advocate DISAGREE 5

devious 334 DIE
devious DISHONEST 1, 3
devise INVENT 1
devote SPEND TIME 3
devote attention to ATTENTION 2
devoted FAITHFUL 1, LOVE 4
devoted: be devoted to LOVE 3
devotee LIKE SB OR STH 8
devotion FAITHFUL 2, LOVE 2
devour EAT 6
devout RELIGION 3
dexterity GOOD AT 8
diagnose FIND OUT 5
dialect LANGUAGE 1
diametrically opposed OPPOSITE/REVERSE 3
dice CUT 6
dicey RISK 2
Dickensian OLD-FASHIONED 4
dictate TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 1
dictated by: be dictated by DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1
dictatorial TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 8
dictatorship GOVERNMENT 4
diction SPEAK A LANGUAGE 10
die DIE 1, 8
die: I could have died/I almost died
die: I nearly/almost died LAUGH 6
die away DISAPPEAR 2
die away/fade away QUIET 5
die/be killed DIE 2
die down QUIET 5, STOP HAPPENING 2
die for DIE 4
die out DISAPPEAR 3
die young DIE 3
EMBARRASSED 1
i
DIE
to die as a result of illness, old age etc
to die in an accident, in a war, through
violence etc
to die when you are still young
to die in order to save someone, or because
of something that you believe in
words for describing someone who is about
to die
the death of a person in an accident, from
disease, or in a war
ways of saying that someone's close relative
or close friend dies
ways of saying that a plant dies
words for describing an illness that someone
is certain to die from
1 to die as a result illness, old age etc
die drop dead
death kick the bucket
pass away/pass on snuff it
go
die Idaq Iv I]
The old man knew he was dying. I I want to see Ireland again
before I die. I The former President died during the night,
after a long illness. I die of The brilliant young actor
Richard Beckinsale died suddenly of a heart attack at the age
of 30. I die in your sleep (=die while sleeping) Two nights
later the old woman died peacefully in her sleep. I die a
natural death (=die as a result of illness or old age) Few
people believe that the Emperor died a natural death.
death/dce/the event of someone dying In U]
On her father's death $100,000 was placed in trust for her
until she was twenty-one. I Charlotte remained in Paris until
her death in 1956. I Do you believe in life after death?
pass away/pass on I,p:s o'we, ,pa:s 'n [[ ,ps ':n/
expressions used instead of the word 'die' when you want
to say it in a more gentle or polite way [phr v I not in
progressive ]
"'Your mother passed away during the night, "" the doctor told
him. I I'm a widow. My husband passed on last year.
go/gou/a word meaning to die, used when someone has
just died or is going to die very soon, and you want to say
it in a gentle or polite way Iv I]
His heart is very weak. He may go at any time. I Well, we all
have to go some time.
drop dead/,drDp 'ded II ,dr(:p-/to die suddenly while
you are walking, sitting, or doing something Iv phrase]
One morning he dropped dead in the street on his way to
work. [ drop dead from Many of the prisoners had dropped
dead from heat and exhaustion.
kick the bucket /kk 6 b^ko]t/ an informal and
humorous expression meaning to die Iv phrase not in
progressive]
I inherited the old place when my Pa finally kicked the
bucket. I When I kick the bucket you'll be able to live on my
life insurance.
snuff it /'snAf q an informal and humorous British
expression meaning to die Iv phrase not in progressive]
You all think I'm about to snuff it, don't you! Well you're
wrong. I've got plenty of years left in me yet.
2 to die in an accident, in a war, through
violence etc
die/be killed
death
to death
accidental death
death by misadventure
lose your life
come to a sticky end
perish
suffer heavy losses
die/be killed/da, bi: 'kfld/[v I]
My parents died in a car crash. I Ten people were killed and
several were injured last night when a bomb exploded near
the Stock Exchange. I be killed by At least twenty people
were killed by mortar attacks in Sarajevo yesterday. I be
killed in action (=while fighting in a war) We had three
sons. Two of them were killed in action out in Vietnam.
death/deO/the event of someone dying in an accident, in
a war, through violence etc In U]
Carelessness in the workplace can lead to injury and even
death. I After the death of her eldest son in the war, Mrs Jack-
son was unwilling to let any of her other children join the
armed forces. I violent death (=death caused by violence)
People in this part of town live under constant threat of vio-
lent death.
to death /to 'deO/ burn/starve/freeze/choke etc to
death (=die as a result of being burned, not having any food
to eat etc) [adv phrase]

DIE 335 DIE
Explorers on an earlier expedition froze to death in a bliz-
zard. I If we don't do something about the famine in these
countries now, millions of people will starve to death.
accidental death /,eksdentl 'deO/a legal and official
expression meaning death resulting from an accident in U[
Although most people believe she was murdered, the police
are claiming that it was a case of accidental death. [ This
policy provides full insurance in the case of accidental death.
death by misadventure /IdeO ba msdlventj'ar/ a
legal expression meaning death resulting from an accident,
used especially when stating the judgement of a court in
phrase]
At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of death by
misadventure.
lose your life/,lu:z jo:r lalf! an expression used espe-
cially in news reports and in literature meaning to be killed
because of a terrible event iv phrase]
Thousands lost their lives in the great famine. [ His grand-
father lost his life in a coal mining disaster. [ In the Second
World War, hundreds of thousands of German civilians lost
their lives as a result of Allied bombing.
come to a sticky end/,khm to a ,stlki 'end/an infor-
mal expression meaning to die in a violent or unpleasant
way, used especially when you think the person who died
deserves this iv phrase not in progressive]
At the end of the film the prisoners are rescued, and the
pirates come to a sticky end. [ Nicolae Ceaucescu, the former
Romanian dictator, eventually came to a very sticky end.
perish / perS/a word used especially in literature, or in
descriptions of past events, meaning to die in a terrible
event iv I ]
Everyone aboard the ship perished when it sank off the coast
of Maine. [ Many good people perished in the long trek across
the desert.
suffer heavy losses /,sAfa r ,hevi 'losz [[-b:sz/if
military forces suffer heavy losses, a very large number
of their soldiers die while fighting Iv phrase]
The US forces withdrew after suffering heavy losses. I The
division had suffered heavy losses at Brady in July 1944.
3 to die when you are still young
die young
be cut off in your prime
untimely death
die young /,daI 'j^13/to die when you are young [vphrase]
Like so many other pop stars, Jim Morrison died young. [
I'd rather die young than be senile.
be cut off in your prime/bi: kAt ,of In j3:r 'praim/to
die when you are still young, strong, and active as a result
of an accident, sudden illness etc Iv phrase]
Marcus could have had a brilliant career if he had not been
cut off in hisprime. [ be cut offin your prime by Dolly was
an energetic woman who was suddenly cut off in her prime
by scarlet fever.
untimely death/An,ta;mli 'deO/someone's death, hap-
pening before it would normally be expected In singular]
He became chairman of the Reserve Bank and remained its
head until his untimely death in 1928.
4 to die in order to save someone, or because
of something that you believe in
die for
give your life/lay down your life
martyr
die for/'da fa:r/iv T not in passive]
The soldiers were prepared to die for their Queen and coun-
try. [people who have died for their beliefs or their religion
give your life/lay down your life/Igv jz):r laf, leI
daon ja:r 'laf/an expression used especially in literature
or in descriptions of past events, meaning to die to save
someone or because of something that you believe in Iv
phrase]
This memorial commemorates those who gave their lives in
the Great War, 1914-1918. [ give your life for/lay down
your life for He was ready to lay down his life for his
comrades.
martyr I'ma:rtar/someone who is killed because of their
religious or political beliefs, and becomes very famous
because of this in C]
The early Christian martyrs were massacred in their
thousands. [ Romero became El Salvador's martyr and his
funeral was attended by 80,000 mourners. I make sb a
martyr/make a martyr out of sb (=make people think
someone is a martyr) When the student died in prison, the
government realized that they had made him a martyr.
martyrdom in U[ His martyrdom (=the fact that he was
killed for his beliefs) encouraged the people to resist.
5 words for describing someone who is about
to die
dying on your deathbed
be close to death/ be at death's door
near to death
dying/'da-Irj/[adj]
The old woman lay dying in the back room. I Duclos plunged
his knife into the dying Corsican's chest. I Scott realised his
father was a dying man.
be close to death/near to death/bi: klaus ta deO,
,nm r ta deO/a formal expression meaning to be going to
die very soon Iv phrase]
Mrs Benson is close to death now. I hope her son gets here
in time. [ When fisherman spotted the boat, its crew were
already near to death.
on your deathbed/on ja:r 'deObed/to be lying in your
bed, about to die [adv phrase]
My grandmother gave me that ring when she was on her
deathbed. I He felt compelled on his deathbed to seek God's
forgiveness.
be at death's door/bi: at IdeOs da:r/to be extremely
ill and likely to die soon Iv phrase]
When they saw that she was at death's door, they sent for the
priest to come to her bedside.
6 the death of a person in an accident, from
disease, or in a war
death
fatalities
loss of life
death IdeO/in C usually plural]
The number of deaths from AIDS is increasing. I In the last
five years deaths have fallen because of lower speed limits
and tough drink-driving laws. I The bomb caused at least
one death, and several serious injuries. I the death toll (=the
number of deaths in one terrible event) The latest death toll
in the Turkish earthquake is over 2000.
fatalities/fa'teltiz/the number of people who have died
in accidents or from illnesses, especially when this is being
calculated officially in plural]
A fifth of all road fatalities are caused by people not wear-
ing seatbelts. I Most fatalities from this infection occur within
the first two weeks of life.
loss of life /,los av 'laIf 11 ,l:):s-/ a formal expression
meaning the deaths of people in an accident or in war In
phrase]
The Bishop condemned what he called "this futile and tragic
loss of life'. I Fire had broken out on board the ship. which
sank without great loss of life.
7 ways of saying that someone's close relative
or close friend dies
lose be widowed
bereaved be orphaned
lose Ilu:z/if you lose a close relative or friend, they die
iv T[

DIE 336 DIFFERENT
Sharon lost her husband in a climbing accident in the
Himalayas. I It's a terrible thing to lose someone very close
to you. I Some of the survivors have lost all their family in
the earthquake.
loss [n singular] Two of her sons were killed in the war and
she still mourns their loss (=losing them).
bereaved/b  ri:vd] having recently lost a close relative
or friend as a result of their death [adj]
The bereaved mother stood by her son's grave, her eyes
flooded with tears. I Research into cot deaths has reassured
bereaved parents that they are not to blame.
bereavement [n U] Jim's depression had been brought on
by the bereavement he had suffered (=because he had been
bereaved) earlier in the year.
be widowed/bi: 'wIdood/if someone is widowed, their
husband or wife dies [v phrase]
Uncle Mac was widowed at the age of fifty-one, but he remar-
ried before the end of the year.
widowed [adj] Sue's widowed mother came to live with her.
be orphaned/hi: :rfandl if someone, especially a child,
is orphaned, both their parents die [v phrase]
Paulo was orphaned at the age of three, when both his par-
ents were killed in a plane crash.
orphaned [adj] Steffi's working in a home for orphaned
children in Calcutta.
8 ways of saying that a plant dies
die
wither
die Idaq Iv 1]
No wonder your plants always die. You never water them. I
I thought the geraniums might die if I planted them outside. I
Because of the drought all their crops have withered and
died.
dying [adj only before noun] The warm air was thick with
the scent of dying flowers.
wither ]'wr! to die after gradually drying up and
becoming smaller and weaker, especially through lack of
water [v I]
After two weeks without water the plant just withered and
died.
withered [adj] The vase was full of withered flowers.
9 words for describing an illness that someone
is certain to die from
fatal
terminal
fatal ! 'fetl/a fatal illness will kill the person who has it
[adj]
One of the most difficult tasks for a doctor is telling a patient
that they have a fatal disease. I AIDS can develop at differ-
ent speeds but so far it seems to be always fatal. I prove fatal
(=eventually be fatal) Without immediate treatment, the
fever may prove fatal.
terminal /t3:rmnl/ a terminal illness is one that
cannot be cured, and the person who has it will die from
it [adj]
She has terminal cancer. I St Helen's Hospice cares for people
with terminal illnesses. I the terminal stages (=the last
stage of a disease that is killing them) Many of the patients
are in the terminal stage of the disease.
terminally [adv ] Her father is terminally ill.
" diehard CHANGE YOUR MIND 4, EXTREME 3
diet EAT 9, FOOD 3
diet: go on a diet EAT 9
: differ DIFFERENT 1, DISAGREE 1
 differ: agree to differ DISAGREE 1
' difference DIFFERENT 12, 13
. difference: it makes no difference UNIMPORTANT 2
ii': difference: tell/see the difference DIFFERENT 10
.,iii difference: there's a world of difference between
'- DIFFERENT 2
.... differences: patch up/settle your differences ARGUE 8
different
different:
different:
different
different
different
different
DIFFERENT 1, 5, 6, VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
KINDS 1
be different DIFFERENT 4
be no different from SAME 2
kinds: of different kinds
VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
kinds/types/sorts of VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
KINDS 1
way: in a different way DIFFERENT 9
way: in different ways VARIOUS/OF
DIFFERENT KINDS 6
different
which meaning?
different from
something or
someone else
DIFFERENT
@ UNUSUAL
different from what is
usual ,..
behaving differentl:y @ CONVENTIONAL
from mostpeople in
;,society ' !i.;-.;:..:.i; ...... ;.iii:;.:;.. '.:,: ...
................................. : ....... t .............
DIFFERENT
12
13
different from before, or from something or
someone else
to be completely different from something or
someone else
different from anything or anyone else
to be very different from other people and
therefore difficult to work with or be friendly
with
words for describing two or more things that
are different from each other
of the same type, but not the same one
words for describing something that is
different from other things because it has a
particular purpose or is of a particular type
ways of saying that a statement, story, or
piece of information is different from another
one when it should be the same
ways of saying that someone does something
in a different way
to be able to recognize or show how
something or someone is different from
something or someone else
to be the thing that makes someone or
something different from other people or
things
a detail, fact, or quality that makes someone
or something different from other people or
things
the amount of difference between two or
more things, amounts, or people
 "You say' is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

DIFFERENT 33? DIFFERENT
1
different from before, or from something or
someone else
different differ
not the same vary
unlike contrast with
not like diverge
distinct be a departure from
dissimilar
different/'difronq [adj not before noun]
You look different. Have you had your hair cut?[Life would
be very different now if the computer had not been invented. I
I was surprised at how it affected her but then everyone's
different aren't they?l different from (also different than
in American English) The equipment here is different from
what I have used in other companies. I This estimate is differ-
ent than what we were told to expect. I completely/totally
different When I finally met him he was completely differ-
ent from his photograph. I markedly different (=very
different in a way that is easily noticed) His sixth symphony
is markedly different in character from his earlier work -
it is lighter and more joyful.
not the same/not 6o 'sem/if two things are not the
same, or one thing is not the same as another thing, they
are different [adj phrase not before noun]
No two snowflakes are ever exactly the same. I I've tried Mex-
ican food here in London, but it just isn't the same as in
Mexico City. [After my trip around the world, I realized that
things were no longer the same between me and my boy-
friend.
unlike I ^n'lalk-/completely different from a particular
person or thing [prep]
Her earrings were unlike any I had ever seen. [ In his jeans
and T-shirt, Charles looked most unlike a lawyer. [ Unlike
my husband I love going to the theatre. [ For developing
countries this technology is a new tool unlike anything that
preceded it.
not like/not 'laik/if someone or something is not like,
or does not look, sound, behave etc like, another person
or thing, the two of them seem different to you [prep]
This dress is not like the one I ordered. [ It doesn't sound like
a frog. Are you sure it's not a toad? [ Most mysterious, a
murder which was not like any other murder he had ever
known. [ He isn't much like his brother, is he?
distinct/di'suokt/someone or something that is distinct
is completely different from another person or thing with
the result that they are considered to be a different type,
style etc [adjl
The styles of painting in the exhibition are all very distinct. [
distinct from This stage of the disease is distinct from the
others because this is when you have the fever. I This is a more
structured version of the language, as distinct from its vari-
ous spoken forms.
dissimilar/d Ismlo r, dis sl-/a formal word: two things
that are dissimilar are completely different, especially
when you would expect them to be similar [adj]
The experiment proves that dissimilar metals cool at differ-
ent rates. [ dissimilar from The two children looked as dis-
similar from each other as one could imagine. [ dissimilar
to Being ethnically dissimilar to any of its neighbours, the
Basque country proves to be an interesting holiday des-
tination.
differ /'dlfor/to be different because they have different
qualities, features etc [v I]
People's abilities differ but their rights and opportunities
should be equal. [ differ from Humans differ from other
mammals in their ability to speak and use tools. [ differ in
Shrimps from around the world differ in color, size and
shape. [ differ greatly/widely (=differ a lot) If you ask a
hundred people the same question, their opinions will differ
widely.
vary / veari/if several things of the same type vary, they
are all different from each other, especially as a result of
different conditions that exist [v I]
The effects of this medicine will vary according to individual
health, weight and sex. I vary considerably/greatly/
widely (=vary a lot) We have several witnesses to the
robbery, but accounts vary considerably. I vary in The
questions in the exam vary in difficulty.
contrast wilh /kontra:st w6 II-trast-/ if one thing
contrasts with another thing, the difference between them
is very easy to see and is sometimes surprising [v T[
His extrovert personality contrasts with his sister's quiet, shy
personality. I The snow was icy and white, contrasting with
the brilliant blue sky. I contrast sharply/markedly with
(=to be extremely different) These results contrast sharply
with other medical tests carried out in Australia.
diverge/dai 'v3:rd3, dI-/if two things diverge they used
to be the same or similar but something has made them
become different [v I]
We believe that these two languages were once very similar,
but hundreds of years ago they diverged. I diverge from It
is at this point that Julia's career diverges from the normal
path of a classical actress.
be a departure from/bi: o di pc:rto r from/a method,
way of behaving etc that is a departure from the usual
one is different because it is new and unusual [v phrase]
The addition of cream to the soup is a departure from the
traditional recipe. [ The use of television in the classroom is
a departure from generally held views on education.
2
to be completely different from something or
someone else
have nothing in common
bear no relation to
be worlds apart/be poles apart
be like chalk and cheese
be a far cry from
there's a world of difference between
be a different kettle of fish
be a whole new ball game
have nothing in common Ihev ,n^O:rj in 'komzn II
-'ka:-/ if two or more people or things have nothing in
common, they do not have the same qualities, features, or
opinions and it is difficult for them to be friends, work
together etc Iv phrase not in progressive]
Apart from the fact that we went to the same school, we have
absolutely nothing in common. [ have nothing in common
with Batavia was a completely new modern city, having
nothing in common with other Indonesian towns.
bear no relation to/be r ,noo rl lelj'an tu:/to be com-
pletely different from and not connected in any way with
another person or thing [v phrase not in progressive]
The picture of my mother on her wedding day bears almost
no relation to the tired, grey-haired woman of today. I This
murder bore no relation to the earlier killings.
be worlds apart/be poles apart/bi: w3zrldz zpa:rt,
bi: 'poolz o ,po:rt/people, beliefs, or ideas that are worlds
or poles apart are so completely different that there is
almost nothing about them that is similar [v phrase]
Musicians and physicists usually consider themselves to be
poles apart. I We are just worlds apart in our political views.
be like chalk and cheese/bi: lalk ,tJb:k on 'ti:z/an
informal British expression: if two people who are related
or good friends are like chalk and cheese they are com-
pletely different in a way that surprises you [v phrase]
It's hard to believe that they're brothers - they're like chalk
and cheese!
be a far cry from/bi:  fa:r Ikrai from/if a situation
is a far cry from another situation or place, it is so differ-
ent that it is almost the opposite [v phrasel
This is the 1990"s, it's afar cry from the nineteenth century
when women were not even allowed to vote. [ We ate dinner
at the Ritz, a far cry from our usual hamburger and fries.
there's a world el difference between/6ezrz z
w3:rld ov dfamns bltwi:n/if you say there is a world of
difference between two activities or situations, you mean
that they are completely different from each other and
people should not expect them to be the same

DIFFERENT 338 DIFFERENT
There is a world of difference between an occasional walk
after your meal, and proper, regular exercise.
be a different kettle of fish/bi:  difrnt ketl v f[/
an informal expression: if you say a situation is a differ-
ent kettle offish, you mean it is different from the exist-
ing situation, especially because it is more difficult Iv
phrase]
I've been involved in radio advertising, but television ads are
a completely different kettle offish. I Learning French at
school was easy, but trying to speak it in France was a differ-
ent kettle offish.
be a whole new ball game /bi:  hul nju: b:l
germ II-nu:-/an informal expression used especially in
American English: if you say a situation is a whole new
ball game, you mean it is different from the existing situ-
ation and you have never had the experience of it before
Iv phrase]
Since the development of the micro chip, selling computers
has become a whole new ball game.
3 different from anything or anyone else
unique individual
be one of a kind distinctive
be a one-off
unique /ju:ni:k/ something unique is so different,
special, or unusual that it is the only one of its kind [adj]
As far as I know it's unique and therefore very valuable. I
The tour gave us the unique opportunity of seeing what life
was really like in the desert. I Miles Davis was a brilliant
trumpeter and a unique individual.
uniquely [ adv ] Fellini's films create a world that is uniquely
and personally his own.
be one of a kind/bi: w^n v  'kaind/someone or some-
thing that is one of a kind is different because it is the only
one made Iv phrase]
Yes, the dresses in our boutique are expensive, but each of
them is one of a kind.
be a one.off/bi:  ,wan ofl an expression used espe-
cially in British English meaning to be so different or
unusual that people do not expect to find it or experience
it again Iv phrase]
I was really upset when I lost that hat. It was a one-off- I'll
never find another like it. [ The Government said the figures
were a one-off and that unemployment would continue to fall.
individual /,md vd3ul/an individual style, way of
doing things etc is different from anyone else's and is often
fairly unusual [adj]
Each baby has its own, individual personality. [ a very
individual approach to comedy I a tennis player with a com-
pletely individual style [ His clothes are very individual.
distinctive/d stxrktw/something that is distinctive
has a special quality, character, or appearance that makes
it different from anything else and easy to recognize [adj]
He has a very distinctive voice - quiet and soft in tone. [ Birds
of this type have distinctive blue and yellow markings. I The
building's most distinctive feature is its enormous dome-
shaped roof.
distinctively [adv] Of all these post-war writers Beckett has
a distinctively new approach.
distinctiveness In U] The distinctiveness of this design
comes from its balance of shape and texture.
4 to be very different from other people and
therefore difficult to work with or be friendly
with
be different
not belong
not fit in
stick out like a sore thumb
be out of step
be on a different wavelength
be different/bi.- 'dffrnq Iv phrase]
Anyone who shows any signs of being different or unusual
just isn't made to feel welcome. I You know how Stephen's,
you know, different? I saw him buying a rat last week!
not belong/not bx 'lo II -'b=01 someone who does not
belong is so different that people do not like them, do not
help them to become one of the group etc Iv I not in
progressive]
I feel I just don't belong here anymore. I'll have to look for
another job. [ From the moment she first joined the company,
Sally just didn "t belong.
not fit in/not fit ml to be so different that people do not
want to accept you [phr v I]
He's never been happy living in the city. He just doesn't fit
in very well. I I'm not surprised she's left the job. She never
fitted in around here.
stick out like a sore thumb Istk ,aut lak s: r 'Ohm/
to be very different and unusual, especially in the way you
dress or look, so that people notice you and look at you
Iv phrase not in progressive]
I'm not going, I'd stick out like a sore thumb in an expen-
sive restaurant dressed like this!
be out of step/bi: ,not av 'step/to be different from the
other people in a group because you behave in a different
way and have different ideas Iv phrase]
be out of step with I was always out of step with the other
kids in my class. I be out of step Anyone who was out of step
or tried to be individualistic was ignored or ridiculed.
be on a different wavelength/bi:
le@/to have different ideas, attitudes etc from someone
else, with the result that you do not understand each other
[ v phrase]
My dad doesn't understand me, he's on a different
wavelength. I No, I wasn't criticizing you! You know, some-
times I think we're not on the same wavelength!
5 words for describing two or more things that
are different from each other
different contrasting
distinct divergent
diverse
different/'dfrnt/[adj only before noun]
Everyone in the room spoke a different language. I Try put-
ting different kinds of food in the cage to see what the monkey
eats. I It's interesting to see how all the different characters
in the play react to the same event.
distinct/d' stlrjkt/quite clearly different from each other,
so that it is easy to divide them into groups [adj only before
noun ]
When you look into the sky you can see distinct groups of
stars. I The competition is divided into three distinct
categories.
diverse/da v3:rs II do I-, dax-/things that are diverse are
different from each other and cover a wide range of possi-
ble styles, types etc [adj]
The music college aims to encourage talents as diverse as
members of symphony orchestras and pop groups. JAil the
members of the team come from totally diverse backgrounds.
contrasting/kn'tm:strj [[ -'tras-/two or more things
that are contrasting are different from each other but are
both acceptable, correct etc [adj usually before noun]
During the debate the two candidates" contrasting views were
obvious. [ The room had white walls and contrasting
curtains and carpets in dark reds and greens.
divergent lda:'v3:rd3nt, do-I divergent interests/
opinions/theories etc (=very different from each other
and which make people disagree with each other) [adj]
Ira newspaper is to be objective, it should employ journalists
with divergent political views. I widely divergent The
problems of these two countries are widely divergent and one
solution alone will not solve them.
6 of the same type, but not the same one
different alternative
another variation
other variant
else

DI FFERENT 339 DIFFERENT
different / dffarant/[adj only before noun]
I see you'vepainted the front door a different colour. [ Every
time I see her she has a different hairstyle. I Some people say
this is Shakespeare's work, but we think it was written by
a different poet.
another/a'n^iSar/a different one from the one that you
already have [determiner/pron]
Mary's broken her leg so we need another actress for the
part. [ I saw a film last night about strange creatures from
another planet. [ This box is full. I'll go get another. [
another one I love Agatha Christie. I've just finished one
of her books and I'm going to start another one.
other ! '^6ar/different ones from the ones that you already
have [determiner/pron ]
Although we live in Hollywood we go shopping, and have
arguments, just like other families. [ This towel is wet. Are
there any others? [ I don't like pizza. What other things have
you got to eat?
else/els/somethingComewhereCnyoneChoCoth-
ing ete else (=different from the one that has just been
mentioned) [adj only after noun[
Go and play somewhere else. I'm trying to work. [ Who else
was there, apart from you and Carmen?[ She's obsessed with
money - never thinks about anything else. [ Since there was
nothing else to do they lay down and went to sleep.
alternative (also alternate in American English)
/ad't3:natlV, :1 t3:nlt II a:l=t3:r-, el-; a:lt3:mt, el-/differ-
ent but able to be used instead of the usual one [adj usually
only before noun]
My dictionary gives "organize" and "organise" as alternative
spellings. I The bridge is closed so we advise you to use an
alternate route. I We can offer you an alternative insurance
option known as "Plan B'.
variation/, veari  eU'an/something that is done in a differ-
ent way from the way that is typical or usual in C]
variation to This recipe makes an interesting variation to
the traditional Christmas cake. I variation on The play's
plot is a variation on the theme of platonic love.
variant/'veariant/something that is slightly different to
what is normal or typical but which is still acceptable in C]
The English and Americans often spell words differently, but
both variants are acceptable. I The personal name Lloyd and
its variant Floyd are Celtic in origin.
7 words for describing something that is
different from other things because it has a
particular purpose or is of a particular type
special
particular
special I'spefal/designed only for a particular purpose
and therefore not the same as other similar things [adj]
He had to be put on a special diet after his heart attack. [ A
special tool called a fladget is used for this part of the job.
particular/pa r'tIkj°lar/a particular thing or person is
one definite example of this type of thing or person, not just
any example [adj only before noun]
The lights were arranged to give a particular effect. [ In
regions where there is new industrial development, particu-
lar attention is given to wildlife. [ I didn't have any particu-
lar plan in mind.
8
contradict
conflict
go against
be at odds with
be inconsistent
with
ways of saying that a statement, story, or
piece of information is different from another
one when it should be the same
be at variance with
there is a discrepancy
between
contradictory
conflicting
discrepancy
contradict/,kontra'dkt l[ ,ka:n-/if a statement, story,
fact etc contradicts another one, it is so different that it
makes the other one seem untrue or impossible iv T[
The account of events given by the witness contradicted the
accused's version. I Have you read these newspaper reports?
They totally contradict each other. I The results of his experi-
ments seem to contradict the laws of physics.
conflict/kan' flkt/if an idea, or beliefetc conflicts with
another it is so different that it causes a problem to think
or believe both at the same time iv I]
conflict with The building safety procedure conflicts with
legal fire regulations. I What you are asking me to do con-
flicts with my moral principles, I cannot do it. ] conflict
When personal interest and political duties conflict, we expect
politicians to show their loyalty to the government.
go against / ,gao a genst/if something someone says or
thinks goes against what you think, it is different from
your opinion, attitude etc iv T]
What the teacher was saying went against everything his
parents had taught him. [ Try to keep to what the group has
decided, even if it goes against your personal opinions.
be at odds with/hi: at 'odz wi6 II - o:dz-/ira statement,
story, fact etc is at odds with another, the two things are
so completely different that one of them must be untrue
[ v phrase ]
Inspector Bryall's murder theory is completely at odds with
the facts. ] The government decision to raise taxes was at odds
with their policies on inflation.
be inconsistent with/bi:  mkans;stnt wI6/ifa state-
ment, story, fact etc is inconsistent with what you expect
or already know of the situation, it is completely different
from what is expected iv phrase]
HIS behaviour is totally inconsistent with data from other
brain damaged patients. I Britain's pollution regulations
are inconsistent with stricter European regulations.
be at variance with /bi: at 'vearians wI6/ a formal
expression meaning to be different and not always accept-
able iv phrase]
Tradition and culture are often at variance with the needs
of modern living.
there is a discrepancy between 16ear z a d1 'skrep-
ansi btwi:n/ if you find that there is a discrepancy
between two things you have found a small but important
difference which makes one of them wrong
It seems there's a discrepancy between what we ordered and
what's on the bill. [ They found a discrepancy between the
two stories, proving that one of the witnesses was lying.
contradictory /,kontradktari l[ ,ko:n-/ ideas, state-
ments, results etc that are contradictory are different
from each other, especially when you would expect them
to be the same [adj]
The two boys gave contradictory accounts of the accident. [
The speech was full of contradictory statements.
conflicting /kan'flkti3/ conflicting advice/opin-
ions/emotions/evidence etc (=so different from each
other that you do not know which to believe) [adj only
before noun]
She asked a few friends for help and received a great deal
of conflicting advice. I I tried to find out what the strange
man looked like but the children gave me conflicting
descriptions.
discrepancy/d ' skrepansil a small fact or detail that is
different from what you expected, especially one that
makes you think that something is wrong in C]
Whenever he works out his accounts there are always dis-
crepancies. [ discrepancy between The discrepancy
between the two sets of figures suggests that someone has
been stealing money from the bank. I discrepancy in An
investigation has uncovered a curious discrepancy in his
story.
9 ways of saying that someone does something
in a different way
differently along different lines
in a different way otherwise
differently I ' dfarantli/ [adv ]
The words "through" and "threw" sound the same, but they
are spelled differently. I She was differently dressed today,

DIFFERENT 30 DIFFERENT
wearing jeans for a change. I I believe you, but I think the
police might see it differently.
In a different way/n  difarnt 'we/fade phrase]
These three chemicals react to heat in slightly different ways. [
They were all affected by their mother's death but each
reacted in a different way.
along different lines /)ID Id[farnt 'lanz [[ ol:rj-/
using a different method or system fade phrase]
Their organization was run along different lines to ours.
othec|se ]1 ^6rwaz] if you do, say, or think otherwise,
you do, say, or think something different from what has
already been mentioned [adv only after verb]
I have always been faithful to my wife and anyone who says
otherwise is a liar. I We must treat this bomb scare seriously.
It would be stupid to do otherwise. I The government claims
that there is no problem with the water supply but this survey
suggests otherwise.
10 to be able to recognize or show how
something or someone is different from
something or someone else
tell sb/sth apart distinguish
tell/see the difference draw/make a distinction
differentiate discriminate
tell sblsth apart/,tel (sb/sth) 'po:rt/if you can tell two
things apart, you can see which one is which, even though
they are very similar [phr v T]
I know one of the paintings is a copy but I can't tell them
apart. I It's very confusing for the teacher because she can't
tell the twins apart. I tell sb/sth apart from It's impossible
to tell the expensive wine apart from the others.
tell/see the difference/tel, si: 6 difarns/ if two
people or things are similar and you can tell the differ-
ence, you can recognize what is different about each one
[ v phrase]
We ate snake and it tasted just like chicken. I couldn't tell
the difference. [ John can stay up late so why can't I? I don't
see the difference. I tell the difference between Somepeople
who are colour blind cannot tell the difference between red
and green.
differentiate/,df'renJ'ieit/to know, see, or show the
difference between a group of people or things [v I/T]
differentiate between As journalists we have to differen-
tiate between facts and opinions. [ differentiate sb/sth
from I can't describe the taste of the champagne but I could
certainly differentiate it from other wines. [ differentiate
The main problem with computers is that you cannot teach
them to differentiate.
distinguish /dl'strjgw/ to be able to recognize and
understand the difference between two or more similar
people or things [v I/T]
distinguish between The two paintings are so similar that
only an expert can distinguish between the original and the
copy. [ distinguish sb/sth from Of course their mother has
no difficulty in distinguishing one twin from another. [ dis-
tinguish sth Dogs can distinguish a greater number of
smells than humans.
draw/make a dislinction/drz:, meik z d1 'strjkj'an/
to say what the difference is between two or more similar
people or things [v phrase]
draw a distinction between Most societies draw a distinc-
tion between the status of an unmarried woman and a mar-
ried one. [ draw a clear/sharp distinction between In the
government's education proposals there is a clear distinction
made between academic and practical training.
discriminate/d 'skr;mneit/to be able to find existing
differences between similar people or things in order to
make a choice [v I/T]
discriminate between A very small child is not very good
at discriminating between such things as squares and tri-
angles. [ discriminate sth His hearing has been affected
and he can no longer discriminate certain sounds.
1 1 to be the thing that makes someone or
something different from other people or
things
distinguish
set sblsth apart
distinguish/d'strjgwJ'! [v T]
distinguish sb/sth from There's not a lot that distin-
guishes her from the other candidates. I All the characteris-
tics that distinguish birds from other animals can be traced
to prehistoric times. I distinguish sb/sth Hair and eye
colour are the only things that distinguish the two victims.
set sblsth apart ! set (sb/sth) pa:rt/if a quality sets
someone or something apart it makes you notice them
because it is so different or unusual [phr v T]
What set the play apart was the way it dealt with the rape
scene. [ set sb/sth apart from His dedication and charisma
really set him apart from previous Communist Party leaders.
12 a detail, fact, or quality that makes someone
or something different from other people or
things
difference
distinction
distinguishing feature/mark
difference l'dfamnsl [n C]
He's speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don't you know the
difference? l difference between They are identical, there
is absolutely no difference between them. I The difference
between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat's milk.
distinction/d' strkJ'an/a clear, but usually small, differ-
ence between similar things [n C]
distinction between Blood samples can provide a clear dis-
tinction between the two forms of the disease. [ distinction
It may seem a trivial distinction but if you say "le" instead
of "la" no one will understand you.
distinguishing feature/mark Id'strgwr3 Ifi:t r,
,ma:rk/ a feature of a particular person or thing which
makes them look different from other similar people or
things [n C]
The distinguishing feature of the African elephant is the size
of its ears. I You must declare any distinguishing marks on
your passport.
13 the amount of difference between two or
more things, amounts, or people
difference gulf
contrast divide
gap disparity
difference/'dfarons/[n singularC]
If you put all your savings towards the cost of a bike, your
father and I will pay the difference. [ difference between
There is a vast difference between daytime and nighttime
temperatures in the desert. [ difference in age/size etc
There was fifteen years or so difference in age between the
two women.
contrast/'kontra:st [[ 'ka:ntrast/the difference that is
very clear when two things that are very different are put
together or compared [n singular/U]
contrast between There could not have been a greater con-
trast between brother and sister. [ stark/marked/striking
contrast (=a big contrast) The contrast between life in the
country and the city is very marked. [ contrast One is sweet
and the other is very plain - it's a nice contrast.
gap/gep/a difference in the age, way of life or understand-
ing between two people or two groups of people [n C]
gap between There is an eleven-year age gap between Mr
Harper and his new wife. [ The gap between rich and poor
is becoming wider in this country. [ gap This community
project aims to reduce the huge cultural gaps which separate
the ethnic minorities in Melbourne.

DIFFERENT 31 DIFFICULT
gulf/gAlf/a very great difference and lack of understand-
ing between two groups of people, especially in their
beliefs, opinions, and way of life In C usually singular]
gulf between There is no denying the gulf between men and
women. I In some companies the gulf between management
and unions is as wide as ever. I gulf It is almost impossible
to cross the gulf that separates the castes in the Hindu class
system.
divide/d 'void/a difference between two groups of people,
especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life which
means they will never be friends, become the same etc
In C usually singular]
divide between Do you think we can ever break down the
divide between social classes?
disparity/d] 'speQti/a formal word meaning the large
difference between two things, used especially when you
think the difference is unfair or may cause problems In
C/U]
disparity between There is still a disparity between rich
and poor children in their access to higher education. I dis-
parity in They are firm friends despite the disparity in their
ages.
differentiate DIFFERENT 10
differently DIFFERENT 9
differing VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
difficult DIFFICULT 1, 5, 7, 8, 9
difficult: find sth difficult DIFFICULT 10
difficult: make life difficult PROBLEM 9, 10
difficult: not difficult/hard EASY 1
difficult position: be in a difficult/awkward position
PROBLEM 7
difficult to find: be difficult to find/hard to find FIND 4
DIFFICULT
difficult to do or understand
words for describing something that you need
all your skill, knowledge etc to do
very difficult to do, especially because it
involves a lot of hard physical work
difficult to do because it is complicated,
involves working with small objects etc
words for describing a situation or subject
that is difficult to deal with, talk about etc
to make a situation more difficult
words for describing someone who is difficult
to live with, work with, or do things with
because they are unhelpful, they always
disagree etc
words for describing a situation or period of
time that is full of problems, worries etc
words for describing difficult conditions that
make what you are doing more difficult
to have a lot of difficulty when you are trying
to do something
to make something that you are doing seem
more difficult than it really is
1 difficult to do or understand
 difficult take some doing
hard be a tall order
tough it's easier said
daunting than done
be no easy task not the easiest
difficult I'dlflkaltl [adj]
The book is full of long difficult words. I I couldn't answer
the last question - it was far too difficult. I difficult for sb
It was difficult for us because we'd never studied French
before. I difficult to see/hear/describe etc The insects are
so small that they are difficult to see without using a micro-
scope. I it is difficult to do sth It's difficult to imagine how
anyone could possibly find the film enjoyable. I find sth
difficult She found it extremely difficult to forgive him after
what he'd done to her. I make it difficult for sb to do sth
My mother's illness made it difficult for her to walk.
hard/ho:rd/difficult and needing a lot of mental effort or
understanding [ adj]
I thought the exam was really hard. I Trying to forget her
- that's the hardest thing of all. I it is hard to do sth They're
both really good - it's hard to know which one to choose. I
hard for sb It's hard forparents to understand how a child
feels. I find it hard to do sth I find it hard to believe that
he didn't know the gun was loaded.
tough/tAf/very difficult and needing a lot of mental or
physical effort [adj]
The reporters asked her a lot of tough questions. ] It's tough
being at the top of any company. ] tough to do/beat etc The
Chicago Bears are an excellent team and they're going to be
tough to beat.
daunting/' da:ntirj/if something that you are going to do
is daunting it seems very difficult and makes you worried
that you may not succeed [adj]
Climbing Everest is a daunting challenge for any moun-
taineer. I daunting task Rescue workers now face the daunt-
ing task of clearing up after the earthquake. I find sth
daunting She found the prospect of playing against
Navratilova both daunting and exciting.
be no easy task/bi: nao ,i:zi 'to:sk 1[ -'tesk/if doing
something is no easy task, it is very difficult and takes a
lot of time and effort Iv phrase]
Finding a solution to the present crisis in the Middle East
is no easy task. I The roads are often dangerous, and getting
food to the civilian population has proved to be no easy task.
take some doing/,telk SAm 'duIirj/an informal expres-
sion." if something takes some doing it needs a lot of effort,
skill, or determination, and you admire someone who does
it Iv phrase not in progressive]
Winning 3 gold medals in the Olympic Games takes some
doing. I I'm amazed she could write a new book every 6
months - it must have taken some doing.
be a tail order/bi: a ,tad 'a:rdar/an informal expression:
if you say that something you have been asked to do is a
tall order, you mean that it seems very difficult and you
think it is unlikely that you will be able to do it [vphrase]
"'Can you finish all this work by Friday? .... Sounds like
rather a tall order to me, I'll see what I can do. "'
it's easier said than done/its ,i:zi r ,sed 5an 'dAn/
if you say that a suggested action or plan is easier said
than done, you mean that it is more difficult than people
realize
"'Why don't we save some money and buy a house? .... That's
much easier said than done. '" [ I'm always saying I'm going
to give up smoking, but it's easier said than done.
not the easiest/not 6i: 'izzist/not the easiest thing
to do/place to find/dish to make etc (=a British expres-
sion meaning it is actually very difficult to do these things)
[adj phrase only before noun]
I'll take you there myself - it's not the easiest place to get to
if you don't have a car. [ "'Why don't you invite Tom?'"
"'Because eight o "clock on a Sunday morning isn't the easiest
time to contact him!'"

DIFFICULT 342 DIFFICULT
words for describing something that you need
all your skill, knowledge etc to do
challenging taxing
demanding exacting
be a challenge stretch
testing
challenging I'tSml onds:o/difficult in an enjoyable and
interesting way because you need to use all your skill,
knowledge, and determination to do it [adj]
Teaching young children is certainly challenging, both men-
tally and physically. I She left her last job because she didn 't
find it challenging enough.
demanding/dl m(:l:ndirj II di 'mmn-/a job or something
that you have to do that is demanding is difficult because
you have to work hard and use a lot of effort [adj]
My doctor has told me that I shouldn 't try and do anything
too physically demanding. I The new recruits had to get used
to a demanding schedule of training and study.
be a challenge/hi: a tJ'ml=nds! if something you are
planning to do is a challenge, it seems exciting because
it is difficult and you will need to use all your skill,
knowledge, and determination to do it Iv phrase]
I chose to study law because I thought it would be a challenge.
testing/testo! a testing time/experience/situation
etc (=one that makes you use all your effort, patience, and
determination and shows how strong you are mentally)
[adj usually before noun]
First we lost our business, then our house - it was a testing
time for both of us. I Fighting in a battle is probably the most
testing experience that anyone ever has to face.
taxing/tmksrj/difficult for someone because it needs
more mental or physical effort than they are able to give
[adj]
She felt that working full-time and taking a course would
be too taxing for her. I Mary's job at the library wasn't very
taxing and she had time to think of other things.
exacting Ig zmktit/needing a lot of hard work and great
care in order to make sure that it is done well [adj]
Film-editing is a difficult and exacting job.
stretch/stret/if an activity, job etc stretches you, it is
difficult enough to make you use all your skill, ability etc,
and this helps you become better at doing something Iv T]
I was disappointed with the course - I didn "t feel I was being
stretched enough. I The exercises are designed to stretch the
abilities of even the most advanced students.
3
very difficult to do, especially because it
involves a lot of hard physical work
hard arduous
strenuous pu nishing
backbreaking/ be a slog
back-breaking be murder
gruelling be a devil
hard Iho:rdl tiring and needing a lot of work, energy, or
physical effort [adj]
I've had a hard day at the office - I think I'll go straight to
bed. I Their car broke down and they were suddenly faced
with a long hard walk back to the nearest town.
strenuous/'strenjuas/ needing a lot of physical effort
[adj]
The most strenuous part of the walk was the final climb to
the summit. I You shouldn't be doing any strenuous exercise
at your age. I After half an hour of strenuous effort we
managed to get the piano into the house.
backbreaking/back.breaking I'bekbreikrj/ back
breaking work, especially work that involves carrying
and lifting heavy things, is extremely hard and needs a lot
of physical effort [adj]
It was backbreaking work lifting the nets full offish.
gruelling I'gru:ahrj/extremely tiring because it lasts a
long time and you have to use a lot of effort all the time [adj]
The Le Mans 24 hour race is the most gruelling event in the
motor-racing calendar. I Before they are allowed to join the
army, young recruits are put through a particularly gruel-
ling endurance course.
arduous/'o:rdjuas II -dsuas/work or a journey that is
arduous is long and tiring and needs a lot of strength and
effort [ adj]
In those days long-distance travel was slow and arduous. I
They were city folk and they weren't accustomed to the
arduous work on the farm.
punishing/'p^nrj/punishing schedule/workload/
climb etc (-one that is extremely hard and uses so much
of your energy that you feel tired and weak) [adj]
He set himself a punishing schedule of talks, lectures and con-
ferences all over America. I Young hospital doctors have a
punishing workload and it's not surprising that they some-
times make mistakes.
be a slog Ibi: a 'slog II -'slo:g/an informal British expres-
sion: if something is a slog, it takes a lot of time and effort
and. is often boring Iv phrase]
He didn't become famous overnight - it's been a long hard
slog. [ The first half of the book was quite interesting but the
last part was a bit of a slog.
be murder/bi: m3:rd r/an informal expression: if some-
thing is murder, it is extremely difficult and needs a lot
of effort or skill [v phrase]
By the end of the race I was totally exhausted and the last
200 metres were absolute murder. [ it is murder doing sth
It's murder trying to get the cork out of the bottle once it's
fallen inside.
be a devil/bi: z 'devil/an informal expression: if some-
thing is a devil to do, it is extremely difficult, especially
in an annoying way, and takes a lot of effort [v phrase]
be a devil to do Ink stains are a devil to get rid of. [ have
a devil of a job doing sth There are no street signs any-
where - I had a devil of a job finding the place.
difficult to do because it is complicated,
involves working with small objects etc
tricky
fiddly
tricky/'triki/difficult to do because it is complicated or
needs great care [adj]
Calculations which involve percentages are often quite
tricky. I be a tricky business (=be difficult to do) Refuel-
ling in mid air is a tricky business.
fiddly I ' fldli/difficult to do because you have to deal with
very small objects [adj]
He managed to fix the television, but it was a time-consuming
and fiddly job. I tidally to eat/mend/open etc I don't like
shrimps - they're so fiddly to eat.
 words for describing a situation or subject
that is difficult to deal with, talk about etc
difficult sensitive
awkward touchy
tricky be a hot potato
delicate
difficult/'dIfIkdlt/[adj]
Death is a difficult subject for many people. I What makes
it so difficult is that she's already married and has two chil-
dren. I one of the most difficult political issues facing the Brit-
ish government
awkward/ a:kward/difficult to deal with or talk about
because it is embarrassing or makes people feel uncomfort-
able [adj]
The more he tried to get out of the situation, the more awk-
ward it became. I The others didn't like her because she was
always asking awkward questions. I You mustn't tell me any-
thing more - you might put me in an awkward position. I
awkward for sb My ex-wife is refusing to let me see my own
children and is generally trying to make things as awkward
for me as she can.

DIFFICULT 343 DIFFICULT
tricky /'triki/difficult to deal with because it is compli-
cated and full of problems [adj]
It's going to be very tricky finding a way out of this mess. [
Teachers often have to deal with tricky situations such as
interviews with angry parents. [ be a tricky business (=be
difficult to deal with)Advisingpeople about their personal
problems can be a tricky business.
delicate/delIkt/a delicate matter, subject, situation
etc is one that you must be very careful talking about or
dealing with because you risk offending or upsetting
people [ adj]
It's a very delicate matter - I'm not sure what I should say
to her. I Mavis had never really talked to her boss before and
she was wondering how best to approach the delicate ques-
tion of her salary.
sensitive/senst]v/ something such as a political or
social problem or a document that is sensitive is likely to
cause trouble and disagreement [adj]
Race relations are still an extremely sensitive issue in the US,
as the recent riots in Los Angeles have shown. I The adminis-
tration claims that the documents contain information of a
highly sensitive political nature and is refusing to allow
them to be made public.
touchy/'t^ti/a touchy subject, especially a problem that
affects someone's personal life, is one that you must be very
careful talking about because you risk upsetting or offend-
ing them [adj only before noun]
If you must ask her about her divorce, try to be tactful; it's
still rather a touchy subject with her. I Talking about abor-
tion can be a touchy business.
be a hot potato/hi: a ,hot pte]tao II -,ho:t-/an infor-
mal expression: a political problem that is a hot potato is
one that is very difficult for the government to deal with
because there is a lot of disagreement about it Iv phrase]
Japan's future role as a military power is something of a
9olitical hot potato at the moment.
6 to make a situation more difficult
complicate
complicate/komplke[t II ko:m-/to make a situation,
problem etc more difficult by making it more complicated
[vT]
complicate sth When I had been married about seven years
an old boyfriend appeared on the scene, complicating my
life.[ complicate matters/things Far from helping the
situation, the introduction of the new regulations is likely to
complicate matters. [ greatly complicate A student who has
no desire to learn greatly complicates the teacher's job.
7 words for describing someone who is difficult
to live with, work with, or do things with
because they are unhelpful, they always
disagree etc
difficult impossible
awkward bolshy/bolsh ie
problem not the easiest
difficult/' dIfIkalq a difficult person is difficult to be with
and live with, because they are not helpful or friendly, or
will not do what you want [adj]
My father was an extremely difficult man who never really
got on well with anybody. I The book is full of useful advice
about how to deal with even the most difficult teenager. [
difficult about I wish you'd stop being so difficult about
this - we're only asking you to wait a few more minutes.
awkward/ a:kw3rd/an awkward person is difficult to
deal with because they are deliberately unhelpful and will
not do what other people want them to do, especially in
order to cause problems for them [adj]
Does Karen really not want to go to the party or is she just
being awkward? [ He can be very awkward when he wants
to be. [ awkward about If she starts getting awkward about
it, tell her she's fired.
problem/'problam [I 'pro:-/problem child/teenager/
case (=one who continues to behave badly and often gets
into trouble) [adj only before noun]
The new teacher had a couple of problem children in her
class, and she had to send them to the Principal. [ In some
problem cases we have to call in the police.
impossible /Im'posbal II irn'po:-/ someone who is
impossible is extremely annoying because they are very
difficult to deal with and behave in a very unreasonable
way [adj]
Honestly! Nigel's just impossible sometimes!
bolshylbolshie /'bolJ'i 11 'bolj'i/ an informal British
word: someone who is bolshy behaves in an unhelpful,
bad-tempered way and argues with the people that they are
supposed to obey [adj]
Her boss isn't happy with her - he thinks she been far too
bolshy recently. I Stop being so bloody bolshie and just get
on with it, will you?
not the easiest/not 6i: 'i:zist/not the easiest person
to get on with/work with etc (:a British expression
meaning actually very difficult to get on with, work with
etc) [adj phrase only before noun]
I'm not surprised you've had problems with Diane. She's not
the easiest person to work with, is she?
8 words for describing a situation or period of
time that is full of problems, worries etc
difficult tough
hard bad
difficult/'dIflkdlt/[adj]
I was going through a difficult period in my life and she
helped me a lot. I Tom's got himself into a really difficult sit-
uation with the credit card company and he doesn't know
what to do. I difficult for sb Until the economic climate gets
better, things are going to be extremely difficult for a great
many people.
hard/ho:rd/a hard period of time is full of great problems
and difficulties and makes people suffer a lot [adj]
You can tell from her face that she's had a hard life. I It's been
a long hard winter for all the birds and animals. I times
are hard (-life is hard) After the war times were hard and
we barely had enough to eat.
tough /tAf/ a tough situation or period of time is very
difficult and you need all your strength, effort, and deter-
mination to deal with it [adj]
Shops and small businesses have had a tough time lately. I
He's a good person to be with if ever you're in a tough
situation.
bad/bad/a bad situation or period of time is difficult
because it is unpleasant, unhappy, or unsuccessful [adjl
The US auto industry has had another bad year. I Things
got so bad that I had to give up my job. I People in the West
just don't know how bad it is in the Third World.
9 words for describing difficult conditions that
make what you are doing more difficult
difficult
adverse
hostile
difficult/'difIkdlt/[adj]
They've succeeded in rescuing at least twenty survivors,
despite very difficult conditions. [ Icy roads made driving all
the more difficult.
adverse/ adva:rs/adverse conditions make it diffflcult
for someone to do something, or for something to exist [adj
only before noun]
In spite of adverse weather, two of the climbers reached the
summit. I For the past year the company has been struggling
to survive against adverse conditions.
hostile/'hostall II ho:stl, 'ho:stail/ hostile conditions,
land etc are difficult for people to live, travel, or exist in
[adj]
The Antarctic survey team will be using vehicles specially
designed to cope with the hostile environment. I Settlers were
confronted with a hostile, barren country.

DIFFICULT 344 DIG
10 to have a lot of difficulty when you are trying
to do something
have difficulty/trouble
find sth difficult
with difficulty
have a hard time
would be hard pressed to do sth
have a job
have your work cut out
it is a struggle
be thrown in at the deep end
have difficulty/trouble Ihev 'difkalti, tr^bal/ Iv
phrase]
have difficulty/trouble (in) doing sth When I reached the
top of the stairs my heart was beating quickly and I had great
difficulty breathing. I Ifyou are having difficulty in finding
the money I may be able to lend you some. I have difficulty/
trouble with A lot of Japanese students of English have
difficulty with the pronunciation of "b "s and "v's.
find sth difficult/,faInd (sth) dIfikalt] [v phrase]
She's finding the course very difficult at the moment. [ find
it difficult to do sth I find it very difficult to talk about my
problems with other people. ] Companies are finding it
increasingly difficult to recruit good graduates.
with difficulty /WI 'dxflkalti/ if someone does some-
thing with difficulty, they have to use a lot of effort
because it is difficult for them lady phrase]
The old man moved slowly and with difficulty. ] She
managed to stay awake, but only with great difficulty.
have a hard time ]haev o ho:rd taIm] to find it very
difficult to do something, especially because there are
unexpected problems or because you have difficulty per-
suading other people Iv phrase]
have a hard time doing sth You'll have a hard time per-
suading her to lend you the car, after what happened last
time. I have a hard time I tried to find the house but I had
such a hard time I decided to give up.
would be hard pressed to do sth/wod hi: ho:rd
,prest to 'du: (sth)/ if you say someone would be hard
pressed to do something, you doubt that they would be able
to do it because you think it is too difficult for them [v
phrase]
The two girls look so similar that you'd be hard pressed to
tell the difference between them. [ They'd have been hard
pressed to find a better manager.
have a Job/hmv o 'd3)b II -'d3a:b/an informal expres-
sion meaning to find it very difficult to do something, so
that it is likely you will fail Iv phrase]
have a job doing sth You "ll have a job finding a store that's
open at this time of night. [ have a job to do sth The team
will have a job to get back to the top of the league. [ you'll/
she'll etc have a job "'Do you think I'll catch the next train?"
"'You'll have a job - it leaves in 5 minutes. "'
have your work cut out Ihev ja: r ,wa:rk kAt 'aot/an
informal expression meaning to have to work very hard
if you are going to succeed in doing something Iv phrase
not in progressive]
I'll have my work cut out to get this design finished by this
afternoon. I She might just be able to reach those targets, but
she'll have her work cut out.
It is a struggle/It lZ o 'strAgM/if it is a struggle doing
something, you have to try very hard and even suffer in
order to do it
it is a struggle doing sth It was a struggle trying to feed
a family offive on my wages.I Rick's very tall and it can be
a real struggle finding clothes that'llfit him. I find it a
struggle to do sth (=find it difficult to do sth) He found it
a struggle to hide his true feelings about her. I it is a strug-
gle It was a struggle, but we made it in the end. I only after
a struggle (=only after trying very hard because it was
very difficult) She managed to get her money out of the wel-
fare office, but only after a struggle.
be thrown in at the deep end/bi:  Oroon in ot o 'dizp
end/an informal expression meaning to have to start doing
something difficult such as a new job without having any
training or help Iv phrase]
When I first started teaching I was really thrown in at the
deep end - I had a class o f forty s ix-year-olds all on my own.
to make something that you are doing seem
more difficult than it really is
make a meal of
make heavy weather of
make a meal of/,melk o 'mi:l Dv/to pretend that a piece
of work you have to do is more difficult than it really is,
especially so that other people will notice and feel sorry for
you Iv phrase]
Whenever I ask my husband to do the washing he always
makes a real meal of it. [ There's no need to make such a meal
of it - here, give it to me.
make heavy weather of/meik hevi 'weor Dv/an
expression used especially in British English meaning to
make something more difficult than is necessary or take
much more time to do it than is necessary Iv phrase]
I still haven't finished the report - I'm afraid I've made
rather heavy weather of it. I They seem to be making very
heavy weather of getting the furniture out of out house - it's
taken them 3 hours already.
difficulties: fraught with problems/difficulties
PROBLEM 5
difficulties: present problems/difficulties PROBLEM 9
difficulties: run into problems/difficulties PROBLEM 8
difficulty PROBLEM 1
difficulty: have difficulty/trouble DIFFICULT 10,
PROBLEM 6
difficulty: with difficulty DIFFICULT 10
diffident SHY 1
dig DIG 1
dig out DIG 2, FIND 2, HOLE 8
dig up DIG 2, FIND OUT 3
dig your heels in REFUSE 2
DIG
to move earth out of the ground, especially
using a spade
1 to dig earth out of the ground
2 to remove something from the ground by
digging
1 to dig earth out of the ground
dig burrow
excavate plough/plow
tunnel
dig/dig/[v I/T]
Dad and I spent the afternoon digging and weeding in the
garden. [ dig a hole/trench/ditch (:make a hole by dig-
ging earth out of the ground)Afterplaying around with the
bone for a while, the dog dug a hole and buried it. I dig for
(=dig in order to find something) The children were digging
for buried treasure. I dig down (=dig deeply into the
ground) Rescue workers dug down until they found the
body. [ dig up the road/street/highway (=break up the
surface of the road, for example to make repairs) The elec-
tric company is digging up the road outside our house. I dig
the garden (=dig and turn over the earth to prepare for
planting things) Digging the garden is really hard work!
excavate /'ekskoveit/ excavate a hole/chamber/
trench etc (:dig a deep or large hole, especially as a prepa-
ration for building something) Iv T]
The turtle excavates a hole in the sand and then lays its eggs
in it. I Workers had already begun excavating the founda-
tions for the house.
tunnel / tAnl/to dig a long passage under the ground, espe-
cially one that people or vehicles can pass through Iv I]

DIG 35 DIRECTION
In the movie the prisoners tunnelled their way out of the camp
and escaped. I Special drilling equipment is being used to
tunnel beneath the sea bed. I Worms tunnelling in the ground
create a healthier environment for plant life.
burrow/'b^mo II 'b3:mo/if an animal burrows, it makes
a passage under the ground by digging through the earth
as it moves forward Iv I/T not in passive]
burrow a hole The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the
fence. [ burrow The documentary showed pictures of differ-
ent animals burrowing underground.
plough (British) I plow (American)/plau/to turn over the
earth in a field using special equipment in order to prepare
it for growing crops Iv I/T]
The fields are ploughed as soon as the winter crop is
removed.I Farmers were plowing their land and planting
cotton seeds.
 to remove something from the ground by
digging
dig out excavate
dig up mine
exhume
dig out/,dig 'aot/to uncover something which is just
below or partly below the surface of the ground by digging,
and then removing it [phr v T]
dig sb/sth/it/her etc out These weeds are too big to pull
out with your hands: you'll have to dig them out. ] I was
trapped under the snow. All I could do was hope that some-
one would come and dig me out. ] dig out sth A couple of
local people helped us dig out the car, which was by now com-
pletely stuck in the mud.
dig up [ idlg Ap/ to remove something from the ground
by digging, especially something which is several feet
under the ground [phr v T]
dig up sth Thieves came in the night and dug up the body. ]
I don't know why archaeologists get such a thrill from dig-
ging up broken pots. ] dig sth/it/them up Yesterday, our
cat dug an old badger skeleton up in the yard.
exhume/Ig'zju:m, ekshju:m [] lgzu:m, lk'sju:m/aformal
word meaning to remove a dead body from its grave, espe-
cially in order to check how the person died Iv T]
Stillon 's body has recently been exhumed for further exami-
nation. ] Before the trial could continue it was necessary to
exhume the bodies of the murderer's victims.
excavate / ekskvert/to remove ancient objects from the
ground or uncover ancient houses, villages etc, by taking
away the earth carefully Iv T]
Archaeologists are excavating a Bronze Age settlement on
the outskirts of the village. [ The mosaics excavated in 1989
have now been fully restored.
excavation / ekska  ve Ifani [n C ] The excavation revealed
layer after layer of ancient fortifications.
mine/maln/to take minerals such as coal, iron, or dia-
monds out of the ground, especially by digging a deep hole
and a series of passages Iv I/T]
The coal company has decided not to mine beneath our town. [
mine sth Lead has been mined in this area for hundreds of
years. I mine for gold/silver etc Most of the new settlers
came here to mine for gold.
digest
digit
dignified
dignitary
dignity
digress
digs
UNDERSTAND 5
NUMBER 1
PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 2
IMPORTANT 6
PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 1
SUBJECT 5
STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 4
dilapidated
dilemma
diligent
dilute
diluted
dim
dim view: take a dim view of
CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
PROBLEM 3
WORK HARD 4
REDUCE 7, WATER 6
PURE 4
BRIGHT 5, DARK 1, 2, SEE 11, STUPID/NOT
INTELLIGENT 1
DISAPPROVE 1
 dime a dozen: be ten a penny/be a dime a dozen
:- COMMON 1
: dimension PART 9
ii dimensions SIZE 1
:i diminutive SHORT PERSON 2
ii din LOUD/NOISY 7
:i dine EAT 2
:! dingy DARK 3
i dinner MEAL 3, 4, 5
iii;i dinner party MEAL 5, PARTY1
!iiii dinosaur OLD-FASHIONED 4
iiiii dip HOLE 1, PUT 11
• ii dip into READ 3
--*: diplomat REPRESENT 5
iiili diplomatic POLITE 2, REPRESENT 5
=.'- dire straits: be in dire straits PROBLEM 7
.....
iiii direct HONEST 3, PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 3, STOP
i MOVING 8, STRAIGHT 2, TELL/ORDER SB TO
.!i! DO STH 2, WAY/ROUTE 3
ii}il direct: can you direct me to WAY/ROUTE 6
direction
direction:
direction:
direction:
direction:
DIRECTION 1
in opposite directions OPPOSITE/REVERSE 5
in the direction of TOWARDS 1
the opposite direction/the other direction
OPPOSITE/REVERSE 5
which direction DIRECTION 2
DIRECTION
the direction towards which someone or
something is moving, is aimed etc
how you ask which direction something is in,
which direction someone is travelling in etc
the ability to guess or find the right direction
1 the direction towards which someone or
something is moving, is aimed etc
direction course
way bearing
direction/d'rekfan, daI-/[n C]
The planet has several moons travelling around it, all
moving in the same direction. [ Why does she keep pointing
in that direction? Perhaps she wants us to go over there. [
Frightened by the sound of footsteps, the rabbits ran off in
all directions. [ the direction of Suddenly Anna heard loud
shouts coming from the direction of the kitchen. [ in
sb's/sth's direction (=towards someone or something) I
was hoping he wouldn't look in our direction and notice us
sitting there. [ in the right/wrong direction We're going
in the right direction now - I can see the main road up
ahead.I in a southerly/easterly etc direction Theplane
was traveling in a northeasterly direction when it was hit
by lightning.
wall Iweq the general direction in which someone or
something is moving, is aimed etc In C usually singular]
The bear went that way -you can see its tracks in the snow. I
It is important to consider which way the house faces, as that
determines how much sun it gets. [ the right/wrong way
They knew they had gone the wrong way when they looked
at the map and realized they should have crossed a bridge.
course Ika:rs! the direction in which something such as
a ship or aircraft is moving, which has been planned on
a map In C usually singular]
The pilot decided to change the plane's course to avoid heavy
fog. [ on/off course (=following the correct/incorrect
course) It was only when we couldn't see that island that we
realised we'd been off course for several days.
bearing / beari! a technical word meaning the direction
in which a ship, plane etc is travelling, in relation to where
north is [n C]
What was the ship's bearing when the accident occurred? [

DIRECTION
take a bearing (=find out what your bearing is) Having
lost the compass, we couldn't take a bearing. I get/find/lose
your bearings If you get lost, you can get your bearings
from the sun with the aid of a wrist watch. I We lost our bear-
ings a little in the woods but eventually managed to reach
the river.
 how you ask which direction something is in,
which direction someone is travelling in etc
which way
which direction
which way/,wItJ" twei/ you ask someone which way
when you want to know the general direction that some-
thing is in, that someone is travelling in etc [adv phrase]
Which way did she go? I "'Excuse me, which way is the
Natural History Museum? .... That way. Keep walking and
you'll see it on the left. ""
which direction /IWltJ" d'rekSan/ you ask someone
which direction when you want to know exact details
about which direction something is in, about which direc-
tion someone is travelling in etc In phrase]
Which direction do We take once we reach the top of the hill?
 the ability to guess or find the right direction
sense of direction
sense of direction/,sens v da I 'rekJ'dn/In phrase]
When night came we lost all sense of direction and were soon
completely lost. I good/bad sense of direction Tim has a
very good sense of direction; he can always find his way
around a city he's never even visited before.
directions INSTRUCTIONS 1, WAY/ROUTE 1
directions: ask for directions WAY/ROUTE 4
 directions: give sb directions WAY/ROUTE 3
• " directive TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 7
. director MANAGER 2
!!i: director: managing director MANAGER 2
ii dirt DIRTY 6
;i dirt: treat sb like dirt CRUEL 6
-:-
" dirt cheap CHEAP 3
;{ dirt road ROAD/PATH 3
,........Ј ditty DIRTY 1, 4, RUDE/OBSCENE 1, SEX/HAVE SEX
i! WITH 11
:i': dirty: get sth dirty DIRTY 4
.i! dirty look: give sb a dirty look DISAPPROVE 3
,i dirty look: give sb a dirty/black look LOOK AT 7
i! dirty old man: SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 8
 dirty tricks DISHONEST 5
DIRTY
words meaning dirty
dirty in a way that is harmful to people's
health
words for describing a place that is dirty and
unpleasant
to make something dirty
to make something dirty and dangerous, by
means of chemicals, waste products etc
something that makes things dirty
I words meaning dirty
dirty muddy
grubby dusty
filthy greasy
grimy soiled
mucky
dirty/'d3:rti/[adj]
We were hot and dirty after working in the garden all
346
DIRTY
afternoon. I She was wearing dirty jeans and a stained
yellow T-shirt. I Keep your dirty fingers off the tablecloth! l
London seems much dirtier than it did last time I was here.
grubby ]' grAbi! something that is grubby is fairly dirty,
usually because it has been used a lot and not washed [adj]
He wiped his eyes with a grubby handkerchief. [ There were
some bundles of letters tied up with grubby white tape.
filthy/'fIl0i/extremely dirty [adj]
Don't come into the kitchen - your shoes are absolutely
filthy!l We didn't go swimming because the water looked
filthy. I It was undoubtedly the filthiest place she had ever
seen.
grimy/'graimi/something that is grimy has a covering
of dark-coloured dirt on its surface, especially because it
has not been cleaned for a long time [adj]
It was difficult to see through the grimy windows of the care. [
The whole town was grimy from smoke and coal-dust.
mucky/'mAki/an informed word meaning dirty, used
especiedly in British English [adj]
Don't wear your best shoes -you'll only get them all mucky. [
I'm not going to drink from those mucky cups!
muddy/'mAdi/covered in mud [adj]
Steven came in from the rain, in muddy boots and wet
clothes. [ She didn't wipe her feet, but left a trail of muddy
footprints behind her as she crossed the hall. [ muddy roads
rutted by army trucks
dusty /'dAsti/full of dust or covered in dust, especially
because it has not been used for a long time [adj]
The room was dark and dusty. Obviously no one had been
here for months. [ It was a long dusty ride back to the village.
greasy/'gri:si, -zi/something that is greasy has a sub-
stance on it which is oily and slippery or sticky, and looks
unpleasant and dirty [adj]
The two fishermen were wearing greasy sweaters and torn
trousers. [ She had greasy black hair which fell over her eyes.
soiled/salld/a formed word: clothes, sheets etc that are
soiled are dirty and need to be washed [adj]
The soiled linen is collected twice a day and taken to the
hospital laundry. [ heavily soiled (=very soiled) For heav-
ily soiled clothes, set the washing machine to a hotter wash
and use more washing powder.
 dirty in a way that is harmful to people's
health
unhygienic
polluted
contaminated
unhygienic /,^nhai'dsi:nik II-'dsen-, -'dsi:n-[ places,
conditions, methods etc that are unhygienic are likely to
cause illness and infection because they are not clean
enough [adj]
It is unhygienic to keep raw and cooked meats together. I The
restaurant's kitchens were described by health inspectors as
disorganized and unhygienic.
polluted/p'lu:tld/water, air, ground etc that is polluted
is dirty and dangerous because there are chemicals or
waste products in it [adj]
The din diang River is very polluted. I polluted with The
soil on the old factory site is badly polluted with lead, cad-
mium and mercury.
contaminated/kan'tema] neitaI dl something such as food
or water that is contaminated has dangerous, harmful, or
unwanted things in it, such as chemicals or bacteria [adj]
The source of the infection was contaminated water. I
Uncooked, cold or reheated food generally can all be contami-
nated. Freshly cooked foods are safer. [ contaminated by
The ground is contaminated by chemicals which have leaked
from the storage tanks over the last 20 years.
words for describing a place that is dirty and
unpleasant
squalid sordid
seedy hovel

DIRTY 3? DISABLED
squalid/'skwDld II 'skwo:-/very dirty and unpleasant
because of lack of money or care [adj]
We hurried through the squalid streets where the factory wor-
kers live. [ The conditions in which these refugees have been
living for over two years are unimaginably squalid. [ a tiny,
squalid apartment on the sixth floor
seedy I' si:di/a place such as a bar or hotel that is seedy
looks old, and a little dirty, and may be used for something
illegal [ adj]
The bar looked rather seedy, so we decided to go somewhere
else. [ In 1957 I took a job as a night clerk in a seedy Manhat-
tan hotel. [ There are many small, seedy offices that line the
upper storeys of the shops.
sordid /'s:rdd/ an area that is sordid is dirty and
unpleasant and there is a lot of crime or suffering there
[adj]
The hotel turned out to be in the sordid Schwabinger Strasse
- the red-light areal
hovel/hDval [[ h^-, ho:-/a small home which is dirty
and not strongly-built, especially because the people who
live there are extremely poor In C]
In the poor quarters of the city were generations o f families
living side by side in rat-infested hovels.
4 to make something dirty
get sth dirty
dirty
soil
get sth dirty/,get (sth) 'd3:rti/Iv phrase]
I won't help you with the car - I don't want to get my hands
dirty. [ We wear overalls so we can paint without getting our
clothes dirty. [ Children like to get themselves really dirty
sometimes.
dirty/'d3:rti/to make something dirty, especially clothes
Iv T]
You can borrow my gloves, but please try not to dirty them. [
As he stood on the paving stone, muddy water splashed up
and dirtied his trousers.
soil/sdl a formal word meaning to make something, such
as cloth or clothing, dirty on the surface, often with waste
from the body Iv T]
The book had been soiled by doad's dirty fingers. [ The baby
has soiled his diaper again.
5 to make something dirty and dangerous, by
means of chemicals, waste products etc
pollute
contaminate
pollute/p'lu:t! to make air, water, the ground etc dirty
by putting chemicals or waste products into it, so that it
is unsafe for use by people or animals [v T]
pollute sth Companies that pollute the environment must
be punished. [ pollute sth with How long can we go on pol-
luting our seas with industrial waste?
pollution/po'lu:San/In U] The use of coal and gas results
in pollution of(=in it being polluted) the atmosphere.
contaminate /kon'taem]nelt/ to accidentally make a
place or a substance dirty and dangerous by adding some-
thing to it, for example chemicals or bacteria [v T]
The growth of bacteria may contaminate the water supply. [
The food was contaminated by an infected worker during the
production process.
contamination/kon,terng 'neISan/ In U] Modern feeding
and watering systems should prevent contamination of cows"
food and water. (=prevent it being contaminated)
6 something that makes things dirty
dirt grime
muck pollution
dirt/d3:rt/dust, mud or other substances which make
something dirty, and which are removed in cleaning In U]
He took off his glasses, which were covered with dirt, and
wiped them on his shirt. [ Dark colours are best - they don't
show the dirt. [ speck of dirt (=small piece of dirt) The
rooms were cleaned until every speck of dirt and grit was
gone.
muck/re^k/an informal word used especially in British
English meaning dirt or mud In U]
Don't play football in your new jeans, you'll get them covered
in muck. [ A truck smeared in muck eventually came along
and picked up the hitchhikers.
grime/gra]m/thick, dark dirt that covers a surface over
a period of time and is difficult to remove In U]
I had a long bath to get the grime out of my skin. [ black/
brown/grey with grime (=black, brown etc because there
is grime on it) The small window over the front door was
brown with grime.
pollution/po'lu:an/substances, especially chemicals or
waste from factories or houses, that makes water, air, the
ground etc dirty and unsafe to use In U]
The pollution in the Mediterranean makes swimming dan-
gerous. [ Thanks to new controls, the pollution from the
central plant has been dramatically reduced.
disabilities: people with disabilities DISABLED 1
disability DISABLED 2
disable BREAK 6
disabled DISABLED 1
DISABLED
unable to use part of your body in the normal
way, either from birth or because of an
accident or illness
1 words meaning disabled
2 a physical or mental problem that makes
someone disabled
3 not disabled
1 words meaning disabled
disabled
people with disabilities
handicapped
special needs
disabled/dis'eIbald/unable to use part of your body in
the normal way, either from birth or because of an acci-
dent or illness, especially so that you have difficulty
moving around [adj]
Disabled passengers can travel free on public transport. [
You can get special help if someone in the family is disabled.[
Richard Scott, the writer, is himself disabled and can speak
from experience. [ the disabled (=disabled people) All
rooms in the hotel have facilities for the disabled. [ disabled
toilets/parking etc (=for disabled people) Disabled toilets
are provided on every floor of the building.
I I
people with disabilities /pi:pal w6 ,dis bfltiz/an
expression meaning disabled people, used when talking
about them as a group, the problems they have, things that
are provided for them etc In phrase]
Like many people with disabilities, I get very angry when I
am treated as if I were stupid. [ training opportunities for
young people with disabilities [ We want to hear the opin-
ions of parents of young children, people with disabilities,
and pensioners, about the design of the leisure centre.
handicapped/'hendlkept/a word meaning disabled
that is considered offensive by some people [adj]
the education of handicapped children [ physically han-
dicapped Rosie was born physically handicapped. [ men-
tally handicapped (=handicapped in the mind, not in the
body) We need to improve public understanding of the needs
and potentials of mentally handicapped people. [ the handi-
capped (=handicapped people) an advisory service for the
handicapped
special needs/,spej'al 'ni:dz/people, especially chil-
dren, who have special needs, need different teaching
methods, educational equipment etc and sometimes go to

DISABLED 3,t8 DISADVANTAGE
separate schools, because they are disabled in some way
In plural]
Children with special needs can often be taught in ordinary
classes. I This leaflet tells you what to do if your child has
special needs.
a physical or mental problem that makes
someone disabled
disability
handicap
disabiiity/,dis;)lbdItil a physical problem that makes
someone disabled, for example being unable to walk or
speak In C/U]
His disabilities have not stopped him from achieving
remarkable success. I Our equal opportunies policy means
we employ people regardless of gender, race. or disability. I
Because I'm in a wheelchair, the first thing people notice
about me is my disability.
handicap/' hendlkep/a mental or physical problem that
makes someone disabled In C/U]
The people who come to this club have various types of han-
dicap. I We help people with mental or physical handicaps
to find work. I Babies of alcoholic mothers can be born with
a severe degree of handicap.
3 not disabled
able-bodied
able.bodied /,e]bal 'bDdid II -'ba:-I an expression used
when comparing people who are disabled with people who
are not [adj usually before noun]
Able-bodied people do not really understand the needs of the
disabled. I She competes on an equal basis with her able-
bodied colleagues. I the able-bodied (=people who are able
bodied) PHAB is a club for the physically handicapped and
the able-bodied.
disadvantage DISADVANTAGE 1, 2
disadvantage: advantages and disadvantages
ADVANTAGE 2
disadvantage: be at a disadvantage DISADVANTAGE 3
disadvantage: be to sb's disadvantage
DISADVANTAGE 4
disadvantage: have a disadvantage DISADVANTAGE 3
DISADVANTAGE
something that makes it difficult for you to
succeed or to do what you want to do
a part or feature of something, such as a
plan, product or way of life, that causes a lot
of problems
to have a disadvantage compared with other
people
ways of saying that something gives someone
a disadvantage
1 something that makes it difficult for you to
succeed or to do what you want to do
disadvantage
handicap
disadvantage/,dIsad'va:nt]d5 II-'ven-/In C/U]
Since elephants do not need to move very far, their great size
is no disadvantage. [ I suffered less disadvantages than other
orphans thanks to the care or my teachers. [ social disadvan-
tage and deprivation
handicap /  hendikep/something that prevents you from
doing something as well as you would without it In C]
Not being able to drive is quite a handicap if you live in the
country. [ Without the handicap of a working class back-
ground he would surely have gotten into Yale. [ handicap
to sb His lack of height does not seem to have been a han-
dicap to him. He is as good an athlete as anyone else in the
school.
 a part or feature of something, such as a
plan, product or way of life, that causes a lot
of problems
disadvantage liability
drawback limitations
disadvantage/,dIsad'vo:nt;d 5 II -'ven-/In C]
One of the disadvantages of the new system is its slowness. I
She has written a book about the disadvantages of being a
woman in politics. I In the end we decided that the advan-
tages outweighed the disadvantages.
drawback /Idra:bek! a disadvantage of a situation,
product etc, especially when it is one of several disadvan-
tages In C ]
People always want to know about your private life, That's
one of the drawbacks of being famous. I This cough medi-
cine has one drawback. It makes you sleepy. I drawback to
doing sth The wild weather is the main drawback to sail-
ing in the extreme north west.
||ability ] lam bilti! a person or thing that is a disadvan-
tage because they are likely to cause problems for you In C]
That's $3000 you've lost the company - you "re a liability. I
This product that was once so popular is now a liability to
the firm. I serious liability By now he had become a seri-
ous liability, so they got rid of him.
iimitations / lIm I 'teLfanz/the limits on how good some-
one or something can be, what they are able to do etc In
plural]
As a student he recognized his limitations, but did little to
improve himself. I We made an inspection of the building's
resources and limitations.
to have a disadvantage compared with other
people
have a disadvantage the odds are stacked
be at a disadvantage against you
be handicapped disadvantaged
have a disadvantage/hCv ;) ,dis;)(]'vo:ntd3 II -'vn-I
[v phrase not in progressive]
You are just as intelligent as the other candidates but you
have one disadvantage - you have no experience. I Freddie
has a slight disadvantage because he has never water skied
before.
be at a disadvantage/bi: ;)t  tdls;)d tvct:ntId5 II - ven-/
to have a disadvantage, especially because you do not have
the experience or qualities that make you more likely to
succeed in doing something [v phrase]
When I apply for jobs I find I'm always at a disadvantage
because I can't drive. I People with previous convictions are
always at a disadvantage when on trial in a court of law. I
put sb at a disadvantage The test put candidates whose
first language was not English at a disadvantage.
be handicapped/bi: 'handikepq to have a disadvan-
tage which makes it very difficult for you to do something
[ v phrase ]
be handicapped by The new headteacher has tremendous
enthusiasm but she's handicapped by her lack of experience. [
In all their ambitious plans the company has been han-
dicapped by an outdated system of management. [ be han-
dicapped He thought himself handicapped because of his
poor background.
the odds are stacked against you/6i ,lz o: r ,stakt
z'genst ju: II -,a:dz-/to have a big disadvantage in a com-
petition, election etc so that you are very unlikely to win,
especially because other people are working against you
unfairly
I'm not surprised we did so badly in the election. The odds
were stacked against us right from the start. I With every big
company in town trying to stop them, the odds are obviously
stacked against them.

DISADVANTAGE 349 DISAGREE
disadvantaged / ,dIsad'vo:ntIdSd li -'ven-/if someone
is disadvantaged, they are suffering social or economic
disadvantages such as lack of money or bad education, so
that they have less chance of being successful than other
people [adjl
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to
go to university than other children. I the disadvantaged
(=disadvantaged people) Booth invented schemes to help the
disadvantaged in the community.
4 ways of saying that something gives someone
a disadvantage
be to sb's disadvantage
be against
be to sb's disadvantage/bi: to (sb's) ,dIsad'vo:ntId 3 [[
-'ven-/Iv phrase]
Her height will be very much to her disadvantage if she
wants to be a dancer. I In politics he found that his
aristocratic background actually worked to his disadvan-
tage. J be to the disadvantage of The government has reor-
ganized the taxation system to the disadvantage of the
low-paid.
be against/bi: atgenst/if time, age etc is against some-
one, they are not likely to succeed in doing something
because they do not have enough time, are too old or young
etc Iv T]
We had to get Stevie to a hospital and we knew time was
against us. ] He wanted to become a pilot but bad eyesight
was against him.
i!iii"" disadvantaged DISADVANTAGE 3, POOR 2
.-- disagree DISAGREE 1
[disagree i
DISAGREE
1 to have or express a different opinion from
someone else
2 ways of saying that two people or groups
disagree very strongly with each other
3 ways of saying that the members of a groL,Lp
disagree with each other
4 to be a cause of disagreement, especially
among the members of a group
5 to disagree with something that most people
agree with
6 a situation in which people disagree with
each other
7 words for describing something that people
disagree about
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to have or express a different opinion from
someone else
disagree not see eye to eye
not agree contradict
be in disagreement/ take issue with
not be in agreement agree to differ
differ
disagree / ,dlsa'gri:/if someone disagrees with someone
else, or if two or more people disagree, they have or
express opposing opinions about something Iv I not in
progressive ]
disagree with I showed my article to the editor. He dis-
agreed with almost everything I'd written. I disagree Tell
him what you think should be done, and if he disagrees try
to persuade him. I disagree about/on We disagreed about
religion and politics, but we were still good friends. I It is
common for judges to disagree on the way the law should be
interpreted. I strongly disagree I didn't say anything but
I strongly disagreed with most of what she said.
not agree/not a'gri:/if someone does not agree with
someone else, or if two or more people do not agree, they
do not accept each other's opinion, or agree about what
should be done Iv I not in progressive]
not agree with I know you won't agree with me, but I think
the house would look better painted white. ] You shouldn't
vote for policies you don't agree with. I not agree A lot of
people think that capitalism is the only system that works,
but I don "t agree. I not agree on/about We couldn't agree
on what to do in the afternoon, so we just stayed at home.
be in disagreement/not be in agreement/bi: In
dlsagri:mont, not bi: In agri:mont/ formal expressions
meaning to disagree Iv phrase]
be in disagreement with Although I am not in agreement
with everything that has been said, I believe we have made
progress in our negotiations. [ be in disagreement overAs
usual France and Britain were in disagreement over agricul-
tural subsidies.
differ I t &far/if people differ about something, they have
a range of different opinions on the subject Iv I]
differ about/over Critics differed about the importance of
Osborne's new play. I All politicians agree that inflation
must be beaten but they differ over methods of achieving this. I
widely differ (=differ a lot) Views differ widely about dis-
cipline in schools - some people think teachers are too strict,
and others that they are not strict enough.
not see eye to eye/not st: tal to tail if two people do
not see eye to eye on something, they have different opin-
ions about it and this often leads to arguments Iv phrase
not usually in progressive]
Occasionally we don't see eye to eye, but most of the time we're
very happy together. I not see eye to eye on/about sth
Although my father and I don't quite see eye to eye on cer-
tain subjects, we respect each other's opinion. I not see eye
to eye with sb She only has one surviving son, who she
rarely sees eye to eye with.
contradict/tkontradlkt [[ tko:n-/to say that what some-
one else has just said is wrong Iv T]
Don "t contradict your father. [ I sensed that she wasn't used
to being contradicted. [ The fight started when one of his
drinking companions contradicted something he had said. [
flatly contradict (=completely contradict) The newspaper
printed an article flatly contradicting everything I'd said in
my speech.
take issue with/terk t lfu: wi6/to disagree strongly
with someone about something they have said or done, and
to argue with them about it Iv phrase]
take issue with sb over I must take issue with you over
what you said yesterday. [ I took issue with Meeker over the
way he was running the company.
agree to differ/atgri: ta tdrfar/to stop arguing with
someone about something and accept that they cannot be
persuaded to agree with you Iv phrase not in progressive]
The two sides had agreed to differ. [ I'm sick of all your argu-
ments about religion - why can't you two just agree to differ?

DISAGREE
 ways of saying that two people or groups
disagree very strongly with each other
be at loggerheads irreconcilable
be in conflict with fall out with
be at odds
be at loggerheads/bi: at 'lDgarhedz II-'b:g-/if two
people or groups are at loggerheads, they strongly dis-
agree with each other and argue, usually about a problem
or decision |v phrase]
As a result of the strike, neighbours and even families were
soon at loggerheads. I be at loggerheads over/about
Spain and Great Britain had been at loggerheads for months
over the airfares deal.
be in conflict with/bi: n 'konflIkt wI6 II-ka:n-/ to
strongly disagree with someone and to be continually
opposing them and arguing against their actions and inten-
tions [v phrase]
Rather than be in continual conflict with his boss, Bruce
moved to another job. [ Union leaders are again in conflict
with management, this time over enforced redundancies.
be at odds/hi: at 'odz II - o:dz/to disagree with a person,
organization, or way of thinking and be opposed to them
[ v phrase ]
be at odds with sb There could be no progress while the
country's leaders were at odds with each other. I be at odds
over sth Washington and Moscow were still at odds over the
testing and development of new nuclear weapons.
irreconcilable/i rekn'sallabal/irreconcilable differ-
ences/views/attitudes etc (=when there is so much
difference that agreement is impossible) ]adj]
When irreconcilable differences exist between two people, it
is better that they should separate. I Their views had really
been irreconcilable from the beginning. I irreconcilable
with Both these ways of looking at the world are valid but
utterly irreconcilable with each other.
fail out with/,fail aot wi6/to disagree strongly with and
argue with someone, especially about something unimpor-
tant, so that your good relationship with them is damaged
[v T not in progressive]
Sadly the leading actor fell out with the producers and the
film was never made. I fall out with sb over I don't want
to fall out with you over such a trivial matter.
3 ways of saying that the members of a group
disagree with each other
be divided/split split
division rift
be dividedlspiit/bi: da I 'vaIdd, 'split/if the members of
a group are divided or split over something, especially an
important political matter, some strongly support one atti-
tude to it and the others disagree and support another [v
phrase]
be divided/split over Roosevelt was ready to take America
into the war, but the Republicans were hopelessly divided
over the issue. I be divided/split The employers" threat to
dismiss all the strikers has left the workforce deeply divided. I
be divided/split down the middle (=into two equal and
opposing groups) We are split right down the middle over
the question of nuclear disarmament.
division/d I 'Vl3an / disagreement among the members of
a group that causes it to separate into smaller groups, each
with a different opinion [n C/U]
There are signs of growing division within the administra-
tion about the best strategy to adopt. I division over There
was a deep division in the Republican Party over policy on
Central America.
split/split/a serious disagreement that divides an organi-
zation or group of people into two smaller groups [n C]
There is great danger of a split in the party if a competent
leader is not found soon. [ split over A split over company
policy resulted in the departure of the Assistant Manager.
rift/rft/a very serious disagreement that divides a group
for a very long time or prevents two people or organizations
from continuing to live or work together [n C]
350
DISAGREE
A rift has developed between the security Police and the
army. I As a child I always felt insecure because of family
rifts. I It took a good five years for the rift within the party
to mend.
4 to be a cause of disagreement, especially
among the members of a group
give rise to/lead to/cause disagreement
divide
split
give rise to/lead to/cause disagreement Igv ,raz
tu:, li:d tu:, ,kazz dsgri:mant/[v phrase]
The abortion issue has given rise to some disagreement
among doctors. [ It was Garcia's plan to redistribute land
that caused most disagreement in the Senate. [ Ideas on child
care may be different between parents and lead to disagree-
ment.
divide Id] vard/to cause strong disagreement among a
group of people so that they separate to form different
groups with different opinions [v T]
Should they pay the new tax?It was a question that divided
the community. [ The issue dividing the Church was the
acceptance of women into the priesthood.
spilt/split/a word used especially in a political context
meaning to cause strong disagreement among a group of
people so that it is divided into two smaller groups [v T]
Many people believe that Europe is the one issue that could
split the British Conservative Party. [ split the country/
party etc down the middle (=split it into two equal and
opposing groups) Feelings about the war split the country
right down the middle.
5 to disagree with something that most people
agree with
dissent
play devil's advocate
be out of tune with
dissent/di' sent/to express strong disagreement with an
official opinion or with one that is accepted by most people
Iv I]
Although a few delegates might dissent, the majority would
vote in favour of the plan. I The decision was supported by
almost everyone. Baldwin alone dissented strongly.
dissenting [adj only before noun] Very few dissenting voices
were heard from the left wing political parties.
play devil's advocate /plei ,devalz 'edvakIt/ to
deliberately argue against an opinion, although you may
not really disagree with it, especially in order to make a
discussion more interesting or to test the strength of the
arguments [v phrase]
He doesn't really believe money is more important than love.
He's just playing devil's advocate. I I had an obligation to
play devil's advocate and so I took the other side in the debate.
be out of tune with/bi: ,aot av 'tju:n wI6 II -'tu:n-/ if
someone is out of tune with most other people, they do
not agree with them or do not show an understanding of
them Iv phrase]
The governor's attitudes are out of tune with public opinion. I
Her latest speech shows that she is out of tune with her
advisors.
6 a situation in which people disagree with
each other
disagreement friction
difference of opinion discord
controversy dissent
disagreement/,dlsgri:mant/[n U]
disagreement about/over/as to There has been
widespread public disagreement about the law on tobacco
advertising. I There is some disagreement as to whether the
disease is curable. I disagreement Meetings to solve the debt
problem always ended in total disagreement. I disagree-
ment between/among There is a surprising amount of

DISAGREE 351 DISAPPEAR
disagreement among economic experts about the effects of
interest rates rises.
difference of opinion/,dIfarans av a'pmjon/a situation
in which two people or groups disagree with each other,
and which may cause an argument In phrase]
There seems to be a difference of opinion between the two
groups, l I've had differences of opinion with him but we can
still work together. I difference of opinion about/over/on
There is some difference of opinion over the question of
Federal Aid.
controversy / ' kontrov3:si, kan'trovasi II ' ko:ntrav3:rsi/a
serious argument or disagreement especially about some-
thing such as a plan or decision, that continues for a long
time, usually in public In C/U]
The new trade agreement has ended years of bitter con-
troversy in the European Community. [ controversy over/
about/surrounding The controversy over the nuclear
• energy program is likely to continue. [ The controversy sur-
rounding D.H.Lawrence's novel "The Rainbow' was fuelled
by traditional attitudes to sex.
friction /fr]kan/ continuous disagreement and angry
feelings or unfriendliness between people In U]
There has been serious friction between the two army com-
manders. [ Teenage children begin to assert their indepen-
dence and this can lead to a good deal of friction in the
family.
discord/d:ska:rd/a formal word meaning strong dis-
agreement that makes people feel unfriendly towards each
other In U]
The question of arms control has always been a source of dis-
cord in Congress. [ Money is the single biggest cause of most
marital discord.
dissent/dI 'sent/a refusal to accept an official opinion or
an opinion that most people accept In U]
During the Mayor's speech there were several murmurs of
open dissent from the crowd. [ It's a totalitarian state which
will not tolerate political dissent.
7 words for describing something that people
disagree about
controversial
contentious
bone of contention
controversial/,kontralv3:rfal II ,ko:n-/something or
someone that is controversial causes a lot of disagreement
and argument, often in public, because a lot of people have
strong feelings and opinions about it [adj]
A recent governmentpaper on education contains some con-
troversial new ideas. [ Maxwell soon became a controversial
figure in the world of big business. [ The decision to use the
bomb remains the most controversial of the Second World
War.
contentious/kon tenJbs/contentious issue/subject/
problem etc (=one that is likely to cause a lot of disagree-
ment and argument) [adj]
Abortion has always been a contentious subject. I The cir-
cumstances of d.F.Kennedy's assassination remain highly
contentious.
bone o| contention ] Ibaon av kan tenfan/a subject that
people strongly disagree about for a long time and often
argue about In phrase]
The new tax on property is likely to become a serious bone
of contention. I bone of contention between The children's
education has been such a bone of contention between me and
Dan that I hardly dare mention it.
disagreeable BAD-TEMPERED 1
disagreement ARGUE 5, DISAGREE 6
 disagreement: be in disagreement/not be in
agreement DISAGREE 1
.:= disagreement: give rise to/lead to/cause
-ii:. disagreement DISAGREE 4
, disappear DISAPPEAR 1, 2, 3, LOSE/CAN'T FIND 3
 disappear without trace/vanish without trace
-',, DISAPPEAR 1
DISAPPEAR
1 ways of saying that a person, vehicle, or
object becomes impossible to see or
impossible to find
2 ways of saying that a sound, feeling etc
disappears
3 ways of saying that a type of animal or plant,
or a custom, practice etc stops existing and
disappears
1 ways of saying that a person, vehicle, or
object becomes impossible to see or
impossible to find
disappear
vanish
disappear without trace/vanish without trace
vanish into thin air
go missing
go/move/sail etc out of sight
fade away
blend into/blend in with
disappear/,dIsaipIar/to become impossible to see or
find Iv I]
"Where's Tom?" "'I don't know - he's disappeared. " l The
magician made his assistant disappear. I disappear be-
hind/under/into/over ere Suddenly the cat disappeared
under a chair. I disappear from view/sight Sheila's car
turned the corner and slowly disappeared from view.
disappearance In U ] The mysterious disappearance of Lord
Lucan (=the mystery of why he disappeared) has never been
solved.
vanish/ vanif/to disappear suddenly and in a way that
cannot easily be explained Iv I]
I thought I saw a mouse under the bed but when I looked it
had vanished, i In the darkness Nick saw a strange light
appear and then vanish. I vanish into/behind/under etc
One minute Pierce was by my side, the next he had vanished
into the crowd.
disappear without trace/vanish without trace
/dlsa,pIo r w]baot 'treis, ,vanlf-/to disappear completely
without leaving any sign of what happened Iv phrase not
in progressive]
A father and son have disappeared without trace while on
a walking expedition in the mountains. I Several aircraft
aria ships have vanished without trace in the notorious
Bermuda Triangle.
vanish into thin air / venlJ" inta =Oin ear/to disappear
very suddenly in a way that seems impossible Iv phrase]
I don't understand where my pencil has gone - it seems to
have vanished into thin air. I Just when we thought Mark
had vanished into thin air we heard a shout from behind a
rock.
go missing /gau m:s/a British expression: ira person
or thing goes missing, they disappear from the place
where they should be Iv phrase]
go missing from Liz went missing from class so the teacher
called her parents. I go missing He's a strange man - some-
times he goes missing for days and doesn't tell a soul. I Secu-
rity was tightened up at the embassy after a number of
important files went missing.
go/move/sail etc out of sight/(go, etc) aot av saIt/
if something or someone goes, moves etc out of sight,
they gradually go away from you until you cannot see them
any more Iv phrase]
The yacht sailed away into the distance and out of sight. I
We watched his car as it rounded the bend and sped off out
of sight.
fade away / feld oiwei/to disappear very slowly [phr v I]
She thought she saw a shadow move in the corner of the room

DISAPPEAR 352 DISAPPOINTED
and as she watched it slowly faded away. [ The last red
streaks of the sunset had faded away into the darkening sky.
blend into/blend In with/,blend 'intu:, -'in wi6/to
deliberately become impossible to see or find by trying to
look exactly the same as the background or the things or
people around you Iv T not in passive]
These butterflies can change colour in order to blend into
their surroundings. [ Bruno was hoping to blend in with the
crowd and escape unnoticed.
2 ways of saying that a sound, feeling etc
disappears
disappear go away
fade away die away
wear off
disappear/,d]s'p]ar/[v I]
I was lying in bed with terrible back pain and suddenly the
pain just disappeared. [ You need time to get over it. Grief
doesn't disappear overnight, you know.
fade away/feId a'wei/to gradually disappear over a
long time [phr v I]
The laughter faded away when they realized that the man
was actually dead. l As the last notes of the sang faded away
the audience began to applaud wildly. I The memory of the
experience faded away over the following months.
wear off/,wear 'of II -'o:f/ff something, especially the
effect of something, wears off, the effect gradually disap-
pears [phr v I]
The pain seemed to get worse as the anaesthetic wore off. I
The effects of child abuse never wear off. I Once the initial
shock has worn off you'll realize that things aren't as bad
as you first thought.
go away/,gao a'we;/if an unpleasant feeling, situation
etc goes away, it disappears, especially when you have
been trying to get rid of it for a long time [phr v I]
I'm sure the problem will go away in the next week or so. I
I can't do anything to make this headache go away. I His shy-
ness soon went away when he started school.
die away/,dai a'wei/a word used especially in literature
meaning to gradually disappear [phr v I]
As the rhythm of the music died away screams could be heard
in the distance. I The sound of the drumming hooves grew
fainter and eventually died away.
3 ways of saying that a type of animal or plant,
or a custom, practice etc stops existing and
disappears
become extinct disappear
extinction vanish
die out cease to exist
become extinct/bi ,lm ik'sujkt/if a type of animal
becomes extinct, all animals of that type die so that it does
not exist any more Iv phrase]
Dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago. [ If nothing
is done to save the whales now the species will soon become
extinct.
extinction IIk'st;rjkfan/[n U]
The Worldwide Fund for Nature is trying to save the bird
from extinction (=from becoming extinct). [ The North
American bison was hunted almost to extinction. [ face/be
threatened with extinction (=likely to soon become
extinct) The red flying fox now faces extinction. [ Many
endangered species are threatened with extinction.
die out ] dai 'aot/if a type of animal, plant, or an illness
or custom dies out it stops existing, especially gradually
[phr v I]
Diseases such as leprosy and polio have almost completely
died out. [ The country is changing very quickly and many
of the old traditions are dying out. [ The nearest common
ancestor of man and the modern great apes died out about
30 million years ago.
disappear/, d i sa 'pIar/if something disappears, it stops
existing, and can no longer be seen or felt Iv I]
Thousands of square miles of rainforest are disappearing
each year. [ The dolphin has just about disappeared from
the coasts of Britain. [ All my worries have completely dis-
appeared, and I feel a lot better now.
disappearance In U] The increase in tourism may result in
the disappearance of the islanders" traditional way of life
(=may make it disappear).
vanish/'veen]/to disappear completely [v I]
All hopes of finding the boy alive have vanished. [ With the
growing popularity of large supermarkets, small corner
shops are rapidly vanishing. [ vanish without a trace (=so
that nothing remains afterwards) Like so many dance
crazes, the "moonwalk' was popular for a while in the clubs,
then vanished without a trace.
cease to exist I,si:s to ig'zist/to stop existing [vphrase]
The town which Joyce wrote about has long since ceased to
exist. [As of 1991, the Russian Communist Party effectively
ceased to exist.
disappoint DISAPPOINTED 4
disappointed DISAPPOINTED 1
DISAPPOINTED
sad because something you hoped for did not
happen or because something or someone was
not as good as you expected them to be
1 words meaning disappointed
2 the feeling of being disappointed
3 words for describing something or someone
that makes you feel disappointed
4 to make you feel disappointed
I words meaning disappointed
disappointed deflated
let down disillusioned
discouraged disenchanted
disappointed/,disa'painQd/[adj]
We left the show feeling rather disappointed. I These days the
President is a disappointed old man. [ disappointed with
The union leader said he was disappointed with the pay
offer. [ disappointed in My father was very disappointed
in me for choosing acting instead of a legal career. [ disap-
pointed to learn/hear/see etc We were disappointed to
hear that the Michael Jackson tour had been cancelled. [ dis-
appointed that Caroline seemed disappointed that you
couldn't come to the party. [ disappointed by The commu-
nity crafts centre is disappointed by the city council's lack of
enthusiasm for the project. [ bitterly disappointed (=very
disappointed) They were bitterly disappointed when they lost
the final game of the series.
let down/,let 'daun/if you feel let down, you feel disap-
pointed because someone has broken a promise, behaved
badly, or not done something they said they would do [adj
phrase not before noun]
feel let down Jim felt extremely let down. He had trusted
those people. [ They were ashamed of their daughter's
behaviour, and felt badly let down. [ let down "'Yes, '" she
murmured, crushed and let down, "'I suppose it's best that
we split up."
discouraged /dIs'kArId3 d [[ -ka:r-/ disappointed
because you feel that you will not be able to succeed in
doing something [adj not usually before noun]
There's no need to look so discouraged -you're sure to win. [
discouraged by Jane felt discouraged by the news that she'd
failed her driving test for the third time. [ discouraged
about Some people have been at the same level for ten years
and are very discouraged about their promotion prospects.
deflated/di:'fleitaId, di-/if you feel deflated, you feel dis-
appointed because you have lost confidence or your pride
has been hurt [adj not before noun]
feel deflated I came out of the boss's office feeling utterly

DISAPPOINTED
deflated. ] Professor Thompson felt somewhat deflated by the
announcement that the physics prize would go to a rival
college.
disillusioned /idIsa I 'lu:3and/disappointed because you
have lost your belief that someone is a good person, or that
an idea or plan is right [adj]
disillusioned with/by As David grew older he became
increasingly disillusioned with socialism. I Disillusioned by
his team's performance the manager resigned. I disillu-
sioned a disillusioned veteran of two World Wars I Impos-
sibly high expectations of the new regime have left many
voters disillusioned.
disillusionment In U} The honeymoon period was soon fol-
lowed by the usual disillusionment with day-to-day reality.
disenchanted/,dIsn't.o:ntd II-'tJ'ent-/disappointed
with something that you used to enjoy or believe in, or with
someone who you used to have great respect for [adj]
disenchanted with After three divorces he must be pretty
disenchanted with married life. I The fans quickly became
disenchanted with the club's expensiv, e new player when he
failed to score goals. I disenchanted The party's greatest
problem is trying to win back the suppport of its own disen-
chanted members.
disenchantment In U} Disenchantment with the pop world
led Jason to start a new life on a farm in Nova Scotia.
2 the feeling of being disappointed
disappointment
disappointment/,disa'paintmanq In U}
She couldn't hide her disappointment at being left out of the
team. I to sb's disappointment (=causing someone to feel
disappointed) To his great disappointment he failed to get
into university. I deep disappointment This latest rejection
left me with feelings of anger and deep disappointment.
3
disappointing
be a disappointment
be an anticlimax
be a letdown
not live up to/
words for describing something or someone
that makes you feel disappointed
not all it's cracked up
to be
be a non-event
discouraging
disheartening
come up to expectations
disappointing/,dlsa'paIntII3-/[adj]
The meeting was very disappointing - nothing was agreed. I
This has been a disappointing year for French wine. I In his
interim report the chairman announced disappointing first
quarter results.
disappointingly [ adv ] She played rather disappointingly
in the piano competition and only came third.
be a disappointment/bi:  ,dlsa'pintmant/to not be
as good as hoped or expected Iv phrase]
The trip was a big disappointment - it rained every day. I
The only time I saw Elvis Presley live he was something of
a disappointment, out of tune and overweight. I be a disap-
pointment to sb It's only a small house. I hope it won "t be
too much of a disappointment to you. I be a great disap-
pointment I've always been a great disappointment to my
parents, who hoped I would become a lawyer or a doctor. I
be a bitter disappointment (=be a big disappointment
that makes you feel very sad) Failing to win the World
Series was a bitter disappointment to the team.
be an anticlimax/bi: an enti'klameks! something
that is an anticlimax does not seem very exciting or
interesting because it comes after something that was
much better Iv phrase]
Going back to work after a month travelling in China is
bound to be an anticlimax. I Compared to the excitement of
the earlier parts of the film, the ending was a bit of an
anticlimax.
be a letdown/bi: a 'letdaon/an informal word: if an
event or performance is a letdown, it is disappointing
because it is not as good as you expected it to be [vphrase]
The firework display was a terrible letdown, we only saw
353 disapproval
four rockets. I What a letdown/They came on stage two hours
late and didn't play any of their old songs.
not live up to/come up to expectations/ntt
Ap tO, kAm Ap tO ekspek'teianz/if'someone or something
that you thought would be really good does not live up to
or does not come up to expectations it is not as good as
you thought it would be Iv phrase]
Despite the enormous cost of making it, the film didn't come
up to expectations. I The design consultant will be held
responsible if the advertisement doesn't live up to expecta-
tions. I fail to live up to expectations I failed to live up
to my parents" expectations, particularly at school.
not all it's cracked up to be/not ,a:l its krekt ^p ta
bi:/an informal expression meaning not as good as people
say it is [adj phrase]
Northbourne Leisure Centre isn't all it's cracked up to be,
they don't even have a sauna. I Being a fashion model isn "t
all it's cracked up to be. It is extremely hard work.
be a non.event/bi: a ,non i'vent II -,no:n-/an event or
occasion that is a non-event is disappointing because
nothing interesting or exciting happened Iv phrase]
Sue's party was a total non-event. Only five people turned up.
discouraging/dis'kAridsirj II -'ka:r-/people or remarks
that are discouraging make it seem less likely that you
will succeed in doing something, and often make you lose
the desire or willingness to do it [adj]
When I asked him how far it was to the nearest garage, his
answer was discouraging. I You'll need to point out the stu-
dents' mistakes, but try not to sound too discouraging. I My
father made a few rather discouaging remarks about my
academic abilities.
disheartening/dis ho:rtnirj/making you lose hope and
determination, so that you feel sad and want to give up
something you were trying to do [adj]
One of the most disheartening things she said was that all
my hard work had been a waste of time. I disheartening
to hear/know/see etc It was very disheartening to hear the
President say that he could see no future for the industry.
disheartened lad j} Some of the soldiers found the training
so tough that they became disheartened and gave up.
4 to make you feel disappointed
disappoint dash sb's hopes
let sb down discourage
disappoint/,disa'painq Iv T}
The band disappointed thousands of fans by cancelling at
the last minute. I Sorry to disappoint you, but this picture's
a fake.
let sb down/let (sb) 'daon/if someone lets you down,
they make you feel sad because they break a promise or do
not behave as well as you expected them to [phr v T}
He promised to be here by eight o'clock but it looks like he's
let us down again. I She had been badly let down by her last
husband.
dash sb's hopes /,de (sb's) 'haopsl if someone or
something dashes your hopes, they make you very dis-
appointed by doing something or telling you something
that is the opposite of what you hoped or expected lv
phrase]
Renewed fighting has dashed all hopes of an early settle-
ment.I The family's hopes that their daughter would be found
alive were cruelly dashed by a telegram that arrived this
morning.
discourage/dIs'kArd5 II -'ka:r-/to make someone think
they will not be able to succeed in doing something, so that
they lose the desire and willingness to do it Iv T}
What discouraged me most was our lack of progress in the
pay negotiations. I A teacher must know how to give construc-
tive criticism whilst not discouraging the student. I You
should not be discouraged by one little failure.
disappointing DISAPPOINTED 3
disappointment DISAPPOINTED 2
disappointment: be a disappointment
disapproval DISAPPROVE 1
DISAPPOI NTED 3

disapproval 354 DISAPPROVE
disapproval: voice/express/register etc your
disapproval DISAPPROVE 2
disapprove/not approve DISAPPROVE 1
DISAPPROVE
1 to think that someone, or their behaviour,
ideas etc are bad or unsuitable
2 to say that you disapprove of someone or
something
3 to look at someone in a disapproving way
4 words for describing words or expressions
that are used to show disapproval
5 to start to be disapproved of by many people
I to think that someone, or their behaviour,
ideas etc are bad or unsuitable
disapprove/
not approve
disapproval
frown on/upon
take a dim view of
have a low opinion of
think badly of
not hold with/not
go along with
disapprove/not approve /tdisa'pru:v, ,not
[v I not in progressive]
disapprove of sb/sth Her father disapproved of her boy-
friend. [ Many people disapprove of medical experiments on
animals. [ I don't approve of the way she dresses. [ disap-
prove of sb doing sth My friends rather disapprove Of me
smoking. [ disapprove He wanted to become an actor, but
his parents didn't approve. [ strongly/thoroughly disap-
prove I strongly disapprove of anyone who goes out at night
and leaves their children alone. [ Women priests are
thoroughly disapproved of by many in the traditional church
hierarchy.
disapproval/dls'pru:val/[n U]
disapproval of The vote indicated their disapproval of
government policy (=that they disapproved of it). ] obvious/
apparent/evident disapproval (=disapproval that people
can see) To the evident disapproval of the audience, the
singer on stage was only pretending to sing, while a record-
ing was played.
frown on/upon/'fraun on, apon [[ -o:n,-apo:n/if a group
of people frown on or upon particular behaviour, they
think that it is not the right way to behave [v T not in
progressive]
The church people frowned on those who spent Sunday morn-
ings in bed. [ On the whole speculation is frowned upon
because it sometimes drives prices up.
take a dim view of/teik  dim 'vju: ov/if someone,
especially someone in authority, takes a dim view of
something that someone has done, they think that it should
not be done but they do not actually forbid it [v phrase]
I took a dim view of the way my daughters stayed out until
midnight. [ The electorate took a dim view of the new health
bill.
have a low opinion of/hav  ,loo tpinjn ov/to dis-
approve of a person or group in general, not just one part
of their character Iv phrase not in progressive]
My new boyfriend has a low opinion of most girls. [ Undeter-
red by his mother's low opinion of him, our hero becomes very
rich and successful.
think badly of/,0irjk 'badli ov/ an informal British
expression meaning to disapprove of someone especially
because of a particular thing that they have done [v phrase
not in progressive]
I could not bring myself to hate her or even to think badly
of her, but she had hurt me. [ Please, Hari, you must not think
badly of me. I had no choice.
not hold with/not go along with/not hoold WI6, not
gou tloi] wi6 ]] -o 'la:-/ informal expressions meaning to
disapprove of particular behaviour or ideas Iv T not in
progressive ]
I don't hold with socialism. Never have. I Most of the staff
don't go along with unions around here.
2 to say that you disapprove of someone or
something
voice/express/register etc denounce
your disapproval deplore
condemn
voice/express/register etc your disapproval
/(voice, etc) ja: r dIsa'pru:val/to say, write, or show, espe-
cially publicly, that you disapprove of someone or some-
thing Iv phrase]
My father could easily have opposed our marriage or at least
expressed his disapproval. [ Football managers voiced their
disapproval of people who sell tickets unofficially. [ Not many
people are able to indicate their disapproval without caus-
ing offence. [ How can dissatisfied taxpayers register disap-
proval of government policies?
condemn /kan'dem/ if people condemn someone's
behaviour, or an idea or plan, they clearly state that they
strongly disapprove of it, especially because they think it
is morally wrong Iv T]
condemn sth Politicians and religious leaders have univer-
sally condemned this act of terrorism. I condemn sth as
Lawyers were quick to condemn proposals for new legisla-
tion as unconstitutional. [ The destruction of rainforests has
been condemned as a disaster for the environment. [ con-
demn sb for doing sth The judge was condemned for fail-
ing to examine the case thoroughly.
condemnation/,kondam'neiJ'an, -dem- 11 ,ko:n-/[n U] H/s
speech was a condemnation of terrorism. [ There is almost
universal condemnation of apartheid.
denounce/dinauns/to say publicly that you strongly
disapprove of a plan, idea, or person and think that they
are morally bad Iv T]
denounce sb/sth The Republicans denounced the waste of
public money involved in the new program. [ Every Scottish
MP rose to denounce the idea. [ denounce sb/sth as Dar-
win's theories about evolution were denounced by many
people as monstrous and antireligious.
deplore/di plo:r/a formal word meaning to disapprove
very strongly of a situation or of someone's behaviour, and
believe that something should be done to stop it Iv T not
in progressive or passive]
We deplore the use of violence against innocent people. [ The
entire world deplores this tragic situation and agrees that
swift action is needed.
3 to look at someone in a disapproving way
give sb a disapproving look/glance
give sb a dirty look
frown
give sb a disapproving look/glance /,gIV (sb) o
td]spru:vrj tlok, 'gla:ns [[ -tglens/to look at someone in
a way that shows you disapprove of something they have
said or done [v phrase]
His sister gave him a disapproving glance and he realized
he had said the wrong thing. [ Mrs Kawakami gave me a dis-
approving look, understandably reluctant to think ill of her
son.
give sb a dirty look/,glv (sb) a =d3:rti 'lok/an infor-
mal expression meaning to look quickly and angrily at
someone in a way that shows you disapprove strongly of
what they have said or done Iv phrase]
The driver of that car gave me a really dirty look when I over-
took her. [ She couldn't say anything rude to me in front of
the boss so she just gave me a dirty look.
frown/fraon/to make a slightly angry or unhappy expres-
sion with your face in order to show someone that you dis-
approve Iv I]
Cassie had burnt the beef. Mr Bonner frowned, but said noth-
ing. [ frown at Mrs Gold frowned at the children, who were
getting mud all over their clothes.

DISAPPROVE 355 discredit
4 words for describing words or expressions
that are used to show disapproval
disapproving
derogatory
pejorative
disapproving/,disa'pru:virj/[adj] "
My father made some disapproving comments about my
clothes, but let me go out in them. I The governor had stern,
disapproving words for the strikers at East Hampshire.
disapprovingly [adv] When one of the guests started smok-
ing the hostess glared at him disapprovingly.
derogatory /d]lrgtari II diro:gt:ri/ derogatory
remark/comment/word/term etc (=one that strongly
criticizes someone or something) [adj]
She is always making derogatory remarks about the Royal
family. I 'Pig' is a derogatory word for police officer. I Steven
didn't mind if his aunt overheard his derogatory comments
about her cooking.
pejorative /pIIdSorat]v II -dsa:-, -dso:-/ pejorative
term/word/connotation (=one that shows disapproval,
often in an offensive way) [adj]
"Yuppie" is a pejorative term for a young, rich person. [ in
the pejorative sense (:the pejorative meaning of a word
that is not always disapproving) He uses the word "girl' in
the pejorative sense when referring to women.
5 to start to be disapproved of by many people
fall into disrepute
fall into disrepute / ,fail int ,d]sr] 'pju:t! if an activity
or organization falls into disrepute, people start to dis-
approve of it because they have found out something bad
about it Iv phrase]
This dangerous method of treatment has now fallen into dis-
repute. I The company fell into disrepute after a number of
financial scandals.
disapproving DISAPPROVE 4
- disapproving: give sb a disapproving look/glance
..... DISAPPROVE 3
..
:.! disarray: be in disarray DISORGANIZED 1
,,: disaster ACCIDENT 1, 2, DISASTER 1
; disaster: be a disaster FAIL 6
DISASTER
a terrible event that happens suddenly,
causing destruction and suffering and often
causing the deaths of a lot of people
1 words meaning a disaster
2 words for describing actions, events etc that
cause a disaster
1 words meaning a disaster
disaster tragedy
catastrophe calamity
disaster/dI 'zo:sta r II d  'z  -/In C/U]
Many people clearly remember the Aberfan disaster, in
which 116 schoolchildren were killed. I Natural disasters
such as the drought two years ago have left the region
devastated. I War, famine and disaster are everyday events
on our TVscreens. I a disaster area (-a place where a dis-
aster has happened) San Francisco was officially declared
a disaster area after the earthquake in 1989.
catastrophe/katastrafi/an extremely terrible event
that causes widespread destruction, suffering, and death
In C/U]
The Second Worm War was a catastrophe for the USSR, cost-
ing nearly 20 million lives. I Complacency has led to some
appalling ecological catastrophes. I Not for the first time in
history, predictions of world catastrophe are in the air.
tragedy/' trad3di/a terrible and very sad event or situ-
ation that usually results in suffering or death In C/U]
The death of 15,000 seals last summer is one of several trage-
dies that have been linked to North Sea pollution. [ In his
poetry, he recalls the tragedy that engulfed Europe between
1914 and 1918.
calamity/ko lemItil a terrible and unexpected event that
causes great damage and loss In C/U]
The flood was a calamity from which Bangladesh has never
really recovered. [ We prayed to God to protect us from fur-
ther calamity.
:2 words for describing actions, events etc that
cause a disaster
disastrous
catastrophic
tragic
disastrous /dI 'zo:stros II dI 'ZaS-/ causing destruction
and suffering [adj]
There was a fault in the engine design, which had disastrous
consequences. [ Below our hotel, much of the damage
wrought by the disastrous three-day storm was still appar-
ent.
disastrously [ adv ] Things went disastrously wrong when
two of the plane's engines failed simultaneously.
catastrophic /,ketastrflk* II -stro:-/ resulting in
widespread destruction, suffering, and death [adj]
The catastrophic war between Iraq and Iran is over. I The
flood was catastrophic, drowning hundreds of people and
making thousands homeless.
catastrophically [adj] The number of ships sunk by the
enemy rose catastrophically, with one out o f four destroyed..
tragic / tradsik/causing a great deal of suffering and sad-
ness [ adj ]
The fire on board the boat last week was a tragic accident. I
The accident at the nuclear power station at Chernobyl
proved tragic for the people in the surrounding territory.
tragically [ adv ] Seven children were tragically killed in the
accident.
disastrous
disbelief
disbelieve
disc/disk
discard
discerning
DISASTER 2
BELIEVE 6
BELIEVE 6
CIRCLE 3
THROW AWAY 1
TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 3
discernment TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 2
discharge LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 6
disciplinarian STRICT 1
disciplinary PUNISH 4
discipline PUNISH 1, SUBJECT 6
discipline yourself CONTROL 7'
disciplined CONTROL 19, OBEY 4
disclose TELL A SECRET 1
disco DANCE 5
discolour/discolor COLOUR/COLOR 8
discoloured/discolored MARK 2
discomfort COMFORTABLE 7
discomforts COMFORTABLE 8
disconnect SWITCH ON OR OFF 2
disconnected OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1
discontented SATISFIED 7
discontinue STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 4
discord DISAGREE 6
discount CHEAP 8
discourage DISAPPOINTED 4, PERSUADE 12, PREVENT 1
discouraged DISAPPOINTED 1
discouraging DISAPPOINTED 3
discourteous RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
discover FIND 6, FIND OUT 1, 2
discover: find/discover FIND 7
discovered: newly discovered NEW 5
discovery FIND 8, FIND OUT 10
discovery: make a discovery FIND 6, FIND OUT 1
discredit SPOIL 5

discredit 356 DISCUSS
discredit/bring discredit on REPUTATION 3
discreet CAREFUL 5, POLITE 2
discrepancy DIFFERENT 8
discrepancy: there is a discrepancy between
DIFFERENT 8
discretion SECRET 9
discriminate DIFFERENT 10, UNFAIR 4
discriminating TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 3
discrimination UNFAIR 7
discriminatory UNFAIR 4
discuss DISCUSS 1, TALK TO SB 3
discuss: be much/widely discussed DISCUSS 3
-Idiscuss or argue? I
talk about a problem,
about work etc
DISCUSS
argue with someone
because you disagree
with them
ў ARGUE
,,
DISCUSS
1 to consider something by talking about it from
several points of view
2 to discuss something in order to reach an
agreement, especially in business or politics
3 ways of saying that something is being
discussed
4 words for describing something than can be
discussed and changed before a decision is
made
5 a meeting or situation in which something is
discussed
1 to consider something by talking about it from
several points of view
discuss
talk about
talk over
have a talk about
kick sth around
debate
put your heads
together
discuss/dI'skAs/ to talk about something in order to
exchange ideas or decide something Iv T]
I'd like to discuss the new contract with you later this week. l
Union leaders are meeting management today to discuss new
pension arrangements. I The committee has been discussing
the pros and cons of the new plans. I Yeltsin has proposed
a summit to discuss further arms reductions.
talk about/t:k obaoq to talk to someone in order to
exchange ideas or decide something, especially in an infor-
mal situation with someone you know well Iv T]
talk about sth I know you're in some trouble. Let's have a
cup of coffee and talk about it. [ She was glad to be able to
talk about her problem and hear someone else's opinions and
comments. [ talk to sb about He made a mental note to talk
to Francesca about a birthday present for her cousin.
talk over /t:k uvr/to discuss something, especially
a problem, calmly and thoroughly, with someone such as
a friend or someone you work with, in order to try to decide
something [phr v T]
talk over sth I'm lucky. I can usually talk over my problems
with my boss. I talk it over After talking it over, she began
to see adoption as an alternative to having her own children. I
Let's have some lunch and talk it over. We don't need to decide
anything in a hurry. I talk sth over We need to meet and
talk the whole thing over.
have a talk about / hav  't:k baut/ an informal
expression meaning to discuss something, especially with
just one other person or in a small group Iv phrase]
If you're upset go and have a good talk about it with a coun-
sellor. I I'm sure she wants to apologize for what she did. We
had a long talk about it afterwards.
kick sth around/kIk (sth) raond/an informal expres-
sion meaning to discuss an idea with a group of people in
order to decide whether it is good or not [phr v T]
That idea had been kicked around by the magazine's last
owners. [ Sam's got one or two proposals -perhaps we could
kick them around for a while.
debate/di be]t/to discuss different choices of what to do
before choosing the best one Iv T]
debate where/what/whether ete We debated whether to
fly or go by train, finally deciding on the train. [ They had
already debated where to go on vacation, Yosemite or Lake
Tahoe. [ debate sth We were debating the best way to reach
the river, when a passing ranger kindly pointed it out.
put your heads together/pot j:r hedz tgeSr/an
informal expression meaning to meet with someone else
and to talk about something, especially a difficult problem,
in order to decide what to do Iv phrase]
I don't understand what's wrong, but let's put our heads
together later and see if we can figure it out. I put your
heads together over Now that you are here, we will be able
to put our heads together over some of the details.
 to discuss something in order to reach an
agreement, especially in business or politics
negotiate bargaining
thrash out debate
hammer out have it out
negotiate/nI'gaufiet/[v I/T]
negotiate an agreement/contract/price ere Foreign
Ministers are meeting at talks in Geneva to negotiate a treaty
banning all chemical weapons. I Union leaders have
• negotiated an agreement on a shorter working week. I
negotiate with Nelson Mandela refuses to negotiate with
the South African government until all political prisoners
have been released. I negotiate She's good at negotiating,
she knows how to compromise.
negotiation/m  gaofi e:an/ In U] It took two years of negoti-
ation to end the war. IProblems at work are more likely to
be solved by tactful negotiation than by confrontation.
thrash out/Oref 'aot/to discuss a difficult problem
thoroughly with another person or group until agreement
is reached or an answer to the problem is found [phr v T]
thrash out sth We've spent all day trying to thrash out a
solution to our problems. I Differences over EC policy were
left to be thrashed out at a later date.
hammer out/,hemar 'aot/hammer out an agreement/
policy/strategy ere (=thoroughly discuss and come to an
agreement) [phr v T]
Canada and the US have hammered out a final form for their
trade agreement. I The advertising strategy was hammered
out by the company's top executives.
bargaining/'ba:rgInx]/discussion in politics or busi-
ness during which each group tries to gain for themselves
as many advantages as possible but has to give something
or do something in return In U]
After much bargaining, we agreed to share the profits 50-50. I
Effective bargaining by their union has gained clothing
workers a 9% pay rise.
debate/di beit/to discuss a political or social problem,
publicly and officially Iv I/T]
debate sth The new law was debated in Parliament on 14
February. I The Senate was debating a veto of economic sanc-
tions against South Africa. I debate The government clearly
refuses to give us an opportunity to debate any longer.
debate In U] This matter has been the subject of intense
public debate (=has been very strongly debated by the
public) in recent weeks.

DISCUSS
have it out/,hav It 'at't/to have a very thorough discus-
sion with someone about something you feel strongly
about, in order to make your opinion clear and prevent
arguments in the future [v phrase]
Look, why don't we have it out once and for all? I can't stand
this constant arguing. [ have it out with She's going to have
it out with him when begets home to find out what the matter
is.
3 ways of saying that something is being
discussed
be under discussion
be much/widely discussed
be the subject of debate/discussion
be on the agenda
be under discussion/bi: i Anda r dI skA.[an/if something
such as a situation, plan, or proposal is under discussion,
people are discussing it with the intention of deciding what
to do about it Iv phrase]
A proposal to reduce the size of the army has been under dis-
cuss/on for some time now. [ A title for the new book is still
under discussion. [ The plans are still under discussion.
be much/widely discussed/bi: ,mAtj', wadli dI skAst]
if something is much discussed or widely discussed, a
lot of people discuss it and argue about it Iv phrase]
The issues have been widely discussed but so far no one has
drawn any conclusions. [ Healthy eating is much discussed
these days, and several books have been published to meet
growing popular interest.
be the subject of debate/discussion Ibi: 62
, sAbd3xkt v dI 'beit, d]' skfan/ira problem or subject is the
subject of debate or discussion, it is discussed a lot
because a lot of people have strong opinions about it
Iv phrase]
Environmental issues have been very much the subject of dis-
cussion recently. [ The implications of the change in East-
West relations are the subject of extensive debate in univer-
sities across Europe.
be on the agenda/bi: tn 6i a'd5end/if something con-
cerning the public or society is on the agenda, most people
have heard of it and are talking about it Iv phrase]
The recent riots have put the problem of unemployment back
on the agenda. [ They will no doubt ensure that the TV issue
is on the agenda again.
4 words for describing something than can be
discussed and changed before a decision is
made
negotiable
be open to discussion/negotiation
negotiable/nI gaofiabal, -j'-/an offer, price, agreement
etc that is negotiable can be discussed and changed before
being agreed on [adj not before noun]
We are looking for an experiencedjounalist to join the news
team. The salary is negotiable. [ The offer is negotiable, so
feel free to suggest changes. [ The contract is for a period of
six months, and is not negotiable.
be open to discussion/negotiation/bi: ,aupan ta
dl' skAfan, ni ,gaoi'e[an/if something is open to discus-
sion or negotiation, it has not yet been officially decided
and you are allowed to discuss it and suggest changes Iv
phrase]
Which company gets the franchise is open to negotiation.
5 a meeting or situation in which something is
discussed
discussion talks
debate forum
negotiations
discussion Id'skAan/In C/U]
Discussions were long and hard, but an agreement was
finally reached. [ The committee, after much discussion, has
357 disgusting
decided to go ahead with the proposal to ban cigarette
advertising.
debate/di beit! a formal discussion in a public place
such as a parliament, in which two or more groups take
it in turns to state their opinions on a subject and then vote
for or against it In C]
The Prime Minister spoke last in the debate on abortion. [
We often have debates at school. [ open a debate (=be the
first speaker in a debate) Opening the debate will be Donald
Dunn, the famous conservationist.
negotiations in] ,goi' eanzi a meeting of the represen-
tatives of two opposing groups in an official or business
context during which they discuss things and try to reach
an agreement In plural]
Pay rates are fixed by negotiations between trade unions and
employers. [ After negotiations lasting almost a whole day,
we managed to reach a satisfactory agreement. [ The present
peace negotiations are going very well.
talks /ta:ks/ formally organized discussions between
governments or business organizations, which may last
several days or more, in order to reach an agreement on
something In plural]
She is a member of the Russian negotiating team at the
Geneva arms talks. [ The talks took place at Camp David and
continued over three days. [ Representatives of the business
community emerged happy from their talks with the Indus-
try Secretary.
forum /fa:ram/ an organization, meeting, television
programme etc that allows people to publicly discuss
things of general interest In C]
The association began as a forum for sharing ideas about
management problems. [ provide a forum The main pur-
pose of the conference was to provide a forum for community
workers to discuss government health policy.
discussion DISCUSS 5
discussion: be open to discussion/negotiation
:i DISCUSS 4
.... : discussion: be the subject of debateldiscussion
;,.. DISCUSS 3
. discussion: be under discussion DISCUSS 3
a disease :: . '@ ILLNESS/
:.
' .... DISEASE
be ill .....  ILL
hve a ,disease ":" ....
, ;:-:  @ HAVE
get a disease .-: N GET
disease ILLNESS/DISEASE 1
disembark GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 2
disenchanted DISAPPOINTED 1
disenfranchise VOTE/ELECT 7
disfigure INJURE 3
disgrace ASHAMED 3, 4
disgrace: be a disgrace BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 2
disgraceful BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 2
disgruntled SATISFIED 7
disguise HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE :3,
HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
disguised HIDE/NOT SHOW 4
disgust DISGUSTING 2, 
disgusted DISGUSTING 4
disgusted: be disgusted ANGRY 3
disgusting BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 2,
DISGUSTING 1

DI SG US TING 358 DIS HON ES T
DISGUSTING
1 so unpleasant that it almost makes you feel
sick
2 the feeling you have when you think that
something is disgusting
3 to fill you with a feeling of disgust
4 full of disgust
1 so unpleasant that it almost makes you feel
sick
disgusting repulsive
revolting nauseating
gross sickening
foul
disgusting /dIslghStlrJ, dIz-/ a taste, smell, person,
activity etc that is disgusting is so unpleasant that it
almost makes you feel sick [adj]
This hamburger tastes disgusting, I can't eat it. [ Did you
see that programme about heart surgery on TV last night?
- It was disgusting. [ If you are brought up to think that sex
is disgusting it is hardly surprising if you have problems
forming relationships.
revolting/rl Ivaoltirj/if something is revolting, it tastes,
smells, or looks so unpleasant that it almost makes you feel
sick [adj]
I can't stand pickled onions - they're revolting! [ Clearing
the blocked drain was a revolting job. [ Ducks are one of the
few animals that will eat that revolting creature, the slug.
gross/graos/an informal American word meaning dis-
gusting [adj]
He threw up on the floor at the party. It was really gross. [
As for his wife's family, Kramer had always found them
gross and stupid beyond belief.
foul/faol/a taste or smell that is foul is disgusting [adj]
The mud bath smelled foul. They said it was because of the
sulphur in it. [ Cars are to blame for the foul smog that covers
the city. [ I gulped down the water to take the foul taste out
of my mouth. [ foul-smelling The bags of garbage had been
piled up in afoul-smelling heap at the bottom of the stairs.
repulsive/ri pAIsIv/ SO disgusting that you do not want
to look at it or touch it [adj]
We saw photographs of repulsive skin diseases. [ Many
young girls suffering from anorexia find their appearance
repulsive.
nauseating/na:zietI0, -si-[[-zi-, -5i-/a smell that is
nauseating makes you feel physically sick [adj]
There was a nauseating smell in the public lavatory. [ In
summer, the stench from the sewage plant is nauseating.
sickening/sikaniij, sikni/something that is sicken-
ing, especially a smell, a noise, or something that you see,
is so disgusting, frightening, or unpleasant that it makes
you feel physically sick [adj]
There was the sickening sound of his hand hitting the child. [
In the sickening stench of the factory, the girls worked twelve
hours a day, filleting fish.
2 the feeling you have when you think that
something is disgusting
disgust
revulsion
disgust/dlS'gASt, dlz-/[n U]
He couldn't hide his disgust when presented with the dish of
sheeps" eyes. I disgust at As a teenager she was filled with
disgust at the thought of her parents having sex. I in disgust
(=feeling disgust) She held the glass away from her in dis-
gust. "'What's this awful stuff you've given me to drink?"
revulsion/ri v^lfan/a strong, sudden feeling of disgust
In U]
When it was her turn to go past the coffin, she was seized by
a strong feeling of revulsion and stepped back. I News of the
atrocities produced a wave of anger and revulsion.
3 to fill you with a feeling of disgust
disgust turn your stomach
revolt sicken
disgust/dlstgAst, dlz-/ [V q not usually in progressive]
His habit of always sucking on his moustache really dis-
gusted her. I The heat, the noise, the smell of the other pas-
sengers; everything about the subway disgusted him. I You
don't just bore me. You disgust me!
revolt/r I voltl if something revolts someone, they think
it is extremely disgusting Iv T not usually in progressive]
I have always been revolted by the very idea of deliberately
causing pain. [ He kissed her full on the lips in a way that
revolted her.
turn your stomach /ta:rnja: r  stAmak/to make you feel
ill because it is disgusting or frightening Iv phrase]
It was the first crash the doctor had been to. The sight of the
dead body turned his stomach. I The strike has meant piles
of rotting garbage. "'It's enough to turn your stomach'; said
one resident.
sicken/'sikan/if something such as violence or someone
else's suffering sickens you, it makes you feel ill and you
wish you could stop it Iv T]
When he returned, the reporter told how he was sickened by
the horrors of the Ethiopian Civil War. I The sight of the
blood sickened her and she ran out of the room.
4 full of disgust
disgusted
sickened
nauseated
disgusted/dIs'gAstd, dIz-/[adj not before noun]
Ann was disgusted when she saw the dirty hotel room.
sickened I  sikand/if you are sickened when you see or
hear about violence or suffering etc, you think that it is ter-
rible and wish you could stop it [adj not before noun]
I was sickened when Iheard about the terrible conditions in
the children's home.
nauseated /'na:zieItId, -si-[[-zi-, -3i-/ if you are
nauseated by something, it makes you feel physically sick
[adj not before noun]
The sight of the woman's burnt face made them feel
nauseated.
dish FOOD 4, MEAL 9
dish out/dole out GIVE 4
disheartening DISAPPOINTED 3
dishes: wash the dishes/do the dishes WASH 7
dishevelled/disheveled UNTIDY 2
dishonest DISHONEST 1, 3
DISHONEST
words for describing someone who cannot be
trusted to tell the truth or to behave in a fair or
honest way
words for describing someone who is
dishonest in the way they do their job
words for describing something that is done
in a dishonest way
words for describing a person or situation that
gives the appearance of being dishonest
dishonest behaviour, especially done for
personal advantage

DISHONEST 359 DISHONEST
1 words for describing someone who cannot be
trusted to tell the truth or to behave in a fair or
honest way
dishonest
devious
sly
untrustworthy
sneaky
unscrupulous
have no scruples
dishonest/dls'un  Ist II-'a:-/[adj]
Mr Evans just made a mistake about the money, he isn't dis-
honest. I Politicians are widely regarded as dishonest and
self-seeking. I A few dishonest dealers give the used car trade
a bad name. I it is dishonest of sb to do sth It was very
dishonest of him to lie about his qualifications.
devious ! di:vis/ someone who is devious cannot be
trusted because they use dishonest methods to get what
they want, especially by making careful and complicated
plans which they keep secret [adj]
You have to be pretty devious to be successful in that sort of
business. I I always thought there was something slightly
devious about him.
sly/sla/someone who is sly deliberately and cleverly
hides their real intentions and feelings in order to get what
they want without other people realizing what they are
doing [adj]
Kids of that age can be very sly -you never quite know what
they're up to. I With a sly laugh he told everyone that he knew
who had really stolen the money.
slyly [adv] They had slyly arranged to have a party while
we were away for the weekend.
untrustworthy /^ntrAstw3:r6i/ someone who is
untrustworthy cannot be trusted, for example because
you know that they have been dishonest in the past, or
because they look dishonest [adj]
Never lend her anything, she's totally untrustworthy. I One
of his eyes was always half closed, which gave him a slightly
untrustworthy appearance.
sneaky /'sni:ki/ someone who is sneaky tricks or
deceives people by being dishonest and secretive, but
usually not in a very bad or serious way [adj]
We weren't allowed out at night when we were kids so we had
to be real sneaky and climb out the window. I I know that
what I did was a little sneaky, but it was the only way I could
get to see her.
unscrupulous/An'skru:pjo°las/willing to do anything in
order to get what you want, without caring if it is dishonest
or if it harms other people [adj]
As an employer he was completely unscrupulous, employing
children to work at night. I Certain unscrupulous companies
in the wine trade encourage the growers to add sugar to their
grape juice.
have no scruples /Ihav nao 'skru:pdlz/someone who
has no scruples is willing to do anything in order to get
what they want, without caring if it is dishonest or if it
harms other people Iv phrase not in progressive]
She has no scruples at all - the only things she's interested
in are power and money. I have no scruples about Once
he's decided that he wants something he has absolutely no
scruples about how he gets it.
2 words for describing someone who is
dishonest in the way they do their job
corrupt
crooked
bent
corrupt/k r^pt/someone who is corrupt uses the power
that goes with their job for illegal or dishonest purposes,
especially by accepting money or gifts from people who
want their help [adj]
It was revealed that corrupt officials in the city housing
department had made millions of dollars in bribes. I In later
years the regime became even more corrupt, incompetent, and
reliant on the secret police.
crooked I, krokad/someone who is crooked is involved
in illegal or dishonest business activities [adj]
I always thought he was crooked - he would never explain
just how he had made so much money. I crooked car-dealers
with thin moustaches and gold filled teeth
bent/bent/an informal British word for describing some-
one, especially someone in an official position, who uses
their power illegally or dishonestly [adj]
Our health and safety rules are good, but half the inspectors
are bent. I Afew bent coppers can give the whole police force
a bad name.
 words for describing something that is done
in a dishonest way
dishonest unscrupulous
devious fraudulent
underhand
dishonest/dis'on,st II -'a:-/[adj]
I knew that Guy wouldn't be involved in anything dishonest. I
There was some suspicion that he had got the money by dis-
honest means. I I can't tell them that - it would be dishonest.
dishonestly [adv] The committee accepted that neither of
the two ministers had acted dishonestly.
devious/'di:vis/a plan, method etc that is devious is
one that is carefully and secretly made so that someone can
get what they want without other people realizing what
they are doing [adj]
Some of the kids were in the corner, planning something. No
doubt it was something devious, l It was all part of a devi-
ous plot to discredit the President.
deviously [adv ] The journalist had phrased the question
deviously, making it extremely difficult for her to answer.
underhand /Anda r =hand*/an action or method that is
underhand is dishonest and secretive, so that people do
not realize the true intentions behind it [adj]
He was a well-respected figure in the town, who would never
have been involved in anything underhand. I In a series of
very smart, very underhand moves, she had gradually taken
complete control of the company.
unscrupulous/An' skru:pj o°ls/an action or method that
is unscrupulous is designed to help you get money, power
etc, even if this involves being very dishonest and harm-
ing other people [adj]
How could you possibly have cheated the old man out of his
life savings?It was totally unscrupulous. [ unscrupulous bus-
iness methods
fraudulent/, fra:dj a°lant [[ -dsa-/actions or methods that
are fraudulent are deliberately dishonest and usually
illegal, and are done in order to gain money [adj]
The government is investigating ways to prevent fraudulent
banking practices. [ Persons making fraudulent insurance
claims will be liable to prosecution.
fraudulently [adv ] There are severe penalties for fraudu-
lently filling out income tax forms.
4 words for describing a person or situation that
gives the appearance of being dishonest
suspicious dubious
shifty be up to no good
dodgy disreputable
suspicious /sa'spxfas/ something that is suspicious,
such as a person's behaviour or something that happens,
makes you feel that something dishonest is being done or
planned [adj]
It all seems very suspicious to me. How can anyone have that
much money without working? [ A rather suspicious-looking
package had been left outside her door. ] Both the children
had died in suspicious circumstances.
suspiciously [ adv ] There's a man over there acting very sus-
piciously. Do you think we ought to call the police?
shifty/'fifti/someone who is shifty looks or behaves as
if they are doing or planning something dishonest [adj]

DISHONEST 360 DISOBEY
What are you looking so shifty about - is there something
you haven't told me? I The carpet seller gave them a shifty
look and led them right to the back of the shop.
dodgy ]dd3i II do:-! an informal British word for
describing a person, plan, or business deal that seems very
dishonest [adj l
Don't buy a car from him, he's a real dodgy character. I The
whole thing looks distinctly dodgy to me.
dubious/'dju:bios II 'du:-/ something that is dubious,
such as a person's behaviour or a business arrangement,
does not appear to be completely right or correct, so that
you think it is probably dishonest in some way [adj]
He had been involved in some dubious activities during the
war. I highly dubious Apparently the ship was carrying
a highly dubious cargo when it was raided by police. I The
whole deal seems a little dubious to me.
be up to no good Ibi: tap to no0 god/ an informal
expression: if you think someone is up to no good you
think they are doing or planning something dishonest,
even though you do not know exactly what it is Iv phrase]
Anyone waiting around on street corners at night must be
up to no good.
disrepulable/dls'repj°tobdl/a person or organization
that is disreputable is not respected or approved of,
because people believe it is involved in dishonest or ille-
gal activities [adj]
a disreputable doctor, with a history of supplying illegal
drugs I Some of the more disreputable employment agencies
take a commission of 50% of your wages.
5 dishonest behaviour, especially done for
personal advantage
dishonesty sharp practice
corruption wheeling and dealing
bribery dirty tricks
graft
dishonesty Id:s'on]sti II -'o:-/[n u]
No one suspects you of dishonesty, we just think you have
been a little careless. I The report accuses both politicians of
dishonesty and of misrepresenting the facts.
corruption/ko' rApJ'dn/dishonest or illegal behaviour by
someone in an official position, who uses their power for
personal advantage In U]
The government had promised to end corruption in public
service. I Bribery and corruption are rife in the big cities, and
every government official expects his cut.
bribery/'braibori! the practice of offering money or gifts
to someone in a position of authority, such as a police
officer or government official, in order to persuade them
to help you In U]
Executives of the company had been involved in the bribery
of government officials. I Bribery and corruption were
widespread during the Marcos administration.
graft/gro:fl 11 greft/an American word meaning the dis-
honest exchange of money, gifts, or favours for personal
advantage, especially between local businessmen and city
officials In U]
The Mafia had a hand in all the big graft in the neighbor-
hood. I At that time the whole city ran on a mixture of graft
and police brutality.
sharp practice/,o:rp prekts! business activities or
ways of making money that are clever and dishonest,
though not actually illegal In U]
We couldn't discover anything illegal, but there was
definitely some sharp practice going on. I His grandfather
had made a fortune out of a piece of commercial sharp prac-
tice in the 19th century.
wheeling and dealing / wi:hrj on 'di:lirj/activities that
involve a lot of complicated and usually dishonest deals,
especially between business competitors or political oppo-
nents, that are designed to bring advantage to each side In
phrase]
There's a lot of wheeling and dealing in the used car busi-
ness. I Most of the increase in profits came from what might
loosely be termed wheeling and dealing.
dirty tricks/,d3:rti 'trIks/dishonest activities that are
designed to gain political advantage, for example by
spreading false information about your opponents In
plural]
Bush denied that members of his election staff had been
involved in dirty tricks. I dirty tricks campaign They had
carried out a dirty tricks campaign to discredit opposition
leaders.
dishonesty DISHONEST 5
disillusioned DISAPPOINTED 1
disincentive PERSUADE 13
disinfect CLEAN 9
disintegrate BREAK 9
disinterested FAIR 4
disk/disc CIRCLE 3
. dislike.
which meaning?
dislike @ DON'T LIKE
hate -@ HATE
........ i iii i i iii i11 iii
dislike DON'T LIKE 1, 5
dislike: take an instant dislike to DON T LIKE 1
dislocate INJURE 2
disloyal UNFAITHFUL 1
disloyalty UNFAITHFUL 3
dismal SAD/UNHAPPY 10
dismantle SEPARATE 5
dismayed WORRIED 1
dismiss LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 2,
REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 5
dismount GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 2
disobedience: civil disobedience PROTEST 4
disobedient DISOBEY 3
disobey DISOBEY 1, 2
DISOBEY
to not do what you are told to do by someone
in authority
to disobey a rule or law
always disobeying people in authority
1 to not do what you are told to do by someone
in authority
disobey go against sb's wishes
defy rebel
disobey/,dis0'bei, ,dIsoo-/ [V I/T]
disobey sb David disobeyed his parents and threw a party
while they were away. [ disobey It was unfair of the teacher
to make us stay after school but I didn't dare disobey.
disobedience/diso'bi:dions, disoo-/In U] The kids were
caught trying to go out to a disco and were punished for their
disobedience.
defy/di 'fai / to deliberately and openly disobey someone
in authority and not care about what will happen because
of this Iv T]
Billy defied his teacher and smoked openly. [ She said she
would defy the party leader and vote against him.
defiance In U] There wasn't much Charles could do about
his daughter's defiance.
go against sb's wishes/,goo ogenst (sb's) 'WI.fIz/to
not do what someone has asked you to do, or what you
know they want you to do Iv phrase]
They went against their parents" wishes and got married in
secret. ] Sacha went against her family's wishes by leaving
school to get married at 16.

DISOBEY 361 DISORGANIZED
rebel/r 'bell to deliberately behave in a completely differ-
ent way from the way you are expected to behave by soci-
ety or by your family Iv I]
rebel against Teenagers will rebel against any adult who
tries to control them. I Mason was put in jail several times
for rebelling against army discipline. I rebel She was
expected to go to university, but rebelled and left school at
fifteen.
rebellion In U] My own form of teenage rebellion was to
grow my hair long and play loud music.
2 to disobey a rule or law
disobey disregard
break contravene
violate flout
disobey /,dso bei, ,dIsoo-/disobey a rule/order etc Iv
T]
He pleaded guilty to two charges of disobeying orders. I Pro-
testors disobeyed the rules and blocked the city's main roads.
break/breik/break a rule/the law (=disobey it) Iv T]
Pupils who break the rules and smoke in school will be
expelled. I That driver's breaking the law. I They broke the
agreement by moving their troops across the border.
violate/'vaioleit! to disobey or act against a law or an
important agreement Iv T]
Dan continually violated the company's safety rules. I This
action violated the constitution and the Civil Rights Act. I
Police have arrested twenty people accused of violating a ban
on demonstrations.
violation/, vaio le i J'n! In C/U] Icame across several exam-
ples of violations of traffic laws. I The movement of troops
was in violation of the peace treaty (=went against what had
been agreed).
disregard/,disr] 'gta:rd/to disobey a rule, instruction etc,
by ignoring it Iv T]
Marlow sometimes disregards the law, but his aim is always
justice. I By disregarding speed limits and passing red lights
we somehow got to the airport in time.
disregard In U] You have shown a total disregard for my
instructions. (=totally disregarded them)
©ontravene /,kontro'vi:n II ko:n-/a formal word mean-
ing to break a particular written law or rule Iv T]
The sale of this milk may contravene public health regula-
tions. [ Ira licence holder contravenes any of these conditions,
their licence will be withdrawn.
contravention/kontm'venfn II ko:n-/ In C/U] Driving
faster than the speed limit allows is a contravention of the
Road Traffic Act (=contravenes it).
|lout /flaot! flout a law/rules etc (=deliberately and
openly break law or rules etc especially because you think
they are unnecessary or stupid) Iv T]
Many bar owners flout the laws on under-age drinking. I Our
restaurant is perfectly safe and it is quite untrue to say we're
flouting fire regulations. I The decisions of elected govern-
ments should not be flouted.
3 always disobeying people in authority
disobedient rebellious
defiant rebel
disobedient /,diso'bi:di0nt.,, idIsoo- / someone, espe-
cially a child, who is disobedient does not do what they
are told to do by their parents, teachers, employers etc [adj]
Stop being disobedient, and do as you're told. I Lee stood
before her like a disobedient schoolboy. ] She said that if we
were disobedient she would send us home.
disobedience In U] Any act of disobedience was severely
punished.
de[Jant/di 'faiont/not obeying people in authority and
showing that you have no respect for them [adj]
Her reply was clear and defiant. I Defiant party members
openly challenged the leadership. [ defiant of sb/sth
Demonstrators became increasingly defiant of police
controls.
defiantly [ adv ] The prisoners defiantly sang a revolution-
ary song as they were led away.
defiance In U] She looked up at him with defiance. I He acted
in defiance of the laws.
rebellious/rI 'beljas/someone, especially a young person,
who is rebellious deliberately disobeys people in
authority such as their parents or teachers [adj]
She was headstrong and rebellious. I He has changed a lot
since his rebellious adolescence.
rebel/'rebal/someone, especially a young person, who
behaves in a completely different way from the way people
are expected to behave by society and by people in
authority In C]
He was a rebel even when he was still at school. I In his black
leather jacket and chains he looked every inch the young
rebel.
disorder DISORGANIZED 3, ILLNESS/DISEASE 1
disorganized DISORGANIZED 1, 2
DISORGANIZED
words for describing events, organizations,
systems etc that are not well organized
words for describing someone who is bad at
organizing things properly
a disorganized situation
1 words for describing events, organizations,
systems etc that are not well organized
disorganized be a shambles
chaotic be in disarray
be a mess
disorganized (also .ised British)/d]s'zzrgna]zd/[adj]
I'm not going to any more of these conferences - they're
always so disorganized. I This is the most disorganized filing
system I've ever come across - it's impossible to find any-
thing. I In its disorganized state the regiment soon suffered
a drop in morale.
chaotic/kcl otik II - o:tIk] full of disorganized activity
so that there does not seem to be any plan or pattern at all
[adj]
Compared to my previous office this one was larger, noisier,
more crowded and chaotic. I The food distribution seemed
chaotic but at least everyone got something to eat. I the
chaotic early days of the Motown record label
be a mess/bi:  Imes/if an organization, situation, or
group of things is a mess it is extremely disorganized and
untidy Iv phrase]
By general agreement the welfare program is a mess, riddled
with inefficiency and corruption. I When I first got to the
camp at Abassia the whole place was a mess. I Dr Jenkins"
filing system was a mess. Several patients'files had been
'lost'.
be a shambles/bi:  'emblz/if something such as an
event or situation is a shambles, it is very disorganized
Iv phrase]
By 1985, the Soviet economy was a shambles. I If we can't even
agree on a name, the whole thing is going to be a shambles. I
be a complete/utter shambles The event was an utter
shambles from start to finish.
be in disarray/bi:  n ,dso re]/if a group of people, espe-
cially a political party, is in disarray, it is disorganized,
especially because people in it are disagreeing with each
other or because it has been defeated by another party Iv
phrase]
The democrats are in disarray after very poor results in the
election. I throw sth into disarray (=make it become dis-
organized) Victory seemed unlikely even before the Presi-
dent's resignation threw the party into disarray.

DISORGANIZED 362 DISTANCE
 words for describing someone who is bad at
organizing things properly
disorganized
untogether
disorganized (also-ised British)/d:slz:rgnaIzd/[adj]
You're so disorganized Ewen! What have you done with the
letters I gave you? l They're the most disorganized bunch of
incompetents I've ever met.
unlogether / I^ntz'ge5r/an informal word meaning dis-
organized, used especially in spoken English [adj not
usually before noun]
He's so untogether he'll never manage to get there on time!
3 a disorganized situation
chaos
disorder
confusion
chaos /'kei-os [[-a:s/ a situation that is full of disor-
ganized activity and is completely out of control In U]
The French Revolution was a period of chaos, but produced
some great literature. I The arrival of triplets brought chaos
to our well-ordered hogtsehold. ] in chaos (=in a state of
chaos) When the police managed to get into the apartment
they found it in chaos.
disorder/dI s ':: rdar/a situation in which things or people
are not in the correct position, place, or order, so that they
are impossible to control or organize [n U]
Before, the garden had been untidy; now, it was a scene of
complete disorder. I The Civil War came at the end of a long
period of social disorder. I in disorder The Koreans
retreated in disorder.
confusion /kan'fju:san! a very disorganized situation
usually with lots of noise, in which a lot of things are hap-
pening at the same time, so that it is difficult to understand
or control In U]
A scene of indescribable confusion followed the explosion. I
We threaded our way out of the noise and confusion of the
old bazaar into brilliant sunlight.
disparity DIFFERENT 13
dispassionate FAIR 4
dispatch/despatch MESSAGE 1, SEND 1, 4
dispel GET RID OF 2
dispensable NEED 10
dispense: can dispense with NEED 9
disperse CROWD 5, LEAVE A PLACE 12
display SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 1, SHOW/LET
SB SEE STH 6, 7, 8
display: be on show/on display SHOW/LET SB SEE
STH 7
display: put sth on show/on display SHOW/LET SB
SEE STH 7
displeased SATISFIED 7
displeasure ANNOY 6
disposable THROW AWAY 2
disposal: at your disposal AVAILABLE 1
dispose of GET RID OF 1, THROW AWAY 1
disposition CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 1
disposition: be of a nervous/jealous/amiable
disposition CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 4
disposition: have a happy/cheerful/sunny disposition
HAPPY 3
disproportionate EQUAL 11
disprove PROVE 4
dispute ARGUE 6
dispute: be beyond dispute CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
disqualify FORBID 7
disregard DISOBEY 2, IGNORE 2
disrepair: fall into disrepair CONDITION/STATE OF STH 7
disreputable DISHONEST 4
disrepute: bring sb/sth into disrepute REPUTATION 3
disrepute: fall into disrepute DISAPPROVE 5
disrespectful RUDE/IMPOLITE 2
disrupt DISTURB 2
dissatisfied SATISFIED 7
dissect CUT 5
disseminate SPREAD 6
dissent DISAGREE 5, 6
dissident PROTEST 5
dissimilar DIFFERENT 1
dissipate WASTE STH 1
dissolute BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 3
dissolve LIQUID 6, 7
dissolve into laughter LAUGH 3
dissuade PERSUADE 12
distance DISTANCE 1
distance: from a distancelat a distance FAR 3
distance: in the distance FAR 3
distance: it's no distance NEAR 4
distance: keep your distance NEAR 11
distance: some distancela good distance FAR 1
distance: some distancelquite a distance/a good
distance FAR 2
within walking/driving distance NEAR 4
distance:
DISTANCE
the distance between one place or point and
another
the distance that something can travel, reach,
or operate over
ways of saying what the distance is between
two points or places
ways of saying that an area continues for a
particular distance
1 the distance between one place or point and
another
distance
how far
distance/'distns/In C/U]
What's the distance you have to run in a marathon? l Women
in Third World countries often have to walk long distances
to get water. I distance between The students have to meas-
ure the distance between the two objects. I distance from sth
to sth What's the distance from here to the station? I a dis-
tance of 5 metres/2 miles ere The rod should be placed
at a distance of 40 inches from the light source.
how far /,hao 'fo:r/an expression meaning the distance
from one place to another, used especially when asking
what the distance is, or when you are not sure what the dis-
tance is lady phrase]
How far is it to the garage? l How far does your boyfriend
have to travel to work ? I I can "t remember how far John said
it was to the camp site. I Question A: find out how far the first
car would travel on 10 litres of petrol. I God knows how far
it is to the nearest station!
the distance that something can travel, reach,
or operate over
range
range/rends/In C/U]
range of The rockets have a range of 2000 to 4000 km. I The
phone has a built-in transmitter with a range of about 50
kilometres. I within range (=at a distance that is less than
the range) As soon as the tanks come within range, open
fire!l out of range (=at a distance greater than the range)
The demonstrators were hurling rocks but the police stayed
out of range.

DISTANCE 363 DISTURB
3 ways of saying what the distance is between
two points or places
from apart
away away from
off
from/fram; strong from II fram; strong frAm, fro:m/if some-
thing is 10 kilometres/30 yards/30 minutes etc from some-
thing else, that is the distance or the travelling time
between the two things [prep]
I parked the car about 50yards from the building. I Now they
were only a few miles from the border. 1 The park is five
minutes from our house. I When I speak to my mother on the
phone I have to hold the receiver a few inches from my ear
because she talks so loudly.
away/z we/if something is 10 kilometres/30 yards/30
minutes etc away, it is that distance or travelling time
from aplace, person, or thing that you have already men-
tioned [adv]
By now, Simone would be hundreds of miles away. I Stefan
could see Deborah standing about 200yards away. I I quite
often go to Toronto on the weekend, it's only an hour and a
half away by car.
Off/o II :f/if something is 10 kilometres/30 yards etc off,
that is how far it is from you or from the place you are talk-
ing about [adv]
The nearest town is fifteen kilometres off. I The robbers must
be a long way off by now. I Even when we were thirty miles
off, you could already see a glow in the sky from the lights
of Calgary.
apart/o'po: rt/three miles/several metres/a couple of
inches etc apart (=when two places, objects, or people
have a distance of three miles, several metres etc between
them) [adv]
The seeds should be planted a few inches apart. I Stand on
the skis with your feet well apart. I far apart (=a long way
apart) Timothy had a broad face, and his eyes seemed far
apart.
away from /oweJ from/ if a person or thing is three
miles, a few inches, a long way etc away from another
person or thing, there is a distance of three miles, a few
inches etc between them [prep]
The station is about two miles away from the city centre. I
He was standing three metres away from the bomb when it
exploded. I You don't have to shout - I'm only standing two
feet away from you!
4 ways of saying that an area continues for a
particular distance
extend
stretch
extend/ik'stend/to continue for a particular distance,
over a particular area, or in a particular direction Iv I]
extend around/over/through ere The desert extends over
five different countries. I From the corner of the terrace the
path extended down to the sea.
stret©h/stret//to cover a large area of land Iv I]
stretch from sth to sth The valley stretches from Vassal
in the north to Momere in the south west. I stretch for The
river stretches for over 100 miles.
distant UNFRIENDLY 2
distant future: in the not too distant future SOON 1
distant/far-off FAR 3, 4
distil PURE 3
distinct CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 1 DIFFERENT 1 5
distinct/definite OBVIOUS 1
distinction DIFFERENT 12
distinction: draw/make a distinction DIFFERENT 10
distinctive DIFFERENT 3
distinctly remember REMEMBER 4
distinguish DIFFERENT 10, 11, SEE 4
distinguish yourself DO WELL 1
distinguishing feature/mark DIFFERENT 12
distort
distorted SHAPE 4
distract DISTURB 1
distract sb's attention ATTENTION 9
distraught UPSET 2
distress UPSET 3
distressed UPSET 1
distressing UPSET 5
distribute GIVE 4, SARE 1, SPREAD 5
district AREA 2
distrust TRUST 5, 6
distrustful/mistrustful TRUST 7
disturb DISTURB 1, 2
CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 4
DISTURB
to make noise, cause problems etc so that
someone cannot continue what they are doing
or so that a meeting, event etc cannot
continue in its usual way
I to disturb someone who is doing something
ў to disturb a situation or event that is calm,
peaceful, well organized etc
1 to disturb someone who is doing something
disturb break sb's train of thought/
put sb off chain of thought
bother distract
disturb/dI'st:rb/[v T/
I think we're disturbing Martin.'Let's go and talk in your
office. [ Sorry to disturb you again Ted, but could you just
answer one more question. [ Will it disturb you if I listen to
the radio? [ The reason so little was stolen is that the robbers
were disturbed before they had finished.
put sb off/,pot (sb) ofl a British expression meaning to
stop someone doing something well, especially something
difficult, by preventing them from thinking clearly about
what they are doing [phr v T/
I was adding up a long column of numbers when my cat
jumped onto the table and put me off. [ All those people
watching him play probably put him off. [ Don't be put off
by the flashing lights. ] put sb off sth Stop chatting to her
- you're putting her off her homework.
bother /'bt6 r [[ 'ba:-/to disturbsomeone who is doing
something, especially in a way that is annoying [v TI
Will you stop bothering me all the time! I'm trying to get on
with this sewing. I Sorry to bother you, but could you explain
again how to use the Xerox machine?
break sb's train of thought/chain of thought
/,breik (sb's) ,trein av Oo:t, ,tj'ein-/to disturb someone so
that they forget what they were thinking about [vphrase]
The phone rang, breaking my train of thought.
distra©t/di'strekt/to disturb someone who is trying to
work, read, study etc, especially by making them pay atten-
tion to something else Iv T/
distract sb Don't talk in lectures because it distracts other
students. [ distract sb from doing sth The slightest thing
will distract young children from getting on with their work. [
distract sb from sth You may be putting your job at risk
if you allow your partner to distract you from your work.
• to disturb a situation or event that is calm,
peaceful, well organized etc
disturb upset
disrupt break up
disturb/dI'sta:rb/[v T/
Every year the quiet of the countryside is disturbed by noisy
campers and tourists. [ Nothing must be allowed to disturb
the smooth-running of the Presidential tour. [ An excellent
movie which portrays how murder and political intrigue
disturb the peace of a sleepy provincial town.

DISTURB 364 do
disrupt/dis r^pt/to disturb a situation, system, event etc,
so that it cannot happen or work in its usual way Iv T]
The aim of the strike was to disrupt rail services as much as
possible. I Moving to a new school can disrupt a child's edu-
cation, especially between the ages of eleven and sixteen.
disruption/d]srnpj'dn/[n U] The weather has caused ser-
ious disruption to road and rail travel.
upset lap set/to disturb a plan, situation, relationship etc,
especially so that people feel confused or angry Iv T]
Young children don't like anything which upsets their daily
routine. I He could not believe that one moment of foolishness
could upset his once happy marriage so drastically.
upset /Apset/In U] Her leaving caused tremendous upset in
the office (=upset it a lo0 and she was very difficult to replace.
break up / bre ik Ap/break up a meeting/demonstra-
tion/march etc (=deliberately disturb it or prevent it from
continuing, especially in a violent way) [phr v T]
break up sth Police broke up the demonstration with tear
gas and dogs. I The conference was broken up by animal
rights campaigners who had gained entry by posing as
journalists and cameramen. I break sth/it/them up
Breaking meetings up and harassing party members are just
some of the tactics our opponents have used.
disturbed MENTALLY ILL 1
disuse: fall into disuse USE STH 9
disused USE STH 9
dither DECIDE 9
dive DOWN 3, 6, JUMP 1
diverge DIFFERENT 1
divergent DIFFERENT 5
diverse DIFFERENT 5, VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS
2,3
diversify VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 7
diversion TRICK/DECEIVE 8
divert attention ATTENTION 9
divide COUNT/CALCULATE 7, DIFFERENT 13,
DISAGREE 4, SEPARATE 3, 4, 8
divide/divide up SHARE 1
divided: be divided/split DISAGREE 3
: division DISAGREE 3, PART 5
divorce DIVORCE 1, 2
divorce: end in divorce DIVORCE 1
divorce: get a divorce DIVORCE 1
divorce: get divorced DIVORCE 1
DIVORCE
1 to legally end your marriage
2 the legal ending of a marriage
3 someone who is no longer married to their
former husband or wife
4 ways of saying that a husband and wife no
longer live together, usually because they
intend to end their marriage
1 to legally end your marriage
get divorced get a divorce
divorce end in divorce
get divorced/,get d 'va:rst/Iv phrase]
My parents got divorced last year. I Before getting divorced,
you should think carefully about the effect it will have on the
children.
divorce ]d va:rs! if someone divorces their husband or
wife, or if two people divorce, they legally end their mar-
riage Iv I/T]
divorce sb Finally, after years of unhappy marriage, Eva
divorced Stanley. I He kept promising her that he would
divorce his wife, but he never actually did it. I divorce
Petra's parents had divorced when she was about seven years
old.
get a divorce/,get a d 'va:rs/to take the necessary offi-
cial actions to legally end your marriage Iv phrase]
It took nearly a year for my brother to get a divorce. I get
a divorce from Steve says he will marry me ifI can get a
divorce from my husband.
end in divorce/end in d 'va:rs/if a marriage ends in
divorce it is legally ended Iv phrase]
Nearly 4 out of 10 marriages in the US end in divorce. I It
was inevitable that their marriage should end in divorce.
2 the legal ending of a marriage
divorce
divorce/d'va:rs/[n C/U]
Caroline's husband had asked her for a divorce and she had
agreed. I The two women sat drinking wine and discussing
their divorces and affairs. I I've only seen my ex-wife once
since the divorce. I divorce rate (=the number of divorces
each year) The divorce rate has risen steadily since the 1950s.
3 someone who is no longer married to their
former husband or wife
divorced
divorcee
ex-husband/ex-wife
t
divorced Ida I 'va:rst/no longer married to your former
wife or husband [adj]
Sue's parents are divorced. I At twenty-five Maria is now
divorced, and lives with her three children. [ More than 80%
of divorced men, and 75% of divorced women, go on to
remarry.
divorcee/d va:rsi:/someone who is legally no longer
married to their former husband or wife In C]
Pare is a divorcee who has to bring her I year old daughter
up on her own. I Most of the people on the holiday seemed
to be divorcees.
ex-husband/ex.wife /,eks hAzband, eks waf/ the
man or woman that someone was once married to In C]
I had a letter from my ex-wife yesterday. I Women who are
attacked by their husbands or ex-husbands often fail to
report them to the police.
4 ways of saying that a husband and wife no
longer live together, usually because they
intend to end their marriage
separated
separate
separated/'separeitaId/[adj]
David and I have been separated for the last six months, but
we're not legally divorced yet. I separated from Victoria's
separated from her husband and caring for her children
alone.
separate/'separelt/if a husband and wife separate, they
no longer live together, usually because they intend to get
divorced Iv I]
Linda and George have only been married for a year and
they're already thinking of separating I Anne and I sepa-
rated for three months, but we are now together again.
divorced
divorcee
divulge
dizzy
do
do: have/be something to do with
do: not dosth NOT DOSTH1
do: something to do DO 10
do: what are you/they etc doing?
DIVORCE 3
DIVORCE 3
TELL A SECRET 1
BALANCE 6
DANCE 2, DO 1, ENOUGH 2, EXAM/TEST 2,
IMITATE 6, JOB/WORK 2, MAKE 6, PARTY 1,
PERFORM 5, PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 1,
SPEND TIME 4, STUDY 1, TRAVEL 3, 6, VISIT
4, WORK/DO WORK 1
CONNECTED WITH 2
DO 7

do 365 DO
do: what do you think you're doing? DO 7
do: will do GOOD ENOUGH 1
do: won't do GOOD ENOUGH 4
do away with KILL 1, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 4
do-gooder INTERFERE 2
do in INJURE 2
do it SUCCEED IN DOING STH 2
do nothing/not do anything DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
dosbin TIRED5
dosboutof CHEAT1
do sth for HELP 2
do sth to EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
do up FASTEN/DO UP 1, REPAIR 2
do well DO WELL 1, SUCCESSFUL 1, 2
do without NOT HAVE 5
do without: can't do without NEED 3
do you good HEALTHY 6
do
which meaning?
do an activity or task @ DO
not d-o somethi.ng
NOT DO STH
do something to solve
a problem
take part in doing
somethi.ng with other
people
!" "ili: .../.;i ,... :.,.:.... : ..
do something wel]
do something badly
try to do what someone
else does in. exactly
the same way as them
do an exam or test
-do somethingagain
do what you are told
to do
DO STHITAKE
ACTION
TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED
@ DO WELL
@ DO BADLY
,"- ::.,, @ IMITATE
@ EXAM/TEST
• -@ AGAIN
::
@ OBEY
not do what you are
told to do
....
deal with .a problem
or situation
• .
DISOBEY
DEAL WITH
DO
to do something
to do something that has already been
planned or ordered
to do something good or useful that you have
worked hard to do
to do something after a delay or pause
to continue to do something or start doing
something without waiting
to do something that is bad or that people
think you should not do
ways of asking what someone is doing
words for describing someone who is doing
something
something that someone does
10
something that people do for enjoyment,
interest etc
1 to do something
do perform
go about conduct
dabble in give
do/du:/Iv T]
She does a lot of work for charity. I I do half an hour of exer-
cises every morning. I Don't disturb me now - I'm doing
something. I Howard did some rapid calculations on the
back of an envelope. 1 95% of housework is done by women. I
Whatever kind of job you do, you should take pride in doing
it well. I do the washing/cleaning/drying ere You wash
the dishes, and I'll do the drying.
go about/go baot/to do something, especially a job
that you usually do or a planned activity Iv T not inpassive]
go about sth The old man hummed to himself as he went
about his job in the garden. I go about doing sth How
would you go about reorganizing the kitchen? ] go about
it Your work needn't be too difficult. It depends how you go
about it.
dabble in/dCbal n/ to sometimes spend time doing
something that you are interested in or enjoy, but not in
a very serious way Iv T]
When he was younger he used to dabble in astronomy. ] She
dabbled occasionally in Democratic Party politics.
perform/po r 'f:: rm/perform a duty/task/ceremony/
operation etc (=do it and be responsible for it, or in charge
of it) Iv T]
You will be expected to perform your duties to the best of your
ability. I The ship's captain performed the wedding cere-
mony. I The operation was performed by a team of doctors
at Harefield Hospital.
conduct/kn'd^kq conduct an experiment/survey/
inquiry etc (=do something, especially in order to find out
or prove something) Iv T]
The training department is going to conduct a survey of atti-
tudes towards racism within the company. [ The inquiry was
conducted in an atmosphere of great fear and secrecy. [ We're
conducting a routine investigation. There's nothing to worry
about.
give Igvl give a talk/lecture/speech/performance etc
(=talk, speak, sing, perform etc in front of a group of people)
[vT]
Mr Banks gave a short talk about his travels in Africa. I
Professor Williams is to give a series of lectures on environ-
mental pollution. I The band gave one of the best perfor-
mances of their career.
to do something that has already been
planned or ordered
carry out put into practice
execute deliver the goods/
implement come up with the goods
carry out /,kari 'aot/to do something that has been
planned or that someone has asked you to do [phr v T]
carry out sth Teachers are refusing to carry out the tests
that the government has ordered. [ If my instructions had
been carried out, the accident would not have happened. [
She's carrying out an investigation into the causes of liver
disease.
execute/'eksIakju:t/a word used especially in official,
legal, or business contexts, meaning to do something that
you have carefully planned or that you have agreed to do
Iv T]
Our directors make the decisions, but it's the managers who
have to execute them. I The work on the building was
executed in six months. I These were premeditated and care-
fully executed murders.

366 DO
implement /'xmplment/ implement a plan/a pro-
posal/recommendations/policy etc (=do something
after an official decision has been made that it should be
done) iv T]
Very few parties in government ever want to implement polit-
ical reform. I an international team set up to implement
recent UN recommendations [ We need a strategy that can
be implemented quickly.
put into practice/,pot inta 'pras/if you put ideas
or something you have learned into practice, you do some-
thing according to those ideas, and see if they are effective
iv phrase]
He was determined to put into practice everything he had
learnt on the training course. [ A lot of these modern theories
about teaching sound really good, until you actually try and
put them into practice.
deliver the goods/come up with the goods
/d,lv r 8 'godz, km ,^p w8-/ informal expressions
meaning to successfully do what other people have asked
you to do or expect you to do, for example as part of your
job iv phrase]
What the country needs is an economic and political system
capable of delivering the goods. I Top players like Gascoigne
are brought in to win championships, and if they don't come
up with the goods, they're out.
3 to do something good or useful that you have
worked hard to do
achieve
accomplish
achieve/'ti:v/to succeed in doing something good or
getting the result you wanted to get, after trying hard for
a long time iv T]
At the end of the course you really feel that you have achieved
something. 1 The company intends to achieve all these goals
within the next five years. [ By the age of twenty, she had
already achieved fame and wealth.
accomplish/'kAmpliJ" l[ ko:m-, 'k^m-/to succeed in
doing or finishing something good that you have planned
to do, after trying hard for a long time iv T]
In his time as President he accomplished very little. 1 we have
only six months left to accomplish our task.
4 to do something after a delay or pause
get on with
get around to/round to
get on with/,get 'on wi6 II -'a:n-/to do something after
a delay, especially when you feel impatient to do it, or when
another person feels impatient with you because they think
you are wasting time iv T not in passive]
Once the movie had finished, I was able to get on with my
work. [ Stop messing around -just get on with it! [ Heavy
rain is preventing rescue teams from getting on with the
search.
get around to (also get round to in British English)
/,get ()'raund tu:/to finally do something that you have
been intending to do or saying you will do for some time,
but which you have not been able to do because you were
too busy or you did not want to do it iv T not in passive]
I must get round to painting the kitchen some day. [ "Have
you done that report yet? .... Sorry, [ never got around to it. ""
5 to continue to do something or start doing
something without waiting
go ahead
proceed
go ahead I,gu 'hed/[phr v I]
The conference will go ahead whether the speaker turns up
or not. [ "'Can I start eating now?" "'Go ahead!'"
proceed/pm'si:d/a formal word meaning to do some-
thing without waiting iv I not in progressive]
"Please proceed, "" said the judge to the attorney. I proceed
to do sth She then proceeded to list his faults and failings,
one by one.
6 to do something that is bad or that people
think you should not do
be up to sth commit
get up to stoop
indulge in
be up to sth/bi: '^p tU: (sth)/if someone is up to some-
thing they are probably doing something bad, but you do
not know exactly what iv T]
Why is he lying to me? What's he up to? I The kids have been
whispering and giggling all day - I think they're up to some-
thing. ] be up to no good (=be doing something bad) It was
obvious that the stranger hanging around the school gates
was up to no good.
get up to/,get ^p ttl: (sth)! to do something that other
people disapprove of, especially because you think it is
amusing or because you enjoy it iv T]
She peeped into the bedroom to see what mischief her grand-
son was getting up to. [ When we were students, we used to
get up to all sorts of things.
indulge in/n'dAld5 m/to do something that you enjoy
very much even if you think there is some reason why you
should not do it iv T]
indulge in sth Occasionally she indulges in a bottle of wine
or a box of chocolates. I indulge yourself l knew I shouldn't
smoke, but I like to indulge myself once in a while.
commit /k'mlt/ commit a crime/murder/suicide/
adultery etc (=do something which is against the law or
which is morally wrong) iv T]
It's not sure yet whether she died naturally or committed sui-
cide. [ Taylor is in prison for a crime he didn't commit. [ We
were taught to pray every time we committed even a minor
sin.
stoop/stu:pl to do something that you know is morally
wrong because you think it is the only way that you can
achieve what you want to achieve iv I]
stoop to doing sth His lawyers even stooped to using his
own children to provide evidence against him. I In the end
he was so desperate that he stooped to flattering her. [ stoop
to sth I can't believe the depths to which some people will
stoop. She's even tried insulting him in public.
7 ways of asking what someone is doing
what are you/they etc doing?
what are you/they etc up to?
what are you/they etc playing at?
what do you think you're doing?
what are you/they etc doing?/,wot a:r (you etc)
'du::o/
He's been a long time - what's he doing there? [ What are
you two doing?
what are you/they etc up to?/,wt o: r (you etc) '^p
tu:/(used when you think someone is secretly doing some-
thing bad)
You look guilty, Stuart. What have you been up to? l They've
been locked in there all morning - what are they up to?
what are you/they etc playing at?/,wot Q:r (you
etc) ple;-irj at/(used when you are angry and think some-
one has done something very wrong or stupid)
She shouldn't have told him what I said. What was she play-
ing at? [ You boys! What on earth do you think you're play-
ing at? Stop it at once!
what do you think you're doing?/,wt du: ju: ,0irjk
j:r Idu:IJ/(used when you think or have just discovered
that someone is doing something very wrong or stupid)
You seem to be trying to wreck our marriage. What do you
think you're doing? I What does Tony think he's doing, spend-
ing all his father's money like that?

DO 36? DO BADLY
 words for describing someone who is doing
something
active
in action
active / 'ktiv/doing something, in order to help a group
or organization that you are a member of [adj]
Polly is a member of the Green Party and is very active in
all their campaigns. I active member Today there are over
5, 000 active members in the Accra church.
in action/in lakfan/if you see someone in action, you
see them doing the job or activity that they are trained to
do or usually do [adv phrase]
The film showed members of the Fire Brigade in action at
afire at an oil refinery, i I've heard a lot about his talents
as a dancer - I'd love to see him in action.
something that someone does
action feat
thing to do act
activity achievement
activities accomplishment
deed exploits
action I'akfanl in C]
You can't be blamed for the actions of your parents. I She sud-
denly leaned forward, an action which sent a shooting pain
down her spine. I People were judged by their actions, not
by their thoughts.
thing to do /lOIlJ tO 'du:/ a stupid/clever/nasty etc
thing to do in phrase]
I shouldn't have been driving while I was drunk - it was a
really stupid thing to do. I That wasn't a particularly clever
thing to do, was it?
activity/ak'tivti/a situation in which people are doing
things, moving around and looking busy in U]
There seems to be a lot of activity in the town centre today
- is there going to be some kind of demonstration? ] Military
activity was secretly taking place for weeks before the
invasion.
activities/ak'tlvtiz/things that people do, especially
as a group and in an organized way, which are criminal
or which are disapproved of by the government in plural]
Four spies were jailed for activities against the state. I There
is growing evidence of drug-smuggling activities in and
around our ports.
deed/di:d/a word used especially in literature meaning
something very brave, very good or very bad that someone
does in C]
It's a tale of heroism and great deeds. [ One day he will pay
for his evil deeds. [ good deed Well, that's my good deed for
the day.
feat/fi:t/something that someone does that is admired
because it is very difficult and you need a lot of skill,
strength etc to do it in C]
perform a feat It was as if she was about to perform some
magical feat. I accomplish/achieve a feat He led his team
to victory for the tenth time, a feat no captain had achieved
before him. I a feat of incredible feats of memory
act laktl act of courage/stupidity/cruelty/kindness/
violence etc (=a brave, stupid, cruel etc action) in C]
Saving the boys from the river was an act of great courage. I
The Bishop said he could never agree with such acts of
violence.
achievement /tfi:vmnt/ something important that
you succeed in doing by your own efforts In C]
Learning to ride a horse at the age of seventy was a great
achievement. I One of his finest achievements was organiz-
ing the state visit of the Queen. I She was so proud of her
achievement of learning Russian that she rewarded herself
with a trip to Moscow.
accomplishment /kAmplij'mnt [[ oko:m -, akAm-/
something good that someone has succeeded in doing and
that they are proud of doing [n C]
The rugby team's undefeated run this year is an outstand-
ing accomplishment. [ The Society is giving a dinner for top
businesswomen, to reward and recognize their accomplish-
ments. I Being able to play the piano brilliantly is just one
of her many accomplishments.
exploits /eksplits/ brave and exciting actions that
people are told about and admire In plural]
The children loved to hear their father tell stories of his war-
time exploits. [ His earlier exploits as a top detective made
him the obvious choice for Chief Commissioner.
1 0 something that people do for enjoyment,
interest etc
activity something to do
pursuits hobby
pastime
activity/ek'tIvlti/[n C]
What kind of activities do you enjoy? [ lay on activities
(=provide them) In the afternoon, there will be plenty of
activities laid on for the kids. i outdoor/indoor activities
She enjoys horse-riding and other outdoor activities. [
leisure activities There are very few leisure activities avail-
able for teenagers.
pursuits/pa'sju:ts [i Parsu:ts/literary/academic/artis-
tic/intellectual etc pursuits (=a formal word usually
found only in literature meaning things that people do
because they enjoy them, especially things that involve
mental effort) In plural]
After he retired, my grandfather was able to devote his time
to literary pursuits. [ Her husband never showed much
interest in her intellectual .pursuits.
pastime/po:stalm II 'pas-/an activity that is pleasant,
relaxing and usually not very difficult, that you do when
you are not working, because you enjoy it in C]
Sunbathing was not a popular pastime until the second half
of this century. [ Our cat's favourite pastime is sitting at the
window and watching the people walk by.
something to do / Is^rnOirj t 'du:/something that you
can do and that will stop you feeling bored because you
have nothing to do in phrase]
What he needs is something to do in his spare time. [ I don't
mind helping - it'll give me something to do.
hobby/hobi II ho:-/something that you do for interest
and enjoyment regularly over a long period of time, for
example, collecting things or being interested in a partic-
ular activity or subject in C]
His favourite hobby is stamp collecting. [ What are your
hobbies?
@ DO BADLY
I to do something in a careless or unskilful way
1 to do something in a careless or unskilful way
do badly
mess up/make a
mess of
muck up
make a hash of
make a bad job of
bungle
botch/botch up
screw up
fluff
not do yourself justice
mismanage
do badly/,du: 'bzedli/iv phrase]
do sth badly We asked them to pack the glass and china for
us, but they did it very badly. I do badly I think I did pretty
badly in the exam today.
mess up/make a mess o|/mes Ap, meika Imes ov/
to do something badly, especially when it is important that
you do it well [phr v I/T]
mess sth/it up Don't ask Joe to do it - he's sure to mess it
up. [ mess up The coach will be mad if we mess up this time
- it's a really importantgame. I make a mess of I'd rather
pay a professional to paint the kitchen - knowing me, I'd
make a mess of it.

DO BADLY 368 DO STH/TAKE ACTION
muck up/,mAk '^p/an informal expression used espe-
cially in British English, meaning to do something badly,
so that you fail to get the result you wanted [phr v T]
muck up sth Lou thinks she has mucked up her end-of-term
exams. I muck sth/it up This is your last chance - if you
muck this assignment up you will lose your job.
make a hash of ! ,meek  he S or/an informal expres-
sion meaning to do something very badly, so that the result
is completely different from what you intended [vphrase]
She picked herself up and started the dance again, deter-
mined not to make a hash of it this time. I make a complete
hash of I made a complete hash of the interview - I don't
stand a chance of getting the job.
make a bad Job of/mek a bad 'd3ob ov li -'d3o:b-/to
do something badly, especially a piece of practical work,
so that it does not look good or does not work properly Iv
phrase]
The builders made a bad job of the roof- it's still leaking.
bungle/'bArjgal/to fail to do something properly or suc-
cessfully, especially as a result of stupid or careless mis-
takes Iv T]
The plan seemed simple enough, but the CLA managed to
bungle the operation.
bungling In U] Because of bureaucratic bungling the hospi-
tal had never been built.
botchlbolch up/botS, botj" Ap II ba:tfl to do something
badly, especially a practical job such as making or repair-
ing something, as a result of being too careless or having
too little skill Iv T]
botch sth What we wanted was a sort of patio by the back
door, but the builders completely botched it. I botch sth/it
up We hired someone to fix the computer system, but he
botched it up even more. I botch up sth I wouldn't take your
car to that garage - they botch up the simplest jobs.
screw up !,skru: '^P/an informal expression meaning to
spoil something you are trying to do, by making stupid mis-
takes [phr v I/T1
screw sth/it up I was so nervous about the driving test that
I screwed the whole thing up. I screw up sth My audition
was going really well until I screwed the last part up. I screw
up (especially American) If a player screwed up too often
in a game he was out of the team.
fluff/fl^f! an informal word meaning to do something
badly because you are not paying enough attention, espe-
cially when it is your turn to do something in a play or in
a game Iv T]
I was so nervous that I fluffed my lines. I It should have been
an easy catch, but he fluffed it.
not do yourself Justice/not ,du: ja:rself 'd3Astos/ to
perform less well than you can do in an examination, game
etc, for example because you do not try hard enough Iv
phrase]
My grandfather was very intelligent, but he never did him-
self justice at school. I There were a couple of good perfor-
mances, but most of the players didn't really do themselves
justice.
mismanage/,mls'menid3/if someone who is in charge
mismanages a system or planned piece of work, they do
it badly because they do not organize and control it
properly Iv T ]
The whole project was seriously mismanaged from the begin-
ning. I This government stands accused of mismanaging the
economy and putting millions out of work.
DO STHITAKE
ACTION
to do something in order to deal with a
problem, a difficult situation etc
1 to do something
2 to take action in order to deal with other
people's arguments, fights, problems etc
3 something that someone does in order to
deal with a problem or difficult situation
4 to not take any action, especially when
something needs to be done
1 to do something
do sth take steps/measures
take action move
act
do something/'du: ,s^mOH]/to do something in order
to deal with a problem, difficult situation etc, especially one
that needs to be dealt with urgently Iv phrase]
do something about When are you going to do something
about the broken window? I It's time the police did something
about all this illegal parking. I do something Quick; do
something! There's water all over the kitchen floor! I There
are people dying out there. We must do something before it's
too late.
take action/,telk ek.fan/to do something in order to
prevent something bad from happening or continuing,
especially because it is your duty or responsibility to do
this [v phrasel
This illegal trade will continue unless we take action to stop
it. I Action was taken once tests revealed the presence of harm-
ful chemicals in the water. I take action on sth Congress
is expected to take strong action on the problem of organized
crime. I take action against sb Mr Cooper called on the
government to take action against the strikers. I take
prompt/immediate action As soon as the captain became
aware that the ship was on fire, he took prompt action to pre-
vent a disaster.
act/ekt/to use your power or authority to deal with an
urgent problem Iv I]
We must act before the situation gets out of control. I Some
generals accuse the government of acting too hastily in clos-
ing down military bases. I Despite the growing tension, the
police seemed unable or unwilling to act.
take steps/measures /,teik 'steps, 'mesarz/ if a
government or someone in a position of power takes steps
or measures, they do what is necessary to improve a situ-
ation or to deal with a problem, especially by making a
number of changes Iv phrase]
Managers must take steps to ensure that everyone under-
stands the new regulations. I We apologize for the confusion
over your recent order and have taken steps to see it does not
occur again. I Drastic measures will be taken against those
who engage in terrorism.
move/mu:v/ifa person or organization moves to do some-
thing, they start to take action, especially in order to deal
quickly with an urgent matter Iv I]
Airport authorities are moving quickly to improve security
following a series of bomb threats. I During the past year the
company has moved to strengthen its management. I If
anyone wants to put in a takeover bid they'll have to move
quickly.
2 to take action in order to deal with other
people's arguments, fights, problems etc
step in
intervene
step in / ,step ' In/to become involved in a difficult situa-
tion, especially a quarrel or a fight between two other
people or groups, in order to stop the trouble or to help both
sides become friends again [phr v I]
Thomas had listened to the argument for long enough and
he stepped in to defend Miss Price. I The military police
stepped in to prevent serious bloodshed when fighting broke
out between two groups of American soldiers.
intervene/, into r'vim/to become involved in a difficult
situation, especially a war or a quarrel between other
people or countries, in order to find an answer to the
problem, stop the fighting etc Iv I]

DO STH/TAKEACTION 369 DOCTOR
War broke out in Vietnam and the Americans decided to
intervene. I The referee intervened when two of the players
started to fight. I intervene in The UN was not authorized
to intervene in a country's internal affairs.
intervention/lintar ' venn/In U[ government intervention
in private industry
3 something that someone does in order to
deal with a problem or difficult situation
action measure
step move
action/ ekn/what someone does when they use their
power to deal with a problem or to achieve something In U[
Strong action is needed to restore law and order. I The Presi-
dent's response to the crisis was all too typicak fine talk but
no action. I action on Residents were promised action on pol-
lution from the local factories ten years ago but nothing has
happened.
step/step/one of a series of things that someone does in
order to deal with a problem or to achieve success In C[
We think we've discovered the virus; the next step is to do
some tests on it. I Her first big step towards a career in movies
was her move to Hollywood. I These steps are necessary if the
company is to succeed in the European market.
measure /'mesar/an action taken by a government or
someone in authority in order to deal with a problem or
improve a situation, for example by making a new law or
rule In C usually plural]
Government officials refused to say what measures were
being planned to deal with the refugee crisis. I Japanese
businessmen have called for measures to restrict American
imports.
move/mu:v/one of a series of actions that someone plans
in order to achieve a particular result In C[
The UN's latest move to stop the fighting has ended in
failure. I His first move after taking over as chairman was
to improve childcare facilities for employees with children. I
The management have offered less money than we wanted
so uhat's our next move?
4 to not take any action, especially when
 something needs to be done
do nothing/ sit there/stand there
not do anything be all talk
take no action non-intervention
stand by/sit by
do nothing/not do anything I,du: 'n^0ij, ,not du:
'eniSirj/Iv phrase]
The crowd started to throw bottles and bricks, but the police
did nothing. I We thought it would be best to do nothing until
Mr Porter could give us more information. I Well, if you
won't do anything, I'll find a lawyer who will.
take no action/,teik nao kan/to do nothing, espe-
cially because you have deliberately decided to do nothing
Iv phrase[
You could clearly see people drowning and yet you took no
action to save them. I If you have already paid the amount
shown on this bill, you need take no further action.
stand bylslt by/stnd 'bai, sit 'bai / to take no action
to stop something bad from happening, especially because
you do not care what happens [phr v I[
Why did peoplejust stand by while she was attacked?[ We
couldn't just stand by and let them shut down our school, so
we organized a protest.
sit there/stand there/'Sit 6ea r, stnd 6ear/if some-
one sits there or stands there when something bad hap-
pens and urgent action is needed, they do nothing and do
not even move Iv phrase]
One of the children has been bitten by a dog! Don't just stand
there - do something! I I don't understand how he could sit
there and read the paper at a time like this.
be all talk/bi: ,a:l 'ta:k/an informal expression: if you
say that someone is all talk you mean that they are always
talking about doing something but they never actually do
it [ v phrase[
These politicians! They're all talk and no action.
non.Intervention /,non Intar'venJn II no:n-/ a word
used especially in politics meaning the principle of taking
no action in the affairs of other countries or organizations
In U[
Before the First World War America had a policy of non-
intervention in Europe.
@ DO WELL
I to do something well, with skill and care
1 to do something well, with skill and care
do well excel
do a good job acquit yourself well
make a good job of distinguish yourself
do well I,du: 'wel / Iv phrase]
do sth well If a firm does a job well, we use them again. I
Whenever Oily does something he does it well. I do well Don't
worry about the test - I'm sure you'll do well.
do a good Job/du: a god 'd3tb II -d3ct:b/to do some-
thing well, especially a job that you have been asked to do
Iv phrase]
You can always rely on Charlie to do a good job. t You're
doing a good job there, Sally. You can look after the kids
again! I do a good job of They did a really good job of
decorating my bathroom.
make a good Job of I,meik a god d3ob ov II -'d3mb-/
to do something well, especially a piece of practical work,
so that it looks good or works well Iv phrase]
The hairdresser made a good job of your hair. It looks
lovely. I We've just had a new heating system installed, but
unfortunately they didn't make a very good job of it.
excel /iksel! to do something much better than most
other people, especially because you have a natural abil-
ity to do it well Iv I not in progressive]
I didn't exactly excel academically and I left school as soon
as I had the chance. I excel at/in He played cricket for Mid-
dlesex but it was football that he really excelled at. I
Whatever you excel in, one of our award categories will cover
you. I excel yourself (=do even better than usual) Costner
has excelled himself in this movie - definitely his best per-
formance yet.
acquit yourself well/akwIt ja:rself Wwel/to success-
fully do something difficult or something that you have not
done before, especially in public Iv phrase]
He had to do a TV interview about the book, and I must say
he acquitted himself very well.
distinguish yourself/dI 'StlIjgwI ja:rselfl to do some-
thing very well, so that people notice you, praise you, and
remember you Iv phrase]
McEnroe had first distinguished himself by winning the
Junior Singles Title at Wimbledon. I She joined the Reagan
team in the early 80s, and quickly distinguished herself with
a series pf key foreign policy speeches.
 doable POSSIBLE 1
!ii docent TAKE/BRING 9
 dock ARRIVE 3
 doctor DOCTOR 1
DOCTOR
words meaning a doctor
a doctor who has special skills
a doctor who treats people who are mentally
ill
continued

DOCTOR 3'70 done
DOCTOR
4 a doctor who treats people's teeth
5 a doctor who treats animals
continued
1 words meaning a doctor
doctor quack
physician the medical profession
GP
doctor I'dokt r II 'dfl:k-I someone whose job is to treat
people who are sick or injured and who has passed profes-
sional examinations after studying for several years in
medical school In C]
Doctor, I keep getting a pain in my throat. [ Tracy is
interested in journalism, but Sarah wants to be a doctor. [
She looks very ill - you'd better call a doctor. [ see a doctor
(=visit a doctor so that they can examine you) I went to see
the doctor about my chest but she said there was nothing
wrong with me. [ the doctor's (=the place where the doctor
works) "'Where's Karen? .... She's at the doctor's." [ Doctor
Smith/Jones ete I'd like to make an appointment to see
Doctor Patel some time this morning.
physician/f'zJan/an American word meaning a doctor
[nC]
My physician told me to stop smoking. [ His parents are both
physicians in a busy hospital.
GP !,dsI: 'pi:/a British word meaning a doctor who is
trained in general medicine and whose job is to treat the
people who live in a particular local area In C]
If your GP can't help you he will refer you to a specialist. [
A lot of GPs are too quick to prescribe drugs, instead of
letting the body get better on its own.
quack/kwek! an informal word for a doctor who is not
very good or for someone who claims to be a doctor but has
not been properly trained In C]
That quack doesn't know a thing about medicine! [ My doctor
is one of those quacks who charge the earth for useless
treatment.
the medical profession/6 medikal prafean/doc-
tors, nurses etc considered as a group [n phrase]
The magazine's ch ief function is to keep the medica I profes-
sion up to date with the latest technological advances and
drugs. [ These proposals are unpopular with most of the med-
ical profession.
2 a doctor who has special skills
specialist
consultant
surgeon
specialist /'spealIost/ a doctor who has special
knowledge of a particular illness, part of the body, or type
of medical treatment In C]
The doctor arranged for Marcel to see a top specialist in
Paris. I eye/heart/cancer etc specialist Professor Hollo-
way, an eye specialist, organized a national survey of eye dis-
eases in children, t specialist in Professor Williams is one
of the world's leading specialists in radiotherapy.
consultant/kan'snltnt/a British word meaning a doctor
who has special knowledge of a particular area of medicine
and who is in charge of a hospital department that deals
with this area of medicine [n C]
The consultant told Jean that an operation was necessary
• to save her life. I consultant psychologist/paediatrician
etc Dr damieson is the consultant psychologist at St
Andrew's hospital.
surgeon/'sa:rds9n/a doctor who does operations in a
hospital In C]
The surgeon told reporters that three-year-old Sarah was
making very good progress following her heart transplant. I
brain/heart/eye etc surgeon (=a doctor who does oper-
ations on the brain, heart etc) A famous brain surgeon came
up from Boston and operated on him for three hours.
3 a doctor who treats people who are mentally
ill
psychiatrist
shrink
analyst
psychiatrist/sa;'kaiotrst II so-/In C]
Her psychiatrist told her she no longer needed to take tran-
quillizers. [ Child pyschiatrist Dr Goldman has written a
book on anorexia in young girls. [ see a psychiatrist (=go
to be treated by a psychiatrist) He still goes to the hospital
once a month to see the psychiatrist.
shrink/rujk/an informal word meaning a doctor who
treats people with mental illness In C]
The shrinks at the hospital said they think Gary needs
therapy. [ That guy's crazy - he ought to see a shrink.
analyst /'enolst/an American word meaning a doctor
who treats people with mental and emotional problems by
meeting them regularly and talking to them about their
problems In C]
My analyst told me that I was obsessed with my mother. [ A
team of analysts studied the child's behavior for a period of
two months.
4 a doctor who treats people's teeth
dentist
dentist/'dentist/In C]
My dentist told me I shouldn't eat so much chocolate. [
see/visit the dentist (=go to the dentist and be examined
or treated) You should visit the dentist two or three times a
year. [ the dentist's (=the place where the dentist works)
I hate going to the dentist's.
5 a doctor who treats animals
vet
veterinarian
vet/vet/In C]
Jane's taking her kitten to the vet on Friday. [ Could you call
the vet and ask him to come to the farm?I'd like him to have
a look at one of the horses.
veterinarian/,vetaQ 'nearion/an American word for a
doctor who treats animals [n C]
Have your dog's teeth cleaned by your veterinarian at least
once a year.
document RECORD 1
documentation PROVE 3
doddle: be a doddle EASY 2
dodge AVOID 4, 6
dodge: sidestepldodge/duck AVOID 5
dodgy DISHONEST 4
dog PROBLEM 9
dog: walk the dog WALK 19
dog-eared CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
dog eat dog COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 3
dogged DETERMINED 2
dogsbody WORK HARD 5
dole: be on the dole JOB/WORK 9
dole out: dish out/dole out GIVE 4
doll yourself up/get dolled up PUT ON CLOTHES 2
dollop PIECE 3
domain
domestic
dominant
dominate
domineering CONTROL 6
donate GIVE 6
donation GIVE 20
donation: make a donation GIVE 6
done: be done FINISH DOING STH 8
done: be through with/be done with
STH 4
AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC 1
COUNTRY/NATION 10, FAMILY 3, HOME 5, 6,
PRIVATE/PERSONAL 3
MAIN 1, POWER 2
CONTROL 3, 6, HIGH 5
FINISH DOING

done 371 DON'T CARE
done: have/be done with it FINISH DOING STH 7
done thing: be the done thing/be the way it's done
RIGHT/PROPER 2
done up FASTEN/DO UP 2
donkey work WORK THAT SOMEONE DOES 4
donkey's years LONG TIME 1
donor G IVE 18
donor: kidney/blood etc donor GIVE 18
don't
DON'T CARE
to not care about what happens or what
someone does, because it is completely
unimportant to you
to not care what happens or is decided,
because you will be equally happy with
whatever happens or is decided
what you say when you do not care about a
problem that someone else has
words for describing someone who does not
seem to care about something
words for describing the way someone
behaves or talks when they do not seem to
care about something
1
to not care about what happens or what
someone does, because it is completely
unimportant to you
not care
not give a damn
couldn't care less
be past caring
for all I care
who cares?
so what?
shrug off
not care/not 'keorl [v I not in progressive]
I didn't know where I was going and I didn't care, so long
as it was a long way away. I Go where you want, do what
you want. I don't care. I not care about Eileen doesn't really
care about clothes much. I not care who/what/where etc
She was having an affair and she didn't care who knew
about it. I not care that John doesn "t seem to care that he's
upsetting you so much.
not give a damn/not ,gv o 'dam/an impolite expres-
sion meaning to not care at all about something Iv phrase
not in progressive]
not give a damn about You're so selfish. You don "t give a
damn about anyone. I not give a damn what/who/why
etc I don't give a damn what you think, I not give a damn
It's no use trying to appeal to the government's sense of justice
- they just don't give a damn.
couldn't care less /kodnt keo r !es/an informal expres-
sion meaning to not care at all about something, especially
because you think that other people's actions or opinions
are completely unimportant [v phrase]
"'Where's Lucie?'" she demanded, "'I don't know and I couldn't
care less. "1 couldn't care less about Shelley was one of
those people who couldn't care less about what other people
thought of her.
be past caring/bi: ,po:st 'kearlIj II -,pest-/to no longer
care about something that you were worried about for a
long time, because you realize that the situation cannot be
changed Iv phrase[
I used to get really upset when he wouldn't see me, but now
I'm past caring. I Bill had been talking to the other girl all
evening but by now Mandy was past caring.
for all I care/for ,a:l 'ai ,keorl you say that someone can
do something for all I care when you mean that you do not
care at all whether they do it or not lady phrase]
I don't want to hear any more about her. She can drop dead
for all I care. [ My children never write to me. I could be dead
for all they care.
who cares? /,hu: 'keorz/ you say who cares? when
someone has told you something which they think you
should be interested in or worried about, but you are not
"D/d you know that she's been divorced twice? .... Who
cares?"[ who cares what/where/when etc Who cares
whether he can spell or not. when what he's writing about
is so interesting?
so what?/, sou 'wot/you say so what? when someone
has told you something and you do not think that it is
important, especially if they have criticized you and you
feel that they have no right to do this
"'You've been drinking again. "" "'Yes I have - so what?" [
"'Phil was really angry when he heard what you'd done. .... So
what? It's none of his business. ""
shrug off/drAg 'of II -'a:fl to behave as if you do not care
about something bad or disappointing that has happened
to you [phr v T]
shrug off sth In the finals Steve only came third but he
shrugged off his disappointment. I shrug sth/it off Even
when he was a child, and his father used to shout at him, he
was able to shrug it off.
 to not care what happens or is decided,
 because you will be equally happy with
whatever happens or is decided
not mind I'm easy
not be fussy suit yourself
it doesn't matter to me have no objection
it doesn't bother me
not mind/not 'maind/Iv phrase not in progressive]
not mind where/what/whether/how long etc. Josie
didn't really mind whether they came to visit her or not. [ He
didn't mind how long he waited. After all he had all day. [
not mind "'Shall we have red wine or white?" "'I don "t mind,
I'll leave it to you."
not be fussy/not hi: ' f^si/an informal expression mean-
ing to not care what happens or what is decided, especially
when someone has asked you what you would prefer Iv
phrase]
"'Do you want to sit in the front seat or the back?" "I'm not
fussy. "'[ not be fussy where/what/which etc I'm not
fussy where I stay, as long as it's cheap. I not be fussy about
She's not fussy about what kind of car she drives.
it doesn't matter to me/It ,d^zant ,meto r to mi:/you
say it doesn't matter to me when it is not important what
happens to you
If you'd rather not come, it doesn't matter to me. [ I don't think
it matters to him what kind of mess he lives in.
it doesn't bother me (also it's all the same to me,
it makes no difference to me) It ,dAznt ,bo6o r 'mi:,
ItS ,aft 8o tsem to 'mi:, it ,meiks noo ,dforons to tmi: II
- tb:8-/you say it doesn't bother me ete when you do not
care whether you do one thing or another, because
whatever is decided will not have a very important effect
on you

DON'T CARE 3?2 DON'T CARE
"'Do you want to drive or do you want me to?" "It doesn't
bother me. "" I You can go on Thursday or Friday - it's all
the same to me. I We can either stay in or eat out. It makes
no difference to me.
I'm easy ]aim 'i:zi! you say I'm easy when someone asks
you which one of two things you would prefer, and you
want to tell them that you do not mind what is decided
"Do you want to watch the news or the late night movie?"
"I'm easy. '"
suit yourself/, su:t j:r,self/you say suit yourself when
someone has told you what they are going to do, and even
though you do not think it is a good idea, you do not care
whether they do it or not
'Tve changed my mind. I'm not coming with you." "Okay
then - suit yourself/" [ "'Do you mind if lsit here? .... Suit your-
selF' she said, without looking up.
have no objection/hazy ,nou ab'd3ekJ'anl to not care
whether someone does something or not, especially when
they have asked for your permission or approval [vphrase
not in progressive]
As long as your parents have no objection, you "re very wel-
come to come on vacation with us. [ have no objection to
sb doing sth They said they had no objection to us leaving
a little early.
3 what you say when you do not care about a
 problem that someone else has
not my problem that's your problem/lookout
not my concern tough!
not my problem/not 'mai ,problom II -,pra:b-/ "'Your
brother's behaviour is getting worse and worse. "" "'That's not
my problem. "'1 It's shocking I know, but it's not really our
problem.
not my concern/not ma kon,s3:rn/(used to say that
you do not care about a problem because you are not
responsible for dealing with it)
"'What shall we do about the things that were damaged?"
'7 shan't do anything, it's not my concern. "'
that's your problem (also that's your lookout in
British English) 16ets 'ja: r ,probl:)m, 6ets 'ja: r ,lukaot [I
-pro:b-/(used when someone has asked for your help or
advice but you will not help them because you think they
are responsible for dealing with the situation themselves)
"'But what am I going to do about my kids? .... That's your
problem. "" [ "What shall I do if the police find out? .... That's
your lookout, I'm afraid. ""
tough! Itaf I (used when someone tells you about a problem
they have and you do not have any sympathy for them,
especially because you feel angry or impatient with them)
"If she finds out, that'll be the end of our marriage."
"Tough!"[ "But if you don't come, I'll have to go to the party
on my own. "" "That's tough!"
4 words for describing someone who does not
seem to care about something
apathetic unmoved
indifferent blasO
unconcerned
apathetic / ep'Oetk'/not interested in anything and
unwilling to make any effort to change or improve things
[adj]
People in this country are so apathetic - half of them don't
even bother to vote. I Since her illness she has been listless
and apathetic. I apathetic about The government can't
afford to be apathetic about the rise of extreme right-wing
groups.
apathetically [adv] A few students lounged apathetically
at the back of the hail
apathy/'oepzOi! In U] Charity organizers have had to put
up with both apathy and outright opposition.
Indifferent/m'dfmnt/not seeming to care about what
is happening, especially about other people's problems or
feelings [ adj]
indifferent to The men stood in a small group, indifferent
to the argument that was going on across the road. I
indifferent My mother never cared much cbout us. She was
cold and indifferent.
indifferently [adv] Julia wandered about the room, glanc-
ing indifferently at the paintings.
indifference In U] All our requests for government help
have been met with complete indifference.
unconcerned /,^nkn's3:rndl not worried about or
caring about something, because you think it does not
affect you or concern you [adj not before noun]
unconcerned about A lot of large companies remain
unconcerned about the environment. I seem/look/appear
unconcerned He walked past the youths, trying to look
unconcerned. I unconcerned with The president seemed
totally unconcerned with the crisis.
tmconeernedly/, ^nkon' s3:rndli/[adv] All around him, the
people carried on walking and talking unconcernedly.
unmoved/^n'mu:vd/feeling no pity, sadness, or sympa-
thy, in a situation where most people would feel this [adj
not before noun]
Garth was on the floor groaning in pain. His daughter
looked on unmoved. I unmoved by Unmoved by his pleas,
Lucy strolled out of the room. I remain unmoved How can
anyone remain unmoved by pictures of starving children on
our TV screens?
blas)/'bha:zel II bla:'ze/not caring or worrying about
something that other people think is important, so that
people think you are not a responsible person [adj not
usually before noun]
She used to be very meticulous about her work but she's
becoming very blas& I blas6 about I wish Anthony wasn't
so blasd about his money. He should save more for the future.
5 words for describing the way someone
behaves or talks when they do not seem to
care about something
casual nonchalant
offhand gaily
casual/'km3uol / seeming not to care or pretending not
to care about something [adj]
She hurried into the room with no more than a casual glance
at the children standing outside. I Jeff has a very casual atti-
tude towards his schoolwork. I I walked up and started talk-
ing to her, trying to sound casual.
casually lady] My father looked casually through my school
report, though I knew he was concerned about my progress.
offhand /,of'hmnd- I[ ,3:f-/ speaking or behaving in a
way that makes people think that you are not interested
in or do not care about what they are saying [adj]
She seemed a little offhand and just said she would deal with
dur complaints later. [ offhand with The store manager was
rather offhand with us at first. I offhand reply/manner/
attitude etc He has a very offhand attitude to anyone in a
position of authority.
nonchalant I'nonSlnt II ,na:nS'la:ntl deliberately
trying to pretend that you do not care about something,
even if you actually do care about it [adj]
When Peter approached, she did her best to appear non-
chalant. I With a nonchalant wave, Julian disappeared with
the police officers. I We could see the nonchalant figure of the
tall Englishman strolling unconcerned across the grass.
nonchalantly [adv ] "'Did she happen to mention my name?'"
he asked nonchalantly.
nonchalance In U] She took a drag of her cigarette, feign-
ing nonchalance.
gaily/'gedi/doing something in a way that shows you do
not care about its effects, even though it is wrong or may
cause trouble for someone [adv]
The woman next door was in the yard, gaily throwing gar-
bage over the fence. I I went on gaily telling the stranger
about my problems at work, unaware that he was my new
boss.

DON'T LIKE 3?3 DON'T LIKE
@ DON'T LIKE
1 to not like something or someone
2 to not like someone and be unfriendly to them
because of something they have done in the
past
3 to stop liking something or someone
4 to make someone dislike someone or
something
5 a feeling of not liking something or someone
don't like
dislike
not be fond of/keen on
not be crazy about
not think much of
not be sb's
cup of tea
to not like something or someone
not be to your taste/
liking
not be your thing/bag
take an instant dislike to
not be sb's type
have no time for
not take kindly to
don't like/,daunt 'lakl [v T not in progressive]
don't like sb/sth You don't like chocolate, do you? I Why
did you invite Claire? You know I don't like her. I I like the
style but I don "t particularly like the colour. I He's not honest
with people - that's what I don't like about him. I don't like
doing sth Mason clearly did not like dealing with stran-
gers.I She doesn't like being told what to do. ] don't like sb
doing sth Giuliano didn't like people watching him when
he was painting. I don't like to see/hear etc I don't like
to see good food wasted. I don't like it when The boss
doesn't like it when you interrupt him.
dislike /Ids'lak/ to think someone or something is
unpleasant and not like them Iv T not in progressive]
dislike sb/sth I don't know why you dislike my father so
much. I Most children dislike sour or bitter tasting foods. I
dislike doing sth Stephen disliked having to get up early
in the morning. I dislike sb/sth intensely (=dislike them
very much) Muriel disliked Paul intensely, she disliked his
bullying and his harsh voice.
not be fond of (also not be keen on in British English)
/not bi: 'fond ov, not bi: 'ki:n on II -'fo:nd-/informal expres-
sions, meaning to not like something or someone very
much, although you do not have a strong feeling of dislike
for them Iv phrase]
Mrs Macready was not particularlyfond of children. [Actu-
ally I'm not very keen on modern art. [ not be overly fond
of/keen on (=not like it very much) Marcus usually stayed
in New York - he was not overly fond of Los Angeles.
not be crazy about/not bi: 'kreizi obaoq an informal
expression meaning to not like something such as a plan
or a suggestion-very much Iv phrase]
I wasn't too crazy about the idea, but I went along with it.[
They weren't exactly crazy about any of my suggestions.
not think much of/not Oujk imht OV/to think that a
person, performance, idea etc is not very good [vphrase not
in progressive]
Did you see that film, 'Memphis Belle'? I didn "t think much
of it. I The students didn't think much of their new teacher.
He was boring.
not be sb's cup of tea/not bi: (sb's) kAp Ov tti:/an infor-
mal British expression: if you say that a particular activity,
book, film etc is not someone's cup of tea, you mean that
it is not the kind of thing that they enjoy Iv phrase]
'The Curse of Dracula" - no thanks, horror films aren't really
my cup of tea. I Joining a political party might not be every-
body's cup of tea, but it certainly has its advantages.
not be to your taste/liking /not bi: to ja: r 'te]st,
tlaiklrj/if you say that something is not to your taste or
is not to your liking, you mean that it is not the kind of
thing that you like or that you think is good Iv phrase]
He invited me to a jazz concert, but I explained that that kind
of music was not exactly to my taste. I If the decorations are
not to your liking we can easily change them.
not be your thing (also not be your bag especially
in American English)/not bi: ja: r IOIIJ, not bi: ja: r 'bang! if
you say that a particular activity is not your thing, you
mean that you are not interested in it or that you do not
enjoy it Iv phrase]
Sailing's really not my thing. I'm afraid of water. I I don't
think I'll go to the office party - discos aren't really my bag.
take an instant dislike to/teik an, xnstont dis'lak tu:/
to decide immediately when you meet someone that you
do not like them Iv phrase not in progressive]
The two men took an instant dislike to one another. I Usually
I reserve judgement until I know more about someone, but
in this case I took an instant dislike to the woman.
not be sb's type/not hi: (sb's) *talp/if someone is not
someone's type, they are not the kind of person someone
usually likes or enjoys being with Iv phrase]
Vicky's friendsjust aren't my type. I You surely don't imagine
she's having an affair with Rob? He's not her type at all.
have no time for /,hev nov 'taim fa:r/ to dislike a
person, their attitude, or their behaviour and have no
respect for them Iv phrase not in progressive]
My father had no time for people who were always complain-
ing. I Yvonne's interested in nothing but money. I've no time
for that kind of attitude.
not take kindly to/not teik Ikaindli tu:l to be unwilling
to accept a particular situation, suggestion, or type of
behaviour, because you find it annoying Iv phrase not in
progressive]
He doesn't take kindly to being disturbed in the middle of the
night. I My wife didn't take kindly to the idea of moving
house.
2 to not like someone and be unfriendly to them
because of something they have done in the
past
have something against there is no love
have it in for lost between
bear a grudge
have something against/,hev (sth) o'genst/ifsome
one has something against someone else, they dislike
them for a particular reason, although you do not know
what that reason is Iv phrase not in progressive]
I'm not sure what it is, but I think he's got something against
me. I She seems to have something against men.
have it in for / ,hav it 'in fa:r/if someone has it in for
you, they dislike you and are always looking for ways to
hurt you, especially because of something you have done
in the past Iv phrase not in progressive]
She keeps writing nasty things about me in the press. She
seems to have it in for me for some reason. I I don't know why
anybody would have it in for Eddy, he's a really nice guy. I
really have it in for The boss has really had it in for her
ever since she refused to work at weekends.
bear a grudge/Ibeor o 'grAds/ to continue to dislike
someone and feel angry with them, because you believe
they harmed you in the past and you have not forgiven
them Iv phrase not in progressive]
Ahmed Sinai hurt my aunt Alia so badly that she bore a
grudge for twentyfive years. I It isn't in Diana's nature to
bear grudges for long. I bear a grudge against He always
bore a grudge algainst me for having opposed him.
there Is no love lost between/6eor z ,noo 'lAY ,lost
btwi:n II-,la:st-/ if there is no love lost between two
people, they dislike each other and do not have a friendly
relationship
There's no love lost between her and her next-door neigh-
bour. I It is clear from these letters that there was little love
lost between the Princess and her stepmother.
3 to stop liking something or someone
go off
go off/,got; 'of II -'a:Ј/an informal British expression
meaning to stop liking some.thing or someone [v T not in
passive]

DON'T LIKE 37,1 double standards
She went off meat after she'd seen how they killed the
animals. I I used to be a Michael Jackson fan but I've gone
off him lately.
4 to make someone dislike someone or
something
put sb off
turn sb against
put sb off/put (sb) Iof II -'o:f/if something that you
notice or experience puts you off a person, thing, activity
etc, it makes you dislike them [phr v T]
I liked the house in some ways, but what really put me off
was those dark trees overhanging the front windows. [ put
sb off sth My experiences that weekend were enough to put
me off campingfor the rest of my life. [ be put off by Don't
be put off by his aggressive manner. He's really quite nice.
turn sb against /It3:rn (sb) a genst/to change someone's
feelings so that they start to dislike or oppose someone that
they used to like [phr v T]
Are you trying to turn my son against me? [ The Senator's
racist remarks turned a lot of people against him.
 a feeling of not liking something or someone
dislike
aversion
dislike/idislaik/[n U]
dislike for/of He knew his chief's dislike of unnecessary for-
mality. [ She could not hide her personal dislike of the man. [
Although most people support the President's aims, they have
a strong dislike for some of her methods. [ His colleagues
regarded him with a vague dislike. [ intense dislike (=very
strong dislike) She has always had an intense dislike of
authority figures.
aversion /ava:ran ][-san/ a strong, sometimes
unreasonable, dislike of something [n C/U]
aversion to Diane seems to have an aversion to any kind
of hard work. [ He could not overcome his aversion to sex. [
aversion Stephen had no feelings of aversion or horror
when he touched the dead body.
DON'T THINK SO/
DOUBT IT
ways of saying that you think it is very unlikely
that something is true or will happen
1
ways of saying that you think it is very unlikely
that something is true or will happen
don't think I'd be surprised if
doubt I think not
be doubtful I wouldn't have
be dubious thought so
don't think/,daunt 'Ork/ [v T not in progressive]
don't think (that) At first, I didn "t think the young man was
going to reply. [ He doesn't think Amy's going to get here in
time. [ don't think so "'Do we have any coffee left?" "'I don't
think so - I'll have a look. '" [ "Is Mr Brown there? .... No, I
don't think so, I saw him go out earlier. ""
doubt/dautl to believe that something is probably not true
or will probably not happen [v T not in progressive]
doubt if/whether I suppose we'd better go, but I doubt if
it'll be very exciting. [ Andy doubts whether the car will last
much longer. [ doubt (that) Chris doubted that he would
win the photo competition, but thought he might as well
enter. [ doubt it "'Is his girlfriend mad at him?" "I doubt
it. "'[ There was a possibility Maggie had been delayed, but
he doubted it.
be doubtful/bi: 'daotfal/if you are doubtful about some-
thing, you do not believe that it will happen or should be
done [v phrase]
He hoped the trip would be a success, but Sue was doubtful. [
"'Could you look after the baby? She's no trouble at all. '" Miss
Evans looked doubtful. [ be doubtful about "'Billy's sure
to come back soon. "" "I'm doubtful about that. "[ be doubt-
ful (that) The doctor says she'll try to treat it with antibi-
otics, but she's doubtful that it will work.
be dubious/bi: 'dju:bias [[-du:-/ if you are dubious
about something, you do not think it is a good idea or that
it is true [v phrase]
"Do you think they'll let us in?" Gabby looked dubious. [ be
dubious about Marian is still dubious about whether any
of the government's "solutions" can work.
I'd be surprised if/aid hi: sar praizd f/you say I'd be
surprised if something is true, or something will happen,
when you want to show that you think it is very unlikely
I'd be surprised if they make it in time for the show. [ I'd be
very surprised if Ronnie got the job - he just doesn't have
enough experience.
I think not/a ,Orjk not/a British English expression:
you say I think not when you think that something that
has just been said is not true or will not happen
"'The Social Democrats will probably win the election. "" "'I
think not. The Conservatives have a clear lead in the polls."
I wouldn't have thought so/ai ,wodnt av 'Oo:t saul
you say I wouldn't have thought so when someone asks
you if something will happen or is true and you think it
is unlikely, but you are not sure
"Do you think John and Carmen will be coming tonight?"
"I wouldn't have thought so. They're very busy at the
moment. "1 "Did you put them in the cupboard?" "'I wouldn 't
have thought so, but you might as well have a look. ""
 doodle DRAW 1
doomed CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5, FAIL 5
 door: break the door down OPEN 6
i;il door: next door NEXT TO 3
.._.; door: pull/push the door to SHUT/CLOSE 1
 doormat CONTROL 5
iiiii, doornail" stone-dead/dead as a doornail DEAD 1
.-.- .-.,
ili!i doorstep: on your doorstep NEAR 1
iii! dope STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 7
ii dosage AMOUNT 6
 dose AMOUNT6
 dosh MONEY 1
L"
 dose SLEEP 9
%;Ј-
+.i dossier INFORMATION 2
dot: on the dot EXACT 3, ON TIME 1
 dote on LOVE 3
, doting LOVE 4
; dotted SPREAD 10
dotted line LINE 1
dotty/batty CRAZY 2
 double INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3,
LIKE/SIMILAR 5, TWO 4, 5, 6
double/treble/quadruple INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 6
''-" double/triple in value VALUE 6
; double as USE STH 5
double back RETURN 6
double-check CHECK/MAKE SURE 1
 double-cross CHEAT 1
iii-";i double entendre JOKE 2
double standards UNFAIR 6
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

doubt 3?5 DOWN
doubt
.n..fel• s..;i;   71 .  -:; • NOT SURE 
thi:nk..-mig !1 .. @  DON'T THINK SO!,.
n:;dt;.:ppe'.[]' no;!! DOUBT IT 
aSituation that noiii; .4. @ UNCERTAIN iil
...................................  . . .. ................................................. rr .............. r ..................... r..,
: doubt BELIEVE 6, 8, DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT IT 1,
;ii. NOT SURE 1
;;-" doubt: be in doubt UNCERTAIN 2
;( doubt: have doubts NOT SURE 2
!i!! doubt: have no doubt SURE 1
i, doubt: raise doubts NOT SURE 3
. doubt: there is doubt about UNCERTAIN 2
i doubt: there is no doubt CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
' doubt: without doubt/without a doubt
i!i CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
i!ii doubter BELIEVE 10
doubtful PROBABLY 9, UNCERTAIN 2
• !i doubtful: be doubtful DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT IT 1
:i. dough MONEY 1
our
down: get sb down SAD/UNHAPPY 11
;!;. down: low/down SAD/UNHAPPY 2
; down: up and down UP 1
'=: down-at-heel POOR 1
.-;i:
; down in the dumps: be down in the dumps
..
- SAD/UNHAPPY 2
.: down on your luck: be down on your luck
down payment: make a down payment on
- down the drain WASTE 8TH 2
i:.: = down to: be down to RESPO81BLE 2
down-to-earth ORDINARY 1
;i down tools 8TOP WORKInG/GO O STRIKE 1
POOR 3
PAY FOR 3
down ...............
!t -;,,.
-.:..,;;:
..:. :.;.
which  meaning?
"  :h .......
moving or facing
down ?/!!:,;@;,
not high up
er or below. ....
something or
ameunt or level of
something; goes down
redu;e the .a-.o:.
.....................
DOWN
moving down
facing, looking, or pointing towards a lower
position
to move down through the air
ways of saying that the sun moves down in
the sky
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
to go down a slope, a ladder, stairs etc
to go down under the surface of water, mud
etc
ways of saying that something in the air
comes down to the ground
to make a plane, boat etc go down by
attacking it or damaging it
to let something that you are holding go
down, slowly and carefully
to move part of your body down
ways of saying that something or someone
hangs down from something they are
attached to
the distance downwards
to move a person down to a lower position in
the company or organization they work in
to go down to a lower position on a list of
people or things competing against each
other
1 moving down
down downstairs
downwards/downward earthwards
downhill downward
down Idaon/towards a lower position [adv/prep]
I told you not to climb on that table. Get down! I Tears ran
down his face. I It must have fallen down the back of the sofa. I
down into/from/to/off etc He's gone down to the base-
ment to get some more beer. I The accident happened when
we were coming down off the mountain.
downwards (also downward in American English)
I'daunwrd(z)/a word used especially in written English
meaning towards a lower position [adv]
The plane spiralled downwards. I He began sliding slowly
downwards off the ledge. I Jack Eat on top of the hog's car-
cass and stabbed downward to open its belly.
downhill /daun hl/if you move, walk, drive etc down-
hill you go down a slope [adv]
We set off downhill towards the lake. I After we get to the top
it'll be downhill all the way to Kendal.
downstairs/,daon stearz*/down towards a lower floor
in a building [adv]
I met him as I was going downstairs. I We'd better start
making our way downstairs, it's nearly closing time. I If you
come downstairs one more time you'll get a smack!
earthwards [ 3:rOwardz/a formal word meaning down
towards the ground from the sky or from a high place [adv]
Moments later he lost his footing and was falling earth-
wards. I As they floated earthwards the leaves resembled a
golden snowfall.
downward/'daonwrd/downward movement/thrust/
tug/pressure (=that moves or pushes down) [adj only
before noun]
He managed to pull himself free with a sudden downward
movement of his hands. I She gae the bell-rope a swift down-
ward tug. I The downward pressure on my chest became
more intense.
 facing, looking, or pointing towards a lower
position
downwards/downward
down
face down
downwards (also downward in American English)
/'daonwrd(z)/[adv]
She glanced downwards and said nothing. I He was point-
ing downwards at something which lay on the ground in
front of him. I The writing sloped downward across the
page. I The aircraft came to rest with its nose pointing down-
ward into the gully.

DOWN 3?6 DOWN
down/daun/look/glance/stare/gaze down [adv]
She gazed down at the ring on her finger. [ The doctor
glanced down at the notepad on his desk. [ They looked down
and refused to say anything.
face down/Ifeis 'daon/if someone is lying face down,
they are lying with their face down towards the ground
[ adv phrase]
Douglas found her lying face down across their bed. [ fling
yourself face down (=deliberately fall and lie face down)
l/lung myself face down on the gravel just as the bomb went
o
 to move down through the air
dive
descend
dive Idaiv/ if a plane or a bird dives, it moves quickly
down through the air Iv I]
A squadron of Zero fighters dived out of the sky and began
dropping bombs. [ The hawk stopped in mid-flight and dived
down on its prey.
dive [n C] After the engine stopped the plane went into a steep
dive. 4
descend ]d Isend! a formal or technical word meaning
to go down through the air Iv I]
If you wish to descend, simply push the controls forward. I
The spacecraft descends through the atmosphere at speeds
in excess of 17, 000 mph.
descent In singular] During my descent the parachute
became tangled.
4 ways of saying that the sun moves down in
the sky
go down
sink
set
go down/,go 'daon/to move downwards in the sky and
disappear over the horizon [phr v I]
We sat on the balcony and watched the sun go down. [ The
sun was starting to go down and the air gradually became
cooler.
sink isok] a word meaning to go down slowly, used espe-
cially in descriptions of events or when telling stories [v I]
As the sun sank lower and lower the sky first turned pink
and then orange. I The sun sank and darkness fell on the
island.
set/set/if the sun sets, it moves close to the horizon and
then goes below it Iv I]
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
setting [adj only before noun] She watched him walk away
in the light of the setting sun.
5 to go down a slope, a ladder, stairs etc
go down
descend
go down/go daon/[v I/T]
go down sth He went down the stairs too quickly and fell. [
go down to/from/under etc Why don't we go down to the
river for a swim? I I was in no hurry to go down into the
subway. I go down Right, here's the slide. Who's going down
first?
descend/dsend! a formal word meaning to go down
stairs, a hill etc, especially steadily or carefully [v I/T]
descend sth Mrs Danvers descended the stairs. I descend
As he started to descend he noticed that the clouds were lift-
ing above the hills. [ descend into/from/to etc The leopard
descended slowly from the tree and walked towards where
we were standing.
descent In singular] We began our descent (=descending
journey) into the valley.
6 to go down under the surface of water, mud
etc
sink submerge
dive go under
plunge
sink Iskl to go down below the surface of water, mud,
sand etc, without being able to control or prevent it Iv I]
Hundreds of passengers tried desperately to escape from the
boat as it sank. [ sink without trace (=sink and disappear
completely) Her father's ship had sunk without trace. [ sink
into The guns sank deeper and deeper into the mud. [ She
sank lower into the steaming water, overcome by a sudden
feeling of drowsiness.
sinking [adj only before noun] He swam away from the sink-
ing ship.
dive/dav/to deliberately go head-first down into water
[v I]
dive into sth Ralph dived into the pool. I dive in A passer-
by saw that the boy was in difficulties and dived in to rescue
him. I dive She dived and swam upstream. [ The submarine
can dive to greater depths than any previous submarine.
dive In C] a perfect dive from the rocks into the lake
diving In U] She has won prizes for her diving.
plunge /plAnd3/ to jump into a river, lake etc quickly,
making a lot of noise Iv I]
plunge into sth Cobbett plunged into the icy water.[ plunge
in I plunged in fully-clothed and pulled her to the bank of
the river.
submerge/sab'm3:rd3! to deliberately go under the sur-
face of water, usually in order to move or swim under the
water Iv I]
At the appropriate signal the submarine submerged and set
course for Manila at full speed. [ Peter pulled on the mask
and submerged again.
submerged [adj only before noun] The divers explored the
submerged wreck.
go under/gao Andar/ if a ship or person goes under
they sink below the surface of water, usually after an acci-
dent [phr v I]
By the time the sea rescue service arrived, the ship had gone
under, t According to the only survivor, his comrades went
under one by one, screaming in terror.
7 ways of saying that something in the air
comes down to the ground
come down
land
touch down
come down /,kAm 'daun/ if a plane, bomb etc comes
down somewhere, it comes down to the ground there, espe-
cially by accident [phr v I]
Airline officials believe that the plane came down somewhere
in the Andes mountains. [ One of the missiles came down in
a heavily populated suburb of Beirut.
land Iland/ira plane or a bird lands, it comes down to the
ground in a controlled way Iv I]
We shall be landing at Singapore airport at 3 am local time. [
A Afock of Canada geese landed on the river in front of us.
landing In C] Captain Edwards brought the plane in for a
perfect landing.
touch down/,tAft 'daon/ if a plane touches down, it
arrives safely on the ground at an airport but has not yet
stopped moving [phr v I]
The King's private plane touched down at Heathrow airport
at exactly 12.15 this afternoon. [ We shall be touching down
in about an hour's time.
8 to make a plane, boat etc go down by
attacking it or damaging it
sink
shoot down/bring down

DOWN 3"/'/ draw to a close/to an end
sink/SIl]k/sink a ship/boat/submarine etc (=damage
it so badly that it goes under the water) Iv T]
Submarines were used to sink the enemy's supply ships. [ One
battleship was sunk and two were badly damaged in last
night's fighting.
shoot down/bring down/,fu:t Idaon, Ibrirj 'daun/to
damage an aircraft so badly that it falls down to the ground
and crashes [phr v T]
shoot sth/it/them down Most of the attacking planes had
been shot down or damaged. [ shoot down sth In May 1960
the Russians shot down an American U2 spy plane. [ One
helicopter gunship had been brought down by small-arms
fire from the Mujaheddin.
9 to let something that you are holding go
down, slowly and carefully
lower
lower/'lur/Iv T]
The coffin was lowered slowly into the ground. [ If you lower
that end we'll easily get it through the doorway. [ They
watched the man being lowered down from the helicopter on
a stretcher.
1 0 to move part of your body down
lower
put sth down
lower / lzoor/to slowly move part of your body down [v T]
lower your head/arms/body He ordered the prisoners to
lower their arms slowly. I Sharon lowered her head and
looked away, clearly embarrassed by what she had done. I
lower yourself(:sit down carefully, using your hands for
support) The old man lowered himself carefully into his
chair.
put sth down/,pot (sth) 'datm/to move part of your body
down into a lower position [phr v T]
You can put your hands down now. [ Putting his head down,
Sam charged at me.
I I ways of saying that something or someone
hangs down from something they are
attached to
hang
dangle
hang/h0/Iv I]
hang from In the corner of the room was a large lamp,
hanging from the ceiling. [ The watch was on a gold chain
that hung from his belt. I hang down Hold one end of the
rope in your hand and let the other end hang down. I hang
on The keys are hanging on a nail by the door. [ hang over/
under/next to etc A picture of their parents hangs over the
bedroom door. [ hang He stood very still, his arms hanging
loosely, his feet apart.
dangle / 'da0gl/to hang loosely, moving slightly from
side to side Iv I]
dangle from Dangling from her ears were two large gold
earrings. [ lie dangled helplessly from the cliff, trying not
to look down. [ dangle over/under/next to etc We sat on
the edge of the pool with our legs dangling in the water.
12 the distance downwards
drop
drop/drop II dro:p/a distance in a downward direction
In C usually singular]
She looked over the cliff and was faced with a terrifying drop
of at least a hundred metres. [ Be careful jumping across
there, it's a big drop.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
13 to move a person down to a lower position in
the company or organization they work in
demote
downgrade
demote/d 'mot/to move someone down to a lower posi-
tion in their company, organization etc, especially because
they have not been working hard enough or because they
have done something wrong Iv T]
Unless you do something seriously wrong, you are unlikely
to be fired or demoted. [ If the management does not promote
her and demote that idiot she works with, there is no justice
in this world.
downgrade /daongre:d, daonlgreid II daongred/ to
move someone down in a job by making their job or posi-
tion less important Iv T]
We will only downgrade you if you do not complete the train-
ing period satisfactorily. ] downgrade sb to All heads of
department were downgraded to regular teaching staff.
1 4 to go down to a lower position on a list of
people or things competing against each
other
fall
slip
fall/f:l/[v I]
"Vogue'by Madonna fell three places last week and this week
is at number five. I fall to Britain has fallen to ninth place
in the new list of world economic output statistics.
slip/sl:p/to fall slowly over a period of time Iv I]
Mansell has now slipped into third position. I slip down The
team has been slipping down the league table and really
needs some new players if it is to improve.
downbeat EXPECT 7
downcast SAD/UNHAPPY 4
downgrade DOWN 13, IMPORTANT 10
downhill DOWN 1
downhill: go downhill WORSE 4
downsize REDUCE 6
downstairs DOWN 1
downtown TOWN 4
downtrodden CRUEL 6
downwards/downward DOWN 1, 2
doze SLEEP 2
doze off SLEEP 3
dozens of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
drab BORING 6
draconian STRICT 6
draft WRITE 10, 11
draft: conscription/the draft ARMY 4
drafted: be called up/be drafted ARMY 4
drafty: draughty/drafty COLD 2
drag PASS/TIME PASSING 3, PULL 5, 6
drag: be a drag ANNOY 5
drag on LONG TIME :3, PASS/TIME PASSING :3
drag out LONG TIME 9
drag sb into TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 7
drag up/rake up REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 2
drag your feet WILLING 4
drain DRINK 3, EMPTY 6
drained TIRED 1
dramatic EXCITED 6, SHOW OFF 2, SUDDENLY 2
dramatize EXAGGERATE 2
draughty/drafty COLD 2
draw ATTRACT 2, CAUSE 10, DRAW 1, EQUAL 5,
PULL 1, 6, SHUT/CLOSE 1
drawaline LINE11
draw near NEAR 7
draw on SMOKE 1, USE STH 2
draw the line at REFUSE 5
draw to a close/to an end FINISH/COME TO AN END 2

378
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
draw 35%
bored 26%
other 39%
1 to make a picture, design, or pattern
using a pencil or pen
draw scribble
sketch trace
doodle /'du:dl/to draw small shapes, lines or
patterns without really thinking about what you
are doing, for example when you are listening to
someone talking or when you feel bored Iv I]
DRAW
O to make a picture, design, or pattern
using a pencil or pen
What the 200 English and American teachers in
our survey said:
doodle 80%
bored 4%
other 16%

DRAW 3?9 drenched
DRAW
1 to make a picture, design, or pattern using a
pencil or pen
1 to make a picture, design, or pattern using a
pencil or pen
draw scribble
sketch trace
doodle
draw/dry:/[v I/T]
draw sth The children were drawing pictures of their
houses. I Draw a line on the map between point A and point
B. I I drew a moustache on a photo of the Queen. I draw
Edward is very talented - he can draw, sing and play the
guitar.
drawing In C] She showed me a drawing she had done of
one of her cats.
sketch/sketS/to make a quick and simple drawing, espe-
cially so that you can remember what something looks like
Iv I/T]
sketch sth Mr Hale sketched the view from his hotel
window. I She toured France, visiting and sketching
cathedrals. I sketch He enjoys sketching and writing poetry.
sketch In C] This is just a sketch, not the final picture.
doodle/'du:dl/to draw small shapes, lines, or patterns
without really thinking about what you are doing, for
example when you are listening to someone talking or
when you feel bored Iv I]
I always doodle on my notepad when I'm talking on the
phone.
doodle [n C] His test paper was covered in little doodles.
scribble/' skrlbM/to draw untidy lines or shapes on paper
or on a wall Iv I]
Katie can't draw a real picture yet but she enjoys scribbling
with crayons. I scribble all over/on Oh no! One of the kids
has scribbled all over my report/
scribble [n C] How am I going to get your scribbles off the
wallpaper?
trace/trels/to copy a picture by putting transparent paper
over it and then drawing along the lines of the picture [v T]
The children traced the map of France and then wrote in the
names of the places they had visited.
drawback DISADVANTAGE 2
drawing PICTURE 1
drawn THIN PERSON 6, TIRED 8
drawn into: get drawn into TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 3
dread FRIGHTENED 2, 4
dreadful BAD 1 3
dreadfully: terribly/dreadfully VERY 2
dream DREAM 1, 2, IMAGINE 2, WANT 11
dream: have a dream DREAM 2
dream: in your wildest dreams EXPECT 9
dream come true: a dream come true
GOOD/EXCELLENT 2
dream of WANT 6
dream up INVENT 1
DREAM
t a dream
2: to have a dream
1 a dream
dream
nightmare
daydream
dream/dri:m/a series of thoughts, events, and images
that you experience while you are asleep In C]
I never remember my dreams when I wake up. I I had a
strange dream last night - you and I were in some sort of
tropical forest. I bad dream (=an unpleasant or frighten-
ing dream) The baby's very upset, I think she had a bad
dream.
nightmare I, naitmear/a very unpleasant and frighten-
ing dream In C]
He woke from a nightmare, trembling with fear. ] Years after
the accident I still have nightmares about it.
daydream/, de;dri:ml a series of pleasant thoughts and
images that you experience when you are awake, so that
you do not notice what is happening around you [n C]
Ingrid was brought out of her daydream by a shout from her
mother. I Shirley knew that these ideas were nothing more
than a girl's romantic daydreams.
2 to have a dream
have a dream
dream
daydream
have a dream/,hmv  'dri:m/[vphrase]
He had a dream in which he was running through the forest,
and being chased by a bear. ] I keep having the same dream
about trying to get across a deep river.
dream/dri:ml to have a dream or have dreams Iv I/T]
dream (that) Last night I dreamt that I was lying on a beach
in the Caribbean. I dream of/about Stephanie often dreams
of long sea journeys. I dream Do animals dream?
daydream/'deldri:m/to think pleasant thoughts when
you are awake and when you should be paying attention
to something else Iv I]
Stop daydreaming, and concentrate on what I'm saying! l
daydream about Colin began to daydream about what he
would do if he won a lot of money.
 dreary BORING 6, SAD/UNHAPPY 10
-: drench WET 7
 drenched WET3
dress .......................................................................
:4>:.i""- "-" ,.,.iii?:'"ii$ ""':f::.:;}] ;:::::i!i ' 4-
which meaning .....
....  --..  ." p,.:
p o.n clothes ..... =:;:;-Lz ,**  PUT ON
::., ''':::::::"':  CLOTHES
;,u;. e...,..:I;N ,,"
wear clothes, have  ",  WEAR CLOTHES
: ;'#" ,..* -: e CLOTHES
..;.i ''" ;;
,::: . .:.:.:.:   -
te off clothes .,.  TAKE OFF
not anng anv...,.,,..,.,,, ......  ..... NKE
..................................................................................................................................................

dress/get sb dressed
ii dress/get sb dressed PUT ON CLOTHES 3
:I: dress up PUT ON CLOTHES 1, 2
• ii dressed: be dressed WEAR CLOTHES 2
i', dressed: be dressed as WEAR CLOTHES 1
dressed: be in/be dressed In WEAR CLOTHES 1
dressed: get dressed/dress PUT ON CLOTHES 1
dribs and drabs: in dribs and drabs FEW/NOT MANY 5
dried DRY 5
... drift MEANING 10, TRAVEL 7
drift apart SEPARATE 9
drift off SLEEP 3
drifter TRAVEL 13
drill HOLE 8, PRACTISE/PRACTICE 3, 4
drill a hole in HOLE 9
' drink DRINK 1, 4, 5, 6
drink: can hold your drink DRUNK 9
drink: don't drink/doesn't drink DRINK 8
drink: give up drinking/stop drinking DRINK 9
, drink: have a drink/have something to drink DRINK 6
drink: have been drinking DRUNK 1
drink: have had too much to drink DRUNK 1
drink: something to drink DRINK 4
drink: stand sb a drink BUY 3
drink and drive DRUNK 5
drink driving/drunk driving DRUNK 5
: drink problem: have a drink problem/a drinking
problem DRUNK 6
drink up DRINK 3
-ldrink
,, ) :.."-::"  ' ": . i h.::-: ,,. ":-::.::: .%.#.4. ...::.,. ...
drinkў:.;;;; '. ;; "::-, ,.,  DRINK
wanti:.ng a dri,n.:: .. ''ў e THIRSTY
having: drunk t
............
DRINK
to drink something
to drink very quickly
to drink all of something
something that you drink
alcoholic drinks
to drink something alcoholic
what people say to express good wishes
when they drink together
words for describing someone who never
drinks anything alcoholic
to stop drinking alcoholic drinks
to drink something
drink
have
sip
quench your thirst
suck
lap/lap up
drink/drlq [v I/T/
drink sth Drink your coffee before it gets cold. I "'What
would you like to drink? .... Orange juice, please. "'[ English
people drink a lot of tea. [ The water was foul, but I drank
as much as I could stomach. [ drink He didn't take a glass,
but drank straight from the bottle.
have /hav/ to have a drink of something [v T not in
passive]
have coffee/milk/beer etc We always have coffee in the
morning. [ have a cup of tea/a glass of milk/a beer etc
Robin had a glass of milk with his lunch. [ We had a couple
380
DRINK
of beers and talked about old times. ] have a drink of Can
I have a drink of water, please?l have a drink Sit down and
have a drink - you look thirsty.
si/sp! to drink something slowly by taking very small
mouthfuls of it Iv I/T/
sip sth Sue was sitting at the bar sipping a Martini. ] She
paused in the middle of her sentence to sip her hot coffee. I
sip at He waited, sipping nervously at his drink.
sip [n C/Billy took a sip from his glass of water and began
to speak. I I only had time for a few sips of tea before we had
togo.
quench your thirst/,kwcntj" j3:r 103:rSt / to drink a lot
of something in order to stop being thirsty [v phrase]
We stopped in a small village to quench our thirst and refuel
the jeep.
thirst-quenching [adj] I find these new yoghurt drinks very
thirst-quenching.
suck Is^k/to suck liquid into your mouth in order to drink
it [v I/T/
suck sth The children cut the oranges in pieces and sucked
the juice out noisily. I We went to the store and bought
lemonade and sucked it up through our new curly straws. I
suck You can regulate breast milk supply by letting your
baby suck as often as she wants to.
lap/lap up/lap, 10ep Ap/ if an animal laps or laps up
a liquid, it drinks it with quick movements of its tongue
[vT]
lap sth The wolf cubs were lapping water from the pool. I
lap sth/it up Her cat lapped the milk up eagerly. I lap up
sth The dog started to lap up the spilt beer.
2 to drink very quickly
gulp/gulp down
swig
gulp/gulp down/g^lp, ,g^lp 'daun/to drink something
quickly, taking large mouthfuls [v T/
gulp sth I quickly gulped my tea and dashed out of the
room. I gulp sth down "Hurry up, "" I said. Manny gulped
his beer down and followed me.
gulp In C/He took a final gulp and handed the glass to her.I
He took a couple of gulps of whisky before continuing with
his story.
swig/swig/to drink something quickly, especially from
a bottle, taking large mouthfuls [v I/T/
swig sth The builders spent all night in the bar, swigging
beer and telling stories. I swig from The old man wandered
along, swigging occasionally from a whiskey bottle. I swig
on (=drink from something) Billy was sitting in a corner
swigging happily on a bottle of gin.
swig [n C/It's lemonade. Would you like a swig? I She licked
her lips and took another swig of cold water.
3 to drink all of something
drink up polish off
knock back drain
down
drink up/,drk '^p/[phr v I/T/
drink sth/it/them up If you children drink all your milk
up, you can have a piece of cake each. I drink up sth She
drank up her brandy and signalled to the waiter to bring
her another one. I drink up Come one, drink up and we can
go home.
knock back/nok bek II ,no:k-/an informal expression
meaning to quickly drink large quantities of an alcoholic
drink [phr v T/
knock back sth In the course of one evening he knocked
back ten pints of beer. I knock sth/it/them back Harry's
asking for another glass of Scotch. He can certainly knock
it back.
down/daon/to drink an alcoholic drink in one mouthful
[vT]
He downed his beer and immediately asked for another. I I
watched her as she ate everything on her plate and downed
several glasses of wine.

DRINK
polish off/,polIf 'of II ,po:lIf 'a:f/to finish something
that you enjoy drinking, especially quickly or before some-
one else can drink it [phr v T]
polish sth/it/them off/think I'll polish that last beer off
before George gets in. [ polish offsth While he was talking
to me he polished off a whole bottle of wine.
drain/drein/drain a bottle/glass/cup etc (=drink every-
thing that is in it including the last few drops) Iv T]
Hiroaki drained his glass then offered to buy everyone
another one. [ The sun was hot, and Peter drained his water
bottle in one go.
4 something that you drink
drink soft drink
beverage something to drink
drink/drrjk/[n C]
Ingrid was at the bar, sipping her drink. ] I made him a nice
hot drink. ] drink of sth The old man gave the children a
drink of milk and something to eat.
beverage/'bevards/a word meaning something that
you drink, used especially in restaurants and in businesses
that supply food and drinks In C]
Non-alcoholic beverages will be on sale in the cafeteria. ]
Beverage sales in most restaurants can mean the difference
between profit and loss.
soft drink/,soft drijk ]] sa:ft-/a cold drink that does not
contain alcohol In C]
On the plane they only served snacks and soft drinks.] He
handed me a refreshing soft drink made from orange and
lemon juice.
something to drink/,snmOH] to 'drIrjk/an expression
used especially in spoken English meaning a drink In
phrase]
Would you like something to drink? [ I'm going to get some-
thing to drink.
5 alcoholic drinks
drink booze
alcohol liquor
drink/drijk/an alcoholic drink or alcoholic drinks in
general In C/U]
"'Can I offer you a drink?" "'I'll have a gin and tonic, please.
If you arrange the food for the party I'll take care of the
drinks. I An enormous amount of drink is consumed over the
Christmas and New Year holidays. I Peter complained that
there hadn't been enough drink at the party.
alcohol /'aelkahol II-h  :l/ a word meaning alcoholic
drink, used especially in the context of rules and warnings
about such drinks In U]
She refuses to have any alcohol in the house. I Pregnant
women are advised not to drink alcohol. I Freddie has a
stomach ulcer, so he'll be off alcohol for a while.
booze/bu:z/an informal word meaning alcoholic drinks
[n U]
Have you bought some booze for Jake's party? I "'I had too
much booze last night, "" he said, holding his head. I The
doctor told Jimmy to stay off the booze for a while.
liquor /'hkar/ an American word meaning alcoholic
drink, especially strong alcoholic drink In U]
We bought some gin at a liquor store on Fifth Avenue. I The
sale and consumption of liquor on the premises is forbidden.
hard liquor (=strong alcoholic drink) He got used to drink-
ing hard liquor at an early age.
6 to drink something alcoholic
have a drink/have something to drink
drink
have a drink/have something to drink /haev a
'drirjk, haev ,sAm0I] ta 'drrjk/[v phrase]
Let's have a drink. It may help us get over the shock. I He'd
obviously had a couple of drinks, and was not fit to drive.I
They went back to the hotel to have something to drink.
381
dripping/dripping wet
drink/drIrjk / to drink alcoholic drinks, especially when
you do it habitually Iv I]
You shouldn't drink if you're taking a course of medicine.I
He started drinking and smoking when he was only 14.1
drink and drive (=drink alcohol before driving your car)
People who drink and drive make me really angry.
drinking In U] His family life is beginning to be affected by
his drinking.
7 what people say to express good wishes
when they drink together
cheers
here's to us/absent friends/
the happy couple etc
cheers/tarz/(what people say to express good wishes
when they raise their glasses just before drinking some-
thing alcoholic)
"'Cheers, Hendrik. "" "'Cheers. "1 We raised our glasses together
and said, "'Cheers. "" I "'Cheers, and good luck with the new
job.'" "'Cheers. Thanks."
here's to us/absent friends/the happy couple
etc/hrz tu: (us, etc)/(what people say to wish someone
happiness or success)
"'Here's to the happy couple!" cried the bride's father and
everyone sipped their champagne. I Good luck with the bus-
iness, John. Here's to your first million dollars! I "'Here's to
Jenny,'" said the boss, raising his glass towards her. "'To
Jenny, "" we all chorused.
 words for describing someone who never
drinks anything alcoholic
don't drink/doesn't drink
teetotal
not touch
don't drink/doesn't drink /,daont 'drirjk, ,dnzant
'drijk/Iv I]
I'll have orange juice please. I don't drink. I Ben is the only
one of my friends who doesn't drink.
teetotal /,ti:,totl/ someone who is teetotal never
drinks anything containing alcohol, often for religious or
moral reasons [adj]
After a warning from her doctor, Mrs Morel is now com-
pletely teetotal. I He's a teetotal, non-smoking, vegetarian
yoga teacher.
teetotaller In C] He's recently become a strict teetotaller.
not touch/not 't^tj'/to not drink even a little of anything
alcoholic, usually because you have decided to stop drink-
ing alcohol Iv T not in progressive]
I used to drink a bottle of whisky a week but I never touch
it these days. I not touch a drop He's a reformed character
- hasn't touched a drop in the last year.
9 to stop drinking alcoholic drinks
give up drinking/stop drinking
be on the wagon
give up drinking/stop drinking/,giv Ap :drirjkrj,
,stop 'drrjklrj II -,sto:p-/to stop drinking anything alco-
holic, especially because it is causing you social or health
problems Iv phrase]
Sam's been told that unless he stops drinking soon, he will
die of a liver disease. I She'll need her family's help if she's
going to give up drinking for good.
be on the wagon/bi: on 6a 'waegen/an informal expres-
sion meaning to only drink non-alcoholic drinks because
you have temporarily stopped drinking anything alcoholic
Iv phrase]
Do you want a beer, Harry, or are you still on the wagon? [
Todd promised his wife he would go on the wagon for a
whole year.
 drinker DRUNK 6
i drip POUR 2
-:/ dripping/dripping wet WET 2

dripping with sweat 382 DRIVE
dripping with sweat: be pouring/dripping/running
with sweat SWEAT 1
drive
drive:
drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
DETERMINED 6, DRIVE 1, 2, FIGHT FOR OR
AGAINST STH 4, FORCE SB TO DO STH 3,
PUSH 5, TAKE/BRING 5, TRAVEL 2, 8, TRY TO
DO OR GET STH 8
go for a drive DRIVE 2
off LEAVE A PLACE 4
sb around the bend CRAZY 5
sb crazy/nuts CRAZY 5
sb mad CRAZY 5
sb somewhere DRIVE 3
sb to despair SAD/UNHAPPY 11
up: push up/drive up/force up INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
yourself too hard WORK HARD 3
DRIVE
to drive a car, train, motorcycle or other
vehicle
to go somewhere in a car or on a motorcycle
to take someone somewhere in a car or on a
motorcycle
someone whose job it is to drive a car, train,
etc
someone who regularly drives or is driving a
car, train, motorcycle or other vehicle
drive/drav/to go somewhere in a car [v I]
drive to/from/into/towards etc Last year, we drove all
the way to south-east Florida. ] After a disastrous evening
out they drove home in silence. I drive "'Will you be coming
by train? .... No, I think I'll drive. "" I drive around (=drive
to different places without planning where to go) They
drove around for a while before stopping at Rhonda's house.
go by car/bike etc/gao ba (car, etc)/an expression
meaning to go somewhere in a car, on a bicycle etc, used
especially if you are comparing different methods of travel-
ling Iv phrase]
We're planning to go to Lyons by bike and then take the bus
to Montpellier. I You can get to Salisbury by car in 2 hours
but if you have to go by train it takes ages.
go for a drive/gao far a 'dra;v/to go for a journey in a
car, for enjoyment Iv phrase]
Dave and I went for a drive in the country on Sunday. I She
went out for a drive at 6 o "clock and nobody's seen her since.
go for a ride/,gao far a 'rad/to go for a short journey
in a car or on a bicycle, especially for enjoyment Iv phrase]
We spent the vacation rock climbing, walking and going for
bicycle rides. I They climbed into Arnie's station wagon and
went for a ride down to the shore. I We all went for a ride
in Mick's battered old jeep.
take a ride/,te;k a 'rad/an American expression mean-
ing to go somewhere in a car or on a bicycle especially for
enjoyment Iv phrase]
take a ride to Let's take a ride down to the coast this after-
noon. I take a ride It was unusual that someone should be
taking a ride on a stormy night like this.
1 to drive a car,-train, motorcycle or other
vehicle
drive be behind the wheel/
ride at the wheel
be at the controls joyriding
drive/drav/to drive a vehicle, usually with four wheels
or more, such as a car, bus, or train Iv I/T]
Can you drive? l She'd been driving for six hours and was
very tired. I Drive carefully. There's ice on the roads tonight. I
drive a car/bus/train etc We need someone to drive the
school bus. I What do you mean, you can "t picture a woman
driving a tank?
ride/rad/to drive a vehicle with two wheels, such as a
bicycle or motorcycle Iv I/T]
ride sth I ride a bicycle to work every day. I Riding a motor-
cycle is safer than riding a scooter. I ride After you've been
riding all day, you are really glad to reach your campsite.
be at the controls/bi: at 8a kan'traolz/to be the person
who is actually flying an aircraft or sailing a large modern
boat Iv phrase]
The King himself was at the controls when his helicopter
landed. I The power boat, with Don at the controls, swept
around the bay. I be at the controls of When I was a child
I used to imagine myself at the controls of a fighter plane.
be behind the wheel/at the wheel/bi: b ,haind 6a
wi:l, at 6a 'wi:l/to be the person who is actually driving
a car, bus etc Iv phrase]
An old Pontiac pulled up, with a young Mexican man at the
wheel. I Seymour was glad to be behind the wheel again after
his driving ban had been lifted.
joyriding/d3radirj/a British word meaning driving
a stolen car very fast and dangerously for excitement In U]
Joyriding is the most common type of crime among boys
under 18. I A group of youths went joyriding in stolen cars,
causing three accidents before the police caught them.
joyrider In C] Joyriders (=people who go joyriding) are
becoming a serious problem in the inner cities.
2 to go somewhere in a car or on a motorcycle
drive go for a ride
go by car/bike etc take a ride
go for a drive
 tO take someone somewhere in a car or on a
motorcycle
take sb somewhere lift
drive sb somewhere ride
take sb somewhere/'teik (sb) s^mwear/ [v phrase]
take sb to the station/library/school etc Donna's father
took us to the station. I Look, it's no problem. I can take you
to the bank on my way to work. I take sb home/back ete
Billy's feeling sick. Would you mind taking him home?
drive sb somewhere /drav (sb) sAmwear/ to take
someone somewhere in a car Iv phrase]
drive sb to a hotel/station/school etc "'Drive me back to
my hotel, "she said. '7 want to go to bed. "'1 drive sb home/
back etc Come by bus and my mother will drive you home.
lift/ltft/a British word meaning a free car journey which
you give to someone to help them to get somewhere In C]
I'm going to London, too! Do you want a lift? I a lift to Do
you think I could have a lift to work?My husband wants the
car. I give sb a lift Ian saw me standing at the bus stop and
stopped to give me a lift. I hitch a lift (=get a lift by stand-
ing at the side of the road, asking drivers to stop) I hitched
a lift from Plymouth to Birmingham then caught a bus for
the last few miles.
ride/rad/a word used especially in American English
meaning a free journey by car, which you give to someone
to help them to get somewhere In C]
Sure, I'm going downtown. Do you want a ride? I a ride to
How about a ride to the station? It would save time. I give
sb a ride Tommy gave me a ride down to Wilmington. I
hitch a ride (=get a ride by standing by the side of the road,
asking drivers to stop) We took the bus as far as Niagara
Falls, then hitched a ride to Toronto.
4 someone whose job it is to drive a car, train,
etc
driver
chauffeur
driver/'draivar/[n C]
truck/bus/train etc driver A lot of truck drivers stop at
this restaurant because it's open all night long. I Harry asked
the cab driver to stop outside the store for a couple of minutes
while he bought a paper. I driver The limousine pulled up

DRIVE 383 DRUG
outside the church and the driver got out and helped the bride
and her father out.
chauffeur/Ij'aof r, faolfu:r/ someone whose job is to
drive a car for someone else, especially someone rich or
important In C/
He got out of the car and ordered his chauffeur to come back
at two o'clock.
someone who regularly drives or is driving a
car, train, motorcycle or other vehicle
driver rider
motorist cyclist
motorcyclist
driver/dravr/In C/
Many drivers suffer from backache. I The car was almost
torn in half in the crash but amazingly the driver was
unhurt. I He's such a bad driver I won't go in the car with
him.
motorist /'motarlost/ a word meaning someone who
drives a car, used especially when talking about the costs
of driving or the laws that affect driving In C/
Most motorists have car radios and many now have mobile
phones. I Motorists are developing the habit of buying a new
car every other year. [ the motorist (=all motorists) The
countryside is being destroyed for the benefit of the motorist.
motorcyclist /maotar,saklst/ someone who rides a
motorcycle In C/
Three motorcyclists dressed in black rode past. I The Presi-
dent's car arrived with its escort of police motorcyclists.
rider/' radar/someone who rides a bicycle or motorcycle
[nC]
The rider wasn't badly hurt but his bicycle was all smashed-
up. I The leading rider in this year's motorcycle champion-
ship is Wayne Rainey.
cyclist/'saklolst/someone who rides a bicycle [n C/
Most cyclists in London have their bikes stolen eventually. I
There was a steady stream of cyclists and pedestrians along
the main road.
driver DRIVE 4, 5
driving force: be the driving force IMPORTANT 7
driving seat: be in the driving seat CONTROL 1
droop WEAK 5
drop DOWN 12, FALL 5, 6, 7, 8, INCLUDE 6, LESS
5, LIQUID 8, STOP DOING STH 3, 4, TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED 14, TAKE/BRING 5
drop: a drop in the ocean LITTLE/NOT MUCH 6
drop: a drop of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 3
drop: be dead on your feet/ready to drop TIRED 1
drop: every bit of/inch of/ounce of/drop of
ALL/EVERYTHING 2
drop a bombshell SHOCK 1
drop a hint SAY 3
drop behind: fall behind/drop behind SLOW 8
drop dead DIE 1
drop/fall COLD 7, LESS 7
drop in/drop by VISIT 2
drop off SLEEP3
drop out LEAVE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE 1, REJECT/NOT
ACCEPT 7, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 12
dropout CONVENTIONAL 2, LEAVE SCHOOL OR
COLLEGE 2
drought DRY 2
droves: in droves LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7
drown out HEAR 5
drown your sorrows DRUNK 4
drowsy TIRED 2
drudge WORK HARD 5
drudgery WORK THAT SOMEONE DOES 4
drug DRUG 1, 2
drug: hard drug DRUG 2
drug abuse DRUG 3
DRUG
a chemical substance that people swallow,
smoke, or take into their blood
1 a drug
2 an illegal drug
3 to take a drug into your body
4 words for describing someone whose mind is
changed or influenced in some way by
drugs, especially illegal drugs
5 to take too much of a drug
6 to put a drug into someone's body in order to
stop them from getting a disease
1 a drug
drug
drug/drAg/a chemical substance that is taken into your
body as a medicine, for example in order to stop you feel-
ing pain or to help you to sleep In C/
Morphine is a very powerful drug. [ Doctors are trying out
a new drug for pain relief in childbirth. [ The drugs I take
for hay fever make me feel very drowsy.
2 an illegal drug
drug
narcotics
illegal substance
hard drug
soft drug
drug/drAg/a drug that is taken illegally, for pleasure or
because it is a habit, that can have very harmful physical
or mental effects In C/
Heroin is just about the most addictive drug You can get. [
Customs officials seized 15 kilos of drugs today, thought to
have a street value ofЈ500,000. [ drug addict (=someone who
is dependent on drugs) He was a drug addict, hooked on
heroin. [ drug user (=someone who takes drugs)
Researchers estimate that there are over two million drug
users in the UK. [ drug-related (=connectedwith the use
of drugs) Police are very concerned about the recent increase
in drug-related crime. [ drug-induced (=caused by the use
of drugs) Coleridge's poem "Kubla Khan" was the result of
a drug-induced vision.
narcotics/no: r kDtiks 1[ -'ka:-/a word meaning illegal
drugs, used especially by the police and in the courts in the
US In plural]
Laws governing the sale of narcotics vary from state to state. [
Police are investigating a recent spate of narcotics offenses
in Miami.
iilegai substance/ li:gal 's^bstans/an expression used
especially by the police or in a law court meaning an ille-
gal drug In C usually plural]
Tucker was charged with the possession of an illegal
substance.
hard drug/,ha:rd 'drAg/an illegal drug that can cause
a lot of damage, or even death, to anyone who regularly
takes it In C/
Parents and teachers are concerned about the increasing use
of hard drugs among young people. [ hard drugs such as
heroin and cocaine
soft drug/iSDfl їdrAg [[ sa:fl-/an illegal drug that people
take for pleasure and that is considered to be fairly harm-
less In C/
Relations between the police and the community would
improve if certain soft drugs were made legal. [Although it's
considered a "soft" drug, some doctors are saying that the
long-term use of cannabis can be very harmful.
3 to take a drug into your body
take be on sth
use drug abuse

DRUG 384 DRUNK
take/tek/[v T]
I can't take penicillin, I'm allergic to it. I Until she went to
college Sarah had never smoked, never drunk alcohol and
had certainly never taken drugs. [ take a couple of aspirins
use/ju:z/to regularly take illegal drugs Iv T]
She first started using smack when she was thirteen. I I dis-
covered Graham had been using heroin when I found a
syringe in his room.
drug user/user In C] People working day to day with drug
users are now approaching drug addiction in a new way.
be on sth/hi: 'on (sth) [I -' o:n-/to take a particular drug
regularly, especially because you are dependent on it Iv T]
People who are on cocaine or speed may experience shaking,
sweating and panic attacks. [ Many of the patients here have
been on tranquillizers such as Valium for years.
drug abuse/'drag ,bju:s! an expression used especially
in official or medical contexts meaning the illegal use of
drugs In U]
Experts on drug abuse stress that we should think of it as
an illness and not as a crime. I The world health organiza-
tion has published a report on drug abuse and addiction.
4 words for describing someone whose mind is
changed or influenced in some way by
drugs, especially illegal drugs
high be out of your head/
stoned be out of it
wired
high IhaII feeling very excited, happy, and full of energy
because of the effects of a drug [adj not before noun]
The only time she talks to anyone is when she's high. I high
on drugs/ecstasy/LSD etc Paul's parents knew he was
acting strangely but they didn't realize he was high on
drugs.I as high as a kite (=very high) Tina told me she
loved me, but. she was as high as a kite at the time.
stoned Istzond/ an informal word meaning feeling
unusually excited and happy or extremely relaxed as a
result of taking a drug [adj not before noun]
Carl was too stoned to take anything seriously. I stoned out
of your head/mind (=unable to behave normally as a
result of taking a drug) Rick is always smoking dope. He
even went to an interview once stoned out of his mind.
wired/wamrd/an informal American word meaning feel-
ing very excited and nervous as a result of taking a drug
[adj not before noun]
I was so wired I began scratching uncontrollably at the
bedspread.
be out of your head/be out of It/hi: ,aot v jo: r 'hed,
bi: 'aot v it/informal expressions meaning to not know
what you are doing or what is happening around you,
because you have taken an illegal drug Iv phrase]
Sally hasn't a clue what's going on. She's out of her head
most of the time. I They had taken some magic mushrooms
and were completely out of it by the time they arrived at the
party.
5 to take too much of a drug
take an overdose
overdose on
take an overdose /,teik n 'ovrdos/to take a dan-
gerously large amount of a drug, usually deliberately Iv
phrase]
Quick, call an ambulance, I think he's taken an overdose.
overdose In C] Marilyn Monroe died in 1962from a drugs
overdose (=from taking an overdose).
overdose on I'oovordoos on II -o:n/to take a dangerously
large amount of a particular drug, usually by accident Iv T]
He overdosed on heroin and was found dead in his room.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
6 to put a drug into someone's body in order to
stop them from getting a disease
vaccinate/immunize jab
injection inoculate
shot
vaccinate/immunize/'veksneit, 'imnaxz/ [v T]
vaccinate/immunize sb The virus could quickly infect
people of all ages who have not been vaccinated. I Most people
immunize their puppies as soon as possible. I vaccinate/
immunize sb against It is the aim of the EPI to vaccinate
all children against tuberculosis.
immunization/vaccination /, imjnai'zeIfan, ,veks I-
'nerj'an II -mj°na-/In U] a mass immunization programme
against cholera
injection/In'dsekan/a drug put into someone's body
with a needle, usually for medical reasons In C]
The disease can easily be treated by a series of injections and
pills. I give sb an injection I'm just going to give you a
small injection, It won't hurt. I injection of Rose is diabetic,
and has to have an injection of insulin every day.
inject/in'dsekt/Iv T] The drug was injected straight into
the vein (=put straight into the vein, using a needle).
shot/ot II o:t/an informal American word meaning a
drug put into someone's body with a needle, usually for
medical reasons In C]
My arm is still sore from the shot I had at the doctor's yester-
day. I shot of Give him a shot of morphine.
Jab/dseb/an informal British word meaning a drug put
into someone's body with a needle for medical reasons In C]
The doctor gave the baby a jab, which made her cry. I
cholera/tetanus/hepatitis jab I had to have a tetanus jab
when I cut my hand badly.
Inoculate/I 'nokjleit 11 -'no:-/to put a drug into some-
one's body using a needle in order to stop them from get-
ting an illness [v T]
inoculate sb My arm hurts where I was inoculated yester-
day. I inoculate sb against My company arranged for me
to be inoculated against hepatitis before my trip to India.
 drunk DRUNK 1, 6
drunk: blind drunk DRUNK :3
 drunk: get drunk DRUNK 4
 drunk driver DRUNK 5
 drunk driving: drink driving/drunk driving DRUNK 5
DRUNK
affected by having drunk too much alcohol
1 words meaning drunk
2 a little drunk
3 very drunk
4 to drink a lot of alcohol and get drunk
5 to drive while you are drunk
6 someone who is often drunk
7' words for describing an occasion or time
when people get drunk
8 the sick feeling you have the day after you
have been drinking
g not drunk
1 words meaning drunk
drunk have had one too many
drunken have had too much to drink
pissed have been drinking
drunk/dr^0k/a person who is drunk is affected by having
drunk too much alcohol, so that they cannot think clearly
or move steadily [adj]

DRUNK 385 DRUNK
She was so drunk she could hardly walk. I I can't remember
how I got home last night. I must have been very drunk. I The
guy was drunk all the time, so you couldn't really tell what
his real personality was like. I drunk on The sailors stag-
gered back to their ship, drunk on cheap liquor.
drunken ! dr^rkan! a drunken person is drunk and their
drunken behaviour shows that they are drunk [adj only
before noun]
A couple of drunken Englishmen were arguing with a police-
man outside the bar. I The place was full of noise and
drunken shouting. I Crowes got into a drunken brawl with
another seaman and split his head open. I in a drunken
stupor (=almost unconscious as a result of being drunk)
We found him lying by the roadside in a drunken stupor.
drunkenness in U] She hated Morel because of his drunken-
ness (=because he was always getting drunk) and his vio-
lent temper.
pissed/pIsq an informal British word for drunk [adj not
before noun]
Every time she goes to a party she gets pissed. I Don't listen
to him, he's pissed.
have had one too many/hav haed ,WAn tu: 'meni/a
humorous expression meaning to be drunk iv phrase]
I think you'd better take her home. She looks as if she's had
one too many.
have had too much to drink/hav hd ,t.: mAtf ta
' drn]k] to have drunk too much alcohol so that you feel very
drunk or sick iv phrase]
I think I should drive you home tonight - you've had too
much to drink. I One night, having had far too much to
drink, he stumbled overboard and drowned.
have been drinking/hav bi:n 'drirjkirj II -bin-/if some-
one has been drinking, you know that they have been
drinking alcohol because they appear drunk or their breath
smells of alcohol iv phrase]
I could tell Doreen had been drinking because she couldn't
walk straight and kept giggling. I You've been drinking.
Don't deny it. I can smell your breath.
2 a little drunk
tipsy
merry
mellow
tipsy/'tpsi/[adj]
Peter had ordered a bottle of champagne and seemed a little
tipsy. I Not too much for me thanks. I'm feeling a bit tipsy
already.
merry /  meri! a British word meaning feeling very happy
because you are slightly drunk [adj not before noun]
We were all very merry by the time the party broke up. I Some
of the officers" wives got quite merry celebrating our recent
victory.
mellow/'melau! pleasantly friendly and ready to talk
because you are slightly drunk [adj not before noun]
After a couple of bottles of wine we were all beginning to feel
mellow.
3 very drunk
blind drunk paralytic/legless
roaring drunk pissed out of your
smashed/plastered head/mind/brain
bombed/loaded
blind drunk/,blaind 'dr^rjk/[adj not before noun]
She was blind drunk and kept falling over. I Every Satur-
day night he came home blind drunk.
roaring drunk /,r3:nrj 'dr^rjk/ very drunk and very
noisy [adj not before noun]
They were all roaring drunk and kept singing rude songs.
smashed/plastered I'smeSt, 'pla:stard II 'plaes-I infor-
mal words meaning very drunk [adj not before noun]
We went to a nightclub in town last night and got absolutely
plastered. I She came home completely smashed at about
2 o'clock this morning.
bombed/loaded /bomd, 'lauded II bo:md/ informal
American words meaning very drunk [adj not before noun]
Tracy's really loaded. We'd better take her home. I We all got
totally bombed last night at Bob's party.
paralytic/legless / ,paera'litlk-, leglas/informal Brit-
ish words meaning extremely drunk [adj not before noun]
Don't give Dave anything else to drink - he's already legless.I
The day 1got my exam results we went out and got absolutely
paralytic.
pissed out of your head/mind/brain/,pist aot av j3: r
'hed, 'maind, 'brein/an informal British English expres-
sion meaning to be so drunk that you do not know what
you are doing [adj phrase]
My uncle always gets pissed out of his head at weddings.
4 to drink a lot of alcohol and get drunk
get drunk
drown your sorrows
hit the bottle
get drunk/,get 'dr^rjk/iv phrase]
You should be ashamed of yourself- getting drunk like that. I
Their idea of a good time is to go out and get drunk. I get
drunk on She sometimes gets drunk on two glasses of wine.
drown your sorrows/,draon j:r sDmoz II-'sa:-/ to
drink a lot of alcohol with the purpose of getting drunk, in
order to forget your problems Iv phrase]
After his girlfriend left he spent the evening drowning his
sorrows in a local bar. I Have another whisky and drown
your sorrows, I'll look after you.
hit the bottle/hIt 6a 'botl [1 -ba:tl/an informal expres-
sion meaning to start to drink a lot of alcohol habitually,
especially in order to forget your problems iv phrase]
When his wife died he hit the bottle again. [ My sister's been
hitting the bottle a lot lately and her work is starting to
suffer.
5 to drive while you are drunk
be over the limit drink driving/drunk
under the influence driving
drink and drive drunk driver
be over the limit/bi: ,aova r 6a 'limIt/to have drunk
more alcohol than is legal and safe for driving iv phrase]
He was caught driving over the limit and had to pay a large
fine. [ In a large proportion of fatal accidents it is found that
one driver is over the limit.
under the Influence /,^nda r 6i ';nfluans/ a formal
expression: if someone drives under the influence, they
drive while their senses are affected by having drunk alco-
hol [adv phrase]
Her son was arrested for driving under the influence. I Wit-
nesses claimed that Jones was under the influence of alco-
hol at the time of the accident.
drink and drive /,drirjk an 'draiv/an expression mean-
ing to drive after you have been drinking alcohol, used
especially in warnings about the dangers of doing this iv
phrase]
Stay alive! Don't drink and drive. I Drinking and driving
can kill.
drink driving (British) I drunk driving (American)
I,driIjk 'dravIrj, ,drArjk draivirj/the act of driving while
under the influence of alcohol In U]
Drink driving causes over 800 deaths a year on the roads. I
He was found guilty of drunk driving and banned from driv-
ing a car for five years.
drunk driver / ,drnrjk 'dravar/someone who drives while
they are drunk In C]
My aunt got knocked down by a drunk driver. I I think there
should be more severe punishments for drunk drivers.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

DRUNK 386 DRY
6 someone who is often drunk
drunk drunkard
drinker have a drink problem/
alcoholic a drinking problem
lush
drunk/drArjk/someone who is drunk or who often gets
drunk In C]
A couple of drunks, who were crouched in a doorway,
shouted something as we hurried past. I There's no point
talking to her, officer, she's a hopeless drunk.
drinker / Idr1okr/someone who often drinks a lot of alco-
hol [n C]
He had the watery eyes and swollen nose of a drinker. I heavy
drinker (=someone who regularly drinks a lot of alcohol)
Paul and Jane were both heavy drinkers and they spent most
of their time in the local bar. I hard drinker (=someone who
regularly drinks very large amounts of alcohol, often with
the result that they behave badly or damage their health)
He quickly earned the reputation as a hard drinker and
hell-raiser.
alcoholic/, alka I hol ik. II - h:-/someone who drinks too
much alcohol every day but is not able to stop drinking it
[nC]
His mother was an alcoholic who drank herself to death
when he was very young. I Many alcoholics are unaware that
they have a problem until it is too late.
lush/]^S/an informal American word for someone who
habitually drinks too much alcohol In C]
You'll see her sitting at the bar all day. She's a real lush. I
Carol could see the man was a lush - his breath reeked of
whiskey and he couldn't keep his hands off her.
drunkard /drArjkard/a word used especially in literature
meaning a person who is habitually drunk In C]
They were all drunkards, but Arthur was the worst of them
all. I Unfortunately she had married an incurable drunkard.
have a drink problem (British) I a drinking prob-
lem (American) /hev  'drlrjk ,pmblzm, a 'drirjkirj-II
-prazb-/to be unable to stop the habit of drinking too much
alcohol so that it has a bad effect on your life [vphrase not
in progressive]
My sister has a drink problem but she won't admit it. I One
of my patients has a severe drinking problem which is affect-
ing his health.
7 words for describing an occasion or time
when people get drunk
drunken
boozy
booze-up
drunken/'drAIjkn/[adj only before noun]
Once, after a drunken party, we took all our clothes off and
went swimming in the river. I A civilized dinner party can
easily turn into a drunken orgy.
boozy / ' bu:zi/an informal word: boozy party/night out
etc (=where people drink a lot of alcohol) [adj only before
noun]
She's going for a boozy night out with her friends.
booze-up / 'bu:z Ap/an informal British expression mean-
ing a party or other occasion where people drink a lot of
alcohol In C]
We usually get together with our friends for a booze-up at
Christmas.
8 the sick feeling you have the day after you
have been drinking
hangover
hangover I' hmooovar/the feeling of headache and sick-
ness that you get the day after you have drunk too much
[nC]
I can't drink gin, it gives me a really bad hangover. I She
woke up the next morning with a terrible hangover.
9 not drunk
sober
sober up
can hold your drink
sober/'sobrl [adj]
Drunk or sober, Lucille was excellent company. I The bride-
groom was the only sober man at the wedding. I stone cold
sober (=completely sober) She must have thought we were
all very rude, because we were pretty drunk and she was
stone cold sober.
sober up/,sobr '^p/to gradually become less drunk
until you are no longer drunk at all [phr v I]
I had sobered up by the time the police arrived. I You'll need
time to sober up before you meet my parents.
can hold your drink/kn hzold j3: r 'drIok/if you can
hold your drink, you are able to drink a large amount of
alcohol without getting drunk Iv phrase]
He can really hold his drink. I've seen him drink seven
whiskies and still play a good game of billiards. I I can "t hold
my drink nearly as well as I could when I was younger.
drunkard DRUNK 6
drunken DRUNK 1, 7
dry DRY 1, 2, 3, 4, SWEET 3, THIRSTY 1
dry: bone dry/dry as a bone DRY 1
dry-clean WASH 6
dry land LAND/GROUND 3
dry out DRY 3
dry sth off DRY 4
dry up DRY 3, FORGET 3
DRY
having little or no water in it
words for describing places that have very
little water or rain, or periods of time when
there is little or no rain
to become dry or drier
to make something dry or drier
words for describing something that has had
liquid removed in order to preserve it
I having little or no water in it
dry
bone dry/dry as a bone
dry/draI/having no water or liquid inside or on the sur-
face [ adj ]
The wood was dry and it burned easily. I He needs to change
into some dry clothes. I I always put a plastic bag over my
bicycle seat to keep it dry. I Is this paint dry? I My mouth felt
so dry that I could hardly speak. I Because I have dry skin
I have to use lots of moisturizing cream. I The apples should
be stored in a cool dry place.
bone dry/dry as a bone /boon 'drai, ,drai oz a boon/
completely dry and containing no water at all [adjphrase]
I forgot to water theplants and the soil has gone bone dry. I
The clothes have been out in the sun all day - they should
be as dry as a bone by now.
2 words for describing places that have very
little water or rain, or periods of time when
there is little or no rain
dry parched
arid drought
dusty
dry/draI/having little or no rain [adj]
It's been a very dry summer and there's not enough water for
the plants to grow. I Singapore's hot, dry climate makes it
an ideal place to visit at any time of year. I dry season (=a

DRY 387 DURING
long dry period which comes at the same time every year)
The river beds are like well-trodden roads during the dry
season.
dryness [n U] The dryness of the summer was followed by
heavy rainfall during the winter.
arid /'erId/ land that is arid is extremely dry and
produces poor crops because there is very little rain [adj]
The group of travellers stared in amazement at the arid land-
scape of the desert. I Much of Namibia is arid country and
only fit for rearing cattle and goats.
dusty /'d^sti/a place, especially a road or street, that is
dusty is dry and covered with dust [adj]
The road to Agra was long, hot, and dusty. I He pushed his
bicycle along the dusty streets in the growing heat of the day.
parched/p:rt[t/, ground that is parched is completely
dry because the weather has been very hot and there has
been no rain for a long time [adj]
The earth was so parched that there were huge cracks in it. I
The parched yellow landscape of Death Valley stretched out
for miles in front of them.
drought/draot/a long period when there is little or no
rain so that there is a lack of water and plants die [n C/U/
Southern Africa is suffering the worst drought of the century
- in some places it has not rained for three years. I Their
cattle cannot survive long in severe drought conditions.
3 to become dry or drier
dry
dry out
dry up
shrivel/shrivel up
dry/draq [v I]
Wet clothes soon dry on a warm day. I The paint should take
about six hours to dry. I All my shirts were hanging out to
dry on the balcony. I Leave the dishes on the draining board
to dry, don't bother about wiping them.
dry out/,dra[ 'aoq to become completely dry [phr v I]
You mustn't let the soil dry out or the plants will die. I It's
best to leave plastic containers on a sunny windowsill so that
they dry out thoroughly.
dry up /,drai '^p/ifa river, lake etc dries up, it becomes
completely dry through lack of rain and there is no water
in it [phr v I]
Last summer the river dried up and you could walk right
across it. I The drought has caused the reservoir to dry up
and many people are without running water.
dried-up [adj] The only signs of life in the dried-up old
riverbed were a few frogs.
shrivel/shrivel up/'[r[val, ,Jrival '^p/ff a plant or a
fruit shrivels or shrivels up it becomes smaller and the
surface has many deep lines because it is so dry [v I]
The plants are starting to shrivel - they need some water. I
There was so little rain that many of the crops shrivelled up
and died.
shrivelled [adj] We had nothing to eat apart from a couple
of shrivelled apples.
4 to make something dry or drier
dry
dry sth off
dry Idraq [v T]
She'd just had a shower and was drying her hair. I We built
afire to get ourselves warm and dry our clothes. I Here's a
handkerchief - stop crying and dry your eyes.
dry sth off/,dra; (sth) 'of II -':f/to completely dry the
surface of something or someone's skin [phr v T]
The dog was soaking wet and we had to dry her off before
she could get back into the car. I Clean the plastic cover with
a damp sponge, then dry it off with a soft cloth.
words for describing something that has had
liquid removed in order to preserve it
dried
dehydrated
dried/draid/dried food or plants have been allowed to
become dry, or have had the liquid taken out of them in
order to preserve them [adj]
Dried herbs are very convenient but I think fresh ones give
a betterfiavour. I The good thing about driedfiowers is that
they last so much longer. I Addfour tablespoons of dried milk
to a pint of cold water, and stir until dissolved.
dehydrated /,di:hai'dreitad II di:'haidreitd/ dehy-
drated food has had all the liquid taken out of it by an
industrial process so that it becomes a powder which can
be used easily by adding water again [adj]
Astronauts usually eat dehydrated food while they are in
space. I We live in an age of'instant food' - almost everything
we eat is canned, dehydrated or frozen.
dual TWO 5
dub CALL/DESCRIBE AS 2
dubious DISHONEST 4
dubious: be dubious DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT IT 1
duck AVOID 2, 6
duck out of AVOID 2
duck/shirk your responsibilities RESPONSIBLE 10
due OWE 5
due: be due EXPECT 10
due to BECAUSE 1
dull BORING 1, 4, SHINY 5
dull-deaden/dull REDUCE2
dull moment: never a dull moment INTERESTING 4
dumb SPEAK A LANGUAGE 12, STUPID/NOT
INTELLIGENT 1
dumb: be struck dumb SAY 8
dumbfounded SURPRISED 3
dummy FALSE 2
dump PUT 5, THROW AWAY 1, UNTIDY 6
dumps: be down in the dumps SAD/UNHAPPY 2
dumpy FAT 3
dunk PUT 11
duo TWO 2
dupe TRICK/DECEIVE 5
duplicate COPY 6
durable STRONG OBJECT 1
duration TIME/HOW LONG 1
duress: under duress FORCE SB TO DO STH1
during DURING 1
during this time PERIOD OF TIME 4
DURING
1 during
2 ways of saying that one thing happens during
the time that something else happens
1 during
during through
in throughout
in the course of/ over
during the course of by day/by night
during/'djoariI] II 'do-/all through a period of time, or at
some point in a period of time [prep]
Terry's work has improved a lot during the last three
months. I During the summer we spend a lot more time out
of doors. I At some time during the night a thief got into the
building. I This place was an air-raid shelter during the
war.I During her time at the university she was awarded
several prizes for her outstanding work.
in/in/at some point in a period of time [prep]
In the last few minutes we have been getting reports of a large
explosion in central Belfast. I The long vacation is in July
and August. I In 1982 Paget was living in Geneva. I I aways
feel drowsy early in the morning.
in the course of/during the course of/in 6 'k:rs
av, djoarirj 6a 'ka:rs av II doarirj-/ a formal expression

DURING 388 EACH OTHER
meaning during a process or period of time, especially a
long period [prep]
In the course of a few years Lambert built up a highly sucess-
ful export business. I In the course of her research she disco-
vered some important new facts about Stalin. I We expect to
see some important political developments during the course
of the next week or two.
through /0ru:/ during and continuing to the end of a
period of time, especially a long period [prep]
The party started around eleven and continued through the
night until dawn. I She had lived through two World Wars. I
all through (=during all of a period)All through the long
hot summer they worked in the cotton fields.
throughout/0ru:'aot/during all of a particular period
from the beginning until the end [prep]
Throughout his school years he was always in trouble with
the teachers. I He had a nightmare that recurred from time
to time throughout his life.
over / laovar/during all of a particular period, especially
a period that is or seems a long time [prepl
She's been a great help to me over the past year. I They plan
to redecorate their house over the Christmas period. I This
lack of co-operation was a problem he encountered again and
again over the next few years.
by day/by night/baI Ide], baI 'na]t/if you do something
by day or by night you do it during the day or night [adv
phrase]
By day he works as a waiter but he studies every evening and
hopes to go to university. I The army started its attack by
night, hoping to surprise the enemy.
2 ways of saying that one thing happens during
the time that something else happens
while
meanwhile
in the meantime
while/wail/during the same period of time/conjunction/
He read the newspaper while he waited for his train. I Let's
sit in the other room while Daddy finishes the washing up.
meanwhile I mi:nwad/during the same period of time
that something is happening [adv]
She lay asleep. Meanwhile the rain continued to fall. I Here
we are, sitting around arguing about politics. Meanwhile
the fighting goes on and people are getting killed.
in the meantime/In 5a 'mi:ntaIm/during the period of
time between now and a future event or between two events
in the past [adv phrase]
We'll meet again on April 21st, and in the meantime I'll col-
lect some more information for you. I The doctor should be
here soon. In the meantime try to relax. I I saw Vanessa again
six months later. She had in the meantime been travelling
about the country campaigning against abortion.
dust CLEAN 4
dust: not see someone for dust LEAVE A PLACE 6
dusty DIRTY 1, DRY 2
dutch: go dutch SHARE 5
duties WORK THAT SB DOES 1
dutiful OBEY 4
duty JOB/TASK 1
duty: be on duty WORK/DO WORK 3
duty: have a duty to do sth/be sb's duty to do sth
SHOULD/OUGHT TO 1
dwarf HIGH 5, SHORT PERSON 3, TALL PERSON 3
dwell on THINK ABOUT 6
dwindle LESS 5
dye COLOUR/COLOR 8
dying DIE 5
dying: be dying WANT 4
dying day: to/until your dying day ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
dying of thirst: be dying of thirst THIRSTY 1
dynamic ENERGETIC 1
eg EXAMPLE 3
each ALL/EVERYTHING 1, BOTH 1, EVERYONE 3
each and every one EVERYONE 3
each other/one another EACH OTHER 1
each other's throats: be at each other's throats
ARGUE 1
each ... the other EACH OTHER 1
each ..........................................................
which meanina ....
..... .- #.,  -b,,  ,-, ., .....
each person: &,..... ; ,,.:.-@ EVERYONE
.......................................... : .................
EACH OTHER
ways of saying that two or more people or
groups do something to each other, give
something to each other etc
words for describing something that people
do to each other, give to each other, or feel
about each other
1 ways of saying that two or more people or
groups do something to each other, give
something to each other etc
each other/one another exchange
each .,. the other trade
each other/one another lizt '^68 r, wan )'nA6)r/
[pron]
The twins looked at each other and giggled. I As the years
went by, our love for each other grew stronger. I The birds
circle one another, displaying their colourful feathers, as
part of their courtship ritual. I If mother and I were together
for too long, we began to get on each other's nerves.
each ... the other/,i:tJ ... 6i 'A6)r/
Kerry and Sam met again at a party, each equally pleased
to see the other. I The two leaders shook hands, each grasp-
ing the other by the elbow and nodding. I Committee mem-
bers are quarrelling, each accusing the other of being respon-
sible for the error.
exchange /Iks'tends/ exchange looks/glances/in-
sults etc (=look at each other, insult each other etc) [v T/
Danny and his lawyer exchanged uneasy looks. I As Sally
approached wearing her new dress, her friends exchanged
glances but tried not to giggle. I The two actresses were
exchanging insults loudly in the dressing room.
trade/tre[d/trade insults/blows etc (=insult each other,
hit each other etc in an argument or fight) [v T/
The brothers always seemed to end up trading insults. I We
traded blows and wrestled for several minutes, each of us
refusing to give way.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

EACH OTHER 389 EARLY
' words for describing something that people
do to each other, give to each other, or feel
about each other
mutual
reciprocal
two-way
mutual/' mju:tfuol/mutual respect/hatred/support etc
(=respecting, hating etc each other equally) [adj]
Their relationship was based on mutual respect. I The meet-
ing broke up in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion with
nothing achieved. I the feeling is mutual He was very much
in love with Hilda and the feeling appeared to be mutual.
mutually [ adv ] After weeks of discussion the two sides have
reached a mutually acceptable settlement. (=one that both
sides can accept)
reciprocal/r's iprakl/a formal word: reciprocal agree-
ment/obligation/visit etc (=in which one person or coun-
try does or gives the same thing to another, as they have
officially agreed to do) [adj only before noun]
Our ships visited Brest and Cherbourg and French ships
made reciprocal visits to our ports. I In countries which do
not have reciprocal health agreements with your own, you
will need to take out separate health insurance.
two-way /,tu: 'wei,/ two-way communication/ex-
change/contact etc (=when the two people or groups
involved have an equal chance to express their opinions
and are listening to or helping each other) [adj only before
noun]
Managers who want two-way communication with their
staff must be prepared to listen to what they have to say. I
the need for two-way co-operation between the two research
teams
eager ENTHUSIASTIC 1
eager: be keen to do sth/be eager to do sth WANT 3
eagerness ENTHUSIASTIC 3
eagle-eyed NOTICE 2
ear: go in one ear and out the other FORGET 3
ear: lend an ear LISTEN 1
ear: play it by ear PLAN 12
ear-splitting LOUD/NOISY 6
earache: backachelearachelstomach-acheltoothache
PAIN 3
earlier BEFORE 2l 61 9
earliest FIRST 1
early BEGINNING 3, EARLY 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
early: be early EARLY 1
early days: it's early days EARLY 5
early hours: the early hours LATE 6
early riser WAKE UP/GET UP 5
EARLY
before the expected time or the time that was
arranged
before the usual time
early enough so that you make sure you can
do something, prevent something etc
words for describing something that happens
earlier than expected or earlier than usual
too early
early in the morning
1 before the expected time or the time that was
arranged
early ahead of schedule
be early with time to spare
ahead of time
early/'3zrli/[adv]
I won't be here on your birthday, so I'll giveyou yourpresent
early. I The only people who got there early were the people
who travelled by bus. I It amazes me how early some people
put up their Christmas decorations. I seven months/three
years etc early We managed to pay back our loan six
months early.
be early/bi: '3:rli/to arrive early, especially earlier than
you intended Iv phrase]
You're early, but don't worry, we like that. I Christine and
Peter are usually late, occasionally on time, but never early.
ahead of time I ,hed av Italm/an American expression
meaning earlier than the expected or arranged time [adv
phrase]
If he arrives for work ahead of time, he gets no extra pay for
it. I We will try to complete the building ahead of time.
ahead of schedule /alhed av 'j'edsu:l II-Iskedsol/
earlier than the officially agreed time [adv phrase]
If he finishes the script ahead of schedule, we might be able
to get itpublished in time for Christmas. I six months/two
weeks/a year etc ahead of schedule The renovation of the
school has just been completed three months ahead of
schedule.
with time to spare/w:6 :tam ta 'spear/if you arrive
somewhere or finish something with time to spare, you
arrive there or finish it early, so that there is some time
left for you to relax or do anything else [adv phrase]
We thought we would be really late arriving at the port, but
we caught the ferry with time to spare. I with ten
minutes/half an hour etc to spare I finished the exam
with half an hour to spare.
2 before the usual time
early
early I '3: rli/[adv ]
My little girl started walking very early - at nine months! I
David made a special effort to get up early so he could go
swimming before breakfast. I I'll be home early today. Maybe
we could go out for a walk or something.
 early enough so that you make sure you can
do something, prevent something etc
early
in good time
early/'3:rli/[adv]
The hospital managed to cure him because his doctor had
diagnosed the cancer so early. I Luckily, Norma didn't hit
the other car because she was able to brake early enough.
early [adj only before noun ] The use of this drug is especially
important in the early detection of cancer cells. I They
installed an early warning system to alert people about
enemy aircraft and missiles.
in good time/:n ,god Italm] early enough to not have to
rush, so that you are likely to succeed in doing something
[ adv phrase]
Take this catalog but make sure you place your order in good
time. I Let me know in good time what day your party is on
so I can arrange for a babysitter. I Get to the station in good
time, in case the train arrives early.
4 words for describing something that happens
earlier than expected or earlier than usual
early
early/'3:rli/[adj only before noun]
I decided to take an early lunch and go into town. I Banks
often make heavy charges for early withdrawal of funds from
deposit accounts. I The company told him that he could take
early retirement (=he could stop working before the usual
age) with a full pension if he wanted to.
5 too early
too early/too soon
untimely
premature
it's early days
jump the gun

EARLY 390 EARN
too early/too soon/tu: '3:rli, tu: su:n/[adv]
It didn't occur to me that I was starting to have the baby
because it was too early. I too early/too soon to do sth It's
still too soon to tell if the new medicine is going to be effec-
tive. I too early/too soon for sth There aren't any rasp-
berries in the stores yet. It's too early for them. I far too
early/too soon (=much too early) You can't get married
next week! That's far too soon. I way too early/too soon
(=much too early) Lendl hit the ball way too soon.
untimely /^n'tamli! untimely death/end/accident
(=much earlier than usual or expected, so that people are
surprised by it) [adj usually before noun]
She had only been married for 2 months when her husband
died in an untimely accident. I Before his untimely death in
1991, Freddie Mercury was a brilliant singer and perfomer.
premature /premotJ'o r, -too r, ,premotJ'oo r II ,pri:mo-
't foot/something that is premature happens earlier than
it should as part of a natural process [adj]
Her mother's death put a premature end to her childhood. ]
It has been proved that sunbathing causes premature ageing
of the skin. I Her baby was premature and weighed only 2kg.
prematurely [ adv ] Recurring illnesses forced him to retire
from work prematurely.
it's early days/ItS ,a:rli 'de[z/a British expression: if
you say it's early days, you mean that it is still too early
in a process or event to know what will happen
It's still early days but all the signs are that the operation
has been a success. I it's early days yet "'It looks like
Liverpool are going to win the championship. '" "'Oh I don't
know. It's early days yet."
Jump the gun/,d3Amp 6o 'g^n/an informal expression
meaning to do or say something too early, before you know
what is going to happen next, so that you risk making a
mistake [v phrase]
I'm sure she'll marry you, but isn't it jumping the gun to buy
the ring before you ask her?
6 early in the morning
early
first thing
at the crack of dawn
bright and early
early/'3:rli/[adv]
The conference starts at 8:30so we'll need to leave quite early. I
Early the next day, Jamie received a call from his mother.
first thing !, f3:rst '0rJ[ an informal expression meaning
as soon as you have got up in the morning, or as soon as
you have started work [adv phrase]
I make tea first thing in the morning. [ Don't worry, I'll phone
her first thing tomorrow.
at the crack of dawn lot 6o ,krek ov 'dam/very early
in the morning [adv phrase]
"'Why are you so tired? .... My brother phoned me up from Los
Angeles at the crack of dawn. "'] I got up at the crack of dawn
to go fishing.
bright and early/,bra[t and la:rli/if you get up bright
and early, you get up very early in the morning, especially
because there is something that you want to do [advphrase]
We're going camping tomorrow, so we must be up bright and
early. I Waking bright and early, I went for a swim and took
the dog for a walk.
" earmark CHOOSE 5
ў earn EARN 1, PROFIT 3
.,
:: earn: have earned DESERVE 1
 earnlmake a living EARN :3
 earnlmake good money EARN 4
:;: earn your keep EARN :3
EARN
to be paid a particular amount of money for
the work that you do
to earn a certain amount of money, after tax
etc has been taken away from your pay
8 to earn enough money to pay for the thngs
that you or your family need
4 to earn a lot of money
5 the money that someone earns
6 someone who earns money
1 to be paid a particular amount of money for
the work that you do
earn get
be paid/get paid be on
make gross
earn/3:rn/[V T]
earn Ј17,000 per year/S15 an hour etc He was a car-
penter earning about Ј200 a week. I The President of Con-
tinental Motors earns $500,000 a year. ] earn money She
earned money by playing the piano in a bar. I I don't know
how much he earns.
be paid/get paid/bi: Iped, get pe]d/[v phrase]
be paid Ј50/$100 etc The cleaners are paid less than I000
francs a week. I How much do you think the President gets
paid?
make/mek/to get money by working, especially a lot of
money and especially when you have your own business
[vT]
He makes a lot of money. I Top fashion models can make
$300,000 a year. I At that time business was booming, and
we were making $5000 a week, easy.
get/get/an informal word meaning to earn a particular
amount of money every hour, week etc Iv T not inpassive]
get Ј10/$50 etc for doing sth How much do you get for
babysitting?l get Ј3.50 per hour/S250 a week She'll be
getting Ј15 per hour next month. I A newly-qualified teacher
usually gets about 48 yuan ($32) a month.
be on/hi: vn II -o:n/an informal British expression mean-
ing to earn a particular amount of money each year Iv T]
In January, I'll be on Ј23,350. [ How much were you on in
your last job? I She is on a very good salary.
gross/graos/a word used especially in American English
meaning to earn a particular amount of money each year,
before tax has been taken away Iv T]
Jack grosses $58,000 a year, but then he has to pay taxes and
health insurance out of that. I If you gross over $100,O00 you
should consult a good tax accountant.
• to earn a certain amount of money, after tax
etc has been taken away from your pay
take home
net
clear
take home/,teik 'hooml [v phrase]
She takes home only Ј150 a week for nearly thirty hours"
work. I He worked until recently in a car factory where he
took home $40,000 a year.
take-home pay In phrase] (=the pay remaining after tax
has been taken away) My dad's take-home pay was 40 shill-
ings a week.
net /net] a word used especially in American English
meaning to earn a particular amount of money after tax has
been taken away [v T]
I was netting $24,000 a year. I Frank nets a measly $17,000
after taxes.
clear/klmrj to earn a particular amount of money after
tax etc has been taken away, especially in a job where you
work for yourself Iv T]
Sandra had a goodyear and cleared Ј60,000. ] A good lawyer
can clear $200,000 a year.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

EARN 391 easier
 to earn enough money to pay for the things
that you or your family need
earn/make a living
support yourself/your family
earn your keep
earn/make a living/,3:rn, ,meik a 'hvirj/[v phrase]
He earned his living by teaching English. I It is difficult to
make a living as a professional athlete. I earn a good/
decent living (=earn more than enough) Unless the work-
ing people of this country are making a good living, the
government cannot expect to win the election.
support yourself/your family/sa'pazrt ja:rself, ja: r
' feemMi/to pay for the things that you or your family need
out of the money that you earn, especially when you are
the only person in the family who is earning money Iv
phrase]
Make sure that you will earn enough in that job to support
yourself. I After his father died, Peter had to leave school and
find a job to support his family.
earn your keep/, 3: rn ja:r  ki:p! to earn enough money
to pay for your food and other needs, especially if you are
living in someone's house without paying them [vphrase]
You can stay with us, but you'll be expected to earn your own
keep.
4 to earn a lot of money
earn/make good money make a fortune
be highly paid/well paid rake it in
earn/make good money/,s:rn. ,meik god 'mAni/to
be paid a lot of money by the person or company you work
for, or a lot of money from your own business Iv phrase]
He earns good money working nights and weekend shifts. I
She makes good money, but she's extravagant so it doesn't
last very long.
be highly paid/well paid/bi: haili 'peid, wel 'peid/
to be paid a lot of money by the person or company you
work for Iv phrase]
She's a bank manager so she must be very well paid. I Deep
sea divers are so highly paid because of the element of danger
in their work.
highly-paid/well-paid [adj] As soon as he qualified he got
himself a well-paid job in a design company.
make a fortune/,meIk a  fa:rtj'an/to earn a very large
amount of money, especially where you are in control of
a business or in a job where you work for yourself Iv
phrase]
He makes a fortune selling houses. [ She could make a for-
tune as a model if she wanted to.
rake it in / relk it in/an informal expression meaning to
earn a lot of money quickly Iv phrase]
He's a good salesman - he must be raking it in. [ Top doc-
tors rake it in these days.
wages /'weIdSaz/ the money that someone in a non-
professional job receives each week, and that is usually
given to them in the form of coins or notes in a packet In
plural]
We usually get our wages on Thursday afternoon. I I was
paying for bills, food and everything from my wages. I If I
take a holiday I'll lose out on two weeks" wages.
earnings / ' 3:rnirjz/the total amount of money you earn
from any work you do In plural]
I spend half my earnings on childcare. [ The basic pay is
poor, but with overtime the average earnings are nearly Ј180
per week. [ the annual earnings of an able and ambitious
industrial worker
income /' irjkAm, 'in-/ the total amount of money that
someone receives in a particular period, including money
from work, profits, savings, rent etc In C/U]
What is your income, and how much do you spend each
month? [ Her pension is her only source of income now that
she's retired. [ The annual income per person in those coun-
tries was less than $250. [ high/low income Now that we
have a higher family income, we'll be able to move to a bigger
house. [ income from sth He has a very comfortable income
from his lawyer's salary and various investments. ] dispos-
able income (=money that someone has earned and that
remains for them to spend after paying rent, taxes etc)
Reducing taxes is the best way to increase people's dispos-
able income and boost the economy.
wage/weldS/the amount of money, usually calculated
hourly and paid weeldy, which someone earns for work
they do, especially work in a non-professional job In
singular]
They earn the basic wage of $11.50 per hour. [ Without
qualifications it's difficult to get a job with a decent wage. [
The government would like to slow the rate of wage increases.
6 someone who earns money
the breadwinner
wage-earner
salaried/on a salary
the breadwinner /6 'bredwInar/ the member of a
family who earns the money to support the others In
singular]
Chrissie became the breadwinner for her mother and her
children. I Economic policies are forcing more wives to be-
come the family breadwinner.
wage.earner /'weld 5 3:rnar I someone who has a job and
earns wages In C]
If the man is the wage-earner and the wife doesn't work, she
becomes dependent on him. I Families without wage-earners
must seek relief from government social security programs.
salaried/on a salary / ' selarid, on a 'selari/earning a
regular amount of money each month [adj]
salaried people and wage-earners I Part-time teachers have
different working conditions than teachers on a salary.
5 the money that someone earns
pay earnings
salary income
wages wage
pay /pei/ the money that is paid to someone, either
monthly or weekly, for regular work that they do In U]
She's moving to a new job with better pay. I When do we get
ourpay? I sick pay (=pay that you get when you are sick
and cannot go to work) He was on sick payfor the two weeks
he spent in hospital. I pay day (=the day when you receive
your pay) I'm glad tomorrow's pay day, I've got absolutely
no money.
salary /'selari/ a fixed amount of money that is paid
monthly, usually directly into a bank account and espe-
cially to professional people In C]
I spent a whole month's salary on my vacation. [ He receives
a fabulous salary as chairman of the company.
earnest SERIOUS PERSON 1
earnest: be in earnest SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 1
earnings EARN 5
ears: be all ears INTERESTED 3
ears: be
ears: be
earshot:
earshot:
earth/Earth WORLD 1
earth: cost a bomb/the earth EXPENSIVE 2
earth: where on earth/where in the world
earthwards DOWN 1
ease EASY 7, REDUCE 2
ease: at ease RELAXED 1
ease: put sb at their ease RELAXED 3
ease up SLOW 12
ease up on STRICT 9
easier: it's easier said than done
easier: make sth easier EASY 7
up to your ears/neck in BUSY/HAVE A LOT
TO DO 2
up to your ears/neck in debt OWE 2
out of earshot HEAR 4
within earshot HEAR 2
WHERE 1
DIFFICULT 1

easiest 392 EASY
easiest: not the easiest DIFFICULT 1, 7
easily EASY 5
easily: may well/easily PROBABLY 2
easily-led PERSUADE 10
easy EASY 1, 3
easy: go easy on STRICT 9
easy: I'm easy DON'T CARE 2
easy: take it easy CALM 5, RELAXED 2, REST 1
easy going STRICT 10
easy stages: in easy stages SLOW 5
easy target: be an easy target ATTACK 9
easy to get along with/easy to get on with FRIENDLY 1
easy to see: it's easy to see OBVIOUS 1
easy to understand/follow UNDERSTAND 10
easy to use EASY 4
easy way: the easy way EASY 6
easy win WIN 5
EASY
not difficult to do or understand
extremely easy to do
words for describing a job or way of life that
is easy and does not require much effort
words for describing something that is easy to
use
ways of saying that someone can do
something easily, without trying hard
the easiest way to do something or the
easiest thing to do
to make something easier for someone to do
1 not difficult to do or understand
easy
not difficult/hard
simple
easy I'i:zil [adj]
The exam was easy. I Our new computer system should make
the work a lot easier. I It looks so easy, doesn't it? I easy to
read/learn/see/use etc All instructions are in large print
to make them easier to read. I It's quite an easy language to
learra I This sort of decision is never easy to make. I it is easy
to do sth It's easier to write about things you know than
things you don't know. I easy for sb to do sth It's never easy
for a man to admit he's wrong.
not difficult/hard/not Idifikalt, ho:rd/fairly easy [adj]
You should try windsurfing some time - it isn't difficult. I
not difficult to learn/understand/find etc Basic mas-
sage techniques are not hard to learn. I It's not difficult to
see why she's so unhappy all the time.
simple /'slmpal/ something that is simple is easy to
understand or do because it is not complicated [adj]
I like this recipe because it's very simple. I There is no simple
solution to the problem of overcrowding on public transpor-
tation. I simple to use/do etc Cameras are becoming
lighter, smaller, and simpler to use. I it is as simple as that
If you want a pay rise, ask for one - it's as simple as that!
2 extremely easy to do
be a cinch/a piece
of cake
be like falling
off a log
be a doddle
be a snap/a breeze
be child's play
there's nothing to it
anyone can
be a pushover
be a cinchla piece of cake/hi: 0 ' sIntj', O ,pi:s 0v 'kcik/
informal expressions meaning to be very easy to do Iv
phrase]
Getting the money off him was a cinch. I I thought the exam
would be a piece of cake. I Learning French is a piece of cake
compared to trying to learn Japanese.
be like falling off a log/bi: lalk ,fa:hrj of o 'log II - 'la:g/
an informal expression meaning to be so easy that you do
not have to make any effort or develop any skill in order
to be able to do it [v phrase]
Kids these days use computers all the time, it's like falling
off a log for them. ] Lewis cruised past the other runners so
effortlessly, he made it look like falling off a log.
be a doddle/bi: o dodl II -'do:dl/an informal British
expression meaning to be very easy to do, used especially
about examinations, tests, questions etc [v phrase]
"'You passed your test? .... Yes - it was a doddle!" l Jean finds
most crossword puzzles a doddle.
be a snapla breeze /bi: o sneep, o 'bri:z! informal
American expressions meaning to be very easy to do [v
phrase]
Growing tomatoes is a snap. I Jack's an electrician, so wiring
the new house will be a snap for him. I Persuading Dad to
loan us his car was a breeze.
be child's play /bi: talldz pleq something that is
child's play is actually very easy to do, even though it is
usually considered to be difficult [v phrase]
Persuading people to give away their money is child's play
when you know how. [ Once they'd found the key, cracking
the code was child's play.
there's nothing to It/6eorz nAOIl] tu: It/ yOU say
there's nothing to it when you are describing something
that you think is very easy to do, even though other people
may think it is difficult and may think that they cannot do
it
Anyone can drive. There's nothing to it. [ Within a couple of
minutes, Anne had the washing machine working again.
"There, "" she said. "'Nothing to it. ""
anyone can / eniw^n keen/you say that anyone can do
something when you mean that it is so easy that everyone
could do it
Anyone can learn to cook. [ I don't know why you think you're
so clever - anyone can do that. [ Politicians insist that there
are plenty of jobs and that anyone can get one if they really
try.
be a pushover /hi: o 'puSouvor/ someone who is a
pushover is very easy to defeat, persuade etc [v phrase]
The kids all think he's a real pushover. [ The other team had
never played together before, and we thought they'd be a
pushover.
words for describing a job or way of life that
is easy and does not require much effort
easy
cushy
easy/'i:zi/[adj]
He has lived an easy life in college for the last few years. [
Being a teacher isn't easy. [ have it easy (=have a very easy
life) Lawyers really have it easy - lots of money for very little
work.
cushy/koSi/ if you describe someone's job or life as
cushy, you mean that they have an extremely easy job or
life and you are jealous of them or do not approve of them
[adj]
Her new job sounds pretty cushy to me. I a cushy number
(=a British expression meaning a cushy job or way of life)
What a cushy number, living rent-free in return for taking
the dog out once a day!
4 words for describing something that is easy to
use
easy to use
user-friendly
easy to use I,i:zi to 'ju:z/[adj phrase]
This new camera is fully automatic and very easy to use. [
Sony's easy to use camcorder costs less than $500.
user.friendly/,ju:zo r 'frendli-/computers, equipment,
technical books etc that are user-friendly are specially
designed to be easy to use and easy to understand [adj]

EASY
Home computers are designed to be as user-friendly as
possible. I Our college library has a whole range of user-
friendly encyclopedias and dictionaries.
 ways of saying that someone can do
something easily, without trying hard
easily
effortless
come naturally
can do sth blindfolded
think nothing of
can do sth standing on your head/
with your eyes shut
can beat sb with one arm tied behind your back
easily l'i:zlil [adv]
Some children make friends easily. I A burglar could easily
climb in through that window. I easily done/seen/remem-
bered etc The symptoms of measles are easily recognized. I
Daffodils are easily grown both outdoors and indoors.
effortless / 'efartlos/something that is effortless is done
in a way that makes it seem very easy, although in fact it
is very skilful [adj]
He's a great golfer - he makes it seem so effortless. [ Other
musicians were amazed by Parker's effortless improvisa-
tional skill, constantly producing a stream of new ideas.
effortlessly [adv ] The horse jumped gracefully and effort-
lessly over the fence.
come naturally /,kAm 'netj'aroli/if something comes
naturally to you, you seem to have a natural ability to do
it, so that you can do it well without having to try hard
Iv phrase not in progressive]
come naturally to Speaking in public seems to come quite
naturally to her. [ Looking after babies doesn't come natur-
ally to all new mothers. [ come naturally Her family are
all actors, so it probably comes naturally.
can do sth blindfolded/kon ,du: (sth) 'blamdfooldd/
to be able to find a place easily, because you have done it
so many times before Iv phrase]
Don't worry. I've driven to the Bronx so many times I could
do it blindfolded.
think nothing of/,0ii]k nAOIl] DV/to think that some-
thing is a very easy and normal thing to do, although most
people think it is difficult and unusual Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Emily thinks nothing of preparing a meal for twenty people. I
Before cars were invented, people thought nothing of walk-
ing six miles to work.
can do sth standing on your head/with your
eyes shut/kon du: (sth) ,stendirj onjo: r 'hed, wibja:r 'a]z
,S^t/ to be able to do something very easily, especially
because you have done it so many times before [vphrase]
He's a really good mechanic - he could do it standing on his
head.
can beat sb with one arm tied behind your back
Ikon bi:t (sb) wi6 ,wAn a:rm ,taid bihalndj3: r 'beck] to be able
to beat someone very easily because you are much better
than them Iv phrase]
Tyson's the better boxer - he could beat the other guy with
one hand tied behind his back.
6 the easiest way to do something or the
easiest thing to do
the easy way
soft option
the easy way/6i 'i:zi ,wei/[n phrase]
The easiest way of making money is to get other people to do
it for you. I do things the easy way As a student, Louise
was lazy, and always did things the easy way. I take the
easy way out (=avoid the difficult way by doing something
that is easier) I was going to make her a birthday cake, but
took the easy way out and bought one.
393
eat your words
soft option/,soft 'DpSan II ,sa:ft 'a:p-I if someone takes
the soft option they choose to do the easiest thing they can,
rather than something that is better but more difficult,
because they are lazy In C]
take the soft option Instead of working to keep their mar-
riages, more and more people are taking the soft option and
getting divorced. I be a soft option Some people think that
studying languages instead of sciences is a soft option.
7' to make something easier for someone to do
make sth easier spoonfeed
facilitate hand sth to sb on a plate/
smooth the way on a silver platter
ease
make sth easier/,meIk (sth) 'i:zior/[v phrase]
The new system will make buying and selling houses much
easier. I make it easier for sb to do sth Health authorities
want to make it easier for patients to be treated at home.I
make things/life easier We've got a new secretary start-
ing tomorrow - that should make things easier. I I wish there
was a reliable train service - it would make life a lot easier.
facilitate/fosilotelt/a formal word meaning to make it
easier for a process to happen or for someone to do some-
thing Iv T]
Do computers facilitate learning? I A program has been set
up to facilitate cooperation between police and the
community.
smooth the way/, smu:6 6o 'we/to make it easier for
someone to do something or for something to happen, by
dealing with any problem that might prevent it Iv phrase]
smooth the way for His father smoothed the way for him
to get a job with one of the big banks. I The Queen's visit has
smoothed the way for next month's talks.
ease/i:z/to make it easier for a process to happen or move
forward, especially by officially changing something that
has previously been making it difficult Iv T]
The help of UN experts eased the transition to independence. I
President Yeltsin's offer will ease the process of arms
reduction.
spoonfeed/'spu:nfi:d/to make it too easy for someone
to do something by giving them too much information and
help, so that they do not learn for themselves Iv T]
Don "t spoon feed him - he's got to learn how to do things for
himself.t l Spoonfeeding students is never a good idea - they
always fail when it comes to exams.
hand sth to sb on a plate (British) I on a sliver plat.
ter (American)/,hend (sth) to (sb) Dn o 'pleit, on o ,silva r
pletor/to give someone what they want so that they do not
have to make any effort to achieve it, win it etc [vphrase]
Getting the job was so easy. They virtually handed it to me
on a plate. I You have to go out and look for a job. Nobody's
going to hand one to you on a silver platter.
eat EAT 1, 2
eat: couldn't eat another thing FULL 3
eat: have something to eat EAT 2
eat: not get enough to eat HUNGRY/STARVING 1
eat: something to eat FOOD 1
eat a horse: I could eat a horse HUNGRY/WANT TO
EAT 1
eat into REDUCE 5
eat out of your hand: have sb eating out of your hand
CONTROL 4
up EAT 6, USE/CONSUME 1
your words ADMIT 4
eat
eat
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

EAT 394 EAT
eat
EAT
FOOD
HUNGRY/WANT
EAT
1 to eat food
2 to eat a meal
3 to eat too much
4 to eat very quickly
5 to eat noisily
6 to eat all of something and not leave any
7 someone who enjoys eating a lot
8 to eat small amounts of food, especially
because you are not hungry or do not like
what you are eating
9 to eat less in order to lose weight
10 to stop eating for religious reasons
11 to refuse to eat
12 to do something without having eaten
anything
13 words for describing something that can be
eaten
14 words for describing something that cannot
be eaten
1 to eat food
eat tuck in
have feed
consume lick
swallow
eat/i:q [v I/T]
eat sth I'm so full. I couldn't eat another thing. I Ken's
decided to stop eating meat for a few weeks. I Eat your dinner
before it goes cold. I eat No wonder she's so overweight - she's
always eating.
have/heev/an informal word meaning to eat something
Iv T]
have sth If you're hungry, have a sandwich. I I'll just have
one more piece of cake. I have sth for lunch/dinner/break
fast etc Why don't we have eggs for lunch?
consume/kn sju:m II -'su:m/a word used especially in
scientific or technical contexts meaning to eat or drink
something [v T]
In order to survive human beings need to consume food and
water. I At one point he was consuming over a bottle of
whisky a day. I People who consume large amounts of
animal fats are more likely to get cancer and heart disease.
consumption In U] Food products have dates printed on
them to show if they're safe for consumption (=safe to be
consumed).
swallow I'swolao II ,swo:-! to move food from the mouth
to the stomach through the throat Iv I/T]
Since the operation on his throat be's found it difficult to
swallow. ] swallow sth It'll be easier to swallow those
tablets if you take them with water. ] She wouldn't touch fish
for years after she swallowed that fishbone.
tuck in/,tAk tin/an informal British expression mean-
ing to eat eagerly and with enjoyment [phr v I]
Dinner's ready everyone. Tuck in!] Nick was already at the
table, tucking in. ] tuck into "This is delicious!'" he said,
tucking into his steak and kidney pudding.
feed/fi:d/if animals or babies feed, they eat or drink Iv I]
The pigs were feeding from a trough in the middle of the
yard. ] Most new babies will want to feed every few hours. ]
feed on The larvae feed on the young shoots of water-lilies.
lick/llk/to eat something by rubbing it with your tongue
[v T]
lick sth Johnny was sitting in the kitchen licking an ice-
cream. I lick sth off a plate/knife etc R was so delicious,
I licked every last bit of it off my plate.
2 to eat a meal
have have something to eat
eat have a snack
dine snack
grab something/a bite to eat
have/heev/to eat a particular meal [v T]
Shall we have dinner now? I It's very important to have a
good breakfast in the morning. I They had an exquisite meal
in an Indonesian restaurant.
eat/i:t/to eat a meal [v I]
What time shall we eat? [ Maxim's is one of the best places
to eat in this town. [ eat out (=eat a meal in a restaurant)
We go to the movies once a month and eat out every couple
of months.
dine/daln/a formal word meaning to have a meal with
other people, often a formal or official meal, especially in
the evening Iv I]
I have received an invitation to dine with the Mayor. [ dine
out (=have a meal in a restaurant) It's a place where the
famous can dine out and not be noticed.
grab somethlngla bite to eat !,greeb sAmOlrj, ) tbalt
to 'i:t/to eat something quickly, such as a small meal or
a piece of bread, because you are in a hurry Iv phrase]
Let's grab something to eat before we go out. ] Do you want
to grab a bite to eat or can you wait until we get home?
have something to eat/hav ,sAm0IrJ tO 'i:tl to eat
something such as a small meal or a piece of bread [v
phrase]
Halfway to Berlin we stopped to have something to eat. I The
movie didn't start for another hour, so we had something to
eat in the cafe over the road.
have a snack / heev  'snak/to eat a small meal in the
time between your main meals Iv phrase]
He prefers to just have a snack at lunchtime and a larger
meal in the evening. [ Do you feel like having a snack now
or would you rather wait?
snack In C] They stopped for a snack (=a small meal) at a
roadside cafe.
snack/snak/an American word meaning to eat small
amounts of food fairly regularly at any time of the day Iv I]
Children who snack are often developing poor eating habits. [
snack on Tim was always snacking on potato chips and
popcorn so he never ate good healthy food.
3 to eat too much
stuff/gorge yourself guzzle
pig out overeat
make a pig of yourself
stuff/gorge yourself/'st^f, 'go:rd3 jo:rself/ informal
expressions meaning to eat so much food that you cannot
eat anything else Iv phrase]

EAT 395 EAT
Don't stuff yourself like that, Pamela. You'll make yourself
ill. I stttff/gorge yourself with Having stuffed himself with
burgers, Terry found it impossible to eat dessert. I gorge
yourself on The Romans would gorge themselves on grapes
and plums.
pig out/,pig at/an informal expression meaning to eat
a lot more than is healthy or necessary [phr v I]
Last night we pigged out and ate three pizzas. I pig out on
When he's depressed he always pigs out on ice-cream.
make a pig of yourself/meik  'pig ov j3:r,self/an
informal expression meaning to eat too much food, which
is considered rude because you are eating with other
people [v phrase]
I made a real pig of myself, I had two whole pizzas all for
myself. I Don't make such a pig of yourself, you've eaten
enough.
guzzle/,gzl/to eat or drink a lot of something in a rude
or badly behaved way [v T]
Who's guzzled all the wine? l He has been guzzling my ice-
cream again. What a pig/
overeat / ,ovor' i:q to regularly eat more than is healthy
or necessary [v I usually in progressive]
I notice you've been overeating recently. You need to watch
your weight. I Many people who overeat do so for psycho-
logical reasons rather than from hunger.
4 to eat very quickly
wolf down
bolt
gobble
wolf down/,wolf 'daon/an informal word meaning to eat
food quickly and eagerly, especially because you are very
hungry or are in a hurry [phr v T]
wolf down sth I wolfed down my breakfast but still felt
hungry. I They were already late so they wolfed down their
lunch and caught the 2.30 train. I wolf sth/it/them down
When the food finally came she wolfed it down immediately.
bolt /baolt/ to eat something too quickly, especially
because you are in a hurry [v T]
bolt sth Don't bolt your foodWChew it up slowly. I bolt down
sth He bolted down two hamburgers then washed them
down with Coca-Cola.
gobble/'gobal II 'go:-/to eat something quickly and nois-
ily, especially because you are taking a lot of food into your
mouth [v T]
gobble sth Don't gobble your food - it's bad manners. I
gobble sth down/up Mike gobbled his lunch down then
dashed off to meet his next client.
5 to eat noisily
munch
crunch
munch/mAntj'/to eat something noisily, especially for a
long time [v T]
Paul spent the whole afternoon munching a packet of bis-
cuits. I Mark was slowly munching his last piece of cake.
crunch/krnnt/to noisily eat something hard [v T]
He drank his orange juice and crunched a half burnt piece
of toast. I Jill was reading the paper, crunching a raw carrot
as she read.
6 to eat all of something and not leave any
eat up polish off
finish demolish
devour scoff
finish off/up
eat up/,i:t '^p/[phr v T]
eat up sth Come on, boys - eat up your supper and get to
bed. I eat sth/it/them up Margaret ate it all up and then
asked for more. I We were always taught to eat our vegetables
up.
finish / 'fInIf/to finish eating the rest of something you
have already eaten most of [v T]
Finish your soup and then you can have some dessert. [ I
finished my lunch, repacked my back pack and set off again. [
If you finish that quickly we could still make the 7 o'clock
show.
devour/di 'vaoor/to eat all of something quickly because
you are very hungry [v T]
After the tennis match the boys devoured the sandwiches in
seconds. I There was a plague of slugs, devouring all the
green vegetables in the whole village.
finish off/up/,fInI 'of, 'rip II -'a:f/to eat the rest of the
food that is still on the plate, in the pan etc [phr v T]
finish off/up sth Who finished off the cake that was left
after the party? l Can someone finish up these strawberries,
otherwise they'll just be thrown away. I finish sth/it/them
off Finish those carrots off and you can have some dessert.
polish off/,poli Iof II ,po:llf I:):f/to eat everything that
is available, with great enjoyment, until there is none left
[phr v T]
polish off sth At dinner he polished off six fudge brownies
and then asked for some more. I polish sth/it/them off
If anyone wants more pizza, come and get it before Dan
polishes it all off.
demolish/di'mohf II dI 'rno:-/a humorous word mean-
ing to eat all of something very quickly [v T]
The kids demolished the cake in a few minutes. I I've seen
Marian demolish a big box of chocolates in one sitting/
scoff/skof II sk  =f, sko:f/an informal British word mean-
ing to eat something quickly and eagerly, and especially
to finish it all [v T]
I left three pies in thefridge and someone's scoffed the
Next door's cat has scoffed all Ginger's grub/
7 someone who enjoys eating a lot
big eater
gourmet
like your food
big eater/,big 'i:tr/someone who usually eats a lot of
food [n C]
Don't give me such a large portion. I'm not a big eater.  What
can I cook for them? They're such big eaters.
gourmet /'goamei II 'goar-, goar'mei/ someone who
knows a lot about food and drink and likes good quality
food and drink In C]
They're real gourmets and buy only the best cuts of meat. I
Many gourmets say that Camembert should never be kept in
a fridge. I gourmet food/cooking etc (=very good and
usually expensive) The shop only sells gourmet food, at
astronomical prices.
like your food /,laik j3:r 'fu:d/an informal expression
meaning to enjoy food and to usually eat a lot [vphrase not
in progressive]
Give him a big plate of spaghetti. He likes his food. [ "'Now
there's a man who likes his food, "" she said, as her brother
took a third helping of pie.
8 to eat small amounts of food, especially
because you are not hungry or do not like
what you are eating
nibble be a fussy/picky eater
pick at play/toy with your food
hardly touch your foodldlnnerlmeal etc
nibble I 'nibl/to eat small pieces of food by taking small
bites Iv I/T]
nibble sth Everyone stood around, drinking cocktails and
nibbling potato chips. I nibble on/at Since she started her
diet, she just nibbles at a carrot for her lunch. I nibble The
rabbit sniffed at the lettuce leaf and then began to nibble
slowly.
pick at/'pik eeq to only eat a little bit of a meal because
you are not hungry or because you feel ill or unhappy [v T]
I felt terrible and Ionlypicked at my dinner. I Isatpicking
at my Christmas pudding, wishing I were somewhere else.

EAT 396 EDGE
hardly touch your food/dinner/meal etc /,ho:rdli
=tAtJ" j3: r (food, etc)/to eat almost none of your dinner, meal
etc Iv phrase]
Are you feeling okay? You've hardly touched your dinner. I
We were so full by the time dessert came that we hardly
touched it.
be a fussy/picky eater/hi: a ,fAsi, ,pIki 'i:tar/to refuse
to eat particular types of food and only eat food that you
especially like Iv phrase]
Stan's such a picky eater it's impossible to know what to cook
for him.
play/toy with your food/,plea, t3 w6 jo:r 'fu:d/to
use your fork, spoon etc to move the food around your plate
instead of eating it Iv phrase]
Don't play with your food. If you don't want it, leave it. ] He
toyed with his food while he considered his answer.
9 to eat less in order to lose weight
diet
go on a diet
diet
diet/'daiat/[v I]
I've been dieting for two months and I've lost 6 kilos. I She
dieted, went on exercise programs but still she didn't attain
that perfect figure she was looking for.
go on a diet/,gao n a 'daiaq to decide to follow an eating
plan that controls the type and amount of food that you eat
so that you lose weight Iv phrase]
She went on a diet four weeks ago but she still looks fat. ]
I'm going on a strict diet, starting next week.
diet/daxat/ an eating plan that controls the type and
amount of food that you eat so that you lose weight In C]
I've tried all the-diets and they never work. [ This new diet
involves eating very small amounts th?oughout the day.
10 to stop eating for religious reasons
fast/go on a fast
fast
fast/go on a fast/fo:st, ,gao tn a 'fo:st II -'foest/to eat
little or no food for a fixed period of time, especially for reli-
gious reasons Iv I]
He lived alone for several years, praying and fasting. I The
inhabitants of the island fast twice weekly on bread and
water. I During Ramadan, Moslems go on a month-long fast.
fast/feast II foest/a period of time when a person eats little
or no food, especially for religious reasons In C]
The fast lasts for three days so I try not to think about food. I
The people hold a fast and then have a great banquet at the
end as a celebration.
1 1 to refuse to eat
refuse food
starve yourself
go on hunger strike
refuse food/ri  fju:z ' fu:dl to not eat any of the food that
has been offered to you Iv phrase]
Reporters noticed that the princess started refusing food at
official dinners. I Most babies refuse cereals that are not
sweetened.
starve yourself /sto:rv ja:rself/to refuse to eat, with the
result that you make yourself ill or even die Iv phrase]
Gina had an argument with her mother and was determined
to get revenge by starving herself. I You must eat more or
you'll starve yourself! I starve yourself to death Thepolice
are saying that he starved himself to death.
go on hunger strike/gao tn h^rjga r strmk] if some-
one goes on a hunger strike, they refuse to eat for days
or weeks in order to protest about something or bring
public attention to a political matter Iv phrase]
More than 300prisoners went on hunger strike in February
in protest against the living conditions. I be on hunger
strike The Palestinians have been on hunger strike since last
Tuesday in what seems a futile attempt to get prisoners
released.
12 to do something without having eaten
anything
on an empty stomach
on an empty stomach/tn an ,empti 'stAmk/if you do
something on an empty stomach, you do it when you have
not eaten recently [adv phrase]
If you drink on an empty stomach you are bound to get drunk
very quickly. ] You'd be stupid to attempt to walk all that way
on an empty stomach. ] I don "t like going to work on an empty
stomach so I always have breakfast.
13 words for describing something that can be
eaten
edible
edible /'edbal/food, plants, and animals that are edible
are suitable for people to eat and will not cause illness or
death [adj]
"'Are these mushrooms edible? .... Oh yes, and they're deli-
cious!'" I There are many edible fruits growing wild in the
coastal forest.
14 words for describing something that cannot
be eaten
inedible
unfit for human consumption
inedible/in'edbal/food, plants, and animals that are
inedible cannot be eaten [adj]
Only the tail and fins can be eaten. The rest is totally inedi-
ble. [ Mark hadn't realized that the leaves of the rhubarb
plant were inedible.
unfit for human consumption /nnflt fa r hju:man
kan's^mpJ'n/ an expression used especially in official
contexts meaning not suitable for people to eat [adjphrase]
Most of this meat is so old it is unfit for human consumption. I
Warning: Animal Feed only - Unfit for human consumption.
eater: big eater EAT 7
eavesdrop LISTEN 3
ebb LESS 6
ebb: lowest ebb LEAST 3
eccentric STRANGE 6
echo LIKE/SIMILAR 3, REPEAT 3, SOUND 5
eclipse BETTER 2
economic MONEY 11
economical CHEAP 1, SPEND MONEY 7
economics MONEY 11
economize SPEND MONEY 5
economy CHEAP 1, MONEY 12
ecstasy ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 9
ecstatic HAPPY 2
edge EDGE 1, SLOW 13, WALK 14
edge: give sb the edge ADVANTAGE 4
edge: have the edge on BETTER 1
edge: on edge NERVOUS 1
edge: put sb on edge NERVOUS 6
edge: take the edge off REDUCE 2
edge of your seat: be on the edge of your seat
EXCITED 3
EDGE
1 the edge of an object, surface, or place
2 the edge of a country or area of land

EDGE 39? EFFECT/INFLUENCE
1 the edge of an object, surface, or place
edge rim
border perimeter
outskirts margin
edge led31 In C]
Karen sat on the edge of the bed and put on her shoes. I Don't
walk too near the edge of the cliff. I Ghardaia is a small town
right on the edge of the desert. I A group of children were
playing by the water's edge. I The coat was old and fraying
at the edges.
border/'bmrdar/a narrow band that goes around the edge
of something such as a picture or a piece of material, espe-
cially one that has a decorative purpose In C]
The tablecloth had a brightly patterned border. I a picture
of a tree, with a red border I a border of flowers around the
lawn
outskirts / 'aotsk3:rts/the areas on the edge of a city, fur-
thest from the centre In plural]
on the outskirts of Her parents lived in a big house on the
outskirts of Tokyo. [ the outskirts of We heard gunshots
as we drove through the outskirts of the city.
rim/rim/the circular edge of something, especially the
edge at the top of a glass or cup, or the outside edge of a
wheel or a pair of glasses In C]
Aunt Laura got out her best china cups with the gold rims. [
John's glasses had small lenses and steel rims. [ We climbed
up to the rim of the volcano and looked down into it.
perimeter /pa'rImotor/ the outside edge around an
enclosed area of land such as a military camp or a prison
[n C]
Security guards walk around and check the perimeter of the
site every hour. I perimeter fence/wall/road etc (-one
that goes around the perimeter) A secure perimeter fence
should be at least two metres high. I We drove around the
perimeter road of the airfield, searching for clues to the
break-in.
margin/'me:rd3oIn/the part at the side of a printed or
written page that is left empty and usually has no writing
on it In C]
Leave a two centimetre margin on the left-hand side of the
page and a one centimetre margin on the right. I Someone
had written some comments in the margin.
2 the edge of a country or area of land
border
frontier
boundaw
border I' b3:rdor/the official line that separates two coun-
tries or the area of land near to this line In C]
the Italian/Brazilian/Nigerian ere border (=the border
between Italy, Brazil etc and another country) Isn't Manto
near the Italian border? [ cross the border As soon as we
crossed the border we began to see signs of poverty. [ on the
border Jeumont is a small town on the French-Belgian
border. [ the border with (=the border separating one
country from another) It is a mountainous region, occupy-
ing a large area near the border with Nepal. [ border town/
area/dispute ete The army's main task was to patrol the
border regions.
frontier/'fr^ntio r [[ fr^n'tor/ the border of a country,
especially the actual point where people and vehicles are
officially allowed to cross from one country to another In C]
All traffic crossing the frontier will be thoroughly searched,
causing even longer delays. [ frontier town/post/guards
ete He was stopped by soldiers at a frontier post.
boundary/'baondri/the official line that marks the edge
of an area of land, for example of a farm or of a local area
within a country In C]
A special commission was set up to re-examine the bound-
aries of English counties. [ The Mississippi River forms the
boundary between Tennessee and Arkansas.
edgy
edible
educate
educated
educator
education
NERVOUS 1
EAT 13
TEACH 3
INTELLIGENT 1
TEACH 5
TEACH 4
educational
eerie
effect
effect:
effect:
effect:
effect:
effect:
effect:
effect:
effect:
TEACH 6
STRANGE 3
CAUSE 5, EFFECT/INFLUENCE 5, RESULT 1
come into effect/operation START TO HAPPEN,
EXIST ETC 3
have/achieve the desired effect EFFECTIVE 1
have an effect on EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
have no effect EFFECTIVE 4
in effect/effectively IN FACT 1
net result/effect RESULT 2
take effect EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
to that effect MEANING 9
@ EFFECT/
INFLUENCE
to have an effect or influence on someone or
something
I to affect something or someone, so that they
change in some way
2 to have an important effect on the way
someone or something develops
3 having an important effect on the way
someone or something develops
4 to influence someone's opinions or decisions,
especially so that they change their mind
about something
5 the way that an event, action, person etc
affects someone or something
1
to affect something or someone, so that they
change in some way
affect
have an effect on
do sth to
have an impact on
impact
tell
leave your mark on
take its toll
take effect
affect D'fclal [v T]
The rise in gas prices is likely to affect the cost of electricity. I
Scientists are investigating the ways in which the oceans
affect the climate. I How will these new taxes affect people on
lower incomes? l emergency food aid for areas affected by the
drought I badly/seriously affect California was very
badly affected by forest fires. I Prolonged exposure to these
games could seriously affect children's eyesight.
have an effect on / ,heev on  ' fekt tn/to cause a partic-
ular kind of change in something or someone Iv phrase]
have a good/bad/serious etc effect on The war was
having a disastrous effect on the economy. I Moderate drink-
ing can have a beneficial effect on your health. I The
experience had a profound effect on me. I have little effect/
no effect on The tobacco companies claimed that their
advertisements had little effect on the overall level of cigarette
sales.
do sth to ! 'du: (sth) tu:! an informal expression meaning
to affect something, especially in a harmful way [phr v T]
Look what the storm has done to the flowers. I Do you ever
think about what those cigarettes must be doing to your
lungs?
have an impact on/heev an ' impeekt Dn/if an event,
invention, or new idea has an impact on something, it
affects it in important ways and causes big changes Iv
phrase]

EFFECT/INFLUENCE 398 EFFECT/INFLUENCE
Gagarin's spaceflight had an immediate and wide-ranging
impact on US scientific policy. I Developments in microelec-
tronics have had a major impact on industrial processes.
Impact/' impeekt/a word used especially in business or
financial contexts, meaning to affect something such as
sales or profits Iv T]
The recent take-over of the company is likely to impact profit
expectations for 1994.
tell ]tell to have a noticeable and often harmful effect on
a person or on a situation, after something has been hap-
pening for a long time Iv I not usually in progressive]
tell on The strain of living with her violent husband was
telling on Judy. I tell Eventually Edberg's greater experience
started to tell, and he won the fifth set easily.
leave your mark on/li:v jo:r ma:rk o/to have an
important and permanent effect, for example on an organi-
zation or on a person's character Iv phrase]
The years he spent in prison left their mark on him for the
rest of his life. [ The long dispute has left its mark on the
mining industry. [ leave your mark She was only in the job
for two years but she certainly left her mark.
take its toll/tek ts taol/to have a serious and harm-
ful effect on something or someone, especially after con-
tinuing for a long time Iv phrase]
take its toll on My father's work was mentally exhausting,
and eventually it took its toll on his health. [ take its toll
Civil war and drought have taken their toll, and the popu-
lation of the region is greatly reduced.
take effect /Itek   fekt/if something takes effect, espe-
cially a medicine or drug, or a new plan or system, it starts
to have an effect Iv phrase]
The dentist gave me an injection which took effect almost
immediately and I didn't feel a thing. [ It will be a while
before the government's new economic policy takes effect.
2 to have an important effect on the way
someone or something develops
influence shape
have an influence on mould/mold
have implications for
influence/' nfluans! to have a long-lasting effect on the
way something develops or on the way someone behaves
or thinks Iv T]
The revolution of1789 influenced events far beyond France. [
Health education programmes are starting to influence peo-
ple's eating habits. [ A whole generation of painters was
influenced by Monet's style.
have an influence on /hav an =influans on/to affect
the way something changes or develops [v phrase]
D. W. Griffith had an enormous influence on the development
of motion pictures. [ The future level of fuel prices will have
a major influence on energy policy.
have implications for/hmv impla  keffonz fo:r/to be
likely to have effects on something in the future that are
bigger and more important than the effects that can
immediately be seen Iv phrase not in progressive]
The expansion of business in eastern Germany has impor-
tant implications for the country as a whole. I This court case
may have wider implications for press freedom and the pub-
lic's right to know what politicians are doing.
shape/J'eip/to have an important, long-lasting influence
on the way a person thinks and behaves, or on the way a
society, organization, or country develops Iv T]
Our childhood experiences are important in shaping our
character. I The reign of Augustus shaped the course of
Roman history until the fourth century. I Canadian educa-
tion was shaped by men who were trained in Scottish
universities.
mould (British) I mold (American)/mould/to have an
effect on the way someone's character develops, especiatly
by deliberately influencing their attitudes and opinions
when they are young Iv T]
He was trying to mould me into a good, quiet, religious girl,
and ! didn't like it one bit. I A privileged upbringing can
mould young minds, giving them sets of values that they will
never shake off.
 having an important effect on the way
someone or something develops
influential
influence
far-reaching
influential/, nflu'enJ'al,I [adj]
Marx was clearly the most influential of all the socialist
writers. I influential in doing sth Although she was not
a professionalpolitician, her views were influential in shap-
ing government policy. [ highly influential a highly
influential art magazine that is widely read by dealers
influence/ mfluans/a person or a belief, institution, idea
etc that strongly influences the way someone or something
develops In C]
The two main influences in a child's development are the
family and the school. I Her book examines the way that reli-
gious influences affected the development of European art
and music. I My best friend, Tom Harwood, was another big
influence in my life. I influence on Your son is a bad
influence on the other boys, Mrs Brown.
far.reaching/ fa: r ri:tj'rj /far-reaching effects/im-
plications/changes/consequences etc (=that affect very
large numbers of people, or affect things in very important
ways) [adj]
Perhaps the most far-reaching consequence of the Industrial
Revolution was the movement of people from the countryside
into the cities. I The effects of Gorbachev's policies were pro-
found and far-reaching.
4 to influence someone's opinions or decisions,
especially so that they change their mind
about something
influence colour/color
sway enter into
influence I, influans/Iv T]
influence sb I don't want to say anything to influence you.
You must make up your own mind. I It's natural enough for
a child to be influenced by itsparents' ideas. I The jury's ver-
dict was clearly influenced by their sympathy for the defen-
dant. I influence sb to do sth What was it that influenced
them to give the contract to a German firm?
sway/swe! to influence someone when they have not yet
firmly decided about something, especially by saying
something clever that makes them change their mind Iv T]
be swayed He was very easily swayed. I Don't let yourself be
swayed by these arguments. I sway sb Politicians often try
to sway undecided voters by promising lower taxes.
colour (British) I color (American)/k^lar/colour sb's
judgement/attitudes/opinions etc (=influence them,
especially so that they become less fair or reasonable) Iv T]
How can he make fair and impartial decisions if political
loyalties always colour his judgement? [ It seemed to me that
she had allowed her own feelings of disappointment to colour
her whole view of the acting profession.
enter into /,entar ' Intu:/if something such an emotion
or an opinion enters into a decision or choice that you
have to make, it is one of the things that influence you
when you decide or choose Iv T not in passive]
Try not to let your personal feelings enter into the decision. [
Of course money doesn't enter into it. It's just a more interest-
ing job.
 the way that an event, action, person etc
affects someone or something
effect
influence
impact
effect/'fekt/In C/U]
The effects of the strike were felt right across the country.

EFFECT/INFLUENCE 399 EFFECTIVE
She's still recovering from the effects of her ordeal. I effect
on experiments to measure the effect of fertilizers on crop
yields I with little effect/without much effect I tried
using detergent to remove the stain, but without much effect.I
have the effect of(=have as an effect) We tried topersuade
her not to go, but this simply had the effect of making her
even more determined.
influence 1 influns/the continuing effect that something
has on the way things happen or develop, or on the way a
person thinks and behaves in singularC]
influence on The book attempts to demonstrate the
influence of the stars on people's lives. I profound influence
(=deep and important) Darwin "s ideas have had a profound
influence on our view of the world. I exert an influence
(=have an influence over a long period) Throughout the
1920s and 30s, memories of the Great War exerted a power-
ful influence on foreign policy.
impact/lmpeektl the important effects and changes that
are caused by an event, invention, or new idea in
singular/U]
impact on The book describes the revolution and its immedi-
ate impact on the lives of ordinary Russians. ] impact The
full impact of changes in computer technology will be felt
within the next few years.
effective EFFECTIVE 1, 3, EFFICIENT 3
What do you think of Jill's suggestion - do you think it will
work? l This recipe works just as well if you use gruyere
cheese instead of mozarella. ] This type of sales talk works
with most people - they usually end up buying something.
have/achieve the desired effect I,h0ev, ,tfi:v 6
dxzaIard i'fekt/ to produce the result or effect that is
intended, especially by using a clever or carefully planned
method Iv phrase]
I told the class that if they didn't stop talking they would all
have to stay late - that had the desired effect! [ Gradually
increase the amount of medicine taken until the desired effect
is achieved.
successful ]sksesfal/an action, event, or piece of work
that is successful produces very good results [adj]
Our new advertising campaign has been very successful. [
Did you have a successful shopping trip? [ It was one of the
President's most successful speeches. [ highly successful a
highly successful strategy
work like magic/like a charm /wa:rk laik  madsik,
lalk o tsozrm/if a plan, method, or trick works like magic
or like a charm, it works extremely well, so that things
happen in exactly the way that you planned Iv phrase]
The trick worked like a charm. My father never suspected a
thing. [ I told the kids I'd take them out for a burger and fries
if they behaved themselves - it worked like magic!
-leffective or efficient? I-
producing tiie result  EFFECTIVE
.
that was wanted or
intended : i;:.ii"!i ; i;. ':  " -,(.;..i
w0rli ng"::well,";ith0i ': EFFICIENT
wasting time, money,
or energy
EFFECTIVE
producing the result that was wanted or
intended
1 words for describing a method, plan, or
system that produces the results that you
intended
2 words for describing a method, plan, or
system that is always effective
3 words for describing an effective medicine or
type of medical treatment
4 not effective
5 to make something ineffective
1 words for describing a method, plan, or
system that produces the results that you
intended
effective have/achieve the desired effect
work successful
work like magic/like a charm
effective/'fektiv/[adj]
There are many effective ways of using videos in language
teaching. [ Our training programmes cover a range of effec-
tive management techniques. [ The adverts were very simple
but remarkably effective.
effectively [adv] Children have to learn how to communi-
cate effectively.
effectiveness in U] Any mistakes will seriously reduce the
effectiveness of the system.
work/wa:rk/ifa method or plan works, it produces the
result that you wanted, especially if this is rather unex-
pected iv I]
2 words for describing a method, plan, or
system that is always effective
reliable infallible
surefire never fails/works every time
foolproof work wonders
reliable/rI'laIabal/[adj]
Eating healthily and taking regular exercise is the only reli-
able method of losing weight. I "Psychological Profiling" is
becoming increasingly reliable as a technique for identify-
ing criminals. I It's a rather old-fashioned system but it's
100% reliable.
reliability /rilam'blti/ In U] The advantages of the
computerized process are speed and reliability.
surefire /j'orfaIr/ surefire method/way/solution
(=one that is certain to be effective) [adj only before noun]
I know a surefire way of starting the car on freezing winter
mornings. ] The government sees lower interest rates as a
surefire solution to the banks" bad debt problems.
foolproof I fu:lpru:f/a method, system, or plan that is
foolproof is always effective, because it is simple to under-
stand and operate, and cannot go wrong [adj]
I thought this method was foolproof until four customer
orders went missing. [ Each document goes through a fool-
proof system of checking which ensures that there are no
mistakes in the final text.
infallible/[n'felbal/a method or system that is infal-
lible always produces the right result and never goes
wrong [adj ]
There is no infallible way of predicting exactly what the
weather will be like. I Banks claim their cash-dispensing
computers are infallible.
infallibly [adv ] The President believes that this strategy will
infallibly lead to America's economic recovery.
never fails/works every time /neva r fe[lz, wa:rks
evri taim/a method that never fails or works every time
is one that you know to be very effective because you have
tried it many times and it has always been successful
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Try buying your girlfriend some flowers and taking her out
for an expensive meal - it works every time! I One method
that never fails is to convince the buyer that lots of other
people want to buy the house.
work wonders /wa:rk 'wnndarz/ to be surprisingly
effective in dealing with a difficult problem or situation
Iv phrase not in progressive]
If you can't get a stain out of your clothes, rubbing salt in
works wonders. [ A few words of praise can work wonders
if one of your employees isn't very confident.

EFFECTIVE 00 EFFICIENT
 words for describing an effective medicine or
type of medical treatment
effective
work
powerful/potent
effective/I 'fekuv/[adj]
These tablets are effective if taken twice daily for five days. I
effective in Doctors soon realized that this drug was also
effective in relieving the symptoms of arthritis. I effective
against Penicillin can be taken in various forms and is effec-
tive against a wide range of infections.
effectiveness [n U] a survey to test the effectiveness of a low-
cholesterol diet
work/w3:rk] to have the effect that you want it to have [v I]
It's too late for surgery but chemotherapy might just work. I
These antibiotics will only work if you take the full course
of treatment.
powedullpotent /'paoarfdl, pzotdnt/ a medicine or
drug that is powerful or potent is very strong and works
very quickly with the result that it should be used very
carefully [ adj ]
Little is known about the long-term effects of powerful drugs
such as Duromine. I Nicotine is a powerful appetite suppres-
sant. I These tablets are prettypotent so don't drive while you
are taking them.
4 not effective
ineffective have no effect
doesn't work fail
ineffective/, In' fekUw/having very little effect, so that
it does not achieve what it is meant to achieve [adj]
Studies have shown this to be an ineffective teaching tech-
nique. [ The German tactics were so ineffective that Brazil
had complete control in midfield. [ The government's
approach has been ineffective in reducing unemployment.
ineffectiveness [n U] the ineffectiveness and wastefulness
of subsidising state-owned companies
doesn't work /d^zant w3:rk/ if something doesn't
work it does not produce the result that you want [v
phrase]
My doctor recommended several different creams for dry skin
but none of them worked. [ If stain remover doesn't work,
you'd better send your dress to the dry cleaners. [ Being polite
doesn't always work when you are complaining about
something.
have no effect/hev nzo i I fekt/if something has no
effect it does not simply work badly, it actually has no
effect at all Iv phrase]
Paul realized that his words were having no effect; Karen
was not going to change her mind. [ The drugs had no effect. [
Farmers who have tried the new fertilizer say that it has no
effect and that crops have not improved.
fail/fefl/if you are trying to do something and it fails, it
is not at all effective and does not produce the result that
you want Iv I not usually in progressive]
My attempt to lose weight failed completely. [ The Jacksons"
plans to buy their own house failed because the bank would
not lend them enough money.
 to make something ineffective
neutralize
cancel out
neutralize (also .ise British)/'nju:trzlaiz II ,nu:-/to pre-
vent something from having any effect or stop the effect
that it was having Iv T]
Congress can try to neutralize new legislation by modifying
it or delaying it. I Recent events have done much to neutral-
ize the influence of the right-wing.
cancel out I, keensl ' aot/if something cancels out some-
thing else, it has an equal but opposite effect, and so makes
it ineffective [phr v T]
cancel out sth Increases in rent cancel out any rise in
wages. I He treated me so badly at the end, it cancelled out
any of the good times we'd had. I cancel each other out The
two arguments simply cancel each other out
effectively: in effect/effectively
effects RESU LT 5
effeminate WOMAN 4
efficiency EFFICIENT 3
efficient EFFICIENT 1, 2, 3
IN FACT 1
-lefficient or effective? I-
working well, without @ EFFICIENT
wasting time, money,
or energy
producing the result  EFFECTIVE
that was wanted or
intended
@ EFFICIENT
working well and effectively without wasting
time, money, or energy
1 words for describing an organization or
system that is well-organized and works well,
without wasting time, money etc
2 words for describing a machine that works
well and efficiently
3 words for describing someone who does their
work efficiently, uses their time well, and
achieves good results
4 to make a business or system more efficient
5 not efficient
1 words for describing an organization or
system that is well-organized and works well,
without wasting time, money etc
efficient well-oiled machine
well-run smooth
efficient/;'fIJ'9nt/[adjl
The company is well-known for its friendly, efficient serv-
ice.I The first thing I did was to create an efficient and
accurate filing system. I Since the computer system was
installed, the college's administration has become much
more efficient. I Isn't it more efficient to collect all the infor-
mation at the same time?
efficiently [advl Under new management, the business
worked much more efficiently and sales increased immedi-
ately.
well.run !,wel 'ran,/efficient because of good manage-
ment and organization [adj]
A well-run supermarket will always have a good selection
of fresh products. I The public transportation in this town
is very well-run and inexpensive.
well-oiled machine ! ,wel a;ld mz'i:n/an organization
or system that is very efficient and operates easily, without
any problems [n singular]
The administration runs like a well-oiled machine. I As soon
as we receive the alert, the fire station becomes a well-oiled
machine.
smooth/smu:6/a system or operation that is smooth
operates efficiently and without problems or difficulties
[adj]
To ensure a smooth change-over, I will start work one week
before my predecessor leaves the post. [ a smooth and elegant
system
smoothly [ adv] The whole rescue was carried out smoothly
and with the minimum of fuss.

EFFICIENT 401 EFFICIENT
:2 words for describing a machine that works
well and efficiently
efficient
reliable
labour-saving
efficient I'fiJ'ntl [adj]
This is the most efficient and economical washing machine
on the market. [ Our new heating system seems to be very effi-
cient. The house is much warmer now.
efficiently [adv] The trams work very efficiently despite
their antiquated appearance.
re|iabie IrI Ilambdl/a machine or vehicle that is reliable
works well and efficiently and is not likely to break or stop
working [adj]
These old Citroens are very reliable, I've had no trouble with
mine. [ The photocopier isn't very reliable - sometimes the
copies are so faint you can't even read them. I It's about time
the school invested in some reliable and up-to-date audio-
visual equipment.
reliability/ri ,laibilti/[n U] Ford's new family sedan is
built for reliability (=to be reliable) and comfort.
labour.saving /lleib r sexvIO/ labour-saving equip-
ment or machines make it much easier or quicker for you
to do a particular kind of work [adj only before noun]
Labour-saving machinery means that we now employ fewer
people. I labour-saving device Nowadays most people take
for granted labour-saving devices such as washing machines
and vacuum cleaners.
3
words for describing someone who does their
,,
work efficiently, uses their time well, and
achieves good results
efficient well-organized
efficiency businesslike
effective run a tight ship
capable productive
efficient/]'fiJ'dntl [adj]
The doctor was cheerful and efficient, which immediately
made me feel more relaxed. I They are not very efficient in
the way they do business. I When going for a job interview
it is important that you present a smart, efficient appearance.
efficiently [ adv ] Margaret dealt with all our inquiries very
efficiently.
efficiency/i'fIJ'ansi/an efficient way of working [n U]
She was praised for her efficiency in organizing the trip to
Moscow. I The way you dress, your phone manner, and your
general efficiency are all vital pro-requisites for success in
your job.
effective/i'fektiv/someone who is effective, especially
someone in a position of authority, deals quickly and suc-
cessfully with the work they have to do [adj]
The manager seems to be very effective and has excellent
leadership qualities. I An effective teacher will always
produce better exam results.
effectively Iadv ] Management had failed to deal effectively
with the problem and were now facing the consequences.
effectiveness In U] The course is designed to help you
improve your effectiveness (=how effective you are) in
managing people.
capable/'keipabal/someone who is capable does things
well and confidently and does not need anyone else's help
or advice [adj]
Sandra is very capable and will take good care of the chil-
dren while l"m in hospital. I A very capable lawyer is work-
ing on the case. I Rebecca was, without question, the most
capable technician on the team.
capably [ adv ] Mr Stevenson chaired the meeting firmly and
capably.
well.organized (also -ised British)/,wel z:rgnalzd,/
someone who is well-organized is efficient because they
plan and organize things well [adj]
Joanne's very well-organized. She always gets her work done
on time. I You'd make a really good personal assistant -
you're so well-organized.
businesslike I'bIznIs-laIk/ efficient and practical,
without wasting time on anything that is unnecessary [adj]
We were met by a businesslike receptionist. I I was very
embarrassed but the doctor was reassuring and business-
like.In businesslike approach
run a tight ship/rAn o taIt j'Ip/to manage a business
or company very efficiently, especially by having strict
rules and by not allowing the people working there to have
much freedom Iv phrase]
We run a very tight ship here - all employees must be at their
desks by eight-thirty or they lose an hour's pay.
productive/pro IdAkuv/someone who is productive does
a job efficiently and with good results, because they work
faster than most people or do more work than most people
[adj]
Studies show that if factory workers have short but frequent
breaks they become much more productive. I The most
productive members of staff should be rewarded by finan-
cial bonuses.
4 to make a business or system more efficient
improve/increase efficiency
streamline
rationalize
improve/increase efficiency /im,pru:v, Inkri:s
I fij'ansi/Iv phrase]
We must increase efficiency and reduce costs if we are to make
a profit this year. I The company has concentrated on promot-
ing worker involvement and improving efficiency. I The new
management techniques should result in increased efficiency
and better production levels.
streamline I  stri:mlain/to make the processes of a busi-
ness or system simpler so that it operates more quickly and
more efficiently Iv T]
We have streamlined the whole business by introducing a
new computer system which provides easy access to the infor-
mation. I Streamline your health and beauty routine so that
you have time to do it every day.
rationalize (also -ise British) I'rej'nolaiz/a word used
especially in British English meaning to make a business
or system more efficient by making it quicker, more
modern, and less wasteful lv T]
The experiment resulted in rationalizing and increasing
agriculture production. I Since the administrative side of the
business has been rationalized, all departments have become
more efficient.
rationalization/,reJ'dnlaI 'zelj'an II -1o-/[n U] Rationali-
zation within the industry means that some workers may lose
their jobs.
5 not efficient
inefficient ineffective
ineffectual badly-run
inefficient I, ]n'fint-/[adj]
The postal service in this country is very inefficient. I Mem-
hers of the public have complained that the city council is
inefficient and disorganized.
inefficiency In U] The lawyer's inefficiency meant that we
would have to wait another month before moving into our
new house.
inefficiently [ adv ] No wonder the new cashiers have been
working so inefficiently - they've never been given any
training.
ineffectual/,in  fekqul,/a person or organization that
is ineffectual is not able to get things done because they
are not quick enough or good enough [adj]
The police were completely ineffectual in this matter. I He's
a nice enough man, but rather ineffectual as a team captain.
ineffectually [adv ] The government is tackling the problem
of homelessness very ineffectually. People need homes now!
ineffective /,inI'fektiv/ someone who is ineffective,
especially someone in a position of authority, is not able
to deal successfully with the work they have to do [adj]
A combination of ineffective management and inadequate

EFFICIENT 402 EMBARRASSED
investment brought about this collapse. I I sometimes feel that
she is just totally ineffective in this job.
ineffectively [adv] Yes, he did run the meeting, but so
ineffectively that we never decided anything!
badly.run /,bmdli 'r^n-/an organization that is badly-
run produces bad results because it is badly managed [adj]
The reason our company has made no profit this year is
because it is very badly-run. I The country has been so badly-
run that we really need a change of government.
leffort
' effort TRY TO DO OR GET STH 8, WORK HARD 6
": effort: be a waste of effort POINTLESS 1
iii.: effort: in an effort to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 7
!:i effort: make an effort TRY TO DO OR GET STH 2
i.il effort: put a lot of effort into sth WORK HARD 1
i: effortless EASY 5, GRACEFUL 2
:: egg sb on PERSUADE 1
: egg-shaped CIRCLE 4
:.
 ego: boost sb's ego CONFIDENT 5
i egocentric SELFISH 1
.![ either BOTH 1
.{ either way: could go either way UNCERTAIN 3
, eject LEAVE A PLACE 10
 eke out LONG TIME 9
 eke out a living/an existence SURVIVE 5
# elaborate COMPLICATED 2, DECORATE 5, DETAIL 4, 7
i: elapse PASS/TIME PASSING 1
,) elated HAPPY 5
• -° elation HAPPY 8
i' elbow PUSH 7
ў elbow room SPACE/ROOM 1
 elder OLD/NOT YOUNG 2
 elderly OLD/NOT YOUNG 1
 elders OLD/NOT YOUNG 2
 eldest OLD/NOT YOUNG 3
 elect VOTE/ELECT 4
.--
ii election VOTE/ELECT 5
 election: call an election VOTE/ELECT :3
election: hold an election VOTE/ELECT 3
. electioneering VOTE/ELECT10
electoral VOTE/ELECT 5
 electorate VOTE/ELECT 6
elegance GRACEFUL 3, STYLE/ELEGANCE 1
 elegant BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 4, GRACEFUL
 1, 2, STYLE/ELEGANCE 2
 element GROUP OF PEOPLE 3, PART3
e  element: an element of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 8
 element: be in your element ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 2
 element/grain of truth TRUE 5
 elementary SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 2
 elevate UP 13
• elevated HIGH 6
 eleventh hour: at the eleventh hour ON TIME 3
elicit
eligible
eliminate
elite
elliptical
elongated
elope
eloquent
else
FIND OUT 7
MARRY 16
STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
BEST 3, CLASS IN SOCIETY 2, GROUP OF
PEOPLE 6
CIRCLE 4
LONG 1
MARRY 1
EXPRESS 3
DIFFERENT 6
else: or else IF 6
elsewhere PLACE 5
elucidate EXPLAIN 1
elude ESCAPE 5
elusive FIND 4
emaciated THIN PERSON 5
emanate from COME FROM/ORIGINATE 6
embargo FORBID 11
embargo: put/impose an embargo on FORBID 5
embark GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 1
embark on/upon START DOING STH 2
embarrass EMBARRASSED 3
embarrassed EMBARRASSED 1
EMBARRASSED
feeling uncomfortable in a social situation,
especially when you have said or done
something that makes you seem stupid
words meaning embarrassed
to become red in the face because you are
embarrassed
to make someone feel embarrassed
1 words meaning embarrassed
embarrassed
embarrassment
self-conscious
uncomfortable
awkward
sheepish
mortified
squirm
I could have died/
I almost died
embarrassed Im'barast/[adj]
I always get really embarrassed when I have to give a talk
in front of a lot of people. ] There's no need to be embarrassed,
you have a lovely singing voice. ] They all saw me - honestly,
I've never felt so embarrassed in my whole life! ] embar-
rassed about A lot of people feel embarrassed about taking
off their clothes in public. ] acutely embarrassed (=ex-
tremely embarrassed) He seemed to be acutely embarrassed
when we asked where the money was.
embarrassment/m'bersmnt/the feeling you have
when you are embarrassed In U]
He looked down at the floor in an attempt to hide his embar-
rassment. I acute embarrassment (=great embarrass-
ment) When I told Caroline how beautiful she looked her face
flushed with acute embarrassment.
self-conscious /self 'konj's [[-kc:n-/ embarrassed
about your body or how you look, talk, move etc [adj]
I hate wearing glasses - they always make me feel really self-
conscious. I self-conscious about Young adolescents tend
to feel very self-conscious about their appearance.
self-consciously [ adv ] He got up rather self-consciously and
walked towards the stage.
uncomfortable /An'lmft0bl, -'kAmf0t- ]1 -'kAmfort-,
-'kAmft-/ feeling so embarrassed that you find it hard to
relax with other people or you cannot think what to say
[adj]
All this talk about love and romance was starting to make
me feel uncomfortable. I For a few minutes there was an
uncomfortable silence between them. I She always felt rather
uncomfortable in her father's presence.
awkward /'a:kword/feeling so nervous and embarrassed
that you do not behave in a natural way, especially because
you think you seem strange or different from other people
[adj]
"'Would you like to come and see a movie with me?" he asked
in a shy, awkward voice. I For one awkward moment I
thought I had said something terribly wrong. I awkward
about I often feel awkward about telling people my true
feelings.
awkwardly [adv] David felt too shy to say anything, and
looked at them awkwardly.
awkwardness In U] I sensed a certain awkwardness in her
manner.

EMBARRASSED 403 EMOTIONAL
sheepish/'fi:pf/looking or feeling a little embarrassed
because you feel guilty about something [adj usually before
noun]
Debbie arrived late for work with a sheepish grin on her
face. I He gave her a sheepish look and said "I'm very sorry,
I forgot it was your birthday. ""
sheepishly [adv ] We asked the hotel staff to explain, but they
just said nothing and smiled at us sheepishly.
mortified/'m:rtfaid/very shocked, embarrassed, or
ashamed because you realize that you have done some-
thing stupid or wrong [adj not before noun]
Deaver was mortified by his mistake and immediately admit-
ted that he was wrong. I When I discovered that the rest of
the party were all wearing evening dress I felt utterly
mortified.
squirm /skwa:rm/ to feel extremely embarrassed and
uncomfortable because of something very stupid that you
did or said Iv I]
Whenever I think back to what I said at the party it really
makes me want to squirm. I squirm with embarrassment
The little boy" squirmed with embarrassment when his
mother told him off in front of his friends.
I could have dledll almost died la kod hav 'dad,
al ,a:lmaost dald/you say I could have died or I almost
died when you want to say you felt extremely embarrassed
Suddenly I saw that she was standing right behind me and
had heard every word I'd said about her - honestly, I could
have died!
2 to become red in the face because you are
embarrassed
blush
go/turn red
blush IblA[I if someone blushes their face becomes red
because they are embarrassed [v I]
When I told her I loved her she blushed and looked away. ]
He realized how foolish he had been and blushed deeply. ]
blush at Paul blushed at their rude remarks.
go/turn red/,gao, ,t3:rn tred/if someone or someone's
face goes red or turns red, their face becomes red because
they are embarrassed Iv phrase]
They all started laughing at her and her face suddenly
turned bright red. I go/turn as red as a beetroot (=become
very red) I can't wait to see his face when you tell him - he'll
go as red as a beetroot!
3 to make someone feel embarrassed
embarrassing cause embarrassment
embarrass be an embarrassment
embarrassing ! m'baras /something that is embar-
rassing makes you feel embarrassed [adj]
I don't want to talk about it right now, I find it too embar-
rassing. I "'She locked herself in a public toilet and couldn't
get out. "" "'How embarrassing/"] The doctor began by asking
me a series of highly embarrassing questions about my sex
life. I embarrassing to/tbr sb The revelations about the
President's university life was to prove deeply embarrassing
to the government.
embarrass /mbaeras! to make someone feel embar-
rassed Iv T]
I hope I didn "t embarrass you in front ofyourfriends. I I chose
my words carefully, in order to avoid embarrassing anyone. I
The politician embarrassed her colleagues by her racist
remarks about immigrants.
cause embarrassment/, ka:z i m'barasmant/if a sit-
uation or an action causes embarrassment to someone,
it makes them feel embarrassed in front of a lot of people
[ v phrase ]
cause sb embarrassment His wife's frequent affairs with
other men had caused him acute public embarrassment. [
cause embarrassment to The main aim of the article was
to cause the greatest possible embarrassment to the govern-
ment just before the general election. ] cause embarrass-
ment If you want I'll leave - I don't want to cause any
embarrassment.
be an embarrassment/bi: on zm'barasmant/if some-
one or something is an embarrassment to someone, they
make them feel embarrassed or ashamed to be connected
with them Iv phrase]
Look at the way he's dressed. It's an embarrassment. I be an
embarrassment to He started drinking heavily and was
an embarrassment to his friends and the people who had
helped him with his career. I After Stalin's death the word
"Stalinism" became something of an embarrassment to Rus-
sian Communists.
embarrassing EMBARRASSED 3
embarrassment EMBARRASSED 1
embarrassment: be an embarrassment
EMBARRASSED 3
embarrassment: cause embarrassment
EMBARRASSED 3
embassy REPRESENT 5
embedded in IN/INSIDE 6
embezzle STEAL 5
emblem SIGN/SYMBOL 1
embrace ACCEPT 3, HOLD 6, INCLUDE 2
embroiled: get/become embroiled TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 3
embryo BABY/HAVE A BABY 3
embryonic DEVELOP 2
emerge FIND OUT 4
emergency SERIOUS SITUATION 2
emerging
emigrate
eminent
emit
emotion
emotional
emotional blackmail
DEVELOP 2
LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 4
FAMOUS 2
SEND 6, SOUND 4
FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 2
EMOTIONAL 1, 3
FORCE SB TO DO STH 2
EMOTIONAL
words for describing someone who has
strong feelings and shows them openly
behaving in a way that shows strong feelings
words for describing events and situations
that make people feel very emotional
words for describing someone who is too
emotional, becomes sad too easily etc
words for describing a story, film, song etc
that is too emotional
not emotional or not showing your feelings
1 words for describing someone who has
strong feelings and shows them openly
emotional
passionate
emotional/ 'maufnal/[adj]
I know it's a cliche but the Italians are more emotional than
we are. I Grandpa gets very emotional when he talks about
the war. I In an emotional outburst he accused me of dis-
honesty, disloyalty, and callousness.
passionate/'pmnt/having very strong feelings, espe-
cially of love or anger, and showing them openly [adj]
She was a handsome Spanish woman with a passionate
nature and a warm, generous heart. I Sometimes I wish he
was more passionate, not so rational about everything.
2 behaving in a way that shows strong feelings
emotionally
passionately
with feeling
emotionally I i ' mau[nali/ [ adv ]
Iram shook my hand and said emotionally, "'I'll miss you,

EMOTIONAL 404 EMOTIONAL
my friend." l One of his problems is he always reacts too
emotionally to things.
passionately /Ipafantli/ in a way that shows very
strong feelings of love or anger [adv]
She kissed me passionately and said "'I love you. "'1 He pas-
sionately denied that he had another motive than the good
of the nation.
with feeling/w6 fi:hrj/if you say or write something
with feeling, you do it in a way that shows you have strong
feelings about it [adv phrase]
"'No!'" said Peter, with feeling "'I just don "t want to hear about
it. "'[ She writes with great feeling about the fate of the refu-
gees, having been a refugee herself in the last year.
3 words for describing events and situations
that make people feel very emotional
emotional emotive
moving poignant
touching
emotional/:'maoSanall [ adj]
There were emotional scenes here today at the funeral. I
Newspaper reporters were there to record the emotional reun-
ion between the woman and her children. I highly emo-
tional Most couples remember the arrival of their first baby
as a highly emotional time.
moving/I mu:vi0/a moving account, experience, or event
makes people feel strong emotions of pity, sadness, or joy
[adj]
The film is a very moving account of life in the refugee camps
of Beirut. I It was a moving experience to meet my half-
brother at last - we both cried. I The scene at the end of act
III is very moving, when Rafaella finds out that her husband
has betrayed her.
touching/'t^tS/a touching event, moment, or action
makes people feel a little sad and happy at the same time,
and makes them like the people involved [adj]
It was a touching scene when old Mr Adarns received his leav-
ing present. I He replied with a touching and humane direct-
ness: "I just want to go home to my family, that's all. "" l It
was touching to see them together. They were obviously still
in love after thirty years of marriage.
emotive/ t maotlV/emotive issue/area/phrase/word
etc (=one that makes people have very strong feelings or
emotions, especially of anger) [adj]
The election campaign tried to avoid emotive issues like abor-
tion and child abuse. I highly emotive (=very emotive) The
documentary deliberately uses highly emotive language,
talking about "exploitation" and "blackmail'.
poignant /'pinjnq a poignant event, image, remark etc
makes you feel great sadness and pity [adj]
It was a poignant moment. They held hands and looked into
each other's eyes for the last time. [ This is one of her most
beautiful and poignant works. [ The sight of East and West
Germans embracing with tears in their eyes was particularly
poignant.
poignantly [adv ] His remarkable life and tragic death poig-
nantly express the hopes and disappointments of a whole
generation.
4 words for describing someone who is too
emotional, becomes sad too easily etc
sentimental gooey
sentimentality maudlin
soppy
sentimental / ,senQ mentl,/someone who is sentimen-
tal is too easily affected by emotions such as sympathy,
love, or sadness [adj]
She's so sentimental - she cried all morning when she heard
that her goldfish had died. I sentimental about I always
keep all my old love letters - I suppose I'm a bit sentimental
about them.
sentimentality I, sentgmen'talti/a tendency to become
emotional and to enjoy feelings such as sadness, sympathy,
and self-pity, especially in a way that other people think
is silly In U]
The film is flawed by moments of melodrama and sentimen-
tality. [ He talked about his homeland with all the sentimen-
tality of an expatriate.
soppy/'sopi [[ tsa:pi/an informal word: someone who is
soppy seems silly to other people, because they express
feelings of love or sympathy in a way that is too emotional
[adj]
soppy about I don't know how you can be so soppy about
that dog of yours. I soppy Then begot all soppy and started
talking about the 'good old days'.
gooey I gu:i! an informal British word meaning express-
ing your love for someone, especially a baby, in a way that
other people think is silly [adj]
Babies make her go all gooey.
maudlin /ma:dl[n/talking in a sad and emotional way,
especially after drinking alcohol [adj]
I hate New Year - everyone gets so maudlin after the first
few whiskies.
5 words for describing a story, film, song etc
that is too emotional
sentimental schmaltzy
soppy tear jerker
sentimental I,senQ'mentl-/[adj]
He's made a fortune from singing sentimental songs. I I quite
enjoyed the movie but I thought the ending was a little
sentimental.
soppy/'svpi II 'sa:pi/an informalword: a song, poem etc
that is soppy seems silly to people because it expresses feel-
ings of love and sympathy in a way that is too emotional
[adj]
She never tired of listening to soppy love songs. [ He bought
her a Valentine's card with a really soppy verse in it.
schmaltzy /ma:ltsi/ an informal word: music, TV
programmes, films etc that are schmaltzy are intended to
make people feel emotional, especially in an insincere way
[adj]
I can't stand those American soap operas - they're so
shmaltzy. I Sometimes the lyrics lean so far toward the
emotional that they become positively schmaltzy.
tearjerker/'tar ,d3a:rkar/an informal word meaning a
story, play, film etc that is intended to make people feel sad
and cry In C]
It was a real tearjerker - everyone was crying when the lights
went up.
6 not emotional or not showing your feelings
u nemotional matter-of-fact
cold detached
clinical impassive
unemotional I,^m 'mo,nl,,/[adj]
Police were shocked at the unemotional way the murderer
described the killings. I Pat's father was a distant, unemo-
tional man who couldn't really talk to his children.
unemotionally [ adv ] She described the accident unemotion-
ally, but later burst into tears.
cold/kaold! not showing any feelings and especially not
showing friendliness, humour, or pleasure [adj]
She accused me of being cold and uncaring towards her. I
The officers were cold and aloof in their dealings with other
ranks.
coldly [adv] The woman coldly told us to mind our own
business.
clinical /tklnikal/not showing the feelings that people
usually show in an upsetting situation, because you have
to do a job or because you really have no feelings about the
situation [adj]
His words were harsh and clinical - "'I don't love you any
more. It is over. I am leaving you. " l I try to be clinical -to
look at things objectively.
clinically [adv] The description of McShane's death is
clinically cold.

EMOTIONAL 405 EMPHASIZE
matter-of.fact/ matar av 'fakt-/showing no emotion
when you are talking about something that is very fright-
ening, embarrassing etc [adj]
We were surprised at the matter-of-fact way Judith described
her husband's death. [ A spokesman listed the casualties in
a detached, matter-of-fact tone of voice. [ The condom adver-
tising campaign is going to be very straightforward and as
matter-of-fact as possible.
detached/dI 'tetj't/trying not to react in an emotional
way, so that you can do your job properly or make the cor-
rect decisions about something [adj]
Samantha seems able to take an objective, detached view of
her own problems. [ remain detached (=not become emo-
tional about something) Witnessing all the pain and suffer-
ing, it is sometimes difficult for relief workers to remain
detached.
impassive !m pesiv/not allowing your feelings to show
on your face, so that people find it very difficult to guess
how you feel [adj]
Mr Deacon remained impassive throughout the trial. [ There
was not a flicker of surprise on his impassive face.
impassively [ adv ] The three men sat impassively watching
their captors.
 emotionally EMOTIONAL 2
emotive EMOTIONAL 3
 emphasis EMPHASIZE ;3
!: emphasize EMPHASIZE 1
EMPHASIZE
to give special force to a statement, fact, or
idea showing that it is important
1 to emphasizesomething
2 to emphasize something too strongly
3 the special force or attention given to an idea,
statement etc
4 saying or doing something in a way that
emphasizes something
I to emphasize something
emphasize
stress
highlight
underline
drive the point home/
drive home the point
play up/make great
play of
accentuate
undel"score
point up
with the accent on
emphasize (also-ise British)/'emfasaIzl Iv T]
emphasize sth She made a gesture with her hands in order
to emphasize what she was saying. [ The candidate made a
short speech emphasizing the need for solidarity. [ I can't
emphasize enough (=this needs to be emphasized a lot)
I can't emphasize enough how much we need your dona-
tions. [ emphasize that I must emphasize that any informa-
tion you give may be used against you at a later date. [ It must
be emphasised that not all "natural" remedies are safe.
stress/stres/to emphasize a statement, fact, or idea by
repeating it or by talking about it more than the other
things you are saying, in order to make sure that people
take notice of it and understand it Iv T]
stress sth In his speech, the President stressed the need for
ecological reforms. [ It should be stressed that this chemical
is highly dangerous. [ stress that Martin stressed that he
did not want any trouble at the meeting.
highlight/'hailait/to emphasize something such as a
problem or a fact, especially by providing new information
about it Iv T]
This news report highlights some of the problems faced by
old people in winter. [ We use selective information, high-
lighting the good points of our product.
underline ! ,And r'laIn/if something that happens under-
lines a fact, especially one that is already known, it makes
people notice it again, and helps to emphasize that it is true
Iv T]
Yesterday's shelling of a Red Cross hospital underlines the
difficulties faced by rescue teams. [ More rioting in South
Africa has underlined the government's lack of control.
drive the point home/drive home the point/,draiv
6 pnt 'hurn, ,draiv hum 6 pmt/to emphasize a fact
or idea by giving additional, often surprising or shocking,
information about it [v phrase] 
She feels strongly about the loss of the rainforests and drives
the point home with a tragic description of the Amazon
region. [ drive home the point that Many of the health
warning posters showed grieving relatives to drive home the
point that drink-driving can kill.
play up/make great play of/,plei Ap, me]k ,gret 'ple
ovl to emphasize a fact or idea, by giving it more attention
than anything else, especially if you are trying to make it
seem more important than it really is [phr v T]
play up sth When you go for that interview remember to
play up your experience of teaching in Japan. [ On TV last
night the Democratic candidate was clearly playing up his
caring image. [ make great play of sth The Prime Minister
made great play of the need for unity in the face of crisis.
accentuate/aksentj'uelq to emphasize something, espe-
cially the differences between two conditions or situations
[v T]
Instead of making people more equal, the British education
system accentuates the differences between rich and poor. [
She would always pick friends who were slightly overweight,
in order to accentuate her own slim figure.
underscore /,Andr'sk::r/ a word used especially in
American English: if an event underscores a fact, espe-
cially something people should feel a little worried about,
it makes them notice it and pay more attention to it Iv T]
The chaos after a power cut underscores how dependent we
have become on computers. [ The role of public opinion is
underscored in three news items today.
point up/,pint 'Ap/ to make something, especially the
true facts of a situation, clearer and more noticeable [phr
vT]
point up sth This accident has pointed up yet again the need
for better signalling at the junction. [ The relative affluence
of the commercial quarter points up the grinding poverty of
the city as a whole.
with the accent on/wi6 6i aksant )n/if something is
done with the accent on a particular quality or feature,
that quality or feature is emphasized [prep]
Toptours Travel is now offering numerous special vacation
packages with the accent on choice. [ a new range of chil-
dren's toys with the accent on safety
2 to emphasize something too strongly
overemphasize
labour the point/belabor the point
overemphasize (also-ise British)/,aovar'emfasaizl Iv
T]
I think this book overemphasizes the importance of religion
in the history of the United States. I People have overempha-
sized the role of economic sanctions in bringing about polit-
ical change.
labour the point (British) I belabor the point (Ameri-
can)/ileIba r 6;) pant, bI leIbar/to emphasize an idea or
a fact too strongly, especially by repeating it often so that
people get bored [v phrase]
I understand what you're saying - please don "t labour the
point. [ Without wishing to belabor the point, I would like
to remind you not to smoke in here.
3 the special force or attention given to an idea,
statement etc
emphasis
stress
emphasis I'emfaso]s/In C/U]
emphasis on In Japanese society there is a lot of emphasis

EMPHASIZE 406 EMPTY
on academic success. I place emphasis on In the early part
of the book a greater emphasis is placed on the injustice of
human suffering. I with the emphasis on Bradford college
offers a whole range of courses for adults, with the empha-
sis on student-centred learning, change/shift of emphasis
(--a change in what is being emphasized) Over the last
decade there has been a shift in political emphasis from
social equality to individual profit.
stress/strcs/the special attention or consideration given
to a particular fact, idea, plan, or activity In U]
with the stress on Today's drug rehabilitation centers offer
advice, but with the stress on self-help. I stress on The stu-
dents are tired of the typical American college's stress on the
importance of class attendance. I place stress on (=say that
you think it is important) She made many points in her
speech, placing great stress on the need for childcare facili-
ties in the workplace.
1 words for describing containers such as
boxes, bottles, or glasses that are empty
empty
empties
empty/' empti/[adj ]
He was sitting there with an empty plate in front of him. I
"'Would you like a drink?" she said, noticing that my glass
was empty. [ If that box is empty, we can store the kids" toys
in it. I A train of empty coal-wagons rumbled through the
station. ] The freezer's nearly empty.
empties/emptiz/an informal word meaning empty con-
tainers, especially empty bottles In plural]
The bartender took a crate of empties down to the cellar and
came back with a full one. I You can get some money back
if you return the empties to the shop.
4 saying or doing something in a way that
emphasizes something
emphatically
emphatic
emphatically/im' fatIkli/said in a way that emphasizes
something [adv ]
"'You're absolutely right, "" he said emphatically. [ She sets
out her arguments politely but emphatically. I emphatically
deny The government took the accusations of corruption
seriously and emphatically denied any link with the Mafia.
emphatic/imfmt[k/said or done in a firm, clear way
that emphasizes what is meant or intended [adj]
Clare gave an emphatic nod of the head when asked if she
wanted to come. I an emphatic denial I With an emphatic
gesture Previn raised his baton and the concert began.
 emphatic EMPHASIZE 4
emphatically EMPHASIZE 4
empirical REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 2
employ USE STH 2
: employlhire JOB/WORK 10
employed: be employed by WORK FOR SB 1
employee WORKER 1
employer WORK FOR SB 2
 employment JOB/WORK 1
empties EMPTY 1
' empty AVAILABLE 3, EMPTY 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, LEAVE
A PLACE 1, POUR 1, PUT 10
empty hands: draw a blank/come up with empty
hands FAll_ 2
empty stomach: on an empty stomach EAT 12
EMPTY
t words for describing containers such as
boxes, bottles, or glasses that are empty
:2 words for describing rooms that are empty
3 wqrds for describing towns, buildings, or
areas that are empty because there are no
people or animals in them
4 words for describing a. building, room, seat,
space etc which is empty because no one is
using it
5 words for describing something that is empty
because nothing has been written, drawn, or
recorded on it yet
6 words meaning to make something empty by
removing what was in it
7 ways of saying that a room or place becomes
empty because the people in it leave
8 to make a place empty by making people
leave it
2 words for describing rooms that are empty
empty
bare
empty Iempti/a room that is empty has no people in it
[adj]
His footsteps echoed in the empty passage. I She sat in the
empty schoolroom, gazing out of the window.
bare/bear/a room that is bare has no furniture or objects
in it [adj]
The room was completely bare except for a bed against the
wall. I We spent a long time walking through the bare rooms,
remembering the games we used to play there.
words for describing towns, buildings, or
areas that are empty because there are no
people or animals in them
empty wasteland
deserted uninhabited
desolate lonely
ghost town
empty/'empti/[adj]
I was a little afraid when Irealised that the street was empty. I
If we're lucky, we'll find an empty beach. I He stared out of
the train window at mile after mile of empty plain.
deserted/d[ Iz3".rt od/a place or building that is deserted
is empty and quiet, especially because the people who are
usually there have all left [adj]
I came back to find the house dark and deserted. I In the high
mountains of the Massif Central there are many deserted vil-
lages and farms. I By day the streets are deserted; by night
the people come out and search for food.
desolate I' desalat/an area that is desolate is empty and
sad-looking, because there are no people there, no trees or
plants growing, and nothing attractive to see [adj]
We looked out over a desolate landscape of bare trees and
stony fields. I The little mining town was desolate and ugly. I
a path that led into desolate grey marshes
ghost town/gaost taon/a town that is empty because
all the people have left, even though the buildings are still
there In C]
In California there are a number of ghost towns which date
from the end of the gold rush of 1849. I Since the closing of
the coal mines the place has become a ghost town.
wasteland / weistlend, -land/an area of land, especially
in a town, that is empty, ugly, and unused In C/U]
The area down by the docks is just a wasteland. I Wild
fiowers and weeds began to grow in the bomb sites and
wasteland of the inner cities.
uninhabited/^mn hebo]tod,/an uninhabited area or
house has no people living in it [adj]
It looked as if the house was now uninhabited. I Most of the
islands in Clear Bay are uninhabited. I I was now into rough
uninhabited country, with nothing to see for miles and miles.
lonely / laonli/a lonely place is a long way from where
people live and very few people go there [adj usually before
noun]

EMPTY 07 end
They felt nervous walking along the lonely country roads at
night. I It was wild country, with a few lonely farms and
empty villages.
4 words for describing a building, room, seat,
space etc which is empty because no one is
using it
empty free
vacant unoccupied
empty/'empti/[adj]
You order the drinks and I'1l look for an empty table. [
Roland found an empty first-class compartment in the car-
riage next to the buffet car. [ brand new office blocks, lying
empty because of the recession
vacant / veiknt/a building, room, seat etc that is vacant
is not being used and is available for anyone to use [adj]
If you're looking for somewhere to rent, I think there's a
vacant apartment in my building. [ There don't seem to be
any vacant rooms in the whole of London! [ He sat down in
a vacant chair next to Christine.
free/fri:/a seat, space, or room that is free is not being
used and no one has arranged to use it, so it is available
for anyone to use [adj]
Is this seat free? [ There are never any parking spaces free
at this time of day. ] What time will the meeting room be free?
unoccupied /An'DkjOpaid 11-a:k-! an unoccupied
house, room, office etc is not being lived in or used [adj]
The old houses are still standing, but many are now unoc-
cupied. [ It's a scandal that there are so many unoccupied
buildings in this city, and so many homeless people.
5 words for describing something that is empty
because nothing has been written, drawn, or
recorded on it yet
blank blank
empty space
blank /bla0kl blank cassette/disk/screen/sheet of
paper ete (=with nothing written or recorded on it) [adj]
Each school is provided with two video recorders and ten
blank cassettes. [ Inside the envelope was a blank sheet of
paper. [ Blank disks must be formatted before they can be
used in a computer.
empty/ empti/a page or piece of paper that is empty has
nothing written or drawn on it [adj]
He stared at the empty page. The test was nearly over and
he had not managed to answer any of the questions. ] The
painting was an almost empty canvas with a few red blobs
in the centre.
blank/blok/an empty part of a line of writing, especially
where it has been deliberately left empty In C]
Please read the questions and then fill in the blanks.
space/spels/an empty area left in a piece of writing, espe-
cially so that you can write something in it In C]
Fill in the space after the word "Name'. ] Leave a space for
me to write my signature.
6 words meaning to make something empty by
removing what was in it
empty
drain
turn out
empty / 'empti! Iv T ]
The milk was bad so he emptied the bottle into the sink. [ The
dustbins are emptied once a week. ] The police made us stand
against the wall and told us to empty our pockets.
drain/drcin/to make something such as a large container
or a machine empty by removing all the liquid from it Iv T]
The canal has been drained and the land used to make a
garden. ] The water system must be drained before you start
work on the tank.
turn out/,t3:rn 'aot/ a British expression meaning to
empty a cupboard, a drawer, pockets etc, especially when
you are looking for something [phr v T]
turn out sth The headmaster told them to turn out their
pockets. [ The thieves had turned out the drawer, scattering
the contents on the floor.
ways of saying that a room or place becomes
empty because the people in it leave
empty
empty/'empti/to become empty because all the people
leave Iv I]
When we reached Dortmund the carriage emptied, and I was
left alone. [ Soon, the churchyard had emptied as the wed-
ding guests made their way to the reception. [ By the autumn,
the hotels along the sea front were emptying, and the town
became quiet again.
8 to make a place empty by making people
leave it
clear
clear/klmrl to empty a place by asking the people in it to
leave Iv T ]
Police cleared the area and carried out a controlled explo-
sion. I Unless there is silence I shall have to clear the court.
}. emulate IMITATE 2
:i en route TRAVEL 1
enable POSSIBLE 3
enable sb to do sth CAN 7
iill encircle AROUND/ROUND 2
enclose AROUND/ROUND 3
encompass INCLUDE 2
encounter MEET 2, 7, PROBLEM 6
-lencourage]
which meaning?
help someone to do .@. HELP
something, help
something to happen
be kind to someone
to make them feel
better
COMFORT/
MAKE SB FEEL
BETTER
make someone more
confident
@ CONFIDENT
encourage HELP 4, 5, 6, PERSUADE 1
encouragement HELP 10
encouraging HOPE 7
encrusted COVER 3
end
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
end:
END 1, 2, END/POINT 1, FINISH/COME TO AN
END 1, 2, PART 5, PURPOSE 1, STOP STH
THAT IS HAPPENING 9
at one end SIDE 3
at the end END3
at the end of the day BASIC 4
be at an end FINISH/COME TO AN END 1
bring sth to an end/to a close FINISH DOING
STH 5
come to an end FINISH/COME TO AN END 1, 2,
STOP HAPPENING 1
draw to a close/to an end FINISH/COME TO AN
END 2
finish/end FINISH DOING STH 5
in the end EVENTUALLY 1, 2
on end CONTINUOUS 2
put an end to STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6

end 408 END/POINT
end: stand sth on end VERTICAL 2
end: to the bitter end FINISH DOING STH 7
end in divorce DIVORCE 1
end it all KILL 12
end of your tether: be at the end of your tether
FED UP 1
end result RESULT 2
end up ARRIVE 5, EVENTUALLY 1
end with/finish with END 3
which meaning?
?,....
the end of a story,
event, period.-of time
the end of an. object
finish, come to a.n
end
END/POINT
.- FINISH/COME
TO AN END
in th,end,,inally-! ..  EVENTUALLY
,i: ;i:; ;i..', i. -:-i.!%... ; .................
StO-s0pg that. iS -4, @ STOP STH THAT
, - " ........... t ,,,4
h .enn ,.,.. ,,,,,,,,, ......... :, :,: IS HAPPENING
L. ..... g.;;%# ............... .-.-...-...- .............. , ............. : ................ . ......
END
the last part of an event or period of time
the last part of a book, film, or show
ways of saying that something happens at the
end of an event, period, book, film etc
1 the last part of an event or period of time
end
conclusion
close
end/end/[n singular]
The end of the game was really exciting. [ at/by/towards
the end He left New York at the end of December. [ Towards
the end of the interview I was beginning to feel that I might
have got the job.
©on©lu$ion/knklu:3an/the end of an event or piece of
work, especially one that has several different stages or has
lasted a long time [n singular]
The yachts sailed into the harbour at the conclusion of the
race. I Professor Brown's book is the conclusion of many
years of intensive research, t bring sth to a conclusion
(=make something reach a conclusion) The talks are aimed
at bringing the dispute to a conclusion.
©lose/kloz/a formal word meaning the end of a period
of time or an activity [n singular]
We returned home, tired but happy, at the close of the day. [
The death of Rhodes marked the close of the greatest period
of British imperial expansion in Africa. I draw to a close
(=come near to the end) As the 19th century drew to a close...
the last part of a book, film, or show
end
ending
finale
end lend/[n C usually singular]
I found the end of the film very moving. I at/by/towards
etc the end By the end of the story, the main characters have
all either died or gone mad. I You don't find out who the killer
is until the very end.
ending/end/the events that happen at the end of a
story or film [n C/
Spielberg changed the ending of'Close Encounters" several
times before releasing the final version. I The ending of
"Brave New World" is comical and sad at the same time. I
happy ending (=an end in which everyone in the story is
happy) I'm sick of all these Hollywood movies with happy
endings.
finale If[ na:li II fI nali/the end of a piece of music or a
show, especially when it is very exciting or impressive [n
C/
A choir of over 100singers came onto the stage for the finale. I
the finale of Beethoven "s Third Symphony I grand finale (=a
very exciting and impressive finale) The laser show and the
fireworks were a thrilling grand finale to the Olympic
Games.
3 ways of saying that something happens at the
end of an event, period, book, film etc
end with/finish with at the end
closing late
final
end with/finish with/'end WI, 'fInIf wI) I [V T not in
passive]
The concert finished with a song by Schubert. ] The chapter
ends with a section on rents and housing benefit. I The 80s
ended with a collapse in the world economy.
©losing IldooztjI closing remarks/words/speech/
ceremony etc (=done at the end of a meeting, film, book
etc) [adj only before noun]
In his closing speech, he thanked the organizers of the con-
ference. I In the closing shot of the film, Hoffman walks away
from the camera without looking back. I The closing para-
graphs were very moving.
final/ falnl/happening at or near the end of an event or
process [adj only before noun]
The war reached its final stages in July. I His final summary
was concise and to the point.
at the end/t i end/[adv phrase]
The film was rather sad - at the end the main character dies. [
If you have any questions, can you ask them at the end please.
late/let/if something happens in late August, late spring
etc, it happens near the end of that time [adj]
I was very tired, and slept until late morning. [ The first swal-
lows arrive in late spring. I late in August/the evening/
1918 etc The lake froze over late in the year.
END/POINT
the part or point at the end of something,
especially of a long thin object
1 the part or point at the end of something,
especially of a long thin object
end nose
point head
tip
end/end/[n C/
She dipped the end of her brush into the paint. I Wash the
leeks and chop them up finely, discarding the tough green
ends. I a long pole with a hook at one end I He started clean-
ing his fingernails with the broken end of a match. I at both
ends/at either end The baton is long and thin with a small
rubber ball at either end.
point/pint/the thin, sharp end of something such as a
needle, stick, or sword [n C/

END/POINT 409 ENERGETIC
Polly tapped the metal point of her umbrella on the wooden
floor. I The sewing machine would not work because the
point of the needle had broken off.
tip/tip[ the narrow part right at the end of something such
as a branch, a finger or toe, or a piece of land In C[
The doctor felt the child's neck with the tips of his fingers. I
From root to tip the plant is about twenty centimetres long. I
The cat was black with a white tip to its tail. I a holy city at
the southern tip of India
nose/nuz/the nose of a plane/rocket etc (=the rounded
part at the front) In C[
The nose of the plane dipped as we came in to land. [ sth's
nose Each missile carries 150 kilos of high explosive in its
nose.
head/hcd/the head of a matchstick/pin/nail etc (=the
rounded end part of a small object, especially one whose
other end is pointed) In C[
There is a hole in the tube, no bigger than the head of a
matchstick. [ The head of the bolt must not protrude above
the face of the casing.
endanger DANGEROUS 5, RISK 8
endear yourself to LIKE SB OR STH 7
endearing NICE 3
endeavour/endeavor to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET
STH 1
endemic SPREAD 12
ending END 2
ending: happy ending HAPPY 11
endless/unending CONTINUOUS 4
endorse SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 2
endowed: be endowed with HAVE 4
ends: make ends meet SURVIVE 5
endurance STRONG PERSON 6
endure STAND/BEAR 1 SUFFER 1
enduring LONG TIME 6
enemy AGAINST/OPPOSE 2, ENEMY 1 2
enemy: the enemy ENEMY 1
ENEMY
someone who you are fighting against in a
war
I an enemy
2 used by or working for the enemy
1 an enemy
enemy foe
the enemy adversary
enemy / 'cnmi/ [n C]
Even though these soldiers were our enemies, I couldn't help
feeling sorry for them. [ common enemy (=a shared enemy)
Britain and France decided to unite and fight against their
common enemy.
the enemy/6i 'enmi/the country or group of people you
are fighting against in a war In singular with singular or
plural verb in British English]
How did the enemy get hold of this information?[Anyone
found guilty of helping the enemy was sentenced to death by
firing squad.
foe Ifaul a word used formally or in literature, meaning
a person or country that wants to attack and defeat you or
your country In C[
Spain was once England's greatest foe. [ Have courage
friends, and with God's help we shall defeat our foes. [As
we approached the camp a guard called out: "Who goes there
- friend or foe?'"
adversary /'mdvarsari I[ -seri/a word used formally or in
literature, meaning a country or person that you are fight-
ing against, or that has strongly different aims and beliefs
from yours, and is therefore always a possible enemy In C[
The peace talks proved that even great adversaries were
capable of cooperation. [ It became clear in April 1945 that
the USSR was no longer an ally of the US but an adversary. I
Symes grabbed his adversary by the throat and wrestled him
to the ground.
 used by or working for the enemy
enemy
hostile
enemy/cnmi/[adj only before noun]
They heard the sound of enemy aircraft above and ran to the
shelters. [ He had died in a surprise attack by enemy troops. [
Enemy gunfire blasted the building.
hostile/hostail [[ ha:stl, 'ha:stail/belonging to a coun-
try that wants to attack and defeat your country, and is
therefore dangerous [adj only before noun]
Hostile forces have taken control of cities in the north of the
country. [ The reporter stayed for six months in hostile ter-
ritory, reporting on the war.
ENERGETIC
words for describing someone who is full of
energy or who uses a lot of energy without
getting tired
happy and very energetic
words for describing energetic activities,
behaviour etc
the physical and mental strength that makes
you energetic
1 words for describing someone who is full of
energy or who uses a lot of energy without
getting tired
energetic
vigorous
be full of energy/
bursting with energy
dynamic
hyperactive
tireless
boisterous
energetic /enr'd3etik/very active and able to work
hard for a long time [adj]
America needs a young, strong, energetic leader who will
change things. I My mother was a bustling energetic woman,
always in a hurry, always busy. I After a break, you should
feel energetic and confident enough to tackle another
assignment.
vigorous / 'vigms/energetic, strong, and very healthy
[adj]
He was a strong, vigorous, handsome man.
be full of energy/bursting with energy/bi: ,fol v
enrd5 i, ,b3zrstIrj wI6-/to be very energetic and eager for
physical activity Iv phrase]
As usual, she looked fresh and full of energy. [After a long
vacation the kids come back to the school bursting with
energy and enthusiasm.
dynamic/dai'nemik/very energetic, determined to suc-
ceed, and full of new ideas [adj]
a dynamic young woman with big ambitions [ Churchill
provided dynamic and inspiring leadership when it was
most needed.
hype ra cti ve /  ha par  ekt i v  / someone who is hyper-
active is too active and often nervous, so that they are
unable to relax or work calmly [adj]
We soon became exhausted looking after our hyperactive
young daughter. [ hyperactive executives who never stop
rushing around
tireless /taIrls/ tireless worker/campaigner ete
(=one who does something using a lot of effort for a long
time without ever getting tired) [adj usually before noun]
He was a very popular teacher and has been a tireless worker
for the school. I She has been a tireless peace campaigner for
many years.

ENERGETIC
boisterous/'baistaras/someone, especially a child or
young man, who is boisterous is very energetic and noisy,
often in a way that annoys other people [adj]
He's a nice boy, but rather boisterous. [ A large, boisterous
crowd poured into the bar, singing and shouting noisily.
boisterously [adv] The boys were out in the backyard play-
ing and fighting boisterously.
2 happy and very energetic
lively bright and breezy
vivacious be a live wire
animated feel alive
be full of beans
lively/'la[vli/cheerful and active [adj]
He was a lively, attractive boy with lots of friends. I You must
invite some lively young people to the party to cheer us all up.
liveliness In U] Miss Hill must have been at least 90, and
so I was surprised by her liveliness and sense of humour.
vivacious/v 'verj'as/a woman or girl who is vivacious
has a lot of energy and a happy and attractive manner [adj]
He married Sarah Leadbeater, a beautiful, vivacious and
entertaining young woman. I Laura was an all-American
type -cute, blonde, vivacious.
vivaciously [adv] "'It's so wonderful to see you all!" she said
vivaciously.
animated/'zenomeltrd/full of interest and energy, espe-
cially when talking to someone [adj]
At first she was silent but gradually she became quite ani-
mated, talking and laughing with the other girls. I He tends
to be more animated in the presence of women.
be full of beans/bi: ,fol av 'bi:nz/an informal expres-
sion meaning to feel happy, energetic, and eager, and to
show this by the way you behave Iv phrase]
When the kids went off to their summer camp they were all
excited and full of beans. I You'd never think she'd been ill
- she came in this morning full of beans.
bright and breezy/,bralt an bri:zi/cheerful and ener-
getic in your manner and in the way you talk to people [adj
phrase]
Most people are tired by this time of day, but she's as bright
and breezy as ever. I His bright and breezy manner tends to
irritate people.
be a live wire/bi: a ,la[v 'waIar/someone who is a live
wire is extremely lively and energetic, and you never know
what they will say or do next Iv phrase]
It's going to be fun working with Bill. He's a real live wire.
feel alive /,fi:l a'lalv/to feel full of energy, happy, and
free Iv phrasel
She felt really alive for the first time in her life. [ It's only
when he's driving at high speeds that he feels truly alive.
3 words for describing energetic activities,
behaviour etc
energetic lively
vigorous animated
tireless
energetic /,enar'dset[k/involving a lot of physical or
mental activity [adj]
I don't feel like doing anything very energetic this evening.
I've had a tiring day. [ Prem was lying on his bed, resting
after an energetic game of squash.
energetically [adv] We saw a young man in a boat rowing
energetically against the current.
vigorous/'vigaras/using a lot of energy and strength
[adj]
Ensure that your dog has at least twenty minutes of vigorous
exercise every day. I Nathaniel Sherman's warm, vigorous
handshake
vigorously [advl He seized me by the shoulders and shook
me vigorously. I The president's policy was vigorously
opposed by the democrats.
410 enjoy yourself
tireless /'taiarlas/ tireless efforts/work etc (=never
limited by tiredness or lack of energy, especially because
someone is determined to achieve something) [adj usually
before noun]
The prisoners were finally released, thanks to the tireless
efforts of their families and friends.
tirelessly [adv] Rescuers worked tirelessly to free the sur-
vivors from the rubble.
lively/, larvlil full of quick, energetic movement or activity
and therefore exciting or enjoyable [adj]
A group of children dressed in peasant costumes entertained
us with a lively dance called a tarantella. I Any question
about taxation is likely to produce a lively debate in
parliament.
animated I'zenoImeitd/animated conversation/dis-
cussion/voice etc (=full of excitement and strong feelings)
[adj]
The two Americans were having an animated discussion
about gol. I Peter was engaged in an animated conversation
at the bar.
4 the physical and mental strength that makes
you energetic
energy get-up-and-go
vigour/vigor vitality
energy I'enard3i/[n U]
Certain vitamins can give you more energy, if you're always
feeling tired. I She's got tremendous energy and a huge capac-
ity for hard work. I I don't have the time or energy to go out
in the evenings.
vigour (British) I vigor (American)/'vigar/physical and
mental energy, determination, and strength In U]
He set about his task with renewed vigour. I Each morning
she wakes up with a renewed sense of vigour and deter-
mination.
get-up.and.go/,get Ap an gaol an energetic determina-
tion to get things done without delay In phrase]
We need someone around here with some get-up-and-go! I
Monday morning blues? Here's a way to start the day with
that get-up-and-go feeling.
vitality/val 'tel Iti/healthy energy and cheerfulness In U]
She is full of vitality, energy, and sex appeal. I One of
Picasso "s most striking characteristics was his unbounded
vitality.
energy ENERGETIC 4
energy: be full of energy/bursting with energy
ENERGETIC 1
enfranchise VOTE/ELECT 7
engage JOB/WORK 10
engaged BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 2
engaged: be engaged MARRY 5, USE STH 7
engaged: be engaged in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
engaged: be otherwise engaged BUSY/NOT
AVAILABLE 1
engaged: get engaged MARRY 4
engagement MARRY 4
engagement: have a previous/prior engagement
BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
engaging NICE 3
engine MACHINE 1
engineer ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 3
engrossed INTERESTED 3
engrossed: be engrossed in ATTENTION 3
enhance IMPROVE 5
enigma MYSTERIOUS 3
enigmatic MYSTERIOUS 4
enjoy ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1 HAVE 4
,
enjoy yourself ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 2, 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 411 ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH
ENJOY/LIKE
DOING STH
10
11
12
1 to enjoy doing something
2 to feel happy when you are doing something,
especially when you are with other people
3 to do things that you enjoy
4 to enjoy something that most other people
would not enjoy, especially something bad or
unpleasant
5 words for describing experiences, activities,
and events that people enjoy
6 words for describing someone who enjoys a
particular activity very much
7 words for describing someone that other
people enjoy being with
8 ways of saying that you do something just
because you enjoy it, not for any serious
reason
9 the feeling you get when you enjoy doing
something
to enjoy being praised, being famous etc
words for describing someone who is only
interested in enjoying themselves
activities that you do to enjoy yourself
1 to enjoy doing something
enjoy get a lot of pleasure
like out of/from
love savour/savor
be fond of with relish
enjoy Im'd3ai I [v T[
enjoy doing sth My father enjoys playing golf at weekends. 1
Angela's really enjoying working abroad. I enjoy sth I en-
joyed your party. I Did you enjoy the game? I enjoy every
minute/moment of The class was difficult, but Ian enjoyed
every minute of it. I thoroughly enjoy (=enjoy every part)
Thanks for a lovely evening. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoy
sth immensely (=enjoy very much) It's a fascinating film
- we enjoyed it immensely.
like/lak/to enjoy something, especially something that
you do regularly Iv T not in progressive or passive]
like doing sth Did you like living in Africa? I I think most
of our staff like working here. I like to do sth He likes to
relax in the evenings after work. I Joanne doesn't like to
cook. I like sth I don't like meetings, especially if they go on
for too long. I I really liked that bit in the movie when David
became invisible.
love/lAY/to always enjoy a particular activity very much
Iv T not in progressive or passive]
love doing sth Bonnie loves going out on the boat. [ Chil-
dren love helping out with jobs in the kitchen. [ love to do
sth These officials love to make you feel stupid. [ I loved to
hear Joe's stories about the sea. I love sth She loves her work.
be fond of/bi: 'fDnd Dv [[ -'fo:nd-/to enjoy doing some-
thing, and try to do it as often as you can [v phrase]
be fond of doing sth Unfortunately, my kids are very fond
of spending money. [ Unless you're fond of messing around
with engines it would be better to take your car to a garage.
get a lot of pleasure out of/from / ,get 0 lt 0v ple30 r
aut ov, from [[ -lo:t-, -o:vl an informal expression meaning
to enjoy something very much, especially something you
own [v phrase]
The guitar cost me a lot of money, but I do get a lot of pleas-
ure out of it. [ She gets such a lot of pleasure from that car
of hers.
savour (British) I savor (American)/'seivor/to make an
activity or experience last as long as you can, because you
are enjoying every moment of it Iv T]
Carey read Peter's letter slowly, savouring every word. [ I sat
near the window of the plane so I could savor every second
of the take-off.
with relish/wI6 ' relil if you do something with relish
you do it eagerly and with a lot of enjoyment [advphrase]
Kate lit a cigarette and inhaled with relish. [ Charles
described with relish the way he got his revenge on Malcolm.
:2 to feel happy when you are doing something,
especially when you are with other people
enjoy yourself have a whale of
have a good/wonderful/ a time
marvellous/terrific have a blast
etc time be in your element
have fun
have the time of your life
enjoy yourself/n'dsaI ja:rself/[v phrase]
Just relax and enjoy yourself. There's nothing to worry
about. [ Oh, do we have to leave now? I was just beginning
to enjoy myself. [ The park was full of people, enjoying them-
selves in the sunshine
have a goodlwonderfullmarvellouslterrific etc
time Ihev o (good, etc) 'taml to enjoy yourself very much
at a social occasion, performance, event etc Iv phrase]
Did you have a good time last night? [ David and Johnnie
said they had a great time at the football game. [ have a
good etc time doing sth We used to have a wonderful time
going riding in the vacations.
have fun/,hav 'fAn/to enjoy yourseff, especially doing
an activity with other people, or doing something that is
not serious Iv phrase]
For the first time in years, I was beginning to have fun. [
Have fun at the party! [ have fun doing sth We had great
fun trying to guess who Mel's new girlfriend was.
have the time of your life/hav 6o ,ta[m ov j:r 'laf/
to enjoy yourself so much, especially by doing an activity
or going to a social event, that you are likely to remember
it for a long time Iv phrase]
"'Your vacation sounds fantastic. "" "'We had the time of our
lives!"[ Alan was having the time of his life, playing to an
audience for once.
have a whale of a time/hsev o 'weil ov o ,ta[m/an
informal expression meaning to enjoy yourself very much
| v phrase]
"Did you enjoy the party? .... Oh, we had a whale of a time!"[
have a whale of a time doing sth Harry and Rite were
having a whale of a time drinking all the champagne they
could find.
have a blast I,hav o 'blozst [[-'bluest/ an informal
American expression meaning to have a very good time Iv
phrase]
A few of the guys came up to my apartment after the game
- we had a blast!
be in your element/bi: n j:r 'elmont/to be enjoying
yourself because you are doing something that you like to
do and that you do well Iv phrase]
Auntie Paula was in her element, cooking all sorts of goodies
for the Christmas visitors. [ Jan was of course in his element
and delighted the kids with his silliness.
;3 to do things that you enjoy
enjoy yourself live it up
have fun have a good time
enjoy yourself/In'dsa! j3:rself/ [v phrase]
I found the whole event pretty boring, but the kids seemed
to be enjoying themselves. [Bill's really enjoying himself out
in Australia, isn't he?
have fun I hev 'fAn/to do enjoyable and exciting things
[ v phra se ]
All he thinks about is having fun. [ Michael says his aims
are to have fun and make money, in that order.
live it up/hv it Ap/an informal expression meaning to
enjoy yourself very much by going out a lot and spending
a lot of money on social activities Iv phrase]

ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 412 ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH
I had saved about two thousand dollars, so I decided to live
it up in Vegas before going home. I Pat spends most of his
time at college getting drunk and living it up.
have a good time Ihav a ,god 'ta[ml to enjoy what you
are doing, especially the way you live your life over a
period of weeks, months etc [v phrase]
He wants his son to have a good time at college. I I was too
intent on having a good time to pay much attention to my
arents.
4 to enjoy something that most other people
would not enjoy, especially something bad or
unpleasant
revel in gloat
get a kick out of take pleasure in
take delight in/ delight in
take a delight in get off on
relish wallow in
revel in/'reval In/to enjoy something very much, espe-
cially something bad or unpleasant, or something not
everyone would enjoy Iv T]
I think Terry enjoys being ill - he's revelling in all the atten-
tion he's getting. I Some football players seem to revel in their
bad reputation. I "'Doesn't he mind all the media attention?'"
"'Oh no, he revels in it!'"
get a kick out of/get a klk aot ov/to enjoy doing some-
thing, especially something that other people disapprove
of Iv phrase]
Maggie gets a big kick out of taking married men away from
their wives. I He seems to get his kicks out of pretending he's
some kind of fascist.
take delight in/take a delight In/,teIk d 'laIt ;n, itelk
a di'la;t In/to get a lot of pleasure from a situation where
someone else is at a disadvantage or is being hurt, embar-
rassed etc Iv phrase]
take delight in doing sth I took great delight in watching
him make a fool of himself. I People used to take a delight
in watching public hangings.
relish I'reh] to very much enjoy doing something that
harms someone else, or that other people would not enjoy
doing Iv T]
relish doing sth The reporter seemed to relish asking all
those personal questions. I relish sth Some members of the
new army would have relished an opportunity to hunt down
guerilla troops. I relish the thought/prospect of(=relish
the idea of doing something in the future) She clearly
relished the prospect of breaking the news to them.
g|ea| ]glootl to get pleasure from someone else's failure
or bad luck, especially when you have been more success-
ful or luckier than them Iv I]
gloat over Have you come to gloat over my problems? I gloat
"'I told you that idea wouldn't work. "" "Well, there's no need
to gloat. ""
take pleasure in/,teik 'plesor in/to enjoy doing some-
thing bad to other people Iv phrase]
He seems to take pleasure in hurting her feelings. I Charlie
takes a malicious pleasure in bullying the smaller kids.
delight in/di 'lalt In/to enjoy doing something that makes
other people feel a little uncomfortable or embarrassed
[vT]
delight in doing sth Taxi drivers delight in taking new
arrivals through the worse slums in Harlem. I delight in
sth She's the kind of woman who delights in pointing out
other people's mistakes.
get off on/get 'of on II -a:f o:n/an informal expression
meaning to get pleasure from an activity, especially a dan-
gerous or frightening one that other people disapprove of
Iv T]
Jimmy really gets off on driving at 150 mph in the fast lane. I
I wonder if doctors get off on having all that power.
wallew in/woloo m II 'wo:-! to enjoy being sad, feeling
sorry for yourself etc, especially in order to make people
notice you and pay attention to you Iv T]
Since his girlfriend left him he's been wallowing in self-pity. I
a nation wallowing in defeat
5
words for describing experiences, activities,
and events that people enjoy
enjoyable
fun
good/great fun
pleasurable
pleasure
be a delight
the joys/delights of
be a blast
be a good laugh
enjoyable/m'dsambal/[adj]
Exercise may be hard work, but it can also be enjoyable. I
Kirk's most enjoyable reporting assignments were based in
Washington. I Good teachers try to make their lessons more
enjoyable by using varied activities.
enjoyably [adv] She spent the week quite enjoyably, read-
ing books and going for long walks.
fun/fAn/an experience or activity that is enjoyable and
exciting In U]
We had a lot of fun at the disco last night. I fun doing sth
It's been fun dancing with you, but I have to go home now. I
sb's idea of fun Running around a freezing hockey field
isn't my idea of fun. I half the fun (=as enjoyable as the
experience itself) Planning a vacation is half the fun.
good/great fun/,god, gret 'fAn/a British expression
meaning very enjoyable and exciting [adj phrase]
Skiing is great fun, but it's expensive.
pleasurable/plesarabal/giving you a lot of pleasure,
enjoyment and satisfaction [adj]
The pleasurable effects of any drug quickly wear off. I Many
women find breastfeeding satisfying and pleasurable. I I find
gardening a very pleasurable hobby.
pleasure/ plesar/an experience or activity that makes
you feel happy and satisfied In C]
Smoking is one of his only pleasures. I Winston's greatest
pleasure was his garden. I The simple pleasures in life are
the best.
be a delight/bi: o dI 'laIt/an event or activity that is a
delight is extremely enjoyable, especially when you did
not expect it to be Iv phrase]
Working with horses can be a delight. [ Your letter was a
delight. [ be sheer delight Cycling to work was sheer delight
during the summer months.
the Joys/delights of/60 d53Iz, dI 'lairs ov/the partic-
ularly enjoyable experiences that are part of an activity In
phrase]
The course aims to give an introduction to the joys of scuba
diving. I A lot is said about the joys of parenthood, but not
about the drawbacks. I the delights and mysteries of
Thailand
be a blast/bi: a 'blo:st II -'blast/an informal American
expression meaning to be very enjoyable and exciting
[ v phrase]
The party was a blast. We didn't stop dancing till three in
the morning.
be a good laugh/bi: o ,god 'lo:f II -laf/an informal
British expression meaning to be enjoyable and amusing
[ v phrase]
We went skating on Saturday - I kept falling over, but it was
a good laugh.
6 words for describing someone who enjoys a
particular activity very much
keen
avid
great
keen/ki:nl keen gardener/sportsman/golfer/painter
etc (=enjoying gardening, sport etc so much that you spend
a lot of your free time doing it) [adj only before noun]
Goethe was a keen amateur geologist. I Paul, a keen sports-
man, prided himself on his level of fitness.
avid I'eevIdl avid reader/collector/listener (=doing
something as often as you can, with great enjoyment and
interest) [adj only before noun]

ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 413 ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH
Tim's father is an avid collector of old blues and jazz
records. 1 A keen writer and avid newspaper reader, Jenny
had always wanted to be a journalist.
great/greIt/great traveller/reader/talker etc (=having
an eager, lively interest in travelling, reading etc, so that
you do it as often as you can) [adj only before noun]
Shirley is a great traveller and a wonderful companion. I be
a great one for (British) I was never really a great one for
sport as a child.
Music has always brought comfort and pleasure to people
throughout the world. I with pleasure Charles smiled with
pleasure as he walked onto the stage.
ecstasy/'ekstosi/a feeling of extreme enjoyment, happi-
ness and satisfaction In U]
be in ecstasy (:feel ecstasy) They were in ecstasy as they
lay in each other's arms. I sheer/pure ecstasy (=complete
ecstasy) Just let the chocolate melt in your mouth. It's sheer
ecstasy! I ecstasy the ecstasy of victory
7 words for describing someone that other
people enjoy being with
be good company
fun
be a good laugh
be good company/bi: ,god 'k^mpdni/ if someone is
good company, they are interesting and enjoyable to be
with Iv phrase]
I like sharing a room with Shirley - she's very good com-
pany. [ It was a wonderful evening - plenty of good food and
good company.
fun /f^n/ someone who is fun is enjoyable to be with
because they are amusing, humorous and cheerful [adj]
be good/great fun (British) The O'Brien boys were great
fun. I a fun person/guy/girl (American) My aunt is such
a fun person, not at all like my father.
be a good laugh/bi: o ,god 'lo:f II -'lef/an informal
British expression meaning to be amusing and cheerful
when you are with other people Iv phrase]
I love visiting Caroline - she's a really good laugh.
8 ways of saying that you do something just
because you enjoy it, not for any serious
reason
for fun
for a laugh
for the hell of it
for fun/fo r 'fAn/ if you do something for fun you do it
because you enjoy it and not for any other reason [adv
phrase]
When we started our band we played music in restaurants
just for fun. I She makes a lot of money reading horoscopes,
but she'll do ours for fun.
for a laugh/for o tlo:f I[ -'lef/a British expression mean-
ing in order to enjoy yourself and to make people laugh [adv
phrase]
Sally came into the room wearing a clown costume, complete
with big red nose - she'll do anything for a laugh! I Dave
and I went out with my little sister and her friends, just for
a laugh.
for the hell of It/fo r 6 'hel ov it/if you do something
for the hell of it, you do it only because you enjoy it and
for no other reason, especially if it is something that other
people disapprove of [adv phrase]
dimmy was very drunk that night and broke all the windows
in the empty house just for the hell of it. I A lot of rich kids
this side of town are turning to crime just for the hell of it.
9 the feeling you get when you enjoy doing
something
enjoyment
pleasure
ecstasy
enjoyment/ind3Imnt/In U]
If you organize your days properly, you'll get much more
enjoyment out of your trip. I My children are a source of great
enjoyment to me. ] with enjoyment Steve told me, with great
enjoyment, the story about the tame lion at the airfield. ]
enjoyment of sth The film crew didn't stop Martina's enjoy-
ment of the game.
pleasure/'ple3or/the happiness or satisfaction that you
get from something In U]
10 to enjoy being praised, being famous etc
bask in
lap sth up
bask in /bo:sk in [I 'bask-/to enjoy a situation where
people are saying how good or successful you are Iv T]
The Prime Minister is still basking in the success of his visit
to Washington. I She's the kind of woman who basks in the
glory of a successful husband although she's never achieved
much herself.
lap sth up/'lp (sth) ^p/to enjoy getting a lot of atten-
tion or praise [phr v T]
As she left the theatre, the young actress smiled and waved,
lapping the attention up. I When Eric said I was the best
programmer he'd ever trained, I lapped it all up.
1 1 words for describing someone who is only
interested in enjoying themselves
self-indulgent
hedonist
self.indulgent/,self in'dAldsant/someone who is self-
indulgent spends a lot of time and money on pleasure and
enjoying themselves [adj]
My first husband was spoiled, irresponsible and self-
indulgent. I The great thing about vacations is that you can
be as selflindulgent as you want without feeling guilty.
self-indulgence In U] After a weekend of such self-
indulgence, nobody wanted to go back to work on Monday
morning.
hedonist/'hi:dnst/someone who believes that pleasure
and enjoyment are the most important things in life In C]
The senator's son was an unashamed hedonist, despised even
by those who accompanied him on his wild nights in the
casinos.
hedonism In U] The "Luxury Weekend" at the Savoy Hotel
is two days and nights of pure hedonism for those rich
enough to afford it.
hedonistic /,hi.-do nxstlk/[adj] She led a hedonistic life in
Berlin.
12 activities that you do to enjoy yourself
recreation
leisure
recreation /rekri'ex.[an/various activities, especially
physical activities and games, that you do to enjoy your-
self In U]
The afternoons at the conference were left free for recreation. [
Playing cricket and football is the main recreation available
to the children of Soweto.
recreational [adj] The town's recreational facilities were
totally inadequate until the new sport center was built.
leisure/'le3 or [[ 'li:-/the time when you are not working,
when you can enjoy yourself, especially by doing some-
thing relaxing In U]
leisure time/activity/facilities A reduction in average
working hours has led to an increase in leisure time. 1 There
is always money to be made in tourism, sightseeing, or other
leisure-time activities I Your standard of living not only
depends on your income, but also on the amount of leisure
you enjoy.
leisure [adj only before noun] The city authorities have
plans to build a new leisure centre (=a place for people to
relax and enjoy sport and social activities).

enjoyable 414 ENOUGH
enjoyable ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
enjoyment ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 9
enlarge BIG 14
enlarge on DETAIL 7
enlighten EXPLAIN 1
enlightened INTELLIGENT 6
enlist JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 2, 5
enormous BIG 5
,,
enormous: huge/enormous BIG 2, 8, 9
... enormously/hugely VERY 2
enormously/tremendously LOT/VERY MUCH 1
enough ENOUGH 1, 3, 4
enough: be enough ENOUGH 2
enough: have enough ENOUGH 5, 6
enough: have had enough FULL 3
enough: have had enough of FED UP 1
enough: not enough ENOUGH 8
enough: not ... enough ENOUGH 10, 11
enough: not be enough ENOUGH 9
: enough: not have enough ENOUGH 12, 13
enough to eat: not get enough to eat
" HUNGRY/STARVING 1
ENOUGH
as much or as many as is needed or wanted
I enough of something that you need
;2 ways of saying that there is enough food,
money, time etc for what you need
3 big enough, strong enough, old enough etc
for a particular purpose
4 to do something enough, or to happen
enough
5 to have enough of something
6 to have enough time, money etc to be able to
do what you want to do, buy what you want
to buy etc
7' more than enough, but not too much or too
many
8 not enough of something, or less of
something than is needed
9 ways of saying that there is not enough food,
money, time etc for what you need
10 not good enough, not important enough etc
to do something
11 to not do something enough, or to not
happen enough
t;2 to not have enough of something
t3 to not have enough time, money etc to be
able to do what you want, buy what you want
etc
1 enough of something that you need
enough
sufficient
adequate
enough/ 'n^f/[quantifier]
enough people/things/money etc Is the baby getting
enough milk? I Would you all sit down please. I think there
are enough chairs. I enough I need some more money. You
didn't give me enough. I enough to do sth There's enough
material here to make two pairs of curtains. ] Do you earn
enough to support your family? I enough money etc for We
wanted a bigger boat, but we didn't have enough money for
one. I I hope you left enough room for my luggage in the back
of the car. I enough of I've read enough of this book to know
that I'm going to enjoy it.
sufficient Is'fiJ'nt/a formal word meaning enough [adj]
sufficient for Seven hours sleep is sufficient for most
people. I sufficient to do sth Soon the plane had gained
sufficient height to cross the mountains. I R was claimed that
the level of alcohol in the man's blood was sufficient to cause
an accident. I sufficient A letter was sent to all divisions
asking if they had sufficient resources. I Is that sufficient?
edequate/adikwt/an amount of something that is
adequate is just enough for a particular purpose [adj]
adequate for The boat has an adequate supply of food and
water for ten days at sea. I Are the parkingfacilities adequate
for fifty cars? I adequate The department cannot carry out
the necessary research without adequate funding.
adequately [adv] Growing children need to be adequately
fed (=given enough food).
2 ways of saying that there is enough food,
money, time etc for what you need
be enough cover
do last
suffice meet sb's needs
be enough/hi: I'nAfl IV phrase]
"'Here's $250. Do you need more? .... No that's enough. "l be
enough for All this food should be enough for ten people!l
be enough to do sth A few drops of lemon juice were enough
to give the sauce a delicious, tangy flavour.
do/du:/a word used especially in spoken English mean-
ing that a particular number or amount will be enough for
what you need Iv I/T not in progressive]
will do Could you xerox this, please. Ten copies will do. I
I can lend you some money - will Ј10 do? I will do sb for
A few sandwiches will do us for lunch. I should do/ought
to do (=will probably be enough) Ten bottles of wine should
do for the party. I should/ought to/will do sb Here's Ј20
for the shopping - that should do you.
suffice/so I fazs/a formal word meaning to be enough Iv I
not in progressive]
will/would suffice Omar was confident that their supplies
would suffice until they reached their destination. I should
suffice to do sth (=will probably be enough to do it) These
few examples should suf:fice to illustrate how social attitudes
are changing.
cover / IkAvor/if an amount of money covers the cost of
something, it is enough to pay for it Iv T not in progressive ]
Do you think $100 will cover the cost of repairing the
damage?l I wrote a cheque to cover various expenses. I
Western aid to Third World countries barely covers the
interest on their loans.
last/lo:st [I last/if an amount of something such as food
or money lasts for a certain period of time, there is enough
of it for that period Iv]
last for/till/through I have $100 in traveler's checks but
I don't think that'll last till the end of the vacation. I last 3
days/2 years etc Do you think our spending money will last
the trip? i last sb for etc The food we're carrying should last
us for three days.
meet sb's needs / rni:t (sb's) ni:dz/if an amount of
something meets someone's needs, there is as much of
it as that person needs Iv phrase]
In many parts of the world, there is not enough food to meet
everyone's needs. I Existing stocks of coal should meet our
needs for the coming year.
big enough, strong enough, old enough etc
for a particular purpose
enough
sufficiently
enough I z nAf I [adv]
big/strong etc enough to do sth Carl was the only man
strong enough to lift the huge stone. I When children are old
enough to walk, they need constant attention. I big enough
etc Will that box be big enough? I I'll return to work when
I'm well enough. I big enough etc for Is he experienced
enough for such an important job?} The road was just wide
enough for a truck to pass.

ENOUGH 415 ENOUGH
sufficiently/so' fiJ'ntli/a formal word meaning enough
[adv]
Politicians have ignored this problem because they do not
consider it sufficiently important. 1 sufficiently big etc to
do sth The drill must be sufficiently powerful to cut holes
through solid steel. I sufficiently big etc for The measure-
ments are sufficiently accurate for our purposes.
4 to do something enough, or to happen
enough
enough
sufficiently
enough/I'nAf/[adv]
enough to do sth I've studied the subject enough to know
the basic facts. I It has rained enough this summer to give
us a good harvest. I enough The judge gave her a light sen-
tence because she'd already been punished enough.
sufficiently/so  fifdntli/a formal word meaning enough
[adv]
When he had recovered sufficiently from his accident, he was
interviewed by the police. I sufficiently to do sth The price
was increased sufficiently to cover production costs.
 to have enough of something
have enough
be OK for/be all right for
be well off for
have enough ! ,hev i 'n^f/Iv phrase not in progressive]
If I had enough money, I'd stop working now! l I think we've
had enough exercise for one day. I have enough to eat/
drink/spend etc We must make sure that everyone has
enough to eat.
be OK for/be all right for/bi: oo 'ke f3: r, bi: 3:1 'rait
fa:r/ informal expressions meaning to have enough of
something that you need, such as time, money, or food
Iv phrase]
Are you sure you're OK for cash? l "'Do you have to rush off?."
"No, I'm OK for time." l We're all right for vegetables, but
we need to buy some more fruit.
be well off for/bi: ,wel 'of fa:r/an informal expression
meaning to have plenty of something that is needed or that
makes life easier or more pleasant Iv phrasel
We're quite well off for public transport in this part of the
country. I The school's reasonably well off for books and
equipment but there does seem to be a shortage of well quali-
fied staff.
6 to have enough time, money etc to be able to
do what you want to do, buy what you want
to buy etc
hae enough can afford
have the time/money/ can spare
skill etc run to
have enough/,hev i'n^f/[vphrase not in progressive ]
have enough time/money etc to do sth I'll have enough
time to read the report this evening. I The company has
enough spare money to build a new cafeteria.
have the time/money/skill etc Ihev 6o (time, etc)/
to have enough time, money, skill etc for a particular pur-
pose, especially when a lot of time etc is needed Iv phrase
not in progressive]
have the time etc to do sth Anyone who has the money to
buy a Ferrari must be very rich. I He didn't know if he had
the skill or strength to carry out this task. } have the time
etc He said he didn't have the time to go to meetings every
week.
can afford/kon o'fa:rd/to have enough money or time
to do something Iv phrase]
can afford sth (=have enough money to buy or pay for it)
I think we can afford a new washing machine. I Not many
parents can afford private education for their children. ] He
likes to drink the best whisky he can afford. I can afford to
do sth (=have enough money to do it) Casey wished he could
afford to stay in a decent hotel. I can afford the time (=have
enough time to do something) I'd like to come shopping with
you tomorrow, but I'm not sure I can afford the time.
can spare/kon 'speor/to have enough time, money etc
for a particular purpose, because you do not need it all for
other purposes Iv phrase]
I'd love to come to the party, but I'm not sure if I can spare
the time. I The firm has agreed to improve the toilet facili-
ties as soon as they can spare the money. I Can you spare a
couple of minutes to talk about next week's programme?
gun to ] 'rAn tu:[ an informal British expression: if some-
one can run to something or if their money runs to some-
thing, they have enough money to pay for it, especially
when it is something expensive Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
I don't think my salary quite runs to holidays in the Carib-
bean! I The company budget wouldn't run to a Mercedes, so
I had to make do with a Ford instead.
7 more than enough, but not too much or too
many
more than enough
plenty
ample
more than enough/,ma: r 6an I 'nAf/ [quantifier]
I've given you more than enough money to pay for every-
thing. } There were more than enough people to set up the
stage.
plenty/plenti/a lot more than enough [quantifier]
Do you need any more paper? No, thanks, I've still got plenty
here. I plenty of There's no need to run. We've got plenty of
time.
ample/' ampdl/if an amount of something is ample, there
is more than enough of it [adj]
Don't put too much sugar in the mixture. One spoonful will
be ample. I He was given ample opportunity to express his
opinion.
not enough of something or less of something
than is needed
not enough shortage
insufficient lack of
too little/too few be in short supply
scarce be short
inadequate
not enough/no l'n^f/[quantifier]
not enough time/money/sleep etc You're not getting
enough sleep. } I've written all the letters, but I can't find
enough envelopes. I not enough to do sth There wasn't
enough evidence to prove their allegations. I not enough for
sb to do sth We had brought sandwiches, but not enough
for us to have one each. } not enough Nurses get paid quite
good money, but it's not enough considering the amount of
overtime they have to do. I not nearly/nowhere near
enough (=much less than enough) There are some trained
lawyers and accountants in the company, but not nearly
enough of them. I The time they've given us is nowhere near
enough.
Insufficient/,ins0'fiJant/a formal word meaning not
enough [adj]
There are a number of problems for agriculture in this area,
such as insufficient rainfall. I insufficient to do sth The
data we have is insufficient to enable us to form any con-
clusions.
too little/too few/,tu: 'litl, ,tu: lu:/not enough for a
particular purpose [quantifier]
too few people/things/places etc Transport on the island
is difficult because there are too few roads. I too little time/
money/food etc The government has paid too little atten-
tion to the needs of disabled people. I too few/too little to
do sth There were some policemen in the street, but too few
to keep control of the crowd. I too little/too few for We can't

ENOUGH 416 ENOUGH
put any more seats in the aircraft. R would leave too little
space for storing equipment. I too little Teachers are paid
too little, compared with doctors and lawyers. I too little too
late (=when someone's effort or help is not enough) At last
food worth $1 million was sent to the refugees, but it was too
little too late.
scarce/skers/not existing in large enough amounts or
numbers compared with what people need |adj not before
noun ]
During the war years, clothing, shoes and furniture were
scarce and often of poor quality. I Oil will become scarce
within the lifetime of most people alive today.
Inadequate/in'adkwt/an amount of something that
is inadequate is not enough for a particular purpose [adj]
The state pension is wholly inadequate - no one can live on
Ј40 a week. [An inadequate meal leaves us feeling hungry. [
inadequate to do sth The amount of fertilizer used was
inadequate to ensure a good harvest.
shortage/'j'a:rtldS/a situation in which there is not
enough of something In C]
water/food/fuel etc shortage Water shortages are always
a problem in big cities. I shortage of There is a shortage of
skilled workers in the electronics industry. I In some areas
the shortage of accommodation is serious.
lack of/'lek ov/if there is a lack of something there is
not enough of it In singular]
The building was never finished because of a lack of money. I
He admitted that his failure was caused by his lack of deter-
mination. I At a height of 25,0OO feet, the lack of oxygen causes
dizziness and headaches.
be in short supply/bi: In ,fa:rt sa'plai/if a product is
in short supply people cannot buy or get enough of it Iv
phrase]
As a result of the strike, coal is temporarily in short supply. [
Health workers reported that medicines and basic equipment
were in short supply.
be short/hi: 'fa:rt/if time or money is short there is not
as much of it as you would like Iv phrase]
Money's a little short this month - we'd better be careful
about spending. [ When time is short you can't consider every
detail.
9 ways of saying that there is not enough food,
money, time etc for what you need
not be enough
be running short
not last/won't last
not be enough/not bi: 'n^f/Iv phrase]
not be enough for One loaf of bread won't be enough for
everyone. I not be enough to do sth The water from the
reservoir is not enough to irrigate the whole area.
be running short/bi: ,r^nirj 'a:rt/if food, water, time
etc is running short, it is becoming less and less, so that
soon there will not be enough left Iv phrase]
Food and fuel were running short. I We knew that time was
running short and we must hurry.
not last/won't last/not 'lo:st, waont lo:st II -'lasq if
an amount of something such as food or money does not
last for a certain period of time, there is not enough of it
for that period Iv]
not last for/till/through I'm afraid our stocks of coal
won't last through the winter. [ not last 3 days/2 years ere
My wages don't even last a week. [ not last sb The food won't
last us very long.
10 not good enough, not important enough etc
to do something
not ... enough
not sufficiently
not ... enough/not... InAf/
not ... enough to do sth My Spanish isn't good enough to
understand Spanish radio. I She didn't arrive early enough
to see the first part of the film. I not ... enough We can't invite
the Johnson& We don't know them well enough. I not ...
enough for This room isn't large enough for public
meetings.
not sufficiently /not slfiantli/ a formal expression
meaning not good enough, not important enough, etc [adv]
She was not offered a job because they thought she was not
sufficiently qualified. [ not sufficiently ... to do sth The
report is not sufficiently detailed to give us all the informa-
tion we require.
I I to not do something enough, or to not
happen enough
not ... enough
too little
not ... enough/not ... 'nAf/
not.., enough to do sth He doesn't love her enough to marry
her. } not ... enough We lost the game because we hadn't
practised enough.
too i|ttie I, tu: litl! if someone thinks or cares about some-
thing too little, they do not think or care about it enough
[adv]
They cared too little about the house to spend much money
on repairs. I The firm concentrates too much on short-term
profits and too little on long-term development.
12 to not have enough of something
not have enough be running short of
be short of deficient
be short on be starved of
go short be lacking in
not have enough /not hav nAfl IV phrase not in
progressive ]
not have enough time/money etc to do sth We don't have
enough time to go shopping now. } He didn't have enough
interest in the matter to pursue it. } not have enough time
etc The computer cannot handle all these programs. It does
not have enough memory. I not have enough to do/eat/
drink etc Children get bored if they don't have enough to do.
be short of/bi: 'jb:rt ov[ to not have enough of something
that is necessary, such as money, food, or material Iv
phrase]
I was short of money, so George lent me $20. I After some
months at sea, the ships were desperately short of fuel. } I
think water's the only thing that we're short of.
be short on/bi: 'j'a:rt on/an informal expression mean-
ing to have less than you should have ofa usefulor impor-
tant quality Iv phrase]
Warren is a good worker, but short on new ideas. I I some-
times felt our evenings together were a little short on fun.
go short Igao fa'.rq to live for a period of time without
as much money, food etc as you want or need Iv phrase]
go short of Even in advanced countries many families still
go short of food. [ go short For ten years my father went
short to give me a bigger allowance than he could afford.
be running short of/bi: r^mrj 'j':):rt Dv[ to be using so
much of something that you will soon not have enough of
it left Iv phrasel
We're running short o f fuel. We'd better get some more. ] The
refugees are running short of supplies and winter is
approaching.
deficient/di 'fianq a word used especially in a scientific
context meaning not containing as much of a particular
substance or not having as much of a particular quality as
is necessary [adj]
deficient in Your diet is deficient in vitamins. [ protein/
nutrient/iron etc deficient The condition of protein defi-
cient famine victims was shocking. [ deficient Healthy
plants require a certain amount of phosphorus. Deficient
plants are weak and stunted.
deficiency In C/U] patients suffering from vitamin D defi-
ciency (=not having enough vitamin D)
be starved of/bi: 'sto:rvd ov/to be given much less of
something than is needed Iv phrase]

ENOUGH 417 ENTER
The poor child was starved of love. I She admitted that living
on the remote farm she had been starved of conversation and
ideas. I In some countries, organizations helping the poor are
being starved of cash and other resources.
be |acking |n/bi-. IIekrj n! to not have as much of a cer-
tain good quality as is necessary or usual Iv phrase]
At the moment he is lacking in confidence. I Public buildings
of the mid 20th century are often lacking in style.
1 3 to not have enough time, money etc to be
able to do what you want, buy what you want
etc
not have enough
can't afford
be strapped for cash
not have enough /nDt hev I In^f/ [v phrase not in
progressive]
not have enough time/money etc to do sth Ella didn't
have enough free time to learn another language. I I have
some money saved, but not enough to buy a car yet.
can't afford Iko:nt ;)'fa:rd 11 ,kent-/to not have enough
money or time to do something Iv phrase]
can't afford to do sth (=not have enough money to do it)
I make all my clothes because I can't afford to buy them. [
can't afford sth (=can't afford to buy or pay for it) Flying
lessons were very expensive and he could not afford them. [
can't afford the time I can't afford the time to stand here
and chat to you.
be strapped for cash/bi:  strept fa r 'kaS/an informal
expression meaning to not have enough money at the
present time Iv phrase]
If you are seriously strapped for cash, I'm sure Robert could
give you a job. I Sarah confided that she was even more
strapped for cash than I was.
enquire: inquire/enquire ASK A QUESTION 2
enquiries: make inquiries/enquiries INVESTIGATE 1
enquiry: inquiry/enquiry INVESTIGATE 2
enrage ANGRY 8
enrich IMPROVE 5
enrol/enroll JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 1, TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 8, 9
ensue
ensuing
entail
entangled
enter
enter sb's
enter into
enter into:
enter into
AFTER 5
AFTER 4
MUST 3, NEED 7
MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 7
ENTER 1, 4, 5, 10, JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 1,
PUT 13, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 8, 9
mindlcross sb's mind THINK STH/HAVE A
THOUGHT 1
EFFECT/INFLUENCE 4
doesn't come into it/doesn't enter into it
CONNECTED WITH 9
the spirit: get into/enter into the spirit
TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 2
ENTER
to go or come into a room, building, or other
place
1 to go or come into a room, building,
someone's house etc
• to tell someone that they can come into your
room, house etc
3 to enter a place quietly or secretly
4 to enter a place illegally or by using force
5 to enter a country, legally or illegally
6 to enter a place in order to watch or take part
in an event that is happening there
7 ways of saying that a large number of people
enter a place, city, country etc
8 to allow someone to enter a place, building,
country etc
9 to refuse to let someone enter
10 ways of saying that something enters a
space, especially by going through the
surface
1 t a door or space that you go through when
you enter a place
1
to go or come into a room, building,
someone's house etc
go in burst in
come in barge in
enter breeze in
make an entrance/your entrance
go In/,gau 'in/[phr v I]
Dad wants us to go in before it gets dark. I There was a man
at the door trying to stop people from going in. I go into
Demonstrators are handing out leaflets to everyone going
into the building.
come in/,kAm 'nl if someone comes in, they enter a
room or building that you or other people are in [phr v I]
Beverley was in the waiting room when a man came in, sell-
ing candy. I There was a knock on the door. "'Come in, "" she
called. I come in to do sth The kids always come in to have
their lunch at one o'clock. I come into I don't like having
so many students coming into my class late.
enter /'entar/a formal word meaning to go or come into
a room, building etc Iv I/T]
enter sth As soon as Tommy entered the room, he knew there
was something wrong. I enter You're not allowed to enter
without my permission.
make an entrance/your entrance /,melk an 'entrans,
ja:r 'entrans/to enter somewhere in a way that makes the
people who are already there notice you Iv phrase]
I waited until everybody was sitting quietly before making
my entrance. I make a grand entrance Madonna likes to
make a grand entrance to any party she goes to.
burst in / ,ba:rst I In/to suddenly and noisily enter a room
[phr v I]
Suddenly two men with guns burst in and told us to lie on
the floor. I burst into There have been complaints about
police bursting into people's houses at random in order to
search for drugs.
barge In I,bo:rd5 I In/to suddenly enter a room where you
are not wanted, for example because you are interrupting
someone [phr v I]
I was studying quietly when Ben suddenly barged in. I barge
in on sb It's impossible to concentrate when people keep
barging in on you. [ barge into The directors looked up in
surprise as the strikers came barging into the meeting.
breeze In /bri:z 'in/to enter a place confidently and
calmly, especially when other people would be a little
nervous or embarrassed to enter [phr v I]

ENTER 418 ENTER
Katie breezes in at eleven o'clock each morning, two hours
late. I breeze into Giles just breezed into the office, used the
phone, and then breezed out again.
' to tell someone that they can come into your
room, house etc
ask sb in come in
invite sb in come on in
ask sb in/,o:sk (sb) 'In II ,ask-/[phr v T]
Why don't you ask your friend in? [ Her room's always so
untidy she doesn't like asking people in. I ask sb in for a
drink/a coffee etc Ask him in for a coffee.
Invite sb in/In, vait (sb) 'In/to tell someone they can come
into your room or home, especially someone you do not
know well [phr v T]
Never invite strangers in without asking to see some form of
identification. I A salesman came around this morning and
I made the mistake of inviting him in.
come in [ ,kAm ' m/you say come in when you want some-
one to come into your room, home, or office
Come in and sit down. I'll be ready in a minute. ] Hello Mrs
Addison. Come in. How are you?
come on in I,kAm on 'In II -o:n-I you say come on in
when you want someone to come into your room, home, or
office, especially when you want to be friendly and make
the other person feel welcome
Hi! Come on in! Can I fix you something to drink?
3 to enter a place quietly or secretly
slip in
sneak in
slip in /,slip 'in/ to enter a place quietly and quickly
without being noticed [phr v I]
Maggie opened the door silently and slipped in. [ slip into
Occasionally, a latecomer would slip into the room and stand
at the back of the audience.
sneak in /,sni:k 'in/to enter a place secretly, hoping that
no one will notice you [phr v I]
When he was drunk he would sneak in late, hoping his wife
was asleep. [ sneak into It's difficult to stop the kids sneak-
ing into each other's rooms.
4
to enter a place illegally or by using force
enter trespass
get in intruder
gain entry penetrate
force your way in occupy
break in
enter/'entorl Iv I/T]
Anyone found entering Defense Department property without
permission will be arrested. I enter through/by etc It
appears the burglars entered through a back window.
get in/Igor In/to succeed in entering a room, building,
or area which is locked or difficult to enter, especially by
using force or by finding an unusual way in [phr v I]
How did you get in? The door was locked. I get into Thieves
had apparently got into the apartments by posing as elec-
tricians.
gain ent/,gein entri/if someone, especially criminals
or the police gain entry, they succeed in entering a locked
building or room, especially by using force Iv phrase]
The police gained entry by smashing down the door. I gain
entry to Intercom Security Systems can make it more
difficult for strangers to gain entry to your home.
force your way in /,fa:rs ja: r we[ in/ to succeed in
entering a building or room by using force, especially when
someone is trying to stop you Iv phrase]
A number of demonstrators forced their way in, pushing
security guards aside. [ force your way into A man was
arrested today after forcing his way into a Network News
studio.
break in/,breik 'In/to enter a building by using force,
in order to steal something [phr v I]
If anyone tries to break in, the alarm system automatically
comes on. I break into Thieves broke into the Haymarket
Gallery and made off with paintings to the value of Ј2
million.
break-in /brelk in/In C] Police were notified of a break-in
(=the illegal entering of a building by force) at the Water-
gate building.
trespass/'trespas, -pes/to illegally enter or be on some-
one's land or in a building without permission from the
owner Iv I]
trespass on Carlson was fined $1000 for trespassing on
government property. I trespass We can't just walk across
their garden - that's trespassing!
trespasser In C] Trespassers will be prosecuted.
Intruder/Intru:dar/someone who enters a building or
area illegally, especially in order to steal something In C]
Jo had become so nervous that she imagined she heard
intruders at night, moving about in the kitchen.
penelrate/'pentreIt/a word used especially in a mili-
tary context meaning to enter an area that is well guarded
or dangerous to enter Iv T]
The barbed wire fences and security shields made the air
base very difficult to penetrate.
occupy/'ojUpaI II o:k-/if an army occupies a place, it
enters it and stays there in order to take control of it Iv I]
Russia occupied a group of islands near Japan at the end
of the Second World War. [ 500 students occupied the
administration block of the University.
occupation/, tkjo°'pe[San II ,o:k-/[n U] Soviet troops are to
end their eight year occupation of Afghanistan.
5 to enter a country, legally or illegally
enter
cross the border
enter I'entor/Iv I/T]
enter a country/the US etc Thousands of people are enter-
ing West Germany from the East. [ Everyone entering the
country is liable to strict security checks. I enter Barbed wire
fences and mine fields are designed to stop people leaving or
entering.
cross the border/,kros 6a ba:rda r II ,kin:s-/to enter
a country from another country which is next to it, and is
not separated from it by the sea Iv phrase]
cross the border into Every day more and more desperate
refugees are crossing the border into Kenya. I cross the
border You must show your passport when you cross the
border.
6 to enter a place in order to watch or take part
in an event that is happening there
get in
gain admission
get in/get 'in/[phr v I]
We queued in the rain for two hours and still didn't get in. I
The organizers have taken on extra security guards to pre-
vent people from getting in without paying. [ get into You
won't have any trouble getting into the concert - they've only
sold half the tickets.
gain admission/geln admlSan/a formal expression
meaning to be allowed to enter a place where an event is
being held, especially when it is difficult or takes a long
time Iv phrase]
gain admission to Football fans finally gained admission
to the stadium after police opened the gates. [ gain admis-
sion Brown gained admission by claiming to be a news-
paper photographer.
7 ways of saying that a large number of people
enter a place, city, country etc
pour in/flood in trickle in
crowd in influx
troop in

ENTER 419 ENTHUSIASTIC
pour in/flood in/,p:r 'in, ,fl^d I In/ffa lot of people pour
in or flood in, they a]] enter a place at the same time [phr
v I]
pour/flood into An estimated 50,000 people poured into
London over the weekend for the opening of the Common-
wealth Games. [ pour/flood in As soon as the news was
broadcast on TV, journalists started flooding in from all
over the world.
crowd in/,kraod 'In/ifa lot of people crowd in, they all
enter a place, especially a place that is not big enough for
so many people [phr v I/
As soon as the gates were opened thousands of screaming
fans crowded in. [ crowd into She's not very well - she
doesn't want dozens of people crowding into her room.
troop in /tru:p I in/ifa group of people troop in they enter
a place, often in a tired and unwilling way [phr v I/
After the game they all trooped in to eat. [ troop into sth
Every morning we had to troop into the school hall for roll
call.
trickle in/trlkal 'In/if people trickle in, they enter a
place gradually and not all at the same time [phr v I/
trickle into The bell rang and the students trickled into the
class. ] trickle in A few fans had already started to trickle in.
Influx-/' InflAks/the sudden or unexpected arrival of a large
number of people [n U/
influx of The sudden influx of families needing work and
housing did cause some problems at first.
 to allow someone to enter a place, building,
country etc
let in
admit
let in/,let 'In/[phr v T/
let in sb The Senator was asked whether the US should con-
tinue to let in Vietnamese refugees. I let sb/her/them etc
in There's Ryan at the door. Let him in, would you?
admit/1 'mit/to officially allow someone to enter a public
place in order to watch a game, performance etc [v T/
admit sb to Latecomers will not be admitted to the perfor-
mance. [ They refused to admit Paul to the game because his
ticket was out of date. [ admit sb I'm afraid we can only
admit four more people.
9 to refuse to let someone enter
keep out bar
shut out turn sb away
refuse entry
keep out /,ki:p 'aut/to prevent someone from entering
a place, for example by locking doors and windows, or
building fences [phr v T/
keep out sb A new alarm has been fitted in an effort to keep
out intruders. I keep sb/her/them etc out Try to keep Ed
out of the room while I wrap his present, will you?
shut out [ ,At 'aut/to shut a door, window etc in order
to prevent someone from entering, especially because they
would be interrupting you or annoying you [phr v T/
shut sb/her/them etc out John shut everybody out of the
kitchen so that he could prepare his grand surprise. [ shut
out sb He slammed the door, shutting out the dogs.
refuse entry/ri ,fju:z 'entri/to refuse to allow someone
to enter a country or a public place [v phrase]
refuse sb/her/them etc entry The immigration people
refused her entry because they thought she would attempt to
stay. [ refuse entry to The management reserves the right
to refuse entry to anyone who is improperly dressed.
bar/bo:r/to officially forbid someone from entering a
building or area, especially because they have caused trou-
ble or because it is dangerous for them to go there [v T/
Bill's not allowed into that restaurant - he was barred last
week. [ We've had to bar visitors from the garden because
some of the pathways aren't safe.
turn sb away /,ta:rn (sb) a,weq to refuse to let someone
into a building where a public event is happening, espe-
cially because it is full [v phrase]
There were so many protestors at the meeting that the
organisers were turning people away. I turn sb away at the
door We've got no chance of getting into the concert - they're
turning people away at the door.
1 0 ways of saying that something enters a
space, especially by going through the
surface
enter seep in
penet rate permeate
enter I'entor/[v I/T/
Bacteria can enter through a cut or graze on the skin. I The
bullet entered his rib cage from the left side.
penetrate/' pentrelq if something penetrates an object
or substance, it fully enters it, or goes through it [v T/
The sun's rays can penetrate the sea to a depth of twenty
metres. I shells that will penetrate even the thickest
armour-plating
seep in/, si:p 'in/if liquid seeps in, it gradually enters
a substance or a place [phr v I/
Despite all our efforts to stop it, the floodwater was still
seeping in.
permeate J pa:rmielt/ifa liquid permeates an object or
substance it enters it and spreads through it, especially
because the object or substance has small holes in it [v T/
Over the years, the rain had permeated the wooden structure
of the house. I Toxic chemicals may permeate the soil,
threatening the environment.
I I a door or space that you go through when
you enter a place
entrance way in
entry access
entrance/'entmns/In C]
The actress slipped in by the back entrance to avoid waiting
reporters. I entrance to It took us ages to find the entrance
to the park.
entry !'cntri/ an American word meaning the door or
space you go through to enter a place In C]
entry to We stopped at the entry to the church to admire the
architecture. I entry I'll meet you outside the entry.
way in/,wei 'In/the entrance to a large public building
[n C]
The museum was so enormous that I couldn't find the way
in. I There's a red flashing sign above the door saying "Way
In'.
access/' zekses/the way things are arranged so that the
public can enter somewhere |n U]
The entrance has been widened to give improved access for
disabled people. I access to City officials are considering
building a path to give the public access to the site.
• : enterprise: private enterprise/free enterprise
PRIVATE/NON-GOVERN M E NT 1
"" entertain INVITE :2, PARTY 4
 entertainment PERFORM 8
,"* enthralled INTERESTED 3
enthuse ENTHUSIASTIC 2
enthusiasm ENTHUSIASTIC 3
enthusiasm: be full of enthusiasm ENTHUSIASTIC 1
!- enthusiast LIKE SB OR STH 8
-.-."i enthusiastic ENTHUSIASTIC 1
ENTHUSIASTIC
having a strong active feeling of interest and
enjoyment
enthusiastic about something you are doing,
about something that is about to happen etc
to talk about something in an enthusiastic way
continued

ENTHUSIASTIC 420 ENTHUSIASTIC
ENTHUSIASTIC
continued
3 enthusiastic feelings or behaviour
4 to make someone feel enthusiastic about
something
5 not enthusiastic
enthuse/n'Oju:z II :n'Ou:z/Iv I]
enthuse about/over Jenny spent the evening enthusing
about Terri's apartment. I She was enthusing over my
English essay, which I didn't think was very good.
be fui| ef it ]bi-. fol ov it! an informal British expression
meaning to talk a lot about something because you feel
enthusiastic about it Iv phrase]
She's really pleased with her new job - she was full of it when
I saw her last night.
1 enthusiastic about something you are doing,
about something that is about to happen etc
enthusiastic be/get excited about
keen be raring to go
eager zealous
be full of enthusiasm
enthusiastic/mlOju:zilastik II-,0u:-/[adj]
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to work in our
sales department. I The Cleveland Browns were cheered onto
the field by an enthusiastic crowd. I She'll be an excellent
teacher, she's so enthusiastic and lively. I Our manifesto drew
an entBusiastic response from the public, i enthusiastic
about The president was enthusiastic about the proposals.
enthusiastically [adv] "'That's a brilliant idea!" said
Linda enthusiastically. I The audience reacted very enthusi-
astically.
keen /kim/ a word used especially in British English
meaning enthusiastic about your work, studies etc [adj]
Our new secretary doesn "t have much experience, but she's
very keen. I The team is full of keen, ambitious and creative
young players. I keen to do sth They are very keen to solve
this problem for you. I keen on sth/doing sth She seems
very keen on learning to drive.
keenly [adv ] He is keenly interested in these new techniques.
keenness In U] Stephen's parents were delighted at their
son's keenness and progress at school.
eager/i:gor/very enthusiastic and excited about some-
thing that is going to happen or about something that you
want to do [adj]
eager to do sth Jenny was eager to read me the poem that
she had written. I eager The teacher could see the children's
eager little faces as she told them about their trip to the zoo. I
The crowd waited with eager anticipation for the band to
come on stage, i eager for sth They were eager for a glimpse
of the singer.
eagerly [adv] She eagerly tore open the letter.
be full of enthusiasm/bi: fol ov in'Ojuzziezm ]1 -'Ou:-/
to be very enthusiastic about an idea or plan, and talk about
it with great excitement Iv phrase]
Roger was full of enthusiasm for Tony's plan. I Last time I
spoke to her she was full of enthusiasm.
be/get excited about/bi:, get k'saItd obaot/to be
enthusiastic about something that is going to happen Iv
phrase]
We were all excited about the trip. I I was beginning to get
really excited about his idea.
be raring to go /bi: ,rearIIj to 'goo/ to be extremely
enthusiastic and excited about something that you are
going to do, so that you cannot wait to begin iv phrase]
Come on. hurry up. The kids are raring to go. I As usual, she
was all packed and raring to go long before I was ready.
zealous/'zelos/extremely enthusiastic about something
such as a political or religious idea which you believe in
very strongly, and behaving in a way that shows this [adj]
Only the most zealous supporters of Thatcherism were in
favour of the tax.
zealously [adv] Until now the Democrats have zealously
opposed any reduction in the Healthcare budget.
to talk about something in an enthusiastic way
enthuse
be full of it
3 enthusiastic feelings or behaviour
enthusiasm
eagerness
enthusiasm IlnlOju:ziezam II IntOu:-/ [n U]
with great enthusiasm (=very enthusiastically) Sheplays
tennis with great enthusiasm, but not very well. [
enthusiasm for He shares your enthusiasm for jazz. I
enthusiasm the enthusiasm, energy and creativity of our
workforce
eagerness/'i:gorns/very enthusiastic and excited feel-
ings or behaviour because of something that is going to
happen or something you want to do In U]
He could see the eagerness in her face. I in sb's eagerness
to do sth He nearly fell down the stairs in his eagerness to
get to the phone.
4 to make someone feel enthusiastic about
something
inspire
motivate
fire/fire up
inspire /In'spaIor/ to make someone feel enthusiastic
about something and make them feel that it is worth doing
Iv T]
His book inspired students and workers. I Today's lecture
really inspired me to read more poetry.
inspiring [adj] After hearing Joe's inspiring story, I was
determined to raise as much money as I could for Cancer
Research.
motivate/'rnootveit/to make someone feel enthusias-
tic about their work or their studies especially when you
want them to work hard for you Iv T]
motivate sb How can we motivate these students? I The suc-
cess of a company depends on the ability of its managers to
motivate workers. I motivate sb to do sth If we introduce
this scheme, our staff will be motivated to make more sales.
fire (British) I fire up (American)/faIo r, ,faior 'Ap/to make
someone extremely enthusiastic so that they want to work
very hard to achieve something [v T]
fire sb with enthusiasm The speech fired the audience with
enthusiasm. [ fire sb up By the end of the meeting the sales
team were all fired up and eager to start selling.
not enthusiastic
not enthusiastic your heart's not in it
unenthusiastic lack of enthusiasm
half-hearted muted
lukewarm
not enthusiastic/nt In,Oju:zi'estlk II -,0u:-/[adj]
Dad wasn't very enthusiastic, but he agreed to help me. I Are
you sure you want to see a movie? You don't look particularly
enthusiastic about it.
unenthusiastic /,AmnOjuzzi'astik ]l -Ou:-I a formal
word meaning not at all enthusiastic [adj not before noun]
The management were initially unenthusiastic about the
idea of spending large sums of rhoney on a new computer
system. I The bank manager was markedly unenthusiastic
about the company's loan proposal.
unenthusiastically [ adv ] He looked unenthusiastically at
the paper on his desk.
half.hearted /,ho:f 'ho:td-II 'half ,ho:rtd/ half-
hearted attempt/way/response/support ere (=showing
very little enthusiasm and not making much effort) [adj]

ENTHUSIASTIC 421 EQUAL
She made a half-hearted attempt to tidy the apartment. I My
mother's half-hearted support did not help me much. I Their
halflhearted efforts raised Ј10 for the fund.
half-heartedly [adv] Peter laughed half-heartedly at
Richard's old jokes.,
lukewarm ! I lu:k'w:rm/ lukewarm response/reac-
tion etc (=not enthusiastic about something that someone
has suggested or done especially because you do not think
it is very good) [adj]
Their response to my idea was only lukewarm. I There was
a ripple of rather lukewarm applause.
your heart's not in it/ja: r ,ha:rts not 'n t/if you say
your heart's not in it, you mean you are not enthusiastic
about something you are doing, especially because you are
not interested in it any more or because you do not think
it is worth doing
I really loved teaching atfirst but my heart's not in it any
more. I My heart's not in this job. In fact I hate it.
lack of enthusiasm/leek ov :n'Oju:zieezam II -'0u:-/if
someone shows a lack of enthusiasm about something,
they are not as enthusiastic about it as people expect them
to be In phrase]
Sam showed a distinct lack of enthusiasm when I told him
my holiday plans. I the government's lack of enthusiasm for
women's rights
muted/'mju:Qd/muted response/enthusiasm/reac-
tion etc (=expressions of feelings which are not as
enthusiastic as usual or as expected) [adj usually before
noun ]
The crowd gave a muted response to the speech.
entice PERSUADE 7
enticing ATTRACT 4
entire ALL/EVERYTHING 2
entire COMPLETELY 1
entirety: in its entirety ALL/EVERYTHING 2, COMPLETE 1
en..e
entitled: be entitled NAME OF A THING 2
entitled: be entitled to RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 1
entitlement RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 4
entrance ENTER 11
entrance: make an entrance/your entrance ENTER 1
entrant TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 10
entrenched CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
entrepreneur BUSINESS 7
entrepreneurial BUSINESS 3
entrust RESPONSIBLE 8
entw ENTER 11 TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 10
entw: gain entw ENTER 4
envelop COVER 2
envious JEALOUS 3
environment SITUATION 2
envisage PREDICT 2
envoy REPRESENT 4
envy JEALOUS 3, 4
ephemeral SHORT TIME 4
epic STORY 5
epidemic LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5,
SPREAD 12
epidemic proportions COMMON 2
episode PART 6
be the of TYPICAL 3
epitome:
epitome
epitomize TYPICAL 3
equal EQUAL 1, 2, 3, 4
equal: be equal to EQUAL 4
equal footing: on an equal footing EQUAL 3
equal oppounitles RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
equal rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
-EQUAL
1 the same in number, amount, or level as
something else
:2 to be or become equal to something in
number, amount, or level
10
11
12
3 having equal rights or advantages or an
equal position to someone else
4 to be the same in quality, standard, or ability
as something else or someone else
5 to be in an equal position in a game,
competition etc
6 ways of saying that two amounts, numbers
etc become equal to each other
7 ways of saying that two things have equal
and opposite effects
8 to make two or more things equal to each
other in amount, level, or importance
9 a situation in which two or more amounts or
levels are equal, or in which the relationship
between them is correct
to be equal to or replace something good that
someone has lost
not equal in number, amount, or level
not having equal rights or advantages or
equal chances to do things
1 the same in number, amount, or level as
something else
equal
equivalent
as old/strong/long etc as
equal/'i:kwol/[adj]
equal to The alcohol in a pint of beer is equal to that in two
glasses of wine. I The distance between A and B in the dia-
gram is equal to the diameter of the circle, C. I equal When
supply and demand are equal the company will make a
profit. I Dilute the syrup with an equal volume of water, stir
and serve with ice. I of equal power/strength/weight etc
When facing an opponent of equal strength, Barker's speed
give her a big advantage.
equally [adv ] She divides her time equally between her work
and her children.
equivalent /  ' kw:valont/something such as an amount,
level, or quantity that is equivalent to something else has
an equal effect or result but is not completely the same as
it [adj]
equivalent to The volcanic eruption on Krakatoa had an
explosive power equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT. I Unem-
ployed workers receive welfare payments and rent assistance
equivalent to 50% of their usual income. I equivalent If these
prizes are not in stock we will send you an equivalent gift
from our range of quality perfumes.
as old/strong/long etc as/oz (old, etc) oz/something
that is as old, strong, long etc as something else is of
equal age, strength, length etc
At fourteen deremy was already as tall as his father. [ The
nation was once more as strong as the other major powers
in Europe. [ Few substances are as unstable as fluorine.
 to be or become equal to something in
number, amount, or level
be the same match
equal keep pace with
be the same/bi: 6a 'seim/if two amounts, levels etc are
the same they are equal Iv phrase]
The experiment was repeated by Professor Schwartz and the
results were the same. [ The northern route is longer than
the southern one but the fare is the same. [ be the same
size/weight/power etc The Citroen BX and the Montego
are roughly the same weight and have similar power units.
equal/'i:kwol/a word used especially in a technical or
scientific context meaning to be exactly equal to a number,
amount, or level Iv not in progressive]
Air pressure at sea level equals 1.03kg per square centimetre. [
The most efficient basis for the trade of goods is when
demand equals supply.

EQUAL 422 EQUAL
match/meetS/to be equal in number or amount to some-
thing that is itself already very high or very great Iv T]
The data memory capacity should match or exceed the rated
memory of the processor. I The only cars which could match
the acceleration of the Ferraris were the Shelby Cobras and
Aston Martins.
keep pace with Iki:p pexs w[6/ to increase quickly
enough to remain equal to something else which is also
increasing quickly Iv phrase]
Working-class incomes kept pace with increases in the cost
of living. [ There has been a constant expansion of the city
boundaries to keep pace with a growing population. [ Sales
were so good that even with 24 hour shifts we could hardly
keep pace with demand.
3 having equal rights or advantages or an
equal position to someone else
equal equal
equality peer
on an equal footing parity
equal I 'i:kwal/people who are equal have the same rights
and advantages as each other [adj]
Democracy is based on the idea that all people are equal. [
During the war, when women of all classes had to go out to
work, we suddenly seemed to be much more equal. [ My par-
ents' marriage was unusual in that they treated each other
as equalpartners. [ equal rights/pay/opportunities etc
(=when everyone has the same rights etc, so that they are
all equal) We don't want special treatment, just equal rights
for black and white. [ Women were given the vote and
granted equal citizenship in the 1950 constitution.
equality/x 'kwolati [1 'kwa:-I equal rights, advantages,
or chances to do things In U]
There is a long way to go before women achieve full equal-
ity with men. [ The church preaches the idea of the equality
of all people in the eyes of God. [ equality of opportunity
(=an equal chance to do things in work or education) Some
groups may at first need preferential treatment in order to
have real equality of opportunity.
on an equal footing/o an ,i:kwal 'fotIO/people, coun-
tries, or organizations that are on an equal footing in a
particular situation are being treated as equal, even though
this would not happen in other places or situations [adj
phrase]
place/put sb on an equal footing (=treat them in the
same way) We hope that in our school, teachers, parents and
students are placed on an equal footing. ] on an equal foot-
ing It's the beginning of the course so you're all on an equal
footing - none of you knows anything.
equal/'i:kwal/someone who has the same rights, advan-
tages, and position in society as someone else, with the
result that they can have equal respect for each other In
C usually plural]
Most women these days want marriage to be a partnership
of equals. I treat people as equals (=show equal respect
to all people) The police have a duty to treat all members of
the community as equals.
peer/piar/a word used especially in a technical or offi-
cial context meaning someone who has the same back-
ground or position in society as you [n C]
The jury system gives you the basic right to be judged by your
peers. [ Everyone wants to be successful in the eyes of their
peers. ] At about three years old, children begin to take an
interest in their peers.
parity / 'pmQti/a word used especially in a political con-
text meaning the state of being measurably equal, for exam-
ple by receiving equal wages or having equal numbers of
jobs as another group In U]
parity with Part-time workers are demanding parity with
their full-time colleagues. [ Middle class blacks in the US
have not yet achieved parity with whites in graduate school
entries. [ par.ity We don't want to dominate - we just want
parity.
4
be as good as
be equal to
be on a par with
equally
equal
to be the same in quality, standard, or ability
as something or someone else
rival
match
be evenly matched
there's nothing to
choose between
be as good as/bi: az god az/[v phrase]
I don't think she ever recorded a song as good as 'Stormy
Weather'. [ "Is it as good as the new Ford? .... Better, I promise
you!" [ They say that the new Argentinian striker will be as
good as Maradona.
be equal to/bi: 'i:kwal tu:l to be as good or as important
as all the other things that are available [v phrase]
There's no doubt that she can produce work that is equal to
anyone else's in her class. [ The architecture here is equal to
anything found in Europe.
be on a par with/bi: on a ,pў]:r wx6/to be as good or
almost as good as something that is very good Iv phrase]
The quality of the goods in these shops is on a par with any-
where in the United States. [ By 1500 the richest citizens of
London were on a par with the great landowning families.
equally /' x:kwali/ equally strong/good/difficult etc
(=equal in strength, quality etc) [adv]
If the tests are equally difficult, the results will be useful. ]
Not all kinds of music are equally good. [ You may think
Steve makes a lot of mistakes but the rest of you are equally
stupid.
equal /  i:kwal/to be as good, impressive, or successful as
something else that is good, impressive etc Iv T usually in
negative sentences]
No one has ever equalled her performance as Juliet. [ The
cloth dyers of ancient Tyre produced beautiful colours that
have never been equalled by even the finest synthetic dyes. [
The prestige of the Jingerebir mosque was equalled only by
that of Sankore.
rival / raival/to be almost as good, impressive, or success-
ful as something that is very good, impressive etc Iv T]
None of the North Italian cities rivalled Turin in defensive
strength. ] The Boeing STOL airliner would rival the Brit-
ish Aerospace 146 'whisper jet' in terms of noise, range and
versatility.
match/mintS/to be as good as something else or equal in
size, speed, power etc Iv T]
The facilities at the club were only matched by one or two
other clubs in Europe. ] The Messerschmidt could not match
the Spitfire for speed of climb.
be evenly matched/bi: ,i:vanli 'meefft/if competitors
or opponents are evenly matched they have almost equal
ability so a game or competition between them will be very
even Iv phrase]
The two wrestlers were evenly matched. [ It seems that the
teams are evenly matched but the French have more
experience.
there's nothing to choose between/6earz
ta 'tSu:z bitwi:n/ you say there's nothing to choose
between two things or people when they are both equally
good and you can not say which is better
After the interviews we had to admit there was nothing to
choose between the two candidates. [ There's really nothing
to choose between the performance of these two cars.
5
to be in an equal position in a game,
competition etc
level tie
be neck and neck be all square
draw photo finish
draw
level / leval/two teams or competitors that are level at a
particular moment in a game or competition have the same
number of points [adj not before noun]

EQUAL 423 EQUAL
Thanks to today's victory they are level with their main
rivals, AC Milan, at the top of the Italian league. I They
scored in the eighth minute but four minutes later we were
level. I If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time will
be played. I draw level (=get enough points to be level)
Faldo has drawn level with Ballesteros on twelve under par.
be neck and neck/bi: nek an Inek/an informal expres-
sion meaning that two people, horses etc are doing equally
well in a race or competition, so that it is impossible to
guess who will win [v phrase]
The two horses are running neck and neck. [ For three miles
now both yachts have been neck and neck. I The Republicans
and Democrats are neck and neck in the opinion polls.
draw/dry:/a game in which both opponents or teams have
equal points at the end, so that neither wins [n C]
Last week's draw at Chelsea was a very good result for
Arsenal. [Neither side has scored. It looks as if it's going to
be another draw. [ end in a draw (=finish with scores
equal) If the final ends in a draw, the game will be decided
on penalties.
draw/dr:/to finish a game with the same number of
points as your opponent, so that neither of you wins [v I/T]
draw with Real Madrid drew with Barcelona in the last
game of the season. [ draw a game/match The Australian
rugby team drew the first game of their European tour,
sixteen-all against France at Lyon. [ draw "Did you win?"
"'No, we drew."
tie/tai/if two of the competitors in a game or competition
tie, they get the same number of points [v I/T]
Woosnam and Lyle tied for fourth place on 264. [ tie with
I won thefirst competition and tied with Wilson in the second.
tie [n C] If there is a tie (=if two competitors get the same
score) the prize money will be split.
be all square/bi: ,aft 'skwear/an informal expression:
if two teams or competitors are all square at a particular
moment during a game or competition, they have an equal
number of points [v phrase]
Two minutes to go and the teams are still all square. [ finish
all square (=be all square at the end) Thanks to a last
minute drop goal by Gregory they finished all square.
photo finish/,faotao finlS/a finish to a race between
horses, dogs, or people that is very nearly equal so that it
is extremely difficult to say who has won [n C]
It's a photo finish - we'll have to bring in the judges to decide
the winner. [ After a very close-run race, it ended in a photo
finish.
6 ways of saying that two amounts, numbers
etc become equal to each other
balance out
even out
balance out/,belans 'aot/if two amounts, numbers etc
balance out, they become equal or have an equal effect,
especially if this happens over a fairly long period of time
[phr v I]
Sometimes we have a slight loss and sometimes a slight
surplus, but over time they balance out.
even out /i:van aot/ if two amounts, movements, or
levels even out, they gradually become equal or the differ-
ences between them disappear [phr v I]
You have to wait for a little while before the water level in
the two pipes evens out. [ The current fluctuations should
gradually even out to produce a steady supply of electricity.
7 ways of saying that two things have equal
and opposite effects
offset
counterbalance
cancel each other out
offset /ofset, ofset [[ 'a:fset, a:fsetl if something such
as a cost or a sum of money offsets another cost, sum etc,
it has an opposite effect so that the situation remains
unchanged [v T] 
The savings on staff wages are offset by the increased main-
tenance costs. [ The cost of the equipment you use for work-
ing at home can be offset against tax. [ $3000m was spent in
US schools to offset the disadvantages of about 6 million
school children.
counterbalance /,kaonta r belans/to have an equal and
opposite effect to something such as a change, an influence,
or a feeling [v T]
The loss in government income is exactly counterbalanced
by the increase in taxation. [ Fortunately there are strong
democratic forces in the country that counterbalance any
extremist influences. [ His fear of his father is counter-
balanced by a genuine respect for him.
cancel each other out/kansal i:tj" A6ar 'aot/if two
changes, facts, or events cancel each other out, they have
equal and opposite effects so that eventually neither of
them has any effect on anything [v phrase]
The two sets of waves cancel each other out. ] The financial
losses would have cancelled one another out.
8 to make two or more things equal to each
other in amount, level, or importance
balance even out
equalize redress the balance
strike a balance balancing act
balance I'bmlans/[v T]
balance sth with She tries to balance the amount of time
she spends at work with the time she spends at home. [ No
government so far has been able to balance the number of
jobs available with the number of people out of work. [
balance sth These conflicting influences need to be balanced
if the child is to exploit its talents to the full.
equalize (also-Ise British)/'i:kwalaz/to change things
so that people are treated equally, especially in their
employment [v T ]
The Association of Women Teachers in New York fought to
equalize male and female pay. [ Miners demanded a stan-
dard rate throughout the country to equalize wages. ] We do
not object to policies equalizing opportunity.
strike a balance /,stralk a bmlans/to achieve a situa-
tion in which you give the correct amount of attention and
importance to two opposing activities or ideas [v phrase]
strike a balance between School children have to learn to
strike a balance between work and play. [ Prison reformers
are trying to strike a balance between punishing offenders
and helping them to avoid repeating their offences. [ strike
a balance Most reporters are either violently for or violently
against the government, but some try to strike a balance.
even out/,i:van 'dOt/to change a number of levels or
amounts so that the differences between them become
smaller [phr v T]
even out sth The financial assistance helps to even out the
variations between different areas. [ A special valve evens out
any changes in pressure. [ even sth/it/them out They take
all your payments and even them out over the whole year.
redress the balance/ri dres 6a 'balans/to make a sit-
uation equal or fair again after it has not been fair or equal
[ v phrase ]
We're trying to encourage people with disabilities to apply
for these jobs, which will hopefully redress the balance a bit.[
Eventually, if the population of one species rises too much a
new epidemic will come along to redress the balance.
balancing act/'bmlanslrj akt/an attempt to keep two
opposing groups satisfied by giving each of them part of
what they want [n C]
The UN is negotiating with the rebels and the government
but it's a difficult balancing act. [ She feels she can no longer
maintain the balancing act of pleasing her parents and her
parents-in-law.
9 a situation in which two or more amounts or
levels are equal, or in which the relationship
between them is correct
balance
equilibrium

EQUAL 424 EQUIPMENT
balance ! belns/[n singular]
balance between In the healthy person there is normally
a balance between activity and rest. I upset the balance
(=change and harm the balance) The biological balance is
upset by over-intensive farming.
equilibrium /i:kwlibriom/ a technical or scientific
word meaning a state in which two or more forces, such
as temperature and pressure, remain at a particular level,
but would all change if any one of them were changed In
singular]
Any chemical reaction will tend to reach a state of
equilibrium. I The operation of the free market maintains
an equilibrium between supply, demand and price. I be in
equilibrium (=be balanced, equal etc) The concentration
of nitrate in the soil will be in equilibrium with the amount
re-absorbed by the atmosphere.
10 to be equal to or replace something good that
someone has lost
make up for
compensate for
make up for/,meek '^p f,r/to replace or balance some-
thing good that has been lost or something bad that has
been done, by providing or doing something equally good
Iv T]
Nothing they can do will make up for the damage they have
caused. I He had to train twice as hard as the other athletes
to make up for his lack of natural ability. I more than make
up for (=make up for something very well) The weather
was a bit cold, but the beautiful scenery more than made up
for it.
compensate for/komponset f:r ii kc:m-/to replace
or balance something good that has been lost or is lacking,
by providing or doing something equally good Iv T]
Ray tries to compensate for his shyness by telling a lot of
jokes. I It is hoped that the new car's style and design will
compensate for its lack of speed. I Failures in this area will
have to be compensated for by successes in other areas.
1 1 not equal in number, amount, or level
unequal
disproportionate
imbalance
unequal Inn 'i:kwall [adj]
of unequal size/length etc The suspension was simply two
metal arms of unequal length with a spring between them. I
unequal in size/length etc The boxers were so unequal in
size that it was never really a true contest.
disproportionate / dspm'p:rJ'ant,/a disproportion-
ate share of something is higher than it should be because
the thing has not been shared equally [adj]
Children who disrupt lessons at school take up a dispropor-
tionate amount of the teacher's time. I The report shows that
a disproportionate number of black women do unskilled,
low-paid work. I They are claiming that the richest areas of
the country are getting a disproportionate share of govern-
ment grants.
disproportionately [adv ] The poorer cities of the industrial
north have disproportionately high rates of child mortality.
Imbalance/im'bmlzns/a state in which two things are
not equal, especially if this is unfair or causes problems
In C/U]
The economy is failing because of the great imbalance
between imports and exports. I Eighty per cent o four wealth
belongs to five per cent of the people, and there's no legisla-
tion to counter this imbalance. I At the higher levels of
management, there's definitely a gender imbalance.
12 not having equal rights or advantages or
equal chances to do things
unequal
inequality
unequal/^n'i:kwal/unequal treatment, relationships,
conditions etc are unfair to some of the people involved
because they do not have equal rights or advantages [adj]
The unequal distribution of wealth seems to be a feature of
our system of government. I When people are forced to com-
pete on unequal terms they become resentful. I It was an une-
qual relationship. He was rich, powerful and experienced -
I was very young and naive.
inequality/, In; kwolti II -, kwo:-/the lack of equal treat-
ment in society, especially the lack of an equal chance to
get a good job or have a good education In U]
Black workers continued to face inequality and segregation
in employment. I Class divisions and inequality are perma-
nent features of society.
equality EQUAL 3
equalize EQUAL 8, SCORE 1
equally EQUAL 4
equate SAME 12
equilibrium EQUAL g
equip CAN 7, PREPARE 4, PROVIDE 2
equipment EQUIPMENT 1
EQUIPMENT
all the special tools, machines, and clothes
that you need for a particular activity or
purpose
1 all the special tools, machines, and clothes
that you need for a particular activity or
purpose
equipment things
apparatus stuff
gear tools
kit
equipment/ 'kwlpmont/[n U]
Dentists must take great care in sterilizing all their equip-
ment. I office/video/sports etc equipment The leisure
centre has a shop selling sports equipment. I Companies will
be expected to provide evidence that they have installed fire-
fighting equipment on the premises. I piece of equipment
The money will buy a new piece of equipment for the
laboratory.
apparatus/,epo'reitos II -'ree-/the tools and machines
used especially for scientific, medical, and technical
purposes In U]
This experiment can be performed using the apparatus
shown in the diagram. I breathing/gym/surgical etc
apparatus Astronauts have special breathing apparatus. I
Contesting gymnasts then have to demonstrate some exercises
using the gym apparatus.
gear/gr/the equipment and special clothes that you
need for a physical activity, especially a sport In U]
If you're going canoeing you'll need the right gear. I The
mountaineers went first, followed by the porters and donkeys,
carrying the gear. I camping/fishing etc gear We piled all
our camping gear into the back of the car.
kit/kit/sewing/repair/shaving etc kit (=a set of all the
small objects you need for a particular purpose that are
kept together in a bag, box, or other container) In C]
The sewing kit contained needles, pins, thread and a pair of
scissors. I Don't forget to pack a towel, soap, pyjamas and
shaving kit. I I rushed to the cupboard to get the first aid kit,
but there was virtually nothing in it.
things/Orjz/an informal word meaning the pieces of
equipment or clothes that you need for a particular activity
In plural]
Get your things if you want to go sailing. I painting/sewing
etc things Becky realized she'd left all her painting things
back at the house.

EQUIPMENT " 425 ESCAPE
stuff/stM/an informal word meaning the equipment you
need for a particular activity In U]
cleaning/cricket etc stuff The cleaning stuffs in the cup-
board behind the door. I We might as well take the volley-
ball stuff if we're going to the park. I stuff The trouble with
photography is that you have to carry so much stuff with you
everywhere.
tools/tu:lz/the equipment that someone uses to help them
do their job In plural]
The plumber went back out to the van to get his tools. I The
miniature tape recorder and the fax machine are the tools
of the modern reporter. I tools of the trade (=equipment
necessary for a particular job) For a window cleaner a
ladder, bucket and cloth are the tools of the trade.
equipped: be equipped to do sth CAN 1
equipped: not be equipped/be ill-equipped
equitable FAIR 2
equivalent EQUAL 1, SAME 8, 9
era
eradicate
erase
erase: rub
erect
erode
erotic
errand
erratic
erroneous
error
CAN'T 1
PERIOD OF TIME 2
STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
FORGET 4, REMOVE 4
sth out/erase REMOVE 4
BUILD 1, VERTICAL 1
DAMAGE 6, REDUCE 5
SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
JOB/TASK 1
CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
WRONG/INCORRECT 2
MISTAKE 1, 2
error of judgment/judgement MISTAKE 3
erupt START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 4
escalate INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 1,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
escalating INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 5,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
escape ESCAPE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, LEAVE A PLACE 7,
SURVIVE 1
escape: can't escape/get out ESCAPE 10
escape: escapes me FORGET 3
escape: make your escape ESCAPE 1
escape: there is no escape ESCAPE 10
escape/get away ESCAPE 9
escape sb's notice NOTICE 3
ESCAPE
to get away from a dangerous or unpleasant
situation, from a place where you are being
kept, or from someone who is chasing you
1 to leave a place, country etc where you are in
great danger
2 to escape from a dangerous building, car,
plane etc
3 to escape from a prison or from someone
who is trying to keep you in a place
4 to escape by running away as quickly as
possible
5 to succeed in escaping from someone who is
chasing you, so that they are unable to catch
you
6 words for describing someone who has
escaped, especially from a prison
7' an act of escaping from a prison, from the
police etc
8 to help someone escape from a prison or
from a place where they are being kept
9 to escape from an embarrassing or difficult
situation
10 unable to escape
1 to leave a place, country etc where you are in
great danger
escape make your escape
get out get away
flee
escape/i 'skcip/to get away from a place, country etc
where you are in danger, especially when it is difficult to
do this because someone is trying to catch you or stop you
leaving Iv I/T ]
Troops have been ordered to shoot if they see anyone trying
to escape. I Just before the soldiers entered our village we
escaped by car, taking only a few clothes and some food. I
escape from/into/through/over etc The lucky ones were
the families that managed to escape to America or Israel. I
The Berlin Wall's main function was to stop people escap-
ing from the East into Western Europe. I We'll be safe once
we've escaped across the border. I escape sth They had
trekked across the desert for hundreds of miles to escape civil
war and famine. I escape sb (=escape from someone who
is trying to catch you or harm you) The old man told us how
he had helped a Jewish family escape the Nazis during the
war.
get out/,get aut/to escape from a place or country when
there is a serious risk that something bad will happen very
soon [phr v I]
Before the government started rounding up dissidents, a few
people managed to get out. I Eventually we began to realize
there was no way of getting out. I get out of All US tourists
and journalists are being advised to get out of the country
as soon as possible.
flee/fli:/a word used especially in newspapers and in
descriptions of events, meaning to escape as quickly as pos-
sible, because you are in great danger Iv I/T]
flee the country/the city etc News is just reaching us that
the President has fled the country. I flee from/to/into etc
Most of the women there were Somalis, fleeing from the civil
war. ] Up to five million political refugees haveJTed to other
countries.
make your escape /,melkjozr i tskelp/to escape from
a place or a dangerous situation, especially when you do
this quickly and secretly, as soon as you have a chance [v
phrase]
The kidnappers left the door open just long enough for Billy
to make his escape. I We spent weeks waiting for the oppor-
tunity to make our escape. I make your escape from She
was one of the few opposition politicians that managed to
make their escape from the country before the regime really
took control.
get away/,get 'wei/to escape from a dangerous situa-
tion, especially when you escape just before anything bad
can happen to you [phr v I]
Those few minutes were enough for Marie to get away and
phone for help. I get away from/to/into The streets are
blocked with women and children, trying to get away into
the surrounding countryside.
2 to escape from a dangerous building, car,
plane etc
escape abandon ship
get out bail out
get clear
escape/ 'skep/[v I]
Only four people managed to escape before the roof col-
lapsed. I It was a nasty accident - we were very lucky to escape
unharmed. I escape from/through/into etc It appears
that the dog escaped through the back window of the bus.
get out I get 'aot! to escape from an enclosed space where
something dangerous is happening, for example from a
burning building [phr v I]
Those cartons shouldn't be stacked against the door - it
would be impossible to get out in an emergency. I get out of
People were running panic-stricken along the corridors,
desperate to get out of the building.

ESCAPE 426 ESCAPE
get clear ! get klIar/to move quickly away from some-
thing dangerous in order to avoid death or injury, for exam-
ple from a falling or burning building Iv phrase]
get clear of Army bomb experts are urging everyone to get
clear of the area. I get clear Get clear! The building's about
to collapse.
abandon ship/a bendan 'SIp/to escape from a ship that
is sinking Iv phrase]
The crew and passengers are preparing to abandon ship. I
Abandon ship! Abandon ship!
bail out /beil aot/to escape from an aircraft that is going
to crash [phr v I]
Pilot Jim Korenski bailed out of the aircraft just in time and
was only slightly hurt.
3 to escape from a prison or from someone
who is trying to keep you in a place
escape make a break for it
get out break out
break free/break away/break loose
escape/:'skep/Iv I]
The prisoner knocked the guard over the head and then
escaped. [ escape from/into/through etc Most people who
managed to escape from prisoner-of-war camps were later
found and shot. [ Grant had escaped through a bathroom
window while in police custody.
get out/,get 'autl to escape from a prison or from a build-
ing or room where you are being kept [phr v I]
The doors and windows are all firmly locked - I don't know
how we're going to get out. I get out of No one has ever
managed to get out of this prison alive.
break free/break away/break loose/brek 'fri:,
brek awe, brelk lu:s/to escape from someone who is
holding you [ v phrasel
With a violent twist he broke free and ran out of the room. I
One of the prisoners broke loose but was shot before he
reached the perimeter fence. I break free etc from Then
Sammy broke free from Judd and made for the door, scream-
ing as she ran.
make a break for it/meik a bre:k far it/to escape
quickly and suddenly, as soon as you have a chance Iv
phrase]
I'm going to lock the door to make sure you don't try and
make a break for it. I Two men who had made a break for
it while doing hard labour were brought back and put in
solitary confinement.
break out /bre:k 'aot/to escape from a prison or simi-
lar place, especially when this is done by a group of people
in a carefully planned way [phr v I]
We're going to try to break out. Are you coming with us? I
break out of Measures to stop patients breaking out of high-
security psychiatric hospitals have been criticized as
ineffective.
4 to escape by running away as quickly as
possible
escape take to your heels
run away/run off scatter
bolt run for your life
run for it/make a run for it
escape/'skeip/[v I]
One of the bank clerks started to chase the robbers, but they
escaped and disappeared into the crowd. I escape through/
over/from ere Whenever the old man appeared in the yard,
the kids would escape, laughing, over the fence. I Josie
managed to escape from her attacker and call the police.
run away/run off Ir^n awei, ,r^n 'of II -'3:f/to try to
escape from danger or from someone who is chasing you,
by running away as quickly as possible [phr v I]
It's no use running away - the whole place is surrounded
by police. I Delia managed to get away from the man and ran
off screaming. I run away from We knew that if we ran
away from the dogs they would probably attack us, so we
moved slowly backwards towards the car.
bolt/baolt/to suddenly run away very quickly, as soon as
you have a chance, especially because you are very fright-
ened Iv I]
I tried to bolt, but my legs wouldn't move. I One of the horses
got into a panic and bolted. I bolt across/into/out of etc
Like a hunted animal, she bolted across the parking lot.
run for it/make a run for it/r^n far t, meek a r^n far
it/to suddenly run away very quickly because you are in
danger of being caught, especially when you are doing
something illegal Iv phrasel
I can hear someone coming down the corridor. Quickly, run
for it! I Spotting a police car in the distance, he lowered his
head and ran for it. I It's no use trying to stay and fight -
we're going to have to make a run for it.
take to your heels / teik taja: r hi:lz/a word used espe-
cially in stories meaning to escape by running away very
quickly Iv phrase]
The kids immediately took to their heels as Mrs Brewster
appeared around the corner. I As soon as I got to Euston
Road I took to my heels and ran.
scatter/'skmtar/if a group of people scatter, they run
away in different directions because they are frightened
or in danger Iv I]
At the sound of the gun the demonstrators scattered. I The
scene was chaotic, with people scattering in all directions.
run for your life /,rAn fa r ja: r lalf/ to run away as
quickly as possible because you are in danger of being
killed Iv phrase]
Gunda struggled free and ran for her life. I The prisoners
jumped down from the high wall, picked themselves up and
ran for their lives.
5
to succeed in escaping from someone who is
chasing you, so that they are unable to catch
you
escape slip through sb's
get away fingers
give sb the slip shake off
throw sb off the make a clean getaway
scent elude
escape/I'skeIp/Iv I/T]
It looks as if they've escaped. They're probably over the
border by now. I escape into/from/across etc Criminals
generally know their neighborhood well, so it's not difficult
for them to escape into the back streets. I Keep a close eye on
them - don't let them escape from you. I escape sb So far the
terrorists have managed to escape the police.
get away/,get a'wel/ to escape from someone who is
chasing you, especially when there is no chance that you
will be caught afterwards [phr v I]
How could you let him get away! I Police believe the gunmen
got away in a white Ford pickup. I get away from It was
terrifying. The dog was so crazy I thought I'd never get away
from him. I get clean away (=get away completely) Detec-
tives followed the man as far as the harbour, but then he
jumped into a speedboat and got clean away.
give sb the slip/,g:v (sb) 6a 'slp/to escape from some-
one who is chasing you by tricking them or doing some-
thing unexpected Iv phrase]
Watch him very carefully - he might try and give us the slip. I
By dressing up as a man and wearing a wig she was able
to give her pursuers the slip.
throw sb off the scent/,Orau (sb) of 5a 'sent/to escape
from someone who is chasing you or trying to find you by
cleverly doing something that makes it impossible for them
to know where you are Iv phrase]
Continuing his escape by boat was the perfect way to throw
the police off the scent. I Archer had transferred all his money
into his wife's account in a desperate attempt to throw the
FBI off the scent.
slip through sb's fingers/,slp Oru: (sb's) 'fIrjgarz/to
escape from someone just when they think they have
caught you Iv phrase]
Police officers had him surrounded, but he somehow
managed to slip through their fingers.

ESCAPE 42? ESCAPE
shake off/,Se:k 'f 11 -'aft/to escape from someone, espe-
cially someone who has been chasing you for a long time,
for example by hiding or by going faster than them [phr
v T]
shake off sb Mailer disappeared into a dark basement,
hoping to shake off the gang. I shake sb/her/them etc off
"'You run on ahead, "panted Maclean, "'and try to shake
them off."
make a clean getaway/meik a ,kli:n 'getawei/to suc-
cessfully escape after a crime, leaving no signs to show
where you are Iv phrase]
The terrorists had apparently crossed the border minutes
after the explosion, and made a clean getaway.
elude/i'lu:d/a formal word meaning to cleverly avoid
being found or caught by someone, especially for a long
time Iv T]
Despite a $25,000 reward on his head, he continues to elude
the authorities. ] For several months they had eluded the
biggest manhunt in American history.
6 words for describing someone who has
escaped, especially from a prison
escaped be on the run
be on the loose runaway
be at large fugitive
escaped/i'skeipt/[adj only before noun]
The public has been warned not to approach the escaped con-
vict, as he may be dangerous. [ Members of the French
Resistance tried to help escaped prisoners-of-war return to
their home countries.
be on the loose/bi: on 5a lu:s/someone who is on the
loose has escaped from the police or from a prison and is
likely to be dangerous Iv phrase]
There is a ruthless band of murderers on the loose in Haiti. I
A man is on the loose in the south of the country, and is
described as extremely dangerous.
be at large/hi: at 'lmrd3/someone who is at large has
escaped from a prison or has not yet been caught by the
police after doing something criminal, and is likely to be
dangerous Iv phrase]
So long as this murderer is still at large, parents are being
warned to keep a close watch on their children at all times.
be on the run/bi: n 60 'rAn/someone who is on the run
is trying to escape or hide from someone who is chasing
them, especially the police or someone who wants to harm
them Iv phrase]
All of us are deserters - we're all on the run. I on the run
from Nervous and carrying only a small bag with a few
clothes and toys, she appeared to be a mother on the run from
a violent husband.
runaway / r^noweq runaway child/soldier/slave etc
(=who has escaped from somewhere without permission)
[adj only before noun]
This was a favourite hiding place for runaway slaves. I Their
job was to get runaway children off the city streets and into
safe accommodation.
runaway In C] We all knew that runaways would, if caught,
be shot without trial.
fugitive/'fju:dstv/someone who has escaped from the
police or from danger, who has to keep moving from one
place to another so that they will not be caught In C]
The penaltyfor hiding left-wing fugitives was death. I fugi-
tive from a fugitive from Stalin's oppressive regime
7 an act of escaping from a prison, from the
police etc
escape
breakout
jailbreak
escape Ii'ske:p/In C]
They had planned their escape right down to the last detail. I
It was one of the most daring escapes in recent history. I
escape from Publication of the book was dependent upon
Woods' escape from South Africa with his family.
breakout I, breikaot/an escape from a prison, especially
one that involves several prisoners and is done using vio-
lence In C]
Prison governors met today to discuss ways of preventing
• similar breakouts in the future. I breakout from There was
a mass breakout from a city center prison yesterday.
Jailbreak ! 'd3eflbreik/a word used especially in Ameri-
can English, meaning an escape from a prison, especially
by a large number of prisoners In C]
Twelve prisoners are on the run following a jailbreak in
Boston.
8 to help someone escape from a prison or
from a place where they are being kept
get sb out
spring
get sb out/,get (sb) 'aut/[phr v T]
Luciano was counting on his mafia cronies to get him out.I
get sb out of Kerrison's a good lawyer - he'll get you out
of jaiL
spring/spri/an informal word meaning to help someone
escape from a prison Iv T]
Leave everything to us. We'll spring you. No problem.
9 to escape from an embarrassing or difficult
situation
escape/get away
extricate yourself
talk your way out of
escape/get away/'skeIp, ,get o'weq [v]
She had been talking to Mr Carter for half an hour so I went
across to help her escape. [ Mason always felt horribly
embarrassed when people started to cry, and tried to think
of an excuse to get away. [ escape/get away from Mr Bealey
suddenly felt stifled in the crowded room and escaped from
the group, saying he was going to get another drink. [ That
woman never stops talking - it's almost impossible to get
away from her without seeming rude.
extricate yourself /'ekstr]kelt ja:r,self/ a formal or
humorous expression meaning to escape from an
unpleasant or embarrassing social situation Iv phrase]
Once they realized that I had been lying all the time, it was
almost impossible to extricate myself. I extricate yourself
from Instead of always extricating yourself from situations
in which you feel uncomfortable, try to face them and over-
come them.
talk your way out of /tta:k ja: r we taot ov/to escape
from an unpleasant or embarrassing situation by giving
explanations, making excuses ere Iv phrase]
Phil never does him homework, but always manages to talk
his way out of it. I I don't know how she's going to talk her
way out of this one.
10 unable to escape
can't escape/get out there is no escape
trapped be imprisoned
be stuck be a prisoner
can't escape/get out/,ka:nt I'skeIp, get 'aut II ,kent-/
Iv phrase]
You can't escape, I've locked all the doors and windows. I
Help! I can't get out! I can't escape/get out from Four
women who couldn't escape from the scene were injured by
flying glass.
trapped/trapt! unable to escape from a dangerous place,
from a place where someone is keeping you, or from an
unpleasant situation [adj]
The children were trapped in the bedroom of the blazing
house. I Danny stopped to free a trapped rabbit from a snare. I
I feel so trapped. I can't leave that lousy job until the house
is paid for.
be stuck /bi: 'stAk] to be unable to escape from an
unpleasant or boring situation Iv phrase]

ESCAPE 428 ethnic
Jodie's stuck in an unhappy marriage. I It's so boring being
stuck in this shop all day.
there is no escape /6eor z noo I=skepl you say
there's no escape when there does not seem to be any way
of escaping from a dangerous or unpleasant place or
situation
Don't even try to get out of here - there's no escape. [ there's
no escape from There seems to be no escape from the hurry
and confusion of city life. [ an indestructible prison from
which there was no escape.
be imprisoned/bi: m'przand/to be unable to escape,
or feel too frightened to escape, from the place where you
are or from an unpleasant situation [v phrase]
Some of these old people are imprisoned in their own homes
by the threat of violence on the streets. [ We're imprisoned here
- there's no point trying to escape.
be a prisoner/bi:  przanr/to be unable to escape, for
example from a place, an unpleasant situation, or your own
thoughts and opinions, so that you feel you cannot do any-
thing to change things Iv phrase]
There was no way out, and they realized with horror that
they were prisoners. [ Once I had given up work and was
looking after the baby I sometimes felt that I was a prisoner
in my own home. [ be a prisoner of Until he admitted what
he had done, George would be a prisoner of his own guilt.
escaped ESCAPE 6
escort TAKE/BRING 1, WITH 2
especially ESPECIALLY 1
-[especially or special? [-
more than. any other
person or thing:
special, unusual
ESPECIALLY
UNUSUAL
ESPECIALLY
1 words meaning especially
words meaning especially
especially least of all
specially notably
particularly of all people
in particular more than anyone
above all special/particular
most of all
especially/'spe,ali/much more than usual, or much
more than other people or things [adv]
I'm feeling especially tired tonight because I've had so much
work to do. [ Paris is always full of tourists, especially during
the summer months. [ Middle-aged men, especially those who
are overweight or smoke, are susceptible to heart-attacks. [
A hat is especially useful in protecting you from the heat of
the sun. [ especially if/when It's always difficult being in
a foreign country, especially ifyou don't speak the language. [
I was delighted to receive your letter, especially when you said
you were coming to visit.
specialiy/speali! a British word meaning especially
which is used in conversation [adv]
I bought it specially for you. [ We specially wanted to see the
Eiffel Tower and Montmartre. [ specially if/when Cars are
very useful - specially when you live a long way from the
nearest town.
rl o r
particularly/p tikjb li/more than the others or more
than usual [adv]
I found the section on childpsychologyparticularly interest-
ing. ] Alcohol is particularly dangerous when taken with
tranquilizers. [ India produces good quality carpets, partic-
ularly in Kashmir. [ particularly if/when It's often
difficult to find a safe place to go jogging, particularly if you
live in a big city.
in particular ]n pr tkjUlr/one person, thing, or part
of a group more than the rest [adv phrase]
Mothers in particular, feel a strong bond with their chil-
dren. [ The war had inflicted great damage on the transport
system in general and the railways in particular. [ Society
has changed greatly over the last 20 years. In particular
computers have had a big influence on our lives. [ anything/
nothing/something in particular I asked whether there
was anything in particular I should read in preparation for
the lecture.
above all/o,bAv '3:1/most importantly [adv phrase]
Get plenty of sleep, eat lots of good food, and above all try
to relax. ] There were many qualities that made him a great
leader. Above all, he had charisma. [ above all else (=more
importantly than anything else) Women want better pay,
but above all else they want equal rights.
most of all/,most v ':1/more than anything or anyone
else [adv phrase]
Swimming and tennis are fun, but I like dancing most of all. [
Out of everybody at school she was the person who helped
me most of all. [ I was overcome by a strange sense of loneli-
ness. Most of all I missed my wife Sarah.
least of all I,li:st ov ':1-/especially not [advphrase]
Nobody wants to stop you from following the career of your
choice, least of all me. ] I never thought I'd get married, least
of all to someone as beautiful as Helen.
notably /notbli/ a formal word meaning especially,
used when saying that someone or something is an impor-
tant example of what you are talking about [adv]
Asian countries, notably Japan and Korea, are among the
richest nations in the world. [ A number of respected philos-
ophers, most notably Leibniz, criticized Newton's theories.
of all people/v '3:1 .pi:pal/an expression meaning more
than anyone else, used when someone has said or done
something you think is very surprising or unlikely for
them to do or say [adv phrase]
I don't believe that he, of all people, could say something so
unkind. [ You of all people should have known better.
more than anyone/,m3: r 6an 'eniwAn/more than any
other person [adv phrase]
Freud, more than anyone, was responsible for the establish-
ment of pyschology as a science. [ You more than anyone
should know what it's like to have no money and no job.
special/particular /'speal, prtkj°olr / if you pay
special/particular attention to something or someone,
you pay more attention to them than to any other thing or
person [adj only before noun]
You need to pay particular attention to your spelling - you're
making a lot of careless mistakes. [ I'd like to give my mother
a special mention - she was a big help to me when I was
writing the book.
espionage SPY 1
espionage: counter espionage SPY 1
essence CHARACTER OF STH 1, MAIN 2, MEANING 10
essence: in essence BASIC 4
essential BASIC 1, NEED 5
i essentially BASIC 4
 essentially: basically/essentially MEANING 9
essentials IMPORTANT 9, MAIN 3
establish FIND OUT 1, START STH/MAKE STH START 3
establish a link/connection CONNECTED WITH 6
: esteem: hold sb in high esteem/regard ADMIRE 1
: estimate COST 3, COUNT/CALCULATE 3, 9, GUESS 2,
 :3,4
estimated COUNT/CALCULATE 9
estimated: an estimated APPROXIMATELY 2
!?. estranged SEPARATE 9
ii;! etc AND/ALSO 3
;;- eternal ALWAYS/FOREVER 3
...... eternity: an eternity LONG TIME 1
{ ethical GOOD/MORAL 5, 8
i ethics GOOD/MORAL 9
• ..-: ethnic RACE 2

ethnic group
ethnic group RACE 1
etiquette RULE/REGULATION 2
euphoria HAPPY 8
euthanasia KILL 13
evade AVOID 4, 5
evaluate JUDGE 2
evasive AVOID 5
eve: on the eve of BEFORE 1
even FLAT 1, HORIZONTAL 3
even: break even PROFIT 6
even: get even with REVENGE 1
even-handed FAIR2
even if IF 1
even out EQUAL 6, 8
even so BUT 2"
even-tempered CALM 2
even though ALTHOUGH 1
evening: morning/afternoon/evening HELLO 1
evening meal MEAL 4
evenly matched: be evenly matched EQUAL 4
evenly spaced REGULAR 3
event GAME/MATCH 1, HAPPEN 9, 10
event: in the event of IF 1
event: in the normal course of events USUALLY 1
eventful HAPPEN 13, INTERESTING 4
eventually EVENTUALLY 1, 2
EVENTUALLY
..:
ways of saying that something eventually
happened in the past
ways of saying that something will eventually
happen in the future, although you do not
know when
ways of saying that something is finally
happening now after you have waited for a
long time
1 ways of saying that something eventually
happened in the past
eventually end up
in the end at last
finally in time
eventually I 'ventSuoli, -tSvli/after a long time, especially
after a long delay lady]
"'Did you manage to get what you wanted? .... Well yes, even-
tually. "'1 The train was over three hours late. We eventually
got home at quarter to twelve. I The fire in the office block
was eventually brought under control, but not without a
struggle.
eventual [adj only before noun] He continued to serve as the
president's economic adviser until his eventual retirement
(=until he eventually retired) in 1960.
in the end/n 6i lend/after a long time, during which a
lot has happened lady phrase]
At first I didn't want to go with them but in the end I agreed. I
I spent all afternoon trying to mend the shower. I gave up
in the end. l In the end it was Rita, the junior assistant, who
solved the problem.
finally/fanal-i/after a long time and especially after
much doubt or difficulty lady]
Jim finally decided, after much thought, to leave his job. I
They finally succeeded in tracing the girl's parents. I What
finally convinced me that our theory was correct was an
article in 'Scientific American'.
end up / lend  ^p/if someone or something ends up in a
particular situation or state, they eventually come to be in
that situation or state [phr v I not in progressive]
Forbes ended up in prison for not paying his taxes. I I had
a sweater that my mum knitted that ended up twice the size
429 everlasting
it should have been. I end up doing sth We ended up having
to postpone our decision. I end up as Our chess game finally
ended up as a draw.
at last ]vt lo:st II -IIsq after a long period of waiting or
travelling [adv phrase]
At last the rain stopped and they were able to continue their
game. I I walked for several hours along a dusty road and
at last I came to the edge of a large town. I at long last
(=after waiting or travelling for a very long time) It was late
October when, at long last, our house was ready to move into.
in time/in Ita]m/after a certain period of time, and espe-
cially after a gradual process of change or development
[ adv phrase]
She started as an office junior and in time became director
of the whole company. I Jarvis was a strange man, but in
time I got to like him.
 ways of saying that something will eventually
happen in the future, although you do not
know when
eventually in time
in the end sooner or later
eventually/x 'ventuali, -tali/[adv]
If you walk far enough along this road you will eventually
find the hotel. I Why go on lying to him? You'll have to tell
him the truth eventually. [ Do you think the human race will
eventually destroy itsel]?
in the end ]in 5i end] if something will happen in the
end, it will happen eventually, especially after a very long
time [adv phrase]
You can't escape - wherever you go the police will find you
in the end. I In the end they will win the war, even if they lose
one or two battles.
in time ]in tam] after a certain period of time, and espe-
cially after a gradual process of change or development
[ adv phrase]
He is inexperienced but he will learn in time. I These
proposals will, in time, mean the end of the legal system as
we know it.
sooner or later /su:nar :r iletr / if something is going
to happen sooner or later, it will certainly happen but you
do not know exactly when lady phrase]
Sooner or later you will have to go out and find a job. [ I'm
sure Brian will turn up sooner or later. [ He is worried that
sooner or later his business will fail.
3 ways of saying that something is finally
happening now after you have waited for a
long time
at last
finally
at last/t 'lo:st II -'last/if something is happening or has
happened at last, it is happening now after a long period
of waiting [adv phrase]
The weather is changing at last - winter will soon be over. I
"Dinner's ready!" shouted Nick. "'At last!" said Frank.
last they've finished the meeting.
finally/ falnal-i/if something is finally happening or has
finally happened, it is happening now after a long delay
or after a lot of difficulty [adv]
I'm glad we've found out finally who this purse belongs to.
The government is finally starting to make some progress
in its battle against inflation.
ever ALWAYS/FOREVER 2
ever: as ever/like always USUALLY 2
ever: for ever and ever ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
ever: not ever NEVER 1
ever since SINCE 1
ever so VERY 1
everlasting ALWAYS/FOREVER 3

every
every
which meaning?
everything
@ ALL/
EVERYTHING
every person
in every place
@ EVERYONE
@ EVERYWHERE
every
every
every
every
every
every
every
ALL/EVERYTHING 1, EVERYONE 3
bit of/inch of/ounce of/drop of
ALL/EVERYTHING 2
day/week/year etc REGULAR 1
metre/mile/lO kilometres etc REGULAR 3
one: each and every one EVERYONE 3
place EVERYWHERE 3
so often SOMETIMES 1
every time ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 2, WHEN 2
everyday ORDINARY 1
everyone/everybody EVERYONE 1
everyone: for everyone EVERYONE 4
everyone knows KNOW STH 12
EVERYONE
all the people in a group or in the world
any one of the people in a group or in the
world
every individual person in a group
words for describing something that is for
everyone, affects everyone etc
words for describing feelings that everyone
has, something that everyone does etc
1 all the people in a group or in the world
everyone/everybody
all
the lot of them/us/you
the whole world/office/neighbourhood etc
all and sundry
all round/all around
everyone/everybody /evriwnn, 'evri,bodi II -,bazdi/
[pron]
I'd like to wish everyone here a very happy New Year ! I Every-
body knows that Paris is the capital of France. I Help your-
selves, there's plenty of food for everyone. I It's the sort of place
where everyone knows everyone else.
al|/a:l! every person in a group [predeterminer/quantifier]
all the people/the children/the teachers etc (=all the
ones in a group) John spoke for all the workers. I All the
members turned up for the meeting. I we/you/us etc all We
all felt tired so we didn't go out. I Can you believe it. They
fired us all and closed the factory. I all of us/you/them
Come in, all of you, and sit by the fire. I The police arrested
fifteen fans. All of them live in London. I all people/chil-
dren/teachers etc (=all the ones in the world) All children
love candy.
the lot of them/us/you 15o lt ov 5om, ^s,ju: II -'la:t-/
an informal British expression meaning all the people in
a group, used especially when you do not like those people
[pron]
"'Outside, the lot of you!" he shouted. I I hate the lot of them. I
Those two have tricked the lot of us.
430
EVERYONE
the whole worldlofficelneighbourhood etc/6o
hool (world etc)/everyone in the world, office, neighbour-
hood etc, used especially when this is a surprisingly large
number [n phrase]
On 13th May, Churchill spoke from London and the whole
world listened. I Alright, keep your voice down, you don't
have to tell the whole office. I The whole town has been
affected by this disaster. Everyone knows someone who died.
aii and sundry/,a:l on 'sAdri/ an informal expression
meaning everyone, used especially when everyone has
been told something or invited to something and you think
that fewer people should have been told or invited In
phrase]
Her sister told her mother, who then told all and sundry. I
I don't want to invite all and sundry, just a few close friends.
all round (British) I all around (American) /,a:|
(o)raund/ if there are smiles, tears, bad feelings etc all
round, everyone in a group smiles, cries, feels angry etc
[adv phrase]
There were smiles all round as he stood up to make his
speech. I After the argument there were bad feelings all
around. I There were tears all round when it was time for
us to go back to England.
2 any one of the people in a group or in the
world
anyone/anybody whoever
any no matter who
any Tom, Dick or Harry any fool/any idiot
anyone/anybody/'eniwAn, 'eni,bodi II -,ba:di/[pron]
Don't worry about it. It can happen to anyone. I Chocolate
cake isn't difficult to make. Anyone could do it. I Sarah liked
him more than anyone else she knew. I Anyone who wants
to go on the trip should sign this list.
any / eni/(used especially when you are definitely not talk-
ing about a specific named person) [determiner/pron]
any/man/child/teacher etc Ask any teacher and they'll
tell you I'm right. [ any of the men/the children/the
teachers etc Any of the people in the crowd could have fired
the pistol. I any of you/them/us They all know who did
it. Ask any of them.
any Tom, Dick or Harry/eni tom ,dik a: r heri ]]
-ta:m-/an informal expression meaning anyone in the
world, used especially when you mean that you should be
more careful about who you choose to do something In
phrase]
I wouldn't tell just any Tom, Dick or Harry. I If you don "t
have someone at the door, any Tom, Dick or Harry could turn
up at the party and walk straight in.
whoever/hu:'evor/ if something happens in the same
way whoever is involved, it happens in the same way with
anyone [pron]
Whoever you ask, you will get the same answer. I He always
smiled and raised his hat to whoever came his way.
no matter who/noo ,mato r hu:/if something happens
in the same way no matter who is involved, it happens
in the same way with anyone and it is not important who
they are [pron]
Sam wanted to feel that others, no matter who they were,
agreed with him. [ If someone comes to your door you should
always ask for some form of identification, no matter who
they say they are.
any fool/any idiot/eni  fu:l, eni  Idiot/if you say that any
fool or any idiot can do something, you mean that anyone
can do it because it is extremely easy, and if someone
cannot do it they must be very stupid In phrase]
Any fool could see that the child was unhappy. [ I've never
been very good with machines but our new microwave is
excellent - any fool can use it.
3 every individual person in a group
each
every
each and every one

EVERY ONE 431 EVERYWHERE
each/i:tf/[determiner/pron]
each person/member/student etc Each member of the
winning team received a medal and shook the Queen's hand. I
we/they etc each There were six of us in the expedition and
we each had different reasons for taking part. I each of you/
them/us The nurse went from bed to bed giving each one
of us our drugs or medicine. I each one Children follow the
same pattern of physical development but each one at a differ-
ent pace. I one/a piece/a few etc each There are six sweets
left; that means we can have three each.
every /evri/a word meaning every person in a group,
used especially when saying that all of them must do some-
thing, or all of them are certain to do something
[determinerl
Every teacher knows that classwork can be exhausting. I
Every new member of staff has to sign a special declaration
of secrecy. I every single (=every one, making sure that
none at all are missed out) Fire regulations state that every
single child should be out of the building in three minutes. I
The employees had all been very hard-working and loyal but
Mr Davidson had to ask every single one of them to leave.
each and every one / i:t nd ,cvri 'w^n/an expression
meaning every person in a group, especially if you think
it is surprising that every person is included [pron]
There were over two hundred children in the hospital but
each and every one was given a large Christmas present. ]
each and every one of you/them/us Each and every one
of us saw him take the money and are prepared to say so in
court.
unanimously [ adv ] The board agreed unanimously not to
negotiate.
collective/klektIv/collective decisions, responsibil-
ities, guilt etc, are shared or made by every member of a
group [adj usually before noun]
Unless we act now to protect the environment, we shall have
failed in our collective responsibility to future generations. [
The present crisis is a result of the collective failure of the
political parties to put forward a plausible economic
programme.
collectively lady] Collectively (=taken as a group), the
tobacco companies spend about Ј10 million on advertising
a year. I the various economic reforms now known collec-
tively as perestroika
common / kornn [I 'ka:-/something that is common to
everyone is something that everyone shares [adj]
Luckily we all had a common language, English, which
meant we could communicate with each other. I Monkeys and
apes are so similar that it is reasonable to say they have a
common ancestor. I common to These problerns are common
to all modern societies.
share/Jer/if people share a feeling, belief etc, they all
have that feeling, belief etc Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
One thing united all three men, they shared a burning hatred
of the political regime under which they lived. I None of us
are close friends but we all share an interest in sport.
shared [adj] All of us felt a shared responsibility towards
our widowed mother.
4 words for describing something that is for
everyone, affects everyone etc
for everyone across the board
all round/all around for all
for everyone/fr 'evriw^n/[adv phrase]
Don't worry. There's enough for everyone. I The new system
will provide benefits for everyone. [ The snow meant
problems for everyone.
all round (British) I all around (American)/,:1 ()'raond/
if people get something all round or all around someone
gives something to everyone [adv phrase]
Bernie ordered drinks all round. I Miss Western shook hands
all around and led the way up the stairs.
across the board/,kros 6 'b:rd/ff something, espe-
cially a change, happens across the board, it affects or
involves everyone, especially in a company or organization
lady phrase]
They decided on a pay-increase of 10% across the board. [
There will be changes across the board.
for all/fr ':1/an expression meaning for everyone, used
especially when talking about something that everyone
deserves to have, such as a job, or freedom lady phrase]
dustice for all! I In his acceptance speech the President
promised civil rights for all. [ There would be jobs for all in
an ideal society.
5 words for describing feelings that everyone
has, something that everyone does etc
universal common
unanimous share
collective
universal/,ju:n 'va:rsal,/done, felt, used etc by every-
one [adj]
There does not appear to be universal agreement on the
future of the British monarchy. [ It is not easy to write a song
that has universal appeal.
universally lady] He was a great man who was universally
admired.
unanimous/ju:'nmnms/unanimous decisionCoteL view, ete (=one that everyone agrees with) [adj]
The committee reached a unanimous decision to close the
hospital. [ There has been a unanimous vote in favour of
electing Mr Watson. [ be unanimous in The Symbolist poets
and artists were unanimous in their aversion to the photo-
graphic image.
everything ALL/EVERYTHING 1
everything: have everything going for you
ADVANTAGE 3
everything: mean/be everything to IMPORTANT 5
everything but the kitchen sink ALL/EVERYTHING 3
everywhere EVERYWHERE 1, 2, 3
everywhere: be everywhere C©MM©N 1
@ EVERYWHERE
1 in every country or area of the world
2 in or on every part of a building, area, or
surface
3 in or to every part or many parts of a town,
country etc
4 in or to any place
I in every country or area of the world
everywhere global
all over the world the world over
worldwide
everywhere / evriwer/[adv]
Everywhere, even in the Antarctic, there are signs that the
Earth is getting warmer. I Women everywhere are beginning
to assert their rights. ] a message of hope for peace-loving
people everywhere
all over the world/::1 ov r ( =w3:rld/in every part
of the world, used especially to say how much a particular
idea, organization etc has spread lady phrase]
The Red Cross is a large organization with members all over
the world. [ The concert was televised and was watched by
millions of people all over the world. ] All over the world peo-
ple's lives are being changed by the new technology.
worldwide /,w3:rld=wad-/ happening, existing, or
having an effect in all parts of the world [adj]
The firm has a worldwide reputation for efficient service. I
a worldwide campaign to combat AIDS
worldwide [ adv ] The telecommunications network operates
worldwide (=in all parts of the world). [ Of the 12 million
refugees worldwide, 6 million are under 18.
global/'gbubdl/a word used especially in newspapers,
meaning involving or including the whole world [adj
usually before noun]

EVERYWHERE 432 EXACT
It is vital to enforce a global ban on whaling. I Only the UN
can tackle global problems like pollution of the atmosphere.
the world over/6 ,w3:rld 'oovor/an expression mean-
ing in every country or area of the world, used especially
when saying that something is the same in each country
[adv phrase]
Hollywood films are popular the world over. I Children are
much the same the world over; they all enjoy a good story.
2 in or on every part of a building, area, or
surface
everywhere be covered in
all over all over the place
everywhere / ' evriweor/[adv]
The whole street was flooded; there was water everywhere. I
The fire spread everywhere, especially over the east side of
the island. I Everywhere in the hospital I was aware of a
strong antiseptic smell.
all over ]:l uv r] in or on every part of something
[prep/adv l
By the time he'd finished eating the cake he had chocolate all
over his face. I Fiona "s got posters of Michael Jackson all over
her bedroom wall. I They've painted their house pink all over.
It looks awful. I I played tennis yesterday and when I woke
up this morning I was aching all over.
be covered in/bi: 'k^vzrd n/if someone or something
is covered in something, especially a substance or liquid,
they have it in or on every part of them Iv phrase]
You're covered in mud! What on earth have you been doing? l
The garden was absolutely covered in leaves by the time the
storm passed.
all over the place /:1 ,ov r ( 'ples/ an informal
expression meaning left or put untidily in many different
parts of a room, building etc [adv phrase]
I looked into his room - there were clothes and old maga-
zines all over the place. [ The baby didn't want to eat its food
and started throwing it all over the place.
3 in or to every part or many parts of a town,
country etc
everywhere
every place
all over
wherever you go/
look
here, there and
everywhere
nationwide
widespread
all over the place
everywhere/'evriwer/[advl
Ah, you've found my keys. I've been looking everywhere for
them. ] Health clubs are everywhere nowadays. ] The tourists
said they were tired of London; they'd been everywhere and
seen everything.
every place/'evri plels/ an informal American word
meaning everywhere [adv]
We searched every place but we couldn't find him. It turned
out he'd been home all the time.
all over/:1 'aovr/in or to many different parts of a town,
country etc, especially when you want to say that you have
been to many places [prep/adv]
The choir has sung in concerts all over the country. I We have
branches of the bank all over the city. ] We really enjoyed our
holiday in Canada. We travelled all over.
wherever you go/look/wer,ev r ju: goo, *lok] if you
find a particular thing wherever you go or look, you find
it in all the different places that you go to or look in [adv
phrase]
There seem to be fountains wherever you look in this park. [
When I was in India I saw poverty wherever I went. [ He
seems to make friends wherever he goes.
here, there and everywhere /,hid r ,6ear ond
evriwer/an informal expression meaning in many differ-
ent places, without any particular plan or pattern [adv
phrase]
I've been collecting bits of information from here, there and
everywhere. ] There are so many video shops in the town now.
They seem to be springing up here, there, and everywhere.
nationwide/,neifdn'waid,/nationwide search/hunt/
survey etc (=done in every part of the country) [adj usually
before noun]
a nationwide hunt for the murderer ] A nationwide survey
of schools shows that conditions are not improving.
nationwide [adv] a major food retailing company with over
200 stores nationwide
widespread/ wadspred/something, especially a bad sit-
uation, that is widespread is happening in many parts of
a town, country etc, in a way that is impossible to stop or
control [adjl
The government does not have sufficient funds to deal with
the widespread famine and disease. I Yesterday's riots are
continuing and the looting is becoming widespread.
all over the place/:1 ,ovo r 8 'pleis/ an informal
expression meaning in or to many different parts of a town
or country lady phrase]
When I was in the army I travelled all over the place. I He
went all over the place looking for a shop selling corkscrews
but couldn't find one.
4 in or to any place
anywhere/any place
anywhere (also any place in American English)
/'eniweo r, 'eni pleis/lady]
You can buy them anywhere and they are very cheap. I We
never go any place or do anything interesting. I anywhere
in Is there a supermarket anywhere in this town? I any-
where else I'm so happy here. I couldn't possibly imagine
living anywhere else. I anywhere near The children were
never allowed to go anywhere near the main road.
evict LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 3
evidence PROVE 3, SIGN/INDICATION 1
evidence: be evidence SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 2
evident OBVIOUS 1
evidently OBVIOUS 2
evil BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 1, 6, BAD
PERSON 1
evocative REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 2
evoke CAUSE 4, REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 2
evolution DEVELOP 3
evolve DEVELOP 1, 4
evolve from COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7
ex PAST 4
ex-husbandlex-wife DIVORCE 3
exacerbate WORSE 5
exact EXACT 1, 2
exact/precise location PLACE 2
EXACT
perfectly true or correct in every detail
1 words for describing a number, amount, time
etc that is exact
2 words for describing an exact copy,
translation, description etc
3 exactly a particular time
4 exactly a particular number or amount
5 ways of saying exactly what, how, where etc
6 ways of saying that something hits or lands
on an exact point or position
7 doing something in exactly a particular way
8 exactly the right one, exactly the one you
want etc
9 not exact
1 words for describing a number, amount, time
etc that is exact
exact
precise

EXACT 433 EXACT
exact/lg'z3ekt/[adj usually before noun]
I looked at the clock and noted the exact time;four twenty-
seven. I Satellite pictures have given us the exact locations
of secret stores of weapons. I The exact amount of tax you pay
depends on the size of your family. I He said, and I remem-
ber his exact words: "'IfI could afford it, I'd buy you anything
you wanted; anything at all." l to be exact (used when
giving an exact answer, statement etc) The other day -
Thursday, to be exact -" Dr Mortimer lunched with us.
precise/pr sas/precise details, costs, measurements
etc are exact [adj]
If you telephone for help after breaking down, we will need
the precise details of your location. I The precise cost of the
project is almost impossible to estimate. I By giving him a
precise time when I would arrive, I ensured that someone
would be at home. I be precise (=give precise information)
It is difficult to be precise about the numbers of casualties
as information is not available.
precision/pri 'ssdn/In U] The important things are safety
and precision (=being precise).
2 words for describing an exact copy,
translation, description etc
exact strict
accurate literal
faithful word for word
exact/lg'zmkt/[adj]
They built an exact replica of the famous opera house in
Naples. I The exact translation is :iungle man" but it means
"ape" or "monkey'. I The witness gave an exact account of how
she had obtained the cheques.
accurate/'ekj °mt/exact, because it has been written or
made very carefully [adj]
You must keep an accurate record of work, so that other
people know what you have done. I Her new novel set in 19th
century India provides a historically accurate picture of the
times. I The translations are always accurate and usually
done with great style.
faithful/feOfal/a faithful copy of something is as close
as possible to the original [adj usually before noun]
His toy cars are faithful copies of the originals. I This is a
faithful reconstruction of the Anglo-Saxon village that stood
here.
faithfully lady] I copied the drawing as faithfully as I could.
strict/strkt/strict sense/interpretation/order (=one
that is exact and correct according to accepted rules) [adj
usually before noun]
In the strict sense of the word, we do not have any "rights"
at all. I Dates must be listed in strict chronological order. I
A strict interpretation of the regulations would cause chaos.
literal/'ltarl/literal translation/meaning/interpre-
tation (=one that has exactly the same words or meaning
as the original)[adv usually before noun]
A literal translation of the text might sound odd in English. I
Government policy was nationalization in the literal mean-
ing of the word. I Many idioms defy literal interpretation,
and have to be understood metaphorically,
literally [adv] "Vino de tavola" literally means "table wine'.
word for word/Iw3:rd fr ,w3:rd/if you r.epeat, learn,
or copy something word for word, you use the exact words
that are in it lady phrase]
How is it that you can repeat word for word what the man
said? l Brand knew the regulations word for word; he'd
learned them when he was a junior officer. I If you translate
something word for word, you sometimes produce garbage.
3 exactly a particular time
exactly on the dot
precisely sharp
exactly/g'zeektli/[adv]
She looked at her watch. It was lO.30 exactly. [At exactly half
past eight the doors will be opened. I We arrived home at
exactly the same time.
precisely/pr: saisli/a word meaning exactly, used espe-
cially in careful descriptions or instructions [adv]
It was precisely 4.37 in the morning as a large black car
stopped at the front door. I At precisely three o'clock the
bombs exploded.
on the dot/. 6z dtt [I -do:t/an informal expression:
if you do something at a particular time on the dot, you
do it at exactly that time because you do not want to be late
[adv phrase]
on the dot of six/ten/nine-thirty etc The pub doors
opened on the dot of six and we marched in. I at six/ten/
nine-thirty etc on the dot At ten o'clock on the dot he left
my place and went home.
sharp Ifa:rp/at nine o'clock/six/ten-thirty sharp (=at
exactly nine o'clock etc, when this is the time when some-
one should arrive, when something should happen etc)
lady]
I arrived at Piccadilly at 8 o'clock sharp. [ The film begins
at four o'clock sharp so get there early.
4 exactly a particular number or amount
exactly
precisely
exactly/:g'zektli/[adv]
There were exactly twenty four bottles so we had three each. I
You 71 need exactly three cubic metres of concrete. I After tax
it came to $95 exactly.
precisely/pr 'sasli/a word meaning exactly, used espe-
cially in careful descriptions [adv]
The gap between the two surfaces must be precisely 3. 75 cen-
timetres.
5 ways of saying exactly what, how, where etc
exactly
just
precisely
exactly IIg'zmktli/[adv]
The doctors can't say exactly what's wrong with mother;
we're very worried about her. [ Where exactly do you come
from? I can't quite place your accent.
Just Id3Asq an informal word used in spoken English,
meaning exactly lady]
That's just the right place for the vase, don "t you think?[ I'm
so glad you're expecting a baby; that's just what I wanted
to hear.
precisely/prl sasli/(:used especially in careful descrip-
tions) [adv]
I cannot remember precisely what I did that afternoon. [ We
want to know precisely what funds are available.
6 ways of saying that something hits or lands
on an exact point or position
right smack
bang plumb
right/rait/[adv]
right in/on/up etc He hit me right in the eye! I She ran out
right in front of the car and the driver couldn't avoid her! l
The space capsule landed right on target two miles from
shore.
bang/beeo/an informal word meaning on an exact point
or position Iadv]
bang in/on/up ere It hit him bang on the back of the neck. I
He dropped the mug of coffee bang in the middle of my
research papers!
smack/smeek/smack in the middle of/in front of(=an
informal word meaning exactly in a place, especially when
this is unpleasant in some way) [adv]
They live smack in the middle of a large housing estate. I She
was standing smack in the middle of the room. I A garbage
truck decided to park smack in front of our house.

EXACT 434 EXAGGERATE
plumb/plAto/plumb in the middle/through the middle
(=an informal word meaning in or through the middle)
[advl
An old oak tree stood plumb in the centre of the field. I She
cut the birthday cake plumb through the middle.
7 doing something in exactly a particular way
exactly religiously
strictly to the letter
exactly/ig'zektli/[advl
Assemble the table exactly as shown in the diagram on the
left. I The manager will tell you exactly how the forms should
be filled in.
strictly/' stnktli! if you follow rules, instructions or a plan
strictly, you make sure that everything you do is exactly
allowed or included in the rules, plan etc |adv]
If we do this strictly by the rules, we'll never finish it. I The
immigration laws have been strictly implemented. I Martha
and Joan kept strictly to their part of the house.
religiously/rl 'ldssli/if you do something religiously,
you do it in exactly the way that you are supposed to do it
[adv]
I followed the instructions religiously, but could not make
the machine work. I Julia lost weight by sticking religiously
to her diet. I They come to class religiously every week, but
to be honest, they don't learn much English.
to the letter Ira 6a 'letar! ffyou obey rules or instructions
to the letter, you obey them exactly, even if this means
doing something that is not sensible [adv phrase]
People follow the company's guidelines to the letter. [ The
instructions given in chapters 25-31 must be carried out to
the letter.
8 exactly the right one, exactly the one you
want etc
exactly
just
precisely
exactly/ig'zektli/[adv only before nouns and who, what
etc]
This is exactly the kind of job that computers are good at. I
"Do you mean the tall man from the butcher's? .... That's
exactly who I mean!'" I They knew exactly what they wanted.
Just/dSAst/(=an informal word, used especially in spoken
English) lady]
I'm not sure just who you mean. I Mallorca? That's just
where we had our holiday. I He said he was leaving her and
proceeded to do just that!
precisely/pr; 'saisli/(=used especially in careful descrip-
tion, arguments etc) [adv]
What, precisely, do you mean by "relativity'. I His depression
was caused by precisely those qualities which made him a
popular writer.
9 not exact
vague inexact
rough loose
hazy impressionistic
vague/veg/an explanation, promise, reason etc that is
vague is not exact, but you think that it should be [adj]
The doctor's vague explanations only increased Clara's
fears. I No one was willing to say exactly what Alma had lied
about, beyond vague references to "protecting others'. I be
vague about (=explain something in a vague way) The
management was vague about the details of wage increases.
vaguely [adv] They murmured vaguely when I asked how
long they had been there.
rough/r^f/a rough calculation, guide, idea etc is not
exact, especially because it is done or thought of quickly
[adj only before noun]
Here are some rough calculations of the costs. I I can only
give a rough indication of where the problems lie. ] It's only
a rough guide but this is basically what you should do.
hazy !'heizi/a memory, understanding, idea etc that is
hazy is not clear and not exact [adj]
I only have a hazy idea of how this thing works. I Her
recollections, though hazy, made it clear that she could have
seen the attacker. I a hazy memory of a long, low cottage with
an apple tree by the door
inexact/, inig'zmkt,/a formal word meaning not exact
[adj]
This method is relatively simple, but notoriously inexact. I
Finding people with the right level of competence and
experience for the job can be a time-consuming and inexact
process.
loose flu:s! loose translation/interpretation/sense
(=not exact) [adj usually before noun]
This is only a loose translation of the original paper. I A
looser interpretation of the law would lead to more con-
victions.
loosely [adj] The term "empire" is often loosely applied to a
federation of states.
Impressionistic / m, preJ'a 'mstlk/an impressionistic
account or description is not exact, because it is based on
feelings, not facts [adj]
The story of his adventures in Canada is impressionistic
rather than factual. [ Evaluation of teacher effectiveness is
often vague and impressionistic.
exacting DIFFICULT 2
exactly EXACT 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
exaggerate EXAGGERATE 1
EXAGGERATE
to make something seem bigger, more
important, more serious etc than it really is
1 to make something seem better, more
important etc than it really is
2 to make a situation or problem seem worse or
more serious than it really is
3 words for describing statements, claims etc
that exaggerate
I to make something seem better, more
important etc than it really is
exaggerate overrate
overstate stretch the truth
overem phasize overdo
exaggerate/;g'zedsaret/Iv I/T]
Darren says that he's seen "The Great Escape" at least twenty-
five times but I think he's exaggerating. I "I'm bleeding to
death! .... Don't exaggerate - it's only a little cut. "'1 exagger-
ate sth It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this
meeting. I greatly exaggerate (=exaggerate a lot) Freder-
ick's cruelty to his animals has been greatly exaggerated.
overstate / ,aovar'steit/to describe something, especially
a situation, in a way that makes it sound more important
or serious than it really is, especially because you want to
get people's attention Iv T]
overstate sth It is hard to overstate the importance of oil
in the economy - it has made the country solvent again. I
Some residents said that the dangers had been overstated,
until one of the children was actually killed in the woods. I
overstate your case/the case (=exaggerate the facts that
support what you are saying) Like a politician I may have
overstated my case in order to make my point.
overemphasize (also .ise British)/,uvr'emfasaiz/to
pay too much attention to a particular detail in something
that you are describing and make it seem more important
than it really is Iv T]
The report overemphasizes the role of the teacher. Children
also learn from their parents and from each other. I It has
been said that the benefits of the drug have been oeremphas-
ized, while the risks have not been adequately explored. I The

EXAGGERATE 435 EXAM/TEST
importance of strict hygiene in the preparation of food cannot
be overemphasized.
overrate ! ,auv'reiq to consider someone or something
to be better, more effective etc than they really are Iv T]
Some people adored Elvis Presley, but I think people over-
rate him. I It is impossible to overrate the therapeutic effect
of massage on the human body. I be vastly/greatly over-
rated I like junk food but these new freeze dried meals are
vastly overrated.
stretch the truth / ,stret 6a 'tru:01 to exaggerate some-
thing so much that it is almost not true Iv phrase]
It's stretching the truth to say Chris is a born leader,
although he does manage people quite well. I be stretching
it They say she sings like Madonna, but that's stretching it
a little.
overdo/,)uvr'du:/to do something in such an exagger-
ated way that you spoil the effect that you want it to have
and you do not get the result that you wanted Iv T]
overdo it I pretended to be sick but she didn't believe me,
I think I overdid it. I Be friendly with her, but don't overdo
it. She might get the wrong idea. I overdo sth We only
wanted to frighten Mrs Wilkinson a little, but her screams
made us think perhaps we'd overdone the ghost noises.
to make a situation or problem seem worse or
more serious than it really is
make too much of dramatize/
blow sth up out of all overdramatize
proportion be melodramatic
lay it on make a thing of
make too much of/ImeIk tu: 'm^t ov/to treat some-
thing that has happened as though it were more important
or serious than it really is Iv phrase]
The press made too much of his stupid remark. He was only
joking. I She loved the fact that he'd given her]lowers, but
she didn't make too much of it in case he never did it again.
blow sth up out of all proportion/Iblo (sth) ^p aot
v 3:1 pm'p3:rdn/ to unnecessarily become extremely
annoyed, upset, worried etc about something that has hap-
pened, because you think the situation is worse or more
serious than it really is Iv phrase]
It was just a simple disagreement. Don't blow it up out of all
proportion. I The management is obviously very concerned,
but we do not want the incident to be blown up out of all
proportion.
lay it on I lei it n/an informal expression meaning to
deliberately exaggerate an emotion or feeling, especially
because you want to make someone feel sorry for you Iv
phrase]
Alright, don't lay it on. I'm sorry. I lay it on thick You really
laid it on thick with that woman. She was nearly crying, she
felt so sorry for you.
dramatlzeloverdramatize (also .ise British)/'dram-
taz, ovr'dramtaz/to describe a situation in a way that
makes it seem more serious than it is because you want
to make it seem more interesting or exciting Iv T]
Don't dramatize the situation. Just tell us the facts, as simply
as you can. I The scandal, although undoubtedly overdrama-
tized by the press, will rock the world of politics for some time
to come.
be melodramatic/bi: ,meldm'maetik/to behave as
though the situation you are in is more serious than it
really is, so that you seem too sensitive or silly Iv phrase]
Oh, don't be so melodramatic/You're not the only one who
has ever failed a driving test. [ She says she'll kill herself if
I leave her. I hope she's just being melodramatic, t
make a thing of/,melk  'O;rj or/an informal expres-
sion meaning to make a situation or problem seem worse
by talking about it all the time Iv phrase]
Don't make a thing of it. The more you ask her to stop smok-
ing the more she'll do it. [ No one would have even noticed
he was drunk if his wife hadn't made such a thing of it. [
make a big thing of If you make a big thing of having no
money he might offer to pay for your meal.
3 words for describing statements, claims etc
that exaggerate
exaggerated
extravagant
exaggeration
overstatement
melodramatic
it is an exaggeration
to say/claim etc
exaggerated/]g'zaedszreItId/[adj]
The boys sat around the fire telling exaggerated stories about
their sporting achievements. I The numbers killed in the mas-
sacre are probably exaggerated but nevertheless most of the
tribes have been decimated. I wildly exaggerated (=ex-
tremely exaggerated) Some wildly exaggerated claims have
been made about this so-called 'wonder-drug'.
extravagant/ik' straevogont/something that is extrava-
gant exaggerates so much that it seems unreasonable or
embarrassing [ adj]
Extravagant claims have been made for some herbal reme-
dies including the curing of baldness. [ I found my mother's
extravagant displays of affection embarrassing.
exaggeration/ig zdso reIdn/a statement that makes
something seem better or worse, bigger or smaller etc than
it really is In C/U]
dim "s not fat, that's an exaggeration. He's just a little over-
weight. [ How much of the story was exaggeration is impos-
sible to say. [ gross exaggeration (=a big exaggeration) It
would be a gross exaggeration to describe the film as a
masterpiece, but it has some good moments.
overstatement /'owrsteItmnt/ a statement that
describes a situation as being more important, better,
serious etc than it really is In C]
He said she was really beautiful - a slight overstatement I
thought. [ To say the company was going bankrupt is an
overstatement. We have one or two financial problems, that's
all.
melodramatic / Imeldmmeuk/a statement, claim etc
that is melodramatic makes the situation seem more
serious than it really is, so that people think the person who
says it is too sensitive, silly etc [adj]
His story about how they were stranded at the airport was
so melodramatic it was ridiculous. I The defendant made a
rather melodramatic appeal for a lenient sentence.
it is an exaggeration to say/claim etc/t z n
gzmds'ren t (say, etc)l if you say that it is an exag-
geration to say or claim something, you mean that if you
said it you would be exaggerating, even though it is partly
true
It is an exaggeration to say that he earns more money than
anyone I know, but he is certainly very well paid. I It is no
exaggeration at all to say that unless we tackle this problem
it will destroy us.
exaggerated EXAGGERATE 3
exaggeration EXAGGERATE 3
exaggeration: it is an exaggeration to say/claim etc
EXAGGERATE 3
exam EXAM/TEST 1
exam: give sb a test/exam EXAM/TEST 4
EXAM/TEST
an exam or test
to do an exam
someone who does an exam
to give someone a test or exam
a person who judges an exam or test
an exam or test
exam
examination
test
quiz
oral
practical
final
assessment
testing

EXAM/TEST 436 examine
exam/ig'zeeml a set of questions to find out how much
someone knows about a particular subject, especially one
that is given at the end of a course of study, or at the end
of a school year In C]
Did you do well in your exams? I The first question on the
exam paper was really difficult. I history/French/typing
etc exam Danny has his biology exam tomorrow and he
hasn't done any revison for it yet. I exam on At the end of
the course there's an hour's written exam on everything
you've learned. I entrance exam (=an exam you take in
order to enter a school or university) The entrance exams
for Tokyo University are extremely competitive. I pass/fail
an exam Anyone who fails this exam will have to do it again
in two months. I To pass this exam you must score 40% or
over.
examination/g,zamg 'ne,fdn/a formal or official word
for exam In C]
The examination results will be announced in September. I
Students are required to sit written examinations at the end
of the first year. I pass/fail an examination Having failed
his examinations, Colin left university and found work as
a salesman.
test/test/a short set of spoken or written questions to find
out how much a person knows about a particular subject,
or a practical activity that someone must do to show their
ability In C]
spelling/reading/Biology etc test In the spelling test
Bobby only got one word wrong. ] test on The teacher's
giving us a test this afternoon on English grammar. ] pass/
fail a test I'm happy to tell you that you passed all the tests.I
driving test He failed his driving test because he didn't
signal before turning.
quiz/kwz/an American word meaning a quick short test
that a teacher gives to his or her class In Cl
When I was at college we used to get quizzes almost every
week. I pop quiz (=a quiz given suddenly and unexpectedly)
The teacher threw a pop quiz at us and I got a really low
score.
oral /'a:ml/ a word used especially in British English
meaning a spoken exam, especially one that tests your abil-
ity to speak a foreign language In C]
Terry got an A in his Spanish oral.
practical/'prmkt;kdl/a British word meaning an exam
that tests your ability to do things, rather than write about
them, for example in a subject such as chemistry, cooking,
or photography In C]
We've got our chemistry practical tomorrow morning.
final/'fa,nl/the last exam that someone takes at the end
of a course of study, especially at a university In C usually
plural in British English]
During my finals I was revising till midnight almost every
night. [ When's your biology final?
assessment/a'sesmnt/a method used to find out how
good a student is at a particular subject, for example by
giving them written work, tests, or exams In U]
Assessment is by means of a written exam at the end of the
course. I continuous assessment (=assessment through-
out a student's course of study, instead of only at the end)
Most schools nowadays prefer to use continuous assessment,
because it gives a fairer picture of how the student has done
during the whole year.
testing [ 'test,tj/the system of using exams and tests to
find out how good someone is at a particular subject In U]
The government plans to introduce compulsory testing in
junior schools from the age of 7. ] I believe that some sort of
testing is always necessary in order to motivate students.
2 to do an exam
take do
sit have
take/te,k/[v T]
Only 25% of all the students who took this exam passed. I I
took my driving test when I was 18, but failed.
sit/Sit/a British word meaning to take a written school
or college exam Iv T I
I sat my final exams last year.
do/du:/an informal word meaning to do an exam Iv T]
I'd better go home - I've got to do an exam in the morning. I
The kids are doing a test this morning.
have (also have got in British English)/hazy, hav 'gDt [I
-'go:t/if you have an exam, you are going to do one, espe-
cially at a particular time or on a particular day Iv T]
I have a written exam in the morning and an oral in the
afternoon. I She's got her driving test next week.
3 someone who does an exam
candidate
candidate/'kanddt II -de,t, -dt/a British word mean-
ing someone who does an exam In C]
Candidates should be at their desks 5 minutes before the start
of the examination.
4 to give someone a test or exam
give sb a test/exam set sb a test
test examine
give sb a test/exam/,gv (sb)  'test, ,g'zam/to make
someone answer a set of questions, especially questions
about a particular subject Iv phrase]
I hope she doesn "t give us a test - I don "t know anything about
American History. I give sb a test/exam on Before the inter-
view they give you a test on computers.
test/test/to ask someone written or spoken questions in
order to find out what they know about a particular sub-
ject Iv T ]
test sb Some teachers are against testing children at such
a young age. ] test sb on Make sure you understand every-
thing you've learned because tomorrow you'll be tested on it.
set sb a test/set (sb) a test/a British expression mean-
ing to give students a set of written questions about a sub-
ject [ v phrasel
Next lesson I'm setting you all a test to see how much you've
learned.
examine/g'zamn/a formal word meaning to ask some-
one questions in an exam in order to find out what they
know about a particular subject Iv T]
examine sb on Students will be examined on all aspects of
Russian literature and history. [ examine sb To save time,
students will be examined in groups of three.
5 a person who judges an exam or test
examiner
examiner/ig'zamnor/a British word meaning a person
who judges exams or tests In C]
The examiner told him to relax and then asked him to turn
on the engine. I Students who, in the opinion of the
examiners, do not reach the required standard must take the
exam again.
examination EXAM/TEST 1, EXAMINE 3
examine EXAM/TEST 4, EXAMINE 1, 2, LOOK AT 4
examine: need your head examined CRAZY 1

EXAMINE 37 EXAMINE
EXAMINE
to carefully look at or consider objects,
people, facts, or methods in order to find
something out or make a judgement
1 to examine something in order to find
something out or make decisions
2 to examine a person, for example in order to
find out if they are healthy or are doing a job
properly
3 an act of examining something or someone
1 to examine something in order to find
something out or make decisions
examine go through/over
look at/have a look look over
at/take a look at check
analyze check over
study scrutinize
inspect
examine/Ig'zmn/[v T]
exam.ine sth Experts who examined the painting believe it
is genuine. I Her new book examines the causes of social dis-
content. I Having carefully examined all the technical evid-
ence, we have decided to make certain changes in the engine
design. I examine sth for (=in order to find something) The
police will examine the weapon for fingerprints.
look at/have a look at/take a look at/'luk t, ,hey
a lok at, Iteik  lok at/to study and consider something
such as an idea, a problem, or a possible plan, especially
in order to decide what to do Iv T]
We need to look very carefully at ways of improving our effi-
ciency. [ The bank is looking at a number of investment
opportunities. I I think we should have a look at the whole
issue of women's rights. I Let's take a closer look at language
as a system of communication.
analyze (also analyse in British English)/'mnlaz/to
examine something closely and in detail, especially a
problem or a piece of information, in order to understand
it [v T]
We have to identify and analyze the company's problems
before we can solve them. I A computer analyses all the data
sent back by the satellite. I Who gets the money is a key ques-
tion in analyzing the federal aid program.
study / ' stAdi/to spend a lot of time examining something
very carefully, for example a document, a plan, or a
problem Iv T ]
I haven't had time to study these proposals so I can't com-
ment on them. [ I studied the map for a long time, trying to
choose the most suitable route for our journey. ] A team of
scientists has been studying the effects of acid rain over a
twenty-year period.
Inspect/in'spekt/to look at something closely in order
to find out more about it or find out if it is satisfactory, espe-
cially because it is your job or official duty to do this Iv T]
The building is regularly inspected by afire-safety officer.[
Russian and American teams will have the right to inspect
each other's missile sites. [ Realizing that the front wheel had
hit a large stone, I got out of the car to inspect the damage.
go through/over / ,gu '0ru:, 'ovarl to examine some-
thing such as a document or plan thoroughly from begin-
ning to end, especially in order to check that it is correct
[vT]
I'd like to go over last month's accounts with you. I We went
over the contract with our lawyers until we were satisfied
that it was foolproof.
look over/,lok 'ovar/to look at every part of something
in order to see if it is satisfactory, but fairly quickly and
without paying much attention to detail [phr v T]
look over sth I've looked over all the documents and they
seem okay, but I'll need more time to study them. I look sth/
it/them over I've brought along some samples of my work.
Do you have a few minutes to look them over? I She looked
the car over with an expert eye and asked its price.
check/tj'ek/to examine something to make sure that it
is correct, safe, or satisfactory Iv T]
check sth An inspector would visit the hospital regularly
to check standards of hygiene. [ Their passports were checked
by immigration officers at the airport. [ check sth for (=in
order to find) Check the building for structural damage.
check over/,tj'ek aovar/to quickly examine every part
of something to make sure that it is correct or safe [phr v T]
check over sth The editor always checks over what I've
written. [ check sth/it/them over I've asked the mechanic
to check the car over before we go on vacation.
scrutinize (also -ise British)/'skru:t'naz/to examine
something very closely and carefully in order to find out
whether there is anything wrong, especially because it is
your official duty to do this Iv T]
The inspectors have the power to scrutinize all cargo docu-
ments in detail. I It is the duty of the Treasury Secretary to
scrutinize every aspect of government spending. I A police
inspector scrutinized our faces with a suspicious eye.
2 to examine a person, for example in order to
find out if they are healthy or are doing a job
properly
examine
inspect
examine / Ig'zeem'n/to examine someone's body using
medical skills or equipment, in order to find out if there
is anything wrong Iv T]
The doctor examined her and diagnosed appendicitis. I I'm
going to the hospital tomorrow to have my knee examined
again.
inspect/in' spekt/to officially examine a group of people,
especially soldiers, to make sure they are doing their job
properly and obeying instructions Iv T]
General Allenby arrived to inspect the troops.
3 an act of examining something or someone
examination check-up
analysis study
inspection scrutiny
check post mortem
examination/g,zam'neijn/In C/U]
After a brief examination by a local doctor, I was taken to
the city's main hospital. I A detailed examination of popu-
lation statistics reveals a steady decline in the birth rate. I
be under examination (=be in the process of being exa-
mined) The committee's latest proposals are still under
examination. I on closer examination (=when examined
more closely) At first sight the vases looked very attractive
but on closer examination they were seen to be cracked in
several places.
analysis ! :) ' nabs ' s/a detailed examination of something
in order to understand it better, especially when this
involves studying a large amount of information In C/U1
An analysis of data from Australia shows that skin cancer
is on the increase. [ If Smith's analysis is correct, our
economic difficulties are caused by a lack of investment.
inspection/,n' spekj'an/a thorough examination of some-
thing, especially by someone in an official position, in
order to find out more about it or find out if it is satisfac-
tory [n C/U]
There are regular inspections of the prison by government
health officers. I close inspection (=very detailed) A close
inspection revealed that the door was not in fact completely
solid. I carry out an inspection Education officers carry
out monthly inspections of the local schools. I tour of inspec-
tion (=an official journey or visit to inspect something)
Marshal Joffre visited twelve military camps on his tour of
inspection.

EXAMINE 438 EXAMPLE
check/U'ek/an examination of something to make sure
that it is correct, safe, or satisfactory In C]
check on There are regular checks on the quality of goods
leaving our factory. ] carry out/run a check (=make a
check) All routine safety checks were carried out before the
flight. [ spot check (=an unplanned check on a thing or
person that is chosen from a group by chance) Spot checks
by customs officers led to the arrest of several drug
smugglers.
check-up / 'tSek ^p/a niedical examination to make sure
that someone is healthy [n C]
Isee my dentist every six months for a check-up. [ give sb/sth
a check-up The vet gave both our horses a thorough check-
up and pronounced them fit to race.
study/' st^di/a careful examination of a particular sub-
ject or problem, especially one that is done over a period
of time In C]
Studies of dolphins have shown that they are able to com-
municate information to each other. [ make a study A series
of studies was made to discover the relationship between diet
and behaviour.
scrutiny/' skru:tni/a formal word meaning careful and
thorough examination of something [n U]
Closer scrutiny of the document revealed a number of
interesting facts. I come under public scrutiny (=begin
to be closely examined by people) Onceyou become famous
your private life comes under public scrutiny.
post mortem/post m:rtm] a medical examination of
a dead body in order to find out how the person died In C]
A post mortem revealed that the woman had died of blood
poisoning. I carry out/do a post mortem A policepathol-
ogist carried out a post mortem on the body.
examiner EXAM/TEST 5
example EXAMPLE 1, IMITATE 5
example: be a good example TYPICAL 3
example: be an example to GOOD/MORAL 2
example: follow sb's example IMITATE 4
example: for example/for instance EXAMPLE 3
example: give an example EXAMPLE 2
example: make an example of PUNISH 1
example: set a bad example BAD BEHAVlOUR OR
ACTIONS 5
example: set an example IMITATE 5
EXAMPLE
1 a typical example of something such as a
type of behaviour, a type of person, or a type
of situation
2 to mention something as an example, in order
to explain what you mean, prove you are
right etc
3 what you say when you give an example
1 a typical example of something such as a
type of behaviour, a type of person, or a type
of situation
example instance
case exemplify
example /ig'zo:mpal II igtzem-/ a typical kind of
behaviour, person, situation etc that you mention in order
to explain what you mean, show that what you are saying
is true etc In C]
Can you think of an example of this? l Fhere are so many sit-
uations in which children can feel isolated. Divorce is an
obvious example. I classic example (=an extremely typi-
cal example) His behaviour was a classic example of a man
who can't control his ambition. I shining example (=an
example of something you admire) The company's success
is a shining example of the way in which the government's
new policies are revitalizing industry. I prime example
(=an example of something that you do not like) Hitler,
Mussolini, Franco, all prime examples of men hungry for
power.
case/kels! an example of something that has happened,
especially something bad or unpleasant In C]
I saw at least three similar cases of children dying due to the
lack of water when I was working in India. [ Cases of human
error are being reported all the time. [ in sb's case Some-
times earthquakes cause tidal waves and, as in Japan's case,
these can be deadly. [ classic case (=an extremely typical
case) Recent government spending on the schools is a clas-
sic case of too little, too late.
instance/' Instons/an example of a particular kind of sit-
uation, used especially when it is a good, typical example
of what you are talking about In Cl
This book is yet another instance of the author's fascination
with death. [ There have been many instances of cooperation
between the two countries in recent years. [ In some instances
it is the young people themselves who tell the police about the
drug problem in their area.
exempllly/ig'zemplfaq ira particular person, situation,
or type of behaviour exemplifies something, it is a typi-
cal example of it Iv T not in progressive]
These female astronauts exemplify a new tradition among
modern women. I The modern spirit of revolt was best exem-
plified by the work of Kafka and Freud.
 to mention something as an example, in order
to explain what you mean, prove you are
right etc
give an example
cite
give an example /,glv an ig'zo:mpal II-'za  m-/ Iv
phrase]
I don't really understand what you mean. Could you give me
an example? I I think my theory could be best explained by
giving an example from everyday life. I To illustrate his
point, he gave the example of the Amazonian tribe that had
no contact with civilization.
cite/salt/a formal word meaning to name a particular
person, situation etc as a typical example of what you are
talking about Iv T]
cite sth I can cite several recent racial attacks which prove
my point. [ The report contained details of the poison gas and
cited examples of accidents involving it. I be cited as Bri-
tain is often cited as an example of a declining industrial
power.
3 what you say when you give an example
for example/ say
for instance take
eg be a case in point
such as by way of illustration
like to name but a few
for example/for instance /fr Ig'zo:mpal, fr tin-
stons II -'zmm-/[adv phrase]
Many countries are threatened by earthquakes. For example,
Mexico and dapan. I Today'sparents have manyproblems.
What do you do, for example, if you find your child taking
drugs? I We have books on all types of unconventional medi-
cine. Acupuncture and faith healing, for example. I Not all
prices have increased so dramatically. Compare, for
instance, the price of oil in 1980 and the price now.
eg/,i:'d3i:/(used in written English when you are giving
a series of examples of something)
Some proof of identity is required eg driver's license, pass-
port. I Many English words have been borrowed from other
languages, eg 'chic'from French.
such as/, SAt J" mz/(used when you want to give one or two
typical examples of something but not all the examples that
are possible) [prep]
There are many reasons why the invasion failed, such as
the lack of proper food and the shortage of ammunition. I

EXAMPLE
People's ability to do the tests was influenced by factors such
as age, sex, and ethnic background.
iike ]lalk] (used in spoken English when you are giving
a example which is typical of what you mean) [prep]
You should ask someone who knows all about engines, like
Simon. I We still haven't settled a number of problems, like
who is going to be in charge here while I'm away.
say ]se! (used in spoken English when you are suggest-
ing something such as a price, a time, or a place, and you
want to know what the other person thinks about this)
[adv]
"'Why don't we meet in front of the restaurant, say at 1
o "clock?" "Fine." I It's a nice piece offurniture, I could offer
you say Ј200 for it. I Why don't you come back later, say in
a few hours" time, after you've had chance to think it over.
take/teik/(used when you are talking about something
and you want to give an example of a certain type of situa-
tion, person etc, in order to prove that what you are saying
is correct)
I can think of lots of people who got worse grades than you
and still have good jobs. Take Julie. [ take sb/sth for
example Take me for example. I've never relied on other
people for help.
be a case in point/bi: a ,kes n poInt/a particular
person, situation etc that is a ease in point, is a very good
or typical example of what you have just mentioned [v
phrase]
Some birds have returned to England after once being exinct
here. The return of the osprey is a case in point. [ Some women
have managed to achieve success in football. A case in point
is Anne Spencer.
by way of illustration/ba; ,weI av ilastreiSan/a formal
expression: if you name a particular situation, person etc
by way of illustration, you want to use it as a way of
explaining what you mean [adv phrase]
Other countries have totally different laws on abortion and
euthanasia. By way of illustration let us look at the cases of
Germany and Japan.
to name but a few/ta ,negro bat a fju:/ if you give
several examples of something to name but a few, you
mean that these are just a few examples of what you mean
and there are many more [adv phrase]
So many industries have been hit in the recession. Steel, coal,
construction to name but a few.
exasperate ANNOY 2
:, exasperating ANNOY 5
exasperation ANNOY 6
,, excavate DIG 1, 2
exceed MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
...
exceedingly VERY 2
,, excel DO WELL 1
excellent GOOD AT 2, GOOD/EXCELLENT 1, 2, 3, 4
:. except/except for EXCEPT 1
, except/except for the fact that BUT 5
except: only/except BUT 6
EXCEPT
1
2
words meaning except
something or someone that is not included in
a rule, does not follow the expected pattern
etc
1 words meaning except
except/except for
apart from/aside from
bar
excepting
except/except for/ksept, ksept fo:r/[prep/conjunc-
tion]
She'll eat anything except pork. [ Everyone's going except
but for
but
with the exception of
439 exchange
Donald. [ We turned off every light except for one small lamp
in the corner. [ Except for the hotel it was a smashing holi-
day. ] except (that) The house was just as I had left it except
that everything was covered with dust. [ I've got one exactly
the same as that except it's wooden. [ except do sth a com-
puter that can do anything except talk to you
apart from (also aside from especially in American
English)/a'pazrt from, a'sad from/(used to introduce one
small point which makes your statement not completely
true) [prep]
Apart from an occasional game of tennis, she doesn't take
any exercise. [ There are no poisonous snakes in Britain
apart from the adder. [ This essay's good apart from a couple
of spelling mistakes. [ Aside from a toothbrush she took no
other baggage with her.
bar/ba:r/(used to introduce the only thing, person, or
group about which your statement is not true) [prep]
He died with no possessions bar a small piece of land in
Ireland. [ Nobody from the village, bar the vicar, had ever
been as far as London.
excepting/ik'septxrj/(a formal word used to introduce
the only thing, person, or group about which your state-
ment is not true) [prep]
Excepting one or two mosaics found in Sussex, all Roman
remains in Britain fall into three styles. [ It was the largest
building in the city, excepting only the parliament building.
but for/b^t fo:r/(used to introduce the only thing that
makes a description of something not completely true)
[prep ]
There was a complete silence but for the occasional sound
of distant traffic.
but/bat; strong b^t/(used especially after the words none,
nothing, all, anyone etc) [prep]
I can come and see you any day but Tuesday. [ There's noth-
ing in the room but an old chair. [ Anyone but Tommy would
have realized I was trying to apologize.
with the exception of/w6 6i k'sepj'an ovl (a formal
expression used to introduce the only thing, person, or
group about which your statement is not true) [prep]
All the Canadian provinces, with the exception of Quebec,
have restricted the sale of alcohol. I with the possible
exception of I think every student, with the possible excep-
tion of Fauzi, will pass the exam.
something or someone that is not included in
a rule, does not follow the expected pattern
etc
exception
exception Iik'sep.an/[n C]
Women do not usually reach the highest level of British polit-
ical life, but there have been one or two notable exceptions. [
minor exception (-one that is not very important) Give
or take a few minor exceptions, the legal system in the two
countries is remarkably similar. [ exception to a rule The
only possible exception to this rule is if the driver learned to
drive before 1950, in which case they do not need to have taken
a driving test.
excepted INCLUDE 7
excepting EXCEPT 1
exception EXCEPT 2
exception: make an exception LET/ALLOW 11
exception: take exception to OFFEND 2
exception: with the exception of EXCEPT 1
exception: without exception ALL/EVERYTHING 1
exceptional GOOD/EXCELLENT 4, UNUSUAL 1, 2
exceptionally: remarkably/exceptionally VERY 2
excerpt PART 7
excess TOO/TOO MUCH 5
excess: an excess of TOO/TOO MUCH 2
excess: in excess of MORE THAN A NUMBER OR
excess:to
excessive
exchange
exchange:
AMOUNT 1
excess TOO/TOO MUCH 3
TOO/TOO MUCH 4
ARGUE 5, EACH OTHER 1, EXCHANGE 1, 2
in exchange/in return EXCHANGE 3

EXCHANGE 0 EXCITED
EXCHANGE
to give something to someone and receive
from them something of the same type or of
equal value
1 to exchange one thing for another
2 an act of exchanging one thing for another
3 ways of saying what you give and what you
get when you exchange things
1 to exchange one thing for another
exchange barter
swap trade in
do a swap change places/
trade sth for partners etc
change
exchange /xkste:nd3/ to exchange one thing for
another, especially so that you get something that you need
or something that is more useful to you Iv T]
exchange sth If the shoes do not fit, we'll be happy to ex-
change them. [ At the end of the game, players traditionally
exchange shirts with each other. [ exchange sth for sth
We've exchanged our busy city home for a quiet country cot-
rage for the summer. [ The government is issuing coupons
which can be exchanged for food.
exchange In U] Both parties are free to withdraw from the
transaction prior to exchange of contracts (=before the con-
tracts have been exchanged).
swap/swop [[ swa:p/an informal word used especially in
British English meaning to exchange something, usually
with someone you know Iv I/T]
swap sth for I'll swap my sweets for your tennis ball. [ I
would have swapped everything for a hot bath and a com-
fortable bed. [ swap sth Jerry couldn't see the screen very
well so we swapped seats. [ swap We both like each other's
sweater better than our own so why don't we swap?
do a swap/,du:  'swtp [[ -swa:p/an informal expres-
sion: if two people do a swap with each other they
exchange things so that they each get what they want [v
phrase]
Jim had the stamp I wanted and I had the stamp he wanted
so we decided to do a swap. [ Look, let's do a swap - my CD
player for your video recorder.
trade sth for/'trexd (sth) f:r/to exchange something for
something else, especially as part of an agreement that you
have made with someone [phr v T]
Some of Reagan's aides were alleged to have traded arms for
hostages. [ Janice traded her first-class return ticket to New
York for a round-the-world trip, economy class.
change/tJ'eInd3/to exchange something you have bought
or chosen because you have decided you want something
different or because there is something wrong with it Iv T]
change sth for Take the skirt back to the store and change
it for a black one. [ change sth I don 't really want the pasta
now - I'd rather have a salad. Can I change it please? [ I only
bought these shoes last month and they have a hole in them
already, so I'd like to change them.
barter / ba:rtr/to exchange something that you have for
something that you want or need without giving or taking
money for it Iv I/T]
barter sth for sth Russia barters oil for meat. [ barter
with On arrival in the island the crew bartered with the
natives as a way of establishing friendship.
barter [n U] In the mountain areas, most of the trade is still
done by barter (=people barter to get what they need).
trade in /trexd I in/to give your old car, washing machine
etc to the company or shop that you are buying a new one
from, so that they will let you buy the new one for a slightly
lower price [phr v T]
trade in sth If you trade in your old Chevrolet we will give
you up to $2000 off your new 1994 model. [ trade sth/it/thern
in This sewing machine is so old-fashioned. Why don't you
trade it in and get a new one? [ trade in sth for This shop
does a special deal where you can trade in your old washing-
machine for a new one.
change places/partners etc/tend3 (places, etc)/to
give someone your place, partner etc and take their place,
partner etc Iv phrase]
Halfway through the dance everyone had to change part-
ners. [ change places/partners etc with Would you mind
changing places with me? I can't see from here and you're
taller than I am.
2 an act of exchanging one thing for another
exchange
interchange
exchange/ks'tend3/In C usually singular]
The exchange of prisoners took place on a bridge over the
Mekong river. [ In any negotiations there must be an honest
exchange of information.
interchange/, ntrtj'elnd3/the useful exchange of ideas
or information between people or organizations, especially
when this happens continuously over a long period of time
In C usually singular]
There has been a continual interchange of artistic and
philosophical ideas between Eastern and Western cultures. [
There is a productive interchange of ideas between teachers
and teacher trainers on these courses.
3 ways of saying what you give and what you
get when you exchange things
in exchange/in return
for
in exchange/in return/n iks 'tend3, xn r 't3:rn/if you
do or give something in exchange for something else, such
as help, a gift etc you do or give it because you will receive
the help, the gift etc if you do [adv]
in exchange/return for I've offered to paint the kitchen in
exchange for a week's accommodation. [ The university gets
free use of PsiTech computers in exchange for helping with
research projects. [ in exchange/return What will you give
me in exchange? [ She gave us food and clothing and asked
for nothing in return.
for/fr; strong fo:r/ in exchange for [prep]
They gave me Ј200 for the old Fiat! I was amazed! I I'll give
you three chocolate bars for that ball.
excitable EXCITED 2
excite CAUSE 4, EXCITED 11, 13
excited EXCITED 1, 4, NERVOUS 2
excited: be/get excited about ENTHUSIASTIC 1
EXCITED
happy and full of energy because something
good has happened or is going to happen
I excited about something
2 too excited
8 excitedly waiting to see what happens next
4 words for describing an excited group of
people, such as a crowd or the people
watching a game or performance
5 words for describing an experience that
makes you feel excited
6 words for describing an exciting story, film,
book etc
7 an exciting experience
6 the most exciting part of something
9 the feeling of being excited
10 to do something just for excitement
1 1 to make someone feel excited

EXCITED 441 EXCITED
12, to talk very excitedly about something
13 to make someone feel sexually excited
1 excited about something
excited
exhilarated
thrilled
excited/:k'sa:Qd/feeling-very excited, especially about
something good that is about to happen [adj]
excited about The children were all very excited about their
presents, and couldn't wait to open them. I You must be feel-
ing really excited about getting married. I excited at We
were too excited at the prospect of Friday's party to think
much about our schoolwork. I excited As she spoke, her voice
became more and more excited and I had to tell her to calm
down.
excitedly [adv] Lucy was laughing with delight and chat-
ting excitedly.
exhilarated/IgJzflretd/feeling very excited and full
of energy because you are experiencing something that you
have never experienced before, especially something dan-
gerous or unusual [adj not before noun]
The first time I flew a plane alone, I felt both exhilarated and
scared. I She stayed awake all night, exhilarated by her elec-
tion victory.
thrilled /0r:ld/ very excited and pleased, for example
because you have been told some good news, or because
you are doing or about to do something that you really want
to do [adj not before noun]
I felt thrilled to be back in Africa again, i thrilled by/at/
with Everyone's thrilled at the news. I thrilled to pieces
(American) / thrilled to bits (British) (=very thrilled) He
was thrilled to pieces when he was told that he'd won the com-
petition.
2 too excited
overexcited
excitable
overexcited /,oovoriksaItld-/ someone, especially a
child, who is overexcited has become too excited and it
is difficult for them to control their emotions [adj]
On Christmas Eve the kids always get overexcited and can "t
sleep. I Be gentle when you play with him -you mustn't let
him get overexcited.
excitable/:ksatobgl/someone who is excitable gets
excited too easily [adj]
Puppies are naturally affectionate and excitable. I highly
excitable (=very excitable) On my first day's teaching, I
had a class of highly excitable 5 year olds.
3 excitedly waiting te see what happens next
be on the edge of your seat
be on tenterhooks
be all agog
be on the edge of your seat/bi: on i ,ed3 vj:r 'st:t/
to be very excited when you are watching something
because you do not know what will happen next [vphrase]
It was a really good thriller - I was on the edge of my seat
all the way through. I keep sb on the edge of their seat
(=make someone feel very excited because they do not
know what will happen next) Hitchcock keeps his viewers
on the edge of their seats right to the very last second.
be on tenterhooks/bi: n 'tentorhoks/to be nervous
and excited because you are anxiously waiting to hear the
result of something, or to know what happens at the end
of a story [v phrase]
After the interview Fran was on tenterhooks, wondering if
she'd got the job. [ keep sb on tenterhooks (=make some-
one feel nervous and excited by not telling them something)
Don't keep me on tenterhooks - did I pass the exam or didn't
I? [ Agatha Christie keeps the reader on tenterhooks until the
final pages of the story.
be all agog/bi: ,:1 o'gog [I -'go:g/to be listening very
carefully because you are very interested and excited and
you are waiting for someone to tell you something, espe-
cially what happened next Iv phrase]
Come on, tell us what happened - we're all agog.
4 words for describing an excited group of
people, such as a crowd or the people
watching a game or performance
excited hysterical
in a frenzy high spirits
fever pitch
excited/Ik'saltd/[adj]
Excited England fans watched their team win 2-1 against
Andorra. I Senator Thomson pushed his way through the
group of excited reporters that had gathered in the street.
in a frenzy/n  J frenzi/in a state of great and uncontroll-
able excitement [adj phrase]
There are just two minutes to go of this game, and the crowd
is in an absolute frenzy. I work yourself into a frenzy
(=become more and more excited until you are in a frenzy)
The audience had worked themselves into a frenzy by the end
of the show.
fever pitch / fi:vo r pltf/a very high level of excitement
among a crowd of people who are watching a public event
In U]
reach fever pitch When Elvis finally came on stage, the
screaming reached fever pitch. I at fever pitch Excitement
amon the crowds was now at fever pitch.
hysterical/h 'sterIkM/behaving in a wild and uncon-
trollable way, especially by shouting or crying because you
are extremely excited [adj]
Hysterical fans tried to stop the pop star's car from driving
away. I dust calm down! Getting hysterical isn't going to
help, is it?
high spirits/ha sprts/excited and cheerful feelings
or behaviour, especially of a group of young people In
plural]
They didn't mean to cause any damage - it was just high
spirits. I be in/be full of high spirits It was the last day
of term and everyone was in high spirits.
words for describing an experience that
makes you feel excited
exciting exhilarating
thrilling heady
exciting/IklsaItIrj/[adj]
Her holiday in South America was the most exciting trip she
had ever had. I Middleton is a very quiet town where noth-
ing exciting ever happens.
thrilllng/OrIlIrj/very exciting, especially making you
feel slightly frightened in an enjoyable way [adj]
Seeing a lion in the wild was a thrilling experience. I We went
for a thrilling ride on the Ghost Train at the funfair.
exhilarating/ig'zIbreItiO/an experience or an activity
that is exhilarating makes you feel excited, and full of
energy, especially because it is dangerous [adj]
Skiing is an exhilarating sport. I Some people try to avoid
danger wherever possible, while others find it quite
exhilarating.
heady/'hedi/heady days/atmosphere/excitement etc
(=a formal word meaning making you feel very excited,
hopeful, and full of energy) [adj only before noun]
He often wished he could relive the heady days of his youth. I
.... the heady excitement of being in love
6 words for describing an exciting story, film,
book etc
exciting nai lbiting
thrilling action-packed
dramatic

EXCITED 442 EXCITED
exciting/Ik'saltIrj/[adj]
Kids often want more exciting books than the ones they "re
offered at school. I I really like Spielberg's films - they're
always so exciting.
thrilling/'OrIlO/very exciting, especially making you
feel slightly frightened in a pleasant way [adj]
The book is another thrilling story of mystery and suspense.
dramatic/dro'metik/a dramatic story, film etc, has a
lot of exciting and unexpected things happening in it [adj]
"A Man For All Seasons" is a tense and dramatic story, based
on historical fact. I The film has a very dramatic ending.
dramatically [adv] From the beginning, the story unfolds
dramatically.
nailbiting I ' neflbaurj/extremely exciting because you do
not know what is going to happen next [adj only before
noun]
The film has a nailbitingfinish. I The plot twists and turns
all the time - it's really nailbiting stuff.
action-packed/,ekSgn 'pekt-/a film, book etc that is
action-packed has a lot of exciting action in it [adj usually
before noun]
The kids settled down with an action-packed adventure
movie from the video store. I an action-packed plot dealing
with true life during the Civil War
7 an exciting experience
thrill
adventure
excitement
thrill/OrIl/an event or experience that gives you a feeling
of excitement and pleasure In C usually singular]
It was a real thrill for the lads to meet their favourite pop
stars. [ the thrills and spills (=the exciting experiences,
moments etc in a film, race etc) Don't miss all the thrills
and spills of Formula I Grand Prix racing on Channel 26!
adventure lad'ventJ'ar/an exciting experience in which
something dangerous or unusual happens In C/U]
He used to enjoy telling us about his adventures at sea. I I
left home when I was seventeen, looking for adventure. I
sense of adventure (=a desire to do unusual or dangerous
things) When she was a schoolgirl, her sense of adventure
was always getting her into trouble.
excitement /ik'saltmant/ something unexpected or
unusual that happens and makes you feel excited and
unable to relax In C]
Gerry found it difficult to sleep after all the excitements of
the day. I The biggest excitement of the day was when Jose
accidentally set off the fire alarm.
8 the most exciting part of something
climax
high point/spot
highlight
climax/'klalmeks! the most exciting or important part
of a story or experience, usually near the end, when the
story or experience has been gradually becoming more and
more exciting up to this part In C]
The discovery of the ruins of an ancient palace was the
climax of a very exciting expedition. I reach a climax The
opera reaches its climax in the third act.
high point/spot/'hai paint, spot II -spo:t/the most excit-
ing, enjoyable, or important moment of an event or
activity, especially one that lasts a long time In C]
Getting her thesis published was the high point of her time
at college. I Easter was the high spot of the Christian year.
highlight/'hallalt/the part of an event or activity such
as a holiday or a game that is the most exciting or enjoy-
able, and that you remember most clearly In C]
For me, the highlight of our travels was our time in India. I
Highlights of the game will be shown on Channel 1 this even-
ing. I I suppose the highlight was when Bob Dylan came
onstage without the band and sang "Like A Rolling Stone'.
9 the feeling of being excited
excitement exhilaration
thrill hysteria
excitement/k'saitmant/[n U]
In the stands, the crowd was shouting with excitement. I She
still remembers the excitement in their village when the first
American soldiers arrived.
thrill/Oft! a sudden very strong feeling of excitement,
mixed with pleasure and sometimes fear In C usually
singular]
Her voice sent a thrill through him the first time he heard
it. I get a thrill out of Even though I've been acting for 40
years, I still get a thrill out of going on stage on the first
night. I give sb a thrill Using guns always gave me a
strange thrill.
exhilaration/g,zda'reiJn/a feeling of happy excite-
ment, for example that you get from an exciting physical
activity or from something you have achieved In U]
Nothing can compare with the exhilaration of riding a
motorcycle very fast. I She felt again the same exhilaration
that she had felt when she first saw her newborn baby.
hysteria /hI'staria II-'steria/ extreme excitement that
makes people cry, laugh, shout etc uncontrollably In U]
Some of the young girls in the crowd were screaming with
hysteria. I mass hysteria (=that is present in a whole
crowd of people) There were scenes of mass hysteria as the
Beatles arrived at the airport.
10 to do something just for excitement
do sth for kicks
do sth for the thrill of it
do sth for kicks I,du: (sth) fa r 'kIks/to do something,
especially something dangerous or harmful, in order to get
a feeling of excitement and not for any other reason Iv
phrase]
Rich kids who turn to crime do it just for kicks, and not
because they need the money. I The first time she took heroin
it was just for kicks, but now she's really hooked.
do sth for the thrill of it/,du: (sth) fa r 6:) 'Orfl av It/to
do something just to get a feeling of excitement or because
you are bored, and not for any more serious reason Iv
phrase]
Gina would gamble away thousands of dollars in casinos
just for the thrill of it. I He ought to take our relationship
seriously - I didn't marry him just for the thrill of it.
to make someone feel excited
get sb excited thrill
excite give sb a thrill
get sb excited/,get (sb) ik'saitd/an informal expres-
sion meaning to make someone excited Iv phrase not in
passive]
All this talk about the party is getting me really excited. ] get
sb excited about It's so unfair -you get us all excited about
going on vacation then you say we're not going after all.
excite/ik t salt/a word used especially in formal or writ-
ten English meaning to make someone excited Iv T not
usually in progressive or passive]
excite sb Being part of the crowd at the ball game had
always excited me. ] excite yourself/herself/themselves
etc The doctor said you should rest and not excite yourself.
thrill/Orll/to make someone feel very happy and excited
Iv T not usually in progressive]
thrill sb Her first sight of the African landscape thrilled her
enormously. I it thrills sb to do sth It thrilled Sara to learn
that the stranger was a member of the Royal Family.
give sb a thrill I,glv (sb) a 'Orll/ if something gives
someone a thrill, it makes them feel happy and excited,
although it is very simple or may seem unimportant Iv-.
phrase]
Catching small animals used to give the boys a thrill. ] I wish
she'd spoken to the kids - it would have given them a great
thrill.

EXCITED 443 EXERCISE
1 2 to talk very excitedly about something
go into raptures over
go Into raptures over/,god nt 'raptj'orz oovor/to talk
in an excited and happy way about something you like very
much [v phrase]
The child went into raptures over the expensive gifts her
mother had bought her. I be in raptures about/over/at
Kathy was in raptures at the news that her daughter was
expecting a baby.
13 to make someone feel sexually excited
excite
turn sb on
titillate
excite/Ik'sait/[V T]
excite sb She excites me in a way that no other woman can. [
get sb excited (=make them excited) When you see a strip-
show, does it get you excited, or do you just feel embar-
rassed?[ I suppose some men might find pictures like this sex-
ually exciting.
turn sb on/,t3:rn (sb) 'Dn [[ -Ja:n/an informal expression
meaning to make someone feel sexually excited [phr v T]
It's difficult telling your partner what actually turns you on. I
She really turns me on.
turn-on In singular] My last boyfriend always found nurses"
uniforms a real turn-on (=they really turned him on).
titillate/Jtltllelt/if pictures, stories etc in newspapers
and books titillate people, they are deliberately intended
to make people feel slightly sexually excited Iv T]
Papers like the Sunday Sport use these kinds of articles to
titillate their readers.
titillation / tt leISan/In U] Theplay has been condemned
as just an excuse for sexual titillation.
titillating [adj] Some men might find the pictures titillat-
ing - I think they're offensive and degrading to women.
 excitement EXCITED 7, 9
! exciting EXCITED 5, 6
i exclaim SAY 4
ii; exclude INCLUDE 6, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 14
ii;! excluding INCLUDE 7
'- exclusive EXPENSIVE 3, ONLY 5, REPORT 2
'"-' exclusive of INCLUDE 7
• ,,. excruciating HURT/CAUSE PAIN 2
! excursion TRAVELIO
:-;...
!ii excuse FORGIVE 1, LET/ALLOW 11, REASON 5, 6
i!!i[ excuse me SORRY/APOLOGIZE 3
 excuse me? REPEAT 7
. excuses: make excuses REASON 9
 execute DO 2, KILL 10
 executive GOVERNMENT 2, MANAGER 1
:ii exemplify EXAMPLE 1 TYPICAL 3
 exempt LET/ALLOW 11
 exercise EXERCISE 1, 2, 3, 4, PRACTISE/PRACTICE 4,
,,iii.- USE STH 2
?. exercise: do exercise/take exercise EXERCISE 1
;:. exercise: get exercise EXERCISE 1
.lexercise]
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- " • " :: " " " " "  ..-. ,-   ;4  }  $ 4J:{::: .'==t
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,,,=;3: -,- ,.--,---.,.:L.-L..::.-:&.'ў;   ;.:s ,.. 4- {..::.... ......
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............. . ...............
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........ :.t::::.=...:i... :"L.:'.::.::Y.=.:Z?::.: ..:. .."?..... .:...=::Lt?...:.:::::.. .:::..: ....:::::::::::7 :::::::::::::. c. : :::: " " ,,,,.,, ,,,,,,, .: I
EXERCISE
to walk, do sports etc in order to stay healthy,
and become stronger
 to exercise
• to exercise a particular part of your body
3 activities that you do in order to stay healthy
and become stronger
4 a set of movements that is intended to
exercise a particular part of your body
1 to exercise
exercise get exercise
do exercise/ train
take exercise work out
exercise / 'eksarsmz/to walk, do sports etc in order to stay
healthy and become stronger Iv I]
I exercise every day and get plenty offresh air. [ She likes to
exercise by working in her garden. [ Just because you're on
a diet it doesn't mean you don "t need to exercise.
do exercise/take exercise/,du: eksorsalz, jtelk-/to
exercise, especially regularly [v phrase]
You should do at least fifteen minutes' exercise each day. I
I know I should do more exercise, but I never seem to have
time. I Most of the people here never take any exercise at all.
get exercise/tget eksarsalz/to do exercise, especially
as part of your daily work or daily life Iv phrase]
The doctor says I don "t get enough exercise. [ Walking to the
car is the only exercise you get!
train/treIn/to do hard exercise regularly in order to get
fit or remain fit Iv I]
Larry trains at the gym five mornings a week. [ I'm not as
fit as I should be. I don't train enough.
work out/ wa:rk aot/to exercise very actively, usually
by doing a programme of exercises every day or regularly
[phr v I]
He works out every day in the gym. I I go jogging every morn-
ing and work out with weights twice a week.
 to exercise a particular part of your body
exercise
exercise ! Jeksorsaiz/to make a particular part of your
body move and work in order to make it stronger or to keep
it healthy Iv T]
Swimming exercises all the major muscle groups.
activities that you do in order to stay healthy
and become stronger
exercise keep-fit/aerobics
workout training
exercise /'eksarsalz/ physical activity that you do in
order to become fit or stay fit [n U]
The only exercise I get is walking to work. [ Thirty minutes
of squash gives you as much exercise as an hour of any other
game. [ strenuous exercise (=very hard exercise) Do not
start a programme of strenuous exercise if you have any
heart problems.
workout /'w3:rkaot/a series of hard continuous exercises
that you do regularly in order to keep fit In C]
Start your workout with some gentle stretching exercises. [
I always feel good after a vigorous workout.
keep.fit/aerobics/,ki:p 'fit, ea'raobIks/an activity in
which you exercise regularly, usually in a class with other
people, in order to keep fit In U]
Our local gym does keep-fit classes. [ I met him on the way
to keep-fit. [ Clare's now into healthy eating and aerobics.
training / 'treimr/regular hard exercise which you do in
order to get fit or remain fit In U]

EXERCISE
I do two hours" training every evening - an hour running
or swimming, and an hour in the gym. I You want to join
the running club? Training is at 7pm Tuesdays and Thurs-
days. I weight training (=which involves lifting weights)
The community centre offers such activities as dance classes,
aerobics and weight training.
 a set of movements that is intended to
exercise a particular part of your body
exercise
exercise I'eksorsaIzl a movement or a set of movements
that you do regularly in order to keep a particular part of
your body strong and healthy In C]
The doctor gave me some exercises to help cure my backache. [
Try this exercise: stand with your feet slightly apart and put
your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees. [
do exercises She does a few exercises every morning before
breakfast.
exhale BREATHE 3
i0:: exhaust FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 1, TIRED 5
i ' exhausted FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 2, TIRED 1
 exhausting TIRED 6
!"i exhaustion TIRED 7
:' exhaustive COMPLETE 2
; exhibit SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 1, SHOW/LET
•
SB SEE STH 7
exhibition/exhibit SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 8
, exhibitionist SHOW OFF 2
exhilarated EXCITED 1
:" exhilarating EXCITED 5
exhilaration EXCITED 9
: exhume DIG 2
exile/send into exile LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 5
 exist EXIST 1
_.@ EXIST
to be something that is present as a physical
or living object, a real institution or practice
etc
I to exist
2 to not exist
1 to exist
exist occur
existence be in existence
there is be in operation
be found
exist/Ig'zIst/[v I not in progressive]
Do ghosts really exist? [ The Earth has existed for more than
four thousand million years. [ The custom of arranged
marriage still exists in many countries. ] It's no use trying
to pretend that the problem doesn't exist. [ there exists
There now exists a significant body of scientific research on
the subject.
existence/ig'zistans/[n U]
the existence of When she was at university she began to
question the existence of God (=whether God existed). I It
was Louis Pasteur who first discovered the existence of
microscopic organisms (=the fact that they existed) known
as bacteria. I existence During the first 40years of the UN's
existence there have been more than 100 wars around the
world. I sth's very existence (=the fact that something
exists at all) a small theater company that depends on
government grants for its very existencel owes its existence
to (=exists only because of) The modern German economy
owes its existence to the massive injection of American capi-
tal after World War II.
there is/6eor iz/if you say there is something, you mean
that it exists
444 expect
Do you think there is life on other planets? [ There's still a
lot of poverty in rural areas. ] I didn't know there was a Com-
munist Party in the United States. [ There is plenty of evidence
to suggest that children are better at learning languages
than adults.
be found /bi: 'faond! to exist in a particular place,
product, situation etc Iv phrase]
Deer are found in many parts of Western Europe. ] The theme
of a man trying to escape is found in many of Graham
Greene's novels. ] Calcium is found in large amounts in all
dairy products except butter.
occur ['kb:r/a word used especially in a scientific con-
text: if something such as a particular type of substance
or illness occurs in a particular place, it exists there Iv I
not in progressive]
occur in/at/between Chromium and nickel occur com-
monly in areas which are also rich in magnesium. ] Whoop-
ing cough is a condition which occurs mainly in young chil-
dren. I The Japanese 'fl sound does not occur in European
languages.
be in existence/hi: m Ig'zIstans/to exist at a particu-
lar time or during a particular period Iv phrase]
By 1985 there were less than 100 copies of the book in exis-
tence. ] Mammals have been in existence for many millions
ofyears. ] remain in existence (=be still in existence) Few
of Niepce's photographs remain in existence today.
be In operation/bi: in Ipalreij'an [[ -a:p-/if something
such as an organization or plan is in operation, it exists
and has started to do its work, have an effect etc [vphrase]
The British National Health Service has now been in opera-
tion for more than three decades. [ Until the program has
been in operation for some time we won't be able to sort out
any of the problems. [ With the system now fully in opera-
tion the community will soon feel the benefits.
2 to not exist
 non-existent
extinct
there's no such thing
non.existent Inn IgtZlStant- II ,nmn-/somethingthat
is non-existent does not exist [adj]
Food is scarce and luxury goods are almost non-existent. [
In rural Japan crime is virtually non-existent. [ He kept put-
ting his hand to his head, as though adjusting a non-existent
hat.
extinct/ik'stirjkt/if a type of animal is extinct, it does
not exist any more [adj]
The white rhinoceros is now almost extinct. [ These cliffs
contain the fossilized remains of extinct animals.
there's no such thing/6eorz ,noo s^tS IOIl]/you say
there's no such thing when you are very sure that some-
thing does not exist
I don't believe in a Loch Ness Monster - there's no such
thing![ there's no such thing as "'duan is the perfect man!'"
"Don't be ridiculous, there's no such thing as the perfect
man!"
existence EXIST 1, LIFE 2
existence: be in existence EXIST 1
existence: eke out a living/an existence SURVIVE 5
existing NOW 4
exodus LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 4
exonerate BLAME 5
exorbitant EXPENSIVE 5
expand BIG 12, INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC
expand on DETAIL 7
expanding INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
expanse AREA 5
expatriate FOREIGN 2
expect EXPECT 1, 4
expect: I expect EXPECT 2
expect: just what you'd expect TYPICAL 2
expect: lead sb to expect EXPECT 5

expect
Fle  pect or wait?l iii!
EXPECT
10
1 to believe that something will happen, for
example because it seems very likely, or
because it has been planned to happen
2 what you say when you expect something to
happen
3 to make plans or take action that depend on
something that you expect to happen
4 to expect someone or something to arrive,
especially because this has been planned
5 to make someone expect something
6 expecting something good to happen
7 expecting something bad to happen
8 ways of saying that something happens in the
way you expected, so that you are not
surprised
9 ways of saying that something happens
which you did not expect
words for describing someone or something
that is expected
1 to believe that something will happen, for
example because it seems very likely, or
because it has been planned to happen
expect think sth is likely
think anticipate
expect/xk'spekt/[v T]
expect sb to do sth No one expected the President to resign. I
He was not as enthusiastic as I had expected him to be. I
expect sth The army is expecting a lot of casualties in the
attack. I I had never been to a fortune-teller before and I
didn't really know what to expect. I The roadworks start next
week and delays are expected for the next few months. I
expect sth to happen I never expected this to happen. I For-
tunately the operation went much better than we had
expected. I expect (that) Tom had been expecting that Louise
would pay him a visit and she did. I expect to do sth The
rent was Ј200 a week - much more than we had expected to
pay. I fully expect (=confidently expect that something
will definitely happen) I was fully expecting to be offered
financial assistance for my research.
expectation/,ekspek'tein/In U] He has little expectation
of achieving success (=he does not really expect to achieve
it).
think/Ol]k/to think that something is likely to happen
Iv T not in progressive]
think (that) When the police arrived I thought I was going
to get arrested. I When he started his own business he never
thought that one day he'd be a millionaire. I think Just as
I thought, you're late again.
think sth Is likely/,O]k (sth) iz 'lalkli/to think it is
likely that something will happen Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Jerry says we'll be able to finish the job in two days but I
don't think that's very likely. [ think it is likely (that) Do
you really think it's likely that they'll grant us visas?
anticipate Ien'tisIpeit/to expect that something will
happen, and be prepared for it Iv T]
445
EXPECT
anticipate sth Organisers are anticipating a large crowd
at the carnival this weekend. I Unfortunately, the ceremony
did not run as smoothly as had been anticipated. I antici-
pate that It is anticipated that by next year interest rates
will have dropped by 1%. I anticipate doing sth I knew it
was an adventure holiday but I did not anticipate spending
my days upside down in a freezing lake.
anticipation/en,tlS I 'peian! In U] Brigg stared at the new
car with a sense of excited anticipation (=an excited feeling
of anticipating something pleasant) that he had not felt since
childhood.
2 what you say when you expect something to
 happen
I expect
I bet/my bet is
I wouldn't be
surprised
my expectation is
I suspect
I would think/
i should think
I expect lax Ikspekt/
Hasn't Tony arrived yet? He'll be here soon, I expect. I I
expect (that) I expect your mother will be overjoyed when
she hears you're having a baby. [ I expect so "'Alan will lend
you the money, won't he? .... Yes, I expect so. ""
I bet/my bet Is/ai Jbet, maI bet IZ/(informal expres-
sions used to introduce something that you expect to
happen because of what you know about someone or about
the way things usually happen)
She says she's coming to my party but I bet she doesn't. I
Sandra says she's never going to have any children, but my
bet is she has three kids before she's 25. I It's our summer car-
nival tomorrow. I bet it rains.
I wouldn't be surprised lax ,wodnt bi: sa r praizd/(used
when you think it is fairly likely that something will
happen because of what you know about a situation or
about someone's character)
They haven't been happy since they went to live in Australia
- I wouldn't be surprised if they came back. I "Do you think
the government will raise taxes?" '7 wouldn't be surprised. ""
my expectation Is/ma ekspek'tean iz/(a formal
expression used to introduce something that you expect to
happen because of information that you have)
My expectation is that exports will double over the next five
years. I There has been no word from the kidnappers that
they will release a hostage, but my expectation is that they
will.
I suspect/aI sa' spekt/(used when you have a feeling that
something is going to happen, especially something bad or
unpleasant)
You "ll find nick's parents rather hard to talk to, I suspect. [
She won't be given any extra holiday, and neither, I suspect,
will you. [ I suspect (that) I suspect that lO years after the
book is published, nobody will even remember the name of
the author.
I would think (also I should think in British English)
lax wod 'Oqk, ai od 'Oqk/(used when you think something
is likely to happen although you are not really sure)
Don't worry if you miss the train. There'll be another one
soon, I would think, i I would/should think(that) I should
think Sarah and Greg will be going to the party, I I would/
should think so "'Will you have finished work by 6.30? .... Oh
yes, I should think so. ""
3 to make plans or take action that depend on
something that you expect to happen
in expectation/anticipation of
reckon on/figure on
count on
in expectation/anticipation of/xn ,ekspek'tean,
an,us I 'pej'an Dv/ if you make plans or take actions in
expectation or anticipation of something happening, you
do this because you expect it to happen and you want to
be prepared [prep]
In anticipation of a visit from the health inspectors, the super-
market was thoroughly cleaned. I For years we've been living

EXPECT 446 EXPECT
with our suitcases packed in constant expectation of being
given permission to leave the country. I The workers have
called off their strike in expectation of a pay settlement.
reckon on (British) I figure on (American)/'rekan on,
'flgar on II IfIgjr o:n/ informal expressions meaning to
expect something to happen, so that you make plans or take
actions that depend on it happening Iv T not in passive]
reckon/figure on sb doing sth We can reckon on about
lOO people coming to the meeting. I reckon/figure on sth
We had expected it to take about an hour to get home, but
we hadn't reckoned on the traffic. I reckon/figure on doing
sth She owes the bank millions, but she's figuring on
making over $500,000 on a real estate deal.
count on /  kaont on II -a:n] to expect something so much
that your plans depend on it happening and you are com-
pletely prepared for it when it happens Iv T]
count on sb doing sth We've spent the past six weeks cam-
paigningfor Mr Clinton, so we're counting on him winning
this election. I count on sth Everything had been so well
organized but nobody had counted on the bad weather. I
count on doing sth Parents must count on spending time
helping their children with homework.
4 to expect someone or something to arrive,
especially because this has been planned
expect
expect/tk'spekt/[v T]
I'm expecting a letter from Japan. [ Come in! We've been
expecting you. [ If you'd like to sit down and wait, Mr Pear-
son is expected any minute.
5 to make someone expect something
lead sb to expect
arouse expectations
lead sb to expect/,li:d (sb) to Ik'spekt/to encourage
someone to expect something, especially something that
does not actually happen [v phrase]
We were disappointed because the advance publicity had led
us to expect a really spectacular show. [ The hotel had been
recommended, but it was not what we had been led to expect.
arouse expectations/a raoz ekspek'teij'anz/if some-
thing that someone says arouses expectations, it makes
people begin to expect something good or interesting [v
phrase]
arouse expectations of The prime minister's remarks
aroused expectations of tax cuts.
6 expecting something good to happen
optimistic
optimist
upbeat
optimistic /,opt'mIstIk, II ,a:p-! someone who is
optimistic expects something good to happen or expects
a situation to have the best possible result [adj]
The team manager sounded quite optimistic when I asked
him about tomorrow's game. [ "'We should be able to finish
this job in a couple of days. "" "'Aren'tyou being a little
optimistic?"[ optimistic about In spite of all the problems
we remain optimistic about the company's future.
optimistically lady] "'Everything's going to be fine, "" he
assured me optimistically.
optimism/otoImizam [[ 'rap-! In UI I think the latest eco-
nomic report gives us some grounds for optimism (=a reason
to be optimistic).
optimist/optgmgst [[ 'fl:p-/someone who always expects
good things to happen and expects every situation to have
the best possible result In el
Anyone who works in politics has to be an optimist. If they
weren't, they'd get depressed. [ "'With three of our players
injured, do you really think we can win this game?" "'I've
always been an optimist. ""
upbeat I ^pbi:t! expressing a cheerful attitude and show-
ing that you expect to succeed, even though the situation
may not be encouraging [adj]
The senator gave an upbeat assessment of the Republ.icans"
chances in the forthcoming election. I Although it had been
a badyearfor the motor industry, manufacturers were trying
to be upbeat in their sales forecasts.
7 expecting something bad to happen
pessimistic gloomy
pessimist fear the worst
downbeat
pesslmistlc/pes mIstk/someone who is pessimis-
tic expects something bad to happen or expects a situation
to have the worst result that is possible [adj]
Don't be so pessimistic. Things will turn out all right in the
end. I Their pessimistic conclusion was that the company
would be bankrupt within the next two years. I pessimis-
tic about He was injured in last week's game and is pessi-
mistic about his chances of playing next season.
pessimistically [adv] As Ruth pessimistically observed,
more people are involved in accidents in the home than any-
where else.
pessimism J' pes Iamizam / In U] Since the military coup, the
nation's mood has been one of pessimism (=has been pes-
simistic).
pessimist / pesmst! someone who always expects bad
things to happen and expects every situation to have the
worst possible result [n C]
Henry expects everything to go wrong. He's an awful pes-
simist. I I can "t stand these pessimists who are always predict-
ing doom and disaster.
downbeat/'daonbi:t! expressing an attitude that is not
at all hopeful and showing that you do not expect success
[adj]
Latest economic surveys are more downbeat as a result of the
recent decline in world trade.
gloomy I  glu:mi! not having or offering much hope for the
future [adj]
With 25% unemployment in the area, people here have a very
gloomy view of the future. [ A year ago it seemed that a peace
treaty was possible, but now the outlook is much more
gloomy. [ Despite all the grave warnings and gloomy predic-
tions, the Canadian Pacific Railway proved a great success. [
gloomy about Most political analysts are gloomy about the
country's future.
gloomily [adv] He spoke gloomily about the prospect of a
prolonged civil war.
gloom In U] Cavendish faced the future with a deep sense
of gloom (=feeling very gloomy).
fear the worst /fIa r 6a twa:rstJ a formal expression
meaning to expect a situation to have the worst possible
result because you know how bad the situation is [vphrase]
He's getting his exam results tomorrow. I think he fears the
worst. ] After she'd seen how bad the newspaper reports were,
she feared the worst. There was no way a scandal could be
avoided.
ways of saying that something happens in the
way you expected, so that you are not
surprised
as expected live up to sb's
come as no surprise expectations
predictabie be only to be expected
as expected/ez lkspektd! if something happens as
expected, it happens exactly in the way that people
expected it to happen [adv phrase]
As expected, the three men were sentenced to life imprison-
ment. [ The results show, as expected, that heart disease is
most common in people who are overweight. [ as was/had
been expected Yesterday, as had been expected, the govern-
ment announced its intention to launch a public enquiry.
come as no surprise /knm az ,nao sat praiz/ifa piece
of information or a fact comes as no surprise, it is what
you expected Iv phrase not in progressive]
After a series of political scandals, news of the president's
resignation came as no surprise. [ come as no surprise to

EXPECT 7 EXPENSIVE
sb Tina was shocked when she heard she was not being
promoted, but it came as no surprise to the rest of us. I come
as no great surprise It came as no great surprise to hear
they were get.ting a divorce.
predictable/prI 'diktobal! happening as you expected, in
the usual or typical way [adj]
His speech was long, boring and predictable. I Barrat's reac-
tion to our criticisms was entirely predictable - he angrily
rejected everything we said. I The results of the survey were
very predictable. Over half the people interviewed said they
thought smoking was a bad habit.
predictably [adv] Predictably, the Security Police were
cleared of all charges in the internal enquiry.
live up to sb's expectations /,lIv Ap to (sb's)
,ekspek'telSanz/ if something lives up to your expecta-
tions, it is as good as you expected it to be [v phrase]
The show certaMly lived up to our expectations - it was won-
derful entertainment. I The highly publicized new rail net-
work is not living up to our expectations - trains are still
not arriving on time.
be only to be expected/,0onli to bi: [k'spektd/ if
something, especially something bad or unpleasant, is
only to be expected, it is what you should expect in that
situation Iv phrase]
He was expelled from the school, but that was only to be
expected, considering his bad behaviour. I When you're over
60, it's only to be expected that you can't do as much as you
used to.
9 ways of saying that something happens
which you did not expect
unexpected
unexpectedly
unforeseen
contrary to
expectations
unannounced
out of the blue
in your wildest dreams
more than you had
bargained for
unexpected/, AnIkt spektd'/not expected, especially so
that you are surprised or not prepared [adj]
Allow a couple of extra hours'journey for any unexpected
delays. I Although he wasn't a young man his death was still
rather unexpected. I the unexpected (=something that you
did not expect) And then the unexpected happened. She
kissed me.
unexpectedly/,^nik'spektI0dli/ if something happens
unexpectedly, it happens when you are not expecting it,
usually so that you are surprised or not prepared for it
[adv]
I was just about to start my trip when, totally unexpectedly,
my sister said she was coming with me. I We received an unex-
pectedly large number of applications for the job.
unforeseen / tAnfa:rtsi:n-/unforeseen changes/prob-
lems/effects/obstacles etc (=ones which you did not
expect or prepare for and which usually cause you
difficulty) [ adj]
We had to cancel our visit to Egypt because of unforeseen
problems. I Once you have started the training you will not
be allowed to leave, unless unforeseen circumstances arise.
contrary to expectations /,kontrori to ekspek'te-
Sanz I] ,ko:ntreri-/a formal expression: if something hap-
pens contrary to expectations, it is the opposite of what
people expected to happen [adv phrase]
Contrary to expectations, Mr Stevens managed to fight off
the disease and lived to the age of 90. I contrary to sb's
expectations Contrary to everyone's expectations Michael
won the competition.
unannounced / ,Ano'naonst/unannounced arrival/
visit/interruption etc (=not expected because no one was
told about it before it happened) [adj]
Security is very tight, and unannounced visitors are not
encouraged. I arrive unannounced Bella arrived at dulio 's
apartment one afternoon, unannounced.
out of the blue/,aut ov 6o 'blu:/if something happens
out of the blue, you are not expecting it at all [advphrase]
One evening she telephoned me out of the blue and told me
she was in some kind of trouble.
In your wildest dreams/In ja: r ,wa[ldlast 'dri:mz/if
something happens that you did not expect in your wil-
dest dreams, it is so good that you never thought that there
was any possibility that it could happen [adv phrase]
She was expecting to do well, but never in her wildest dreams
had she imagined that she would get the gold medal.
more than you had bargained for/,mo: r 6anju: hod
,bo:rgnd f:r/if you get more than you had bargained
for, you have more problems or difficulties while doing
something than you had expected or prepared for
We got more than we had bargained for when we bought the
house. It needed so much work doing on it! [ Their summer
vacation turned out to be much more expensive than they had
bargained for.
10 words for describing someone or something
that is expected
expected
long-awaited
be due
expected/ik'spektld/[adj only before noun]
The expected announcement that the President is resigning
was made earlier today. [ Equipment must be available in
sufficient quantity for the expected number of students. [ She
spent all day tidying the house up for the expected visit of her
in-laws.
long-awaited/'lorj o,weltlad [I 'la:rj-/ a long-awaited
event, book, film etc is one that people have been expect-
ing for a long time [adj only before noun]
The long-awaited new magazine for nurses is being pub-
lished next month. I An invitation to the party gave me the
long-awaited opportunity of meeting the judge in person.
be due/bi: 'dju: II -'du:/to be expected to happen or arrive
at a particular time Iv phrase]
When is your baby due? I be due at five o'clock/thirteen
hundred hours etc The flight from New York is due at
10:30. I be due in an hour/three months/two days etc
I've ruined the meal and our guests are due in half an hour! l
be due to do sth He was on leave and not due to return to
the barracks until five days later.
o:.i expectancy: life expectancy LIFE 1
....
•  expectant BABY/HAVE A BABY 7, WAIT 4
 expectation: expectation/anticipation EXPECT 3
in
of
 expectation: my expectation is EXPECT 2
,=. expectations: live up to sb's expectations EXPECT 8
, expectations: not live up to/come up to expectations
li DISAPPOINTED 3
'' expected EXPECTIO
i expected: as expected EXPECT 8
 expected: be expected to do sth SHOULD/OUGHT TO 1
expected: be only to be expected EXPECT 8
expecting: be expecting BABY/HAVE A BABY 7
expedient WAY/METHOD 5
expedition TRAVEL 9
expel LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 5, LEAVE
SCHOOL OR COLLEGE 3, LEAVE YOUR
HOME/COUNTRY 5
expend USE/CONSUME 1
expenditure SPEND MONEY 9
expense: at the expense of HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
expense: go to great expense SPEND MONEY 2
expense: spare no expense SPEND MONEY 2
expenses SPEND MONEY 9
expensive EXPENSIVE 1, 3
EXPENSIVE
1 words meaning expensive
2 extremely expensive
3 words for describing restaurants, clothes,
areas of the city etc that are expensive and
fashionable , continued

EXPENSIVE 448 EXPENSIVE
-EXPENSIVE
continued
4 too expensive for you to be able to buy it or
pay for it
5 words for describing prices that you think are
too high
1 words meaning expensive
 expensive costly
dear it'll cost you
cost a lot not come cheap
high pricey
expensive / ik' spens IV/costing a lot of money, especial]y
when compared to the price of similar things [adj]
The tourists all had expensive Japanese cameras. [ Wine is
much more expensive here than it is in France. [ The wash-
ing machines all cost a lot of money, and we decided to buy
the one that was the least expensive. [ Buying a house can
be incredibly expensive these days. [ expensive to run/pro-
duce/do etc Big cars like the Ford LTD H are extremely
expensive to run.
dear/dlar/a British word meaning expensive, used espe-
cially when talking about things that are sold in shops [adj
not before noun]
Those strawberries look a bit dear. [ The blue jacket is
slightly dearer, but it's a much better material. [ No you can't
have an ice-cream - they're too dear.
cost a lot I,kost a 'lot II ,ka:st a 'lo:t/if something, espe-
cially something you do, costs a lot it is expensive Iv
phrase]
Going to the cinema in London costs a lot. [ I managed to find
the bike I wanted but it cost a lot. [ cost a lot to do sth Did
it cost a lot to go to Turkey by train?
high/hail prices, rents, or charges that are high are at a
level which is more expensive than usual [adj]
Rents in Helsinki are very high compared to the rest of Fin-
land. [ Inflation means higher prices. [ Many people cannot
afford the high fees charged by lawyers.
costly / kotli 11 'ka:sfli/a plan, activity etc that is costly
is too expensive and wastes money Iadj]
The finance committee rejected their plan because they said
it was too costly. [ Selling your house can be a costly and time-
consuming business. ] Buying all those computers was a
costly mistake.
It'll cost you/itl 'kost ju: [1 -'ka:st-/an informal expres-
sion: if you say it'll cost you when someone wants to buy
something, you mean it will be expensive for them
"'I really want to see Madonna in concert. "" "'It'll cost you!" [
You can get new parts specially made for these, but it'll cost
you.
not come cheap/not kAm 'ti:p/an informal expression
meaning to be expensive, used especially when you think
that even though something is expensive, it is still worth
buying [v phrase not in progressive ]
Gibson guitars don't come cheap, but they sound great. [
Hiring a good secretary won't come cheap, but it's worth it
for a small business.
pricey/'praisi/an informal word meaning very expensive
or too expensive, used especially when you are deciding
whether or not to buy something [adj not usually before
nounl 
No, we can't eat here. It's much too pricey. ] I like this shirt
but it looks a bit pricey.
2 extremely expensive
cost a fortune
cost a bomb/the earth
astronomical
cost a fortune I ,East a ' fa:rtj'an/an informal expression
meaning to be very expensive Iv phrase]
Our car's broken down again - it's going to cost a fortune
to get it fixed. I cost sb a fortune That painting must have
cost you a fortune.
cost a bomb/the earth/tkost a bom, 6i '3:ro II ,ko:st
a 'ba:m-/informal British expressions meaning to be very
expensive Iv phrase]
I can't imagine how she affords to send her kids to that school
- it must cost a bomb. [ Private health care needn't cost the
earth. ] east sb a bomb/the earth The divorce cost me a
bomb.
astronomical / t eestra'nom;kal- [[ -'no:-/a price or cost
that is astronomical is extremely high [adj]
The cost of building new subway lines these days is astro-
nomical. [ The painting was sold for an astronomical price.
3 words for describing restaurants, clothes,
areas of the city etc that are expensive and
fashionable
expensive exclusive
luxurious upmarket
fancy plush
posh classy
expensive/IktspensIvl [adj]
My uncle took us out to dinner at an expensive restaurant
in York. I The house is on West Boston Avenue, Detroit's most
expensive residential area. I Clapton arrived at the club
wearing an expensive-looking suit.
expensively lady] an expensively tailored suit
luxurious/l^g'zjoarias, log soarias II lag'boarias/luxuri-
ous hotel/apartment/house ete (=one that is expensive
because it is large, very comfortable and has expensive
decorations and furniture) [adj]
The star owns a luxurious apartment in the centre of
London. I The hotel suite looked very luxurious in the
brochure.
luxuriously [adv] Her yacht was luxuriously furnished,
and there were gold taps in all the bathrooms.
fancy /'fensi! a word used to describe cars, clothes,
restaurants etc that look expensive, used especially when
you feel annoyed because you do not have enough money
to buy or use them [adj]
He drives around in a big fancy car and thinks he's some-
thing special. I Just because she has all that fancy camera
equipment doesn't mean she can take better pictures than me.
posh/p$ [I po:II a posh hotel, restaurant, car etc is one
that looks expensive and looks as if it is used or owned by
people who have a lot of money and who belong to a high
social class [adjl
When you're famous you'll be able to stay in a posh hotel and
drink champagne all day. [ Her father had hired a really
posh car to drive us to the wedding - I think it was a Rolls.
exclusive/ik'sklu:slv/places, organizations, clothes etc
that are exclusive are so expensive that not many people
can afford to use them or buy them [adj]
The store, in Harvard Square, sells exclusive designer
clothes.[ Prince Charles went to a highly exclusive boys"
school in Scotland.
upmarket I, ^p 'mo:rkalt/upmarket shops, newspapers,
houses etc are usually used or bought by people who belong
to a higher social class or have more money than ordinary
people, and are therefore more expensive [adj]
I was surprised when I saw her apartment - I'd have
expected a lawyer to have something a little more upmarket. [
They don't like doing their shopping at ordinary department
stores - they prefer to use upmarket shops like Harrods.
plush /plA/ plush hotel/office/apartment etc (=one
that looks expensive because it contains a lot of nice fur-
niture, decorations etc) [adj]
We walked past the doorman into the plush reception area
of the Hilton Hotel. I The vice-president of the company had
a large, plush office on the top floor of an imposing sky-
scraper.
classy/'lda:si II 'klesi/a classy restaurant, hotel, area
of town etc is fashionable and expensive, and is used by

EXPENSIVE 449 EXPERIENCE
people who have a lot of money or belong to a high social
class [adj]
She took us to a very classy seafood restaurant in the old part
of the city. I Brookline is one of Boston's classier districts,
with large houses set in beautiful surroundings.
4 ways of saying that something is too
expensive for you to be able to buy it or pay
for it
can't afford
prohibitive/prohibitively expensive
price sth out of the market
can't afford I,ka:nt o'fa:rd II ,kent-/if you can't afford
something, you do not have enough money to buy it or pay
for it Iv phrase]
can't afford sth I'd love a new car, but l just can't afford
it. I can't afford to do sth When I was young we couldn't
afford to take vacations.
prohibitive/prohibitively expensive/pra'hbtv,
pr,hIbaltvli k'spensiv [[ prtJ-/prices or costs that are pro-
hibitive or prohibitively expensive are so high that
people cannot pay them or decide not to pay them because
they are too expensive [adj]
In those days air transport costs were prohibitive and fruit
had to be carried by ship. I For most people, the cost of living
in the centre of town is prohibitive. I Taking a company to
court over a claim can be prohibitively expensive.
price sth out of the market/,praIs (sth) aot av 6a
'ma:rkt/to make something so expensive that people will
no longer buy it because they can buy something similar
at a lower price Iv phrase]
be priced out of the market British electrical equipment
is likely to be priced out of the market by cheap imports. I
price yourself out of the market Ford don't want to put
up their prices any more - they're worried about pricing
themselves out of the market.
5 words for describing prices that you think are
too high
exorbitant be daylight robbery/
extortionate be highway robbery
steep inflated prices
be a rip-off fancy prices
exorbitant/Ig'za:rbtant/prices or rates that are exor-
bitant are very much higher than you think they should
be [adj]
The restaurant charges exorbitant prices for not very good
food. I Some credit companies lend money at exorbitant rates
of interest.
extortionate/k' st:rSant/extortionate prices, rents,
charges etc are very much higher than they should be and
you think they are unfair [adj]
Landlords charge extortionate rents because they know their
tenants have nowhere else to live. I You had to pay him $I00
for ten minutes" work? That's extortionate!
steep/sti:p! an informal word: prices, charges, rents etc
that are steep seem unusually or surprisingly high [adj not
before noun]
It's hard to find an apartment in Hamburg and if you do the
rents are pretty steep. I $80? That's a bit steep for a shirt isn "t
it?
be a rip-off/hi:  'rip [f/an informal expression: if you
say that something is a rip-off, you mean that someone is
charging much too much money for it [v phrase]
what a rip-off]. They're charging Ј50 for cup final tickets -
what a rip-offWI be a complete/total/real rip-off I
wouldn't go to that club - it's a complete rip-off.
be daylight robbery (British) I be highway robbery
(American)/bi: ,defiant 'rtbari, bi: ,hawe- II -'re:-/infor-
mal expressions: if you say that a price or charge is day-
light robbery or highway robbery you mean it is very
much higher than it should be Iv phrase]
I'm notpaying Ј5 for an ice-cream - that's daylight robbery! l
We knew it was highway robbery but we had no choice but
to pay.
Inflated prices/n,fletd 'prasz/prices that are much
higher than usual and much higher than they should be,
so that the person who charges them can make a big profit
In plural]
Nightclubs often charge inflated prices for drinks. I at
inflated prices He makes his living selling soft drinks to
summer tourists at vastly inflated prices.
fancy prices/,feensi 'prasz/an informal expression
meaning prices that are too high and which are charged
especially in order to make people think that they are get-
ting something that is of high quality In plural]
They charge all these fancy prices, but you can get clothes
which are just the same in any high street shop.
experience EXPERIENCE 1, 3, EXPERIENCED 3, FEEL
HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 1, FEEL
HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 1, HAPPEN 12
experience: bad/terrible/dreadful etc experience
EXPERIENCE 2
experience: have youth/experience etc on your side
ADVANTAGE 3
experience: know from bitter experience KNOW STH 1
experience: lack experience EXPERIENCED 4
experience
• ......,
 . - z: ........ -:--   -F ;    : ? &,:::--
meth[ ' that %% , • EXPERIENCE
.... .. . .... .., , .,- • ;..-,-#;,::- • ..
;;;":: ..... 8": .................. " ........... " " " .......... %: <;  ..... '  ;;ў= 
 "::: .... :- .::.:..:.:..:.. .:. ...... .;.. ".: ,.
I,XPe.r{.n::,,: 1Ј#,:: .... :,, @ EXPERIENCED
-- ::.--.,.....-. .:,., • ......................... [ .
:a tst.orsxrtme] .... t, @ TEST/
EXPERIENCE
something that happens to you and causes
you to change or influences you in some way
a bad experience
to have experiences that are sad, happy etc
and that cause you to change or influence
you in some way
1 something that happens to you and causes
you to change or influences you in some way
experience
adventure
fortunes
experience/ik'spIariansl [n C]
The book is based on her experiences as a reporter in E1 Sal-
vador. [ Middle America was badly affected by the whole
Vietnam experience. [ The Commission is asking people from
ethnic minorities to tell them about their experiences of
racism in the workplace. [ quite an experience (=a very
interesting, exciting etc experience) Jumping out of an air-
plane at ten thousand feet is quite an experience, I can tell
you! [ memorable/unforgettable experience (=that you
will always remember) Meeting her after all these years was
an unforgettable experience, one I will always cherish.
adventure/ad'ventSar/an experience where interesting,
exciting, and sometimes dangerous things happen to you
In C/U]
The movie is about some kids shipwrecked on an island, and
the various adventures that happen to them. [ The story of

EXPERIENCE 450 EXPERIENCED
her single-handed voyage across the Atlantic is one of
heroism and adventure.
|ortunes ]' f:rtSanz ! the experiences that happen to you
over many years, and how they influence the way you live
your life, how happy or successful you are etc, especially
when this is told in a story, film etc [n plural]
The book is about the fortunes of a family of settlers in the
Mid West. I After he left his home, his fortunes improved. I
changing fortunes The movie traces the changing fortunes
of a poor family in Southern Australia.
a bad experience
bad/terrible/dreadful
etc experience
nightmare
trauma
ordeal
bad/terrible/dreadful etc experience/(bad, etc)
Ik'sparins/In C]
You shouldn't let one bad experience make you give up
trying. [ It was one of the worst experiences of my life, and
one I never want to see repeated.
nightmare/, natme r] a very unpleasant or frightening
experience that happens to you, when you feel that you
have no control over what is happening [n C usually
singular]
Starting school can be a nightmare for some children. I As
the ship went down, people were rushing around in the dark
screaming and yelling. It was an absolute nightmare. I Let's
hope that the dreadful nightmare of nuclear war never
becomes a reality.
trauma/'tm:m, 'trauml a very bad experience or shock
that has a lasting effect on you In C/U]
June never recovered from the trauma of her husband's
violent death. [ The trauma children experience if their par-
ents divorce can last well into adult life.
ordeal/3:r 'di:l, '3:rdi:l/a time in which you experience
great suffering, anxiety, and often danger [n C]
His ordeal began six months ago, when allegations about
his private life first appeared in the newspapers. [ Despite
undergoing a terrifying ordeal, she was able to give the police
a detailed description of her attackers.
to have experiences that are sad, happy etc
and that cause you to change or influence
you in some way
experience
know
go through/live through
experience IIksparins! [v T not usually in passive]
I've never experienced anything like the joy I felt when my
daughter was born. [ At that moment, I experienced a strange
mixture of fear and excitement.
know/nu/know hardship/joy/sorrow etc (=a word
used especially in literature meaning to experience hard-
ship, joy, sorrow etc) [v T not in progressive]
In his seven short years, he has known war, famine and
death. [ I don't think I've ever known true happiness.
go through/live through/gou Oru:, 'hv Oru:/to ex-
perience a period of difficulty, unhappiness etc Iv T]
Betty's gone through a lot recently - I think you ought to try
and be nice to her. [ They were of the generation that had
lived through the Depression and a world war.
EXPERIENCED
words for describing someone who has done a
particular job or activity for a long time so
that they are skilled and know a lot about it
experienced in a particular job or activity
knowing a lot about life, people etc
the knowledge, skill etc that someone has
after doing something for a long time
4 not experienced in a particular job or activity
5 not knowing very much about life, people etc
6 lack of experience
1 experienced in a particular job or activity
experienced old hand
seasoned know the ropes
practised/practiced pro
veteran
experienced I ]k ' sp Iarinst/ [ adj]
Mr Bruce is a very experienced teacher; he has been work-
ing in this school for ten years. [As you become more
experienced you will find the job gets easier. [ experienced
in sth Our doctor is very experienced in these matters; you
should follow his advice. [ experienced in doing sth The
job would suit someone experienced in dealing with overseas
clients. [ highly experienced (=very experienced) Kate
Wheeler, a highly experienced journalist, has been chosen to
cover the story.
seasoned !'si:zand! seasoned traveller/campaigner/
politician etc (=someone who has done something regu-
larly for a long time and knows all the problems involved)
[adj only before noun]
Being a seasoned traveller, he was fully prepared for the long
delay at the airport. [ Seasoned campaigners like Sakharov
understood the dangers of speaking out.
practised (British) I practiced (American)/'prektst/
someone who is practised in a particular job or skill has
become good at it through experience [adj]
A practised observer would quickly notice changes in the
birds" behaviour. [ If all these highly trained and practiced
engineers couldn't fix the machine, then who could? [ prac-
tised in a skilful salesman, practised in the art of persuasion
veteran/'vetarnl someone who has been doing some-
thing important in public life for a very long time and is
respected by other people [n C usually before noun]
veteran campaignerCtatesmanCroadcaster ete
Millett is a veteran campaigner for women's rights. [ The
veteran broadcaster Alistair Cooke is well known on both
sides of the Atlantic. [ veteran of Desmond Tutu, veteran
of the struggle against apartheid, was enthroned as Arch-
bishop of Cape Town in 1986.
old hand /,old 'hend/ someone who has been doing
something for a long time and knows all the best ways of
doing it In C]
Mrs Baker will show you what to do: she's an old hand. ] You
can't fool an old hand like me. I've been buying antiques for
30 years and I know a fake when I see one. [ old hand at
Charlie will show you how to win money at the races. He's
an old hand at it.
know the ropes/ no 6 'mops/to know how to do all
the parts of a job or to be able to deal with a system because
you have had a lot of experience [v phrase not in pro-
gressive]
The best way to learn is to spend some time with someone who
knows the ropes. [ It seems a very complicated business at
first, but don't worry, you'll soon get to know the ropes.
pro/pmo/an informal word meaning someone whom you
admire because of their great skill and experience in a par-
titular job, profession, or activity In C]
The business is run by pros who know exactly what they are
doing. [ old pro If there's a fish down there he'll catch it -
he's a real old pro.
knowing a lot about life, people etc
experienced
have been around
be a man/woman of the world
sophisticated
experienced/Ik'spIarinst/[adj]
streetwise
hard-bitten
hardened
worldly
Paul liked to turn to more experienced people for advice. [

EXPERIENCED 451 EXPERIENCED
Rick was still young, but he was experienced enough to know
when people were not telling the truth. I experienced in My
elder brother was a lot more experienced in these matters
than I was.
have been around/hav ,bi:n a'raond ]l -bin-/if you say
that someone has been around, you mean that they have
had experience of many different situations and many
different types of people and so they can deal with new sit-
uations confidently and easily Iv phrase]
When you've been around a bit you get to know who to trust
and who to avoid. I You could tell that this guy had been
around, just by the confident way he talked.
be a man/woman of the world/bi: a ,men, ,woman
av 6a 'wa:rld/to be someone who knows a lot about life, has
had a lot of different experiences etc and is not easily
shocked by things Iv phrase]
The boss is a man of the world - I'm sure he'll understand.
sophisticated/sa'flstkeQd/someone who is sophisti-
cated has a lot of knowledge and experience of clever,
fashionable things, and shows this by the way they talk and
behave [adj]
Diana had become a glamorous, sophisticated woman who
knew all the rich and famous people in Paris. I a fashion
magazine that should appeal to the sophisticated
businesswoman
streetwlse / 'stri:twalz/an informal word for describing
someone who has had a lot of experience of life in big cities
and knows how to deal with or avoid dangerous situations
or people [adj]
Young kids these days are much more streetwise than we ever
were at their age - I suppose they have to be. I Spend a couple
of years in a big city and you tend to become very streetwise
and cautious.
hard.bitten /,ho:rd 'bttn*/someone who is hard-bitten
has developed a hard, unsympathetic character because
their experience of life has been difficult and unpleasant
[adj]
Miss Davies is not really the tough, hard-bitten business-
woman that she appears to be. I Sam's experience of prison-
life had made him hard-bitten, cynical and ruthless.
hardened /'ho:rdnd! hardened criminal/cynic etc
(=very hard and strong mentally as a result of regularly
dealing with difff]cult situations) [adj only before noun]
Even the most hardened criminal would have been shocked
by the brutality of the crime. I I have seen hardened jour-
nalists become lost for words when confronted by her.
worldly /'wa:rldli/ having a lot of experience and
knowledge about life and the practical rather than the
moral reasons for people's actions [adj]
For a priest he was surprisingly worldly. I She was much
older and more worldly than I was.
3 the knowledge, skill etc that someone has
after doing something for a long time
experience
experience Ik'sparians/[n U]
Most of the school inspectors had at least ten years" teach-
ing experience. [ Applicants for the post of Financial Direc-
tor must have had experience in banking and accountancy. [
previous experience Have you any previous experience of
working in industry? [ gain experience I'm doing volun-
tary work for an insurance company in order to gain
experience. [ wide experience (=experience in many differ-
ent places or situations) Jane's wide experience of teaching
English abroad enabled her to understand the problems of
foreign students in Britain. [ practical experience
(=experience of actually doing things) Some of the experts
know all the theories but have no practical experience.
4 not experienced in a particular job or activity
inexperienced novice
lack experience rookie
be new to the unlnitiated
untrained
inexperienced/, tntk'spiarianst/[adj]
Inexperienced managers often have problems with their
staff.[ There are a few inexperienced players on the team who
may feel nervous. [ inexperienced in I was young and rela-
tively inexperienced in dealing with members of the opposite
sex.
lack experience/,lak ik' sparians/to not have enough
experience of doing a particular job or activity Iv phrase
not in progressive]
I know Sally lacks experience, but she's tremendously
enthusiastic. I lack experience of When Glover was put in
charge of the department everyone knew that he lacked
experience of management.
be new to/hi: 'nju: tu: II -'nu:-/to have had very little or
no experience in a particular job or activity, because you
have only just started it Iv phrase]
As you are new to the job we will not expect you to work as
fast as the others. I There are special skiing lessons for
anyone who is new to the sport.
untrained/,^n'trend/someone who is untrained is
doing a job or activity that they have not yet been officially
taught to do [adj]
Untrained nurses are not allowed to treat patients who are
seriously ill. I untrained in Unfortunately, the school
library system has been designed by teachers, untrained in
library methods.
novice I'novs [I 'no:-/ someone who has just started
doing a particular job or activity and has very little or no
experience In C]
The Eiger is a difficult mountain to climb. Novices should
not attempt it. [ complete novice (=someone who has no
experience at all) Even though I was a complete novice, I
managed to hit the centre of the target with my first shot.
rookie/' roki/an American word meaning someone who
is still new and inexperienced in an activity or job, espe-
cially in a sport, the army, or the police In C]
Don't be too hard on the guy, he's just a rookie. I The Red
Sox rookie pitcher Roger Clemeno made a great debut at
Fenway Park.
the uninitiated/6i ,^n 'mJiettd/a formal or humorous
word meaning people who have no experience or
knowledge of a difficult subject or skill In plural]
to/for the uninitiated To the uninitiated, most computer
systems seem complex and difficult to understand. I The
classes are designed for the uninitiated, to teach them the
basics of car mechanics.
5 not knowing very much about life, people etc
Inexperienced green
innocent unsophisticated
naive
inexperienced/, imk'spiarionst/[adj]
He's too young and inexperienced to go abroad on his own. I
I realize now that at the age of eighteen I was very inex-
perienced and painfully immature.
Innocent/' inasant/having very little experience of the
world, so that you do not realize that some people might
want to cause others harm [adj]
He's so innocent that he'll never suspect we're lying. I Think
again before you involve that innocent young girl in your
criminal activities. I Monica, you poor innocent fool, don't
you see that you're walking right into a trap?
innocence In U] Dan's innocence prevented him from realiz-
ing that the man was a crook.
naive/nai 'i:v II no:'i:v/having little experience of life, so
that you believe that life is simple and are too ready to trust
people [adj]
I was too young and naive to realize that he was trying to
bribe me. I He had a naive and childish belief that Marxism
would solve all the world's problems.
naively [adv ] He believed, somewhat naively, that love was
more important than anything else in the world.
green/grim/having very little experience of life, so that
you are easily deceived or fail to understand what is really
happening in a particular situation [adj not before noun]

EXPERIENCED 452 EXPLAIN
Even when I was 21 1 was so green, I had no idea that my
best friend was on drugs. I Young Eleanor isn't as green as
you might think; she knew Roland wasn't telling the truth.
unsophisticated /,^nso'fistke[td/ having little
knowledge or experience of clever, fashionable things, and
showing this by the way you talk and behave [adj]
She was a country girl, shy and unsophisticated, so differ-
ent from her rich cousins in New York. I I felt very ignorant
and unsophisticated when I was with my brother and his
university friends.
6 lack of experience
inexperience
lack of experience
inexperience / inik  splarions/the fact of having little or
no experience in a job or activity In U]
The new teacher's problems in the classroom were entirely
due to inexperience. I If any of the new assistants makes a
mistake, the boss usually puts it down to inexperience.
lack of experience/, lk ov ik' splarions/the fact of not
having enough experience in a job or activity In phrase]
It doesn't matter about her lack of experience - we can easily
train her for the job.
experiment TEST/EXPERIMENT 1
experiment: do an experiment/test TEST/EXPERIMENT2
experiment on TEST/EXPERIMENT 4
experiment with TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1
experimental TEST/EXPERIMENT 5
expert GOOD AT 2, KNOW STH 6
:ii: expertise KNOW STH 13
.iii expire FINISH/COME TO AN END 5
i ; explain EXPLAIN 1, 3, 5, REASON 7, 8, 9
:,,, explain: let me explain EXPLAIN 2
• explain away REASON 8
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN
to make something easier for someone to
understand
what you say when you are trying to explain
something
to explain to someone how something works
or how to do something
to explain a difficult subject using simple
language
to provide full information about something,
such as a set of plans or ideas, in order to
explain it to people
a written or spoken statement that is intended
to explain something
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to make something easier for someone to
understand
explain enlighten
throw light on/ elucidate
shed light on by way of explanation
explain ! ik'splein/to explain something, for example by
describing it in a clear and simple way, or by providing
more information Iv I/T]
explain sth to sb Can you explain the rules of the game to
me? l I'll explain it to you later. I explain sth I don't under-
stand this word. Could you explain it please? l It's too
difficult to explain. I explain Let me explain, it's actually
very simple.
throw light on/shed light on I,Oroo 'lalt on, ,fed 'lalt
onl to provide new information which makes something
easier to understand, especially something which has been
studied, but which is still not well understood [v phrase]
These discoveries may throw light on the origins of the
universe. I Scientists working in the Gobi desert have thrown
new light on the life of dinosaurs. I New light has been shed
on the behaviour of Black Holes, as a result of this discovery.
enlighten In'laltn/ a formal word: if you enlighten
someone, you explain something to them or tell them about
something, especially because they have asked you to do
so [v T not in passive]
We are not familiar with this procedure. Could you enlighten
us?] She had no idea what was going on, yet Baldwin seemed
unwilling to enlighten her.
elucidate/i 'lu:sdeIt/a formal word meaning to provide
fuller information in order to explain clearly something
which is difficult to understand or which has not yet been
fully understood Iv T]
She collected any evidence which might help her to elucidate
the problem. I He fully elucidated this point later in his
speech.
by way of explanation Iba ,weI Ov eksplo'nefan/if
you say something by way of explanation, you add a short
statement in order to explain more clearly what you mean
lady phrase]
He added, by way of explanation, that the UN's role here was
purely advisory. [ "Mr Wilmott will be here shortly, "" his
secretary told me. "His train has been delayed, "" she con-
tinued, by way of explanation.
what you say when you are trying to explain
 something
in other words
let me explain
that is
to put it another way
put it like this/
put it this way
let me rephrase that
in other words/In ,^(o r 'wa:rdz/(used to introduce a
simpler or shorter expression to explain the meaning of
what you have just said)
He was proud of his powers of persuasion - or, in other
words, his salesmanship. I He was being held here against
his will. In other words, he was a prisoner. I They believe in
one person, one vote. In other words, democracy.
let me explain/,let mi: ik'splem/(used when you are
going to explain something to someone because you think
they have not fully understood it)
I can see you're a little confused. Let me explain, briefly. I I
know this investment sounds like a crazy idea, but it isn't
really. Let me explain.
that is / '5t z/(used when you are explaining the mean-
ing of the previous word or phrase by giving more infor-
mation about it)
The fare is reduced for children, that is, anyone under 15
years old. I Be sure to practise all four language skills - that
is, reading, writing, listening and speaking - in every lesson.
to put it another way/to ,pot it O'I1ASO r ,weI/(used
when you have explained something in one way and you
are going to try to make it clearer by explaining it in a
different way)

EXPLAIN 453 EXPLODE
Money makes money. To put it another way, the greater the
investment, the greater the profit.
put it like this/put it this way/,pot It la[k 'his, ,pot
It bs weq (used when someone is unsure what you mean
and you are going to try to explain in a way that will help
them to understand)
"So everyone passes the test? .... Well, put it like this -you
would have to be an idiot to fail. "" I Put it this way, honey
- what the boss doesn't know isn't going to bother him.
let me rephrase that / ,let mi: ri: ' frez bet/(used when
you are going to use different words to say something
again, because you have just said it in an unsuitable way
and it may not have been understood correctly)
I'm sorry, let me rephrase that. That wasn't what I meant
to say at all. I I didn't mean to offend you. Let me rephrase
that.
to explain to someone how something works
or how to do something
tell demonstrate
explain give instructions
tell/tel/[v T]
tell sb how/what Marcus told me how the machine
worked. [ This leaflet tells you how to avoid getting malaria. I
If you tell me how to get there I'm sure I'll remember.
explain/ik'splen/to explain to someone how to do some-
thing or how something works [v I/T]
expain how/what He explained how to get to the hotel
where they were to meet. I There is a notice on the wall which
explains what to do in case of fire. I explain sth This book-
let explains the new procedure. I explain Some of you don't
know how our information service works, so I'll explain.
demonstrate /  demznstre t/to show someone how to do
or use something by doing it or using it while they watch
you Iv I/T]
demonstrate sth The skiing instructor started the lesson
by demonstrating turning techniques. I Always demonstrate
to children the right way to cross the road safely. I demon-
strate how The company hired a trainer to demonstrate
how to use the computer system. I demonstrate If you allow
me to demonstrate, you'll see how easily it works.
give instructions/,gIv In' str^kj'anz/to explain to some-
one how to do something, especially by telling them in the
right order all the details of what they should do [vphrase]
give instructions about/on The book gives detailed
instructions about maintaining and repairing the engine. [
give sb instructions The salesman gave me instructions
on how to use my washing machine. [ The pilot was given
landing instructions over the radio.
 to explain a difficult subject using simple
language
demystify
simplify /'simplfai/ to explain something difficult in
simple language so that it is easier to understand [v T]
We have done everything we can to simplify the procedure. I
Her talk was excellent; she took a complex situation and sim-
plified it in a way her audience could understand.
demystify ! ,di:'mistfai/to give a simple, clear explana-
tion of an important but difficult subject so that it is easier
for ordinary people to understand [v T]
This new book demystifies some of the computer language
currently in use. I The professor has demystified the latest
discoveries in astronomy so that even children can under-
stand them.
to provide full information about something,
such as a set of plans or ideas, in order to
explain it to people
explain
set out
explain/Ik'splem] [v T]
President Roosevelt often made radio broadcasts to explain
and justify his policies. I The new leaflet explains the Labour
Party's position on unemployment. I The architect explained
his ideas for the new building.
set out/ set aut! to explain facts, arguments, reasons etc
by stating them clearly and in a carefully planned order
[phr v T]
set out sth The group's policies are set out in a leaflet
entitled 'The Green Way'. I She set out the reasons for her res-
ignation in a confidential letter to her boss. I set sth/it out
The facts, as you have set them out, seem convincing enough.
6 a written or spoken statement that is intended
to explain something
explanation
account
instructions
explanation I,ekspk)'ne.fan/In C]
Each of the diagrams was accompanied by a simple expla-
nation. I We can't follow the teacher's explanations because
they're all in French. I A new explanation of the structure
of DNA was published last week in the medical journal, "The
Lancet'.
acceun| /z'kaunt/ a detailed description of a process
which also explains how it happens and what makes it pos-
sible In C]
So far no linguist has given us a satisfactory account of how
children learn language. I The modern account of the crea-
tion of the universe is based on the so-called "big bang theory'.
instructions/Instr^kanz/written or spoken informa-
tion that explains in detail how to do something, how to use
something etc In plural]
Read the instructions carefully before using the machine. I
I want to try out our new video camera but Ican'tfind the
instructions. I Before you start the test, switch on the tape and
listen carefully to the instructions.
explanation EXPLAIN 6, REASON 2, 5
explanation: by way of explanation EXPLAIN 1
explanation: find an explanation SOLVE/FIND THE
ANSWER 1
explanation: providelcome up with an explanation
REASON 8
explicit CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 1
explicit: be more explicit DETAIL 7
explode EXPLODE 1, 2
EXPLODE
ways of saying that bombs, chemicals etc
explode
to make something explode, especially a
bomb
to damage or destroy a building, car etc by
means of a bomb
the noise and violent force that is produced
when something explodes
capable of exploding
1 ways of saying that bombs, chemicals etc
explode
explode go up
blow up go off
explode/k'sploud/to burst suddenly and violently with
a loud noise, usually causing a lot of damage Iv I]
The car crashed, and its petrol tank exploded a few minutes
later. [ Be careful with fireworks; they can explode in your
face.

EXPLODE 454 EXPRESS
biow up/blo ^p! to explode and be completely des-
troyed [phr v I]
The plane blew up when it was still on the runway. I David
ran away from his truck, thinking that the gas tank was
going to blow up.
go up /,go 'Ap! an informal expression meaning to
explode and be destroyed by a big fire [phr v I]
I can smell gas. Don't light a match or the whole place might
go up! I Grandpa was telling us about his navy days and how
his ship went up after hitting a mine.
go off/,go ,of II ifa bomb goes off, it explodes [phr
vii
The bomb went off in his face. I Luckily the device didn't go
off and no one was hurt.
 to make something explode, especially a
bomb
let off detonate
set off explode
let off/,let 'of II -':f/[phr v T]
let off sth We let off fireworks in the street on 4th July. I let
sth/it/them off The kids have been letting stink bombs off
again.
set off/,set of II-'  :f/to deliberately or accidentally
make a bomb explode [phr v T]
set sth/it/them off Those responsible for setting the bomb
off must have known that the bar would be full of people. I
set off sth The soldiers daren't move in case they set off a
mine.
detonate/'detnet/a technical word meaning to make
a bomb explode deliberately or accidentally Iv T]
Bomb disposal experts detonated the bomb harmlessly in a
nearby field. I The device was designed to be detonated by
whoever opened the parcel.
explode/kspbd/to make a bomb, especially a very
large one, explode Iv T]
The guerrillas exploded a device similar to this one last
month. I India exploded its first nuclear bomb in 1974.
3 to damage or destroy a building, car etc by
means of a bomb
blow up/,bbu 'Ap/ [phr v T]
blow up sth The terrorists blew up all the bridges on the
road from the capital. I The ship was blown up by enemy
agents while it was in harbour. I blow sth/it/them up Our
mission was to get across the bridge and blow it up before
the enemy could reach it.
4 the noise and violent force that is produced
when something explodes
explosion
blast
explosion/Ik'splo3n/[n C]
The explosion shook the building. I The force of the explo-
sion had broken all the windows of the houses in the vicin-
ity of the vehicle.
blast/blmst j] blmsq a word used especially in newspapers
and in written descriptions of events meaning the noise
and violent force that is produced when a bomb explodes
[nC]
Kemp was badly injured by the blast from a high explosive
bomb. I The muffled blasts shook the walls and every light
in the building went off.
5 capable of exploding
explosive
explosive/k'spbosv/[adj]
These gases are highly explosive and should be handled very
carefully. I An explosive device was hidden on board the ship.
exploit
exploits
explore
explosion
explosive
export
exports
expose
express
USE A PERSON 1, USE STH :2, 4.
DO 9
TRAVEL 6
EXPLODE 4, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 11
EXPLODE ,5
SELL 4.
SELL 11
SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 2, TELL A SECRET 1
EXPRESS 1, SAY/STATE 1
express: can't express EXPRESS 5
express interest INTERESTED 1
express no interest INTERESTED 7
express opposition: voice/express opposition to
AGAINST/OPPOSE 4
express your thanks/gratitude THANK 1
express yourself EXPRESS 2
EXPRESS
to let people know what you are feeling or
thinking
1 to express what you think or feel, especially
using words, but also by means of physical
signs
2 to express your ideas or feelings clearly and
well
3 good at expressing your ideas or feelings
clearly and well
4 not good at expressing your ideas or feelings
clearly
5 words for describing ideas, feelings etc that
are difficult to express in words
to express what you think or feel, especially
using words, but also by means of physical
signs
express get sth over
convey put sth into words/
communicate find the words to say sth
say
express/k'spres/[v T]
express sth He's always found it hard to express his feel-
ings. I Martin's face expressed rage and frustration at being
cheated. I Many of his films express the fears and anxieties
of the post-war years. I express sth by/through etc
Workers traditionally express their discontent by going on
strike. I In this speech. Othello expresses his jealousy through
powerful images.
expression/k'sprefan/ In C] His poems were a desperate
expression of his loneliness and isolation.
convey/kan've/to express a sense of what you or other
people are feeling or thinking, especially without stating
it directly Iv T]
His tone conveyed an unmistakable warning. I I tried to
convey my sympathy by touching her hand. I His office con-
veyed an impression of efficiency and seriousness.
communicate /k'mju:nkeit/ to manage to express
what you think or feel with words, movements, or by the
way you behave [v T]
She tried to communicate her fears to her mother. [ You can
communicate your mood to your baby without realising it. [
Andrea smiled at Jamie, communicating her affection for
him with her eyes.
say/sei/ if someone's behaviour, appearance, or some-
thing they produce says something, it expresses their feel-
ings, attitudes etc Iv T]
say sth This painting says so much in such a simple way. ]
One look said it all - Richard knew that Sally wouldn't
marry him. [ say a lot about (=express something very

EXPRESS 455 EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE
clearly) The fact she didn "t invite her mother to her wedding
says a lot about their relationship.
get sth over ! ,get (sth) 'ovar/to express an idea or feel-
ings to someone, especially something that is difficult to
explain, so that they can understand [phr v T]
Try to get this idea over to your students. I get sth over to
sb Gina felt trapped and insecure but found it difficult to get
this over to her husband.
put sth into words/find the words to say sth/,pot
(sth) inta 'wa:rdz, ,fand 6a ,wa:rdz ta 'se (sth)/to express
your feelings or ideas clearly in words, especially when
this is very difficult to do, and you have to try very hard
to think of the right words Iv phrase]
She tried to put these feelings into words. [ He could not find
the words to tell her that he was leaving.
2 to express your ideas or feelings clearly and
well
express yourself
communicate
project yourself
express yourself/k' spres ja:rself/to make your feel-
ings or thoughts about something known clearly, so that
other people are able to understand Iv phrase]
I find it hard to express myself in writing. [ The children were
encouraged to express themselves freely and openly.
communicate/ka'mju:nket/to make your feelings or
thoughts clear to others, especially by talking or writing
about them Iv I/T ]
The course is designed to enable people to communicate effec-
tively in speech and writing. [ communicate sth She's
clever, but she can't communicate her/dens. ] communicate
with Many parents find it difficult to communicate with
their teenage sons or daughters.
communication/ka,mju:na 'kelan/In U] Lack of commu-
nication, not lack of caring, often makes marriages break up.
project yourself/pra'dsekt ja:rself/to express what you
think or feel in a confident way that other people admire
Iv phrase]
Sam projects himself well - he should stand a good chance
in the interview. I Your problem is presentation -you don't
project yourself very well.
3 good at expressing your ideas or feelings
clearly and well
expressive
articulate
eloquent
expressive /Ik'spres;v/ showing very clearly what a
person thinks or feels [adj]
She is a wonderful actress, with striking, expressive fea-
tures. I The cameras caught Gorbachev's expressive hand
movements. I He had a quiet but expressive voice.
expressively [adv] She had tiny hands which she waved
around expressively when she spoke.
articulate/o:r'tIkjlt/able to talk or write easily and
effectively about what you think and feel [adj]
He is handsome, confident and articulate, like many of the
students at this college. I You have to be articulate to be good
at debating.
eloquent /'elkwant/ expressing ideas and feelings in
very clear, beautiful language, especially in a way that
persuades people to agree with you, or fully understand
what you are saying [adj]
She was an eloquent speaker, able to move and inspire
audiences. I The poem is full of eloquent phrases about the
beauty of nature. I Few will forget his eloquent defence of
individual freedom.
eloquently [adv] Stein eloquently describes the pain of
losing someone you love.
eloquence In U] Despite his charm and eloquence, there was
something about him that made him unpopular.
4 not good at expressing your ideas or feelings
clearly
inarticulate
be at a loss
inarticulate/, Ino: r'ukjlt/unable to express what you
are feeling or thinking because you cannot think of the
right, or best, words to use [adj]
Maisie had always thought of herself as being uneducated
and inarticulate, and was surprised that anyone should ask
her opinion. [ They interviewed the boxer after the fight, but
he was pretty inarticulate.
be at a loss/bi: at a 'IDs ][ -'In:s/to be unable to express
yourself clearly or properly, especially because you are ner-
vous, upset, or embarrassed Iv phrase]
He asked her exactly why she wanted to leave, but she was
completely at a loss. I be at a loss for words She was at a
loss for words to thank them for this gift. I be at a loss to
explain I was at a loss to explain my sudden fit of rage.
5 words for describing ideas, feelings etc that
are difficult to express in words
can't express
be difficult/hard to describe
indescribable
can't express/,ko:nt k'spres II ,kant-/Iv phrase]
I cannot express my gratitude for your kindness. [ She
couldn't express how happy and relieved she was. [ Words
can't express the terrible grief I felt on losing my daughter.
be difficult/hard to describe/bi: ,dfikalt, ,ho:rd ta
dI'skraIb/ to be difficult to express what a feeling,
experience, taste etc is like in words Iv phrase]
The atmosphere of tension and nervousness here is hard to
describe. [ It's difficult to describe the taste of frogs" legs,
they're rather like chicken only sweeter.
indescribable l, 1nds'krababal/if emotions, situations
etc are indescribable, they are so terrible, so good, or so
strange that you cannot describe them properly [adj]
I woke up on the day after my wedding with a feeling of
indescribable joy. I The chaos and confusion was indescrib-
able. I The curtain rises on a scene of indescribable
loneliness.
indescribably [adv ] A long, low moan, indescribably sad,
swept over the moor.
expression EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 1, SAYING 1,
WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 1
@ EXPRESSION ON
SB'S FACE
the way someone shows in their face what
they feel or think about something
1 the expression on someone's face
2 words for describing a face that shows a lot
of feeling
3 words for describing a face that shows no
feelings or opinions
1 the expression on someone's face
expression
look
expression Ik'sprean/In C]
His expression became serious as he listened to her story. I
an expression of surprise/fear/amusement etc "'I'm not
going with him, "said Maria, with an expression of contempt
on her face. I wear an expression (=have an expression)
Wearing an expression of utter boredom, Harry turned back
to his book. I expression on sb's face Have you evei  seen

EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 456 EXTREME
the expression on someone's face when they've just had a
really bad shock?
look /luk! sad/disappointed/annoyed etc look (=an
expression that shows you are sad, disappointed, annoyed
etc) In C]
give a look of/give sb a look of He gave her a look of com-
plete hopelessness. [ the look on sb's face (=someone's
expression, especially an angry, shocked or disappointed
expression) You should have seen the look on his face when
I told him I was leaving. ] the look in sb's eyes The bored
look in Shelley's eyes suggested she didn't quite share my
enthusiasm. ] dirty look (=an expression of disapproval or
anger) She's been giving me dirty looks all morning. What
have I done wrong?
 words for describing a face that shows a lot
of feeling
expressive
animated
expressive/k'spresv/[adj]
He has black wavy hair and dark expressive eyes. [ With her
great voice and expressive features, she would have made a
good actress.
expressiveness [n U] Beauty is not about even features but
about the expressiveness of the human face.
animated/'anmeiQd/showing a lot of lively interest
or excitement [adj]
As he talked about her, his face became animated. [ Sheila
has the gift of keeping her expression animated and her
attention focussed fully on the speaker.
3 words for describing a face that does not
show any feelings or opinions
expressionless deadpan
impassive inscrutable
blank poker-faced
expressionless/k'spreSanlos/[adj]
Oswini was watching her with expressionless eyes. ]As Gold-
wyn sat expressionless behind his desk he told me I was no
longer needed by the company.
impassive/im'psw/not showing any emotion, espe-
cially in a situation where you would normally expect
someone to be sad, shocked, upset, etc [adj]
The defendant remained impassive as the judge described
him as evil and a menace to society. ] Russell kept his face
impassive and continued to listen.
impassively [adv l Adams was staring impassively at the
carnage caused by the blast.
blank/blak/showing no emotion, interest, or under-
standing in your expression, for example because you are
bored, or have not been paying attention to what is being
said [adj]
She looked at the blank faces of the children and wondered
if they would ever learn anything. ] Sister Agnes looked
blank and Benedicta laughed.
blankly [ adv ] He stared blankly at the paper "'I don't think
he can read, "" whispered Betty.
deadpan/'dedpam/deliberately showing no humour in
your expression, even though what you are saying or doing
is meant as a joke [adj only before noun]
She's brilliant at keeping a deadpan face when she's really
teasing you.
deadpan lady] They look at each other deadpan, and then
look at me.
inscrutable /in'skru:tabal/ someone who has an
inscrutable expression shows no emotion or reaction, so
it is impossible to guess what they are thinking or feeling
[adj]
She looked for some response, but Jean's expression
remained inscrutable. I the inscrutable gaze of the palace
guards
inscrutably lady] The little girl was staring at him,
seriously but inscrutably.
poker.faced / pooko r feIst/showing no humour or enjoy-
ment in your expression, especially because you are not
amused by, or disapprove of, what has been said or is hap-
pening [adj]
Our teachers were a dusty, pokerfaced lot, who had long for-
gotten what it was like to be young. ]poker-faced members
of the church hierarchy
expressionless EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 3
expressive EXPRESS 3, EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 2
expressly CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 1
exquisite BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 4
exquisitely BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 6
extend BIG 14, DISTANCE 4, INCREASE IN ACTIVITY,
! FEELINGS ETC 2, LONG 3, LONG TIME 9,
REACH 1
extend over LAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME 1, SIZE 4
extended family FAMILY 2
extensive LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, BIG 4
extent AMOUNT 7, SIZE 2
extent: to a lesser degree/extent LESS 1
extent: to some extent/to a certain extent PARTLY 1
exterior: the exterior OUT/OUTSIDE 7
exterminate KILL 8
external OUT/OUTSIDE 6, 9
extinct EXIST 2
extinct: become extinct DISAPPEAR 3
extinction DISAPPEAR 3
extinguish STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 11
extort GET 9, THREATEN 2
extortionate EXPENSIVE 5
extra ADD 6, MORE/EXTRA 1
extra large BIG 3
extract FIND OUT 7, PART 7, REMOVE 1
extraction REMOVE 5
extraction: be of French/Italian/Russian etc
extraction COME FROM/ORIGINATE 1
extradite LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 5
: extraordinarily VERY 2
extraordinary STRANGE 6, UNUSUAL 1, 2
;,. extravagant EXAGGERATE 3, SPEND MONEY 4
. extreme EXTREME 1
i.
• .: extreme: go from one extreme to the other CHANGE
:ў FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1
....., extreme: go to extremes TOO/TO0 MUCH 3
!i; extreme: go to the other/opposite extreme
OPPOSITE/REVERSE 2
EXTREME
words for describing strong opinions and
beliefs, especially political or religious
beliefs, that most people regard as
unreasonable or unacceptable
1 words for describing extreme opinions, beliefs
or people
:2 extreme behaviour or opinions especially in
politics
3 someone who has extreme opinions or beliefs
1 words for describing extreme opinions, beliefs
or people
extreme ultra
extremist far
hardline all or nothing
extreme/[klstri:m/[adj usually before noun]
I cannot agree with her extreme views on abortion. I Tradi-
tional Conservatives are worried that the extreme Right is
gaining a large following arnong younger party members. I
Rickman was an extreme advocate of completely secular edu-
cation. I More extreme feminists argue that marriage is
simply legalized prostitution.

EXTREME 457 eyesore
extremist IIkstri:mst/ extremist political organiza-
tions have extreme aims that most people think are
unreasonable, and often do not work within established
political structures in order to achieve them [adj]
Neither of these extremist solutions seemed very popular with
the voters. I extremist elements within the party
hardline/'ho:rdlam/having definite, fixed, political opin-
ions and aims, and completely unwilling to accept or sup-
port anything different, or less extreme [adj only before
noun ]
The army is run by a few hardline generals. I The imprisoned
leader of a hardline IRA faction went on a hunger strike
yesterday morning.
ultra /'^ltra/ ultra-right-wing/left-wing/radical etc
(=far more right-wing, left-wing etc than usual) [prefix]
The recent rise in ultra-right-wing politics has been accom-
panied by riots in eastern Germany. [ The Socialist party has
been infiltrated by members of the ultra-radical 'True Path"
group.
far/fo:r/far-left/far-right (=the most extreme left wing
or right wing of a political organization, or among fol-
lowers of a set of political beliefs) [adj only before nounl
Some of these far-left parties seem to be more interested in
attacking each other than in opposing government policy. I
a far-right pamphlet called 'The New State"
all or nothing/,a:l a:r 'nAOirJ/willing to risk everything
in order to achieve extreme aims, and refusing to accept
anything less [adj phrase]
I find her "all or nothing" approach to life very disconcert-
ing. I With him, it's all or nothing, kill or die. He's absolutely
ruthless.
2 extreme behaviour, actions, or opinions etc
extremism
extremism/Ik'stri:mtzam/[n U]
There has been a disturbing growth of extremism at both
ends of the political spectrum. I The ideological extremism
of Zdhanov made him an outcast within his own party. I
Changing the electoral system might open the door to extre-
mism by giving a degree of power to small minority parties.
3 someone who has extreme opinions or beliefs
extremist zealot
fanatic fundamentalist
hardliner diehard
militant lunatic fringe
extremist/ik'stri:mst/someone who has extreme opin-
ions, especially about politics or religion In C]
The government condemns all people who want some form
of social justice as extremists. I There seems to be no end to
the war between Protestant extremists and the IRA. I The
temple was stormed by Sikh extremists.
fanatic/fa'nat[k/someone who agrees with and supports
very extreme political or religious aims, and is completely
certain that their own opinions are right, and that people
who disagree must be wrong In C]
Historians have portrayed Luther as a fanatic but this was
far from the case. I I realized he was a pro-Fascist fanatic
and dangerous to deal with.
fanatical [adj] He is known to supply arms and ammuni-
tion to fanatical separatist groups.
fanaticism/fa'nmtslzaml In U] Her religious fanaticism
has alienated most of her old friends.
hardilner /,ho:rd'lalnor/ someone who believes very
deeply in a set of political aims and ideas, and will not
accept or support any changes to them, even if this
unreasonable or unhelpful In C]
Senator dake Garn was a well-known anti-Soviet hardliner
in the Republican party. I The Prime Minister has been criti-
cized by hardliners in his party for trying to appease the
unions.
militant I'mxltant/someone who is willing to work out-
side usual political structures, and use illegal or violent
methods if necessary, in order to achieve political change
In CI
She used to be a militant but her views are no longer quite
so extreme. I A crowd of militants took to the streets to give
more strength to the anti-racist demonstration.
militant [adj] The newspaper is run by a bunch of militant
feminists.
zealot /'zelat/ someone who has very extreme beliefs
about something, especially about religion, and who thinks
that everyone else should live their lives according to reli-
gious rules and beliefs In C]
A few zealots strongly objected to the proposed sale of alco-
hol at the local store. [ The department was kept under cons-
tant surveillance by anti-communist zealots.
fundamentalist /,fAnda'mental-st/ someone who fol-
lows the rules of their religion very strictly, even when
these seem very unusual, and unsuitable for the modern
world In C]
My grandfather was a devoutly religious man - today he
would be called a fundamentalist. [ Christian fundamen-
talists believe that the world was created in six days, and will
not allow their children to be taught otherwise.
diehard /'daho:rd/someone who completely refuses to
accept new ideas, especially political ideas, even after most
other people have accepted them In C]
Salisbury, Walton and a few other diehards still refused to
join the coalition. I Despite the attitude of some of the die-
hards, more and more money was being spent on new
nursery facilities for working mothers.
diehard [ adj only before noun l The government supported
Burnell to keep his diehard supporters happy.
lunatic fringe /,lu:nauk 'frInd3/ a small number of
people within a larger organization or movement, whose
ideas are so extreme or unusual, that most people think
they are stupid or a little mad In singular with singular or
plural verb in British English]
The lunatic fringe has really harmed the public image of
gays. I Animal rights campaigners blame the latest set of
bomb attacks on the lunatic fringe within the movement.
extremely VERY 2
extremism EXTREME 2
extremist EXTREME 1, 3
extricate yourself ESCAPE 9
extrovert SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 3
extrovertlextroverted FRIENDLY 3
exultant HAPPY 6
eye LOOK AT 3
eye: can do sth standing on your headlwith your
eyes shut EASY 5
eye: catch sb's eye NOTICE 1
eye: have a good eye for TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC
ETC 3
eye: have eyes in the back of your head NOTICE 2
eye: have eyes like a hawk NOTICE 2
eye: in front of sb's eyes/before sb's eyes SEE 6
eye: keep an eye on LOOK AFTER SB 1, RESPONSIBLE
7, WATCH 3, 6
eye: keep your eyes peeled/open WATCH 7
eye: make eyes at LOOK AT 8
eye: not take your eyes off WATCH 2
eye: sb's eyes glaze over BORING 7
eye: sb's eyes water CRY 6
eye: set eyes on SEE 1
eye: shut your eyes to/close your eyes to IGNORE 3
eye: there's more to sb/sth than meets the eye
SEE M 6
eye: turn a blind eye IGNORE 3
eye-opener: be an eye-opener SURPRISE[:) 7
eyesbup LOOK AT8
eye to eye: not see eye to eye DISAGREE 1
eyesight SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 1
eyesore UGLY 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

fable 458 FAIL
F
fable STORY 3
fabric MATERIAL 1
fabricate INVENT 4
fabrication: be a fabrication
face
face:
face:
face:
face:
face:
face:
face:
UNTRUE 2
DEAL WITH 5, OPPOSITE/FACE 1, SURFACE 1
be written all over sb's face OBVIOUS 3
can't look sb in the face ASHAMED 1
fall flat on your face FALL 2
in the face of DESPITE 1
on the face of it SEEM3
put on a brave face HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
sb's face lights up SMILE 2
face: till you're blue in the face POINTLESS 3
face down DOWN 2
face the music PUNISH 5
face to face OPPOSITE/FACE 1,
PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 2
face-up UP 2
face up to DEAL WITH 5
face value: take sth at face value BELIEVE 1
faced with: be faced with PROBLEM 6
facet PART 9
facetious JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 2
facilitate EASY 7
facilities SERVICES 1
facsimile COPY 6
fact TRUE 6
fact: as a matter of fact IN FACT 3
fact: in fact IN FACT 1, 3
fact: it's a fact TRUE 1
fact: the truth is/the fact is IN FACT 1
faction GROUP OF PEOPLE 7
factor CAUSE 14, PART 9
facts INFORMATION 1
facts: stick to the facts TRUE 3
faculty TEACH 5
fad FASHIONABLE 6
fade COLOUR/COLOR 9
fade: hopes are fading HOPE 9
fade: the light fades DARK 4
fade away DISAPPEAR 1, 2
fade away: die away/fade away QUIET 5
faded COLOUR/COLOR 4
fail BROKEN 5, EFFECTIVE 4, FAIL 1, :3, 8, 9, 10
fail: never fails/works every time EFFECTIVE 2
fail: without fail ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 1
fail to dosth NOT DOSTH1
fail to impress: not impress/fail to impress IMPRESS 5
fail to notice NOTICE 3
fail to understand: I fail to understand UNDERSTAND 13
FAIL
to not be successful in something you are
doing
1 to fail in something that you are trying to do
2 to fail after trying very hard for a long time
3 ways of saying that a plan does not achieve
what it was intended to achieve
4 to have the opposite result to the one that
was intended
5 words for describing a plan or attempt that
seems certain to fail
6 ways of saying that an event is completely
unsuccessful, especially because it was badly
planned
7 ways of saying that a new product, book, film
etc fails to achieve popularity
8 to fail an examination or test
9 ways of saying that a relationship, especially
a marriage, is no longer successful or happy
10 ways of saying that a company, shop etc is
unable to continue in business
11 a period during which a lot of companies fdil
and a lot of people lose their jobs
1 to fail in something that you are trying to do
fail come to grief/
failure come unstuck
be unsuccessful not make it
not succeed
fail/fed/[v I]
fail to do sth I failed to convince him that I was right. ] If
we fail to deal with these problems now, they will get out of
control. [ completely fail If they were trying to put us out
of business, they have failed completely. I fail Despite all their
efforts to secure peace agreements, they have failed.
faiiure/Ifeiljr/[n C/U]
She never tries anything because she's terrified of failure (=of
failing). I His ability has been called into question after a
number of recent failures (=after failing a number of times
recently). I failure to do sth The failure of the international
community (=the fact that it has failed) to deal effectively
with the problem has cost thousands of lives.
be unsuccessful/bi: ,^nsk'sesfl! a formal expression
meaning to fail in something that you are trying to do Iv
phrase]
be unsuccessful in doing sth These days, many well-
qualified young people are unsuccessful in securing jobs. [
Scientists have been singularly unsuccessful in explaining
these developments in human history. I be unsuccessful If
a man has been repeatedly unsuccessful, he may well lose con-
fidence in himself.
not succeed/not saksi:d! to fail or not be completely
successful Iv I]
If that was your purpose, you didn't altogether succeed. I not
succeed in doing sth The author has not succeeded in con-
vincing the reader that his theory is right.
come to grief/come unstuck !kAm ta gri:f, k^m
^nstnk/ informal expressions meaning to fail seriously,
after first being successful, especially because you are
trying to do something harder than you are really able to
do Iv phrase]
His attempt to cross the Atlantic on a raft soon came to grief. I
He'd better be more careful - he's come unstuck before now. I
She came unstuck when she tried to challenge people with
more knowledge and experience than herself.
not make it/not I meik It/an informal expression mean-
ing to fail in your job, especially because you do not earn
a lot of money or do not become well known and respected
Iv phrase]

FAIL 459 FAIL
She soon realized she'd never make it in the cut-throat world
of journalism. 1 No one was surprised when he didn't make
it as a pop star. ] Thousands set out to be film stars but only
a handful make it.
*') to fail after trying very hard for a long time
get nowhere for nothing
draw a blank/come to no avail
up with empty hands fruitless
in vain
get nowhere /,get 'nauwerl [v phrasel
We discussed this for hours, but got nowhere. I get nowhere
with I think you should help her: she's getting nowhere with
those accounts.
draw a blank (British) I come up with empty
hands (American)/,dra:  'blmtjk, ,kAm ^p wz6 ,empti
'handz/informal expressions meaning to fail to find or dis-
cover information you are looking for [v phrase]
Once again police investigators have drawn a blank. I She
tried to find out some facts about her natural mother but
came up with empty hands.
in vain/m 'veto/if you tried to do something in vain, or
if your efforts were in vain, you completely failed after a
lot of effort [adv phrase]
Doctors tried in vain to save him but he died just before
dawn. I Police have spent hours searching in vain for the
missing teenager. I The moment he came in I could see from
my father's worried face that his journey had been in vain.
vain [adj only before noun] I remembered all my vain
attempts to change his mind.
for nothing/fo r 'nAOItJ/if all your work, preparation etc
is for nothing, you have tried to achieve something, and
spent a lot of time on it, but failed in the end [adv phrase]
All that hard work was for nothing. The contract went to
another company. I We didn "t qualify for the race - all that
training for nothing.
to no avail/to ,nau a'ved/a formal expression: if you
tried to do something to no avail, you tried for a long time
or in many different ways but did not get any good result
[ adv phrase]
I wrote him several letters, but to no avail. I We tried new
machinery, better materials, and different working hours,
all to no avail. I All our efforts had been to no avail.
fruitless /'fru:dos/ fruitless attempt/search/effort/
negotiations/journey (=one that fails, after much effort,
to bring the result that you want) [adj]
I spent the next three hours in a fruitless search of her room. I
After weeks of fruitless argument they finally agreed to go
their separate ways. I Their attempt to settle the dispute by
peaceful negotiations proved fruitless.
3
ways of saying that a plan does not achieve
what it was intended to achieve
fall
not succeed
unsuccessful
be a failure
go wrong
not work
come to nothing
not come off
come to grief
do no good
fall through
unproductive
fall/fetl/[v I]
If this plan fails, we'll be in deep trouble. I The government
tried a new approach to the problem, but this experiment
failed after only a few months. I They resorted to military
action only after all other methods of persuasion had failed. I
fail to do sth Conscription had failed to provide a solid
defence for the country.
failed [adj only before noun] a failed attempt to rescue the
hostages
not succeed/n)t sak'si:d/[v I]
Hoover's attempts to boost the economy did not succeed. I I
argued that neither strategy could succeed. I not succeed in
doing sth The campaign might not succeed in eliminating
the disease but it would make people think about health and
hygiene.
unsuccessful / ,Ansak'sesfal/unsuccessful attempt/
experiment/result etc (=one that has failed) [adj]
The unsuccessful coup was led by junior officers. I There have
been several unsuccessful attempts to find a cure for this dis-
ease. I She received a letter from the college informing her
that her application had been unsuccessful.
be a failure/hi: a ' fedjar/if an attempt to do something
is a failure, it completely fails to achieve what was
intended [v phrase]
The club's first attempt to find new members was a failure. I
be a complete/totai failure The new housing programme
has been a complete failure.
go wrong/,gau 'r)j II -'m:j/if a plan, action etc goes
wrong, or if something about it goes wrong, something
happens to make it fail after it has started well [v phrase]
At this point the experiment began to go wrong. [ His
presidential campaign went badly wrong when questions
were asked about his taxation plans. I We hoped for so much.
What went wrong? I go wrong with Everything went wrong
with McFarlane's operation.
not work Int 'wa:rk/ if an idea or method does not
work, it does not achieve what is intended [v I]
This approach sometimes does not work with older students. I
I told Morn that I was too sick to go to school, but it didn't
work.
come to nothing/,kAm to 'n^0]rj/ if an idea or plan
comes to nothing, it has been talked about or thought
about confidently, but.never actually happens [vphrase not
in progressive]
All her plans to travel around South America came to noth-
ing. I There had been talk of producing an illustrated edi-
tion but it came to nothing.
not come off /,n)t kArn ')f/if an arrangement or busi-
ness deal does not come off, it is planned and discussed,
but then something happens to stop it [phr v I not in
progressive]
That $4 million export deal didn't come off after all.
come to grief I,kAm to 'gri:f/if an activity comes to
grief, it fails suddenly or seriously [v phrase not in
progressive]
His building business came to grief when the bank refused
to lend him money. I The peace talks will come to grief if the
terrorists strike again.
do no good / ,du: nao 'god/if something you do to try to
help or deal with a problem does no good, it does not have
any useful effect [v phrase]
He tried to kick down the door but it did no good. I You can
try and persuade her to change her mind, but I don't think
it'll do any good.
fall through /,fad '0ru:/if a plan, arrangement or deal
falls through, something stops it from happening, with
the result that people are disappointed [phr v I not in
progressive]
The deal fell through because they couldn't get enough money
from the bank. I It was unbelievable - it took two years to
set the whole thing up and it fell through at the last minute/
unproductive /,nnpra'dnkttw/a meeting, discussion etc
that is unproductive produces very few good results [adj]
The meeting was long and noisy, but unproductive. I It was
one of those unproductive confrontations between unions and
management.
4 to have the opposite result to the one that
was intended
backfire
counterproductive
self-defeating
backfire /,bmk'faa r II 'bmkfaar/ifa plan or action back-
fires, it is intended to do one thing but instead does the
opposite [v I]
His plan to get attention backfired, and instead of being
promoted he lost his job. I backfire on sb Trying to make
your partner jealous by flirting with other people can easily
backfire on you.

FAIL 460 FAIL
counterproductive/,kaontarpr;)'dAktw-/intended to
make something better, but actually making it worse [adj
not usually before noun]
Putting young offenders in prison can be counterproductive. I
Constant correction by a teacher is often counterproductive,
as the student may become afraid to speak at all.
self.defeating / self d  'fi:t ilj "/an action or plan that is
self-defeating is not well planned or is badly done, so that
it produces the opposite effect from the one intended [adj]
Taxing poor people to pay for hospitals is always selfi
defeating. I her self-defeating attempts to make him love her
5 words for describing a plan or attempt that
seems certain to fail
doomed
lost cause
non-starter
doomed/du:md/not having any chance at a11of succeed-
ing [adj ]
doomed to failure All our efforts were doomed to failure. I
If you refuse to provide any information to the user, then your
computer program is doomed to failure. I doomed He said
that the capitalist system was doomed because it exploited
people. I his doomed attempt to escape I doomed from the
start Their business venture was doomed from the start, as
they did not have the necessary capital.
lost cause/,lost 'ka:z II ,la:st-/ something that people try
to do, although it seems very dear to other people that it
cannot succeed [n C]
Trying to interest most teenagers in classical music is a lost
cause. I an obvious lost cause like the government's attempt
to curb the tabloid press
non-starter/non sto:rt r II no:n-/an informal British
word meaning an idea or plan that has no chance of suc-
ceeding [n C]
He has an idea for a novel, but it looks like a non-starter. I
I'm afraid Peter's plan to pay off our debts by borrowing
more would be a non-starter.
6 ways of saying that an event is completely
unsuccessful, especially because it was badly
planned
be a fiasco
be a disaster
be a shambles
be a fiasco/bi: a fi'eskau/to be completely unsuccess-
ful, in a way that makes people feel disappointed and
embarrassed [v phrase]
It was a fiasco! Nobody knew what they were doing and
everything went wrong. [ The show turned into a fiasco when
members of the audience invaded the stage. [ be a complete
fiasco The treasury's attempts to regulate exchange rates
were a complete fiasco. '
be a disaster/bi: a d 'zo:sta r II -'zs-/if an event, espe-
cially a social event, is a disaster, it makes people feel
angry, disappointed, or embarrassed, instead of being
enjoyable [v phrase]
Our first date was a disaster. I The whole visit was something
of a disaster, and he was still recovering from it months
later.I be a total/complete disaster Even the host would
have to admit that the evening had been a complete disaster.
be a shambles/bi:  'j'mmbalz/if a situation or event
is a shambles, it is completely unsuccessful because it has
been very badly planned or organized [v phrase]
The whole conference was a shambles because half the
speakers did not come. [ The way this school is run is a sham-
bles. [ be a complete shambles Let's hope this year's cele-
brations aren't a complete shambles like last year's were.
7 ways of saying that a new product, book, film
etc fails to achieve popularity
be a failure
flop/be a flop
bomb
be a failure/bi:  'feIljr/[v phrase]
Her first film was a commercial failure, but was praised by
the critics. [ The latest model seems likely to be a failure since
cheaper versions are available.
flop/be a flop/flop, bi: a 'flop ][ -rio:p/ifa product, play,
or performance flops, it is not successful because peop!e
do not like it [v I]
The movie fiopped for several reasons. [ It was just another
so-called "wonder product" that fiopped when people failed
to buy it. [ Despite all the publicity, the show was a flop. ]
His new record released in January turned out to be a
complete flop.
bomb/bom [[ bo:m/an American word: ffa product, play,
or performance bombs, it is not successful because people
do not like it [v I]
The critics loved the movie but it bombed at the box office. [
Although the show was a hit in Britain it bombed on
Broadway.
8 to fail an examination or test
fail flunk out
flunk bomb
fail/feil/[v I/T]
fail sth He enjoyed the course, but he failed the exam. [ I
think she failed her driving test again. [ I passed English and
Geography, but failed Latin. ] fail "'How did you do in
Accountancy?" "I failed. "'
flunk/flA0k/an American word meaning to fail an exami-
nation [v I/T]
flunk sth I thought I was going to fiunk math, but I got a
D. [ flunk "'Did you pass? .... No, I fiunked."
flunk out/,fl^t]k 'autl an American word meaning to fail
a course at college or university and be forced to leave [phr
vii
flunk out of college/school ete Stevefiunked out of Yale
because he did nothing but go to parties. [ flunk out If you
don't work hard this semester, you're going to flunk out.
bomb/born [[ bmm/an American word meaning to fail
very badly [v T ]
I bombed the English test yesterday - some of the questions
were real tricky.
9 ways of saying that a relationship, especially
a marriage, is no longer successful or happy
fail
go wrong
be on the rocks
fail/feil/[v I]
If your marriage fails it is hard to make a new start in life.I
trapped in a failing relationship
failed [adj only before noun] And what have I achieved?
This house, two children and a failed marriage.
go wrong I,go 'rm] II -'rn]/ifa marriage or other rela-
tionship goes wrong, or something about it goes wrong,
something happens or changes to make it fail after it had
started well Iv phrase]
It was soon after this that the marriage went wrong. [ Only
the two of you know what went wrong. [ After a year things
started to go wrong in their relationship.
be on the rocks Ibi: on 6a 'inks II -'ro:ks/an informal
expression: if a marriage is on the rocks, it is in difficul-
ties and likely to fail [v phrase]
We knew for years that their marriage was on the rocks.

FAIL ,161 FAIR
10 ways of saying that a company, shop etc is
unable to continue in business
fail go bankrupt
go under fold/go bust
close down go to the wall
fall/left/Iv I]
A large number of businesses failed when it became more
difficult to borrow money. I 352 banks failed in the month
of December.
failure !' feiljor/[n C ] Last year saw a record number of com-
pany failures (=of companies that have failed).
go under ! ,gao 'Andar/an informal word meaning that
a business, bank, or company fails [phr v I]
When the company went under, some of our workers found
positions with Ford.
close down/,klaoz 'daon/ifa shop, factory, or business
closes down, it stops making or selling goods [phr v I]
Some of the mines are closing down. I The Museum of
Malaga announced that it would be closing down. ! When
the factory closed down, half the community was out of work.
closure /klaosar/ (British) In C] The colliery closure
(=closing) was expected, although the timing came as a
shock.
closing (American) In U] The closing of the Minton Savings
and Loan was a great loss to the town.
go bankrupt/,go 'bmkr^pt/ if a person or company
goes bankrupt, they are legally forced to sell their
property and possessions to pay their debts Iv phrase]
Her father went bankrupt in 1984. [ He bought a small print-
ing firm that had gone bankrupt.
fold/go bust /faold, ,gau 'bAst/ informal expressions
meaning to fail and be unable to continue in business Iv I]
Most of the companies dependent on the steel works folded
within weeks. [ The rubber factory where Mr Bucket worked
suddenly went bust and had to close down.
go to the wall/,gau ta 6a wa:l/an informal expression
meaning to fail and be unable to continue in business, espe-
cially because of difficult economic conditions Iv phrase]
Over 300 small firms have gone to the wall in the past year. [
High interest rates will force many small businesses to go to
the wall.
Luckily, I sold my shares just before the crash. I The Wall
Street Crash was disastrous for many American business-
men. I stock market crash (=crash in the organizations
that buy and sell shares in companies)
lean/li:n/lean period/time/spell etc (=a difficult period
of time for companies because they cannot selltheir goods
or services easily and cannot make profits) [adj usually
before noun]
Annual profits are down again this year - like many other
banks we've been having a pretty lean time. I go through
a lean period/time/spell etc (=be affected by a lean
period/time/spell etc) The car industry has been through
a really lean period recently.
 failing that IF3
failure FAIL 1
failure: be a failure FAIL 3, 7
i,, faint CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 3, STRONG TASTE OR
SMELL 3, UNCONSCIOUS 2
faint: feel faint ILL 4
faintest idea: not have the faintest idea/slightest
. idea/least idea NOT KNOW 1
 fair FAIR 1, 2, 3, GOOD/EXCELLENT 9
fair: fair's fair FAIR 1
fair: not fair UNFAIR 3
411 fair: play fair HONEST 2
ii!i fair: to be fair/in all fairness FAIR 2
fair amount: a fair amount ofla fair bit of LOT/A
LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
i': fair bet: it's a fair bet PROBABLY 2
;I... fair bit: quite a bit/a fair bit LOT/ALARGE NUMBER OR
': AMOUNT 9
fair crack of the whip: give sb a fair crack of the whip
FAIR 2
fair means: by fair means or foul DETERMINED 5
fair-minded FAIR 3
fair size: be a fair size BIG 1, 4
fair-sized BIG 1, 4
i fair way: a fair way/quite a way FAR 1
fair way: a fair way/quite a way/a good way FAR 2
fair
1 1 a period during which a lot of companies fail
and a lot of people lose their jobs
recession crash
slump lean
depression
recession/ri ' sedn/a period when a country's economic
growth stops and there is less trade, so that many compa-
nies have to reduce the number of workers they employ
In C/U]
The car industry, like most other industries, is feeling the
effects of the recession. I severe recession (=very bad reces-
sion) In times of severe recession companies are often forced
to make massive job cuts in order to survive. I in recession
(=suffering from a recession) The economy is in recession
and will remain so for at least another year.
slump/slAmp/a period when there is a big reduction in
trade so that many companies fail and many people lose
their jobs In C]
The post-war slump sent the unemployment figures to twice
the expected level. I slump in the car/building etc indus-
try There is a slump in the building industry at the moment.
depression/dl'predn/a period of time lasting several
years when greatly reduced business activity severely
affects a country's economic growth, and many people lose
their jobs In C]
In Germany the depression in the late 1920s helped Adolf
Hitler's rise to power. I Some economists are comparing the
current worm recession with the great depression of the 1930s.
crash/krm/a sudden and unexpected fall in the value of
shares in companies, with the result that many companies
have to close and many people lose their jobs In C]
@ FAIR
reasonable according to most people's ideas of
justice
I words for describing a situation, system, way
of treating someone etc, which most people
would regard as reasonable and acceptable
2 words for describing a situation, judgment,
description of events etc in which everyone is
treated equally and no one gets special
treatment
continued

FAIR 462 FAIR
FAIR
continued
3 words for describing someone who treats
people fairly
4 able to be fair because you are not personally
involved in a situation
1 words for describing a situation, system, way
of treating someone etc, which most people
would regard as reasonable and acceptable
fair reasonable
just fair's fair
fair/fear/[adj]
I'm always ready to accept fair criticism. I All suspected
criminals should have the right to a fair trial. I At one time
you would fail the test if you made just one mistake, but now
the system is much fairer. I it is fair to do sth I think it is
only fair to warn you that I shall be watching your progress
very carefully. I it's not fair Louise only got the job because
her father works there. It's not fair. I fair comment A man
with more ambition than ability - I think that's fair
comment.
fairly [adv] Most of our employees feel that they have been
fairly treated.
fairness In U] Judges will have different ideas of fairness
(=what is fair).
Just/d3^st/just decision/punishment/settlement etc
(=one which gives someone what they deserve or have a
right to expect) [adj]
Many of us did not feel that the court's decision was just. [
a just and lasting peace
justice/'ds^stsl In U] By 1973 there was a strong sense that
justice (=fair treatment)for women had been delayed too
long.
reasenable I  ri:zanobdl/ an agreement or offer that is
reasonable is one that most people would regard as fair
and sensible [adj]
"The more books you sell the more we'll pay you. "" "'Okay,
that sounds reasonable. "'[ We finally agreed on what I think
is a pretty reasonable compromise. I it is only reasonable
that If I do all the cooking, it's only reasonable that you
should look after the children.
fair'$ fair/ fe orz 'feor! you say fair's fair when you are
telling someone that they should do something because it
is right and fair that they should do it, especially after you
have done something for them
I did some baby-sittingforyou once and now I'm asking you
to do the same for me. Come on, fair's fair.
2
words for describing a situation, judgment,
description of events etc in which everyone is
treated equally and no one gets special
treatment
fair
equitable
give sb a fair crack
of the whip
to be fair/in allfairness
itis rightthat
balanced
even-handed
fair/feor/[adj]
We pay all our workers, men and women, at the same rate,
I think that's fair. I a fairer society in which every citizen
enjoys greater security I fair to sb The inspectors" report was
fair to everyone, and did not single out any individual for
blame. I it is only fair (that) We paid for our eldest child
to go on a boating trip and it's only fair that we do the same
for the other two.
fairly [ adv ] The world's wealth should be more evenly and
fairly divided among its peoples.
fairness In U] Shouldn't we question the fairness of a taxa-
tion system in which the poor bear the heaviest burden?
equitable /ekwtobal/ equitable distribution/shar-
ing/solution ere (=a formal word meaning giving equally
to everyone involved) [adj]
The equitable distribution of resources and wealth must be
a priority of the new socialist government. I The territory is
claimed by both sides in the dispute, but an equitable solu-
tion to the problem is still hoped for.
equity In U] Feminists have used a combination of strate-
gies to achieve equity for women. (=fair treatment equal to
men)
give sb a fair crack of the whip/giv (sb) o ,feo r  krzek
ov 6o 'w;p/an informal British expression meaning to give
someone as much chance to do something as everyone else,
especially so that they can prove their abilities Iv phrase]
I want to give everyone a fair crack of the whip, so we'll take
it in turns to be chairman.
to be fair/in all fairness/to bi: 'leo r, n ,:1 'feorns/
you say to be fair or in all fairness when you have criti-
cized someone or something and in order to be fair you are
mentioning a fact to show that they are not so bad
Nadia's so bad-tempered these days, but to be fair, she does
have a lot to put up with. I I've never seen them play so badly,
though in all fairness, it should be remembered that three
of their best players were ill.
it is right that/it IZ ralt ot/ if it is right that some-
thing should happen, it is fair according to your idea of
equality
It is right that the people who earn most should pay most
tax. I It isn't really right that Jim should take all the blame
when everyone else was behaving just as badly.
balanced /*bzelonst/balanced report/approach/view/
judgement (=one in which fair and equal treatment is
given to all sides of an argument or subject) [adj usually
before noun]
"Newsweek'gave a reasonably balanced report on the crisis. I
Recently historians have taken afar more balanced view of
the Irish question.
even.handed /i:van hzendId,/ treating everyone
equally and not showing special favour to anyone [adj]
Local magistrates are expected to respect the law and pro-
vide even-handed justice. I The BBC has the reputation of
being even-handed in its coverage of election news.
3 words for describing someone who treats
people fairly
fair
just
fair-minded
fair/feor/[adj not usually before noun]
The boss is a hard man, hard but fair. I Now come on, let's
be fair and give her credit for what she's done. I fair to sb
I've always tried to be fair to all my children.
fairness In U] They appreciated the dealer's fairness in
pointing out that he could make no guarantees.
fairly lady] I believe I acted fairly when I expelled those
students.
Just/d3^st/a formal word: a just king, leader etc makes
judgements and treats people in a way that is fair and
morally right [adj]
He was the perfect choice for Emperor -just, patient, merci-
ful and of royal blood.
fair-minded/,leo 'malndId II 'feor ,rnandd/someone
who is fair-minded is able to see situations in a fair and
reasonable way and always considers other people's opin-
ions [adj]
The Chairman is a fair-minded man, so will listen to any
criticism of his proposals. I She remained maddeningly fair-
minded, even about her greatest opponents - she could
always see their point of view.
4 able to be fair because you are not personally
involved in a situation
objective
unbiased
dispassionate
disinterested
neutral
impartial
not take sides

FAIR 1163 FAITHFUL
objective/ob'd3ektIv/not influenced by personal opin-
ions or emotions, especially when you have to make judg-
ments about something [adj]
I'm afraid I can't give an objective opinion about this book
because I wrote it. [ It's always difficult to be objective about
such a sensitive issue as abortion. ] We cannot make a deci-
sion until we have an objective assessment of our business
prospects.
objectivity /,obd3ek'tIvti II .a:b-/ [n U] Most quality
newspapers aim at objectivity (=aim to be objective), but few
achieve it.
objectively lady] If you're worried about your marriage,
get the advice of someone who can look at the problem
objectively.
unbiased/^n'baist/not influenced by personal opinions
or a tendency to support a particular person or side, and
therefore able to make a fair judgment [adj]
This murder case has had so much publicity that it will be
difficult to find an unbiased jury. [ I want to have your frank
and unbiased opinion on this article I've written.
dispassionate/dls'paefant/a formal word meaning not
influenced by emotion and therefore able to consider
things fairly and make a fair judgment [adj]
It is very difficult to stand back and take a dispassionate look
at one's own achievements and failures. I The cold, dispas-
sionate logic of Raymond's arguments drove her crazy.
dispassionately lady] As he talked, Teri tried to consider
what he was saying dispassionately and she had to admit
that some of it made sense.
disinterested/dis  intrusted/able to be fair in consider-
ing a particular situation because you are not involved in
it and do not expect to gain any personal advantage from
it [adjl
Do you want to hear the opinion of a disinterested observer? I
a financial consultant who can offer completely independent
and disinterested advice
neutral/'nju:tml II Inu:-/not supporting any side in a dis-
agreement, argument, quarrel etc [adj]
I never got involved in their arguments - Ialways remained
neutral. I Civil servants are supposed to be politically neu-
tral, serving governments of any political party with equal
loyalty.
neutrality/nju:'traelti II nu:-/[n U] As a professional medi-
ator she was always careful to maintain a strict neutrality
(=to be completely neutral) in her consultations.
impartial/im'po:rfal/able to make fair judgments or
decisions about a situation because you do not support
anyone who is involved in it [adj]
Historians try to be impartial, but they cannot free them-
selves entirely from their own opinions. I Our representative
attended the peace negotiations merely as an impartial
observer.
impartiality/Im pa'.rj'ielti/[n U] Sometimes I question
my bess's impartiality (=think he may not be impartial).
impartially [adv] Perrault and Francois were men who
administered justice calmly and impartially.
not take sides/nt teIk sa;dz / to deliberately not sup-
port either side in a disagreement, argument etc Iv phrase]
not take sides in It is important that social workers do not
take sides in family disputes. I We cannot take sides in this
conflict, but simply offer our services as a neutral third
party. I not take sides She deals with arguments between
her students assertively and fairly, and never takes sides.
 fairly QUITE/FAIRLY 1
' faith BELIEVE 5, RELIGION 1, TRUST 2
i!i; faith: blind faith TRUST 2
,,
,:: faith: have faith in BELIEVE 3
.... faith: have no faith in BELIEVE 8
ii! faithful EXACT 2, FAITHFUL 1, 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
. faithful ........
ii-'... ...: ............
WBICB .meaning...:
be faithful:: to: a .friend,-"!i , :, @ FAITHFUL
an organization; :.ii '! '.;.':.,:::-"-:..- '-"-'; :::,,
............ .-.
• . -, ....... ;i?.-" :-,  :.-'iii-'-'-;- .. ...........
not be faithful =!:,,:,i ..... @ UNFAITHFUL
.......
del!:b.erately d:p.:::::ii;;iill ..... ,,.,,i;!:: ..... :";i" @ BETRAY
something that harms !il;;ii!!ii;;iiii!
• " '
someone who trusts :ill:;;
....... •  i;
..................................
@ FAITHFUL
always giving support or love to someone so
that you can be trusted by them
1 faithful to a friend, or an organization, country
etc
• faithful behaviour
3 faithful to someone you have a sexual
relationship with
1 faithful to a friend, or an organization, country
etc
faithful staunch
loyal stand by/stick by
devoted be true to
faithful/'feOfl/[adj]
Helen is my most faithful friend. I Tom had been a faithful
member of the Youth Club since he was thirteen. I faithful
to During the political crisis most of the president's advisers
remained faithful to him.
loyal/'bzl/faithful even in times of trouble or when other
people are no longer being faithful [adj]
Karen's very loyal, she never says a word against her
friends, l All his life he has been a loyal supporter of the Green
Party. I loyal to Most of the soldiers have fled, but a few have
remained loyal to the general.
devoted Idl'votdl devoted follower/friend/husband
etc (=one who is very loyal to a person because they care
deeply about them or because they enjoy or support what
they do) [adj]
Antonia "s devoted husband took care of her during her long
illness. I The band has a small but devoted following who
go to all their concerts.
staunch/st3:nff II st:nt, st:nff/staunch supporter/
ally/friend ere (=always remaining faithful in spite of
problems or difficulties) [adj usually before nounl
The US has been a staunch ally of Israel for many years
now. I Even the Prime Minister's staunchest supporters are
beginning to admit that they doubt the effectiveness of her
policies.
stand by/stick by / stend bai, 'stik bail to give support
to a friend or country that is in difficulty [v T]
My mother stuck by me when I was dismissed from my job. [
She did not really stand by Bert when his business fell apart. [
They were supposed to be our allies but they didn't stand by
us when war broke out.
be true to/bi: 'tru: tu:/an expression used especially in
stories meaning to be faithful to someone, especially a
friend [v T ]
You've been true to me all these years. How can I reward
you?[ They would remain true to their old friend no matter
what happened.

464
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
(make sb) fall 39%
trip (sb up) 24%
other 37%
FALL
to accidentally fall from a high position
towards the ground
to fall to the ground from a standing
position
to fall or almost fall from a standing
position
an act of falling

FAITHFUL 465 FALL
faithful behaviour
loyalty allegiance
devotion solidarity
loyalty/:13Ialti/[n C/U]
I would like to thank you all for your loyalty. ] loyalty to
Sharon's loyalty is first of all to her family. ]your loyalty
lies with sb (=you should show loyalty to them) Where
exactly do your loyalties lie - with the company or with your
friend Mr Lowell? ] unswerving loyalty (=unchanging
loyalty) Dalton showed unswerving loyalty to his employer
throughout the trial. ] divided loyalties (=feelings of
loyalty to two different groups) The war has created divided
loyalties in many families, setting brother against brother
and father against son.
devotion/d: 'vaoSan/loyalty to someone you have strong
feelings of admiration, respect etc for In U]
devotion to He showed his devotion to the President by writ-
ing an article about his great qualities. ] unfailing/un-
swerving devotion (=unchanging devotion) She cared for
her stepmother with unfailing devotion throughout her long
illness.
allegiance/'li:d3ans/a formal word meaning loyalty to
a leader, organization, or country, especially when this is
publicly stated in a ceremony In U]
Their way of life is British, and their allegiance is to the
Queen. ] proclaim/pledge your allegiance to Opposition
leaders have proclaimed their allegiance to the new
government.
solidarity/,sol 'daerti II ,sa:-/loyalty between different
social or political groups or between all the people in a
group, because they all have a shared purpose and need to
work together to succeed In U]
In this part of the country family solidarity is stronger than
anything else. I solidarity among Solidarity among black
people in South Africa is essential if progress is to be made. I
solidarity with By writing articles in defence of the strike
he showed his solidarity with the teachers.
3 faithful to someone you have a sexual
relationship with
faithful
fidelity
faithful/'feiOfl/[adj]
faithful to When my husband goes abroad I don't know if
he's faithful to me. I faithful wife/husband/lover etc
Maria liked tojTirt with men at parties, but she was a faith-
ful wife, he was sure.
fidelity/fi 'delti/the fact of being faithful to your wife,
husband etc In U]
The qualities he respects most in a woman are patience, fidel-
ity and self-control.
.!{ fake ARTIFICIAL 2, COPY 3, FALSE 1, 2, PRETEND 3
 fall DARK 4, DOWN 14, FALL 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, LESS 5
...... fall: drop/fall COLD 7, LESS 7
i fall: have a fall FALL 2
 fall: take a fall FALL 1
i fall: take the fall BLAME 2
, fall about LAUGH 6
fall apart/come apart BREAK 10
fall apart: be falling apart/falling to bits CONDITION/
STATE OF STH 5
fall asleep SLEEP 3
fall behind/drop behind SLOW 8
fallldecreaselgo down in value VALUE 7
fall down FALL 10
fall flat on your face FALL 2
fall for BELIEVE 2, TRICK/DECEIVE 4
fall guy BLAME 3
fall ill ILL 5
fall in FALL 10
fall in love LOVE 7
fall in with AGREE 2, FRIEND 6
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
into disrepute DISAPPROVE 5
into disuse USE STH 9
into place UNDERSTAND 7
into sb's hands GET 6
off FALL 1, 5
off a log: be like falling off a log
on deaf ears IGNORE 2
on hard times POOR 5
on your feet LUCKY 1
out FRIEND 9
out with DISAGREE 2
over FALL 9
over/down FALL 2
silent QUIET 5, TALK TO SB 17
through FAIL 3
to bits/fall to pieces/go to pieces
EASY 2
BREAK 10
FALL
12
to accidentally fall from a high position
towards the ground
to fall to the ground from a standing position
to fall or almost fall from a standing position
an act of falling
ways of saying that something falls from a
high position towards the ground
ways of saying that rain, snow, leaves etc fall
as part of a natural process
to let something fall, deliberately or
accidentally
to fall from a very high position
ways of saying that an object falls onto its
side from an upright position
ways of saying that a large structure falls
down, for example a building, wall, or bridge
to make someone fall, for example by hitting
them or pushing them
to make something fall on its side from an
upright position by hitting it or pushing it,
either accidentally or deliberately
1 to accidentally fall from a high position
towards the ground
fall tumble
fall off be thrown
take a fall
fall/f:l/to accidentally fall onto or towards a lower level
by accident Iv I]
The thief was climbing out of a bedroom window when he
fell. I Don't stand on that ledge -you might fall. I fall out
of/from Fred fell out of the tree, fracturing his arm in two
places. I The child had fallen from a fourth-floor window,
but wasn't even badly hurt. I fall down the stairs/steps
etc There was concern for the Queen Mother yesterday after
she fell down a short jTight of steps at the airport.
fall off/,fad 'o II -,a:f/to fall from a place where you are
standing or sitting, such as a chair, a horse, or a ladder [phr
v I/T]
One minute she was happily riding her bike along the street,
and the next minute she'd fallen off. ] I watched her gymnas-
tic routine on the narrow bar. "'Don't you ever fall offf'" I
asked. ] fall off sth Jim was laughing so. much that he fell
off his chair.
take a fall/,te[k a 'fad/to fall offsomething heavily, espe-
cially when doing a sport or activity where this is likely
to happen [v phrase]
She's in the hospital after taking a nasty fall off her motor-
cycle. [ Even the most experienced professional jockeys expect
to take a fall occasionally.

FALL 66 FALL
tumble I't^mball to fall quickly down a slope or down
stairs, rolling over and over and unable to stop until you
reach the ground Iv I]
tumble down/off/into etc She tumbled down the stairs
and landed in a heap at the bottom. I She let out a yell of tri-
umph as she tumbled into the water.
be thrown/bi: 'Oroon/to fall offa horse or similar animal
because of its violent and sudden movements Iv phrase]
The woman who was thrown from her horse unfortunately
landed on her head. I Rodeo riders can suffer appalling inju-
ries after being thrown by bulls and steers.
2 to fall to the ground from a standing position
fall over/down collapse
fall topple over
have a fall keel over
fall flat on your face go head over heels
fall over/down /f:l 'oovo r, 'daon/ to fall onto the
ground because you have lost your balance, hit something
with your foot etc [phr v I]
Mummy - I fell over and hurt my knee. [ Sarah fell down
in the mud and laughed loudly.
fall/f:l/to fall to or towards the ground [v I]
fall to/towards The clown slipped on a banana skin and
fell to the ground. ] fall He tripped and fell right in front of
me as we were crossing the road. [ You poor thing! Did you
fall and bang your head, sweetheart?
have a fall/,hev o f:l/if someone, especially an old
person, has a fall, they fall and hurt themselves Iv phrase
not in progressive]
My neighbour has had a fall and broken a rib. [ Grandma
had a bad fall in the snow that winter.
fall flat on your face/f:l ,flat vnj: r ' feIs/to fall over
suddenly so that you are lying on your front on the ground,
especially in a way that makes you look funny Iv phrase]
The last time I wore high-heeled shoes I fell flat on my face
outside a restaurant. [ He needed to be supported from both
sides to avoid falling on his face.
collapse/ko'leps/to fall suddenly and heavily onto the
ground, into a chair etc, because of tiredness, illness, or loss
of strength Iv I]
One of the horses collapsed from exhaustion after the race. [
Isobel appeared to be momentarily overcome by the heat and
collapsed into the nearest chair.
collapse |n singular] After Stephen's sudden collapse
during the meeting, he was rushed to the hospital.
topple over/,topal 'ovor II ,to:-/to move unsteadily
backwards and forwards and then fall heavily onto the
ground [phr v I]
He screamed and cried out before toppling over onto the side-
walk. ] The calf suddenly became rigid, toppled over, and
went into a convulsion.
keel over/,ki:l 'ovr/to suddenly fall to the ground,
because you are ill or suffering from shock [phr v I]
She'd been complaining of a headache all morning, and
suddenly she just keeled over. [As the jury announced its
verdict, the defendant turned pale and keeled over onto the
courtroom .floor.
go head over heels/goo ,hed oovo r 'hi:lz/to fall with
so much force that you are thrown forward, and you roll
over and hit something [v phrase]
She stepped on the polished floor, slipped, and went head over
heels, crashing into the table. ] As the train braked he went
head over heels - he could have really hurt himself/
3 to fall or almost fall from a standing position
trip lose your balance
slip lose your footing
stumble
trip (also trip up in British English)/trp, ,trip '^p/to hit
something with your foot while you are walking or run-
ning, so that you lose your balance and fall or almost fall
[v I]
I didn't push him, he tripped. ] The danger is that old people
will trip and fall, and lay undiscovered in their house for
days. ] I didn't see the step and I tripped up, sprawling head-
long across the floor. [ trip over/on sth Pick up that box
- someone might trip over it. ] She tripped on a Ioosepaving
stone and broke her ankle.
slip /slp! to accidentally slide on something wet or
smooth, so that you lose your balance and fall or almost fall
Iv I]
The horse slipped as it landed on the wet grass, but recovered
and won the race. [ slip on sth I slipped on a patch of oil
and nearly fell into the road. [ slip over (=slip and fall onto
the ground) It's nothing serious, she just slipped over in the
hallway and grazed her knee.
stumble ! ' stnmbal/to hit your foot against something or
put your foot down awkwardly while walking or running,
so that you lose your balance and almost fall [v I]
In her hurry she stumbled and spilt the milk all over the
floor. [ stumble over sth Neighbors were alerted to the bur-
glary after they heard someone stumbling over the garbage
can outside the house.
lose your balance /,lu:z ja:r 'belns/to suddenly fall
or almost fall when you are doing something that needs
balance, such as riding a bicycle or standing on a ladder
[ v phrase]
Dad leaned too far forward on the ladder, lost his balance,
and toppled off. [ Be careful not to lose your balance as you
turn the corner.
lose your footing /,lu:zja: r ' futl/to lose your balance
because something under your foot makes you slip, espe-
cially when you are walking or climbing over an uneven
or slippery surface Iv phrase]
I lost my footing on the snowy bank and fell in the river. [
He realised he was in danger of losing his footing and being
carried over the edge.
4 an act of falling
fall
fall/f:l/the movement of falling towards the ground from
a tree, wall, building etc In C]
When I was learning to ride a horse I had several nasty falls.[
break sb's fall (=prevent someone from falling too hard)
Luckily the bushes under the wall broke my fall. [ a 30foot/
20m ete fall (=a fall through a distance of 30feet/20m etc)
She had a 5Oft fall and was lucky only to break her arm.
ways of saying that something falls from a
high position towards the ground
fall
fall off
drop
fall/f:l/[v I]
fall out/into/from ete She opened the cupboard and every-
thing fell out. ] Can you help me? My car keys have fallen
through a hole in the floorboards. ] It fell off the table and
onto the floor. [ fall on Careful that box doesn't fall on you
Charlotte!
fall off/,f:l 'of [[ -':f/if something falls offa wall, piece
of furniture etc it falls to the ground because it has become
separated or broken [v I/T]
I didn "t touch the handle, it just fell off. t ] fall offsth It's not
just that tiles keep falling off the roof- the whole house is
in a state of disrepair.
drop /drop [[ dro:p/ to fall suddenly from a high place
straight down onto or towards the ground Iv I]
Two bottles rolled across the table, dropped onto the floor,
and smashed. ] The otter watched the fish drop from the
bird's talons into the water below.
6 ways of saying that rain, snow, leaves etc fall
as part of a natural process
fall
drop
come down

FALL
467
FALL
fall /fail/to fall from the sky or from a tree Iv I]
It was October, and the leaves were falling. I fall off sth I
hope the plums won't fall off the tree before they're ripe. I fall
on sb/sth The raindrops fell on my bare head in a steady
patter.
drep ]drop II dro:p] if fruit, leaves etc drop from a plant,
or ifa plant drops fruit, leaves etc, they fall from the plant
because they are ripe or because they are dying Iv I/T/
Dying petals had dropped from the roses already. I drop sth
The peach trees were dropping their fruit faster than we
could collect it.
ceme dewn ] ikAm daon/ffrain, snow etc comes down,
it falls quickly and heavily [phr v I]
We can "t go out now - the rain's really coming down. I Hail
came down like rocks and bounced off the windshield.
tip over /,up aova r/to suddenly fall to the grotmd as a
result of not being properly balanced [phr v I]
I sat on the edge of the table, and the whole thing tipped over.
Don't put anything more on that shelf- it'll tip over.
1 0 ways of saying that a large structure falls
down, for example a building, wall, or bridge
fall down fall in
collapse cave in
fall down /fa:l 'daon/to fall down, especially as a result
of being old or damaged [phr v I]
The house could fall down soon if no one moves in and does
some quick repair work. I That autumn our barn fell down
in the storms and killed all the animals inside.
7 to let something fall, deliberately or
accidentally
drop
drop/drop II dro:p/to stop holding something, so that it
suddenly falls Iv T/
Be careful not to drop that bowl, it's very valuable. ] I've been
so nervous lately and I keep dropping things. ] "You have
dropped your handkerchief, Madame, "" he said, smiling. ]
She dropped a couple of sugar lumps into her coffee.
8 to fall from a very high position
plunge
plummet
drop
plunge/plAnds/to suddenly fall a long way from some-
where high up Iv I/
The aeroplane's engines failed and it plunged into the ocean. I
plunge off/down/into etc Their car swerved to avoid a
truck that went out of control, and plunged off the cliff. [
plunge to your death (=to fall a long way and be killed
as a result)A skydiver plunged to his death yesterday when
his parachute failed to open.
plummet / pl^mt/to fall from somewhere high up, very
quickly and very straight Iv I/
The rope snapped, causing the climber to p'lummet several
hundred feet down the mountain. [ All of a sudden there was
a tearing sound, an escape of gas and the hot-air balloon
plummeted.
drop/drop [[ dra:p/the distance something has to fall from
a high position down to the ground In singular]
Katoomba Falls has a drop of over 240 metres. ] I looked out
of the window - it was about a 2Oft drop to the balcony below.
9 ways of saying that an object falls onto its
side from an upright position
fall over topple over
fall tip over
fall over/,f:l 'ovr/[phr v I]
The bookcase fell over when we tried to move it. ] The sign
outside fell over with a clatter.
fall/fail/to fall sideways towards the ground [v I]
fall across/onto/on top of ere A huge tree had fallen
across the entrance to the cave. I A pile of crates fell on top
of one of the drivers as he was storing them in the warehouse. I
fall I watched, amused, as the tent pole teetered from side to
side, and then started to fall.
fallen [ adj] The road was blocked by fallen trees (=trees that
had fallen).
topple over/tt)pal Ova r 11 ta:-/if something topples
over, it moves unsteadily backwards and forwards then
falls to the ground [phr v I]
The baby put one more brick on the tower and it toppled
over. [ That plant's going to topple over if you don't put it in
a bigger pot.
collapse/ka'leps/ifa building, wall etc collapses, it sud-
denly falls down because of a weakness in the structure,
or because of a sudden violent force [v I]
There was a loud explosion and the whole apartment block
simply collapsed. I The wall collapsed onto a group of chil-
dren who were playing next to it.
fall in/fa:l in/if a roof falls in, it falls to the ground
inside the building [phr v I]
During the hurricane the roof fell in, and I was trapped
underneath for five hours. I fall in on If the ceiling isn't
repaired it might fall in on us.
cave in/,ke:v :n/if a roof or wall etc caves in, it sud-
denly and heavily falls inwards especially because it is
weak and in bad condition [phr v I]
The roof has caved in, so the whole building has been
declared unsafe. I cave in on During the demolition, steel
pillars were used to prevent the concrete ceiling caving in on
the workers.
1 1 to make someone fall, for example by hitting
them or pushing them
knock over/down knock sb to the
push over ground
trip/trip up bring down
knock over/down/,nok 'aov r, 'daon II ,no:k-/to hit
someone with a vehicle, so that they fall over and usually
get injured or killed [phr v T]
knock over/down sb He knocked down an old woman
crossing the road and drove off without reporting it. I Quick,
someone's been knocked over - call an ambulance/
push over I,po 'ovar/to deliberately push someone
with your hand so that they fall to the ground [phr v T]
push sb/her/them ere over Another little kid came and
pushed him over onto the grass. [ push over sb A couple of
youths pushed over the old man and snatched his wallet.
trip (also trip up in British English) /trp, ,trip '^p/ to
make someone fall by putting your foot or another object
in their way, so that they hit it with their foot and lose their
balance [v T ]
trip sb The referee gave a penalty after the goalkeeper
accidentally tripped another player in the 60th minute. I One
of the athletes claimed she hadn't fallen, but had been
tripped. I trip sb up We stuck out a long pole and tripped
him up.
knock sb to the ground/nok (sb) tz 62 graond II ncak-/
to hit someone so hard that they lose their balance and fall
to the ground [v phrase]
His assailant knocked him to the ground and ran off with
the suitcase. I Suddenly I was knocked to the ground by a
piece of flying timber.
bring down/br:ў 'daon/to make someone fall to the
ground, especially by jumping on them or holding them
around the waist [phr v T]
bring sb/her/them ere down I threw myself at him as he
tried to escape, and brought him down at once. I bring down
sb The lioness leapt from her crouching position, to bring
down her quarry.

FALL 468 FAMILY
1 2 to make something fall on its side from an
upright position by hitting it or pushing it,
either accidentally or deliberately
knock over tip over/up
upset overturn
knock over/,nok 'ouvo r II ,ha:k-/[phr v w]
knock over sth She turned around so quickly that she
knocked over the stool. I knock sth/it/them over He
knocked a candlestick over when he got up from the table.
We used to set a tin can on a tree trunk and throw stones at
it until we knocked it over.
upset/^p sct] to accidentally knock or push something
over, so that its contents fall out and spread over a wide
area Iv T ]
When I went to visit my Aunt I upset a vase of flowers all over
her new carpet. I Standing on a chair to get a better view of
the experiment Bill upset a whole bottle of acid onto the table.
tip over/up/,tip ov r, ^pl to make something fall over,
usually by accident, by making it lose balance [phr v T]
Someone tipped the Christmas tree over and all the branches
got broken.
overturn /uvr't3: rn/to make something fall on its side
or turn something over completely, especially by pushing
it very hard Iv T]
The wind was so strong that it overturned dustbins, and even
parked cars. ] We knew at once that we'd been burglarized.
Furniture had been overturned and drawers were emptied
all over the floor.
fallacy BELIEVE 15
fallout RESULT 4
false ARTIFICIAL 2, FALSE 1, PRETEND 3, UNTRUE
2, WRONG/INCORRECT 2
false name NAME OF A PERSON 3
false pretences: under false pretences
TRICK/DECEIVE 10
false start START DOING STH 11
. false ..............................................................
FALSE
words for describing objects, documents etc
that are not real, but are intended to appear
real in order to deceive people
an object, document, painting etc that is false
1 words for describing objects, documents etc
that are not real, but are intended to appear
real in order to deceive people
false
fake
phoney/phony
false/f:lsl [adj usually before noun]
I wore an eyepatch and a false moustache. [ The cupboard
has a false back and the drugs were hidden behind it. [ He
has been using a false identity to cover up his criminal
activities.
fake ]feIk] an informal word for false [adj]
He offered to sell me a fake passport for $600. [ I could tell
the signature was fake - it had obviously been added later.
phoney/phony/'faun//an informal word: something
that is phoney is false, but is usually obviously false, so
that people realize it is not real [adj usually before noun]
I left a phoney name but the right telephone number. ] He
tried to get in using a phony ID card.
 an object, document, painting etc that is false
fake
forgery
dummy
fake/fek/an object that is made to deceive people into
thinking that it is old, valuable, or made by a famous
person In C]
Is the painting a genuine Picasso, or a fake? [ The carving
turned out to be a clever fake.
forgery/' fa:rdsri/a picture, letter, or official document
that is not what it seems, but is made to deceive people In C]
The cheque must be a forgery. I If they discover that the will
is a forgery, you will go to jail.
dummy/'d^mi/a dummy object is one that is made to
look like the real object but cannot be used [adj only before
noun]
The soldiers paraded with dummy rifles made of wood and
painted black. I The little boy had his own dummy
steering-wheel.
falsehood LIE/TELL A LIE 2
falsify CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 4
fame FAMOUS 7
fame: be at the height of your fame FAMOUS 1
fame: rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame FAMOUS 6
familiar FRIENDLY 6, RECOGNIZE 2, USED TO/
ACCUSTOMED TO 2
familiar: be familiar with KNOW STH 3
familiar: not be familiar with/be unfamiliar with NOT
KNOW 4
familiarize yourself with LEARN 1
family FAMILY 1, 2, 3
family: extended family FAMILY 2
family: one-parent family/single-parent family
FAMILY 1
family: run in the family FAMILY 3
 family name NAME OFA PERSON 1
@--- FAMILY
a family whose members all live in the same
house
a group of people who are all related to each
other
belonging to or involving the people in a
family
to belong to the same family
someone who belongs to your family
someone who is related to you because they
have married someone in your family
ways of saying that you are related to people
who lived a long time ago
ways of saying that two people have children
together

FAMILY 469 FAMILY
1 a family whose members all live in the same
house
family folks
nuclear family background
one-parent familyl parents
single-parent family
family / I femalil a group of people who are related to eabh
other and live together, for example a mother, father, sons
and daughters in C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
The average family spends $200 a week on food. I I get on well
with my family. I close-knit family (=one whose members
care about each other a lot) We're a very close-knit family.
nuclear family /nju:klio r Ifemli II nu:-/ a family
which consists only of parents and their children, without
grandparents, aunts, uncles etc in C]
In the traditional nuclear family setting, it is the father's duty
to provide for his wife and children.
one.parent family/single.parent family /,wAn
peamnt femali, ,s0gal pearnt-/a family in which there is
only one parent in C]
Many of the children in the school come from one-parent
families.
folks/fzuks/an informal word meaning your family, espe-
cially your parents in plural]
She's gone back home to see her folks. I My folks were wait-
ing for me at the station.
background/'bekgraund/your family and the social
class you grew up in In C]
The two men are from very different backgrounds. I It all
depends on your background - intelligence and character
are less important for this job. [ from a middle-class/poor
ere background Kate came from a solid working-class
background. [ The school was established to help children
from deprived backgrounds.
parents I'pearants/your mother and father in plural]
Anne's parents were farmers. I natural parents (=the
actual mother and father who had a child) The baby had
to be taken away from her natural parents because they were
found to be unfit to look after her. I foster parents (=a man
and woman who look after a child that is not their own) My
foster parents have been really kind to me.
2 a group of people who are all related to each
other
family
extended family
family I' femali/a group of people who are all related to
each other, including all the grandparents, aunts, uncles
etc in C with singular or plural verb in British English]
The whole family came to her funeral. I Some of our family
emigrated to Australia in the 1930s. I in the family
(=known, owned etc only by members of the family) That
business has been in the same family for eighty years.
extended family/ik,stendd ' femali/a family not only
of parents and children, but also in which grandparents,
aunts, uncles etc live together or close to each other in C]
There were ten brothers and sisters and various other mem-
bers of the extended family living in the house. [ Bringing
up children in the absence of an extended family or any real
community life is no easy task.
3 belonging to or involving the people in a
family
family
domestic
run in the family
family/'fernli/family home/business/holiday/prob-
lem/matters etc [adj only before noun]
I hate family holidays, there are always too many argu-
ments. I Duxford Autos started off as a small family
business. I I'll shut up -you don't want to hear about all my
family problems.
domestic /dzmestk! domestic violence/problem/
trouble/argument etc (=between members of a family)
[adj only before noun ]
Apparently he's had a lot of domestic trouble lately and he
couldn't concentrate on his work. I Women who are victims
of domestic violence often are reluctant to seek help from
people outside the family.
run in the family /,rAn In 6  femali/if an illness or type
of behaviour runs in the family, it is common in that
family iv phrase not in progressive]
Asthma runs in the family. [Arrogance must run in their
family. Her dad thinks he's wonderful too.
4 to belong to the same family
be related
be related/bi: rl 'le;tId/if you are related to someone,
you are both members of the same family iv phrase]
be related to She says that she's related to Princess Diana. [
I didn't know you two were related to each other. [ be related
Giovanni and I are related.
 someone who belongs to your family
relative
relation
next of kin
relative/'reluv/in C]
Mrs Lewis was in England visiting relatives. I Women often
have to care for young children or sick relatives. I distant
relative (=one who is not closely related to you) She
inherited the money from a distant relative who died in Aus-
tralia. I close relative (=someone who is closely related
to you) Only close relatives were allowed to attend the
funeral, which was held in a small church near our home.
relation/r 'lefn/a word meaning a relative, used espe-
cially in spoken English in C]
She took me back home to meet all her friends and relations. I
Is Stella a relation of yours? I blood relation (=a person
who is related to you by birth, not marriage) He was a blood
relation of Lady Fiona.
next of kin /,nekst zv 'kn/the person or people who are
most closely related to you, for example your husband or
mother, and who need to be told when you die or if you have
a serious accident in phrase]
The police will not tell us the dead man's name until his next
of kin have been informed. I The college need to know your
next of kin in case something happens to you.
6 someone who is related to you because they
have married someone in your family
mother-in-law/ half-brother/
son-in-law etc half-sister
stepmother/ by marriage
stepfather etc in-laws
mother.in.law/son.in.law etc mother-/father-/
brother-/sister-/daughter-/son-in-law (=related to you
because someone in your family is married to them) In C]
Thomas was a son-in-law of the President. t He always
addressed his father-in-law as "Mr Jackson'. I prospective
son-/mother- etc in-law (=someone who you will be
related to by marriage) We had already begun to regard
Jane as our prospective daughter-in-law.
stepmother/stepfather etc (=someone who
becomes your mother, sister, son etc when the person you
are related to marries for a second time) in C]
My father married Jenny, who has a daughter - so now I've
got a stepmother and a stepsister. I Todd is my stepson from
Helen's first marriage.
half-brotherlhalf.sister/Iho:f br^6a r, ho:f sIsta r II
'hef-I if one of your parents marries a second time, and
then has a child, that child is your half-brother or half-
sister in C]

FAMILY ?0 FAMOUS
Anthony is my half-brother, and Robert is my full brother.I
Yes, Marie looks very like me but she's actually my
half-sister.
by marriage/ba ImerIdSI if someone is related to you
by marriage, they are related to you because you married
someone in their family, or they married someone in your
family [adv phrase]
She's my aunt, but only by marriage. I My best friend mar-
ried my brother, so now we're related by marriage.
in-laws/Ira b:z/ an informal expression meaning the
family of your husband or wife, especially their parents In
plural]
Luckily, I get on quite well with my in-laws. I I've left the baby
with the in-laws.
7 ways of saying that you are related to people
who lived a long time ago
be descended from descendant
ancestor
be descended from/bi: d 'sendId frDm! to be related
to a person or group of people who lived a long time ago
[ v phrase]
He is descended from Abraham Lincoln. I Sheena is
descended from a long line of Scottish farmers.
ancestor/'ensosto r, -ses- [[ -ses-/a person who you are
related to who lived a long time ago, especially someone
important In C]
He told her tales about his famous ancestors. I The King gave
this land to an ancestor of mine.
descendant/d ' sendont/a relative of a person or group
of people who is born many years after them In C]
The descendants of the original Dutch settlers in South
Africa came to be known as Afrikaners. I direct descendant
Michelle claimed to be a direct descendant of Napoleon
Bonaparte.
 ways of saying that two people have children
together
have children
start a family
have children/hev 'tSIldron/Iv phrase]
He is looking forward to getting married, settling down, and
having children of his own. ] Jan and Dave didn't want to
have children but I think they are quite lonely now.
start a family/,sta:rt o 'femali/to have children, espe-
cially when you have planned it Iv phrase]
Now we have been married for six years, it is time to start
a family. I When we have somewhere to liveperhaps we can
think of starting a family.
famine HUNGRY/STARVING 3
famished: starvinglravenouslfamished
HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 1
famous FAMOUS 1
famous: be famous for FAMOUS 2
famous: become famous/well known FAMOUS 6
@ FAMOUS
well known and talked about by many people
famous because of a special skill,
achievement, or quality
famous for a long time and talked about by
many people
receiving a lot of attention in the newspapers,
on television etc because you are famous
famous because of something bad
to become famous
the fact of being famous
someone who is famous, especially in the
world of entertainment or sport
not famous
1 well known and talked about by many people
famous
well-known/
well known
world-famous/
world famous
famous I'feImos/[adj]
noted
be at the height
of your fame
high profile
She collects signed photographs of famous people. I One day
I'll be famous. I A famous battle was fought on this very spot.I
Would you like to try some of the famous ToKay dessert
wine?l Virginia is famous as the birthplace of American
presidents. I the rich and famous (=people who are rich
and famous) a night club in LA that caters for the rich and
famous
well.known/well known/,wel 'noon,,/fairly famous,
especially in a particular place or among a particular group
of people [adj]
She works in local radio, and is quite well known in the
Houston area. I I'd never heard of her, but apparently she's
very well known in medical circles. I He writes the advertise-
ments for a well-known brand of cigarettes.
world-famous/world famous / :w3:rld :feImos-/very
famous all over the world [adj]
Come to Brazil for Rio "s world-famous carnival. [ I remem-
ber the performance that made him world famous.
noted/'nootd/noted musician/scientist/surgeon ete
(=well known and respected because of a special ability or
achievement) [adj only before noun]
The noted surgeon Dr Christian Barnard will perform the
operation. ] The author quotes Stephen Jay Gould, the noted
Harvard scientist, to support his theories.
be at the height of your fame/bi: at 8o :hait ov j:r
 fem/to be at the point in your life, especially your work-
ing life, when you are most famous [v phrase]
John Travolta was at the height of his fame in the late seven-
ties. I As a champion boxer at the height of his fame, Cas-
sius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and became
a Black Muslim. I In the 1920s the Cotton Club in Harlem was
at the height of its fame.
high profile ! ,ha 'proofail-/if a person or organization
has a high profile they attract a lot of attention, for exam-
ple because they are important or are responsible for con-
trolling a lot of money In singular]
He was a millionaire newspaper owner with a very high pro-
file. ] We intend to give the Enterprise Allowance Scheme a
much higher profile.
high-profile [adj] Martin Lord has a high-profile job at
Pan American Airlines.
2 famous because of a special skill,
achievement, or quality
be famous for renowned
be well known for eminent
be noted for
be famous for/bi: 'feimos f:r/ [v phrase]
Mother Theresa is famous for her work with the poor. ] Their
farm is in the Bordeaux district, famous for its wines. [ The
Spartans were famous for being brave, but not for being
clever.
be well known for/bi: wel noon fa:r/ to be fairly
famous for a special skill, achievement, or good quality Iv
phrase]
My grandmother, who was well known in the village for her
kindness, helped them. I Stephen Hawking is well known for
his work on the theory of black holes. ] He is best known for
his plays, although he regarded his novels as his most serious
work.

FAMOUS 471 FAMOUS
be noted for/bi: 'nootd f:r/to be well known for a par-
ticular quality, skill or activity, especially something that
is unusual Iv phrase]
The waiters are always rude. They are noted for it![ We grew
up in a city noted for its excellent music, food, and fashion. [
Sweden is a country noted for its high expenditure on
welfare.
renowned ]ri'naond! famous and admired by a lot of
people, because of a special skill, achievement, or quality
[adj]
Dizzy Gillespie, the renowned trumpeter, died yesterday. I
renowned for Barbados is renowned for the marvellous
cricket players it produces. I renowned as Father Tom was
becoming renowned as a preacher - people travelled from
far and wide to attend his church.
eminent /eminont/eminent doctor/professor/scien-
tist (=famous and respected because they are very good at
the work that they do) [adj usually before noun]
She's an eminent psychiatrist, and works at the Harvard
Medical School. I Companies can afford to hire the most
eminent lawyers to represent them.
3 famous for a long time and talked about by
many people
celebrated
legendary
celebrated/' selIbreQd/very well known, admired and
talked about by many people, especially because of good
qualities [adj only before noun]
Van Gogh, perhaps Holland's most celebrated artist, died in
poverty. I Zelda Fitzgerald was a celebrated society hostess
and her parties are remembered to this day. I America was
inspired by the celebrated speech which John F. Kennedy
made at his inauguration.
legendary/led5ondori II -deri! very famous and having
some special or unusual quality, that people like to talk
about, usually because it is funny or interesting [adj
usually before noun]
The party was attended by Samuel Goldwyn, Hollywood's
legendary film producer. I The old actor can still use his
legendary charm. I During one of his legendary drinking ses-
sions in New York, Molloy was arrested for fighting.
4 receiving a lot of attention in the newspapers,
on television etc because you are famous
be in the public eye
be in the spotlight/limelight
much talked about
sb's name is on everyone's lips
be in the public eye/bi: in 5o ,p^blik 'a/to receive a
lot of attention, so that whatever you do may be reported
in newspapers, on television etc Iv phrase]
The President's family is constantly in the public eye. I Ath-
letes who are in the public eye have a responsibility to behave
in a sensible way. I A failed actor, he managed to remain in
the public eye by hosting a regular programme on TV.
be in the spotllghtllimelight/bi: ;n 6o spotla:t, laJm-
last li-  spct:t-/ to receive a lot of attention in the
newspapers, on television etc, but usually only for a short
period of time Iv phrase]
In her dreams she was back in the spotlight, surrounded by
her faithful fans. I Since "Home Alone" was released, its young
star has been permanently in the limelight.
much talked about/,m^t 'w:kt obaot/receiving a lot
of attention from newspapers, television etc, and talked
about by a lot of people, because of something interesting
or surprising [adj phrase]
Following the publication of his new book he became much
talked about, a controversial figure. I She is Australia's most
talked about TV actress.
sb's name is on everyone's lips/(sb's) :neim z on
,evriw^nz 'lips/if someone's name is on everyone's lips
they are very well known and talked about for a short time,
usually because of a news story
As a result of the scandal, the tall Texan millionaire's name
was on everyone's lips.
 famous because of something bad
notorious
infamous
notorious /noow:rios, no-/ famous or widely known
because of something bad, for example for being criminal,
violent, or immoral [adj]
One of Britain's most notorious criminals has escaped from
prison. I His bad manners are notorious. I notorious for
English soccer fans are notorious for their drunkenness. I If
you go to the club, be careful. It's notorious for drugs and
violence.
infamous /  ;nfomos/famous for being bad, especially for
being immoral or evil [adj only before noun]
The "Cheka" was the Tsar's infamous secret police. I That
infamous prison camp is now a museum. I the infamous
Yorkshire Ripper
6
to become famous
become famous/well known
rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame
make a name for yourself/make your name
achieve notoriety
rising star
hit/make the headlines
hit/make the big time
become famous/well known/bI,kAm feimos, wel
'noon/ [ v phrase]
Some people dream of becoming famous. I Doctor Nathaniel
became well known in the city where he practised.
rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame/,raIz to ' feim,
o,tJ'i:v 'felm, ,win 'fermi to become famous, especially sud-
denly Iv phrase]
He rose to fame as an architect in the 1950s. I She won fame
as the youngest-ever Olympic champion gymnast. I
Mohandas Gandhi was later to achieve fame as the
Mahatma who freed India from British rule.
rise to fame In phrase] The beginning of the century saw
the rise to fame of the great New York hotels.
make a name for yourself/make your name
/,meik o 'nern forj:r,self, ,meikj: r 'nem/to become well
known, especially because of a particular skill or ability
and especially as a result of hard work Iv phrase]
make a name for yourself as/make your name as She
first made her name as a journalist at the age of 22. I He is
beginning to make a name for himself as a fashion designer
with original ideas. I make a name for yourself/make
your name By 1930 Hemingway had written the early novels
with which he made his name.
achieve notoriety /otJ'i:v nooto'raoti! to become
famous for something immoral or criminal Iv phrase]
He achieved notoriety when the police raided his hotel. I
achieve a certain notoriety The club has achieved a
certain notoriety as a gathering place for criminals and drug
dealers.
rising star/,ra;zl 'sto:r/someone, especially a young
person, who is quickly becoming famous In C]
She's one of the rising stars of politics, and is a very good
public speaker.
hit/make the headlines/hlt, ,melk 6o 'hedlanz/to
suddenly become very famous and receive a lot of atten-
tion from the newspapers, television etc, sometimes only
for a short time Iv phrase]
Kitty Kelly hit the headlines with her sensational book about
Nancy Reagan. I Eighteen months ago ozone hit the head-
lines, and we were told that earth was losing its vital pro-
tection. I The cyclone in Bangladesh made the headlines for
three days.
hit/make the big time/,hit, ,meek 6o 'bg taIm/an
expression used especially in newspapers and on television
meaning to suddenly become very famous, successful, and

FAMOUS 72 FAR
rich, especially after a long time trying to become famous
[ v phrase]
He made the big time when he joined the Dallas Cowboys as
a quarterback. I After years of struggling to play in small
concert halls and clubs, the group have finally hit the big
time.
7 the fact of being famous
fame
stardom
renown
fame/fermi [n U]
Money and fame meant nothing to them. They were not
worldly people. I Sylvia Plath's fame has grown since her
death. I She came to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune.
stardom / ' sta: rdom/great fame in popular music, films,
sport ete [n U]
Stardom is the dream of most young singers and actors. I She
feared that by having a baby she had sacrificed her chances
of stardom.
renown/r naon/permanent fame and admiration that
has been gained because of something good such as great
skill, knowledge, or bravery [n U]
The general's victories brought renown to himself and his
family for generations to come. I Speakers of international
renown will attend the conference.
8 someone who is famous, especially in the
world of entertainment or sport
star big name
celebrity legend
superstar household name
personality
star/st(:t:r/a very famous and successful actor, singer,
musician, dancer, or sports player [n C]
Mick Jagger is my favourite rock star. I Elizabeth Taylor
has been a famous movie star since the age of ten. I These
remarkable young actors are the stars of tomorrow. I
big/top star All the big stars will be there. ] He was one of
the top movie stars of his generation.
celebrity ]s 'lebrti] a very famous and popular person,
especially one who works for television or in the entertain-
ment business [n C]
Now he's a celebrity, people forget that he's also a poet. ]
Many celebrities lend their support to charity events.
superstar/su:p:)rsto: r, sju:- [I su:-/a very successful
star, especially one who is known all over the world In C]
The superstar Freddie Mercury died in 1992. I Ronald
Reagan was once a movie actor, but he was never a
superstar.
personality/,p3:rsa'nelti/someone who is well known,
especially because they often appear on television and at
public events In C]
She is a world class athlete and also a TVpersonality. I For
years, she was one of the best-loved personalities in the gossip
columns of Fleet Street newspapers.
big name /,big 'neIm/ an informal word meaning a
famous and successful performer In C]
Eric Hawkins, one of the big names of modern American
dance I He's persuaded some of the biggest names in show
business to appear in his film.
legend/'led3and/someone who has become very famous
over a long period of time, especially because they are very
good at a particular activity In C]
Pele is a football legend, the greatest player the world has
ever seen. I living legend (=someone who has become a
legend while still alive) Mother Theresa has become a living
legend, a modern saint.
household name / ,haoshaold ne;m/a person, company,
or product that is a household name is so famous that
everyone knows their name In C]
My mother was a household name, but that didn't make life
easy. I Coca-Cola is a household name all over the world.
9 n6t famous
unknown
obscure
a nobody
unknown/,An'nun-/[adj]
With a group of unknown actors and "very little money, she
set up her theatre. I Gorbachev was virtually unknown in the
West when he came to power. I As well as singing the old
favourites, he performed some relatively unknown pieces.
unknown [n C] He chose for this film an instantly success-
ful unknown, Steve McQueen.
obsoure /)b'skjoor/ someone or something that is
obscure is known about only by a few people, because they
belong to a group, place, or subject that not many people
know about or are interested in [adj]
Only an obscure country newspaper carried the news of his
death. I Those lines were written by an obscure English poet
named Mordaunt before the year 1790. I My nephew has
made a brilliant discovery in some obscure branch of physics.
obscurity [n U] After the accident he retired from acting and
died in relative obscurity (=he was hardly known when he
died).
a nobody/  nobdi/someone very ordinary, who is not
famous, important, or successful In singular]
Why not apply for it? You don "t want to be a nobody for the
rest of your life, do you?[ It's difficult for an ambitious young
man to realize he's a nobody.
fan LIKE SB OR STH 8, SUPPORT A TEAM OR
PLAYER 3
fan: be a Milan/Raiders/Becker fan SUPPORT A TEAM
OR PLAYER 1
fan out SPREAD 4
fanatic EXTREME 3
fancy ATTRACTED TO SB 1, DECORATE 5,
EXPENSIVE 3, WANT 1
fancy: nothing fancy SIMPLE/PLAIN 1
fancy: take a fancy to ATTRACTED TO SB 1
fancy: take your fancy WANT 1
fancy prices EXPENSIVE 5
fancy yourself PROUD 4
}... fantasize IMAGINE 2
:-:- fantastic STRANGE 4
fantastic: marvellous/wonderful/fantastic/terrific
GOOD/EXCELLENT 2, 3, 5
fantasy IMAGINE 2
far EXTREME 1, FAR 1, 2
far: be few and far between RARE 1
far: how far DISTANCE 1
far: go too far/take sth too far TOO/TO0 MUCH 3
far: not far NEAR 1
:. far: will go far/will go a long way SUCCESSFUL 4
far afield FAR 1
far away: a long way off/far off/far away FAR 3
 far cry: be a far cry from DIFFERENT 2
: far-fetched BELIEVE 13
4 far-flung FAR4
far-off: distant/far-off FAR 3, 4
far-reaching EFFECT/INFLUENCE 3
far-sighted: long-sighted/far-sighted SIGhT/ABILITY
TO SEE 2
FAR
1 travelling a long distance from one place to
another
:2 ways of saying that one place is a long way
from another place
 far away from you, but still close enough to
be seen or heard
4 words for describing a town, country etc that
is far away

FAR 73 FAR
words for describing a place that is far away
from where most people live or go, and is
therefore very quiet or boring or difficult to
reach
too far away to reach
words for describing something that can
travel or reach a long distance
words for describing something that does not
reach or travel very far
1 travelling a long distance from one place to
another
far some distance/
a long way a good distance
a fair way/ miles
quite a way far afield
far Ire:r/[adv]
Have you driven far? I We climbed quite far up the mountain
before stopping for lunch. I I think the horses have come far
enough for one day; we'll have to stop. I further/farther
We walked further than we had intended because it was such
a lovely day. I furthest/farthest This is the furthest I have
ever travelled on my own. I as far as I'll come with you as
far as the main road.
a long way 1o ,lorj 'wcI II -,l:J-/very far In phrase]
They've come a long way, I expect they're tired and hungry. I
We still have a long way to go this afternoon. I We walked
a long way before we reached the house.
a fair way/quite a way/a ,fea r wei, ,kwait a -I fairly
far, used especially when you are warning someone that
a distance is longer than they think In phrase]
Look at the map. It's a fair way to drive in one day. [ The
children will have to walk quite a way if we take them into
the woods.
some distancela good distance/,sAm distans, a
god-I further than usual or further than you expected In
phrase]
Jose accompanied us for some distance until we reached the
highway. [ You must have traveled a good distance since this
morning.
miles/mailz/an informal word meaning a very long way
In plural]
We walked miles yesterday! [ I looked at the gas gauge in
despair - I still had miles to drive.
far afield / fo:r afi:ld/if you travel far afield, you travel
a very long way from the place where you usually live [adv
phrase]
On fine days we wandered far afield. [ as far afield as His
work took him as far afield as Moscow and Delhi. [ further/
farther afield Next day we ventured farther afield and
sailed out to one of the islands.
 ways of saying that one place is a long way
from another place
far
a long way
a fair way/quite a way/a good way
some distance/quite a distance/a good distance
miles
nowhere near
far/f:r/lady]
How far is the swimming pool? [ far away Her children all
live pretty far away, but they come to visit as often as they
can. [ far from/far away from We were sitting too far from
the stage to be able to see very much. [ further/farther It
takes me long enough to get to work, but Brian lives even fur-
ther away. [ furthest/farthest The poorest regions are the
furthest from the capital. [ far above/below/behind The
river stretched out far below us in the valley.
a long way/a ,lorj 'wei II long distance from
another place [n phrase]
a long way from We're a long way from Sydney - it'd take
at least four hours. [ a long way away Katoomba is a long
way away but I'm sure we'll have time to go there tomorrow. [
a long way away from Is the airport a long way away from
the city? I a long way ahead/below/behind etc The line
of cars at a standstill stretched a long way ahead, right up
the freeway.
a fair way/quite a wayla good way/a ,fea r 'we,
,kwait a-, a ,god-/ fairly far from somewhere, and far
enough to make it difficult to get there In phrase]
"How far is the main road?" "It's a fair way, it'll take you
at least half an hour to walk there."[ a fair way ete from
I'll give you a ride if you want, the campus is a good way from
here. [ a fair way ete away (from) Quite a way away from
the boat, we saw someone swimming.
some distance/quite a distancela good dis-
tance /,SAm 'dIstans, ,kwait a-, a ,god-/fairly far from
somewhere, not as close as you would expect or as close as
would be convenient [n phrase]
some distance ete away His girlfriend lived some distance
away. [ some distance ete from/away from The farm was
a good distance from the actual town. [ some distance
aboveCehindCelow ete We could hear the music from
quite a distance across the valley.
miles/mailz/an informal expression meaning very far
from somewhere [n plural]
miles away I don't see Sophie very often, she lives miles
away. [ miles from Our offices are miles from the station,
I'll come and pick you up in the car. [ miles above/below/
behind ete Miles below us, the buildings were just tiny dots.
nowhere near / noowea r nIar/an expression meaning
a long way from somewhere, used especially when you still
have a long way to go or you want to make someone believe
that you were not near a place [prep]
He was nowhere near that cliff when his wife was killed. [
I had been nowhere near Carolyn's apartment that night. [
They were only halfway up the mountain, nowhere near the
summit.
3 far away from you, but still close enough to
be seen or heard
in the distance
on the horizon
a long way off/far off/far away
distant/far-off
from a distance/at a distance
way off
at long range
in the distance/n 6a 'dlstans/in a place that is a long
way from where you are, so that things there look small,
or do not sound loud [adv phrase]
On a clear day you can see the mountains in the distance. [
In the distance storm clouds were gathering. [ As we drove
over the bridge the music of the fiesta resounded in the
distance.
on the horizon/on 6a ha'ralzan/at the point far away,
where the land or sea seems to meet the sky [adv phrase]
Another ship appeared on the horizon. [ There was only one
house in sight, away on the horizon.
a long way off/far off/far away/o ,lorj weI 'of, fo: r
'of, ,fo:r a'we II -,la:13-/in a place very far from where you
are now, so that it is difficult to see or hear what is there
[ adv phrase]
Somewhere, a long way off, a baby was crying. I It was pitch
black, but the faint barking of dogs could be heard a long
way off. I Far away, to the East, you can just see the spire
of the cathedral.
distant/far-off/'dstant, 'fo:r of/far from where you are
now but close enough to be seen or heard [adj only before
noun ]
If you listened carefully you could hear the far-off noise of
traffic. [ A distant voice from the orchard called, "'Where's
Helen?" [ Nula gazed out at the pale, distant hills.

FAR
from a distance/at a distance/from o 'dstons, at a-/
from a place that is a fairly long way away [adv phrase]
From a distance the rocks on the hillside looked just like
sheep. I You could tell at a distance he was drunk.
way off / ,wei 'of/an American expression meaning far
from where you are [adv phrase]
I heard the bells from way offi I Way off in the distance I could
see the famous towers of the Manhattan skyline.
at long range/at ,lorj 'relnd 5 II -,la:rj-I if you shoot some-
thing or someone at long range, you shoot them from far
away [adv phrase]
The police officer fired one shot at long range and hit the
man. I Marksmen are trained to be accurate at long range.
4 words for describing a town, country etc that
is far away
distant/far-off
faraway
far-flung
distant/far.off I'distant, 'fo:r of/far away from the place
where you are [adj usually before noun]
The strangers came from a distant town. I Because the fight-
ing was going on in afar-off land, the war just didn't seem
real.
faraway/'fo:rawei/a faraway country or land, espe-
cially one that you have been told about or have read about,
is very far away, strange, and very different from your own
country [adj only before noun]
Grandfather told them stories of the faraway countries he
had visited when he was young. I Hilda flicked through the
brochure, dreaming of an exotic vacation in some faraway
place.
far-flung / ,f o: r ' fIAtJ -/ far-flung places are all connected
with a particular organization, country etc but they are all
very far away from it [adj only before noun]
Our job is to organize the company's far-flung offices. I After
the war many of France's far-flung colonial territories began
to seek independence.
5
words for describing a place that is far away
from where most people live or go, and is
therefore very quiet or boring or difficult to
reach
remote
isolated
out of the way
off the beaten track
secluded
miles from anywhere
in the middle of
nowhere
way out
backwater
in the boondocks/
boonles
remote/ri 'maot/far away from other places or people,
and not known or visited by many people [adj]
They live in a small, remote mountain village. [ We have now
managed to bring famine relief to people in even the most
remote areas.
remoteness In U] The remoteness of the house was the only
thing that made them hesitate about buying it.
Isolated / asaleitaId/a long way from other towns, build-
ings, or people, especially in a quiet place where you are
alone [adj]
I spent most of my childhood on an isolated farm in South
Australia. [ Try to avoid using isolated bus-stops at night. [
The oases are becoming increasingly isolated as the desert
grows.
isolation ! ,asa'lej'an/[n U] The community was protected
from change by its isolation (=because it was isolated).
out of the way/,aot av 6a wei /fairly far from any town
or from where other people live, and rather difficult to find
and travel to [ado phrase]
The house is a little out of the way, but you should be able
to find it.
out-of-the-way [adj only before noun] This must be one of
the most out-of-the-way places in Scotland.
474
FAR
off the beaten track/,of 6a ,bi:tn 'trak/a place that
is offthe beaten track is a long way from the places where
people usually go or visit, which usually makes it more
interesting to visit [adv phrase]
Our friend took us to a fantastic, empty beach that was off
the beaten track. I The little restaurant was so far off the
beaten track that we almost didn't find it. I You only have
to go a few miles off the beaten track to get away from the
tourists.
secluded/si'klu:dId! a secluded place is private and
quiet because it is a long way from other people [adj]
They drove to a secluded spot in the country to have their
picnic. [ From their luxury apartment they have access to a
secluded beach. I Teri managed to find an empty table in a
fairly secluded spot at the back of the restaurant.
miles from anywhere/,ma;lz frarn 'eniwearl a long
way from a town, village, or from where people usually go
or live [adv phrase]
That summer we rented a cabin in Maine, miles from
anywhere.
in the middle of nowhere/In (a ,mdl av 'naowear/
in a lonely place a long way from towns or villages, where
you do not expect to find any houses lady phrase]
Suddenly they came across a little motel in the middle of
nowhere. I It seemed very strange that a perfectly good car
should be abandoned like that in the middle of nowhere.
way out /wex 'aot/ an expression used especially in
American English, meaning far from where you are now
or far away from the nearest town [adv]
way out in/past/beyond etc I live way out in Laurel
Canyon. [ You want the MacPherson farm? It's way out past
the river.
backwater/'bekwa:ta r II-wa:-, -wo.--/a British word
meaning a small town or village that is far from a city, and
that you think is boring or old-fashioned because it never
seems to change In C]
After living in a big city for so long, Samantha found the
sleepy backwater of her youth incredibly dull. [ No young
families or new ideas have come into the village and it has
become a timeless backwater.
In the boondockslboonles/in 6a 'bu:ndoks, 'bu:niz [[
-do:ks/informal American expressions meaning in a part
of the country that is a long way from any town [ado
phrase]
I'm not moving to that place - it's out in the boondocks. I
Elisa grew up in the boonies, so she doesn't know much about
city life.
6 too far away to reach
out of range
out of reach
out of range ! ,aot av 'reIndSI too far away to be hit by
a shot from a gun [adv phrase]
Just as the marksman was going to shoot, the hijacker moved
out of range. [ The village was just out of range. I out of
range of out of range of enemy gunfire
out of reach/,att av 'ri:tj'/too far away to pick up or
touch [adv phrase]
Gary jumped for the ball but it was just out of reach. [ out
of reach of Put the food somewhere out of reach of the dog. I
out of sb's reach I keep the cookies up there - well out of
the children's reach.
7 words for describing something that can
travel or reach a long distance
long-range
long-distance
long-haul
long.range/,lorj 'reIndS I[ ,la:-/long-range missile/
gun etc (=a weapon that can hit something far away) [adj
only before noun]
By 1958 the USSR was leading in the race to produce long-
range missiles. I These very long-range guns can fire only
a few rounds an hour.

FAR 75 FASHIONABLE
long.distance /,IDj 'distons-l[ ,b:-/ long-distance
trade/transport/telephone call etc (=between places
that are a long way away from each other) [adj only before
noun]
Long-distance phone calls can be very expensive. ] a long-
distance bus service linking the cities ] The development of
long-distance commerce led to greater cultural contacts
between continents.
long-haul/,1D[I 'h:l- II ,lm-/long-haul flight/aircraft
(=travelling long distances) [adj only before noun]
Our long-haul flights from Miami to Hawaii take less than
10 hours. I For the third year running they have been voted
best long-haul tour operator by travel agents.
8 words for describing something that does not
reach or travel very far
short-range
short-haul
short.range/,f:rt 'relnd3-/short-range missile/gun
ere (=a weapon that can only hit something that is a short
distance away) [adj only before noun]
These ships only carry short-range missiles so we have to get
close to the enemy target before firing.
short-haul /,f:r 'h:l-/short-haul flight/aircraft etc
(=only travelling short distances) [adj only before noun]
The service on short-haul flights from this airport has
improved a lot recently.
faraway FAR 4
fare COST 1
farewell LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 4
farewell: bid sb farewell GOODBYE 1
farther FAR 1
farthest FAR 1
fascinate INTERESTED 4
fascinated INTERESTED 1
fascinated: be fascinated by INTERESTED 2
fascinating INTERESTING 1, 2, 5, 6
fascination OBSESSION 1
fashion FASHIONABLE 5, 7, MAKE 7, WAY/MANNER 1
fashion: be in fashion FASHIONABLE 1
fashion: be out of fashion FASHIONABLE 8
fashion: be the fashion FASHIONABLE 1
fashion: come into fashion FASHIONABLE 3
fashion: in a ... fashion WAY/MANNER 2
fashion: set the fashion/trend FASHIONABLE 4
fashionable FASHIONABLE 1, 2
FASHIONABLE
words for describing clothes, places, activities
etc that are considered exciting and new by a
lot of people
t words for describing fashionable clothes,
places, activities etc
 words for describing someone who wears
fashionable clothes, has fashionable things
etc
 ways of saying that something becomes
fashionable
4 to make something fashionable
8 activities, products, styles etc that are
fashionable
6 activities, products etc that are fashionable for
a short time
7 the business or study of making and selling
fashionable clothes, shoes etc
8 words for describing clothes, activities etc that
are not fashionable
g ways of saying that something becomes
unfashionable
1 words for describing fashionable clothes,
places, activities etc
fashionable be the latest thing
trendy chic
be in fashion be the fashion
in be the in thing
be in vogue designer
be all the rage cult
fashionable l'fj'nbll popular with many people,
especially for a short period of time [adj]
Silks and red shoes were fashionable among the ladies of the
French court. I The video game "Streetfighter 2" is very
fashionable at the moment. I He is dining quietly with a
friend at one of Hollywood's more fashionable restaurants. I
This shop is perfect for those who want fashionable clothes
at affordable prices.
trendy / trcndi! very fashionable, new, and exciting, and
used or worn especially by people who want other people
to notice how fashionable they are [adj]
Emma buys her clothes in Camden Lock, a trendy north
London flea market. I In the mid-sixties, Beatles haircuts
were considered really trendy. I She's bought a Peugeot 205?
Oh, very trendy. I Many "hard left" commentators thought
feminism was just a trendy middle-class phase.
be In fashion/bi: [n fzen/if clothes, music, places, or
activities are in fashion, they are fashionable and popu-
lar with many people at the present time Iv phrase]
Tracksuits, cycling shorts and running shoes are very much
in fashion now for everyday wear. I Surprisingly, flared
trousers are in fashion again. Quaint country styles and cot-
rage furniture have been in fashion for a long time now.
in /n/ an informal word meaning fashionable at the
present time [adj]
Gstaad is the in place to go skiing in winter. I It's the kids
on the street who decide what's in, not the designers.
be in vogue/bi: in 'voog/if something, especially a style
of music, decoration, art etc, is in vogue, it is fashionable
at the moment with a particular group of people [vphrase]
His photographs, stark and sometimes shocking, are very
much in vogue with young intellectuals. I Do you remember
when New Wave music was in vogue?
be all the rage/bi: ,:1 5 'reid3/if something, especially
an activity, is all the rage, it is very fashionable, and popu-
lar with a lot of people, especially for a short time [vphrase]
Surfing is all the rage on beaches throughout the world. I
Buying a cabin in the mountains may be all the rage at the
moment, but is it really a sound investment?
be the lalesl thing/bi: 5 ,leitst '00/to be the most
recent and most popular fashion now Iv phrase]
Have you tried Japanese food?It's the latest thing. I be the
latest thing in Herbert's house looks like a factory - it's the
latest thing in modern architecture.
chic/i:k/very fashionable and expensive, and showing
a lot of good judgement about'what is attractive and what
is good style [adj]
Her sweater was chic and expensive. I Recently I went to a
very chic party with very sophisticated guests. I a chic
restaurant in Boston
be the fashion/bi: 5 'fzen/you say that something
is the fashion when you are telling people that something
is fashionable Iv phrase]
"qZChy do those kids have pink hair?" "'It's the fashion. "1 be
the fashion among sb Wearing coats hanging off one
shoulder is the fashion among schoolchildren at the moment.
be the In thing/bi: 5i in '00/an informal expression
meaning to be the fashionable thing to do Iv phrase]
be the in thing to do Having a baby seems to be the in thing
to do at the moment. I be the in thing Those Mega CD
computers really are the in thing.
designer/d 'zanr/made by a famous, fashionable, and
expensive designer [adj only before noun]
She has a marvellous job, and a magnificent Manhattan
apartment filled with designer clothes. I At this hotel, break-
fast can be enjoyed in the cosiness of a designer bedroom. I

FASHIONABLE 4?6 FASHIONABLE
Prices are about a third lower here than at designer
boutiques
cuit/khlt] cult film/figure/TV show etc (=one that is
very popular with a small group of fashionable people,
especially young people) [adj only before noun]
New Order were a cult band before becoming commercially
successful. I the cult TV series "The Prisoner"
 words for describing someone who wears
fashionable clothes, has fashionable things
etc
fashionable
trendy
fashionable/' fmJ'onobll [adj]
Nicole has always wanted to be part of the fashionable Paris
set. I It's a tiny cafd, where either very poor or very fashiona-
ble people go. I I've never really been very fashionable, but
I know what I like.
trendy/'trendil someone who is trendy likes to always
dress, behave, decorate their home etc in the most fashiona-
ble way, especially so that people notice how modern and
fashionable they are [adj]
The bar was full of financiers and trendy young advertis-
ing agents. I a trendy, self-confident photographer with
green-framed glasses
3 ways of saying that something becomes
fashionable
come into fashion
come in
make a comeback
come into fashion I,km nta 'ffanl [v phrase]
When mini-skirts first came into fashion, women said they'd
never wear them. I As soon as one pop group comes into
fash. ion, another goes out. I come back into fashion Short
haircuts for men went out for a time, and then they came back
into fashion.
©ome in I k^m ' nl to become fashionable, especially for
a short period of time [phr v I/
Skateboarding first came in during the early 1980s I New
fashions seem to come in and go out again much more
quickly these days.
make a comeback/meik a khmbek/ if something
makes a comeback, it becomes fashionable and popular
again, after having been unfashionable for a long period
of time Iv phrase]
Who "d have thought platform soles would ever make a come-
back? [ Games like "Ludo" and "Snakes and Ladders" are
really making a comeback.
4 to make something fashionable
set the fashion/trend
bring in
set the fashion/trend/,set 6a 'fej'an, trend/to make
something new fashionable, by doing, using, or wearing it,
so that a lot of people copy you Iv phrase]
For over a decade now, Princess Diana has been setting the
fashion all over the world. I Michael Jackson set the fashion
of wearing only one glove. I To save the planet we must set
the trend of caring for the environment.
bring in /.brIO 'n! to make something fashionable, espe-
cially by showing it or selling it for the first time [phr v T/
bring in sth The New Look was brought in by Christian
Dior in the 1950s. I Bob Geldof was responsible for bringing
in the age of the charity rock concert. I bring sth/it/them
in Toy manufacturers are always bringing new games in,
and making them more and more expensive.
activities, products, styles etc that are
fashionable
trend fashion
vogue the latest thing
trend/trend/an activity, a way of thinking, or a way of
doing something that is becoming more fashionable In C/
The "Green" approach to living is a trend that should be
encouraged. I Break dancing in the street was a short-lived
trend. I Madonna started the trend for wearing lace and
crucifixes in the early 1980s.
vogue /vaog/ a style of music, clothes, art etc that is
fashionable with a particular group of people In C/
People's fondness for wearing black and other dark colours
was a vogue I never really liked. I a vogue for the paintings
of Claude Lorraine
fashion/feJ'an/an activity, product, style etc that is
fashionable In C/
She was always supplied with the latest Paris fashions. I
Taking recreational drugs such as Ecstasy is a fashion that
could have fatal results. I The fashion in London is to hold
parties in disused warehouses.
the latest thing/6 ,leitIst 'Orj/the most fashionable
and newest thing to do, wear, or have In phrase]
The latest thing is to wear only white clothes. I The latest
thing to do in Mediterranean resorts isjetskiing. I No matter
how expensive, he always has to do the latest thing.
6 activities, products, styles etc that are
fashionable for a short time
fad
craze
fad/fedl a very fashionable thing to do that lasts for a
short time, especially something that a lot of people, for
example older people, disapprove of In C/
Police hope that warehouse parties are simply a fad that will
disappear in time. [ Little gold cocaine spoons became a fad,
openly worn on gold chains. [ At school we had a fad for
bleaching our hair with peroxide.
oraze/krexz/a very fashionable activity, that is popular
only for a short time, especially among young people or
children In C/
Skate-boarding is the latest craze to hit the streets of New
York. [ Roller blades are the latest craze, and are sure to
bring their own joys and hazards. [ There was a craze for
collecting cigarette cards when we were at school.
7 the business or study of making and selling
fashionable clothes, shoes etc
fashion
fashion/' fej'an/[n U/
Claudia edits a high-class fashion magazine. I The fashion
industry relies on young people havingplenty of money. I I'm
not really interested in fashion. I a fashion school in South
London
8 words for describing clothes, activities etc that
are not fashionable
be out of fashion unfashionable
out old-fashioned
be out of fashion/bi: ,aot v 'fmanl to be no longer
fashionable Iv phrase]
His clothes are always slightly out of fashion, as though he
buys them in the sales. [ It was a posed, stilted photograph
in a style that went out of fashion thirty years before. [ Rock
and Roll music began in the fifties, but has never gone out
of fashion. [ Many of today's styles go out of fashion almost
as soon as they come in.
out/aot/an informal word meaning no longer fashionable
[adj not usually before noun]
In the new healthy age, taking drugs is really out. [ Electronic
disco music was fashionable in the 80s but is now right out. [
It's really out these days to wear lots of badges, belts and
buckles.
unfashionable IAn'fm.[anabol/ something that is un-
fashionable is no longer fashionable, so that very few
people now do it, wear it, use it etc [adj]

FASHIONABLE 477 FAST/QUICK
It's still a bit unfashionable to admit to liking Barry
Man/low, although millions of people buy his records. I Don't
throw away unfashionable clothes, give them to a charity
shop. I Be warned, this nightclub will not let unfashionable
people through its doors.
old-fashioned/,oold 'fefand/something that is old-
fashioned was fashionable in former times, but not any
more, so that it seems to belong to a past age, or be suit-
able for older people [adj]
She wore an old fashioned smocked nightdress. I The apart-
ment was gloomy and old-fashioned, with dark furniture
and heavy curtains. I Graham had a bushy moustache and
long blond hair like an old-fashioned rock musician's. I They
would lunch marly every day at Le Bourse aux Vins. an old-
fashioned bistro next door to the hotel.
9 ways of saying that something becomes
unfashionable
go out
date
go out/,gee 'aot/to stop being fashionable [phr v I]
Jogging went out when it was found to be harmful for the
joints. I You don't still wear those do you, they've gone right
out.
date/deit/ to gradually become unfashionable, and be
replaced with more modern styles, methods, ideas etc Iv I]
The trouble with high fashion clothes is that they date very
quickly. [ Certain styles of music will never date, and will
always be popular.
fast EAT 10, FAST/QUICK 1, 4, 8, 9, TIGHT 1
fast: as fast as you can FAST/QUICK 3
fast: go fast/quickly PASS/TIME PASSING 2
fast: move fast/quickly FAST/QUICK 12
fast/go on a fast FAT 10
fast one: pull a fast one CHEAT 1
fast
FAST/QUICK
moving or travelling fast
moving or travelling extremely fast
moving at the fastest possible speed
words for describing cars, trains, planes etc
that can go fast
words for describing a fast movement or
physical action
words for describing an action, process,
piece of work etc that is done very quickly
and without delay
to move very fast in a particular direction
ways of saying that something happens
quickly or someone does something quickly
words for describing a process of change or
improvement that happens unusually fast
10
11
12
13
14
words for describing a course of study that
you do more quickly than is usual
to move faster, work more quickly etc
to do something very quickly
to move as fast as someone or something
else
to move faster than someone or something
else
I moving or travelling fast
fast at speed
quickly swift
quick
fast/fa:st II fest/[adv]
The plane was flying fast and low. I I'm not going in Peter's
car, he drives too fast. t Patricia walked faster and faster as
the heavy footsteps grew louder.
fast [adj] I don't know whether she'll win the race, but she's
certainly very fast. I the fastest runner in the worm
quickly i'lviklil fast, especially for a short distance [adv]
Richard quickly ran down the stairs. I The women went
quickly back into their houses. I Here's the guard-room. If
you walk past quickly, no one will see you.
quick/kwk/a word meaning quickly, used especially
when you are telling someone to come or go quickly [adv]
Come quick, there's been an accident. I You'll have to walk
quicker than that if you want to keep up with me.
at speed lot spi:d/a formal expression: if a car or train
is travelling at speed, it is travelling fast [adv phrase]
The train was already travelling at speed when she tried to
open the carriage door. I Make sure that your vehicle can be
safely driven at speed.
swift/swift/a word used especially in literature meaning
moving fast with a continuous, flowing movement [adj]
The falcon is a powerful bird, immensely swift in flight. I We
had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering
Straits.
swiftly [adv] White clumps of cloud were moving swiftly
across the sky.
swiftness In U] The athlete moved with the swiftness of a
bird in flight.
2 moving or travelling extremely fast
at high speed at breakneck speed
at a terrific/ be really moving
tremendous speed like lightning
at high speed lot ,hai 'spi:d/if something such as a vehi-
cle or part of a machine is moving at high speed, it is
moving very fast [adv phrase]
A truck travelling at high speed struck a youth crossing the
street. [ a metal disc revolving at high speed
high-speed [adj] The police finally caught up with the
thieves after a high-speed car chase.
at a terrific/tremendous speed lot o to,nfik, tri-
,mendos 'spi:d/travelling extremely fast [adv phrase]
I always feel nervous when you're driving, you go at such a
terrific speed. I The train was hurtling towards us at tremen-
dous speed.
at breakneck speed lot ,breiknek 'spi:dl travelling
dangerously fast [adv phrasei
The doctor jumped into a waiting car that drove away at
breakneck speed. I Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off
at breakneck speed down the glistening, white mountain.
be really moving/bi: ,rmli 'mu:vrj/you say that some-
one or something is really moving when you mean that
they are going extremely fast Iv phrase]
There's Lewis out in front of the other runners. He's really
moving. I That car must have been really moving when it hit
the van.

FAST/QUICK 4?8 FAST/QUICK
like lightning/laik 'laitnil]/moving extremely fast, often
with a single sudden movement [adv phrase] '
Shane stood up and his hand moved like lightning to the gun
at his hip. I Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the
cat darted into some bushes.
3 moving at the fastest possible speed
as fast as you can
at top speed
flat out
as fast as you can laz ,fa:st az ju: 'kmn II -,fst-/lady
phrase]
This is an emergency. Please come as fast as you can. [ He
ran as fast as he could to catch up with the others.
at top speed/at ,tvp 'spi:d [[ -ta:p-/ifa vehicle moves
at top speed, it moves as fast as it can go lady phrase]
After the trial, they led the man out of the back door and
drove him away at top speed. [ Riding a motorcycle at top
speed on wet roads is a recipe for disaster.
flat out /tflt 'aot/ at the fastest speed possible when
using all the strength or power there is lady phrase]
Goingflat out, the BMW 325 will reach a speed of 140 miles
per hour. [ The exercise involved running flat out for two
minutes and then resting for one minute.
4 words for describing cars, trains, planes etc
that can go fast
fast
high-speed
supersonic
fast/fo:st II faust/[adj]
Rosa caught the fastest train there was to London. I Boeing's
new plane is faster and more luxurious than anything else
they have ever produced. I Fast cars and expensive living had
always been a passion of his.
high-speed /,hal spi:d/ high-speed train/com-
puter/drill etc (=one that moves or operates very fast) [adj
only before noun]
In these days of high-speed travel, more and more people are
visiting far away places. [ Journey times have been cut down
considerably since the introduction of high-speed trains.
supersonic/,su:pa'stnlk,, sju:- [[ ,su:par'so:-/super-
sonic aircraft/travel/flight etc (=faster than the speed
of sound) [adj usually before noun]
Concorde is capable of travelling at supersonic speeds. [
Thanks to supersonic travel, busy executives can attend meet-
ings in New York and be back in London the same day.
5 words for describing a fast movement or
physical action
quick
rapid
swift
quick Ikwikl [adj]
Harold greeted me with a quick nod of the head. I She wore
high-heels and walked with short, quick steps. I Marjory told
Philip that I wasn't to be trusted, and then she cast a quick
glance towards me to see if I'd heard.
rapid/, rmpoi d/ very fast with short repeated movements
or sounds [adj]
She could hear rapid footsteps approaching. I The patient
often develops a fever and breathing becomes rapid. I In
rapid Italian, Charlotte asked for a taxi.
rapidly lady] Tim's heart was beating rapidly as he stood
up to make his first public speech.
swift/swift/a word used especially in writing meaning
very fast with one quick movement [adj]
Garth knocked him unconscious with one swift blow to the
head. I The girl washed herself with deft, swift movements,
gasping at the coldness of the water.
swiftly [adv] He turned swiftly to meet his attacker.
6
words for describing an action, process,
piece of work etc that is done very quickly
and without delay
quick rapid
swift prompt
speedy cursory
quick/kwk/[adj]
I had to make a quick decision. [ That was quick - did you
do everything I asked? [ We offer our customers a quick, reli-
able service.
quickly lady] The retiring chair wants the committee to
appoint a successor as quickly as possible.
swift/swift/swift reaction/reply/response/denial etc
(=done or made immediately) [adj]
My critical remarks brought a swift reaction from Bruce. I
When questioned about the crime she answered with a swift
denial.
swiftly [ adv ] The pianist left swiftly after the performance.
speedy/'spi:di/ speedy return/transfer/arrival etc
(=done or made successfully, as quickly and efficiently as
possible) [adj only before noun]
We are working to ensure the safe and speedy return of all
the refugees to their homes. I Speedy replacement of faulty
components is guaranteed.
speedily [adv] The problem must be dealt with speedily
before any more damage is done.
rapid /'rmpd/ rapid decision/calculation/response
etc (=done or made extremely quickly) [adj usually before
noun]
Having read the message, I came to a rapid decision. I Our
armed forces are capable of a rapid response to any aggres-
sion. I Carson made a rapid calculation in his head and
decided that $1200 was a fair price.
prompt /prompt II pro:mpt/ prompt action/reply/de-
livery etc (=done or made without delay because quick
action is needed) [adj usually before noun]
A major disaster was prevented by theprompt action of the
safety officer. I It is important to ensure prompt delivery of
goods that retail customers order.
promptly [adv] Please reply promptly to this invitation.
cursory / ka:rsari/cursory inspection/examination/
glance etc (=one that you do quickly and without paying
much attention to details, in order to save time) [adj usually
before noun]
After only a cursory glance at their security passes, the guard
let the two men into the building. [ The scope of this study
does not permit anything but a cursory look at the subject.
7 to move very fast in a particular direction
race streak
tear whizz
fly zoom
dart speed
race/reis/to move somewhere as fast as possible [v I]
race back/up/into ere Hearing the children's screams, she
raced back to the house. [ A police patrol came racing up
Roosevelt Avenue. [ "'Wait for me, "" cried Bobby, but the
others raced on ahead.
tear/tear/to move somewhere very fast, especially in a
dangerous or careless way [v I]
tear away/up/across etc Beverly's dog came tearing
across the field towards me. I I stumbled several times as I
tore madly down the mountain, determined to catch them up.
fly/flail to move extremely quickly, especially because you
are in a hurry [v I]
fly past/up/along etc As I slowed down anothei" car flew
past me and turned to the left. I Paul rushed into the house
and flew upstairs, calling to me.
dart Ido:rtl to run, fly, or swim with a sudden quick move-
ment [v I]
dart through/back/across etc I could see small silvery
fish darting through the water. [ When she saw me she darted
back into the kitchen as if she was trying to hide.

FAST/QUICK 4?9 FAST/QUICK
streak/stri:k/ if someone or something streaks some-
where, they run or fly there so fast that you can hardly see
them Iv I]
streak across/past/away etc Two aircraft streaked across
the sky. I I caught a glimpse of the cat streaking away into
the shadows.
whizz/WIZ[ to move extremely quickly through the air or
along a road with a loud whistling noise Iv I]
whizz past/by/through etc A bullet whizzed past my ear.I
He was standing in the middle of the road with cars whizz-
ing by on either side.
zoom/zu:m/ifa car, bus, plane etc zooms somewhere, it
moves there extremely fast with a loud noise Iv I]
zoom past/through/over etc The plane zoomed low over
the airfield. I At dawn our bus was zooming across the
Arizona desert.
speed/spi:d/to move somewhere very quickly, especially
in a vehicle Iv I]
speed along/by/towards etc An ambulance sped by on its
way to an accident. I I could imagine James Bond in a fast
sports car, speeding towards the French Riviera.
 ways of saying that something happens
quickly or someone does something quickly
quickly
fast
quickly/'kwikli/[adv]
She undressed quickly and got into bed. I "'Fine, I'll meet you
in about ten minutes, "" said John, putting the phone down
quickly. I Everything happened so quickly, I just got con-
fused. I If afire broke out in the warehouse it would spread
very quickly.
fast [fo:st II fasq if you do something fast, especially
something that you do continuously for a period of time,
such as working, writing, talking etc, you do it quickly
[adv]
I can type faster than you. I Don't talk so fast, I'm trying to
write down what you say.
fast [adj] I can see you're a fast worker. You've finished
already. I She's not only a good editor, she's also really fast.
9 words for describing a process of change or
improvement that happens unusually fast
rapid meteoric
fast swift
speedy at an alarming rate
rapid/'rmpd/[adj usually before noun]
Since 1960 there has been a rapid increase in the number of
cars on the road. I Adolescence is a period of rapid change,
which marks the passingfrom child to adult. I Rapid weight
loss and diarrhoea are the main signs of serious infection.
rapidly [ adv ] Production costs have risen more rapidly than
prices. I a rapidly deteriorating situation
fast/fo:st II fmstl [adv]
Things are changing fast in the communications industry. I
The fax machine is fast becoming the top-selling product of
electronics manufacturers. I fast-growing/developing/
disappearing etc Chicago was once the fastest-growing city
in the world.
fast [adj] Once trade-barriers are removed, the country can
achieve faster economic growth.
speedy / tspi:di/speedy recovery/conclusion/end etc
(=happening very quickly and soon) [adj only before noun]
We were sorry to hear of your illness, and wish you a speedy
recovery. I The Prime Minister put forward his plans for
bringing the war to a speedy conclusion.
meteoric /imi:til)rlk, II -la:rlk-, -o:rlk/ meteoric
rise/career (=achieving success extremely quickly and
suddenly) [adj]
Since Madonna's meteoric rise to fame, she has been accom-
panied by bodyguards wherever she goes.
swift/swift/happening very quickly and without inter-
ruption [adj]
The senator's progress upward through the party was swift
and uninterrupted. I Swift fashion changes mean that the
shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks.
at an alarming rate/at an ala:rmitj reit[ if something
happens at an alarming rate, it happens so quickly that
it makes people very worried [adv phrase]
The Amazonian rainforest is disappearing at an alarming
rate. [ The number of people dying from lung cancer has
increased at an alarming rate.
1 0 words for describing a course of study that
you do more quickly than is usual
rapid
intensive
crash course
rapid/'rapd/[adj only before noun]
The college offers a rapid programme of training for librar-
ians. I Rapid learning: Learn to speak a new language in
12 weeks!
intensive [ In tens iv/an intensive course of study is one
in which you are taught a lot in a short time [adj]
Before moving to Paris, Michael went on an intensive course
to improve his French. I After a brief period of intensive train-
ing, I was allowed to make my first parachute jump.
crash course /krmf k:rs/a course of study in which
you learn a particular skill in a very short time in order
to prepare yourself for a job In C]
crash course in We offer crash courses in word processing. I
crash course How to edit textbooks in 1 day - our training
program was more of a crash course.
1 1 to move faster, work more quickly etc
go faster quicken your pace
speed up gain/gather
pick up/gather speed momentum
accelerate put on a spurt
go faster/,gao 'fo:sta r II -'fms-[ [v phrase]
We must go faster or we'll be too late. I You've only covered
half the syllabus so far, you'll have to go a lot faster if you're
going to finish it in time. I go faster and faster (=more and
more quickly) As the train started to go dovnhill, it went
faster and faster.
speed up/,spi:d t^p/ to make a process happen more
quickly [phr v T]
speed up sth Electronic systems have enabled us to speed
up business transactions. [ speed sth/it/them up There are
ways of speeding the process up.
pick up/gather speed /iplk ^p, ,gin60 r spi:d/ifa vehi-
cle, especially a large vehicle picks up speed or gathers
speed, it starts to gradually move faster Iv phrase]
Francis leaned back in his seat as the plane picked up speed. I
The truck was already moving, gathering speed with a deep-
throated roar.
accelerate/akselareit/if a vehicle or someone who is
driving accelerates, the vehicle starts to go faster Iv I]
Ian drove up Park Boulevard and headed out of town,
accelerating rapidly. I The Ferrari Mondial can accelerate
from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.
quicken your pace/kwlkanja: r IpelS/an expression
used especially in stories or descriptions of events, mean-
ing to begin to walk faster Iv phrase]
Because the man was still behind her, Susie quickened her
pace and hurried to the hotel. I "'I have some questions to ask
you, Mr Murray, "" said the reporter, quickening his step to
keep up with me.
gain/gather momentum / gein, ,gmbar mao'menm/
if something gains or gathers momentum, it travels
faster and faster, especially going down a hill, because it
is pushed forward by the force of its own weight [vphrase]
As the train went down the hill it began to gather momen-
tum. [ The slope was getting steeper and their sledge was
gaining momentum all the time.

FAST/QUICK 480 FASTEN/DO UP
put on a spurt /ipot on a 'spa:rq to suddenly move, run,
or ride much faster for a short distance, especially during
a race Iv phrase[
Putting on a final spurt he won the race by 0.4 of a second.
1 2 to do something very quickly
move fast/quickly
make short work of
move fast/quickly/,mu:v 'fo:st, 'kwkli II -'frost-/to do
quickly what needs to be done in order to get what you want
[ v phrase[
The board of directors meets tomorrow so if you want that
contract you'll have to move fast. I We have forty minutes
until our train goes and we still haven "t packed - we'd better
move fast!
make short work of/meek fz):rt Iw3:rk ov/to finish
something quickly and easily, especially a meal or a job Iv
phrase not in passive]
Peter was hungry and made short work of the excellent
omelette Sally had prepared for him. I Our guide, who was
used to mountain walking, made short work of the twelce-
mile journey back to camp.
1:3 to move as fast as someone or something
else
catch up with
be gaining on
keep up with
catch up with I,keetf '^p wI6/ to move forward fast
enough to reach someone who was in front of you going in
the same direction Iv T not usually in passive]
Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later. [After a long chase,
the police car caught up with the stolen van.
be gaining on/bi: 'gemrj Dn [1 -o:n/to be getting closer
and closer to someone that you are chasing or trying to
pass, because you are moving faster than they are Iv
phrase]
We ran but the boys were gaining on us fast. [ Senna is still
in front but Prost in the Renault-Williams is gaining on him.
keep up with/,ki:p Ap WI6/to succeed in moving as fast
as someone else, when they are moving very quickly and
remaining level with them Iv T not in passive]
Slow down! I can't keep up with you. [ She took big strides
and Charlie had to run to keep up with her.
14 to move faster than someone or something
else
pull ahead
leave sb behind
leave sb standing
pull ahead I,pol a'hed/to pass another vehicle on the
road and move in front of it because you are going faster
[phr v I[
If you see a police car pull ahead, slow down. They may want
you to stop. [ I turned around and saw that, out of the dust
and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.
leave sb behind / ili:v (sb) bi 'halnd/to move far in front
of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you
[phr v T[
We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had
longer legs and gradually left me behind. [ leave sb way
behind (=a long way behind) Dinah urged her horse on
until she had left all the other riders way behind.
leave sb standing /,li:v (sb) 'steend[rj/ an informal
expression meaning to move very far in front of someone,
especial]y in a race, because you are much faster than them
Iv phrase]
Carl Lewis was easily the fastest man on the track. Every-
one else was left standing.
i fasten ATTACH 1, FASTEN/DO UP 1
FASTEN/DO UP
to fasten clothes, shoes, belts, bags etc
words for describing clothes, bags, belts etc
that have.beeh fastened
to unfasten clothes, shoes, belts, bags etc
words for describing something that has not
been fastened, or that has been unfastened
1 to fasten clothes, shoes, belts, bags etc
fasten zip up
do up tie
button
fasten/'fo:san II 'fe-I to join together the two sides of a
coat, shirt, bag etc so that it is closed Iv T[
"'I'm going now, "" she said, fastening her coat. I I can't fasten
this suitcase, there's too much stuff in it. [ We will shortly be
landing in Athens. Please fasten your seatbelts and extin-
guish all cigarettes.
do up ! du: ^p! to fasten clothes or buttons, fasteners etc
on clothes [phr v T[
do up sth He's old enough to do up his shoelaces by himself. I
Can you help me do up the buttons on this dress? I do sth/
it/them up Make sure you do your coat up. It's cold outside.
button ] b^tn/to fasten the buttons on a piece of clothing
Iv T[
He began buttoning his shirt and putting on his tie. I button
sth up She shivered, and buttoned her woollen cardigan up.
zip up/zp ^p/to fasten clothes, bags etc using the zip
that is on them [phr v T[
zip up sth You've forgotten to zip up your pants! I zip sth/
it/them up She took some money out of her handbag and
zipped it up again quickly.
tie/ti/tie shoelaces/a tie/a scarfetc (=fasten them by
making a knot) Iv T[
Don't forget to tie your shoelaces! [ Do you want me to help
you tie your tie? [ tie your hair back She tied her hair back
with a long red ribbon.
2 words for describing clothes, bags, belts etc
that have been fastened
fastened
done up
fastened/'fo:sdnd II 'f  e-/[adj not before noun]
Is your safety belt fastened? l She wore a stylish pale-blue
coat, fastened with large white buttons. I lf your bag had
been securely fastened the thief wouldn't have been able to
get his hand into it.
done up / dAn lap/clothes, or buttons, zips etc on clothes
that are done up have been fastened [adj not before noun]
Make sure the top button on your shirt's done up. I He rushed
out of the room, with his pants only half done up.
3 to unfasten clothes, shoes, belts, bags etc
unfasten unzip
undo untie
unbutton loosen
unfasten/^n'fa:san II -'fro-/to open the two sides of a
coat, shirt, bag etc so that it is open Iv T[
Could you unfasten my dress for me?[ It was hot in the
waiting-room, and Rosie had .to unfasten her coat. [
Unfastening his seatbelt, Jack stepped out of the car.
undo/^n'du:/to unfasten clothes or buttons, fas, teners etc
on clothes Iv T[
Let me help you undo the buttons on that jacket. [ His fingers
were shaking, and he had great difficulty undoing his
collar. [ I undid the clasp of the gold chain and put it around
my neck.

FASTEN/DO UP 481 FAT
unbutton/An'bAth/to unfasten the buttons on a piece of
clothing [v T/
The old man sat down, and began to unbutton his shirt. I
She unbuttoned her uniform, and changed into her normal
clothes.
unzip/An'zip/to unfasten clothes, bags etc using the zip
that is on them [v T/
She was just unzipping her dress when the phone rang.
unzipped his briefcase and took out a letter.
untie /An'tal/ untie shoelaces/a tie/scarf etc (=to
unfasten them by opening the knot) [v T]
He began slowly untying his necktie. I Amy untied her apron
and folded it neatly on the chair.
loosen/'lu:san/to unfasten clothes a little in order to
make yourself more comfortable [v T/
His stomach felt really full and he had to loosen his belt.
If someone has had a heart attack turn them on their side,
loosen any tight clothing, and send for a doctor.
4 words for describing something that has not
been fastened, or that has been unfastened
unfastened open
undone unbuttoned
unfastened/An' fo:sand II -' f  e-/[adj not before noun ]
Paul woke up to find his collar unfastened and his shoes on
the floor. I come unfastened (=become unfastened) The
bracelet has a safety chain, so that if it comes unfastened it
won't fall off.
undone/,An'dAn-/clothes, or buttons, fasteners etc on
clothes that are undone are unfastened [adj not before
noun ]
She smelled of cheap perfume, and her blouse had three but-
tons undone. I A group of men in dark suits sat with their
ties undone smoking and playing cards. I come undone
(=become unfastened) He tied his shoelaces with a double-
knot so that they wouldn't come undone.
open/'0up0n/a shirt, bag etc that is open is not fastened
[adj]
It was very hot and the men had their shirts open to the
waist.I Emily realised that her handbag was open and her
money gone. I come open (=become open) I suddenly real-
ized that my blouse had come open. I was so embarrassed!
unbuttoned /An'bAtnd/ clothes that are unbuttoned
have the buttons unfastened [adj not before noun]
His trousers were unbuttoned and his shirt was hanging
out.I come unbuttoned (=become unbuttoned) Can you
help me? My dress has come unbuttoned at the back.
 fastened ATTACH 3, FASTEN/DO UP 2
 faster: go faster FAST/QUICK 11
, fat FAT 1, 5, THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL 1
I words for describing someone who is fat
fat portly
overweight hefty
big pot-bellied
large
fat/ft/the word fat is considered impolite and should
only be used when talking to close members of your family,
close friends etc, or when talking about people who are not
present [adj]
I'm getting too fat for all my clothes - I must go on a diet. I
a fat little boy with a turned-up nose and rosy cheeks [ After
thirty years he looked just the same, only a little fatter. I
Hurry up you great fat lump! We're going to miss the bus.
overweight / ,oovor 'weit/too fat, especially so that you
are unfit or fatter than is good for you [adj]
The doctor said I was slightly overweight and that I needed
to take more exercise. [ 5 kilos/lO pounds etc overweight
My mother is about 50 pounds overweight and she smokes
like a chimney. [ grossly overweight (=extremely over-
weight) People who are grossly overweight are more likely
to suffer from high blood pressure.
big/big/a word meaning fat and tall, used especially when
you do not want to say fat because it would be impolite [adj]
Rosemary is very attractive even though she is a big girl. [
'High and Mighty" is a clothes store for big, tall men.
large/lo:rds/a word meaning fat, used especially when
you do not want to say fat because it would be impolite [adj]
I spent most of the train journey squashed between two rather
large women. [ Large people often find it difficult to find
fashionable clothes that fit them.
portly / 'p:rdi/a word used especially in literature: some-
one, especially a fairly old man, who is portly is fat and
round [adj]
The bishop was a dignified rather portly man, with white
hair. [ As Mr Pickwick grew older he became more and more
portly.
hefty / ' heY, i/a man who is hefty is fat, but is also tall and
strong [adj ]
Her sons were both hefty, energetic boys. [ The mechanic was
a big hefty man who could lift up the front of a truck with
his bare hands.
pot-bellied /'pot ,beli:d II 'po:t/ someone who is pot-
bellied has a round stomach that sticks out at the front,
especially because they eat or drink too much, or because
they are suffering from having no food to eat for a long time
[adj]
Our teacher was a bald, pot-bellied man of about 50. I I was
getting rather pot-bellied, so I started doing exercises every
morning. I In the camp were literally thousands of pot-
bellied, malnourished refugees.
FAT
1 words for describing someone who is fat
2 extremely fat
3 fat and not very tall
4 fat in a pleasant and attractive way
5 words for describing a part of the body that is
fat
6 a fat stomach
7 to become fatter
8 to make a person or animal fatter
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
2 extremely fat
obese
obesity
gross
obese/ou'bi:s/extremely fat in a way that is dangerous
to your health [adj]
She's not just fat, she's positively obese![ He was so obese he
had to have special clothes made for him.[ 50% of the women
on the island are obese.
obesity Iou'bi:sti/a word used especially in medical con-
texts meaning the condition of being too fat in a way that
is dangerous to your health In U]
Obesity can lead to heart disorders and other health
problems. I The program is aimed at reducing obesity among
young women.
gross/gmus/an informal word meaning very fat and very
unattractive [adj not before noun]
I was so gross I could hardly look at myself in the mirror.

FAT 482 FAT
3 fat and not very tall
dumpy
tubby
stout
dumpy /'d^mpil someone who is dumpy, especially a
woman or a child, is fat and very short [adj]
She was a dumpy, plain woman, several years older than her
husband. [ In his youth William had been a dumpy little boy
who had a tendency to eat too much chocolate.
tubby I 'tAbi/someone who is tubby is short and has a fat,
round stomach [adj]
The banker was a tubby, jolly-looking man with a friendly
face. [ He's getting a bit tubby - too much of his wife's cook-
ing I expect.
stout Istaot/someone, especially a middle-aged person,
who is stout is short and fat [adj]
The colonel was rather short and stout, with a round face
and grey moustache. [ Outside the door stood a stout woman
in a tweed coat, who was breathing heavily from her walk
up the hill.
4 fat in a pleasant and attractive way
plump
chubby
plump /pl^mp/ a word meaning fat, especially in a
pleasant and attractive way, often used when you do not
want to say fat because it is impolite [adj]
a plump healthy-looking child [ Her mother was a cheerful,
plump woman with an infectious laugh. [ He's a little on the
plump side, but quite handsome.
chubby/'tf^bi/someone who is chubby, especially a
small child, is fat in a pleasant, healthy-looking way [adj]
The baby was pink and chubby. [ Who's that chubby little
girl with the dark hair?
5 words for describing a part of the body that is
fat
fat podgy/pudgy
plump flabby
chubby full
fat/f;t/[adj]
I hate going swimming - I don't like people seeing my fat
legs. [ My stomach's much fatter than yours.
plump /pl^mp/ plump face/waist/bottom etc
(=pleasantly fat) [adj]
The doctor's wife had a plump face and a nice smile. [ The
cook's waist looked rather plump for such a small apron.
chubby/' tf^bi/chubby fingers/cheeks/arms etc (=fat
and round in an attractive way) [adj]
The baby reached out with its chubby little fingers. I When
he smiled, dimples appeared at the corners of his chubby
cheeks.
podgy/pudgy /'PDd3i , 'p^dsi,II 'po:-/ podgy fingers/
hands/face etc (=small and fat, especially in an amusing
way) [adj]
His pudgy little fingers were covered in chocolate. [Elsie had
a large body and a podgy face.
flabby / 'flabi/covered in soft loose fat in a way that looks
very unattractive [adj]
Her body was getting old and flabby. [ John's flabby white
thighs wobbled like jellies as he walked across the beach.
full/foil full lips/mouth/face/breasts (=fat and round
in an attractive way) [adj]
Joanna's full red lips were fixed in an inviting smile. I A
black necklace hung down over her full breasts.
6 a fat stomach
paunch spare tyre
pot belly middle-age spread
beer gut
paunch Ipa:ntl .a man who has a paunch has a large
noticeable stomach In C[
I'm getting a bit of a paunch - I need to do some exercise. [
He lay on his chair with his hands clasped above his paunch,
listening to the radio.
pot belly/'pot ,beli 11 'po:t/a round stomach that sticks
out at the front, especially when this is the result of eating
or drinking too much, or when someone is suffering from
not having any food to eat for a long time In C[
Larry was a short guy with a moustache and a pot belly. [
You really should do something about that pot belly of
yours.[ People all over the worm were shocked by these
images of starving children with pot bellies, too weak even
to stand up.
beer gut Ib[a r g^q an informal expression meaning a
fat stomach caused by drinking too much beer In C[
His beer gut was popping the buttons on his shirt. [ At only
seventeen Lorne already had the beginnings of a beer gut.
spare tyre/,spea r 'talar/an informal British word mean-
ing a ring of fat around the waist In C[
You should go on a diet - look at that spare tyre!
middle.age spread /mldl e[d3 'spred/the fat around
the waist that people gradually get as they grow older In
phrase] -.
A lot of people start to get middle-age spread when they're
over 30.
7 to become fatter
put on weight
gain weight
fill out
put on weight /,pot on 'weit/to become fatter and heav-
ier Iv phrase]
John's put on a lot of weight recently, hasn't he? I put on 5
kilos/2 lbs etc Iput on several pounds while I was on holi-
day, so now I'm on a strict diet.
gain weight/,gem, 'weq to become fatter and heavier,
especially until you reach the weight you should be Iv
phrase]
No matter how much I eat, I can "t seem to gain weight. I gain
2 kilos/4 lbs etc He's gained at least five kilos since he was
born.
fill out /,fI1 'aot/to start getting fatter after being too thin
[phr v I[
He was terribly thin when he came out of hospital, but he's
filled out a lot since then. I She looks much healthier now and
her face has started to fill out.
8 to make a person or animal fatter
fatten up
fattening
fatten up/, fetn ^P/to make an animal fatter by giving
it a lot of food so that it will produce more meat [phr v T[
fatten up sth The farmers are fattening up their cattle and
getting them ready for market. I fatten sth/it/them up I
never eat duck pate - they force-feed the ducks in order to
fatten them up.
fattening /  fmtnlrj/food that is fattening makes you fat
[adj]
I mustn't have any more of that cream cake. It's very fatten-
ing. I Grilled fish tastes better and is less fattening than fried
fish.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

fatal
fatal DIE 9, KILL 7
fatalities DIE 6
fate CHANCE/BY CHANCE 3, FUTURE 7
fate: tempt fate RISK 5
fated: be fated to CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
fateful IMPORTANT 1
father FATHER 1, 2
father: the father of INVENT 2
483
FATHER
words meaning father
what you call your father when speaking,
writing letters etc
the state of being a father
words for describing feelings or behaviour
that are typical of a father
I words meaning father
father
dad
old man
father/'fo:6ar/[n C]
My father is a doctor. I We'd better go and see how your
father's getting on in the kitchen. I Like most fathers I felt
anxious when my son got his first motorbike.
dad/dad/an informal word meaning father [n C]
My dad took me swimming on Saturday. I Congratulations!
How does it feel to be a dad? I All the murns and dads were
standing at the school gates to pick up their kids.
old man/,aold 'men/an informal expression meaning
father, especially used when talking about him to someone
else In singular]
my/her/John's etc old man My old man never could
understand why I married Doris! l the old man (=my
father) IYn going to visit the old man next week.
 what you call your father when speaking,
writing letters etc
Dad Daddy
Father Pop
Dad Idedl an informal word that you call your father [n]
Dad always sits in the same armchair in the sitting room. [
You've won the competition, Dad, well done!
Father/, fo:6ar/a formal word that you call your father
In]
No, Father, it's my life and I'm not always going to do what
you want! [ Tell Father we're going out now, will you, and
ask if he needs anything.
Daddy /'dadi/an informal word meaning father, used by
or to small children In]
Daddy, can I have a drink please? [ You don't want it? Give
it to Daddy then.
Pop/pop [[ po:p/an informal American word meaning
father In]
Hi, Pop, how're you doin'? [ Pop and I went for a walk while
Morn was at the hairdresser's.
3 the state of being a father
fatherhood
I . r
fatherhood / fu.6 bud/In U]
Jerry doesn't take the responsibilities of fatherhood very seri-
ously. [ He didn't realize what fatherhood would actually
involve.
FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT
words for describing feelings or behaviour
that are typical of a father
paternal
fatherly
paternal Ipa'ta:rnli paternal feelings or behaviour are
like those of a father towards his children [adjl
He shows no paternal feelings towards his daughter. I My
elders in the newsroom kept a paternal eye on me.
fatherly / Ifoz6arli/behaving in a kind way towards some-
one who is younger than you, which shows you care about
them a lot, as if you were their father [adjl
He felt a deep, fatherly affection for these young people, and
treated them as if they were his own children. [ From the
plane window he could still see the two young women, and
gave them a fatherly wave.
fatherhood FATHER 3
fatherly FATHER 4
fatigue TIRED 7
fatten up FAT 8
fattening FAT 8
fatuous STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 4
fault FAULT/STH WRONG 1, 2
fault: be at fault FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 1
fault: be sb's fault FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 1
fault: can't fault PERFECT 1
fault: find fault with CRITICIZE 4
fault: not be sb's fault FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 2
fault: say sth is sb's fault BLAME 1
fault: through no fault of your own FAULT/BE SB'S
FAULT 2
fault
FAULT/BE SB'S
FAULT
to be responsible for something bad that has
happened, such as a mistake or an accident
not responsible for something bad that has
happened
to be responsible for something bad that has
happened, such as a mistake or an accident
be sb's fault be at fault
be to blame only have yourself to blame
be responsible blame yourself
be sb's fault/bi: (sb's) 'fa:It! if something bad that has
happened is someone's fault, they should be blamed for
it, especially because they made a mistake, or failed to do
something that they should have done [v phrase]
"'The dog's escaped. "" "'That's your fault. You left the gate
open. "'[ Why do I always get the blame for things that aren't

FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 484 FAULTISTH WRONG
my fault? I be sb's own fault (=be your fault and no one
else's) She failed the test but it was her own fault - she didn't
do any work. I be sb's fault (that) Don't blame yourself for
the accident. It was Jim's fault the brakes weren't working. I
be the fault of The serious loss of morale is the fault of
senior management. I be sb's fault for doing sth (=be
someone's fault because they did something) He lost his job,
but it was his own fault for telling lies.
be to blame/bi: ta IbleIm/if someone is to blame for
something very bad or serious that has happened, they
caused it to happen, especially by doing something wrong,
not being careful, or not doing their job properly [vphrase]
be to blame for There will be an enquiry to find out who
is to blame for the train crash. I She was as much to blame
for the break up of their marriage as he was. I be to blame
Even though crime figures have risen drastically, the Govern-
ment is not entirely to blame.
be responsible/bi: rI Isponsbal [[ -spo:n-/if someone
is responsible for something bad such as a serious acci-
dent or a crime, they caused the accident or did the crime
and should be punished for it Iv phrase]
Two windows are broken and the head teacher wants to
know who is responsible. I Eddie's been sacked and seems to
think In in some way responsible. I be responsible for The
police do not know who was responsible for the accident. I
feel responsible (=to think that something is your fault)
You mustn't feel responsible for his death. You did everything
you could.
responsibility/ri,spons bilti [[ -spo:n-! In U] The driver
accepted responsibility for the crash and agreed to pay
damages.
be at fault/bi: at 'fa:lt! if someone, especially a group of
people, or an organization, is at fault, then they are respon-
sible for something bad that has happened because they did
not behave correctly, or did not take enough care [vphrase]
In many cases of bad behaviour in children, it is the parents
who are really at fault. [ Whilst it is clear that the plane
crashed through negligence, it is difficult to prove that it is
the airline that is at fault.
only have yourself to blame/,aonli hev ja:r"self ta
bleim! if you only have yourself to blame for something
bad that has happened, it is your own fault that it happened
and you should not feel sorry for yourself Iv phrase not in
progressive]
His wife's left him but he only has himself to blame - he was
a terrible husband, t only have yourself to blame for I
didn't train hard enough so I know I've only got myself to
blame for not winning the race.
blame yourself/,blem ja:r Iself / to think that it is your
fault that something bad has happened, so that you feel
very upset or ashamed Iv phrase]
You mustn "t blame yourself- it wasn't your fault. I Children
sometimes feel that they had a part in the break-up of their
parents" marriage and blame themselves. I blame yourself
for Tom can't go on blaming himself for his mistakes. He
must think of the future.
2 not responsible for something bad that has
 happened
not be sb's fault
through no fault of your own
can't help it
not be sb's fault/not bi: (sb's) 'f:lt/if something bad
that has happened is not someone's fault, they are not
responsible for making it happen and should not be blamed
for it Iv phrase]
The hospital workers keep getting blamed for things which
aren't their fault, and it's causing a lot of bad feeling. I not
be sb's fault (that) Don't moan at the. R's not my fault
you're in trouble.
through no fault of your own/Oru: nao ,f:lt av j:r
'aun/if something bad happens through no fault of your
own, it is not your fault that it happens but you suffer
because of it [adv phrase]
He lost his job through no fault of his own and now has to
sell his house to pay his debts. I Haemophiliacs who, through
no fault of their own, are infected with the Aids virus should
receive compensation.
can't help it/,ka:nt 'help :t 1[ kaent-/you say I can't help
it when someone is blaming you for something and you
mean it is not your fault because you are not in control of
the situation Iv phrase]
I can't help it if the car keeps breaking down/[ I'm sorry if
my coughing bothers you, but I can't help it. [ I tried not to
cry but I just coulcln't help it.
FAULTISTH
WRONG
1 a fault in the way something works
2 a fault in someone's character
3 a fault in a set of ideas, or in a plan,
argument, explanation etc
1 a fault in the way something works
fault bug
defect what's wrong
fault /fa:lt/ something that is wrong with a part of a
machine, piece of equipment etc that makes it not work cor-
rectly In C]
It sounds like there's a fault in one of the loudspeakers. [
locate a fault (=find out what the fault is) The engineer is
trying to locate the fault. [design fault (=a fault in the way
something was designed) The manufacturers have found a
design fault in the 1992 model and they're asking all owners
to bring their cars in to be checked.
defect /'di:fekt, d'fekt/ something that is wrong or
missing that makes a machine, piece of equipment etc not
work correctly, especially because it was wrongly or badly
made In C]
This defect in the braking system caused several accidents. [
This program checks your disks and if any defects are found,
it locks out those areas. [ The manufacturer's liability is
limited to problems caused by defects in materials or
manufacture.
bug/bAg/a small fault in the instructions given to a com-
puter that stops it working correctly In CI
The program has so many bugs, it is almost impossible to
use. [ We have a new programmer who is going to try to find
and eliminate the remaining bugs.
what's wrong/, wots 'rot] II -' ra:o/what it is that stops
a machine, piece of equipment etc working properly In
phrase]
I've taken the car to the garage so hopefully they'll tell us
what's wrong. [ what's wrong with The phone is broken
and we don't know what's wrong with it.
2 a fault in someone's character
fault weakness
flaw defect
fault/fa:lt/In C usually plural]
The secret of a good relationship is to accept each other's
faults and not try to change them. [ She's my best friend and
I love her dearly, but she has her faults. [ for all/with all
his faults (=even though he has these faults) For all his
faults, he was a good father.
flaw/fla:/a fault in someone's character that is usually
their only fault but that still has a serious effect In C]
The flaw that leads to Othello's downfall is his jealousy. [
It was this flaw, Joanne knew, that had caused so many
problems in her life.

FAULTISTH WRONG 485 fax
weakness/'wi:knsl a small fault in someone's charac-
ter or a slight lack of some quality such as courage or good
judgement [n C]
All team members have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's
concentrate on those strengths. [ I thought his weakness, if
he had one, was his vanity.
defect/'di:fekt, d I fekt/a formal word meaning a fault in
someone's character [n C]
Whatever his defects as a human being, Rousseau's genius
was clearly apparent. [ This most lamentable defect was,
perversely, the very thing that made Alice love him.
3 a fault in a set of ideas, or in a plan,
argument, explanation etc
weakness
flaw
weakness ! ' wi:kn los/a small fault in a set of ideas, argu-
ments, plans etc, that makes them harder to accept or
believe [n C]
The weakness in this theory is that it assumes all people are
the same. I I would like to deal with certain weaknesses in
the Monetarist approach to economic planning. I One weak-
hess in his argument is the fact that it was six months before
he made an official complaint - if it was so serious, why
wait?
flaw/fla:! a mistake or weak point in a plan, system, or
set of ideas, which makes the whole thing less effective
than it should be [n C]
For all its flaws, our present electoral system is probably
better than any of the alternatives. I It only takes a little logic
to reveal the flaws in Irving's argument. I fatal flaw (-a
serious weakness that makes something completely
ineffective) There was one fatal flaw in the defendant's case.
faultless PERFECT 1
faulty BROKEN 4
faux pas MISTAKE 5
favour/favor ADVANTAGE 4, PREFER 1, UNFAIR 1, 4
favour: ask a favour ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO
favour:
favour:
favour:
favour:
favour:
favour:
favour:
favour:
favour:
STH 7
be all for/be all in favour of APPROVE 2
be in favour POPULAR 1
be in favour of SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP,
OR PLAN 1
be in sb's favour ADVANTAGE 4
be out of favour POPULAR 5, 6
come down in favour of DECIDE 2
do sb a favour HELP 2
in favour of INSTEAD 1
the odds are stacked in sb's favour
ADVANTAGE 3
favourablelfavorable PRAISE 6
favourable: be favourable for/to HELP 5
favoured/favored FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 2
favourite/favorite FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 1, 2
favourite: be (the) favouritelbe (the) favorite
WIN 8
FAVOURITEI
FAVORITE
words for describing the thing or person that
you like better than any others
someone who is liked better and treated
better than everyone else by their teacher,
employer etc
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 words for describing the thing or person that
you like better than any others
favou rite/favorite preference
preferred number one
first choice
favourite (British) I favorite (American) I'feivrat] [adj
only before noun]
Three times a week he ate pasta at his favourite Italian
restaurant. I Who's your favourite band? I Natasha's favorite
author was J.D. Salinger.
favourite/favorite [n C] Let Peter have the cherry candies
because they are his favorites (=the ones he likes best). I She
had a large chestnut mare called Bess which was her
favourite.
preferred/pri i f3: rd! a formal or technical word meaning
favourite or best [adj only before noun]
There are three ways of separating the metal from the ore.
The preferred method in this case is an electrolytic process. I
These creatures travel great distances while searching for
their preferred food.
first choice !, fa:rst 'tSasl the thing or person you like
best and would choose first when you have several to
choose from [n Cl
Boston was our first choice, but Chicago is also suitable. [
Wood is likely to remain the first choice for furniture for a
very long time to come. [ Frances was our first choice as a
name for the baby.
preference I 'prefaransi a liking for one thing or person
rather than another [n Cl
If your first choice is not available we will send you your next
preference. [ There are definite regional preferences amongst
our clients. [ preference for At some universities there is a
preference for students from private schools.
number one I,nAmba r 'w^nl your number one cus-
tomer, patient etc is the one you like best [adj only before
noun]
George was so well-behaved. He was our number one
patient. I Eileen is our number one customer. She always buys
the best of everything and settles her bills on time.
2 someone who is liked better and treated
better than everyone else by their teacher,
employer etc
favouritelfavorite teacher's pet
blue-eyed boy favoured/favored
favourite (British) I favorite (American) I ' fe  vrt/[n C ]
Teachers are not supposed to have favorites, but they always
do. I Lucinda is always going on overseas trips. She's the
boss's f avourite.
blue.eyed boy /,blu: ad 'bml an informal British
expression meaning a boy or man who is treated better
than anyone else by his teacher, employer, parent etc,
because they think he is perfect and do not notice his faults
[n C usually singular]
Tom Cruise is Hollywood's blue-eyed boy at the moment and
can't do a thing wrong!
teacher's pet/,ti:ffarz 'pet/an informal expression
meaning someone who is their teacher's favourite student
and who is therefore disliked by the other students [n C
usually singular]
Janice was the teacher's pet who never behaved badly and
always did her homework. I Donald was crying because some
of the other children had called him teacher's pet and
wouldn't play with him.
favoured (British) I favored (American) I'feivardl
receiving special attention, help, or treatment especially
when this seems unfair [adj only before noun]
She will see her favored clients at any time of the day or
night.I Specially favoured areas of Africa receive more
foreign aid than others.
 favouritismlfavoritism UNFAIR 7
fax SEND 5

fazed
fazed: not fazed CALM 1
fear FRIGHTENED 2, 10
fear: for fear of FRIGHTENED 2
fear of heights HIGH 7
fear the worst EXPECT 7
fearful: be fearful FRIGHTENED 2
fearless BRAVE 3
feasible POSSIBLE 1
feast MEAL 6
feat DO 9
feature ACTOR/ACTRESS 5; CHARACTER OF STH 2
featureless BORING 6
fed up: be fed up FED UP 1, SAD/UNHAPPY 1
FED UP
feeling tired and slightly angry because
something annoying keeps happening, or
because what you are doing is boring,
continues too long etc
t to be fed up
1 to be fed up
be fed up
be tired of
be sick of
have had enough of
have had it
have had it up to here
be pissed off
be at the end of
your tether
jaded
be fed up/bi: ,fed '^p/[v phrase]
be fed up with sth/with doing sth I'm fed up with school.
I'll be glad to leave. ] Aren't you fed up with working at the
sameplace for so long?l be fed up He waited for two hours,
then he got fed up and left. I "'What's the matter?" "Tin just
fed up. Bored. "'] get fed up with I'm getting fed up with this
weather. It's been raining for weeks.
be tired of/bi: 'talard ov / to be fed up because you have
been doing something or have experienced something
boring, annoying etc for too long Iv phrase]
be tired of sth/doing sth Gabrielle was tired of staying at
home with the children. [ get tired of sth Well, if you get
tired of life in the city, you can always come back home. [ I
get tired of listening to the same old tunes every day.
be sick of/bi: Islk Ov[ to be very fed up and annoyed,
especially with a situation or someone's behaviour that has
continued for much too long Iv phrase]
be sick of doing sth I'm sick of washing dishes - I'm going
to buy a dishwasher! I be sick of sth/sb A lot of people are
sick of this government and want a change. I be sick and
tired of (=be very sick of) You must be sick and tired of
having to deal with other people's problems all day. I be sick
to death of(=be extremely sick of) I'm sick to death of all
these stupid questions about my private life.
have had enough of/hav ihed I IrlAf Ov/if you have
had enough of someone's behaviour, the way someone is
treating you etc, you are very fed up with it and will not
accept it any longer Iv phrase]
have had enough of sth Stop interrupting. I've had just
about enough of you and your stupid remarks. I After years
of his abusive behaviour, Julie left home. She'd had enough
of it. I have had enough The work was boring and the office
was depressing. By the end of the first week she had had
enough.
have had it/hav 'hed it/you say you have had it when
you are so fed up with someone's behaviour or a situation
that you cannot accept it any longer and you want it to
come to an end Iv phrase]
I've had it. I'm taking the kids and going to Mom's. I have
had it with She's looking for another job - she's just about
had it with this place.
486 feel your way
have had It up to here/hav ,hed It ^p to 'hIor/you say
you have had it up to here when you feel angry and very
fed up with someone's behaviour or a situation [vphrase]
have had it up to here with Dave's had it up to here with
the kids. They've been complaining and arguing all day. I
have had it up to here I tell you, I've just about had it up
to here - what with all the staffing problems and now the
computer breaking down. I feel like resigning.
be pissed off/hi: ipst IDf/an informal British expres-
sion that some people think is impolite, meaning to be very
fed up Iv phrase]
be pissed off with He's thoroughly pissed off with his job. I
be pissed off I think you "d better try and cheer her up. She's
really pissed off.
be at the end of your tether/bi: at 6i lend avja: r 'te6ar/
to be so worried, tired, and unhappy, that you feel you can
no longer deal with a difficult, unpleasant, or upsetting sit-
uation [v phrase]
I had no -money, my husband was sick, and I couldn't get a
job. I was at the end of my tether. [ She didn't know what to
do to stop the baby crying - she was at the end of her tether.
Jaded / 'd3eId ad/fed up with an activity orjob because you
have been doing it for a very long time and you no longer
find it interesting or exciting [adj]
After two years of the same routine I was feeling jaded. I The
show is popular with jaded New Yorkers who are tired of the
usual big-budget productions. I Mick Jagger arrived at the
airport looking jaded after almost a year of touring.
federal
federation
fee
feeble
feed
feed up
feedback
feel
COUNTRY/NATION 11
ORGANIZATION 4
COST 1, PAY SB FOR WORK 2
WEAK 2
EAT 1, FOOD 2, 5, MEAL 1
FOOD 5
REACT 4
FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 1,
FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 2, KNOW STH 14,
THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1, TOUCH 1, 5
feel: can't feel anything FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 5
feel: not feel a thing HURT/CAUSE PAIN 4
feel: not feel yourself/not be yourself ILL 2
feel about/around LOOK FOR 5
feel/be FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 1
feel for SYMPATHIZE 1
feel guilty GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 1
feel guilty: not feel guilty GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 3
feel like WANT 1
feel sick/feel sick to your stomach ILL 4
feel sth in your bones PREDICT 2
feel the cold COLD 6
feel well- not feel well ILL 4
feel your way CAREFUL 6
feel

FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 87 FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC
FEEL HAPPY/
FRIGHTENED/
BORED ETC
1 to feel happy, frightened, bored, upset etc
2 a feeling of happiness, fear, boredom etc
I to feel happy, frightened, bored, upset etc
feel be overcome with/by
be give way to
experience nurse
harbour/harbor
feel/rid/iv]
She's feeling a little nervous, but she's still looking forward
to the wedding. I I could hear strange sounds outside the
house and started to feel really scared. I Feeling bored, Kerry
stood up and wandered round the room. I She felt bad about
having been so rude to him.
be/bi; strong bi:/to feel happy, frightened, bored, upset etc
iv]
Don't be scared -our dog's very friendly. I Your father will
be delighted when he hears the news. I Polly's going to be
really angry when she finds out you've broken her watch.
experience /iklspiarians/a formal word meaning to feel
very strong emotions such as joy, pride, or sorrow iv T]
I experienced a great sense of loss when my Father died. I As
his son sprinted toward the finish line, Mr Hayes experienced
a flush of pride.
harbour (British) I harbor (American) / Iho:rbor/to have
bad feelings about something for a long time, especially
when you do not show them iv T]
A lot of people still harbor suspicions about foreigners. [
I harbored secret fears that my marriage was just too good
to last. [ She thought he must enjoy harbouring grudges and
taking revenge.
be overcome with/by/bi: aova r'kAm WI6, ba]/to feel
an emotion such as sadness or disappointment so strongly
that you are unable to remain calm or think clearly iv
phrase]
When Diana met the staroing children she was overcome
with pity and outrage. I Suddenly, I was overcome by a feel-
ing of panic. I Receiving the prize in honour of her dead
father, she was overcome with emotion.
give way to /,gv 'we= tu:/to allow a strong emotion to
show, especially after you have been trying not to feel it
or show it iv phrase]
Giving way to her grief, Anna burst into tears. [ He was
ashamed to have given way to such feelings of self-pity.
nurse/n3:rs/nurse resentment/anger/a grievance/a
grudge (:have angry feelings for a long time but not
express them) iv T not in passive]
After the argument Philip said nothing more but sat nursing
his anger. [ She never nurses a grievance or plans revenge.
2 a feeling of happiness, fear, boredom etc
feeling a sense of
emotion passion
feeling/'fi:l0/something that you feel, such as anger,
pleasure, or dislike, either about yourself or about some-
one else, or about something that has happened in C]
a feeling of horror/sadness/rage etc The news of Mrs
Harrison's sudden death filled me with a feeling of sadness. I
feeling Firefighters could not conceal their feelings at the
simple memorial service for the disaster victims. [ Jenny's
husband is completely indifferent to her needs and feelings. [
strong feeling This experience left me with a strong feeling
of disappointment.
emotion/I  matJSan/a strong feeling that is very difficult
to control, for example a feeling of love, sadness, or great
pleasure in C/U]
The accused man showed little sign of emotion as he was sen-
tenced to jail. [ Emotions that he didn't understand welled
up inside him as he spoke, great/deep emotion Larina
describes Bukharin as a man of great emotion, easily given
to tears.
a sense of/ sens Dv/a feeling of something such as lone-
liness, peacefulness etc, especially a feeling that stays with
you for a long time or permanently in phrase]
A sense of security is important to a very young child. [ His
paintings of rural scenes convey a sense of peacefulness and
tranquility. [ The unemployed are often overcome with a
sense of powerlessness.
passion I'paSan/a strong and deeply felt emotion, espe-
cially a strong feeling of sexual love for someone or a strong
belief in an idea or principle in C/U]
After ten years of marriage, Bob still felt deep passion for
his wife. [ He throws himself into his art with a creative pas-
sion. [ There is a common prejudice in this country that
Italians display their passions more readily than the
English.
FEEL HOT/COLD/
TIRED ETC
1 to feel hot, cold, tired, hungry etc
2 ways of saying that something feels hot,
rough, wet etc when you touch it
3 a physical feeling of heat, cold, tiredness,
hunger etc
4 experiencing physical feelings more strongly
than most people
5 unable to feel anything in a part of your body
1 to feel hot, cold, tired, hungry etc
feel/be
experience
come over all
feel/be/rid, bi:/iv]
I'm really hot, would you open the window please? I After
their long walk in the mountains, John and Dave were both
very thirsty. [ All of a sudden I felt weak all over and had
to sit down. [ Sally had a long massage and afterwards felt
completely relaxed.
experience / k' sp xarians/a formal word meaning to have
a feeling of pain, sickness etc, especially for a long period
of time iv T]
I have experienced a lot of discomfort at having to sit in badly
designed chairs at work. I Many women experience feelings
of nausea when they are first pregnant. I All of the people who
had previously experienced severe tension felt extremely
relaxed after their yoga class.
come over all /IkAm aova r 3:11 come over all funny/
weak/dizzy (=an informal British expression meaning to
suddenly feel weak, tired, ill etc) iv phrase]
I was standing at the bus stop when suddenly I came over
all dizzy. I I'm sorry. I missed what you said. I just came over
all funny for a minute.
2 ways of saying that something feels hot,
rough, wet etc when you touch it
feel
feel/rid/iv]
The diamond felt surprisingly cold when I touched
I think she has a temperature, her forehead feels very hot.I
She hates wearing this sweater. She says it feels too prickly.
feel like (=feel.the same as) Velour is a shiny fabric that
feels like velvet.

FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 488 few words
 a physical feeling of heat, cold, tiredness,
hunger etc
feeling
sensation
feeling/'fi:lir/[n C]
When he woke up, he was aware of a tight feeling in his
chest.I When the doorbell rang I had a sudden feeling of
panic and just wanted to run away. I funny feeling (=a
strange or unusual feeling) Giving blood doesn't hurt but
you get a funny feeling in your arm.
sensation/sen'seISan/a physical feeling, especially one
that is unclear or difficult to describe In C]
She felt a cold sensation as the icy water dripped down her
back. [ A common sign of brain tumours is a tingly, numb
sensation in the toes and fingertips. [ He was aware that he
was being beaten, then gradually the last sensations of pain
left him and he lost consciousness.
4 experiencing physical feelings more strongly
than most people
sensitive
feel the heat/cold
sensitive/'senstiv/[adj]
He says this scarf's too itchy - he's very sensitive and won't
wear anything that's made from wool. I sensitive to Since
her illness she has been sensitive to the slightest pain. I sen-
sitive teeth/eyes/skin (=reacting strongly to cold, pain,
smoke etc) I can't eat ice cream because I have sensitive teeth.
sensitivity/, sens 'tlV o;ti/In U] How long you can stay out
in the sun depends on your sensitivity to the sun's rays.
feel the heat/cold/,rid 6a 'hi:t, 'kaold/to be affected
by heat or cold more easily than most people, especially
because you are old or because you are not used to it Iv
phrase]
The elderly are more likely to feel the cold, and should try
and keep as warm as possible in the winter. I It can get very
hot in Spain at this time of year - those English tourists must
really be feeling the heat.
5 unable to feel anything in a part of your body
numb go to sleep
have no feeling go dead
can't feel anything
numb/n^m/a part of your body that is numb, has no feel-
ing in it for a short time, especially because it is cold or
because your blood has been stopped from reaching it [adj]
It was so cold that his toes were numb. I He tightened the rope
around my wrists until my hands felt numb. I go numb The
dentist waited until my jaw went numb before starting to
drill my teeth. I numb with cold I was numb with cold, but
kept on skiing anyway.
numb Iv T] The anaesthetic is injected into the base of the
spine and numbs the body from the waist down (=makes it
numb).
numbness In U] After the numbness wore off, my leg felt sore
and swollen.
have no feeling/hav ,nao 'fi:llrj/if you have no feel-
ing in a part of your body, you are unable to feel anything
in it, usually permanently, and often because of an acci-
dent or illness Iv phrase not in progressive]
After the stroke, he had no feeling in his left side. I She had
no feeling below her knees; her legs were trapped under the
rock.
can't feel anything/,ko:nt fi:l 'eniOIo II ,kmnt-/to not
be able to feel pain, heat, touch etc in part of your body espe-
cially because it is hurt in some way Iv phrase]
Since her motorbike accident, she can't feel anything below
the neck. I The doctor pricked her toe with a pin, but she
couldn't feel anything. I Although he is no longer totally
paralysed, he still can't feel anything in his right leg.
go to sleep I lgao ta 'sli:p/ifa part of your body, such as
your arm or foot goes to sleep, you have no feeling in it,
especially because it has been in the same position for a
long time [v phrase]
When I'm driving long distances my leg sometimes goes to
sleep. I Can you stop leaning on me please? My arm's gone
to sleep.
go dead /Igao 'ded/ifa part of your body goes dead, you
have no feeling in it and it hurts to move it, either because
you are very cold, because it has had weight on it, or
because it has been in the same position for a long time [v
phrase]
It was so cold that my fingers had gone dead and I couldn't
write my name. [ When I woke up my arm had gone dead -
I must have been lying on it.
feeling FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 2,
FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 3
feeling: have/get the feeling (that) THINK SO/NOT BE
SURE 1
feeling: gut feeling INSTINCT 1
have KNOW STH 14
feeling:
a
feeling
feeling: with feeling EMOTIONAL 2
feelings OPINION 1
feelings: hurt sb's feelings UPSET 3
feelings run high ANGRY 7
feet: be back on your feet BETTER/RECOVERED 1
feet: be on your feet STAND 1
feet: be swept off your feet LOVE 7
feet: drag your feet WILLING 4
feet: fall on your feet LUCKY 1
feet: find your feet USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 4
feet: get to your feet STAND 2
feet: have your feet on the ground SENSIBLE 1
feet: on your feet STAND 2
feet: put your feet up REST 1
feet: stand on your own feet/your own two feet
INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
feign PRETEND 3
fell CUT 7
fellow MAN 1, WITH 5
felon CRIME 5
felony CRIME 1
female WOMAN 1, 2, 3
feminine WOMAN 4
feminism WOMAN 5
feminist WOMAN 5
fence: sit on the fence DECIDE 8
fend for yourself INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
ferocious VIOLENT 2, 3
ferocity VIOLENT 6
fertile BABY/HAVE A BABY 12, GROW PLANTS,
VEGETABLES ETC 4
fervent STRONG FEELING OR BELIEF 1
festooned: be festooned with DECORATE 2
fetch COST 2, TAKE/BRING 3
fetish OBSESSION 1
fetus: foetus/fetus BABY/HAVE A BABY 3
feud ARGUE 6
fever pitch EXCITED 4
feverish HOT 9, HURRY 4
few FEW/NOT MANY 3
few: a few FEW/NOT MANY 1 SOME/A FEW 1
few: be few and far between RARE 1
few: very few FEW/NOT MANY 2
few words: a man/woman of few words TALK TO SB 16
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

FEW/NOT MANY 489 FEW/NOT MANY
few
,,,
;. ..... " "  I.. .. !
a all-mpum of-:.: ,,,. • LITTLE/NOT
something .:
....... .. ..',.,,:;;,,: MUCH
i ii iii i r] [I rl ( ii r i " i iii rrr ii " i
FEW/NOT MANY
a small number of people or things
a very small number of people or things
a smaller number than you would expect
a small number of people or things that are
part of a larger group
ways of saying that a small number of people
arrive, leave, move etc over a long period of
time
1 a small number of people or things
a few a handful of
a small number of sparse
one or two
a few/ 'fju:l [quantifier]
a few people/things/places etc Couldyou lend me a few
dollars until tomorrow? l Barbara's only lived therefor a
few weeks. I Add a few drops of olive oil to the mixture. I There
was no one on the streets this early except for a few lonely,
hurrying figures. I a few of (-a small number out of a larger
number) There were only a few of us left at the end of the
party. I a few Most of the trees were destroyed by the fire, but
a few survived.
a small number of /a sm0:l 'n^mbo r ov/ a formal
expression meaning a few people, things, places etc, espe-
cially when they are part of a very large number
[quantifier]
a small number of people/things/places etc Doctors
believe only a small number of people are at risk from the
disease. I The new system is being tested in a small number
of schools. I A relatively small number of industrially
advanced countries control the world economy. I a small
number Hundreds of people begin the training programme,
but only a small number complete it successfully.
one or two /,WAn :):r 'tu:/an informal expression mean-
ing a very small number of people or things [quantifier]
one or two people/things/places etc We've had one or
two problems with the car but nothing serious. I Mr Lowe
has to see one or two people this morning, but he should be
free this afternoon. I one or two of (=one or two out of a
larger number) I've read one or two of his books and I didn "t
really enjoy them. I one or two I really like his books, but
I've only read one or two.
a handful of/a hendfol av/ a very small number of
people or things, especially when this number is disap-
pointing or only just enough [quantifier]
a handful of Only a handful of artists in Britain can make
a living from painting. [ A handful ofpeople stayed after the
concert to help clear the chairs away. [ a handful "'How
many US companies have been successful in the Japanese
market? .... No more than a handful.'"
sparse/spo: rsl if something is sparse, there are only very
small amounts of it, especially spread over a large area
[adj]
Trees are sparse in this part of the world because of the
continuous wind that blows across the plains. I Driving
through these small towns I was surprised at the sparse
traffic.
sparsely [adv ] Much of Siberia is sparsely populated (=with
very few people, spread over a large area).
a very small number of people or things
very few
almost no
hardly any/scarcely any
very few/,veri 'fju:! [quantifier]
very few people/things/places etc In the 1950s and early
1960s, very few people were unemployed. I The eel is one of
the very few creatures in the world that can kill by electro-
cution. I Very few colleges these days refuse admission on
grounds of age alone. I very few "Do many women become
judges? .... Very few. "" I very few of Very few of my friends
really understand me.
almost no I, :lmaost 'nao/so few people or things that
there are almost none [quantifier]
There are almost no black students at the college. I Almost
no visits were made to the small museum last month. I Our
foreign correspondent has reported almost no signs of
organized protests in Batavia.
hardly any/scarcely any/,ho:rdli 'eni, ,skearsli-/so
few people or things that there are almost none, especially
when this number is disappointing or unexpected
[quantifier]
hardly any people/things/places etc Although it was
Monday morning there were hardly any people around. I The
container was sealed, so hardly any particles of radioactive
dust could have escaped. I hardly/scarcely any of(=hardly
any of a large number) Scarcely any of the private schools
replied to the researcher's questionnaire. I hardly/scarcely
any There are supposed to be a lot of teachers at the confer-
ence, but I've met hardly any.
3 a smaller number than you would expect
not many
few
not many/not meni/[quantifier]
not many people/places/things ere Not many people
came to the party, but it was still fun. I There aren't many
theatres in Toronto, in fact there are only three. I not many
of Not many of these stray cats will find a good home. I not
many "'Do we have any eggs left? .... Not many. We need some
more. ""
few/fju:/a very much smaller number or a much smaller
number of people or things than you would expect
[quantifier]
few people/places/things etc She was very quiet and
made few friends at school. I She left to find a better job and
I think she has few regrets. I few When we counted the
number of guests who came, there were relatively few. I few
of Very few of the women questioned blamed their husbands"
violence on alcohol. I so few Why do so few English people
speak German? I surprisingly few We advertised but had
surprisingly few replies.
4 a small number of people or things that are
part of a larger group
a minority of
a minority of/ ma 'nor]oti av II -mo  'n:-/a small group
of people or things from within a larger group, usually
forming much less than half of the larger group [quantifier]
Only a minority of union members voted in favour of con-
tinuing the strike. I a minority An active minority in the
senate is trying to impose its will on the majority. I a
small/tiny etc minority of Joyce is among the tiny
minority of arthritis patients who experience these sym-
ptoms. I We usually manage to reach an agreement among
ourselves but in a small minority of cases we had to call in
an arbitrator.

FEW/NOT MANY 490 FIGHT
 ways of saying that a small number of people
arrive, leave, move etc over a long period of
time
a trickle
in dribs and drabs
in ones and twos
a trickle/o 'trikal/a number of people going in small
groups from one place to another, especially from one coun-
try to another, over a long period of time [n singular]
a trickle of Since the rebellion there has been a steady trickle
of refugees making their way across the border. [ a trickle
ThejTow of immigrants from Russia has slowed to a trickle.
in dribs :nd drabs/in =dribz on =drabz/ffpeople arrive,
leave etc in dribs and drabs, they come or go in small
groups and not all together [adv phrase]
The wedding guests were arriving in dribs and drabs. ] At
rive thirty, the staff began to leave the building in dribs and
drabs.
In ones =and twos/n =w^nz on =tu:z/if people arrive,
leave etc in ones or twos, they arrive etc on their own or
in very small groups [adv phrase]
People arrived for the party in ones and twos. [ There were
only about fifty people in the hall, standing around in ones
and twos.
fewer LESS 1
fewer and fewer LESS 1
fewest: the fewest LEAST 2
fiance/fiancee MARRY 7
fiasco: be a fiasco FAIL 6
fib LIE/TELL A LIE 2
fickle CHANGE YOUR MIND 3
fiction STORY 1, UNTRUE 2
fiddle CHEAT 3, 4
fiddle: be on the fiddle CHEAT 3
fiddle with HOLD 4, REPAIR 4
fiddly DIFFICULT 4
fidelity FAITHFUL 3
field AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC 1,
SUBJECT 6
field: the field/the field of battle WAR 7
fierce VIOLENT 2
fiery HOT TASTE 1
fifty-fifty chance: there's a fifty-fifty chance
UNCERTAIN 3
fight ARGUE 1, COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 1, 2,
FIGHT 1, 4, FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 4,
VOTE/ELECT 9, WAR 4
fight: be spoiling for a fight/looking for a fight
FIGHT 2
fight: get into a fight FIGHT 1
fight: have a fight FIGHT 1
fight: pick a quarrel/a fight ARGUE 4
fight: put up a fight FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3
fight a war WAR 4
fight back FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3, PREVENT 12
fight back tears CRY 5
fight/fight against FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 2, 3
fight for FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
... a: "@) FIGHT
'-'@--_ FIGHT FOR OR
AGAINST STH
FIGHT
to fight
to start a fight or try to start a fight
behaving in a way that is likely to start a fight
a fight involving a small number of people
a fight involving a large number of people
1 to fight
fight get into a fight
have a fight come to blows
struggle clash
wrestle
fight/fait/ ff someone fights another person, or if two
people fight, they push, hit, or kick in order to hurt each
other [v I/T]
Two men were fighting in the street outside. I fight sb He
said he would fight anyone who tried to stop him leaving the
room. I fight about/over (=fight because they disagree
about) The police were called in when two men in the bar
began fighting over a game of cards.
have a fight ! =hv o =faxt/to fight with another person
[v phrase]
Did you have aright at school today, Billy? [ have a fight
with I didn't want to have aright with him because he was
much stronger and tougher than me.
struggle I =str^gl! to fight someone who is attacking you
or holding you, especially so that you can escape from them
[v I]
The victim had obviously struggled furiously against her
attacker. [ struggle to do sth Vince struggled to free him-
self from the policeman's grip.
wrestle / =resl! to fight someone by holding, pulling, or
pushing them rather than hitting them [v I]
wrestle with Archie was still wrestling with the intruder,
with his arm around the man's throat. I wrestle The two
boys wrestled for a while then gave up, tired.
get Into a fight/=get into o =fait/to have a fight with
someone, especially when you do not want a fight but it
happens as the result of an argument [v phrase]
In all my time at school l only ever got into aright once. I Joe
went out, got drunk and got into a fight.
come to blows ! ,km to =blooz] if two people come to
blows, they start fighting after an argument or when both
people are very angry [v phrase]
Kate and Geoff argued fiercely and almost came to blows.

FIGHT 91 FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH
clash/klm.l fftwo groups of people with opposing politi-
cal opinions clash, they fight for a short time [v I]
Two Sikh extremist groups clashed outside the Golden
Temple in Amritsar yesterday. [ Police clashed with demon-
strators for the second time in a week.
2 to start a fight or try to start a fight
start a fight
pick a fight
be spoiling for a fight/looking for a fight
stall a fight/, sto:rt a Ifalt] [V phrasel
Don't talk to him - he's just trying to start a fight. [ He
deliberately started aright so that he could claim he had been
attacked. I The fight was started by a group of British
tourists.
pick a fight ! pk a faiq to deliberately start a fight with
someone, especially by arguing with them or saying rude
things to them Iv phrase]
pick a fight with I walked into a bar and a drunk tried to
pick aright with me. I pick a fight Nowadays he no longer
picks fights - he even avoids righting altogether.
be spoiling for a fight/looking for a fight /bi:
ispollirJ far a Ifalt, tlukirj-/to want to get rid of angry or vio-
lent feelings by fighting or trying to start a fight [vphrase]
He was walking around with his fists clenched, spoiling for
aright. [ The men needed no excuse to attack us, they were
looking for a fight.
3 behaving in a way that is likely to start a fight
aggressive
belligerent
aggressive/agres iv/wanting to fight or attack someone
[adj]
The men were drunk, aggressive and very unpleasant. I Vin-
cent's aggressive behaviour often got him into trouble.
aggressively [adv] He glared aggresively at me.
aggression !a  greSan! [n U] When parents divorce, children
often respond with anger and aggression (=aggressive
behaviour or feelings).
belligerent/b hdsarant/wanting to fight or argue, espe-
cially in order to prove that you are the best, the most
important etc [adj]
Their stupid conversation had put me in a belligerent mood
and I told them to shut up. [ He is a small man, but tough
and belligerent.
belligerently [adv ] She pushed open the door belligerently
and walked in.
4 a fight involving a small number of people
fight brawl
punch-up scuffle
scrap fracas
fight Ifatl [n C]
There has been a fight in the factory. [ It started as an argu-
ment and ended as aright. [ be in a fight He can't remem-
ber how many fights he's been in.
punch-up / p^ntS Ap! an informal British word meaning
a fight In C]
Some drunks began calling us names and it ended in a
punch-up. [ Our clothes were stained with earth and blood
after our punch-up.
scrap/skrep/a short fight, especially between children
[nC]
Two young kids were having a scrap in the playground.
brawl/brad! a violent fight between a group of people in
a public place [n C]
The argument turned into a full-scale brawl with chairs and
glasses being thrown. I He got his face cut in a brawl out-
side a nightclub.
scuffle / skAfal! a short fight that is not very violent and
which usually only involves people pushing each other In
C]
There was a brief scuffle as the crowd left the football
ground. [ a scuffle breaks out (=a scuffle starts suddenly)
Rioters threw stones at the police and a few scuffles broke out.
fracas /freko: II freIkas! a short, noisy argument
between a number of people that may turn into a fight [n
singular]
Protesters gained entry to the hall and the meeting broke up
in a confusing fracas. I There was a fracas outside the court
house as the suspect emerged.
5 a fight involving a large number of people
fighting confrontation
battle riot
clash
fighting /faItirJ/ a fight or fights involving a large
number of people In U]
It was a violent political demonstration, and there was some
fighting. [ fighting breaks out (=fighting starts suddenly)
Fighting broke out in the crowd after the referee awarded
a penalty to Argentina.
battle /bmtl/a fight between two large groups of people
[nC]
a battle between police and students I pitched battle (=an
unusually large fight) A pitched battle between the two
gangs had led to several injuries.
clash/klm/a short fight between two large groups of
people who have opposing political opinions In C]
There were clashes last night between local residents and
young people attending the pop festival.
confrontation/kDnfrantean [i ka:n-/a situation in
which there is a lot of angry disagreement between two
groups, which may develop into a large fight In C]
The police were obviously anticipating a confrontation, as
they were heavily armed.
riot / I ralat/an uncontrolled violent fight in a public place
involving a large number of people, especially people who
are protesting about something In C]
When it was announced that the price of bread would rise
by 50%, there were riots in several cities. [ The railway sta-
tion was closed because there had been riots near the parlia-
ment building. [ a riot breaks out (=a riot starts) A riot
broke out at the stadium when the home team lost 5-0.
FIGHT FOR OR
AGAINST STH
to work very hard to support or oppose a
belief, principle, or person
1 to fight for something or someone that you
think is good
2 to fight against an activity, situation etc that
you think is bad
3 to fight against someone powerful or against
something bad that they are trying to do
4 the act or process of fighting for ,or against
something
1 to fight for something or someone that you
think is good
fight for campaign
work for champion/be a champion of
fight for / faIt fz:r[ to work with great determination in
order to gain the right to do something, or in order to bring
changes that will improve society [v T]
In every country of the world women have had to right for
equality. I We arerightingfor the right to join a trade union I
Freedom of speech is something worth fighting for.

FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 492 FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH
work for / iwa:rk fo: r] to work continuously and patiently
to make changes that will improve society or the world
Iv T]
Nelson Mandela has worked for a non-racial South Africa
all his life. I The organization has become a small but
significant force working for change. I work tirelessly
(=work without stopping) She will be remembered as some-
one who worked tirelessly for educational reform.
campaign/kmm Ipein/to work for a long time, for exam-
ple making speeches, writing to newspapers and the
government etc, in order to persuade people that something
needs to be done Iv I]
campaign for Women campaigned for equal pay and equal
rights throughout the 1960s. [ This newspaper has cam-
paigned vigorously for the restoration of the death penalty. [
campaign to do sth He was one of the people who cam-
paigned to change the law on homosexuality. [ campaign
After months of campaigning local parents have persuaded
the council to provide a school bus service.
campaigner In C] During his years as a human rights
campaigner he was arrested seven times.
champion/be a champion of /ttj'mmpian, bi: a
I tmmpian ov/to publicly fight for and defend an aim or
principle such as the rights of a group of people Iv T]
Martin Luther King championed the rights of black Ameri-
cans. I Throughout her political career she was a champion
of prison reform. I He was awarded the honour for years of
championing the cause of religious freedom.
2 to fight against an activity, situation etc that
you think is bad
fight/fight against wage war on
combat campaign
fight/fight against/fait, I fat genst/to work with great
determination in order to stop something you think is bad
from happening, or to remove something in society that
you think is bad Iv T]
We're determined to fight drug abuse in schools. I Staff are
fighting a plan to close the factory. I The ANC has spent half
a century fighting against racism.
combat/tkDmbmt, kamtbmt [[ kamlbmt, tka:mbmt/to take
action effectively in order to oppose something bad such
as injustice, crime, or illness Iv T]
President Bush emphasized the importance of combating
international terrorism. [ Doctors are still seeking ways to
combat AIDS. [ The government sees price controls as a way
to combat inflation.
wage war on /tweld 5 Iwa:r on/if a group or organiza-
tion wages war on something such as an illness, bad con-
ditions, or crime, they fight against it for a long time in a
very determined way Iv phrase]
The World Health Organization is waging war on malaria. [
Throughout 1990 the police waged war on street gangs in an
effort to eradicate organized crime.
campaign/kmm tpeIn/to work hard for a long time, for
example making speeches, writing to newspapers and the
government, in order to persuade people that something
bad or unjust must be stopped Iv I]
campaign against He was the first MP to campaign against
the testing of nuclear weapons. [ campaign to do sth The
Animal Rights Movement is campaigning to stop experi-
ments on live animals.
3
fight/fight against
resist
resistance
fight back
stand up to
to fight against someone powerful or against
something bad that they are trying to do
put up a fight
hold out against
make a stand
oppose
fight/fight against/falt, ifalt agenst/ Iv T]
They want to build a new road across this park, but we'll
fight them. I It's no use fighting against the legal department
on this issue - they're too powerful.
resist/rI Izst/to fight in a very determined way against
changes that you think will be unfair or could take people's
freedom away Iv T]
We shall resist any changes that threaten our personal
freedom. I By resisting the Mafia's attempts to control the
region, Dolci was putting his own life in danger. I The Presi-
dent resisted popular pressure for the death penalty to be
restored.
resistance/rl IZlStns/fighting in a very determined way
against changes that you think will be unfair or could take
people's freedom away In U]
resistance to Much of the resistance to social and political
change is from people who oppose the government. I
resistance She became one of the symbols of resistance both
at home and abroad. I meet with resistance (=to be
strongly resisted by people) Any policy that creates unem-
ployment is likely to meet with strong resistance.
fight back /ifalt tbmk/to fight against someone who is
doing something that harms you [phr v I]
Children are often powerless to fight back when they are
treated unfairly. I You must fight back if you become a victim
of discrimination. I The immigrant workers were oppressed
and starved until they finally lost the will to fight back.
stand up to /istmnd lap tu:/ to refuse to accept bad or
unfair treatment from someone, especially someone who
is stronger or more powerful than you are Iv T]
Don't let the boss treat you like that. You should stand up
to him a bit more. I He was a ruthless tyrant who always got
his own way because no one was brave enough to stand up
to him.
put up a fight/tpot Ap a tfalt/to fight in order to show
that you are against something that you think is bad or
unfair, even though you are not likely to succeed in stop-
ping it Iv phrase]
Although we put up a fight, we couldn't stop the school being
closed. I People are not going to accept new tax increases
without putting up a fight.
hold out against / thaold taut agenst/to fight for as long
as possible against a change that someone powerful is
trying to make, because you think it is wrong or unfair Iv
Tl
The workers held out for several months against the closure
of the mine, but they were eventually defeated. [ Doctors are
holding out against the government's attempts to reorganize
the health service.
make a stand / imelk a t stared/to show publicly that you
think something is wrong, and take action to stop it Iv
phrase]
make a stand against Gandhi and his followers made a
determined stand against the racist policies of the govern-
ment. [ make a stand We saw innocent people being
arrested, but no one made a stand; we just let it happen.
oppose/a Ipaoz/to fight against something such as a law
or system that you think is wrong Iv T]
Those who opposed the regime were put into prison or even
executed.
opposition ! iopalzian II io:-! In U] The newspaper became
well known for its fierce opposition to apartheid (=for
fiercely opposing apartheid).
4 the act or process of fighting for or against
something
fight campaign
struggle crusade
battle drive
fight/fait/In singular]
fight against We all have a duty to help the police in their
fight against crime. I The government is creating two
hundred new jobs as part of its fight against unemployment
in the area. I fight for Miners say they will not give up the
fight for better working conditions.
struggle/IstrAgal/a long, hard fight involving a lot of
work and suffering In C usually singular]
struggle for Nkrumah led the people in their struggle for
independence. I struggle against Life for some farmers was

FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 493 FIND
a continuous struggle against poverty and persecution. I
struggle Many of us were imprisoned, but we never gave up
the struggle.
ba|t|e ! beetl! a long, hard fight against something such
as an illness, crime, or social and economic problem in C
usually singular]
battle against the battle against inflation I The president
is fully committed to the battle against drug trafficking. I
win the battle against At last the Worm Health Organi-
zation is winning the battle against malaria in the region.
©arnpa|gn/kmm Ipin! a planned set of actions or events,
such as public meetings, letters to the government etc, that
is intended to persuade the public that something is bad
or unfair and should be changed in C/
campaign for Motoring organizations have started a cam-
paign for better roads. I campaign against Our campaign
against alcohol abuse is supported by the medical profes-
sion.I vigorous campaign (=a very strong campaign)
Clark's vigorous campaign against the dumping of nuclear
waste will continue. I launch/mount a campaign (=start
a campaign) The unions are launching an effective cam-
paign against racial discrimination.
©rusade ]kru: sed! a fight that someone continues for a
long time, because they feel strongly that something is
morally wrong and must be changed in C/
crusade against She will continue her crusade against sex
and violence on TV. I crusadeAs a politician she's made the
fight for women's rights into a personal crusade.
drice/drav/a planned effort by an organization, govern-
ment etc to achieve a change within a short time that will
improve a particular situation that affects people's lives In
C/
The Health Department is about to launch an anti-smoking
drive. [ economy drive (=a drive to reduce spending) The
government's economy drive has failed to produce the
expected savings.
 fighting FIGHT 5, WAR 1
1114; figment of your imagination IMAGINE 3
il[ figure BODY 2, COUNT/CALCULATE 2, MONEY 3,
 NUMBER 1, 2, SHAPE 1, THINK/HAVE THE
i',-i OPINION THAT 1
:,,,.:i:? figure: keep your figure THIN PERSON 3
] figure-hugging: skintight/figure-hugging TIGHT 5
!--.?] figure on: reckon on/figure on EXPECT :3
 figure out COUNT/CALCULATE 2 UNDERSTAND 8
 figure out/work out SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 1
:...4:: figure prominently in/be prominent in IMPORTANT 7
--- figurehead LEADER 1
i file GO 2, INFORMATION 2, KEEP/STORE 3
-- file: in single file LINE 7
 file: keep sth on file KEEP/STORE 3
 file a complaint: lodge a complaint/file a complaint
. COMPLAIN 1
-!! fill CROWD 4, FULL 5, 6
fill a need NEED 8
i out WRITE 5
fill
in/fill
... fill in time SPEND TIME 2
fill out FAT 7
 fillsbinon TELL4
. fill up FULL 5, 6
::iili filled with: be filled with FULL 2
•  filling FULL 4
i fillip: give sb a boost/a fillip/a lift CONFIDENT 5
 film COVER 6
:,! film star/movie star ACTOR/ACTRESS 1
 filthy DIRTY 1, RUDE/OBSCENE 1
 filthy rich: stinking rich/filthy rich RICH 3
:ili, final CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 10, END 3,
• - EXAM/TEST 1 LAST 1
--;:
 final analysis: in the final analysis/last analysis
BASIC 4
finale END 2
-; finalize FINISH DOING STH 6
[finally]
finally EVENTUALLY 1, 3, LAST 4
finance MONEY 1:3, 14, PAY FOR 11
finances MONEY 6
financial MONEY 11
find FIND 1, 3, 5, 6, FIND OUT 1, GET 1
find: be difficult to find/hard to find FIND 4
find: can't find LOSE/CAN'T FIND 1
find a solution SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 1
find an explanation SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 1
find/discover FIND 7
find fault with CRITICIZE 4
find out FIND OUT 1, 2, 3, 7
find out about FIND OUT 6
find sb guilty GUILTY 5
find sb not guilty INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 3
find sth difficult DIFFICULT 10
find sth interesting INTERESTED 2
find the words: put sth into words/find the words to
say sth EXPRESS 1
find time/make time TIME/HAVE TIME 4
find your feet USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 4
find your way FIND 5, WAY/ROUTE 5
find your way around USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 4
find
FIND
I to find something or someone that is lost or
missing
;2 to find something or someone after a long or
careful search
 to find something that you need, such as a
job or a place to live
4 difficult to find
5 to find a place that you are trying to get to
6 to find something important or valuable,
especially knowledge or information, after
trying to find it for a long time
continued

FIND 9 FIND
FIND
continued
7 to unexpectedly find something, especially
something interesting or useful, even though
you were not actually looking for it
8 something that you find or discover
1 to find something or someone that is lost or
missing
find
turn up
find/falnd/Iv T]
Terry's lost his passport. I hope he finds it. I I've looked every-
where, but I can "t find my notebook. I The children were even-
tually found hiding in an old mine shaft. I Luis was gone,
and she had no way of ever finding him again.
turn up / t t3: rn lap/if something turns up, someone finds
it in an unexpected place after everyone has stopped look-
ing for it [phr v I]
Don't worry about your diary - it'll turn up. ] Those miss-
ing keys haven't turned up yet. [ We can't have lost those
papers. They'll probably turn up in the wrongfile or some-
thing like that.
:2 to find something or someone after a long or
careful search
track down locate
trace dig out
track down I, trmk 'daon/to find someone or something
that is difficult to find, by searching or by making inquiries
in several different places [phr v T]
track down sth The police need your help to track down the
murderer. I We've got copies of all the documents, but we
haven't managed to track down the originals. I track sb/
sth/it/her etc down We finally tracked him down in a
cheap hotel on the other side of town.
trace/tres/to find someone or something by making care-
ful inquiries about them in the places where they have
been Iv T ]
trace sb/sth Mr Philips is anxiously trying to trace his
missing daughter. I So far we have not been able to trace the
letter you sent us. I trace sb/sth to The source of infection
was traced to a food store in the canteen.
locate/laokelt [[ laokeIt/to find out where something is
by means of official, established, or technical methods
Iv T]
The authorities have so far failed to locate either the miss-
ing vehicle or its driver. I Having located the faulty cylinder,
stop the engine and remove it. I Any student who understands
the Library cataloguing system should have no difficulty in
locating a particular book on the library shelf.
location/lo'keSan/ In U] Techniques for the location of
tumours (=for locating tumours) have been improved as a
result of recent medical advances.
dig out/tdIg taut/to find something you have not seen
for a long time, or that may not be easy to find, especially
in order to give it to someone who has asked for it [phr v T]
dig out sth Could you dig out the old family photographs
to show Grandma? ] I took the opportunity to dig out a few
facts and figures about this remote island. I dig sth/it/them
out I have her address somewhere - I'll dig it out for you
when I get time.
,3 to find something that you need, such as a
job or a place to live
find
find Ifamdl [v T]
My son and his wife have both found jobs in the city. I We'll
never be able to find a house we like as much as this one. I
The firm was lucky to find someone to replace the designer
who left last month.
4 difficult to find
be difficult to find/hard to find
elusive
be difficult to find/hard to find/hi: tdffdolt t  farad,
ho:rd-/if someone or something that you need is difficult
to find or hard to find, you cannot easily find them
because there are not many of them Iv phrase]
Good staff are hard to find nowadays. I What we wanted was
a house with a big garden - something that was difficult to
find in the middle of a city.
elusive / Ilu:sv/an elusive person or animal is difficult
to find, often because they do not want to be found [adj]
We repeatedly tried to contact the manager, an elusive man
who was never in his office. ] The fox was elusive and clever.
Matt only glimpsed him once or twice.
5 to find a place that you are trying to get to
find
find your way
find/fatnd/Iv T]
Excuse me, I'm trying to find the post office. I It took us half
an hour to find your house. I There are illuminated signs to
help people find the emergency exit.
find your way ! faind ja: r Iwe/to get to a place by find-
ing the right way to go Iv phrase]
find your way to It was my first visit tO New York, but I
managed to find my way to the studio. [ find your way Birds
find their way by using the sun and stars. [ find your own
way (=find your way without anyone's help) There's no
need to come with me. I can find my own way.
6 to find something important or valuable,
especially knowledge or information, after
trying to find it for a long time
find unearth
discover turn up
make a discovery strike
find/fand/to find something important that no one knew
about before, especially information or a way of doing
something Iv T]
Medical scientists are determined to find a cure for cancer. [
Evidence of early human settlement has been found in these
caves. [ The President's opponents claim to have found con-
clusive proof that he cheated in the recent elections.
discover/dstkAvar/ to find an object, a substance, a
place, information etc that is important and that no one
knew about before Iv T]
Climbers have discovered a new route up the north face of
the mountain. [ The planet Pluto was discovered in 1930. [
Becquerel, a French physicist, discovered radioactivity in
uranium salts.
make a discovery/tmelk a dlstkAvari/to find some-
thing important, interesting, or surprising that no one
knew about before Iv phrase]
Amazing discoveries have been made by anthropologists
excavating in the Rift Valley. [ Juneau and Harris made a
discovery that started Alaska's first gold rush.
unearth/^nt3:ro/to find something that was hidden or
kept secret for a long time, especially information Iv T]
The investigators have unearthed some new evidence about
the possible cause of the crash. I His research unearthed a
great deal of intriguing information. I Narcotics agents are
continuing their inquiries after unearthing a vast cache of
cannabis.
turn up /tta:rn tap/ to find something interesting or
useful, especially information, while you are searching
carefully [phr v T not usually in passive]
turn up sth It was a painstaking search, but the police
failed to turn up any clues. [ A thorough examination of the
company's account books turned up several interesting facts.

FIND 495 FIND OUT
strike /straik/ strike oil/gold (=suddenly find large
natural quantities of it in the earth after digging or search-
ing) Iv T ]
When prospectors struck gold in California, the west was
opened up for development. I If the company doesn't strike
oil soon, we'll have to pull out our investment.
strike In C ] a major oil strike (=discovery of oil) in Ecuador
7 to unexpectedly find something, especially
something interesting or useful, even though
you were not actually looking for it
find/discover
come across
stumble on/across
find/discover/faind, dIs 'kAvar/ [v T not in progressive]
We found a lovely seafood restaurant by the harbour. [ A
local farmer once found a box of silver coins in the field he
was ploughing. ] The body of a middle-aged man was disco-
vered by a man walking his dog. ] I never really discovered
poetry until I went to university.
come across/,kAm o'kros 11 -kra:sl to find something
unexpectedly when you are not looking for it but are doing
something else Iv T not in passive]
Sometimes when you're digging in the gardenyou may come
across a piece of bone. [ I came across an interesting news
item in yesterday's "Times'. [ One day while cleaning Paul's
room, she came across his diary and started to read it.
stumble on/across / stAmbal tn,  kros II -o:n, -a,kra:s/
to find something by chance and unexpectedly, especially
something that was secret or that no one knew before Iv
T not in passivel
Customs officers searching for drugs accidentally stumbled
on a terrorist bomb plot. ] In the course of his work Fleming
had stumbled upon a new anti-bacterial substance -penicil-
lin. [ Was Jenkins murdered by government agents because
he had unwittingly stumbled across some military secret?
 something that you find or discover
discovery
be a real find
discovery /dIskAvari/ something important that has
been found and that no one knew about before In C]
Among the discoveries of the late nineteenth century were
several new chemical elements, including radium. [ New
archaeological discoveries prove the existence of an ancient
civilization in the Indus Valley. [ chance discovery (=one
that happens by chance) The chance discovery of a blood-
stained shirt led to the capture of the killer.
be a real find/bi: a rial falnd/if someone or something
is a real find, you were lucky to find them because they
are very good, useful, or interesting Iv phrase]
That little restaurant was a real find. [ Last month the club
signed on a new player. He's only 17 but he's proved to be a
real find.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
find out
FIND OUT
10
to find something out by deliberately trying to
get information or by asking people
to find something out accidentally, for
example because someone tells you
to find out something that was secret or that
people did not know anything about
ways of saying that something which is secret
or not generally known is found out
to find out exactly what something is or what
the cause of something is
to find out useful information about a subject
to find out information from someone by
asking them questions or by forcing them to
tell you
to try to find out something private or
personal about someone else
words for describing someone who likes
finding things out, especially someone who is
too interested in other people's private lives
something that someone has found out
1 to find something out by deliberately trying to
get information or by asking people
find out ascertain
see establish
discover determine
find sues out
make a discovery glean
find out/,falnd 'aut/[phr v I/T]
find out which/what/how etc He's gone to find out which
gate the plane goes from. I I think it's worth finding out
exactly what's missing before we start accusing people. I fred
something/anything/it etc out Do you think you could
find something out for me? I find out "'Do you sell pizza base
mix?" "'I'm not sure but I'll find out for you." I find out sth
Look it up in the telephone book and find out the address. I
find out (that) As a result of my interrogation I found out
that she was married to the witness.
see/si:/to look somewhere for the information you want
Iv I/T]
see if/whether He's been looking in the newspapers to see
if there are any jobs he can apply for. [ see how/where/
what etc Jemma's making a Christmas cake - let's go and
see how she's doing. [ see "'Is she ready yet?'" "'I don't know.
I'll go and see. ""

FIND OUT
496
FIND OUT
discover/dIslkAvar/to succeed in finding out informa-
tion, especially information that is difficult to find Iv T]
discover what/how/where etc Did you discover what
company he works for? l discover sth She has never been
able to discover her father's true identity. I New organizao
tions need to discover the most efficient ways of operating.
find/fa:nd/to find out a fact or find out that something is
true as a result of the questions you have asked, especially
by asking a lot of people for their opinions Iv T]
find that The survey found that 40% of women had been
unfaithful to their husbands. I When I asked all my friends
I found that you were right.
make a discovery /,meek a ds'kAvari I to find out some-
thing that no one else has ever known or seen, especially
by using scientific methods Iv phrase]
Scientists studying the effects of acid rain have made an
alarming discovery. [ make a discovery about As a result
of the space program we have made important discoveries
about the nature of the Universe. [ make the discovery that
The museum's art director has just made the embarrassing
discovery that the painting is a fake.
asceain/Imsa r ten/a formal word meaning to fred out
if a fact that you think is true is really true Iv I/T!
ascertain sth The case remains a mystery. The police were
never able to ascertain the true facts. [ ascertain that The
pathologist ascertained that the victim had died from a gun-
shot wound. [ ascertain how/when/why etc A doctor
should examine the patient to ascertain where the pain is
localized. I ascertain As far as we have been able to ascer-
tain, our client is not involved in anything illegal.
establish/ ' steebhS/to find out facts that will prove that
something is true Iv T!
establish sth We haven "t yet established the cause of the acci-
dent. [ establish that It was quickly established that several
members of the crew had been negligent. [ establish how/
where/why etc Fleming conducted many experiments,
seeking to establish how the bacteria can survive for so long.
determine/dl Ita:rmn/to find out the exact details or
facts about something, especially by using technical
methods and equipment Iv T!
determine sth By using sonar equipment, they were able
to determine the exact position of the wreck. [ determine
what/why/how etc The experts set out to determine just
what had caused the explosion. [ determine that The survey
of traffic accidents determined that seat belts reduced seri-
ous injuries by up to ninety per cent.
suss out / s^s aot] an informal British expression mean-
ing to find out details about someone or something, espe-
cially quietly or secretly [phr v T!
suss sb/sth/it/her etc out I'm suspicious about this busi-
ness - that's why l want you to suss it out for me. [ suss out
sb/sth It took a long time to suss out the system and under-
stand my legal rights. [ suss out where/how/when etc
We're trying to suss out where he keeps his money.
glean/gli:n/a formal word meaning to find out informa-
tion about something from what other people are saying
about it rather than by asking questions Iv T!
In the course of my conversations with the agents I managed
to glean some useful information. [ I was not able to glean
much from such a cursory examination of the documents.
2 to find something out accidentally, for
example because someone tells you
find out
discover
hear
learn
gather
be told
come to sb's attention/notice
hear through/on the grapevine
straight from the horse's mouth
at first hand
find out/,farad 'aot! [phr v I/T not in progressive]
I've borrowed her car - I hope she doesn't find out. I find out
(that) When she found out you were going to be her teacher
she was thrilled. I fred out where/why/how etc If she
finds out why he's gone she'll be furious. I fred out sth I hope
she never finds out the real reason I asked her to marry me.
discover/d[skAvar[ to find something out, especially
something that is completely unexpected, shocking, excit-
ing etc Iv T not in progressive]
discover (that) When she discovered she was pregnant, she
was really pleased. I He's in a terrible state - be's just disco-
vered that his wife's been seeing someone e/se. I discover
why/where/how etc Has your mother never discovered
why you're out late every night? I discover sth It was while
I was making dinner that I discovered a brilliant way to
make sure the spaghetti is cooked.
hear/hlar! to find out a fact, especially something about
a person, because a lot of people are talking about it, it is
in the newspapers etc Iv I/T not in progressive]
hear sth We've heard such a lot about you from our daugh-
ter. I "'Nina's quit her job. "" "'Yes, so I've heard. "1 hear about
How did you come to hear about the accident? l hear (that)
I hear you're moving to Toronto. I hear what/why/how
etc When the authorities heard what we were doing, they
tried to stop us.
learn/13:rn! to find out a fact that you want to know or
should know because someone accidentally tells you, you
read it in the newspapers etc Iv I/T not in progressive]
learn sth Now that all the records of the case have been lost,
I doubt if we will ever learn the truth. I learn of/about She
only learnt of her mother's death when she read the
announcement in "The Times'. I I cannot comment on the
proposal because I have only just learned about it. I learn
(that) She was overjoyed to learn that her husband was to
be released with the other hostages.
gather / gee6ar! to know a piece of information because
that is what you hear people saying Iv T not in progressive]
gather (that) l gather you've decided not to resign after all. I
gather sth They didn't gather much, just that Tim had
booked into a hotel on Friday night. I from what I can
gather (=according to what I have found out) The cost of
living is cheaper in Britain than it is in France, from what
I can gather.
be told/bi: 'taold/if you say you have been told a fact,
you mean you know it because someone told you it Iv
phrase]
be told (that) I've been told you haven't been doing your
homework. Is this true?l I'm told (that) (=someone has
told me) Major is an extraordinary man - I'm told he used
to be some sort of showman. I so I'm told Madrid is a fas-
cinating city, or so I'm told.
come to sb's attention/notice/,kAm ta (sb's) a tenSn,
naotos/ a formal expression: if something such as a
problem or a mistake comes to someone's attention or
notice, that person finds out about it, especially because
someone else tells them about it Iv phrase]
come to sb's attention/notice that It has come to my
notice that your account is overdrawn by Ј200. I come to sb's
attention/notice He was running an illicit business from
his college room until it came to the attention of the principal.
hear through/on the grapevine/hm r OH:, on 6a
grepvam/to find out about something, especially a secret,
because the information has been passed on from one
person to another in conversation Iv phrase]
"'Did you know she's going out with a married man? .... Yes,
I heard it through the grapevine. "'1 hear on the grapevine
that Sarah had heard on the grapevine that the court would
be calling Larry to testify.
straight from the horse's mouth/stret fram 6a
,ha:rsz maoO/an informal expression: if a fact about a sit-
uation is straight from the horse's mouth, you find out
about it from the person who is directly involved in it and
not from someone else [adv phrase]
It isn't just a story put out by her agent, this is straight from
the horse's mouth. I hear/have sth straight from the
horse's mouth I'm sure Sue's going to resign. I heard it
straight from the horse's mouth yesterday.
at first hand/at fa:rst hand/if you find out informa-
tion at first hand, you find out about it because you were
in the place where it was happening [adv phrase]
I saw atfirst hand what nurses have to do when my child
was in hospital. I Living in the village I learnt at first hand
how these people suffer.

FIND OUT 97 FIND OUT
3
to find out something that was secret or that
people did not know anything about
find out get to know
uncover/unearth get wind of
dig up get wise to
get at
find out /ifaind 'aot/[phr v I/T not in progressive]
He's been in prison, but he doesn't want his employers to find
out. [ find out what/why/how etc Dad was furious when
he found out where I was living. I find out (that) It was three
months before my parents found out I'd been going out with
Peter. [ find out sth If she should ever find out my secret she
would never agree to marry me. ] find sb out (=find out
someone's secret) You can't keep pretending you're sick.
Someone's bound to find you out eventually.
uncover/unearth/An ikAvar, An i3:r0/ to find out infor-
mation that has been deliberately kept secret, especially
while studying or examining a particular subject Iv T]
Detectives have uncovered a plot to smuggle weapons into the
country. ] It seems that the princess's biographers have
unearthed a secret love affair.
dig up / Idlg I^p/to find out information about someone's
past that they have deliberately tried to keep secret, espe-
cially because it is embarrassing [phr v T]
dig up sth She was always afraid that the press might dig
up some scandal from her past. ] dig sth/it/them up
I wanted to dig a few more facts up for my article. [ dig sth
up on sb He told his private detective that he wanted as much
as he could dig up on the girl.
get at /Iget et/to find something out, especially the traath
about a situation, or facts which someone has tried to hide
Iv TI
It's hard to get at the facts when people are afraid to speak
out. I I'm sure she's lying, but we'll find a way of getting at
the truth. I He made her reveal everything, using his charm
to get at the information he wanted.
get to know/get ta 'nao/to find something out, espe-
cially something that someone does not want you to know
about Iv phrase]
You've been very naughty. I hope yourfather never gets to
know. I get to know about How did all these people get to
know about the party? I get to know (that) Somehow the
police got to know she was trading without a licence. I get
to know sth How did you get to know all this? Who told you?
get wind of/Iget IwInd Dv/an informal expression mean-
ing to find out about a situation or something that is going
to happen, especially when it is supposed to be secret
Iv phrase]
I don't want that reporter getting wind of this. I Somehow,
he got wind of the arrest before it happened and handed him-
self in to the police.
get wise to/Iget I walz tu:/an informal expression mean-
ing to find out about something such as an illegal activity
that has been happening for some time Iv phrase]
The gang ran a drug smuggling racket for several years
until the police got wise to their activities. I When we finally
got wise to him we realized he'd been fooling us all the time.
4 ways of saying that something which is secret
or not generally known is found out
come out emerge
come to light/ get out
be brought to light it transpires that
come out / i kAm 'aut/if information or a fact that people
knew nothing about comes out, people find out about it,
especially as a result of an official inquiry [phr v I]
The truth is gradually coming out. I One of the things that
came out in the consultation was that she had a deep hatred
of her father. I it comes out that During the trial it came
out that she had tried to commit suicide.
come to light/be brought to light/ikAm ta 'last, bi:
ibm:t ta Ilait/if new information or a new fact comes to
light or is brought to light, people find out about it |v
phrase]
Fresh evidence has come to light since the report was pub-
lished, I Some serious problems have been brought to light
by the latest report on health and safety. I it comes to light
that It has recently come to light that some tranquillizer
drugs are addictive.
emerge/I Ima:rdS! if facts emerge from a meeting, or an
inquiry, people find out about these facts for the first time
and may be shocked or surprised Iv I]
More details of the plan emerged at yesterday's meeting. I it
emerges that During the court case it emerged that both
men had convictions for terrorist offences. I Before too long
it began to emerge that Freeman was not as innocent as he
claimed.
get out /iget l aot/ if a piece of information gets out,
people find out about it even though other people have tried
very hard to keep it secret [phr v I]
If any of this gets out we'll be in serious trouble. I it gets out
that If it gets out that we knew about the danger all the time
we'll lose all our clients.
it transpires that /It trenlspamrz 6at/a formal expres-
sion: if it transpires that something is true, people find
out that it is true
The manager fired two employees last month when it trans-
pired that they had broken the bank's rules on trading. I It
now transpires that he was collecting money under false
pretences.
5 to find out exactly what something is or what
the cause of something is
identify
pinpoint
diagnose
identify/aI Identfai/to find out exactly what the cause
or origin of something is Iv T]
After years of research scientists have identified the virus that
is responsible for the disease. I Experts are examining the
engine but the cause of the problem has not yet been
identified.
identification/a identaI f Ikel.ll/In U] Health Officers are
working hard on the identification of the source of the food
poisoning.
pinpoint / Ip:npamt/to find out exactly what something
is or what exactly is causing something Iv T]
pinpoint sth It's very hard to pinpoint Sylvia's problem but
it is connected with her childhood. I Thanks to the aircraft's
black box recorder the cause of the crash was easy to pin-
point. I pinpoint what/how/when etc If you are experienc-
ing difficulties with your work are you able to pinpoint what
is causing them?
diagnose /dalagnaoz II -naos/to find out what is wrong
with someone or something, especially what illness some-
one has, by making a careful examination Iv T]
diagnose sth/f cervical cancer is diagnosed in its early
stages it can be cured. I diagnose sb (=find out that they
have a particular disease) Several years ago, she was diag-
nosed as having Alzheimer's disease. I diagnose sth as
Programmers diagnosed the problem as a computer virus. I
diagnose what/how/where etc When I took my car to the
garage, they soon diagnosed what the trouble was.
diagnosis/idalaglnaoss/ [n U] Much progress has been
made in the diagnosis of genetic diseases.
6 to find out useful information about a subject
find out about keep abreast of/
get some information keep up to date with
gen up on
find out about /ifaInd 'aut abaot/Iv T]
The careers centre can help you to find out about new job
opportunities. I Normal children seem to be possessed with
the desire to find out about the world around them. I "'I'm
going on a course in reflexology. "" "'Oh, where did you find
out about that?"

FIND OUT 498 FIND OUT
get some information /jget s)m info r 'meiJ'n/to find
out information about a subject by going to a place which
provides information, for example a library or a tourist
information office Iv phrase]
If you want to know about birds write to the RSPB to get
some information. I You will be able to get most of the infor-
mation you need for your project from the university library. I
get some information about/on I've written to the tourist
information centre to get some information about the area.
gen up on /dsen Ap n II-a=nl an informal British
expression meaning to find out information on a subject
so that you know everything about it, especially for a par-
ticular occasion Iv T]
You should gen up on the company before you go for your
interview. I 8uzie's really into karate so I'm going to gen up
on it before our date.
keep abreast of/keep up to date with I ki:p obrest
tv, jki=p ^p to deit wi61 to make sure that you know the
latest information on a subject, for example by regularly
reading about it Iv phrase]
Teachers are expected to keep abreast of developments in
their particular subject. I Technology is advancing at such
a staggering pace that it is difficult to keep abreast of it. I
I read the newspapers every couple of weeks, just to keep up
to date with one or two topics.
7 to find out information from someone by
asking them questions or by forcing them to
tell you
find out worm sth out of
get sth out of elicit
extract
find out l,faInd 'aotl [phr v T]
fred out sth "'Did you find out his address? .... No, he
wouldn't tell me anything. "'1 find out what/how/when
etc I want you to find out what really goes on in that mas-
sage parlour. I find sth/it out I found one thing out - she
used to be married to a famous rock star.
get sth out of/,get (sth) aut ov II -a:vl to find out a par-
ticular piece of information from someone, especially by
forcing them to tell you [phr v T I
He's not telling us who did the job with him but we'll get it
out of him eventually. [ I want you to interrogate the prisoner.
See what you can get out of him.
extract ] lkstrekt/to find out information from someone
who does not want to give it, by asking them questions or
by using physical force Iv T]
extract sth We questioned the prisoner for several hours,
but we were unable to extract any further information. [
extract sth from The terrorist group had used torture to
extract the names of informants from a police officer.
worm sth out of I  wa:rm (sth) Jaot Dv II -a:vl to find out
information from someone who is unwilling to give it, espe-
cially by being clever, making them feel they can trust you
etc [phr v T]
I don't think he wanted to tell me her name but I managed
to worm it out of him. [ Bertrand was still suspicious and
decided he would try to worm the story out of her however
he could.
elicit I Iist/to find out information from someone by
giving them another piece of information, in the hope that
it will make them tell you what you want to know Iv T]
elicit sth You should try to elicit as much information as
possible about your client's needs. I elicit sth from We have
made persistent inquiries but we have been unable to elicit
further information from any of the witnesses.
snoop/snu:p/to try to find out about someone's private
affairs, especially by secretly looking in their house,
examining their possessions etc Iv I]
What were you doing in my room? You were snooping,
weren't you? l Anyone snooping in Lila's things would have
thought she wits a model, she had so much make-up. I snoop
around If any of those reporters come snooping around, tell
them I have nothing to say to them.
pry/pral/to try to find out about someone's private life by
asking a lot of personal questions in a way that people find
rude or annoying Iv I]
I wanted to know more but I felt I would beprying ifIasked
any more questions. I I don "t want to pry, but l couldn "t help
noticing that you seemed a little upset about something. I pry
into I'm sick and tired of people prying into my personal life.
nose around/nooz oraond/ an informal expression
meaning to look around a place, especially someone's home
or office, to try to find out things that do not really concern
you Iv I/T ]
nose around an office/room/house etc Igot suspicious
when I found him nosing around my office early one morn-
ing. I nose around The thought of Katheryn nosing around
at his work, asking questions, made him furious.
9 words for describing someone who likes
finding things out, especially someone who is
too interested in other people's private lives
curious nosy
curiosity nosy parker
inquisitive
curious / kjoarios/wanting to find out about someone or
something because you are very interested in them [adj]
"'Why do you want to know about Catherine? .... Oh no
reason, In just curious. "" I Being naturally curious animals,
cats often find their way into dangerous places. I curious
about Even eight year old children often become curious
about drugs. I curious to learn/know/see etc The surpris-
ing news made him curious to learn more.
curiously lady] "'Why are you wearing that ring?" said
Sally, looking at me curiously.
curiosity I jkjo9riDsIati II-,o:s-/the desire to find out
about things in U]
"'So you're Arthur's new girlfried are you?", she said, eyeing
me with curiosity. I curiosity about Olly was bursting with
curiosity about the new house. I satisfy sb's curiosity (=tell
them about something so that they are no longer curious)
He told her all he knew but he could still not satisfy her
curiosity.
inquisitive /inkwztlV/ always wanting to find out
about what people are doing, how things work, what is hap-
pening etc [adj]
Jenny was a very inquisitive child, always asking "'why?"l
Journalists have to be inquisitive, fearless and determined. I
When I mentioned Steve's name she became inquisitive.
nosy ! nouzi/always wanting to find out things that do not
concern you, especially other people's private affairs [adj]
Don't be so nosy! It's none of your business how much her
dress cost. I What else, she wondered, had the nosy little
woman found out about her?
nosy parker I,nouzi pa:rkor/an informal expression
meaning someone who always tries to find out about other
people's private affairs and often causes problems for other
people In C]
There are too many of these nosy porkers going around doing
what they call social research. I Susan wanted to know all
the details of their divorce. She's a real nosy parker.
8 to try to find out something private or
personal about someone else
snoop
pry
nose around
1 0 something that someone has found out
discovery
finding
discovery/dIs'kAvari! something such as a new fact or
method that someone has found out, either accidentally or
as a result of careful inquiry In C]

FIND OUT 499 FINISH/COME TO AN END
At first I did not realize the importance of my discovery. I dis-
covery that Laura is still suffering from the shock of the dis-
covery that her husband is having an affair. I discovery
about The depletion of the ozone layer has been one of the
most dramatic discoveries about our planet in recent years.
f|nd]ng/'faindi/the information that someone has found
out as a result of their studies, work etc In C usually plural]
The findings of the survey into the spread of AIDS confirmed
those of other studies. I The police force has had its image
severely battered by the commission's findings. I Our survey
covered too few cases to make our finding statistically sig-
nificant.
finding FIND OUT 10
fine GOOD/EXCELLENT 1, 5, HEALTHY 1, PAY FOR
18, PUNISH 2, THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 1, :3
fine figure: be a fine figure of a man
BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKI NG 2
fine-tune IMPROVE 4
finest BEST 1
finger TOUCH 1
finger: have a finger in every pie TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 5
finger: have your finger on the pulse KNOW STH 9
finger: hit the nail on the head/put your finger on it
CORRECT 2
finger: not lift a finger HELP 11
finger: pull/get your finger out WORK HARD 8
finger: wrap/twist sb around your little finger
CONTROL 4, USE A PERSON 1
fingerprints MARK 1
fingerprints/prints MARK 6
fingers: have your fingers in the till STEAL 5
fingers: slip through sb's fingers ESCAPE 5
fingers: work your fingers to the bone WORK HARD 2
fingers crossed: keep your fingers crossed HOPE 1
fingers crossed/keep your fingers crossed LUCKY 8
fingertips: at your fingertips HAVE 2, KNOW STH 4
finish EAT 6, FINISH DOING STH 1, FINISH/COME TO
AN END 1, FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 1, STOP
DOING STH 1
finish: from start to finish ALL/EVERYTHING 2
finish: get sth finished FINISH DOING STH 1
finish: not finish FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 3
finish: photo finish EQUAL 5
finish/end FINISH DOING STH 5
finish first/come in first WIN 1
finish off FINISH DOING STH 2, 5
finish off/up EAT 6
finish sb off KILL 1
finish with FINISH DOING STH 4
finish with: end with/finish with END 3
finish work STOP DOING STH 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
FINISH/COME TO
AN END
1 ways of saying that an event, activity, story,
situation etc ends
2 ways of saying that a period of time ends
3 ways of saying that the time that you have to
do something in is finished
4 ways of saying that a problem or bad
experience has ended
5 ways of saying that documents, tickets,
agreements etc are no longer legal, or can no
longer be used
I ways of saying that an event, activity, story,
situation etc ends
end come to an end
finish be at an end
be over
end lend/Iv I]
The war in Vietnam finally ended in 1975. I Their marriage
ended after only two years. I The question-and-answer ses-
sion begins at 2.30. I'm not sure when it'll end. I The story
ends on a hopeful note. I end with Our celebrations will end
with a spectacular firework display. I The movie ended with
everyone riding off into the sunset. I end in Our discussions
always end in an argument.
finish /tflnl/ if something such as a film, meeting, or
lesson finishes at a particular time, it ends at that time Iv II
"'What time does school finish?'" "'At 3.00. "'[ The movie should
have finished by now. They'll be home soon. [ Do you think
their meeting will be finishing soon?
be over/bi: 'auvarl if an event or an activity is over, it
has ended [phr v I]
The show should be over by ten, at the latest. [ Let's go home.
I think the party'sjust about over, anyway. [Right, that's
the formal part of the interview over. Is there anything you'd
like to ask us? [ be all over (=be completely finished)
It's all over between me and Jerry. I'm leaving him. [ That's
it - Wimbledon is all over for another year.
come to an end / kAm to an 'end/ifa situation or event
eornes to an end, especially one that has continued for
some time, it ends because it cannot continue any longer
[ v phrase]
When this temporary job comes to an end, I'll be unemployed
again. [ When she finally got to the barbecue, things were
coming to an end, so she didn't stay long. [ The team's run
of success seems to have come to an end.
be at an end/bi: at an 'end/a formal expression: ffsome-
thing such as a meeting or conversation is at an end, it has
ended because someone wanted it to end Iv phrase]
I regret to say that our friendly relationship is now at an
end. [ The young man stood up, realizing that the interview
was at an end.
ways of saying that a period of time ends
end
come to an end
be over
break up
end/end/Iv I]
before the year/month/
day is out
draw to a close/
to an end
The school year ends in June or July. I Winter was ending,
and the first flowers of spring had begun to appear. I The
evening ended cordially with handshakes all round.
come to an end /,kAm to n end/ira long period of time
comes to an end, it ends Iv phrase]
Autumn came to an end with the first snow. [ A generation
of civil conflict had finally come to an end.

FINISH/COME TO AN END
be over/bi: 'aovor/ira period of time is over, it has ended
[phr v I]
The long vacation was almost over, and she hadn't even
begun her college work. [ I think I'm going to lose my temper
before this evening is over.
break up/,break Ap/ an expression used especially in
British English: if a school or the students of a school
break up, a part of the school year ends and the holidays
begin [phr v I]
When does your school break up? [ The kids break up on
Wednesday.
before the year/month/day is out/b =fo: r 6o ijIO r,
m^n0, de :z at;t/before the year, month, day has ended
[ adv phrase ]
She'll be married before the year's out. I Before the month
was out, they had sold the house.
draw to a close/to an end / dro: tt; 0 klot;z, tt; on end/
an expression used especially in stories or descriptions
meaning to gradually come to an end Iv phrase]
This long hot summer was drawing to an end. I And so, as
1992 draws to a close, we look back on the great events of the
year.
3 ways of saying that the time that you have to
do something in is finished
be up
run out
be out of time
be up/bi: ^p/if the time allowed for something is up, it
is finished [phr v I]
"'Time's up, "said their teacher. "'Stop writing, everyone!"l
The two weeks you asked for are up, and you still haven't
repaid the money. [ The President may be asked to resign
before his four-year term is up.
run out/rAn 'at;t/ if the time available for doing some-
thing, especially something very important runs out, it
comes to an end so that there is no more time left [phr v I]
We'd alrnostrinished solving the problem when our time ran
out. [ The desperate search for survivors continues, but time
is running out.
be out of Ume/bi= ,aot ov tam/an expression used espe-
cially on radio or television meaning to have no time left
[ v phrase]
I'm sorry listeners, we have to stop there. We're out of time.
4 ways of saying that a problem or bad
experience has ended
be over/be all over it's all in the past
be over and done with be closed
be behind me/you/them
be over/be all over/bi: ot;vo r, bi: a:l iot;vor/[phr v I]
Don't worry, your troubles will soon be over. I His captors
finally released him, and his long ordeal was over. [ There
had been aright in the bar, but when I got there it was all
over.
be over and done with/bi: ot;vor on d^n w6/if some-
thing unpleasant or something you have been worrying
about is over and done with, it has completely finished
and does not affect the present situation Iv phrase]
I'm not going to question her about what happened all those
years ago. They are over and done with as far as I'm con-
cerned. [ You should try and forget about what happened.
It's over and done with now.
be behind me/you/them/bi: bI haInd mi:, ju:, 6am/if
an unpleasant experience is behind you, it is completely
finished so that it does not affect your life any more Iv
phrase]
You'll get out of prison in two years, and then all this will
be behind you. I It had been sheer hell, but he was sure the
worst of it was behind him now, and he could look forward
to the future.
5OO
FINISH DOING STH
it's all in the past/ItS z:l in {5o 'po:st 11 -'pabst] if you
say it's all in the past, you mean that an unpleasant
experience has ended and can be forgotten
You mustn't think about it. It's all in the past now.
be closed/hi: 'klot;zd/if you say that a particular stb-
ject or conversation is closed, you mean that you are not
willing to discuss the subject any more, especially because
it is an unpleasant subject Iv phrase]
I think we can forget all about that unfortunate incident. As
far as I am concerned, the matter is closed. [ Until we can talk
about this in a civil manner, I consider the discussion closed.
5 ways of saying that documents, tickets,
agreements etc are no longer legal, or can no
longer be used
run out
expire
run out/,r^n at;t/if a ticket, document, or agreement
runs out it can no longer be used or no longer has any legal
or official value [phr v I]
I want to use this train ticket before it runs out. [ We're look-
ing for a new shop as the lease on this one runs out soon. I
The current US - Soviet arms treaty runs out at the end of
this year.
expire/lkspaor/ifa ticket or a legal or official document
expires, the period of time during which it can be used has
ended Iv I]
I'm afraid we can't accept this credit card - it expired last
week. [ My passport doesn't expire until 1999. [ She retired
six months before her contract expired.
expiry [adj] What's the expiry date on your driving licence?
FINISH DOING
STH
to finish doing something or making something
to finish something by adding the last parts
that make it complete
to be close to finishing something
to finish using something
to finish an event, performance, meeting,
lesson etc "
to finish a business agreement or a plan by
settling it in a satisfactory way
to finish something that is unpleasant or
difficult
words for describing something that has been
finished
not finished
I to finish doing something or making something
finish be through
complete polish off
get sth finished conclude
finish/'fnIj'/[V I/T]
finish doing sth I just want to finish cutting up these vege-
tables. I Willie waited until danine had finished speaking
before telling her the truth. [ finish sth You can't go out until
you've finished your homework. I I was in London in the
winter of 1984finishing a Master's degree at the London
School of Economics. [ "To think that you might have been
.... "" Carlos didn't finish the sentence. I After he died, several
paintings were found that he had never finished. I fini,sh
These reports take ages to write but we should have finished
by Monday afternoon.
complete /kompli:t/ to finish doing something, espe-
cially something that is complicated or takes a long time
Iv T]

FINISH DOING STH 501 FINISH DOING STH
Contractors expect work on the tunnel to be completed by the
end of next year. I The painting of the Sistine Chapel took
four years to complete. I The novel was not published until
42 years after it was completed. I When the new building is
completed there should be more space for everyone.
completion [n U] On completion of the course (=when the
course has been completed) you will be a fully qualified
accountant.
get sth finished ! Iget (sth) 'fInIft/to make an effort to
finish something before you do something else, especially
when you have to finish it before a particular time Iv
phrase]
I'd like to get all these letters finished so I can mail them on
my way home. I He doesn "t think he's going to get the decorat-
ing finished in time.
be through/bi: 'Oru:/an informal expression meaning
to have finished doing something [phr v I]
be through with "'When will the car be ready?" "'I should
think the mechanic will be through with it in about an
hour. "'1 be through We thought it would only take a few
minutes to put up the tent but by the time we were through
it was dark.
polish off/polij" of II ,po:hj" 'a:f/ to quickly finish a
piece of work, without making a lot of effort, especially so
that you can do something else instead [phr v T]
polish off sth I'll polish off the rest of this ironing before
we go out. I polish sth/it/them off There were I00 tests to
mark but we polished them off in an evening.
conclude/konklu:d/conclude your work/investiga-
tion/study etc (=a formal word meaning to finish it
properly and completely, especially so that you are ready
to use the results to do something) [v T]
By July the research team had concluded the main part of
its work. I The police have now concluded their investigations
and are ready to prosecute.
2 to finish something by adding the last parts
that make it complete
finish off
put the finishing touch/touches to
tie up the loose ends
finish off/,finI 'of II -'a:f/to finish something by adding
the last parts or details [phr v T]
finish off sth I came to work early this morning to finish
off some urgent work for the boss. I finish sth/it/them off
The decorator said he could finish the front bedroom off at
the weekend.
put the finishing touch/touches to/,pot 6o tfInIllJ
't^t, 't^tz tu:/ to finish something by adding the last
details, especially in order to make it look nice [v phrase]
Sue's just putting the finishing touches to her make-up. I
Frilly pink curtains put the finishing touch to Lorna "s newly
decorated bedroom. I The team are busy putting the finish-
ing touches to the new design.
the finishing touch/touches [n phrase] Your patio is
lovely. Those tubs of fiowers are the perfect finishing touch.
tie up the loose ends/tal Ap 60 ,lu:s endz/to finish
a meeting, an agreement etc by dealing with all the details
that remain [v phrase]
If we can tie up the loose ends in the next ten minutes, we'll
break for an early lunch. I Apartfrom a few loose ends that
need to be tied up, everything has gone according to schedule.
3 to be close to finishing something
be nearly finished
be on the last lap/in the home stretch
be nearly finished (also be nearly done in Ameri-
can English) Ibi: nIorli f]nt, bi: InlOrli 'd^nl [v phrase]
I'm nearlyfinished - I just want to put these files away. [ Are
you nearly done in the shower? [ Just give me a couple more
minutes. I'm nearly through.
be on the last lap/in the home stretch/bi: on 6o
,la:st 'lap, In 6o ,hoom 'stretj" II-,la  st-I to have almost
finished something, especially something that has taken
a long time Iv phrase]
At least once we get on the train we'll know we "re on the last
lap of our journey. I We're in the home stretch now. The
negotiations should be over by next month.
4 to finish using something
finish with
be through with/be done with
finish with/'fInQ" wI6/ [v T not in passive]
Can you pass me the scissors when you've finished with them,
please? [ "'Have you finished with the Monopoly game?'"
"'Yes. "" "'Well put it away then. ""
be through with/be done with/bi: 0ru: wI6, bi: dAn
wI6/ expressions used especially in American English
meaning to have nearly finished using something
[ v phrase]
Are you through with that hammer yet? l be through/done
I need to use the fax machine. Can you let me know when
you "re done?
5 to finish an event, performance, meeting,
lesson etc
finish/end conclude
wind up finish off
bring sth to an end/ round off
to a close
finish/end/'fin]J', end/[v T]
finish/end sth Our history teacher never finishes the class
on time. [ When Sir George finished his speech there was a
moment's silence. [ finishCnd sth by doing sth The priest
ended the service by saying a short prayer. [ finish/end sth
with She always ends her meals with a cup of coffee and a
cigarette. [ She ended her recital with an old French song.
wind up ], waind '^pl to gradually bring to an end an event
or activity such as a meeting that you are in control of,
making sure that it finishes at the right time [phr v I/T]
wind up sth I'd like to wind up this debate and take a vote. [
wind sth/it/them up Mark wanted to wind the meeting up
quickly because he had a plane to catch. I wind up About
40 minutes after the interview starts, the cameraperson will
signal to you to start winding up.
bring sth to an end/to a close / IbrIlj (sth) to an 'end,
to o 'koozl formal expressions meaning to finish a meet-
ing, lesson etc [v phrase]
If we can bring this part of the meeting to a close we can move
on to the next item.
conclude/kon'klu:d/to formally or officially end a meet-
ing, public event, speech etc by doing one final thing that
makes those involved feel that it is finished successfully
[v I/T]
conclude sth with The service was concluded with a hymn.I
conclude with Delors concluded with an appeal to support
European unification. I conclude by doing sth I'd like to
conclude by thanking everyone who has worked so hard to
make this conference possible.
finish off/,flnI 'of II -'a:f/to complete an event, perfor-
mance, piece of work etc by doing one final thing that is
necessary or suitable [phr v I/T]
finish off sth by doing sth Wefinished off our vacation
by spending two days in Santa Fe. I finish offsth with Dan
finished off his act with a joke about the Vice-President. I
finish off Please finish off now. The test will end in three
minutes.
round off ],raond 'of II -a:f/to do something as a way of
ending an event, performance etc in a suitable or satisfac-
tory way [phr v T]
round offsth To round off National Peace Week, a concert
was organized in the park. I round sth off with Kate
rounded her performance off with a moving version of
"Memories', accompanied by a solo violin. I She served us a
splendid dinner, rounded off with a marvellous orange
mousse.

FINISH DOING STH 502 FINISH/USE ALL OF STH
 to finish a business agreement or a plan by
settling it in a satisfactory way
settle sew up
conclude finalize
wrap up close a deal
settle I'setll Iv T]
In the end we settled the deal on very favorable terms. I So
that settles it. We'll pay you half the purchase price now, and
the rest over two years. I We talked to the carpenter to settle
plans for the expansion of the restaurant.
conclude /kon'klu:d/ conclude a deal/treaty/agree-
ment etc (=successfully finish an agreement, especially
one that is important and involves a large number of
people) iv T]
The British car industry has just concluded a deal with the
Japanese government. I European governments are trying
to conclude a treaty to ban certain atmospheric tests.
conclusion/kon 'klu:san/in U] The future of the prisoners
will be decided on the conclusion of the armistice (=when the
armistice is concluded).
wrap up I, rep '^pl an informal expression meaning to
finish a meeting, a business agreement, or a plan by
settling everything quickly in a satisfactory way [phr v T]
wrap up sth If they accept our price we can wrap up the deal
rightaway. I wrap sth/it/them up I want to wrap this
meeting up as quickly as possible. I have another appoint-
ment in an hour.
sew up I,soo '^pl an informal expression meaning to
settle a business agreement or plan in a satisfactory way,
especially in a way that is favourable to you [phr v T]
sew sth/it/them up I called the real estate agent. The con-
tract's all been sewn up and we can move into the apartment
next week. I sew up sth Bob reckons he can sew up the deal
quite quickly but I'm not so sure.
finalize (also -ise British) / Ifalnal-alz/to do the last things
that are necessary in order to settle an agreement, plan, or
arrangement in a satisfactory way iv T]
Mr Samuels is fiying to Detroit to finalize the details and
sign the contract. I Don't proceed any further with any plans
or finalize any arrangements until you have proper
authority.
close a deal I,ldooz o 'did/to finish making a business
agreement, especially where a large amount of money is
involved iv phrase]
The oil company has just succeeded in closing a deal for the
land.
7 to finish something that is unpleasant or
difficult
see sth through get it over with/get it
to the bitter end over and done with
stick it out have/be done with it
see sth through I,si: (sth) 'Oru:l [phr v T]
I found the course really hard, but I told myselfI must see
it through. I It may seem insignificant, but there is some value
in seeing a project through.
to the bitter end/to 6o ibItor lend/if you do something
to the bitter end, you continue doing it in a determined
way until it is finished, even though it is very unpleasant
or difficult lady phrase]
Despite his injury, John kept playing in the game to the bitter
end. I Campaigners vowed to carry on the Civil Rights strug-
gle to the bitter end.
stick it out/,stik It 'aot/to finish doing something in
spite of great difficulty or pain iv phrase]
The pain nearly forced Sally to stop work, but she stuck it
out for the rest of the day. [ It was cold, hard work but Harry
intended to stick it out until the end of his contract.
get it over with/get it over and done with / get
It IOOVOr wI6, get It ,oovor on Id^n Wlb/to do something
unpleasant that you have to do as quickly as possible, so
that it is finished and you can stop worrying about it Iv
phrase]
I'm going to make an appointment at the dentist and get it -
over with before the holidays. I Should I tell mom the truth
now and get it over and done with?
have/be done with it/hav, bi: IdAn wi6 It] an expres-
sion used especially in British English meaning to do or
finish something now so that you can stop thinking about
it or worrying about it iv phrase]
If you're having your hair cut you might as well have it
permed at the same time and be done with it. I Let's just book
the fiight and have done with it. We can always cancel if it
turns out we can't go.
8 words for describing something that has been
finished
finished be complete
completed be done
finished/'finlJ't/[adj]
All the packing was finished and we were ready to leave. I
A young couple moved into the house three weeks after it was
finished. [ The finished book was more of a personal diary
than an autobiography. I finished article/product Look-
ing at the finished article you couldn't tell it was made from
recycled paper.
completed/komlpli:tId/finished, especially after a long
period of time or a lot of work or effort [adj]
We'll only get paid if the job is satisfactorily completed. I The
completed film will be on general release in March. I At last
all the arrangements were completed and we waited impa-
tiently for the big day to arrive.
be complete/bi: komlpli:q if something that takes a par-
ticular length of time or involves a number of stages is
complete, it is finished iv phrase]
You'll be paid more when your training is complete. I When
the mixing process is complete the mixture is ready to be
heated.
be done Ibi: 'dAn/to be successfully finished iv phrase]
When the shopping's done I'll come and meet you for a drink. I
Morn won't let me watch television till all my homework's
done.
9 not finished
'unfinished
incomplete
unfinished/An'finiSt / [adj]
On her desk was an unfinished letter to her mother. [ The
company still has a number of unfinished projects. I To this
day, the building remains unfinished. I unfinished busi-
ness (=something you intend to do but have not had a
chance to finish) If you'll excuse me, I have some unfinished
business to attend to.
Incomplete I,inkomlpli:t/ something that is incom-
plete does not contain everything that is needed to finish
it properly [adj]
The bridge remained incomplete until 1910, when it was
finished by German engineers. I These changes, though
useful, are only part of an incomplete process. [ Spoken lan-
guage contains many phrases and incomplete sentences.
FINISH/USE ALL OF
STH
1 to use all of something so that there is none left
2 ways of saying that all of something has been
used so that there is none left
3 to not use all of something
4 words for describing something that is never
all used

FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 503 FIRE
1 to use all of something so that there is none left
finish exhaust
use up run out of
finish I'fimfl to eat or drink all of something so that there
is none left Iv T ]
The kids have finished the ice-cream. I Terry finished all his
drink in one gulp. I Don't open a new bottle until you've
finished the old one.
use up / ,ju:z ' Ap/to use allof something, especially some
thing important such as a supply of food or money, and to
have very little chance of getting any more [phr v T]
use up sth Some old people are left with a choice between
using up the last of their fuel or freezing to death. ] They've
used up all their assets - now nothing can save them from
bankruptcy. I use sth/it/them up "I wanted some of that
green paint. "" "'Too bad, I've used it all up. ""
exhaust/Ig'z:):st/to use all of something, especially a
natural supply of something such as coal, oil, or gas Iv T]
There is the danger that, in time, the human race will
exhaust the world's store of useful energy. I Over-intensive
farming had exhausted the supply of nutrients in the soil.I
After exhausting all her ready excuses, she could think of
nothing left to say.
run out of /,r^n 'aot Dv II -o:v/to use all of something that
you want or need so that you have to get some more Iv T
not in passive]
By the time they got to the camp they'd run out of water. I I've
run out of cigarettes. Do you think you could go down to the
store and get some?
2 ways of saying that all of something has been
used so that there is none left
be finished be all gone
exhausted none left/not any left
be used up run out
be finished Ibi: 'fInIft/having used all of a supply of
something, especially food Iv phrase]
In this area, emergency food aid is likely to be finished within
days. I When that can's finished, there won't be any fuel left. I
Are all the vegetables finished yet?
exhausted/lg 'za:std/a supply of something, or a place
that produces something, that is exhausted is one in
which all the materials, etc have been used so that there
is nothing left [adj]
The oxygen supply would soon become exhausted. I All that's
left are some barren hillsides and a couple of exhausted
mines. I It "s only a matter of time before the world's oil sup-
plies are exhausted.
be used up/bi: ,ju:zd Ap/a supply of something, espe-
cially something important, that is used up has all been
used Iv phrase]
The logs are all used up - we don't have anything to make
a fire with. I When the fertile elements in the soil are used
up, the land becomes incapable of producing anything.
be all gone/bi: ,o:l 'gon [[ -'go:n/an informal expression:
if something is all gone, there is none of it left because it
has all been used Iv phrase]
My money's all gone. How the hell can I pay for anything? ]
"'Are there any cookies left? .... No, they're all gone. ""
none left/not any left/,nAn 'left, ,not eni 'left/if there
is none left or not any left of something, all of it has been
used or sold [adj phrase]
there is none left/there are none left Don't eat any more
cake or there will be none left for me. [ there isn't any left/
there aren't any left I'm sorry but there aren "t any dresses
left in a size 12. [ there is no wine/milk etc left There's
no coffee left. Shall I go and get some more?
run out/, ran 'aot/if something, especially something you
regularly need or use, runs out, all of it has been used [phr
vI]
Our supplies had run out and all we could do was wait. [
If coal reserves run out, the situation will become critical. [
It was a dreadful party: first the vodka ran out, then the beer,
then the CD player packed up.
3 to not use all of something
not finish
leave
not finish/not 'fm/[v T]
No you can't have another notepad -you haven't finished
that one yet. I Try not to finish your food rations too quickly.
We don't know when there will be more.
|eave/li:v/to not use or eat all of something, especially
because you do not want to, or because you want to keep
some Iv T]
leave sth I think Tom may be sick - he left nearly all his
dinner. I leave sth for sb They didn't use all the fuel sup-
plies - they left some for us. I leave sb sth Move up, you lot.
Leave me some space!
4 words for describing something that is never
all used
inexhaustible
Inexhaustible I, ing'za:stbdl! inexhaustible supply/
source/list etc (-one that is never finished because it is
so big) [adj ]
The enemy seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of ammu-
nition. I I regarded my father as an inexhaustible source of
cash and good will. I The list was inexhaustible.
finished FINISH DOING STH 8
finished: be finished F INISH/USEALL O FSTH2
finished: be nearly finished/be nearly done FINISH
DOING STH 3
finished: get sth finished FINISH DOING STH 1
finishing touch: put the finishing touch/touches to
FINISH DOING STH 2
finite LIMIT 7
fire FIRE 1, 2, 3, LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION
2, SHOOT 2
fire: be on fire BURN 1
fire: be playing with fire RISK 5
fire: catch fire BURN 3
fire: make/build a fire FIRE 4
fire: set fire to sth/set sth on fire BURN 4
fire: there's no smoke without fire TRUE 5
fire: under fire SHOOT 5
fire/fire up ENTHUSIASTIC 4
fire questions: shoot/fire questions at sb ASK A
QUESTION 3
fire risk: be a fire risk/health risk DANGEROUS 2
fire ,
:::. :
which meaq  ng.
::.::;:::
',,,- BURN
make something burn: 
• ake Somne leave::,  @ LEAVE A JOB OR
......
their job .... .,,. ORGANIZATION
 : .
i ii ii i i i i i i [ ilffll i i " • i i i i i ii iii i ii
FIRE
an uncontrolled fire that has started
accidentally
a fire that someone has made in order to
keep warm, cook on etc
the heat and light produced by something
that is burning
to make a fire

FIRE 504 FIRST
1 an uncontrolled fire that has started
accidentally
fire inferno
blaze the flames
fire Ifamrl [n C]
Thirty people died in afire in Chicago last night. [ Several
fires are now burning out of control in the hills around the
town. I a fire breaks out (=starts suddenly) Investigators
believe the fire broke out when faulty electrical wiring over-
heated. I forest fire (=a very large fire in a forest) A huge
forest fire is burning in central Brazil.
blaze/blezl a large and dangerous fire that has started
accidentally [n C usually singular]
Andrew survived the blaze on the oil rig by jumping into the
sea. ] The wind was blowing from the east, making the blaze
in the apartment block worse. I Firemen tackled a huge blaze
in a warehouse in Stratford last night.
inferno/lnlfa:rnao/a word used especially in newspapers
and in literature, meaning very large, very hot, and very
dangerous fire, especially in an enclosed space such as a
building [n C usually singular]
Thirty passengers died in the inferno. I The building became
an inferno, dropping white-hot pieces of metal on to the street.
the flames 163 'flemz! the parts of a fire that are burn-
ing [n plural]
The most important thing is to stop the flames spreading. I
If the flames reach the gas tank the whole place will go up!
2 a fire that someone has made in order to
keep warm, cook on etc
fire
bonfire
fire Ifairl a small, controlled fire that you make in order
to provide heat or to cook food [n C]
In the evenings the whole family would gather around the
fire. I The kids were out collecting dry sticks for the fire. I
log/coal etc fire (=a fire that burns logs, coal etc) There's
nothing more comforting than a nice log fire.
bonfire/'bonfaia r [I ba:n-I a fire made outdoors, espe-
cially one that is used for burning things you no longer
want such as dead leaves and wood [n C]
Autumn bonfires were burning in several of the neat subur-
ban gardens. [ build/make a bonfire At the end of the yard
are some broken chairs the kids can use to build their bonfire.
3 the heat and light produce8 by something
that is burning
fire
flame
fire IfaIar/[n U]
Most animals are afraid of fire. [ Learning how to use and
control fire was a major step forward for the human race. [
The building was destroyed by fire in 1803.
flam®/flelm/the hot bright area of burning gas which is
produced by something that is burning [n C]
Coal gas burns with a bright blue flame. [ You can sterilize
a needle by holding it in a :flame. I The candleameflick-
ered and then went out.
4 to make a fire
make/build a fire
light a fire
start a fire
make/build a fire/,meIk, ,bIld a faIar/[v phrase]
Kumar built afire out of old rags, newspapers - anything
he could find. I There aren't really enough materials here for
us to be able to build a fire.
light a fire ! lait a falar/to deliberately make a fire start
burning, especially in order to provide heat or to cook
something [v phrase]
It was her job to light afire every morning before the family
got up. I In such a strong wind it was almost impossible to
light a fire.
start a fire /Ista:rt a faiar/to make a fire start burning,
especially in a place where it might cause damage [v
phrase]
The kids accidentally started afire in the garage and were
too scared to tell anyone. [ Troops are fighting to control a
fire started by rebels. [ The fire was started by a hot coal
which fell onto the carpet.
fired: be fired LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 3
fireproof BURN 10
firing line: be in the firing line BLAME 2
firm COMPANY 1, HARD 1
firmly TIGHT 1
first FIRST 1, 2, 4
first: a first FIRST 6
first: at first BEGINNING 4
first: be first BEFORE 12
first: be first/second etc POSITION/RANK 3
first: be the first to do sth FIRST 7
first: come first WIN 1
first: do sth first BEFORE 12
first: finish first/come in first WIN 1
first: firstly/first FIRST 3
first and foremost MAIN 5
first choice FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 1
first/Christian name NAME OF A PERSON 1
first-class GOOD/EXCELLENT 1
first-hand: PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 3
first-hand: at first hand FIND OUT 2
first language LANGUAGE 3
first meet MEET 5
first move: make the first move FIRST 8
first of all FIRST 2, 3
first part: the first part BEGINNING 6
first place WIN 1
first place: in the first place FIRST 3
first principles BASIC 3
first sight: love at first sight LOVE 7
first thing EARLY 6
first time: the first time FIRST 4
FIRST
before all others in order or time
happening or done first, before anything else
ways of saying that the fact or reason you are
going to mention is the first one and will be
followed by others
happening or done for the first time
the first performance or appearance by a
person, film etc
words for describing something that has
never happened or been done before
to do something that has never been done
before
to be the first person to take action in a
situation instead of waiting for someone else
to do something
something that is the first of its type
1 before all others in order or time
first earliest
origi nal i naugu ral
initial
first/fa:rst/coming before all others in order or time [adj]
I've only read the first chapter of the book. I The first thing
you learn in tennis is how to hold the racquet. I Tchaikovsky's
1812 overture was first on the concert programme. I the first
to do sth Jo was the first to arrive.

FIRST 505 FIRST
original/alrIdSInal, -dsanal/existing first, before being
changed or replaced by someone or something else [adj
only before noun]
Our original plan was to go camping, but in the end we
decided to stay in a hotel. I The original edition of "Biko" was
published in 5 languages. I The house has full central heat-
ing, which was installed by the original owner.
originally lady] We think the car originally belonged to an
Indian prince.
initial/i' nlfal/initial stage/reaction/trial etc (=the first
one at the beginning of a process or activity rather than
the ones that come later) [adj only before noun]
I was only involved in initial stages of the planning. I My
initial reaction to the news was relief, but as I thought more
about it I began to feel angry. I Following some initial trials,
fourteen people were treated with the drug.
initially lady] I'm not really sure who initially thought of
it but it seems like a good idea to me.
earliest /  3:rligst/happening or existing before allothers
at the very beginning of a period of time [adj usually before
noun ]
"The Comedy of Errors" is one of Shakespeare's earliest
plays. I The earliest form of transport was probably some
kind of sledge. I From the earliest days of her marriage she
had been unhappy.
inaugural /i'na:gjrl/ inaugural lecture/meeting/
speech etc (=one that an important person.does or makes
when they first start a new job, a new organization starts
working etc) [adj only before noun]
Professor Eston gave his inaugural lecture in 1860. I The
inaugural meeting drew a large audience.
2 happening or done first, before anything else
first
first of all
first/f3:rst/before all the other events or actions [adv]
He's had a bad year. First he lost his job, then his wife left
him. [ First wash the mushrooms, and when they are quite
clean, leave them to dry. [ When I pick up the newspaper I
always read the sports page first. [ I want to see the college
and meet all the staff, but first I'm going to have a cup of
coffee.
first of all / ,f a: rst av 'z:l/at the beginning, before a lot of
other events or actions [adv phrase]
We spent a month touring America. First of all we went to
see my sister in Dallas. [ Everything went wrong today. First
of all the car broke down .... I First of all, let me welcome
everyone to the meeting.
3 ways of saying that the fact or reason you are
going to mention is the first one and will be
followed by others
firstly/first to start with/begin with
first of all in the first place
firstly/first/'f3:rstli, 'fa:rst/[adv]
The building is unsuitable, firstly because it is too small, and
secondly because it is in the wrong place. I The business is
facing serious problems: first we are in debt, also we are
losing customers. I Infection may be caused firstly by drink-
ing contaminated water, and secondly by not washing your
vegetables correctly.
first of all / fa:rst v 'a:l/(used when the reason you are
giving first is the most important one) [adv phrase]
"'Why don't you think I could do the job? .... Well, first of all,
you're lazy and unpunctual. "" I There were several reasons
why they divorced. There was the violence first of all, and
also the drinking.
to start with/begin with/t sto:t wI6, b 'gin-/(used
when your reason or fact is the most easy to see or under-
stand) [adv phrase]
I don't think he's capable of doing the job. To start with, he's
much too old for this sort of work. I I think she should be
moved into a class. To begin with, she finds the present work-
load much too easy.
in the first place/in  'fa:rst pleis/(used when you are
arguing with someone and you are going to give the first
reason that proves that what you are saying is true) Iadv
phrase]
Quinn couldn't have committed the crime. In the first place,
he isn't a violent sort of man. I No I don't want to buy an ency-
clopaedia. In the first place I never have time to read any-
thing, and secondly I'm broke.
4 happening or done for the first time
first
the first time
first Ifa:rst/[adv usually before verb]
The Americans first landed on the moon in 1969. I The book
was first published in Australia last year. I Where did you
first hear about our organization?
the first time/6 ,fa:rst talm/(used when there are
many other times after the first one) [adv phrase]
I remember the first time we met. I The first time I travelled
by air, I felt really nervous.
 the first performance or appearance by a
person, film etc
debut
premiere
maiden
debut /'deibju:, 'debju: II deI'bju:, dI-/ someone's first
public performance, especially in a play, a film or a sport
In C usually singular]
Charlie Chaplin made his film debut in 1913. I It's almost
ten years since Boris Becker made his debut in international
tennis.
premiere/'premie r II PrImlr/the first public perfor-
mance of a play or film In C usually singular]
film/movie premiere The Princess of Wales will be attend-
ing a film premiere tonight in London's West End. I world
premiere (=the first performance anywhere in the world)
Music-lovers gathered in Boston for the world premiere of
Gershwin's opera, "Porgy and Bess'. I premiere I've been
invited to the premiere of the new Schliessman play.
maiden/meldn/maiden speech/voyage/flight (=the
first one that a particular person, ship, or aircraft makes)
[adj only before noun ]
She's dreading the ordeal of her maiden speech to Parlia-
ment. I The USS Enterprise is to set out on its maiden voyage
next year. I Two jets crashed on their rnaiden fiights last year.
6 words for describing something that has
never happened or been done before
unprecedented
a first
I I I
unprecedented /^n president,d/ something that is
unprecedented has never happened before and is com-
pletely unexpected [adj]
An unprecedented number of cars entered the race. I The sit-
uation is unprecedented. I The police took the unprecedented
step of publishing the victim's photograph. I The depression
that started in mid-1929 was a catastrophe of unprecedented
dimensions for the United States.
a first/a 'fa:rst/something that has never been done or
achieved by anyone before and is therefore surprising or
exciting In singular]
Roger Bannister's four-minute mile was a notable first in the
history of athletics. I There's no such thing as a first in
human relationships. It's all been done before. I During the
1960"s the Soviet Union achieved a series of firsts in space
exploration.
7 to do something that has never been done
before
be the first to do sth pioneer
show the way/ break new ground
lead the way

FIRST 506 FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE
be the first to do sth/bi: 6o ,fa:rst to Idu: (sth)/ iv
phrase]
The Spanish were the first to keep cattle in the American
deserts. [ She was the first to see the importance of the
nineteenth century writers. [ Yuri Gagarin became the first
man to fly in space.
show the way/lead the way/,0o 6o wei, ,li:d (%
Iwel/to be the first to do something, especially something
good or successful, which may encourage others to do
something similar iv phrase]
Developing products which do not harm the environment is
very important now, and this company has shown the way. I
We have shown the way by reforming our working practices,
and others will no doubt follow our example. I Once the
Japanese had led the way, manufacturers in other countries
soon began to use robots on a large scale.
pione®r [ palonmr! to be the first to invent or find a new
method of doing something, and so to make it possible or
easier for others to do the same iv T]
He pioneered techniques for photographing moving objects. [
Heart-transplant surgery was pioneered by Professor Chris-
tian Barnard.
pioneer in C] She became famous as a pioneer of (=the
person who pioneered) prison reform.
pioneering [adj] Her valuable pioneering work (=work
pioneering new ideas) in the field of education will be
remembered.
break new ground/Ibrelk nju: tgraond II -nu:-/if some-
one or their ideas break new ground they are completely
new and different from anything that existed before, espe-
cially in a way that others considered a risk iv phrase]
Roosevelt's social reform programme broke new ground. [
Banks believe that this accounting system has broken new
ground in the complex world of airline finance. I The Arts
Theatre Company have broken fresh ground in this stunning
production with their revolutionary lighting technique.
 to be the first person to take action in a
situation instead of waiting for someone else
to do something
make the first move
take the initative
make the first move Imeik 6o ,fa:rst 'mu:v/to be the
first one to act in a situation where both sides feelnervous,
embarrassed, angry etc Iv phrase]
The employees made the first move to end the strike. [ Some-
body's got to make the first move, why don't you call Stuart
- this stupid quarrel has gone on too long. [ I'd always been
attracted to her, but I was too shy to make the first move.
take the initative /,teik 6i I 'nIfOtIV/to be the first one
to act in a situation, especially when you think people are
being silly because they wait for someone else to do some-
thing first [v phrase]
Everyone was standing around in silence, so I took the initia-
tive and tried to explain why we had come. I The disarma-
ment talks failed because neither side was prepared to risk
taking the initiative.
9 something that is the first of its type
prototype
original
prototype/' proototaip/the first model of something, espe-
cially of a machine or a new invention, that is often
improved in later models In C]
Pilots have begun testing a prototype of the new aircraft. I
The prototype of this particular computer was developed by
an American in 1975.
orlg|nal/o' rId3znl, -d3nol/something such as a picture
or a piece of writing that is not a copy but is the one
produced for the first time by the artist or writer them-
selves in C]
No, theportrait's not a copy. It's an original. I This is a photo-
graph of the famous manuscript. The original is in the city
museum.
original [adj] Only a millionaire could afford to buy an
original Picasso (=a picture by Picasso that is not a copy).
firstly/first FIRST 3
fish about/around LOOK FOR 5
fish out TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 1
fishy SUSPECT 2
fit FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1, 4, PUT 9
fit: be a good fit FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1
fit: be fit BETTER/RECOVERED 1
fit: be fit to live in LIVE SOMEWHERE 10
fit: keep fit FIT PERSON 2
fit: not fit FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 3
fit: unfit/not fit WRONG/UNSUITABLE 3
fit in RELATIONSHIP 2, SUITABLE 1, TIME/HAVE
TIME 4
fit in: not fit in DIFFERENT 4
fit in with CONVENIENT 1
fit like a glove FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1
fit/physically fit FIT PERSON 1
fit the bill SUITABLE 1
fit to live in: not be fit to live in LIVE SOMEWHERE
fit
@ @ EXERCISE
'1 @ HEALTHY
!i @ SUIT/LOOK
GOOD
TOGETHER
 SUITABLE
FIT/BE THE RIGHT
SIZE
1 ways of saying that clothes fit
2 to put clothes on to see if they fit
3 ways of saying that clothes do not fit
4 to be the right size or shape for a particular
space
5 to be almost too big to fit into a space
ways of saying that clothes fit
fit fit like a glove
be the right size grow into
be a good fit
fit/fit/if clothes fit, they are the right size and shape for
you when you put them on Iv I/T not in progressive or
passive]
"'Do you think this skirt fits all right?" "It looks as if it fits
perfectly." l I'm sure you'll be able to find a suitable dress
that fits. You're a standard size. I fit sb Clare's grown a lot,
I'm just hoping these boots are going to fit her. I I think a
size seven or eight would have fitted you better.
be the right size Ibi: 6o ,ralt salz/ [V phrase]
I've bought a blouse for Alison. It's a very pretty colour and

FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 50? FIT PERSON
just the right size too. I Why don "t you try it on to see if it's
the right size? I be the right size for Are you sure those
pants are the right size for Bill?
be a good fit/bi: a ,god 'fit/to fit very well and be com-
fortable to wear Iv phrase]
That suit was a good fit, but I didn't like the pattern. ] They
issued me with a uniform. Luckily it was a good fit and didn't
need any alterations.
fit like a glove / ,fit laIk a 'gl^v/to fit the shape of your
body perfectly Iv phrase not in progressive]
The dress fitted her like a glove. It looked as if it had been
made for her.
grow into/'grao intu:l ifa child or young person grows
into clothes, they grow big enough to be able to wear them
Iv T not in passivel
I know this sweater's still too big for Jenny, but she'll soon
grow into it.
2 to put clothes on to see if they fit
try on
try on I,trai 'D. II -'a:n/[phr v T]
try sth/it/them on Try these shoes on and see if they're com-
fortable. I It was a really nice sweater, but when she tried
it on, it nearly came down to her knees. I try on sth After
tonight's rehearsal all the actors will be trying on their
costumes.
3 ways of saying that clothes do not fit
not fit grow out of
be too big/small tight
not be the right size can't get into
not fit/not 'fit/ [V I/T not in progressive or passive]
If those boots don't fit, you can try a larger size. I not fit sb
There was nothing wrong with the coat, it just didn't fit her.
be too big/small/bi: ,tu: 'big, 'sm:l/[v phrase]
You can't wear your father's suit, it's far too big. I I have to
buy Tim some new sandals. The ones he's wearing are too
small. I be too big/small for Alan was wearing an over-
coat that was two sizes too big for him.
not be the right size/not bi: 6a ,ralt 'saiz! Ivphrase]
I bought him a shirt, but it wasn't the right size. I not be
the right size for If those gloves aren't the right size for you,
I can take them back to the shop.
grow out of I,grau 'not ov II -a:v/ if a child or young
person grows out of clothes, they grow too big to wear
them Iv T not in passive]
I always have to wear my brother's clothes after he's grown
out of them. I It isn't worth spending much on children's
clothes, since they grow out of them so quickly.
tight/taltl clothes that are tight are uncomfortable to wear
because they are too small and press into your body [adj]
I don "t wear my black dress very much. It's very tight around
the waist. I If your shirt collar's too tight, undo your top
button.
can't get Into/,ko:nt get 'ntu: II ,kent-/if you can't get
into a dress, skirt, trousers etc, you have difficulty putting
them on because they are too small Iv phrase]
I've got so fat lately I can't get into these jeans.
4 to be the right size or shape for a particular
space
be the right size
fit
will go
be the right size Ibi: 6a ,ra;t 'saIz/ [V phrase]
We didn't know if the carpet would fit in the bedroom, but
it turned out to be just the right size. I be the right size for
The screw was exactly the right size for the hole he had
drilled.
fit/fit/to be the right shape or not too big for a particular
space, hole etc Iv I/T not in progressive or passive]
fit in/into Do you think my desk will fit in that corner? I
We've designed a computer that fits into an ordinary brief-
case. I fit We were going to put the fridge between the stove
and the washing machine, but it wouldn't fit. I fit sth Does
your key fit the lock on the garage door?
wi|| go/wd 'gaol if something will go into a particular
place or space, it is possible to put it there Iv I]
will go in/into I've bought a dictionary. Will it go in your
bag, or is it too big? I I've measured the space, and with a
bit of luck, the washing machine should just about go into
it. I will go It's no good trying to force it, it just won't go.
5 to be almost too big to fit into a space
squeeze
it's a squeeze
squeeze/skwi:z/to get into a space with great difficulty
and only by forcing your way into it because the space is
almost too small for you Iv I]
squeeze into/through/past etc The little tunnel was so
narrow that only one person at a time could squeeze into it. I
I squeezed through a hole in the hedge into the garden. I
squeeze in The bus was already full but someone opened
the doors and another passenger squeezed in.
it's a squeeze/ts a 'skwi:z/if it's a squeeze, there are
too many people or things in a small space
ItTl be a squeeze with ten people in this small office. [ it's a
tight squeeze It was a tight squeeze, but we eventually got
all the luggage into the car.
FIT PERSON
healthy and strong so that you are able to do
work or sport that needs a lot of effort and
energy
1 words meaning fit
2 to remain fit by doing exercise, sport etc
3 not fit
I words meaning fit
fit/physically fit
fitness/physical fitness
be in shape
be in good condition
athletic
fit (British) I physically fit (American)/fit, ,fIzkli 'fit/
[adj]
We came back from our cycling tour suntanned and fit. I
After the accident, I was determined to get physically fit
again as soon as possible I Many women feel fitter and
healthier during pregnancy than at any other time. I To do
any sport at international level you have to be extremely fit.
fitness (British) I physical fitness (American) I'fltnas,
,fIza]kal 'fltns/ In U]
A keen sportsman, he prided himself on his level offitness. I
Each Tuesday during training we had to listen to a lecture
about physical fitness. I The magazine contained several
articles about natural beauty, healthy eating, fitness and
exercise.
be in shape/bi: tn 'j'elp/to be fit and healthy, with a
strong body that is not fat Iv phrase]
lf you're in shape, a 10 kilometre run should be fairly easy.[
be in good shape Sorry I couldn't give you a better game
- I'm not in very good shape. I get in shape (=do exercises
to become fit) If you stop playing racquet ball for a spell, it's
real hard to get back in shape.
be in good condition/bi: in god kan'dlj'an/to be gener-
ally fit and healthy, especially because you take exercise
regularly Iv phrase]
We were both good runners and in good condition but we still
found the course difficult. I keep yourself in good condi-
tion Most of the players had kept themselves in good condi-
tion over the summer months.

FIT PERSON 508 FLAT
athletic/mOtletik, aO-/fit, strong, and usually also good
at sports [adj]
He can play any sport, he's naturally athletic. [ If you want
me to play, I will, but I'm not very athletic.
2 to remain fit by doing exercise, sport etc
keep fit
stay in shape/keep in shape
keep fit /Iki:p IfIt/ a British expression meaning to
remain fit by doing exercise, sport etc [v phrase]
She keeps fit by jogging five miles every day. [ We've got a
match next month, so we've got to keep ourselves reasonably
fit. [ Keeping fit now seems to be a national obsession.
stay In shape/keep In shape /stel [n felp, ki:p in
J'e[p/to exercise regularly in order to be fit and strong and
not fat [v phrase]
He's good at badminton but plays handball to keep in shape. I
Carrie likes to keep in good shape and spends hours at the
gym.
3 words meaning not fit
unfit
not be in shape
be out of condition/shape
unfit / An I fit/a British word meaning not fit and not able
to do hard physical activities easily, especially because you
do not take enough exercise [adjl
I realised how unfit I was when I tried to run up the stairs. I
The survey shows that the typical 16-year-old is unfit, lazy,
and probably plays no sports at all.
not be in shape/nt hi: in j'elp/an American expres-
sion meaning to be unfit [v phrase]
I can't playfor the team this weekend. I'm not in shape. [ Our
opponents weren't in shape but they still beat us.
be out of condition/shape/hi: aot av kndlfan, e[p/
to be unfit at the present time, especially when you have
been fit in the past [v phrase]
I used to cycle twenty miles a day but now I'm really out of
condition. ] He knew that he was out of condition and it
would be risky to attempt the climb.
fitness/physical fitness FIT PERSON 1
fits: have sb in fits/stitches/hysterics LAUGH 7
fits and starts: by/in fits and starts REGULAR 2
 fittest: the survival of the fittest COMPETE WITH/TRY
'-!:: TO BEAT 3
? fitting RIGHT/PROPER 2
i!i fix ATTACH 1, CHEAT 7, COOK 1, CURE 1, LIMIT 6,
 REPAIR 1
-; fix: be in a fix PROBLEM 7'
 fix/fix up ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 1
...
' fix/name/set the day MARRY 4
[! fix sb up with PROVIDE 1
!!i fixation OBSESSION 1
ii fixed ATTACH 3, CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT
": 11, LIMIT 7, MOVE STH OR SB 6
i!:i fixed address: be of no fixed address/abode HOME 10
- fixed ideas: have fixed ideas CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
.. fizz SOUND 13
!:-- fizzle out STOP HAPPENING 1
: flabbergasted SURPRISED 2
:::i:!il flabby FAT 5
:.:i flag TIRED 4
' flag down STOP MOVING 7
 flagrant OBVIOUS 4
L flagship BEST 5
i flair GOOD AT 8, STYLE/ELEGANCE 1
,, flak: get/take a lot of flak CRITICIZE 8
i!i flake PIECE 5
i flake out SLEEP 4
!i!i flaky CRAZY 2
:i;. flamboyant SHOW OFF 2
:i! flame FIRE 3
, flameproof/flame resistant BURN 10
flames: be in flames/be ablaze BURN 1
flames: burst into flames BURN 3
flames: go up in flames/go up BURN 8
flames: the flames FIRE 1
flammable BURN 9
flammable : inflammable/flammable BURN 9
flank SIDE 1
flare up BURN 3
flash SHINE 2, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1
flash your money around SHOW OFF 1
flashy SHOW OFF 3
flat FLAT 1, HOME 2, HORIZONTAL 3
flat: and that's flat REFUSE 3
flat on your face: fall flat on your face FALL 2
flat out FAST/QUICK 3
FLAT
words for describing flat land or a flat surface
to make a surface or piece of land flat
ways of saying that a surface, road, or piece
of land becomes flat
not flat
1 words for describing flat land or a flat surface
flat
level
even
flat/flat/smooth and level, without raised or hollow parts
on the surface [adj]
It's best to use a flat surface to write on. [ The fiattest coun-
try in Europe is Holland, with only a few hills to the south. [
The house had a flat roof which they used for sunbathing.[
The surface of the lake was so 3fiat it looked like a sheet of
glass.
level / I level/a surface, piece of land etc that is level is com-
pletely flat and does not slope in any direction [adj]
They built the house on level ground. I No wonder the table
wobbles. The fioor isn't level. I Make sure the cement is abso-
lutely level before leaving it to dry.
even/' i:vanl a surface such as a floor or road that is even
is completely flat and all its parts are at the same height
[adj]
When the carpenters had finished, the floor had a good even
surface. I After driving for so long on the gravel I was glad
to get on an even stretch of road.
 to make a surface or piece of land flat
flatten
level
roll/press/squash etc sth flat
smooth
flatten/flatn! [v T]
flatten sth They flattened the field with a roller before the
big game. I The bottom of the skis used to be curved but have
now been flattened to achieve higher speeds. [ flatten sth out
She lived at the edge of a large field which had been flattened
out to serve as an airstrip.
level / leval/to make a piece of land flat and stop it slop-
ing in any direction [v T]
level sth R is important to level the land before planting. [
level sth off/out The site of the explosion had now been
levelled out and was going to be made into a parking lot.
roll/press/squash etc sth flat/,tool, ,pres, ,skw
(sth) 'flet II -,skwa:J'-/to make something flat by rolling it,
pressing it etc Iv phrasel
Roll the pastryfiat, then transfer it to a baking tin. [ I spread
out the groundsheet and smoothed it flat.
smooth/smu:6/to make the surface of something such
as paper or cloth completely flat and smooth [v T]

FLAT 509 focus on
smooth sth Smoothing the crumpled photograph, he
promised me it wasn't ruined. I smooth sth down/out
Across the table, Tanya smoothed down her skirt and looked
at her watch. I Every morning she smoothes the bedclothes
out and dusts the room.
 ways of saying that a surface, road, or piece
of land becomes flat
flatten/flatten out
level off
flatten/flatten out/'flatn, ,flatn 'aot/[v I]
The road widens and flattens as it nears the sea. I The land
here has flattened out into a plain without a hill or a bump
to be seen. I At the top of the hill the ground flattens out and
the climb should be easier.
level off /,leval 'of II - 'a:f/to become fiat and level, espe-
cially after sloping [phr v I]
Where the path levels out you will find an old cottage. I After
climbing steeply through woodland the lane levelled off.
4 not flat
rough hilly
bumpy rolling
uneven mountainous
lumpy
rough/r^f/a surface, road, or piece of land that is rough
has a lot of irregular holes or raised parts on its surface
[adj]
The farm can only be reached by means of a rough track. I
Jansen's detailed photographs of the rough, cratered surface
of the moon first appeared in 1850. I You need ajeep to cover
such rough terrain.
bumpy/'bAmpi/a surface that is bumpy is flat but has
a lot of rounded lumps on it, especially so that it is difficult
for anything to move over it smoothly [adj]
After hours driving along the bumpy road the back wheel
finally fell off. [ Most teams refuse to play here because the
field is too bumpy.
uneven I^n'i:van/a surface that is uneven has parts that
are not level, so that the whole surface is not flat or regu-
lar [adj ]
The sidewalk is very uneven - be careful where you walk. [
There was no carpet on the uneven floor, very dangerous to
anyone in bare feet. ] One of the tables had a smooth, polished
top, but the other one was rough and uneven.
lumpy/'l^mpi/a bed or chair that is lumpy has lumps
under the surface so that it is uncomfortable to sit on or
lie on [adj]
Sandra lay on the lumpy bed, unable to sleep. ] All the hotel
could offer him was two smelly blankets and a lumpy old
mattress.
hilly/'hill/an area of land that is hilly has lots of hills [adj]
the hilly farmlands of New Jersey ] The vineyards are hilly
and difficult to cultivate. ] My route was over a rough and
hilly track, but I kept moving steadily.
rolling /'raollIj/ rolling hills/fields/farmland etc
(=with a lot of rounded, not very steep hills and valleys,
especially when this looks attractive) [adj only before noun]
He stood at the top of the hill, admiring the rolling land-
scape. ] The castle is set in rolling hill countryside to the north
of Orvieto.
mountainous/'maontI nas/an area of land that is moun-
tainous has lots of mountains [adj]
The mainland of Greece is mountainous and largely infer-
tile. [ Thanks to its remoteness, the mountainous backbone
of the island remained unexplored for centuries.
flatmate LIVE WITH SB 3
flatten FLAT 2, PRESS 4, SQUASH 1
flatten/flatten out FLAT 3
flattened SQUASH 2
flattened: be flattened DESTROY 1
flatter PRAISE 9
flattering SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 1
flattery PRAISE 9
flaunt SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 3
flavour/flavor TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 1
flavoured/flavored TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 2
flaw FAULT/STH WRONG 2, 3
flawed PERFECT 10
flawless PERFECT 1, 2
fleck PIECE 5
flee ESCAPE 1
fleece CHEAT 2
fleeting SHORT TIME 3
flesh: in the flesh PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 2
flex BEND 2
flexible BEND 4, CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 6,
CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 8
flick THROW 7
flick through: leaf/flick/thumb through READ 3
flicker BURN 2, SHINE 4
flies: there are no flies on INTELLIGENT 4
flight TRAVEL 8
flimsy THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 3
fling RELATIONSHIP 5, THROW 3
flip: toss/flip THROW 6, TURN 10
flippant JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 2
flirt TALK TO SB 11
float ONION TOP OF 2, SUGGEST 1
flock GO 2
flog SELL 1
flog sth to death TOO/TOO MUCH 3
flood GO 2 WATER 2, 5, WET 7
flood in: pour in/flood in ENTER 7, GET 5
flood of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
flooding WATER 2
floor HIT 3
floor: the flo(r BOTTOM 4
floorspace SPACE/ROOM 1
flop/be a flop FAIL 7
floppy SOFT 4
flounce out LEAVE A PLACE 9
flourish SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 3
flout DISOBEY 2
flow LIQUID 4, POUR 2, PROVIDE 3
flowing GRACEFUL 2
fluctuate CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 2
fluent SPEAK A LANGUAGE 8
fluff DO BADLY 1
fluffy SOFT3
fluid LIQUID 1
fluke LUCKY 3
flunk FAIL 8
flunk out FAIL 8
fluorescent SHINE 5
flush RICH 4
flutter: have a flutter GAMBLE 1
flux: be in flux/be in a state of flux CHANGE/BECOME
DIFFERENT 2
fly FAST/QUICK 7, TAKE/BRING 5, TRAVEL 2
fly: I must dash/fly LEAVE A PLACE 2
fly: time flies PASS/TIME PASSING 2
fly off the handle ANGRY 4
fly open: blow/burst/fly open OPEN 2
fly/speed by PASS/TIME PASSING 2
fly up UP 4
flying colours: pass with flying colours PASS A TEST 1
flying start: get off to a flying start START DOING
STH 10
flying visit VISIT 8
fob sb off LIE/TELL A LIE 1
fob sb off with GIVE 16
focus: be the focus of attention ATTENTION 8
focus: in focus CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 2
focus attention on ATTENTION 7
focus on ABOUT 2, ATTENTION 2

fodder
fodder FOOD 2
foe ENEMY 1
foetus/fetus BABY/HAVE A BABY 3
foil PREVENT 3
foist sth on GIVE 16
fold FOLD 1, 3
fold/fold up FOLD 1, 2
fold/go bust FAIL 10
510
FOLD
1 to fold a piece of paper, cloth etc
2 words for describing something such as a
piece of furniture or equipment that is made
in such a way that it can be folded
3 the straight line in something where it has
been folded
4 to open something that is folded
5 ways of saying that clothes get folds or lines
in them when you leave them somewhere, or
when you wear them
1 to fold a piece of paper, cloth etc
fold
fold up/fold
turn down
fold Ifaoldl to bend a piece of paper or cloth ere, laying or
pressing one part of it over to the other part [v T]
fold sth Fold the paper along the dotted line. I fold sth in
two/half (=across the middle) Dan took the ticket and
folded it in two.I fold sth into a square/triangle etc
(=making it the shape of a square etc) Around his neck he
wore a handkerchief folded into a triangle.
fold up/fold / ,foold 'Ap, faold/to fold a piece of paper,
clothing etc several times in order to make it a smaller or
nearer shape, especially before you put it away or inside
something [v T ]
fold up sth Carefully folding up his newspaper, he stood up
and went to the door. I fold sth Shall I show you the right
way to fold a map? l He always folds his clothes carefully
before putting them away. I fold sth/it/them up She wrote
her name at the bottom of the letter, folded it up and put it
in an envelope.
folded [adj only before noun] a pile of folded towels
turn down ]ta:rn 'daon] turn down a sheet/blanket/
collar/page etc (=so that the top or corner of it is pressed
down) [phr v T]
turn down sth I turned down a corner of the page I was
reading and shut the book. I She turned down the blanket,
trying to persuade the child to get into bed. I turn sth/it/
them down Button up your jacket and turn the collar down.
words for describing something such as a
piece of furniture or equipment that is made
in such a way that it can be folded
folding
fold/fold up
folding/'foldirj/[adj only before noun]
A deck chair is a kind offolding chair you use on the beach. ]
Her typewriter was on a folding table in the tent. ] He had
one of those folding bikes you can fit in the back of a car.
fold/fold up/fold, ,fold '^p/[v I not in progressive]
My umbrella folds up and fits into my handbag. ] I want a
push chair that folds easily and weighs very little. I fold up
into sth (=fold into the shape of something else) They have
a futon, a Japanese bed that folds up into a sofa.
follow-up
 the straight line in something where it has
been folded
fold
crease
fold/foldl a straight line where something especially
paper or cloth has been folded In C]
He cut the paper along the fold. I She lay there in the narrow
bed, her chin resting on the fold of the sheet.
crease/kri:s/a straight fold, made carefully, especially
in clothing In C]
He sat down gently so as not to spoil the creases in his new
suit. I I folded the paper back into its original creases and
put it into the drawer.
4 to open something that is folded
unfold
unfold/An' fuld/[v T ]
He took out his handkerchief, unfolded it and blew his nose. ]
"I must lay the table, "" she said, unfolding a clean white linen
tablecloth. I Charles nervously unfolded the letter that had
arrived from his employers.
 ways of saying that clothes get folds or lines
in them when you leave them somewhere, or
when you wear them
crease
get creased
creased
crease/kri:s! if clothes crease, they get folds or lines in
them when you leave them somewhere, or when you wear
them Iv I]
These trousers will crease if you don't hang them up
properly. [ Linen is a beautiful fabric but it creases very easily
and needs to be pressed regularly.
get creased /,get 'kri:st/ an informal expression: if
clothes get creased, they get folds or lines in them when
you leave them somewhere, or when you wear them Iv
phrase]
Don't put your shirts in there - they'll get creased. ] My jacket
got all creased last night. I'll have to iron it.
creased/kri:sq clothes that are creased have folds or
lines in them because you have left them somewhere or
been wearing them [adj]
His shirt was creased at the back where he had been lying
down on it. ] Professor Haines finally showed up wearing
a badly creased suit with stains on the front.
folding FOLD 2
folklore TRADITION 2
folks FAMILY 1 PERSON/PEOPLE 2
'
follow AFTER 5, 9, FOLLOW 1, 3, SUPPORT A TEAM
OR PLAYER 1, UNDERSTAND 4
follow: easy to understand/follow UNDERSTAND 10
follow/go with the crowd IMITATE 3
follow in sb's footsteps IMITATE 4
follow on FOLLOW 1
follow sb around/about FOLLOW 1
follow sb's advice ADVISE 4
follow sb's example IMITATE 4
follow sb's lead IMITATE 4
follow suit IMITATE 1
follow up/follow up on DEAL WITH 2
follow-up AFTER 5
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

FOLLOW 511 FOLLOW
follow
FOLLOW
1 to follow someone
2 to follow a person or animal quickly,
especially in order to catch them
3 to closely follow a person or animal in order
to watch them and find out where they go
4 to closely follow another vehicle
I to follow someone
follow tag along
follow sb around/about follow on
follow / ' folao II  f o:-/to walk, drive, run etc behind some-
one, in the same direction as them Iv I/T]
follow sb/sth Follow me and I'll show you where the office
is. I After the ceremony they all followed the coffin out of the
church and into the cemetery. I Tom Selleck walked in, fol-
lowed by a crowd of photographers. I follow Sarah didn't
know where the theatre was so Fiona went first and every-
body else followed.
follow sb around (also follow sb about in British
English)/,folao (sb) a'raond, ,folao (sb) a'baut II ,fo:-/ to
keep fotlowing someone everywhere they go, especially in
a way that they find annoying [phr v T]
The cat follows her around everywhere. [ No you can't have
any more money, Stephen - and stop following me about!
tag along/,teeg a'lorj II -a 'la:rj/ to follow someone and go
somewhere with them because they have let you do so,
although they do not really want you to go with them [phr
vii
The older boys decided to let Billy tag along. I tag along
behind Susan tagged along close behind us, singing to her-
self. I tag along with Why do you have to keep tagging along
with me? It gets on my nerves.
follow on I,folao 'on II Ifo:lao 'o:nl an expression used
especially in British English meaning to follow someone
to the place where they are going but at a later time [phr v I]
You go ahead. I'll follow on later. [ follow on behind The
bus set off first and we followed on behind in the car.
2 to follow a person or animal quickly,
especially in order to catch them
run after be on/at sb's heels
chase chase after/go after
in pursuit give chase
pursue
run after/,rAn 'a:flar II -'eef-/to run in the same direc-
tion as someone who is running or walking away from you,
especially in order to catch them Iv T]
Two policemen ran after the man, but couldn't catch him. I
The sales assistant ran after her to tell her she'd left her bag
on the counter. I Don't let that dog get away - run after it.
chase/tSeIs/to quickly follow a person an animal that is
trying to escape from you in order to catch them Iv T]
chase sb Ichased him for a few hundred metres, but he was
faster than me. [ chase sb along/down/up etc Suddenly
the dog spotted a cat and chased it up a tree. [ chase sb
away/off(=to chase someone in order to make them leave)
Fortunately our dad was there, and managed to chase the
troublemakers away.
chase In C] Did you see the car chase in the movie "The
French Connection'?
in pursuit/In par'sju:t [[ -'su:t/an expression used espe-
cially in stories and news reports: if you are in pursuit of
someone, you chase them because you want to catch them
lady phrase]
Running furiously in pursuit he shouted, "Stop thief!"[ in
hot pursuit A deer suddenly ran across the road, with a
hunting dog in hot pursuit. 1 in pursuit of He set off in pur-
suit of Darren but didn't manage to catch him.
pursue/par sju: II -,su=/a word used especially in news
reports meaning to chase someone in a very determined
way [v T]
PC Smyth was shot twice as he pursued two men across the
fields. I The ship was being pursued by enemy submarines.
be on/at sb's heels/bi: on, eet (sb's) 'hi:lz/to follow
very closely behind someone who is trying to escape from
you, especially when you want to catch or attack them
[ v phrase]
The rebels headed for the border but government troops were
still at their heels. I be hard/hot/close on sb's heels Just
15 minutes into the race Lawson was already hot on the
champion's heels. I on/at sb's heels He rushed out of the
theatre with a pack of reporters at his heels.
chase after/go after/'tj'eIs ,o:ft r, 'goo-II-,f-I to
follow someone quickly especially because you want to
give them something or tell them something Iv T]
Margaret had left her umbrella on the bus but luckily
another passenger chased after her to give it to her. I He went
after her to try to explain that he hadn't really meant to hurt
her. I Don't bother going after him now. Let him calm down
first.
give chase/,gIv 'teis/an expression used especially in
stories meaning to start to quickly follow someone who is
trying to escape from you, in order to catch them [vphrase]
The driver saw the robbery quite clearly but it was impos-
sible to give chase because of all the traffic.
3 to closely follow a person or animal in order
to watch them and find out where they go
follow stalk
tail track/trail
shadow hound
follow/'folao II 'fo:-/[v T]
He followed her home to find out where she lived. I Whenever
you come here make sure that you are not being followed. I
She complained to a police officer that she was being followed
by two strangers.
tall/ted/if someone such as a police officer tails someone,
they secretly follow that person to find out where they are
going or what they are doing Iv T]
Two policemen tailed him all day, in the hope that he would
lead them to the drugs dealers. I We had to lose the two people
who were tailing us before we could meet. I A black car had
been tailing us for the last 5 miles.
tail In C] Put a tail on him. (=make someone follow him
secretly) I want to know about everything he does in the next
24 hours.
shadow /'eedao/to follow someone or something very
closely in order to watch all their movements without them
realizing that they are being followed Iv T]
US submarines shadowed the Soviet ships and recorded their
sonar signals. [ Consumed with jealousy, he shadowed her
for three days hoping to catch her with her lover.
stalk/sta:k/to follow a person or animal quietly in order
to catch or kill them Iv T]

FOLLOW 512 FOOD
Polar bears stalk seals resting on the ice. I The killer would
stalk his victim, overpower her and then brutally murder
her. I As quietly as a cat stalking a bird, Nicandra approa-
ched the horse.
track/trail /treek, tred/ to follow a person or animal
closely, especially by looking for signs that they have gone
in a particular direction Iv T]
The police trailed the gang to their hideout. I Dogs are used
to track the wolves to their lair in the forest.
hound/haund/to keep following someone, asking them
questions etc because you want to know what they are
doing, in a way that makes them think they are being
treated unfairly Iv T usually in passive]
He had been hounded for years by the security police. I After
the court case she was hounded relentlessly by the press.
4 to closely follow another vehicle
be/sit on sb's tail
tailgate
be/sit on sb's tall/bi:, ,s;t on (sb's) 'ted/[v phrasel
A police car was on their tail within seconds of the alarm
going off. ] That car's been sitting on my tail for the last 10
minutes and I can't get away from it.
tailgate/'tedget/an American word meaning to closely
follow another vehicle Iv I]
I hate people who tailgate - it's really dangerous!
follower SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 6
following AFTER 4, SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR
PLAN 6, SUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 3
folly: be folly STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 3
fond LOVE 4
fond: be fond of ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1, LIKE SB
OR STH 1, 5, LOVE 1
fond: not be fond of/keen on DON'T LIKE 1
fondle TOUCH 2
food FOOD 1 2
,
food: be off your food HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 4
food: go without food HUNGRY/STARVING 1
food: like your food EAT 7
food: play/toy with your food EAT 8
FOOD
words meaning food
food for animals
the type of food that a person or animal
regularly eats
a kind of food that is typical of a particular
area or country
to give food to a person or animal
1 words meaning food
food
something to eat
grub
refreshments
nourishment
foodstuffs
food/fu:d/what people eat in order to grow and stay alive
In C/U]
The carbohydrates, fats and proteins in food provide us with
energy. I After his first heart attack, Ralph was told by his
doctor to avoid all rich food. I The refugee camps are over-
crowded and supplies of food and medicine are rapidly run-
ning out. I Babies start eating solid foods between the ages
offour and nine months. I fast food (=food that is prepared
and served quickly to customers) a new chain offastfood
outlets I junk food (=food that is not very healthy and is
always prepared so that you can eat it immediately) You
shouldn't eat all that junk food, it's bad for you. I health
food (=a special kind of food that people eat because they
think it is good for their health) 'Celestial Seasonings Teas"
are available at your local health food store.
something to eat /,s^mOirJ to 'i:t/an expression used
especially in spoken English, meaning some food, often a
small meal that you eat quickly In phrase]
Have Igor time for something to eat before we go out? I Can
I get you a drink or something to eat? I "Here's a dollar, "said
Michael tossing some coins to the begging child, "get your-
self something to eat. ""
grub/grab/an informal word meaning food In U]
Where's the grub? I'm starving. I Vera's got a job at the
hospital dishing out grub and cleaning up.
refreshments/rfremznts/food and drink which is
served at a public meeting, a performance, or on a long
train journey In plural]
Mrs Thompson has kindly offered to provide the refresh-
ments for the school sports day. I light refreshments (=a
small quantity of food) There will be an interval half way
through the performance when light refreshments will be
served.
nourishment I'n^r;mant II 'n3:-, 'n^-I the things that
are needed for life which you get from food In U]
The foetus gets nourishment via the mother's blood supply. I
A growing child needs proper nourishment and parents
should ensure that they are providing the right kinds of food.
foodstuffs /  fu:dstafs/a word used especially in business
or economics meaning particular types of food In plural]
Romania is experiencing shortages of foodstuffs and impor-
tant raw materials. I Restrictions have been imposed to give
British farmers protection against the import of foreign focal-
stuffs. I The policy has resulted in huge surpluses of food-
stuffs that are dumped on world markets at low prices.
2 food for animals
food
fodder
feed
food Ifu:d/[n U]
New-born birds stay in their nest while their mother goes out
in search of food. I cat/dog etc food The cat food was so dis-
gusting Tiddles wouldn't eat it.
fodder/foda r II 'fo:-/food for farm animals, especially
cattle and horses In U]
All the left-over crops are chopped up and used as cattle
fodder. I The horses lifted their heads when the tractor drove
past, and then returned to their fodder.
feed/fi:d/chicken/hen/animal etc feed (=food for birds
or animals, especially in the form of grain) [n U]
A largepart of our income goes on animal feed. I The farm
has invested in a device for storing chicken feed, from which
the animals can help themselves.
3 the type of food that a person or animal
regularly eats
diet
diet I'damtl [n C]
Many health problems can be cured by changing your diet. I
balanced diet (=a good mixture of healthy foods) Excer-
cise and a well-balanced diet keeps you fit and healthy. I
staple diet (=a main diet consisting of one or two basic
foods) People in the coastal region live on a staple diet of rice
and.flash. I diet of During their training, soldiers learn how
to survive on a diet of fruit, nuts and animals they have killed
and cooked themselves.
4 a kind of food that is typical of a particular
area or country
dish
speciality
delicacy
dish Id[SI [n C]
Paella is a favourite Spanish dish. I The restaurant serves
some excellent French dishes. I a delicious local vegetable
dish with a spicy peanut sauce

FOOD 513 FORBID
speciality/, spefi' algti/a kind of food which is thought
to be the best in a particular restaurant or area, especially
one that it is famous for In C]
"'You must try the breast of pheasant, "" said the waiter, "it's
our speciality. "'1 local speciality Raclette is a local special-
ity consisting of cheese melted over cooked meats and
potatoes.
delicacy/'delikosi/a rare and expensive kind of food
which people in a particular area think is very tasty In C]
Squid is a delicacy in this part of Italy. I Hasan plied us with
drinks and an array of Egyptian delicacies which he brought
from the kitchen.
for EXCHANGE 3, INSTEAD 2, SINCE 1, TIME/HOW
LONG 2, TO/IN ORDER TO 1, TOWARDS 1
for: be for PURPOSE 3
for: be for sth USE STH 5
for: be all for/be all in favour of APPROVE 2
for: play/run/swim etc for REPRESENT 1
for all that BUT 2
for all I know NOT KNOW 3
for all time ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
for ever and ever ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
for it: be in for it/for it
forbid FORBID 1, 3
to give food to a person or animal
feed
feed up
feed/fi:d/Iv T]
Have you fed the cats? l I couldn't come to the phone, I was
feeding the baby. I feed sb on sth The milking cows are fed
on a very rich diet. I He has to feed a family of four on Ј10
a day. I feed sb sth Feed thepatient a little tea and dry toast
at first.
feed up/,fi:d '^pl to give food to a person or animal in
order to make them fat or because they are not eating
enough [phr v T]
feed sb/her/them etc up When I go home during the holi-
days my Mum always feeds me up. ] feed up sb We'll have
to start feeding up the turkey for Thanksgiving soon.
foodstuffs FOOD 1
fool STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 3, STUPID/NOT
SENSIBLE 7, TRICK/DECEIVE 1
fool: any fool/any idiot EVERYONE 2
fool: be fooled TRICK/DECEIVE 4
fool: be nobody's fool INTELLIGENT 4
fool: play the fool STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 8
fool: you could have fooled me BELIEVE 16
fool around/about STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 8
foolhardy STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1
foolish STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1, 3
foolish: silly/foolish STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 4
foolishness STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 9
foolproof CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 3, EFFECTIVE 2
foot: at the foot of BOTTOM 5
foot: get off on the wrong foot START DOING STH 11
foot: on foot WALK 1
foot: put your foot down INSIST 1
foot: put your foot in it MISTAKE 5
foot: shoot yourself in the foot HARM/BE BAD FOR 2
foot: stamp your foot ANGRY 6
foot the bill PAY FOR 9
footing: on an equal footing EQUAL 3
footpath ROAD/PATH 7
footprint MARK 6
footstep WALK 16
footsteps: follow in sb's footsteps IMITATE 4
forbid
FORBID
to refuse to allow someone to do something,
or refuse to allow something to be done
1 to tell someone that they must not do
something
2 to not be allowed to do something
 to state officially that someone must not do
something
4 ways of saying that a particular activity is
forbidden
5 to officially forbid the sale of or trade in
particular goods
6 to forbid someone from going somewhere or
entering a place
7 to forbid someone from taking part in an
activity
8 to officially forbid people from reading books,
watching films etc that are considered morally
harmful or politically dangerous
8 words for describing political organizations
that are forbidden to meet or exist
10 words for describing activities that are
forbidden by social custom or because of
accepted moral standards
11 an official order or statement that forbids
someone from doing something
1 to tell someone that they must not do
something
tell sb not to do sth/say sb can't do sth
not let/not allow
forbid
tell sb not to do sthlsay sb can't do sth/,tel (sb)
not to 'du: (sth), ,sei (sb) ko:nt 'du: (sth) II -kent-/[vphrase]
Grandfather told me not to play football in the back yard. I
The teacher said we shouldn't talk during the class. I If they
say we can't enter the town we'll have to make camp here. I
My doctor told me not to drink any aicohol for the next six
weeks.
not let/not allow/not 'let, not o'lao/to tell someone that
they must not do something, and to prevent them doing it
[vT]
not let sb do sth When I was young, my mother wouldn't
let me eat chocolate. [ John went straight to the hospital, but

FORBID 514 FORBID
the doctor would not let him see his wife mmediately. I Dad
never lets anyone borrow the car. I not allow sb to do sth
Her family did not allow her to marry the man she loved. I
not allow sth My uncle doesn't allow smoking in his house.
forbid/fa r IbId/a formal word meaning to say strongly
that someone must not do something in future Iv T[
forbid sb to do sth I forbid you to come home so late again/[
forbid sth I don "t want you to take risks. In fact I forbid it.[
forbid sb from doing sth Her father forbade her from
going out at night.
2 to not be allowed to do something
not be allowed to do sth can't do sth
be forbidden to do sth be not to do sth
not be allowed to do sth/not bi: 0,1aod t0 'du: (sth)l
[ v phrase]
Sorry Jack, I'm not allowed to go out till I've finished this
homework. [ They're not allowed to repair it themselves
because of the safety regulations. [ You're not allowed to
smoke in here.
be forbidden to do sth/bi: for,bIdn to 'du: (sth)/to be
officially not allowed to do something Iv phrase]
dournalists are forbidden to give details of damage caused
by the bombing. I The workers are low paid and they are for-
bidden to strike. I strictly forbidden (=absolutely forbid-
den) clews were strictly forbidden to own property or to
engage in any business.
can't do sth/,ko:nt 'du: (sth) H ,keent-/a word used espe-
cially in spoken English meaning to not be allowed to do
something Iv phrase]
You can't park there. I I'm sorry, you know I can't discuss
my work. It's very secret. I Apparently, I can "t even leave the
country until I have informed the Interior Ministry.
be not to do sth/bi: ,not to du: (sth)! an expression
meaning to not be allowed to, used especially when giving
instructions Iv phrase]
You're not to tell anybody about this/I The boss told us that
we were not to make personal telephone calls from work. I
Students are not to leave the college campus after dark.
3 to state officially that someone must not do
something
forbid put/impose a ban on
prohibit outlaw
ban blacklist
forbid/for'bid/[v T]
forbid sth New government regulations will forbid imports
of uncooked meat products. [ The Democrats have promised
to forbid any new oil exploration on the south-west coast. [
forbid sb to do sth If we forbid farmers to burn stubble we
must suggest some other method of disposal. [ Club rules
forbid members to smoke in the spectators area. [ forbid sb
from doing sth There are rules forbidding civil servants
and the police from taking part in demonstrations.
prohibit /pro'hibIt [[ proo-/ to forbid an activity by
making it illegal Iv T]
prohibit sth International Law prohibits the use of chemi-
cal weapons. [ Protesters called for abortion to be prohibited
by a change in the law. [ prohibit sb from doing sth The
government is planning to prohibit shopkeepers from sell-
ing cigarettes to children.
ban/been/to forbid someone from doing something, espe-
cially by means of a law or agreement [v T]
ban sb from doing sth Charles was banned from driving
for six months, after being caught speeding again. [ The
ministry has banned oil companies from selling off their
petrol stations. [ ban sth The new school rule bans eating
in classrooms. [ a treaty banning all nuclear testing
put/impose a ban on/,put, Im,pooz o 'been on/to make
an official rule to say that something is forbidden or cannot
be used Iv phrase]
In 1978 the American government put a ban on aerosols with
CFCs. [ It was decided not to impose a ban on unpasteurised
milk and cheese.
outlaw /'aotla:/ to completely forbid something by
making it illegal Iv T]
Attempts to outlaw fox hunting have always failed. [ Slav-
ery was not officially outlawed in Australia until 1859.
blacklist/'bleek,list! to officially forbid someone from
doing a particular job, by putting their name on a list of
people who must not be allowed to do that job [v T]
Members of the Communist party have been blacklisted and
are unable to find work. [ When she tried to get a loan she
found she had been blacklisted.
4 ways of saying that a particular activity is
forbidden
be forbidden will be prosecuted
be prohibited be banned
no smoking/parking etc
be forbidden/bi: for 'bIdn/ [v phrase]
Cycling in thepark is forbidden. [ it is forbidden to do sth
It is forbidden to keep pets in the house. [ be strictly forbid-
den (=be completely forbidden) At college, playing music
after 10 pm was strictly forbidden.
forbidden [adj] At night we used to sneak out of the house
to enjoy the forbidden delights of drinking and dancing in
the bars.
be prohibited/bi: pro'hlbItd [[-pmo-/an expression
used especially in official notices and warnings meaning
to be forbidden by law Iv phrase]
Playing music in the street is prohibited. [ it is be pro-
hibited to do sth It is prohibited to photocopy this work
without permission. I be strictly prohibited (=be abso-
lutely prohibited) Trading on Sundays used to be strictly
prohibited.
no smoking/parking etc /nov (smoking, etc)/ an
expression used especially on signs and notices meaning
smoking is forbidden, parking is forbidden etc
Put that cigarette out. Can't you see the 'No Smoking" sign?[
This is a No Parking area, but you can park just over the
road. [ No Fishing. By order of Thames Water Authority.
will be prosecuted/W.II bi: 'pros]kju:Qd [[ -'pro:-/an
expression used especially in signs and notices meaning
that anyone who breaks the laws mentioned will be taken
to court and punished Iv phrase]
Shoplifters (=people stealing in shops) will be prosecuted. [
Trespassers (=people who enter someone else's land
without permission) will be prosecuted.
be banned/bi: 'beend/to be officially forbidden by laws
or by agreement Iv phrase[
In this village pop festivals are banned because of protests
by the villagers. [After many accidents, the "Mille Miglia"
road-race in Italy was eventually banned.
5 to officially forbid the sale of or trade in
particular goods
impose sanctions
put/impose an embargo on
impose sanctions /Im,pooz 'seeIkSanz I to officially
forbid trade or dealings with a country as a way of punish-
ing it or in order to stop it doing something Iv phrase]
impose sanctions on Reagan imposed sanctions on the
USSR after the invasion of Poland. [ impose sanctions/f
the whaling nations continue to fiout the ban, the only option
will be to impose sanctions.
put/impose an embargo on /,pot, lm,pooz on
Im'ba:rgoo on/to forbid the sale or trade of a particular
product, especially as a way of punishing a country Iv
phrase]
If there are further outbreaks of the disease the government
may put an embargo on Irish cattle. [ an embargo on all
Iraqi oil products

FORBID 515 FORBID
6 to forbid someone from going somewhere or
entering a place
be out of bounds
be off limits
ground
be out of bounds/bi: ,aot ov 'baondz/if a place is out
of bounds, you are not allowed to go there or enter it [v
phrase]
When I was younger, my parents allowed me to go anywhere
except the town centre, which was out of bounds. I be out of
bounds to sb The swimming pool is out of bounds to chil-
dren unless there is an adult there.
be off limits/hi: ,of II:mts/if a place is offlimits, you
are officially forbidden to go there [v phrase]
The officer told the soldiers that the town was off limits. I be
offlimits to That area of the country is off limits to tourists,
unless they have special permission.
ground/graond/an informal American word meaning to
forbid a child to go out with their friends, go to the cinema
etc because they have done something wrong [v T]
Mr Finkelstein grounded his kids after they were caught
fighting at school. I Suddenly, Chuck's father yelled: "I've
had enough of you! You're grounded for a week. ""
7 to forbid someone from taking part in an
activity
bar
suspend
disqualify
bar /bo:r/ to forbid someone from taking part in an
activity, especially because they have done something
wrong [v T usually in passive]
be barred from doing sth The three guilty men were
barred from ever working on the Stock Exchange again. I
bar sb In 1903 the New York School Board barred married
women from teaching.
suspend/so' spend/to forbid someone from continuing to
study or to work for a period of time, because they have
broken a rule or done something wrong [v T]
They caught her cheating in the exam and suspended her for
a week. I A lawyer in Boston was suspended from practice
for three months while a complaint was investigated.
suspension/sospenn! [n U] In this case, the maximum
period of suspension (=of being suspended)/s one year.
disqualify /dskwolfaI II-kwo:-/ to forbid someone
from taking part or competing in an event or activity, espe-
cially a sports competition, because they have broken a
rule [v T]
disqualify sb from The judges disqualified the world
champion from the race. I Mr Maxton was disqualified from
acting as a director of a public company for ten years. I dis-
qualify sb Three British athletes have been disqualified for
taking drugs.
 to officially forbid people from reading books,
watching films etc that are considered morally
harmful or politically dangerous
censor
ban
censorship
censor/'sensor/to examine films, books, letters etc and
take out any parts that are considered to be morally harm-
ful or politically dangerous [v T]
The government censored all letters and telegrams going
abroad during the war. I In this country newspapers are cen-
sored and no criticism of the ruling party is tolerated.
ban/been/to forbid a book, film, play etc from being sold,
seen, performed etc because it is considered morally harm-
ful or politically dangerous [v T]
Films like that should be banned! I Children's comics were
banned in my house because my parents thought they weren't
a good influence. I 'Lady Chatterley's Lover" was banned
when it was first published.
censorship/'sensorfp/the practice of officially examin-
ing films, books, letters etc to take out any parts which are
considered to be morally harmful or politically dangerous
[n U]
There are plans for the censorship of all news if war begins. I
Any films that are shown here have to pass government
censorship.
words for describing political organizations
that are forbidden to meet or exist
banned outlawed
proscribed illegal
banned Ibeend/[adj]
The People's Party, which is still banned, is supported by
35% of the voters. I Leaders of the banned trade union were
arrested last night.
proscribed/proo'skra:bd/a formal word for describing
something, especially a political organization, that is for-
bidden to operate [adj only before noun]
Mr Smith is a member of the proscribed Nationalist League,
an extreme right-wing party. [ She was arrested for allow-
ing her students to read proscribed books.
outlawed / aotb.-d/a political organization that is out-
lawed is completely forbidden to operate because it is con-
sidered extremely bad or dangerous [adj]
Despite being outlawed, the group continued to have meet-
ings in secret. I He was imprisoned for being a member of
the outlawed Communist party.
Illegal / i ' li:gll an illegal political organization is forbid-
den to operate by law [adj]
Johan Brown was the leader of the reform movement when
it was still illegal. I An increasing number of racist attacks
are being carried out by the NPA and other illegal
organizations.
1 0 words for describing activities that are
forbidden by social custom or because of
accepted moral standards
taboo
illicit
taboo/to'bu:, tee'bu:/a subject, word, or activity that is
taboo is not normally talked about or done because it is
considered embarrassing or offensive according to social
custom or accepted moral standards [adj]
Death is still a taboo subject for many people. I Sex before
marriage is no longer taboo in some countries.
taboo [n C] Taboos (=taboo subjects, activities etc) vary
widely from one outline to another.
illicit I I 'lst/illicit love affair/relationship etc (=one
that is secret because society disapproves very strongly of
it) [adj usually before noun]
His wife had long suspected that he was having an illicit rela-
tionship with someone in the office. I She felt guilty after her
illicit meeting with David.
I I an official order or statement that forbids
someone from doing something
ban embargo
injunction sanctions
ban/been/In C]
ban on The ban on short-range nuclear missiles is a vital
first step towards disarmament. [ a total/complete/abso-
lute ban The government is considering a total ban on
cigarette advertising. I impose a ban on (=decide to put a
ban on) The authfrities have been forced to impose a ban on
the use of garden hoses because of the water shortage. I lift
a ban (=decide to stop having a ban) When the ban was
lifted two years ago there was a sudden rush of applicants.

FORBID 516 FORCE SB TO DO STH
injunction IinldSAiJkfan/an official order made by a court
forbidding someone to do something, which includes a
threat of punishment if they ignore the order [n C]
A court injunction forbade Clive Heywood to enter his wife's
house. [ take out an injunction (=get an injunction from
a court) The government is taking out an injunction against
the newspaper to try to stop it publishing a secret report.
embargo / im bo,- rg)u/an official order forbidding trade
of a particular product with a particular country for polit-
ical or economic reasons In C]
trade/oil/arms etc embargo There was a relaxation of the
American trade embargo. I embargo on sth an embargo
on Irish dairy products. I embargo on a country The
government has imposed an arms embargo on countries
involved in international terrorism.
sanct|ons /  seeokfgnz] official orders forbidding trade or
dealings with a particular country, used as a way of punish-
ing them or stopping them from doing something [nplural]
sanctions against sb The French parliament supported the
idea of sanctions against Mussolini. I put/impose sanc-
tions (=start having sanctions) Reagan imposed sanctions
against the USSR.
: forbidden: be forbidden FORBID 4
!: forbidden: be forbidden to do sth FORBID 2
:'' forbidding UNFRIENDLY 4
!i* force FORCE SB TO DO STH 2, 3, OPEN 6, PUSH 6,
iliii STRONG PERSON 5, VIOLENT 6
: force: be the driving force IMPORTANT 7
: force: in force/in strength LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
:" AMOUNT 7
 force: use force FORCE SB TO DO STH 1
force of habit HABIT 2
force
force
force
force
force
open OPEN 6
sbtodosth FORCE SB TO DO STH 1
sth on FORCE SB TO DO STH 4
your way PUSH 7
your way in ENTER 4
--FORCE SB TO DO
STH
to make someone do something that they do
not want to do, by using threats
to force someone to do something by trying
hard and continuously to persuade them, so
that it is very difficult for them to refuse
ways of saying that something such as a bad
situation forces someone to do something
to force someone to accept something that
they do not want
to make someone do something that they do
not want to do, by using threats
force sb to do sth use force
make sb do sth use strongarm tactics/
coerce methods
compel under duress
force sb to do sth/fa:rs (sb) ta 'du: (sth)/[v phrase]
The thieves tied me up and forced me to lie on the floor. [ be
forced to do sth All the hostages were forced to hand over
their passports. [ I only gave him the money because I was
forced to. [ force sb into sth She claimed that she had
initially refused to take part in the robbery, but was forced
into it by her husband.
make sb do sth/meIk (sb) du: (sth)/[v phrase]
The circus has been prosecuted for making the animals do
cruel and dangerous tricks. [ Even though it is compulsory
to wear seat belts we can't make people wear them. [ be made
to do sth He was made to lie face-down on the floor with his
hands behind his head.
coerce/koo's:rs/to force someone to do something that
they do not want to do by threatening that something bad
might happen to them if they don't do it Iv T]
coerce sb into doing sth The mine owners coerced the
workers into going back to work by threatening to close down
the mines completely. I coerce sb into sth Political oppo-
nents were put into camps during the war and coerced into
forced labour. I coerce sb Israel's leaders are refusing to be
coerced by the United States.
coercion Ikao'a:rfan/ In U] When peaceful methods of
persuasion had failed the government tried using coercion
(=using threats to force someone to do something).
compel/kampel/a word used formally or in literature,
meaning to force someone to do something by threatening
them [v T]
compel sb to do sth If necessary, we can compel you to pay
or go to prison. ] Finally, with threats of violence against him
and his family, they compelled him to talk. I compel sb "Do
not compel me, "'I cried. "'I would rather die!'"
use force/,ju:z 'fa:rsl if someone uses force, they hit,
shoot, or use other forms of violence against people in order
to make them do something or stop them from doing some-
thing Iv phrase]
In the fight against terrorism governments often have no
choice but to use force. I The law permits every citizen to use
reasonable force to defend themselves or their property. I use
force against sb The police have recently had to defend their
policy of using force against rioters.
use strongarm tactics/methods/ju:z strtrjo:rm
,taktiks, ,meOodz l[ -' stm:Ij-/if a group of people such as the
police use strongarm tactics or methods, they use vio-
lence or the threat of violence to make other people do
something, and you think this is wrong [v phrase]
The police have been accused of using strongarm tactics
when breaking up strikes and public demonstrations. [ use
strongarm tactics/methods to do sth More and more
credit companies are using strongarm methods to collect
debts which are owed to them.
under duress/Anda r djores II -dores/if someone does
something under duress, they only agree to do it because
they have been threatened, not because they want to do it
[ adv phrase]
The defendants claimed that their confessions were made
under duress and were therefore not valid evidence. I Treaties
that have been imposed under duress often turn out to be
highly unequal and unfair.
2 to force someone to do something by trying
hard and continuously to persuade them, so
that it is very difficult for them to refuse
force
make
put pressure on
pressurize
pressure
force/fa:rs/[v T]
bully
push
browbeat
emotional blackmail
be breathing down sb's neck
force sb to do sth Women's organizations are trying to force
the government to appoint more women to senior positions. I
force sb You don't have to come if you don't want to.
Nobody's forcing you. I force sb into doing sth Her par-
ents are trying to force her into marrying a man she hardly
knows. I force sb into sth I had never thought of buying
an insurance policy, and I wasn't going to allow myself to
be forced into it now by some young salesman. I force sb out
of Eddie feels that he was forced out of his job in order to
make way for a younger man.
make/melk/to make someone do something by telling
them they must do it Iv T]
make sb do sth I wanted to watch the film but my parents
made me do my homework. I Karen made him promise never
to discuss the subject again. [ make sb I really didn't want
to go but she made me.
put pressure on/pot 'preWar tnl to force someone to do
something they do not want to do by making them feel they

FORCE SB TO DO STH
517
forces
should do it because it is their duty or because other people
are depending on them Iv phrase]
put pressure on sb to do sth Her husband's putting pres-
sure on her to give up her job and stay at home. I They're
always putting pressure on us to do more work. I put pres-
sure on sb Listen, I'm not trying to put any pressure on you,
I'm just offering you some friendly advice.
pressurize (also -ise British) /'preJ'araiz/ to unfairly
make someone feel that they must do something, especially
something that is not suitable or good for them Iv T]
pressurize sb into doing sth Japanese school children are
often pressurized into studying very hard from an early age
by their parents. I pressurize sb If she feels you're trying
to pressurize her in any way she won't do it.
pressure/'prefor/a word used especially in American
English meaning to force someone to do something that
they do not want to do, especially by using your influence
unfairly Iv T]
pressure sb to do sth Her boyfriend is pressuring her to
have an abortion. I pressure sb I'll get this done as soon as
I can -just don't pressure me, OK! I pressure sb into doing
sth The committee pressured him into resigning.
bully / 'bull/to unfairly force someone to do something that
you know they do not want to do by shouting at them,
threatening them etc Iv I/T]
bully sb into doing sth If you try and bully him into giving
you the money he's sure to say no -you should try and per-
suade him gently. I bully sb into sth I didn't want to go on
this holiday but my boyfriend managed to bully me into it.I
bully sb Don't let the salesman bully you - it's your choice. I
bully She was a wonderful boss. She never bullied or threa-
tened but she always got the best from her workers.
push/pof/to strongly encourage someone to do some-
thing, especially something that they think is difficult Iv T]
push sb to do sth My parents keep pushing me to get a good
job. I push sb We were taught by excellent teachers who
pushed us really hard. I push sb into doing sth These days
children are being pushed into learning almost as soon as
they can talk.
browbeat /Ibraobi:t/to force someone to do what you
want them to do by repeatedly asking them to do it until
they finally agree to do it Iv T]
browbeat sb into doing sth They tried to browbeat him
into handing over the information. I browbeat sb into sth
I really didn't want to make this speech - I was browbeaten
into it by my colleagues. I browbeat sb The salesman tried
browbeating me but it didn't work.
emotional blackmail /i,mooanol 'blakmeil/ an
attempt to force someone to do something, by making them
feel guilty for not doing it In U]
She's always using emotional blackmail and playing on
other people's feelings. I Any relationship that has to depend
on emotional blackmail can't be a healthy one.
be breathing down sb's neck/bi: ,bri:6I daon (sb's)
'nek/ an informal expression: if someone is breathing
down your neck about something, they keep asking you
when you are going to do it in order to make you do it soon
[ v phrase ]
I'm already really busy today, and now Paul's breathing
down my neck saying he wants the Paris deal completed as
soon as possible. I have sb breathing down your neck
We'd better start sending out those letters soon - I've had my
boss breathing down my neck about it all week.
3 ways of saying that something such as a bad
situation forces someone to do something
force
leave sb with no
choice/option
be condemned to
make sb do sth
drive
compel sb to do sth
force/f:rs/[v T]
force sb to do sth They had so little money that they were
forced to sell the farm. I We only stopped playing when we
were forced to by bad weather. I force sb into sth In the
third world, girls are often forced into prostitution because
they have no other means of earning money.
make sb do sth/,meik (sb) ,du: (sth)/[v phrase not in
passive]
What made him decide to leave his job so suddenly? l Previ-
ous experience has made me think twice about getting mar-
ried again.
drive /draIv/ if something, especially someone else's
behaviour drives someone to do something, it has such a
bad effect on them that it forces them to take extreme action
Iv T]
drive sb to do sth At the trial she claimed that her hus-
band's violence against her throughout her marriage had
driven her to kill him. I drive sb to despair/desperation
The general feeling of hopelessness is driving many people
to despair. I drive sb to drink (=make someone drink alco-
hol all the time in order to forget their situation) Fear of
losing his job almost drove him to drink. I drive sb into
doing sth Her mother's continual nagging drove her into
running away from home.
compel sb to do sth/kompel (sb) to 'du: (sth)/a word
used formally or in literature, meaning to force someone
to do something Iv phrase]
The high cost of materials will compel manufacturers to
increase their prices. I These people are compelled by poverty
to commit crime. I More and more details of her private life
appeared in the press, thus compelling her to resign.
leave sb with no choice/option /li:v (sb) wI6 ,nov
'tais, 'opJan II -'o:p-/ifa bad situation or someone's action
leaves you with no choice or option but to do something,
you are forced to do it because it is the only thing you can
do even though you may not want to do it Iv phrase]
leave sb with no choice/option but to do sth You leave
me with no option but to resign. I leave sb with no choice/
option After the dog attacked the postman we had to have
it destroyed. We were left with no choice.
be condemned to/bi: kon'demd tu:/to be forced to
accept a very unhappy situation because there is nothing
else you can do Iv phrase]
be condemned to do sth The rich lived in luxury while
thousands were condemned to live a life of poverty and
despair. I be condemned to sth When her marriage broke
up she saw herself condemned to loneliness and exile.
4 to force someone to accept something that
they do not want
force sth on
impose
inflict sth on
force sth on/'f::rs (sth) on II -toni [phr v T]
He thinks that just because he's the boss he can force his opin-
ions on everybody. I You shouldn't blame your father - the
decision was forced on him by his situation. I The victorious
armies forced humiliating conditions on the local popula-
tion.
Impose/imlpooz/if you impose your ideas and beliefs
on other people, you force them to have the same ideas and
beliefs as you Iv T]
impose sth on Parents should try to avoid imposing their
own beliefs and moral values on their children. I impose sth
Within days of being appointed off'we manager he had
imposed his own working methods.
imposition /  impo zIan/In U] Libyan officials are against
what they see as the imposition of American influence on
their country's affairs.
Inflict sth on/]n'fllkt (sth) on [[ -Q:n/to force someone
to accept something that causes them harm or suffering
[phr v T]
The new policy means that even higher bills will be inflicted
on the tax payer. I As time progressed, the king inflicted
harsher and harsher measures on the people.
 forced: be forced/compelled to do sth MUST 1
forceful PERSUADE 8, 9
 forces ARMY 1
 forces: join forces UNITE 1

foreboding 518 FORGET
foreboding FRIGHTENED 10
forecast PREDICT 1, 3
foregone conclusion: be a foregone conclusion
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
foreground: in the foreground FRONT 4
foreign FOREIGN 1
FOREIGN
not from or belonging to your own country
a person who comes to your country from
another country
in or to a foreign country
1 not from or belonging to your own country
foreign
overseas
foreign/'forIn II 'fa:-, 'fo:-/[adj]
Thousands of foreign students come to England every
summer to study English. I There are several methods of
teaching foreign languages. I Over 500foreign banks have
now established offices in the USA. I He sounds foreign, but
I don't recognize his accent. Where do you think he comes
from?
overseas /I;)ovor'si:z-/overseas students/trade/cus-
tomers etc (=from another country, especially a country
that is a long distance away) [adj only before noun]
The university has a large number of overseas students. I
Overseas trade is expected to increase significantly next
year.I The car industry is suffering because of overseas
competition.
2 a person who comes to your country from
another country
foreigner alien
immigrant expatriate
foreigner/'forna r II 'f3:-, 'fo:-I a word sometimes used
in an impolite or disapproving way meaning someone who
comes from another country [n C]
It is difficult for a foreigner to understand these old tradi-
tions. ] Our son has married a foreigner - we hope their chil-
dren will be bilingual. I Jo is in Madrid attending a summer
course for foreigners.
immigrant /lxmgrant/ someone who leaves their own
country and goes to live in another country, especially
because they hope to earn more money or have a better life
there [n C] ,.
Most of the immigrants in France come from North Africa. I
.illegal immigrant (=an immigrant who has come into a
country illegally) The ship's captain was arrested for trans-
porting illegal immigrants.
immigrant [adj only before noun] Immigrant workers often
get the lowest-paid jobs.
.alien / exlian/a legal word meaning someone who lives or
works in your country, but who comes from another coun-
try [n C]
'Some aliens may qualify for citizenship under the new law. I
illegal aliens Corrupt officials have allowed hundreds of
illegal aliens into the country.
expatriate ]eks'patdat,-trielt [[ eks'peI-/someone who
has gone to live in a foreign country, especially because
they have a job there or have enough money to live there
without working [n C]
He's been working in Barcelona for a year, but his friends
are all expatriates, not local people. I Klaus is a German
expatriate who has been living in Portugal since he sold his
business in 1989.
expatriate [adj] Several expatriate families have left the
country since war broke out. ,
3 in or to a foreign country
abroad
overseas
abroad/'bra:d/[adv]
be abroad My boss is abroad this week. [ go/live/work etc
abroad We wanted to go abroad for our holiday this year,
but we can't afford it. [ abroad The company hopes to
increase its share of the market both at home and abroad. [
Keino's job is to look after the interests of Kenyan athletes
abroad.
overseas /aova r Isi:z,/in or to a foreign country, espe-
cially one that is a long distance away lady]
go/live/work etc overseas I went overseas and worked as
a journalist in Thailand. I David joined the army in June
and was sent overseas in September. 1 overseas The radio
broadcast is for listeners overseas.
foreigner FOREIGN 2
foreman IN CHARGE OF 3
foremost BEST 1
foremost: first and foremost MAIN 5
forerunner BEFORE 13
foresee PREDICT 2
foreseeable PREDICT 5
forestall PREVENT 3
forever ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
forever: be forever doing sth KEEP DOING STH 1
forewarn WARN 1
forfeit LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY MORE 1
forge COPY 3
forge ahead PROGRESS 2
forgery COPY 6, FALSE 2
forget FORGET 1, 2, 4, STOP DOING STH 3
forget: don't forget REMEMBER 8
 forget: forgive and forget FORGIVE 1
forget: never forget/always remember REMEMBER 6
forget it FORGIVE 2
@ FORGET
to no longer remember something
I to forget facts, information, or something that
happened in the past
:2 to forget to do something that you have to do
3 to forget something suddenly or for a short
time
4 to deliberately try to forget about something
sad or unpleasant that happened to you in
the past
,5 words for describing someone who often
forgets things
6 the inability to remember anything
1 to forget facts, information, or something that
happened in the past
forget
not remember
have no recollection of
forget/far'get/[v I/T]
It's my birthday tomorrow. I hope you haven't forgotten. I
forget sth/sb There's a wonderful new restaurant - I forget
the name -just opened down by the riverside. I I'll never
forget how beautiful you looked on our wedding day. ] forget
(that) I keep forgetting that you don't take sugar in coffee. [
forget what/where/how etc She forgot where she'd
parked the car. I forget about Charles has forgotten about
Tanya coming to visit.
not remember/nt ri  membar/to not be able to remem-
ber something that you are trying to remember Iv I/T]

FORGET 519 FORGET
"How did you get home after the party last night?" "'I can't
remember. "" I not remember sb/sth I went up to him and
shook his hand but he clearly didn't remember me. I Let's
play another song - I can't remember the words to that one. I
not remember what/where/how etc Banks couldn't
remember where he'd arranged to meet them and there was
no way to contact them now. I not remember doing sth She
must have brought the cigarettes with her because he didn't
remember buying any.
have no recollection of/hv ,nao reka'lekJ'an Dv/ a
formal expression meaning to not be able to remember
something Iv phrase not in progressive]
Eva has no recollection of her mother at all. She died during
the birth. I I have no recollection of living in Australia, as
my family left for England when I was three years old.
dry up /,dra '^p/to forget what you were going to say or
what you are supposed to say when speaking or acting,
especially because you are nervous [phr v I]
I'd been talking confidently for about five minutes and all
of a sudden I just dried up. ] There was one worrying moment
where the actor playing Hamlet seemed to dry up for a few
seconds, but he soon remembered the next line.
go in one ear and out the other/gao, m w^n, lar and
,aot 6i '^6at/if a piece information, details etc go in one
ear and out the other you forget them very quickly
because you are not interested or listening properly Iv
phrase]
She understands nothing about football so it all goes in one
ear and out the other. ] I find physics so boring. It just goes
in one ear and out the other.
2 to forget to do something that you have to do
forget
not remember
slip your mind
forget/far'get/Iv I/T]
"Did you post that letter? .... Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. "'[ forget
sth Dave wrote a list so he wouldn't forget all the things he
had to do. I forget to do sth I forgot to tell you to bring plenty
of warm clothing. ] forget about I'm sorry I didn't write to
you but in the excitement I forgot all about it. ] clean forget
(-to completely forget) He meant to invite Monica to the
party but he clean forgot!
not remember/not rl 'membar/ to forget to do some-
thing, especially something important that you wanted to
remember Iv I/T]
not remember sth I brought the wine glasses but unfor-
tunately I hadn't remembered the corkscrew. I not remem-
ber to do sth She didn't remember to lock the windows when
she went out. I not remember I asked Ran to close the win-
dows before leav.ing the house but he didn't remember.
slip your mind / ,shp ja: r 'mamd/if something that you
must do, especially something that is not very important,
slips your mind, you forget to do it because you are too
busy thinking about other things Iv phrase]
"I'm sure we agreed to meet here. "" "Maybe it's just slipped
his mind. "1 slip your mind that Jean's just moved house
- it probably slipped her mind that we'd arranged to meet
up for coffee yesterday.
3 to forget something suddenly or for a short
time
your mind goes blank
be on the tip of your
tongue
escapes me
can't place
dry up
go in one ear and out
the other
your mind goes blank/ja: r ,malnd gaoz 'bleeok! if your
mind goes blank you are suddenly not able to remember
a fact or piece of information at a time when you need it
My mind's gone blank - I can't remember her name. I Anne
had studied really hard for the exam but when she saw the
exam paper her mind went blank.
be on the tip of your tongue/bi: on 6a ,tip av ja: r 'tAtJ/
ifa name is on the tip of your tongue, you usually know
it but have difficulty remembering it at that moment Iv
phrase]
That place we visited in Paris, what's it called? It's on the
tip of my tongue. Oh yes - La Geode.
escapes me/ 'skeps mi:! ifa name escapes you, you
forget it for a very short time but you know you will
remember it soon Iv phrase]
I've seen that actor in quite a few films but his name escapes
me for the moment.
can't place/,ka:nt 'piers [[ ,keent-/ if you can't place
something such as a person, a smell etc, you recognize it
but have forgotten the name or where you met them before
[ v phrase ]
I'm sure I've seen him before but I just can't place him. ] Her
perfume seemed so familiar but he couldn't place it.
4 to deliberately try to forget about something
sad or unpleasant that happened to you in
the past
forget
put sth out of your
mind
put sth behind you
erase
take your mind off
let bygones be bygones
live sth down
forget/far'get/Iv I/T]
forget sb/sth Years after they'd divorced Olivia found it
very difficult to forget John. I forget (that) Forget I men-
tioned it. I didn "t mean to hurt your feelings. I forget People
said he had been injured in the war and drank to forget. I
forget about We can forget about the accident now and con-
centrate on getting on with our lives.
put sth out of your mind/,pot (sth) aot av j:r 'mand/
to make yourself stop thinking about something bad that
has happened to you so that you can think clearly about
what you are doing at the moment Iv phrase]
Try to put the other candidates out of your mind and con-
centrate on doing your best in the interview, l It's best to put
the whole thing out of your mind. The marriage would never
have worked.
put sth behind you/,pot (sth) b: 'ha:nd ju:/to forget
something sad or unpleasant that happened in the past so
that you can continue with your life and try to be happy
[ v phrase ]
Try and put the incident behind you and get on with normal
life. [ The team have put last week's disappointment behind
them and are looking forward to next week's game.
erase/i 'relz II i'reis/to succeed in making yourself forget
something bad that has happened, especially something
that has stayed in your mind for a long time and is difficult
to forget Iv T]
Nothing anybody does or says can erase the memory of the
pain and hardship we suffered. I Alice looked at him and
tried to erase from her mind that fact that he had hurt her
so much.
take your mind off/,telk ja: r 'malnd of/if you do some-
thing to take your mind off something bad that has hap-
pened or that worries you, you do it in order to forget it for
a short time Iv phrase]
I love gardening, it really takes my mind off things. I Hefinds
that the best way to take his mind off impending exams is
to play lots of sports.
let bygones be bygones/let ,bagonz bi: 'balgonz [[
-ga:nz/you say let bygones be bygones when you think
someone should forget something bad that someone else
has done in the past and forgive them for it [v phrase]
I know you never got along with your father when you were
a child but don't you think it's time you let bygones be
bygones?
live sth down/,llv (sth) 'daon/to live long enough for
people to forget something bad or stupid that you did in the
past [phr v T]
live it down I behaved so stupidly - and in front of every-
one. I'll never live it down. [ The President has got it wrong
and the press are not going to let him live it down. [ live
down sth Will she be able to live down these racist remarks?

FORGET 520 FORGIVE
 words for describing someone who often
forgets things
forgetful scatterbrained
have a bad memory have a memory
absent-minded like a sieve
forgetful/far I getfal/someone who is forgetful often for-
gets things, especially things they have to do, so that people
think they are not very organized [adj]
Some forgetful person had left their bag on the train. I I'm
getting very forgetful in my old age - I just can't remember
people's names.
forgetfulness In U] Fabiano had all the symptoms of the
disease; slow speech, forgetfulness and lack of concentration.
have a bad memory/hav a ,bd Imemari/to not be
able to remember things, especially facts or information
Iv phrase not in progressive]
John has problems with his school work because he has such
a bad memory. I have a bad memory for Ihave such a bad
memory for names, I'm sorry.
absent.minded/leebsant Imandad-/ someone who is
absent-minded always forgets things, such as where they
have put something or what they have to do, especially
because they are thinking about other things [adj]
He spends hours looking for his glasses when usually they
are in his pocket. He's so absent-minded. I John liked to give
people the impression that he was a typical absent-minded
professor, with his head lost in thought.
scatterbrained /Isktarbrend/ someone who is
scatterbrained is always forgetting to do things and losing
things because they do not think about things in a practi-
cal way [adj]
Mrs Pearson is far too scatterbrained to run a business. She
can't even look after her own money.
scatterbrain In C] You took a list to the store but forgot to
read it? What a scatterbrain!
have a memory like a sieve/hav a ,memari lak a Is[v/
an informal expression meaning to be unable to remem-
ber things, especially facts or information Iv phrase not in
progressive ]
He can never remember people's names - he has a memory
like a sieve.
6 the inability to remember anything
amnesia
loss of memory
amnesia/eem'ni:zia II -3a/the medical condition of not
being able to remember anything, especially caused by
damage to the brain after an accident, illness etc In U]
Carlton suffered from amnesia for quite a while after the car
crash - he didn't know where he lived or anything.
amnesiac/em'ni:ziek/In C] In his latest film he plays an
amnesiac (=someone with amnesia) who meets his wife but
doesn't recognize her.
loss of memory /,les av 'rnemari II ila:s-/the state ofnot
being able to remember anything, especially for a short
time In phrase]
Taking this drug can lead to temporary loss of memory.
forgetful FORGET 5
forgive FORGIVE 1
forgive: I forgive you FORGIVE 2
forgive: never forgive FORGIVE 4
forgive and forget FORGIVE 1
forgive me SORRY/APOLOGIZE 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
FORGIVE
to decide not to blame someone or be angry
with them although they have done
something wrong
to forgive someone
what you say to someone to tell them that you
forgive them
words for describing behaviour that cannot
be forgiven
to refuse to forgive someone for something
they did in the past
1 to forgive someone
forgive pardon
excuse forgive and forget
forgive/far'gIv/[v I/T not in progressive]
forgive sb/sth I'm sorry I called you a liar - do you for-
give me? [ Carelessness might have been forgiven but not
deliberate sabotage. [ forgive sb for sth I don "t think she'll
ever forgive me for telling Richard her secret. [ forgive It's
very hard to forgive when you have been deeply hurt by some-
one. [ forgive sb sth I find it hard to forgive him his unkind-
ness to Anna.
forgiving [adj] Some teachers are more forgiving than
others.
excuse/Ik' skju:z/to forgive a small fault such as care-
lessness, rudeness, lateness etc Iv T not in progressive]
Please excuse my bad handwriting. [ I hope you'll excuse my
brother if he talks too much, he's rather excitable.
pardon/' po: rdn/a formal word meaning to forgive some-
one for something that is not serious, such as impolite or
bad-tempered behaviour Iv T not in progressive]
pardon sb for sth I am so sorry about that, Mr Judd. Please
pardon my daughter for her little outburst. [ pardon sth
Frank's behaviour was childish, but easy to pardon consider-
ing all he had been through.
forgive and forget/farig:v and far Iget/to forgive some-
one for something that happened in the past, usually a long
time ago Iv phrase usually in infinitive]
You two haven't said a word to each other for a year now.
Don't you think it's time to forgive and forget? [ Angela's
father was not a man who found it easy to forgive and forget.
2 what you say to someone to tell them that you
 forgive them
it's all right/ forget it
alright/OK don't give it
I forgive you another thought
don't worry about it no hard feelings
it's all rightlalrightlOK/:ts ,a:l 'raIt, a:l'ra:t, lao 'keI/
(used when someone tells you they are sorry and they feel
bad about what they have done)
"'Look, I'm really sorry about all the trouble I've caused you. ""
"'It's OK, everything's been sorted out. "'1 "/'m afraid I've lost
that book you lent me. '" "'It's all right. I'm sure I have another
copy somewhere.'"
I forgive you/a farlgv ju:/(used especially when talk-
ing to a close friend or member of your family, to tell them
you have stopped being angry with them)
I was very upset by whatyou said, but anyway Iforgiveyou,
so let's be friends again.
don't worry about it I idaont IwAri abaot it [[ -Iwa:ri-/
(used when someone says they are sorry about something
they have done and you want to tell them that it is not
important)
"I should have given you the information this afternoon. I
apologize. "" "Don't worry about it. ""

FORGIVE
521
forget it/fa r 'get it/(an informal expression used when
someone says they are sorry, and you want to tell them that
you do not blame them at all)
"'I do feel guilty about spoiling your plans. "" "'Forget it. I
know you didn't mean to. ""
don't give it another thought/daunt ,grv It a,nA6a r
'Oa:t] (a polite expression used when someone says they are
sorry, and you want to tell them that there is no need for
them to be sorry)
"'I'm sorry we had to cancel the party. .... Oh, please don't give
it another thought. It wasn't your fault you were ill. t"
no hard feelings /,nau ho:rd 'fi:l[rjz/ (an informal
expression used when you want to tell someone that you
are not angry with them, even though they have upset you
or you have quarrelled with them)
Okay, I'll leave. No hard feelings, Sam, I quite understand
why you don't want me around.
3 words for describing behaviour that cannot
be forgiven
unforgivable/unforgiveable
inexcusable
unforgivablelunforgiveable/,Anfar'givabdl./[adj]
What you did to your poor mother was unforgiveable. I In
party politics the only unforgivable crime is disloyalty.
unforgivably [adv] The manager's treatment of her was
unforgivably cruel.
Inexcusable/, inik' skju:zabdl/an action or situation that
is inexcusable cannot be excused and someone must be
blamed for it, because there is no good reason for it [adj]
Anyone can make a mistake, but to ignore basic safety regu-
lations is quite inexcusable. [ it is inexcusable that It is
inexcusable that the governrnent has never paid a cent to the
widows of these brave men.
inexcusably [ adv ] The boys were inexcusably rude to their
teachers.
4 to refuse to forgive someone for something
they did in the past
never forgive
bear a grudge
hold it against
never forgive/,neva r far'g[v/[v phrase]
I was once unfaithful to her, and she's never really forgiven
me. I If anything happened to the children while I was look-
ing after them I'd never forgive myself.
bear a grudge/,bear a 'gr^d3/to feel anger or dislike
towards someone for a long time because you believe that
they have harmed you or treated you badly Iv phrase]
We had to expel him from the college, and I think he still
bears a grudge. ] bear sb a grudge I feel that she treated
me unfairly, but I don't bear her any grudge.
hold it against/,haold It a'gensq to continue to blame
someone for something, so that it influences your attitude
towards them Iv phrase]
If you refuse to help him now, he'll hold it against you for
the rest of your life. I I hope you won't hold it against me if
I offer you some friendly criticism.
fork out PAY FOR 2
form ASK A QUESTION 9, BE 1, 2, CLASS/GROUP
OF STUDENTS 1, CROWD 3, MAKE 4, 7,
SHAPE 1
form: in the shape of/in the form of SHAPE 3
form: true to form TYPICAL 2
form a group/get into a group GROUP OF PEOPLE 12
form a part of/form part of PART 10
form a picture/an idea IMAGINE 1
form of TYPE 1
formal POLITE 3
formality POLITE 4
formation ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE 2
former BEFORE 6, PAST 4
FORWARD
 formerly BEFORE 2, PAST 3
 formless SHAPE 5
formula: recipe for/formula for WAY/METHOD 4
 formulate PLAN 1
 fort: hold the fort RESPONSIBLE 7
--,,
..,
i forte: be sb's forte GOOD AT 9
 forthcoming SOON 5
 forthright HONEST 4
:i forthwith IMMEDIATELY 1
i!- fortuitous CHANCE/BY CHANCE 2
 fortunate LUCKY 1, 2, 3
....a: fortunately: luckily/fortunately LUCKY 7
i  fortune: be worth a fortune VALUE 3
 fortune: be worth a fortune/be worth millions RICH 3
i fortune: cost a fortune EXPENSIVE 2
i fortune: have the good fortune to do sth LUCKY 1
 fortune: make a bundle/fortune RICH 7
 fortune: make a fortune EARN 4, PROFIT 4
{ fortune/small fortune MONEY 2
 fortunes EXPERIENCE 1
 forum DISCUSS 5
i forward FRONT 4, SEND 3
forward/forwards FORWARD 1
.:
! orward-looking MODERN 2
 forward planning PLAN 2
FORWARD
1 ways of saying that someone or something
moves or faces towards the front
2 to move forward
I ways of saying that someone or something
moves or faces towards the front
forward/forwards on
ahead onward
forward (also forwards in British English)/'f3:rward(z)/
[adv]
She leaned slowly forward and whispered "I love you'" in his
ear. I Ever since we had the crash the car won't move for-
ward, only backward. I Bill took two steps forward and
shook Mark's hand. I Sit facing forward with your legs
straight out in front of you. I Bending your knees forward
will help you to control the skis more easily. I Since I'd last
seen him he'd grown his hair forwards into a fringe and cut
it short over the ears. I backwards and forwards The chil-
dren ran backwards and forwards along the beach, trying
to catch each other.
ahead /a'hed/ if someone or something moves ahead,
looks ahead etc, they move or look towards a place in front
of them [adv]
"'I can see something on the horizon" shouted the sailor,
pointing ahead. I He stuck his head out of the window but
it was impossible to see ahead through the fog. I straight
ahead (=directly ahead) The horse moved straight ahead,
not looking at the people on either side.
on/on II o:n, a:n/if someone or something moves on, they
move forward in order to get to a particular place [adv]
The bank?Keep on in this direction for about 100 metres, and
you'll see it on your left. I Could you run the videotape on to
the part of the film where she tells him she's divorcing him. I
straight on (=directly ahead) No wonder we got lost. We
turned right when we should have gone straight on.
onward (also onwards in British English)/'onward(z) II
'o:n-, -'a:n-/if someone or something moves, travels etc
onward, they move or travel forward, especially in order
to continue a journey [adv]
Onward he rode, deep into the dark and gloomy forest. I The
train moved out of the station slowly, and crept onward
among ruined houses, and over the river. I We wandered
slowly onwards, pausing now and again to admire the view.

FORWARD 522 FREE/COST NOTHING
2 to move forward
advance
nose
move up surge
advance /ad'vo:ns 11 ad'vensl if a person or army,
advances, they move forward in a slow and determined
way, for example, in order to threaten or attack someone
Iv I]
As her teacher advanced she desperately tried to think of an
excuse for her behaviour. I advance/across/into/through
ete In early 1940 the army began to advance across France,
determined to conquer Paris. I A woman cried out in fear as
the man advanced menacingly towards them.
move up/,mu:v '^p/if someone or something that is in
a line of other people or things moves up, they move for-
ward to be in the position immediately in front of where
they were before [phr v I]
The bank clerks seemed to be working really slowly as I
moved up the line. [ move up next to/alongside etc Sud-
denly a car moved up alongside Joseph and the driver
shouted something at him.
nose/naoz/if a vehicle noses through or into something,
it moves forward slowly and carefully in order to avoid hit-
ting things in its way Iv II
nose through/past/in etc The Rolls-Royce was slowly
nosing along the busy roadway, crowded with market stalls
and old parked cars. I nose your way The ship cautiously
nosed her way through the small fishing boats in the
harbour.
surge/sa:rd3/ifa crowd of people surges, the people sud-
denly move forward together very quickly Iv I]
surge forward/through/into etc More recent barriers are
designed to give. way if spectators surge forward too vio-
lently. I Demonstrators surged through the streets, demand-
ing the President's resignation.
.:-:. foster DEVELOP 5, LOOK AFTER SB 5
;- .... foul DISGUSTING 1
:.:.:
 foul-mouthed SWEAR 3
ii!i. foul play KILL 2
;!i; found START STH/MAKE STH START 3
,., found: be found EXIST 1
:;.{ found: not to be had/found AVAILABLE 6
 found: nowhere to be found LOSE/CAN'T FIND 2
ii} foundation BASIC 2
ii. foundations: lay the foundations PREPARE 5
::: founded: be founded on COME FROM/ORIGINATE 8
 four-letter word SWEAR 2
!. fracas FIGHT 4
 fraction PART 2
ii fractious BAD-TEMPERED 4
;' fracture BREAK 5, 11
.. fragile BREAK 12, WEAK 2
;: fragment PIECE 6
ii  fragrance: scent/perfume/fragrance SMELL 2
 fragrant SMELL4
i frail WEAK 2
 frame GUILTY 4
i framed: be framed by AROUND/ROUND 3
[ framework SYSTEM 1
4i franchise VOTE/ELECT 7
ij! frank HONEST 3
ii= frantic HURRY 4, WORRIED :3
:ii: fraternize SOCIALIZE 2
 fraud CHEAT 4
 fraudulent DISHONEST :3
 fraught: be fraught with danger/dangers
",:
. DANGEROUS 3
fraught with problems/difficulties PROBLEM 5
 frayed TEAR 4
i:: freak LIKE SB OR STH 8, NORMAL 6, STRANGE 7,
UNUSUAL 1
 freckle MARK 4
!!i freckled MARK 5
free AVAILABLE 3, 5, EMPTY 4, FREE TO DO WHAT
YOU WANT 1, 2, 4, 5, FREE/NOT IN PRISON 1,
2, FREE/COST NOTHING 1, 2, MOVE STH OR
SB 4
free: be free from NOT HAVE 4
free: be free to do sth LET/ALLOW 5
free: feel free LET/ALLOW 4
free: for free FREE/COST NOTHING 2, :3
free: set sb free FREE/NOT IN PRISON 2
free gift FREE/COST NOTHING 4
free hand: give sb a free hand LET/ALLOW 7
free of FREE/COST NOTHING 2, 3
charge
free sth of GET RID OF 2
free time TIME/FREE TIME 1
free will: of your own free will WILLING 2
FREE/COST
NOTHING
words for describing something that you can
have or do without having to pay for it
ways of saying that you can get something or
do something without having to pay for it
ways of saying that someone does something
for you without asking you for any money
something which is given free by a company,
especially as a way of helping to sell its
products
1 words for describing something that you can
have or do without having to pay for it
free be on the house
cost nothing/ complimentary
not cost anything
free/fri:/[adj]
There are often free concerts in the park at lunchtime. I The
clinic also offers free advice on contraception I "There must
be some charge for your delivery service." "'No, sir, it's abso-
lutely free. "" I Car parking is free after 6 pm.
cost nothing/not cost anything/kost InAOrrJ, not
kost 'eniOirj 11 ka:st-I to be free, especially when this is
unusual Iv phrase not usually in progressivel

FREE/COST NOTHING 523 FREE/NOT IN PRISON
Recycling our garbage costs nothing, and in the long term
it will save the city a lot of money. I Why don't you get the
gas company to come and check for leaks? It wouldn't cost
you anything and it would put all our minds at rest. I not
cost anything to do sth/t didn't cost us anything to get
here. No one bothered to check if we had a ticket.
be on the house/bi: ,on 6a 'haos/if drinks or meals are
on the house, they are given to you by the owner of the
bar or restaurant which serves them and you do not have
to pay for them Iv phrase]
All drinks are on the house! I No, put your wallet away, sir.
It's on the house, i The owner let us have the first bottle of
wine on the house.
complimentary /,kompl I'mentari, II ,ko:m-/ com-
plimentary tickets/pens etc (=things that a company,
theatre etc gives to people free, especially in order to adver-
tise) [adj]
Karen's sister works at the New York Ballet and she's
managed to get us some complimentary tickets. I There was
a complimentary bottle of champagne and bowl o f fruit on
the table in my hotel room.
2 ways of saying that you can get something or
do something without having to pay for it
free free of charge
for nothing no charge
for free
free/fri.-/[adv]
Buy two packets and you get another one free. I People over
60 can travel completely free. I Several people managed to get
into the grounds free by climbing over the fence.
for nothing/fa r 'nAOI1]/without having to pay for it, espe-
cially when this is unusual [adv phrase]
I got this cot for nothing because the woman next door didn't
need it any more. I Frederick had got the timber for nothing
at the scrap yard. I My dad owns the club so we get in for
nothing.
for free /fa r 'fri:/ an informal expression meaning
without having to pay to do something or get something
[adv phrase]
Children under 5 can see the show for free. I I got all these
books for free because the office I work in was going to throw
them away.
free of charge/,fri: av 'tSa:rds/an expression meaning
without having to pay to do something or get something,
used especially in advertisements and official notices [adv
phrase]
Guests can park free of charge all day. I Copies of the leaflet
can be obtained free of charge from your local library. I This
policy ensures that you get emergency medical treatment free
of charge when travelling abroad.
no charge/,nao 'tso:rdS/if there is no charge for some-
thing you do not have to pay to get it or do it, especially in
a shop, hotel etc In phrase]
no charge for In most Japanese restaurants, there is no
charge for the tea. I no charge to do sth There's no charge
to leave your things in the cloakroom. I no charge "'How
much is the prescription? .... No charge -pregnant women
are exempt from payment. '"
3 ways of saying that someone does something
for you without asking you for any money
free of charge at no cost to
for nothing at no extra cost
no charge for free
free of charge/,fri: av 'to:rdS/[adv phrase]
She looked so miserable I gave her an ice cream free of
charge. ! The cash machine service is provided free of charge,
as long as your account is in credit.
for nothing /fa r 'n^Olrj/ without asking you for any
money, especially when this is unusual [adv phrase]
danet took the lamp to the shop to replace the broken parts
and the assistant offered to fix it for nothing. I My aunt's a
caterer and she did the food at our wedding for nothing.
no charge/,nao 'to: rds/if there is no charge for some-
thing, it is done for you free in a shop, hotel etc In phrase]
"'How much is it for adjusting the brakes? .... Don't worry
about it, there's no charge. "'1 "'Will there be anything to pay
for the repairs? .... No charge - the television's still under
guarantee, sir. ""
at no cost to/at ,nao 'kDst tu: II -'ka:st-/if a service is
provided at no cost to someone, they do not have to pay
for it [prep]
The Helpline provides advice on all types of personal
problems at no cost to the caller. I The health service facility
is available at no cost to employees and staffed by registered
nurses.
at no extra cost/at ,nao ekstra 'kost II -'ko:st/ff a shop
or a company does something at no extra cost, they do it
without asking you for any more money [adv phrase]
Many activities are available at the hotel at no extra cost,
but theatre trips and excursions are not included. I at no
extra cost to The electronics store is offering to install the
satellite dishes at no extra cost to the buyer.
for free/fa r 'fri:/an informal expression: if someone does
something for free, they do it without asking for any
money, although people are usually paid to do it [adv
phrase]
The band has agreed to appear at the charity concert for
free. [ You'll be able to treat me for free when you're a doctor.
4 something which is given free by a company,
especially as a way of helping to sell its
products
free gift
freebie
free gift/,fri: 'gift/something which is given free by a
shop or a company, especially in order to advertise its
products In C]
Buy three skincare products and you can choose your super
free gift. I We came back from the tour round the factory
loaded down with free gifts.
freebie/'fri:bi:/an informal word meaning something
which a company gives free with its products, or which it
gives to the people it employs [n C]
"'Where did you get that calendar?" "'It was a freebie from
work." I Gimmicks and freebies do not create lasting cus-
tomer loyalty.
FREE/NOT IN
PRISON
1 not in prison or being kept somewhere
against your will
2 to allow someone to leave a prison or a place
where they are being kept against their will
I not in prison or being kept somewhere
against your will
free at liberty
freedom be out
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

FREE/NOT IN PRISON 524 FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT
free/fri:/[adj]
His first act as a free man was to go to a bar for a cool glass
of beer. I The rapist was given a five year prison sentence,
but he could be free in 18 months. I The hostages are now free
after their five-day ordeal.
freedom ! ' fri:dam/the state of being free because you are
not in prison In U]
One of the terrorists was arrested again after only 48 hours
of freedom. [ The prisoners-of-war were digging an escape
tunnel, scrabbling their way through the earth to freedom.
at liberty/at 'llbarti/ifa criminal is at liberty, they are
not in prison because the police cannot catch them [adj
phrase]
Tonight only one of the escaped prisoners remains at liberty;
the other seven are now back in Central Prison. [ Marty
Walker, known as "The Wolf', was at liberty for many years
before the police apprehended him.
be out/hi: 'aut/if someone is out, they have been offi-
cially allowed to leave prison [phr v I]
McMurphy will be out next Thursday. [ Their crimes were
so terrible that they will never be allowed out.
2 to allow someone to leave a prison or a place
where they are being kept against their will
set sb free release
let sb go/out free
set sb free/,set (sb) 'fri:/to allow someone who is a
prisoner to be free Iv phrase]
set sb/her/them etc free After iO years in captivity I
couldn't believe it when my captors finally set me free. [ set
free sb France is ready to set free five convicted terrorists
in return for the release of the hostages. [ Most of the
prisoners of war were set free after the war ended.
let sb go/out/,let (sb) 'gao, 'aot! to allow someone to
leave a place where they have been kept, usually a prison
Iv phrase]
Let me out! I'm innocent! I Due to a lack of evidence against
the suspect, the police had to let the prisoner go. I I just kept
praying everyday that the kidnappers would let me go.
release /ri 'li:s/ to officially allow someone who is a
prisoner to be free Iv T]
The terrorists agreed to release her after her company paid
the ransom. I I was released after serving a year and a half
of my sentence. I Chile has released ten political prisoners as
a gesture of goodwill.
release In U] On their release (=when they were released),
the hostages were greeted by relatives. I She went to the kid-
nappers to beg for her son's release.
free/fri:/to allow someone who is a prisoner to be free,
especially because people have been asking for this Iv T]
Many of these young offenders should have been freed a long
time ago. I The dictator's supporters are demanding that he
be freed from prison and returned to power.
FREE TO DO
WHAT YOU WANT
I allowed to do whatever you want without
being controlled or restricted
:2 words for describing activities that are not
controlled or restricted
3 the right to do what you want without being
controlled or restricted
4 words for describing a country where people
are free to do whatever they want without
being controlled or restricted
5 to make a country free
1 allowed to do whatever you want without
being controlled or restricted
free
be at liberty to do sth
freely
free/fri:l [adj not usually before noun]
free to do sth I like living alone. That way I'm free to do
whatever I want. I A classroom should provide a stimulat-
ing environment where children are free to play and learn. I
free As long as whites control the government in this coun-
try, blacks will never be free.
be at liberty to do sth/bi: at |llbarti ta Idu: (sth)/a
formal expression meaning to be free to do something, espe-
cially because someone has given you permission to do it
or because the situation allows you to do it Iv phrase]
"'Who sent you?" "Tin not at liberty to say.'" I You are quite
at liberty to refuse my offer if you wish.
freely/' fri:li/if you can travel, speak, operate etc freely,
you can do it as much as you like and in whatever way you
like [adv]
His job allowed him to travel freely and to stay away from
home for long periods. [ In England he could write freely,
without fear of arrest. [ the ability of firms to operate freely,
with the minimum of government interference
2 words for describing activities that are not
controlled or restricted
free
open
open-ended
free Ifri:l [adj only before noun]
Gorbachev finally called for a free market and free elections. I
This computer program assures the free movement of facts,
figures, and text between files.
open/'aopan/if an activity or event is open, anyone can
take part in it [adj]
The military government has agreed to hold open elections. I
We are holding an open competition to find a name for our
new ship.
open-ended !,aopan endd-/ not restricted by time,
length, subject etc [adj]
The summit meeting was intended to be wide-ranging and
open-ended. I As well as practice exercises, students should
be encouraged to do more open-ended activities.
the right to do what you want without being
controlled or restricted
freedom
liberty
freedom/'fri:dam/[n U]
Thousands attended the demonstration, calling for greater
freedom and human rights. I Parents these days give their
children too much freedom. I the freedom to do sth This
bank account gives you the freedom to withdraw money
whenever you want. I freedom of speech/choice/expres-
sion etc Every individual has the right to freedom of expres-
sion.
I|bery [ |lIbarti/a person's legal right to do whatever they
want without being controlled or restricted by the govern-
ment In U]
Boswell fought for liberty and equality, eventually dying for
his cause. I All United States citizens have the right to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I The curfew represents
an infringement of the personal liberty of all people living
in the area.
4 words for describing a country where people
are free to do whatever they want without
being controlled or restricted
free

FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT
525
free/fri:l [adj]
We will continue our struggle until our country is free. I After
years in exile it would be wonderful to return to a free South
Africa. I free from They were idealists, striving for a land
free from tyranny and oppression.
5 to make a country free
free
liberate
free/fri:/to make a country free so that another country
no longer politically or militarily controls it or forces
people to accept its government Iv T]
He joined the resistance movement, determined to free his
country from the enemy. I The allies arrived in Brussels on
September 3rd and Antwerp was freed the next day.
liberate I 'lrbarezq to make a country free so that another
country no longer politically or militarily controls it, espe-
cially as the result of a battle Iv T]
Algeria was liberated from France in 1962. I The troops' aim
is to liberate the country by the end of the year.
liberation /,lIba'refdn/ [n U] Every year the villagers
celebrate their liberation (=being liberated)from the Nazi
troops in 1945.
freebie FREE/COST NOTHING 4
freedom FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT 3, FREE/NOT
IN PRISON 1, RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 3
freedom: give/allow sb complete freedom
LET/ALLOW 7
freedom fighter REBELLION/REVOLUTION 4
freelance WORK FOR SB 3
freely FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT 1, WILLING 2
freeway/expressway ROAD/PATH 4
freeze COLD 8, HARD 5, NOT MOVING 2, 6, STOP
MOVING ], STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 1
freezing COLD 2
freezing/freezing cold COLD 5
freezinglfrozen COLD 6
frenzy: in a frenzy EXCITED 4
frequency OFTEN 5
frequent OFTEN 4
frequently OFTEN ], :3
fresh AGAIN ], COLD 4, NEW 1,2, 5, 7, 8, 9, SMELL 4
fresh: be fresh in your mind REMEMBER 4
fresh air AIR 2
fresh start: make a fresh start/a new start START
DOING STH 9
freshen up WASH 1
freshly RECENTLY 1
fret WORRIED 2
friction DISAGREE 6
friend FRIEND 1
friend: be friends FRIEND 4
friends: become friends FRIEND 6
friend: best friend FRIEND 2
friend: good/close friend FRIEND 2
friend: have friends in high places FRIEND 5, POWER 2
friend: be just good friends SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 14
friend: make friends FRIEND 6
friend of a friend FRIEND 1
friend
FRIEND
@ FRIEND
1 someone that you like and know well, but
who is not a member of your family
2 a very good friend
3 a group of friends
4 to have a friendly relationship with someone
5 to have important or rich friends who can
help you
6 to become someone's friend
7 to try to make someone become your friend
because you want them to help you
8 a friendly relationship with someone
9 to stop being friendly with someone
I someone that you like and know well, but
who is not a member of your family
friend buddy
mate friend of a friend
pal
friend/frend/[n C]
"'Dad, this is my friend Steve. "1 I'm meeting an old college
friend for dinner tonight. I I once got her a date with a friend
of mine. I old friend (=one that you have known a long
time) Lotte's one of my oldest friends. I be a good friend to
sb (=to be someone's friend and help them a lot when they
have problems) John was a really good friend to me when
I had all those problems last year.
mate/melt/an informal British word meaning a friend
[n C]
He went off to the pub with his mates. I "'This is a mate of
mine, "' said Terry. "'Rod Barton. '"
pal/pal/an informal word meaning a friend In C]
Nicholas was a pal of William's at school. I Thanks for help-
ing us out, Frankie. You're a real pal.
buddy/'b^di/an informal American word meaning a
friend In C]
Terry arrived with two of his buddies. I army/high school/
war buddy Shipley had been asked by an old Army buddy
to join the Nixon campaign.
friend of a friend/,frend av  ' frend/someone who is not
really your friend, but is a friend of one of your friends [n C]
I got the tickets through a friend of a friend who works in
the theatre. I No I don't know him personally, he's a friend
of a friend of mine.
2 a very good friend
good/close friend
best friend
intimate
inseparable
good/close friend/,god, ,klaos ' frend/someone that
you know very well and like very much In C]
Helen is one of my closest friends. I Sarah and I didn't get
along very well at first but now we're really good friends.I
Vice President Mondale came to our house often because he
was a close friend of my father's.
best friend/,best 'frend/the one special friend who is
more important to you than any other [n C]
Even my best friend won't tell me the truth about myself. I
Caroline and her best friend both had babies within three
weeks of each other.
intimate/' Intma]q friends who are intimate know each
other very well [adj]
She had no really intimate friends, and found it difficult to
meet people. I on intimate terms (=knowing each other
very well) He was on intimate terms with his boss, and they
often saw each other outside work.
Inseparable/in' separabl/friends who are inseparable
are together most of the time [adj]

FRIEND 526 FRIEND
My brother and James have been inseparable since they were
at elementary school. I In the old days the three girls were
inseparable friends.
 a group of friends
circle set
gang cronies
crowd
circle/ s3.'rkal/the people you know, especially a group
of friends who all know each other and often meet socially
In C usually singular]
circle of friends He had a large circle of friends. I circle
Since her children have started school Diana's circle has
widened to include the mothers of other children.
gang/geo/an informal word used especially by young
people, meaning a small group of friends who often meet
socially In C]
Are you coming out with the gang tonight? We "re all going
to the cinema. I one of the gang (=accepted into the group
of friends) She's not really one of the gang, but I invited her
to the party.
crowd /kraud/ an informal word meaning a group of
friends who often do things or go out together In singular]
He wasn't with his usual crowd at the club last night. I Our
son got in with a bad crowd and ended up in prison.
set/setl the tennis/golf club/yachting etc set (=a group
of friends who meet socially, especially because they are
all interested in the same, usually expensive, sport) In
singular]
She's got herself in with the golf set.
cronies/'kraoniz/a group of people, especially men, who
know each other, and will help each other, even if this
means being slightly dishonest In plural]
Weiss was careful not to upset his political cronies. I Her
father is probably in the bar, drinking with his cronies.
4 to have a friendly relationship with someone
be friends
be friendly with
be pally
be friends/bi: 'frendz! Iv phrase]
He'll forget the quarrel, and we'll all befriends again. [ be
friends with I've been friends with Amanda for seven years
now, ever since we were at school together.
be friendly with/bi: ' frendli w6/to behave in a friendly
way to someone, although you may not actually be friends
[ v phrase]
They were friendly with Dr Bruce, even though they held a
higher opinion of Dr Raymond. [ Her boyfriend thought she
was too friendly with Simon. [ Phil and I became very
friendly with the owner of the restaurant.
be pallҐ/bi: 'peli/an informal expression used especially
in British English meaning to be friends Iv phrase]
We got pally, the two of us, before he moved to Manchester. [
be pally with Were you pally with her at university?
5 to have important or rich friends who can
help you
have friends in high places
well-connected
have friends in high places /hev ,frendz n ,hai
'plesz/[v phrase not in progressive]
He won't lose his job - he has friends in high places!
well-connected/Iwel ko'nektId-/having friends who
have a lot of influence [adj]
He was well-connected, and as a result got a good job in a
legal company. I She seemed very well-connected, and twice
managed to get me an invitation to an Embassy dinner.
6 to become someone's friend
make friends befriend
become friends fall in with
strike up a friendship
make friends /,meIk ' frendz! to begin to be friendly with
a person or a group of people Iv phrase]
Paul envied the way his brother could make friends so easily.
[ How areyou getting along at school Louise?haveyou made
any friencls yet? [ make friends with I tried to make friends
with the people next door, but they were very unfriendly.
become friends/b ,k^m ' frendz/if two people become
friends, they begin to be friends, especially after they have
known each other for a fairly long time Iv phrase]
They were at college together but didn't become friends until
they joined the same company. I" We'd become good friends
over the years. I become friends with I became friends with
Andrea while we were both working in the disco.
strike up a friendship/stra;k ^p z 'frendfip/to make
friends with someone very quickly, especially if you do it
intentionally Iv phrase]
The two women struck up a friendship when they met on holi-
day. [ We met for the first time at a business conference and
we immediately struck up a friendship which has lasted for
years.
befriend/b' frend/to be friendly to someone who needs
help, for example someone with financial or emotional
problems Iv T]
I was very lonely when I left home, but I was befriended by
someone I met at work, who introduced me to all his friends.
fall in with/,f:l In w6/to begin to be friends with a
group of people, especially people that other people do not
approve of Iv TI
He's fallen in with a bad crowd. [ I soon fell in with a group
of local people.
7 to try to make someone become your friend
because you want them to help you
cultivate
court
WOO
cultivate / k^ltIvet/if you cultivate a friendship, rela-
tionship etc you try to make friends with someone for a
reason, for example because you think they can do some-
thing for you [v T]
If you want to succeed in politics it is advisable to cultivate
a relationship with the media. I He cultivatedpowerful bus-
iness connections.
court/k3zrt/to be very friendly with and pay special atten-
tion to someone important in order to make them like or
approve of you Iv T]
In an election year politicians spend their time courting
the voters. [ Cohen has been courting investment bankers
abroad.
woo/wu:/a word used in business or political contexts
and newspapers meaning to persuade people to help or sup-
port you by saying things they want to hear [v T]
Interested buyers have been wooing the airline companies. [
The advertising campaign was designed to woo new
customers.
8 a friendly relationship with someone
friendship
companionship
friendship/'frendfp/In C/U]
We knew our friendship would survive the quarrel. [ I
enjoyed Harold's friendship, but I didn't trust his business
judgement. I friendship with I had no close friendships
with other boys at school. I friendship between the close
friendship between our daughters
companionship/km'penjnip! a friendly and com-
fortable relationship with someone that you enjoy spend-
ing time with [n U]

FRIEND 527 FRIENDLY
He was lonely and looking for companionship, so he joined
a social club. I Many people remarry because of a need for
companionship and affection.
9 to stop being friendly with someone
fall out
fail out/ f:l 'aot/an expression used especially in Brit-
ish English: if two people fall out, they stop being friends
or have an argument [phr v I]
We've never fallen out before. I fall out with sb It can be
difficult if you fall out with someone you work with. I fall
out over sth Dr Wills and Dr Packer were old friends, but
they fell out over the operation.
friendly FRIENDLY 1, 4, 5, HARM/BE BAD FOR 5
friendly: be friendly with FRIEND 4
FRIENDLY
having a friendly character or manner
words for describing someone who makes an
effort to be friendly and kind to other people
words for describing someone who enjoys
being with other people and makes friends
easily
words for describing relationships,
conversations, arguments etc in which people
are friendly towards each other
words for describing a place or situation in
which people behave in a friendly way
towards each other
too friendly, in a way that you find unpleasant
to behave in a very friendly way to someone
such as your teacher or employer, in order to
make them like you or make them do
something for you
1 having a friendly character or manner
friendly affable
pleasant]nice amiable
easy to get along with/ genial
get on with approachable
warm
friendly/' frendli! easy to talk to, and ready to behave like
a friend towards people you have not met before [adj]
Ella was very friendly and I liked her immediately. I I met
the farmer, a friendly man who offered me tea and cakes. I
friendly to/towards I feel I can ask her to help me because
she's always been very friendly to me.
friendliness [n U] Everywhere he was treated with kindness
and friendliness.
pleasant/nice ! 'pleznt, nas/someone who is pleasant
or nice is friendly and very easy to like [adj]
We met some really nice people at the party, friends of my
sister. I I enjoyed my visit to Ireland - everyone I met there
was so pleasant. I Jean's new boyfriend seems very nice,
doesn't he? "
easy to get along with (especially American) I easy
to get on with (especially British)/,hzi t c ,]orj wb,
,i:zi ta get 'Dn wI6 II -ala:o-/friendly, relaxed, and not the
sort of person who causes unnecessary problems or argu-
ments [adj phrase]
What's he like? Is he easy to get along with? I Most of the
teachers are fairly easy to get on with.
warm/wa:rm/someone who is warm is very friendly in
a sincere way, and seems to really like and care about other
people [adj usually before noun]
She'll make a wonderful nurse because she's such a warm,
caring person. I He welcomed us with a warm smile.
warmly [adv] She greeted us warmly.
affable/fbal/someone who is affable, especially a
man, is polite, friendly, and cheerful [adj]
The shopkeeper was always smiling, affable and polite. I She
married an affable, overweight businessman.
amiable/' elmiabal/someone who is amiable is friendly
and likeable, and does not become annoyed easily [adj]
The plumber was an amiable young man. I The two brothers
were very different - the older one was amiable and good-
natured, while the younger one was very quick-tempered.
genial /'d3i:nial/ friendly, often laughing and making
jokes, and enjoyable to be with [adj]
Dr Saito has a warm, genial manner. I The Professor was
a most genial companion and our stay was a very pleasant
one.
approachable/a'prautj'bal! someone who is approach-
able is friendly and easy to talk to, even though they are
in a more important position than you [adj]
The head teacher is very approachable and always ready to
listen to your problems. [ Despite his fearsome reputation,
the President is actually very down-to-earth and approach-
able.
words for describing someone who makes an
effort to be friendly and kind to other people
hospitable
neighbourly/neighborly
welcoming
hospitable I'hDspltabal, ho'spI-II ho:'spI-, 'ho:sp-/
friendly to people who are visiting you in your home or in
your country, and ready to welcome them [adj]
Everyone I met in Spain was very hospitable and kind. [ The
Smiths are a hospitable family, always happy to have people
to stay with them.
hospitality/hosp'telti [1 ,ha:-/ [n U] I must write to
thank them for their hospitality (=for being hospitable when
I visited them).
neighbourly (British) I neighborly (American)/'ne-
brli/behaving in a friendly and helpful way towards your
neighbours [adj]
It was very neighbourly of them to call round and ask if we
wanted help moving furniture. [ She smiled and waved to
me in a neighborly way.
welcoming/welkmoI behaving in a way that shows
you are glad to have other people visiting your home or
your country, and doing things to make them feel relaxed
and happy to be there [adj]
He stood at the door with a welcoming smile. [ My relatives
in Canada are always so welcoming when I visit them.
3 words for describing someone who enjoys
being with other people and makes friends
easily
sociable
outgoing
extrovert/extroverted
sociable/'suSbl/[adj]
If she seems not to want to talk to you, don't be offended -
she's just not very sociable. I He is a pleasure to be with -
sociable, at ease with people and very amusing.
outgoing / aut'go3-/someone who is outgoing likes
to meet and talk to new people and is not nervous in social
situations [adj]
She's become more outgoing since she left home and went to
college. I We need an outgoing person for this job, because
it involves meeting a lot of people.
extrovert (British) I extroverted (American)/'ekstra-
r ]
v3:rt, ekstrov3: tod/someone who is extrovert or extro-
verted is lively and confident and enjoys being with a lot
of people [adj]
When you first meet him, he seems like the typical extrovert
American. I Lisa is very extroverted, but her sister Martha
is a little shy. I I'm sure Bob will enjoy doing the speech -
he's pretty extroverted.
extrovert [n C] Tim is an extrovert (=an extrovert person).

528
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
frightened 42%
fear 17%
other 41%
FRIGHTENED
(words meaning frightened
1 words meaning frightened
ed scared stiff/
scared out of your
terrRfid wits/scared to death
petrified panic-stricken
scared /skead/ frightened, especially because
you are in a dangerous situation [adj]
What the 200 English and American teachers in
our survey said:
scared 53%
frightened 17%
other 30%

FRIENDLY 529 FRIGHTENED
4 words for describing relationships,
conversations, arguments etc in which people
are friendly towards each other
friendly
amicable
cordial
friendly/'frendli/[adj]
It's a good idea to try and have friendly relations with your
neighbours. I friendly rivalry between two students I on
friendly terms (=in a friendly way) In spite of our earlier
quarrel, we parted on very friendly terms.
amicable / 'amo[ kabal/an amicable agreement or way of
settling a problem is one that is arranged in a friendly way
and without people arguing or getting angry with each
other [adj]
The Chairman stressed that his departure was totally amic-
able. I Independent experts have been called in to find an
amicable solution to the company's personnel problems.
cordial / ka:rdial II -dsdl! a cordial relationship between
two people or groups is one in which people are polite and
friendly to each other although they are not close friends
[adj]
Britain and Portugal have had cordial relations for more
than four centuries. I The young professor received a cordial
welcome on his first visit to Harvard.
cordially [adv] He greeted them cordially and asked them
to sit down.
5 words for describing a place or situation in
which people behave in a friendly way
towards each other
friendly
welcoming
convivial
friendly/'frendli/[adj]
The restaurant had good food and a friendly atmosphere. I
Ours is a friendly office but we all work hard.
welcoming /t welkamiol a place, room etc that is welcom-
ing makes you feel relaxed and happy to be there [adj]
We've redecorated the room where our guests stay to make
it more welcoming. I A bunch of fresh flowers on the table
always looks welcoming.
convivial/kan'v]vial/a formal word: a convivial event
or social situation is one in which people are friendly to
each other and enjoy themselves [adj]
The four of us spent a convivial evening at home, playing
cards and drinking beer. I Uncle Jim was in a convivial
mood that night.
6 too friendly, in a way that you find unpleasant
over-friendly smarmy
familiar slimy
obsequious
over-friendly/,aova r 'frendli-/[adj]
The man I met at the pub was a little over-friendly so I made
an excuse and left early.
familiar/fa'mlliar/talking to someone as if you know
them very well although in fact you do not, in a way that
people may find unpleasant or offensive [adj]
Some of these taxi-drivers are a little too familiar. I She came
up to me and started talking in such a familiar way that I
thought I must have met her before.
obsequious/ab'si:kwias/someone who is obsequious
always tries too hard to be friendly and helpful, and always
agrees with what other people say, in a way that people find
very annoying [adj]
His obsequious manner was beginning to irritate me. I The
sales assistant was almost obsequious in his gratitude.
obsequiously [adv] She kept nodding and smiling
obsequiously.
smarmy /smo:rmil an informal British word: someone
who is smarmy behaves in a very friendly way but seems
completely insincere [adj]
I really don't like these smarmy TVpresenters. I That girl
is so smarmy you feel you can't believe a word she says.
slimy ! 'slaimi/an informal word: someone who is slimy
is too friendly, praises people too much etc, in a way that
is clearly dishonest and that makes you think they are just
trying to get something from you [adj]
I thought at first he was really slimy and horrible, but in fact
he's quite nice! I He was a typical slimy politician, going on
about .'the innate good sense of the voters'.
• to behave in a very friendly way to someone
such as your teacher or employer, in order to
make them like you or make them do
something for you
suck up to grovel
kiss up to creep
crawl brown-nose
suck up to I,sAk tap tu:/an informal expression mean-
ing to say or do a lot of nice things to someone in order to
please them or make them help you in some way [v T]
I hate people who suck up to the manager. ] Sucking up to
the teacher doesn't mean you'll pass your exams.
kiss up to /,kIs tap tU:/an informal American expression
meaning to say or do a lot of nice things to someone in order
to please them or make them help you in some way Iv T]
He was made hall monitor after kissing up to the principal
last term.
crawl/kin:l! an informal British word meaning to praise
someone insincerely and be very friendly to them, espe-
cially because you want to ask them for something Iv I]
If you crawl, your workmates will hate you and your boss
will just despise you. I crawl to He crawls shamelessly to
anyone that could affect his chances of promotion.
crawler In C] He's such a crawler!
grovel /tgroval Jl tg ro:-, tgrA-/to behave in a very respect-
ful, obedient way towards someone, because you want
them to help you or forgive you Iv I]
It seems as if they won "t give you a loan unless you're pre-
pared to really grovel. ] grovel to I grovelled to my parents
and begged them to forgive me.
grovelling [adj] He received a grovelling apology.
creep/kri:p/an informal word meaning someone who
pretends to really respect or admire someone, but only in
order to make the other person like them or do something
for them In C ]
She never disagrees with the boss - what a little creep! l He's
the class creep - the worst thing is, the teachers are stupid
enough to like him.
brown-nose /tbraon naoz/an informal American word
meaning someone who pretends to really respect or admire
someone, but only in order to make the other person like
them or do something for them In C]
He's always telling the boss what a wonderful place this is
to work - what a brown-nose!
 friends: become friends FRIEND 6
i i friendship FRIEND 8
..... friendship: strike up a friendship FRIEND 6
 fright: get a fright FRIGHTENED 5
- fright: give sb a fright FRIGHTENED 7
 frighten FRIGHTENED 7
 frighten/scare sb into FRIGHTENED 8
 frightened FRIGHTENED 1
FRIGHTENED
words meaning frightened
to be unwilling to do something or be worried
about doing something, because you are
frightened about what may happen if you do it
to have a strong fear and dislike of something
to always be frightened and worried about
something that might happen continued

FRIGHTENED 530 FRIGHTENED
FRIGHTENED
continued
10
11
to be suddenly frightened by something that
happens
words for describing something that makes
you feel frightened
to make someone feel frightened
to deliberately frighten someone, especially
because you want to make them do
something
words for describing someone who easily
gets frightened
the feeling of being frightened
an event or situation that frightens people
1 words meaning frightened
frightened scared stiff/scared out of your
scared wits/scared to death
terrified panic-stricken
petrified
frightened/, fraitnd/feeling nervous and afraid because
you think that something very unpleasant is going to
happen to you [adjl
Don't be frightened, it's only thunder. I A fire broke out at
the school but teachers were able to lead the frightened chil-
dren to safety. I frightened (that) (=frightened because you
think something bad may happen) Alice kept quite still,
frightened that the dog might bite her.
scared/skeard/frightened, especially because you are in
a dangerous situation [adjl
The first time I went on a motorcycle I was really scared. I
She stood in the doorway, scared and trembling, hicling from
the man who had followed her. I scared (that) (=scared
because you think something bad may happen or has hap-
pened) I didn't dare try to walk - I was scared I'd broken
my leg.
terrified/'terofard/extremely frightened of something
dangerous or unpleasant [adj]
We ran out of the house, too terrified to look back. I terri-
fied (that) (=terrified because you think something bad
may happen) We were terrified that the Security Police would
find out where we had hidden the film.
petrified /'petroI fard/extremely frightened, especially so
frightened that you cannot move [adj]
He had the gun pointed at my head. I was absolutely petri-
fied. I She just stood there, petrified at the thought of the
crowds waiting outside.
scared stiff/scared out of your wits/scared to
death /,skeord 'stlf,, skeord aut ov j:):r 'w]ts, ,skeard to 'deO/
informal expressions meaning extremely frightened [adj
phrase]
You must have been scared stiff when you saw the car coming
straight towards you. [ Helen had to gofer an interview with
the school Principal - she was scared stiff. [ I knew a man
was following me, and I was scared out of my wits. I Some
of the prisoners were only 16or 17- they looked tired, bewil-
dered and scared to death.
panic-stricken /'panik, strlkan/so frightened that you
• cannot think clearly or behave sensibly, especially when
something has suddenly frightened you [adj]
A few seconds after the explosion the street was full ofpanic-
stricken people, fleeing in all directions. I In a panic-stricken
attempt to free herself from Annie's grip, she snatched the
scissors off the table.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
' to be unwilling to do something or be worried
about doing something, because you are
frightened about what may happen if you do it
be afraid/scared/ fear
frightened dread
be terrified for fear of
be fearful
be afraid/scared/frightened /bi: o'freid, 'skeord,
'fraltnd/[v phrasel
be afraid etc to do sth Many women are afraid to go out
alone at night. I be afraid etc I should really gofer an Aids
test but I'm afraid. I be afraid etc of doing sth Marika
asked me to come because she was scared of going there on
her own. I Many people undergoing surgery are frightened
of having an anaesthetic.I be afraid etc (that) She was
frightened that if she went to the police, her husband would
beat her up again.
be terrified/bi: 'tero fald/to be unwilling to do something
because you are extremely frightened about what may
happen if you do it Iv phrase]
be terrified (that) I didn't tell my parents I was pregnant.
I was terrified that they would throw me out of the house. I
be terrified of sth/doing sth They always travel by boat
because Jimmy's terrified of flying.
be fearful/bi: 'fiorfal/to be unwilling to do something
because you are worried about the possibility of trouble or
danger Iv phrase]
be fearful of sth/doing sth After the first terrorist attacks
people were fearful of discussing politics. ] The Energy
Department, fearful of public reaction, has cancelled its
plans to build four new nuclear reactors. I be fearful that
She gave up smoking when she was pregnant, fearful that
it might damage her baby.
fear /frar/ a word used especially in news reports or
descriptions of events, meaning to be frightened about
what may happen if you do something Iv T not in
progressive]
fear (that) Government officials fear that if they put up taxes
they will lose the election. I The rescuers dug slowly and care-
fully, fearing that the wreckage might collapse on top of
them. I fear sth Many of the gang's victims refused to give
information to the police because they feared reprisals.
dread Idredl to dislike doing something that you know you
have to do because you are frightened or worried about
what may happen when you do it Iv T]
I've got an interview with the bank manager tomorrow - In
dreading it. I He always dreaded asking them for their rent
money because he knew it would end in an argument.
for fear of/fo r 'frar av/if you are unwilling to do some-
thing for fear of something bad happening, you are fright-
ened that something bad will happen if you do it [prep]
The workers are unhappy but will not complain for fear of
losing their jobs. I I didn't turn on the light, for fear of
waking the baby.
3 to have a strong fear and dislike of something
be afraidlscaredlfrightenedlterrifled of
have a phobia about
be afraidlscaredlfrlghtenedlterrifled of /bi:
o'frerd, 'skeard, fratnd, 'terIfard ov/ [v phrase]
It's amazing how many people are afraid of spiders. I You'll
never persuade Ian to climb up there, t He's terrified of
heights. I Everyone in our class was scared of Mr Walsh.
have a phobia about/hev o 'faobia obaot/to have a
strong and unreasonable dislike and fear of something,
especially of something which is not frightening for most
people Iv phrase not in progressive]
She has a phobia about telephone answering machines and
will never leave a message. I Carol had a phobia about
snakes - even talking about them made her shiver.

FRIGHTENED 531 FRIGHTENED
4 to always be frightened and worried about
something that might happen
be afraid/scared/frightened/terrified
live in fear
dread
be afraidlscaredlfrightenedlterrified/bi: 'freId,
skerd, 'fraitnd, 'terfald/iv phrase]
be afraid ete (that) I'm frightened he'll have a heart attack
and die. I be afraid ere of sth/doing sth When people are
afraid of losing their homes it imposes great strains on
family life. [ be afraid ete She's scared, she has already lost
one child to the disease and fears it may happen again.
live in fear/llv in 'fiat/to always be afraid of something
unpleasant that is fairly likely to happen iv phrase]
live in fear of sth/doing sth After leaking the secret docu-
ment Sarah lived in fear of being found out. I live in fear
(that) The surgeon lives in constant fear that something will
go wrong in an operation when be's feeling tired.
dread/dred/a word meaning to be continually frightened
and very worried about something that might happen, used
especially when you are telling someone that this is how
you feel iv T not in progressive]
I dread my parents finding out I lied. [ She won't go to a
specialist because she dreads being told she's unable to have
children. [ He was the one man I dreaded meeting again.
 to be suddenly frightened by something that
happens
get a fright go as white as a sheet
panic nearly jump out of your skin
get a fright/,get  frmt! [vphrase not in progressive]
Igor a fright when I realized how close we were to the cliff
edge. [ Give her a hot sweet drink - she's had a fright. [ get
the fright of your life (=get a serious fright) She got the
fright of her life when Danny ran in with his head bleeding.
panic /  pamIk/to suddenly become so frightened that you
can not think clearly, especially if this makes you do some-
thing dangerous or stupid iv I]
When the parachute didn't open I just panicked. [ The sol-
diers panicked and opened fire on the raiders. [ When a plane
gets into difficulty it is essential that the pilot does not panic.
go as white as a sheet/go z twalt :)z :) 'fi:t/to sud-
denly feel very frightened, with the result that your face
becomes very pale iv phrase not in progressive]
She went as white as a sheet when the nurse came in with
a hypodermic needle. [ You're as white as a sheet. What's
happened?
nearly Jump out of your skin/,nI:)rli d3Amp aut :)v
j3: r 'skn/to make a sudden movement because you are
frightened or surprised by something that happens very
suddenly iv phrase not in progressive]
When he shouted at her she nearly jumped out of her skin. [
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the bull coming
towards me.
6 words for describing something that makes
you feel frightened
frightening
scary
terrifying
hair-raising
spine-chilling
blood-curdling
spooky/creepy
chilling
frightening/'fraltm/[adj]
Nuclear war is a frightening prospect. [For one frightening
moment Hal thought the truck was going to hit him. [ it is
frightening to do/have ere It can be very frightening to
leave home and move to a new city. I It was very frightening
to have so little control over my life.
sca !'skeari/frightening, for example because some-
thing is strange or difficult to understand [adj]
I don't know how he found out where I lived. It's really scary. [
The Atlantic can be ferocious and being at sea can be lonely
and a little scary. I We stayed up late telling scary ghost
stories.
terrifying Iterfai-irJl extremely frightening [adj]
His victim fought back tears as she described her terrifying
ordeal. I The first time I went hang-gliding it was terrifying,
but now I love it. [ There are few things more terrifying than
being trapped in a burning building.
hair.raising/'hea r ,relzrj/an experience that is hair-
raising is frightening because it is dangerous [adj]
After various hair-raising adventures in Afghanistan, New-
combe settled in Northern India. [ We ended up making a
hair-raising 200 kilometre night drive to the Guatemalan
border.
spine.chilling/'spain ,tJ']hrj/something such as a story,
film, or statement that is spine-chilling is frightening
because it clearly describes or shows frightening events
[adj]
The collection includes a.spine-chilling ghost story by Edgar
Allan Poe. [ The only journalist to witness the rebellion gave
a spine-chilling account of atrocities carried out by both
sides.
blood-curdling /'blAd k3:rdlIrj/ blood-curdling
scream/yell/roar etc (=very frightening) [adj only before
noun]
Mary went upstairs to look for Dean and seconds later I
heard a blood-curdling scream. [ the blood-curdling howls
of the wolves in the forest
spooky/creepy/' spu:ki, 'kri:pi/a place or story that is
spooky or creepy is frightening, especially because it is
dark, strange etc [adj]
This wood is really spooky in the dark. I The house looked
OK from the outside but inside it was all dark and creepy. [
Will you shut up about ghosts! You always scare me with
that spooky talk!
chilling/'ff]lo/a fact, statement or experience that is
chilling is frightening because it is extremely cruel, vio-
lent, dangerous etc [adj]
The lawyer gave a chilling demonstration of how the accused
used a towel to suffocate his victim. [ The captain's message
ended with the chilling words: "'Mission completed. All
prisoners disposed of. "" l I realized, with chilling clarity, that
if the fire spread to the storage tanks, we would all be killed.
1 to make someone feel frightened
frighten make sb's hair stand
terrify on end
scare spook
give sb a fright alarm
startle rattle
give sb the creeps daunt
frighten/'fraitn/Iv T]
frighten sb Does the thought of death frighten you? [ Take
that silly mask off- you're frightening the children. [ it
frightens sb to know/think etc It frightens me to know
that the rapist still hasn't been caught. [ frighten the life
out of sb (=make someone feel very frightened) What are
you doing creeping up on me like that? You frightened the
life out of me!
terrify/terfal/to make someone feel extremely fright-
ened Iv T]
terrify sb The teacher terrified her so much that she hated
going to school. [ Helen suffers from agoraphobia and the
idea of leaving the house terrifies her. I it terrifies sb to
think/know etc It terrified her to think that in six months
time she would have to stand up in front of a class and teach
them something.
scare/skerl to make someone feel frightened, especially
by making them think something very unpleasant might
happen Iv T]
scare sb He was driving fast just to scare us. I We're not
really going to get into trouble - I think the police are trying
to scare us. I it scares sb to know/think etc It scared him
to think that his mother might never recover. I scare the hell
out of sb (=make someone feel very frightened) She scared
the hell out of me when she said she had to go into hospital.

FRIGHTENED 532 FRIGHTENED
give sb a fright/,g]v (sb) a ' fra]t/to make someone sud-
derdy feel frightened so that they make a sudden movement
or their heart starts beating quickly Iv phrase not in
progressive]
You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like
that. I give sb a hell of a fright (=make someone suddenly
very frightened) I accidentally touched a live wire in the
motor and even though it didn't hurt me it gave me a hell
of a fright.
stale ] sta: rtl] to frighten someone by suddenly appear-
ing, moving, making a sound etc Iv T]
Oh! You startled me. Ididn't see you there. I The noise start-
led him and he dropped his glass on the floor. I Any unex-
pected movements can startle the animal, so it must be
approached slowly and steadily.
give sb the creeps/glv (sb) 6a 'kri:ps/if a person or
a place gives you the creeps, they make you feel slightly
frightened and nervous because they are strange [v phrase]
This house gives me the creeps - it's so dark and quiet. [ Sue
hates being left alone in the office with Graham - he gives
her the creeps.
make sb's hair stand on end/,meik (sb's) hea r stend
n ,cnd/an informal expression: if something such as a
story or account makes your hair stand on end it makes
you very frightened Iv phrase]
When you hear some of the things that happened in the prison
camps - it's enough to make your hair stand on end! I Wait
until I tell you about the murder - it'll make your hair stand
on end.
spook/spu:k/an informal American word meaning to
frighten someone, especially if this makes them react by
doing something you do not want them to do Iv T]
I don "t want to spook her so I won't tell her about the break-
in. [ The election of a Marxist government has spooked inves-
tors and they're trying get their money out of the country. I
Something suddenly spooked the cattl'e and they stampeded.
alarm/ala:rm/to make people feel very worried about a
possible danger Iv Tl
We don't wish to alarm people unnecessarily but it would be
wise to avoid drinking the tap water here. I Many women are
alarmed by suggestions of a link between the pill and breast
cancer.
alarming [ adj ] There have been several alarming incidents
where planes have almost crashed.
rattie I  ratl/ifa situation rattles you it causes you to feel
worried although you are trying to remain confident or
brave Iv T ]
She refuses to let personal attacks rattle her. I John Major
was rattled by industry's latest attack on his economic
policies.
daunt/d:nt/ifa difficult or dangerous situation daunts
you, it makes you lose your courage or confidence so that
you feel that you will not be able to deal with it success-
fully Iv T]
She knew she had only a one in three chance of surviving the
operation, but the risk did not daunt her. [ Far from being
daunted by the dangers ahead, Maria actually seemed to
enjoy the challenge.
daunting [adj] In general, pilots find bombing trips both
daunting and stimulating.
8 to deliberately frighten someone, especially
because you want to make them do
something
frighten/scare sb into
terrorize
frighten/scare sb into I'fraitn, 'ske r (sb) ]ntu:/ to
make someone feel frightened about what will happen if
they do not do something, so that they do it [phr v T l
frighten/scare sb into doing sth The Nationalists kept
on talking about the "'Communist threat'" to scare people into
voting for them. I He accused the police of frightening his
client into making a confession. I frighten/scare sb into
sth Many adults think they should frighten their children
into good behaviour, but it is never a good idea.
terrorize (also -ise British) I'teraraz/ to deliberately
frighten people, over a long period of time, by using vio-
lence or by threatening them, especially in order to make
them do what you want Iv T]
terrorize sb Some of the older children dominated the
playground and terrorized the smaller kids. I A gang of
youths are roaming the city, vandalising stores, setting fires
and terrorizing people. I terrorize sb into doing sth
(=make someone do something by using violencb, threats
etc against them) With threats, beatings and even murder,
the workers were terrorized into leaving their unions.
9 words for describing someone who easily
gets frightened
scare easily
timid
be of a nervous disposition
scare easily/'skea r ,i:zali/to easily get frightened Iv
phrase]
Being a police officer isn't a job for someone who scares
easily. I I'll go down and see what that noise was. I don't scare
easily you know.
timid/'tImlad/easily frightened and unwilling to do any-
thing that might be unpleasant or dangerous [adj]
Decker knew that his boss was wrong, but was too timid to
tell him. I They think I'm just a timid woman, but I'll show
them they're wrong. I It is time for being bold, not timid, and
chancing your luck on something new.
be of a nervous disposition/bi: av z ,na:rv)s dlsp)-
'z i.dn/a formal expression meaning to get easily frightened
and upset [v phrasel
People of a nervous disposition may be upset by some of the
scenes in the following programme. I In our opinion the can-
didate is intelligent, friendly, but of a very nervous disposi-
tion and lacking in confidence. I He had such a nervous dis-
position, I wouldn't like to rely on him in a crisis.
1 0 the feeling of being frightened
fear panic
terror foreboding
fear/fmr/In C/U]
Even after years of therapy, the feelings of fear and unhap-
piness are still with her. ] All the hopes and fears of the last
twelve months would be resolved today. ] fear of The whole
of his life has been dominated by fear of failure. I Over the
weekend fear of a possible war spread. I fear that (=fear
because you think something bad may happen) The crea-
tive writer's worst fear is that his imagination may desert
him.
terror/terar/a very strong feeling of fear In U]
in terror (=feeling terror) The passengers screamed in
terror as the plane dropped several hundred feet. I sheer
terror (=complete terror) I will never forget the look of sheer
terror on her face when I found her in the blazing house. ]
strike terror into sb (=make someone feel terror) Mr Joll
was careful and gentle and didn't strike terror into me like
other dentists did.
panic/'penlk/a sudden strong feeling of fear that makes
people unable to think clearly or act sensibly In U]
Public health officials did nothing about the radioactive
milk, afraid of panic. I With a growing sense of panic, Chris
emptied the bag onto the table and searched frantically for
the tickets. ] in panic (=feeling panic) In panic, he began to
throw water on the burning saucepan of oiL
foreboding/fa:r'baodIrj[ a feeling of fear because you
think something bad is going to happen although you do
not have any real reason for thinking this In U]
As they waited at the airfield Sara had the same feeling of
foreboding that she had felt before her father died.
1 1 an event or situation that frightens people
scare
terror
horror

FRIGHTENED 533 FRONT
scare/skeor/a situation in which a lot of people are fright-
ened of something such as a serious illness, violence or a
problem which may harm them In C]
Aids has caused such a scare that fewer and fewer people are
giving blood. I scare about/over A year after Chernobyl
the scare about radioactive food had died down. I bomb
scare (=a scare caused by a report of there being a bomb)
Retail sales were down due to a spate of bomb scares before
Christmas.
terror / terar/an event or situation that makes people feel
extremely frightened, especially because they think they
might be killed [n C usually singular]
the terror of Being in a tunnel reminded him of the terror
of being trapped underground. I Kampucheans who remem-
ber the terror of the Pol Pot regime want to see him behind
bars.
horror / htra r ]] ha:-, hta:-/an event or situation which
frightens and shocks people because they see terrible
things happening In C]
the horror of One woman cried as she told of the horror of
seeing workmates killed in the lift. I They joined the anti-
nuclear campaign after seeing a film about the horrors of
Hiroshirna. I horror Children in these famine-stricken areas
simply cannot be protected from the horror all around them.
frightening FRIGHTENED 6
frills: no-frills SIMPLE/PLAIN 1
fringe GROUP OF PEOPLE 7
fringe benefits PAY SB FOR WORK 3
frisk LOOK FOR 6
fritter away WASTE STH 1
lrivolous JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 2
3 the position at the front of a crowd or line of
people, vehicles etc
4 at, in, or towards the front
5 at, in, or towards a position that is further
forward than you
6 at or to a position that is directly in front of a
person, building etc
1 the side or surface of something that is
nearest to you or furthest away from the back
front
front IfrAnt/In C usually singular]
She was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of an elephant on
the front. I A path leads from the back yard round to the front
of the house. I He marked the front and back of the envelope
in black ink: "SECRET'.
 the part of a space, room, vehicle etc that is
furthest forward
the front
the front/6o 'frAnt/ [n singular]
There was a picture of Chairman Mao at the front of the
classroom. I There's only room for two people in the front of
most cars. I At the front of the cage was a dish with a few
scraps of food in it. I All the seats at the back of the hall were
already occupied so we had to sit right at the front.
from
from DISTANCE 3, SEEM 5, SINCE 1
from here HERE 4
from now AFTER 2, FUTURE 6
from now on AFTER 3
from out of nowhere SUDDENLY 1
from the word go BEGINNING 5
from then on AFTER 3
from there THERE 3
from the way SEEM 5
from time to time SOMETIMES 1
from...to... TIME/HOW LONG 2
front FRONT 1, 4, HIDE/NOT SHOW 5, PRETEND 8
front: be in front/be out in front WIN 7
front: be fronted by LEADER 2
front: in front FRONT 5, 6
front: in front/in the front FRONT 4
front: in front of SEE 6
front: in front of/ahead of BEFORE 8
front: the front FRONT 2, 3, WAR 7
front: up front- FRONT 4, HONEST 2, PAY FOR 3
front line: the front line WAR 7
FRONT
the side or surface of something that is
nearest to you or furthest away from the back
the part of a space, room, vehicle etc that is
furthest forward
3 the position at the front of a crowd or line of
people, vehicles etc
the front
the front/6o 'frAntl [n singular]
I stood in the line for 2 hours before I got to the front. I Joseph
pushed to the front of the crowd to see what was happening.
4 at, in, or towards the front
front at the head of
in front/in the front forward
up front in the foreground
front/fr^ntJ [adj only before noun]
Jordan and Tom and I got into the front seat of Gatsby's car. I
Laura prefers to sit in one of the front rows at the movies. I
There was a large picture of Clinton on the frontpage of the
evening newspaper. I You should have knocked on the front
door. I A cat had got its front paw trapped in the netting.
in front/in the front/in 'frAnt, in 60 'frAnq in the front
part of a space, room, vehicle etc [adv phrase]
At most rock concerts the rows in front are always full of
screaming kids. I He sat in the front beside the driver. I We
were looking for a two-storey building with a verandah in
the front.
up front/Ap 'frAnt/ if someone is up front in a room or
vehicle, they are in the most forward position possible [adv
phrase]
The only people to laugh were the American soldiers who sat
up front. I She liked sitting up front with the driver.
at the head of/at 60 'hed Dv/at the front of a line of
people or group of people [prep]
A man at the head of the line was arguing with the sales
lady. I At the head of the procession marched an army band.
forward /fa:rward/ if you move forward, you move
towards the front of a room, space etc [adv]
Mr Hoffman stepped forward to collect his prize. I Can we
sit a little further forward? I can't see from here.
in the foreground/in 6a fa:rgraond/in the part of a
picture, scene, or view that is closest to you [adv phrase]
"That's me, "" he said, pointing to a child in the foreground
of the faded photograph. I From her balcony she could see
a group of palm-trees in the foreground and the mountains
beyond.

FRONT 534 FULL
5 at, in, or towards a position that is further
forward than you
in front
ahead
up ahead
in front/in 'fr^nt/[adv phrase]
He drove straight into the car in front. I Ellie walked in front,
carrying the baby.
ahead/'hcd/a short distance from the front or face of
someone or something [adv]
Let Tom walk ahead of you - he knows this path very well. I
He looked ahead down the road towards the village. I
straight ahead (=directly ahead) The driver was staring
straight ahead, concentrating on the traffic.
up ahead lap a'hed/in the distance but not very far in
front of you [adv phrase]
There is a policeman up ahead directing traffic. I Up ahead
we could see the bright lights of Las Vegas flashing on and
off. I "'Excuse me, where's the post office? .... Up ahead on the
right. '"
6 at or to a position that is directly in front of a
person, building etc
in front
in front / In  fr^nt/close to the front or face of someone or
something [adv]
in front of sb/sth She parked the car in front of the office.
The bartender put the drink in front of me. [ in front The
town was now behind us and there was nothing in front but
a dark, winding road.
frontier EDGE 2
frontrunner WIN 8
frosted SEE 13
frosty COLD 3, UNFRIENDLY 3
frown DISAPPROVE 3
frown on/upon DISAPPROVE 1
frozen: freezing/frozen COLD 6
frugal SPEND MONEY 7
fruit: bear fruit SUCCEED IN DOING STH 4
fruitful SUCCEED IN DOING STH 4
fruitless FAIL 2
frustrate ANNOY 2, PREVENT 3
frustrated ANNOY 4
frustrating ANNOY 5
frustration ANNOY 6
fry COOK 2, 3
ruddy duddy OLD-FASHIONED 3
fudge AVOID 5
fuel INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 4
fugitive ESCAPE 6
fulfil SATISFIED 6
fulfil/meet requirements NEED 8
fulfilled SATISFIED 2
fulfilled: be fulfilled HAPPEN 4
fulfilling SATISFIED 4
fulfilment/fulfillment SATISFIED 5
full BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 3, COMPLETE 1, 2,
FAT 5, FULL 1
full: be full FULL 3
full: be full of FULL 2
full: be full of ideas IDEA 5
full: be full of it ENTHUSIASTIC 2
full: be full to the brim FULL 1
full: in full COMPLETE 1
full-bodied STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 1
full-flavoured/full-flavored STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 1
full-grown/fully grown ADULT 1
full of beans: be full of beans ENERGETIC 2
full of holes HOLE 7
full of yourself: be full of yourself PROUD 4
full stomach: on a full stomach FULL 3
full swing: be in full swing HAPPEN 6
full up FULL 1
FULL
ways of saying that a container, room, place
etc is full, so that no more things or people
can go in it
full of a substance, things, people etc
feeling full of food, so that you do not want to
eat any more
words for describing food that makes your
stomach feel full
to become full
to make something full
to make something full again after part of
what is in it has been used
ways of saying that a place or area is full of a
lot of animals, insects, or people all moving
around
ways of saying that a container, room, place
etc is full, so that no more things or people
can go in it
full be bursting at the seams
full up be full to capacity
bulging be chock-a-block
overflowing be packed out
be full to the brim
full/foil [adj]
The trash can is full - can you empty it, please? I There were
three full boxes on the floor of the garage. I The waiter's job
was to make sure everyone's glass was full. I You'll have to
park your van in a side street - the car park's full. I If the
restaurant is full we could have a snack in the bar.
full up / ,ful 'Ap/a British expression: a container such as
a bag, box, or drawer etc that is full up has no more room
in it for anything else [adj phrase not before noun]
I can't fit any more clothes into this suitcase, it's full up. I
full up with drawers full up with papers, old letters, en-
velopes and bills I On the kitchen table were boxes full up
with crockery and glasses wrapped in newspaper.
bulging / bAldSlO! something such as a bag or a pocket
that is bulging is so full that the objects inside it push its
sides outwards [adj]
He took a sweet out of a bulging paper bag and popped it
into his mouth. I Tina stood on the platform, a huge bunch
of flowers in one hand and a bulging suitcase in the other. I
bulging with On the donkey's back was a sack, bulging
with onions.
overflowing ! ,ovar flaOlrj/a container of liquid that
is overflowing is so full that the liquid flows over the sides
of the container [adj]
The bath is overflowing/Who forgot to turn off the taps? I
overflowing with Kerry handed me a glass overflowing
with wine, trying not to let it spill on the carpet.
be full to the brim/bi: ,ful ta 6a 'brim/if a container
is full to the brim, it is full right to the very top, especially
with liquid |v phrase]
He poured the whisky slowly. When the glass was full to the
brim hedrank it in onegulp. I be full to the brim with The
kitchen was filthy. The sink was full to the brim with dirty,
smelly water.
be bursting at the seams/bi: ba:rsti0 at 6a 'si:mz/
ifa room or building is bursting at the seams, it is so full
of people that hardly anyone else can fit in [v phrase]
More and more wedding guests continued to arrive, until the
house was bursting at the seams. I The little souvenir shop
was bursting at the seams, and people struggled to get in and
out.
be full to capacity/bi: ,fol ta ka'pmsaXti/ if a public
building is full to capacity, it contains the largest number
of people officially allowed in it [v phrase]

FULL 535 FULL
Once the football stadium was full to capacity, it would have
been dangerous to let more people in. ] The train was full to
capacity so people started climbing onto the roof.
capacity [adj only before noun/There was a capacity crowd
for the group's last live gig.
be chock-a.block/bi: ,tj'Dk  'blDk [1 - tJ'a:k  bla:k/an
informal British expression: if a room, vehicle, or build-
ing is chock-a-block, it is so full of people that you cannot
move easily in it [v phrase]
I couldn "t sit down on the bus - it was chock-a-block. I chock-
a-block with The cinema is usually chock-a-block with chil-
dren on Sunday afternoons.
be packed out/bi: ,pekt 'aoq a British expression: if
something such as a theatre is packed out, it is completely
full [v phrase/
I've never seen anything like it - the stadium was absolutely
packed out last night.
couldn't eat another thing/,kodnt ,i:t ,n^ r 'Oij/
you say I couldn't eat another thing when you have eaten
a lot, especially because you enjoyed the food, and are very
full [v phrase/
The apple pie is delicious but I won't have another slice -
I couldn't eat another thing.
bloated /'blotd/ having eaten so much that your
stomach feels very full and uncomfortable [adj]
I feel really bloated. I wish I hadn't eaten so much. I bloated
with He fell onto the sofa, his stomach bloated with food.
stuffed/StAff/an informal expression meaning extremely
full [ adj ]
"No more, "" groaned Alan. "'I'm stuffed, t"
-
on a full stomach/on  fol stArnk/ if you do some-
thing on a full stomach, you do it soon after eating a meal,
when you are still feeling full [adv phrase]
It isn't wise to go swimming on a full stomach.
2 full of a substance, things, people etc
be full of be stuffed with
be filled with be packed with
be crammed with
be full of/bi: 'ful tv/[v phrase]
The buses were full of people returning from work. I He
pulled out a wallet full of money and handed me a $20 bill. I
a bucket full of rainwater
be filled with/bi: 'fild w16/ifa container is filled with
something, it has had as much of something or as many
things as possible put inside it [v phrase]
I tried the drawer, which was filled with neat piles of care-
fully folded shirts. I Large plant pots add interest to any
small garden, especially when they are filled with colourful
plants and flowers. I a glass-fronted cabinet filled with rare
coins and old medals
be crammed with/bi: 'kremd wI6/if a container or a
room is crammed with something, it is so full of it that
nothing else can possibly be put in it [v phrase]
The box was crammed with books. I managed to pull one out
and opened it to see what was inside. [ Because his mouth
was crammed with food, I couldn "t understand what Lenny
was saying. [ Detectives found that the attache case was
crammed with drugs and cash.
be stuffed with/bi: ' StAft WI6/if a container is stuffed
with things, it is very full of several different things that
have been put in it in a careless or untidy way [v phrase]
Brenda came slowly up the road, carrying shopping bags
that were stuffed with food for the weekend. [ She searched
for her car keys in a small handbag stuffed with make-up,
tissues and money. [ a huge picnic basket stuffed with tasty
delicacies
be packed with/bi: 'pekt wiS/if a room, train, build-
ing etc is packed with people, it is extremely full and there
is no room to move [v phrase]
The dance floor was packed with young couples. I On the day
of her funeral the little church was packed with friends and
relations.
packed [adj] The packed bus came to a halt and everyone
got out.
3 feeling full of food, so that you do not want to
eat any more
be full bloated
have had enough stuffed
couldn't eat another thing on a full stomach
be full (also be full up in British English)/bi: 'fol, bi: ,fol
'Ap/ [v phrase]
Dad doesn't want any ice-cream - he says he's full. ] "'Have
you had enough to eat, dear? .... Yes, thanks, I'm full up. ""
have had enough/hov ,hed I 'hAll to be full, especially
when you have not finished your meal or everything on
your plate Iv phrase]
No dessert for me, thank you, I've had enough. [ Leave it if
you've had enough.
4 words for describing food that makes your
stomach feel full
filling
heavy
stodgy
filling I, filirJ/food that is filling makes your stomach feel
full very quickly, especially when it does not look as though
it will [adj]
I'll only give you a small amount of rice because it's quite
filling. I Of course I liked your chocolate cake, but it's so fill-
ing I couldn't possibly eat another piece. I Pizza Rustica is
an especially rich and filling dish, so choose the antipasto
with care.
heavy / 'hevi/food that is heavy makes your stomach feel
full and you can feel it lying in your stomach for a long time
after you have eaten it [adj]
Some people find wholemeal bread too heavy. [ "'Excuse me",
said Rich as his stomach rumbled, "'that fruitcake I've just
eaten was a bit heavy. ""
stodgy/smdsi [[ sto:-/food that is stodgy makes you feel
full, is bad for your health, and usually has very little taste
[adj]
Stress, lack of rest and too much stodgy food had made
Pauline break out in spots. [ The food in Suzie's Cafe tends
to be stodgy rather than fresh and light.
5 to become full
fill
fill up
fill/fill [v I]
They opened the doors and the hall quickly filled. [ After the
first few rains of the year, the well started to fill. [ fill with
As I strolled across the beach I could feel my shoes filling with
sand.
fill up/,ill 'Ap/ if a public place such as a cinema or
restaurant fills up, it gradually becomes full of people [phr
v I]
About half an hour before the beginning of the movie, the
cinema starts to fill up. [ fill up with At four o'clock the
swimming pool filled up with children whose parents had
brought them straight from school.
6
to make something full
fill pack
fill up stuff
cram load/load up
fill/fill [v T/
fill sth I filled the saucepan but forgot to turn on the gas.[
fill sth with I would love to fill my wardrobe with new
clothes. [ Some of the syringes had been filled accidentally
with the wrong drug.
fill up ! ,fll 'Ap/ to fill a container such as a glass, a box,
or a bag, especially one that already has a small amount
of something in it [phr v T/

FULL 536 FUNNY
fill up sth Harold went around filling up everyone's
glasses. I fill sth up with Diana filled the tin up with bis-
cuits and handed it to Chris. [ fill sth/it/them up "'Fill it
up, "" said Max to the garage attendant.
cram ]kram] to push too many things or too much of some-
thing into a container or space so that it is very full Iv T]
cram sth with Timmy crammed his mouth with handfuls
of berries. I cram sth into Once I had crammed all my shirts
and sweaters into my suitcase I could hardly close it.
pack Iwekl to make a large number of people or things go
into a space where there is not enough room for them all
[v T]
pack sth into/onto etc Passengers complained that the bus
company packs too many people onto the buses. I The
organizers managed to pack over a thousand people into the
auditorium.
stuff ]stAr! to Efll something such as a bag or pocket by
pushing things into it very tightly Iv T]
stuff sth into She stuffed some clothes into an overnight bag
and left immediately. I stuff sth with The boys crept into
the orchard and stuffed their pockets with plums. I stuffsth
full of sth To make sure that the hat keeps its shape, you
can stuff it full of newspaper.
load/load up/lood, ,hl '^p/to fill a vehicle with goods,
furniture etc Iv T]
load sth/load up sth Loading the van was difficult because
our furniture is really heavy. I This giant machine can load
up a lOton truck every few minutes. I load sth/load up sth
with Two men were loading up a truck with boxes of melons.
loaded [adj] A truck loaded with frozen meat was backed
into the delivery yard.
7 to make something full again after part of
what is in it has been used
refill
replenish
top up
refill/,ri:'fil/[v-T]
refill sth As soon as she emptied her glass, the waiter refilled
it. ] You can now bring your empty shampoo bottles to the
shop and we will refill them. ] We need some more paper to
refill the photocopier. I refill sth with Mary refilled every-
one's cups with coffee.
refill ]'ri:fil] In C] That was a lovely cup of coffee - could
I have a refill, please?
replenish /rI 'pleni/ a formal word meaning to make
something full again, especially with supplies of something
such as water or food Iv T]
In an emergency, water can be pumped in this way to replen-
ish the irrigation canals. ] Shortage of food and poor trans-
portation means that the stores are not able to replenish their
shelves as often as they would like to.
top up I ,rap '^p ]1 ,to:p-/to fill a glass, cup etc that is half
full or nearly empty [phr v T]
top sth/it/them up "'More wine anyone? .... Yes, please,
could you top mine up. "" I top sth up with Pour a little
brandy over the sugar and top it up with champagne.
top up (British)/'top ^p II 'to:p-/In C] "vVould you like a
top up?" he said, pointing to her glass.
8 ways of saying that a place or area is full of a
lot of animals, insects, or people all moving
around
be teeming with
be swarming with
be crawling with
be teeming with Ibi: 'ti:mn] wt61 be full of people,
animals, insects etc all moving around [v phrase]
The small stretch of water was teeming with wildfowl. ] He
entered Times Square which was teeming with theater-
goers. ] The tragedy is that this whole region remains teem-
ing with desperately poor people.
be swarming with Ibi: 'swa:rrnirj wI6/ to be full of
animals, people, insects etc, all moving around very
quickly or bushy Iv phrase]
The place is swarming with birds. ] At this time of year the
town is usually swarming with tourists. I The camp site was
filthy and swarming with flies.
be crawling with/bi: 'kra:lxrj wi6/to be full of a lot of
insects, animals, or people all moving around, especially
ones that you find unpleasant in some way Iv phrase]
The whole place was crawling with tourists. ] We were dis-
gusted to find the whole house crawling with bugs and
roaches.
fully COMPLETELY 1
 fully grown GROW/GET BIGGER 2
..
 fumble about/around LOOK FOR 5
fumble with HOLD 4
 fun ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5, 7
 fun: for fun ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 8
 fun: go(u:llgreat fun ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
4: fun: have fun ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 2, 3
 fun: make fun of MAKE FUN OF 1
 function PARTY 2, PURPOSE 3, WORKING/NOT
 BROKEN 1
 functional USESTH13
.: fund MONEY 9, ORGANIZATION 3, PAY FOR 11
 fundamental BASIC 1, BIG 10
- fundamentalist EXTREME 3
;.:
 fundamentals BASIC 3
. funding MONEY 14
 funnily enough: oddly enough/funnily enough/
strangely enough STRANGE 2
funny FUNNY 1, STRANGE 1
funny: feel funny/peculiar ILL 4
funny: odd/funny STRANGE 2, 5
funny: see the funny side of FUNNY 6
funny story JOKE 1
FUNNY
making you laugh
words meaning funny
a type of writing, theatre etc that is not serious
but intended to be funny
words for describing a situation that is funny
because the opposite of what is expected
happens
how you feel or look when you hear or see
something funny
the particular quality in a person, situation,
book etc that makes them funny
the ability to know when something is funny
and to laugh at funny situations
1
words meaning funny
funny hilarious
make sb laugh humorous
amusing witty
amuse be a laugh
comical light-hearted
funny I'f^nil [adj]
Jamie told us a really funny joke last night. I t was so funny
when he fell off the stage - I though I'd die laughing. I Mary
was funny, intelligent and great company. I His story about
their honeymoon was one of the funniest things I've ever
heard. I hilariously/hysterically funny (=extremely
funny) Everyone expt me seemed to find her mistakes hilar-
iously funny.
make sb laugh/,meik (sb) la:f [[ -'laef/[vphrase not in
passive]

FUNNY 53? FUNNY
I must tell that to Frank, it'll make him laugh. I Charlie
Chaplin was blessed with an incredible gift for making
people laugh. I it makes sb laugh when We looked so much
alike. It used to make me laugh when people thought we were
sisters.
amusing ]a'mju:zio! funny and entertaining [adj]
He was witty and amusing, and he kept her laughing and
entertained all through dinner. I My mother was embar-
rassed but I found the situation quite amusing. I Wright's
account of his adventures is highly amusing. I We thoroughly
enjoyed 'Pygmalion'. It really is a most amusing play.
amusingly [adv] Ray told his story very amusingly, exag-
gerating a little perhaps.
amuse la'mju:z/if something amuses you, you think it
is funny so that you want to laugh or smile Iv T]
amuse sb His jokes amused the children, but I thought he
was being silly. [ I read extracts from Moishe's letters, some
of which amused his mother, some of which saddened her. [
it amuses sb to think/see/hear It amused me to think of
the police busily searching for clues in the wrong place. [
what amuses me is .... What amused me was the way she
always made the same excuse for being late.
comical/'komkal II 'ko:-/behaviour or situations that
are comical are funny in an odd or unexpected way,
although they are not usually intended to be [adj]
Everyone laughed at the comical way in which Katy, our
four-year-old, tried to feed herself. I Carlo looked so comical,
striding along in a coat which nearly touched the ground. I
The situation at my grandmother's house had become almost
comical with everyone falling over each other to help move
the furniture.
comically [adv ] He bowed comically and asked my sister to
dance.
hilarious/hi'learias/extremely funny [adj]
He entertained us with hilarious stories about his experiences
in the navy. I The choir practice was hilarious because no
one could sing in tune. I Annie got the cleaning job, which
I found hilarious in view of her dislike of housework.
humorous /'hju:maros II 'hju:-, 'ju:-! a remark, story,
letter etc that is humorous is deliberately funny and enter-
raining, usually in a clever way [adj]
We all listened to Ann's humorous account of her first week
as a teacher. [ "Huckleberry Finn" is a masterpiece of
humorous fiction, i Some of the responses to our question-
naires are very humorous.
humorously [adv] Every Saturday he comments
humorously on the political events of the past week.
witty/'wlti/using words and expressing thoughts in a
clever, amusing way [adj]
Sam's witty and intelligent and great fun to be with. [ Hamp-
ton's new play has a witty script but the acting is terrible.
wittily lady] "'Gordon looks like El Cid in that hat, "" said
someone wittily.
be a laugh/bi: a 'la:f [[ -'lair/if a person or a situation
is a laugh, they are amusing and give you a lot of fun Iv
phrase]
Wait until you meet Tony. He's a real laugh. I Wouldn't it
be a laugh if they all went to the wrong hotel!
light.hearted/lait 'h(:rta]d/something that is light-
hearted is funny in a gentle way, although it is about a sub-
ject that is usually serious [adj only before noun]
The film takes a light-hearted view of life in prison. I In her
work she displays a light-hearted attitude towards sex and
marriage.
light-heartedly [ adv] Somehow, Moore's book manages to
deal light-heartedly with subjects such as death and illness.
2 a type of writing, theatre etc'that is not serious
but intended to be funny
comic
comedy
comic I'kDmik II 'ko:-/ comic verse/song/opera etc
(=not serious but intended to entertain people and make
them laugh) [adj only before nounl
Max entertained us with his jokes and comic songs. [ Whilst
she has written several volumes of serious poetry, she's pos-
sibly better known for her comic verse. I Most critics find his
acting talents better suited to comic roles.
comedy/'komdi [[ 'ka:-/afflm, play etc that is intended
to entertain people and make them laugh [n C/U]
The play's supposed to be a comedy but I didn't think it was
funny at all. I He won the award for the best comedy perfor-
mance of the year. [ After years as a serious actress she
switched to comedy, winning many awards.
3 words for describing a situation that is funny
because the opposite of what is expected
happens
ironic
irony
ironic la] 'mink [I -'ro:-I something that is ironic is funny,
but in a sad or unexpected way because it is caused by the
opposite of what should happen [adj]
How ironic! He was just telling us to be careful when he fell
and broke his leg. [ She is well known for her ironic humour. [
it is ironic that It's ironic that health fanatics are often the
least healthy people.
ironically [adv ] Ironically, the government ended up harm-
ing the very people it was trying to help.
Irony /'alarani/something that is funny, but in a sad or
unexpected way because it is caused by the opposite of
what should happen [n C/U]
the irony of The irony of the situation was obvious -ifI
told the truth, nobody would believe me! I the irony is that
The irony is that some of the poorest countries have the
richest natural resources. I irony Life is full of ironies, some
hilarious, some tragic.
4 how you feel or look when you hear or see
something funny
amused
amusement
amused/'mju:zd/someone who is amused by some-
thing thinks it is funny so that they smile or laugh Iadj_not
usually before noun]
amused by/at Everyone expected her to be angry but Claire
was quite amused by what happened. I amused Amos
ambled into the kitchen with an amused grin on his face. I
greatly/highly amused My grandmother seemed to be
greatly amused at my remarks.
amusement/a'mju:zmant/the feeling you have when
you think that something is funny In U]
Mary-Jane's little stories were a source of endless amuse-
ment. I in amusement She smiled in amusement as she
watched the cats playing with the wool. I amusement at
Gloria couldn't hide her amusement at what the children
were saying. I to sb's amusement (=making them feel
amused) Suddenly the table in front of the teacher collapsed,
to the amusement of the whole class.
5 the particular quality in a person, situation,
book etc that makes them funny
humour/humor
comedy
wit
humour (British) I humor (American)/'hju:ma r II 'hju:-,
'ju:-I In U]
It was difficult at first to appreciate the humour of the situ-
ation. [ Written with compassion and humor, the story is an
absorbing one, ensuring a quick read. I She was a delight-
ful person, full of gentle humour and quiet courtesy. I black
humour (=humour that makes unpleasant subjects seem
funny) Tom Lehrer's black humor offended some people, who
found jokes about such subjects as nuclear war unacceptable.
comedy/'komdi [[ 'ka:-/the quality in a book, film, tele-
vision programme etc that is intended to entertain people
and make them laugh [n U]

FUNNY 5,38 FUTURE
The actors have tried to put some comedy into a play which
isn't really funny. I Much of the comedy in the book comes
from the author's ability to make ordinary events seem
ridiculous. [ The story contains an element of bizarre comedy.
w|t IwIq the ability to use words and express ideas in a
clever and amusing way, especially when it is shown in
conversation or writing In U]
He seemed to have everything you could want in a man -
intelligence, wit, elegance and charm. ] The wit and irony
of the original novel has been lost in the film version. [As
a professor he would entertain his students with acute obser-
vations and almost savage wit.
future
6 the ability to know when something is funny
and to laugh at funny situations
sense of humourl see the funny side of
humor can laugh
can take a joke
sense of humour (British) I humor (American) I,sens
av 'hjuzmar/[n phrase]
Maybe I'm losing my sense of humor, but I just didn't find
that movie very funny. I She's a marvellous woman - has
a great sense of humour and she's lots of fun. [ English/
French/German etc sense of humour I moved to
England years ago but I still don't understand the English
sense of humour.
can take a Joke Ikan ,teik a 'd3aok j to be able to laugh
and not get angry, for example when other people say some-
thing funny about you or make you look stupid [vphrase]
I hope she can take a joke, otherwise she's going to have a
real surprise when she sees what they've done to her car. [
What's wrong? Can't you take a joke?
see the funny side of I,si: 6a 'fAni said ov I to realize
that a situation that seems to be bad can also be funny Iv
phrase]
I was very angry when Igot lockedout of the house, but even-
tually I saw the funny side of it. [ I explained to the customer
that it was all my mistake and fortunately he saw the funny
side of the situation.
can laugh/kon 'lo:f [] -'laf/to be able to laugh and joke
about your own mistakes and faults or about past
experiences which did not seem funny when they were
happening Iv phrase]
We can laugh now, but at the time it seemed like the end of
the world. I can laugh at yourself Don't take yourself too
seriously - it's a good thing if you can laugh at yourself
sometimes.
furious ANGRY 2, 7
furnish PROVIDE 1
furore ANGRY 7
furrow LINE 5
further FAR 1, MORE/EXTRA 1
further: advancelfurther HELP 5
furtherladvance your career SUCCESSFUL 1
further on AFTER 8
furthermorelmoreover AND/ALSO 2
furthest FAR 1
furtive SECRET 7
furtively SECRET 6
fuse: have a short fuse BAD-TEMPERED 5
fusion MIX 8
fuss PROBLEM 1
fuss: make a fuss IMPORTANT 11
fuss: make a fuss/kick up a fuss COMPLAIN 1
fuss: make a fuss of KIND 5
fusspot COMPLAIN 2
fussy ARGUE 3
fussy: be fussy about CHOOSE 9
fussy: not be fussy DON'T CARE 2
fussy eater: be a fussy/picky eater EAT 8
futile POINTLESS 1
future AFTER 4, FUTURE 4, 5, 7
future: have a bright future SUCCESSFUL 4
future: in the future FUTURE 2
future: the future FUTURE 1
FUTURE
I the time in the future
2: at some time in the future, but you do not
know exactly when
3 likely to happen at some time in the future
4 words for describing something that will
happen or exist in the future
5 likely to achieve something or have a
particular position in the future
6 ways of saying how much time will pass
before something will happen
1' what is going to happen to someone or
something in the future
6 a general idea of what is likely to happen in
the future
1 the time in the future
the future
the future Iba 'fju:tarl [n singular]
It's no good worrying about the past - you must start think-
ing about the future. [ Many of Nostradamus' predictions
about the future have come true. I My boss asked me if I had
any plans for the future. [ see into the future (=to see what
will happen in the future) Some people claim that they can
see into the future by examining the position of the stars. [
the ear/train/society etc of the future (=the one that will
exist in the future) The car of the future will probably run
on hydrogen.
' at some time in the future, but you do not
know exactly when
in the future one day/some day
some time/sometime one of these days
in the future I;n 6a 'fjju:ffar/[adv phrase]
A cure for cancer may well be found in the future. I in the
near future (=soon) Scientists are warning that there could
be a big earthquake in Tokyo in the near future. I in the
immediate future (=very soon) I don't think that the eco-
nomic situation will get better in the immediate future, but
there is some hope that things could improve next year. I
in/for the foreseeable future (=from now for as long as
you can imagine or plan) The Prime Minister said that Brit-
ish troops would have to remain in Northern Ireland for the
foreseeable future. I in the distant future (=a very long
time ahead in the future) Manned space travel to other solar
systems may be possible in the distant future.
some time/sometime / j sArn e talm, e sAmtalmJ at a time
in the future that has not yet been arranged lady phrase]
Would you like to go for a drink some time? l I promised
Elizabeth I'd take her to the zoo sometime soon. J I was think-
ing of asking ,lane out on a date sometime next week.
one day/some day /,w^n dei, ,sAm 'del I at an
unknown time in the future, especially a long time in the
future lady phrase]
There'll probably be a united Europe one day - not in my
lifetime though. [ He always knew that some day she'd want

FUTURE 539 FUTURE
to go back to Vietnam. I One day you'll thank me for making
you study hard.
one of these days / ,wAn Ov 6i:z ' deiz/at some time in
the future, used especially when you think that something
will probably happen or that someone will probably do
something [adv phrase]
One of these days she'll be sorry for what she's done. I
Richard shouldn't work so hard - he'll have a heart attack
one of these days.
 likely to happen at some time in the future
be on the horizon
be in store
be on the horizon Ibi: tn 63 ho'raizn/if something,
especially an important change or event is on the horizon
it seems likely to happen at some time in the future Iv
phrase]
Political change seems to be on the horizon in North Korea. I
After two weeks of talks a solution to the dispute is finally
on the horizon.
be in store/bi: m 'sta:r/if something unexpected such
as a surprise or a sudden problem is in store for someone,
it is about to happen to them Iv phrase]
be in store for There was a surprise in store for Paul when
he got to h/s of]we. I be in store At that time they had no idea
what was in store, nor what the result of it would be. I what
fate/the future holds in store for (=what is going to
happen to someone in the future) When theyfirst arrived
in the US the refugees were afraid of what the future might
hold in store for them there.
4 words for describing something that will
happen or exist in the future
future
to come
ahead
future/' t]u:to r/[adj only before noun]
Women often wish to return to their jobs at some future date,
for example when their children start school. [ It's our duty
to protect the countryside so that it can be enjoyed by future
generations. [ The US administration's future economic poli-
cies will be severely affected by the mounting burden of debt
to countries like Japan. I for future reference (=for your
use as information in the future) Is it alright if I keep these
statistics for future reference?
to come/t 'kAm/in the future [adv phrase]
generations/years/a long time to come In years to come
people will look back on today as a turning point in the his-
tory of the world. I Nuclear power stations will still be needed
for a long time to come, until cheaper, safer forms of energy
are found. I be still/yet to come (=to not have happened
yet and will happen soon) The best is still to come - there's
chocolate ice cream for dessert.
ahead/a'hed/in the future, used especially when you
know you will have problems or difficulties in the future
[adv]
the day/week/months ahead He had his breakfast and
thought about the day ahead. I lie ahead The government
faces some difficult decisions in the weeks and months which
lie ahead. I ahead of sb I know there are some big problems
ahead of us, but I'm sure we can overcome them.
 likely to achieve something or have a
particular position in the future
futu re prospective
potential in the making
future/ltu:tor/[adj only before noun]
Giggs is a very talented football player - he could be a future
captain of Wales. I Before the scandal erupted he was being
talked about as the future President of the United States.
potential /po'tenal/ potential customer/client/wit-
ness etc (=someone who might become a customer etc in
the future) [adj only before noun]
The aim of the survey is to find potential customers for our
producLs. I Police believe they may have found a potential wit-
ness. I It's wrong to regard all soccer fans as potential
trouble-makers - it's only a small minority who are respon-
sible for the violence.
prospective/pro'spektiv/prospective candidate/em-
ployee/husband/buyer etc (=one who wants to get or
may be chosen for a job, position etc in the future) [adj only
before noun]
My mother keeps introducing me to men who she considers
to be prospective husbands. I Texaco has introduced a com-
pulsory HIV testing program for all prospective employees.
In the making/in 6a meiklO/a top player/a world
champion/a first class lawyer etc in the making
(=someone who is likely to do very well in their field of
work or sport if they have the right training) [adj phrase]
When I first saw her play tennis I knew that there was a
future Wimbledom champion in the making.
6 ways of saying how much time will pass
before something will happen
from now
away/off
from now/from 'haul an hour/2 days/10 years etc from
now (=an hour, 2 days, 10 years etc from the moment when
you are speaking) [adv phrase]
The bomb is timed to explode 10 minutes from now. I A year
from now you'll probably have forgotten that the accident
ever happened. I In about hundred years from now there
could well be no rainforest left.
away/off/o'wei, tf II -a:f/ if something that you know
will happen is 6 months, 4 days, a week etc away or off,
it will happen after 6 months, 4 days, a week etc have passed
[adv]
Mary was desperately looking forward to her retirement,
which was 12 years away. I The wedding was more than a
year away but she had already bought a dress for it. I The
exams are still a few weeks off- I've got plenty of time to
prepare for them.
1 what is going to happen to someone or
something in the future
future
fate
destiny
future/'fju:tfor/[n singular]
I've called you into my office in order to discuss yourfuture
with this company. I have a great/promising future (=to
seem likely to do very well in their career, sport etc) He's
a fantastic basket ballplayer - he has a great future ahead
of him. I Noriko has a promising future as a classical
violinist. I sb's/sth's future looks uncertain (=it is not
certain what will happen to them) The corporation has
already lost $200 million this year and its future looks
increasingly uncertain.
fate/fet/what will or must happen to someone or some-
thing, used especially when something bad is going to
happen In C usually singularl
Congress will meet to discuss the fate of the US space pro-
gram. I decide sb's/sth's fate (decide what will happen
to them) The fate of the prisoners will be decided by a panel
of three judges. I sb's/sth's fate is sealed (=their fate is
fixed and there is nothing they can do to change what will
happen) The fate of the factory is sealed - the owners say it
must close next month.
destiny/'destoXni/a person's destiny is what they are
going to do in their life and what is going to happen to them
during it In C usually singular]
The government wants to give people more control over their
own destinies. I be sb's destiny to do sth Hitler believed
that one day it was his destiny to become leader of Germany.

FUTURE
54O
 a general idea of what is likely to happen in
the future
the outlook
prospect
scenario
the outlook/6i 'aotlukl what is expected to happen in
the future In singular]
Despite recent setbacks the general economic outlook remains
good. I the outlook for The long term outlook for the US
steel industry is particularly worrisome.
prospect / prDspekt II pro:-/the prospect of something
happening is the idea or possibility that it will happen in
the future In C]
the prospect of sth/doing sth The prospect of putting
weapons in space is frightening to many people. I I had read
a great deal about Professor Chomsky and I felt very excited
at the prospect of meeting him. I We are facing the prospect
of a very hard winter. I prospects for Prospects for a peace
settlement in the Middle East are not very hopeful at the
moment. I prospect I hope I never have to have a brain oper-
ation - it must be an appalling prospect.
scenario Islna:riao II -'na-, -ne-/ a description of a
series of events which could happen in a particular situa-
tion, especially a bad situation in the future In C]
present a scenario The scenario presented by some environ-
mentalists is of a global catastrophe in which the earth's
atmosphere is polluted and the human race dies out com-
pletely. [ nightmare/worst-ease scenario (=the worst pos-
sible situation that could happen) In a worst-case scenario,
Iraq would launch a nuclear strike against Israel and this
would draw them into the war.
futuristic MODERN 3
GAMBLE
gabble TALK TO SB 14
gadget MACHINE 1, TOOL 1
gaff: blow the gaff TELL A SECRET 3
gaffe MISTAKE 5
gag JOKE 1 PREVENT 4, SICK/VOMIT 2
gaga MENTALLY ILL 5
gaily DON'T CARE 5
. : . .....  , ,,-:*:*, .:=: .:.. :,-..:;. ,-',,,;,,,,,,,,," :,,,;.,,,  .,/'; i, '. ,.-
get ethini:":::::i-iiiiii!i' ..... i °';#'{* GET
amount .::::' : NUMBER OR :!
,.:,;;;  ...... ' 4:.::. AMOUNT .]
ai GET 7, 11, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 1, PROFIT 1
aia ent ENTER 4
ai rod MORE THAN BEFORE 2
aia heiM P3
ai i MORE THAN BEFORE 3
aia/ather momemum FAST/QUICK 11
gala weight FAT 7
ainia on: be ainin on FAST/QUICK
gaining on: be gaining on/be closing on NEAR 9
gait WALK 17
gall ANNOY 1
gall: have the gall to do sth RUDE/IPLITE 3
galling ANGRY 9, ANNOY 5
galore LOT/A LARGE NUMBER  AOUNT 4
gamble GABLE 1
gamble: a gamble IS 2
GAMBLE
to try to win money by guessing who will win
something, what will happen etc, or by
winning a game that is played for money
I to gamble
2: to gamble an amount of money on something
happening, for example on a race,
competition etc
3 someone who gambles
4 to risk money in business in the hope of
making a large profit
J "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to gamble
gamble
gambling
bet/have a bet
play for money
have a flutter
play the horses
gamble I'gemball [v I/T]
She's very religious - she doesn't smoke, she doesn "t drink,
and she doesn't gamble. [ gamble heavily (=gamble often
using a lot of money) When his wife left him he started gam-
bling heavily - some nights he lost thousands of dollars. [
gamble sth away (=waste a large amount of money by
gambling) Our son gambles half his wages away every week.
gambling I'gambht/the activity of gambling [n U]
Any form of gambling is strictly prohibited. [ He had to beg
his father for money to pay off his gambling debts. [ Gam-
bling is the number one industry in the state of Nevada.

GAMBLE 541 GAME/MATCH
bet/have a bet/bet, ,hv o 'bet/to gamble money on the
result of a race, game, or a competition [v I]
I hate losing money, so I only bet occasionally. I bet/have
a bet on She had a bet on the Derby and won Ј500.
play for money !,ple: fo r 'mni/to gamble money on the
result of a game which you are playing, such as cards Iv
phrase]
Do you want to play for money to make the game more
interesting? ] You're allowed to play cards in the bar, but
you're not allowed to play for money.
have a flutter i hv o fl^mr/an informal British expres-
sion meaning to gamble a small amount of money in one
particular race, when you do not usually gamble [vphrase]
It's the big race next week. Are you going to have a flutter? l
have a flutter on I had a little flutter on the Grand National
and won Ј5.
play the horses / ple 6o ha:rsz/an American expres-
sion meaning to gamble money on horse racing Iv phrase]
Barry would never think of gambling on cards but he loves
to play the horses.
Her father had made his money speculating on the New York
Stock Exchange. I speculate in shares/land etc Terry
speculated in mining shares and lost a lot of money.
speculator In] Speculators (=people who speculate) have
been buying Deutschmarks, because they think the value of
the Mark will rise soon.
! gambler GAMBLE 3
i!: gambling GAMBLE 1
: game GAME/MATCH 1, SPORT/GAME 2
.:..{ game: be game WILLING 1
.; game: give sb a game PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 2
 game: give the game away/give the whole thing
 away TELL A SECRET 3
i game: match/game GAME/MATCH 1
game
 to gamble an amount of money on something
happening, for example on a race,
competition etc
bet put Ј10/$20 on sth/lay Ј10/$20 on sth
back place a bet
bet/bet/[v T]
bet Ј10/$100 etc on Andrew bet ЈI0 on a horse called
Lucky. I One fan has bet $200,000 on the Redskins winning
the Superbowl. I bet sb Ј10/$100 etc (that) My brother bet
me 50p that England would win the World Cup. I I bet you
$5 that he doesn't turn up! I bet Ј10/$100 etc How much
are you willing to bet?
back/bk/to gamble money on a horse, team or person
which you think will win a particular competition. Iv T]
back sb/sth We backed a horse named Light For Me that
finished first at 10.1. I back sth/sb to win sth Uncle Barry
has backed Arsenal to win the FA Cup.
put Ј101520 on sthllay Ј101520 on sth/put (Ј10,
etc) on (sth), leI-/to gamble a particular sum of money on
the horse or team that you think will win a race or a com-
petition [phr v T]
He put Ј5 on a horse called Desert Orchid in the 3.30 at
Cheltenham. I Lenny laid twenty bucks on the Bills to win.
place a bet /,plels o *bet/to say which horse, team, com-
petition etc you want to gamble on and pay the money
which you want to gamble Iv phrase]
place a bet on I've placed a bet on a horse in the next race. I
place a bet All bets must be placed before the start of the
race.
3 someone who gambles
gambler
punter
gambler/gmblor/[n C]
My grandfather was a drinker, a womaniser, and a gam-
bler, but he was great fun to be with. I heavy gambler (=one
who often gambles and loses a lot of money) The King is a
heavy gambler - he thinks nothing of losing $100,000 in a
single night at the casino.
punter/pAntor/a British word meaning someone who
gambles money, especially on a horse race In C]
The punters got very angry when they heard that the race
had been fixed.
4 to risk money in business in the hope of
making a large profit
speculate
speculate / spekjle:t! to buy a large amount of shares,
land, or foreign money in the hope of making a large profit
when you sell it Iv I]
SPORT/GAME
GAME/MATCH
an occasion on which people play a game or
take part in a sport
 a game
1 a game
match/game event
match meeting/meet
game
match (British) I game (American) /matj', geim/ an
organized game that is played between two teams In C]
match/game between The match between Liverpool and
Arsenal will decide the championship. I football/baseball
etc game Tonight's baseball game is very important. I Did
you see the G/ants'game yesterday?
match [m,t][ an organized game, especially one that con-
sists of several parts and is played between two people In C]
The first match of the tournament is Becker against Agassi. I
tennis/boxing/chess etc match There's a boxing match
on TV tonight.
game/gem/an informal game in which you play just for
fun In C]
Joe and I played golf all morning. We had a really good
game. I game of Do you want a game of chess?
event/ vent/a match or competition, especially one that
is important and is attended by a lot of people In C]
sporting event John rarely misses a sporting event in his
town. I big/major event (=important event) As a journalist
she covers many of the big events.
meeting (British) I meet (American) /mi:t], mi:t/ a
sports event consisting of a number of different races on
the same day In C]
athletics meeting This is the most important athletics meet-
ing of the season. I race meeting (=a meeting consisting
of a number of horse races) It was the first time Annie had
ever been to a race meeting. I track meet (=athletics com-
petition) The all-American track meet is scheduled for Satur-
day July 25.

games 542 GENEROUS
games SPORT/GAME 1
gamut: the whole gamut
KINDS 5
gang
gangling
gap
gape
garbage
VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
CRIME 6, FRIEND 3, GROUP OF PEOPLE 5, 10
TALL PERSON 1
DIFFERENT 13, HOLE 2, SPACE/GAP 1
LOOK AT 2
RUBBISH/WASTE 1, USELESS 2
garbage: be garbage/a load of garbage BAD 1
garbled: muddled/garbled CLEAR/EASY TO
UNDERSTAND 4
garden path: lead sb up the garden path
TRICK/DECEIVE 3
garish COLOUR/COLOR 5
garment CLOTHES 1
garnish DECORATE 1, 3
gash CUT 11
gasp BREATHE 2, 6, SURPRISED 3
gatecrash GO TO/ATTEND 1
gatecrasher INVITE 4
gateway to WAY/METHOD 4
gather CROWD 3, FIND OUT 2, GET 8, INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5, MEET 3
gather dust USE STH 9
gather momentum: gain/gather momentum
FAST/QUICK 11
gather round AROUND/ROUND 2
gathering MEET 6, PARTY 1
gaudy COLOUR/COLOR 5
gauge JUDGE 1, MEASURE 1
gaunt THIN PERSON 6
gawky GRACEFUL 4
gay HOMOSEXUAL 1
gaze LOOK AT 2
gaze: avert your eyes/gaze LOOK AT 9
gear CLOTHES 4, EQUIPMENT 1
gear up PREPARE 1
gear up: be geared up READY 1
gear yourself up PREPARE 3
gen up on FIND OUT 6
gender SEX/GENDER 1
Igeneral !
general DETAI L 5
general: in general IN GENERAL 1
general: in general/generally speaking IN GENERAL 2
general public: the general public ORDINARY 3
general store SHOP 3
generalize SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 4
generally IN GENERAL 1, MOST 5, USUALLY 1
generally speaking/as a rule IN GENERAL 1
generate CAUSE 5, MAKE 4
generation AGE 5
generous BIG 7, GENEROUS 1
generous: be generous GIVE 13
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
GENEROUS
words meaning generous
not liking to spend money or to give money
or gifts to other people
someone who does not like spending or
giving money
1 words meaning generous
generous
kind
open-handed
generous I'dsendras/willing to give money, spend time
etc in order to help or give pleasure to other people [adj]
Their father was a wealthy and generous man. I "I'll give
you ЈI0. .... Thank you, that's very generous. "'1 The hospital
was built with the help of a generous donation from a
wealthy businessman. I generous to She is generous to the
children and often gives them presents. I it is generous of
sb to do sth It was extremely generous of her to give you that
money. I hope you appreciate it. I generous with your
time/money/help (=give it generously) She's always very
generous with her time.
generously lady ] Many people have given generously to the
children's club.
generosity / dsenarosti II -ro:-/In U] She relies too much
on the generosity of her friends (=on the fact that her friends
are generous).
kind/ka;nd/generous to people and really interested in
making them happy [adj]
She is a kind and thoughtful woman. I I accepted Michael's
kind offer. I kind to They were very kind to me when I went
to visit them in Germany. I it is kind of sb to do sth It was
kind of you to lend me the money for my train ticket.
kindly lady] Mrs Hoskins has very kindly volunteered to
provide refreshments.
open-handed/ aopan 'hendaId,/generous to large num-
bers of people [adj]
He has the reputation of being an open-handed host. I The
government was not open-handed when it came to funding
the arts.
 not liking to spend money or to give money
or gifts to other people
stingy miserly
mean penny-pinching
tight/tight-fisted
stingy /JstInd3i/not generous, especially in small ways,
when you could easily afford to be generous [adj]
They are rich, but they are terribly stingy. I stingy with I
don't know why she had to be so stingy with the drinks at
the party - they have plenty of money.
mean/mi:n/a word used especially in British English
meaning not generous [adj]
My brother's really mean. He's never bought anyone a birth-
day present in his life. I He was the meanest man I had ever
worked for. I Don't be so mean. You can afford to buy lunch
for a change!
tight/tight.flsted/taIt, jta;t flstad/informal words for
describing someone who is not generous and tries very
hard to avoid spending money [adj]
She's really tight with money and only puts the heating on
if it's freezing cold. I Our tightfisted employers won't pay us
for the Christmas holiday.
miserly /ma;zarli/ not at all generous, and hating to
spend money [adj]
Jeff is a hard, miserly farmer who spends as little as possi-
ble on himself or his farm. I They paid us a miserly sum for
our work.

GENEROUS
penny.pinching/'pen/,pintj'irj/spending very little, or
always spending less than is needed, often because you do
not have very much [adj]
His grandparents were humourless and penny-pinching. [
Unfortunately we have a penny-pinching local government,
so sports facilities are awful.
543
3 someone who does not like spending or
giving money
miser tightwad
skinflint cheapskate
miser / maizor/someone who hates to spend any money
at all, and gets great satisfaction from saving money In C]
She complains that her husband is a miser who never lets
her have any money. I When the old miser died, they found
$50,000 hidden in his bedroom.
skinflint /skln,flint/an informal word for someone who
hates to spend or give money In C]
We waited for the old skinflint to find his wallet and pay us
our money.
tightwad/taitwDd II -wo:d/an informal American word
for someone who hates to spend or give money In C]
Joe is such a tightwad - he won't even buy his own
newspaper.
cheapskate I  t.[i:pskeit/an informal word for someone
who dislikes spending money, and does not care if they
behave in an unreasonable way to avoid spending it In C]
Howard called the taxi, he rode with us, and then the cheap-
skate didn't even offer to pay any of the fare.
i!', genial FRIENDLY 1
 genius INTELLIGENT 11
 genius: a genius INTELLIGENT 1
!) genius: stroke of genius IDEA 2
; genocide KILL 9
:;
, gentle KIND 1
 gentleman MAN 1
!ii! gents/men's room TOILET 1
: genuine REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 1 3
 ,
 genuine: the genuine article REAL/NOT FALSE OR
 genuinely REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 4
 geriatric OLD/NOT YOUNG 8
.!"
 gestation period BABY/HAVE A BABY 9
!i gesticulate SIGN/GESTURE 2
if" gesture SIGN/GESTURE 1, 2
m gesture at/towards POINT AT 1
;. get ANSWER/REPLY 7, BECOME 1, 2, 3, 7, BUY 1,
" CATCH 1, 3, CAUSE 3, COOK 1, EARN 1, GET
!?" 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 15, 16, REACH 4, SCORE 1,
#:,.: TAKE/BRING 3, UNDERSTAND 1
!i, get: be going to catch it/get it PUNISH 6
get along/get on RELATIONSHIP 2
• :" get along: not get along/not get on RELATIONSHIP 3
• , get around TRAVEL 6
get around: get round/get around PERSUADE 2
 get around: there's no getting around it ADMIT 2
 get around to/round to DO 4
get around/round AVOID 3, 4, SPREAD 3
get at CRITICIZE 4, FIND OUT 3, THREATEN 1
get away ESCAPE 1, 5, LEAVE A PLACE 7
get away: escape/get away ESCAPE 9
get away with PUNISH 8
get back GET 10, RETURN 1
get back at REVENGE 1
get back to ANSWER/REPLY 1
get/become MORE THAN BEFORE 3
get by SURVIVE 5
get
get
get
get
get
get
by in SPEAK A LANGUAGE 7
down WRITE 6
down to START DOING STH 4
in ARRIVE 3, ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 6,
ENTER 4, 6, WIN 1
in/get home RETURN 1
in/into GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 1
get
get
get
get
get
get
get up to
-i.--,, get
get
 get
i-get
i... get
i:.:i get
 get
 get
 get
-:..-.
in the way of PREVENT 1
into INTERESTED 5
into: can't get into FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 3
it UNDERSTAND 2
it: be going to catch it/get it/cop it PUNISH 6
off GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 2,
PUNISH 8
off lightly PUNISH 7
off on ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4
off with PUNISH 7
on GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 1
on: not get along/not get on RELATIONSHIP 3
on/get ahead SUCCESSFUL 1
on with CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, DO 4
onto CONTACT SB 1, SUBJECT 3
out ESCAPE 1, 2, 3, FIND OUT 4, GET ON OR OFF
A BUS, PLANE ETC 2, LEAVE A PLACE 3,
REMOVE 1
get out: can't escape/get out ESCAPE 10
get out of AVOID 2
get over RECOVER/GET BETTER 1, 3
get over: can't get over SURPRISED 2
get over: get it over with/get it over and done with
FINISH DOING STH 7
get/put sb's back up OFFEND 1
get round: get around/round AVOID 3, 4, SPREAD 3
get round/around PERSUADE 2
get sb down SAD/UNHAPPY 11
get sb out ESCAPE 8
get sb out of SAVE/RESCUE 2
get sb to do sth PERSUADE 1
get sb up/out of bed WAKE UP/GET UP 7
get sth off SEND 2
get sth off your chest TELL 9
get sth out WASH 9
get sth out of FIND OUT 7, GET 9, 11 TELL A SECRET 5
get sth over EXPRESS 1
get ten years/six months/a fine etc PUNISH 5
get through: go through/get through SPEND MONEY 3
get to ARRIVE 1, REACH 3
get to: come/grow/get to START DOING STH 13
get to: how do I get to WAY/ROUTE 6
get to be BECOME 6
get to dosth CAN4
get together ORGANIZE 1
get-together PARTY 1
get up STAND 2, WAKE UP/GET UP 4
get-up-and-go ENERGETIC 4
get up to DO6
something
become something
:,'. .......
,::.)..'.i
buy something
::...
get mey f-.-wok
.  -::.:.. ........
BECOME
BUY
EARN
tO a ple-::!{ii:: ,.,,, %, . ARRIVE
....  .  ... , . :< : -. ._
-,:adlor PeOple to.:   AVAILABLE
-. ..:. -..: :.",. - ,, , "." .... 7"7 ":  
[get pmnts... a g?4 ....  @ SCORE
P: • • .. -.: 71 ...... ,: ....... :1::;:%: ...... .. : ::::::::',,?t:::::::i:;::7;,:?%'r: , .. :::,,, .....

GET 544 GET
GET
13
14
15
16
17
1 to get something that you want through your
own effort, skill, or work
2 to succeed in getting something that is
difficult to get or that other people cannot get
3 to be given something
4 to get something by buying it, stealing it, or
being given it, used especially when you
want to say how someone got something
5 to get a letter, telephone call, message etc
6 to get something by chance
7 to get more and more of something over a
long period of time
8 to get a lot of something from several different
places or people
9 to get something from someone by using
force or threats
10 to get back something that you had before
11 to get something useful, such as knowledge
or experience by doing something
12 to get good or bad treatment, remarks etc
from people
words for describing something that you can
get in a particular place
to suddenly get such a lot of messages, work,
people etc that you cannot deal with them
to get a disease or illness
to get a particular result in a test,
examination, or in your schoolwork
to not get something that you could or should
get
1 to get something that you want through your
own effort, skill, or work
get win
obtain find
secure attain
get/get/Iv T not in passive]
get sth Stuart got a job as a computer programmer. I It
usually takes four years to get a degree at an American
university. I She's getting the money to pay for her vacation
by working weekends. I If you get the right answer they 71give
you a free camera. I get yourself sth Did you get yourself
somewhere to live near work? I Michelle's managed to get her-
self a new boyfriend.
obtain lab texn/a formal word meaning to get something
[vT]
Information about visas and passports can be obtained from
your local library. I Small business often have great
difficulty in obtaining credit from banks. I Until recently it
was practically impossible for Catholic women to obtain a
divorce from their husbands.
secure/si jkjuar/to succeed in getting official permission
or agreement for something especially when this is
difficult to achieve Iv T]
Foster and Dean Inc has secured contracts worth $Ј15m to
buildjFashing boats for Thailand. I France was able to secure
the release of two of its hostages in Lebanon.
win/win/to succeed in getting something such as some-
one's support or trust by your own efforts Iv T]
The Republican party i proposing big cuts in taxes in an
effort to win the support of the voters. I Her tough stance on
foreign policy issues won her many admirers around the
world.
lind Ifaind/to get the money, time, energy etc that you need
to do something Iv T]
If I can find the money, I'll come to the theatre with you. I I'd
really like to go fishing, but I can never seem to find the time
these days. I Eventually, she found the courage to confront
her husband about the photographs.
attain/a 'ten/a formal word meaning to succeed in get-
ting something that you have been aiming at or wanting,
especially after a long period of time Iv T]
More women are attaining positions of power in public life. I
If we work closely with other countries, we can attain the goal
of a good life and a secure world. ]Anyone who wants to
attain fluency in a foreign language should buy one of our
dictionaries.
2 to succeed in getting something that is
difficult to get or that other people cannot get
get land
get hold of clinch
get/lay your hands on wangle
get/get/Iv T not in passive]
Getting the money for the house wasn't easy. I If I get first
prize it'll be a miracle.
get hold of/,get haold ovl to get something that is
difficult to get by finding it or borrowing it Iv phrase]
Do you know where I can get hold of a German-Japanese
dictionary? I I've managed to get hold of a couple of tickets
for the game.
get/lay your hands on / jget, lei jo: r 'handz on/to get
something that you want or need very much, or have been
trying hard to get Iv phrase]
The property companies would love to get their hands on the
area around the station because the land there is worth a for-
tune. I I bet he can't wait to lay his hands on all that money.
land/land/land a job/contract/interview/place etc
(=to succeed unexpectedly in getting a job etc, that was
difficult to get) Iv T]
land sth A French company has landed a contract to supply
computers to China. I land yourself sth He's managed to
land himself an amazing job in advertising. I Zoe landed
herself a part in the Broadway production of The Sound Of
Music.
clinch /klintj'/ clinch the deal/contract/champion-
ship/title (=to finally succeed in getting it after trying
very hard) Iv T]
We finally clinched the contract by offering them a lower
price, i It was the BM 40"s superior design that clinched the
deal. I Germany scored twice in the last ten minutes to clinch
the championship.
wangle /wgal! an informal word meaning to get some-
thing, especially something that is difficult to get, by using
a clever and often slightly dishonest trick or plan Iv T]
wangle sth "They're sending me to Paris next weekend. ""
"'How did you manage to wangle that?" I wangle it so that
Gall has wangled it so that we can go in without tickets.
3 to be given something
get be awarded
receive inherit
be given
get/get/[v T not in passive]
For Christmas Igor a watch from my girlfriend and some
money from my parents. I Did you get any medals in the
war?l Housewives are often expected to work long hours
without getting any reward for their efforts.
receive/r:  si:v/a word used especially in wrRten English
or in an official contexts meaning to be given something
Iv T]
Disabled people are entitled to receive state benefits. I In 1990
she received an honorary degree from Harvard University. I
NASA continues to receive the full support of the US
administration.
be given/bi: 'givanl to be given something, especially on
one occasion [v phrase]

GET 545 GET
At the trial he was given the maximum sentence of 3O years. I
I didn't find the advice I was given at the seminar particu-
larly helpful. I She was lucky enough to be given another
grant to continue her studies.
be awarded/bi.-  iw:rdd/to be given a prize, especially
by an important official organization, because you have
achieved something Iv phrase]
Commander Gibson was awarded the Purple Heart for his
bravery. I The restaurant has been awarded 4 stars in the
Good Food Guide. I Yasunari Kawabata was the first
Japanese writer to be awarded the Nobel prize for literature.
inherit/inJhert/to get money, property, or possessions
from someone after their death Iv T]
inherit sth Who will inherit the house when he dies? l
inherit sth from sb She inherited the money from her
mother.
inheritance [n U] He's not entitled to receive his inheritance
(=the money etc that he inherits) until he's 21.
4 to get something by buying it, stealing it, or
being given it, used especially when you
want to say how someone got something
get
acquire
get/get/[v T not in passive]
"Where did you get that shirt? .... My brother gave it to me. "'1
I think she gets all her ideas from books.
acquire/ kwar/to get something, especially something
big, expensive, or difficult to get Iv T]
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has recently acquired
several paintings by Salvador Dali. I The US acquired the
Philippines from Spain in the nineteenth century.
5 to get a letter, telephone call, message etc
get pour in/flood in
receive on receipt of
come in
get/get/Iv T not in passive]
I got a letter from Jane last week. I Did you get any message
about the washing machine? I We kept getting strange phone
calls at odd times of the day.
receive/r si:v/a formal word meaning to get a letter, tel-
ephone call, message etc Iv T]
Thank you for your letter, concerning the post of Sales
Manager, which we received last Thursday. I By the time the
police received the call it was too late.
come in/k^m m/if telephone calls, messages, reports
or letters come in, they arrive at an office where people are
waiting for them [phr v I]
Reports are coming in of an explosion in the centre of Paris. I
Several calls have come in from people who think they can
identify the two men.
pour |nlflood in / jp3:r, fl^d 'in/if letters, calls, mes-
sages etc pour in or flood in, a large number of them are
received [phr v I]
Letters of support have been pouring in since we began our
appeal. I Switchboard operators say they have been over-
whelmed by the sheer volume of calls that have been flood-
ing in.
on receipt of In r si:t ov/an expression used in a bus-
iness or official context: if someone does something on
receipt of a letter, sum of money etc, they do it when they
receive it [prep]
On receipt of a cheque for Ј5 we will send you a full colour
booklet which explains how to lose I0 kilos in just 2 months.I
The Department of Social Security can only issue benefits on
receipt of your claim forms.
6 to get something by chance
get sth by chance/accident/luck
come by
fall into sb's hands
come into sb's possession
get sth by chance/accident/luck l lget (sth) ba
tfa:ns, eks Idant, lAk l[ -t.[ens-/[v phrase not inpassive]
I got the job by accident - I was working in a nearby office,
and someone asked me if I knew anything about cars. [ Some-
times you can get valuable antiques by chance -for exam-
ple when you "re clearing out an old building.
ceme by /Jkm bail to get or find something, especially
by chance Iv T not in progressive]
I came by the letter by chance when I was looking for some-
thing in her desk. [ After the war, jobs were very hard to come
by. [ Ella came by a little shop that sold exactly the type of
paper she was looking for.
fall into sb's hands/fa:l inta (sb's) handz/if some-
thing important such as a secret document or piece of infor-
mation falls into someone's hands, an enemy succeeds
in getting it and may use it against you Iv phrase]
In 1942 secret documents showing the exact position of Brit-
ain's radar defences fell into the hands of the enemy. [ This
map must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
come into sb's possession/,lm int (sb's) pzefan/
if a valuable object or an important piece of information
comes into someone's possession, they get it Iv phrase]
How did the painting come into your family's possession? I
Private letters between Lady Sarah and an American
millionaire have come into the possession of a national
newspaper.
7 to get more and more of something over a
long period of time
accumulate gain
amass acquire
accumulate/kju:mjlet/to gradually get more and
more money, possessions, knowledge etc over a period of
time Iv T ]
Henry Ford accumulated a large fortune during his years
as head of the Ford Motor Co. [ By the late 1950s scientists
had already accumulated enough evidence to show a clear
link between smoking and cancer. [ I just don't know how
we've managed to accumulate so much junk!
amass I'mes/to gradually collect a very large amount
of something such as money or knowledge Iv T]
People who concentrate only on amassing large amounts of
wealth and possessions are often deeply unhappy. [ The secret
service has amassed a large body of knowledge about the pri-
vate lives of leading politicians.
gain/ge:n/to get more and more experience or confidence
in doing something, or more and more support or admira-
tion [v T ]
It took me a long time to gain enough confidence to sing solo
in front of a large audience. [ Ross Perrot has gained sup-
port among young voters in the recent elections. [ Groups
such as Acid Banana are gaining something of a cult
following.
acquire/kwamr/to get the knowledge, skill, or ability
to do something by your own efforts, or to become well
known because of your skill and abilities Iv T]
It took him a long time to acquire the skills he needed to
become a professional artist. [ Some apes have acquired the
ability to communicate with humans using sign language. [
In recent years Itzak Perlman has acquired an enviable repu-
tation as one of the world's most accomplished violinists.
8 to get a lot of something from several different
places or people
collect
gather
assemble
collect/k'lekt/to get things of the same type from differ-
ent places and bring them together Iv T]
Before they wrote the final report they had to spend 6months
collecting facts and figures. I I've been collecting samples of
the different types of rock which occur in this area. I Could
you collect the names of all those who would be interested in
a trip to Seattle.

GET 546 GET
gather / Iga6ar/to search for and get things of the same
type from different places Iv T]
Many of the plants in the gardens were gathered on trips to
Japan and China. [ She found that staying at hotels on the
beach was an excellent way to gather material for her novel.
assemble/asembal/to get and put together something
such as proof or information in an organized way Iv T]
We will let you have the report as soon as we have assembled
all the data. [ Defence lawyers say they need more time to
assemble the evidence for their client's case.
9 to get something from someone by using
force or threats
get sth out of
squeeze
extort
get sth out of/,get (sth) 'aot ov II -o:v/to make someone
give you something such as money or information by
persuading them, tricking them, or threatening them [phr
vT]
I managed to get the money out of him by saying I needed
it for my sick mother. [ The police did everything they could
to get the name of his accomplice out of him, but he wouldn't
talk.
squeeze/skwi:z! to force someone to give you whatever
you want, for example money or information, even though
they try very hard not to give it Iv T]
squeeze sth out of/from sb They won't stop till they've suc-
ceeded in squeezing every last penny out of you. I See if you
can squeeze any more information from them.
extort/Ik'sta:rt/to illegally force someone to give you
money by threatening them with violence Iv T]
extort money from/out ofsb The mafia makes most of its
money from prostitution and extorting money from small
businesses. [ extort sth Corleone was found guilty of extort-
ing money and organizing protection rackets.
extortion / k i sta: r.an/ I n U] Barratt is charged with extor-
tion (=extorting money from people) and murder.
10 to get back something that you had before
get back recoup
regain reclaim
recover win back
retrieve
retrieval In U] The information is stored on disc for easy
retrieval (=so that it can be retrieved easily).
recoup/r 'ku:p/to get back money or profits that you
have spent or lost Iv T]
recoup sth She put $50 on the next race in an attempt to
recoup her losses. [ recoup sth from The dentist gives treat-
merit for free and then recoups the cost from the government.
reciaim/rl klezm/to get back something that belongs to
you which someone else has taken or which you have let
them have Iv T]
reclaim sth You can reclaim tax if you find you have paid
too much. [ I had to wait two hours at the airport to reclaim
my luggage. [ reclaim sth from When the Native Americans
fought to reclaim their land from the settlers, they were
slaughtered by the thousands.
win back/iwIn 'bek/to succeed in getting something
back by trying hard [phr v T]
win back sth The Miami Dolphins hope to win back the
Superbowl. [ The airlines are trying to win back passengers
by offering special low fares at certain times. [ win sth/
him/them etc back Jack could see no way of winning his
wife back.
1 1 to get something useful, such as knowledge
or experience, by doing something
gain
get sth out of
profit from
gain/gen/Iv TI
I didn't get much money when I was doing the job but I
gained some valuable experience. I What advantages did
America have to gain by signing the trade agreement with
Mexico and Canada. I Since Feinstein was elected as mayor
the town has gained a hospital, two schools and a new
link-road.
get sth out of/get (sth) 'aot Dv II -o=v/to get something
useful from a situation, especially new knowledge or
experience [phr v T]
What do you expect to get out of your stay in Canada? I Your
lectures last term were really good - I got a lot out of them.
profit from /ProfIa t from 11 pro:ft frAm/to get an advan-
tage from something, especially unfairly Iv T]
The only people who stand to profit from the new tax laws
are the very rich. [ The big banks are profiting from other
people's misfortunes by taking their homes and savings.
get back /get bakl [phr v T not in passive]
get back sth Remind me to get back that book I lent to Paul. I
get sth/it/them back The kidnappers said the Masons
would not get their son back unless they paid them $40,000
in cash. I get sth back from She's trying to get her son back
from her husband.
regain/ri gezn/to get back an ability or quality that you
have lost, for example your freedom, your power or your
confidence Iv T ]
Bill spent two weeks in the hospital regaining his strength
after the operation. I Forces loyal to the President are strug-
gling to regain control over the Eastern part of the city. I After
four years at home with the children, Molly was desperate
to get a job and regain her independence and selflconfidence.
recover/ri IkAvar/to get back something such as an abil-
ity that you have lost, or something that has been stolen
from you Iv T]
The bank is planning to sue the company in order to try and
recover it's money. I Young Jimmy certainly seems to have
recovered his appetite.
recovery In U] The book tells the story of the recovery (=the
recovering) of a stolen bomb by American agents.
retrieve/r 'tri:v/to get back something after you have put
it somewhere !v T]
retrieve sth I had left my bag at the railroad station and
went back to retrieve it. I retrieve sth from He bent down
and retrieved his knife from the dead soldier's back. I If you
want to retrieve a file from the computer press FIND and then
enter the name of the file you want.
1:2 to get good or bad treatment, remarks etc
from people
get be greeted with
receive meet/be met with
be on the receiving end
get/get/[v T not in passive]
It's always nice to get praise from people about your work. I
All I got was a quick "'Hello pop" and then off he went to
school. I It's not easy being in this job -you get a lot of grief
and aggravation.
receive/r 'si:v/a formal word meaning to get good or bad
treatment from people Iv T]
Traffic cops often receive abuse from angry motorists. I The
airmen showed signs of the punishment they had received at
the hands of their captors. I James" condition may have been
caused by the treatment he received from his parents when
he was a child.
be on the receiving end/bi: on 6a rl' si:vlrj ,end/to be
the person who has to suffer something unpleasant, espe-
cially when usually you are the person who gives this treat-
ment to other people Iv phrase]
As a teacher I often have to criticize my students" work, so
it was strange finding myself on the receiving end. I The
people on the receiving end of the government's policies are
the poor and the unemployed.
be greeted with/bi: griztd w]6/ifa plan, idea, or some-
thing new is greeted with a reaction, it gets that reaction
Iv phrase ]

GET 54? GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC
The new plan was greeted with enthusiasm. I Her first
attempt to break the record had been greeted with ridicule
and treated as trivial by the press.
meet/be met with/mi:t, bi: imet wi6/if an idea or plan
meets with or is met with a reaction, especially a good
one, it gets that reaction Iv T]
Vera'splan met with our full approval. [ The campaign has
met with some success, but not as much as we hoped. ] Our
proposals were met with a favourable response at the
meeting.
1 3 words for describing something that you can
get in a particular place
obtainable
obtainable labiteInaball [adj not usually before noun]
Copies of the booklet are obtainable from your local post
office. [ Fresh fruit and veg have become readily obtainable
all year around.
1 4 to suddenly get such a lot of messages, work,
people etc that you cannot deal with them
be swamped with
be inundated with
be knee-deep in
be swamped with/bi: swtmpt w16 II-'swo:mpt-I Iv
phrase]
Since we started the advice service we have been swamped
with requests from people who need help. I The newspaper's
offices were swamped with calls protesting at its reporters'
behaviour.
be Inundated with/bi: ' Inandeltd w16/to get so many
telephone calls, offers, requests etc after a statement or
request has been made that it is difficult to deal with them
all Iv phrase]
Soon after the story o four little girl's illness appeared on TV,
we were inundated with offers of help. I Employment agen-
cies have been inundated with job hunters since the company
closed down. I After we advertised in the local newspaper,
we were inundated with phone calls.
be knee-deep in Ibi: ni: di:p In/if you are knee-deep
in work, marl, etc you have a lot of these things to deal with
Iv phrase]
We're knee-deep in applications for the job we advertised last
week. I I'm not coming out tonight I'm afraid. I'm knee-deep
in extra work.
15 to get a disease or illness
get pick up
catch develop
contract come down with
get/get/[v T not usually in passive]
I think I'm getting a cold. I Trust him to get toothache on the
day of his interview. I Most people think that if you get cancer,
there's no hope. I get sth from/offsb Nick's got a sore throat
- he probably got it off Laura.
catch/ketf/if you catch an illness such as a cold or fever,
you get it, especially from another person, or because you
have been bitten by an insect Iv T]
catch a cold/pneumonia ete I can "t come to the party - Foe
caught a cold. [ Towards the end of term three boys caught
scarlet fever. [ catch sth from/off sb I think I'm getting the
flu - I must have caught it off one of my students. ] catch
sth from sth You cannot catch the AIDS virus from mosqui-
toes or other insects.
contracl/kantrakt/a formal or medical word meaning
to get a serious illness [v T]
Orwell contracted tuberculosis during the war and eventu-
ally died from the disease. I By the mid-eighties there was
growing knowledge about who was at high risk of contract-
ing AIDS. [ Dr Chalmers is trying to find out how many
people may have contracted the disease in her area.
pick up / =pIk ^p/all expression meaning to get a not very
serious illness such as a cold, a stomach problem etc, used
especially when you want to say where you got it [phr v T]
pick up sth I picked up a stomach bug on holiday in
Turkey. I pick sth/it up Brendan has a cold. He must have
picked it up at school.
develop/d: =velap/to gradually become ill with a partic-
ular illness, but not by catching it from someone else Iv T
not in passive]
After her family had brought her home from hospital, she
developed pneumonia. I It is possible to develop diabetes in
your teens or early twenties.
development In U] a vaccine to prevent the development of
influenza
come down with/kAm daun w16/to become ill with
an illness which is not serious, especially so that you have
to stop work or stay in bed Iv T]
come down with a cold/measles etc He came down with
measles on his fifth birthday. I Miss Winters thought I might
be coming down with something and told me to go home.
1 6 to get a particular result in a test,
examination, or in your schoolwork
get
score
get/get/Iv T not usually in passive]
What did you get in the maths test? Sixty-five percent, better
than last time. I Sure, he's smart! He got straight A-grades
at high school. I I got a B+ for my essay on the causes of the
French Revolution.
score/ska:r/to get a particular number of points or marks
in a test or exam Iv T]
Thirty percent of the students scored more than 400 points
in the qualifying test for medical school. I Children from
poorer homes generally scored lower marks in their school
exams.
1 7 to not get something that you could or should
get
lose out
miss out
pass sb by
lose out /lu:z iaot/to not get something such as a job,
contract etc because it is given to someone else instead [phr
vI]
lose out to sb In the end we lost out to a French company
because they could do the job cheaper. ] lose out It's simple
- unless you make an effort you're going to lose out. I lose
out on Time and time again, women seem to lose out on pro-
motions and career opportunities.
miss out/mis atJt! to not get something or be able to
enjoy something because you are not in the right place at
the right time [phr v I]
miss out on She was so busy studying at university that she
missed out on all the fun. I Get to the sales early to avoid miss-
ing out on all the best bargains. I miss out Kim has to be
involved in everything, otherwise she feels she's missing out.
pass sb by/po:s (sth) baI 11 pes-/ifa chance orenjoy-
able experience passes someone by, they do not get it
because they do not make an effort or pay enough atten-
tion to it [phr v T not in passive]
Sometimes I feel that all the best things in life are passing
me by. I Seize opportunities while you can - don't let them
pass you by. I He ended up a bitter old man who felt that life
had somehow passed him by.
@GET ON OR OFF A
BUS, PLANE ETC
1 to get on a bus, train, plane etc
2 to get off a bus, train, plane etc

GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 548 GET RID OF
1 to get on a bus, train, plane etc
get on embark
get in/into mount
board on board/aboard
get on/Iget on II -'o:n/get on a bus/train/plane/ship/
bicycle etc Iv I/T]
get on sth Get on a Number 16 bus in front of our house.
It'll take you straight to the town centre. I I'll come over to
Frankfurt myself. I'll get on the next plane. I Jimmy and Ben
got on their bikes and rode off as fast as they could. J get on
The train stopped at a small station. No one got on or off.
get inlinto/,get '=n, ' ntu:/to get into a small vehicle, for
example a car or boat Iv I/T]
get in/into sth I got in a taxi and went to the hospital
immediately. I The most difficult part is actually getting into
the boat. I get in The door on the passenger side of the car
was open. "'Quick, get in,'" the driver shouted.
board/bo:rd/a formal or otT]cial word meaning to get on
a ship, plane, or train Iv T]
A week later he boarded a ship bound for New York. I Pas-
sengers boarding Flight AF 321for Paris should proceed to
Gate 9.
embark/Im'ba:rk/a formal or official word: if people,
especially a lot of people, embark, they get on a ship Iv I]
A large army had assembled at the docks and was ready to
embark. I embark for The Pilgrim Fathers embarked for
America in 1620.
embarkation /,embo:r'kefdn/ In U] Embarkation
(=embarking) will begin one hour before the ship is due to
leave port.
mount/maont/to climb onto a horse or bicycle Iv I/T]
mount sth The king's son mounted his horse and rode
away. I Mounting his bicycle rather unsteadily, Mr Polly
wobbled from one side of the road to the other. I mount Shall
I hold the horse's bridle for you while you mount?
on board/aboard /Dn 'ba:rd, ab:rd/ if you get on
board or aboard a ship or plane, you get onto it [prep/adv]
12 o'clock!It's time to get on board the ship. I A group of men
carrying sub-machine guns climbed aboard the plane. I The
crew of the USS Saratoga saluted the President as he came
on board.
 to get off a bus, train, plane etc
get off disembark
get out dismount
leave
get off/,get 'of II -'mf/get offa bus/train/plane/ship/
bicycle/horse etc Iv I/T]
get off sth Lennox got off the plane and made his way
through customs. I The hill was so steep that she had to get
off her bike and walk. I get off Tell the driver I want to get
off at the next stop.
get out/,get 'aot/to get out of a car, boat, or train [phr v I]
If the car breaks down again, I'm going to get out and walk. I
Everyone else got out at St James's and I was the only person
left on the train. I get out of The police officer ordered him
to get out of his car.
leave/li:v/a word used in official advice or notices mean-
ing to get offa train or ship on which you have been travel-
ling Iv T]
When you leave the train, please make sure that you have all
your belongings with you. I Passengers leaving the ship at
Alexandria should proceed to the immigration office.
disembark /,dlsm'ba:rk/ a formal or official word
meaning to get off a ship or plane [.v I]
We were allowed to disembark an hour after the ship had
docked. I As soon as passengers disembark at the airport,
they are taken to a security checkpoint.
dismount/dls'maont/to get down off a horse or bicycle
Iv I]
They dismounted and led their horses through the forest. I
Steep hill! Cyclists are advised to dismount.
.lget rid .of!
which meamng-
get rid of something
or someone you don't
like
GET RID OF
throw away things
you don't need or
want any more
"  THROW AWAY
remove something
...
REMOVE
GET RID OF
1 to get rid of something that you do not want,
for example by selling it, removing it, or
giving it to someone else
2 to get rid of ideas, behaviour, influences etc
that are regarded as bad or harmful, so that
they no longer exist in a place or organization
3 to have got rid of something that you do not
want, so that you no longer have it
4 to get rid of a leader, someone in authority
etc
5 to find and get rid of the bad people in an
organization or in society
1 to get rid of something that you do not want,
for example by selling it, removing it, or
giving it to someone else
get rid of will have to go
dispose of shed
get shot of
get rid of/,get 'rd tv/to take action so that you no longer
have something that you do not want Iv phrase]
I think it's about time we got rid of some of this junk. ]
Waxing is a painful but effective method of getting rid of
unwanted body hair. [ Once you've got them, mice are quite
difficult to get rid of. [ After Christmas I'm going to make
a big effort to get rid of some of my debts. I Sooner or later
this old piano will have to be got rid of.
dispose of/dl spaoz t)v II -a:v/to get rid of something,
especially something that is difficult to get rid of Iv T]
After killing his wife, he had to find a way of disposing of
her body. I Factories are using the river to dispose of their
industrial waste, t The house was so badly infested with cock-
roaches that all the furniture had to be disposed of.
get shot of/,get 'fret tv II -'fo:t-/an informal expression
meaning to get rid of something, especially something that
you have been trying to get rid of for a fairly long time [v
phrase]
I can't wait to get shot of this stupid car - it keeps breaking
down all the time. I Everybody's in a rush to get shot of their
shares in the company.
will have to go/wil ,hmv ta 'gaol if you say that some-
thing will have to go you think it should be got rid of, espe-
cially because you do not like it Iv phrase]
I can't stand this carpet. I'm sorry Larry, it'll have to go.
shed/fed/a word used especially in newspapers meaning
to get rid of something, especially something you have too
much of [ v T]
Shed those extra pounds with our new high-fibre diet. [ The
coal mine closed shedding 125jobs. [ When he's been drink-
ing he sheds all his inhibitions and does the most outrageous
things.

GET RID OF 549 GHOST
2 to get rid of ideas, behaviour, influences etc
that are regarded as bad or harmful, so that
they no longer exist in a place or organization
rid sth of
free sth of
dispel
rid sth of/'rd (sth) ov II -o:vl [phr v T not usually in
passive]
McCarthy tried to rid America of the "evils of Communism'. I
One day scientists will be able to rid the world of this terri-
ble disease. I I can't seem to rid my mind of what happened
on the day of the accident.
free sth of /'fri: (sth) ov II-o:vl to get rid of ideas,
behaviour, influences etc that are considered bad or harm-
ful and have been present for a very long time [phr v T]
Neighbourhood watch schemes have succeeded in virtually
freeing the area of crime. I Aid organisations are trying to
free the country of the ravages of two decades of civil war. I
The decision to free the country of Communist control was
a turning point in its history.
dispel/d 'spell to get rid of beliefs, ideas or feelings from
people's minds, especially if they are false or harmful Iv T I
The Central Bank attempted to dispel turnouts of a possible
financial crisis. I Freddie Mercury's death did nothing to
dispel the hysteria that surrounds AIDS.
to have got rid of something that you do not
want, so that you no longer have it
be rid of
be glad/happy to see the back of
be rid of/bi: =rid t)vl to have got rid of someone or some-
thing, so that they are not there to worry or annoy you Iv
phrase]
At first I was glad to be rid of the extra work but then I real-
ized how much money I was losing. I The sooner we're rid
of this government the better. I She says she'll buy a car as
soon as she's rid of all her debts.
be glad/happy to see the back of/bi: ,gled, hepi
ta si: 6 'bek tv/to be very pleased you have got rid of some-
thing Iv phrase]
I'll be glad to see the back of all this unpacking. I We'd asked
so many questions the car salesman seemed happy to see the
back of us.
to get rid of a leader, someone in authority
etc
get rid of oust
overthrow be deposed
get rid of/,get 'rd ovl Iv phrase]
He's a terrible manager - it's about time they got rid of him. I
We've got to get rid of the leadership. They have betrayed us.
overthrow /,aovar0rao/ to take power away from a
leader or government especially by force Iv T]
In 1963 General Kassem, Iraq's President, was overthrown
and murdered. I The Iranian revolution in 1979 overthrew
a dictatorship which had been supported by the USforyears.
overthrow ! 'aovarOrau! In U] The President came to power
after the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie (=after he had
been overthrown).
otlst/aost/to take away a leader's position of power Iv T]
The President was ousted in a coup in 1980. I Attempts were
then made to oust Mrs Thatcher as party leader.
ousted [ adj only before noun] Supporters of ousted dictator
Jean-Claude Duvalier have been terrorizing the city's
inhabitants.
be deposed/bi: d poozd/ifa political leader, king, etc
is deposed, their power is taken away from them [vphrase]
In 1399 King Richard was deposed by his cousin Henry.
deposed [adj only before noun] The deposed king set up a
government in exile.
S to find and get rid of the bad people; in an
organization or in society
get rid of weed out
purge root out
get rid of/=get 'rid t)v/ [V phrase]
New police chief Brody promised to get rid of the city's drug
dealers. I One of the administration's first tasks is to clean
up the system and get rid of prot@#es of the ex-President.
purge/pa:rdS/ if the leaders of a political organization
purge a group of people from that organization, they get
rid of them because they have political views which they
strongly disagree with [v T]
Previous attempts to purge extremists from the party have
failed. I Lenin wanted to purge the organization of any
undesirable elements.
purge In C/U] the Stalinist purges of the 1930s I The new
leader ordered the purge of all suspected Communists from
the party.
weed out ! wi:d aotl to find out those people who are not
suitable to belong to an organization or group, and get rid
of them [phr v T]
The report claimed that there were at least 30,000 inefficent
teachers that needed to be weeded out. I The government is
planning new ways of weeding out subversives from sensi-
tive jobs.
root out I, ru:t 'aut/to try hard to find out all the people
who are not suitable to belong to a certain group or organi-
zation, especially when it is not easy to know who they are,
and get rid of them [phr v T]
The military government claims to have rooted out all those
who stood in the way of progress. I the efforts of the health
services to root out incompetent doctors
getaway: make a clean getaway ESCAPE 5
getaway: make your getaway LEAVE A PLACE 7
getting on: be getting on OLD/NOT YOUNG 1
getting on for: be getting on for ALMOST 1, OLD/NOT
YOUNG 9
getting out: I'm getting out of here LEAVE A PLACE 2
getting there: be getting there PROGRESS 1
ghastly BAD 1
ghetto POOR 7
ghost GHOST 1
ghost town EMPTY 3
GHOST
words meaning a ghost
words for describing places where there are
ghosts
1 words meaning a ghost
ghost spectre/specter
phantom spook
apparition poltergeist
spirit ghostly
ghost Igaust/a dead person who appears again after they
have died, either as an image or as something that you feel
is really there In C]
Do you believe in ghosts? l Hamlet is haunted by the ghost
of his father. I What's the matter with you? You look like
you've seen a ghost! I ghost story (=about ghosts) She gave
me a book of ghost stories, which I greatly enjoyed.
phantom/'fentam/a word used in literature meaning a
frightening and unclear image of a dead person In C]
Suddenly a phantom appeared out of the mist, terrifying the
hikers. I Local people claimed to have seen a phantom horse-
man, who rode across the hills on the night of the full moon.
apparition/,epa'rj'an/an image of a dead person that
you see suddenly In Cl

GHOST
55O
A strange apparition appeared in front of them on thepath. I
Two of the women said they saw an apparition in the church,
next to the statue of the Virgin Mary.
spirit/'spirIt/the part of a person that is believed to con-
tinue to live after they have died [n C]
In Japan people believe that the spirits of the dead return to
visit the earth every summer during the Obon festival. I They
prayed to the spirits of their ancestors to protect them from
disaster.
spectre (British) I specter (American)/'spektr/a word
used in literature for a ghost, especially a frightening one
[nC]
The boy was standing there again. Was he a spectre return-
ing to haunt Fleury? ] They say that the spectres of the mur-
dered children walk through the grounds at night.
spook/spu:k! an informal British word for a ghost [n C]
You're not afraid of spooks are you? [ I wouldn't spend a
night alone in that house; it's full of spooks!
poltergeist /pltrgaIst [[ pul-! a type of spirit that
moves objects or throws furniture about, often causing
damage and making a lot of noise In C]
I think we've got a poltergeist; every morning I keep finding
that things have moved during the night. [ The only way of
ridding a house of a poltergeist is to call in a priest.
ghostly I  goostli/like a ghost [adj usually before noun]
She saw a ghostly figure some distance ahead of her. [ Down
the hall he could hear the sound of ghostly laughter.
2 words for describing places where there are
ghosts
haunted
haunt
spooky
haunted / Ih:ntd/a place that is haunted has ghosts in
it [adj]
The people in the village refused to go near the castle because
they thought it was haunted. [ haunted house I don't believe
in all this nonsense about haunted houses and witches on
broomsticks.
haunt/ha:nt/if a ghost haunts a place, it appears there
often [v T not usually in progressive]
haunt sth The ghost of the murdered duke still haunts the
castle. [ They say that phantoms and witches haunt these
woods at night. [ be haunted by The bedroom is haunted
by the ghost of a young girl, who was locked in there until
she died, many years ago. [ The bar is haunted by the ghosts
of ruined gamblers.
spooky / spu:ki/an informal word: a place that is spooky
feels strange and makes you feel that there are ghosts there
[ adj ]
Let's get out of here, this place is really spooky! [ What a
spooky castle! It would be a great place to make a film.
!!: ghostly GHOST 1
!!. giant BIG 3
i giant: a giant TALL PERSON 1
giddy BALANCE 6
=! gift GIVE 19
i gift: have a gift for GOOD AT 3
gifted GOOD AT 3, INTELLIGENT 2
gigantic BIG 2
giggle LAUGH 6
giggles: have the giggles LAUGH 6
gingerly CAREFUL 6
girl CHILD 1
 girlfriend GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
give up
GIRLFRIEND/
BOYFRIEND
girlfriend or boyfriend
1 a girlfriend or boyfriend
girlfriend lover
boyfriend mistress
partner old flame
girlfriend I'g3:rlfrendl a girl or woman that you have a
friendly, loving relationship with, usually over a fairly
long period In C]
I can't wait to meet my brother's new girlfriend. [ Every time
I saw Alan, he seemed to have a different girlfriend. [ ex-
girlfriend (=a former girlfriend)Alex won't stop phoning
his ex-girlfriend.
boyfriend /'balfrend/ a boy or man that you have a
friendly loving relationship with, usually over a fairly long
period In C]
Denise is very upset because she's just split up with her
boyfriend. [ At the age of fourteen the most important thing
in some girls' lives is to get a boyfriend. [ ex-boyfriend (=a
former boyfriend) I saw my ex-boyfriend recently - he's mar-
ried now!
partner /po:rtnar/a person that you have a loving rela-
tionship with, especially someone that you live with as if
you are married, but without being officially married [n C]
The airline offers special low-cost fares to the husbands,
wives, or partners of its employees. [ sexual partner Because
of the risk of AIDS, people are having fewer sexual partners.
lover I l^var/a person, especially a man, that you have a
sexual relationship with, without being married to them
and usually without living together [n C]
The girl claims that she was the President's lover for five
years. [ She had been attacked by a former lover. [ be lovers
We were lovers for ten years, while both being married to
other people.
mistress / mistra I sl a woman who has a secret sexual rela-
tionship with a married man [n C]
The King made frequent trips to Vienna to meet his Hungar-
ian mistress. [ She suspected her husband had a mistress but
had no way of proving it.
old flame !,aold Iflem/someone who was your girlfriend
or boyfriend in the past, especially someone that you still
like In C]
Bruce is one of Nicky's old flames. [ I met an old flame last
night, but I couldn't think of much to say to him.
gist MEANING 10
gist: the gist MAIN 3
give ADD 4, DO 1, GIVE 1, 2, 6, 17, JOB/TASK 3,
LOOSE 2, PARTY 4, TELL 2
give: be given GET 3
give: not give anything away TELL A SECRET 4
give away GIVE 1, 6, 15
give back GIVE 11
give in ACCEPT 4, LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR
WAR 2
give in: hand in/give in GIVE 7
give in to CONTROL 8
give/lend a hand HELP 1
give off SEND 6, SMELL 7
give or take APPROXIMATELY 1
give out SEND 6
give out: hand out/give out GIVE 4
give up GIVE 12, STOP DOING STH 3, 4, 5
give up: I give up NOT KNOW 7

GIVE 551 GIVE
something
be given something
provide what
someone needs -
-"  :i.: -;.
generous, or not
generous
@ GET
@ PROVIDE
..
GENEROUS
give something to
someone,and ..take
something from them
in return 
%.." :.
give everyon e equal
amounts of
something
offer something to
someone
@ EXCHANGE
@ SHARE
OFFER
GIVE
2O
1 to give something to someone without
expecting to be paid for it
2 to give something to someone by putting it
near them or in their hand
3 to give something to someone because they
have done something good or helpful
4 to give something to all the people in a group
5 to officially give something to someone
6 to give money, food etc in order to help
people who are poor, people who have no
homes etc
7 to give something to a person in authority or
into someone else's control
8 to officially give the ownership or control of
something to someone else
9 to arrange for something to be given to
someone after you die
10 to give something to someone after you have
owned or used it
11 to give something back to someone who had
it before
12 to unwillingly give something to someone else
or stop having it yourself
13 to generously give money, gifts etc to
someone
14 to join with other people in giving money in
order to help pay for something
15 to give someone something extra when they
buy something
16 to give something that is useless or unwanted
to someone else, because you want to get rid
of it
17 to give a disease to someone
18 someone who gives something
19 something that you give to someone on a
special occasion or to thank them for something
something such as money or food that is
given to help people
I to give something to someone without
expecting to be paid for it
give give away
let sb have spare
give/iv/[v ]
give sb sth I gave him $10. I Why don't we give her some
flowers for her birthday? I They gave me this leaflet - it's
really helpful. I Let me give you some advice. I give sth to
sb Mrs Richardson gives most of her spare money to char-
ities. I Russell was accused of giving secret information to
the enemy.
|e| sb have/,le (sb) hev/to give something to someone,
especially something that they have asked for or something
that they need [v phrase not in passive]
I've forgotten my notebook. Could you let me have something
to write on? I Let Phil have another drink, if he wants one. I
Our lawyer says he can let us have a copy of the contract by
the end of next week.
give away /,gIv a'weI/ to give something to another
person because you do not want or need it [phr v T/
give sth/it/them away We had too much furniture and we
decided to give some of it away. I Last year everyone was
buying all her records but now we can't even give them
away. I give sth away to Tom'sparents are furious with him
because he keeps giving all his toys away to his friends. I give
away sth My wife gave away my best raincoat - she said
it looked old and dirty.
spare/spear/ if you can spare a particular amount of
something, you can only give that amount because you
need the rest for yourself [v T/
spare sth How much money do you need? I can spare $10.1
spare sb sth We don't have very much coffee, I'm afraid, but
we can spare you a little.
to give something to someone by putting it
near them or in their hand
give hand
let sb have slip
pass
give/glV/ [V T]
give sb sth Give me that gun! I Sophie gave Ted her jacket
to hold while she tried on a new coat. I give sth to sb Would
you give the letter to your uncle when you see him?
let sb have/,let (sb) 'hev/to give something to someone,
especially something that they have asked for and that you
do not really want to give them |v phrase not in passive]
I think you'd better let me have that knife before you hurt
someone with it. I Finally, after a lot of coaxing, Jimmy let
his teacher have the letter.
pass Ipo:s II pes/to give something to someone, especially
because they cannot reach it [v T/
pass sth Pass the salt please. I pass sb sth Would you pass
me my bag. It's under your chair. I pass sth to sb Ellis
quickly passed the note to the woman, looking around to
check that no one had noticed.
hand/hend/to take something in your hand and give it
to someone by putting it in their hand [v T/
hand sb sth The nurse handed me a glass of brown liquid
and told me to drink it. I As the delegates entered the room
they were each handed a name-badge. I hand sth to sb
Would you please hand your ticket to the man at the door. I
hand sth down (=from a high place) Will you hand that
box down off the shelf?.
slip/slip/to quickly give someone something small such
as money, by putting it into their hand, especially so that
other people do not notice [v T/
slip sb sth I know it's a private party, but if you slip the door-
man $5 he'll let you in. I slip sth into sb's hand/pocket
etc During the meeting she reached under the table and
slipped a note into my hand,

GIVE 552 GIVE
 to give something to someone because they
have done something good or helpful
reward
reward Ir, 'wa:rdl [v T]
reward sb with The best way to teach your child to read
is to reward him with lots of praise. I reward sb The finder
will be rewarded because the ring has great sentimental
value.
4 to give something to all the people in a group
hand out/give out share out
hand around/round dish out/dole out
pass around/round serve
distribute
hand out/give out I,hzend 'aot, ,giv 'aot/[phr v T]
hand/give out sth Tomorrow the princess will be handing
out gifts at a children's hospital. I The examination won't
begin until I've finished giving out the question papers. I
hand/give out sth to sb Outside the embassy, students were
handing out leaflets to everyone who walked past. I Every
morning a glass of water was given out to each of the
prisoners and it had to last them the whole day. I hand/give
sth out Organizations go around handing food packages
out at railroad stations, where many of the city's homeless
spend their days. I Some of you will have to share a book -
I've given them all out.
hand around (also hand round in British English)
/Ihzend ()lraond/to go from person to person offering or
politely giving them something such as a drink, a cake, etc
[phr v T]
hand around sth Dorothy was handing around coffee and
biscuits when we arrived. I hand sth/it/them around
Would you mind helping me hand the crackers around,
please?
pass around (also pass round in British English)/,p:s
()raond II ,pros-/ if a group of people pass something
around, one person offers or gives it to the next person,
who then offers or gives it to the next etc [phr v T]
pass around sth Pass around those chocolates - don't keep
them all to yourself] [ A list was passed round and we each
had to sign our name. I pass sth/it/them around They had
what was obviously a joint and they were passing it around.
distribute Idi  stribju:tl to give something such as food or
medicine to a large group of people, especially by using a
planned system of delivering it to them Iv T]
distribute sth to sb The Red Cross have started distribut-
ing food and blankets to villages in thejTood area. [ distrib-
ute sth among About $250,000 of medical supplies has been
distributed among families affected by the epidemic. I dis-
tribute sth Protestors walked through the streets distribut-
ing leaflets.
distribution [n U]/dIstr I bju:Sdn/The distribution of US
aid has become more difficult since the fighting began.
share out / ISer aot] to divide something into equal parts
and give a part to each person in a group [phr v T]
share out sth As long as.they share out the work, nobody
minds. I share sth/it/them out Mr Ramsay opened the
parcel and shared the contents out equally. I share out sth
among When he dies his property will be shared out among
his children. I share out sth between The prize money will
be shared out between the joint winners.
dish out/dole out/,dij" aot, dol 'aot/to give some-
thing, especially food or money, to people who are waiting
to receive it [phr v T]
dish/dole out sth On the steps of the bombed building relief
workers were doling out rice and powdered milk. I
dish/dole sth out Although our mother prepared all our
food it was our father who always dished it out. I dish/dole
out sth to sb Air hostesses were doling out mints to the
passengers.
serve/s:rv/to give food or drinks to someone, especially
as part of a meal or party [v T]
serve sth The meal will be served shortly. I serve sb She
can't talk to you now -she's serving the guests. I serve sth
to sb Don't serve champagne to the children. I serve sb with
sth During the conference delegates were regularly served
with coffee and biscuits.
5 to officially give something to someone
award confer
present allocate
grant allotted
award/'w:rd/award someone a prize/degree/pay
rise etc (=to officially give someone a prize, degree etc,
especially as a reward for their hard work or for something
they have done) [v T usually in passive]
be awarded sth She was awarded the Nobel Prize for her
work in medical research. I A woman who suffered brain
damage during an operation has been awarded $300,000 in
compensation. [ award sb sth Management have awarded
all factory employees 5% pay increases.
award [n C] The nurses'pay award was riot nearly as much
as they expected.
present/prl 'zcnt/to give someone something, especially
a prize, as part of an official ceremony [v T]
present sth The company's vice-president will present the
prize for the Best Salesperson of the year. [ present sth to
sb At yesterday's ceremony the Colonel presented medals to
the men who had fought in the campaign. [ A little girl
presented a basket of flowers to the President's wife. [
present sb with sth Before he left London, Mr Bush was
presented with a petition from the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament.
presentation/,prezn telj'dn/[n U] The movie star said she
wished she could have attended the presentation of the
awards.
grant /gro:nt II grzcnt/ to give someone something that
they have asked for, especially permission to do something
as the result of an official decision [v T]
grant sb sth The authorities have refused to grant him a
visa to visit the US. [ grant sth The company's application
to build a billion dollar leisure complex has been granted
by city hall.I grant sb's request I am pleased to inform you
that your request for housing benefit has been granted.
confer/kn'f3:r/confer a degree/honour/title etc (=to
officially give someone a degree, honour etc especially as
a reward for what they have achieved) [v T]
confer sth on sb The university has already conferred
honorary degrees on several prime ministers. [ confer on sb
sth The President trusted him so much that he conferred on
him the role of "Principal Advisor'.
allocate /'mlke;tl if someone in authority allocates
something such as money, a house, a job etc to someone,
they decide to give that person some of the money, or one
of the houses, jobs etc that are available [v T]
allocate sth to sb The company has allocated Ј1000 to him
to get the project started. I allocate sb with sth It's the
manager's job to allocate each member of the team with a
particular task. [ allocate sb sth Several single parent fami-
lies have been allocated homes on the new site.
allocation /  zel kein/[n U] The allocation ofplaces at the
university is based on candidates" examination results.
allotted/zlDtd II-'1o:-/allotted money/time/space
etc (=the money, time etc that has been officially given or
allowed to someone for them to do something) [adj only
before noun]
This department has already spent all its allotted budget. [
David wasn't able to finish the task within the allotted time.
6 to give money, food etc in order to help
people who are poor, people who have no
homes etc
give
go to
give away
give/gIv/[v I/T]
give sth to sb He regularly gives 5% of his income to those
in need. I give sth Not enough people are prepared to give
donate
make a donation
subscribe to

GIVE 553 GIVE
their time and money. I give sb sth It is estimated that the
English give animal welfare organizations over Ј200 million
per year. I give Christmas is the time when the homeless
suffer most and people are asked to give generously.
go to I' goo tu:/if something such as a sum of money goes
to someone, especially to a group of people who are poor,
hungry, sick etc, it is given to them Iv T not in passive]
All the money raised will go to the Kurdish refugees.
give away /,gw 'weq to generously give money or
useful things to help people who need them more than you
do [phr v T]
give away sth She's an eccentric old woman who's given
away all her savings. I give sth/it/them away He's very
secretive about his money but he gives at least $10 million
away a year.
donate/donnet II 'donet/to give something such as
money or blood, to an organization that does things to help
the public, or to help people who are poor, sick, hungry,
etc [v I/T]
donate sth to The magazine says it will donate all profits
to medical research. I donate sth Hospitals are publicly
appealingfor people to donate blood. I donate to sth If the
company wants to donate to charity, it should do so
discreetly.
make a donation /,meik a daotneIJ'an/ to give an
amount of money to an organization that helps people who
are poor, sick etc Iv phrase]
make a donation We're collecting for the Save the Children
Fund. Would you like to make a donation? [ make a dona-
tion to sth Michael Jackson has made several large dona-
tions to charities.
subscribe to/sab'skraib tu:/to give money regularly to
an organization, in order to help it continue its work, espe-
cially work that involves helping other people Iv T]
Some firms subscribe to sporting events and good causes
simply to avoid paying tax.
7 to give something to a person in authority or
into someone else's control
hand in/give in
turn in/turn over
hand over
hand sb over/
turn sb over
pass on
surrender
sign away
relinquish
hand in/give in I,hend 'In, ,glv 'In/to give something
to someone, for example so that they can check it or look
after it [phr v T]
hand/give sth in I want to grade your assignments before
the vacation, so be sure to hand them in on time. I hand/give
in sth When you leave the hotel, please hand in your key at
the desk. I Luckily, someone gave in her purse at the lost
property office.
turn inlturn over / ,t3:rn 'm, ,t3:rn 'ovr/to give some-
thing such as weapons or important documents to the
police or to government officials, when you should not
legally have them or you have been officially asked to give
them [phr v T]
turn sth in/over Police are worried about the number of
people who have illegal weapons, and they are encouraging
them to turn them in at their local police station. I turn in/
over sth to sb The government is refusing to turn over the
documents to the UN inspection team.
hand over /hend 'ovrl to give something to someone
because they have asked or forced you to do so [phr v T]
hand over sth The robbers forced them to hand over the
money. I I'm afraid I can't hand over the keys to the house
until the contract has been signed. I hand sth over If you
don't hand it over I'll shoot!
hand sb over/turn sb over/,hmnd (sb) 'aova r, ,t3:rn
(sb) 'oovar/to give a prisoner to another group of people,
especially the police or the people in authority in another
country [phr v T]
hand/turn sb over to sb The terrorists were taken to the
airport, where they were handed over to the French authori-
ties. [ hand/turn over sb The kidnappers promised to go
to the embassy and turn over all their hostages within 24
hours.
pass on/,po:s 'n II ,pros 'o:n/to give information or
documents to another person [phr v T]
pass on sth Officials admitted that they failed to pass on
important information. [ pass on sth to sb The committee's
findings have been passed on to the Ministry of Health. I pass
sth/it/them on He was accused of stealing secret documents
and passing them on to the enemy.
surrender/sa'rendar/to give your power or possessions
to someone else because you have been forced to do this or
have agreed to do it [v T]
surrender sth The President has indicated that he intends
to surrender power on February 7th. [ surrender sth to sb
They promised to abide by the peace agreement and sur-
render all their weapons to the occupying forces.
sign away / ,stun a'weq to let someone else have your pos-
sessions or rights by signing a paper [phr v T]
sign away sth With a stroke of the pen he signed away his
claim to the family estate. I sign sth/it/them away You
can't just sign it away.
relinquish/rl'l llJkwlf/to let someone else have your posi-
tion, power or rights, especially unwillingly Iv T]
The United States is pressing the Haitian army to relinquish
power. I The Purdeys relinquished control of the famous gun-
smith company many years ago. I The prince was persuaded
to relinquish his claim to the throne.
8 to officially give the ownership or control of
something to someone else
hand over
transfer
make over
hand over/,hend 'ovor/[phr v T]
hand over sth to sb In 1997 the sovereignty of Hong Kong
will be handed over to China. [ hand over sth It was only
after many legal battles that he agreed to hand over the
farm. [ hand sth/it/them over She had to hand it over
eventually.
handover/ hamduvr/In U] Negotiations have begun in
preparation for the handover of power to the new
government.
transfer/trans'fa:r/transfer power/responsibility/
control ete (=officially give it to another person, organi-
zation, or country) Iv T ]
transfer sth to sb The military government is refusing to
transfer power to a democratically elected civilian govern-
ment. [ In 1923 the ownership of the forest was transferred
to a rich Dutch family.
transfer / ' tramsf: r/In U ] Is the peaceful transfer ofpower
possible in South Africa?
make over /mek 'ovr/to officially give something
such as money or property by signing a legal document,
so that it belongs to someone else [phr v T]
make over sth to sb Before he died he made over the family
business to his daughter. [ make sth over to sb Oldpeople
sometimes unknowingly make huge sums of money over to
unscrupulous business advisers.
9 to arrange for something to be given to
someone after you die
leave
bequeath
will
leave/li:v/Iv T]
leave sth to sb She left all her money to her three children. [
leave sb sth He was so grateful to the nurses who had looked
after him that he left them Ј1000 each in his will.

GIVE 554 GIVE
bequeath/b 'kwi:6, bi tkwi:0/a formal word meaning to
officially arrange for something you own to be given to
someone else after your death Iv T]
bequeath sth to sb Attalus bequeathed his kingdom and
treasures to the Romans. [ bequeath sb sth John Frazer
made a will bequeathing his local church Ј5000.
will/wEll an official document that you sign to say what
you want to be done with your property after your death
[nC]
My mother left me these earrings in her will. I make a will
(=write a will) He made his will just hours before he died.
10 to give something to someone after you have
owned or used it
pass on
be handed down
pass on/,pa:s 'o. II ,pes 'o:nl to give to someone e]se
something that has been given to you, especially after you
have finished using it [phr v T]
pass sth/it/them on There's only one copy of the leaflet, so
when you've read it please pass it on. [ pass on sth to sb
When he gave up playingfootball, he passed on all his gear
to me.
be handed down Ibi: hendd 'daon/if something is
handed down, it is given to a younger person in the same
family, for example to a sister or brother, or to a son or
daughter Iv phrase]
This ring belonged to one of my ancestors and has been
handed down from generation to generation. [ be handed
down to sb In most big families, clothes are handed down
to younger brothers and sisters.
1 1 to give something back to someone who had
it before
give back restore
return hand back
give back I,gv 'bmkl [phr v T]
give sth/it/them back Don't forget to give my pen back
when you've finished using it. I give sth back to sb He's had
that book for a year now and he still hasn't given it back to
me. I give sb sth back We'll have to cancel the show and give
the audience their money back. I give sb back sth Give us
back our ball. I give back sth to sb You should give back
those packages to the man who left them with you.
return/r: 'ta:rn/to give something back to the person or
organization that legally owns it, especially after you have
borrowed it from them Iv T]
return sth to sb Your passport will be returned to you. as
soon as your visa application has been dealt with. I return
sth All library books must be returned before the weekend.
return In U] The store is offering a $10,000 reward for the
return of the jewels.
restore/rE sta:r/a formal word meaning to give some-
thing valuable back to its owner, especially after it has been
taken from them Iv T]
restore sth to sb When we find the stolen vehicle we shall,
of course, make sure that it is restored to its rightful owner. I
In 1905 both Japan and Russia agreed to restore Manchuria
to China.
hand back /,hend 'bmk] to give something back to some-
one by hand [phr v T]
hand sth/it/them back Here's the file you want. Please
hand it back when you've finished with it. I hand sth/it/
them back to sb The official looked at her identity card
carefully and then handed it back to her. I hand back sth
Teachers will hand back student assignments after the vaca-
tion. I hand back sth to sb She handed back thephotograph
to him.
12 to unwillingly give something to someone else
or stop having it yourself
give up abandon
let sth go sacrifice
part with trade away
give up/,gIv '^p/[phr v T]
give up sth I had to give up the shop when my rheumatism
got too bad. I We shall never give up the freedom that we have
won. I give sth/it/them up He says it is legally his and he
won't give it up.
|et sth go /,let (sth) 'gao/an informal expression mean-
ing to allow something to pass from your ownership or con-
trol, especially as a result of someone winning it or buying
it from you [phr v T]
The Americans have held the world record for many years
and they're not going to let it go without a fight. I I've
nowhere to store all this china so I'm letting the whole lot
go for Ј50.
part with/'po:rt wE/ to very unwillingly allow some-
thing valuable that you own to pass from your ownership,
by selling it or giving it to someone Iv T]
I'm reluctant to part with any of my precious books. I People
moving to smaller houses from large ones are sometimes
forced to part with treasures they have been hoarding for
years.
abandon/a'bmndan/to leave something somewhere so
that it can be taken from you or so that you lose it Iv T]
abandon sth Abandon your weapons and walk slowly
towards the fence! I abandon sth to Thousands of people
in the region have been forced to abandon their homes to
enemy troops.
sacrifice/' sekrgfaEs/to agree or decide to stop having
something that is valuable, especially in order to gain
something more important Iv T]
sacrifice sth to do sth He sacrificed a promising career to
look after his handicapped daughter. I sacrifice sth for The
nation is not prepared to sacrifice its independence for the
sake of an alliance with a powerful neighbour.
trade away/,treEd a'weE/ to let someone take a right,
advantage etc from you, in exchange for something that
you want, in a way that people think is wrong [phr v T]
trade away sth for (=lose one thing and gain another) The
Unions would be wrong to trade away their future for short-
term financial gain. I trade away sth It's disgusting to trade
away your democratic rights in this way.
13 to generously give money, gifts etc to
someone
be generous
lavish sth on
shower
be generous/bi: 'dsendras/ [v phrase]
We've received thousands of dollars to help the children -
everyone's been incredibly generous. I be generous to sb He
was very generous to her when they divorced and let her keep
the house and the car. I be generous with sth (=give a lot
of something) When it comes to training, Marion's always
been generous with her time.
lavish sth on/'13VI. (sth) Dn 11 -o:n/lavish gifts/money/
attention/affection on someone (=to give a lot of gifts,
attention etc to someone, especially in an uncontrolled or
wasteful way) [phr v T]
For years he lavished expensive gifts on the girl. I She's often
been accused of lavishing too much attention on just one or
two students.
shewer [ 'faoar/to give someone a lot of gifts, love, prizes
etc [v T]
shower sb with sth Trudi was treated as a special guest
and was showered with gifts everywhere she went. I HIS
family loved him so much they showered him with affection. I
shower sth on/upon sb When Elvis first became famous
he had honours and awards showered upon him.
to join with other people in giving money in
order to help pay for something
contribute pay sth towards
make a contribution have a collection
chip in have a whip-round

GIVE
contribute/kn'tribju:t/Iv I/q ]
contribute sth to/towards sth In recent years big corpo-
rations have contributed large sums of money to the Presi-
dent's campaign funds. I Would you like to contribute some-
thing towards Carol's retirement present? I contribute sth
All the money that is contributed will go to help the victims
of the earthquake. I contribute It's for a good cause. I hope
everyone will feel able to contribute.
contribution/,kDntrIo 'bju:fan II ,ko:n-! In C] Thanks to all
the private contributions we've received we can now afford
to build the new chemotherapy department.
make a contribution/,meEk  ,kDntr 'bju:fan II -,ko:n-/
to give an amount of money so that it can be used with other
people's money to pay for something Iv phrase]
We are collecting money for repairs to the church roof. If any
of you would like to make a contribution, we shall be most
grateful. [ make a contribution to sth Each member will
be expected to make an annual contribution ofЈ15 to party
funds.
chip in ! ttEp ten/an informal expression meaning to join
with a group of people in giving a small amount of money
in order to pay for something [phr v I/T]
If everyone chips in we'll be able to get her a nice present. [
chip in sth They all chipped in a dollar so that they could
get a bottle of whisky.
pay sth towards/'peI (sth) to,wo:rdz/to give part of the
money needed to pay for something Iv phrase]
pay sth towards sth I don't mind paying something
to wards Samantha "s wedding present. [ She feels it's partly
her fault the TV's broken so she's ready to pay $50 towards
a new one. [ pay towards sth Although students receive
government grants, parents are still expected to pay towards
living costs.
have a collection/,hev o kotlekJ'an/to collect a small
amount of money from each person in a group [v phrase]
They had a collection at the bar and they raised over eighty
dollars. [ Every Christmas we have a collection for charity
at work.
have a whip-round /,hmv  'wEpraond/ an informal
British expression: if a group of people have a whip-
round, everyone in the group immediately gives some
money they have in their pocket in order to buy something
with the total amount that is collected Iv phrase]
It's Sally's birthday tomorrow. We'd better have a whip-
round so we can get her a present.
15 to give someone something extra when they
buy something
give away
throw in
give away /tgEv o'wei/ifa company gives away some-
thing, they give it to people when they buy the company's
products [phr v T]
give away sth They're giving away free wine glasses when
you spend more than $15 on gas. [ 700 concert tickets were
given away to people buying CDs or cassettes. [ give sth
away with sth "'Where did you get that badge? .... They're
giving them away with this week's Melody Maker
magazine. ""
throw In / t0rou t :n/to give someone something at no addi-
tional cost when they buy something from you [phr v T]
throw in sth You buy five pounds of apples and I'll throw
in these pears and a couple of oranges. [ throw sth/it/them
in Never mind the chairs - I'll throw them in with the table.
16 to give something that is useless or unwanted
to someone else, because you want to get rid
of it
palm sth off on offload
foist sth on fob sb off with
palm sth off on/,prom (sth) 'fn II -,0:f :n/an infor-
mal expression meaning to get rid of something which you
know to be faulty or a job which you know is unpleasant,
555
GIVE
by giving or selling it to someone else without telling them
about its faults [phr v T]
If he tries to palm that old Ford of his off on youjust tell him
you're not interested. [ I've managed to palm that early morn-
ing class off on Mary, she's desperate for work.
foist sth on/tfoEst (sth) n [[ -a:n/to get rid of a thing or
piece of work that you do not want by giving it to someone
else [phr v T]
It's no use trying to foist your work on me. [ foist sth offonto
sb He's always trying to foist the children off on to me while
he goes out and enjoys himself.
offload/f'lood [[ o:f-/to get rid of something such as
work or responsibility that you have too much of by giving
part of it to someone else Iv T]
You should try and offload some of your duties and relax
more, instead of spending all day at the office. [ The bank
are trying to offload some of their US holdings.
fob sb off with/tfDb (sb) 'uf Wl [[ tfo:b (sb) to:f-/to
make someone accept something that is not as good as or
not the same as the thing that they actually wanted [phr
vT]
I asked for the original 1965 recording, but the man in the
store tried to fob me off with a 1970s version. [ Don't let him
fob you off with some cheap imported whisky -you want the
real thing.
17 to give a disease to someone
give
pass on
infect
give/gEv/[v T]
give sb sth Don "t come too close - I don't want to give you
my cold! [ Carol was convinced that Brian had given her
measles.
pass on/,pa:s 'n [[ ,pes 'a:n/an expression meaning
to give someone an illness such as a cold, or a slight fever,
used especially when talking about avoiding giving it to
other people [phr v T]
pass on sth Janet stayed at home for a couple of days
because she didn't want to pass on her cold to anyone else. [
pass sth/it on Be careful that your dog doesn't pass it on
to other dogs - you'd probably best keep him indoors.
Infect/in t fekt/to give someone an illness, especially one
that is serious Iv T]
infect sb The cholera victims have to be isolated so that they
do not infect other patients. [ infect sb with sth Every time
you sneeze or cough you may be infecting others with your
germs.
infection ! n t fekan/In U] We take strict precautions when
treating AIDS patients even though the risk of infection (=of
being infected) is very low.
1 8 someone who gives something
donor benefactor
kidney/blood etc donor philanthropist
donor ! tdaonar/a person, organization, or country that
gives something, especially money, to another organiza-
tion or country so that they can use it to help other people
[nC]
Money for the new health centre has come mostly from pri-
vate donors. [ Some donor countries have criticized the way
in which their aid is being distributed.
kidney/blood etc donor/(kidney, etc) daonar/someone
who gives a part of their body so that it can be used in the
medical treatment of someone else In C]
kidney/blood etc donor Unless more blood donors come
forward it may be necessary to cancel some operations. [
donor The patient needs a liver transplant and the search
has begun for a suitable donor.
benefactor /'ben,fmktor/ someone who gives some-
thing, especially a large amount of money, to an organiza-
tion or institution such as a school, hospital or library In C]
Getty had been the museum's chief benefactor. [ public

GIVE
556
benefactor (=a benefactor who helps the public) Wishing
to be seen as a public benefactor, the company has given the
city two million pounds towards a new leisure centre.
philanthropist/flo'lenOrpl st/a rich person who gives
a lot of money to help poorer people [n C]
In Victorian times, factory owners were often also philan-
thropists. I the millionaire philanthropist, Graham Paulo
19 something that you give to someone on a
special occasion or to thank them for
something
gift
present
reward
gift/gxft/In C]
The sword was a gift to the Queen from the Sultan of Brunei. [
Fred's retiring Friday so we'd better think of a suitable gift
for him. [ She opened all her birthday gifts after eveyone had
finished their cake and ice cream.
present !'prezant/something that you give to someone on
their birthday or on a special occasion In C]
He got a lot of expensive presents for his 21st birthday. [ The
watch was a present from my mother. [ Christmas/birth-
day/anniversary present We can't afford to spend much
on Christmas presents this year.
reward/ri 'w:rd/something that is given to someone as
thanks for something helpful that they have done In C]
There will be a reward of $50, O00 for anyone giving police
information that may lead to this man's arrest. [ She got no
reward for all the hard work she did.
20 something such as money or food that is
given to help people
donation
charity
handout
donation Ido'nefdn/In C]
Any donation however small, will be gratefully received. I
The Famine Appeal has raised more than a million pounds
through private donations and fund-raising activities.
©hari|Ґ/'tfeQti/money or help given to help the poor,
the sick etc In U]
Many homeless people are too proud to ask for charity. I All
money raised by the concert will go to charity.
handout ! 'hmndaot! a word meaning money, food etc that
is given to someone who is poor, used especially when you
think they should not be given it or should not have to ask
for it In C]
The unemployed need jobs, not government handouts! [ She
applied for a bank loan because she did not want to depend
on her father for handouts.
giveaway prices: at rockbottom prices/at giveaway
prices CHEAP 3
given: be given GET 3
given: not be given to NOT DO STH 10
given the situation/circumstances SITUATION 6
glad HAPPY 4
glad: be gladlhappylpleased to do sth WILLING 1
gladly WILLING 2
glance LOOK AT 5
glance: at a glance IMMEDIATELY 4
glance: shoot/cast/throw a glance LOOK AT 5
glance off HIT/BUMP INTO 4
glare LIGHT 1, LOOK AT 7
glaring OBVIOUS 4
glassy SHINY 1
glaze over: sb's eyes glaze over BORING 7
gleam SHINE 1
gleaming SHINY 1
glean FIND OUT 1
go/belong
gleeful HAPPY 6
glib BELIEVE 13
glide SLIDE 1
glimmer of hope: a glimmer of hope/a ray of hope
HOPE 7
glimpse: catch a glimpse of SEE 2
glisten SHINE 3
glistening SHINY 3
glitter SHINE 3
gloat ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4, HAPPY 6
global ALL/EVERYTHING 4, EVERYWHERE 1, WORLD 2
globe ROUND 2
globe: the globe WORLD 1
globetrotter TRAVEL 12
gloom SAD/UNHAPPY 12
gloomy DARK 3, EXPECT 7, HOPE 10, SAD/UNHAPPY 8
glorify PRAISE 2
glorious GOOD/EXCELLENT 5
gloss SHINY 4
gloss over TALK TO SB 20
glossy SHINY 1
glove: fit like a glove FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1
glove: hand in glove WITH 4
glow LIGHT 1, SHINE 1
glow in the dark SHINE 5
glowing HEALTHY 3, PRAISE 6
glue STICK 1
glued: be glued/rooted to the spot NOT MOVING 2
glum SAD/UNHAPPY 4
glut TOO/TOO MUCH 2
glutton GREEDY 1
glutton: be a glutton for punishment SUFFER 5
gluttony GREEDY 1
gnaw BITE 4
go BECOME 4, DIE 1, GO 1, 3, HAPPEN 5, LEAVE
A PLACE 1, 4, PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 1,
PROGRESS 1, REACH 1, TRAVEL 1,
WORKING/NOT BROKEN 1
go: be on the go BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 1
go: from the word go BEGINNING 5
go: give it a go/a whirl TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1
go: give it a go/trylwhirl TRY TO DO OR GET STH 4
go: have a go TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1, TRY TO
DO OR GET STH 4
go: I must go LEAVE A PLACE 2
go: I must goll have to go TELEPHONE 7
go: it's all go BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 3
go: let sb go/out FREE/NOT IN PRISON 2
go: make a go of SUCCEED IN DOING STH 1
go: to take away/to go MEAL 8
go: will go FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 4
go: will have to go GET RID OF 1
go about DO 1
go after TRY TO DE) OR GET STH 5
go after: chase after/go after FOLLOW 2
go against DIFFERENT 8
go-ahead MODERN 2
go-ahead: give sb/sth the go-ahead LET/ALLOW 8
go all out TRY TO DO OR GETSTH5
go/belong
go along with AGREE 2
go along with: not hold with/not go along with
DISAPPROVE 1
go around/round AROUND/ROUND 4, SPREAD 3, 12,
TURN 1
go around and around TURN 1
go around/round in circles TURN 1
go away DISAPPEAR 2, LEAVE A PLACE 1, 3
go back PAST 5, RETURN 1
go back: return/go back RETURN 2
go back on PROMISE 9
go back the way you came RETURN 6
go back to COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7 CONTINUE/
START AGAIN 1, 3
go back to/get back to AGAIN 3, CONTINUE/START
AGAIN 2
PLACE 11

go-between
go-between MESSAGE 2
go by GO 4
go from
go-getter
go halves
go in
go in for
go into
 go by car/bike etc DRIVE 2
• : go down DOWN 4, 5, LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR
ii!!!i WAR 1, WORSE 3
i go down/come down LESS 5
14i go down to REACH 1
:i; go down well LIKE SB OR STH 1
;: go for ATTACK 1, CHOOSE 1, COST 2, TRUE 1, TRY
 GET STH 5
TO
DO
OR
:!i CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1
. AMBITIOUS 1
SHARE 5
!i. ENTER 1
;;!;;"; TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 8
 COUNT/CALCULATE 7, HIT/BUMP INTO 2,
i INVESTIGATE 1, WORK/DO WORK 2
 go moo/quack/bang/beep etc SOUND 4
.o o.eX  ,O  E ,E  VE
iili PLACE 1, SLEEP 3, SOUND 4
:i!!i go off/pass off HAPPEN 5
.:,.-'
ili.,, go off with/walk off with STEAL 1
 go on CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, 4, CONTINUE/START
 AGAIN 1, 2
4:. go on about COMPLAIN 2
. go on at ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 4
---- go on for LAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME 1
iiiii go on/keep on TALK TO SB 9
',i go out FASHIONABLE 9, LEAVE A PLACE 1,
...::.,::! SOCIALIZE 1, STOP HAPPENING 2, SWITCH
i!i ON OR OFF 2
i go out of your way to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 6
 go out to TRAVEL 4
! go out with/go with RELATIONSHIP 4
 go over REMOVE 4, REPEAT 4, VISIT 1
...! go over to CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1,
!ii JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 4
• go round TURN 1
 go through/get through SPEND MONEY 3
 go through/over EXAMINE 1
 go through with PROMISE 7
i! go to GIVE 6, GO TO/ATTEND 1, 2
 go together/go with SUITABLE 3
!ii, go to your head: let sth go to your head PROUD 4
iii go up EXPLODE 1, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
; AMOUNT 1, UP 3, 6, 7
:., go up to REACH 1
i go with AGREE 2, SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2,
-".. WITH 2
 go with: go together/go with SUITABLE 3
,,. go with/go hand in hand with RESULT 7
i=:!i go without NOT HAVE 2, 5
i# go without: not go without RICH 2
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
557 GO
LEAVE A PLACE
DRIVE
TRAVEL
PASS/GO PAST
@GO
to go somewhere
ways of saying that a lot of people go
somewhere or go in a particular direction at
the same time
ways of saying that a train, boat, or plane
goes somewhere
1 to go somewhere
go
come
make your way
proceed
head
be off to
be heading/headed
be bound for
be on your way
go/gaul Iv I]
go to/into/down/home/there etc Where are you going? [
He was here earlier but he's gone home now. I Elizabeth's
going to a party -can Igo too, Mom? l I wouldn't go to Egypt
in August. It's too hot. I The two girls went down the stairs
nervously, trying not to make a sound. [ Until the middle
ages, it was thought that the sun went around the earth. I
go If you won't come with me I'll go alone. I go and do sth
Go and get the scissors for me, will you?
come/kAm/if someone comes, they go to the place where
you are or to the place where you are going Iv I]
come to/from/home/here etc Come here! I How many
people are coming to the party? I I came all the way down
here especially to see him, and now he's gone! I come Billy
wants to come as well. I come and do sth Come and meet
my father.
make your way/melk ja: r 'weq to go somewhere, espe-
cially slowly, careful]y, or with a little difficulty, for exam-
ple because you are trying to move through a crowd Iv
phrase]
make your way to/through/there etc After escaping
from prison, he managed to make his way to safety. [ Will
passengers on Flight 762 to Moscow please make their way

GO 558 GO TO/ATTEND
to the departure lounge. I She slung her bag over her shoul-
der and began to make her way through the crowd.
proceed/prasi:d/a formal word meaning to go some-
where, especially when you are continuing a journey [phr
vii
proceed to/down/there etc After lunch we shall proceed
to Hampton Court, palace of King Henry the Eighth. I They
went to California for a ten-week vacation, sailing to San
Francisco and then proceeding in a leisurely fashion to San
Diego. I proceed Before proceeding they looked around to
see if they were being followed.
head/hod/to go in a particular direction with a firm inten-
tion in your mind [v I]
head towards/across/away etc He headed across the
fields in the direction of the farm buildings. I head for It was
starting to rain, so we decided to head for home. I head
north/west etc The pilot took off and headed south.
be oit to/bi: 'Dr tu: II - Y-f-/an informal expression mean-
ing to be going somewhere now or soon [v T]
We're all off to Florida next week. I I'm just off to the shops.
Is there anything you need?
be heading/headed/bi: 'hed0, 'hedd/to be going in
a particular direction, especially on a long journey [v
phrase]
be heading/headed for They said they were heading for
Mexico. I We passed a farm wagon headed for the market. I
The spacecraft is thousands of miles away now, heading for
Mars. I be heading/headed southward/north/home etc
I'm not quite sure where we are but I think we're heading
in the right direction. [ Where are you headed?
be bound for/hi: 'baond fa:r/ifa person, ship, plane etc
is bound for a place, especially a place that is far away,
they are going there [v phrase]
The captain told me that the ship was bound for New York. I
The plane took off from Athens, bound for Rome, with 145
passengers on board. I Hundreds of squealing animals were
herded into trucks bound for the slaughterhouse. I north-
bound/westbound etc (=going towards the north, west
etc) Go to Tremont and take a westbound train on the Green
Line. I Two suspected terrorists were removed from a Paris-
bound ]light.
be on your way/bi: ,Dnja: r 'wei/to be going somewhere
at the present time [v phrase]
be on your way to/from/there etc Ican't stop to talk now,
I'm on my way to work. I They'll be on their way home by
now.
2
ways of saying that a lot of people go
somewhere or go in a particular direction at
the same time
pour flock
stream flood
troop file
swarm
pour/pa:r/to go together as a large crowd into, out of, or
through a place [v I]
pour in/out/through etc Kids poured out of the school
gates at four o'clock. I As soon as the doors were opened, the
crowd poured in, pushing and shoving.
stream/stri:m/to move along as a continuous flowing line
or crowd, all going in the same direction [v I]
stream along/through/past etc People were streaming
along the lane towards the fair. I Outside the window, all
humanity seemed to be streaming past.
troop/tru:p/to walk together in a group or groups all going
in the same direction, especially in a way that shows you
are tired or unwilling to go somewhere [v I]
troop along/back/home etc A bell rang and the children
all trooped back to school. I The miners, their faces black-
ened, were trooping home after the long shift.
swarm/swa:rm/if a large, uncontrolled group of people
swarms somewhere they go there as a large crowd and
move around, especially in a way that is a little annoying
[v I]
swarm in/on/to etc Outside, in the hot sunshine, dirty
ragged children swarmed in and out of the gateway. I Fans
were swarming around him, begging him for his autograph.
flock/flk II rio:k/if a lot of people flock somewhere they
go there from many different places, usually because some-
thing interesting or exciting is happening there [v I]
flock to/into/there etc Crowds of over a quarter of a mil-
lion]lock to the raceway each year from all parts of America.
flood/flAd/if people flood into a place, they go there in
very large numbers especially in a way that is difficult to
control [ v I]
flood across/into/out etc Thousands of refugees have been
]loading across the border. I Every day, more people flood
into job centres looking for work.
file/fad/to walk in a line one behind the other in a well
organized way [v I]
file into/out of The students began filing quietly into the
classroom. [ file past People filed past the coffin to pay their
respects to the dead President.
3 ways of saying that a train, boat, or plane
goes somewhere
go
call at/stop at
run
go Agaol Iv I]
go to/past/there etc Does this bus go to London Bridge?l
go west/south etc This is the only train going north for the
next two weeks. [ go on (=continue after stopping) After
refuelling in Singapore the plane will go on to Australia.
call at/stop at/'k3:l zet, stop et [I sto:p-/ifa train, bus,
or ship calls at or stops at certain places, it goes to and
stops at those places on its way to another place Iv T]
The ship will call at Port Said and Djibouti before sailing
on to Bombay. [ Do the buses stop at West Park College?
run Ir^nl ifa train or a bus runs it goes to the same place
regularly Iv I]
run from/to ete There's a train that runs from Singapore
all the way up to Bangkok. [ run In Florence that day there
was a strike and none of the buses were running.
 to go somewhere in a particular kind of
vehicle
go by
take
go by I'gao bal go by car/bus/rail/air etc (=go some-
where in a car, bus, train etc) Iv T]
"'Are they driving there? .... No, they're going by train". [ Now
that public transport is getting so expensive, many people are
choosing to go by car.
take/teilq take a taxi/bus/train etc (=go somewhere in
a taxi, bus, train etc and pay for your journey) Iv T]
It was too far to walk, so we decided to take a cab.
GO TO/ATTEND
to go to a particular event such as a party, a
game, or a concert
to regularly go to a school, class, church etc
to deliberately not go to school, work etc so
that you can do something else instead
1 to go to a particular event such as a party, a
game, or a concert
go
attend
come
come along
turn up
show up
put in an appearance
make an appearance
gatecrash

GO TO/ATTEND 559 good
go Igool Iv I]
go to Did you go to the baseball game last weekend? ] Every-
one in town wanted to go to the concert but it was impossi-
ble to get tickets. I go There was a really great party at Peter's
house last night but I couldn't go.
attend/o Itend/a formal word meaning to go to a particu-
lar event Iv I/T]
attend sth She suddenly had to cancel all her plans in order
to attend her mother's funeral. I Do I have to attend the meet-
ing? I attend It's an important decision being voted on and
all college staff are expected to attend.
come/kAm/a word used especially in invitations, mean-
ing to go to a party, concert, or other event with the person
who is inviting you, or at that person's house Iv I]
We're having a party on Saturday. Would you like to come? l
I do hope you can come! I come to Who else is coming to the
game?
come along/,kAm o'lm3 II -o'la:o/ an informal expres-
sion used especially in British English: if someone comes
along to a particular event, they come to it, especially
because you have invited them [phr v I]
We're having a little party at my house tonight. Do you feel
like coming along? I Yesterday Bob, Sue and I went for a
picnic. Liz came along later on. I A number of professional
journalists have been asked to come along to give their advice
to the students.
turn up / I t3: rn '^p/an informal expression meaning to go
to a particular event, used especially when you are saying
how many people go to it [phr v I]
The organizers had expected about 500people to come, but
over 1000 turned up in the end. I turn up for Union mem-
bers often fail to turn up for meetings.
show up /Sou ^p/to go to a particular event that you are
expected to go to [phr v I]
It's my sister's birthday party. She'll be very disappointed
if l don "t show up. I show up for I knew Vandervolle wanted
the diamond, so I was expecting him to show up for the
auction.
put in an appearance /pot ]n an oporons/to go to an
event such as a party, but only for a short time, especially
when you are expected to go to it but do not really want to
go Iv phrase]
I hate these official cocktailparties, but I suppose I'd better
put in an appearance for half an hour.
make an appearance / meik an opiorons/ira famous
person makes an appearance at a particular event, they
go to it, usually for a short period of time [v phrase]
Michael Jackson made a brief appearance and then rushed
off to another engagement. I The vice-president is scheduled
to make an appearance at the exhibition at 3 o'clock.
gatecrash/getkreJ/to go to a party or event that you
have not been invited to Iv T]
We had a few drinks, then gatecrashed Simon's party. I
Police were called to remove several photographers who had
gatecrashed the reception.
' to regularly go to a school, class, church etc
go to
attend
be at
go to/'goo tu:/[v T]
We used to go to church every Sunday. I The school that I
went to was an hour away from my home. I He's been going
to these Spanish classes for months and he still can't ask for
simple directions.
attend/o'tend/a formal word meaning to regularly go to
something such as a school or class [v I/T]
attend sth He had been sent to England at the age of eight,
to attend a school in London. I Those mothers who had
attended the prenatal classes found childbirth much easier.I
attend The hospital has a special clinic and patients are
encouraged to attend if they have any problems after their
operations.
be at /'bi: et/to regularly go to a particular place such
as a school, office, or factory because that is where you
study or work Iv T]
I'm at Belton School. What about you? I I met my husband
when we were at college. I My grandfather was at the BBC
for 25 years before he retired in 1976.
3 to deliberately not go to school, work etc so
that you can do something else instead
skive/skive off cut
play truant/play hooky goof off
skivelskive off/skaIv, Iskaiv 'f II -'a:f/an informal
British word meaning to deliberately not go to school, work
etc, because you are feeling lazy Iv I]
He says that he was so ill he had to be sent home from school.
I bet he's skiving. I Haveyou been skiving off again? You'll
get caught one of these days.
play truant (British) I play hooky (American)/,pie]
'tru:ont, ,ple 'hoki/if a child plays truant or plays hooky
from school, they deliberately stay away from school
without their parent's permission Iv phrase]
Billy was caught playing truant and has been given extra
homework for a month. I What are you boys doing out here
at this time of day? Playing hooky, I suppose?
cut/kAt/an informal word used especially in American
English: if a student cuts classes, school etc, they deliber-
ately do not go to the classes that they should go to Iv T]
When I was a student at university, I often used to cut lectures
and go fishing.
goof off I,gu:f 'f II -'a:f/an informal American expres-
sion meaning to deliberately stay away from school or
work and waste your time somewhere [phr v I]
The first time I find anyone goofing off or not doing their
share of the work, I'll fire them on the spot. I If the kids get
bored in this school, they just goof off some place.
goal PURPOSE 1
goal: reach/achieve your goal SUCCEED IN DOING
:, STH 2
gobble EAT 4
gobsmacked SURPRISED 3
god-awful BAD 3
going: be going AVAILABLE 2, ON/SWITCHED ON 1
going: get going START DOING STH 6
going: get sb going ANNOY 1
going: get sth started/going SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
going: set sth going SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
going back: there is no going back CHANGE/MAKE
STH DIFFERENT 10
going begging: be going begging AVAILABLE 2
going by: judging by/judging from/going by SEEM 5
going for you: have everything going for you
ADVANTAGE 3
going on: be going on HAPPEN 6
,., going on: what's going on SITUATION 4
going on: what's happening?/what's going on?
HAPPEN 7
going strong: be going strong LIVING/ALIVE 1
going to do sth: be going to do sth INTEND 1, WILL
1,2
 goings-on HAPPEN 11
golden opportunity CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 2
goldmine PROFIT 5
gone: be all gone FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 2
gone: has gone/is gone BFtOKEN 3
good BRIGHT 1, CHEAP 6, DELICIOUS 1, GOOD AT
1, GOOD/EXCELLENT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
GOOD/MORAL 1, 4, 7, POLITE 5, SUITABLE 1,
USE STH 8
good: as good as ALMOST 2
good: be as good as EQUAL 4, GOOD AT 10
good: be as good as new CONDITION/STATE OF STH 3
good: be good BEHAVE 2
:; good: be good at GOOD AT 1
; good: be good for CONVENIENT 1, USEFUL 1

good 560 GOOD AT
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good:
good
good
good
good
be good to KIND 1
be no good BAD AT 1, USELESS 1
be up to no good BEHAVE 3, DISHONEST 4
do no good FAIL 3
do you good HEALTHY 6
for good ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
give as good as you get REACT 2
it's no good/no use POINTLESS 2
make good RICH 7, SUCCESSFUL 1
no good BAD PERSON 1
not as good WORSE 1
not as good as GOOD AT 11, WORSE 2
not be much good BAD AT 1
not be very good BAD AT 1
not much good/no good/not any good BAD 1
not very good BAD 5
that's very kind of you/good of you THANK 2
think you're too good for PROUD 9
and ready READY 1
books: be in sb's good books/good graces
SATISFIED 1
buy: be a good buy CHEAP 6
deal: a great deal of/a good deal of LOT/A
LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
good enough GOOD ENOUGH 1
good-for-nothing LAZY 1
good for you: be good for you/be good for your health
HEALTHY 6, 7
good friend: good/close friend FRIEND 2
good-humoured/good-humored NICE 2
good idea IDEA 2
good idea: it's a good idea SHOULD/OUGHT TO 2
good-looking BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 2
good-looking: not good-looking UGLY 1
good luck: a run of good luck LUCKY 4
good luck/best of luck LUCKY 5
good manners: have good manners POLITE 1
good mominglafternoonlevening HELLO 1
good-natured NICE 2
good of: be good of KIND 2
good point GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 1
good points CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3
good shot: be a good/bad shot SHOOT 10
good-sized BIG 1
good terms: be on good terms RELATIONSHIP 2
good
good
good
good
good
thing: a good thing/job LUCKY 3
thing: the good thing about GOOD POINT OR
CHARACTERISTIC 1
thing: too much of a good thing TOO/TO0
MUCH 2
time: all in good time WAIT 2
time: have a goodlwonderfullmarvellouslterrific
etc time ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 2
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
lgood I
PRAISE
• ' @ CONDITION/
STATE OF STH
' @ SUITABLE
..... ,:.
....   SUIT/
LOOK GOOD
TOGETHER
RIGHT/PROPER
GOOD AT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
able to do something well
much better at doing something than most
people are
good at something even without being trained
to do it, because you have a natural ability
good at doing things with your hands
words for describing a job or piece of work
that requires special skill, especially one
where you use your hands
likely to become very good at something
good at doing a lot of different things
the ability to do something well, as a result of
training, experience, or natural ability
a type of work, sport, or other activity that you
are especially good at

GOOD AT 561 GOOD AT
10 to be as good as someone else at doing
something
11 be not as good as someone else at doing
something
Graham Greene was an accomplished writer whose novels
have been published in several languages. I highly accom-
plished Johann Sebastian Bach had three sons who all
became highly accomplished musicians and composers.
accomplishment In C[ Dancing is one of her many accom-
plishments. (=things that she is good at)
1 able to do something well
be good at competent
good know what you're doing
proficient adept
able accomplished
capable
he good at/bi: 'god rot/[v phrase]
be good at sth When she was at school she was very good
at art. I If you speak French every day, you should soon get
quite good at it. I I admire her - she's very good at her job. I
be good at doing sth Bob is particularly good at dealing
with people, and should make an excellent manager.
good [god! good singer/player/teacher etc (=good at
singing, playing, teaching etc) [adj]
Mr Oakley could teach you to drive - I've heard he's a very
good instructor. I Frank had always been a good football
player, and it was no surprise when he was chosen for the
school team. I We're going to see our local youth orchestra
tonight. Apparently they're very good.
proficient/pmfiant/having reached an acceptable stan-
dard in something, by learning or practising it [adj]
proficient in Before you can study at a British university,
you have to be proficient in English. [ proficient If you are
not a proficient typist, do not type your own work.
proficiency In UI I started playing the violin at quite an
early age, gaining more proficiency as time went on.
abie/ elbal/good at doing something, especially at doing
a difficult or important job that involves a lot of responsi-
bility [adj usually before noun]
Mrs Thomas is a very able teacher. [ Weinberger was widely
regarded as one of the most able members of President Rea-
gan's staff.
capab|e /kelpbal/ someone who is capable can be
trusted to do a job or piece of work well and without need-
ing other people's help or advice [adj]
You're dog will be quite safe with Mr Metha - he's a very
capable vet. 1 I liked the first candidate - she seemed very
capable. I I'm always happy to leave the kids with Martha.
She's such a capable girl.
competent/kDmptnt [[ Ika:m-/someone who is com-
petent has enough skill and knowledge to be able to do
something to a high or satisfactory standard [adj]
Competent skiers should find no difficulty with the course. [
He was a competent reader by the age of seven. [ highly com-
petent Tonita is a highly competent translator.
know what you're doing/,n wDt j::r 'du:II]/you say
that someone knows what they're doing when you
admire and trust them because they are good at something
Iv phrase]
My accountant saved me over Ј1000 in tax last year; he cer-
tainly knows what he's doing/I You seem to know what
you're doing - I'll leave you to it.
adept/'mdept, odept II odept/good at doing something
that needs care and skill, for example dealing with people
or with difficult social situations [adj]
adept at Of all our staff, Peter is the most adept at dealing
with difficult customers. I After years of service in the Cairo
embassy, M Lapierre has become extremely adept at Middle
Eastern diplomacy.
accomplished I'kmphj't [[ ka:m-, km-/ accom-
plished writer/actor/musician/linguist etc (=someone
who is very good at writing, acting, or other artistic skills,
especially as a result of a lot of practice and training) [adj]
2 much better at doing something than most
people are
skilful/skillful brilliant
skilled excellent
expert outstanding
great
skiifui (British) I skiiiful (American)/'skilfal/good at
doing something because you have had a lot of experience
or training and you use this in a careful and intelligent way
[adj]
Gascoigne is an extremely skilful player. [ Although he
lacked Tyson's knock-out punch, he was the more skillful
boxer.[ skilful management/driving/diplomacy ere
(=done by someone who is skilful) Success in business is the
result of skilful management. [ She was congratulated on her
skilful handling of the trade negotiations. [ skilful at/in
Racing drivers have to be skilful at avoiding collisions with
other cars.
skilfully/skillfully [adv] Pele won the ball and skilfully
headed it into the back of the net.
skiiied/skild/someone who is skilled at a particular job
is good at it because they have had a lot of experience and
training [adj]
Adjina was a skilled architect. [ skilled at/in Our aim is
to develop a team of counsellors who are skilled at dealing
with people's personal problems. [ highly skilled (=very
skilled) The engineering firm has fired thirty staff, some of
them highly skilled. [ Shamir has the reputation of being an
extremely skilled negotiator.
expert / leksp3:rt/extremely skilful at doing something
because you have gained a lot of knowledge or experience
of this particular subject or activity over a long period of
time [adj]
Despite her bad eyesight, she was an expert dressmaker. I
expert at/in Politicians are usually expert at turning a
crisis to their advantage. I expert help/advice/opinion
ere (=given by someone who knows a lot about it) Tennis
coaches will be available to provide expert advice.
expertly [adv] The campaign was well-publicised and
expertly co-ordinated.
great/gret/great actor/player/scientist etc (=one of
the best in the world and famous and respected because of
this) [adj only before noun]
Olivier was a great actor. [ Some of the world's greatest ath-
letes will be competing in the Olympic Games. [ McEnroe was
possibly the greatest tennis player of all time.
briillant / briljnt/extremely clever and skilful at some-
thing, so that people admire you for your skill [adj]
Mr Lanigan had the reputation of being a brilliant young
lawyer. [Paganini was a brilliant violinist, famous for his
technical skill in both playing and composing music. I bril-
liant at She's brilliant at her job.
brilliance In U[ Hendrix's brilliance as a rock guitarist
remains unsurpassed, even to this day.
excellent/eksabnt/extremely good at something [adj]
Andrew is an excellent runner; he's in the school cross-
country team. [ She's enthusiastic and hardworking and has
all the potential of being an excellent teacher.
outstanding/aut  stmnd/so good at doing something
that you are noticeably much better than other people who
do the same thing [adj]
Christie is one of the most outstanding British athletes of his
generation. I As a musician he was moderately successful,
but never outstanding. [ I've taught some good mathemati-
cians over the years, but Sara is quite outstanding.

GOOD AT 562 GOOD AT
3 good at something even without being trained
to do it, because you have a natural ability
talented have an aptitude for
gifted have a gift for
be a natural born
talented I'tmlantoId/[adj]
Steven plays the trombone and Katie and Louise the violin.
They're a very talented family. [ Choosing the lead was
extremely difficult as all the actors were extremely talented. I
multi-talented (=good at a lot of things) May Ipresent our
multi-talented musical maestro, Mr Jonnie Starr.
gifted Igiftd! very good at doing something, especially
art, music, or sport, because you were born with the abil-
ity or skill [adj]
Picasso was one of the most gifted artists who ever lived. [
"'She plays the piano beautifully." "'Yes, she certainly is very
gifted. "[ gifted children (=good at school work, music etc
because they were born with special abilities) Researchers
followed the development of a group of gifted children over
five years.
be a natural/bi: a 'nmtaral/to be good at doing some-
thing and find it easy as soon as you start doing it [vphrase]
Look at the way he swings that golf club. He's a natural. [
be a natural with John should settle into teaching quite
quickly. He's a natural with small children.
have an aptitude for/,hmv an mptaItju:d f:r [[ -tu:d-/
to have a natural ability to learn a particular subject or
skill very easily and quickly Iv phrase not in progressive]
Soon after starting senior school she discovered that she had
an aptitude for science.
have a gift for/,hmv  'gift f:r/have a gift for lan-
guages/painting/music/dancing ete (=have a special
natural ability to do something very well, especially some-
thing artistic) Iv phrase not in progressive]
You should study painting at college - you have a gift for
it. [ Mozart showed a gift for music even when he was very
young.
born/b:rn/born leader/teacher/writer ete (=someone
who clearly has a natural ability to lead, teach etc well, so
that it seems as if they do not need to be taught how to do
it) [adj only before noun]
When Iread his first essays I knew that he was a born writer. [
She has all the right qualities - she's a born leader.
skilfui (also skillful in American English)/'skllfal I good
at doing things with your hands, especially because you
have had a lot of practice or training [adj]
I love watching herpaint - she's so skilful. [ skilful at A
fisherman needs to be skilful at choosing the right moment
to put the line into the water.
skilfully/skillfully [adv] The sleeve had been sewn back
on so skilfully that you couldn't tell it had been torn.
be a dab hand/bi: a dab 'hand/an informal British
expression meaning to be very good at doing something
difficult or complicated with your hands, because you have
done it many times before Iv phrase]
be a dab hand at She's a dab hand at putting up wall-
paper. [ be a dab hand with Let me do that. I'm a dab hand
with a screwdriver.
5 words for describing a job or piece of work
that requires special skill, especially one
where you use your hands
skilled
skilled/skIld/[adj only before nounl
There's not much skilled work available at the moment. [
highly skilled Replacing the gearbox is a highly skilled job
- I don't think I'd be able to do it.
6 likely to become very good at something
promising/shows promise
potential
promising/shows promise I'pmmIsi]], ,auz 'pro-
ms [[ 'pra:-/ someone who is promising or shows
promise, especially someone who is young, is good at
something and seems likely to become very good and suc-
cessful at it [adj/v phrasel
show promise The new England team members show a lot
of promise. [ a promising actor/musician/player etc Her
brother was a promising young musician whose career was
brought to a tragic end in a car accident.
potential Ipa'tenlall natural ability that could be deve-
loped so that you become extremely good at something In
U]
Stephen is a player with real potential. [ have/show poten-
tial He's young but he shows a lot of potential. ] She may not
be a great violinist yet but she has potential.
good at doing things with your hands
be good with your hands deftly
skilled skilful
be handy with be a dab hand
be good with your hands Ibi: ,god wI6 ja:r 'hmndzl
to be good at making or repairing things with your hands
[ v phrasel
Jeremy built these cupboards himself. He's very good with
his hands.
skilled/skfld/skilled craftsman/worker (=one who has
had a lot of training and experience at doing a job in which
they use their hands) [adj]
All the goods we sell are made by skilled craftsmen. [ skilled
in/at The peoples of the Near East were skilled in making
beautiful carpets.
be handy with/bi: 'hmndi w6/an informal expression
meaning to be good at using a particular tool or piece of
equipment Iv phrase]
He hasn't been a decorator for years but he's still pretty
handy with a paint brush. [ If she's as handy with a tennis
racket as she is with a golf club you don't stand a chance of
winning.
deftly /deftli/ if you do something deftly, you do it
quickly and skilfully with your hands [adv]
Look how deftly she sews. [ The device was deftly defused by
a bomb disposal expert.
deft [ adj] His deft fingers moved up and down the keyboard.
deftness In U] With deftness and speed, Tom assembled the
shelf unit.
7 good at doing a lot of different things
versatile
all-rounder
versatile/'v3:rsatafl II -satl/good at doing a lot of differ-
ent things and able to learn new skills quickly and easily
[adjl
Shirley is a very versatile cook," she can do Chinese, Indian,
or Italian food, in fact anything you want. [ Meryl Streep is
a wonderfully versatile actress.
versatility I va:rsa tIl til [n U] What impressed us most was
his versatility.
all-rounder ! ,a:l  raondar/a word used especially in Brit-
ish English, meaning someone who is good at doing a lot
of different things In C usually singular]
He's good at cricket, rugby, and running - he's a bit of an
all-rounder. I We're looking for a good all-rounder - some-
one who can run the office, deal with customers" complaints,
and so on.
 the ability to do something well, as a result of
training, experience, or natal ability
skill flair
ability dexterity
talent
skill /skill the ability to do something well especially
because you have learned and practised it In C/U]

GOOD AT 563 GOOD ENOUGH
Being a teacher requires many different skills. I The course
will give you the skills you need to become a successful
manager. I The pilot showed great skill and courage and suc-
ceeded in landing the plane. I The Australian team played
with a lot of skill and determination. I skill at His skill at
finding the weak point in other people's arguments made him
a formidable opponent in debates.
ability/a'bilti/the ability to do something well, either
because you have learned how to do it or because you are
naturally good at it In U]
Maria will be a fine musician; she shows a lot of ability. I
ability at My teacher told me I had a natural ability at
tennis. I ability to do sth No one doubts his ability to get
work done quickly. I spelling/reading/writing etc abil-
ity (=the level of ability in spelling, reading etc) The chil-
dren are divided into groups according to their reading
ability.
talent /  telant/a natural ability to do something very well
In C/U]
He showed a lot of talent when I saw him play in the national
championships. I John Lennon's talent as a songwriter was
matched by McCartney's talent as a composer. I talent for
She has a remarkable talent for playing the piano. I hidden
talents (=ones that people don't know about) I never knew
you were so good at making speeches. Do you have any other
hidden talents?
flair/floor/a special ability to do something very well and
in a way that shows a lot of imagination In singular U]
Being a good salesman requires skill, flair, and a good
knowledge of your product. I The Russian skaters gave a very
good performance but they lacked the artistic flair of Tor-
ville and Dean. I have a flair for If you have affair for lan-
guages, there are some good career opportunities in the EC.
dexterity /deksterti/ the ability use your hands or
fingers very quickly and well [n U]
Playing a keyboard or string instrument requires great dex-
terity. [ Agassi showed skill and dexterity in returning his
opponent's shots.
9 a type of work, sport, or other activity that you
are especially good at
strength
be sb's forte
not be sb's strong point
strength/strerjO, strenO/something that you are particu-
larly good at in your job, in a sport, or in your life in general
[nCl
Before choosing a career you should spend time identifying
your personal strengths and weaknesses. I In baseball my
strength has always been pitching.
be sb's forte/bi: (sb's) fa:te II -fa:rt/to be the activity
that you are best at [v phrase]
"'This pudding's delicious/ .... Making desserts is certainly
her forte. "'1 I'm afraid that getting on with people is not
really her forte. No one's seen her smile since she started work
here.
not be sb's strong point/not hi: (sb's) 'strorj point II
-'stro:rJ-/to not be one of the things that you do well [v
phrase]
Tact was never my strong point and I was always upsetting
people. I If cooking isn't one of your strong points why not
suggest going to a restaurant instead of having a dinner
party?
10 to be as good as someone else at doing
something
be as good as
can hold your own
rival
be as good as/bi: z 'god z/[v phrase]
He's only sixteen, but he's as good as any of the older boys
in the team. I Your French is definitely improving, you'll soon
be as good as your sister. I be as good an actor/player/
singer ete as He's as good an actor as you.
can hold your own / ihaold ja:r 'non/to be good enough
at something to be able to do it with people who are older,
more experienced etc than you [v phrase]
She's very intelligent, she'll be able to hold her own, even in
the advanced class. I can hold your own with He can hold
his own with the best players in the league.
rival /  ralvdl/to be as good at something as another person
who is famous for being very good at it [v T]
In his time he was an excellent runner, rivalling Carl Lewis
as the top American sprinter. I There's no one else who could
rival her in terms of sheer talent.
1 1 be not as good as someone else at doing
something
be not as good as
be no match for
be not as good as/hi: ,not z 'god azl [vphrase]
Danni's a good singer, but she's not as good as her sister
Kylie. I be nowhere near as good as (=be much less good
at something than someone else) I don't know why they
chose Nick for the team - he's nowhere near as good as me.
be no match for/bi: nao mmtJ" fa:r/to be much less good
at something, especially a sport or game, than someone
else, and therefore be likely to be easily defeated by them
[ v phrase]
The Canadian basketball team were no match for the Ameri-
cans, who won by 30 points. I Unfortunately I'm no match
for you when it comes to playing cards.
GOOD ENOUGH
1 good enough
2 to reach a good enough standard
3 to officially state that something is good
enough after examining it
4 not good enough
1 good enough
good enough passable
satisfactory respectable
adequate competent
be all right/OK/okay decent
acceptable will do
reasonable
good enough/'god [,nAf/ [adj phrase]
If the weather's good enough tomorrow, we could go fishing. I
good enough for It's just an ordinary table wine but it's
good enough for a picnic. I I'm bored, and I think that's a
good enough reason for leaving my job. I good enough to
do sth Their car industry is good enough to compete with
European manufacturers.
well enough [adv phrase] She sings well enough to be in
the choir.
satisfactory /,seeQs' fmktari/good enough so that every-
one is happy about something ]adj]
We must find a satisfactory solution to the problem of over-
crowding in the school. ] You won't get paid unless you do
a satisfactory job. I The hospital said that most of the sur-
vivors were in a satisfactory condition. I The union and the
employers have reached a satisfactory agreement on pay.
satisfactorily [ adv ] Lord Lucan's disappearance has never
been satisfactorily explained.
adequate/'md:kwt/good enough for a particular pur-
pose, especially by being of a high enough level, amount,
or quality [adj]
Employers must provide adequate training opportunities. I
If you're going to teach economics, you need to have an
adequate understanding of statistics too. I Now that we have
extended the hall, these small electric heaters are no longer
adequate. I adequate for Make sure that the lighting is
adequate for your guests to see what they are eating.

GOOD ENOUGH
adequately [adv ] Some students cannot express themselves
adequately on paper.
adequacy [n U] There are doubts about the adequacy of the
medical care that was provided.
be all right/OK/bi: a:l rat, aoke/informal expres-
sions meaning to be satisfactory although not especially
good ]v phrase]
One of the children made this cake. I hope it's all right. I "'Did
you enjoy the film? .... Oh, it was all right, nothing special.
be all right/OK for This dictionary is OK for beginners but
for more advanced students I'd recommend something else.
all right/OK [adv] Is the car going OK? l Don't worry, I'm
managing all right.
acceptable/ak'septbal/good enough to be able to be
used for a particular purpose [adj]
We had a lot of applicants for the job but only a few of them
were acceptable. I This synthetic material is a cheap and
acceptable substitute for rubber. I low-fat cheeses with quite
an acceptable flavour I acceptable to The dispute was set-
tled in a way that was acceptable to both sides.
acceptably [adv] reprographic material of an acceptably
high standard
reasonable/'ri:zanzb)l/fairly good but not especially
good [adj ]
Most of her work is of a reasonable standard. I A reasonable
number of people turned up for the meeting. I We had an
enjoyable weekend and the weather was quite reasonable.
reasonably [ adv ] It does make life easier when the children
are reasonably well-behaved. I We want to be reasonably
sure that everything's safe.
passable /po:sbl II 'pe-/something, such as a product
or a performance, that is passable is satisfactory but not
very good |adj]
There was some bread, a little cheese and a passable French
wine. I He gave a passable imitation of Charlie Chaplin.
She met a teacher who spoke passable English in a town on
the Rumanian-Hungarian border.
respectable /rspektbl/ respectable total/wage/
score/speed ete (=large enough or good enough to be satis-
factory) [adj]
We raised our score to 142, quite a respectable total. I As a
skilled electrician, Bridgeman earned a very respectable
wage. [ An electric vehicle can attain a respectable speed on
surprisingly little power.
respectably [adv] This candidate did respectably (=well
enough) rather than brilliantly.
competent/'komptant II 'ko:m-/a piece of work or a
performance that is competent is done to a satisfactory
standard but does not have any especially good or skilful
features [adj ]
Most of the essays were competent but one was outstanding. I
The new congressman made reasonably competent speeches
and was listened to with some attention. I Ben took out his
pen and produced a quick but very competent sketch of the
building.
decent /'di:sntl a word used especially in spoken English
meaning of a good enough quality or standard [adj]
I want to provide my boys with a decent education. I There
isn't one decent restaurant around here. I It's impossible to
earn a decent living up here in Alaska.
decently [adv] decently cooked food
will do/wd 'du:/an informal expression meaning to be
good enough for a particular purpose Iv phrase]
If you don't have any butter, margarine will do. [ I want
someone to practise first aid on. You'll do, Simon. I will do
sb (=be good enough for someone) Don "t bother fetching me
another chair. This one'll do me fine.
2 to reach a good enough standard
make the grade live up to
measure up meet
come up to have what it takes
make the grade !,meek 6o 'greid/to succeed in reach-
ing the necessary standard, especially in a very difficult
job Iv phrase]
564
GOOD ENOUGH
She would like to become a lawyer but she's not sure whether
she'll make the grade. I Only the talented few make the grade
in professional golf.
measure tap ! me3ar ^p/an expression used especially
in questions and comparisons meaning to be good enough
to do a particular job or to reach a particular standard [phr
v I]
measure up to How will the General Secretary measure up
to his new task? I measure up We'll give you a week's trial
in the job so we can see how you measure up.
come up to /,kAm '^p tu:/ come up to a standard/
expectations (=be as good as was expected) Iv T not in
passive]
The new design doesn't come up to our usual standards. I The
computer system has certainly come up to expectations - it's
great!
live up to/,hv ^p tu:/live up to your expectations/
standard/reputation etc (=be as good as was hoped for
or expected) Iv T not in passive]
The trip lived up to all our expectations - it was wonderful. I
He has been under a lot of pressure to live up to his reputa-
tion as the world's best player.
meet/mi:t/to be good enough according to a standard that
has been officially established Iv T]
Does the water that comes out of our taps meet government
health standards? I The building does not meet the essential
safety requirements. I Only one system succeeded in meeting
the main performance specifications.
have what it takes /hev wot t teks/an informal
expression meaning to be good enough at something, espe-
cially something difficult, to be able to do it successfully
[v phrase not in progressive]
Do you have what it takes to run this business, or shall I give
someone else the chance? I If you have what it takes and can
stand the pace of advertising, you can earn a very good
salary.
3 to officially state that something is good
enough after examining it
pass
pass/pros II p  es/[v T]
Each car has to be passed by a team of inspectors before it
leaves the factory. I His blood pressure was rather high so
the doctor couldn't pass him as fit for the job.
4 not good enough
not be good enough
unsatisfactory
won't do
inadequate
not be up to scratch/not
come up to scratch
substandard
not live up to
not be good enough/not bi: 'god i InAf/ IV phrase]
I'm afraid I can't translate this letter. My Italian isn "t good
enough. I not be good enough for The soil here isn't good
enough for arable farming. I I paid $40 for that champagne,
but it wasn't good enough for your snobbish friends. I not
be good enough to do sth a good club player, but not good
enough to play for his country
not well enough [adv phrase] She didn't play well enough
to be selected for the team.
unsatisfactory /An,smts'feektari/ not good enough
because it causes problems or makes people unhappy [adj]
People should not accept unsatisfactory products, they should
complain. [ It was a most unsatisfactory meeting; not a single
decision was made. [ Sharing my office with the two secre-
taries proved an unsatisfactory arrangement.
won't do/ waont 'du:/an informal expression meaning
to not be good enough for a particular purpose Iv phrase]
I need strong nylon thread. Cotton won't do. [ I can "t accept
this quality of work. It just won't do. [ won't do for Hand-
written notes won't do for our purposes. You'll have to type
them.
inadequate/;n'eed]kwt/not good enough for a partic-
ular purpose or for someone's needs [adj]

GOOD ENOUGH 565 GOOD/EXCELLENT
The disease spread quickly because of poor living conditions
and inadequate health care. I hopelessly inadequate
(=extremely inadequate) The training that nurses get is
hopelessly inadequate. I inadequate for My light clothing
was hopelessly inadequate for the cold Japanese winter. I
inadequate to do sth Our fire fighting equipment is inade-
quate to deal with a major fire.
not be up to scratch/not come up to scratch
/,not bi: Ap ta skrmt, not kAm Ap-/ if someone's perfor-
mance, work, or products are not up to scratch, they are
not of the standard that is usually expected Iv phrase]
I wonder if Sykes is ill. His work hasn't been up to scratch
lately. [ Schools are being threatened with closure if exam
results are not up to scratch. I If they don't come up to scratch,
you can do them all again.
substandard / ,s^b'stmndard/substandard housing/
accommodation/materials/goods ere (=generally con-
sidered to be below the necessary standard) [adj]
More money should be spent on the improvement of substan-
dard housing. ] The company has been accused of using sub-
standard materials in the manufacture of automobile com-
ponents. ] Most household goods sold here are substandard,
but food is plentiful and cheap.
not live up to/,not hv 'Ap tU:/not live up to your expec-
tations/standards/hopes/ideals etc (=not be as good as
you hoped or expected) Iv T not in passive]
The film didn't live up to our expectations. It was too long
and the acting was sometimes appalling. I Mark found that
he simply could not live up to his parents" high standards. I
So far, she has not lived up to the tremendous talent she
displayed earlier.
GOOD/EXCELLENT
1 well made or of good quality
2 words for describing something such as an
event, experience, book, or holiday that you
really enjoy
3 words for describing something such as an
idea, plan, or suggestion that you think is
very clever, suitable, or likely to succeed
4 words for describing an achievement, piece
of work, or performance that is of a very high
standard
5 words for describing good weather
6 words for describing works of literature,
music, or art that are generally considered to
be of very high quality
7 the standard by which you measure how
good something is
8 a piece of art, literature etc that is extremely
good
9 not really good, but not bad
1 well made or of good quality
good first-class
excellent fine
good quality/high quality superior
quality deluxe
good Igodl [adj]
She loves good food and good wine. I Nikon make really good
cameras. ] A lot of our best furniture is made from tropical
hardwood. ! My bike is quite good, but yours is better.
excellent / t eksalonq extremely good quality or very well
made [ adj ]
Noise levels were low owing to the excellent insulation
throughout the building. ] This wine is quite dry and makes
an excellent accompaniment for summer food. I Throughout
our stay, the service was excellent.
excellence [n U] We were all very impressed by the excel-
lence of the design.
good quality/high quality /tgud tkwolti, thai-II
-'kwo:l-/well made, from good materials [adj phrase]
This method produces very high quality steel. ] It's worth
buying good quality cosmetics rather than cheap ones. ] We
use only the best quality ingredients for our pizzas. ] of
good/high quality Spanish rugs are usually of good qual-
ity. ] Their main aim is to produce plentiful crops of high
quality.
quality/kwolti ]1 kwo:-/a British word for describing
goods, products, materials etc that are of a high quality [adj
only before noun]
The Barbour jacket is a quality product which should last
you a lifetime. I Across the road was a store dealing in qual-
ity furniture.
first-class /t fa:rst tkla:s, II -tkles'/a product or a serv-
ice that is first-class is much better than most others [adj]
Jaguar has always made first-class cars. [ The food and
drink at the restaurant are always first-class.
fine/fain/ofa very high quality and often valuable, rare,
or very skilfully made [adj only before noun]
The collar is made of finest English lace. [ Mrs Fields has
a collection ofratherfineprints. [ The train passes near Gate
Manor, a fine Victorian mock Jacobean hall.
superior/su:paria r, sju:- [[ so-/a word used especially
in advertising meaning better made or of a better quality
than most similar products [adj only before noun]
Style, comfort and superior cuisine are the most important
characteristics of a good hotel.
deluxe Ida 'l^ks II -'loks/deluxe model/version/edition
etc (=one that is of high quality because it has more fea-
tures or uses better quality materials than other ones made
by the same company) [adj only before noun]
The deluxe model comes complete with an in-car CD player
and car-phone. I Longman has published a deluxe, leather-
bound edition of Johnson's Dictionary.
2
words for describing something such as an
event, experience, book, or holiday that you
really enjoy
good
excellent
perfect
great
superb
amazing/incredible
be out of this world
a dream come true
marvellousAwonderful/fantasticAterrific
good/god/[adj]
"'Did you enjoy your trip? .... Yes, it was really good. "'[ There
doesn't seem to be anything good on TV these days. [ I always
try to take a couple of good books on vacation with me. [ Did
you have a good day at your mother's?
excellent/teksalant/extremely good [adj]
Our local theatre has put on some excellent productions. [ an
excellent film
perfect / tpu:rfIkt/so good that it could not be made any
better ] adj]
It was a perfect day out. I This church is a perfect example
of Gothic architecture. I "'How was your holiday?" "'Oh, just
perfect!'"
great/gret/an informal word meaning very good [adj]
Thanks for a great afternoon. I "D/d you have a good holi-
day?'" "'It was great!"
marvellouslwonderfuIIfantasticIterrific /  ma: r
v-alas, t wAndarfal, fn ttastk, triflk/extremely good, espe-
cially in a way that makes you feel happy or excited [adj]
This blueberry pie is wonderful. [ The kids had a marvel-
lous time playing on the beach. [ His latest song's terrific![
We had a fantastic time at the party on Saturday. [ abso-
lutely marvellous/fantastic The food at the hotel was
absolutely marvellous - all homebaked.
superb/sju:tpa:rb, su:- [[ so-/extremely good, especially
because it is of the highest quality or very skilfully done
[adj]

GOOD/EXCELLENT
This film is worth seeing for the costumes alone: they're
superb. I The room affords a superb view across the bay.
superbly [adv ] Japanese food is always superbly presented.
amazing/Incredible la'meizirj, in:kredbal/extremely
good, especially in a surprising and unexpected way [adj]
TheTireworks were an amazing sight. I Being there with my
wife when the baby was born was an incredible experience. I
The book's amazing - you must read it!
be out of this world/bi: aot av i$ wa:rld/if you say
that something is out of this world, you mean that it is
so good, enjoyable, etc, it is unlike anything you have ever
experienced Iv phrase]
Her new apartment's out of this world. I This is the best souf-
fie I've ever tasted - it's out of this world.
a dream come true/a dri:m khm tru:/ an event or
piece of news that is a dream come true is something that
you have wanted to happen for a long time but you never
really thought that it would happen In phrase]
Finally meeting my real mother after all these years was a
dream come true. I "'How do you feel about winning the lot-
tery?'" "'It's a dream come true, "" she replied, "'I'm stunned. ""
3
words for describing something such as an
idea, plan, or suggestion that you think is
very clever, suitable, or likely to succeed
good marvellousAwonderfulAfantasticA
neat terrific
excellent brilliant
great attractive
good/god/[adj]
"Why don't you write to your bank and ask for a loan?"
"That's a good idea. "'1 1 thought it would be a good idea to
arrive early. I That's the best suggestion you've made all
day. I The best way of getting your children to learn foreign
languages is to send them to stay abroad.
neat/ni:t/an informal American word meaning good [adj]
Jim and I need more time together away from the kids, so
we came up with this neat idea of meeting after work. I "Why
don't we go to the beach! .... Yeah that sounds really neat. ""
excellent /'eksdlnt/extremely good [adj]
I had some excellent advice from one of my teachers. I Mr
Peters has thought up an excellent plan for raising the
money. I That's an excellent idea!
great/gre;t/an informal word meaning very good used
especially to show that you approve of someone's ideas,
plans etc very much [adj]
It sounds like a great idea - let's try it! I You want to go to
the beach instead! Yeah, great, why not.
marveilouslwonderfullfantastlclterrific / 'mo:r-
vls, w^ndarfdl, fen'testk, to rfik/extremely good, in a
way that makes you feel happy or excited [adj]
Fve just though of a fantastic idea. I "'What do you think of
Kate's suggestion?" "'I think it's terrific. ""
brilliant /'brfljnt/ an informal British word meaning
extremely good and clever [adj]
"'Maybe we should invite them over here instead of going to
their place. "' "'Brilliant!" l Joanna came up with a brilliant
idea for a new book.
attractive /trektiv/ attractive offer/proposition/
package etc (=one that is very good and makes you want
to accept it) [adj]
The job pays well, you get a company car and 30 days holi-
day per year - it's certainly an attractive offer. I We've put
together what we think is a very attractive package, includ-
ing discounts, special offers, and free credit.
566
GOOD/EXCELLENT
good/god/[adj]
Harry's work is always very good. I Rosemary does a good
job here.
excellent / ekslnt/extremely good [adj]
They complimented her on her excellent English. t Many
studies reported excellent results with the drug.
outstanding/aot' stendr/extremely good and therefore
noticed and admired by many people [adj]
The conquest of Everest was an outstanding achievement.I
Some of the carving on these statues is outstanding.
brilliant /'briljant/ extremely good, and showing an
unusually high level of skill or intelligence [adj]
Michael Horden's performance as King Lear was brilliant. I
After a brilliant career at St Luke's Hospital she was given
her own department. I The decision to reorganize the com-
pany was a brilliant success.
impressive/;m'preslv/good and admired by people [adj]
The Chicago Bears gave an impressive performance for the
first fifteen minutes of the game. I John and his colleagues
have undoubtedly produced the most impressive results to
date.
exceptional IIk'seEfanall work that is exceptional is
better than other work of the same type [adj]
He writes good essays, but I wouldn't say that his work is
particularly exceptional.
exceptionally [ adv ] Only exceptionally bright students are
entered for the examination.
admirable/eedmgmbl/something that is admirable has
good qualities that make you like and admire it [adj]
It is an admirable book, the first to tell the whole truth about
the war. I I was always amazed by the admirable simplicity
of her work. I He has been justly rewarded for achievements
that are both admirable and unforgettable.
5 words for describing good weather
good marvellous/wonderful/fantastic/terrific
nice glorious
lovely fine
good Igod/[adj ]
Did you have good weather in France? I The weather report
says the weather should be good over the weekend.
nice/nals/nice day/evening/morning/weather (=one
that is sunny and not too cold) [adj]
"'Good morning, Mr Davis. Nice day. "" l We'll go to the beach
tomorrow, if the weather's nice.
lovely / l^vli/lovely day/evening/morning/weather
(=a word used especially in British English meaning sunny
and warm) [adjl
They were sitting outside because it was such a lovely day. I
Lovely weather for March, isn't it?
marveliouslwonderfullfantasticlterrlfic/, mo: r_
valas, wnndarfM, fmnteestik, to'rlfik/marvellous/won-
derful/fantastic/terrific weather (=weather that is
sunny and hot and which you enjoy very much) [adj]
The weather was marvellous, but the food was awful. I What
a fantastic day! Let's go to the coast.
glorious I gla:rias! glorious day/morning/summer/
weather (=a word used especially in British English mean-
ing one that is extremely sunny and hot) [adj]
It was a glorious summer's morning. I It seems a pity to be
indoors on such a glorious day.
fine/faro/not cloudy or raining, so that the air and sky
are clear [adj]
It was a fine night, so we decided to walk home across the
fields. I a fine morning in April
4 words for describing an achievement, piece
of work, or performance that is of a very high
standard
good impressive
excellent exceptional
outstanding admirable
brilliant
6 words for describing works of literature,
music, or art that are generally considered to
be of very high quality
good
great
classic

GOOD/EXCELLENT 567 GOOD/MORAL
good/god/[adj]
Good music seems to be a thing of the past. I Students need
to read a lot of good fiction in order to form their own opin-
ions about quality.
great/greit/extremely good and skilful, and therefore
admired and remembered by many people for a long time
[adj]
Many of our great works of art are being sold and exported. I
There's some debate as to what constitutes great poetry. I The
Rennaissance period produced some of the greatest architec-
ture of all time.
classic/tklmslk/classic film/book/story/album etc
(=one of the best of its kind) [adj only before noun]
2001 is a classic science fiction movie. I The Rolling Stones
produced a string of classic singles in the mid 60s including
"Satisfaction'and 'Time is on my side'.
classic In C ] Wim Wonders" movies like "Paris, Texas" have
become modern classics.
7 the standard by which you measure how
good something is
quality
standard
quality/'kwolti II 'kwa:-/the measure of how well some-
thing is made or produced, or how good a material is In U]
Supermarket wines tend to vary in price and quality. I We
always guarantee the best quality to our customers. I be of
good/reasonable/poor etc quality She always insists
that her writing paper is of good quality. I The recording is
of very poor quality.
standard 1 stndrdl the measure of how well someone
does something In C/U]
above/below a standard In reading tests, 15% of
schoolkids were found to be below the standard for their age. I
be of a good/high standard All his work is of a very high
standard. I be up to standard (=be of an acceptable level
or degree) I'm afraid your driving isn't yet up to standard. I
standard of work/workmanship etc The standard of
workmanship on this table is extraordinarily high. [ set the
standard (=be the first to reach a high level that other
people try to copy) dason set the standard for the rest of the
class.
8 a piece of art, literature etc that is extremely
good
work of art
masterpiece
work of art I, w3:rk ov 'a:rt/a painting, or other piece of
art which has been very skilfully made and is of an
extremely high standard In phrase]
The collection contains several important works of art. I
Several priceless works of art were stolen from the museum,
including one painting by Picasso.
masterpiece/'ma:storpi:s II mes-I a book, film, paint-
ing etc, which is one of the best of its kind In C]
Gaugin's "Women of Tahiti" is a masterpiece. I The "Mona
Lisa" is Leonardo's masterpiece. I The novel is one of the great
masterpieces of 2Oth Century Literature.
9 not really good, but not bad
be OK
fair
not be bad
be OK/bi: ,o'keq an informal expression meaning to not
be really good, but not be bad Iv phrase]
His new film's OK, but it's not as good as people say. I My
German isn't very good, just OK. I The weather was OK most
of the time, but it rained a lot on the last few days.
fair/feor/not really good, but as good as you can expect,
according to the person, situation etc [adj]
She gave a fairperformance - not her best, but she has been
ill for several months. I Your written work is fair, but you
need to concentrate on your conversational skills. I For an
American, he does a pretty fair imitation of a Londoner.
not be bad I not bi: beed/to not be really good, but be
better than you expected [v phrase]
I suppose the food isn't bad for the price you pay. [ not be
bad at all (=be much better than expected) Hey, they aren't
bad at all, considering this is their first record. I not be so
bad (=be better than you said or imagined) The party
wasn't so bad after all. In fact, we quite enjoyed ourselves.
-@. GOOD/MORAL
1 words for describing someone who is honest,
kind, and unselfish
2 someone who is extremely good
3 behaving in a way that most people think is
morally correct
4 words for describing an action that is honest,
kind, and unselfish
5 words for describing behaviour that is morally
correct
6 words for describing behaviour, humour etc
that is not sexually offensive or morally
harmful
7 what is good in people's character or in the
world
8 words for describing ideas, problems, laws
etc that are connected with what is morally
right or wrong
9 rules or standards of moral behaviour
10 someone's personal ideas of what is morally
right or wrong
1 1 words for describing someone who thinks
they are morally better than other people
1 words for describing someone who is honest,
kind, and unselfish
good decent
noble virtuous
the salt of the earth
good/god/[adj]
They were good people, and helped the girl and her baby. I
I try to lead a good life. I There are good and bad people
wherever you go.
noble I noball someone who is noble seems to be good
in a special way because they do what is right, or help other
people, without thinking of themselves [adj]
He had a noble, generous character. I a young man full of
noble ideals ] I'm not noble enough to give you up.
the salt of the earth/6 Is:lt v 6i '3:ro/if you say that
someone is the salt of the earth, you mean that they are
an example of the best type of person, who works hard, is
very kind, honest etc In phrase]
Old dim is the salt of the earth. He would do anything for
anyone. I Those aid workers are marvellous - the salt of the
earth.
decent / di:santl someone who is decent is basically good,
in an ordinary sort of way [adj]
Mel's a decent man, and he will help you as much as he can. I
a decent ordinary hard-working medical officer I She's the
only decent person in the family.
virtuous/va:rtuzs/a formal word meaning very good
and honest and always behaving according to the highest
moral standards [adj]
Father Tom was a hard-working, virtuous man, liked and
respected by everyone. I They wanted him to marry a virtu-
ous young woman from a respectable family. [ Rousseau
believed that man was born virtuous and became evil
through civilization.

GOOD/MORAL 568 GOOD/MORAL
someone who is extremely good
saint angel
saintly be an example to
saint/semtl someone who is unusually kind, generous,
helpful etc and is therefore considered to be very special
[nCl
Your mother's a saint. She's done so much to help us. I I
always thought she was a very selfish woman but she was
an absolute saint compared to Abigail. I He's a saint. He
spends all his spare time helping out at the local hospital.
saint|Ґ/' semtli! behaving in a very good way, especially
living your life in a very pure and holy way [adjl
He was a saintly man who always put others before himself. I
According to the book Pasteur and Einstein were men of
exemplary, even saintly, private lives.
ang®i Iendsl/someone, especially a child or woman,
who is gentle and very kind In C]
Patty was an angel, and nobody had anything to say against
her. I He has a very innnocent face but believe me, he's no
angel.
be an example to/bi: an gzo:mpal tu: II -zm-/if you
say that someone or someone's behaviour is an example
to the rest of a group of 15eople, you mean that person is so
good that other people can learn from them [v phrase]
"'You're a very brave young man. An example to all of us!"[
His discipline and organization should be an example to
teachers everywhere.
behaving in a way that most people think is
morally correct
decent
respectable
upright
decent /di:snq a decent person has the same ideas
about what is right and wrong as most people in society
do [adj only before noun]
Ask any decent person and they will tell you it's wrong to kill
animals for sport. I All decent people will have been shocked
by this appalling bomb attack.
respectable/r;  spektaball behaving and living your life
in a way that is considered morally correct by society, espe-
cially because of the family you come from [adj]
Tony was always in trouble with the police when he was
young, but he's now a respectable married man. I He came
from a less respectable background - the illegitimate son of
an actress. I The girls in the school come from very respect-
able families.
respectability/r ,spektabdolti/ [n U] Many of the worst
gangsters maintained an air of respectability (=appeared to
be respectable).
upright/'^praiq someone who is upright is honest, obeys
the law, and always behaves according to the moral stan-
dards of society [adj usually before noun]
Most upright, law-abiding citizens have very little contact
with the police. I Maggie's parents set her a good example,
being upright and hard-working people.
 words for describing an action that is honest,
kind, and unselfish
good
noble
good/god/[adj]
The nuns here do many good things for people in the local
community. I it is good of sb to do sth It was very good of
you to hand the money in to the police - many people would
have just kept it. I good deed (=a good action) Victor devoted
his life to helping others and didn't expect any reward for
his good deeds.
noble / ' nobl/if someone does something noble, they do
something that is very good and brave, without thinking
of their own needs or safety, and therefore they deserve
respect and praise [adj]
The brave soldiers will be remembered for their noble self-
sacrifice. I Pledging all the money that he had won to Cancer
Research was a noble gesture. I it is noble of sb to do sth
It was very noble of you to refuse to take the money.
nobly [adv] He nobly volunteered to take the message.
 words for describing behaviour that is morally
correct
right honourable/honorable
ethical be above/beyond reproach
decent
right/rat/morally correct [adj not usually before noun]
You can't do that. It's not right. [ I onlywant to do the right
thing. I It's not right to tell lies. I it's only right (=anything
else would not be right) It's only right that parents should
help their children.
right In U] She always tried to teach her children the differ-
ence between right and wrong.
rightly [adv] They've been punished for their crimes, and
quite rightly.
ethical/' eOIkal/morally correct, especially according to
a set of ideas about how people should behave, for exam-
ple, in a particular profession [adj]
Is it ethical to use this drug to control patients" behaviour? l
There is only one ethical way to carry out this experiment.
decent / 'di:s9nt/fair, polite, or kind [adj not usually before
noun]
Perhaps Jack wanted to do something decent, for a change. I
it is decent of sb to do sth It's very decent of you to be so
pleased for me - I know how much you wanted to win this
competition. I That was decent of him.
decently [adv] You could at least try to behave decently
(=behave in a way that is decent) towards the people you
have to work with.
honourable (British) I honorable (American) IDnr-
abel jJ a:-J morally correct, and showing that you have
high moral standards, especially if you are doing some-
thing that you feel is your duty [adj]
It would not be honourable for me, as a solicitor, to reveal
my client's business to anyone. J The most honourable thing
that he can do in these circumstances is to resign.
honourably [ adv ] Despite his anger at having been wrongly
accused, Peterson behaved honourably throughout the trial,
be above/beyond reproach /bi: a,bnv, bl,jDnd r-
'prooq II -ja:nd-/so good that no one can criticize or find
any fault [v phrase]
Throughout this ordeal her behaviour was beyond
reproach.] We need a chairman whose reputation and
character are above reproach.
 words for describing behaviour, humour etc
that is not sexually offensive or morally
harmful
wholesome
clean
wholesome Ihaolsam! wholesome behaviour, activi-
ties, books etc are considered good and suitable for every-
one because they are not in any way offensive [adj]
He read your new book and said it was wholesome and not
at all offensive. I The good thing about this game is that it
provides clean and wholesome fun for all the family.
ci®an/kli:n/clean humour/jokes/fun etc (=not offen-
sive to anyone) [adj]
good clean fun The camping trip was all good, clean fun. I
keep it clean (=not do or say anything morally offensive)
He's been asked to tell some jokes in his speech but he's got
to keep it clean.
7 what is good in people's character or in the
world
goodness
good
decency

GOOD/MORAL 569 GOOD/MORAL
goodness /'godngs/what is good in a person's charac-
ter In U]
She had a wonderful combination of beauty and goodness. I
His goodness shines through his every action.
good/god/good actions and behaviour In U]
Everyone has a choice between good and evil. I Some good
may come from this disaster.
decency / 'di:sansi/kindness, honesty, and fairness in the
way that you treat other people In U]
You can rely on their decency and good sense. I have the
decency to do sth I think you should have the decency to
tell him you are already married. I common decency
(=ordinary decency that most people have) He borrowed
money from me and didn't even have the common decency to
pay me back.
8 words for describing ideas, problems, laws
etc that are connected with what is morally
right or wrong
moral
morally
ethical
moral/moral II 'm:-/[adj usually before noun]
We follow the moral laws laid down by our religion. I They
live according to a deeply held moral code. I Everything that
he writes has a high moral purpose. I moral obligation
(=something that you do not have to do, but your moral
sense says that you must do) You have a moral obligation
to help your sister's children.
morality/mo  relti/In U] There was a lot of public debate
about the morality of the invasion (=whether the invasion
was a good or bad action).
morally/'morali ]l 'ma:-/according to what is right or
wrong, good or evil [adv]
We are morally opposed to capital punishment. ] The govern-
ment is morally obliged to do all it can for the refugees. I It
is morally wrong to punish someone for something they did
not do.
ethical/eOikal/ethical problems, reasons etc are con-
nected with the system of beliefs about what behaviour or
actions are considered morally right or wrong in a partic-
ular job, by the people who do that job [adj]
As a scientist he doesn't like to work with human embryos
or sex cells because of the ethical problems involved. ] He is
a vegetarian on ethical grounds.
ethically [ adv ] Using animals for medical reasons is, in my
view, ethically unacceptable.
 rules or standards of moral behaviour
morals standards
ethics values
morals I moralz II 'ma:-I the basic ideas that a person or
a society has about what is morally good and right In
plural]
He only knew the morals, customs and beliefs of his moun-
tain village. I the influence of rock music on the minds and
morals of young people I Harry dosen't seem to have any
morals at all.
ethics/'eOks/a system of rules about what is morally
right or wrong, especially rules followed by a religious
group or people in a profession In plural]
Affairs between doctors and patients are a matter of ethics. I
What are the differences between Muslim and Christian
ethics? ] code of ethics (=system of ethics) As a therapist
he has to follow a very strict code of ethics.
standards /stmndardz/personal rules for behaviour,
based on an idea of what is morally good and right In
plurall
He was a good man who kept up the very highest standards
throughout his life. ] There has been a serious decline in
moral standards among the kids of today.
values/velju:z/the ideas that a person or group has
about what things are good, right, and important in life In
plural]
As a child he had admired his father's values and lifestyle. ]
a black identity based on black culture and black values]
She rejected the traditional values of her society.
1 0 someone's personal ideas of what is morally
right or wrong
conscience sense of right and wrong
scruples principles
conscience/'konJ'ans II 'ko:n-/the inner sense of what
is right or wrong that makes you feel guilty if you do some-
thing wrong In C/U]
Her conscience would not let her take all the credit for their
work. I guilty/bad conscience It was a guilty conscience
that made him admit stealing the money. I clear/good con-
science Marie got up especially early to do all her work so
that she could enjoy herself afterwards with a clear con-
science. I social/political etc conscience (=a moral sense
of how society should be) He was a man of strong social con-
science, giving all his money to the poor of the city. I
conscience-stricken (=feeling guilty because you have
done something wrong) She hurried home, conscience-
stricken about having left all the dishes for Natalie to do.
scruples /  skru:palz/personal moral principles that stop
you from doing something morally wrong In plural]
He is very ambitious and has absolutely no scruples. I These
large drug syndicates are not affected by moral scruples -
they just want to make a profit.
sense of right and wrong/tsens ov trait ond trot] II
-'ra:j/ knowledge of what is right or wrong, especially
knowledge that you naturally have, or have been taught to
have In phrase]
My father brought me up to have a sense o fright and wrong
and he trusts me to tell the truth. I Some of the kids in this
school just don't seem to have a sense of right and wrong.
principles /prnsplz/ strong ideas about what is
morally right and wrong, that you try to follow in every-
thing that you do In plural]
against sb's principles (=morally wrong to that person)
I won't get involved in a deal like this - it's against all my
principles. I principles Jimmy tried to live according to
Christian principles.
1 1 words for describing someone who thinks
they are morally better than other people
self-righteous
sanctimonious
holier-than-thou
self-righteous /,self 'rattSas/ feeling very confident
about how good you are and about your high moral stan-
dards, in a way that annoys other people [adj]
His grandparents were stern and self-righteous. ] Ken's
always so self-righteous about how much money he manages
to save each month.
self-righteousness In U] His self-righteousness makes me
sick!
self-righteously [adv] "7 always give plenty of money to
charity, "" he boasted self-righteously.
sanctimonious /  smrjkt monias/behaving as if you
are morally better than other people, especially in telling
them what you think is right and wrong [adj]
Don't be so sanctimonious Helen! I'll live my life the way I
want to live it. [ The Principal reacted to the school party with
an air of sanctimonious disapproval.
sanctimoniously [ adv ] He answered my question so sanc-
timoniously that I just knew he didn't approve.
holier.than.thou /haulia r ban 'haul showing other
people very clearly that you think you are morally better
than they are [adj]
I know he doesn't smoke or drink but I wish he wasn't so
holier-than-thou. ] Her holier-than-thou attitude really gets
on my nerves.

GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 5"/0 GOODBYE
GOOD POINT OR
CHARACTERISTIC
1 a good quality or characteristic that someone
or something has
2 the only good point that someone or
something has
was that he could pitch. I I hate this house. Its only saving
grace is that it's near the centre of town.
redeeming feature /rI,di:rnz =fi:t.or/ the one good
quality that something or someone has, which saves it
from being completely bad, useless, or unacceptable In C]
The heroine of the novel is cruel and evil, with no redeeming
features. I Coal is relatively expensive but its redeeming fea-
ture is that it is in plentiful supply.
goodbye GOODBYE 2
goodbye: say goodbye GOODBYE 1
1 a good quality or characteristic that someone
or something has
good point
the good thing about
virtue
advantage
benefit
merit
plus/plus point
the beauty of
good point /god paxnt/[n C]
One of the good points about new software packages is that
they're so easy to use. I Derek certainly has his faults but he
has good points too.
the good thing about Ib god '0irj baot/an informal
expression meaning a good quality that something has,
especially when this makes it better or more enjoyable than
something else In phrase]
The good thing about this school is that the teachers are all
so enthusiastic. I I like being able to work at home - that's
one of the best things about this job.
virtue / v3:rtJ'u:/a formal word meaning a good charac-
teristic that something has, especially when this makes it
better, more useful etc than something else In C]
the virtue of My little car may not be very fast, but at least
it has the virtue of being cheap to run. I There are several
plans for the new bridge but the virtue of this one is that it
costs much less than the others.
advantage/lvcnnud3 II -'ven-/a good point that some-
thing has, especially when this helps you to be in a better
position than other people In C]
A healthier lifestyle is just one of the advantages of living
in the country. I The main advantage of using word proces-
sors is the amount of time you save.
benefil/'benfIt/a good point that something has, which
is good for you or helps you in some way In C]
Think of the benefits our health care plan has to offer. I The
easy-to-use design of the K-400 is a significant benefit.
merit/'mer I,t/one of the good characteristics of something
such as a plan, system, or way of doing something In C]
The merits of the new health programme are gradually being
recognized. I The two great merits of this book are its style
and the author's skill in handling detail.
plus/plus point/pins, 'pins paint/an additional quality
that helps to make something more useful, valuable, or
attractive than other things of the same type In C/
We are recommending this hotel because we see its closeness
to the beach as a definite plus. I A good degree is the only
qualification we require for the job, but experience is always
a plus point.
the beauty of/6 'bju:ti av/a particularly good quality
that makes something especially useful, suitable, or likely
to be successful In phrase]
the beauty of it Our new generator runs entirely on recy-
cled fuel That's the whole beauty of it. I the beauty of sth
is that The beauty of the plan is that it only requires a small
investment.
 the only good point that someone or
something has
saving grace
redeeming feature
saving grace/,seivii] 'greis/[n C]
Generally he was hopeless at baseball. His one saving grace
GOODBYE
to say or wave goodbye to someone
ways of saying goodbye to someone
1 to say or wave goodbye to someone
say goodbye wave goodbye
bid sb farewell wave sb off
say your goodbyes see sb off
say goodbye / ,sei god bai/to say goodbye to someone,
or to say the last things that you want to say to them before
you leave each other Iv phrase]
I've just come to say goodbye. I She left so suddenly, he didn't
get a chance to say goodbye. I say goodbye to I said good-
bye to the children, and got into my car. I Before he retired
the boss went back to Philadelphia to say goodbye to all the
staff there.
bid sb fareweli/,bld (sb) fe r'wel/an expression used
formerly or in literature, expression meaning to say good-
bye to someone, especially when you know you will not
meet again for a very long time Iv phrase]
The time has come to bid you all farewell. I bid farewell to
And so Queen Victoria bade farewell to her most trusted
servant.
say your goodbyes/,sex ja: r god 'baiz/ if two or rhore
people say their goodbyes, they say the last things they
want to say to each other before leaving each other for a
long time Iv phrasel
The two leaders were preparing to say their final goodbyes
on Thursday. I We delayed saying our goodbyes until the last
possible moment.
wave goodbye /weiv god'bad to wave to someone as
they go away from you or as you leave them Iv phrase]
"Come back soon!'" called Mary, waving goodbye from
behind the gate. I wave goodbye to She waved goodbye to
him through the car window.
wave sb off/,weiv (sb) 'Df II -'a:f/a British expression
meaning to wave to someone as they go away from you [phr
vT]
A crowd of children had gathered on the station platform to
wave him off. I She looked behind and saw her mother
waving her off from the kitchen door.
see sb off/,si: (sb) Df II -,a:f/to go with someone to the
door of your house or to a place such as a station or airport
in order to say goodbye to them when they leave [phr v T]
All our friends and neighbours had come to the airport to
see us off I Mrs Carey went to the door to see him off.
ways of saying goodbye to someone
 goodbye see you later
bye so long
see you see you around
see you tomorrow/in the morning/at the club etc
goodbye/god'bal/"Goodbye, Mrs Moore. "" "'Goodbye, Dr
Aziz. "1 Goodbye Louise. See you again some time. I Thank-
you for calling. Goodbye.
bye/bail (an informal word)
"'Bye, Annie. "" "'Bye, morn, "said Annie, kissing her mother
on the cheek. [ "Bye, I'll see you soon. Take care. "" "You too.

GOODBYE 571 GOVERNMENT
Bye. "'1 bye for now I have to go now, but I'll see you again
tomorrow night. Bye for now.
see you ]'si.- ju:! (an informal expression used when
saying goodbye to someone you know you will probably see
again soon)
See you, Darren. I see you soon Have a nice vacation. See
you soon.
see you tomorrow/in the morning/at the club
etc/si: ju: (tomorrow, etc)/(used when saying goodbye to
someone that you expect to meet again at a particular time
or place)
"'See you in the morning, "" she said as she closed the door. I
"See you tomorrow night at dinner, "he said. I We'll be back
next week. See you then.
see you later/si: ju: leItar/(an informal expression
used when saying goodbye to someone that you know you
will meet again on the same day)
Bye, dad. I'll see you later. [ You're coming to the party
tonight, aren't you? Good. See you later then.
so long ]su lot] II -'b:t]! (an informal expression used
when saying goodbye to someone that you do not expect
to meet again for a long time)
"'So long," he said. "'Don't forget to write to me." I She
grabbed Nick by the shoulders and hugged him affection-
ately. "So long, Nick. ""
see you around ! si: ju:  raund/(an informal expres-
sion used when saying goodbye to someone that you hope
or expect to meet again soon, but you are not sure when)
Okay, Frank, I'd better go now. I'll see you around. [ She
turned and waved at the gate. "'See you around."
.:i goodbyes: say your goodbyes GOODBYE 1
i goodness GOOD/MORAL 7
:,,, goodnight/goodnight SLEEP14
::"-' goods SELL 11
iilil goods: deliver the goods/come up with the goods
:.: gooey EMOTIONAL 4
.. goof STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 7
;.
# goof around STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 8
i goof/goof up MISTAKE 4
 goof off GO TO/ATTEND 3, WORK HARD 9
!!iil . goose pimples/goosebumps COLD 6
ii!i' gorge: stuff/gorge yourself EAT 3
;..,,,: gorgeous BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 2, 4
i} gormless STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
 gory VIOLENT 4
!. gospel truth: be the gospel truth TRUE 4
 gossip RUMOUR/RUMOR 1, TALK TO SB 8, 15
,."
{ii: gourmet EAT7
-:-,i  govern CONTROL 2, GOVERNMENT 5
,,:.
i government GOVERNMENT 1, 5,
ii}i PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT 1
' government: be in government GOVERNMENT 5
GOVERNMENT
the people who are responsible for running a
country
the people who have the most powerful
positions within a government
the organizations that make up the
government and are responsible for carrying
out its decisions
words meaning a government that controls
everything and allows no freedom
to be the government of a country for a
period of time
1 the people who are responsible for running a
country
government
administration
regime
government /'g^vamant, 'g^vanmant II 'g^varn-/ the
group of people who are responsible for running a coun-
try, for example, by making laws, collecting taxes, and
providing public services such as education and health
care In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
The government has announced a massive investment
programme for the railway system. [ During the Second
World War, the British government evacuated children from
cities to the countryside. [ Western governments have already
contributed millions of dollars in aid for the famine victims. [
the Conservative/Liberal etc government (=the govern-
ment run by the Conservative/Liberal party etc) We hope
the new Conservative government will do something for all
the homeless people. [ form a government (=become the
government, usually after an election, and decide which
people will do which jobs in the government) When aparty
wins an election the first thing it has to do is to form a govern-
ment. [ government spending/statistics/funding/buil-
dings etc Government statistics show a rise in the number
of single-parent families.
administration / ad  m i n o I I stre  j'an/the government of a
country, especially the government of the United States In
CI
the Bush/Reagan/Kennedy/Nixon etc administration
(=the government when this person was President) The
Bush administration picked up where the Reagan adminis-
tration left off. i The Clinton administration is less in favour
of free trade than its predecessor, i I am deeply grateful for
all that you have done for this Administration and for our
country.
regime/m 'si:m/a government that has not been elected
in fair elections, especially one that does not allow its
people much freedom In C]
The Communist regime has just celebrated forty years in
power. [ The new President has declared an amnesty for po lit-
ical prisoners who opposed the previous regime.
2 the people who have the most powerful
positions within a government
leadership
cabinet
executive
leadership/'li:drj'P/the leader of a government and the
other people in high positions of power In singular with sin-
gular or plural verb in British English]
In East Germany, the Communist leadership tried to stay in
power by promising rapid political change. I The Conserva-
tive leadership was faced with an election in the very near
future.
cabinet/kabnt/the group of important politicians
who run the different departments in a government, for
example defence, education, health etc, and advise the
leader of the government In C with singular orplural verb
in British English]
The Prime Minister has offered her a job in the cabinet, t
cabinet minister (=one of the politicians in the cabinet)
The spy scandal involved two cabinet ministers and a few
senior civil servants. I cabinet meeting (=a meeting when
the cabinet discusses something) At a cabinet meeting on
September 17th a decision was taken which would change
the course of history.
executive/ig'zekjoUuv/the part of a government that is
responsible for carrying out the law and other decisions
In singular]
Enforcement of the law is the executive's duty. [ In theory, the
civil service is the non-political arm of the executive.

GOVERNMENT
 the organizations that make up the
government and are responsible for carrying
out its decisions
the state officialdom
the authorities they
the powers that be
the state/ 'stet/In singular]
Many citizens are worried by the increasing power of the
state. [ In Eastern Europe, until recently the state controlled
every aspect of people's lives. ] state-run (=owned and con-
trolled by the state) Misha works for a state-run mine col-
lective near Odesssa.
the autheritles/6i :ODrti:z [[-o'O:r-/the people or
organizations that are in charge in a country or in an area,
and have the power to decide what people are allowed to
do In plural]
The authorities are trying to prevent illegal immigrants
from remaining in this country. ] The pilot was picked up
by local fishermen, who handed him over to the French
authorities. I The military authorities would not allow us to
film any damaged buildings.
the powers that be 16 paorz 6t bi:/an informal
expression meaning the people in government responsible
for making decisions, used especially if you think that they
have too much power or that they use their power badly
In phrase]
The powers that be have decided that the new highway will
run straight through the farmland. I I understand that the
protestors outside the airbase have become rather unpopu-
lar with the powers that be.
effi©ialdem/afiSaldam/a word meaning government
departments or the people who work in them, used espe-
cially when you think that they are deliberately unhelp-
ful In U]
As so often happens when dealing with officialdom, she
experienced a feeling of helpless frustration. I He had abused
his authority, and had stood for everything that was most
corrupt in officialdom.
they 16eq an informal word meaning the government or
a government department, used especially when talking
about things they have done or decided [pron]
They put him in prison for three months for refusing to pay
his tax. I I don't know what they think they "re doing, privatiz-
ing all the best hospitals, i Have you heard that they're going
to close down 25 coal mines?
4 words meaning a government that controls
everything and allows no freedom
dictatorship totalitarian
junta police state
tyranny
dictatorship/dikteitorSp/a government in which one
person or group has total power and uses it unfairly and
cruelly In C]
In 1971 the country's lO year military dictatorship came to
an end. I The downfall of the brutal dictatorship led to three
years of civil war.
lunla/d3Anto, honta/a government run by a small group
of army officers who have not been elected but have taken
power by force In C]
Opponents of the junta have mysteriously "disappeared'. I
a military junta
tyranny /Itironi/a situation in which a government, espe-
cially an illegal one, rules unfairly and cruelly In U]
Under the tyranny of Joseph Stalin, millions died.
lolalitarian /taolteeltearian/ a totalitarian govern-
ment, country, or system of government gives all power to
the state and none to the people, so that the government can
control everything that people do [adjl
Totalitarian states have no newspapers that criticize the
government's actions. I The fear of terrorism might lead to
an increase in surveillance and other totalitarian trends.
572
graceful
police state/pa li:s i stelq a country or society in which
the government gives the police a lot of power in order to
prevent people opposing the government In C]
This is the kind of thing which happens in a police state, not
in America. I The new laws will not actually make the coun-
try a police state but they will move in that direction.
 to be the government of a country for a
period of time
govern be in government
government hold office
run rule
be in power
govern/'g^van II -arn/to officially and legally control a
country and make all the decisions about taxes, laws,
public services etc Iv I/T]
govern a country/Italy/France etc We have a right to
govern our own country without interference from foreign
powers. I A three-party coalition had governed Italy since the
parliamentary elections of June 2. I govern The King could
only govern through ministers who had the confidence of
Parliament.
government/'gAvamant, g^v9nmant II gnvarn-/the way
a country is governed In U]
Having a strong leader does not guarantee good govern-
ment. I The current Liberal Party has no actual experience
of government. ]After years of corrupt government, people
are tired of politics.
run/rAn/to be in control of a country, especially if you have
not been legally elected to govern it Iv T]
The revolutionary council ran the country until elections
were held. I In the seventies people sometimes wondered who
ran Britain, the government or the unions. I The Marquez
family run the island like a medieval kingdom.
be in power/bi: in paoar/ifa political party or a politi-
cian is in power, they are the government or the leader
of the government at that time Iv phrase]
The Nationalist party was in power for forty years. ] Politi-
cians make a lot of promises during an election campaign,
but when they are actually in power things are very different.
be in governmenl/bi: n g^wmant II -vrn-I ifa politi-
cal party is in government, it is governing the country Iv
phrase]
Now that the Communists were in government, life began to
change. I He thought it unlikely that the Republican party
would be in government for much longer.
hold office / hoold DfoIs II -':f-/to have an important job
in a government, for example as its leader or as head of a
government department Iv phrase]
During the war Churchill held office as Prime Minister. I The
President holds office for a fixed term of four years. I She had
previously held office as Minister of Education.
rule/ruff! to have complete control over a country, espe-
cially if you have not been elected Iv TI
Great Britain ruled the American colonies until 1776. [ In
1860 Italy was a collection of small states ruled by princes
and dukes.
rule In U] For many years Algeria was under French rule
(=France ruled Algeria).
ruling [adj only before noun] The leader of the ruling
Motherland Party during the 1980s was Turgut Ozal.
GP DOCTOR 1
grab TAKE STH FROM SB 1, TAKE STH FROM
SOMEWHERE 2
grab at/snatch at TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 3
grab some sleep: snatch/grab some sleep SLEEP 2
grab something/a bite to eat EAT 2
grab the chance CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
grabs: be up for grabs AVAILABLE 2
grace/gracefulness GRACEFUL 3
graceful GRACEFUL 1, 2

GRACEFUL 5?3 great lengths
GRACEFUL
moving in a smooth and controlled way that
is attractive to look at
1 words for describing a graceful person
2 words for describing graceful movements
3 a graceful appearance or way of moving
4 not graceful
1 words for describing a graceful person
graceful lithe
light-footed/light on your feet elegant
graceful I'greIsfall [adj]
The bride was tall and graceful, with a beautiful smile. I Our
waiter was a slim, graceful boy of about 16. [ We could see
a group of graceful antelopes through the trees.
light-footed/light on your feet Ilat Ifotd, Ilat n
j:r 'fi:t/walking, running, dancing etc as if your body is
very light so that you can move gracefully and quickly [adj]
It was fun learning to dance with Polly, who was very light-
footed. [ He's very tall and well-built, but he's surprisingly
light on his feet.
lithe/lai6/able to bend, stretch, and move easily and
gracefully [adj usually before noun]
Ross was tall, with a lithe graceful body. [ I felt awkward
among the lithe, sun-tanned young girls on the beach.
elegant /elXgant/an elegant person dresses, behaves,
and moves in a graceful and attractive way [adj]
The door was opened by a tall, slim and elegant young
woman. I The dancers looked so elegant as they moved slowly
round the ballroom.
2 words for describing graceful movements
graceful flowing
elegant effortless
smooth
graceful/'greisfl/[adj]
The actor accepted his prize with a graceful bow. I In a grace-
ful sweep, the two planes turned and crossed each other.
gracefully [adv] An owl swooped gracefully across the
clearing.
elegant / 'elIgant/moving in a graceful and very smooth
way, and having a pleasing and attractive appearance
generally [adj]
Selina was a tall woman with an elegant way of moving and
beautiful clothes. I Andrew was deep in conversation,
making elegant gestures with one hand as he spoke.
elegantly [adv] The Princess walked elegantly into the
room.
smeeth /smu:6/ graceful and without any sudden
changes in movement [adj only before noun]
Swing the tennis racquet in one smooth movement. [ Tom
crossed the stream with a smooth leap and continued
running.
smoothly [ adv ] The snake glides smoothly towards its prey.
flowing ! flaui/flowing movements are made together
gracefully and without interruption [adj only before noun]
Steve turned, raised his arm and threw the ball all in one
flowing movement. [ The two athletes ran together with flow-
ing strides.
effortless / efartls/effortless movements or actions are
very smooth and controlled, as though they are made
without any effort at all, especially because the person who
makes them has a lot of skill [adj]
She performed her next complicated dive in one effortless
movement. I The champion, as usual, makes skiing look
effortless.
effortlessly [adv ] The pianist's fingers ran effortlessly over
the keys.
3 a graceful appearance or way of moving
grace/gracefulness
poise
elegance
grace/gracefulness/greIs, greIsflns/In U]
Kim had all the grace and charm of a young woman though
she was still only a girl. I Her beauty and gracefulness made
Sylvie one of the most popular ballerinas in the company to
watch.
poise/paz/a calm and very graceful way of moving your
body, or of standing or sitting In U]
Margerie was very beautiful, with the grace and poise of a
movie star. [ Many people admire Princess Diana's dress
sense and poise.
elegance I elIgans! a graceful and attractive manner or
appearance In U]
Francesca was struck by the elegance of the other guests.
4 not graceful
inelegant
gawky
inelegant/n'elig)nt/[adj]
Nicholas, stiff and inelegant, followed Mr Grant into the
office. I his first rather inelegant attempts at dancing the
waltz
gawky ! ga:ki/moving in a nervous and awkward way,
as if it is difficult to control your arms and legs [adj]
A thin, gawky teenager came into the classroom. I I felt
gawky in my ill-fitting suit and heavy shoes.
gracefulness: grace/gracefulness GRACEFUL 3
grade CLASS/GROUP OF STUDENTS 1 GROUP/PUT
INTO GROUPS 1, RESULT/GRADE 1, 2
grade: make the grade GOOD ENOUGH 2
gradual SLOW 3
gradually SLOW 6
graduate PASS A TEST 1
graduate: graduate/be graduated LEAVE A SCHOOL
OR COLLEGE 1
graffiti WRITE 15
graft DISHONEST 5
grain PIECE 5
grain: element/grain of truth TRUE 5
grand IMPRESS 4
grand total TOTAL 1
grandeur: have delusions of grandeur PROUD 7
grant GIVE 5
granted: I grant you/granted ADMIT 2
granted: take it for granted (that) THINK SO/NOT BE
SURE 2
granted: take sb for granted IGNORE 1
grapevine: hear sth on/through the grapevine
RUMOUR/RUMOR 2
grapevine: hear through/on the grapevine FIND OUT 2
grapple with DEAL WITH 1
grasp HOLD 3, 8, UNDERSTAND 2
grasping GREEDY 2
grass TELL 11, 12
grass roots: the grass roots ORDINARY 4
grate CUT 6
grateful THANK 3
grating UNPLEASANT 4
gratitude THANK 4
gratitude: express your thanks/gratitude THANK 1
gratuitous NEED 10, WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
grave SERIOUS PERSON 3, SERIOUS SITUATION 1
graze CUT 2, 11, TOUCH 3
greasy DIRTY 1
great BIG 2, 9, ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 6, GOOD AT
2, GOOD/EXCELLENT 2, 3, 6
great deal: a great deal ofla good deal of LOT/A
LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
great lengths: to great lengths to TRY TO DO OR
go
GET STH 3

greater
greater MORE THAN BEFORE 4, MORE THAN STH OR
?::- SB ELSE 1
:' greater degree: to a greater degree MORE THAN STH
OR SB ELSE 1
" greater than MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 2
' greatest BEST 1
r greatly LOT/VERY MUCH 1
greed GREEDY 1, 2
 greedy GREEDY 1, 2
greedy guts GREEDY 1
GREEDY
wanting more food, money, power etc than
you need and not caring if other people have
enough
1 greedy for food or drink
2 greedy for money, possessions, power etc
1 greedy for food or drink
greedy gluttony
greed pig
glutton greedy guts
greedy/'gri:di! [adj]
Don't be so greedy - leave some cake for everyone else. I She's
a spoilt, greedy little girl. I Takeyour greedy fingers off that
pie- you've had more than enough already.
greedily [adv] He drank noisily and greedily, taking huge
gulps from the bottle.
greed/gri:d/a strong desire for more food or drink than
you need, without caring if other people have enough In U]
You don't really want that ice cream - it'sjust greed. I pure
greed We carried on eating, out of pure greed, until we felt
sick.
glutton /'glAtn/someone who eats or drinks a lot more
than necessary, usually with the result that they make
themselves ill In C]
"Is there any more pie? .... Don't be such a glutton, you've
already had quite enough." I Uncle Richard was a glutton,
who ate everything in sight.
gluttonous [adj] I was disgusted by their gluttonous
behaviour.
gluttony/IglAtni/the act of eating or drinking much
more than necessary, usually with the result that you
become ill or unhealthy In U]
The level of heart disease in the western world is a measure
of our gluttony. I The amount of food that people consume
over Christmas is nothing short of gluttony.
pig/pg/an informal word for someone who is greedy In C]
You pig, you ate all that chocolate - you could have saved
some for me. I greedy pig What a greedy pig! He didn't leave
any food for us. I make a pig ofyourself(=eat a lot of food
greedily) She made a real pig of herself at dinner last night.
greedy guts / gri:di gAts/an informal British expression
used especially by children, meaning someone who is
extremely greedy In singular]
Mum, that greedy guts has eaten all the jelly! l Hey, greedy
guts, leave those sweets alone. They "re mine.
2 greedy for money, possessions, power etc
greedy grasping
greed materialistic
greedy/'gri:di/sary [adj]
The thieves only got caught because they got too greedy and
went back to the house a second time. I Some landlords have
become greedy and are demanding higher rents than people
can afford. I greedy for Companies are too greedy for
profits, neglecting the safety and job satisfaction of their
employees.
574
greedily [adv] "'How much money are you offering?" she "
asked greedily.
group
greed/gri:d/a strong desire for more money, possessions,
power etc than you need, without caring if other people
have enough In U]
He stole out of greed, not necessity. I He risked his money and
lost it, a victim of his own greed and stupidity. I greed for
The greed for power of local politicians is simply amazing. I
pure greed No one needs to earn salaries as big as that. It's
pure greed, that's all it is.
grasping / gro:sprj II Igras-/very greedy so that you are
not at all generous and treat other people very badly [adj
only before noun]
They had to move when their grasping landlord increased
the rent again. I It is feared that a large amount of money
in aid would only allow grasping military leaders to build
up their weapons supplies.
materialistic Imo taria 1 ist ik-/believing that having a
lot of money and possessions is the most important thing
in life [adj]
Kids these days are very materialistic. They only seem to be
interested in expensive toys and computer games. I It is clear
that Western societies are becoming more materialistic with
their increasing wealth. I Members of this sect have rejected
modern materialistic values.
materialism/rna't;arial;zam/In U] They disliked the materi-
alism of the West and went to live in Nepal.
green EXPERIENCED 5
:..--.:. green with envy JEALOUS 3
,.; greet HELLO 2
i greet: be greeted with GET 12
-" greetings HELLO 2
grief SAD/UNHAPPY 12
.. grief: come to grief FAIL 3
i!'i grievance COMPLAIN 4
=i grievances: air your grievances COMPLAIN 1
iii; grieve SAD/UNHAPPY 6
 grill COOK 2
 grill/give sb a grilling ASK A QUESTION 3
....  grim SERIOUS PERSON 3, SERIOUS SITUATION 1
 grime DIRTY 6
i- grimy DIRTY 1
.:i:.
:!!' grin SMILE 1, 3
:': grind SQUASH 1, WORK THAT SB DOES 4
 grind: mince/grind CUT 6
grind: swot/grind STUDY 2, WORK HARD 4
grind to a halt STOP MOVING 3, WORK THAT SB DOES 4
 grip HOLD 3, 8, STICK 2
:: grip: be in the grip of SUFFER 1
grip: come/get to grips with DEAL WITH 4
 grip: get a grip on yourself CONTROL 9
! grip: have a grip On CONTROL 10
.:.
?: gripe COMPLAIN 2, 4
!:i"-. :! gripping INTERESTING 3
iiil groan SHOUT 2, 3
!iiii grocery store: supermarket/grocery store
i}ii SHOP/STORE 2
,: groggy ILL 4
 groom PREPARE 4
;!! groom/bridegroom MARRY10
-:. groove LINE 5
-i:.'::: gross BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS2, DISGUSTING 1,
i!::i EARN 1, FAT 2, TOTAL 1
[iii grotesque UGLY 2
;ii grouchy BAD-TEMPERED 1
ileal ground FORBID 6, LAND/GROUND 2
ii ground: have your feet on the ground SENSIBLE 1
!ii ground: knock sb to the ground FALL 11
iili ground: leave the ground UP 5
i ground: stand your ground CHANGE YOUR MIND 5
!i! ground: the ground LAND/GROUND 3
:!iii groundless REASON 12, WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
: grounds REASON 3
ilil groundwork: do the groundwork/spadework
!:i!i PREPARE 1
iii group GROUP OF PEOPLE 1, :2, 3, 4, 1:2, GROUP OF
" THINGS 1, GROUP/PUT INTO GROUPS 1

group
iii group: form a group/get into a group
i!i!: PEOPLE 12
.';: group together UNITE 1
GROUP OF
J' ::-ng:,,Ј[ ppЈele }. :;  GROUP/PUT ....
J intp goups..::(::.: INTO GROUPS :
:::: :::::'::....::. ' .... ,;:: ......... , ....... :?;r:? . .......... ,,  ............. ,. ........ : ..... -
GROUP OF
PEOPLE
12
I a group of people all standing or sitting
together in the same place
2 a group of people who all do something
together or go somewhere together
3 a number of people who are thought of as a
group, especially because they have the
same characteristics
4 a number of people who are thought of as a
group because they are all the same age,
earn the same amount of money etc
5 a number of people who work closely
together as a group
6 a small group of people who are unwilling to
let other people join them
7 a group of people within a political or
religious organization who do not agree with
the ideas of most other people in the
organization
6 a group of people who share the same ideas
and beliefs
9 a group of people whose job it is to make
decisions, give advice, find out facts etc
10 a group of young people who go around
together, and often cause trouble, fight with
other groups etc
1 1 a group of people who have been chosen to
give information, ask questions etc
to form a small group by coming close
together
1 a group of people all standing or sitting
together in the same place
group
cluster
knot
group/gru:p/several people who are together in the same
place [n C with singular or plural verb in British English]
A small group ofpeople had gathered to listen to his speech. I
The waiter moved from group to group, offering glasses of
sherry and savoury snacks. I I want all the children to sit in
groups of five, one in each corner of the room.
cluster /Ikl^star/a group of people standing or sitting
very close to one another, for example in order to see some-
thing or talk to someone, etc In C]
575
GROUP OF PEOPLE
A cluster of people, all anxious to shake his hand, formed
around the speaker, t Some relatives were standing in a
cluster around her hospital bed.
knot /nm II no:t/ a small group of people all sitting or
standing very close to one another In C]
The knot of men at the bar had started talking about the
elections. I Outside the hotel a little knot of bystanders had
gathered to see what was happening.
' a group of people who all do something
together or go somewhere together
group
party
contingent
group/gru:p/In C with singular or plural verb in British
English l
A group of us went out for a drink to celebrate Sonia's birth-
day. I We were warned not to walk in the mountains except
in groups of three or more. t The tickets are very expensive
although there is a discount for school groups.
party / Ipa:rti/a group of people that someone has formed
in order to go somewhere or do something in an organized
way In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
We're taking a large party of children on a camping trip in
the summer. [ I give parties of tourists guided tours of the
cathedral.
contingent/kantlnd3ant / a group of people representing
a particular country, organization, beliefetc In C with sin-
gular or plural verb in British English]
Not surprisingly there was a large student contingent at the
demonstration. I Contingents of various nationalities had
travelled to be at the conference in Paris.
 a number of people who are thought of as a
group, especially because they have the
same characteristics
group assortment
bunch element
lot batch
collection
group/gru:p/[n singular with singular or plural verb in
British English ]
The people I work with are a really friendly group. ] The
restaurant was really busy last night. We had a group of
salesmen in. I Most human beings feel the need to belong to
a group.
bunch/b^ntj'/an informal word meaning a group of people
In singular]
They're a weird bunch, the family who've just moved next
door. I Karen didn't like the idea of having a bunch of kids
running around the house, screaming and shouting. ] the
best of the bunch (=the best person in a group) Of all the
people they had interviewed, Miss Holmes was the best of the
bunch. ] a mixed bunch (=a group of very different people)
The students in my class are a mixed bunch, some of them
are retired, others are quite young.
lot/lot ]] la:t/a British word meaning a group of people,
especially a group of people that you do not like In singular]
I don't like her new friends, they're a snobbish lot. ] Don't
take any notice of that lot, they're just ignorant. ] We've got
another lot of visitors coming this weekend.
collection/k'lekj'an/a group of people, especially people
who you think are strange or unusual In C usually
singular]
There was an interesting collection of people at the wedding. I
Jack brought an odd collection of characters home from the
racetrack.
assortment/asa:rtmnq a group of people who are all
very different from each other In C usually singular]
We shared the train compartment with an odd assortment
of fellow travellers. I In the bar the only people I could see
were conmen, pickpockets and an assortment of other
unsavoury characters.

GROUP OF PEOPLE 576 GROUP OF PEOPLE
element/'elmont/the criminal/student/fascist etc
element (=a group of people who have the same ideas,
aims, beliefs etc that are different from those of a larger
group, especially when you do not like or agree with them)
In C with singular or plural verb in British English l
The chief had been warned that there were criminal elements
within the Security Police. I They seem to be trying to get rid
of all left-wing elements in the party. I The committee agreed
on the need to get rid of the hooligan elements amongst foot-
ball supporters.
batch/bct[/ a group of people who are all dealt with
together at the same time, for example because they are all
arriving at a new job or institution together In C]
The latest batch of new recruits had just arrived at the camp.
4 a number of people who are thought of as a
group because they are all the same age,
earn the same amount of money etc
group
bracket
band
group/gru:p/age/income/blood etc group (=a group of
people with the same age, income, or blood type) In C with
singular or plural verb in British English]
The good thing about the class is that all the students belong
to the same age group, i The hospital is desperate for donors
from the rhesus negative blood group.
bracket/brckt/tax/income/age bracket (=a group
of people who are considered, especially for official or
financial purposes, to be a group because they have the
same tax, income, or age) In C]
Several companies have produced pension plans specifically
for people in the higher income tax bracket.
band /bcnd/ income/tax/age etc band (=a group of
people whose income, tax, or age comes within a particu-
lar range) In C]
These changes will not affect people in the lowest tax band. i
As you move into the higher income bands, the charges start
to increase.
5 a number of people who work closely
together as a group
team gang
crew unit
team/ti:m/a group of people who have been chosen to
work together to do a particular job In C with singular or
plural verb in British English]
The boss had a good team working for him, and he was well
respected. I Four lecturers made up the team of experts neces-
sary for the project. I medical/health research etc team
The entire medical team that had been sent to the area were
captured and held hostage for eighteen months.
crew/kru:/a group of people who are trained to work
together and use equipment, especially on a ship or aircraft
In C with singular or plural verb in British Englishl
The plane crashed shortly after take-off and everyone on
board, including the pilot and his crew, was killed, i Could
the camera crew come to a meeting after rehearsal this after-
noon please? i The captain returned to find some of the crew
members busily repairing the mainsail on the deck.
gang/gc/a group of people, especially men, who work
together doing something such as heavy physical work, or
something illegal or dishonest In C with singular orplural
verb in British English l
Helen walked past the building site and the gang of workers
all whistled. I Tourists are being warned about several
gangs of thieves operating near the airport.
unit/'ju:nt/a group of people that has officially been
formed to work together to do a particular job or be respon-
sible for a particular problem In C with singular orplural
verb in British English]
One of the policemen from the drug unit will be visiting local
schools, i Hospital officials plan to use the donations to set
up a new cardiac unit.
6 a small group of people who are unwilling to
let other people join them
clique
elite
in-crowd
clique/kli:k/a small group of people who like the same
things and are very friendly with each other but who do
not want other people to join them [n C with singular or
plural verb in British English]
At the beginning of term I joined a little clique which I later
grew to detest. I a clique of literary friends who thought they
were so superior
elite/ei 'li:t, -/a group of people who are the richest, most
powerful, best educated etc people in society, and who do
not want others to share the advantages of their position
In C with singular or plural verb in British Englishl
Only a small elite can afford to send their children to this
school, i All the glamorous Washington elite were at the
dinner that evening.
elite [adj] Anyone who studied at the college joined an elite
band of well-connected lawyers, doctors and businessmen.
in-crowd/m kraod/ a small group of people who are
admired by others because they are very fashionable, or
who know things that other people do not, and who do not
let many other people join them In singular with singular
or plural verb in British English]
Ever since he bought his new sports car he's really become
one of the in-crowd. ] Within the political in-crowd are some
extremely influential figures.
7 a group of people within a political or religious
organization who do not agree with the ideas
of most other people in the organization
faction
fringe
splinter group
faction/' fck[n/a group of people within a political or
religious organization who do not agree with most of the
people in that organization, and who try to make other
people accept its own ideas In C with singular orplural verb
in British English]
Within the army there was a pro-war faction, pushing for
a declaration of war. I The whole of the country has been
taken over and destroyed by warring religious factions.
fringe/frmds/a group of people in a political or religious
organization who have ideas that most people in the organi-
zation do not agree with and consider extreme In singular
with singular or plural verb in British English]
the right-wing/nationalist/radical etc fringe The ter-
rorist fringe condemned the decision and threatened to use
force, i Many changes in the church's ideas have meant that
many followers have moved to a more spiritualistic fringe. I
lunatic fringe (=people with extreme, stupid ideas) There
are always some people on the lunatic fringe who'll vote for
an idiot with no policies.
splinter group / 'sphnt r ,gru:p/a small group of people
who leave a larger political or religious group to form their
own smaller group, because they do not completely agree
with the larger group's ideas, beliefs, aims etc [n C with sin-
gular or plural verb in British English]
Clifton and his followers broke away from the party to form
a splintergroup that believed in revolution, not reform. I The
splinter group rapidly gained support from discontented
members.
8 a group of people who share the same ideas
and beliefs
school
movement
school Isku:l/a group of artists, writers etc who share the
same ideas, style of work etc In C]

GROUP OF PEOPLE 57T GROUP OF THINGS
There is no denying the influence of the Impressionist school
in his painting. I He seems to be very much part of the
Marxist school in his approach to politics. I school of
thought (=a group of people who believe in the same
theory, idea etc) One school of thought argues that introduc-
ing stiffer penalties would bring the crime rate down.
movement /'mu:vmont/a group of people who share the
same ideas or beliefs and who work together in order to
achieve a particular aim, especially to change things and
make people think differently In C]
The peace movement was sparked off by people protesting
about the war in Vietnam. I The early days of the women's
movement. I As he grew older he found himself more and
more attracted to the Zionist movement.
!9 a group of people whose job it is to make
decisions, give advice, find out facts etc
board committee
panel working party
board/b:):rd/a group of people in an organization who
make rules and decisions about how the organization
works, give permission for certain plans to be carried out
etc In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
If you don't agree with the result you can appeal to the board
of examiners, i The licensing board has refused us permis-
sion to sell alcohol on the premises. I In October, the schools
board, an independent advisory group, recommended that
uniforms become compulsory.
panel/'panl/a group of people who have been chosen to
give advice, judgements, opinions etc about a particular
subject, usually because they know a lot about it In C with
singular or plural verb in British English]
He was on a panel of judges for a famous literary prize. [All
applicants are questioned by a panel of experienced inter-
viewers. [ I've been invited to join the panel on a radio arts
programme.
committee/kamiti/a group of people who have been
chosen or elected to have the job of controlling how an
organization is run In C with singular orplural verb in Brit-
ish English ]
The church has decided to raise money for a new roof and
they've asked me to be on the committee. I It was discovered
that there was no safety committee on the oil-rig destroyed
in the disaster.
working party /Iwa:rklrj ,po:rti/ a group of people
chosen to consider a particular problem in detail and to
write a report that suggests what should be done about it
In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
A Police Force working party concluded that many people
found the police intimidating. I A working party was set up
to investigate and act on the report's findings.
contain the same balance of different types of people as the
group it is taken from) The report's findings are based on
large, nationally representative samples of children.
12 to form a small group by coming close
together
group huddle
form a group/get into a group cluster
group Igru:p/to stand or sit close together so that you form
a group Iv I]
group around/behind/outside etc Students grouped
round the notice board to find out their exam results. ] group
round/together Julia sat down at the piano and the others
grouped together to sing.
form a group/get Into a group/,fa:rm a Igru:p, get
Into a gru:p/to stand or sit close together in order to make
a group so that you can do something together Iv phrase]
The class should form groups of six for this exercise. I We
got into groups and went off in different directions to look
for her. I form a group round/outside/behind etc
Several people formed a group round the speaker.
huddle ! hAdl/to form a group by moving very close to one
another, especially in order to keep warm, feel safer, etc
[v I]
huddle round/outside/beside etc Some beggars were
huddling in the entrance to keep dry. I huddle together We
had been lost for hours and had to huddle together to keep
warm.
c|uster [ kl^star/to form a small group by moving very
close to each other in order, for example, to look at some-
thing, talk to someone, etc Iv I]
cluster round/outside/beside etc Parents and their chil-
dren had clustered outside the shop window to look at the
toys on display. I cluster together Some nurses were
clustered together in the corridor, giggling about something.
GROUP OF THINGS
a number of separate things that are thought
of as a group because they are close
together or they are all similar in some way
a group of things that belong together, are
made together, or are dealt with together
a group of things of the same kind that are
tied together or joined together
a group of things of the same kind put on top
of each other
10 a group of young people who go around
together, and often cause trouble, fight with
other groups etc
gang
gang/gat]/[n C]
The two main gangs in the area are known as the "Bloods"
and the 'Grips'. I Gang members have tattoos and wear spe-
cial clothes to identify themselves. I During the weekend there
were violent clashes between rival street gangs. I Gangs of
youths are terrorising the neighbourhood - some residents
are afraid to go out.
1 1 a group of people who have been chosen to
give information, ask questions etc
sample
sample/' sa:mpal II 'sam-/ [n C]
56% of the women in the sample said that they supported the
government's policies. I random sample (=one that is
chosen completely by chance, not according to a plan)
These answers were drawn from a random sample of the elec-
torate. I representative sample (=one that is designed to
I a number of separate things that are thought
of as a group because they are close
together or they are all similar in some way
group cluster
collection clump
lot assortment
group/gru:p/[n C with singular or plural verb in British
English ]
A group of new houses is to be built on the oldplaying-field. I
There were groups of chairs around the dance floor so that
people could sit and chat between dances. I The pool is over
there behind that group of trees. I Today you will learn a new
group of verbs.
collection/k' lekj'an/a group of things of the same kind,
or things of different kinds, that have been put together
In C]
There's an odd collection of objects on her desk.I On the
bedroom floor was a messy collection of shoes, socks, and
underwear. I A collection of empty wine-bottles, that he
planned to throw away some day, stood in a corner of the
room.

GROUP OF THINGS 5?8 GROUP/PUT INTO GROUPS
lot/lot II lo:t/an informal British word meaning a group
of things [n singular]
this lot/that lot She handed me a bag of old clothes. "Could
you take this lot to the dustbin for me please?" l Right lads,
let's pick up this lot and go home. I Bring that lot over here,
will you?
cluster/I kl^stor/a small group of things of the same kind
which are close to each other [n C]
From the airplane we could already see little clusters of
houses. I The ring I want to buy has a cluster of diamonds
and sapphires on it. I Most galaxies are found in clusters
rather than in isolation.
clump/klAn]p/a big group of trees, bushes, or other plants
growing very close together In C]
We tethered the horses to a clump of trees. [ I'll never forget
the day I fell into a huge clump of poison ivy.
assortment/osa:rtmnt/a group of things of different
kinds, or different things of one kind, mixed together In C
usually singular]
On the floor was an assortment of boxes and packages. [ The
soldier received a bizarre assortment of shirts, biscuits, and
canned food in his parcel.
2 a group of things that belong together, are
made together, or are dealt with together
set
batch
set/set/a group of things that together form a whole, or
that are used together In C with singular orplural verb in
British English ]
We bought them a set of plates for their wedding gift. ] I keep
a spare set of house keys, in case I lose these. I I had to buy
a whole new set of tyres.
batch/bat/a group of things of the same kind which are
made at the same time or dealt with at the same time In C
with singular or plural verb in British English]
The baker took a batch of freshly baked rolls out of the oven. I
Mr Green, I have a batch of letters here for you to sign. I Sort
the files into batches and give one batch to each secretary.
3 a group of things of the same kind that are
tied together or joined together
bundle
bunch
sheaf
bundle / Ibandl/a group of things such as papers, clothes,
sticks, that are fastened or tied together In C with singular
or plural verb in British English]
I've just been reading through this bundle of old letters. I
John came in with a bundle of twigs for the fire. I She tied
her clothes into a bundle that she could carry.
bunch/bnntj'/bunch of flowers/keys/grapes etc (=a
group of them, fastened, tied, or held together) In C with
singular or plural verb in British English]
He handed her a huge bunch of roses. I Has anyone seen a
bunch of keys? l She brought us a lovely bunch of grapes.
sheaf/j'i:f/sheaf of papers/notes etc (=a lot of pieces
held or fastened together in a flat pile) In C]
He had a sheaf of papers under his arm. I I forgot to put that
sheaf of notes in my briefcase.
4 a group of things of the same kind put on top
of each other
pile
stack
heap
pile/pail/ [n C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
On the table is a pile of books which he consults from time
to time. ] She turned the hot water on and put another pile
of dirty dishes into the sink. I Put those letters on the other
pile. I He swept the dead leaves into piles.
stack/stak/a large number of things put neatly on top
of each other In C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
Next to the bottles was a tall stack of plastic cups. I You'll find
my Ella Fitzgerald album in that stack of records over there. I
The whole stack fell over and half the plates were broken.
heap/hi:p/a large number of things which have been put
on top of each other untidily In C with singular orplural
verb in British English]
In the caves which were inhabited you find huge heaps of
animal bones. I We walked through the bombed area, past
heaps of smoking rubble.
GROUP/PUT INTO
GROUPS
1 to put things or people into groups
I to put things or people into groups
group sort
categorize class
classify grade
group/gru:p/to separate people or things into groups
according to a system Iv T usually passive]
be grouped according to/under At summer camp the kids
are grouped according to the sport they want to learn. I A
wide range of musical styles are grouped under the title of
"World Music: ] be grouped together The books have been
grouped together under subject headings. I group sb/sth
Divide everyone into different nationalities and group them
accordingly.
categorize/'kaeto goraz/to divide people or things into
groups according to what type they belong to Iv T]
categorize sth/sb according to Our books are categorized
according to subject - romance, sci-fi, thrillers etc. I catego-
rize sth/sb The data was compiled and categorized by com-
puter. [ categorize sth/sb as At the age of seven he was
wrongly categorized as educationally sub-normal.
categorization / keetgarai 'zeij'an [I -ra-/In U] the categori-
zation of prisoners according to the type of crime they have
committed
classify/'kleesfai/to decide what group books, plants,
animals etc belong to according to a system Iv T]
classify sth as He wasn't sure whether to classify the plant
as a moss or a lichen. I This government classifies far too
much material as secret. [ classify sth Scientists have dis-
covered a new type of butterfly which has not yet been
classified.
classification/,klesf keIj'an/In U] The Dewey decimal
system is used in the classification of library books.
sort/sa:rt/to arrange a large number of things in groups
so that they can be dealt with separately Iv T]
sort sth She comes into the office before the rest of the staff
to sort the mail. I He'd lived therefor 20years, so it took him
a week to sort andpack his things. I sort sth into She sorted
the clothes into two piles, those to be washed and those to be
ironed. [ sort sth according to We have to sort the eggs
according to size.
class/kla:s [[ klas/to regard people, things etc as belong-
ing to a particular group, especially according to an offi-
cial system Iv T]
class sb/sth as Approximately 10 million Americans are
classed as alcoholics. [ This prison houses the 390 most dan-
gerous criminals in Britian, those classed as "category A ". [
Heroin and cocaine are classed as hard drugs.
grade/gre;d/to separate things such as food, drinks, or
products into groups according to quality Iv T]
All the fruit is taken to the warehouse where it is graded and
packed. [ One supermarket now grades its wines on a scale
of 1 to 9from driest to sweetest.

grovel
!i grovel FRIENDLY 7
ii!. grow BECOME 1, 2, 3, 7, BIG 12, GROW PLANTS,
ii!! VEGETABLES ETC 1, GROW/GET BIGGER 1,
!iiii: INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 3,
,,,..'.i INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
 grow in MORE THAN BEFORE 3
 grow into BECOME 5, FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1
-%,.
!i grow out of COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7, FIT/BE THE
•  RIGHT SIZE 3, STOP DOING STH 5
i grow to: come/grow/get to START DOING STH 13
,: growup ADULT3
grow
PLANTS,
VEGETABLES
ETC
5?9 GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC
Increase in size /n,kri:s in 'saz/ if something
increases in size, it becomes bigger, especially as a result
of particular conditions Iv phrase]
As the plant grows, the roots also increase in size. I If the
tumour is not removed it will increase in size and may cause
a blockage.
mature/ma'tuar/ifa plant matures it grows to its full
size Iv I]
A tree takes many years to mature. I In the hot weather the
fruit matured quickly. "
2 words for describing someone or something
that has finished growing
fully grown
adult
mature
fully grown/, full Igrun/having reached normal adult
size [adj]
A fully grown elephant can weigh several tons. I He was very
tall even before he was fully grown. I The shrubs were trans-
planted fully grown from other parts of the country.
adult/ladAlt, adAlt/adult animal/insect/female etc
(=a word used especially in a scientific context meaning
one that has finished growing, used especially when com-
paring it with one that is younger) [adj only before noun]
The disease can be very serious in adult animals. I The adult
insect attracts its mate by sight, sound and smell. I The skull
seemed too small and light to belong to an adult male.
mature/mtsuar! a plant or animal that is mature has
finished growing and developing [adj]
The house has a lovely garden surrounded by mature oak
trees. I A hen is a mature female chicken, more than ten
months old.
GROW/GET BIGGER
ways of saying that people, animals, or plants
grow bigger
word for describing someone or something
that has finished growing
1 ways of saying that people, animals, or plants
grow bigger
grow Increase in size
get taller/bigger mature
develop
grow/grv/to become bigger and more developed over a
period of time, as part of a natural process Iv I]
Some children grow more quickly than others. I These plants
will start growing in the spring, and flower in early
summer. I The fish are kept in tanks until they have grown
enough to be released into the river.
growth [n U] A healthy diet is necessary for a child's normal
growth (=for a child to grow normally).
get taller/bigger /get ta:la r, 'b[gar/to become taller
or bigger over a period of time Iv phrase]
She was already 1.Sin when she was 13 but she didn't get any
taller after that. I That dog's getting bigger and bigger. I'm
sure you feed him too much.
develop/di Ivelap/to become bigger and more complete
over a period of time, as part of a natural process Iv I]
It takes nine months for the human embryo to develop fully.I
Geraniums need a good soil and plenty of light, and develop
best at relatively high temperatures.
development In U] Some parents fear that air polution may
harm their children's development (=how their children
develop).
GROW PLANTS,
VEGETABLES E'TC
to grow plants, vegetables etc
to put seeds or young plants into the ground
so that they can grow
the quantity of grain, vegetables, or fruit that
is grown in one season
words for describing land where the soil is
good for growing plants
words for describing land where the soil is
not good for growing plants
1 to grow plants, vegetables etc
grow
cultivate
raise
grow/gmu/[v T ]
Why don't you grow vegetables in your garden? I This soil
is perfect for growing carrots. I Herbs are quick and easy to
grow from seed.
cultivate / kAltIveIt! to grow plants, vegetables, grain etc
especially in order to sell them Iv T]
The peasants cultivate rice on the terraced hillsides. [ Gradu-
ally it was found more profitable to cultivate vines and olives
rather than grain. [ Now the land is barren, but once tobacco
was cultivated here.
cultivation /kAlt velSan/ In U] The book has detailed
instructions on the cultivation of maize.
cultivated [ adj ] Wild strawberries are smaller than the cul-
tivated variety.
raise/reiz/to grow plants, especially in large amounts to
be used as food Iv T]
Last year we raised a good crop of onions. [ Tomato plants
can be raised from seed in a heated greenhouse.

GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 580 GUESS
 to put seeds or young plants into the ground
so that they can grow
plant
sow
plant/plo:nt [[ plaint/[v T]
Before you plant the seeds prepare the soil carefully. I Her
grandfather planted large numbers of fruit trees at the back
of the house..[ Many of the flowers that we planted in our
garden have been killed by the very cold winter.
sow/sao/to plant seeds in the soil, especially in a planned
way and at the best time of year for them to grow well Iv
I/T]
sow seeds Sow the seeds in a line about 20 centimetres
apart.[ sow wheat/corn/rice etc If l had a little more land,
I could sow some wheat. [ sow If you want an early crop, you
should sow in September.
3 the quantity of grain, vegetables, or fruit that
is grown in one season
crop
harvest
crop/kmp II kra=p/In C]
The rain was so bad this year that he lost the whole crop of
barley. [ With high-yield varieties of rice the farmers can
grow two or three crops a year. [ potato/cereal/rice etc
crop Indian farmers have doubled their output of cereal
crops like wheat. [ record/bumper crop (=an unusually
large crop) Thanks to the lovely weather we had a bumper
crop of peaches and nectarines this year.
harvest/ha:rvst/the crops that are ready to be gathered
or that have been gathered at a particular time of the year
[nC]
We have to get the harvest in before the bad weather arrives. [
olive/grain/grape etc harvest This year's olive harvest
was the best since the war. [ a bumper harvest (=an
unusually large harvest) As a result of several bumper har-
vests, the country now has a grain surplus.
4 words for describing land where the soil is
good for growing plants
fertile
rich
fertile/'fa:taI1 II 'fa:rtl/[adj]
If the price of wheat increases, the less fertile land up the hill-
side will have to be cultivated. [ Farmers left the rocky hills
of New England for the fertile plains of the Middle West.
fertility/f3zr tIlti/[n U] You must do all you can to improve
the fertility of your soil (=to make your soil more fertile).
rich/ritf/rich soil/land (=good for growing plants, espe-
cially because it contains plenty of the substances that
plants need) [adj]
It's easy to grow good crops on the rich farmland of the
Ukraine. [ Cauliflowers need a rich soil and never do well
in dry conditions.
richness In U] Settlers arriving in the valley were amazed
at the richness of the soil.
 words for describing land where the soil is
not good for growing plants
poor
barren
poor/puar/poor soil/land (=not good for growing plants,
especially because it lacks the substances that plants need)
[ adj ]
The land around here is very poor because of years of inten-
sive farming. [ poor in sth The problem is that the soil is
very poor in minerals - put some fertilizer on it.
barren/'bmran/land that is barren is useless for grow-
ing crops on and is usually dry and bare [adj]
We set off up the rocky, barren slopes of the mountain. [ The
land, once rich and fertile, has become barren over the years. [
There are few more barren places on earth than the area sur-
rounding a volcano.
growing INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 5,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
growing number/increasing number MORE THAN
BEFORE 1
growl SAY 6
grown man/woman ADULT 1
grown-up ADULT 1
growth INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 9
grub FOOD 1
grubby DIRTY 1
grudge: bear a grudge DON'T LIKE 2, FORGIVE 4
grudgingly WILLING 4
gruelling DIFFICULT 3
gruff ROUGH VOICE 1
grumble COMPLAIN 2, 4
grumpy BAD-TEMPERED 1
grunt SAY 6
guarantee PROMISE 3, 5
guarantee: give sb a guarantee PROMISE 3
guard PROTECT 1, 3, 4
guard: be on your guard CAREFUL 4
guard: catch sb off guard READY 7
guard against PREVENT 2
guarded CAREFUL 5
guardian LOOK AFTER SB 5
guardian: defender/guardian PROTECT 3
guerrilla/guerilla REBELLION/REVOLUTION 4
guess GUESS 1, 2, 3, 4
guess: at a guess APPROXIMATELY 1, GUESS 2
guess: have a guess/take a guess GUESS 2
guess: I guess PROBABLY 1
guess: it's anybody's guess NOT KNOW 8
guess: make a guess GUESS 1
guess: my guess is GUESS 1
guess: your guess is as good as mine NOT KNOW 8
guess right GUESS 3
guess wrong GUESS 7
GUESS
to form an opinion about something without
knowing all the facts, so that you are not sure
if you are correct
1 to guess what has happened or what is likely
to happen
 to guess something such as a number,
amount, or fact
3 to guess something correctly
4 an attempt to guess something or an opinion
formed by guessing
5 a guess that is not based on much
information and is therefore likely to be wrong
6 the process of forming a judgement about
something by guessing
7 to get the wrong answer by guessing
1 to guess what has happened or what is likely
to happen
guess my guess is
make a guess surmise
speculate
guess/ges/[v I/T]
guess what/how ere Guess what happened next. [ guess
at We can only guess at the cause of the crash. [ guess (that)
The young physicists could not have guessed that their dis-
covery would mean a major scientific breakthrough. [ guess
sth It's impossible to guess the outcome of these negotiations. [

GUESS 581 GUESS
guess I'm only guessing, but I think we can expect snow in
the next couple of days.
make a guess /,meik a 'ges/to guess something, espe-
cially when you are trying to answer a question or explain
how something may have happened Iv phrase]
make a guess at/about/as to I can only make a guess at
who the thief might be. [ make an intelligent/educated/
informed guess (=guess something using the information
available to you) We can make an educated guess as to where
he bought the drugs, but we have no proof. [ make a guess
"How long do you think it would take us to get there?" "I have
no idea. I couldn't even make a guess. ""
speculate/'spekjOleIt/to think about or discuss some-
thing in order to guess what its causes or results might be
Iv I]
speculate about/on/as to I wouldn't like to speculate
about the outcome of the meeting. I Edward began to specu-
late on what life would be like if he were single again. I
speculate We don't know why the prehistoric stone circles
were built. We can only speculate.
my guess is/mai 'ges z/you say my guess is when you
are telling someone what you guess has happened or will
happen
my guess is (that) My guess is that Dad decided to get a
later train. I I can 't be sure of this, but my guess is they'll buy
the equipment from Japan.
surmise/sa r 'rnaIz, 'sa:rmalz/a formal word meaning to
guess something about a situation, someone's intentions
etc Iv T]
surmise that Emily privately surmised that Dixon had sent
her the anonymous gift. [ surmise what/how etc Holmes
had said nothing and I could only surmise what his course
of action would be.
2 to guess something such as a number,
amount, or fact
guess at a guess
have a guess/take a guess reckon
put sth at estimate
guess/ges/[v I/T]
guess what/how much etc Guess how much I paid for this
watch! I guess Did you know the answer or were you just
guessing? I guess at We can do no more than guess at the
date of this manuscript. I guess (that) Detectives guessed
that the attacker must be aged from 25 to 30.
have aguess (British) I take a guess (American)
/,hev a 'ges, ,teik a 'ges/to try to answer a question by
guessing Iv phrase]
"What does "infrasonic" mean?" "'I'm not sure, but I'll have
a guess. "" I "'No, I don't know how much the piano cost. ""
"'Take a guess. ""
put sth at/'pot (sth) et/put the cost/the value/sb's age
etc at (=guess that it is a certain amount, age etc without
trying to be very exact) [phr v T]
I'd put her age at around 35. I The cost of the improved roads
and electrical railways is put at about 42 billion dollars.
at a guess/at a 'ges/you say at a guess when you are
giving your opinion about a number, amount etc and you
want to make it dear that you are only guessing Iadv
phrase]
At a guess, I'd say that about 500 people work here. I at a
rough guess (=when you know that your answer is not at
all exact) "'What do you think the picture's worth?" "Around
$2000, at a rough guess. ""
reckon /'rekan/ a British word meaning to guess a
number or amount without calculating it exactly Iv T not
in progressive]
reckon (that) Joe reckoned he'd worked at least 80 hours
that week. I From the oldest fossils discovered, we can reckon
that life started at least three thousand millions years ago. I
be reckoned at The Duke's personal fortune was reckoned
at over $100 million.
estimate/' est ]met/to judge the value, size, speed etc of
something partly by calculating and partly by guessing,
but without being exact Iv T]
estimate (that) I would estimate that we'll get back to
Toronto by around 8.30. I It was estimated that over 5000
people took part in the demonstration. I be estimated at The
cost of the war is estimated at more than $10 billion, though
no one can be sure.
3 to guess something correctly
guess
guess right
estimate
guess/ges/Iv I/T not in progressive]
guess "I think you're about 29. "" "'That's right! How did you
guess?" l guess sth Samantha won a huge fruit cake by
guessing its weight. I You've guessed my secret, l guess
what/who/where etc You'll never guess who I saw last
night. I guess (that) She guessed immediately that I was
pregnant.
guess right ! ,ges ' raIq to answer a question correctly by
guessing Iv phrase not in progressive]
"'I guessed that you might be George's brother. .... Well, you
guessed right. "'1 Which hand have I got the chocolate in? If
you guess right you can have it.
estimate/'esQrnelt/to judge correctly the value, size,
speed etc of something partly by calculating, partly by
guessing Iv T not in progressive]
estimate what/how much etc I'll try to estimate how
much the furniture is worth. I estimate sth It's very difficult
to estimate the speed of a moving vehicle as it passes you.
4 an attempt to guess something or an opinion
formed by guessing
guess
estimate
guess/ges/In C]
This is only a guess, but I think Barbara might have gone
to Jan's house. I "'Where are you going for vacation?" "'I'll
give you three guesses!" l I didn't really know the answer.
It was just a lucky guess.
estimate /'estmt/ an opinion about the value, size,
speed etc of something that is formed partly by calculat-
ing and partly by guessing [n C]
According to some estimates, almost two thirds of the city has
been destroyed by the earthquake. [ at a rough estimate
(=making an estimate that is not intended to be exact) At
a rough estimate, I should say that the repairs will cost
around Ј60. [ conservative estimate (=an estimate that is
deliberately low) We're predicting a 10% rise in oil prices
- and that's a conservative estimate.
S a guess that is not based on much
information and is therefore likely to be wrong
rough guess hunch
shot in the dark wild guess
rough guess I,r^f 'ges! the answer you give when you
are trying to guess a number or amount but you are not
able to be exact In C usually singular]
I'd say Mrs Roberts was about 35, but that's only a rough
guess. I make a rough guess It's terribly difficult to calcu-
late, but one can make a rough guess and say the cost of the
advertising campaign will be half a million.
shot in the dark/,ot n 6a 'do:rk II ,o:t-/a guess that
you make when you have no information at a11, so that it
is almost certainly wrong In phrase]
I know it's a shot in the dark, but maybe Barnes has used
his telephone number as a secret code-number.
hunch/hAnt]/a strange feeling that you know the answer
to something, even though you have very little information
to help you to guess In C]
It's just a hunch, but it's possible the murderer may have been
a woman. I have a hunch I have a hunch that Jodie may
be planning a surprise party.

GUESS 582 GUILTY
wild guess /:waild 'ges/a guess, especially an answer,
that may seem stupid or is very likely to be wrong [n C]
This is a wild guess, but is the answer Michael Jackson? [
I'll take a wild guess and say Tenerife.
the process of forming a judgement about
something by guessing
guesswork speculative
speculation conjecture
guesswork / 'gesw3:rk/the method of trying to find the
answer to something by guessing, because you have little
or no information to help you [n U]
Up to this point the police investigation has been based on
guesswork, with no help from members of the public. [ pure
guesswork (=that is not based on any information at all)
"'How did you work out the answer to the puzzle? .... Oh, it
was pure guesswork. ""
speculation/,spekj'leIfan/guesses about what is hap-
pening, will happen, or has happened, which may not be
correct In usually]
There has been a lot of speculation about the date of the next
election. [ News of the violent demonstration comes amid
speculations about the release of the hostages. [ pure specu-
lation (=that is not based on any information at all) The
President said that the newspaper report about his health
was 'pure speculation'.
speculative/'spekjlativ [[ -leltiV/an opinion, explana-
tion etc that is speculative is based on guessing and not
on facts [adj]
All of these company predictions are basically speculative. [
Theories of the origin of life are partly speculative, since there
is so little direct evidence available. [ highly speculative
Much of the discussion was highly speculative.
conjecture/kan  dsektj'r/a formal word meaning guess-
ing that is based on incomplete information In U]
It's a matter for conjecture who wrote the original text in the
fifteenth century. [ pure conjecture (=that is not based on
any information at all) The judge dismissed the evidence as
pure conjecture.
7 to get the wrong answer by guessing
guess wrong
overestimate
underestimate
guess wrong I,ges 'rod II -'ro:  /Iv phrase]
I guessed she was about ten years old, but I guessed wrong.
I
overestimate / uvr estomeIt/to guess that something
is bigger, faster, more expensive, more important etc than
it really is Iv T]
The company overestimated the number of jobs that it would
be able to offer. [ When you are driving, it's very easy to over-
estimate the distance between your car and the one in front
of you.
] I
overestimate/uvar estmt! In C] We thought the job
would cost $5000, but this was an overestimate (=we overes-
timated the cost).
underestimate l,^ndrestmeit! to guess that some-
thing is smaller, slower, cheaper, less important etc than
it really is Iv T]
We underestimated the amount of drink we needed for the
party, so we had to buy some more. [ Never underestimate
the importance of public opinion.
underestimate/,^ndrestmlt/ [n C] There could be 50
people at the wedding, but this is probably an underestimate
(=I have probably underestimated the number of people).
 guesswork GUESS 6
i guest STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 3, VISIT 7
i' guest: be my guest LET/ALLOW 4, YES 2
 guest: house guest STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 3
i guest on/be a guest on TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 6
:: guidance ADVISE 5
..
 guide INSTRUCTIONS 2, TAKE/BRING 7, 9
•  guidelines INSTRUCTIONS 1
guilt GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 2
guilt-ridden GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 1
guilty GUILTY 1
i,- guilty: feel guilty GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 1
 guilty: find sb guilty GUILTY 5
i' guilty: find sb not guilty INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 3
... guilty: not feel guilty GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 3
;': guilty: not guilty INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 1
guilty: plead not guilty INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 2
., guilty: the guilty GUILTY 2
guilty: the guilty party GUILTY 2
.Ig .ui=tyl ...
which meaning. ?.
...
..... 
guilty of a':rime 4  GUILTY
eel guilty bout ;::...=.  .......... 
;,y0U have ne4:;i) SORRY
something .is- }:}:;}i;,, ,,,,,:- @ FAULTIBE SB'S
.. som6e;.s f/ !(,....:":::  FAULT
::'.not:gu.iY 0f :..rie , ,,,,= -@ INNOCENT/NOT
y that meone s ,..,..:. @ ACCUSE
............. :....: ,..,, .........................................................................................................................................................
GUILTY
guilty of a crime or of doing something bad
someone who is guilty of something bad or
criminal
to show or prove that someone is guilty
to deliberately try to make someone seem
guilty, when in fact they are not
to officially state in a court of law that it has
been proved that someone is guilty
1 guilty of a crime or of doing something bad
guilty
responsible
culpable
guilty/'gIlti/[adj]
guilty of sth A shopkeeper is guilty of an offence if he sells
alcohol to anyone under the age of lS. [ guilty of doing sth
I may have been guilty of neglecting my family at times, and
I feel very bad about that. [ guilty Why did you try to con-
ceal the names of the two guilty men?[ plead guilty (=admit
in a court of law that you are guilty) The defendant pleaded
guilty to the charge, and asked for 10 other offences to be
taken into account.
guilt In U] It's up to the prosecution to establish the defen-
dant's guilt (=that he is guilty).
responsible /rIsponsIbal [[ ri'spo:n-! guilty of doing
something criminal or wrong or of causing something bad
to happen [adj not before noun]
responsible for This man was responsible for the deaths
of three teenage girls in a horrific road accident. [ Bundy

GUILTY 583 GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY
may have been responsible for up to 25 murders spread
across seven states. I I'd like to explain that I am not respon-
sible for firing any of the workers in this division. I respon-
sible Following a series of leaks, the government has
launched an internal inquiry to find out who is responsible.
culpable/' kAlpbal/a word used especially in formal or
legal contexts, meaning guilty of causing something bad
to happen, especially because you did not do anything to
prevent it [adj]
Lawyers are debating whether allowing a terminally ill
patient to die amounts to culpable homicide.I If people
develop smoking-related diseases, are they, or the tobacco
companies, culpable?
2 someone who is guilty of something bad or
criminal
the culprit
the guilty party
the guilty
the culprit/6a 'kAlprt/ someone who has done some-
thing wrong, especially a crime In C]
Some money was taken from my desk yesterday; I think I
know who the culprit is. [ Information given to police by an
informer resulted in the culprits being brought to justice.
the guilty party/6 ,gilti Ipo:rti/a formal expression
meaning the person who is guilty of a crime or something
wrong, used especially when people are trying to find out
who is guilty In phrase]
We think we know who the guilty party is, but we need your
help to find the evidence. I It's silly to imagine that one part-
nor in a divorce is completely innocent and that the other is
the sole guilty party.
the guilty 16a IgIlti/an expression meaning people who
are guilty of crimes, used especially when you are talking
about them in a genered, way In plurall
It sometimes seems that our legal system protects the guilty
while making life very hard for the victim.
3 to show or prove that someone is guilty
implicate
incriminate
incriminating
implicate/'mplkeit/to show that someone has been
involved in a crime Iv T l
implicate sb in sth New evidence implicates Mr Stapleton
and his wife in the blackmail attempt. [ The managing direc-
tor of the bank was implicated in a fraud scandal. [ impli-
cate sb She is claiming that the police are deliberately trying
to implicate her.
incriminate/n'krmnet/to be proof that someone is
guilty of something Iv T]
Tape recordings of alleged conversations between the two
suspects are unlikely to incriminate them. I These tapes
incriminate a number of well-known politicians.
incriminating /Inlkrlmneltlrj/ incriminating evi-
dence/documents/tapes etc (--that prove that someone
is guilty of something) [adj]
They tried to dispose of the incriminating evidence by burn-
ing all their blood-stained clothes. [ The most incriminating
object was the receipt from the hotel. [ highly incriminat-
ing I understand the police have found some documents
which are highly incriminating.
4 to deliberately try to make someone seem
guilty, when in fact they are not
set sb up pin sth on
frame plant
set sb up I iset (sb) lap/an informal expression meaning
to deliberately make it seem that someone is guilty of a
crime that they are not really guilty of [phr v T usually in
passive]
Don't go to meet him. It sounds like you're being set up. I He
wasn't guilty of the fraud; he'd been set up by his business
rivals.
frame/freim/to make someone seem guilty of a crime,
especially by providing something that seems like proof
[vT]
frame sb That "s not my handwriting and it's not my signa-
ture! I've been framed. I frame sb for The accused told the
court that the police tried to frame him for assault.
pin sth on/Ipln (sth) on II -ca:n/an informal expression:
if the police pin a crime on someone, they prove that the
person is guilty or they make it seem that the person is
guilty [phr v T]
The police pinned the murder on two men who were later
proved to be innocent. I You're not going to pin it on me! I
was a hundred miles away at the time.
plant /plo:nt II plent/ to put something such as illegal
drugs or stolen goods into someone's house or into their
pocket, to make it seem that they are guilty of a crime [v T]
plant sth on sb Someone planted the drugs on her before
she left the country. I plant sth The police found the stolen
cameras in his flat, but he insisted they had been planted.
5 to officially state in a court of law that it has
been proved that someone is guilty
find sb guilty
convict
find sb guilty/,fand (sb) 'gdti/[v phrase]
be found guilty of The two men were found guilty of the
murder and jailed for life. ] He was found guilty of supply-
ing drugs. I find sb guilty If the jury finds him guilty he
will face a maximum sentence of seven years.
convict/kanlvkt/to officially state in a court of law that
someone is guilty, especially of a serious crime, and decide
what punishment they should havb Iv T]
be convicted of All four men were convicted of illegally
bringing drugs into the country. I Have you ever been con-
victed era criminal offence? l convict sb If she is convicted,
she will be sent to prison.
GUILTY/FEEL
GUILTY
1 to feel guilty because you have done
something wrong, especially something that
has harmed someone else
2 a guilty feeling
3 to not feel guilty about something, even
though other people may think it is wrong
4 to try to stop yourself feeling guilty about
something
1 to feel guilty because you have done
something wrong, especially something that
has harmed someone else
feel guilty be on your conscience
be/feel ashamed feel bad about
have a bad/guilty guilt-ridden
conscience
feel guilty/,fi:l 'glti/[v phrase]
He took some money out of his mother's purse but then felt
guilty and put it back. I feel guilty about Many working
mothers feel guilty about leaving their children and going
out to work. I feel guilty for doing sth I heard he had been
ill and then felt guilty for getting mad at him. I feel guilty
that When my Grandmother died I felt guilty that I had not
visited her more while she was alive. I feel guilty at Dis-
covering his wife wasn't having an affair made him feel
guilty at his lack of trust.

GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 584 guzzle
be/feel ashamed/,bi:, ,rid 'Jemd/to feel very guilty
and disappointed with yourself because you have done
something that you know is wrong [v phrase]
When I realized how much I had upset her I was ashamed. I
be/feel ashamed of Don't be ashamed of your feelings. They
are perfectly normal. I be/feel ashamed of yourself Feel-
ing slightly ashamed of herself, she apologized for being so
rude. I be/feel ashamed that He was thoroughly ashamed
that he had stolen the money. I be/feel ashamed to do sth
She felt too ashamed to tell her parents she was pregnant. I
be/feel bitterly ashamed When I found out the truth I was
bitterly ashamed for ever having called her a liar.
have a bad/guilty conscience/hazy  =bad, =gllti
'kDn  ans II -'ke:n-/to feel guilty for a long time and keep
thinking about something bad that you have done, so that
you do good things to make yourself feel less guilty [v
phrase not in progressive]
For months after the accident he had a bad conscience and
couldn't sleep at night. I have a bad/guilty conscience
about Why is she being so nice to everyone all of a sudden?
She's obviously got a guilty conscience about something.
be on your conscience/bi: onj::r kDnans l[ -'ko:n-/
if something bad that you have done is on your con-
science you cannot stop feeling guilty and thinking about
it [v phrase]
Even if you didn't get caught, the murder would be on your
conscience for the rest of your life. [ I'm going to tell my wife
I had an affair - I can't live with this on my conscience.
feel bad about / fi:l 'bad baot/to feel a little guilty and
sad about something you have done or are going to do that
you know is not very good or right [v phrase]
I felt bad about lying to her. I We don't visit our parents as
often as we should - we feel bad about that. [ You're much
too busy to help Ian move house - don't feel bad about it.
guilt-ridden I' gilt rdn/feeling so guilty about something
bad you have done that you cannot think about anything
else [adj ]
He felt so guilt-ridden after stealing the money that he put
it back in the cash register. [ After the accident she became
guilt-ridden and neurotic and had a nervous breakdown.
2 a guilty feeling
guilt remorse
shame conscience
guilt/gilt/[n U]
Davis eventually confessed because he found he couldn't live
with his guilt. [ guilt about/at The man had an obsessive
guilt about having survived the holocaust when so many
friends had not. I She felt both relief and guilt at admitting
her problems. ] a sense of guilt (=a feeling of guilt) Divorce
often leaves those concerned with a sense of guilt. I racked
with guilt (=feeling extremely guilty) Racked with guilt,
he decided to confess everything.
shame/Jelm/a feeling of guilt and disappointment with
yourself because you have done something that you know
is wrong [n U]
Getting pregnant before she was married had left her with
an intense feeling of shame. I shame at She couldn't hide her
shame at having hit her child. [ shame about Too many
teenagers are taught to feel guilt or shame about sex. I die
of shame (=be very ashamed) I'd die of shame if my par-
ents found out that I smoke.
remorse ]ri Ima:rs/a strong feeling of guilt about some-
thing you have done wrong and feel sorry about [n U]
He admitted killing the man but showed no sign of remorse. [
remorse for She was full of remorse for being so cruel to
her younger brother. [ remorse at Many men are afflicted
with guilt and remorse at leaving their wives. I twinge/
pang of remorse (=a sudden feeling of remorse) The
woman sounded so nice, McKee felt a twinge of remorse at
what he had done to her family.
conscience/'kDnJans [I 'ko:n-/a feeling of guilt which
stops you doing something wrong or which makes you feel
unhappy about something wrong that you have already
done [n U ]
Her murderer was a psychopath with a total lack of con-
science. I twinge/pang of conscience (=a sudden feeling
of guilt) He was capable of making the most ruthless deci-
sions with no apparent pangs of conscience.
3 to not feel guilty about something
not feel guilty have no qualms about
a clear conscience have/feel no compunction
not feel guilty/nDt fi:l tgIlti/ to not feel guilty about
something [v phrase not usually in progressive]
I made her cry but I don't feel guilty - she deserved it. I not
feel guilty about Working mothers shouldn't feel guilty
about wanting a career. [ I don't understand how on earth
he can go on lying like that and not feel guilty about it.
a clear conscience/ =klI r kon[ans [I -'ko:n-/a feel-
ing that you have done nothing wrong or that you do not
consider something you have done to be wrong so that you
can relax and do not need to worry about it [n phrase]
with a clear conscience You can face Lionel with a clear
conscience - you've done nothing to harm him. I have a clear
conscience Let them say whatever they like. I have a clear
conscience.
have no qualms about / hcv nau ' kwo:mz abaot/to not
feel guilty about something you have done, even though
other people think that it is wrong [v phrase not in
progressive]
She had no qualms about sending her young children to
boarding school. [ Donald had been stealing stationery from
work for years and had no qualms about it.
have/feel no compunction/hev, fi:l ,no kam'p^rjk-
Jan/a formal expression meaning to not feel guilty about
something you have done even though other people think
that it is wrong [v phrase not in progressive]
have no compunction about Eliot felt no compunction
about living at the expense of his friends. [ have no com-
punction I warn you. These people have no compunction
whatsoever and cannot be trusted.
4 to try to stop yourself feeling guilty about
something
salve your conscience
clear your conscience
salve your conscience/,s;lvja:r 'kDnj'ans II -'ko:n-/
to try to stop yourself feeling guilty by doing something
good or kind [v phrase]
She felt guilty and tried to salve her conscience by inviting
him out for a meal. [ Don't think you can salve your con-
sciences by giving us money. We won't forgive you that easily.
clear your conscience/kllo r ja:r 'konj'ans l[ -ko:n-/
to stop yourself feeling guilty by telling someone about
something bad that you have done [v phrase not in
progressive]
She decided to clear her conscience and confess everything. [
He knew he might get into trouble if he went to the police but
he had to do it to clear his conscience.
guinea pig TEST/EXPERIMENT 6
gulf DIFFERENT 13
gullible BELIEVE 9
gulp/gulp down DRINK 2
gun down SHOOT 3
gun: jump the gun EARLY 5
gunfire SHOOT 8, 9
guns: stick to your guns CHANGE YOUR MIND 5
gurgle SOUND 16
guru ADVISE 6
gut feeling INSTINCT 1
guts BRAVE 2
guts: hate sb's guts HATE 1
guts: have the guts to do sth BRAVE 5
guts: not have the guts BRAVE 7
gutted BURN 8
guy/bloke/chap MAN 1
guzzle EAT 3

habit
habit ADDICTED 4, HABIT 1
habit: break the habit STOP DOING STH 5
habit: force of habit HABIT 2
habit: get into the habit of START DOING STH 7
habit: have a habit of doing sth HABIT 2, OFTEN 2
habit: kick the habit STOP DOING STH 5
habit: not be in the habit of NOT DO STH 10
habit: not make a habit of it NOT DO STH 10
habit: out of habit/from habit HABIT 2
HABIT
something that someone does repeatedly and
often does not realize because they have done
it so many times before
words meaning a habit
ways of saying that someone does something
because it is a habit they have
1 words meaning a habit
habit
mannerism
ways
habit/'hebt/[n C]
She has a lot of little habits that I find really irritating. I
Don't tell my mother I smoke, she thinks it's a filthy habit. I
At first you think "Tll just have one cigarette, '" but then it
becomes a habit and you're smoking 60 a day. I get into the
habit of doing sth It's easy to get into the habit of not lock-
ing the door, then one day you come home and all your things
have been stolen.
mannerism / 'manarzam/a way of speaking or a small
movement of the face or body that is slightly different from
other people's, which someone often uses, especially one
that seems slightly odd In C]
He has inherited all his father's mannerisms, like that funny
way he has of wrinkling his nose when he talks. [ Students
will often pick on a teacher's mannerisms when they want
to make fun of them.
ways/weIz! someone's habits and their usual behaviour,
used especially when you think they seem rather odd and
you cannot understand them In plural]
The boss had some strange ways - I remember she always
used to make us run around the office every morning before
we started work. [ He's lived with them - he knows their
ways.
' ways of saying that someone does something
because it is a habit they have
have a habit of doing sth
out of habit/from habit
force of habit
have a habit of doing sth/hcv a ,habt av 'du:irj (sth)/
to do something often, especially something annoying,
because it is a habit you have Iv phrase not in progressive]
Robert has an annoying habit of saying the wrong thing at
the wrong time. I She has a habit of leaving the front door
open when she goes out.
out of habit/from habit/aot av 'halbert, fram Ihabrt/
because it is your habit, not because you have thought
about what you are doing and decided this is what you
585
should do [adv phrase]
Many people go to church out of habit, not because of any
deep religious beliefs. [ From habit, I started to walk towards
the Barrio de Carmen where I used to live.
hand back
force of habit/,f:rs av 'habt/you say force of habit
when you are explaining that the reason you continue or
someone else continues to do something is because it has
become a habit
"We bought you a washing machine Granny, so why do you
still wash everything by hand? .... Force of habit, I suppose,
dear. "'1 They don't really need to do it that way any more,
it's just force of habit.
habitable LIVE SOMEW.HERE 10
habitual OFTEN 4
habitually ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 1
hack CUT 7, REPORT 3
hack: it hacks me off/it ticks me.off ANNOY 1
hacked off: ticked off/hacked off ANNOY 4
hackneyed USE STH 15
had IF 1
had: has had it BROKEN 3
had: have had it FED UP 1
had: to be had AVAILABLE 2
had: you've been had CHEAT 1
haggard TIRED 8
haggle CHEAP 10
hail: be hailed as PRAISE 4
hail sth/sb as CALL/DESCRIBE AS 1
hair: let your hair down RELAXED 2
hair: make sb's hair stand on end FRIGHTENED 7
hair-raising FRIGHTENED 6
half: break in two/in half BREAK 8
half: break sth in two/in half BREAK 2
half-asleep TIRED 2
half-baked STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 5
half-brother/half-sister FAMILY 6
half-hearted ENTHUSIASTIC 5
half-light: the half-light DARK 1
half-starved HUNGRY/STARVING 1
half the time OFTEN 1
half-truth LIE/TELL A LIE 2
halfway MIDDLE 4
halfway: meet sb halfway AGREE 5
hallmarks: have all the hallmarks of SEEM 1
hallucinate IMAGINE 3
hallucination IMAGINE 4, SEE 9
halt STOP MOVING 1, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 1
halt: call a halt to STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
halt: come to a halt STOP MOVING 1
halt: come to a stop/halt STOP MOVING 3
halt: grind to a halt STOP MOVING 3
halve REDUCE 1
ham-fisted CLUMSY 1
ham it up ACTOR/ACTRESS 8
hammer HIT 7
hammer: clobber/hammer BEAT/DEFEAT 2
hammer: come/go under the hammer SELL 6
hammer out DISCUSS 2
hamper PROBLEM 9
hand GIVE 2
hand: a hand HELP 10
hand: be close at hand NEAR 4
hand: by hand PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 1
hand: get out of hand CONTROL 21
hand: give/lend a hand HELP 1
hand: give sb a big hand PRAISE 8
hand: have a hand in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 4
hand: hold sb's hand HOLD 6
hand: in hand HOLD 1, REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
hand: in your hand HOLD 1
hand: know somewhere like the back of your hand
KNOW STH 3
hand: on the other hand BUT 3
hand: run hand over/along etc TOUCH 1
your
hand: take sb by the arm/hand etc HOLD 7
hand: to hand HAVE 2
hand: try your hand at TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD
hand aroundlround GIVE 4
hand back GIVE 11

hand down 586 HAPPEN
hand down: be handed down GIVE 10
hand in/give in GIVE 7
hand in glove with WITH 4
hand in hand: go hand in hand CONNECTED WITH 1
hand in hand: go with/go hand in hand with RESULT 7
hand in your notice/resignation LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 1
hand-me-downs CLOTHES 5
hand out/give out GIVE 4
hand over GIVE 7, 8
hand round : hand around/round GIVE 4
handbook INSTRUCTIONS 2
handful: a handful of FEW/NOT MANY 1
handicap DISABLED 2, DISADVANTAGE 1
handicapped DISABLED 1
handicapped: be handicapped DISADVANTAGE 3
handle DEAL WITH 1, 2, HOLD 4, TREAT/BEHAVE
TOWARDS 1
handling of TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDS 2
handmade MAKE 9
handout GIVE 20
handpicked/hand-picked CHOOSE 8
hands: be good with your hands GOOD AT 4
hands: be in good hands SAFE 1
hands: be out of sb's hands/be no longer in sb's
hands CAN'T 4
hands: fall into sb's hands GET 6
hands: get/lay your hands on GET 2
hands: hold hands HOLD 6
hands: play into sb's hands HELP 1
hands: sb's hands are tied CAN'T 4
hands: take your life in your hands DANGEROUS 6
hands down: win hands down WIN 4
hands full: have your hands full BUSY/HAVE A LOT
TO DO 1
hands off TOUCH 6
hands-on TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 5
handsome BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 2, BIG 7
handwash WASH 6
handwriting: writing/handwriting WRITE 8
handwritten WRITE 13
handy CONVENIENT 1, NEAR 4, 5, USEFUL 1
handy: be handy with GOOD AT 4
handy: come in handy/useful USEFUL 3
hang ATTACH 2, DOWN 11
hang: get the hang of LEARN 1
hang around WAIT 1
hang in the balance: be/hang in the balance
UNCERTAIN 2
hang on HOLD 2
hang on: hinge on/hang on DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1
hang on: hold on/hang on WAIT 2
hang on: keep sb hanging on WAIT 5
hang on/hold on WAIT 1
hang onto KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 1, 5
hang out SPEND TIME 1
hang over SOON 6
hang together LOGICAL 2
hang up TELEPHONE 7
hang-up WORRIED 9
hangover DRUNK 8, REMAIN/BE LEFT 4
hanker affer WANT 6
haphazard CARELESS 3
happen HAPPEN 1, 4
happen: be happening HAPPEN 6
happen: as it happens CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
happen: nothing ever happens BORING 5
happen: what's happening/what's going on HAPPEN 7
happen again HAPPEN 14
happen to HAPPEN 12
happen to do sth CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
HAPPEN
9
10
11
12
13
14
words meaning to happen
to happen unexpectedly
ways of saying that something happens that
is planned or arranged
ways of saying that something actually
happens after you have hoped, expected,
worried, or said it would happen
to happen with a good or bad result
ways of saying that something is happening
now
ways of asking what is happening
to be the place where, or the time when,
something important happened
something that happens, that is not planned
something planned that happens
a series of bad, unpleasant, or shocking
things that happen at the same time
ways of saying that something happens to
someone or something
words for describing a period of time in which
a lot of things happen
to happen again
1 words meaning to happen
happen there is
occur it comes to
come about
happen/'hpn/[v I]
The accident happened at two o "clock this afternoon. I What's
happened? Why are you crying? I The strangest thinF hap-
pened when I was in Singapore. I Before I realised what was
happening, the car had spun off the road and into a ditch. I
You mustn't go there alone. Why, anything might happen! I
it happen that /t sometimes happens that the engine
overheats.
occtlr/'k3: r] a formal word meaning to happen [v I]
These violent incidents frequently occur without any warn-
ing. I The court will have to decide exactly what occurred on
the night Mellor died. I Tornadoes occur when a warm
weather front meets a body of very cold air.
occurrence/lkArns II :)k3:-/[n U] The drug is being tested
to assess the occurrence of side effects (--how often they
occur).
©ome about ! I kAm 'baut] to happen, especially as a
result of earlier events or decisions [phr v I not in
progressive ]
Our problems came about because we ignored the advice of
experts. I Social reforms have often come about as a result
of political revolutions. I Why this sudden change should
have come about we do not know. I come about that How
did it come about that the murderer made such a mistake?
there is [5cr z! if there is an event, accident, change
etc, it happens, especially unexpectedly
There has been a major accident on the Dallas-Fortworth
turnspike. I There was another shooting incident in Belfast
last night. I You should consult a doctor if there is any change
in your condition.
it comes to /[t k/tlTIz tu:/an expression used when you
mean that a situation becomes so bad that something
extremely unpleasant happens
it comes to this/that/it etc So it's come to this! So desper-
ate for a drink that you steal money from your own daugh-
ter! I Sell the house? Surely it hasn't come to that yet. I it
comes to sth If it comes to a fight we'll be ready for them.

HAPPEN 587 HAPPEN
2 to happen unexpectedly
crop up turn up
come up present itself
arise
crop up /tkrop tap [I ,kra:p-/an informal expression: if
something such as a problem crops up, it happens sud-
denly and unexpectedly [phr v I]
A couple of problems cropped up while you were away. [ If
anything crops up, give me a call. [ You have to learn to deal
with difficult situations when they crop up. It's not a skill
that can be taught.
come up/tkAm t^p/ if something, especially a problem
or a chance to do something comes up, it happens unex-
pectedly [phr v I]
He rang to say he would be late home - something had come
up at the office. [ You expect a few problems to come up when
you change to a new computer system. [ There are job vacan-
cies from time to time. I'll let you know if anything comes up.
arise/at raiz/a formal word: ifa problem or difficult situ-
ation arises, it happens and comes to your attention [v I
not usually in progressive]
We must make the document absolutely clear to ensure mis-
understandings do not arise. [ The legal problems first arose
when we tried to sell our house. [ arise from (=arise as a
result of something) conflict arising from tensions between
the different ethnic groups
turn up /tta=rn t^p/if something such as a job or a chance
to do something turns up, it happens or becomes availa-
ble through good luck [phr v I not in progressive]
Don't worry, something will turn up. [ I've been looking for
a job for two months. If nothing turns up soon, I think I'll
go abroad for a while.
present Itself/prI t zent Itself/a formal expression: if a
chance to do something presents itself it happens and you
notice it [v phrase not in progressive]
You could not expect an opportunity like this to present itself
more than once in your lifetime. [ We had been waiting until
the right occasion presented itself.
3 ways of saying that something happens that
is planned or arranged
take place
be
take place/,teIk 'pleIs/[v phrase]
Where is the meeting taking place? [ The wedding will take
place at St Andrew's church. [ Police have obtained a court
injunction to prevent the demonstration taking place.
be/bi; strong bi:/ifa planned event is at a particular time
or place, it happens or is arranged to happen at that time
or place [v]
Dinner is at eight, so be there by half past seven. [ There is
a big carnival in Kingston every year. [ Last year's degree
ceremony was in the main faculty building.
be realized (also .ise British)/bi: 'rIalaIzd/if your expec-
tations, hopes, fears etc are realized, what you expected
or hoped for actually happens Iv phrase]
At thirty-five her ambition of running her own business was
finally realized. I My worst fears were realized when I saw
what was on the exam paper. [ I feel confident that the high
expectations I have of my new job will be realised.
be fulfilled/hi: fol tfild/if a wish or promise is fulfilled,
what someone wished for or promised actually happens Iv
phrase]
The witches told the king that his wish would be fulfilled
before the year was over. [ We knew that the 'democratic elec-
tions" were a promise which would not be fulfilled.
materialize (also-ise British) Ima'tarialalz/if an event
which has been planned, expected, or promised material-
izes, it actually happens [v I usually in negative sentences]
Marx predicted a revolution in England, but this never
materialized. [ Even if the salary raise materializes, it won't
be worth much. ] fail to materialize (=not happen) The
promised recovery failed to materialize and unemployment
kept on rising.
5 to happen with a good or bad result
turn out go
work out/pan out go off/pass off
turn out /,ta:rn taot/to happen so that the final result is
good, bad, unexpected etc [phr v I]
We were worried when only twenty people came to the party
but it turned out very well. [ How did things turn out in the
end? [ The operation didn't turn out quite as expected, did
it? I as it turned out We were expecting James at twelve
o "clock but, as it turned out, he was delayed and didn't arrive
until three.
work out/pan out/twa:rk taot, tpan taot/ informal
expressions meaning to happen with a particular result,
especially a successful or unsuccessful one [phr v I]
work out well/all right/brilliantly etc Some campaigns
work out better than others. [ It's too early to say whether this
plan is going to succeed - we shall just have to see how things
work out. [ We had a few problems when Jake first gave up
work, but things are panning out very well now.
go/gaol if something such as an arranged event or some-
one's work goes well, badly etc, it happens in a way that
is successful or unsuccessful etc Iv I]
Did the party go well? [ Things went badly for the company
last year. Their profits are down by 50%. [ How's the job
going these days?
go off/pass off /,gao 'of, ,po:s-II-,ps 'a:f/ if an
arranged event goes off or passes off well or successfully,
it happens and is completed successfully [phr v I not in
progressive ]
go off well/successfully etc Thanks to the helpful staff at
the hotel, the conference went off very well. [ Having planned
the celebrations with so much care, we were relieved that they
had passed off smoothly.
4 ways of saying that something actually
happens after you have hoped, expected,
worried, or said it would happen
happen be fulfilled
come true materialize
be realized
happen / 'hapan/Iv I]
For some time there had been predictions of a major earth-
quake, and then on April 19, 1906, it happened. [ We'd always
feared that this might happen.
come true/tkAm ttru:/if your wishes, dreams etc come
true, what you have wished for or dreamed about actually
happens Iv phrase]
Patterson's dream came true when he won the Boston mara-
thon on his first attempt. [ Good luck to you, Katie, and may
all your wishes come true. [ If scientists" predictions come
true, the Earth's temperature will rise by five degrees in the
next fifty years.
6 ways of saying that something is happening
now
be happening
be going on
be in progress
be on
be in full swing
under
be in operation
be happening Ibi: thapanIrj/[v phrase]
She looked into the room to see what was happening. [ What's
happening over there, where all the noise is coming from? [
The economy is in recession, and there is no point pretend-
ing it isn't happening.
be going on/bi: tgauirj 'on/if something is going on it
is happening, especially if it makes you feel worried or
annoyed Iv phrase/
They're making a terrible noise upstairs, but I can't find out
what's going on. [ When she realised what was going on,
Helen demanded a divorce. [ What the hell's going on? What
are you doing in my office?

HAPPEN 588 HAPPEN
be in progress /bi: n 'progres II-'pro:-/ a formal
expression: if an arranged event, game, or operation is in
progress, it has started and has not finished yet [vphrase]
At the far end of the train a card game was still in progress. I
There must be no noise in the school while examinations are
in progress. I An emergency relief operation is already in
progress in Southern Sudan.
be on/bi: 'on II -'a:n/to be happening now or to be going
to happen [phr v I]
The presidential election was on when we arrived in the
States. ] People have to learn to economize when there is a
war on. I The summer sales are on next week.
be in full swing/bi: in ,fol 'swir/if an organized activity
or an event such as a party is in full swing, it has already
been happening for some time and people are taking part
in a very active way Iv phrase]
By the time I got there the party was in full swing and every-
one was dancing. I Barcelona was full of visitors, and prepa-
rations for the Olympic Games were in full swing.
under/'^ndar/under construction/investigation/re-
view/discussion ere (=being constructed, investigated
etc) [prep]
The details of the plan are still under discussion. I While the
company's tax records are under investigation, business
trading has been suspended.
be in operalion/bi: in ,opa'reifdn II -,a:p-/ifa plan or
a system is in operation, it is being used and is working
[ v phrase[
In dava there are a number of irrigation systems in opera-
tion. I More than 20 training programmes are in operation,
with almost 2000 trainees.
7 ways of asking what is happening
what's happening?/what's going on?
what's up?
what's happening?lwhat's going on? /,wets
hepdni, ,wots go 'on/
The room began to shake and we stared at each other in fear.
"'What's happening?" asked Robert. I "'What's going on at
the town hall?" asked my mother. "'There's a huge crowd of
people there. "'
what's up? /,wets ,^p/ (an informal American
expression)
What's up, guys? You doing anything tonight?
8 to be the place where, or the time when,
something important happened
see the scene of
witness bring
see/si:! a word used especially in newspapers and books:
if a period of time sees something such as problems, vio-
lence, or changes in society, that is the period in which they
happen Iv T not usually in progressive]
1981 saw major riots in several cities in the UK. I The last
40years have seen important changes in public attitudes to
social and moral issues.
wilness I' wItnIs/a word used especially in newspapers
and books: if a period of several years witnesses impor-
tant events, that is the period in which they happen Iv T[
The 1980s witnessed a breakthrough in East/West relations. [
The period 1880-1914 witnessed a revolution in English
education.
the scene of /6 'si:n ov/ the scene of a violent,
unpleasant, or important event is the place where it hap-
pens [n phrase]
Siracusa, in the south, was the scene of an important naval
battle. [ It took the police about ten minutes to arrive at the
scene of the crime.
bring/brI0/if a period of time brings changes, problems
etc they happen at that time [v T not in passive]
The 1930s brought hardship for many. [ The new school term
always brings fresh ideas and suggestions. [February
brings the rains.
9 something that happens, that is not planned
event happening
occurrence thing
incident phenomenon
event/I' vent/something that happens, especially some-
thing that is important or interesting In C[
Meeting Professor Kearney was an event which changed my
life. I The events leading up to the war are well-known. I At
seven o'clock they have dinner, during which they catch up
on the day's events. I sequence of events (=the order in
which events happened) Police are attempting to reconstruct
the sequence of events on the night of the killing. I the course
of events (=the way that events happened which was not
planned in any way) Nothing we could have done would
have changed the course of events.
occurrence/'kar0ns II o'k3:-/a formal word meaning
something that happens, used especially to say whether
something happens often or rarely In C]
Earthquakes are an unusual occurrence in England but are
not totally unknown. I Vicious fights and arguments were
a daily occurrence in the shipyards.
incident 1' insdnt! something that happens, especially
something that is unusual or unpleasant or something that
is part of a longer series of events [n C[
Apart from the incident in Las Vegas our vacation was com-
pletely trouble-free. I In her autobiography, Stagestruck, she
remembers many humorous incidents from her life in the
theatre. [ I remembered the violent incident that I had wit-
nessed in the Piazza. [ without incident (=without any-
thing unpleasant happening) To my great relief the meal
passed without incident.
happening /'hepanirj/ something that happens, espe-
cially something that is strange or unusual In C[
The happenings of the last two days had left me feeling
dazed. [ The ancient Chinese believed that when a comet
appeared all kinds of strange happenings might occur.
thing/Oirj/an informal word meaning something that
happens In C[
I can still remember things that happened when I was a little
kid. [ A funny thing happened to me on the way to work this
morning.
phenomenon/fI 'nom]nn 11 fi'no:mna:n,-nan/(plural
phenomena) a natural or social process that can be seen
or is known to happen, and often studied because it is not
fully understood In C[
Scientists have studied this phenomenon for years. I Another
interesting phenomenon is that of magnetic fields. I The
breakdown of family life is a relatively recent phenomenon. I
A thorough understanding of mathematics is sufficient to
explain a wide variety of natural phenomena.
10 something planned that happens
event
occasion
proceedings
event /I'vent/something that happens which has been
planned and arranged such as a party, performance, or
sports competition [n C[
A display of water-skiing has been organized, but the event
had to be cancelled because of bad weather. [ annual event
(=an event held every year) The town's beer festival is an
annual event. [ social/sporting event She looked forward
to social events like the embassy cocktail parties.
occasion/'keI3n/an important social event, ceremony,
or celebration In C]
The opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympiad was a memor-
able occasion. I special occasion (=an occasion that you
think is very special) She was saving four bottles of their
best champagne for a special occasion. I quite an occasion
(=a very exciting or important occasion) It was quite an
occasion. All the local dignitaries were there, dressed in their
finest clothes.

HAPPEN
589
proceedings/pra'si:dil]Z/all the things which happen
during an official meeting or discussion, especially in a
court of law or in parliament [n plural]
You can sit along the back wall of the courtroom to watch
the proceedings. [ Brigadier Jackson took charge of the
proceedings and decided who would speak next.
I I a series of bad, unpleasant, or shocking
things that happen at the same time
affair business
goings-on scenes
affair/a'fear/something that happens, especially some-
thing unpleasant or shocking, which usually involves
several people and several events [n C usually singular]
This court case is an awful affair - I'm so worried. I They
have made a movie about the Watergate affair called 'All the
President's Men ". I We will have to sort out this affair before
it goes any further.
goings-on/,gaolrJZ 'on II -'o:n/an informal word mean-
ing things which have been happening somewhere, espe-
cially ones that surprise, annoy or shock you [n plural]
Gwen still believed Fran's story, despite the odd goings-on
at the pub. I Sunil walked close behind me and told me about
the goings-on in his office.
business /'bzns/a set of connected events which you
think are unpleasant, shocking, annoying etc [n singular]
This argument has gone on too long - I'm sick of the whole
business. I That was a nasty business, those murders.Did you
see it in the papers?
scenes/si:nz/things that are happening at the same time
in the same place involving a lot of people, all behaving in
an angry, excited etc way [n plural]
Angry scenes in Parliament followed the minister's state-
ment. I emotional scenes at the airport
1 2 ways of saying that something happens to
someone or something
happen to undergo
experience meet with
happen to / 'hepan tu:/if something happens tosome-
one or something, it happens and has an effect on them,
usually a bad effect [v T not in passive]
The crash wasn't her fault, it could have happened to
anyone. [ What has happened to Carlo? He seems depressed
about something. [ Nobody seems to care about what is hap-
pening to our village.
experience / Ik' spadans/if someone experiences some-
thing such as a problem, a difficult situation etc, it happens
to them [v T/
She experienced a lot of problems with her first child. [ South
Korea has experienced the social upheavals that come with
industrialisation. [ experience at first hand (=experience
something yourself instead of just being told about it)
During the war they experienced at first hand the horror of
night bombing raids.
undergo/,Andar'gao/if someone or something under-
goes a change or an unpleasant event it happens to them
or it is done to them [v T1
He was frightened when he realized he would have to
undergo a dangerous heart operation. I Since the death of
his wife he has undergone a profound change in his outlook
on life. I In the last few years the museum has undergone
extensive renovation.
meet with / 'mi:t WI6/to get a particular reaction, espe-
cially an unpleasant one, from other people [v T not in
progressive ]
Many working women meet with prejudice from men. I He
liked to do things on his own so if he met with any interfer-
ence he became very angry.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
happy to do sth
13 words for describing a period of time in which
a lot of things happen
eventful
action-packed
eventful/ilventfal/a period of time that is eventful is one
during which a lot of interesting or important things
happen |adj]
It has been an eventful week in politics, with the resignations
of no fewer than three Presidential advisers. I When Mari-
lyn Monroe died the press was anxious to uncover every
aspect of her eventful career.
action-packed/' ekan pekt/action-packed holiday/
trip/film etc (=one during which you do a lot of exciting
things or during which a lot of exciting things happen) [adj
usually before noun/
We provide action-packed holidays for children including
riding, sailing, rock-climbing, and canoeing. [another
action-packed adventure movie starring Harrison Ford
14 to happen again
happen again
recur
come full circle
repetition/repeat
repeat performance
repeat itself
happen again/,hepan a'gen/[v phrase]
She apologized for the incident and promised it wouldn't
happen again. [ My car broke down on the freeway last week
and it happened again yesterday.
recur/rI'ka:r/a formal word meaning to happen again,
once or repeatedly [v I]
Although the treatment for skin cancer is usually successful,
the problem can recur later. [ Ancient astronomers disco-
vered that eclipses recur in a cycle of about nineteen years.
recurrence /ri'k^rans [[-'ka:r-/ [n C/U/ She reported
several recurrences of the same technical fault (=that the
same fault had recurred several times).
come full circle/,kAm ,fol 'sa:rkal/if events or situa-
tions come full circle, they end in exactly the same way
they began [v phrase]
At the end of the film things came full circle and the two cou-
ples are reunited.
repetition/repeat /,rep'tian, rI'pi:t/ an event or
action that is the same as something that happened before
[nC]
repetition/repeat of This accident is a repetition of what
happened to me a few weeks ago. I I want everyone to behave
themselves in church this week. We don't want a repeat of last
week's problems. I Will next Saturday's game be a repeat of
Germany's triumph last season?
repeat performance/rI ,pi:t par'f:rmans/something
that happens in exactly the same way as it happened before,
usually with all the same problems [n C/
We must try to make this camp a success. We don't want a
repeat performance of last summer's disaster. I Having
driven to work through thick snow and ice, I wasn "t looking
forward to a repeat performance on the way home.
repeat itself/ri 'pi:t itself/if you say that a set of events
repeats itself, you mean that things happen again in just
the same way [v phrase]
Each time someone takes revenge, the cycle of violence repeats
itself. I history repeats itself We can remember the last war
and we are determined not to allow history to repeat itself.
happening HAPPEN 9
happily LUCKY 7
happiness HAPPY 8
happy HAPPY 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, SATISFIED 1, 2
happy: make sb happy HAPPY 10
happy couple: the happy couple MARRY 10
happy ending HAPPY 11
happy to do sth: be glad/happy/pleased to do sth
WILLING 1

HAPPY 590 HAPPY
meamng?
happy
not happy
happy with something
because it is good
enough
happy doing
something
be willing to do
something
HAPPY
SAD/UNHAPPY
SATISFIED
ENJOY/LIKE
DOING STH
WILLING
@ HAPPY
1 feeling happy
2 feeling extremely happy
3 words for describing someone who is happy
most of the time
4 feeling pleased and happy about something
good that has happened
5 very happy about something good that has
happened
6 happy in an unpleasant way because of
something bad that has happened to
someone else
7 words for describing an occasion, situation,
or period of time when you feel happy
8 a happy feeling
9 to start to feel happy again after being sad
10 to make someone feel happy
11 words for describing something such as a
story or a piece of music that makes you feel
happy
I feeling happy
happy content
cheerful jaunty
be in a good mood
happy/'hepi/feeling satisfied and full of pleasure [adj]
When we came home from our walk we were tired but happy. [
Everyone in the room looked happy and relaxed. I She's a lot
happier now that she's got a new job. I happy for sb
(=happy because something nice has happened to someone
else) I'm so happy for you. I know how much you wanted the
job.
happily [adv] The two children were playing happily in the
garden.
cheerful/'tIarfl/behaving in a way that shows you are
happy, for example by smiling, laughing, or being very
friendly [ adj]
On Sunday he was miserable but the next day he felt much
more cheerful. I She greeted us with a cheerful smile. I "'Fine,
thanks, "' my husband replied in his usual cheerful manner.
cheerfully [adv] "'Hello, everybody", said Robin cheerfully.
be in a good mood Ibi: in  ,god 'mu:d/to be happy at
this particular time and therefore friendly to other people
Iv phrase]
The sun was shining and Nicky was in a good mood. I Wait
until he's in a good mood and then ask him.
content/kan'tent/satisfied with what you have, so that
you are happy enough and do not want anything else [adj
not before noun]
All he needs is a good book to read and he is quite content. I
content with She is content with her life as a lawyer - there
is nothing else she wants. I content to do sth We were per-
fectly content to go on walking until it got dark.
Jaunty/'d3a:nti II 'd3a:nti, 'd3o:nti/looking happy, confi-
dent, and full of energy [adj usually before noun]
Mandy was tall, with a jaunty manner and cheerful smile. ]
Today he looked unhappy, without his usual jaunty
confidence.
jauntily [adv] Tom was striding jauntily up the road,
whistling a merry tune.
2 feeling extremely happy
be on top of the world ecstatic
blissfully happy joyful
radiant
be on top of the world/bi: on ,top av 63 'wa:rld II -,to:p-/
to feel extremely happy and confident because you are very
successful or because something very good has happened
to you Iv phrase]
Everything's going well for him now and he's on top of the
world. I Since the baby came Anna's been on top of the world.
blissfully happy/,bl]sfali 'hepi/extremely happy, for
example, because you are in love, or something very good
has happened to you [adj phrase]
They met, fell in love and got married, and they are bliss-
fully happy. I She would lie on the beach for hours, blissfully
happy.
radian| /'redint/ radiant smile/face etc (=looking
extremely happy) [adj]
She announced, with a radiant smile, that she was going to
have a baby.
radiance [n U] His face shone with the kind of radiance that
comes from true happiness and fulfilment.
ecstatic /ik'stetk, ek-/ extremely happy and excited
about something [adj]
When the show finished the audience was ecstatic. I The two
young lovers were ecstatic in each other's company.
ecstatically [ adv ] Josie's little arms twined around the dog,
hugging him ecstatically.
joyful /d3afal/ a word used especially in literature: a
group of people that are joyful are extremely happy, espe-
cially because they are celebrating a happy event [adj]
The streets of the city were filled with joyful crowds celebrat-
ing the New Year. I The mood in the party was joyful.
3 words for describing someone who is happy
most of the time
happy jolly
cheerful have a happy/cheerful/sunny
contented disposition
happy/'hepi/[adj]
Edward was a happy man, always ready to make jokes
about himself. I Sarah's main aim in life is simply to be
happy.
happily [adv] They have been happily married for 30years.
cheerful ] 'tlarfal/usually behaving in a way that shows
you are happy, by smiling, laughing, talking in a happy
way, etc ]adj]
She seemed a typical farmer's wife, cheerful and energetic. I
Thomas was cheerful and good-natured, and we soon
became good friends.
contented/kn'tent ]d! happy and satisfied with your life
[adj]
He becomes more contented as he gets older and more secure. I
She is now able to lead a balanced and contented life.
contentedly [adv] The cat sat on my lap in the evenings
purring contentedly.
Jolly /'d3oli II 'd3o:li/ usually behaving in a happy,
friendly way, making jokes etc [adj]

HAPPY 591 HAPPY
My uncle was a jolly man with a loud laugh. I Sue was
always jolly and helpful.
have a happy/cheerful/sunny disposition/hev
 hepi, ,tJ'rfal, I sAni dlsp'zl.an/to have a happy charac-
ter and always behave in a happy way, even when there
are problems [v phrase not in progressive]
Rosalind had a sunny disposition and a pleasant smile. [
Marcia was a tall, lovely girl, with a cheerful disposition.
jubilant/'dsu:blont/a word used especially in literature
meaning extremely happy and excited about something,
especially something you have achieved [adj]
The climbers were jubilant after reaching the top of Everest.I
They celebrated their unexpected victory with jubilant
shouts.
jubilantly [adv] "'The army's going to send me home!'"
Luther announced jubilantly.
4 feeling pleased and happy about something
good that has happened
happy
pleased
glad
happy/'hepi/[adj not before noun]
happy about My mother was happy about my exam results. I
happy to do sth She noticed how happy Ernest was to see
them. I They were happy to see Flynn looking so much better.
pleased /pli:zd/ happy and satisfied about something
good that has happened [adj not before noun]
pleased to see/hear etc I was very pleased to hear you're
well again. I pleased about Mrs Shaw seems very pleased
about the arrangement. I pleased (that)Julia was pleased
that her friends had come. I pleased "'We'll be on holiday
in two days, "" said Matthew, looking pleased.
glad/gled/happy about something that has happened,
especially because a situation has improved [adj not before
noun ]
glad (that) She was glad that the birthday party was a suc-
cess. I I'm so glad you've got the job. I glad to do sth After
all this time Rob was glad to be going home. I glad to hear/
see/learn etc Viv was glad to learn they'd reached home
safely. I glad "'I've decided to go to college. .... Oh, I'm glad. '"
5 very happy about something good that has
happened
delig hted overjoyed
thrilled elated
be over the moon jubilant
delighted/di 'laiQd/[adj not before noun]
delighted about His parents were absolutely delighted
about the baby. i delighted At last the band appeared on
stage, and the crowd was delighted, i delighted by Andrew
was delighted and surprised by the interest Angela took in
his work. [ delighted to hear/see/learn etc We were all
delighted to hear you were getting married.
thrilled IOrlldl very happy and excited about something
that has happened [adj not before noun]
thrilled Julie looked thrilled when she heard that she was
going to Paris for a week. I thrilled to do sth He was
thrilled to be invited, i thrilled with Pete is thrilled with
his new computer - it was a wonderful present. [ thrilled
at/by He was thrilled at the arrival of his son Julian. i
thrilled to bits/pieces (=very thrilled) We were thrilled
to bits when our daughter appeared on TV.
be over the moon/bi: ,ov r  'mu:n/an informal
expression meaning to be very happy about something
good that has happened, especially something that makes
you proud of yourself [v phrase]
He was over the moon when he scored the winning goal. [
When she discovered she'd got the job she was over the moon.
overjoyed/,aovar'dSald/very happy about something,
especially a piece of good news [adj]
She was overjoyed to get a letter from her son. [ Naturally
I was overjoyed when I was offered the part in the play.
elated/1 'leitd/very happy and excited for a short time,
especially because you have achieved something that is
important to you [adj not before noun]
elated by Jeremy felt elated by this sudden and unexpected
success. I Elated by the election victory, the crowd waved ban-
ners and chanted. I elated When I told her the news I thought
she'd be elated, but she just went very quiet.
6 happy in an unpleasant way because of
something bad that has happened to
someone else
exultant
gleeful
gloat
exultant/Ig'z^ltant/happy because something bad has
happened to someone else, especially because they have
been defeated in some way [adj]
He was exultant. "They've lost the game, "" he shouted. [ exul-
tant at She laughed, exultant at his misfortune.
exultantly [adv] The bad news was passed exultantly
among the soldiers.
glee|ui ! gli:fal/really enjoying the fact that something
bad has happened to someone else [adj]
He takes gleeful pleasure in watching politicians make fools
of themselves.
gleefully |adv ] The child laughed gleefully. I "'I win!'" said
Phil gleefully.
gloat/glaot/to show in an unpleasant way that you are
happy that someone else has problems, has failed etc [v I]
gloat over It was horrible to see her gloating over her
brother's misfortune. [ The newspapers gloated over Mrs
Blum's resignation, knowing that they had helped to bring
it about:-I gloat He has an unpleasant habit of gloating
wheneter he wins at tennis.
7 words for describing an occasion, situation,
or period of time when you feel happy
,,
happy ...
blissful
idyllic
happy/'hpi/[adj]
He had a very happy childhood. I Everyone thought their
marriage was happy, i James had spent a happy morning
digging in the yard.
blissful/blsfal/extremely happy and not worried by
anything [adj]
They are a young couple in the first blissful days of their mar-
riage I He often thought about those blissful weeks in the
south of Italy.
blissfully [adv] For years they were blissfully happy.
idyllic/I dllk [I ai-I a situation or period of time that is
idyllic is one in which you are extremely happy and that
you think could not be better [adj]
We had an idyllic holiday in the Caribbean. [ It was an idyl-
lic life for both of them, and they hated to leave it.
a happy feeling
happiness
contentment
joy
delight
bliss
euphoria
elation
happiness I'hapins/[n U] ,
Happiness is more important than money] Size has finally
achieved real happiness. [ His immediate reaction at seeing
her again was one of great surprise and lftrPpiness.
contentment/kan tentmant/a quietly happy and satis-
fied feeling [n U]
Nothing could disturb our feeling of peace and contentment.[
The simple routines of life brought him great contentment. [
Joey sighed with contentment, snuggling down in his warm
bed.

HAPPY
Joy Idl a word used especially in literature meaning a
great feeling of happiness, often about something good that
has happened In U]
The birth of their baby daughter brought them great joy. I
The child laughed with joy at the sight of the puppies play-
ing. I fill sb with joy The prospect of seeing his brother
again filled him with joy.
deilgh| Id'laIt/great happiness and excitement, espe-
cially about something good that has happened |n U]
Her face showed great delight when they arrived at the
beach. I delight at Paul's delight at being asked to play the
piano for us was clear. I to my/his/their ere delight To
Helen's great delight, she was presented with the prize for
Best Actress. I with delight Robin laughed with delight as
the birthday cake was carried in.
bliss/blls/a feeling of very deep happiness and extreme
pleasure In U]
A feeling of bliss came over him as he fell asleep. [ She closed
her eyes in bliss as the beautiful music played. [ sheer/pure
bliss Lying in the warm sun, listening to the sea - it was
sheer bliss.
euphoria/ju:'fa:rb [[ jo-! an extremely strong feeling of
happiness and excitement that lasts a short time [n U]
The drug gives you a feeling of euphoria that makes you
think you can do anything, even fly. [ Once the euphoria of
the first few weeks has worn off, the new government has to
get down to work.
elatlen ] I ' lelj'an/a strong feeling of happiness, excitement
and pride In U]
As he spoke you could hear the eleation in his voice. [ The
troops sense of elation at the victory was not to last.
9 to start to feel happy again after being sad
cheer up be heartened/be cheered
perk up take heart
brighten up
cheer up/,tmr '^P/[phr v I]
Ray soon cheered up when he was told that Gina wanted to
see him. I Cheer up, Mandy!
perk up/,p3:rk '^Pl to start to feel a little more happy [phr
v I]
She wasn't feeling too good yesterday but she perked up in
the evening. I After lunch I perked up as I saw Roger coming
back with a bunch of roses.
brighten up/,braitn '^p/to start to look happy again [phr
v I]
Mrs Verity brightened up at the news. [ "7 tell you what, '"
he said, brightening up, "'let's go to the beach. ""
be heartened/be cheered/bi: 'ho:rtnd, bi: 'tJ'mrd/to
feel happier and more hopeful, especially because you have
received some good news, or have seen or thought some-
thing encouraging Iv phrase]
We are all heartened by the news that several families had
already reached safety. I She had said that I would be wel-
come at any time, so, cheered by this thought, I headed
towards her part of town.
take heart ! ,teIk 'ho:rq to feel a little happier and more
hopeful because something has happened to make an
unsatisfactory situation better [v phrase]
take heart from Although the economy is still depressed,
the government can take heart from the drop in the number
of unemployed people. [ take heart Yes, the situation's pretty
bad, but take heart - we'll find a way out of it.
10 to make someone feel happy
make sb happy make sb's day
cheer sb up raise/lift sb's spirits
please cheering/heartening
put sb in a good mood
make sb happy /,melk (sb) 'hmpi/ [v phrase not in
passive]
He would do anything to make her happy. I Why don't you
take a break on your own, if that would make you happy.
592 hard of hearing
It made him happy to wander along the forest paths, dream-
ing of the future.
cheer sb up/,tj'm r (sb) '^p/to do something for some-
one who is sad in order to make them happy [phr v T]
I tried to cheer him up by telling a joke. [ He doesn't really
think I'm beautiful - he's just trying to cheer me up.
please/pli:z/to do something to make someone happy,
especially because they want you to Iv T]
I only got married to please my parents. [ "'I thought this
might please you, "' he said handing me a book.
put sb In a good mood/,pot (sb) n a ,god 'mu:d/to do
something that makes someone happy for a short time Iv
phrase]
If you think buying me flowers will put me in a good mood,
you're wrong. [ The sight of his garden always put him in
a good mood, even after a bad day at work.
make sb's day/,melk (sb's) 'dell an informal expression
meaning to say or do something to someone that makes
them suddenly feel very happy Iv phrase not in passive]
Getting a telephone call from my daughter in Australia made
my day. [ Go on, tell him you think he's good-looking. It'll
really make his day!
raise/lift sb's spirits/,relz, ,lift (sb's) 'spraIts/if some-
thing such as good news or a success raises or lifts sb's
spirits it makes them feel happier and more hopeful after
they have been unhappy and not very hopeful Iv phrase]
There was nothing he could say or do to shake me out of this
mood, to raise my spirits. [ He had been tired when he
arrived, but the sight of the little children playing really
lifted his spirits.
cheering/heartening/'t/I)rIj, 'ho:rtnIJ/making you
feel happier, more hopeful, and more confident [adj]
Kevin's school work is greatly improved, which is hearten-
ing. I It was about 8 o'clock when we heard the cheering news
that Damien was out of danger.
1 1 words for describing something such as a
story or a piece of music that makes you feel
happy
happy
happy ending
heartwarming
happy / 'hepi/[adj only before noun]
I could hear the happy sound of the street musicians. [ Well
that's not a very happy story, is it? [ It's a good old-fashioned
happy movie about a small town girl who makes it big in
Hollywood.
happy ending /,hmpi 'endltj/the ending of a story or film
that makes you feel happy In C]
Most children's stories have a happy ending. [ The film has
a happy ending, but it doesn't seem convincing.
heartwarming /'ha:rt,wa:rm[rj/an action or a story that
is heartwarming makes you feel happy because it shows
the kind, gentle side of human nature [adj]
Today's newspaper has a heartwarming story about a boy
who saved his sister's life. I There has been a heartwarming
response to the charity's appeal for food and blankets.
harass ANNOY 3, PROBLEM 10
harassment: sexual harassment SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 10
harbour/harbor FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC
1, PROTECT 2
hard DIFFICULT 1, 3, 8, HARD 1, 2, 3, 4, UNKIND 4
hard: be hard at it WORK HARD 1
hard: be hard on STRICT 2, UNKIND 1
hard: come down hard on STRICT 3
..ra: not ai,icu,  ,.ra E  SҐ
hard-bitten EXPERIENCED 2
hard drug DRUG 2
hard feelings: no hard feelings FORGIVE 2
hard-hearted UNKIND 4
hard-luck story SYMPATHIZE 6
hard of hearing HEAR 6

hard pressed
hard pressed: would be hard pressed to do sth
DIFFICULT 10
hard time: give sb a hard time PROBLEM 10, UNKIND 1
hard time: have a hard time DIFFICULT 10
hard times: fall on hard times POOR 5
hard up POOR3
hard way: learn the hard way LEARN 5
hard
HARD
1 words for describing something that does not
change its shape when you press down on it
2 words for describing something that is difficult
or impossible to bend
3 words for describing food that is so hard that
it is difficult or impossible to cut or eat
4 words for describing skin or material that is
very hard
5 to become hard
6 to make something harder
I words for describing something that does not
change its shape when you press down on it
hard
solid
firm
hard/ho:rd/[adj]
That night I had to sleep on a hard stone floor. I Diamond
is probably the hardest substance known to man. I rock-
hard (=very hard) There has been no rain for months and
the ground is rock-hard.
hardness In U] The hardness of limestone varies depending
on the area in which it is found.
solid/'sld II 's  =-/very hard, thick, and not hollow [adj]
The door was made of solid steel. I During winter the lake
became a solid block of ice. I I turned away from the marshes,
and walked carefully back to solid ground.
firm/f3:rm/something such as fruit, ground, or a part of
the body that is firm is not completely hard but does not
feel soft when you press against it [adj]
For this recipe you will need six firm tomatoes. I The mat-
tress was firm and comfortable. I The sand was firm where
he stood, but further up the beach it was soft and powdery.
firmness In U] Always test the firmness of a melon (=test
how firm the melon is) before buying it.
2 words for describing something that is difficult
or impossible to bend
hard
stiff
rigid
hard/ho:rd/[adj]
Edward prefers books that have a hard cover. I Rosie's shoes
593
HARD
were painful because the leather was still hard and new. I
These days, water pipes are made of very hard plastic.
st|tt/suf! keeping its shape and not easy to bend [adj]
For this experiment, you'll need a sheet of stiff card. I He
cleaned the mud from his shoes with a brush which had stiff
bristles. I After death, the body becomes stiff, as rigor mortis
sets in.
stiffness In U] The stiffness of his new collar made him feel
very uncomfortable.
r|g|d lrdsd/ a material, especially one that supports
something else, that is rigid, is difficult or impossible to
bend [ adj ]
The plant was growing upwards around a rigid pole. I The
kite is made of soft material attached to a rigid frame.
rigidity/r d3dti/In U] Scientists blamed the collapse of
the bridge on the rigidity of its construction.
3 words for describing food that is so hard that
it is difficult or impossible to cut or eat
hard
tough
hard/ho:rd/[adj]
These potatoes are much too hard - they haven't been cooked
long enough. I That candy was so hard I nearly broke a tooth.
tough/taf/food, especially meat, that is tough is difficult
to cut or eat because it is too old or has been cooked for too
long [adj]
The meat was so tough it felt like rubber. I The heart of a
cabbage is delicious, but the outer leaves are tough and unap-
petizing.
toughness In U] We complained to the waiter about the
toughness of our steaks.
4 words for describing skin or material that is
very hard
hard
leathery
hard Iho:rd/[adj]
The soles of her feet were so hard she hardly felt the sharp
stones littering the path. I a protective coat made from hard,
thick canoas
lealhe//lezri/skin that is leathery is hard and thick
like leather [adj]
The old farmer's skin was leathery and wrinkled from a life-
time in the sun and wind.
5 to become hard
harden set
solidify freeze
harden/'h:rdn/[v I]
You have to keep stirring the glue to stop it from hardening. I
Pour out the concrete for the blocks and allow it to harden. I
His hands began to harden after a few days' work in the
fields.
$olldlly/s qdfa! ifa liquid such as melted metal, water,
or wax solidifies, it becomes hard Iv I]
The tools are made by pouring liquid metal into a mould and
allowing it to cool and solidify. I As the molten lava flowed
down the volcano it solidified, forming strange shapes.
set/set/ifa liquid or soft substance sets, it becomes hard,
especially with the result that it can do, or be used for, what
it is designed to do Iv I]
When the glue sets you can use the chair again. I Put the jelly
in the fridge for an hour to set. I The builders had to wait
for the plaster on the walls to set completely before they could
start painting.
freeze/fri:z! ifa liquid freezes, it becomes hard because
it has become very cold Iv I]
The water at the edge of the lake froze last night. I freeze
solid It was so cold in Gilbert's bedroom that the milk in the
glass had frozen solid.

HARD 594 HARM/BE BAD FOR
 to make something harder
harden
stiffen
harden/'ha:rdn/[v T]
Carbon is used for hardening steel. I The ground had been
hardened by hundreds of people walking on it.
stiffen ]stfn/ to make something stiffer and harder,
especially by adding something to strengthen it Iv T]
The collar of his jacket had been stiffened with an extra layer
of cloth. I You can stiffen paper by dipping it into a sugar
solution.
harden HARD 5, 6
hardened EXPERIENCED 2
hardened: be hardened to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 5
hardline EXTREME 1
hardliner EXTREME 3
hardly NOT 2
hardly: barely/scarcely/hardly JUST/A MOMENT AGO 1
hardly: can hardlylbarelylscarcely JUST/ALMOST NOT 4
hardly any/scarcely any FEW/NOT MANY 2,
LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 4, 9
hardly had IMMEDIATELY 2
hardly ever/scarcely ever RARELY 1
hardly surprising SURPRISED 9
hardly the time/place/person WRONG/UNSUITABLE 1
hardly touch your food/dinner/meal etc EAT 8
hardship SUFFER 3
hardware MACHINE 1
hardwearing STRONG OBJECT 1
hardworking WORK HARD 4
hardy STRONG PERSON 4
hare-brained STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 5
hark back to REMEMBER 5
harm DAMAGE 1, HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
harm: come to no harm/not come to any harm
INJURE 7
harm: do harm DAMAGE 1
harm: do no harm HARM/BE BAD FOR 5
harm: out of harm's way SAFE 6
harm/damage sb's reputation REPUTATION 3
harm yourself HARM/BE BAD FOR 2
. harm
.. . ..-,.-..-:... . :..
whichm  =" .... ?
harm some6ne's 'iiii!: " @ HARM/BE BAD
situation, has:::iiiii!i;(  FOR
health etc(
........ i.:..,,::..;. . . -, .,, . :,- ".-L%, ;;.-'.-"4,'--'-
!!;!};;
•  ......
:..:do p ical hm.....t...0.-,:,..!,,,, @ INJURE
.. .....
cause pai. !i!i:!!!ii!ii! ;:' ,, ""  HURT/CAUSE
" i-:,'..-'..-" 'i:--. ,..." :.,::-"i:":" :..,,'!i.:. :'" :'-'
damag#,ethin]i:!!i, -  DAMAGE
,-".: "i-":!,i.- ;;-   t:.::.:.-';- :- d,i;)',-..'.." :': 0-.:-, ,- -, :..,..:,. .... .:.-
...............
........... ,,, ,,,= ,,-.. , , ,,,,, ,,, , ,,,,,,, ..... ,,.,, .
HARM/BE BAD FOR
to harm the condition, health, or success of a
person, group, country etc
to harm yourself by your own actions
words for describing something that harms
something or someone
words for describing substances that harm
your health
words for describing something or someone
that does not harm anything or anyone
1
harm
damage
impair
hit
work against
be a serious blow to
to harm the condition, health, or success of a
person, group, country etc
wreak havoc/
play havoc
be detrimental to
at the expense of
to the detriment of
harm/ha:rml Iv T]
These new export restrictions will only harm the economy. I
The rumour has seriously harmed her reputation. I Why
make a fuss? It'll only harm your career. I The most impor-
tant consideration is that the environment is not harmed.
damage / damds/to permanently harm something such
as the success, health, or image of a person, organization
etc so that they are not as effective as before Iv T]
These allegations have damaged the government's public
image. [ Smoking can seriously damage your health. [ The
company's credibility will be badly damaged if this dea I fa lls
through.
Impair/m'pear/a medical or technical word, meaning to
harm something such as an ability or the way a body or
system works Iv T]
Alcohol impairs the functioning of the central nervous
system. I If the rotor shaft is slightly misplaced its movement
will be impaired.
impaired [adj] Rubella infection can lead to impaired
hearing.
hit/hit/to have a sudden bad effect on someone or some-
thing, harming them fairly badly Iv T]
Inflation has hit their living standards. [ The lack of wood
for shipbuilding hit the Venetian State particularly badly. [
hit sth/sb hard (=badly harm) Married women were
hardest hit by the changes in regulations.
work against l, w3:rk a'genst/if something such as a fact,
situation or system works against someone or something
it tends to harm them or cause problems for them Iv T]
The fact that he had been in prison worked against him when
he went to interviews. I Strong military discipline can often
work against democracy by encouraging uncritical accep-
tance of authority.
be a serious blow to/bi: a s]arias 'bloo tu:! to seriously
harm the plans, chances, confidence etc of a person or
organization Iv phrase]
If the West decides to take sanctions it would deal a serious
blow to China's reform plans. [ The German chancellor
decided not to attend the ceremony - a serious blow to the
British Government.
wreak havoc/play havoc/,ri:k hmv;)k, ,plei 'havak/
to seriously harm something by causing a lot of disorder
and confusion Iv phrase]
A major computer failure wrought havoc on the New York
Subway last night. [ wreak/play havoc with The.fluctua-
tions in the exchange rate play havoc with the exporters"
plans. [ Working so late is starting to wreak havoc with her
social life.
be detrimental to/hi: detr 'mentl tu:l a formal expres-
sion meaning to be likely to harm something Iv phrase]
The tenant cannot make any changes which may be
detrimental to the landlord's interests. [ Low temperatures
are detrimental to the growth of plant roots. [ Such a move
would only be detrimental to the party's electoral fortunes.
at the expense of lot 6i kspens vl if something is
done at the expense of someone or something, they are
harmed by it and usually someone or something else gets
some advantage as a result [prep]
The firm plan to introduce new technology at the expense of
the existing workforce. I Like many modern writers, he
indulges his style at the expense of meaning.

HARM/BE BAD FOR 595 harvest
to the detriment of/ta 6a 'detrIomont av/ a formal
expression: if you do something to the detriment of some-
thing else, your action unintentionally harms it [prep]
He worked longer and longer hours, to the detriment of his
marriage. I The government has encouraged oil-development
to the detriment of its own farmers.
 to harm yourself by your own actions
harm yourself
cut your own throat
be your own worst enemy
shoot yourself in the foot
rebound on
harm yourself/'ho:rm ja:rselfl Iv phrase]
By reacting in this way you could be harming yourself. [
They Tl only harm themselves if they dicide to leave the associ-
ation. I In fact the only person he harmed was himself.
©ul your own lhroal /,knt ja:r ,aon I Oraot/to behave in
a way that is certain to harm you, especially because of
pride or anger Iv phrase]
I know they treated you badly, but it would be silly to leave
now - you'd just be cutting your own throat.
be your own worst enemy/bi: ja:r ,aon w3:rst 'enomi/
to stupidly and continuously behave in a way that results
in you being harmed Iv phrase]
Many drivers are their own worst enemy - driving too close,
driving too fast, all the usual faults. I People who are obese
often regard themselves as their own worst enemy.
shoot yourself in the foot/du:t j:rself In 6 'fot/a
British expression meaning to stupidly do something that
seriously harms you, especially by saying something or
making plans that go badly wrong Iv phrase]
Once again, the government has shot itself in the foot - this
time by inadvertently reducing widows' pensions. I The
advertizing campaign was a disaster - we've really shot our-
selves in the foot this time!
rebound on/rlbaond on [1-a:n/if someone's harmful
action rebounds on someone else, it harms them even
though it was not intended to Iv T not in passive]
Have you thought about your children? The trauma of
divorce always rebounds on them. [ His fraudulent activities
rebounded on other members of the partnership and they
have been forced to stop working.
3 words for describing something that harms
something or someone
harmful
damaging
be bad for
harmful I'ho:rmfal/[adj]
The destruction of the ozone layer will have a very harmful
effect on the environment. I Scenes of gratuitous violence on
television are a harmful influence on our children. I I accept
that some of my actions were unhelpful and may even have
been harmful. I harmful to An election at this time would
be harmful to the nation's interests.
damaging/'dem;dsi/very harmful and usually having
a permanent effect [adj]
Some right-wing politicians have made damaging allega-
tions against leading anti-nuclear campaigners. [ Up to 1500
patients suffered damaging side-effects after taking the
drug. I damaging to The new proposals would be extremely
damaging to the educational system of this country.
be bad for/bi: 'bed f3:r/to have a harmful effect on
something such as an activity, organization, or type of
work Iv phrase]
Economic uncertainty is bad for business. I You shouldn't
smoke- it's bad for you. I Don't be too friendly with your
pupils. It's bad for discipline.
4 words for describing substances that harm
your health
harmful toxic
poisonous noxious
harmful I 'hmrmfall [adj]
The sun's rays can be very harmful to the skin. I They aim
to help people overcome harmful addictions such as smok-
ing and excessive drinking. [ Greenpeace are campaigning
to end the dumping of harmful industrial waste at sea.
poisonous/'pzans/something that is poisonous con-
talus a chemical or substance that makes you very ill or
kills you if it enters your body, for example if you breathe
it or swallow it [adj]
The berries of the deadly nightshade plant are highly
poisonous. I The adder is the only poisonous snake in Bri-
tain. I Don't drink that - it's poisonous, t
toxic/'toksik II 'to:k-/a technical or scientific word for
describing chemicals, gases, or waste products that are
poisonous and harmful to your health [adj]
Animals are used to assess the effects of toxic chemicals on
human beings. I We need more installations for the disposal
of toxic and dangerous waste. I Carbon dioxide is not highly
toxic to animals or humans in small amounts.
noxious/'noks 11 'no:k-/a chemical or gas that is nox-
ious harms your health and is very unpleasant [adj]
Residents have to put up with noxious fumes from the nearby
factory. [ Township dwellers are still suffering after exposure
to noxious tear gases in their homes.
 words for describing something or someone
that does not harm anything or anyone
harmless do no harm
innocuous friendly
harmless/'ho:rmlas/[adj]
I don't know why you're so upset - it was only a harmless
bit o f fun. I The radioactive waste will need to be stored for
25,000years before it is harmless. I He's a little crazy, I know,
but harmless enough.
harmlessly [adv] Fortunately the knife missed me and
landed harmlessly on the floor.
innocuous/i nt)kju)s II 'no:k-/a word meaning harm-
less, used especially when people have said or believed that
something or someone is harmful [adj]
The producer dismissed the comment which caused so much
controversy as quite innocuous. I The first news of the mas-
sacre was an innocuous statement from the Interior Minis-
try, mentioning disturbances. I The murder suspect was an
innocuous-looking man with wire-framed glasses.
do no harm /,du: no 'ho:rm/ if an action, activity,
experience etc does no harm it does not harm someone or
something and may even help Iv phrase]
Learning how to live on your own for a while will do you no
harm at all. I it would do no harm to do sth I'm sure it's
locked but it would do no harm to phone and check.
friendly /'frendli/ environment-friendly/ozone-
friendly ere (=a word usually written on products in
shops, meaning that they do not harm the environment etc)
[adj]
We always use environment-friendly washing-up liquid. [
Researchers are looking for an ozone-friendly replacement
for the chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigerators.
harmful DAMAGE 3, HARM/BE BAD FOR 3, 4
harmless HARM/BE BAD FOR 5, OFFEND 6, SAFE 6
harmonious AGREE 6
harmony: be in harmony SAME 10
harp on TALK TO SB 9
harrowing UPSET 5
harsh BRIGHT 1, STRICT 1, 6, UNPLEASANT 4
harvest GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 3

hash 596 HATE
i; hash: make a hash of DO BADLY 1
:: hassle ANNOY 3, PROBLEM 1
"'... haste: in haste HURRY 1
!i hasty CARELESS 5, HURRY 4
hatchet: bury the hatchet ARGUE 8
hatchet job: do a hatchet job on CRITICIZE 2
' hate HATE 1, 2, 3
; hate sb's guts HATE 1
HATE
to feel deep dislike and anger towards a
person or a type of behaviour
to dislike something very much because it
seems very unpleasant to you
a feeling of hating something or someone
words for describing someone or something
that you hate
1 to feel deep dislike and anger towards a
person or a type of behaviour
hate loathe
hate sb's guts despise
can't stand abhor
detest
hate/het/[v I/T not in progressive]
hate sb/sth I hate you. t How I hate your mean, greedy, self-
ish ways. I These people hate all foreigners. I For as long as
she can remember she's always hated her father. I The gover-
nor was a brutal, ignorant man who was universally hated. I
hate They aim to teach children to learn to love and not to
hate.
hate sb's guts /,heit (sb's) 'ghtS/an informal expression
meaning to hate someone very much Iv phrase not in
progressive]
I wish she'd die tomorrow. I hate her guts. [ The sergeant
knew the men all hated his guts for the way he treated them.
can't stand / ka:nt 'strand [[ kant-! to have a very strong
feeling of dislike for a person or for their behaviour
because they make you feel very angry or uncomfortable
when you are with them Iv phrase]
I don't know why, but I just can "t stand the son-of-a-bitch. [
If there's one thing I can "t stand, it "s hypocrisy. [ can't stand
the sight of Don't invite Alice. Mum can't stand the sight
of her.
detest ]di Itest[ to have a strong feeling of hatred, espe-
cially for a particular kind of person, or a particular kind
of behaviour Iv T not in progressive]
She distrusted media men and detested politicians. [ Black-
mail is something we all detest. [ I used to detest Doctor
Fischer more than anyone I have ever known.
loathe/lao6! to have a very strong feeling of hatred for
someone or for a particular kind of behaviour because you
think that they are the very worst kind of person or
behaviour that there is Iv T not in progressive]
Mrs Morel loathed her husband when he was drunk and vio-
lent. I Kemp was loathed by all the other prisoners, who
regarded him as a traitor. I I loathe any kind of deceitfulness.
despise /dI'spaIz/ to hate someone or something and
think they have no importance or value Iv T not in
progressive ]
We despised the people from the poor side of town. They
seemed so dirty and ignorant. I She despised their corrupt
business methods but she was envious of their wealth.
abhor/ab 'ha: r, ab-/a formal word meaning to hate a par-
ticular kind of behaviour or attitude, especially because
you think it is morally wrong Iv T not in progressive]
The great majority of the Irish people have always abhorred
violence. I The president abhorred all forms of racism.
 to dislike something very much because it
seems very unpleasant to you
hate loathe
can't stand/can't bear detest
hate/heit/[v T not in progressive]
hate sth I hate loud pop music. I Why do you hate school so
much? ] hate doing sth Most people hate going to the den-
tist. I He hates being interrupted. I hate to do sth I just hate
to see you making a fool of yourself.
can't stand/can't bear/,ko:nt stnd, ,ko:nt 'bea r li
, keent-/to dislike something so much that you cannot bear
it, because it upsets you, annoys you, or makes you feel sick
Iv phrase]
can't stand/bear sth She stopped working in the glue fac-
tory because she couldn't stand the smell. I Turn the radio
off. I can't bear that noise. I can't stand sb doing sth I can "t
stand people smoking around me when I'm eating. I can't
bear to do sth I can't bear to read her old letters.
loathe/lao6/to have a very strong feeling of dislike for
something, especially because it makes you feel sick or ner-
vous Iv T not in progressive]
loathe sth She loathed spiders. I If there's one thing I loathe,
it's long car journeys. I loathe doing sth He loathed making
public speeches.
detest [di 'test/to hate something very much, especially
a particular activity, taste, or smell Iv T not in progressive]
When he was at school he detested football. I You don't under-
stand. It's not just that I don't like video games -Iabsolutely
detest them/
a feeling of hating something or someone
hatred animosity
hate abhorrence
loathing contempt
hatred/'heitrdl an angry feeling of deep dislike for some-
one or something In U]
hatred of She had a violent hatred of all forms of authority. I
Dr Johnson's hatred of false sentiment I Hamlet's secret
hatred for his uncle, the King I hatred She spoke in a voice
that was full of hatred and contempt. I deep hatred This
experience left him with a deep hatred of politicians.
hate/helt/the angry feeling that someone has when they
hate someone and want to harm them, especially when the
feeling itself is evil In U]
His mind was filled with hate and desire for revenge. I There
is too much hate and not enough love in the world. I I could
see the hate and envy in his eyes.
loathing /'lao6oI a very strong feeling of hatred for
someone or something that you think is extremely
unpleasant In U]
loathing for He had a deep loathing for the violence and
brutality of war. I loathing Mr Utterson was regarded by
all his employees with disgust, fear and loathing.
animosity/,een]a 'mos]ati II -'mo:-/a feeling of hatred and
anger that often makes people behave unpleasantly to each
other In U]
animosity between There is so much animosity between the
two countries it seems unlikely they'll ever be reconciled. I
animosity towards You only have to read the newspapers
to see this deep-rooted animosity towards feminism. I per-
sonal animosity (=for personal, not political reasons) The
two leaders have done very little to disguise their personal
animosity.
abhorrence/ab'hrans II -'h:r-I a formal word meaning
a deep feeling of hatred towards something that you think
is morally wrong or unpleasant In U]
abhorrence of The Judge expressed her deep abhorrence
of sexual crimes. I abhorrence The very thought of marry-
ing him fills her with abhorrence.
contempl/kan'tempt/a feeling of hate towards someone
or something you think is worthless, unimportant, or not
worth considering [n U]

HATE 597 HAVE
I feel nothing but contempt for you and your shabby little
affair. I contempt for He shows contempt for those who are
not as intelligent as he is. I with contempt The teachers were
strict and old-fashioned and treated any new ideas with con-
tempt and scorn.
4 words for describing someone or something
that you hate
hated
pet hate/pet peeve
hated/'hcitdl [adj only before noun]
The people were celebrating the downfall of the hated dicta-
tor. I China's most hated enemy
pet hate (British) I pet peeve (American)/Ipet 'hcIt,
, pet 'pi:v/an informal expression meaning something that
you hate, because it always annoys you, although it is not
very serious In C]
TV Game shows have been my pet hate for some time now. I
People who put empty containers back in the refrigerator are
her pet peeve.
'i hated HATE 4
:; hatred HATE 3
: haughty PROUD8
:::: haul PULL 5, STEAL 9
i haulage TAKE/BRING 10
! haunt GHOST 2, PLACE 6
haunted GHOST 2
haunted: be haunted by REMEMBER 6
haunting REMEMBER 7
have CAUSE 3, DRINK 1, EAT 1, 2, PARTY 4
have a babyltwinslkittenslpuppies etc BABY/HAVE A
BABY 5
have/be something to do with CONNECTED WITH 2
have got to do sth MUST 1
have/have got EXAM/TEST 2, HAVE 1, 2, 4, 5, OWN 1
have it in for DON'T LIKE 2
have it in you CAN1
have it out DISCUSS 2
have-nots: the have-nots POOR 4
have on WEAR CLOTHES 1
have
have
have
have
have
have
sth on/be doing sth BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
sth on you HAVE 2
sth with you HAVE 2
the timelmoneylskill etc ENOUGH 6
to do sth: must do sth/have to do sth MUST 1,
2,4
to do sth: not have to do sth MUST 7
have
:.:
the. o  ner
HAVE
to have something such as a television, car,
house etc
to have something with you, for example in
your pocket
to have something that you do not want,
because you are unable to get rid of it
to have a particular feature, quality, or ability
to have an illness or medical problem
1
to have something such as a television, car,
house etc
have/have got
with
possess
have (also have got in British English)/hv, hv 'got II
-'go:t/
Iv T not in progressive]
Most families in England have a car, and over 25% of them
have two cars. I "Have you got a garden in your new place?"
"'Yes, we have. "'[ Grandad used to have a really old accor-
dion but he sold it. ] "'Do you have a phone here? .... Yes sir,
we do. ""
with/wb, wO/someone with something has that thing
[prep]
There aren't many people with cars in this part of Bradford
- they're too poor. I Only people with lots of money stay in
this hotel. I There's a man at the door with a parcel for you. I
Anybody with shares in the company is urged to contact the
receivers to register a claim.
possess/p'zes/a formal word meaning to have or own
something especially something valuable or important
Iv T not in progressive]
The number of nations that possess nuclear weapons has
risen inexorably. I When I enquired I found that the family
possessed no stove - they still cooked over an open fire.
 to have something with you, for example in
your pocket
have/have got have sth in your
have sth on you possession
have sth with you at your fingertips
to hand
have (also have got in British English)/heev, hav 'got II
-'go:t/[v T not in progressive]
Excuse me, do you have any change? I The dancers had
elaborate costumes with long embroidered skirts. I Look out,
he's got a gun/I I think you've got my tickets.
have sth on you / ,hev (sth) 'n ju:/(to be carrying some-
thing in your pocket, bag etc at the moment) [vphrase not
in progressive]
"Can I borrow a pen?" "Sorry, I don't have one on me. "" I
I usually have my credit cards on me, but I left them in my
jacket pocket.
have sth with you/,hev (sth) Iwi6 ju:/an expression
meaning to have something in your pocket, bag, hand etc,
used especially when saying that you have not left it some-
where else Iv phrase not in progressive]
I saw you reading the newspaper earlier. Do you still have
it with you? I Her address is in my diary but I haven't got
it with me. I She had her camera with her and got one pho-
tograph of the plane before it crashed.
to hand/to 'hmnd/if you have or keep something to hand
you have it near you, especially because you might need
to use it [adv phrase]
have sth to hand Before you begin make sure you have all
the tools you need to hand. I keep sth to hand She always
keeps a few useful telephone numbers to hand.
have sth In your possession/,heev (sth) In ja: r p-
' zej'n/a formal expression meaning to have something in
your hand, pocket, bag etc especially something illegal
Iv phrase not in progressive]
I have in mypossession a letter which proves that the minister
is lying. I The drugs he had in his possession had an esti-
mated street value of $15,000.

HAVE 598 head for
at your fingertips/at ja: r ' firjgartips/if you have infor-
mation about something at your fingertips, you have it
all conveniently available in your mind, in a useful book
or computer system, so that you can answer questions
about it easily lady phrase]
Can you ask my secretary? She has all the information about
the conference at her fingertips. [ The great thing about the
encyclopaedia is that it gives you so much useful informa-
tion at your fingertips.
3 to have something that you do not want,
because you are unable to get rid of it
be stuck with
be stuck with/bi: 'stAk wI[ [V phrase]
It's only a rented house, so we're stuck with this disgusting
wallpaper until we move. I As a result of the financial col-
lapse many people are stuck with worthless investments.
4 to have a particular feature, quality, or ability
have/have got enjoy
with be blessed with
of be endowed with
possess boast
have (also have got in British English)/hev, hov 'got II
-'gmt/[v T not in progressive]
Although she's eighty she has an excellent memory. I The kids
in my class haven't got any imagination. When we do art they
just draw characters from television programme& I The hotel
only had two double rooms and they were both occupied. I
The jacket has two side pockets and two more pockets inside. I
Her brother's got long dark hair and blue eyes. He's
gorgeous.
with/wI6, wlO I having [prep]
We booked a room with a sea view. I We need people with
drive and ambition to run the marketing side of the com-
pany. I Katrina 's over there in front of that man with red hair.
of/av, ; strong t)v II )v, ); strong o:v/a word used especially
in written English to say that someone or something has
a prticular feature, quality, or ability, especially if it is
something good [prep]
Father was a man of great integrity and honesty. I an area
of outstanding beauty I She was a woman of no scruples.
possess/p'zes/a formal word meaning to have a par-
ticular ability, feature, or quality Iv T not in progressive]
All of his children possess amazing musical talents. I Like
all towns and villages on Trinidad it possessed a cricket
ground. I The Western Highlands possess a beauty and a
majesty found nowhere else in Britain.
enjoy/In'dsaI/to have special advantages, conditions,
abilities etc that are better than the ones that other people
or things have Iv T not in progressive]
Some agency workers enjoy a relatively high degree of
employment security. I When first introduced on the market,
these products enjoyed great success. I We are looking for the
sort of permanent rental agreement enjoyed by all council
tenants.
be blessed with/bi: 'blest w6/a formal or humorous
expression meaning to have something such as a useful
ability, a good feature or an important advantage [vphrase]
Londoners are blessed with some of the very best Thai
restaurants in the country. I Justine was unfortunately not
blessed with a sense of humour. I Few gardens are blessed
with an ideal site.
be eldowed with/bi: in'daod wi/a formal expression
meaning to have something good, especially a natural abil-
ity or social advantage Iv phrase]
She was endowed with intelligence, sense, and perception,
but no athletic skill whatsoever. I The young piglet is very
poorly endowed with hair or subcutaneous fat and has a thin
skin. I Hugh was young, handsome, and endowed with the
privileges of class and education.
boast/bost/a word used especially in advertisements
and literature: if something such as a place, organization,
or object boasts a good feature, it has that feature Iv T not
in progressive]
The golf course is surrounded by hills and boasts some of the
finest scenery in the country. I The restaurant chain 'Burger-
bar" boasts forty-four branches country-wide. I It was
trimmed with gold braid on the shoulders and boasted two
rows of gold buttons down the front.
5 to have an illness or medical problem
have/have got be infected with
complain of suffer from
have (also have got in British English)/hev, hv 'gt II
-'go:t/[v T not in progressive]
Pardon me if I keep sneezing - I have a bad cold. I He's got
a really bad sore throat - he can hardly speak. I Have you
ever had any serious illnesses? I Doctors are often reluctant
to tell patients that they have cancer.
complain of/km'ple;n ov II -o:v/to tell someone, espe-
cially a doctor, that you have a particular pain or some
other sign of being ill [v T]
Mrs Jones went to the doctor's, complaining of tiredness and
dizzy spells. I In August he was again complaining of chest
pains. I Many people who complain of headaches may be
suffering from some form of stress.
be Infected with/bi: in'fektd wiS! to have an illness,
especially a serious illness, which you caught from another
person Iv phrase]
Figures released last week put the number of people infected
with HIV at over 30,000. I Did you know when you first met
him that he was infected with the disease?
suffer from/'sAfa r from II -frAm/to have an illness or a
medical condition which affects you all your life, or over
a long period Iv T ]
One in three people suffer from some kind of allergy. I My
youngest son suffers from asthma.
sufferer In C] The new treatment offers hope to sufferers of
arthritis (=people who suffer from this disease).
 haven SAFE 5
 haves: the haves and the have-nots RICH 6
i havoc: wreak havoclplay havoc with HARM/BE BAD
' FOR 1
hawk WAR 9
, hawk: have eyes like a hawk NOTICE 2
" hawker SELL 8
.",il![
iii: hazard DANGEROUS 8, RISK 1
iilil hazard: be a hazard DANGEROUS 2
"...!!i"- hazardous DANGEROUS 2, 3
 hazy EXACT 9
..,, hazy recollection: have a hazy/vague recollection
!!!i REMEMBER 3
!::
i!il head END/POINT 1, GO 1
': head: a head PERSON/PEOPLE 7
;i head: a roof over your head HOME 3
,i head: at the head of FRONT 4
 head: be out of your head/out of it DRUG 4
head: be over sb's head UNDERSTAND 12
 head: be over your head in debt OWE 2
 head: can't get sth out of your head THINK ABOUT 6
 head: can't make head or tail of sth UNDERSTAND 12
iiii; head: have your head screwed on/screwed on
,,.,.,,
!i-"i straight SENSIBLE 1
!!ii head: jump down sb's throat/bite sb's head off
 ANSWER/REPLY 2
 head: keep your head CALM 1
::.-/i  head: let sth go to your head PROUD 4
..;. head: need your head examined CRAZY 1
.: head: off the top of your head THINK ABOUT 9
 head: take it into your head to do sth DECIDE 1
 head: turn your head TURN 2
*- head and shoulders above: be head and shoulders
iiii above/be heads above BETTER 2
ў- head/be head of IN CHARGE OF 1
.i:.-;: head for: make for/head for TOWARDS 2

head off 599 HEALTHY
head off PREVENT 2
head office MANAGER 3
head on: meet head on HIT/BUMP INTO 3
head over heels: go head over heels FALL 2
head start: have a head start ADVANTAGE 3
head up IN CHARGE OF 1
headache: be a headache/cause sb headaches
PROBLEM 9
heading: be heading/headed GO 1
heading: under the heading TYPE 4
heading for: be heading for PROBABLY 5
headlines NEWS 2
headlines: hit/make the headlines FAMOUS 6, NEWS 3
heads above: be head and shoulders above/be
heads above BETTER 2
heads together: put your heads together DISCUSS 1
heads will roll LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 3
headstrong STUBBORN 1
headway: make headway PROGRESS 1
heady EXCITED 5, STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 2
heal CURE 1
health HEALTHY 4, 5
health: be gOOdHALTHfOr you/be6, 7 good for your health
health: be in poor health ILL 3
health: in good/perfect/excellent health HEALTHY 1
health centre/health center HOSPITAL 1
healthful HEALTHY 7
healthy HEALTHY 1 2, 6, 7
healthy-looking HEALTHY 3
[healthy i
HEALTHY
words for describing someone who is healthy
and has nothing physically wrong with them
words for describing someone who is usually
healthy
words for describing someone who looks
very healthy
the state of being healthy
your physical condition and how healthy you
are
words for describing something such as a
sport, activity, or place that helps you to stay
healthy
words for describing food or drink that helps
you to stay healthy
words for describing someone who is not
healthy
9
words for describing an activity, place, or
food that stops you being healthy
1 words for describing someone who is healthy
and has nothing physically wrong with them
healthy in good/perfect/excellent health
well able-bodied
fine
healthy/'helOi/[adj]
To be really healthy, you must take regular exercise. I Dad's
much healthier since he retired. I'm sure the job was getting
him down. I A healthy baby is born with resistance to many
germs.
ell ]wel! someone who is well is not ill or has nothing
physically wrong with them at that moment [adj not
usually before noun]
"'How are you?" "'I'm very well, thank you. "" I I saw Linda
this morning. She looks really well. I Since the operation,
Clare's been much better.
flne/fan/you say that you are fine or someone is fine
when you are asked if you or they are healthy and you want
to say that you or they are healthy and have no problems
[adj not before noun]
"'How are you?'" "'Fine, thanks. And you?" I "'How's your wife
now?" "Oh, she's fine, thank you. ""
in good/perfect/excellent health/in ,gd, =p3:rf]kl:,
eksalnt ' helO/a formal expression meaning very healthy
in general [adj phrase]
Since their marriage she had been in perfect health. [ If you
are aged over 18 and are in good health, it's safe to take the
medicines prescribed. [ My mother has lost a little weight
recently but otherwise she's in excellent health.
able.bodied/,elbM 'bodid- II -'bo:-I healthy, strong, and
having nothing wrong with you, especially when compared
with people who cannot walk, see, hear ere normally [adj
usually before noun]
Able-bodied people just don't realize how difficult it is for
disabled people to get good jobs. I The major ordered that
all able-bodied men left in the camp should prepare for
action.
 words for describing someone who is usually
healthy
healthy
robust
have a strong/good etc constitution
healthy/'helOi/[adj]
He's nearly 50 now but he's strong and healthy and full of
energy. I Her death came as a terrible shock. She had always
been so healthy. I stay/keep healthy "'How do you manage
to keep so healthy?" "I exercise at least 3 times a week.'"
robust/ra b^st, 'raob^st/someone who is robust is very
healthy, strong, and active, and is almost never ill [adj]
a robust 70 year old I Good food, fresh air and hard work
have made the hill farmers a robust and healthy race.
have a strong/good etc constitution/hav o (strong,
etc) knst I 'tju:j'an [I -ko:nst] 'tu:-I to have the type of body
that is usually very healthy and that easily gets well again
after an illness Iv phrase not in progressive]
He has an excellent constitution and is likely to recover in
no time. [ She's got a powerful physique and a sound consti-
tution - the kind of woman who'll live to be a hundred! [ Her
injuries were horrifying. Only her determination and robust
constitution pulled her through.
words for describing someone who looks
very healthy
glowing
be a picture of health
healthy-looklng

HEALTHY 600 HEALTHY
glowing I'glaouJ! looking very healthy and attractive,
especially after you have been doing some exercise, or
when you are very happy [adj]
They arrived home in the evening after their walk, happy,
glowing and tired. [ After the birth she looked happy and con-
tented, her face glowing. [ glowing with health After three
weeks of the exercise and diet regime she was feeling fit and
glowing with health.
be a picture of health/bi: a ,piktfar av 'helO/if you say
someone is a picture of health you mean that they look
extremely healthy Iv phrasel
The baby lay in her father's arms, a picture of health and
contentment, i She likes to tell everyone she's dying, but she
looks the picture of health to me!
healthy.looking I' helOi loklrj/looking as though you are
very healthy and with nothing physically wrong with you
at the moment [adj]
Two healthy-looking suntanned kids were playing in the
driveway. ] Even the most healthy-looking person could be
carrying the Aids virus.
4 the state of being healthy
health
health/helO/In U]
Your health is more important than any amount of money, i
Your dog is in excellent condition. A shiny coat is a sign of
health.
5 your physical condition and how healthy you
are
health
wellbeing
health/helO! In U]
Working in the factory all these years has seriously affected
her health, i Mrs Morel was very anxious about his health.
He seemed to be so tired all the time. I Married people live
longer and have better general health than the unmarried.
wellbelng /,wel'bi:rj-ii 'wel,bi:irj/ the condition of
being healthy, happy, and having no problems In U]
Generally, responsibility for the wellbeing of the children lies
with the parents. [ Many families are living in housing that
is harmful to their physical and mental wellbeing, i feel-
ing/sense ofwellbeing Her swim left her pleasantly tired,
with a feeling of vigour and wellbeing.
6 words for describing something such as a
sport, activity, or place that helps you to stay
healthy
healthy do you good
be good for you/be good beneficial
for your health
healthy/'helOi/[adj]
Taking plenty of exercise can be both healthy and enjoyable, i
He'd like to live a healthy outdoor life but instead he's stuck
in an office and a tiny apartment.
be good for you/be good for your health/biz 'god
fa r ju:, bi: ,god fa r ja: r 'helO/if something is good for you
or is good for your health it makes you more healthy or
stops you getting ill Iv phrase]
He cycles to work because he thinks the exercise is good for
him. i She couldn't live in a damp climate - it wouldn't be
good for her health. I My mother used to make us take cold
showers. She said they were good for us.
do you good /,du: ju: 'god/if something does you good
it makes you feel better physically or emotionally, espe-
cially when you have not been feeling well Iv phrase]
I thought that a vacation would do me good. I It might do
you good to meet some new people. Why don't you come with
us? I do you the world of good (=make you feel very much
better) You "re soaked! Never mind, dry clothes and some hot
soup will do you the world of good.
beneficial/,ben] ' fISal / a formal word: something that is
beneficial makes you more healthy or helps you to stay
healthy [ adj]
beneficial to This treatment can be very beneficial, espe-
cially to young children. I beneficial There has been con-
siderable debate on whether or not jogging is actually
beneficial.
7 words for describing food or drink that helps
you to stay healthy
healthy nutritious
be good for you/ nourishing
be good for your health healthful
wholesome
healthy/'he]Oi/[adj]
After a healthy breakfast, everyone went off to dig in the
fields. I Have some more juice. It's healthy and full of vita-
min C!
be good for you/be good for your health/bi: 'god
fa r ju:, hi: ,god fa r j3: r 'helO/if something is good for you,
it makes you more healthy or stops you becoming less
healthy Iv phrase]
Fresh fruit is very good for you. [ Some doctors claim that
one glass of wine a day may be good for your health, i A nice
salad would be better for you than all that junk food.
wholesome/Ihaolsam/food that is wholesome helps
you stay healthy because it has nothing unnatural added
to it and is usually prepared very simply [adj]
"Rosie's Pantry" is a small restaurant that serves good whole-
some food. I It's difficult these days to get children to eat plain
wholesome food. I Quality controllers ensure that all our
products are safe, wholesome, and of good quality.
nutritious/nju:'triSas il nu:-! food that is nutritious is
full of natural substances such as minerals that your body
needs to stay healthy or to grow properly [adj]
Brown bread is more nutritious than white bread. I I eat a
lot of beans, lentils and vegetables, which are nutritious but
cheap. I Milk is a very nutritious food, containing protein,
vitamins and minerals.
nourlshlng/'nnrfiO II 'n3:-, 'hA-/food that is nourish-
ing helps your body to grow or to stay healthy and gives
you energy Iadjl
A simple chicken soup is both nourishing and delicious. I Be
sure to keep warm and eat nourishing food, even though you
have little appetite. I Preparing good nourishing family
meals was made even more difficult with eight mouths to
feed.
healthful /'helOfal/ an American word for describing
healthy food [adjl
We are trying to encourage people to exercise more regularly
and eat more healthful foods. I By serving food that is health-
ful and nutritious, we can improve the eating habits of the
population.
8 words for describing someone who is not
healthy
unhealthy
unhealthy /An'helOi/ not usually healthy, so that you
easily become ill [adj]
He was always a very unhealthy person, so it is no surprise
he died so young. [ There's no doubt that children were more
unhealthy in the 1930s than they are today. [ unhealthy-
looking She was an unhealthy-looking, but by no means
plain, girl.
9 words for describing an activity, place, or
food that stops you being healthy
be bad for you/be bad for your health
unhealthy
be bad for you/be bad for your health/bi: 'brad fa r
ju:, bi: ,brad fa r ja: r 'helO/if something is bad for you it
will make you less healthy or make you become ill
[ v phrase ]

HEALTHY 601 HEAR
I know smoking's very bad for me, but I find it difficult to
give up. I Marie was sure that the cold, damp climate was
bad for the children's health. I He says I should take salt
tablets, but I thought salt was bad for you.
unhealthy /^n'helOi/ if something that you do is
unhealthy it makes you feel ill, or less healthy and you
should not do it [adj]
He's got such an unhealthy lifestyle - smoking, drinking and
eating too much - he won't live to be thirty. I Apart from the
fact they say it's unhealthy, being fat has never troubled me.
'ў heap GROUP OF THINGS 4, PUT 6
;i heaps: pileslheapslstacks LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
.... AMOUNT 1
--; hear FIND OUT 2, HEAR 1, LISTEN 1
'i hear: be heard JUDGE 12
hear: can hear HEAR 2
!i hear: can't hear HEAR 4
.-
.'. hear of: won't hear of INSIST 1
hear sb out LISTEN 1
' hear sth on/through the grapevine FIND OUT 2,
' RUMOUR/RUMOR 2
FIND OUT
HEAR
to hear something or someone
ways of saying that you can hear something
or someone
the ability to hear
ways of saying that you cannot hear
someone or something
to make something impossible to hear
words for describing someone who cannot
hear
1 to hear something or someone
hear
overhear
hear Ihr/Iv I/T not in progressive]
hear sth/sb Did you hear that noise? I Say that again - I
didn't hear you. I When you hear a beeping sound and the
light comes on, it means the food is ready.I hear sb/sth
doing sth Neighbours heard the child screaming and called
the police. I I could have sworn I heard someone knocking. I
hear sb/sth do sth Tracy heard the front door click as she
shut it behind her. I hear She called after him but he kept
on walking and pretended not to hear.
overhear / =aovar hIar/to accidentally hear what some-
one says without them realizing that you can hear them
[v T not in progressive]
overhear sb/sth Claire, who was outside the door, over-
heard their conversation. I I couldn't help overhearing (=I
couldn't avoid overhearing) I couldn't help overhearing
what you were saying about her and I think it's very unfair. I
overhear sb saying/talking etc Through the open
window Mason overheard them discussing the boy's future.
2 ways of saying that you can hear something
or someone
can hear within earshot
can make out carry
audible
can hear/kn 'h]ar/[v phrase]
can hear sb/sth You don't have to shout, I can hear you! l
The explosion could be heard over 10 miles away. ] can hear
sb/sth doing sth We knew he was asleep because we could
hear him snoring. I can hear Can you hear alright or shall
I turn the television up?
can make out/kn ,meIk 'aot/to be able to hear some-
one's voice or what someone is saying but with difficulty,
because it is very quiet or unclear Iv phrase]
I moved closer so I could make out what she was saying. [
Sarah spoke so softly that Kathryn could hardly make out
her words. [ Now and then I could make out George's voice
above the music, but not what he was saying.
audible/'a:dbal/loud enough to be heard [adj]
The signal is audible up to 200 miles away. [ When the engine
finally started she gave an almost audible sigh of relief. I
barely audible (=almost not audible) His voice was barely
audible above the noise of the generator.
within earshot/Wlbn  arj'ot 11 4o:t/if you are within
earshot you are near enough to someone for them to be
able to hear what you are saying [adv phrase]
You can play anywhere on the beach as long as you stay
within earshot. I within earshot ofsb He looked all around
him to make sure that nobody was within earshot of them.
carry/' keri/ifa sound carries it can be heard a long dis-
tance away from where it was produced Iv I]
Their voice carried across the lake. I Deeper sounds carry fur-
ther than high-pitched ones.
3 the ability to hear
hearing
hearing I'h]r/In U]
There must be something wrong with my hearing - can you
repeat what you just said? I Bats have a very powerful sense
of hearing. I lose your hearing (=become unable to hear)
Paula lost her hearing after a tragic car accident.
4 ways of saying that you cannot hear
someone or something
can't hear inaudible
not catch out of earshot
can't make out
can't hear/,ka:nt 'h]a r II ,kent-I Iv phrase]
can't hear sb/sth Speak up a bit. Ican't hear you. I There
was so much talking you couldn't hear the performance. I
The commissioner's speech could not be heard over the noise
made by members of the press. I can't hear Can we move
nearer to the front? I can't hear very well here.
not catch/not kmt/to not hear something that some-
one says because it is too quiet or unclear or because you
were not listening carefully Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
Could you say that again? I didn't catch the last bit. I Mr
Dixon did not catch much of the news because of the loud
drilling next door.
can't make out/,ka:nt melk 'aot II ,kent-/to not be able
to hear what someone is saying because it is very quiet or
unclear Iv phrase]
Mat whispered something but I couldn't make out the words. I
Though she could not make out what they were saying, she
sensed they were discussing what to do next.
inaudible/n'a:dbal/not loud enough to be'heard [adj]
Her voice was so quiet it was practically inaudible. I The

HEAR
602
second half of the concert was virtually inaudible because
of the fireworks.
out of earshot/,aot av ' larj'ot [[ -fa:t/if you are out of
earshot you are not near enough to someone for them to
be able to hear what you are saying [adv phrasel
It's OK. You can tell me now, he's out of earshot. [ As soon
as the guards were out of earshot, Grimes explained his
escape plan.
5 to make something impossible to hear
drown out
drown out !,draon 'aot! if something drowns something
or someone out, it is so loud or noisy that it makes them
impossible to hear [phr v T]
be drowned out His voice was drowned out by the traffic. I
drown out sth The applause from the audience almost
drowned out the music. [ drown sth/sb/it/them out Some
of the crowd were now hissing and stamping their feet in an
attempt to drown him out.
words for describing someone who cannot
hear
deaf
be hard of-hearing
be stone deaf/be as deaf as a post
deaf/def/[adj]
Some deaf children have great difficulty learning to speak. [
Although Susie is partially deaf she leads a normal life,
because she can lip-read. [ go deaf (=become deaf) I think
I'm going deaf. I have to ask people to repeat things all the
time. I the deaf (=deaf people) schools for the deaf
deafness In U] Deafness should not be an obstacle to find-
ing work.
be hard of hearing/bi: ,ha:rd ov 'hiar]/to be unable
to hear well Iv phrase]
You'll have to speak up, I'm a little hard of hearing. [ the
hard of hearing (=people who are hard of hearing) The
library provides films with subtitles for the hard of hearing.
be stone deaf/be as deaf as a post/bi: ,ston 'def,
bi: z ,def z  'post/ informal expressions often used
humorously, meaning to be unable to hear very well Iv
phrase]
Don't worry about him - he's as deaf as a post, can't hear
a word we're saying. [ Grandma's stone deaf. You'll have to
shout if you want her to hear you.
heard: be heard JUDGE 12
hearing HEAR 3, TRIAL 1
hearsay RUMOUR/RUMOR 1
heart MAIN 2
heart: a change of heart CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
heart: a man/woman after your own heart LIKE SB
OR STH 5
heart: at heart CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 5
heart: break sb's heart SAD/UNHAPPY 11
heart: cross my heart PROMISE 6
heart: from the heart REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 3
heart: know sth by heart KNOW STH 8
heart: learn sth by heart LEARN 2
heart: your heart goes out to SYMPATHIZE 1
heart: set your heart on WANT 5
heart: sb's heart is in the right place KIND 1
heart: take heart HAPPY 9
heart: take sth to heart UPSET 4
heart: the heart of MIDDLE 1
heart-to-heart: have a heart-to-heart with TALK TO
SB 3
heartache SAD/UNHAPPY 12
heartbreakinglheart-rending SAD/UNHAPPY 9
heartbroken: broken-heartedlheartbroken
SAD/UNHAPPY 5
heartened: be heartenedlbe cheered HAPPY 9
heartening: cheeringlheartening HAPPY 10
heartfelt REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL :3
HEAVY
heartless CRUEL 1
hearts: win t.he hearts of LIKE SB OR STH 7
heartwarming HAPPY 11
heat HOT 1, 10, 12
heat: feel the heat/cold FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 4
heat: the heat HOT 5
heat of the moment: in the heat of the moment
THINK ABOUT 9
heat sth through HOT 12
heat sth up/warm sth up HOT 12
heat up HOT 11
heated ANGRY 7
heatwave HOT5
heave PULL 5, THROW 3
heave: retch/heave SICK/VOMIT 2
heavy FULL 4, HEAVY 1, LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 1, 9, MEAL 6, STRICT 7, THICK
OBJECT OR MATERIAL 2
heavy: how heavy WEIGH 1
heavy-duty STRONG OBJECT 1
heavy heart: with a heavy heart SAD/UNHAPPY 1
heavy sleeper: be a heavy sleeper SLEEP 7
heavy smoker SMOKE 3
heavy weather: make heavy weather of DIFFICULT 11
. heavy
wh  eh meaning?
heavy
how heavy something
or someone is
HEAVY
WEIGH
not heavy
LIGHT/NOT
HEAVY
HEAVY
words for describing something that weighs a
lot
ways of saying how heavy something is
to find out how heavy something is using a
machine
too big and heavy to carry or move easily
1 words for describing something that weighs a
lot
heavy
weigh a ton
weight
heavy/'hevi/[adj]
I have to carry these heavy books around all day. [ This box
is too heavy for me to lift. [ Let me carry one of your bags.
I'll take the heavier one. [ We can move most of the stuff out
of the room - the heaviest thing is the bed.
weigh a ton ] iwei } ItAI1/an informal expression mean-
ing to be very heavy or to be a lot heavier than is expected
[ v phrase ]
The suitcases were old and made of leather and each one
weighed a ton. [ That wardrobe weighs a ton, I'll never get
it downstairs on my own.
weight/weir/the heavy weight of something In U]
I could hardly believe the weight he could support on his
shoulders. [ Great branches had been torn from the trees by
the weight of the snow.

HEAVY 603 HELLO
2 ways of saying how heavy something is
weigh
weight
weigh/weI/to be a particular weight [v]
weigh 50 kilos/15 tons etc These trucks weigh nearly
thirty tons. I how much/what does sb weigh? How much
did your baby weigh when she was born? [ What do you
weigh - a hundred kilos or so?
weight /welt/ the amount that something weighs In
singularl
I entered the competition to guess the weight of a cake. I The
cost of transportation depends on the weight of the load. I
Premature babies have a low birth weight. I Vehicles over
a certain weight are not allowed to use the bridge.
3 to find out how heavy something is using a
machine
weigh
weigh/wel/Iv T]
Have you weighed yourself lately? l When you check in at the
airport, they weigh all your bags except your hand-luggage.
too big and heavy to carry or move easily
cumbersome
unwieldy
cumbersome/'kAmborsam/[adj]
I used to have one of those old sewing machines, but it was
too cumbersome. I The room was dominated by an enormous,
cumbersome leather armchair.
unwieldy/^nlwi:ldi/something that is unwieldy is too
big or heavy to carry, or has an irregular shape that makes
it difficult to hold or move [adj]
He handed me an unwieldy-looking tool used for removing
the wheels on a car. I Don't let your plants grow too large
and unwieldy - trim them regularly.
heckle INTERRUPT 2
hectic BUSY PLACE 3, BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 3
hedonist ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 11
heedless CARELESS 2
heel: turn on your heel TURN 2
heels: be on/at sb's heels FOLLOW 2
heels: dig your heels in REFUSE 2
heels: take to your heels ESCAPE 4
hefty BIG 7, FAT 1, STRONG PERSON 2
height HIGH 3, 4, TALL PERSON 2
height: be at the height of your fame FAMOUS 1
height: be at the height of your powers BEST 6
height: gain height UP 3
heighten INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 4
heightened MORE THAN BEFORE 4
heights: fear of heights HIGH 7
hell: give sb hell TELL SB OFF 2
hell: for the hell of it ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 8
hell: there'll be hell to pay PUNISH 6
hellbent: be hellbent on DETERMINED 4
hellish BAD 3
hello HELLO 1, 3
hello: say hello HELLO 2
hello: say hello/say hi HELLO 4
HELLO
1 ways of saying hello to someone
2 to say hello to someone
;3 ways of saying hello to someone when you
meet them for the first time
4 ways of asking someone to say hello to
someone else for you
1 ways of saying hello to someone
 hello hi/hi there
good morning/ morning/afternoon/
afternoon/evening evening
hullo
hello/ho'loo, he-/
Hello Sally!How was school? l Hello, Vicky. Just thought I'd
ring up for a chat. I "'Hello, Mr Deckard. "" "'Hello John, I
didn't expect to see you here."
good morning/afternoon/evening/god 'ma:rnIt],
,a:ftor'nu:n, 'i:vnIo II -,af-/(polite or formal expressions
used to greet someone at a particular time of the day or
evening)
"'Good morning Mrs Evans, "said the doctor. "And how are
you feeling today?" l "'Good morning class/'" the teacher said
with a smile. I Good afternoon. Is Simon at home? I wanted
to return these tapes. I Good evening, Raymond. Let me
introduce David Bruce, one of my colleagues.
hullo/hA 'lot;/(used especially in stories)
"'Hullo everyone, t" said Christopher Robin. t Hullo, Leo - I
was just looking for you. Have youfinished with that book
yet?
hi/hi there/hai, hai 5ear/(used when greeting someone
informally, especially a friend or relative)
Hi Gwen - did you have a nice weekend? I Hi there Mark/
I'm glad you "re here - there's a problem with the computer
again. I Hi. I'm just phoning to see if you feel like going to
the cinema tonight.
morning/afternoon/evening / ma:rnlo, , oflo r nu:n,
'IvnirJ [[ -,mf-I (a quick greeting used at a particular time
of the day, especially by people who work together or see
each other regularly)
Morning/Is the meeting at eleven o'clock? [ Afternoon, Sheila
- got time for a quick cup ofcoffee?[ Evening, all! Can I buy
anyone a drink.
2 to say hello to someone
say hello greetings
greet welcome
say hello/,sel ho'loo/[vphrase]
A man with dark hair opened the door, smiled and said
hello. [ I saw Mrs Trevors in the village, and she didn't even
say hello/[ As we passed each other in the corridor, we said
hello.
greet/gri:t/to say hello to someone when they arrive,
showing that you are pleased to see them Iv T]
Mr Grimshaw got up from behind his desk to greet me and
offer me a chair. [ Martine took John's suitcase, greeted him
and introduced him to the rest of the family.
greeting In C] Siegfried bustled in, muttered a greeting and
began to pour his coffee.
greetings/'gri:tlOZ/words used to say hello to someone
when they arrive and show that you are pleased to see them
In plural]
In the mornings the stall owners would smile and shout
greetings to each other as they arrived at the market. [
exchange greetings (=greet someone and be greeted by
them) Josh turned round to shake hands and exchange greet-
ings with some of his friends.
welcome / 'welkom/to greet someone who has arrived for
the first time in your town, home, office etc and show that
you are glad they have come Iv T]
The visitors were welcomed at reception and shown where
to go. [ Jason had gone to the station to welcome his
mother-in-law.
welcome In singular] Their guests were given a very warm
welcome on arrival (=they welcomed them in a very
friendly way).
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

HELLO 604 HELP
3
ways of saying hello to someone when you
meet them for the first time
hello
how do you do
pleased to meet you
hello/h'lo, he-/
Hello. This is Rosie - she'll show you where to put your
things. I Hello. I'm Alan Simmons. I work in the production
team. I "Dad, this is my boyfriend, Kevin. "" "'Hello Kevin,
Andrea's told me all about you."
how do you do /,haodja'du:, haodajo'du:/ (a formal
expression used when you are meeting someone for the
first time, especially when you have just been told their
name)
How do you do. I'm Miss Simms. If you'd like to follow me,
I'll show you to the interview room.
pleased to meet you /,pli:zd ta 'mi:t ju:/ (a polite
expression used when you meet someone for the first time
and have just been told their name)
"John, these are my parents, George and Sylvia. "" "'Pleased
to meet you."
4 ways of asking someone to say hello to
someone else for you
say hello/say hi send your love
remember me to give my love to
say hello/say hi/,se[ ho'loo, isei 'ha/ [v phrase]
say hello/hi to sb I'd better go now. Say hello to Shelley
for me, will you? I say hello/hi By the way, Dad says hi!
remember me to/r:lmemb r mi: tu:/(used when you
are asking someone to give your greetings to someone else
that you have not seen for some time) Iv phrase]
Have a lovely time in France, and remember me to Patricia
and her parents.
send your love/,send ja: r 'IAv/ to ask someone to give
your loving greetings to someone else when they see them,
write to them etc Iv phrase]
send your love to Aunt Mary sends her love to you and the
children. I send your love I saw Terry today. He sent his
love.
give my love to /,g[v ma 'lnv tu:/(used when you are
asking someone to give your loving greetings to someone
else who they are about to meet, write to etc) Iv phrase]
Give my love to the children when you see them.
help HELP 1, 5, 6, 10
help: be a help HELP 6, 7
help: be of help/assistance HELP 1
help: be of no help/be no help USELESS 1
help: can't help it FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 2
help out HELP 1 3
help yourself LET/ALLOW 4
help yourself to STEAL 1
HELP
10
11
12
13
to help someone do something
to do something for someone because you
want to help them
to help someone who needs your help, for
example because they are having problems
or because they have too much to do
to help someone in something they are trying
to achieve, by giving advice, support, and
confidence
to help something to happen or develop
ways of saying that something helps
someone
words for describing someone who gives
useful help or is always willing to help people
someone who helps someone else
something, such as a machine or tool, that is
made to help you do something
something that someone does or gives in
order to help someone else
to not help or not be willing to help
words for describing something that is not
helpful or useful
words for describing someone who needs
help or who does not have any help
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to help someone do something
help help out
assist play into sb's
can be of help/assistance hands
give/lend a hand do your bit
help/help/Iv I/T]
help sb Dad, I can't do my homework. Will you help me? I
All the money that has been collected will be used to help
starving children around the world. I help sb do sth My
mother's death was a very difficult time for me but my
boyfriend helped me get over it. I help sb to do sth Her uncle
said he would help her to find a job. [help I was lucky when
my children were small, as my mother was always ready to
help. I help do sth Woodward offered to help clean up the
house after the party. I help to do sth Part of my job as the

HELP 605 HELP
President's secretary is to help to organize conferences and
keep him informed. I help sb into/out of/off etc (=to help
them get into a car, boat etc) "Didyou enjoy the trip?" asked
Jack, helping her out of the boat.
assist ]O'SlSt] a formal word meaning to help someone do
something, especially by doing all the simple or unimpor-
tant things for them so that their job is easier Iv I/T]
assist sb I was employed to assist the manager in the
restaurant, not do the cooking. I Besides being his secretary,
she also learnt to assist him in his research and investiga-
tions. I assist in/with Dr Bolton, who assisted in the oper-
ation, said that the surgeon in charge did everything possi-
ble to save the patient's life.
can be of help/assistance/kon hi: ov help, o sistdns/
to be able to help someone who needs you to help them Iv
phrase]
Sorry I can't be of any help. Why don't you ask someone else? l
If you can't decide which shirt to buy Sir, perhaps I could
be of assistance?
give/lend a hand /gv, ,lend o 'hend/ an informal
expression meaning to help someone do something, espe-
cially something that involves practical work Iv phrase]
give/lend sb a hand This box is really heavy. Can you give
me a hand with it? I give/lend a hand I offered to lend a
hand, but they did all the decorating themselves. I give/lend
a hand with Men are more likely now to give a hand with
the housework than they were a few years ago.
help out / ,help 'aot/to help someone do something, espe-
cially because there are not enough people to do all the
work [phr v I]
It's really difficult organising a school trip. I need as many
teachers as possible to help out. I Their son used to help out
in the shop when it was busy, but only when he felt like it. I
help out with When the office is busy I help out with some
typing.
play into sb's hands/,plei into (sb's) 'hmndz/to unin-
tentionally do something that will help someone who wants
to harm you Iv phrase]
The general played into the enemy's hands by leading his
army to within a mile of their troops.
do your bit/,du: j=r 'bit/to do what you can to help in
a bad or difficult situation, especially because you think
you are expected to do it or that it is your duty Iv phrase]
I've done my bit, now it's up to you. I do your bit for When
the war started we thought that it was our duty to do our bit
for our country.
2 to do something for someone because you
want to help them
do sth for do sb a good turn
do sb a favour/favor oblige
do sth for ! 'du: (sth) f3:r/to help someone by doing some-
thing for them that they would normally do themselves
[phr v T]
Jenny did the shopping for her mother every day. I Make sure
your child does his own homework and doesn't get someone
to do it for him. I You look really ill. Can I do anything for
you?
do sb a favour (British) I favor (American)/,du: (sb) o
'feIvor/ to help someone by doing something for them
because you want to be kind or generous Iv phrase]
Could you do me a favour and buy some milk for me? l She's
always doing favours for us. We'd better buy her a present. I
I was able to do him a favour by recommending him for the
job.
do sb a good turn/,du: (sb) o ,god t3:rn/to help some-
one by doing something for them that they have not asked
you to do, because you think they need your help and you
want to help them Iv phrase]
She once did me a good turn and we've been friends ever
since. I He did me a good turn when he advised me not to sell
my house - it's worth twice as much now.
obllg®/obla;d31 to do something for someone who has
asked for your help, in order to please them or be polite Iv
I/T]
oblige sb Would you oblige me by taking this letter to Mrs
Greene's house? l I always did my best to oblige him, but he
was never grateful. I glad/happy/ready etc to oblige If
you need a lift to the station I'd be happy to oblige. I do any-
thing to oblige She was a lovely, considerate girl who
would do anything to oblige. I oblige They begged him to
play for them, and after a struggle he finally obliged.
3 to help someone who needs your help, for
example because they are having problems
or because they have too much to do
help out rally round
come to sb's aid/assistance support
help out/,help 'aotl [phr v T]
help sb/her/them etc out If he was in trouble, his sister
would always try to help him out. I help out sb No need to
thank me. I was just glad to help out a friend. I We were pen-
niless when we got married but a few of our friends helped
us out by giving us some of their old furniture.
come to sb's aid/assistance/,km to (sb's) 'eid,
O ' S I stnsl a formal expression meaning to offer to help some-
one who is in difficulty and who will not be able to continue
without your help Iv phrase]
Drivers who break down should remain with their vehicle
until the emergency services come to their assistance. I The
bank should come to the aid of the company if it needs more
financial backing.
rally round /,reli raond/ if a group of people rally
round, they get together to help someone who is in
difficulty and who will not be able to continue without their
help Iv I/T ]
When she was ill all her friends rallied round, helping her
with the housework and her children. I I had no idea how
I was going to organize the conference in time but luckily
everyone rallied round. I rally round sb The army will rally
round the government in the event of a coup.
suppo!/so'p: rt/to help someone by being sympathetic
and kind to them during a difficult time in their life Iv T]
My family supported me enormously during my trial. I An
organization has been set up to support children whose par-
ents are getting divorced.
support In U] She was grateful for her neighbours" support
after her accident.
4 to help someone in something they are trying
to achieve, by giving advice, support, and
confidence
encourage be supportive
give sb moral support spur sb on
encourage /In'knrld5 II in'k3:r-/ to say or do things
which help someone to do something, for example by tell-
ing them that they are good enough to do it, by giving them
advice, or by offering financial support Iv T]
encourage sb His mother encouraged him greatly in his
career. I The rebel armies are being trained and encouraged
by the Libyans. I It was Haldene more than anyone who
encouraged the young scientist in his work. I encourage sb
to do sth I don't think I could have succeeded in winning
the championship if my friends hadn't encouraged me to keep
on trying.
give sb moral support /glv (sb) ,morol so'p:rt II
- m:rol-/if you give someone moral support, especially
someone who is in a difficult situation, you help them by
telling them that they are right in what they are doing, and
encouraging them to be brave, confident, etc Iv phrase]
His wife's left him, he's lost his job - I think he needs some-
one to give him some moral support. I She was very nervous
about the interview, so I went along to give her some moral
support. I While the US is willing to give moral support to
the rebel leaders, it won't supply them with any weapons.
he supporl|ve/hi: so'pmrtlv/to be willing to help, sup-
port and encourage someone emotionally [v phrase]

HELP 606 HELP
When my mum died my family were very supportive. I be
supportive of My husband has always been very suppor-
tive of everything that I do.
spur sb on/asp3: r (sb) 'on II -'a:n/if someone spurs you
on, they tell you that you must continue trying and that
you must not give up, so that you succeed in the end [phr
vT]
I would never have won the race if my friends and family
hadn't all spurred me on.
5 to help something to happen or develop
promote give sth a boost
aid advance/further
help be favourable for/to
encourage be conducive to
promote Ipm'mot/promote good relations/coopera-
tion/trade/economic growth/health etc (=to help some-
thing develop or grow) Iv T]
The aim of the meeting is to promote trade between the two
countries. I Regular exercise will help to promote physical
and mental health. I The trade agreement has promoted a
climate of greater confidence in the stock market.
promotion/pro Imoan/In U] The government policies have
focussed on the promotion of economic growth.
aid /ed/ aid recovery/development/growth etc (=a
formal word meaning to help something get better, develop,
grow etc) Iv T]
The country's economic recovery has been aided by a settle-
ment of the economic conflict. I Sympathy for the prisoners
has grown, aided by the television appearances of their wives
and children.
help/help/to help something such as an improvement to
happen Iv T]
The plan was intended to help development in rural areas. I
The tax increases will help stabilize the economy.
encourage /inlkArd5 l[ Ink3:r-/ to make something
more likely to happen or make people more likely to do
something, often something that you think they should not
do Iv T]
Credit cards tend to encourage over-spending. [ By ending
price restrictions the administration hopes to encourage
healthy competition among retailers. [ Cigarette machines
will only encourage the tobacco habit.
give sth a boost /=gIv (sth) a bu:st/to help something
such as a business so that it suddenly begins to develop
more quickly Iv phrase]
A rise in oil prices has given the economy a much needed
boost. I give a boost to A new television series about the
island should give a boost to the local tourist trade.
advance/further /odva:ns, f3:r6a r [[ od'vans-/ ad-
vance a cause/your own interests/your aims (=to help
them be successful) Iv T]
The United Nations has done a lot to advance the cause of
world peace. I Unfortunately the Mafia saw this change in
the law as an opportunity to further their own interests.
be favourable for/to Ibi: fevarabal fa: r, tu:l if condi-
tions are favourable for or to something such as an agree-
ment or an improvement in a situation, they make it more
likely to happen [ v phrase]
The conditions are now favourable for an economic recov-
ery in the US. [ The conference has produced a political cli-
mate that is favourable to a peace settlement.
be conducive to/bi: kan'dju:siv tu: [[ -du:-/if a situa-
tion is conducive to something such as work, rest, etc, it
provides conditions which are suitable for someone to do
it in Iv phrase]
All this noise is hardly conducive to rest and relaxation. [
We want to create an atmosphere conducive to serious
discussion.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
6 ways of saying that something helps
someone
help be a help
assist be a boon
aid beneficial
encourage last hope/only hope
be helpful with the aid of
help/help/to make it easier for someone to do something
or make a difficult situation easier Iv I/T]
help sb The warm weather this spring has certainly helped
the farmers. [At first the new job in management was
difficult, but his experience as a teacher helped him a lot. [
help sb do sth IfI write a list, it helps me remember all the
things I have to do in a day. [ help sb to do sth The sale
of books, pictures and ceramics has helped the charity to
raise money for bird protection. [ help We never seem to have
much money although my elder son pays us rent money,
which helps. [ help do sth The company has bought six new
computers to help monitor sales. [ help to do sth Forty thou-
sand letters of protest to the government helped to clear his
name.
assist/OlsIst/a formal word meaning to help someone do
something Iv I/T]
assist sb They have developed a new information system
that will greatly assist all library users. [ assist in/with
To assist you in the interview make a quick checklist of all
the things you want to say. [ A high level of intelligence and
diplomacy assisted with making the decision.
aid/eid/a formal word meaning to help someone or some-
thing achieve something, by making the situation that they
are in easier for them Iv I/T]
aid sb/sth The new government grants are intended to aid
small businesses. [ There's no denying the usefulness of com-
puters in aiding the organization of the office environment.[
aid in The new equipment has been provided to aid in the
diagnosis of liver disorders.
encourage/nkArld5 [[ inlka:r-/to help to make some-
one do something Iv T]
encourage sb/sth The campaign is designed to encourage
awareness of the dangers of smoking. [ encourage sb to do
sth Lower rates of taxation will encourage people to work
harder. [ The success of the band's latest album has
encouraged them to plan a worldwide tour at the end of this
year.
be helpful/bi: helpfdl/to provide help so that it is easier
to do or achieve something Iv phrase]
I was looking for information about the town and the guide-
book was extremely helpful. [ A diary can prove to be
extremely helpful in organizing your time efficiently. [ it is
helpful to do sth When working out your finances, it's help-
ful to know exactly what you spend each week.
be a help/bi: a help/if something is a help, it makes it
easier for you to do something, especially something that
would be difficult to do without it Iv phrasel
Just having more pens and paper would be a help to the
school. [ be a great help The food processor was a great help
in preparing this meal. [ If you could go to the shop and buy
some more potatoes, it would be a great help.
be a boon/bi: a bu:n/something that is a boon happens
or is given to you, especially unexpectedly, and makes it
much easier for you to do something [v phrase]
Having a bicycle was a tremendous boon since our house was
a long way from the village. [ This new automatic video
recorder will be a great boon to journalists. [ The current low
exchange rates are a boon for exporters.
beneficial /ben  fial/actions, experiences, changes etc
that are beneficial help to improve someone's situation,
or give someone an advantage [adj]
beneficial to These changes in the education system are
intended to be beneficial to both teachers and students. [
beneficial Tax cuts would be popular and would have a
beneficial effect on the economy. [ In the end, the company and
its investors came to a mutually beneficial arrangement.

HELP 60? HELP
last hope/only hope/,lo:st 'hoop, oonli 'hoop l[ last-/
the last or only thing that can help someone when they are
in a very difficult or dangerous situation [n singular]
For hundreds of refugees, escaping across the border was
their only hope. [ Having been robbed of all my money, the
Embassy was my last hope.
with the aid of/w6 6i 'ed ov/ffyou do something with
the aid of something, especially an object, you need that
thing to help you do it [prep]
The bacteria can only be seen with the aid of a high power
microscope. I Since the accident he's only been able to walk
with the aid of a walking stick.
7 words for describing someone who gives
useful help or is always willing to help people
helpful cooperative/co-operative
be a help accommodating
obliging
helpiul/'helpfdl/[adj]
The woman who works in the tourist office is very helpful. I
You're lucky to have such helpful children. Mine never do
anything around the house.
helpfully [adv ] She explained how the machine worked as
helpfully as she could.
be a help/bi: o 'help/if someone is a help, they make it
easier for you to do something that would have been
difficult without them [v phrase]
Thanks for coming and looking after the children. You've
really been a help. [ be a great help Everyone who came to
the party was a great help, especially cleaning up afterwards.
obliging/o'blad5o/someone who is obliging is always
ready to help and enjoys helping people, even people who
are unreasonable or difficult [adj]
His school report said that he was polite, obliging and
always extremely well behaved. [ The shop assistants were
very obliging, and brought me fifteen pairs of shoes to try on.
obligingly lady/Someone had obligingly left the doctor's
address next to the phone, in case of emergency.
cooperativelco.operative Ikoo'pdrotiv II -'a:p-/
someone who is cooperative helps someone who has asked
them to help, by working together with them and not caus-
ing any problems [adj]
I was nervous on myfirst day as the new boss, but everyone
was very cooperative and wanted us all to work together as
a team. I The judge ruled that McFarland had been a cooper-
ative witness and reduced his sentence by five years.
accommodating/o'komadeltrj II -'ka:-/someone who
is accommodating is willing to do what someone else
wants, help them etc in order to have a good relationship
with them [adj]
He was very pleasant and accommodating, always asking
if I needed anything. I Gino was in search of a sympathetic,
accommodating partner.
8 someone who helps someone else
assistant right-hand man
helper accomplice
aide
assistant/OSlStant/someone who is employed to help
someone do their job, especially by doing all the simple or
unimportant things for them so that their job is made
easier [n C]
The dentist asked her assistant to sterilise the instruments. I
assistant manager/director/editor etc He's just got the
job as assistant art director at the museum. I assistant to
Lydia has been promoted to the post of assistant to Director
of Finance.
helper/helpor/someone who helps someone else to do
something, especially because they want to do it and are
not paid for it [n C]
The fire was put out by a crowd of willing helpers. I There
are lots of institutions that are desperate for voluntary
helpers - old-age homes, hospitals, orphanages etc.
aide/eid/someone who is employed to help a very impor-
tant person, especially someone in politics or government
[nC]
This week an aide confirmed that the President will not be
standing in the next election. I The General stared at the ceil-
ing while his aide read a translation of his speech.
right-hand man / rat hand 'mmn/the person who some-
one in a position of authority depends on most to help and
support them [n C/
Beria, the head of the KGB, was Stalin's right-hand man. I
I don't know what I'm going to do without him. He was my
right-hand man.
accomplice/o'kAmpls II oka:m-, o'kAm-/someone who
helps someone else in a crime [n C]
He could not have carried out this murder without at least
one accomplice. [ The robbers and their accomplices were all
given severe prison sentences. I accomplice in/to She was
accused of being an accomplice in the kidnapping, but noth-
ing was ever proven.
9 something that helps you do something
aid
a shot in the arm
boost
aid/eld/a machine or object that is made to help someone
do something [n C]
A video recorder is a useful aid in the classroom. [ These days,
fashion designers can use computer graphics and other
modern aids.
a shot in the arm/o dot in 6i o:rm II -,fa:t-I if some-
thing good that happens to a person or an organization is
a shot in the arm for them, it makes them feel stronger,
more confident, and more likely to succeed In phrase]
a shot in the arm for Winning the Nobel Peace Prize was
a significant shot in the arm for Amnesty International. I
give sb/sth a shot in the arm Last night's victory does not
mean that the team is out of trouble in the league, but it gives
them a much-needed shot in the arm.
boost/bu:st/something which helps someone feel more
confident and more likely to succeed, or which helps some-
thing increase or improve [n singular]
Last night's news of new oil discoveries in the North Sea will
be a great boost to Britain's economy. [ ego-boost
(=something that makes you feel much more confident or
proud of yourself) It'll be a real ego-boost seeing your name
on the cover of a book.
10
something that someone does or gives in
order to help someone else
support
back-up/backup
encouragement
help
assistance
a hand
aid
help/help/[n U]
If you need any help with the shopping, just ask. I We just
don't have enough money to keep the house, and I hate asking
my parents for help. I with help It was months after the
crash before he could walk, and only then with a little help. I
with the help of Her parents educated her themselves, with
the occasional help of a retired headmaster from next door. I
get help (=to find people to help you) You go to get help.
I'll stay here with the survivors.
assistance /o'sstdns/ a formal word for actions or
behaviour that help someone do something [n U]
Patients can usually move without assistance within a week
of the operation. I Nearly 90% of the inhabitants of this part
of the city need financial assistance.
a hand/o 'hmnd/an informal expression meaning prac-
tical help from someone when something needs to be done
[n singular]
If you need a hand when you unpack your things, let me
know. I a hand with That box looks very heavy. Would you
like a hand with it?

HELP 608 HERE
aid/eid/help, especially money, that an organization or
country gives to another country or to people who are in
a very difficult situation [n U]
Many countries survive on foreign aid from richer neigh-
hours. [ It is government policy to provide aid to the home-
less or the unemployed. [ The charity has promised aid, espe-
cially medicine and clothing to all those who are needy.
support ]s 'pm.rt/equipment, money or help from other
people that is available for you to use when you need it In U]
Thanks for all your support. [ Our two company lawyers pro-
vide all the legal support we need. [ What kind of support do
you have in the hospital for any major accidents?
back-up/backup/'beelp/people, equipment etc that
are provided to be used if people need them [n U]
This department needs more secretarial and clerical back-
up. [ We had very good medical back-up on our expedition
which was always there when we needed it.
encouragement /n'kArdsmnt [[ -'ka:r-/ something
such as praise or advice from other people that helps give
someone the confidence and determination to do some-
thing [n U]
My teachers at school gave me every possible encourage-
ment. [ Composers and poets receive very little encouragement
from the government. [ by way of encouragement (=to
encourage someone) "I think you're doing very well indeed, "'
he added by way of encouragement.
1 1 to not help or not be willing to help
not helpful uncooperative
unhelpful not lift a finger
not helpful/not 'helpfal/not providing the help that you
need, especially when you have asked for help [adj not
before noun]
I asked a man in the street for directions, but he wasn't help-
fuL I She went to the careers centre for advice on jobs in
advertising but they weren't particularly helpful.
unhelpful/an'helpfal/someone who is unhelpful is not
willing to help you [adj not usually before noun]
The librarian was very unhelpful and even told me to find
my own books. [ Many women find the police unhelpful if
they complain of being assaulted.
uncooperative / ,^nko' opar0uv [1 -' a:p-/not wanting to
help someone who wants you to help them, especially by
deliberately opposing them or stopping them doing some-
thing easily [adj]
The nurses in the hospital found my grandmother rather a
problem because she was so uncooperative. [ The guards were
moody and uncooperative and made no attempt to help us
get our visas stamped.
not lift a finger/not ,lift o 'fIl]gor/if someone does not
or will not lift a finger, they do not help when help is
wanted or needed, especially because they are lazy [v
phrase]
She stayed with us for two weeks and never lifted a finger
the whole time. [ He had doubts about Terry's guilt, but
didn't lift a finger to find out who the thief really was.
12 words for describing something that is not
helpful or useful
not helpful/unhelpful
not helpful/unhelpful/not 'helpfal, An'helpfal/[adj]
My map of Japan was not helpful in planning my route
because it was so old. [ He bought a book on relaxation tech-
niques but it wasn't really very helpful. [ He told me the train
left at 6 o'clock, which was unhelpful because he didn "t say
whether he meant morning or evening.
13 words for describing someone who needs
help or who does not have any help
helpless
on your own/by yourself
helpless /'helplzs/needing help because you cannot do
anything for yourself or you need protection [adj]
She'd always worried about getting older, and the thought
of being a helpless old woman frightened her. [ He had an
accident while travelling in a remote part of China, and for
some weeks was sick and helpless. [ utterly helpless His
mother's death left the boy feeling utterly helpless and alone.
helplessly [ adv ] Suddenly he began to cry, as helplessly and
miserably as a child.
on your own/by yourself/on j:r 'on, baz j:r'self/if
you do something on your own or by yourself you do it
without help from anyone else [adv phrase]
Peter felt very proud of the meal especially because he had
cooked it all on his own. [ Did you do that all by yoursel]?.
You're very clever. [ Not many of the people who found jobs
through the Training Programme would have found them
by themselves.
helper HELP 8
helpful HELP 7, USEFUL 1
helpful: be helpful HELP 6
helpful: not helpful HELP 11
helpful: not helpful/unhelpful
helping AMOUNT 3
helpless HELP 13
henceforth AFTER 3
herald SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 6
here HERE 1, 3
here: be here ARRIVE 2, HERE 5
here: be neither here nor there
here: get here ARRIVE 2
here: I'm getting out of here
here: not be here HERE 6
here, there and everywhere
HELP 12
CONNECTED WITH 9
LEAVE A PLACE 2
EVERYWHERE 3
HERE
1 in this place
2 near this place
3 to this place
4 from this place
5 to be here
6 to not be here
7 ways of saying that someone is not here
because they are ill, on holiday etc
1 in this place
here
in this place
on this very spot
here/hIor/in the place where you are [adv]
I've lived here for over a year now. [ I'm glad we decided to
come to Spain for our holiday, I love it here. [ Shall we stop
and have a cup of coffee? There's a nice little cafe here. [ If
Iput these letters here, by the front door, I won't forget to post
them in the morning. [ Since the news of the president's dis-
appearance, the atmosphere here has been extremely tense.
in this place/in ,6Is 'pleis/in the place where you are
now, especially a place that you like or dislike [advphrase]
I'm sick of living in this place, everyone's so unfriendly. [
There are some fantastic shops in this place - we must come
here to buy Christmas presents.
on this very spot Ion 6Is ,veal 'spot JJ-'spa:t/in the
place where you are standing, especially a place where
something very important has happened in the past [adv
phrase]
It was on this very spot thirty years ago that President
Kennedy was assassinated. I It was exciting to think that so
many great men and women had given speeches on this very
spot.

HERE 609 hide
• near this place
around here/round here
around here (also round here in British English)
/() Iraond 'hmr/in the area near where you are [advphrase]
Most of the people living around here have been unemployed
since the factory was closed. I At this time of the year there
are blackberries growing everywhere around here. I Are
there any good restaurants round here?
3 to this place
here
here/hr/[adv]
"Did you come here by train? .... No, I came by car." l We
moved here about two weeks ago, it seems like a nice place.
I've arranged for the Post Office to send all our mail here for
a month.
4 from this place
from here
from here/from 'hIr/[adv phrase]
Let's have a race -from here to that tree. I From here, it takes
thirty minutes to walk to the swimming-pool.
5 to be here
be here be in
be around be present
be here/bi: 'hor/[v phrase]
"'Have you seen the can opener anywhere? .... Yes, it's here.
I'm not going to the cinema. I want to be here when Tony
arrives. I The monument has been here since 1876. I Make a
list of all the names to make sure everyone's here.
down/in/up etc here "'Where are you hiding?" "/'m up
here, in the bedroom."
be around /bi: 'raond/ if someone or something is
around, they are here or somewhere in this area, espe-
cially when they are needed [phr v I]
The boss is usually in the office but he doesn't seem to be
around at the moment. I Are you going to be around at
Christmas or are you going on holiday? I What do you mean
you can ?find the hairdryer. It must be around somewhere.
be in/hi: n/to be in your home, the place where you work
etc, especially when you are expected to be there [phr v I]
Hello Mrs Baxter. Is Mark in? I Sonia's just phoned to say
she won't be in today. She's not feeling very well. I You can
go out for a while but make sure you're in by 11 o'clock.
be present/bi: 'prezant! a formal expression meaning to
be here, especially because you are expected to be here or
because you want to watch something such as a ceremony
[ v p h rase ]
The teacher will go through a list of names to make sure
everyone's present. I The President sent a letter explaining
that he could not be present today due to unforeseen circum-
stances. I those present (=the people here) Those present
tonight will have noticed the courage of the candidates for
the award.
6 to not be here
not be here be away
not be around missing
be out/not be in
not be here/not bi: 'hIr/ [v phrase]
How could she possibly know what happened? She wasn't
even here. [ If the scissors aren't here where they usually are,
how am I supposed to find them?[ The supermarket hasn't
been here long but already people are using it more than the
local shops.
not be around Inot bi: zraond/if someone or something
is not around they are not here or anywhere in this area,
especially when they are needed [phr v I[
If Les isn't around I'm sure we can find someone else to fix
your car. [ He's become so dependent on his secretary, he
really notices it when she's not around. [ It doesn't matter
where you look for a taxi, there isn't one around when you
need it.
be out/not be in/bi: 'aot, not bi: 'n/to not be in your
home, the place where you work etc for a short time, espe-
cially when someone wants to see you [phr v I[
Sally phoned while you were out. I told her to phone back
later. [ Mr Rogers isn't in at the moment. Can I be of
assistance? [ I'm going to be out all afternoon. [ I've so much
to do. If anyone wants to speak to me, tell them I'm not in.
be away/bi: 'wei/to not be at home for several days or
weeks, because you are travelling or staying somewhere
else [phr v I[
Jack's gone to Italy. He'll be away for a few weeks. [ be away
on business Once, while he was away on business, his wife
had an affair with his best friend. [ be away from My job
means that I have to be away from home for five months of
the year.
missing/I mlSlrJ/someone or something that is missing
is not here, especially because they are lost or stolen [adj]
Wait a minute. There were ten of us when we started the
climb. Who's missing? [ Other people have been borrowing
my tool kit and now there are several tools missing. [ Some
of our records are incomplete. Could you fill in the missing
information, especially your date of birth.
7 ways of saying that someone is not here
because they are ill, on holiday etc
be absent
be away/off
be absent Ibi: 'ebsant/if someone is absent, they are not
here, especially in school or the place where they work,
because they are ill, on holiday etc [v phrase]
Carla is absent again. She'll never pass her exams if she
keeps missing classes. [ According to the personnel depart-
ment you have been absent twice this week already. [ Two
soldiers had been absent on sick leave.
be away/off/bi: 'weI, 'of [[. ':f/an informal expres-
sion: if someone is away or off they are not at school, at
work etc usually because they are ill, on holiday etc [phr
vii
Mr Roberts is away this week. He's on vacation. [ be off
school/work ete Jenkins isn't off school again, is he?
What's his excuse this time? [ be off/away with flu/a cold
ete About half our staff are off with fiu. [ be off sick If you're
off sick, you must get a medical certificate from your doctor.
heritage TRADITION 2
hero PERSON/PEOPLE 5
hero: hero/heroine ADMIRE 3, BRAVE 1
hero-worship ADMIRE 2
heroic BRAVE 1
heroine PERSON/PEOPLE 5
herring: be a red herring CONNECTED WITH 9
hesitant NOT SURE 2
hesitate PAUSE 1
her up UPSET 2
heterosexual HOMOSEXUAL 2
hi/hi there HELLO 1
hiccup PROBLEM 2
hidden HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 5,
HIDE/NOT SHOW 4
hide HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 1, 2, 4,
HIDE/NOT SHOW 1 2
hide: can't hide SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English

HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 610 HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE
put something or ?   HIDE/MAKE IT
sne.. h;rety HARD TO FIND
tsh0.-feel;.ing(   HIDEINO SHOW
HIDE/MAKE IT
HARD TO FIND
OR SEE
2
3
4
5
6
to put something somewhere in order to
make it difficult to find or see
to hide yourself
to hide something or someone by making
them look different
to make something difficult to see by being in
front of it or by partly covenng it
words for describing something that someone
has hidden or is hiding
a place where things or people are hidden
1 to put something somewhere in order to
make it difficult to find or see
hide stash
conceal cover
secrete bury
hide/had/Iv T]
hide sth in/under/behind etc They put the money in a
small box and hid it under the floorboards. [ I saw the
woman take something off the shelf in the store and hide it
under her coat. I hide sth Mrs Vincent had hidden the choco-
late so that the children wouldn't find it. [ hide sth from
I used to hide his cigarettes from him so he couldn't smoke.
conceal/kon'si:l/a formal word meaning to hide some-
thing carefully Iv T]
conceal sth in/under/behind etc The crew found 108
kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in the bottom of the
boat. I The man put his hand to a weapon concealed beneath
his coat. I The secret police had concealed microphones in the
walls.
secrete/sI I kri:t/a formal word meaning to carefully hide
small, valuable objects Iv T]
secrete sth behind/in etc No one knew where the old
woman had secreted her jewels. I I showed him the coin,
assured him it was genuine, and he at once secreted it some-
where in the dark interior of the house.
stash Istafl an informal word meaning to hide money or
something that you should not have [v T]
stash sth in/under/behind etc He stashed the money from
the robbery in an unused warehouse. [ They work hard, eat
cheap, live ten to a room and stash their savings under their
mattresses. I Where did you stash the drugs?
cover /'kAvorl to hide something by putting something
else on or over it Iv T]
cover sth Embarrassed, she reached for a towel to cover her
naked body. I cover sth with She covered her diary with her
hat because she didn't want them to spot it.
bury/'beri! to hide something by putting it in or on the
ground and covering it with soil, sand etc Iv T]
bury sth in/under etc They buried their guns in the yard
where they hoped the police wouldn't find them. ] The dog
caught the old shoe that was thrown at him, and promptly
buried it in the flower bed. I bury sth Snakes will usually
bury their eggs.
buried [adj] There was supposed to be buried treasure some-
where on this island.
2 to hide yourself
hide conceal yourself
go into hiding lie in wait
lie low lurk
hole up skulk
stow away
hide/haid/to go somewhere where you cannot be easily
found or seen Iv I]
hide under/behind/in etc McCarthy hid under the bridge
and breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the policemen run
past above him. [ The girl moved forward to the kerb, half
hiding behind a tree trunk. I hide When she was a child, she
used to hide when visitors came. [ hide from sb Why is he
hiding from us? Is he afraid of us?
go into hiding/,go Int 'had01 to go to a safe place
where you can hide for a long time because you are in
danger or because the police are looking for you [vphrase]
Many Jewish families went into hiding during World War
/I. I She'll have to go into hiding until all the fuss has died
down.
i|e iow ! I la lo! to hide from people who are trying to
catch you and make sure you do not attract any attention
until it is safe to come out Iv phrase]
If it appears difficult to get across the border I'll simply lie
low until nightfall. I He knew something about lying low.
He had learned it in Poland during the war.
hole up/,hol Ap/ to hide somewhere and not go out at
all because the police are looking for you [phr v I]
hole up in/on etc The gang holed up in a cheap hotel for
a few weeks. I Police surrounded the quiet country house
where they believed the bank-robbers had holed up. I be
holed up in/on etc Mark Davis, the infamous drug-
trafficker, is said to be holed up on an island near Hawaii.
stow away/stao a'we/to hide in a ship in order to
travel to a place without being noticed and without paying
[phr v I]
With no money, his only hope of getting to New York was to
stow away on the next ship. I Customs officials discovered
several illegal immigrants stowed away at the front of the
ship.
conceal yourself/kan' si:l ja: r ,self/a formal expression
meaning to hide yourseff carefully so that you cannot be
seen Iv phrase]
conceal yourself in/beneath/behind etc If you hear an
aircraft coming, conceal yourself beneath the rocks. I con-
ceal yourself from Many spiders spin special webs to con-
ceal themselves from danger.
lie in wait/lal in we;t/if police or soldiers lie in wait,
they hide in a place they know the people they want to stop
or attack will come to Iv phrase]
The tank commander feared there might be enemy soldiers
lying in wait in the hills up ahead. I lie in wait for The ter-
rorists were surprised by a special police task-force who were
lying in wait for them.
lurk Ila:rk/to wait or move quietly and secretly without
being seen, especially because you are going to do some-
thing wrong or something you do not want people to know
about Iv I]
lurk in/behind/under etc Walking home late at night, she
was sure there were men lurking behind the trees in the
park. [ In the shadows along the wall lurked men armed with
guns. [ Photographers lurked outside the house for hours,
hoping to get a photograph of the princess.

HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 611 HIDE/NOT SHOW
skulk/skAlk/to hide or move about secretly because you
are afraid or because you are waiting for the chance to do
something bad Iv I]
skulk in/behind/outside etc He skulked along the street,
looking this way and that to see if anyone was following
him. i Is it safe to go out? Are you sure there's no one skulk-
ing outside? i Fierce animals were said to live in the forest,
skulking in their holes by day and emerging to hunt humans
at night.
3 to hide something or someone by making
them look different
disguise
camouflage
disguise/dis gaiz/to make someone or something look
different in order to deceive people, for example by chang-
ing someone's clothes or hair Iv T]
disguise sb/sth as Williams escaped across the border dis-
guised as a catholic priest. I The criminals disguised the geta-
way vehicle as a police car. I disguise yourself as She
managed to get into the camp by disguising herself as a
young soldier.
camouflage / I kaemoflo:S/to hide someone or something
by covering them with materials that help them to look like
the surrounding area Iv T]
camouflage sb/sth We camouflaged the plane by covering
it with leaves. I camouflage sb/sth with By camouflaging
themselves with branches the troops could move safely
through the jungle. I The soldiers marched by, their faces
menacingly camouflaged with boot polish.
4 to make something difficult to see by being in
front of it or by partly covering it
hide screen
conceal blot out
hide Ihaidl Iv T]
His upper lip was hidden by a moustache. I Low cloud hid
the mountain-tops. I High bushes hid the next house where
Lizzie lived.
conceai/kanlsi:l/a formal word meaning to hide some-
thing by covering it Iv T]
A wide-brimmed hat concealed his bald spot. I They walked
the long way to avoid the pools of dirty water that were half-
concealed by grass. I Dark doorways concealed couples
clutching each other.
screen/skri:n/to hide something completely by being in
front of it Iv T]
The house is screened from the road by tall conifers. I In the
back yard a hedge neatly screens the vegetable plot.
biot out / blt 'aut II ,blo:t-/to cover something so com-
pletely that you are not able to see any of it [phr v T]
blot out sth Volcanic clouds and dust blotted out the sun. I
blot sth/it/them out Spilt paint had blotted the entire pic-
ture out.
5 words for describing something that someone
has hidden or is hiding
hidden
concealed
hidden/'hIdn/[adj]
hidden under/behind/in etc The key was hidden under
a plant pot. I hidden Her desk has a hidden drawer that she
keeps important documents in. I hidden away I've got the
kids" presents all hidden away ready for Christmas day. I
hidden from Frogs can search for food underwater, hidden
from birds of prey.
concealed/kan'si:ld/deliberately hidden by someone,
especially by covering it with something or by putting
something in front of it [adj]
concealed behind/beneath/in etc He was carrying some
kind. of weapon concealed beneath his jacket. [ concealed
Concealed cameras help security guards spot intruders. I
concealed by Half concealed by the curtain, he peered out
of the window. I concealed from Sacred paintings are
screened off, concealed from public view.
6 a place where things or people are hidden
hiding-place
place to hide
hideout
hiding-place/haidirj pleis/[n C]
He counted his money then returned it to its hiding-place. [
It was a good hiding-place, no one would ever find her. ] The
soldiers came down the hill and walked right past me, within
five metres of my hiding-place.
place to hide I.pleis t 'haid/a place where someone can
hide In phrase]
He could hear the dogs coming. He looked around desperately
for a place to hide. [ Under the bed is not the best place to hide.
hideout/'haidat/a place where someone goes to hide
from the police or someone dangerous In C]
The gang return to their secret hideout after every burglary. [
It is believed that the guerillas have a hideout in the southern
mountains.
HIDE/NOT SHOW
to hide feelings, facts, intentions etc from
other people
1 to hide your true feelings or intentions from
other people
2 to deliberately hide facts or information
3 a deliberate attempt to hide information from
the public
4 words for describing feelings, attitudes etc
that someone hides
5 something that is used to hide the truth about
what is happening or what someone is really
like
6 words for describing actions, feelings, or
intentions that are not hidden
1
to hide your true feelings or intentions from
other people
hide suppress
conceal bottle sth up
disguise repress
mask be non-committal
put on a brave face
hide Ihaid/Iv T]
hide sth He hides his real feelings under that big smile.[ Her
natural politeness could not hide the distress in her voice. I
hide sth from sb I tried to hide my anxiety from the rest of
the family by pretending that everything was normal.
conceal /kan'si:l/ to hide your feelings or intentions
although you have to make an effort to do this Iv T]
conceal sth "Oh, all right then, "" she said smiling, trying
hard to conceal her disappointment. I His outward self-
confidence concealed his nervousness. I conceal sth from
sb Hawkins was a very emotional man, incapable of conceal-
ing what he felt from those who knew him best.
disguise/dis'gaz/to avoid showing your true feelings
or intentions by pretending to feel something else |v T]
"'That's great!'" she cried, unable to disguise her excitement. I
It was obvious she planned to win, no matter how hard she
tried to disguise it.
mask/mo:sk II maesk/to hide your real feelings or inten-
tions by making them appear to be something else |v T]
Our culture teaches men to mask genuine feelings behind dis-
plays of macho masculinity. I What they really want is a
source of cheap labor but they mask this by claiming they
want to invest in the local economy.

HIDE/NOT SHOW 612 HIDE/NOT SHOW
put on a brave face /,put n a ,breiv 'feis/to pretend
that you are happy when in fact you are very upset about
something but you do not want to show this Iv phrase]
When she lost her job she put on a brave face and said it
didn't matter. I put on a brave face about Lewis knew he
would miss her a lot, but he put on a brave face about it when
the time came to leave.
suppress/so'presl to not allow yourself to feel or show
strong feelings such as anger, sadness, or love, especially
when you have difficulty controlling these feelings [v T]
He tried hard to suppress his anger and resentment, but he
finally lost his temper and told them what he thought. I For
ten years Jack had suppressed his love for his brother's wife.
suppression/so'prefan/In U] The suppression of the emo-
tions in childhood can cause problems later.
bottle sth up/,botl (sth) '^p li ,bo:-/to not allow your-
self to show your feelings, especially if you are angry, wor-
ried or upset, when it would be better to let yourself show
them [phr v T]
bottle it/things up Tell me what's wrong - it won't do any
good just bottling things up. [ bottle sth up It is far better
for a child to cry than to bottle his feelings up. [ The anger
that he had bottled up inside him finally exploded in the vio-
lence which killed eight people.
repress/ri pres/to deliberately stop yourself from having
or expressing particular feelings, especially because you
are ashamed of them, in a way that may have harmful
mental effects Iv T]
Individuals who repress their sexual desires often suffer from
psychological problems. I Denying or repressing sorrow often
seems the easiest way out when confronted with death.
repression/r' prefan/In U] His emotional problems could
be traced back to years of sexual repression.
be non.committal /bi ,nnko'mitl 11-,no:n-/ to not
show what you think about something or what you intend
to do, when answering a question or making a statement
Iv phrase]
be non-committal about She was non-committal about her
plans for the future. [ The doctor was non-committal about
my chances of complete recovery, i be non-commmittal
Senator dohnson remained studiously non-committal despite
some fierce questioning.
2 to deliberately hide facts or information
hide sweep sth under the
conceal carpet
draw a veil over cover your tracks
cover up suppress
hide/ha:d/[v T]
hide sth He took off his ring to hide the fact that he was mar-
ried. [ I have nothing to hide. Ask me anything you want. [
She hid her inability to read all through her schooling. [ hide
sth from sb Don't try to hide anything from me. I always
find out the truth in the end.
conceal/konsi:l/to hide facts or the truth about some-
thing, especially by not giving people enough information
or by lying Iv T]
conceal sth We could tell that he was still concealing some-
thing and it was our job to find out what. [ An organized
attempt had been made to conceal the facts of Watergate, as
a result of which Nixon lost the presidency. [ conceal sth
from sb The war was a total failure, a fact which was for
a long time concealed from thepublic by false claims about
enemy casualties.
draw a veil over/,dra: o vell ouvor/to deliberately not
talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing that hap-
pened in the past Iv phrase]
She always thinks that it is better to draw a veil over James"
past. [ In his autobiography Davis draws a veil over his Nazi
sympathies during the war.
cover up/,kAvor 'Ap/ to not let mistakes or unpleasant
facts become known Iv T]
It was too late for the police to cover up the detailed record
of their brutal assault on the protesters. [ Lester made numer-
ous mistakes which his colleagues tried to cover up. [ The
whole thing is being very well covered up and nobody will
ever know what happened.
sweep sth under the carpet/,swi:p (sth) Ando r 6o
'ko:rpt/to try to keep something wrong that has happened
a secret Iv phrase]
All the evidence pointing to the McKay's guilt has been swept
under the carpet. [ Before the scandal was made public there
had been several attempts to sweep the senator's doubtful
business deals under the carpet
cover your tracks /,kAvo r j::r traks/to make a care-
ful and deliberate attempt to stop people finding out about
something wrong or criminal that you have done, by tell-
ing lies, hiding facts etc Iv phrase]
She covered her tracks by saying that she "d been at a friend's
house all that evening. [ We tried to prove senior ministers"
involvement in these arms sales, but they had covered their
tracks pretty well.
suppress/so presl to prevent important facts or informa-
tion from being made known in a public or official situa-
tion Iv T]
suppress sth Police were accused of suppressing evidence
that might have proved that the men were innocent. [ sup-
press sth about The drug company has been suppressing
important information about the possible side-effects of this
product.
3 a deliberate attempt to hide information from
the public
cover-up
whitewash
cover-up / 'kAvor Ap/a deliberate plan to prevent mistakes
or embarrassing information, especially about politicians
or other people in off'lcial positions, from being publicly
known In C]
The newspapers claim that there has been a cover-up
widespread drug-taking in British athletics. [ Investigators
found no evidence that the President had either participated
in a cover-up or authorized one.
whitewash I'waitw l[-wo:, -w:/ an attempt by a
government or organization to hide unpleasant facts from
the public after an official inquiry into a serious problem
In singular]
Protestors accused the government of a whitewash. [ At a
press conference a Greenpeace spokesperson described the
official report on nuclear waste disposal as a whitewash.
4 words for describing feelings, attitudes etc
that someone hides
hidden disguised
suppressed veiled
repressed
hidden I'hidn/[adj]
A child that is behaving oddly may in fact have many hidden
fears. [ He's always joking around and makes sure his true
feelings stay hidden, i hidden talents (=abilities that you
did not know someone had) You can dance and sing! I never
realized you had so many hidden talents.
suppressed/so'prest/strong feelings, such as anger,
fear, or happiness, that are suppressed are ones that you
do not allow yourself to feel or show [adj]
He is full of suppressed anger and needs to find some way
of releasing it. [ Her urge to go and tell Pippa exactly what
she thought of her had, until now, been suppressed.
repressed/ri 'prest] feelings that are repressed are ones
that you deliberately stop yourself from feeling, especially
because you are ashamed of them [adj]
The Victorian era is characterized by its strict conventions
and repressed emotion. [ His theories are based on the idea
that crime is caused by repressed aggression in childhood.
disguised/dis 'galzd/feelings or attitudes that are dis-
guised are kept hidden, but usually not very well [adj]
"'OK, I'll do it, "" she said, with badly disguised hostility. [
thinly disguised (=only slightly hidden) The speech was
seen by many as a thinly disguised attack on the President.

HIDE/NOT SHOW 613 HIGH
veiled /veild/ veiled threats/criticism/hints etc
(=when you do not say directly what you think or feel) [adj
usually before noun]
What she was saying was nothing more than a veiled criti-
cism of my work. I His attempt to get us to help him is just
a veiled form of blackmail. I thinly veiled (=only slightly
hidden) thinly veiled threats of what might happen if the US
did not withdraw their troops
5 something that is used to hide the truth about
what is happening or what someone is really
like
cover smokescreen
front blind
cover I'kAvar/something that you do or say as a way of
hiding your true actions or intentions, especially when
these are illegal or dishonest [n singular]
They accepted defeat, though in reality it was only a cover
to gain time to prepare another attack. I He's a spy using his
position at the United Nations as a cover.
front/frAnt/something such as an organization or a type
of behaviour that seems to be normal but is used to hide
what is really happening [n singular]
She puts on this "innocent little girl" act, but it's all a front. ]
The car rental company is actually a front for his drug
dealing.
smokescreen / ' smaokskri:n/something that is done or
said in order to take people's attention away from
unfavourable or embarrassing facts [n singular]
The Administration puts a lot of emphasis on the i.mproved
inflation rate - which is basically a smokescreen to divert
attention from rising unemployment.
blind/bla;nd/an American word meaning an organization
or activity used for hiding secret and often illegal actions
In singular]
Police suspect that his restaurant business is a blind for some
sort of gambling organization. I Her charity work was a
blind to stop us finding out about her involvement in corrupt
city politics.
6 words for describing actions, feelings, or
intentions that are not hidden
open
open/'oopan/[adj]
Everything we do in the clinic is open and totally legitimate
- we have nothing to hide. I After years of government res-
triction, open religious activity is beginning to emerge again
in Russia. I Some of her former supporters are now express-
ing open hostility to her leadership.
openly [ adv ] Anyone who openly criticized the junta risked
death.
hidebound CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
hideous UGLY 2, 3
hideout HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 6
hiding: go into hiding HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND
O R SEE 2
HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 6
hiding-place
high LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 10, BIG
7, DRUG 4, EXPENSIVE 1, HIGH 1, 2, HIGH
SOUND OR VOICE 1
high: be high HIGH POSITION OR RANK 1
high: be high up HIGH 1, HIGH POSITION OR RANK 1
high: feelings run high ANGRY 7
high: 30m/100ft etc high HIGH 4
high flyer SUCCESSFUL 5
high-handed UNFAIR 1
high hopes: have high hopes HOPE 1
high life: live the high life SPEND MONEY 2
high opinion: have a high opinion of ADMIRE 1
high-pitched HIGH SOUND OR VOICE 1
high point/spot EXCITED 8
high profile FAMOUS 1
high quality: good quality/high quality GOOD/
EXCELLENT 1
high-ranking HIGH POSITION OR RANK 2
high-risk DANGEROUS 3, RISK 2, 4
high speed FAST/QUICK 4
high speed: at high speed FAST/QUICK 2
high spirits EXCITED 4
high street ROAD/PATH 1
high-techlhi-tech ADVANCED 1
high I
HIGH
-..-HIGH POSITION
OR RANK
HIGH
1 a long way above the ground
2 words for describing something such as a
building, mountain, or tree whose top is high
above the ground
;3 a particular distance above the ground or
other point
4 ways of saying how high something is
5; ways of saying that something is much higher
and more noticeable than the other things
around it
6 words for describing a surface that is higher
than the area around it
7' fear of being in high places
a long way above the ground
high upper
be high up up in the air
high/hai / [adj]
She couldn't see herself because the mirror was too high. I
Put the medicine on a higher shelf- you don "t want the chil-
dren to get hold of it. I The bird sat on the highest ledge over-
looking the park. I Climbing in such high altitudes is both
tiring and exhilarating.
high [adv] The plane flew higher, to avoid the storm.
be high up/bi: hai Ap/to be in a place or position that
is a long way above the ground [v phrase]
When he was high up in the branches he could see as far as
the next town. I The button was too high upfor Billy to reach
it. I When he looked down he was alarmed to find that he was
already very high up.

HIGH 61,1 HIGH POSITION OR RANK
upper /'hPOrl upper room/floor/deck/branch (=the
highest ones when there are two or more) [adj only before
noun ]
Monkeys were swinging through the upper branches of the
rainforest. I In case of emergency make your way to the life-
boats on the upper deck.
up in the air / ,^p m 6i 'car/a long way above the ground
without being on any surface [adv phrase]
Once the plane is up in the air I'll let you try using the con-
trols. I The force of the explosion blew me straight up in the
air. I high up in the air My son likes me to throw him high
up in the air and catch him.
2 words for describing something such as a
building, mountain, or tree whose top is high
above the ground
high towering
tall lofty
high/hail [adj]
Even though they built a high fence, the dog could still jump
over it. I One of the questions in the quiz was "'How high is
the Taj Mahal?" l Everest, the highest mountain in the world
tall It:l/something such as a building, tree, or pole that
is tall is high and narrow or thin [adj]
We enjoyed seeing the tall buildings and busy streets of Man-
hattan. I The garden, surrounded by tall rosebushes, was
very quiet and peaceful. I He could just distinguish the tallest
masts of the ships in the distance.
towering/'taurirj/very high especially in a way that
seems frightening or impressive [adj only before noun]
We photographed the green valleys and towering mountain
peaks of the Alps. I The great towering Cliffs of Dover loomed
in front of them.
lofty/lofti II 'la:fti/a word used especially in literature
or in written descriptions of places meaning very high in
a way that makes people admire something or think that
it is beautiful [adj usually before noun]
Elinor entered a lofty hall, which led to a pleasant dining
room. I The whole of the mountain side was planted with
lofty and majestic pine trees.
3 a particular distance above the ground or
other point
height
altitude
level
height/haiti In C]
It's a miracle she didn't break her neck, falling from that
height. I It seems that the bomb exploded when the plane
reached a height of lO, O00 feet. I The track is at a height of
5 metres above the ground.
altitude /'aelQtju:d II-tu:dl a technical word meaning
height, especially a height which is a long distance from
the ground, used when describing the position of aircraft
and places In C]
an aircraft engine designed to operate at an altitude of
11,000 m I The altitude of Addis Ababa is eight thousand
feet. I high/low altitude It's very difficult to breathe at high
altitudes.
level Ilevall the distance above the ground or floor, espe-
cially when comparing the heights of more than one thing
In C/U/
Hang the painting at the same level as the window. I The
apartment is split into two different levels with a bedroom
on each. I eye level The good thing about this cupboard is
that all the shelves are at eye level.
4 ways of saying how high something is
30m/lOOft etc high
height
30mll00ft etc high/,(30m, etc) 'ha/if something is
30m, 100ft etc high, the distance from its base to its top
is 30m, 100ft etc [adj phrase]
The highest mountain in Scotland is over 400Oft high. I He's
built a 3 metre high fence between the two gardens. I The
word "Hollywood" in letters over 20feet high has been built
into the hillside. I shoulder/waist/head etc high (=as
high as your shoulder, waist, head etc) By this time the
water was almost waist-high.
height/hair/the distance between the base and the top of
something In C/U/
What's the height of the average elephant? I in height Some
of the pyramids are over 200feet in height.
 ways of saying that something is much higher
and more noticeable than the other things
around it
tower over/above
dwarf
dominate
tower over/above I 'taua r auva r, ab^v/Iv T]
The great cathedral towers over the rest of the main square. I
A huge tree dominated the garden and towered above the
small building in the corner.
dwarf/dw:rf/to appear so big that it makes the other
things around it seem very small Iv T not usually in
progressive]
The smaller, older houses are now dwarfed by the new apart-
ment blocks and hotels. I The ship slowly came into the
harbour, dwarfing all the surrounding boats.
dominate / domneit II 'do,'-/ifa particular building or
structure dominates an area or place, it is much higher
and much more noticeable than everything else, so that it
appears to be the most important thing Iv T not usually in
progressive]
The statue of Lenin dominated the city for more than 50
years. I The fortress on top of the hill still dominates Barce-
lona harbour.
6 words for describing a surface that is higher
than the area around it
raised
elevated
raised/relzdl [adj]
Don't worry, you'll be able to see him alright - the stage is
raised. I In Braille the paper is raised in particular places
so that blind people can identify it.
elevated/'elveItdl a surface that is elevated has been
deliberately put in a place that is higher than everything
else, for example in order to protect it or to make it easier
to see [adj ]
He built a water tank outside on an elevated platform. I The
judge's bench is well elevated and protected by guards.
7 fear of being in high places
fear of heights
vertigo
fear of heights/,fIar av 'haits/In phrase]
He refused to climb the ladder because of his fear of heights. I
She overcame her fear of heights and did a parachute jump
for charity.
vertigo/va:rtIgaO/a word used especially in medical con-
texts meaning the fear of being in high places In U]
He suffered from vertigo, so cleaning the upstairs windows
was a job he hated.
HIGH POSITION
OR RANK
to be in a high position in an organization,
company, or list

HIGH
POSITION OR RANK
words for describing someone who has an
important position in an organization,
company etc
to be in a higher position than someone else
in an organization, company etc
1 to be in a high position in an organization,
company, or list
be high up
be high
be at the top
be high up/bi." IhaI ^p/Iv phrase]
be high up in She's high up in the government these days. I
Her father's quite high up in his company. I be high up
"'How's Brian doing at work? .... He's quite high up now, he's
just been promoted. ""
be high/bi-. IhalI to have a high position in a list or table
of the most successful or best teams, records etc [vphrase]
be high on Pele is high on my list of the world's best foot-
bailers. I be high in U2"s new record is high in the charts.
be at the top/bi: at 6a 'top [[ -'to:p/to have the highest
position in an organization, company, or list Iv phrase]
be at the top of Once again Senna is at the top of the Grand
Prix rankings. [ be at the top Saunders will probably be
introducing some changes to the company now he's at the top.
2 words for describing someone who has an
important position in an organization,
company etc
senior
high-ranking
top
senior/'si:niar/[adj usually before noun]
My uncle used to be a senior civil servant in the Department
of Health. I Five senior executives have been dismissed after
a financial scandal.
seniority /si:niorti [[-13:r-/ In U] Company cars are
awarded to staff according to their seniority (=according to
how senior they are).
high.ranking/hai rarjklrj- I a high-ranking officer/
official/member ere (=having a high position in an
organization, especially a public one such as the police,
army, or government) [adj usually before noun]
A high-ranking police officer has openly criticized the new
law. [ The dinner was given by a high-ranking member of
the diplomatic service. [ Several high-ranking officials are
now involved in negotiations with the terrorists.
top/top [[ ta:p/top manager/official ere (=having the
highest or one of the highest positions in an organization,
especially a business) [adj only before noun]
Now that he's a top manager he has to work late every night. [
The company's top management has hired a consultant to
examine their corporate strategy.
3 to be in a higher position than someone else
in an organization, company etc
be senior to
be sb's superior
outrank/rank
be senior to/bi: si:nia r tu:/Iv phrase]
Although technically I am senior to Smith we do more or less
the same job.
be sb's superior/bi: (sb's) su:plaria r [[ -so-/to be the
person who is in charge of someone else Iv phrase]
She isn't my superior but she often tries to tell me what to do.
outrank (British) I rank (American)/aut'rmrjk, rarjkl to
be in a higher position in an organization, especially the
army Iv T ]
615
hinge on/hang on
Do what Lt Arthur tells you, soldier, he ranks you. [ They
have a system in which successful sales staff will outrank less
successful workers, regardless of qualifications.
HIGH SOUND OR
VOICE
words for describing a high sound or voice
1 words for describing a high sound or voice
high shrill
high-pitched squeaky
piercing tinny
high/hai I high on the musical scale [adj]
I recognized Juliet's high, excited voice on thephone immedi-
ately. [ Dogs respond to sounds that are too high for humans
to hear. [ Above him, James heard the high, beautiful sing-
ing of a lark.
high.pitched /hai pItft-/ a high-pitched sound or
voice is very high, and often unpleasant or annoying to
listen to [adj usually before noun]
Above the music on the radio was an annoying, high-pitched
whistle. [ A squeal of high-pitched laughter could be heard
coming out of the girls" bedroom.
piercing / IplarsIoI a piercing sound or voice is very high
and loud, with the result that it is unpleasant or painful
to listen to [adj usually before noun]
Sammy put his finger and thumb in his mouth and gave a
piercing whistle. [ In the silence, I heard a piercing scream
followed by the sound of footsteps running away.
shrill/fri1/very high, loud, and unexpectedly sharp, often
giving the person who hears it a sudden shock [adj]
I was suddenly woken up by the shrill ringing of the tele-
phone. [ As Sophie became angry her voice got shriller.
squeaky /'skwi:ki/ a squeaky sound or voice keeps
changing between being too high and being normal, espe-
cially because there is something wrong with it [adj]
He's had a throat infection for over a week and his voice has
gone squeaky. [ This door needs oiling, it's very squeaky.
tinny/'ttni/music that is tinny is high and unpleasant,
especially because it comes from a poor quality radio or
musical instrument [adj]
The radio sounded distorted and tinny. [ The electronic
organ was really a toy, producing a tinny wail when you
pressed the keys.
 highbrow INTELLIGENT 10
 higher MORE THAN BEFORE 4, MORE THAN STH OR
SB ELSE 1
higher: get higher UP 8
iliil higher: of higher standard/quality BETTER 1
;; higher and higher UP 1
highlight ATTENTION 7, BEST 4, EMPHASIZE 1,
i EXCITED 8
..... highly VERY 1
il}ii highly-paid: be highly paid/well paid EARN 4
highly-paid: well-paid/highly-paid PAY SB FOR WORK 4
!i, highly-strung/high-strung NERVOUS 3
iiii highway ROAD/PATH 4
; highway robbery: be daylight robbery/be highway
robbery EXPENSIVE 5
hike INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 10, WALK
11,15
-. hilarious FUNNY 1
 hill: be over the hill OLD/NOT YOUNG 4
• : hilly FLAT 4
i hind leg: can talk the hind leg off a donkey TALK TO
i SB 15
 hinder PROBLEM 9
 hindrance PROBLEM 2
 hinge on/hang on DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1

hint 616 HIT
hint SAY :3, TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 1
hint: a hint of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 8
hint: drop a hint SAY :3
hire JOB/WORK 10
hire/employ JOB/WORK 10
hire out LEND 2
hire/rent BORROW :3
hired/rented BORROW 4
hiss SOUND 13
historic IMPORTANT 1
history PAST 2
hit HARM/BE BAD FOR 1, HIT 1, 6, HIT/BUMP
INTO 1, 2, 5, POPULAR :3, REACH 2, REALIZE
1, SHOOT :3, 4
hit back/strike back ATTACK 4
hit it off LIKE SB OR STH 6, RELATIONSHIP 2
hit it off: not hit it off • RELATIONSHIP :3
hit/make the big time FAMOUS 6
hit/make the headlines FAMOUS 6
hit/reach rock bottom WORSE 6
hit on/upon IDEA 3
hit the bottle DRUNK 4
hit the headlines FAMOUS 6, NEWS 3
hit the nail on the head/put your finger on it
CORRECT 2
hit the road START DOING STH 6
hit the roof: blow your top/hit the roof/go crazy/
go nuts/have a fit ANGRY 4
hit the sack SLEEP 5
HIT/BUMP INTO
nose/in the stomach/over the head etc After she told him
to stop complaining he hit her over the head with a book. I
hit sb hard (=with a lot of force) Hitting him hard in the
stomach, she dashed for the phone and called the police. [ hit
sb back (=to hit someone when they have hit you) Don't
fight with your brother, he'll only hit you back and he's
bigger than you are.
strike/straik/a formal or legal word meaning to hit some-
one, especially on a particular part of their body Iv T]
strike sb Janine was on the point of striking the child again
when her husband stopped her. i strike sb with Evidence
shows that the victim had been struck several times with an
iron bar. I strike sb on the head/in the stomach etc The
court heard that the defendant had struck Payne repeatedly
in the face, causing serious bruising.
bash/baf/ an informal word meaning to hit someone
hard, especially in a fight Iv T]
The kids were all bashing each other. I Aright broke out and
I got bashed on the head with a bottle.
punch/pAnt/to hit someone hard with your closed hand,
especially in a fight or because you are angry Iv T]
The woman claimed that she had been punched and kicked
by one of the policemen. I punch sb on the nose/in the
eye/in the chest etc Employees are protected by screens to
stop angry clients punching them in the face or busting up
the office.
punch In C] He has a very powerful punch (=he punches
very powerfully).
thump/0Amp! to hit someone very hard with your closed
hand, especially on their body rather than on their face or
head Iv T ]
thump sb The teacher told Peter off for thumping the kid
sitting next to him. I Mike thumped Stephanie's back several
times to stop her choking. I thump sb on the back/in the
stomach etc I thumped him in the stomach and ran off.
thump [n C] I tried to stop the boys fighting but all I got for
my efforts was a thump on the chest.
slap/slmp/to hit someone, especially on their face, with
the flat part of your open hand Iv T]
slap sb I was so angry with my husband I was really tempted
to slap him. I slap sb across the face She slapped him
across the face and stormed out of the room. I slap sb's face
I tried slapping his face a few times to see if he was still
conscious.
slap In C] If you don't behave yourself, you'll get a slap!
throw a punch 1,0rao  'pAnt! to hit or try to hit some-
one very hard with a dosed hand in a fight Iv phrase]
Sugar Ray suddenly threw a killer punch, nearly knocking
the other boxer out of the ring.
to deliberately hit someone
to hit someone repeatedly in order to hurt
them badly
to hit someone so hard that they fall down or
become unconscious
to hit someone as a punishment
to hit someone on the back in a friendly way
to hit an object, using something such as a
stick or hammer
to hit a door, table etc several times in order
to get someone's attention
1 to deliberately hit someone
hit thump
strike slap
bash throw a punch
punch
hit/hit/to hit someone with your hand or with something
that you are holding in your hand Iv T]
hit sb Dad!Peter keeps hitting me! I hit sb with She swung
around and hit him with her umbrella. I hit sb on the
2
to hit someone repeatedly in order to hurt
them badly
beat batter
beat sb up knock sb about/knock sb around
beat up on club
beat Ibi:t/to hit someone hard and repeatedly with your
hand or with something such as a stick Iv T]
beat sb It was clear that she had been badly beaten by her
husband. I beat sb with Two men held the guard on the
floor while another beat him with a stick. I beat sb black
and blue (=beat someone so hard that their body is covered
in marks) Angela's boyfriend beats her black and blue but
she is too frightened to leave him. I beat the living day-
lights out of sb (=beat someone so hard that they become
unconscious) Osborne was all forgoing down to Flanagan's
cabin and beating the living daylights out of him.
beat sb up / bi:t (sb) ^p/to hit someone hard and repeat-
edly all over their body, leaving them badly hurt and often
unable to move [phr v T]
He did more than rob her, he beat her up as well. I Carl got
beaten up outside a nightclub on Saturday night.
beat up on / ,bi:t 'Ap on II -o:n! an American expression
meaning to repeatedly hit someone weaker than yourself,
for example a younger or smaller child at school Iv T]
He used to beat up on other kids in the class.

HIT 617 HIT
batter/Ibatr/to repeatedly hit someone, especially a
woman or child, in an uncontrolled and violent way Iv T]
batter sb Teachers suspect that the child is being battered
regularly by his parents. I batter sb with There were reports
of soldiers battering prisoners with their rifles, i batter sb
to death (=until they are dead) The jury heard how Thomp-
son had been maddened by what he saw and battered his wife
to death.
battered [adj only before noun] The house has been turned
into a refuge for battered wives.
knock sb about (British) I knock sb around (Ameri-
can)/,nok (sb) o'baot, ,nok (sb) o'raund II ,ha:k-/to hit some-
one several times, especially in order to frighten them [phr
vT]
My father used to knock my poor mother about when he was
drunk. [ dust knock her around for a while to stop her tell-
ing the police what she knows.
club IklAbl to hit someone very hard, especially on the
head with a thick heavy object held in the hand [v T]
The attacker clubbed the gas station attendant and escaped
with only 50 dollars in cash. I club sb to death (=until they
are dead) Clubbing young seals to death for their skins is
a barbaric and cruel activity.
3 to hit someone so hard that they fall down or
become unconscious
knock out punch sb out
floor blow
knock out/,nk 'act II ,no:k-/to hit someone so hard that
they fall down and become unconscious [phr v T]
knock sb/her/them ete out dackson hit Brian hard with
his left fist and knocked him out instantaneously. [ knock
out sb He is a good boxer, a powerful puncher who has
knocked out 18 of his 20 opponents to date. [ knock sb out
cold (=so that they become totally unconscious) The blow
to Sergeant Lewis" head had knocked him out cold.
floor/' fl:r/to hit someone so hard that they fall to the
ground [v T ]
Kim threw a punch that floored Kevin. [ The blow came from
nowhere, flooring Keene completely.
punch sb out I p^ntJ" (sb) aut/an American word mean-
ing to hit someone with your closed hand, so hard that they
become unconscious [phr v T]
I got so mad I just wanted to punch someone out. I The fight
started at six and the champion had been punched out in the
first 10 minutes.
blow/blu! the movement of hitting someone hard with
your hand or with something held in your hand In C]
Todd picked up the axe and killed the man in one blow. I The
blow proved fatal. I blow to the head/body etc Officer
Stacey was knocked over by a sharp blow to the head.
4 to hit someone as a punishment
beat give sb a beating
smack/spank whip
slap corporal punishment
beat/bi:t/to repeatedly hit someone with your hand, with
a stick etc as a punishment [v T]
beat sb If the prisoners were caught trying to escape the
guards used to beat them. I Did kids ever get beaten at your
school? I beat sb with Slaves were sometimes beaten with
sticks or even whipped.
smack/spank/smmk, spm0k/to hit someone, especially
a child who has behaved badly, with your open hand, on
their bottom or on the back of their legs [v T]
smack sb I watched a mother trying to smack her little boy
but the child kept running away. ] smack sb on the
legs/bottom Lorna spanked Jason hard on the back of his
legs and said, "'Don't do that again".
smack/spank/spanking In C] Just behave yourself or
you'll get another smack.
slap/slap! to hit someone, especially a child, with the fiat
part of your open hand in order to punish them Iv T]
When my Mom gets mad with me she just slaps me.[ If her
little boy ever dared to complain, Gina would slap him round
the face.
slap In C] Some of these kids just need a good slap.
give sb a beating/,glv (sb) 0 'bi:tuj/to hit someone vio-
lently and repeatedly with something such as a stick, in
order to punish them [v phrase]
The guards gave the prisoner a beating for having lied to
them. I give sb a good/sound beating Without further
argument, Okonkwo gave his daughter a sound beating and
left her to clear up the mess she had made.
whip/wip/to hit someone very hard with a rope, whip etc
especially on their back in order to punish them Iv T]
The soldier had terrible scars on his back where he had been
whipped.
corporal punishment/,k:rpaml 'p^nlJ'mont/the prac-
tice of punishing people, especially children at school, by
hitting them with something such as a stick [n U]
In my first year at Hendon School, I had my first taste of cor-
poral punishment. I Corporal punishment has, thankfully,
become a thing of the past in most establishments.
5 to hit someone on the back in a friendly way
etc
slap/clap sb on the back
slap/clap sb on the back I,slaep, ,klaep (sb) n 6 'bmk/
to hit someone on the back with the flat part of your hand,
for example as a friendly greeting or in order to praise them
Iv phrase]
"'How are you? I haven't seen you for ages. "" she said, slap-
ping Jim on the back. I The coach said "Well done!'" and
clapped each player on the back as they entered the chang-
ing room.
6 to hit an object, using something such as a
stick or hammer
hit bash/give sth a bash
strike whack
hit/hit/Iv T]
You have to try to hit the ball over the net. [ To loosen the
lid, hit it gently with a hammer two or three times.
strike/straik/to hit something hard, especially in a very
controlled or skilful way Iv T]
Sergeant Morris struck his drum, and the band started to
march down the street. I With a great swing of the bat, he
struck the ball way into the outfield.
bash/give sth a bash/baef, ,glV (sth)  beefl informal
words meaning to hit something hard with your hand or
with a stick, hammer etc especially in a careless way [v T]
If the telly stops working, just bash it a couple of times - that
usually does the trick. [ I put the box on the floor and gave
it a good bash with my hammer, but it still wouldn't open.
whack/wek/to hit something hard and noisily, espe-
cially using a flat object Iv T]
Mrs Buckley was outside, whacking a dusty rug with an old
carpet-beater.
7 to hit a door, table etc several times in order
to get someone's attention
knock rap
tap hammer
knock/nvk [I na:k/to hit a door or window, especially
with your closed hand, in order to attract the attention of
the people inside [v I]
Would you mind knocking before you come in?[ Stefan
believed the house was empty but decided to knock a couple
of times just to make sure. I knock on/at Punctually at 8
o'clock Mary knocked on the door and walked in. I Who's that
knocking at the window? I'm not expecting anyone.
knock In C] I had just turned out the lights when I heard
a knock at the door.
knocking In singular] We were woken by a frantic knock-
ing at the door (=someone knocking hard and repeatedly).

HIT 618 HIT/BUMP INTO
tap Itepl to hit something gently in order to attract atten-
tion [v I/T/
Miss Giles tapped her desk with a ruler until the whole class
was listening. [ tap on/at She saw him sitting in the living
room and tapped on the window to attract his attention.
tap [n C] I was startled by a light tap at the door.
tapping [n singular] The faint tapping on the wall (=the
sound of someone tapping) began to get louder.
rap/rap! to hit something loudly and very quickly several
times in order to attract attention [v I/T/
rap sth The conductor rapped the music stand with his
baton and the violins stopped playing. [ rap on/at Seeing
her son outside, Mrs Evans rapped on the window and called
him back into the house.
rap [n C] The postman always announces his presence with
a rap on the kitchen door.
rapping [n singular] A violent rapping (=the sound of
someone rapping) at the door made me run downstairs.
hammer/'hamr/to keep hitting something very loudly
and quickly especially with your closed hand, because you
are angry, impatient etc [v I/T/
The boys were hammering the tables with their knives and
forks, impatient to eat their dinner. [ hammer on/at The
children hammered at the door to be let in out of the rain.
hammering [n singular] I was woken by a loud hammer-
ing (=the sound of someone hammering) on the door.
HIT/BUMP INTO
1 ways of saying that a person or object
accidentally hits something or someone else
2 ways of saying that a car, train, plane etc hits
a person or object
3 ways of saying that two things or people
accidentally hit each other
4 ways of saying that something hits an object
or surface and moves away again
5 to accidentally hit part of your body or
something you are carrying, against
something else
6 to make something or someone fall down by
accidentally hitting them
7 the moment when something hits something
else
I ways of saying that a person or object
accidentally hits something or someone else
hit bang
bump into strike
bash crash into
knock
hit/hit/[v T]
hit sb/sth Be careful with that stick! You nearly hit me with
it. [ You could see a mark on the car door where the stone had
hit it. [ hit sb on the head/knee ere An apple fell from the
tree and hit me on the head. [ get hit "What's happened to
your face?'" "'I got hit by the ball in softball practice. ""
bump into/b^mp intu:/to hit someone or something
when you are not paying attention to where you are going
or because you cannot see properly [v T]
Jim turned suddenly and bumped into me. [ The room was
dark, and I bumped into the door as I groped for the light
switch.
bash/bef/to hit something or someone extremely hard
[v I/T/
bash into Ralph bashed into a tree as he was running
along. [ People were moving about in confusion, bashing into
each other. [ bash sth/sb Battered and bashed by the great
waves, the ship had completely broken up.
knock/nok [[ no:k/to hit someone or something with a
short quick movement [v I/T/
knock sb/sth She knocked me with her elbow as she
passed. [ knock against The heavy video camera knocked
against his hip as he walked. [ knock into She turned and
ran, knocking into bystanders as she went.
bang/bze3/to hit something or someone hard, causing
damage or making noise [v I/
bang into/against Although she is blind she is able to move
around her house without banging into things. [ There was
a clatter as the stool slid sideways, banged against a chest
of drawers, and rolled over.
strike/stralk/a formal word: if something, especially a
heavy object, strikes something or someone, it hits them
hard once [v T/
During the storm our house was struck by a falling tree. [
A stray snowball struck him cleanly on the back of the head.
crash into I'krzef intu:/ to hit something or someone
extremely hard, causing a lot of damage or making a lot of
noise [v T/
Larry ran blindly across the room crashing into pieces of
furniture. I go crashing into A barrel rolled across the
sloping deck and went crashing into the wheelhouse door.
2
run into
go into
hit/hit/[v T/
ways of saying that a car, train, plane etc hits
a person or object
hit smash into
crash into plough into/plow into
be in collision with
career
The bus hit a tree and the driver was badly injured. [ He
pulled out of the driveway without looking, and almost hit
another car. [ Five sailors were killed when their ship hit a
mine.
crash into/'krm intu:/to hit something or someone very
hard while moving, making a lot of noise and causing
damage [v T ]
A car crashed into ourgarage last night. [ An airplane had
crashed into the mountain, killing all two hundred pas-
sengers. [ go crashing into The car skidded past them, then
went crashing into the bus shelter.
run into/' ran intu:/to hit something that is directly in
front of you, especially slowly and because you are not
paying attention [v T ]
The train ran into a snowdrift on the line. [ We almost ran
into a Rolls-Royce that had pulled out in front of us.
go into I'gao intu:/an informal expression meaning to hit
something or someone [v T/
Someone went into the back of my bike at the traffic lights.
smash into/'smze intu:/to hit something or someone
extremely hard while moving very fast, and causing a lot
of damage [v T ]
An army helicopter smashed into the side of the mountain. I
Because of the rain, his car swerved and smashed into a wall.
plough into (British) I plow into (American) / plao intu:/
to hit a large number of vehicles or people especially as a
result of driving too fast, not paying attention etc [v T]
The car went out of control and ploughed into a group of
people on the sidewalk. [ When the driver fell asleep, the bus
ploughed into a line of traffic, killing fifty children.
be in collision with/bi: in ka'lisan wIS/an expression
used especially in news reports meaning to hit another
vehicle [v phrase]
Two people were killed when their car was in collision with
a bus on route 6 last night. I An oil tanker was in collision
with a gunboat in the Gulf yesterday.
career/ka'rlar/ffa car or vehicle careers into something
it hits it, because it is travelling in an uncontrolled way,
especially at a high speed [v I/
career into/down/along etc A lorry had gone out of con-
trol and careered into the fence. [ The car came careering
along the road, banging into all other vehicles in its path.

HIT/BUMP INTO
3 ways of saying that two things or people
accidentally hit each other
collide
meet head on
collide Ik'laidl if two people or things collide, they
accidentally hit each other while they are moving in differ-
ent directions [v I]
Two planes collided in mid-air. [ The two horses rounded the
corner together, then collided. [ collide with "'What's the
rush?" asked John, as he collided with me in the hall.
meet head on/,mi:t hod n/if two people or things that
are moving towards each other meet head on, they hit
each other [v phrase]
The accident happened when a car and a van met head on.
 ways of saying that something hits an object
or surface and moves away again
rebound glance off
bounce off ricochet
rebound/rI baund/to hit something and then move away
again Iv I ]
The ball hit the fence and rebounded. [ rebound off/from
Electrons move around quickly, hitting and then rebound-
ing off each other. [ The flies buzzed to and fro, constantly
rebounding from the window planes.
bounce off/'baons of [[ -:f/to move a long way away
from a surface or object after hitting it hard Iv T]
The champagne cork bounced off the ceiling and hit Mick
in the face. [ Robert watched the tyro roll down the hill and
bounce off a wall.
glance off/'gla:ns of [[ glans 3:f/to hit a surface or
object, not in a straight line, and then move away from it
in another direction [v T]
He brought the axe down, but it glanced off the side of the
tree.
ricochet /'rikfei/if a bullet ricochets it hits an object
and moves away from it very quickly, often several times
Iv I]
ricochet offA bullet ricocheted off the rock he was hiding
behind. I ricochet I heard the shot ricochet, then felt a
sudden pain in my leg.
to accidentally hit part of your body or
something you are carrying, against
something else
hit get a bang
bang crack
bump
hit/hit] [V T]
hit sth on/against I've hit my elbow on the corner of that
table. [ As I walked through the dark corridor, I hit my bag
against something hard. [ hit your head/knee/elbow etc
The ceiling's very low. Mind you don't hit your head.
bang Ibe[ to hit part of your body or something you are
carrying very hard against something Iv T]
bang sth on/against The boy fell and banged his chin on
the ground. [ He slipped, banging his guitar against the
door. [ bang your head/knee/elbow ere I banged my head
getting into the car.
bump Ibrnp! to unexpectedly hit part of your body against
something [v I/T]
bump against They kissed, and his nose bumped against
her glasses. [ bump your head/elbow/knee ere Babies are
always bumping their heads.
get a bang / ,get z 'bm]! to hit a part of your body pain-
fully against something or someone [v phrase]
She's had quite a nasty bang on the head and could be suffer-
ing from concussion. [ Max got a bang on the ear in the
crowd, there was so much pushing.
crack/krak! to hit your head, knee, elbow ere hard and
painfully against something [v T]
619 hold sway
crack sth on/against He slipped and cracked his head on
the steps. [ Mary cracked her knee on the corner of her desk.
6 to make something or someone fall down by
accidentally hitting them
knock over
knock down
run over
knock over/,nok '3ova) r II ,no:k-/to hit a standing object
or a person and make them fall [phr v T]
knock sb/sth/it/her ere over He knocked the bucket of
water over. [ knock over sb/sth There was a crash as the
cat knocked over something in the kitchen. [ You should look
where you're going: You might have been knocked over.
knock down /,nok 'daun 11 ,no:k-/ to hit a person or
object and make them fall on their side or fall from a place
[phr v T]
knock sb/sth/it/her ere down She fell against the shelf
and knocked all his birthday cards down. [ knock down
sb/sth Jo stepped aside to avoid being knocked down by a
cyclist on the sidewalk.
run over !,rAn 'auvar/to hit and injure a person while
driving a vehicle [phr v T]
run sb/her/them ere over Get the dog away from the
driveway - I just nearly ran him over. [ be run over by The
old woman was almost run over by a bus when she walked
out into the road. [ get run over Make sure the lights on your
bike are working. I don't want you getting run over.
7 the moment when something hits something
else
impact
impact I' impekt! [n singular]
Just after the impact there was a flash as the rocket
exploded. [ The moment of impact seemed to last for ages, even
though it was over in a second. [ on impact Both cars burst
into flames on impact.
hitch PROBLEM 2
hitch: without a hitch SUCCEED IN DOING STH 7
hitched: get hitched MARRY 1
hitchhike/hitch TRAVEL 2
hitman KILL 4
hive: be a hive of activity/industry BUSY PLACE 1
hoard KEEP/STORE 1, 2
hoarse ROUGH VOICE 1
hoax TRICK/DECEIVE 7
hobble WALK 5
hobby DO 10, INTERESTED 8
hobnob with SOCIALIZE 2
hoist LIFT 1
hold CONTAIN/HOLD 2, HOLD 1, 6, 8, KEEP SB IN
A PLACE 1, KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 3,
OWN 2, PARTY 4
hold: have a hold on/over CONTROL 4
hold: get hold of CONTACT SB 3, GET 2
hold: take hold of/get hold of/get a hold of HOLD 3
hold all the cards ADVANTAGE 3
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
hold
back NOT DO STH 2, PREVENT 1, 12
forth TALK TO SB 9
it against FORGIVE 4
off WAIT 1
office GOVERNMENT 5
on HOLD 2
on: hang on/hold on WAIT 1
on/hang on WAIT 2
on to KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 1
out OFFER 2
out against FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3
out for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 3
out on TELL A SECRET 4
sb responsible BLAME 1
sb to PROMISE 8
sway CONTROL 4

hold the line 620 HOLD
 hold the line WAIT2
 hold up DELAY 1, 2, STEAL 3, SUPPORT/HOLD UP 1
 hold-up/holdup DELAY 3, STEAL 8
: hold up/keep up SUPPORT/HOLD UP 4
 hold up: stand up/hold up TRUE 8
 hold water: not hold water BELIEVE 13, LOGICAL 5
 hold with: not hold with/not go along with
...... DISAPPROVE 1
'" hold your attention INTERESTING 2
 hold your breath WAIT 4
hold your drink: can hold your drink DRUNK 9
i old your horses WAIT2
,,- hold your own: can hold your own GOOD AT 10
HOLD
to have something in your hand
to hold something tightly
to put your hands or fingers around
something and hold it
to hold something and turn it around in your
hands
to hold something such as a weapon,
especially in a threatening way
to hold another person as a way of
expressing love or in order to comfort them
to put your hands or arms on or around
someone in order to hold them
the way that someone holds something
to stop holding something
1 to have something in your hand
hold in hand
in your hand nurse
hold/hold/[v T]
hold sth I held the money tightly in my hand. I In thephoto-
graph there was a small boy holding a fiag. I The light came
from a/laming torch, which was held by one of the guards. I
Anyone who could hold a pair of knitting needles was
expected to make socks and scarves for the church sale. I hold
sth up (=hold something high in the air) What a Iovelypic-
ture! Hold it up so everyone can see it.
in your hand /In j:r hend/ ff something is in your
hand, you are holding it [adv phrase]
What's that in your hand? I She was sitting on a tall wooden
stool with a knife in her hand, chopping leeks. I He arrived
at the door with an enormous bouquet of flowers in one hand
and a bottle of champagne in the other. I with sth in each
hand Theo walked across the yard with a pail in each hand.
in hand/in 'hend/glass/knife/map etc in hand (=an
expression used especially in telling stories, meaning hold-
ing a glass, knife, map etc) [adv phrase]
He walked around the room, glass in hand, chatting to every-
one at the party. ] Binoculars in hand, the explorers scanned
the surrounding view.
nurse/na:rs/to hold something carefully and gently, close
to your body Iv T]
Jenny sat on the step and nursed her injured knee. I Victor
was lying back in the chair near the fire, nursing a large
glass of brandy.
to hold something tightly
hold on cling to
hang on clasp
hold on I,hold 'on II-,o:.1 to put your hand around
something and hold it tightly, in order to stop yoursefffrom
falling or from losing what you are holding [phr v I]
hold on to Mother's not strong. She can't walk without hold-
ing on to someone's arm. I She ran into the church, one hand
raised to hold on to her veil I hold on Hold on tight folks!
It's going to be a bumpy ride/
hang on/,haj on II -'o:n/to keep on holding something
in a determined way in order to stop yourself from falling
or from losing what you are holding [phr v I]
hang on to Hang on to your bag - this mall is full of pick-
pockets. I Babies have a reflex response that leads them to
hang on to whatever they find in their hands. I hang on The
rope was dangling over the edge of the roof and I was hang-
ing on with both hands.
cling to/'khj tu:! to hold on to something very tightly
especially because you are worried that you are about to
fall or lose what you are holding [v T]
The baby monkey clings to its mother's back until it can
climb by itself. I The bus was so packed when it left Tangiers
that people were actually sitting on the roof and clinging to
the sides.
clasp Ikla:sp I[ klaesp/to hold something tightly, closing
your fingers around it Iv T]
The child gurgled with delight when she at last clasped her
mother's watch. [ She clasped the necklace tightly and refused
to hand it over.
3 to put your hands or fingers around
something and hold it
take hold of/get hold of/ clutch
get a hold of grip
grasp
take hold of/get hold of/get a hold of/,teik 'h3old
ov, ,get 'huld ov, ,get  huld ov/[v phrase]
I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could. [
When you get the fish out of the net try to get hold of its tail. [
Stefan took hold of Jan's coat and snarled "'Don't you ever
come in here again. '"
grasp/gra:sp [[ graesp/to take hold of something tightly
Iv T]
Suddenly people were grasping his hand and shaking it
"'Congratulations - You've won!". I We both grasped the rope
and tried to get the sails under control.
clutch/klAtl to hold something especially because you
are frightened, or in pain or because you do not want to lose
something Iv I/T/
clutch sth "'Ah!'" he cried, clutching his stomach. [ She
climbed into the car, clutching her hat so the wind didn't
blow it off. [ clutch at (=try to clutch something) "'My hus-
band? Having an affair?" I clutched at the desk. It couldn't
be true.
grip/grip/to hold something tightly, by pressing your
fingers very hard against it Iv T]
David suddenly gripped my arm and pulled me away from
the road. [ His knuckles whitened as he gripped the
microphone.
4 to hold something and turn it around in your
hands
handle play with
fiddle with fumble with
handle I'handl/to hold something and turn it around in
your hands, for example to examine it or use it Iv T]
Please do not handle the fruit and vegetables. [ This violin
is very old and valuable and must be handled carefully.
fiddle with / 'fidl wiS/to hold something small and keep
turning it around in your hands, especially because you
are nervous or bored Iv T not in passive]
Martina was fiddling nervously with her pen. [ Stop fiddling
with your hands and sit up straight.
play with I 'plei wISI to hold something in your hands and
turn it around continuously for no reason Iv T not in
passive]
She played with the red roses on the table as she talked. [ The
old man played with his walking stick, tapping it against
the table in an irritating manner.

HOLD 621 hole up
fumble with /  f^mbal wi6/to hold something with your
fingers or in your hand, trying to move it in some way, but
doing it carelessly or with difficulty [v T not in passive]
She could hear someone fumbling with the handle of her
door. [ I fumbled drunkenly with the keys, dropping them to
the floor. [He stood before them, his eyes lowered, fumbling
with his hat.
 to hold something such as a weapon,
especially in a threatening way
wield
brandish
wield Iwi:ld/to hold a weapon such as a knife or stick and
wave it around so that people can see you are going to use
it [v T]
Suddenly a wild-looking man ran out of one of the huts
wielding a large stick. [ Johnson was attacked by a crazed
knife-wielding killer in an elevator.
brandish/Ibrmnd0"/to hold something such as a gun,
knife, or stick so that people can see it, especially while
threatening them [v T]
A man brandishing a gun had threatened staff and cus-
tomers at a local bank. [ Four horsemen dashed up at full
gallop, shouting and brandishing their weapons.
6 to hold another person as a way of
expressing love or in order to comfort them
hold embrace
hug hold sb's hand
cuddle hold hands
hold/huld/to put your arms around someone and hold
them close to you, especially to show that you love them,
or to comfort them [v T]
hold sb I held her until she went to sleep. [ hold sb tight
(=hold someone tightly) There was nothing I could say so
I just held her tight and let her cry. [ hold sb in your arms
The song is called "Hold me in Your Arms'.
hug IhAg! to put your arms around someone and hold them
very tightly in a friendly or loving way [v T]
My father hugged me affectionately when I arrived home. [
"'I'll never forget you, '" she said, and we hugged each other
for the last time.
hug [n C] Give me a hug, then it's time for bed.
cuddle /IkAdl/to put your arms around someone and hold
them and stroke them to show that you love them [v I/T]
cuddle sb Picking the baby up and cuddling her will almost
always stop her crying. [ cuddle We cuddled and kissed for
a long time on the doorstep.
cuddle [n C] My grandmother would always give me a
cuddle when we got to her house.
embrace / [m  bres/put your arms around someone and
hold them in a friendly or loving way, especially when you
are meeting or leaving someone [v I/T]
embrace sb Phoebe jumped off the chair and embraced her
mother. [ embrace Before myflight was called we stood and
embraced and kissed.
embrace [n C] Elizabeth returned his embrace with tender-
ness and warmth.
hold sb's hand / haold (sb's) hand/to hold someone's
hand, especially to comfort them or to make them feel safe
[ v phrase]
Hold Mummy's hand - there's a good girl. [ As he related
these terrible experiences she would hold his hand and listen
quietly.
hold hands /hauld handz/if two or more people hold
hands, they hold each other's hands [v phrase]
She saw Kurt and Eileen coming back from the beach, kiss-
ing and holding hands. [ Then we all sat in a circle and held
hands.
7 to put your hands or arms on or around
someone in order to hold them
take sb by the arm/hand etc
put your arms around
take sb in your arms
take sb by the arm/hand etc/teik (sb) bai 6i (arm etc)!
to take hold of someone's hand, arm etc, in order to take
them somewhere [v phrase]
Emmanuel took me by the hand and led me into the garden. I
Taking her by the arm, he dragged her up the stairs. I Take
my arm. I'll escort you to dinner.
put your arms around/Iput ja:r 'a:rmz raund (sb)/to
hold someone especially when you want to comfort them
or kiss them or show that you love them [v phrase]
When she saw that I was upset, Mama put her arms around
me and tried to comfort me. [ She put her arms around his
neck and planted an enormous kiss on his cheek.
take sb in your arms / telk (sb) Inj: r a:rmz/to gently
pull someone towards you and hold them in your arms,
especially someone you love [v phrase]
He took Sophie in his arms and kissed her. [ Margaret took
the little boy in her arms and carried him downstairs.
8 the way that someone holds something
hold
grip
grasp
hold/huld/your hold on something is the way in which
you are holding it In singular]
sb's hold on sth I tightened my hold on the child as we
crossed the busy road. [ sb's hold As he began to calm down
and realize how stupid he was fighting his brother, he gradu-
ally loosened his hold. I hold In this form of wrestling there
are a number of different holds, each used in a different
situation.
grip/grip/the way you hold something tightly [n singular]
The policeman had a firm grip on my arm. [ To play this
shot, you need to change your grip on the racquet slightly. [
lose your grip (=be unable to hold something any more)
I lost my grip on the branch, and fell out of the tree. [ tighten
your grip (=grip something more tightly) She looked
anxious and tightened her grip on her shoulder bag.
grasp /gro:sp II grmsp! the way you hold something
tightly, especially a part of someone's body, in order to keep
them close to you [n singular]
She tried to escape Murad's grasp but he was too strong for
her. [ tighten your grasp (=grasp something more tightly)
Helen tightened her grasp on my collar and shouted "'Don't
fool around with me Mickey!'"
9 to stop holding something
let go
release
let go/,let 'gaul [v phrase]
Let go! You're hurting me. [ I swung across the river on a
rope, letting go when I reached the other side. [ let go of She
wouldn't let go of the letter.
release/r li:s/a word used especially in writing mean-
ing to stop holding something, especially someone's hand,
wrist, arm etc [v T]
release sth He took hold of my hand but then released it
again quickly. [ release your grasp/grip ete The sudden
noise made him release his grasp, and I managed to escape.
°' hole HOLE 1, 2, 3, 6
! hole: be full of holes HOLE 7
": hole: bore a hole in HOLE 9
-:: hole: drill a hole in HOLE 9
! hole: makea hole in HOLE 9
i:. hole up HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2

HOLE 622 HOLE
@ HOLE
1 a hole in the surface of something
2 a hole through something
3 a deep hole in the ground
4 a long narrow hole across the surface of
something ,
5 a hole in a wall that was made as a place to
put things
6 a hole through something that allows water or
air to escape
7 words for describing something that has lots
of holes in it
8 to make a hole in the surface of something
9 to make a hole through something
1 a hole in the surface of something
hole indentation
hollow depression
dip dent
hole/hol/[n C]
There was a small hole in the wall where Helen left her key
when she went out. I make a hole These little holes are made
by woodworm. I dig/drill/burn etc a hole Cigarettes
dropped on the floor had burnt holes in the carpet. I gaping
hole (-a big hole which has not been covered) There was
a gaping hole where the tree had fallen through the wall.
hollow/holo II ho:-/a hol.e, especially in the ground,
which is wide and not very deep In C]
On the northern side of the valley, there was a great hollow
in the hillside. I A bird was sitting in the hollow of a fallen
tree.
dip/dip/a place where the surface of something goes down
suddenly In C]
The boy fell off his bicycle when he went over a dip in the road
too fast. I The bed was terribly uncomfortable; it had a big
dip in the middle.
indentation/, inden'teij'dn/a small not very deep hole in
a hard surface, especially one which is caused by some-
thing pressing against it or cutting it In C]
The X-rays showed a slight indentation in the man's skull. I
The wooden floor was marked with small indentations
where women with high heels had walked.
depression/dI' prej'an/a part of the surface of something
especially the ground which is slightly lower than the rest
of the surface, often caused by something heavy pressing
down on it In C]
You could see the depression in the ground where the helicop-
ter had landed. I The depressions in the sand are made by
turtles which come up here to lay their eggs.
dent/dent] a hollow area in a surface, especially a metal
surface, caused by something hitting it In C]
Emma backed the car into a tree, leaving a dent in the back
of it. ] She must have fallen heavily against the tub because
there was a big dent in the side of it.
2 a hole through something
hole opening
gap aperture
hole/haol/[n C]
I can't wear my green shirt, it's got a hole in it. I A shaft of
light came in through a hole in the corrugated iron roof.
gap/gaTI an empty space in the middle of something such
as a wall or fence, especially because part of it is missing
In C]
The gate was locked but we managed to get through a gap
in the fence. I I watched the game through a gap in the wall. I
The light was coming through a tiny gap under the door.
opening /'aopanirj/ a hole which something can pass
through or which you can see through, especially one
which is at the entrance or top of something In C]
We zipped up the opening of the tent to stop the mosquitoes
getting in. t She looked up at the opening to the cave, high
up in the cliff wall. I Make sure you leave a big enough open-
ing in the top of the box so that the animals can breathe.
aperture/'3epartfar/a technical word meaning a hole,
especially one that allows light to pass through In C]
The telescope has an aperture of 2.4 metres. I Narrow the
aperture of the microscope.
3 a deep hole in the ground
hole abyss
pit crater
chasm
hole/hol/[n C]
The girl had fallen down a hole on a building site. I make
a hole We make a hole in the earth to put the rubbish in. I
dig a hole Construction workers have to dig a thousand foot
hole before work can start on the tunnel.
pit/pit/a large wide hole in the ground, especially one
which is used for a particular purpose such as burying
things In C]
They found a large pit where all the dead bodies had been
thrown. I dig a pit The animal was caught in a pit dug in
the forest.
chasm /'kzezm/ a very deep space between two high
areas of rgck, especially one that is dangerous [n C]
An unsteady-looking rope bridge was the only way to get
across the chasm. I The landscape was a series of mountains,
chasms, canyons and valleys.
abyss/) 'bIs/a word used especially in literature mean-
ing an extremely deep empty space, seen from a very high
point such as the edge of a mountain [n C]
The wicked witch fell into the abyss, and was never seen
again.
crater/'kreItr/a big hole in the surface of something
especially the ground which is caused by an explosion or
a large falling object In C]
When the bomb exploded it left a huge crater in the ground. I
a telescopepowerful enough to observe the craters on the sur-
face of the moon
4 a longnarrow hole across the surface of
something
crack slit
split slot
chink
crack/krek/a long, narrow line across the surface of a
hard substance such as glass or stone where it has been
damaged In C]
This cup has a crack in it. I There were cracks in the walls,
and the whole house was in need of repair.
split/split/a long straight hole caused when a material
such as plastic or cloth tears In C]
You can't use that bucket, it has a split in it. t We suddenly
noticed there was a split in the side of the tent.
chink/tn3k/a small hole in a wall, or where two things
join together, that lets light come through it In C]
Looking through a chink in the curtains, she saw two of the
neighbours arguing. I The sun came through the chinks in
the vine-leaves and made beautiful patterns on the path.
slit/sllt/a long, narrow hole through which something can
pass or through which you can see something In C]
"'I think it's going to be a nice day, '" said Tim, looking
through the slit in the front of the tent. I These slits in the
walls of the castle were used by archers to fire their arrows
through at the enemy.
slot/slot II slo:t/ a straight narrow hole, especially one
which you put coins into In C]
Put your money in the slot and wait for your ticket to come
out of the machine.

HOLE 623 HOLE
 a hole in a wall that was made as a place to
put things
alcove
recess
alcove / ' adkoov/a large space built into a wall in a room
especially one that has tables, chairs etc in it [n C]
At the end of the room was an alcove with a telephone and
a couple of chairs. [ The dining table in the alcove was
already set for two.
recess/rl ses [[ 'ri:ses/a part of a wall in a room which
is further back than the rest of the wall, especially one that
has been built to put things in [n C]
The painting hung high up in a recess next to the fireplace.
 a hole through something that allows water or
air to escape
hole
leak
puncture
hole/hooll [n C]
There's a hole in the bottom of this bottle. [ The tent had a
hole in it, so when it started raining we got wet. [ Bubbles
were pouring out of a hole in the oxygen tank.
leak/li:k/a hole that allows gas or liquid, especially water,
to pass through [n C]
Rain was dripping into the bedroom from a leak in the roof.[
spring a leak (=get a leak suddenly) The boat had sprung
a leak and it was sinking fast.
puncture/pArJktorl a small hole in a tyre through which
air escapes [n C]
l could hear the hissing sound of air escaping from the punc-
ture. ] a slow puncture (=a puncture from which air
escapes slowly) The tyre's gone flat again - I think we've
got a slow puncture.
7 words for describing something that has lots
of holes in it
full of holes porous
riddled with holes leaky
perforated
full of holes/,fol ov 'hoolz/[adj phrase]
This sweater's full of holes, I'm going to buy a new one. [ The
oath was unpaved and full of deep holes.
riddled with holes /rIdld wI6 holz/ having an
extremely large number of small holes [adj phrase]
The old table was riddled with holes. [ The ship returned
from the war-zone riddled with bullet holes.
perforated /pu:rfreItoId/ having a lot of small holes
arranged in a regular pattern that has been made by a
machine for a particular purpose [adj]
They put the insect into a tin with a perforated lid. [ Tear
along the perforated line and return the bottom part of the
form.
porous / Ip:ms/a substance such as rock or soil or a sur-
face that is porous allows liquid or gas to pass through it
[adj]
These hills are made of porous rock. [ Oak barrels are porous
and allow a certain amount of oxygen through which ages
the wine. [ If a garage has a porous floor, it can become
extremely damp.
leaky/'li:ki/a leaky roof, pipe etc has a hole or holes in
it, so that a small amount of water comes through all the
time [adj usually before noun]
The house had a leaky roof. [ There was a pool of water in
the corner where water was dripping from a leaky pipe.
8 to make a hole in the surface of something
hollow out bore
dig out dent
drill
hollow out /,hlo 'aot [[ ,ha:-/ to make a space by
removing the hard inside part of something [phr v T]
hollow out sth Carefully hollow out the pineapple and then
fill it with the ice-cream. [ hollow sth/it/them out The
Indians cut down trees and hollowed them out to make
canoes.
dig out/,d;g 'aoq to make a hole in the ground using a
spade [phr v T]
To plant the tree you need to dig out a hole about 20 cm wide
and 30 cm deep. [ The workmen were already digging out the
foundations for the building.
drill/drill to make a narrow hole in something using a tool
which turns very quickly [v I]
I heard the dentist start drilling, but I couldn "t feel anything. [
drill for oil/water/gas ete The Saudi government has
announced plans to drill for water in the desert. [ drill into
It sounds like someone's drilling into the wall.
drilling [adj] The oil engineers have already moved their
drilling equipment into the area.
bore lb,:r/to make a hole in a hard surface such as rock
or the ground using a lot of pressure, especially in order
to remove minerals, coal etc [v I/T]
bore a hole/shaft/well/tunnel ete The mining company
bored a 5000foot hole. ] The machine they used to bore the
tunnel is the size of a two storey house. [ bore into/through
They had to bore through solid rock.
dent/dent/to make a hollow area in the surface of some-
thing, especially a metal surface, by hitting it [v T]
If you dent my car, you're in big trouble! [ John fell against
the garage door and dented it.
dented [adj] In the market I bought a beautiful but badly
dented silver bowl.
9 to make a hole through something
make a hole in punch
pierce drill a hole in
prick bore a hole in
puncture
make a hole in/,melk  'hol In/ [V phrase]
Make a hole in the bottom of the plant pot to allow the water
to drain out. [ My pen has made a hole in my pocket.
pierce/plots/to make a small hole through something
using a sharp instrument [v T]
pierce sth Shepierced the lid of the can and poured the milk
into a saucepan. [ The arrow pierced his heart. [ have your
ears pierced (=have holes made in your ears so that you
can wear earrings) I had my ears pierced when I was a
teenager.
prick/prIk/to make a very small hole in the surface of
something using a sharp, pointed instrument such as a pin
[v T]
I pricked my finger when I was sewing, t Prick the potatoes
before baking them.
puncture /pArJktJ'or/ if something sharp punctures
something such as a tyre, football etc it makes a hole
through which air escapes [v T]
My bicycle tyre was punctured by a sharp stone. [ The doctor
was worried that the woman's broken rib might puncture
her lung.
punch/p^nq/to make a hole through paper or material
with a quick strong movement using a special tool [v T]
punch sth The conductor walked through the train, punch-
ing everyone's ticket. I punch a hole in Ipunched two holes
in the top of the letter and filed it away. [ The shoemaker was
threading stitches through tiny holes he had punched in the
leather.
drill a hole in/,drI1 o 'hool Ill/to make a small hole in
something using a tool which turns around very quickly
[ v phrase]
I drilled two holes in the shelf and attached it to the wall. [
There's a man drilling a hole in the road outside our house.
bore a hole in/b3:r  hol ;n/to make a hole through
something hard using a special tool or something sharp [v
phrase]

holiday 624 HOLIDAY
Bore two holes in the plank 6 cm apart. I Mice had bored a
hole in the skirting board near the radiator.
..w
 holiday HOLIDAY 1, 3, 4
= holiday: be on holiday HOLIDAY 6
!". holiday: go on holidayltake a holiday HOLIDAY 2
 holiday: national holiday HOLIDAY 4
il;.--i holiday: public holidaylbank holidayllegal holiday
..i HOLIDAY 4
 holiday: takelhave a holiday HOLIDAY 5
HOLIDAY
time that you spend in another place or
another country for rest and enjoyment
to go somewhere for a holiday
time when you are allowed to be away from
work or school
a one-day holiday when everyone is officially
allowed to be away from work
to spend a period of days or weeks away
from work
to be in another place, or to be away from
work or school because you are having a
holiday
someone who is on holiday
1 time that you spend in another place or
another country for rest and enjoyment
holiday trip
vacation honeymoon
holiday/'holdi II 'ho:ldeI[ a word used especially in
British English meaning time spent in another place or
another country for rest and enjoyment [n C]
He returned from his holiday in Spain, feeling rested and
relaxed. I France is the ideal place for a family holiday. I
They could no longer afford a holiday, even a night out. I
Holidays abroad are no longer the preserve of the rich as they
were years ago.
vacation ]valkelSan II vel-[ an American word meaning
holiday [n C]
Have a nice vacation and send us a postcard! I They're plan-
ning a vacation in Europe. I She's had two vacations this
year already.
trip [trip/a holiday, especially an organized holiday that
you go on in order to do a particular activity [n C]
This year we're going to Colorado on a five-day skiing trip. I
The school has organized a birdwatching trip to the Florida
Keys.
honeymoon/'hAnimu:n/the holiday that a man and a
woman have just after they are married in C[
We had our honeymoon in Majorca. [ Where are you going
on honeymoon?
2 to go somewhere for a holiday
go on holiday/take a holiday
go on vacation/take a vacation
go on a trip
go on holiday/take a holiday/,gao on 'holadi, ,teik
a- [[ -Iha:ladei/British exprsions meaning to leave your
home and go somewhere for a holiday [v phrase]
We used to go on holiday in Scotland when we were kids. I
Make sure you get insurance before you go on holiday. I This
is a good time to take a holiday.
go on vacation/take a vacation/,go on va'kerJ'an,
,teik a-[[-vei-[ American expressions meaning to leave
your home and go somewhere for a holiday iv phrase.]
In April Jason went on vacation to Granada. [ I think it's
about time we took a long vacation. [ Do you think you could
look after the house when we go on vacation?
go on a trip/,gao on a 'trip/to leave your home and go
on a holiday, especially an organized holiday, for several
days or longer [v phrase]
They went on a trip to Australia and loved it. [ Every year
Peter goes on a fishing trip with all his friends from work.
3 time when you are allowed to be away from
work or school
holiday leave
vacation day off/afternoon off etc
break
holiday ]'holdi [[ 'ha:ldei[ a British word meaningthe
period of time when you are allowed to be away from work
or school [n C/U[
I have six weeks" holiday each year. [ paid holiday (=a holi-
day when you receive your pay) She was entitled to two
weeks' paid holiday. [ the holidays/the school holi-
days/the summer holidays (=time that students are
allowed away from school or university) Many kids get
bored during the long summer holidays. [ We agreed to meet
in the holidays.
vacation ]vakelfan II vel-[ an American word meaning
a period of time when you are allowed to be away from
work or school [n C]
I'll visit you again next time I get a vacation. I Every day of
his summer vacation he would take a stroll along the beach.
break/breIk] a short holiday from your work or school
in C[
They had to work for a whole year without any break. [ She
says that she has a break beginning July lOth. [ Can you take
a break next month?
leavo/li:v] a period of official holiday time, especially for
people who are in the army, navy or air force in U[
I get twenty-five days" leave a year. [ Phil still has three days"
annual leave owing to him. ] be on leave (=having a holi-
day) They got married while he was on leave from the army.
day ogglagternoon off otc a period of time when you
are allowed to be away from work in C[
I've got a day off on Friday - I'll come and see you then. [
I really enjoyed my day off today.
4 a one-day holiday when everyone is officially
allowed to be away from work
holiday
public holiday/bank holiday/legal holiday
national holiday
holiday/holdi II 'ha:ldei/[n C]
Today all the students have a holiday so they won't be here. [
It's a holiday, a festival. Let's have some fun.
public holiday/bank holiday (British) I legal holl.
day (American)/,pAblk 'holdi, ,benk 'holdi, ,li:gal
tholdi [[ -Iha:ldei] an official one-day holiday when most
people do not work in C[
The shop is closed on Sundays and public holidays. [ Hospi-
tal staff who work on public holidays are legally entitled to
compensatory days off. [ Some of them have taken their fami-
lies away for the August bank holiday weekend. [ We'll have
to leave it till tomorrow, today's a legal holiday.
national holiday / nefanal holdi [[ -'ho:laIdeI/an offi-
cial one-day holiday to celebrate an important national
event in C[
He is called the Father of the Nation. and his birthday is a
national holiday. [ One national holiday that everyone
celebrates is Thanksgiving.
to spend a period of days or weeks away
from work
take/have a holiday
take/have a vacation
take/have time off
take/have a holiday ],teik, ,haev o 'holdi II -'ho:ldei/
British expressions meaning to spend a period of days or
weeks away from work [v phrase]

HOLIDAY 625 HOME
You've been working too hard -you ought to have a holi-
day. I He worked with his father, and did not take a holiday
for twenty years. I I'll take a day's holiday and come and meet
you from the airport.
take/have a vacation/iteIk, ihav a vakeIfan il -vel-/
American expressions meaning to spend a period of days
or weeks away from work Iv phrase]
As soon as this contract is signed, I'm taking a vacation. I
I was hoping to have a vacation this year, but now the
chances look pretty slim.
take/have time off/teik, hav talm f/to have some
time away from your work or what you usually do, in order
to rest or do something else Iv phrase]
I'm going to take some time off over Christmas. [ You should
have time off for a hospital appointment.
6 to be in another place, or to be away from
work or school because you are having a
holiday
be on holiday
be on vacation
be on holiday /bi: n 'hlIdi II-ho:ldeI/ a British
expression meaning to be in another place or to be away
from work or school because you are having a holiday Iv
phrase]
He's on holiday this week. He'll be back on Monday [ Devi's
a long way away, she's on holiday in India.
be on vacation/bi: on v=kelJ'an [[ -ve-/an American
expression meaning to be in another place or to be away
from work or school because you are having a holiday [v
phrase]
One of our regular clerks is on vacation. [ Some people love
working and feel stressed when they are on vacation.
 home: leave home LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 1
 home: make sb feel at home RELAXED 3
 home: make yourself at home RELAXED 2
 home: set up home/house LIVE SOMEWHERE 4
 home: take home EARN 2
i home country COUNTRY/NATION 7
 home-owner OWN 5
i home stretch: be on the last lap/in the home stretch
.....,....
I' FINISH DOING STH a
I home town COME FROM/ORIGINATE 2
 home truths TRUE 6
HOME
I someone's home
2 a building or group of rooms for people to
live in
3 a place for someone to live
4 to be in your home
5 ways of saying that someone does something
in their home or that something happens
there
6 words for describing something that is used
in people's homes
7 to or towards your home
8 to not be in your home
9 to provide someone with a place to live in
10 ways of saying that someone has no home to
live in
11 people who have no home to live in
7 someone who is on holiday
holidaymaker
vacationer
tourist
holidaymaker/Iholdi imeika r II Iho:lIdeI-/a word used
especially in British English meaning someone who is
spending time in another place or country for enjoyment
In C]
Most people on the island let rooms to holidaymakers during
the summer. I The town seems so empty in the Autumn when
all the holidaymakers have gone home.
vacationer/va'keiana r II veI-/an American word mean-
ing someone who is spending time in another place or
country for enjoyment In C]
He earns a living selling hot-dogs to vacationers. [ Paris was
full of American vacationers taking pictures of the Eiffel
Tower.
tourist / tuarsq someone who visits a different place for
interest and enjoyment In C]
The bar catered for tourists, and a few local people. I I
enjoyed being a tourist for a change and visiting all the
famous sights.
holidaymaker HOLIDAY 7
holier than thou GOOD/MORAL 11
holler SHOUT 1
hollow HOLE 1
hollow cheeks THIN PERSON 6
hollow out HOLE 8
holy RELIGION 4
home COME FROM/ORIGINATE 2, HOME 1, 3, 6, 7
home: at home COUNTRY/NATION 10, HOME 5
home: be at home HOME 4
home: be/feel at home with USED TO/ACCUSTOMED
TO 1
home: be home HOME4
home: come home RETURN 1
home: feel at home RELAXED 1
home: get in/get home RETURN 1
home: go home RETURN 1
1 someone's home
home
's
place
residence
address
home/haom/the place where you live [n C/U]
People like to feel secure in their own homes. I To raise the
extra money they had to sell the family home. (=the house
where the family had lived) I Buying your first home is a
very important step. I home life (=all the things you do at
home) He likes to spend the weekends with his family because
his home life is very important to him.
$/s, z, Iz! Fred's/my mother's/the Thompsons' etc
(=the place where Fred/my mother/the Thompsons etc
live)
Ok. I'll see you at Helen's at eight o'clock. I We were at the
Thompsons" last Saturday for dinner. I You've never been to
my sister's, have you?
place/ples/a word used especially in spoken English
meaning the house, flat etc where someone lives In
singular]
Why don't you come around to our place for a drink on Satur-
day? [ Your place is too small for a party. Lets have it at
mine. [ Terry's just bought himself a place over in Newgate,
overlooking the harbour.
residence/IrezIdans/ someone's home, especially the
home of an important person such as a President, which
is sometimes used for official dinners, meetings etc In C]
I0 Downing Street is the British Prime Minister's official
residence. I We first met at a cocktail party at the residence
of the Russian ambassador.
address/adres II dres/the number of the house or
building, and the name of the street, road and town where
someone lives In C]
If you leave your name and address with us, we'll send you
the tickets tomorrow. I change of address We'll have to tell
all our friends about our change of address. I home address
(=where you usually live) While I'm at college can you send
all my mail to my home address?

HOME 626 HOME
:2 a building or group of rooms for people to
live in
house apartment
flat residence
house/haos/a building for people to live in, that has more
than one level, and may either stand separately or be joined
to other buildings In C]
Our house is the one with the pink door. ] Why don't you all
come back to our house and we'll continue the party there. ]
The street was lined with identical red-brick houses.
flat/fletl a British word meaning a separate set of rooms
within a larger building, usually on one level, where some-
one lives In C]
Do you live in a house or a fiat? ] From the window of our
fiat you can see the whole of London. ] block of flats (=a
building that contains several flats) It's ridiculous. The lift's
broken in their block of fiats again.
apartment /olpo:rtmant/ a word used especially in
American English meaning a separate set of rooms within
a larger building, usually on one level, where someone lives
In C]
How many bedrooms do you have in your apartment? ]
apartment block (=a building containing several apart-
ments) Gemma's moved into a business apartment block in
Manhattan.
residence /Irezdans/a word used especially in adver-
tisements meaning a house or flat In C]
We are pleased to offer for sale this delightful residence in
a popular area of Cheltenham. ] This is an attractive, tree-
lined road of Victorian residences.
3 a place for someone to live
housing somewhere to live
accommodation a roof over your head
home
housing / hauzirj/the houses, flats etc within a particu-
lar area that are available for or are provided for people to
live in In U]
Most of the housing in the area is sub-standard and noth-
ing is being done to improve it. [ The council is making a
great effort to provide cheap housing and more public
facilities. [ The immigrants'problems are made worse by the
terrible housing shortage.
accommodation /akom'dei.an [1 ,ka:-/ any place
where people can live or stay, including houses, flats,
hotels etc In U]
student/rented/holiday etc accommodation I've been
looking in the newspapers for student accommodation but
it's all so expensive. ] accommodation There isn't enough
accommodation in Brighton especially during the holiday
season.
home/haum/a house, flat etc for people to live in, used
especially in advertisements or when talking about large
numbers of homes In C usually plural]
They want to build forty luxury homes on the disused rail-
way site. ] Between 1945 and 1970 the government built
110,000 new homes for low-paid workers.
• somewhere to live /,s^mwea r t lIv/a place where you
can live, used especially when this is difficult to get In
phrase]
It's practically impossible to find somewhere to live if you're
poor in New York City.
a roof over your head/a ru:f ,aova r ja r ,hed II -ru:f,
ruf/an informal expression meaning a place to live, used
when comparing this with the possibility of not having
anywhere at all to live In phrase]
It doesn't matter what kind of place it is, at least you'll have
a roof over your head. I It's hard to be cheerful when you
haven't even got a roof over your head.
4 to be in your home
be at home
be home
be in
be at home/bi: at 'hom/Iv phrase]
I'll be at home tonight if you need to call me. I stay at home
I didn't go away for the vacation. I just stayed at home.
be home/bi: 'hm/an expression used especially in
American English meaning to be in your home [v phrase]
Jim's never home Friday nights. You should know that. I
stay home Tommy has a fever so his morn made him stay
home today. I be home alone (=home on your own, used
especially of children) Miss Carlton is accused of going on
vacation and leaving her two year old daughter home alone.
be in/bi: I in/if someone is in, they are at home and you
are able to talk to them or visit them [phr v I]
"'Hello, Mrs Jones. Is Sally in, please?" l We went to see Phil
and Tony but there was nobody in. I No, Gerry won't be in
until after eight o'clock.
5 ways of saying that someone does something
in their home or that something happens
there
at home
domestic
at home/at 'hm/[adv phrase]
The good thing about my job is that I can often work at
home.I Earlier in the century it was normal for women to
have their babies at home. I Darren's sister is away at col-
lege, but he still lives at home with his parents.
domestic/da'mestIkJ domestic duties/arrangements/
violence etc (happening in or connected with the home)
[adj usually before noun]
The women had all experienced some form of domestic
violence. ] I won't bore you with domestic details, but anyway,
it was my turn to do the shopping.
6 words for describing something that is used
in people's homes
domestic
home
domestic/da'mesuk/domestic appliance/equipment/
fuel etc (-the type used in homes, rather than in factories,
offices, or other public places) [adj only before noun]
The gas is used for domestic heating and cooking. I Most
domestic appliances have a power rating of between 500
watts and 300 watts.
home/haom/ home computer/furnishings/security
system etc (-designed to be used in homes rather than in
offices) [adj only before noun]
The company has decided to expand in the home computer
market. I Home furnishings are on the second floor next to
the toy department.
7 to or towards your home
home
home/haum/[adv]
He cleans the offices after all the workers have gone home. I
Come straight home after the theatre, won't you? ] Martin
brought a note home from school asking for help organiz-
ing the school play.
8 to not be in your home
be out
be out/bi: 'aot/[phr v I]
"'Can I speak to Frank?" "'I'm sorry he's out at the moment.
While we were out someone broke into our house and took
the TV and the hifi system.

HOME 62? HOMOSEXUAL
9 to provide someone with a place to live in
accommodate
house
accommodate/'kmodet II 'ka:-/Iv T]
Once you been accepted at the university they promise to
accommodate you in a house nearby. I It's one thing to offer
the migrant workers jobs but they have to be accommodated
too.
house/hauz! if an organization houses someone, espe-
cially someone who is too poor to buy their own home, it
provides them with a home to live in Iv T]
The city will still house and educate those who are too poor
or disorganized to do it themselves. I The refugees have been
fed, clothed and housed by welfare organizations around the
world.
10 ways of saying that someone has no home to
live in
not have anywhere to live
homeless
be on the streets
be of no fixed address/abode
not have anywhere to live/nt hav ,eniwea r ta 'liv/
[v phrase not in progressive ]
I can't take the job immediately because I don't have any-
where to live. I He's staying at my house because he has
nowhere to live at the moment.
homeless/'haumlas/having no home to live in, espe-
cially because you are very poor or have been forced to
leave your old home [adj]
Suddenly he found himself homeless and it frightened him. I
There was afield next to the railroad station where runa-
way children and homeless people slept.
homelessness In U] The committee criticized the govern-
ment's new policy on homelessness.
be on the streets/bi: n 6a 'stri:ts/an informal expres-
sion meaning to sleep outside in a city because you do not
have anywhere to live Iv phrase]
This child has been on the streets now for nearly a year,
eating out of garbage cans. I He ran away from home and
lived rough on the streets until the police helped him get into
a hostel.
be of no fixed address/abode/bi: av ,nu flkst a'dres,
a 'baod II -' adres/a formal expression meaning to not have
anywhere to live permanently Iv phrase]
A social worker told the court that the man was still of no
fixed address.
1 1 people who have no home to live in
the homeless bag-lady
tramp vagrant
bum
the homeless/6 'haomlas/In plural]
We distribute food and blankets to the homeless on the streets
of London. I There aren't enough places in short-stay hostels,
so the homeless are reduced to sleeping in cardboard boxes.
tramp/tramp/a British word meaning a person, espe-
cially a man, who has no home or job, and who usually begs
for money In C]
An old tramp was sleeping under Waterloo Bridge, his coat
wrapped tight to keep out the cold.
bum/bAm! an informal American word meaning a person,
especially a man, who has no home or job who travels
around from one town to another, begging for money In C]
I don't believe in giving money to bums. They should clean
themselves up and get jobs.
bag-lady /'bang leldi/ an informal word meaning a
woman with no home or job who carries all her possessions
around with her in a bag In C]
A bent old bag-lady was moving slowly along the street, look-
ing in all the garbage cans.
vagrant /'veigrant/a word used especially in legal con-
texts meaning a person who has no home or regular work
[nC]
Our charity provides shelter, meals, and clothing for
vagrants. I The number of vagrants is increasing because
of the lack of suitable accommodation for rent in the capital.
homecoming RETURN 3
homeless HOME 10
homeless: the homeless HOME 11
homely UGLY 1
homemade MAKE 9
homesick SAD/UNHAPPY 1
homework WORK THAT SOMEONE DOES 2
homicidal KILL 5
homicide KILL 2
homogeneous SAME 5
homosexual HOMOSEXUAL 1
HOMOSEXUAL
words for describing someone who has sexual
relationships with people of the same sex
1 words meaning homosexual
2 not homosexual
1 words meaning homosexual
homosexual lesbian
gay bisexual
homosexual /,hoomo'sekJ'uol-, ,ho-li ,hou-/ sexually
attracted to people of the same sex [adj]
It was a great shock for her to find out that her husband was
homosexual. I The campaign is working for the acceptance
of homosexual love within today's society. I Greek literature
provides evidence for homosexual activity among both males
and fema les.
homosexuality/,huma,sekJ'u'elti, ,ht- l[ ,ho-/[n U] For
most of his life homosexuality was a criminal offence and
one which he had once been imprisoned for.
homosexual In C] Steve was 18 when he told his family he
was a homosexual. [ The disease initially affected male
homosexuals.
gay/gei! someone, especially a man, who is gay is sexu-
ally attracted to people of the same sex [adj]
People dying of AIDS are not just gay men and drug users. [
Tony can't possibly be having an affair with your wife. He's
gay. [ A gay rights demonstration (=a demonstration to fight
for the rights of gay people) brought the city centre to a
standstill today. [ Like so many of the gay bars (=bars for
gay people) in town, it was strictly men only.
gay In C] San Francisco has the highest population of gays
in the United States.
lesbian/'lezbbn/a woman who is sexually attracted to
other women In C]
I didn't realize I was a lesbian until I was in my twenties. [
A survey revealed that over 50% of lesbians have only ever
had one partner.
lesbian [adj] We regularly publish a magazine that
celebrates lesbian poetry and other women's literature.
bisexual/bai ' sekuol/sexually attracted to both men and
women [adj]
You have to be very open-minded to marry a bisexual man. [
There is a theory that all human beings are basically
bisexual.
bisexual In C] It was a real shock to discover that his girl-
friend was a bisexual.
2 not homosexual
heterosexual
straight
heterosexual I,hetara'sekual/ sexually attracted to
people of the opposite sex [adj]

HOMOSEXUAL 628 HONEST
Most of the people who come to the club are heterosexual, but
we do get a small number of gay men. I Trapped in a love-
less heterosexual marriage, she dreamed of the freedom to
be with the woman she really loved.
heterosexual In C ] There are some bars in this area of New
York where they do not serve heterosexuals.
heterosexuality / I hetamsekfu l al i ti/In U] The socialpres-
sures in favour of heterosexuality were ruining his life.
straight/streit/a word used especially in spoken English
meaning not homosexual, used especially when you are
comparing homosexual and heterosexual people [adj]
Straight men often feel nervous in the company of gays. I
She's straight but she's got a lot of lesbian friends.
straight In C] Straights always had the same predictable
conversations about engagements and marriage.
i honest HONEST 1, 2, 3
honest: to be honest/in all honesty HONEST 3
•  honest: to be honest/to tell the truth ADMIT 3
HONEST
not likely to steal, lie, or cheat
1 words for describing someone who does not
cheat, steal, or break the law etc
2 honest when giving information, and not
telling lies
3 honest when telling people your opinions or
feelings
4 so honest when telling your opinions or
feelings that some people think you are rude
5 to start living an honest life after having been
a criminal
1 words for describing someone who does not
cheat, steal, or break the law etc
honest integrity
honesty incorruptible
reputable above suspicion
honest/'.nst II 'o:n-/[adj]
As the job involves handling large amounts of money it's
essential that our workers are honest. I There seem to be very
few honest men left in government. I Capone loved to present
the image of a decent, honest, law-abiding citizen. I
scrupulously honest (=very careful to always be com-
pletely honest) She was scrupulously honest in all her busi-
ness dealings.
honesty /'nsti II o:n-/ the quality or fact of being
honest In U]
Are you questioning my honesty? I Honesty is rare in busi-
ness dealings these days.
reputable/'repjtbal/known to be honest, especially in
business activities [adj]
If you buy a used car it's best to go to a reputable garage. [
She had her antique vases valued by a reputable dealer. [
How do we know that all the firms involved in this deal are
reputable?
integrity/in tegrti/the quality of being very honest and
always having the same moral principles whatever the sit-
uation In U]
General O'Neil was well-known for his integrity and
courage. [ manComan of integrity She is a woman of
integrity who has never abandoned her principles for the
sake of winning a vote.
incorruptible/ inka'r^ptIbal/someone in a position of
authority who is incorruptible is very honest in the way
they do their work, and cannot be persuaded to act dis-
honestly [adj]
Many people believe that high-ranking police officers are
incorruptible - this is not true. [ Everything must be done
according to the law, so judges must be incorruptible.
above suspicion/a,b^v Sg)lsplfan/SO honest that other
people think that you could never be dishonest, especially
when you are in a position where it is very important to
be trusted [ adj phrase]
People entrusted to look after other people's money should
be above suspicion.
2 honest when giving information, and not
telling lies
honest up front
truthful play fair
tell the truth level with
straight lay/put your cards on the table
open
honest/'onIst II 'a:n-/[adj]
I think she's being honest when she says she knows nothing
about the break-in. I You can always rely on Stewart to be
honest. I honest answer/reply etc "'Tell me where you were
- and I want an honest answer. "" I honest with sb She said
she'd never been to his house before, but I don't think she's
being completely honest with me.
honesty In U] As a newspaper reporter I am committed to
honesty and accuracy. I At the time many people doubted
President Reagan's honesty when he claimed to know noth-
ing about the arms deal.
truthful /'tru:Ofal/never lying and always honest in the
things that you say [adj]
As a child she was obedient and truthful. [ truthful with
I hope we can be truthful with each other. [ truthful
account It is unlikely that a truthful account of conditions
in the prison will ever be seen.
truthfully [adv] She wrote a letter that truthfully described
what happened in Tiananmen Square.
tell the truth/,tel 6a 'tru:O/to be honest in what you say,
even if the facts you are telling are unpleasant, embarrass-
ing etc Iv phrase]
In a court of law you must tell the truth. [ I was having
difficulty convincing him that I was telling the truth. [ tell
sb the truth Tell me the truth, Doctor - is she going to live
or die?
straight/streit/truthful, honest, and not hiding the true
facts or your true feelings [adj]
Ask Nancy what she thinks - she's always very straight and
honest. [ straight with sb Be straight with me - tell me the
truth. [ straight answer If you don't give me a straight
answer there'll be trouble.
open/'aopan/honest and not wanting to hide anything,
especially facts about yourself, from other people [adj]
Diana's very easy to talk to because she's so open. [ an honest
young man with a friendly, open smile [ open about Par-
ents should be open about sex with their children.
openness In U] There was a new openness and warmth in
his old friend's letters.
openly [adv] People find it difficult to talk openly about
death.
up front lAp IfFAnt/ an informal expression meaning
honest and always willing to tell the truth, even if the truth
is unpleasant [adj phrase]
Karen is always very up front with her boyfriends. I His up
front style of management has brought a lot of success this
year.
play fair / Iple fer/to behave in an honest way by acting
according to accepted rules or standards Iv phrase]
Come on. Play fair. That's no way to treat your wife. I We
hope that other countries will play fair with our exported
goods and not tax them too heavily on arrival.
level with/' leval wi6/to be honest with someone, espe-
cially when they have asked you to give them the correct
story, reason etc Iv T]
I'm not going to be angry, I just want you to level with me
and tell me how the accident happened. [ OK, I'll level with
you. The reason you don't have a phone yet is that our tech-
nicians laid the cables wrongly.
lay/put your cards on the table/lei, ,potja: r kozrdz
tn 6 'teibal/to tell someone what you have been planning

HONEST 629 hook
after you have been secretly planning it for a long time Iv
phrase]
Tom put his cards on the table and explained that he was
planning to resign from the company to set up his own busi-
ness. [ You've held back for too long - now it's time to lay
your cards on the table.
3 honest when telling people your opinions or
feelings
honest candid
to be honest/ direct
in all honesty straightforward
frank tell sb straight
honest/'on,st II 'o:n-/[adj]
If you want my honest opinion, those shoes look awful. I be
honest with sb Even after they got married they found it
was impossible to be completely honest with each other. [ be
honest about Just be honest about it - tell her how you feel,
she won't mind.
honesty In U] You have to admire her honesty - she always
says what she thinks. [ Honesty is vital in any relationship,
to prevent misunderstandings and resentments from
developing.
to be honest/in all honesty/ta bh 'on,st, ,n ,:1
'on  sti II -'o:n-/you say to be honest or in all honesty
when you want people to know that what you say next is
going to be honest
To be honest, I don "t really like babies. I I wish I'd never met
him, to be quite honest. I In all honesty, I've got no idea where
she's living now.
frank/freok/behaviour, attitudes or discussions that are
frank are honest about feelings and opinions, especially
those that are about something that is not usually talked
about ]adjl
Radio Jersey broadcast a frank discussion about drugs
between a drug addict and a doctor. I To be perfectly frank,
I just don't think he's particularly intelligent.
frankly [adv] "'God, isn't he dreadful?" said Tom, frankly. I
She spoke frankly about herself now and again.
©andld I'kendd/honest about your opinions and feel-
ings, even if other people disapprove of them Iadj]
Stern didn't care who knew about his past. He had a candid
nature. I As a friend she's very candid, always saying what
she thinks about us.
candidly ladvl It can be useful to talk candidly about your
feelings to someone.
diroct/d' rekt, da-/saying exactly what you think in an
honest, clear way [adj]
People were scared of my father, who was very direct. I With
her direct manner and good head for business she was soon
promoted.
straightforward / ,street' f: rwrd-! being honest about
your feelings or opinions in a way that other people
approve of ladj]
He's tough, but always straightforward and fair.
tell sb straight !,tel (sb) 'street/tell someone the true
facts, or your true feelings especially something they might
not want to know Iv phrasel
I told her straight that she was wrong. I He does have a crimi-
nal record, I'm telling you straight. Check the police reports
if you don't believe me.
4
forthright
blunt
outspoken
bald
speak your mind
so honest when telling your opinions or
feelings that some people think you are rude
not beat about the bush
make no bones about
not mince your words
call a spade a spade
pull no punches
forthright/'B: rOrat/saying honestly what you think in
a way that often seems rude or unpleasant [adjl
She was by nature forthright and impatient. I Senator Gray's
speech was really a forthright criticism of the government.
blunt/blAnt/saying what is true or what you really think,
especially in a situation in which other people would be
more polite ]adj]
Visitors are often shocked by Maria's blunt manner. [ He
replied to my polite enquiry with a blunt refusal.
bluntly ladv l One of my neighbours asked me bluntly if I
was having an affair with her husband.
outspoken /aot'spaokn/ talking honestly about your
opinions, especially in public or within a group Iadjl
outspoken critic/opponent/advocate ere of He has long
been an outspoken critic of the government's European poli-
cies. I outspoken Williams is well-known for her outspoken
views on education. I Prince Charles is probably the most out-
spoken member of the British Royal Family.
bald/b:ld/bald statement/truth/facts ete (=a state-
ment, fact, etc that is true and that has nothing added or
hidden to make it seem more acceptable) [adj only before
nounl
The bald facts were that the economy was in a state of crisis. I
She had to tell her children the bald truth: their father was
never coming back.
speak your mind/,spi:k j:r 'mand/to say exactly what
you think about a situation or subject, even if it offends
other people Iv phrase]
She believes in speaking her mind, which makes her very
unpopular.
not beat about the bush/not ,bi:t baot 8a 'boll to talk
about the most important part of a subject, even if this is
embarrassing or unpleasant Iv phrasel
Let's not beat about the bush. We're here to talk about money,
aren't we? [ "'The simple fact is that you think I'm stupid, ""
he said, not beating about the bush.
make no bones about I,mek nov 'bunz abaut] an
informal expression meaning to be honest about something
you have done or said, especially something that other
people disagree with or think is impolite Iv phrase]
Douglas made no bones about ignoring Harry and talking
only to Sarah. [ He makes no bones about the fact that hepays
his female employees less money.
not mince your words/not ,mns ja: r 'wa:rdz/to say
things you feel in a way that you know might offend other
people Iv phrase not usually in progressivel
The man in the restaurant, a brash New Yorker who didn't
mince his words, said the food was disgusting.
call a spade a spade/,ka:l a spcd a 'spcdl to speak
very honestly about something that embarrasses or offends
a lot of people Iv phrase not usually in progressivel
You might as well call a spade a spade and say that she's
just not good enough for the job. That's what you're think-
ing, after all.
pull no punches/,pol nao 'p^ntj'z/to speak honestly
about someone or something, especially when you are
criticizing them, without thinking about their feelings Iv
phrasel
He said that his TV reviews pulled no punches and if a
programme was bad it was his duty to say so.
5 to start living an honest life after having been
a criminal
go straight
go straight/,gau 'stretl Iv phrasel
He's been going straight for about six months now. I You
can't expect these people to go straight when no one's ever
going to give them a job.
honestly TRUE 7 .
honesty HONEST 1, 2, 3
honesty: to be honest/in all honesty HONEST 3
honeymoon HOLIDAY 1
honk SOUND 15
honour: do sth in sb's honour/honor CELEBRATE 1
honourable/honorable GOOD/MORAL 5
hoodlum: hooligan/hoodlum VIOLENT 5
hoodwink TRICK/DECEIVE 1
hook: off the hook OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1 PUNISH 9

hook, line, and sinker 630 HOPE
hook, line, and sinker BELIEVE 2
hooked: be hooked ADDICTED 1
hooker SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 9
hooky: play truantlplay hooky GO TO/ATTEND 3
hooligan/hoodlum VIOLENT 5
hoopla ADVERTISE 2
hoot SOUND 15
hop JUMP 1
hop: catch sb on the hop READY 7
hope HOPE 1, 3, 4
hope: I hope not HOPE 8
hope: in the hope that HOPE 1
hope: it is hoped that HOPE 2
hope: lose hope/give up hope HOPE 9
hope: not have a hope IMPOSSIBLE 2
hope: offer hope HOPE 7
hope: raise hopes HOPE 7
hope: there is no hope HOPE 10
hope against hope HOPE 5
hope for the best HOPE 1
HOPE
t to hope that something will happen or that
something is true
:2 what you say when you hope something will
happen
3 a feeling of hope
4 something that you hope will happen
5 to continue to hope for something even when
it is very unlikely to happen
6 ways of saying that what someone hopes for
is unreasonable because there is little
possibility that it will happen
7' making you feel more hopeful
8 what you say when you hope something
does not happen
g to stop hoping
t0 words for describing a bad situation in which
there is no hope of improvement
t t a feeling that it is useless to hope
t:2 behaving in a way that shows you have no
hope
1
to hope that something will happen or that
something is true
hope in the hope that
hopeful optimistic
keep your fingers pin your hopes on
crossed have high hopes
hope for the best
hope/hop/to want something to happen or to be true, and
to believe it is possible [v I/T]
hope (that) I hope you have a pleasant weekend. [ Let's hope
we can find a parking space. [ We hurried out of the build-
ing hoping that no one would see us leave. [ hope to do sth
One of these days I hope to write a book about my travels. [
hope for We're hoping for good weather on our daughter's
wedding day. [ hope Even when everyone else had thought
he was dead, you never stopped hoping. [ I hope so (=I hope
that what has just been said is true) "'Have we got enough
money for the rent?" "'I don't know. I hope so. '" [ hope and
pray We hope and pray that the war will soon be over.
hopeful/'hupfal/believing that what you hope for is
likely to happen [adj not usually before noun]
hopeful (that) I'm quite hopeful that I'll get the job. [ hope-
ful We don't know if Gascoigne will befit to play in Satur-
day's game, but we're all hopeful. [ The new recruits were
encouraged by the hopeful attitude of the other soldiers. [
hopeful about James felt more hopeful about his future
after his chat with his professor.
hopefully [adv ] "'Will there be any food left over?" he asked
hopefully.
keep your fingers crossed/,ki:p j:r ,firjgrz ,krost [i
-  kin:st/an informal expression meaning to hope that some-
thing will happen the way you want, when you cannot do
anything except wait to see what happens [v phrase]
"Have you had your test results yet? .... No. I'm just keeping
my fingers crossed. "'[ Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope
that this idea of yours works.
hope for the best/,haup fr 6a 'best/to hope that a sit-
uation will end well, when it is possible that something
might go wrong [v phrase]
He never uses a recipe. He just throws all kinds of food into
a pan and hopes for the best. [ Every expectant mother goes
into labour hoping for the best, praying that she'll be the one
to have a quick, painless birth.
in the hope that/n 6 'hop 6t/if you do something
in the hope that something else will happen, you do it
because you hope that that thing will happen as a result
of your action [conjunction]
He showed me a picture of the missing girl in the hope that
I might recognize her. [ The government is ignoring these
problems in the hope that they will go away - but they won't.[
in the hope of doing sth We left the house early in the hope
of avoiding traffic jams.
optimistic/,pt'mistIk- [[ ,a:p-! hoping and expecting
that everything will happen in the best way possible [adj]
optimistic about I am very optimistic about the future of
our company. [ optimistic Although his lawyers were
optimistic, they couldn't be sure about the final outcome of
the trial. [ The Democrats went into this election in an
optimistic mood.
optimistically lady] Tom said rather optimistically that we
could finish the job in a day or two.
pin your hopes on/,pin j:r 'haups nl to hope that
something will happen or that someone will do something
because all your other plans, chances of success etc depend
on this [v phrase]
Sue is pinning all her hopes on getting this job. [ The Brit-
ish are pinning their hopes on Elliott for a gold medal in the
1500 metres. [ With inflation running at 300% the country is
pinning all its hopes on foreign intervention.
have high hopes/hmv ,hai 'hups/to hope that some-
thing you have been working hard to achieve for a long
time will happen, especially when you expect that it will
[v phrase not in progressive]
have high hopes of Sam has high hopes of going to univer-
sity next year. [ Despite our differences, we came here with
high hopes of signing a new treaty. [ have high hopes for
Japanese car manufacturers have high hopes for increased
profits in Europe.
2 what you say when you hope something will
happen
hopefully
if all goes well
it is hoped that
hopefully /'haopfali/you say hopefully something will
happen when you mean you hope it will happen [adv]
He's been resting today, so hopefully he'll be feeling better
tomorrow. [ Hopefully we can find a way of solving this
problem.
if all goes well/if ,::1 gauz 'well you say if all goes well
when you mean that although you hope something will be
possible, it will depend on everything happening in a satis-
factory way
If all goes well, I'll be sailing from Vera Cruz in about a
week. [ The tunnel should be finished by 1993 if all goes well.
it is hoped that/It Iz 'haopt 6at/an expression used in
formal letters, notices, invitations etc, meaning that you
hope something will happen or that someone will do
something
It is hoped that all committee members will be able to attend
this important meeting.

HOPE 631 HOPE
3 a feeling of hope
hope
hope/houp/ the feeling that you have when you hope
something will happen and you think it is likely to happen
in U]
We look towards the future with hope in our hearts. I Thou-
sands of emigrants set off for the New World full of hope. I
Recent reports of a ceasefire agreement have given us new
hope. I a message of hope and encouragement
4 something that you hope will happen
hope
hope/houp/In C]
My one and only hope was that I would see my family again
some day. I She confided in me, telling me all her secret hopes
and fears. I The present government no longer reflects the
hopes and aspirations of the people. I hope of sth Everett
soon forgot all his hopes of fame and fortune. I high hopes
(=hopes of great success) the high hopes that parents have
for their children I dash sb's hopes (=destroy their hopes)
Nurse Hamilton's hopes of a well-earned rest were dashed
when she was suddenly called to an emergency.
 to continue to hope for something even when
it is very unlikely to happen
hope against hope
cling to the hope that
hope against hope/hoop ogenst hoop/to hope very
much that something will happen or that something is
true, even when you know it is extremely unlikely iv
phrase]
Daniel waited all day, hoping against hope that Annie
would change her mind and come back. I I hoped against
hope that I had been given the job, although in my heart I
knew I had made too many mistakes.
cling to the hope that i tklIrj to 6o hoop 6ot/to con-
tinue to hope that something will happen or that something
is true although you know it is very unlikely because all
the information you have shows that it will not happen iv
phrase]
The woman clung desperately to the hope that her daughter
would be found alive. [ I was ready to put up with any hard-
ship as long as I could cling to the hope that he still loved me.
6 ways of saying that what someone hopes for
is unreasonable because there is little
possibility that it will happen
wishful thinking
pipe-dream
build up sb's hopes
wishful thinking/,wIj'fgl tOIkIl]/something which you
hope for or want to believe but which is very unlikely to
happen or to be true in U]
I think she likes me - but maybe it's just wishful thinking
on my part! [ Hopes that scientists have found a cure for bald-
ness now seem based more on wishful thinking than reality.
pipe-dream /'paxp dri:m/ something that you have
imagined, which you hope will happen and which is
pleasant to think might happen, but which is extremely
unlikely to happen in reality in C]
I'd always wanted to travel around the world, but it seemed
nothing more than a pipe-dream. I "'What do you think the
chances are of lasting peace in the Middle East?" "'I think
it's all just a pipe-dream. "'
build up sb's hopes/tbfld ^p (sb's) 'hoops/to encourage
someone to think that what they want to happen will
happen when really there is very little chance of it happen-
ing iv phrase]
It was cruel to build up my hopes like that and then give the
job to someone else. I I don't want to build up your hopes too
much, but I may have found you a new home.
7 making you feel more hopeful
hopeful raise hopes
encouraging auspicious
promising light at the end of the tunnel
offer hope a glimmer of hope/a ray of hope
hopeful/hoopfgl/[adj]
The economic situation in the US is looking very hopeful.
At the interview they told me I was "the right sort of person'.
I thought that sounded kind of hopeful. I hopeful sign
(=something that shows a situation is hopeful) The fact that
the two sides have agreed to hold negotiations is an extremely
hopeful sign.
encouraging /nkArodsIў II -ka:r-/ something that is
encouraging makes you feel happier and more hopeful
[adj]
The doctor had some encouraging news - I would soon be
able to walk again. I There are one or two more encourag-
ing signs in the economy now. I So far the results of our tests
have been very encouraging.
promising /promsl0 II pro:-/ something that is
promising seems as if it is going to be good or successful
[adj]
The future looks promising for British companies abroad.
The weather outlook for the weekend isn't very promising.
My grandfather gave up a promising career in law to fight
for his country.
offer hope/ofo r hoop II ,a:f-/ if something such as a
new situation or invention offers hope, it makes it possi-
ble for people to feel more hopeful that a bad situation will
improve iv phrase]
offer hope to The new treatment may offer hope to thou-
sands of cancer patients. [ offer hope of A recent UN initia-
tive seems to offer some hope of a lasting peace settlement in
the region.
raise hopes ! rez 'hoops/to make people more confident
than before that what they are hoping for will happen iv
phrase]
raise hopes that The latest news has raised hopes that
another Western hostage might soon be released. [ raise sb's
hopes Speculation in the press about tax cuts has raised
everyone's hopes.
auspicious/a:spIJ'os/ a formal word: an auspicious
occasion/day/moment/beginning etc (=one which
makes people hopeful that there will be success in the
future) [adj usually before noun]
The baseball season got off to an auspicious start with two
good wins for the Tokyo Giants. I On this most auspicious
occasion may I take the opportunity of proposing a toast to
the happy couple.
light at the end of the tunnel/lat
t tAnl/something that gives you hope of success or of a better
situation in the future after a long and difficult or
unpleasant period in phrase]
The announcement of peace talks offered some light at the
end of the tunnel. ] see the light at the end of the tunnel
(=to realize that there is hope)After all the problems we've
had we're finally beginning to see some light at the end of
the tunnel.
a glimmer of hopela ray of hope i0 ghmor ov thoop,
o t re ov-/something that gives you a small reason to hope
that a bad situation will improve in phrase]
The fact that Ben had phoned her gave Clare a glimmer of
hope. Perhaps their marriage could be saved after all. [ The
one ray of hope seemed to be the possibility that the enemy
would call off their attack because of the weather.
8 what you say when you hope something
does not happen
I hope not
God forbid!/heaven forbid!
I hope not/aI ,hoop not/you say I hope not when you
hope that what has just been mentioned will not happen
or is not true

HOPE 632 HORIZONTAL
"'Do you think she's lost?" "I hope not!'" I Gordon said he
wasn't lying to me - I certainly hope not.
God forbid!lheaven forbid!/,god fo rbd, hevan- II
ga:d-/(when you want to say very strongly that you very
much hope something does not happen or has not
happened)
"'Do you think that awful Mr Lloyd is coming to the party?'"
"'God forbid!"lHeavenforbid! Surely they haven't put our
luggage on the other plane?
9 to stop hoping
lose hope/
give up hope
despair
lose heart
hopes are fading
lose hope/give up hope/,lu:z houp, ,giv Ap 'hoop/[v
phrase]
give up/lose hope of doing sth After his accident, Jack
had almost given up hope of ever working again. I give up/
lose hope that We never lost hope that our son would return
one day. I give up/lose hope Some seeds take a long time
to germinate, so don't lose hope if nothing happens in the first
year.
despair/dI speor/to think that there is no possibility of
ever doing what you want to do or of your situation ever
improving with the result that you stop hoping and become
very unhappy Iv I not in progressive]
despair of doing sth Kate despaired of ever seeing her hus-
band again. [ despair You mustn't despair. Nothing is
impossible. ] Albert, almost despairing, wrote to his sister
begging her to lend him Ј100.
lose heart/lu:z ha:rt/to stop hoping that you can suc-
ceed in what you are trying to do, especially because you
have not been successful so far, so that you become less
determined and stop making an effort Iv phrase]
I think if he fails again he'll just lose heart and give up. [
The tunnel had never been finished. Perhaps the builders lost
heart and abandoned it.
hopes are fading/,hoops a: r fedn]/ an expression
used especially in news reports: you say hopes are fading
when you mean that people are beginning to stop hoping
that someone is safe, that something will succeed etc
Hopes are fading, but the search for survivors of the earth-
quake continues.
10 words for describing a bad situation in which
there is no hope of improvement
hopeless bleak
desperate there is no hope
gloomy
hopeless/'hooplas/[adj]
The firemen tried to stop the flames from spreading, but it
was hopeless. I We all began to realize that we were fighting
for a hopeless cause. I Remember, it's just when things look
hopeless that you sometimes get a lucky break.
hopelessly [adv] The Greeks fought bravely but they were
hopelessly outnumbered by the Persians (=so that the situ-
ation seemed hopeless for them).
desperate/'despart/so bad that, unless you get help
immediately, there is no hope [adj]
The situation is desperate - there are just not enough beds
in the hospital. [ Another two weeks without food and I'd
think things could become quite desperate. [ the desperate
plight of homeless families
desperately lady] Their air force is desperately short of
spare parts for its ageing Mig 21s (=so that their situation
is desperate).
gloomy/ glu:mi/gloomy picture/prospect (=one that
makes you feel that there is not much hope of the situation
improving) [adj]
This latest survey presents a gloomy picture of the Russian
economy. [Evidence that the world's population is increas-
ing faster than ever implies a gloomy prospect for human-
ity: starvation.
bleak/bli:k/bleak future/outlook/prospect etc (=so
bad that it is useless to hope it will improve) [adj]
His prospects of finding another job are bleak. I The future
looked bleak for the Democratic party.
there is no hope/bear iz nou houp/you say there is
no hope when the situation is so bad and it is useless to
hope that it will improve
there is no hope of sth The prison was on a small, rocky
island. There was no hope of escape. [ there is no hope for
sb I'm afraid there's no hope for us, unless you can give us
the help we need. I there is no hope The doctor has said
there's no hope. She only has a few weeks to live.
1 1 a feeling that it is useless to hope
hopelessness
despair
hopelessness/'hooplosns/In U]
A sense of hopelessness brought tears to Honor's eyes. [ You
changed my feelings of hopelessness by making me realize
that I can alter my destiny if l really want to. ] Suddenly he
saw the utter futility and hopelessness of his mission.
despair/d  speor/an extremely unhappy feeling you have
when your situation is so bad that you have stopped hoping
In U]
Separation from someone you love can bring loneliness and
despair. [ He gazed at the confusion around him and was
overwhelmed by a feeling of despair. [ be in despair Dad
was in despair. Everything seemed to be going wrong.
12 behaving in a way that shows you have no
hope
despairing
in despair
despairing Idspeari]/ despairing look/cry/voice/
gesture ere (=one that shows you have no hope) [adj]
"'What shall I do?" cried Mandy in a despairing voice. [ In
a despairing gesture he threw back both his arms and
groaned.
in despair/m d; speor/if someone does something in
despair they feel very unhappy because the situation is so
bad they cannot hope that it will improve [adv phrase]
She turned to him in despair and the tears were running
down her face. [ One mathematician spent five years trying
to solve the problem and finally gave up in despair.
hopeful HOPE 1, 7
hopefully HOPE 2
hopeless BAD AT 2, HOPE 10, IMPOSSIBLE 1
hopelessness HOPE 11
hopes: raise hopes HOPE 7
hopes are fading HOPE 9
horde CROWD 1
horizon: be on the horizon FUTURE 3
horizon: on the horizon FAR 3
horizontal HORIZONTAL 1
HORIZONTAL
1 in a position that is on or parallel to level
ground
2 to put something in a horizontal position on a
flat surface
3 words for describing a surface that is flat and
horizontal, not sloping or curving
4 words for describing a surface that is not
horizontal, but at an angle
1 in a position that is on or parallel to level
ground
horizontal on its side
level lie

HORIZONTAL 633 HOSPITAL
horizontal/,horzonfl- II tha:rza:ntl-/[adj]
Jenny wore a white dress with horizontal red stripes. I The
beam is a horizontal piece of wood on which gymnasts per-
form balancing exercises. I The dentist's chair tilted back
until I was completely horizontal.
horizontally lady] Hold your ski stick horizontally out in
front of you (=in a horizontal position or direction).
level /  lewl/exactly horizontal and not sloping up or down
[adj not usually before noun]
That picture doesn't look level to me. I You use this instru-
ment to see if the base of the machine is level. I Hold the ruler
level and mark three points on the wall.
on its side/on its sad/something that is on its side has
been moved from its usual upright position to a horizon-
tal position lady phrase]
One of the vehicles in the accident still lay on its side, block-
ing all four traffic lanes. I For long term storage, it is a good
idea to keep bottles of wine on their sides. I A dog was pull-
ing garbage out of a trash can which was lying on its side
in the street.
lie/la/to be in a horizontal position on a surface Iv I]
lie on/in/next to etc The necessary papers lay neatly on
the desk, ready to be signed. I "'Where's the rake?" "'It's lying
there, next to the spade. ""
to put something in a horizontal position on a
flat surface
lay sth/sb flat
lay down
lay sthlsb flat/,le (sth/sb) 'fleet/Iv phrase]
Lay the sweater flat to dry. I The fish are laid flat on a board
and scraped with the back of a knife to remove th scales. I
Realizing the man had a back injury, we laid him flat on
the ground and waited for the ambulance to arrive.
lay down/le daun/to carefully put something into a
horizontal position [phr v T]
lay sth down on/in ere Samantha laid the flowers down
on the table and went to fill a vase. I lay sth/sb/her/them
ere down We carried the injured child over to the bed and
laid her down. I lay down sth/sb "'That weighs a ton, "said
Ian, laying down the marble slab on the floor.
3 words for describing a surface that is flat and
horizontal, not sloping or curving
flat
level
even
flat/fleet/[adj]
The landscape was flat and monotonous for miles. I All the
houses had flat roofs.
level/'leval/ground or a surface that is level is horizon-
tat and does not slope or curve [adj]
A footballfield has to be level. I After walking for over two
hours up and down hills, we eventually arrived at level
ground. I Beyond the harbour, the sea looked level and still.
even/'i:van/an even surface is horizontal and smooth,
especially when it has been deliberately made like this
using a machine [adj]
The floor must be even before we start laying tiles. I After
laying the asphalt the workmen used a steam roller to get
an even surface.
4 words for describing a surface that is not
horizontal, but at an angle
sloping
slope
sloping/'slup[rl/[adj only before noun]
The house had a sloping roof. I We strolled through the slop-
ing fields that led down to the river. I To get into the build-
ing one had to crawl along a narrow sloping ledge and climb
through a window.
slope Islupl if a surface or area slopes, it is not horizon-
tal but is at an angle Iv I]
slope downwards/upwards/away/into etc The garden
sloped down towards the sea. [ A hundred yards ahead the
path turns and slopes sharply into the main street. I Tilt the
board so that it is sloping upwards away from you.
horn: blow your own trumpet/horn BOAST 1
horrendous BAD 3
horrible UNPLEASANT 1, 2
horrible: awful/terrible/horrible BAD 1 3
horrific BAD 3
horrified SHOCK 3
horror FRIGHTENED 11, SHOCK 8
horse's mouth: straight from the horse's mouth
F I N D OUT 2
hold horses WAIT 2
horses:
your
horses: play the horses GAMBLE 1
hospice HOSPITAL 1
hospitable FRIENDLY 2
hospital HOSPITAL 1
hospital: enll hospital HOSPITAL 2
HOSPITAL
hospital
hospital for people who are mentally ill
room in a hospital
1 a hospital
hospital
infirmary
hospice
clinic
medical center
health centre/health center
hospital/'hospitl II ho:-/a large building where sick or
injured people are looked after and receive medical treat-
ment In C/U]
Lucy works as a nurse at the local hospital. I in/to/from
hospital (British) in/to/from the hospital (American)
He's still in hospital recovering from his operation.
ambulance rushed her to the hospital. I be admitted to (the)
hospital (=be brought into a hospital for treatment) A man
has been admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds. I hospi-
tal bed (-a place in a hospital for a sick person) There is
an urgent need to make more hospital beds available for
long-term patients.
Infirmary/n' fa:rmari/a word used especially in British
English meaning a place where people can go for medical
treatment, especially in a school, college, or other institu-
tion In C]
I went to the infirmary where the nurse checked my arm to
see if it was broken.
hospice / hosps II ho:-/a special hospital where people
who are dying are looked after In C]
Mary, who was suffering from terminal cancer, spent her last
few months in a hospice. I a hospice for AIDS patients
clinic /khnk/a building, often part of a hospital, where
people come for special medical treatment or advice about
particular medical problems In C]
The Harvey Clinic specializes in the treatment of people who
have alcohol-related problems. I She went to the family plan-
ning clinic for advice.
medical center / 'med;kal sentzr/an American expres-
sion meaning a very large building that contains a hospi-
tal, doctors' offices, and other medical services In C]
A new psychiatric unit will be added to the John F Kennedy
Medical Center.
health centre (British) I health center (American)
i  helO ,sentr/a building where doctors have their offices
and various medical services are provided for people who
come for treatment or advice In C]

HOSPITAL 634 HOT
Mothers take their babies to the local health centre for vac-
cinations and regular check-ups. I In 1960 two doctors estab-
lished a community health center to serve the needs of around
1500families.
 a hospital for people who are mentally ill
mental hospital institution
psychiatric hospital asylum
mental hospital/'mentl ,hDspItl II -,ho:s-I In C]
be admitted to a mental hospital At the age of 19 he had
a nervous breakdown and had to be admitted to a mental
hospital.
psychiatric hospital / saiki'eetr;k ht)sptl II -,hozs-/an
expression used especially in the medical profession and
in American English meaning a mental hospital In C]
In modern psychiatric hospitals most patients are free to
move around as they wish.
institution /,nst'tju:Sn II -'tu:-/ a word meaning a
mental hospital sometimes used by people who want to
avoid saying that someone is in a mental hospital In C]
Sally spent several years in an institution.
asylum/zsa11m/a word used especially in historical
contexts meaning a mental hospital In C]
Van Gogh became insane and was admitted to the asylum
at St Remy.
3 a room in a hospital
ward
unit
ward/wa:rd/a large room in a hospital or a part of a hospi-
tal where a group of patients with similar medical condi-
tions have their beds In C]
I was in a ward with four otherpatients, all recovering from
operations. I maternity ward (=a ward for women who are
having babies) When her baby was due, Barbara was admit-
ted to the maternity ward of the General Hospital.
unit/'ju:nt/a part of a hospital where one partictflar type
of medical problem is treated In C]
Funding has been approved for a 40-bed unit for the elderly
at Aberdare General Hospital. I coronary/burns/inten-
sive care unit Victims of the fire are receiving treatment in
the burns unit at the Regional Hospital.
 host PARTY 4, PRESENT/INTRODUCE A SHOW 1, 2
i host: a host of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
host/hostess PARTY 5
hostage KEEP SB IN A PLACE 4
hostile AGAINST/OPPOSE 1, DIFFICULT 9, ENEMY 2,
"" UNFRIENDLY 1
 hostility AGAINST/OPPOSE 3
hot HOT 1, 2, 5, 8, HOT TASTE 1
hot: be hot off the press NEW 3
i hot: burning hot HOT 1
hot: get hot/warm/hotter/warmer HOT 11
hot cakes: be selling like hot cakes SELL 15
hot potato: be a hot potato DIFFICULT 5
hot
I words for describing something that feels hot
when you touch it
2 words for describing hot foods or drinks
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
words for describing objects, liquids, foods
etc that are warm, but not really hot
words for describing clothes that make you
feel warm and comfortable when it is cold
words for describing hot weather, places etc
words for describing weather or places that
are warm, but not really hot
words for describing weather or places that
are uncomfortably hot and where there is
very little air
feeling hot
hot because you are ill
words meaning how hot something is
to become hot or hotter
to make something hot or hotter
to make someone who is cold warmer
1 words for describing something that feels hot
when you touch it
hot boiling/boiling hot
heat burning hot
red hot molten
hot/hot II hozt/[adj]
The sand on the beach was hot. I Be careful! That pan is still
hot. I At the end of the day all I wanted was to relax in a nice
hot bath. I The hottest part of the engine is the cylinder head.
heat/hi:t/the fact that something is hot In U]
The heat of the water caused the glass to shatter. I The reac-
tion gives off tremendous heat. I The fire has lost its heat.
red hot/red 'hDt* II -'ho:t*/something such as metal,
burning wood, or a surface that is red hot is extremely hot
[adj phrase]
Sophie placed the grill over the red hot charcoal. I Ouch! This
handle's red hot!
boillnglboillng hot/'badrj, ,bad;r] 'hot* II-'ho:t*/a
liquid that is boiling or boiling hot is extremely hot [adj]
I dropped a pan of boiling water on the kitchenfloor. I The
mud in the pools is boiling. I A stream of boiling hot water
shot out of the radiator.
burning hot/,ba:rnxr 'ho* II -'ho:t*/an object or surface
that is burning hot is extremely hot [adj]
Be careful, don't touch that pan - it's burning hot. ! We had
a swim, then walked back across the burning hot sands.
molten/'maoltn/molten metal, rock, plastic etc is so hot
that it has turned into liquid [adj only before noun]
Molten iron is poured into huge moulds and allowed to cooL I
The volcano erupted and a river of molten rock flowed down
the hillside.
2 words for describing hot foods or drinks
hot
piping hot
scalding/scalding hot
hot/hot II ho:t/[adj]
What I need is a nice hot cup of coffee. I The soup's very hot.
Let it cool down a bit. I We were given sandwiches for lunch
and a hot meal every evening.
piping hot/,palpirj 'hot* II -'ho:t*! food that is piping
hot has just been cooked and is very hot, especially in a
way that makes it seem good to eat [adj phrase]
Heat the fish under a grill and serve piping hot. I She handed
him a piping hot bread roll and a steaming cup of coffee.
scalding/scalding hot /'ska:ldtj, ,ska:ldtj 'hot* II
-'ho:t*/ a liquid, especially a drink, that is scalding or
scalding hot is so hot that it hurts your mouth if you try
to drink it and hurts you if you touch it [adj usually before
noun]
She took one mouthful of scalding hot coffee and spat it out. I
Don't put the baby in the bath yet - the water's scalding!

HOT 635 HOT
3 words for describing objects, liquids, foods
etc that are warm, but not really hot
warm
lukewarm
tepid
warm lwa:rml radii
She washed her face with warm water. I The sea was still
pleasantly warm and we swam for hours. I keep sth warm
(=make it stay warm) He put his wife's dinner in the oven
to keep it warm.
lukewarm /,lu:k'wa:rm-/liquids or food that are luke-
warm are slightly warm and especially not as warm or cold
as they should be [adj]
By the time I had finished talking on the phone my food was
lukewarm. I The water in the shower is barely lukewarm. I
The waiter handed me a glass of lukewarm beer. I The
instructions on the label said handwash in lukewarm water.
tepid/'tepid! liquid that is tepid is only slightly warm,
especially in a way that seems unpleasant [adj]
The soup was disgusting, greasy, tepid and watery. I He
soaked a handkerchief in some tepid water and wiped her
forehead.
4 words for describing clothes that make you
feel warm and comfortable when it is cold
warm
warm lw:rml [adj]
These gloves are lovely and warm. I My mother's knitted me
a nice warm sweater. I Make sure you bringplenty of warm
clothing.
words for describing hot weather, places etc
hot sweltering
boiling/boiling hot like an oven
baking/baking hot the heat
broiling heatwave
hot/hDt II hint/[adj]
The weather's been very hot lately. I The Gobi desert is one
of the hottest places on earth. I it's hot It's hot today isn't
it! l It was much too hot in his office to do any work. I It was
a beautiful hot summer's day.
boiling/boiling hot /'bodrj, ib31111"J
informal words meaning very hot radii
It was a boiling hot day in August. I it's boiling/boiling
hot Leave the door open, it's boiling in here. I The weather
here is great. It's been boiling hot all the time since we
arrived.
baking/baking hot /'bexkq, ,bekIq
weather that is baking or baking hot is very hot and dry
[adj]
The weather was baking hot and conditions at the camp
became unbearable. I it's baking/baking hot It's baking
in here - I need a drink.
broiling/'brdq/an American word meaning very hot
and uncomfortable [adj usually before noun]
the incredible broiling heat of a Mississippi summer I Even
in the broiling sun the old man always wore his grey suit.
sweltering ! sweltgr/weather that is sweltering is
very hot and makes you feel wet and uncomfortable [adj]
It was the hottest day of the year, absolutely sweltering. I The
soldiers marched on in the sweltering heat.
like an oven ! ,lak an AVgn/a room that is like an oven
is extremely hot and uncomfortable [adj phrase]
The heat of the day made the gymnasium feel like an oven.
it's like an oven It's like an oven in here. Let's open some
windows.
the heat /6a 'hi:t/ high temperatures caused by hot
weather, especially weather that makes you feel uncom-
fortable and want to escape to a colder place In singular]
She went to live in the mountains because she didn't like the
heat. I Vincent's going to India for the first time and he's
worried about the heat. I the heat of the day He lay in his
tent, dozing lazily in the heat of the day.
heatwave / 'hi:twew! a period of unusually hot weather
[nC]
There was a heatwave during the first part of July. I A long
summer heatwave had turned the river into a weak trickle
of water.
6 words for describing weather or places that
are warm, but not really hot
warm
the warmth
balmy
warm /wa:rm/ warm, especially in a way that seems
pleasant [adj]
It was a beautiful warm, sunny day, perfect for a trip to the
beach. I I would have given anything for a nice warm bed
and a hot shower. I This tree grows best in warm climates
and is not suited to the English winter. I it's warm It's lovely
and warm in here by the coal fire.
the warmth/6a wa:rm0/the pleasantly warm tempera-
ture in a particular place or of the sun In singular]
Kathleen did not want to leave the warmth of her bed. I I
longed to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin again.
balmy/bo:mi II ba:mi, 'ba:lmi/balmy day/night/air
etc (=when the air feels pleasantly warm and there is a
gentle wind blowing) [adj]
It was a balmy summer's evening and Lennie was sitting on
his porch playing his guitar. 1A balmy breeze swept over us
from the ocean.
7 words for describing weather or places that
are uncomfortably hot and where there is
very little air
stifling/stifling hot
muggy/humid
oppressive
stifling/stifling hot/'staffirj, ,stafhrj
a room that is stifling or stifling hot is very hot and is
difficult to breathe in [adj]
The room was stifling hot, and full of flies. I We sat inside
the hut, but it grew so stifling in there that we came out
again. I the stifling heat Helen sat uncomfortably in the
stifling heat of the railway carriage.
muggy/humid / mAgi, hju:md/weather that is muggy
or humid makes you feel uncomfortable because the air
feels wet, warm and heavy [adj]
In June the weather was often muggy in the evenings and
it was difficult to get to sleep. [ The climate stays hot and
humid all summer long. [ it's muggy/humid It's been
really muggy the last few days, so we haven't done much.
oppressive/ presv/weather or heat that is oppressive
is very hot and unpleasant, especially because it feels as
if there is not enough air to breathe [adj]
As the sun climbed higher in the sky the heat grew gradu-
ally more oppressive. I it's oppressive "'It's too hot isn't it?"
"'Yes - it's really oppressive."
8 feeling hot
hot
warm
boiling
hot/hot II ho:t/feeling hot, in a way that is unpleasant and
uncomfortable [adj not before noun]
I was hot and tired at the end of the day. I Can I take my coat
off- I'm starting to feel rather hot.
warm/wa: rm/feeling warm when it is cold outside, espe-
cially in a way that feels pleasant and comfortable [adj not
before noun]
I feel lovely and warm in this sweater. I make yourself
warm Come over to the fire and make yourself warm! I

HOT 636 HOT TASTE
warm as toast (=very warm and comfortable) It was freez-
ing outside but in the ski lodge they were as warm as toast.[
keep warm (=make yourself stay warm) We had to keep
moving in order to keep warm.
boiling/'bodS/an informal expression meaning to feel
very hot and uncomfortable [adj not before noun]
"Tm going for a swim, "said Gary, "Tin boiling. "" [ You must
be boiling in that overcoat - take it off.
The room began to warm up. [ It usually takes a long time
for the sea to warm up. [ It's quite cold outside at the moment,
but it should warm up later.
everheat/,uv r'hi:t/if an engine or a machine over-
heats it becomes too hot and cannot work properly [v I]
The engine started overheating and steam poured out of the
front of the car. [ The cooling system broke down, the nuclear
reactor overheated and the plant had to be evacuated.
9 hot because you are ill
have a temperature
feverish
have a temperature/heev  tempamtsr/to have a
higher than normal temperature because you are ill [v
phrase not in progressive]
She has a slight temperature and she keeps coughing all the
time. ] He seems very hot. I think he's got a temperature.
feverish Ifi:varSl feeling very hot and often red-faced
because you have a fever [adj not usually before noun]
Hannah looked weak and feverish and we decided to call the
doctor. [ He said he felt feverish and complained of pains in
his chest.
1 0 words meaning how hot something is
temperature
heat
temperature/tempartr/a measure of how hot or how
cold something is [n C]
Temperatures in the south of the country reached 30 degrees
centigrade. I The temperature of the water was just right for
swimming. [ high temperature (=one which is very hot)
Steel is produced at very high temperatures. [ low temper-
ature (=one that is cold) Professional film is stored at a low
temperature to prevent it from deteriorating. [ a tempera-
ture of 90/150 degrees ere The gas freezes at a tempera-
ture of 180°C. [ at room temperature (=at the normal tem-
perature in a room and not needing to be refrigerated or
heated) The wine can be served at room temperature. [ at a
constant temperature (=one that stays the same) The
greenhouse is kept at a constant temperature of 40°C. [ take
sb's temperature (=measure their temperature) You feel
very hot - I'll just take your temperature. [ the temperature
rises/goes up The temperature of the world's oceans has
risen by more than 2 degrees in the past hundred years. [ the
temperature fails/goes down The temperature is expected
to go down below freezing during the night.
heat/hi:t/a measure of how hot something is, used espe-
cially when you can control this, for example on an elec-
tric fire [n C usually singular]
When the oven reaches the correct heat, the light goes off. [
At this heat all the poisonous chemicals are changed into safe
compounds. [ turn up/turn down the heat (=adjust it so
that it becomes hotter or less hot) She turned down the heat
on the electric fire.
to become hot or hotter
get hot/warm/
hotter/warmer
warm up
overheat
heat up
get hotlwarmlhotterlwarmer I,get hDt, 'wo:rm,
'htr, 'wo:rmr II-'ha:t-/[vphrase]
If the lawnmower gets hot turn it off. I As the summer got
hotter, the streams began to run more slowly. I The rocks get
warmer in the sun and the lizards come out to lie on them. I
it gets hot (=the weather gets hot) It got hotter and hotter
throughout the day.
heat up/,hi:t 'Ap/to become hotter, especially gradually
as a resldt of being heated by something else [phr v I]
The stones heated up in the sun. I As the gas heats up it
expands. I While the oven is heating up, prepare the sauce.
warm up /wo:rm apl if something such as a place
warms up, it gradually becomes warmer after being cold,
especially so that it reaches a more comfortable tempera-
ture [phr v I]
12 to make something hot or hotter
heat heat sth through
heat sth up/ warm/warm up
warm sth up take the chill off
warm sth over
heat/hi:t/to make something hot by using a machine or
fire [v T]
She heated the water in a small pan. I Wax melts quickly
when it is heated. I It costs a lot to heat these offices.
heat sth up/warm sth up/ihi:t (sth) i^p, i wo:rm (sth)
'^Pl to heat food so that it can be eaten, especially food that
was cooked earlier and has become cold [phr v T]
I heated up yesterday's chicken pie and had it for lunch
today. [ Do you want some soup? It'll only take a few minutes
to heat it up.
warm sth over /,wo:rm (sth) ouvor/ an American
expression meaning to heat food that was cooked earlier
again because it has become cold [phr v T]
"'My steak's cold. '" "'Do you want me to warm it over for you?"
heat sth through /hi:t (sth) '0ru:/ to heat food
thoroughly so that it is completely cooked [phr v T]
Add the chopped onion to the mixture and heat it through. [
Make sure you heat that stew through before you eat it.
warm/warm up/wo:m, wo:rm '^p/if something such
as the sun or a fire warms a place or warms it up it makes
it warm [v T]
I put the heater on to warm the bedroom. [ The sun'll warm
up the water in the lake.
take the chill off/te;k 6 'td Df/an informal expres-
sion meaning to heat something slightly so that it does not
feel very cold any more [v phrase]
Put the heater on for long enough to take the chill off the
room. ] Don't boil the milk, just heat it enough to take the
chill off.
13 to make someone who is cold warmer
warm sb up
warm yourself
warm sb up/,wo:rm (sb) '^P/[phr v T]
Drink some of this coffee - it'll warm you up. [ I tried to warm
her up by covering her in a blanket.
warm yourself/'wo:rm jo:rself/to make yourself feel
warmer, for example by standing near a fire or heater [v
phrase]
Jim came into the living room to warm himself by the fire. [
warm your hands/feet ere Iput my feet near the radiator
to warm them.
HOT TASTE
words for describing food that contains hot
peppers and has a hot or burning taste
not having a hot taste
1 words for describing food that has a hot taste
hot piquant
strong fiery
spicy
hot/ht II ho:t/[adj]
Bring me the hottest curry on the menu. [ The sauce had a

HOT TASTE 63"/ HUNGRY/STARVING
hot, peppery taste. I I accidentally bit into something hot -
I think it was a chilli.
strong ]stm ]] str-.] a word meaning hot used especially
when saying that one dish is hotter than another dish that
is also hot [adj]
Which curry is stronger - madras or vindaloo?
spi©Ґ/' spasi! having a variety of hot, pleasant tastes [adj]
Tina loves hot spicy food. I I added ginger and cumin to give
the rice a spicy flavour.
spiciness In U[ The food of Alsace is renowned for its
spiciness.
piquant/' pi:knt/having a pleasant hot sharp taste [adj]
The sauce can be either mellow or piquant, depending on
how much spice you put in it. I Cinnamon gives stewed fruit
a piquant flavour.
|leaf 1' faiari/food or drink that is fiery has an extremely
hot taste that burns your throat [adj]
Peter always makes really fiery chilli con carne. I He gave
me a fiery cocktail of whiskey and rum. I Discard all the chilli
seeds, unless you want an extremely fiery soup.
2 not having a hot taste
mild ..
mild/maIld/[adj] "
Szechuan food is much too strong for me - I prefer something
milder. [ Your food is nice, but very mild compared to what
we're used to in Senegal.
hotbed: be a hotbed of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 12
hotheaded CARELESS 5
hound FOLLOW 3
hourly/daily/weekly/monthly etc REGULAR 1
hours/months/years etc LONG TIME 1
house HOME 2, 9
house: be as safe as houses SAFE 3
house: be on the house FREE/COST NOTHING 1
house: move house LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 2
house: set up home/house LIVE SOMEWHERE 4
house guest STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 3
household name FAMOUS 8
householder OWN 5
houseproud TIDY 3
housing HOME 3
hovel DIRTY 3
hover/hover around STAY/NOT LEAVE 3
how WAY/MANNER 1, WAY/METHOD 6
how about/what about SUGGEST 3
how big SIZE 1, 2
how do I get to WAY/ROUTE 6
how do you do HELLO 3
how far DISTANCE 1
how heavy WEIGH 1
how long TIME/HOW LONG 3
how many AMOUNT 2
how many days/weeks etc TIME/HOW LONG 3
how many times OFTEN 5
how much AMOUNT 1, COST 2
how often OFTEN 5
how old AGE 1
how tall TALL PERSON 2
how thick THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL 3
how to do sth WAY/METHOD 2
how to get WAY/ROUTE 1
how wide WIDE 2
however BUT 1, 3, 4, NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH
ETC 1
howl with laughter: roar/howl/shriek with laughter
LAUGH 5
hubbub LOUD/NOISY 7
huddle GROUP OF PEOPLE 12
hue COLOUR/COLOR 1
huff: be in a huff BAD-TEMPERED 2
huff: in a huff ANGRY 3
hug HOLD 6, NEAR 10
huge BIG 5
huge/enormous BIG 2, 8, 9
hugely: enormously/hugely VERY 2
hulking/hulking great TALL PERSON 1
hullo HELLO 1
hum SING 2, SOUND 14
human PERSON/PEOPLE 6
human being/human PERSON/PEOPLE 1
human race PERSON/PEOPLE 4
human rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
humane CRUEL 7
humanity PERSON/PEOPLE 4
humankind: mankind/humankind PERSON/PEOPLE 4
humble CLASS IN SOCIETY 4, MODEST 1
humdrum BORING 2
humid WET 5
humiliate ASHAMED 4
humiliated ASHAMED 1
humiliating ASHAMED 4
humiliation ASHAMED 3
humility MODEST 3
humorous FUNNY 1
humour/humor FUNNY 5
humour: have no sense of humour SERIOUS PERSON 2
humourless/humorless SERIOUS PERSON 2
hunch GUESS 5
hundreds of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
hundreds/thousands of times OFTEN 1
hunger HUNGRY/STARVING 3, HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 2
hunger strike: go on hunger strike EAT 11
hungry HUNGRY/STARVING 1, HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 1
hungry: not be hungry HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 4
h gry
un .o
..................... .-=-- °  --:,- - T }
' a t t -at , ..... :::.,. , ., -HUNGRY/WAN .
a .  ::.. ,e &-- 4  , ..
HUNGRY/
STARVING
suffering from not having enough food to eat
suffering from the effects of not getting
enough good food to eat for a long time
the state of not having enough food, resulting
in illness, suffering, or death
1 suffering from not having enough food to eat
starving underfed
starve not get enough to eat
hungry go without food
half-starved
starving I 'sta:rvl [adj]
The people in Ethiopia are starving and they need all the food
and medical supplies we can give them. [ They have worked
all year, raising money for the starving millions in the Third
World. [ an army of starving men driven to violence by
despair[ the starving (=people who are starving) The
homeless and the starving, refugees of the war, were flock-
ing to the cities.
stal Isto:rv/to suffer so much from not having enough
food to eat that you become ill or die Iv I[

HUNGRY/STARVING 638 HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT
The prisoners were taken out into the desert and left to
starve. I I have my family - a wife, a son. I can't let them
starve. I starve to death (=starve and die) Unless these
people get food in the next two weeks they will starve to death.
hungry ! h^rjgri! needing food, and not having enough
food to eat [adj]
My children are hungry, I need a job. I Hungry people care
little about political slogans. I go hungry (=not get food to
eat) If the crops fail again this year thousands of people will
go hungry.
half.starved/[ha:f sta:rvd II ,haf-/thin and ill-looking
because you do not have enough to eat [adj]
Poor thing! He looks halfistarved.I The dog was finally
returned to its owners, half-starved and dirty, with part of
its ear torn off.
underfed /Andrfed/ people or animals who are
underfed are not being given enough food to eat [adj]
The servants were overworked and underfed. [ As he lost
interest in the farm the hedges were neglected, the animals
underfed.
not get enough to eat/nvt get  nAftO i:t/to be suffer-
ing some health problems because you are not being given
enough food Iv phrase]
The refugees in the camps are not getting enough to eat, and
the living conditions are terrible. I Your baby doesn't get
enough to eat. That is why he is always crying.
go without food /,gu w6aot 'fu:d/to not get any food
to eat, or to get less food than usual for a period of time and
suffer because of this Iv phrase]
Some of the children had been without food for three days. I
I felt hollow and ill, as though I'd gone too long without
food. I In some parts of the world the poor are going without
food so that the rich can live in luxury.
2 suffering from the effects of not getting
enough good food to eat for a long time
undernourished
malnourished
undernourished /iAndorinArift II -'n3:-, -'hA-/
unhealthy, weak and not fully grown, because you have not
had enough food over a long period of time [adj]
The fact that the slum children were undernourished did not
surprise the new doctor. I Most of the members of this isolated
hill tribe were dreadfully undernourished, with little
resistance to disease.
malnourished /mal'nArft II -n3:-, -n^-/ unhealthy
and thin because you have not had the right kinds of food
over a long period of time [adj]
During the 1930s a large proportion of Britain's urban popu-
lation was malnourished. I The people in this area are dread-
fully malnourished, existing only on a diet of roots and very
small quantities of rice.
3 the state of not having enough food, resulting
in illness, suffering, or death
hunger malnutrition
starvation famine
hunger/'hArJgr/In U]
Our organisation is fighting the battle against hunger in the
Third World. I The slum-dwellers suffer from poverty,
hunger, and disease. I Weak with hunger, she staggered up
to the cabin door.
starvation Isto:r'vean/suffering or death caused by not
having enough food to eat In U]
The boy was not ill but collapsing from starvation and weak-
ness. 1 30 million people die of starvation each year. I A global
fall in the price of rice spread hardship and even starvation
to many parts of Indochina. I The survivors were close to star-
vation when they were rescued.
malnutrition/meelnju'tr;fan II -no-/poor health caused
by not eating enough food or by not eating enough of the
right kinds of food In U]
The number of children dying of malnutrition has doubled
in ten years. I A survey of US households found evidence of
malnutrition in those persons with the lowest incomes. I
Many of the workers on the plantation suffered from mal-
nutrition.
famine /  femn/a situation in which a large number of
people in a country or area are very hungry and many die
because the crops of rice, wheat etc have failed In C/U]
Millions of people in Africa continue to die because of war
and famine. ] If the rains did not come there was famine and
there was always disease. ] She looks terribly thin, like a
famine victim.
HUNGRY/
WANT TO EAT
1 hungry
2 a feeling of being hungry
3 to become hungry, for example by working or
taking exercise
4 not hungry
1 hungry
 hungry starving/ravenous/famished
peckish I could eat a horse
have the munchies
hungry / hArJgri/feeling that you want to eat [adj]
We were really hungry after our long walk. [ Are you getting
hungry? Do you want me to make you a sandwich? [ He
wolfed down his supper like a hungry schoolboy.
peckish/pek/an informal British word meaning a
little hungry [adj not before noun]
a bit peckish (=slightly peckish) I'm feeling a bitpeckish,
actually. What's in the fridge? [ peckish The kids were get-
ting peckish so Sammy found a nearby cafe.
starving/ravenous/famished /sta:rvil:}, revns,
'feemt/ informal words meaning very hungry [adj not
before noun]
I've been driving for eight hours non-stop and I am abso-
lutely starving. I Can we talk about this after dinner, please?
I'm famished. I You must be ravenous.
I could eat a horse/a kod i:t  ha:rs/you say I could
eat a horse when you are telling someone that you are
extremely hungry
That swim has really given me an appetite. I could eat a
horse. ] I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!
have the munchies/heev 6 mAntfiz/ an informal
American expression meaning to feel a little hungry and
want something to eat Iv phrase not in progressive]
If you get the munchies later on there are some cookies in the
kitchen.
2 a feeling of being hungry
hunger
appetite
hunger / hArJgr/ [n U]
Freddie felt restless with hunger. I Most women on diets have
to live with a constant feeling of hunger. I stave offhunger
(=stop yourself from feeling hungry) Chris eats biscuits
during the afternoon to stave off his hunger until dinner
time.
appetite/, aptaq the normal desire to eat that you have
when you are not ill or upset or have not just eaten a lot
In C/U]
How's his appetite? Is he getting enough to eat? I good/
healthy appetite (=desire to eat a lot) She's certainly got
a good appetite. Shefinished off three bowls of rice in about
10 minutes. [ spoil/ruin your appetite (=make you not
want to eat a meal) Don't eat those cakes now. You'll spoil
your appetite.

HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 639 HURRY
3 to become hungry, for example by working or
taking exercise
work up an appetite
give sb an appetite
work up an appetite I iw3:rk ^p n leeptalt/to make
yourself hungry, either by physical exercise, hard work
etc, or by waiting a long time before eating Iv phrase]
After a long day walking across the hills they had worked
up quite an appetite. I We had plenty of time to choose our
meal and work up an appetite before the waiter came to take
our orders.
give sb an appetite/giv (sb) n 'eepta;t/if work, exer-
cise, etc gives you an appetite it makes you feel hungry
Iv phrase not in passive]
Spending all day in the fresh air had given them all an appe-
tite. I All this digging has given me an appetite - shall we
go in and have lunch?
4 not hungry
not be hungry
lose your appetite
be off your food
not be hungry/not bi: 'hA]gri/ Iv phrase]
"'How about something to eat? .... No thanks, I'm not
hungry. "1 We offered her some sandwiches but she said she
wasn't hungry.
lose your appetite/,lu:z jo:r  aptat/to no longer want
to eat anything, especially because you are upset or ill or
thinking about something else Iv phrase]
Jane's not feeling too well and has lost her appetite. [ I shifted
the food around my plate, suddenly losing my appetite as he
told me the bad news. I I've lost my appetite. It was you tell-
ing me about your operation that did it.
be off your food/bi: fjo: r fu:d/to not feel hungry,
especially because you are ill Iv phrase]
He's been off his food for the last few days, doctor. [ go off
your food (=start to not feel hungry) At least he's not gone
off his food - that's a good sign.
hunk PIECE 3
hunky BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 2
hunt LOOK FOR 1, 3, 7
hunt down CATCH 1
hunting LOOK FOR 2
hurdle PROBLEM 2
hurl THROW 3
hurl abuse at INSULT 1
hurly burly BUSY PLACE 2
hurried HURRY 4
hurriedly HURRY 1
hurry HURRY 1, 6
hurry: be in a hurry HURRY 3
hurry: be in no hurry HURRY 8, SLOW 5
hurry: in a hurry/in a rush HURRY 1
hurry: there's no hurry/no rush HURRY 7
hurry: what's the hurry?/what's the rush?
hurry through/rush through HURRY 1
hurry sb up HURRY 6
hurry up HURRY 2
HURRY 7
@ HURRY
1 to do something or go somewhere more
quickly than usual
2 ways of telling someone to hurry or saying
that you must hurry
3 to be in a situation in which you must hurry
4 words for describing something that you do
quickly because you are hurrying
5 a situation or time which is full of hurried
activity
6 to make someone hurry
7 what you say to someone to tell them that
they do not have to hurry
8 not hurrying, especially because there is
plenty of time
1 to do something or go somewhere more
quickly than usual
hurry hurry through/rush through
rush hurriedly
dash in a hurry/in a rush
in haste
hurry/hAri II 'ha:ri/ to do something or go somewhere
more quickly than usual, for example because you are late
or because you must finish something by a particular time
Iv I/T]
Please hurry, this is an emergency. I We have plenty of time,
there's no need to hurry. I hurry into/across/after/away
etc The photographer got out of his car and hurried across
the road. I Elizabeth disappeared into the crowd and Donald
had to hurry after her. I hurry to do sth In the kitchen Paul
was hurrying to get the dinner ready before six o'clock. I
hurry sth Brewing beer is a long process and should not
be hurried.
rush/rAS/to do something or go somewhere very quickly,
often too quickly to do it carefully or properly Iv I/T]
Try to do your work calmly and carefully, without rushing. I
Don't rush. t You'll spoil it. I rush out/around/into/out of
etc Everyone rushed out into the street to see what was hap-
pening. I We rushed around trying to get all the information
we needed before the end of the week. I rush sth (British)/f
you rush your meals you'll get indigestion.
dash/deeS/to go somewhere, especially because there is
something urgent that you have to do Iv I]
dash around/out/into/across etc They dashed across the
road in order to get to the bank before it closed. I He just
dashed into the office and then dashed out again without
speaking to anyone. I She just had time to shout goodbye
before dashing off to the airport to catch her plane.
hurry through/rush through /hAri 0m:, rAf-II
h:ri-/to hurry in order to finish something in time Iv T]
I had to rush through my work to get here on time. ] She hur-
ried through her breakfast with her eye on the clock. I The
mayor just had time to hurry through the ceremony before
rushing off to his next engagement.
hurriedly /hArdli II hs:r-/ if you do something hur-
riedly, you do it very quickly because you do not have
much time [adv]
He dressed hurriedly, realizing he must get out of the place
as quickly as possible. I The official hurriedly glanced
through my papers and stamped my passport. I She hur-
riedly explained that she was on her way to the hospital.
in a hurry/in a rush/;n  IhAri, In a IrAf [[ -ha:ri/if you
do something in a hurry or in a rush, you do it too quickly
because you do not have much time, usually with the result
that you make mistakes [adv phrase]
We decided everything in a hurry without thinking about the
details. I They must have left in a hurry. They didn't even
turn the television off. I I'm afraid the report's been written
in a bit of a rush because we only got the information
yesterday.
in haste/;n hest/an expression used especially in liter-
ature: if you do something in haste, you do it too quickly
and without taking enough care [adv phrase]
She had married in haste and regretted it ever since. I in
your haste to do sth (=because you want to do something
very quickly) In his haste to leave, he almost forgot to say
goodbye to his host.
[ "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

HURRY 640 HURRY
2 ways of telling someone to hurry or saying
that you must hurry
hurry up get cracking
come on step on it
get a move on jump to it
hurry up/,h^ri ' ^p II h3:ri-/[phr v I not in progressive or
past]
Hurry up or we'll be late for school. I We'll have to hurry up
if we want to finish all the decorating today. I hurry up and
do sth I wish you'd hurry up and eat your dinner!
come on / kAm  )n/you say come on to someone when
you want them to hurry, especially when you are annoyed
with them for being too slow
Come on, you two, we're going to be late. I Oh come on! We
don't have all day!
get a move on/get  'mu:v t)n/an informal expression
meaning to start to do something or go somewhere more
quickly than before Iv phrase not in progressive or past]
Come on Sally, get a move on! I We'd better get a move on.
The job's supposed to be finished this afternoon.
get cracking/get kreek;/an informal British expres-
sion meaning to start working quickly Iv phrase]
Get cracking you people! I want the whole house cleaned by
four o'clock. I get cracking doing sth When Alf arrives
we'll get cracking moving the furniture. I get cracking with
sth It's time you got cracking with your homework.
step on It/' step )n t/an informal expression: you tell
someone who is driving a vehicle to step on it when you
want them to hurry Iv phrase]
Step on it. We have a plane to catch. I You'll have to step on
it if you're going to be there by eleven thirty.
jump to it / 'ds^mp tu ;t/you tell someone to jump to it
when you are impatiently ordering them to hurry up and
start working Iv phrase]
I need to have that job done before lunch. Come on, jump to it!
to be in a situation in which you must hurry
be in a hurry
be pushed/pressed for time
work against the clock
a race against time
be In a hurry/bi: in 3 'hAri II -'h3:ri/ [V phrase]
I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry. I can't stop now. I Some people
always seem to be in a hurry. I be in a hurry to do sth
Would you like to stay for a coffee, or are you in a hurry to
leave?
be pushed/pressed for time/bi: ,PSt, ,prest fr 'tam/
to be in a situation when you must hurry because you do
not have enough time for what you have to do Iv phrase]
I don't want to seem rude but I'm very pressed for time. Could
I call you back later? I I can't stop right now, I'm a little
pushed for time.
work against the clock /,w3:rk genst b 'klDk II
-'klo:k/to work as quickly as you can because you only
have a short time to finish something Iv phrase]
work against the clock to do sth We really had to work
against the clock to finish the report on time. I work against
the clock In advertising you're always working against the
clock, trying to meet deadlines.
a race against time/a ,reds genst tam/a situation
in which you have to work extremely quickly, especially
in order to do something very important, because there is
not much time to do what has to be done In phrase]
I'll try to finish the designs by Friday but it's going to be a
race against time. I It was a race against time to get her to
the hospital before her heart stopped.
4 words for describing something that you do
quickly because you are hurrying
hurried feverish
rushed frantic
hasty a rush job
•
hurried/'hArid I1 ha:rid/done very quickly because you
are in a hurry [adj usually before noun]
After a hurried breakfast, I rushed off to get the subway. I
They made a hurried search for the missing letters but they
couldn't find them. I They went on climbing. Their pace was
steady and never hurried.
rushed /rASt/ something that is rushed is done very
quickly, often too quickly to do it carefully or properly [adj]
It was a very rushed meeting. The chairman had another
appointment. I They gave me just 10 minutes to pack my bags
- it was all rather rushed.
hasty / he;sti/done very quickly and without much care
or attention, because you have very little time [adj usually
before noun]
He only had time for a hasty glance at the papers. I "'I have
to go now, "" said Alex, bidding them a hasty goodbye.
hastily [adv] The seminar had been hastily put together at
the last minute. I a hastily scribbled note
feverish /'fi:varIf[ feverish activity/preparations/
haste etc (=when people are hurrying to finish something,
in an excited way) [adj only before noun]
The show was about to begin and behind the stage there were
scenes of feverish activity. I Feverish preparations were being
made for the arrival of the President.
feverishly [adv] Feverishly, he set to work, and by the end
of the day he had composed the whole concerto.
frantic !'freentk/frantic activity/rush/search/scram-
ble (=when people are rushing around in a confused way,
especially because they are worried that they will not have
time to do something or get something) [adj]
Before the game there was a frantic rush to get the last few
remaining tickets. I The staff began a frantic search for the
missing snake. I The office was noisy and busy, a hive of
frantic activity.
frantically [ adv ] Mel was frantically trying to finish all his
work before the deadline.
a rush Job/3 rAf d3Db II -'d3o:b/an informal expression
meaning a piece of work that is done too quickly and there-
fore not as well as it should be done, especially because
there is not enough time In phrase]
We only got your message this morning, so it was rather a
rush job I'm afraid. [ I don't want a rush job. I want this
work done right.
5 a situation or time which is full of hurried
activity
rush
rush/r^J'/In singular]
I had forgotten my keys in the usual Monday morning rush. I
There was a furious rush to have everything ready for the
opening night. I People often retire to the country to get away
from the rush and madness of twentieth-century life.
6 to make someone hurry
hurry sb up chivvy sb along/
hurry chivy sb along
rush
hurry sb up/,h^ri (sb) '^p II ,ha:ri-/[phr v T]
They're taking a long time to finish the job. Can you try and
hurry them up a little? l danie has nearly finished her pack-
ing. I've just been hurrying her up.
hurry/'hAri ]] ha:ri/to make someone hurry, especially
in an unreasonable or impatient way Iv T]
I wishyou wouldn't hurry me. I'm being as quick as Ican. I
The children were trying to hurry her, but she told them to
be patient.
rush /r^/ to make someone do something much too
quickly, so that they do not have time to do it carefully or
properly Iv T ]
Don't rush me! You'll only make me get it wrong. ] I'm sorry
to rush you, but we don't have much time left.
chivvy sb along/chivy sb along/,tS:vi (sb) a'lorj II
-a =la:rj/an informal British expression meaning to try to
make someone do something more quickly, by continually
telling them to hurry [phr v T]

HURRY 61 HURT/CAUSE PAIN
They always get the job done quicker if you chivvy them
along. I I spent all morning helping Molly and chivying her
along.
7 what you say to someone to tell them that
they do not have to hurry
there's no hurry/no rush
take your time
what's the hurry?lwhat's the rush?
there's no hurry/no rush/6eorz ,noo 'h^ri, ,nao 'r^J" II
-'h:ri/
There's no hurry, you know. The train never leaves on time. I
You can hand in your report any time next week. There's no
rush.
take your time/,tek j:r tam/(used when you want
someone to do something more slowly and without hurry-
ing, especially so that they do it carefully and properly)
Take your time, think the matter over carefully, and then tell
me what you've decided. [ Don't worry about reversing. Just
take your time and don't panic.
what's the hurry?lwhat's the rush? / WDtS 60 'hAd,
wDts 6a rAf [[ -ha:ri/when someone is trying to do some-
thing quickly and you do not think they need to hurry
What's the hurry? The plane doesn't leave for another two
hours.
8 not hurrying, especially because there is
plenty of time
be in no hurry
unhurried
leisurely
be in no hurry Ibi: in ,nao 'hAri II -'ha:ri/to not be in a
hurry, because you have plenty of time Iv phrase]
I'm in no hurry. Ican wait. [ be in no hurry to do sth (=be
very slow to do something, perhaps too slow) Danny seemed
in no hurry to pay me the money he owed me.
unhurried /AnhArid [[-'ha:-/ done slowly and calmly
without hurrying [adj]
He swam gracefully, with easy, unhurried strokes. ] In spite
of all the panic, here was a nurse carrying out her duties in
a quiet, unhurried manner. I His conversation was unhur-
ried and controlled.
leisurely/leborli ]] li:-/a leisurely activity or way of
doing something is pleasantly slow, and done without hur-
rying [adj usually before noun]
She enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and had time to read the
newspaper. ] What about a leisurely stroll in the park after
lunch?
hurt DAMAGE 1, HURT/CAUSE PAIN 1, 2, :3,
INdURE 1, 2, UPSET 1, 3
hurt: be hurt INJURE4
hurt: get hurt INJURE 4
hurt: not hurt HURT/CAUSE PAIN 4
hurt sb's feelings UPSET 3
hurt
HURT/CAUSE
PAIN
1 to cause physical pain to someone
2 ways of saying that something such as an
action, movement, or illness causes you
physical pain
3 ways of saying that a part of your body hurts
4 to not cause physical pain
1 to cause physical pain to someone
hurt
inflict pain
hurt/ha:rt/[V T]
Ow! Stop that. You're hurting met I Put the stick down Terry.
You might hurt someone with it. I It wasn't my fault. I didn't
mean to hurt anyone. I I think the real reason he plays ice
hockey is that he enjoys hurting people!
inflict pain/infllkt 'peln] a formal expression meaning
to deliberately hurt someone Iv phrase]
We think it is wrong to inflict pain as a means of teaching
discipline. I inflict pain on Most drugs can be produced
quite successfully without inflicting pain on helpless
animals.
2 ways of saying that something such as an
action, movement, or illness causes you
physical pain
hurt sting
painful irritate
cause pain excruciating
hurt/hb:rt/ [V I/T]
I'm going to give you a quick injection; don "t worry, it won't
hurt at all. [ It hurts if you get smacked in the mouth, believe
me! [ hurt sb's eyes/feet etc He put on his sunglasses to
stop the sun from hurting his eyes. [ The stony ground hurts
my feet but I keep going. [ hurt like hell (=hurt a lo0 Does
that hurt? Ow! yes, it hurts like hell!
painful / Ipeinfal/something that is painful causes pain
[adj]
The child wriggled free and gave me a painful kick on the
ankle. [ Because of the blisters on her hand, Sharon found
writing very painful. [ "'Then the doctor put a needle in my
ears. "" "'Was that painful?"
painfully lady] The broken sandals were rubbing painfully
against his heels.
cause pain /ka:z pen/if something such as an illness
or medical problem causes pain it hurts Iv phrase]
Glaucoma can certainly cause pain in and around the eye,
but sometimes you can't feel it at all. [ With arthritis of the
wrists, very simple manual tasks cause intense pain. [ cause
sb pain It's hard to tell if your crying baby is just upset or
if something really is causing him pain.
sting/sti8/to cause a sudden, hot, sharp pain on your skin
for a short time Iv I/T]
Don picked up the antiseptic and the cloth. "Now this will
sting a bit, "" he said. [ sting sb The rain stung her face as
she leaned out of the train window. [ The rope whipped back
and hit my hand and, boy, did it sting!
irritate/' [rltelt/if a substance irritates a part of your
body, especiatly your eyes or your skin, it makes it become
sore Iv T]
The smoke irritated my eyes, which were red and streaming
with tears. [ Even if a beauty product irritates their skin,
nineteen percent of women carry on using it.
irritation/ ir tefan/In U] Stop using the cream immedi-
ately if it causes irritation.

HURT/CAUSE PAIN 642 hysterics
excruciating /ik'skru:fieitiIj/ an action, blow, pain,
experience etc that is excruciating is extremely painful
and makes you unable to move or do something [adj]
The pain moved to my elbow and it became excruciating to
even lift my arm. I Last year Igor stung by a Blue Spine-fish.
It was excruciating.t I The excruciating pain in his kidneys
made him gasp.
3
hurt
ways of saying that a part of your body hurts
hurt stiff
ache tender
painful be agony
sore sting
Iha:rt/Iv I]
Can't we stop for a while; we've been walking for hours and
my feet are hurting. I He had been in alight and his jaw hurt
badly and his head ached. I I was trying so hard to keep smil-
ing that my face hurt.
ache/eik/if your legs, back, head, or another part of your
body aches, you feel a continuous, but not very strong, pain
there Iv I]
Their hands were sore and their shoulders ached, but the
farmer made them carry on unloading the sacks of corn. I
I went to an aerobics class on Tuesday and I've been aching
ever since. I The noise and heat of the market made my head
ache.
painful /Ipemfal/ painful joint/swelling/wound/
bruise etc (=one that hurts as the result of an injury or ill-
ness) [adj]
Your knee is quite inflamed, Mr Johnson. Is it painful when
I touch it? I There was still a large, painful bruise where the
horse had kicked me. I Bruised ribs can be even more pain-
ful than broken ones.
sore/s:r/a part of your body that is sore is very sensi-
tive, hurts when you touch or use it, and is often red in
colour [adj]
His eyes looked red and sore, as though he had been rubbing
them. I Diane scrubbed her hands so hard, she made them
sore. I My feet were sore so I sat down by a tree and pulled
off my boots. I sore throat (=red, painful skin inside your
throat) Grandma always used to give us Syrup of Honey-
suckle when we had sore throats.
soreness In U] Soreness or redness around the mouth is
often an indication that someone has been glue-sniffing.
stiff /stif! stiff neck/back/joints etc (=painful and
difficult to move) [adj]
With arthritis, the joints often become painful, stiff and
inflamed. I HIS excuse for not wanting to paint the kitchen
ceiling was that it gave him a stiff neck. I feel stiff(=be stiff
in your whole body) Alan had had a restless night, and woke
up feeling stiff and exhausted.
tender/tendr/a part of the body that is tender is pain-
ful when it is touched [adj]
Ron's injured foot is healing quickly but it's still a little
tender and he can't walk on it. I A swollen, tender patch of
muscle showed where the hernia was.
be agony/bi: 'egni/an informal expression: if some-
thing that you do or something that someone does to you
is agony it hurts a lot Iv phrase]
It was agony having my tooth removed - the dentist definitely
didn't give me enough anaesthetic. I Climbing all those stairs
with all those suitcases was absolute bloody agony.
sting/su/if your eyes, skin, or a wound sting, they hurt
with a sharp, sudden, hot pain, usually for a short time Iv I]
Putting ointment on a wound may make it sting at first. I
My eyes were stinging from the smoke.
stinging [adj only before noun] He filled the sink with water
and splashed it into his stinging eyes.
not hurt/not 'ha:rq Iv I]
R's great. They give you an injection and then it doesn't hurt
at all. I This won't hurt. Just sit still and I'll remove the dress-
ing. I Stop making such a fuss. That didn't hurt and you
know it.
painless /Ipeinlos/an operation, experience or process
that is painless does not hurt at all [adj]
Harold died last night but, fortunately, it was a quick and
painless death. I The smear test for cervical cancer is simple
and painless. I Although a few of the women we interviewed
had quick and relatively painless births, most found it an
extremely painful experience.
not feel a thing/nvt fi:l  Oij/an informal expression
meaning to not feel any pain at all Iv phrase not in
progressive]
The injection was no problem - I didn't feel a thing. I Slaugh-
tering farm animals is done very humanely. They don't feel
a thing.
husband MARRY 13
hush QUIET 2, 6
hush-hush SECRET 2
hushed QUIET 3
husky ROUGH VOICE 1
hustle PUSH 3
hustle and bustle BUSY PLACE 2
hygiene CLEAN 3
hygienic CLEAN 2
hype ADVERTISE 2
hype up ADVERTISE 1
hyperactive ENERGETIC 1
hypochondriac ILL 3
hypocrite PRETEND 7
hypocritical PRETEND 7
hypothesis IDEA 7
hypothetical REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 4
hysteria EXCITED 9
hysterical EXCITED 4
hysterics: have hysterics LAUGH 6
hysterics: have sb in fits/stitches/hysterics
LAUGH 7'
to not cause physical pain
not hurt
painless
not feel a thing
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

ice 63 IDEA
I
ice: put sth on ice/on the back burner STOP DOING
STH 3
ice-cold COLD 9
idea IDEA 1, 7, PURPOSE 1, THINK STH/HAVE A
THOUGHT 2
idea: bright idea IDEA 2, INTELLIGENT 9
idea: form a picture/an idea IMAGINE 1
idea: get an idea IDEA 3
idea: get the idea THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 1
idea: give sb an idea IDEA 4
idea: good idea IDEA 2
idea: have an idea IDEA 3
idea: have no idea NOT KNOW 1, 7
idea: it's a good idea SHOULD/OUGHT TO 2
idea: not have the faintest idea/slightest idea/least
' idea NOT KNOW 1
idea: not know/not realize/have no idea NOT KNOW 3
IDEA
a plan, suggestion, or explanation that you
think of
1 a plan or suggestion, especially one that you
think of suddenly
2 a good, helpful, or clever idea
3 to think of an idea
4 ways of saying that something makes
someone think of an idea
5 good at thinking of new ideas
6 words for describing a method, plan, piece of
work etc that contains interesting or new
ideas
7 an idea or set of ideas that is intended to
explain something about life or the world
1 a plan or suggestion, especially one that you
think of suddenly
idea
thought
idea/aI'diol [n C]
Here's an idea: how about going to Rome tomorrow? I Just
jot down your ideas then tell the rest of the group. I it was
sb's idea (=they thought of the idea) It was the director's
idea that the actors should look like robots. I idea to do sth
It was Jim "s idea to go by train. I idea that Molly's idea that
we should all dress up for the party wasn't very well-received.
thought IOa:tl a plan or suggestion that you have in your
mind, or that you think should be considered In C]
That's an interesting thought. Let's discuss it.I have a
thought I had a thought: perhaps I should speak to your
father instead of you doing it. I thought on (=about) If you
have any thoughts on the matter, let me know.
 a good, helpful, or clever idea
good idea inspiration
bright idea stroke of genius
brainwave/brainstorm
good idea/god adm/[n C]
A trip to the seaside? That's a good idea/I At last I had a
good idea. What was the point of working for Danny when
I could be working for myself/I "'A very good idea "" said Miss
Burns, with approval. I I was feeling horribly tired, and bed
seemed a good idea.
bright idea I brait ai 'dia / a very good idea that you think
of suddenly In C]
Why not ask Sylvia? She's always full of bright ideas. [
bright idea of doing sth Then someone came up with the
bright idea of using a lighter metal, to make the car faster.
brainwave (British) I brainstorm (American) I brein-
weiv, 'breInsta:rm/informal words meaning a sudden, very
clever idea In C]
Listen, I've had a brainwave, I know what we can do. t [ So
you saw the truck sitting there and you had a sudden brain-
wave, didn't you?
inspiration/l[nsp reifan/a sudden clever idea about
what to do or say, that seems to come to you from nowhere
In C/U]
Then I had a sudden inspiration. "'Has the guard ever seen
you before?"l asked. [ inspiration comes to sb (=they have
sudden inspiration) Inspiration came to him as he was writ-
ing out the formula for the second time. [ in a flash of inspi-
ration (=as the result of sudden inspiration) Hammond,
in a flash of inspiration, asked about the men he had seen
the night before.
stroke of genius /,strook ov d3i:nios! an informal
expression meaning a very good idea about what to do or
how to deal with a problem In phrase]
Turning the factory into a museum was a stroke of genius.
It was an instant success. I It was a stroke of genius by the
company to appoint Brian as head of research - he's revital-
ized the whole department.
to think of an idea
have an idea
get an idea
think of
come to
hit on/upon
be inspired by
have an idea/ihev on ai dIo/[v phrase]
Listen, Francesca, I've just had an idea. Why don't you come
with me? l That's the best idea you've had all day. I have the
idea of Tariq had the idea of hiding Ahmed's shoes.
get an idea I ,get on aI 'dial an expression meaning to
think of an idea, used especiatly when you are saying what
made you think of it [v phrase]
I got the idea from a book I was reading about the history
of the village. I Where on earth did you get that idea? I get
the idea for She got the idea for the hostel when she was
hiking around Europe.
think of/OIijk ov II -a:vl to have an idea about what to
do, how to do something etc Iv T not in progressive]
We must think of a way out of this. I Roman civil engineers
could think of solutions to every problem. I I can't think of
anybody who we could ask to take on this job.
©ome to !'kAm tu:l if an idea comes to someone, they
have the idea suddenly and without trying hard to think
of it [v T]
I just couldn't think what to do next, but then it came to me.tl
The idea for the new advertising campaign came to me while
I was in Thailand. I come to sb in a flash (=come very sud-
denly) It came to Blake in a flash that the man was really
a detective.
hit on/upon /'hit Dn, opon [I-a:n, opa:nl an informal
expression meaning to have a good idea after thinking
about or working on a problem for a long time Iv T not in
progressive]
At last we hit upon a way of getting Tom and Marcia to
meet.I I'm sure there's something we can do, if only we can
hit on the right thing. I In the Second World War, designers
of radar hit upon a solution which they called "sendCeceive"
radar.
be inspired by/bi: InspaIord bail if someone's plan,
work of art, action etc is inspired by something, that is
what gave them the idea to do it Iv phrase]
The novel is obviously inspired by her experience of Christ-
ianity in her own childhood. I These designs are inspired by
the colours of Italian peasant pottery. I The 1911 strike was
inspired by the revolutionary ideas flooding out of Europe
at that time.

IDEA 644 identify
4 ways of saying that something makes
someone think of an idea
give sb an idea
inspire
inspiration
give sb an idea/,gIv (sb) on ai'do/iv phrase]
That gives me an idea. Why don't we go bowling on Satur-
day? I give sb the idea of doing sth I saw a television
programme once about Antarctica, which gave me the idea
of going there. [ give sb the idea for The hotel where Easton
was living gave him the idea for his most recent novel.
inspire/in*spaiar! to give someone the idea to do some-
thing very good, especially something artistic such as a
painting, a picture or writing a book iv T]
inspire sb to do sth The journey inspired him to write a
short story. I inspire sth The brooches she makes are
inspired by the shapes of sea creatures. [ The American revo-
lution helped to inspire the first successful slave revolt in the
Caribbean.
inspiration I  nspo reij'an/a person, their behaviour or
their work that gives you the idea to do something, espe-
cially something great or important in C/U]
Most of the inspiration for my writing has come from my
father. [ Elvis Presley was an inspiration to many rock musi-
cians. [ I hadn't a clue what to say and looked towards my
friend for inspiration.
5 good at thinking of new ideas
inventive be full of ideas
creative imaginative
inventive / inventiv/very good at thinking of new things,
especially new ways of doing things [adj]
Goulding was a most sensitive and inventive director. [ The
Hayward Gallery is having an exhibition of work by
Leonardo da Vinci, the most inventive of Renaissance men.
inventiveness in U] Roland is much admired for his inven-
tiveness, particularly in the use of comedy.
creative /krileltlV/ good at thinking of new ideas or
making new things, especially works of art [adj]
She's always had a very creative streak and excelled at sub-
jects such as Art and English Literature. [ Students used to
be allowed to develop their creative as well as their academic
abilities. [ The competition for a design for the new cathedral
has attracted some very creative and imaginative entries.
creatively [adv] He uses language very creatively.
creativity/kri:eiItlvti/ in U] Her latest work displays
tremendous skill and creativity.
be full of ideas/bi: fol av a diz/an informal expres-
sion meaning to have lots of new ideas and to want to tell
people all about them iv phrase]
Ron was full of ideas and seemed very enthusiastic about the
project. [ I don't understand it. She's usually so bright and
full of clever ideas. [ be full of ideas about They have got
a new student teacher in their class, full of new ideas about
things for them to do.
imaginative /immd3lnatv/ good at thinking of new
ideas that are different from and better than the ones that
most people would think of [adj]
Barbara is a talented and imaginative teacher. I Dr Ran-
ganathan was one of the most brilliant and imaginative
figures the profession has seen I If you find that the normal
method isn't working you'll just have to be a bit more
imaginative
6 words for describing a method, plan, piece of
work etc that contains interesting or new
ideas
inventive
imaginative
inventive/inlventiv/an inventive way of doing some-
thing, plan, piece of work etc contains interesting new
ideas and is very different from other ways of doing some-
thing, plans etc [adj]
The photographs use an inventive range of materials and
techniques. [ The company has become famous for its
rigorous and inventive designs.
inventively [adv] courageously and inventively executed
imaginative /mmdsInatlV/ imaginative plan/
method/decision/design etc (=containing interesting
new ideas used in clever ways that most people would not
have thought of) [adj]
The World Bank has put forward an imaginative plan
which may enable some Third World countries to cut their
debt repayments. I The film puts the available material
together in new and imaginative combinations.
imaginatively [adv] an imaginatively designed modern
kitchen
7 an idea or set of ideas that is intended to
explain something about life or the world
theory notion
hypothesis concept
idea
theory IOIaril in C/U]
Darwin's theory of evolution was very important to the
development of modern thought. [ This theory helps to
explain how animals communicate with each other. [ in
theory (=according to a theory) In theory, life could exist
in other galaxies. [ put a theory into practice (=to do
something or behave according to a theory) Putting into
practice those theories about involvement and participation
is not as easy as it sounds.
theoretical /  OIa retkal/[adj] Ihave theoretical knowledge
(=I know about the theory) of such computers, but I have
never worked with one.
theoretically [adv] Theoretically (=according to a theory),
decisions involving costs are taken by the boss, but in prac-
tice they often fall to me.
hypothesis/hapOIss [[-pa:-I (plural hypotheses)
a formal word meaning an idea which is based on very few
facts and which you cannot be sure is right in C]
The scientist has now proved that his hypothesis is correct. [
She is hoping to confirm a hypothesis about human
behaviour. [ Various hypotheses are possible regarding the
nature and structure of the world.
idea/a da/a way of explaining something about life,
society, etc in C]
idea that The idea that all people are created equal is not
a new one. [ Politicians seem to have the idea that all unem-
ployed people are just lazy. [ idea of Ideas of how society
should function have changed dramatically in the last 200
years. [ idea an influx of new, exciting ideas
notion /nauSan/a way of explaining something about life,
society, etc, that people often think is a little stupid or old-
fashioned in C]
notion that His theory is based on the notion that all
students come from wealthy, middle-class backgrounds. [
notion of an outdated notion of a woman's place [ notion
The idea that aliens might be watching us is a very strange
notion.
concept/knsept [[ ko:n-/someone's idea of how some-
thing is, or should be, done in C]
She thinks that marriage is an old fashioned concept. [ con-
cept of Is the concept of blasphemy relevant in today's soci-
ety? I the concept of infinity
ideal PERFECT 3, 7
ideal world: in an ideal world PERFECT 8
idealist BELIEVE 17
idealize PERFECT 9
idealized PERFECT 7
ideally PERFECT 8
ideally suited SUITABLE 2
ideas OPINION 1
identical SAME 2
identify FIND OUT 5, NAME OF A PERSON 9,
RECOGNIZE 1

identify with
 identify with LIKE/SIMILAR 8
 identity CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 2, NAME OF A
 PERSON 1
 idiom WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 1
 idiot STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 3, STUPID/NOT
 SENSIBLE 7
i!ii! idiot: any fool/any idiot EVERYONE 2
..-!i idiotic STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 5
; idle LAZY 1, NOT DO STH 7, USE STH 9
 idol ADMIRE 3
 idolize ADMIRE 2
, idyllic HAPPY 7
 if IF 1, 2
.j if I were you ADVISE 2
: if it had not been for IF 7
.i
 if it were not for IF 7
 if not IF 3
ways of saying what will happen if something
else happens
ways of saying that something will happen,
but only if something else happens first
ways of saying what will happen if something
else does not happen
ways of saying that something will happen, as
long as something else does not happen to
prevent it
ways of saying what you will do in order to
deal with something that might happen
ways of saying that something must be true
because if it is not, something else that is very
unlikely is true
ways of saying that the situation would now
be different if something had not happened
ways of considering what the result will be if a
particular thing happens
1 ways of saying what will happen if something
else happens
if in the event of
should in case of
had in that case
even if
if Ifl [conjunction]
I'll hit you if you do that again. I Do you think I'd be here
if I had a choice? l I know I look tired. So would you if you
had this house, a husband, and three children to look after. I
if you like/want I have a drill. If you like, you can borrow
it. I if so (=if this is true) I believe you sell video cameras.
If so, please would you send me a price list? I if necessary/
possible etc (=if it is necessary etc) We're prepared to work
all through the night if necessary. I if taken/used/needed
etc If taken in small doses, the drug has no harmful effects.
should /rod; strong od/ should it rain/should you
change your mind etc (=if it rains etc: used when it may
rain etc but it is not likely to) [modal verb]
We've planned everything very carefully, but should there be
any problems, contact me immediately. [ Should you ever find
yourself in Oxford, I'm sure Uncle Eric would be glad to see
you.
had/heed/had I known/had they arrived etc (=if I had
known etc: used when you did not know etc) [modal verb]
Had I known earlier that you wanted to join the team, I'd
have put your name on the list. I Had UN forces not inter-
vened, a full-scale war might have erupted.
even if/'i:vn if/(used especially when something will
still happen ira situation changes or if there is a problem)
[conjunction]
645
IF
He's going to buy the farm even if they raise the price [ Even
if the government survives this crisis, they still face enormous
problems [ You should always exercise - even if it's only 10
minutes a day, at least it's something.
in the event of/n 6i vent av/(used especially in offi-
cial plans when preparing what to do ffthere is an accident,
problem or serious situation) [prep]
Britain agreed to support the US in the event of war. [ The
plan outlines emergency procedures in the event of a major
accident. [ in the unlikely event of (=if something
unlikely happens) In the unlikely event of a burglar enter-
ing the building the alarm system will be activated.
in case of ]n kes vJ (used especially in official notices
or instructions when telling people what to do ffsomething
unpleasant or unexpected happens) [prep]
In case of fire, press the alarm button. [ A will gives detailed
instructions to your family in case of your sudden death.
in that case/m Seet kels] (used especially when saying
what someone must do ffsomething happens) [advphrase]
Of course, the experiment may fail and in that case we shall
have to start again. [ in which case (=if that happens)
Sometimes the computer system breaks down, in which case
you'll have to work on paper.
ways of saying that something will happen,
but only if something else happens first
if
only if
on condition/
on condition that
if Ifl [conjunction]
as long as/so long as/
provided/providing
assuming/assuming that
I'll give you twenty pounds if you stop smoking. [ If she does
well in her exams, she will be going to college in October.
only if/toonli if/(used when something will happen if
something else happens first but will definitely not happen
if the first thing does not) [conjunction]
Yes, I'll iron your shirt for you, but only if you make me a
cup of tea. I Seat belts are effective only if they are correctly
adjusted.
on condition/on condition that/n kondin (6ot)/
(used when you agree to do something only if someone first
promises or agrees to do something else) [conjunction]
I'll lend you the money on condition you pay it back within
three weeks. [ General Motors agreed to supply trucks to the
Chinese government on condition that they altered their
pricing policy on cars.
as long as/so long as/provided (that)lproviding
(that)/oz 'lor3 oz, soo 'lor3 oz, pro'valdod (6at), pro'vmdr3
(600/(used when something will be possible or satisfactory
only if something else happens or is done) [conjunction]
You'll be quite safe as long as you follow my instructions. [
You can come and see the baby so long as you don't make
any noise. [ Provided we get support from the trade unions,
we should win the election. [ Of course we'll look after your
kids, providing you can drop them off at our house, that is.
assuming/assuming that /0'sju:mirj (60t)[I 0'su:-/
(used when something will happen or something is possi-
ble only if what you think may be true really is true)
[conjunction ]
Assuming that this painting really is a Van Gogh, how much
do you think it's worth? [ All we have to do is to explain the
problem to her, assuming, of course that she's prepared to
listen.
3 ways of saying what will happen if something
else does not happen
if not without
otherwise or/or else
failing that before
unless
if not/If 'nt/[conjunction/adv]
If you don't leave now, I'll call the police. I Try these gloves
on. If they're not the right size I'll take them back. I Your car

IF 646 IGNORE
should be ready by 12 o'clock, but if not I'll let you know. I
Are you providing a first class service? If not, why not?
etherwise ] ^arwaiz] (used especially when there will
be a bad result if someone does not do something or if some-
thing does not happen) [adv]
I'm glad you told me about the show being cancelled. Other-
wise I'd have travelled all the way to Glasgow for nothing. I
Stir the sauce until it cools, otherwise it will be lumpy.
failing that/fcfln3 Iet/(used when the first idea that
you mentioned is not possible) [adv phrase]
My mother wanted me to be a teacher or, failing that, a
nurse. I Dr Schwabe said he could find me a room either on
the campus, or, failing that in a house nearby.
unless/An lcs, an-/(used especially when something bad
or unpleasant will happen if something else does not
happen first, or if someone does not do something)
[conjunction]
Unless the weather improves, we will have to cancel the
game. I You won't pass your examinations unless you study
hard. I Milk quickly turns sour, unless it's refrigerated.
without /wi6aot II wI6aot, wOlaot/ (used when you
cannot do something if you do not do something else first)
[prep ]
No one can succeed in business without taking certain risks. [
How can you judge a book without reading it?
or/or else/:r, a:r els/(used when you are warning some-
one what will happen if they do not do what you are tell-
ing them to do) [conjunction]
Give me the money or I'll shoot you/[ Be careful or you'll
bump your head. [ Stop making so much noise or else the
neighbours will start complaining.
before/bi  fa:r! (used especially when something bad will
happen if you do not do something to stop it from happen-
ing) [conjunction]
Put that money somewhere safe before it gets stolen. [ That
dog ought to be destroyed before it attacks any more children.
4 ways of saying that something will happen, as
long as something else does not happen to
prevent it
unless
barring
unless/^n'les, an-/[conjunction]
Unless there's a sudden change in the weather, we shall set
off on our journey as planned. [ Mother will be looking after
the children, unless she changes her mind.
barring/bo:ri]/(used when something will happen or
continue in the way that you want, if something does not
happen to prevent it) [prep]
Barring unexpected delays, work on the tunnel should be
completed by the end of next month.
or else I:r els/[conjunction]
She must realize what's happening, or else she's a complete
idiot. [ It must be pay day, or else he's won the lottery/
7 ways of saying that the situation would now
be different if something had not happened
but for
if it had not been for
if it were not for
but for/Ib^t f:r/used when a situation would be differ-
ent if something was not happening now or had not hap-
pened in the past [prep]
We'd be at the top of the mountain now but for this awful
weather. [ I would have walked out of the job earlier but for
the fact that I desperately needed the money. [ Whole indus-
tries would have collapsed but for the massive injection of
public funds
if it had not been for/if It Ihed not bi:n fa:r/(used when
a situation would have been different if something had not
happened in the past)
If it hadn't been for the war, Larry would have stayed on the
farm. [ If it hadn't been for Christine, I would never have met
Michael.
if it were not for/if It twb: r not fr:/(used when you
would do something if a situation did not exist now)
He'd be playing in this afternoon's game if it wasn't for his
injury. [ If it weren't for the children, I'm sure she would leave
her husband.
8 ways of considering what the result will be if a
particular thing happens
supposing/suppose/say
what if
supposing/suppose/say /sa'paozlI], sapaoz, seq
[conjunction ]
Supposing things change and the industry becomes more
important. We might make a big profit. [ You don't expect
me to join the army, do you? Suppose I get killed? [ "'I'm not
a violent person. "" "No, but say someone attacked you. You'd
just stand there, would you?'"
what if/Iwot if/(used when asking someone what they
would do if something happened) [conjunction]
What if your plan doesn't work? [ I sat till lunchtime think-
ing, "'What if he doesn't come back?"
iffy UNCERTAIN 2
ignite BURN 3, 4
ignorance NOT KNOW 9
ignorant NOT KNOW 4, 9
ignore IGNORE 1, 2, 4
5 ways of saying what you will do in order to
deal with something that might happen
in case
in case/In keis/[conjunction]
You'd better take a sweater in case it gets cold. I In case you
were thinking I'd lend you any money, I'll tell you now - I
won'tWI just in case I'm sure they haven "t forgotten but let's
send them a reminder just in case.
6 ways of saying that something must be true
because if it is not, something else that is very
unlikely is true
unless
or else
unless/nnles, an-/[conjunction]
Unless he has an identical twin, that's Steve/[ No one picks
alight with Cassidy unless they're crazy. [ unless I'm very
much mistaken (=I am fairly sure I am right) That's Dr
Campbell's car outside the house, unless I'm very much
mistaken.
IGNORE
to ignore what someone says or does,
especially by pretending that it is not
important or does not affect you
to ignore advice, suggestions, rules, or facts
to ignore something bad that is happening,
even though you know it is wrong
to ignore someone by deliberately and rudely
pretending not to notice them
ways of saying that someone in a position of
power ignores people's rights or wishes
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

IGNORE 64? IGNORE
1 to ignore what someone says or does,
 specially by pretending that it is not
important or does not affect you
ignore don't mind me/
not pay any attention to/ her/them etc
pay no attention to shrug off
not take any notice of/ not want to know
take no notice of take sb for granted
ignore/tgna:r/to deliberately pay no attention to what
someone does or says, and pretend it is not important or
does not affect you Iv TI
She ignored my question and continued her story. [ Someone
made a rude noise, which the teacher decided to ignore. [ The
princess gracefully dealt with an embarrassing comment by
ignoring it. [ Ignoring the disapproving stares of the other
guests, Jeremy led his dog to a table in the hotel restaurant.
not pay any attention to/pay no attention to/not
pet l eni aten.fan tu:, I pei nao a tenj'an tu:/to ignore someone,
especially by not watching or listening to them Iv phrase]
We waved, but the soldiers paid no attention to us. [ More
than half the people questioned said they did not pay any
attention to political broadcasts. [ "'What's this injection
for?" he asked the nurse. She paid no attention, rolling up
his sleeve in silence.
not take any notice of/take no notice of/not telk
eni naots ov, tek nao naotIs ov/not to let someone affect
the way you behave or the way you feel [v phrase]
He never took any notice of the baby, even when it screamed. [
Famo us people shou ldn "t take any no tice of what people say
about them. [ Take no notice of him. He's just being silly.
don't mind me/her/them etc/,daunt maind (me, etc)!
an informal way of telling someone to ignore another per-
son's behaviour because it is not important or deliberate
Don't mind my sister. She's always rude to my friends. [ If
you two want to discuss your business, go ahead. Don't mind
me.
shrug off / J'rAg Iof [[ -a:f/to treat something as unim-
portant and not worry about it, especially something
unpleasant that has happened or has been said [phr v T]
shrug sth/it/them off If there was a problem, he just
shrugged it off. I shrug off sth She tried to shrug off his
remarks, but they had put her in a bad mood. I Peter had
always been able to shrug off his father's criticisms, but his
brother Paul found them more hurtful.
not want to know/not wont to Inao II -wo:nt-/an infor-
mal expression meaning to not be willing to listen to peo-
ple's problems, complaints, bad news etc because you do
not want to be worried by them [vphrase not in progressive ]
If you're going to start an argument with Alex I don't want
to know about it. I You'd think the government would be
concerned about people sleeping rough, but they just don't
want to know.
take sb for granted/telk (sb) fo r gro:ntId 11 -grmn-/
to expect that someone willalways be there when you need
them and never to show them any special attention or say
thank you Iv phrase]
Our relationship had become very boring and we had started
to take each other for granted. I They always took their
mother for granted so it came as quite a shock when they had
to start looking after themselves.
2 to ignore advice, suggestions, rules, or facts
ignore not listen to
disregard fall on deaf ears
not take any notice of/
take no notice of
ignore/tg'na:r/Iv T]
R was very foolish of you to ignore your mother's advice. I
Ignoring my warnings, he dived straight into the shallow
water. [ The disaster occurred simply because safety recom-
mendations had been ignored by airline officials. [ The Brit-
ish seem to ignore the fact that they are part of the European
community.
disregard /dIsrtgo:rd/ to ignore advice, warnings,
rules, or facts Iv T]
The police arrested a motorist who had repeatedly dis-
regarded their warnings. I The system will break down if
basic regulations are disregarded. I "I'm going to have to
instruct the jury to disregard that last statement, "sighed the
judge.
disregard [n singular] You have shown a total disregard
for the law (=have totally disregarded the law).
not take any notice of/take no notice of/not teik
eni naots ov, tek nao naots ov/not to let someone's
advice, suggestions, or orders influence your behaviour or
your decisions Iv phrase]
I keep telling those boys not to kick balls into ouryard, but
they don't take any notice. [ Smoking is, of course, forbidden
- but people don't take any notice. [ I suggested that it was
time to go home, but Ran took no notice and ordered more
beer.
not listen to/not tllsan tu:/to ignore someone's advice
when they talk to you Iv T not usually in passive]
You never listen to me. You just do whatever you want. ] R's
because you didn't listen to Roger that you are in this trou-
ble now. I not listen to reason (=not listen to sensible
advice) We all warned Susan not to marry that man, but she
wouldn't listen to reason.
fall on deaf ears / fo:l on def * tarz/if your request or
suggestion falls on deaf ears it is ignored by the people
who have the power to deal with it Iv phrase]
The workers" demand for a wage increase has fallen on deaf
ears. ] As rioting continued, Mayor Warren appealed for
calm, but his words fell on deaf ears.
3 to ignore something bad that is happening,
even though you know it is wrong
overlook shut your eyes to/close
let it pass your eyes to
turn a blind eye bury your head in the sand
overlook /taovarlok/ to ignore an offence or fault,
usually because it is unimportant [v T]
I'm sorry I behaved so badly. Will you overlook it this time
and forgive me? l Although this is a first offence it cannot
be overlooked. I Mrs Johnson tends to overlook any small
faults the girls may have.
let It pass / let It Ipo:s [[ -Ipms/to decide not to punish
or criticize someone for doing something wrong this time,
although you will do so next time Iv phrase]
I think they've broken the rules, but we'll let it pass. I Howard
had insulted her, but she thought it better to let it pass this
time.
turn a blind eye/tta:rn a tblaind Ira/ if someone in
authority turns a blind eye to illegal activity or bad
behaviour, they ignore it and pretend they do not know
about it Iv phrase]
If my sister did something wrong my mother always turned
a blind eye. I The guards turned a blind eye when the
prisoners stole food from the kitchen. I turn a blind eye to
sth The President could no longer turn a blind eye to the
indiscretions of his Chief of Staff.
shut your eyes to/close your eyes to/t fAt ja:r az
tu:, klaoz ja:r az tu:/to ignore something and pretend it
does not exist because it is unpleasant or difficult to deal
with Iv phrase]
The officials in charge of the Chernobyl power station had
shut their eyes to the danger. I Of course, it is tempting to criti-
cize other countries and close your eyes to all the problems
of your own society.
bury your head in the sand / ,berija: r 'hed in 6a ,stand!
to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will stop if
you try not to think about it Iv phrase]
You "ll never solve your problems if you just bury your head
in the sand - you have to face them.

IGNORE 648 ILL
4 to ignore someone by deliberately and rudely
pretending not to notice them
ignore snub
pretend not to notice/see cut sb dead
look right through shut out
ignore/ig'n:r/[v T]
The waiter totally ignored Glen and served a girl who had
come up beside him. I Now that she had lost all her wealth,
she was ignored by former friends. I I'm really sorry about
today, Cliff. I didn't mean to ignore you.
pretend not to notice/see/pri tend not ta nauts, si:/
[ v phrase ]
Henry waved but Martha pretended not to notice. I If people
think you're a beggar, they pretend not to see you.
look right through/lok raIt Oru:/to pretend not to
notice someone that you know, even though you are look-
ing directly at them Iv phrase]
I saw my old girlfriend yesterday, but when I smiled at her
she looked right through me. I He tipped his hat to dacques
who stared right through him as if he were made of glass.
snub/snAb/to ignore someone by refusing to recognize
them or speak to them, especially because you want to
show that you are angry with them or that you do not
respect them [v T]
I couldn't believe Simon had snubbed me at the party. I She
made up her mind to snub that stupid man at the next oppor-
tunity. I The senator was furious. "'How would you feel if
you'd been snubbed by the wife of your president?"
snub [n C] He saw me all right. It was a deliberate snub.
(=he deliberately snubbed me)
cut sb dead/kAt (sb) ded/to completely ignore some-
one when you see them, especially because you are angry
with them [v phrase]
I saw Josie today, she must still be angry with me because
she cut me dead. I We've had our differences but I was very
hurt when he cut me dead in the street.
shut out / ,SAt laot/to deliberately ignore someone and not
include them in what you are doing [phr v T]
shut sb/her/them ere out She had the awful feeling that
her own family were trying to shut her out. I shut out sb
Ever since her mother died she's been trying to shut out every-
one she knows.
 ways of saying that someone in a position of
power ignores people's rights or wishes
trample on/trample underfoot
ride roughshod over
trample on/trample underfoot /'trempl n,
,trmmpal ^nd;}r'fot II -o:n/if a government or person in a
position of power tramples on people's rights or wishes,
or tramples them underfoot, they harm them or ignore
their rights [v T]
trample sth underfoot The refugees want to emigrate to
a state where human rights are not trampled underfoot. I The
union will not stand by and watch the management trample
its employees" rights underfoot. ] trample on sth The regi-
ment has trampled on the wishes of the native people of the
island.
ride roughshod over/raid rAfSo Iaovo r II -So:d-/if
a person, group or organization rides roughshod over
something such as protests or proposals, they ignore them
because they are in a position of power which lets them do
so [v phrase]
Our people are not prepared to let this dictator ride rough-
shod over them. I The ministers have ridden roughshod over
our financial proposals.
 ill ILL 1
i11: be taken ill ILL 5
ill: fall ill ILL 5
 ill: feel ill ILL4
i ill: get/become ill ILL 5
ill: mentally ill MENTALLY ILL 1
ill-advised STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 3
ill-equipped: not be equipped/be ill-equipped CAN'T 1
ill-informed NOT KNOW 9
ill-mannered/bad-mannered RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
ill-matched WRONG/UNSUITABLE 6
ill-suited to/not suited to WRONG/UNSUITABLE 2
ill-timed: badly-timed/ill-timed TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME 5
ill-treatment: mistreatment/ill-treatment/maltreatment
CRUEL 
HOSPITAL
ILL
words meaning ill
slightly ill, but not seriously ill
words for describing someone who is often ill
to feel ill
to become ill
someone who is ill
1 words meaning ill
ill
sick
not be well/
be unwell
poorly
be in a bad way
infirm
look like death warmed up/
death warmed over
ill Ifl/a word used especially in British English meaning
suffering from poor health or not feeling well [adj not before
noun]
She claims she's never been ill in her life. [ You look ill. I'm
going to phone the doctor. [ seriously ill (=very ill) The
Chancellor, who had been seriously ill, died soon after-
wards.] mentally ill (=suffering from a mental illness)
Caring for the mentally ill can be a stimulating and reward-
ing job. [ lie ill (=be ill in bed) He was out drinking while
his wife lay ill in hospital. [ ill with a virus/measles ete
When she had been ill with bronchitis, her neighbours had
been to visit her every day.
illness [n U] Tuesday's game had to be cancelled because
of illness (=because some of the team were ill).
sick/slk/suffering from poor health or not feeling well
[adj]
You look pale - are you sick? I Your father is a very sick man

ILL 649 ILL
- he may only have a few more days to live. I sick with
worry/jaundice/a virus etc (=ill as a result of worry,
jaundice etc) The doctor told me I had jaundice. I was sick
for two whole weeks with it. I sick pay (=money paid to you
when you are sick and cannot work) Employees are entitled
to four weeks" sick pay a year. I be off work/in bed etc sick
Jim's not at work today - he's off sick.
sickness [n U] On average, companies lose twelve days per
employee per year as a result of sickness (=as a result of
people being sick).
not be well/be unwell/inot bi: Iwel, bi: An lwel/ an
expression meaning to be ill, used especially when you do
not know what illness someone has or when someone is not
seriously ill [v phrase]
Tell them that Miss Nettleton is unwell and will not be able
to attend the meeting. [ He had been unwell for some time but
refused to see a doctor. I If Tina's not well I hope she gets
better soon. I not be very well Sara's not very well - she
has a throat infection.
poorly / 'poorli/an informal word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning ill [adj not before noun]
If l pretend to be poorly I don't have to go to school. [ When
you're poorly, you don "t want to go out to pubs or parties. [
The hospital described Mr Mathew's condition as 'poorly'.
be in a bad way/bi: in  bmd 'Wel I an informal expres-
sion meaning to be very ill, especially as a result of a seri-
ous injury [v phrase]
You "d better get an ambulance for her, she's in a pretty bad
way. [ They're not saying how serious the attack was but
from what I can make out he's in a pretty bad way.
infirm / In I fb:rm/not healthy or strong, especially because
of old age [adj not before noun]
She lives with her grandmother who is elderly and infirm. [
the infirm (:people who are infirm) The 'Meals on Wheels"
service can deliver food to the old and infirm.
look like death warmed up (British) I death
warmed ober (American)/lok laik de0 wo:rmd tap, de0
wo:rmd oovor/ an informal expression meaning to look
very ill, especially when you are also tired [v phrase not
usually in progressive]
She didn't sleep a wink last night. She looks like death
warmed up. I Boy, you look like death warmed over this
morning!
 slightly ill, but not seriously ill
off colour not feel yourself/
under the weather not be yourself
run down
off ўolour /iof kAl0r'/ a British expression meaning
slightly ill [adj phrase]
He'd been a bit off colour for a few days but his heart attack
came as a complete surprise. ] If you drink as much as that
you should expect to feel off colour the following day.
under the weather /tAnda r 62 we6ar/ an informal
expression meaning slightly ill [adj phrase]
I heard you'd been under the weather. How are you now? I
I'm sorry we didn't come to your party, Jane was feeling a
little under the weather.
run down/,rAn 'daon-/feeling slightly ill and tired all
the time, for example because you have been working too
hard, worrying too much or not eating enough etc [adj
phrase]
You're run down -you need a vacation. ] I've had this cold
for weeks and I can't get rid of it - I must be a bit run down.
not feel yourself/not be yourself/not ,fi:l jo:r self,
not bi: j:rself/ an informal expression meaning to be
slightly ill, especially when this makes you tired or upset
[v phrase]
I won't be coming into work today, I'm not feeling myself. I
We had all noticed that Joy hadn't been herself for a while,
she seemed tired and listless.
3 words for describing someone who is often ill
sickly be prone to
delicate hypochondriac
be in poor health
sickly/'sIkli/a sickly child is often ill [adj]
She's a sickly child and is always having time off school. I
As a child he was small and sickly and was picked on by
other children.
delicate IIdellkq unhealthy and weak and likely to
become ill easily [adj]
Clare was stronger and more active than her brother who
had always been delicate and quiet. I Many Victorian women
were brought up to think that they were so delicate they
should avoid all forms of exercise.
be in poor health/hi: n po r IhelO/to be fairly ill all
the time or over a long period of time, especially if you have
several different health problems Iv phrase]
When he left Trinidad he was already over 60, frail, and in
poor health. I The charity aims to help prisoners who are
chronically sick, aged or in poor health.
be prone to/hi: praon tu:/to be likely to become ill or
to get a particular illness Iv phrase]
As a baby she had always been prone to allergies. I The dis-
ease had left her weak and prone to all kinds of infections.
hypochondriac I ihaipalkondrimk II-Iko:n-/ someone
who often thinks that they are ill when they are not and
worries too much about their health [n C]
Don't be such a hypochondriac - you only have a cold! [ If
you go to the doctor's complaining of stress people think
you're a hypochondriac!
4 to feel ill
feel ill
not feel well
feel rough
feel funny/peculiar
feel sick/feel sick to
your stomach
groggy
feel faint
feel ill/fi:l 'II I [vphrase]
"Do you feel ill, darling?" asked Rosie anxiously. [I was feel-
ing ill, so I went home.
net feel well/,not fi:l 'well to feel slightly ill [v phrase]
I'm not feeling well -can I go home? [ If you don't feel well
the best thing to do is to stay in bed. [ "Idon't feel very well, ""
said Jamie, suddenly going very pale.
feel rough /,fi:l Ir^f / an informal British expression
meaning to feel ill [v phrase]
I felt really rough this morning. I think I ate too much last
night. I Liz said she was feeling pretty rough yesterday - I
don't think she'll come to work today.
feel funnylpecuiiar/fi:l f^ni, p kju:lir! an informal
expression meaning to feel slightly ill, used especially
when you do not know what is wrong with you [v phrase]
I felt a bit funny, then the next thing I knew I was lying on
the floor - I must have fainted. I I feel all peculiar - I wonder
if it was that fruit I ate.
feel sick (British) I feel sick to your stomach
(American)/,fi:l 'slk, fi:l ,stk ta ja: r 'stAmk] to feel as if you
are going to bring food up from your stomach through your
mouth [v phrase]
We hadn't been in the car two minutes before David said he
felt sick. [ After the anaesthetic you may feel slightly sick to
your stomach.
groggy/Igrogi II gro:gi/an informal word meaning feel-
ing weak and confused as a result of illness or drugs [adj
not usually before noun]
You're likely to feel a little groggy for a while before the medi-
cine starts to work. [ Obviously still feeling groggy, he
answered the door in his dressing gown.
feel faint/fi:l feint/to feel very weak and as if you are
going to become unconscious [v phrase]
I feel a bit faint - can I sit down?[ If at any time you feel faint
or nauseous, stop taking the tablets.

ILL 650 ILLEGAL
 to become ill
get/become ill
fall ill
be taken ill
get/become ill/,get, b,khm 'I1 / [V phrase]
It's horrible when you get ill on holiday. I My father first
became ill with cancer when I was 12 and died a few months
later.
fall III / fo:l d/to become ill, especially with a long or seri-
ous illness Iv phrase]
She fell ill in 1980 and died of cancer two years later. I Who
would look after him if he fell ill?
be taken ill/bi: ,teikn 'ill to suddenly or unexpectedly
become ill [v phrase]
Her sister had been taken ill and rushed to hospital. [ The
baby was taken ill in the early hours of the morning. [ What
if you were taken ill - who would look after the kids?
6 someone who is ill
patient invalid
sufferer the sick
patient/'peifant/someone who is ill and is being looked
after by doctors, nurses etc in C]
The patients lined up outside the doctor's surgery. [ St
Dominic's Hospital treats about ten thousand patients a
year. [ Staff stressed the importance of patient cooperation
in rehabilitation programs.
sufferer ] IsAfarar/someone who has a particular illness
or who often has a particular illness in C]
AIDS/hay fever/asthma ete sufferer The health centre
runs a support group for AIDS sufferers. [ Summer can be
a nightmare for hay fever sufferers. [ sufferer from AIDS/
hay fever/asthma ete His father was a chronic sufferer
from asthma.
invalid /invali:d, -ld [[-ld! someone who is perma-
nently ill and needs to be looked after, especially if they
have to stay in bed in C]
Pregnant women do not want to be treated like invalids. [
You should be able to get some state benefits if you are an
invalid or are living on a pension. [ During the evacuation,
invalids had to be carried to the airport.
the sick 16 Isk] people who are ill and need to be helped,
treated etc in plural]
Some people risk their own health to help the sick. [ They
went over to the part of the camp reserved for the sick and
the wounded.
illegal FORBID 9, ILLEGAL 1
illegal substance DRUG 2
ILLEGAL
I illegal
2 an action that is illegal but not a serious crime
3 to do something that is illegal
1 illegal
illegal criminal
be against the law illicit
unlawful be against the rules
illegal/ili:gal! forbidden by law [adj]
The judge ruled that the strike was illegal. [ I'm happy to join
in the protest - but I don 't want to do anything illegal. [After
twenty-four weeks abortion becomes illegal. [ Scott was
arrested when he was found in possession of illegal drugs. [
Large numbers of illegal immigrants have been crossing the
border at night. [ it is illegal for sb to do sth It is illegal
for people under the age of eighteen to buy alcohol. [ make
sth illegal The hunting of rare animals should be made
illegal.
illegally [ adv ] The company was acting illegally by firing
workers and re-employing them on lower wages.
be against the law/bi: olgenst 6a I1:/something that
is against the law is not legal, especially because the law
says something should not be done, or should not be done
that way iv phrase]
You mustn "t drive a car without insurance - it's against the
law. [ Sex discrimination is against the law, and any com-
pany found guilty of it may suffer heavyfines. [ it is against
the law for sb to do sth It is against the law for children
to work before they are fifteen.
unlawful/Anla:fal/a legal or official word meaning ille-
gal, used especially of an activity that could be legal if the
situation in which it was done was different [adj usually
before noun]
A 2lyear-old man is accused of unlawful sex with a girl aged
15. [ The court decided that the miners" action did not consti-
tute unlawful behaviour. [ The inquest jury recorded a ver-
dict of unlawful killing.
unlawfully [adv] The farmers allege that their land was
unlawfully seized by agents acting for the government.
criminal /krlminal/ criminal activities/behaviour/
offence/negligence etc (=that can be severely punished
by law) [adj only before noun]
Cruelty to animals is now a criminal offence. I The Justice
Department is paying several hundred lawyers to investigate
criminal activities against the government. I This terrible
accident is entirely the result of criminal negligence.
illicit/ hslt/activities or goods that are illicit are ille-
gal and are usually kept secret [adj usually before noun]
Illicit diamond exports are said to be worth $200 million. I
The two men sell whisky that they make in an illicit still in
the cellar.
be against the rules/hi agenst 6a 'ru:lz/if a type of
behaviour or an activity is against the rules, it is not
allowed by the rules of an organization, sport etc [vphrase]
Children aren't allowed in the club hou.se after 7 o "clock. It's
against the rules. [ Smoking in the school building is against
the rules. [ You can't touch the ball with your hand because
it's against the rules.
an action that is illegal but not a serious crime
offence/offense violation
infringement breach
offence (British) I offense (American)/o'fens/an ille-
gal action for which you can be punished In C]
Travelling on the train without a ticket is a punishable
offence. [ it is an offence to do sth Did you know that in
this city it's an offence to drop litter on the streets. [ commit
an offence (=do something illegal) Mr Crossley went on
copying videos, completely unaware that he was committing
an offence. [ minor offence (=an offence that is not seri-
ous) Motorists can be fined on the spot for minor traffic
offences.
infringement/n  frnd3mant/an action that breaks a par-
ticular law in a way that is not very serious, especially a
law that protects someone's rights In C]
It would be an infringement of copyright to publish this arti-
cle. i an infringement of Article 86 of the Treaty of Rome
violation/valilelfan/an action that is not allowed by
an important law, especially one that has been agreed on
and accepted by several different countries, organizations,
or groups [n C/U]
Prisoners of war were forced to work -ajTagrant violation
of the Geneva convention. I in violation of The union paid
out thousands of dollars to assist the strikers, in clear viola-
tion of Section 15 of the Arbitration Act.
breach/bri:t/an action that breaks a law, rule or agree-
ment between people, groups or countries In C/U]
This is a clear breach of the 1984 Trade Agreement. I In future
the authorities will not tolerate any breaches of the regula-
tions. I An enquiry is to be held to determine whether there
was in fact a serious security breach. I in breach of If you
refuse to sign this deal you will be in breach of your contract.

ILLEGAL 651 ILLNESS/DISEASE
 to do something that is illegal
break the law break the rules
infringe transgress
contravene
break the law/,breik 6o 'b:/Iv phrase]
I was stopped by the police for not wearing a seat belt - I
didn't even realize I was breaking the law. t I We are deter-
mined to continue our protest even if we have to break the
law. I One fifth of sewage treatment plants break the law by
dumping highly toxic substances into our rivers.
infringe/nl frIndS/to break a particular law in a way that
is not very serious, especially one that protects someone's
right.s Iv T]
The commission ruled that the new arrangements for
widows'pensions infringed European law on equal pay and
treatment. I It's outrageous to suggest that union members
should be paid less. They should not allow their rights to be
infringed in this way.
contravene /Ikt)ntmvi:n [I ko:n-/ a legal or official
word: if something a company or government does contra-
venes a particular law, it breaks that law, especially unin-
tentionally Iv T]
The sale of milk from an unhealthy cow may contravene
public health regulations. I Any attempt to detain the ambas-
sador on criminal charges would contravene international
law.
contravention/ktntmvenSn II Iko:n-[ In C/U] British
companies had been importing meat products in contraven-
tion of EC regulations.
break the rules / brelk 60 'ru:lz/to do something that
is not allowed by the rules of an organization, sport etc Iv
phrase]
Any girl caught breaking the school rules was sent to the
Principal. I He deserves to be punished. He knew what the
rules were and he broke them. [ Most people in top jobs only
got there by breaking the rules.
transgress/traenz gres 11 traens-/a formal word meaning
to do something illegal or morally wrong according to soci-
ety Iv I/T]
You have transgressed and you must be made to pay for it. [
transgress a law/rule/code etc By transgressing the
accepted code, I had made an enemy of the community.
 illegible READ 12
 illicit FORBID 10, ILLEGAL 1
- illiterate READ 10
 illness ILLNESS/DISEASE 1
ILLNESS/DISEASE
words meaning an illness
a short period of suffering from an illness
1 words meaning an illness
illness aliment
disease disorder
complaint infection
condition bug
illness/' Ilns/a health problem that you are suffering
from which makes you feel ill In C/U]
She died yesterday after a long illness. [ suffer from an ill-
ness People are often too embarrassed to admit that they
have suffered from any form of mental illness. [ recover
from an illness 80% of patients now recover completely
from this illness and are able to lead perfectly normal lives. [
contract an illness (=get or begin to have an illness,
especially a serious one) Doctors believe he may have con-
tracted the illness while he was in Africa. [ I don't think her
illness is very serious - she just needs a few days in bed. [
minor illness (=one that is not serious) Minor illnesses
such as colds are usually best left to get better by themselves. I
terminal illness (=one which cannot be cured and causes
death) Should doctors always tell patients that they have
terminal illnesses such as cancer? I serious illness (=one
which makes you very ill but which will not kill you) You
are allowed time off work only in cases of serious illness or
bereavement.
disease/dI zi:z/ a specific illness that has a medical
name In C/U]
The most common symptoms of the disease are a high tem-
perature and spots all over the body. [ Thousands of people
in this area are dying from hunger and disease (=various
diseases), catch a disease (=get a disease, especially from
another person) Anyone can catch the disease - not just
homosexual men or drug addicts. [ suffer from a disease
(=have a disease) She suffers from a rare disease of the cen-
tral nervous system. [ infectious disease (=easily passed
from one person to another by breathing) Travellers to
India are advised to get vaccinated against infectious dis-
eases such as typhoid before they go. I contagious disease
(=easily passed from one person to another by touch) Child-
hood diseases such as measles and chickenpox are highly
contagious. I fatal disease (=one which causes death)
Malaria is still a common disease in West Africa and is often
fatal. I heart/lung/kidney etc disease Smoking is a
major cause of heart disease.
complaint/kom plent/an illness which affects a partic-
ular part of your body, especially one that is not very seri-
ous In CI
The cream is normally used for treating minor skin com-
plaints. I Hay fever is a common complaint in spring and
summer.
condition/konldISn/a problem which affects someone's
health permanently or over a very long period of time In C]
People with your condition should not smoke. I suffer from
a condition Diane suffers from a rare heart condition which
means she has to take drugs all the time.
ailment ! edmont/an illness that is not very serious, espe-
cially one that is very common such as a cold In C usually
plural]
The medicine was supposed to cure all kinds of ailments,
ranging from colds to back pains. I The most commonly
reported ailment among VDU operators is eye-strain.
disorder/d;sa:rdor/an illness which prevents part of
your body from working properly In C]
stomach/liver/skin etc disorder Minor stomach dis-
orders are common when travelling abroad. I Eventually
after weeks of tests they discovered I had a rare liver dis-
order. I disorder of the liver/stomach etc The hospital
specializes in treating disorders of the brain.
infection In'fekan/an illness which is caused by bac-
teria and which affects one part of your body such as your
throat, your ears, or your lungs, or which spreads over an
area of skin In C]
If you don't clean the wound properly you could get an infec-
tion. [ throat/ear/lung etc infection Roz was suffering
from a throat infection and could hardly talk.
bug /bAg/ an informal word meaning an illness which
people catch very easily from each other but which is not
very serious In C]
pick up a bug (=get a bug) I think I've picked up the bug
that's been going round the office. [ stomach/tummy bug
(=illness affecting the stomach) Gemima's been off school
with a tummy bug this week.
2 a short period of suffering from an illness
attack
a bout of
a touch of
attack/o'tek/sudden short period of suffering from an
illness, especially one which is serious and which you often
suffer from In C]
attack of One of my students suddenly had an attack of
asthma and I didn 't know what to do. I attack Malaria often
doesn't go away completely, and a patient may suffer from
repeated attacks over several years.

ILLNESS/DISEASE 652 IMAGINE
a bout of/o 'baot tv/a short period of suffering from an
illness, especially one that is not serious In phrase]
In recent months he had had several bouts of flu. I The patient
may experience bouts of nausea as a result of the treatment.
a touch of/o 't^tf tv/an informal expression meaning
a short period of suffering from an illness that is not seri-
ous In phrase]
It's nothing serious - just a touch of indigestion. I I feel like
I'm getting a touch of flu.
illogical LOGICAL 5
illuminate LIGHT 2
illusion BELIEVE 15, SEE 9
illustrate SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 2
illustration PICTURE 1
illustration: by way of illustration EXAMPLE 3
image APPEARANCE 2, REPUTATION 1
imaginary IMAGINE 4
imagination IMAGINE 5
imagination: by any/by no stretch of the imagination
IMPOSSIBLE 3
imaginative IDEA 5, 6
imagine IMAGINE 1, 3, THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
imagine: I can't think/imagine UNDERSTAND 13
IMAGINE
I to form a picture of something in your mind
:2 to imagine something that you would like to
do
;3 to imagine that you can see or hear
something that does not in fact exist
4 words for describing something which you
imagine but which does not actually exist
5 the ability to imagine things
1 to form a picture of something in your mind
imagine form a picture/an idea
visualize see
picture conceive of
imagine/ 'medson/to form or have a picture in your
mind of something, for example a person or place that you
do not know or a situation that you have not experienced
[v T not in progressive or passive]
imagine (that) For a while she imagined that she was a rich
woman, living in a beautiful house. I imagine what/who/
where etc From the description Janet gave in her letter it
was easy to imagine what her new apartment was like. I
imagine sth "'Imagine a castle, "" said my mother. "'A castle
in the mountains. "1 imagine sb doing sth He imagined
himself winning an Olympic final. I imagine doing sth
Chris imagined crossing a river full of crocodiles, and shi-
vered with fear. I imagine sb I can't imagine you in smart
clothes. I imagine sb as From her voice, I had imagined her
as young and pretty, but she wasn't.
visualize (also -ise British)/'v3uolaz / to form a very
clear picture of something or someone in your mind, espe-
cially in order to help you prepare to do something or help
you to remember something clearly Iv T not in progressive ]
visualize what/how I'm just trying to visualize how this
hat would look with my new dress. I visualize sb/sth As
Winston prepared his speech he visualized the admiring eyes
of his audience. I If he shut his eyes David could still visual-
ize Polly, even though he had not seen her for ten years.
picture / pktfor/to have a clear picture of something or
someone in your mind, especially because you are trying
to imagine what it is like to do something or what some-
one looks like Iv T not in progressive]
picture sth/sb as I had never met Graham but I pictured
him as a pale, thin young man wearing glasses. I I can still
picture my Uncle as I knew him, with his grey suit and curly
moustache. I picture doing sth When James had asked her
to go sailing with him, Lorna had pictured setting sail in a
luxury cruiser, not a small boat. I picture sth Can you pic-
ture it? Lying in the sun, sipping cocktails - it would be
paradise!
form a picture/an idea /if:rm o 'pIkto r, on ai dio/to
form a picture of something in your mind, using the infor-
mation you have about it Iv phrase]
You've talked about your children so much that I've formed
quite a good idea of what they are like. ] It is very difficult
to form a picture of life in the 6th Century because there is
a lack of historical evidence. I form some idea (=to form
a general idea) The architect's sketches will enable you to
form some idea of the layout of the new medical centre.
see lsi:/to have a clear picture of something in your mind
as you think of it, especially something pleasant or funny
Iv T not in progressive or in passive]
see sb doing sth Your holiday sounds like a disaster - I can
just see you and your mother struggling up mountains in the
pouring rain! I see sth I'm going to Corfu next week. I can
see it all now - sun, sand and sea! I see sth in your mind's
eye (=have a very clear picture of something) In my mind's
eye I saw clearly the pretty little cottage where we would live
together in our old age.
conceive of/konsi:v v ]l -a:v/if you can conceive of
a situation you can imagine it happening Iv T not in
progressive or in passive]
conceive ofsth Can you conceive of a situation in which the
United States would ever have to use its nuclear arsenal? I
not conceive of sb doing sth I really can't conceive ofyour
brother joining the army. I it is difficult/hard/impossi-
ble to conceive of It is difficult to conceive of a society in
which nobody has to work.
2 to imagine something that you would like to
do
fantasize dayd ream
fantasy dream
fantasize (also-ise British)/'fcntosaiz/to imagine some-
thing that you would like to do or that you would like to
happen, especially when it is very unlikely that you will
do it or that it will happen Iv I]
fantasize about doing sth I often fantasize about living
in a big house with tennis courts and a swimming pool. I
More than once, during the week's camping, Judith had fan-
tasized about relaxing in a hot bath. I fantasize There's
nothing wrong with fantasizing, as long as you don't lose
touch with reality.
fantasy / ' fentosi/something that you imagine, especially
something exciting and unusual that you would like to
happen but which is very unlikely to happen In C]
She still has the fantasy that one day she will win the
National Lottery. [ sexual fantasy I don't want to hear
about your sexual fantasies! [ live in a fantasy world (=to
always be having fantasies) My son seems to live in a fantasy
world sometimes.
daydream/'deidri:m/to spend a short time imagining
something pleasant, so that you forget where you are and
what you are doing, especially when you are bored Iv I]
daydream about/of Carol sat at her desk, daydreaming
about meeting Mel Gibson. I When Charles tapped me on the
shoulder I was daydreaming of golden beaches, palm trees
and summer romance. I daydream Mark had begun to
daydream, and didn't even hear the teacher's question.
dream/dri:m/to imagine something pleasant that you
would like to do or to happen, especially if it is possible that
it might happen Iv I]
dream of/about When I was at college I dreamed of becom-
ing a great novelist. I At last Francis could afford to buy the
computer he had dreamt about having for so long. I dream
"'Do you really think that you have a chance of winning?"
"'No, I suppose I'm just dreaming. '"
dreamer In C] Jo was a real dreamer who spent hours just
staring out of the window.

IMAGINE 653 IMITATE
to imagine that you can see or hear
something that does not in fact exist
imagine figment of your
be seeing things imagination
hallucinate be in the/your mind
imagine/i'med3on/[V T]
imagine (that) When I was a child I would lie awake
imagining that there were monsters in the dark corners of
my room. I Violet was always imagining that people were
talking about her behind her back. I imagine things/it
"7'm sure I saw Brian in the park today. '" "'No, you must be
imagining things, Brian hasn't lived here for nearly fifteen
years. "" l imagine doing sth Was it just a dream ? Had she
just imagined hearing his voice?
be seeing things/bi: Isi:Io O[oz/to imagine you can see
something that does not exist, so that you think that there
must be something wrong with your mind [v phrase]
"'Did that man just wave at me?" "'Of course not, you must
be seeing things. "" I I didn "t tell anyone about the strange light
in the sky - they would have said I was seeing things.
ha||u©inate ]h Ilu:sneit] to strongly believe that you can
see something that does not really exist, especially some-
thing strange or frightening, because you have been taking
drugs or because you are ill Iv I]
After two days without water in the desert, Voss began to hal-
lucinate. I Someone had put a pill in her drink and she was
hallucinating wildly.
figment of your imagination /tfIgmont v j:r
] t med3 I tnelJ'an/if someone says that something is a fig-
ment of your imagination, they mean that it does not
really exist and that you were imagining it in phrase]
I'm sure Maria hasn't been gossiping about you, it's all a
figment of your imagination.
be in the/your mind/bi: In 6, ja: r malnd/if something
is in the mind or in your mind, you are imagining it and
it does not really exist [v phrase]
I don't think Martin is really ill - it's all in the mind. ] You
didn't see anyone in the garden. It's just in your mind.
 words for describing something which you
imagine but which does not actually exist
imaginary
hallucination
vision
imaginary/i'medsonari II -neri! [adj]
He held up an imaginary gun and pretended to shoot me. I
When Linda was a child she had an imaginary friend called
Booboo. I Jim's fear that he will fail is purely imaginary.
hallucination/halu:s I o 'nelfan/something you see that
does not really exist, especially something strange or
frightening which you see because you are taking drugs
or are ill In C]
People on pain-Milers sometimes have hallucinations. I I
knew that what I had seen was a hallucination, but it was
so real and frightening.
v|sien / vGn! an image, especially of something pleasant
or beautiful, that comes into your mind and affects you
strongly In C]
The smiling figure of the saint appeared to her in a vision. I
He would be seeing Sarah tonight, and a vision of her face
suddenly came into his mind.
5 the ability to imagine things
imagination
imagination/[ ,med3o  'neiJ'n/[n U]
Reading develops a child's imagination at an early age. I I
don't have the photographs with me. You'll have to use your
imagination. I vivid imagination (=very strong imagina-
tion) Jack's vivid imagination made hi(n think of some very
frightening things. I fertile imaginati'o-"-n (=having a lot of
original ideas) Helen's stories showed she had a fertile
imagination.
imbalance EQUAL 11
imitate IMITATE 1, 6
IMITATE
to try to do the same thing as someone else
in exactly the same way as them
to copy someone's behaviour because you
admire them and want to be like them
to do the same thing as the rest of the people
in a group, because you are not confident
enough to make your own decisions
to do the same thing that someone else has
already done
someone whose skills or good qualities other
people admire and imitate
to copy the way someone talks, behaves, or
dresses, especially in order to make people
laugh
1 to try to do the same thing as someone else
in exactly the same way as them
copy follow suit
imitate do likewise
ape
copy/'kopi II ka:pi/to do the same thing as someone else,
especially in order to look like them or be like them Iv T]
Many women around the world have copied the way Prin-
cess Diana dresses. 1 Little kids learn a lot through copying
their parents and others. I Andrew was dancing with Kate
who was clumsily trying to copy him.
imitate/t imteit/to try to do the same thing as someone
else or look like someone else Iv T]
The little girl was imitating her big brother by trying to walk
like him. I In an attempt to imitate her older friends, Suzie
soon started smoking. I Women who had careers often used
to be accused of imitating men.
ape/elp/to imitate someone's behaviour, in a way that
other people think is stupid or childish Iv T]
He left the village and soon began aping the accent of the
people in the city. i She tried to dress elegantly, aping the style
of the fashion editor she worked for.
follow suit / foloo 'su:t I[ fa:-/to do what someone else
has just done because it seems the correct thing to do Iv
phrase]
Bob lifted his glass of wine, Francesca followed suit and they
clinked glasses. I They have just put up the price of gas and
other oil companies are expected to follow suit.
do likewise/Idu: lalkwatz/to do the same thing as some-
one else or something similar usually because they want
you to [v phrase]
My sister went into the family business and I was expected
to do likewise when I left school.
 to copy someone's behaviour because you
admire them and want to be like them
emulate
model yourself on
take a leaf out of sb's book
emulate/'emjo°lelt/a formal word meaning to imitate
someone else because you admire something that they
have done very much Iv T]
John began to emulate his Uncle and take a serious interest
in environmental issues. I We congratulate Jenny on winning
the National Writing Competition and hope that others in
the school will emulate her success.
model yourseif on/modl j3:rself on II mo:dl-/to imi-
tate someone's behaviour and character as closely as you
can because you want to be like them Iv phrase]

IMITATE 65 IMITATE
Many presidential candidates have modelled themselves on
John F Kennedy. I The junior Wimbledon champion said
that she tried to model herself on Martina Navratilova.
take a leaf out of sb's book / teik a ili:f aot av (sb's)
I bok/ an expression used especially in British English,
meaning to copy someone else's behaviour because they
do something that you think you should also do Iv phrase]
Why don't you take a leaf out of your father's book and start
your own business.
3 to do the same thing as the rest of the people
in a group, because you are not confident
enough to make your own decisions
follow/go with the crowd
sheep
follow/go with the crowd/,fobo, ,gao w6 6a 'kraod II
 fo:-/to do the same as the rest of a group of people because
you have not really thought about what you want or
because you do not want to disagree with what most people
think Iv phrase]
She is not a natural leader and always seems happy to follow
the crowd, I That experience taught me never to follow the
crowd blindly, but to consider carefully the route I wanted
to take.
sheep ]i:p] (plural sheep) an informal word meaning
someone who always does the same as the other people in
a group and never has any ideas of their own In C]
Although he disagreed with what they were doing he
preferred to be a sheep than be humiliated.
4 to do the same thing that someone else has
already done
follow sb's example
follow in sb's footsteps
follow sb's lead
jump on the bandwagon
follow sb's example I,folao (sb's) g'za:mpol II
(sb's) ig'zm-/ to imitate what someone else has done
because you think that their behaviour or actions were a
good idea Iv phrase]
Brian persuaded his brothers to follow his example and join
the navy. I I suggest you follow Jed's example and take some
regular exercise.
follow in sb's footsteps/,flao in (sb's) fotsteps
to do something that someone else has done before you,
especially someone in a more powerful position than you
Iv phrase]
Ben was always disappointed that Joey never followed in his
footsteps and took over the farm. I Charles's children will
follow in his footsteps and go to the same school as he did.
follow sb's lead/,folao (sb's) 'li:d II fo:-/to imitate
something that someone else is doing or has done, espe-
cially because you think they have made a good decision
Iv phrase]
We're hoping that Europe will follow the US's lead and ban
all use of these poisonous gases. I All the prominent union
delegates followed Mr Scargill's lead and voted against the
proposal.
jump on the bandwagon / d3Amp on 6a baendwegan/
to do the same as a lot of other people are doing because
you think there will be some advantage for you or because
it is fashionable Iv phrase]
When they realized there was money to be made from games
such as snooker, sportswear advertisers soon jumped on the
bandwagon. I Republicans have accused Democrats of jump-
ing on the "Green" bandwagon.
5 someone whose skills or good qualities other
people admire and imitate
example role model
set an example model
example/]g'zo:mpal II ig'zmm-/In C usually singular]
an example to As the eldest in the family, she was expected
to be an example to her younger brothers and sisters. I follow
sb's example (-do what the other person does) Watch care-
fully and follow my example. I hold sb up as a shining
example (=tell people that someone should be particularly
admired and imitated) Gabby was held up as a shining
example to the rest of the team.
set an example/set an Igza:mpal II -'zem-I if some-
one sets an example they behave correctly, work hard etc
because other people are expected to imitate them Iv
phrase]
set an example to sb Senior officers should be setting an
example to the men. I set a good example Now you are in
the final year at school we expect you to set a good example.
role model/'raol modl II -,ma:dll someone that you try
to imitate because they are successful and have good qual-
ities that you would also like to have In C]
He's a wonderfully kind man and an excellent role model for
the children. I The AIDS council hope to employ a positive
role model to speak on television about the dangers of AIDS.
model/'modl I] mo:dl/a system or way of doing some-
thing that is copied because it is successful In C]
Astronomy was developed first and became a model for all
other sciences. [ A planned economy patterned after the
Stalinist model would be disastrous in this country.
 to copy the way someone talks, behaves, or
dresses, especially in order to make people
laugh
imitate take sb off
impersonate do a take-off of/on
mimic do
do an impression
imitate/, imtet/ [v T]
Julie made us all laugh, imitating every move the teacher
made. I Jan could imitate her father to perfection.
impersonate/[m'pa:rsanet/to pretend to be someone
else by copying the way they talk, walk, dress etc, espe-
cially in order to make people think you are really the other
person Iv T]
"Zaza" turned out to be a man impersonating a woman. I
Impersonating his boss, Phillips called up the airline and
booked two tickets to Seattle.
impersonation/mp3:rsa'neiJ'an/[n C/U] She pulled back
her hair and did an impersonation of her mother.
mimic /  mmk] to unkindly copy the way someone talks
in order to make people laugh Iv I/T]
"'Hmm,'" Phil said. "'Hmm," Graham mimicked. I mimic
sb/sth Ray would mimic his sister's inability to pronounce
words: "'Do you mean a hephelant or an elephant?'"
do an impression /,du: an ;mpreJ'an/to copy the way
someone, especially someone famous, moves, talks etc, in
order to make people laugh Iv phrase]
I'll do an impression of someone famous and you guess who
it is.
take sb off/tek (sb) of II -a:f/a British expression
meaning to copy the way someone's moves, talks etc in
order to make people laugh [phr v T]
Much to Lyn's annoyance, Ian would cleverly take her latest
boyfriend off. I Simon takes the director off perfectly.
do a take.off of (also do a take.off on in American
English)/du: a te[k of ov, du: a 'tek of on/an informal
expression meaning to copy the way someone moves, talks
etc in order to make people laugh Iv phrase]
Karen can do a hilarious take-off of Bette Davis. [ That guy
on TV last night did a take-off on President Bush" "'read my
lips...'"
do /du:! do Prince Charles/Margaret Thatcher/
Michael Jackson, etc (=imitate that person in order to
make people laugh) Iv T not in passive]
My aunt does a brilliant Margaret Thatcher. I Go on, do
Charlie Chaplin for us - it's really funny.

imitation 655 IMMEDIATELY
imitation COPY 6
imitation/simulated ARTIFICIAL 2
immaculate CLFAN 1, TIDY 1
immaterial UNIMPORTANT 2
immature STUPID/NOT SFN$1BLF 2
immediate IMMFDIATFLY 3
immediately IfVlMFDIATFLY 1, 2
IMMEDIATELY
1 ways of saying that someone does
something, or should do something, quickly
and without delay
2 happening just after something else has
happened
3 words for describing something that happens
or must be done immediately
4 doing something immediately and without
taking time to think about it
1 ways of saying that someone does
something, or should do something, quickly
and without delay
immediately
at once
right away/straight away
this minute/right now
forthwith
without delay
lose no time
immediately /; ' mi:ditli/[adv ]
If your baby has a fever you should call the doctor immedi-
ately. I Philip was so angry that he immediately sat down
and wrote a letter to the editor of "The Times'. I When you
see the warning light, turn off the engine immediately.
at once/t 'w^ns/an expression meaning immediately,
used especially when ordering someone to do something
[adv phrase]
Charles, come out of there at once. I She wants to see you at
once. I When Dean heard we were in difficulties, he offered
to help at once.
right away (also straight away in British English)/trait
otweI, strelt otwei/ if you do something right away or
straight away, you do it without delay, especially because
it has to be done urgently lady phrase]
I'll come around right away with the files. I We'd better start
work right away. I If your house has been burgled, don't
touch anything. Contact the police straight away.
this minute/right now/,6;s Imlnxt, trait Inao/if some-
one such as a parent or employer orders you to do some-
thing this minute or right now they want you to do it
immediately lady phrase]
Katie, put that down this minute, or you'll go straight to bed. I
Back to work, this minute! D'you hear? J I want an explana-
tion for this dreadful behaviour, right now.
forthwith/fo:rOiwI6, -IwIO/a legal or official word mean-
ing immediately [adv]
All trade with these countries must cease forthwith. I If the
rent is not paid within 28 days, the tenancy will be terminated
forthwith.
without delay/wI6taot di tlei/immediately and without
wasting any time, especially because it is important that
something is done as soon as possible [adv phrase]
If you are bitten by a dog, you should contact a doctor without
delay. I I think you ought to get back home without delay.
lose no time/I lu:z noo talm/to do something immedi-
ately, as soon as you have the chance to do it [v phrase]
lose no time in doing sth Mr Blake was appointed as the
new manager and he lost no time in reorganizing the office. I
Once we had left the town, we lost no time in getting off the
main road and finding a quiet place for a picnic.
2 happening just after something else has
happened
immediately hardly had
as soon as/the moment (that) instantly
no sooner.o.than outright
immediately/, 'mi:diotli/[adv/conjunction]
We met at a friend's party, and immediately became friends. I
There was a loud explosion in the engine-room, and immedi-
ately fire broke out. I I'll call you immediately we hear any
news about the baby. I immediately after The patient's con-
dition started to improve almost immediately after the
operation.
as soon as/the moment (that)/z su:n z, 6 mo-
rnnt (t)/ immediately after something has happened
[conjunction]
As soon as he heard Mary's footsteps he left the room. I The
main pump begins to operate as soon as the engine starts. I
I will pay you back, Ipromise, the moment Iget paid. I He
says he'll phone you the moment he gets home.
no sooner...than /noo su:nor--.San/ an expression
meaning immediately after something has happened used
especially in stories or when reporting past events
[conjunction]
no sooner had...than No sooner had Miriam gone than
Harry suddenly returned. [ No sooner had he said it than he
regretted it. [ no sooner was/were...than No sooner was
this revolt put down than Richard became involved in the
Third Crusade.
hardly had /Iha:rdli had/ an expression meaning
immediately after an event or action has finished, used
especially in stories or when reporting past events
[conjunction ]
Hardly had the chairman finished his speech when a young
woman stood up to ask a question. [ Hardly had the rain
stopped when the spectators began to return to the field.
instantly /  ;nstntli/almost at the same time as something
else and usually as a direct result of it [adv]
Sea snakes inject a poison so strong that it kills a fish ins-
tantly. [ He pressed the button and instantly there was a
tremendous whining sound.
outright/aot'rat/if someone is killed outright they die
immediately from an attack or an accident [adv usually
after verb]
He was killed outright when his car crashed at high speed. [
On August 6th the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima,
killing 80, 000 people outright.
3 words for describing something that happens
or must be done immediately
immediate
instant
instantaneous
immediate/; mi:dit/[adj usually before noun]
This business requires your immediate attention. [ The Secu-
rity Police did not take any immediate action against her. [
The effect of the movie was immediate and enormous. [
immediate problems/needs/worries etc (=which must
be dealt with immediately) Their immediate needs are for
warm clothing and clean drinking water.
instant/' nstanq happening immediately, without any
delay or doubt [adj usually before noun]
The workers are being threatened with instant dismissal. I
He took an instant dislike to LeRoy. I Francois was stern,
demanding instant obedience.
instantaneous /  instonteInis/very nearly at the same
time as something else happens, and often as a result [adj]
The animals do not feel any pain. Death is instantaneous.[
The conversation of light energy to electrical energy is vir-
tually instantaneous.
instantaneously [adv ] When the bird's beak touches a fish,
it snaps shut instantaneously.

IMMEDIATEL Y 656 IMPORT ANT
4 doing something immediately and without
taking time to think about it
at a glance on sight
on the spot off the top of your head
there and then/ right off/right off the bat
then and there
at a glance/at a 'glo:ns II -'glensl if you know something
or can tell something at a glance, you only need to look
quickly in order to know immediately what is happening,
how someone feels etc lady phrase]
We can tell at a glance whether a dog is frightened or angry. I
I could see at a glance that he understood exactly what I
meant.
on the spot/on 6a Ispot II -Ispo:t/if you do something
on the spot you do it immediately, without taking time to
think about the situation, without waiting for official per-
mission etc lady phrase]
I was so angry Ialmost resigned on the spot. I Thepolice can
fine motorists on the spot for parking offences. I Look, I can't
give you a decision on the spot. I'll have to talk to my boss
first.
on-the-spot [adj only before noun ] on-the-spot fines (-fines
that you have to pay immediately)
there and then/then and there /6ear and 6en, 6en
and '6ear/if you do something or decide something there
and then or then and there you do it immediately and
without stopping to think or delaying your decision until
a later time lady phrase]
I was expecting to have to wait, but they offered me the job
then and there. I Sara had made up her mind there and then
that she would accept the challenge.
on sight/on 'saiq as soon as you see someone or some-
thing, and without waiting to find out more about them
[ adv phrase]
If anyone tried to escape, the soldiers had orders to shoot on
sight.
off the top of your head/of 6a top av ja: r Ihed [1 -to:p-/
an informal expression: if you answer a question or pro-
vide information off the top of your head you do it
immediately and without any time for thinking or prepar-
ing [adv phrase usually in questions or negative sentences]
There are some good restaurants around here, but I can't tell
you their names off the top of my head. [ Do you expect me
to go in there and teach a lesson off the top of my head?
right off/right off the bat/ra[t of, ,ralt of 6a bet/
an informal American expression: if you do or say some-
thing right off or right off the bat, you do it or say it
immediately, without taking time to think about it [adv
phrase]
I couldn't think of a reply right off. [ We let them know right
off the bat that we weren't going with them.
immense BIG 5, 8, 9
immerse: be immersed in/immerse yourself in
ATTENTION 3
immersed IN/INSIDE 10
immigrant FOREIGN 2
imminent SOON 5
immobile MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 7, NOT MOVING 1
immobilize BREAK 6
immoral BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 1, BAD
PERSON 4
immorality BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 6
immortal LONG TIME 8
immovable MOVE STH OR SB 6
immunize: vaccinate/immunize DRUG 6
impact EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1, 5, HIT/BUMP INTO 7
impact: have an impact on EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
impair HARM/BE BAD FOR 1, SPOIL 1
impart TELL A SECRET 1
impartial FAIR 4
impasse PROGRESS 5
impassive EMOTIONAL 6, EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 3
impatience WAIT 8
impatient WAIT 8
impeach ACCUSE 2
impeccable PERFECT 1
impede PREVENT 3
impelled: feel impelled to do sth MUST 4
impending SOON 6
imperfect PERFECT 10
impersonal UNFRIENDLY 4
impersonate IMITATE 6, PRETEND 2
impertinent RUDE/IMPOLITE 2
impetuous CARELESS 5
impetus CAUSE 14
implausible BELIEVE 12
implement DO 2, TOOL 1
implicate GUILTY 3
implication MEANING 5
implications MEANING 4, RESULT 1
implications: have implications for
EFFECT/INFLUENCE 2
implore ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 7
imply MEANING 5, SAY 3, SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 3
impolite RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
import BUY 2
importance: be of no importance UNIMPORTANT 2
importance: be of secondary/little/minor etc
importance UNIMPORTANT 3
importance: of importance IMPORTANT 1, 2
important IMPORTANT 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
important: not important UNIMPORTANT 1, 6
important: unimportant/not important UNIMPORTANT2
limportantl
IMPORTANT
words for describing important events,
decisions, problems etc
words for describing an achievement,
discovery etc that is important because it has
lasting effects or influence
the most important part of a process or
situation, which everything else depends on
words for describing something that must be
done or dealt with quickly because it is more
important than anything else
very important to you personally, so that you
care about it or worry about it a lot
words for describing an important person
to have an important part in a process, event,
or achievement
a place, organization etc that is important for
a particular activity, industry, or field of
studies
something that is so important that you
cannot do without it
to make someone's or something's position
less important
to behave as though something is more
important than it really is

IMPORT ANT 65? IMPORTANT
1 words for describing important events,
decisions, problems etc
important
of importance
significant/of great
significance
major
historic
momentous
fateful
critical
weighty
turning-point
be of great consequence
important / im I pa: rtant/an event, decision, problem etc
that is important has a great effect or influence on people's
lives, or on future events [adj]
The first day of school is an important event in a child's life. I
There will be an important meeting tomorow to discuss
future projects. I This is an important decision, so we should
think about it carefully. I The Secretary General of the United
Nations is making an important visit to the Middle East. I
Unless crime, poverty and other problems are dealt with there
will be widespread civil unrest.
importance In U] We should not underestimate the impor-
tance of the changes that are taking place in China (=how
important they are).
of importance/v Imlpa:rtans/important [adj phrase]
of some/great/major ete importance This battle was of
great importance in the war. [ They suddenly became silent
listening as if what he said was of the greatest importance. [
of no/not of any importance Nothing of any importance
was .agreed at their meeting.
significant/of great significance/sIgnIfiknt, v
greIt sIg nIfIkans/an event that is significant or of great
significance is important because it is one of the main rea-
sons why great changes happen [adj]
The Russian revolution was perhaps the most significant
event in 20th century history. [ Of great significance in the
company's decline was the resignation of its chairman three
years ago. [ January 3rd was a day of great significance for
us - our first child was born.
significance In U] The peace talks have taken on a new sig-
nificance since the change of leadership.
major / meIdsar/a major event, change etc is one that is
more important than other events etc [adj only before noun
not in comparative or superlative or with very etc]
On December 31st newspapers and TV remind us of the
major event of the past year. [ This is a particularly good time
to consider making major changes to your job, home or per-
sonal life. [ Diwali is a major festival for both Hindus and
Sikhs.
historic /hIstDrlk [[ -sta:-, -Isto:-/ historic event/
moment/occasion etc (=one that is so important that it
is remembered as part of history) [adj usually before noun]
This decision was a historic breakthrough; the first step
towards the treaty on arms control. [ Our reporters were there
at the historic moment when the hostages were released from
prison. [ In his book, Churchill recalls that historic first meet-
ing with Roosevelt.
momentous /moo'mentos, m-/ momentous event/
decision/occasion etc (=one that is very important
because it has a very great effect or influence on future
events) [adj usually before noun]
At this point William made a momentous decision - he
resigned from his job and joined the army. I The revolution
taking place in eastern Europe must be counted as one of the
most momentous events of this century.
fateful/'feitfal/fateful event/day/decision etc (=one
that is very important because it has a terrible effect on
future events) [adj only before noun]
I will always remember every word of the announcement the
Prime Minister made on that fateful day in 1939. [ Many fans
visit the spot where Lennon was standing on that fateful
occasion.
critical /kritikal/a time or situation that is critical is
extremely important and possibly dangerous because your
future will depend on what happens or is decided at that
time [adj]
These accusations came at a critical phase in the negotia-
tions. I critical for The next few months could be critical for
the whole mining industry.
weighty ! welti/weighty matter/affair/problem/idea
etc (=one that is very important and must be considered
seriously and carefully) [adj]
He was always busy with weighty affairs and had no time
for his family. I I was surprised that such a weighty matter
was decided so quickly and with so little fuss. I events of
weighty political significance
turning-point/t3:rni3 pzInt/an occasion or point in
time when important changes start to happen, especially
ones which greatly improve a situation In C]
turning-point in His relationship with Mary had been a
turning-point in Brad's life. ] turning-point Many people
saw the conference as a turning-point. I mark a turning-
point The Gorbachev-Reagan summit at Reykjavik marked
a turning-point in East-West relations.
be of great consequence/bi: v greit ktnsikwons ][
-'ko:ns ,kwens/a formal expression: if an event or change
is of great consequence, it is very important because of
the important results it will have Iv phrase]
You must realize that whatever happens on Wall Street today
may be of the greatest consequence. [ be of great conse-
quence to This change in leadership was of very great con-
sequence to the party.
2 words for describing an achievement,
discovery etc that is important because it has
lasting effects or influence
important major
of importance notable
significant/of noteworthy
great significance landmark
important/Im'pa:rtnt/[adj]
Taylor is a very able businessman and has made an impor-
tant contribution to this firm. [ One of Fleming's most impor-
tant discoveries, penicillin, was made by accident. [ What do
you consider to be your most important achievement?
importance In U] The importance of Chomsky's work is
universally recognized (=everyone recognizes how impor-
tant it is).
of importance/ov Impa:rtans/important [adj phrase]
of great/major importance Jack phoned the professor
immediately, convinced that he had discovered something of
great importance. [ of vital importance (=extremely
important and necessary) Pasteur's research was of vital
importance in developing a vaccine for rabies.
significant/of great significance/sig'nIfikont, ov
Igreit slgnifikans/ important because it changes and
improves the way things are done or understood [adj]
During his research, the historian made a number of signifi-
cant findings. [ Programmed learning has made a signifi-
cant contribution to education. [ The Russians" achievement
in space were immediately recognized as being of very great
significance.
significance In U] It is often difficult to assess the sig-
nificance of new scientific discoveries (=to assess how sig-
nificant they are).
major / meldSar/a major achievement, discovery etc is
one of the most important of its kind [adj only before noun
not with comparative or superlative or with very etc]
The peace treaty must be regarded as a major success for UN
diplomats. [ By any standards the tunnel is a major feat of
engineering.
notable/noutabal/important, and deserving attention or:
recognition [ adj]
The creation of the UN was, perhaps, the most notable
achievement of the 20th century. [ In 1920American women
won a notable victory in their struggle for equal rights.
noteworthy /notw3:r6i/ something that is note-
worthy deserves attention because it is important and also
interesting [ adj]

IMPORT ANT 658 IMPORTANT
Edison is famous for several things but inventing electricity
was his most noteworthy achievement. I The commission's
findings on the subject of juvenile crime are particularly
noteworthy.
landmark ]ll;cndmo=rk] an important point in a person's
life, in history, in the development of knowledge etc, espe-
cially one that is the beginning of great improvements [n Cl
Getting my first part in a movie was a major landmark in
my life. I This new drug is a landmark in the treatment of
cancer.
3 the most important part of a process or
situation, which everything else depends on
key major
vital significant
crucial pivotal
central
key/ki:! key role/factor/part/issue/person etc (=one
that has an extremely important effect on the way some-
thing develops) [adj only before noun]
Education is likely to be a key issue in the forthcoming elec-
tion. I The key person in this project will be the design man-
ager. I He held a key position in the Bush administration.
vital/'vatl/extremely important and necessary to the suc-
cess or existence of something [adj]
I hate doing the accounts, but it's a vital aspect of the job. I
Agriculture plays a vital role in the economic life of the
country. I vital to Your support is vital to our campaign.
vitally [adv] These small and gradual physical changes are
vitally important to the child's development.
crucial /  kru:al/something that is crucial is extremely
important because everything else depends on it, especially
the success of something [adj]
Crucial decisions had to be made, involving millions of
dollars. I The crucial factor in their relationship was their
unshakeable faith in each other.
crucially [adv] The test results were crucially important.
central / scntml/very important because it is one of the
main parts of a process or situation [adj]
central to Control of inflation is central to the government's
economic policy. I central All our information must be
accurate - that's absolutely central. I of central impor-
tance Environmental issues are rapidly gaining a place of
central importance in political debates.
major / medsar/major cause/reason/factor etc (:one
of the most important causes etc) [adj only before noun not
in comparative or superlative or with very etc]
Exercise is a major factor in maintaining good health. [ The
Press plays a major part in shaping public opinion.
significant/sIg nifikant/having an important effect on
a process or situation [adj]
Good marketing has been a significant factor in the com-
pany's success. [ The UN Secretary General's negotiations
had a significant part to play in the release of the hostages.
pivotal I ptvatal/pivotal point/role/influence/factor
etc (:one that has an extremely important effect on the way
something develops) [adj]
1958 was the pivotal point of de Gaulle's political career. [
Wagner was undoubtedly the pivotal influence in Bruckner's
formative years.
4
important
paramount
urgent
overriding
priority
words for describing something that must be
done or dealt with quickly because it is more
important than anything else
take priority
take precedence over
be at the top of the agenda
be a matter of life and death
important Im'pa:rtnt/[adj]
Young children should be given a healthy diet - that's very
important. I it is important to do sth It is important to read
the instructions before using this appliance. I it is impor-
tant that It is most important that infected wounds should
receive prompt attention.
importance [n U] I want to stress the importance of road
safety.
urgent / 3:d3ant [[ '3:r-/something that is urgent must be
dealt with as soon as possible because it is very important
[adj]
I've got one or two urgent letters to write. [ Your sister's been
calling - I think it's urgent. [ An international effort is
required to cope with the urgent needs of the earthquake
victims.
urgently lady] Mr Van Heeren is leaving on a trip and needs
those papers urgently.
urgency In U] This is a matter of great urgency (=it is very
urgent).
paramount I pzeramaont/more important than anything
else [adj]
The patients" wishes and needs are paramount and they must
always come before our own. [ While some musical ability
is necessary, it is not the paramount concern. [ of para-
mount importance Public safety and security are matters
of paramount importance.
overriding /aovaraIdI/ overriding concern/con-
sideration/need etc (:the most important one which
comes before all others) [adj only before noun]
The overriding need in Somalia is to end the civil war. [ an
overriding concern to secure business efficiency
priority/prai Drloti [[ -la:r-I the thing that you consider to
be most important which needs attention before anything
else In C/U]
Cleanliness and health were my mother's priorities. ! get
your priorities right (=judge correctly what is most
important) It's about time Peter got his priorities right -
family and friends should come before football. [ give pri-
ority to (=regard something as more important than any-
thing else) Unlike most politicians she gave higher priority
to human needs than to the pursuit of power.
take priority/tetk praiDroti [[-a:r-I to be treated as
more important than someone or something else [vphrase]
take priority over Jan believed her children's needs should
take priority over her own. [ take priority This matter
clearly takes priority and must be followed up immediately.
take precedence over /telk presodans aovar/to be
dealt with before someone or something else, as a result of
being considered more important Iv phrase]
Don't keep Mr Rawlings waiting, he takes precedence over
any other client. [ Once again, the leader's wishes have taken
precedence over the students" demands.
be at the top of the agenda /bi: at 6a ,tp av 6i
ad3enda [[ -,ta:p-/to be the most important and urgent of
all the things that have to be done, especially by a govern-
ment or company Iv phrase]
Getting inflation down is at the top of the agenda. [ The
Government were reluctant to put equal pay for women
anywhere near the top of the agenda.
be a matter of life and death/bi: a matar av laif
an 'de0/if something is a matter of life and death, it is
very urgent because if it is not dealt with immediately,
there is a danger of someone dying Iv phrase]
Doctor, please come quickly; This is a matter of life and
death. I When it's a matter of life and death we can't stop to
consider the cost.
5 very important to you personally, so that you
care about it or worry about it a lot
important be sb's life/whole life
care live for
mean/be everything to the be all and end all
be/mean all the world to
important/Im'pa:rtnt/[adj]
Having good health is more important than being rich. I At
least the children are safe - that's the important thing. [
important to Looking good is very important to him. I it
is important to sb that I helped you to get this job, so it's
important to me that you make a success of it.
care/kear/if you care about something or someone, you
think they are important and you pay attention to them,
worry about them etc [v I not in progressive]

IMPORT ANT 659 IMPORT ANT
care about Of course I care about the homeless and the
unemployed, but what can I do? I care what/who etc We
make a range of natural, additive-free foods for people who
really care what they eat. I care Thousands are dying from
disease and starvation and yet no one seems to care.
mean/be everything to/mi:n, bi: 'evriOir3 tu:/if some-
one or something means or is everything to you, you care
about them more than anything else Iv T not in progressive ]
Pepino and Violetta were everything to each other. I Being
successful in her career means everything to Camilla.
be/mean all the world to/bh, mi:n ,o:1 bo w3:rld tu:/
if someone is or means all the world to you, they are more
important to you than anyone else because you love them
so much Iv phrase]
My son means all the world to me. If anything happened to
him I'd never forgive myself.
be sb's life/whole life/bi: (sb's) lalf, ,hol laif/ if
something or someone is your life or whole life, they are
so important to you that life would seem to have no mean-
ing without them and you would be very unhappy Iv
phrase]
I could never consider another career - making films is my
whole life. I Pauli loves you very much. You are his life. You
hurt him deeply when you send him away.
live for/'liv f3:r/if you live for something or someone,
they are the most important or enjoyable thing in your life
Iv T not in progressive]
Margot lived for ballet and was completely dedicated. I Bob
lives for just two things - his daughter and his music.
the be all and end all 16o ,bi: 3:1 ond 'end 3:1/an expres-
sion meaning the thing that someone considers to be the
most important thing in life, used especially when you dis-
agree with them In phrase]
Going to university isn't the be all and end all, you know.
6 words for describing an important person
important VIP
leading dignitary
prominent valued
influential
important/Im'p3:rtnt/[adj]
There will be some very important people visiting the school
today. I Colin's father was an important man and his mother
a respected doctor. I The bank was reluctant to disclose any
information about their important clients. I I don 't think Jim
knows anyone important.
leading /'li:dirjl leading athlete/politician/scien-
tist/company etc (-one of the most important athletes etc)
[adj only before noun]
She was one of America's leading athletes. I Some of the
world's leading politicians will be meeting in Geneva to dis-
cuss disarmament. I leading light (=one of the most impor-
tant and active people in an organization) Debbie was one
of the leading lights in the drama club.
prominent/'pmmInnt II 'pro:-/important, well-known,
and respected in politics, business, education etc [adj]
Daguerre was a prominent Mexico City lawyer. ] The con-
ference was attended by both government officials and
prominent academics. I Politicians who are prominent in
public life may be at risk from terrorism.
prominence In U] Karpati had recently risen to prominence
(=had become prominent) in the communist party.
influential / ,influ' enal-/important and therefore having
a lot of influence especially in politics or business [adj]
Jacobson's one of the most influential people in New York. [
The program has gained the support of several influential
businessmen. [ influential in doing sth Various groups
were influential in shaping public policy. [ highly influen-
tial a highly influential member of Hong Kong's banking
community
VIP/,vi: ai 'pi:/a very important, famous, or powerful
person who is treated with special care and respect In C]
Extra police have been drafted in to protect the many VIPs
who will be at the ceremony. [ In a private lounge sometimes
used for VIPs, press and cameramen were waiting for the
actress to arrive.
dignitary I'digntari II -teri/a person who has an impor-
tant position in society or in an organization such as a
church or government In C]
Italy's president will be there, with foreign dignitaries
including the Prince of Wales. I Most of the local dignitaries
attended the event.
valued/'velju:d/valued friend/worker etc (=one who
is liked and considered important because they are very
useful, helpful etc) [adj only before noun]
I had a letter from William, one of my most valued friends. I
The most valued workers in the factory are the technicians. I
The company is offering discount to its valued customers.
7 to have an important part in a process, event,
or achievement
play a leading part/role
figure prominently in/be prominent in
be the driving force
be instrumental in
play a leading part/role I,pleI ) ,li:dirj po:rt, 'rol/
to be important in making great changes or achieving a big
success Iv phrase]
The Church has played a leading role in the struggle for
human rights. I Von Braun played a leading part in the
development of space flights.
figure prominently in/be prominent in /,flg
'promInantli In, bi: 'prDmnont in II ,fgjar 'pro:m-/to be
important in a process, event, or situation, especially by
working very hard to achieve something, and be noticed
because of this Iv phrase]
The British Prime Minister figured prominently in the peace
talks. I The campaign, in which many celebrities figured
prominently, was a great success. I She will be remembered
as someone who was always prominent in the anti-apartheid
movement.
be the driving force/bi: 6 'dravio ,fa:rs/to be the
most important person in changing or developing some-
thing because you have so much energy and determination
Iv phrase]
be the driving force behind Carlsson has been the driv-
ing force behind the bank's ambitious expansion plans. I be
the driving force James is the senior partner in the firm,
but it is Peter who is the driving force.
be instrumental in/bi:, Jnstr °'mentl in/to be important
in making something possible Iv phrase]
Mary had been instrumental in securing my release from
jail. I Women's organizations have been instrumental in
promoting women's rights.
8 a place, organization etc that is important for
a particular activity, industry, or field of
studies
centre/center
centre (British) I center (American)/'sentr/[n C]
Milan is the centre of the Italian fashion industry. I Hong
Kong has grown into a major banking and financial centre.
The collection made her gallery an influential center in the
art worm of Paris.
9 something that is so important that you
cannot do without it
essentials
basics
essentials/i 'senalz/things that are important because
they are necessary for life or for doing something [nplural]
The refugees were provided with the essentials -food and
shelter, but nothing more. [ bare essentials (=the most
necessary things) We don't have much room for luggage so
we're only taking the bare essentials.
basics /'bes;ks/the most necessary things to know, if
you want to understand or do something In plural]

IMPORT ANT 660 IMPOSSIBLE
You have to understand the basics before you can move on
to more advanced work.
1 0 to make someone's or something's position
less important
downgrade
relegate
downgrade /'daongreId, daon'greid II 'daongreid/ to
make something less important, valuable, or powerful,
especially by giving it less money or support Iv T]
The professor claims that the government is deliberately
downgrading scientific research. I Economic advisers in
Washington have been discussing whether to downgrade
foreign loans.
relegate/'relgeIt/to give someone or something a less
important position than before Iv T usually in passive]
be relegated to Carlo has been relegated to a more junior
position in the company. I Our team were relegated to a
minor league.
1 1 to behave as though something is more
important than it really is
make a fuss
make an issue of
make a mountain out of a molehill
make a fuss/imek a 'f^sl to get upset or angry about
something that is not really very important Iv phrase]
make a fuss about Be quiet. You're all making a fuss about
nothing. I make a fuss It won't cost much to repair the
damage, so there's no need to make such a fuss.
make an issue of/meik an ij'u: Dv/to argue about
something that is not really very important, so that it
seems to be important Iv phrase]
Hilary was upset about not being promoted, but she didn't
want to make an issue of it.
make a mountain out of a molehill/meIk a maontn
aot av a maolhd/to make a problem seem worse and more
important than it really is Iv phrase]
Samantha was only five minutes late! I think you're making
a mountain out of a molehill.
impose FORCE SB TO DO STH 4
impose: put/impose a ban on FORBID 3
impose: put/impose an embargo on FORBID 5
impose on ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 7
impose sanctions FORBID 5
imposing IMPRESS 4
impossibility IMPOSSIBLE 3
impossible DIFFICULT 7, IMPOSSIBLE 1, 2, 3
impossible: do the impossible IMPOSSIBLE 2
impossible: make it impossible for sb to do sth
CAN'T 5
impossible: make sth impossible IMPOSSIBLE 5
impossible position: be in an impossible position
PROBLEM 7
limpossiblel
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
IMPOSSIBLE
words for describing something that cannot
be done
ways of saying that the situation you are in
makes it impossible for you to do something
or achieve something
ways of saying it is impossible that something
could happen or exist
words for describing something that is
impossible to get
ways of saying that a fact, rule, situation etc
makes something impossible
1 words for describing something that cannot
be done
impossible
not possible
impracticable
there's no way
out of the question
hopeless
impractical
impossible Irn'posgbgl II m'pa:-/[adj]
Have you tried doing that jigsaw? It's impossible. I In the
story the hero performs great and seemingly impossible
deeds. I be impossible to do sth Sam had screwed the lid
on so tightly the jar was impossible to open. I The twins are
so alike it is impossible to tell them apart. I it is impossi-
ble for sb to do sth R is physically impossible for anyone
to run a marathon without getting tired.
not possible/nDt posbal 1[ -pa:-/an expression mean-
ing impossible, used especially when you are explaining
why you have not done something [adj]
The high cost of equipment meant that having a computer
for each member of staff just wasn 't possible. [ it is not pos-
sible to do sth It is not possible, in a book of this size, to
cover every single aspect of the subject. [ it is not possible
for sb to do sth I'm afraid it's notpossible for you to see your
husband at the moment; we're taking him to the operating
room.
impracticable IimprektIkaball something that is
impracticable cannot be done, although it may seem pos-
sible or a good idea when you think about it [adj]
Nuclear weapons have made war impracticable. I It was a
very appealing plan, but quite impracticable. I it is imprac-
ticable to do sth There were so many people that it was
impracticable to greet them all individually.
there's no way/6earz nao weI/ you say there's no
way someone can do something when you strongly believe
that it is impossible
There's no way you're going to get the job without good refer-
ences. [ My legs were aching and I knew that there was no
way I would make it up the hill.
out of the question /laot av 6a 'kwestan/if an idea, sug-
gestion etc is out of the question it is completely impos-
sible, especially because it is not allowed [adj phrase]
That's out of the question: Mary is much too busy to look after
the children. [ Sending Sandra a letter was out of the ques-
tion, because her husband might intercept it. [ "'I'd like to
leave at the end of the week, "'said Jane. "'Out of the question, "'
replied her boss, "'you have to give two weeks" notice. ""
hopeless/haoplas/ if something that you try to do is
hopeless there is no possibility of it being successful [adj]
Police now face the hopeless task of trying to find the bom-
bers. [ it is hopeless "'Please let me go to the party" All
begged her mother, but she knew it was hopeless. [ it is hope-
less to do sth My injury was so bad I knew it was hopeless
to continue the struggle across country.
impractical !mprektikl/an idea, suggestion, or action
that is impractical is impossible because it would cost far
too much money, waste too much time, be much too
difficult etc [adj]

IMPOSSIBLE 661 IMPOSSIBLE
Increasing Jo's workload is completely impractical, because
she is already doing the work of two people. I Your idea for
raising money is silly and totally impractical. I it is imprac-
tical to do sth It would be impractical to send out a search
party every time a parent reported their child late home from
school.
not have a hope
not stand a chance
can't possibly
2 ways of saying that the situation you are in
 makes it impossible for you to do something
or achieve something
impossible that's out
with the best will in
the world
do the impossible
impossible/imtposbl II im'p(a:-/[adj]
it is impossible for sb to do sth Unfortunately the
manager is very busy so it will be impossible for him to see
you today. I it is impossible "'Can I see you tonight?" 'Tin
sorry, that's impossible - I've already promised to have
dinner with John. "" I make it impossible I'd like to play
tennis, but my arthritis has made it impossible. I The eco-
nomic situation is making it impossible for people to save
money. I find it impossible to do sth After leaving prison
John found it impossible to get a job.
not have a hope/not hev o Ihopl have no possibility
of doing or achieving something, because someone else will
do it before you or because it is too difficult for you Iv
phrase not in progressive]
I don "t think you should apply for that job;you wouldn't have
a hope. [ not have a hope of doing sth The Republicans
don't have a hope of winning the next election. [ not have
a hope in hell (=not have a hope at all) The thieves will be
miles away by now. We haven't a hope in hell of catching
them.
not stand a chance/not ,stand  Itfo:ns [[ -qens/an
informal expression meaning to have no possibility of
doing or achieving what you want, for example because
you are not good enough Iv phrase not in progressive]
Everyone in the town votes Republican. The Democrats don't
stand a chance. I not stand a chance of doing sth Scep-
tics said the team didn't stand a chance of winning the cup,
but we surprised them all. I not stand a chance against
sb The newcomer doesn't stand a chance against an
experienced boxer like Tyson.
can't possibly/ka:nt posbli l[ kent 'pa:-I you say
someone can't possibly do something when you think it
is impossible for them to do it
I can't possibly get to your house before six o'clock; the
traffic's terrible at that time of day. [ Just before the end of
the game when everyone thought we couldn't possibly win,
Jablonski scored a goal [ We can "t possibly get two hundred
people into this small hall.
lhal's oul/,6ets 'aot/you say that's out when some-
thing you were going to do or that someone has suggested
cannot be done or is no longer possible
We were going to go on a cruise for our wedding anniver-
sary, but that's out now that my husband has lost his job. [
"Are we going to the theatre then? .... No, I'm afraid that's
out. I have to go to an important meeting. ""
with the best will In the world/wi6  best wl in
6 w3:rld/a British expression: if you say that with the
best will in the world someone cannot do something, you
mean that they cannot do it even if they try very hard or
want it very much [adv phrase]
With the best will in the world I can't cook a meal for fifty
people. [ Of course we know you are trying, but with the best
will in the world you'll never make it as a fashion model
do the impossible /du: 6i :m'posoIbal II -'pa:-/to try to
do something that cannot be done Iv phrase]
You're asking me to do the impossible, I can't finish the work
by Friday. [ I just can't lift these heavy boxes up the stairs.
There's no point trying to do the impossible.
 impossible
not possible
can't/couldn't
impossibility
inconceivable
ways of saying it is impossible that something
could happen or exist
unthinkable
by any/by no stretch of
the imagination
there's no way
impossible/Im'posbl II m'pa:-I [adj]
it is impossible "The police suspect John. "" "But that's
impossible. He was with us the whole day. "" I it is impossi-
ble (that) It's impossible that one man could cause so much
damage. I impossible "'Dld you know that I can swim under-
water for over 10 minutes without breathing? .... Impossible/'"
not possible/not 'posbl II -pa:-I an expression mean-
ing impossible, used especially when you are very sur-
prised about something [adj]
it is not possible that It was simply not possible that such
a famous actor should have difficulty finding work. I it is
not possible ''Abigail has refused to give us the money, ""
said Jim. "But that's not possible'" replied Ben, "she told me
only this morning that she would. ""
can't/couldn't/ka:nt, kodnt II kent-/if you think or say
that something can't or couldn't be true or can't or
couldn't have happened, you think that it is impossible
[modal verb]
Alice can't be at home. I've just seen her in the cafe. [ This
new evidence proved that he couldn't have been at the scene
of the crime. I Surely not. It can't be true. There must be some
mistake.
impossibility Imlpos 'bflti II -pa:-I a situation which
cannot exist because it is impossible In singular]
Anna dreamed of becoming a ballerina, even though she
knew it was an impossibility because she was too tall. ] It's
not a complete impossibility that she never actually received
our message.
inconceivable I  inkn si:vball impossible and there-
fore extremely difficult to imagine or believe [adj]
it is inconceivable that It's inconceivable that human
beings could live in such appalling conditions. [ inconceiv-
able When I was a boy, having a bath every day was an
inconceivable luxury. Now I take it for granted. [ A few years
earlier, making a speech in public would have been incon-
ceivable, but Shareen had gained in self-confidence since
then.
unthinkable I^n I 0irkball a situation is that is unthink-
able is impossible, especially because it is so shocking,
nasty, difficult etc [adj]
When I was at school there was no formal sex education -
that would have been unthinkable ! ] Most people now receive
a level of medical treatment that would have been unthink-
able a century ago. [ it is unthinkable that It is unthinka-
ble that my parents would ever read my private letters. [
unthinkable for sb to do sth Until about a year ago, it was
unthinkable for Sandra to travel anywhere by plane, but
since then she's conquered her fear of flying.
by anylby no slrelch of lhe Imagination/bai eni,
ba ,no stret v 6i Imed3 neian/ if something is not
possible by any or by no stretch of the imagination, you
cannot even imagine that it is possible lady phrase]
We just can't afford to buy such an expensive car, by any
stretch of the imagination. [ By no stretch of the imagination
could that ball have landed inside the court.
there's no way/6erz no wei/you say there's no
way something could happen or exist when you strongly
believe that it is impossible
There's no way the wardrobe will fit in that space. I If the
computer system is working properly there's no way you can
make a mistake.
4 words for describing something that is
impossible to get
unattainable
out of reach

IMPOSSIBLE 662 IMPRESS
unattainable /,^no'tenobal/if a particular result, con-
dition, or state is unattainable, it is impossible to achieve
[ adj l
Many people believe that true Communism is an unattaina-
ble ideal. I The feminine stereotype is for most women entirely
unattainable. I The new exams have been designed for
weaker students who, until now, have been set unattainable
targets.
out of reach/,aut ov 'ri:tf/if something such as a prize,
a better job etc that you want very much is out of reach,
it is impossible for you to get, especially because you are
not good enough [adj phrase]
Promotion seemed out of reach for me, even though I had
been in the company for over twelve years. I The medal was
all the more welcome because it had seemed out of reach for
so long.
5 ways of saying that a fact, rule, situation etc
makes something impossible
make sth impossible
rule out
preclude
make sth impossible I,mek (sth) im'posbal II -'po:-/
[ v phrase]
make it impossible to do sth The complexity of the situa-
tion makes it quite impossible to predict what will happen. [
make it impossible for sb to do sth Thick fog made it vir-
tually impossible for us to see where we were going. ] make
sth impossible Continued fighting in the area makes any
progress towards peace impossible.
rule cut/,ru:l 'aot/ifa decision or something that hap-
pens rules something out, it makes it impossible although
it was being planned or considered [phr v T]
rule out sth Severe weather conditions ruled out continu-
ing the rescue operation until the next day. [ The new trade
agreement seems likely to rule out import restrictions by
individual countries.
preclude/pr'klu-.d! a formal word meaning to make it
impossible for someone to do something Iv T]
School meals will no longer be provided by the school, but
this does not preclude students from bringing their own
food.[ These regulations may preclude newspapers from pub-
lishing details of politicians" private lives.
impostor PRETEND 6
impotent CAN'T 4
impound TAKE STH FROM SB 3
impoverished POOR 1
impracticable IMPOSSIBLE 1
impractical IMPOSSIBLE 1
imprecise CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 4
impress IMPRESS 1, 6
impress: be impressed IMPRESS 3
impress: fail to impress IMPRESS 5
IMPRESS
to make someone notice something good
about you so that they admire you
1 to impress someone
2 to impress someone very much
3 to feel impressed
4 words for describing someone or something
that impresses you
5 to not impress someone
6 doing something simply in order to impress
people
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to impress someone
impress come across well/
make an impression come over well
make a good impression
impress I' impres/ to make someone notice something
good about you so that they admire you Iv T not in
progressive]
impress sb None of the people I've interviewed so far have
impressed me. I What impressed the judges was the original-
ity of the dancers'performance. I As a politician Evans had
the ability to impress people and influence events. I impress
sb with The young cancer patient has impressed doctors
with his courage and determination.
make an impression /,mexk an m'prefan/ to make
someone admire you the first time they see you, so that
they think of you favourably Iv phrase]
There were some moderately interesting speakers but nobody
really made an impression. I I think I made quite an impres-
sion - they were very interested in my computer experience. I
make an impression on The football players were trying
to make an impression on the national coach.
make a good impression/melk o ,god m'preJ'n/to
make someone admire or like you the first time they see
you, for example by dressing or behaving well Iv phrase]
Everyone was dressed in their best clothes, eager to make a
good impression. I I want to make a good impression when
I meet my boyfriend's parents.
come across well/come over well / ,kAm okras 'wel,
,kAm ouvo r- II -okra:s-/if a person, speech, performance etc
comes across well or comes over well, the people who
are watching and listening remain interested and it
impresses them Iv phrase]
It was her first time on TV, but she came across very well. I
The presentation came over well, so all that time we spent
was worth it.
2 to impress someone very much
dazzle
knock sb out
wow
dazzle/'dezll to impress someone very much by doing
something special, unexpected, or unusual Iv T]
The Princess's off-the-shoulder dress dazzled the waiting
crowds. I He's used to dazzling the audience in his home
town, but New York will be very different.
knock sb out I,nok (sb) 'aot II ,no:k-/ an informal
expression meaning to impress someone so much that it
makes them feel full of admiration and surprise [phr v T]
Madonna was amazing in that film - she knocked me out. ]
really knock sb out Why don't you start the gig with that
song you wrote yourselff. That'll really knock them out.
wow/wao/an informal word meaning to impress some-
one very much by doing something very exciting or
unusual Iv T]
As usual Freddie Mercury wowed the crowds especially on
the big songs such as "Barcelona'. [ She's been wowing them
at the Arts Centre with her amazing one-woman show.
3 to feel impressed
be impressed
be overawed
be impressed Ibi: mprest/to realize how good, clever,
or skilful something is, so that you feel admiration Iv
phrase]
It was a superb performance - even the critics were
impressed. [ be impressed by I am impressed by the qual-
ity of the management in this firm. [ be impressed with We
are very impressed with your progress. [ be impressed
(that) I'm very impressed that you're learning Chinese. ] be
favourably impressed (=be impressed and pleased)
Judith was favourably impressed by the many slim volumes
of poetry on Martin's bookshelves. [ be suitably impressed

IMPRESS
(=be as impressed as someone wants you to be) The Direc-
tor seemed suitably impressed and I left feeling sure that he
would agree to our proposals.
be overawed/bi: ,ovr':d/to be so impressed by a
place, an occasion, or a person that you become nervous
and find it difficult to speak Iv phrase]
I had never been in such an amazing house - I was com-
pletely overawed. ] be overawed by Although Sheila"s par-
ents tried to put Jim at his ease, he still felt overawed by them.
4
words for describing someone or something
that impresses you
impressive breathtaking
imposing grand
dazzling majestic
striking spectacular
awe-inspiring presence
impressive/in]'presiv/[adj]
The school's examination results last year were very impres-
sive. I The Russian sprinter won the race by an impressive
five metres. I Alan Howard has been very impressive in
'Henry IV" at the National Theatre.
impressively [adv] "Lord and Lady Spencer" announced
the butler impressively.
imposing/im'pozi]/a building or part of a building that
is imposing is big and impressive [adj]
An imposing staircase led out of the hall. I The mosaic is the
most imposing piece of work in the museum. I Our chauffeur
swung the Mercedes into the airport's wide and imposing
main entry.
dazzling /'deshm]/impressive, especially because of great
beauty or skill [adj]
Rosita smiled with dazzling charm. I The concert opened
with a dazzling performance of a Haydn symphony. I During
his short but dazzling career he broke almost every scoring
record in the National League.
striking/straikio/impressive, especially because it is
very unusual to look at [adj]
The most striking aspect of the building is its design. I Her
portrait of the Prince is a work of striking originality.
awe-inspiring/'3: In,spaIrIOI so big and impressive
that you even feel slightly frightened [adj]
The pyramids at dawn were an awe-inspiring sight. I The
canyon was so awe-inspiring that even Dan was speechless.
breathtaking/'breO,teikirj] very impressive and excit-
ing, especially as a result of great speed, size, or beauty
[adj]
The guest house was on the side of the cliff, with breathtak-
ing views of the ocean spread out below. I The pace of change
in the Soviet Union is breathtaking.
breathtakingly [adv ] By saving these birds, we are preserv-
ing a breathtakingly beautiful part of our heritage forever.
grand /grend/ a building, occasion, or action that is
grand is made or done in order to impress people [adj]
The conferences always take place in grand hotels, away
from the realities of the run down cities. I They always make
grand promises to the biggest group of voters. I Workers were
annoyed that they would have no part to play in the
company's grand plan.
majestic/m'dsestIk/very big, impressive, and expen-
sive-looking [adj]
The procession slowly made its way up three flights of
majestic stairs. I Beingfrom an ordinary background, she
is finding it difficult to adjust to living in such majestic
surroundings.
spectacular/spektekj°lor/something such as a view
or a performance that is spectacular is very impressive
and exciting to look at or watch [adj]
She remembers looking out from her parents" house in
Denver to a spectacular panorama of blue-rimmed moun-
tains. [ They dazzle their audience with spectacular and dan-
gerous stunts. [ To celebrate independence day, there was a
spectacular fireworks display.
663
improve on/upon
presence/'prezans/the ability to impress people and
make them believe you, especially because you seem con-
fident and able to make decisions In U]
Dr Mangope is a man of great presence. I Even her political
opponents would admit she had prescence, as all great
leaders do.
5 to not impress someone
not impress/fail to impress
unimpressive
be unimpressed
not impress/fail to impress /not m'pres, ,fell to
]m'pres/Iv T not in progressive]
OK, so he went to Yale! That doesn't impress me! I It doesn "t
impress anyone when you start using jargon. ] The couple's
skating routine failed to impress the judges. I Our letters of
protest failed to impress the committee.
unimpressive /,Amm'pres]v-/ not good enough to
impress anyone [adj]
Marie's performance in the last exam was unimpressive. I
When you think how much has been spent on this research,
the results are sadly unimpressive. I Even the best the foot-
ball team could come up with was an unimpressive 1-1 draw.
be unimpressed/bi: ,^nimprest/to not be impressed
by someone who is trying to impress you Iv phrase]
Miles kept showing off about how much money he had but
we were unimpressed. [ be unimpressed by Andrea was
unimpressed by Alec's attention-seeking.
6 doing something simply in order to impress
people
impress
for show
impress/m'pres/[v T only in infinitive]
Steve borrowed his dad's sports car to impress his girlfriend, l
Gary isn't usually this polite - he's just doing it to impress
you. I impress sb with sth Hoping to impress my new boss
with my eagerness, I worked late every night.
for show ifr 'fol something that is for show is only
carried, kept, or done to impress people and not for any
practical purpose [adj/adv]
The guns are just for show. We don't actually use them. [ Mr
Wong had a cotton handkerchief in his jacket pocket, and a
silk one in his breast pocket for show.
impressed" be impressed IMPRESS 3
impression SEEM 7
impression: be under the impression THINK SO/NOT
BE SURE 1
impression: do an impression IMITATE 6
impression: get/have the impression THINK SO/NOT
BE SURE 1
impression: give the impression SEEM 1, SHOW/BE A
SIGN OF 3
impression: make a good impression IMPRESS 1
impression" make an impression IMPRESS 1
impression/imprint MARK 6
impressionable PERSUADE 10
impressionistic EXACT 9
impressive GOOD/EXCELLENT 4, IMPRESS 4
imprison PRISON 2
imprisoned: be imprisoned ESCAPE 10
imprisonment KEEP SB IN A PLACE 5
improbable BELIEVE 12, PROBABLY 9
impromptu PLAN 11
improper RUDE/OBSCENE 1
improve IMPROVE 1, 2, 3, 5, INCREASE IN NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 1 RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
improve/increase efficiency EFFICIENT 4
improve on/upon BETTER 6

IMPROVE 664 IMPROVE
IMPROVE
1 to become better in standard or quality
2 ways of saying that a situation or someone's
life becomes better, more enjoyable, less
difficult etc
3 to make something better by making
changes, working harder etc
4 to keep improving something that is already
good until you make it perfect
5 to make a situation, quality, or someone's life
better and more interesting, more enjoyable
etc
6 a change or addition that improves something
1 to become better in standard or quality
improve get better
improvement catch up
improve Im'pru:vl Iv I]
If your driving continues to improve, you should have no
problem passing the test. I Some wines improve with age. I
The train service has improved drastically in recent months.
improvement/Imtpru:vmont/[n C/U]
improvement in There has certainly been an improvement
in the children's behaviour. I improvement The team
played much better on Saturday. I just hope this improve-
ment continues. I show improvement (=improve so it is
easy to notice) Last year Japan's economic performance
showed a dramatic improvement. I there is room for
improvement (--it is possible for something to improve
even more) Your Italian is good, but there's still room for
improvement.
get better/get 'betor/an informal expression meaning
to improve Iv phrase]
Your reading's getting a lot better, Bobby. You're doing
well. ] When the weather gets better - in the spring - we'll
drive down to the coast for a picnic. ] The firstpart of the book
is pretty boring, but it gets better as the story goes on.
catch up/,kmtf 'Ap/ to improve so that you reach the
same standard as other people in your class, group etc [phr
v I/T]
If you miss a lot of school it will be very difficult to catch up.]
catch up with sb Although she had never studied German
before, Jane was very bright and soon caught up with the
others. ] catch sb/her/them ete up At first he was way
ahead of me, but I'm slowly but surely catching him up.
2 ways of saying that a situation or someone's
life becomes better, more enjoyable, less
difficult etc
improve pick up
get better things are looking up
improve/]mIpru:v/[v I]
Supplies of food have now reached the refugees and the situ-
ation has improved. I The politicians made a lot of promises,
but nothing's improved here. I Their relationship unfor-
tunately did not improve after the birth of their first child.
get better/get tbetor/an informal expression meaning
to improve Iv phrase]
The situation at work got a bit better when a new boss
arrived. I Business isn't too bad, and the trade deficit is
slowly getting better.
pick up/,p]k '^p/ if a business or economic situation
picks up it improves after a period without much business
activity [phr v I]
It's been very quiet in the shops lately but business is begin-
ning to pick up now. I Experts expect the economy to pick up
in the second quarter of this year.
things are looking up /,OIYJZ QI r lok]D tap/an informal
expression meaning that your life is starting to improve,
especially after it has been bad
I sold two of my paintings this morning. Things are look-
ing up. I In the end her boyfriend came back and things
started looking up.
3 to make something better by making
changes, working harder etc
improve upgrade
make sth better streamline
make improvements clean up
knock sth into shape brush up
improve/m'pru:v/Iv T]
We need to improve the training of doctors and nurses. [ ways
of improving the soil [ Sarah will never pass her exams
unless she improves her handwriting. [ With further
reasearch the design could be significantly improved.
make sth better /tme;k (sth) 'betor/to improve some-
thing such as a situation, someone's life etc Iv phrase]
These people need our help. How can we make life better for
them? [ You won't make the situation any better by worry-
ing about it. [ Suppose a student's spelling is weak. What he
wants to be told is how to make it better.
make improvements / t melk [mtpru:vmonts/to make
changes to something or add things to it in order to
improve it Iv phrase]
I want to make some improvements in my kitchen. [ Improve-
ments have been made in the quality of frozen food. [ It's a
good idea to establish some short-term projects to get your
staff involved in making improvements,
knock sth into shape/,nok (sth) Into 'fe;p [[ tna:k-/an
informal expression meaning to make changes to some-
thing in order to make it good enough [v phrase]
The first performance of our play is next Wednesday so we
only have a week to knock it into shape. [ The new Chief
Executive is knocking the company into shape and making
it more competitive.
upgrade /t^ptgred/ to improve something such as
machinery, a building, or a system by making it more
modern, effective, and successful Iv T]
The city has spent $3 million on upgrading its sports
stadium. [ It was decided that the entire computer system
should be upgraded. [ European voters are more reluctant
than ever to pay for upgrading Nato forces.
streamline / 'stri:mlain/to improve a system or process
by making it more simple and therefore faster and more
effective Iv T]
We need to streamline our communication system. [ The
library's data processing operation can be streamlined once
the new electronic system is installed.
streamlined [ adj ] Our new streamlined production process
is much more efficient than the old one.
clean up I,kli:n '^p/ to improve moral standards in a
place or organization, especially by removing bad people
[phr v T]
clean up sth It's time someone cleaned up this city; we have
one of the highest crime rates in the country. [ Most clubs have
made a big effort to clean up football's image. [ clean sth/
it/them up The new mayor vowed to clean the police depart-
ment up and get rid of any corrupt officers.
brush up/,brA '^p/to quickly practise and improve your
skills and knowledge, especially in a foreign language [phr
v I/T]
brush up on sth I'd like to brush up on my Italian before
I go there. [ Quiz games are a great way to have fun and
brush up on your general knowledge at the same time. [
brush up sth Why not brush up your cookery skills with this
one week intensive course?
4 to keep improving something that is already
good until you make it perfect
perfect
refine
fine-tune
perfect/pa r tfekt/to improve something such as a skill,
system, or invention until you make it perfect [v T]

IMPROVE 665 IN CHARGE OF
Graham has decided to live in Paris for a couple of years to
perfect his French. I Once laser techniques have been per-
fected, they will be used in a wide variety of surgical
operations.
refine /ri I fain/ to develop a plan or idea gradually by
changing small details in it, until it becomes as good as pos-
sible [v T]
Volvo spent three years refining the design of their new car. I
The arms agreement will be refined over the next few weeks
before being signed by the two leaders.
fine-tune/fain Itju:n II -tu:n/to make small changes in
a plan or system that is already good, so that it works as
well as possible Iv T]
It's a good plan; we'll have to fine-tune it, but it's a good
plan.I The election campaign must be constantly fine-tuned,
so that the right message gets across.
fine-tuning [n U] We have developed an efficient banking
service, but there is scope for further fine-tuning of the system.
5 to make a situation, quality, or someone's life
better and more interesting, more enjoyable
etc
improve enrich
make sth better make
enhance
improve/impru:v/[v T]
A vegetarian diet can improve your health. I Our training
programme has greatly improved efficiency and motivation
among the workforce.
make sth better /mek (sth) betr/an informal expres-
sion meaning to improve a situation, especially one that
is bad Iv phrase]
Do you imagine these changes are really going to make
things better for ordinary people? I Oddly enough the war
has made the economic situation here better, not worse.
enhance/n'ho:ns II nhens/to make a good quality in
something even more attractive, enjoyable etc Iv T not
usually in progressive]
The flavor of most food is enhanced by good cooking. I
Flowers enhance the beauty of a room.
enrich/n rtJ'/to improve something such as someone's
life, experience or art by adding a quality which makes it
much more interesting, valuable etc Iv T not usually in
progressive]
Travel enriches people's lives. ] Western culture has been
greatly enriched by contact with the civilizations of Asia and
Africa.
make/meik/an informal word meaning to provide the
special quality that makes something completely enjoya-
ble, attractive, or successful Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
I love those curtains. They really make the room. I For me,
the trip to Caracas made the holiday.
6 a change or addition that improves something
improvement
improvement/impru:vmnt/[n C]
Design improvements in the computer system have increased
our efficiency. I Power steering is just one of the major
improvements to be found in the new 1600cc model. I
improvement to We had to borrow money to payfor all the
improvements to our home.
improved BETTER 3
improvement IMPROVE 1, 6
improvement: be an improvement on
improvements: make improvements
improvise MAKE 2, PERFORM 2
impudent RUDE/IMPOLITE 2
impulse WANT 10
impulsive CARELESS 5
impunity: with impunity PUNISH 8
impure PURE 4
impurity PURE 4
BETTER 3
IMPROVE 3
in AFTER 2, DURING 1, FASHIONABLE 1,
IN/INSIDE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, TIME/AT A
PARTICULAR TIME 1
in: be in ARRIVE 3, HERE 5, HOME 4, THERE 4
in: be in sth CONTAIN/HOLD 1, MEMBER 2
in: be out/not be in HERE 6
in addition AND/ALSO 1
in-crowd GROUP OF PEOPLE 6
in-depth DETAIL 4
in every way COMPLETELY 1
in for: be in for PROBABLY 5
in for it: be in for it/be for it PUNISH 6
in hand REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
in-house IN/INSIDE 4
in keeping: not be in keeping WRONG/UNSUITABLE 4
in keeping with RIGHT/PROPER 2
in-law: mother-in-law/son-in-law etc FAMILY 6
in-laws FAMILY 6
in no time/in no time at all SOON 3
in
on: be in on KNOW STH 11, TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 4
in on: not be in on NOT KNOW5
.-.--. in one piece BROKEN 6
 in order to do sth TO/IN ORDER TO 1
i in order not to do sth TO/IN ORDER TO 2
ii in part PARTLY 1
= in spite of DESPITE 1
 in spite of: despite the fact that/in spite of the fact
 that ALTHOUGH 1
: in spite of this/despite this BUT 2
) in thing: be the in thing FASHIONABLE 1
._@ IN CHARGE OF
in a position of control over an area of work
or activity or a group of people
1 to be in charge of something
= to be in charge of a group of workers and be
responsible for making sure that they do their
jobs properly
3 someone who is in charge of a group of
workers
4 the person who is in charge of you at work
5 to be in charge of an official meeting
6 someone who is in charge of an official
meeting
1 to be in charge of something
be in charge run
lead head up
head/be head of
be in charge/bi: in 'to:rdS/to be in a position of con-
trol over an area of activity or a group of people Iv phrase]

IN CHARGE OF 666 IN FACT
The success of the venture depends on the person in charge. I
Who's in charge around here? I be in charge of The officer
in charge of the investigation has refused to talk to the press. I
As usual the women were in charge of the food. I Charlie was
put in charge of the team.
lead Ill:d] to be in a position of control over an important
activity or a large official group Iv T]
The drug raid was led by top officers. I Dr Jenkins leads a
team of researchers at the Plant Institute. I A group of young
activists, led by Paul Henderson, have formed a new union.
head/be head of/hed, bi: 'hed Dv/to be officially in
charge of an area of activity or a group of people Iv T]
Renner joined the company in 1956 and eventually headed
one of its major subsidiaries. I Rachel Ross is heading the
campaign against the fur trade. I Hwang is head of the local
Communist Party and is also a farmer. I From 1974 to 1977
she was head of the Women's Affairs Unit.
run/rAn/to be in charge of and look after an activity, espe-
cially one that lasts for a long time Iv T]
She has a lot of experience of running committee meetings. I
The education authority will run the new system until every-
one is used to it. I They ran a big campaign against the new
development, arguing that it would harm the environment.
head up I hed ^p/to be in charge of a group of people or
an activity, especially in business, that has been formed
or started in order to deal with a particular question,
problem etc [phr v T]
head up sth The governor himself is heading up a commit-
tee to look into health care costs. I Three directors are to head
up a special project affecting both companies.
2 to be in charge of a group of workers and be
responsible for making sure that they do their
jobs properly
supervise
oversee
supervise/'su:parvaiz, 'sju:- II ,su:-/to be in charge of
a group of workers and be responsible for making sure that
they do their jobs properly, especially by being with them
to give instructions, answer questions etc Iv T]
At work, she supervises a production team of fifteen. I All
volunteer attendants are usually supervised by a qualified
nurse. I Sister Ursula was busy supervising the cooking and
sewing.
supervision/su:prlvisn, sju:-II su:-/ [n U] We work
under the Chief Engineer's supervision (=we are supervised
by the Chief Engineer). I The children behave well because
they are under constant supervision.
oversee / auv;9 r si:/to be in charge of a group of workers,
especially by planning and organizing what they should
do rather than by being with them or giving instructions
to them directly Iv T]
Team leaders and project managers oversee groups of
programming staff. I Her days were spent overseeing an
army of builders who were working on the house.
someone who is in charge of a group of
workers
supervisor
foreman
supervisor/'su:porva:zo r, 'sju:- II 'su:-/In C]
Four people had applied for the position of supervisor. I The
print shop supervisor was a strict but very fair man.
|ereman /  fa:rman/someone who is in charge of a group
of factory workers or builders and who is responsible for
seeing that orders from managers are carried out In C]
Time taken in unloading should be recorded by the foreman
and paid at the agreed rate. I The average earnings of skilled
workers and foremen was between Ј120 and Ј200 a week.
4 the person who is in charge of you at work
boss
manager
superior
boss/bts II ba:s/In C]
Mike had walked out of his job after a row with his boss, and
we were almost broke. I Does the boss know that you are look-
ing for another job?l immediate boss (=the person who
is directly in charge of you) The managing director is a man
but my immediate boss is a woman.
manager/'menid3ar/someone whose job is to run part
or all of a company or other organization and who is in
charge of you at work In CI
Ask your manager if you can have some time off to come on
the rugby tour. I Sarah became so frustrated with her
manager that she stormed out of the office.
superior /su:lparia r, sju:-II so-/someone who is in a
higher position than you In C]
Dealing with superiors at work, especially when they're
younger than you, can be very tricky. I immediate superior
(=the person in the position directly above you) I'm com-
peting against my immediate superior for the manager's job.
5 to be in charge of an official meeting
chair
preside over
chair/tj'er/to be in charge of an official meeting Iv T]
The meeting was chaired by Professor Grainger of the med-
ical university. I Her job involves chairing meetings, and
producing and circulating the minutes of those meetings.
preside over/pri zaid auvar/a formal word meaning to
be in charge of an official meeting Iv T]
The meeting was held at Hailing Institute and was presided
over by T.H. Baker Esq. I The President insisted that he him-
self preside over the tribunal.
6 someone who is in charge of an official
meeting
chair/chairperson
chairman
chairwoman
chair/chairperson/tj'e r, 'tj'erpa:rsn/(used when it
is not important to say, or you do not know, whether the
person in charge of an official meeting is a man or a
woman) In C]
All questions must be addresssed to the chair. I Councillor
Jones will be chair of the housing committee meeting. I
Topics may be selected by the chairperson at the beginning
of the meeting. I The chairperson was uneasy about support-
ing the proposed motion.
chairman / tj'eormon/someone, either a man or a woman,
who is in charge of an official meeting In C]
She would be honoured to be the chairman of one session of
the conference. I "'Mr Chairman, "" a woman's voice cut in
from the back of the hall, "'may I ask a question?" i Tribunals
are composed of a legally trained chairman aided by two
members of a panel of lay members.
chairwoman / tj'eo r,wumon/a woman who is in charge
of an official meeting In C]
The vicar's wife is chairwoman of the meeting. I We all want
Elizabeth Njeri to be the next chairwoman.
-IN FACT
1 ways of saying what the real truth of a
situation is, especially when this is different
from what people say it is or think it is
2 ways of saying what happens in real life,
rather than in stories, films etc
3 words used, especially in conversation, when
you want to add more information to what
you have just said

IN FACT 66? IN GENERAL
1 ways of saying what the real truth of a
 situation is, especially when this is different
from what people say or think it is
in fact in effect/effectively
actually the truth is/the fact is
really the reality is
in reality as a matter of fact
in practice
in fact/in 'fzekt/[adv phrase]
He said it would be cheap but in fact it cost over Ј200. I
"'You've been very good to me. "" "'Not at all, Shintaro. In fact
I think Isometimes neglectedyou. "'1 in actual fact/in point
of fact They seem to think that building a new road will
improve the traffic problem, whereas in point o f fact it will
make it worse. I After his death we looked through his papers,
but in actual fact there was little of interest.
actually/' ektSuali, -tSali/(used when you are telling or
asking someone what the real and exact truth of a situa-
tion is, as opposed to what they imagine) [adv]
"'Here's the $101 owe you. "" "'Actually you owe me 20. "" I "'I'll
see you at the meeting tomorrow. "" "'Actually, I'm afraid I
won't be there. "" I Did he actually attack you or just threaten
you?
really I'rmlil (used when you are saying what the real
truth of a situation is, especially when something may
cause people to form a wrong opinion about it) lady]
Although he failed his tests, he's quite a bright guy, really. I
The model currently on the market is really a version of the
French machine. I They're asking Ј60,000 for the house.
That's more than it's really worth.
in reality/in ri'elIti/(used when you mean that what
actually happens is different from what people imagine,
think, or believe) [adv phrase]
It seemed like a long time ago, but in reality it was no more
than sixty years. I Nowadays owning a car appears to be a
necessity, but in reality it isn't. I Arnold Harris had the repu-
tation of being an explorer. In reality he was a quiet man
who happened to have travelled a little when he was young.
in practice/in prekts/(used when you are describing
what really happens, rather than what should happen, or
what people think will happen) [adv phrase]
Her job title sounded quite important, but in practice she had
littlepower or responsibility. I Teenagers are not allowed to
drink in bars, but in practice they often do. I Economic predic-
tions are highly theoretical. It's what they mean in practice
that is important.
in effect/effectively/in i'fekt, i'fektxvli/(used when
you are describing what the real situation is, especially
when it is not easy to recognize what is really happening)
[ adv phrase]
What the management is saying, in effect, is that they are
going to stop providing company cars. I At that point, free
elections in Zambia were unknown, and Kaunda had, effec-
tively, made himself life-president.
the truth Is/the fact is/6a 'tru:0 iz, 6a 'fmkt IZ/(used
to introduce the truth about a situation, especially when
this is different from what was believed before)
The truth was that she did not enjoy family Christmases. I
The fact is, he was murdered, he didn't commit suicide at all. I
It seemed that a bright future lay before him, but the truth
is that he was never to publish poetry again.
the reality is/5 ri'zelti z/(used to introduce the truth
about a situation when this is very different from what
people say in the newspapers, official statements etc)
They say that the economy is already coming out of the reces-
sion, but the reality is that there has been no improvement
at all. [ the reality of the situation is The reality of the
situation is this: hundreds of people are sleeping on the streets
of New York with no possibility of finding a home at all.
as a matter of fact/az a ,metar av 'fekt/(used when
you are answering someone and telling them what the real
situation is) lady phrase]
"'I'm sorry, I didn't think you "d mind. "" "'Well, as a matter
of fact I don't, but you should have asked first. "1 "'You must
get tired of traveling around. .... Not at all. As a matter of fact
I've just arranged to go on a tour of China. ""
2 ways of saying what happens in real life,
rather than in stories, films etc
really/actually
in the real world
in real life
really/actually I'rmli, 'ektJ'uali/[adv]
Does Santa Claus really exist? I There are many stories
which describe wolves as dangerous, blood-thirsty animals,
but actually they prefer to avoid human beings.
in the real world/in 6 ,rill 'wa:rld/in the world in
which people really live, not in the world which exists in
people's imagination [adv phrase]
Romances of that kind don't happen in the real world. I In
the real world people don't often suddenly receive large
amounts of money because a rich relative has just died.
in real life/in ,rlal 'lalf/in real lye, not in films or stories
[adv phrase]
In real life most murders are either solved within a few days,
or not at all. I I'd seen Richard Gere in the movies, and I
wanted to see what he looked like in real life.
3 words used, especially in conversation, when
you want to add more information to what
you have just said
actually
in fact
as a matter of fact
actually I'ektJ'uoli, -tJ'olil [adv]
Robert's an old friend of mine. We were at school together
actually. I I'm having a few people round for dinner on
Saturday evening. Actually I was wondering if you'd like to
come along.
in fact/in 'fekt/(used especially when you are adding
something to increase the effect of what you have just said)
[adv phrase]
We used to live very close to your parents, in the same road
in fact. I The winter of 1940 was extremely bad. In fact most
people say it was the worst winter of their lives.
as a matter of fact/z  ,metar av 'fektl (used espe-
cially when you are adding an important fact to increase
the effect of what you are saying) [adv phrase]
Yes of course you can see him. As a matter of fact he just got
in. I The company is doing very well. As a matter of fact we've
doubled our sales budget.
@ IN GENERAL
ways of saying that something happens or is
done most of the time, by most people etc
ways of expressing your general opinion
about what is true, what is best, what people
should do etc
ways of saying that something happens or is
done most of the time, by most people etc
in general on the whole
generally by and large
generally speaking/ for the most part
as a rule tend
mostly
most of the time/in most cases
in general/In 'd3enaral/[adv phrase]
In general, the jobs that temporary workers take are low-
paid. I In general, parents care more about their children's
health than about their own. I Exercise stimulates the brain,

IN GENERAL 668 IN/INSIDE
so in general, students who take regular exercise achieve
better results.
generally / dsenamli! (used when describing what hap-
pens in most situations) [adv]
With one or two exceptions, the inner-city schools generally
achieved lower exam grades. I Women generally live longer
than men.
generally speaking/as a rule / d5enaroli spi:kiij, oz
a 'ru:l/(used especially for introducing a statement about
what happens in most cases) [adv phrase]
Generally speaking, the guy who's likeliest to try hardest is
the one who knows you're watching him. I As a rule, French
wines are more expensive than those from Eastern Europe.
mostly/'maostli/(used when saying something that is
true about most people or situations) lady/
"Do you watch a lot of TV?. .... No, we listen to music mostly.
The students here are mostly Swiss and German, but some-
times we get a few Japanese, too. I He's an orthopaedic
surgeon - he mostly does hip replacements.
most of the time/in most cases /maost av ba ,tam,
n 'maost ,ke]sz/(used when saying what happens in most
cases) [adv phrasel
Sometimes even experts make mistakes but most of the time
they're right. I Most of the time people vote for the party that
offers them financial advantages. I Car theft is an increas-
ingly common crime, and in most cases the offender is under
18.
on the whole/on a 'haol/(used when saying that some-
thing you have noticed is true in most cases) [advphrase]
The work was boring yet on the whole everyone was remark-
ably cheerful. ] The candidates that the party selected tended
on the whole to be middle-aged, male, and white. I Despite
their age the frescoes are, on the whole, marvellously well-
preserved.
by and large/,ba] and la:rd3/(used when you are stat-
ing a fact that is generally true, but you admit that it is not
completely true) [adv phrase]
By and large, printed texts are easier to read than
manuscripts. [ History is by and large a record of what people
did, not what they thought.
for the most part/fa r 6a 'maost po:rt] (used especially
in written English when a statement is generally true, but
not completely true) lady phrase]
The cell chemistry of these insects is, for the most part, poorly
understood. [ Ethnic minorities have struggled to retain their
cultural identity, and have for the most part succeeded.
tend/tend/if something tends to happen, it happens in
most cases but not in all cases [v I/
tend to be/happen/do sth It tends to be the brighter kids
who get all the teacher's attention. I What tends to happen
is that thepoorest families end up in the worst housing. ] We
tend to get a lot of our business from the smaller farms.
2 ways of expressing your general opinion
about what is true, what is best, what people
should do etc
in general/ all in all/all
generally speaking things considered
on the whole on balance
in general/generally speaking/n 'd3enral, ,dsen-
rli 'spi:kIt/[advphrase]
In general I think exercise is a good thing, but it is best to
start gently. I In general it was my impression that the press
had lost interest in our story. I I think generally speaking that
the rural schools provide a better environment for the
students.
on the whole IDn 6a 'haul/ (used when expressing a
general opinion or when you are saying how you feel in
general about something) lady phrase]
I think that on the whole you have been very fortunate. I On
the whole we're glad we came to live in Vancouver.
all in all/all things considered I,:1 In
kan's]dard/(used when expressing an opinion about some-
thing after considering all the facts) lady phrase]
All in all, I think the conference was a great success. I All in
all it was a relief to get home. [ All things considered, I'm
sure we made the right decision.
on balance/Dn 'belans/(used when expressing an opin-
ion after considering all the arguments for and against that
opinion) lady phrase]
On balance I think it would be better to cancel the arrange-
ments. ] Clinton said he wasn't much in favor of the plan,
but on balance he believed it was workable.
IN/INSIDE
1 in a container or other enclosed space
2 in a room or building
3 in a town, country, or area
4 in a company, organization, or group of
people
5 in a person's body or mind
6 firmly fixed in a surface or solid object
7 in a book, magazine, newspaper etc
8 from the outside towards the inside
9 the part of something that is inside
10 in a liquid
1 in a container or other enclosed space
in
inside
contents
in Inl [prep]
There's some pizza in the refrigerator. [ I think I have some
tissues in my purse. I Perhaps I left my wallet in my other
jacket pocket. I Valuables should be kept in the hotel safe. I
She stayed in the car while I went to the bank.
inside /in'sa;d/in a container or other enclosed space so
that it is completely covered or surrounded [prep/adv]
There's a key inside the envelope. [ Simon carried the basket
with the glasses rattling inside. I Jem opened the box. Inside,
surrounded by cotton wool, was a little brooch.
contents/'kntents II 'ko:n-/what is inside a box, room,
bag etc [n plural]
The customs officer opened my suitcase and examined the
contents. I the contents of The contents of the cellar included
a rusty bicycle and several empty boxes. I Shepoured the con-
tents of the bottle into a jug.
2 in a room or building
in indoor
inside inner
indoors
in/nl [prep]
Francis and his friend were drinking tea in his room. [ The
movie was bad, but at least it was cool in the theater. I There
isn't a comfortable chair in the house. I Will you come to visit
me in the hospital?
inside/msad/a word meaning in a room or building,
used especially when you are considering it from outside
[prep/ adv ]
The lights were on inside the house. I Inside it was lovely and
warm. I I sat outside the interview room and wondered what
was going on inside.
indoors !m'dz:rz/inside a building, especially someone's
home lady/
It was too hot to think of staying indoors. I I spent the whole
day indoors listening to the radio.
indoor/'nd:r/indoor tennis/swimming pool/base-
ball stadium etc (=existing or happening in a building
with a roof) [adj only before noun]
The hotel has a beautiful heated indoor swimming pool. I
This year, the world indoor tennis championships will take
place in Paris.

IN/INSIDE
inner/I Inor/inner room/office/courtyard (=one which
is near the centre of a building) [adj only before noun]
We were shown into one of the inner offices. I This was the
inner courtyard of the Sultan's palace.
3 in a town, country, or area
in within
inside internal
in I ml [prep]
My husband hates driving in London. [ Everyone in the town
knew the old man. [ The company's Spanish subsidiary is
based in Madrid. ] There are many different species of wild
cat in Africa and Asia
inside !nsa:d/a word meaning in a country or area, used
when you want to make it clear that something is happen-
ing in that country or an area and not outside it, and espe-
cially when it is something that is not generally known
about [prep]
The invading forces are now three miles inside our territory. [
We in the West knew little about events inside Northern
Korea. [ The guerrillas were said to be operating from bases
inside the country.
within/wi61m [[ w6m, w:On/ inside the borders or
limits of an area [prep]
Children must remain within the school grounds during the
lunch break. [ If the ball lands within the white lines it counts
as a fair serve.
internal ! Inta: rnl! internal affairs/politics/security
(=happening in a country and not affecting other countries)
[adj usually before noun]
The United States should stop interfering in the internal
affairs of Nicaragua. I Most British people have little under-
standing of the internal politics of Northern Ireland.
4 in a company, organization, or group of
people
in internal
inside in-house
within
in I in/[prep]
Some people in IBM are predicting that the company will
merge with a rival Japanese electronics company. ] Home-
lessness is a major problem in society today. [ The mood in
the Republican Party is one of optimism.
inside/nsald/a word meaning in an organization or
company, used when you want to make it clear the some-
thing is happening or is known about only in that organi-
zation and not outside it [adv/prep]
From inside, the company seems less successful. [ A struggle
is going on inside the Liberation Organization between the
moderates and the hardliners.
inside ]1 insaid] [adj only before noun] According to inside
information (=from people who work in an organization)
many members of the security forces are concerned about this
problem.
within/w6'in [[ wIn, wIO'In/existing or happening in
a group, organization etc, not outside it [prep]
The landowners have always regarded themselves as an elite
group within society. [ Different factions within the party are
fighting for overall control. [ Violence within the family is
often alcohol-related.
internal/In'ta:rnl/an internalactivity, problem, plan etc
is one that concerns only those people who are inside a
company or organization but not anyone outside it [adj
usually before noun]
There has been a lot of internal debate recently about the
future of the BBC. [ The Union leader faced strong internal
pressure from members to resign. [ In November the direc-
tors wrote an internal memorandum suggesting that the
company should close down three of its factories.
internally [adv] The job will only be advertised internally
(=inside the company or organization, and not publicly).
669
IN/INSIDE
in.house I,  n  haos* / in-house magazine/course/des-
igner/worker (=that exists or works inside a company)
[adj only before noun]
Many companies run in-house management courses for their
staff. [ All our artwork is done by in-house designers, we
don't normally use freelance people.
in-house [ adv ] This magazine is produced in-house (=by the
company).
5 in a person's body or mind
in inside
internal inner
in Inl [prep]
I have a pain in my stomach. I Paul felt a terrible cramp in
his left leg. I We shall be studying the effects of these bacteria
in the intestine. I All these memories of Judith are still fresh
in my mind.
internal /n'ta:rnl/ internal injuries/bleeding/
damage/examination (=inside the body) [adj usually
before noun]
Mrs Jones suffered serious internal injuries as a result of the
accident. I The doctor said they found some signs of internal
bleeding.
internally [ adv ] He may be bleeding internally (=inside his
body), in which case we must operate immediately.
inside/:n' said/if you feel angry, sad, excited etc inside,
you have that feeling in your mind although you do not
show it in the way you behave [adv]
Kate tried to make jokes but inside she was furious. [ I desper-
ately needed some way to vent all the anger and frustration
I felt inside.
inner/' Inar/inner calm/conflict/certainty etc (=a feel-
ing of calm etc that you have in your mind or spirit but do
not always show) [adj only before noun]
His worried face was the only sign of his inner anxiety, [ Mar-
garet was sustained by the inner certainty that she was right.
6 firmly fixed in a surface or solid object
in
embedded in
in/Inl [prep]
Be careful, there's a nail in that piece of wood. I There are
many fossils in the rocks around the coastline of Dorset.
embedded In/imbedId in/firmly fixed in a surface or
solid object and therefore very difficult to remove [adj
phrase]
We asked the guide to translate the inscription written on a
stone embedded in the church floor. [ Even ten years after the
shooting, a bullet remains embedded in Peter's skull.
7 in a book, magazine, newspaper etc
in
inside
contents
in/in/[prep]
Did you read that article in "Newsweek'? [ Romance! Adven-
ture! Passion! They're all in this week's 'Jackie" magazine. [
There are some wonderful descriptive passages in the novel.
inside/:nsad/a word meaning on the inner pages of a
newspaper or magazine, used especially when you are
advertising the newspaper etc and telling people what is
in it [adv]
Free inside! A pull-out poster of Madonna. [ Inside there are
lots of handy hints to help you take better pictures.
contents /kDntents [[ Ika:n-/ everything that is con-
tained in a book, magazine, letter etc [n plural]
The letter was burned and its contents will never be known. [
the contents of a computer disk that can store the entire
contents of a set of encyclopedias [ The contents of the report
are expected to show that the government acted wrongly.

IN/INSIDE 6?0 INCLUDE
 from the outside towards the inside
into inside
in inwards/inward
into I I nt; before vowels Into; strong IIntu:/[prep]
Jane went into the living-room and sat down on the sofa. I
Pour half a pint of milk into a small pan and warm it
gently. I Edwards is charged with trying to smuggle 20 kg of
cannabis into the country. I Rachel jumped into her car and
sped off in the direction of the hospital.
in l inl towards the inside of a room, building, container,
ear ete [prep/adv]
Come in. t The door's not locked. I A big car pulled up and
the driver told me to get in. I Maureen stood at the door, look-
ing in. I Do you want me to put it in a bagfor you? l She went
in the bathroom and turned on all the taps.
inside I In  saId/ into a building, room, container ete until
completely in it and enclosed by it [prep/adv]
Tom ran back inside and called the police. I I put my hand
inside my bag, searching for my passport.
inwards (also inward in American English)/' Inward(z)/
face/open inwards (=face or open towards the inside of
a building room, cupboard etc) [adv]
The main door opens inwards. I All the windows faced
inward across the courtyard.
9 the part of something that is inside
the inside
interior
the inside/6i 'msaid/[n singular]
the inside of All I've seen of Australia is the inside of a hotel
room at Sydney airport. I The inside of a camera is painted
black to prevent light reflecting onto the film. I from the
inside The door had been locked from the inside and the
police had to break it down in order to get in.
interior/In'tIariar! the inside of a building or car In C]
The all-leather interior and reclining seats make this new
model a truly luxurious car. I My eyes gradually became
accustomed to the gloomy interior of the store.
10 in a liquid
in
immersed
in AinA [prep]
Soak the garment in soapy water until the stain is removed. I
We took off our shoes and socks and paddled in the sea.
immersed I I ma:rst/completely covered by a lot of liquid,
especially water [adj not usually before noun]
immersed in Once the tyre has been fully immersed in water
find where the puncture is by looking for bubbles of air. I
immersed At the far end of the lake some buffaloes were
bathing, immersed so deeply that only their heads were
visible.
immersion II m3:rJ'an, -san/ In U] Somepeople are baptized
by complete immersion (=being completely immersed) in a
small pool or in a river.
inability: sb's inability to do sth CAN'T 1
inaccessible REACH 6
inaccurate WRONG/INCORRECT 1
inactive NOT DO STH 7
inactivity NOT DO STH 1, 4
inadequate ENOUGH 8, GOOD ENOUGH 4
inadvertently DELIBERATELY 6
inane STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 4
inanimate DEAD 2, LIVING/ALIVE 5
inappropriate/not appropriate WRONG/UNSUITABLE 1
inarticulate EXPRESS 4
inattentive ATTENTION 5
inaudible HEAR 4
inaugural FIRST 1
incapable: be incapable of/not be capable of CAN'T 1
incarcerate PRISON 2
incensed ANGRY 2
incentive PERSUADE 11
inception START STH/MAKE STH START 3
incessant CONTINUOUS 4, KEEP DOING STH 2
inch SLOW 13
inch: every bit of/inch of/ounce of/drop of
ALL/EVERYTHING 2
incidence AMOUNT 7
incident HAPPEN 9
incidental UNIMPORTANT 3
incidentally AND/ALSO 2
incinerate BURN 7
incision: make an incision CUT 1
incite CAUSE 8
inclination: have no inclination WANT 12
inclined: be inclined to do sth OTEN 2
include INCLUDE 1, 3, 5
@ INCLUDE
ways of saying that a group of people, a set
of ideas or activities etc has something or
someone as one of its parts
to include or deal with two or more subjects,
areas, periods etc at the same time
ways of saying that something you buy
includes something else that you do not have
to buy separately
including particular people or things
to deliberately include something or someone
to deliberately not include something or
someone
not included in a list, group, price etc
1 ways of saying that a group of people, a set
of ideas or activities etc has something or
someone as one of its parts
include incorporate
take in among
contain range from
include/in'klu:d/[v T not in progressive]
The new arts organization includes dancers, teachers,
singers and musicians. I Today's programme includes a talk
on interview technique. I Past winners of the award have
included a farmer, a lingerie designer and an engineer.
take in/Itelk 'in/ifa tour, a talk, a book, or a course of
study takes in particular places, subjects, or ideas, it
includes them because it has been arranged that way [phr
vT]
The "Historic London" tour takes in St Paul's Cathedral and
the Tower of London among other attractions. I The course
takes in practically all English dramatists between 1750 and
1900. I It's a typical Burgess novel, taking in themes as diverse
as Welsh nationalism and metallurgy.
contain/kan'tein/if a piece of writing or speech contains
a particular idea or subject, the idea or subject is in it Iv
T not in progressive]
The cook book contains some of the best, most traditional
recipes for Italian food. I His speech contained several refer-
ences to the failed attempt to depose him as King. I All com-
puter manuals should contain an appendix giving addresses
of suppliers.
incorporate/mka:rparelt/if a system, design, or plan
incorporates something good or useful, it has been
deliberately designed to include it Iv T]
Sue worked out a fitness programme incorporating the
exercises shown to her in the clinic. I The boat's design is
traditional, but incorporates the best of the new features. I
The central arm-rest incorporates a foldaway child seat.
among/a'mAI]l something that is among a group of simi-
lar things, people, ideas etc is one of the things that is
included in the group [prep]

INCLUDE 671 INCLUDE
Among her reasons for resigning is the fact that she wants
to move back to her home town. I Among the collection of
photographs are two taken in Hamburg in 1911. I There were
about twenty spectators, among whom were Bill, Maria and
myself.
range from/'reind 3 from II -frAm/if prices, levels, tem-
peratures etc range from one amount to another amount,
they include both these amounts and anything in between
Iv T]
Prices range from $10 to $500,000. I Levels of disability may
range from very slight hearing problems to total deafness.
2 to include or deal with two or more subjects,
areas, periods etc at the same time
cover embrace
encompass span
cover/'kAvr/[v T]
The Certificate course lasts two years and covers seven basic
subjects. I The new law has been designed to cover all inci-
dents of fraud. I The teenage years cover a period in which
boys and girls mature physically.
encompass /InlkAmpos/ a formal word meaning to
include or deal with a very wide range of ideas, subjects
etc Iv T]
The Hindu religion encompasses many widely differing
forms of worship. I The general need for consumer protec-
tion is encompassed in Section 5.
embrace/imlbreis/ifa word or way of describing some-
thing embraces several things they are all included within
its meaning [v T]
The word "culture" embraces both artistic and sociological
aspects of a society. I The category "kinsmen" also embraces
grandparents and grandchildren.
span/spen/ifa book, t-tim, plan etc spans a period of time
it includes everything within the period Iv T]
"Heimat" is a vivid social drama spanning sixty years in the
life of one small village. I The essay spans a period of over
600 years, from about 1900 BC.
;3 ways of saying that something you buy
includes something else that you do not have
to buy separately
include
come with
inclusive
include/in'klu:d/[v T]
The computer package includes three trial disks and a com-
plete programming manual. I The toy has flashing lights
and a siren noise, but batteries are not included. I be
included in You don't have to pay for your flights, they're
included in the price of your holiday.
come with/'kAm w6/if something that you buy comes
with another thing, the second thing is always included
when you buy the first [v T]
The luxury model comes with a matching metal carrying
case. [ The doll comes with three different outfits and two
wigs.
inclusive/;n'klu:s]v/an inclusive price or cost includes
everything [adj]
The inclusive cost of the car, complete with tax and insur-
ance, is Ј9,800. I Ј50/$100 etc inclusive The cost of the
flights, accommodation and car rental is two thousand dol-
lars inclusive. I The hotel's price for bed and breakfast is Ј25
per person per night, inclusive.
4 including particular people or things
including with
inclusive included
counting
including/In'klu:dirj/[prep]
Including weekends, there are only twelve more days to buy
Christmas presents. I Including you and me, there'll be
eighteen people at the party. I Not including cassettes, he has
eight thousand records in his collection.
inclusive / In  klu:s iv/April to June inclusive/15 to 20
inclusive etc (=including all dates, ages, numbers etc
between the two mentioned) [adj not before noun]
The library will be closed from April to June inclusive. I The
course is open to children aged 9 to 16 inclusive.
counting /kaonurj/ a word meaning including, used
especially in spoken English [prep]
Counting the one I've just bought, I now have three hundred
different sets of playing cards. I Counting Singapore, where
we stopped to refuel, we've visited eleven countries in three
weeks.
with/w5, wi0/including a number or amount added to
a final total, list etc [prep]
With tax the hotel bill came to four hundred dollars. I With
Peter and his mother, there'll be six for lunch tomorrow. I
"'Our rooms cost $30 a night. "" "'Is that with breakfast?"
included / ;n ,klu:dI d/myself/John/the Chairman etc
included (=including the person you have mentioned,
even though this is surprising) [adj only after noun]
We're all going to the game, Betty included! l Everyone, the
chairman included, eats in the staff restaurant.
5 to deliberately include something or someone
include
incorporate
include/in'klu:d/Iv T]
I have included two jazz records in my selection. [ Even if you
include the cost of food, it's still a cheap holiday. I Why have
you included British novelists but no American ones?
inclusion / inklu:3an/In U] Watson's inclusion in the US
athletics team has caused much controversy.
incorporate/n'k:rpreit/to deliberately include some-
thing so that it combines well with the other parts of the
thing it is in [v T]
The architect has incorporated Egyptian and Renaissance
themes in the building's design. I If you incorporated a user's
guide it would be much simpler to learn.
6 to deliberately not include something or
someone
exclude omit
leave out drop
miss out
exclude Iklsklu:d/[v T]
The range of paint colours available for cars excludes all
pale or pastel shades. I She was on a special diet which
excluded dairy products.
exclusion Iiksklu:3an/ In U] Many people were surprised
at the exclusion of his photographs from the exhibition
(=that they were excluded).
leave out ! li:v 'aot! to deliberately not include some-
thing such as a piece of information or a detail, for exam-
ple because it is embarrassing or offensive [phr v T]
leave sth/it/them etc out He explained it to her but left
some details out. I Some of his jokes were offensive and he
had to leave them out. [ leave out sth The article contained
some stories about Picasso but left out the episode with
Apollinaire.
miss out/mls =aot/ a British expression meaning to
deliberately not include something important or some-
thing that you should include [phr v T]
miss out sth I wantyou to tell me the whole story, and don't
miss out any details I miss sth/it/them out We try to make
only short stops at all the places of interest on this tour, so
that we don't have to miss anything out.
omit/$olmit, $-/to not include names, information, places,
things etc from something such as a list or piece of writ-
ing, especially because you do not think it is necessary or
important Iv T ]
If you are a vegetarian, simply omit the chicken from this
recipe. I Your essay was.quite good, but you omitted several

INCLUDE
672
important dates and events. I Some parts of the interview
which I had included in my typescript were omitted from the
published article
omission/o'mlj'an, -/In C/U] His omission of detail was
deliberate (=he deliberately omitted details) because he
wanted to keep the story short and easy to follow. I There were
several omissions in the text (=there were several things
missing) including some important details.
drop/drp [[ din:p/an informal word meaningto suddenly
remove something from a list, plan etc, for example
because there is not enough time to do it or because it is
no longer useful Iv T]
I don 't think this article will be of interest ot our readers. Let's
drop it. [ I'm afraid we have run out of time, so we are going
to have to drop our visit to Windsor Castle from the schedule.
7 not included in a list, group, price etc
--not including exclusive of
excluding excepted
not counting
not including/n)t ln'klu:dirj/if you have a total number
not including a particular thing or person, that is the total
without that person or thing [prep]
There'll be twelve people for dinner, not including me. [ Win-
ning the Golf Championship guarantees him $3 million, not
including appearance fees. [ The house costs $70,000, not
including fixtures and fittings.
excluding/ik'sklu:dirj/a ,ord meaning not including,
used especially when you aremaking a list or calculating
a total [prep]
Last year the Queen carried out over 200 official engage-
ments, excluding overseas visits. [ The article is a detailed
review of Spanish literature in the sixteenth century, exclud-
ing drama.
not counting/not 'kaontirj/an expression meaning not
including, used especially in spoken English [prep]
I've been therefor three holidays, not counting the very short
visit last year. [ Not counting his parents, he only knew three
people in London.
exclusive of ]ik,sklu:siv v! an expression used espe-
cially on documents, bills etc meaning not including [adj
phrase]
The rent is Ј80 a week, exclusive of bills. I The fully fitted
kitchen costs $5,000, exclusive of tax. I Please list all previ-
ous addresses, exclusive of rented acommodation.
excepted/ik'septd/a formal word meaning not includ-
ing [adj only after noun]
football/schools/English etc excepted (=not including
football/schools/English etc) English excepted, Peter has
made good progress in all his subjects this term. I Garden-
ing excepted, she does very little in the way of good regular
exercise. I present company excepted (=not including the
people who are with you) I'm afraid I find most people have
nothing very interesting to say, present company excepted of
course!
included INCLUDE 4
. including INCLUDE 4
i including: not including INCLUDE 7
inclusive INCLUDE 3, 4
 incognito NAME OFA PERSON 8
incoherent UNDERSTAND 14
'- income EARN 5, MONEY 7
:.
. incoming ARRIVE 3
 incomparable BEST 2
incompatible MIX 10, RELATIONSHIP 3, WRONG/
 UNSUITABLE 6
' incompetent BAD AT 1
, incomplete COMPLETE 4, FINISH DOING STH 9
' incomprehensible UNDERSTAND 14
 inconceivable BELIEVE 12, IMPOSSIBLE 3
 incongruous WRONG/UNSUITABLE 4
 inconsiderate UNKIND 3
. inconsistent CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
 inconsistent: be inconsistent with DIFFERENT 8
INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC
inconsolable SAD/UNHAPPY 5
inconspicuous OBVIOUS 5
inconvenience PROBLEM 11
inconvenience: cause inconvenience PROBLEM 11
inconvenient CONVENIENT 2
incorporate INCLUDE 1, 5
incorrect WRONG/INCORRECT 1
incorruptible HONEST 1
increase INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 1, 2, 3,
4, 6, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 6,
9,10
increase: be on the increase INCREASE IN ACTIVITY
FEELINGS ETC 1
increase efficiency: improve/increase efficiency
EFFICIENT 4
increase in size GROW/GET BIGGER 1
increase/rise/go up in value VALUE 6
increase ........
.......... 
  '-,,-".
which meamng?
increase in number or ";- - INCREASE IN
-,
am..nt  : NUMBER OR
"!! ......... , AMOUNT
• -:_,ў:,%" ,: = • • .... . ... ..- .
INCREASE IN
increase in activity,
feelings etc ACTIVITY, 
......  ............ ;:-- - ........ ,,. ........ FEELINGS ETC ;
..........  ::: : ....... .: ,:.: .... ; ....................... . . .
INCREASE IN
ACTIVITY,
FEELINGS ETC
ways of saying that an activity, effort, or type
of behaviour becomes stronger or more
frequent
to increase the amount of activity you are
involved in, the amount of effort you make,
the amount of knowledge you have etc
ways of saying that anger, fear, love,
excitement, or other feelings become stronger
or more noticeable
to make feelings become stronger or more
noticeable
words for describing feelings, activities etc
that become stronger or more frequent
an increase in the strength of feelings
1 ways of saying that an activity, effort, or type
of behaviour becomes stronger or more
frequent
increase escalate
be on the increase expand
intensify
increase/inkri:s/[v I]
We expect wine-drinking to increase in Britain and the USA
over the next few years. [ Crime levels are increasing rapidly
throughout the country. [ increase to Government interfer-
ence in education has increased to an intolerable level.
increase /  irjkrizs/[n C] We have noticed a sudden increase
in political activity amongst the students.
be on the increase/bi: on 8i  Irjkrizs/if something bad
such as a problem or illness is on the increase it is hap-
pening more and more frequently [v phrase]

INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 6?3 INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC
Juvenile crime is on the increase in most parts of the coun-
try. I Pneumonia has been on the increase recently. I It seems
that exposure to toxic chemicals is definitely on the increase.
intensify ]in tensfai/if an effort or an activity such as
fighting intensifies it increases so that more people do it
or the people already doing it use more effort Iv I]
The fighting intensified and spread through the city. I As in
many Third World countries the liberation struggle
intensifies.
intensification / m I tens f Ikeij'an/In U] the intensification
of the government's campaign against crime
es©a|ate ] eskleit! if violence, a protest, a struggle etc
escalates, it increases to a higher level and becomes more
serious [v I]
The protest against government regulations is escalating. I
The struggle overpay escalated in the seventies when many
manufacturing employers refused to grant pay increases. I
escalate into There are fears that the violence might esca-
late into full civil war.
escalation/eskleian! [n U] the escalation of conflict at
the borders of the two warring nations
expand ]ikspnd! if trade or a business activity
expands, it increases Iv I]
Trade between developing countries and industrialized
countries is beginning to expand.
expansion ]Ikspnan! [n U] a period of rapid economic
expansion
' to increase the amount of activity you are
involved in, the amount of effort you make,
the amount of knowledge you have etc
increase expand
step up broaden
intensify extend
increase/inkri:s/[v T]
We must increase public awareness of the health risks
associated with sunbathing. I The government is increasing
pressure on drug-traffickers.
step up ] step I^p! to increase your efforts or activities,
especially in order to improve a situation which is not as
good as you want it to be [phr v T]
step sth/it/them up Martin was overweight, so he stepped
his fitness program up. I step up sth As there were still food
shortages, Map decided to step up the pace of change, espe-
cially in agriculture. I The country must step up the construc-
tion of the deep ports required for the unloading of oil
tankers.
intensify ]mtensfai! to increase activities or efforts,
especially against an enemy or someone who opposes you
[v T]
Anti-apartheid groups intensified the campaign for sanc-
tions. I In the run-up to the election, terrorists have intensi-
fied their activities. I Security Police had intensified their sur-
veillance of her home.
intensification/Intensf keij'an/In U] The Cuban Mis-
sile Crisis led to an intensification of the conflict between the
US and the Kremlin (=the conflict intensified).
expand/ikspand/to increase something so that it covers
a wider area or range of activities Iv T]
Albania is to further expand its hotel facilities for next
summer. [ The aim of the course is to trigger new ideas and
expand trainees" horizons.
expanded [adj] With our greatly expanded knowledge, we
can start to look for solutions to this problem.
broaden /br:dn/ to increase something such as
knowledge, experience, or your range of activities Iv T]
The company must broaden its economic base if it is to sur-
vive. I Enormous efforts are being made to broaden the
Democratic party's appeal in the run-up to the election.
extend/Ik' stend/to increase something such as influence
or control over events that are happening Iv T]
The US government is still trying to extend its influence over
European politics. I We hope to extend the effects of sanctions
against the regime.
ways of saying that anger, fear, love,
excitement, or other feelings become stronger
or more noticeable
increase deepen
grow build up
intensify
increase/inlkri:s/Iv I]
The President's popularity has increased enormously since
the war. I Inside the stadium the excitement was increasing. I
The pain steadily increased until I could think of nothing
else.
grow/gru/if a feeling grows it increases gradually [v I]
All morning as she waited for the interview her nervousness
grew. [ Carrie's feeling of happiness grew until her bones
seemed to ache with it. [ The suspicion grew in Darwin's
mind that animal species did not remain the same forever.
intensify/in tensfai/if a bad or unpleasant feeling such
as fear or pain intensifies, it increases Iv I]
Their panic intensified, as they heard the gunshots getting
closer. [ Fear of a revolution by workers intensified in the
government.
deepen / di:pn/if a strong feeling such as love, respect,
or sadness deepens, it increases gradually Iv I]
With every new day after her husband's death her despair
only seemed to deepen. [ As she watched the nuns doing their
charity work, her respect for them deepened. [ Her deepen-
ing love found expression in her poetry.
build up/bfld ^p[ if a feeling such as anger or jealousy
builds up, it gradually increases over a period of time [phr
v I]
build up in/inside sb He felt anger building up in him. [
build up Talk to someone about your problems. Don't let the
pressure build up. [ A line of armed police confronted the
silent crowd. The tension was building up to flash point.
to make feelings become stronger or more
noticeable
increase add to
strengthen raise
heighten fuel
increase/inlkri:s! Iv T]
Vague explanations of her illness only increased her fear and
anxiety. [ Right-wing senators argued that nuclear disarma-
ment would simply increase the likelihood of a conventional
war. I The effect of the minister's resignation was increased
by its suddenness.
strengthen /'strerjOan, 'strenOan! to make something
such as someone's determination or belief increase so that
it is even stronger than it was before Iv T]
These criticisms only strengthened the manager's determi-
nation to carry out her plans. I Woolley felt certain that he
had made an important discovery and his conviction was
strengthened as more evidence came to light.
heighten/'ha:tn/heighten awareness/fears/the effect
etc (=make it increase so that it is felt more strongly) Iv T]
Publicity has heightened awareness of the threats to the
environment, i The music actually heightened the dramatic
effect of the film. I Fears of an invasion were heightened by
long-range bomb attacks.
add to/ ad tu:/to increase a feeling or problem, so that
it becomes worse than it was before Iv T]
He'd just lost his job when, to add to his troubles, the rent
went up. I She told some jokes to cheer me up, but they weren't
funny and just added to my depression. I Natural catas-
trophes like droughts have also added to the problems of the
continent.
raise/relz! raise consciousness/hopes/awareness etc
(=make someone more conscious, hopeful etc) Iv T]
People's hopes were raised by a report that peace talks had
begun. I Our aim is to raise the consciousness of the world
about the dangers of smoking. I The human rights campaign
has raised public awareness of the torture going on in the
country.

INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 6?4 INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT
fuel/0ool [[ '0u:ol/to make feelings of doubt, worry, expec-
tation etc grow stronger Iv T]
There are growing fears for the safety of the kidnap victims
-fears that have been fuelled by rumours of new threats. [
The President's absence from the May Day parade has
fuelled speculation that he is seriously ill.
words for describing feelings, activities etc
that become stronger or more frequent
increasing increased
growing escalating
mounting
increasing/in'kri:sio/[adj only before noun]
I listened to the news with increasing horror. [ We have recog-
nized the increasing importance of treating the environment
with care. [ Politically the late seventies were a time of
increasing mistrust between the United States and the
USSR.[ ever-increasing (=increasing all the time) What
can be done to stop the ever-increasing violence in the region?
growing/tgrooir/a growing feeling, emotion, activity
etc is gradually increasing [adj only before noun]
Victor was fascinated, and he listened attentively and with
growing interest. [ Scientists have observed the climate
• changes over the last twenty years with growing concern. [
There is growing opposition to the new tax proposals. ] We
have noticed growing support for a peace settlement in the
Middle East.
mounting /tmaontir/ mounting anger/violence/ex-
citement/criticism etc (=increasing to such a high level
that someone will react or something will happen) [adj only
before noun]
There are reports of mounting violence in the village tribes. ]
Amid mounting excitement an official came forward to
announce the result of the election. [ James read the letter
with a mixture of mounting anger and amazement.
mount Iv I] As the dispute continues tension is mounting on
the border between the two countries.
increased/ntkri:st/increased risk/danger/tension
etc (=which has become more serious because of some-
thing that has happened) [adj only before noun]
The Prime Minister's speech led to increased tension in the
Government. I Unprotected sex carries an increased risk of
transmitting the HIV virus.
escalating / tcskletlr/escalating crime, violence, fear
etc is increasing rapidly and uncontrollably [adj only before
noun ]
The police have called for urgent action to combat escalat-
ing crime.
6 an increase in the strength of feelings
increase
build-up
surge
increase/t irkri:s! [n C]
He likes the increase in power and prestige which comes with
his new job. I There has been a noticeable increase in the
influence of women's organizations on politics. I Increases
in efficiency will be necessary if the company is to survive.
build-up ! tbfld ^p/ build-up of pressure/strain/tension
etc (=a gradual increase of pressure, strain, tension etc that
is not expressed) [n C usually singular]
The players always feel a huge build-up of tension and nerves
before an important game. I Deal with any problems when
necessary, so preventing a build-up of strain.
surge/s3:rd3! a sudden and big increase in a feeling In C]
Timmyfelt a surge of excitement as the plane took off. I War
produced a surge of patriotic enthusiasm throughout the
country. I a surge of sympathy created by the hunger strikes
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
9
10
11
to become larger in number, amount, cost etc
words for describing numbers or amounts
that are increasing
to increase a lot
to increase very quickly or suddenly
to increase through a process of gradual
addition
to make a number or amount increase
to increase a number or amount by adding
another number or amount to it
to increase the amount of heat, sound etc
coming from a piece of equipment such as a
TV or heater
an increase in a number or amount
an increase in costs, prices, wages, or taxes
a sudden large increase
1 to become larger in number, amount, cost etc
increase gain
go up escalate
rise pick up
grow improve
climb widen
increase/n'kri:s/[v I]
The number of road accidents has increased by 50% over the
last five years. I Unemployment increased from 1.6 million
in 1953 to 3.2 million in 1954. I If defense spending continues
to increase at the present rate the president will be forced to
raise taxes. I increase greatly/considerably/enor-
mously The cost has increased considerably, which is
another obstacle.
go up /tgou tap/an expression used especially in spoken
English meaning to increase in price, number, or amount
[phr v I]
House prices went up by 20% last year. I Just after Christmas
my rent went up. Four hundred a month it is now/I Income
tax is due to go up from 20per cent to 25per cent. I Her tem-
perature's been going up and down all weekend.
rise/ralz! to increase gradually over a long period Iv I]
rise by 10%/Ј2/a large amount etc Although salaries
have risen by 10% every year they have not kept up with
prices. I Levels of spending on education have risen by about
4 billion since the government came intopower. ] rise stead-
ily (=rise slowly but continuously) The divorce rate has
risen steadily since the 1950s and it shows no signs of fall-
ing again.
grow/gro/if the population or the total amount of some-
thing such as sales or production grows, it increases
gradually over a period of time Iv I]
The population is expected to grow by 20% in the next ten
years. I Sales of new cars have grown gradually since the
middle of the year. ] As long as the national debt grows faster
than national income, taxes must continue to rise.
climb/Maim/if the temperature, prices, profits etc climb,
they increase uotil they reach a very high level Iv I]
climb to The original estimate of $500 million has now
climbed to a staggering $1300 million. I The auction began,
and after some hesitant bidding theprice climbed to $9000. I
climb As the sun rose higher in the pale sky the temperature
climbed steeply.
gain/gem/gain height/speed/weight (=to increase in
height, speed,.or weight) Iv T]

INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6?5 INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT
The. car gained speed quickly as it came over the top of the
hill. I A new-born baby will gain weight at around one ounce
per day. I As the plane gained height we lost sight of it in the
clouds.
escalate /'esklet/ if prices or costs escalate they
increase and this makes a situation worse Iv I]
The president warned that food prices would continue to
escalate. I The cost of the new building has escalated to a
worrying level.
escalation/,eska'leiJ'an/[n U] The escalation of living costs
(=their rapid increase)
pick up /=pik =^p/if trade, business, or work picks up,
the amount of it that is available increases after it has been
at a level that is too low [phr v I]
Their shop was losing money, but they caried on in the hope
that business would pick up soon. I At present the hotel is
almost empty but I'm sure things will pick up in the spring.
pick-up ! pIk ^p/In C] Forecasters are not optimistic about
a pick-up in trade over the coming year.
improve Dm'pfu:v/ if something .such as a number, a
profit or production improves, its level goes up in a way
that people welcome [v I]
Last year the team lost nearly all their games, but this year
their scores have improved. I improve enormously/sig-
nificantly (=improve a lot) Since the new equipment was
installed production figures have improved enormously.
improvement In C] I think she's going to pass the exam.
There's been a big improvement in her marks already. I Last
year's profits showed a significant improvement.
widen /'waidn/ if a difference between two amounts
widens, or the range of things available widens, it
increases [v I]
The gap between income and expenditure has widened "to 11
per cent of the Gross National Product. I The range of univer-
sity courses available has widened tremendously in recent
years.
2 words for describing numbers or amounts
that are increasing
increasing mounting
rising escalating
growing expanding
increasing/in'kri:sirj/[adj only before noun]
Peace groups are worried about the government's increas-
ing expenditure on defence. ] There is an increasing number
of single parent families in modern society. [ ever-
increasing (=increasing all the time) Ever-increasing num-
bers of science teachers are leaving their jobs to work in
industry.
rising /raizi/ rising unemploymentCricesCnfla-
tionCumbers (=used especially when these are bad
things that are difficult to control) [adj only before noun]
Rising house prices have contributed to inflation. [ Rising
unemployment and a low level of trade is causing great con-
cern to the government. I Rising crime has driven many fami-
lies out of down-town areas.
growing I 'gmoi/growing number/population/quan-
tity/volume etc (=gradually increasing) [adj only before
noun ]
A growing number of people are catching AIDS. I An eco-
nomic miracle is needed if Bangladesh is to feed its huge and
growing population. I Garbage collection is a growth indus-
try, thanks to growing volumes of garbage - up 2-3% a year.
mounting /'maonurj/mounting inflation/debts/losses
(=increasing and causing problems) [adj]
We must export more in order to pay off the counlry's mount-
ing debt. I Workers are not going to put up with wage con-
trols in the face of mounting inflation. I Planners are wor-
ried about the mounting costs of the plan - up from 100
million dollars in 1982 to 165 million now.
escalating !'esklet;r/escalating costs/prices (=in-
creasing quickly and causing problems) [adj only before
noun]
Investors in the Sports Stadium project are worried by
escalating construction costs. I rapidly escalating (=esca-
lating quickly) Rapidly escalating house prices mean more
and more young couples can't afford to buy their own home.
expanding / k'spendIrj/expanding demand/market/
workforee ere (=increasing in number or amount, espe-
cially if it is good that this is happening) [adj only before
noun]
Corn imports increased but, with an expanding market,
prices stayed quite high. [ rapidly expanding (=expanding
quickly) We are having to provide training for a rapidly
expanding labour force.
3 to increase a lot
multiply quadruple
double proliferate
treble snowball
multiply / rnnltpla/to increase greatly in number Iv I]
Opportunities for crime have multiplied in recent years. I
Ever since they started borrowing money their problems have
multiplied. I Car sales multiplied once interstate highways
were built. I multiply greatly/enormously (=multiply a
lot) The number of settlements multiplied enormously.
double/'dnbal/to become twice as much or twice as many
Iv I]
The actual number of women managers in major banks
doubled from 104 to 208. I When you get to the shop you
discover the price has doubled.
treble/'trebal/to become three times as much or three
times as many [v I]
The party's majority in Congress has trebled as a result of
the election. I World fuel consumption has trebled since
World War Two.
quadruple /'kwt)dropal, kwo'dru:-[[ kwa:'dru:-/ to
become four times as much or four times as many Iv I]
By the end of 1973 the price of oil had quadrupled to $11.65
a gallon. I The number of motor vehicles in Canada had
quadrupled in the five years from 1915 to 1920.
proliferate /pm'lifreit/ a formal word: if something
proliferates, the number of examples of it increases very
quickly, so that you can find it in many places Iv I]
Self-help groups have proliferated for people with a wide
range of probiems. I Dewey designed a new classification
system for the new public libraries proliferating in the UK,
the USA and elsewhere.
proliferation/pml;f rejbn/In U] The president expressed
concern about the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
snowball/' snob:l/to increase in number, at first slowly
and then faster and faster Iv I]
At first there was only a few complaints but these began to
snowball and now the firm is in severe trouble. I Urban
renewal schemes have snowballed in the last few years.
4 to increase very quickly or suddenly
shoot up go through the roof
soar spiral
rocket take off
shoot up / ,J'u:t ' ^pl if something such as a price, number,
or temperature shoots up it increases quickly and sud-
denly [phr v I]
A year ago the magazine had a circulation of 150,000 but
since then that figure has shot up to an astonishing 2 mil-
lion. [ If mortgage rates do not shoot up, property should
remain a good investment. [ The price of petrol shot up by
35% overnight.
soar/s:r/to increase quickly to a high level Iv I]
Temperatures soared into the nineties. [ Industrial unem-
ployment soared to 40%. [ Inflation has soared while produc-
tivity has dwindled.
soaring [adj only before noun] The soaring crime rate in
our cities is worrying a lot of peopie.

INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6?6 INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT
rocket/'mkt [[ 'm:-/if costs, prices, profits, sales etc
rocket they increase very quickly to a very high level [v I]
Gold prices rocketed to their highest level since 1983. [ Profits
rocketed 231% in one year.
go through the roof/,go Oru: 6 'ruff/an informal
expression: if prices go through the roof they increase to
an extremely high level [v phrase]
It's as simple as this: if we can't buy oil from the Arab states,
gas prices will go through the roof. [ Following news of
increased profits, the company's share price went through
the roof.
spiral/, spaIaml/if debt or the cost of something spirals
it increases very quickly and uncontrollably [v I]
Since the project started five years ago costs have spiralled. ]
With inflation spiralling out of control the country was close
to economic collapse.
spiralling [adj only before noun] The government has asked
the Worm Bank for help with its spiralling national debt.
take off/,teik 'of [I -':f/if numbers or prices take off
they begin to increase quickly after a long period when
they did not increase [phr v I]
With the introduction of user-friendly software, home com-
puter sales suddenly took off. [ After a quiet period in the late
1980s, the numbers emigrating to the United States really
took off in the 1990s.
5 to increase through a process of gradual
addition
accumulate collect
build up gather
pile up
accumulate/'kju:mj Ulet/to increase gradually in num-
bers or amount until there is a large quantity in one place
[v I]
Over a period of years the drug will accumulate in the body
and damage the nervous system. [ Sand had accumulated at
the mouth of the river and formed a bank which boats couM
not pass [ Nitrogen accumulates in the rotting vegetation on
the forest floor.
bu|ld up ! Ibild I^P/if something such as a substance or
a force builds up somewhere it increases gradually in
amount or strength as more of it is added or more of it
appears [phr v I]
As the temperature rises, the pressure builds up inside the
chamber. [ Deposits of lime will stick to the surface and build
up over the years. [ Radioactivity builds up inside the nuclear
reactor.
pile up / pail 'Ap/if something such as work or debt pries
up it increases as more is added to it until there is a large
quantity of it, especially if this causes problems [phr v I]
All my assistants have gone on vacation and meanwhile the
work is piling up. ] I don't want to sell the house, but my debts
are piling up so quickly I may have no choice.
collect/klekt/if something such as a liquid collects
somewhere it goes to that place and the amount there
gradually increases [v I]
As the tide came in, water collected to form small pools
among the rocks. [ If condensation collects on the inside of
the window, wipe it off with a clean cloth. [ Dust and fluff
will collect on the filter.
gather/ga6or! if a substance such as dirt, snow etc
gathers somewhere it goes to that place and the amount
there gradually increases [v I]
Mrs Todd ran her finger along the top shelf to see if any dust
had gathered. [ Harry was afraid. Sweat gathered on his
upper lip.
6 to make a number or amount increase
Increase
raise boost
put up double/treble/
push up/drive up/ quadruple
force up maximize
increase/in'kri:s/[v T]
This month, Oatey is increasing its workforce from 650 to
900. [ The party aims to increase the number of women elected
to Congress. [ We reduced the size of the magazine because
we didn't want to increase the price.
raise/reiz! raise a price/tax/temperature/level etc
(=increase it) [v T]
The president should take the necessary steps of raising taxes
and cutting public spending. [ During the experiment the
temperature of a beaker of water is raised from 40°C to a final
temperature of 80°C. [ The retirement age has been raised to
65 for both men and women.
put up /pot Ap/ put up the rent/prices/taxes etc
(=increase them) [phr v T]
put up sth If the landlord puts up the rent the tenants are
sure to complain. [ put sth/it/them up This used to be quite
a cheap restaurant but they've put their prices up since the
last time I came here.
push up/drive up/force up/,pof '^p, ,draiv '^p, f3:rs
'^p/if something that happens pushes/drives/forces up
the price of something, it causes it to increase [phr v T]
push/drive/force up sth In recent years increased demand
has forced up the price of copper on worm markets. [ An
expansion of the weapons research program is sure to drive
up defence costs. [ War pushed up the price of manufactured
goods at home.
boost/bu:st/to increase something such as production,
sales, or wages because they are not as high as you want
them to be Iv T]
The plan was meant to boost agricultural production. [
Labourers sign up for overtime to boost their meagre wages. ]
The company launched a publicity campaign to boost the
newspaper's circulation.
double/treble/quadruple /'d^bal, 'trebal, 'kwod-
rupal II kwc;:'dru:-/to increase a number or amount by two,
three, or four times Iv T]
The goverment doubled the sales tax on cigarettes from 20%
to 40%. I In the last General Election the party trebled its
number of seats in the Bundestagfrom six to eighteen. I The
company has quadrupled Sonia's salary in just three years
in recognition of her achievements.
maximize (also -ise British)/'mksmaiz/a formal word
meaning to make something such as profit, power, or pro-
ductivity increase to the highest level that is possible Iv T]
Obviously, industrialists are likely to have a wage system
that maximizes their profits. I To maximise power output,
solar panels are placed on the highest part of the building.
7 to increase a number or amount by adding
another number or amount to it
add to augment
strengthen put 10p/$5 etc on
swell
add to/'ed tu:/if a change to something, especially an
improvement, adds to its cost, price, value, or amount, it
causes the cost, price, value, or amount to increase Iv T]
New high quality printing technology added $1000 to the
retail price of the computer. [ Winning an Academy Award
adds millions of dollars to the earnings of a film. [ Gardens
that have been substantially improved will add to the value
of your property.
strengthen/'strejOan, 'strenOan! strengthen a force/
army/team ere (=increase the number of people in it and
therefore make it stronger and more effective) [v T]
The force had been considerably strengthened by the addi-
tion of 180 officers from the Metropolitan Police. [ The
general despatched 5000 men to strengthen the Damascus
garrison.
swell/swel/if an action or event swells the number of
people doing something or swells the number of people in
a group, it causes the number to increase [v T]
Large scale immigration swelled the population of the cities
of central Canada. [ swell the ranks of (=the number of
people in a particular situation) The closure of the factory
swelled the ranks of the unemployed by 1500.

INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6?? independence
augment/a:glment/a formal word meaning to increase
and improve the strength, value, effectiveness etc of some-
thing Iv T]
The cream contains ingredients that augment the skin's
natural healing processes. [ Special contributions can be
made to augment pensions in certain circumstances.
put 10p155 etc on/pot (lOp etc) on/if something such
as a new tax or increased production cost puts lOp, $5 etc
on the price of something, it causes the price to increase
by that much [phr v T]
The new tax puts 20 cents on the price of a pack of cigarettes. I
The increased cost of imported wheat will put 5p on the price
of a loaf of bread.
8 to increase the amount of heat, sound etc
coming from a piece of equipment such as a
' TV or heater
turn up
turn up/, t3: rn 'Ap/turn up the radio/television/heat/
volume etc [phr v T]
turn sth/it/them up Can you turn the radio up - I can't
hear it very well. I I wish the teacher would turn the heating
up - it's so cold in here. [ turn up sth He leaned forward
to turn up the volume on the TV.
9 an increase in a number or amount
increase build-up
growth upturn
rise
increase 1' irjkri:s/In C]
increase in Reagan was responsible for huge increases in
defense spending. [ Improved airline service led to an 18. 7%
increase in tourists to Africa last year. I increase of 10/20/
50% etc There was an increase of about 17% in the urban
population between 1910 and 1920.
growth/gmuO/an increase in amount, quantity, popula-
tion etc In U]
economic/population etc growth Population growth in
poor countries is at least twice as high as in rich countries. I
The company enjoyed its best profit growth in 1987. [ growth
in During the 1970s there was rapid growth in oil produc-
tion and consumption.
rise/raz/an increase in numbers, level, population, or
temperature In singular]
rise in The government has failed to stop the rise in the
number of people out of work. [ rise 30°C is the hottest it
usually gets, although there is an occasional rise to 33°C or
35°C. [ We have sold 120,O00cars this year, a 20% rise on 1988.
build-up / blld ap[ a gradual increase in something harm-
ful or bad In C usually singular]
The changing world climate is probably due to a build-up
of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. [ The new
missile system is part of one of the biggest military build-ups
in European history.
upturn / Apta:rn/an increase in the amount of trade done
by a country, company etc after a period of time when it
was not increasing In C usually singular]
After 2 years of recession, economists expect an upturn in
world trade towards the end of this year. [ The shortage of
workers, combined with the economic upturn, means that
wages are rising fast.
10 an increase in costs, prices, wages, or taxes
increase hike
rise increment
rise/raise
increase/'iokri:s / [n C]
pay/price/rent/tax etc increase Every year the union
negotiates our pay increase with the manageme, nt. I Our
party promises you tax reductions, not tax increases. I
increase in Economists expect any increase in food prices
to be gradual. I As a result of rising property prices there
have been alarming increases in rents this year.
rise/raiz/an increase in costs, prices, taxes, or rent [n C]
rent rise/price rise Tenants face a 60% rent rise. I rise in
Employers claim any rise in taxes would lead to greater
unemployment.
rise (British) I raise (American)/raz, rez/a pay increase
[nC]
I asked the boss for a $25 a week raise. I The State Govern-
ment simply can't afford to give all teachers a raise. I My
father worked therefor twelve years and was never given a
rise.
hike/haik] an American word meaning a sudden increase
in something such as prices, wages, or taxes In C]
For seven years Reagan was against any tax hike. I This is
the first wage hike for sanitation workers since the Sixties.
increment/' rjkrImnt/an amount that is added regu-
larly to someone's pay every year, every six months etc In
C]
The contract includes a salary increment every six months. I
an increment ofЈ600
1 1 a sudden large increase
leap explosion
surge boom
leap Ill:p! [n C]
leap in There has been a 38% leap in the sales of the women's
magazine "Machine Knitting'. I Borrowers have been warned
to expect another leap in bank interest rates.
surge/sa:rdS/a sudden increase in something such as
demand, profit, interest, power, or activity In C]
surge in Last year there was a surge in the company's profits
to Ј122m. I Stores are expecting a surge in demand as
Christmas approaches. I a tremendous surge in public sup-
port for a change in the law on homosexuality
explosion /k'splaosan/ a very sudden and very large
increase in population, in an activity or in the numbers of
something In C]
population explosion We live in the century of population
explosion, with the world's population doubling at least
every 25 years. I explosion The publishing explosion fol-
lowed the invention of the printing press.
boom/bu:m/ a sudden increase in something such as
trade, economic success, or a particular area of business
during a limited period of time In singular]
boom in The economy grew at its fastest rate since 1980
thanks to a boom in world trade. I There has been a boom
in video rental shops as more people have acquired
videorecorders. I economic boom (=a period of economic
and financial success) Canada enjoyed a real economic
boom in the postwar years. I the boom years (=a period of
years in which there was an economic boom) Businessmen
have to realize that the boom years of the eighties are over.
increased INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 5,
MORE THAN BEFORE 4
increasing INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 5,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
increasing number: a growing number/an increasing
number MORE THAN BEFORE 1
increasingly MORE THAN BEFORE 2, 3
incredible BELIEVE 12
incredible: amazing/incredible GOOD/EXCELLENT 2
incredible: unbelievable/incredible SURPRISED 6
incredibly/unbelievably VERY 2
incredulous BELIEVE 6
increment INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 10
incriminate GUILTY 3
incriminating GUILTY 3
incurable CURE 5
indebted: be indebted to THANK 3
indecent RUDE/OBSCENE 1
indecipherable READ 12
indecision DECIDE 9
indecisive DECIDE 10
indentation HOLE 1
independence INDEPENDENT COUNTRY OR
ORGANIZATION 1, INDEPENDENT PERSON 6

independence
independence: gain/win/get independence
INDEPENDENT COUNTRY OR ORGANIZATION 2
independent INDEPENDENT COUNTRY OR
ORGANIZATION 1, INDEPENDENT PERSON 1,
2, PRIVATE/NON-GOVERNMENT 1
independent: be independent INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
independent: become independent INDEPENDENT
COUNTRY OR ORGANIZATION 2
.[independent],,        0
-..- - .: ...
jnePendeet-person-" .... ?  INDEPENDENT
........ . ....:
independent countr  IT
;0 E Јfgnigion:;, COUNTRY OR
.
INDEPENDENT
COUNTRY OR
ORGANIZATION
words for describing a country or
organization that is not controlled by another
country or organization
ways of saying that a country or organization
is no longer controlled by another country or
organization
1 words for describing a country or
organization that is not controlled by another
country or organization
independent autonomous
independence self-governing
sovereign
independent/, md 'pendm-/[adj]
Sikh extremists seeking an independent state in India have
begun a campaign of violence. I The independent role of the
Police Commission must never be compromised - otherwise
people will not trust it. I The country has three major network
television stations, plus one independent station.
independently [adv] the town's independently run
newspaper
independence/,ind'pendns/[n U]
the American war of independence I There is a move to
increase the independence of the judiciary. I independence
from Gradually schools gained a certain amount of indepen-
dence from the Church.
sovereign / s.vrIn II 'so=v-/a word used especially in an
official or political context meaning not controlled by any
other country [adj only before noun]
It was a number of years before Canada was accepted by the
world as a sovereign state. [ The two countries signed the
treaty and sovereign power was transferred from one to the
other.
sovereignty [n U] Britain was concerned that its
sovereignty and cultural identity would be harmed by the
treaty.
autonomous/a:tonamas 11 3:'to:-/part of a country or
organization that is autonomous is partly independent
and has the right to organize most of its own activities, bus-
iness etc [adj]
Andorra is autonomous, with its external affairs managed
by both France and Spain. I The company has been divided
678
INDEPENDENT PERSON
into 3 new autonomous divisions. ] The councils, which are
locally autonomous, act as courts for the whole area.
autonomously [ adv ] Local radiostations are supported by
national radio, but operate autonomously.
autonomy In U] There is a lot of popular support for some
form of autonomy in the Basque area of France and Spain.
self.governing /self 'gAvornIrj/ part of a country or
organization that is self-governing is controlled by the
people who live or work there, but outside business is con-
trolled by the country or organization to which it belongs
[adj]
The farmers are members of a small self-governing co-
operative group. [ At that time Ireland had the status of a
self-governing dominion within the British Empire. [ Many
or the larger communties felt they would be better off if they
were self-governing.
2 ways of saying that a country or organization
is no longer controlled by another country or
organization
become independent
gain/win/get independence
become independent/b ,kAm ind I 'pendant/[vphrase]
In 1830 Greece became independent. [ become independent
from The Solomon Islands became independent from Bri-
tain about 15years ago.
gain/win/get independence/geln, w[n, get ind-
'pendns/(--to become independent after a war or a long
struggle) Iv phrase]
My country finally won its independence after a long armed
struggle. [ gain/win/get independence from India
obtained independence from Britain in 1949.
INDEPENDENT
PERSON
doing things and thinking for yourself,
without needing other people's help, advice,
or support
1 independent in character or in the way you
live
:2 not dependent on other people, other
countries etc for money, food, or other needs
 to live in an independent way and without
help from other people
4 ways of saying that someone does things
without anyone else helping them or telling
them what to do
5 independent in the way you think and form
opinions
6 the quality or feeling of being indepeadent
1 independent in character or in the way you
live
independent self-sufficient
self-reliant individualist
independent/, Inda I pendnt.,/confident and able to do
things alone and in your own way, without wanting help
or advice from other people [adj]
I quite like living alone. It's made me more independent. I
I've always been attracted to strong, independent women. I
It's easier for mothers to work when the children are going
to school and are a little more independent. I independent
of sb (=not dependent on them)Isuddenly realised that my
precious son was a full-grown man quite independent of his
father and me.
self.reliant/, self ri lalant/able to do things for yourself
and to live without depending on the help or support of
other people or of the government [adj]

INDEPENDENT PERSON 6?9 INDEPENDENT PERSON
The old state-run industries of Eastern Europe are being
encouraged to become more selflreliant. I It was a difficult
decision, and - self-reliant though he was - he felt that he
had to get advice from his boss.
self.sufficient/Iself sa'fQ'ant-/able to live happily on
your own, without needing a lot of friends or spending a
lot of time with other people [adj]
We grew up in a close-knit, self-sufficient family with few out-
side friends. ] Old George lived alone and was self-sufficient.
He had his books, his TV, and his little dog, and didn't need
human company. I a solitary, self-sufficient existence
individualist/, ind  vdsualst / someone who likes to do
things alone or in their own way, especially someone who
does not enjoy working with a group In C]
Peter is an individualist, I don't think he'll want to go on
vacation with the rest of us. I She's a very talented player,
but she's also an individualist who doesn't fit into a team
very well.
2 not dependent on other people, other
countries etc for money, food, or other needs
independent
self-sufficient
independent I ndI 'pendants/having your own money
and not needing financial help from other people [adj]
My morn was in fact quite independent. She had always had
a job and her own bank account. I Dad left me all his money
when he died, which made me financially independent. I
Changes in the rural economy turned many independent
farmers to hired labourers.
self.sufficient/self sa'flj'ant-/a country or group of
people that is self-sufficient produces all the food and
other products that it needs [adj]
We're self-sufficient here. We grow all our own vegetables
and catch fish in the river. [ Many areas of the world still
have self-sufficient rural economies. [ self-sufficient in
(=able to produce as much of a particular product as you
need) Irrigation has made the region self-sufficient in food
production. [ The United Kingdom is self-sufficient in oil and
natural gas.
3 to live in an independent way and without
help from other people
be independent look after yourself
go it alone fend for yourself
stand on your own feet/ do your own thing
your own two feet
be independent /bi: ,nd'pendant/ to live in an
independent way, without other people helping you or tell-
ing you what to do Iv phrase]
Alice was glad to be independent and making a life of her
own at last. ] For once in his life he wanted to be completely
independent, with no one else interfering. [ be independent
of sb (=not be dependent on them) To study on your own
and be independent of your teachers is very satisfying.
go it alone/,gao t a laon/to start working or living on
your own, especially after working or living with other
people in a family, organization etc. [v phrase]
After years of working for a big company she decided to go
it alone and set up her own business. I Many unmarried
women are going it alone and bringing up their children
without the father's help.
stand on your own feet/your own two feet/, stend
on j:r aon fi:t, ja:r aon tu: fi:t/to live your life indepen-
dently without any help from your family or from the
government Iv phrase]
She'll never learn to stand on her own feet if you keep giving
her whatever she wants. I Theatre companies now find that
they have to stand on their own two feet, and stop relying on
government handouts.
look after yourself/lok 'a:fta r ja:r self/to take care of
yourself by doing everything that is necessary, such as
cooking your own food and washing your own clothes
[ v phrase ]
Boys should be taught to look after themselves, then my
brother wouldn't keep asking me to cook for him. I Grandpa
can't look after himself any more so he's coming to live with
US.
fend for yourself/,fend fa r ja:r'self/to be forced to look
after yourself when you would usually be looked after by
someone else Iv phrase]
Do you mind fending for yourselves tonight? I won't have
time to cook before I go out. I Under this government the poor
and weak are being left to fend for themselves.
do your own thing /,du: j:r aon Orj/ to live in an
independent way and do what you want to do, without
being influenced by what other people think Iv phrase]
She was tired of listening to her friends" advice, she just
wanted to do her own thing. [ He's given up his job and is
living in northern California, just doing his own thing.
4 ways of saying that someone does things
without anyone else helping them or telling
them what to do
on your own/by yourself
independently
on your own initiative
under your own steam
on your own/by yourself/on j:r 'aon. bai j:r'self/
[adv phrase]
Come and help, I can't move all this stuff by myself. ] Bring-
ing up a child on your own is hard work. [ We can't let them
walk to school on their own. ] all on your own/all by your-
self Look, Dad, she drew this all by herself.
independently/,nd pendantli/ if you work or make
decisions independently, you do not need help and advice
from other people [adv]
He's very good at working independently. I independently
of sb In this case, Bond was acting quite independently of
the department.
on your own initiative/on j:r ,aon 'nj'atv/using
your own judgement about what needs to be done, instead
of waiting for someone in authority to tell you what to do
[adv phrase]
The General was not following Government orders, he was
acting on his own initiative. [ When her boss would give her
no instructions, she wrote to the client on her own initiative.
under your owh steam /,Anda r j:r laon 'sti:m/ify0u
go somewhere under your own steam, you go there
without help from anyone else [adv phrase]
"Would you like a ride? .... No thanks, I can get there under
my own steam. "" I We don't much like package tours. We'd
rather travel under our own steam.
5 independent in the way you think and form
opinions
think for yourself
have a mind of your own
be your own woman/man
know your own mind
liberated
think for yourself/,Orjk fa r j:r'self/to make your own
decisions and form your own opinions without expecting
other people to tell you what to do or what to think [vphrase
usually in infinitive or progressive]
Parents should encourage their children to think for them-
selves. I We encourage our employees to think for themselves
and not pass decisions on to supervisors unnecessarily. I
Never mind what I think, it's time you started thinking for
yourself.
have a mind of your own/hev a mand avj:r aon/
to have opinions or make decisions without being
influenced by what other people may think about them Iv
phrase not in progressive]
That's what he thinks. He's got a mind of his own, that boy. I
Margaret has a mind of her own, I always enjoy talking to
her.

INDEPENDENT PERSON 680 information
be your own woman/man/bi:jz:r Izon Iwomn, men!
to have your own opinions and not just think or do what
other people say you should Iv phrase]
He's his own man, and he'll do exactly what he wants. I
Sheila is very much her own woman. She'll listen to every-
one and then make up her mind for herself.
know your own mind /,noj3:r on 'mand/to have con-
fidence in your own decisions and opinions, so that you do
not change your mind quickly or easily [v phrase not in
progressive]
He's successful and competent, and knows his own mind. [
Though not yet 15, Sara knows her own mind, and has
already decided on a career.
liberated/'libreitd/not influenced by old-fashioned
ideas about how men and women should behave [adj]
They're a modern, liberated couple - they both go out to
work, so they share the housework and child care. [ a maga-
zine for young, liberated women
6 the quality or feeling of being independent
independence
self-sufficiency
self-reliance
independence/,ndo  'pendns/[n U]
Your first pay cheque gives you a terrific sense of indepen-
dence. I Roz said she'd never marry because she valued her
independence too much. I He was desperate to get a job and
regain his independence.
self-sufficiency /self s'flfdnsi! being independent,
either because you can live happily without needing a lot
of friends, or because you do not need to buy food or other
products from other places In U]
I admired his air of self-sufficiency. I This development pro-
gram will help the country toward self-sufficiency. I self-
sufficiency in We have already achieved self-sufficiency in
our most important food crops.
self-reliance/, self r; 'lamns/being independent because
you do not need the help or support of other people or of
the government In U]
The older children are beginning to develop self-reliance. I
In the early 80s, ideas of self-reliance, and reducing the role
of government, became increasingly fashionable.
: independently INDEPENDENT PERSON 4
 indescribable EXPRESS 5
 indestructible STRONG OBJECT 1
i index LIST 3
indicate POINT AT 1, SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 1, 2,
SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 4, 6
indication SIGN/INDICATION 1
indicative: be indicative of SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 2
indict ACCUSE 2
 indictment ACCUSE 4
 indictment: be an indictment of SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 5
 indifferent DON'T CARE 4
ilk indignant ANGRY 3
 indignity ASHAMED 3
 PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 4
indirect
, indirect result RESULT 4
, indiscreet CARELESS 4
 indiscretion MISTAKE 5
" indispensable NEED 5, USEFUL 2
 indisputable TRUE 4
 indistinct SEE 11
indistinguishable SAME 2
 individual DIFFERENT 3, PERSON/PEOPLE 1
: individualist INDEPENDENT PERSON 1
• individuality CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 2
{ indoctrinate TEACH 3
indolent LAZY 1
indoor IN/INSIDE 2
indoors IN/INSIDE 2
induce CAUSE 9
inducement PERSUADE 11
indulge in DO 6
industrial action STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 2
industrious WORK HARD 4
industry BUSINESS 1
industry: be a hive of activity/industry BUSY PLACE 1
inedible EAT 14
ineffective EFFECTIVE 4, EFFICIENT 5
ineffectual EFFICIENT 5
inefficient EFFICIENT 5
inelegant GRACEFUL 4
inept BAD AT 2
inequality EQUAL 12, UNFAIR 6
inequitable UNFAIR 4
inevitable CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5, PREVENT 11
inevitable: the inevitable CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5,
TYPICAL 2
inexact EXACT 9
inexcusable FORGIVE 3
inexhaustible FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 4
inexorable STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 10
inexpensive CHEAP 1
inexperience EXPERIENCED 6
inexperienced EXPERIENCED 4, 5
infallible CORRECT 6, EFFECTIVE 2
infamous FAMOUS 5
infancy CHILD 4
infancy: be in its infancy NEW 7
infant BABY/HAVE A BABY 1
infatuated LOVE 8
infect GIVE 17
infected: be infected with HAVE 5
infection ILLNESS/DISEASE 1
infectious SPREAD 11
infer DECIDE 3, MEANING 7
inferior BAD 4, WORSE 1
inferno FIRE 1
infertile BABY/HAVE A BABY 1:3
infidelity UNFAITHFUL :3
infiltrate JOIN AN ORGANIZATION :3
infinite LIMIT 8
infinitesimal SMALL 2
infirm ILL 1
infirmary HOSPITAL 1
inflammable Iflammable BURN 9
inflate AIR 6
inflated prices EXPENSIVE 5
inflexible CHANGE YOUR MIND 4, CHANGE/BECOME
DIFFERENT 7, CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT
11
inflict sth on FORCE SB TO DO STH 4
inflict pain HURT/CAUSE PAIN 1
]..ii ::  : .., ; ' - ..... - .--  . ........ : $j{  " .........
.... EFFECT/
 INFLUENCE
;[flfi,,,[fl,[fi,[,,]h,, ........ :-... :-.:.:..:.:.:..:::: :::: .--:::.:::::--.::-...- .............. =-.,:,:z:..z .::--:-:z-; .z-.-:-.-;szz. :-:ў..-:.:-:...:.-.:-:;::.:-:+-:--'-''z..::
influence
influence:
influence:
influence:
influential
influx
info
inform
inform on
EFFECT/INFLUENCE 2, :3, 4, 5, POWER 1
be a bad influence BAD BEHAVIOUR OR
ACTIONS 5
have an influence on EFFECT/INFLUENCE 2
under the influence DRUNK 5
EFFECT/INFLUENCE :3, IMPORTANT 6,
POWER 2
ENTER 7
INFORMATION 1
TELL :3
TELL 11
informant: informer/informant TELL 12
information INFORMATION 1
information: be a mine of information KNOW STH 7
information: get some information FIND OUT 6

INFORMATION 681 injure
INFORMATION
1 information
2 an organized collection of information
3 words for describing a book, person,
television programme etc that provides a lot
of information
1 information
information info
facts particulars
details data
information I ,infa r 'meiJ'an/facts or details that tell you
something about a situation, a person, an event etc In U]
information about/on Anyone with information about
this crime should contact the police immediately. [ Our com-
puter system provides information on advertising, distribu-
tion and profits. I I need some more information about the
patient's medical history. I information For more informa-
tion, send a self-addressed envelope to the following address. I
piece of information The police are looking for that one
vital piece of information which will help them find the killer.
facts Ifaktsl the details about something which are
known to be true, and can be proved In plural]
facts about History is not merely a collection of facts about
the past. I facts The following important facts have emerged
from the survey. I I'm simply reporting the facts; how you
interpret them is up to you.
details / Idi:teilz II dI 'teilz/all the additional information
you need, about something you already know a little about
In plural]
details of Please send me details of your English Language
Teaching books. I details There's a big jazz festival here
next month; I can send you the details if you're interested. I
further details (=more details) For further details and an
application form, please contact the personnel department.]
full details (=all the details) Full details of the new pro-
gram will be sent on request.
info/' nfao/ a word used especially in spoken English
meaning information In U]
info on/about I'm trying to get some info about the Cultural
Revolution. I Do you have any info on flights to Washing-
ton?l info Sandra will give you all the info you need.
particulars/pa r'tlkj,°larz/information about someone or
something, especially facts and details that are needed for
official purposes In plural]
take/take down particulars (=write down information
that someone tells you)A police officer came to the door and
took down a few particulars about the burglary. I particu-
lars of The report gives particulars of the latest increases
in production. I particulars Are these particulars, your
name, age, occupation and so on, correct?
data I'deita, 'do:to/information that has been collected
and stored, especially on a computer In U]
Small computers cannot store as much data as the larger
ones. I The data gathered during market research will be
valuable in designing future products. I data on Satellites
collect data on weather patterns and transmit it back to
earth.
2 an organized collection of information
file dossier
record database
file/fail/information about a particular person or situa-
tion that is kept by an official organization, for example,
the police, a school, or a company In C]
This information could be obtained from the payroll files. I
file on Files on students" exam scores are now kept on com-
puter. I on file (=kept in a file) We regret we have no suita-
ble vacancy at the moment but we will keep your letter on
file. J keep a file on (=to store information about someone
as you get it) The government keeps a file on all known
terrorists.
record I' reka:d II -ardl information that is collected over
a period of time by an official organization, for example,
about someone's past work performance, medical history,
or criminal activities In C usually plural]
medical/personnel/criminal ere record According to
your medical records, you had an operation five years ago. I
No employee's record may be shown to any unauthorized
person. I record of We keep records of radioactive levels, and
of atmospheric and marine pollution. I record Our records
are continually updated.
dossier/'dosiei !! 'da:sjei, 'do:-/a set of papers contain-
ing a lot of information, especially secret official informa-
tion, about someone or something In C]
Senior managers prepared a dossier of employees who were
members of the Communist party. I dossier on Over the
years the police have collected quite a dossier on the gang's
activities.
database I I deIta belsl a very large collection of informa-
tion kept on a computer, that is stored in a way that makes
it possible for people to easily find and read the facts and
figures that they want In C]
The Personnel Department is responsible for maintaining
the database and producing reports. I Teletext is a service
where information in vast databases is accessed one page at
a time. I database of Each Tourist office has a terminal con-
necting it to a central database of available hotel accom-
modation.
3 words for describing a book, person,
television programme etc that provides a lot
of information
informative
informative Iin'fa:rmatvl [adj]
The lecture was very informative and helpful. I Jim found
the library staff friendly and informative. I a charming and
informative book about local tourist attractions
 informative INFORMATION 3
 informed: ill-informed NOT KNOW 9
iii informed: keep sb informed TELL 4
 informer/informant TELL12
 infrequent RARELY 2
 infringe ILLEGAL 3
i; infringement ILLEGAL 2
 infuriate ANGRY8
 infuriating ANGRY 9
 ingenious INTELLIGENT 9
ingratitude THANK 7
 ingredient PART 3
 inhabit LIVE SOMEWHERE 5
 inhabitant LIVE SOMEWHERE 8, 9
 inhabited LIVE SOMEWHERE 6
,.; inhale BREATHE 2
• ; inherent PART 10
 inherit GET3
 inhibit PREVENT 2
 inhibited SHY 2
 inhibition SHY4
.; inhospitable UNFRIENDLY 1, 4
. inhuman CRUEL 2
 inhumane CRUEL 2
 inhumanity CRUEL 5
 initative: take the initative FIRST 8
 initial BEGINNING 4, FIRST 1, NAME OF A PERSON 1,
 SIGN YOUR NAME 1
...-:.i initially BEGINNING 4
 initiate START STH/MAKE STH START 1
 initiate sb into sth START DOING STH 8
 initiative: on your own initiative INDEPENDENT
 PERSON 4
 injection DRUG 6
P injunction FORBID 11
 injure INJURE 1, 2

INJURE 682 INJURE
INJURE
1 to injure someone
2 to injure a part of your body
3 to permanently injure someone so that part of
their body will not work normally again
4 to become injured, for example in an
accident or fight
5 words for describing someone who has been
injured
6 physical damage caused to a part of the
body, for example in an accident or fight
7 ways of saying that someone is not injured,
especially when they are expected to be
injured
1 to injure someone
injure
hurt
wound
Injure I'Ind3rl to cause physical harm to someone, for
example in an accident or fight [v T]
injure sb The bomb killed eleven people and injured 55. I
Benson has to be physically restrained, to stop him injuring
himself or anyone else. I badly/seriously/critically
injure The wall collapsed, killing one worker and critically
injuring two others.
hurt/h3:rt/to cause physical damage and pain to someone,
usually not very seriously [v T]
hurt sb Terry says he was only playing, and that he didn't
mean to hurt anyone. I Don't hurt me! Promise you won't!l
hurt yourself My daughter fell off a swing but she didn't
hurt herself.
wound Iwu:ndl to injure someone with a weapon, such as
a knife or gun, causing cuts, bleeding etc [v T]
The bullet wounded him in the shoulder. I Connor is accused
of wounding another prisoner.
2 to injure a part of your body
injure pull
hurt strain
damage twist
bruise dislocate
sprain do in
injure I'ndsr/[v T]
Tom injured his shoulder playing tennis. I Nurses often
injure their backs when lifting patients.
hurt/h3:rt/to injure a part of your body, usually not very
seriously [v T]
I hurt my leg in my exercise class last week. I They have to
wear helmets to make sure they don't hurt their heads.
damage/Idamid5/to injure a part of your body fairly
seriously, especially in a way that will take a long time to
get better or will never get better Iv T]
Lewis damaged his knee in training and will not appear in
the game. I When carrying out the operation, doctors have
to take great care not to damage the nerves.
damage In U] Any damage to the retina could cause
blindness.
bruise/bru-.z/to injure yourself or a part- of your body
when you fall or are hit, causing a dark mark to form on
your skin Iv I/T]
bruise sth She bruised her knee when she fell over. I bruise
(=become bruised) My skin bruises quite easily.
bruised [adj] The accident left him badly bruised but apart
from that he was okay.
bruise In C] He was covered with cuts and bruises.
sprain Isprein/to injure one of your joints fairly seriously
by turning or pulling it suddenly and awkwardly [v T]
He sprained his knee and won't be able to play football for
a week. I Mountain climbers always run the risk of sprain-
ing an ankle.
sprained [ adj] She withdrew from the tournament because
of a sprained wrist.
sprain [n C] It's a slight sprain - you should rest for a few
days.
pull/pol/to injure a muscle by stretching it too much, espe-
cially during a hard physical activity [v T]
I pulled a muscle trying to move the piano into the apartment.
strain/strein/to injure a muscle or part of the body by
making it work too hard [v T]
I've strained my shoulder lifting the desk.
strained [adj] The best cure for a strained back is to sleep
on a hard surface.
strain [n C] Gascoigne cannot play today, because of a groin
strain.
twist/twist/injure a joint, especially in your leg, by turn-
ing or pulling it too suddenly while you are moving [v T]
She slipped on the ice and twisted her ankle.
dislocate/'dislakeit/to injure a joint by falling on it or
stretching it so that the two halves of the joint are moved
out of their normal position [v T]
Johnson dislocated his elbow in a fight.
dislocated [adj] The fall left her with several bruises and
a dislocated shoulder.
do in / ,du: ' In/an informal expression meaning to injure
a part of your body, especially your back [phr v T]
Ted's not coming to work today - he's done his back in again.
3 to permanently injure someone so that part of
their body will not work normally again
cripple mutilate
maim disfigure
cripple/, kripal/to injure someone's legs or back so that
they can never move or walk properly again [v T]
She has been in a wheelchair ever since the accident that crip-
pled her. I Ahab swore to kill Moby Dick, the white whale"
that had crippled him.
crippled [adj] The streets of Barcelona were full of crippled
ex-soldiers begging for money.
maim/me;m/to injure someone very seriously and per-
manently, especially in an accident or battle [v T]
Drunk driving kills and maims hundreds of people on our
roads every year.
maimed [adj] He walks with great difficulty, dragging his
maimed foot behind him.
mutilate/Imju:tleit/to deliberately cut off or destroy
part of someone's body or part of the dead body of some-
one you have killed [v T]
Stanowski killed at least 18 women and mutilated many of
his victims. I Hundreds were killed and thousands were
mutilated by invading troops.
mutilated [adj] The battlefield was littered with the
mutilated bodies of young men.
disfigure/dIsfIga r l[ -fIgjar/to injure someone's face, so
that they no longer look attractive because they have a
permanent mark or damage [v T]
Many women have been disfigured by cosmetic surgery that
has gone wrong.
4 to become injured, for example in an
accident or fight
be injured be bleeding
be hurt get hurt
be wounded sustain an injury
be injured Ibi: 'IndSrdl [v phrase]
I think she's been injured. ] Her fingers were injured when
they got caught in the machine. I be badly/seriously/crit-
ically injured 12,000people were either killed or seriously
injured.

INJURE 683 innocent
be hurt/bi: 'h3.'rt/to be injured, either seriously or only
slightly, in an accident, attack, etc Iv phrase]
be seriously/badly hurt Seven people were seriously hurt
when a bomb exploded on the bridge. I be slightly hurt
Terry was slightly hurt, but was released from the hospital
after a few hours. I be hurt Daniel fell off the wall but he
wasn't hurt.
be wounded/bi: Iwu:ndoId/to be injured, especially by
a weapon such as a knife, gun, or bomb, that causes cuts
or bleeding Iv phrase]
Refugees wait outside the camp. Many of them are wounded
and need medical help. I be badly/seriously wounded My
father was released from the army after he was badly woun-
ded in 1945. I be mortally/fatally wounded (=wounded
so badly that you die) In the assault on the castle, King Henry
was mortally wounded.
be bleeding/bi: Ibli:diq/to have a cut or other wound
on part of your body that blood is coming out of [v phrase]
I'm bleeding! I must have cut myself when I was chopping
the vegetables. I His eye was swollen and his nose was
bleeding.
get hurt/get h3:rt/to be injured, especially while doing
something dangerous Iv phrase]
People often get hurt rock-climbing, so make sure you have
all the right equipment. I He boasts that be's flown seventy
missions without getting hurt.
sustain an Injury/sostein an ' indsori / a formal expres-
sion meaning to be injured Iv phrase]
Reports so far say as many as ninety people may have sus-
tained serious injuries.
5 words for describing someone who has been
injured
injured
wounded
casualty
injured I'Ind30rd/[adj]
One of the injured passengers said the accident was the
driver's fault. I I'm OK but my brother's injured. I the
injured (=people who are injured) The Red Cross are trying
to cope with all the sick and the injured.
wounded/wu:ndId/seriously injured, especially by a
weapon, during a battle, an explosion etc [adj]
The wounded men were flown out of the city by helicopter. I
the wounded (=wounded people) Ambulances carried the
wounded to the nearest hospital.
casualty /kmsualti/a person who has been injured or
killed in a war, battle, or accident In C usually plural]
The bomb caused slight damage but no casualties. I Indian
troops have suffered more than 1,200 casualties.
 physical damage caused to a part of the
body, for example in an accident or fight
injury
wound
Injury/' nd3ri/[n C/U]
She is suffering from a leg injury and can't play in the tennis
tournament. I Our insurance provides cover in the case of ill-
ness or injury. I The glass roof collapsed onto the crowd, caus-
ing horrific injuries. I escape injury (=not be injured) The
driver escaped injury when her car crashed into a tree.
wound/wu:nd/an injury caused by a knife, gun, etc which
damages your flesh and causes bleeding, especially in a
fight, war, or explosion In C]
The wound needed eighteen stitches. I bullet/stab/gunshot
etc wound The gunman died from bullet wounds received
during the battle with police.
7 ways of saying that someone is not injured,
especially when they are expected to be
injured
unharmed without a scratch
unhurt in one piece
unscathed walk away from
come to no harm/not come to any harm
unharmed/^n'ho:rmd/[adj not before noun]
The missing boy was found cold and hungry, but otherwise
unharmed. [ Thanks to her seat belt, she was unharmed.
unhurt/Anlha:rt/to not be hurt, even though you have
been in a dangerous situation such as an accident [adj not
before noun]
Amazingly, all four of us escaped unhurt. ] Police investigat-
ing the crash are interviewing a truck driver, who appears
to be unhurt.
unscathed/An'skeI6d/not injured at all after a danger-
ous experience in which you expect someone to be harmed
or even killed [adj not before noun]
escape/emerge/come out of sth unscathed Most of the
passengers escaped from the plane unscathed. I unscathed
We returned to Katmandu tired and hungry but otherwise
unscathed.
come to no harm/not come to any harm/,kAm to
natJ ho:rm, not kAm to eni-/an expression meaning to not
be hurt, used especially in threats and warnings [vphrase]
If you keep quiet, you won't come to any harm. I I'll go with
him, to make sure he comes to no harm.
without a scratch/wi6aot a 'skretf/if you do some-
thing without a scratch, you do not have any injury at all
after a dangerous experience, especially because you have
been very lucky [adv phrase]
He came through the war without a scratch.
In one piece/in IwAn pi:s/if you do something in one
piece, you are not seriously hurt after being in a dangerous
situation, although you may have unimportant injuries
[adj phrase not before noun]
I was lucky to reach the bottom of the ski slope in one piece
as it was only myfirst lesson. [ "'Sam - are you okay? .... Well
at least I'm in one piece. ""
walk away from I,wo:k o'we from II -fr^m/to be able
to leave the scene of an accident, explosion etc because,
surprisingly, you have not been seriously injured Iv T]
I can hardly believe they were able to just walk away from
the crash - I thought they'd all been killed.
injured INJURE 5
injured: be injured INJURE 4
injury INJURE 6
injury: to add insult to injury WORSE 5
injury: sustain an injury INJURE 4
injustice
inmate
inner
innermost
innocence
Innocent
UNFAIR 6
PRISON 4
IN/INSIDE 2, 5
PRIVATE/PERSONAL 1
INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 1
EXPERIENCED 5, INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 1
innocent
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 684 INSIST
INNOCENT/
NOT GUILTY
ways of saying that someone has not
committed a crime
1 words meaning innocent
2 to say publicly or officially that you are
innocent
3 ways of saying a law court decides that
someone is innocent
1 words meaning innocent
innocent not guilty
innocence be in the clear
innocent/'inasantl not guilty of a crime [adj]
I didn't kill him; I'm innocent! I innocent of The defendant
is innocent of any crime, and may leave the court a free man. I
be presumed innocent (=legally treated as being inno-
cent) Under criminal law people are presumed innocent until
proved guilty.
innocence/I inosns! [n U]
The entire court was convinced of his innocence. I She may
look like a sweet old lady, but we shouldn't take her inno-
cence for granted.
not gMilty/not 'gdti] innocent of a crime, especially one
you have been officially charged with [adj]
You don't have anything to be afraid of if you are not guilty. I
Everyone knew Simpson wasn't guilty, but they needed to
blame someone.
be in the clear/bi: in 6a 'klIor/if you are in the clear,
it cannot be officially proved that you have done something
illegal or criminal Iv phrase]
The police couldn't prove he had stolen the necklace -for once
he was in the clear. I If we all stick to the same story we'll
be in the clear.
2 to say publicly or officially that you are
innocent
plead not guilty
protest your innocence
plead not guilty /,pli:d ,nt 'gilti/to say, publicly and
officially, in a court of law, that you are innocent of a crime
[ v phrase]
The thief pleaded not guilty, but nobody believed him. I "'How
do you plead? Guilty or not guilty?" asked the judge. "'Not
guilty, "" replied the prisoner loudly. [ He was advised to plead
not guilty to the charge of murder, but guilty to the lesser
charge of manslaughter.
protest your innocence /praltest ja:r lnosans/ to
repeatedly, and sometimes angrily, say that you are inno-
cent, especially when other people think that you are guilty
[ v phrase]
These men have protested their innocence for 25years. I The
two women had both protested their innocence at the trial.
3 ways of saying a law court decides that
someone is innocent
find sb not guilty
be acquitted
clear
find sb not guilty/,fand (sb) ,nt 'gflti/[v phrase]
Despite the large amount of evidence against him, the jury
found Gibson not guilty. I We find the defendant not guilty,
your honour. I find sb not guilty of sth/doing sth After
a trial lasting six months Lawrence was eventually found
not guilty of murdering her husband.
be acquitted/bi: a'kwit ]d/to be officially told, in a court
of law, that you are not guilty of a crime you have been
charged with Iv phrase]
His lawyer thought he had a good chance of being acquitted
at the trial, if no further evidence was found. I be acquit-
ted of sth To her relief she was acquitted of all the charges
laid against her.
clear Ildlar/to officially say, in a court of law, that some-
one is innocent of a crime, especially because it is impos-
sible to legally prove that they are guilty Iv T usually in
passive]
be cleared Maitland was cleared when his lawyer proved
beyond any doubt that he was not present at the scene of the
crime. I Two men were cleared at the county court of mur-
dering Terry Burns. I clear sb of sth A jury cleared the com-
pany of all criminal charges in connection with the accident.
innocuous HARM/BE BAD FOR 5, OFFEND 6
innovation INVENT 3, NEW 7
innovative MODERN 2, NEW 7
innumerable LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
inoculate DRUG 6
inoffensive OFFEND 6
inopportune TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 5
inordinate TOO/TOO MUCH 4
input PUT 13
inquest INVESTIGATE 2
inquire/enquire ASK A QUESTION 1
inquiries/enquiries INVESTIGATE 2
inquiries: carry out door-to-door inquiries ASK A
QUESTION 4
inquiries: make inquiries/enquiries ASK A QUESTION
2, INVESTIGATE 1
inquiry/enquiry ASK A QUESTION 7, INVESTIGATE 2
inquiry: hold/conduct an inquiry INVESTIGATE 1
inquisitive FIND OUT 9
ins and outs DETAIL 2
insane CRAZY 7, MENTALLY ILL 1
insane: be insane CRAZY 1
insane: go mad/go insane/go crazy MENTALLY ILL 3
insanity MENTALLY ILL 2
insatiable SATISFIED 8
inscription WRITE 15
inscrutable EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 3
insecure CONFIDENT 7
insensitive UNKIND 3
inseparable FRIEND 2
insert PUT 4
inside IN/INSIDE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, PRISON 3,
REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 5
inside: be inside PRISON 3
inside: the inside IN/INSIDE 9
inside out WRONG/INCORRECT 5
inside out: know sth inside out KNOW STH 4
inside out: turn somewhere upside down/inside out
LOOK FOR 4
insider MEMBER 3
insight UNDERSTAND 9
insignia SIGN/SYMBOL 1
insignificance: pale into insignificance
UNIMPORTANT 3
insignificant UNIMPORTANT 1, 6
insincere PRETEND 7
i.sipid TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 3
insist INSIST 1, SAY/STATE 4, TELL/ORDER SB TO
DO STH 1
INSIST
words meaning to insist

INSIST 685 INSTEAD
1 words meaning to insist
insist
put your foot down
demand
at sb's insistence
be insistent
be adamant
won't/wouldn't take
no for an answer
won't hear of
insist/[nlsist/to say firmly that you want something to
be done, and that it must be done Iv I/T]
insist that Morn always insists that we keep our rooms tidy. I
He was a religious man who insisted that his children went
to church every Sunday. I insist "'I don't care how busy you
are, I must must speak to you now. "" "'Oh, alright if you
insist. "" I We didn't want to stay for another drink, but our
host insisted. I insist on Many workers now insist on a
smoke-free environment.
put your foot down/Ipot ja: r fot daon/to insist that
someone must stop behaving in a particular way or must
do something they have been refusing to do [v phrase]
Sarah didn't want to go to the doctor, but dad put his foot
down. I It's high time you put your foot down, before those
kids get completely out of control.
demand /d[mo:nd II d:rnamd/ to insist very strongly
that something should be done, especially because you feel
you have been treated badly or unfairly [v T]
demand to do sth The food was cold and the service was
terrible, so I demanded to see the manager. I demand sth
I was furious when Icaught them searching through my let-
ters. Of course I demanded an immediate explanation. I Par-
ents are demanding greater control over their children's edu-
cation. I demand that She demanded that the newspaper
should print a full apology.
at sb's insistence/at (sb's) inlsistans/if you do some-
thing at someone's insistence, you do it because they say
you must do it [adv phrase]
We had intended to call a taxi, but at Andrew's insistence
we took his car instead. I At her father's insistence she spent
Christmas with the rest of the family. I at the insistence of
The advertisement, which was considered offensive to
women, was removed at the insistence of the Advertising
Standards Authority.
be insistent /hi: inslstant/ to insist repeatedly and
strongly that someone should do something Iv phrase]
I'll attend the course even though I don't want to go; my boss
is very insistent. I be insistent that Grandma is insistent
that we go and visit her soon. I be insistent on The prin-
cipal would be less insistent on kids wearing school uniforms
if the school had to pay for them.
be adamant/bi: adamant/if someone is adamant that
something must be done, they insist that it must be done,
they are sure they are right, and no one can persuade them
to change their mind Iv phrase]
I didn "t want to go to the party, but he was adamant and we
ended up going. I be adamant that The company's manag-
ing director is adamant that there will be no compromise
with the unions. I be adamant on The Soviets were adamant
on a ten-year extension of the treaty.
won't/wouldn't take no for an answer/waunt,
wudnt teik Inau far an o:nsa r JJ -an-/ if someone won't
take no for an answer, they insist that you must do some-
thing, even though you have told them that you do not want
to do it Iv phrase]
You simply must come to dinner on Saturday; I won't take
no for an answer! I I told him that I didn't want to go out
with him, but he wouldn't take no for an answer.
won't hear of/waont hiar tv/to insist that someone
should not do something, especially because you want to
help them in some way Iv phrase]
won't hear of sth I've offered to pay Simon for fixing my
car, but he won't hear of it! [ won't hear of sb doing sth
clack wouldn't hear of Debbie going back to work after the
baby was born.
i insistence: at sb's insistence INSIST 1, TELL/ORDER
 SB TO DO STH 6
;,,..-. insistent: be insistent INSIST 1
insolent RUDE/IMPOLITE 2
insoluble SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 6
insolvent MONEY 16
insomnia SLEEP 11
inspect EXAMINE 1, 2
inspection EXAMINE 3
inspiration IDEA 2, 4
inspire ENTHUSIASTIC 4, IDEA 4
inspired INTELLIGENT 9
inspired: be inspired by IDEA 3
install/instal PUT 9
instalment/installment PART 6, PAY FOR 14
instance: for example/for instance EXAMPLE 3
instance EXAMPLE 1
instant IMMEDIATELY 3, SHORT TIME 2
instant dislike: take an instant dislike to DON'T LIKE 1
instantaneous IMMEDIATELY 3
instantly IMMEDIATELY 2
instead INSTEAD 1, 2
@ INSTEAD
instead of another thing, place, time etc
instead of another person
1 instead of another thing, place, time etc
instead in preference to
rather than in favour of/in favor of
in place of in lieu
instead/In'sted/[adv]
We didn't have enough money to go to a movie, so we went
to the park instead. [ I don't really feel like having a pizza
- wouldyou mind having something else instead?[ instead
of Mari says she's coming next week instead of tomorrow. [
instead of doing sth Instead of spending all this money on
building more roads they should be spending it on the
railroads.
rather than/ro:6a r 6an [[ Ira,-/if you do or choose one
thing rather than another thing, you do or choose the f'wst
thing instead of the second, especially because it seems
better or more suitable [prep]
She uses lemon rather than vinegar in her salad dressings. I
Rather than driving around all day looking for somewhere
to park, why don't you take a bus into town?
in place of/n ples av/if something is used or appears
in place of another thing it is used or appears instead of
it, because it is not available [prep]
A Walt Disney film is being shown inplace of the advertised
programme. [ For this recipe you can always use olive oil in
place of butter. I in its/their place The newspaper has
stopped having a crossword puzzle and in its place they now
have a weekly wordsearch competition.
in preference to/n prefarans tu:/ if you choose one
thing in preference to another thing, you choose it instead
of the other thing because you think it is better or more
suitable [prep]
In Languedoc, local wines are drunk in preference to wines
from other parts of France. I Japanese people will often use
foreign words in preference to perfectly acceptable Japanese
words.
in favour of (British) I in favor of (American)/In feivar
av/if you refuse one thing in favour of another, you refuse
it and choose the other thing instead because you think it
is better [prep]
The original plan was abandoned in favour of a new
proposal. [ Communist theory and practice has been rejected
in favour of American-style capitalism.
in iieu/m lju: [[ -lu:! if you are given something in lieu
of something else, you receive it or give it instead of some-
thing else, especially in an official or business situation
[ adv phrase]

INSTEAD 686 INSTRUCTIONS
Because you worked on Sunday, you can have a day off in
lieu. ] in lieu of They used to give the landlord poultry and
eggs in lieu of rent.
 instead of another person
instead for
in sb's place on sb's behalf
instead/in'sted/[adv]
instead of Do you want to go instead of me? I'm feeling
rather tired. I I can't understand why they chose him instead
of you - you're much better qualified for the job. I instead
My wife couldn't attend the meeting because she was busy,
so I said I'd go instead.
in sb's place/In (sb's) 'pleis/ instead of someone else
when they have arranged to do something [adv phrase]
Jackie was unable to go to the ballgame, so she said I could
go in her place. I The original band can no longer play in
the concert, and there's another group in their place.
for/fvr; strong f::r/if someone does something for some-
one else, they do it instead of that person, especially in
order to help them ]prep]
The old man downstairs was ill, so Linda said she'd go shop-
ping for him. I You shouldn't be carrying those heavy cases
- let me do it for you.
on sb's behalf/n (sb's) bI IhoIf II -Ihfl if you do some-
thing on someone's behalf, especially something public
or official, you do it instead of them because they have
asked you to do so [adv phrase]
As they were prevented from attending the meeting, we
agreed to speak on their behalf. I on behalf of I am writing
to you on behalf of my daughter, who is away on business. I
It is up to the police and the courts to fight crime on behalf
of the community.
 instigate CAUSE 8
 instil/instill TEACH 3
:. instinct INSTINCT 1
INSTINCT
1 a natural ability to know what to do or to
guess what is happening, without being told
or without thinking about it first
2 using instinct rather than knowledge
1 a natural ability to know what to do or to
guess what is happening, without being told
or without thinking about it first
instinct sixth sense
intuition gut feeling
instinct/'instirjkt/[n C/U]
My instinct told me that I could trust him. I He has tremen-
dous business instincts. I by instinct (=because of instinct)
It was very dark, but she seemed to know by instinct which
way to go. I instinct for He was a second-rateperformer but
he had an instinct for attracting publicity.
intuition /,intju'iJ'an II -tu-, -tju-/ the ability to know
things or avoid problems by following your feelings with-
out considering facts or reasons in U]
He relied more on intuition than logic in solving crimes. [
"'How did you know that? .... Oh, just intuition." [ trust your
intuition (=do what your intuition makes you want to do)
I've learned to trust my intuition and it's served me well.
sixth sense [IslksO I sensl a mysterious ability to know
about something without seeing it, hearing about it, being
told about it etc in singular]
A sixth sense told me that the telephone was going to ring. [
The best salesmen all seem to have a sixth sense so that they
know when a customer is ready to buy something.
gut feeling /gAt fi:lIIJ/an informal expression mean-
ing a feeling that you have about a person or a situation,
which you feel sure is right although you cannot give a
reason for it in singular]
I'm sure he's not telling us the truth. I don't know why - it's
just a gut feeling I have. I gut feeling that Her gut feeling
was that they should accept the offer.
 using instinct rather than knowledge
instinctive
intuitive
instinctive/in'stinktiv/a feeling, attitude, action etc that
is instinctive is based on instinct rather than on
knowledge or thought [adj]
Lisa felt an instinctive dislike for him. I I had an instinctive
need to travel, to see the world. I White jazz seemed old and
intellectual, whereas black jazz was vital, swinging,
instinctive.
instinctively [adv] Instinctively, I sensed that something
was wrong.
intuitive/intju:tiv II -tu=-, -Itju:-/an intuitive under-
standing, judgement, or idea is completely based on feel-
ings, not on facts or reasons, but is still correct [adj]
Great novelists have an intuitive understanding of the work-
ings of human emotions. I Totally uneducated, he neverthe-
less showed an intuitive grasp of anything to do with
mathematics. I My daughter always says I'm very intuitive.
intuitively [adv] She knew intuitively that there was some
great secret that Matt was keeping.
instinctive INSTINCT 2
institute ORGANIZATION 1
institution HOSPITAL 2, ORGANIZATION 1, TRADITION 1
instruct TEACH 1, TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 2
instruction TEACH 4, TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 7
instructions EXPLAIN 6, INSTRUCTIONS 1, :2
instructions: give instructions EXPLAIN 3
instructions: give orders/instructions TELL/ORDER
SB TO DO STH 2
instructions: issue orders/instructions TELL/ORDER
SB TO DO STH 2
instructions: on sb's instructions TELL/ORDER SB TO
DO STH 6
instructions: under orders/instructions TELL/ORDER
SB TO DO STH 6
INSTRUCTIONS
information about what you should do, how to
use something etc
a book or document that gives instructions
1 information about what you should do, how to
use something etc
instructions guidelines
directions brief
instructions / in' str^kanz/details or orders about how
to do something, use something etc In plural]
She gave him the medicine according to the instructions on
the bottle. [ instructions for sth Before his death he left
careful instructions for his funeral. I give instructions on
sth Morn was busy giving instructions to the babysitter on
how to change Rosie's diaper. [ follow instructions (=to
do something according to instructions) I followed her
instructions but I still couldn't work out how to use the
sewing machine. [ strict instructions (=instructions that
must be followed) I gave strict instructions that nobody
should disturb me today.
directions Id rekanz, dai-/a set of instructions, espe-
cially written instructions, on how to do something or use
something In plural]
Directions for use: one capsule three times a day and avoid
alcohol. I follow directions (=to do something according
to the directions) It's not real cooking; you just follow the
directions on the package.

INSTRUCTIONS
guidelines/'gaidlatnz/ official instructions about the
best way to do something, especially something that could
be difficult or dangerous In plural]
For your own safety try to follow these basic guidelines when
out in a boat. I Medical staff have been issued with new guide-
lines when working with HIV patients. I The police were
severely criticized for failing to heed guidelines on the use
of guns.
brief/bri:f/instructions that are given to someone in a
position of responsibility, explaining what their duties are,
what they are expected to do, or how they are expected to
behave In singular]
The committee's brief is to investigate and. report, on domes-
tic violence in the region. I Dealing with financial matters
is not part of my brief. I The architect's brief was to design
an extension which would harmonize as much as possible
with the existing building.
2 a book or document that gives instructions
instructions guide
manual handbook
instructions I in' str^kanz/a book or document that gives
instructions about how to do something, or how to use
something In plural]
Why don't you read the instructions instead of asking
I can't get this video to work and I've lost the instructions.
manual / ' menjual/a book containing instructions on how
to operate a piece of equipment or machinery, or how to
do a job or activity In C]
Before you try to use the camera, read the manual carefully.
All new recruits to the fire department are given a copy of
the firefighter's manual. I A modern bird-watcher's manual
will distinguish varieties of finch not only by colour and size
but also by song.
guide/gald/a book containing instructions and advice,
that helps you do an activity or job properly In C]
A guide for hospital staff will be published shortly, cover-
ing everything from simple hygiene to security regulations.
Next week's magazine includes a special supplement entitled
"The Good Food Guide'. I guide to sth Some people now con-
sider Spock's guide to childcare for mothers to be old
fashioned.
handbook/'hendbok/ a book containing information
and advice on a subject or product, produced by someone
who knows a lot about it In C]
There are all kinds of health and fitness handbooks on the
market these days. I Procedures and rules are set out in a spe-
cial government handbook for teachers of deaf children.
instructive
instructor
instrument
instrumental: be instrumental in
insufficient ENOUGH 8
insular PREJUDICED 2
insult INSULT 1, 3, OFFEND 1
insult: be an insult INSULT 1
insult: be an insult to OFFEND 5
insult: to add insult to injury
TEACH 6
TEACH 5
TOOL 1, WAY/METHOD 3
IMPORTANT 7
WORSE 5
INSULT
speak or behave towards someone in a way
that seriously offends them
words for describing language, behaviour, or
people that insult someone
words or actions that insult someone
1 to speak or behave towards someone in a
way that seriously offends them
insult call sb names
abuse be rude to
hurl abuse at be an insult
687
INSULT
insult/nlshlt/to make someone feel very offended, espe-
cially by saying very rude things about them or by doing
things that show them great disrespect [v T]
She called me a liar! I've never been so insulted in my whole
life. [ I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you. I Some of these
French waiters seem to enjoy insulting the customers! ] We
inadvertently insulted the village elders by bringing our own
food.
abuse la Ibju:z! to say a lot of rude, offensive, unpleasant
things to someone, especially when you are angry with
them [v T]
abuse sb By mid-afternoon the miners were getting drunk
and abusing passers-by. I abuse sb for sth One irate pas-
senger abused the station manager for the late running of
the train.
hurl abuse at/ha:rl abju:s rot/to shout a lot of offen-
sive things at someone [v phrase]
She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, but she closed her
ears to it and drove on. I The game dissolved into chaos with
everyone hurling abuse at the referee.
call sb names/ka:l (sb) nelmz/to try to offend some-
one by calling them rude names in the way that children
do [ v phrase]
Dad, Stephen "s calling me names. I "'She said I was a fatpig. ""
"'Oh, I've been called far worse names than that. ""
be rude to/bi: I ru:d tu:/to speak or behave towards some-
one in a way that might offend them [v phrase]
I didn't mean to be rude to him but he was being such an
idiot. I You shouldn't have let the doctor be so rude to you.
be an insult/bi: an insAlt/ if an action or someone's
behaviour is an insult it offends you because it shows no
respect Iv phrase]
The pay offer of 2% was an insult. I Your behaviour is an
insult to my daughter. Please leave.
2 words for describing language or behaviour
that insults someone
insulting
abusive
insulting/in'sAltirJ/[adj]
He followed her down the street making insulting sugges-
tions. I I wasn't being deliberately insulting. I simply meant
that more exercise would be good for you.
abusive /abju:slv/very rude and using offensive lan-
guage [adj ]
The woman became angry and abusive when she was not
allowed into the hotel. I Several abusive letters were sent to
the politician after her speech about poverty.
 words or actions that insult someone
insult
abuse
affront
insult/' ns^lt/something that someone says or does that
offends someone In C]
The drunk shouted insults at everyone he met as he staggered
along the street. I "'That dress makes you look ten years youn-
ger. "' "'Is that a compliment or an insult?" I You mustn't wear
your shoes in the temple - it is a great insult. ] take it as
an insult (=be insulted by it) I said something about her
new hairstyle and she took it as an insult.
abuse/a'bju:s/rude, offensive, or unpleasant things that
someone says to someone else In U]
shout/scream/hurl abuse Edwina began to scream abuse
at the unfortunate boy. [ As I showed him the door he began
to shout abuse - a meaningless string of indecent words. [
term of abuse (=a word or phrase used as a way of abus-
ing someone) The word "communist" is often seen as a term
of abuse.I torrent/stream of abuse (=a lot of abuse)
Michaela picked up the phone and received a torrent of abuse
from the other end.
affront/a  frAnq a remark or action that offends someone
because it hurts their self-respect or their belief of what is
right or wrong In singular]

INSULT 688 INTELLIGENT
be an affront to sb's pride/beliefs etc She felt that his
behaviour was an affront to her dignity as a human being. I
personal affront Though I only intended it as a joke, he
took it as a personal affront. [ affront Lucy was so shocked
by this affront that she remained speechless for the rest of the
evening.
insulting INSULT 2, OFFEND 5
insure/ensure CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 4
insurrection REBELLION/REVOLUTION 1
intact BROKEN 6
intake AMOUNT 3
integrate TOGETHER 10
integration RACE 2
integrity HONEST 1
intellect INTELLIGENT 11
intellectual INTELLIGENT 5, 10
intelligence INTELLIGENT 11
intelligent INTELLIGENT 1, 9
intelligent: not intelligentlbrightlcleverlsmart
STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
INTELLIGENT
1 words for describing someone who is
intelligent
2 words used for describing children or young
people who are intelligent
3 good at understanding things very quickly
and making quick judgements or decisions
4 clever in a practical way and using your
intelligence to get advantages for yourself
5 words for describing a very intelligent and
well-educated person who studies a lot or is
interested in books, learning, discussing new
ideas etc
6 words for describing someone whose
intelligence is based on a deep
understanding and experience of life
7 someone who is clever in a way that annoys
other people
8 clever in a dishonest or secret way
g words for describing a clever plan, idea, or
way of doing something
10 words for describing serious books, ideas etc
that are based on a lot of studying and
intelligent thinking
11 the ability to think clearly and to learn and
understand things
1 words for describing someone who is
intelligent
intelligent brilliant
clever a genius
smart educated
brainy
intelligent IIn'teldsantl having a high level of natural
mental ability so that you are good at thinking about and
understanding things [adj]
You have to be very intelligent to go to Oxford University. I
Some scientists claim that dolphins are more intelligent than
humans. I Her son was a sensitive and highly intelligent
young man who was fond of reading poetry.
clever / klevar/a word used especially in British English
meaning good at learning and understanding things
quickly [adj]
My sister was always the cleverest student in her class. I He
can do all kinds of tricks - he's a really clever dog. I it is
clever of sb to do sth It was clever of you to guess where
I was going.
smart /smo:rt/ a word used especially in American
English meaning good at learning and understanding
things quickly [adj]
Can you help me with this puzzle - you're much smarter than
I am. I Laura's smart and she has plenty of ambition. She's
sure to get a good job. I If Joe's so smart how come he can't
even use a simple computer?
brainy /brelni/an informal word meaning very intelli-
gent and especially good at studying [adj]
At school Karen was always one of the brainy ones. [ Why
don't you ask Tom to help you with your homework - he's
incredibly brainy.
brilliant I'brlljantl a brilliant scientist, student, lawyer
etc is one who is extremely intelligent and extremely suc-
cessful at what they do [adj]
Apart from his abilities as a writer, he was also a brilliant
and gifted teacher. I Newton is considered by many to be the
most brilliant scientist who ever lived.
a genius I 'd3i:nis/someone who has the highest pos-
sible level of intelligence and mental ability In singular]
Rousseau was a genius, one of the most original minds of his
age. I She isn't just a great writer - the woman's a genius.
educated Iedja°keltald I! 'ed3a-/ someone who is edu-
cated is intelligent and knows a lot because they have been
to good schools or to university, have read a lot etc [adj]
It should be easy for an educated person like you to find a
job. [ She's looking for someone who is educated and
interested in art and culture. [ highly educated Nadia is
a highly-educated, very motivated individual who will go
far.
words used for describing children or young
people who are intelligent
bright precocious
gifted whizzkid
prodigy
bright/braIt/intelligent and likely to be successful [adj]
They're both bright boys - they should do well at school. I
When I first met her she was a bright young lawyer fresh out
of law school. I Companies want to prevent their best and
brightest employees from being headhunted by rival
organizations.
gifted/'glfto]dl a child who is gifted is much more intel-
ligent and quicker at learning than most other children
[adj usually before noun]
Gifted children often get bored waiting for the others to catch
up. I a school for exceptionally gifted students
prodigy Ipmdd3i II 'pro:-/a child who is extremely good
at a particular subject or activity from a very young age
[n C]
Mozart was a musical prodigy who wrote his first symphony
at the age of eight. I child prodigy A 13 year old child
prodigy has been awarded a mathematics degree at Cam-
bridge University.
precocious /prI'kouJ'as/ a precocious child often
behaves more like an adult than a child, and asks many
difficult and intelligent questions, in a way that may annoy
people [adj]
He's certainly a very precocious little boy, isn't he? I A preco-
cious child may appear to be cheeky, when all they want is
intelligent conversation with an adult.
whizzkid/'wlzkdl an informal word meaning someone
who is extremely intelligent and successful at their job,
although they are young, and is therefore admired by
people In C]
He was Phil Cheveau, the Harvard whizzkid who took over
from the previous manager. I They've got some new finan-
cial whizzkid who's already made them millions of dollars.
good at understanding things very quickly
and making quick judgements or decisions
quick be on the ball
sharp think on your feet
be quick on the uptake

INTELLIGENT 689 INTELLIGENT
quick/kwlk/[adj not usually before noun]
Some children in the class are quicker than others. ] She's
very quick - seems to pick things up in no time.
sharp [fo:rp/someone who is sharp und6rstands things
very quickly so that it is difficult to deceive them [adj]
Norma "s very sharp - if there's any weakness in your argu-
ment, she'll spot it. ] razor sharp (=extremely sharp) Those
lawyers are razor sharp, and you've got to be careful about
every single word you say.
be quick on the uptake/bi: ,kwik on 6i ^pteik/an
informal expression: someone who is quick on the uptake
learns new things and understands a situation very
quickly Iv phrase]
Sadie's very quick on the uptake -you never have to explain
anything twice. I We're looking for a teenager to start as an
apprentice - someone neat, enthusiastic and quick on the
uptake.
be on the ball/bi: on 50 'b:l/an informal expression:
someone who is on the ball is able to react quickly or
answer someone's questions quickly and well, because
they..have been paying close attention, or they have a lot
of knowledge and experience [v phrase]
The new guy in computers is really on the ball; there's noth-
ing he hasn't heard of. I If you're working in the world of
finance you have to be on the ball the whole time.
think on your feet/,0IIJk on ja: r 'fi:t/an expression
used especially in British English: someone who can think
on their feet is able to think very quickly in order to deal
with difficult questions or situations as soon as they
happen Iv phrase .not usually in progressive]
As a teacher I have to be able to think on my feet and answer
all kinds of questions. ] For this job we need someone who
can think on their feet and use their own initiative.
4
clever in a practical way and using your
intelligence to get advantages for yourself
clever canny
smart resourceful
shrewd there are no flies on
astute be nobody's fool
clever/'klevar/[adj]
I suppose you thought you were being clever, taking the
money when I wasn't looking. I Ben Gurion was a cool, cal-
culating, and very clever politician, always interested in win-
ning the next election. I clever at doing sth She's clever at
making other people believe that what she says is true.
cleverly [adv] He organised the whole thing very cleverly
and nobody guessed that he was the murderer.
smart /smo:rt/ a word used especially in American
English meaning clever in a practical way, especially in
order to get advantages for yourself [adj]
Some smart lawyer got him out of jail. I She was very smart
and knew exactly how to manipulate men into giving her
everything she wanted.
shrewd/fru:d/a shrewd person is good at deciding what
people, situations etc are really like so that it is very
difficult to deceive them and they are usually successful,
for example in business [adj]
She is an exceptionally shrewd judge of character. I He's built
his empire by being shrewd and sometimes ruthless.
shrewdly [ adv ] They shrewdly invested in copper just as the
price started to rise.
astute/a'stju:t II astu:t/someone who is astute has the
natural ability to realize why people behave in a particu-
lar way, why a situation is happening etc, without anyone
telling them [adj]
Be careful of Dan he's very astute and can see through people
straight away. I Nixon was an astute politician who quickly
rose to the top of the Republican Party.
astutely [adv ] As one observer astutely pointed out, "A week
is a long time in politics'.
canny/' kani/someone who is canny is very. clever, espe-
cially in business, so that it is difficult to deceive them and
they are able to take advantage of other people [adj]
My grandfather was a canny businessman who never risked
any of his money unless he was certain of making 100%
profit. I She was far too canny to be taken in by any of the
salesman's talk.
resourceful/rI 'za:rsfM, -'sa:rs-/clever at finding ways
to deal with problems or difficult situations, using the
materials that'are available to you [adj]
He was very resourceful and used a coat to keep his mother
warm before the doctor arrived. I Brilliantly resourceful, he
was at his most dangerous when faced with what seemed like
an impossible position.
there are no flies on/6ear o: r ,nao 'flalz on/if you say
there are no flies on someone, you mean that they are
very intelligent and will not be deceived by a trick that
someone is trying to use on them
"'I don't believe a word of what you've just said! .... There are
no flies on you!'"
be nobody's fool/bi: ,naobadiz ' fu:l/to be very difficult
to trick or deceive because you have a lot of experience or
knowledge Iv phrase]
Unlike many other actresses, Katherine was nobody's fool
when it came to money.
5 words for describing a very intelligent and
well-educated person who studies a lot or is
interested in books, learning, discussing new
ideas etc
intellectual brains
learned i nt(lligentsia
academic
intellectual/, int 'lektfual-/an intelligent, well-educated
person who spends a lot of their time thinking and writ-
ing about complicated literature, new ideas etc and discuss-
ing them In C]
The restaurant was once the meeting place for leading
French left-wing intellectuals such as Sartre and de Beau-
volt. I Intellectuals who speak out against the government's
policies are put under house arrest.
learned/'la:rnId/a learned person has read many books
and knows a lot about many things, and is greatly respected
because of their knowledge [adj]
The old professor was obviously a very learned man. I
Galileo was opposed by philosphers who were supposedly far
more learned than he was in these matters.
academic/,aka'demk-/someone who is academic is
very good at studying and gets good results at school,
university etc [adj]
I wasn't very academic, and left school at sixteen. I Mary's
very academic - she's going to take her university entrance
exams a year early. I Teachers must provide challenging
enough activities for their more academic pupils.
brains/bremz/the most intelligent people in a country or
organization In plural]
Many of Britain's best brains have left the country to go and
work in America.
intelligentsia / in,telI 'dsentsb/the most intelligent and
highly educated people in a society such as the writers,
thinkers and artists In singular]
The charter movement included many of the leading mem-
bers of the Czech intelligentsia.
6 words for describing someone whose
intelligence is based on a deep
understanding and experience of life
wise
enlightened
sage
wise/waiz/[adj]
She was a wise old woman, and we all valued her advice. I
A wise man once said that a fool and his money are soon
parted.
wisely [adv] The Queen ruled her people wisely for more
than 60 years.

INTELLIGENT 690 INTELLIGENT
enlightened/in'laitnd/an enlightened leader, judge,
parent etc treats people in a kind and sensible way which
is based on a very good understanding of their needs and
problems [adj]
The more enlightened factory owners built homes for their
workers near the factories. I My parents were very enlighted
and I rarely received any form of punishment.
sage/seids! a word used especially in literature meaning
an old person who is respected because they are very wise,
especially one who lived a long time ago In C]
Old, crumbling volumes by long-dead sages and philoso-
phers lined the walls.
7 someone who is clever in a way that annoys
 other people
know-it-all smart aleck
clever dick be too clever by half
smart-ass/wise guy
know.it.all (also know.all in British English)/'no tt aft,
J nou aft/ someone who you find annoying because they
always know the correct answers, a lot of facts etc In C]
OK, if you're such a know-it-all, you try and do it, then. I
I wish she'd stop being such a know-all about everything and
admit that she's wrong sometimes.
clever dick ! J kleva r dlk] an informal British expression
meaning someone who you find annoying because they try
to seem clever In C]
Listen clever dick - if you do a trick like that again I'm going
to remove that smile from your face permanently.
smart-ass/wise guy /smo:rt as, walz gai/informal
expressions used especially in American English meaning
someone who is annoying because they try to seem clever,
especially by saying clever things In C]
OK, smart-ass! If I want an answer from you I'll ask for it.
smart-ass [adj only before noun] Some smart-ass college kid
started making fun of her accent.
smart aleck /'smo:rt alok] an informal expression
meaning someone, especially a child, that is annoying
because they try to give clever answers to questions In C]
Stop being such a smart aleck and get on with your
schoolwork.
smart-aleck [adj] I'm not going to let some smart-aleck kid
make a fool out of me.
be too clever by half/bi: tu: kleva r bai ho:f [I -Jhaf/
an informal British expression: you say that someone is
too clever by half when you mean that they think they
are being clever, for example by playing a trick on some-
one, but they will soon get into trouble for it Iv phrase]
If you ask me that boy's too clever by half- his dad will be
furious if ever he finds out.
8 clever in a dishonest or secret way
cunning crafty
sly wily
cunning IkAntql a cunning person uses their intelli-
gence to get what they want by deceiving people and
making secret plans [adj]
That cunning little rascal told me she needed the money to
buy her school lunches. I The British were very cunning -
they launched their attack in the early hours of the morning
on New Years Day. I Although the police kept trying to set
traps for him, he was far too cunning for them.
cunningly [adv] The body was cunningly hidden under a
pile of rocks.
sly /slat/ a sly person secretly deceives people and is
always secretly thinking of clever ways to get advantages
for themselves [adj]
Be careful when you're dealing with him - he's very sly and
you never know what he's up to. I He's a sly old devil isn't
he! Putting all that money under his bed when everyone
thought he was really poor!
slyly [adv] "'Don't worry, you can trust me, "he said slyly.
crafty I krmfti II 'kr  f-/a crafty person is good at getting
what they want by clever planning and secretly deceiving
people, often in a way that people admire [adj]
Jerry was really crafty - he got in free by crawling under
the fence. I The government is full of crafty politicians
making huge amounts of money from dubious land deals.
craftily [adv ] "'Let's not tell him he's already paid us once, ""
she said craftily.
wily / waili/a wily person has had a lot of experience at
tricking people with the result that it is very difficult to
trick them [adj usually before noun]
The General was a wily old campaigner who had fought
more battles than he cared to remember. I Breen had a repu-
tation for being a tough and wily negotiator.
9
clever
intelligent
ingenious
neat
smart
clever I'ldevor/[adj]
words for describing a clever plan, idea, or
way of doing something
_ bright idea
cunning
crafty
inspired
It sounds like a clever idea. Do you think it'll work? I I've
thought of a really clever way of making money. I The car
has a clever little gadget which tells you how much fuel it's
using.
intelligent/in'telI dsant/an intelligent idea, question etc
is thought of or asked by someone who has a high level of
mental abflib; [adj]
That's the most intelligent thing I've heard all week. I For
such a small child he asks very intelligent questions.
ingenious /tn'dsi=niasl something such as a plan, a piece
of equipment etc that is ingenious is very clever, original,
and effective [adj]
A scanner is an ingenious device which enables you to feed
pictures, photos or documents into a computer system. I
American scientists have come up with an ingenious method
for getting rid of cockroaches.
neat I=tl neat idea/way of doing sth/solution (=clever
and simple) [adj usually before noun]
One of our designers has come up with a neat idea for stor-
ing computer disks. I It's a complicated problem, and there's
no neat solution.
smart/smo:rt/an American word: a system or machine
such as a computer that is smart is cleverly designed [adj]
This new software system is really smart - it'll do anything
you want it to.
bright idea I ,brait ai Jdia/a clever idea about how to do
something In C]
I like it! It sounds like a really bright idea: I I don't know
what kind of present she'd like - if you have any bright ideas
let me know.
cunning I 'knnirl cunning trick/trap/plan/device/
method etc (=clever and intended to deceive people) [adj]
They use all kinds of cunning tricks to make people give them
money. I The police set a cunning trap in order to catch the
kidnappers. I The company pretends to be 'environmentally
friendly" but it's just a cunning marketing ploy aimed at sell-
ing more of their products.
crafty/'kro=fti II 'kreef-/a crafty plan or way of doing
something etc is one that is cleverly planned and involves
deceiving other people, in a way that people admire [adj]
derry and Tony had worked out a crafty way of avoiding
paying tax. I It was a crafty answer, designed to make the
others think he didn't know anything about their plans.
Inspired/In spaIord/an inspired idea, plan etc is one that
someone suddenly thinks of, without knowing how or why,
and that is extremely clever and impressive [adj]
I didn't know the answer. It was just an inspired guess. I
Then, quite unexpectedly, Dan came up with an inspired plan
to get the money back. I Her performance was sublime, truly
inspired.

INTELLIGENT 691 INTEND
10 words for describing serious books, ideas etc
that are based on a lot of studying and
intelligent thinking
intellectual profound
scholarly serious
highbrow
intellectual/, inQ 'lekU'uol,,I [adj]
She likes reading those trendy intellectual magazines about
politics and society. I The good thing about going to univer-
sity is that you can exchange intellectual ideas with people
who share the same interests as you.
scholarly/'skolorli II Iska:-/scholarly book/journal/
work/publication ete (=one that deals with a serious
subject and is written in a very detailed way after a lot of
study into it) [adj]
His shelves are full of scholarly books and journals. [ Dame
Veronica Wedgewood's book on Cromwell is a scholarly and
very erudite work.
highbrow / Ihaibrao! a book, film, piece of music etc that
is highbrow is intended for very intelligent and educated
people and is therefore not interesting for many people
[ adj ]
Marcel Proust is too highbrow for me - I prefer books by less
serious writers like Stephen King. ] All you ever get on Chan-
nel 4 are those really highbrow programmes about artists
nobody's ever heard of.
profound/profaond/something such as ideas or state-
ments that are profound are full of meaning and showing
great understanding of a serious subject [adj]
The book contains a great many profound insights into
human behaviour. [ Marx offers a profound analysis of the
workings of European economics during the late nineteenth
century.
serious /'siari0s/ serious newspapers/books/films/
literature/art (=dealing with a subject in an intelligent
and sincere way rather than an amusing or light way) [adj]
I must admit I find the serious newspapers rather boring and
pompous. I At school we had to read works by serious writers
like Shakespeare and Milton.
1 1 the ability to think clearly and to learn and
understand things
intelligence intellect
brains genius
brilliance wisdom
intelligence/intelIdsans/[n U]
A child's intelligence develops rapidly between the ages of
four and five. [ Intelligence cannot be measured just by exam
results. [ In order to be a pilot you need to be of above aver-
age intelligence, and have good hand and eye co-ordination.
brains /breinz/ the ability to think quickly and well,
remember a lot of facts, and be good at studying In plural]
He has his mother's brains and his father's good looks. [ With
your brains, you should easily get into college.
brilliance / brdjons/a very high level of intelligence and
ability In U]
His fellow mathematicians were astounded by his brilliance. ]
Wittgenstein's early writings contain flashes of brilliance.
intellect I  intIlekt/the ability to think about and under-
stand and express complicated ideas In U]
She was a great scholar who possessed a formidable
intellect. [ Joyce's books seem more designed to appeal to the
intellect rather than the emotions.
genius / dsi:nios/an extremely high level of intelligence
and ability which only a few people have In U]
the genius of men like Newton and Einstein [ His talents as
a philosopher bordered on genius.
wisdom / wzdom/knowledge and good judgement based
on experience of life In U]
Paul learned to value his father's wisdom and advice. [ When
she spoke her words were full of wisdom.
intelligentsia INTELLIGENT 5
intelligible UNDERSTAND 10
intend INTEND 1
intend: be intended to PURPOSE 2
intend: not intend/mean to do sth
INTEND 2
INTEND
1 to intend to do something
2 to not intend to do something
3 to tell someone what you intend to do
4 what you intend to do
5 words for describing someone who intends to
be helpful or kind, but in fact causes problems
1 to intend to do something
intend
mean to do sth
be going to do sth
plan
be looking to do sth
set out to do sth
it is sb's intention to
do sth
with intent to do sth
be out to do sth
intend/n'tend/to have in mind a plan for something that
you have decided to do, either soon or at some time in the
future Iv T ]
intend to do sth She intends to go back to work after she
has had her baby. [ I got ready to leave, intending to call at
the bank on my way home. I intend doing sth Windsurf-
ing is a sport I intend trying when summer comes. [ it is
intended that It is intended that all new employees will
receive full training. I fully intend (=definitely intend) Kate
had fully intended returning home on Sunday evening but
she couldn't get a flight.
mean to do sth / mi:n to Idu: (sth)/to intend to do some-
thing, especially something that you do not do, because you
forget, or because you do not have a chance to do it Iv
phrase]
I meant to ask you to buy some potatoes on your way home
but I forgot. ] I've been meaning to phone you all week. [ We
mean to start at dawn tomorrow.
be going to do sth/bi: ,gourj to 'du: (sth)/an expres-
sion used especially in spoken English meaning to
definitely intend to do something Iv phrase]
Next time I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly what I think
of him. [ She says that she's going to be a doctor. ] Are you
really going to buy that house? [ I was going to cook steak,
but as you're a vegetarian I'll have to think of something else.
plan/plain/to intend to do something, especiaZly when you
have definite plans or arrangements for how you will do
it, when you will do it etc Iv T]
plan to do sth I'm planning to move to Philadelphia in a
couple of months. [ What do you plan to do with that room
once you've cleared it out? ] plan on doing sth I think Peter
is planning on visiting his sister this weekend. [ plan sth
Both countries are planning major defence cuts in the coming
years.
be looking to do sth/bi: loklrj to 'du: (sth)/to intend
to achieve something that you are sure you can achieve Iv
phrase]
The company is looking to increase its sales in Europe during
the next two years. ] The Redskins will be looking to repeat
their Super Bowl victory next season.
set out to do sth/set not to du: (sth)/to decide to do
something and make plans in order to try and achieve it,
especially in a very determined way Iv phrase]
The Allied forces in the Gulf War achieved most of what they
set out to do. [ You make it sound as if I deliberately set out
to destroy his reputation.
it is sb's intention to do sth/it IZ (sb's) intenj'an to
Idu: (sth)/ an expression used when telling people what
someone intends to do, used especially in public state-
ments, meetings or news reports

INTEND 692 interest
It is our intention to become the number one distributor of
health products in the UK. I It was never the department's
intention to prevent teachers from trying out new ideas.
with Intent to do sth ]WI) nltent ta Idu: (sth)/with
intent to steal/endanger life/supply drugs ete (=a legal
expression meaning intending to steal, put someone's life
in danger etc, used when saying that someone intended to
do it
Kelly was accused of carrying a deadly weapon With intent
to endanger life. [ He is charged with using a false name with
intent to commit fraud.
be out to do sth/bi: aot ta du: (sth)/ if you say that
someone is out to do something, especially something
which is harmful to another person, you mean that they
intend to do it and that they are determined to succeed Iv
phrase]
I wouldn't trust him ifI were you - he's out to get your job,
make no mistake. [ Manchester United are out to win the
European Cup this year.
2 to not intend to do something
not intend/mean to do sth
have no intention of
have no plans to
not be serious
not intend/mean to do sth/ntt In,tend, mi:n ta du:
(sth)/[v phrase]
I don't intend to stay in this job all my life. [ Jim didn't intend
to tell them what he was doing. [ I didn't mean to leave the
gate open. ] He hadn't meant to stay out late but he lost track
of the time.
have no intention of/haev nu intenj'an tv/an expres-
sion meaning to definitely not intend to do something, used
especially when you are offended or surprised that some-
one expects you to do it Iv phrase not in progressive]
The Administration has no intention of raising taxes. [ You
should not make promises which you have no intention of ful-
filling. [ My manager got me a job in Hollywood but I had
no intention of uprooting my family and moving to America.
have no plans to/haev nu Iplenz tu:/to not intend to
do something in the near future, even though you may pos-
sibly do it at a later time Iv phrase not in progressive]
We've been going out with each other for three years but we've
no plans to get married. [ "'Are you going to resign?" "'1have
no plans to do so in the forseeable future. ""
not be serious/not bi: sIaris/to not really intend to
do something that you have said that you will do [vphrase]
She said she's going to resign but I don "t think she was seri-
ous. [ not be serious about Surely you're not serious about
borrowing all that money? [ He's not really serious about
buying a house - he just likes talking about it.
to tell someone what you intend to do
make your intentions clear
put/lay your cards on the table
make your intentions clear /meik j3:r [n,tenanz
kl Ir/to let someone know, by words or actions, what you
intend to do, especially when you think that they do not
expect it or will not like it Iv phrase]
The new manager made his intentions very clear. [ Let me
make my intentions clear: I have no desire to take your place
but I want to be on equal terms with you.
put/lay your cards on the table / pot, lei j3:r Ika:rdz
tn 6 teibal/to tell someone exactly what you intend to do,
especially when you have kept it a secret before [vphrase]
It was time to put my cards on the table. [ If we want to reach
an agreement, we'll have to lay all our cards on the table.
4 what you intend to do
intention
intent
intention/:n'tenj'an/[n C]
We cannot trust them until we are sure of their intentions. [
intention to do sth His intention was to save up enough
money to buy his son a bike. [ The government announced
its intention to create 50,O00jobs by the end of the year. [ with
the intention of doing sth He went to Germany with the
intention of looking for his missing brother.
intent/intent/a formal word meaning what you intend
to do In U]
Their intent was noble, but the results of their actions were
disastrous. [ intent to do sth It is not my intent to deny the
value of university education. [ We are very sorry some
viewers were upset by the programme; there was no intent
to shock or offend.
5 words for describing someone who intends to
be helpful or kind, but in fact causes
problems
mean well well-intentioned
well-meaning well-meant
good intentions
mean well I, mi:n wel/to try to be helpful or kind when
really you only cause problems for someone or annoy them
Iv phrase not in progressive]
I know she means well but I wish she'd stop interfering. [ The
problem with James is that he means well but he's very tact-
less and insensitive.
well-meaning/wel mi:nIr3*/intending to be helpful but
not able to achieve anything useful [adj]
Well-meaning relatives gave me all kinds of advice. [
Newspapers regularly accuse the health minister of being
well-meaning but ineffective.
good inlentions/god nltenanz/the intention to do
something helpful or kind which you never manage to do
In plural]
Good intentions are not enough. Make an exercise
programme for yourself and keep to it. [ Whatever happened
to all the good intentions expressed at the conference only
three months ago?
well-intentioned / wd m tenand*/intending to be help-
ful with the result that you do not help at all [adj]
Well-intentioned grandparents sometimes interfere with a
mother's way of bringing up her children. [ a well-
intentioned but damaging criticism
well-meant / wel ment*/an action or a statement that
is well-meant is intended to be kind or helpful but only
causes harm or offence [adj not before noun]
Her criticisms were well-meant, but Isobel found them deeply
insulting. [ Recent changes in housing policy, though well-
meant, have done more harm than good.
intense STRONG FEELING OR BELIEF 1
intensify INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 1, 2, 3
intensive FAST/QUICK 10
intent INTEND 4
intent: be intent on DETERMINED 1
intent: to all intents and purposes ALMOST 2
intent: with intent to do sth INTEND 1
intention INTEND 4
intention: good intentions INTEND 5
intention: have no intention of INTEND 2
intention: it is sb's intention to do sth INTEND 1
intention: make your intentions clear INTEND 3
intentional DELIBERATELY 3
intentionally DELIBERATELY 1
intercept STOP MOVING 7
interchange EXCHANGE 2
interchangeable CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO
ANOTHER 5
intercourse: have intercourse/sexual intercourse
SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
interest INTERESTED 4, 8, OWN 2, PROFIT 2
interest: be of interest INTERESTING 1
interest: express interest INTERESTED 1
interest: express no interest INTERESTED 7
interest: lack of interest INTERESTED 7
interest: take an interest in INTERESTED 2

interest 693 INTERESTED
interest: with interest INTERESTED 1
interest in INTERESTED 1
interested INTERESTED 1
interested: be interested in ATTRACTED TO SB 1
INTERESTED 2, WANT 1
interested: get/become interested INTERESTED 5
interested: get sb interested INTERESTED 4
interested: not be interested INTERESTED 7
interested
which?meaning
. . .....:,-:-.: ..... ..... .. . ... ..... . ....  .
be interested
;-; @ INTERESTED
@ INTERESTED
giving all your attention to something or
feeling that you want to find out more about
it, because it is interesting, unusual, or
exciting
1 feeling or looking interested in something
because it is enjoyable, unusual, or exciting
;2 to be interested in a particular subject or
activity
• so interested in what you are doing that you
give all your attention to it
4 to make someone feel interested in something
5 to become interested in something
6 to stop being interested in something that you
were interested in before
7' not interested in something
8 an activity that you are interested in and that
you spend time doing
1 feeling or looking interested in something
because it is enjoyable unusual, or exciting
interested interest in
fascinated with interest
intrigued show interest
curious express interest
interested/[ntrstd/[adj not usually before noun]
The children all seemed very interested when I showed them
the pictures. [ If you're interested I can let you have the title
of the book. [ interested to know/hear/see/learn ete
You're an expert on legal problems, I'd be interested to know
what you think. [ interested in He said he wasn't interested
in my war experiences. [ I was interested in what you were
saying about the new training programme.
I I
fascinated/'fesneltd/very interested in something
which holds your attention completely, especially some-
thing that you are watching or listening to [adj not usually
before noun]
fascinated by I was fascinated by Charlotte's stories of life
in Hollywood. I fascinated Philip watched the insects fight-
ing. He was fascinated and at the same time horrified. [ fas-
cinated to discover/find out/learn etc He was fascinated
to discover that they had both been born in the same town
on the same day.
intrigMed/in tri:gd/interested by something because it
seems mysterious or strange so that you are eager to know
more about it [adj not before noun]
The more she talked about the birthday present, the more
intrigued he became. I intrigued by Diana was somewhat
intrigued by Sue's cryptic message. I intrigued to find out/
learn/know etc He was intrigued to know why the
company had suddenly decided to promote him
©rios/, kjoarbs/eager to find out more about something
because you do not know much about it [adj]
The visitors were soon surrounded by a crowd of curious chil-
dren. ] "'Why are you asking me all these questions?" "'I'm
just curious, that's all." [ curious about Anyone curious
about the history of the blues should read this book. [ curi-
ous to know/find out ete He was curious to find out why
she had left her job so suddenly.
curiously [ adv ] People stared at us curiously, wondering
who we were.
curiosity l, kjoari 'osIti II-'a:s-I [ n u] As a child she showed
a healthy curiosity about the world around her (=she
showed she was curious about it).
iltterest in/ intrI st n/if there is interest in something,
people are interested in it and want to find out more about
it [n phrase]
There has always been enormous interest in the possibility
of space travel. [ Why this sudden interest in my life story?[
upsurge of interest in (=a lot more people suddenly
becoming interested in something) Films such as "JFK'
have created an upsurge of interest in American 60s culture.
wi|h interest/wi6  ntrst] in a way that shows you are
interested [adv phrase]
The girls listened with great interest as the teachevexplained
what was going to happen in the play. [ McGrath gazed at
the portrait with interest and some surprise.
show interest / ,u ' ntrst/to do or say something that
shows you are interested Iv phrase]
When I suggested going camping, several of my friends
immediately showed interest. [ show interest in I wish
you'd show some interest in what I'm saying! [ The father
has shown little interest in his child, and rarely sees him.
express inlerest/;kspres intrst/to say something
that shows you are interested Iv phrase]
express interest in The government is already expressing
interest in our research. [ The public are expressing a grow-
ing interest in green issues and industry must be ready to
meet that challenge.
2 to be interested in a particular subject or
activity
be interested in be into sth
find sth interesting be fascinated by
take an interest in
be interested in Ibi: [ntrIstId In/ [V phrase]
I've always been interested in cars, ever since I was a child.[
Margaret first became interested in acting wlen she was a
student at Cambridge. [ be deeply/keenly interested in
(=be very interested in) Einstein was deeply interested in
Newton's theories about the universe.
find sth interesting/,fa]nd (sth)  IntrIstlrj/to think that
something is interesting when you see it, hear about it,
experience it etc Iv phrase]
She never found politics particularly interesting. [ I made
suggestions about programmes the students might find
interesting to watch.
take an inlerest in /teik an ' ntrIst in/to be interested
in a particular subject or in what someone is doing and
make an effort to find out about it Iv phrase]
Although he's over 80 he still takes a keen interest in sport.[
"'You've never taken the slightest interest in what I do ", she
complained. [ Barbara is a good student. She takes a lively
interest in school activities.
be into sth/bi: ' Intu: (sth)/an informal expression mean-
ing to be interested in a particular subject or activity [phr
vT]
Are you still into politics? [ The kids are really into skate-
boarding at the moment.
I I I
lie |as©inaled by /bi: fesanetd bail to be very
interested in a subject, especially because you enjoy study-
ing it Iv phrase]

INTERESTED 694 INTERESTED
The ancient Greeks were fascinated by geometry. I Sur-
rounded by meadows and forests he became fascinated by the
landscape as a subject for his work.
 so interested in what you are doing that you
give all your attention to it
absorbed mesmerized
engrossed spellbound
enthralled be all ears
absorbed/b's:rbd, bz:rbd/ so interested in some-
thing that you give all your attention to it and do not give
your attention to other things [adj not before noun]
absorbed in She's totally absorbed in her work. [ The chil-
dren were so absorbed in their game, that they didn't hear
me when I called. [ My father was obviously far too absorbed
in his own difficulties to be interested in hearing about mine.
engrossed /n gmost/extremely interested in something
such as a book or your work, so that you do not notice any-
thing that is happening around you [adj not before noun]
engrossed in Jane was sitting in bed, engrossed in a novel. [
They appeared to be engrossed in their conversation and I
didn't want to disturb them. I engrossed She became so
engrossed that she lost all sense of time.
enthralled/n Or3:ld/very interested and excited by a
story or by something that you enjoy seeing or hearing so
that you give all your attention to it [adj not before noun]
enthralled by I remember being enthralled by my mother's
singing. I enthralled We listened enthralled as she told us
stories of her life in the circus. [ hold sb enthralled (=keep
someone enthralled) The speaker held his audience
enthralled for over an hour.
mesmerized (also-ised British)/'mezmraxzd/unable
to stop watching something or listening to someone
because they completely hold your attention [adj not before
noun]
mesmerized by He was a wonderful speaker, and the
audience seemed mesmerized by the sound of his voice. I We
stared down into the water, mesmerized by the rapid move-
ments of hundreds of brightly coloured fish. I mesmerized
She stood there mesmerized as he picked up the gun and
turned it slowly towards her.
spellbound /'spelbaond/ so interested by something,
especially something strange or wonderful, that you are
unable to move or think of anything else, as if you have
been affected by magic [adj not usually before noun]
Millions of Japanese listened spellbound as they heard the
Emperor speak in public for the first time. I spellbound by
On clear nights we were held spellbound by the eerie flicker-
ing of the Northern lights in the sky.
be all ears/bi: :1  rz/if you say that you are all ears,
you mean that you are extremely interested in what some-
one is going to tell you, and you will listen very carefully
[ v phrase ]
Tell me everything that happened. I'm all ears. I No one was
listening at first but they were suddenly all ears when 1men-
tioned a cash prize.
4 to make someone feel interested in something
interest get sb interested
fascinate rekindle interest/revive interest
intrigue
interest/ intrIst/Iv T not in progressive]
interest sb Karen should choose the subject that interests
her, not the one herparents tell her to study. I There's an arti-
cle in today's "Times" that interests me. I what interests me
is What interests me most is where he got all that money in
the first place.
fascinate /faesneit/ is something fascinates you it
makes you very interested so that you like to think about
it a lot, watch it a lot etc Iv T not in progressive]
fascinate sb The idea of life after death has always fasci-
nated her. I Cats really fascinate me. I think it's the way they
move. I what fascinates me is What fascinates me about
Basho's poems is their apparent simplicity.
intrigue/n tri:g/if something intrigues you, it makes
you want to know more about it because there is something
about it that you do not understand or cannot explain Iv T]
The final part of the later intrigued him greatly. ] The origin
of mankind is a question that has intrigued scholars
throughout the ages.
gel sb interested/,get (sb) 'intrstd/to make some-
one interested in a subject or activity, especially by trying
to make it seem attractive or enjoyable Iv phrase]
get sb interested in I've tried to get him interested in his
schoolwork, but he only wants to play with his friends. I get
sb interested If we can get enough people interested we
could start a class in the evenings.
rekindle interest/revive interest/ri:,kindl ' ]ntrIst,
r ,vav 'intrgst/to make people interested again in a par-
ticular subject Iv phrase]
Recent events in the former Soviet Union have rekindled the
people's interest in religion. I The book will undoubtedly
revive interest in the notorious Kray brothers.
5 to become interested in something
get/become interested
get into
get the travel/surfing/DIY etc bug
get/become interested /,get, bJ,kAm 'intrIstd/ [v
phrase]
I could see from his face that he was getting more and more
interested. I get/become interested in I didn't become
interested in education until I had a child of my own.
get into/get intu:/an informal expression meaning to
start to become interested in an activity Iv T]
A lot of people I know are getting into aerobics, weight-
training and stuff like that. I She never really got into
modern jazz - she thinks it's too weird.
get the travellsurfinglDIY etc bug/get 6 (travel,
etc) bag/an informal expression meaning to become sud-
denly very interested in doing something, but often only
for a short period of time Iv phrase]
She'll be happy here until she gets the travel bug again. [
That summer we were all bitten by the surfing bug.
6 to stop being interested in something that you
were interested in before
lose interest
lose interest/,lu:z 'Intrst/ [V phrase]
Young children are often fascinated by new toys, but they
soon begin to lose interest. I lose interest in I've lost all
interest in my job and I feel constantly tired.
7 not interested in something
not be interested leave sb cold
uninterested lack of interest
show no interest apathetic
express no interest apathy
I I
not be interested/not bi: nstrstd/[v phrase]
He tried to tell his friends about his idea but they weren't
interested. [ not be interested in We're not particularly
interested in sport. [ I'm sure you're not interested in hear-
ing me talk about my ex-boyfriends.
uninterested /An'ntrIsQd/ not interested and not
having any feelings or opinions about something [adj]
uninterested in Kids today are completely uninterested in
schoolwork. All they want to do is play with computer
games. [ uninterested "'Oh is that all?" She said in an unin-
terested tone of voice.
show no interest /j'u nu ' :ntrI st/ to not do or say any-
thing that shows you are interested Iv phrase]
Whenever I talk about my work, he shows no interest what-
soever. [ show no interest in When he was at school he
didn't show much interest in girls.
express no interest/ik,spres nau 'ntrst/to not say
anything that shows you are interested Iv phrase]

INTERESTED 695 INTERESTING
I told them the house was for sale, but so far they've expressed
no interest. I express no interest in Patrick has never
expressed any interest in learning to play a musical
instrument.
leave sb cold/,li:v (sb) kold] an informal expression:
if something leaves you cold, you do not feel interested
in it or affected by it in any way Iv phrase]
I can't understand why people are so crazy about opera -
it leaves me cold. I All this talk about "searchingfor your true
soul" left me totally cold.
lack of interest/llak v intrst/if there is a lack of
interest in something, people are not interested in it, espe-
cially when you would expect them to be interested In
phrase]
lack of interest in These days there seems to be a total lack
of interest in anything connected with politics. I lack of
interest Many of the delegates displayed a marked lack of
interest throughout their negotiations.
apathetic/I ep  Oetk/someone who is apathetic about
a particular activity or problem is not interested in it and
does not care about it, although they should do [adj]
apathetic about Until recently English people were gener-
ally apathetic about environmental issues, i apathetic I
could tell by his apathetic manner that he hadn't much
interest in trying to change things.
apathy/ epoOi/if there is apathy among people about
something that needs to be done, they are not interested
in it and do not care about it In U]
Mao's biggest fight was against the ignorance and apathy
of the majority of the population. I At the beginning women's
rights campaigners were met with apathy and stupidity.
8 an activity that you are interested in and that
you spend time doing
hobby
interest
recreation
hobby/'hobi II 'ha:-/an activity that you do in your free
time which you find enjoyable and interesting, for exam-
ple collecting or making things In C]
Stamp collecting has been a hobby of mine ever since I was
a child. I Sailing is just one of Graham's hobbies, he loves
anything to do with the sea. I Candle-making was just a
hobby for Louise until a few years ago and now it's a thriv-
ing business.
interest/ ntro st/something you enjoy doing or a subject
you enjoy studying in your free time because you find it
interesting or entertaining In C]
Music is one of my interests and I love going to symphony
concerts. [ Jim is very good at mathematics but his interests
include the theatre, American literature and cricket. [ Josie
isn't really an archeologist, it's just an interest of hers.
recreation /rekrieIan/a word meaning any activity
that you find interesting, enjoyable or relaxing which you
do in your free time, used especially when comparing this
with your work In C]
Businessmen who suffer from stress are often advised to take
up a recreation to help them relax. I Allan was a non-drinker,
a non-smoker and had no recreations except a daily hour in
the gymnasium.
interesting INTERESTING 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
interesting: find sth interesting INTERESTED 2
interesting: make sth more interesting INTERESTING 7
interesting: makes interesting reading READ 13
interesting: not very interesting BORING 1, 2, 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
INTERESTING
something that is interesting holds your
attention because it is unusual, exciting, tells
you something new, or makes you want to
know more about it
1 words for describing a fact, piece of
information, idea etc that is interesting and
makes you want to find out more
2 words for describing an activity, book, film etc
that holds your attention so that you do not
become bored
3 so interesting that it holds your attention
completely for a long time
4 words for describing a period of time when a
lot of interesting, unusual, or exciting things
happen
5 words for describing something such as a
building, city, or work of art that is interesting
because it is unusual or special in some way
6 words for describing an interesting person
7 to make something more interesting and
enjoyable
1 words for describing a fact, piece of
information, idea etc that is interesting and
makes you want to find out more
interesting be of interest
fascinating interestingly
intriguing
interesting/' IntrstItJ/[adj]
The most interesting thing about the dinosaurs is that they
all died out so suddenly. I Let me know if you hear anything
interesting that I can put in the magazine. I looks/sounds
ete interesting HIS plan for raising more money sounds
interesting but I'm not sure it'll work. ] find sth interest-
ing (=think something is interesting) I found physics really
interesting when I was at school. I fred it interesting (that)
I find it interesting that no one has yet mentioned the Presi-
dent's appalling record on the economy. ] it is interesting
(that) Well it's interesting that they never asked you forproof
of identity. I it is interesting to do sth It will be interest-
ing to see Laurie's reaction when she realises it's a surprise
party.
fascinating/'fesonetO/extremely interesting [adj]
The fascinating thing was that the KGB knew he was a Brit-
ish spy from the beginning. I You used to live in Japan. How
fascinating! I find sth fascinating (=think something is
fascinating) I found the discussion absolutely fascinating. ]
it is fascinating to do sth It's fascinating to imagine what
might have happened if the US had stayed out of World War
II.
intriguing /intri:grj/ extremely interesting because
there is something that you find difficult to understand or
explain [adj]
In her research she discovered a great deal of intriguing
information about the volcano's history. ] find sth intrig-
uing (=think something is intriguing) I must admit I find
the idea of travelling through time highly intriguing. [ it is
intriguing to do sth It is intriguing to think that these pat-
terns in the ground may be caused by supernatural forces.
be of interest/bi: v I ntrXst/ifsomethingis of interest
to someone it is interesting to them because it is connected
with a subject that they are studying, or are interested in
Iv phrase]
be of interest to sb The new Bob Dylan record will only
be of interest to serious Dylan fans. I be of interest I heard
you used to live in Australia, and I thought this book might
be of interest.

INTERESTING 696 INTERESTING
interestingly/ IntrI stItjli/you say interestingly when
you want to tell someone an interesting or surprising fact
that is connected with what you have been talking about
[advl
Interestingly, girls are often much better at sciences than
boys. [ interestingly enough Interestingly enough, 68% of
[hose questioned said they thought Britain should not stay
in the European Community.
 words for describing an activity, book, film etc
that holds your attention so that you do not
become bored
interesting hold your attention
fascinating stimulation
stimulating
interesting / ' ntr strj/[adj ]
There was a very interesting concert of Indonesian music on
the radio last night. I look/sound etc interesting Our
teacher made it all sound really interesting. I find sth
interesting (=think something is interesting) I'm sorry, I
don't find politics particularly interesting. I it is interest-
ing to do sth It's always interesting to watch an artist at
work.
fascinating/Ifasineit]tJ/extremely interesting [adj]
It certainly is a fascinating story. I find sth fascinating
(=think something is fascinating) I've always found steam
trains fascinating. I it is fascinating to do sth It was fas-
cinating to rub shoulders with so manyfamous people at the
reception.
stimulating /Istlmj leltltJ/" something that is stimulat-
ing is interesting and enjoyable because it contains a lot
of new ideas for you to think about [adj]
Her lectures were always stimulating and covered a variety
of subjects. [ He was lucky to have been brought up in such
a stimulating environment. [ find sth stimulating (=think
something is stimulating) I always find our discussions
immensely intellectually stimulating and useful.
hold your attention /hoold jo:r o tenj'an/if something
such as a book, a play, or a speech holds your attention,
it makes you keep reading, watching, or listening to it and
stops you from thinking about other things Iv phrase]
The book holds the reader's attention completely throughout
its 600pages. [ Simone spoke first, and held the attention of
the large audience for over 20 minutes.
stimulation /,st[mj'lean/ if someone needs or gets
stimulation, they need or get interesting experiences,
activities etc that stop them being bored and help them to
learn and develop In U]
Children under the age of four are growing rapidly and need
a lot of mental stimulation.l Successful people often need
more challenge and stimulation than others.
3 so interesting that it holds your attention
 completely for a long time
absorbing compelling
riveting couldn't put it down
gripping
iabsorbing lob' so:rbIl, - Izolr-/enjoyable and interesting
and holding your attention for a long time [adj]
Developing your own photographs can be an absorbing
hobby. I f'md sth absorbing (=think something is absorb-
ing) I found the book deeply absorbing, especially the descrip-
tion of Princess Diana's childhood. I He was very interested
in religion, and found it an absorbing topic of conversation.
riveting/'rivu/a film, book etc that is riveting is so
interesting that it holds your attention completely [adj]
"'What did you think of last night's documentary on the Gulf
War?" "7 thought it was riveting. "" [ This movie is riveting
stuff- a gut-wrenching, mind-bending horror story. Go and
see it!
gripping/I grpirj/a film, book etc that is gripping holds
your attention completely because it is exciting and you
always want to know what is going to happen next [adj]
Hitchcock's film 'The Birds" is a brilliant psychological
thriller with a gripping climax. I This book is a gripping
account of life in the concentration camps.
compelling/kompelirj/a film, book etc that is compel-
ling is so interesting that you feel you must keep watch-
ing or reading it [adj]
The film was so compelling I could scarcely take my eyes off
the screen for a second. [ Orwell's "Burmese Days" is a com-
pelling account of life under British Colonial rule.
couldn't put it down/kodnt pot t daon/you say I
couldn't put it down when you mean that a book was so
interesting and enjoyable that you did not want to stop
reading it
I really enjoyed Jackie Collins' latest book - I just couldn't
put it down.
4, words for describing a period of time when a
lot of interesting, unusual, or exciting things
happen
interesting colourfullcolorful
eventful never a dull moment
interesting/, intrstirJ/[adj]
Today's been really interesting, I enjoyed it very much.
the age of SO she still leads a very busy and interesting life.
The Renaissance must have been a very interesting time to
have been alive.
eventful/i 'ventfal/full of interesting or important events
[adj]
The poet Arthur Rimbaud led a short but extremely event-
ful life. I It has been an eventful day in politics - two
ministers have resigned and the Prime Minister has called
an election.
colourful (British) I colorful (American) /kAlOrfal/
colourful career/life/period in history (=one that is
very interesting because it contains a lot of unusual, excit-
ing and perhaps immoral events or behaviour) [adj usually
before noun]
Charlie Chaplin had a long and colorful career in Holly-
wood. I Europe in the 1920"s was a particularly colourful
period in history.
never a dull moment/nevor o IdA1 moomont/if you
say never a dull moment you mean that you are having
an interesting time because you are very busy and a lot of
things are happening around you
When you have three young children to look after there's
never a dull moment.
5 words for describing sometfling such as a
building, city, or work of art that is interesting
because it is unusual or special in some way
interesting unusual
fascinating have character
interesting/, intrastt/[adj]
The exhibition includes some interesting old musical instru-
ments. I What makes San Francisco so interesting is its
architecture, which is completely different from that of other
American cities.
I I
fascinating / fasnet/extremely interesting [adj]
New York is a fascinating city. I It was a fascinating paint-
ing, with clever use of colour and light.
unusual /Anju:suol, -sal/ different in style from other
buildings, cities, or works of art, and therefore interesting
[adj]
The Pompidou Centre in Paris has a highly unusual design. I
Louise makes hats that are eye-catching and unusual.
have character/hav karlaktor! ifa place or a building
has character, it is old and has many unusual features
which make it interesting and special Iv phrase not in
progressive]
I liked the house - Ithought it had character. I Jakarta has
a typically modern city centre without much character. I be
full of character/have a lot of character Sydney's a great
place to live in - it's full of character.

INTERESTING 69'7 INTERFERE
 words for describing an interesting person
interesting colourful/colorful
fascinating a character
interesting/' IntrIstIrj/ [adj]
The party was full of artists, actors and other interesting
people. [ The characters aren't particularly interesting but
the storylines are always good. [ find sb interesting
(=think someone is interesting) I really like your father -
I find him so interesting to talk to.
fascinating/'fasneitirj/extremely interesting [adj]
Sacha is a fascinating woman. And very beautiful. [ Rick
was perhaps one of the most weird and fascinating charac-
ters I met during my travels. [ find sb fascinating (=think
someone is fascinating) It was easy to understand why
Jenny found him so fascinating.
colourful (British) I colorful (American) ['kAlrfal[
someone who is colourful is interesting because they are
unusual, especially because they ,behave in an immoral
way [adj usually before noun]
The ship's crew included a number of highly colourful
characters. [ The news media has a penchant for using color-
ful nicknames such as Joe Bananas in their crime stories.
a character / 'karIktr/ a person who people find
interesting and like because they behave in an unusual or
amusing way In singular]
She's quite a character - people find her rather shocking, but
I like her. [ James is a real character, completely unpredic-
table but very funny.
7 to make something more interesting and
enjoyable
make sth more interesting jazz up
liven up add variety
make sth more interesting/,meik (sth) mo:r ' ntrst0/
[ v phrase]
Teachers are always trying to find new ways of making their
lessons more interesting. [ Sharing a house makes life much
more fun, more interesting.
liven up/,lalvan 'Ap/ to make something that is a little
boring or ordinary become more interesting and exciting
[phr v T]
liven sth/it/them up I wish Leo would come - he'll liven
it up. [ liven things up (=make an event more interesting
and enjoyable) Bob tried to liven things up by telling some
of his jokes. [ liven up sth Tropical fruit such as mangoes
and kiwis can help to liven up salad.
jazz up /,dsaz 'Ap/ to make something seem more
interesting and exciting by adding things to it that are
colourful, modern etc [phr v T]
jazz up sth You can easily jazz up a plain outfit with some
bright, colourful accessories. [jazz sth/it/them up They've
really jazzed it up in here but I bet the food's still the same.
add variety/,ad vo'raioti/ to make an activity more
interesting by doing something different or unusual Iv
phrase]
add variety to Make sure you add variety to your child's
diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in season. [ add
variety Why don't you let the children do some acting, just
to add a little variety.
interestingly INTERESTING 1
interfere INTERFERE 1
INTERFERE
I to get involved in a situation that does not
concern you
2 interfering too much in other people's affairs
3 to not interfere
1 to get involved in a situation that does not
concern you
interfere butt in
meddle intrude
poke/stick your nose in muscle in on
put/shove/stick your oar in
interfere/, Into r 'fIor/to get involved in a situation that
does not concern you, and try to make changes or influence
what happens, in a way that annoys people Iv I]
I wish you'd stop interfering. You've caused enough problems
already. [ If only you hadn't interfered. Why did you have
to tell her the truth? [ interfere in Local journalists have
been warned not to interfere in the peace negotiations. [
interfere with (=interfere in a situation that is already
established and working) He's made up his mind not to
interfere with the way she was raising her children.
interference In U] Tony wanted his mother's advice and
support, but not her interference. [ President Hussein con-
demned US interference in Iraq's internal affairs.
meddle/medl/to interfere actively in a situation that
does not concern you, especially with the result that you
cause unnecessary problems for other people Iv I]
John has two major weaknesses - he meddles and he talks
too much. I meddle in (=to interfere in a particular situa-
tion) He's always meddling in other people's affairs. I
meddle with (=meddle in a situation that is already estab-
lished and working) If you hadn't started meddling with
things that are none of your business, we wouldn't be in this
mess now.
poke/stick your nose in/,pook, ,stik ja: r 'nooz in/
informal expressions meaning to interfere, especially by
asking questions about very private matters and giving
unwanted advice Iv phrase]
Who gave her the right to poke her nose in? Our marriage
problems are nothing to do with her. [ poke/stick your
nose into I wish you'd learn to stop sticking your nose into
other people's business.
put/shove/stick your oar in/,put, ,Av, stkja:r 'a:r
 n/ informal British expressions meaning to interfere by
giving your opinion when it is not wanted Iv phrase]
If he hadn't stuck his oar in nobody would have realised that
we'd run out of money. I You've always got to put your oar
in, haven't you? No wonder everyone's fed up with you.
butt in/,bAt 'in/an informal expression used especially
in American English, meaning to interfere in a private sit-
uation that does not concern you or when people do not
want your advice [phr v I]
Everything was going real well till Aunt Sonia butted in and
ruined it all. I I hope you don't think I'm butting in but don't
you think you should go home now?
intrude [ in'tru:d/to interfere in someone's private affairs
when you know you have no right to be involved, often
with the result that you upset or offend them Iv I]
Forgive me for intruding, but did I hear you say you were
looking for the railway station? I intrude on It's very impor-
tant not to intrude on the family's grief, whilst still helping
with the funeral arrangements. I intrude into (=to intrude
by asking a lot of questions) I have no desire to intrude into
yourprivate life but I do think you should tell me something
about your past.
intrusion/In tm:san/In C/U] The magazine has apologised
for any intrusion in the actor's private life.
intrusive /  n  tru:s I V/ [adj ] I found the reporter's question-
ing very intrusive (=unreasonably interfering).
muscle in on/,m^sal 'In on [[ -Gin/an informal expres-
sion meaning to deliberately interfere in a plan, activity
etc that other people are organizing so that you can have
some of the advantages of that situation Iv T]
I'm not going to let Jim muscle in on this deal - let him do
his own negotiations. [ Two men were killed when members
of a rival gang tried to muscle in on their territory.

INTERFERE 698 INTERRUPT
2 interfering too much in other people's affairs
interfering busybody
meddling do-gooder
interfering I, int r'f[arIr],/[adj]
You're just an interfering old man. How I bring my children
up is my own business. I We used to like Penny a lot, but since
we got married she has become jealous and interfering.
meddling / Imedhlj/always interfering in other people's
private affairs, especially in a way that causes problems
for them [adj only before noun]
She's just a meddling old woman! Why can't she just leave
us alone! I I can't stand these meddling teachers who always
have to get involved in a child's home life.
busybody / Iblzi,bodi II -ba:di/someone who likes inter-
fering in other people's affairs, giving advice and trying
to influence what people do In C]
If that damn busybody from the hospital hadn't interfered,
no one would have found out.
do-gooder/du: 'goda r II du: Igodar/someone who tries
to help other people, especially because it is part of their
job, but whose help is not wanted and not needed In C]
Many people regard social workers as interfering
do-gooders.
3 to not interfere
mind your own business
stay/keep out of it
belhave nothing to do with
leavellet well alone
mind your own business /maind j:r on bizns/to
not get involved in or ask questions about other people's
lives or personal details Iv phrase]
"How much money does your father earn? .... Mind your own
business. "'1 1 wish these people would mind their own busi-
ness and get on with their own work.
stay/keep out of it/tstei, ki:p laot av it/to not get
involved in a situation such as a fight or quarrel [vphrase]
If they'd stayed out of it, the war would have been over years
ago. I The good thing is that whenever there's a problem she
always knows when to keep out of it. I stay well out of it
(=not interfere at all) Tim and Theresa are always arguing
about money, but I try to stay well out of it.
be/have nothing to do with/bi:, hev tnAOIl] tV du:
wIS/a situation that is or has nothing to do with other
people is very personal and private, so that they have no
right to interfere in it Iv phrase]
Why should I tell her about my marriage? It's nothing to do
with her. I What l do in my spare time has nothing to do with
anyone at work so they've no right to ask!
leave/let well alone/li:v, let ,wel olun/to not inter-
fere or try to change a situation that is someone else's con-
cern or problem, because you may make it worse than
before Iv phrase]
The best thing we can do is to leave well alone and let them
sort their own problems out for themselves.
interfering INTERFERE 2
interim TEMPORARY 2
interior IN/INSIDE 9
interlude PAUSE 4
intermarry MARRY 1
interminable LONG TIME 3
intermission . PAUSE 4
intermittent REGULAR 2, SOMETIMES 2
intermittently REGULAR 2
intern PRISON 2
internal COUNTRY/NATION 10, IN/INSIDE 3, 4, 5
international COUNTRYANATION 12
interpret MEANING 7, TRANSLATE 1, UNDERSTAND 6
interpretation MEANING 8
interpreter TRANSLATE 3
interracial RACE 3
interrogate ASK A QUESTION 4
interrupt INTERRUPT 1
INTERRUPT
to make someone pause or stop speaking before
they have finished what they were saying,
especially by saying something yourself
1 words meaning to interrupt someone who is
talking
;2 to deliberately keep interrupting someone
who is speaking at a meeting
1 words meaning to interrupt someone who is
talking
interrupt barge in
butt in cut in
break in cut sb short
interrupt/,nto'rApt/[v I/T]
Don't interrupt when your mother is speaking. I Keith started
to speak but Greg interrupted. I interrupt sb Raymond,
sorry to interrupt you, but I thought you'd want to know that
your wife is waiting outside. I As I was saying before I was
so rudely interrupted ....
interruption/ Into'r^pan/[n C] There were several inter-
ruptions from Republican Senators (=several Republican
senators interrupted).
butt In/,bat 'in/an informal expression meaning to inter-
rupt someone rudely [phr v I]
There is an awful man in the front row who butts in
whenever you pause for breath. [ "'They're great cars - really
fast and quite economical. "" "'And they're incredibly expen-
sive," Cliff butted in loudly. [ butt in with (=interrupt by
saying something) I never finished my talk because people
kept butting in with questions.
break in/,brek in/to join a conversation by interrupt-
ing someone or by saying something suddenly [phr v I]
"'I feel really sorry for you!"Kate broke in. I When I faltered,
my boss would break in and continue the discussion until
I had gathered my thoughts again. [ break in on The waiter
broke in on our conversation to inform us that there was a
very important phone call for me.
barge In/ba:rd3 In/to interrupt a conversation very
rudely, especially when you do not agree with what some-
one has said [phr v I]
barge in on My boyfriend is so annoying. He's always barg-
ing in on conversations that don't concern him. [ barge in
There was absolutely no need for you to barge in like that!
I don't want to know what you think.
cut In/kht Ira/to rudely interrupt someone while they
are talking, especially in order to say a few words [phr v I]
"'There's this nice guy .... "" "" Not interested, Lucy, "" Roz cut
in, laughing. [ "'Shut up, "'Kevin cut in, "you don't know what
you're talking about. ""
cut sb short /kht (sb) to:rt/to interrupt someone while
they are talking in order to stop them continuing [vphrase]
Max had begun to say that he was sorry he was late but
Lydia cut him short. [ She was about to reply when she was
cut short by her mother. [ I'm sorry to cut you short, Mrs
Shaw, but I'm afraid we've run out of time.
2 to deliberately keep interrupting someone
who is speaking at a meeting
heckle
barrack
heckle /hekal/to deliberately interrupt a speaker at a
meeting by making rude remarks to show that you do not
agree with what they are saying Iv I/T]
heckle sb The speaker was heckled by a group of protestors
but dealt with them skilfully. [ heckle Comedians usually
have a few ready comments or insults for members of the
audience that heckle.

INTERRUPT 699 INVENT
heckling In U] There was a lot of heckling (=a lot of people
heckled) at the meeting.
barrack ] Ibarak! a British word meaning to interrupt a
speaker at a meeting by shouting or making a loud noise
so that no one can hear them, especially because you dis-
approve of what they are saying Iv T]
The politician was barracked by students at the back of the
hall.
barracking In U] The barracking only stopped when the
police arrived.
intersection JOIN STH TOGETHER 6
intertwined: be intertwined CONNECTED WITH 2
interval PAUSE 4
interval: at regular intervals REGULAR 1, 3
intervene DO STH/TAKE ACTION 2
interview ASK A QUESTION 5, 6
intimate FRIEND 2, PRIVATE/PERSONAL 1
intimidate THREATEN 1
intimidating THREATEN 3
intimidation THREATEN 5
into IN/INSIDE 8
into: be into sth INTERESTED 2
intolerable STAND/BEAR 4
intolerance PREJUDICED 3
intolerant PREJUDICED 1
intractable SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 6
intransigent CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
intrepid BRAVE 3
intricate COMPLICATED 1 2
intrigue INTERESTED 4, PLAN 6
intrigued INTERESTED 1
intriguing INTERESTING 1
intro BEGINNING 7
introduce INTRODUCE 1, MEET g, MENTION 2,
PRESENT/INTRODUCE A SHOW 1 START
,
STH/MAKE STH START 2
introduce: be introduced to MEET 5
introduce: let me introduce MEET 9
introduce sb to sth START DOING STH 8
ntroduce ...............
c i-....: i :-.f: .... .;: ..... "'!i": ............ '::--':--- ....... = .... ': .... ..
:it:mduce:s6n: '.  MEET
:: ,'*@  PRESEN/
: INTRODUCE
N s.ow
INTRODUCE
to talk or write about a new subject for the
first time
a speech or piece of writing that introduces
something
1 to talk or write about a new subject for the
first time
introduce
lead into
introduce/,ntra'dju:s II -'du:s/to introduce something
for the first time, by saying or writing a little about it Iv T]
introduce sth In my first class I will introduce some of
the topics we will be studying this year. I It was Michael
Faraday who introduced field theory. I introduce sth into
a conversation/lecture etc He wanted to talk about get-
ting married but wasn't sure how to introduce it into the con-
versation.
lead into/lli:d intu:/to begin to talk or write about a
subject by talking about a similar subject first Iv T not in
passive]
Her lecture began with a talk about her own experience, lead-
ing into a more general discussion. I It was a long, boring
speech which never seemed to quite lead into the main topic.
a speech or piece of writing that introduces
something
introduction
lead-in
introductory
introduction/,ntra'dAkj'an/In C]
After a brief introduction by the Chairman, the meeting
began. I Many candidates" essays had long introductions,
packed with unnecessary detail.
lead.in / li:d n/a short statement that is connected to the
main speech or piece of writing and comes first in order
to tell you what it is about In C]
The lead-in to a news item should only take a few seconds. I
The last sentence in a paragraph should form a link and
lead-in to what is to be discussed in the next paragraph.
Introductory/,ntra'dAktri*/giving a short introduc-
tion to a subject before it is discussed in more detail [adj
only before noun]
Before you start the course, it's best to attend a few introduc-
tory lectures. I The subject matter of the book is summarized
in an introductory paragraph.
introduction BEGINNING 7, INTRODUCE 2
introductory INTRODUCE 2
introverted SHY 2
intrude INTERFERE 1
intruder ENTER 4
intuition INSTINCT 1
intuitive INSTINCT 2
inundated: be inundated with GET 14
inured: be inured to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 5
invade ATTACK 3
invalid ILL 6, USE STH 16
invalidate PROVE 4
invaluable USEFUL 2
invariably ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 1
invasion ATTACK 6
invent INVENT 1, 4
INVENT
to think of a new machine, system etc, or a
false story, excuse etc
I to invent something new
• someone who invents something
 something that is invented
4 to invent a false story, excuse, name etc
1 to invent something new
invent be the brainchild of
create dream up
develop make up
devise conceive
come up with coin
think up
invent/n'vent/[v T]
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. I Braille, a
system of writing for blind people, was invented in the
nineteenth century. I I understand you've invented a new
method of keeping food fresh at room temperature?

INVENT '700 INVENT
invention/n'venan/in U] The lives of many women have
changed dramatically since the invention of the washing
machine.
create/kri 'elt/to invent something new in art, literature,
fashion etc, by using your imagination iv T]
All attempts to create an international language have more
or less failed. [ This delicious dish was created by our chef,
Jean Ricard. [ In Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle created the
ultimate detective.
creation/kri 'eian/in U] a movie which inspired the crea-
tion of a new look for older women
develop/dl Ivelap/to invent something new, very care-
fully and over a period of time iv T]
The company is developing a revolutionary new product. [
An improved model of the engine was then developed. [
Management consultants have been called in to develop a
program to increase exports.
development in U] We also face the problem of soaring
development costs.
devine/dl' valz/to invent a plan or a way of doing some-
thing, by thinking about it carefully iv T]
We are trying to devise a new way of teaching English
vocabulary. ] Agricultural engineers have devised an ingeni-
ous feeding system for cattle. I By devising a computer model
for this process, we saved months of experimenting and
gained greater accuracy.
come up with /,k^m 'Ap WI6/ to invent a plan or a way
of doing something, especially a very clever one iv T]
Dave's come up with an idea and he wants us to try it out. [
We've got a team of experts working on the problem - let's
wait and see what they come up with.
think up / 10IIJk lap/to invent a plan or way of doing some-
thing, especially in order to get out of some trouble or
difficulty [phr v T]
think up sth They've thought up a new advertising cam-
paign. I Financial advisers will soon think up new ways for
us to evade tax. [ think sth/it/them up What a brilliant
idea - I wonder who thought that up.
be the brainchild of/bi: 6a 'breintj'ald ov/if something
new is the brainchild of a particular person, that person
invented it [v phrase]
The new computer system is the brainchild of our systems
manager. [ A new game, the brainchild of Anthony Fenwick
Wilson, was launched in 1990.
dream up /,dri:m '^p/to invent a plan or a way of doing
something, especially something that other people think
is stupid or unlikely to succeed [phr v T I
dream up sth Who on earth dreamed up that idea? [ Our
boss has dreamed up this new Employee Motivation
Programme. ]dream sth/it/them up Whoever dreamed
that up deserves to be fired.
make up/,rnek ^p/make up a song/poem/story etc
(=to invent a song etc without much preparation, especially
one you do not write down) [phr v T/
make up sth My sister made up stories about wolves and
witches. [ When my mother was in a good mood she would
make up songs about our neighbours. [ make sth/it/them
up That's a good riddle. Did you make it up yoursel]?
conceive/kan'si:v/to think of a new idea, plan or piece
of work, and develop it in your mind, until it is ready to
be used, made etc [v T/
In her mind, she gradually conceived a plan to kill him. [ "'We
wanted to make something new and original, '" said Colin
Smith, the man who conceived the show. [ The painting is
beautifully conceived in every way - composition, colour and
texture.
coin/kain/to invent a word or expression, especially if it
is a technical word with a specialized meaning [v T/
The term "black hole" is of very recent origin. It was coined
in 1969 by the American scientist John Wheeler. [ To describe
such a situation, Professor Joan Robinson coined the word
"monopsony', which is now generally used in business. ]
Eighteenth-century revolutionaries in America and France
coined some splendid slogans about government by the
people.
coinage In C/ The word 'yuppie" is a coinage of the 1960s
which has found a new fame in the 1980s.
2 someone who invents something
inventor the originator of
the creator of the father of
inventor/n'ventr/a person who has invented some-
thing, or whose job is to invent things, especially machines
[nC]
Franklin was a scientist, an inventor, and a stateman. I Mar-
coni, the inventor of radio I The patent lists six inventors who
worked on the system.
the creator of/6a kri'eitzr Dv/ the person who has
invented something, especially a writer who has written
about something new in a book, story, etc in phrase]
In 1966 the world mourned the death of Walt Disney, the cre-
ator of Mickey Mouse. I Orwell, the creator of'Newspeak' and
"Big Brother"
the originator of/6i a'rdsnetar Dr/the person who
first invented something, especially an idea in phrase]
Stokely Carmichael was probably the originator of the term
"black power'. I Alberti was the originator of the violin's
design even though Stradivari made it famous.
the father of/6a ' fo:6ar Dv/the man who first invented
a new way of thinking, a new area of study, or methods,
practices, etc that are now generally accepted and used in
phrase]
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, was born in
1856. [ Lowe was the real father of modern computing and
a very important figure in IBM's ranks. I Chaucer is often
regarded as the father of the English novel form.
3 something that is invented
invention
creation
innovation
invention/in'venn/[n C/
The Hydro-Ram is a clever invention which will make it
easier for firemen to get people out of crashed cars. I The
wedge is an important early mechanical invention. I More
than any other single invention, writing has transformed
human consciousness.
creation/kri'eLan/something such as a completely new
fashion, a character in a book etc, that someone has
invented using their imagination in C]
Agatha Christie's greatest fictional creation was the Belgian
detective, Hercule Poirot. I Each meal at home was a culinary
creation. She was constantly experimenting with new dishes.
innovation/, tna'vetan/a new invention, especially one
that is being used for the first time and that people are not
yet used to in C]
In those days, the automobile was a recent innovation. I inno-
vations in scientific research ] Electric lighting was still con-
sidered a daring innovation when it was installed in my
grandfather's house in 1910.
4 to invent a false story, excuse, name etc
invent cook up
make up concoct
fabricate
invent/in'vent/to invent a false story, excuse, name etc
in order to deceive people iv T]
I began to invent reasons for leaving the hotel, because I was
so afraid of seeing the stranger again. [ He invented fictional
ancestors and a family history to impress the girls. I The com-
pany manager coolly invented the profit figures when fill-
ing in his tax forms.
make up /,melk 'Ap/to invent an excuse, facts etc, espe-
cially in order to protect yourself or deceive people [phr v T]
make sth/it up "'What reason can I give for not going to
the party? .... Oh, just make something up. '" [ They accused

INVENT 701 INVESTIGATE
me of making everything up even though I was telling the
truth. I make up sth Did you make up that story you told
Bob?
|abricate ]  fabrkeit] a formal word meaning to invent
a false story, piece of information etc in order to deceive
people or prevent them from finding out the truth Iv T]
Officials were accused o f fabricating the evidence that was
given at the trial. I Researchers now claim that the entire
ritual was fabricated by the tribe in order to divert attention
from their illegal activities.
fabrication/,fbr 'kean/In C/U] Police now believe that
the whole story was pure fabrication.
cook up/,kok '^P/to spend time inventing a story or
excuse, especially with other people, in order to prevent
someone blaming you for something [phr v T]
cook up sth I cooked up that excuse so that I could leave
early. [ Whatever the lawyer and judge had cooked up
between them, I wasn't buying it. I cook sth/it up I don't
know what you should tell him - just cook some story up.
concoct/kon'kokt [[-'ka:kt/to spend time inventing a
clever story, excuse, or plan, especially with other people
Iv T]
They've not had time to concoct a story as good as that. t The
nuclear scare could just have been concocted to distract inter-
national attention from the country's problems.
invention INVENT 3
inventive IDEA 5, 6
inventor INVENT 2
inventory LIST 1
invert TURN 10
invest MONEY 15
investigate INVESTIGATE 1
@ INVESTIGATE
to try and find out the truth about a crime,
accident etc
a process intended to find out about a crime,
accident etc
someone whose job is to investigate
something
1 to try and find out the truth about a crime,
accident etc
investigate go into
look into probe
hold/conduct delve into
an inquiry be under investigation
make inquiries/enquiries
I ]
investigate /in vestoget/ to try to find out the truth
about something such as a crime, an accident, or a scien-
tific problem Iv I/T]
investigate sth A quantity of heroin has been found at an
address in South London. Police are investigating the
matter. [ Scientists are investigating how ear cells transmit
messages to the brain. I An outbreak of food poisoning is cur-
rently being investigated by health officials. [ fully inves-
tigate We can assure you that your complaint will be fully
and properly investigated.
investigation / in vest 'geIan/In U] Thepolice are taking
a more scientific approach to the investigation and detection
of crime.
look into ] lok  mtu:/to investigate a problem, crime or
a situation in order to find out more about it Iv T]
Police are looking into the disappearance of two children. I
There seems to be an electrical problem. I'll get someone to
look into it.
hold/conduct an inquiry /,hoold, kondAkt on In-
' kwa;ri/if someone in a position of authority holds or con-
ducts an inquiry they officially investigate an event, acci-
dent etc in order to find out why it happened Iv phrase]
The government cannot blame anyone for the disaster
without first homing a public inquiry. [ hold an inquiry
into Following a number of escapes the governor conducted
an inquiry into prison security.
make inquiries (also make enquiries in British
English)/,mek nkwa9riz/to ask people questions about
a person, crime, accident etc in order to investigate Iv
phrase]
We've made enquiries and found that you were dismissed
from your previous job. I make inquiries into/about
Police are making inquiries into the theft of a quantity of
explosives. I He had made discreet inquiries and learnt that
she inherited the money from her father.
go into /goo  ntu:/to thoroughly investigate an event,
situation etc in order to explain why it happened Iv T]
"'How did Blake manage to escape? .... That's something that
we will have to go into. "" I The headteacher promised the
parents that he would be going into the matter of truancy
thoroughly.
probe/proob/to investigate a situation thoroughly, espe-
cially when someone wants to keep the facts secret Iv I/T]
probe sth Police probing a new drugs scandal have been
questioning community leaders. I probe into The commit-
tee was set up to probe into the reasons for such a rapid series
of job losses. I probe deeply The press have been criticised
for probing too deeply into the actor's private life.
delve into /delv ntu:/ to investigate something very
thoroughly, especially someone's private life, in order to
see what new information you can find Iv T]
She made it clear that she did not want any journalists delv-
ing into the family history. I delve deeply into The author
has delved deeply into his subject's background and found
some very interesting facts about his childhood.
be under investigation/hi: ,nndor nvest] 'german/if a
person, organization eta is under investigation, someone
is investigating them because they think they are guilty
of a crime, doing something wrong etc Iv phrase]
A health club is currently under investigation by Boston
detectives. I Some of the people under investigation have been
accused of spying.
2 a process intended to find out about a crime,
accident etc
investigation inquiries
inquiry/enquiry probe
inquest
investigation/n,vest 'geiJ'an/the process intended to
explain or find the truth about something such as a situa-
tion, crime, problem etc In C]
An investigation by airline officials has shown that the crash
was caused by human error. I As a result of police investi-
gations two men have been arrested. I investigation into
We have launched an investigation into the causes of the acci-
dent. I carry out/conduct an investigation (=make an
investigation) The army is carrying out its own investiga-
tion into the explosion. [ full/thorough investigation
After a thorough investigation lasting over two years, very
little new evidence had come to light.
inquiry (also enquiry in British English)/in'kwaigri II
n kwaiori, ' kwori/an official investigation, usually in the
form of a series of meetings intended to find out why an
event, accident etc happened In C]
The inquiry will be supervised by a senior judge. [ inquiry
into Local residents are calling for an inquiry into the
crash. [ hold/conduct an inquiry (=make an inquiry) The
government refused to hold an inquiry into the matter. [
public inquiry What is needed is a public inquiry - noth-
ing else is acceptable.
inquest /rjkwest/ a British word meaning the legal
process when a doctor investigates the cause of someone's
death In C]
An inquest heard yesterday that the man plunged to his death
from a lOth storey window. [ The inquest recorded a verdict
ofsuicide. I hold an inquest (=make an inquest) Why was
an inquest not held in this case? After all, the death was
suspicious.

INVESTIGATE ?02 INVITE
inquiries (also enquiries in British English) /:n-
IkwaIriz ]] n'kwariz, i0kworiz / an investigation, espe-
cially made by the police, where they ask people questions
about a crime In plural]
A man has been arrested and is helping police with their
inquiries. I inquiries into Owing to a lack of evidence the
police have decided to drop their inquiries into a case of ille-
gal trading.
probe/proob/a word used especially in newspapers mean-
ing an investigation into something that people think is
illegal, wrong etc In C]
probe into The senator has offered to resign following a
probe into allegations of bribery. ] probe A drugs probe has
been called for following complaints to the athletics board.
3 someone whose job is to investigate
something
investigator
private investigator/private detective
detective
investigator/n'vestgetor/someone whose job it is to
investigate situations, crimes, problems etc in order to
explain them In C]
A team of special investigators have gone to the scene of the
explosion. I The investigator has concluded that they were
making a false insurance claim.
private investigator/private detective/pravt
n vestgeit r, praivt d 'tektlv/someone who people can
pay to investigate such things as a person's disappearance,
someone's secret activities etc, but who does not work for
the police In C]
She hired a private detective to find her husband. I A private
investigator had been engaged to watch Mr Hart and report
on his activities.
detective [d Itektiv/a police officer whose job is to inves-
tigate crime In C]
I'm a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Do
you mind if I ask you a few questions? l The police depart-
ment wants more plain-clothes (=not wearing a uniform)
detectives working on the streets.
: investigation INVESTIGATE 2
! investigation: be under investigation INVESTIGATE 1
"- investigator INVESTIGATE 3
, investment MONEY 14
i i,: investor MONEY 15
-- invisible SEE 10
i: invitation INVITE 3
'",, invite ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 1, INVITE 1,
!i 3, RISK 5
'....i invite: ask/invite sb out INVITE 1
 invite: ask/invite sb over INVITE 2
 invite sb along INVITE 1
:. invite sb in ENTER 2
INVITE
to ask someone to come to a party or to join
you in a social activity
to invite someone to your home
a message inviting someone to come to a
party or other social occasion
words for describing someone who comes to
a party but who has not been invited
1 to ask someone to come to a party or to join
you in a social activity
invite ask/invite sb out
ask invite sb along
invite/In'vaIt/[V T]
invite sb to a party/dance etc I'm going to invite Veron-
ica to the wedding. I The President has been invited to an offi-
cial reception at Buckingham Palace. I invite sb "'Are you
going to Linda's 21st birthday party? .... No, I haven't been
invited.'" I invite sb to do sth Andrew invited Alison to
spend the weekend walking in the hills. I invite sb for
dinner/drinks etc Martin invited me for lunch at his
apartment.
invitation/ nv  teian/[nU] Thanks for your invitation
to go fishing (=for inviting me). I They had come aboard at
Charles's invitation (=because Charles had invited them).
ask/o:sk II esk/to invite someone, especially someone
you know, to a social event, or to take part in an activity
with you Iv T]
ask sb to a party/dance Did you remember to ask Richard
to the party? I ask sb Why did you ask so many people? You
know we don't have enough room. I ask sb to do sth I wish
you hadn't asked Len to come too. I ask sb for dinner/
lunch etc My parents asked us for dinner on Sunday.
ask/invite sb out/o:sk, nvalt (sb) aot II esk-/to ask
someone to go out with you, for example to the cinema or
a restaurant, especially when you want to start a relation-
ship with them [phr v T]
Why don't you ask her out? [ The first time Vic asked me out,
he was so nervous his hands were shaking. [ invite sb out
for dinner/lunch etc Frank's invited Sheila out for dinner
next week. [ An Italian boy, Joseph, invited me out for a walk.
invite sb along/n,vait (sb) a'lorj 11-ala:rj/ to invite
someone to go somewhere with you and a group of other
people [phr v T]
Do you mind if I invite one of my friends along?
2 to invite someone to your home
ask/invite sb over
have sb around/over
entertain
ask/invite sb over/,o:sk, In,vast (sb)
[phr v T]
Do you mind if I invite some friends over for dinner next
week? I You should ask her over some time. I'd really like to
meet her.
have sb around/over/hev (sb) o'raond, I oovor/ to
have someone you know come to your home, so that, for
example, you can have a meal or drinks together, and talk
[phr v T not in passive]
We're having the Johnsons over next week. I Katie had her
boyfriend around again last night. I have sb around/over
for sth I'm thinking of having Paul and Diane over for
drinks on Saturday.
entertain /,ento r 'ten/to provide a meal or social activity
for someone in your home, either because they are your
friends, or because they are people you work with or do
business with Iv I/T]
He's very rich and he loves to entertain. [ entertain sb
Spencer entertained several politicians at his country house.
About a fifth of their income is spent on entertaining clients.
 a message inviting someone to come to a
party or other social occasion
invitation
invite
invitation/,nv'teian/[n C]
Their address is on the invitation. I invitation to I've had
an invitation to a dance, i send/sent out an invitation
We've started sending out the invitations for the party. I by
invitation only (=only those who have received invita-
tions can attend) Entrance to the Easter Ball is by invita-
tion only.
invite/' xnvat/a British word meaning an invitation In C]
I've lost my invite. Can I still come to your barbecue? l invite
to Did you get an invite to Paul's wedding?

INVITE ?03 JEALOUS
words for describing someone who comes to
a party but who has not been invited
uninvited
gatecrasher
crasher
uninvited/,Ann'vaitId,/[adj]
She came uninvited, but she seems to know sorne people here. ]
univited guest Fielding had come to the party, bringing
several univited guests.
gatecrasher / ge:tkrze#or/a British word meaning some-
one who goes to a party but has not been invited In C l
To prevent gatecrashers from getting in they checked every-
one's name at the door.
crasher /  kreJ'r/an American word meaning someone
who goes to a party but has not been invited In C]
When we realized they were crashers we told them to leave.
invoice PAY FOR 15, 16
involuntary DELIBERATELY 6
involve MUST 3, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 7
involved TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 10
involved: be involved TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
involved: be involved with RELATIONSHIP 4
involved.- get involved TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 2, 3
involved: not take part/not participate/not be
involved TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 11
involved in an accident ACCIDENT 3
inwards/inward IN/INSIDE 8
irate ANGRY 2
iron" strike while the iron is hot
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
iron out SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 3
ironic FUNNY 3
irony FUNNY 3
irrational LOGICAL 5, STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1
irreconcilable DISAGREE 2
irregular REGULAR 5
irrelevant CONNECTED WITH 9, UNIMPORTANT 2
irreparable REPAIR 7
irresistible ATTRACT 4
irrespective of NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC 1
irresponsible CARELESS 2
irreversible CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 11, STOP
STH THAT IS HAPPENING 10
irrevocable CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 10
irrigate WATER 4
irritable BAD-TEMPERED 4
irritate ANNOY 2, HURT/CAUSE PAIN 2
irritated ANNOY 4
irritating ANNOY 5
irritation ANNOY 6
isolate SEPARATE 7
isolated ALONE 4, FAR 5
isolation: in isolation ALONE 2
issue PROVIDE 2, SUBJECT 1
issue: make an issue of ARGUE 4, IMPORTANT 11
issue: make/issue threats THREATEN 1
issue: take issue with DISAGREE 1
=ssue a statement SAY/STATE 1
issue orders/instructions TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 2
itching: be itching to do sth WANT 4
itchy feet TRAVEL 16
item REPORT 2, THING 1
item of clothing: piece/article/item of clothing
CLOTHES 1
itinerant TRAVEL 12, 13
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
jab DRUG 6
jack it in: pack it in/jack it in LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 1
jack up LIFT 1
jackpot WIN 10
jaded FED UP 1
jagged SHARP 1
jail/gaol PRISON 1, 2
jail: be in prison/jail PRISON 3
jailbreak ESCAPE 7
jam PUSH 6
jammed MOVE STH OR SB 6
jargon LANGUAGE 4
jaunty HAPPY 1
jazz up INTERESTING 7
jealous JEALOUS 1, 3
jealous: be of a nervous/jealous/amiable disposition
CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 4
@ JEALOUS
I upset and angry because you think someone
loves someone else more than they love you
:2 jealous feelings or behaviour when you think
someone loves someone else more than they
love you
 wishing that you had someone else's
possessions, abilities etc
4 a feeling that you want something that
someone else has
1 upset and angry because you think someone
loves someone else more than they love you
jealous
possessive
jealous/'d3ebs/[adj]
My boyfriend's so jealous. He thinks I'm in love with his
friend. I He had affairs with many women and has been
attacked by many jealous husbands in his time. I jealous
of Cases of an older child getting jealous of a new baby are
very common.
jealously lady] He watched jealously as Rose danced with
a soldier in the middle of the dance floor.
possessive/po'zesiv/wanting to keep someone that you
love with you all the time, because you are very jealous and
are worried that they may fall in love with someone else
[adj]
As a mother she was possessive and over-protective and hated
it when the kids went to school I possessive of/about
George became possessive about his new wife and demanded
that she stay at home every evening.
2 jealous feelings or behaviour when you think
someone loves someone else more than they
love you
jealousy
jealousy/'d3ebsi/[n U]
# was a sad story of how a woman's jealousy and suspicion
ruined her marriage. I The police believe jealousy is the main
motive behind the murder. I She'd never been able to control
the pangs of jealousy whenever her child had wanted to be
with his father.

JEALOUS ?04 JOB/TASK
 wishing that you had someone else's
possessions, abilities etc
envious envy
jealous not begrudge
green with envy
envious/'envi}sl [adj]
Have a great time in the Bahamas. I'm really envious. I envi-
ous of He was envious of his brother because he could afford
a large house and exotic holidays. I We were all envious of
our mother's ability to stay calm whatever was happening.
enviously [ adv ] Baldwin watched enviously as Ken drove
the Rolls Royce to the door.
Jealous/' dsels/wishing so much that you had someone
else's possessions, abilities etc that you become angry with
them or try to hurt them [adj not usually before noun]
Wait till Tony hears about my new job. It'll make him really
jealous. I jealous of Don't be so nasty. You're just jealous
of Peter because he's always been cleverer than you. I-She was
jealous of the success of his new book, saying that he had
copied from her.
jealously [adv] I left, looking jealously at the table full of
gifts.
green with envy/, gri:n w6 envi/extremely jealous of
someone especially because you think they have been very
lucky or got something that they don't deserve [adjphrase]
Her friends were green with envy when they saw the car her
parents had given her. I This sudden promotion made his
colleagues green with envy.
envy/'envi/to wish that you had someone else's posses-
sions, abilities etc Iv T]
envy sb sth I wish I could sing like that! I really envy you/ ]
I envy you your nice relaxed lifestyle. I envy sb/sth How she
envied the other children who were allowed to go out and
play while she was forced to stay in and practise the violin. I
A lot of people envied his good looks and easy-going charm. I
envy sb for sth He envied Susan for the way she made
friends so easily.
not begrudge/not b'grads/ if you do not begrudge
someone something that makes them happy, you do not feel
jealous because you know they deserve it Iv T]
not begrudge sb sth After an extremely bad first marriage
nobody would begrudge her the happiness she enjoyed with
her second husband. [ I don't think anyone will begrudge you
a few days" break - you've worked so hard.
jerry-built
jest: in jest
jet LIQUID 4
jet-lag TIRED 7
jet set: the jet set RICH 6
jingle SOUND 9
jinx: a jinx on sth UNLUCKY 4
jinxed UNLUCKY 1
jittery: have the jitters/be jittery
job
 job:
.,.. job:
i!i job
.,,..,,. "
 job:
 job:
N job:
......
BAD 4
JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 1
NERVOUS 2
JOB/TASK 1, JOB/WORK 1, 2, 3, STEAL 8
a good thing/job LUCKY 3
doagoodjob DO WELL1
give sb a job JOB/WORK 11
have a job DIFFICULT 10, JOB/WORK 8
have a job doing sth DIFFICULT 10
it is sb's job/business to RESPONSIBLE 2
just the thing/job PERFECT 3
make a bad job of DO BADLY 1
make a good job of DO WELL 1
job: not have a job/be without a job JOB/WORK 9
job: put up job TRICK/DECEIVE 7
job losses LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 3
[jobl
JOB/TASK
a piece of work that you have to do
an important, carefully planned piece of work
which you are responsible for
to give someone a job or task to do
4 a feeling that you want something that
someone else has
envy
jealousy
sour grapes
envy/'anvil [n U]
I listened with envy as they talked of lazy days on golden
beaches. I "'That's great news about the new job, "she lied,
hoping her envy wasn't too obvious.
jealousy/dselasi/a feeling of wanting something that
someone else has, so much that you become angry with
them or want to hurt them In U]
She couldn't hide her jealousy when they told her they'd won
a round the world trip. I The Queen's decision to visit the
region aroused jealousy in the neighbouring area. I Bernard
felt a few sharp pangs of jealousy. He'd always wanted toffy
a plane and it was Bob who'd been given the chance.
sour grapes/,sao r 'greips/you say that something is
sour grapes when you think that someone's bad or angry
behaviour is caused by their jealousy In plural]
She's telling everyone that tennis is a stupid and pointless
game. It's just sour grapes because she lost.
 jealousy JEALOUS 2, 4
j jeopardize/put sth in jeopardy RISK 8
jeopardy: be in jeopardy RISK 7
 jerk MOVE STH OR SB 3, PULL 2, STUPID/NOT
 SENSIBLE 7
..,. jerky SUDDENLY 2
1 a piece of work that you have to do
job errand
task duty
piece of work backlog
chore
job/d3Db II dso:b/In C]
Repairing the roof- that's going to be the biggest job. I do
a job Well, I must go now. I've lots of jobs to do around the
house. I get on with a job (=continue doing a job) She's
always been left alone to get on with the job. I do a good job
(--do a job well) I always take my car to York Street garage.
They're expensive but they do a good job. I odd jobs (=jobs
of different kinds that are not regular) He does odd jobs for
people in his spare time.
task/to:sk II tesk/a piece of work that you have to do,
especially one that is difficult In C]
The UN Peacekeeping Force faces an almost impossible task. I
One of the first tasks Eva set herself was learning the local
language. I perform/carry out a task She was always
given the most difficult tasks to perform. I The massacre was
never fully investigated because the police were incapable of
carrying out the task. I thankless task (=one that no one
wants to do because they will get no satisfaction from it)
Who on earth would volunteer for such a thankless task?
piece of work / ,pi:s av 'wa:rk/a job, especially one that
involves writing or drawing and a lot of thinking [nphrase]
The teacher set us a piece of work that would take us three
or four hours to complete. I Such a complicated piece of work
would be too tricky for just one person to do.

JOB/TASK ?05 JOB/WORK
chore/tfa:r/an unpleasant or boring job, especially one
that you have to do regularly in your home In C]
Washing the kitchen floor was a daily chore, and it was the
one I hated most. I When we opened the store, our ambition
was to make shopping less of a chore, more of a pleasure. I
household chores (=chores in the home, such as cleaning
or cooking) Husbands should be prepared to do their share
of the household chores.
errand/'emnd/a small job that someone such as your
employer sends you to do, usually bringing or delivering
something In Cl
Before you disappear I want you to do an errand for me. I
on an errand If you send him on an errand he flies away
before he has heard everything you want him to do. I run
an errand (=do an errand) Peter cleaned equipment, ran
errands, answered the phone - it was all routine.
duty/'dju:ti [[ 'du:ti/something that you have a responsi-
bility to do, especially as a regular part of your employment
or profession In C usually plural]
I'm not really sure what the duties of an administrative
officer are. [ As assistant librarian your duties will include
labelling new books, cataloguing and filing. [ clerical and
secretarial duties [ perform a duty And now I have a very
pleasant duty to perform. I am going to present the prizes
to the winning competitors.
backlog/'baklog [[ -la:g, -lo:g/a large amount of work
that has not been done at the right time and still needs to
be finished In singular]
Our new computer has helped us work more efficiently but
there is still a backlog of paperwork. [ dear the backlog
(=finish dealing with the backlog) An extra secretary was
hired after the summer break to help clear the backlog.
2 an important, carefully planned piece of work
which you are responsible for
assignment project
mission undertaking
assignment/a'sanmnt/a piece of work that is given to
you to do by someone in a position of authority, as part of
your job or as part of your studies In C]
Bart's first assignment for the newspaper was to report on
the French elections. [ This is a really tough assignment, and
I believe you're the only person who can handle it. [ She
stayed up until midnight, working on a history assignment.
mission/' mfan/an important job that someone is sent
to do in another place, especially for a military or political
purpose In C]
Le Duc Tho was immediately sent to Paris. His mission was
to negotiate a ceasefire. [ be on a mission (=be carrying out
a mission) He was on a dangerous mission behind enemy
lines when he disappeared.
project/'prodsekt [1 'pro:-/an important piece of work
which is carefully planned by an organization and which
is intended to achieve a particular aim over a long period
of time In C]
I've been working on the Inner City Development Project for
the last five years. [ The federal government will help fund
this immense project, which includes the building of l SO day-
care centres.
undertaking/Andalte;k;rj [[ Iandarte-/a big or impor-
tant job, which you decide or agree to do, and which you
will be responsible for In C usually singular]
To organize and finance the exhibition would be a major
undertaking for such a small company. [ Denise is deter-
mined to set up her own business - a risky undertaking in
these times of great economic uncertainty.
3 to give someone a job or task to do
give commission
set lumber sb with
assign
give/gv/Iv T]
give sb sth Give Mike something to do - he's just sitting
there reading the paper. [ I was given the task of checking
all the sales accounts.
set/set/ifa teacher or employer sets you a piece of work,
they give it to you to do, and you must finish it by a partic-
ular time or date Iv T]
set sth Mr Harris always sets a lot of homework. [ set sb
sth I've been set an impossible task by the editor. She wants
three biographies reviewed by Thursday.
assign/a'san/a formal word meaning to give a particu-
lar job to a particular person Iv T usually passive]
be assigned sth You have been assigned the task of keep-
ing the records up to date. [ be assigned to sb The job of
producing a development program was assigned to the
junior minister. [ assign sb to do sth The USpublic health
service has assigned three medical doctors to attend to the
needs of prisoners.
commission/k' man/to appoint someone to do a piece
of work for you, for example to write a report or to produce
some artistic or scientific work Iv T]
commission sth The Philadelphia Medical Society commis-
sioned a report on alcoholism. [ commission sb to do sth
In 1506 Bramante was commissioned by Pope Julius H to
rebuild St Peter's church.
lumber sb with/lAmba r (sb) wi6/an informal British
expression meaning to give someone an unpleasant or
difficult job to do [phr v T]
be/get lumbered with When we have a party, why do I
always get lumbered with the job of cleaning up after-
wards?[ lumber sth with My boss always lumbers me with
sorting out the bills.
JOB/WORK
1 work that someone does regularly in order to
earn money
2 the type of work that someone does
3 words for describing something that is
connected with a job
4 doing something as a job, not just for
enjoyment
5 a job that you have in addition to your main
job
6 a job in a company or organization, especially
a job that involves responsibility
7 a job that is available for someone to start
doing
8 to have a job
9 to not have a job
10 to give someone a job
11 not doing something as your job, but only for
pleasure, interest etc
1 work that someone does regularly in order to
earn money
job
work
employment
job /dsob II dsa:b/ the particular activity that someone
does regularly in order to earn money, especially when
they are employed by someone else In C]
Paul starts his new job on Monday. [ After I left school I got
a job in a bakery. [ find a job Have you been able to find
a job yet? [ hold down a job (=keep a job even though this
is difficult to do) It's difficult taking care of three growing
children and holding down a full-time job in a busy office [
leave/quit a job I'm thinking of leaving my present job -
it's so boring. [ lose your job The factory closed down last
month and 1800 people lost their jobs. ] change jobs You
can't expect to get promoted if you keep changing jobs all the
time. [ full-time/part-time job I once had a part-time job
in a design studio - I used to have to work there two days
a week. [ permanent/temporary job He's fed up with
doing temporary jobs that only last a few months - he wants

JOB/WORK ?06 JOB/WORK
a permamentjob. I teaching/waitressing/cleaning etc
job Cleaning jobs are always badly paid. I steady job (=one
that seems certain to continue for a long time) She's found
herself a steady job at last!
work [w3:rk! work that someone does regularly to earn
money, either by working for an employer or working for
themselves In U]
My father started work when he was 14. I Most people stop
work when they are 65. I I usually start work each day
around 9 am and finish about 6 pro. I The work's really
interesting but the pay's lousy. I look for work She left col-
lege a year ago and she's still looking for work. I find work
He drifted from place to place, eventually finding work as
a labourer on a construction site. I return to work (=start
work again after several months or years) Women often
return to work after they have had children. I after/before
work (=before you start or after you finish your work each
day) They sometimes play tennis after work. I
bar/hotel/restaurant work Have you ever done bar work
before?
employment/Im plimont/a word used especially in an
official context meaning the amount of work available or
the fact of having a job [n U]
I have not yet signed a contract of employment. I A Japanese
company plans to set up a factory in the area, so this should
provide some employment for local people. I be in employ-
ment (=to have a job) Are you in full-time employment at
the moment, Mr Edwards?
2 the type of work that someone does
job trade
profession career
occupation vocation
business do/do for a living
line of work/business livelihood
job/d3Db II dsa:b/[n C]
What sort of job do you want to do when you grow up? I I
wish I had yourjob - it sounds really interesting I "'My father
used to work for IBM." "'Oh yes? What was his job?'"
profession/pro'felon/a type of work such as teaching,
medicine, or law, for which you need special training and
have to pass special examinations and which people
usually regard with respect [n C]
Teaching is a profession that requires total commitment. I
Medicine has always been a very male-dominated profes-
sion.I the teaching/medical/legal profession Fewer
young people are entering the legal profession nowadays. I
be a doctor/lawyer etc by profession Conan Doyle was
a doctor by profession.
occupation/,okj°'peifan II ,a:k-/a word used especially
in an official context meaning someone's usual full-time
job [n C]
Please fill in the details of your present occupation. I Men in
manual occupations tend to be less prone to stress-related
illnesses.
business /bIzno s/the general area of work that you are
involved in such as buying and selling a particular type
of thing [n C/U]
In our business the first rule is that the customer is always
right. I "'What business are you in?" "'Antiques, mostly. "1
the antiques/used car etc business The used car business
has a pretty bad reputation.
line of work/business/,lain ov w3:rk, 'blzns/the
type of work or job that you do [n phrase]
I meet some interesting people in my line of work. I I didn't
realize we were both in the same line of business.
trade/treid/a type of job which you use your hands to do
skilful work such as building houses, making furniture,
or repairing cars [n C]
The boys were sent to a special college where they would all
be taught a trade. ] Most of the men had worked in skilled
trades such as carpentry or printing. I be a bricklayer/car-
penter ete by trade His father had been a bricklayer by
trade.
career/ko'rIor/the type of work that you do or wish to
do for most of your working life, especially where this
involves several similar jobs over a long period of time [n
C]
Like his father, Tommy chose a career in the Army. [ Later
on in his career he became first secretary at the British
Embassy in Washington. [ a career in publishing/teach-
ing/journalism ete I wanted to find out more about careers
in publishing. [ ruin/destroy sb's career The scandal des-
troyed his career as a politician. [ career prospects (=the
chance of having a good future career) It is important to find
a job that offers good career prospects.
vocation/voo'keqan/a job such as being a nurse, a priest,
or a teacher, which you do because you have a strong feel-
ing that you want to do it, especially in order to help other
people, and not because you want to get a lot of money [n C]
Nursing is hard work and often low paid, but for many
people it is a vocation. [ Teaching is a highly paid job these
days, but it should also be a vocation. [ find your vocation
(=find the job that you want to do for the rest of your life)
As a speech therapist she feels she has finally found her
vocation.
do/do for a living/du:, ,du: for o 'hvirj/what someone
does or does for a living is their usual job [v I not in
progressive or passive, usually in questions]
"'What do you do?" "'I'm a doctor." [ I don't know what she
does. I think she's a computer programmer or something. [
I know you do a bit of acting sometimes, but what do you do
for a living?
livelihood/'laivlihod/your livelihood is the work that
you do in order to earn enough money to live on or the
thing that provides the work for you to do [n C]
Fishermen are angry about the new EC fishing regulations
because they feel that their livelihood is being threatened. [
I don't just do it for fun - it's my livelihood. [His livelihood
had depended on him being fit, and he was worried that his
injury would stop him finding work.
3 words for describing something that is
connected with a job
job occupational
professional vocational
job /d3ob II ds:b/ job satisfaction/security/descrip-
tion/specification etc [adj only before noun]
The salary's not very good, but there's a lot of job satisfac-
tion. I It says in the job description that we're only supposed
to work 35 hours a week. I The bad thing about working at
holiday resorts is that there's no job security (=your job is
not certain to last a long time).
professional/pro' feJ'anol/professional qualification/
training/standards/association etc (=connected with a
job such as teaching, medicine, or law, for which you need
special training and have to pass special exams) ]adj only
before noun]
The RSA course in teaching is a recognized professional
qualification. I Lawyers have their own professional associ-
ation, which operates a strict code of conduct. I Interested
clients are advised to seek professional legal advice if in any
doubt about the contract details.
occupational /,okj'peiJ'anol, II ,a:k-/ occupational
risk/hazard/injury/accident/group etc (=one that is
connected with doing a particular type of job) [adj only
before noun]
Occupational injuries and even deaths are quite common in
the coal mining industry. [ The survey studied the incidence
of cancer among different occupational groups.
vocational/voo'keianol/vocational training/educa-
tion/course/school ete (=that teaches you the skills
needed to do a particular job) [adj only before noun]
The government says it will spend more on vocational train-
ing. [ Not all the courses are purely vocational.

JOB/WORK ?07 JOB/WORK
4 doing something as a job, not just for
enjoyment
for a living
professional
pro
for a living/for o 'livirj/if someone does something for
a living, they do it as a job in order to get money to live
lady phrase]
He knows quite a lot about cars - he used to sell them for a
living. [ Acting is fun as a hobby, but I wouldn't want to do
it for a living.
professional Ipro'feanol/ a professional musician,
tennis player, photographer etc (=one who plays music etc
as their job and earns money from it) [adj]
Professional basketball players can earn huge sums of
money. I turn professional (=become a professionalmusi-
cian, player etc) He was a keen amateur photographer for
many years before he turned professional.
professional In C] Most athletes these days are highly-
trained professionals, who spend their whole time practis-
ing or competing.
pro/proo/an informal word meaning someone who plays
a sport, takes photographs, acts etc as their job In Cl
The top pros all have someone to carry their golf clubs
around for them.
pro [adj only before noun] I didn't think I'd ever be playing
for a pro team.
 a job that you have in addition to your main
job
sideline
on the side
sideline/'saidlaIn/a job that you do in addition to your
main job, especially because it is something that you enjoy
or are interested in In C usually singular]
She's a lawyer, but she sells her own paintings as a sideline. I
I sometimes take wedding photographs on Saturdays - it's
a nice little sideline and it gives me a bit of extra cash.
on the side/on 6o 'said/if you do a job on the side you
do it secretly or unofficially, in addition to your main job
lady phrase]
It is difficult to estimate the number of people doing part-time
jobs on the side. I do a bit of painting/gardening etc on
the side He sometimes does a bit of gardening on the side
when he is short of money.
6 a job in a company or organization, especially
a job that involves responsibility
post
position
capacity
post /poost/ a word used especially in British English
meaning a job in an organization, especially a permanent
and fairly important job In C]
the post of director/manager/minister etc She has been
offered the post of director of UNICEF. I take up a post
(=start doing a particular job) When he took up his present
post at the BBC he was only 23. I resign one's post The
minister was forced to resign his post following the scandal. I
teaching post I always look in the paper to see if there are
any suitable teaching posts in my area.
position Ipo'zfdn/a word meaning a job at a particular
level in a company or organization, used especially when
advertising a job In C]
position of We have decided to offer you the position of sales
assistant starting next Monday. I hold a position (=to have
a particular job) What position did you hold at your previ-
ous company? I the position has been filled (=they have
already found someone to do the job) The position has
already been filled.
capacity/ko'peesti/if someone does something in a par-
ticular capacity, they do it because they have a particu-
lar job and the thing that they are doing is part of that job
In singular]
in your/her capacity as I'm here in my capacity as Union
Representative. I In her capacity as war correspondent for
ABC News she has travelled all over the world. I in an advi-
sory legal/financial etc capacity He works for this firm
in a legal capacity, giving advice on international law, as
well as working for the government.
7 a job that is available for someone to start
doing
vacancy
opening
opportunity
vacancy/'vekonsi/In CI
There might be some vacancies at the hospitaL I vacancy for
A vacancy exists for an import/export sales manager at our
Paris office. I fill a vacancy (=find someone to do the job)
In these times of recession, employers have no trouble filling
vacancies.
opening /'oopanIo/a word used by managers or by people
asking them about jobs, meaning a job that might become
available In C]
I'm sorry we don't seem to have any openings at the moment,
but I'll keep your name on file. [ opening for I was wonder-
ing if you had any openings for sales staf]?
opportunity/,opo'tju:nti l[ ,o:por'tu:-/the chance to do
a job that you want to do which could lead to a good per-
manent job In C usually plural]
opportunity for There are several opportunities for
experienced designers and researchers. I career opportu-
nities These days there are more and more career oppor-
tunites for women.
8 to have a job
have a job
be in work
have a job /hev o 'd3ob II-'dso:bl Iv phrase not in
progressive]
I've had a job since the day I left high school. I George had
a well-paid job in a computer firm. I have a steady job
(=one that seems certain to last) She has a steady job now,
so she can start to pay off her debts.
be In work/bi: ;n 'wa:rk/an expression meaning to have
a job, used especially when comparing someone who has
a job with other people who do not have jobs Iv phrase]
She was the only one in the family to be in work. I It's often
difficult for people who are in work to appreciate the
problems of the unemployed.
9 to not have a job
not have a job/ unemployed
be without a job jobless
be out of work be on the dole
not have a job/be without a job/not hav o 'dsDb,
bi: w6,aot o 'd3ob II -'d3o:b/[v phrase not in progressive]
I don't have a job yet. but I'm going for an interview tomor-
row. I She's been without a job now for three months. I Many
of the students who leave the course this summer won't have
a job to go to.
be out of work/bi: ,aot ov 'w3:rk] to not have a job, espe-
cially for a long period of time Iv phrasel
My parents have both been out of work for two years. I At
the age of 33 he suddenly found himself out of work and
without much hope of finding a job. I be thrown out of
work (=to suddenly lose your job) Workers don't feel like
smiling if they're liable to be thrown out of work at any time.
out of work [adj phrase] She is an out of work actress.

JOB/WORK ?08 join up
unemployed /:nnim'plid/ an unemployed person
does not have a job ]adj]
Fifty per cent of the men in this town are unemployed. I
unemployed teacher/clerk/factory worker etc (=some-
one who usually works as a teacher etc) The accused man
is an unemployed labourer from South London. I the unem-
ployed (=people who are unemployed) The government is
not doing enough to help the unemployed, especially the long-
term unemployed.
jobless /'dsobls l! 'dsa:b-/ a word used especially in
newspaper and television reports: people who are jobless,
especially a large group of people, do not have jobs [adj]
Because of the recession many workers are finding them-
selves not only jobless but also homeless. I the jobless
(=people who do not have jobs) The jobless feel excluded
from many things that we take for granted.
be on the dole/bi: on b 'dol/a British expression
meaning to be receiving money from the government
because you do not have a job [v phrase]
I'm fed up with being on the dole - I want a job. I go on the
dole (=start getting money from the government because
you do not have a job) Students used to be allowed to go on
the dole in the summer holidays, but they've stopped all that
now.
10 to give someone a job
give sb a job recruit
employ/hire sign up
hire take on
make sb sth
engage
appoint
give sb a job/,gIV (sb)  'd3ob II -'d3a:b/Iv phrase]
Jim went to several factories to see if they would give him
a job. I Iflgiveyou the job, how soon can you begin?l give
sb a job as Hearing that the girl was homeless, Lady Win-
dermere gave her a job as a cook.
employ (also hire in American English)/im'pli, hair/
if a company or organization employs or hires someone,
it gives them a job [v T]
employ sb Since he came out of prison no one will employ
him. I The company has been accused of not hiring enough
women. I employ sb as I was employed as a night-watchman
by the local hospital.
employment [n U] This letter outlines the terms and con-
ditions of employment (=the conditions according to which
the company gives you the job).
hire/hamr/to pay someone money to do a particular job,
especially for a short period of time [v T]
Some politicians hire experts to write their speeches for
them. I She decided to hire a private detective to find out who
was blackmailing her.
hired [adj only before noun] The police think he was shot
by a hired killer.
engage/In'geIds/a formal British word meaning to give
someone a job, especially at a low level in an organization
[v T]
engage sb The vet had so many sick animals being brought
in that he had to engage two new assistants. I engage sb as
Paul was engaged as a junior clerk at a very low wage.
appoint ]'pint! to choose someone for a job, especially
an important, permanent job [v T]
appoint sb President Mitterand has appointed a new
Minister for Culture. I appoint sb as director/manager
etc I can't understand why they decided to appoint Wilson
as managing director. I appoint sb director/manager etc
They appointed him chairman. I appoint sb to a job/post/
position etc This is the first time that a woman has been
appointed to the post.
appointment [n C] His appointment to the post of Senior
Surgeon was unexpected.
recruit/rz'kru:t/if a company or organization recruits
people it finds or tries to find people to work for it [v I/T]
recruit sb Corporations are being encouraged to recruit
more black and women workers. I recruit Many larger com-
panies will not be recruiting this autumn. I recruit (sb) for
sth They've already started recruiting for the project.
recruitment [n U] Recruitment has taken longer than we
expectedi
sign up/,sam '^p! ifa football team, record company, film
company etc signs up someone, they agree to give them
a job, according to a written agreement, especially for a
definite period of time [phr v T]
sign up sb Top England soccer star Paul Gascoigne was
signed up by a top Italian club. I sign sb/her/them etc up
The band have just completed a highly successful US tour,
and several record companies have offered to sign them up.
take on/,teik 'on II -'e:n/to give someone a particular
job, especially one that might not be permanent, and espe-
cially when there is a group of people doing that job
together [phr v T]
take on sb We're not taking on any more staff at the
moment. I take sb/her/them ete on They've agreed to take
him on for a year after he finishes college. I take sb on as
The director took me on as a messenger while they were film-
ing in my village.
make sb sth/meik (sb) (sth)/to move someone to another
job, usually a better, more important one within the same
organization [v phrase]
No-one thought they would make him manager so soon after
joining the company. I He's been made Head of Security at
the Chicago National Bank.
1 1 not doing something as your job, but only for
pleasure, interest etc
amateur
amateur /'emat r, -tSo r, -tS r, ,am'ta:r/ [adj only
before noun]
For a long time only amateur athletes were allowed to take
part in the Olympic Games. ] The comet was first spotted by
an amateur astronomer living in America. I on an amateur
basis I played football after leaving school, but only on an
amateur basis.
amateur [n C] Most of the cast of the play are amateurs
jobless JOB/WORK 9
jog RUN 2
jog: go for a run/jog RUN 2
jog sb's memory REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 1
john: Ioo/john TOILET 1
join JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 1 2, JOIN STH
,
TOGETHER 2, 4, WITH 8
join: be joined/be joined together JOIN STH
TOGETHER 5
join: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 2
join: the join JOIN STH TOGETHER 6
join forces UNITE 1
join in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 2
join sth together JOIN STH TOGETHER 1
join together TOGETHER 6
join up JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 709 JOIN AN ORGANIZATION
Pgh  c  ;meamng
• .j;.!l{7;°more ® @ JOIN STH
Ion a club os s"',---'- ....... =. JOIN AN
.... , .............. .., .. r777<.
Organ.iZatlon7l ORGaNIZaTION
peple77!g!niz}io n  1 UNITE
• " --"  ii',%.::-:-'-' 'i{i " -<  ..... "
,, with"::bther.peopi ,, INVOLVED
. ,--.. ...<
 mr a clu.bor  -1
<..< .
. :.:
@ JOIN AN
ORGANIZATION
to join a club or organization
to join a military force
to secretly become a member of an
organization that you oppose
to join a group or organization after being a
member of a different one
to get someone to join a club or organization
1 to join a club or organization
join enrol/enroll
become a member enter
join/d33In / become a member of an organization such as
a club, company, or political party Iv I/T]
join sth I'm thinking of joining the Labour Party. I 2000
people joined the library last year. I Any child wanting to
join the after-school club should see Mrs Williams. I join
We've been swamped with requests from people wishing to
join.
become a member /bI,kAm  'membr/ to join an
organization or group, especially one whose members are
all interested in, or involved in, the same activity, subject,
or profession Iv phrase]
become a member of After passing his exams Kevin
became a member of the New York Bar Association. I It costs
$400 a year to become a member of the tennis club. I beeorne
a member How old do you have to be to become a member?
enrol (British) I enroll (American)/n'rol/to join an
educational course, a c]ass, a school a university etc, by
officially adding your name to the list of people who attend
Iv I]
enrol at In 1966 he enrolled at the University of London to
study history. I enrol in Two hundred and eighty women
enrolled in the society this year. I enrol Classes began soon
after we enrolled.
enrolrnent/enrollrnent In U] Once we have received a
cheque for the course fees your enrolment will be complete.
enter /'entor/to join a profession such as teaching or
medicine, or to begin working within an institution, for
example, the church or a university Iv T]
He entered the church as a young man, and became a bishop
at the age of forty. I More than half the students entering
University fail their first year exams. I It is estimated that
6% of all 18-year-old schoolgirls enter the nursing profession.
:2 to join a military force
join
join up
enlist
join/d3an/[v T]
He joined the navy when he was 16. I an advertising cam-
paign to persuade people to join the armed forces
join up/,dSaln 'Ap/ to join the armed forces, especially
when there is a war [phr v I]
"'What will you do if there's a war? .... Join up, I suppose. "'1
When her brothers joined up in 1914 she took over the run-
ning of the business. I He lied about his age in order to join
up with the republican army.
enlist/in'lst/to join the armed forces, especially will-
ingly because you want to fight in a war, or want to follow
the profession of a soldier, sailor etc Iv I]
In the first year of the war a million men enlisted voluntar-
ily. I enlist in He went to the recruiting office, enlisted in the
air force, and became a pilot.
3 to secretly become a member of an
organization that you oppose
infiltrate
infiltrate/' inffltreit II ,n'filtreit, ',nfil-/to secretly join
a group or organization, whose principles or activities you
strongly oppose, in order to find out more about them, or
to harm them in some way Iv T]
The Communists effectively infiltrated the government and
the political parties. I Police attempts to infiltrate rico-Nazi
groups have been largely unsuccessful. I Everyone knew the
organization had been infiltrated by government agents, but
could not prove it.
infiltrator In C] There is always the danger of enemy
infiltrators in the organization.
infiltration IInfIl'trefanl In U] Finally, weakened by
infiltration and sabotage, Black Aid Action folded in 1967.
 to join a group or organization after being a
member of a different one
go over to
come over
go over to/go ova r tu:l to join a group or organization
that opposes the one that you have left, especially because
you disagree with something they have done Iv T not in
passive]
They both went over to the Socialists because they disagreed
with reforms to the health service. I Miles Roden might go
over to the Democrats after the corruption scandal in his
party.
come over/kAm 'aovar/to leave one group or organiza-
tion in order to join another, especially because this will
bring you some personal advantage [phr v I]
I think that if we offer him a big enough salary he'll come
over to work for us. I eorne over to sb Both of us had spent
many years at Ford before coming over to Chrysler.
 to get someone to join a club or organization
recruit
enlist
recruit/r 'kru:t/to find people to work for, or become
members of, an organization or group Iv I/T]
recruit sb The Young Adventurers are trying to recruit more
girls. I Migrant workers were recruited as a source of cheap
labour in the immediate post-war period. I recruit A new
law has been passed to prevent extremist groups from recruit-
ing in schools.
recruit In C] Peter is one of our new recruits (=someone who
has recently been recruited).
recruitment [ n U ]afirm specialising in recru itment (=the
business of recruiting)
enlist/in'list/to find people to help you or an organiza-
tion you belong to Iv T]

JOIN STH TOGETHER "710 - JOIN STH TOGETHER
He bought a boat, enlisted a crew, and went fishing for tuna
in the South Pacific. I Another old trick used by intelligence
agencies is to enlist embassy secretaries to pass on
information.
JOIN STH
TOGETHER
to join two objects, buildings, areas etc
together
1 to join two things together by putting something
such as a wire or a pipe between them
2 ways of saying that a wire, pipe etc goes
between one thing and another thing so that
they are joined together
3 ways of saying that something such as a
road, railway, door or passage joins one
place with another so that people can move
between them
4 ways of saying that two or more lines, roads,
rivers etc join together
5 ways of saying that two things, buildings,
pieces of land etc are joined together
6 the place or part where two things join
1 to join two things together by putting something
such as a wire or a pipe between them
join sth together link
connect/connect up link up
join sth together/,d3In (sth) t'ge6r/[phr v T]
Doctors had to use a metal plate to join the two pieces of bone
together. I Can't you join them together with a piece of
string?l Riveting is the simplest way to join metal parts
together. I The hyphen sign (-) can be used to join two words
together.
connect/connect up/klnekt, k I nekt ^p/to join two
things together, using something such as a wire or pipe,
for example, in order to allow a supply of electricity or
water to get through Iv T]
be connected to The TV is connected to the video and the
video is connected to the aerial. [ connect sth (up) to sth
He's forgotten to connect the left speaker to the amplifier. I
They can't move into their new house until their water supply
is connected to the city mains. I You can connect the Atari up
to any normal television set and use it to play computer
games.
link/l:0k/to connect two machines or pieces of equipment
by putting a wire between them, for example, so that elec-
tronic signals can get from one to the other [v T]
link sth to sth It is possible to link video cassette and video
disc machines to computers. I link sth with sth Hackers
have been known to link their home PCs with police
databases.
!ink up/hrjk '^p/to connect two machines, computers,
or systems, so that information or television pictures can
be sent from one to the other [phr v T]
link sth up to sth All the computer terminals are linked
up to a mainframe computer. I link up sth and sth The plan
is to link up London and New York so that fans in New York
can watch the game live. I link sth up with sth Informa-
tion-gathering spacecraft are linked up with satellite
receivers back on earth.
2 ways of saying that a wire, pipe etc goes
between one thing and another thing so that
they are joined together
join link
connect link-up
join/dsin/[v T]
join sth to sth This cable joins the brake lever to the wheel. I
Every hour the nurse checks the tubes that join the incuba-
tor to the baby's oxygen supply.
connect ]k  nekt/ffsomething such as a wire or pipe con-
nects two things, it goes between them, especially so that
something can get from one to the other Iv T]
connect sth to sth This wire connects the on/off swi.tch to
the motor. I The hoses which connect the radiator to the
engine are leaking. I connect sth with/and sth Where's the
pipe that connects the water tank with the bath? l Jennings
has twisted the ligaments which connect the knee-cap and the
loweP part of the leg.
link IIrjkl if a wire links two machines or places, it con-
nects them Iv T]
link sth There is an underwater telephone cable l, inking the
two islands. I link sth with sth There's a fault in the wire
which links the printer with the computer.
I|nk.up ] hrjk ^p/a connection between two places that are
very far apart, by which information and television pic-
tures can be sent electronically, and can immediately be
received at the other end In C]
A special satellite link-up between Moscow and Washington
allowed the two Presidents to see each other as they spoke.
3 ways of saying that something such as a
road, railway, door or passage joins one
place with another so that people can move
between them
connect
link
connecting
connect/k' nekt! [v T]
connect sth with sth The Golden Gate Bridge connects San
Francisco with Marin County. I connect sth and sth The
government was planning a new railway connecting Mar-
seille and Paris. I be connected by sth The two offices are
connected by a secret passage. I It was a one-storey building
of long rooms connected by simple doors leading from one
room to the next.
link Ihrjk] ifa bridge, road, railway or an air service links
one place with another, it joins them together so that people
can travel easily from one place to another Iv T]
link sth with sth The new tunnel will link Britain with
mainland Europe for the first time. I link sth and sth High-
way 70 links Chicago and Los Angeles. I Eastern Airlines has
a service linking London and Manchester with several major
cities in the US. I be linked by Batangas and Puerto Galera
are linked by a ferry service which runs twice daily.
connecting ]knektIr3/ connecting passage/door/
window etc (:one that joins two rooms, buildings, or
areas, so that people can move, see, or hear between them)
[adj only before noun]
There was a connecting passage between the two offices. [
George put his head round the connecting door. [ Looking
through the connecting window I could see that the guard
was about to fall asleep.
4 ways of saying that two or more lines, roads,
rivers etc join together
join - converge
meet merge
join/d33in / if two or more lines, roads, rivers etc join, they
come together and become one single line, road, or river
Iv I/T not in progressive]
join sth The Monongahela River joins the Allegheny River
in Pittsburgh. [ The M1 motorwayjoins the M62just outside
Leeds. [ join The accident happened just outside Philadel-
phia where the two roads join.
meet/mi:t/two rivers, roads, lines etc meet at the place
where they cross each other or join together Iv I/T not in
progressive]

JOIN STH TOGETHER 711 JOKE
The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers meet just north of St
Louis. I The point where the two lines meet is called the apex
of a triangle. I meet sth The Mll meets the M25 near Epping.
cenverge ]kn'v3: rd3] if two or more roads, rivers, lines
etc converge, they gradually become closer to each other
and join together at a particular point Iv I not in
progressive]
The borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma all converge at
this point. I There is always traffic where those two roads
converge. I converge with The River Rhine converges with
the Mosel at the city of Koblenz. I When you look up at a tall
building, the sides seem to converge with each other.
merge ]m3:rd3] if two roads or paths merge, they join
together and become a single road or path Iv I not in
progressive]
When you get into London the two roads merge. I merge
with The store is just near where South Street merges with
Washburn Street. I After a while the path which we were on
merged with another, bigger path.
 ways of saying that two things, buildings,
pieces of land etc are joined together
be joined/be joined together
be connected
be Joined/be joined together/bi: 'ds:)nd, bi: ,ds:)nd
t ' gc6r/ Iv phrase]
About 100 million years ago South America was joined to
Africa. I The twins were joined together at birth and had to
be separated in a very delicate operation.
be connected/bi: k'nektI, d/ to be joined to another
thing, building, or area, especially by having something
in between, so that people or things can get from one to the
other Iv phrase]
The two lakes are connected by a small canal. [ A special link
has been built and the two airfields are now connected.
6 the place or part where two things join
the join junction
joint intersection
connection
the Join/6 dsn/the place where two or more pieces
of something have been joined together, especially when
it has been repaired In singular]
It's been glued back together so well you can hardly see the
join. I Years ago, someone had tried to reseal the tank, and
water was slowly beginning to leak from the rusty join.
joint/dsznt/the place where two pieces of wood, metal,
plastic etc are joined, especially so that they make one con-
tinuous piece In C]
One of the joints in the pipe was cracked and gas was
escaping. I The joints which hold the sections together do not
contain glue or nails.
connection/k'nekan/the place where a wire is joined
to something, and through which electricity flows [n C]
Have you checked all the connections and made sure that
there are no wires hanging out? [ loose connection There
must be a loose connection somewhere which is stopping it
from working.
junction/'d3^rjkIan/ a point where two roads, railway
lines, rivers etc join In C]
I live in a block offlats at the junction of Cambridge Road
and Kilburn High Street. [ When they got to the junction they
had to change trains. [ We were heading towards the junc-
tion of the Dong Nai and La Nga rivers.
intersection / nt r 'sekj'an, ' mtrsekj'an/the point where
two roads or two lines join In C]
We waited at the intersection of Fulton Street and Gough
Avenue for the lights to change. I The shop is situated at the
intersection corner of three streets. I The intersection of two
diagonal lines gives the centre of the square.
 joint BEND 10, JOIN STH TOGETHER 6, TOGETHER 7
 jointed BEND 4
i jointly TOGETHER 2
joke JOKE 1, 3, 4
joke: as a joke/for a joke JOKE 3
joke: be no joke SERIOUS SITUATION 1
joke: can take a joke FUNNY 6
joke: make a joke/crack a joke JOKE 4
joke: play a trick/joke on sb JOKE 3
joke: tell a joke JOKE 4
JOKING/
NOT SERIOUS
SERIOUS/
NOT JOKING
@ JOKE
something that is said or written to make
people laugh
a joke that uses two meanings of a word
something that is done to make people laugh
to say something to make people laugh
someone who tells jokes or does things to
make people laugh
1 something that is said or written to make
people laugh
joke wisecrack
gag funny story
witticism punch line
one-liner standing joke
Joke/d,5ukl In C ]
Have you heard the joke about the President's dog? [ She had
a great sense of humour and always enjoyed a good joke. [
dirty joke (=one about sex that some people would find
offensive) Can you tell Spenser to stop telling dirty jokes in
front of my parents? [ private joke (=a secret joke) The two
girls were whispering in the corner and giggling over some
private joke. [ Irish/Jewish/Polish etc joke (=a joke
about someone of a particular race that is usually offen-
sive) He's been asked to remove all Irish jokes from his act. [
see a joke (=understand a joke) Everyone laughed except
Mr Broadbent, who didn't see the joke.
gag/grog! a short joke, especially one told by a profes-
sional entertainer as part of a show In C]
His job was to write gags for a famous comedian. [ He started
the show with a few old gags about mothers-in-law.
witticism/wtszam/a clever and amusing remark In
C]
They flattered the boss, laughed loudly at his witticisms, and
agreed with everything he said. [ They didn't respond to any
of my witticisms.
erie-liner ! w^n 'lamzr/a short remark that is funny and
clever, especially one made by someone in a film or a tele-
vision programme In C]
There are some memorable one-liners in every Woody Allen
film. [ It's a hilarious scene with a succession of brilliant one-
liners from Groucho Marx.
wisecrack / 'wazkrmk] a funny, clever remark that criti-
cizes or makes fun of someone, often in a way that annoys
them In C]

JOKE 712 JOKE
Bob Hope would keep his audience laughing with an end-
less stream of jokes and wisecracks. I Another wisecrack like
that and I'll have you thrown out of the class.
funny story / f^ni  sta:ri/a short story that is told to make
people laugh In C]
The men sat in the bar drinking beer and telling funny
stories. I He began to tell her funny stories about the time
when he worked as a barman on a cruise ship.
punch line / p^ntj" la[nl the sentence or phrase that comes
at the end of a joke, and makes it funny In C]
It's rather a long joke but the punch line is worth waiting
for. [ His joke was a flop because when he got to the end he
couldn't remember the punch line.
standing Joke /  standIrj d3aok/something that happens
often and that becomes the subject of a joke that people
often repeat In C]
Reggie's forgetfulness had become a standing joke in the
family. I It was a standing joke that it rained whenever Elsa
came to London.
2 a joke that uses two meanings of a word
pun
double entendre
pun IP^.I a joke made by deliberately mixing up or mis-
taking two different meanings of the same word or two
words with the same sound [n C]
"Seven days without food makes one weak'" is a pun on the
words "week'" and "weak", and also on the different mean-
ings of "one".
double entendre/du:blontondro II -blo:n'to:n-/a joke
made by deliberately using a word or phrase that has two
possible meanings, one of which is about sex or parts of the
body In C]
The game show host specialized in dirty jokes and double
entendres. I "'I always like to get down to the bare essentials, ""
he said with a leer, but she chose to ignore his double
entendre.
3 something that is done to make people laugh
joke play a trick/joke on
practical joke as a joke/for a joke
prank for a laugh
Joke/dsauk/[n C]
We didn't really mean to frighten you. It was only a joke. I
Inside the parcel there was an empty bottle. "'Is this some kind
of joke?'" he asked. I take a joke (=accept a joke that is
against you) 1can take a joke as well as anyone, but this isn't
funny, it's embarrassing.
practical ioke / ,prmkukal 'd3auk/a trick, especially one
that is carefully planned, intended to confuse and surprise
someone and to make other people laugh at them In C]
William once gave me an exploding cigar. 1was not amused
by thispracticaljoke. I play a practical joke on Oliver was
a mischievous little boy who loved playing practical jokes
oft people.
prank/praeok/a silly action that is intended as a harm-
less joke In C]
My son's fond of pranks such as tying together the laces of
people's shoes. I Pushing her in the river seemed like a harm-
less prank, but it ended in tragedy.
play a trick/joke on/ple a 'tnk, 'd3auk on/to surprise
or deceive someone with a trick so that you and other
people can laugh at them Iv phrase]
They decided to play a trick on him, so they put a plastic
spider in his bed. I The girls are always playing tricks on
their teacher. One day they told her that the clock had stopped
- so she let them out early. I It's cruel to play jokes on a ner-
vous old woman.
as a Joke/for a Joke iaz a d3atJk, far a 'd3auk/if you do
something as a joke or for a joke, you do it because you
think it will have amusing results or make people laugh
lady phrase]
You shouldn't spread rumours like that, even as a joke. I
Once, for a joke, they changed round all the numbers on the
doors.
for a laugh/far a lo:f II -lmf/an informal expression:
if you do something for a laugh, you do it for fun or to
make people laugh [adv phrase]
Just for a laugh we hung all the pictures upside down. I
Kevin got punished for setting off the fire alarm. He only did
it for a laugh.
4 to say something to make people laugh
make a joke/ joke
crack a joke wisecrack
tell a joke repartee
make a Joke/crack a Joke/,meek a 'd3auk, ,krmk a
'd3atJk/Iv phrase]
This is a serious matter. I wish you wouldn't make jokes
about it. I Nick's a cheerful man - always smiling and crack-
ingjokes. I His company has never forgiven him for making
a joke in public about the poor quality of their products.
tell a joke/tel a dsatJk/to tell someone a joke that you
have heard or read somewhere else Iv.phrase]
I tried to cheer him up by telling a joke. 1 l'm afraid l"m not
very good at telling jokes. I tell sb a joke Pat told them a
joke about two flies walking on the ceiling and everybody
laughed.
joke/d3auk/to say funny things and talk in a way that is
not serious Iv I]
A group of teenagers stood in the street, laughing and
joking. I They're a good class to teach. You can joke and have
a laugh with them. l joke about Even though he joked about
going into hospital he was secretly very worried.
wisecrack/' wazkraek/to make funny, clever remarks
that criticize or make fun of someone, often in a way that
annoys them Iv I]
Don't try to wisecrack like that with the boss. He doesn't have
a very good sense of humour. I Ronald Reagan appeared
totally relaxed, chatting and wisecracking with reporters.
repartee / rep: ti: II reparti:/ amusing conversation
between two people who are trying to be more funny and
more clever than each other In U]
The local taxi drivers, famous for their brilliant repartee,
were sitting at the bar. I Even at the age of twelve, she had
a great talent for repartee.
 someone who tells jokes or does things to
make people laugh
comedian joker
comic practical joker
wit
comedian/ka' mi:dian/someone whose job is to tell jokes
and make people laugh In C]
Lenny Henry, the famous British comedian, will appear in
a show in London next week. I stand-up comedian (=one
who stands alone in front of the public and tells jokes)
Robin Williams first made his name as a stand-up comedian.
comic/komk II ko:-! someone who makes people laugh,
especially a professional entertainer In C]
Before becoming a film actor, he'd been a comic appearing
regularly in cabaret. I Ever since her schooldays she had been
a natural comic.
wit/wt! someone who is good at making clever and funny
remarks In C]
Rochester was well known as a wit in society circles. I a group
of well-educated, upper class young women, who liked to
think of themselves as great wits
Joker/'d3aokar/someone who often makes jokes or talks
in a joking way In C]
Uncle Oswald was a great joker. You could never tell when
he was being serious.
practical Joker / ,prmkUkal 'd3aokar/someone who does
things or arranges things in order to confuse or trick some-
one else, to make other people laugh In C]

joker
We couldn't believe our car had been smashed up - we
thought we must have been the victim of some practicaljoker.
joker JOKE 5
joking: be joking/be kidding JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 1
joking: be joking/kidding SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 6
joking: not be joking SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 1
joking: you must be joking/kidding NO 1
joking apart SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 3
@JOKING/
NOT SERIOUS
speaking or behaving in a way that is not
meant seriously, but is intended to be
amusing
words for describing something that you do
or say when you are not being serious
to tell someone something that is untrue as a
joke
1 speaking or behaving in a way that is not
meant seriously, but is intended to be
amusing
be joking/be kidding
jokingly
in jest
be joking/be kidding /bi: 'dsaokr j, bi: Ikdrj/ [v
phrase]
When he asked me to marry him I wasn't sure whether he
was joking or being serious. I I'm not kidding - he was the
most boring guy I ever met. I be only joking/just kidding
(=used when telling someone not to be worried, upset etc
because you are not serious) "'I'm sorry, "" Kathryn stam-
mered, "'I was only kidding. "" But she'd already hung up.
jokingly / dsaokIrjli/if you say something jokingly you
say it to amuse people, and do not really mean it seriously
[adv]
Don't take it so seriously, I'm sure he meant it jokingly. I At
the age of sixteen Susanna had jokingly said that she was
out to get a millionaire. I Richard Nixon was sometimes jok-
ingly called Tricky Dicky.
in Jest/In dsest/if you do or say something in jest you
do it in order to make people laugh [adv phrase]
He pointed at me and in jest told the woman that I was a
nuclear scientist. I She offered the flowers to him with a deep
bow. Half in jest, he accepted with equal formality.
2 words for describing something that you do
or say when you are not being serious
flippant facetious
frivolous tongue-in-cheek
playful
flippant/lflpant/not being serious about something that
should be taken seriously, so that people think you do not
care [adj ]
"'Try not to be so flippant about your studies, "" said Morn. [
"Typical of you to give such a flippant answer, "" Michel said
disapprovingly. [ Sorry if that sounded flippant or heartless
it wasn't meant to be.
flippantly [adv] "It's only money, "" said Gabriella flip-
pantly. "Here today and gone tomorrow!"
frivolous / frvals/speaking or behaving in a silly way
when you should be more serious or sensible [adj]
People believe the rich are frivolous and materialistic. [ We
had to put up with vain, frivolous Aunt Augusta for a whole
month. [ I was angry with Bess for her frivolous conduct at
such a difficult time.
frivolity/fr volti [[ -'va:-/[n U] He regards Art as a use-
less frivo, lity.
713
JUDGE
playful/'pie,fall actions or behaviour that are playful are
friendly and not serious [adj]
He gave me a playful slap on the shoulder. I "Stop it!" she
said with a playful stamp of her foot. I She tried to sound
playful but somehow the words came out the wrong way.
playfully [adv] Toby laughed, playfully telling her off.
facetious/fa'si:fas/making jokes or trying to be funny
in a clever or unkind way that people find annoying [adj]
After a while you get fed up with his facetious remarks. I I'm
sorry. I was just being facetious. I "'How thrilling, "she said
in a rather facetious voice.
facetiously [adv ] "What would we do without him?" said
Chuck facetiously.
tongue.in.cheek/,tA0 n 'tfi:k/a remark, statement etc
that is tongue-in-cheek is intended as a joke but is said
or written in a serious or sincere way [adj]
His tongue-in-cheek articles are brilliantly funny and very
political. I She pretended to be disgusted, but it was all very
tongue-in-cheek.
3 to tell someone something that is untrue as a
joke
be kidding sb
be pulling sb's leg
be having sb on/be putting sb on
be kidding sb/bi: 'kdO (sb)/[v phrase]
We're not kidding you. Putting mud on your face really is
good for your skin. I be kidding sb that She didn't know
the rules of chess, so I had some fun by kidding her that she
couldn't move her king.
be pulling sb's leg/bi: poho (sb's) leg/an informal
expression meaning to try to make someone believe a story
that is not true, in a friendly way [v phrase]
Is all this really true, or are you pulling my leg? I You don't
really have to buy tickets. I was just pulling your leg.
be having sb on (British) I be putting sb on (Ameri-
can)/bi: ,hmvrj (sb) 'on, bi: ,potrj-/informal expressions
meaning to trick someone into believing something that
is not true, as a joke [v phrase]
"You didn't have to get mad, "'she said. "They were just put-
ting you on. "'[ I think someone's been having you on - there's
no one here called Jasper.
jokingly JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 1
jolly HAPPY 3
jolt SHAKE 2
jostle PUSH 7
jot down WRITE 4
journalist REPORT 3
journey TRAVEL 8
journey: make a journey TRAVEL 1
joy HAPPY 8
joyful HAPPY 2
joyriding DRIVE 1
joys: the joys/delights of ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
jubilant HAPPY 5
judder SHAKE 2
judge JUDGE 1, 3, 5, 9
judge: be a good/bad etc judge of sth JUDGE 4
JUDGE
to form an opinion and decide whether
something or someone is good, bad, right,
wrong etc
1 to form an opinion about a person or situation
:2 to judge the quality, performance etc of
someone or something
;3 to judge someone and criticize their behaviour
4 someone's ability to judge people, situations
etc
continued

JUDGE
JUDGE
continued
5 to judge who is the winner in a competition
6 to judge officially who is right in a quarrel
7 to write or speak about a book, film, play etc
giving your judgement of it
8 a standard by which something is judged
9 the people who judge a legal case in a court
10 to bring someone to a court of law to be
judged
11 to be judged in a court of law
12 ways of saying that a legal case is judged in
a court
1 to form an opinion about a person or situation
judge
sum up
gauge
Judge Ids^ds/to form an opinion about a person or situa-
tion, using your knowledge, experience and intelligence
Iv T]
judge sth/sb It's difficult for us to judge the situation
because we don't really know enough about it. I judge who/
what/how etc A team of experts has been sent to the scene
to judge what emergency measures would be most effective. I
judge that I judged that the moment was exactly right to
approach the subject of a loan. I judge sb/sth to be sth Doc-
tors judged Murray to be too distressed to appear in court. I
judge it unwise/expedient/inappropriate etc to do sth
Police chiefs judged it unwise to send armed officers into the
area. I judge sb/sth on their merits (=only on how good,
suitable etc they are, and on nothing else) We believe in
judging all employees purely on their merits.
sum up/,sAm '^p/to quickly form a correct judgement
about a person or situation [phr v T]
sum up sb/sth She seemed to sum up the situation almost
as soon as she walked in. I sum sb/sth/it/her etc up He's
a good judge of character, who can sum people up immedi-
ately. I have sb summed up No, he's not going to get any-
where with me - I've got him pretty well summed up.
gauge/gelds/to judge what someone's feelings, inten-
tions, or reactions are likely to be Iv T]
gauge what/how/whether etc It's difficult to gauge
exactly how he's going to respond. I The new Market
Research project is designed to gauge what the consumer
really wants. I gauge sth Fortunately, Willis had correctly
gauged the mood of the conference. I Students" levels of under-
standing can sometimes be difficult to gauge.
2 to judge the quality, performance etc of
someone or something
appraise
assess
evaluate
appraise/'prez/to officially or formally judge how suc-
cessful, effective, or useful someone or something is Iv T]
The company regularly appraises the performance of its
employees. I US officials and economists were cautious in
appraising the new aid program. I The panel has been asked
to select and appraise this year's best examples of
advertising.
appraisal In C] This article gives an appraisal of recent
books on this subject.
assess /o'ses/ to consider someone's work, ideas, or
products, in order to judge how good they are, what stan-
dard they have reached, or how useful they might be to you
Iv T]
The booklet aims to help parents assess recent educational
changes. I This test provides an excellent way of assessing
applicants" suitability.
714
JUDGE
assessment In C] The final chapter gives an assessment of
various ideas and theories.
eva|uate !  ' vmljueq to carefully consider how useful, or
valuable an activity, plan, or suggestion is, especially in
order to decide whether or not to start doing it or continue
doing it Iv T]
We've arranged a meeting to evaluate their proposals. I The
police have got to stop evaluating their employees'perfor-
mance in terms of the number of arrests they make.
evaluation/I vmlju ean/In C/U] We ask all ex-trainees
to provide us with an evaluation of the courses they took.
3 to judge someone and criticize their behaviour
judge
sit in judgment/judgement
pass judgment/judgement
judgmental/judgemental
judge/ds^ds/to form an opinion about someone else by
considering their good and bad points, especially in a way
that is a little criticizing or unfair Iv I/T]
They seem to think they're much better than anyone else, but
they don't really have any right to judge. I I'm not judging
Mr Empee's character - I'm judging his political behaviour.
sit in Judgment/Judgement /,Sit In 'ds^dsmont / to
judge someone's behaviour, especially in an unfair,
unreasonable, and criticizing way, when other people
think you do not really have the right to judge it at all
Iv phrase]
sit in judgement on/upon She has no right to sit in judge-
ment on everything anyone here does. I sit in judgment It's
very difficult to perform well when you think someone's up
there sitting in judgment.
pass judgment/Judgement/,po:s dSAdSmont II ,pros-/
to judge a situation in a criticizing way, and often
unreasonably, especially when you do nothing yourself to
try to improve it Iv I/T]
He never does anything to help, but he's always ready to pass
judgment. I pass judgement upon/on It's very easy to pass
judgement on the government, but what would you do to
bring an end to the war?
judgmentalljudgemental/ds^dsmentl/too ready to
judge and criticize other people [adj]
She could never talk to her parents because their response
would always be judgemental. I Many gay men will not
attend clinics because of thejudgemental attitudes of some
of the staff.
4 someone's ability to judge people, situations
etc
judgment/judgement
be a good/bad etc judge of sth
judgment/judgement/'ds^dsmant/In U]
Her actions are always based on sound judgement. I The
break-up of a serious relationship can often make us lose con-
fidence in our own judgement. I Teachers need to have good
judgement.
be a good/bad etc judge of sth/hi: o (good, etc) idsAd5
,v (sth)/be able to judge people or situations well/badly etc
Iv phrase]
She'd always thought Mr Cunningham was a very good
judge of character. I Professional people are sometimes bad
judges of their colleagues' conduct. [ He wrongly considered
himself to be the best and only judge of what his wife ought
todo.
5 to judge who is the winner of a competition
judge
adjudicate
Judge/ds^ds/to be the person who decides who is the
winner of a competition Iv T]
A famous film star will judge the beauty competition. I The
annual flower show was judged by a radio celebrity and a
professional horticulturist.

JUDGE 715 JUDGE
judge In C] There are normally three judges for the national
poetry competition.
adjudicate/ dsu:dIkelt / a formal word meaning to judge
who is the winner of a competition Iv I]
As a famous pianist, he is sometimes asked to adjudicate in
music competitions.
adjudicator In C] She was chosen as one of the adjudica-
tors in a national photography competition.
6; to judge officially who is right in a quarrel
adjudicate
arbitrate
arbitration
adjudicate/'dsu:dIkeIt/if someone, especially a lawyer
adjudicates, they officially form a judgement about who
is legally right in an argument or disagreement Iv I]
The company pay dispute became so serious that a specialist
lawyer was called in to adjudicate.
adjudicator In C] Legal advisors and adjudicators were
present at the trial.
adjudication/ad3u:dt 'ketan/[n U] The situation has now
become so serious that any form of adjudication would be
impossible.
arbitrate/' o:rb]tret/to officially judge how an argument
between two opposing groups or organizations can be set-
tled Iv I]
As president of the European Council he was obliged to arbi-
trate in an argument over cereal prices. [ arbitrate between
A local magistrate has been asked to arbitrate between
farmers and conservationist groups.
arbitrator In C] She works as an arbitrator between
representatives of various competing businesses.
arbitration/,o:rb 'treian/the process of judging offi-
cially who is right in an argument or disagreement, by
someone who has been chosen by the opposing groups In U]
Trade Unions and employers have agreed a special commit-
tee for arbitration in industrial disputes. [ go to arbitra-
tion (=ask someone to arbitrate) Both parties agreed to go
to arbitration in order to avoid more strikes by the workers.
• to write or speak about a book, film, play etc,
giving your judgement of it
review v criticism
review n write-up
critic
review /rI'vju:/ to write an article in a newspaper or
magazine judging how good or bad a film, play, television
programme, or book is Iv T]
I'd been asked to review his latest movie for the New York
Times. I As well as being an author, she reviews books for
the Sunday papers. I Eliot wrote to him after he reviewed "The
Use of Poetry'.
review/r 'vju:/an article in a newspaper or magazine
judging a book, television programme, film etc In CI
review of She had read a good review of the film and
thought she'd like to go and see it. I Wilberforce had just writ-
ten a long review of Darwin's book. I review Our first
English assignment was to write a book review.
critic /'krt;k/ someone who writes in newspapers or
magazines, giving their judgement on books, films etc In C]
He never used to take any notice of what the critics said. I
theatre/film/art etc critic For five years she was theater
critic for the New Yorker. I They were flattered that the emi-
nent film critic and columnist had attended their play.
criticism/'krItI SlZdm] the practice of carefully consider-
ing works of art, literature, films etc, in order to form a
judgement about their quality In U]
literary/film/art/music etc criticism The article con-
siders the usefulness - or otherwise - of literary criticism. I
She's very well-respected in the field of film criticism. I criti-
cism Many academics believe that subjective criticism of
poetry is impossible.
write.up /'ratt Ap/an informal word meaning an article
about a book, play, public event etc that is printed in a
newspaper or magazine In C]
The play got a good write-up in the local paper. I She still
keeps the write-ups of her solo performances in a scrap book.
8 a standard by which something is judged
standard benchmark
scale yardstick
criterion
standard/, stmndrd/a level of quality, skill, achievement
etc by which something is judged In C]
Many Europeans who consider themselves to be poor are rich
by the standards of some Third World countries. I
Shakespeare is the standard against which all playwrights
must be measured. I In dog shows there is a standard of per-
fection which describes the ideal dog for each breed.
scale/ske,1/a set of standards, levels, or degrees against
which you can compare and judge things In C]
The hero of the play starts life at the bottom of the social
scale.I On a scale of one to ten his new movie is a two.
criterion/kra tdrin/(plural criteria) a standard you
use in order to judge people or things, especially one that
may be different from the standard used by other people
or organizations In C]
The company's criterion for success is high sales. I When you
go for a job interview, it's important to find out what the
panel's criteria are. I For some publishers, the criterion of
a book that will sell well is length rather than quality.
benchmark/'bentlmo:rk/a very high standard of qual-
ity, achievement, or excellence, against which all other
things have to be compared and judged In C usually
singular]
benchmark for In the 1960s and 1970s the Swedish politi-
cal system was regarded as a benchmark for other European
countries. I Our own planet has become a benchmark for
understanding other members of the solar system.
yardstick/'jo:rd, stflq a person or thing that you compare
another person or thing with, in order to judge how good
or successful they are In C usually singular]
yardstick for The hospital has developed a treatment for
cancer which has become the yardstick for all other treat-
ments. I yardstick Many teachers are claiming that the
primary school tests are not a useful educational yardstick.
9 the people who judge a legal case in a court
court judge
tribunal jury
court/k:rt/the judge, lawyers, and other people in a court
of law who officially decide whether someone is guilty and
what punishment they should have In C]
He got the maximum penalty the court can impose. I If you
can't afford legal representation the court will provide it for
you. I The court found him guilty of first degree murder and
sentenced him to be executed.
tribunal/tra ' bju:nl/an official group that examines com-
plaints and disagreements, especially between workers and
employers, and judges who is right and who is wrong In C]
The tribunal decided that the Council had shown no racial
discrimination in giving the job to that particular candi-
date. I go before a tribunal (=attend a tribunal) To solve
the dispute they both had to go before a tribunal. I indus-
trial tribunal Finally an industrial tribunal awarded the
women 30 days" pay as compensation for having been sexu-
ally harassed at work.
Judge/d3Ad3/the person in a court of law who has the most
power to judge legal matters, and to decide what punish-
ment someone found guilty should have In C]
The judge decided that the evidence was not relevant to the
trial. I Judge Kovitsky tends to come down very hard on
crimes against property. I A High Court judge ruled today
that Davison should be tried for raping his wife.

JUDGE 716 JUMP
Jury / ' dsori/a group of people who are not legally trained,
who listen to the details of a case in a court of law, and
decide together whether someone is guilty of a crime In C]
The jury decided that he was guilty of murder. I There have
been complaints that juries cannot follow complex fraud
trials. I Members of the jury were invited to examine several
photographs being used as evidence.
1 0 to bring someone to a court of law to be
judged
prosecute
put sb on trial
prosecute /'prtsIkju:t II 'pro:-/ to officially say that
someone has broken the law and bring them to a court of
law to be judged Iv I/T]
prosecute sb Unfortunately there is no way of prosecuting
the factories responsible for polluting rivers. I prosecute
The victim spent several days in hospital, where she finally
decided to prosecute. I prosecute sb for Some newspapers
were prosecuted for breaches of security.
prosecution I,prosI'kju:an II ,pra:-/[n U] Failure to pay
the community tax may result in prosecution and
imprisonment.
put sb on trial/ipot (sb) on ItraIol/to officially bring
someone to a court of law to be questioned and judged Iv
phrase]
A month after the murder, a man was arrested bypolice and
put on trial. I put sb on trial for The couple were put on
trial for fraud and found guilty.
be heard/bi: ha:rd/ifa court case, a problem, or a com-
plaint is heard, a judge or person in authority listens to
it to decide what legal action should be taken Iv phrase]
Last year 2047cases were heard in the Hillbrow small claims
court. I The court case was heard at Lewes where the boat's
owner pleaded guilty.
i
judging by/judging from/going by SEEM 5
judgment/judgement JUDGE 4
judgment: error of judgment/judlement MISTAKE 3
judgment: pass judgment/judgement JUDGE 3
judgment: sit in judgment/judgement JUDGE 3
judgmental/judgemental JUDGE 3
juice: stew in your own juice SUFFER 2
juicy DELICIOUS 2
jumbled/jumbled up. MIX 5
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
jump
ATTACK 2, JUMP 1
at the chance/opportunity ACCEPT 2,
CHANCE/OPPORTU N ITY 4
down sb's throat/bite sb's head off
ANSWER/REPLY 2
on the bandwagon IMITATE 4
out of your skin: nearly jump out of your skin
FRIGHTENED 5
over/jump JUMP 2
the gun EARLY 5
the queue WAIT 9
to it HURRY 2
to the conclusion DECIDE 3
up and down/bounce up and down JUMP 1
1 1 to be judged in a court of law
be tried
be on trial
stand trial
be tried/bi: traId/[v phrase]
The suspect will be tried within the next few weeks. I be tried
for The two women are being tried for drug-smuggling and
face the possibility of the death penalty.
be on trial/bi: on traiol/if you are on trial, someone has
officially said that you have broken the law, and a court
of law is trying to decide whether you are guilty or not Iv
phrase]
Three men are now on trial after a series of terrorist attacks. I
The accused was extradited to Miami earlier this year, and
is currently on trial there. I be on trial for Three men are
on trial for illegally smuggling tropical birds into the
country.
stand trial / stmnd traiol/a formal or official expression
meaning to be judged in a court of law Iv phrase]
stand trial for Brady and his accomplice, Hindley, stood
trial for the killings. I stand trial on An employee of the
bank is due to stand trial on embezzlement charges in
February.
1 2 ways of saying that a legal case is judged in
a court
come to trial
come/be brought before the court
be heard
come to trial /,km to 'traIol/ if a serious legal case
comes to trial, it is judged in a court of law to decide ff
someone is guilty of breaking the law Iv phrase]
Your case won't come to trial until next summer. [ Should
the case come to trial your anonymity will be guaranteed.
come/be brought before the court/,km, bi: bm:t
bIfo: r 6o ko:rt/ff a legal case or a criminal comes or is
brought before the court, they go to a court of law so it
can be officially decided what further legal action should
be taken Iv phrase]
He thinks his case will come before the court within the next
few months. I The most important case to come before the
Court of Justice was brought by the EEC.
JUMP
I to jump in the air or from one place to
another
:2 to go over something such as a wall or gate
by jumping
I to jump in the air or from one place to
another
jump skip
jump up and down/ leap
bounce up and down dive
hop
Jump/dsnmp/to push yourself off the ground or away from
a surface, using your legs Iv I]
How high can you jump? I jump across/into/onto etc
Ricky jumped across the stream and ran all the way home. I
My cat always jumps up onto the table when I'm trying to
work. l jump free (=jump away from a place where you are
in danger) Firefighters managed to jump free as the build-
ing collapsed.
jump In C] Aziz won the event with a jump of 2 metres.
Jump up and down/bounce up and down/, ds^mp
^p on Idaon, ,baons-/to jump several times, always landing
in the same place Iv phrase]
Davy and the other kids were having a great time, bounc-
ing up and down on the bed. I At the back of the stand,
Redsox fans were jumping up and down with excitement. I
Stop jumping up and down - keep stilly
hop /hop II h(a:p/ to jump or move forward on one leg
rather than two Iv I]
hop around/over/through etc Amy hopped over a fallen
tree. I a game where you hop around on one leg trying to
knock down other people I hop My left leg hurts so much I
can only hop.
skip/skip/to move forward fairly quickly and with lots
of energy, making small, quick jumps, especially when you
are feeling happy Iv I]
skip around/along/past etc Carrie sang as she skipped
by the side of the railway track. I Children were skipping
around in the school yard.

JUMP 71'/ JUSTIA MOMENT AGO
leap/li:p! to jump a long distance or a great height, espe-
cially after you have been running in order to be able to
jump further or higher Iv I]
leap over/onto/through etc From our roof, it's possible
to leap onto the roof next door. I Two circus tigers were leap-
ing through a flaming hoop.
leap In C] Fleeing the area, several people had attempted a
desperate leap across the ravine.
(live/daIv/to jump into water with your head first Iv I]
dive off/into Evan dived off the rock into the sea. I We spent
five or six days diving off the reefs, and exploring the man-
grove swamps. I dive Roger was standing at the edge of the
pool ready to dive.
2 to go over something such as a wall or gate
by jumping
jump over/jump vault/vault over
leap over/leap clear
jump over/jump/,dsAm p 'aov)r, dsArnp/ [V T]
Speedwell jumped over the little brook that ran down the
middle of the field. I How did she get away? The fence is far
too high for her to jump or climb over. I The dog jumped the
gate and ran away howling.
leap over/leap / ,li:p ouvo r, li:p/to make a long or high
jump over something Iv T]
Leaping over the fallen tree, they continued through the
forest. I The bartender leapt over the bar and tried to stop
the fight. I It's no use even trying to leap that fence - you won't
make it.
vault/vault over/v3:lt, v3:lt aovor/to jump over some-
thing, using your hands to help you Iv T]
MacDonald watched as Harry and Maria vaulted over the
railings of the back porch. I He makes vaulting a seven foot
wall look easy.
clear/klIor/to jump over something easily without touch-
ing it Iv T ]
There came a sprinkling of applause as the horses cleared
the last fence. I effortlessly clearing every hurdle
jumped up PROUD 7
jumpy NERVOUS 2
junction JOIN STH TOGETHER 6
junior LOW POSITION OR RANK 2, YOUNG 3
junk USELESS 2
junkie ADDICTED 2, 5
junta GOVERNMENT 4
jurisdiction POWER 1
jury JUDGE 9
just EXACT 5, 8, FAIR 1, 3, JUST/A MOMENT AGO
1, JUST/ALMOST NOT 1, 3, 5, ONLY 2, 3, 4, 5
just
just
just
just
just
just
just
just
just
just
a matter of time: be only/just a matter of time
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
a second/minute WAfT 2
about ALMOST 2, 4, 7
because .... doesn't mean ALTHOUGH 1
deserts: get your just deserts DESERVE 2
looking: be just looking LOOK AT 10
out: be just out NEW 3
so TIDY 1
the thing/job PERFECT 3
this minute JUST/A MOMENT AGO 1
ljusti
JUSTIA MOMENT
AGO
I ways of saying that something happened only
a short time ago
1 ways of saying that something happened only
a short time ago
just just this minute
only just barely/scarcely/hardly
a moment/minute ago
Just Id3^stl [adv]
She's just arrived. I The war had just ended, and the coun-
try's economy was in ruins. I You've had your hair cut
haven't you? I've just noticed.
only Just/,onli 'd3^st / a very short time ago [adv]
No wonder she looks sleepy. She's only just got up.t l I've only
just passed my test so don't expect me to be a brilliant driver. I
Stalin had only just made a peace pact with Hitler when the
Germans invaded Russia.
a moment/minute ago/ momnt, mInt go/a
very short time ago, especially when a situation has
changed [adv phrase]
A minute ago you were saying how much you wanted to go
home and now you want to stay. I What did I do with my
glasses? I had them in my hand a moment ago.
Just this minute/,dsAst 6s 'mnt/an expression mean-
ing a very short time ago, used especially when answering
someone who is looking for someone else lady phrase]
"'Where's Karen? .... We saw her leaving the buildingju, st this
minute. "'[ "You seen Carl?" "'I just this minute hung up on
him. "" [ Didn't I just this minute tell you to tidy your room/
barely/scarcely/hardly/'berli, skersli, ho:rdli/if
someone had barely, scarcely, or hardly done something
when something else happened, that thing happened
immediately after they had done it lady]
I had scarcely opened the door when the dog came running
in. I She had barely slept 10 minutes before she was woken
up again. I hardly had I/she/they etc Hardly had King
finished speaking when a shot was fired by someone in the
crowd.
I "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

JUST/ALMOST NOT '/18 juvenile
@ JUST/ALMOST NOT
1 ways of saying that although something
actually happens, it almost does not happen
2 ways of saying that something unpleasant or
dangerous almost happened but it did not
3 ways of saying that you succeed in doing
something, but you almost fail
4 ways of saying that someone or something is
able to do something, but only with difficulty
5 ways of saying that something or someone is
just a particular size, age, amount etc
I ways of saying that although something
actually happens, it almost does not happen
just only just
almost didn't narrowly
just/d3^st / [adv]
He just failed the examination - two more points and he
would have passed. I "'Can I speak to Tony please? .... Sorry,
you've just missed him. "'1 If you hurry you'll just catch the
9.30 bus.
almost didn't (also nearly didn't in British English)
/:lmost ddnt, nIrli dIdnt/
Rick was standing in the shadows. I almost didn't see him. [
My alarm clock is broken and I nearly didn't wake up in time
this morning.
only just / oonli d3^st* / if something only just happens,
it happens but it very nearly does not happen [adv]
That bullet only just missed my left ear. I If she mailed the
letter today it would only just reach us by Saturday. ] The
dress fits her, but only just.
narrowly/'neeraoli/narrowly win/lose/defeat/fail etc
(=by a very small number of points, votes etc) [adv]
The Democrats were narrowly defeated in last month's elec-
tion. I Christie narrowly failed to beat the world record in
the final of the I00 metres.
2 ways of saying that something unpleasant or
dangerous almost happened but it did not
narrowly
close shave
narrowly/' nmmoli/narrowly avoid/miss/escape etc
(=avoid something unpleasant or dangerous, although you
almost do not avoid it) [adv]
Dean's BMW swerved violently, narrowly missing another
car. I He narrowly escaped arrest when the police raided his
house.
narrow [adj only before noun] Markov had a very narrow
escape (=he was almost killed) when his helicopter crashed.
close shave/,kloos 'elv/a situation in which someone
is almost killed or injured In C]
I've just had a very close shave - a bomb exploded less than
50 metres away from our hotel. I Phew! That was a close
shave!
3 ways of saying that you succeed in doing
something, but you almost fail
just be a near thing/close thing
only just by the skin of your teeth
barely
just/d3^st / [adv]
I just managed to find a seat even though the bus was
crowded. I The water was very cold but he just made it to the
other side of the river. I At the moment we're just making
enough money to cover our costs.
only just / taonli t ds^st / if you only just do something,
you succeed in doing it, but you very nearly fail [adv]
The game lasted for over an hour. In the end Beverly
managed to beat me, but only just. I I only just stopped myself
from telling her what I really thought. I The paperwork was
only just completed in time for the conference.
barely ! bearli/if you barely do something, you succeed
in doing it, but only with very great difficulty [adv]
The fog was so bad that we barely made it to the motel. I The
staff here are barely coping with all the work.
be a near thing/close thing/bi:  nla r 0irj, kloos
t01D/ if something that you succeed in doing is a near
thing or a close thing you succeed in doing it, but only
at the last moment Iv phrase]
The Labour party won the election, but it was a very near
thing. I Mike was almost dead when they got him to the hospi-
tal - it was a very close thing.
by the skin of your teeth/baI 80 sk;n ov jo: r ti:0/if
you do something by the skin of your teeth, you succeed
in doing it, but only by a very small amount of time, space
etc [adv phrase]
She had only escaped by the skin of her teeth. I The car broke
down on the way to the airport and they just caught the plane
by the skin of their teeth.
4 ways of saying that someone or something is
able to do something, but only with difficulty
can hardly/barely/scarcely
can hardly/barely/scarcely /kan 'ho:rdli, 'bearli,
tskeorsli/if you can hardly, can barely, or can scarcely
do something you are able to do it but only with difficulty
[modal verb]
I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. I She's not
strong. She can barely walk without holding on to some-
thing. I He lay fiat on his back, scarcely able to breathe,
patiently waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
5 ways of saying that something or someone is
just a particular size, age, amount etc
just
only just
barely
just/d3^st/[adv]
Sam's just 15. His birthday was last week. I The house is just
big enough for the whole family. I Pick the fruit when it's just
ripe. Don't wait until its very soft. I just in time (=with very
little time to spare) We got to the station just in time. I just
over/under/below/beyond etc (=by a very small amount
or distance) Just over 10% of the population is unemployed. I
The sea is dangerous here. There are rocks just below the
suface.
only just/, oonli d3Ast*/if someone or something is only
just a particular size, age etc, they are that size, age etc but
are very nearly not [adv]
The cable's only just long enough to reach my desk. ] only
just over/around/outside etc (=by an extremely small
amount or distance) Only just over 200 people came to the
exhibition. I We can walk. Her house is only just around the
corner.
barely / bearli/if someone or something is barely a par-
ticular size, age etc, they are that size, age etc, but it is
almost not enough to be accepted or to be successful [adv]
He was barely 18 when he joined the Navy. I His voice was
barely loud enough to be heard at the back of the theatre. I
We arrived at the airport with barely a minute to spare.
justice: not do yourself justice DO BADLY 1
 justifiable RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 1
'.-.: justification REASON 3
-.
.;.;.. justified RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 1
 justify REASON 10, RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 3
justly RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 2
jut out STICK OUT 1
 juvenile STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 2, YOUNG 8

keel over 719 KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE
K
keel over FALL 2
keen ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 6, ENTHUSIASTIC 1
keen: be a great/keen/avid reader READ 7
keen: be keen on LIKE SB OR STH 1
keen: be keen to do sth/be eager to do sth WANT 3
keen: not be fond of/keen on DON'T LIKE 1
keep CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, DELAY 1, KEEP SB IN
A PLACE 1, 2, KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 1, 5,
KEEP/STORE 1, 3, LAST FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME 2, SAVE STH TO USE LATER 1, STILL 1
keep: earn your keep EARN 3
keep abreast of/keep up to date with FIND OUT 6,
KNOW STH 9
keep at CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
keep away: stay/keep away from AVOID 1, 7, NEAR 11
keep back SAVE STH TO USE LATER 1, TELL A SECRET 4
keep back/stay back NEAR 11
keep changing CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 2
keep-fit/aerobics EXERCISE 3
keep from doing sth NOT DO STH 2
keep in contact CONTACT SB 2
keep in shape: stay in shape/keep in shape FIT
PERSON 2
keep in touch/stay in touch CONTACT SB 2
keep it down QUIET 7
keep/keep on doing sth CONTINUE/NOT STOP 2, KEEP
DOING STH 1
keep off TALK TO SB 20
keep on: go on/keep on TALK TO SB 9
keep out ENTER 9
keep out: stay/keep out of it INTERFERE 3
keep saying/asking/telling etc REPEAT 5
keep sb apart SEPARATE 6
keep sb awake SLEEP 16
keep sb down CONTROL 6
keep sb from PREVENT 1
keep sb in/after KEEP SB IN A PLACE 1
keep sb on KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 4
keep sb out of TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 13
keepsbup SLEEP16
keep sth apart SEPARATE 2
keep sth for sb KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 3
keep sth from sb TELL A SECRET 4
keep sth to yourself TELL A SECRET 4
keep to OBEY 2
keep to/keep within LIMIT 6
keep up CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, 5, UNDERSTAND 4
keep up: hold up/keep up SUPPORT/HOLD UP 4
keep up with FAST/QUICK 13
keep your eyes open: can hardly keep your eyes
open TIRED 2
keep your hand in PRACTISE/PRACTICE 1
keep your head above water OWE 8, SURVIVE 5
keep yourself to yourself/keep to yourself
PRIVATE/PERSONAL 5
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
kee
CONTINUE TO
save-something to::.:.::{  < SAVE STH TO
°  "i USE LATER
KEEP/CONTINUE
TO HAVE
to keep something that you have and not sell
it, give it away, or throw it away
to keep something because you really like it
and would not want to sell it, give it away, or
throw it away
to keep something so that someone else can
have it or use it later
to let someone keep their job
to continue to have the same character,
feelings, qualities etc
1 to keep something that you have and not sell
it, give it away, or throw it away
keep hang on to
save retain
hold on to keep possession of
keep lid:p/[v T]
I've still kept her letters, even though we stopped seeing each
other a long time ago. I I've decided not to sell my car. I'm
going to keep it and get it repaired. I Tourists have been pick-
ing up live bullets and unexploded shells and keeping them
as war souvenirs. I Cathy always carried with her a large
bar of chocolate which she kept for emergencies.
save Iscvl to keep something that you would normally
throw away, because you might want to use it in the future
Iv T]
Don't forget to save the receipt. I When mum died we found
all her wedding photos, saved in a box. I I'm going to save
this key - you never know when things like that will come
in useful.
hold on to/,haeuld on tu: II -a:n-I to keep something,
especially something that appears not to be valuable,
because you may need it later, or because it may become
more valuable it Iv T]
We were thinking of selling this old furniture, but we've
decided to hold on to it. It might be valuable. I Hold on to
your ticket - you might need it on the return journey.

KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 720 KEEP DOING STH
hang on to/,hmrj 'on tu: II -, o  n-/an informal expression
meaning to keep something, especially something that
appears not to be valuable or useful, because it might be
useful or valuable in the future Iv T]
You should hang on to that painting. It might be worth some-
thing one day. I There's no point in me hanging on to the
clothes, the baby's already grown out of them.
retain ]r Iten] a formal word meaning to keep something,
and not sell it, give it away, or get rid of it Iv T]
If you want to retain a copy of the original version of the
letter, send a photocopy. I When cutting up the old clothes,
all the old zips and buttons were carefully sorted and
retained.
keep possession of/ki:p pa'zean Dv/a formal expres-
sion meaning to continue to own something such as build-
ings or land, instead of selling it, giving it to someone etc
Iv phrase]
It was suggested that Mr Preston kept possession of his house
and sell his cars instead.
2 to keep something because you really like it
and would not want to sell it, give it away, or
throw it away
not part with
cherish
not part with/not 'p(:l:rt wI6/ if someone will not part
with something, they refuse to sell it or give it to anyone
else because they like it so much Iv phrase]
Karen says she won 't part with the painting, no matter how
much money they offer her for it. ] Over the years he'd become
very attached to his old car and he wouldn "t part with it for
the world.
©herish/tlerl/to keep something for a long time and
look after it very carefully because you love it so much Iv T]
My first boyfriend gave me this ring - I'll always cherish it. I
He was obsessed with his model airplanes, seeing them as
things to be cherished and loved.
3 to keep something so that someone else can
have it or use it later
keep sth for sb put/set sth aside for
save sth for sb hold
put sth by
keep sth for sb/'ki:p (sth) fa r (sb)/to not sell or give
something to anyone else, so that someone can have it or
use it later [phr v T]
I haven't gbt enough money with me right now. Can you keep
the vase for me while I go to the bank. I She said she'd keep
the room for me as long as I paid two weeks rent in advance.
save sth for sb/selv (sth) fa r (sb)/to keep something
that you would normally get rid of so that someone else can
have it or use it, especially because they have asked for it
[phr v T]
I.f you get any foreign stamps, could you save them for me?
My little nephew collects them. I Don't worry if you can't come
to the party - I'll save some cake for you.
put sth by/pot (sth) baI/an informal expression used
especially in British English: if a shop puts something by
they keep it for you until you have enough money to pay
for it [phr v T]
If I pay you for the chairs now, could you put them by and
I'll collect them tomorrow? I put sth by for sb You can buy
half the wool now, and we can put the rest by for you until
you know how much you need.
put/set sth aside for/,pot, ,set (sth) a'sad f::r/to keep
something separate and not use it because someone is
going to buy it or use it later Iv phrase]
They didn't have the dress I wanted but said they would put
one aside for me when they had a delivery. I One of the rooms
was set aside for a yoga class.
held/hauld/to keep something for someone to collect later
Iv T]
Your tickets will be held at the box office until one hour before
the performance. I It is post-office policy to hold parcels for
up to three weeks if they are not collected.
4 to let someone keep their job
keep sb on
retain
keep sb on/,ki:p (sb) 'on II -' o:n/to continue to employ
someone after they have been working in the same job for
a period of time, especially because they have proved that
they are good at it [phr v T]
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to keep you on at
the end of your contract. ] The boss fired George but kept
Frank on. [ be kept on If you work hard you'll probably be
kept on at the end of the training period.
retain /r tem/ a formal word meaning to continue to
employ someone, especially when you are getting rid of
other people Iv T]
Only 4 members of the original marketing team will be
retained next year.
5 to continue to have the same character,
feelings, qualities etc
keep
retain
hang on to
keep/ki:p/Iv T]
She has kept her good looks all these years. I I will always
keep a deep affection for this country and its people. I Few
could understand how he managed to keep his sense of
humour in the face of so much suffering. I These cars are a
good investment. They keep their value for many years.
retain/ri 'tein/a formal word meaning to keep the same
character, feelings, qualities etc in spite of other changes
[v T]
Though he had become a prisoner he retained a sense of his
own identity. I The new design will be more modern, while
retaining the graceful shape of the original. I The Orient still
retains that aura of mystery and exoticism that makes it so
appea ling.
hang on to /,hmrj 'on tu: II-'o..n-/to keep the same
character, feelings, qualities etc in spite of problems or
difficulties Iv T]
Throughout her illness, she bravely hung onto her kind,
generous nature. [ I tried desperately to hang onto my sanity
as events became more and more confused. [ Can these coun-
tries hang onto the fragile sense of unity that holds them
together?
KEEP DOING STH
to do something repeatedly, especially in a.
way that makes people annoyed
words for describing something that someone
keeps doing, especially something annoying
or unpleasant
1 to do something repeatedly, especially in a
way that makes people annoyed
keep/keep on doing sth continually
always constantly
all the time ad nauseam
be forever doing sth
keep/keep on doing sth/,ki:p, ,ki:p Dn 'du:rj (sth)/
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Tommy keeps hitting me. I I've told Richard I don't want to
go out with him but he still keeps pestering me. I I tried to
pull away but the car just kept stalling. I They had this really
low doorway and I kept on hitting my head on it.

KEEP DOING STH 721 KEEP SB IN A PLACE
always/'a:lwz, -wez/ if you say someone is always
doing something you mean they do it so often that it seems
as if they are doing it all the time [adv]
I'm sick of Harold, he's always telling me what to do. ] What
do you mean you never see me? You're always at my house. ]
I don't know about you, but I'm always having arguments
with people! ] He was always trying to persuade me to go out
drinking with him.
all the time / a:l 6a Italm/if someone does something all
the time, they do it so often that it seems as if they really
do it all the time without stopping [adv phrase]
It's very hard to sleep because the baby cries all the time. I
He just complains all the time and never tries to help or do
anything constructive.
be forever doing sth/bi: far eva r 'du:irj (sth)/an infor-
mal expression meaning to keep doing something, espe-
cially over a long period of time, causing annoyance or
inconvenience Iv phrase]
He never does his homework on time and is forever getting
into trouble at school. I We bought a new washing machine.
The old one was forever breaking down.
continually/kan Itlnjuali/if something happens continu-
ally it happens very often over a long period of time, so that
it seems as if it never stops happening [adv]
They seemed to be continually arguing. I In the end I left the
police department, because I was tired of being continually
harrassed by male colleagues.
constanUy/Ikonstantli II ko:n-/if something happens
constantly it happens very often, with only very short
periods of time between each time it happens lady]
I wishyou'd tidyyour room without having to be constantly
reminded. I He became totally infatuated with Suzie, cons-
tantly telephoning and calling on her. I The computer soft-
ware seemed to be constantly developing new problems.
ad nauseam / edna:ziam, -iern/if someone says some-
thing or talks about something ad nauseam, they do it so
often and for such a long time that it becomes annoying or
boring lady phrase]
We've discussed this ad nauseam and I don't see the point of
going over the same ground again. I He goes on ad nauseam
about how much better everything was in the old days.
2 words for describing something that someone
keeps doing, especially something annoying
or unpleasant
continual
constant
incessant
continual/kan'tnjual/done very often over a Iong period
of time [adj usually before noun]
Your continual interruptions are making it very difficult for
me to concentrate. I The refugees'families faced continual
racial abuse.
constant/'konstant 11 ko:n-/done very often, with only
very short periods of time between each time it is done [adj
usually before noun]
In our house there was constant bickering about what we
were going to watch on TV. [ The space program was
plagued by constant hold-ups and equipment failures.
incessant/nsesant/incessant noise/chatter/talking
ere (=that seems to continue all the time, in a way that is
very annoying) [adj usually before noun]
I refuse to put up with your incessant chatter. [ I was driven
through the streets of Cairo, shuddering at the near misses
and the incessant horn-honking.
KEEP SB IN A
PLACE
1 to keep someone in a place against their will
2 ways of saying that a situation forces
someone to stay in a place
3 to be kept in a place against your will
4 someone who is kept in a place against their
will
5 the state of being kept in a place against your
will
1 to keep someone in a place against their will
keep detain
hold hold/keep sb in
hold sb prisoner/ custody
captive shut up
lock sb up/away keep sb in/after
confine coop sb up
keep/ki:p! [v T]
keep sb in/at etc The guards kept us in a cell all night. I
You can't keep me in my bedroom! Unlock the door! I The
prisoners were moved to a camp in Siberia where they were
kept far five years in appalling conditions.
hold Ihaold! to keep someone somewhere, especially for a
short period of time, before deciding what to do with them
[v T]
hold sb in/at etc The prisoners were held at Andersonville
until more suitable places were found. I No one knows where
the kidnapped woman is being held. I hold sb Police are
holding two men for questioning in connection with the
robbery.
hold sb prisoner/captive /haold (sb) przana r,
keptv/to keep someone as your prisoner and not allow
them to leave, especially as a way of forcing someone to
give you money or do what you demand Iv phrase]
hold sb prisoner in/at etc A woman has been kidnapped
and is being held captive in a hotel room. I hold sb prisoner
Terrified young people described how they had been held
prisoner for over 12 hours.
lock sb up/away Ilok (sb) Ap, awei II ,lo:k-/to put
someone in a place and lock it so that they cannot escape
[phr v T]
be locked up/away Prisoners are locked up in their cells
for twenty three hours a day. I lock sb/her/them etc up
You can't lock people away just f or fighting at a football
match! I lock up/away sb They arrested the man for lock-
ing up four of his children in a disused garage.
confine/kan'fain/to keep someone in a very small place,
with the result that they feelthat their movements are res-
tricted Iv T usually in passive]
be confined in The conditions of the buildings in which the
hostage was confined were appalling. I confine sb to The
judge is confining the jury to their hotel until after the ver-
dict. I The illegal immigrants were confined to a small island
in the harbour.
confinement In U] After a day or two of confinement in a
darkened cell he was returned to the hospital.
detain/d ten/if the police detain someone who they
think has done something illegal, they keep them some-
where so that they cannot leave, usually in order to ask
them questions Iv T usually in passive]
be detained Two Moroccans and a Spaniard have been
detained for questioning by the Harbour Authorities. I At
present two people are still being detained, on suspicion of
murder. I detain sb The police have been given extensive new
powers and can now detain terrorist suspects for as long as
a week.
detention/di 'tenan/In U] Protesters demonstrated all day
against detention without trial.
hold/keep sb in custody / hatJld, ,ki:p (sb) in kAstadi/
if the police hold someone in custody they keep them in
prison until it is time for them to be judged in a law court
[ v phrase]
You will be kept in custody until your trial on May 3rd. I hold
sb in police custody A man has been arrested in connec-
tion with the murder and is being held in police custody.

KEEP SB IN A PLACE ?22 KEEP/STORE
shut up / At '^p/an informal expression meaning to put
or keep someone in a place so that they are no longer free
[phr v T usually passive]
be shut up The orphans had been shut up like animals in
a cage. I The hostage was shut up in a small room for several
years, away from all human contact. I shut sb/her/them
etc up I don't like the idea of shutting old people up in a nurs-
ing home.
keep sb in (also keep sb after in American English)
/,ki:p (sb) 'in, ,kizp (sb) 'ozfta r II -'ef-/keep a child at home
or at school so that they cannot leave, as a punishment for
bad behaviour [phr v T]
Mr Johnson kept us in for two hours last night, doing extra
work for the maths exam. I According to our records, Mrs
Jones, this is not the first time your son has been kept after
for fighting.
coop sb up/,ku:p (sb) 'Ap/ to keep someone in a place
that is too small or crowded, so that they are uncomfortable
and want to get out [phr v T usually in passive]
be cooped up I don't want to be cooped up in that tiny room
all day. I It was a joy to get out into the fresh air again after
being cooped up for so long. I coop sb up She would coop
her children up for hours on end while she went shopping.
 ways of saying that a situation forces
someone to stay in a place
keep
confine
keep/ki:p/Iv T]
keep sb in/inside/indoors Once I had a cold that kept me
in bed for three days. I The children planned a picnic but it
suddenly began to rain, keeping them indoors for the whole
afternoon. I I'd hate to have a job that kept me in an office
all the time. I keep sb in (=keep someone in a hospital) The
doctors decided to keep her in overnight for observation.
confine/kn' fan/to keep someone in a very small place,
with the result that they feel that their movements are res-
tricted Iv T usually in passive]
be confined to I went down with jTu and was confined to
bed for a week. I Since the accident he has been confined to
a wheelchair. I confine sb to All the renovations were being
done upstairs, confining us to the two rooms downstairs.
 to be kept in a place against your will
be in captivity
be in custody
be under arrest
be In captivity/bi: n kep'tivti/if someone is in cap-
tivity, they are being kept as a prisoner Iv phrase]
While they were in captivity some of the hostages made
friends with the kidnappers. [ Nelson Mandela studied for
a degree while he was in captivity on Robben Island.
be In custody/bi: n 'kstzdi/if someone who the police
think is guilty of a crime is in custody, they are kept in
prison until it is time for them to be judged in a law court
Iv phrase]
Parry was in custody for a month before being released. I be
in police custodyAn inquiry has been launched following
the death of a man in police custody. I be remanded in cus-
tody (=be sent back to prison from a court until your trial)
Three men and a woman have been remanded in custody on
fraud charges.
be under arrest/bi: ^ndr rest/if someone is under
arrest, the police are keeping them guarded because they
think they are guilty of a crime Iv phrase]
He's under arrest and may only be seen by his lawyer. [ He
is under arrest and awaiting trial.
4 someone who is kept in a place against their
will
prisoner hostage
captive detainee
prisoner ! 'prizanar/someone who is kept in a place, espe-
cially a prison, as punishment for a crime In C]
There are sixty two prisoners awaiting execution in the
United States. I prisoner of war (=a soldier, pilot etc, who
is taken prisoner by the enemy during a war) Her father
spent three years as a prisoner of war in England. I politi-
cal prisoner (=someone who is in prison because of their
political beliefs) There have been reports of the systematic
torture of political prisoners. I take sb prisoner (=make
someone your prisoner) He was taken prisoner in Vietnam.
captive I I keeptxv/someone who is kept in a place illegally,
especially in a war In C]
All the captives were kept in a darkened room with their
hands tied. I The rebels promised to release their captives
unharmed if the government did as they said.
hostage / hostId5 II ho:-/someone who is illegally kept
in a place by someone who threatens to kill them as a way
of forcing their country's government to pay a lot of money,
do what they demand etc In C]
An attempt to rescue the American hostages ended in disaster
when a helicopter crashed. I The terrorists offered to free the
hostages if the government would release twelve political
prisoners. I take sb hostage (=make someone your
hostage) The medical team were captured and taken hos-
tage. I hold sb hostage (=keep someone in a place as your
hostage) A British journalist was held hostage by the ter-
rorists for over four years.
detainee/,di:tet ni:/ someone who is being kept in a
place by the police because they think that person has done
something illegal and they want to ask them questions In C ]
More than 300 detainees went on hunger strike last Febru-
ary. I Sexual violence and torture to obtain confessions from
women detainees continues.
 the state of being kept in a place against your
will
captivity
imprisonment
detention
captivity/kep'tlVoti/In U]
In his book he describes his life during captivity. I Moves are
being made to get our hostages out of captivity.
Imprisonment !;m'pr;zanmznt/the state of being kept as
a prisoner, especially as a punishment for a crime In U]
Johnson was sentenced to three years" imprisonment for
causing a riot. I The offence is punishable by either a fine
or imprisonment. I life imprisonment Many women believe
that the punishment for rape should be life imprisonment.
detention/dx tenan/the state of being kept somewhere
by the police, usually because they think you have done
something illegal and they want to ask you questions In U]
Cases of detention without trial were common in the last cen-
tury. I release sb from detention My husband was released
from police detention yesterday and all charges have been
dropped. I take sb into detention Steve was taken into
detention two weeks ago and still is not allowed visitors.
-@. KEEP/STORE
to keep something in a particular place so
that you can get it when you need it
I to keep something in a particular place, to be
used later
2 a quantity of things of the same type that you
keep so that you can use them when you
need them
3 to keep information, especially in a way
people can use

KEEP/STORE 723 kick the habit
1 to keep something in a particular place, to be
used later
keep preserve
store hoard
keep sth in storage
keep/PJ:p/[v T]
Where do you keep the scissors?Are they in the kitchen? l My
grandfather kept his teeth in a glass next to his bed. I We
always keep plenty of spare paper, in case we run out. I Visi-
tors are advised to keep their valuables with them at all times
and not leave them unattended.
store/stazr/to keep something for a long period of time
so that it is ready for you to use when you need it and in
order to protect it from being damaged or lost Iv T/
Store the medicine in a cool place. I At the moment the food
is being stored in warehouses near the airport. I Plans to turn
the area into a site for storing hazardous waste have had to
be cancelled after protests from local residents.
keep sth in storage/,ki:p (sth) In sta:rIdS/to store
something, especially a large object or a large quantity of
something, until the time when you are able to use it Iv
phrase]
All our furniture is being kept in storage at the moment until
we can find a new apartment. [ The meat is kept in cold
storage before being sent out to supermarkets. I Under the
agreement, 50% of Soviet medium range warheads now kept
in storage would have to be dismantled.
preserve/pr z3:rv/to store something such as food for
a long time, especially after treating it in a special way so
that it does not decay Iv T/
During the war magazines and newspapers were full of arti-
cles showing the housewife how to preserve fruit. I Human
organs, preserved in jars, lined the shelves of the laboratory.
hoard/ha:rd/to collect and keep a large quantity of some-
thing secretly, because you think it might be useful some
time in the future Iv T/
The old man had been hoarding thousands of pounds in a
box under his bed. I She hoarded firewood in the cellar; there
was more there than she could ever hope to use. I My grand-
mother is forever hoarding things -jam jars, plastic bags,
pieces of material, and things like that.
2
a quantity of things of the same type that you
keep so that you can use them when you
need them
store reserve
stock cache
supply hoard
store/sta:r/[n C/
I must go to the supermarket soon - our food stores are get-
ring low. I We've just about used up our store of coal and the
winter's not even half-way through.
stock/stok II sto:k/a quantity of the same type of thing
which a shop keeps in order to sell or which you keep in 
order to use later In C/
The restaurant keeps a good stock of table wines. I Buy now
while stocks last. t I Someone came in half an hour ago and
bought up our entire stock of Italian wine. I Our stock of :iil kick
= kick:
petrol was going fast.
supply/sa plai/a quantity of something which you keep,  kick:
especially a large quantity, which is replaced regularly  kick:
because you use it often [n C/ ..! kick:
Hospitals keep vast supplies of drugs. I Food supplies in the .
refugee camps are becoming desperately low. i kick
reserve /riz3:rv/ an amount of something such as iiii kick
money, food, or water that you keep because you might ! kick
need it at some time in the future [n C/ ii kick
 kick
We always have a reserve of money in a special bank account
for emergencies. I I was forced to start using my water
reserves after a long dry spell. I keep sth in reserve They  kick
sold half their produce at the market and kept the rest in - kick
 kick
reserve for tinter.
cache/ke/a quantity of something, especially weapons
or drugs, which is hidden from the police or from other
people In C/
Police have found a cache of automatic weapons in a house
in the city centre. I The police said that the drug cache was
found in the possession of these two men.
hoard/ha:rd/a large quantity of the same type of things
which you have been keeping secretly, so that you can use
them when you want or need them In C/
I kept my own secret hoard of chocolate cookies in a big tin
under the sink. I Apparently he has his own private hoard
of porno magazines in his bedroom closet.
to keep information, especially in a way
people can use
keep
store
keep sth on file
file
keep a record
keeping: be out of keeping/not be in keeping
WRONG/UNSUITABLE 4
keeping: in keeping with RIGHT/PROPER 2
keeps: for keeps ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
kettle of fish: be a different kettle of fish DIFFERENT 2
key IMPORTANT 3, MAIN 1, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A
PROBLEM 2, WAY/METHOD 4
key: the key BASIC 2
key in WRITE 8
key points: the main/key points MAIN 3
KICK 1, 2
beat/kick/stab etc sb to death KILL 1
get a kick out of ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4
give sb/sth a kick KICK 1
I could have kicked myself REGRET/FEEL
SORRY 3
off START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 1
off with START DOING STH 5
out LEAVE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE 3
out: throw out/kick out LEAVE A PLACE 10
sb out: throw sb out/kick sb out LEAVE A
RELATIONSHIP 2
sth around DISCUSS 1
the bucket DIE 1
the habit STOP DOING STH 5
keep IN:p/[v T/
The bank keeps a list of people who owe them money. I I
checked the information against records kept by the
company.
store/st3:r/to keep large quantities of information, espe-
cially in a computer Iv T/
We use the computer to store information about customers. I
The cards can be stored alphabetically. I The existing
methods of storing and handling personnel information are
inadequate.
keep sth on file / ki:p (sth) on fafl/to keep information
in a computer or written down so that you can use it at a
later time Iv phrase]
We have no vacancies at the moment but we will keep your
details on file. I Employees" records are kept on file for one
year after they have left the company.
file/fail/to keep information in written form and in a spe-
cial order so that it is easy to find when you need it Iv T/
file sth The secretary was in her office, filing papers, lEach
book is filed alphabetically under the name of its author. I
file sth away Once a complaint is received it is usuallyfiled
away and forgotten.
keep a record/,ki:p a reka:d II -ordl to keep informa-
tion on a particular subject, especially so that you can see
how it changes or develops Iv phrase]
keep a record of sth The scientists are keeping a record of
radioactive levels in the area. I It was accidentally revealed
that the KGB had been keeping a record of all his girlfriends
and casual acquaintances. I keep records on sb Schools
keep records on all their students.

KICK 72 KILL
KICK
I to kick someone or something
2 a kicking action or movement
1 to kick someone or something
kick boot
give sb/sth a kick knee
kick/kIk] to kick someone or something once or several
times Iv I/T ]
kick sb/sth The other boys pushed him on the floor and
began kicking and punching him. I In the yard, some boys
were kicking a ball. I kick sb in the face/head etc Police
believe the victim was kicked in the head. I kick sth down/
over/out etc The place was locked so they had to kick floe
door down. I I kicked the gun underneath the bed so that no
one would see it. I kick I could feel the baby kicking inside
me. I kick at (=try to kick someone or something) She was
in a terrible rage, rushing wildly at him and kicking at his
shins.
give sblsth a kick/,giv (sb/sth) a 'klk] to kick someone
or something once [v phrase]
One of the cows gave the farmer a kick. [ give sth a good
kick (=kick it hard) The door will open if you give it a good
kick.
boot/bu:t/to kick someone or something hard, especially
when wearing boots or heavy shoes [v T]
boot sb/sth He booted the ball up to the other end of the play-
ingfield. I boot sb in the face/head etc Suddenly this big
heavy guy came up and booted me in the stomach.
knee/ni:/to hit someone using one of your knees [v T]
knee sb in the groin/chest etc I took hold of his shirt
sleeve and kneed him hard in the groin.
2 a kicking action or movement
kick
kick ]kIk/[n C]
One karate kick can kill someone. I The first kick landed on
his chest. I That was some kick! Did you see how far the ball
travelled!
kickback MONEY 10, PAY FOR 17
kicks: do sth for kicks EЧCITED 10
kid CHILD 1, 2
kid sister/brother YOUNG 4
kid yourself WRONG/INCORRECT 6
kidding: be joking/be kidding JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 1,
SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 6
kidding: be kidding sb JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 3
kidding: no kidding SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 3, 4
kidding: you must be joking/kidding NO 1
kidnap TAKE/BRING 8
kill KILL 1, 6, 8, 14, SPEND TIME 2, STOP STH
THAT IS HAPPENING 8
kill: die/be killed DIE 2
kill: it nearly killed me TIRED 5
kill off KILL 6
kill yourself KILL 12, WORK HARD 3
KILL
to kill someone
the act or crime of killing someone
an unsuccessful attempt to kill someone
someone who kills another person
likely to kill or intending to kill
ways of saying that something such as an
accident, a disease, or a chemical causes
death
14
7 words for describing something that can kill
you
8 to kill a large number of people
9 the killing of a large number of people
10 to legally kill someone as a punishment for a
serious crime
1 1 words for describing someone who is going
to be killed as an official punishment
12 to kill yourself
13 the painless killing of someone who is
extremely ill
to kill an animal, for example in order to get
food or to end the animal's suffering
1 to kill someone
kill bump off
murder do away with
assassinate finish sb off
beat/kick/stab take sb's life
etc sb to death
kill ]ki1 / to end someone's life, especially violently, using
a gun, knife etc [v I/T]
kill sb This man is dangerous and has already killed four
people. I I didn't mean to kill him. One minute we were argu-
ing and the next he was on the:floor. I My uncle was killed
by rebels while he was working in Africa. I kill He killed
again just days after his release from jail. I kill sb in cold
blood (-to kill sb without feeling any pity) She was killed
in cold blood in front of her children.
murder ]'ma:rdar / to deliberately kill someone, especially
after planning to do it [v T]
She suddenly realized that her entire family were plotting
to murder her for her money. I The police think it may not
have been an accident and that Paul may have been brutally
murdered. I Most of the witnesses were murdered before they
got the chance to testify.
assassinate/sasneit [[-saneit] to kill a famous or
important person for political reasons [v T]
President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. [
The police have uncovered a plot to assassinate several
important politicians when the conference opens. I The
widow of the pop star who was assassinated last night, spent
the night next to her husband's body.
beat/kick/stab etc sb to death/(beat, etc) (sb) t deO/
to violently kill someone by beating them, kicking them
etc until they die Iv phrase]
It was alleged that the police had beaten Steve Biko to death
in a prison cell. I It looks as though Mrs Brown was stabbed
to death just for her purse. I The mob hacked their defence-
less victim to death but escaped before the police arrived.
bump off/bAmp 'of 11 -a:fl an informal word meaning
to kill someone or arrange for them to be killed especially
because they know about things you have done wrong, or
are dangerous to you [phr v T]
bump sb/her/them ere off lt's really easy to bump some-
one off in this town. You just have to know the right people. I
bump offsb The killers bumped off the old man because he
knew too much. I One of the gang was bumped off for
threatening to tell his story to the newspapers.
do away with/,du: a'wei wi6/an informal expression
meaning to kill someone or arrange for them to be killed,
especially because they are a threat to you [v T]
The only way to get our hands on the inheritance money is
to do away with Grandma. [ When it was discovered that
Ricky had squealed, the Mafia boss did away with him.
finish sb off ]fini (sb) Df II -a:fl an informal expres-
sion meaning to kill someone, especially when they are
already nearly dead or very weak [phr v T]
finish sb/her/them etc off The poison should finish her
off in a month or two, and everyone will think death was due
to natural causes. I The final punch finished Ted off for good;

KILL ?25 KILL
he lay still and was no longer breathing. I finish sb off but
good (American) He'd only just recovered from the heart
attack when they told him his wife was dead, which finished
him off but good.
take sb's life I lteIk (sb's) laf/ a formal expression
meaning to kill someone used especially to say that
although someone may feel a sense of justice in killing
another person, it is a morally wrong act Iv phrase]
It is wrong to take life, even in war, and it cannot be con-
doned. I Suddenly he knew how it felt to take a life. His gun
made him feel very powerful.
2 the act or crime of killing someone
murder killing
homicide assassination
manslaughter foul play
murder/'m3:rdr/the act or crime of killing someone,
especially by planning it before you do it In C/U]
Ronny Jones was found guilty of the murder of a 15year old
girl. I The inhabitants of a Los Angeles suburb were terro-
rized by a series of brutal murders. I The incidence of vio-
lent crimes - murder, rape, and assault - has increased in
inner city areas. I commit murder (=the crime of murder-
ing someone) The gun was found five miles from where the
murder was committed.
homicide/homsad II Iha:-/a word used especially in
the American legal system meaning the act or crime of kill-
ing someone especially by planning it before you do it In
C/U]
70per cent of homicides take place within the family circle. I
As yet no evidence has been found to suggest that this death
was homicide.
manslaughter / men, sb:tr/the offence of killing some-
one by accident or while trying to defend yourself In U]
She denied murdering her husband, but pleaded guilty to
manslaughter, saying she had acted in self-defence. I The
driver of the train was accused of negligence and charged
with manslaughter. I The court decided there was insufficient
evidence to warrant manslaughter charges.
killing /kdij/ a word used especially in newspapers
meaning the act of killing someone In C/U]
A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the killing. I
Once the soldiers had taken the fortress the killings that took
place shocked the world. I The defendant claimed that he was
only avenging the killing of his brother.
assassination/o,ses I 'neff an II -san eI-/the act of kill-
ing a famous or important person, especially by planning
it before you do it In C/U]
Three foreign diplomats have been killed in a series of assas-
sinations. I The First Worm War began with the assassina-
tion of King Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo. ] assassina-
tion attempt An assassination attempt was made on the
Pope in St. Peter's Square.
foul play/ faol plei/if the police think that someone's
death is foul play, they think that that person may have
been murdered In U]
There was no question of foul play; a suicide note was found
near the body. ] suspect foul play The medical report
showed no signs of poison in the body but the police still
suspect foul play.
He believes that the accident was an attempt on his life. I The
attempt on the Prime Minister's life fa iled, thanks to an excel-
lent security system. I make an attempt on sb's life The
Mafia made several attempts on the lives of prominent judges
last year.
4 someone who kills another person
murderer assassin
killer hitman
murderer /m3:rdrr/ someone who has deliberately
killed another person, especially by planning it before they
did it In C]
He was put in a special high security jail for convicted mur-
derers and other violent criminals. I Harry is dead but the
police are doing nothing to catch his murderer. I mass mur-
derer (=someone who has murdered a lot of people) In
prison he enjoyed reading biographies of other mass
murderers.
killor /  kflr/a word used especially in newspapers mean-
ing someone who deliberately kills someone In C]
Police are searching for the killer of a 9year old child. I The
killers were hired by members of an extremist religious sect. l
In Texas this week a psychopathic killer shot dead a crowd
ofpeople in a restaurant. I serial killer (=someone who has
killed a number of people, one after the other, over a period
of time) Most serial killers choose victims from their own
social background. I killer instinct (=the natural desire
someone has to kill) It has been suggested that many men
enter the army to satisfy their killer instinct.
assassin I' sesnl someone who kills a famous or impor-
tant person, especially when someone else pays them to do
it In C]
Although the assassins were never caught, it is commonly
believed that they were working for the government. I Mrs
Gandhi died at the hands of Sikh assassins. I hired assas-
sip (=someone that you pay to kill another person for you)
For years he worked as a driver, bodyguard, sometimes even
hired assassin.
hitman/hitmen/a word used especially in American
English meaning someone who is paid to kill people, espe-
cially famous or important people In C]
The hitman used the top floor room of a hotel opposite the
square. I Blake had earned a fortune as a hitman in the 60s.
5 likely to kill or intending to kill
homicidal
murderous
homicidal/,homo I'sa]dl- II ,ha:-/[adj]
By now the crowd was almost homicidal, intent on killing
the referee. [ homicidal tendencies There is no doubt that
her attacker has always shown homicidal tendencies, and
is likely to kill again. [ homicidal maniac (=a mad person
who wants to kill people) Wife beaters are not the homici-
dal maniacs some people claim.
murdorous /m:rdams! having a strong desire to kill
someone [adj]
There is no doubt that the kidnappers have murderous inten-
tions. I Three murderous young men burst into the drugstore
wielding sawn-off shot guns.
3 an unsuccessful attempt to kill someone
attempted murder
attempt on sb's life
attempted murder/,temptId m3:rdr/the crime of
unsuccessfully trying to kill someone In U]
The judge found him guilty of attempted murder and gave
him 20years in prison. I He had a whole string of crimes on
his prison record, including theft, assault, and even
attempted murder.
attempt on sb's life/otempt on (sb's) la;f/an expres-
sion used especially in newspapers meaning an attempt to
kill someone, especially someone famous or important
[nC]
6 ways of saying that something such as an
accident, a disease, or a chemical causes
death
kill
kill off
cause death
be a killer
destroy
decimate
wipe out
kill/kill Iv T]
A car drove onto the pavement, killing three of Mrs
Maguire's children. I The old man's heart was weak and they
said the shock would probably kill him. [ There was a terri-
ble outcry when it was discovered that the crop sprayer's

KILL ?26 KILL
insecticide was killing local wildlife. I Thirty-four commuters
were killed in a train crash last night.
kill off /kIl Iof II -:):f/to cause the death of a group of
plants or animals so that they no longer exist [phr v T]
kill offsth It was the bad weather that finally killed off the
last of the roses. I Pollution in the lakes and streams has been
killing off many species offish. I kill sth/it/them off This
weed-killer works without killing everything else off in the
process.
cause death / k:z deO/if something causes death in
people or animals, that is what kills them Iv phrase]
Rhubarb leaves, either raw or cooked, can cause violent
stomach pains or even death. I Research is being done into
the virus that caused the death of 15, 000 seals last summer. I
The injuries sustained by the victim were not sufficient to
have caused death in a normal person.
cause of death [n phrase] The cause of death was a broken
neck.
be a killer/bi: a kIlar/if an illness is a killer it kills a
lot of people, especially because there is no cure [vphrase]
In those days measles was a killer. [ Diphtheria is still a killer
in many third world countries.
destroy/d:  straq to kill something, especially plants and
trees, so that they can never start to grow again [v T]
A vast amount of the Amazonian rainforest is being des-
troyed every day. [ Milk is heat treated for a few seconds to
destroy bacteria. [ The oil now covers the lake and grassland,
destroying the birds' natural habitat.
destruction /d'strAkfan/ In U] The destruction of our
natural wildlife needs to be stopped now.
decimate/desrnet/to kill large numbers of people,
animals, or plants, so that little or nothing remains Iv T]
The Thorns starfish is said to have decimated the corals of
the Great Barrier Reef. [ His prize herd of cows has been dec#
mated by an unknown bovine disease. [ Our tribes have been
decimated by wars, executions, and murder.
decimation/,des 'mefan/In U] After the decimation of the
rainforests, life on earth will be very different.
wipe out /,wap 'aot/to kill an complete group or race
of people, or an complete type of animal or plant, so that
it no longer exists [phr v T]
wipe out sb/sth Archaeologists think that massive floods
could have wiped out the dinosaurs. [ The entire village was
wiped out by cholera. [ wipe sb/sth/it/them etc out The
high price of ivory may soon wipe the elephant out
completely.
7 words for describing something that can kill
you
fatal lethal
killer deadly
mortal
fatal /  feitl/something such as an accident or illness that
is fatal kills people [adj]
Four out of five fatal accidents are caused by people who have
not been drinking alcohol. [ AIDS is a fatal disease which
has no cure. [ A sudden shock could be fatal to anyone with
a delicate heart condition. [ prove fatal (=can kill) Eclamp-
sia is a rare condition of pregnancy that can prove fatal.
fatally [adv] The manager was fatally wounded in the bank
robbery.
killer/kdr/ which can and will kill people [adj only
before noun]
Unless people get healthier, heart attacks will be this coun-
try's number one killer disease. I The killer floods and hur-
ricanes in Asia have destroyed whole towns.
mortal /rrLa:rtl/ a word used especially in literature:
mortal blow/wound/disease etc (=one that causes
death) [adj only before noun]
The warrior fought to the end, despite his mortal wounds. I
He gathered all his strength to deliver his opponent the final
mortal blow.
mortally [ adv ] The doctor could not help the soldier, he was
mortally wounded.
lethal/ li:Oal/something that is lethal is very dangerous
and should be used carefully because it can cause death
[adj]
The poison produced by the spider's skin is so lethal that it
will paralyze a bird or a monkey immediately. I Military
research leads to the development of lethal weapons. I Fire
experts say that synthetic fibres on sofas and armchairs can
be lethal if exposed to a naked flame.
deadly /  dedli! something such as an illness or poison that
is deadly is extremely dangerous and often causes death
[adj]
In the First World War pneumonia was as deadly as bullets
and shells. I Some mushrooms are edible while others, which
look almost identical, contain deadly poisons. I Doctors have
diagnosed melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.
8 to kill a large number of people
kill slaughter
massacre exterminate
kill/kIl/[V T]
Thousands of the rebels were killed in a gun battle with
government troops. [ The bombs were dropped at night, kill-
ing thousands of civilians.
massacre / rnesakar/to kill a large number of people,
especially people who are not able to defend themselves Iv
T]
Whole native populations were massacred when the Euro-
peans first arrived in the New World. I In their struggle for
power the rebels massacred hundreds of innocent people.
slaughter/' sla:tr/to kill a large number of people in a
very cruel or violent way Iv T]
Men ran through the village burning houses and slaughter-
ing the peasants. I In the attack many thousands of people
were slaughtered by enemy guns.
exterminate / k  st3:rmnet/to kill large numbers of a
particular group or race of people so that it no longer exists
Iv T]
Hitler developed a plan to exterminate the Jews. I Huge num-
bers of tribesmen were being exterminated by the new
settlers.
extermination/kst3:rm neIan/[n U] In Tasmania there
was total extermination of the aboriginal population.
9 the killing of a large number of people
massacre carnage
slaughter genocide
massacre /'mesakar/the killing of a large number of
people, especially people who cannot defend themselve In
C/U]
Most of the soldiers taking part in the massacre said they
were only following orders.
slaughter / ' sla:tar/the killing of a large number of people
in a very cruel or violent way In U]
His war crimes included the deliberate slaughter of 250,000
individuals. [ It's hard to believe that the endless warfare,
senseless slaughter and executions are actually happening
in such a beautiful country.
carnage / ko:rnds/the violent killing of large numbers
of people, especially in a war In U]
The fighting goes on and nothing can stop the carnage. I The
newspaper reports told of unspeakable carnage throughout
the war-torn cities.
genocide / dsenasad/the planned and organized killing
of a whole group or race of people In U]
The genocide committed by the Nazis was carried out in their
specially constructed gas chambers. I The leader was accused
of policies of genocide against the minority Kurdish popu-
lation.

KILL ?2? KILL
1 0 to legally kill someone as a punishment for a
serious crime
execute
put sb to death
sentence sb to death
capital punishment
the death penalty
death sentence
capital offence/crime
punishable by death
execute/'eksIkju:t/[v T often in passive]
King Charles I was executed on 30th January 1649. I The two
young men spent 6 months in jail waiting to be executed. I
Some prison authorities carry out tests on their prisoners
before they execute them.
execution /eks I 'kju:fan/ [n C/U] The condemned man
could hear the platform being built for the execution. I There
are various methods of execution, for example, the gallows,
or the electric chair.
put sb to death/,pot (sb) t 'deO/to officially arrange
for someone to be killed, usually in a public place [vphrase]
The criminals knew their ruler would either put them to
death or send them into exile. I In my country the only crime
for which you can be put to death is murder. I The queen
would have people put to death for her own amusement.
sentence sb to death/sentzns (sb) tz deO/to decide
that someone will be killed as a punishment for their crime
[v phrase]
Soldiers in the army used to be sentenced to death for deser-
tion. I I have no alternative but to sentence you to death for
the horrendous crime you have committed.
capital punishment /keptl p^nfmznt/ the legal
expression for the act of killing people as a punishment for
a serious crime [n U]
Do people really see capital punishment as a useful deter-
rent? l Each state in America chooses whether or not to imple-
ment capital punishment.
the death penalty/6 'deO penlti/the legal punish-
ment of being killed for a serious crime [n phrase]
The death penalty does not exist in Britain. I carry the
death penalty Murder is one of the few offences that carry
the death penalty.
death sentence / 'deO, sentns/the punishment of death
that a judge decides to give to someone who is guilty of a
serious crime [n C/U]
The young man received the death sentence for murdering
several children. I The defendant almost fainted when he
heard the judge pronounce the death sentence upon him.
capital offenpelcrime /,kepitl fens, kram/ an
offence or crime that will be punished by death [n C]
Drug-smuggling is a capital offence in many countries.
punishable by death/,pAnI.bl bai 'deO/ifa crime or
offence is punishable by death, the punishment for that
crime or offence is to be killed [adj phrase]
All sorts of crimes that we now do not think of as serious,
used to be punishable by death.
1 1 words for describing someone who is going
to be killed as an official punishment
condemned
be on death row
condemned Ik'demd/in prison waiting to be killed as
punishment for a serious crime [adj only before noun]
The state allows no communication with a condemned man. I
Here are the kitchens where the condemned prisoner's last
meal was prepared.
be on death row /bi: on deO mo/ to be in prison
waiting to be killed as punishment for a serious crime
[ v phrase]
Prisoners who are on death row have usually committed very
violent crimes.
12 to kill yourself
kill yourself
commit suicide
take your own life
end it all
suicide
suicidal
kill yourself /'kd ja:r,self/ to kill yourself, or to die
because of doing something you knew would possibly kill
you [v phrase]
You "ll kill yourself if you do a parachute jump in this awful
weather. I He killed himself by driving off a cliff. I She tried
to kill herself when news of the scandal leaked out.
commit suicide/ka mit  su:said/to do something to
yourself, such as take a drug or injure yourself, which you
know will cause your death [v phrase]
Barry threatened to commit suicide if I refused to marry
him. I He was depressed, I know, but I never thought he'd
commit suicide. I She tried to commit suicide by slashing her
wrists.
take your own life / teikja:r on laif/a formal expres-
sion meaning to kill yourself, used especially to say it is
a morally wrong act [v phrase]
Many religions consider that it is a sin to take your own life. I
The young lovers took their own lives when they were forbid-
den to marry. I Desperately frustrated and alone, she could
see no way out except to take her own life.
end it all/end t a:l/an informal expression meaning to
kill yourself because you are extremely unhappy, lonely
etc [v phrase]
A few months ago I wanted to end it all and I would have
done if my mother hadn't stopped me. I When you left me I
admit that I thought of ending it all, but thankfully I found
the courage to carry on.
suicide/su:Isald, sju:- II su:-/the act of deliberately
killing yourself [n C/U]
Police are treating the man's death as suicide. I There is
grave concern about the number of teenage suicides recorded
last year. I suicide attempt Stephen required hospital treat-
ment after his suicide attempt. I suicide rate (=the number
of suicides) In times of economic depression, the suicide rate
increases drastically.
suicidal/,su: saldl, ,sju:- II ,su:-/someone who is sui-
cidal is likely to kill themselves because they are
extremely unhappy or sad [adj]
Sharleen's very unhappy - suicidal in fact. I suicidal ten-
dencies (=behaviour which could lead to suicide) The
patient definitely displays suicidal tendencies.
1 3 the painless killing of someone who is
extremely ill
euthanasia
mercy killing
euthanasia/,ju:Oa'neIzia II -'nel3a/the painless killing
of people who are very old or very ill, in order to stop them
suffering any longer [n U]
In the Netherlands euthanasia has already been legalized. I
Most doctors are opposed to euthanasia on ethical grounds.
mercy killing/ma:rsi ki1]rj/the act of painlessly kill-
ing someone who is very ill, in order to stop them suffer-
ing any longer [n C/U]
It was a mercy killing. I couldn't stand to see my mother
suffer so much. I The boy's parents had to reconcile them-
selves with the idea of mercy killing and turn off his life sup-
port system.
to kill an animal, for example in order to get
food or to end the animal's suffering
kill put down/put away
slaughter put sth out of its misery
destroy
kill/kill [v T]
You shouldn't really kill spiders, even if you are frightened
of them. I My earliest memory is my dad trying to kill a
chicken for Christmas.
slaughter/' sla:tar/to kill an animal, especially a farm
animal, so that it can be sold for food or because it is ill or
in pain [v T often in passive]
The only way to stop the virus is by slaughtering all infected
animals. I Veal should be eaten three or four days after it

KILL ?28 KIND
has been slaughtered. I As part of the ceremony a cow was
slaughtered and placed on the stone altar.
slaughter [nU] Most of the cattle will be sent for slaughter.
(-to be slaughtered)
destroy/d  stro/to kill an animal painlessly, especially
using drugs, because it is dangerous or in pain Iv T often
in passive]
Our cat got cancer, so we had to take it to the vet's to be
destroyed. I The court ordered the owner of the rottweilers
to have the dogs destroyed. I The Animal Disease Authority
decided to destroy the 40 head of cattle that were infected with
the disease.
put down (British) I put away (American)/pot daon,
pot a we]/to painlessly kill an animal, especially a pet,
because it is very old or very ill [phr v T often in passive]
put sth down/away When our old cat became very sick we
had to ask the vet to put her down. I have sth put down/
away A blind dog is no use to a shepherd. I'm afraid I'm
going to have to have him put down. I It was terrible when
we had to have Bessie put away. That old horse had belonged
to the family for years.
put sth out of its misery/,put (sth) aot av ItS tm]zri/
to kill an animal because it is extremely ill or because it
is in a great deal of pain Iv phrase]
When they saw how much pain the horse was in, they decided
to put it out of its misery there and then.
killer KILL 4, 7
killer: be a killer KILL 6
killing KILL 2
killing: make a killing PROFIT 4
killing: mercy killing KILL 13
killjoy SPOIL 7
kin: next of kin FAMILY 5
kind GENEROUS 1, KIND 1, 2
kind: that's very kind of you/good of you
kind-hearted KIND 1
kind/sort TYPE 1
THANK 2
. kind ............................... .
which meaning?
!. .'....,!:. .
" .......... ...... ... ....
'ik-ind person or="   KIND
 .
generous   ° $ GENEROUS
be 'kind to som.ne. "  =@ . COMFORT/
to make them feel
. :::  ...... .; =:
unki person .or ......
behvio.ur
MAKE SB FEEL
BETTER
"  o:i q--,.:---- - :-:-.-'- .,,-.. -'-
KIND
kind in the way you treat other people
words for describing kind actions or
behaviour
kind to people who are in an unpleasant
situation, and ready tocomfort them or share
their problems
words for describing a powerful person or
group that uses their power in a kind and
generous way
to look after someone very well and treat
them very kindly
to be too kind to someone and do too much
for them
1 kind in the way you treat other people
kind gentle
kindness kind-hearted
be good to sb's heart is in
considerate the right place
thoughtful kindly
kind/kamd/caring about other people's happiness, com-
fort etc, and always ready to help them [adj]
It's really wonderful to have such kind neighbors. I Every-
one loved Mary. She was the kindest, most generous person
in the world. I The nurses looked after me very well. No one
could have been kinder. I kind to He's a good brother. He's
always been very kind to me.
kindly ladv] Joan very kindly offered to wash the dishes.I
"'Now listen, dear, "" she said kindly, "'don't get upset. ""
kindness / kaindns/kind behaviour towards someone
In U]
I really do appreciate all your kindness. [ What this child
needs is a little love and kindness. [ kindness to I shall never
forget her kindness to me and my family when we were in
trouble.
be good to/bi: gud tu:/to be kind to someone, especially
someone who is old, young, sick etc, by providing them
with what they need Iv phrase]
He's very good to his elderly mother - visits her every day
and does all her shopping - nothing is too much trouble. I
Ruth has always been good to her grandchildren.
considerate/kan s dar t/always thinking of what other
people may need or want and taking care not to upset them
[adj]
I married Bernard because he was kind and considerate and
I wanted to be looked after. [ Diana is a considerate boss who
is always willing to listen. [ considerate towards Please
be considerate towards other hotel guests. Do not use the TV
after midnight.
considerately [adv] People expect to be considerately
treated by the police.
consideration/kan,s Idrelfan/ [n U] I wish you children
would show a little more consideration (=be a little more
considerate) to old people like myself.
thoughtful /  O:tfal! always thinking of small things that
you can do to make people happy and comfortable [adj]
What a thoughtful boy young Robert is! He even remembered
to bring a cushion for me. [ Her thoughtful parents had
provided her with a little extra money in case an emergency
should arise.
thoughtfully [adv] The hospital staff had thoughtfully
placed a box of tissues on my bedside table.
thoughtfulness In U] She was touched by Rick's thought-
fulness. Why, he had even switched on the central heating for
her!
gentle I ' dsentl/nice and kind, never angry or violent [adj]
My father was a professional boxer, but at home with the
family he was always quiet and gentle. [ a sweet, gentle girl
who wouldn't hurt a fly
kind.hearted/,kand 'ho:rtold/someone who is kind-
hearted has a kind and sympathetic character [adj]
Being a kind-hearted woman, she felt sorry for the poor
child.I I wouldn't have helped the old fool, but then I'm not
as kind-hearted as you.
sb's heart is in the right place/(sb's) ,hozrt IZ in 6a
ralt ples/if you say that someone's heart is in the right
place, you mean that they do not always do the right thing,
but they are basically a good, kind person
Perhaps he seems rude and bad-tempered sometimes, but his
heart's in the right place.
kindly I kamdli/a word used especially in stories mean-
ing kind and sympathetic, especially to anyone who is
weaker or smaller than you [adj only before noun]

KIND '729 kiss up to
The boy was rescued by a kindlyfisherman, who nursed him
back to health. I an old woman with a kindly face and gentle
eyes
words for describing kind actions or
behaviour
kind nice
considerate/thoughtful charitable
be good of
kind/kaInd! [adj]
Thank you for your kind offer of help. I I shot the poor
animal. It was the kindest thing to do to end its suffering. [
it is kind ofsb to do sth It was very kind of you to visit my
mother. She gets so lonely. [ how kind of sb "'Donald's
offered to lend us his car. "' "'How kind of him!'"
considerate/thoughtful /konsidart, Oo:tJ'al/ kind
and showing that you have been thinking how you can
make things easier or more comfortable for other people
[adj]
it is considerate of sb to do sth It was considerate of them
to warn us that they might be late. I "I didn 't phone this after-
noon. I thought you might be resting." "That was very
thoughtful of you. "1 considerate/thoughtful You sent her
a "get well" card? That was a thoughtful gesture.
be good of/bi: god ov/you say it is good of someone
to do something when you think they are being very kind
Iv phrase]
it is good ofsb to do sth It's really good of you to help me
like this. I Good of you to come at such short notice. I Olga
offered to look after the children. Wasn't that good of her?
nico/nas/an informal word meaning kind [adj]
nice of sb to do sth How nice of you to come and see me! l
nice to sb Try to be nice to your sister.
charitablo / tfartobl! a formal word meaning kind and
sympathetic in the way you judge or criticize someone
[adj]
A brave effort! I think that's the most charitable thing I can
say aboutyour essay. I take a charitable view (=consider
something in a charitable way) I shall try to take a charit-
able view of his extraordinary behaviour.
kind to people who are in an unpleasant
situation, and ready to comfort them or share
their problems
sympathetic caring
understanding a shoulder to cry on
compassionate
sympathetic/,smpo'Oeuk-/[adj]
Why don't you talk to Elizabeth? She's always sympathetic. I
My friends were extremely sympathetic when they heard I'd
lost my job. I Noticing my embarrassement, the teacher gave
me a sympathetic smile.
sympathetically [adj] She listened sympathetically to all
our complaints.
understanding /,Ando r'steendlO/ sympathetic and
patient, even when someone behaves badly, because you
understand their problems and feelings [adj]
I'm sorry I've been so bad-tempered lately. Anyway thank you
for being so understanding. I Irene often has to take time off
work. Fortunately she has a very understanding boss. I My
parents were wonderfully understanding throughout my
divorce.
compassionate Ikom'pefan]ot/someone who is com-
passionate feels a lot of pity for people who are suffering
and wants to help them [adj]
Alice was a compassionate woman who wanted to save chil-
dren from violence and poverty. I We must try to create a more
caring, more compassionate society.
compassionately [adv ] Political refugees need our protec-
tion and we urge the government to view their plight more
compassionately.
caring [ ' kegrii]/loving and sympathetic, especially so that
you want to help people when they are in trouble [adj]
Sharon was lucky to have such caring parents at a time when
she needed help. [ She showed the caring side of her nature
when she opened a hostel for homeless people. [ It is possible
for men to be tough and, at the same time, caring and
sensitive.
a shoulder to cry on/o ,J'ooldo r to krai on/someone
who will listen sympathetically when you tell them about
your troubles In phrase]
Remember your mother's always here if you need a shoul-
der to cry on.
4 words for describing a powerful person or
group that uses their power in a kind and
generous way
benevolent
benevolent/b 'nevolont/[adj]
He was happy to live in a peaceful land ruled by a benevo-
lent king. I He dreams of an America that is not only the
greatest but also the most benevolent country in the world.
benevolence In U] The servants praised their master's
benevolence and generosity.
5 to look after someone very well and treat
them very kindly
make a fuss of
spoil
make a fuss of/,melk o 'fAS Ov/a British expression
meaning to look after someone very well and pay a lot of
attention to them Iv phrase]
When I came out of hospital and got back home, everyone
made a great fuss of me and I loved it. [ My sister was jealous
because Dad made such a fuss of me.
spoil/spoil/to look after someone very kindly, especially
by giving them good food or expensive presents [v T]
You know, you 'e spoiling us with all this delicious cooking.
6 to be too kind to someone and do too much
for them
spoil
pamper
mollycoddle
spoil/spoil/to be too kind to someone, especially a child,
giving or allowing them whatever they want, with the
result that they behave bЈdly Iv T]
You're spoiling that kid. He's getting cheeky and selfish. I If
you give in too much to a child and let them have whatever
they want you'll spoil them in the end. I spoil sb rotten
(=spoil someone very much) Danny was her favourite
grandson and she spoiled him rotten.
pamper /peempor/to look after a person or animal too
kindly, with too much attention to making them happy and
comfortable Iv T ]
Have you seen the way she pampers her pet dog. She even
feeds it on chicken. I As an only child, I was pampered by
devoted parents.
mollycoddle /moli,kodl II 'm(]:li,k(]:dl/ to look after
someone too much by always protecting them from any-
thing that is unpleasant or difficult Iv T]
Don't mollycoddle the children so much - theyll have to look
after themselves one of these days.
kindly KIND 1
kindly: not take kindly to
kindness KIND 1
kinds: all sorts/kinds of
KINDS 2
kink BEND 10
kinky STRANGE 6
kiosk SHOP 3
kip: have a kip SLEEP 2
kiss KISS 1, 2, 3
kiss: give sb a kiss KISS 1
kiss up to FRIENDLY 7
DON'T LIKE 1
VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT

KISS '730 know your stuff
KISS
1 to touch someone with your lips as a sign of
love or as a greeting
2 ways of saying that two people kiss each
other
3 an act of kissing
1 to touch someone with your lips as a sign of
love or as a greeting
kiss peck/give sb a peck
give sb a kiss buss
kiss IkIsl Iv T]
kiss sb He wanted to kiss Liz, but he didn't dare. [ As a child,
I hated being kissed by visiting relatives. [ Do you remem-
ber the first time you kissed a boy?[ kiss sb's lips/cheek/
mouth/hand ere Timothy bent to kiss his aunt's cheek. [
kiss sb on the lips/cheek/mouth ere Kissing her clum-
sily on the lips, Peter murmured a slurred apology. [ kiss
sb goodbye/goodnight ere Mrs Thomson kissed Maria
goodbye, and handed her her suitcase.
give sb a kiss /Igv (sb) a Ikis/to kiss someone once, as
a sign of love or as a greeting [v phrase]
C'mon honey, give mommy a kiss. [ Neil put his arm around
me and gave me a quick kiss to reassure me. [ give sb a kiss
on the cheek/head ere Karen flung her arms around his
neck and gave him a big kiss on the lips.
peck/give sb a peck Ipek, ,glv (sb) a 'pek/to give some-
one a small, quick kiss on their cheek, in a way that is
friendly rather than sexual Iv T]
peck sb on the mouth/cheek ere She pecked him on the
cheek and told him not to worry. [ give sb a peck My grand-
mother gave me a quick peck, and went to bed.
buss/b^s/an American word meaning to kiss someone
lightly, in a way that is friendly rather than sexual Iv T]
Politicians on the campaign trail still buss babies and shake
everybody's hands.
2 ways of saying that two people kiss each
other
kiss neck
snog smooch
kiss IkIsl Iv I]
They kissed briefly, then he left the house. [A flickering TV
screen in the corner showed two minor Hollywood stars kiss-
ing. [ The girls were kissing and hugging each other, promis-
ing to keep in touch.
kissing In U] In my mother's day, kissing in public was
severely frowned upon.
snog /snog [1 sno:g/ an informal British word: if two
people, especially young people, snog, they kiss and touch
each other in a sexual way Iv I]
Frances left the two of them snogging in a dark corner and
went back to the dance floor. I snog with sb Who was that
guy I saw you snogging with last night?
snogging In U] Fifteen-year-old boys are often more
interested in snogging than in football.
neck/nek/an informal word meaning to kiss for a long
time in a sexual way Iv I usually in progressive]
Jemma found her friends necking in the back of the car.
necking In U] The closest we ever got to necking was one
night after a party when I walked her home.
smooch/smu:tf/an informal word meaning to kiss fre-
quently and for a long time, usually while dancing slowly
Iv I usually progressive]
In the semi-darkness, couples were smooching to sentimen-
tal love-songs. I The sales manager and the boss's wife were
smooching in full view of everyone.
3 an act of kissing
kiss
kiss Iksl In C]
In the morning he woke her with gentle kisses. [ "'Have you
got a kiss for your old Dad?" he asked. [ My aunt's kisses were
always dry and papery.
kit CLOTHES 4, EQUIPMENT 1
kit sb out PROVIDE 2
kitchen sink: everything but the kitchen sink
ALL/EVERYTH ING 3
kitty MONEY 9
kleptomaniac STEAL 6
klutz CLUMSY 1
knackered TIRED 1
knead PRESS 5
knee KICK 1
knee: bring sb to their knees BEAT/DEFEAT 3
knee-deep in GET 14
knee-jerk reaction THINK ABOUT 10
knick-knacks THING 2
knock CRITICIZE 4, HIT 7, HIT/BUMP INTO 1
knock back DINK 3
knock down HIT/BUMP INTO 6, REDUCE 1
knock down/pull down DESTROY 3
knock off STP DOING STH 7
knock-on effect RESULT 6
knock out UNCONSCIOUS 4
knock out: knock sb out HIT 3, IMPRESS 2
knock over FALL 12, HIT/BUMP ITO 6, STEAL 3
knock over/down FALL 11
knock sb about/knock sb around HIT 2
knock sb for a loop SHOCK 1
knock sb to the ground FALL 11
knock sth into shape IMPROVE 3
knock up MAKE 3
knock Ј1/$20/20p etc off CHEAP 8
knocking SUND 8
knocking around PLACE 4
knot GROUP OF PEOPLE 1, TIE 4
know EXPEIUNCU 3, KNOW SB 1, KNOW STH 1, 2,
3, 14, ECGNIZE 1, SPEAK A LANGUAGE 6,
SURE 1
know: as far as I know THINK S/NT BE SUrE 3
know: be in the know KNOW STH 11
know: for all I know/you know etc NT KNW 3
know: get to know FIND OUT 3, KNOW SB 2
know: how should I know? NT KNW 7
know: how was I to know? NOT KNOW 3
know: I don't know NOT KNW 7
know: let sb know TELL 1
know: not know NT KNW 1, 2, NOT SUrE 1.
know: not know anything/know nothing NOT KNW 4
know: not know/not realize/have no idea NOT KNOW 3
know: not want to know IGNORE 1
know: you never know AYBE 1
know about KNW STH 4
know a few words SPEAK A NGUAGE 7
know a little about/a bit about KNW STH 10
know all there is to know about KNW STH 4
know/find cost SUFFER 2
out
to
your
know-how KNOW STH 13
know how: not know how to do sth CAN'T 2
know how sb feels UNDERSTAND 3
know how to do sth CAN 2
know-it-all INTELLIGENT 7
know of KNWSTH 1
know peectly well KNW STH 2
know somewhere like the back of your hand
KNOW STH 3
know what sb means UNDERSTAND 1
know what you're doing GOOD AT 1
know where you are: not know where you are
LOST/DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE 1
know your own mind INDEPENDENT PERSON 5
know your stuff KNOW STH 5

KNOW SB 731 KNOW STH
know
@ KNOW SB
1 to know someone
2 to start to know someone after you have met
them
3 someone you know, who is not one of your
close friends
1 to know someone
know
know sb by sight
be acquainted with
know Inul if you know someone, you have met them
before, can remember their face or name, and know some-
thing about them, such as where they live, what their job
is etc [v T not in progressive]
"'Do you two know each other? .... No, this is the first time
we've met. "" l Everyone who knew her described her as a kind,
generous person. I Do you know anyone who can mend a
boiler? I know sb very well We only met a few times so I
don't know him very well.
know sb by sight/,noo (sb) ba 'saq to be able to recog-
nize someone but not know their name or anything about
them Iv phrase]
Celia? I'd probably know her by sight but Ican't quite think
who you mean at the moment. [ Some of the assistants came
to know me by sight, I visited the store so often.
be acquainted with /bi: lkweintId wi6/ a formal
expression meaning to know someone because you have
met once or twice before but do not know a lot about their
personal life [v phrase]
"'Have you met Lee Davidson, our sales manager? .... No, I
don't think we're acquainted with each other." l I'm
acquainted with her, but we've only met a few times on a
strictly professional basis.
2 to start to know someone after you have met
them
get to know
get acquainted
get to know/,get t 'no/to start to become friends with
someone by spending a lot of time with them and talking
to them [v phrase]
I first met her in 1986 but Ididn't really get to know her until
we started playing tennis regularly. [ Being stuck on a small
boat, you get to know someone pretty well. [ Steve's alright
once you get to know him.
get acquainted/Iget  kweintI d/to start to know some-
one who you have only just met [v phrase]
I'll leave you two alone so you can get acquainted. ] get
acquainted with Once you get acquainted with him I'm
sure you'll change your mind. [ get better acquainted
Maybe we should invite Sam round for dinner so we can get
better acquainted.
3 someone you know, who is not one of your
close friends
acquaintance
acquaintance/'kwentns/[n C]
She's just an acquaintance, that's all - I see her sometimes
at night school. ] He'd invited all his friends and acquain-
tances to the concert.
KNOW STH
3
4
5
to know
to know
situation
to know
book or
about it
to know
a fact or piece of information
about and understand the truth of a
something, for example a place,
film, because you have learned
or you have personal experience of it
a lot about a particular subject
to know a lot about a subject, so that your
judgement can be trusted
6 someone who knows a lot about a particular
subject
7 words for describing someone who knows a
lot, especially about many different subjects
8 to know a poem, a song, a speech etc so
well that you can say it without reading it
9 to know all newest information about what is
happening in a particular subject such as
politics, fashion, or music
10 to know a little about something
11 to know about something that most people do
not know about
12 ways of saying that most people know about
something
13 the facts and information which you know
about something
14 to feel sure that something is true by using
your feelings, not by knowing facts or having
proof
1 to know a fact or piece of information
know
know of
know from bitter experience
know Into/[v I/T not in progressive]
know sth Do you know her name? ] Little is known of New-
ton's early life. ] know (that) Did you know Jimmy's mar-
ried now? [ She was the only student in the class who knew
that whales are mammals. [ know how/where/what etc
You know where that big church is, on the corner? Well I live
just opposite. [ know It's a holiday tomorrow. Didn't you
know? [ "'What time will Jane be home? .... How should I
know?"
know of/'no ov/to know that something exists, espe-
cially by being told about it or reading about it Iv T not in
progressive]
Do you know of any good restaurants around here? [ I know
of one company where they have never had a strike for 40
years.
know from bitter experience /no from btr
Ik  spxarions/to know what is likely to happen in a particu-
lar situation, because you have learned from unpleasant
or difficult experiences in the past [v phrase not in
progressive ]

KNOW STH ?32 KNOW STH
I know from bitter experience that if Jack goes to the pub he'll
come home blind drunk. I Sue learned from bitter experience
not to rely on Martin in times of crisis.
to know about and understand the truth of a
situation
know be conscious
realize appreciate
be aware know perfectly well
know Inou! [v I/T not in progressive]
know (that) Most students know good jobs are hard to find. I
"You're taking a terrible risk. "' "I know I am. "'1 She should
have known there would be trouble if she stayed out late. I
know how/what/why etc Do you know what it's like to
be poor? I know sth He knew his friend's problems. I know
about How long have you known about all this?
realize (also-ise British)/'riolaiz/to understand that a
particular problem exists [v I/T not in progressive]
realize (that) He must realize that I have serious personal
problems just now. I I hope you realize you have done a great
deal of harm. I realize how/what/why etc He never real-
ized just how lucky he was. I realize "Don't make so much
noise, Donna's not feeling well. "" "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. "'
be aware/bi: olweor/to know that a serious situation
exists [v phrase]
be aware that Were you aware that your son was leaving
school early every day? I be aware of Let's just say that we're
aware of the problem and that we're trying to do something
about it. I "Is there any dissatisfaction among the workers?"
"Not that I am aware of. "1 be well aware (-be very aware)
You must be well aware of the dangers that we face. I be
acutely aware (--be very aware of it and feel worried,
ashamed etc about it) Kramer was acutely aware of his own
lack of experience.
be conscious/bi: Ikonos [[ -ka:n-/to know that a par-
ticular situation exists and to have it in your mind continu-
ously [v phrase]
be conscious of/was very conscious of the fact that this was
an important meeting and that I had to make a good impres-
sion. [ Whether my friends were conscious of it or not, they
helped me get through that difficult crisis. [ be conscious
that Many women are conscious that they are being
exploited.
appreciate/o pri:j'ielt/to understand how serious a sit-
uation or problem is [v T not in progressive]
appreciate sth I wonder if he really appreciates the serious-
ness of the situation. [ appreciate how/what/why
Changes were taking place, though at the time no one fully
appreciated how far-reaching these changes were to be. [
appreciate that I appreciate that you've had more than
your fair share of bad luck recently.
know perfectly well/noo p3:rfIktli wel/ if you tell
someone that they know something perfectly well, you
mean that they do know it, and you are angry with them
because they are pretending that they do not know it Iv
phrase not in progressive]
know perfectly well (that) He knows perfectly well, he's
not allowed to park outside the main door. I know perfectly
well what/why etc You know perfectly well what I mean,
so it's no use pretending you don't.
 to know something for example a place, book
or film, because you have learned about it or
you have personal experience of it
know know somewhere like
be acquainted with the back of your hand
be familiar with
know/nou/Iv T not in progressive]
"'Do you know Boston at all? .... Yes, I know it well. I went
to college there. "' I I think you all know the song that I'm
going to sing now. I Each man knew the merchandise he was
dealing with.
be acquainted with /bi: o'kweintod wi6/ a formal
expression meaning to know something [v phrase]
I was not acquainted with the north-western part of the
island. ] Through art, children become acquainted with cul-
tures other than their own. [ be fully acquainted with All
our employees are fully acquainted with the safety
procedures.
be familiar with/bi: fo'milio r wi6/to know something
well because you have seen it, read it, used it etc many
times before [v phrase]
Are you familiar with this type of machine? [ I'm not familiar
with the details of this particular case. [ Not many people in
England are familiar with Soseki's work. I Hardy grew up
in the West of England and was familiar with the local
dialect.
know somewhere like the back of your hand
/,noo sAmweo r laik 6o ,bak ov ja:r 'hand/ an informal
expression meaning to know a place extremely well so that
you can easily travel around it [vphrase not in progressive
or passive]
Tony had spent a lot of time in Tokyo and knew the place
like the back of his hand. I Don't worry, I know this stretch
of the river like the back of my hand.
4 to know a lot about a particular subject
know about
be knowledgeable about
be well versed in
be clued up
know sth inside out
know all there is to know about
have a good command of
specialize in
at your fingertips
know sth backwards/backwards and forwards
know about /'noo obaut/Iv T not in progressive]
My brother knows about cars. I'm sure he could fix it for you. I
know all about You can't become an architect unless you
know all about building regulations. I know a lot about
The old man knew a lot about the history of the village.
be knowledgeable about /bi: InDlIdsobal o,baot [[
-*na:-/to know a lot of facts about a particular subject, espe-
cially about a something that not many people know any-
thing about [v phrase]
Svetlana seems very knowledgeable about English gram-
mar. I My wife's extremely knowledgeable about this sort of
thing, I think we should ask her.
be well versed in/bi: wel v3:rst In/a formal expres-
sion meaning to know a lot about a particular subject
because you have had a lot of experience of it Iv phrase]
My assistant is well versed in these technicalities, I'm sure
he'll be able to help you. [ Heller was well versed in state
politics, having run as a candidate for governor on three
occasions.
be clued up/bi: klu:d ^p/an informal British expres-
sion meaning to know all the facts that you need to know
about a subject, especially because you have found it out
before you start doing something Iv phrase]
be clued up on Are you clued up on what points to look for
when buying a used car? I get clued up about We'd better
get clued up about this new computer system before we start
using it.
know sth inside out/Inoo (sth) ,InsaId 'aut] an infor-
mal expression meaning to know a particular subject
thoroughly [v phrase not in progressive]
She's very experienced - she knows the advertising business
inside out.
know all there is to know about/,n0o ,a:l 6e0r iz
to noo abaot! an informal expression meaning to know
everything about a particular subject because you have
had a lot of experience of it Iv phrase not in progressive]
My dad knows everything there is to know about engines -
he used to be a mechanic. [ It's some years since she practised
as a lawyer but she still knows all there is to know about
these matters.

KNOW STH ?33 KNOW STH
have a good command of/hzev o ,god ko'mo:nd ov [I
-' mend-/to know a subject, especially a language, well and
be good at it Iv phrase not in progressive]
Candidates should have good typing skills and a good com-
mand of English. [ She has an excellent command of all the
facts.
specialize in (also -ise British)/'spe.[alaIz in/to know
a lot about one particular subject or activity because you
study it or do it more than any other Iv T]
My history professor specialized in Russian history. I I think
you'd better consult my colleague, Mr Linton - he specialises
in international law.
at your fingertips lot jo: r 'fIrjgortips/if you have facts,
information etc at your fingertips you know them so well
that you can remember them immediately at any time [adv
phrase]
We've done all the research ourselves, so we have all the facts
and figures at our fingertips. I Lorna can answer any ques-
tions about insurance - she's got it all at her fingertips.
know sth backwards (British) I backwards and
forwards (American)/,nov (sth) 'bekwordz, ,bekwordz
and 'f::rwordz/an informal expression meaning to know
a particular subject perfectly [vphrase not in progressive]
By the time you've finished your training you should know
your job backwards. I I want you to know this piece of music
backwards and forwards by the end of this week.
5 to know a lot about a subject, so that your
judgement can be trusted
know your stuff
know what you are talking about
know your stuff I,noo j:r 'stAf/an informal expression
meaning to know a lot about something, especially about
how to do your job, in a way that other people find impres-
sive [v phrase not in progressive or passive]
To pass that test they really have to know their stuff. [ The
doctor who came looked very young. I just hoped she knew
her stuff.
know what you are talking about/,n0o wot ju: o: r
't3:kirj obaot/an informal expression meaning to know a
lot about a particular subject so that your judgement can
be trusted, especially because you have had a lot of
experience Iv phrase not in progressive]
Pilger knows what he is talking about, he spent several years
as a reporter in Vietnam. [ You should listen to what he says
about flyfishing, he really knows what he is talking about.
6 someone who knows a lot about a particular
subject
expert connoisseur
specialist pundit
authority buff
expert/'ekspa:rt/[n C]
This particular problem has been puzzling experts for a long
time. [ legal/economic/naval etc expert Some naval
experts are worried about the design of the submarine. [
expert on/in Professor Hawking is one of the world's lead-
ing experts on astrophysics. [ She's an expert in manyfields,
not only in medicine.
expert [adj only before noun] We need an expert opinion
(=an opinion from an expert) on this.
specialist I'spealst/someone who has studied a partic-
ular subject in great detail and knows much more about
it than ordinary people [n C]
This is the kind of telecommunications problem that only
specialists can understand. [ specialist in She's a specialist
in Middle Eastern Affairs at the London School of Eco-
nomics. [ computer/engine/nutrition etc specialist
Engine specialists do not understand all the details of air-
craft design.
specialist [adj only before noun] If you have financial
problems go to your bank manager and get some specialist
advice (=advice from a specialist).
authority/a:'OoroIti, o- II o,0o=-, o'Oa:-/someone whose
knowledge and opinions on a particular subject are greatly
respected In C usually singular]
authority on Reischauer became an authority on Japanese-
American relations. I She was widely regarded as the coun-
try's leading authority on plant diseases.
connoisseur/,kono'sa: r II ,ko:-/someone who has great
knowledge and experience of something such as art, fur-
niture, food, or wine so that they can recognize what is best
in it In C]
connoisseur of Lord Burlington was a great collector and
connoisseur of paintings. I connoisseur Connoisseurs will
appreciate the subtle flavour of this fine wine.
pundit/'pAndt/a person who knows a lot about a subject,
especially politics or economics, and who is asked to give
their opinion about it on television or in a newspaper In C]
If thepundits are right, the economic situation may become
worse before the end of the year. I US media pundits were
scornful about Bush's election campaign.
buff /b^f/ film/jazz/computer/motor-cycle etc buff
(=someone who knows a lot about a particular activity or
subject because they are very interested in it) In C]
"'How many films did Hitchcock make?" "'Ask Paul, - he's
a great film buff. "'[ a magazine for computer buffs
7 words for describing someone who knows a
lot, especially about many different subjects
knowledgeable
be a mine of information
well-informed
knowledgeable/'nDlids0bal II 'no:-/[adj]
We talked to the President for some time and found him
extremely knowledgeable and intelligent. I a gifted and
knowledgeable writer
be a mine of information/bi: o ,main ov xnfo r'mexJ'an/
to know a lot about a particular subject or about various
subjects, so that you are often able to answer anything that
people ask you [v phrase]
If you want to know anything, just ask Uncle George. He's
a positive mine of information about all kinds of things.
well.informed /,wel in'fa:rmd-/ knowing a lot about
what is happening, especially in the world [adj]
well-informed about Abdul Karim was particularly well-
informed about American politics. [ well-informed 'Le
Monde" is a newspaper designed for well-informed readers.[
According to one well-informed source, the two sides are very
near to reaching an agreement.
8 to know a poem, a song, a speech etc so
well that you can say it without reading it
know sth by heart/off by heart
have sth off pat/have sth down pat
know sth by heart (also know sth off by heart in
British)/,noo (sth) ba 'ha:rt, ,noo (sth) ofba-/to know every
word of a poem, story, song etc, that you have learned so
that you can say it or sing it without making any mistakes
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Eleanor had heard the story so many times that she knew
every word of it by heart. I I studied the poem until I knew
it off by heart.
have sth off pat (British) I have sth down pat
(American)/,hev (sth) of 'pet, ,hev (sth) daon 'pet/to be
able to give a speech or an answer immediately and easily
because you have learned, it thoroughly or because you
have said exactly the same thing many times before
Iv phrase not in progressive or passive]
I practised the speech in front of the bedroom mirror until
I had it all down pat. [ Like most politicians he had all his
answers off pat, but he didn't have anything particularly
new or interesting to say.

KNOW STH 73 KNOW STH
!9 to know all newest information about what is
happening in a particular subject such as
politics, fashion, or music
be well up on/be up on
have your finger on the pulse
keep abreast of/keep up to date with
be well up on (also be up on in American English)/hi:
,wel '^p on, bi: '^p on/ to know a lot about something,
including the newest information [v phrase]
How well up are you on men's fashion? [ She regularly reads
the Wall Street Journal so she's up on all the latest finan-
cial news.
have your finger on the pulse/hcv ja: r ,figor on
6o 'p^ls/to always know what changes and developments
are happening in a particular situation or organization
Iv phrase not in progressive or passive]
As the manager of a bookshop, I need to have my finger on
the pulse of the publishing industry. [ You ve got to have your
finger on the pulse in this age of mass communications.
keep abreast of/keep up to date with/ki:p o'brest
ov, ,ki:p ^p to 'deft wi61 to make sure that you know all the
most recent news about what is happening somewhere or
about new developments in a particular subject or event
[ v phrase]
When we lived abroad, we always kept abreast of what was
happening at home. I It is very important for students to keep
up to date with developments in their particular field of
study.
10 to know a little about something
know a little about/a bit about
have a smattering of
have a working knowledge of
know a little aboutla bit about /,n0o 0 'lrtl 0baot, 0
'bit 0baot/[v phrase not in progressive]
I know a bit about cars, but I certainly wouldn't call myself
an expert. I This excellent book can be understood by anyone
who knows a little about social anthropology.
have a smattering of/,hev o 'smetarlrj ov/to have
only a small amount of knowledge about a subject, espe-
cially of a foreign language Iv phrase not in progressive]
He only has a smattering of English, so it can be quite
difficult trying to communicate with him. I I left school with
no more than a smattering of scientific knowledge.
have a working knowledge of/hev o ,w3:rklI] nolld 3
ov II -'na:-/to have enough knowledge of something such
as a system or a foreign language to be able to use it,
although your knowledge is limited [v phrase not in
progressive]
You don't need to be an expert, but we do expect you to have
a good working knowledge of computers. I She says she has
a working knowledge of Russian, but she's by no means
fluent.
I I to know about something that most people do
not know about
be in the know
be in on
knowing
be in the know/bi: in 6o 'noo/to know secret informa-
tion about something, for example a government plan or
someone's private life, which only a small group of people
know [ v phrase]
I heard it from someone who's in the know, so it must be true. I
Those who were in the know bought land where the railway
was to be built, and made enormous profits by selling it to
the railroad company. I The people in the know have been
expecting something like this to happen all along.
be in on/bi: 'n vn II -a:n/to know about a secret plan or
activity which only a small group of people know about,
especially when you are involved in it [v T]
The children are planning a surprise for Grandma. Are you
in on this? l The rumour is that the Chief of Staff was in on
the cover-up - is that true?
knowing/'noon3/knowing look/smile/wink etc (=one
that shows that you know something that other people do
not know or, that you share a secret with someone) [adj
only before noun]
I saw him give her a knowing look as she left the room. [
"You'll soon find out what I mean, "he said with a knowing
smile.
1 2 ways of saying that most people know about
something
everyone knows be common knowledge
be well known be an open secret
be no secret
everyone knows/,evriwAn 'nooz/
everyone knows how/who/why ere Everyone knows how
Sachsa died, but no one knows why he was killed. I every-
one knows about Haven't you heard? I thought everyone
knew about it. I everyone knows (that) Everyone knows
she's been having an affair with Paul. I everyone knows
Why did you tell Betty about me being pregnant? Now every-
body knows.
be well known /bi: ,wel 'noon/ if something is well
known, a lot of people know about it [v phrase]
President Bush 's views on abortion are already well known. [
it is well known that It's well known that Churchill was
a heavy drinker.
be no secret/bi: noo 'si:krt/if an unpleasant fact is no
secret, everyone knows about it Iv phrase]
Everyone knows they hate each other, it's no secret. ] it is no
secret that It was no secret that the President's principal
enemy was the same man who had once helped him come to
power.
be common knowledge/bi: ,komon 'nohd 3 [[ -,ka:mon
'no:-/ if information about someone is common
knowledge, a lot of people know about it, although that
person would prefer to keep it a secret Iv phrase]
be common knowledge that It's already common
knowledge that their marriage is breaking up. [ be common
knowledge A disagreement flared up between the two direc-
tors and this soon became common knowledge throughout
the firm.
be an open secret/bi: on oopon 'si:krat/if something
is an open secret, it is supposed to be secret but most
people know about it Iv phrase]
Her relationship with a French millionaire has been pretty
much an open secret for the past few years.
1 3 the facts and information which you know
about something
knowledge
expertise
know-how
knowledge/'nold3 II 'ha:-/In U]
The knowledge that I acquired on the training course has
been extremely useful. [ knowledge of My knowledge of
Japanese is limited to a few phrases. [ Baker has a good
knowledge offinance. [ scientific/medical etc knowledge
(=the knowledge that a particular group of people have)
Our assumptions are based on current scientific knowledge. [
firsthand knowledge (=knowledge gained through per-
sonal experience) It is difficult to comment on the situation
in South Africa without firsthand knowledge of the region.
expertise/,eksp3: r'ti:z/special knowledge about how to
do something, gained through study or practical
experience In U]
The technical expertise was provided by a dapanese
company. [ expertise in We are looking for well-qualified
engineers with expertise in the field of mobile communica-
tions.

KNOW STH ?35 LAND/GROUND
know-how/'nao hao/practical knowledge about how to
do something [n U]
There was a lack of managerial and technical know-how in
the steel industry. I The US supplied the machinery, the know-
how, and most of the capital.
14
to feel sure that something is true by using
your feelings, not by knowing facts or having
proof
feel be conscious of
sense have a feeling
know can tell
be aware of
feel/rid/[v T not in progressive]
feel (that) I always felt I had the ability to become a great
actor. I It is a common experience to feel that an author writes
well without being able to say exactly why. I feel sth I felt
the sense of danger and impending calamity.
sense/sens/to feel that something is present or is hap-
pening where you are although you cannot see or hear any-
thing to prove it Iv T not in progressive]
sense sth We could sense an unwelcoming atmosphere. I
Colette did not hear the old man but she sensed his presence. I
sense (that) She started to tell her story, but after a time she
sensed that he wasn't listening any more.
know Inau! to feel very strongly that something is true Iv
I/T not in progressive]
know (that) Oh god, I knew that this was going to happen. I
I know damn well she won't keep her promise. I I don "t know
why, but I know it'll turn out alright. I just know "'But how
do you know?" "I just know, "" he replied.
be aware of/bi: lwear ov/to know how someone else
is feeling, although they do not do or say anything to show
it Iv phrase]
Charles was uncomfortably aware of the woman's silent con-
tempt for him. I They were very aware of the tense atmosphere
in the room.
be conscious of Ibi: IkonSas ov II -ko:n-/to know how
someone is feeling or how a situation is changing although
there are no clear signs to prove it, especially in a way that
worries you Iv phrase]
He did not say much but I was conscious of his sympathy. I
Paul was conscious of an evil influence at work in the school.
have a feeling I ,hmv  fi:li/to feel almost sure that
something is true, although you have no proof Iv phrase not
in progressive]
have a feeling (that) As we walked along together, I had
a feeling that we were both thinking the same thing. I I think
she has a feeling that the boss wants to keep this affair quiet.
can tell /kan tell to feel sure that something is true
because you recognize certain signs that show this [v
phrase]
can tell what/how/where etc Be careful. I can always tell
when you're lying, l can tell (that)Although I didn't look
at him, Icould tell from his voice that he was smiling. I can
tell a mile off(=you can very easily tell) You could tell a
mile off that he was crazy about her.
knowing KNOW STH 11
knowing: there's no knowing/telling NOT KNOW 8
knowingly DELIBERATELY 2
knowledge KNOW STH 13
knowledge: be common knowledge KNOW STH 12
knowledge: have no knowledge of NOT KNOW 4
knowledge: not to my knowledge/not as far as I
know NO 1
knowledge: to the best of my knowledge THINK
SO/NOT BE SURE 3
knowledgeable KNOW STH 7
knowledgeable: be knowledgeable about KNOW STH 4
known: be known as NAME OF A PERSON 4, NAME OF
A THING 2
known: have never been known to do sth NEVER 1
known: make sth known TELL 6
knuckle under OBEY 1
L
label CALL/DESCRIBE AS 1, 3
labour/labor BABY/HAVE A BABY 5, WORK HARD 1, 6,
WORKER 2
labour-saving EFFICIENT 2
labour the point/labor the point EMPHASIZE 2, TALK
TO SB 9
lack NOT HAVE 2
lack: through lack of/for lack of/for want of NOT HAVE 2
lack confidence/be lacking in confidence CONFIDENT 7
lack experience EXPERIENCED 4
lack for nothing RICH 2
lack of ENOUGH 8
lack of enthusiasm ENTHUSIASTIC 5
lack of experience EXPERIENCED 6
lack of interest INTERESTED 7
lacking: be lacking in ENOUGH 12
lackiustre BAD 5
ladder TEAR 1
ladder: move up the ladder UP 12
ladder: run/ladder TEAR 5
laden: be laden with CARRY 5
ladies/ladies' room TOILET 1
lads: boys/lads MAN 1
lady WOMAN 1, 2
lag behind SLOW 8
laid-back CALM 2, REI_XED 1
laid out: be laid out ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS
OR PEOPLE 1
lame BELIEVE 13
land ARRIVE 3, COUNTRY/NATION 1, DOWN 7, GET
2, LAND/GROUND 1, 3
land: dry land LAND/GROUND 3
land: native land COUNTRY/NATION 7
land: the lie of the land/the lay of the land
SITUATION 2
...... LAND/GROUND
an area of land that someone owns or
controls
the surface of the land
the land when compared with the sea or air
1 an area of land that someone owns or
controls
land
territory
territorial
land Ilmnd/land that someone owns, builds on, farms on
etc [n U]
It was all her land, from the edge of the forest to the house. I
They keep tipping rubbish on our land. I Land prices are fall-
ing in the south. I six acres of excellent building land

LAND/GROUND 736 LANGUAGE
territory//tertri ( -to:fir a word meaning land that is
owned or controlled by a particular country or nation, used
especially when talking about arguments, wars ere con-
cerning that land In U]
Germany lost nearly one quarter o fits territory after World
War II. I American aircraft regularly fly over Russian ter-
ritory. I Gold companies have been allowed to mine what was
once Aboriginal territory, bulldozing it into a scarred dust-
bowl. I enemy territory (=land controlled by an enemy)
The soldiers were lost in enemy territory.
territorial /Iter It:rial-/territorial dispute/claim/div-
ision/fights etc (=concerned with which government or
group owns or controls a particular area of land) [adj only
before noun]
A committee has been set up to deal with territorial disputes
in the area. I The country has suffered substantial territorial
losses in this war. I The king had seven sons, each one of
whom was ruler of one of the seven territorial divisions of
the state.
2 the surface of the land
ground
terrain
ground !graond! [n U]
The ground was covered with snow. I In the middle of the
forest was a bare patch of marshy ground. I It was essential
for the troops to capture the high ground. I The ground
sloped down from where we stood to the lake shore.
terrain/te reln, tI-/a word meaning land, used when talk-
ing about how easy or difficult it is to travel across, for
example because it is flat, has a lot of mountains etc In U]
They had to drive very slowly over the difficult terrain. [ It
was getting dark as we stumbled across the scrubby terrain.
3 the land when compared with the sea or air
land
dry land
the ground
land/lend/[n U]
After three months in space, the astronauts were glad to see
land again. I on land The sea turtle mates on land. I land-
based (=based on the land, not at sea) Land-based nuclear
missiles are extremely vulnerable to attack from the air.
dry iand / drai lend! the land when compared with the
sea In U]
Some repairs to the boat will have to wait until we "re back
on dry land. I The undersea missile stations are connected
to a command centre on dry land.
the ground/6 'graond! the land when compared with
being in a plane In singular]
on the ground I hated flying and couldn't wait to be on the
ground again. I An airstewardess landed the plane, guided
by controllers on the ground. I the ground We were cruis-
ing at 70, O00 feet, way above the ground.
landlord/landlady OWN 5
landmark IMPORTANT 2
landscape PICTURE 4
landslide WIN 5
lane ROAD/PATH 3
language LANGUAGE 1, 2, 4
language: bad language SWEAR 2
language: first language LANGUAGE 3
language: strong language SWEAR 2
LANGUAGE
a language that is written and spoken in a
particular country or area, or by a particular
group of people
the use of words, signs, sounds etc to
communicate
the first language that you learn as a child
the language used to talk or write about a
particular subject or activity
1 a language that is written and spoken in a
particular country or area, or by a particular
group of people
language slang
lingo colloquial
dialect
language/lerjgwId3/In C]
What language do they speak in Brazil? I foreign language
She can speak several foreign languages fluently. I modern
language (=one that is spoken at the present time) It's
much more useful to study modern languages like Italian
and Spanish than classical languages such as Latin and
Greek. I Computer programs and video courses can provide
useful aids to the language learner. I official language
(=the language used in government, in schools etc) The offi-
cial language of Israel is Hebrew. I language barrier (=the
diWlculty of talking to people who speak a different lan-
guage) Most people in Sweden can speak some English, so
you don't have to worry about the language barrier.
lingo/'ligao/an informal word meaning a foreign lan-
guage In singular]
Travelling in Spain is much easier if you can speak the
lingo. I Ican't understand a word he's saying - I don't know
the lingo.
dialect / daialekt/a form of a language which is spoken
by the people who live in one area of a country, and has
different words, grammar, or pronunciation from other
forms of that language In C]
In this region, the dialect sounds a lot like German. I "Nowt'
is a northern dialect word meaning "nothing'. I In some York-
shire dialects, people say "spice" instead of "sweets" or "candy'.
slang/slmo/very informal words that are used by people
who belong to a particular group, for example young
people, criminals, or soldiers etc In U]
The film is full of slang which makes it difficult for
foreigners to understand. I prison/army/school etc slang
"Screw" is prison slang for a guard who works in prison.
colloquial/ka'laokwial/language that is colloquial is
only used in conversation, not in formal situations [adj]
It's a useful little phrase book, full of colloquial expressions. I
The best way of improving your colloquial English is by
listening to native speakers. I You shouldn't use phrases like
"sort of" in essays - they're too colloquial.
 the use of words, signs, sounds etc to
communicate
language
linguistic
language/'lcrjgwId3/[n U]
It can be fascinating to study the origins of language. I Mat-
thew had inherited his flair for language from his father.I
Some psychologists belive that humans are born with a
natural ability to understand language.
linguistic /llrJgwlstlk/ linguistic ability/skills/
studies/development etc (=connected with people's abil-
ity to use language) [adj usually before noun]
She should be able to learn Russian fairly easily, she has
plenty of linguistic ability. I Hearing difficulties can slow
down a child's linguistic development.
3 the first language that you learn as a child
first language
mother-tongue
native speaker

LANGUAGE '73'7 LAST
first language I, fa:rst 'lerjgwIdS/the first language you
learned as a child, especially when cornparing this with
other languages you learn at school or later In C]
Myfirst language is Arabic, and my second is French. I Chil-
dren learn their first language from their parents in a very
short space of time.
mother-tongue/'mA6a r ,tAJ/a word meaning the first
language you learned as a child, used especially when you
are now living in a country where a different language is
spoken In C]
dapanese is her mother-tongue, but she speaks English
fluently. I Education chiefs are to re-examine proposals to
provide mother-tongue teaching in schools.
native speaker / i neitiv ' spi:kar/a speaker of a language
who was born in the country where the language is spoken
In C]
Even native speakers have difficulty understanding
Shakespeare's plays. I The book is aimed at learners of
English rather than native speakers.
4 the language used to talk or write about a
particular subject or activity
language
terminology
jargon
language I I lzejgwid3/legal/medical/business etc lan-
guage (=used by people in a particular job or activity) [n U]
Books about physics are usually written in highly technical
language. I I don't understand all this medical language -
why don't you explain things simply? I a fascinating article
about the language of baseball
terminology /Ita:rm ntdadsi II -'no:-/the words that are
used in a particular subject such as science, medicine, or
the law In U]
It is important that lawyers use the correct terminology when
they prepare contracts. I She has managed to explain this
experiment clearly without using scientific terminology.
Jargon/'dSo:rgon II -gon, -go:n/words used by people who
do a particular job or who are interested in a particular sub-
ject, and which are often used instead of simple words that
other people could easily understand In U]
"Crash' and "go down" are computer jargon for "stop work-
ing'. I That's just legal jargon - what he's asking is whether
you have seen your wife since you separated. I All this jargon
about "top-down processing" and "fuzzy-parsing" makes lin-
guistics seem unnecessarily difficult.
languid SLOW 2
lanky TALL PERSON 1
lap AROUND/ROUND 4
lap: be on the last lap/in the home stretch FINISH
DOING STH 3
lap/lap up DRINK 1
lap sth up ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 10
larceny STEAL 7
large BIG 1, 4, 7, FAT 1
large: be at large ESCAPE 6
large number: a large number of/large numbers of
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
large number: in large numbers LOT/A LARGE
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7
large quantity: in large quantities LOT/A LARGE
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4
large scale/large-scale BIG 9
largely MAIN 5
largely: mostly/mainly/largely MOST 6
lash TIE 1
last BEFORE 6, 7, ENOUGH 2, LAST 1, LAST FOR
A PERIOD OF TIME 1, REMAIN/BE LEFT 2,
SURVIVE 1
last: at last EVENTUALLY 1, 3
last: be built/made to last LONG TIME 7
last: be last LAST 2
last: come/finish last LAST 2
last: for the last/past few weeks/months etc
RECENTLY 2
last: in the last/past few weeks/months etc
RECENTLY 2
last: next to last LAST 3
last: not last/won't last ENOUGH 9
last: the last of REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
last a long time LONG TIME 7
last but not least LAST 4
last but one LAST 3
last count: at the last count COUNT/CALCULATE 4
last hope/only hope HELP 6
last legs: be on its last legs CONDITION/STATE OF
STH 5
last minute: at the last minute ON TIME 3
last name: surname/last name NAME OF A PERSON 1
last straw: the last straw LAST 5
last thing at night LATE 6
LAST
1 after all others in order or time
2 to be the last one in a line, race, group etc
3 next to the last
4 what you say to introduce the last one in a list
of statements, questions, or names
5 the last problem that finally makes you give
up or get angry
1 after all others in order or time
last concluding
final the latter
closing
last/la:st II lest/ladj only before noun]
Look at the last name on the list. I I was the last person in
the queue for tickets. [ The last thing he said to me was, "'Look
after Anne and the kids while I'm away." [ The next game
will be the last one of the 1993season. [ The show won't finish
till midnight and the last train goes before then. [ We meet
again on the last Friday in September, that's the 27th. [ last
moments/days/years ere (=at or near the end of an event
or period) Napoleon spent the last years of his life in exile.
last lady] I expect they'll interview me last, because my name
begins with "Y'.
final I'fainll last in a series of actions, events, parts of a
story etc [adj only before noun]
We must watch the final episode of'Twin Peaks" tomorrow
night. [ Mallory's final attempt to reach the summit. [ I'd like
just to make one final point before we move on to another sub-
ject. I final stages/moments/minutes (=at or near the end
of a period or process) There's always the risk that some-
thing will go wrong in the final stages of the operation.

LAST ?38 LAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME
finally [adv] The cruise took them to Spain, Italy, Greece
and finally Morocco, where they caught their flight home.
closing ]' kboz! the closing stages/seconds/years etc
(=the last in a period or event, especially a very exciting
one) [adj only before noun]
Barnes scored the winning goal in the closing seconds of the
game. I The UN was established during the closing stages
of the Second World War. I Will the closing years of the 20th
century see the launch of a new programme to save the
planet?
concluding/kan'klu:dirj/concluding stages/chapter/
sentence etc (=the last in an event or in a piece of writ-
ing) [adj ]
We will return to these points in the concluding chapter. I In
the concluding stages of the ceremony, garlands of jTowers
are placed upon the altar. I the concluding sentence of the
fourth paragraph
the latter/6a letar/the second of two things or people
being compared with each other [n singular]
We interviewed one inexperienced candidate and an
experienced one, and then chose the latter. I There were two
candidates for the presidency, Lyndon B Johnson and Sena-
tor Barry Goldwater. The latter was known to hold extreme
right-wing views. I Robert is studying physics and math and
hopes to specialize in the latter.
2 to be the last one in a line, race, group etc
be last bring up the rear
come/finish last straggler
be last/bi: 'lo:st II -'lest] [v phrase]
I don't expect to win the race, but I don't want to be last. I
We're last in the line so we'll have a long wait. I be last to
do sth Sally was last to arrive.
come/finish last/ikAm, ,fInf Ila:st II -IIest/to finish
a race or competition in the last position Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Our team always comes last in the regional athletics compe-
tition. [ She ran a really hard race but she still finished last
out of 28 runners.
bring up the rear/,bri ^p 6a 'rIar/to come last in a
line or group of people, cars, ships etc that is moving for-
ward Iv phrase]
We all followed our guide up the path, Marcus and I bring-
ing up the rear. [ Motorcycle outriders rode in front of the
presidential limousine and a police patrol car brought up
the rear.
straggler/, strgalar/a person who is too slow to keep
the same speed as the rest of the group they are with, so
that they move along some distance behind In C]
A few stragglers got lost in the fog. [ Many shepherds use
sheepdogs to round up the stragglers from the flock.
3 next to the last
next to last
the last but one
penultimate
next to last/,nekst ta 'lo:st II -'lest/ [adj phrase only
before noun]
I've nearly finished this test. I'm on the next to last question. I
It wasn't until the next to last day of the vacation that she
dared to go to the beach.
the last but one/6a ,lo:st bat 'wAn II -,lest-/the one
before the last one In phrase]
She had several husbands. Garry Burton, the last but one,
was a real alcoholic. [ There's a long row ofhouses and I live
in the last but one.
penultimate/pi nAltmt/a formal word meaning next
to the last [adj only before noun]
On the penultimate day of the contest the preparations were
made for the prize giving ceremony. I Kennedy outlined the
implications of the changes in his penultimate paragraph
before going on to give his conclusion.
4 what you say to introduce the last one in a list
of statements, questions, or names
lastly
finally
last but not least
lastly/'la:stli li 'lest-/[adv]
This problem has been caused by lack of preparation, by
careless use of money, and lastly by a failure to observe regu-
lations, lAnd lastly here's another suggestionforyour com-
pact disc collection, a brilliant new recording of Mozart's
"Marriage of Figaro'.
finally/' fainal-i/(used especially when you are introduc-
ing a statement at the end of an explanation or argument)
[adv]
Finally it's worth noting that some colleges can provide spe-
cial evening courses for people who are employed during the
day. [ So nuclear power is clean, efficient, and safe. Finally,
and most important of all, it does not pollute the atmosphere.
last but not least Ilia:st bat nt)t Ili:st II ileest-/(used
when you mean that although the person or thing you are
going to mention is last in order, they are still important)
[ adv phrase]
l bought presents for Sally, Amanda, Jeremy and Tom and
last but not least my wife. [ These laws are enforced by
employers, the state and last, but not least, by men. [ I read
many books while I was ill including "Robinson Crusoe', "To
Kill A Mocking Bird' and last but by no means least, "War
and Peace'.
5 the last problem that finally makes you give
up or get angry
be the last straw
be the last straw/bi: 6a ,lo:st 'stm: II-,leest-/if some-
thing that happens is the last straw, it is the last problem
that finally makes you give up, get angry etc Iv phrase]
Then, when he asked me for money, that was the last straw.
I told him to get out. [ The German invasion of Poland was
the last straw, and in September 1939 war was declared.
LAST FOR A
PERIOD OF TIME
1 to last for a particular period of time
2 to remain fresh for a particular period of time
1 to last for a particular period of time
last run for
go on for extend over
take
last rio:st l[ lest/to take place or happen over a particu-
lar period of time Iv]
last 2 hours/6 months/a long time etc The whole opera
lasts about four hours. I They said the war would only last
a few months. I last for/from/until etc It lasts for two
weeks. I The meeting lasted until after lunch. I last long It
didn't last long.
go on for/,gao 'on f3: r II -'a:n-/if something, especially
something boring or unpleasant, goes on for a particular
period of time, that is how long it lasts Iv T]
The chairman's speech went on for what seemed like hours. [
After a furious argument we stopped speaking to each other,
and this situation went on for weeks.
take/teik/if something takes two minutes, six months
etc to do or to happen, that is how long is needed to do it
or for it to happen Iv T]
take 2 hours/6 months etc The journey took two hours. [
How long did that take? I take 2 hours/6 months etc to
do sth The engineers took a whole day to find the fault. I it

LAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ?39 LATE
takes (sb) 2 hours/6 months to do sth It took us an hour
to climb the hill. I It can take up to six months to get a visa.
run for/Ir^n f:r/ira play, film, show etc runs for a period
of time, it is being performed or produced for the public
for the whole of that period Iv T]
The play ran for two months on Broadway. I Her TV series
on travelling in South America will run for seven weeks.
extend over / klstend aovar/if a process, activity, event
etc extends over a long period of time, it lasts for that
period Iv T]
The peace negotiations have extended over two years. I We
had a marathon recording session extending over eighteen
hours.
2 to remain fresh for a particular period of time
keep
keep/ki:p/if food or drink keeps, it lasts for a long period
of time without going bad Iv I]
keep for 2 days/24 hours etc ( '=last for that length of time)
The yoghurt will keep for about two weeks in a refrigerator.I
keep You'd better eat these cakes today - they won't keep.
lasting LONG TIME 6
lastly LAST 4
late DEAD 1 END 3, LATE 1 3, 4, 5, 6
' ,
late: be late LATE 1
late: better late than never LATE 2
late: get up late WAKE UP/GET UP 6
late: it's a little late in the day LATE 8
late: it's not too late TIME/HAVE TIME 1
late: leave it a bit latela little late LATE 8
late: make sb late DELAY 1
late: too late LATE 8
late in life LATE 4
late
LATE
1 arriving somewhere after the expected time or
the time that was arranged
2 what you say to someone who arrives late
3 happening after the expected time or the time
that was arranged
4 after the usual time
5 late in paying money or giving back
something you have borrowed
6 late at night
7 to have done less work than you planned to
do, so that everything you do is later than it
should be
8 too late to avoid problems or to do what you
had planned
1 arriving somewhere after the expected time or
the time that was arranged
late not on time
be late latecomer
late/let/[adv]
She often arrives late for work. I I didn't get a seat because
I got there so late. I Taylor turned up late to the maths lesson
again. I Cass got there even later than I did.
be late /hi: leq to arrive after the expected time Iv
phrase]
If you're late again you'll be in trouble. I As usual, the bus
was half an hour late. I I tried to explain why I was late -
and she just wouldn't listen l He had to make an excuse for
being late for work. I Sorry I'm so late. My car broke down
and I had a hell of time getting help.
not on time/nt n taim/later than a certain time or a
time which has been arranged [adj/adv]
The buses are never on time. I She knew if she wasn't on time
that day she'd lose her job. I If we don't leave on time we'll
miss the flight!
latecomer / leltkAmar/someone.who arrives after the
time that something, such as a meeting, play, or concert,
is supposed to start [n C]
I'll repeat for latecomers the main purpose of this meeting. I
Latecomers will not be allowed into the auditorium until the
interval.
2 what you say to someone who arrives late
 about time too
what time do you call this?
where have you been?
better late than never
about time too/albaot taIm tu:/(used when you want
to criticize someone for being late or for doing something
late, because you have been waiting for them for a long
time)
"'Look, the bus is coming. "' "'And about time too. "" [ "'Here's
the book you ordered. "" "'About time too! I wrote off before
Christmas!'"
what time do you call this?/wot tam du: ju: ka:l
16is/a British expression: (used when you are annoyed
with someone because they have arrived very late)
What time do you call this? I told you to be home by 10 o'clock
and it's nearly midnight. I What time do you call this,
Martin? You're supposed to start work at 9.30.
where have you been?/Iwea r hav ju: bi:n II -b:n/
(used when someone has arrived late and you want to know
why, because you are worried or annoyed)
Where have you been? You said half-past three! I where on
earth have you been? I've been worried sick, thinking
you'd had a car crash or something. Where on earth haoe
you been?
better late than never /beta r lelt 6n Inevar/(used
when someone is late arriving somewhere or doing some-
thing but it does not matter very much that they are late)
"'The photos have finally arrived. "' "'Well, better late than
3 happening after the expected time or the time
that was arranged
late
overdue
belated
late Ileit/after the expected or arranged time [adv/adj]
start/finish/open late etc The department stores stay open
late on Thursdays. I If the audience had settled down earlier,
the play wouldn't have started late. I be late I didn't get the
job because my application was so late. I late arrival/de-
parture/start etc We apologize for the late departure of
flight AZT09 to Antwerp. I 15 minutes/10 hours/3 days
etc late Tony handed in his homework a day late.

LATE ?40 LATE
overdue /,oovor'dju:-II-'du:-/ something such as a
change or visit that is overdue should have already hap-
pened [adj]
a week/2 months etc overdue Her baby is a week over-
due. I overdue This new line is an overdue boost to our
ailing railway system. I long overdue/way overdue
(=very late) A change to the law is long overdue. I be over-
due for sth (=deserve to get something soon that you
should have had before) I definitely think that I'm overdue
for a pay rise.
belated/hi Iletd/belated attempt/apology/welcome
etc (=done or given later than it should have been usually
with result that it does not have the effect that it should
have) [adj only before noun]
John now made a belated attempt to apologize. I I'll send
Michael a belated birthday card. I He is a scientist who has
recently received some belated recognition in Great Britain.
4 after the usual time
late
late in life
late/leit/[adj/adv]
The summer was so bad this year that the harvest was really
late. [ Late strawberries are more expensive than the ones you
get in season. [ John was very late learning to read and
write. [ wake up/eat ete late It was nice getting up late after
such a hard week at work.
late in life / ilelt n Ilaif/if you do something late in life
you do it when you are older than the age at which people
usually do it [adv phrase]
Greg got married late in life. [ It was quite late in life that
Polly decided to go to college.
 late in paying money or giving back
something you have borrowed
late overdue
be behind with be in arrears
late/leit/[adj/adv]
These library books are late, you know. You'll have to pay
a fine. [ be late with I try never to be late with the rent.
be behind with/bi: blIhalnd wi6/ if you are behind
with payments that you have to make regularly, you are
paying them late and so you have not made all the pay-
ments that you should have done iv T]
Jim's worried because he "s behind with his loan repayments.[
be two months/three months etc behind with You're
two months behind with the rent. [ get/fall behind with
(=start to make payments late) I'm getting behind with the
mortgage and I don't know how I'm going to pay it. [ Even
when people fall behind with their payments, they continue
to take on financial commitments.
overdue/,pore' 'dju:- II -'du:-/something such as rent
or a library book that is overdue is late in being paid or
given back [adj]
three weeks/two months etc overdue The rent was three
weeks overdue, and the landlord threatened them with evic-
tion. [ overdue I must take these books back to the library
today; they're already overdue.
be in arrears/bi: m  Irarz/to be late in paying some-
thing such as rent, bills, or borrowed money which you
should pay regularly, so that you have not made as many
payments as you should have iv phrase]
be four weeks/two months etc in arrears The phone
company says we are now four weeks in arrears with the pay-
ments. [ be in arrears Teachers'pay is in arrears and the
school says it cannotpay. [ fall into arrears (=start to make
payments later than you should do) The tax bills are sent
out annually so it's very easy for small employers to fall into
arrears.
6 late at night
late the early hours
last thing at night till all hours
in the middle of the night
late/leit/[adv/adj]
It was late when we got home from Sheffield. [ I must go back
now, it's getting late. [ They sat up talking until late into the
night. [ Let's stay up and watch the late movie.
last thing at night/,la:st 0u] t Inapt [[ ,last-/an infor-
mal expression meaning the time just before you go to bed
[adv phrase]
I always brush my teeth last thing at night. [ The soldiers
are supposed to polish their shoes last thing at night.
In the middle of the night/in 6a imldl v 6a Inalt/an
expression meaning late at night when most people are
asleep, used especially when someone is woken up or called
by someone else [adv phrase]
She woke up in the middle of the night. I We had to call the
doctor out in the middle of the night.
the early hours/6i 13:rli laorz/a time which is very
late at night, between about I o'clock and 4 o'clock in the
morning in phrase]
The disco didn't finish till the early hours. [ They reached
San Francisco in the early hours of the morning.
till all hours /tll 13:1 'aoarz/ an informal expression
meaning until very late at night, used when you are
annoyed by someone doing something too late at night [adv
phrase]
Ever since she got that motorcycle she's been out till all hours
with her new friends. [ Our neighbours had a party which
went on till all hours.
• to have done less work than you planned to
do, so that everything you do is later than it
should be
be behind
be behind schedule
be running late
be behind/bi: bi Ihaind/an informal expression meaning
to have done less of your work than you planned to do or
should have done iv phrase]
be behind with I've got to stay late tonight because I'm a
bit behind with my work. I be behind If you're so far behind
that you can't finish it on time, give me a call and I'll come
and help. I get behind (=become later and later) Ifyou don't
do your homework every week you'll get behind in your
studies.
be behind schedule/bi: bllhaind Ij'ed3u:l i[ -Isked3ol/
to be doing each part of a planned series of activities later
that you planned to do it Iv phrase]
Barbara was beginning to panic because she was so behind
schedule with the wedding preparations. ] The tunnel project
is now 18 months behind schedule and Ј300 million over
budget.
be running late/bi: ,r^nn] 'let/to have done the first
parts of a plan or activity late, with the results that all your
other arranged activities will happen later than planned
[ v phrase ]
The Queen's visit to the factory was running late, so she did
not come to see the production department. ] We're running
late weTl have to hurry if we want to catch the 5 o 'clock train.
 too late to avoid problems or to do what you
had planned
too late
it's a little late in the day
leave it a bit late/a little late
miss
too late/,tu: 'leit/[adv phrase]
arrive/finish ere too late They got to the airport too late
to catch the plane. [ We hurried to the shops as soon as we
left work but arrived too late. [ too late By the time the doctor
arrived, it was too late; he was already dead. [ too late to
do sth It's never too late to learn a new language.
it's a little late in the day/ts a ilitl ileit in 6a IdeI/
you say it's a little late in the day when someone decides
to do something but you think that it is too late because

LATE 741 LAUGH
something has already been spoiled or someone has
already been upset
Perhaps it's a bit late in the day for apologies. I "'I want to
tell you the truth." "It's a little late in the day, isn't it?'"
leave it a bit latela little late/lli:v zt  Ibxt leIt, 
,litl 'lext/to wait too long before doing something so that
you are not likely to achieve what you hoped to achieve Iv
phrase]
At last the government has decided to lower interest rates but
I think they've left it a little late. [ You might have left it a
bit too late to apply for a place at university for this academic
year.
miss/mIs/lniss the train/flight/closing date/the start
of something etc (=be too late to catch it, see it, use it etc)
Iv T]
I missed the bus this morning and waited half an hour for
the next one. I Get to the party early or you'll miss all the
food! l By the time we finally got to the theater we'd already
missed the start of the movie. I I spent so long filling in the
application form that I actually missed the closing date.
latecomer LATE 1
lately RECENTLY 2
later AFTER 1, 4, 8, 11
later: not later than BEFORE 4
later on AFTER 1
latest NEW 3, RECENTLY 3, 4
latest: at the latest BEFORE 4
latest: the latest NEWS 1
latest thing: the latest thing FASHIONABLE 1
latter: the latter LAST 1
laudable PRAISE 7
laugh LAUGH 1
laugh:
laugh:
laugh:
laugh:
laugh:
laugh:
laugh:
laugh:
be a good laugh ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5, 7
be a laugh FUNNY 1
burst out laughing LAUGH 3
can laugh FUNNY 6
can't stop laughing LAUGH 6
for a laugh ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 8, JOKE 3
have a laugh LAUGH 1
make sb laugh FUNNY 1, LAUGH 7
laugh: raise a laugh LAUGH 7
laugh at LAUGH 4, SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 7
laugh helplessly/uncontrollably/hysterically
laugh it off SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 7
laugh your head off LAUGH 6
LAUGH 6
@ LAUGH
to laugh because something is funny or
because you are enjoying yourself
the act of laughing or the sound of people
laughing
to begin
to laugh
to laugh
;3 to laugh
4 in an unkind or offensive way
5 loudly
6 to laugh a lot or for a long time, especially
when you cannot stop yourself laughing
7 to make someone laugh
8 to try to stop yourself laughing
1 to laugh because something is funny or
because you are enjoying yourself
laugh
have a laugh
chuckle
laugh/lct:f II lair/Iv I]
I splashed water on dane who laughed and tried to splash
me back. I "Look at the clowns", said Chuck, laughing.I
laugh at I couldn't help laughing at Andrew's silly jokes. I
laugh about She always manages to laugh about things
other people take perfectly seriously.
laugh [n C] The door slammed and dosie heard a quiet
laugh.
have a laugh/,hev  'la:f II -'lef/an expression used
especially in British English, meaning to laugh about
something funny, in a cheerful way, with other people Iv
phrase]
I like to meet my friends, spend the evening in town, and have
a laugh. I have a laugh at/about When my Mum gets
together with her friends they always have a laugh about
their schooldays. I have a good laugh It was a bit scary at
the time, but afterwards we all had a good laugh.
chuckle/'tj'All/to laugh quietly, especially because you
are thinking about something that you think is funny Iv I]
chuckle at/about What is she chuckling about? I don't see
anything funny. I chuckle to yourself Dan sat in the corner
and chuckled to himself quietly. I chuckle Ned read the
review eagerly, chuckling with delight.
chuckle In C] "Bye, see you when I get back!" said Maisie
with a chuckle.
 the act of laughing or the sound of people
laughing
laughter
laughter/'lct:ft) r II 'lef-/[n U]
We heard laughter coming from the next room. I There was
always a lot of joking and laughter in our office. I Cheers,
applause, and laughter had followed his performance. I
burst of laughter (=a sudden loud sound of laughter) A
sudden burst of laughter in the hall made me run downstairs
quickly to see who was there.
to begin to laugh
start laughing
burst out laughing
dissolve into laughter
start laughing/,stct:rt 'lct:f[ [I phrase]
She looked at me and started laughing. I Every time they
tried to film the romantic scene, the actors would start
laughing.
burst out laughing /b3:rst aot II(:firj ]]-'lmf-/
to suddenly begin to laugh loudly Iv phrase]
When I saw his hat I burst out laughing. I Everyone thought
about the joke for a couple of seconds, then burst out
laughing.
dissolve into laughter/d[,zDlv nto lct:ft) r ]] d;,z:lv
into 'leef-/to start to laugh and not be able to stop, when you
have been trying not to laugh Iv phrase]
Several of the students at the back of the room had dissolved
into laughter. I dissolve into fits of laughter (=start
laughing uncontrollably) When she saw Dennis's ridiculous
tie she dissolved into fits of laughter.
to laugh in an unkind or offensive way
laugh at
titter
snigger/snicker
laugh at/,la:f eet II 'her-/Iv T]
The other kids laughed at Lisa because her clothes were old
and too small. I Don't laugh at me - I told you I wasn't very
good at Spanish. I He was terribly shy and couldn't stand
being laughed at. I What do you think you're laughing at?
titter /ttor/to laugh quietly, but a little unkindly at some-
thing embarrassing someone has said or done Iv I]
As the teacher read the poem someone tittered. I Although the
audience applauded politely, Tess could hear a few people
tittering here and there.
titter In C] The woman shouted angrily at the traffic cop and
a titter ran through the crowd.
snigger (British) I snicker (American)/'sn[g r, smkr/
to laugh unkindly and quietly, especially if you are laugh-
ing at something that is not supposed to be funny Iv I]

LAUGH ?42 laughing stock
As he walked across the stage Billy could hear people snig-
gering and whispering. I Ruth tripped on the steps and the
boys behind her sniggered. I "I like your new haircut, "" said
Jodie, snickering.
snigger/snicker In C] "Who did this?" demanded the jani-
tor, and there were a few sniggers. I I heard a snicker in the
darkness.
;5 to laugh loudly
roar/howl/shriek with laughter
laugh out loud
cackle
roarlhowllshriek with laughter/,ra: r, ,haul, ,j'ri:k
w:6 'la:ft r [[ -'laf-/to laugh very loudly because you think
something is very funny Iv phrase]
The delighted audience howled with laughter. [ If you tickle
the baby's tummy she shrieks with laughter. [ Dad was roar-
ing with laughter at something on TV and didn't hear me
come in.
laugh out loud/,lo:f aut 'laud [[ ,laf-/to suddenly laugh
loudly because you think a situation, someone's words,
something you are reading etc is very funny Iv phrase]
John threw back his head and laughed out loud. [ Wode-
house is one of the few writers who can make me laugh out
loud.
cackle/'kekal/to laugh loudly and unpleasantly in a
high voice, like someone who is mad Iv I]
When I said this, he started cackling like a madman. I She
grinned malevolently and cackled in a frightening way.
cackle In C] With a horrible cackle the old lady picked up
her bags and swept out of the room.
 can't stop laughing
laugh helplessly/
uncontrollably/
hysterically
giggle
6 to laugh a lot or for a long time, especially
when you cannot stop yourself laughing
have the giggles
laugh your head off
have hysterics
fall about
I nearly/almost died
can't stop laughing/,ka:nt stop 'loft-3 II ,kant sta:p
'lefil3/Iv phrase]
Jonathan kept making funny faces at me and I just couldn't
stop laughing. I It's so embarrassing when everyone else is
being serious and you can't stop laughing.
laugh helplessly/uncontrollably/hysterically
/,lo:f 'helplasli, ^nkan'traolabli, h; 'sterIkli II ,laf-/to laugh
so much that you cannot control yourself and could not
stop laughing if you wanted to Iv phrase]
We both laughed helplessly while Terry tried to climb out of
the river onto the bank. [ She was laughing hysterically at
the thought of Mr Taylor stepping out of his caravan with
no clothes on. ] When Frank got home from work, his wife
and her friend were laughing uncontrollably at some old
school photographs.
giggle/'glgal/to laugh quietly and repeatedly like a child
because of something funny or because you are nervous
or embarrassed Iv I]
She blushed and giggled throughout the TV interview. [ He
ignored the giggling young man's silly behavior. [ They
looked at each other for the first time in ten years and both
started giggling nervously.
giggle In C] There were a few smothered giggles from the
girls sitting by the pool.
have the giggles/,hav 6a 'glgalz/an informal British
expression meaning to be unable to stop yourself laughing,
especially in a situation when you should not laugh Iv
phrase not in progressive]
It's very difficult to be angry with somebody when you "ve got
the giggles.
laugh your head off/,lo:fja: r 'hed of [[ ,laf-/an infor-
mal expression meaning to laugh a lot and very loudly
because of what someone says or does Iv phrase]
When I told him what had happened he laughed his head
off. I While we're out here looking for his dog, he's probably
at home laughing his head off.
have hysterics l,heev hi'steriksl to laugh a lot continu-
ously and uncontrollably because someone says or does
something extremely funny or stupid Iv phrase]
Everybody who heard this had hysterics. I My colleagues had
hysterics when I came to work wearing an old suit I bought
in the 1970s.
fall about / ,fad a' baot! to laugh a lot in a very happy and
cheerful way, especially because something has happened
that you did not expect [phr v I]
We fell about when Dave showed us the photograph of him-
self in the Cinderella costume. I When they saw what their
father had done they both fell about laughing.
i nearly/almost died/,nmrli, ,:lmost 'dad/if you say
I nearly or almost died, you mean that something made
you laugh so much that you almost couldn't stop laughing
Did you see the look on his face? I nearly died. I nearly/
almost die laughing He said this very solemenly, and they
nearly died laughing.
7 to make someone laugh
make sb laugh crack sb up/break sb up
amuse have sb in fits/stitches/
raise a laugh hysterics
make sb laugh/,meik (sb) 'la:f II -'laf/to make some-
one laugh, usually by doing or saying something funny Iv
phrase]
She really makes me laugh when she starts telling her funny
stories. [ The Marx brothers can still make generations of
people laugh. [ The only thing I was good at at school was
making people laugh.
amuse/o'mju:z/if something amuses someone, it makes
them laugh or smile because it is fairly funny Iv T]
amuse sb Her grandchildren would amuse her for hours
with their jokes and stories. [ it amuses sb It amuses me to
see politicians so eager to please at election time.
raise a laugh/,reIz a 'la:f [[ -lmf/to succeed in making
people laugh, especially when they do not really feel like
laughing Iv phrase]
None of my carefully-prepared jokes managed to raise a
laugh.
crack sb up (also break sb up in American English)
/,krak (sb) '^p, ,breIk (sb) 'np/ an informal expression
meaning to be very funny and to make people laugh a lot
[phr v T]
Mr Bean really cracked us up. He's so funny. [ I like watch-
ing cartoons, they break me up.
have sb in fits/stitches/hysterics/,hav (sb) In 'fits,
'StItax s, h 'steriks/to make someone laugh uncontrollably
Iv phrase]
Don always has me in fits when he talks about his camping
trips. [ Judy had us in hysterics last night with her imperso-
nation of the Queen.
8 to try to stop yourself laughing
keep a straight face
keep a straight face/ki:p  ,streIt 'feis/try to hide the
fact that you want to laugh, especially if it would be rude
to laugh, or you do not want someone to know you are
joking Iv phrase]
Belinda was trying hard to keep a straight face, but she knew
that if the ridiculous ceremony went on for much longer she
would burst out laughing. I "I think I've lost that camera
you lent me, "" I said, trying to keep a straight face. I with a
straight face With a completely straight face, Thomas
announced he was joining the Girl Guides.
 laughable STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 6
 laughing matter: be no laughing matter SERIOUS
 SITUATION 1
 laughing stock MAKE FUN OF 5

laughter
laughter LAUGH 2
launch SELL 12, START STH/MAKE STH START 1, UP 11
launch an attack on CRITICIZE 1
launch into START DOING STH 3
launch/mount an attack ATTACK 3
lavatory TOILET 1
lavish sth on GIVE 13
law LAW 1, 2, RULE/REGULATION 1
law: according to the law LEGAL 2
law: be against the law ILLEGAL 1
law: become law LAW 5
law: break the law ILLEGAL 3
law: by law LEGAL 2
law: lay down the law TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 8
law: within the law LEGAL 1
law-abiding OBEY 4
LAW
a rule that people in a particular country, city
or local area must obey
the whole system of laws of a particular
country, city, or local area
part of a law or legal agreement
to make a new law
ways of saying that a law is officially accepted
and starts to exist
connected with the law
1 a rule that people in a particular country, city,
or local area must obey
law statute
legislation bill
act bylaw
law/]:}:/[n C]
We need new laws to deal with this problem. I South Africa
has repealed its laws forbidding interracial marriage. I law
on The law on compulsory seat belts has been a success. I law
against There's a law against stopping on the motorway.
legislation /,ledsoI s'lean/laws established by a govern-
ment that are intended to control a particular activity or
situation In U]
Divorce is still disapproved of despite legislation making it
legal. I legislation on Existing legislation on the minimum
wage needs to be changed.
act lakt/a legal document established by the government,
that contains a list of all the laws concerning a particular
situation or activity [n C]
743
LAW
Three people were arrested after the bombing under the
Prevention of Terrorism Act. [ The long-awaited Sex Dis-
crimination Act has finally been passed by both houses of
Congress. I Doctors want a new tobacco act to impose a com-
plete advertising ban.
statute/Isttu:t/a law that has been officially estab-
lished by the government so that it is written down as the
law In C]
Wales and England share a common legal system but some
statutes make special provision for Wales. [ Unfortunately
his lawyer could find no statute or point of law preventing
his client's imprisonment.
bill/ball a suggested new law that has to be approved by
members of the government before it can officially become
a law In C]
Yesterday's debate on the defense bill lasted all night. ]
Several democrats have put together a new bill to protect the
supply of drinking water. [ In her speech, the Queen outlined
the bills which the government would put before Parliament
in the coming session.
bylaw /'bad:/ a law made by local government that
people in a particular area or place must obey In C]
Fishing on this river is forbidden under a local bylaw. [ This
year the University club changed its bylaws and admitted
its first female members.
the whole system of laws of a particular
country, city, or local area
law
legal system
law/1:/the whole system of laws that the citizens of a
country or place must obey [n U]
Andrew is studying law at Harvard University. [English
law now allows husbands to be convicted of rape. [ by law
(=according to the system of laws) Everyone must, by law,
carry their identity papers at all times. [ against the law
(=illegal because it is not part of the system of laws) You
can't park here. It's against the law. ] law and order
(=respect for the system of laws) The soldiers were brought
in to restore law and order after the riots.
legal system / Ili:gal sist]om/the whole system of laws
and its legal processes belonging to a particular country
In C]
When the colony becomes independent it will maintain its
present legal system. I The Supreme Court Justices hold the
most powerful positions in the American legal system.
 part of a law or legal agreement
article
clause
loophole
article / a:rtIkal/a part, usually numbered, of a written
law or legal agreement, concerning a particular part of the
whole law or agreement In C]
Article I of the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. [
The harbour workers" action constituted a breach of article
30 of the EEC treaty. [ The most controversial article of this
law allowed police to hold suspects under arrest as long as
they felt necessary.
clause/kb:z/a part of a written law or legal document,
concerning a particular point of the whole law or document
[n C]
A new clause has been added to the Pensions Act 1985 to
enable widows to use their husband's pension. [ The Oppo-
sition challenges, clause by clause, everything this adminis-
tration proposes.
loophole/lu:phaul/a detail that is missing from a law
or legal document that makes it possible to avoid some-
thing in that law In C]
Some countries have found a loophole in the laws protecting
whales by claiming that they use the whales in research. I
He pays very little tax because of some loophole in income
tax legislation.

LAW 744 LAZY
4 to make a new law
pass
legislate
pass Ipo:s II pes/to accept a new haw in a government or
parliament, so that it officially becomes a haw [v T]
Congress has passed a law on equal rights. [ The law was
passed with only a few MPs voting against.
legislate/'led5sleit ] to officially make laws that are
intended to control a particular activity or situation Iv I]
legislate on The government was under a lot of public pres-
sure to legislate on equal pay. [ legislate against Should
parliament legislate against experiments on animals? [
legislate It seems unlikely that the government will continue
to legislate for the colony once it becomes independent.
5 ways of saying that a law is officially accepted
and starts to exist
become law
get onto/reach the statute book
become law/bl,km 'la:/ if a new or suggested haw
becomes law, it is officially accepted and starts to exist Iv
phrase]
The Education Bill finally became law last month. [ Until
the Food Protection Bill became law, the ministry had no
power to ban dangerous pesticides.
get onto/reach the statute book/,get Data, ri:tS 6a
' statSu bok/if a law gets onto the statute book, it is writ-
ten down with the other official laws so that it becomes part
of the law Iv phrase]
The chairman is hoping that the new legislation will get onto
the statute books in time for the next election. ] The Employ-
ment Bill was passed in 1982 but did not reach the statute
book until 1984.
6 connected with the law
legal
legal I'li:gall [adj only before noun l
The Scottish legal system is quite different from the English
one. [ When I was fired from my job I decided to take legal
advice. [ This was the biggest mass murder in American
legal history. [ It's no use explaining the trial in legal jargon.
Use plain English!
lawbreaker CRIME 5
lawful LEGAL 1
lax CARELESS 1 STRICT 10
lay PUT 1
lay down HORIZONTAL 2, SAY/STATE 11
lay into ATTACK 1, CRITICIZE 1
lay it on EXAGGERATE 2
lay off LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 2, STOP
DOING STH 2, 6
lay on PROVIDE 1
lay out SPREAD 7
lay out: be laid out ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS
OR PEOPLE 1
lay person: layman/lay person NOT KNOW (J
lay/put your cards on the table HONEST 2
lay sthlsb flat HORIZONTAL 2
lay yourself open to RISK 4
layabout LAZY 2
layer COVER 6
layman/lay person NOT KNOW 9
laze REST 1
laze around/about LAZY 3
lazy LAZY I
LAZY
words for describing someone who dislikes
work and tries to avoid it
2 a lazy person
3 to be lazy
1
words for describing someone who dislikes
work and tries to avoid it
lazy can't be bothered/
idle couldn't be bothered
indolent good-for-nothing
shiftless
lazy/'leizil disliking work or physical activities so that
you try to avoid having to do them [adj]
Peter was the laziest boy in the class. [ I was feeling lazy that
morning so I got the bus instead of walking. [ Get up, you
lazy thing! It's nearly time for lunch. [ He complained about
the builders being lazy and wasting his time and money. I
They shouldn't use the car too much - it'll give them lazy
habits.
lazily [adv] It was great to spend my day off lying lazily by
the swimming pool.
laziness In U] HIS bad exam results were due to laziness
(=being lazy) and nothing else.
idle/'adll lazy and wasting time when there is work to
do [adj]
Average students who work hard usually do better than
clever students who are idle. I Wake up that idle young
brother of yours and tell him it's time for school! I bone idle
(=very idle) That husband of hers is bone idle. No wonder
the house is such a mess.
idleness In U] I cannot believe the idleness of some of the
people working in this factory.
indolent/' mdalant! a word used especially in literature
and written English: someone who is indolent, especially
a young person, enjoys being lazy and having a comforta-
ble life, often because they are rich and do not need to work
[adj]
Bertie's Bistro was a wine bar frequented by the indolent chil-
dren of the rich. I Indolent and privileged, Rebecca's life of
luxury lay before her.
indolence In U] HIS quiet manner is sometimes mistaken for
indolence (=being indolent).
shiftless I'Jzftlasl lazy in a way that makes people think
you have no interest in becoming successful, doing well at
work or school etc [adj]
HIS parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people. I We
didn't like her. She was a shiftless, unsettled sort of person.
can't be bothered/couldn't be bothered/,ko:nt
bi: 'bt)bard, ,kodnt bi: 'bt)6ard 11 ,kent bi: 'bo:-/if you say
that you can't be bothered to do something, you mean that
you have decided not to do it because you are feeling too
lazy Iv phrase]
When I asked her to help me she said that she couldn't be
bothered. [ can't be bothered to do sth My hairdresser says
I should use a hairdryer to dry my hair but I can't be
bothered to do it every day.
good-for-nothing /,god fa r 'nAOIi]-/ if yOU say that
someone is good-for-nothing, you mean that they are use-
less or cannot be trusted because they are very lazy [adj
only before noun]
"'You're a nasty, thieving, good-for-nothing idiot!'" he
shouted.
good-for-nothing In C] His first wife left him to live with
that good-for-nothing who lived next door.
2 a lazy person
lazybones
layabout
lazybones/' leizibaunz! an informal word meaning a lazy
person, used especially when talking to someone that you
like In singular]
Hey, lazybones, how long are you planning on staying in
bed?

LAZY 745 leaf/flick/thumb through
layabout/'lembaoq an informal British word meaning
a lazy person who avoids working, in a way that makes
people angry In C]
My parents were astonished when I got a good job - they
always said I was nothing but a layabout.
3 to be lazy
sit around/about
loaf around/about
lounge around/about
laze around/about
shirk
sit around (also sit about in British English) /,sit
 I raond, I s it ' baot/to be lazy and make no effort to do any
work or physical activity [phr v I]
I go out to work every day and my husband just sits around
at home. I Some actors think they can sit about and wait for
jobs, but Sonia goes out and finds them for herself.
loaf around (also loaf about in British English)/,13of
 raond, lof  baot/an informal word meaning to be lazy,
especially by wasting time and not doing work that needs
to be done [phr v I]
The boss was away, so we just loafed around and drank
coffee. I She describes what she was doing as resting - I call
it loafing about.
lounge around (also lounge about in British English)
/laond5 lraond, laond5 baot/to be very lazy and avoid
doing any physical activity because you want to relax [phr
vii
Instead of lounging around, reading magazines, you could
help me with the housework! I It's a perfect place to lounge
about - hot sunshine and free drinks.
laze around (also laze about in British English)/,leiz
 raond, leiz :)  baot/an informal expression meaning to
spend time sitting or lying down, relaxing, and not doing
any work [phr v I]
We lazed around in the sun all day and went dancing in the
evening. [ Stop lazing about you lot - get on with your work!
shirk /3:rk/ to deliberately avoid your work or your
responsibilities because you are lazy, in a way that makes
people not have respect for you Iv I/T]
We don't want anyone shirking round here, everyone is
expected to earn their pay. [ shirk your duties/responsi-
bilities You can't carry on like this, shirking your respon-
sibilities and leaving everything for other people to sort out.
shirker In C] It's amazing he hasn't been sacked, everyone
knows what a shirker he is.
lazybones LAZY 2
be in. chageof an;. ,,  IN CHARGE OF
actiyity.. ...... Ј[. groUpof : :%: ,,#?# "; ;,,,,,,,,,...
. ,  ":  MANAGER
be the:anager of a .
take some-on %:3;:: { TAKE/BRING
 lead IN CHARGE OF 1, LEADER 2, TAKE/BRING 7,
.:
;'; WIN 7
; lead: be in the lead BEST 6, WIN 7
!ilii lead: follow sb's lead IMITATE 4
• - lead: play the lead ACTOR/ACTRESS 6
lead: show the way/lead the way FIRST 7
lead: take the lead BEST 6
lead a normal/hard/exciting etc life LIFE 3
lead-in INTRODUCE 2
lead into INTRODUCE 1
lead off START DOING STH 5
lead sb on TRICK/DECEIVE 3
lead sb to do sth CAUSE 9
lead to CAUSE 6
lead up to BEFORE 10
leader LEADER 1
leader: be the leader of LEADER 2
LEADER
someone that a group of people choose to
represent them or be in charge of them
to be the leader of a group or organization
1 someone that a group of people choose to
represent them or be in charge of them
leader
figurehead
leadership
leader/'li:dr/In C]
12, 000 party members vote next week to elect a new leader. I
The leaders of the rebel movement have been arrested. I She's
a born leader. I union/party/community ere leader 1'he
decision to ban overtime created uproar among union
leaders.
figurehead /lfighed II fIgjr-/ someone that people
recognize as the leader of a country or organization,
although they do not have any real power In C usually
singular]
The Queen is merely a figurehead and plays no real part in
running the country.
leadership / li:drIp/the person or group of people who
lead a political party or country In singular with singular
or plural verb in British English]
Party members had lost confidence in the leadership. I The
leadership of the Association was criticized for not making
its plans more easily accessible.
2 to be the leader of a group or organization
be the leader of
lead
be fronted by
be the leader of/bi: 6 'li:dor ov/ Iv phrase]
Margaret Haley was the leader of the Chicago Teachers Fed-
eration. I Who was the leader of the Labour Party at the last
election?
lead Ill:d/to be the leader of a group or organization, espe-
cially a political party Iv T not usually in progressive]
For many years India's Congress Party was led by Mrs
Indira Ghandi.
be fronted by/bi: 'fr^ntd bai / if an organization is
fronted by a particular person, they are the leader of that
organization and often appear in public to represent that
organization Iv phrase]
The organization is fronted by Keith Flynn, who has been
associated with other political groups in the past.
leadership GOVERNMENT 2, LEADER 1
leading IMPORTANT 6
leading edge: at the leading edge of/cutting edge of
ADVANCED 1
leading part: play a leading part/role IMPORTANT 7
leading/loaded question ASK A QUESTION 7
leaf: take a leaf out of sb's book IMITATE 2
leaf: turn over a new leaf BEHAVE 4
leaf/flick/thumb through READ 3

league
league ORGANIZATION 4
league: be in a different league BETTER 2
league: in league with WITH 4
league: not be in the same league WORSE 1
leak HOLE 6, POUR 2, TELL A SECRET 2
leaky HOLE 7
lean- FAIL 11, PUT 3, SUPPORT/HOLD UP 5, THIN
PERSON 2
lean on PERSUADE 3
leap INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 11, JUMP 1
leap over/leap JUMP 2
leaps and bounds: come on in leaps and bounds
PROGRESS 2
learn FIND OUT 2, LEARN 1, 2, 5
learn from your mistakes LEARN 5
learn
WliiCh  meaning?.
:..
learn sOmething so
tha y n it or
remember it ......
=y a subject at
! or collie :- .... .,. '
; ,:.
teach,. one
TEACH -
 . ",' .;;:. "-.-';:
LEARN
1 to learn how to do something, or gain
knowledge about a subject
2 to learn facts, words, numbers etc so that you
can remember them exactly
3 to learn the skills or knowledge that you need
for a job or an examination
4 someone who is learning a particular subject,
skill, or job
5 to learn about things through your experience
in life
I to learn how to do something, or gain
knowledge about a subject
learn master
pick up familiarize yourself with
get the hang of
learn/13:rn/ [V I/T]
learn sth How long have you been learning German? I The
economics course was useless. I didn't learn anything new. I
learn to do sth When my father was 50, he finally learned
to drive. I learn how to do sth You should really learn how
to tie your own shoe laces, Martin. I learn about With this
book, you can learn all about the history of Africa. I learn
People learn much more easily if they are motivated.
pick up /,pIk '^pl to learn something easily without
making much effort [phr v T]
pick up sth I picked up quite a lot of Turkish when I was
in Istanbul. [ pick sth/it up We need someone who'll pick
the job up quickly. [ Playing the piccolo is almost the same
as playing the flute - you'll soon pick it up.
get the hang of I,get 60 'heej Dv/an informal expres-
sion meaning to begin to understand how to do something
or how to use a system, especially by practising [vphrase]
How is your typing going? Have you got the hang of it yet? I
I just can't get the hang of this system. I Ski-ing is easy, once
you've got the hang of it!
746
LEARN
master/'ma:sta r II 'ma-I to learn a skill or a language
completely so that you have no difficulty with it Iv T]
It takes years to master the art of weaving. [ She soon got to
know the local customs and quickly mastered the language.
familiarize yourself with (also .ise British)/fmllir-
az ja:r, self w51 to learn about a subject, or how to do some-
thing, especially by reading books, notices, instructions
etc, because you know you are going to need this
knowledge in the future Iv phrase]
She prepared for the interview by familiarizing herself with
all aspects of the company's work. I You must familiarize
yourself with the evacuation procedure in case of a fire.
2 to learn facts, words, numbers etc so that you
can remember them exactly
learn learn sth by rote
memorize learn sth by heart
commit sth to memory
learn/la:rn/[v T]
The play's next week and she hasn't even learnt her lines yet! I
History is a difficult subject. There are so many dates to
learn.
memorize (also -ise British)/'memaraz/to learn some-
thing thoroughly so that you remember it exactly and
repeat it correctly Iv T]
I had memorized her telephone number, and called her from
the station. I Tourists in Moscow were told to memorize their
address in Russian, in case they got lost. I In schools today
less emphasis is placed on memorizing facts and more on
thinking for yourself.
commit sth to memory/kam;t (sth) to memari/ a
formal expression meaning to learn something, especially
something long, so that you remember every word or every
detail of it Iv phrase]
I read the letter over and over, and soon committed it to
memory. I Sometimes, conductors have to commit complete
scores to memory.
learn sth by rote/,13:rn (sth) ba; raot/to learn some-
thing by repeating it without having to understand it, espe-
cially in a class Iv phrase]
Children used to learn things like grammar by rote. I The
guide sounded as if he had learnt his speech by rote.
learn sth by heart/,13:rn (sth) bai ho:rt] to learn some-
thing such as a poem or a passage from a book, so that you
can remember it exactly and do not have to read it when
you want to say it Iv phrase]
He had learnt the verse by heart, and said it beautifully. I
I recited the responses of the Mass which the priest had made
me learn by heart.
3 to learn the skills or knowledge that you need
for a job or an examination
study
train
study / 'stAdi/to spend a period of time learning about a
subject or learning how to do something, especially by
reading books about it and attending classes at a school or
college Iv T]
study sth Less than 10% of girls choose to study science at
school. I At 18 she moved to the east coast to study music at
the prestigious Berkeley College in Boston. I study to be a
lawyer/accountant etc James, a spectacled serious young
man, was studying to be a chartered accountant.
train/treln/to learn the skills necessary to do a particu-
lar job Iv I]
train to be a doctor/teacher etc Training to be a doctor
is a long and difficult process. I train as He had trained as
a pilot in Texas. I train If you want to become a beautician,
you should train at a good school. I Where did you train?
trained [adj] There is a shortage of trained secretarial staff.
training In U] After a period of training she was taken on
to the full-time staff.

LEARN ?4? LEAST
4 someone who is learning a particular subject,
skill, or job
student apprentice
trainee beginner
learner
student/'stju:dant II 'stu:-/someone who is learning a
particular subject, or who is learning to be a doctor, teacher
etc [n C]
Sarah is a student at Oxford University. I I was there as a
a postgraduate student. I law/medical/engineering etc
student Fifth-year medical students spend much of their
time on hospital wards. I student nurse/teacher etc As
a student teacher I was expected to prepare lesson plans and
show them to my supervisor.
trainee ! tm 'ni:/a person who is learning a particular
skill or subject while working in a company or organiza-
tion In C]
Trainees will learn the skills needed to run a small business. [
management/administrative etc trainee He joined the
company years ago as a management trainee.
learner/'13:rnr/someone who is learning a particular
subject or skill, especially a foreign language and usually
in a school In C]
When teaching a language, we must give the learner all the
help we can. [ slow/fast/good etc learner James was a fast
learner, and was soon almost as good at tennis as his coach.
apprenti©e/a'prents! a young person who works in a
particular job for an arranged period of time learning
skilled work that you do with your hands In C]
He had worked for five years as an apprentice in a piano fac-
tory. I apprentice plumber/bricklayer etc Dan left school
at 16 and started work as an apprentice mechanic.
beginner/bI 'gIn;r/someone who has just started to learn
something and is therefore not very good at it [n C]
If you are a beginner, start slowly and practise every move-
ment carefully. [ Barbara Banks's book "Tennis For Begin-
ners" explains all the basic techniques very clearly and
simply. [ beginners' class/course ete I've decided to take
a beginners' course in Japanese.
 to learn about things through your experience
in life
learn learn your lesson
learn from your mistakes learn the hard way
learn/13:rn/[v I/T]
Don't worry. Everyone makes mistakes at first, but you'll
soon learn. [ learn sth Never worry about things you can't
change. That's something I learnt in the army. [ learn (that)
Governments have learnt that concessions to terrorists are
not a solution. [ learn about You still have a lot to learn
about women, Toby. [ you live and learn (=you learn from
experiences and problems that you have in life) I believed
him when he said he loved me - stupid, I know, but you live
and learn.
learn from your mistakes/,13:rn from j3: r mI 'steIks/
to learn something as a result of recognizing your past mis-
takes so that you take care not to make the same mistakes
again Iv phrase]
You can't protect your kids all the time. They have to learn
from their own mistakes. I You'd think she'd learn from her
mistakes. That's the second time she's been dumped by a mar-
ried man.
learn your lesson/, 13:rn j:r , lesan/to learn from a bad
experience not to do the same thing again or not to do it
in the same way Iv phrase]
She'd been stupid, but she'd learned her lesson. I There are
important lessons to be learned from this election defeat.
learn the hard way /,13:rn bo 'ha:rd ,weI/ to learn
through a bad experience, especially when you have
ignored someone's advice or warnings Iv phrase]
They'd been telling him for years not to drink and drive but
he learnt the hard way and ended up in hospital. I learn the
hard way that Many of us have learned the hard way that
racism cannot be cured by fine speeches.
learned INTELLIGENT 5
learner LEARN 4, STUDY 4
learning difficulties: have learning difficulties
STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 2
lease BORROW 3, LEND 2
least: last but not least LAST 4
least: not the least/not the slightest bit NOT 2
least: the least LEAST 1, LIMIT 2
least idea: not have the faintestlslightestlleast idea
NOT KNOW 1
least of all ESPECIALLY 1
@ LEAST
the smallest amount of something
the smallest number of something
to be at the lowest level
1 the smallest amount of something
the least
minimum
the least/6 ' li:st/[quantifier]
the least money/fuel/time etc After trials we chose the
engine that used the least fuel. I I was the youngest so I always
got the least pocket money. I the least danger/effort/dif-
ficulty etc Which method will cause the least difficulty? I
the least We decided to buy the one that cost the least. I Those
who have been in the most danger have the least to say about
it.
minimum/m,nmm/the smallest possible amount of
something or the smallest amount that is allowed
[quantifier/adj only before noun]
The minimum salary for this post is $25000. I These workers
are being paid less than the minimum wage. I She passed
her examinations with minimum effort. I reduce/keep sth
to a minimum (=make an amount of something as small
as possible) We must reduce costs to a minimum. I Interrup-
tions should be kept to a minimum. I the/a minimum of
This will enable the patient to move with a minimum of
discomfort.
 the smallest number of something
the fewest
minimum
the lowest
the fewest/6 't]u:st/[quantifier]
the fewest thingsCeopleCroblems ete Which method
will cause the fewest problems? [ Towns with the fewest
amenities are usually the ones with the highest crime rates. [
the fewest Young drivers under 25 have the highest number
of accidents while those over 50 have the fewest.
minimum/'mInImm! the smallest possible number of
something or the smallest number that is allowed
[ adj / quantifier ]
minimum number This year the company will only accept
a minimum number of job applications. [ the minimum
Five people in a group should be the minimum. [ reduce/
keep sth to a minimum (=make the number as low as pos-
sible) We want to keep the number of corrections to a
minimum.
the lowest /6 'lust/ the lowest number/figure/
level/charge ete [adj]
The lowest charge for a rented car is $20 a day. [ The party
has only five members in city government, the lowest number
in its history. [ Interest rates are only 4%, the lowest for 25
years.

LEAST ?48 LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION
 to be at the lowest level
an all-time low
lowest ebb
an all.time low/an ,aft taim '1/the lowest level ever
reached [n phrase]
be at an an all-time low Exports of manufactured goods
are now at an all-time low. I sink to/reach an all-time low
Ratings for the once-popular game show seem to have
reached an all-time low.
lowest ebb/, loolast 'eb! the lowest level of success, hope,
health etc [n singular]
Support for the Communist Party fell to its lowest ebb in
1956. [ at its/their lowest ebb With the company's fortunes
at their lowest ebb for 25 years lay-offs seem inevitable.
leathery HARD 4
leave FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 3, GET ON OR OFF A
BUS, PLANE ETC 2, GIVE 9, HOLIDAY 3,
LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 1, LEAVE A
PLACE 1, 4, LEAVE A RELATIONSHIP 1, LEAVE
SCHOOL OR COLLEGE 1, LEAVE YOUR
HOME/COUNTRY 1, NOT DO STH 5
leave: can't bear to leave LEAVE A PLACE 14
leave a bad/nasty taste in the mouth UNPLEASANT 2
leave home LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 1
leave it alone TOUCH 6
leave it at that STOP DOING STH 3
leave it to RESPONSIBLE 9
leave/let well alone INTERFERE 3
leave
leave
leave
leave
leave
leave
leave
leave
leave
leave
no stone unturned LOOK FOR 2
out INCLUDE 6, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 14
out: count/leave me out TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 13
sb behind FAST/QUICK 14
sb cold INTERESTED 7
sb standing BEI-IER 2, FAST/QUICK 14
sb to their own devices ALONE 2
sb with no choice/option FORCE SB TO DO STH 3
sth with RESPONSIBLE 9
the ground UP 5
leave
KEEP SB IN A
LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION
I to leave a job or organization
:2 to make someone leave their job
:3 to be forced to leave your job
4 words for describing parties, gifts etc for
someone who is leaving a job or organization
5 to make someone leave an organization
6 to allow or force someone to leave the army,
airforce, or navy
7 to leave the army. airforce, or navy without
permission
1 to leave a job or organization
leave retire
quit hand in your notice/resignation
resign pack it in/jack it in
leave Ill:v/[v I/T]
"Where's Marcia? .... Oh, she left last month to have a baby. "'1
The directors did not want Daniel to leave, but they knew he
could earn much more somewhere else. I leave sth ! left my
last job because I couldn't get along with my boss. I Mrs
Parkin left the Green Party last month, saying it had stopped
appealing to ordinary voters. I Bishop McCarthy has
experienced deep concern about the growing number of
young people who are leaving the church.
quit/kwIt] to leave a job or organization especially because
you are not happy with it, or because you think you could
do better somewhere else [v I/T]
I've had enough of the way I'm treated here - I quit/I quit
sth Jo quit the garage and took a job as an airline
mechanic.I Chataway quit politics in 74 in favour of mer-
chant banking. I quit as (=leave a particular job or posi-
tion) He quit as treasurer of CRP shortly after it was sug-
gested that he had organized the bugging of telephones.
resign/ri 'zaln] to officially and permanently leave a job,
for example because you are no longer happy with it, or
because the people you work with do not think you are
doing it properly [v I/T]
Nixon was the first US President to resign before the end of
his term of off'we. I I wanted to resign, but my boss persuaded
me to stay. I resign as (=stop doing that particular job) In
1989, Milton resigned as chairperson of the committee. I
resign a post/position (=stop doing a job that involves
responsibility) If you think you've too much work to do here,
you're free to resign your position. I resign from a post/
place/organization etc After a lot of thought, I resigned
from the Nature Conservancy Council.
resignation / rezlgneI9n/[n C/U] There have been several
calls for the Chancellor's resignation.
getige/r 'taar/to permanently leave your job, usually
because you have reached the age when most people stop
working [v I]
In the UK, men usually retire at the age of 65 and women at
60. I If you retire at 50, you won't get your full pension. I retire
from political life/the stage/football etc When Jean
retired from modelling she moved to Cornwall. I retire as
He retired as Principal ten years ago, but still does a lot of
fund-raising for the school.
retirement [n U] On his retirement (=when h'e retired) Mr
Willis received a gold watch from his colleagues. I Many
people in Britain have been forced to take early retirement
(=to retire at a younger age than is usual) because of the
recession.
hand in your notice/resignation I,hmnd In ja: r
'naots, ,rezlg'nean! to write an official letter to your
employer saying that you are going to leave your job on a
particular date Iv phrase]
David handed in his notice yesterday and will start his new
job on April 2rid. I You have to hand in your notice at least
four weeks before you leave. I She's threatened to hand in her
resignation on several occasions.
pack it in/Jack it in / ,pink It In, ,dsmk It I in/an infor-
mal British expression meaning to leave your job, espe-
cially because you are bored with it [v phrase]
Look, if it's such a boring job, why don 't you pack it in? [ The
business was losing money, and I kept asking my husband
to pack it in.

LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION ?49 LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION
2 to make someone leave their job
fire
sack/give sb
the sack
dismiss
give sb the boot
lay off
make sb redundant
redundancy
suspend
shed
give sb their notice
relieve sb of their
duties/post
fire/famr! to make someone leave their job, especially
because they have done something wrong or something the
employer does not approve of Iv T]
fire sb She's a terrible boss - she fires people for the slight-
est mistake. I You couldn't fire someone for joining a union,
but you can if they go on strike. [ fire sb from When Max
was fired from his job the whole family had to pack up and
leave town.
sack/give sb the sack/sek, Igiv (sb) 6 I seek/ words
used especially in British English meaning to make some-
one leave their job, for example, because they are not good
enough at it, they are no longer needed, or they have done
something wrong Iv T]
She was sacked for stealing. [ We can't really give him the
sack just because he's unpopular. I It's illegal to sack a
woman for becoming pregnant.
sacking In C] There have been mass sackings (=many
people have been sacked) as a result of strike action by
workers at the plant.
dismiss/ds'ms! an official or legal word meaning to
make someone leave their job Iv T]
dismiss sb The company was forced to dismiss the entire
workforce. I There is clear evidence that women have been
dismissed for asking for equal pay. I dismiss sb from their
job/post/position etc The President dismissed him from
his post as Trade Secretary.
dismissal In C/U] She is claiming it is a case of unfair
dismissal (=the fact of being dismissed).
give sb the boot/glv (sb) 6 'bu:q an informal expres-
sion meaning to make someone leave their job, especially
because they have done something wrong Iv phrase]
John was given the boot after arriving late for work every
day for a week. [ I've been given the boot from my job, but
I hated it anyway.
lay off/,le; 'Df [[ -,a:f/to make workers, especially wor-
kers in a large factory or organization, leave their jobs,
because there is not enough work for them to do, or not
enough money to pay their wages [phr v T]
lay off sb 3000 car workers have been be laid off at the fac-
tory in Cleveland. [ Where demand for goods was shrinking,
firms would close down or lay off workers. [ lay sb/her/
them etc off He began his "recovery'programme by laying
a third of his workforce off.
make sb redundant /Imelk (sb) rI d^nd)nt] an expres-
sion used especially in British English meaning to make
someone leave their job, and usually pay them some money
to do so, because they are no longer needed Iv phrase]
At least 2, 000 computer programmers have been made redun-
dant in the past year. [ No, I haven't been sacked - I've been
made redundant. [ He says he's going to make thirty people
redundant, but we don't know who.
redundancy/ri ' dAndansi/a word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning a situation in which someone has to
leave their job, and is usually paid some money to do so,
because they are no longer needed by their company In
C/U]
Computerization and new technology are the cause of many
redundancies. I In 1988 redundancies aceounted for 37% of
job losses in the mining industry. I redundancy pay/pay-
ment/money (=the money you receive when you are made
redundant) He bought a new car with his redundancy
money. I voluntary redundancy (=when someone is will-
ing to leave their job) We hope to achieve staffing cuts
through voluntary redundancy and a freeze on recruitment.
suspend /saspend/ to make someone leave a job or
organization temporarily, either as a punishment for doing
something wrong, or while the organization tries to find
out whether they have done something wrong or not Iv T]
The Police Department has suspended six officers while they
investigate claims of fraud and corruption. [ A London bar-
rister has been suspended for 9 months.
shed/fedl if a company sheds some of its workers, it stops
employing them, especially in order to save money Iv T]
Ford has announced plans to shed almost half its workforce
at the factory.
give sb their notice/,gIv (sb) 6ea r 'naots/to tell some-
one that they must leave their job, either immediately or
in a week, a month etc Iv phrase]
The company have said they're planning to close down and
we've all been given two weeks" notice. I As soon as the
manageress heard that he had been caught stealing, she
immediately gave him his notice.
relieve sb of their duties/post/r,li:v (sb) av 6ea r
'dju:tiz, 'paost II -'du:-/if someone with an important offi-
cial job is relieved of their duties or post, their job is
taken away from them, especially for a short time because
people think they have done something very bad and this
is being checked Iv phrase]
The Chief Inspector has been relieved of his duties pending
another investigation by fellow officers. [ The authorities
have decided to relieve the professor of his post at the univer-
sity until further notice, after complaints were made by one
of his female students.
to be forced to leave your job
lose your job be made redundant
be fired job losses
get the sack heads will roll
lose your job/,lu:z ja: r 'dsob II -'d3o:b/Iv phrase]
My father lost his job when the factory moved to the north. I
After she lost her job, she got more and more depressed and
started drinking heavily. [ Many people won't complain
about pay and conditions because they're terrified of losing
their jobs.
be fired/hi: falord/to be forced to leave your job, espe-
cially because your employer thinks you have done some-
thing wrong or because you are not doing your job properly
Iv phrase]
Fifty workers have been fired for joining the strike. I Sheila's
never forgiven her former employer since she was fired six
months ago. I You're firedL get the sack / I get 6  sak/an expression used in Brit-
ish English meaning to lose your job because you have
done something wrong or are not doing your job properly
Iv phrase]
He got the sack for swearing at the boss. [ "I can't leave the
office now, "" she said, 'Tll get the sack. "'1 He had the good
luck to work in an old family firm where nobody ever got the
sack.
be made redundant/bi: me;d r dAndant] an expres-
sion used especially in British English meaning to lose
your job, and usually be paid some money for this, because
you are no longer needed by your company Iv phrase]
We lost our home when my husband was made redundant
five years ago. [ When the seven coal mines were closed, over
5000 workers were made redundant.
redundant [ adj] Redundant car workers have organized a
demonstration to protest about the state of their industry.
job losses/'d3Db ,losz II 'dsa:b ,l:soIz/an expression
used especially in newspapers, on television etc, meaning
jobs that people have been made to leave because their com-
pany can no longer afford to employ them In plural]
3000job losses have been predicted for the near future in the
steel and coal industries. I Labor unions are meeting to decide
how they can prevent further job losses.
heads will roll /,hedz wi1 'raol/you say heads will roll,
when you expect that some people will lose their jobs
because someone has made a serious mistake or done
something wrong
If the boss ever finds out about this, heads will roll.

LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION ?50 LEAVE A PLACE
4 words for describing parties, gifts etc for
someone who is leaving a job or organization
leaving
farewell
leaving/,]i:vi! leaving party/present/gift etc (=one
that is arranged for or given to someone who is leaving
their job) [adj only before noun]
Are you going to Katie's leaving party on Friday? I It seems
nearly every day there's a collection for someone's leaving
present.
farewell/fcr'wcl/farewell speech/dinner etc (=one
that happens because someone is leaving somewhere, espe-
cially when this is a formal or officially organized event)
[adj only before noun ]
Sylvia's farewell dinner, will be held at an exclusive London
hotel. I Eisenhower gave his farewell address to the Ameri-
can people in January 1961.
5 to make someone leave an organization
expel
expel/xk' spell to officially make someone leave an organi-
zation especially because they have done something wrong
or harmftfl to the organization [v T]
The party has decided to expel him because of his alleged con-
nections with organized crime. I Japan was expelled from
the League of Nations after it refused to withdraw its troops
from Chinese territory.
6 to allow or force someone to leave the army,
airforce, or navy
discharge
discharge Idls 't[o:rdSI [v T]
When Danny was discharged in 1961 he went to Los Angeles,
looking for work. I With the war almost definitely over, mili-
tary chiefs set about discharging conscripted soldiers.
discharge/'dlst[ordS! [n C] Tony wanted to get married
as soon as he got his discharge (=he was allowed to leave)
from the army.
7 to leave the army, airforce, or navy without
permission
desert
desert/di 'z3:rt/[v I]
No one could desert without being captured almost immedi-
ately. I The three men were brought back to camp and shot
for deserting.
desertion Idl'z3:r/an/[n U] The punishment for desertion
(=leaving without permission) was death.
deserter [n C] Deserters from the US army often turned to
crime in order to survive.
LEAVE A PLACE
I to go away from a place
2 what you say when you are leaving or when
you have to leave
3 what you say to someone when you want
them to leave
4 to leave at the start of a journey
5 to leave a room or building for just a short
time
6 to leave quickly in order to avoid trouble,
danger, or embarrassment
7 to leave after doing something wrong or
illegal
6 to leave quietly or secretly, because you do
not want to be noticed
9 to leave angrily, for example after a quarrel
10
11
12
13
14
to make someone leave a room or building
ways of saying that a crowd of people leave
the place where they are gathered
to make a crowd of people leave the place
where they are gathered, especially by using
force
ways of saying that an army leaves a place,
for example after a battle
to leave unwillingly
1 to go away from a place
leave go away
go go off
go out empty
leave Ili:v/[v I/T not in passive]
leave a house/room/office ere The police wanted to know
what time he had left the off'we. I Hand back the identity card
when you leave the building. I leave Just as I was leaving,
the phone rang. I I want to see you before I leave.
go Igzol a word used especially in spoken English mean-
ing to leave a place [v I]
Let's go. I When does the next bus go? I We stayed another
ten minutes and then we went. I He took the money, thanked
me, and when I turned to go, put it safely in his wallet.
go out/,gu 'aut/to leave a room, house, or building, espe-
cially when you intend to return very soon [phr v I]
I'm just going out for a minute, I won't be long. I go out to
do sth I went out to put the car in the garage. I go out of
As she went out of the room she slammed the door, hoping
to wake the whole house.
go away / ,goo ' wel / to leave a place, often for a long time
or permanently [phr v I]
I'm going away tomorrow. Will you look after the house for
me, please? I go away from If you go away from here you
might be able to start a new life somewhere else.
go off /,goo 'of II -':f/to leave a place suddenly or for a
particular purpose especially if you do not explain why you
are going [phr v I]
They just went off, without even saying goodbye. I Many
trainees don't finish the course and go off and work in other
areas. I go off to do sth When we could not find out what
was wrong with the car, Billy went off to find a phone.
empty/'empti/if a room or building empties, everyone
in it leaves [v I]
When the fire alarm rang, the room emptied rapidly. I It was
the end of term and the university campus had completely
emptied.
2 what you say when you are leaving or when
you have to leave
I'm off I must dash/fly
I must go I'm getting out of
I'd better make a move/ here
make tracks I'm outta here
I'm off la,m 'of/
We're off now, everybody. Bye/I Well, I'm off. Thanks for the
great meal 
I must go./ai ,mASt goo/(used when you are leaving
because you are in a hurry or because you have to go
somewhere)
Now I really must go or I'll be late for my meeting. [ We must
be going because Billy will be home from school soon.
I'd better make a move/make tracks laid beta r
meik  'mu:v, meik 'treksl (used when you are leaving
somewhere, especially when you do not really want to)
I'd better make a move or I'll miss my last bus home. I I'd
love to stay longer, but I think it's about time we made tracks.
I must dash/fly/ai ,mASt 'de[, 'flail (used when you
must leave now because you are in a hurry to go
somewhere)

LEAVE A PLACE 751 LEAVE A PLACE
And now Imust fly, Bernard. Henry gets angry ifI keep him
waiting. I I have a date at seven, so I must dash.
I'm getting out of here/aim =getI 'aot av hIar/(an
informal expression used when you want to leave a place
quickly to avoid danger or something unpleasant)
I'm getting out of here before the trouble starts. I Oh no - here
comes that awful man. I'm getting out of here.
I'm outta here ! =aim =aota hmr/(an informal American
expression)
OK, one last drink and I'm outta here. I I'm outta here - I
have to go pick up the kids from school.
3 what you say to someone when you want
them to leave
go away
get out
clear off/out
get lost
beat it
push off/shove off
piss off
go away I =gatJ a =weiI Please listen to me - go away before
it's too late. I Why don't you all go away! I Don't go away.
I have to make a phone call. I'll be back in no time.
get out ! =get 'aot/(used when you want someone to leave
the room, house etc immediately because you are angry
with them or because there is some danger)
"'Get out, "" shouted the boss, "'youre fired!'" I Quick, get out
of the building, there's a fire on the second floor.
clear off/out /=khar =of, =aot II-'a:q (used when you
want someone to leave immediately, usually because you
are angry with them)
I've told you before that we don't need our windows clean-
ing, so just clear off and don't come back! ] Listen kids, I'm
fed up with your constant moaning - just clear out.
get lost I,get 'lost II -'la:sq (used when you want some-
one to leave because they have made you very angry or
annoyed)
Get lost, I never want to see you again! I Get lost you stupid
creeps! Stop following me.
beat it ! =bi:t it/(an American expression used when you
want someone to leave immediately, usually because you
are angry with them)
Beat it, you two. I've had enough of your complaining for one
day. I He told us to beat it - we were in his way.
push off (British) I shove off (American) I,po[ 'of, d^v
=of II -=a:f/you say push off or shove off when you want
someone to leave because they are annoying you
Look, just push off will you. You're getting on my nerv. I
Push off before I get really angry. I Shove off pal. We don't
want you around here!
piss off [ pls =of II -=:):f/(an impolite British expression
used when you are telling someone to go away because you
are very angry with them)
Stop hassling me -just piss off and leave me alone, t
4 to leave at the start of a journey
leave take off
go drive off
set off pull out
depart sail/set sail
be off
leave Ili:vl [v I]
Tomorrow I have to leave early to get the train up to Michi-
gan. I When are you leaving to go on holiday? I What time
does the next train to Littlehampton leave? I When we arrived
at the port the boat had just left. I leave for London/Paris/
Chicago etc I'm leaving for Paris on Tuesday.
go Igaul a word used especially in spoken English mean-
ing to leave Iv I]
The trip is all planned - we're going in September. I Isaw
them go early Tuesday morning, loaded down with several
suitcases. I Do you know what time the next bus goes?
set off I =set =of I! -=aft/to leave somewhere and begin a
journey [phr v I]
If we set off early in the morning we should reach the coast
before dark. I set off for London/Paris/Chicago etc Early
in April Sarah set off for Ireland with her two daughters.
depart/di =pcert/a word meaning to leave, used especially
in official information about trains, planes, buses etc leav-
ing to begin a journey Iv I]
The 12.15shuttle service to Atlanta will depart from pla(form
16. I The ship was due to depart at any moment.
departure In C/U] How many departures are there to Bor-
deaux on October 2rid? I The departure of flight BA 121 to
Milan has been delayed by fog.
be off/bi: 'of II -'a:f/an informal word meaning to leave
at the start of a journey [phr v I]
be off to France/on your holidays etc When are you off
to Canada? I He can't wait to be off on his holidays. I be off
I think we'd better be off now.
take off [ =te[k 'of ]] -'a:f/ffa plane takes off, it leaves the
ground at the beginning of a flight [phr v I]
Children were watching the planes take off and land. I This
is your Captain speaking. We are due to take off in five
minutes.
takeoff/=telkof II-a:f/ In C/U] Seat-belts must remain
fastened until after takeoff.
drive off [ =dralv =of II -=a:f/to leave at the start of a jour-
ney in a car or other road vehicle [phr v I]
He left the house, got into his car and drove off. I Adrian just
had time to see his father jump into the truck and drive off
in a cloud of dust.
pull out/,pol 'aot! ff a train pulls out, it slowly gains
speed as it leaves the station at the start of a journey [phr
vii
We arrived just as the train was pulling out.
sail/set sail/sell, =set =sefl/to leave the port at the start
of a journey by sea Iv T]
Thousands of people stood waving on the quay as the Titanic
set sail. I The next ferry to Calais sails in 15 minutes.
S to leave a room or building for just a short
time
nip out
pop out/step out
nip out / ,nip 'out/a British word meaning to leave a room
or building quickly and for just a short time [phr v I]
Alice stood by the door, ready to nip out quickly when it was
time to start making the tea.
pop out (British) I step out (American)/,pop 'aot, =step
'out [[ ,po:p-I a word meaning to leave a room or building
for just a short time [phr v I]
I'm just popping out to the shops - I won't be long. [ Sally's
just stepped out for a breath of fresh air.
6 to leave quickly in order to avoid trouble,
danger, or embarrassment
run off/away make yourself scarce
shoot off light out
not see someone for dust
run off/away I,r^n 'of, a'wet II -'a:f/[phr v I1
Why did you run of]?. Was doey really nasty to you? [ When
the boys saw a policeman coming, they ran away. I run off
with sb (=because you are having a sexual relationship
with someone else's husband or wife) There was a great
scandal. He ran off with the vicar's wife. t I run away to
(=leave and go to a place far away) My brother ran away
to South America to escape from the Mafia.
shoot off I du:t 'of II -,a:f/an informalword meaning to
leave a place very quickly, often in order to avoid an awk-
ward situation [phr v I]
Here comes the boss. I think you'd better shoot off. I I'm going
to have to shoot off now, I said I'd be home in ten minutes.
not see someone for dust/not ,si: (sb) fa r 'dAst/an
informal British expression: if you do not see someone
for dust, they leave very quickly in order to avoid some-
thing, especially something that they should have stayed
for Iv phrase not in progressive]

LEAVE A PLACE ?52 LEAVE A PLACE
If you tell him it's his turn to buy the drinks, you won't see
him for dust/
make yourself scarce /imek jo:rself 'skeors/ to
quickly leave a place when something embarrassing or
awkward is likely to happen Iv phrase]
We'd better make ourselves scarce before anyone finds out
what we've been doing. I Reg made himself scarce when Gary
and Clare began to argue.
light out/lait aot/an American word meaning to run
away from a person or place quickly, usually because you
are afraid [phr v I]
light out across/along/down etc They lit out across the
fields to get away. I light out He lit out so fast, you'd think
he had met the devil face to face.
7 to leave after doing something wrong or
illegal
escape
get away
make your getaway
escape / I tske;pl to leave after doing something wrong or
illegal without being caught Iv I]
escape through/by etc The murderer must have escaped
through the bedroom window and over the roof. I We had to
wait three hours, hiding in the cupboard, until we could
escape in safety.
escape In C] The gang had thoroughly planned their escape.
get away/,get o'weiI to manage to leave after doing
something wrong or illegal, especially after being chased
[phr v I]
get away over/along etc He got away down a back alley. I
get away with Anybody breaking into this house could get
away with thousands of dollars worth of jewelery. I get
away Don't let him get away.
make your getaway/mek ja: r getweI/an expres-
sion meaning to leave quickly after a crime, especially in
a way that you have arranged Iv phrase]
The robbers made their getaway in a stolen car, which was
waiting for them outside the bank.
8 to leave quietly or secretly, because you do
not want to be noticed
sneak off/away slope off
slip out/away slink off/away
sneak off/away I,sni:k 'of, a'wex l[ -'a:f/to leave quietly
taking care not to be seen, usually when you want to do
something else [phr v I]
Occasionally she and a friend would sneak off during their
free study hour. [ sneak off/away from I don't know what
he's up to, but he sneaks away from work early every day.[
sneak off/away to Against her father's will, Annie had
sneaked off to the disco.
slip out/away /sllp 'aot, a'weq to leave quietly and
without being noticed [phr v I]
When everyone was busy talking I slipped away to join Beth
for a quiet drink. [ You thought I hadn't seen you slipping
quietly out, didn't you?
slope off/,slaop 'tf [[-a:f/ an informal British word
meaning to leave somewhere quietly and secretly, espe-
cially when you are avoiding work [phr v I]
The manager was away, so Brian took the opportunity to
slope off home an hour early. I slope off to "Where's Sam?
We can't start without him. "" "I saw him sloping off to the
pub half an hour ago. ""
slink off/away I,slxk 'f, awet i[ -a:f/to leave some-
where quietly, without being seen, especially because you
are ashamed or afraid [phr v I]
When the teacher had finished scolding Craig, he just wanted
to slink away and be by himself. [ We told him we knew he'd
been lying, and everyone laughed as he slunk miserably off.
9 to leave angrily, for example after a quarrel
walk out
storm out
flounce out
walk out I,wa:k 'aotl [phr v I]
Furious by now, I walked out, leaving him sitting there
shocked and whitefaced. [ walk out on sb Did you hear that
Mary walked out on her husband? She's staying at her
mother's now.
storm out I, sta:rm 'aotl to leave a room after a quarrel
in a very noisy and angry way [phr v I]
She yelled at me and stormed out, slamming the door behind
her. [ storm out of This impulsive woman has been known
to storm out of meetings on several occasions.
flounce out I ,flaons aot/if someone, usually a woman,
flounces out of a room etc, they leave in a way which
shows that they are angry or that they think they have been
treated unfairly [phr v I]
"I'm not putting up with your sexist comments any more, ""
said Gilly, flouncing out. [ flounce out of The woman
flounced out of the restaurant, got into her car, and drove
off into the night.
10 to make someone leave a room or building
throw out/kick out
show sb the door
eject
throw out/kick out 1,0mo aot, ,k;k 'aot/to make some-
one leave a room, building etc, especially because they have
been behaving badly [phr v T]
throw/kick sb out If you don't stop making that noise I'll
have to throw you out. I get thrown out/kicked out They
got kicked out of the bar for being drunk and disorderly.
show sb the door/,ao (sb) 6a 'da:r/to politely tell
someone to leave a building because they have done some-
thing that they should not have done or because they are
not allowed in there Iv phrase]
A couple of security guards showed me the door after they
found I had a camera with me. I A group of skinheads started
screaming obscenities and had to be shown the door.
eject/i dsekt/to make someone leave a public place by
using force Iv T]
Several demonstrators were ejected from the hall. [ The
manager threatened to have them ejected if there was any
more trouble.
1 1 ways of saying that a crowd of people leave
the place where they are gathered
disperse
scatter
disperse/dI'sp3:rs/if a crowd disperses, all the people
in the crowd leave in different directions Iv I]
The crowd began dispersing as soon as the ambulance had
taken the victims away. I The arrival of soldiers armed with
teargas made the students disperse.
scatter / iskatar/if a crowd scatters, the people in the
crowd leave quickly in different directions especially
because they are frightened Iv I]
At the sound of the police sirens, the crowd scattered. I send
a crowd/people scattering The explosion sent women and
children scattering, screaming hysterically.
1 2 to make a crowd of people leave the place
where they are gathered, especially by using
force
disperse
disperse IdI'spa:rs/Iv T]
The police used teargas to disperse the protestors. [ The army
fired shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the students

LEAVE A PLACE 753 LEAVE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE
1  ways of saying that an army leaves a place,
for example after a battle
retreat
withdraw
pull out
retreat Ira 'tri:q if an army or group of soldiers retreats,
it leaves an area because it is being defeated Iv I]
Lieutenant Peterson shouted the order to retreat. [ The army
was not only retreating - it was falling apart.
retreat In C] The soldiers were forced to make a hasty
retreat.
withdraw Iw6'dra:, WI0-/to leave a place, either to avoid
being defeated or because the fighting has stopped Iv I]
The German army withdrew when the allies crossed the
Rhine.
withdrawal In C/U] What started as a controlled with-
drawal soon turned into a chaos.
pull out I,pol 'aotl if an army or group of soldiers pulls
out, it leaves a place, especially because it might be
defeated [phr v I]
Sergeant! Get the men ready to pull out. There must be no
shooting under any circumstances. I pull out of The Ameri-
cans pulled out of Vietnam.
deserted [adj only before noun] Deserted wives are bound
to try and get their husbands back somehow.
2 to make a husband, wife, girlfriend etc leave
throw sb out/kick sb out
throw sb out/kick sb out i,0rau (sb) 'aot, ,kk (sb) 'atrt/
to make someone such as your husband, wife etc leave
because they have hurt you, made you angry etc [phr v T]
He threw her out when he heard she was seeing other guys. [
Karen kicked her boyfriend out because she could no longer
handle his alcohol problem.
LEAVE SCHOOL
OR COLLEGE
1 to permanently leave your school, college, or
other place where you are studying
2 someone who leaves school or college
3 to make someone leave school or college,
especially because of bad behaviour or bad
exam results
14 to leave unwillingly
tear yourself away
can't bear to leave
tear yourself away I ,tea r ja:rself a'wex/to leave a place
or person very unwillingly because you have to [vphrase]
R's time for us to leave the exhibition now, if you can tear
yourself away. I tear yourself away from It was difficult
to tear himself away from that magnificent view.
can't bear to leave Iko:nt ,bea r ta li:v I[ kant-/to find
it extremely difficult to leave a person or place that you like
very much Iv phrase]
I can't bear to leave this house, I've lived here all my life. I
Kim couldn't bear to leave Danny and cried all the way to
the airport. I We've had such a great vacation, we can't bear
to leave.
LEAVE A
RELATIONSHIP
1 to leave your husband, wife, girlfriend etc,
especially permanently
2 to make a husband, wife, girlfriend etc leave
I to leave your husband, wife, girlfriend etc,
especially permanently
leave
walk out
desert
leave/li:v/Iv I/T]
leave sb He promised he would never leave her. I leave sb
for sb Simon has left me for his secretary, after fifteen years
of marriage. I can't believe it! I leave Please don't leave; give
me just one more chance to work things out.
walk out/wa:k 'aot/to suddenly leave your husband,
wife, girlfriend etc in a way that they think is unfair [phr
v I]
I was three monthspregnant when Peter walked out. I walk
out on She remembered the day her father had walked out
on them and how she'd wished he'd taken her with him.
desert Idx 'za:rq to leave your family, husband, children
etc to avoid the responsibility of looking after them Iv T]
Since my father deserted us, we've never had much money. I
She was lonely and hurt at the way he had deserted her and
their child. I The baby had been deserted outside the doctor's
surgery.
I to permanently leave your school, college, or
other place where you are studying
leave graduate/be graduated
graduate drop out
leave/li:vl Iv I/T not in passive]
leave school/college/university I worked in an office
when I first left school. I My eldest son, upon leaving college,
fell in love and got married. I It is vital that young people
leave full-time education with appropriate skills and qualifi-
cations. I leave I hated school and couldn't wait to leave.
graduate / 'grlsuei q a British word meaning to success-
fully finish your studies at a university Iv I]
graduate from He graduated from Manchester University
in 1974. I graduate What are you going to do after you
graduate?
graduate/be graduated/'gradsuet, bi: 'gradsuetd /
an American word meaning to successfully finish your
studies, especially at high school Iv Il
graduate from/be graduated from We both graduated
from the same high school in New York. I Danny was gradu-
ated from Yale last year. I graduate If I graduate I want to
study law at the state university.
drop out/,drop 'aut II ,dro:p-/to leave school, college, or
university before your course of study has finished and
have no intention of returning [phr v I]
One third of the city's students drop out before graduation. I
drop out of school/college/university etc In the 1960s,
Harlem was devastated by riots and many teenagers dropped
out of school.
2 someone who leaves school or college
school-leaver
dropout
school.leaver I'sku:l li:var! a British word meaning
someone who has left or who is going to leave school, col-
lege, or university, especially someone who is looking for
a job In C]
Assistant wanted to work in fashion store - would suit
enthusiastic school-leaver. I Most towns have a careers serv-
ice to help school-leavers find suitable jobs. I School or col-
lege leavers should spend at least two weeks in their final
year on work experience programmes.
drolut / dropaot II 'alto:p4 someone who has left school,
college or university before their course of study has
finished and who has no intention of returning In C]
Bernstein was a college dropout who started his career as
an office boy at the Washington Post.

LEAVE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE 754 LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY
3 to make someone leave school or college,
especially because of bad behaviour or bad
exam results
expel
kick out
expel/Ik' spell to make someone leave school or college
permanently because they have behaved badly [v T]
expel sb for sth The principal expelled John for stealing. [
get/be expelled If the teacher finds out you've been using
drugs, you'll get expelled. [ expel sb You have to do some-
thing seriously wrong before this school will expel you.
expulsion IIk'sp^lan! In C/U] The threat of expulsion was
enough to frighten the girls into improving their behoviour. [
There have been five expulsions in this academic year alone.
kick out/kk 'autl an informal expression meaning to
make someone leave school, college, or university perma-
nently because of bad behaviour or for failing examina-
tions [phr v T]
kick sb out of school/college/university ere Do your
parents know you've been kicked out of school yet? [ kick sb/
her/them ere out She said she'd kick us out if she caught
us doing it again. [ kick out sb Our headteacher has kicked
out those two boys who set fire to the gym.
vacate/vvkeit, vei- [[ 'veIkeIt/a word used especially in
hotels, on notices etc meaning to leave the room or house
you have been staying in, taking all your possessions with
you [v T]
Guests are requested to vacate their rooms before 12 o'clock
on the day of departure.
2 to leave your house and go to live in another
one
move
move house
move Imu:vl Iv I]
When are you moving to your new house? [ In her early years
her family had moved from one town to another and she had
never felt settled anywhere. [ We're moving tomorrow. Why
don't you come round for a drink this evening?
move In C] Some of our furniture got broken in the move
(=while we were moving).
move house/,mu:v 'haos! a British expression mean-
ing to leave your house and go to live in another one Iv
phrase]
I'm not looking forward to moving house - it'll be a lot of
work.
LEAVE YOUR
HOME/COUNTRY
to permanently leave the house where you
live
to leave your house and go to live in another
one
to make someone leave the house where
they live
to permanently leave your country
to make someone leave a country
1 to permanently leave the house where you
live
leave run away
move out vacate
leave home
leave Ill:v/to leave your home or the area where you live
[v I/T not in passive]
leave your home/town ete The gang had left town before
the police discovered the robbery. [ leave This has been such
a lovely home I'll be sorry to leave.
move out/,mu-'v aotl to permanently leave your home,
usually one you rent or share with someone else, taking
all your possessions with you [phr v I]
If the landlord raises our rent we'll have to move out. [ Diana
and I aren't together any more. I've moved out. [ move out
of Tom moved out of his flat in Toronto last month.
leave home / li:v 'hvum/ira young person leaves home,
they leave their parents' house because they think they are
old enough to live on their own Iv phrase]
Gwen had left home at 18 to find a job in New York. [ Once
the children have left home you will need a smaller house. [
Jane was happy that her decision to leave home and marry
Joe was the right one.
run away / r^n  wei/ira young person runs away, they
secretly leave their parents' home or the place where they
are living because they are very unhappy there [phr v I]
I ran away at the age of twelve but my Dad came and found
me at the bus station before I could leave town. [ Every time
they put me in one of those children's homes, I would just run
away as soon as I could. [ run away from home Thousands
of children run away from home each year.
runaway/'r^nvweq In Cl This hostel helps runaways who
don't want to go back to their families.
3 to make someone leave the house where
they live
throw sb out
evict
give sb notice
throw sb out !,0too (sb) 'aot! to make someone leave
quickly, especially because they have done something that
has made you angry [phr v T]
Why were you thrown out of your apartment? [ Our landlord
would like to throw us out, but he'd be breaking the terms
of our contract. I throw sb out on the street (=make some-
one leave their home immediately, even if they have
nowhere else to go) She was thrown out on the street when
her family discovered she was pregnant.
evict/ 'vikt/to legally force someone to leave the house
where they are living, especially because they should not
be there or they have not paid their rent Iv T]
If we are evicted we'll have nowhere to go. [ We had been
evicted for non-payment of rent. [ The police forcibly evicted
the squatters from the apartment.
eviction/ 'vikan/In C/U] He faces eviction (=being made
to leave) because he has not paid his rent.
give sb notice/,giv (sb) 'nots/to tell someone offi-
cially that they must leave the place they are renting by
a particular date Iv phrase]
How many weeks" notice did your landlord give you? [ give
sb notice to leave/quit/move out I've been given notice
to leave my flat, but I was not told why.
4 to permanently leave your country
emigrate
migrate
exodus
emigrate I'emgreiq to leave your own country to live
permanently in another country, especially one which is
far away Iv I]
Henry Parkes married Clarinda Varney and emigrated to
Australia in 1836. [ My parents emigrated from Britain to
New Zealand when Dad got a once-in-a-lifetime job offer. [
When his business failed, he decided to emigrate.
emigration Iemigrei.fan] In C/U] Scottish names are
common in America because of the emigration of many
people from Scotland in the 19th century.
migrate /mai'greit [[ 'rnaigreit/ if people, birds, or
animals migrate, they leave their country or area in large
numbers, but usually only for a limited period, in order to
find food, warmer weather etc Iv I]

LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY ?55 LEGAL
How do birds know when to migrate and how do they find
their way back home? I Where there are areas of high unem-
ployment, workers tend to migrate to other, richer parts of
the country.
migration Imai greiJ'an] In C/U] Mr Gotz has made detailed
studies of the migration patterns of many birds.
migrant I'maigmntl In C] The migrants travelled many
miles before finally finding a suitable place to settle.
exodus I'eksdsl the movement of a large number of
people who leave their country, city etc because they do not
want to live there any longer, or because it is not safe for
them to stay In singular]
When Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia there was an exodus
of clews from Eastern Europe. I France has suffered a rural
exodus, with thousands of farrn-workers moving to the cities. I
mass exodus (=a great exodus) East Germany is facing a
mass exodus of its young people.
 to make someone leave a country
exile/send into exile deport
banish extradite
expel repatriate
exile/send into exile I'eksail, ,send into 'eksail/ to
make someone leave their country .for political reasons, for
example because they oppose the government and are fight-
ing against it ]v T]
The leader of the coup was exiled and the others imprisoned. I
Imelda Marcos was sent into exile when her husband's
government was overturned.
exiled ]adj only before noun] Solzhenitsyn was an exiled
Russian writer.
exile [n C] We housed a political exile (=someone who had
been exiled) until he was able to return home in safety.
banish ! ' bmnij'/to send someone away permanently from
their country or from the area where they live, as an offi-
cial punishment Iv T]
Western countries use prisons to punish criminals and no
longer banish them from the country for ever. [ Yuri Orlov,
a Soviet dissident, was banished to Siberiaforpublicly stat-
ing what he believed.
banishment [n U] Punishment for serious crimes could be
banishment or even hanging.
expel /[k'spel/ to make a foreigner leave a country
because they have broken the law, or for political reasons
[v T]
25 Soviet diplomats were to be expelled from the USA by
October 1st. [ Warnings were given that unless attempts at
reconciliation were made, the nation's representatives in
London would be expelled.
expulsion IIk'spMfanl [n C/U] When war was announced
the government called for the immediate expulsion of all for-
eign journalists from the country.
deport Idi 'pa'-rq if the authorities in a country deport a
foreign person or a member of a particular race who is
living in that country, they force them to leave [v T]
The man has been deported back to the Irish Republic where
he will face terrorism charges. [ Tens of thousands of Greek
Jews were deported to Nazi death camps.
deportation I,di:p a:r'teIfan! [n C/U] The US government
has ordered his deportation (=has ordered him to be
deported).
extradit® I 'ekstmdait! to use a legal process to officially
make someone who is believed to be guilty of a crime go
back to the country where the crime happened, in order
to be tried in a court of law ]v T]
The drug baron was extradited to the United States from
Colombia. [ Spanish authorities are seeking to have the
couple extradited to answer further charges.
extradition I ,ekstm dJ "an] [n C/U] The British government
is seeking the extradition of the two men (=is seeking to
extradite them) to face charges of pianting a bomb on a Pan
Am plane in 1988.
repatriate/ri:'pmtrieit [[ ri:'pei-/to officially send some-
one back to their home country, especially by force and
against their will Iv T]
Vietnamese boat people whorled to Hong Kong in the 1970s
are now being forcibly repatriated to Vietnam
repatriation I,ri:pmtri'eIan [[-pei-/ [n U] The National
Party wants the repatriation of thousands of Turkish
workers (=it wants them to be repatriated)
leaving LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 4
lecherous SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 8
lecture CLASS/LESSON 1, TEACH 2, TELL SB OFF 1, 4
lecturer TEACH 5
leer SMILE 1, 3
leer at LOOK AT 8
left: be left REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
left: none left/not any left FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 2
left: not have any left NOT HAVE 3
left: what is left of/remains of REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
left over: be left over REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
leftover REMAIN/BE LEFT 2
leftovers REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
leg: be pulling sb's leg JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 3
leg: pull sb's leg MAKE FUN OF 1
legal LAW 6, LEGAL 1, 2
legal system LAW 2
LEGAL
ways of saying that you can or must do
something according to the law
I words for describing actions, methods, or
organizations that are allowed by the law
:2 words for describing rights, duties, or
processes that are based on what the law
says
3 to make something legal which was
previously illegal
1 words for describing actions, methods, or
organizations that are allowed by the law
legal above board
lawful within the law
legitimate
legal I'll:gall [adj]
The marriage was legal under Swiss law. [ Women were not
allowed into the club. This was not legal, but the manage-
merit didn't care. I Although the Communist Party is legal
in this country, it doesn't have a very large membership.
legally lady] It was all done quite legally.
lawful/'la:fal/actions or methods that are lawful are
allowed by law, especially as compared with actions or
methods that are not [adj]
Protesters must only use lawful methods of opposing the
government. I Pamela is now living with a man who is not
her lawful husband. I It is lawful to employ someone under
the age of sixteen if their parents agree.
legitimate ih 'd3Itaimalt/legitimate activities, organiza-
tions, or claims keep within, or work according to, normal
laws and rules tndj]
The inquiry heard that tobacco smuggling into the UK was
seriously affecting the profits of legitimate importers. I He
is a criminal who runs a legitimate business as well. I At
least three of the dead woman's relatives have a legitimate
claim to her house.
above board Io,bAv 'bo=rd/an activity or a way of doing
business that is above board is done legally, even if it may
seem dishonest [adj phrase only after noun]
Don't worry about the contract; it's all completely above
board. I He assured us that the insurance claim was honest
and above board, but I'm not so sure,
within the law /wI,in a 'la:l keep/stay/remain/
operate within the law (=make sure that what you do is
legal) [adv phrase]

LEGAL 756 LEND
He makes tough business deals but he makes sure he always
stays within the law. I Building contractors must operate
within the law by ensuring that an acceptable standard of
work is carried out.
2
words for describing rights, duties, or
processes that are based on what the law
says
legal according to the law
statutory by law
constitutional legally
legal I'll:grill [adj only before noun]
You have no legal right to walk across this land. I It's an
advisory document; it has no legal force. I They can request
you to pay a service charge, but it is not a legal condition.
statutory /'stetftdri II -ta:ril statutory right/duty/
payment ete (=one that everyone should get by law, or that
has to be provided by law) [adj only before noun]
When you buy something, you have certain statutory rights
as a consumer. I Local authorities have a statutory duty to
house homeless families. I The statutory fine for this offence
is $250.
constitutional/,konst'tju:fanl [[ Ika:nst'tu:-/legal
according to the system of rules of a country [adj]
Nobody seemed to know whether the President's action was
constitutional or not. [ I have a constitutional right to speak
out against this country's involvement in the war. [ A court
decision in 1954 ruled that segregated education was not con-
stitutional.
constitutionally [ adv ] Although unusual, the Governor's
action was constitutionally quite correct.
according to the law/,ka:rd[J t 6 'la:/if something
is done according to the law, it is done as the law says
it should be [adv phrase]
The police must ensure that all interviews and interrogations
are carried out according to the law. [ The fishing boats were
ordered back within their own national waters, according
to international law.
by law/bai 'b:/if something must be done by law, it must
legally be done [adv phrase]
By law, the purchase must be completed within a month after
the contracts are signed. ] required by law The wearing of
seat belts in cars is required by law.
legally/li:gli/ legally authorized/obliged/able ere
(-to have to do something because the law says you must)
[adv]
The plane was legally authorized to carry 250 passengers. [
Certain individuals may legally be able to avoid paying
income tax. [ Prisoners of war are legally obliged to give their
name, rank and serial number.
3 to make something legal which was
previously illegal
legalize
decriminalize
legitimize
legalize (also -ise British)/'lizglaizl Iv T]
The government will never legalize drugs like hashish or
cocaine. [ The money was collected illegally but the commit-
tee legalized the funds and used them to pay off debts.
decriminalize (also-ise British)/,diz'krimnalaIz/to
make an illegal activity no longer a crime, so that the
people who do it can no longer be punished by law Iv T]
Plenty of men and women think prostitution should be
decriminalized.
legitimize (also .ise British)/1I 'd3ItImalz/to change the
law so that something someone is already doing, especially
something morally wrong, is made legal [v T]
Mussolini soon legitimized a new fascist social order in
Italy. [ The Helsinki agreement was supposed to legitimize
the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
legalize LEGAL 3
legally LEGAL 2
legend FAMOUS 8, STORY 4
legendary FAMOUS 3
leggy TALL PERSON 1
legible READ 11
legislate LAW 4
legislation LAW 1
legitimate LEGAL 1, RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 1
legitimize LEGAL 3
legless: paralytic/legless DRUNK 3
leisure ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 12
 leisure time TIME/FREE TIME 1
 leisurely HURRY 8, SLOW 2
:: lend ADD 4, LEND 1
- lend a hand: give/lend a hand HELP 1
 lend an ear LISTEN 1
lend
 - . .'.: ...  - .,}} - ............. :::}#'.}..>.
-( .:---- ,,---- -.
give ,m.ething to
meone and get ]
,.take::som:ethng-#om::N
@ LEND
to allow someone to borrow money or
something that you own, which they will give
back later
1 to lend something to someone
• ways of saying that a person or business
allows someone to use something in
exchange for money
 a person or organization that lends money
1 to lend something to someone
lend let sb use
loan give sb the use of/
loan a painting/ loan of
work of art etc be on loan
give sb a loan
lend/lend/to allow someone to borrow your money or use
something you own, such as a car, book, or pen [v T]
lend sb sth Can you lend me Ј10 until pay day?[ Would you
mind lending me your riding boots? [ The bank wouldn't
lend her the money to buy the car because she had a bad
credit record. ] lend sth to sb It's not her own bike. Carol
lent it to her. [ US banks have lent billions of dollars to Third
World countries.
loan IIonl an American word meaning to lend something
to someone [v T]
loan sb sth Could you loan me your magazine. [ Why don't
you ask John if he'll loan you his car?[ loan sth to sb Most
High Schools loan musical instruments to students who want
to learn to play them.
loan a painting/work of art etc Ilion (a painting etc)!
to lend a painting, work of art etc to a place where it can
be shown to the public Iv phrase]
The picture has been loaned to the National Gallery by an
American millionaire. [ The museum of Modern Art has
agreed to loan its entire Warhol collection to the exhibition.

LEND 757 LESS
give sb a Ivan /,gv (sb) a 'laon/to lend someone some
money Iv phrase]
"'Ican't afford it, it's too expensive. .... Do you want me to give
you a loan?"[ They've agreed to give us a loan provlding we
can get someone to guarantee it.
let sb use I let (sb) ju:z/to allow someone to use some-
thing that belongs to you Iv phrase]
My brother has a CD player but he never lets me use it. [ I'll
let you use my pen so long as you're careful with it. [ Some
friends of ours are letting us use their house while they're
away.
give sb the use of/loan of !,g:v (sb) 6 ju:s t)v, lun
tv/to allow someone to use something large such as a house
or car, especially for a fixed period of time Iv phrase]
Joe's giving me the use of his office until I can find a place
of my own. [ We were given the loan of my uncle's sailboat
during the vacation.
be on loan/bi: on I laonl ff something such as a library
book or work of art is on loan it has been officially lent
to a person or organization Iv phrase]
be on loan to The paintings by Picasso are on loan to a
Japanese art museum. [ be out on loan All the books I
wanted were out on loan.
2 ways of saying that a person or business
allows someone to use something in
exchange for money
rent out lease
hire out let
rent out (usually rent in American English) I,rent 'aut,
rent/ to allow someone to use a house, television etc in
exchange for money, and usually for an agreed length of
• time [phr v T]
rent sth/it/them out You know the kind of videos they have
on the top shelff I always wonder who they rent them out to. I
We rented our house out to students while we were abroad. I
rent out sth The agency specializes in renting out apart-
merits to visiting businessmen. I Hertz rents cars all over the
States. I We usually rent our house to someone over the long
summer vacation.
rental [adj only before noun] a TVrental company (=one
that rents out televisions)
hire out/haar 'aotl a British expression meaning to
allow someone to use something such as a car or clothes
for a short period of time, in exchange for money [phr v T]
hire out sth Moss Bros hire out dinner jackets and formal
wedding suits. I hire sth/it/them out Brooke then bought
a Rolls Royce and started hiring it out for special occasions.
hire In U] Ski hire can be quite expensive in popular resorts.
lease/li:s/to allow a person or a company to use build-
ings, land, or equipment for a fixed period of time, usually
a long period, in exchange for money Iv T]
lease sth to sb The offices have been leased to a Dutch com-
pany. I The farmers don't own the land - it's leased to them
by the government. [ lease out sth We lease out computer
systems and carry out essential maintenance on them.
let Iletl to allow someone to use a house, office etc in
exchange for money paid every month or week Iv T]
let sth They'll easily be able to let their apartment while
they're away. I let sth to sb The landlord has agreed to let
the shop to us for Ј200 a month. I let out sth We felt a little
uneasy about letting out our home to someone we didn't
know.
3 a person or organization that lends money
lender
creditor
loan-shark
lender I'lendarl In Cl
Despite competition from the building societies, banks are
still the biggest lenders in Britain. [ Mexico has borrowed
heavily from private banks, the World Bank, and other inter-
national lenders. I The lender is now obliged by law to give
details of the rates of interest it charges its customers.
creditor I'kredtorl a person or organization that is owed
money, because they have lent money, or because they
have supplied goods or services that they have not yet been
paid for In C]
The company's creditors are demanding their money. [ He
died owing his creditors over $20 million.
ioan.$hark/laun fo:rk/ an informal word meaning a
person or small business that lends money, at extremely
high interest rates, to people who do not always have the
full protection of the law In C]
They were refused a loan from three banks and ended up
turning to a loan-shark. [ His father had killed himself after
getting deeply in debt to a loan-shark.
lender LEND 3
lends itself to SUITABLE 1
length LONG 6
length: in length LONG 5
length of time TIMF/HOW LONG 1
lengthen LONG 3, 4
lengths: go to any lengths DETFRMINED 4
lengths: go to great lengths to do sth TRY TO DO OR
GET STH 3
lengthy LONG 2, LONG TIME 2
lenient STRICT 10, 11
lesbian HOMOSEXUAL 1
less LESS 1, 3, 4
less and less LESS 1, 3, 4
less than LESS 2
LESS
a smaller amount of something or a smaller
number of things or people
less than a number or amount
less popular, interesting, difficult etc
ways of saying that something happens less
or is done less
ways of saying that numbers, amounts, prices
etc become less
ways of saying that feelings, qualities etc
become less strong
the amount by which something decreases
1 a smaller amount of something or a smaller
number of things or people
less lower
fewer
not as much/
not so much
to a lesser degree/extent
be in thela minority
fewer and fewer
not as many/
not so many
less and less
less lies/a smaller amount of something such as time,
money, information, or food [quantifier]
less time/money/food etc As a result of these improve-
merits the car uses far less fuel. I Sales staff should spend less
time on travelling and more time on selling. I Statistics show

LESS ?58 LESS
that nowadays people drink less beer and smoke fewer
cigarettes than they used to. I less How much have you got
left? Ј30, maybe less. I It was argued that the Russians had
less to gain from this agreement than the Americans. I less
than He always travels by bus because it costs less than
travelling by train. I Clive knows even less than I do about
this business. I It's a bit less than a mile from here to the
station. I less of sth I went to that lecture too, but I think
I understood much less of it than you did.
fewer/fju'.or/ a smaller number of things, people etc
[quantifier]
fewer people/things/cars etc The Green Party candidate
did well, getting only 2000fewer votes than the winning Con-
servative. I Spending cuts will mean fewer social workers. I
We could have got through more work if we'd had fewer
interruptions. I fewer There have been similar scandals in
European countries but the politial consequences there are
fewer. I fewer than Fewer than eight of the judges voted for
her.
not as much/not so much/not oz 'mAt f, not sou 'mAt f/
less than the amount with which it is being compared
[quantifier]
not as much food/money/time etc as The Chinese don't
eat as much meat as the Americans. I I know I don "t earn any-
thing like as much money as my sister, but then I don't live
in London, so I don't need as much. I My father doesn't know
half as much about computers as you do. I not as much
There's a lot of snow on the upper slopes of the mountain but
there's not so much down here. I not as much of We didn't
use up as much of our food ration as we had expected.
not as many/not so many/,not 0z meni, ,not sou
'meni/fewer than the group with which you are compar-
ing them [quantifier]
not as many people/things/cars etc as There haven't
been as many road accidents this year as there were in 1989. ]
We don't get as many holidays as the teachers. I not as many
Last year we sold a record number of new cars but this year
we aren't selling as many because of the rise in petrol prices. ]
At one time Gloria used to get hundreds of letters from her
fans but she hasn't been getting so many in recent years.
lower / louor/lower price/temperature/mark/level/
tax etc (=one that is less than another or others) [adj]
The survey shows that teachers tend to give lower marks to
girls. I Industry will soon reap the benefits of lower interest
rates and lower taxes. I Northern districts will become colder
over the next few days with the lower temperatures exagger-
ated by some fairly brisk westerly winds. ] lower than House
prices in the rest of the country are lower than in the north
of the country.
to a lesser degree/extent/to o leso r dl gri:, ktstent/
if something is true of one thing and is true to a lesser
extent of something else, it is true of the second thing but
affects it less lady phrase]
These changes in the taxation system will effect my husband
and to a lesser extent my son. [ BMWs are becoming a more
frequent sight in dapanese cities, and to a lesser extent so are
Volkswagens and Volvo&
be in thela minority/bi: In )0, 0 maI 'norti ]1 -m 'no:-/
if people of a particular type are in the minority in a
particular group they form less than half of the total group
[ v phrase]
In the boardrooms of most big corporations, women are in
the minority. I In some parts of the country the English-
speaking population is in a minority.
fewer and fewer /fju:or ond fju:wor/ a number of
things, people ere that continues to get smaller and smaller
[quantifier]
Fewer and fewer young men are deciding to become priests. ]
As I walked into the hills I encountered fewer and fewer
farmhouses.
less and less/,les ond 'les/an amount that continues
to get smaller all the time [quantifier]
As the company's profits have grown bigger and bigger the
workers have been paid less and less. ] Every day she seems
to eat less and less and to get thinner and thinner. ] There
is less and less water available as the wells gradually become
exhausted.
2 less than a number or amount
less than lower
under within
below minus
less than/'les 6an/[prep]
Most of the farms were less than 100 acres in extent. I Per
capita income in Haiti is less than $300 a year. ] There she
was, less than ten feet away from me, walking past with the
other guests of honour.
under/'Andor/less than a particular amount, number,
age, or price [prep]
We are not allowed to sell cigarettes to children under 16. [
Under 10% of the population attend church regularly. I well
under (=much less than) I was doing well under 30 mph at
the time of the accident. I just under (=slightly less than)
At just under Ј500 this word processor is a real bargain.
below/bi 'loo/ifa number, price, temperature, speed etc
is below a particular level it is less than it, especially if
it has decreased to reach this point [prep]
For the first time this year the inflation rate has dropped
below 7%. I At speeds below 30 mph I had to change into third
gear. I well below (=a long way below) House prices have
slumped well below 1988 levels. I At night the temperature
fell below zero.
lower / 'laoor/a lower figure, amount, rate, level etc is less
than the one you have already mentioned [adj]
They rejected our estimate and suggested a lower figure. I
Lower rates of heart disease are found among non meat-
eaters. I lower than Inflation will fall to 4%, perhaps even
lower than last year.
within Iwlbl [n 1] WI61 In, wIO I in/at some point that is less
than a particular period of time, distance, or limit [prep]
Within six months of graduating she was appointed to a
senior post. I Pupils living within two miles of the school are
expected to pay their own bus fares. I Wage increases must
be within the limits set by the Finance Department.
minus/'mamos/minus five/20/ten ere (=five/20/ten etc
below zero) [prep]
On January the 28th the temperature fell to a minimum of
minus 10 degrees centigrade. [ I'm afraid that when we take
away points for hitting obstacles you get a final score of
minus seven.
3 less popular, interesting, difficult etc
less
not as/not so
less and less
less lies/[adv]
less popular/interesting/difficult etc In Spain bull-
fighting is now much less popular than football. I At vari-
ous times I've been an actor, a racing driver and a circus
manager, but since I retired life has been much less exciting. I
Maybe you should speak to her when you're less annoyed. I
less Would you say that since the exams you are more confi-
dent or less?
not as/not so /'not oz, not sou/ffsomeone or something
is not as interesting, difficult, likely etc as something else
they are less interesting, difficult, likely etc than the person
or thing with which they are being compared lady]
not as interesting/likely/difficult ete as Changing a
tyre is not as difficult as people think it is. ] The apples on
the other tree aren't as big as these ones. I It's not as simple
as that! I I think the short stories are not so interesting as
her earlier novels. I not as interesting/likely/difficult
etc They are similar to oranges but not as sweet.
less and less/lies ond 'les/less popular, interesting,
difficult etc and becoming even less so all the time [adv
phrase]
When your job applications keep being rejected you become
less and less confident. I I'm less and less sure that we were
right to invest in a computer system. I As you reduce the
voltage, the measurements become less and less accurate.

LESS ?59 LESS
4, ways of saying that something happens less
or is done less
less
not as much/not so much
less and less
less lies/[adv]
less than Women tend to argue and compete with each other
less than men. I You still see plenty of domestic violence but
it happens less than it used to. I less I care less about what
happens to the company than to the people who lose their
jobs. I I used to be a very keen golfer but I play much less
nowadays.
not as much/not so much/not z m^tj', not su m^tj'/
if something does not happen as much or is not done as
much, it happens less than it used to or less than the thing
with which it is being compared [adv phrase]
not as much as They don't swim as much as they used to. I
The situation has changed since the contraceptive pill was
introduced, but not as much as you'd expect. I The x-ray tube
does not heat up as much as a cathode ray tube. I not as
much I was a heavy smoker but I don't smoke so much any
more.
less and less /,les nd 'les/if something is done less and
less or happens less and less it happens less than before
and is continuously decreasing [adv phrase]
I found that I was sleeping less and less. I They were
interested in our views at first but as time went on we were
consulted less and less.
5 ways of saying that numbers, amounts, prices
etc become less
decrease taper off
fall drop
go down/ slide
come down plummet/plunge
dwindle nosedive
decline/be on the decline
decrease/d kri:s/[v I]
Exports of oil, cotton and minerals have decreased. I As
interest rates decrease, demand for credit rises. I Unemploy-
ment is decreasing, though slowly. I The numbers of people
borrowing from public libraries has decreased, but book
sales are rising.
fall/f:l/to decrease quickly Iv I]
During the 1960s, football attendances fell from I million per
week to 600,000. I Church membership fell while maintenance
costs increased. I fall by Their income fell by 64per cent and
caused the company to report a large loss.
falling [adj only before noun] Falling temperatures could
lead to ice patches on some minor roads tonight.
go down/come down / ,go 'daun, ,khm 'daunl to
decrease, especially in price [phr v I]
The prices of electrical goods are going down every day. I If
his temperature doesn't start to go down soon, we'll have to
call the doctor. I Demand for packaged foods is actually
going down.
dwindle /Idwndl/ to gradually become very few in
number Iv I]
If business continues to dwindle the firm will have to close
down. I As supplies of this popular product dwindle, prices
increase. I dwindle to The original platoon of 30 men had
dwindled to 12.
dwindling [adj only before noun] What can be done to
preserve the world's dwindling natural resources?
decline/be on the decline/d! 'klan, bi: )n 6 d; 'kla;n/
to gradually decrease in degree or amount especially if it
is unlikely that it will ever increase again Iv I]
In America the cigarette market is declining by around 2%
a year. I Maternal mortality in this country has continued
to decline. I Public interest in World War H could easily
decline among the young.
declining [ adj only before noun] Rapid investment is needed
to revive declining industry in the North of the country.
taper off I,teipr 'of II-':fl to slowly and gradually
decrease until it disappears completely [phr v I]
As it got later the noise of the traffic below became fainter
and fainter until it had tapered off altogether. I Their mas-
sive investment in rearmament tapered off as the threat of
war receded.
drop/drop II dro:p/to decrease quickly and usually sud-
denly Iv I ]
The number of households without a car dropped to 12%. I
House prices in the northeast dropped sharply.
sl|de/slad/if a price or the level of something slides it
gradually decreases so as to cause problems Iv I]
Prices will continue to slide unless production is reduced. I
If the pound slides much further a devaluation is inevitable.
plummet/plunge/'pl^mt, plhnd3/to drop very rapidly
and by a large amount Iv I]
Car sales are expected to plummet in Europe and North
America during the next two years. [ As soon as the sun went
down, the temperature plummeted. I plummet/plunge 20
degrees/thirty points etc The stock market plunged 30
points when the news was announced.
nosedive /'nuzdav/an informal word used in a busi-
ness context meaning to drop very rapidly Iv I]
Present rates of inflation may cause economic growth to nose-
dive. I Donations to a national charity nose-dived after alle-
gations of fraud were made against the charity's accountant.
6 ways of saying that feelings, qualities etc
become less strong
lessen ebb
subside recede
wane
lessen I'lesan/Iv I]
The pain lessened as the drugs took effect. I My love for the
countryside has never lessened. I As years go by passion les-
sens but friendship between partners often grows.
subside/sb'sad/ if something such as fear, anxiety,
trouble or laughter subsides it gradually decreases Iv I]
Depending on how quickly political tensions subside, aid
could begin to flow. I After the rebel leaders were captured
or killed the trouble subsided. I The speaker puffed on his
cigar while he waited for the laughter to subside.
wane/wein/if a feeling or quality wanes it gradually
becomes slightly less and will probably continue to
decrease Iv I]
His popularity is waning among the voters but it is still
high. I Our enthusiasm waned as the true nature of our task
became clear to us.
ebb/eb/a formal word: if your strength, courage or deter-
mination ebbs, it decreases and you become less able to do
what you want to do [v I]
As he stood outside the office his courage slowly ebbed. I ebb
away (=decrease and disappear completely) It was heart-
breaking to see his strength ebbing away.
recede/ri ' si:d/ifa possibility or chance recedes it gradu-
ally becomes less and less likely Iv I]
Since Donald lost his job the hopes of our buying a house
have receded even further. I As the threat of nuclear war
receded, other things began to worry us.
7 the amount by which something decreases
decrease drop/fall
reduction decline
decrease/'di:kri:s/[n C]
decrease in There has been a 15% decrease in the number
of violent crimes in this area. [ Small but frequent decreases
in tax are needed to stimulate the economy. I decrease
Profits showed a modest decrease, but market share was
unaffected.
reduction /r'dhkan/ a decrease in the number or
amount of something, because it has been reduced In C]
reduction in This large reduction in government spending
has meant poverty and hardship for many people. [ Bankers

LESS 760 LET/ALLOW
are expecting further reductions in interest rates. I reduc-
tion Despite price reductions and other incentives sales have
not increased.
drop/fall/drop, fail II dro:p/a decrease in the number,
amount, or level of something, especially one that is sudden
or large In C]
drop in The recent drop in student numbers is causing
problems for many schools and colleges. I There has been a
fall in sea-bird populations since the oil spill. I sharp drop
(=a sudden, large drop) The storm was preceded by a sharp
drop in atmospheric pressure. I Sharp falls in house prices
have renewed the interest of first time buyers.
decline/d 'klain/a gradual decrease in the number or
amount of something good or important so that the situa-
tion becomes worse In C usually singular]
decline in sth The 1980s saw a slow decline in manufactur-
ing industry. I We can expect a further decline in job
vacancies.
12
4 what you say when you tell someone that you
will allow them to do something
5 to be allowed to do something
6 to allow something to happen by not making
any effort to prevent it
7 to allow someone to do whatever they want
8 to officially allow someone to do something
9 official permission to do something
t0 an official document that gives someone
permission to do something
t 1 to allow someone to do something that is not
usually allowed
words for describing something that people
are allowed to do
lessen
lesser:
lesson
lesson:
lesson:
lesson:
let
let: not
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
let
LESS 6, REDUCE 2
to a lesser degree/extent LESS 1
CLASS/LESSON 1
have/take lessons STUDY 1
learn your lesson LEARN 5
teach sb a lesson PUNISH 1
LEND 2, LET/ALLOW 1, 6
let/not allow FORBID 1
alone: leave/let well alone INTERFERE 3
down DISAPPOINTED 1
down: let sb down DISAPPOINTED 4
go HOLD 9
go: let sb go/out FREE/NOT IN PRISON 2
go: let sth go GIVE 12
in ENTER 8
it pass IGNORE 3
me OFFER 3
off EXPLODE 2
off: let sb off PUNISH 9
on TELL A SECRET 2
on: not let on TELL A SECRET 4
out LOOSE 3, SOUND 4
sb have GIVE 1, 2
sb in on TELL A SECRET 2
up: with no let up CONTINUOUS 2
up on STRICT 9
your hair down RELAXED 2
yourself go RELAXED 2
LET/ALLOW
to allow someone to do something
to ask if you can be allowed to do something
what you say when you ask someone if they
will allow you to do something
1 to allow someone to do something
let say sb can do sth
allow agree to
let/leq [v T not in passive]
let sb do sth Sue doesn't let her children eat candy. I David's
letting me borrow his car this weekend. I I often want to do
the cooking, but my wife won't let me. I Just let me finish this,
then I'll make us some coffee. I Come here sweetheart. Let
Grandma have a look at your picture. I let sb in/out (=let
someone go in or out of a place) There was a knock at the
door and someone said, "'Let me in. ""
allow /a'lao/ if someone such as a teacher, parent,
manager, or police officer allows someone to do some-
thing, they let them do it Iv T]
allow sb to do sth The manager explained that they did not
allow people to bring pets into the restaurant. I Police kept
the suspect locked up for twenty-four hours before they
allowed him to leave. I Manyparents do not allow their chil-
dren to watch violent films. I allow sb in/out (=aLlow some-
one to go in or out of a place) They wouldn't allow me in
because they said I was too young.
say sb can do sth ! ,se (sb) kan 'du: (sth)! to allow some-
one to do something by telling them that they can [vphrase]
Mum says I can go to the party, but I've got to be home by
midnight. [ I thought you said we could borrow your truck.
agree to/a'gri: tu:/to allow someone to do something,
especially if you are at first unwilling to allow it because
you do not approve, or you think it could be difficult or
dangerous Iv T]
I'd like to go on holiday with my boyfriend this year, but I
don't think my parents will agree to it. [ I'm trying to get the
bank manager to agree to a loan so I can buy a boat.
2 to ask if you can be allowed to do something
ask
ask sb's permission
ask Io:sk II eskl [v I/T]
ask sb if you can do sth Iasked Morn ifIcould stay up late
to watch the ballgame. I ask He's annoyed because you bor-
rowed the book from him without asking.
ask sb's permission/,a:sk (sb's) pgr'man [1 ,ask-I to
ask someone if you can be allowed to do something, espe-
cially someone who has the official authority to allow
people to do something Iv phrase]
You should have asked my permission before parking there. [
ask permission from If you want to take photographs
you'll have to ask permission from the church warden. I ask
for permission Anyone can use the conference rooms, so
long as they ask forpermission to do so first. [ ask sb's per-
mission to do sth Supersave Foodstores has asked the city
authority's permission to build a superstore near East Street.

LET/ALLOW 761_ LET/ALLOW
3 what you say when you ask someone if they
[ will allow you to do something
can I
may I
do you mind if/would you mind if/is it all right if
can I/'ken ai/
Can I go and see a movie with my friends tonight? I Can I
borrow your pen for a minute?
may I ! 'mei ai! (when you want to ask someone politely
if you can do something)
May I speak to you for a moment in private, please? I May
I ask you a question, Mr Simmonds? I May I see your ticket
please, sir?
do you mind if/would you mind if/is it all right
if/,du: ju: 'maind If, ,wod ju: 'maind If, IIZ t a:l 'rait f/
(when you are worried that you will annoy or interrupt
someone else)
Is it all right if I smoke? [ "Do you mind if I open the
window? .... No, not at all. "'(=yes it is all right) [ "'Would you
mind if my daughter took a photograph of you? .... Yes I
would actually. "" (=no it is not all right)
4 what you say when you tell someone that you
will allow them to do something
go ahead feel free
be my guest help yourself
go ahead/,g0u ohed/
"Can I watch TV?'" "'Sure, go ahead. "" l If you want to take
a shower, just go ahead. I "'I have to call my Mother, is that
all right? .... Of course - go right ahead.'"
be my guest/,hi= max gest/(when someone asks you if
they can use something, especially something that belongs
to you)
"'Is it all right ifI use the phone? .... Be my guest. "1 "'Do you
mind if I sit here? .... Be my guest.'"
feel free/,rid fri:/(when you want someone to do what
they want without feeling that they need to ask you first)
"'Would you mind if I made myself a sandwich? .... Of course
not, feel free. "" l feel free to do sth Please feel free to stop
me and ask questions whenever you like.
help yourself/,help ja= r'self! (when you want someone
to take what they want, especially food or drink)
"'Is it alright if I have another beer? .... Yes of course, help
yourself. " l help yourself to Help yourself to coffee and cake.
5 to be allowed to do something
can be free to do sth
be allowed may
can/kon; strong ken/[modal verb]
My mum says I can borrow her dress if I like. [ Now that
you "re seventeen you can learn to drive. [ You can't park here,
you're on a double yellow line!
be allowed/bi: o'laud/to be allowed to do something,
especially because a rule or someone in a position of
authority says you can do it Iv phrase]
be allowed to flo sth Are we allowed to use calculators in
the exam?[ Our kids are only allowed to watch television for
two hours a day. I be allowed in/out/off/on ere We're only
allowed off for about half an hour while the plane refuels. I
be allowed sth (=be allowed to have something) He was
allowed one visit a month from his family.
be free to do sth/bi: ,fri: to 'du: (sth)! to be allowed to
do something when you want or in the way that you want
[v phrase]
The winners of the competition are free to spend their prize
money in any way they choose. I I'm 18 now, I'm free to live
anywhere I like.
may/mei! a formal or official word meaning that some-
one is allowed to do something [modal verb]
Thank you Mrs Prynn, you may go now. I Only persons
carrying official passes may enter the building. I You may
start writing now - the examination will finish in three
hours.
 to allow something to happen by not making
any effort to prevent it
let not stand in sb's way
allow unchecked
let/let/to let someone do something, or let something
happen, especially something that you know is bad and
that you should try to stop Iv T]
let sb/sth do sth You shouldn't let your husband treat you
like that. I We can "t just stand by and let them turn the school
into a shopping mall. I I've been so busy lately, I've let the
house get in a real mess.
allow Io'laul Iv T[
allow sth to do sth Allow the apples to ripen at room tem-
perature. I The government has allowed the present economic
crisis to get completely out of control. I Doreen wouldn't allow
anything to spoil her happiness.
not stand in sb's way/nut ,stend n (sb's) 'wel / to let
someone do something by not stopping them from doing
what they have chosen to do, especially something that
they are likely to be successful in Iv phrase]
If you really want to become a lawyer, I'm not going to stand
in your way. I He decided at five that his ambition was to be
a singer, and no one stood in his way.
unchecked/,An't[ekt! if something bad or unpleasant
happens unchecked, it is allowed to continue to happen
because no one is controlling it [adv]
Over the last decade, the government has allowed the spread
of poverty and unemployment to continue completely
unchecked. I In the north of the country, ill-disciplined, con-
scripted soldiers rampaged unchecked.
7 to allow someone to do whatever they want
give/allow sb complete freedom
give sb a free hand
give sb carte blanche
give sb the run of
give/allow sb complete freedom/,gIv, o,lau (sb)
kom,pli:t 'fri:dom/Iv phrase]
The children at the school are given complete freedom to
study whatever subjects they want. I When he's at home he's
allowed complete freedom.
give sb a free hand/,gv (sb) o ,fri: hend/to allow
someone such as a new manager to decide what should be
done, how something should be organized etc Iv phrase]
The new chairman has been given a completely free hand to
make whatever changes he thinks necessary. I We're giving
the Medical Center a free hand as to how it spends the money.
give sb carte blanche/gv (sb) ,ko:rt 'No:n[/to give
someone complete power over what is done or decided,
even if other people do not approve of what that person does
or decides Iv phrase]
The General seems to have been given carte blanche to attack
whatever civilian targets he wants. I She's very young and
inexperienced - I don't want to give her carte blanche.
give sb the run of /,glv (sb) 6o 'rAn tv/to allow some-
one to stay in or use a place and do what they want there
[ v phrase[
Sarah gave me the run of her apartment when she went
abroad for three months. I He was given the run of Shaw's
library while writing his biography.
to officially allow someone to do something
allow sanction
give permission give sb/sth the go-ahead
permit okay
authorize give your consent

LET/ALL 0 W "/62 LET/ALL 0 W
allow/o'lao/[v ]
allow sb to do sth The new law allows pubs to stay open
all day. I The US government has refused to allow the refu-
gees to enter the country. I allow sb sth Employees are
allowed two thirty-minute coffee breaks and an hour for
lunch every day. I allow sth The penal code of 1977 allows
abortions only on health grounds.
give permission IgIv pa r'm;an/if someone in a posi-
tion of authority gives permission, they say that someone
else is officially allowed to do something Iv phrase]
give sb permission to do sth Who gave you permission to
use that computer? l The principal gave Sammy permission
to leave school early that day. I give permission for Pas-
cual was unwilling to give his permission for Benito to marry
Jacinto. I give your permission We can't go ahead with
the new project until the management board gives its
permission.
permit/par'mlt/ifa law or a rule permits someone to do
something, it allows them to do it Iv T]
permit sb to do sth The law permits foreign investors to
own up to 25% of British companies. I permit sth Smoking
is permitted only in the hall.
permitted [adj] The water contained six times the permit-
ted level (=the level that is officially allowed) of chlorine.
authorize (also -ise British)/'a:Oraiz/to officially or
legally allow someone to do something, especially by sign-
ing an official document Iv T]
authorize sth Who authorized the decision to close the fac-
tory? I Last week the board of directors authorized the instal-
lation of a new computer system. I authorize sb to do sth
Only Congress can authorize the President to declare war.
sanction /'sek9n/ if a government or other official
organization sanctions something, they say that it is
morally right and they agree that it should be allowed to
happen Iv T ]
The British government refused to sanction the use of force
against Moslem rebels in Northern India. I In recent years
the ordination of women priests has been officially sanc-
tioned by several American churches.
give sblsth the go.ahead I,gIv (sb/sth) 6a 'go hed/
to give official permission for a planned activity to begin
[ v phrase]
The Channel Tunnel rail link was given the go-ahead yester-
day. I We're still waiting for the finance committee to give
us the go-ahead. I give the go-ahead for Israeli authorities
have given the go-ahead for the release of Arab prisoners held
in South Lebanon.
okay [o' ker/an informal expression meaning to say offi-
cially that you agree with a plan and will allow it to happen
Iv T]
The boss has to okay the deal first. I If the finance director
okays our proposals, we can begin hiring more staff next
month.
give your consent /,gIv j3: r kan'sent/to give official
permission for something to happen, when you are the only
person who can allow it Iv phrase]
As soon as their parents had given their consent, Andrew and
Susan announced their engagement. I Before the operation
can be carried out, the patient has to sign a form saying that
they have given their consent. I give your consent to sth
Henry angrily refused to give his consent to the plan.
9 official permission to do something
permission clearance
authorization sb's say-so
consent licence/license
permission/pr,mdn/[n U]
Before you build a house you have to get permission from the
city planning authorities. I with/without sb's permission
We're not allowed to camp here without the farmer's permis-
sion.I With the author's permission they made a number of
minor changes to the book.
authorization / ,a:OaraI 'zeian II ,a:Oara-/official permis-
sion to do something, especially written permission, from
someone in a position of authority In U]
You need special authorization to park here. I I must get
authorization from your bank before I can accept a cheque
for over fifty pounds.
©onsent/kan'sent/permission for someone to do some-
thing important, especially something that will personally
affect either themselves or someone they are responsible
for In U]
Before a woman can have an abortion she needs to have writ-
ten consent from two doctors. I without sb's consent The
young couple were married without their parents'consent. I
He took the car without the owner's consent.
©learan©e !'khamns/official permission given by some-
one in a position of authority, after checking that what
someone wants to do is legal, safe, or likely to be success-
ful In U]
Journalists have to get clearance from a government censor
before they can publish reports about the war. I As a senior
army officer he had clearance to see top secret documents. I
The pilot requested clearance to land at Narita Airport.
sb's say-so /(sb's) 'sei-so/ an informal expression
meaning permission from someone, especially someone
important In phrase]
without sb's say-so We're not allowed to do anything in
this office without her say-so. I on sb's say-so Tell him he
can use the car, but only on my say-so.
licence (British) I license (American)/'laisns/official
permission to do something, which is often used as a
reason to do something wrong, especially something that
will harm other people In singularC]
The secret service seems to think they have a licence to tap
anyone's phone in the interests of "national security'. I Some
manufacturers see the current labelling regulations as
licence to mislead shoppers.
10 an official document that gives someone
permission to do something
permit
licence/license
warrant
permit/'p3:mIt II 'p3:rmIt, pr'mt/an official document
giving someone permission to work in or visit a place, or
to use something such as a gun In C]
It takes at least 3 months to get a work permit from the US
Embassy. I She was fined for overstaying her three month
visitor's permit. I You're not allowed to fish here unless you
have a permit. I Do you have a permit for that gun?
Iicence (British) I license (American)/'lalsns/an offi-
cial document giving someone permission to do something,
for example to drive a car, or to own something such as a
television or a gun In C/U]
It is an offence to own a television without a licence. I driv-
ing licence (British) / driver's license (American) I was
asked to produce my driving licence. I firearms licence Fire-
arms licenses are only issued under strict supervision. I
under licence (=with the permission of the original
producer, especially in another country) Some German
beers are brewed under licence in Canada.
warrant/'worant II ,wa=-, ,wo=-/a document giving the
police permission to take someone in order to ask them
questions, or to search inside a building In C]
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a suspected ter-
rorist. [ search warrant You don't have to let the police in
unless they have a search warrant.
1 1 to allow someone to do something that is not
usually allowed
bend the rules excuse
make an exception exempt
concession waive
bend the rules/,bend 6a 'ru:lz/to say that, on this one
occasion, the usual rules need not be kept to, in order to
allow someone to do something Iv phrase]

LET/ALLOW ?63 level with
I know you don't usually employ people over the age of 40,
but can't you bend the rules a little in this case? I I'll try and
get the housing department to bend the rules for us.
make an exception ! ,meIk an [klsepJ'an/to say that, on
this one occasion, the normal rules or standards need not
be kept to, because the situation is very unusual [vphrase]
I'll make an exception this time, but if you hand in your essay
late again you won't receive a grade. [ I think we should make
an exception in his case. He's only 12years old and he didn't
mean to take the money.
concession/kan  sej'an/a special right that a particular
group of people are allowed to have, for example, by the
government or by their employer In C[
Under the previous administration, rich landowners were
given generous tax concessions. [ Pensioners and disabled
people get special concessions on buses and trains.
excuse/Ik  skju:z/to allow someone not to have to go to
school, work etc, for example because they are ill Iv T[
be excused from Can I be excused from swimming today?
I've got a cold. [ He's asked to be excused from work in order
to attend his grandmother's funeral. [ excuse sb from sth
I'll try to get them to excuse me from the meeting.
exempt/ig Izempt/if you exempt someone, you give them
special permission not to have to do something that they
and other people are normally expected to do Iv T[
exempt sb from The new law exempts people who earn less
than $8000 a year from paying any tax. ] My father was
exempted from military service on the grounds of ill health.
waive/weiv/to officially say that a rule or a legal punish-
ment can be ignored, especially because in this particular
situation it is not important or useful to keep to it [v T[
Normally we don't allow foreigners to stay more than one
week in Darjeeling but we'll waive this rule in your case. [
The court decided to waive her fine as it was her first offence.
1 2 words for describing something that people
are allowed to do
be allowed allowable
permissible acceptable
be allowed/bi: a'laud/Iv phrase]
Smoking is allowed only in this half of the theatre. I Visit-
ing is allowed from two until six every evening.
permissible/par mIsaIbal! something that is permissi-
ble is allowed by law or by the rules [adj]
The amount of pollution in the river exceeds maximum per-
missible levels. I Under the new regulations it will be permis-
sible for companies to fire any member of staff for any reason.
allowable la'lauaball something that is allowable can be
allowed, especially because of a special or unusual situa-
tion [adj]
We don't usually let children travel on their own, but I'm sure
it would be allowable in her case. [ It would probably be
allowable for you to change the dates of your vacation if you
wanted to.
acceptable ]ak  septabal/something that is acceptable
is allowed, but a lot of people think that it should not be
[adj]
A certain amount of noise is acceptable in a class of 30 chil-
dren. I After the war it became more and more acceptable for
women to go out to work. I socially acceptable (=acceptable
according to the usual rules of social behaviour) In some
countries, making loud noises after you have swallowed your
food is considered to be socially acceptable.
letdown: be a letdown DISAPPOINTED 3
lethal KILL 7
lethargic TIRED 3
lethargy TIRED 7
let's SUGGEST 3
let's face it ADMIT 2
letter LETTER 1
letter: to the letter EXACT 7
LETTER
something that you write and send to
someone else, usually by mail
letters, parcels, information etc that are
delivered to your house or place of work
1 something that you write and send to
someone else, usually by mail
letter memo
note correspondence
letter/'letr/[n C[
write sb a letter Write me a letter and tell me all your
news/[ get/receive a letter David, who won first prize in
the lottery, has received more than 100 letters from charities
asking for money. [ letter In a letter to the Soviet leader, the
US government protested about the use o f force in the repub-
lics. [ On the table was a letter dated May lOth.
note/nautl a short informal letter written from one person
to another In C[
Just a quick note to say Helen had a baby boy yesterday -
81bs 6oz. [ leave a note I've left her a note to tell her where
we've gone. I suicide note ( =a note written just before some-
one kills themselves) Police are puzzled about the man's
death. There were no signs of a struggle and no suicide note.
memo /  memau! a short letter written from one person to
another within a company or organization [n C[
In the first typing test you have to type a business letter and
a memo. [ The Managing Director sent out a memo to all
employees saying there would be a meeting at 10 o'clock.
correspondence/kora I Ispondans [[ ka:ra I spo:n-, ka:-i
letters that people write to each other regularly or over a
long period of time [n U[
His secretary has a lot of correspondence to deal with. [ Fun-
loving guy aged 25 seeks mates for correspondence and
friendship. ] correspondence with The biography is based
on Marx's correspondence with Engels over 40 years.
2 letters, parcels, information etc that are
delivered to your house or place of work
mail
post
mail/meIl/letters, papers, parcels etc that are sent and
delivered by means of the postal system In U[
Ipicked up the mail - no letters, only bills today. I There was
a pile of mail and a number of telephone messages waiting
for Victor. I junk mail (=advertisements and other mail
that you do not want) So much junk mail ends up in my
mailbox nowadays; I just throw it all in the garbage/
post/pust/a British word meaning mail [n U[
Paul was sitting opening his morning's post when Margot
phoned. [ When the post came, she searched anxiously for his
scrawled handwriting. [ Was there any post for me this
morning?
level AMOUNT 1, 7, EQUAL 5, FLAT 1, 2, HIGH 3,
HORIZONTAL 1, 3, LEVEL 1, 2,
POSITION/RANK 1
level-headed SENSIBLE 1
level off FLAT 3
level with HONEST 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

LEVEL 764 LIE DOWN
level
LEVEL
a point on a numbered scale that measures
the quantity or quality of something
1 an exact level of heat, weight, sound etc
2 a level of ability or skill
1 an exact level of heat, weight, sound etc
level
point
the 1000/two million etc mark
level I'lewll [n C]
When the heat reaches a certain level the machine will switch
off automatically. I Can you adjust the sound level on the tape
recorder - it's too high. I Doctors are doing tests to measure
the level of sugar in her blood.
po|nt Ipamt! boiling/freezing/melting etc point (=the
exact level at which something boris/freezes/melts etc)
[nC]
The boiling point of water is lOO degrees Celsius. I When its
temperature is raised beyond its melting point, the wire will
fuse. I The weight was stretching the cable almost to break-
ing point.
the 1 OOOItwo million etc mark 150 (1000 ctc) mo: rk/
if the number of something reaches the lO00/two million
etc mark it reaches a particular level, especially a high
level In phrase]
Unemployment hit the three million mark in 1981. I The
amount of information contained on this disk is well over
the 100 megabyte mark.
2 a level of ability or skill
level
standard
level I'levall In C]
His English has never progressed beyond elementary level. I
Her level of competence is no longer enough for the increas-
ing demands of her job. I high/low level Parents are
demanding an explanation for the low levels of achievement
at school.
standard I, standord/the level of abriity or skill that is
needed for a particular job, sport, or activity In C]
If the pilot has not been trained to airline standards, he will
not be employed by the government. [ reach/attain a stan-
dard I'm afraid you haven't reached the standard required. [
high/low standard If she's producing work of such a high
standard, she should easily get into art college.
lewd RUDE/OBSCENE 2
liabilities OWE 4
liability DISADVANTAGE 2
liable: be liable RESPONSIBLE 4
liar LIE/TELL A LIE 3
liberal STRICT 10
liberate FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT 5
liberated INDEPENDENT PERSON 5
liberties: civil liberties RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
liberties: take libertiesla liberty USE A PERSON 1
liberty FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT 3
liberty: at liberty FREE/NOT IN PRISON 1
liberty: be at liberty to do sth FREE TO DO WHAT YOU
WANT 1
libido SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 4
licence/license LET/ALLOW 9, 10, RIGHT/HAVE THE
RIGHT TO
lick EAT 1, WET 8
lick: thrash/lick BEAT/DEFEAT :2
lid COVER 5
lid: put the lid on SHUT/CLOSE 3
lie HORIZONTAL 1, LIE DOWN 1, 2, LIE/TELL A
LIE 1, 2, PLACE 7, 8
lie: tell a lie LIE/TELL A LIE 1
lie: white lie LIE/TELL A LIE 2
lie behind REASON 7
lie down LIE DOWN 1
lie down/have a lie down REST 1
lie in/have lie-in WAKE UP/GET UP 6
a
lie in wait HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
lie low HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
lie
LIE DOWN
to lie down after you have been standing or
sitting
to be in a lying position, for example on a
bed or a floor
1 to lie down after you have been standing or
sitting
lie down stretch out
lie sprawl out
lie down/,lai 'daun/to put yourself in a fiat position on
a surface such as a bed, especially in order to relax or to
go to sleep [phr v I]
You look really tired. Why don't you go and lie down? [ For
this exercise, it is best to lie down, or sit with both feet on the
floor. [ lie down on I didn't feel very well so I lay down on
the bed and rested for a little while.
lie/lai/to put yourseff in a flat position on a surface Iv I]
lie on She switched off the light and lay on the bed. [ Lie on
the floor and put your legs in the air. [ lie on your back/
stomach Lie fiat on your back, listen to the music and the
pain will be gone in seconds.
stretch out/, stret[ 'aot/to lie with your body and legs
straight so that you can relax [phr v I]
The bed should be big enough for you to stretch out in. [ At
the end of a hard day she likes to go home and stretch out
in her favourite armchair in front of the fire.

LIE DOWN 765 LIE/TELL A LIE
sprawl out/, spm:l 'aot! to lie down so that your body is
in an untidy or uncomfortable position [phr v I]
Kerry came into the room, obviously drunk, and sprawled
out on the bed without even taking off his boots. [ I wandered
down to the beach and sprawled out on the sand.
2 to be in a lying position, for example on a
bed or a floor
lie sprawled/sprawled out
recline spreadeagled
stretched out
lie/laq [v I]
lie in/on ere Susan spent most of the morning lying in bed. [
lie face down When they found him, he was lying face down
in a pool of water. [ lie on your back/stomach Her father
was just lying there fiat on his back, snoring contentedly.
recline/ri'klain! a formal word meaning to lie in a very
relaxed way by leaning on one of your arms so that your
upper body is raised [v I]
Many of his earlierpaintings are of young men reclining on
sofas. [ The advertisement starts with the image of a young
couple reclining on the beach, sipping ice-cold drinks.
reclining [ adj ] She later did a series of photographic studies
of reclining nudes.
stretched out/,stretj't 'aot/lying with your body and
legs straight in order to relax because your body is tired
[ adj phrase[
When Igor home he was stretched out on the carpet, listen-
ing to a record. [ The deck was full of old women stretched
out on deckchairs, burning themselves in the Mediterranean
sun. [Amos lay stretched out in front of the fire, exhausted
after a full day's work.
sprawledlsprawled out/spra:ld, ,spra:ld 'aot/lying so
that your body is in an untidy or uncomfortable position
[adj]
I opened the door and saw Kim sprawled on the bed, drunk
and unable to undress herself. [ lie sprawled/sprawled
out The children were lying sprawled out in front of the
television.
spreadeagled /,spredi:gald [[ 'spredi:gald/ lying flat
with your arms and legs spread as wide apart as possible
[adj]
The burglars had left him spreadeagled on the bed, covered
in blood. [ She missed her footing because she wasn't look-
ing where she was going and fell spreadeagled in the mud.
LIE/TELL A LIE
to deliberately say something that is untrue in
order to deceive someone
an untrue statement that is intended to
deceive someone
someone who lies
1 to deliberately say something that is untrue in
order to deceive someone
lie fob sb off
tell a lie perjury
tell tales
lie/laI/to tell a lie or keep telling lies [v I]
Don't believe him, he's lying. [ We lied and cheated, but we
never betrayed our friends. [ How do we know that you aren't
lying? [ "'Are you the owner of this car? .... Yes, "'I lied, "'it's
mine. "[ lie about Young men wanting to join the army
sometimes lied about their age. [ lie to sb All these years
you've been lying to me. [ lie through your teeth (=say
something that is completely untrue) Rosa looked so sweet
and innocent, it was hard to believe she was lying through
her teeth.
tell a lie / ,tel  'lai/to deliberately say something that is
not true [v phrase]
Whenever she told a lie, she felt guilty afterwards. [ There
I was at tenyears old telling lies, saying my father was dead.[
tell sb a lie Of course it's true. Would I tell you a lie?
tell tales ! ,tel 'teflz/if someone, especially a child, tells
tales, they tell lies about someone else, in order to make
you believe that the other person has behaved badly [v
phrase]
Daisy Venables, you naughty girl, have you been telling tales
again? [ tell tales on sb According to the children, telling
tales on each other was as bad as cheating.
fob sb off/,fDb (sb) 'Df [[ fa:b (sb) :f/ to try to stop
someone complaining or asking questions by giving them
explanations, excuses ere that are easily seen to be untrue
and cannot be accepted [phr v T]
fob sb off with He fobbed her off with some story about
losing her address. [ I'm sick and tired of being fobbed off
with one absurd excuse after another. [ fob sb off Don't try
fobbing me off this time because it isn't going to work!
perjury/'pa:rdsri/the crime of telling a lie in a court of
law when you have promised to tell the truth In U]
Do you realise that by lying to the court you have committed
perjury? [ The two witnesses who gave false evidence will be
charged with perjury.
:2 an untrue statement that is intended to
deceive someone
lie falsehood
white lie half-truth
fib propaganda
lie/laI/In C]
I told her I loved her. It was a lie of course. [ There's not a
word of truth in his story. It's all lies. [ She wasn't going to
sign her name to something that she knew was a blatant lie [
a pack of lies (=a statement that is completely untrue)
What the government is telling us is simply a pack of lies
white lie / wait 'lar/a lie that does not harm anyone, espe-
cially one that is told in order to avoid hurting someone's
feelings In C]
I told him his suit looked wonderful. It was a white lie, but
it cheered him up. [ "'I'm sorry I couldn't come. I had a
headache, "" she explained, resorting to a white lie.
f|b Ifibl an informal word meaning a lie, especially one that
is not very important In C]
What I said about wanting to borrow a book was just a fib.
I really wanted to see you. [ Phoebe tells awful fibs, but of
course no one believes her.
falsehood /  fa:lshud/a formal word meaning an untrue
statement or story that has been invented, especially in
order to give people the wrong idea about someone or some-
thing In C]
They poisoned people's minds by spreading falsehoods and
malicious rumours. [ Why he had chosen to perpetuate such
a falsehood we'll never know.
half-truth /'ha:f tru:O [[ 'haf-/a statement that is almost
a lie because it does not tell the whole truth about some-
thing In C]
All we could get out of the suspect were lies and half-truths. [
The damage done by McCarthy was immense. His blend of
smears, half-truths and downright lies ruined many careers.
propaganda / ,prt)pa'ganda [[  pro:-/ false or partly false
information that is spread by a government or political
organization, in order to make people support and agree
with their political aims and beliefs In U]
How important is propaganda in preparing for war?[
Several writers have been accused of spreading enemy
propaganda. [ propaganda campaign (=an organized plan
to spread propaganda) The government-controlled press
launched an anti-communist propaganda campaign.
3 someone who lies
liar

LIE/TELL A LIE 766 LIFE
liar/llamr/In C]
Are you calling me a liar? J She may be stupid, but she's not
a liar. I In matters of business you should assume that all
people are liars. I compulsive liar (=someone who cannot
stop telling lies) How can you ever trust Billy when you know
he's a compulsive liar?
lieu: in lieu INSTEAD 1
life LIFE 1, 2, 4, 5, LIVING/ALIVE 1, 4, STORY 7
life: all your life LIFE 5
life: be sb's life/whole life IMPORTANT 5
life: for life ALWAYS/FOREVER 1, LIFE 5
life: give your life/lay down your life DIE 4
life: late in life LATE 4
life: lead etc life LIFE 3
a
normal/hard/exciting
life: take sb's life KILL 1
life: take your own life KILL 12
life: way of life LIFE 4
life cycle LIFE 1
life form LIVING/ALIVE 4
life sentenCe:sentencegiVe Sbetc6 yearsll0puNiSH 3m°nthsla life
life story STORY 7
LIFE
1 the time during which a person, animal, or
other living thing is alive
2 the kind of experiences that someone has
during their life
3 to have a particular type of life
4 a way of life that is typical of a particular
person or group
5 happening or continuing for the whole of your
life
I the time during which a person, animal, or
other living thing is alive
life lifespan
lifetime life expectancy
days life cycle
life Ilaff/In C]
The poet's life was short and tragic, ending in a violent
death. I The day on which Teresa's son was born was the hap-
piest day of her life. I These poor animals have been treated
badly for most of their lives. I early life (=the part of your
life when you were young) He knew very little about his
mother's early life spent in Africa. I in later life (=in the
later part of your life) He'd always been very active and took
up golf in later life.
lifetime/llafftam/the period of time that someone is
alive [n C usually singular]
Within her lifetime my Grandmother witnessed two World
Wars and the first steps on the Moon. I On his retirement,
many tributes were paid to the policeman "s work and a life-
time given to public service.
days/de,z/a word meaning your life, especially a partic-
ular period of your life In plural]
In the love poems of her younger days she expressed her love
.for Browning. I I asked Debbie about her student days and
she just laughed. I He spent his life working in textiles and
ended his days as manager of a large fabric company. I the
rest of your days (=the rest of your life) She spent the rest
of her days quietly in the country until her death in 1963.
lifespan/'laffspan/the length of time that a person or
animal usually lives In singular]
In the twentieth century healthy people mostly live out their
natural lifespan and die of old age. I Research has shown
that the average lifespan of hedgehogs has fallen from ten
years to two years.
life expectancy/laIf k'spektnsi/the length of time
that a person or animal is expected to live In C]
Women still have a longer life expectancy than men. I
low/high life expectancy (=a short or long life) Life expec-
tancy in those days was very low. I a life expectancy of
50/35 etc years (=to be expected to live until you are 50/35
etc) The average life expectancy of the people in these tribes
is 2 7 years.
life cycle / lalf ,sakl/all the different stages in develop-
ment that an animal or plant has in the time that it is alive
[n C]
During its life-cycle a butterfly will be both a caterpillar and
a chrysalis.
2 the kind of experiences that someone has
during their life
life
existence
life/lalf/[n C]
a happy/hard/exciting etc life After an active life in the
army, to be confined to a wheelchair was the worst thing that
could have happened to him. I Christina has a very full, busy
life as a mother and a doctor. I a life of crime/adventure/
poverty etc By marrying a millionaire, Maria would
always live a life of luxury and comfort.
existence Ig zlstans/the life that someone has, espe-
cially when they have difficult or bad experiences In
singular]
She faced a lonely existence in the big city, without family
or friends for support. I lead a miserable/lonely etc exis-
tence (=to have a particular existence) He had led a miser-
able existence as a child, always being moved from place to
place.
3 to have a particular type of life
lead a normal/hard/exciting etc life
live well/happily/carefully etc
lead a normal/hard/exciting etc life/,li:d a (normal
etc) 'laIf/[v phrasel
It was several years before Sarah could lead a normal life
again after the death of her husband. I You must have led
an interesting life, living in Hollywood in the 30s. I Grand-
father led a hard life, working 18 hours a day just to feed his
family.
live well/happily/carefully etc/hv (well, etc)/to live
your life in a particular way [v phrase]
Tom and Linda both earn good salaries - they live well and
have a very nice home. I The handsome soldier married the
beautiful princess, and they lived happily ever after. I We still
have to learn how to live peacefully, not only with other
people but also with the environment.
4 a way of life that is typical of a particular
person or group
life
way of life
lifestyle
life ]lalf] [n C usually singularl
The life of a rock star seems exciting to most people. I How
can you stand this humdrum village life? l I don't really
think he's very well suited to married life.

LIFE
way of life/iweI av 'laif/the way that someone chooses
to live their life In phrase]
Living in the countryside can be a very agreeable way of life. I
The modern way of life is generally too stressful and un-
healthy. I Western technology has had a lasting effect on the
people's culture and traditional way of life. I the American/
British etc way of life The President will defend the Ameri-
can way of life, whatever the cost.
lifestyle/'lalfstai1/the way someone lives and behaves,
and the type of things they like to do, buy, eat etc In C]
He disapproves of his son's lifestyle and wants him to get a
job, and stop smoking and drinking so much. I After the
heart attack, the doctor told him to change his lifestyle. I As
a photographer she has a very hectic lifestyle, with several
appointments a day.
5 happening or continuing for the whole of your
life
all your life lifelong
for life life
all your life /,a:l ja:r 'laIf/for the whole of your life [adv
phrase]
She had longed for a child all her life and finally she was
pregnant. I All his life he had never done a stroke of work. I
As soon as Paul arrived in Madrid he felt as if he'd lived
there all his life.
for life/fa r laf/if something is for life, it will be perma-
nent and not change for the rest of your life [adv phrase]
From that moment, I knew we would be friends for life. I The
case is made of strong leather and will last for life. [ As far
as I'm concerned, when you get married it's for life.
lifelong/laiflDq II -b:q/lifelong friend/habit/belief etc
(=one that you have for the whole of your life) [adj only
before noun]
The professor has made a lifelong study of Michelangelo. I
She's finally achieved her lifelong ambition of learning to
fly a plane. I I have to thank my lifelong friend, Tom for help-
ing me through the crisis.
life/laf/life membership/imprisonment/study (=one
that continues for the whole of your life) [adj only before
noun ]
The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment. I I have
decided to take out a life membership of Greenpeace.
 lifeless DEAD 1
 lifelike REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 3
ii lifeline: throw sb a lifeline SAVE/RESCUE 5
i: lifelong LIFE 5, LONG TIME 6
. lifespan LIFE 1
 lifestyle LIFE 4
 lifetime LIFE 1
 lift COPY 4, DRIVE 3, LIFT 1
-...
 lift a finger: not lift a finger HELP 11
{ lift/lift up UP 10
. lift off UP 5
i lift up LIFT 1, 2
@ LIFT
to move a person or object into a higher
position
to move your eyes, head, arm etc so that it is
in a higher position
1 to move a person or object into a higher
position
lift scoop up
lift up hoist
raise jack up
pick up
767 light
lift/hft! to move something to another position, especially
with effort, by moving it up into the air [v T]
lift sb/sth His doctor has told him that he must not lift any-
thing heavy. I She lifted the lid from a huge pot and took a
sniff. I lift sth onto/out of/over etc They lifted me onto
a stretcher and took me to the ambulance. I Firemen had to
use a mobile crane to lift the carriages back onto the rails. I
lift sb bodily (=lift someone's whole body up, using a lot
of strength or effort) The massive bull lifted him bodily into
the air and shook him repeatedly.
lift up ! hft Apl to move something to a higher position,
especially with effort, and hold it there [phr v T]
lift sb/sth/her/them etc up He lifted her up in his arms. I
lift up sb/sth Can you help me lift up this table so we can
get the carpet under it? I Six men lifted up the coffin and car-
ried it out of the church. I lift sth up onto/out of/over etc
I couldn't see the game so I asked my dad to lift me up onto
his shoulders.
raise/reiz/to lift something to a particular place or to a
certain position for a short time Iv T]
raise sth She raised her glass to her lips. I The men all raised
their hats as she walked past. I raise sth up Stevie raised
the tray up high and let it drop with a crash. I raise sth into
position The girders are raised into position by means of
a huge crane.
pick up/plk lap/ to take hold of something with your
hands, especially something small and light, and lift it up
[phr v T]
pick up sth She picked up the baby and carried him out-
side with her. I I wanted to pick up the phone and call the
police. I You have one hour - you'd better pick up your pen
and start writing. I pick sth/it/them up Don't just leave
all those toys on the floor, pick them up! I pick sth up off
I bent down to pick some money up off the ground.
scoop up/sku:p ^p/to pick up something small and
light with a quick sudden movement and lift it up off the
ground [phr v T]
scoop up sth He scooped up the little boy and ran from the
flames. I When the police arrived the traders scooped up their
watches and jewellery and ran off.
hoist /hast/ to lift up something which is heavy and
difficult to carry Iv T]
hoist sth on/onto/over Joe picked up the sack and hoisted
it onto the truck. I The crowd hoisted him onto their shoul-
ders and carried him triumphantly down the main street.
jack up / dsak Ap/to lift up the corner of a car using a
special tool, in order to change the wheel or look under the
car [phr v T]
jack up sth Fred jacked up the car and started to unscrew
the wheel nuts. I jack sth/it/them up Why don't you jack
it up and we'll have a look at the suspension?
to move your eyes, head, arm etc so that it is
in a higher position
raise
lift up
raise Ireiz/raise your eyes/eyebrows/head/arm/leg
etc (=move it so that it is in a higher position) Iv T]
Can you raise your arm? I She raised her eyes up from her
newspaper and looked across at him.
lift up /hft Ap/lift Up your arm/leg/foot/head (=move
it upwards, especially with effort) [phr v T]
lift sth/it/them up He tried to lift his leg up onto the chair.I
My grandmother lifted her head up slowly and began to
speak. I lift up sth Lift up your arms, then bring them down
again.
light BRIGHT 4, BURN 4, COLOUR/COLOR 4, LIGHT
1, 2, LIGHT/NOT HEAVY 1, MEAL 7, SMOKE 5,
STRICT 11
light: come to light/be brought to light FIND OUT 4
light: give sb a light SMOKE 5
light: go out like a light SLEEP 4
light: have you got a light?/do you have a light?
SMOKE 5

light
light: throw light on/shed light on EXPLAIN 1
light a fire FIRE 4
light at the end of the tunnel HOPE 7
light-footed/light on your feet GRACEFUL 1
light-hearted FUNNY 1
light/lightweight THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 3
light out LEAVE A PLACE 6
light up LIGHT 2, SMOKE 5
light
768
LIGHT
words meaning the light from the sun, moon,
an electric light etc
1 words meaning light
2 to put light into a place, so that people can
see what is happening there
3 ways of saying that the lights in a place are
on
1 words meaning light
light
daylight
sunlight
moonlight
glare
glow
light/laitl In U]
There was light coming from a window at the back of the
house. I Tom sat in the little circle of light thrown by a shaded
lamp. I The freed hostages emerged from the house where
they had been held, blinking in the light. I The light was
fading and I was afraid we wouldn't be home before it got
dark. I by the light of(=using the light produced by some-
thing in order to see) At night we travelled by the light of
the moon.
daylight/'deilait/the natural light of day In U]
When daylight came, the villagers could see the full extent
of the storm damage. I If it had been daylight, Harry proba-
bly wouldn't have run the cat over. I in broad daylight (=in
the natural, bright light of day when everyone can see)
What is so incredible is that the attack took place in broad
daylight.
sunlight/Js^nlaiq the light from the sun In U]
We emerged from the dark forest into the sunlight. I Keep this
plant in a bright place but out of direct sunlight. I Occasion-
ally the clouds parted to send shafts of bright sunlight across
the hills.
moonlight/'mu:nla]t] the light from the moon [n U]
The moonlight is so romantic. I Moonlight came through the
curtains, lighting up the sleeping children's faces. I The
autumn trees were strangely white in the moonlight.
glare ]glear/a very bright and unpleasant light that makes
you close your eyes or turn your head away [n singular]
glare of the glare and smoke of the nightclub I The heat and
glare of the furnace is immense. I glare When I switch the
kitchen light on in the morning the sudden glare makes the
cats blink.
glow/glaul a soft light, especially from something that is
burning In singular]
glow of We could see the red glow of the setting sun on the
horizon. I Natasha's face looked pale in the bluish glow of
the street lamps. I glow A gentle glow came from the coals
in the fire.
LIGHT/NOT HEAVY
2 to put light into a place, so that people can
see what is happening there
light
light up
illuminate
light/laIt/[v T]
light sth Lighting that enormous stage is going to be a real
challenge. I be lit by/with The ballroom was lit by
hundreds of candles. I Our new modern fitted kitchen is lit
with concealed ceiling lights.
light up l, lait ^p/to make a place light or to shine light
on something so that you can see it, or to make it look
attractive [phr v T]
light sth/it/them up The lamps in each corner light the
room up very pleasantly. I light up sth The sun rose and
began to light up the sky. I The glowing logs only vaguely
lit up the dark figure of my mother beside the fire.
Illuminate/iJlu:maIneit, i'lju:- II ]'lu:-I to make a place
light or shine light on something so that you can see it,
especially in order to draw attention to something Iv T]
illuminate sth Small lights illuminate different points on
the map. I The blazing fire illuminated the china ornaments
above the hearth. I be illuminated by/with A small path
was illuminated by low orange lamps concealed in the flower
beds.
3 ways of saying that the lights in a place are on
the lights are on
be lit up
ablaze
the lights are on/ha ,laIts o:r 'on/
Although the lights were on, nobody answered the door. I The
lights are still on in a couple of the offices. I All the lights
were on in the hall and guests were running around in their
night clothes.
he lit up Ibi: lit '^p/if a room, house, building etc is lit
up, the lights are on inside or outside Iv phrase]
People were getting ready for dinner and the house was all
lit up. I lit up by/with The mosque is lit up by floodlights
at night.
ablaze/a bleiz/filled with lots of bright light because all
the lights are turned on [adj not before noun]
The yachtpassed us, its cabin lights ablaze. I ablaze with
Every shop window is ablaze with bright Christmas lights.
@ LIGHT/NOT HEAVY
weighing very little
1 words meaning light
2 to make something lighter
I words meaning light
light
lightweight
weightless
light/laIt/[adj]
You can carry this bag - it's fairly light. I Heat rises because
hot air is lighter than cold air. I All their clothes were of the
finest and lightest silk. I light as a feather (=extremely
light) The little girl was painfully thin and as light as a
feather.
lightweight/lait-welt/ specially made to weigh very
little [adj]
She needs a lightweight portable typewriter. I Modern tent
material is lightweight, but very strong.
weightless / weitlas/seeming to weigh much less than
usual, especially because you are floating in space or in
water [adj]

LIGHT/NOT HEAVY "769 LIKE SB OR STH
Astronauts have problems moving around in the spacecraft
because they are virtually weightless.
weightlessness In U] It takes a shuttle crew around a day
to get used to the weightlessness of space.
2 to make something lighter
make sth lighter
lighten
make sth lighter/,meIk (sth) latar/Iv phrase]
You could make the coat much lighter by lining it with nylon
instead of cotton. [ All the passengers were asked to get out
of the bus to make it lighter and easier to push.
lighten/laitn/to make something lighter, especially in
order to make it easier to move or carry Iv T]
lighten sth I'm sure you could lighten that suitcase a little
if you only packed what you need. ] lighten the load As
weather conditions got worse, Watts and Peters abandoned
their photographic equipment in order to lighten the load.
lighten LIGHT/NOT HEAVY 2
lighten up SERIOUS PERSON 5
lighter: make sth lighter LIGHT/NOT HEAVY 2
lightly SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 6
lightly: get off lightly PUNISH 7
lightning: like lightning FAST/OUICK 2
lights: the lights are on LIGHT 3
lightweight LIGHT/NOT HEAVY 1 UNIMPORTANT 6
lightweight: light/lightweight THIN OBJECT OR
MATERIAL 3
like ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1, EXAMPLE 3, LIKE
SB OR STH 1, 5, LIKE/SIMILAR 1, 2, WANT 1,
WAY/MANNER 2
like: be like ,LIKE/SIMILAR 6
like: be just like TYPICAL 2
like: be/look just like LIKE/SIMILAR 4
like: don't like DON'T LIKE 1
like: get to like LIKE SB OR STH 4
like: get/come/grow to like LIKE SB OR STH 6
like: not be like/be unlike TYPICAL 6
like: not like DIFFERENT 1
like: not like the look of/sound of WORRIED 1
like: say what you like SURE 1
like: whether you like it or not
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
like: would like WANT 2
like always: as ever/like always USUALLY 2
like better: like sblsth better PREFER 1
like-minded SAME 10
like this/like that TYPE 1
like water: spend money like water/like there's no
tomorrow SPEND MONEY 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
like
DON'T LIKE
LIKE/SIMILAR
-",:.o  ENJOY/LIKE
DOING STH
LIKE SB OR STH
to like something
to like something very much
to like something that you feel you should not
like, for example because it is very expensive
or because it may be bad for you
to begin to like something
to like someone
to begin to like someone
to make someone like you
someone who likes a particular type of music,
sport, food, book etc
something that you like
1 to like something
like appeal to
be fond of be to your liking
be keen on go down well
like/lalk/[V T not in progressive or passive]
like sth I chose this dress because I liked the colour. [ Do you
like spaghetti? [ If you like classical music then you must
listen to my Mozart collection. [ He liked the way Mary
laughed, and fell in love with her almost immediately. [ what
sb likes is What I really liked about the film was the superb
photography. ] like it It was a great place for a vacation.
You'd have really liked it there. [ That Spanish dance was
exciting. I liked it when they all shouted "olA'.
be fond of/bi: t fond Ov 11 - fo:nd-! to like something, espe-
cially something that you have liked for a long time Iv
phrase]
Gerry had always been fond of animals. I I happen to know
that he's particularly fond of malt whisky. I Pauline was very
fond of that ring. Her first boyfriend had given it to her. I
grow fond of (=become fond of) She really didn "t want to
move. She'd grown fond of the apartment.
be keen on/bi: ki:n on/a British expression meaning
to like something because you have a strong active interest
in it Iv phrase]

LIKE SB OR STH ??0 LIKE SB OR STH
I know he's keen on opera. Let's take him to see "La
Traviata ". l They were both very keen on the idea of going to
live in another country, t be mad keen on (=extremely
keen) Giles was mad keen on planes from an early age.
appeal to/o pi--I tu:/if something appeals to you, you
like it because you think it is interesting or exciting [v T
not in progressive or passive]
I'm sure this delightful book will appeal to children of all
ages. I what appeals to sb is What really appealed to me
was the idea of learning a new language, so I accepted the
job.
be to your liking/bi: to j:r 'laikirj/if something is to
your liking it has the kind of qualities that you like, or
it is made in the way that you like Iv phrase]
Was the meal to your liking, Madam? I be very much to
your liking Mr Bowers was finding these peaceful sur-
roundings very much to his liking.
go down weil ]goo daon 'wel! if something such as a
book, performance, or speech goes down well, most people
like it and think it is good Iv phrase]
I thought his lecture went down very well, everybody seemed
very interested. I Her humour is very British and the show
didn't go down too well in the States.
2 to like something very much
love
adore
be mad about/crazy about
be attached to
have a passion
for
love/l^vl [v T not in progressive]
I loved the story about the giant - can we hear it again? I
He loves jazz. I Erica loved the park because it was the
nearest thing she had to a garden.
love In U] her love of pretty clothes I He never lost his love
for the French countryside.
adore/od3:r/to like something very much, especially
because you think it is beautiful or attractive [v T not in
progressive]
We had a beautiful home in the country. How I arlored that
house! I I adore chocolate - I could live on it. I Those who
enjoy food and cooking will adore this new illustrated
cook-book.
be mad about/crazy about/bi: med obaot, krezi
obaot/an informal expression meaning to like something
very much and spend a lot of time thinking about it and
being involved in activities connected with it Iv phrase]
Jenny would love to go to the game, she's mad about foot-
ball. ] Peter's crazy about motorcycles. He never talks about
anything else.
be attached to/bi: o'tett tu:/to like something very
much, especially something that you own or use, so that
you would be very upset if you lost it Iv phrase]
He was very attached to his old car and refused to sell it. I
Casey had become quite attached to the comforts of his
London home.
have a passion for ! hev o 'pean fo:r/to like some-
thing very much, because you are very interested in it and
because it gives you a lot of pleasure or excitement [v
phrase not in progressive]
From a very early age he had a passion for fast cars. I
Corinne shared her husband's passion for classical music.
3 to like something that you feel you should not
like, for example because it is very expensive
or because it may be bad for you
have a weakness for be partial to
can't resist not be averse to
have a weakness for/,hev o 'wi:kn]s f:r/to espe-
cially like something such as a particular kind of food or
drink, although you know it is not good for you Iv phrase
not in progressive]
She has a weakness for gin and orange. I I have such a weak-
ness for cream cakes, I'll never lose weight.
can't resist/,ka:nt rI 'zISt II ,k0ent-/to like something, so
much that you find it impossible to refuse it when it is
offered to you [v phrase]
He could never resist my apple pie. I Keep me away from the
duty-free shop. You know I can't resist expensive perfumes.
be partial to/bi: 'po:rJ'M tu:/a humorous expression,
meaning to like something such as food or drink, especially
when you like it more than you should Iv phrase]
He was particularly partial to my mother's home-made wine.
not be averse to/not bi: o'va:rs tu:/a humorous expres-
sion meaning to like something although you would not
approve of people liking it too much Iv phrase]
She's not averse to the occasional glass of wine. ] I take it
you're not averse to a little harmless fun.
4 to begin to like something
get to like take to
get/acquire a taste for be an acquired taste
get/develop a liking for
get to like !,get to 'laIk/to begin to like something, espe-
cially something that you did not like at first Iv phrase]
At first Calvin really hated New York, but gradually he got
to like it. I I don't think I could ever get to like modern art.
get/acquire a taste for/,get, o,kwaor o telst fo:r/to
begin to like something that you have not enjoyed or have
not experienced before Iv phrase]
She left the convent, and soon got a taste for luxurious hotels
and expensive clothes. I Sam, formerly not a beer-lover, has
acquired a taste for the wonderful Chinese beer.
get/develop a liking for/,get, dI,velop o 'lalklrj f:r/
to begin to like something that other people like but that
you have never experienced before Iv phrase]
I think I could get a liking for champagne. I'd never had it
before now. I He's developed quite a liking for French food,
ever since he spent two weeks in France last year.
take to / 'telk tu:/to begin to like something because you
have accepted that it is a good idea so that you want to do
it or have it Iv T not in passive]
When we asked him to come skiing he took to the idea at
once. I It seems that the Russians have taken to hamburgers
in a big way.
be an acquired taste/bi: on o kwalord 'telst/if some-
thing, especially a particular food or drink is an acquired
taste, people only begin to like it after they have tried it
several times, because it is unusual Iv phrase]
Caviar is something of an acquired taste. I found the flavour
rather disappointing the first time I had it. I I love acid house
music but I suppose it's an acquired taste.
5 to like someone
like
be fond of
be attached to
have a soft spot for
see sth in sb
a man/woman after
your own heart
like/laIk/[V T not in progressive]
like sb I've always liked Sally. She's such a friendly person. I
Kim was always so cheerful. That's what I really liked about
him. I I'm taking you to meet my parents. I hope you'll like
them. ] She's always wanted to be a teacher because she likes
children so much. ] be liked (=be liked by other people) I
don't think he was liked very much. No one seemed very sorry
when he left.
be fond of/bi: fond ov II -'fo:nd-/to like someone very
much, especially when you have known them for a long
time and you almost feel love for them Iv phrase]
Shirley was my best friend. I was very fond of her. [ Miss
Parker was always strict with the children, but we knew that
secretly she was very fond of them. I grow fond of (=become
fond of) Over the years the old man grew very fond of his
nurse.
be attached to/bi: o'toetJ't tu:/to like someone that you
have known for a long time very much, so that you would
be upset if they left you Iv phrase]

LIKE SB OR STH "/71 LIKE SB OR STH
He's been teaching Rita the violin for over three years now
and he's very attached to her. I We've grown quite attached
to you, Annie, and we'll be very sorry to see you leave. I Nurses
should try not to get too attached to their patients.
have a soft spot for/hev o ,sDft 'spDt fa: r [[ -,sa:ft
' spo:t-/to like someone very much and have a special feel-
ing for them, even when they do not behave well [vphrase
not in progressive]
She's always had a soft spot for her youngest grandson. [ I
had a specially soft spot for Katharine, even though she was
apt to fly into a temper.
see sth in sb/,si: (sth) in (sb)/to like someone because
of a particular quality that they have, especially when
other people do not notice that quality in them Iv phrase
not in progressive]
What on earth does Maxim see in her? She's not pretty or rich
or amusing. [ Tom's so innocent. He seems to see good in
everyone he meets.
a man/woman after your own heart
,womon o:fto r j:r ,aon 'ho:rt II :ef-/someone that you like
because they have the same attitudes that you have, or like
the same things that you like In phrase]
I like the efficient way she runs her business. She's a woman
after my own heart. I Arnold was delighted to meet Skelton.
Here was a man after his own heart - a man with the right
point of view.
6 to begin to like someone
get to/come to/grow to like
warm to
take to/take a liking to
take a shine to
hit it off
get to/come to/grow to like/,get ta, k^m ta, grau ta
tlaxk/to begin to like someone, especially someone that you
did not like at first Iv phrase]
At first I thought she was unfriendly, but now I'm getting
to like her. I It's sad that poor Tom's been fired. I'd just gotten
to like him. I Over the years, we grew to like each other,
despite our differences. I I've gradually come to like him and
his eccentric habits.
warm to/'wa:rm tu:! to begin to like someone and feel
friendly towards them, especially because you think they
are nice and sympathetic Iv T not in passive]
Her heart warmed to Amos. He was obviously a man who
loved animals. I She was very nervous about introducing her
new husband to her children, but they warmed to him
immediately.
take to/take a liking to/'tek tu: ,teik o 'lalkrj tu:/to
begin to like someone, especially when you have only
known them for a very short time Iv T not in passive]
I introduced Anders to my brother and they took to each other
immediately. I When Nicky takes to someone the way he's
taken to you, he's your friend for life. I They only met yester-
day but I can tell Ichiro's taken a great liking to the girl.
take a shine to/,tek o 'j'an tu:/an informal expression
meaning to begin to like someone when you have only
known them for a very short time Iv phrase]
I think Ernie's taken quite a shine to Madge. I Dr Williams
took a real shine to the new nurse. He's already asked her
out for a drink.
hit it off/,ht :t ',f/if two people hit it off, they like each
other as soon as they meet and have a good relationship
Iv phrase]
Gilbert and I hit it off right from the start. We had such a
lot in common.
7 to make someone like you
endear yourself to
get on the right side of
win the hearts of
endear yourself to I in'do r ja: r , self tu:/to make some-
one like you by behaving in a way that pleases them Iv
phrase]
"Can I help you Mrs Killigarew'" he said, hoping to endear
himself to her by rememiSering her name. I She was witty and
charming and managed to endear herself to her future
mother-in-law.
get on the right side of/,get n 6o ,rat 'sad v/to
make someone like you so that they will do something to
help you, or so that they will not be angry with you [v
phrase]
He's only sent me flowers because he's trying to get on the
right side of me. [ "What's the new boss like? .... He's okay if
you can get on the right side of him. ""
win the hearts of/,wn 6a 'ha:rts v/to make a lot of
people like you very much, especially by doing something
that they admire or approve of [v phrase]
With the words, "'Ich bin ein Berliner, "" J.F. Kennedy won
the hearts of millions of Germans. [ The slight, nervous-
looking young gymnast won the hearts of a whole nation.
8 someone who likes a particular type of music,
sport, food, book etc
lover enthusiast
freak devotee
fan
lover/'l^vor/In C]
be a lover of Mr Roach was a lover of the arts and had a
particular passion for classical music. I jazz/art/animal
etc lover Every jazz lover, at some time in their life, has
dreamed of visiting New Orleans. I great lover (=someone
who likes or cares about something very much) Miss
Bardot has gained the reputation of being a great animal
lover.
freak /fri:k/ fitness/health-food/jazz etc freak (=an.
informal word: someone who is extremely interested in
fitness etc) In C]
Raw vegetables and nuts have always been a favourite with
health-food freaks. [ Peter isn't wild about pop music but
Alison is a real reggae freak.
fan/fan/ someone who likes a particular performer or
activity very much, and watches or listens to them as often
as possible In C]
The fans shouted and screamed as Michael Jackson walked
onto the stage. [ opera/jazz/baseball etc fan Diana loved
going to the theatre and was a great opera fan. [ be a big/
great fan of (=have an extremely strong liking for) I've
never been a big fan of TV game shows.
enthusiast/n'Oju:ziest [[-'Ou:-/ someone who likes a
subject, activity, performer etc very much, is very
interested in them and knows a lot about them In C]
football/film/jazz etc enthusiast Golf enthusiasts will be
able to see the tournament live on TV. [ The exhibition will
be of interest to vintage car owners and other motoring
enthusiasts. [ enthusiast Real enthusiasts are willing to pay
up to $12,000 for an original copy of the book.
devotee / ,deva'ti:/someone who likes something such
as art or literature so much that they spend a lot of their
time and money on it In C]
He's a devotee of old Hollywood movies. [ Urquhart, a rich
devotee of the arts, made generous donations to the museum.
9 something that you like
likes and dislikes
love
passion
likes and dislikes /,laiks and 'dislaiks/ things that
someone likes and things that they do not like, especially
particular kinds of food or drink In phrase]
She has no particular likes or dislikes when it comes to food. [
We always ask our guests about their likes and dislikes as
soon as they arrive.
love/l^v/something that you like very much and that
gives you great pleasure, for example an activity or a
beautiful object In C]

LIKE SB OR STH ??2 LIKE/SIMILAR
great love (=something you especially like) The theatre is
one of the great loves of his life. I first love (-the thing you
like most) This garden was always his first love. He spent
many hours here.
passion ]'padn] something which you are deeply
interested in and which you like so much that you are
always excited about it In C]
Renaissance art has always been his great passion. I I
wonder what Charlotte's passion will be by her next birth-
day. At the moment it's horses.
@ LI KEISI M I LAR
1 like something or someone else
2 in a similar way
3 ways of saying that someone or something
makes you think of another person or thing
because they are similar
4 to look very much like another person or
thing
5 a person who looks very much like another
person
6 to be like your mother, father, grandfather etc
in appearance or character
7 ways of saying that people are like each other
because they have similar characters or
interests
8 to understand and sympathize with someone
because you have the same character,
problems etc as them
9 ways of saying that two or more people or
things are almost equally good or bad
10 the quality of being similar
11 a particular way in which things or people are
similar
I like something or someone else
like resemble/bear a
similar resemblance to
alike comparable
much the same akin to
have an affinity with
like/laIk/similar to something or someone [prep]
The houses here are like the ones in northern France. I My
mother has a car like yours. I Her hands were rough, like a
peasant's. I look/feel/sound/smell/taste like He made
a noise that sounded like a cat wailing. I This is such beau-
tiful material, it feels like silk. I It looks a bit like a cactus. I
something like (=fairly like) A hare is something like a
rabbit, but larger and stronger. I nothing like (=not at all
like) Life at college was nothing like I expected.
similar /'simala r, 'sxmilar/ if one thing is similar to
another, or if two or more things are similar, they are like
each other [adj]
I know how you feel, because I have a similar problem. I It's
bigger than Jim's room, but it's very similar. I When you look
at these two carpets, you can see that the patterns are very
similar. I similar to Have you anything similar to this
material but cheaper? I Diana's views on this subject are
similar to mine.
alike/a'lak/if two or more things or people are alike,
they are very similar in some way [adj not before noun]
You are all alike, you politicians. You never tell the truth. I
Don't worry about which washing machine to buy, they're
all very much alike. I I think my mother and I are very much
alike in some ways'. I look alike Which kitten is yours? They
all look alike to me.
much the same /m^tf 6a 'sem/ very similar [adj
phrase]
Soldiers are much the same throughout the world. I much
the same as Sylvia's feelings about this matter are much
the same as mine. I much the same.., as The glass is still
made in much the same way as it was lOO years ago. I look/
feel/smell/taste much the same All these wines taste
much ,the same.
resemble/bear a resemblance to/rI 'zembdl, ,bear
a r 'zerablans tu:/to be similar in appearance or character
Iv T not in progressive or passive]
resemble sb/sth Geraldine resembled her mother in every
way. I Addis Ababa soon resembled an armed camp. I
closely resemble We have produced a cloth made of pine-
apple fibre, closely resembling cotton but stronger. I bear a
strong/close resemblance to Paul Devraux's features
bore a strong resemblance to his father's. I bear little
resemblance The London of the 1990s bears little resem-
blance to the London of my youth.
comparable /'kDmparabal II 'ko:m-/ similar in size,
number, quality etc so that a comparison is possible [adj]
comparable in size/importance etc The planet Pluto is
comparable in size to our Moon. I Climatic conditions in the
two countries are roughly comparable. I comparable with/
to The accident rate in deep-sea diving is comparable with
that in other high risk occupations.
akin to/akm tu:/an expression used especially in liter-
ature; if something is akin to something else, it is very
similar to it in character [adj phrase]
It's a language closely akin to Arabic, and most Syrians
would understand it. I It was with a feeling akin to despair
that I realized that the car was not going to start.
have an affinity with/hav an a'finti wI6/if some-
thing such as a language, religion, or artistic style has an
affinity with another language etc, it is similar to it and
seems to be related to it Iv phrase not in progressive]
This Dutch painting has affinities with many German paint-
ings from the same period in history. I The Cretan religion
appears to have had some affinity with the religions of Syria
and Asia Minor.
2 in a similar way
similarly
like
similarly/'sJmdarli/[adv]
similarly situated/expressed/inclined etc San Fran-
cisco and Rio de Janeiro are similarly situated, both stand-
ing at the entrance to great natural harbours. I This idea of
creation is similarly expressed in a poem by Dylan Thomas. I
similarly The son will follow his father's example and, simi-
larly, the daughter will model herself on her mother.
like/laik/ir a similar way to someone or something [prep]
I wish I could swim like you. I I hate being treated like a
child.I Huge trees had snapped like matchsticks in the
hurricane-force winds. [ Like her brother, Shirley wanted to
enter politics. [ just like (:exactly like) When Dad heard
the news he cried just like a baby.
3 ways of saying that someone or something
makes you think of another person or thing
because they are similar
remind sb of
be reminiscent of
echo
remind sb of/r'mand (sb) tv II -o:v/[phr v T not in
progressive]
The stewardess reminded him of his ex-girlfriend. I Some-
times, when you're angry, you remind me of your father. I
What an ugly little building! It reminds me of a public
lavatory.
be reminiscent of/bi: ,rem 'nsnt Dv/if something or
someone is reminiscent of another thing or person, they
make you think of that other thing or person because they
have a similar style, appearance, sound etc Iv phrase]
His singing is reminiscent of Bob Marley. I Moving around
the dance floor, my uncle and aunt were faintly reminiscent

LIKE/SIMILAR ??3 LIKE/SIMILAR
of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I Her style of writing is
somewhat reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's novels.
echo ]' ekoo] if something, especially a performance or a
work of art echoes something that existed in the past, it
makes you think of it because it is similar Iv T not in
progressive]
This new musical with its expensive costumes and scenery
echoes the Hollywood glamour of the 1950s. I Somehow his
sculpture manages to be modern and yet at the same time to
echo the figures and carvings of tribal cultures.
4 to look very much like another person or
thing
be/look just like
be the image of/be the spitting image of/
be the living image of
could pass for/could be mistaken for
be/look just like/hi:, lok ,d3Ast 'lak/Iv phrase]
That vase is just like one that I used to have. [ He looks just
like Clint Eastwood, except he's a bit taller.
be the image of/be the spitting image of/be the
living image of/bi: 6i 'Imld 3 ov, bi: 6o ,spitlrJ-, bi: 6o
tllvI0-/ informal expressions meaning to look almost
exactly the same as someone else Iv phrase]
It's really amazing. That little girl "s the image of my mice. I
There was one guy in the bar who was the spitting image of
your boss. I With that beautiful black hair, she is the living
image of her mother.
could pass for/could be mistaken for/kod tpct:s
f:r, kod bi: mi 'stelkon f:r II -pees-/if you could pass for
or be mistaken for another person, you look so much like
them that people might think you were the other person
Iv phrase ]
You could easily pass for your sister, you look just likeher. I
With her hair cut short, she could easily have been mistaken
for a boy.
5 a person who looks very much like another
person
look-alike
double
look.alike/'lok O laik] a person who looks very much like
another person, especially a famous person In C]
Madonna/Elvis Presley etc look-alike Have you seen
that new commercial with the Mel Gibson look-alike? I There
were hundreds of Madonna look-alikes waiting outside
Wembley Stadium for the concert.
double /dAbM/a person who looks exactly like another
person In C]
sb's double I met your double at a party last night. I thought
it was you. I Look at that man over there!It's Harry's double!
6 to be like your mother, father, grandfather etc
in appearance or character
be like
take after
be a chip off the old block
be like Ibi: 'laik/Iv phrase]
You're just like your grandmother - obstinate and deter-
mined. I Young Billy's just like his mother. He's got the same
hair and eyes.
take after/'teIk o:fl r II -ef-/to be like your mother,
father, grandfather etc, especially in character Iv T not in
progressive or passive]
I don't know why you're so artistic. You must take afteryour
Uncle Edgar. I Aunt Arabella is very stubborn. Kim takes
after her in that respect.
be a chip off the old block/bi: o ,tJ'Ip of 6i ,oold
tblok I[ -'blct:k/an informal expression meaning to be like
your mother, father, grandfather etc in character or
behaviour, used especially when talking about a good
characteristic Iv phrase]
"That daughter of yours has a great sense of humour. "" "Yes,
she's a chip off the old block -just like her dad.'"
7 ways of saying that people are like each other
because they have similar characters or
interests
be two of a kind
have a lot in common
be two of a kind/bi: ,tu: v  'kand/if two people are
two of a kind, they are very similar to each other in
character or behaviour Iv phrase]
Jean and Melissa are two of a kind. They'll never get any
work done if they sit next to each other at school. I They were
two of a kind, both proud and stubborn, both hated by the
community.
have a lot in common/hav  ,lot xn komn II -,lo:t In
'ko:mon/two or more people who have a lot in common
share similar interests, attitudes, tastes etc Iv phrase not
in progressive]
We like the same things. I think we have a lot in common. I
You two have got a lot in common. You'll get along just fine.
8 to understand and sympathize with someone
because you have the same character,
problems etc as them
identify with
relate to
Identify with/a 'dentlafa w6/to like and feel that you
are similar to someone, especially a character in a film,
story etc Iv T not in passive]
Which of the characters do you most identify with?[ Many
women can identify with the movie's heroine, who struggles
to gain respect and fulfil her ambitions. [ Which of us does
not in some way identify with such an oppressed people in
their desire for freedom and independence?
relate to/r; 'let tu:l to be able to understand and be sym-
pathetic to someone, because you have the same problems,
situation etc as them Iv T not in passive]
Group work helps children learn to share things and relate
to each other. [ He seems to have difficulty relating to others
and expressing his feelings. [ We admire stars and celebrities
but are unable to relate to them as individuals.
ўJ ways of saying that two or more people or
things are almost equally good or bad
there is little to choose between/not much to
choose between
be much of a muchness
there is little to choose between/not much to
choose between/6eor z .htl to 'tJ'u:z bitwi:n, ntt .mAtJ"
to-/if there is little to choose between two or more people
or things, they are almost equally good or bad, especially
so that you would not know which one to choose
There's little to choose between the two apartments in terms
of space, so I think we should buy the cheaper one. I When
you look at Bush and Clinton, there really isn't much to
choose between them.
be much of a muchness/bi: ,mAtf OV  mAtfns/an
informal British expression meaning to be very similar
and almost equally good or bad Iv phrase]
I can't really recommend any particular hotel. They're all
much of a muchness.
10 the quality of being similar
similarity
likeness
resemblance
similarity/,sim'leralti/In U]
similarity between There is some similarity between the
plays of Christopher Marlowe and those of Shakespeare. I
similarity with/to We were able to tell the date of the statue

LIKE/SIMILAR ?? LIMIT
because of its similarity with other statues of that period. I
The similarity of one language to another may not be
immediately obvious.
likeness ]'lakn Is/a similarity, especially in appearance
In singularC]
likeness to It will be easy to recognize Rosa from her like-
ness to her brothers. I likeness between The likeness
between the photograph and the man himself. I strong
family likeness (=when members of a family look very
like each other) You could see a strong family likeness
between the three sisters.
resemblance/r Izcmblns/a similarity in appearance,
especially between people In singularC]
resemblance to I was puzzled by Alice's strong resemblance
to Josie. Were they related? l resemblance When you look
at this painting and the one by Rembrandt, there is certainly
a resemblance. I family resemblance between (=a resem-
blance between members of the same family) When he met
Francesca's aunt he was instantly struck by the family resem-
blance between them. I striking resemblance (=extremely
strong resemblance) "'Do you think Alice is Barry's daugh-
ter? .... Maybe. When she smiled at me yesterday I could see
a striking resemblance. ""
1 1 a particular way in which things or people are
similar
similarity
parallel
similarity/,sm'lerti/[n C usually plural]
similarity in Watching young chimpanzees and young chil-
dren, we can see many similarities in behaviour. I similar-
ity between There is one important similarity between the
two political systems. I similarity When comparing differ-
ent cultures, we often pay attention only to the differences
without noticing the many similarities.
parallel/'perolel/a particular way in which two things
are similar, especially when it is possible to make an
interesting comparison between them In C usually plural]
parallel between There are certain parallels between the
situation in Europe today and that which existed 90 years
ago. I Kakar finds parallels between the Hindi film and
popular myths.
likeable NICE 3
likelihood PROBABLY 8
likelihood: there is a strong likelihood/probability
PROBABLY 3
likely PROBABLY 1
likely: as likely as not PROBABLY 1, 2
likely: not likely REFUSE 3
likely: think sth is likely EXPECT 1
likely: very likely PROBABLY 3
likely/probable PROBABLY 2
likely story: a likely story BELIEVE 16
liken COMPARE 1
likeness LIKE/SIMILAR 10
likes and dislikes LIKE SB OR STH 9
likewise AND/ALSO 1
likewise: do likewise IMITATE 1
liking: be to your liking LIKE SB OR STH 1
liking: get/develop a liking for LIKE SB OR STH 4
liking: not be to your taste/liking DON'T LIKE 1
liking: take to/take a liking to LIKE SB OR STH 6
limb BODY 3
limelight: be in the spotlight/limelight FAMOUS 4
limit LIMIT 1, 6
limit: be over the limit DRUNK 5
limit: there are limits/there is a limit LIMIT 7
limit: there's no limit LIMIT 8
a limit on the smallest or lowest amount, size,
or number
limits on what someone is allowed to do or
able to do
the limits within which something is allowed to
be done
ways of saying that someone's freedom of
action is limited in some way
to put a limit on something
words for describing something that has a
limit
having no limit
1 a limit on the highest or greatest amount,
size, or number
limit ceiling
upper limit cut-off point
maximum the most
limit /lm]t/ the highest or greatest amount, size, or
number that is allowed in order to control what people
spend, use, have etc In C usually singular]
He borrowed money up to the limit that the bank allowed. I
The directors introduced a limit of 8% on pay raises. I limit
on Is there a limit on the amount of foreign currency that
you can bring into the country? I limit to what/how much
etc There's a limit to how many tablets you can take in a 24
hour period. I age/speed/time limit He was fined for
exceeding the speed limit on the freeway.
upper limit /^pa r 'lImt/the largest amount of money
that you can afford to spend or that you are allowed to
spend In C usually singular]
A realistic upper limit for your mortgage loan would be
between Ј55,000 and Ј60,000. [ At an auction you should have
an upper limit beyond which you will not bid. [ upper limit
on We want to buy the house but we have an upper limit on
what we can spend.
maximum/' meksmam/the largest amount or number
that is fixed as being possible or allowed In singular]
You're allowed to borrow a large variety of books from the
library but six is the maximum. [ absolute maximum We
sometimes accept up to 30 students in a class, but that is the
absolute maximum. [ up to a maximum of The Education
Department offered assistance up to a maximum of $6OO for
each child attending school regularly.
maximum [adj only before noun ] Fraud is an offence that
carries a maximum sentence of 15 years" imprisonment.
ceiling/' si:l tj/a word used especially in business mean-
ing the largest number or amount of something that is offi-
cially allowed In singular]
The government fixed a ceiling on spending by each depart-
ment. I Export quotas may rise from the present ceiling of 18.5
million to 20 million.
cut-off point /'kht Df ,pant/ a particular amount or
number which is the largest possible before something
stops happening, something has an effect etc In C usually
singular]
They decided the cut-off point was 30 years old; after that
people would be too old to start training. I The machine's cut-
off point is 1000 volts, which is the safety maximum.
the most/6 maost/the largest amount or number of
something [quantifier]
There are six people in this taxi, and that's the most I'm
allowed to carry. I The most you can hope to earn in that job
is $40 a day. I at most/at the most (=as the largest amount
possible or allowed) A new tyre would cost Ј50 at the very
most.
@ LIMIT
the limit on what is possible or allowed
1 a limit on the highest or greatest amount,
size, or number
2 a limit on the smallest or lowest amount, size,
or number
lower limit the least
minimum bottom line
threshold

LIMIT ??5 LIMIT
lower limit /,looo r 'hmt/a fixed amount of money which
is the least that must be paid or that you must have in order
to be able to do something [n C usually singular]
If you earn less than the government's lower limit they will
give you extra money. [ Deposits are subject to a lower limit
of $400.
minimum/'mInImvm/the smallest amount, number, size
etc which is possible or allowed In singular]
We need a minimum of 8 members to form a committee. [
absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount or
number) At the hospital we have reduced staffing levels to
the absolute minimum. I keep sth to a minimum Adminis-
tration costs are kept to a minimum.
threshold/'Orefhold, -fold/the lowest number or level
at which something begins to happen or to have an effect
In C]
If the temperature falls below a particular threshold level,
a warning light comes on. ] Tax thresholds have been raised
to protect those on low wages.
the least 15 'li:st] the smallest amount or number of
something [quantifier]
The least you "re allowed to work in order to be able to join
the union is 17hours a week. I Ј20,000 is the least we could
accept for a car of this type.
bottom line/,bDtam 'lan [[ ,bo:-/the smallest amount
or number of something that must be produced within a
fixed time limit In singular]
Our bottom line output target is to design ten leaflets a week.
3 limits on what someone is allowed to do or
able to do
limits
restrictions
constraints
limits/'limits/In plural]
Unfortunately there are certain limits on my time and I am
unable to help you. I The committee acted beyond the limits
of their authority. I within limits/within the limits Ican
only plan meetings within the limits of the existing timetable.
limitations /,lIm'teanz/ [n plural] (=limits on what
someone or something is able to do) The president could
never accept the limitations of his power. [ The limitations
of the computer system make some operations very difficult.
restrictions Iri 'strlkj'anz/rules or a system that limit
what someone does, with the result that they cannot do
exactly what they want to do In plural]
She hated the restrictions of office life. ] Speed restrictions
operate on all urban roads. [ The 1986 law imposed new
financial restrictions on private companies. [ restrictions
on Expansion abroad was blocked last year by restrictions
on hard currency.
constraints/kntstrelnts/facts or conditions that limit
what you can do, for example not having enough time,
money etc [n plural]
The constraints of prison life are sometimes too much for
people to bear. I Part of the school was closed because of
financial constraints.
4 the limits within which something is allowed to
be done
scope parameters
confines bounds
scope/skop/the range of things that a particular activity
is allowed to include or have an effect on In U]
I'm afraid the matter falls outside the scope of this enquiry. I
We have been granted concessions of considerable scope by
the governing committee. I in scope The guidelines are inter-
national in scope, but may only be followed by a few
countries.
confines/'konfalnz II 'ka:n-/the limits on a situation,
organization etc which control what is allowed to be done,
especially because people think these limits are too severe
In plural]
We must operate within the confines of the law. [ She felt
trapped by the confines of the convent, she needed some
freedom. I Their power extended far beyond the confines set
by the ruling party.
parameters/p'remtorz/a word used in a business,
educational, or technical context meaning a set of fixed
limits within which an activity can be carried out In
plural]
Every wordprocessing program has a set of parameters con-
trolling page size, document type, font etc. [ In the private
sector there are clear parameters which surround labour
relations.
bounds/baondz/the furthest limits within which you can
live or do something but which you cannot ignore In
plural]
She longed to be free of the bounds of parental control. I He
agreed to keep his spending within the bounds decided by the
financial controller.
5 ways of saying that someone's freedom of
action is limited in some way
be limited
be constrained
be restricted
be limited/bi: 'llmtd/Iv phrase]
Our choice of shops is limited because we don't have a car. I
be limited to We are limited to 22 days holiday a year, so
I don't think a three week safari in the summer will be pos-
sible. [ be limited by The charity wanted to do more to help
the Romanian orphans, but was limited by a lack of
resources.
be constrained/bi: kn'stre;nd/to be unable to do what
you want to do because you do not have enough time,
enough money etc Iv phrase]
be constrained by Their search for a place to live was con-
strained by limited time and money. [ Research is often con-
strained by lack of sufficient data.
be reslricted/bi: r; 'stnktd/if something or someone
is restricted to a particular number or amount of some-
thing, they are limited quite strongly to that number or
amount Iv phrase]
be restricted to The employees are restricted to 20 days
vacation a year. [ School pocket money is restricted to Ј2 a
week. I be restricted Since I lost my job I've been very res-
tricted and only go out once a week. [ Access to the President
is restricted.
6 to put a limit on something
limit set limits
restrict keep to/keep within
confine fix
limit/'lim]t/Iv T]
limit sth A bank can limit the amount that its customers
spend. I limit sb/sth to I shall limit my discussion to an
analysis of the sales figures. I limit yourself to Why limit
ourselves to something we don't know much about?
restrict/ri 'strikt/to limit something very much in order
to control or reduce the size, amount, range etc to less than
it would otherwise have been Iv T]
restrict sth The government wants to restrict the sale of
guns. [ restrict sb/sth to David restricted his son to buying
only one comic each week. [ Journalists should try to restrict
themselves to reporting fairly and honestly what has really
happened.
confine/kan' fa;n/to keep something within the limits of
a particular activity or subject, especially when it is
difficult for you to do so Iv T]
confine sb/sth to We shall confine our discussion to the
facts. [ She confined herself to using the phone only once a
day because the telephone bill had been so high.
set limits/,set 'llmts/to decide what the limits of an
activity, subject etc will be Iv phrase]

LIMIT 776 LINE
You should not allow them to do as they wish. You should
set limits. I set limits on We encourage everyone to set a limit
on the total number of drinks they have each week. I set a
limit of The committee set a limit ofЈ1000 a year on child-
care facilities.
keep t0/kee p within/'ki:p tu:, 'ki:p wiin/if you keep
to or keep within the limits of something, you make your-
self stay within those limits [v T]
We must keep to the budget. I Keep within the speed limit and
you should have no problems. I When preparing the menu,
they kept to what they knew people liked.
fix ]fiks] to decide on the limit of something, especially
something with a limit that often changes, and make it stay
the same for a long time [v T]
Once you have fixed your budget, do not exceed it no matter
what happens. I The inflation rate has been fixed at 7% for
the rest of the year.
7 words for describing something that has a
limit
limited fixed
there are limits/there is a limit finite
drank the limitless champagne on offer. I Economics deals
with a virtually limitless variety of goods and services.
boundless ]'baondbs] a word used especially in litera-
ture meaning having no limit [adj]
A man stares at the boundless sky and his mind is set free. I
Her appetite for life, boundless energy and numerous accom-
plishments made her a perfect travelling companion.
infinite ]' mfInt] something that is infinite has no limits
with the result that you cannot see where it ends [adj]
The universe is infinite. I There are infinite variations of
colour between red and orange. I We have an infinite number
of styles for you to choose from.
the sky's the limit/6 ,skaiz 6o Ilzmt/if you say the
sky's the limit, you mean that there is no upper limit on
something such as the amount of money you can spend or
on the success that you can have
Once you pass your exams, the sky's the limit! I The Manag-
ing Director has said that the sky's the limit as far as the
advertising budget for the new product is concerned.
limited/'lmItd/something that is limited, only has a
particular amount or number of something, and not any
more than that [adj]
Our time is extremely limited, so we may not get everything
finished. [ The survey collected a limited amount of informa-
tion on work habits. I limited in size/number/scope ete
They set up a development programme, which was useful,
but rather limited in scope. I to a limited extent Fraud has
occurred in the organization, but only to a limited extent.
there are limits/there is a limit/16ear o: r 'lImoIts,
,6ear Iz a 'hmot/if there are limits or there is a limit to
something, only a particular amount or number is possi-
ble or allowed, and not any more than that
there are limits on According to the director, there's a limit
on the number of computers we can buy. I there are limits
to There are limits to what the human body can tolerate. I
I like babies, all right, but there are limits.
fixed /fIkst/ fixed number/amount/price etc (=one
which has already been decided and which cannot be made
higher or lower) [adj]
All the men in this factory work a fixed number of hours per
week. ] The amount of time spent on each task is fixed and
cannot be changed except in special circumstances. ] Fixed
costs should be separated from variable costs when working
out the annual accounts.
finite / fanait/a word used especially in a scientific con-
text to describe something that has a limit and an end [adjl
Light travels at a finite speed. I The earth has a finite number
of resources which we must protect.
boundless
infinite
the sky's the limit
8 having no limit
 unlimited
there is no limit
limitless
unlimited IAn'hmotid/[adj]
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in jail, plus
an unlimited fine. I Goods that were once very scarce are now
available in unlimited quantities. [ Some babies seem to have
an almost unlimited capacity for sleep.
there is no limit/6eor z no 'hmotl if there is no limit
to something, it does not have a limit, usually with the
result that there is a large amount of it
there is no limit to The war had shown there was virtu-
ally no limit to national resources. ] There seemed to be no
limit to his good nature. ] there is no limit on There is no
limit on the number of sandwiches we can have. ] there is
no limit Anything is possible. There is no limit!
limitless /'hmotlos/ something such as an amount of
something that is limitless has no limit, usually with the
result that there is a large amount of it [adj]
It is a huge company, and their resources are limitless. ] I
limitations DISADVANTAGE 2
limited LIMIT 7
limited: be limited LIMIT 5
limited: be limited to/be restricted to
limiting PREVENT 5
limitless LIMIT 8
limits LIMIT 3
limits: be off limits FORBID 6
limits: set limits LIMIT 6
limits: there are limits/there is a limit LIMIT 7
limp SOFT 4, WALK 5
line LINE 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, OPINION 4
line: be on the line RISK 7
line: bring sth into line SAME 6
line: draw a line LINE 11
line: in a straight line STRAIGHT 2
line: lay it on the line CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 2
line: next in line AFTER 6
line: push in/cut into the line WAIT 9
line: put sth on the line RISK 6
line: queue/line LINE 7, WAIT 3
line: stand in line/wait in line LINE 12, WAIT 3
ONLY 5
line: step out of line BEHAVE 3
line of work/business JOB/WORK 2
line up ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE 1,
ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 1, LINE 1:2,
13, WAIT 3,
LINE
a line drawn or marked on a surface such as
paper
a coloured line, especially one which is part
of a pattern
a line on someone's face or skin
a line on a piece of material or clothing,
where it has been folded
a line dug into the ground or cut into the
surface of something
a line of things
a line of people
a line of words or numbers written or printed
on a page
words for describing something that has lines
drawn, painted or printed on it
words for describing material, clothes etc that
have lines on them
to draw or mark a line on something
to stand in a line while waiting for something,
in order to see something etc
to arrange things or people in a line

LINE ??? LINE
1 a line drawn or marked on a surface such as
paper
line
dotted line
line/lain/In C]
In order to draw a straight line you need a ruler. I Andrew
put a thick line through what he had just written, and started
again. I From high up in the air the roads now looked like
lines on a map. I If the ball lands past this line, it's out, and
you lose fifteen points.
dolled line/,dttd 'lain I1 ,do:-/a line made up of dots
that is marked on paper, especially to show the place where
someone must write their name In C]
Sign on the dotted line, please. I The dotted line on the map
shows the path that goes from the church down to the river. I
Fold the paper along the dotted line.
2 a coloured line, especially one which is part
of a pattern
stripe
band
streak
stripe/straip/a coloured line, especially one of several
narrow lines all close together In C]
The American flag has red and white stripes. I He was wear-
ing a grey suit with narrow blue stripes. I My horse had a
big white stripe down the middle of his nose.
band/bend/a thick coloured line In C]
The cover of the book is blue, with a green band around the
edge. I There was a band of yellow in the rock. I How many
bands of colour are there in a rainbow?
streak/stri:k/a coloured line, especially one that is not
straight or been made without any plan or pattern In C]
Her hair was brown, with streaks of gold. I Karen's dress had
a big streak of red wine down the front. I "'It's time for you
to have a wash, "" said his mother, pointing at the streaks of
dried mud on his arms and legs.
3 a line ora someone's face or skin
line
wrinkle
crease
line/lain/[n C/
When she laughed, little lines formed at the corners of her
eyes and mouth. I The fisherman's hands were reddened by
the sun and had deep lines across them.
wrinkle/'ri1]kal/a deep line on someone's face or skin,
which is caused by growing old In C]
Her face was old and covered in wrinkles. I Delay the effects
of ageing with the revolutionary new anti-wrinkle cream.
wrinkled [adj] A bald-headed man with a very wrinkled
face.
crease/kri:s/a deep line on someone's face or skin, which
lasts for a short time because they are smiling, bending
part of their body etc In C]
When he smiles, you can see the creases around his mouth
and his eyes. I I was so fat I had big creases of skin on my
stomach.
creased [adj] The baby howled, its face creased and pink.
4 a line on a piece of material or clothing,
where it has been folded
crease
wrinkle
crease/kri:s/a line in clothing In C]
Look at the creases in this shirt. I'll have to iron it. I He was
always very elegantly dressed with a single crease in his
trousers.
wrinkle/' r;rjkl/a line in a piece of clothing that is caused
by leaving it somewhere untidily, not folding or hanging
it properly etc In C]
You'd better press that dress to get the wrinkles out. I It's
made from a special fabric that doesn't leave any wrinkles
after you wash it.
a line dug into the ground or cut into the
surface of something
furrow tracks
rut groove
furrow/'f^ro I1 'f3:r-/one of many long lines which have
been dug in a field in order to plant crops In C]
All around the furrows in the fielcls were filled with snow.I
The farmers were out ploughing furrows and sowing corn.
rut/r^t/a deep line made in a dirt track by the wheels of
vehicles In C]
The road to the farm had deep ruts in it. I The carriage
became stuck in a rut, and we all had to get out and push.
rutted [ adj] Gradually the road became more rutted (=had
deeper ruts) and muddy.
tracks/traks/lines on the ground that are left by the
wheels of a vehicle In plural]
The police were busy measuring the tyre tracks of the two
vehicles which were involved in the accident. I We followed
the tracks down a lane and arrived at an abandoned
farmhouse.
groove/gru:v/a thin line that has been cut into a surface,
for example on a record In C]
The record player needle kept jumping out of the grooves. I
Gently work the. screw into the groove.
6 a line of things
line bank
row tier
line/lain/[n C]
In front of the house there is a line of tall trees. I Maisie had
arranged her teddy bears in a line on the bed. I He gazed up
at the lines of books on the shelves.
row Irol a line of things which someone has deliberately
put next to each other In C]
The tiny cottages had been built in long rows. I They put a
row of chairs out for the visitors. I Julie arranged her per-
fumes and creams in neat rows on the dressing table. I row
upon row (=many rows) The back wall was covered with
row upon row of files.
bank Iberjkl a line of computers, televisions, or other elec-
trical equipment In C]
Fans who couldn't get into the stadium watched the match
on banks of TV monitors outside. I Scientists sit behind
banks of computers, giving instructions to the crew of the
spaceship.
tier/tier/one of many lines of seats in a theatre, concert
hall etc, which are at different levels In C]
We always sat in the top tier of seats.
a line of people
line
row
queue/line
in single file
column
procession
parade
line/lain/a line of people who are standing behind each
other or next to each other In C]
The photographer asked us to stand in a line. I The Queen
is walking slowly along the lines of soldiers, occasionally
stopping to ask a question. I form a line (=make a line) The
teacher got the children to form a line before they went into
the hall.
row/rao/a line of people who are deliberately arranged
to stand or sit next to each other In C]
Can you see me in thephoto? I'm in the front row on the left. I
The hotel staff stood in a row to greet their important guests.
queue (British) I line (American) /kju:, lain/ a line of
people who are waiting to get a bus, buy a ticket etc In C]
There was a queue of about fifteen people at the bus stop. I

LINE
The line for the movie stretched around the corner. I form
a queue/line (=make a queue/line) The women who were
waiting outside the toilets began to form a queue.
in single file/In ,sirjgal 'fad/ifa group of people walk
in single file, they walk behind each other in a line [adv
phrase]
The path was so narrow that we had to walk in single file.
column /'kDlm II 'ka:-/ a long moving line of people,
especially soldiers In C]
The column of French soldiers passed us on their way to the
battlefront. I Columns of men and women were making their
way towards the central square.
procession/pm'seSan/a line of people who move along
together while other people watch them, especially as part
of a public ceremony such as a wedding or a funeral In C]
The people who take part in the carnival procession spend
months preparing their costumes and decorating their vehi-
cles. [ We watched the long procession from the upstairs win-
dows of the house.
parade/p'reid/a ceremony in which a line of people
such as musicians, dancers etc, walk down the street while
other people watch them in order to celebrate something
In C]
A lot of soldiers were missing from the Victory parade. [
When the champion arrrived back in his hometown, a big
parade was held in his honour.
8 a line of words or numbers written or printed
on a page
line
column
line/lain/In C]
I know if I'm going to enjoy a novel after reading the first
few lines. [ Elizabeth, please start reading the paragraph
that starts twelve lines down the page.
column/'kDlm II 'ko:-/a line of numbers written under
each other which goes down a page [n C]
Sales totals are shown in this column. [ Deduct the amounts
in column 2from those in column 1.
9 words for describing something that has lines
drawn, painted or printed on it
lined
striped/stripy
lined IlaInd/ paper which is lined has straight lines
printed or drawn across it, especially in order to help you
write neatly [adj]
The letter was written on pale blue lined paper. [ Most writ-
ing pads have one lined sheet which you can tear out and use
underneath the plain pages. [ What kind of note paper do you
want, lined or unlined?
striped (also stripy in British English)/strapt, 'straipi/
something which is striped or stripy has a pattern on it
which is made of many narrow coloured lines which are
close together [adj]
I was wearing my brown boots and a striped skirt. I red and
black/pink and blue etc striped My aunt knitted me a
blue and white striped sweater for Christmas. I striped blue
and pink/red and green etc The tent was made from heavy
canvas which was striped green and brown.
10 words for describing material, clothes etc that
have lines on them
wrinkled
creased
wrinkled/'rrjkald/paper, material etc that is wrinkled
has many lines in it because it has been put somewhere
untidily, not folded properly etc [adj]
All I have is a wrinkled 5 dollar bill. [ Can't you get the carpet
to lie flat? It's all wrinkled at the moment.
creased/kri:st/clothing that is creased has many lines
in it [adj]
778 lingering
Your tie's creased, you'll have to iron it. [ He could have made
more effort, wearing old jeans and a creased T-shirt.
1 1 to draw or mark a line on something
draw a line
rule
underline
draw a line/,dra: 'lan/ [vphrase]
The teacher drew a line on the blackboard. I Someone's
drawn a line through my name and written theirs.
rule/ru:l/to draw a straight line using a ruler or other
straight edge Iv T]
He ruled three lines under the title of his essay. I She divided
the page into four by ruling two diagonal lines across it.
underline/,^nda r'la;n/to draw a line under a word in
order to make people notice it Iv T]
Don't forget to underline the title of the essay. I All the mis-
takes had been underlined in red ink.
1 ' to stand in a line while waiting for something,
in order to see something etc
stand in line/wait in line line up
queue line
queue up
stand in line/wait in line/,stand in 'lain, ,wet n 'lan/
[ v phrase]
People will stand in line for hours to get concert tickets. [
Jerry joined the crowd of people who were waiting in line
outside the stadium.
queue/kju:/a British word meaning to be standing in a
line one behind the other, waiting to get a bus, to buy a
ticket etc Iv I]
We had to queue for hours in the rain. [ queue to do sth One
of the other passengers who was queueing to get on the train
suddenly had a heart attack. [ queue for sth (=queue to get
something) Thousands queued for tickets to see Michael
Jackson.
queue up /,kju: '^p/ a British expression meaning to
form a line or join a line of people who are waiting to get
a bus, buy a ticket etc [phr v I]
We queued up outside the theatre and had to wait over an
hour for our tickets. [ queue up to do sth People began
queuing up to get in the cinema. I queue up for sth (=queue
up to get something) We used to have to queue up for bread
every morning.
line up/,lain '^P/if a group of people line up, they form
lines by standing behind each other [phr v I]
The soldiers lined up in front of their commanding officer. [
An hour before the theatre doors opened, people began slowly
lining up outside.
line/lan/ff many people line a street they stand next to
each other in lines along the sides of it especially, in order
to see someone famous Iv T]
Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the football team
go by. [ The route taken by the Queen was lined with crowds
of people waving flags.
1  to arrange things or people in a line
line up
line up/,lain 'Ap/ [phr v T]
line up sb/sth He lined up the plates on the table in front
of them. [ line sb/sth/her/them up They lined the
prisoners up and shot them. [ The horses were being lined
up for the start of the race.
lined LINE 9
lines SHAPE 2
lines: along different lines DIFFERENT 9
lines: along ... lines WAY/MANNER
2
lines: read between the lines MEANING 7
linger STAY/NOT LEAVE 3, STILL 2
lingering LONG TIME 6

lingo
lingo LANGUAGE 1
linguistic LANGUAGE 2
link CONNECTED WITH 6, 7, JOIN STH TOGETHER
1, 2, 3
link: establish a link/connection CONNECTED WITH 6
link: have links/connections with CONNECTED WITH 3
link: there is a link/connection between CONNECTED
WITH 1
link up JOIN STH TOGETHER 1
link-up JOIN STH TOGETHER 2
linked: be linked CONNECTED WITH 1
linked: be linked with CONNECTED WITH 3
lion's share MOST 2
lips: sb's name is on everyone's lips FAMOUS 4
liquid LIQUID 1, 2
LIQUID
a liquid
words for describing something that is liquid
words for describing a substance that is not
solid or thick, but like a liquid
an amount of liquid that is moving in a
particular direction
to make a liquid move out of an opening or
through a tube
to become a liquid
to make something into a liquid
a small amount of liquid
1 a liquid
liquid
fluid
liquid/'likwId/a substance, for example water, that is not
a solid or a gas In C/U]
Energy is needed to melt solids and to boil liquids. I She took
a glass of champagne and began to sip the cold, bubbly
liquid. I Add most of the flour to the liquid, stirring it well
to make a stiff dough. I There's not enough liquid in this -
it will get too dry.
fluid ]'flu:od/ a medical or technical word meaning a
liquid In C/U]
In extreme heat you will sweat a lot and your body will lose
fluid and salt. I The virus that causes AIDS is found in the
fluids exchanged during sexual intercourse. I Brake fluid
was leaking out from under my car.
2 words for describing something that is liquid
liquid
molten
liquid/'lIkwd/[adj usually before noun]
Nowadays most public restrooms provide liquid soap and
electric hand dryers. I The space shuttle's main engines burn
liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
m|ten/'mltn/molten metal/rock/lava/glass etc
(=metal, rock etc that has become liquid because of very
great heat) [adj usually before noun]
Volcanoes mark the locations where molten rock rises to the
surface of the earth. I I watched the craftsmen make beauti-
ful vases out of the molten glass. I Castings are made by pour-
ing molten metal into a mould and allowing it to solidify.
3 words for describing a substance that is not
solid or thick, but like a liquid
thin
runny
watery
thin IOnl something that is thin flows easily because it
contains a lot of water [adj]
779
LIQUID
This paint seems very thin, I hope you haven "t put too much
water in it. ] For these crepes you will need a fairly thin
batter, so do not add too much flour.
runny / ' r^ni/something, especially food, that is runny is
not solid or thick even though it can be in a solid or thick
form [adj]
This mayonnaise is runny. Is it alright? I I like nice runny
honey. ] The eggs were beautiful -firm whites and dark,
runny yolks.
watery /w:tari II 'wo:-/ food or drink that is
watery contains too much water so that it does not taste
good or look good [adj]
The coffee was terrible - it tasted weak and watery. [ All they
get to eat in prison is bread and watery cabbage soup.
4 an amount of liquid that is moving in a
particular direction
stream
flow
jet
stream/stri:m/a continuous line of moving liquid In C]
A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. [
A stream of hot water was coming out from underneath the
bathroom door.
flow/floo/a smooth, steady movement or supply of liquid
In singular]
It has been shown that a slow continuous flow of water over
the rice fields gives better yields. I If the flow of blood to the
brain is interrupted, severe injury may occur.
jet/d3et/a fast, thin stream of liquid, usually from a small
opening [n C]
The fireman took the hose and directed a powerful jet of
water at the burning building. [ In the Bay of Biscay we saw
a whale blow a jet of sea water high in the air. [ Oil shot from
the well in a high jet.
 to make a liquid move out of an opening or
through a tube
squirt
spray
squirt/skwa:rt/to make a liquid move out of an opening
or through a tube in one short thin stream Iv T]
squirt sth onto/into/over ere Mike squirted disinfectant
onto the counter and began to wipe it down. [ Squirt a little
oil into the lock to free it. [ A man was squirting jets of sea-
water over the dolphins in the tank.
spray/sprei/to make liquid move out of a lot of very small
holes or through a single tube or opening, in several thin
streams Iv T]
spray sth with This field was recently sprayed with chemi-
cal insecticide. [ Ayrton Senna shook the bottle and sprayed
the crowd with champagne. [ spray sth under/onto/over
ete He sprayed deodorant under his arms.
6 to become a liquid
melt dissolve
thaw soluble
condense
melt/melt/if something solid melts it becomes a liquid
especially after being heated Iv I]
In spring the snow melts and there is a danger of avalanches
in this area. I She let the chocolate melt in her mouth. I As
the climate gets hotter, the polar ice caps will melt and sea
levels will rise.
melted [adj] Beat together the eggs, milk, melted butter, salt,
and sugar.
thaw/Oa:l if ice, snow, or a frozen lake or river thaws, it
becomes a liquid because the temperature has gone up Iv I]
The lake is frozen all winter, but it usually thaws in March. I
The snow has started to thaw.
©andense /kon'dens/ if gas or steam condenses, it
becomes liquid by becoming colder Iv I]

LIQUID ?80 LIST
Steam from the shower condensed on the cold bathroom
mirror. I During cold nights, dew condenses on grass so that
it is wet in the morning. I condense into The gaseous metal
is put in a closed container and cooled so that it condenses
into liquid zinc.
dissolve /dI'zDlv II dI'zo:lv/ if something dissolves in
liquid, it mixes with the liquid and becomes part of it [v I]
If you put salt in water it dissolves. [ Add 2 tablespoons of
sugar and then stir the mixture over low heat until all the
sugar has dissolved. [ You should put plants in your fish tank
because they produce oxygen which dissolves in the water
and keeps the fish alive.
soluble/'sDljbal II 'so.--/able to be mixed in, and become
part of, a liquid [adj]
These aspirins are soluble. You dissolve them in a glass of
water before taking them. I far-/water- etc soluble (=solu-
ble in fat, water etc) Plants take up water-soluble minerals
through their roots.
7 to make something into a liquid
melt
melt down
dissolve
melt/melt/to make something solid become a liquid by
heating it Iv T]
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large frying pan. [ The heat
of her body melted the snowflakes. [ Make sure the furnace
is hot enough to melt the metal.
melt down/,melt 'daon/ to melt something such as a
metal object especially so that you can make it into some-
thing different [phr v T]
melt down sth He melts down coins to make into earrings
and ornaments. [ Most of the brass in the church has been
melted down and sold. [ melt sth/it/them down We col-
lected all the old candles and melted them down to make one
big candle.
dissolve /di'ztlv [[ d'zo:lv/ to make something solid
become part of a liquid, especially by putting it in a liquid
and mixing it [v T]
Dissolve the salt in 125 ml of hot water. [ Dissolve the pow-
dered soup by pouring half a pint of boiling water into the
cup and stirring well. [ He was given special medication to
dissolve the stone in his kidney.
8 a small amount of liquid
drop
blob
drop/drop II dro:p/a small round amount of liquid In C[
Big drops of rain slid down the window pane. [ Add a few
drops of vanilla essence, the egg white and half the butter. [
She applied a few drops of perfume behind her ears and
smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
blob Ibhb [[ blo:b/blob of paint/glue/wax/grease etc
(=a drop or small amount of thick liquid) In C]
Rita dropped a blob of paint on the new carpet. I Blobs of
wax had dripped from the candle onto the table cloth. [ Put
a blob of glue on each surface and carefully press together.
% liquor DRINK 5
:! lisp SPEAK A LANGUAGE 3
i:.-: list LIST 1, 2, 6
:;i list: make a list LIST 5
:i'! list: short list LIST 2
LIST
I a list of objects, places, things that must be
done etc
2 a list of people
3 a list of all the things in a book
4 a list of events or activities
5 to make a list
6 to say or give a list of things or people
1 a list of objects, places, things that must be
done etc
list inventory
checklist catalogue/catalog
list/hst/a number of names of things, places etc that are
written down together In C[
list of Could I have a list of the hotels in this town?[ list The
other list shows you which car is safest. [ on a list If it's not
on the list we don't sell it. [ shopping list (=a list of all the
things you need to buy) I only bought what was on my shop-
ping list.
checklist/'tj'ek,hsq a list that helps you by reminding
you of the things you need, or the things you have to do for
a particular job or activity In C[
checklist of Here is a checklist of things you need to buy
before travelling to India. [ checklist I calculated my
monthly spending using the checklist supplied by the bank.
inventory /':nvantri [[-ta:ri/ an official list of all the
objects in a house, factory, or shop, written so that you can
know exactly what is there In C[
Some of the things in the shop were not listed in the inven-
tory. I make an inventory The Inspector wanted a complete
inventory of everything in the apartment.
catalogue (British) l catalog (American)/'katalg [1
-la:g, -lo:g/a list giving some information about each thing
in a library, art collection etc so that people can find what
they want In C[
There is a new catalogue of all the books in the library.[
According to the catalog, this antique vase is lO00 years old.
2 a list of people
list roster
register short list/shortlist
rota
list/list/[n C]
After the accident the airline issued a list of the crew mem-
bers and passengers. [ waiting list (=a list of people who
are waiting to do something) The English course is very
popular so there might be a waiting list. [ cross sb off the
list (=remove someone's name from a list) Ian will be away
on the day of the wedding so we can cross him off the guest
list.
register/'redsstar/an official list of names, especially
a list of all the people who are allowed to do something In C]
What we need is a register of all properly qualified transla-
tors. I electoral register (=a list of all the people who are
able to vote in elections) If you do not fill in this form, your
name will not appear on the electoral register.
rota !' mota/a list that states when each person in a group
must do a particular job In C]
According to the rota, it's your turn to pay the telephone bill. I
on a rota (=using a rota) The four men look after the store
on a rota.
roster/trDsto r II 'ro:-/a list of people and the jobs they
each have to do In C]
There was a roster for the children: doe did the dishes, Sally
cleaned the floors, and so on. I The manager agreed to change
the roster so that I could do a different job.
short list/shortlist/'fazrtlist/a list of a small group of
people, chosen from a larger group, from which you choose
which person will be offered a particular job In C]
You were lucky to even get onto the shortlist. I draw up a
shortlist (=make a short list) When we've looked at all the
applications we can draw up a shortlist.
3 a list of all the things in a book
index
contents
index / ' indeks/an alphabetically arranged list of all the
names and subjects in a book In C[
It's a lot quicker if you use the index. [ Look under B in the
index to see if biology is covered in the book.

LIST "/81 LISTEN
contents/'kDntents [[ 'ko:n-/alist, usually printed at the
front of a book, which shows the main parts that the book
is divided into [n plural]
Icould tell the book was not what I wanted by looking at the
contents. I According to the contents, chapter five was about
farming and chapter six about farm animals.
4 a list of events or activities
programme/proqram
schedule
agenda
programme (British) I program (American)/'prav-
graem/a list of a series of activities or events that have been
planned [n C]
Next on the programme is a speech by the organizer, Mrs
Jenkins. I A spectacular program of exhibitions, displays
and competitions has been planned. I Because of bad
weather, our programme of events, has had to be changed
slightly.
schedule/j'edju:l [[ 'skedsol, -dsal/ a list of events or
activities that shows when each event or activity will
happen [n C]
According to the schedule, the first lecture begins at 9.00am. [
The President's schedule included a visit to a children's
hospital.
agenda/ad3enda/a list of the subjects that will be dis-
cussed at a meeting [n C]
The agenda for the meeting consisted often items. [ What do
you do if you want to discuss something that's not on the
agenda?
5 to make a list
make a list
catalogue/catalog
compile a list
make a list/,meik  'hst/[v phrase]
She made a list of all the things she had to take on holiday. [
As I get older I have to keep making lists in case I forget some-
thing. [ A list has been made of all those students who didn't
come.
catalogue (British) I catalog (American)/Iketlog 1[
-b:g, -lo:g/to make a well-arranged list of a large group of
things so that people can find what they want [v T]
His job is to catalog the contents of the museum. [ Hubble
spent time cataloguing the positions and distances of differ-
ent stars.
compile a list/km,pai1  Ilxst/to carefully make a list,
especially as part of your job or in order to help you achieve
something [v phrase]
He's compiling a new reading list for his students. [ One of
the first things was to go through the phone book and com-
pile a list of potential customers in the area.
6 to say or give a list of things or people
list
reel off
list/hst/to give a written or spoken list of things or people
[v T]
The guidebook lists over 1000 hotels and restaurants. [ He
proceeded to list all her faults one by one. [ The writers in
the article are listed in alphabetical order at the end.
reel off/ri:l of 11 -a:f/ if someone reels off a list of
things or people, they say it very quickly, especially in
order to show how good their memory is [phr v T]
reel off sth She could reel off the names and dates of all the
records Elvis Presley ever made. [ Don started reeling off a
long list of places he had visited and things he had seen.
ii " listen LISTEN 1, 4
i listen: not listen to IGNORE 2
..-:i':
.il listen for/listen out for LISTEN 1
..... .. listen in LISTEN 3
listen to ADVISE 4, LISTEN 2
listen to reason: won't listen to reason STUBBORN 1
listen up lISTEN 4
" tis- and ay "-- . " @' LISTEN "
aention towhat %15 " :? ...
.:emeone is saying, t ' 4 :: ў 
• ,.::hear sounds, voices*'  ,::,;-  HEAR
.....
........
LISTEN
to listen to someone or something
to listen to a radio programme or radio station
to deliberately listen to other people's
conversations when they do not know you
are listening
ways of telling someone to listen to something
someone who listens to a speech or
performance or to what someone is saying
someone who regularly listens to a particular
radio programme or radio station
1 to listen to someone or something
listen hear sb out
hear lend an ear
listen for/listen out for
listen I'hsanl [v I]
listen to sth/sb He listened carefully to every word I said.[
I could listen to Placido Domingo all day - he has such a
beautiful voice![ listen If you listened in class you might get
better grades. [ Listen, I've just had a really good idea. [
listen hard (=try hard to hear something that is very
quiet) If you listen hard, you can hear the sound of the sea
in the distance. [ listen intently (=listen very carefully to
hear what someone is saying) Her audience listened intently,
anxious to hear every detail.
hear Ihar! to listen to someone who is making a speech,
playing music etc, especially at a meeting, concert, or per-
formance Iv T ]
hear sb's speech/announcement etc 30,000 supporters
came to hear the President's speech. [ hear sb Last weekend
we went to hear that new band that plays at 'The Roxy'. [
hear sb speak/perform etc I heard him speak at a confer-
ence a few weeks ago.
listen for/listen out for/:lIsan f:r, lIsan laot fzr/to
listen carefully for a sound that you are expecting,
although you do not know when it will happen [v T]
We hid behind the door, listening for the sound of the guard's
footsteps. I The flight has been delayed so listen for announce-
ments over the loudspeakers. [ He gave me the cassette and
told me to listen out for the guitar solo in the second song.
hear sb out/hi r (sb) aot/to listen to all of what some-
one wants to tell you without interrupting them, especially
when you disagree with them or do not believe them [phr
vT]
Look, I know you're angry but you could at least hear me out
before you take any action. I Knapp heard him out patiently
but still refused to change his mind.
lend an ear/lend an Ir/ to listen to someone sym-
pathetically because they want to tell you about their
problems [v phrase]

782
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
listen 49%
hear 17%
other 34%
3 to deliberately listen to other people's
conversations when they do not know
you are listening
 tap
monitor
bug
to listen to someone or something
to listen to a radio programme or radio
station
to deliberately listen to other people's
conversations when they do not know
you are listening
eavesdrop /'i:vzdrpll-dro:p/ to listen secretly
to someone's private conversation, especially
when you are hidden behind a door, wall etc [v I]
What the 200 English and American teachers in
our survey said:
eavesdrop 74%
listen in 9%
other 17%

LISTEN 783 little sister/brother
She's a really good person. She's always ready to lend an ear
if you have a problem. I You can find somebody to lend a
. sympathetic ear at the Counseling Center.
2 to listen to a radio programme or radio station
listen to
tune in
listen to/'lIsan tu:/ Iv T]
I always listen to the radio in the mornings. [ What station
are you listening to? l When Helen was interviewed on the
radio we all listened eagerly to the broadcast.
tune in/,tju:n 'in II ,tu:n-/to turn on your radio and listen
to a particular programme, especially if you do this at the
same time each week [phr v I]
Be sure to tune in next week at the same time for another
exciting episode of 'Death Ray'. [ tune in to sth Oh yes, I
tune in to the Breakfast Show now and again, but I coulcln't
say I'm a great fan.
 to deliberately listen to other people's
conversations when they do not know you
are listening
listen in tap
eavesdrop monitor
bug
listen in/, lIsan 'In/to listen to someone else's conversa-
tion without them knowing it, either when you are in the
same room as them, or by using a telephone to listen to
someone else's telephone conversation [phr v I]
listen in on We tried to listen in on their conversation, but
they were talking too quietly. [ They used to have hours of
fun listening in on what people were doing in their hotel
rooms. I listen in When her boss used to have one of his "pri-
vate meetings" she always used to listen in.
eavesdrop/ i:vzdrop [[ -dro:p/to listen secretly to some-
one's private conversation, especially when you are hidden
behind a door, wall etc Iv I]
eavesdrop on I caught him eavesdropping on our conver-
sation. [ She was able to eavesdrop on them through the open
window. [ eavesdrop How did you know I was going? You've
been eavesdropping, haven't you/
bug /bAg/ to hide a small piece of electronic recording
equipment in someone's room, car, office etc in order to
listen secretly to what is said there Iv T]
Security agents bugged their offices and managed to get some
evidence against them. [ Wells was convinced the house was
bugged and insisted on playing loud music while we talked.
tap/trap/to connect a piece of electronic recording equip-
ment to a telephone system so that you can listen to people's
telephone conversations Iv T]
Later we realized our phones had been tapped and the police
knew everything. [ The President had to resign over an illegal
phone-tapping operation.
monitor/'monto r II 'mo:-/to listen to another country's
radio or television broadcasts or radio messages in order
to get information about that country Iv T]
Satellite technology means that enemy airwaves can be mon-
itored more closely than ever before
 ways of telling someone to listen to something
listen
listen up
listen I 'lIsanl
Listen! There's someone coming upstairs/[ Listen, this is very
important.
listen up / ,hsan 'Ap/an informal American expression,
used when you want someone to pay close attention, espe-
cially to instructions
Okay, class. Listen up. Open your books at page 33. I The
directions are real complicated so listen up.
 someone who listens to a speech or
performance or to what someone is saying
audience
listener
be a good listener
audience /'a:dians II ,o:-, group of people who
watch and listen to someone speaking or performing in
public In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
The second comedian really made the audience laugh. I The
audience consisted mainly of young girls under sixteen.
lislener/'lIsanvr/a person who is listening to a speech,
a piece of music etc In C]
When giving a talk, make sure your listeners understand
each point before going on to the next. I He paused momen-
tarily to check that his listeners had fully appreciated the
humour of his remark.
be a good listener/bi:  ,god llsanr/if someone is a
good listener, they always listen carefully and sympathet-
ically when someone else is talking Iv phrase]
Don't worry, you can tell her everything. She's a good
listener. [ It is important in relationships be a good listener.
6 someone who regularly listens to a particular
radio programme or radio station
listener
audience
listener I'hsanrl [n C]
The programme already has more than two million listeners
across the country. I We have received a number of com-
plaints from listeners regarding the use of bad language on
last week's show.
audience/':dins 11 :-, o:-/all the people who listen
regularly to a particular radio programme or radio station
In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
WMLD's audience is mainly young and black. I These two
programs are both news and current affairs, but they cater
for very different audiences.
listener LISTEN 5, 6
listener: be a good listener
lit: well lit BRIGHT 4
lit up LIGHT 3
literal
literate
lithe
litter
little
LISTEN 5
EXACT 2
READ 9
GRACEFUL 1
RUBBISH/WASTE 1
LITTLE/NOT MUCH 9, NOT 1, SHORT PERSON
1, SMALL 1, YOUNG 1
little: a little LITTLE/NOT MUCH 1, 3, 6, 8, LITTLE/NOT
VERY 1
little: there is little to choose between/not much to
choose between LIKE/SIMILAR 9
little: too little ENOUGH 11
little: very little LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 4, 6, 9
little boy/little girl CHILD 2
little by little SLOW 6
little did I/she etc know NOT KNOW 3
little known NOT KNOW 10, 12
little sister/brother YOUNG 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

LITTLE/NOT MUCH 784 LITTLE/NOT MUCH
-small; in size  : @ SMALL
.a small amount ,.,. ; @ LITTLE/
a small number 9f.,,,  FEW/NOT MANY
things or people ':-' ..... .
... :....
sho,, person ;;: , ,. SHORT PERSON
sho :i;n length : @ SHORT/
 --;e:, ..::., NOT LONG
......
....................................................................................................................
@ LITTLE/NOT MUCH
a small amount of a substance, liquid,
chemical etc
a very small amount
a small amount of food or drink
a very small amount of food or drink, or too
little food or drink
words for describing something that contains
only a little of a particular substance
a small amount of money
too little money, especially an amount that is
unreasonably small
a small amount of something that cannot be
measured, such as hope, knowledge, effort,
or trouble
a very small amount of something that cannot
be measured, such as hope, knowledge,
effort, or trouble
1 a small amount of a substance, liquid,
chemical etc
a little trace
a bit of trickle
a small amount of dab
a little/ ,litl/[quantifier]
a little water/paint etc Try adding a little liquid fertilizer
to the compost. I A little make-up would make her look so
much more attractive. I The garden could do with a little
rain. I a little This glue's really strong - you only need to
use a little.
a bit of/ Ibit ov/an informal expression used especially
in British English meaning a small amount of something
[quantifier]
a bit of dirt/paint etc There's a bit of dirt onyour collar. I
That's a very stubborn stain. A bit of detergent might help. I
a bit You shouldn't have given me so much shampoo/I only
needed a bit. I a bit more/less Open the curtains, we need
a bit more light in here. I a bit of the dirt/paint etc (-a
small part of the amount already stated) Save a bit of the
paint to do the back door.
a small amount of/a i sma:l a maunt ov/(used especially
when it is a measured amount) In C]
a small amount of water/paint etc It's best to cook fresh
vegetables quickly, in only a small amount of water. I Even
a small amount of the drug can be detected in the test. I The
small amounts of radiation on the clothing were found to be
harmless. I a small amount Squeeze a small amount onto
the palm of your hand and spread the gel evenly through
your hair.
trace/tre s/a small amount of a substance, especially an
amount so small that it is very difficult to see In C]
trace of blood/paint etc Police found traces of blood on the
killer's shoes. [ The incinerator was empty except for a trace
of carbon ash. [ a trace She had hardly any grey hair, with
just a trace near the temples.
trickle/'trikal/a small amount of a liquid, flowing out of
something In C]
trickle of blood/oil/water etc There was a trickle of blood
coming from the corner of his mouth. I a trickle The tap
produced only a trickle when I turned it on.
dab/deb/a small amount of a liquid, cream, or powder
which has been put onto a surface with something such as
a brush or with the fingers In C]
dab of polish/paint etc Your shoes need a dab of polish. [
It's in good condition for such an old car. It just needs a
couple of dabs of paint here and there. [ a dab Why don't you
put some perfume on -just a dab on the wrist.
2 a very small amount
not much hardly any/scarcely any
very little almost no
to speak of
not much/not mAtf/if there is not much of something
such as a substance, liquid, or chemical, there is only a
very small amount of it, especially when you expect more
[quantifier]
not much hair/paper etc He was getting old and didn't
have much hair on his head. I There's not much light in this
room. I There wasn't much shelter, food, or clothing in the
refugee camp. I not much She gave me some paper even
though there wasn't much in the drawer. I not very much
of (=a small part of the amount, substance etc already
stated) You can use my shampoo but there's not very much
of it left.
very little/,veri 'htl/a very small amount, usually so that
there is not enough to be useful, to be important etc
[quantifier]
very little coal/oil/fat etc The country has very little coal
and virtually no oil. I Fish contains very little fat. I very
little There was no ink in the bottle and very little left in the
pen.
to speak of Ira 'spi:k ov[ if there is no rain, food, oil, etc
to speak of, there is almost none and not enough to have
any effect [adv phrase]
There had been no rain to speak of for ten weeks and the
garden was dying. I none to speak of There's no fuel oil left
- none to speak of, anyway.
hardly any/scarcely any /,ho:rdli 'eni, ,skearsli-/such
a small amount that there is almost none at all [quantifier]
hardly any snow/light/water etc There was hardly any
snow on the sidewalks. I The ferns are amazing. They get
scarcely any sun and yet they continue to grow every year. I
hardly any Don't forget to order some more paper for the
photocopier - there's hardly any left.
almost no / :lmust nu/such a small amount that you
can hardly see it, use it etc [quantifier]
almost no gas/hair/paper etc I must find a job soon. We
have almost no money. I He had a longish, plain face with
a straight nose and almost no hair. I almost none "'How
much glue is left?" "Almost none. "" l almost none of By the
time the dentist had finished almost none of the existing tooth
remained.
 a small amount of food or drink
a little dash
a bit of mouthful
a drop of in moderation
pinch
a little/ 'ht|/[quantifier]
a little sugar/milk etc Couldyou lend me a little sugar?l
The next day Mark felt well enough to eat a little solid food. I
a little "'Wouldyou like some more coffee? .... Just a little. "'1
a little more/less IfI wereyou I'd use a little less salt next
time.

LITTLE/NOT MUCH ?85 LITTLE/NOT MUCH
a bit of/ 'bit ov/an informal expression used especially
in British English meaning a small amount [quantifier]
a bit of cheese/wine ete I'm not very hungry. Icouldjust
manage a bit of bacon, I think. I You'll feel better after a bit
of supper and a good night's rest. I a bit "How about some
cheese?" "Alright, just a bit. "1 a bit more/less Can I have
a bit more red wine, please? I a little bit of I bet you could
eat a little bit of ice-cream, couldn't you?
a drop of/ 'drop ov II -dro:p-/an informal expression
meaning a small amount of something that you drink
[quantifier]
a drop of Would you like a drop of soda in your whisky? I
Since the operation he hasn't had even a drop of alcohol. I
a drop "More tea? .... Just a drop for me, please."
pinch/pintl/a small amount of a powder such as salt, flour
etc which you can hold between your thumb and first
finger In C]
pinch of Add a pinch of salt and half a cup of breadcrumbs. I
The stew normally tastes better with a few pinches of dried
herbs to season.
dash/deJ/a very small amount of a liquid which is added
to a drink or to-food usually in order to give it a stronger
taste In C]
dash of It's just vodka with orange juice and a dash of lime
juice. [ The secret of this sauce is a couple of dashes of brandy
added just at the end.
mouthful/'maoOfol/the small amount of food that you
can put in your mouth at one time In C]
dake ate noisily and greedily, enjoying every mouthful. [
Jenny was convinced that Ian had been helping himself to
stew, but he had not had so much as a mouthful. [ a mouth-
ful of/took a mouthful of the curry, but it was so disgust-
ing I spat it straight out.
in moderation/m rno'reIan [[-,mo:-/ if you have
food, drink etc in moderation, you have a small amount
because if you have a lot of it may be bad for you [adv
phrase]
Doctors say that drinking in moderation is good for the
heart. I When used in moderation, mustard gives the sauce
an extra little kick.
4 a very small amount of food or drink, or too
little food or drink
not much hardly any/scarcely any
very little meagre/meager
not much/not 'mAt/ if there is not much of a food or
drink, there is only a small amount of, especially when you
expect more [quantifier]
not much food/drink/bread etc Not much mustard was
eaten in Britain until the seventeenth century. I not much
"'How much cake do you want? .... Not much, I'm on a diet. "1
not much to eat/to drink We need to do some shopping -
there isn't much to eat at home. I not very much You haven't
eaten very much. Do you feel okay?
very little/,veri 'lift/a very small amount, usually so
small that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful
etc [quantifier]
very little food/drink/meat etc Very little beef reaches
local supermarkets because most of it is exported. I very
little The President only drinks wine, and even then very
little. I very little of (=only a small part of a larger amount)
He had eaten very little of his lunch.
hardly any/scarcely any /,ho:rdli 'eni, ,skersli-/
almost none [quantifier]
hardly any food/sugar/milk etc There is hardly any
sugar in it at all. [ Since his heart attack he's eaten hardly
any red meat. I hardly any/scarcely any I thought you
liked chocolate. You've eaten scarcely any.
meagre (British) I meager (American) /'mi:gr/ a
meagre meal/helping/serving/supper etc (=so small
that you are still hungry after eating it) [adj usually before
no un ]
In prison we received nothing but a meagre serving of soup
and some bread twice a day. I The people were poor yet they
made us a meal from their meager supplies. I The food was
meagre and consisted mostly of hard bread and cold tea.
5 words for describing something that contains
only a little of a particular substance
low
low Ik)ul if something is low in fat, sugar, salt etc, it con-
tains very little fat, sugar etc [adj]
low in fat/sugar/iron etc We now sell a range of foods
both low in fat and high in vitamins. I These new industrial
cleaners are much lower in ammonia and other dangerous
chemicals and are therefore safer and easier to use. I low fat/
sugar/cholesterol etc The doctor told him to go on a low
cholesterol diet to minimize the risk of heart disease.
6 a small amount of money
a little nominal
not much negligible
very little a drop in the ocean
next to nothing
a little/a 'lltl/[quantifier]
a little money/cash I have a little money, not much, but
enough. I a little over/extra/more The family had enough
money to live and a little over to pay their debts with. I a little
Most people will give a little to charity if they are asked.
not much/not mAtf/if there is not much money, there
is only a small amount of it, especially when you expect
more [quantifier]
Why don't you take a holiday - it won "t cost much. ] After
paying rent he doesn't have much left to buy food and pay
bills. [ not much money/cash It doesn't take much money
to be able to afford a night out to celebrate. ] not very much
Please can I have a new football - it doesn't cost very much,
does it?
very little /,veri htl/a very small amount of money, so
that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful etc
[quantifier]
He spends very little on food. I Considering they work so hard
they're paid very little. I very little money/cash Maria had
very little money and a huge hotel bill.
next to nothing/,nekst t nAOIIJ/ J.f the amount that
something costs is next to nothing, it is extremely cheap
[adv phrase]
It costs next to nothing to go to an afternoon movie. I The
farmer was very kind and charged us next to nothing for
using his field.
nominal/'nominal II 'no:-/a nominal sum, charge, or
payment is very small because the only important thing
is that something is paid and it does not matter if this is
much less than would usually be paid [adj]
I bought the house for a nominal sum - afigure probably
less than half its true value. ] The court was sympathetic
when Stephen explained the circumstances and he was given
only a nominal fine. I We are allowed to use the tennis courts
for a nominal fee.
negligible /'neglId3bal/ an amount of money that is
negligible is so small that it has no effect or is so small that
it is not worth worrying about [adj]
Investment in research in this country is negligible and must
be increased. I The cost of maintaining the machine is
negligible.
a drop in the ocean/ drop In 6i 'aoan II -dro:p-/you
say an amount is a drop in the ocean when it seems very
small compared with what is really needed In phrase]
The United States pledge of $100 million to the rainforest
fund is a drop in the ocean. I The economies of some smaller
countries need massive financial help. The money Britain
has given is just a drop in the ocean.
7 too little money, especially an amount that is
unreasonably small
paltry a pittance
miserly peanuts
derisory

LITTLE/NOT MUCH 786 LITTLE/NOT MUCH
paltry / p:ltri/paltry sum/amount/pay/value (=such
a small amount, sum etc that it is insulting to the people
it is paid to) [adj only before noun l
The island of Manhattan was bought from the native
Indians for a paltry sum. t Mine-workers and plantation
workers were driven hard by their colonial masters for paltry
pay. I a paltry Ј1/$5 etc Many of the workers in the factory
received a paltry $2 a day.
miserly / maIzrli/an amount of money that is miserly
is very small and the person who paid it is not generous
or kind [adj]
He says he supports charities, but his donations are always
rather miserly. ] We worked 18 hours a day, seven days a
week and the pay was miserly.
derisory/di  rasri/a derisory amount of money that you
are offered or paid is so small that it is not worth consider-
ing seriously [adj]
After his derisory offer for the house, I told him to make a
serious offer or stop wasting my time. [ Government increases
in health expenditure are derisory. [ a derisory Ј10/$100/
10% etc The company's profits increased 35%, but they've
only offered a derisory 2.5% pay increase.
a pittance /a ptgns! an extremely small amount of
money, especially when you think the people who are being
paid it are being treated unfairly In singular]
In the last century, many children had to work long hours
for a pittance. [ an absolute pittance They expect their staff
to work hard, but the wages they pay are an absolute
pittance.
peanuts /'pi:n^ts/ an informal word meaning a very
small amount of money when you would expect it to be
bigger In plural]
Compared to a teacher's pay now, we were paid peanuts
when we started teaching. [ You can have a long vacation
therefor peanuts because of the favourable exchange rate. [
You think that's a lot? Peanuts/In the capital you "d earn
three times as much.
8 a small amount of something that cannot be
measured, such as hope, knowledge, effort,
or trouble
a little a touch of
a bit of trace
a small amount of a hint of
an element of taste of
a little/ 'l]tl/[quantifier]
a little difficulty/effort etc We had a little difficulty get-
ting here but we found it in the end. [ It just takes a little effort
and thought to improve your driving. [ a little "'Do you speak
French? .... Just a little. "[ a little more/less With a little
more imagination you could do a lot with this room.
a bit of ]) blt ov/an informal expression used especially
in British English meaning a little [quantifier]
a bit of experience/attention etc He brings a bit of
experience and a lot of skill to the job. [ Your spelling needs
a bit of attention. [ a bit Give him some encouragement but
only a bit or he'll get big-headed. [ a bit more/less I think
a bit more discipline is needed with these children. [ a little
bit of We had a little bit of trouble reading your hand-
writing.
a small amount of/  sm:l  maont ov/a small, usually
controlled or limited amount of something In C]
a small amount of Doctors admit there is a small amount
of risk involved in the operation. [ Big improvements can be
made with only a small amount of training and effort. I a
small amount Love and understanding is important in a
relationship and a small amount goes a very long way.
an element of/an elrant or/if there is an element
of some quality such as truth, danger, or violence in some-
thing, there is a small amount of it, but enough to be
noticed [quantifier]
There is always an element of risk in mountain climbing. [
There may be an element of truth in this idea, disagreeable
though it may seem. I She describes her childhood home with
a certain element of nostalgia.
a touch of I 'tAtf Ov/a small amount of something, espe-
cially an emotion or quality, that has been deliberately
used to give a particular effect [quantifier]
"'Are you ready yet?" asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation
in her voice. [ Sheila Stone is known as someone who always
does things with a touch of style. [ They added fake snow to
the trees, giving the scene one last touch of authenticity.
trace/treis/a very small amount of an emotion that you
can hardly notice In C]
trace of There was a trace of anger in his voice. [ Joanne's
face showed traces of nervousness. [ The next time we went
to visit them, there was no trace of the unpleasant atmosphere
we found the first time.
a hint of/ hmt or/a very small amount of an emotion
or quality that you think you may have imagined or that
you are not sure really exists [quantifierl
The hint of irritation in his answer made me more cautious. I
There was a hint of laughter in her voice. [ For the first time
a hint of tension had crept into their relationship.
taste of ]teist or/a taste of power/happiness/fame etc
(=a short experience that shows you what it is like to have
power, fame, happiness etc) In singular]
He had a brief taste of power in 1986 as President Reagan's
national security adviser. ] A holiday on the coast gave her
her first taste of happiness since her divorce. I After a first
taste of fame in a successful local theatre production, she
went on to become a well-known actress.
9
a very small amount of something that cannot
be measured, such as hope, knowledge,
effort, or trouble
very little negligible
not much precious little
hardly any/ next to nothing
scarcely any to speak of
little a smattering of
minimal almost no
very little/,veri tlItl/a very small amount, so that there
is not enough to have an effect, be useful, important etc
[quantifier]
very little energy/experience etc I had very little energy
left. I She has very little experience in this kind of work. I very
little "How much do you know about China? .... Very little
I'm afraid. "'
not much/not rnAff/if there is not much of something,
there is only a very small amount of it, especially when you
expect more [quantifier]
not much experience/help etc He doesn't have much
experience of running a business. [ Her headache was so bad
that the asprins weren't much help. [ not much Not much
was known about nuclear reactions. [ not very much Unfor-
tunately I didn't understand very much of what was said at
the meeting.
hardly any/scarcely any / hct:rdli eni, skeorsli eni/
such a small amount that there is almost none at all
[quantifier]
The children paid hardly any attention, they clearly weren't
interested. I She said she felt a lot of regret about leaving,
but I felt hardly any at all. I Mark is so lazy, he makes
scarcely any effort to improve his work.
little / htl/a formal word meaning a small amount, espe-
cially when you expect more [quantifier]
little progress/change etc Little progress was made
during the negotiations. I Tests found little change in the
patient's responses to the drug. I There seems to be little
chance of him coming home for Christmas.
minimal / minlmdl/a minimal amount of something is
the smallest that is possible so that it is not worth giving
it your attention [adj]
Despite the TV advertising campaign, interest has been
minimal. I The new operating technique involves minimal
risk to patients. I The crew had very little experience and were
given minimal safety training.

LITTLE/NOT MUCH 78? LIVE SOMEWHERE
negligible/'neglid3Iabal/so smatl in amount that it has
no effect or so small in amount that it is not worth worry-
ing about [adj]
The damage done to his property was negligible. I Govern-
ment policy has had a negligible effect on inflation, which
continues to rise. I The chances of a healthy adult contract-
ing the disease are negligible.
precious little/prelas 'lltl-/an informal expression
meaning very little of something, especially when you are
surprised at how little there is [quantifier]
He knew nothing about foreign countries and precious little
about his own country. I "So what did you find out in the
records office?" "'Precious little.t" l precious little help/
encouragement etc She got precious little encouragement
from her parents, no wonder she did so badly.
next to nothing/ nekst ta nAOirJ/if you know, learn, say,
hear etc next to nothing about something, then you know,
learn etc very little about it lady phrase]
I know next to nothing about science. I I learned next to noth-
ing at my school. The teachers were awful. I In the report I
said next to nothing about your bad behaviour.
to speak of/ta spi:k ov/ if someone has no ability,
experience, intelligence etc to speak of, they have almost
none lady phrase]
He's got no ability to speak of but he does try awfully hard.I
She has a university degree but no work experience to speak
of.
a smattering o!/  smetaritj ov/if you have a smatter-
ing of knowledge, especially about a language, you have
a very small amount of it [quantifier]
I have a smattering of German, enough to find my way
around. I He has a smattering of all the main subjects, but
no detailed knowledge of any of them.
almost no / 3:lmaost nao/such a small amount that you
can hardly see it, use it, notice it etc [quantifier]
almost no attention/impact etc Scientists have paid
almost no attention to the new theory. I In the book Graham
Greene makes almost no mention of his childhood. I The birth
control campaign was begun in 1962 but had almost no
impact in the rural areas. I almost none "'What progress
has been made with your survey?" "Almost none."
@ LITTLE/NOT VERY
1 ways of saying that someone feels something
a little, something happens a little etc
1 ways of saying that someone feels something
a little, something happens a little etc
a little not much
a bit not very
slightly a tiny bit
a little/ 'htl/[adv]
We are a little concerned about your son's behaviour, I Chris-
sie was a little embarrassed by his gift, and did not show it
to anyone. I The centre of the town had changed a little but
basically it was just as I remembered it.
a bit/a b:t/ an expression used especially in British
English meaning a little [adv]
I think David was a bit disappointed I forgot his birthday. I
Aren't you a bit young to be going to nightclubs? I I got the
larger size because wool often shrinks a bit in the wash. I a
little bit I'm a little bit tired. I think I'll go to bed.
slightly/'sla:tli/a little but not enough to be noticed or
to make any difference [adv]
The twins are exactly the same, except one is slightly taller
than the other. I His sight has been slightly affected by work-
ing at a computer screen all day. I I was never happy living
at home, although things did improve slightly when Igot my
own room.
not much/not 'mAt./only a little and not as much as you
might have expected [adv]
"'Did you enjoy the party? .... Not very much. I was too tired. "'[
not change/help/grow etc much The area hasn't
changed much since 1950. [ not much bigger/better/fur-
ther/different etc Keep on walking. It's not much further. [
His son's not much younger than I am. [ not much good I'm
not much good at explaining things.
not very/not veri/only a little or not at all [adv]
The house isn't very old. It was built in the 1960s. [ We don't
see them very often. [ The present situation is not very satis-
factory. [ "'Is it expensive, living in London? .... Not very. ""
a tiny bit/ taini 'bit,/a British expression meaning
very slightly lady phrase]
I'm just a tiny bit worried about your English. [ I tried on
the dress but it was just a tiny bit small.
live LIVE SOMEWHERE 1, 2, LIVING/ALIVE 2,
SURVIVE 1
live: not be fit to live in LIVE SOMEWHERE 11
live: not have anywhere to live HOME 10
live: somewhere to live HOME 3
live for IMPORTANT 5
live from day to day PLAN 12
live in LIVE SOMEWHERE 3
live in fear FRIGHTENED 4
live in the past PAST 5
live it up ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 3
live on SURVIVE 5
live sth down FORGET 4
live through: go through/live through EXPERIENCE 3
live together LIVE WITH SB 1, 2
live up to GOOD ENOUGH 2
live up to: not live up to GOOD ENOUGH 4
live up to: not live up to/come up to expectations
DISAPPOINTED 3
live up to sb's expectations EXPECT 8
live well/happily/carefully etc LIFE 3
live wire: be a live wire ENERGETIC 2
live with LIVE WITH SB 1, 2, STAND/BEAR 1
live
.. I I II J I [J I . I. .<&.....
_ ., ..... :4 :!;:::;-, !...t
,.,- ..........
:;;#i'I}' '" ":.  .....  ":
wn ..... ' i ?
mean.: ng
.................. . ............................ .j ;.:----.-; :. ;:-};::* Ј. }},
live somewhere '  @ LIVE
..........
%.= .,,.. SOMEWHERE
plaўNhere some#ne ,-:.  HOME
. ... - "; ,G;::4 ,,.:. :.,, '-:-'- -
pei...-ef timeen  ..... :  LIFE
.--1 ..-: . .   .. .. . :. ў:   . , . .     ........
..-, ... ............. . ...... .. -- ,:.
:...  .,,-...::,' - 
LIVE SOM EWH ERE
to live in a particular area, town, or country
to live in a particular house, room etc
to live in the place where you work or study
to start to live in a place
ways of saying that a place has a particular
type of people living in it
words for describing a place that has people
living in it
to arrange for someone to live somewhere
continued

LIVE SOMEWHERE ?88 LIVE SOMEWHERE
8
9
10
11
someone who lives in a particular town,
country, or area
someone who lives in a particular building
suitable for people to live in
not suitable for people to live in
1 to live in a particular area, town, or country
live
reside
live/hv/[v I]
live in America/London/the city etc Picasso was born
in Spain but lived for most of his life in France. I I live in the
countryside, so ifI need a doctor I have to travel a long way. I
live abroad/away etc They lived abroad but sent their chil-
dren to England for their education. I Where were you living
when you met Martine?
reside/ri 'zaid! a formal word meaning to live in a coun-
try, city, or area Iv I]
reside in Spain/Paris/the suburbs etc Obviously you
came here intending to reside in America and you will need
a work visa. I At that time there were many impecunious
American writers residing in Paris.
to live in a particular house, room etc
live
occupy
squat
live/liv/[v I]
live at/in/upstairs etc I remember her. She lived at
number 45, didn't she?] Stuart lived on the fifth fioor. I The
refugees have been living in tents for eight months. I Where
do you live?
occupy-/IDkjpaI II 'a:k-/a word used especially in offi-
cial contexts, meaning to live in a house, building, or room,
especially temporarily Iv T]
He and his wife and youngest child occupied Alina's room
for six months. I The house is divided into four or five small
apartments which girls either share or occupy on their own.
squat/skrwDt II skwa:t/a word used especially in British
English meaning to live in an empty building without
paying any rent and without having permission to live
there Iv I]
squat in They've been squatting in that house for six months
and no one can get them out. I squat When we get to Ham-
burg we can squat for a while or go and live in a commune.
squatter In C] Police today evicted the squatters from the
building.
3 to live in the place where you work or study
live in
resident
residential
live in/,hv 'in/[phr v I]
The hotel is a long way from the town so the staff have to live
in. I All students at the institute are expected to live in.
live-in/'hv m/[adj] They both work very long hours so they
have a live-in cook (=a cook who lives in their house).
resident / 'rez i dnq resident caretaker/cook/tutor etc
(=one who lives in the building where they work) [adj only
before noun]
The college has a resident doctor. I We have a resident jani-
tor in the apartment building who takes care of all our little
electrical and plumbing problems.
residential / ,rezI  denf91-/residential patient/social
worker etc (=one who has to live at a particular place
during the time they are ill, working there etc) [adj]
One average ward had between thirty and forty residential
patients. I They are desperately looking for residential staff
to work at the old people's home.
4 to start to live in a place
set up home/house
take up residence
settle
set up home/house/,set ^p 'hom, 'haus! to start to live
in your own home for the first time, for example after get-
ting married or leaving your parents' home Iv phrase]
Setting up hous,e for the first time since her divorce was very
difficult. ] They first set up house together in Atlanta and
moved to Miami three years later. I set up house with When
she set up house with her boyfriend her parents were very
upset.
take up residence /tteik ^p trezdans/to start to live
in a building, especially one that is connected with a job
that you have just started Iv phrase]
President Clinton and his family have now taken up resi-
dence in the White House.
settle ! setl! to start to live permanently in a country or
city, after you have lived in several different places over
a period of time Iv I]
settle in France/London/another country etc I never
imagined that one day I'd settle in Mexico, but here I am. I
settle abroad/near Madrid etc They finally settled near
Madrid.
 ways of saying that a place has a particular
type of people living in it
inhabit
be populated by
inhabit /In hebt/ira group of people or animals inhabit
an area of land, they live there, especially over a long period
of time or permanently [v T]
The island is mainly inhabited by sheep. [ Some tribes still
inhabit the remoter mountains and jungles of the country.
be populated by/bi: 'popjUleitid bai [[ -'po:p-/i_fan area
of land is populated by a particular type of people or
animals, they are the only people or animals who live there
Iv phrase]
This area of Antarctica is populated only by seals and pen-
guins. ] Kirkland was a small frontier town populated by
miners and engineers.
6 words for describing a place that has people
living in it
inhabited
occupied
populated
inhabited/In'hmbtId/an area of land or a building that
is inhabited has people living in it [adj]
If the island is inhabited they won't be able to build their
power station there. [ There was no other inhabited farm
around, so we had to use that one for the movie.
occupied/'okj°paid [1 'o:k-/a building or room that is
occupied has people living in it [adj]
None of the fiats is occupied - they've only just been built. [
Over 40% of the occupied cottages had structural faults.
populated /'popjUleitd 1[ 'po:p-/ thinly/densely/
highly/sparsely etc populated (=with many or few
people living in it) [adj]
The north-east has always been more densely populated than
the rest of the country. I a sparsely populated semi-desert area
7 to arrange for someone to live somewhere
resettle
resettle/ri:' setl/if an organization or government reset-
tles a large group of people, it moves them from where they
live to another area Iv T]
The money raised will be used to resettle 8000 refugees in the
Mid West. [ More than four million people have been forcibly
resettled in the region in the last ten years.

LIVE SOMEWHERE ?89 LIVE WITH SB
resettled [adj] Few of the resettled farmers actually have
enough land to survive.
resettlement In U] Resettlement is expected to resume as
soon as the war is over.
8 someone who lives in a particular town,
country, or area
resident citizen
inhabitant local
population
resident/'rezIdont/someone who lives in a particular
town or in a particular area of a town In C]
Local residents are protesting about the new road. I Many
residents now travel to the city to work.
inhabitant/n'hmbtont/one of the people who live in a
particular town, country, or area In C]
The church was built by the.first inhabitants of the island. I
He lives in a town of only 7500 inhabitants.
population / popjO'lelJ'on II po:p-/all the people who live
in a particular country or area In singular with singular
or plural verb in British English]
Half the world's population doesn't have enough to eat. I The
patients have been isolated so that the disease doesn't spread
to the rest of the population.
citizen / ' Sltzan/someone who lives in a particular coun-
try or city and who has the right to be protected by its laws
[n C]
The police asked if we were both British citizens. I The
citizens of New York City are experiencing the worst snows
in living memory.
local/'loukl/an informal word meaning someone who
lives in a particular area, especially in a village or small
town In C usually plural]
If you get lost just ask one of the locals for directions. I It's
taken months for the locals to accept him as part of the
community.
9 someone who lives in a particular building
inhabitant occupier
occupant tenant
inhabitant / in'hebtont/one of the many people who live
in a large building In C]
The poor condition of this apartment block is a danger to all
its inhabitants. [ An elderly inhabitant of the fourth floor
was peering down over the banisters.
occupant/'okjOpont [[ 'a:k-/someone who lives in a par-
ticular house, room etc In C]
They have left all the furniture and carpets in the house for
the next occupant. [ I recognized him as the occupant of an
apartment on the top floor.
occupier/'ojpaIo r [[ o:k-/a word used especially in
official documents meaning the person who lives in a par-
ticular house, flat etc In C]
The document has to be signed by the occupier of every house-
hold. [ owner-occupier (=someone who lives in a house
that they own) The new law affects everyone in New Hamp-
shire, from landlords to owner-occupiers.
tenant/'tenont/someone who lives in a house, room etc
and pays rent to the person who owns it [n C]
Our tenants are quiet, considerate people and we get along
just fine. [ The landlord collects the rent from all his tenants
on the first Monday of every month.
1 0 suitable for people to live in
habitable
be fit to live in
I
habitable / hebotobal/a building or area of land that is
habitable is suitable for people to live in, for example
because it is dean enough, warm enough, safe enough etc
[adj]
After all the painting and decorating, the cottage was finally
habitable. I They were so desperate for habitable land that
they were forced to reclaim land back from the sea.
be fit to live in/bi: ,fit to 'lIv In/ifa building is t to
live in, it is in a suitable condition for people to live in it
[ v phrase]
As soon as the farm was fit to live in, we moved all our things
there.
1 1 not suitable for people to live in
uninhabitable
not be fit to live in
uninhabitable /iAnin'hb otobal/not suitable for living
in or on [adj ]
The moon is uninhabitable. I The whole building is infested
with cockroaches - it is uninhabitable.
not be fit to live in/not bi: ,fit to tllv In/if a building
is not fit to live in, it is not in a suitable condition for
people to live in it Iv phrase]
The first apartment we looked at just wash'tilt to live in.
LIVE WITH SB
to live in the same place with someone else
to live with someone and have a sexual
relationship with them
someone that you share a room, flat, or
house with
1 to live in the same place with someone else
live with share
live together room with
live with/'lv wI6/Iv T]
Andy, the guy I live with, is an excellent cook. [ For two
months I lived with a French family in Fontainebleau to
improve my French. [ We've been trying to persuade Jack "s
elderly mother to come and live with us.
live together/'hv to,ge6or/to live in the same place with
family or friends [phr v I]
Let's see if we can all live together in the same house without
any more arguments. I The idea of the commune is that
people from different cultural and religious backgrounds
live together in harmony.
share/j'eor/to live in the same room, house etc, especially
with people who are not part of your family Iv I/T]
share a house/room etc with sb My brother shares a
house with four other students. I share with sb I've lived
alone so long I'd find it difficult to share with anyone else. I
share There aren't enough bedrooms so you girls will all
have to share.
shared [adj] Do you live alone, with your parents or in
shared accommodation?
room with/'ru:m w6/an American word meaning to
live in a college, a rented room, or a house with someone
who is not one of your family Iv T]
When I was in college, I roomed with a guy who used to leep-
walk. I Mary Ann roomed with me for two months after her
divorce.
 to live with someone and have a sexual
relationship with them
live with
live together
cohabit
live with/'lIv wI6/ [v T]
I lived with Stuart for threeyears but then we split up. [ The
man she was living with was some sort of writer.
live together/' hv to ge6or/if two people live together,
they live in the same house or flat and have a sexual rela-
tionship with each other [phr v I]
After college we lived together and eventually we decided to
get married. [ Living together has a lot of advantages but
you do lose some independence.

LIVE WITH SB ?90 LIVING/ALIVE
cohabit/,kao'heboIt/a formal or official word meaning
to live with someone as if you were married to them Iv I]
Nowadays there is a tendency for couples to cohabit rather
than marry. [ If you are cohabiting you are not entitled to
housing benefits. [ cohabit with Most divorcees either
remarry or cohabit with another partner.
cohabitation/koo,heb tean/ [n U] In the past, cohabi-
tation was strongly disapproved of.
 someone that you share a room, flat, or
house with
flatmate
roommate
flatmate/'fletmeIt/a British word meaning someone
who you share a flat or house with but who is not one of
your family [n C]
My flatmate is so selfish. He never does any of the house-
work. [ Instead of going out, Debbie spent the evening watch-
ing videos with her flatmates.
roommate / ru:m,meit, rom-/an American word mean-
ing someone who you share a room or house with but who
is not one of your family [n C]
If we're going to have a party I'll have to ask my roommate
first. [ Josh's roommates are a pretty wild bunch.
livelihood JOB/WORK 2
lively BUSY PLACE 1, ENERGETIC 2, 3
liven up INTERESTING 7
livid ANGRY 2
living LIVING/ALIVE 1
living: earn/make a living EARN 3
living: eke out a living/existence SURVIVE 5
living: for a living JOB/WORK 4
living image: be the image of/be the spitting image
of/be the living image LIKE/SIMILAR 4
living memory: in living memory ALWAYS/FOREVER 2
living thing LIVING/ALIVE 4
LIVING/ALIVE
words meaning alive
to be alive or stay alive
to remain alive longer than someone else
something that is alive
words for describing something that is not
living and never has been living
1 words meaning alive
alive be going strong
living animate
life
alive/;'laiv/still living and not dead [adj not before noun]
Amy was very ill and weak, but still alive. [ You're very lucky
to be alive after such a bad car crash! [ Nowhere was there
any sign of Henry Jekyll, dead or alive. ] see sb alive/find
sb alive etc I had that sinking feeling that I would never
see them alive again. [ keep sb/sth alive He caught some
small insects and kept them alive in a jar. [ He was being
kept alive on a ventilator.
living/'lvn3/alive now, at the present time [adj only
before noun[
Seamus Heaney is widely regarded as Ireland's greatest
living poet. [ A brother in Australia is Mary's only living
relative. [ The president is a living example of how much
people can achieve by their own efforts.
life/laxf/the fact or state of being alive [n U]
All night long she had held his hand as he struggled for life.[
Life is precious and you should do all you can to preserve it. [
Do you believe in life after death? l The old man's eyelids
flickered, showing signs of life.
be going strong/bi: ,g)olrJ 'strorj II -'stran3/an infor-
mal expression meaning to still be alive, especially if you
are already very old Iv phrase]
Grandad's eighty-five and still going strong! I Molotov? Is
he still going strong? I thought he died years ago!
animate/'enmIt/something that is animate is alive
and able to move, and is therefore not an object [adj]
At this age, children are still unable to distinguish between
animate and inanimate objects. I The magic of cartoons is
that they are able to make everyday objects appear animate,
and even to give them personalities.
 to be alive or stay alive
live
live/llv/[V I]
live (for) 2 years/3 months/a long time etc She lived for
another five years after learning that she had cancer. I A cat
will live about fifteen years on average. I People are living
longer and needing more medical care these days. I live The
baby was born four months early and was not expected to
live.
3 to remain alive longer than someone else
outlive
survive
outlive/ao'l IV/to remain alive longer than someone else,
especially a relative or friend who has died [v T]
outlive sb She outlived her husband, who had died ten years
earlier. [ Good, healthy living enabled George to outlive most
of his contemporaries. [ outlive sb by 10 years/6 months
etc The oldest sister, Mrs Moore, outlived the others by three
years.
survive/so r 'vaiv/a word used especially in newspaper
reports, meaning to be still alive after someone else, for
example your husband or brother, has died [v T]
be survived by (=to have those members of your family
still alive at the time you die) Mr Barber is survived by three
sons and a daughter from his first marriage. I survive sb
Although she was ten years younger, Charles survived his
wife and remarried when she died.
4 something that is alive
living thing organism
life form life
living thing/,livirJ 'O;rj/a human, animal, plant, or any-
thing that is alive [n C]
The only living things we saw were two lions asleep under
the trees. I The ants march in vast columns and eat any living
thing in their path.
life form/laf fa:rm/a scientific or technical word mean-
ing a living thing or one type of living thing [n C]
In these hot mineral springs on the deep ocean floor, strange
new life forms have been discovered. I Scientists working on
the project are convinced there are life forms on other planets.
organism /'a:rganzam/a scientific or technical word
meaning a living thing, especially an extremely small
living thing or one that is being described in a very exact
way [n C]
Yeast is a living organism, and too much heat or cold can
kill it. I A parasite is an animal that lives in or on another
organism known as the host.
life/laf! any living things, for example people, animals,
plants, or all of these things together [n U]
Is there life on other planets? I Oxygen is necessary to sus-
tain life on earth. I animal life/plant life (=all the animals,
plants etc in a place) There is no more varied collection of
animal and plant life to be found anywhere in the world than
in the Galapagos islands.
words for describing something that is not
livin'g and never has been living
inanimate

load '791 LOGICAL
inanimate/n'anmoIt/[adj]
How can you get angry with a car, Bill? It's an inanimate
object! [ How the inanimate matter on earth produced the
first living things is a subject of great controversy.
!ii load AMOUNT 4, PUT 13, 18, SHOOT 7
iili oad: a oad p.e
;i load/load up FULL 6
 load of rubbish: be rubbish/a load of rubbish BAD 1
! load up PUT 18
• ? loaded SHOOT 7
 loaded: be loaded RICH 3
 loaded: be loaded with CARRY 5
 loaded: bombedlloaded DRUNK 3
ii loads of/tons oflmasses of/scads of LOT/A LARGE
!if: NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1 2
i loaf around/about LAZY 3
• loan BORROW 5, LEND 1
 loan: be on loan BORROW 4, LEND 1
 loan: give sb a loan LEND 1
iii loan: give sb the use of/loan of LEND 1
". loan: take out a loan BORROW 1
4! loan a painting/work of art etc LEND 1
!i loan-shark LEND3
i!!ii loath: be loath to do sth WILLING 3
: loathe HATE 1, 2
!;ii; loathing HATE 3
!ilii lob THROW 5
iiiiii local LIVE SOMEWHERE 8, NEAR 2
 locality AREA 1
 locally NEAR 1
i{i locate FIND 2
--: located: be located PLACE 8
i;:! location PLACE 1
0 location: exactlprecise location PLACE 2
!iii lock SHUT/CLOSE 5
''::. lock: pick a lock OPEN 3
.. lock sb out SHUT/CLOSE 5
i!!ii lock sb uplaway KEEP SB IN A PLACE 1
!ii!; locked SHUT/CLOSE 7
i-, lodge STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 2
i!iii lodge a complaint/file a complaint COMPLAIN 1
. lodger STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 3
ii lodgings STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 4
iiiii lofty HIGH 2
:,' log: be like falling off a log EASY 2
:!!! log: sleep like a log SLEEP 6
i!i loggerheads: be at loggerheads DISAGREE 2
-,,,; logic LOGICAL 3
'.; logical LOGICAL 1, 4, SENSIBLE 3
LOGICAL
words for describing ideas, plans, decisions
etc that are based on clear thinking and
sensible reasons
words meaning logical
ways of saying that an idea or statement is
logical because each part of it is proved or
explained by the part before
a logical way of thinking
able to think in a logical way
not logical
1 words meaning logical
logical
sound
rational
reasonable
reasoned
well-thought-out
well-founded
logical/'lodskal II 'la:-I ideas, methods, decisions etc
that are logical are clear and sensible, especially because
they are based on a series of facts or ideas connected in a
correct and intelligent way [adj]
Your essay ought to take the form of a logical argument. I
Logical step-by-step methods can be used to solve any
problem. [ If you take his chain of thought to its logical con-
clusion there must be a god. I it is logical to do sth If they
did not leave until yesterday, then it is logical to assume that
they will arrive some time tomorrow.
logically [adv] The information wasn't presented clearly
and logically, so no one could really understand it.
sound/saond/reasons, ideas, advice etc that are sound
are logical and sensible and it is easy to agree with them
or believe that they are right [adj]
He always gives sound advice. [ His reasons for selling the
business seemed sound enough but now I'm not so sure. [ He
refused to move the troops out of the castle, for sound defen-
sive reasons.
rational I'raefanall a way of thinking, explanation, idea
etc that is rational is very logical and is based on clear
practical or scientific reasons, rather than on your feelings
or wishes [adj]
We're looking for someone with a rational approach to deal-
ing with problems. [ There must be some rational explana-
tion - mirrors don't fall off walls by themselves. [ There
appears to be no rational motive for the attack.
rationally [adv] He was so frightened that it was impossi-
ble for him to think rationally.
reasonable / 'ri:zanabal/something that is reasonable,
especially something that you believe to be true, seems to
be logical because of what you know of the situation [adj]
It is a reasonable assumption that she knew him well as she
had the keys to his house. [ Given that the patient smokes 50
cigarette a day it would be reasonable to assume there is some
lung damage.
reasoned /rizzand! a decision, choice etc that is rea-
soned has been thought about very carefully and is there-
fore logical [adj usually before noun]
Changing jobs was the result of a reasoned choice between
two difficult alternatives. [ It became clear that calm, rea-
soned arguments would not work in such a volatile situation.
well.thought.out/, wel Oa:t aot-/something such as a
plan or system that is well-thought-out seems to be done
in a logical way because it has been carefully planned [adj
phrase]
The campaign seemed to be well-thought-out but I think they
could have made more of the candidate's achievements. [ a
well-thought-out strategy
well-founded/,wel ' faondd-/opinions, ideas or feelings
that are well-founded are correct because they are based
on true facts, the real situation etc rather than your imagi-
nation [adj phrase]
Her fears turned out to be well-founded. [ There was nothing
much I could say against such a serious and well-founded
accusation.
 ways of saying that an idea or statement is
logical because each part of it is proved or
explained by the part before
make sense coherent
hang together add up
make sense /,meik 'sens/an idea, statement, decision
etc that makes sense appears to be logical and easy to
understand, especially when you know other facts or infor-
mation that help to explain it Iv phrase]
I've heard his theory and it seems to make sense. [ His
behaviour makes sense once you know about his family back-
ground. [ The play only made sense if you looked at it in a
historical context.
hang together / harj t'ge6r/ifa story, explanation etc
hangs together, it is sensible and easy to understand
because its various parts are connected in a logical way
[phr v I]
It's a good film, but the story doesn't hang together very well. [
The last chapter makes it all hang together nicely.

LOGICAL
coherent/kao IhIarant/words, thoughts, ideas etc that are
coherent are arranged in an order that makes them logi-
cal and easy to understand [adj]
The police detective put together the pieces of evidence to form
one coherent account. I His book contains a coherent argu-
ment in favour of economic change.
add up/,ad Ap/ffa set of facts or statements add up, they
appear to be logically connected so that it is easy to under-
stand a situation [phr v I not in progressive]
It all adds up - the burglar must have killed him and taken
his car.
3 a logical way of thinking
logic
reasoning
logic/'lodsik II 'lo:-/a way of thinking that is clear and
sensible because it is based on a series of facts or ideas con-
nected in a correct and intelligent way In U]
This theory is based on pure logic. I He severely criticized the
logic in using teaching methods in staff management. I the
logic behind an idea/statement etc The whole plan
seemed ridiculous at first but I began to see the logic behind
it.
reasoning / ri:zamrj/a logical way of thinking, used espe-
cially to make decisions or to explain why something hap-
pened In U]
Although I understood her reasoning I did not agree with
her decision, i Following the lawyer's line of reasoning the
defendant could not possibly be guilty. [ reasoning behind
a plan/idea etc The architect was asked to explain the
reasoning behind his new design.
4 able to think in a logical way
logical
rational
logical/'lod3:kal II , ]a:-/ someone who is logical is able
to think clearly and arrange their ideas, thoughts etc in a
way that makes them easy to understand [adj]
I can "t understand physics, I just haven't got a logical enough
mind. I It's amazing that he is so good at mathematics con-
sidering that he is neither practical nor logical. I Men often
accuse women of not being logical.
rational/rm[dnl/someone who is rational is able to
think clearly and logically because they do not allow their
decisions and opinions to be influenced by emotions [adj]
He is normally a rational man, but he is sure that he saw
a ghost. I Let's try and discuss this like two rational human
beings.
5 not logical
illogical not hold water
irrational not stand up
make no sense/ not add up
not make sense
illogical/t'lod3ikal II I']O:-/[adj]
Listen to your child's worries and fears, however illogical
they may seem. I I found the professor's argument totally
illogical, but I didn't dare say so. I it is illogical to do sth
She said it was illogical to fall in love at first sight.
irrat|onal/ ra[anal/something that someone says or
does that is irrational has no logical reason for it, espe-
cially because it is based on emotion [adj]
She has an irrational fear of water, l However irrational it
may seem, I believe in UFOs. I My boss thinks women are
irrational and emotional.
make no sense/not make sense /imeik nao sens,
not melk 'sans/something that makes no sense, especially
someone's behaviour, is very difficult for you to under-
stand because there seems to be no logical reason for it Iv
phrase]
792 long-winded
I can't understand why she's so annoyed - it doesn't make
sense. I It made no sense. He said he loved her but wanted
a divorce. I it makes no sense to do sth It makes no sense
to fight f or freedom when it only involves more bloodshed.
not hold water /not hauld |wa:tar/ an explanation,
reason etc that does not hold water does not seem to logi-
cal and can be easily criticized or proved to be incorrect
[v phrase not in progressive]
The plot simply does not hold water. I The defendant's expla-
nation won't hold water in a court of law.
not stand up/not strand 'Ap/ a reason, explanation etc
that does not stand up does not appear to be logical or
true, especially when being criticized [phr v I not in
progressive]
Her story was obviously invented - it didn't stand up at all. I
stand up to criticism/analysis etc It's an interesting
theory but I don't think it will stand up to close examination.
not add up/not md |Ap/ifa set of facts or statements do
not add up, they do not appear to be logically connected,
even though it is difficult to say why [phr v I not inprogres-
siva]
Why had she left the note? It just didn't add up. I Atfirst sight
the account of the crime seemed in order but we felt that it
didn't add up.
i}!il logo SIGN/SYMBOL 1
lone ONLY 1
lonely ALONE 4, EMPTY 3
loner ALONE 3
lonesome ALONE 4
long LONG 1, 2, 5, LONG TIME 1, 2, 6, WANT 6
long: all daylnightlsummer etc long ALL THE TIME 2
:: long: for long LONG TIME 1
long: how long TIME/HOW LONG 3
long: it wasn't long before SOON 3
ii:- long: not long ago RECENTLY 1
!! long: not take long SHORT TIME 3
:... long: take too long SLOW 7
.-: long: won't be long SOON 1
long and the short: the long and the short of it is
RESULT 2
long-awaited EXPECT 10
long-distance FAR 7
ii long-drawn-out LONG TIME 3
long-haul FAR 7
long in the tooth: be a bit long in the tooth OLD/NOT
. YOUNG 4
!i long-lasting LONG TIME 7
._ long-range FAR 7
long range: at long range FAR 3
long-running LONG TIME 6
long-sighted/far-sighted SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 2
! long-standing LONG TIME 6
i:.i! long story: to cut a long story short SUMMARIZE 3
=:.... long-term LONG TIME 6
-:: long time: a long time LONG TIME 1
long time: take a long time LONG TIME 5
,. long way: a long way FAR 1, 2
long way: will go far/will go a long way SUCCESSFUL 4
long way off: a long way off/far off/far away FAR 3
long-winded BORING 3, LONG TIME 3
WhiCh .
long in I-eth .......  @ LONG
a Ion:g t!me %4'e4!;. .. LONG TIME
:;,4 .; !;;i-:". !- , ........................
..........................  T 8

LONG 793 LONG TIME
@ LONG
1 words for describing objects, spaces, parts of
the body etc that are long
2 words for describing books, pieces of writing,
speeches etc that are long
3 to make something longer
4 to become longer
5 ways of saying how long something is
6 how long something is
1 words for describing objects, spaces, parts of
the body etc that are long
long
elongated
long/1o II b:e/longer than usual from one end to the
other [adj]
This piece of wood is too long to fit in the car. [ a long,
panelled room, with ancestral portraits hanging on the
walls [ Martin's hair is so long now - it's longer than mine. [
Rick hadn't noticed the cat that was crouching in the long
grass. [ You have to stand in a long line just to buy a kilo
of rice.
elongated/'i:lorjgeItd ]l I'13:1]-/much longer and nar-
rower than usual [adj]
Eucalyptus trees grow very tall and have elongated leaves. I
The lizard's body is thin and elongated enabling it to squeeze
into cracks and crevices.
2 words for describing books, pieces of writing,
speeches etc that are long
long
lengthy
long/lo(I II b:e/[adj]
It's a long book - six hundred and twenty pages. I Kathy's
letters are always much longer than mine. [ The place has
a long Welsh name. I can't pronounce it.
lengthy/'lerjOi/long and very detailed, and perhaps likely
to be boring [adj]
She has written a lengthy, two-volume book on conditions
in modern China. I The professor explained his theories
clearly and briefly, avoiding lengthier technical descriptions.
3 to make something longer
make sth longer extend
lengthen stretch
make sth longer/,meik (sth) 'lt)rJgo r II -,b:  -/[vphrase]
The sleeves on this jacket are too short; do you think you
could make them just a little longer? I Mr Watson said my
essay was OK, but maybe I should have made it longer.
lengthen/'lerjOdn/to make something longer, for exam-
ple something made of cloth, in order to make it more suit-
able or useful Iv T]
The skirt had been lengthened with some extra material. I
You "re going to have to lengthen those blinds if they're to fit
the windows in your new house.
extend / k I stend/to make something such as a line, road,
or passage longer so that it reaches further Iv T]
Miners have extended the tunnel in order to get a new supply
of coal. I They will extend the subway from central Buffalo
to the smaller towns around the city.
slret©h/stretS/to make a piece of string, elastic, cloth etc
longer by pulling it Iv T]
Norma picked up a stocking, stretched it and then pulled it
onto her foot. I The strings on his guitar were stretched tight.
4 to become longer
get longer
lengthen
stretch
get longer/,get 'lorjg r II phrase]
The ash on his cigarette kept getting longer until it fell on
his clothes. I Traffic tailbacks are getting longer by the
minute. I get longer and longer (=continuously longer)
Dole queues got longer and longer as the decade progressed.
lengthen/'lerjOdn/to gradually become longer Iv I]
As evening fell, the shadows lengthened. I He smiled and the
creases at the corners of his eyes lengthened.
stret©h /stretS/ if a piece of string, elastic, cloth etc
stretches, it gets longer, especially because it is being
pulled Iv I]
Uncle John pulled hard on the bell-rope, which stretched and
then broke. I elasticated straps designed to stretch easily
5 ways of saying how long something is
long
in length
long/ltr II b:  /six feet/two metres etc long [adj]
The room is about 10 metres long and 5 metres wide. [ Some
snakes can grow up to 30feet long. [ To read a report that's
over 40 pages long - it would take me a whole day.
in length/n 'lerjO/six feet/two metres etc in length
(=an expression used especially in scientific descriptions)
[ adj phrase ]
The adult worms are 1.5-2cm. in length. I The leaves of this
tree vary in length from 10 to 20 cm.
6 how long something is
length
span
length/leo0/[n C/U]
Because of its length, her car was unable to turn in the
narrow road. I Before we buy a carpet we need to measure
the length and width of the room. [ shirts made with three
different sleeve lengths
span /spen/ the distance from one end of something
across to the other end, especially across a bridge, an arch,
or the wings of a bird or plane In C]
The bridge is a fine piece of engineering with a clear span
of 300 metres over the River Severn. I wing-span The
albatross, largest of flying birds, has a wing-span of three
metres.
LONG TIME
10
a long time
words for describing a process, activity, or
event that continues for a long time
continuing for too long, so that it becomes
boring or tiring
to last longer than was planned or expected
ways of saying that it is necessary to spend a
lot of time in order to do something
words for describing a situation, condition,
feeling, illness etc that lasts for a long time
made to continue working and to remain in
good condition for a long time
words for describing art, writing, ideas etc
that have lasted for a long time and that
people still enjoy
to deliberately make something last longer
than it was planned to last, or longer than is
necessary
the fact of living for a very long time

LONG TIME 79 LONG TIME
1 a long time
a long time
quite a while/
some time
some time
long
for long
for the longest time
ages
hours/months/years etc
an eternity
donkey's years
since the year dot/
since the year one
a long time/a ,loj 'taIm II phrase]
They've been married for 20years; that's a long time. I Colin
forgave Chrissy, but it was a long time before he trusted her
again. I for a long time The house has been empty for a long
time. I a long time ago It all happened a long time ago. I'd
rather not talk about it.
quite a while/some time /Ikwazt a Iwail, s^m 'taim/
a fairly long time [n phrase]
When I left school it was quite a while before I found a job. [
for quite a while/for quite some time He's been away for
quite a while now, hasn't he? I I think he lived in Japan for
quite some time. I quite a while since/quite sometime
since It's quite a while since I heard from Chris.
some time /,s^m Itaim/a fairly long time but not a very
long time [n phrase]
for some time Neither of us had seen Jake for some time and
we were shocked by his appearance. [ some time ago I have
seen this kind of tool before but it was some time ago. [ some
time It may be some time before the order arrives.
long/lotj II l:rj/for a long time [adv]
Have you been waiting long? [ It has long been recognized
that a high fat diet can cause heart problems. [ long
before/after (=a long time before/after) Long after the war
the wreckage of his plane was discovered.
for long/fa r 'lorj [[ -l:tj/for a long time [adv phrase,
usually in questions or negative sentences]
Have you been working here for long? [ He'll have to stay
in hospital but not for long. [ for very long I haven't known
them for very long.
for the longest time/fa r 6a lojgst 'tazm i[ -,l:j-/an
American expression: if you wait, walk, stand etc for the
longest time you do it for a very long time [adv phrase]
We waited for the longest time, and in the end we took a taxi. I
Let's stop, Mary. We've been walking for the longest time!
ages / eIdSz / an informal word meaning a very long time
[n plural]
for ages It looks as if no one's been here for ages. I ages
"Have you been here long? .... Ages!" i spend ages Diane
spent ages choosing and packing her clothes for the vaca-
tion. I ages ago "When did you sell the car? .... Ages ago. It
must be four years!'"
hours/months/years etc a length of time that is
much longer than what you think is reasonable, accept-
able, or usual [n plural]
I'm a little worried, Robin's been out for hours and it's
almost dark. I It took Josephine months to finish writing her
dissertation. I I bought this pen years ago. Two pounds it cost
me!
an eternity/an I ta:rnti/a period of time that seems like
a very long time, especially because something very bad
or unpleasant is happening [n singular]
The final two minutes before the examination started seemed
like an eternity. I Lara lay awake an eternity listening to the
wind howl round the cabin.
donkey's years/'dD[Ikiz ,jmrz ]l informal
expression meaning a long time, used especially to say that
something happened a very long time ago [n phrase]
donkey's years ago We used to play golf together, but that
was donkey's years ago. I donkey's years since It's don-
key's years since I went to the movies. I for donkey's years
She worked in the shop for donkey's years, although the pay
was awful.
since the year dot (British) I since the year one
(American)/sins a ,jia r 'dot, sns 6a ,jIa r 'wAn II -'do:t/
informal humorous expressions meaning for a very long
time lady phrase]
John Symes has been working here since the year dot. I
Father Winter has been pastor at that church since the year
one.
2 words for describing a process, activity, or
event that continues for a long time
long
lengthy
marathon
long/lorj II
The film was good, but a little too long. I We had a long meet-
ing to discuss the new appointment. I Did you have a nice
long sleep when you got home?
lengthy / leOi/a lengthy process or delay takes a long
time or lasts a long time and you have to wait before you
can continue to the next stage [adj]
The production of a new car is a secretive, expensive and
lengthy process. I In such cases surgery is followed by a
lengthy period of treatment and recovery. I Travel by air can
be subject to lengthy delays.
marathon/'meraOan II -0ca:n/a marathon meeting, talk
or activity continues for much longer than usual, espe-
cially because it is important to finish something or
achieve something [adj only before noun]
We had a marathon meeting yesterday and finally decided
on our method of approach. I After a marathon round of
negotiations the union and the management eventually came
to an agreement. I I'm afraid I ended up in another mara-
thon drinking session with Nick and Brian.
3 continuing for too long, so that it becomes
boring or tiring
long-drawn-out interminable
long-winded drag on
protracted take ages/years/forever
long.drawn.out/,lorj dm:n 'aot- II ,b:tj-/long-drawn-
out process/campaign/war etc (=one that lasts for a long
time, is very tiring, and is probably longer than it needs
to be) [adj only before noun]
The long-drawn-out campaigns that precede every election
in the US have already started. I After a long-drawn-out
battle with the management the workers finally got a raise. I
Building up a successful herd is a long-drawn out process
of careful buying and breeding.
long-winded/,lorj 'wndd, II ,b:tj-/a speech or writing
that is long-winded is too long and therefore boring or
difficult to understand [adj]
Jacques launched into a long-winded explanation that left
us just as confused as before. I I'm sick of reading badly-
written and long-winded scripts by candidates who should
know better.
protracted/pratrektd/something unpleasant that is
protracted lasts for a long time, which makes it worse
than usual [adj]
After a bloody and protracted struggle the 'Mau-Mau" free-
dom fighters forced Britain to grant independence, i While
in Malaysia he suffered a particularly protracted bout of
malaria.
interminable/In't3:rrnnabdl/a formal word meaning
lasting a very long time so that it becomes boring and you
become impatient [adj]
The ride back to the city seemed interminable. I Wednesday
was a day of interminable meetings during which very little
was decided.
drag on/,dreg 'on II -'ca:n/to continue for too long and
so become boring or annoying [phr v I/
Defense discussions dragged on through 1934 and into 1935. I
drag on for a week/years/ten days etc Lawsuits about
titles to land often drag on for years without settlement.
take ages/years/forever/iteIk IeId:IZ, IjIarz, far'evar/
to take much longer than seems reasonable [v phrase]
Getting visas to visit America seemed to take ages. I She takes
forever to make up her mind, but then nothing can make her

LONG TIME ?95 LONG TIME
change it. I These complex chemical structures took years to
synthesize.
4 to last longer than was planned or expected
overrun/run over
run on
overrun (British) I run over (American)/,auvo'r^n, ,ran
oovor/if an activity such as a meeting or game overruns
or runs over, it lasts longer than it is supposed to do Iv I]
The meeting is going to overrun so we'd better find out what
time they close the building. I If the ceremony runs over, it
will switch to Channel 17. I overrun by 10 minutes/an
hour/two days etc Coverage of the tennis final overran by
twenty minutes so the documentary on fish breeding was
never shown.
run on/,rAn 'on II -' o:n/an informal expression meaning
to last for a long time, especially longer than expected or
planned [phr v I]
The meeting will probably run on a bit so I might be late
home. I Business lunches do tend to run on sometimes.
5 ways of saying that it is necessary to spend a
lot of time in order to do something
take a long time
time-consuming
take a long time/,teik o ,lorj 'ta;m II -,lo:o-/[vphrase]
Our visit took a long time, and we returned home late for
lunch. I it takes a long time Scientists are studying this
problem in order to produce a vaccine but it may take a long
time. I it takes {sb) a long time to do sth It took a long
time to get to know him, but we became good friends in the
end. I Although the affair was soon finished it took Phil a
long time to get over it.
time-consuming/tam kan,sju:mirj II -,su:-/a method,
activity or process that is time-consuming takes a long
time especially because it contains a lot of stages or
separate pieces of work [adj]
Careful editing is a very time-consuming process. I Vegetar-
ian cooking isn't any more complicated or time-consuming
than other kinds.
6
long
lasting
enduring
lifelong
long-term
chronic
words for describing a situation, condition,
feeling, illness etc that lasts for a long time
long-running
abiding
lingering
long-standing
stand the test of time
long/lorj II 1:0/[adj]
The actress Amanda Appleby has died after a long illness. I
My parents are celebrating their long and happy marriage
with a party for all the family. I During his long absence his
friends had all married or left the area.
lasting/'lo:stirJ ]] 'las-/a lasting change, relationship
etc is strong enough to last for a long time [adj only before
noun]
A lasting attachment was formed between the little boy and
his grandfather. ] The two presidents failed to establish a
lasting basis for peace. ] Right now she wasn't ready to make
any lasting changes.
enduring/in'djoarlrj ]] -'doa-I something such as a feel-
ing, influence, quality, or state that is enduring affects
people for a long time or is remembered for a long time [adj]
His childhood experiences had an enduring influence on his
work. I The friendships formed in her schooldays proved to
be the most enduring. I His work is an enduring monument
to the triumph of the human spirit.
Iifelong/'laffimj II -b:tj! a lifelong friendship, admira-
tion, interest etc lasts for your whole life [adj only before
noun]
She first visited Ireland when she was ten, and developed a
lifelong interest in the country. I At Oxford he met Philip
Hanmore, who became his lifelong friend. I He had a lifelong
hatred of all lawyers.
long.term /lor3 't3:rm II ,la:rJ-/ long-term effects,
results, arrangements etc have an effect for a long time or
are intended to last for a long time [adj]
They're not ready yet to start a long-term relationship. I Not
all the long-term effects of smoking in pregnancy are known. I
Prison keeps criminals off the streets, but it isn't a long-term
solution.
chronic/'kronIk II 'kra:-/a chronic illness or bad situa-
tion lasts for a very long time or is permanent [adj usually
before noun]
He suffers from chronic asthma. I the chronic decay of the
inner city areas I We need to take steps to counter the chronic
decline in our export market.
long-running /,lorj nr^nzrj II ,la:rj-/ long-running
quarrel/conflict/play etc (=one that continues for a very
long time) [adj only before noun]
The two main drug dealers in the South Bronx had a long-
running feud. ] We followed the long-running court battle
with great interest. I The long-running musical "Jesus Christ
Superstar" is to close after more than 3000 performances.
abiding/o'baid;o/a formal word: an abiding feeling or
belief lasts a long time and is not likely to change [adj]
She had a basic and abiding belief in democratic systems. ]
The internal security of his country was the President's other
abiding concern.
lingering/'l;rjgdrir3/a lingering feeling, hope, fear etc
lasts for a long time then becomes weaker and gradually
goes away [adj only before noun]
She had a lingering sense of guilt for some time after break-
ing off her relationship with Henry. ] Walter had a linger-
ing affection for the ugly buildings of his old school.
long.standing/,lorj 'stmndlrj ]i ,la:o-/a long-standing
situation, agreement, or arrangement has lasted for a long
time and is likely to last for a long time in the future [adj
only before noun]
They can't marry because of the long-standing feud between
their families. I We need a government that can tackle our
long-standing problem of inflation.
stand the test of time/,stnd 6o ,test ov 'taim/if some-
thing stands the test of time, it still exists or is still popu-
lar even after a long time iv phrase]
Their friendship, although it had changed, had stood the test
of time. i The American Constitution has so far stood the test
of time.
7 made to continue working and to remain in
good condition for a long time
long-lasting wear well
be built/made to last last a long time
long-lasting/,lorj 'lo:stio II ,la:rj 'lms-/[adj]
Commercial hauliers usually choose long-lasting, reliable
tyres for their trucks. I Our protective paint will give, your
doors and windows a long-lasting, smooth finish.
be built/made to last/bi: ,bdt, ,me;d to 'lo:st i] -'lest/
buildings, bridges, etc, that are built to last or made to
last are made very strong so that they will last for a very
long time Iv phrase]
The houses are built to last, with thick walls and strong
timber roofs. I The Romans were the first people in Britain
to build roads that were made to last.
wear well/,wea r 'well if material, leather etc, wears
well, it is strong and can be used for a long time without
becoming broken or damaged Iv phrase]
I don't care what the shoes look like as long as they wear
well. [ Generally speaking a good wool carpet will wear better
than one made of cheaper fibres.
last a long time/,lo:st a lorj 'taim II ,last o ,b:rj-/to be
strong enough or well-made enough to continue working
for a long time before being finished Iv phrase]
The candles last a long time. I This type of eye-liner costs more
but it lasts such a long time.

LONG TIME ?96 look up to
8 words for describing art, writing, ideas etc
that have lasted for a long time and that
people still enjoy
timeless
immortal
classic
timeless/'tamlsl music, literature, art etc, that is time-
less still seems important and interesting even though it
was written or made a long time ago [adj]
The appeal of Bach's music is timeless. I Present-day human
dilemmas are to be found in the timeless works of Shake-
speare.
immoral / m:rtl/immortal words,lines etc are famous
and are remembered for a long time after they are written
or spoken [adj only before noun]
In the immortal words of Henry Ford, "History is bunk. ""
©lassi© / Iklasik/a classic book, film, design etc is one
that is important or special and remains popular for a long
time [adj only before nounl
War and Peace is a classic novel. I The Coca-Cola bottle is
one of the classic designs of our century. I Professor Carey
wrote the classic account of early explorations in Africa and
Asia.
to deliberately make something last longer
than it was planned to last, or longer than is
necessary
prolong spin out
extend eke out
drag out
prolong/pm'lorj II make something such as a
feeling, a period of time, or an activity last longer [v T]
He asked her another question just to prolong the conversa-
tion. [ They walked slowly, as if to prolong the wonderful
evening. [ Should we spend our time in prolonging misery
when we believe that there is no chance of change?
prolonged [adj] How are you going to explain your
prolonged absence to the boss?
extend/ik'stend/to make something last longer, espe-
cially a period of time that has been arranged or set Iv T]
I'll have to ask the bank to extend the repayment time on my
loan. [ TVcoverage of the football match had to be extended
when the game went into extra time. [ These cleaning devices
are meant to extend the life of your cassettes.
drag out/,drmg 'aot/to make a boring or unpleasant
activity or piece of work last much longer than necessary,
especially because you gain some advantages by doing this
[phr v T]
drag sth/it/them out He dragged the work out for as long
as possible, hoping that she would go home before him. I
drag out sth There were accusations that politicians were
dragging out the war for their own benefit.
spin out/,spn 'aot/an informal British expression mean-
ing to deliberately make an activity last longer than neces-
sary especially so that it fills the time available [phr v T]
spin sth/it/them out If you spin it out, the first two chap-
ters should fill the whole lesson! I spin out sth We were paid
hourly, so I spun out the work for as long as I could.
eke out /i:k aot/to make your money last as long as pos-
sible by spending it carefully or by earning more money
through part-time work [phr v T]
eke out sth It was difficult but he managed to eke out his
money until the end of the month. I eke sth/it/them out
They get Ј42 every Thursday and they have to eke it out for
the whole week!
10 the fact of living for a very long time
longevity
longevity/lon'dsevti II lo:n-, b:n-/In U]
The people of this village enjoy good health and longevity. I
He attributes his longevity to 'a simple diet and a glass of
wine every day'.
longer: get longer LONG 4
longer: make sth longer LONG 3
long: no longer NOW 7
longest time: for the longest time
longevity LONG TIME 10
longing WANT 9
longing/yearning WANT 8
Iooljohn TOILET 1
look APPEARANCE 1, 2, 3, EXPRESSION ON SB'S
FACE 1, LOOK AT 1, SEEM 1
look: get a look at SEE 2
look: have a look at READ 2
look: have a look for LOOK FOR 1
look: have a look/take a look LOOK AT 4
look: have a sadlinterestedlangry etc look SEEM 1
look: have the look/appearance of APPEARANCE 3
look: let sb have a look SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1
LONG TIME 1
 look: take one look LOOK AT 5
 look after LOOK AFTER SB 1, 3, 6, LOOK AFTER STH 1,
 RESPONSIBLE 1, 7
 look after yourself INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
 look ahead PLAN 2
""--;: look-alike LIKE/SIMILAR 5
!:i  look around LOOK AT 9
 look around for LOOK FOR 2
 look aroundlhave a look around LOOK AT 10
 look as if: it looks as if PROBABLY 2, SEEM 3
; look at LOOK AT 1, 4
 look at: not much to look at UGLY 1
 look at/have a look at/take a look at EXAMINE 1
, look away LOOK AT9
 look back: have not/never looked back
- CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1
 look down on PROUD 9
 look down your nose at PROUD 9
>;.,%.-
z{ look for LOOK FOR 1, 2
;{ look for: be looking for a fight FIGHT 2
 look for/search for LOOK FOR 3
 look forward to WAIT4
 look good on SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 1
 look in on VISIT6
 look into INVESTIGATE 1
 look like APPEARANCE 3
i look on WATCH 1
 look on: think of/look on THINK/HAVE THE OPINION
® THAT 1
 look out/watch out CAREFUL 8, WARN 3
 look out for LOOK FOR :2
 look out for yourself/for number one SELFISH 2
ii! look over EXAMINE 1, LOOK AT 4
i!! look sb up and down LOOK AT 3
i look/think back REMEMBER 5
 look through: look right through IGNORE 4
 look to: be looking to do sth INTEND 1
look up VISIT 1
 look up: things are looking up IMPROVE 2
 look up to ADMIRE 1
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

LOOK AFTER SB ?9? LOOK AFTER SB
look after
... J;;.... :- .... ..... . , .{ .......   -,.. ... -;
look after soeot  ,,, @ LOOK AFTER SB ,
iEaer8ethi,g:. k . LOOK AFTEH 
LOOK AFTER SB
to make sure that someone has everything
they need, especially someone who is very
young, very old, or sick
t to look after children for a short time while
their parents are away
2 someone who is paid to look after children
3 to look after someone who is unable to look
after themselves because they are old, sick
etc
4 to look after children until they have grown up
5 to look after a child who is not your own
6 to look after someone by helping them, giving
them what they need, or keeping them safe
7 to not look after someone properly
1 to look after children for a short time while
their parents are away
look after babysit/sit
mind take care of
keep an eye on
look after/,lok 'o:fl r II T]
I look after my grandchildren every Tuesday and Thursday
while my daughter goes shopping. I Our au pair was excep-
tionally good at looking after the baby when we were at
work.
mind/maznd/a British word meaning to look after chil-
dren for a short time while their parents are away Iv T]
The woman who minds Pip and Emma collects them from
school and gives them an evening meal I Mothers who work
part-time are able to mind other people's children when they
are not working.
keep an eye on/,ki:p an 'az on/to look after a child for
a very short time especially by actually watching them to
see that they are safe [v phrase]
Benjy, I want you to stay in the yard where I can keep an eye
on you. I Would you mind keeping an eye on Stacey while I
go for a cigarette?
babysit (British) I sit (American)/'bebist, sit/to look
after children in the evening while their parents go out
somewhere, especially when they pay you a small amount
of money [v I ]
I'll ask Jane to babysit on Wednesday night. I Make arrange-
ments with friends to babysit for each other's children. I
Jenny sat for us last Friday evening when we went to the
movies.
take care of /,tezk 'kerr Dv/to look after children for a
short time while their parents are away, so that they are
not hurt, upset etc [v phrase]
Morn will be taking care of the kids when Igo to the hospital.
someone who is paid to look after children
childminder
nanny
babysitter/sitter
childminder I'tfazldmaIndarl a British word meaning
someone who is paid to look after children while their par-
ents are at work In C]
Now that we've got a childminder to look after the girls, I
can go out to work.
nanny ! ' neni/a word used especially in British English
meaning a woman who is paid to look after children while
their parents are at work and who lives with the family or
comes to their home every day [n C]
The children get on very well with the new nanny. I When
Diana was a baby she had a succession of nannies who only
stayed a few months each.
babysitter (also sitter in American English) / Ibelbisltar,
'str/ someone who is paid to look after children when
their parents go out somewhere in the evening [n C]
It is important to give the babysitter an emergency phone
number in case the children get hurt or sick. I I'm afraid
we're going to have to stay home - I can?find a sitter.
3 to look after someone who is unable to look
after themselves because they are old, sick
etc
look after nurse
care for carer
look after/,lok 'o:fta r II -'af-I [v T]
The nurses looked after our daughter so well. I My sister has
given up her job to look after our mother who will be 84 next
month.
care for /Ikea r fa:r/to look after someone who is very ill
or very old, by doing everything for them when they cannot
look after themselves Iv T]
Many of those who care for the elderly do so voluntarily. [
Sister Myers remained constantly at the doctor's side, help-
ing him to care for the sick and wounded. [ Caring for a ner-
vous injured bird requires a lot of patience.
nurse/na: rs/to look after someone who is ill and to make
them well again or to make them comfortable Iv T]
Tony nursed his wife through her long illness without ever
complaining. [ However ill my father was I'd nurse him to
the end. [ nurse sb back to health (=look after a sick
person until they are well again) Sally is an absolute genius
at nursing sickly little babies back to health.
carer ['keara r/a word used especially in a medical con-
text or in official forms, meaning a person, especially a rela-
tive, who looks after someone who cannot look after them-
self [n C]

LOOK AFTER SB ?98 LOOK AFTER STH
Hospital staff can provide additional home support for
carers. I It is important to consider the physical and mental
well-being of both sufferer and carer. I We have a high
number of volunteer carers at the day centre.
4 to look after children until they have grown up
bring up child-rearing
raise have custody
bring up/,brrj 'Ap/an expression used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning to look after children until they have
grown up and teach them to develop particular beliefs and
ways of behaving [phr v T]
bring up sb David was brought up in London by wealthy
parents. I I don't need you to tell me how to bring up my son. I
be well brought up (=taught how to behave well, be polite
etc) It was obvious from the boy's manner that he had been
well brought up.
upbringing /'^pbrrJH3/ [n C] I had a strict religious
upbringing (=I was bought up in a strict religious way).
raise/rez/a word used especially in American English
meaning to look after children until they are grown up Iv T]
Me and Frank were raised on a small farm in Missouri. I
raise a family Grandpa raised a family of ten on seven
dollars a week.
child-rearing/'tj'ald riorlrJ/a word used especially in
medical or educational contexts meaning the care of chil-
dren while they are growing and developing [n U]
Have you discussed child-rearing methods with your future
husband? I Having read dozens of books on child rearing
and baby care, Donna became an authority on the subject.
have custody ! ,hmv 'khstadi/to have the legal right to
look after your child and have them live with you after
your marriage has been officially ended [v phrase not in
progressive ]
have custody of The parent who does not have custody of
the child is usually allowed to see the child regularly. I have
custody The father has custody in only 10% of cases, i
award/grant custody (=give legal custody) Waltman's
wife, Cindy, had been granted temporary custody of their
child after her husband's arrest.
5 to look after a child who is not your own
adopt
foster
guardian
adopt/a'dopt II a'do:pt/to legally and permanently take
another person's child into your family and to treat them
as if they were one of your own children [v T]
Many British families are adopting Romanian orphans. I
Teenagers who discover they were adopted often search for
their biological parents when they are old enough.
adopted [adj] Their two adopted daughters were the only
Asians in the town.
foster/'fosta r il *f3:-, *fo:-/to take another person's child
into your own family and look after them for a period of
several weeks, months, or years, but without becoming
their legal parent Iv T]
Fostering a teenager is obviously different from fostering a
small child, i During my mother's long illness I was fostered
by a middle-aged couple on the other side of town.
foster-parent In C] It is sometimes difficult to find suitable
foster-parents (=a husband and wife who foster children)
for a lively ten-year-old.
foster-child [n C] With a home full of foster-children
(=children who are fostered) she was always busy.
foster-mother/father [n C] The child had become so
attached to her foster-mother that she could not bear the
thought of returning to her natural parents.
guardian /'ga:rdbn! a person who has been legally
appointed to look after a child whose parents are away or
dead, or to look after someone who is too ill to be responsi-
ble for themselves In C]
The child's guardian is his uncle. I My sister has been
appointed legal guardian of my children in case my husband
and I both die. I Could you contact Mrs Smith's guardians
and tell them she's been admitted to hospital?
6 to look after someone by helping them, giving
them what they need, or keeping them safe
look after attend to
take care of take sb under your wing
look after/,luk 'o:fta r II T]
We had a lovely time in Dorset. Susan looked after us very
nicely. She's a wonderful cook. i Paul's old enough to look
after himself. I be well looked after (=always given every-
thing you need) Alex could see just by looking at the horse
that it had been well looked after.
take care of ! teik 'kear ov/to look after someone and
keep them safe, especially when there is a risk that they
may be harmed Iv phrase]
You could fly with me, you know. I'm a pretty good pilot, and
I'll take care of you. I take good care of (=be very careful
in order to keep healthy and safe) Take good care of Your-
self while you "re away.
attend to/atend tu:/to give someone the care and help
that you regularly give them, especially as part of your job
[v T]
Dr Gresham is busy at the moment attending to one of his
patients. I The cabin crew will attend to the passengers"
needs.
take sb under your wing/,teIk (sb) ^nda r jo: r 'wig/
to start to look after a younger or less experienced person
in a friendly way with the intention of helping them or pro-
tecting them while they gain experience [v phrase]
Adrienne, eleven years older, had taken the 19-year-old singer
under her wing.
7 to not look after someone properly
neglect
neglect /ni'glekt/ to not look after someone properly,
especially a child, although it is your responsibility to look
after them Iv T ]
He was neglected by his parents when he was very young. I
Staff at the hostel were accused of neglecting and abusing
children in their care. I Some teachers devote too much time
to helping their slower students and neglect the brighter ones.
LOOK AFTER STH
1 to look after something by cleaning it, not
allowing it to get broken etc
2 the work of looking after something
1 to look after something by cleaning it, not
allowing it to get broken etc
look after
take care of
maintain
look after/,luk 'o:fta r II -'mf-/[v T]
You can have a new bike for Christmas if you promise to look
after it. i Grandad gets a lot of pleasure from looking after
his lawn. i Our job is to look after the ceremonial robes used
in the cathedral, i You can see it's been well looked-after.
take care of /,teik 'kear ov/to look after something, espe-
cially something expensive, valuable, or delicate [v phrase]
You must take care of these books - they were expensive. [
Take care of your floppy disks by keeping them in their pro-
tective box and avoiding extremes of temperature or
moisture. [ take good care of Georgina had taken good care
of the watch her mother gave her all those years ago.
maintain/meln'teIn, man-/to look after something, espe-
cially a machine, so that it looks good and works well Iv T]
The car hadn't been well maintained - it was very rusty. [

LOOK AFTER STH 799 LOOK AT
This type of floor covering has the added advantage of being
easy to maintain. I What are the costs of operating and main-
taining an oil boiler?
2 the work of looking after something
maintenance
care
upkeep
maintenance / 'meintanns/the job of looking after some-
thing, especially a machine or piece of equipment In U]
A car is quite a big expense, especially when you consider
petrol and maintenance costs. [ routine maintenance
(=simple maintenance that must be done regularly) Most
gas appliance require routine maintenance once a year to
ensure safety.
care/kezr/the work or process of looking after something
in order to keep it in good condition [n U]
care of She has become a leading expert on the care and
maintenance of renaissance paintings. [ Care of the environ-
ment has become a priority in government thinking. [ hair-
care/skin-care etc Teenage girls are spending a lot of
money on cosmetics and skin-care preparations.
tipkeep /'^pki:pl the continuous process and cost
involved in keeping something in good condition, espe-
cially a building or garden [n U]
the upkeep of The Department of the Environment is
responsible for the upkeep of all the official royal residences
in Britain. I The upkeep of the flat and garden is paid for
by the occupants. I upkeep Capital expenditure is not the
biggest problem - the real problem is the cost of upkeep.
2 to look at someone or something for a long
time
stare
gaze
gape
stare/stcrl to deliberately look at someone or something
for a long time without moving your eyes, for example,
because you are angry, shocked, or very interested [v I]
stare at Don't stare at people, it's very rude. I stare As the
fire destroyed the house we just stood and stared in disbelief. [
stare through/into ere Every night it's the same, staring
up at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
stare In C] Her icy stare made me feel nervous.
gaze/geiz! to look at something or someone for a long
time, for example because they are beautiful or interest-
ing, especially without realizing that you are doing it Iv I]
gaze at They lay down and gazed at the clouds passing over-
head. [ Tina gazed steadily at the singer, unable to believe
she was so close to him. [ gaze into/through/out etc She
sat and gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
gaze In singular] I could see from the direction of his gaze
that he was looking at my new car.
gape/geip! to look at someone or something for a long
time, especially with your mouth open, because you are
very surprised or shocked Iv I]
gape at She stood there gaping at me, too shocked to speak. [
gape Jimmy gaped, open-mouthed, trying to take in what
they had told him. I gape in amazement/horror etc I could
only gape in astonishment as he picked up the gun and
pointed it at me.
LOOK AT
10
1 to look at someone or something
2 to look at someone or something for a long
time
3 to look at someone or something with interest
or because you do not trust them
4 to look carefully at something, for example
because you are interested in it, you want to
check or mend it, etc
5 to look at someone or something quickly
6 to look hard at something that is difficult to
see
7 to look at someone angrily
8 to look at someone in a way that shows you
are sexually interested in them
9 to turn your eyes away from what you are
looking at and look at something else
to look at things in a shop, but without
looking for any one thing in particular
I to look at someone or something
look at
look
look at / 'luk t/[v T]
"'It's time we left, "" he said, looking at his watch. I Look at
me when I'm talking to you. I They sat on top of the hill and
looked at the valley below. I I was so embarrassed I couldn't
look at anyone in the room.
look/lok/to look in a particular direction [v I]
Look! The baby's trying to walk by herself, looM[ look
inside/through/behind etc After the children had looked
inside the box to check it was empty, the magician suddenly
produced a white rabbit. [ When you're climbing a moun-
tain the one thing you shouldn't do is look down. [ No wonder
she never passes exams. She spends all day looking out of
the window.
3 to look at someone or something with interest
or because you do not trust them
eye
look sb up and down
eye !aI! to look at someone or something with interest or
because you do not trust them Iv T]
The two teams eyed each other suspiciously, waiting for the
game to begin. I The boys eyed the bikes with interest, hoping
to be allowed to try them.
look sb tip and down I ,lok (sb) ^p nd 'daon/to look
very carefully at someone, the clothes they are wearing etc,
especially because you do not know them and you are
trying to form an opinion of them Iv phrase]
The hotel manager slowly looked the old man up and down
and asked him to leave. I Matthew looked Sarah up and
down, admiring her long hair and slim figure.
4
to look carefully at something, for example
because you are interested in it, you want to
check or mend it etc
look at examine
have a look/take a look view
look over admire
look at I'lok atl Iv T]
We stopped the car so that we could look at the map. [ John
wants me to look at his bike to see if I can fix it. I Would you
look at Sally's arm, doctor. I think it's broken. I look closely
at (=to look very carefully) She looked closely at the pottery
for chips or flaws.
have a look/take a look /heev a 'lok, teIk  'lokJ to
look at something for a reason, for example because you
want to see a particular detail, read something, check some-
thing etc Iv phrase]
Is there something wrong with your car? Would you like me
to take a look? I have a look at Can I have a look at your
newspaper? I They're going to take a look at a new house this
evening. I have a good/close look (=to look very carefully)
If you have a really good look you can just see the lighthouse.
look over/llok l a o vat/to quickly look at the details of
someone or something, especially before you officially
aree to buy it, use it etc [phr v T]

LOOK AT 800 LOOK AT
look over sth/sb We looked over several apartments before
finally buying one. I look sth/sb/it/her etc over Would
you care to look the document over before you sign? I The ser-
geant looked him over carefully before saying, "You'll do!"
examine/Ig'zmn/to look at someone or something
extremely carefully, especially because you want to find
its faults or mistakes Iv T]
examine sb/sth Clare examined the postmark on the letter.
It had been posted 3 days ago in Germany. [ examine sth
closely (=to examine very carefully) Before buying an
antique, examine it closely to avoid buying a fake. [ examine
sb/sth for The police examined the tyres for signs of wear.
examination/ig,zama I 'nej'an/[n U] After close examina-
tion she decided that the bag was made of leather and not
plastic as she had first thought.
view/vju:/view a house/garden/exhibition etc (=walk
around a place in order to look at it, especially so that you
can decide what your opinion about it is) Iv T]
A few journalists were allowed to view the art exhibition the
day before it opened. I The house, now up for sale, should be
viewed in order to appreciate its spaciousness.
admire /ad'mamr/ to look at something beautiful or
impressive and say that you admire it Iv T]
We stopped at the top of the mountain to admire the view. I
I was just admiring your lovely garden.
5 to look at someone or something quickly
glance
shoot/cast/throw a glance
peep/have a peep
peek/have a peek
take one look
have/take a quick look
glance/gla:ns II glans/to look at someone or something
quickly, especially by raising your eyes and then lowering
them again Iv I ]
glance at During the meal he kept glancing at the door, obvi-
ously expecting someone to walk in. I I saw them glance at
each other as if they knew something I didn't. I glance into/
down/through etc. Glancing into the kitchen she realized
no-one was home. I glance sideways (=to glance at what
is at your side) Greg glanced sideways at his friend, trying
to catch his eye.
glance In C] A glance at my watch told me it was nearly 5
o'clock.
shoot/cast/throw a glance I,Su:t, ,ko:st, ,Omo 
'gla:ns i[ ,kzest-, -'glzens/to look at someone or something
once, especially by raising your eyes and lowering them
again very quickly [v phrase]
Angela shot a quick glance over her shoulder to see who was
following her. [ She cast a glance around the room, taking
in her new surroundings. [ shoot/east/throw sb a glance
dake threw her a sidelong glance to see how she was taking
the bad news.
peeplhave a peep/pi:p, hav a 'pi:p/to look quickly
at someone or something, especially secretly through a
small space or opening [v I]
peep in/through/up etc The house seemed empty but I
peeped in through the window to see if anyone was there. [
Close your eyes, I have a surprise for you. No peeping! [ peep
at She felt tempted to have a peep at her neighbour's garden.
peep In singular] The children could never attend their par-
ents'parties, but were allowed a peep through the door.
peek/have a peek/pi:k, ,hev  'pi:k/to look quickly
at someone or something, especially something that you
are not supposed to see Iv I]
peek in/through/under etc While her mother was out of
the room the little girl peeked into the box. I He was desper-
ate to know what was happening and every so often would
have a peek through the keyhole.
take one look/tetk ,wAn 'lok/to look quickly at some-
one or something that you have not seen before, and
immediately decide what your opinion of them is [vphrase]
He arrived in California, took one look at the landscape and
decided that this was where he wanted to live. I take one
look at The teacher took one look at my work and gave it
back to me. "Terrible, "" she said. [ She took one look at me
and said she would not work with me.
have/take a quick look/hav, teIk o ,kwlk 'lok/to
quickly look at something, especially to check that every-
thing is correct, working properly etc Iv phrase]
She had a quick look round the room, tidied away a couple
of magazines and let the guests in. [ The captain of the ship
told the mechanic to take a quick look at the engine to check
it was all in working order.
6 to look hard at something that is difficult to
see
squint
peer
squint/skwtnt/to look hard at something that you find
difficult to see, and make your eyes narrower to try and see
better Iv I]
squint at She squinted at the paper but it was impossible
to read what was written there. [ squint through/over, etc
Squinting through the frosted glass window, I could just
make out my sister's car in the distance.
peer/piar/to look with difficulty at someone or something
especially because you cannot see very well or there is not
enough light Iv I]
peer through/into/out etc Roger peered into the dark cor-
ridor to see what what was making the noise. [ peer at James
peered at the writing on the plaque under the picture.
7 to look at someone angrily
 glare
look daggers at
give sb a dirty/black look
scowl
if looks could kill
glare/gleor/to look angrily at someone for a long time
without moving your eyes Iv I]
glare at She didn't say anything, but just sat there glaring
at me. [ glare She sat down and glared fiercely, knowing that
the witness had beaten her. [ glare round/about ete As
soon as he heard this, Barry glared fiercely in our direction.
look daggers at /,lok 'dagarz at/to look at someone
very angrily, as if you would like to hurt them Iv phrase]
When I asked him what he'd done with the money he just
looked daggers at me and refused to speak. [ She sat there
fuming with rage, looking daggers at Danny across the
room.
give sb a dirty/black look/,gv (sb) a ,da:rti, ,blak
'lok/to quickly look at someone angrily to show that you
are angry with them, especially in a situation when you
cannot tell them that you are angry Iv phrase]
I don't know what I've done to Upset her, but she gave me a
really dirty look when I walked into the meeting. I Her father
would give her black looks whenever she disagreed with him
in front of other people.
scowl/skaol/to look at someone in an angry way, or make
an angry, unhappy expression with your face [v I]
dulie scowled and told them to get out. [ "'What do you want?"
said the old man, scowling. [ scowl at dem scowled at me
furiously as I left the room, his whole body trembling with
rage.
if looks could kill/if ,loks kod 'kill you say if looks
could kill when you are telling someone how another
person looked at you in a very angry way and you found
this funny or frightening
You should've seen her face when she realized what I'd done
- if looks could kill!
8 to look at someone in a way that shows you
are sexually interested in them
eye sb up ogle
make eyes at leer at

LOOK AT 801 LOOK FOR
eye sb up ] a (sb) ^p! an informal expression meaning
to look at someone in a way that shows that you are sexu-
ally interested in them [phr v T]
I'm not sure if he's eyeing me up or just staring at me. I Those
two have been eyeing each other up all evening.
make eyes at / :meik  aiz rot/to make it clear to some-
one that you are sexually attracted to them by looking at
them in a way that gets their attention Iv phrase]
Suddenly he noticed that Sacha was making eyes at him
across the table.
ogle / ouggl! to look at someone in an offensive way that
shows you are sexually attracted to their body Iv T]
A group of men were ogling her from a bar across the street.I
The beach was full of teenage boys who had come to show
off their tans and ogle the girls in bikinis.
leer at ! lior rot! to look and smile at someone in a way
that shows a strong sexual interest, especially so that
people feel a little frightened, embarrassed, or offended Iv
T]
The old man leered suggestively at the waitress. I Stopping
his work for a second, the garage attendant leered at the girls
in the car.
leer In singular] He stood in the doorway, with a leer on his
face, refusing to let her past.
9 to turn your eyes away from what you are
looking at and look at something else
look away
avert your eyes/gaze
look around
look away ! ,luk o'wexl to turn your eyes away from what
you are looking at, especially as a reaction to something
you have seen [phr v I]
The television camera focused on the dead body and I had
to look away. I She looked away from his face, unable to lie
to him.
avert your eyes/gaze Io va:rtja:r alz, getzl a formal
expression meaning to deliberately turn your eyes away
from what you are looking at because you do not want to
look at it any longer Iv phrase]
Bernard looked at the picture then averted his eyes in dis-
gust. I When I realised that the woman was completely naked
I averted my gaze at once.
look around (also look round in British English) Ilok
(o)  raond! to turn your eyes away from what you were look-
ing at and start to look at what is around you [phr v I]
Alan put down his newspaper and looked around, "'Did
somebody say something?" l The speaker finished her speech
and looked round to see if there were any questions.
1 0 to look at things in a shop, but without
 looking for any one thing in particular
look around/have a look around
browse
be just looking
look around/have a look around I ,lk o'aond, hmv
o ,lk o'raond/[phr v I]
I think I'll look around for a while before I decide what to
get. I Feel free to have a look around. We have a wide selec-
tion of sportswear to choose from. I I was just looking around
when I came across this beautiful silk scarf.
browse/braoz! to look slowly and in a relaxed way at
things in a shop, without intending to buy anything, but
just for enjoyment or interest Iv I]
He hardly ever buys anything. He just likes browsing. I I'd
like to browse for a while. Shall I meet you later? I browse
through Shamilla was in the record department, browsing
through the jazz section.
be Just looking/bi: dsAst =lukirj! if you say that you are
just looking, you mean that you are only looking at things
in a shop and do not intend to buy anything now [vphrase]
"'Can I help you? .... No thank you, I'm just looking."[ She
didn't buy anything this time. She was just looking.
LOOK FOR
to look for something or someone that you
want or need or that is lost
1 to look for something you have lost or
someone who is not where they should be
2 to try to find someone or something that you
do not already have but that you need or
want
3 ways of saying that the police are looking for
someone who has been involved in a crime,
escaped from prison etc
4 to search a place in order to look for
something or someone
5 to look for something in a bag, box, pocket
etc, by feeling with your hands
6 to search a person, their clothes etc, to try to
find something such as drugs or weapons
7 an attempt to find someone or something
8 a group of people who look for someone who
is lost
1 to look for something you have lost or
someone who is not where they should be
look for hunt
search for have a look for
try to find in search of
look for I'luk fa:rl Iv T not usually in passive]
I'm looking for Simon - have you seen him? I The kids were
told to go into the backyard and look for the baseball glove. I
I've been looking everywhere for that key and you had it all
the time/ I look hard for (=look everywhere and very
actively) She looked very hard for the little girl, and eventu-
ally found her playing in the barn.
search for / sa:rt fa:r/to spend time looking carefully
and thoroughly for something or someone Iv T not usually
in passive]
All her friends were down on their hand and knees, search-
ing for the missing contact lens. I In the myth, she is con-
demned to walk the earth, searching for her missing chil-
dren. I You remember that book I've been searching for so
desperately all this time? Guess where I found it?
try to find ! ,trai to faind! to look for someone or some-
thing by asking questions, looking etc Iv phrase]
Please don't try to find me. I'll be happier alone and will con-
tact you soon. I The police have been here all afternoon trying
to find the murder weapon.
hunt/h^nt/to look urgently and thoroughly for someone
or something in every possible place Iv I]
Friends and neighbours hunted everywhere, but no-one could
find the child. I hunt for Stephen hunted for the photo to
show his daughter.
have a look for ! hmv o 'lok fa:r/to look for something
or someone especially quickly and not very thoroughly Iv
phrase]
Rachel left her scarf at your place. Have a look for it, would
you? I have a quick look for I've had a quick look for Jim
but he must have popped out. Would you tell him I called?l
have a good look for (=a careful, thorough look) Alice has
lost her umbrella. We'll all have a good look for it at
lunchtime.
in search of In sa:rt ]avl go/set off/disappear etc in
search of (=go somewhere in order to find something or
someone) [prep]
Sally set off in search of the twins half an hour ago - where
can they all have got to? l He disappeared in the direction
of the car park, in search of the missing ticket.

802
What's the right word?
What word is the picture illustrating
hat
look for 35%
search 32%
other 33%
LOOK FOR
to look for something or someone that
you want or need or that is lost
t to look for something you have lost
or someone who is not where they
should be
2 to try to find someone or something
that you do not already have but
that you need or want
3 ways of saying that the police are
looking for someone who has been
involved in a crime, escaped from
prison etc
4 to search a place in order to look for
something or someone
5 to look for something in a bag, box,
pocket etc, by feeling with your
hands
(to search their clothes
a
person,
etc, to try to find something such as
drugs or weapons
6 to search a person, their clothes etc,
to try to find something such as drugs
or weapons
frisk /fr, sk/ to pass your hands over
someone's body and clothes, searching for
hidden weapons or drugs, for example at an
airport or at the entrance to an official
building [v T]
i["app.ropriate"ord tO"de.scdbethe
What the 200 English and American teachers
in our survey said:
frisk 56%
search 30%
other 14%

LOOK FOR 803 LOOK FOR
2 to try to find someone or something that you
do.not already have but that you need or
want
look for
search for
try to find
look around for
in search of
seek
seek out
be on the lookout for
hunting
look out for
leave no stone unturned
look for/'luk fa:r/Iv T not usually in passive]
We walked all around the town looking for a place to stay. I
I've come all the way from Orlando to look for my father -
I haven't seen him since I was two. I Is this the kind of thing
you're looking for?
search for / ' sa:rtf f3:r/to spend time trying to find some-
thing or someone that you need Iv T]
I've searched everywhere for a birthday present for Kim, but
I found nothing I liked. [ At this time of year thousands of
school leavers are searching for jobs. I Airline safety experts
are searching for a way of protecting passengers in the event
of a cabin fire.
try to find/,tra to 'farad/to look fora person or thing that
you need by asking questions, looking, examining ideas etc
Iv phrase]
The company is trying to find a suitable site for its new fac-
tory. I I've tried to find a book to help me with my history
assignment, but can't find one anywhere. [ Doctors have been
trying to find a cure for cancer for many years.
look around for ! ,lok o'raund fa:r/to look in different
places or directions, in order to find a suitable person or
thing that you need Iv T]
He looked around for somewhere to hang the wet towel. I Our
old car keeps breaking down, so we're looking around for
a new one. I They're looking around for a suitable apart-
ment, not too far from the city.
in search of/in =s3:rtf lv/go/set off/disappear etc in
search of(=go somewhere to fred something that you need
or want, especially something that is important to you
personally) [prep]
Many of the refugees are travelling to the north of the region
in search of food and shelter. I I had come to this country in
search of adventure and I had certainly found it.
seek/si:k/to look for something you need, for example
advice, friendship, or a job, especially if you do this
through an advertisement or public statement Iv T]
Economics graduate, aged 25, with business experienve, seeks
interesting part-time work in the West London area. I We
want to improve our products in new ways, so we are now
actively seeking ideas from our customers. I The aim of the
hostel is to give help to those seeking friendship or simply
shelter for the night.
seek out/si:k 'aut/to look very hard for someone or
something, especially something that is difficult to find or
something that has not yet been discovered [phr v T]
seek out sth/sb Not satisfied with this advice, Rowan
sought out a second opinion. I The ship's mission is to seek
out new life on other planets. I seek sth/sb/it/her etc out
You can never escape from me. I'll seek you out wherever you
go.
be on the lookout for/bi: on 6o 'lokaot f3:r/an infor-
mal expression meaning to be eagerly and continuously
looking for something or someone that might be useful to
you Iv phrase]
She's always on the lookout for a good bargain. I The club
is on the lookout for enthusiastic players, why don't you go
and have a chat with the team coach? I The design depart-
ment is constantly on the lookout for original ideas.
hunting /'hAntrj/ job/house/bargain etc hunting
(=actively looking for a suitable job, house etc) In U]
We rented a car and went house-hunting as soon as we
arrived. I Job hunting takes a lot of effort and can be a long,
depressing process.
look out for /,lok aut fa:r/to look out for something or
someone in particular while you are doing something or
looking at things Iv T]
If you are going shopping, could you look out for some choco-
late ice-cream for me?[ He's looking out for a nice apartment
downtown. [ Remember to look out for the old models, as they
are generally better made and longer lasting.
leave no stone unturned /li:v nat; ,stoun An't3:rnd/
an expression used especially in literature meaning to do
everything that you can to find something such as the
answer to a problem Iv phrase]
If a solution can be found, Mr Danby, I shall leave no stone
unturned until I have found it. I He seemed determined to
leave no stone unturned in his search for the perfect formula.
 ways of saying that the police are looking for
someone who has been involved in a crime,
escaped from prison etc
look for/search for
be after
hunt
look for/search for/'lok fa: r, 'sa:rtJ " fa:r/[v T]
Police in Colorado Springs are looking for a man who was
seen driving a red car away from the scene of the bank rob-
bery. I Detectives from Scotland Yard are still searching for
the prisoner who escaped from a high security jail three days
ago.
be after/bi: 'a:fto r II -'mf-/an informal expression mean-
ing to be looking for someone who has done something
wrong or to know where they are and be following them
[v T]
If he finds out we're after him, he's sure to try and leave the
country. [ This is tremendous news! We've been after this
gang for nearly five years.
hunt IhAnt] to search urgently and thoroughly for a crimi-
nal or for someone who has disappeared Iv I/T]
hunt sb The criminal was hunted across four countries
before eventually being tracked down in Australia. [ hunt
for Having spent .several days hunting for the missing
woman, police have abandoned the search. [ hunt sb down
(=to hunt someone until you find them) Ialways knew they
would hunt me down in the end.
4 to search a place in order to look for
something or someone
search raid
scour go through
comb turn somewhere upside down/
ransack inside out
search/sa:rt/IV I/T]
search a place/area etc I'm afraid your dog seems to have
vanished. We've searched the whole area but we can't find
it anywhere. I search At the site, rescue workers have been
searching systematically in the hope of finding more
survivors.
scour/skaoor/to search very carefully and thoroughly
through an area, a document etc looking for something that
is very important to you and that is difficult to find Iv T]
A team of detectives is scouring the area for the murder
weapon. [ He spent half an hour scouring the newspaper for
any mention of the fire.
comb lkom! to thoroughly examine a large area in great
detail, especially by moving across it, looking for some-
thing or someone that is difficult to find Iv T]
Police and volunteers are combing the countryside in the
hope of finding the missing boy. [ We've combed the whole
area but there's no sign of the wallet.
ransack / ' rmnsmk! to search a room, house, cupboard etc
very thoroughly and roughly, usually in order to steal
things and usually causing a lot of untidiness or damage
[v T]

LOOK FOR 804: LOOSE
The house had been ransacked by robbers - clothes lay every-
where, and all my jewelry had gone. I The demonstrators had
ransacked the secret police's files.
raid/reid/if the police raid a place, such as a house, a club
etc, they visit it suddenly in order to look for criminals or
illegal goods iv T]
The nightclub has been closed since it was raided last month
following an anonymous phone call about drug-dealing. I
Immigration officials together with 60 police officers raided
an illegal gambling den in Dalston, East London.
go through/'go Oru:/to examine a group of things, a
piece of writing etc very carefully in order to find some-
thing or to make sure that there are no mistakes iv T]
I've been through all the drawers in the desk but the letter's
not there. I I'm sure we haven't lost your application form.
Could you wait just a minute while I go through the file. I
go through sth with a fine-tooth comb (=go through it
extremely thoroughly) Mr Wainright went through the
insurance policy with a fine-tooth comb and confirmed there
were no hidden loopholes.
turn somewhere upside down/inside out/,t3:rn
sAmwea r ApsaId daon, ]nsad aot! to search a house, a
room etc very thoroughly, often making it very untidy iv
phrase]
Jenny turned the cupboard inside out, but could find no sign
of any hidden letters. I I turned the house upside down look-
ing for my wedding ring and eventually found it in a vase.
5 to look for something in a bag, box, pocket
etc, by feeling with your hands
rummage/rummage about fumble about/
fish about/around around
feel about/around go through
rummage/rummage about/'r^mIds, ,rAmId 5 a'baot/
to look for something among a lot of other things that are
all together by moving them about with your hands iv I]
Louise rummaged in her bag for herpen. I Joanne began to
rummage about in the big box for something to wear to the
fancy dress party.
fish about/around /,fI.[ abaot, araond/to look for a
small object in a large or deep container especially using
just your hands [phr v I]
I fished about in my shopping basket for some change for the
tramp. I He's been fishing around in his pocket for ages for
his ticket - it looks as if he's lost it.
feel about/around / ,rid a'bat)t, a'raond/to search for
something by touch without using your eyes [phr v I]
She put her hand in the gap and felt about, but she could not
reach the necklace. I He felt around with his foot to see if it
was safe to step forward.
fumble about/around/, fAmbal a baot, a  raond/to use
your hands to look for something in an awkward way, espe-
cially because it is dark or you are nervous or in a hurry
[phr v I]
He fumbled around in the cupboard, desperately searching
for his tablets. I The phone rang and, half-asleep, Winston
fumbled about to find the receiver.
go through ! gao 0ru:/to search someone's clothes, bags,
or possessions very thoroughly to try to find weapons,
drugs etc iv T]
Customs officials went through his luggage but found noth-
ing illegal. I On the corner, a police officer was going through
the pockets of a young man.
6 to search a person, their clothes etc, to try to
find something such as drugs or weapons
search
frisk
search/sa:rt.[/iv T]
All visitors to the prison are thoroughly searched. I I was
furious. The security women searched me for no reason, and
didn't even apologise afterwards.
frisk/frisk] to pass your hands over someone's body and
clothes, searching for hidden weapons or drugs, for exam-
ple at an airport or at the entrance to an official building
iv T]
frisk sb All the passengers were frisked before being allowed
to board the plane. I frisk sb for This is a tough schook all
the kids are frisked for weapons and drugs before morning
roll-call.
7 an attempt to find someone or something
search raid
hunt wild goose chase
search/sa:rff/in C]
An intensive search has begun for survivors of the crash. I
house-to-house search (=one that involves searching
every house and building in an area) Troops are carrying
out house-to-house searches in an attempt to find illegal arms
caches. I body-search (=a search in which all parts of your
body are searched) On arriving at the prison, each prisoner
is subjected to a thorough body-search.
hunt IhAntl a carefully planned search involving a lot of
people, especially to find someone or something urgently
in singular]
A nationwide hunt is under way to find the killers. I Rescue
teams called off their hunt for survivors as weather condi-
tions grew worse.
raid/reid/a sudden visit by the police to a house, club etc
in order to look for a criminal, drugs, illegal activities etc
in C]
Seven people were injured in last night's police raid on a
house in Brixton, South London. I Raids are almost a nightly
occurrence at this club.
wild goose chase/,waild 'gu:s ,tJ'eis/a search that is
a waste of time and effort, either because the thing you are
looking for does not exist or you have been given wrong
information in phrase]
send sb on a wild goose chase She gave us false informa-
tion deliberately in order to send us on a wild goose chase.I
wild goose chase The woman had moved and left no for-
warding address, so it was all a bit of a wild goose chase.
8 a group of people who look for someone who
is lost
search party
search party/'sa:rtj" ,pa:rti/ in C]
I'm going to join the search party - Ican't sit here doing noth-
ing. I The team divided into four search parties and kept in
close contact using walkie-talkies.
looking: be just looking LOOK AT 10
lookout: be on the lookout for LOOK FOR 2
lookout: that's your problem/lookout DON'T CARE 3
looks APPEARANCE 1
looks/good looks BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 7
looks: if looks could kill LOOK AT 7
loom SOON 6
loom/loom up APPEAR 1
loony: nutcase/Ioony CRAZY 6
loop CIRCLE 1
loophole LAW 3
loose EXACT 9, LOOSE 1, 4, 6
loose: come loose LOOSE 7
loose: on the loose ESCAPE 6
loose: work loose LOOSE 7
loose end: be at a loose end NOT DO STH 4
loose ends: tie up the loose ends FINIS DOING ST 2
loose-fitting LOOSE 1
LOOSE
fitting or stretching loosely around, into, or
across something
1 words for describing loose clothes

LOOSE 805 LOOSE
2 ways of saying that clothes become looser,
especially by being worn
3 to make a piece of clothing looser
4 words for describing a loose rope, knot, chain
etc
5 to make a rope, a knot, or a chain, loose
6 words for describing something that is not
firmly fixed in the place it should be
7 ways of saying that something becomes so
loose that it may break, fall off etc
8 to make something loose so that it can be
removed easily
4 words for describing a loose rope, knot, chain
etc
loose
slack
loose/lu:s/[adj]
The string tied around the parcel was loose and beginning
to fall off. I We really ought to get that loose bicycle chain
fixed.
loosely [adv] His scarf was tied loosely around his neck.
slack/slink/a rope, chain etc that is slack is not stretched
as tightly as it should be [adj]
Our tent ropes were so slack the tent blew over in the night. ]
If you think you've caught a fish, wind in the slack line
immediately.
1 words for describing loose clothes
loose loose-fitting
baggy shapeless
loose/lu:s/clothes that are loose are big and do not fit
your body tightly [adj]
She wore a long, loose dress. I He put on tight jeans and a
loose shirt. ] I've lost so much weight all my clothes are loose
and baggy.
baggy/'bmgi/very large and loose, and hiding the real
shape of your body [adj]
Krista tried to disguise the fact that she was pregnant by
wearing big baggy clothes. I Uncle Tom always wore the
same clothes - baggy trousers, heavy sweater, thick jacket.
loose-fitting/,lu:s 'ftr]-/loose, especially in order to
be comfortable [adj]
Florence wore a comfortable, loose-fitting coat. I His once
loose-fitting suit was now quite snug.
shapeless / 'Seplos/large and loose, and having no shape
or style [adj]
He looked dirty and was wearing an ugly, shapeless suit. [
Daisy's coat was dark and shapeless, with patches of differ-
ent colours here and there.
 ways of saying that clothes become looser,
especially by being worn
stretch
give
stretch/stretS/if clothes stretch, they become looser and
bigger, especially with the result that they do not fit you
properly any more Iv I]
Some fabrics stretch if they're tumble-dried. I These jeans are
a bit tight - Ihope they stretch. I stretch out of shape (=to
stretch so much that the shape is changed) I lent her my new
gloves and they got stretched out of shape.
give/glV/if tight clothes or shoes give, they become looser
after you have been wearing them Iv I]
These shoes should give - they are made of very soft leather. I
Don't worry if swimsuits are tight - they always give a little.
3 to make a piece of clothing looser
loosen
let out
loosen/'lu:sn/to make a piece of clothing looser, espe-
cially by unfastening it Iv T]
As it grew hotter, I loosened my shirt. I He's fainted - loosen
his collar and tie so that he can breathe.
let out/,let 'at/to make a piece of clothing looser by
undoing the stitches and sewing it up again, so that it is
a little bigger [phr v T]
let out sth You've put on weight - you'll have to let out that
skirt. [ let sth/it/them out She couldn't afford new clothes
for her sons, so she let their trousers out as they grew bigger.
 to make a rope, a knot, or a chain, loose
loosen
slacken
relax
loosen/lu:san/to make something loose that has been
pulled tight, for example a rope or piece of string, by undo-
ing it Iv T ]
He leaned down and loosened his shoe-laces. [ Eric leaned
back in his chair and loosened his belt.
slacken/' sleekan/to reduce the pressure on something
such as a rope, so that it is no longer pulled as tightly as
before Iv T ]
Slacken that rope, or it will snap. [ The horses relaxed, and
the riders slackened the reins.
relax/r 'leeks/to reduce the pressure on something so that
it is no longer held tightly and can no longer hold or sup-
port something Iv T]
He relaxed his grip on her arm for a second and she was able
to break free. [ Don't relax the tension on that rope, or the
other climbers might fall.
6 words for describing something that is not
firmly fixed in the place it should be
loose
wobbly
loose/lu:s/[adj]
The back of the telephone came off easily as the screws were
loose. I The loose boards on the stairs creaked with every step.
wobbly/'wDbli II 'we:-/loose and able to move from side
to side [adj]
Has your wobbly tooth fallen out yet? l I'm not sitting on that
chair - the legs are all wobbly:
7 ways of saying that something becomes so
loose that it may break, fall off etc
come loose
work loose
come loose/,kAm 'lu:s/ [v phrase]
One of my buttons is coming loose. I The door handle had
come loose, and looked as if it might drop off at any moment.
work loose/,w3:rk 'lu:s/to become loose graduatly after
a long time, or after a lot of use Iv phrase]
The carpet on the stairs had worked loose, and was rather
dangerous. I work its way loose The strap round my suit-
case had worked its way loose, so I had to stop to tighten it.
 to make something loose so that it can be
removed easily
loosen
loosen/'lu:sn/Iv T]
I couldn't open the jar, so Paul loosened the top for me. I It's
impossible to loosen these old rusty screws.

loosen 806 LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR
loosen FASTEN/DO UP 3, LOOSE 3, 5, 8
loosen up RELAXED 2
loot STEAL 3, 9
lop-sided REGULAR 5, SHAPE 4
lose DIE 7, LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR
1 LOSE/CAN'T FIND 1 LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY
MORE 1, SPEND TIME 5
lose consciousness UNCONSCIOUS 2
lose contact CONTACT SB 5
lose control CONTROL 8, 11
lose count COUNT/CALCULATE 8
lose face ASHAMED 3
lose heart HOPE 9
lose hope/give up hope HOPE 9
lose interest INTERESTED 6
lose its colour/color COLOUR/COLOR 9
lose its shape SHAPE 4
lose no time IMMEDIATELY 1
lose out GET17
lose sb sth LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 5
lose sight of SEE 10
lose sleep: not lose sleep over WORRIED 11
lose the baby BABY/HAVE A BABY 10
lose the thread/lose your thread SUBJECT 5
lose touch CONTACT SB 5, NOT KNOW 6
lose track of NOT KNOW 6
lose weight THIN PERSON 7
lose your appetite HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 4
lose your balance BALANCE 4, FALL 3
lose your bearings LOST/DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU
ARE 2
lose your footing FALL 3
lose your grip CONTROL 11
lose your job LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 3
lose your life DIE 2
lose your marbles MENTALLY ILL 5
lose your nerve BRAVE 7
lose your temper ANGRY 4
lose your thread: lose the thread/lose your thread
SUBJECT 5
lose your virginity SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
lose your voice SPEAK A LANGUAGE 12
lose your way LOST/DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE 2
lose
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION,
OR WAR
to lose a game, competition, argument, fight,
or war etc
to stop playing, fighting or trying to win
because you know you will lose
to be in a position in which you are likely to
lose because you are not doing as well as
your opponent
to be expected to lose
to be the reason why someone loses a game,
competition, or war
the person or group that has lost
1 to lose a game, competition, argument, fight:,
or war etc
lose take a beating
be beaten suffer a defeat
be defeated go down
meet your match defeat
get the worst of it/
come off worst
lose flu:z/[v I/T]
/always lose when I play badminton with my sister. I Right
up until the day before the election most people expected
Truman to lose. I lose a game/fight/election etc Tyson
lost the fight because his mental preparation wasn't right.
When King James lost the battle of the Boyne, the history of
Ireland was changed forever. I lose to/against sb It was
a surprise when Cuba lost to Canada in volleyball at the Pan
American Games. I lose by 1 goal/lO votes/20 points etc
He lost by 7,008 votes to Samuel's 13,425.
be beaten ]bi: .bi:tn] to lose a game, race, or competition
[v phrase]
The Yankees were beaten yesterday in an exciting game
against the Red Sox. I be beaten by sb Once again, Cam-
bridge have been beaten by Oxford in the famous annual
boat race. I be beaten by 10 points/3 goals etc In the quiz,
our school team was beaten by only 3 points.
be defeated /bi: dfi:td/ to lose an important or
difficult game, battle, war, or election [v phrase]
Last night England was defeated by a superior Brazilian
team. I be heavily defeated The Government was heavily
defeated at the General Election in November. I be defeated
by sb In the ensuing war the Russians were defeated by the
Japanese.
meet yo.r match /,mi:t j:r 'meetS/ if a very good
player, team etc meets their match, they are beaten by an
even better player, team etc, especially after a long period
during which they were never beaten [v phrase not in
progressive ]
She's a very good player but she'll meet her match when she
plays Sara. I meet your match in sb Juventus played
extremely well to get to the final, but they met their match
in the Spanish champions, Real Madrid.
get the worst of it/come off worst/,get 6
v It, khm f w3:rst/to lose an argument or fight [vphrase]
Like all intellectual young men he disliked coming off worst
in an argument, whatever the subject. I My brother was
always getting into fights with people and getting the worst
of it.
take a beating/,tek o 'bi:tirj/to lose very badly in a
game of football, tennis etc [v phrase]
Our team took a terrific beating on Saturday. The score was
6-0. [ They took a real beating in the finals last year but I
think they've improved a lot since then.

LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR
suffer a defeat/,SAfOr a dI 'fi:t/to lose something such
as an election or war very badly Iv phrase]
The war lasted for 4 years with the Indians suffering a
terrible defeat. I suffer a defeat at the hands of sb The
Democrats have suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of
the Republicans.
go down/,goo 'daon/to lose a game of football, tennis etc
by a particular number of points [phr v I]
go down 2-0/7-8 etc France went down 3-0 in their match
against Italy.
defeat/di 'fi:t/a situation in which a person, team, army
etc is beaten in a game, competition, race, battle etc In C/U]
the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo I After a series of defeats,
team manager Bill Keyes was sacked. I They boasted of their
ability to inflict defeat upon any team that challenged them. I
crushing/humiliating defeat Argentina suffered a
humiliating defeat in the World Cup.
2 to stop playing, fighting, or trying to win
because you know you will lose
admit defeat/accept defeat give in
surrender concede
admit defeat/accept defeat/d,mit di 'fi:t, ok,sept-/
to stop playing, fighting, or trying to win because you know
you will lose, especially after a long time struggling to win
[ v phrase ]
After almost four hours of thrilling tennis, Jimmy Connors
was finally forced to admit defeat. I Refusing to accept defeat,
she will be running in the election again next year.
surrender/so'rendar/to officially say that you want to
stop fighting in a war because you realize that you cannot
win Iv I]
Finally, on April 16th, the enemy surrendered. I surrender
to sb The Algerian leader was forced to surrender to the
French.
surrender In C/U] A note was sent urging surrender
(=asking the army to accept defeat) and a cessation of
hostilities.
give in/,g:v 'm/to stop playing, fighting, arguing etc
because you know that you are not good enough to win [phr
v I]
"'You're too good for me - I give inC" I said breathlessly,
throwing down my racquet. I John and Andre argued and
argued until finally Andre gave in. "'I can see I'm never going
to make you change your mind, John. "" I give in to sb I
decided it was best to give in to my Mother - she was always
right.
concede/kan' si:d/to admit that you are not going to win
a battle, argument, or game because you are not strong
enough or good enough to win Iv I/T]
The defeated army conceded and their enemy claimed vic-
tory. I concede defeat (=admit you are defeated) Matthew
kept on arguing his point, unwilling to concede defeat.
3 to be in a position in which you are likely to
lose because you are not doing as well as
your opponent
be losing
be behind
trail
be losing/bi: 'lu:zirj/Iv phrase]
"'Is Joachim winning? .... No, he's losing." I be losing the
game/the war etc Certain members of the Nazi government
knew that they were losing the war. ] be losing by 15
points/2 goals/3-0 etc Milan was losing by 2 goals to 1.
be behind/bi: b 'ha;nd/to be losing a game, competition
etc, especially when you are expected to win Iv phrase]
The votes are still being counted but it seems that the
Democrats are behind. I be behind by one goal/4 votes/3
points etc Steffi Graf was behind in the second set by three
games to five.
807
LOSE/CAN'T FIND
trail/tred/to be losing especially because the other team,
player etc has only a smallnumber of points, votes etc more
than you Iv I/T]
trail 3-0/by 10 points/8 votes etc Sweden was trailing
by two games to one in the series. [ With his team trailing
72-78 the manager was forced to bring his star player back
on. [ trail sb England trail Canada by only 1 point.
4 to be expected to lose
not be in the running
outsider
be a pushover
not be in the running/not bi: n 62 'rAnirj/if someone
is not in the running in a competition, race etc, no one
expects them to win Iv phrase]
Of the four candidates, Smith isn't really in the running. I
This year the Oakland A's are not in the running for the.
league championship.
outsider/aot'saldar/a person or team that is not expected
to win In C]
The defending champion was beaten by an outsider in the
first round of the tournament. I Because of her controversial
political views she is the outsider in the election.
be a pushover/bi:  'poSoovar/an informal expression
meaning to be expected to lose because you are very weak
and everyone thinks you have no chance of winning the
game, competition etc[v phrase]
The boxer boasted that his opponent was a pushover and
that he was confident of retaining his title.
5 be the reason why someone loses a game,
competition or war
lose sb sth
lose sb sth/'lu:z (sb)(sth)/Iv phrase]
My elbow injury lost me the game. [ Many people think that
the socialists' tax policies lost them the election. I It was their
lack of up-to-date equipment that finally lost them the battle.
6 the person or group that has lost
loser runner-up
losing defeated
loser/'lu:zar/[n C]
The losers walked away sadly. I Hundreds of fans cheered
the brave loser as he left the ring. I How is it that a country
that was the loser in a major war can now be an economic
superpower?l be a good/bad loser (=react well/badly
when you lose) Janet clapped and shook the winner's hand
to show that she was a good loser.
losing /lu:zirj/losing side/team/finalist etc (=one that
has lost) [adj only before noun]
Nobody wants to be on the losing team. I We quickly realized
we were on the losing side in this long-standing feud.
runner-up/,r^nar 'Ap/ the person or team that comes
second or third in a game, race, or competition In C]
For the runners-up we are giving away a colour TV and
copies of the new book.
defeated/dI 'fi:t]od/defeated army/finalist/Scots etc
(:the ones that lost the battle, war, game etc) [adj only
before noun]
After a long battle, the defeated army was ordered to retreat. I
Let's have a quick word with the two defeated finalists.
@ LOSE/CAN'T FIND
to be unable to find someone or something
words for describing something or someone
that has been lost and cannot be found
ways of saying that something becomes lost,
so that it cannot be found

LOSE/CAN'T FIND 808 LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY MORE
1 to be unable to find someone or something
lose can't find
loss mislay
lose/lu:z/to not know where someone or something is
[v T]
If you don "t label your luggage clearly you may lose it. I When
we were on vacation I lost my wallet containing my driver's
licence. I Please can you help us find our little boy. We lost
him in the crowd. I Be careful not to lose your keys. You won't
be able to get in without them.
loss/los II b:s/In U]
You should report the loss of your passport to the consulate
(=the fact that you have lost your passport). I Be careful
with my camera - I'm not insured for accidental loss.
can't find ! ,ka:nt 'faind II ,kmnt-/to have lost something
or someone, especially after you have spent a long time
looking for them [v phrase]
She searched through all her pockets, but she couldn't find
the tickets. [ I don't know what's happened to Eric - I can't
find him anywhere. [ The lawyer remembers receiving our
letter, but now he can't find it.
mislay/mis'lei/to lose something for a short time, espe-
cially because you put it somewhere and then forgot where
you put it [v T ]
I seem to have mislaid my keys. Have you seen them any-
where? [ In coming/Wait a second/I've just mislaid my
gloves.
disappear I,dIso'pIorl if someone or something disap-
pears, it has become lost and cannot be found anywhere,
and you think that someone may have taken it [v I]
The letter has disappeared. I'm sure it was in my briefcase. [
I left mypurse here a moment ago - now it seems to have com-
pletely disappeared. [ The police have asked for the public's
help in finding the little girl. who was wearing a red coat
when she disappeared.
disappearance [n C/U/It's now three months since his mys-
terious disappearance (=since he disappeared).
go missing /:goo 'misirj/a British expression meaning
to become lost, used especially when you think that some-
thing may have been stolen [v phrase]
A number of secret documents have gone missing from the
nuclear research laboratories in south London. [ Books.
clothes, records - they all go missing regularly. I've no idea
what the kids do with them. [ A fishing boat has gone miss-
ing off Rocky Head in the storms last night.
LOSE/NOT HAVE
ANY MORE
1
2
to lose something
ways of saying that you lose something
important or valuable as a result of something
that you do
2 words for describing something or someone
that has been lost and cannot be found
lost missing
missing nowhere to be found
lost/lost II b:st/[adj]
Teams of divers are searching for the lost treasure. [ The
airline is trying to speed up inquiries to trace lost baggage. I
I can't find our cat anywhere - I hope he's not lost.
m|ssing/'misi]/something that is missing is not in the
place where you left it and cannot be found, especially
because it has been stolen [adj]
The teachers have looked everywhere for the missing test
papers. [ Police are still searching for the missing diamonds. [
missing from I started to get worried when I discovered that
my passport was missing from my handbag. [ reported
missing (=reported to the police as lost) A quarter of the
380,000 cars reported missing in Britain each year are never
found.
m|ss|ng /'mis,]/ someone who is missing cannot be
found and may be in danger [adj]
She's been missing for three days now and we're starting to
get really worried. [ The coastguard has started an air and
sea search for the six fisherman missing in the North Sea. [
Ten soldiers are missing, believed killed.
nowhere to be found/,nooweo r to bi: 'faond/if some-
one or something is nowhere to be found, you have looked
everywhere for them but still cannot t'md them [adjphrase]
She had looked everywhere - under the furniture, in the
cupboards - but her glasses were nowhere to be found. [ He
asked everyone if they knew where Rosie was but she was
nowhere to be found.
3 ways of saying that something becomes lost,
so that it cannot be found
get lost
disappear
go missing
get lost /,get 'lost II-'lo:st/ if something gets lost it
becomes lost, especially during an activity or process or
by getting mixed in with a lot of other things [v phrase]
Check every item on the list and make sure that nothing gets
lost. I I think those files must have gotten lost when we were
moving into our new offices. I I never received your parcel.
It must have got lost in the mail.
1 to lose something
lose
loss
forfeit
lose/lu:z/to no longer have something that is important
to you or something that you need [v T/
I can't afford to lose my job. I have a family to support. I As
a result of the new law sornepeople will lose the right to vote.I
High interest rates have caused thousands to lose their
homes. I If the bank crashes some investors stand to lose a
lot of money.
loss/los II b:sl the fact or process of losing something
[n U]
Loss of hair is one symptom of the disease. [ The factory closed
with the loss of 45jobs. [ Since the military government took
control, the population has suffered a general loss of civil
liberties.
forfeit/,f:rQq to lose something of value that is taken
away from you either as a punishment or as a result of a
rule or agreement [v T/
As part of the agreement he forfeited all rights to a seat on
the board. [ If she is disqualified from the tournament she
will forfeit her prize money and her title.
 ways of saying that you lose something
important or valuable as a result of something
that you do
cost
at the cost of
be a high price to pay
cost/kost II ka:stl if something such as a mistake or failure
to do something costs you something, you lose something
important or valuable as a result of it Iv T not inpassive]
cost sb sth Another mistake like that could cost you your
job. I The failure of these policies cost the President millions
of votes in the election. I All this delay at the warehouse has
cost the firm an important contract.
at the cost of lot 6o 'kost ov II -'ka:st-I if you achieve
something at the cost of something else, you lose some-
thing of great importance or value as a result of what you
achieve [prep]

LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY MORE 809 LOTIA LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT
She saved her family at the cost of her own life. I The govern-
ment succeeded in reducing inflation but only at the cost of
a million jobs.
be a high price to pay/bi: z ihaI IpraIs tz Ipe:/if some-
thing is a high price to pay, losing it is so bad that the
advantage you gain as a result of this loss is not worth it
Iv phrase]
be a high price to pay for The pollution of our rivers is a
high price to pay for agricultural development. I be a high
price to pay Britain wants to be part of a European Union
but the loss of national sovereignty would be a high price to
pay. I pay a high price for Already a physical wreck at
thirty, she has paid a high price for her success in show
business.
loser LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 6
losing LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 6
losing: be losing LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR
WAR 3
lOSS LOSE/CAN'T FIND 1 LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY.
MORE 1
loss: be at a loss EXPRESS 4
loss of life DIE 6
loss of memory FORGET 6
losses: job losses LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 3
losses: suffer heavy losses DIE 2
lost LOSE/CAN'T FIND 2
lost: be lost LOST/DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE 1
lost: get lost LEAVE A PLACE 3, LOSE/CAN'T FIND 3,
LOST/DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE 2
lost cause FAIL5
lost for words: be lost for words/be at a loss for
words SAY 8, SURPRISED 3
lost in thought: lost/deep in thought THINK ABOUT 8
lost opportunity: a lost opportunity
CHANCE/OPPORTU N ITY 5
lose your way I,lu:z jo:r weI/to get lost while on the
way somewhere because it is dark, or the weather is very
bad, or the way is difficult to follow Iv phrase]
It's very easy to lose your way n the forest. I He suspected that
the walkers had lost their way in the dark.
lot GROUP OF PEOPLE :3, GROUP OF THINGS 1
lot: a lot LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 9,
LOT/VERY MUCH 1
lot: a lot of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 2
lot: cost a lot EXPENSIVE 1
lot: have a lot on/have a lot going on BUSY/HAVE A
LOT TO DO 1
lot: have a lot on your mind WORRIED 4
lot: have a lot on your plate PROBLEM 6
lot: have a lot to do BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 1
lot: the lot ALL/EVERYTHING 1 2
,
lot: the lot of them/us/you EVERYONE 1
lot of money: a lot of money MONEY 2
,,i,,,i ffl f"nrrl ................... r- ';Pi " i1 Ii iiiiiii "
LOST/DON'T KNOW
WHERE YOU ARE
t to be lost
2 to become lost
1 to be lost
be lost
not know where you are
be lost/bi: 'lost II -'lo:st/[v phrasel
Excuse me, I'm lost. Could you tell me where the station is,
please? l Eventually the three children realized they were lost,
and all of them started to cry. I "'Where are we?" "'Don't ask
me, I'm lost too.'"
not know where you are/not no weo r ju: (]:r/[v
phrase not in progressive]
I'm afraid I really don't know where we are - do you? I When
he came out of the bar he was so drunk that he didn't know
where he was.
2 to become lost
get lost
lose your bearings
lose your way
get lost/,get 'lost II -'lo:st/[v phrase]
I'll lend you a map so that you don't get lost. I Sorry we're
so late. We got lost. I A car pulled up beside me. They had
got lost and wanted me to direct them.
lose your bearings/lu:z j:r =bevrirjz/ to lose your
sense of direction while on the way somewhere so that you
do not know where you are Iv phrase]
Keep the sun on your right so you don't lose your bearings. I
Could you tell me, is the hospital over in that direction? I seem
to have lost my bearings.
LOTIA LARGE
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
12
1 a large amount of something
2 a large number of things or people
3 an extremely large number of things or
people
4 a lot or more than enough of something that
people need or use
5 a lot of crimes or other unpleasant events in a
short period of time
6 a lot of people, things, messages etc all
arriving at the same time
7 ways of saying that a lot of people or things
are doing something, going somewhere etc
all at the same time
8 done, believed etc by a lot of people
9 ways of saying that someone does something
a lot
10 words for describing something that contains
a lot of a particular substance
11 words for describing someone who produces
a lot of goods, works of art etc
words for describing a place where there is a
lot of a particular activity, especially a bad or
violent one
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 810 LOTIA LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT
1 a large amount of something
a lot of
lots of
a great deal of/
a good deal of
a fair bit of/a fair
amount of
much
loads of/tons of/masses
of/scads of
piles of/heaps of/stacks of
a mountain of
extensive
widespread
heavy
a lot of/a 'lot ov IJ -'la:t/[quantifier]
a lot of food/time/information etc We spent a lot of time
just lying on the beach. I The book contains a lot of useful
advice about setting up your own business. I quite a lot of
Helen looks as if she's lost quite a lot of weight recently - is
she on a diet?. I an awful lot of (=a very large amount)
$48,000! That's an awful lot of money. I a lot His new car's
a Ferrari - it must have cost him a lot. I a lot to do/see/
learn etc We've painted the kitchen and the living room but
there's a lot to do in the other rooms.
lots of /'lots av II 'lo:ts-/ a phrase used especially in
spoken English meaning a large amount or part of some-
thing [quantifier]
lots of food/time/information etc I always use lots of
sugar when I'm baking cakes. I There's no need to hurry. We
still have lots of time. [ It's a big studio, so there's lots of room
for all my things. I lots "'How much money do you have with
you? .... Oh, lots!" l lots to do/see/learn etc We're never
bored here - there's always lots to see and do.
a great deal ofla good deal of/a ,gre:t 'did av, a god-/
a large amount of something such as time, money, effort,
or knowledge [quantifier]
I've already spent a great deal of time and effort trying to
help him with his problems. ] The job requires a great deal
of patience and skill. ] There's a good deal of evidence to show
that eating red meat can cause heart disease. I a great deal/
a good deal We already know a great deal about theplanet
Jupiter.
a fair amount of (also a fair bit of in British English)
/a ,fear a'maont av, a ,fea r 'bt av/a large amount of some-
thing compared to the total amount that you have
[quantifier]
I wasted a fair amount of time before I realized what was
wrong with the car. I a fair bit/amount "'How much money
have you spent on the house since you bought it?" "'A fair bit. ""
much/mAt/a word meaning a lot of something, used espe-
cially in formal English or in normal spoken and written
English when in questions or negative sentences
[quantifier]
Do you know much about cars? I I can't think of much to say. I
A great deal ofprogress has been made in Russia, but there
is still much that needs to be done. I It gives us much pleas-
ure to announce the names of the winners. I much of Much
of Bangladesh remains flooded after last week's torrential
rains.
loads of/tons of/masses of (British) I scads of
(American)/'laodz av, 'tAnz av, 'mmsIz av, 'skmdz av/infor-
mal words meaning a very large amount of something
[quantifier]
Of course he can afford to pay. He has tons of money. [ If it's
polythene you want, ask Keith. He has scads of it. I loads/
tons etc "'How much space is there in the back of your car?'"
"'Masses. "" l It was a fantastic meal - there was loads to eat.
piles of/heaps of/stacks of/'pailz av, 'hi:ps av, stmks
av/informal words meaning a large amount of something,
especially work or money [quantifier]
Her family is very rich - they have heaps of money. I piles/
heaps/stacks "'How much money have you saved? .... Oh,
stacks!'" I I have piles to do when I get home tonight.
a mountain of /a 'maontn av/ a mountain of
work/debt (=a very large amount of it, especially more
than you can deal with) [quantifier]
When I came back from my vacation I was faced with a
mountain of paperwork. I The economies of Third World
countries are often crippled by huge mountains of debt which
they will never be able to repay.
extensive IIk'stenslv/ extensive knowledge/study/
damage etc (=covering a large area or a large range of
information, ideas etc) [adj]
The island suffered extensive damage in last month's hur-
ricane. I The Ancient Greeks had an extensive knowledge of
the stars. I The abortion issue has been the subject of exten-
sive debate in the US.
widespread /'waidsprcd/ widespread damage/dis-
ease/famine/poverty etc (=having an effect on a lot of
people over a large area) [adj usually before noun]
The 1972 earthquake caused widespread damage and de-
struction across the whole region. I Ethiopia was suffering
widespread famine, disease, and social dislocation.
heavy /'hcvi/ heavy rain/snow/traffic/fighting/
losses/taxation (-a lot, especially when this is worse than
expected) [adj]
Heavy fighting has been reported in Bosnia. I The match
went ahead despite the heavy rain. I We got caught up in
heavy traffic and missed our plane. I It was a fierce battle,
and losses on both sides were heavy.
2 a large number of things or people
a lot of dozens of
lots of numerous
many a host of
a large number of/ quite a few
large numbers of a wide range of
plenty of a raft of
loads of/tons of/ multi-
masses of/scads of multiple
a bunch of
a lot of/a 'lot av II -'lo:t-I [quantifier]
a lot of people/things/problems ere A lot of tourists visit
Venice in the summer. I I like long skirts - you see a lot of
women wearing them these days. I a lot more/less I'm sure
she has a lot more problems than I have. I quite a lot of
There were quite a lot of words that I couldn't understand. I
a lot I was surprised that only a hundredpeople went to see
the concert - I thought there would be a lot there.
lots of/'lDts av II 'lG:ts-/a word used especially in spoken
English meaning a lot of things or people [quantifier]
lots of people/things/problems ere I want to have a big
house and lots of children. I Since we've been in Los Angeles
we've made lots of wonderful new friends. I lots and lots of
It was a great birthday - Igor lots and lots of lovely presents. I
lots "'How much cream do you want on your dessert? .... Oh
lots p lease !'"
many/'meni/a word meaning a lot of things or people,
used especially in formal English or in normal spoken and
written English when in questions or negative sentences
[quantifier]
Did you get many Christmas cards this year? I Not many
people survived the crash. I She worked as a reporter on CBS
news for many years. I many of Many of the complaints are
from elderly viewers who disapprove of the amount of sex
and violence on their TV screens. I the many The report
doesn't mention the many patients who have benefitted from
the treatment. I many a (used when saying that something
has happened many times) I love fishing - I've spent many
a happy hour down by the river catching fish.
a large number of/large numbers of/a lo:rd5
'nAmba r av, ,lo:rd3 'nAmbarz av/an expression used espe-
cially in newspapers or official reports meaning a lot of a
particular type of person or thing [quantifier]
Large numbers of demonstrators were arrested during the
protest rally. I Police confiscated a large number of weapons.
plenty of ! 'plenti av/a lot of people or things, especially
when they are easy to find [quantifier]
There are plenty of parking spaces further along the road. I
I've met plenty of girls just like her. [Never mind, there'll be
plenty of other opportunities to win a prize.
loads of/tons of/masses of (British) I scads of
(American)/'laodz av, 'tAnz av, 'mesz av, 'skaedz av I infor-
mal words meaning a lot of people or things [quantifier]

LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 811 LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT
The beach was really crowded - there were loads of people
from all over Europe. I You can borrow one of my books if
you like - I have scads of them. I loads/tons etc "'How many
stawberries did you pick? .... Masses!" l loads and loads/
tons and tons etc In summer you get loads and loads of flies
- they're really annoying.
a bunch of 1 'b^ntS v/an informal American expres-
sion meaning a lot of people or things [quantifier]
The doctor asked me a bunch of questions about my sex life. I
I went to a bunch of stores but none of them sold the kind of
coat that I wanted.
dozens of/'dhzanz ov/a large number of people, things
etc but not usually more than a hundred [quantifier]
dozens of people/things/ideas etc Since we put the adver-
tisement in the paper we've had dozens of phone calls. I Bald-
win was the author of six novels, four plays and dozens of
essays and poems. I dozens At least five people died and
dozens more were injured in a gas explosion just outside
Paris.
numerous / nju:mams [[ nu:-/a formal word meaning a
lot of people or things such as occasions, cases or reasons
[adj]
The same problem has occurred before on numerous occa-
sions. [ Numerous scholars before Copernicus had suggested
that the earth went round the sun, but he was the first person
to prove it. [ too numerous to mention (=so many that you
cannot say all of them) I want to thank all the people, too
numerous to mention, who've helped me win this election.
a host of/ 'hoost v/ a very large number of people,
organizations, or things such as problems, questions, or
ideas, used when you are surprised or they are impressive
[quantifier]
Since he was elected, the president has been faced with a
whole host of difficult problems. [ Edison made a host of dis-
coveries in the field of electronics during the 1880"s. [ a whole
host of The new Mazda RX7 has a whole host of exciting
new features.
quite a few/kwalt a fju:/ a fairly large number of
people, things etc [quantifier]
quite a few people/things etc There have been quite a few
accidents on this stretch of road. [ quite a few "'How many
people are coming to the party? .... Oh, quite a few. '" [ quite
a few of (=a fairly large part of a group) She knows quite
a few of the people who work at the hospital.
a wide range of/ wad relnd5 av/a large number of
people or things that are different from each other
[quantifier]
The new magazine is intended to appeal to a wide range of
people of all ages. [ She has no children but she has a wide
range of interests.
a raft of/ 'ro:ft av [[ -'raeft-/an expression used espe-
cially in American English meaning a large number of
ideas, opinions, suggestions etc [quantifier]
The President has a raft of new proposals for dealing with
inner city decay. [ a whole raft of By the end of the meeting
we had a whole raft of new ideas for expansion.
multi- /'mAlti/ multi-coloured/multi-storey/multi-
national/multi-racial/multi-purpose/multi-million
dollar etc (=having or involving many colours etc) [prefix]
My new office is in a multi-storey building. [ McDonald's is
a multi-national business corporation, which has branches
all over the world. [ Russia has moved from a one-party
dictatorship to a multi-party system of government.
multiple /'m^ltIpal/ multiple injuries/wounds/
burns/fractures (=in many parts of the body) [adj only
before noun]
She suffered multiple injuries after jumping out of a fifth
floor window. [ Lauda was pulled from his blazing car with
multiple burns.
3 an extremely large number of things or
people
hundreds of countless
thousands of/millions of innumerable
a great many overwhelming
hundreds of / h^ndrdz ov/an informal word meaning
a very large number of things or people, used when you are
making the number seem larger than it really is
[quantifier]
hundreds of people/things/mistakes etc The exam was
awful. I made hundreds of mistakes. I hundreds "'How
many people have you interviewed today? .... Oh, hundreds. ""
thousands of/millions of/0aozandz v, mlljonz
informal words meaning an extremely large number of
things or people, used when you are making the number
seem larger than it really is [quantifier]
It was an amazing party. There were thousands of people
there. [ thousands/millions I'll never find the right page.
I'll have to look through absolutely millions.
a great many/a greit meni/an expression meaning a
very large number of things or people, used when you want
someone to realize that you are mentioning something
important [quantifier]
a great many things/people/events etc We have seen a
great many changes in the last twenty years. [ There are still
a great many questions that remain unanswered. [ a great
many of A great many of the city's art treasures were des-
troyed during the war.
countless /'kaontlos/ an extremely large number of
things or people, especially too many to be numbered or
imagined [adj only before noun]
She gazed up at the great glaring moon and the countless
stars. I There seem to be countless versions of what really
happened. I countless millions (=an extremely large
group of people) His music has brought joy to countless
millions.
innumerable / nju:marobal II i nju:-, i 'nu:-/ a formal
word meaning an extremely large number of things, people
etc, especially too many to be counted or imagined [adj
usually before noun]
I have explained the reasons for our policy on innumerable
occasions. [ She had stayed with one of Madame Grimaud's
innumerable cousins.
overwhelming !,aova r'welmII]*/ an overwhelming
number of people or things is so many that they are
difficult or impossible to deal with or control [adj]
We have received overwhelming numbers of letters and
phone calls offering help. [ They fought very bravely against
overwhelming odds. [ the overwhelming majority of
(=much more than halt) The overwhelming majority of
South Africans now support democracy.
4
a lot or more than enough of something that
people need or use
plenty of abundant
more than enough an abundance of
bags of in abundance
in large quantities copious
plentiful galore
ample
plenty of/'plenti ov/ [quantifier]
plenty of time/energy etc There's plenty of room in the
cupboard. I With good food and plenty of sleep, you'll soon
feel better. I plenty No thanks I couldn't eat any more. I've
had plenty. I plenty to do/eat/talk about etc The two men
had plenty to talk about. I plenty of sth to do/eat/spend
etc He seems to have plenty of money to spend on beer and
cigarettes.
more than enough /ma: r 6an I n^f/ more than you
need, used especially if you think there is too much
[quantifier]
more than enough food/room etc for There's more than
enough food for everyone. [ more than enough to do/think
about etc I can't take on any more responsibilities. I've more
than enough to do already. [ more than enough You'll need
some money to buy your ticket. $25 should be more than
enough.
bags of /baegz ov/an informal British expression mean-
ing a lot or more than enough of something that you need
[quantifier]

LOTIA LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 812 LOTIA LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT
Don't rush; we've got bags of time. I The new manager is
tremendously enthusiastic and he's got bags of new ideas.
in large quantities/in ila:rdz IkwDnttiz [[ -'kwa:n-/ff
something is produced or used in large quantities, a lot
of it is produced or used |adv phrase]
Some people can eat any kind of food in large quantities
without getting fat. [ The pamphlets have already been
printed and distributed in large quantities.
plentiful/'plentifal/if something such as food or water
is plentiful, there is more than enough of it available [adj]
When tomatoes are cheap and plentiful we can have salads
every clay. I a plentiful supply of clean water
ample I'empal/ ample time/resources/evidence/
opportunity etc (=a lot and more than enough of it) [at/j]
These documents provide ample evidence of their guilt. I
ample time/opportunity etc to do sth You will have
ample opportunity to express your opinions during the
debate.
amply [adv] The men have been amply rewarded (=given
ample rewards)for their services.
abundant/a'b^ndant/a formal word meaning existing in
large quantities so that there is more than enough [adj]
There has always been an abundant supply of fresh vegeta-
bles. I There is abundant evidence of continuing racial
prejudice in society. I Plant fossils are abundant in some
types of rock.
an abundance of/an a'b^ndans av/a formal expression
meaning a large quantity of something, usually more than
is needed [quantifier]
This is a book that contains an abundance of valuable infor-
mation. I In Ireland we have an abundance of natural
produce.
in abundance/in a'b^ndans/ a formal expression: if
something that you want or need exists in abundance,
there is a large amount of it [adv phrase]
Wild flowers grow in abundance on those hillsides. I in
great abundance (=in very large quantities) Timber was
one commodity which the country possessed in great
abundance.
copious/' koopias/being produced in large quantities [adj
usually before noun]
She sat at the back of the lecture room making copious notes. I
They worked through the heat of the clay, refreshed by a copi-
ous supply of iced lemonade. I a copious flow of blood
copiously [adv] She was weeping copiously.
galore/ga'la:r/a word often used in advertisements to
describe something good that is available in large quanti-
ties [adj only after noun]
There are bargains galore in our summer sale. I Lots of fun
for the children, novelties and games galore.
S a lot of crimes or other unpleasant events in a
short period of time
spate of rash of
epidemic wave
spate of i'spct ovl In singular]
An alarming spate of bomb attacks has caused widespread
panic. [ the recent spate of disputes and plant closures I His
movie was inspired by the current spate of romantic comedies
on TVo
epidemic/,ep demk-I a lot of unpleasant activity of one
particular kind which spreads quickly during a short
period of time and which seems to be difficult to stop or
control In C]
epidemic of The recent epidemic of car thefts has been
blamed on bored teenagers. I reach epidemic proportions
(=become like an epidemic) Theproblem offootball violence
is now reaching epidemic proportions.
rash of / Irmj" av/a large number of examples of one kind
of unpleasant event or change that happen in a short period
of time in many different places In singular]
Company officials are puzzled by the sudden rash of unoffi-
cial strikes throughout the motor industry. [ A rash of take-
out restaurants has little to improve the litter problem.
wave/wev/a lot of unpleasant activity or actions sud-
denly becoming worse and increasing in a short period of
time In C]
wave of Security chiefs fear a new wave of terrorist bomb-
ings. I The country has been brought to a standstill by the
latest wave of strikes. I crime-wave The governor has
promised tough action in response to the city's rising
crime-wave.
6 a lot of people, things, messages etc, all
arriving at the same time
flood of
wave of
deluge of/avalanche of
flood of ! 'f lAd av/a very large amount of something or a
very large number of things or people arriving in a short
period of time In C]
He fears that the flood of imports will wreck Britain's econ-
omy. I There has been a massive flood of refugees across the
border. I The company was launched amid a flood of pub-
licity a year ago.
wave of I'wev avi a sudden increase in the number of
people or things all arriving at the same time In C]
The following year a new wave of immigrants arrived from
Eastern Europe. I There are several good candidates in the
recent wave of applications.
deluge of/avalanche of i'delju:d5 av, 'mvalo:ntj" av II
-lmnt-/ a very large number of messages, letters etc all
arriving suddenly at the same time, especially when there
are too many In singular]
Our library staff was overwhelmed by the deluge of inquiries
from students. I Insurance companies are bracing themselves
for an avalanche of medical bills. -'
7 ways of saying that a lot of people or things
are doing something, going somewhere etc
all at the same time
in large numbers thick and fast
in droves be dying/dropping
in force/in strength like flies
in large numbers/In ,la:rd5 'nnmbarz/[adv phrase]
During the dry season animals gathered in large numbers
around the water holes. I Foreign cars, mostly European
models, are appearing in large numbers on the streets of the
capital.
in droves I[n draovz/if people go somewhere in droves,
they go in large numbers especially when this surprises
you [ adv phrase]
Nurses are leaving the profession in droves. I The citizens
turned out in droves to watch this amazing event.
in force/in strength/in 'fa:rs, in 'streiO/if people go
somewhere in force or in strength a lot of them go
together so that there is a large number of them in a par-
ticular place [adv phrase]
The police arrived in force to break up the crowd of demon-
strators. I At the factory gates the pickets were out in strength.
thick and fast /,6k and 'fa:st 11-'fast/if messages,
events etc come thick and fast, a lot of them suddenly
come or happen in a short time [ado phrase]
At first no one was interested in the job but now applications
are coming in thick and fast. I No one really knew what was
happening but rumours flew thick and fast.
be dying/dropping like flies ibi: ,dal-Iij, ,drop]rj laik
'flaIz [] -,dra:p-/to be dying or suddenly becoming ill in
large numbers Iv phrase]
We're in the middle of a cholera epidemic. People are drop-
ping like flies.
8 done, believed etc by a lot of people
common widespread
popular widely

LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 813 LOT/VERY MUCH
common / komn II ka:-/ common belief/assump-
tion/attitude/practice etc [adj]
My daughter says politics is boring, and this is a common
attitude among teenagers. I the common assumption that
strenuous exercise must be good for you I Many women keep
their own family name when they marry, a practice which
is becoming more and more common.
commonly lady/New York is commonly known (=known
by a lot of people) as the Big Apple. I Aspirin is commonly
used to relieve pain.
popular /'popj°l r II pa:-/ popular belief/attitude/
view/misconception etc (=one that a lot of ordinary
people have) [adj only before noun]
I cannot accept the popular view that all criminals should
be put in prison. I Contrary to popular belief, the Australian
desert is often full of wildlife. I There is much popular sup-
port for the ex-president.
popularly [adv] At that time Miller was still popularly
regarded (=regarded by a lot of ordinary people) as a hero.
widespread /waidspred/ widespread belief/sup-
port/interest/concern/practice etc (:done, believed or
felt by a lot of people in many different places) [adj usually
before noun/
There was now widespread public support for women's
rights. I The recent crash of a passenger jet has caused
widespread concern about air safety. [ the widespread prac-
tice of adding preservatives to basic foods
widely /waxdli/ widely accepted/believed/known/
practised/used etc (:done, believed or felt by a lot of
people in many different places) lady/
About a century ago it was widely believed that there was
life on Mars. [ All the details of the scandal are now widely
known. I Asbestos was once widely used in the building
i.ndustry.
9 ways of saying that someone does something
a lot
a lot quite a bit
a good deal/ plenty
a great deal heavy
a lot/ 'lot II -'la:t/[adv phrase]
I'm really glad to meet you. Betty's talked a lot about you. I
He sweated a lot because he wasn't used to climbing. I quite
a lot There was a boy called Geoffrey who Iplayed with quite
a lot.
a good dealla great deal/ ,god 'did,  ,greIt-/formal
expressions meaning a lot [adv phrase]
I've thought a good deal about what you said. I She used to
read a great deal but her eyesight is fading now. I Every
jockey who rides a great deal develops heavily muscled
shoulders.
quite a bit (also a fair bit in British English)/,kwait
bit,  fe r b[t/an informal expression meaning a fairly
large amount lady phrase]
I've travelled quite a bit in recent months. I You have to stand
around a fair bit in this job.
plenty/'plenti/an informal American expression mean-
ing a lot lady/
He sleeps plenty but he always wakes up tired.
heavy/'hevi/heavy smoking/drinking (=smoking or
drinking a lot, especially when this is bad for your health)
[adj only before noun]
She has a bad cough, caused by heavy smoking. [ The years
of heavy drinking and fast living were beginning to show
in his face. [ be a heavy smoker/drinker (=smoke or
drink a lot) I guess I'm a pretty heavy smoker. I get through
about two packs a day.
1 0 words for describing something that contains
a lot of a particular substance
high
rich
high/hai / something that is high in fat, sugar, salt etc
contains a lot of fat, sugar etc [adj]
high in fat/sugar/choleserol etc Cereals are high in fibre
and contain plenty of vitamin B. I high fat/sugar/choles-
terol etc Try to avoid eating too many high fat foods. I These
metal alloys have an extremely high carbon content, which
makes them lighter and stronger.
rich/rit/something that is rich in a useful or valuable
substance such as oil or iron, contains a lot of oil, iron etc
[adj]
rich in iron/minerals/protein etc Spinach is rich in iron
and very good for you. I The land in this area is rich in
minerals and is ideal for growing crops. I copper-rich/
diamond-rich etc Numerous companies sprang up employ-
ing thousands to work the oil-rich fields of Texas.
I I words for describing someone who produces
a lot of goods, works of art etc
productive
prolific
productive/pra'dnktIv/someone who is productive does
a job efficiently with good results, especially by producing
a large quantity of something [adj]
Studies show that if factory workers have short but frequent
breaks they become much more productive. I The most
productive members of staff should be rewarded by finan-
cial bonuses.
prolific /pra'lifik/ a writer or artist who is prolific
produces a large number of works [adj]
As well as being an accomplished actress, she was a prolific
writer producing an autobiography and several novels. I The
most prolific director in the British Cinema. I Those years
in Italy turned out to be the most prolif'w of his artistic career.
1 2 words for describing a place where there is a
lot of a particular activity, especially a bad or
violent one
be a hotbed of
be a hotbed of/hi: a 'hotbed ov II -'ha:t-/[v phrase]
The hotel was a hotbed of gossip, and I didn't want every-
one knowing my business. I Mother thinks that University
is a hotbed of vice and depravity!
LOT/VERY MUCH
1 ways of saying that someone feels something
a lot, something changes a lot etc
ways of saying that someone feels something
a lot, something changes a lot etc
a lot greatly
very much enormously/
a great deal/ tremendously
a good deal so much
really significantly
a lot/a 'lot II -'la:t/[adv phrase not before verb]
She's changed a lot since she's been here. I I like you a lot,
but I'm not in love with you. I My religious faith helped me
a lot when I was inprison. I "'How doesyour arm feel?'" "'It
still hurts a lot. "" I Sometimes the weather's hot, sometimes
it's cool - it varies quite a lot.
very much / veri mAt/an expression used especially in
written English meaning a lot lady phrase]
The success of this expedition will depend very much on his
leadership. I like/love/admire/miss sb very much He
asked me to tell you that he misses you very much. I I very
much hope/doubt/appreciate/regret etc I very much
hope that we shall see you again. I I very much doubt whether
the EC will ever become a federal state.
a great dealla good deal/ ,gret 'di:l,  ,god-/ a
formal expression meaning a lot lady phrase not before
verb]

LOT/VERY MUCH 814 LOUD/NOISY
Andrew was helped a good deal by the advice that Dr Gruner
gave him. I We care a great deal about the quality of service
we provide. I Your work has improved a good deal over the
past year. I People's attitudes to the abortion issue vary a
great deal.
really/'rmli! a word used especially in spoken English
meaning a lot [adv only before verb]
I really enjoy making a nice meal and having a nice bottle
of wine to go with it. I I really adore these Dior designs. I
What really annoys me is the way he treats his wife.
greatly/'greitli! a formal word meaning a lot [adv usually
before verb]
We greatly regret having caused you so much trouble and
inconvenience. I a new diplomatic initiative which should
greatly improve Sino-American relations I be greatly
affected/amused/influenced etc The students were
greatly amused by Professor Unwin's remark. I Stories of
panic on Wall Street have been greatly exaggerated.
enormously/tremendously / I 'na:rmasli, trI ' mendasli/
(used when you want to say very strongly that someone
likes something a lot, something has improved a lot etc)
[adv]
His English has improved tremendously. I I admire your
mother enormously. I Readers" reactions to Morton's book
differ enormously. I I've profited enormously from having a
stable, normal home life. I be enormously impressed/at-
tracted/strengthened etc Gabby was tremendously im-
pressed by the wealth and splendour of the Stanhope
mansion.
so mu©h/sao 'mt[/(used especially when you are saying
very strongly how much a person wants, loves, admires etc
someone or something) [adv phrase not usually before verb]
It's two years since Tony died. I miss him so much. I Words-
worth returned to the lakes and hills that he loved so much. I
We are so much looking forward to meeting your family.
signifi©antly/slg'nlfikantli/(used especially when you
are talking about a change or a difference that is big enough
to be important) [adv]
In New York and Los Angeles violent crime has increased
significantly during the past year. I The role of management
varies significantly from one industry to another.
 lots of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 2
-. loud LOUD/NOISY 1, 2, 4, 5
LOUD/NOISY
1 words for describing loud music or loud
sounds coming from a radio, TV etc
2 words for describing a loud voice
3 words for describing crowds of people and
the loud noise they make
4 words for describing machines, vehicles etc
that make a lot of noise
5 words for describing loud low sounds made,
for example, by explosions or by thunder
6 words for describing loud, high, unpleasant
sounds
7 a loud noise
8 to make a loud noise
9 the level of loudness, especially of the sound
from a TV, radio etc
I words for describing loud music or loud
sounds coming from a radio, TV etc
loud
noisy
loud/laod/[adj]
The TV's much too loud. Turn it down! I Their radio was
so loud I could hear it through the wall. I The rock band was
good but very loud. I As the party got underway the music
got louder and louder.
loud [adv] She plays her records really loud.
loudly [adv] The voice on the radio was declaring loudly
that Kwik-Fit was the best garage in town.
noisy !'naizi/producing a lot of noise, especially in an
unpleasant or annoying way [adj]
There's a disco in the bar tonight - it's really noisy. I They
lie around on the beach all day listening to their noisy radios
and drinking beer. I The neighbours are very noisy - the TV's
on full volume all the time.
noisily [adv ] The radio was playing noisily in the kitchen.
2 words for describing a loud voice
loud
booming
raucous
loud ilaod/[adj]
You have a loud, clear voice - would you mind reading for
us, please? I The men's voices were loud and aggressive. I My
uncle seems to laugh louder than anyone else. I My voice gets
louder if I'm nervous.
loud [adv] Don't speak so loud, somebody will hear us! l She
shouted as loud as she could.
boomiag !'bu:m8/booming voice/laugh etc (=one that
is very loud and deep) [adj usually before noun]
The speaker's booming voice easily reached the back of the
theatre. I Hector had such a booming laugh that everyone
always stared at him.
raucous /'razkas/ raucous voice/laugh etc (=loud,
rough and uncontrolled) [adj]
He let out a short raucous laugh. [ The parrot gave a rau-
cous shriek. [ As I turned I heard a raucous yell "'Bazza!
Where have you been you old skinflint!'"
raucously lady] Everyone laughed raucously at John's rude
joke.
3 words for describing crowds of people that
make a lot of noise
noisy
rowdy
deafening
noisy ! 'naIzi/groups of people that are noisy make a loud
noise when they are talking, shouting, cheering etc [adj]
Rose hated noisy crowds. I You kids are being really noisy
today. I The President got a noisy, enthusiastic welcome from
the people of Berlin. I The bar was crowded and noisy.
noisily [adv] Gamblers were noisily placing bets.
rowdy/'raodi/a crowd that is rowdy makes too much
noise and behaves badly [adj]
The student bar has been closed temporarily because of
rowdy behaviour. I Almost all football clubs have trouble
with rowdy supporters. I The meeting was a somewhat rowdy
affair.
rowdiness In U] The police said there had been no arrests
but some rowdiness.
rowdily [ adv ] They cheered rowdily as the winners" names
were read out.
deafening ! 'defann3! deafening cheers/noise/applause
etc (=so loud that you cannot hear anything else) [adj]
There were deafening cheers when the rock band fumlly came
on stage. I The music in the disco was deafening and people
had to shout to be heard.
deafeningly [adv] The applause was deafeningly loud.
4 words for describing machines, vehicles etc
that make a lot of noise
loud
noisy
deafening
loud Ilatdl [adj]
I was awoken by the loud buzz of the doorphone. I The
traffic's very loud during the day, but at night it's reason-
ably quiet. I The loud rasp of the saws disturbed the peace
of the lazy afternoon.

LOUD/NOISY 815 LOUDINOISY
noisy / naIzi/making a lot of loud and usually annoying
noises [adj]
This photocopier is very noisy. I noisy builders' machinery[
She thinks cars are noisy, dirty things that should be banned
from cities.
noisily lady] Gary was revving the engine noisily.
deafening /defanIQ! so loud that you cannot hear any-
thing else [adj]
As the door opened you heard the deafening roar of the print-
ing machines. I The deafening noise of the traff'u: on the main
road gave Molly a headache.
deafeningly lady] The train's whistle was deafeningly loud.
words for describing loud low sounds made,
for example, by explosions or by thunder
loud
resounding
deafening
loud/laud/[adj]
There was a loud explosion behind us. I In the middle of the
night a loud clap of thunder split the air. I Outside the wind
was loud, but we could just hear the faint sound of rain
falling.
loudly [adv] Lightningflashed in the skies, and after a few
seconds, a rumble of thunder followed loudly.
resounding /rlzaondtj/ resounding crash/crack/
slap etc (=a single, sudden noise, so loud that it seems to
continue for a few seconds) [adj only before noun]
The vase fell to the floor with a resounding crash. [ There
was a resounding crack and the ship's mast snapped com-
pletely in two. I In reply to his angry question, Basil received
a resounding slap in the face from Sarah.
deafening ! Idefamtj! so loud that you cannot hear any-
thing else [adj] "
The noise of waves crashing on the beach was deafening. [
All you could hear was the deafening howling noise of the
storm.
deafeningly [adv] By the time we reached the volcano's
crater it was deafeningly noisy.
6 words for describing loud, high, unpleasant
sounds
piercing
penetrating
ear-splitting
piercing/'plarsIrJ/a sound that is piercing, such as a
shout or voice, is very loud, high, and clear |adj]
I suddenly heard a piercing scream. I There was a piercing
shriek of brakes as the train stopped. [ Rape alarms emit a
shrill piercing noise to frighten off the attacker.
penetrating I'pentretzl/very loud, high, clear, and
usually unpleasant [adj]
Ralph blew a short, penetrating blast on his whistle. I The
penetrating whine of the electric drill was extremely
annoying.
ear.splitting/liar splltlrj/extremely loud, unpleasant,
and almost painful to hear [adj]
There was an ear-splitting roar as the jets took off. I The fire
alarm gave off an ear-splitting ringing sound.
7 a loud noise
noise clamourlclamor
racket hubbub
din commotion
noise/nizl in C/U]
What's all this noise about? I New-born babies are startled
by loud noises and bright lights. I make a noise People were
making such a noise at the party that it was impossible to
have a proper conversation.
racket Iraktl an informal word meaning a loud,
unpleasant noise, especially one made by a lot of activity,
work or movement in singular]
make a racket Be careful, that machine makes a terrible
racket when you switch it on. I Lesley got up early and made
such a racket preparing breakfast that she woke everyone else
up. i racket "'Turn off that racket!'" my father bellowed. "'I'm
trying to make a phone call. ""
din/dm! a loud, unpleasant noise, especially one made by
a large number of people talking loudly, working etc [n
singular]
Through the terrible din and confusion, Wesley's booming
voice could be heard. I The hall resounded with the din of
thirty children scraping violins, banging drums and sing-
ing loudly.
clamour (British) I clamor (American) I Ildzemor/a word
used especiatiy in literature meaning a loud noise, espe-
cial]y the noise made by an excited or confused crowd in
singular]
The station was filled with the clarnour of shouting voices
and movement. [ The noise in the auditorium had risen to
a clamor.
hubbub I'hAb^bl a loud, confused, unclear noise, made by
many people talking at the same time in singular]
Despite the hubbub in the crowded hall you could still hear
Michael in the background, shouting "'Resign!" l It's a won-
derful place to escape from the hubbub of London's busy
streets.
commotion Iko'moo]an/a sudden noisy activity, espe-
cially the noise of people arguing or fighting in singularC]
We heard a commotion downstairs and ran down to see what
was happening. I There was a sudden commotion at the back
of the group as two young men began to argue fiercely. I in
commotion (=full of noisy activity) Suddenly the whole
street was in commotion.
 to make a loud noise
boom/boom out blare/blare out
roar at full volume/at full blast
thunder
boom/boom out Ibu:m, ,bu:m .aot/to make a loud, deep,
hollow sound like the sound of a big gun [v I]
Thunder boomed loudly overhead. I In the distance the
drums boomed loudly, echoing for miles around. I boom out
Occasional volleys of shellfire boomed out from beyond the
walls of the city.
roar ]m: r] to make a deep, loud, continuous sound, espe-
cially one caused by something moving |v I]
roar through/past etc The wind roared through the
forest.[ Traffic roared along the highway. I roar I stood by
the waterfall, almost hypnotised by the roaring water.
thunder / O^ndor! ifa machine, vehicle, etc thunders, it
makes a loud, deep, powerful sound, especially when it is
moving fast iv I]
thunder past/through/overhead etc The train thun-
dered through the station. [ thunder We were standing in
the generator hall, almost deafened by the thundering diesel
motor.
blare/blare out/bleo r, ,bleor 'aot/if music or speech
blares or blares out, it comes from a radio, TV etc very
loudly and continuously Iv I/T]
It was a horrible disco with lights flashing and music blar-
ing. I blare out An announcement blared out over the air-
port loudspeakers. I blare out sth Your radio was blaring
out pop music and you weren't even in the bloody room!
at full volume/at full blast lot ,fol volju:m, ot fol
'blo=st [[ -'va=ljom, -'blastl if a TV, radio etc is playing at
full volume or at full blast, it is playing as loud as possi-
ble lady phrase]
Woodward had turned up the stereo so that it was playing
at full volume. [ The radio was on at full blast and everyone
was dancing wildly.
9 the level of loudness, especially of the sound
from a TV, radio etc
volume

LOUD/NOISY 816 LOVE
volume/'volju:m II ',Q:]j  m/In u]
There's a knob at the back of the clock that controls the
volume of the alarm. I turn up/turn down the volume
(=increase or decrease it) The TV's very loud - could you
turn the volume down?
lounge SIT 3
lounge around/about
lousy
lout
loutish
lovable
love
love:
love:
love:
love:
love:
love:
love:
love: there is no love lost between
love: would love WANT 3
love at first sight LOVE 7
LAZY 3
BAD 1, 2, BAD AT 2
VIOLENT 5
RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
NICE 3
ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1, LIKE SB OR STH 2,
9, LOVE 1, 2, 6, 9
be in love LOVE 6
fall in love LOVE 7
give my love to HELLO 4
make love SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
send your love HELLO 4
the love of your life LOVE 11
the one you love LOVE 11
DON'T LIKE 2
okwe::someone ;N g @ LOVE
:: .... " .....  " - .. NF.," ..... : '
hkesomeo: or &  . LIKE SB OR STH
e" ' ........................... sex ;  .... - .......  EXlNVE EX
 nniNn =Yu
. ....:...:.:.....::. ....................... .. ........... ::........... ............... . ...........................................................................................................
LOVE
1 to love someone, especially a member of
your family
2 a feeling of love, especially for a member of
your family
3 to love someone very much, especially a
member of your family
4 words for describing people and the way they
feel or behave when they love someone
5 the people you love, especially members of
your family
6 to love someone and feel sexually attracted to
them
7' to begin to love someone that you are
sexually attracted to
8 to have strong and uncontrollable feelings of
sexual love for someone
9 a feeling of love for someone that you are
sexually attracted to
t0 words for describing relationships, behaviour,
feelings etc that involve sexual love
11 someone that you love, or people who love
each other in a sexual way
12 feeling that no one loves you
1 to love someone, especially a member of
your family
love care
be fond of be close
love II^vl [v T not in progressive]
I'll always love my children, no matter what they do. I The
worst thing about long business trips is being separated from
the people you love. I love sb dearly She loved her brother
dearly and was devastated when he died. I grow to love sb
(=to start to love someone after a period of time) Although
the child was not his own daughter, he grew to love her.
be fond of/bi: 'fond ov II -Ifa:nd-/to like someone very
much, especially after spending a long time with them and
getting to know them Iv phrase]
I'm very fond of my sister's children. [ The teacher liked all
the children in her class but was particularlyfond of Wil-
liam. [ I didn't really know the old man but my wife was very
fond of him.
care/kerr/to feel love and concern for someone [v I not
in progressive]
care about I'm very lucky to have a husband, family and
friends who care about me. [ If you care about Cal, you'll see
that he gets help with his drinking problem. [ care She
thinks we're interfering but we're only doing it because we
care. [ Buy her some flowers to show her you really care.
be close/bi: 'klus/if two or more people are close, they
love each other, spend a lot of time together, and discuss
personal things with each other Iv phrase]
Gina and Sally have known each other for years - they're
very close. [ be close to Are you close to your sister?
close [adj] We're a very close family.
2 a feeling of love, especially for a member of
your family
love
affection
devotion
love/lAY/[n U]
People coming off drugs need a lot of love and support. [ love
of The patients' lives would have been a misery if it were not
for the love and kindness of the nurses. [ love for There is
nothing stronger than a mother's love for her children.
affection Ilfekan/a feeling of love and caring [n U]
I remember my grandmother with deep affection. [ show
affection Her mother never showed her much affection. [
affection for The priest had a fatherly affection for the
youngsters in his church.
devotion Id'vofan/a feeling of loving and being loyal
to someone, especially over a long period of time [n U]
She had given her husband years of devotion and support. [
Mary expected complete devotion from her lovers.
 to love someone very much, especially a
member of your family
adore dote on
worship think the world of
be devoted to mean the world to
adore/'d3:r/to love someone very much and be very
proud of them [v T not in progressive]
Branwell Bronte adored his sister Anne. [ As he grew older
Pablo began to see the father he adored as a possible rival.[
She adores her grandchildren and is always buying them
presents.
adoration /  md' rean/In U] She saw the look of adoration
in his eyes.
worsh|p /w3:rfIp/ to love and admire someone very
much, so that you will do anything they ask [v T not in
progressive]
He worshipped his elder brother. [ worship the ground sb
walks on (=love someone very much, even if they behave
badly) Why is it that your little sisters worship the ground
you walk on, however horrible you are to them?

LOVE 81'7 LOVE
be devoted to/bi: d:'vaotald tu:/to love someone very
much and be very loyalto them or spend all your time with
them Iv phrase]
He is a good man, devoted to his wife and children. I Charles
is devoted to his grandmother and visits her every day.
dote on/'daot on II -o:n/to love someone, especially some-
one younger than you, very much and show this by your
actions Iv T]
Julie dotes on her new baby sister. I Although he doesn't love
his wife, he dotes on his children. I You should visit your aunt
more often, you know how she dotes on you all.
think the world of/OIIJk ba 'wa:rld ov/to love and
respect someone so much that they are very important in
your life Iv T no.t in progressive]
We all thought the world of Isaac and were devastated when
he died. I Don't be nasty to Sharon - she thinks the world
of you, you know.
mean |he world to/Imi:n ba 'w3:rld tu:! if someone
means the world to you you love them so much that they
are the most important thing in your life [v T not in
progressive ]
My children mean the world to me. I He would never do any-
thing to hurt you -you mean the world to him.
4 words for describing people and the way they
feel or behave when they love someone
loving fond
affectionate doting
tender devoted
loving/' IAVlI]/behaving in a way that shows that you love
someone, especially a member of your family [adj]
Her husband was loving and supportive throughout her long
illness. I Who would have thought that such a wild young
girl could become such a loving parent?
affectionate/a'fekangt/showing that you love some-
one, especially by touching or kissing them often [adj]
She's a very affectionate child, always wanting to kiss and
hug you. I Mary gave my arm an affectionate squeeze. "'Don't
worry,'" she whispered, i affectionate towards Paul is
rarely affectionate towards his friends.
tender/Itendar/loving and gentle, especially because you
are concerned about someone [adj]
She asked how I was feeling. Her voice was full of tender con-
cern. I Fleury saw an expression of tender devotion come over
his father's face. i tender loving care Tender loving care
is what is needed when your child is ill.
tenderness In U] Stephen looked at his daughter with
tenderness.
fond /fond II fo:nd/ fond farewells/smiles/words etc
(=showing that you love someone) [adj only before noun]
She was greeted with caresses and fond words. I After a fond
farewell, they parted.
fondly [adv] He took her hand and smiled fondly at her.
doting i'daotIr/doting mother/grandparent/husband
etc (=showing they love someone, especially someone
younger and especially by paying them a lot of attention)
[adj only before noun]
She's the doting mother of five children, i The Mayor liked
to appear in public with his doting wife on his arm.
devoted/di vaotd/very loving and loyal towards some-
one [adj only before noun]
Every evening he would come home to his devoted wife. I As
she grew older she was looked after by her devoted
companion.
5 the people you love, especially members of
your family
loved ones
loved ones/'l^vd wAnz/In plural]
Many prisonersfind it difficult being separated from their
loved ones. I They are fighting to protect their loved ones from
oppression and violence.
6 to love someone and feel sexually attracted to
them
love
be in love
love II^vl Iv T not in progressive]
It was the first time she had told him she loved him. I She's
been divorced for a year but I'm sure she still loves her ex-
husband. I I love him and I'm going to marry him no matter
what my parents say! I Here's a diamond ring to show how
much I love you.
be in love/bi: in 'l^v/to love someone and be sexually
attracted to them, especially when this makes you very
happy and makes you behave in a way that is different from
usual Iv phrase]
I know why Lois is so happy - she's in love. [ You haven't
listened to a word I've been saying. Are you in love or some-
thing? i I could tell they were in love by the way they looked
at each other. I be in love with How can you marry Adam
if you're in love with someone else?
7 to begin to love someone that you are
sexually attracted to
fall in love
love at first sight
be swept off your feet
fall in love I,fad In 'l^vl [v phrase]
We met, fell in love and got married. I fall in love with I
think Susie's fallen in love with my brother. I fall head over
heels in love (=fall in love completely) She's amazing! I
fell head over heels in love with her the moment I saw her.
love at first sight/,l^v at f3:rst saIt/ a situation in
which someone loves someone the first time they see them
In phrase]
When I met Tracy it was love at first sight. I It wasn't exactly
love at first sight but I did grow to like John.
be swept off your feet/bi: ,swept fja: r fi:t/to start
to love someone very quickly, especially when you do not
expect it to happen Iv phrase]
When Imet Peter I was swept off myfeet. I She's just waiting
to be swept off her feet by a handsome stranger.
 to have strong and uncontrollable feelings of
sexual love for someone
be madly in love be mad about/
infatuated be crazy about
have a crush on be besotted
be madly in love/bi: ,medli In 'lAy/ [V phrase]
Sarah and Greg are still madly in love, even after three
years. I fall madly in love I met Phil when I was 16, fell
madly in love and married him the following year. I be
madly in love with She's madly in love with her boss. It's
a real problem.
infatuated Iln'fmtueltad/having a strong and uncon-
trollable feeling of love for someone you do not know very
well, which does not last for a long time [adj]
infatuated with Teenage girls sometimes become infatu-
ated with their teachers. ] I have never seen a man so infatu-
ated with a woman as he is with her. I infatuated Ever since
she met Rod at a party she's been totally infatuated.
infatuation/m,fmtJu'eJan/In U] I thought I was in love
with Darren, but it was just infatuation.
have a crush on /Ihav a kr^J n/if someone, especially
a young person, has a crush on someone they have an
uncontrollable feeling of love for them, especially when
there is no chance of having a relationship with them Iv
phrase not in progressive]
It is quite normal for adolescents to have crushes on pop
stars. I The only reason I went to church every Sunday was
that I had a crush on the minister.

LOVE 818 LOW
be mad about (British) I be crazy about (American)
/bi: med baot, bi: kreIzi baot/an informal expression
meaning to have a strong and uncontrollable feeling of love
for someone [v phrase]
You can tell from the way she acts that she's crazy about
him. [ Can't you see that I'm absolutely mad about you?
be besotted/bi: b sotd [[ -sa:-/to be so much in love
with someone that you do not behave sensibly or think
clearly [v phrase]
be besotted with She's so besotted with him that she can't
see how selfish he is [ be besotted IfI hadn't been so utterly
besotted I would never have married her.
9 a feeling of love for someone that you are
sexually attracted to
love
passion
romance
love/IAv/ [n U]
She's been out with him every day this week - it must be love. [
love for sb His love for his wife would never change. I love
affair (=a relationship with someone you love, especially
when you already have a wife, boyfriend etc) Kennedy's love
affair with Marilyn Monroe was well publicized. I true love
(=a very strong feeling of love) She would only marry for
true love because she never wanted to get divorced.
passion/'pe[an/a strong and exciting feeling of love for
someone you are extremely sexually attracted to [n U]
All thepassion in their marriage has died. [ He loved her still,
with just the same passion as he always had.
omance/ro'mens, m-/a feeling of being in love [n U]
The small-ad read: "'71 year old male seeks blonde girl for
fun and romance. "" ] If it's romance you want Paris is the
place to go.
10 words for describing relationships, behaviour,
feelings etc that involve sexual love
passionate
romantic
passionate /'peJ'nIt/ involving strong feelings of
sexual love [adj]
The child was the result of a passionate love affair. [ As they
got to know each other better, their love grew deeper and
more passionate.
romantic/moment:k, m-/an action or situation that is
romantic is intended to make you feel sexual love for the
person you are with [adj]
He took me for a romantic meal in a candlelit restaurant. [
Buying me a red rose was a very romantic gesture.
I I someone that you love, or people who love
each other in a sexual way
lovers
the one you love
the love of your life
lovers / 'lhvrz/two people who love each other and are
having a sexual relationship [n plural]
Soon after we met we became lovers. I I hate it when you talk
about when you and your ex-girlfriend were lovers. [ A typi-
cal scene in the film would show the lovers in a close embrace
and about to kiss.
the one you love/6o ,wAn jU: 'IAv/a word, used espe-
cially in advertisements or sayings, meaning the person
you love [n phrase]
Send flowers to the one you love. [ You know what they say:
you always hurt the one you love.
the love of your life/6 l^v ov jo: r laf/the person who
you have loved the most in your life [n phrase]
She had been out with several men but Claude was the love
of her life. [ Sumana was the love of his life but her parents
had forbidden their marriage.
1 2 feeling that no one loves you
unloved
unloved/,An'IAvd/[adj]
Discovering she was an adopted child made her feel
unwanted and unloved. [ She was an unloved wife who hoped
that having a baby would help to win back her husband.
:;: loved ones LOVE 5
*.i lovely BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 3, 4, 5,
.!
.. GOOD/EXCELLENT 5, NICE 1, 2
iil lover GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND 1 LIKE SB OR STH 8
]: lovers LOVE 11
ii;; loving LOVE 4
i low/down SAD/UNHAPPY 2
i low LITTLE/NOT MUCH 5, BRIGHT 5, LOW 1, 2, 3,
LOW SOUND OR VOICE 1, QUIET 3, SMALL 7
/i low: an all-time low LEAST 3
Ji low: be low in price CHEAP 1
 low: lie low HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
 low-budget CHEAP 1
 low-cost CHEAP 1
low down: be low down LOW POSITION OR RANK 1
 low-down: give sb the low-down TELL 4
low key ATTENTION 10
low-lying LOW 2
low opinion: have a low opinion of DISAPPROVE 1
i low pay PAY SB FOR WORK 8
Iow-ranMng LOW POSITION OR RANK 2
i!! low speed: at low speed SLOW 4
.... Iow-tech SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1
-.: -,3;:,-.:C7%-.:.::::. " - .:. .-...:...:;..: .......
.... .  5G,;;  ..
low ' ,..,,,,  ,b. @ LOW
have a Iowposition. i.n:[
an.-orgajgt.o0, t,, OR RANK
" .--.'=-4.= :- fi. #-*-,::. - :=- . Ј',,  ,; . ..
, : : #=:& ........................................
low sound: Ј[Јj:Ce':
:a ...... smallamount
a small number of ;);; .... ' FEW/NOT MANY
-things or people:,;dL   ::, ....
.. .
';  .......
;: ...................... :;;e - ..................... '"
:,S.bort person ":"
,..;;;::.:;:71,...:::  SHORT PERSON
• ..''::,.  . . ..
@ LOW
in the air but not high above the ground
lower than the usual level or height
words for describing an object, building, hill
etc whose top is not high above the ground
1 in the air but not high above the ground
low
low 11ool [adj]
Never leave medicine on a low shelf where a child could reach
it. [ There are four switches - the lowest one controls the heat-
ing. [ low down This table's too low down - it must have
been designed for children.
low lady] Two planes flew low over the fields.

LOW 819 LOW SOUND OR VOICE
 lower than the usual level or height
low
low-lying
low lll [adj]
One evening when the river was low, a boat got stuck in the
mud. I The oil-level is too low. Put some more in. I She was
wearing a low-necked dress
low-lying ! ,lu :lal-irJ-[ low-lying land/region/area etc
(=not very high above the level of the sea) [adj]
Low-lying land in river valleys is often subject to flooding.
The area around Norwich is flat and low-lying.
words for describing an object, building, hill
etc whose top is not high above the ground
low
squat
low Ilaol [adj]
He drove through narrow streets of low brick villas and tall
trees. I The garden is bordered by a low hedge of lavender.
squat Iskwot II skwazt/squat buildings or objects are low,
wide, and often ugly [adj]
There was a church with a thick, squat tower on the edge of
the square. I A refrigerator, squat and shiny, stood in the
corner of the kitchen. I the roofs of Paris, topped by fat, squat
chimneys
POSITION OR
RANK
1 to be in a low position in an organization,
company, or list
2 words for describing someone who is in a low
position in an organization or company
3 in a lower position than someone else in an
organization or company
1 to be in a low position in an organization,
company, or list
be low down
be at the bottom
be at the bottom of the pile
be low down Ibi: ,lao 'daonl [v phrase]
At that time I was still fairly low down in the company. I Sur-
prisingly, last year's champions are low down in the league
table at the moment. I He shouldn't have any authority over
you, be's fairly low down.
be at the bottom/bi: at 6a 'bDtam II -'bo:-/to be in the
lowest position in an organization, company, or list [v
phrase]
Richard started out at the bottom of the firm and worked his
way to the top. I It has been a number one record but now
it's at the bottom of the charts. I You will initially be
appointed at the bottom of the pay scale, but you can expect
a raise after 12 months.
be at the bottom of the pile/bi: at a btam av a
Ipafl l[ -,bo:-/ifa person is at the bottom of the pile they
are in the lowest position in society, are badly treated, are
given the worst jobs etc [v phrase]
Immigrants have always been at the bottom of the pile for
housing. I The film set has many different workers on it -
at the bottom of the pile are the runners, young boys who
carry messages all day.
words for describing someone who is in a low
position in an organization or company etc.
junior
low-ranking
Junior I'dsu:niarl someone who is junior is in a low posi-
tion in an organization or company, usually because they
have not been there very long [adj]
One of the junior doctors took a look at my injured hand. I
When he started working for them he was fairly junior, but
he was soon promoted. [ The most junior officers wore a
single red stripe on their sleeves.
junior [n C] In her job she helps to train the juniors.
low.ranking /,lao Irarjkj,/low-ranking officer/offi-
cial/member (=having a low position in an organization)
[adj usually before noun ]
The scandal involved a number of low-ranking off'u:ials in
the government. I None of the low-ranking members were
allowed to vote at the society's meeting.
 in a lower position than someone else in an
organization or company
assistant
subordinate
under
assistant/asistant/assistant manager/editor/prin-
cipal etc (=whose job is to help someone in a higher posi-
tion) [adj only before noun]
My wife is assistant manager at a bank in the city. I I've
applied for a job as assistant editor on a science journal. I
The assistant principal took control while the principal was
away.
subordinate Isatba:rdalnat/ someone who has a lower
position and less authority than someone else in an organi-
zation, especially an organization where there are very
clear divisions between people's positions, such as the
army [n C]
The director is always rude to his subordinates. ] Some of
the work was entrusted to a loyal subordinate.
under/Andar/if people are under someone in authority,
they work for that person and have a lower position [prep]
She has at least 40 people under her at Shell.
LOW SOUND OR
VOICE
words for describing a sound or voice that is
low on the musical scale
1 words for describing a sound or voice that is
low on the musical scale
low rich
deep resonant
bass
low Ilaol [adj]
The song requires the singer to move quickly from very high
to very low notes. I The low, vibrant chords of the organ
echoed through the church. I The lowest sounds that rodents
make are the only ones which humans can hear.
deep/di:p! a deep voice is very low on the musical scale
[adj]
He has a deep, reassuring voice. I I tried to make my voice
sound deeper when I answered the phone.
bass/beis! a word used especially in music and singing,
meaning in the lowest part of the musical scale [adj usually
before noun]
Jim was asked to sing the bass solos. I The drones of the bag-
pipes produce nasal-sounding bass notes. I Then a magnifi-
cent bass voice mumbled from the back of the room, "'Yes, I
have an objection.'"
rich/rIt/a rich voice is low, strong, and pleasant to listen
to [adj]
The lead actor's rich voice claimed the attention of the
audience. I He sang in a rich, deep baritone.

LOW SOUND OR VOICE 820 LUCKY
resonant/, rezonont/a resonant voice is deep, loud, and
clear and seems to continue for a time after the speaker has
finished [adj]
Billy's voice had a deep, resonant tone that was a pleasure
to hear. I "'Listen, '" Toranaga interrupted in his resonant,
commanding voice.
resonance In U] As she gained in confidence, the speaker's
voice took on a new resonance (=resonant quality).
lower BOTTOM 2, DOWN 9, 10, LESS 1, 2, REDUCE
1,4
lower-class CLASS IN SOCIETY 4
lower limit LIMIT 2
lower your voice QUIET 5
lowest: the lowest LEAST 2
lowest ebb LEAST 3
loyal FAITH FU L 1
loyalty FAITHFUL 2
lucid CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 3
luck CHANCE/BY CHANCE 3, LUCKY 4
luck: a run of bad luck UNLUCKY 2
luck: any luck? SUCCEED IN DOING STH 6
luck: as bad/ill luck would have it UNLUCKY 3
luck: as luck would have it CHANCE/BY CHANCE 1
luck: bad luck SYMPATHIZE 3, UNLUCKY 5
luck: be/bring bad luck UNLUCKY 4
luck: be down on your luck POOR 3
luck: be in luck LUCKY 1
luck: be out of luck UNLUCKY 2
luck: good luck/best of luck LUCKY 5
luck: just my luck UNLUCKY 1
luck: push your luck RISK 5
luck: wish sb luck LUCKY 5
luck: with my luck UNLUCKY 1
luck out LUCKY 1
lucky LUCKY 1, 2, 3, 6
LUCKY
1 lucky on a particular occasion
2 lucky all the time, having an easy life etc
3 words for describing something good that
happens as a result of good luck
4 something that seems to make good things
happen to some people for no particular
reason
5 to tell someone that you hope they will be
lucky
6 words for describing something that brings
you good luck
7 ways of saying that something dangerous or
unpleasant is avoided as a result of good luck
8 what you say to try to prevent bad luck
I lucky on a particular occasion
lucky
fortunate
be in luck
have the good fortune
to do sth
fall on your feet
be in the right place
at the right time
luck out
lucky/' l/if you are lucky, something good happens to
you, not because of careful planning, hard work, skill etc
but just because of good luck [adj]
lucky to do sth I didn 't play very well - in fact I was lucky
to win the game. I The other car missed us by inches - we're
lucky to be alive! l lucky (that) We were lucky it didn't rain
- it would have spoiled the party. I lucky The woman
suffered only minor cuts and bruises - the police said she had
been very lucky. I There aren't many parrots left in the forest,
but you might see one if you're lucky. I Barry's off to the
Caribbean on a month's cruise, the lucky devil! I lucky
enough to do sth (=unusually lucky, so that something
very good happens to you) If you're lucky enough to be
offered the job, don't turn it down.
fortunate !  fa'.rtanot! lucky, especially when compared
with other people [adj not before noun]
David managed to escape but the others were not so for-
tunate. I fortunate enough to do sth I was fortunate
enough to get a scholarship, otherwise I could not have gone
to college.
be in luck Ibi: zn 'l^k/to be lucky, especially because you
get the thing that you wanted although you did not really
expect to get it Iv phrase]
You're in luck, there are still a few tickets left. I We arrived
at the port twenty minutes late, but we were in luck, the boat
hadn't left yet.
have the good fortune to do sth /,hmv 8o god
,fa:rtj'an to 'du: (sth)l to be lucky because you have the
chance to do something you wanted to do or something that
most other people do not have the chance to do Iv phrase
not in progressive]
In 1957I had the good fortune to be invited on a lecture tour
of Switzerland. I Since joining the society, I have had the
good fortune to meet many distinguished writers.
fall on your feet/,fail tn ja: r 'fi:tl to be successful or
get into a good situation as a result of good luck, especially
after you have been experiencing difficulty Iv phrase not
usually in progre4sive]
Sam had a series of jobs where he wasn't happy, but this time
he's really fallen on his feet. I Don't worry about Nina - she
always falls on her feet.
be in the right place at the right time/bi: n 6o ,rat
pleIs ot 8o rat 'tam/to be lucky because you, rather than
other people, are in a particular place when something
good is offered or becomes available Iv phrase]
"'You did well to get that contract. "" "'Not really, l just hap-
pened to be in the right place at the right time. "" I Being a suc-
cessful news photographer is all about being in the right
place at the right time.
luck out/,l^k 'aot] an informal American expression
meaning to be very lucky on a particular occasion [phr v I]
Hey, Jimmy really lucked out. He got a place at Harvard Law
School.
2 lucky all the time, having an easy life etc
 lucky not know you're born
fortunate lead a charmed life
some people have it's all right for some
all the luck
lucky/'l^ki/someone who is lucky tends to be success-
ful and to have good experiences in life, as a result of good
luck [adj]
I'm lucky because I can eat what I want and I don't get fat. I
When you meet these lonely people it makes you realize how
lucky you are. I I must be the luckiest woman in the world. I
Not many actors make it to the top. I was one of the lucky
ones. I lucky (that) You should think yourself lucky you
don't have to work for a living.
fortunate/' fa:rtj'anoq lucky compared with other people,
so that life is always easier or more pleasant for you than
for them [adj]
Your parents can afford to give you expensive presents, but
not everyone is as fortunate as you. I She's one of those for-
tunate people who seem to be able to pass exams without
really working hard. I Every Christmas we're told to think
about those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
some people have all the luck/,sAm pi:pal hev 'aft
6o ,1Ak/yOU say some people have all the luck when you
are talking about someone who is always very lucky, espe-
cially when you are jealous of their good luck
Sasha's won a new car in a competition - some people have
all the luck.
not know you're born/not ,noo ja: r ba:rn/an infor-
mal British expression: if you say that someone doesn't
know they're born, you mean that they do not realize how
lucky they are, especially if they are complaining [vphrase
not in progressive]

LUCKY 8Y,1 LUCKY
You have all your meals cooked for you and all you can do
is complain about the food - you don't know you "re born. I
These young people don "t know they're born.
lead a charmed life/li:d a itJo:rmd IlaIf] to be lucky
all the time, so that although you are often in dangerous
situations, it seems that nothing can harm you [vphrase]
So, Mr Bond, once again you have escaped from certain
death. You obviously lead a charmed life.
it's all right for some/, Its a:l raIt fo Is^m/you say it's
all right for some when you think someone else is lucky
because they are enjoying themselves, having an easy life
etc and you are jealous of them
You're going to Hawaii?It's all right for some! [ It's all right
for some. I've got to stay in and work this evening.
3 words for describing something good that
_ happens as a result of good luck
lucky a good thing/job
fortunate stroke of luck
miraculous fluke
lucky/'lAki/happening as a result of luck and not because
of careful planning, hard work etc [adj]
They got the right answer but they didn't work it out properly
- it was just a lucky guess. I If it hadn't been for a lucky acci-
dent, we would never have made our discovery. I it is lucky
(that) It was lucky the car picked us up when it did, or we
could have been waiting there all night. I lucky break (=a
lucky chance of achieving success) His business keeps
losing money but he's still hoping for that lucky break.
fortunate/' fa:rffanot/happening as a result of good luck
and saving you from a difficult or dangerous situation [adj]
The playfinished early, which was fortunate, because we had
to catch the last bus home. I I think that on the whole you had
a fortunate escape.
miraculous /m;'rakjlas/ miraculous escape/re-
covery/improvement etc (=completely unexpected and
resulting from extremely good luck) [adj]
The doctor gave her a month to live but she made a
miraculous recovery. I In the circumstances, the fact that they
weren't both killed is quite miraculous.
a good thing/job/ ,god IOi1-j, Idsob II -'dso:b/you say
it's a good thing or it's a good job when something lucky
has happened which prevents an accident or an unpleasant
situation
It's a good thing you don't have to go to school tonight. The
fog's terrible. I The gun wasn't loaded, and it was a good job
too. I could have been shot.
stroke of luck/,strauk av 'l^k/something lucky that
happens to you very unexpectedly and saves you from a
difficult or inconvenient situation In phrase]
My car had broken down opposite a garage, which was a
real stroke of luck. I What an extraordinary stroke of luck!
The key I've got here fits your front door.
fluke/flu:k/something very unlikely or surprising that
happens only as a result of luck In C]
That goal had nothing to do with skill, it was the biggest
fluke I've ever seen. I I met him by the merest fluke.
4 something that seems to make good things
happen to some people for no particular
reason
luck
a run of good luck
luck/IAp`] In UI
You'll need plenty of luck if you're hoping to succeed in the
music business. I have luck on your side (=be lucky) She
only won because she had luck on her side. I for luck (=as
a way of bringing good luck) "'Please let it be him, "" said
Sara, keeping her fingers crossed for luck. I with luck/with
any luck (=if you are lucky) With any luck we should reach
the coast before it gets dark. I by luck (=as a result of luck)
I found theplacepurely by luck - Ididn't actually know the
way. I sb's luck holds (=they continue to be lucky)/fh/s
luck held no one would notice he had escaped. I sheer luck
(=only luck, and nothing else) I got the right answer, but
it was sheer luck.
a run of good luck/a ,rAn av ,god 'lAk] a period during
which you continuously have good luck In phrase]
I'm having a run of good luck at the moment - I've picked
the winners of the last six races. I The company knew that
their run of good luck would not last forever.
5 to tell someone that you hope they will be
 lucky
wish sb luck
good luck/best of luck
wish sb luck/,w; (sb) 'lAk] to tell someone that you hope
they will be lucky and successful in what they are going
to do Iv phrase]
It's my French exam today - wish me luck! I When I heard
that he was on his way to England to join the army, I shook
his hand and wished him luck.
good luck/best of luck/sgod IIAk, ,best av SLAP,] you
say good luck or best of luck to someone when they are
going to attempt something or start something new and you
hope they will be lucky
Goodbye and good luck!Have a great time in your new job.]
Best of luck with the driving test. I good luck to her/him/
them She's going to use the money to start her own business.
Well, good luck to her.
6 words for describing something that brings
you good luck
lucky
lucky/'lAki/[adj]
I always carry a rabbit's foot around with me, it's supposed
to be lucky. I My lucky number is 7. ] This must be my lucky
day. Everything seems to be going right.
7 ways of saying that something dangerous or
unpleasant is avoided as a result of good luck
luckily/fortunately
happily
luckily/fortunately/'lAkli, Ifa:rtfantli/[adv]
I had forgotten my key, but luckily the door wasn't locked. I
Fortunately, a life guard noticed that the woman was drown-
ing and she was rescued. I luckily for sb The truck went
out of control but luckily for the driver there were no other
cars on the road.
happily / Ihaplli! a word used in written English mean-
ing luckily [adv]
Happily, no one was injured in the accident. I At one time
tourists entering the country had to obtain a visa. Happily
this is no longer necessary.
8 what you say to try to prevent bad luck
touch wood/knock on wood
fingers crossed/keep your fingers crossed
touch wood (British) I knock on wood (American)
/,tff 'wud, ,nok Dn 'wl II ,no:k-/(when you mean that you
have been lucky up to the present point and you want to
stop yourself from having any bad luck in the future)
I've never been in trouble with the police, touch wood. I We
haven't missed a deadline yet, knock on wood.
fingers crossed/keep your fingers crossed
/'fIrjgarz ,krmt, 'ki:p ja: r- II -,kra:st/(when you hope that
you will have good luck so that something you want to
happen will happen)
Liz has a good chance of winning tonight's big race - so
fingers crossed for tonight. ] I'm going to sleep outside the
tent, so keep your fingers crossed and hope it doesn't rain
tonight.

luckily/fortunately
luckily/fortunately
lucrative
ludicrous
lug
lukewarm
lull
lumber sb
luminous
lump
LUCKY 7
PAY SB FOR WORK 4, PROFIT 5
STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 5, 6
CARRY 2, PULL 5
ENTHUSIASTIC 5, HOT 3
PAUSE 3
with JOB/TASK 3
SHINE 5
PIECE 3, STICK OUT 3
lump: have a lump in your throat CRY 5
lumpy FLAT 4, THICK LIQUID 1
lunacy: madness/lunacy CRAZY 7
lunatic: maniac/lunatic CRAZY 6
lunatic fringe EXTREME 3
lunch MEAL 3
lunch: be out to lunch CRAZY 2
lurch WALK 6
lure ATTRACT 2, PERSUADE 7
lure: the lure of ATTRACT 5
lurk HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
luscious SEXY 1
lush DRUNK 6
lust SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 4, WANT 8
lust after ATTRACTED TO SB 1
lustre/luster SHINY 4
luxurious EXPENSIVE 3
luxury NEED 10
lying: be lying on ON/ON TOP OF 1
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
822
ma'am WOMAN 6
machine MACHINE 1
MACHINE
MACHINE
I a machine
2 connected with or done by machines
1 a machine
machine appliance
device mechanism
contraption engine
hardware motor
gadget robot
machine/mo'j'i:n/a piece of equipment that uses power
from electricity, petrol etc in order to do a particular job
[n C]
They have invented a machine for picking apples. I To oper-
ate this machine simply select the type of coffee you require
and press the green button. I washing/sewing etc
machine Whenever anything goes wrong with our washing
machine it costs a fortune to get it fixed. I do sth by machine
Men used to have to dig the coal by hand, but these days it's
all done by machine.
device/d'vaIs/a usually small piece of equipment, espe-
cially advanced electronic equipment, that is used for
preventing mistakes or accidents, measuring amounts of
something etc In C]
Some cars are fitted with a safety device which won't let the
car start unless passengers are wearing seat belts. I An EEG
is a device which detects and records electrical activity in the
brain. I listening/measuring/signalling device The FBI
had planted listening devices inside Monroe's apartment. I
time-saving/labour-saving device Many of the labour-
saving devices which we all take for granted today did not
exist before the war.
contraption/kn ItrmpSdn/a machine that seems strange
and awkward-looking and has lots of pieces joined together
in a strange way In C]
Early cameras were large and expensive contraptions. I
What on earth is this contraption? Is it some kind of grass-
cutter?
hardware /Iho:rdweor/computers and other machines
connected to them, as opposed to the systems that are used
to make them work In U]
The programs can be used with all the latest IBM hardware. I
The growing complexity of computer hardware and operat-
ing systems often makes them more likely to break down.
gadget /'gmdst/ a small, cleverly designed piece of
equipment that does a useful job which you would usually
do by hand or with a simple tool In C]
It's a handy little gadget which you use for taking corks out
of champagne bottles. I Her kitchen was full of all the latest
household gadgets - electric can-openers, talking timers etc
etc.
appliance /plains/ a machine, usually one that is
electrical, that is used for doing jobs in the home, such as
washing clothes or cooking food [n C]
The shop sells a range of appliances and hi-fi equipment. I
domestic appliance (=one used in the home) Most homes
now have numerous domestic appliances, from dishwashers
to microwave ovens.
mechanism /mekonizdm/a piece of equipment that is
designed to do a particular job inside a machine or larger
piece of equipment [n C]

MACHINE 823 MAGIC
He was lying around under the car trying to find out how
the brake mechanism worked. I Of all garage door mechan-
isms we've tried, this seems to work the most smoothly. I
When the timing clock has run out, a firing mechanism is
activated.
engine /endsn/the part of a machine such as a car, train
or plane that makes power from petrol, steam etc and turns
it into movement [n C]
Every time I try to start the engine on my car it makes this
strange knocking sound. I It was difficult to make yourself
heard above the roar of the plane's engines. I The internal
combustion engine revolutionized American society in the
1920s.
motor/motarl the part of a machine which turns power,
especially electrical power, into movement [n C]
My tape recorder keeps speeding up and slowing down -
there must be something wrong with the motor. I If the bat-
tery's flat then the starter motor won't be able to start the
engine.
robot/'mubDt [[ -be:t, -bq a machine that is controlled
by its own computer rather than by a person, and can do
things that humans can do such as walk, move things
around etc [n C]
Most of the assembly in the new car plant is done by indus-
trial robots. I I wish they would invent a robot to do the
housework!
made for each other SUITABLE 2
made for life RICH 7
made of: be made of CONSIST OF/BE MADE OF 1
made up: be made up UNTRUE 2
made up of: be made up of CONSIST OF/BE MADE OF 1
 madly in love: be madly in love LOVE 8
madman/madwoman CRAZY 6
:.! madness MENTALLY ILL 2
. madness/lunacy CRAZY 7
magic MAGIC 1, 4
 magic: as if by magic MYSTERIOUS 2
! magic: do/work magic MAGIC 3
magic: work like magic/like a charm EFFECTIVE 1
@ MAGIC
special words, actions, ceremonies etc that
are used to control events or make impossible
things happen
1 words meaning magic
2 a piece of magic that someone does
3 to do magic
4 able to do magic
5 someone who does magic
2 connected with or done by machines
mechanical
automatic
mechanical/m'kankdl/[adj]
Car accidents are usually caused by driver error rather than
mechanical failure. [ They've had some kind of mechanical
problem and they've had to shut down the ship's engines. [
Most men think that because you're a woman you won't
know about anything mechanical.
mechanically [adv] Nowadays the grape picking is done
mechanically.
automatic / l a:t Imatik-/automatic washing machines,
cars, weapons etc are designed to operate by themselves,
and you only need to use simple controls or no controls in
order to operate them [adj]
Most supermarkets now have automatic doors. I Our car's
fully automatic - it's really easy to drive. I The CIA supplied
the rebels with sophisticated automatic weapons.
automatically lady] You don't have to worry about setting
the page size - the photocopier does it automatically.
:"-: macho MAN 2, 3
- :.. C..;;.,.i;:  " ........ -  ....  -
g,,   :# ..,,.,,
W  lCn meanlng.
.........  ..... . . . . ........
...... ".E;:.
y, b-e:g !n a ,. " @ CRAZY
 ;:..,; ...... , : :.,
mentally dl
---, .............. ,','::;:...: ":--: @ MENTALLY ILL
;,.:.:-t '-----::., .............. :... . ..
.
..........
!' mad ANGRY 1, CRAZY 7, MENTALLY ILL 1
--:: mad: be mad about/crazy about LIKE SB OR STH 2,
ilili LOVE 8
...
mad: drive sb mad CRAZY 5
 mad: get angry/mad ANGRY 4
{{:ii mad: go mad CRAZY :3, 4
 mad: go mad/go insane/go crazy MENTALLY ILL :3
i! '. mad: make sb angry/mad ANGRY 8
 mad/barmy CRAZY 1
 madam WOMAN 6
::;'. maddening ANGRY 9
.:- made for: be made for SUITABLE 1
1 words meaning magic
magic
witchcraft
black magic
magic/'mad3tk/[n U]
As a child his favourite stories were the ones all about witches
and dragons, magic and fantasy. [ "'How can one person
appear to be in both places at once?" "'It's magic. "[ by magic
Until the explanation of the scientific facts many people
thought that photography was done by magic.
witchcraft/'wztfkro:fl II -krmfl/the use of magic to make
bad things happen [n U]
In the past, women who practiced medicine were often
accused of witchcraft and killed. [ Locally the tribe was
known for its violence, superstition and witchcraft.
black magic /Iblek rneds[k/the use of magic to make
bad and evil things happen, often by groups of people who
believe in it like a religion [n U]
They're really worried about their son. First he was taking
drugs and now he's into black magic. [ It's been discovered
that the teachers are all members of a group that practises
black magic on the children.
' a piece of magic that someone does
spell
curse
spell/spell a piece of magic that someone does, usually
involving special words or ceremonies, in order to make
something happen or make someone do something [n C]
The witch used all kinds of plants and animals in her spells.[
put a spell on When the old man was angered he threatened
to put a spell on the whole tribe. [ be under a spell The frog
was really a handsome young man who was under a spell.
curse /k3:rs/ a piece of magic that makes bad things
happen to someone [n C]
Everything was going wrong. It was as though there was a
curse on us. ] It was said that anyone entering the pharaoh "s
tomb would be under the mummy's curse.
3 to do magic
do/work magic
cast a spell
put a curse on

MAGIC 824 MAIN
do/work magic/,du:, ,wa:rk 'maids;k/to use magic to
make impossible things happen, to control events etc Iv
phrase]
My uncle claims he can do magic. I Olive worked some kind
of magic to make the door open. I do/work magic on As he
worked his magic on her, she suddenly began to float in the
air.
cast a spell/,ks:st a 'spel II ,kmst-/to use special words
or ceremonies that are supposed to make things happen,
make people do things, or control events Iv phrase]
In the opening scene of Macbeth, the audience sees the witches
casting a spell. [ cast a spell on/over The witch cast a spell
on the handsome prince and turned him into a frog.
put a curse on/,pot a 'ka:rs o/to use magic to make
bad things happen to people Iv phrase]
They'd broken a promise to him so he put a curse on their
house. [ When Rosemary refused to buy the flowers, the
woman said she'd put a curse on her.
4 able to do magic
have magical powers
magic
have magical powers/hav ,madskl 'paoarz/to be
able to do magic [v phrase not in progressive]
The queen was supposed to have magical powers which she
used to help her people live forever. I Isis had great magical
powers and was greatly feared.
mag|c ] madsIk/magic word/wand/ring etc (=one that
has the power to do magic) [adj]
In the story she had a magic hat which made her invisible.
someone who does magic
magician
witch
wizard
magician/ma'dsifan / In C]
In the original legend, a magician cast a spell on her so that
she fell asleep forever. I This plant was regarded as sacred,
and was used by magicians to cast spells.
witch/witS/a woman, often an evil woman, who has the
ability to use magic In C]
They accused her of being a witch because she seemed to have
the ability to predict the future.
wizard/'wizard/a man who has the ability to use magic
In C]
The wizard took the ring and gave it magical powers to
protect whoever wore it.
 magical MYSTERIOUS 1
:: magical: have magical powers MAGIC 4
 magically MYSTERIOUS 2
 magician MAGIC 5
ii!,i magnificent BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 4, 5
i  magnify BIG14
!, magnitude BIG 11
 maiden FIRST 5
 maiden name NAME OFA PERSON 1
 mail LETTER 2
{ mail: post/mail SEND 2
 maim INJURE 3
 main MAIN 1
- Main Street ROAD/PATH 1
MAIN
more important and having more influence
than anything else
words meaning main
the main part of a problem, idea, or belief
the main ideas or basic meaning of a speech,
piece of writing etc
4 the most important people in a group,
especially the ones who do most of the work
5 ways of saying what the main reason for
something is what the main thing someone
does is etc
word meaning main
main prime
chief central
major predominant
key biggest
principal dominant
primary
main/me in/most important or biggest, and needing or
deserving the most attention [adj only before noun]
The speaker summed up the main points of the argument. I
We'll see you in front of the main gate at 11:00. I The main
purpose of this meeting is to devise a clear policy. I Ben's
main problem was lack of money.
chief/tSi:f/most important or having the most influence
or effect [adj only before noun]
The company's chief fault is that it won't train its staff. I We
set out our chief concerns in a letter to the principal. I His
chief inspiration was the drummer, Max Roach.
major/'med3ar! major cause/problem etc (=the most
important or serious one) [adj only before noun]
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease. I Unemployment
is a major problem in all Western countries.
key/ki:/a key person or thing is one that is the most
important because everything depends on them [adj only
before noun]
She's a key member of the team. I Transport and communi-
cations are key areas of the economy. I We don't have much
time, so let's concentrate on the key issues.
principal I'prnsopall first and needing to be considered
and achieved before anything else [adj only before noun]
What exactly are your principal aims? I It seemed that
jealousy was the murderer's principal motive. I He is the prin-
cipal character in the story, but there are a number of
interesting minor roles too.
primary/'pralmari II -meri/primary concern/respon-
sibility/reason/role etc (=the most important one) [adj
only before noun]
In divorce cases, the welfare of the children must be our
primary concern. I Police Chief O'Malley said that his"
primary responsibility was to reduce violent crime in this
area.
prime/praim/prime suspect/target/candidate (=the
one most likely to be chosen) [adj only before noun]
The FBI regarded him as their prime suspect in the case. I
Young females are now a prime target for cigarette
advertisers.
central/'sentral/central theme/issue/idea/character
etc (=the one that receives most attention, is discussed
most etc) [adj]
The relationship between mother and daughter is a central
theme of the play. I Education and health are to be among
the party's central issues. I central to Agriculture is central
to their economy.
predominant/pr'domInant II-'do:-/more noticeable,
more powerful, or more common than others [adj]
When you win a game your predominant feeling is delight. I
When we visited the country, our predominant impression
was one of poverty and hardship.
biggest /bigst/ attracting more attention, or being
noticed and admired more than anyone or anything simi-
lar [adj usually before noun]
He has persuaded some of the the biggest names in show busi-
ness to appear together for charity. I It's the biggest event to
be held in Europe this year. I Her biggest fault is that she's
too generous.

MAIN
dominant /'dominant II 'do:-/ dominant feature/as-
pect/factor/form/theme etc (=more important and
noticeable than any others) [adj only before noun]
Love is the dominant theme in his poetry. [ Clearly, self-
interest is the dominant factor in relationships of this kind. [
Gradually, television has become the dominant form of
leisure activity throughout society.
:2 the main part of a problem, idea, or belief
crux core
essence the bottom line
heart
crux/kr^ks/the part of a difficult problem that is the most
important, and that must be dealt with before any further
progress can be made In singular]
the crux of the matter/problem/question etc Finding
a cheap source of energy is really the crux of the matter. I
crux Whether we can get funding or not is the crux.
essence I' esans/the main feature or quality that gives
something its own special character In singular]
the essence of Equality is the essence of democracy. I The
essence of white wine is freshness.
heart/ho:rq the most important part of a problem, con-
sideration, question etc In singular]
the heart of the matter/problem/question etc Now we
are getting to the heart of the matter. [ lie at the heart Money
always lies at the heart of our fights. I go to/get to the heart
of This new book gets to the heart of the controversy over
nuclear power.
core/k:r/the main part of an idea, belief, way of think-
ing etc, that everything else depends on .In singular]
the core of The core of the novel is their journey to Mexico. [
She had the ability to cut through to the core of a problem. I
at the core of The profit motive is at the core of the capitalist
system.
the bottom line 16 Ibotm lan II -Iba:-/the main fact
about a situation, that must be accepted and cannot be
changed or avoided In phrase]
the bottom line is The bottom line is, either you pay me
more or I leave. I the bottom line It was no use arguing.
He had a gun. That was the bottom line.
,3 the main ideas or basic meaning of a speech,
piece of writing etc
the main/key points the thrust of
the gist essentials
the main/key points 16 ,mein, ,ki: 'paxnts/[nphrase]
Here are the main points of the news again. I When you're
trying to summarize an argument, keep to the key points.
the gist 16a 'd3stl the general meaning of a speech, argu-
ment, piece of writing etc, without all the details In
singular]
get the gist (=understand the general meaning) Icouldn't
hear everything from the back of the hall but Igor the gist. I
the gist of The gist of the article is that children should have
more rights in deciding their own futures.
the thrust of/6 'Or^st v/the main aim or purpose of
an argument, speech, or political action In phrase]
The whole thrust of US policy was to isolate Cuba. I The
thrust of their argument is that the economy can't be left to
free market forces.
essentials/'sen.falzl the most important facts or ideas
in a statement, for example in a description of events or
a set of arguments or opinions In plural]
She was always very quick to grasp the essentials of an oppo-
nent's argument. I When writing a precis, you cut a passage
down to its essentials.
the most important people in a group,
especially the ones who do most of the work
backbone
be the mainstay of
nucleus
825 major
backbone I' bkbon/the group of people in an organi-
zation who do most of the hard work, but who do not have
much authority In singular]
the backbone of It is the hard-working clerical staff who
form the backbone of this company. [ National leaders tend
to forget the local party workers who are really the backbone
of the movement.
be the mainstay of/bi: 6 melnstei Dv/be the person
in an organization who does most of the important work
and who the other members depend on Iv phrase]
What are they going to do without dean?She's the mainstay
of the department. I I used to be the mainstay of the local
theatre until I went for an audition in Hollywood.
nucleus/'nju:klbs II 'nu:-/a small number of people that
a larger group depends on because they do most of the
important work [n singular]
nucleus of The three Bennett brothers form the nucleus of
the band. I The co-op has a small nucleus of active members
who are on all the committees.
ways of saying what the main reason for
something, is what the main thing someone
does is etc
chiefly
largely
principally
primarily
above all
first and foremost
mainly/'meinli/[adv]
He had a heart attack when he was fifty, mainly because he
worked too hard. I My new job's fairly boring - it's mainly
typing.
chiefly I 'ti:fli/concerned with, made of, or because of one
particular, important thing lady]
As a journalist, she's chiefly concerned with foreign affairs. I
How quickly you recover from the operation chiefly depends
on your general state of health.
largely /'lo:rd31i/true most of the time, and because of a
particular reason [adv]
Most of the obstacles to women's equality have largely been
removed. I They've stayed together largely because of the
children.
principally/'pnns pli/firstly and most importantly [adv]
Foreign aid is intended principally for the south of the
region. [ He appeared principally in his capacity as UN
negotiator.
primarily/'praimgrli [[ prai 'memli/happening or exist-
ing because of one reason or situation, which is more
important than any other [adv]
Men can usually run faster than women, primarily because
they have greater muscular strength. [ The group is primar-
ily concerned with making the unemployed more aware of
what benefits they are entitled to.
above all/,b^v ':1/more important than all the other
things considered or discussed lady phrase]
We must above all pay attention to the problem of homeless-
ness. [ Above all, the government did not want a high rate
of inflation.
first and foremost/f3:rst and f:rrnost/before any-
thing else in importance or influence lady phrase]
They are looking, first and foremost, for ways to save money. I
She has many different roles, but first and foremost she's an
adviser.
mainly MAIN 5
mainly: mostly/mainly MOST 7
mainly: mostly/mainly/largely MOST 6
mainstay: be the mainstay of MAIN 4
mainstream ORDINARY 1
maintain CONTINUE/NOT STOP 5, LOOK AFTER STH 1,
PAY FOR 10, REPAIR 3, SAY/STATE 4
maintenance LOOK AFTER STH 2, MONEY 8, REPAIR 5
majestic IMPRESS 4
major BIG 9, 10, IMPORTANT 1, 2, 3, MAIN 1,
SUBJECT 6

major 826 MAKE
major: English/History etc major STUDY 4
major in STUDY 1
majority: be in the majority MOST 6
majority: the majority MOST 1
majority: the vast/great/overwhelming majority
MOST 1
majority view OPINION 3
make BE 1, CAUSE 3, COOK 1, COUNT/CALCULATE 2,
EARN 1, FORCE SB TO DO STH 2, IMPROVE 5,
MAKE 1 5, 6, PROFIT 3, REACH 4, SCORE 1
SUITABLE 1, TOTAL 3, TYPE 3
make a bee line for TOWARDS 2
make for CAUSE 5
make for/head for TOWARDS 2
make fun of MAKE FUN OF 1
make good RICH 7, SUCCESSFUL 1
make it ARRIVE 1, SUCCEED IN DOING STH 2,
SUCCESSFUL 1, SURVIVE 1
make it: not make it FAIL 1
make it to REACH 4
make out PRETEND 1, SEE 4, WRITE 5
make out: can make out HEAR 2
make out: can't make out HEAR 4
make over GIVE 8
makesbdosth FORCE SB TO DO STH1, 3
make sb sth JOB/WORK 10
make sbisth do sth CAUSE 2
make sth of UNDERSTAND 6
make the best of ACCEPT 5
make up BE 2, 3, COMPLETE 3, INVENT 1,4
make-up CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 1
make up/make it up ARGUE 8
make up for EQUAL 10
make
MAKE
to make something
to make something using whatever materials
you can find, not following a plan or design
to make something quickly and usually not
very carefully
ways of saying that a natural process,
chemical reaction etc makes something
to make things to be sold
to make something to eat or drink
to make a material or substance into a
particular shape
a person or organization that makes things to
be sold
words for describing things that are made by
hand
1 to make something
make construct
assemble build
make/me.k/[v T]
Diane makes all her own clothes. ] In chapter three you can
find out how o make a bookcase. ] We think the violin was
made in France. ] make sth from/out of Danny had made
a model car out of old boes andyoghurtpots. I That night
in the forest we made a shelter from branches and leaves.
ssemble /osernbl/ to make something such as a
machine or a piece of furniture by putting together parts
that have been made somewhere else Iv T]
It's one of those beds that you have to assemble yoursel. ] The
apprentices worked in the shed where the new locomotives
were assembled and the old ones repaired. 1 Several compa-
nies are negotiating with Lockheed to assemble aircraft in
8outh America.
assembly In U] Production had shifted completely o the
assembly of wheelbarrows and other gardening equipment.
constrct /konstr^kt/ to make something, especially
something large, solid, and strong, by putting parts
together Iv T]
The roo-frames were constructed from thick, heavy timbers. ]
Against a fiat wall it is simple to construct a square
framework that the flowers can grow against. I The rescuers
constructed a sledge to get the injured climber down the
mountain.
build/bild! to make something complicated, especially a
machine or vehicle by putting parts together Iv T]
Every single car is built by hand at the headquarters near
Turin. I One of dim's hobbies is building model airplanes.
to make something using whatever materials
you can find, not following a plan or design
rig up improvise
cobble together makeshift
rig up/,rig '^p/to quickly make something such as apiece
of equipment that you only need for a short time, using
various materials that you have available [phr v T]
rig up sth You don't have blinds or curtains so you'll need
to rig up something to shut out the sunlight. I rig sth/it/
them up Can you rig a gate up to stop the dog getting into
my room? I There's a shower rigged up at the back of the
cabin.
cobble together / kobal ta'geSa r II ,ko:-/to quickly and
roughly make something by hand, using a few simple
materials [phr v T]
cobble together sth I cobbled together a costume from a
few sheets and some curtain material. I cobble sth/it/them
together She thinks she can cobble something together out
of this junk, but it won't look very good.
improvise / ' improvaiz/to cleverly make something that
you suddenly need, even though you do not have all the
materials that are normally used Iv T]
They had improvised an alarm, using string and empty
cans. I The soldiers had to improvise a stretcher to carry the
wounded woman.
improvised [adj] Our improvised tent was working very
well.
makeshift /'me;kf;ft/ makeshift bed/table/boat/
bridge etc (=one which is made using any materials or
objects that are available at the time and which is only
going to be used for a short time) [adj usually before noun]
Using an old tree-trunk as a makeshift table, we ate our
picnic. I When we reached the river we found that the
makeshift bridge had been swept away. I They rigged up the
canvas boat-cover as a makeshift sail.
to make something quickly and usually not
very carefully
knock up churn out
throw together run up

MAKE 82? MAKE
knock up }lnDk ^p II na:k-/an informal British expres-
sion meaning to make something quickly and without
using much effort [phr v T]
knock up sth I'm sure he'll be able to knock up some shelves
for us by Friday. [ You sit there while I knock up something
to eat.
throw together /10mu t+ge6+r/ to make something
.quickly and not very carefully, especially because you are
in a hurry [phr v T]
throw together sth I hope this outfit looks all right - it's
just something I threw together. [ throw sth/it/them
together We had 15 minutes to throw lunch together, eat,
and get changed.
churn out ]lt3: rn aut] to make large quantities of some-
thing quickly, usually by machine and without caring
about quality [phr v T]
churn out sth The factory churns out thousands of horri-
ble plastic toys every week. [ churn sth/it/them out They
just churn "em out. It doesn't matter what they taste like.
run up / i r^n ^P/to quickly make a piece of clothing or
some curtains by sewing [phr v T]
run up sth "I like your dress. "" "'Oh, thank you. It's just some-
thing I ran up last night. "'] There's a woman at the end of
our street who will run up some curtains for me.
4 ways of saying that a natural process,
chemical reaction etc makes something
create produce
form generate
create/kri eit] if a natural process creates something,
it makes something that was not there before Iv T]
Land movement created the Alps. [ A bullet exceeding the
speed of sound creates two shock waves. [ We found that this
chemical process created hydrogen chloride as a by-product.
form/f:rm! if a chemical reaction forms a substance, it
makes it Iv T]
Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. [ Coal is
formed naturally from decomposed organic matter.
produce/pmdju:s [[ -du:s! if a part of your body or a
natural process produces a substance, it makes the sub-
stance, especially when this happens as a continuous
process [v T]
The burning of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. [ The
pancreas produces insulin, which is essential to regulate
blood sugar levels.
production Ipmd^kanl In U] An attractive long-term pos-
sibility is the solar production of hydrogen from water.
generate/:dsen+ret/generate electricityCeatCower
ete (=by means of a natural or industrial process) [v T]
We generate about 25% of our electricity from nuclear
power. [ The friction between the satellite and the atmosphere
generates great heat.
5 to make things to be sold
make manufacture
produce turn out
mass-produce product
make/meik! Iv T]
This new razor is made by Wilkinson Sword. [ The company
has now become well-known for making high quality toys. [
For too long, manufacturing companies have been content
just to make goods for the domestic market.
produce /pr'dju:s [[-du:s/ a word meaning to make
things to be sold, used especially when saying how much
of the thing is made [v T]
The dairy produced over 1500 tonnes of butter per year. [ It
is one of the largest arms producing companies in the world.
production Ipm  d^kan/ [ n U] We are putting more empha-
sis on the production of educational software.
mass.produce / Imms pm dju:s [[ -du.-s/to make very
large quantities of something, especially so that it can be
sold cheaply [v T]
We are currently looking for a design that will be reliable
and cheap enough to be mass-produced. [ They used to be
made locally but now they are mostly mass-produced in the
Far East.
manufacture/,mmnj v'fktr/to make large quantities
of things in a factory, using machinery [v T]
Rolls-Royce designs and manufactures gas turbine engines
for aircraft. [ The keyboard is manufactured in Italy, the
screen in the UK. [ Goods manufactured in automated facto-
ries are, as a rule, cheaper.
manufacture In U] As consumers we can demand a change
in the manufacture of products that are threatening our
health.
turn out /t3:rn at/to make large quantities of things
to be sold, especially without much skill or care [phr v T]
turn out sth They turn out cheap souvenirs for tourists. [
turn sth/it/them out As long as people keep buying them,
we'll keep turning them out.
product /pmd^kt [[ 'pra:-/something that is made to be
sold, especially something made in a factory [n C]
Japan exports a vast number of electrical products. [ His job
is to ensure that the company's products are well advertised
and stocked in the shops.
6 to make something to eat or drink
make concoct
prepare whip up
do mix
make Imeik/[v T]
make sth We've started making more and more vegetarian
dishes. [ Do you know how to make a vinaigrette sauce? [
make sb sth My boyfriend made me a cup of coffee when I
came home.
prepare/pri per/to make a meal or something to drink
by combining a number of different foods or drinks, espe-
cially when this involves a lot of skill and takes a long time
[v T]
prepare sth He helped her prepare dinner and afterwards
cleared away the dishes. [ Katie was preparing some cocktails
in the dining room. [ prepare sb sth Madame Monnier had
prepared us a wonderful meal.
do/du:/an informal word meaning to make a particular
kind of food [v T]
do sth I was thinking of doing fish tonight. [ do sb sth I
could do you an omelette.
concoct /knkkt [[-ka-.kt/ to make an unusual or
unpleasant drink, dish, or medicine, by mixing together
several different things Iv T]
concoct sth For the party, they had concocted a special cock-
tail containing, among other things, rum and vodka. [ con-
coct sth out of Whenever I had a cold, my grandmother
would concoct a remedy out of herbs, ginger, lemons and
garlic.
concoction/knlkkan [[ -ka:k-/In C] In the glass was a
greenish concoction with pieces of ice and fruit floating in it.
/hip up /wIp ^p/to quickly make something to eat or
drink, especially because you are in a hurry [phr v T]
whip up sth If you girls are hungry I can whip up some-
thing to eat in no time. [ whip sth/it/them up I whipped
it up in no time.
mix/mks/to make a drink by mixing two or more liquids
or substances together [v T]
If they sell cocktails would you ask the bartender to mix a
Harvey Wallbanger? [ You can leave the meal cooking while
you mix a drink for your guests.
7 to make a material or substance into a
particular shape
form mould/mold
fashion shape
form/f:rm/to make something into a particular shape,
especially with your hands Iv T]

MAKE 828 MAKE FUN OF
form sth She cut away the corners to form a circle. I form
sth into With a few clever twists, he had formed the balloon
into the shape of a dog.
fashion/'fmJan/to make something into a particular
shape, especially in a way that is not exact, using your
hands or simple tools Iv T]
fashion sth Two million years ago our ancestors began to
fashion stone tools. I fashion sth from The man had
fashioned a turban from a strip of torn cloth.
mould (British) I mold (American)/mould/to make clay
or some other soft material into a rough shape by press-
ing it or putting it into a special hollow object [v T]
The walls are moulded as if made of wax or clay. I Female
figurines, molded in clay, have been found in some graves.
moulded/molded [ adj] The arch was a moulded construc-
tion made of a kind of concrete.
shape/eIp/to make a soft material into a particular
shape, especially by using your hands Iv T[
The pastry was shaped round the filling of mixed fruit. I Gel
is great for holding and shaping shorter hairstyles.
 a person or organization that makes things to
be sold
maker
producer
manufacturer
maker/'meIkrl a company or person whose business is
to make things to be sold, either by hand or using machines
[n C]
wine/furniture/car maker etc The wine-maker has to
decide when the crop is ready for picking. I My cousin is a
self-employed furniture maker. I maker of Makers of cars
often think more about speed than about safety.
producer/pra'dju:sa r [[ -du:-/a company or country that
makes, grows, or produces large quantities of something
to be sold [n C[
producer of Japan is the biggest producer of stereo equip-
ment. [ coffee/wine/car etc producer the most successful
South African wine-producer [ producer Many producers
are being forced to cut costs and use cheaper materials.
manufacturer /,manjU'fakffarar/ a company that
makes things in large quantities, especially in a factory In
C[
Complaints should be sent to the manufacturer. I manufac-
turer of Alubend is one of the country's biggest manufac-
turers of aluminium tubes. I clothing/bicycle/TV etc
manufacturer Clothing manufacturers have also felt the
effects of the recession, as people spend less on clothes.
 words for describing things that are made by
hand
homemade
handmade
homemade I,haum'med-I homemade food, drinks,
clothes, etc are made in small quantities at home rather
than in large quantities in a factory [adjl
We ate thick slices of homemade bread. I Mrs Finch brought
me a bottle of her own homemade raspberry wine.
handmade ! ,hand'med-/made by hand and of a better
quality than things which are made by machines [adj]
a stall selling beautiful handmade dolls and teddy bears I
We specialize in handmade silk shirts and ties.
MAKE FUN OF
1 to make a person, institution, belief etc look
stupid by making jokes or unkind comments
about them
2 to make a person, plan, suggestion etc look
so stupid that no one could take them
seriously
words for describing remarks or actions that
make fun of someone or something
a film, play, book etc that makes fun of
something
someone that people make fun of
1 to make a person, institution, belief etc look
stupid by making jokes or unkind comments
about them
make fun of mock
poke fun at taunt
take the mickeyi send up
take the piss pull sb's leg
tease
make fun of I,meik 'fAn ov/ [v phrase]
You shouldn't make fun of other people's religious beliefs. I
Peter didn't seem to realize that they were making fun of
him. I Anyone who makes fun of the government gets thrown
into jail.
poke fun at/,pok 'fAn rot/ to say something unkind
about a person, an institution etc in order to make people
laugh Iv phrase]
The kids at school poked fun at Liam, saying his mother
dressed him like a girl. [ I know a lot of people poke fun at
British Rail and complain how they're always late, but I
think they actually do quite a good job.
take the mickeyltake the piss/,took 6 'mki, ,telk
6 'ps/ informal British expressions meaning to make
someone look stupid, in either a friendly or unfriendly
way, for example by pretending that something is true
when it is not, or by copying their behaviour Iv phrase]
Just ignore him, he's not serious, he's just taking the mickey. [
"'You're a genius -you should go on one of those quiz shows!'"
"'Are you taking the piss?"[ take the mickey out of sb
They're always taking the mickey out of each other, but
they're good friends really.
tease/ti:z! to make fun of someone's appearance, charac-
ter etc, especially repeatedly, either in a cruel way which
makes them unhappy, or in a gentle way that shows you
like them Iv I/T[
tease sb about When we first met he always teased me about
my funny little nose. I tease sb The kids at school used to
tease Sam because he was overweight, calling him names like
fatty'. I tease Victor laughed and blushed, realizing she was
teasing.
mock !mDk [[ mo:k! to make fun of a person, institution,
belief etc, especially in an unkind or disrespectful way, in
order to try to make them look stupid Iv I/T[
mock sb/sth Liz mocked him, saying that he was a coward. [
The way he mocked the church and authority in general
shocked his parents. I "'Look at the trouble you've got us in.
Aren't you clever, "" she mocked. I mock You musn't mock -
it's not their fault they don't know much about art.
taunt/t:nt/to repeatedly say very unpleasant things to
someone in order to make them react in an angry way or
make them unhappy Iv T[
When I didn't want to fight he would taunt me repeatedly.
"'Coward, "'he would say, "'coward, coward, coward .... "'[ She
went on taunting him until he lost his temper. [ The youths
darted about near the police, taunting them with angry
slogarls.
taunt In C[ "'Cry baby!" the boy's taunt rang after him.
send up/, send 'Ap/a book or a film that sends up a social
group or its customs, beliefs, behaviour etc makes fun of
it by copying it in a very funny way [phr v T[
Gibson's new play sends up the upper classes and their snob-
bish attitudes.
pull sb's leg/,pol (sb's) 'leg/an informal expression
meaning to make fun of someone in a friendly way, for
example by telling them something that is not actually true
[ v phrase[

MAKE FUN OF 829 MAN
Don't worry, the party hasn't really been cancelled. I was just
pulling your leg. I pull sb's leg about Everyone's always
pulling her leg about the type of car she drives.
 to make a person, plan, suggestion etc look
so stupid that no one could take them
seriously
ridicule
pour scorn on
sneer
ridicule/'rd lkju:l/to make a person, institution, idea etc
seem so stupid that no one could possibly agree with them
or regard them as serious Iv T]
Theplay ridicules the Socialist government. [ Proxmire has
made himself a reputation by ridiculing government poli-
cies he disagrees with. [ Darwin's theories were ridiculed and
dismissed by many in the scientific community.
ridicule In U] The party tried to avoid public ridicule by
concealing the affair.
pour scorn on/,pa: r sk3:rn on/to say that you think a
statement, suggestion, or idea is completely stupid and is
not worth considering Iv phrase]
When I suggested trying to walk home the others poured
scorn on my idea.
sneer /sntar/ to smile or speak in a very unkind or
unpleasant way that shows you have no respect for some-
one or something Iv I]
sneer at He was unkind and sneered and jeered at Lucy until
she cried. I sneer Instead of helping they just sat and sneered.
sneer In C] He looked at the stranger with a hostile and
contemptuous sneer.
 words for describing remarks or actions that
make fun of someone or something
mocking
sarcastic
sarcasm
mocking/'mDkirj II 'mo:-/[adj usually before noun]
She was tired of his clever, mocking remarks. I Their mock-
ing laughter followed me out of the room, and echoed down
the hall. I "'He won't do it - he hasn't got the guts!" said a
mocking voice from behind.
mockingly [ adv ] Adrienne raised her eyebrows mockingly
- "'What's wrong my dear? Don't you understand?'"
sarcastic /so:r'kmstk! a sarcastic joke, remark etc
makes fun of someone by saying the opposite of what it
really means [adj]
John made a sarcastic joke about my driving. I The children
kept coming out with sarcastic remarks like "'Delicious!'" and
"'I've never tasted anything so good!'" I The funny thing was,
she had no idea that I was being sarcastic.
sarcastically [adv] "'Don't work too hard, will you, "" said
Kris sarcastically.
sarcasm/'so:rkazam/jokes, remarks etc that make fun
of someone by saying the opposite of what they really mean
In U]
Susie found his sarcasm very hurtful, but she didn't reply.I
A lot of humour is based on irony and sarcasm. I "'Oh, I'm
so sorry!'" said Molly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
4 a film, play, book etc that makes fun of
something
spoof parody
send-up satire
spoof/spu:f/a film, book etc that makes fun of a serious
or important type of film, book etc by copying it in a funny
way In C]
spoof on/of 4 Five Minute Hamlet" is a very funny spoof
of Shakespeare's most famous play. I The film was a spoof
of Mozart's opera, Figaro.
send-up / t send ^pl a book, film or play that makes fun of
a social group or its customs, beliefs, behaviour etc by copy-
ing it in a funny way In C]
send-up of His most famous movie is a hilarious send-up
of life in ancient Rome.
parody / tperadi/a piece of writing or music that is amus-
ing because it makes fun of a famous piece of writing or
music by clearly copying its style In C]
She writes enjoyable parodies in the style of 19th century
romantic novels. I parody of/on Her high-pitched singing
was supposed to be a parody of an operatic aria, but it wasn't
very funny.
satire/' setaiar/a book, film, or play that criticizes some-
thing such as the government or people's behaviour by
making fun of it in a clever way In C]
satire on In this magazine there is a savage satire on the
injustices of South African society. I This is her first serious
novek up till now she has only written political satires.
satirical/s'trkal/[adj] "Gulliver's Travels" is Jonathan
Swift's famous satirical novel.
 someone that people make fun of
butt
laughing stock
butt/bAt/the butt of a joke/satire/ridicule (=the person
that is being made fun of) In C]
I'm sick of being the butt of all yourjokes -you make me feel
such a fool. I After a year of making no money, and being
the butt of ridicule in the company, he resigned.
laughing stock/'lo:ftj ,stDk II 'lmftj ,sto:k/someone
that a lot of people laugh at because they have done some-
thing stupid or because they have been made fun of In
singular]
James became a laughing stock when his mother collected
him from the party at 9.30pro. I The mayor is useless, she's
the laughing stock of the community.
maker MAKE 8
makeshift MAKE 2, TEMPORARY 2
making: in the making FUTURE 5
male MAN 1, 3, 5
male chauvinism PREJUDICED 6
male chauvinist PREJUDICED 7
malfunction BROKEN 5
malice CRUEL 4
malicious CRUEL 4
malinger WORK HARD 9
mall/shopping mall SHOP/STORE 4
malnourished HUNGRY/STARVING 2
malnutrition HUNGRY/STARVING 3
mistreatmentlill-treatmentlmaltreatment CRUEL 5
man MAN 1, 2, PERSON/PEOPLE 4
man: be your own woman/man INDEPENDENT
PERSON 5
man and wife MARRY 11
man-made ARTIFICIAL 1
man/woman in the street ORDINARY 3
MAN
a man
having qualities that are believed to be typical
of men
words for describing behaviour or attitudes
that are believed to be typical of men
words for describing a woman who looks or
behaves like a man
words for describing activities that are only
done by men, or organizations or places that
are only used by men
what you call a man when you speak to him
or write to him

MAN 830 MAN
1 a man
man gentleman
guy/bloke/chap boys/lads
fellow male
man Iman/an adult male human being [n C]
There's a man at the door who says he has come to fix the
washing machine. I There were two men and a woman in the
car. [ He had a very successful business and died a very rich
man. I Well, I wouldn't expect you to understand her
problems - you're a man. t
guy (also bloke or chap in British English)/gal, blak,
t[zcp/informal words meaning a man, especially a man that
you know and like [n C]
Have you met David? He's a really nice guy. I There's a bloke
at work who keeps asking me out. ] Jim's had his car stolen
again, poor chap.
|ellow/'felau! an informal word meaning a man, espe-
cially a man that you do not know very well |n C]
He seems like a nice fellow. I I met a fellow yesterday who
claimed to be Napoleon's great-great-grandson.
gentleman I'dscntlmn/a word meaning a man, used to
show respect, especially when talking to or about a man
you do not know [n C]
Can you serve that gentleman please. [ We travelled in the
company of two Americans, an elderly gentleman and his
nephew. [ ladies and gentlemen Ladies and gentlemen,
may I present Dr Nelson Mandela.
boys (also lads in British English) Ibaz, lm..,dz! informal
words meaning a group of men who are very friendly with
each other, who work together etc [n plural]
I won't be home until late - I'm going out for a drink with
the boys. I The lads played really well - we were unlucky not
to win the game.
male !tnefl/a word meaning a man, used especially when
you are talking about men in general [n C]
Haemophilia is a condition only found in males. I The film
is a brilliant analysis of the typical American male.
male [adj] My brother is the only male nurse in the entire
hospital.
having qualities that are believed to be typical
of men
masculine man
virile macho
manly
masculine !'maskjlan] !at/j!
He looks very attractive in his policeman's uniform, very
masculine. ! Len seems to think that he has to be aggressive
just to prove he is masculine. I Women like Navratilova prove
that physical strength is no longer a purely masculine
attribute.
masculinity I ,maskja'hnti/[n U] Around the age of four-
teen, boys start to assert their masculinity.
virile !'v;rall II Ivlral/looking or behaving in a way that
is typical of a man, by being strong, full of energy etc, and
therefore sexually attractive [adj]
The girls were all gazing adoringly at his muscular, virile
young body. ! In his younger days, Sanchez had been a virile
and uninhibited playboy.
virility/v I 'rilti/[n U] Reports have shown that the older
a man gets, the more obsessed he is with his virility.
manly/'mamli/having the qualities that people expect
and admire in a man, such as being brave and strong [adj]
In the portrait, the King looked manly and in control. I He
was bronzed and athletic, with manly features and a steady
gaze.
manliness [n U] Unfortunately many men think that being
a soldier is a true test of manliness.
man/man/a word meaning a man who is brave, strong,
or not afraid to make difficult decisions, used especially
when talking to a man who is not showing these qualities
[n C]
Come on, be a man. Insist that they give you a pay increase. I
Now that's what I call a real man - big and strong! I he-
man (=a very brave, strong man) Ifyou're such a he-man,
why won't you stand up to Frank and show him who's boss? l
be man enough to do sth (=be brave and strong enough
to do something)Are you man enough to admit that you've
been lying?
manhood I' manhtxt/[n U] In an effort to prove his manhood
he had taken to stealing cars and drinking alcohol.
macho/'mat[au II 'mo:-/a man who is macho behaves
in a way that he thinks a man is expected to behave, for
example by being brave, treating women badly, or not
showing emotion [adj]
On the outside he may seem to be very macho but inside he's
very sensitive.
3 words for describing behaviour or attitudes
that are believed to be typical of men
male
masculine
macho
male/meal/male behaviour or attitudes are those which
people consider typical of a man and which many women
find offensive [adj only before noun]
I hate American football; it's simply a boring display of male
competitiveness and aggression. I From outside I could hear
outbursts of raucous male laughter and crude jokes. I It was
a typical male fantasy - driving around in fast cars with gor-
geous blondes and so on.
masculine/'maskjln/masculine behaviour or atti-
tudes are considered to be more typical of a man than of
a woman [adj only before noun]
He wanted to say he was sorry but his masculine pride
wouldn't let him. I The idea that all women are gentle and
kind is a purely masculine idea.
macho/'mat[au II 'mo:-/macho behaviour, attitudes,
ideas etc are typical of men who behave in ways that they
think a man is expected to behave, for example by being
brave, treating women badly, or not showing emotion [adj
only before noun]
Despite his macho image, deep down Arnold is a very sensi-
tive person. I Given the macho attitudes associated with the
mining community it's surprising there are not more
divorces. I He comes from a very macho culture where women
are treated like slaves.
 words for describing a woman who looks or
behaves like a man
masculine
butch
masculine/'maskjlln! looking or behaving in a way
that is more typical of a man than a woman [adj]
She's very masculine, even in her voice and the way she
walks. I Even when she was a child Olivia had had very
masculine features.
butch/botf/a woman who is butch looks or behaves in
a way that is more typical of a man, especially in a way that
other people find unattractive [adj]
She's too butch for my liking. I Everyone thought she was
butch, especially with her short hair. I She looked like the
stereotypical butch lesbian: short cropped hair, baggy clothes
and heavy boots.
 words for describing activities that are only
done by men, or organizations or places that
are only used by men
male
masculine
male/mell! [adj only before noun]
More and more women are entering traditionally male jobs
such as engineering. I The school was a predominantly male
environment, with only four women on the staff. I all-male

MAN 83] MANAGER
(=only for men) I'm sorry, Madam, you can't come in. This
is an all-male club.
masculine ! I meskj °ln! a masculine activity, organiza-
tion, place etc only involves men, usually because people
think that it is more suitable for men or that men are able
to do it better [adj only before noun]
"'Why should mathematics be considered a masculine
subject?" l Critics claim that softball is a feminized form of
the masculine sport of baseball.
6 what you call a man when you speak to him
or write to him
sir buddy
Mr mister
mate
sir/sot; strong s3:r/(used when you are speaking or writ-
ing to a man and want to show respect, especially when you
do not know his name)
I'm sorry sir, we're not serving chicken tonight. Can I recom-
mend the fish? I Dear Sir, I am writing to apply for the posi-
tion of Sales Executive advertised in yesterday's "Times'.
Mr/Irnstor/(used before a man's family name when you
are speaking or writing to him and want to be polite)
My new physics teacher is called Mr Elstone. I Dear Mr
Pritchard, I am writing to remind you that your rent is now
two months overdue.
mate ]rnet] (an informal British word used when you are
speaking to a man)
Do you want a game of pool, mate? I Oy, mate! You can 't park
there! I Just watch it, mate, or you'll be sorry.
buddy/b^di/(an informal American word used when
speaking to a man)
Hey, buddy! That's my parking space you took. I It's good
to see you, buddy! How've you been?
mister /mstr/ (a word used especially in American
English when you want to call to a man that you do not
know)
Hey, Mister! Look out!
i! manage DEAL WITH 4, MANAGER 5, SUCCEED IN
.:.
 DOING STH 1
::;:- manage: can do without/can manage without NEED 9
 manageable CONTROl 20
: management MANAGER 6
 management: the management MANAGER 3
manager IN CHARGE OF 4, MANAGER 1
@-MANAGER
someone whose job is to run part or all of a
company or other organization
1 someone who is in charge of one of the
departments or areas of activity in a company
or other organization
one of the top managers who control and
direct the work of a company or other
organization
the group of people who are in charge of a
company or other organization
someone who is directly below a manager in
position, and who helps the manager to do
their job
to be the manager of part or all of a company
or organization
the job or skill of being a manager
1 someone who is in charge of one of the
departments or areas of activity in a company
or other organization
manager
executive
manager/'menId3r/In CI
The manager of the hotel was extremely helpful. I A good
boss-subordinate relationship is essential if managers are
to get their jobs done. I marketing/accounts/technical/
general etc manager Ellis worked for a time as market-
ing manager for Dodo Publications. I The Republican cam-
paign manager was anxious to use the media to his
advantage.
executive/ig'zekjtiv/a word meaning manager that
you use especially when you want to make the person or
the job sound important In C1
We were visited by a young, dynamic executive from a small
computer company. I Ray Race, a former congressman, is
now an executive for a large charity. I sales/insurance/
business/personnel executive etc District sales execu-
tives will be visiting all the larger stores.
' one of the top managers who control and
direct the work of a company or other
organization
director managing director
president chief
chairman boss
chief executive
director/d'rekt r, da-/In C]
Turner, a director of one of our manufacturing divisions,
took on twelve new computer staff last month. I The direc-
tors are meeting today to discuss the company's future. I
financial/personnel/company etc director The finan-
cial director has some proposals for funding our expansion.
president /prezdnt/the top person in a company or
organization, especially in the US, who is in charge of
general plans and decisions In C]
The managing director, Lois Jarvis, took over as president
last month. I Following the oil spillage environmentalists are
expected to call for the resignation of the oil company's
president.
chairman/'tezrmon/the top person in a company or
organization, especially in Britain, who is in charge of
general plans and decisions In C]
Brian Cuthbertson is the chairman of the Associated Life
insurance company. I The chairman of Ford UK has flown
to New York for urgent talks.
chief executive/ti:f ;g'zekj°t;v/the top manager of
a large company or other organization who is in charge of
the daily running of that company or organization In C]
At 30, he became Australia's youngest chief executive. I She
is the chief executive of an international children's charity.
managing director /memd3i3 dlrektor/ the top
manager of a company or one of the large departments of
a company, who is in charge of its daily running In C]
In 1981, she joined Grant Computers and quickly became
managing director. I His small business was bought up by

MANAGER 832 manuscript
a large firm but he stayed on as managing director. I Tony
da Silva has been appointed managing director of the sales
division.
chief ]ti:f/a word used especially in newspapers, mean-
ing the top manager of a company or other organization In
C]
Terrorists kidnapped the supermarket chief, John Delaney. I
A meeting of police and fire chiefs has been called to discuss
security at airports. I Industry chiefs are calling on the Presi-
dent for more federal investment.
boss /bos II b:s/ an informal word used especially in
newspapers, meaning the top manager in a company or
other organization In C]
Talks between bosses and the unions broke down again early
this morning. I The frontpage of the paper announced, "Com-
pany bosses get record pay increases'.
3 the group of people who are in charge of a
company or other organization
the management head office
the board the powers that be
the management/6 ImmnldSmnt/ [n singular with
singular or plural verb in British English]
The unions have agreed to talks with the management over
the introduction of new machinery. I The management knows
that people play games on their computers at work, but has
not found a way to prevent it.
the board/ha Iba:rd/the group of top managers in a com-
pany, who meet regularly to make important decisions In
singular with singular or plural verb in British English]
Mr Johnson was appointed to the board in May this year. [
Last year the board approved use of funds to improve staff
dining areas. [ board meeting There is a board meeting
every Friday. [ the board of directors The chairman of the
board of directors has had a difficult job convincing every-
one to follow her proposals.
head office /hed ofs [[-'a:f-/ the group of top
managers of a company who work in its central office and
control the rest of the company's offices from there In
singular]
I got a message from head office. We have some important
visitors this afternoon. [ Her husband was moved to head
office in Washington last year.
the powers that be/6 paorz 6at 'bi:/an expression
meaning the management of an organization, used espe-
cially when the organization is so large that you do not
know who the management is and this annoys you In
phrase]
She promised to speak to the powers that be about the air con-
ditioning. [ The powers that be have decided that our lunch
breaks should be reduced to 45 minutes.
4 someone who is direct!y below a manager in
position, and who helps the manager to do
their job
assistant
deputy
second-in-command
assistant/s]stant/[n C]
Good morning, I am Mrs Fawcett and this is my assistant,
Jenny. I assistant manager/director/head teacher etc
He has a new job as Assistant Manager of the South-west
Bank.
deputy /'depjUti/ someone who is directly below a
manager in position, and who is officially in charge when
the manager is not there In C]
A deputy was appointed in case the manager became ill. I
I'm Ms Lapthorne, Ms Drayton's deputy. I deputy director/
manager/minister/principal etc The deputy director of
the national railroads announced a new plan of expansion
today.
second.in-command/,seknd n k'ma:nd [[ -mmnd/
someone in an organization who is directly below a
manager in position and who is in charge when the
manager is not there In C]
I left the details to John Hanney, who has been my second-
in-command for the past two years. I She had been second-
in-command at the nursing home and was now a senior
manager in one of the big Boston hospitals.
5 to be the manager of part or all of a company
or organization
manage
run
manage/'manlds/Iv T]
My husband manages a mill, 200 miles north of Bombay. I
Managing four pizza outlets is extremely hard work. I The
family business was skillfully managed by her elder brother,
Michael.
run/rAn/to be the manager of part or all of a company or
other organization and to be closely involved with the daily
work that is done there Iv T]
I run a secretarial agency. ] There was a Christmas party
at the day care centre run by the Black Community Pro-
gramme. ] Gabriel went to visit his brother, who was now
running a large dairy farm.
6 the job or skill of being a manager
management
managerial
management/'mmnldsmnt/In U]
Unrestricted communication is essential to good manage-
ment. I She has finished her training and is now looking for
a job in management. I Management decisions are often
made by committee rather than by individuals.
managerial /,mmn'd3aril / managerial position/
skills/ability/decisions etc (=connected with being a
manager) [adj only before noun]
In his first managerial job he helped develop a number of
new products. I Managerial skills and technical expertise are
often in short supply. I You must delegate some of the
managerial decisions to a lower level.
managerial MANAGER 6
managing director MANAGER 2
mandatory MUST 5
manhandle PUSH 3
mania OBSESSION 1
maniac/lunatic CRAZY 6
manifestation SIGN/INDICATION 1
manipulate CONTROL 1, USE A PERSON 1
mankind/humankind PERSON/PEOPLE 4
ly
man MAN 2
manned: be manned by WORKER 3
manner BEHAVE 5, WAY/MANNER 1
manner: all manner of VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 2
manner: in a ... way/manner WAY/MANNER 2
mannerism HABIT 1
manners POLITE 4
manners: have good manners POLITE 1
manpower WORKER 2
manslaughter KILL 2
manual INSTRUCTIONS 2
manufacture MAKE 5
manufacturer MAKE 8
manuscript WRITE 14
many
:.:': :L
m
LOTIA LARGE
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT

many
many
many:
many:
many:
many:
many:
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
a great many LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 3
fewof/not many of FEW/NOT MANY 4
how many AMOUNT 2
how many days/weeks etc TIME/HOW LONG 3
not as many/not so many LESS 1
many: not many FEW/NOT MANY 3
many: there aren't many around RARE 1
many: too many TOO/TO0 MUCH 2
many a time OFTEN 1
many thanks THANK 2
map out PLAN 1
mar SPOIL 1, 4
marathon LONG TIME 2
march PROTEST 2, 4, WALK 2, 13
margin EDGE 1
margin: win by a narrow margin WIN 6
marginal UNIMPORTANT 3
marital MARRY 15
mark CELEBRATE 1, MARK 1, 3, 4, 6,
RESULT/GRADE 1, 2, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 4
mark: be wide of the mark WRONG/INCORRECT 1
mark: leave your mark on EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
mark: make your mark SUCCESSFUL 1
mark: the l O00/two million ere mark LEVEL 1
MARK
a mark on a surface or object that spoils its
appearance
words for describing a surface or object that
has a mark on it
to make a mark on something accidentally
a mark on someone's skin
words for describing skin that has marks on it
a mark left by someone or something that
shows who or what left it
1 a mark on a surface or object that spoils its
appearance
mark patch
stain smudge
spot fingerprints
mark/mo:rk/a spot or line made by a liquid or substance
on clothes, furniture, the floor etc In C]
Who made these marks on the dining room table? [ She was
afraid to touch anything in the building in case she left dirty
marks. [ dirt/grease/pencil etc mark Try removing
crayon marks with detergent.
stain/sten/a large mark, often made by a liquid such as
coffee or wine, which is difficult or impossible to remove
[nC]
He dropped his coffee cup and a big stain spread all over his
newspaper. I I can't get this stain out of your shirt, I'm
afraid.I wine/oil/coffee etc stain The tablecloth had a red
833
MARK
wine stain in the middle. I The sunset was like a big red stain
on the horizon.
spat/spot II spa:t/ a very small mark, often made by a
liquid that has dried In C]
spot of ink/paint/blood etc There were spots of paint on
the carpet after we'd finished decorating. I A spot of blood
had dripped from his chin onto his shirt collar. I
ink/paint/oil etc spots The letter was covered in small ink
spots, as though his hand had been shaking as he wrote it.
patch/pmtj/a patch of something such as dirt, or grease
is a small area of dirt or oil on a surface, or object In C]
dirty/damp/greasy etc patch There was a damp patch on
the fioor where the roof leaked. I There will be icy patches
on the roads this morning. I patch of dirt/damp/grease
etc The kitchen walls were covered in patches of grease.
smudge/smndh/a dirty mark made when ink, paint or
another substance is accidentally rubbed on a surface [n C]
You'd better write the letter out again. It's got smudges all
over it. I Who left that horrible greasy smudge on the wall-
paper?
fingerprints/' firjgrprnts/dirty marks left by someone's
fingers In plural]
There were fingerprints all over my new book. [ I was
wearing a white dress, and I didn't want it ruined by kids"
fingerprints.
2 words for describing a surface or object that
has a mark on it
marked
stained
discoloured/discolored
marked Imo:rkt/[adj]
The sides of the bathtub were badly marked. I Marked sofas
and chairs were being sold for half their normal price. I The
table was much marked, showing the signs of all the hot
coffee mugs placed on it over the years.
stained/stelnd/an object or surface that is stained has
a large mark on it which is difficult or impossible to
remove [adj]
He wore an old black coat, stained in several places. I
stained by/from/with The wooden fioors of the cafe were
stained from years of people's muddy boots. I sweat/travel/
blood etc -stained She held out a paint-stained hand.
dlscoloured (British) I discolored (American)/ds-
kAlrd/something that is discoloured has lost some of its
original colour because it is old or damaged [adj]
She wore an old silk dress which was slightly discoloured
in places. [ We found a pile of faded, discolored photographs
in my grandfather's desk.
3 to make a mark on something accidentally
mark
stain
mark/mo:rk/[v T]
Don't put the saucepan there, it'll mark the table! I We
accidentally marked the wall when we were carrying the bed
upstairs.
stain/sten/if something, especially a liquid, stains some-
thing else, it leaves a large mark which is difficult or
impossible to remove Iv T]
Be careful not to spill any of that - it will stain your clothes. I
That bottle of ink got knocked over and it's stained the carpet
black.
mark
able [n
4 a mark on someone's skin
mark scar
pimple blotch
spot blemish
zit birthmark
freckle
/mo: rk/a small coloured area of skin that is notice-
C]

MARK
834
He had a mark on li, face where the box had fallen on him. I
The dog was brown, with a distinctive white mark on her
left leg. ] There are marks on your nose left by your glasses.
pimple/pmpdl/a small raised red mark, especially on
the face, that appears suddenly and remains for a short
time, often on young people [n C]
He had a large red pimple on his nose. ] The medicated lotion
is supposed to dry up pimples.
spot/spot I] spo:t/a British word meaning a small raised
red mark, especially on the face, that appears suddenly and
remains for a short time, often on young people In C]
When she was younger she had lovely skin, except for the
occasional spot. I I have a headache and some spots - the
doctor has told me to stay in bed.
zit/z,t/an informal word meaning a small raised red mark
especially on the face, that appears suddenly and remains
for a short time, often on young people In Cl
I can't go out tonight with this zit on my face!
freckle / ' frekdl/a very small, light-brown mark, usually
on the face and arms, which some light-skinned people
have from birth or get when they spend time in the sun In
CI
The girl had freckles and red hair. I I get freckles when I'm
out in the sun.
scar/sko:r/a permanent mark left after a cut or wound
has become healthy again In C l
He had a terrible scar across his forehead from hitting his
head on the bottom of a swimming pool. I After her car acci-
dent, Gabrielle needed twenty stitches, and she's still got the
scar.
blotch/blot ]] blo:t/a large red mark often caused by ill-
ness or nervousness etc. In C]
The doctor prescribed some cream for Anna's blotches. I His
face always came out in blotches when he was excited.
blemish / Iblem/a small mark that spoils the appearance
of someone's skin In C]
Her skin was perfect - not a blemish on it.
birthmark /Iba:rOmo:rk II ba:rmo:rk/ a mark, usually
red or brown, which is on someone's skin when they are
born and remains there all their life In C]
The police identified the girl from a birthmark on her leg.
5 words for describing skin that has marks on it
scarred freckled
pimply blotchy
spotty
scarred /sko:rd/ skin that is scarred has permanent
marks on it from cuts or wounds that have become healthy
again [adj]
He had black hair and a scarred face. I He was scarred from
a bullet during the war.
pimply / pmpli/covered in small raised red marks that
appear and stay for a short time, often on young people
[adj]
The first bank clerk was thin and pimply and only looked
about sixteen. I The room was full of pimply sweaty
adolescents.
spotty/'sport II 'spo:ti/a British word meaning covered
in small raised red marks that appear and stay for a short
time, often on young people [adj]
She's very pretty, it's a shame she's so spotty. I The spotty
teenager next door used to play his records loudly late at
night.
freckled/' frekald/covered in small, light-brown spots
[adj]
The little boys were freckled and fair-haired. I Her sleeves
were rolled up, showing her strong, freckled arms.
blotchy /blmi II Iblo:-/ covered in large red marks,
caused by illness, nervousness etc [adj]
I felt awful, and Ididn't want anyone to see my blotchy face,
so I stayed in bed. I blotchy from/with Her face was blotchy
from crying.
MARRY
6 a mark left by someone or something that
shows who or what left it
mark impression/imprint
footprint fingerprints/prints
tracks
mark/ma:rk/In C]
The hunter showed her the mark of a tiger that had drunk
at the river the previous evening. I finger/tyre/claw etc.
marks The visitor must have come on foot, as there were no
tyre-marks in the snow. I You could see the claw-marks on
his body where the animal had attacked.
footprint/' futpr;nt/a mark left on the ground by the foot
of a person, or animal In C usually plural l
He ran into the kitchen, leaving wet footprints behind him. I
The footprints in the yard were too big to be a dog's.
tracks/treks/a line of marks left on the ground by a
moving animal, person or vehicle In plurall
We followed the wheel tracks across the field. I The tracks,
which looked like a fox's, led directly into the forest.
impression/imprint/m pren, ' mprnt/a mark left on
a soft surface by something that was pressing into it In C]
The dog's teeth left an impression in the door. I Joan fell
asleep on the floor, and when she woke up the carpet had
made an imprint on her face.
fingerprints/prints/' frjgorprnts, prnts/the marks of
a person's fingers, which cannot be seen without using a
special powder, used by police to find out who did some-
thing In plural]
The police were examining the doors and windows, looking
for the burglar's fingerprints. I I had my fingerprints taken
when I applied for a work permit. I Her prints were identi-
fied on one of the glasses.
 marked MARK 2
marked: be marked by TYPICAL 4
market ADVERTISE 1, SHOP/STORE 5
market: corner the market SELL 17
market: on the market SELL 13
market: price sth out of the market EXPENSIVE 4
market: put sth on the market SELL 12
market: take sth off the market SELL 14
marketing ADVERTISE 2
markings PATTERN 1
marksman SHOOT 10
marooned MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 8
marriage MARRY :2, 8, 14
marriage: by marriage FAMILY 6
married: MARRY 12, 15
married: get married MARRY 1
marry MARRY 1, 9
marry: ask sb to marry you MARRY 3
marry into MARRY 1
marry off MARRY 6
MARRY
1 to get married
 the practice or custom of getting married
 to ask someone to marry you
4 to formally agree to get married
5 to have formally agreed to get married
 to find a husband or wife for someone
7 the person you are going to marry
8 the occasion when two people get married
 ways of saying that a religious or government
official performs a marriage ceremony
10 the people who get married
1 1 two people who are married to each other
1 words for describing someone who is married
t3 a married woman or man

MARRY 835 MARRY
t4 the relationship that two people have together
when they are married
t5 connected with or involving people who are
married
t6 not married
t7 someone whose husband or wife has died
1 to get married
get married remarry
marry get hitched
marry into elope
intermarry
get married/get 'madrid/[v phrase]
I hearyour daughter's getting married! I They got married
in a tiny church in Scotland. I get married to Mary had got
married to a local fisherman while she was on vacation.
marry/Immri/to get married to someone Iv I/T]
marry sb Will you marry me? I The only reason Carla mar-
ried Henry was because she was pregnant. I marry Do you
think your sister will ever marry?
marry into /'meri :ntu:/if you marry into a family or
a social class, you marry someone who belongs to it, and
become part of it yourself Iv T]
Stefan would like to marry into a family just like his own. I
The only reason Camilla has so much money is that she mar-
ried into the aristocracy. I marry into money (=marry
someone who is rich or whose family is rich) The only way
Steven will ever be successful is if he marries into money.
intermarry /  nta r meri/to marry someone of the same
family, race, religion, or social group Iv I]
It is typical for families in small remote villages to inter-
marry. I intermarry with Members of exclusive religious
sects tend to intermarry with other members, often chosen by
their parents.
intermarriage /nta rmerd5/ In U] Intermarriage
(=intermarrying) can be the cause of genetic disorders.
remarry / i ri:  meri/to marry again after a previous mar-
riage has finished Iv I/T]
It was a pity our father never remarried after our mother's
death. I remarry sb Elizabeth Taylor remarried Richard
Burton after they had divorced years earlier.
get hitched/get htft/an informal expression meaning
to get married Iv phrase]
So, when are you and Susan getting hitched? I Would you
think I'm crazy if I told you I'm going to get hitched again?
elope/i  bop/to secretly leave your home in order to get
married, especially without other people's approval or
permission [v I]
elope with Mary fell in love with Shelley and eloped with
him to the Continent in 1814. I elope Julia's family was furi-
ous when she and the volatile Irishman eloped one spring
night.
2 the practice or custom of getting married
marriage
marriage/'merd3/In U]
More and more people are deciding against marriage, prefer-
ring to live together instead. I Marriage is a very important
step and something that you should think about carefully
first. I Sex outside marriage used to be regarded as a very
serious sin.
3 to ask someone to marry you
ask sb to marry you
propose
pop the question
ask sb to marry you/,o:sk (sb) ta 'meriju: II ,ask-/[v
phrase]
Don't tell anyone, but Timothy has asked me to marry him.
Are you asking me tomarry you?
propose/prapaoz/to ask someone to marry you, espe-
cially in a formal way Iv I]
propose to Isn't it time you proposed to that girlfriend of
yours? You've been going out together for 5years. I propose
It was so romantic. He proposed while we were dancing in
the moonlight.
proposal [n C ] Two days after their first meeting, Tom made
Anna an official proposal of marriage. (=he formally
proposed)
pop the question/ipop 6a kwesffan 11 pa:p-/an infor-
mal or humorous expression meaning to ask someone to
marry you Iv phrase]
I wish he'd hurry up andpop the question. Sometimes Idon't
think he loves me at all.
4 to formally agree to get married
get engaged
engagement
fix/name/set the day
get engaged /,get inged3d/ifa man and a woman get
engaged, they formally agree to marry one another Iv
phrase]
We got engaged when I was 22 years old but we didn't get
married until I was ?9. I We have some wonderful news for
everyone - Sharon and I are getting engaged. I get engaged
to Pat got engaged to Harry just before he went to work in
Africa.
engagement/n geId3mant/a formal agreement by two
people to marry one another, or the period of time after the
agreement has been made public In C usually singular]
Paul and Miriam announced their engagement in yester-
day's newspapers. I Towards the end of their engagement,
Diana began to have serious doubts. I engagement to His
engagement to someone who wasn't a member of the church
came as a shock to many people. I break off the/your
engagement (=say that you no longer wish to get married)
When Anita discovered that Paulo had been seeing other
women she decided to break off their engagement. I engage-
ment ring (=a ring that a man gives a woman at the time
of their engagement) Charlotte went around showing off her
expensive engagement ring.
fix/name/set the day/ifiks, nem, set 6 de;/ to
decide on the exact day for the official marriage ceremony
Iv phrase]
Lizzie and George have finally fixed a day for their marri-
age. I Have the two of you set a date yet?
5 to have formally agreed to get married
be engaged
be engaged/bi: nged3d/[v phrase]
Tod and Ellen have been engaged for about three months
now. I be engaged to I'm engaged to Paul's sister.
6 to find a husband or wife for someone
marry off
arranged marriage
marry off/,mmri 'of II -'a:f/to find a husband or wife for
your child, especially your daughter, because this is con-
venient for you [phr v T]
marry sb/her/them etc off If they couldn't marry Ellen
off before her 21st birthday, nobody would marry her. I
marry off sb My uncle married off my cousin when she was
16. I marry sb off to Because of the scandal Roberta was
married off to a stranger and sent away from Rome.
arranged marriage/ rendsd merldS/a marriage in
which the parents choose a husband or wife for their child,
especially because this is the custom in their society In C]
Vikram 's parents have organized an arranged marriage for
him in India but he already has a girlfriend here. I In an
arranged marriage the husband often insists that the wife
brings a dowry. I Arranged marriages often grow into very
strong, loving relationships.

MARRY 836 MARRY
7 the person you are going to marry
flanc61fianc6e
bride-to-be/husband-to-be
fianc61fianc6e/fi'onSel II ,fio:n'sel/ [n C]
This is Richard, my fiance. I Pierre took his fiancee to meet
his parents for the first time.
bride-to-belhusband-to-be/,brald ta Ibi:, ihAzband ta
'bi:/a woman or man who is soon going to be married, used
especially when you are talking about the plans for the
wedding ceremony In CI
The magazine is aimed mainly at brides-to-be. I It's under-
standable if the husband-to-be feels nervous before the
ceremony.
8 the occasion when two people get married
wedding
marriage
wedding /'wedlrJ/ an official ceremony at which two
people get married, especially one with a religious service
and a party or meal afterwards In C]
Morn always cries at weddings. I After the wedding the bride
and groom went straight to the airport for their fiight to Fiji. I
white wedding (British) (=a marriage ceremony in a
church in which the woman wears a white dress)Areyou
going to have a white wedding?-I wedding ring/cere-
mony/invitation ete Have you sent out the wedding invi-
tation yet?
marriage /merld3/the ceremony at which two people
are legally married, whether it involves religion or not In
C]
City Hall keeps a reord of all the births, deaths and marri-
ages in the county. I The marriage took place without the
bride's parents' consent. I marriage eertifieate/licenee ete
After the blessing we had to go to the back of the church to
sign the marriage certificate.
 ways of saying that a religious or government
official performs a marriage ceremony
marry
marry/'mmri/[v T]
The priest who married us forgot his lines during the
ceremony. I Mum and Dad fell in love on the cruise and were
married by the ship's captain.
10 the people who get married
bride
groom/bridegroom
the happy couple
bride/braid/a woman at the time she gets married or just
after she is married In C]
Everyone turned around as the bride entered the church. I
Teenage brides are twice as likely to end up being divorced
as women who marry later. I He took his young bride to live
on the ranch in Wyoming.
groom/bridegroom/gru:m, braldgru:m/a man at the
time he gets married In C]
It is traditional for the groom to buy presents for the brides-
maids. I Can I take a photograph of the bride and groom?
the happy ©oupie/6a hmpi khpal/an informal expres-
sion meaning a man and a woman who have just got
married In phrase]
I'd like to propose a toast to the happy couple. I Everyone
waved goodbye as the happy couple drove away.
1 1 two people who are married to each otfer
couple
newlyweds
man and wife
couple / t kApal/ In C]
It was an elderly couple at the door, Mr and Mrs Rivers. I
They're a nice couple, aren't they? l married couple Shirley
and Bob are a young married couple with two small
children.
newlyweds/' nju:liwedz II 'nu:-/a man and woman who
have recently married In plural]
Everyone left at about midnight, leaving the newlyweds
alone at last. I The hotel seemed to be full of newlyweds.
man and wife/tmmn and watf/ a formal expression
meaning a married couple In phrase]
Morn burst into tears as the minister pronounced us man and
wife. I Terry and Meena aren't married but they live together
as man and wife.
1 2 words for describing someone who is married
married
married/'mmrid/ladjl
Are you married or single? I We've been married for 25years. 1
married to Geraldine was married to the richest man in
France and still pretended she couldn't afford a new outfit.
13 a married woman or man
wife spouse
husband partner
wife/waif/the woman that a man is married to In C]
My wife's career is very important to her. I Have you met the
Ambassador's wife? l Businessmen are often allowed to take
their wives on trips.
husband / hAzband/the man that a woman is married to
[n C]
I don "t like Francўca's husband very much. I How many hus-
bands would stay at home and take care of the children while
their wife goes out to work? I Gary's her second husband.
spouse/spaos, spaoz/a legal or official word for the man
or woman that someone is married to In C]
You may choose to pay income tax jointly or separately from
your spouse.
partner /'po:rtnar/the man or woman that someone is
married to or having a sexual relationship with In C]
It's nice to relax on a Friday night and have drink with your
partner. I The office party is on Friday, but partners aren't
invited.
1 4 the relationship that two people have together
when they are married
marriage
marriage/'mmrld3/[n C]
Over a third of all marriages now end in divorce. I After a
disastrous first marriage to a young soldier Kylie didn't feel
like rushing into another relationship. I What's the secret of
a successful marriage?
1 5 connected with or involving people who are
married
married
marital
matrimonial
married /'mmrid/ married name/life/allowance/
quarters etc (=that you have or experience because you
are married) [adj only before noun]
Is Robertson your married name? I After thirty-two years of
married life Barbara had no illusions left.
marital / ' mmrtl/belonging to or used by married people,
or happening within a marriage [adj only before noun]
The police have the power to stop people holding their mari-
tal disputes in public. I She's written books on marital vio-
lence in inner city homes. I marital status (=whether you
are married, single, or divorced)Age, sex and marital status
all affect earnings and income.

MARRY 837 matter-of-fact
matrimonial/,matr maonial-/a legal or official word
meaning belonging to or concerning a man and a woman
who are married [adj usually before noun]
In the divorce proceedings, Marianne agreed to give up all
rights to the matrimonial home. ] In any matrimonial con-
flict, it is always the children who suffer most.
1 6 not married
single spinster
unmarried eligible
bachelor
single/'Sil]gal/[adj]
Please fill in the section on the form that asks if you're single,
married or divorced. I Single women tend to live longer than
married women. I single parent Many of the children at the
school come from single parent families.
singles In plural] (=people who are single) They met at a
singles' bar.
unmarried /,An'mmrid-/ never having been married
[adj]
Mrs Travis has three unmarried sons. J Unmarried mothers
can usually receive help from the State or Federal
governments.
bachelor/'bmtalar/a man who has never been married
In C[
Ben was the only bachelor among all the married couples
and felt quite out of place. [ bachelor days/flat Now that
Derek's bachelor days were over he'd have to start behaving
in a more responsible manner.
spinster/splnstr/ a word that some people think is
offensive meaning a woman who has never married, espe-
cially a woman who is no longer young In C[
Both my father's sisters were spinsters. [ spinster aunt/sis-
ter/lady etc Sally lives with her mother and her spinster
aunt.
eligible !'eldsbal! rich, attractive, and not married, and
therefore very desirable as a husband or wife [adj]
eligible bachelor The world saw Jack as a rich eligible
bachelor but really he was very shy. I eligible His father
presented him with several eligible middle class girls.
17 someone whose husband or wife has died
widow
widower
widowed
widow/'widao/a woman whose husband has died and
who has not married again In C]
Mr Jarvis died yesterday, leaving a widow and four chil-
dren. [ Gayle has a very successful and contented life, even
though she's been a widow for the last five years.
widower/'wldauar/a man whose wife has died and who
has not married again In C]
He's been a widower for 8 years but he really wants to
remarry.
widowed/'widoud/if someone is widowed, their wife or
husband has died and they have not married again [adj]
doyce had come to Tucson to live with a recently widowed
aunt. [ Elizabeth had to work very hard to pay off the debts
that appeared when she was widowed.
masculine
mash
mashed
mask
masochist
martyr DIE 4, SUFFER 5
manellouslwondeullfantasticlterrific
GOOD/EXCELLENT 2, 3, 5
MAN 2, 3, 4, 5
SQUASH 1
SQUASH 2
HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
SUFFER 5
masquerade as PRETEND 2
mass CROWD 1, 3
mass media: the media/the mass media
TELEVISION/RADIO 6
mass-produce MAKE 5
massacre KILL 8, 9
masses of: loads of/tons of/masses of/scads of
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
masses: the masses CLASS IN SOCIETY 4
massive BIG 2, 8
master LEARN 1
mastermind PLAN 1 8
'
masterpiece GOOD/EXCELLENT 8
match EQUAL 2, 4, GAME/MATCH 1 SAME 2,
,
SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2
match: be more than a match for BEAT/DEFEAT 1
BETTER 1
match: be no match for GOOD AT 11
match: meet your match LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION, OR WAR 1
match: not go with/go together/match SUIT/LOOK
GOOD TOGETHER 3
match: put a match to BURN 4
match/game GAME/MATCH 1
matched: be well-suited/well-matched SUITABLE 2
match up SAME 7
matching SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2
mate FRIEND 1, MAN 6, SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 2
material MATERIAL 1, SUBSTANCE 1
MATERIAL
I material that is used to make clothes, curtains
etc
1 material that is used to make clothes, curtains
etc
material fabric
cloth textile
material Im'tIarill cloth such as cotton or wool, used
to make clothes, sheets, curtains etc [n C/U]
The curtains are made from a very expensive woven
material. [ Some materials are easier to dye than others. [
Lizzie felt the soft, thin material between her fingertips. [
dress/curtain ere material She bought four metres of
dress material.
cloth IkloO [[ kb:OI material used especially for making
clothes In U]
This is a beautiful suit, and the cloth it's made of is pure
wool. I The stalls in the market were selling rolls of brightly-
coloured cloth.
cloth [adj] Simon carried his tools in a cloth bag (=a bag
made of cloth).
fabric/'fmbrik] material, especially material that is made
by mixing different types or colours of thread and is used
for making clothes, curtains, covers for furniture etc In
C/U[
Julie wanted to get some fabric to make up a jacket. [ Fur-
nishing and upholstery fabrics are also produced to match
the furniture. [Man-made fabrics, such as polyester, are
cheaper than cotton or linen and do not crease as easily.
textile /'tekstail! a word used especially in business or
economics, meaning woven material that is made in large
quantities, usually in a factory In C]
Textiles are one of Mexico's main exports. [ This shirt has
been manufactured using an advanced new textile. [ The tex-
tile industry is booming, with profits up 15% on last year.
materialistic GREEDY 2
materialize HAPPEN 4
maternal MOTHER 4, 5
maternity BABY/HAVE A BABY 8
matrimonial MARRY 15
matt SHINY 5
matter SUBJECT 1, SUBSTANCE 1
matter: it doesn't matter UNIMPORTANT 1, 2
matter: it doesn't matter to me DON'T CARE 2
matter: take it/the matter up with COMPLAIN 1
matter of fact: as a matter of fact IN FACT 1, 3
matter-of-fact EMOTIONAL 6

matter of life and death 88 MAYBE
i matter of life and death: be a matter of life and death
,i IMPORTANT 4
matter of time: be only/just a matter of time
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
-- matters: to make matters worse WORSE 5
!i mature ADULT 3, GROW/GET BIGGER 1,2, SENSIBLE 1
maturity ADULT2
maudlin EMOTIONAL 4
maximize INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
 maximum LIMIT 1, MOST4
: may LET/ALLOW 5
may as well/might as well SUGGEST 3
may be...but... ALTHOUGH 1
 may ! LET/ALLOW 3
: may/might MAYBE 1
ili may well PROBABLY 1
.
, may well/easily PROBABLY 2
 maybelperhaps MAYBE 1, 2, 3
MAYBE
ways of saying that you think it is possible
that something may happen or may be true,
but you are not certain
t ways of saying maybe
2 ways of showing that a number, amount, time
etc that you are stating is only a guess, and
that you are not certain that it is correct
3 ways of showing that a suggestion, plan, idea
etc is not very definite and you are not sure
about it
1 ways of saying maybe
 maybelperhaps who knows?
may/might there's a chance
it is possible you never know
possibly conceivably
could
maybe/perhaps/'mebi, pa r'heps/[adv]
"q/Vill you be there tomorrow?" "'I don't know. Maybe. "1 This
is perhaps his funniest novel. I I'm not sure why I couldn't
sleep. Perhaps it was the coffee. I "'It won't take you long to
finish that work." "Maybe not, but I want to do it as well
as I can. "1 The footprints obviously belonged to a large cat,
a tiger perhaps. I It was hard to believe Jason was guilty.
Maybe there was another explanation. "
may/might/mei, maIt/if you say that something may or
might be true or that it may or might happen, you have
some reason to believe that it will happen or that it is true,
but you are not certain; may is more common than might
in written English, might is more common than may in
spoken English [modal verb]
Take your umbrella -you might need it. I The report states
that the man may have been murdered. I I've got a meeting
this evening, so I might be a little late home tonight. I
Employees are expected to deal pleasantly and efficiently
with any problems that may arise.
it is possible/It Iz Iposbal 1[ -ipa:-/you say it is possi-
ble when you think there is a small possibility that some-
thing will happen or that something is true, but you do not
think it is very likely
it is possible (that) It's possible that we may be a little late,
but we'll try to be on time. [ I might have to work on Satur-
day, so it's possible I won't be able to come to your party. [
it is possible I'm not sure if you can use dollars in Russia,
although it is possible. [ it is just possible (that) (=there
is a very small possibility) It'sjust possible that he'll be in
the team on Saturday, but I doubt it.
possibly/posbli II po:-/if a statement, explanation etc
is possibly true or likely, you are guessing that it is but
you do not have enough facts or information to be sure
lady]
"'Am I going to lose the baby, doctor? .... Possibly. I don't
know." I They have a room of their own - possibly for the
first time in their lives. I Police believe he might possibly have
killed himself. I We can expect a significant warming of the
Earth, with possibly disastrous effects.
could/kad; strong kod/if you think that something could
happen or could be true, you are not certain but you think
it is fairly likely Imodal verbl
The war could end within a month. I It could have been my
fault, but I checked all the figures carefully. I He didn't want
to admit that this could be the end of his marriage.
who knows? !,hu: 'naoz/you say who knows? when
you think something m.ay be true, but you are not certain
and do not really care
"Will you still be working here next year? .... Who knows?
Maybe I will, maybe I won't." I Maybe he wasn't telling the
truth. Who knows? - and does it really matter?
there's a chance /6earz a 'ta:ns II-'tJmns/you say
there's a chance that something may happen, when you
think it is unlikely but still possible
"'It's hopeless isn't it, doctor? .... There's still a chance, if the
drugs are effective. "[ there's a chance (that) There's just
a chance that she left her keys in the office, so I'm going to
look. [ there's  slim chance (=there's a very small chance)
I'd say there's a slim chance, but no more than that, so don't
get your hopes up.
you never know/ju: ,neva r 'naol an informal expres-
sion that you use when you think that something may
happen, but you are not certain because it is difficult to say
what will happen in the future
Try it! You never know, you might be lucky. [ He may beat
her the next time. You never know. [ It might have been better
if she'd had kids, though you never know.
conceivably/kan'si:vabli/if you think something may
conceivably happen or be true, you can imagine that it is
possible but you think it is very unlikely lady]
The visiting professor from Sri Lanka might conceivably
know your cousin if she is also an academic. [ It is still
unlikely, but unemployment could conceivably begin to fall
by the end of the year.
' ways of showing that a number, amount, time
etc that you are stating is only a guess, and
that you are not certain that it is correct
maybe/perhaps
possibly
maybe/perhaps/'meIbi, pa r'heps/ [adv]
It's going to be three weeks before they are finished, maybe
even four. I With a bit of luck I'll get the baby to bed at maybe
half past nine, ten o'clock. I We were in a large office, hold-
ing perhaps fifty desks, and with only one small window at
the far end.
possibly/'posbli [[ 'po:-/if a number, amount, time etc
is possibly correct, you think that it may be correct but
you are not certain [adv]
It may possibly be ten or eleven o'clock before I get home
tonight. [ Trade between the two countries began in the 11th
century, possibly even earlier. [ quite possibly (=very pos-
sibly) The examination hall was vast, with at least 700 or
800 students and quite possibly 1000.
3 ways of showing that a suggestion, plan, idea
etc is not very definite and you are not sure
about it
maybe/perhaps
maybe/perhaps/'meibi, po r'hmps/ [adv]
I think perhaps I'll take a bath before dinner. [ If you want
a new summer dress, perhaps have a look in Marks and
Spencer. [ Maybe next time we go to the theatre we should
leave half an hour earlier. [ We thought maybe we should
lower the price we are asking for the house.

MC 839 MEAL
MC PRESENT/INTRODUCE A SHOW 2
McCoy: the real McCoy REAL/NOT FALSE OR
ARTIFICIAL 1
meagre/meager LITTLE/NOT MUCH 4
meal MEAL 1
meal: make a meal of DIFFICULT 11
@ MEAL
meal
meal eaten in the morning
meal eaten in the middle of the day
meal eaten in the evening
formal occasion when a meal is eaten
very large meal
small meal
9
a meal that you buy from a restaurant but
then eat somewhere else, especially at home
part of a meal
1 a meal
meal
feed
meal/mi:l/the food that you eat at certain times of the day,
for example when you get up, in the middle of the day, and
in the evening, usually sitting down with other people [n C]
Most people eat three meals a day. I Jeff cooked us a delicious
meal last night. ] Paul sat silent all through the meal. ] main
meal (-the biggest meal of the day) In many countries the
main meal is eaten in the middle of the day.
feed ]fi:d] the meal, consisting only of milk, that a baby
has In C]
Her baby has its lunchtime feed then goes to sleep. ] A young
baby needs small feeds at frequent intervals.
 a meal eaten in the morning
breakfast
brunch
breakfast/' brekfst/the meal you eat when you get up
in the morning In C/U]
After breakfast he started work in the garden. [ I only have
a bowl of cereal for breakfast. [At the weekend George
usually brings me breakfast in bed. ] A maid prepares the
breakfasts for the guests.
brunch /br^nq/ a word used especially in American
English, meaning a meal eaten late in the morning, as a
combination of breakfast and lunch In C/U]
On the first day of the vacation we all slept late then had a
huge brunch. [ They served smoked salmon, cream cheese
and bagels for brunch.
 a meal eaten in the middle of the day
lunch midday meal
dinner picnic
lunch/IAntJ'/the meal eaten in the middle-of the day In
C/U]
They had an early lunch and spent the afternoon shopping. I
At work we are allowed one hour for lunch. ] go to lunch
(=go somewhere to eat lunch) Lindsay went to lunch at a
small Italian restaurant.
dinner ] 'dlnor/a British word meaning the meal eaten in
the middle of the day In C/U]
He comes home for his dinner then goes back to the factory. I
school dinner (=dinner which is provided for children at
school) She used to hate school dinners. I Sunday/Christ-
mas dinner (-a large formal meal on a Sunday or on
Christmas Day) We had some friends round for Sunday
dinner.
midday meal/,mldode; 'mi:l/a British word meaning
the meal eaten in the middle of the day, used especially
when describing what happens in other countries In C]
In Spain, the midday meal almost always starts with tomato
salad. I The midday meal was carried out to the fields where
the harvesters were working.
picnic/'pknk/a meal that you take with you to eat out-
side In C]
We took a picnic down to the beach. I The weather was awful
so we had to cancel the picnic we had planned.
4 a meal eaten in the evening
dinner tea
supper evening meal
dinner/' dnr/the meal eaten in the evening, especially
if it is a special occasion or there are guests In C/U]
What shall we have for dinner? I I sat next to Leonora at
dinner. I It was a wonderful evening - a movie, then dinner
at a Greek restaurant.
supper / 'snpr/a meal eaten in the evening at home with
the family In C/U]
I have to go home soon. It's time for my supper. I They often
have supper in front of the TV. I I heated up some left-over
chicken for supper then went to bed.
tea/ti:/a British word meaning a meal eaten early in the
evening In C/U]
The children came home from school, had tea and did their
homework. I Tea that evening was a big meal of bacon, eggs
and sausages.
evening meal/,i:vnrJ 'mi:l/a word meaning the meal
eaten in the evening, used especially when describing what
happens in other countries In C I
After the evening meal they sat around the cookingfire and
talked. ] Preparing the evening meal can take up to three
hours.
5 a formal occasion when a meal is eaten
dinner party
dinner
banquet
dinner party/'dIn r ,pa:rti/a formal evening meal in
your home to which you invite several friends or guests
In CI
I first met Julia at a dinner party. I give a dinner party
(=invite people to a dinner party) When Lord Finchley gives
a dinner party he expects the guests to wear formal dress.
dinner/'d;nor/a formal evening meal for a large number
of people, especially in a public place such as a hotel In C]
She had a ticket for a dinner and fashion show at the Castle
Hotel. I Ann and I attended a dinner at the City Chamber of
Commerce.
banquet/'bmqkwt/a special formal meal with a lot of
very good food and a large number of people, especially
important people, which usually takes place on a special
public occasion In C]
This painting shows a royal banquet in progress. I A huge
banquet was planned to celebrate the city's millennium.
a very large meal
three-course meal
feast
spread
slap-up meal
heavy
three.course meal / iOri: ko:rs 'mi:l/a large meal with
three separate parts, of the type that is usually served in
restaurants In C]
I can't eat a three-course meal at lunch time - it's just too
much.
feast/fi:st/a very large meal for a large number of people,
to celebrate a special occasion In C!
There were over sixty guests at the wedding feast. I The
Christmas celebrations in Fiji are rounded off by a huge feast
on Christmas Day.

MEAL 840 MEANING
spread/spred/an informal British word meaning a large
meal for several people In C]
They were looking forward to the spread that Judith had
prepared.
slap-up meal / ,sleep np 'mid/an informal British word
meaning a large meal with a lot of good food In C]
If they give me the job I'll take you out for a slap-up meal.
heavy/'hevi/heavy meal/lunch/dinner etc (--one in
which you eat a lot of food) [adj usually before noun]
You shouldn't eat a heavy meal before going swimming. I
After a heavy lunch my father fell asleep almost immediately.
7 a small meal
light bite
snack refreshments
light/lait/light meal/lunch etc (--one in which you eat
only a small amount of food) ladj usually before noun]
She prepared a light lunch of salad and cheese. I You can
have a light meal four hours before the game but only have
drinks after that.
snack/snmk/something such as an apple, some bread, or
a bar of chocolate which you eat between meals In C]
Just before bedtime he had a snack of bread and cheese. I The
children have mid-morning snacks at about 11 o'clock -
usually fruit and a drink.
bite/bat/an informal word meaning a very small meal
that you eat quickly In singularJ
We'll have a bite then go into town. I bite to eat There's just
time for a quick bite to eat before the film begins.
refreshments/r: ' fremonts/small amounts of food and
drink that are provided for people at a party, meeting etc
In plural]
The children walked around at the party offering refresh-
merits. I Refreshments were available at the school parents'
evening. There were sandwiches and cakes, tea and coffee.
8 a meal that you buy from a restaurant but
then eat somewhere else, especially at home
takeawayltakeout
to take away/to go
takeaway (British) I takeout (American)/'telkowe,
'telkaot/[n C]
I don't feel like cooking tonight - can we get a takeaway? I
Those men seem to live on Chinese takeouts and beer.
to take away (British) I to go (American)/to ,telk o'we,
to 'gaul food or drink to take away or to go is intended to
be taken away from the restaurant where you have bought
it so that you can eat it somewhere else [adv phrase]
Joe ordered a slice of pizza and a coke to go. I Do you want
that hamburger to eat here or to take away?
9 part of a meal
course
dish
course/ka:rs/one of the three or four parts that a meal
in a restaurant usually consists of In C]
The waiter brought the first course, a simple leek and potato
soup. [ main course (=the biggest course in a meal) For the
main course we had roast turkey with vegetables.
dish/d/a particular kind of food cooked in a particular
way and served at a meal In C]
My favourite Italian dish is lasagne. [ About ten minutes
before serving the dish, sprinkle it with grated cheese.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
. mean ..............................
n  b°'aning?
have a meaning
cruel to other people
intend to do
something
not generous
MEANING
CRUEL
INTEND
mean CRUEL 3, GENEROUS 2, MEANING 1, 3, 4,
SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 1, 6, UNKIND 1,
UNPLEASANT 1
mean: know what sb means UNDERSTAND 1
mean: not intend/not mean to do sth INTEND 2
mean: not mean it SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 6
mean: not mean to do sth DELIBERATELY 4
mean: take sth to mean UNDERSTAND 6
mean: understand sth to mean UNDERSTAND 6
mean/be everything to IMPORTANT 5
mean business DETERMINED 1
mean it SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 1
mean the world to LOVE 3
mean to: be meant to be CERTAINLWDERNITELY 5
mean to: be meant to/supposed to PURPOSE 2
mean to do sth INTEND 1
mean well INTEND 5
meaning MEANING 2
MEANING
10
11
12
ways of saying that a word, sign, picture etc
has a particular meaning
the meaning of a word, sign, story etc
to mean something by what you say
ways of saying that a fact, event, or what
someone says or does has a particular
meaning
ways of saying that a fact, event, action etc
seems to have a particular meaning, but this
is not directly stated
to explain the meaning of a word or phrase
to believe that something has a particular
meaning, even though this meaning is not
directly stated
someone's opinion about the probable
meaning of a word, statement, or action
ways of saying what the simplest and most
important meaning of a statement is
the simple, general meaning of a statement
having two meanings, so that it is not clear
which one is intended
having no meaning
1 ways of saying that a word, sign, picture etc
has a particular meaning
mean stand for
signify symbolize
represent denote
mean/mi:n/[v T not in progressive]
mean sth The name Peter means "rock'. I What does that
sign mean? I "Poultry" means chickens, ducks, turkeys and
geese. I mean (that) The red light means that the battery is
low.

MEANING 81 MEANING
signify /'signl fax/if an object, picture, movement etc sig-
nifies something, it is used as a sign to represent that thing
Iv T not in progressive]
signify sth The priest explained that the four animals
signify four Kings. I The eight marks on the knife signified
the members of his patrol who had been killed in action. I
signify that In the experiment the mice were able to recog-
nize that certain marks on a door signified that there was
food behind the door.
represent /repr]zent/ if a shape, letter, object etc
represents something, it is used as a sign for that thing
in a map, plan, calculation etc Iv T not in progressive]
These symbols on the map represent churches. I Single letters
or combinations of letters represent different phonetic
sounds.
stand for/'stnd fa:r/ if a letter, group of letters, or a
number stands for something such as a word, it is a short
way of saying or writing it Iv T not in progressive]
NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ]
Each symbol stands for a specific numerical value. [ What
does the F in John F. Kennedy stand for?
symbolize (also .ise British)/'s,mbolaizl if something
such as an object or animal symbolizes an idea or quality
it is used as a sign to mean that idea or quality, especially
in a story, ceremony, or in a society Iv T not in progressive ]
The lion symbolizes strength, the lamb symbolizes gentle-
ness. I Cowardice is symbolized in the painting by the white
feathers on the soldier's coat. I In Europe, the colour white
symbolizes purity but in Asia it is often the symbol of deep
mourning.
denote/di Inns/a word used especially in a technical con-
text: if a word or number denotes something, it means it
in a very exact sense Iv T not in progressive]
The dotted line on the graph denotes profits. I The quantity
denoted by the letter E varies from experiment to experiment. I
The English word "family" used to denote all the people in
the house, including servants.
2 the meaning of a word, sign, story etc
meaning significance
sense definition
meaning/'mi:nirj/In C/U]
This word has several different meanings. ] The simplest
meaning of the word "myth" is a story about a god. ] Seman-
tics is the study of meaning. ] a novel with many shades of
meaning
sense/sens/one of the meanings that a particular word
can have In C]
The usual sense of the word "floor" is the one referring to part
of a room. ] broadest sense (=least restricted and most
general sense) He used the term "democratic" in its broadest
sense. ] strictest sense (=most restricted and exact sense)
In the strictest sense, "sympathy" means having the same
feelings.
significance/s ig'nlfrkans/the important meaning that
something has, especially if the meaning is not immedi-
ately clear In U]
Freud explained the significance of some of the objects and
situations in Anna's dream. I In the masonic ceremony of
initiation, the apron has special significance.
definition /deQ'mfan/ the way that you explain the
meaning of a word In C]
Could one of the class give me a definition of the word
"equilibrium'? ] Obviously your definition of 'rich' is very
different from mine.
3 to mean something by what you say
mean
mean/mi:n/Iv T not in progressive]
mean sth When you said 'the editor', did you mean me? [
She's kind of irritable, if you know what I mean. [ mean
(that) I meant that we would have to leave early, that's alL[
What I meant was that I wouldn't have time to help, not that
I didn't want to.
4 ways of saying that a fact, event, or what
someone says or does has a particular
meaning
mean
implications
mean/mi:n/Iv T not in progressive]
mean (that) When he didn't call for two days I thought it
meant I wouldn "t get the job. [ This decision means we'll have
to spend another Ј3000 on training and development. [ mean
sth She snapped at me the other day, but that doesn't mean
anything, she's often in a bad mood.
implications/, mpl 'keIj'nz / the implications of some-
thing are the things that will probably happen in the future
as a result of it In plural]
This decision has very serious political implications. I impli-
cations of What are the implications of ozone depletion? I
implications for A meeting was called to discuss privati-
sation of the bus company and the implications for its 10,000
employees.
5 ways of saying that a fact, event, action etc
seems to have a particular meaning, but this
is not directly stated
suggest implication
imply undertone
suggest/sa'dsest II sag-/ if a statement, fact, event etc
suggests that something is true, it seems to mean that it
is true or could be true, but this is not directly stated Iv T
not in progressive]
suggest (that) She hasn't written back to me, which sug-
gests that she may not have got my letter. I The victim had
marks on his neck which seemed to suggest he had been
strangled. I suggest sth It is still not clear what these facts
suggest -perhaps a new strain of the virus, or a completely
new virus.
Imply/xmplaq if a statement, fact, event etc implies that
something is true, it suggests very strongly that it is true
although it is not certain because it does not say so directly
Iv T not in progressive]
imply (that) The way he greeted the boys seemed to imply
that he knew them quite well. I Just the fact that he's written
to you implies he likes you. I imply sth His criticisms implied
a lack of confidence in my work.
implication/, Impl  'ke i fan I a meaning that is suggested,
but not directly stated in an argument, statement, piece of
writing etc In C/U]
He never called me a thief but that was obviously the impli-
cation. I implication that In all these sex surveys there is
always the implication that there is some sort of ideal sex life
that we should aim for. I by implication (=the implication
is that) The judiciary and, by implication, the government,
is seen as utterly corrupt.
undertone / 'Andartaon/a feeling or attitude that seems
to be part of the meaning of a statement, even though it is
not directly stated In C]
The article about the club owner, Abe Mossman, has obvi-
ous racist undertones. I There was an unmistakable under-
tone of nationalist resentment in many of their remarks.
6 to explain the meaning of a word or phrase
define
define/dx'fain/Iv T]
The dictionary defines 'milliner'as 'hat-maker'. I Democratic
government is a phrase that is notoriously hard to define. I
It all depends on how you define being unfaithful.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

MEANING
7 to believe that something has a particular
meaning, even though this meaning is not
directly stated
interpret read between the
understand sth lines
to mean take sth as
read into infer
interpret I]ntt3: rprtl to choose to believe that what some-
one says or does has a particular meaning, especially if it
is not easy to understand or is not completely clear Iv T1
interpret sth as They are worried that the workers might
interpret the new law as a restriction of their rights. I I inter-
preted her silence as anger. ] interpret sth This dream can
be interpreted in several different ways. I How would you
interpret her letter? Is she really hostile or just being ironic?
understand sth to mean/^ndortstand (sth) t tmi:n/
to think that something has a particular meaning even
though you can not be completely sure that this is what it
means Iv phrase l
I understood that comment to mean that he was leaving
because the pay was too low. I Democracy was originally
understood to mean the people governing themselves.
read into / 'ri:d ntu:/to think that something has a mean-
ing that it does not in fact have, especially by thinking that
it is more important than it really is [phr v T]
read sth into sth Be careful not to read your own modern
opinions into this story. [ The statement criticized journalists
for reading too much into what he had said about the war. ]
read into sth sth Some critics have read into the more
macabre scenes a subconscious hatred of his parents.
read between the lines /,ri:d bitwi:n (5o 'la;nz/ to
guess the real meaning of something by thinking very care-
fully and noticing that the meaning is different from what
it at first seems to be Iv phrase]
He seems happy when he talks about his family but reading
between the lines I think he has a lot of problems. I Reading
between the lines this declaration from the US government
seems to be anti-Russian propaganda.
take sth as / 'teIk (sth) ez/to believe that what someone
does or says has a particular meaning, especially if you
think it shows their attitude towards you [phr v T]
take sth as an insult/compliment/sign etc You must go
to the party. If you refused he'd take it as a great insult! ] The
investors took this interest rate cut as a sign that the Govern-
ment was desperate. [ I take it as a compliment when my stu-
dents ask questions after class.
infer / In  f3'r/a formal word meaning to think that some-
thing is true because another fact makes it seem likely,
even though it does not prove it completely Iv TI
infer that It seems reasonable to infer that the cause was
not sabotage but a simple accident. I We can infer from the
archaeological evidence that there was slavery in Carthage. I
infer sth From this, astronomers can infer the presence of
many more "black holes'.
8 someone's opinion about the probable
meaning of a word, statement, or action
interpretation
reading
understanding
interpretation/In,t3:rpr I 'telJ'an/[n C/U]
Freud was very interested in the interpretation of people's
dreams. I Recent feminist writers offer fresh interpretations
of the female condition. [ open to interpretation (=can be
interpreted in more than one way) The main character is
morally ambiguous, his actions open to more than one
interpretation.
reading/'ri:d0/someone's opinion about the meaning
of a statement, an event, or a situation after considering
all the available information In singular]
What's your reading of the latest trade figures? l My read-
ing of the situation is that this conflict is likely to get worse
over the next few months.
842
MEANING
understanding /,AndO r'standIl]/ someone's opinion
about the meaning of a piece of writing or an action, used
especially when they realize that there are other possible
meanings In singular]
The parents" understanding of their child's behaviour was
completely mistaken. [ That was not my understanding of
the regulations, and I resent your accusation that I failed to
follow them correctly.
9 ways of saying what the simplest and most
 important meaning of a statement is
boil down to/ in other words
come down to to that effect
amount to basically/essentially
boil down to/come down to I,b0]l 'daon tu:,
if a long statement, argument, discussion etc boils down
to or comes down to a simple fact, that is its simplest and
most important meaning [v T not in progressive]
The argument boiled down to him saying I did and me
saying l didn't. I That's what it boils down to then: he's not
prepared to help us. I In political terms it all boils down to
one alternative - socialism or barbarism.
amount to/o'maont tu:/ifa statement amounts to some-
thing, that is what it means or that is the effect it has, espe-
cially if this is something that the person making the state-
ment was deliberately trying to avoid Iv T not in progres-
sivel
The fact that he said he was sorry after the accident amounts
to a confession of guilt. I Their request for better working con-
ditions amounted to a criticism of the management.
in other words /In tAbO r twa:rdz/ you say in other
words when you are going to make clear the meaning of
something you have just said, using simpler words to do
so [ adv phrase]
He prides himself on his powers of persuasion - or, in other
words, his salesmanship. I The books and materials are kept
on closed access, in other words available only to the library
staff.
to that effect/to t bzet  tfekt/you say that someone said
something to that effect, when you are giving the general
meaning of what they said, even if you do not use the same
words [adv phrase]
I thought he was wrong and I said something to that effect
at dinner. I words to that effect James said he was
unhappy in his work or words to that effect.
basically/essentially/'belsikli, [ 'senJ'ali/you say bas-
ically, or essentially, as a way of introducing the general
meaning of a longer or more complicated statement [adv]
I won't read it all to you, but basically they want us to leave
the house. ] Basically, the article is in favour of disarmament
but with a few reservations. I This is essentially the same
argument that Arnold used in 'Culture and Anarchy'.
10 the simple, general meaning of a statement
gist thrust
drift point
essence substance
gist/d3ist/the main idea and meaning of something such
as an article or a speech [n singular]
the gist of The gist of the speech was that the recession was
the result of our economic policy. I I don't know the whole
story but this is the gist of it. ] get the gist of(=understand
the gist of something) Read the article once through to get
the gist of it.
drift/drift/the main set of ideas involved in something
such as an explanation, argument, or account of something
In singular]
catch/get/follow the drift (=understand the drift) It was
a complicated argument but I think I caught his drift. ] I
follow your drift, but I just don't believe it. ] the drift of The
drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.
essence/'esansl the most important meaning or charac-
teristic of something such as an argument or piece of writ-
ing In singular]

MEANING 843 MEASURE
The essence of his argument is that human character is
formed by society. [ The essence of the artist's message is that
the earth is dying and it must be saved.
tlrust/0r^st/the most important message of an argument,
explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of con-
nected ideas leading to a final answer or idea In singular]
the thrust of It is difficult to argue with the thrust of David-
son's analysis of the situation. ] The overall thrust of her
argument was that women are still oppressed in all areas
of life.
point/pint/the main idea of an argument, discussion, or
statement etc that shows its general or most important
meaning In C]
the point of I didn't understand the point of the poem. ]
What exactly is the point of Dad's argument? [ the main
point The book's main point is to show how violent life is
in America. [ miss the point (=not understand the main
idea) The talk was about symbolism in art - Len missed the
point and thought it was about painting techniques.
substance / 'sAbstns/a formal word meaning the most
important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writ-
ing In singular]
The substance of Marx's views is the same in both of these
books. 1 From the substance of Durkheim's analysis the two
types of belief are clearly distinguished.
1 1 having two meanings, so that it is not clear
which one is intended
ambiguous
ambiguous/em'bigjus/[adj]
Unfortunately the instructions were ambiguous and .we
didn't know which part of the program to run. [ She left a
very ambiguous message on the answerphone last night. [
The results of the experiments were ambiguous and they will
have to be done again.
ambiguously [adv] The declaration was ambiguously
worded.
12 having no meaning
meaningless
meaningless /'mi:nr31s/ meaningless statements,
questions, phrases etc have no meaning and are therefore
useless, wrong, or stupid [adj]
I wish politicians would tell us the truth, instead of repeat-
ing their meaningless prepared answers. 1 The statement
issued by the authorities was meaningless. [ It is meaning-
less to ask what is 'real" or 'imaginary" in a story.
! .... meaningless MEANING 12, PURPOSE 4
; means MONEY 6, WAY/METHOD 3
' means: by all means YES 2
:: means: by means of WAY/METHOD 6
- means: by no means NOT 2
:.i: means: man/woman of means RICH 5
:. meant: be meant to/supposed to PURPOSE 2
 meant: be meant to be CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
":" meantime: in the meantime DURING 2
ii: meanwhile DURING 2, TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 2
b; measurable MEASURE 2
.:... measure AMOUNT 3, DO STH/TAKE ACTION 3,
,, MEASURE 1, 4, 5, SIZE 4
ii!ii measure: a measure of SOME/A FEW 2
; measure: take steps/measures DO STH/TAKE ACTION 1
:": measure up GOOD ENOUGH 2
@ MEASURE
to find out the size, length, amount etc of
something
1 to measure something
2 -words for describing something that can be
measured
a number or amount that you get when you
measure something
a number or sign that is used as a basic
amount when measuring something
to be a particular size, length, height, weight
etc
1 to measure something
measure
take a measurement/
temperature
read
take a reading
measure Ime3or/[v T]
time
meter
gauge
record
quantify
measure sb/sth We'll have to measure the bed to make sure
it fits in this room. ] The police have a device that can meas-
ure the speed of cars. [ The rainfall was measured over a 3
month period and will be published in a report. [ measure
sb/sth for sth He has his own personal tailor to measure
him for his new suit. [ be measured at 4 metres/10 miles
ere Some species of python have been measured at over 28
feet long.
measurement In U] a device used in the measurement of
earthquakes
take a measurement/temperature /teik 
' mesarmant, 'temparatj'ar/to find out the exact height, width,
depth, or temperature of something Iv phrase]
Thinking I looked ill she took my temperature and sent me
to bed. [ The builders took careful measurements before
laying the foundations of the house.
read/ri:d/to look at the number or result that a piece of
equipment is showing when you are using it to measure
something Iv T]
dust read the thermometer and I'll write the temperature
down. [ The blood is analysed and the cholesterol level is then
read from the display.
take a reading ! ,teIk  'ri:drj/to look at the number or
result that a piece of equipment is showing when you are
measuring something especially when the number or
result often changes ]v phrase]
A lot of time in chemistry labs is spent taking readings from
machines and instruments. ] We can see how much electric-
ity has been used by simply taking a reading from this meter.
time/tam/to measure how long it takes for someone to
do something or for something to happen Iv T]
time sb/sth Every day the coach times his athletes to make
sure that they are not getting any slower. [ The fact that you
know you are being timed always makes you swim a little
faster. [ be timed at 20 miles per hour/3 minutes ere The
fastest big cat, the cheetah, has been timed at over 60 mph.
meter [  mi:tar[ tomeasure how much of something such
as gas, water, or electricity is used, especially when you
want to control it Iv T]
Machines are used to meter the amount of water used in a
household. [ The gas is metered and they send you a bill every
three months.
gauge/gelds/to guess or judge in advance how much
something will measure, use, cost etc according to all the
things that affect it Iv T]
It is very difficult to gauge water requirements before the race
actually starts. [ If we look at how tnuch we spent last year
we should be able to gauge what our expenses will be this
year.
record/rI ka:rd/to measure the size, speed etc of some-
thing and keep the information so that it can be used later
Iv T]
The equipment will be used to record aircraft altitudes and
noise levels. [ The test machines recorded a level of 9O parts
per .million of radioactive elements.
I
quantify /kwuntofai [[ kwo:n-/ to measure something
and express it as a number or amount, so that it can be
counted and compared to other amounts Iv T]

MEASURE 844 MEET
The questionnaire is intended to quantify consumers'
requirements for shopping malls. I The inflation rate cannot
be properly quantified but the official figure is 46per cent. I
The long term costs of AIDS are still difficult to quantify.
2 words for describing something that can be
measured
measurable
quantifiable
measurable/'me3,mbdll [adjl
Intelligence is not statistically measurable as some skills
are. I The amount of the hormone is only measurable between
the seventh and ninth week of pregnancy.
quantifiable/'kwontfaIbal II 'kwa:n-/able to be meas-
ured and to be shown as a number or amount so that it can
be compared to other amounts [adj]
More complete and quantifiable data has come from the
laboratory recently. I The consequences of child abuse from
an early age are not easily quantifiable.
 a number or amount that you get when you
measure something
measu rement
reading
measurement I ' me3rmnt/ In C ]
What are the measurements of the room? [ Each measurement
was carefully taken to make sure the cupboard was the
correct size. [ In such experiments it is important to look at
the measurements of temperature, pressure and volume. [
sb's measurements (=someone's height, waist size etc) I'll
need your exact measurements if you want the dress to fit
properly.
reading/' rizdo! a number or result that a piece of equip-
ment shows when you are measuring something In C]
What are the tyre pressure readings? [ The gauge gave a
wrong reading.
4 a number or sign that is used as a basic
amount when measuring something
unit
measure
unit I'ju:niot! a fixed amount or quantity that is used for
measuring something In C]
We've used 1539 units of electricty. [ What's the unit of
currency in India? [ The surgeons urgently need more units
of blood. [ unit of measurement A fathom is the unit of
measurement used in calculating sea depth.
measure / 'mesar/a certain amount of time, distance etc
that is part of an accepted measuring system In singular]
An hour is a measure of time. [ We need to know the exact
size. Centimetres seem to be the best measure.
 to be a particular size, length, height, weight
etc
be
measu re
weigh
be I bi; strong bi:l [vl
He's going on a diet. He's over two hundred pounds. [ Our
present altitude is 30, O00 feet, and our speed is 500 miles per
hour. ] be 10 eros long/wide/deep/high/tall The rat was
huge, it was at least a meter long. [ be 10 eros in length/
in depth/in width ere The water is 2 metres in depth just
where he's standing.
measure /me3or/to have a particular length, height,
width, or depth, especially when you know it exactly Iv]
The yacht measures eighty-four feet and is fitted out to the
highest standards. I Surgeons use a laser scalpel with a beam
measuring less than the width of a human hair.
weigh/wei/to have a particular weight Iv]
The porter carried their heavy cases as if they weighed noth-
ing. I A motor for a practical electric car is estimated to weigh
about l OOpounds. I Despite their light appearance, airships
can weigh up to three tons.
measures: take steps/measures DO STH/TAKE
• ,,, ACTION 1
measurement MEASURE 3
' measurement: take a measurement/temperature
MEASURE 1
--
:,. mechanical MACHINE 2, THINK ABOUT 10
:" mechanism MACHINE 1, SYSTEM 1
i meddle INTERFERE 1
meddling INTERFERE 2
media: the media/the mass media TELEVISION/RADIO 6
• mediate between PEACE/NO WAR 2
• ,: medical center HOSPITAL 1
:f' medical profession: the medical profession DOCTOR 1
:-'.-. medical treatment CURE 4
. medicinal CURE ;3
" medieval OLD-FASHIONED 4
-. mediocre BAD 5, BAD AT 1
 meditate THINK ABOUT 5
" medium WAY/METHOD ;3
meet GOOD ENOUGH 2, JOIN STH TOGETHER 4,
MEET 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
meet: arrange to meet ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT
ETC 2
meet: first meet MEET 5
 meet: meeting/meet GAME/MATCH 1
. meet: pleased to meet you HELLO 3
 meet/be met with GET 12
 meet/satisfy a need NEED 8
i meet sb's needs ENOUGH 2
meet/see sb socially SOCIALIZE 1
meet the eye: there's more to sb/sth than meets the
!! eye SEEM 6
meet up MEET 1
 meet with HAPPEN 12, MEET 1
MEET
to meet someone that you have arranged to
meet
to meet someone by chance
ways of saying that a large group of people
meet together in the same place
to meet someone at a particular place in
order to take them somewhere
to meet someone you do not know or have
not seen before
an occasion when two or more people meet
in rder to discuss something
an occasion when you meet someone,
•
especially by chance
to not meet someone although you have
arranged to meet them
what you say to introduce two people who
have never met before
1 to meet someone that you have arranged to
meet
meet meet up
meet with get together
meet/mizt/[v I/T not in passive]
meet sb I'll meet you at the theatre at seven thirty. [ meet
Reagan and Gorbachev met in Washington to sign the
treaty. I Our group had arranged to meet at the Spanish Steps
for a tour of the city.
meet with/'mi:t wi6! an American expression meaning
to meet someone, especially for a discussion Iv T not in
passive]

MEET 845 MEET
You will meet with the managing director in the morning. I
Kris was leaving for New York to meet with the producers
and writers. I Before the operation you will be able to meet
with the anesthetist and the surgeon to familiarize yourself
with the procedures.
meet up/Imi:t I^p] an informal expression meaning to
meet someone, especially for a specific purpose [phr v I]
meet up with sb The two of us will go shopping, and we'll
meet up with you later. I Harry decided to call in at the bar
to meet up with his pals, and have a few beers. I meet up
After six weeks apart the two travellers met up again in
North Africa.
get together /,get to'ge6or/to meet informally in order
to do something together, for example to have a drink or
a meal [phr v I]
Why don't we get together for dinner and a chat sometime;
I'm dying to hear all your news! I The team should get
together and discuss the project next week. I It's much more
fun getting together to do exercises than doing them by
yourself.
2 to meet someone by chance
meet
bump into/run into
encounter
meet/mi:tl Iv T not usually in passive]
You "ll never guess who I met yesterday! I She obviously didn't
expect to meet me at the party. I I hadn't seen Tony for weeks
and then I met him in the street yesterday.
bump into/run into /bAmp 'intu, rAn-/ informal
expressions meaning to meet, by chance, someone that you
know Iv T not in passive]
I bumped into Kurt at the store this morning. [ Sally ran into
one of her business colleagues at the beach yesterday. I If you
go to the party you might bump into someone you know.
encounter / ;n'kaontor/a formal word meaning to meet
someone by chance, especially someone you do not already
know Iv T ]
It was rare that she encountered interesting people through
her work. I The story is simple: a man and a woman encoun-
ter each other and are attracted to each other.
3 ways of saying that a large group of people
meet together in the same place
meet assemble
gather come together
meet/mi:t/Iv I]
Hundreds of demonstrators met in Central Park. I The bus
trip leaves at 9 am - everyone should meet at 8.30.
gather/'gee6or/to meet somewhere in large numbers in
order to do something, see something etc, especially when
it is not planned Iv I]
gather at/in/on etc Fans have started to gather outside the
stadium. I The family gathered in the living room to hear
the reading of the will. I People gathered at the Dakota build-
ing when they heard of John Lennon's death.
assemble /o'sembal/ if a particular group of people
assemble somewhere, they meet there to do something Iv I]
The members of the tour group assembled at the airport for
departure. I The prisoners had to assemble each morning in
the courtyard.
come together / ,kAm to ge6or! if people or groups who
do not usually meet each other come together, they meet
in order to discuss things, exchange ideas etc [phr v I]
People came together from all over the country to attend his
funeral. I Seminars provide an opportunity for students to
come together and discuss a particular topic. I We hope that
representatives of both workers and management will come
together soon, so that strike action can be avoided.
4 to meet someone at a particular place in
order to take them somewhere
meet collect
pick up call for/come for
meet/mi:t/Iv T]
We'll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. I The
company is sending a car to meet Mr Hill at the station. I In
the hotel lobby I was met by my host.
pick up /,pIk 'Ap/to meet someone at a particular place
in order to take them somewhere in a car, bus etc [phr v T]
pick sb/her/them etc up She picks her daughter up from
school every day at four. I pick up sb I arranged to pick up
Mr Clarke and take him to his accommodation.
collect/ko'lekt/a British word meaning to meet someone
at a particular place in order to take them somewhere Iv T I
Her father sent a taxi to collect her from the hotel. I If the last
bus has left I'll collect you.
call for/come for/'ka:l fa:r, 'kAm fa:r/to meet someone
at their home in order to take them somewhere Iv T not in
passive]
I'll call for you at about seven. I We don't have to get the bus
tonight - James is coming for us.
 to meet someone you do not know or have
not seen before
meet
first meet
be introduced to
meet/mi:t/Iv I/T not in passive]
A police officer meets all sorts ofpeople in a day's work. I In
her job she speaks to a lot of people on the phone but she
rarely gets the chance to meet any of them. I We met on a
beach in Thailand and it was love at first sight.
first meet/, fa:rst ' mi:t/to meet someone for the very first
time Iv phrase]
Where did you first meet your husband? I The two friends
first met at university.
be introduced to/bi:, Intro'dju:st tu: ]] -'du:st-/to meet
someone in a formal situation and exchange names Iv
phrase]
I was introduced to the managing director at the annual
meeting. I If you want to be introduced to the singer, I think
I can arrange it.
6 an occasion when two or more people meet
in order to discuss something
meeting summit
conference gathering
convention
meeting/'mi:ur/In C]
business meeting/public meeting etc I was at a business
meeting in Chicago last week. I A public meeting was held
to discuss the proposed site of the new supermarket. I have
a meeting The education committee is having a meeting
tomorrow about the problems of recruiting new teachers. I
attend a meeting I'm afraid Mr Richards isn't available
at the moment - he's attending a meeting of the board of
directors. I be in a meeting Cathy's in a meeting just now
- I'll ask her to call you back.
conference/'konfarons II ka:n-/a large meeting where
a lot of people discuss important matters such as business
or politics, especially for several days [n C]
attend a conference Representatives of over 100 countries
attended the International Peace Conference in Geneva. [
hold a conference In 1981 a secret communist party con-
ference was held in Moscow.
convention/kon venan/a large meeting of members of
a political party or professional group, which usually hap-
pens once a year In C]

MEET 846 MEMBER
The senator addressed the Democratic Convention. I Several
hundred people are expected at the hotel next month for a
huge sales convention. I hold a convention The new party
held its first annual convention at Regina.
summit/Is^m  t/a meeting between government leaders
from important and powerful countries, to discuss inter-
national politics In C]
The Clinton-Yeltsin summit lasted two days. I summit
meeting/conference A summit meeting of OPEC leaders
was called to find a solution to the oil crisis. I NA TO leaders
are preparing for a summit conference to decide the future
of the alliance.
gathering/'ge6rI0/a crowd of people who have come
together for a particular purpose, for example to listen to
someone speak, to pray, or to discuss something In C]
It was quite a small gathering but the speeches were excel-
lent. I There were over fifty people present at the funeral
gathering.
7 an occasion when you meet someone,
especially by chance
meeting
encounter
meeting/'mi:t[O/In C usually singular]
The second time I saw him, after our first meeting in Janu-
ary, Martin looked very different. I chance meeting (=one
that happens completely by chance) Their chance meeting
led to a passionate love affair.
encounter /m'kauntor/ an unexpected meeting, often
unpleasant In C]
He did not appear to remember our encounter last summer
and just nodded when we were introduced. I chance
encounter (=one that happens completely by chance) A
chance encounter in a restaurant led to her becoming a
famous movie star.
8 to not meet someone although you have
arranged to meet them
stand sb up
not turn up/not show up
stand sb up I,staend (sb) '^p/ an informal expression
meaning to deliberately not go to meet someone that you
have arranged to meet, especially a friend, or your boy-
friend or girlfriend [phr v T]
John stood her up last night and now she refuses to talk to
him. [ I'm afraid to ask her out in case she stands me up.
not turn up/not show up (also not show in Ameri-
can English)/not t3:rn '^p, ,not oo '^p, not 'oo/informal
expressions meaning to not meet someone at the place you
have arranged to meet them [phr v I]
A few of us had arranged to meet in town but Jenny didn't
turn up. I What is irritating about Peter is that he sometimes
doesn't show up when you've invited him out somewhere. I
I waited for an hour but she didn't show.
9 what you say to introduce two people who
have never met before
this is let me introduce
meet introduce
this is/'6IS IZ/
This is Michele. She's a friend from college. [Duncan, this
is Claudia. She's here to learn English.
meet/mi:t/(used to introduce two people who have never
met before, especially at a social event or a specially
arrhnged meeting) [v T only in infinitive and imperative]
I'd like you all to meet my boyfriend, Brad. [ Mum, Dad, I
want you to meet my friend Sheila. [ Dave, meet my brother
Tom.
let me introduce/,let mi: intm'dju:s [1 -du:s/(a formal
way of introducing two people who have not met before)
Let me introduce Mr Henry Shaw, our Marketing Manager.[
May I introduce myself. My name is Susan Banks, financial
advisor to the Prime Minister. I Allow me to introduce Profes-
sor Brown of Hull University.
Introduce/ mtroldju:s [[ -du:s/to tell someone's name to
a person or group of people, so that they meet formally Iv T]
introduce sb Before the talk began, the chairman
introduced the speaker. [ Have you two been introduced? I
introduce sb to Kevin introduced me to his friends at the
party.
meeting MEET 6, 7
meeting/meet GAME/MATCH 1
mellow DRUNK 2, STRICT 8
melodramatic EXAGGERATE 3
melodramatic: be melodramatic EXAGGERATE 2
melt LIQUID 6, 7
melt away CROWD 5
melt down LIQUID 7
member MEMBER 1
member: be a member MEMBER 2
member: become a member JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 1
member of staff WORKER 1
MEMBER
someone who belongs to a club or a similar
organization
to be a member of an organization
an important member of a group, who knows
things that some members of the group do
not know
1 someone who belongs to a club or a similar
organization
member
membership
member/'member/[n C]
Heinrich's father was a member of the Wiener Yacht club. [
It only costs $2 to get in if you're a member. [ He was in the
habit of taking bribes from Party members.
membership/'membzrip/all the members of a club or
a similar organization [n singular with singular orplural
verb in British English]
The membership was totally against admitting women to the
club. I Obviously the veterans" association has a rather old
and declining membership. [ The Bishops Stortford Photo-
graphic Society now has a membership of over 50 keen
amateurs.
 to be a member of an organization
be a member be on sth
belong to membership
be in sth affiliation
be a member/bi:  'membr/[v phrase]
I'm a member of the American Automobile Association. [
Chris was a member of the Cher fan club for three years.
belong to /bloo tu: [[-b:O-/ to be a member of an
organization, for example a political party or an estab-
lished religion [v T]
Do you belong to any political party ? [ Mrs Flowers did not
belong to our church. [ I've belonged to the union ever since
I started working here.
be in sth/bi: I in (sth)/to be a member of an organization,
especially a large, well-known one [v T]
I'm in the army. [ We used to make these cookies when I was
in the Scouts. I Are you in the Students" Union?
be on sth/bi: 'on (sth) [I -'e:n/be on a committee/coun-
cil/board/panel (=be a member of a group that meets to
make official decisions, or to give advice) Iv T]
Alison is on the committee for Racial Equality. I I put Doug
Fraser on the board because I knew he would make a special
contribution.

MEMBER 84:? MENTALLY ILL
membership / membrp/the state of being a member
of a club, organization etc In U]
Membership of the Friends of the Playhouse entitles you to
free admission to all performances. I full membership You
can have full membership when you're 18. At the moment you
can only be a junior member.
affiliation/,fllieegn/a formal or official word mean-
ing the fact of being connected with a political party, reli-
gious organization etc |n U]
Formal membership of the opposition group is only 10,000
since open affiliation carries enormous risks. I political/
religious affiliation They asked about his religious beliefs
and political affiliation.
 an important member of a group, who knows
things that some members of the group do
not know
insider
one of us
insider/In'sadr/someone who is a member of a group
and knows secret things that people outside the group do
not know In C]
Only insiders know what was really said at that meeting. I
The art world is really a group of privileged insiders who
manipulate trends to their own advantage.
one of us/,w^n v ^s/if you say that someone is one of
us, you mean that they are a member of the same group
that you are in and have the same beliefs, ideas etc [n
phrase]
"'Don't worry, he's one of us," she assured them. [ Why should
I tell you anything? You're not one of us.
!! membership MEMBER 1 2
-::. ,
.iii:i memo LETTER 1
!i memoirs STORY 8
-:
:: memorable REMEMBER 7
- memorial REMEMBER 11
iili memories: bring back memories REMIND/MAKE SB
ii!! REMEMBER 2
 memorize LEARN 2
--#.
: memory REMEMBER 5, 10
. eo: eoit 8th to eo LEARN 2
 eo: hae a bae eo FORGET 5
. eo: hae a eo lie a iee FORGET 5
 eo: in liing eory ALWAYS/FOREVER 2
 eo: i eory of REMEMBER 11
 eo: jog 8b'8 eory REMIND/MAKE SB
 REMEMBER 1
'. e'8 roo: gentB/e's roo TOILET 1
:,% eaee THREATEN 5
 enaee: be a eaee DANGEROUS 1
,,
 eaaeiag THREATEN 3
.... ed REPAIR 1
: end: be o the e RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
; e your wa8 BEHAVE 4
: eatal MIND 2
-,.
 eatal ho#ital HOSPITAL 2
.; eatal ille8 MENTALLY ILL 2
! ental ote: ae a ental ote REMEMBER 9
 eatalitf ATTITUDE 1
d etallf ill MENTALLY ILL 1
@ MENTALLY ILL
mentally ill
mental illness
to become mentally ill
not mentally ill
words for describing old people who have
become mentally ill because of their age
1 mentally ill
mentally ill crazy
insane disturbed
mad
mentally ill I,mentali 'ill an expression used especially
in official or medical contexts, meaning having an illness
of the mind [adj phrase]
Mentally ill patients will be treated in the new wing of the
hospital. ] About half of all the men who are permanently
homeless have at some time in their lives been mentally ill.[
the mentally ill (=people who are mentally ill) There are
organizations which help all kinds of people with problems,
including the mentally ill.
insane / neseIn/a word used especially in legal contexts
or in former times, meaning permanently and seriously
mentally ill, so that you cannot live in normal society [adj]
It is clear that from 1857 onwards the King of Prussia was
completely insane. [ In the Middle Ages it was thought that
people who were insane were possessed by an evil spirit. ]
declare sb insane (=officially state that someone is
insane) He was charged with his father's murder but was
declared insane and spent the rest of his life in an institution.
mad Imbed! a word meaning permanently mentally ill,
used especially in British English but not in official or med-
ical contexts [adj]
It soon became clear that the old man was completely mad.]
In 'Jane Eyre' Mr Rochester's first wife is mad and is kept
locked up in an attic room. [ Van Gogh died mad and penni-
less.
crazy I'kreizi/an informal word meaning permanently
mentally ill, used especially in American English but not
in official or medical contexts [adj]
He lived alone with his crazy old mother. I The bar was filled
with a scary-looking bunch of guys. Two or three looked like
killers and one guy was very obviously crazy.
disturbed/di 'sta:rbd/someone who is disturbed, espe-
cially a child, does not behave normally with other people,
for example because they have suffered cruel treatment
[adj]
Patients who are extremely disturbed are given tranquilizers
to calm them down. I emotionally disturbed (=having
unusually strong, often unreasonable and uncontrollable,
feelings and ways of behaving) Emotionally disturbed chil-
dren are often aggressive and disruptive.
mental illness
mental illness
madness
insanity
mental illness I,mentl  [lnsl an expression used espe-
cially in official or medical contexts meaning illness of the
mind or an illness of the mind In C/Ul
Freud's work established many new ideas and methods for
treating mental illness. I There is still a stigma attached to
admitting that you have ever suffered any form of mental ill-
ness. I People with mental illnesses are the least likely to be
able to establish secure and happy home lives. I Depression
is a mental illness that can sometimes be fatal.
madness/' medns/a word meaning serious and perma-
nent mental illness, used especially in literature but not
used in official or medical contexts In U]
By the end of the book, Peter's addiction has led him to mad-
ness and suicide. I Some prisoners feigned madness so that
they would be released.
insanity/in'senti/a word used especially in legal con-
texts or in former times, meaning serious mental illness
that means the person suffering from it cannot live in
normal society or make legally responsible decisions In U]
Hodge was found not guilty by reason of insanity. I Hearing
voices inside your head is a common symptom of insanity.

MENTALLY ILL 848 MENTION
to become mentally ill
have a nervous breakdown
crack up
go mad/go insane/go crazy
have a nervous breakdown/hev a ,na:rvas 'breik-
daon/to become mentally ill, usually as a result of work-
ing too hard or difficult emotional problems, and be tem-
porarily unable to deal with ordinary things such as work-
ing or looking after your family Iv phrase]
After her divorce, Dora had a nervous breakdown and was
off work for three months. I She sounds really bad. I think
she's heading for a nervous breakdown.
crack up/,krek '^p/an informal expression meaning to
suddenly become unable to carry on your normal life, espe-
cially because you have been working too hard or doing
something that is very frightening, dangerous etc [phr v I/
I think Paul's cracking up under the strain of work. I The
stress of guerilla warfare is such that many soldiers simply
crack up.
go mad (British) I go insane/go crazy (American)/gao
med, gao n'sein, gao 'kreizi/ expressions meaning to
become seriously and permanently mentally ill, used in
ordinary English but not official or medical contexts Iv
phrase]
Eventually, rejected by Hamlet, Ophelia goes mad and
drowns herself. I I wondered if I was going crazy. Everyone
seemed to be against me. I Conditions on the oil rig are very
unpleasant. You'd go insane if you had to stay more than a
month or so.
4 not mentally ill
sane
sanity
of sound mind
sane/sen/ladjl
No, he's not mad. He's as sane as you or L I It's amazing that
any sane person could believe such rubbish! I perfectly sane
(=completely sane) How on earth did she end up on a
psychiatric ward? She's perfectly sane.
sanity/'senti/the condition of being mentally healthy
In U/
As long as you have your health and your sanity, money isn't
really important. I preserve sb's sanity (=prevent some-
one becoming mentally ill) Your visits were the only thing
that preserved my sanity. I doubt sb's sanity (=think they
might be mentally ill) Her story was so extraordinary that
we began to doubt her sanity.
of sound mind Iov saond maind/a legal expression
meaning not mentally ill and able to be responsible for your
decisions and actions [adj phrase]
You are allowed to vote only if you are over 18 and of sound
mind.
 words for describing old people who have
become mentally ill because of their age
senile his/her mind is wandering
gage lose your marbles
confused
senile /'st:nail/an old person who is senile has a mental
illness which makes them unable to think clearly and
makes them become confused very easily [adj]
Although my grandmother was only 72 she was completely
senile and did not recognize me any more. I Many of the
patients in the geriatric ward are senile.
senility/sI'nlloti/In U/Of all the associated problems to do
with getting old, senility is the one she dreads most.
gage/'gca:gca:/an informal word: an old person who is
gaga cannot think clearly any more, does very strange
things, and becomes confused easily [adj not before noun]
go gaga "'She's going gage, '" said Beatrice, cruelly. "We'll
soon have to put her in an old people's home. ""
confused/kan' t]u:zd/an old person who is confused has
become mentally ill so that they cannot remember things
or think clearly [adj]
Aunt Clara had been so sharp, so witty but now she is just
a sad, confused old woman.
his/her mind is wandering/hlz, ha r ,malnd iz 'won-
dano II -'wca:n-/you say his/her mind is wandering when
an old person cannot talk about one thing for more than
a few seconds without becoming confused or forgetting
things
His mind is wandering. He often talks about his wife as if
she were still alive.
lose your marbles /lu:z ja:r ,mca:rbMz/an informal
expression meaning to behave in a strange, forgetful, and
confused way, especially because you are getting old
phrase]
I think Grandad is losing his marbles, he's getting very for-
getful. I By the time Harry was seventy he'd lost his marbles
completely - poor old devil!
:..:. mention MENTION 1 SAY 1
% ,
i mention: don't mention it THANK 6
 mention: not mention TALK TO SB 20
..... mention: not to mention AND/ALSO 1
@ MENTION
to talk about someone or something but
without saying much about them
to start talking about something that you want
to discuss or say more about
1 to talk about someone or something but
without saying much about them
mention allude to
refer to touch on
mention Imenfan/ to say a little about something or
someone during a conversation, speech etc, but without
giving any details Iv T/
mention sb/sth When you were talking to Barbara, did she
mention her mother at all?[ We didn't really discuss theprice,
but somebody mentioned a figure of Ј300. [ Now that you
mention it, I did think she was behaving a little strangely
last night. [ mention (that) Eve mentioned that you might
be looking for a temporary job. [ mention sth to sb Did you
mention anything to your dad about wanting to come to
London? [ mention sth in passing (=mention something
quickly, without paying much attention to it) I don't
remember her telling me about that - oh, yes, she did men-
tion it in passing.
mention In C usually singular] Even Stephen got a mention
(=was mentioned) in the best man's speech.
refer to/ri'f3: r tu:/to mention something or someone,
especially when you do not say directly what or who you
are talking about Iv T/
Although she didn't mention any names, everyone knew who
she was referring to. I I apologized for my bad behaviour and
the matter was never referred to again. I I think what Mary
was referring to earlier was her manager's inability to make
the right decisions.
allude to/a'lu:d tu:/to mention something or someone
in a deliberately indirect way Iv T/
When the director spoke of 'major problems', I assumed that
he was alluding to mechanical failures in the computer
system. I No one ever mentioned the rape, and Pare only
alluded to it in times of crisis.
touch on/t^tf on II -ca:n/to mention a subject or a fact
during a speech, a lesson, a piece of writing etc, but without
spending much time on it Iv T/
In my last lecture I touched on a number of important social
issues which I am now going to examine in some detail

MENTION
2 to start talking about something that you want
to discuss or say more about
bring up broach
raise introduce
bring up I,bno '^p/to start to talk about a new subject
in order to discuss it with someone [phr v T]
bring up sth She wished she'd never brought up the sub-
ject of money. I Is there anything else you want to bring up
before we end the meeting? l bring sth/it up The fight? Oh,
I knew someone would bring that up.
raise/re,z/to begin to talk or write about a particular sub-
ject that people have not been talking or thinking about
until then Iv T ]
A number of important new issues were raised at the confer-
ence. I The matter of whether or not the Royal Family should
pay taxes was first raised in an article in the Times.
broach /bmotf/ broach a subject/matter/question
(=mention a subject that may be embarrassing, unpleasant,
or cause an argument) Iv T]
He decided not to broach the subject of divorce until his wife
had recovered from her illness. I Susan is being bullied at
school, but every time I try to broach the matter with her she
refuses to talk about it.
introduce/, intr'dju:s II -Idu:s/to mention a new subject
or idea before talking or writing about it in more detail Iv
T]
She introduced the subject of sex without any embarrass-
ment. I The lecture was so boring - he didn't introduce the
main topic until he'd been talking for an hour.
mercenary SELFISH 2
merchandise SELL 11
merchant SELL 9
mercy: be at sb's mercy CONTROL 5
mercy killing KILL 13
mere ONLY 2
merely ONLY 2, 3
merge JOIN STH TOGETHER 4, UNITE 6, 7'
merit DESERVE 1, GOOD POINT OR
CHARACTERISTIC 1
merry DRUNK 2
mesmerized INTERESTED 3
mess UNTIDY 5
mess: be a mess DISORGANIZED 1 UNTIDY 1
,
mess: be in a mess PROBLEM 7
mess: look a mess UNTIDY 2
mess: make a mess UNTIDY 4
mess around/muck about BEHAVE 3
mess up SPOIL 2, UNTIDY 4
mess up/make a mess of DO BADLY 1
message MESSAGE 1
message: get the message UNDERSTAND 1
@-MESSAGE
a message
someone who takes a message to someone
1 a message
message
communication
dispatch/despatch
message/'mesIdS! a spoken or written piece of informa-
tion, request etc that you send to someone, especially by
giving it to or leaving it with another person In C]
I'm sorry, Mr Banks isn't here right now. Would you like to
leave a message? I Rebecca telephoned and gave a message
to the receptionist. I Thankyou very much for your messages
of condolence on the sad loss of my mother. I a secret message
from Taylor to the US Ambassador I message that I hope
Frank got my message that I was going to be late.
849
MIDDLE
communication /ka,mju:naI'kefan/ a formal word
meaning a message, especially one that is important or offi-
cial [n C]
The ambassador had received a communication from the
Foreign Office during the crisis. I The discreet envelopes
looked like typed communications from the bank. I Written
communications carry greater official weight than verbal
messages.
dispatch/despatch/d ' spaff/a message sent between
government or military officials, especially one contain-
ing important information In C]
This office has seen every State Department dispatch issued
over the past 35 years. [ As a courier for the Canadian
Government, bearing important dispatches, Hayes was anx-
ious to travel immediately.
someone who takes a message to someone
messenger
courier
go-between
messenger/' mes nd5 ar, -san-/someone who takes a mes-
sage or whose job it is to take messages In C]
In the late afternoon a messenger arrived to inform me that
the chief was on his way. I Captain Anderson did not come
himself, but sent a messenger instead. I messenger boy
When he was sixteen Alan got a job as a messenger boy in
an advertising agency.
courier I ' kurir/a British word meaning someone whose
job it is to carry urgent messages, letters, parcels etc, espe-
cially for a company In C]
A courier arrived with an important message just before the
meeting. I send sth by courier I'm surprised Smith sent the
documents by courier, he said he was going to drop them in.
go.between /'gao b,twi:n/ someone who takes mes-
sages between two people or groups because they are not
able to or do not want to meet In C I
act as a go-between Simon was not a member of either fac-
tion so he seemed a good candidate to act as a go-between. ]
go-between Barnes should have had the courage to tell me
himself instead of using you as a go-between.
messenger MESSAGE 2
messy UNTIDY 1, 3
metallic SHINY 2
meteoric FAST/QUICK 9
meteorological WEATHER 2
meter MEASURE 1
method WAY/METHOD 1
methodical CAREFUL 2, 3
meticulous CAREFUL 2
metropolis TOWN 2
mickey: take the mickey/take the piss MAKE FUN OF 1
microscopic SMALL 2
midday meal MEAL 3
middle MIDDLE 1, 2
middle: in the middle BETWEEN 1, MIDDLE 3, 4
middle-aged spread FAT 6
middle-class CLASS IN SOCIETY 3
middle ground: the middle ground MODERATE 1
middle of nowhere: in the middle of nowhere FAR 5
middle of the night: in the middle of the night LATE 6
middle of the road MODERATE 1
@ MI DDLE
the middle part of something
words for describing something that is in the
middle
in the middle of an object or space
at the middle position between two amounts
or levels, or two points in space or time

MIDDLE 850 mind
I the middle part of something
middle the heart of
centre/center core
middle/'mzdl/the middle part of anything, for example
of a space, room, a piece of writing, or a period of time In
singular]
Gary rowed out towards the middle of the lake. I It was the
middle of summer and the nights were short. I an office with
a partition across the middle I Most students are taught that
every story should have a beginning, a middle and an end.
centre (British) I center (American) / sentor/the middle
of a space, area, or object, especially the exact middle In C]
Draw a line through the center of the circle. I A chandelier
hung from the centre of the ceiling. I Copernicus showed that
the earth was not the center of the universe. I chocolates with
soft centres
the heart of/6 'ho:rt v/an expression used especially
in descriptions of places meaning the middle of a place In
phrase]
The village lay deep in the heart of the English countryside. I
The mountains form a stupendous white-crowned barrier
across the heart of Alaska.
core/k:r/the central part of a large object such as a very
large rock or the Earth In C]
The Earth has a solid inner core 2500 km in diameter. I Only
the core of the volcano remained.
in the middle/m 6 'mdl/[adv phrase]
in the middle of I get Ј17,000 a year, which is in the middle
of the current salary scale for teachers. I In the middle of her
second year at university she suddenly discovered she was
pregnant. I in the middle The Dodgers are at the top of the
League, with the Cowboys still stuck somewhere in the
middle.
halfway/,ho:Pwez- II ,heel-/atthe middle point of a dis-
tance or period of time [adv/adj]
halfway to/between/along/through etc Our car broke
down halfway between Meadville and Erie. I There was a
tremendous waterfall halfway along the river. I He paused,
his hand halfway to his mouth. I Several people left the col-
lege halfway through the course. I halfway mark (=the
middle point) We're nowhere near finished yet - we're not
even close to the halfway mark.
midway/,mzd'wez- II 'mzdwex/at the middle point of a
distance, a period of time, or a set of numbers [adv]
midway between/through The islands lie in the Indian
Ocean midway between Madagascar and Tanzania. I These
crops sometimes die midway through the season. I The gov-
ernment has established a new intermediate tariff midway
between the minimum and maximum rates.
midpoint I'mzdpmt/the point that is an equal distance
from either end of a process or scale In C]
She was now 40years old and at the midpoint of her career. I
A score of 3.5, being the midpoint on a sevenpoint scale, was
considered normal.
2 words for describing something that is in the
middle
middle
centre/center
central
middle/'mzdl/[adj only before noun]
You'll find the scissors in the middle drawer of my desk. I
Her middle name is Tracy. I He wears a large gold ring on
the middle finger of his right hand.
centre (British) I center (American) /'sentr/centre
door/window/panel etc (=the one that is in the middle
with others on either side) [adj only before noun]
The church was badly damaged and the centre door has been
destroyed. I The center dish was piled high with fruit. I On
the center panel of the screen there is a painting of a Greek
goddess.
central ! 'sentml] forming the centre of something, espe-
cially of a country or town [adj only before noun]
She comes originally from a small town in central Austra-
lia. I Rioting broke out in the central district of Los Angeles
last night. I Massive stone arches support the central dome
of the cathedral.
centrally lady] The city police headquarters is situated very
centrally (=near the centre of the city).
 in the middle of an object or space
in the middle
at the centre/at the center
in the middle/n 6 'mdl/[adv phrase]
in the middle of Don't walk in the middle of the road. I A
little boy stood in the middle of a circle of children, crying. I
in the middle The prison consisted o f four cell-blocks with
a courtyard in the middle.
at the centre (British) I at the center (American)/t
6 ' sent r/exactly in the middle of something [adv phrase]
At the center of the atom is the nucleus. [ The city of Turin
stands at the centre of the Piedmontese plain.
4 at the middle position between two amounts
or levels, or two points in space or time
in the middle midway
halfway midpoint
middleman BUSINESS 7
midget SHORT PERSON 3
midpoint MIDDLE 4
midway MIDDLE 4
miffed ANNOY 4
might: may/might MAYBE 1
might as well: we may as well/might as well
SUGGEST 3
mighty VERY 1
migrant TRAVEL 13
migrate LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 4
mild HOT TASTE 2, STRICT 10, STRONG TASTE OR
SMELL 3
mildewed DECAY 2
mile: it sticks/stands out a mile OBVIOUS 3
miles FAR 1, 2
miles away: be miles away ATTENTION 5
miles from anywhere FAR 5
milestone PROGRESS 3
militant EXTREME 3
militarist WAR 9
military ARMY 3
military: the military ARMY 1
military service ARMY 4
military takeover REBELLION/REVOLUTION 2
militate against PREVENT 1
mill around/about CROWD 4
million years: not in a million years/never in a million
years NEVER 1
millionaire RICH 5
millions: thousands of/millions of LOT/A LARGE
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
mimic IMITATE 6
mince: not mince your words HONEST 4
mince/grind CUT 6
mind LOOK AFTER SB 1, MIND 1, RESPONSIBLE 7,
WARN 3
mind: be in the/your mind IMAGINE 3
mind: be on sb's mind THINK ABOUT 1
mind: be out of your mind/off your rocker CRAZY 1
mind: bear/keep in mind REMEMBER 9
mind: can't get sb/sth out of your mind/head
OBSESSION 2
mind: come to mind/spring to mind THINK STH/HAVE
A THOUGHT 1
mind: do you mind if/would you mind if/is it all right
if LET/ALLOW 3

mind 851 mischievous
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
mind:
don't mind me/her/them etc IGNORE 1
enter sb's mind/cross sb's mind THINK
STH/HAVE A THOUGHT 1
have a lot on your mind WORRIED 4
have a mind of your own INDEPENDENT
PERSON 5
have a one-track mind OBSESSION 1
have sth on your mind THINK ABOUT 6
his/her mind is wandering MENTALLY ILL 5
keep your mind on sth ATTENTION 1
make up your mind DECIDE 2
not mind DON'T CARE 2
not mind doing sth WILLING 1
prey on your mind WORRIED 7
put sth out of your mind FORGET 4
put your mind to it TRY TO DO OR GET STH 2
set/put sb's mind at rest WORRIED 13
set your mind on DETERMINED 1
slip your mind FORGET 2
state of mindlframe of mind MOOD 1
take your mind off FORGET 4
to my mind THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 2
turn sth over in your mind THINK ABOUT 6
wouldn't mind WANT 1
mind: your mind wanders ATTENTION 5
mind-boggling SURPRISED 6
mind out CAREFUL 8
mind you BUT 3
mind your own business INTERFERE 3
MIND _
a person's mind, which they use for thinking
and imagining things
affecting the mind or happening in the mind
1 a person's mind, which they use for thinking
and imagining things
mind psyche
subconscious psychology
mind/mand/[n C]
She's very mysterious - Inever know what's going on in her
mind. [ When I was at college my mind was full of ideas
about how to change the world. [ I have this picture of him
in my mind - a small blond-haired boy with bright blue
eyes. [ at the back of your mind All the time she was talk-
ing to me I had a funny feeling at the back of my mind that
I had met her somewhere before. [ your mind wanders
(=you stop thinking about a particular subject and start
thinking about other things) The teacher talked on and on
and my mind began to wander.
subconscious /sAbkDnSs [[-ka:n-/ the part of your
mind that secretly influences the way you think or behave,
even though you may not realize this is happening, and
which makes you have dreams In singular]
If someone repeats a message often enough it becomes firmly
fixed in the subconscious. I Our subconscious plays tricks
with us sometimes and we may imagine that we are seeing
things such as ghosts and demons.
psyche / ' saki/a formal or technical word meaning your
mind, especially your feelings and attitudes, and the way
these influence your character In singular]
Psychiatrists claim they can unlock the deepest mysteries of
the human psyche. [ Fear of anything foreign seems to be a
part of our national psyche.
psychology/sa'kDlad3 i II-'ko:-/the way a particular
person or group of people thinks and what makes them
behave in a particular way In singular]
It's difficult to understand the psychology of these people. [
the psychology of a mass-murderer
2 affecting the mind or happening in the mind
mental subcohscious
psychological subliminal
mental/' mentl/[adj ]
People who have had mental illnesses are often very unwill-
ing to talk about them in public. I When I was reading the
book I had a clear mental image of the kind of woman she
was.
mentally lady] By the end of the day we were mentally and
physically exhausted.
psychological/saklodsflol - II -lo:-! connected with
people's minds and thoughts, and the way they influence
people's feelings and behaviour [adj]
She's trained to deal with kids who have psychological
problems. I War often has a profound psychological effect on
people. I I'm sure the origin of his bad health is psychological.
psychologically lady] Worrying too much about your
child's safety can be psychologically damaging for the child.
subconscious/sAb konSs [[ -'ko:n-/subconscious feel-
ings, desires, knowledge etc are hidden in your mind and
you may not realize that you have them [adj]
She experienced a sudden subconscious desire to jump off the
cliff. I When people marry they often make a subconscious
attempt to recreate the relationship they had with their
parents.
subconsciously [adv ] Even people who deny they want chil-
dren often subconsciously desire them.
subliminal /sAb'ltmndl! subliminal messages and
images are hidden in advertisements, pictures etc and can
secretly influence your mind without you realizing it [adj]
Church leaders are claiming that rock music contains sub-
liminal messages that encourage kids to take drugs. [ Any
kind of subliminal advertising is illegal on British TV.
 minder PROTECT 3
 mine DIG 2
 mine of information: be a mine of information
o KNOW STH 7
 minefield PROBLEM 5
 mingle MIX 3, 6
mingled MIX 9
 miniature SMALL 1, 3
 minimal LITTLE/NOT MUCH 9
 minimum LEAST 1, :2, LIMIT 2
 minor UNIMPORTANT 1 YOUNG 6
 minor importance: be of secondary/little/minor etc
 importance UNIMPORTANT 3
 minority: a minority of FEW/NOT MANY 4
.
 minority: be in the/a minority LESS 1
 mint condition: be in perfect/mint condition
 CONDITION/STATE OF STH 3
 minus COUNT/CALCULATE 5, LESS 2
minusculelminiscule SMALL 2
 minuses: and minuses ADVANTAGE 2
pluses
minute SHORT TIME 2, SMALL 2, 6, 7
minute: at any moment/minute SOON 2
minute: in a minute/in a moment SOON 2
minute: just a second/minute WAIT 2
miraculous LUCKY 3
mirage SEE 9
mirror REFLECT 4
misappropriate STEAL 5
misbehave BEHAVE 3
miscalculate COUNT/CALCULATE 8
miscalculation MISTAKE 3
miscarriage: miscarry/have a miscarriage
BABY/HAVE A BABY 10
miscarriage of justice UNFAIR 6
miscellaneous VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 4
mischief: be up to no good/be up to mischief
BEHAVE 3
mischievous BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 4, BAD
PERSON 5

misconception
misconception BELIEVE 15
misconduct BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 6
miscount COUNT/CALCULATE 8
misdemeanor CRIME 1
miser GENEROUS 3
miserable SAD/UNHAPPY 1, 3, 8
miserly LITTLE/NOT MUCH 7, GENEROUS 2
misery COMPLAIN 2, SAD/UNHAPPY 8, 12
misery: put sb out of their misery WORRIED 13
misery: put sth out of its misery KILL 14
misfit WRONG/UNSUITABLE 5
misfortune UNLUCKY 5
misfortune: have the misfortune to do sth UNLUCKY 2
misgivings: have misgivings NOT SURE 2
mishap ACCIDENT 1
misinformed: be misinformed WRONG/INCORRECT 3
misinterpret UNDERSTAND 11
misjudge MISTAKE 4
misjudgment/misjudgement MISTAKE 3
mislay LOSE/CAN'T FIND 1
mislead TRICK/DECEIVE 1 WRONG/INCORRECT 7'
misleading TRICK/DECEIVE 10, WRONG/INCORRECT 7
mismanage DO BADLY 1
misnomer NAME OF A THING 3
misplaced WRONG/INCORRECT 2
misprint MISTAKE 2
misread UNDERSTAND 11
misrepresent CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 4
Miss WOMAN 6
miss ALONE 5, LATE 8, NOTICE 3
miss: give sth a miss NOT DO STH 6
miss: you can't mi, it/him etc OBVIOUS 3
miss a chance/an opportunity
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
miss out GET 17, INCLUDE 6
miss out on CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
miss the boat CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
miss the point UNDERSTAND 11
misshapen SHAPE 4
missing HERE 6, LOSE/CAN'T FIND 2, THERE 7
missing: be missing NOT HAVE 1
missing: go missing DISAPPEAR 1, LOSE/CAN'T FIND 3
mission JOB/TASK , REPRESENT 4
mistake MISTAKE 1 2, 3
'
mistake: by mistake DELIBERATELY 4
mistake: learn from your mistakes LEARN 5
mistake: make a mistake MISTAKE 4
mistake: not mistake RECOGNIZE 1
MISTAKE
something that is wrong or incorrect, which
you do by accident
a mistake in writing or speaking
an action or plan that is based on very bad
judgement, often leading to serious problems
to make a mistake
a stupid mistake that causes social
embarrassment
to deceive someone so that they make a
mistake and say something they did not
intend to say
1 something that is wrong or incorrect, which
you do by accident
mistake slip-up
error oversight
slip aberration
mix-up
mistake Imp'steak/[n C/U]
There are always a lot of mistakes in Ivan's work - he's too
852
MISTAKE
careless. I We all make mistakes. I Children learn from their
mistakes. I No, my name's not Sarah. There must be some
mistake. [ by mistake I was trying to dial my mother's
number but I ended up phoning my friend by mistake.
errer /  eror/a mistake, especially one that you do not real-
ize that you are making, that can cause serious problems
for someone [n C/U]
Mrs Leigh's huge phone bill was the result of a computer
error. I The congressman had made an error that would
haunt American foreign policyfor years to come. I He almost
gave away details of the invasion, an error which would have
cost many lives. I human error (=mistakes made by people
rather than machines) The plane crash was caused not by
a technical fault but by human error. I trial and error
(=learning by making mistakes and then finding out how
to avoid them) I taught myself how to cook through trial and
error.
slip /sllp/ a small unimportant mistake that is easy to
make [n C]
Don't worry - we all make slips from time to time. I People
doing this kind of precision work can't afford to make the
slightest slip.
mix-up/'mks ^p/a careless mistake that causes confu-
sion about details, for example someone's name, or the time
of a meeting etc [n C]
mix-up over There was a mix-up over the train times and
I arrived two hours late. I mix-up They sent Anne's father
a telephone bill months after he died. Another bureaucratic
mix-up.
slip-up / 'shp Ap/a careless mistake that may spoil a plan,
or process, or something you want to achieve [n C]
This whole situation only happened because of a slip-up by
the bank. [ If we are going to win the contract we can't afford
any more slip-ups.
oversight /'auvarsat/a mistake that you make by not
noticing something or by forgetting to do something [n C]
It was an oversight on my part, and I accept responsibility. I
Due to an administrative oversight several members of staff
did not receive pay checks this month.
aberration / ,b're Q'n/a mistake in a system, piece of
work etc that would not normally happen and is therefore
unusual [n C]
Please ignore this fault. It is just an aberration, I assure you. I
Apart from one or two small aberrations, the experimental
data shows exactly what we predicted.
2 a mistake in writing or speaking
mistake slip of the tongue
misprint error
spelling mistake
mistake Imp'steak/[n C]
If you make a mistake, cross it out. Don't try to write over
it.I A common mistake is to say "lend" when you mean
"borrow'.
misprint/'ms-prmt/a word that is spelled wrongly in a
piece of printed writing [n C]
Newspaper editors are hoping that the use of computers in
printing will help cut down the number of misprints. I The
menu was full of ludicrous misprints. I In the last sentence,
"unclear" is a misprint for "nuclear'.
spelling mistake/'spelirj m ,steik/a mistake made by
spelling a word incorrectly [n C]
Check your work carefully for any spelling mistakes. I You've
made three spelling mistakes there.
slip of the tongue/,shp av 6a 'tArJ/a mistake made by
accidentally saying a different word from the word you
intended to say, sometimes with embarrassing results [n
phrase]
Did I say "Harlow'? Sorry, I meant "Harrow'. It was just a
slip of the tongue. I When Jones said exports were rising he
meant "imports" - an understandable slip of the tongue.
error / 'erar/a mistake in writing or speaking, especially
when you do not realize you have made a mistake, or think
you are doing something correctly [n C]

MISTAKE
853
MISTAKE
This type of error crops up again and again in your trans-
lations. I An interpreter's job is such a responsible one that
they can't afford any errors. I spelling/grammatical error
See if the student can correct his own spelling errors.
3 an action or plan that is based on very bad
judgement, often leading to serious problems
mistake
miscalculation
misjudgment/
misjudgement
error of judgment/
judgement
be a bad move
blunder
bad tactics
mistake/m'steIk/[n C]
Napoleon's big mistake was going to Moscow in 1812. [ It's
a mistake, agreeing to go out with Jason. [ it is a mistake
to do sth It was a mistake to tell her husband about her ex-
boyfriend. [ grave/serious mistake (=a very bad one) One
of his gravest mistakes was not taking the threat seriously.
miscalculation I,mskalkj°oleIanl a mistake caused by
planning something badly, and being wrong about the
expected result [n C]
The President's election defeat was the result of his own mis-
calculations. [ I thought if I told Mark everything it would
be OK. That was a bad miscalculation.
misjudgmentlmisjudgement /m s ' d5Ad3mant/ a mis-
take made by judging a situation wrongly, and allowing
this judgment to influence what you do [n C]
Agreeing to Hitler's terms was one of the worst political mis-
judgements in history. [ It was a gross misjudgement to
appoint Harrison to such a senior position.
error of judgment/Judgement/,emr v 'd3^d3mnt/
a formal expression meaning a mistake caused by judging
a situation or person wrongly In phrase]
Buying that company was a serious and costly error of
judgement.
be a bad move/bi:  i bed I mu:v! an informal expres-
sion meaning to be a mistake that may result in your being
in a difficult or dangerous situation ]v phrase]
Choosing a holiday near the war zone was a bad move. [
Okay, I admit it was a bad move to invite your parents and
mine on the same evening.
blunder /  bl^ndr/a stupid mistake caused by not think-
ing carefully enough about what you are saying or doing,
which could have very serious results In C]
I've made a few blunders in job interviews by being too
honest about my opinions. [ His biggest blunder was selling
his oil shares just before the share price went sky high.
bad tactics /bed 'tmktiks/ a mistake caused by not
choosing the best way to deal with a problem or situation
In plural]
Don't ask her for a favour when she's in a bad mood - it's
just bad tactics. [ Bad tactics on the part of the management
made a strike inevitable.
4 to make a mistake
make a mistake
go wrong
get sth wrong
blunder
gooffgoof up
slip up
misjudge
make a mistake/melk a mstek! to do something
wrong or incorrect, either by accident, or because you have
made a wrong decision or a bad judgement Iv phrase]
In general Alex's work is OK, but he keeps making these silly
mistakes. I The President made a big mistake in thinking
that the American people were behind him. I If you think your
plan is going to work, you're making a mistake.
go wrong /,go 'ror [[-'r:/ to make a mistake at a
particular stage in a process, for example, when you are
calculating something, with the result that the whole thing
is spoiled Iv phrase]
I can never get quite the right answer - I must be going
wrong somewhere. [ Check your work again and see if you
can spot where you went wrong. ] With easy step-by-step
instructions you really can't go wrong.
get sth wrong/,get (sth) 'ror II -'r:rj/to make a mistake
in what you do or the way that you do it, especially when
this annoys or upsets someone else Iv phrase]
What's the matter with that hotel? I've written to them a
dozen times and they are still getting my name wrong! [ get
it wrong Every time I send him to buy flowers he gets it
wrong and buys the wrong kind. [ HIS choice of clothes would
be all-important. He didn't want to get it wrong.
blunder/'bl^ndar/to make a stupid mistake, usually with
very serious results Iv I]
They blundered badly when they appointed an English-
speaking President to the Welsh Language Society. [ The
generals blundered by sending cavalry horses into battle
against armoured tanks.
gooflgoof up /gu:f, ,gu:f '^p/ an informal American
word meaning to make a silly mistake Iv I]
Hey, you really goofed this time - that was the principal's
daughter you just insulted. [ I tried to help her out, but I
always goof up by saying just the wrong thing.
slip up/,shp '^p/to make a careless mistake, especially
so that you lose some advantage, or spoil a chance that you
had [phr v I]
Those people were just waiting for me to slip up, to show
signs of weakness or stupidity. [ slip up on sth You slipped
up a bit on that question.
misjudge/ms' ds^ds/to make a mistake about a person,
situation, or amount by wrongly thinking that they are one
thing when in fact they are another [v T]
I'm sorry - it seems I've misjudged you. [ Unfortunately we
misjudged the distance to Cairo and ran out of fuel before
we got there. [ In fact, the US generals had seriously mis-
judged the determination and endurance of the North
Vietnamese.
a stupid mistake that causes social
embarrassment
put your foot in it boob/booboo
faux pas indiscretion
gaffe
put your foot in it /,pot j..):r 'fot In It/ an informal
expression meaning to make a stupid mistake by saying
something that you shouldn't say, because it upsets some-
one, is a secret etc Iv phrase]
"Didn't I see you in a restaurant with that woman last
night?" said Jim, quite innocently putting his foot in it. [ You
know Cathy's a Tax Inspector but you still told her you never
declare your profits? You've really put your foot in it this
time.
faux pas/,fo'po:, 'fopo:/(plural faux pas) a mistake
made by saying or doing something in a social situation
that embarrasses other people In C]
I asked Janine when her baby was due and she said she
wasn't pregnant. I realized my faux pas too late. [ make a
faux pas We seemed to have made a faux pas when we
mentioned our opposition to nuclear weapons.
gaffe/gafl an embarrassing and stupid mistake made in
a social situation or in public In C]
The President kept calling the Queen "Honey'. What a gaffe![
The Minister is well known for making gaffes when making
speeches in foreign countries.
boob (British) I booboo (American)/bu:b, 'bu:bu:/an
informal word meaning a silly mistake, especially one that
amuses people In singular]
Whoops! I think I've made a booboo. [ The Prime Minister's
worst boob was sitting down before the Queen at an official
dinner.
indiscretion/ lnd 'skrean/a mistake caused by some-
one, especially someone in a public position, being unable
to keep secret something such as a sexual relationship or
illegal business deal In C]
Judge Maher's reputation was destroyed by scandals involv-
ing sexual and financial indiscretions. [ commit an indis-
cretion The President denied he had any knowledge of the
indiscretions committed by his campaign staff.

MISTAKE 854 MIX
 to deceive someone so that they make a
mistake and say something they did not
intend to say
trip sb up
catch sb out
trip sb up/trip (sb) '^Pl [phr v T]
The examiner tripped Paul up by asking him a question that
seemed obvious but wasn't. I The police managed to trip
Hughes up, and he had to tell them what he had seen.
catch sb out / iket (sb) laot] to make someone make a
mistake, especially in order to prove that they are lying,
or to find out what they know [phr v T]
The interviewers were very smart - I could tell they were
trying to catch me out. I Dad was always catching you out
when you were younger. He usually got the truth out of you.
mistaken WRONG/INCORRECT 2
mistaken: be mistaken WRONG/INCORRECT 3
mistaken: could pass for/could be mistaken for
LIKE/SIMILAR 4
mistaken belief BELIEVE 15
mister MAN 6
mistreat/ill treat CRUEL 6
mistress GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND 1
mistrust TRUST 6
mistrustful: distrustful/mistrustful TRUST 7
misunderstand UNDERSTAND 11
misunderstanding UNDERSTAND 11
misuse USE STH 11
mitigate REDUCE 2 ,
mix MAKE 6, MIX 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
mix: a mix of VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
mix: do not mix MIX 10
mix-up MISTAKE 1
mix up: get sth mixed up with CONFUSED 5
mix up: mix sb up CONFUSED 5
mix with SOCIALIZE 2
@ MIX
to mix together different substances or
liquids, or different ideas, characteristics etc
1 to mix substances or liquids together
:2 to mix things when you are preparing food
3 to become mixed together
4 two or more substances that have been
mixed together
5 words for describing things such as paper,
clothes, or hair that have become untidily
mixed together
6 to mix together different activities,
characteristics, or ideas
7' to be a mixture of different features, ideas, or
characteristics
8 a mixture of different people, characteristics,
ideas etc
9 words for describing different emotions that
are mixed together
t0 ways of saying that different methods, ideas,
characteristics, activities etc do not mix well
together
1 to mix substances or liquids together
mix
combine
stir
mix /mks/ to mix two or more liquids or substances
together so that the different parts can no longer be sepa-
rated Iv T]
mix sth and sth Mix flour and cold water to make a smooth
paste. I mix sth into sth If the colour you want is orange,
mix a small pot of red paint into a large pot of yellow paint. [
mix sth with Concrete is made by mixing gravel with sand,
cement, and water.
combine/km'ban/to mix two or more substances or
liquids together in order to produce a new single substance
or liquid [v T/
combine sth with Steel is produced by combining iron with
carbon. [ To maintain a constant standard, some wine
producers combine this year's wine with stocks from the
previous year.
stir/sta: r/to mix things together by moving them around
in a container, using something such as a spoon or stick
[v T]
stir sth Stir the paint to make sure that both colours are
thoroughly mixed. I stir sth into sth She stirred the sugar
into her coffee.
2 to mix things when you are preparing food
mix beat
stir blend
combine whisk
mix/mks/[v T]
mix sth with Mix the sugar with milk or water. [ French
dressing is prepared by mixing lemon juice with olive oil. [
mix sth together Mix all the ingredients together in a large
bowl. [ mix sth in I've already mixed the milk in, so all you
need to do is heat it up.
stir/st3: r/to mix things together by moving them around
in a container with a spoon or fork [v T]
stir sth Heat the soup in a pan and stir it regularly. [ stir
sth into sth Have you stirred the egg yolks into the mixture?[
stir sth in When the sauce has cooled, add the grated cheese
and stir it in.
combine/kmban/a word used in cooking instructions
meaning to mix things together thoroughly [v T]
combine sth with In apart, heat2 tablespoons of butter and
combine it with the flour to make a roux.
beat/bi:t/to thoroughly mix things together with a fork
using quick, strong movements [v T]
beat sth Carry on beating the eggs with a fork until they're
light and fluffy. [ beat sth together In a separate bowl, beat
together the oil and/lout. [ beat sth into sth Beat the cream
into the fruit puree, pour into bowls and chill.
blend/blend/to thoroughly mix together things that are
soft or liquid so that they become smooth, using something
such as a fork, or a special machine [v T]
blend sth into sth The chef expertly blended the egg yolks
into the white sauce. [ blend sth Blend in the cream cheese
and sugar.
whisk/wlsk/to mix things that are soft or liquid very
quickly so that air is mixed in, especially using a fork [v T]
whisk sth Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl over a pan
of hot water. [ whisk sth together He whisked the butter
and eggs together, wondering if this was the right way to
make an omelette.
to become mixed together
mix
combine
mingle
mix/mks/[v I]
Oil and water do not mix. [ After a short time the oxygen and
the nitrogen molecules will start to mix. [ mix with A heater
introduces warm air to mix with incoming cold air.
combine/km ban/if two or more substances or liquids
combine, they mix to produce a new substance [v I]
When the two chemicals combine, they form an explosive
compound. [ combine with Some cheese does not combine
successfully with cream, so choose carefully.
mingle/mirgal/if two or more liquids, smells, sounds
etc mingle, they mix but can still be recognized separately
[v I]

MIX 855 MIX
mingle with The smell of smoke mingles with the smell of
the food. I The clear water had come down from the river
above Aberdeen and mingled with the oil-stained harbour
scum.
4 two or more substances that have been
mixed together
mixture compound
combination solution
mixture/'mIkstar/[n C]
You can use water or milk, or a mixture of both. [ The car
runs on a special ether-alcohol mixture that won't work in
an ordinary engine.
combination/komb nezan [[ ,ka:m-/a mixture of two
or more substances, colours etc that are used together In C/
Banana, orange juice and cream may seem an odd combi-
nation, but together they make a delicious drink. [ The
sweater is made of a combination of natural and synthetic ,
fibres.
compound/'kompaond [[ 'ka:m-/a technical word mean-
ing a mixture of two or more chemical substances that com-
bine to produce a single substance with qualities different
from the original substances [n C/
Sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide are two common chem-
ical compounds. [ The soil was tested to make sure that it was
free from ammonia or any other nitrogen compound.
solution/sa'lu:an/a word used especially in scientific
contexts meaning a liquid that has something mixed in
with it [n C/
Make a salt solution by dissolving 9 tablespoonfuls of cook-
ing salt in a pint of water. [ We are now going to measure
the boiling points of the different solutions.
5 words for describing things such as papers,
clothes, or hair that have become untidily
mixed together
mixed up
jumbled/jumbled up
tangled
mixed up/,mkst '^p,/mixed together untidily or in the
wrong order [adj]
The drawer was full of mixed up bits of paper, old letters and
photographs of his family. [ The tapes are a bit mixed up,
but it shouldn't take too long to sort them out.
jumbled/jumbled up/d3Ambald, id3Ambald Ap/mixed
together very untidily so that it is difficult to find anything
[adj]
Your shirt is somewhere in that jumbled pile of clothes. I In
one corner there was a glass cupboard in which books and
papers were all jumbled up.
tangled/' tmjgald/hair, grass, string etc that is tangled
is mixed up and difficult to separate [adj]
He had long tangled hair. [ The concrete highway was edged
with tangled dry grass. [ tangled up with In the garden
there were clusters of red, black, and yellow berries all
tangled up with wild roses.
6 to mix together different activities,
characteristics, or ideas
mix bring together
combine mingle
mix/mlks/Iv T/
mix sth with I'm afraid I can "t have dinner with you, I never
mix business with pleasure. [He was a strict parent, mixing
fatherly love with firm discipline. [ an author with a flair
for mixing intrigue with outspokenness
combine/kam'banl to have two very different charac-
teristics, or do two very different activities, at the same
time Iv T/
combine sth with The airline combines tight security with
comfort for its passengers. [ Many women long to be mothers,
but do not know if they could combine family responsibili-
ties with work.
bring together/,bnr ta'ge6ar/if you bring together
two or more elements, ideas or characteristics, you mix
them so that they can be seen at the same time [phr v T/
These opposing views should be brought together in a para-
graph or essay, to form a written argument. [ It is a marvel-
lous book, which brings together all the necessary elements
of romance and bitterness.
mingle/' mlrgal/to show two very different characteris-
tics or feelings at the same time, mixing them together Iv T/
She mingles tradition and originality in her designs.
7 to be a mixture of different features, ideas, or
characteristics
be a mixture of
combine
blend
be a mixture of/bi: a 'mkstar ov/[v phrase]
The movie is a mixture of comedy and romance. [ Our
restaurant is a success because it is a mixture of Italian cul-
ture and American techniques. [ Harriet was a strange
mixture of genius and childlike simplicity.
combine/km' bain/to be a mixture of two or more ideas
or characteristics, especially in a way that is successful [v
T/
combine sth with This is a computer system that combines
maximum flexibility with absolute accuracy. [ The book com-
bines a heroic tale of a woman's courage with gentle
romance. [ combine sth and sth He designed the first great
suspension bridge, an idea that combines beauty and func-
tion perfectly.
blend/blend/if a piece of work, a film, a book etc blends
two or more features or characteristics, it mixes them suc-
cessfully Iv T/
blend sth and sth The ballet company's repertoire blends
tradition and creative innovation. [ blend sth with Her first
novel successfully blends a sense of innocence with over-
whelming bitterness.
 a mixture of different people, characteristics,
ideas etc
mixture blend
combination a cross between
mix fusion
mixture/'mIkstar/In singular]
He looked at her with a mixture of admiratioh and curiosity. I
The house behind us was a strange architectural mixture. [
A long French liner slipped majestically by with a mixture
of European and Asian faces staring curiously from the
decks.
combination /ikombnean II ka:m-/ a mixture of
different people, feelings, problems etc that combine to
have a certain effect In singular]
Ourproblems were due to a combination of bad management
and lack of experience. I Anton as chef with his brother as
restaurant manager is a very successful combination. I Joe's
expression was a combination of uneasiness and disbelief.
mix/mks/a mixture of different qualities or of different
types of people In singular]
She went to New York, where she began to meet a different
mix of people - artists, designers, and art collectors. I We
need someone with a mix of enthusiasm and practicalityfor
a job like this.
blend/blend/a mixture of different qualities or charac-
teristics, or of different types of people, that combine suc-
cessfully In singular]
Her first novel is written with a successful blend of wild
imagination and everyday observation. [ The England team
is a good side, with a nice blend of experience and youthful
energy. I Sometimes he seems to be an extraordinary blend
of artist, poet and businessman.
a cross between/a 'kros bitwi:n II -'kra:s-/if something
or someone is a cross between one thing and another they
seem to be a mixture of the two things [n phrase]

MIX 856 modern-day
Her expression was a cross between pain and bewilderment.J
She said that my singing sounds like a cross between a sore
throat and a police siren. I The use of chemical fertilisers has
turned the farmer into a cross between an industrial chemist
and a mechanic.
fu$|on / Ifu:san! something such as a style of art or writ-
ing that is produced by combining different ideas, styles,
qualities etc In singular]
The film is a fusion of history and contemporary events. I His
philosophy is a fusion of intellect and spiritual belief.
9 words for describing different emotions that
are mixed together
mixed
combined
mingled
mixed Imikst/[adj]
The other girls had mixed feelings, some of them were happy
for me but some were jealous. [ Reactions to the announce-
ment were somewhat mixed. ] Many new step-parents will
admit to having mixed emotions about their new family.
combined/kgm'baInd/showing two very different feel-
ings or emotions at the same time [adj only before noun]
He had an air of combined gloom and relief. [ The boy's
expression of combined defiance and desperation showed
that he knew this was his last chance. [ combined with
Their relief that war had been avoided was combined with
sadness at what they had lost.
mingled /mn]gald! mixed, but still felt or shown as
separate emotions [adj]
He had so many mingled emotions in his mind, he didn't
know how he really felt. [ mingled with As I spoke his
expression was one of amazement mingled with fury.
10 ways of saying that different methods, ideas,
characteristics, activities etc do not mix well
together
do not mix
incompatible
do not go well together
do not mix/lu: not 'mks/ if two different kinds of
behaviour or activity do not mix, you cannot successfully
continue with both of them at the same time Iv phrase]
People having affairs at work often find that business and
romance don't mix. [ does not mix with Heavy drinking
does not mix with a successful family life.
incompatible ]  mkgrnpatbal! if two things or people
are incompatible, they cannot easily exist together, work
together, or live together [adj]
The centre gives advice to women who find the demands of
marriage and work incompatible. [ I'm surprised that Robin
and Dan are friends - they seem incompatible. [ incompat-
ible with These computers are incompatible with our
present system.
do not go well together /,du: not ggo 'wel tg,ge69r/if
two ideas, characteristics ere do not go well together,
they do not mix easily or well [v phrase]
In the experience of many European countries, socialism and
religion do not go well together.
mixed MIX 9, RACE 3, SEX/GENDER 2, VARIOUS/OF
DIFFERENT KINDS 3
mixed bag VARIOUS/OF'DIFFERENT KINDS 4
mixed feelings: have mixed feelings NOT SURE 2
mixed up MIX5
mixed-up CONFUSED 1
mixed up: get sth mixed up CONFUSED 5
mixture MIX 4, 8
mixture: a mixture of VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
mixture: be a mixture of MIX 7
moan COMPLAIN 2
mob AROUND/ROUND 2, CROWD 2
mobile MOVE STH OR SB 5, MOVE/CHANGE
POSITION 4
mobility MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 4
mobilize PREPARE 1
mock ARTIFICIAL 2, MAKE FUN OF 1, PRETEND 3
mockery: make a mockery of SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 5
mocking MAKE FUN OF 3
model COPY 6, IMITATE 5, PERFECT 1, TYPE 3
model yourself on IMITATE 2
moderate MODERATE 1, 2, REDUCE 7
MODERATE
I words for describing beliefs and op!nions,
especially about politics or religion, that are
considered reasonable and sensible by most
people
2 a person who has moderate opinions, beliefs
etc
1 words for describing beliefs and opinions,
especially about politics or religion, that are
considered reasonable and sensible by most
people
moderate the middle ground
middle-of-the-road the centre/the center
moderate/'modarIt II 'me:-/[adj]
The people want a moderate government and sensible poli-
cies. [ The new church leaders are more moderate in their
plans for reform. [ Moderate socialists believe in democratic
reform rather than revolution.
middle.of-the-road/mdl 9v 69 mod,/not including
any extreme or important changes, and keeping to ordi-
nary, safe political aims, especially in order to avoid criti-
cism, opposition, or risk [adj phrase]
The Liberals were long thought of as an insignificant mid-
die-of-the-road party in British politics. [ His policies are very
middle-of-the-road.
the middle ground/69 ,mldl 'graond/the area of polit-
ical opinion that most people agree about, even if they sup-
port different political parties In phrase]
The President has ignored the middle ground of opinion in
the country. [ occupy the middle ground (=support the
opinions of the middle ground) He attempts to occupy the
middle ground between two passionately opposed groups.
the centre (British) I the center (American)/69 'sentr/
the area of political opinion between the opinions of the
more extreme political parties In singular]
The party has moved towards the centre in recent years. [ She
considers the politics of the center to be ineffectual and
pointless.
2 a person who has moderate opinions, beliefs
etc
moderate
moderate/'modarIt II 'me:-/someone who has moder-
ate opinions or beliefs, especially political ones In C]
Jimmy Carter was widely regarded as a moderate. I The
government's new reforms have been generally well received
by the moderates.
 moderation: in moderation LITTLE/NOT MUCH 3,
 TOO/TO0 MUCH 6
._
 modern MODERN 1, 2, 3, NOW 5
 modern-day NOW 5
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken Englis.h.

MODERN 85? MODERN
-whzch i  mea-m  g
umng the newest, " +'++'++ + ADVANCED
....... : . ,.
equipment,
@ MODERN
words for describing machines, systems,
processes etc that have been developed
using the most recent ideas and equipment
using, or willing to use, the most recent ideas
and ways of thinking
words for describing modern art, literature,
music etc
to change something in order to make it
modern
1 words for describing machines, systems,
processes etc that have been developed
using the most recent ideas and equipment
modern
up-to-date
modern/'modn II 'rno:d+rn/[adj]
There is a modern rail system to take passengers to and from
the city. I In Japanese car factories they have all the most
modern machinery. I A sophisticated modern air-defence
system can be very expensive.
up-to-date/^p t 'det/up-to-date methods/mach-
inery/equipment/facilities etc (=based on the most
recent knowledge or ideas) [adj]
Our athletes are trained on the most up-to-date facilities in
Europe. I All the equipment in the hospital is the most up-to-
date there is. I What we need is a computer system that is up-
to-date and flexible.
 using, or willing to use, the most recent ideas
and ways of thinking
modern forward-looking
progressive move with the times
innovative go-ahead
modern I'modn II 'mo:dorn/[adj]
She wants a hospital that uses the most modern childbirth
techniques. I They're a very modern couple - he stays at home
with the kids and she goes out to work. I The school is very
modern in its approach to sex education.
progressive/pr'gresv/keen to change and improve
what you do by trying completely new methods and ideas
[adj]
Even with the most progressive methods in agriculture you
still can't do anything about the weather. I He has a reputa-
tion as a social and industrial reformer with progressive
views.
innovative/' in,veItlV/ using new methods and ideas
that are clever and original [adj]
She has been praised for her innovative techniques in help-
ing deaf people to speak. I "Time" magazine called the mobile
phone one of the ten most innovative products of the year.
innovation/, in'vein! In U] We have a career structure
that rewards innovation and good ideas.
forward.looking/'fa:rward lokIrj/willing to use new
and recently developed methods and ideas in order to do
your job better [adj]
The training methods in this school are very forward-
looking. I We like to think we're one of those forward-looking
companies that isn't afraid to use new ideas.
move with the times ! mu:v wI6 6a itaImz/to change
your way of living or working so that you are using modern
ideas, methods etc, even though you may not want to Iv
phrase]
I'm not keen on all these electronic gadgets, but I suppose we
must move with the times. I Whereas Japanese industry has
moved with the times our production methods have scarcely
changed in 20 years.
go.ahead / gao  i hed! always keen to use modern ideas
and methods because you want to be successful [adj only
before noun ]
Fortuna is a young, go-ahead computer company based in
Di2sseldorf .
3 words for describing modern art, literature,
music etc
modern avant-garde
contemporary futuristic
modern/'mon II 'mo:dorn! using styles that are differ-
ent from the existing styles of art, literature, music etc [adj]
Charles is a collector of modern art. I Modern music can be
difficult to get used to. I The dance was modern and quite
interesting but I think I prefer a traditional ballet.
contemporary/kon Itemparari, -pari II -poreri/produced
or written recently rather than a long time ago, using a
style different from the styles used in the past [adjl
Contemporary art is sometimes hard to understand and
appreciate. ] The dancers performed to a contemporary
arrangement of "Swan Lake'.
avant.garde /tmva:rjgo:rd* Jl ,eevo:o-/ extremely
modern and strange or hard to understand because it is
very different from existing ideas in art, music, literature
etc [adj]
Although she likes avant-garde music, Lydia also plays clas-
sical guitar and piano. ] The Whitechapel Art Gallery
usually displays the work of avant-garde sculptors and
painters.
futuristic / t fu:t} t rlstlk* [ futuristic design/building/
film etc (=one that appears so modern and strange that it
seems to belong to the future and not to the present) [adj]
The futuristic sports stadium is the pride of the city. [ We
think your designs are a little too futuristic for our factory.
4 to change something in order to make it
modern
modernize
bring sth up to date
update
modernize (also -ise British) /'modanaiz II 'mo:dor-/
Iv T]
The aviation authorities are attempting to modernize the air-
traffic control system. I They bought a traditional farmhouse
that had been modernized by the previous owners.
modernization/imodonal IzeIan II imo:darno-! [n U] The
company needs better staff training, computerization and
general modernization of equipment.
bring sth up to date/ibrIo (sth) ^p t det! to make
something modern by getting rid of any old-fashioned
details or features that it has and adding the newest ones
that are available Iv phrase usually in passive]
All the old encyclopedias have been revised and brought up
to date. I The weathermen ought to bring their old-fashioned
forecast models up to date.
update/, Ap'deIt/to make something such as a design or
system more modern by adding the most recent informa-
tion or parts to it so that it does not become useless, old-
fashioned etc Iv T]

modernize
The manufacturers are updating one of their most popular
cars in an attempt to increase exports to the US. I You should
update your CV to include the word processing course you
went on last week.
modernize MODERN 4
modest MODEST 1
MODEST
t unwilling to talk proudly about your abilities or
achievements
2, to be too modest about your abilities or
achievements
3 modest behaviour
unwilling to talk proudly about your abilities or
achievements
modest humble
self-effacing unpretentious
unassuming
modest/'modgst II 'mm-/unwilling to talk about your
abilities or achievements and often saying that you are less
good than you reatly are, because you do not want to praise
yourself [adj]
Luke was too modest to talk about how he won the race. [
Despite hs success, he remained the most modest and toler-
ant of men. [ a very shy, modest guy who wouldn't let us
nominate him for treasurer
modestly [adv] "'How brave and clever you are! .... Not at
all,'" Chesterton replied modestly.
self-effacing / ,self 'fesn3/not wanting to talk about
yourself or to attract attention [adj]
Her husband was a shy, self-effacing man who spent much
of his time in his study. [ Beneath her self-effacing manner
there lay considerable strength.
unassuming/, ^nz' sju:mn3 4, -,su:- [[ -' su:-/not wanting
to be noticed and not expecting to be treated in a special
way, because you do not think you are important [adj]
Althorp was quiet, kind and unassuming - a perfect gentle-
man. [ Her sociable and unassuming character made her
popular with the other teachers.
humble / ' h^mbal/thinking that you are unimportant and
not as good or clever as other people, and therefore not
expecting to be treated in a special way [adj]
Steven was a humble hard-working man who never com-
plained about anything. [ Stephanie was humble enough to
admit that her decision was probably wrong.
humbly [adv] I humbly put forward my own plan.
unpretentious/,^npr 'tenSes-/not trying to seem better
than other people, even if you are rich, famous, clever ere
[adj]
Rita is friendly and unpretentious, unlike her rich snobbish
neighbours. I Jilly was surprised by how pleasant and
unpretentious he was. Not like a big star at all.
2 to be too modest about your abilities or
achievements
put/run yourself down
sell yourself short
underestimate yourself
put/run yourself down /,pot, ,r^n j:rself 'daon/to tell
people that you are less good, skilful etc than you really are
[v phrase]
He puts himself down, but you know, he's really very gifted.[
I wish you wouldn't run yourself down all the time.
sell yourself short/sel j:rself 'Jb:rt/to not tellpeople
enough about your skills, ability ete, especially in a situa-
tion where other people are deciding whether to offer you
a job or choose you for something [v phrase]
858 money-spinner
Don "t sell yourself short at the interview or you'll never get
the job. Let them know how good you are. [ Idon't know why,
but for some reason she always sells herself short.
underestimate yourself/,^ndr'estmeit j:r,self/to
believe that you are less clever, good, skilful etc than you
really are Iv phrase]
Don't underestimate yourself - you can win. [ I think you
underestimate yourselfwhen you say you couldn't cope with
a job like this.
3 modest behaviour
modesty
humility
modesty/'mdsti II 'ma:-/a modest way of behaving or
talking [n U[
"'I'm a bank manager, "" she said, then added with typical
modesty, "'of a very small bank. "'[ For such a successful man
he shows remarkable modesty.
humility/hju:'mflloti/ great modesty that someone has
because they do not think they are important, special, or
clever In U[
Mother Theresa remains a woman of great humility, despite
all the attention and praise her work has received. [ He has
sufficient humility to accept criticism willingly and to take
it seriously.
modesty MODEST 3
modification CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 7
modify CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 3
moist WET 4
moisten WET8
moisture WATER 1
mold: mould/mold MAKE 7
moldy: mouldy/moldy DECAY 2, 4
mole SPY 2
molehill: make a mountain out of a molehill
IMPORTANT 11
molest SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 10
mollify ANGRY 11
mollycoddle KIND 6
molten HOT 1, LIQUID 2
mom: mum/morn MOTHER 1, 2
moment SHORT TIME 2
moment: as soon as/the moment that IMMEDIATELY 2
moment: at that moment THEN 1
moment: at the moment NOW 1
moment: at this moment In time NOW 1
moment: for the moment NOW 6
moment: in a minute/in a moment SOON 2
moment: in the heat of the moment THINK ABOUT 9
moment: not a moment too soon ON TIME 3
momentarily SOON 2
momentary SHORT TIME 3
momentous IMPORTANT 1
momentum SPEED 1
momentum: gain/gather momentum FAST/QUICK 11
Mommy: Mummy/Mommy MOTHER 2
monetary MONEY 11
money MONEY 1 4, 5, 6
,
money: be in the money RICH 4
money: big money MONEY 2
money: earn/make good money EARN 4
money: for very little money CHEAP 7
money: get your/her/their money's worth CHEAP 6
money: give sb their money back PAY FOR 7
money: have money to burn RICH 3
money: I'd put money on it SURE 1
money: I'm not made of money RICH 8
money: play for money GAMBLE 1
money: pour money into PAY FOR 11
money: put money in a bank/account PUT 16
moey: put money into MONEY 15, PAY FOR 11
money: put up the money for PAY FOR 11
money doesn't grow on trees RICH 8
money is no object SPEND MONEY 2
money-spinner/moneyspinner PROFIT 5

MONEY 859 MONEY -
profit mae by a
company"or pc[son.
earn, money
pay for something.
pay someone for work
having a lot of money
ha.-ing very litile.
money ;#!iiii;o
@ PROFIT
..::. ;.p...m.:. ;
- EARN
..... @ PAY FOR
@ PAY SB FOR
WORK
  RICH
.......... . ..,,
@ POOR
@ MONEY
12
13
14
15
16
17
words meaning money, used when talking
about how much things cost, how much
people earn or spend etc
a large amount of money
an amount of money
money in the form of coins or notes
the money that is used in a country
all the money that a person, organization, or
country owns
money that someone receives regularly to
spend or live on
money that is paid regularly to someone by
their former husband or wife
money that is collected for a specific purpose
money paid to someone in an official position
in order to persuade them to do something
dishonest
connected with money and the management
of money
the financial and business system that exists
in a particular country or area
activities connected with the management of
a company's or country's money
money that is used to start new businesses,
pay for business plans etc
to give money to a company, business, or
bank, especially with the aim of making a
profit
ways of saying that a person or company has
no money to pay their debts or cannot
continue in business
having no money to spend at the present
time
1 words meaning money, used when talking
about how much things cost, how much
people earn or spend etc
money dough
cash the wherewithal
dosh
money/'mAni/[n U]
It's my money. I'll decide what I spend it on! I How much
money do teachers earn? I birthday/redundancy/baby-
sitting etc money (=money you receive on your birthday,
when you have to leave your job etc) It's a beautiful car;
he bought it with his redundancy money. I save money I'm
not going ski-ing this year - I'm trying to save some money. I
raise money (=collect money for a purpose, for example
to help other people) We are trying to raise money for vic-
tims of violent crime. I make money (=earn money) How
they ever make any money at this firm I'll never know -
they "re so badly organized.
©ash Ikal money, especially money which you have
available to spend In U]
She's taken a part-time job to earn some extra cash. I I'm a
little short of cash at the moment. Could I pay you next week? l
With our 'Extra Profit" scheme you can sensibly invest your
surplus cash.
dosh /do II da:/ an informal British word meaning
money [n U]
Have you got any dosh you can lend me? I'm broke. ] He
doesn't like London much, but he earns more dosh there.
dough Ida J/an informal word meaning money, especially
a lot of money [n U]
He only married her for her dough. I I'd go on vacation three
times a year too, if I had his dough!
the wherewithal/ 'weorwlO3:l/the money that you
need in order to do something or pay for something [n
singular]
It'll have to be a small wedding, we don't have the where-
withal to pay for a big one.
 a large amount of money
a lot of money big money
a fortune/small fortune a tidy sum
a lot of money/0 ,lot ov 'mAni II -tie:t-/In phrasel
It'll cost a lot of money to have the roof fixed. I The painting
was sold for Ј20,000 in 1926, which was a lot of money in those
days. I They don't have a lot of money, but they live com-
fortably.
a fortune/small fortune/g 'fa:rtan, o sm3:l  fa:rtan/
informal expressions meaning a lot of money In singular]
That car must be worth a fortune! l She earned a small for-
tune selling antique furniture, and retired when she was 45. I
cost a fortune The evening cost a fortune, but it was worth
it.
big money / bg 'm^ni/an informal expression meaning
a large amount of money, especially money that is earned
or paid in business In U]
He's hoping there's big money in this new business. I The
investors are talking big money. At least $100,000. ] Tamm-
ler was paid big money to keep quiet.
a tidy sum Ia ,taidi 'sAm/an expression meaning a large
amount of money, used especially when you are pleased or
surprised about it In phrase]
They managed to sell the house for a tidy sum. I When my
aunt died she left us a tidy sum.
3 an amount of money
figure
sum/sAm/an amount of money, especially when the exact
amount is not stated In C]
They gave a small sum to the local hospital. [ sum of money
Fifty dollars seemed a large sum of money to the ten-year-
old Luke. [ lump sum (=money paid all together) You get
paid in a lump sum at the end of your contract. [ nominal
sum (=very small sum) In order to conform with the laws
on gambling, customers pay a nominal sum to become
members of the club.
figure/'rigo r II 'fIgjar/a stated amount of money [n CI
"We need Ј30,000 to get the project started. "" "How close are
you to that figure?" l A comparison of the two figures shows
the estimated profit on investment.

MONEY 860 MONEY
4 money in the form of coins or notes
money
cash
change
money/'m^ni/[n U]
I took the money out of my pocket and counted it carefully. I
Handling money all day can make your hands very dirty. I
Suddenly the bag fell open and everything inside - make-up,
money, hankies - went tumbling onto the floor. I the right
money (=the exact amount of money something costs) This
machine does not give change. Please have the right money
ready.
©ash ]km[] money in the form of coins and notes, not
cheques or bank cards In U]
The thieves stole cash and jewellery. I in cash I'll give you
fifty dollars in cash and pay the rest by check later. I petty
cash (=money kept in an office to buy small things) I'm
taking some money out of the petty cash to buy some stamps.
change ]t[emds] money in the form of coins In U]
My purse is really heavy - it's full of change. I loose change
We gave all our loose change to a woman who was collect-
ingfor the Red Cross. I small change (=coins of low value)
You'll need some small change for the telephone. I change
for sth (=coins in exchange for a note) Does anyone have
change for a five dollar bill?
5 the money that is used in a country
currency
money
currency/'kAransi ]] 'ka:r-/the particular type of money
that is used in a country or to buy goods or services from
that country In C/U]
We soon got used to using Italian currency. [ The EMU is a
system designed to keep European currencies stable. I for-
eign currency Eastern Europe is desperately short of for-
eign currency. I hard currency (=from a country with a
strong currency) A lot of the food grown in Mexico is
exported to earn hard currency.
money I'm^nil French/Japanese etc money [n U]
Don't forget to get some French money for your trip to Paris. ]
You can get a good exchange rate for German money.
 all the money that a person, organization, or
country owns
money finances
means savings
assets resources
money I'm^nil [n U]
My grandmother left me all her money when she died. I The
country simply doesn't have enough money to spend on edu-
cation. I She lost most of her money when the stockmarket
crashed in 1987. I make your money (=earn all your money
doing a particular type of business) He had made his money
as a butcher in Kingstown.
means ]mi:nz! all the money that you own, especially if
it is enough for everything that you need In plural]
Have you the means to look after your family? l We don't have
the means to pay this bill.
assets ]'sets! all of the money and property which a
company or person owns, and which they may sell or use
if necessary In plural]
On her death, she wants all her assets to go to her husband. I
With assets of just under Ј1 million, the business is still rela-
tively small.
, I
finances/'faInmnsz, f 'nmnsz II f'nnsz, fammnsz]
all the money that a person, company, organization etc
owns, especially when this is regularly checked so they
know about any changes in it In plural]
An accountant handles the school's finances. I The govern-
ment,s finances have been severely affected by high inflation. I
This mortgage is a heavy drain on our finances.
savings ]'sevIIJZl the money which you have saved,
which is usually kept in a bank or some other financial
institution In plural]
Your savings are safe with the Bank of America. I Since we
retired we've been living on our savings and a small pen-
sion.I life savings (=all of the money you have saved) Syl-
vester Rowntree had invested his life savings in the new
business.
resources/rI iza:rsIz, -isz)-'rs-/all the money, property,
or goods that a company, organization, or country owns
and that can be used to make more money or to provide
services In plural]
The government must make more human and financial
resources available for AIDS research. I We have to make the
best use of the resources we've got.
7 money that'someone receives regularly to
spend or live on
allowance income
pension welfare
pocket money benefit
allowance
allowance/'laons/an amount of money that someone
receives regularly, which they do not earn by working In C]
Some students have an allowance from their parents. I In
exchange for looking after the children, Annie has all her
meals paid for and receives a small monthly allowance.
pension/'pen[an/an amount of money that old people
receive regularly from the government, their former
employer, or an insurance company after paying in money
over many years In C]
Every Wednesday she goes to the post office to get her pen-
sion. I He gets a pretty good pension from his old firm where
he worked for 30years. I old-age pension (=a pension that
old people receive from the government) The government
has raised the old-age pension by 50% in the last three years.
pocket money/'pot ,mAni I1 'pa:-/a small amount of
money that children receive from their parents every week
In U]
My father gave us our pocket money every Saturday. I I had
to pay for the window I broke out of my pocket money.
allowance/a'laoans/an American word meaning a small
amount of money that children receive from their parents
every week In C]
I spend my allowance on things like candy and going to the
movies. I His parents were poor and couldn't afford to give
him an allowance.
income /'lrJkArn, 'in-/ all the money that someone
receives regularly, for example from their job, from their
savings or from the government In C/U]
I'd love to know what his income is. He has so many new
clothes and such an expensive car. I income of The whole
family survives on the mother's monthly income of less than
Ј500. [ low income If you are on a low income you may be
entitled to free dental treatment.
welfare ]' welfear/an American word meaning the money
that is paid by the government to people without jobs In U]
The amount of money that the government spends on welfare
has halved in thepast decade. I be on welfare (=to be receiv-
ing money from the government) In some inner city areas,
over 90% of the population is on welfare.
benefit /'benfit! money that people receive from the
government if they have no job, do not earn a lot, or are sick
In C/U]
There are several benefits you can claim if you are unem-
ployed. [ housing benefit (=regular payments towards
your rent) Many people who are entitled to housing benefit
do not realize it. I unemployment benefit (=regular pay-
ments to people who do not have a job) Ifyou were fired from
your previous job you may not be able to claim unemploy-
ment benefit.

MONEY 861 MONEY
8 money that is paid regularly to someone by
their former husband or wife
maintenance
alimony
maintenance / ' meintnons/money that is paid regularly
by someone to their former wife or husband in order to sup-
port their children In U[
I have no job and receive no maintenance from my children's
father. [ A lot of young mothers do not sue their former hus-
bands or boyfriends for maintenance.
alimony / mlmani [[ -maoni/an amount of money that a
court orders someone to pay regularly to their former hus-
band or wife after their marriage has ended In U[
Joan Collins had to pay heavy alimony after divorcing her
third husband. [ Guilt is one reason why divorcing men agree
to alimony far beyond their means.
monetary /mAnoltari II 'ma:noteri/ monetary policy/
control etc (=control by the government of how a country's
money is used, exchanged etc) [adj only before noun]
Mr Evans advises the government on monetary policy. [ Some
economists question the effectiveness of monetary control as
a means of regulating the economy.
economic !,ekanomlk-, ,i:- II -'no-.-[ connected with the
way money is earned, spent, and controlled within a coun-
try or society [adj]
Many people believe that inflation leads to economic decline. [
In South Africa all political and economic power is in the
hands of the white minority.
economics/eka'nomiks, ,i:- II -'na:-/the study of how
money is earned, spent, and controlled within a country
or society In U[
He studied economics at Harvard University. I Keynes's
theories have had an important influence on modern
economics.
 money that is collected for a specific purpose
fund
kitty
fund/f^nd/a large sum of money that is collected and kept,
especially so that it can be used by a particular group of
people who need it In C[
There's a special fund you can apply to, that pays for blind
students to go to university. I set up a fund They used this
money to set up a fund for the refugees.
kitty /kiti/an informal word meaning a small sum of
money that is collected from all the people in a group and
used to buy their food or drinks, pay their bills etc In C[
We've run out of bread and milk. How much money is there
left in the kitty?[ The kitty is empty so if anyone wants
another drink they'll have to get it themselves.
1 0 money paid to someone in an official position
in order to persuade them to do something
dishonest
bribe
kickback
backhander
bribe/braib/[n C]
He tried everything to make the police officer change his mind
- bribes, threats, the lot!l offer a bribe Someone had offered
him a bribe to get information out of him. [ accept a bribe
A New York judge was convicted of accepting a bribe from
gangster Anthony Corallo.
kickback/'klkbmk/a large amount of money paid to
someone in a high position in a company or government,
in exchange for dishonestly arranging a business deal In C[
Top executives received millions of dollars in kickbacks. [ He
offered me $20,000 as a kickback if I'd push through a
$500,000 loan.
backhander /bmkhmndr/ an informal British word
meaning a small amount of money paid to someone to per-
suade them to do something that is dishonest but usually
not very serious In C[
If you let him have a backhander I'm sure he'll be able to
speed things up for you.
1 1 connected with money and the management
of money
financial economic
monetary economics
financial/f I 'nmnal, fa-/connected with money, espe-
cially the way large organizations control their money
[adj]
The company's problems were basically financial. I Accoun-
tants look after the financial administration of an enter-
prise. I The opening years of the 19th century saw financial
crisis at home and war abroad.
financially [adv ] The company never recovered financially
from the recession of the early 1980s.
12 the financial and business system that exists
in a particular country or area
economy
economy/'kunmi II i'ka:-/ [n C]
The government's management of the economy has been
severely criticised. [ Inflation is a major problem in many
South American economies. [ Poland is trying to move from
a centrally planned socialist economy to a free-market
capitalist economy.
1 3 activities connected with the management of
a company's or country's money
finance
finance/'fainmns, f'nmns II fa  'nmns, 'fainmns/In U]
He was an expert in finance and advised people where to
invest their money. I She works as a director of finance for
an oil company. I high finance (=financial activities
involving countries or big companies) Like most ordinary
people, I know little about the world of high finance.
14 money that is used to start new businesses,
pay for business plans etc
finance investment
capital sponsorship
funding subsidy
finance/'fanmns, fi 'nmns II f'nmns, 'fanmns/money
that is lent or given to you in order to pay for a plan, new
business activity etc In U[
Government finance is needed to help mothers return to
work. [ We know that the project will be a success, if we can
only get the finance to put it into action. I finance for Sports-
wear manufacturers are a common source of finance for
athletes seeking sponsorship.
capital/'kmptl/a large amount of money that can be
used to start a new business or business activity and from
which you may at some time receive a profit In U[
I want to start my own business but I don't have any capi-
tal. [ The average small investor should not risk capital in
very high risk investments. [ capital intensive (=using a
lot of capital) Publishing is sophisticated and highly capi-
tal intensive.
funding / f^nd:l/money that the government or a large
organization provides or lends, usually over a period of
time, to pay for a particular plan or activity In U]
The play could not be performed because of a lack of fund-
ing. I A special body advises the government on the funding
of research. I funding for Cuts in funding for the arts has
lead to the closure of several theatres. I government/NASA
etc funding (=funding provided by the government/NASA
etc) During the 1970s the space shuttle absorbed by far the
largest share of NASA funding.
investment /nvestmant/ the money that people or
organizations have put into a company, business, or bank
in order to make a profit In C/U[

MONEY 862 MOOD
In ten years" time your investment should be worth four times
what it is now. ] Once we have seen an improvement in the
company's performance, we will think about further invest-
ment. ] The government has spent $9.03 billion in public
investment. I sound investment (=an investment that is
not likely to lose money) Buying shares in blue-chip com-
panies is always a sound investment.
sponsorship /sptnsr,p II 'spa:n-/ money that is
provided by a company or by the government to pay for
someone to do something or pay for something such as a
sports event, art show etc In U/
The exhibition received Ј50,000 in government sponsorship. [
You might consider approaching local businesses or stores
for sponsorship. [ Companies can help projects by providing
financial sponsorship, office space, or printing facilities.
subsidy / sAbsdi/an amount of money provided by the
government to reduce the cost of something In CI
Generous subsidies are available to farmers who produce
wheat. [ British Rail has had its public subsidy halved in
the past five years.
1 5 to give money to a company, business, or
bank, especially with the aim of making a
profit
invest
put money into
investor
invest/in'vest/[v I/T/
invest in The government is offering tax benefits to
encourage businessmen to invest in local industry. I invest
Companies need to invest in order to survive. I invest Ј1 mil-
lion/$10,O00 ere This account is designed for people with
Ј5OO or more to invest. I invest money/capital ere
Managers do not want to invest time and money training
employees who could leave at any time.
put money into / put mhni tntu:/to give money to a com-
pany or business to make a profit, but also to help that com-
pany develop and be successful [v phrase]
Selina wants me to put money into her brother's new build-
ing business. [ Unless someone is prepared to put money into
it, the cinema will have to close. [ Investors who put their
money into the bankrupt company have lost everything.
Investor/n'vestr/someone who puts money into a bus-
iness, company, or bank in order to make a profit in C/
Having made the initial payment, the investor need make no
further effort. [ foreign investor Foreign investors have
shown considerable interest in the venture. [ small inves-
tor (=someone with a small amount to invest) Our finan-
cial consultants can advise the small investor.
1 6 ways of saying that a person or company has
no money to pay their debts or cannot
continue in business
insolvent go bust
bankrupt be ruined
go bankrupt
insolvent/in'sDlvnt II in'so:l-/a company or business
person that is insolvent has lost all their money [adj]
If we don't make a big sale soon, we will be insolvent before
the end of the month. [ A spokesman denied the bank was
insolvent, but depositors are rushing to withdraw their
money.
insolvency In U/Accountants have been called in to save
the firm from insolvency.
bankrupt/'bm3krApq a company or business person that
is bankrupt does not have enough money to pay their
debts and must stop doing business [adj]
We will have to close the factory - we're bankrupt. [ declare
sb/a company bankrupt (=say legally that a person or
company is bankrupt) The judge declared him bankrupt
and ordered him to sell his house to pay his debts.
go bankrupt/gu 'bm3krApt/if a company or business
person goes bankrupt, they no longer have enough money
to pay what they owe and must stop doing business ]v
phrase]
Unable to sell enough cars, the company went bankrupt. [
Many businessmen, particularly the smaller ones, went
bankrupt during the recession.
go bust/,gu 'b^st/an informal expression meaning to
no longer have enough money to pay your debts and there-
fore have to stop doing business Iv phrase]
The supermarket isn't there any more. They went bust ages
ago.
be ruined/bi: 'ru:nd/if someone is ruined, they have
lost all their money and property after working very hard
for it, and have to stop doing business Iv phrase]
Many farmers were ruined by the floods. [ I'm sorry, but I
have to raise my prices or I'll be ruined.
17 having no money to spend at the present
time
broke
skint
broke /brook/ an informal word meaning having no
money at the moment [adj not before noun]
"'Can you lend me some money? .... Sorry, I'm broke. "" I The
school is broke and will have to stop giving music lessons.
skint/sknt/an informal British word meaning having no
money at the moment [adj not before noun]
No, I can't lend you a tenner - I'm skint, r
monitor LISTEN 3, WATCH 3
monochrome COLOUR/COLOR 7
monopolize CONTROL 3
monopoly CONTROL 3
monopoly: have a monopoly SELL 17
monotonous BORING 2
monotony BORING 8
monotony: relieve the boredom/monotony BORING 9
monster BAD PERSON 2
monstrosity UGLY 4
monthly: hourly/daily/weekly/monthly etc REGULAR 1
months: hours/months/years etc LONG TIME 1
mooch off ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 5
mood MOOD 1
mood: be in a bad mood BAD-TEMPERED 2
mood: be in a good mood HAPPY 1
mood: be in one of his/her moods BAD-TEMPERED 2
mood: put sb in a good mood HAPPY 10
MOOD
the way someone feels at a particular time
words for describing someone whose mood
often changes, especially from being cheerful
to being bad-tempered
1 the way someone feels at a particular time
mood spirits
state of mind/frame of mind morale
mood/mu:d/how you feel at a particular time, for exam-
ple, happy, sad, angry etc In C]
I'm never sure when to approach Stephen because his moods
change so suddenly. [ Doctors believe that tiredness affects
your mood and behaviour. I in a good/bad/odd etc mood
Hopefully Sandra will be in a better mood tomorrow.
state o| mind/frame of mind / steit v malnd, fretm-/
the way someone feels and thinks at a particular time, espe-
cially when they are very unhappy or confused and this
influences the way they behave In phrase]
Doctors should take the patient's state of mind into account. I
an unstable frame of mind [ in a state of mind/frame of
mind The defendant was in a very disturbed state of mind
at the time of the offence.

MOOD 863 MORE/EXTRA
spirits/'spIrts/the way someone feels at a particular
time, for example, if they are cheerful or sad, and the way
this influences their confidence and hopefulness In plural]
sb's spirits lift/sink (=they become more or less cheer-
ful) Her spirits sank at the thought of another boring day
at work. I On the way Malcolm's spirits lifted, as they always
did at the prospect of an evening out with Jane. I be in high/
low spirits (=be in a cheerful or sad mood) The children
were in high spirits on their first trip to Disneyland. I keep
up sb's spirits (=to stop someone becoming less cheerful)
The prisoners sang as they worked to keep their spirits up.
morale /m'ro:l II m'rml! the level of confidence and
cheerfulness among a group of people, for example people
who work together or are doing something together In U]
high/low morale Because of pay and funding cuts, morale
among teachers is now very low. I Despite heavy fighting, the
troops" morale is still high. I keep up morale (=make people
remain in a confident mood) Letters from home are essen-
tial in keeping up hostages'morale. I raise/boost morale
(=improve morale) A visit from the Princess boosts morale
tremendously.
2 words for describing someone whose mood
often changes, especially from being cheerful
to being bad-tempered
moody
moody/'mu:di/[adj]
The pills he's taking seem to have made him even more
moody and depressed. I Claire admits she's moody, but says
it's because she's an artist.
moodiness In U] People under a lot of stress at work will
often experience moodiness, irritability and a loss of
confidence.
moody MOOD 2
moon: be over the moon HAPPY 5
moonlight LIGHT 1, WORK/DO WORK 4
moot point UNCERTAIN 4
mop WASH 5
mop up WASH 9
mope SAD/UNHAPPY 7
moral GOOD/MORAL 8
moral support: give sb moral support HELP 4
morale CONFIDENT 4, MOOD 1
morale: boost moralelraise morale CONFIDENT 5
morally GOOD/MORAL 8
morals GOOD/MORAL 9
morbid UNPLEASANT 5
more MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1,
MORE THAN BEFORE 1, 2, MORE THAN STH
OR SB ELSE 1, MORE/EXTRA 1
more: be more than MORE THAN A NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 2
more: no more than ONLY 2
more: once again/once more AGAIN 1
more: one more time/once more AGAIN 1
more: or more APPROXIMATELY 3
more: what's more AND/ALSO 2
more and more MORE THAN BEFORE 1, 2, 3
more or less ALMOST 2, 6, 7, APPROXIMATELY 5
more than anyone ESPECIALLY 1
more than enough LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 4, ENOUGH 7
more than likely PROBABLY 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
more
STH OR SB ELSEII
......... partiolr ..  4 MORE THAN A
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
i  MORE THAN
BEFORE
  $ MOST
or:; .-,qi  INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
INCREASE IN
ACTIVITY,
FEELINGS ETC
..........
MORE/EXTRA
words meaning more of something, in
addition to what is already there
1 words meaning more of something, in
addition to what is already there
more further
extra over and above
another supplementary
added spare
additional
more/m:r/[quantifier]
more people/things/time etc I think we have enough
tables but we need more chairs. I How many more innocent
victims must die before this war is over? t three more/lO0
more etc They travelled for three more miles before they
found a telephone-box. I some more/any more/a few
more Do you want some more tea? I more of Have you got
any more of those delicious ginger-cakes? I I really enjoyed
her concert. I'd love to listen to more of her music. I more We
already have six members of staff and are planning to adver-
tise for more. I I gave him $200 last week and he's already
asking for more.
extra / ekstra/more of something, in addition to the usual
or standard amount or number [adj/adv]
We'll need extra milk if Bob and Mary are coming for the
weekend. I Residents may use the hotel swimming pool at no
extra charge. I extra ten minutes/three pounds/four
gallons etc On Mondays class starts later so in the extra ten
minutes Iprepare my lesson. I be/cost/earn etc extra (:to
be, cost or earn extra money) Dinner costs $15 but wine is
extra.
another/nAOr/one more thing, person, or amount that
is the same as a thing, person, or amount that you already
have [ determiner/pron ]
another person/thing/glass ere Shall we have another
drink before we leave? I Are the Aspirin finished? I'd better
get another packet while I'm out. I another ten minutes/
five miles/two gallons ete After adding the rice, heat the
soup for another 20 minutes. I another I broke my mother's

MORE/EXTRA
vase this morning. Hopefully I can get another before she
notices.
added/mdd/an added benefit/advantage/precau-
tion etc (=another one that makes something better) [adj
only before noun]
The new computer is as good as the old one, with the added
advantage of being smaller. I As an added precaution, she
had special new locks fitted on the doors.
additional /od:Sanol/ more than what was agreed or
expected at the beginning of something [adj only before
noun ]
She persuaded them to extend her contract for an additional
12 months. I Read the bill carefully before paying to make
sure there are no hidden additional costs. I Please call this
number for any additional information you may require. I
an additional Ј10/10 miles/10 minutes etc Coombes's
fee was Ј100 with an additional Ј30 for travel expenses.
further /  f3:ror/a formal word meaning more, used espe-
cially when something happens again or is done again [adj
only before noun]
Further studies are required to prove that the scientist's the-
ories are true. I If I can be of any further assistance, do not
hesitate to call. I There was no further trouble until the
marchers reached City Hall. I a further ten pounds/ten
miles/ten minutes etc Strike action will continue for a
further 24 hours.
over and above /ovr nd b^v-/ an amount or
number that is over and above another amount or number
is not included in it but is separate and in addition to it
[prep ]
The bank has already provided loans ofЈ10 million, over and
above the amount that was originally agreed. I A successful
farm must produce food over and above what is necessary
to satisfy basic requirements.
supplementary / ,s^pl   mentari-/provided in addition
to what already exists, in order to help people or improve
something [adj]
Some supplementary finance was generally also available
from the state in the form of grants or loans. I Supplemen-
tary reading material is provided and is very helpful for
students wishing to increase their vocabulary.
spare/spear/spare tyre/key/room/battery etc (=one
that you have in addition to the ones you normally use, so
it is available if more are needed) [adj]
I'm sorry, I took the spare keys with me when I went out. [
We put the spare tyre on and drove slowly to the nearest
garage. I Have you got any more spare batteries in there?
MORE THAN A
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
1 more than a particular number, amount, age
etc
2 to be more than a particular number or
amount
1 more than a particular number, amount, age
etc
more
over
above
beyond
more/mo:r/[quantifier]
greater than
in excess of
upwards of
plus
more than 10/1 million/Ј100 etc I've been working here
for more than fifteen years. I More than 50,000 people
attended the concert, which was held in Central Park. I more
Top executives can gross up to $200,000 a year, and those in
particularly high-powered jobs can earn even more. I much
864
MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT
more/far more/a lot more $10 used to be worth much more
than it is today. I 10/100/Ј50 etc more (=more than
another number) Tell Joanna I'll be just a few minutes
more. I or more There must have been 50people or more, all
trying to crowd into the hall at once.
over/'ovr/over 100/2 kgs/2 minutes/2 years of age
etc (=more than that number or amount, used especially
when it is not important to say how much more) [prep/adv]
I've been waiting over half an hour for you. I We receive over
2000 applications a year, mostly from school leavers. I just
over (=slightly over) She weighs just over 180 pounds. I
3/10/12 and over The swimming pool is only open to
children of 12 and over.
above/o'b^v/if a number, amount etc is above another
number or level, especially on a scale, it is more than that
number or level [prep/adv]
The temperature is about 2 degrees above zero. I above 40mg
of alcohol, a driver can be charged with drunk-driving I just
above (=slightly above) High speed trains average just
above 150 mph. I 3/10/12 and above Babies of 12 months
and above need to be vaccinated.
beyond /b:'jnd II blja:nd/ (=used to talk about any
number, amount, age etc that is more than another
number, amount, age etc) [prep/advl
Inflation has now risen beyond the acceptable level of 5%.[
In a number of professions it is possible to continue work-
ing beyond retirement age. [ 3/10/12 and beyond It is
thought that the new regime could last l O years and beyond.
greater than /Igret r 6an! a formal expression mean-
ing more than a particular number or amount, especially
a number [prep]
He has difficulty in calculating numbers greater than 100. [
much greater than By the 1940s, the volume of domestic
trade was much greater than trade with other countries.
in excess of/in ikses av/a formal expression used espe-
cially in official documents, instructions etc, meaning
more than an amount or number [prep]
You may be charged in excess of 20% interest on the loan. [
The dose of sedative that he was given was well in excess of
the recommended dosage.
upwards of / ^P wardz av/up to a particular number or
amount and perhaps even more than that [prep]
The waiting time for an operation can be upwards of two
years. [ Some models are paid anything upwards of $3OOO an
hour. [ 10/Ј300/5 years etc and upwards When the trees
reach 8feet and upwards they are harvested.
plus/pl^s/10/100/2000 etc plus (=at least that number
and more than it) [adj only after number]
The drugs have a street value of $30,OOOplus. [ Western popu-
lations are more and more dominated by people of 5O plus.
2 to be more than a particular number or
amount
be more than outnumber
be greater than be up on
exceed pass
be more than/bi: mo: r ban/[vphrase]
Contrary to the specifications, these walls are more than 3
feet apart. [ The bill was more than I expected but luckily I
had my credit card. [ be much more than I'm not sure how
many people were there, but it was much more than 50.
be greater than /bi: greit r 6anl to be more than
another amount Iv phrase]
Demand for our T-shirts has been even greater than we antic-
ipated. [ be much greater than Indian losses in the war
were much greater than their enemy's.
exceed/k' si:d/to be more than a number or amount,
especially a fixed number or limit Iv T]
The school was built for 250 students but admissions could
soon exceed that. [ America's chemical exports are on course
to exceed imports this year. [ Legal requirements state that
working hours must not exceed 42 hours a week.
outnumber/autn^mbr/if a group of people outnum-
bers another group of people, there are more of the first
group than of the second [v T]

MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 865 MORE THAN BEFORE
Women teachers outnumber their male colleagues by 2:1. I
In some parts of Australia sheep outnumber humans by 30
to one. I Heavily outnumbered, the rebels had no choice but
to surrender.
be Ul) on/bi:  ^p on II -a:n/if profits, sales, income etc are
up on the profits, sales, income, etc of a time in the past,
the present amount or Figure is greater than the earlier one
Iv T]
Most retailers say that their sales for September are up by
10% on last month "s. I The week "s trading left property shares
21% up on a year ago.
pass/pa:s II pros! if a number or total passes an amount
that you have been trying to reach, it is more than that
amount and will probably continue to increase Iv T]
Shelter's collection for the homeless is doing well, passing
its initial target ofЈ1 million in its first month. I pass the
Ј100/$1million etc mark Borrowings from the new
library recently passed the 10,000 mark.
@ MORE THAN
BEFORE
1 ways of saying that there is a larger number
or amount than before
2 ways of saying that someone does something
or something happens more than before
3 to become stronger, angrier, more difficult etc
than before
4 words for describing something such as a
feeling, a need, or an amount that has
increased and is greater than it was before
I ways of saying that there is a larger number
or amount than before
more
more and more
a growing number/an increasing number
more Imp:r/[quantifier]
more people/things/money etc There have been more
accidents on this road since they removed the speed limit. I
The new airport will just mean more noise, more traffic
problems and higher land prices. I more than There are far
more game shows on TV than there used to be. I much
more/a lot more/a little more etc Derek earns a lot more
now than he did in his previous job.
more and more/,m:r nd m:r-! more than before and
increasing all the time [quantifier]
During the past six months Isaacs has spent more and more
time on the day-to-day running of the company. [ More and
more people are retiring early.
a growing number/an increasing number /
gmur n^mb r, n nkri:sir-/ an expression meaning
more than before, used especially when the present
number is still not very big [quantifier]
a growing/increasing number of An increasing number
of small banks are facing a crisis because of unpaid debts. [
Hong Kong was having to provide for a growing number of
refugees. I an ever-increasing number of(=a number that
is increasing all the time) The islanders are trying to pro-
tect their environment from the ever-increasing number of
Australian tourists. [ in growing/increasing numbers
Scientists and doctors are leaving the country in increasing
numbers.
ways of saying that someone does something
or something happens more than before
more increasingly
more and more gain ground
more/m:r/[adv]
People are using mobile phones more because they are
cheaper. [ more than People travel about more than they
used to. [ much more/a lot more/a little more Since we
started the anti-smoking campaign people have started to
think much more about the ethics of tobacco advertising.
more and more / m:r nd 'm:r/if something happens
or is done more and more, it happens or is done more than
before and is becoming even more common lady phrase]
More and more, we are finding that our students lack basic
skills when they enter college. [ I had been feeling more and
more that I was in the wrong job. [ If you let yourself get
involved in your friends'personal problems you'll find your-
self being more and more drawn into them.
increasingly/mkri:srli/ if something happens or is
done increasingly, it is more common than it was and is
becoming more common, although it still does not happen
all the time [adv]
Increasingly, if you want to be a world-class sales director
you have to learn English. [ The protest movement is spread-
ing, and increasingly it is women who are the leaders.
gain ground/,geln graond/ifa belief, idea etc is gain-
ing ground, more and more people believe it, do it etc Iv
phrase]
Evangelical Christianity has been gaining ground since the
Second World War, particularly in South America. [ The
idea that we can't leave everything to free market forces seems
to be gaining ground.
3 to become stronger, angrier, more difficult etc
than before
get/become more and more
grow in increasingly
gain in
get/become/get, b 'km/get angrier/poorer/more
worried/more difficult ete Iv]
Now that I know what the dangers are, I'm getting more wor-
ried. [ As you reach the more advanced stages of the course,
the work becomes more difficult. [ Industrialization became
more intense during the first half of the 19th century. [ The
wind got stronger and it started to rain.
grow in / 'gmo n/grow in importance/power/wealth
ete (=become more important, powerful, wealthy etc) Iv]
The Roman Empire grew in wealth and power throughout
the first century AD. [ Throughout the business world
research and marketing grew in importance.
gain in/'ge;n ;n/gain in importance/popularity/con-
fidence ete (=become more important, popular, confident
etc) Iv]
I worked hard at my chosen profession, and all the time I
gained in knowledge and confidence. [ The trade union move-
ment is now recognized by the government and it is gaining
in importance.
more and more /m:r nd m:r-/if someone or some-
thing is becoming more and more angry, difficult, con-
fused etc, they are becoming more angry, difficult etc as
time passes [adv phrase]
People kept asking Elsie questions and she was getting more
and more embarrassed. [As gases are cooled, their molecules
move more and more slowly.
increasingly/n'kri:srli/ if someone or something is
becoming increasingly difficult, important, confused etc
they are becoming more difficult, important etc as time
passes [ adv ]
Finding money for everything is becoming increasingly
difficult. [ Public concern about environmental problems has
become an increasingly important political force.
4 words for describing something such as a
feeling a need, or an amount that has
increased and is greater than it was in the past
increased greater
heightened higher

MORE THAN BEFORE 866 MOST
increased/in'kri:sq [adj only before noun]
He enjoyed the increased responsibility of his new job. I After
childbirth there is always an increased risk of back trouble. I
Increased concern about the level of illiteracy has led the
President to allocate more money to education programs.
heightened /hatnd/ heightened awareness/cons-
ciousness/expectations/interest (=having increased so
that it is felt more strongly) [adj only before noun]
He came away from the conference with a heightened aware-
ness of women's rights as a moral issue. I Publishers have
responded to heightened interest in health and fitness with
a whole range of new books.
greater /greItor/ greater interest/need/support/
knowledge/level/number etc (=more than before)[adj]
Since the Vietnam war the peace movement in America has
enjoyed greater support. I greater than before/a year ago
etc-In the modern world there is a greater need for mathe-
matical skills than ever before.
higher / haor/ higher price/cost/proportion/risk/
level/rate etc (:more than before) [adj]
Companies are starting to recruit a higher proportion of
women as management trainees. I higher than before/a
year ago etc House prices are higher than they were a year
ago.
@ MORE THAN STH
OR SB ELSE
1 more than another thing, person, place etc
1 more than another thing, person, place etc
more higher
more to a greater extent/
greater degree
more/m:r/[quantifier]
more than Mum, it isn't fair. She's got more than I have. I
more people/things/money/food etc than There is more
oil in the Middle East than in any other part of the world. I
In the presidential elections Eisenhower gained more votes
than Adlai Stevenson. I more Some doctors are leaving this
country to work in America because they can earn more
there. I You'd better ask Hilary. She knows more about it.
more/m:r / having a particular quality or characteristic
to a greater degree than someone else [adv]
more intelligent/beautiful etc than She's more intelli-
gent than her brothers. I The poor will be more affected by
these changes than the rich. I more intelligent/beautiful
etc I like football better than baseball. It's more exciting. I
much more/far more/a little more People here are far
more friendly than they are in England.
greater/'gre;tr/greater amount/number/knowledge/
freedom/chance etc [adj]
greater than He has great influence, it may prove greater
than mine. I greater amount/knowledge/freedom etc
• than We enjoy greater freedom than women in many other
countries. I greater The amount of water used in the
manufacturing process is enormous, but the amount wasted
is even greater.
higher/halor/higher number/price/value/propor-
tion/rate [adj]
Companies in Japan employ a much higher proportion of
skilled workers. I higher than Car prices in Britain are
higher than in many other European countries. I There is a
higher crime rate in Washington DC than in Chicago.
to a greater extent/degree /to o greltor kstent,
di'gri:/an expression used especially in literary and scien-
tific contexts to say that something happens more in one
situation than in another [adv phrase]
This theme is developed in the novels of D.H. Lawrence, and
to a greater extent by E.M. Forster. I Lizards have changed
to a much greater degree from their ancestral pattern than
crocodiles or turtles.
moreover: furthermore/moreover AND/ALSO 2
morning sickness SICK/VOMIT 4
moron STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 3
morose SAD/UNHAPPY 8
morsel PIECE 5
mortal KILL 7
mortgage BORROW 5
mortified EMBARRASSED 1
most MOST 1, 2, 3, 4
most: the most LIMIT 1
most cases: in most cases MOST 7, USUALLY 1
most of all ESPECIALLY 1
most of the time MOST 7
most of the time/in most cases IN GENERAL 1
most part: for the most part IN GENERAL 1
i:i;i    hic h .me n ing
.re#st things Ј[#p:!.e
:  .... ...
. .,,,. E4.:.,,;....... ,..:..:. :,-  ....
..........................
@ MOST
most of a number of people or things
most of something
more than anyone or anything else
the largest amount or number that is possible
ways of .saying that something is done,
believed etc by most people
ways of saying that most of something,
especially of a group of things or people, is of
a particular kind
ways of saying that someone does something
more than anything else or something
happens more than anything else
1 most of a number of people or things
most the bulk of
almost all/nearly all the vast/great/over-
the majority whelming majority
most/moost/[quantifier]
most people/things/days etc I used to think that most
Americans were very rich. [ What most people want is a quiet,
peaceful life. [ Most afternoons while he's in town I'm down
at the store. [ most of(=most people or things in a particu-
lar group) Like most of his friends, Charles is a keen horse-
man. [ Most of the things you told me weren't true. [ There
were about 600prisoners, most of whom were awaiting trial. [
most All the staff here are very experienced and most have
been with us for over ten years.
almost all/nearly all /,:lm0ost ':1, nIorli :1/
[quantifier]
Nearly all nuts are rich in protein. I By the time she was 20
she had lost nearly all her teeth. I Alison and Penny both
have young children, so I think we're almost all in the same
situation. I almost/nearly all of Thousands of refugees fled
from the country, but almost all of them returned after the
war. I Agatha Christie wrote about 80 detective stories. I've
read nearly all of them.
the majority/6o mod3orti II mod3 a:-, mo'd3o:-/most
of the people or things in a particular group, especially in
a large group [quantifier]
the majority of Look at the people who live around here -
the majority of them are over 60. I Why publish something

MOST 86"/ MOST
that will offend the majority of your readers? l In the majority
of restaurants we visited the wine list was very disappoint-
ing. I the majority At a meeting of shopfloor workers it
became clear that the majority wanted a strike.
the bulk o| ]6 'b^lk v! most of a large number of things
or people [quantifier]
The bulk of the population is concentrated in the valleys. I
He lived for a further ten years during which he produced
the bulk of his philosophical works. I The bulk of disputes
between private individuals concern the ownership of land.
the vast/great/overwhelming majority/6 ,vo:st,
gret, oovrwelmlrJ mdsorti II-vmst, m'dsa:r-/very
much the larger part of a large group of people or things
[quantifier]
The vast majority of children prefer watching TV to read-
ing. I Some of these rugs are still made in Iran but the great
majority are made in India. I Of those who work part-time
in industry, the overwhelming majority are women.
2 most of something
most the lion's share
almost all/nearly all the biggest slice of
the bulk of the cake
the better part of/best part of
most Imostl [quantifier]
most of Conor spent most of his money in the bar. I She
doesn't really like rice, but anyway she ate most of it. I Who
do you think does most of the work around here? I Imust have
slept most of the day. I most food/material/work etc Most
water has to be treated with chemicals before it is safe to
drink. I Most medical research is funded by charities. I most
Some of the wood will be sold to timber merchants, but most
will be burnt as fuel.
almost all/nearly all /,z:lmost o:l, ,nlorli :1/
[quantifier]
We used to get nearly all our food from the farm. I She sat
up nearly all night worrying. I Almost all computer software
is now described as userfriendly. I almost/nearly all of I've
checked your information and almost all of it is out of date.
the bulk of/6 'bAlk ov/most of a large amount of some-
thing [quantifier]
The bulk of our business was handled by an agency. I When
she died, she left the bulk of her vast estate to her grandson. I
The company's profits amount to $15 million and the bulk
of that will go to investors. I Investors provided the bulk of
the finance he needed to start his own TV station.
the better part of/best part of/ beto r 'pa:rt ov,
best pa:rt av/most of a particular period of time or of a
particular distance, especially when the time or distance
is too long [quantifier]
It was the best part of a mile to the farm. [ For the best part
of an hour I sat in a traffic-jam quietly swearing to myself.[
I expect the whole procedure to take the better part of a
morning.
the lion's share/6a lamnz ,fear/ the bigger part of
something valuable or desirable that is taken by ope
person, group, or organization, so that others get less In
phrase]
The Department of Defense will still take the lion's share of
the federal budget. [ The lion's share of the region's riches
belongs to the multinational oil companies. [ The network's
ratings soared until they had the lion's share of the televi-
sion audience. [ Even if a little of the money is left to charity
her grandson will receive the lion's share.
the biggest slice of the cake/6 ,bgst slais av 6
'kek/if a group of people in an organization receive the
biggest slice of the cake they are given a larger amount
of money or help than others who want some of it [nphrase]
In the recent budget allocation, the biggest slice of the cake
has gone to the Young Opera Group. I an article about the
group of employees who got the biggest slice of the cake in
the recent pay negotiations
3 more than anyone or anything else
most
most Imaosf! [quantifier]
the most people/things/points ere The winner is the
player who scores the most points. I the most money/fuel/
information etc It's probably the fastest car in the world,
but it also uses the most fuel. I This is the most rain we've
had for a long time. I the most In a fair tax system those
who earn the most pay the most. I most It's the farmers I feel
sorry for; they're the ones who lost most through the war. I
have the most to gain/lose (=be likely to gain or lose
more than anyone else) Who would have had most to gain
from Carter's death?
4 the largest amount or number that is possible
maximum
most
maximum / 'minks mm! [quantifier]
maximum effect/benefit/advantage/opportunity etc
For maximum effect the picture needs to be displayed under
a strong light. I an education that offers all children maxi-
mum opportunity to develop I the maximum amount/
number Select the program that gives you the maximum
amount of information. I We want to ensure that our mes-
sage reaches the maximum number of listeners. I the maxi-
mum When I'm writing a novel, I can sometimes produce
5000 words in a day, but that's the maximum.
most Impost/[quantifier]
the most benefit/advantage/profit etc In order to get the
most benefit from your course, you should attend every ses-
sion. I the most I'm afraid Ј500 is the most I can offer you.
5 ways of saying that something is done,
believed etc by most people
generally
broad
generally/dsenrli/ generally believed/felt/consi-
dered etc (=believed etc by most people) lady]
Bach is generally regarded as the greatest composer of the
eighteenth century. I It is now generally accepted that the so-
called "Hitler Diaries" were forgeries.
general [adj] There is a general feeling (:most people feel)
that the country lacks moral leadership.
broad/br:d/broad agreement/consensus/acceptance
(=by most people) [adj only before noun]
There was broad agreement on the issue of equal pay for
women. I The findings of this report represent the broad con-
sensus of experts in paediatric medicine.
6 ways of saying that most of something,
especially a group of things or people, is of a
particular kind
mostly/mainly/largely be in the majority
predominantly a preponderance of
predominate
mostly/mainly/largely /'maostli, 'menli, 'lo:rdSli/
[adv]
Apart from the Nile valley, Egypt is mostly desert. I I used
to read a lot of poetry, mainly love poetry. I The new immi-
grants were mainly from Southern Europe. I We survived on
a diet consisting largely of fruit and nuts.
predominantly/pr'domnantli II-do:-/if something,
especially a group of people, is predominantly of a par-
ticular kind, most of it is of that kind [adv]
Shylock is a Jew living in a predominantly Christian soci-
ety. I As a civil engineer, Susan will be competing in a pre-
dominantly male profession. I Our economy is predomi-
nantly capitalist.
predominate/pr'domne;t II-'d:-/a formal word: if
people or things of a particular kind predominate in a
place or situation, they are present in greater numbers
than other kinds of people or things Iv I]
In the valley there is woodland full of oak trees whereas in
the mountain forest pines and cedars predominate. I In the

MOST 868 mountain
professions where women predominate numerically, it would
be reasonable to expect them to hold senior positions.
be in the majority /bi: n 6 ma'dsorolti I]-mtd3 :-,
-ma  d b0a-/if people of a particular kind are in the majority
in an organization or group, they form the larger part of
it Iv phrase]
The number of women on the committee has grown steadily
and now they are in the majority.
a preponderance of/ prIpondrns v 11-'pa:n-/ a
formal expression: if there is a preponderance of people
or things of a particular type in a group that is being
studied, then most of the people or things in the group are
of that type [quantifier]
Amongst the cases of heart disease, there was a preponder-
ance of men over the age of 50. I All three volumes contain
a clear preponderance of poems devoted to the subject of
nature.
7 ways of saying that someone does something
more than anything else or something
happens more than anything else
mostly/mainly
in most cases
most of the time
mostly/mainly/'moustli, 'meinli! (used when someone
does something more than anything else) [adv]
When we're with our French friends we speak mostly
French. ] I teach in a technical college, so I mostly teach older
students and adults. ] "'Where have you been living?" "'All
sorts of places, mainly cheap hotels. ""
in most cases/In 'most .keIslz/(used when something
happens more than anything else) lady phrase]
In most cases the system that we have works very well. ] The
airline received about 500 complaints last year. In most cases
these concerned delays and cancellations.
most of the time/most v 5o Itam/[adv phrase]
All I do most of the time is answer the phone and take mes-
sages. ] Most of the time the planets appear to drift eastward.
mostly IN GENERAL 1
mostly/mainly MOST 7
mostly/mainly/largely MOST 6
mother MOTHER 1, 2
mother: become a mother BABY/HAVE A BABY 5
mother-tongue LANGUAGE 3
MOTHER
1 a mother
2 what you call your mother when speaking,
writing letters etc
3 the state of being a mother
4 words for describing feelings, behaviour etc
that are typical of a mother
5 behaving in a kind and caring way like a
mother
1 a mother
mother
mum/mom
mother/'m^r/[n C]
June was the mother of two young sons. I The book was
produced as an enlightened guide to childcare for modern
mothers. ] A mother's attitude towards her daughter has a
deep and lasting effect on the daughter's image of herself.
mum (British) I mom (American) ImAm, mom II me:m/an
informal word meaning someone's mother [n C]
Alex's morn does all his cooking, washing, and ironing for
him rl My mum is the best mum in the world! l The mums
and dads are invited to the party too.
2 what you call your mother when speaking,
 writing letters etc
Mum/Mom
Mother
Mummy/Mommy
Mem (British) !Mom (American)/nm, mum II me:m/[n]
Mum, where can we play? I Mum and Dad both liked my
boyfriend, and were always pleased to see him. ] Happy birth-
day, Mom!
Mother / 'mA6or/a formal word that you call your mother
In]
Mother and Imight go and visit Aunt Grace for a few days. I
I don't care whether he's rich or not, Mother!
Mummy (British) I Mommy (American)/'mAmi, 'mt)mi II
'ma:mi/an informal word for mother used by or to a small
child In]
"Good night Mummy, "said Ben. I Come and sit on Mommy's
knee.
3 the state of being a mother
motherhood
motherhood/'mA6rhod/[n U]
It is not easy trying to combine motherhood and a job. I The
book reveals a new and refreshing view on pregnancy and
motherhood.
4 words for describing feelings, behaviour etc
that are typical of a mother
maternal
maternal/m'tbzrnl/[adj only before noun]
Lack of maternal love can have profound effects on pyscho-
logical development. ] The risk of birth defects seems to
increase with maternal age.
5 behaving in a kind and caring way like a
mother
maternal
motherly
maternal/m'tu:rnl/[adj]
Aunt Mary was a large, maternal woman who worked as
a nurse in a children's hospital. I The elder girl was very
maternal towards the smaller ones.
motherly I' mA60rli/behaving like a mother, especially
by being very kind and looking after people [adj]
A good natured motherly woman from the house next door
helped me with the baby. I Janet was both motherly and
philosophical as she put an arm round Susan to comfort her.
motherhood MOTHER 3
motherly MOTHER 5
motif PATTERN 1
motion SIGN/GESTURE 2
motion: be in motion MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 3
motion: set in motion START STH/MAKE STH START 1
motionless NOT MOVING 1, 3
motivate CAUSE 9, ENTHUSIASTIC 4
motivation REASON 1
motive REASON 1
motley VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 4
motor MACHINE 1
motorcyclist DRIVE 5
motorist DRIVE 5
motorway ROAD/PATH 4
motto SAYING 3
mould/mold EFFECT/INFLUENCE 2, MAKE 7
mouldy/moldy DECAY 2, 4
mount GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC 1
mount: launch/mount an attack ATTACK 3
mountain: a mountain of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 1
mountain: make a mountain out of a molehill
IMPORTANT 11

mountaineer 869 MOVE/CHANGE POSITION
mountaineer CLIMB 2
mountaineering CLIMB 3
mountainous FLAT 4
mounting INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 5,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
mourn SAD/UNHAPPY 6
mournful SAD/UNHAPPY 9
mourning: be in mourning SAD/UNHAPPY 6
mouth: make your mouth water DELICIOUS 3
mouth-watering DELICIOUS 3
mouthful LITTLE/NOT MUCH 3
mouthpiece REPRESENT 3
movable/moveable MOVE STH OR SB 5
move CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1,
3, 4, DO STH/TAKE 1, 3,
ACTION
LEAVE
YOUR
HOME/COUNTRY 2, MOVE STH OR SB 1, 2, 4,
MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 1, 2, PROGRESS 1
move: be a bad move MISTAKE 3
move: be on the move TRAVEL 1
move: be really moving FAST/QUICK 2
move: can't move MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 7
move: don't move NOT MOVING 6
move: get a move on HURRY 2
move: I'd better make a move/make tracks LEAVE A
PLACE 2
move: make a move MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 1
move: make the first move FIRST 8
move fast/quickly FAST/QUICK 12
move house LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 2
move in literary/artistic etў circles SOCIALIZE 2
move on to higher things UP 12
move out LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 1
move over MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 2
move up FORWARD 2, UP 14
move in the world/go in the world CLASS IN
up
up
SOCIETY 5
move
@ MOVE/CHNGE
POSITION
to stop standing, sitting, or lying completely
still, and make a movement
to change from the positio.n you are in to
another position, especially in order to make
more space
words for describing something that is moving
able to move
to move repeatedly from side to side,
because you are uncomfortable or in order to
get into a position
an act of moving
unable to move
1 to stop standing, sitting, or lying completely
still, and make a movement
move
stir
make a move
move/mu:v/Iv I/T]
Don't move - there's a wasp on your back. I Every time I
moved I got a pain in my shoulder. I move your head/leg/
arm etc Try not to move your head or I'll cut your neck
instead of your hairy
stir/st3:r/to make a slight movement, for example just
before you wake up or start to speak [v I]
The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes. I Suddenly,
one of the boys stirred and said, "'It was me, I stole Mattie's
coat. "'1 Afraid to stir and draw attention to myself, I stood
breathlessly still behind the door.
make a move /,meik  'mu:v/to make a movement, espe-
cially as you start to do something or try to do something
Iv phrase]
She made a move. 1 thought she was going to hit me but she
didn't. [ make a move to do sth He made a move to kiss me
but I turned away.
2 to change from the position you are in to
another position, especially in order to make
more space
move budge
move over shift
move/mu:v/to change your position, for example in order
to stop blocking someone's view, to allow someone to sit
down, to make space for something to pass etc Iv I/T]
Will you move please? I can't see the TV. I rm not moving
until I see the manager.I move your arm/leg/foot etc
Could you move your feet so that I can sit on that stool? [
move away/back/out etc Everyone move back, the
ambulance can't get through. I move out of the way
(=move to let something pass) If you'd move out of the way,
I'd be able to get to the coffee machine.
move over/,mu:v uvr/to move to a different position
in a bed, on a chair etc [phr v I]
Move over a bit, I'm falling out of bed. [ Penelope moved over
and took the driver's seat.
budge/b^ds/an informal word meaning to move from one
position to another that is very close to it, especially to
make space for someone to sit down or pass Iv I]
Until your father budges we can't get through the doorway. [
budge from He hasn't budged from his room all day. [
budge up (=move a little way from where you are) Budge
up. There's plenty of room on this sofa for two.
shift IIftl an informal word meaning to move from one
position to another, used especially when you are telling
someone you want them to move Iv I/T]
Shift - I need to use the oven. I shift your legs/arm/foot
etc Go and tell Alden to shift his feet so Aunt Maggie can
sit down.
 words for describing something that is moving
moving
be in motion
moving/'mu:vrj/[adj only before noun]
The machine's moving parts must be kept well oiled. I The
centre point of the exhibition was a spectacular moving foun-
tain. [ fast/slow moving When traveling in fast moving
traffic, extreme care must be taken.
be in motion /hi: m 'rnoanl a formal or technical
expression: if something, especially a vehicle, is in
motion, it is moving from one place or position to another
Iv phrase]
As I entered the station my train was already in motion. [
Do not speak to the driver while the bus is in motion. [ set
sth in motion (=make something start moving) When a
piano key is depressed, a hammer is set in motion which hits
a string.

MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 8?0 MOVE STH OR SB
4 able to move
mobile
mobility
mobile/mobafl II-bal,-bid] [adj]
When my leg's out of plaster and I'm mobile again I'll come
and see you. I Without a car she's not very mobile - they live
in such an awkward place.
mobility/mo bil ti/the ability to move, especially when
you are not prevented by illness, injury etc In U]
Muscular changes have a considerable effect on an elderly
person's mobility. I The pain from a twisted ankle prevents
mobility, thus allowing inflamed tissues to rest and heal.
45 to move repeatedly from side to side,
because you are uncomfortable or in order to
get into a position
squirm
wriggle
writhe
squirm/skw3:rm/to make very small movements from
side to side with your body, especially because you are in
pain or uncomfortable [v I]
"Keep still. Stop squirming, "' said the doctor as he tried to
examine the little boy's ear. [ Diane squirmed wildly as
Gavin tickled her. I His defeated, bleeding opponent con-
tinued to squirm in pain.
wriggle 1 rigal/to make small movements from side to
side, especially in order to get into a particular position or
to get through an opening Iv I]
wriggle into/out/through ete The dog wriggled under the
fence and escaped into the street. [ It is possible for a thief to
wriggle into any gap larger than a human head. [ wriggle
Miss Wilson will think you have fleas if you wriggle like that!
writhe/rai6/to make large sudden movements from side
to side with your body, especially when you are in a lot of
pain Iv I]
As he received each blow he writhed on the floor and cried
out. I writhe in pain/agony She writhed in pain as she gave
birth.
immobile/i'muball [[ -ball not moving or not able to
move, especially because of fear or tiredness [adj]
Brigg was immobile, his eyes fixed on the horizon. [ She mis-
took Steven's immobile expression as fear.
paralyzed (also paralysed in British English)
/'pmralaIzd/ someone who is paralysed cannot move,
xteither permanently because of an accident or illness, or
emporarily because they are extremely frightened,
shocked etc [adj]
She has been paralysed from the neck down since the car acci-
dent. [ paralysed by Paralysed by a stroke, Mrs Burrows
was unable to look after herself. [ paralysed with fear/
shock etc For a moment he stood paralysed with fear, but
then he lunged at the mad dog with a stick.
stranded/' strndId/a person or vehicle that is stranded
cannot move from the place where they are [adj]
After the flood, hundreds of stranded vehicles lined the
roads. [ leave sb stranded My car broke down and I was
left stranded by the side of the road. [ stranded on/in/at
etc Large groups of whales occasionally swim ashore and
lie stranded on the beach.
marooned/ma'ru:nd/a person or ship that is marooned
cannot move from a piece of land or rock in the sea [adj]
I felt like a marooned sailor, seeing my ship sail away. [
marooned on/in/at etc The ship was marooned on a high
rock only 500 yards from shore.
entangled/m'tml3gald/if two or more people or things
are entangled, they are completely twisted together so that
they cannot move or separate [adj]
entangled in His hands were entangled in the ropes. [ be-
come/get entangled in A child swimming in the river had
become entangled in the weeds and been drowned. [ entan-
gled The group was a mass of entangled limbs as the chil-
dren fought to reach the ball.
caught up /ka:t '^p/if something becomes caught up
in something else, it is stuck in that thing and cannot move
[ adj phrase]
caught up in My glasses were caught up in my hair and I
couldn't take them off. [ On the deck of the boat lay the daily
quota offish caught up in the nets. [ get caught up Our
umbrellas got caught up as we tried to squeeze past each
other.
6 an act of moving
movement
movement/'mu:vmant/In C]
Rapid eye movements often accompany dreaming. [ The
animals will let you get quite close, as long as you don't make
any sudden movements. [ movement towards/across/
through etc He made a movement towards the door.
7 unable to move
can't move
stuck
immobile
paralyzed/paralysed
stranded
marooned
entangled
caught up
can't move / ;ko:nt 'mu:v II ,karat-/to be unable to move,
especially because you are injured or something is prevent-
ing you Iv phrase]
I can't move, the baby carriage is in the way. [ can't move
your head/leg/arm etc I can't move my leg, I think it's
broken.
stuck/st^k/someone or something that is stuck is fixed
tightly in a particular place or position and cannot move
[adj not before noun]
stuck on/in/to etc The elevator was stuck in the basement.[
We were stuck in traffic for half an hour. [ stuck Help me
- I'm stuck! [ get stuck She's very fat and it's not a very big
chair. I hope she doesn't get stuck! [ stuck fast (=firmly
attached or fixed to something and unable to move) Harry's
arm was stuck fast, caught between two pieces of twisted
wreckage.
MOVE STH OR SB
1 to move someone or something from the
place where they are
2 to move a company, organization, or the
people who work for it to another place
3 to move something quickly through the air
4 to succeed in moving something or someone
that is very difficult to move
5 words for describing something that can be
moved
6 difficult or impossible to move
1 to move someone or something from the
place where they are
move
shift
transfer
move/mu:v/[v T]
move sb/sth Please can you move your car, it's blocking my
driveway. [ The police suspected that the body had been
moved and that the murder had not taken place in the
bathroom. [ She's seriously injured - don't move her till the
ambulance arrives. [ move sth away/across/out/into etc
Sally moved her bed away from the window because a cold
draught was keeping her awake at night. [ I returned to find
that my bags had been moved into the spare room. [ Now
move the cursor down to the beginning of the next para-
graph.

MOVE STH OR SB 8'71 MOVE STH OR SB
move In C] The painting was taken to another gallery but
it got damaged during the move (=while it was being
moved).
shift /lift/ an informal British word meaning to move
something from where it is Iv T]
When are you going to shift all this rubbish?It's making the
place look a real mess. I Come on Des, give me a hand to shift
these and then we can go home.
transfer/trains If3:r/to move something from one place
to another, especially when this involves carefully moving
a large quantity of things Iv T]
transfer sth to It took two trips to transfer all Helen's fur-
niture to her new apartment. I Remove the cakes from the
oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. I transfer sth
from sth to sth The drugs were transferred from the car to
the van in a disused warehouse near Dover. I The program
allows you to transfer highlighted text from one place to
another, so that you do not have to re-type it.
transfer/'transf3:r/In U] an efficient system for the trans-
fer of money from one account to another
2 to move a company, organization, or the
people who work for it to another place
move relocate
transfer shunt
move/mu:v/Iv T]
move sb (from sth) to Dillon has been moved from the Mar-
keting Department to Consumer Services. ] The Education
Department is considering moving 500full-time staff to Run-
corn. ] move sth (from sth) to Since we moved our distri-
bution center to Chicago, productivity has increased by 30%.
transfer/trans If3:r/to move someone from one place to
another, especially to another job, department, or office
within the same organization Iv T]
transfer sb (from sth) to Transferring John from London
to the New York office was a very smart idea. I Scott has been
transferred to Albany prison on the Isle of Wight, where he
will complete his sentence. [ transfer sb Senators would like
to have more of a say in appointing and transferring senior
departmental officials.
transfer /trensf: r/[n C] David was fed up with his job in
London so he asked for a transfer (=asked to be transferred)
to the Paris office.
relocate /  ri:laoket ]] ri: laokext/to permanently move
part or all of a company to another place, especially when
this brings financial advantages Iv I/T]
relocate to/in The federal government is offering attrac-
tive tax breaks to corporations that relocate in areas of high
unemployment. [ relocate sth to/in We are relocating our
electronics division to Florida and predict that we will lose
a smallproportion of our staff in the process. [ relocate If
rents continue to rise, many local businesses may decide to
relocate.
relocation I,ri:lao'keSanl In U] The recent relocation of
head office has proved very successful with both staff and
customers.
shunt/J'Ant/an informal word meaning to move someone
from one job to another, especially a less important one Iv
T]
shunt sb from/to I'm tired of being shunted from one
department to another. Why can't theyfind me a permanent
post? [ The company's solution to dealing with incompetent
staff seems to be to shunt them into clerical jobs.
3 to move something quickly through the air
swing
jerk
swing IswlJl to move something quickly through the air
with a long circular movement Iv T]
swing sth Brett swung the ax and it hit the tree with a thud. I
The driver stepped out of his car and swung the door shut
with a thud. I swing sth back/over/across etc Stand with
your feet shoulder-width apart and swing your golf club
back, keeping your eye on the ball.
swing In C] With a couple of swings of the mallet I drove
the post into the ground.
]err/dSa:rk] to move something with a short, very sudden
movement Iv T]
jerk sth away/towards/up etc Graham had to jerk the
steering wheel to the left to avoid a crash. I Jerking her head
towards the door, Mrs Hartley said, "'I don't think she'll be
coming back here for a while. ""
jerk In C] The train moved off with a whistle and a jerk.
4 to succeed in moving something or someone
that is very difficult to move
move free
shift release
move/mu:v/[v T]
If the handle jams in this position it's impossible to move it. I
My legs were trapped under the rocks, but I managed to move
them a few inches.
shift/lft/an informal word meaning to move something,
especially something large or heavy, from a position in
which it is stuck Iv T]
The piano is stuck in the doorway and now I can't shift it. [
There's no point trying to shift the car by ourselves - we'll
have to get a truck to pull us out.
free/fri:/to move something or someone from a position
in which they are stuck or being held, especially with a
sudden forceful movement Iv T]
One of the levers had got jammed and when John freed it,
it sprang back and hit his arm. [ Susan managed to free her
right hand from her attacker but he grabbed hold of it
again. ] A pilot had ejected from his plane, got his parachute
caught up in some trees, and was struggling to free himself.
release /rlli:s/ to move something such as part of a
machine from a position in which it is stuck or tightly
fastened Iv T ]
When engine parts become jammed, mechanics know exactly
what to do to release them. [ You will need a wrench to release
the bolts when you change a tire on your car.
5 words for describing something that can be
moved
movable/moveable
mobile
movable/moveable I 'mu:vbal/ [adj]
Jenny bought her daughter a doll with movable arms and
legs. I Two movable screens divided the room into three
parts. ] The jockeys' training course consisted, not of perma-
nent hedges, but of movable hurdles which the horses found
less intimidating.
mobile /moobaIl 1[-bal, -bi:l/ mobile library/clinic/
shop etc (=one that can be moved around from place to
place, especially in a vehicle) [adj only before noun]
I want to buy a van and turn it into a kind of mobile shop. I
Remote areas are served by a number of weekly mobile
clinics. I The tests are conducted in mobile examination
centers.
6 difficult or impossible to move
fixed jammed
immovable stiff
stuck won't budge/can't budge sth
fixed/fikst/impossible to move because it has been fixed
firmly in a particular position [adj not usually before noun]
fixed to/in/on The tables are fixed to the floor, i Statues
of saints were fixed forever on the cathedral wall. ] fixed
There are two straps here to hold it in place, one fixed and
one that you can adjust.
immovable/'mu:vabal[ impossible to move, because it
is firmly fixed or very large and heavy [adj]
Always lock your bicycle to something immovable such as
a railing or street-light. [ What happens when an irresisti-
ble force meets an immovable object?

MOVE STH OR SB 8?2 MUST
stuck/$tAk/impossible to move because it has become
tightly fixed in a particular position, either by accident or
because it is broken or in bad condition [adj not before
noun]
I can't open this window - it's stuck. [ Revving the engine
just made the car sink deeper into the sand. We were well and
truly stuck. I get stuck Once or twice a piano key got stuck,
and Maria would bang at it impatiently. I get sth stuck
(=when something, especially part of your body, acciden-
tally becomes stuck) The fire department had to be called
to a boy who had gotten his head stuck between two railings.
Jammed/d3amd/impossible to move because of being
stuck between two or more surfaces [adj not before noun]
The door was jammed and however hard I tried I couldn't
get it open. ] get jammed The problem was caused by a loose
piece of metal that had got jammed between two of the
machine's moving parts.
surf/stif/difficult to move, turn, or bend [adj not usually
before noun]
"'This drawer is very stiff. '" "'It just needs a good pull. '" I The
handle that had once turned easily had now become stiff and
awkward. I My knees are a little stiff after all that climbing. I
Take a warm bath to loosen stiff joints.
won't budge/can't budge sth/,woont 'bAd 3, ,ko:nt
'b^d3 (sth) II Iknt-/ if something won't budge, or you
can't budge it, it stays stuck even when you try very hard
to move it iv phrase]
The car had got stuck in the snow and we just couldn't budge
it. I Could you give me a hand with this box - it won't budge.
movement CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 4,
GROUP OF PEOPLE 8, MOVE/CHANGE
POSITION 6
movie star: film star/movie star ACTOR/ACTRESS 1
moving EMOTIONAL 3, MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 3
moving: get things moving START STH/MAKE STH
START 1
mow CUT 8
Mr MAN
6
Mrs WOMAN 6
Ms WOMAN 6
much
much LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
much: be much of a muchness LIKE/SIMILAR 9
much: make too much of EXAGGERATE 2
much: not as much/not so much LESS 1, 4
much: not be up to much BAD AT 1
much: not much LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 4, 6, 9,
LITTLE/NOT VERY 1
much: not too much TOO/TO0 MUCH 6
much: so much LOT/VERY MUCH 1
much: too much TOO/TOOMUCH 2, 3
much-praised PRAISE 4
muck DIRTY 6
muck about: mess around/muck about BEHAVE 3
muck up DO BADLY 1
mucky DIRTY 1
mud: stick in the mud CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
muddle: be in a muddle CONFUSED 1
muddled/garbled CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 4
muddy DIRTY 1
muffle QUIET 6
muffled QUIET 3
ATTACK 1, STEAL 4, TRICK/DECEIVE
POINTLESS 4
mug
mug: be a mug's game
mug shot PICTURE 2
mugger STEAL 6
mugging ATTACK 5
muggy WET 5
muggy/humid HOT 7
mull over THINK ABOUT 2
multi LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
multicoloured/multicolored COLOUR/COLOR 5
multicultural RACE 3
multl-cultural/multi-racal VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
KINDS 3
multilateral COUNTRY/NATION 12
multilingual SPEAK A LANGUAGE 9
multi-millionaire RICH 5
multinational COMPANY 1, COUNTRY/NATION 12
multiple LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
multiply COUNT/CALCULATE 6, INCREASE IN NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 3
multipurpose USE STH 14
multiracial RACE 3
Mum/Morn MOTHER 1 2
,
mum: keep mum TELL A SECRET 4
mumble SAY 5, SPEAK A LANGUAGE 2
Mummy/Mommy MOTHER 2
munch EAT 5
munchies: have the munchies HUNGRY/WANT TO
EAT 1
mundane ORDINARY 2
municipal TOWN 4
murder KILL 1, 2
murder: be murder DIFFICULT 3
murder: get away with murder PUNISH 8
murderer KILL 4
murderous KILL 5
murmur SAY 5, SOUND 12
muscle POWER 1
muscle: not move a muscle NOT MOVING 1
muscle: put your back into it/put some muscle into it
WORK HARD 8
muscle in on INTERFERE 1
muscular STRONG PERSON 1
must MUST 6
must: be a must NEED 5
must do sth/have to do sth MUST 1, 2, 4
MUST
ways of saying that someone must do something
because the situation forces them to do it
ways of saying that someone must do
something because of a rule, law, or instruction
ways of saying that a job, activity, plan etc
includes something that you must do
to feel that you must do something
words for describing something that people
must do because of a rule or law
ways of saying that you are sure something
must be true, must have happened etc
ways of saying that someone does not have
to do something
words for describing something that people
do not have to do
2
1 ways of saying that someone must do
something because the situation forces them
to do it
must do sth/have
to do sth
have got to do sth
need to do sth
be forced/compelled
to do sth
have no alternative

MUST 8'73 MUST
must do sthlhave to do sth/,mASt 'du: (sth), ,heev to
'du= (sth)/[v phrase]
Carolyn's behaviour is getting worse and worse - we must
do something about it. I Must you leave so soon? I Before we
go and see Ion there's something I have to do. ] If you have
to go out alone at night, do not walk along dark streets. ] I
know what I must do as well - ring Dad and ask for
Margaret's address./must/have to I don't really feel like
going to see her but we'll have to, I suppose.
have got to do sth/hov ,got to du= (sth) II -,go:t-/a Brit-
ish expression meaning to have to do something [vphrase]
I've got to do this essay before Tuesday. ] Whether you like
it or not, you've got to do your physiotherapy. ] We've got to
go to school early tomorrow - there's a play practice. ] have
got to "I'm not buying her a birthday present this year. ""
"'You've got to. She bought you one!'"
need to do sth/,ni=d to 'du= (sth)/ if you need to do
something, you have to do it because it is ready to be done
Iv phrase not in progressive]
I think you need to defrostyour refrigerator. I If she tells me
I need to get a hair cut I'll hit her. I When you next need to
get your car serviced, get in touch with me. I need to I don't
think there's any point in having the injections unless you
really need to.
be forced/compelled to do sth/bi: ,fa:rst, kom,peld
to 'du= (sth)/to have to do something, especially something
you do not really want to do, because you are in a situation
that makes it necessary Iv phrase]
There was no hot water so we were forced to boil the kettle
every time we wanted a bath. ] Forced to make do with what
we had, I made a pie out of potatoes and peas. ] be forced/
compelled to We did not want to make people redundant
but because of the recession we were compelled to.
have no alternative/hev ,n0u a:l't3:rn0tIV/to be in a
position in which it is dirT]cult or impossible for you to
avoid doing something even though you do not want to do
it and it may make you unpopular [v phrase not in
progressive]
have no alternative but to do sth He was late for work
so many times that the boss had no alternative but to fire
him. I have no alternative I'm sorry I told Corinne about
you and Lorna but I had no alternative - she's my friend. ]
there's no alternative There's no alternative - we're going
to have to inform the police.
2
ways of saying that someone must do
something because of a rule, law, or
instruction
must do sth/have to do sth
be obliged to do sth
be required to do sth
be under/have an obligation to do sth
must do sthlhave to do sth/,mAst 'du: (sth), ,heev to
'du: (sth)/Iv phrase]
Students must not bring any books into the examination
room. I You mustn't open your present until Christmas Day. I
I'm not sure what the procedure is -you might have to make
a written complaint. I must/have to I know that you don't
want to wear the seatbelt but you have to, it's the law.
be obliged to do sth/bi: o,blaId3d ta 'du: (sth)/to have
to do something, because of a legal or professional rule Iv
phrase]
Doctors are obliged to keep their patients" records secret. I
There was some disagreement about whether the firm was
obliged to divulge information on their customers to the
court. I be obliged to Cigarette advertisements in magazines
carry a health warning because they are obliged to.
be required to do sth/bi: ri,kwaiord to 'du: (sth)! an
expression used especially in written notices and official
documents meaning to have to do something [v phrase]
Visitors are required to register their names on arrival. I
Under the law the President is required to notify Congress
when US troops face imminent hostilities. I be required to
People do not realise that they are requested to declare their
earnings because they are legally required to.
be under/have an obligation to do sth/bi: ,Ando r,
,h  v on ob]  ,ge,S  , to 'du: (sth) II have todo some-
thing because it is the duty of someone in your position to
do it, or because you have officially agreed to do it Iv
phrase]
Anyone who rents a house is under an obligation to keep it
clean and tidy. I Having promised to cut taxes, the govern-
ment now has an obligation to do so.
3 ways of saying that a job, activity, plan etc
includes something that you must do
entail
involve
entail/,n'tel/ if a job, plan, piece of work etc entails
something, you have to do it because this is part of the job,
plan etc Iv T not in progressive]
entail doing sth My job entailed being on call twenty-four
hours a day. I entail sth Think carefully before committing
yourself. This could entail a lot of work.
involve/n'volv II n'vo:lv/if something such as a job,
plan, decision etc involves something, you often or usually
have to do it because it is part of the job, plan etc Iv T not
in progressive/
involve doing sth Jane was on a diet which involved eating
nothing but fruit. I involve sth Community service can
involve anything from gardening to helping in old people's
homes.
4 to feel that you must do something
must do sthlhave to do sth
feel obliged to do sth
feel impelled to do sth
feel compelled to do sth
must do sthlhave to do sth/,mAst 'du: (sth), ,heev to
'du: (sth)/Iv phrase]
Everyone will be expecting me so I must go. I I must write
and thank her for the lovely flowers she sent me. I must/
have to "'Are you giving any money for Pippa's leaving
present?" "'I suppose I'll have to, seeing as it was my idea. ""
feel obliged to do sth/rid o,bladsd to 'du: (sth)/to feel
that you must do something even though you do not want
to, especially because of your position or relationship to
someone Iv phrase]
Since we'd invited all the other neighbours to the party, we
felt obliged to invite the Browns too. I Peters had never shown
the slightest interest in his job, so I did not feel obliged to give
him a good reference. I Valentine's Day is a waste of time,
but I still feel obliged to send my wife a card.
feel impelled to do sth/rid ,m,peld to 'du: (sth)/ a
formal expression meaning to feel that it is your moral duty
to do something [v phrase]
I feel impelled to write and tell you how disappointed I am
with your newspaper. I It was a secret but I felt impelled to
tell the others so that they knew what was going on.
feel compelled to do sth/rid kom,peld ta 'du: (sth)/a
formal expression meaning to feel very strongly that you
must do something, because of the particular situation you
are in, and not because you think this is the best thing to
do Iv phrase/
No one should feel compelled to take part. It should be volun-
tary. [ I felt compelled to tell her what I knew about her new
boyfriend.
5 words for describing something that people
must do because of a rule or law
compulsory
obligatory
mandatory
compulsory/kom IpAlsari/something that is compulsory
must be done because of a rule or law, especially one that
is intended to keep people safe, to improve their education
etc [adj]

MUST
In France seatbelts are compulsory. I One oil company has
introduced compulsory HIV testing for all prospective
employees. ] it is compulsory (for sb) to do sth It is com-
pulsory for children to receive religious education.
obligatory/lblIgotgri ]1 -t:ri/if something is obligatory
it must be done because of a rule or law ]adjl
Evening dress is usual, but not obligatory, i it is obligatory
(for sb) to do sth For Muslims, it is obligatory to pray five
times a day.
mandatory / Irnendotari II -t:ri/something that is man-
datory must be done because of a legal or official rule [adjl
Inspection is mandatory for all meat and poultry. I The
Women's Action Committee called for the mandatory inclu-
sion of at least one woman on shortlists.
6 ways of saying that you are sure something
must be true, must have happened etc
surely
must
surely/oorli/(used when you are not completely sure,
but believe that something must be true, must have hap-
pened etc and you want someone else to agree with you)
[adv]
But surely he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would
he? I Surely your house is worth more than that! I The scien-
tists will surely find a cure for this terrible disease sooner
or later.
must/rrst/(used when you are completely sure and there
is no other possibility) [modal verb]
must be/must be doing, happening etc She's not answer-
ing the telephone. She must be out. I They must be feeling very
tired after their long journey. I must have done sth/must
have happened etc You must have heard about it. It's in
all the newspapers. I How did these books get on the floor?
They must have fallen off the shelf.
7 ways of saying that someone does not have
to do something
not have to do sth
there is no need to do sth
it is not necessary to do sth
be under no obligation to do sth
need not do sth/don't need to do sth
not have to do sth/not ,hazy to 'du: (sth)/ [v phrase not
in progressive]
My CD player had a design fault so I didn't have to pay to
have it repaired. I It's OK. You don't have to go if you don't
want to. I Finishing with Liam would be horrible - I'm glad
I don't have to do it. I not have to Don "t worry, if you don't
want to go you don't have to.
there is no need to do sth/6er iz ,n0o ni:d to 'du:
(sth)/if you say there is no need to do something, you
mean that you or someone else does not need to do it
There's no need to clean the windows - I only did them this
morning. I "'I'm going to turn the spare bedroom into a play
room. "" "'There's no need to do that, Mother, we've only been
married a week. "'1 there's no need I don't know why you're
apologizing, there's really no need.
it is not necessary to do sth/It IZ nDt nessari to du:
(sth) II -,nes Iseri-/an expression meaning you do not have
to do something, used especially when someone has done
something unnecessary or may do it in the future
When you want to transfer money it is not necessary to come
into the bank. You can do it over the phone. [ You know it's
not necessary for you to ask me every time you want tO use
the computer. [ it is not necessary It was very kind of you
to replace the cup you broke, but it really wasn't necessary.
be under no obligation to do sth /bi: Anda r nao
Dbli ge:f9n to Idu: (sth) II -a:b-/to not have to do something
if you do not want to, especially in a situation where you
might feel that you have to Iv phrase]
We shall offer you advice, but you are under no obligation
to follow it. I Accept our free offer, and we assure you that
you'll be under no obligation to buy.
874
MYSTERIOUS
need not do sthldon't need to do sth/,ni:d not 'du:
(sth), ,doont ni:d to 'du: (sth)/to not have to do something
because it is not necessary or important Iv phrase not in
progressive ]
You don't need to go into great detail just write a brief letter
explaining why you want the job. [ Will you tidy up for me?
You needn't polish the furniture - I'll do that tomorrow. ]
I know I told you to put him offcoming here but you didn't
need to be quite so hurtful.
8 words for describing something that people
do not have to do
optional
voluntary
optional/'opgnol ]] 'a:p-/if something is optional, you
do not have to do it but you can if you want to [adj]
Attendance at the meeting is optional for new members. I For
those students who are interested, there is an optional course
in car maintenance. I I think you have to wear a blazer - oh,
no, it says here, 'optional'.
voluntary /volontgri II va:lanteri/ something such as
work or giving money that is voluntary does not have to
be done but you can choose to do it if you want to, even
though you may not get anything in return [adj]
Anyone who takes part in this experiment will be doing so
on a purely voluntary basis. I You don't have to pay to visit
the Cathedral but you are encouraged to make a voluntary
contribution.
voluntarily/volontorli 11 va:lonlterli/[adv] When news
of the redundancies came some older employees gave up work
voluntarily.
i. musty SMELL 6
--: muted ENTHUSIASTIC 5
:i!.i mutilate INJURE 3
-,i!- mutiny REBELLION/REVOLUTION 1, 3
 mutter SAY 5
} mutual BOTH 1, EACH OTHER 2
 muzzle PREVENT 4
 my/your/his etў OWN 7
:} mysterious MYSTERIOUS 1, 4
@ MYSTERIOUS
1 words for describing events, behaviour, or
situations that are difficult to explain or
understand
2 ways of saying that something happens in a
mysterious way
3 an event or situation that is mysterious and
that no one can explain
4 words for describing people that no one
really understands or knows much about
1 words for describing events, behaviour, or
situations that are difficult to explain or
understand
mysterious magical
strange be a mystery
shrouded/veiled in mystery
mysterious/m'stIarios/[adj]
Police are investigating the mysterious disappearance of a
young schoolteacher. [ He was seen leaving the building at
midnight with two men - it was all very mysterious. [ We had
often wondered about the mysterious fires that flickered
nightly on the plain. [ in mysterious circumstances The
ship vanished in mysterious circumstances, never to be seen
again.
strange/streIndS/something that is strange is difficult
to explain or understand because it is completely different

MYSTERIOUS 8?5 myth
from what you expected, or from what you know about it
[adj]
You say she's at home? That's strange because she told me
she was going abroad for. two weeks. I I was puzzled by
Lawrence's strange behaviour. I it is strange that/t was
strange that she had had this baby with red hair when both
she and her husband were very dark.
shrouded/veiled in mystery /Ij'raodd, ,veIld n
Im:stri/if an event or a situation, especially one that hap-
pened a long time ago is shrouded in mystery, it is mys-
terious because no one knows exactly what happened [adj
phrase]
The exact circumstances of Marilyn Monroe's death are
shrouded in mystery. I Stone age civilization, veiled in mys-
tery as it is, has provided the greatest challenge to historians.
magical /rneeds:kal/ mysterious and wonderful, as if
caused by magic [adj]
There is a magical quality about her singing that I can't
really describe or explain. I Every spring we watch the mag-
ical arrival of migratory birds from Africa.
be a mystery/bi: a m:stari/if something is a mystery,
you cannot understand how or why it happens Iv phrase]
How had he escaped from prison without anyone's help? It
was a mystery. I it's a mystery to me why/what etc It is
a mystery to me whypeople decide to get married. I be a com-
plete mystery The scientist's suicide is a complete mystery.
2 ways of saying that something happens in a
 mysterious way
mysteriously strangely
as if by magic magically
mysteriously/m 'stariasli/[adv]
The letter had mysteriously appeared on my desk that morn-
ing. I Tippo was mysteriously killed the day before he was
due to appear in court on drugs charges.
as If by magic laz fbal madsIk ] if you say that some-
thing happens as if by magic, you mean it happens in such
a sudden and surprising way that it seems impossible to
explain [adv phrase]
The mysterious circles appeared in the fields overnight, as
if by magic. I I was just wondering how I could get home,
when suddenly, as if by magic, a taxi pulled up.
strangely / ' streIndsli/in a way that is odd, unusual, and
difficult to explain [adj]
He looked at me strangely and said that he would come back
later. I When we returned to the hotel we found the place
strangely silent.
magically / 'mmdsIkli/if something surprising happens
magically, there is no explanation for it and it is as_ though
it was caused by magic [adj]
I looked round, hoping that Lewis might magically appear
from nowhere. I I'll never know if the boys meant to attack
us because magically the police arrived.
3 an event or situation that is mysterious and
that no one can explain
mystery puzzle
enigma mystique
riddle the unexplained
mystery/'mstari/[n C]
No one has ever been able to explain the mystery of the Ber-
muda Triangle. I mystery crash/phonecall etc I'm still
puzzled by that mystery phonecall. I unravel/solve a mys-
tery (=find an explanation for a mystery) Police are still
trying to unravel the mystery of how the prisoner managed
to escape. I the mystery deepens (=becomes more difficult
to explain) The mystery deepens as more witnesses come for-
ward to tell different stories.
enigma Ii nlgma/something such as a situation or a per-
son's character that is difficult to understand or explain,
and that is interesting because of this In C]
No one really knows who wrote the poems. It's always been
something of an enigma. I The painter Van Gogh was an
enigma, even to people who were close to him.
riddle/'rdll something such as a question or a problem
that people do not understand and cannot explain In C]
solve a riddle No one has ever solved the riddle of the miss-
ing necklace. I be a riddle to sb Why would Ian want to
claim his inheritance and then give all his money away - it
was a riddle to me.
puzzle I'pAzal/something that is very difficult to under-
stand or explain but which can sometimes be explained by
putting pieces of information together In C]
The police have almost solved the case but one important
piece of the puzzle is still missing, the murder weapon. I
Ancient stone circles present a puzzle to archaeologists. I
solve a puzzle In 1953 the intricate puzzle of DNA's struc-
ture was solved in a Cambridge laboratory.
mystique/m sti:k/ a special quality that someone or
something has that makes them seem mysterious and won-
derful, especially because most people do not know much
about them In U]
There is certainly a mystique attached to.wine-making. I This
course is aimed at eliminating some of the mystique normally
associated with computers.
the unexplained/6i IAnkspleInd/events, situations etc
that no one has ever been able to explain [n singular]
People have always had a fear of the unexplained.
4 words for describing people that no one
really understands or knows much about
mysterious
enigmatic
be a mystery
mysterious/mItstiarias/[adj]
You are a mysterious girl - why won't you tell me your
name?] Her mother had always said that one day her mys-
terious father would come back and claim her. [ He was an
imposter - dark, frightening and mysterious.
enigmatic /,enig 'matik-/someone who is enigmatic is
mysterious because there is something secret about them,
so that no one understands their character, behaviour etc
[adj]
He was fascinated by the enigmatic actress. [ Freud remains
today an enigmatic figure. [ Ever since the start of the jour-
ney Ahamado had remained enigmatic, silent and
unforthcoming.
enigmatically [adv] Angela smiled enigmatically, as if she
knew something that we didn't.
be a mystery/bi: a 'mistri/if someone is a mystery,
you cannot explain or understand their behaviour Iv
phrase]
The woman in the next apartment is a real mystery. She
never speaks to anyone.
mysteriously MYSTERIOUS 2
mystery MYSTERIOUS 3
mystery: be a mystery MYSTERIOUS 1, 4
mystery: be shrouded/veiled in mystery
MYSTERIOUS 1
mystery: it's beyond me/it's a mystery to me
UNDERSTAND 13
mystified CONFUSED 2
mystify SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 2
mystique MYSTERIOUS 3
myth BELIEVE 15, STORY 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

naff 8'76 NAME OF A PERSON
N
 naff TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 6
.ii nag ANNOY 3, ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 4,
:: COMPLAIN 2
 nagging CONTINUOUS 4
. nail ATTACH 1, 2
 nail: hit the nail on the head/put your finger on it
'. CORRECT 2
{ nailbiting EXCITED 6, NERVOUS 5
= nailed ATTACH 3
 naive EXPERIENCED 5
.....
' naked NAKED 1
NAKED
wearing no clothes
1 wearing no clothes
naked bare
nude have nothing on
in the nude be undressed
naked/'neIkd/[adj]
She was lying in bed, naked. I She could feel the Frenchman
staring at her naked back. ] stark naked (=wearing no
clothes at all, especially when this is surprising or shock-
ing) When I opened the door he was standing there, stark
naked, .in front of the mirror.
nude/nju:d !1 nu:d/a word meaning naked, used especially
when talking about images of naked people in paintings,
films etc [adj]
He only buys that magazine because it has pictures of nude
women in it. ] nude photograph/scene/drawing etc
(=showing someone wearing no clothes) In the nude draw-
ings of himself he looks vulnerable and unkempt. I nude
sunbathing/bathing etc (=sunbathing/bathing etc wear-
ing no clothes) a beach where nude sunbathing is allowed
nudity / Inju:dti II nu:-/In U] Attitudes to nudity (=people
appearing nude) in films have changed in recent years.
nude [n C] He showed me a beautiful painting of a nude
(=person with no clothes on).
in the nude/xn 6 Inju:d ]1 -Inu:d/ffyou do something in
the nude, you do it wearing no clothes at all, especially
when this is unusual, exciting, or shocking lady phrase]
Then we all went swimming in the nude. I Do you really
expect me to believe you've never seen your wife in the nude? l
I think it is terrible that people can walk around in the nude
on the beach.
bare/ber/a part of the body that is bare is not covered
by any clothing [adj]
Her legs were bare and her dress was dirty. I If you go around
with bare shoulders in this heat you'll get them burnt.
have nothing on/heev innOxo Ion/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be not wearing any clothes Iv phrase not
in progressive]
Don't come in yet - I've got nothing on! I have nothing on
your feet/head etc Come inside, now - you've got nothing
on your feet!
be undressed/bi: ^nldrest/ to be wearing no clothes
because you have just taken them off, especially because
you are getting ready to go to bed, take a bath etc [vphrase]
Are you undressed yet children? I'm coming up to say good-
night! I Just when I was all undressed I discovered I'd
forgotten my bathing suit.
name CHOOSE 4, NAME OF A PERSON 1, 5, 9,
NAME OF A THING 1, 6, REPUTATION 1
name: big name FAMOUS 8
name: brand name NAME OF A THING 1
name: call sb names INSULT 1
name: false name NAME OF A PERSON 3
name: family name NAME OF A PERSON 1
name: first/Christian name NAME OF A PERSON 1
name: give sb a bad name REPUTATION 3
name: go by the name of NAME OF A PERSON 3,
NAME OF A THING 2
name: household name FAMOUS 8
name: in name only NAME OF A THING 5
name: maiden name NAME OF A PERSON 1
name: make a name for yourself/make your name
FAMOUS 6
name: middle/second name NAME OF A PERSON 1
name: pen name NAME OF A PERSON 3
name: pet name NAME OF A PERSON 2
name: put sb's name down/put sb down TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED 9
name: put sb's name forward SUGGEST 4.
name: put your name down/put yourself down TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED 8
name: stage name NAME OF A PERSON 3
name: surname/last name NAME OF A PERSON 1
name: to name but a few EXAMPLE 3
name: under an assumed name NAME OF A PERSON 3
name: under the name of NAME OF A PERSON 3
name: what's his/her name NAME OF A PERSON 7
name: what's its name THING 3
name: you name it ALL/EVERYTHING 3
name-drop BOAST 1
name-dropper BOAST 2
name names TELL 11
name sb after/for NAME OF A PERSON 6
name
NAME OF A
PERSON
a person's name
a name you are called by your friends or
family that is not your correct name
a name that someone uses which is not their
real name, usually to hide who they really are
to have a particular name
to give someone their name, especially when
they are born
to give someone the same name as someone
or something else
words used in spoken English when you
cannot remember someone's name, or when
you do not need to use their exact name
words for describing someone whose name
is not known, or who does not let other
people know their name
to publicly state the name of someone,
especially someone who has done something
wrong

NAME OF A PERSON 8?? NAME OF A PERSON
a person's name
name
first/Christian name
middle/second name
surname/last name
family name
maiden name
title
identity
initial
name/nem/In C]
My name's Karen - what's yours? I "'Excuse me. Could you
tell me your name?" "'It's John, John Davies. "'] The com-
monest English names are Smith and Jones. I I'm terrible
at remembering people's names. I full name At the top of
the form write down your full name, your address and day-
time telephone number.
first/Christian name/Ifb:rst, IkrstJ'an neIm/the first
of the names that are given to you when you are born,
which is used by people who you know well In C]
My mother's Christian name was Mary. I "'Mrs Johnson?"
"'Please call me by my first name. "1 be on first/Christian
name terms with sb (=know them well enough to call
them by their first name) He knows the Queen well and is
on first name terms with many members of the Royal Family.
middle/second name ! mIdl, 'sekond neIm/the name
that comes between your first and last name In C]
John F. Kennedy's middle name was Fitzgerald.
surnamellasl name /sa:rneim, Ilo:st neIrn II leest-/
your last name that you share with your parents, or often
with your husband if you are a married woman In C]
We don't use surnames - it's too formal. I Kim is a very
common surname in Korea.
family name /  feemali nem/the name that is shared by
all the members of the same family In C]
Joseph Conrad's original family name was Korzeniowski. I
He died leaving no children to carry on the family name.
maiden name /me;dn ,ne;m! a woman's maiden name
is the family name that she used to have before she was
married In C]
My grandmother's maiden name was Sato.
lille/taitl/ a word that you put before your name, or
instead of your In:st name, to show your position in society,
to show whether you are married etc In C]
More and more unmarried women are now using the title
"Ms'. I Lady Mill's official title is Baroness Gilling. I Where
it says "TITLE" write Mrs, Miss, or Ms.
Idenlily/ai Identti/who someone is, and what their name
is, especially when people do not know and are trying to
find out In C/U]
Police are trying to discover the identity of the killer. I There
was no clue as to the identity of the man who had sent her
the flowers. I evidence of identity (=documents that offi-
cially prove your name is what you say it is) You can use
your passport or birth certificate as evidence of identity.
initial/I nifal/the first letter of your name In C usually
plural]
In the TVseries "Dallas', the evil hero was always known by
his initials, JR. I There's no need to put your full name -just
writeyour initials. I initial stands for (=means) What does
the initial "B" stand for in the name Cecil B. De Mille?
2 a name you are called by your friends or
family that is not your correct name
nickname
pet name
nickname/'nIkneml a name used by someone's friends
or family, which is not their real name and often refers to
something about them, such as their appearance or their
habits tn C]
At school she was known by the nickname Professor, because
she was good at science. ] His youthful features earned him
the nickname "Boy'.
pet name / tpet ne;m/a name you call someone who you
like very much, for example your boyfriend or a young
child in your family In C]
Her pet name for him is Tiger. [ She had pet names for all
her grandchildren - Curly, Longlegs, and Coco.
3
false name
pseudonym
pen name
stage name
alias
a name that someone uses which is not their
real name, usually to hide who they really are
akala.k.a.
under the name of
under an assumed name
go by the name of
false name /f:ls Ineim/[n C]
The men had refused to co-operate with the police and had
given false names. I under a false name (=using a false
name) Couples often booked into hotels under false names.
pseudonym/'sju:domm II 'su:dan-[m/a name used by
someone, especially a writer, instead of their real name In
C]
"Saki" was the pseudonym of the writer H.H.Monroe. [ under
the pseudonym (=using the pseudonym) Morton wrote a
weekly column in "The Daily Telegraph" under the pseudo-
nym "Beachcomber'.
pen name /pen nexm/a name used by a writer instead
of their real name In C]
The name Voltaire was in fact a pen name - his real name
was Francois Marie Aronet. [ under the pen name (=using
the pen name) She wrote her novels under the pen name
George Eliot, because the publishers would not accept a
manuscript written by a woman.
stage name/'sted3 ,nem/a name used by an actor or
a singer instead of their real name In C]
Greta Garbo was the stage name of Greta Gustavson, born
in Stockholm in 1905. [ Samden sang under the stage name
Edouardo Giovanni.
alias/'eIlios/a word meaning 'also known as', used when
giving someone's real name, together with a different name
they also use or are known by, especially because they are
a criminal [prep]
Velma Johnston of Reno, alias Wild Horse Annie I Carlos,
alias 'The Jackal', is wanted by police in several countries. ]
We were also introduced to Mrs Taylor, alias Meg Doris,
author of the Housewife's Manual.
alias In C] Roberts is known to use a number of aliases
(=false names, used especially for criminal purposes),
including Bill Smith, Paul Williams, and even Count Von
Blixenburg.
akala.k.a./,e ke 'e/an abbreviation meaning 'also
known as', used when giving someone's real name together
with a different name that they use or are known by, espe-
cially because they are a criminal
Standing there in front of me was Peter Downs, a.k.a. "The
Leithgate Strangler'.
under the name of / ^ndo r 6 'nexm ov/using a differ-
ent name from your real name [prep]
They registered at the hotel under the name of Smith. [ Bol-
lard set up a company under the name of Mr M. Roberts.
under an assumed name/^ndor on osju:md neim II
-o, su:md-/if you do something under an assumed name,
you do it using a name that is not your real name, espe-
cially in order to do it secretly or dishonestly [advphrase]
She entered the private clinic under an assumed name, but
the press still managed to find out. [ He had rented a car
under an assumed name.
go by the name of/,goo ba 6o 'nem ov/if someone
goes by the name of something, they tell people that this
is their name, when in fact it is not Iv phrase]
Herbert always hated his original name, so he went by the
name of David. [ The photographs resembled a man who
lived in New York and went by the name of Ivan Denisovich.
4 to have a particular name
sb's name is be known as
be called named

NAME OF A PERSON
sb's name Is/(sb's) 'nem z!
Her name's Tanya and she's from Los Angeles. I He calls him-
self Cliff Richard but his real name is Harry Webb.
be called/bi: Ik3:ld/ if someone is called a particular
name, that is their name, or other people use that name
when talking about them Iv phrase]
What a lovely baby! What's she called? l The followers of the
Reverend Moon are often called "Moonies'. ] someone/a
man/a woman etc called There's somebody called Russell
on the phone for you.
be known as/bi: I noon eez/if someone is known as a
particular name, especially a name that is not their real
name, other people use that name when talking about them
Iv phrase]
He was known to his friends as Rambo because of his tough-
ness and courage. [ Cromwell's soldiers were known as the
Roundhead& because they cut their hair very short.
named /nelmd! someone named John, Mary etc is a
person whose name is John, Mary etc [adj not before noun]
The speech was made by a young German scientist named
Albert Einstein. [ Ever heard of a girl named Emma
Handley?
5 to give someone their name, especially when
they are born
call
name
be christened
call/k3:l/to give someone their name [v T]
call sb sth My parents wanted to call me Yuri. I I wish I'd
been called Aphrodite, or something romantic like that. I He
was always eating hamburgers, so his friends decided they'd
call him Big Mac.
name/netm/to officially give someone a name, especially
a recently born baby Iv T]
name sb Have you named the baby yet? I name sb sth The
couple named their daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity.
be christened/hi: krsand/to be officially given your
name at a Christian religious ceremony soon after you are
born Iv phrase]
be christened William/Mary etc He was christened
Arthur, but he prefers to be known simply as "Art'. I be
christened I was christened in a little church in Waterbury.
6 to give someone the same name as someone
or something else
name sb after/name sb for
namesake
name sb after (British) I name sb for (American)
/'ne,m (sb) a:ft r, 'ne,m (sb) f:r II -eef-/[phr v T]
We're thinking of naming the baby after her grandmother. ]
His son was named Shiva, after the Hindu god of destruc-
tion. [ They named him Norman, for his grandpa.
namesake / nemseIk/someone's namesake is another
person, especially a much more famous person, who has
the same name as them In C]
Unlike his famous literary namesake, Mark Shakespeare
showed little ability as a writer.
7 words used in spoken English when you
-- cannot remember someone's name, or when
you do not need to use their exact name
thingy/thingummy whatsit
what's his/her name so and so
thingylthingummy/'0ri, IOIIOmi/an informal British
word meaning someone whose name you cannot remem-
ber, especially someone you know In C]
Karen was there with thingummy, her new boyfriend. I Hey,
thingy - I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name - do you want
to come to the party with us?
878
NAME OF A PERSON
what's his/her name / wDts hz, h3: r nem/an expres-
sion used when you cannot remember someone's name
Isn't that old what's his name on the TV? You know, the one
that used to be in Star Trek? I I've just seen Miss Moore and
her friend what's her name coming up the street.
whatslt/'WDtSIt [[ 'wa:t-/an informal British word used
when you cannot remember someone's name, especially
their last name [n C]
John, Terry Whatsit's on the phone for you! [ There's another
letter from that Mr Whatsit at the Tax Office.
so and so / 'su nd saul an expression meaning a partic-
ular person, used especially when you are mentioning
someone that another person often talks about, and their
actual name is not important [n phrase]
Whenever you ask her about anything it's always 'so-and-
so says this', or "so-and-so says that'- she never gives her own
honest opinion. [ They're always gossiping about so-and-so
having an affair with so-and-so.
8 words for describing someone whose name
is not known, or who does not let other
people know their name
anonymous incognito
unnamed unknown
unidentified nameless
anonymous /a'nonImas II a'no:-/ someone who is
anonymous does something without saying what their
name is, or their name is not known [adj]
The writer of the poem is anonymous. I $50,000 has been given
to the charity by an anonymous donor from Utah. I anony-
mous letter/phone call (=from someone who does not say
their name) I received anonymous phone calls warning me
not to go to the police about what I'd seen. I sb wishes to
remain anonymous (=they do not want other people to
know their name) One source, who wished to remain anony-
mous, said that the Prince and Princess wanted to get
divorced.
anonymously [adv ] He sent the documents anonymously to
a local newspaper.
anonymity / leenanimti/In U] If you are needed as a wit-
ness, your anonymity will be guaranteed (=we will promise
that your name will not be made known to other people).
unnamed / AnneImd/an unnamed person is someone
whose name has not been made known publicly [adj]
An unnamed bidder paid $23 million for the painting - a
record price. I The newspaper received the information from
an unnamed source.
unidentified /^na Identfaid/an unidentified person
is someone whose name is not known because police or
government officials have been unable to find out who they
are, or have not said who they are [adj]
Five men were wounded by an unidentified gunman in Bel-
fast city centre yesterday. [ The three bodies found in the river
remain unidentified. [ An unidentified caller contacted the
police and gave the names of the men involved in the robbery.
incognito/Inkogni:tao [[ nka:g-/ if a famous person
goes somewhere incognito, they go there without telling
people who they are [adv]
Lady Sarah usually prefers to travel incognito.
unknown /^nlnaun/an unknown person is someone
whose name is not known because you do not know them
or because they are not famous [adj]
She said the flowers were from an unknown admirer. [ We
met near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. [ unknown to
sb Most of the stars in the movie are unknown to US
audiences.
nameless /nelmlas/a nameless person is one of many
people who are not famous and whose names are not gener-
ally known [adj]
No one gives much thought to the nameless millions who
work in our factories. [ the nameless victims of Hitler's
Holocaust against the Jews

NAME OF A PERSON 8?9 NAME OF A THING
 to publicly state the name of someone,
especially someone who has done something
wrong
name
identify
name/neim/[v T]
The person who gave the money has not yet been named. I
Journalists are often reluctant to name their sources. I name
names (=name the people who were involved in some-
thing, especially something wrong or illegal)According to
one theory, the CIA were worried that Oswald would start
naming names, and ordered Jack Ruby to shoot him.
identify /a[ IdcntIfaI/ to say for official purposes who
someone is or who did something, for example when some-
one has died and you have to say whose body it is Iv T]
identify sb Can you identify any of your attackers? l It was
a harrowing experience going to the morgue to identify my
husband's body. I identify yourself (=say who you are)
Unless you identify yourself immediately you will be placed
under arrest.
NAME OF A THING
1 the name of something
2 to have a particular name
3 a name that is not correct
4 words used in spoken English when you
cannot remember what something is called,
or when you do not need to use its exact
name
5 having the name of something, but not its
power, responsibilities, or other qualities
6 to give something a name
1 the name of something
name
proper name
title
place name
brand name
code name
name Ine*ml In C]
I've forgotten the name of the street where she lives. I What
was the name of that Disney movie with the little deer in it? l
name for We've chosen a name for our restaurant - "Gour-
mets and Gluttons'. I Aubergine is another name for an egg
plant.
proper name /'propo r ,nem l[ 'pra:-/ the name of a
person, place, or organization, usually written, with a cap-
ital letter at the beginning [n C]
Dictionaries don't usually list proper names. [ Chicago,
Africa and Safeway are all proper names.
title /'taitl/the name of a book, ffflm, play, painting etc In C]
I've read one of her books, but I can't remember the title. [
What's the title of this week's assignment? [ under the title
The film was released in the US under the title "Blazing
Saddles'.
place name ! ples neIm] the name of a place such as a
town or an area of a country In C]
In this part of the US many of the place names are of French
origin.
brand name ! Ibrecnd neIm/the name given to a product
by the company that makes it, often including the name
of the company itself [n C]
These days goods that have Japanese brand names are often
made in the US and Taiwan. [ Consumers associate famous
brand names such as Levis and Nikon with quality.
code name/koud nem/a secret name for something
such as a military plan that you do not want other people
to know about In C]
Operation Overlord was the code name of the Normandy
landing which took place in June 1944.
2 to have a particular name
be called be termed
be known as go by the name of
be entitled so-called
be called/bi: 'k:ld/[v phrase]
The caf# used to be called the Caf# de Paris. I The distance
that light travels in a year is called a light year. I It was
scarcely big enough to be called a school - it was more like
a garage. I They lived in a house called Howard's End.
be known as/bi: *noon az/an expression meaning to
be called something, used especially when talking about
something or someone that also has another name Iv
phrase]
This type of butterfly is commonly known as a red admiral. [
The mountain lion, also known as the puma, is found in the
southwestern states of the US. [ Zaire was formerly known
as the Congo.
be entitled/bi: in'ta;tld/if a book, play, film, painting
etc is entitled something, that is its name Iv phrase]
Her first published novel was entitled "Rivers of Passion'. [
Biko contributed a column to the student newspaper which
was entitled "I Write What I Like:
be termed/bi: 't3:rmd/an expression used especially in
scientific or technical contexts meaning to be called by a
particular name Iv phrase]
In the US a spirit with 50% alcohol by volume is termed 100
proof. [ This process, in which liquid metal is poured into
moulds, is usually termed die-casting.
go by the name of /goo baI 6o Inelm or/to be called
something, used especially when giving another better-
known name for something [v phrase]
This kind of chili powder sometimes goes by the name of
cayenne pepper. [ The mixture offish, rice and eggs goes by
the name of kedgeree in most restaurants.
so-called/,soo 'ka:ld-/a word used for describing some-
thing which has been given a name that you do not think
it should have [adj only before noun]
I went to see theplaywright's so-called masterpiece and was
very disappointed by it. [ A lot has been written in recent
years about the so-called "male menopause'.
3 a name that is not correct
misnomer
misnomer/ms'noumor/a formal word meaning a name
that is not correct or does not seem suitable [n C]
The term "black-headed gull" is something of a misnomer,
since the bird's head is actually brown. [ "Youth Training
Scheme" is a complete misnomer - the reality is thousands
of teenagers working for very low wages in dead-end jobs.
4
words used in spoken English when you
cannot remember what something is called,
or when you do not need to use its exact
name
what's its name and what not
thingylthingamajig such and such
whatsit
what's its name/wots ItS nem/
Pass the er .... what's its name, would you? [ What you need
is a what's its name .... a torque wrench.
thingylthingamiJig /'0]13i, OIrjom;od3Ig/ an informal
word meaning an object whose name you cannot remem-
ber In C]
What's this plastic thingy called? [ They have to use a spe-
cial thingamijig to undo the nuts.
whatsit /'wotslt [[ 'wa:t-/an informal word meaning a
place or a thing whose name you cannot remember, or
something that you want to avoid saying because you think
the word is embarrassing In C]
"'Can I have the whatsit for the television? .... You mean the
remote control?" [ He tried to hit me and so I kicked him in
the whatsits.

NAME OF A THING 880 natural
and what not/and Iwot Inot/an informal expression
used at the end of a list of names when you do not want to
give the names of everything
The mechanic checked the oil and brakes and whatnot. I Do
you want me to clear up the tables and chairs and whatnot?
such and such / s^tJ" nd s^tj'/an expression meaning
a particular thing, used instead of giving examples of what
you are talking about In phrase]
She's always saying we mustn't do this, or we're not allowed
to do such and such. I Americans are very proud of their coun-
try - they're always saying that such and such is the biggest
in the whole world.
5 having the name of something, but not its
power, responsibilities, or other qualities
nominal
in name only
nominal/nom'nal II 'no:-/having the name of a job or
position in society, but not actually doing that job or
having the responsibilities that go with it [adj]
The daughter had all the brains and did all the accounts -
the son was just the nominal boss of the business. [ It's fairly
clear that he is only the nominal head of the local party -
in fact he's got no authority at all.
In name only/n ,norm 'onli/having a name or title, but
not having the qualities or character that go with that
name [adv phrase]
It's a revolutionary party in name only - in fact it's quite con-
servative. I The English Pub in Paris is English in name only
- it's actually just like a French cafd.
6 to give something a name
call
name
rename
call/karl/[v T]
call sth sth We have called our company Tomorrow's Worm
Today. I You know how Bess likes giving her cars names?
Well guess what she's called her new one! - Hepzibah!
name/norm/to formally or officially give something such
as a boat, a house etc a name Iv T]
name sth sth "7 name this ship the "Victoria and Albert', "'
said the Queen. I The Council cannot agree on what to name
the new highway. I name sth The new theatre has been offi-
cially named.
rename/ri: neim/to change something's name Iv TI
rename sth sth St Theresa's Grammar School was soon to
be renamed Basildon Comprehensive School. I rename sth
Troops assembled at Petrograd, which has since of course
been renamed.
named NAME OF A PERSON 4
nameless NAME OF A PERSON 8
namesake NAME OF A PERSON 6
nanny LOOK AFTER SB 2
nap: haveltake a nap SLEEP 2
napping: be caught napping READY 7
narcotics DRUG 2
narrate TELL 5
narrator TELL 5
narrow NARROW 1, 2
narrow margin: win by a narrow margin
narrow-minded PREJUDICED 2
WIN 6
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
NARROW
not wide when measured from one side to the
other
to become narrower
1 not wide when measured from one side to the
other
narrow
narrow/'neero/a narrow road, river, bed, space etc is
not wide when measured from one side to the other [adj]
To get to the club, you have to walk down a narrow lane
between two buildings. I She climbed through a narrow gap
in the fence. I Paul found a narrow ledge on which he could
rest and look down into the valley. I The Nordic ski is longer,
narrower and lighter than the Alpine ski.
2 to become narrower
get narrower
narrow
taper
get narrower /get I neemoar/ if something gets nar-
rower, it becomes narrow, especially something such as
a road, river, path, or passage Iv phrase]
When the path got narrower they had to walk behind each
other. I The streets in the old part of town were getting nar-
rower and more crowded as we approached the market. I
With the build-up of cholesterol the coronary arteries get
narrower.
narrow / nro/if a space, river, or road narrows, the
distance across it becomes smaller Iv I]
The valley narrowed as we moved toward the river's source. I
Up ahead the road was narrowing from three lanes to two.
taper ! 'teIpar/if an object such as a bottle, tube, or chim-
ney tapers, it is narrower at one end than the other [v I]
The candles tapered to a point. I tall tapering bottles
tapered [adj] The columns supporting the arch are tapered
and beautifully carved.
narrower: get narrower NARROW 2
narrowly JUST/ALMOST NOT 1, 2
nasty CRUEL 3, UNKIND 1, UNPLEASANT 1, 2, 3
nasty piece of work UNPLEASANT 1 ,
nasty taste: leave a bad/nasty taste in the mouth
UNPLEASANT 2
@  COUNTRY/
NATION
nation COUNTRY/NATION 1, 4
national COUNTRY/NATION 5, 10, 11
national holiday HOLIDAY 4
nationalist COUNTRY/NATION 9
nationalistic COUNTRY/NATION 8
nationality COUNTRY/NATION 6
nationalize PRIVATE/NON GOVERNMENT 3,
PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT 2
nationalized PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT 1
nationwide EVERYWHERE 3
native: a native of COUNTRY/NATION 5
native: be a native of COME FROM/ORIGINATE 1
native land COUNTRY/NATION 7
native speaker LANGUAGE 3
natter TALK TO SB 6
natural 1, 2,
NATURAL
NORMAL
1
natural: be a natural GOOD AT 3

NATURAL
NATURAL
not made by or changed by human beings
1 words for describing plants, animals, places,
substances etc that are in their natural state
2 words for describing foods, drinks etc that
have been produced without using chemicals
1 words for describing plants, animals, places,
substances etc that are in their natural state
natural raw
wild virgin
in the wild untamed
natural I'netJ'aral/[adj usually before noun]
The bay forms a perfect natural harbour. I World reserves
of natural gas are said to be rapidly diminishing. I The wild-
life in these areas is in its natural habitat. I He was enchanted
by the breathtaking natural beauty of the tropical forest. I
natural resources (=useful or valuable natural sub-
stances such as oil, coal etc that exist in a particular coun-
try) Kuwait has few natural resources apart from oil.
naturally [adv] I have naturally curly hair (=I have not
done anything to make it curly). I All the plants found in
the botanic garden occur naturally (=grow in their natural
state) in other parts of the world.
wild/wafld! wild animals, plants, places etc exist in their
natural state and have not been changed or controlled by
human beings [adj usually before noun]
The girls stopped to pick some wildflowers which were grow-
ing by the roadside. I Safaris enable people to see wild
animals in their natural habitat. I grow wild Bananas were
growing wild on the edge of the forest.
in the wild/;n 6a Iwaild/if animals live in the wild, they
live in their natural state, not in a place such as a farm [adv
phrase]
You can see tigers in the zoo, but there aren't many living
in the wild.
raw /m:/ raw sugar/silk/tobacco etc (=sugar, silk,
tobacco etc that is in its natural state before or without
being changed by a chemical process) [adj]
Ghana still imports both raw and processed tobacco. [ The
manufacture of raw wool into best quality cloth calls for a
great deal of skill. I raw materials (=basic natural
materials that are needed to produce things) We have to
import all the raw materials for our manufacturing
industry.
virgin/'va:rd3n/virgin forest/soil ere (=forest, soil etc
that is still in its natural state and has not been spoiled or
changed by human beings) [adj only before noun]
We must try to stop the destruction of virgin rainforest in
South America. [ Farmers work one plot of land until it is
exhausted, then move on to virgin soil and start again.
untamed /.An'temd,/ an animal or place that is
untamed has not been trained, controlled, or changed in
any way by human beings, so that it is still completely wild
ladj]
The untamed horses roamed free in the wilds of the American
Mid-West. I Conrad wrote about a world remote, beautiful,
untamed.
2 words for describing foods, drinks etc that
have been produced without using chemicals
natural
organic
pure
natural / ' netfarl/produced without using chemicals or
industrial processes [adj usually before noun]
I love natural yoghurt with honey, but on its own it's not
sweet enough. ] The manufacturers claim that only natural
ingredients are used in their products. I Today more and
881
NEAR
more companies use natural flavoring agents rather than
artificial ones.
organic/a:rlgenk/organic fruit/vegetables/crops/
produce etc (=that has been produced without using chem-
icals) [adj]
Organic vegetables, wine, and cheese are now available in
many supermarkets. I Organic crops are kind to the soil and
do not use harmful fertilizers.
organically [adv] Many people cannot afford to buy
products which have been organically grown (=grown
without using chemicals) because they are very expensive.
pure/pjor/food, drink etc that is pure contains only the
product itself with nothing, such as sugar, added [adj]
There's nothing quite as refreshing as pure orange juice. I
She made a salad dressing using a few spoonfuls of pure
olive oil and a little wine vinegar.
 naturally NATURAL 1, YES 1
..... naturally: come naturally EASY 5
iill nature CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 1, CHARACTER OF
i% STH 1
i.i! nature: be in sb's nature CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 4
.... .,
!: nature: by nature CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 4
=i;,!;. naughty BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 4, BAD
• iiji; PERSON 5, RUDE/OBSCENE 2
: nausea SICK/VOMIT 3
iiii nauseated DISGUSTING 4, SICK/VOMIT 3
iiill nauseating DISGUSTING 1
 naval ARMY3
 navigate WAY/ROUTE 5
i navy ARMY 1
 near NEAR 1, 7
:: near: draw near NEA 7
iliii: near: get near/close NEAR 7 .
iiii near: not go near/come near NEAR 11
-: near: nowhere near FAR 2
near future: in the near future SOON 1
ill near thing: be a near thing/close thing JUST/ALMOST
iii! NOT 3
 near to: come close to/near to ALMOST 3
 near to: nearing/approaching/near to/close to
ALMOST 2
:., near to death: be close to death/near to death DIE 5
@ NEAR
10
11
only a short distance away from a person,
thing, or place.
words for describing something that is near to
where you are or where you live
the fact of being near to somewhere
near enough to get to quickly and easily
near enough to pick up, hit etc
very near, especially so that you can clearly
see or hear what is happening
to get nearer to a place
to get nearer to someone or something you
want to catch, attack etc
to be getting nearer to a person or vehicle in
front of you by going faster than them
to stay very near to someone or something
to not go near to a person or place
1
only a short distance away from a person,
thing, or place
near a short distance
close locally
nearby in the vicinity
close by on your doorstep
not far in your own backyard

NEAR 882 NEAR
near/nor/[prep/adv/adj]
near sth/sb We camped near a large lake. I Did you see
Jerry Collins at the concert last night? He was sitting just
near you. [ Do you live near here? I There's been a plane crash
- near Manchester. I near Georgette was standing near
enough to hear what the two men were saying. I near to
Freya aimed the gun at the man nearest to the door. I If we
moved to Dallas we would be nearer to my parents.
close/kilos/near to something or someone, usually very
near or almost touching [adv/adj]
dose to Maria sat down close to her cousin. [ Why don't you
park the car a little closer to the house ? [ Don't drive too close
to the edge of the road. [ dose They stood very close, looking
into each other's eyes. [ As we approached Abbeville the gun-
fire sounded very close. [ dose together The runners were
all bunched close together. [ dose behind/beside James
heard a voice close behind him and turned around sharply.
nearby/Inmrlba: /near the place where you are or the
place you are talking about [adv]
My mother, who was sitting nearby, had overheard what I
said. [ We live nearby. Why don't you drop in for a coffee one
day?[ It was very convenient having the garage nearby.
close by/,klos 'bad very near the place where you are
or the place you are talking about lady phrase]
The lizard stays perfectly still, waiting for an insect to pass
close by. [ Having no relatives close by, I thought of asking
a neighbour to help me.
not far/nDt 'fo:r/ not a long distance away [adv]
not far from The town of Asti is in the hills south of Turin,
not far from the French border. [ not far The station? Oh,
it's not far - about ten minutes" walk, l should think. [ not
far away Remember, if you ever need us, we're not far away.
a short distance/ ,Jb:rt 'dstns/only a short distance
away In phrase]
a short distance away I'dparked my car a short distance
away, just around the corner. [ a short distance from Har-
vard University is only a short distance from the center of
Boston.
locally/ lokli/near the place where you live or work,
or near the place you are talking about [adv]
Do you live locally or do you have to travel a long way to get
here?[ We hardly ever go into London. Whatever we need we
can buy locally.
in the vicinity/:n 6 v Ismti/a formal expression mean-
ing in the area around and near a particular place [adv
phrase]
The man was seen in the vicinity at about the time when the
murder took place. [ in the vicinity of Your car was found
this morning in the vicinity of the Piazza di Spagna.
on your doorstep/onj: r d:rstep/an informal expres-
sion meaning very near the place where you live [adv
phrase]
We're very lucky to have this beautiful park right on our
doorstep. I Homelessness is a problem that too many people
ignore. Yet it's happening on our own doorstep.
in your own backyard/in ja:r ,aon bekja:rd/an infor-
mal expression meaning near the place where you live,
used especially when talking about something that you do
not want there [adv phrase]
Most people want the new airport so long as it isn't in their
own backyard.
2 words for describing something that is near to
where you are or where you live
nearby neighbouring/neighboring
nearest local
the next surrounding
nearby/'nIrbaI/[adj only before noun]
Lucy was staying with her uncle and aunt in the nearby town
of Hamilton. [ Seating himself on a nearby chair, Mr Har-
greaves opened his briefcase and took out a file.
nearest / InmrIst] the nearest bank/gas station/phone
box etc (=the one closest to where you are or where you
live) [adj]
Where's the nearest bank?[ We walked to the nearest tree and
flung ourselves down in the cool shade. [ Talk to the Crime
Prevention Officer at your nearest police station.
the next/6 nekst/the next street/block/room/office
etc (=the one that is closest to the one you are in or to the
one you are talking about) [determiner l
My sister lives in the next street, so we often see each other. [
I could hear someone coughing in the next room.
neighbourlng (British) I neighboring (American)
I 'nebarr/ neighbouring country/area/village/house/
farmer ete (=one that is near to or next to the place you
are in or the place you are talking about) [adj only before
noun]
Quite a lot of the.food grown in this region goes to neighbour-
ing countries. I The fair attracted thousands of people.from
neighbouring towns and villages. [ One of the neighboring
farmers let us borrow his tractor.
local I lukdll local school/hospital/store/doctor etc
(=the one that is near you and serves the needs of your
area) [adj only before noun]
An ambulance rushed Mother to the local hospital. [ Diana's
husband teaches in one of the local schools. [ Watch for
"Rambo 3" at your local movie theater.
surrounding/sz  raund:r/surrounding area/country-
side/villages/hills ete (=near and all around a town, area
etc) [adj only before noun]
Most of the people living in town work in the surrounding
countryside. [ Soon, news of these events spread to surround-
ing villages. [ The school tries to involve people in the sur-
rounding area by having regular open days.
3 the fact of being near to somewhere
nearness/closeness
proximity
nearness/closeness/'nmrns, 'klzosnIs/In U]
nearness/closeness to I like the climate of these plains and
their nearness to the sea. [ Some of the inhabitants took
advantage of their village's closeness to the Andorran border
and made profits from smuggling.
proximity/proks:mIti II pro:k-/a formal word meaning
nearness In U]
proximity to The town's proximity to the coast resulted in
occasional flooding. I proximity of The proximity of
schools, stores, hospitals, and so on is an important factor
to consider when purchasing a house.
4 near enough to get to quickly and easily
within walking/
driving etc distance
within reach
convenient
handy
be close at hand
it's no distance
be a stone's throw from
around the corner/
round the corner
within walking/driving etc distance/w6m (walking
etc) distzns/near enough to walk to ere [adv phrase]
The university was within walking distance so we decided
not to take a cab. I within walking etc distance of I live
within cycling distance of the office. I within easy walking
ere distance of It's in a convenient spot, within easy walk-
ing distance of the shops.
within reach/w6n ' ri:tS/near enough to a town or place
to get to it without too much difficulty lady phrase]
within reach of/see that you live within reach of Seattle. I
within easy reach (=near enough to get to easily) Around
Salzburg there are literally dozens of exciting places to visit
- all within easy reach.
convenient /kzn'vi:nint/ a place that is convenient,
especially one that provides services, is near enough to get
to easily, or is easy to get to other places from [adj]
I go to Lloyd's because it's the most convenient bank for us
-just around the corner. I convenient for Our new house
is very convenient for the shops and school.
conveniently lady] The hotel is very conveniently situated
for the airport and rail terminals.

NEAR
handy/'h0endi/an informal word: a place that is handy
is near enough to get to easily, or is easy to get to other
places from [adj not before noun]
The local stores are really handy, which is good because I
don't have a car. I handy for This campsite is nice and
handy for the beach, isn't it?
be close at hand/bi: Ikloos ot Ihend/if a building or
person is close at hand, they are very near and therefore
available in case you need them Iv phrase]
He decided to stay at his mother's house, where the clinic
would be close at hand if he needed it. I It was lucky to have
my uncle close at hand. I Help was close at hand.
it's no distance/its 'noo distons/if you say it's no dis-
tance you mean that a place is not far away and is there-
fore easy to get to
We come up here regularly from London; it's no distance. I
it's no distance from "'Excuse me, where's Fifth Avenue ?'"
"It's no distance from here, just turn right at the end of the
block. ""
be a stone's throw from Ibi: 0 'st0onz Or0o from/if one
place is a stone's throw from another place, it is only a
very short distance from it, so that it is easy to get to Iv
phrase]
be a stone's throw from Stanford Hospital is only a stone's
throw from where I live. I I was born in Wembley, only a
stone's throw from the football stadium! l within a stone's
throw of There is a subway station within a stone's throw
of Claude's apartment.
around the corner (also round the corner in Brit-
ish English)/(o),raond 6o 'k:rnor/not far away, especially
in the streets of a town lady phrase]
"ls there a bank near here?" "'Sure, it's just around the
corner. "'1 Anna's my friend from round the corner. I She
won't be long, she's only gone round the corner. I around
the corner from We met at a bar around the corner from
my apartment.
5 near enough to pick up, hit etc
handy
within reach
within range
handy/'hendi/near enough to pick up and use quickly
and easily, especially when you may need to use it at any
time [adj not before noun]
Do you have a dictionary handy? ] Keep a first aid kit handy
in case of minor injuries. I Make sure you have your pass-
port handy as you go through Customs.
within reach/wi6in ' ri:t/near enough to be picked up
or touched when you stretch out your hand lady phrase]
As soon as she was within reach he grabbed her wrist. I
within easy reach (=near enough to be picked up without
stretching) He drank some of his beer, then put the bottle on
the shelf within easy reach. [ within sb's reach The key was
hanging from a hook on the wall, just within my reach.
within range/wi6in 'rend3/within the distance that a
gun can shoot, a weapon can strike, a plane can fly etc lady
phrase]
He waited until Carlos was within range and then pulled the
trigger. [ Once within range, the snake's head shoots forward
to attack its victim. [ within range of The ship had now
come within range of the enemy's fighter aircraft.
6 very near, especially so that you can clearly
see or hear what is happening
close up up close
at close quarters close-up
at close range
close up I,klous '^p/very near, especially so that you can
see something clearly lady phrase]
If you look at the painting close up you can see that it's a
fake. I close up to Diana went close up to the dead man and
examined his face carefully.
883
NEAR
at close quarters/ot kloos kwo:rtorz/ if you see or
experience something at close quarters, often something
dangerous or frightening, you are closer to it than usual,
especially so that you can see it clearly lady phrase]
From our hiding place we were able to observe the animals
at close quarters. I This was the first time I had met one of
my enemies at close quarters.
at close range lot ,kloos 're;nd3/ if you see or shoot
someone at close range, you are very near them when you
see them or shoot them lady phrase]
It was clear that the policeman had been shot at very close
range. [ One way to see birds at close range is to attract them
into your own garden.
up close lap 'kloos/very near someone or something,
especially after you have only seen them from a distance
lady phrase]
Brigit looked great from a distance, but when she came up
close you could see that she wore a lot of make-up. I The men
were talking in a corner of the room. Up close they smelled
of whiskey and sea water.
close-up/'kloos Ap/a photograph taken from very near
[n C]
She brought the camera forward to get a close-up of the
actor's face. I in close-up (=from very near) Each butterfly
had been photographed in close-up so that you could see every
detail.
7 to get nearer to a place
get near/close
approach
near
draw near
get near/close / get InIo r, kloos/[v phrase]
get near sth/close to sth As Kay got near the house she
began to feel nervous. I We had been traveling for two hours
and I knew that we must be getting close to Vancouver. I get
near/close enough to do sth I couldn't get close enough
to see what was happening.
approach/o, prout/to move nearer to a place, usually at
a steady speed [v I/T not in passive]
approach sth As the train approached a station, its whis-
tle sounded shrilly. I The sound of approaching footsteps
could be heard down the corridor. I approach Dark storm
clouds were approaching from the north west.
approach In U] Mr Kohara rose to his feet at the approach
of his guests (=as they approached) and made a little bow.
near/nlor/a word used especially in stories or descrip-
tions of events meaning to gradually get nearer to a place
Iv T not in passive]
As she neared her home she could see a light in the window.
draw near / dr3: 'nor/an expression used in literature
meaning to move closer to something or someone [vphrase]
Two men stood talking in the doorway, but as we drew near
they turned and stared at us. I Madge drew a little nearer
so that she could hear what the old man was saying.
8 to get nearer to someone or something you
want to catch, attack etc
get closer/nearer
close in on
get closer/nearer/,get 'klouso r, 'moror/[v phrase]
Isobel was paralysed with fear. The shark was getting closer
and closer. I get closer/nearer to Every day the Russian
tanks were getting nearer to Berlin.
close In on I,ldouz 'n on II -o:n/ira group of people close
in on someone or something, they gradually move closer
to them from all sides so that they surround them in a
threatening way Iv T not passive]
We can't escape. They're closing in on us all the time. I Well-
organized bands of rebels began to close in on the capital. I
Hefted again, but he knew the police were rapidly closing
in on him.

NEAR 884 NEED
9 to be getting nearer to a person or vehicle in
front of you by going faster than them
be catching up
be gaining on/be closing on
be catching up Ibi: ,katSB '^p/Iv phrase]
be catching up with Looking back I could see that the other
walkers were catching up with us. I be catching up Senna's
car is in front, but here comes Alesi in the Ferrari, and he's
catching up.
be gaining on/be closing on /bi: 'ge=n=o on, bi:
I kboz  r Dn/to be steadily getting nearer to a person or vehi-
cle in front of you that you are chasing or racing against,
by going faster than them Iv phrase]
There's a police car behind and it's gaining on us. Can't you
go any faster? I Now "Australia II" is closing on the Ameri-
can yacht and it's going to win this race.
10 to stay very near to someone or something
stay close/keep close
hug
cling to
stay close/keep close /Iste klaos, ki:p 'klaos/ [v
phrase]
stay/keep close to While the eggs are hatching the mother
bird stays close to the nest. I stay/keep close together Once
we're inside the cave we must all keep close together. We don't
want anyone to get lost.
hug/hhg/to stay very close to the edge or surface of some-
thing, especially while moving along it Iv T not inpassive]
The little boat hugged the coastline for about twenty minutes
and then turned and headed out to sea. I Buchan crept
silently towards the gate, hugging the wall so as not to be
seen. I From Portland the road hugs the banks of the Colum-
bia River.
cling to /'kllrj tu:/if someone, especially a child, clings
to you, they stay close to you all the time, especially
because they lack confidence and depend on you too much
Iv T not in passive]
Although Ben was now eleven years old, he constantly clung
to his mother for protection, i Sasha was clinging to me all
night at the disco. I just couldn't get rid of her.
to not go near to a person or place
not go near/come near keep your distance
stay/keep away from keep backAstay back
not go near/come near/not gou tnlo r, kAm tnlor/ [V
phrase]
Don't go too near the fire! I People didn "t go anywhere near
the place at night. They were frightened of ghosts. I You'd
better not come near me. I'm still infectious.
stay/keep away from / ,ste, I ki:p oweI from/to never
go near something or someone or to not go near them
during a period of time, especially in order to avoid danger
or trouble Iv T]
Stay away from the edge of the cliff. You might fall off. I Mary
knew that her uncle was a violent man and she wisely kept
away from him as much as she could.
keep your distance/ki:p ja: r dlstans/to not go too
close to someone or something, especially because it might
be dangerous to go near Iv phrase]
"Keep your distance!" the woman shouted as the stranger
approached. I I didn't trust old Booker's dog, so I kept my
distance.
keep back/stay back/,ki:p 'bk, ,ste= 'bk/if you tell
someone to keep back or stay back, you mean that they
should not come nearer, especially because of possible
danger [phr v I]
Keep back, everyone! The building may collapse at any
moment. I She lit the bonfire and told the children to stay well
back.
nearby NEAR 1, 2
nearer: get closer/nearer NEAR 8
nearest NEAR 2
nearing: approaching/nearing ALMOST 1
nearing/approaching/near to/close to ALMOST 2
almost, nearly
ALMOST/
NEARLY
nearly: almost/nearly ALMOST 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
nearly: very nearly ALMOST 2, 3
nearly all: almost all/nearly all MOST 1, 2
nearly finished: be nearly finished FINISH DOING STH 3
nearness/closeness NEAR 3
neat GOOD/EXCELLENT 3, INTELLIGENT 9,
TIDY 1, 3, 4
neat/straight PURE 2
necessary NEED 5
necessary: it is not necessary to do sth MUST 7
necessary: make it necessary NEED 7
necessitate NEED 7
necessity NEED 6
necessity: be a necessity NEED 5
neck KISS 2
neck: be a pain in the neck ANNOY 5
neck: be breathing down sb's neck FORCE SB TO DO
STH 2
neck: be up to your ears/neck in BUSY/HAVE A LOT
TO DO 2
neck: be up to your ears/neck in debt OWE 2
neck: risk your neck DANGEROUS 6
neck: stick your neck out RISK 3
neck and neck: be neck and neck EQUAL 5
need NEED 1, 4, 6, 7, WANT 4
need: be a need for NEED 1
need: be in need of NEED 1, 4
need: don't need NEED 9
need: fill a need NEED 8
need: have no need of NEED 9
need: needy/in need POOR 1
need: there is no need to do sth MUST 7
need not do sth/don't need to do sth MUST7
need to do sth MUST 1
need your head examined CRAZY 1
which meaning ?.
0e# pmething or
;.ў:. ... ;.%,. ........o, "
someone
must do something
NEED
MUST
be addicted to drugS., " @ ADDICTED
drink etc ....  "
.... .--'.-:--: :::.:::
@ NEED
to need something for a particular purpose
to urgently need and want something very
much
to need something so much that you are
unable to live or continue without it

NEED 885 NEED
9
10
4 to need to be cleaned, repaired, or given
attention in some way
5 words for describing something or someone
that is needed
6 something that is needed
7 ways of saying that something makes it
necessary to do something
8 to provide something that is needed or
wanted
to not need something
not necessary or not needed
1 to need something for a particular purpose
need be a need for
be in need of could do with
require
need Ini:d/if you need something you must have it, and
you will experience inconvenience, discomfort, problems
etc if you do not have it Iv T not in progressive]
need sth It's cold outside - you "ll probably need your coat. [
If there's anything you need, just let me know. [ Karen looks
very pale - I think she needs a doctor. [ need sth for The
little boy told me he needed the money for a present for his
grandmother. [ need to do sth I feel a little tired - I need
to rest for a few minutes. [ need sb to do sth He's very fright-
ened of dentists - I think he needs someone to go with him. [
need sth badly (=need something very much) The town
badly needs a new parking lot.
be in need of/bi: n 'ni:d ov/if someone is in need of
help, advice, money ere, they need it because they are in
a difficult situation [v phrase]
Many of the families are in need of help because they have
nowhere to live. [ Judy seemed as if she was in need of a little
friendly advice. [ I felt lonely and in need of some com-
panionship.
require/r =kwaIor/a formal word meaning to need some-
thing Iv T not in progressive]
require sth Elderly and disabled students, or those who
require special diets should specify this on the application
form. [ The amount qf time that is required to finish the test
varies from student to student. [ require sth for We regret
to inform you that we do not feel you have the level of
experience required for this post. [ as required (=if it is
required) Add more salt to the soup as required.
be a need for/bi:  ni:d fz):r/if there is a need for some-
thing, it is needed by a group of people because it is useful
or necessary in order to make a situation better [vphrase]
There's a growing need for trained doctors and nurses in the
Third World. [As long as there is a need for coal, the miners
will never be out of work. [ Kennedy realized that there was
a need for a change in US foreign policy towards Vietnam.
could do with/kod 'du: wi6/if you say you could do
with something such as a rest, a drink, or some help, you
mean you would feel better, or something would be easier,
if you had it Iv phrase]
"Why don't we stop for a few minutes?" "Sure - I could do
with a rest.'" [ "Do you want a hand with that car? .... Yes,
we could really do with some help. ""
2 to urgently need and want something very
much
be desperate for
be crying out for
be desperate for/bi: 'desparIt f3"=r/ [V phrase]
I had to take the job - I was desperate for the money. [ By
the end of the second day everyone was getting desperate for
water.
be crying out for/bi: =krai-rj aot f:r/ if a group of
people are crying out for something such as help, food, or
medicine, they need it very urgently because they are
facing great difficulties without it [v phrase]
Countries like Somalia and Ethiopia have been torn apart
by civil war and are crying out for Western aid. [ Local hospi-
tals are crying out for voluntary workers, especially at
Christmas time.
3 to need something so much that you are
unable to live or continue without it
can't do without depend on/rely on
be dependent on be reliant on
can't do without /,ko:nt du: w;6'aut II ,kant-/ to be
unable to do something without someone who usually
helps you or without something that you usually use Iv
phrase]
Having my own personal computer's really useful - I just
couldn't do without it. [ She's such a good secretary that I
really can't do without her, not even for a day.
be dependent on/bi: d 'pendnt on/if you are depen-
dent on someone or something, you need them so much
that you cannot exist or continue successfully without
them, because they provide you with all the most impor-
tant things you need Iv phrasel
For the first 2 years of its life the baby elephant is completely
dependent on its mother. [ be heavily dependent on (=be
very dependent on) Japan is heavily dependent on oil
imports from the Middle East and Indonesia. [ be depen-
dent on sb/sth for The government is dependent on the
support of the big unions for its survival.
depend on/rely on/dpend on, rIla Dn [[ -o:n/if you
depend on or rely on someone or something, you need
them because they provide you with something that you
need Iv TI
depend/rely on sb/sth She's very independent - she
doesn't like having to depend on other people. [ Businesses
that rely on government contracts are being hit badly by cuts
in public spending. [ depend/rely on sb to do sth Hospi-
tals depend on people to give blood so that there is enough
.for transfusions. [ Many plants rely on birds to distribute
their seeds. [ depend/rely on sb for Most women would
prefer to have a job of their own, rather than depend on their
husband for financial support. [ depend/rely heavily on
(=depend/rely a lot on) In the past Cuba was forced to rely
heavily on Russian aid.
dependence In U] the baby's complete dependence on its
mother
be reliant on/bi: r; 'lamnt on/if you are reliant on some-
thing, you need it so much that you cannot continue suc-
cessfully without it Iv phrase]
Many old people are reliant on government benefits which
are kept at a very low level. [ be heavily reliant on (=be
very reliant on) Small companies are heavily reliant on the
goodwill of the banks in order to keep going.
reliance [n U] The country placed too much reliance on one
single industry - copper mining - and was badly hit when
world prices fell.
4 to need to be cleaned, repaired, or given
 attention in some way
need
be in need of
could do with
need Ini:d/[v T]
need cleaningCashingCending ete Your teeth need
cleaning. [ The plants need watering - the leaves are start-
ing to go brown. [ need a wash/a dean ete That car of
yours looks like it needs a good wash.
be in need of/bi: in 'ni.-d ov/be in need of repair/
improvement/attention ete (=need to be repaired
because of damage, age etc) [v phrase]
The boat was in need of repair. [ The estate agent told me
that the house was in need of some improvement. [ be badly
in need of (=need it very much) His clothes were tattered
and his boots were badly in need of mending.
could do with/kud 'du: wi6/if you say that someone or
something could do with a clean, a wash, a polish ere, you

NEED 886 NEED
mean that they need to be cleaned, washed, polished etc
[ v phrase ]
It's an old jacket - it could do with a clean. [ That door could
do with a new coat of paint.
When you are applying for a new passport make sure that
you include all the requisite documents. [ lf the proposed piece
of legislation fails to get the requisite two-thirds majority in
Parliament, it cannot become law.
 words for describing something or someone
that is needed
necessary be a necessity
essential be a must
vital requisite
indispensable
necessary I'nessri II -seri/ladj]
How much time do you think will be necessary? I She was
very enthusiastic about thejo,b, but didn't have the necessary
experience. I it is necessary for sb to do sth The doctor says
it may be necessary for me to have an operation. I necessary
for The amount of money that is necessary for these kinds
of repairs is enormous. I it is necessary to do sth It will
be necessary to close off the street while police check for any
signs of a bomb. I if necessary (=if it is necessary) Do as
much of the work as you can, and if necessary we'll get some-
one to help you later.
essential/' senSl/something that is essential is impor-
tant and you must have it in order to do something success-
fully or correctly [adj]
Computers now .form an essential part of any business
activity. I If you're going walking in the mountains strong
boots and waterproof clothing are essential. I essential for
Oxygen is essential for life. I essential to Proper eating
habits are essential to a child's growth. I it is essential to
do sth Before you set off down the ski-slope it is essential to
ensure that your skis are securely fastened. I it is essential
that It is essential that the oil level is checked every 10,000
kin, otherwise the engine may seize up.
vital/'vatl/something that is vital is extremely impor-
tant, often more important than anything else, and you
cannot do something successfully or safely without it [adj]
We're still searching for one vital piece of evidence - the
murder weapon. I The ability to think coolly when you're
under pressure is a vital part of the job. I vital to Good
timing is vital to the success of any military operation. I vital
for Plenty of exercise during pregnancy is vital for your
general health and wellbeing. I it is vital to do sth It's vital
to lock all windows and doors before you leave for your vaca-
tion. I it is vital (that) It's vital that everyone follows the
correct safety procedures if there is afire. I be of vital impor-
tance Temperature is of vital importance when storing food
such as meat or fish.
vitally [adv] It's vitally important to learn how to use the
life jackets.
indispensable /  ndi ' spensobl/someone or something
that is indispensable is extremely useful and it is almost
impossible to do something without them [adj]
If you're planning on going sightseeing around the old city,
a guide is indispensable. I indispensable to sb The book
will be indispensable to anyone who wishes to learn more
about the British Royal Family.
be a necessity/bi:  n 'sesti/if something is a neces-
sity, you must have it for your job or for your life, and it
is not something that you only have for pleasure [vphrase]
If you're a doctor a car is not just a luxury, it's a necessity. I
With the rapid increase in crime, burglar alarms have
become something of a necessity, especially in big cities.
be a must/bi: a 'mAst/if you say that something such as
a book, film, or type of clothes is a must, you mean that
people must read, see, or wear it, because it is very
fashionable, enjoyable, interesting etc Iv phrase]
If you're interested in the early history of the motor car this
book is a must. [ be a must for Fur boots are a must for
anyone who wants to keep up with the latest fashions this
autumn.
requisite/'rekwzq a formal word meaning necessary
for a particular purpose, especially according to the law or
as part of an official process [adj only before noun]
6 something that is needed
sb's needs requirement
necessity need
sb's needs/(sb's) ' ni:dz/what someone needs to have so
that they can live a normal, healthy, and comfortable life
[ n phrase ]
When we designed the building we tried to take into account
the needs of the disabled visitor as much as possible. [
meet/satisfy sb's needs (=provide the things that some-
one needs) Schools should try to meet the educational needs
of every child, not just the needs of the most intelligent
children.
necessity/n'sesti/something that you must have for
your job or for your life, not something that you only have
for pleasure In C]
A lot of people would consider a TV as more of a necessity
than a luxury item. [ the bare necessities (=the most
important and necessary things such as clothes and food)
The workers" wages are so low that they hardly have enough
money to buy the bare necessities of life.
requirement /rI'kwaarmant/ the amount or level of
something that it is necessary to have, especially one that
has been officially decided or is officially advised In C]
The average daily food requirement for an adult is between
2000 and 3000 calories. [ requirement for The main require-
ments.for the job are good eyesight and a high level of physi-
cal fitness. I come up to/meet/satisfy a requirement
(=reach the necessary level or amount) The purity of the
water in the town did not come up to the minimum
requirements.
need/ni:d/a strong feeling that you want to have or do
something In singular]
need to do sth This type of behaviour is often caused by a
need to feel wanted and loved. [ need for The purpose of
advertising is to create the need for a particular product. [
feel the need to do sth (=feel that you need to do some-
thing) Don't you ever feel the need to take a vacation?
 ways of saying that something makes it
necessary to do something
make it necessary take
necessitate need
call for require
entail
make it necessary/,melk It 'nessri II -seri/[vphrase]
make it necessary to do sth The heavy rain has made it
necessary to close several roads. I make it necessary for
sb to do sth Recent discoveries in the field of astronomy have
made it necessary for scientists to reconsider their ideas about
the origins of the universe.
necessitate /n'sestelt/ a formal word meaning to
make it necessary for you to do something, especially some-
thing that is difficult or that you would prefer not to do Iv
T not in progressive]
necessitate doing sth They did not wish to return by the
same route, as this would have necessitated climbing down
a steep rock face in the wet. [ necessitate sth The introduc-
tion of sanctions was necessitated by the South African
government's refusal to allow all citizens to vote.
call for/' ka:l fa:r/if doing something difficult calls for
a particular quality or a particular type of behaviour, you
must have that quality or behave in that way in order to
succeed in doing it Iv T not in progressive]
Persuading the gang to release the hostages called for a great
deal of patience and skill. [ Launching a new product onto
the market is a highly complicated business, and careful
planning is called for.
entail/in'ted/if something that you are planning to do
entails doing something, especially something involving

NEED 88? neglect
a lot of money or effort, it is necessary to do these things
in order to succeed in doing it Iv T not in progressive]
To get the ship back into full working order would entail
spending huge amounts of money. [ All the soldiers knew that
their mission entailed a certain amount of risk.
take/tek/ff a job or activity takes a particular quality,
or a lot of time, money, effort etc, you must have that qual-
ity or spend a lot of time etc in order to do it Iv T not in
progressive or passive]
Learning a new language takes a lot of effort. I Don't worry
if you get it wrong. These things take time. I It takes strength
and stamina to be a good long-distance runner.
need/ni:d! if a job or activity needs a particular quality,
you must have that quality in order to do it well Iv T not
in progressive]
need sth Teaching children to read needs a lot of patience
and skill. I It must have needed a great deal of self-discipline
for you to lose so much weight in such a short time. I need
sth for sth The interviewer told me all the qualities that were
needed for the job.
require /ri Ikwamr/ a formal word: if a job or activity
requires a particular quality, you have to have that qual-
ity in order to do it well Iv T not in progressive]
Driving requires a great deal of concentration. I Marriage
requires commitment and sacrifice from both partners. I It
requires practice to be a really good guitar player but it's
worth it. ,
8 to provide something that is needed or
wanted
meet/satisfy a need meet the demand
fulfil/meet requirements fill a need
meet/satisfy a need/,mi:t, ,setsfaJ a 'ni:d/if some-
one or something meets or satisfies a need, they give
people what they need or want Iv phrase]
The bus company is failing to meet the needs of the local com-
munity. [ Some people hate watching boxing - others love
it and say it satisfies a basic human need.
fulfil/meet requirements/fol,fil, ,mi:t r 'kwamrmants!
if someone or something fulfils or meets the require-
ments that have been set for them, they reach the stan-
dards that are necessary, especially standards that have
been officially decided Iv phrase]
The toys have to meet tough safety requirements before they
can be sold to children. ] fulfil/meet requirements for A
place will be reserved for you at college, providing you fulfil
all the requirements for entry.
meet the demand / mi:t 6 d Imo:nd [[ -mend/to pro-
vide enough quantities of a product so that everyone who
wants one can have one Iv phrase]
Madonna's latest record has been so successful that record
stores are finding it difficult to meet the demand. [ meet the
demand for Ford has increased production to meet the
demand for its new range of cars.
fill a need/,ill  ni:d/if something fills a need, for exam-
ple a new product or service, it gives people something that
they have wanted but which they have not been able to
have until now Iv phrase]
I'm all in favour of the new work experience scheme - I think
it fills a growing need among young people who can't get
jobs. I The new men's magazines which deal with art and
culture rather than pornographyfill a need which has been
around for some time.
9 to not need something
don't need
can do without/
can manage without
have no need of
have no use for
can dispense with
don't need/,daunt ni:d/Iv T not in progressive]
Take these old clothes of mine - I don "t need them. [ My boss
told me that they wouldn't need me after September.
can do without/can manage without /ken du:
wi6'aot, ken Imemd3-/if you say you can do without or
can manage without something or someone, you mean
that you will be able to do something without them Iv
phrase]
"Do you need your glasses? .... No, it's OK, I think I can do
without them. "'1 We should be able to manage without you
- we'll let you know if we need.you.
have no need of/,hav nao 'ni:d Dv/to not need some-
thing or someone because you can easily do what you want
to do without them Iv phrase not in progressive]
Japan has its own space technology and has no need of
American help. [ As far as he was concerned he had no need
of women and intended to remain unmarried for the rest of
his life.
have no use for /,hev nao 'ju:s fa:r/to not need some-
thing or someone because you no longer use them or
cannot think of a way of using them Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Now she stores everything on computer she has no use for
those filing cabinets. [ The fish have ceased to develop eyes
because they live in such dark water that they no longer have
any use for them.
can dispense with/ken d; spens Wlb/to not need to use
or do something that you usually use or do, because it is
no longer necessary [v phrase]
I've made this recipe dozens of times before, so I think I can
dispense with the recipe book. [ dispense with the formal-
ities (=to not use formal or very polite behaviour, such as
introducing people to each other) We all know each other
pretty well, so I think we can dispense with the formalities.
1 0 not necessary or not needed
u n necessary d ispensable
needless luxury
gratuitous
unnecessary IAnnesosari II -seri/a word meaning not
necessary, often used when you think that someone's
actions are unhelpful, unkind, or unreasonable [adj]
The book is far too long and full of unnecessary information.[
You shouldn't have told her that she looked older - it was
totally unnecessary. I unnecessary to do sth It was quite
unnecessary to search all the customers at the door.
unnecessarily [adv] I think you're worrying unnecessar-
ily. Forget about it.
needless/'ni:dlos/needless pain/worry/deaths etc
(=unnecessary because they could easily have been
prevented or avoided) [adj usually before noun]
The thing that depresses me most about the war in Yugosla-
via is the needless destruction of human life. I Quarrels
always end up causing so much needless ill feeling and
resentment.
needlessly [adv] Each week, over 250,000 children die need-
lessly from starvation and disease.
gratuitous /gm'tju:ts [[-'tu:-/ gratuitous violence/
insults/cruelty ete (=done for no reason, and seeming
shocking or offensive) [adj usually before noun]
Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest movie is filled with gratui-
tous violence. [ It was a completely gratuitous insult - I
hadn't said anything to offend her.
dispensable/dJ 'spensbal/someone or something that
is dispensable can be got rid of easily because they are not
needed [adj]
Many employers consider women workers dispensable in
times of recession.
luxury /'lAkJ'ari/ something expensive, that you do not
need but that you buy for pleasure and enjoyment [n C]
Houses belonging to the rich are full of luxuries such as hi-
tech video systems and all the latest computer equipment. I
After the war, melons were something of a luxury.
needle ANGRY 10
 needless NEED 10
 needs: meet sb's needs ENOUGH 2
,': needs: sb's needs NEED 6
 needy/in need POOR 1
-: neglect LOOK AFTER SB 7

neglect to do sth
- neglect to do sth NOT 130 STH 3
negligent CARELESS 1
: negligible LITtLE/NOT MUCH 6, 9
negotiable DISCUSS 4
negotiate DISCUSS 2
negotiation: be open to discussion/negotiation
DISCUSS 4
" negotiations DISCUSS 5
neighbourhood/neighborhood AREA 2
neighbouring/neighboring NEAR 2
neighbourlylneighborly FRIEN13LY 2
neither BOTH 1
neither here nor'there CONNECTED WITH 9
. nepotism UNFAIR 7
nerve BRAVE 2
nerve: have the nerve/have the cheek
RUDE/IMPOLITE 3
nerve: have the nerve to do sth BRAVE 5
nerve: not have the nerve BRAVE 7
nerves NERVOUS 4
nerves: be a bundle of nerves NERVOUS 2
nerves: get on sb's nerves ANNOY 2
nervous NERVOUS 1, 3
nervous: make sb nervous NERVOUS 6
nervous breakdown: have a nervous breakdown
o MENTALLY ILL 3
nervous disposition: be of a nervous disposition
:
FRIGHTENED 9, NERVOUS 3
'- nervous wreck NERVOUS 2
I nervous or annoyed? I--
worried and
frightened about .
something that" will
•  .'?zJ' ;;:.
............. ;;.;. -- .;. , .
NERVOUS
worried and frightened about something that
may happen, so that you are unable to relax
so nervous that you are unable to think
clearly or behave calmly
words for describing someone who is often
nervous or always nervous
a feeling of being nervous
words for describing a situation that makes
people feel nervous
to make someone feel nervous
1 worried and frightened about something that
may happen, so that you are unable to relax
nervous have butterflies
tense be on pins and needles
on edge uneasy
edgy uptight
nervous/n3:rvs/[adj not before noun]
There's no need to be so nervous. It's only an interview. [ On
his wedding day he got so nervous that he forgot her name. [
nervous about I was so nervous about my exam that I
couldn't sleep. [ The people living near the volcano are begin-
ning to get nervous about it. It looks as if it's going to erupt
again.
nervously [adv ] He was pacing nervously up and down the
room.
888
NERVOUS
nervousness [n U] Many people fail their driving test.first
time, usually through nervousness.
tense/tens/so nervous that you are unable to relax or
your muscles feel tight [adj not before noun]
Mary's problems at work were making her tense and irrita-
ble. I After a long day's driving I always feel very tense. I
grow tense (=become tense) Hazel grew tense with the
sudden fear that something had happened to her baby.
tensely [ adv ] Everyone waited tensely for the results of the
race to be announced.
on edge/Dn 'cd3/if someone is on edge, they are nervous
and likely to become angry or upset very easily [adjphrase]
Ignore him. He's tired and on edge from all his business wor-
ries. I In a crisis people are more on edge and agitated than
they would otherwise be. I sb's nerves are on edge The riots
had shocked the nation, and everyone's nerves were on edge
until it was over.
edgy/'edsi/feeling nervous so that you are unable to relax
or behave in a calm way [adj not before noun]
Before a big tennis match Steffi is always a little edgy. I As
the police approached the two men became edgy and
suspicious.
have butterflies/hev 'bAtarflaz/to feel nervous about
doing something that you are going to do very soon because
it is important and you want to do it well [vphrase not in
progressive]
Some actors never have butterflies before going on stage. I
have butterflies in your stomach It was the morning of
the World Cup Final and most of the players had butterflies
in their stomachs.
be on pins and needles/bi: n ,pnz ond ni:dlz/an
informal American expression meaning to feel nervous,
especially so that you cannot keep still Iv phrase]
Laura's husband was three hours late and she was on pins
and needles as she waited for him. [ Waiting to hear if she
had passed the exam, Mrs Grant was on pins and needles.
uneasy /An'i:zi/ nervous that something bad might
happen, so that you feel anxious and unable to relax until
the danger has passed [adj]
There's something I don't trust about him. He makes me feel
very uneasy. [ It was the same uneasy feeling he'd experienced
that morning when he saw the police car outside. [ uneasy
about Rebecca had trusted a stranger with her bag and was
beginning to feel uneasy about it.
uneasily [adv] Spiro glanced around uneasily. "Do you
think anyone is watching us?'"
uneasiness In U/ She looked at the clock with growing
uneasiness. He was already two hours late.
uptight/Aptat/an informal word meaning unable to be
relaxed about life in general, so that this makes you seem
unfriendly and unhappy [adj]
Don't ask Betty to come to the party - she's so uptight these
days she'd only spoil it.
2 so nervous that you are unable to think
clearly or behave calmly
panicky nervous wreck
agitated be a bundle of nerves
jumpy excited
be in a state have the jitters/be jittery
panicky/'poemki/very nervous and anxious about some-
thing, especially when you are in a dangerous situation
that you cannot control or change [adj]
I began to .feel panicky, sure that I was going to miss the
train. [ Panicky, knees trembling, she crossed the dark street
to avoid the two.men.
agitated / 'ad3oItctoI d/extremely nervous and unable to
keep still or think calmly [adj]
If there is any change to the patient's routine he becomes con-
fused and agitated. I An agitated waiter appeared and apolo-
gized profusely for the delay.
agitation/ed3 teian/ [n U] An anxious mother cannot
avoid passing on her agitation to her baby.

NERVOUS 889 NERVOUS
jumpy /Id5^mpi/very nervous so that you are unable to
relax and are easily surprised by sudden sounds or move-
ments [adj]
She gets jumpy when she's alone in the house in the evening. [
Don has been very jumpy lately - I wonder if there's anything
wrong.
be in a state/be: in a 'Stelt/a British expression mean-
ing to be very nervous so that you cannot think clearly or
behave calmly [v phrase]
Before my exams I was in a terrible state. I could hardly hold
the pen. I get in a state There's no point in getting in a state
- I'm sure she'll be home soon.
nervous wreck /n3:rvas rek/someone who has been
made so nervous that they have completely lost all their
confidence and their ability to remain calm or think sen-
sibly [n C/
Before the plane took off she was a nervous wreck - she had
to be strapped into her seat. [ He's been told that the oper-
ation is next month and he's already a nervous wreck.
be a bundle of nerves/be:  b^ndl ov n3:rvz/an infor-
mal expression meaning to be so nervous that you are shak-
ing and you find it impossible to behave calmly, especially
for a long time [v phrase]
Since she lost her job Rosie's been a bundle of nerves. [ He
can't possibly drive the car - he's a bundle of nerves.
excited/iksatd/very nervous or upset about some-
thing, in a way that makes people think you are reacting
too strongly [adj not before noun]
Don't get so excited - it doesn't really matter what caused
the accident, does it? I When he was excited he spoke too
quickly and was completely unintelligible. [ excited about
Calm down. There's no point getting excited about it.
excitedly lady/Suddenly the animals became disturbed and
moved excitedly in their cages.
have the jitters/be jittery/hav 62 =d3;torz, be: 'dB;tori/
informal expressions: if someone has the jitters or is jit-
tery they are nervous about something in a way that other
people are certain to notice [v phrase not in. progressive]
He's getting married tomorrow and he's really got the jitters. [
I was feeling extremely jittery and wanted to leave the bar
as quickly as possible.
3 words for describing someone who is often
nervous or always nervous
nervous
highly-strung/high-strung
of a nervous disposition
nervous/'n3:rvs/[adjJonly before noun]
She is a nervous child and we don't like to leave her on her
own. [ I don't know if John should be asked to make the
speech - he's usually quite a nervous person.
highly.strung (British) I high-strung (American)/,haili
I str^ 0 4, hai 'str^rj 4/always nervous and unable to relax,
especially so that you react in a very extreme way to ordi-
nary situations [adj]
Her main problem is that she is very highly-strung which
tends to make other people feel nervous too. I Mark's a little
high-strung, so go easy on him.
of a nervous disposition lay o na:rvos dtspozISan/a
formal expression meaning always nervous and easily
frightened [adj phrase not before noun]
This film is not suitable for people of a nervous disposition.
She's very easily frightened and is generally of a rather ner-
vous disposition.
4 a feeling of being nervous
nerves
tension
nerves/n3:rvz/the feeling of being nervous because you
are worried or a little frightened about something [n
plural]
Normally he's very relaxed and amusing. It must be nerves. [
suffer from nerves Although a competent teacher, he
suffers from nerves when the students behave badly. I a case/
attack of nerves He had a sudden attack of nerves and
refused to go to see the dentist. [ calm/steady ere your
nerves (=try to relax) I was so worried about the meeting
that I had to have a drink to calm my nerves.
tension/ tenSan/a feeling of being so nervous that you
are unable to relax or your muscles feel tight [n U/
"My neck's really stiff. "" "It's probably due to tension. "" [ Her
voice trembled with tension. [ the tension mounts (=people
feel more and more nervous) As the tension mounted
towards the end of term, some students dropped out of the
course.
5 words for describing a situation that makes
people feel nervous
tense nailbiting
strained charged
uneasy
tense /tens/ making people feel nervous and anxious,
especially because they are worried about what might
happen next or what someone might do [adjl
There was a tense silence as the police waited for the gun-
man's next move. ,I The journey through the mountains went
well even though there were a few tense moments when the
car skidded. I The negotiations became increasingly tense as
the weeks went by.
strained /strelnd/ a situation that is strained makes
people feel nervous, embarrassed, and uncomfortable, and
unable to behave naturally [adj]
The strained atmosphere at the dinner made it difficult to
chat to people. I Since my father left home things have been
very strained. I After the argument there was a strained
silence.
uneasy/An'i:zi/a situation that is uneasy makes people
feel a little nervous because they are uncertain about what
will happen next or what someone might do [adj only before
noun]
After the speech there was an uneasy silence and nobody
clapped. I War had been declared but nothing happened and
people existed in a state of uneasy calm.
nailbiting /'nellba]trj/ a nailbiting situation makes
people extremely nervous and excited, especially because
they are waiting for a result or decision [adj only before
noun ]
Waiting to become a father is one of the most nailbiting sit-
uations a man can face. [ nailbiting finish With three
minutes left, the World Cup Final is set for a nailbiting
.finish.
charged/to:rd3dl a charged situation or subject makes
people feel very nervous and is likely to cause arguments
or violence [ adj usually before noun]
charged atmosphere The already charged atmosphere
erupted into violence when police told the crowd to disperse. [
charged Congress today debated the charged issue of aid to
rebels in El Salvador. I highly charged In a highly charged
press conference the man defended his attack on the children.
6 to make someone feel nervous
make sb nervous psych out
unsettle put sb on edge
unnerve
make sb nervous/,mek (sb) tn3zrv:)s/ [V phrase]
Have you seen the way he looks at people? He makes me ner-
vous. [ I hate the way the teacher stands over me when I'm
working - it makes me really nervous. I Stop making that
noise. Can't you see you're making the horses nervous?
unsettle/An'setl/if something unsettles you, it makes
you feel less calm than you usually are and unable to com-
pletely relax [v T ]
The noises upstairs unsettled him and he was unable to
sleep.[ She was still recovering from the accident so he
avoided any subjects which might unsettle her. I It's no good
changing the team now. It'll only unsettle the players.

NERVOUS 890 NEW
unnerve /IAn'na:rv/ to make someone who is usually
calm feel nervous Iv T l
My father always cleared his throat before telling me off, and
it always unnerved me. ] The presence of armed police officers
unnerved her a little.
p$Ґ©h out/,saik 'aot/to try to make someone, especially
someone you are competing against in a game, lose their
confidence and their ability to remain calm [phr v T]
psych out sb McEnroe often used his bad behaviour in
difficult tennis matches to psych out his opponent. ] psych
sb/her/them ere out Whenever we play chess Bill psychs
me out by saying that he cannot lose.
put sb on edge/,pot (sb) on 'ed3/to make someone feel
very nervous so that they cannot relax Iv phrase]
I don't like the way she lets her kids play around so near the
road. It really puts me on edge. I He finds it hard to relax,
even with his therapist -just being in the office with her puts
him on edge.
nest egg
net
network
neurotic
neutral
neutrality
neutralize
never
SAVE MONEY 3
EARN 2
SYSTEM 1, TELEVISION/RADIO 6
WORRIED 10
FAIR 4, ORDINARY 1, SUPPORT A PERSON,
GROUP, OR PLAN 7
SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 7
EFFECTIVE 5
NEVER 1
never: better late than never LATE 2
never: have never been known to do sth NEVER 1
never ever NEVER 1
never-ending CONTINUOUS 4
never for a moment/not for a moment NEVER 1
never mind NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC 1
never once NEVER 1
NEVER
1 not once or not at any time
I not once or not at any time
never
not ever
never once
not once
never for a moment/
not for a moment
never ever
at no time
not in a million years/
never in a million
years
have never been
known to do sth
never/'nev0r/not at any time [adv]
"Do you ever go to the theatre? .... No, never."] In 30 years
of driving she has never had an accident. ] I'll never forget
what my mother told me. ] It never occurred to me that he was
interested in Lynda. ] Never let me hear you use that word
again. [ never have I/did they ere Never have I been so
humiliated.
not ever/not 'evor/ [adv phrase]
I haven't ever drunk champagne before. ] Don't ever do that
again. ] "I won't leave you, "" she said, "'not ever. ""
never once/,nevo r 'WAnS/an expression meaning never,
used especially when you are annoyed that someone has
never done something, although they could have done it
many times [adv phrase]
We've been married for fifteen years and you've never once
bought me a present. I The prisoners were held for six weeks
and never once during that time were they allowed to see
daylight.
not once/not 'WAnS/an expression meaning never, used
especiatly when you are either surprised or annoyed that
someone never did something, although they could have
done it many times [adv phrase]
After all I've done for them, they haven't said thank-you -
not once/I not once have I/did they etc The children were
very well-behaved - not once did they complain about feel-
ing tired.
never for a moment/not for a moment /,nevo r for
o 'moomont, ,not for o 'moomont/if you say you never for
a moment thought something, you mean that this idea
never came into your mind lady phrase l
She never for a moment doubted that she would be a success-
ful musician. ] "Did you ever suspect that you were being
cheated?" "'No, not for one moment. "" I never for a moment
have I/did they ete Never for a moment did I imagine that
we should encounter so many problems.
never ever /,nevor 'evor/you say never ever when you
want to say very strongly that something has never
happened or will never happen [adv phrase]
My little sister always used to say, "I'll never ever get mar-
ried. "'1 I had never cried before about failure. Never ever.
at no time lot ,noo 'ta:m/a formal expression meaning
never in the past [adv phrase l
at no time have I/did they ere At no time did anyone sug-
gest that the drug was dangerous. I At no time in the past
has art been so widely accessible to the people.
not in a million years/never in a million years
/not In o ,mlljon 'j torz, ,nevor in-/you say not in a million
years or never in a million years when you think that
it is completely impossible that something could ever
happen [adv phrase]
Cindy will never finish writing that book - not in a million
years. I It's a brilliant idea - it would never have occurred
to me in a million years.
have never been known to do sth/hov ,nevo r bi:n
nn to 'du: (sth) II -bin-/you say that someone or something
has never been known to do something when you mean
that this has never happened before, so it is strange if it
happens now Iv phrase]
We were very worried - Peter had never been known to dis-
appear from home before. I a method that's never been known
to fail
nevertheless BUT 2
new NEW 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
new: be as good as new CONDITION/STATE OF STH 3
new: be new to EXPERIENCED 4, NEW 8
new-found/newfound NEW 6
new ground: break new ground FIRST 7
new leaf: turn over a new leaf BEHAVE 4
new start: make a fresh startla new start START
DOING STH 9
ADVANCED
NEW
words for describing something that has just
been made or bought and has not been used
before

NEW 891 NEW
words for describing food or drink that is new
and still tastes good
words for describing something such as a
book, film, car, or other product that has only
just become available to the public
words for describing organizations,
governments, or countries that have only
existed for a short time
words for describing something that has just
been discovered
words for describing experiences and
feelings that you have never had before
words for describing new ideas or ways of
doing things
words for describing someone who has only
recently arrived in a place or just started a job
words for describing something or someone
that has recently replaced the one before
1 words for describing something that has just
been made or bought and has not been used
before
brand new
fresh
new/nju: II nu:/ladj]
While I was shopping I got some new jeans and some new
shoes. I Let's have a game of tennis. I want to try out my new
racket. I They've pulled down the movie theatre and built a
new health club on the same site. I A video games system will
probably cost you $1000 new but you can get used ones for
about half that price. I it looks like new (=it looks as if it
is new) We cleaned the car thoroughly until it looked like
new.I as good as new The man said he'd only used the
camera once or twice, so it was as good as new.
brand new/,brend 'nju:- II -nu:-/completely new and
unused [ adj phrase]
My brother's just bought a brand new BMW. I When did you
buy this sofa? It looks brand new. I Just outside the town
there are brand new apartment blocks with room for 400
families.
fresh/fre/a fresh sheet/copy/page/towel etc (=clean
and new and not.used before) [adj usually before noun]
You'll have to start again on afresh sheet of paper. I At the
hotel we had fresh towels every morning.
J2 words for describing food or drink that is new
and still tastes good
fresh
okaylOK/alrightlall right
fresh Ifre/[adjl
Before you buy the fish make sure that it is fresh. I There's
a farm near us which sells fresh eggs. I fresh from the
oven/sea/garden etc The bread's fresh from the oven.
freshly lady] These strawberries are freshly picked this
morning.
okaylOKlalrightlall right/;)o'keI, 3:1 'rat/informal
expressions meaning fresh enough to eat or drink [adj not
before noun]
Is this meat okay? I The milk looked all right, but when I
tasted it it was horrible. I okay ere to eat/drink It's been
kept in the refrigerator, so it should still be okay to eat.
3 words for describing something such as a
book, film, car, or other product that has only
just become available to the public
new latest
brand new be just out
recent be hot off the press
new/nju: II nu:/[adj]
New film releases include 'Home Alone H" and "Dracula'. I
In the new issue of 'Time" magazine there is an article about
Panama. I Renault's newest GTI hatchback will be unveiled
at next week's Motor Show.
brand new/,brmnd 'nju:- II -'nu:-/completely new [adj
phrase]
Van Morrison has just brought out a brand new record. I
'Wash and Go' is a brand new shampoo from Vidal Sassoon.
recent/'ri:sdnt/a recent film, book etc is one that was
made or produced only a short time ago [adj]
Some amazing facts about the President were revealed in a
recent book by James Jones. l David Sutherland played Gau-
guin in a recent movie about the troubled artist, l There will
be an exhibition of his most recent work at the Tare Gallery
starting this Saturday.
latest ] |e itst/the latest film/book/model/fashion etc
(-the one most recently made available to the public and
therefore very new) [adj]
The magazine is full of articles on the latest Paris fashions. I
Ford's latest model has a host of new features including an
advanced security system. I This is just the latest in a series
of prize-winning designs.
be lust out/bi: ,d3^st aut/if something such as a book,
record, or film is just out, it has been made available to
the public very recently Iv phrase]
Bruce Springsteen's new record is just out on the Columbia
label.
be hot off the press/bi: ,hot of 6 'pres II -Iha:t-/if a
book is hot offthe press it has only just become available
to the public, so that anyone who has it is one of the first
people to read it Iv phrase]-
I've got a copy of Angelou's latest book here - hot off the
press!
4, words for describing organizations,
governments, or countries that have only
existed for a short time
new
young
new/nju: II nu:/[adj]
Soon after coming to power the new government of Russia
negotiated with the Germans to end the war. I Richard Bran-
son then set up a new company called Virgin Atlantic.
young IJ^8l a young company or country is one which
has not existed for very long and has not yet fully developed
[adj]
Impact is a lively young company which specializes in public
relations. I The banks should loan more money to help
promising young businesses to grow. I As a country Zim-
babwe is still quite young.
5 words for describing something that has just
been discovered
new
newly discovered
fresh
new/nju: II nu:/[adj usually before noun]
Scientists have found a new oilfield off the coast of Norway. [
It wasn't until 1929 that Tombaugh discovered Pluto. This
new planet appeared to be relatively small. [ Important new
discoveries in the field of radiology may lead to a break-
through in the treatment of cancer.
newly discovered /,nju:li d'sk^vrd-II ,nu:li-/ a
newly discovered place or object is one that has been dis-
covered very recently [adj phrase only before noun]
Everyone believed that these newly discovered islands were
uninhabited. [ We are planning to publish a newly discov-
ered poem by D.H. Lawrence.
fresh/fre/fresh evidence/information/facts (=ones
that are new and add to or change what is already known
about the situation) [adj usually before noun]

NEW 892 NEW
Police say they are still waiting for fresh information about
the missing girl. I Silcott was sent to prison in 1987, but since
then his lawyers have found fresh evidence which, they
believe, may prove his innocence.
6 words for describing experiences and
feelings that you have never had before
new
new-found/newfound
new/nju: II nu:/[adj]
I enjoy the new feeling of independence Igetfrom living on
my own now. I After a childhood in the country, life in the
big city was a new experience for Philip. I There is a new feel-
ing of optimism in Germany today.
new-found/newfound/'nju:faond II 'nu:-/newfound
confidence/happiness/enthusiasm/freedom/success
etc (=that someone has gained very recently) [adj only
before noun]
Encouraged by their unexpected success, the rebel forces
advanced with newfound confidence. I She went back to her
work full of new-found enthusiasm. I They settled down to
enjoy their newfound happiness.
7 words for describing new ideas or ways of
doing things
new
fresh
original
revolutionary
novel
new/nju: II nu:/[adj]
novelty
innovative
innovation
pioneering
be in its infancy
New ways of replacing workers with machines are being
invented all the time. I new methods of producing and con-
serving energy I Does anyone have any new ideas?
lre$1 /fre/ fresh approach/idea/proposal etc (=one
that is new and different from previous ones, and may help
to deal with a problem) [adj only before noun]
We need afresh approach to this problem. I The negotiations
won't make any progress unless one of the sides puts forward
fresh proposals.
original /a'ridsIngl , -d59nal/ original idea/design etc
(=one that is completely new and that shows imagination
and that no one has thought of or used before) [adj]
Tange's brilliantly original design for the Olympic stadium
in Tokyo I His work is not particularly original, and he is
obviously heavily influenced by artists such as David Hock-
hey. I highly original (=very original) Some of the ideas
in her book are highly original.
revolutionary/,rev'lu:fndri II -faneri/a revolutionary
idea or method is completely different from anything that
has existed before, and is important because it is likely to
cause great changes [adj]
Einstein's revolutionary theories made people look at the
universe in a completely new way. I Morey developed an idea
for a revolutionary motor that would combine high power
and low energy use.
novel/'novdl II no:-/a novel idea, method etc is new and
interesting because it is unexpected and different from
what has existed before [adj]
Scientists have come up with a novel way of catching fish. I
Tonight's TV news will be presented in a novel format.
novelty/'novlti II 'nm-/something that is interesting
because it is new and unusual, especially when this makes
people think it is not very serious In C]
In those days computers were regarded as an amusing
novelty, but this attitude soon changed. I it is a novelty for
sb to do sth It was a novelty for people at college to see a
student with two kids. I be something of a novelty (=seem
new and unusual) Fast-food restaurants like MacDonald's
are still something of a novelty in Moscow. I the novelty
wears off(=it stops seeming new and unusual) I loved driv-
ing to work at first, but the novelty soon wore off.
Innovative/no,vetv, 'novotv II ino,vetv/an inno-
vative design, idea, plan etc is new, different and better
than those that existed before, and shows a lot of imagina-
tion [adj]
Fortune magazine called the electric car one of the ten most
innovative products of the year. I The city has introduced an
innovative system of traffic control.
Innovation/,n'vean/something such as a new idea,
method, or system that has never been thought of before,
especially one that is better than previous ones In C]
The inspectors criticized the company's production methods
and suggested some innovations. I The child-care service is
an innovation of great potential value and has been wel-
comed by working mothers. I Car seat belts are a fairly recent
innovation in the US.
pioneering / ,pa;' narq-/pioneering work/research/
efforts etc (=that introduces completely new ways of doing
things, which are later followed and developed by other
people) [adj only before noun]
The Curies 'pioneering work on uranium allowed the later
development of nuclear power. I The modern film industry
is based on the pioneering efforts of British and American
cinematographers in the early part of this century.
be in its infancy/bi: in ItS  infansi/ifa science or a new
area of knowledge or study is in its infancy, people have
just begun to find out more about it, to work with it etc
[ v phrase ]
The science of cybernetics is still in its infancy. I These rockets
were built at a time when space technology was in its infancy.
8 words for describing someone who has only
recently arrived in a place or just started a job
new new arrival
fresh stranger
newcomer be new to
new/nju: II nu:/[adj]
All new employees are given special training. I You're new
here, aren't you? I The new Secretary for Defense will have
to deal with a number of serious problems.
lre$1/frel having just finished training and arrived in
a new job from somewhere else and not yet experienced
[adj]
fresh from You can't expect teachers fresh from college to
deal with large classes of difficult children. [ fresh out of
We were under the command of a young lieutenant who was
fresh out of officer training school I fresh recruits This
year the number of fresh recruits has more than doubled.
new©orner/nju:k^ma r II 'nu:-! someone who has only
recently arrived in a place or only recently started a job,
sport etc In C]
Free language lessons are provided by the government to
help newcomers settle into Swedish society. I The president's
team includes some old familiar faces as well as a few new-
comers. I newcomer to Being a newcomer to teaching, I'm
finding it very hard work. I comparative/relative new-
comer (=someone who has arrived or started doing some-
thing fairly recently) Although she is a comparative new-
comer to downhill skiing she has already made a big impact
in the sport.
new arrival/,nju: a'raval II nu:-/someone who has just
arrived in a place, especially in order to live there In C]
As a new arrival in China, Marie was obviously having
problems with the language. I New arrivals in town are
always greeted with the same mixture of curiosity and
suspicion.
stranger ]'streInd3ar/someone who has just arrived in
a place which they have never been to before, and which
they do not know much about In C]
"'Can you tell me the way to the station?" "Tm sorry, I'm a
stranger here myself. ""
be new to/bi: 'nju: tu: II -'nu:-/to have recently arrived
in a new job, place etc and not know what to do, where to
go etc Iv phrase]

NEW
We must make allowances for Sindy, she is new to the job. I
The doctor was new to town so I offered to show him around. I
Dave is new to sailing and unfamiliar with the equipment.
 words for describing something or someone
that has recently replaced the one before
fresh
new Inju: II nu:/[adj only before noun]
Have you met Keith's new girlfriend? l The new owners are
a young couple in their early twenties. I Since I started my
new job I've had to work almost every weekend. I I'll let you
have my new address and phone number as soon as I know
them.
fresh Irma! new and recently made, added, brought etc in
order to replace or add to the one before [adj only before
noun]
Shall I make afresh pot of coffee? This one is cold. I It's sur-
prising how afresh coat of paint can improve the appear-
ance of a room. I The camp had almost run out of food when
helicopters arrived with fresh supplies.
 newborn BABY/HAVE A BABY 1, 2
...-..&
-:! newcomer NEW 8
i! newly RECENTLY 1
i,!!ii!, newly discovered NEW 5
. newlyweds MARRY 11
i news NEWS 1, 2
 news: be in the news NEWS 3
 news: break the news/break it to sb TELL 8
 news: make the news/make news NEWS 3
i: news: the news NEWS 2
: news bulletin NEWS 2
NEWS
information about something that has
happened recently
the news on television, radio, or in a
newspaper
ways of saying that something is reported in
the news
1 information about something that has
happened recently
news
the latest
developments
news/nju:z II ..:z/In U]
That's great news! I News from the scene of the disaster isn't
very hopeful, I'm afraid. I news ofsth When the news of their
divorce came, she burst into tears. I news for sb I've got some
terrible news for you. Herman died yesterday. I news about/
of There's been no news of him for days but we're still hope-
ful that he's alive and well somewhere. I news that The
scouts quickly returned with the news that enemy troops had
reached the river. I sb's news (=information about what
someone has been doing or is going to do, which they want
to tell other people) Now, sit down and give me all your news.
newsy [adj] I love getting letters from Ken - they're always
so newsy (=full of personal news).
the latest/6o letst/an informal expression meaning
• ery recent news, especially about people that you know
In U]
Have you heard the latest? She's leaving the kids and going
to live in the States. I the latest on What's the latest on you
and Gina?
developmenls/di velapmants/the most recent changes
in an important situation that people are interested in, and
which are therefore reported immediately, for example on
television or radio In plural]
893
NEWS
President Bush said today that he was watching develop-
ments in Eastern Europe with great interest. I further
developments (=more developments) We'll be keeping you
informed of any further developments throughout the day.
2 words meaning the news on television, radio,
or in a newspaper
the news news
news bulletin headlines
newsflash
the news/6z 'nju:z II -'nu:z! a television or radio news
programme that gives people information about recent
events that have happened in the country and in the world
In singular]
The only programme I ever watch on TV is the news. I on
the news On the news last night it said that the union was
going to call off the strike. I evening/6 o'clock/TV/net-
work etc news Barry always tries to catch the 6o'clock news
or read the evening paper.
news bulletin/nju:z bultn II 'nu:z-/a very short news
programme, in which only the most important pieces of
news are read In C]
It was reported in news bulletins throughout the day that the
astronauts were in trouble. I The highlights of her speech
were featured in every TV news bulletin in the country.
newsflash/'nju.-zflef II 'nu:z-/a British word meaning
a piece of very important news that is not broadcast at the
usual time with the rest of the news, and that other
programmes have to be interrupted for In C]
We interrupt this programme to give you a newsflash. I I
heard the news of his death in a newsflash.
news/nju,z II nu:z/news in the newspapers or on a news
programme, especially dealing with world events In U]
The paper was full of the latest war news from China. I News
is coming in from Australia that storms have caused a great
deal of damage along the east side of the country. I news
about/of We'll give you more news about the election results
as we receive it. I local/national etc news I like to keep
informed about the national and international news but I
never read the local paper. I news programme/broadcast/
conference ere The only thing he watches on TV are news
and current affairs programmes. I front page news Hts
resignation made front page news.
headlines /hedlainz/the important points of the main
news stories that are written at the top or beginning of a
newspaper or that are read at the beginning of a news
programme[n plural]
It's 12 o'clock and time for the headlines. I news headlines
The main focus of the news headlines was the earthquake in
Japan.
ways of saying that something is reported in
the news
be in the news
make the news/make news
hit/make the headlines
newsworthy
be in the news/bi: n 6 'nju:z II -'nu:z/something or
someone that is in the news is being written about in
newspapers or talked about on television, radio etc Iv
phrase]
Football teams like to make sure their star players are cons-
tantly in the news. I At that time, events in Chile were very
much in the news.
make the news/make news/,meIk 6 'nju:z, mek
'nju:z II -'nu:z/ if an event makes the news or makes
news, it is considered important enough to be reported in
a newspaper or news programme Iv phrase]
Ten years ago, environmental issues rarely made the news. I
His idea of what makes news is very different to other
journalists'.
hit/make the headlines/,ht, me;k 5 'hedlanz/ if.
something hits or makes the headlines, it suddenly starts

NEWS 894 NEXT TO
to be reported in all the main stories in newspapers or on
television or radio Iv phrase]
'Computer crime" first hit the headlines in 1983. I Phil
Andrews again made the headlines, scoring three goals in
last night's game.
newsworthy ]nju:z,wa:r(3i li 'nu:z-/ important or
interesting enough to be written about in newspapers or
talked about on television or radio news programmes [adj]
It's our chief editor's job to decide which events are news-
worthy. I Politicians'private lives provide an endless supply
of newsworthy stories.
newsflash NEWS2
newsworthy NEWS3
next AFTER 1, 4, 8
next: be next AFTER 9
next: come next AFTER 9
next: the next NEAR 2, NEXT TO 5
next door NEXT TO 3
next in line AFTER 6
next of kin FAMILY 5
next to NEXT TO 1, 3
next to last LAST 3
next to nothing LITTLE/NOT MUCH 6, 9
NEXT TO
1 next to someone or something
2 next to something long such as a road or
river
3 ways of saying that a building, room, area,
country etc is next to another
4 next to each other in a line and facing or
moving in the same direction
5 words for describing a room, building, area,
country etc that is next to another
1 next to someone or something
next to
by
beside
next to / 'nekst tu:/[prep]
I parked my car next to yours. I "Have you and Chris met?'"
"Yes, we were sitting next to each other at dinner. "" l "'Where's
the French dictionary? .... On the bottom shelf, next to the
encyclopaedia."l right next to (=next to and very close to)
I couldn "t believe it. There was Tom Cruise right next to me!
by/ba/next to or very close to something [prep]
I saw him standing by the window. I Weymouth is a pretty
little town by the sea. [ Relatives are anxiously waiting by
the phone for more news about the plane crash.
beside/b 'sad/next to or very close to someone or some-
thing [prep]
She came and sat down beside me. I I'll leave these books on
the table beside your bed. I The farmhouse where we stayed
was beside a lake.
2 next to something long such as a road or
river
along by the side of/beside
alongside at the side of
along/a'lol] II a'13:13/moving from one point to another,
while staying at the side of something such as a road, river,
or coast [prep]
We walked along the river, following the winding path. I
The Rif mountains were visible as we sailed along the
African coast.
alongside la,lor] 'said [[ a,la:rJ-/right next to or alongthe
side of something, especially a ship [prep/adv]
The two boats were moored alongside each other in the
harbour. I I had taken a path alongside the railway track. I
The driver was just getting out of his car when a police car
pulled up alongside.
by the side of/beside/ba 6a 'said av, b saJd/next to
a river, road, path ctc lprepl
I saw Auntie Lou and a soldier sitting on the grass by the
side of the road. I a short walk beside a cascading stream
at the side of/at 6a said av/in a position next to a road,
path, or building [prepl
Richard left his motorcycle at the side of the road and started
to walk. I The kitchen door opened into a narrow alley at the
side of the house.
3 ways of saying that a building, room, area,
country etc is next to another
next to adjoin
next door border
next to/'nekst tu:/ [prep]
Local residents are against a plan to build a shopping mall
next to the park. I right next to (=next to and very close
to) The hotel was right next to the airport. I couldn't sleep
because of the noise.
next door/nekst da: r/next to another building, room etc
or living in the next house to someone [adv phrase]
next door to He runs a French bistro next door to the
theater. I The woman who lived next door to Beverly was
killed in a plane crash. I next door (=next to the house,
room etc that you are in) "Is this Maria's office? .... No, hers
is next door. "" I Have you met the new people who've just
moved in next door?
adjoin/a'd3n/a word used especially in written descrip-
tions of buildings and properties: if a room, building, or
piece of land adjoins another one, it is next to it and is
actually joined to it Iv T]
The kitchen adjoins the sitting room, which is spacious, high
and airy. I The chapel is built of the same stone as the house
which adjoins it.
border [ 'ba:rdar/to have a border with another country
or area Iv T]
France borders Spain along the length of the Pyrenees. I
Sumatra, Java and Borneo are islands bordering the Java
Sea.
4 next to each other in a line and facing or
moving in the same direction
side by side
abreast
side by side/,said bai saId/[adv phrase]
They walked slowly side by side. I Two china cats sat side
by side on the windowsill.
abreast /abrest/ if people walk two/three/five etc
abreast, they walk at the same speed, next to each other
lady]
The sidewalk was wide enough for us to walk three abreast.
5 words for describing a room, building, area,
country etc that is next to another
the next
adjacent
adjoining
the next/6a 'nekst/the next room/house/street etc is
the one immediately next to the one you are in [determiner]
I could hear a furious argument going on in the next room. I
The party's only in the next street, so we won't need to take
the car.
adja©ent/ad3esdnt/a word used especially in a formal
or business context: a building or piece of land that is adja-
cent to another one is immediately next to it [adj]
The adjacent buildings were evacuated before the warehouse
was demolished. I adjacent to Fields adjacent to the nuclear
plant have higher than usual levels of radioactivity.

NEXT TO 895 NICE
adjoining/'d3olnlrj/a word used especially in a formal
or business context: an adjoining room, building, or piece
of land is one that is next to another one and is actually
joined to it [adj only before noun]
We had adjoining rooms at the hotel, so we could just go
backwards and forwards between them. i Three planes were
waiting to take off on an adjoining runway.
nibble EAT 8
nice GOOD/EXCELLENT 5, KIND 2, NICE 1, 2
nice: not very nice UNPLEASANT 1, 2, 3
nice: pleasant/nice FRIENDLY 1
nice: taste good/nice DELICIOUS 1
nice
NICE
words for describing a thing, place, or activity
that you like or enjoy
words for describing a person who is nice,
kind, friendly etc
words for describing someone who is very
nice and whom everyone likes
1 words for describing a thing, place, or activity
that you like or enjoy
nice delightful
pleasant appealing
lovely
nice/nmsl a word used especially in informal, spoken
English meaning pleasant, attractive, enjoyable etc in a
very general way [adj]
This is a nice restaurant. I Have a nice day! I Gerry's new
car's really nice. ] nice for sb It's much nicer for the kids
to have other kids to play with. I it is nice to do sth Sure,
it's nice to live close to the office. I Nice to see you again.
pleasant I'plezant/a place, situation, or activity that is
pleasant is one that you like because it is enjoyable, peace-
ful, attractive etc [adj]
Sitting and talking to old friencls is a pleasant way to spend
an evening, i Relax in the peaceful and pleasant surround-
ings of our hotel, i This house is ideal for a working couple
who want to live in a pleasant country area without being
too far from the city.
pleasantly [adv ] It was pleasantly cool in the stone-flagged
kitchen.
lovely/'lAvE/a word used especially in British English
for describing something that you really like and that gives
you a lot of pleasure [adj]
"Hello, "" he said. "'Lovely day, isn't it?" i Thanks for the lovely
birthday present, i We had a lovely time. i it is lovely to do
sth Please get in touch next time you're in the country - it'd
be lovely to hear from you.
delightful /dI'laltfal/ extremely nice, enjoyable, and
pleasant [ adj]
Some of the houses on the island are quite delightful. I We
had a delightful time at the party, i He had spent a few
delightful days in Cambridge ten years before.
delightfully [adv| The whole occasion was delightfully
relaxed.
appealing /o'pi:ln]/ something that is appealing has
unusual and interesting qualities that make people like or
enjoy it [adj]
I'm sure all bright kids will find this game incredibly appeal-
ing. I The idea of a whole week at a health farm isn't very
appealing. I Its spacious rooms are among the most appeal-
ing characteristics of the house.
 words for describing a person who is nice,
kind, friendly etc
nice sweet
pleasant good-natured
lovely good-humoured/good-humored
nice Inals/[adj]
He's one of the nicest people I've ever met. i She's nice enough,
I suppose, but a bit stupid, i Gary seems much nicer now than
he was when he was a teenager.
nicely [adv] Don't forget to smile nicely when you meet him.
pleasant /'plezant/someone who is pleasant is polite,
friendly, and easy to talk to [adj]
I thought she was a quiet, pleasant girl. i He isn't very
interesting, but he's pleasant to work with.
pleasantly [adv] "Nice to meet you, "said the boy pleasantly.
lovely/'l^vli! a word used especially in British English
meaning very nice, friendly, kind etc [adj]
Old Dr Macintosh was a lovely man. I The hotel was great
and the people were lovely - nothing was too much trouble
for them.
sweet/swi:t/a word used especially in British English
meaning very nice, gentle, and friendly, and often very
quiet [adj]
She's a very sweet person, very kind. i I can't resist your baby
- he's so sweet!
sweetly [adv] If she smiles sweetly enough, he'll do anything
for her.
good-natured/,god 'netJ'ord-I someone who is good-
natured is kind, helpful, and does not get angry easily [adj]
Lou was a very friendly, good-natured man, always easy to
work with. ] If you are too good-natured in business, people
invariably take advantage of you.
good-naturedly [ adv ] Tom admitted good-naturedly that
he had been wrong.
good.humoured (British) I good.humored (Ameri-
can)/,god 'hju:mrd-/someone who is good-humoured is
always happy and calm, even if they have problems or
disagree with other people [adj]
She's always good-humored, no matter what happens. I
dean's father was a big, loud, good-humoured man in his
sixties. I He managed to remain remarkably good-humoured
in the circumstances.
good-humouredly (British) / good-humoredly (Ameri-
can) [adv] Fortunately, Simon took all our jokes and com-
ments very good-humouredly.
 words for describing someone who is very
nice and whom everyone likes
likeable engaging
charming endearing
lovable adorable
likeable I'lalkobal/nice and easy to like [adj]
Jimmy's interesting and very intelligent, but you could never
say he was likeable. I Although inexperienced, she was the
most likeable of colleagues.
charming/'tfo:rmIl]/able to make people like you or do
things for you because you are attractive and have good
manners [adj]
Harry was a charming man, and all the women loved him. I
He can be charming when he wants to be, but I still don't
trust him. i She gave the audience one of her most charming
smiles.
charmingly [adv] He kissed her hand, charmingly.

NICE 896 NO
lovable /'lAv)bl/friendly and gentle in a way that is very
attractive [adj]
The little girl was sometimes naughty, but so lovable it was
difficult to be angry with her. I His aggressive manner didn't
make him the most lovable of characters.
engaging/In'geldSI/interesting or amusing in a way
that makes people like you [adj]
She has a marvellously engaging personality. I Kids that age
can be very engaging. [ He gave her an engaging smile.
engagingly lady] She's an engagingly precocious little girl.
endearing /n'dIr! attractive in a way that makes
people like or love you [adj]
She was very shy in that endearing way a thirteen-year-old
girl can be. I In some people, even their faults and weaknesses
are endearing.
adorable ]'d'.robM/someone, especially a child or an
animal, that is adorable is very attractive and makes you
feel a lot of love towards them [adj]
The new baby was simply adorable. [ We eventually found
the cat hidden in the wardrobe, surrounded by six adorable
kittens.
nick CATCH 3, STEAL 1
nick: be in good nick GONDITION/STATE OF STH 2
nick: in the nick of time ON TIME 3
nickname NAME OF A PERSON 2
nifty USEFUL 1
niggling WORRIED 8
night SLEEP 14
night: last thing at night LATE 6
nightmare DREAM 1, EXPERIENCE 2
nightmarish BAD 3
nil NONE/NOTHING 3
nih be nil NONE/NOTHING 1
nine times out of ten USUALLY 1
nip out LEAVE A PLACE 5
nip sth in the bud PREVENT 2 STOP STH THAT IS
,
HAPPENING 8
nippy COLD 3
nitpicking ARGUE 3
no NO 1, NONE/NOTHING 1, 2
no matter NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC 1
no matter who EVERYONE 2
no one/nobody PERSON/PEOPLE 8
no-place PLACE 12
no smoking/parking etc FORBID 4
no way NO 1, REFUSE 3
no way: in no way NOT 2
no way: there's no way IMPOSSIBLE 1 3
no
#NO
ways of saying no when someone asks you a
question or makes a request or suggestion
ways of politely saying no when someone
offers you something
to shake your head as a way of saying no
1
ways of saying no when someone asks you a
question or makes a request or suggestion
no
not at all
I'm afraid not
of course not
not really
certainly not
no way
you must be joking/kidding
not to my knowledge/
not as far as I know/
not so far as I know
no Inul
"'Are you Italian? .... No, I'm Spanish. "' l I asked him if he
wanted to come to the disco with us, but he said no. I "Do you
want me to help you? .... No, no - I can do it on my own,
thanks." l the answer's no If she asks to borrow any more
money, the answer's no!
not at all / ,not t ':1/(used when what someone has sug-
gested is not at all true, or when saying you do not mind
at all if someone does something)
"'Are you a romantic kind of person? .... Not at all -just the
opposite in fact. "" l "'Is my radio bothering you? .... Not at all
-play it as loud as you like. "'[ "Td like to be on my own for
a while. Do you mind? .... Not at all,'" she said brightly,
although of course she did.
I'm afraid not/am a,fred 'not/(used when saying that
you are sorry that you cannot do something that someone
has asked you to do, do not have something someone has
asked you for etc)
"'Can you come to the barbecue tomorrow? .... No, I'm afraid
not. My parents are coming to visit. "'[ "Do you know any-
thing about computers?" "'I'm afraid not!"
of ©ourse no| ]v k:rs nt/(used to say no very clearly,
when you think what someone has suggested or asked is
stupid)
"'You're not thinking of leaving your husband are you? .... Of
course not. I'm just really angry with him. "" l Jealous? Of
you? No, course not!
not really/,not 'rmli/(used when someone asks if you
want to do something, if you like something etc, and
although you say no you do not have very strong feelings
about it)
"Do you want to come to the movie with us? .... Not really. I
think I'll just stay in and read. "'1 "Are you into soul music?"
"'Not really, no. I mean it's OK but I prefer blues and jazz
myself.
er|alnly no| ],s3:rtnli 'nq (used especially when for-
bidding someone from doing something or when you are
annoyed that they have suggested something)
"'May I have a glass of wine? .... Certainly not - you're far
too young!" I "'Do you want me to tell him for you? .... Cer-
tainly not! I'm quite capable of doing it myself. "" l I asked
Rupert if he intended to resign. "Certainly not, '" he snapped.
no way/, noo 'weI/(used when saying very strongly that
you completely refuse to do something or when saying that
you are completely sure that something cannot possibly be
true)
"'Will you take off your clothes for the photograph? .... No
way!" [ "'No way, "' she said. "Tve never relied on other peo-
ple's money and I don't intend to start now!" I My son didn't
steal that money - no way!
[ "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

NO 89? nonconformist
you must be Joking/kidding/ju: ,mAst bi: 'd30uk;rj,
'kldll]/(an informal expression used when you think that
what someone has asked or suggested seems stupid or dan-
gerous and you definitely would not consider doing it)
"'Want a ride on the back of my motorcycle? .... You must be
kidding. "[ You must be joking.t I wouldn't go out with him
if he was the last person on earth.
not to my knowledge/not as far as I know/not
so far as I know/not to 'ma; Inohds, not oz ,fa:r oz la]
nov, not sou ,fo:r oz 'aI nou II -no:hd3-/(used when you
think the answer to someone's question is no but you do
not have enough information to say so definitely)
"'Is she coming to the party tonight? .... Not as far as I know,
but I haven't seen her today." [ "'Didn't he say he would fix
it? .... Not so far as I know.'" [ "'Did he have any enemies?
Anyone who might want to kill him? .... Not to my know-
ledge. ""
2 ways of politely saying no when someone
 offers you something
no thanks/no thank you
thanks all the same
no thanks/no thank you/,n0o '0mrks, n0o '0erkju:/
"'More coffee? .... No thanks. "'1 He offered me a cigarette, I said
no thanks. I "7"m sorry, I have another engagement. "'He was
surprised. "'No thank you", was a phrase he never heard.
thanks all the same/,Omtjks :):1 6o 'seim/(used when
you do not want something someone has offered you, but
you are grateful that they asked)
"Would you like to borrow this book?" "'I've already read it,
thanks all the same. "'1 Thanks all the same but I'm afraid
I'm busy on Saturday.
3 to shake your head as a way of saying no
shake your head
shake your head/,j'eIk ja: r 'hed/[v phrase]
"'Shall I give him a message from you?" Rosalie shook her
head. "No, I expect he'll be telephoning me. "1 She was shak-
ing her head. She wouldn't lend Inn the money. I He looked
to me for confirmation, but I shook my head.
NO MATTER WHAT/
HOW MUCH ETC
1 no matter what/how much etc
1 no matter what/how much etc
no matter regardless
however irrespective of
whatever/whichever/ never mind
whoever come what may
no matter/nou 'mator/(used when you want to make it
clear that nothing will change a situation, your intention
etc) [adv]
no matter how much/many I'm determined to go to New
York, no matter how much it costs. [ no matter what/who/
when ere There will have to be tax increases now, no matter
what happens. [ no matter how good/small/hot etc No
matter how complicated the new system is, we'll have to use
it. [ I can't win, no matter how hard I try.
however/hau'evor/(used when it is not important how
big, how good etc something is or how much you do some-
.
thing, because it does not change the situation) [adv]
however much/many However much you like doing dan-
gerous things, you wouldn't want your children to do them. [
however good/small/hot ere Susanna doesn't see the
point of watching any movie more than once, however good
it is. I Each one of us here, however old or however young,
is a valuable member of society.
whatever/whichever/whoever/wot' evo r, w it 'evo r,
hu:evor II wo:t-/(used when it is not,important what hap-
pens, who does something etc, because it does not change
the situation or your intention) [pron]
Whatever happens there's bound to be a war in the Middle
East soon. I We'll take a taxi or the bus, whichever comes
first. I Remove whatever discomfort may be making the baby
cry. I Whoever else was still in bed, I knew Auntie Sylvia
would have been up since seven o'clock. I Whichever of the
two men had stolen her purse, Barbara was determined to
find them.
regardless/r go:rdlos/(used when the way someone
does something is not affected by different situations,
problems etc) lady]
regardless of A true professional can work with anyone
regardless of age, race, or colour. I As a charity, we provide
food and shelter for people in need, regardless of the reasons
for their need. I regardless The surgeon was worried that
the patient might suffer a heart attack, but she continued
with the operation regardless.
irrespective of/,iri'spektiv ov/(used when the same
thing happens in every case without being affected by facts
such as age, size, time, or position) [prep]
A japonica willflower at a certain time of year, irrespective
of the date of planting. I Everyone pays the same rate of tax,
irrespective of whether they're married or single. I The job
is on offer to anyone with the right qualifications, irrespec-
tive of their age.
never mind/nevo r Imalnd/(used when you mean that
something should be ignored because it does not affect the
situation or your intention)
never mind sth I want the whole church decorated with
white roses for the wedding, never mind the cost. I never
mind what/why/when etc Never mind what dalal says,
Peter is a trusted member of our community. I never mind
that Never mind that he is a millionaire with a private jet,
just try and treat him as one of us.
come what may /ikAm wtt Imei/(used when you are
determined to do something whatever happens)
Don't worry. We'll be there to meet you at the airport, come
what may. I Robson chose his team at the beginning of the
season, and come what may he's going to stick to it.
noble GOOD/MORAL 1, 4
nobody: a nobody FAMOUS 9, UNIMPORTANT 6
nobody: think of nobody but yourself SELFISH 1
nobody's fool INTELLIGENT 4
nod off SLEEP 3
noise LOUD/NOISY 7, SOUND 1
noise: make a sound/noise SOUND 4
Inoisyl
noisy LOUD/NOISY 1, 3, 4
nomad TRAVEL 13
nominal LITTLE/NOT MUCH 6, NAME OF A THING 5
nominate CHOOSE 4, SUGGEST 4, VOTE/ELECT 4
non-event: be a non-event DISAPPOINTED 3
non-existent EXIST 2
non-intervention DO STH/TAKE ACTION NOTDOSTH 9
4,
non-profitmaking PROFIT 6
non-smoker SMOKE 4
non-starter FAIL 5
non-stop CONTINUOUS 2, STOP MOVING 8
non-violent VIOLENT 7
nonchalant DON'T CARE 5
noncommittal HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
nonconformist CONVENTIONAL 2

nondescript
nondescript ORDINARY 2
none NONE/NOTHING 1, 2
none the wiser UNDERSTAND 12
NONE/NOTHING
1 not any of something
2 not any of a number of things
3 the number that means none
I not any of something
none not anything
not any be nil
no bugger all
nothing
none/nan/[pron]
"'How much money do you have left? .... None, I spent it all. "'1
We waited for news but none came. I "Coffee? .... None for me,
thanks. "'1 none of None of the work we do is very difficult. I
none at all/none whatsoever Even though they're
divorced there's no animosity between them, none at all.
not any/not 'eni/[determiner/pron]
not any food/money/time ete There won't be any time for
questions after the lecture. I There was a huge demonstra-
tion, but there wasn't any trouble. I not any If it's bread
you're looking for, you won't find any. It's all gone.
no/no/no food/money/time/trouble etc [determiner]
Some of the people in the camp have had no food for days. [
Do you mind having black coffee? There's no milk. [ He's
lived in a house with no heating for years so he doesn't feel
the cold.
nothing/'n^0l [pron]
I can't pay you now. There's nothing in my bank account.i
nothing more We had a letter from the tax office six weeks
ago, but we've heard nothing more since then. I nothing to
eat/be afraid of/worry about etc Mom, I'm bored. I've got
nothing to do. I Don't run away. There's nothing to be afraid
of. I nothing works/came/happened etc I switched the
computer on, but nothing happened. I nothing new/seri-
ous/dangerous etc Yes, the company has been dumping
waste in the sea, but nothing dangerous. I absolutely
nothing/nothing at all (=not even the smallest amount)
"'What did you learn on the training course? .... Nothing at
all - it was completely useless. '"
not anything/not 'eniOrj/[pron]
She hasn't eaten anything all day. [ These people don't know
anything about modern machinery. I not anything to eat/
drink/report etc We were going to have a picnic but we
hadn't brought anything to drink. I not anything new/
interesting/serious etc "'Did you see the news? .... Yes, there
wasn't anything interesting. ""
be nil/hi: 'nil/if the amount of something is nil, there is
none of it and you feel disappointed about it Iv phrase]
My chances of getting another job are just about nil. I
Refreshment facilities for long-distance bus passengers are
virtually nil.
bugger all /,b^gar '3:1/ an informal and rude British
expression meaning nothing or not any of something, used
especially when you are angry about something [pron/
determiner]
I hope she does some work at home. She does bugger all in
the office. [ bugger all work/thanks/help ete You'll get
bugger all thanks for helping them.
2 not any of a number of things
none not one
not any not a
no nothing
none In^n/[pron]
There used to be three cinemas in this town. Now there are
none. I none of None of the bridges was marked on the map. I
898
NORMAL
none at all "'Do you have any objections to the plan? .... No,
none at all. ""
no| any Inot 'eni/[determiner/pron]
not any cars/problems/cups etc There aren't any mice
in this house. [ I glanced over my shoulder, wondering why
there weren't any other cars in sight. [ not any We used to
get lots of complaints about slow delivery, but since we
introduced the new system we haven't had any.
no Ino/no cars/problems/cups etc [determiner]
We can't have a drink - there are no cups. I Put the food in
a place where noflies can get at it. I The school achieves excel-
lent examination results and there are no serious problems
with discipline.
not one/not Iw^n/an expression meaning none, used
when the situation is very unusual or unexpected [pron]
not one of We examined over a hundred machines and not
one of them was correctly adjusted. I not one "'Do you have
any batteries?" "'Not one. We've completely sold out. ""
not a/'not /not a sound/word/house/taxi etc (=none
at all, especially when this is unusual) [determiner]
There wasn't a taxi in the place. I We sat therefor several
minutes, but not a word was said. I not a thing/sound etc
to be seen/heard etc All was silent. There was not a sound
to be heard.
nothing/'n^O]rJ/not anything, especially not any of the
things you want or expect [pron]
They'd been selling clothes at half price, but when I got to
the shop there was nothing left. I The detectives searched for
clues, but they found nothing. I nothing else There aren't
many good shops here - a small supermarket's just opened
but there's nothing else.
 the number that means none
zero nought
nil o
zero I'zdrao 11 'zi:rao/a word for the number that means
none, used especially in scientific or technical contexts In
U]
The pressure increased from zero to maximum in twenty-five
seconds. [ At the end of the game my score was still zero. [
zero unemployment/growth/inflation ere No govern-
ment can really hope to achieve zero unemployment.
nil/nil/a word meaning none used especially in sports
results In U]
Our team won the game two goals to nil [ The Supreme
Court decided by eight votes to nil that the President must
hand over the tapes.
nought/n3:t/a British word meaning zero used especially
before or after a decimal point In U]
Last year our profits only increased by nought point seven
five percent. [ "'What did you score? .... Nought out of ten. ""
o/o/(used in British English especially when saying a
telephone number or the number after a decimal point)
It's an inner London phone number, so you dial o-seven-one. [
One hundredth has the same value as point o one.
nonentity UNIMPORTANT 6
nonsense UNTRUE 4
nonsense: stand no nonsense STRICT 2
norm: be the norm USUALLY 3
normal NORMAL 1, ORDINARY 1, USUALLY 3
normal: get back to normal RECOVER/GET BETTER 3
normal: in the normal course of events USUALLY 1
NORMAL
not strange or unusual in any way
the normal situation
standards of behaviour that are considered to
be normal and acceptable
not normal
a characteristic that is not normal
someone who is not normal

NORMAL 899 NOT
1 not strange or unusual in any way
normal
natural
normal/'n0:mal II 'n0:r-/[adj]
The new Ford looks like any normal car, but it has a very
special advanced engine. I It had started like any normal
day. Little did we know what was coming. I perfectly
normal (=completely normal) There was nothing odd about
him - he seemed like a perfectly normal young boy. I it is
normal for sb to do sth It's quite normal for children to
be afraid of the dark.I it's normal People used to regard
living together before you were married as being sinful -
now most people think it's completely normal. I get back/
return to normal After the war it took a long time for life
to get back to normal.
natural ! ' ntral] feelings, behaviour, or reactions that
are natural are normal and are what you would expect in
a particular situation or at a particular time [adj]
Don "t worry - it's a perfectly natural reaction. I it is natural
for sb to do sth Do you think it's natural for a girl of 15 to
be going out with a man who's twice her age? I it is normal
that It's perfectly natural that a father should want to be
able to see his children. I the most natural thing in the
world To me, sky diving sounds terrifying, but you make
it sound like the most natural thing in the world.
2 the normal situation
normality
normality/no: r 'mal Ioti/a situation in which everything
is normal and exactly how you would expect it to be In U]
After the war, most people just wanted to get back to normal-
ity. [ The children soon settled down once normality was re-
establisheIt. [ The town had a cheerful air of normality
despite the extra policemen everywhere.
3 standards of behaviour that are considered to
be normal and acceptable
norms
norms/n:rmz/[n plural]
Every society has its own set of norms which each individual
is supposed to conform to. ] The church and the ruling class
impose their social norms on the rest of the community.
4 not normal
abnormal
deviant
abnormal lab'no:rmal/very different from usual in a
way that seems strange, worrying, wrong, or dangerous
[adj usually before noun]
Did the patient show signs of any abnormal behaviour? l An
abnormal amount of scar tissue has formed on the wound. I
The company has made abnormal profits at the expense of
the consumers. I it is abnormal for sb to do sth My par-
ents thought it was abnormal for a boy to be interested in
ballet.
abnormally/,abno: r 'mli/[adv] She became abnormally
interested in death. I Her blood contained an abnormally low
number of red blood cells.
deviant/'di:viant/deviant behaviour or actions, espe-
cially involving sex, are considered to be very strange and
morally unacceptable [adj]
The magazine shows people engaging in deviant sexual
acts. [ Certain practices that once were condemned as devi-
ant are now considered fairly normal.
5 a characteristic that is not normal
abnormality
I ]
abnormality I,abno: malati II -nar-/[n C/U]
The drug was found to cause genetic abnormalities in
unborn children. [ The tests will show if there is any abnor-
mality in your nervous system.
6 someone who is not normal
freak
freak Ifri:k/ someone who has an extremely strange
appearance or seems extremely unusual In C]
In past times, dwarves used to be regarded as freaks. ]
Women who were good at maths were treated as freaks.
normality NORMAL 2
normally: usually/normally USUALLY 1
norms NORMAL 3
nose END/POINT 1, FORWARD 2
nose: a good nose SMELL 10
nose: keep your nose clean BEHAVE 2
nose: look down your nose at PROUD 9
nose: poke/stick your nose in INTERFERE 1
nose: right under your nose OBVIOUS 4
nose: turn your nose up at REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 2
nose around FIND OUT 8
nosedive LESS 5
nostalgia REMEMBER 5
nosy FIND OUT 9
nosy parker FIND OUT 9
not NOT 1
notabit NOT2
not as/not so LESS 3
not at all NO 1, NOT2
not be much ofa... BAD AT1
not likely REFUSE 3
not many FEW/NOT MANY 3
not much LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 4, 6, 9, LII-I-LE/NOT
VERY 1
not once NEVER 1
not one NONE/NOTHING 2
not particularly NOT 1
not quite ALMOST 1, 2, 6
not remotely NOT 2
not very LITTLE/NOT VERY 1, NOT 1
not
NOT
words meaning not
stronger expressions meaning not
1 words meaning not
not
not very
little
not particularly
not unduly
not/not II no:t/[adv]
It's not boring - it's really interesting. I David isn't stupid.
He just pretends to be. I It wasn't very clearly explained. I
Buying a yacht isn't as expensive as you might imagine. I

NOT
900
NOT DO STH
"Are you worried about your exams? .... No, I'm not. "'1 It's
not a computer - it's a word processor. I We are not consider-
ing any further redundancies at the moment.
not very !'not veri/ not very good/clever/warm etc
(:really rather bad, stupid, cold etc) lady]
The film? Oh, it wasn't very good. I He isn't very clever, is
he? I The figures were different, but at the time we thought
it was not very important.
little 1' litl/little do they know/little did I suspect etc
(:used when someone does not know something, does not
expect that something is true etc) lady]
Little did I know that this trip would end in disaster. I Flora
accepted the invitation, little realizing that it was to change
her entire life.
not particularly/not por'ukjUlorli/ not particularly
good/interesting/tall etc (=not very good, interesting etc,
but not really bad, boring etc either) [adv]
It was a good film, not particularly exciting, but enjoyable. I
He's not particularly intelligent but he works very hard.
not unduly/not An'dju:li II -'du:li/not unduly worried/
anxious/upset/concerned etc (=not very worried etc,
even though you might expect someone to be in that situa-
tion) [advl
Jerry was not back from school at the usual time but his
mother was not unduly worried. I Mike was not unduly anx-
ious when his boss asked to see him because he knew he had
done nothing wrong. I Although it was her first time in the
desert she was not unduly dismayed by the heat.
not remotely/not ri' maotli/(used especially when some-
thing is completely untrue, impossible, different etc) [adv]
We both know that what you 've just said isn't even remotely
true. I I've never known anyone else remotely like him. I She
didn't seem remotely interested in anything I had to say.
hardly / 'ho:rdli/if something is hardly true, possible, cor-
rect etc, it is not true, possible etc and anyone who thinks
it is must be either very hopeful or very stupid lady]
It's hardly likely that we will win. I It's hardly surprising
he's upset, considering the way you've treated him! I Well,
I've changed the oil and the tyres but I'm hardly a skilled
mechanic. I All these similarities could hardly be due to
chance.
not the world's most/not 6 wa:rldz most! not the
world's most intelligent human being/greatest mech-
anic/friendliest person etc (=someone is not very intel-
ligent, good at repairing cars, friendly ere)
I occasionally put up a few shelves, but I'm not exactly the
world's greatest handyman. I "'What do you think of the new
boss? .... Well, he's not the smartest person I've ever met. ""
be no expert/genius/Einstein etc/bi: ,noo (expert
etc)! an informal expression meaning to not have the skills,
qualities etc of the person or type of person that you have
mentioned Iv phrase]
Of course, I'm no expert but that wall really looks like it's
leaning over. I Don't misunderstand me, she's no fool. I He's
reasonably intelligent I suppose, but he's no Albert
Einstein.
2 stronger expressions meaning not
not at all
by no means
not a bit
not the least/not
the slightest bit
in no way
not remotely
hardly
not the world's most
be no expert/genius/
Einstein etc
not at all/,not at 'a:l/[adv phrase]
He's not at all good looking, in fact he's quite ugly. I They
didn't seem at all surprised when I told them I was leaving. I
No, no, no, that's wrong. That's not what I meant at all!l You
don't look at all how I expected you to look from the photo-
graphs. I "Is Karen certain she'll get the job? .... No, not at
all. ""
by no means/bat 'no mi:nz/(a formal expression used
especially when people think something is true but you
know that it is not and want to say this strongly) [adv
phrase]
It is by no means certain that Richard III had any responsi-
bility for the murder of the princes. I I took the hundredfranc
note from my pocket to prove I was by no means destitute. ]
For this reason - and I am by no means a lone voice - I dis-
approve of the Government's plans.
not a bit/,not  'bit/(an expression used especially in
British English when you want to say not in a stronger
way) [adv phrase]
You're not a bit sorry, are you? ] Don't be afraid of him -
he's not a bit aggressive. ] My essay wasn't a bit like yours. I
"'Was she annoyed? .... Not a bit! She was delighted. ""
not the least/not the slightest bit/nt 6a 'li:st, nt
6a ' slaJt  st b i tl (used especially when something is surpris-
ing or unusual) [adv phrase]
Although he'd never climbed a big mountain before he
wasn't the least bit frightened. I The two sides don't seem the
slightest bit interested in calling an end to the fighting. I not
in the least bit/not in the slightest bit I'm not in the least
bit worried about him - he's old enough to look after him-
self. I not in the least/not in the slightest "'Didn't she
seem surprised? .... No, not in the slightest!"
in no way/n nao 'well (used especially when saying
that something is definitely not true in any way) [adv
phrase]
In no way could President Bush have been described as
liberal. I The article claimed that although Russian cameras
are a lot cheaper than Japanese cameras, they were in no way
inferior to them.
NOT DO STH
10
1 to not do something that you should do or
that you are expected to do
2 to not do something because you know that
you should not do it
3 to not do something because you do not pay
enough attention or because you forget
4 to not do anything because you do not have
anything to do
5 to not do something now because you can
do it later
6 to not do something because you do not
think it is important or because you want to
do something else
7 words for describing someone who is not
doing anything
8 ways of saying that you did not do something
that someone else says or thinks you did
9 an act of not doing anything to influence or
affect what is happening to someone else, in
another country etc
to not usually do something, because you do
not approve of it
1 to not do something that you should do or
that you are expected to do
not do sth fail to do sth
do nothing inactivity
not do sth/nt 'du: (sth)l [v phrase]
That report? I'm sorry, I haven't done it yet. I The electrician
came round yesterday but he didn't do all the jobs I asked
him to do. [ She was afraid that if she didn't do what her boss
told her she would be fired.
do nothing/du: nA0lO/to not do anything to help some-
one, deal with a problem, or improve a situation [vphrase]
The man admitted that he had seen the attack and done noth-
ing. ] do nothing about sth It's clear the administration
intends to do nothing about these urban problerns. ] do noth-
ing to help/support etc My colleagues have done nothing

NOT DO STH 90] NOT DO STH
to support me in this matter. I It was claimed that the land-
lord had driven up rents and done nothing to help tenants
during severe floods.
fail to do s|h !,fed to 'du: (sth)/to not do something, espe-
cially when this could have serious results Iv phrase not
usually in progressive]
He was fined for failing to stop at a red light. I Some junior
doctors fail to do their work properly because of the long
hours they work in hospitals. I People who have never had
children often fail to realize what hard work they can be.
failure ] fedjor! In U] The government's failure to halt the
rise in unemployment has lost them a lot of votes.
inactivity 1 inmk'tivti/failure to do anything about a
problem, especially when you have a duty to help In U]
Many tenants were getting fed up with the landlord's inac-
tivity and his reluctance to help. I The UN is coming under
increasing criticism for its inactivity and failure to protect
refugees.
to not do something because you know that
you should not do it
refrain hold back
abstain keep from doing sth
stop short of think twice
refrain/rI  freIn/a formal word meaning to not do some-
thing that you want to do or usually do, especially because
you do not want to offend or upset someone Iv I not in
progressive]
refrain from doing sth Please refrain from smoking in the
restaurant. [ refrain from sth Although there was a lot
more to say, Stephen refrained from further questions. I
refrain Kate wanted to slap Keith round the face but she
refrained.
abstain lob'stein! to decide not to do something, espe-
cially something enjoyable, because it is considered to be
bad for your health or morally wrong [v I]
abstain from sth Most top sportsmen and women abstain
from alcohol and cigarettes. I abstain from doing sth
Junior politicians are supposed to abstain from criticizing
the government. I abstain If you have a severe alcohol
problem it is better to abstain completely than to try to
moderate your drinking.
stop short of/,stop 'j'a:rt t)v [[ ,sto:p-/ffsomeone stops
short of doing something unpleasant or offensive, they
start to do something similar, but are not willing to con-
tinue and do the thing itself, because they think it is too
bad, too strong etc [v phrase not in progressive or passive]
stop short of doing sth Senator O'Brien suggested that the
President had got his facts wrong, but stopped short of call-
ing him a liar. [ stop short of sth The US was willing to
support sanctions, but stopped short of military intervention.
held back/,hoold 'bek! to not do something, especially
because it makes you a little nervous or because you are
not sure what will happen if you do [phr v I]
He wanted to tell her everything, but something made him
hold back. [ hold back from doing sth Successive Home
Secretaries have expressed concern about some police officers
belonging to secret societies, but have held back from ban-
ning them.
keep from doing sth/,ki:p from 'du: (sth)/to manage
not to do something you really want to do because you
think that, if you do, you may cause offence, spoil a secret
etc Iv phrase not in progressive]
It was all I could do to keep from hitting him. I keep your-
self from doing sth Sara was so excited, she only just
managed to keep herself from giving the whole thing away.
think twice/,O3k 'twals/to not do something that you
were going to do or to think very carefully before you do
it, because you know it could be dangerous Iv phrase not
in progressive]
think twice about doing sth When you read about all the
crime on the subway it makes you think twice about using
it. I think twice before doing sth Faced with a nuclear
deterrent, most governments would think twice before start-
ing a war. I think twice Anyone thinking about having
unprotected sex should think twice.
to not do something because you do not pay
enough attention or because you forget
neglect to do sth omission
omit to do sth oversight
neglect to do sth/m ,glekt to 'du: (sth)/to not do some-
thing, especially when this could have unpleasant results
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Marie locked all the doors and windows, but neglected to
cancel the newspapers while she was away. I The public are
demanding to know why the government neglected to warn
them of the oil shortage.
omit to do sth/oo,mt to 'du: (sth)/a formal expression
meaning to not do something either because you forget to
do it or because you deliberately choose not to do it Iv
phrase not in progressive]
Dr McNab has omitted to mention certain facts relating to
the murder. I Mrs Hobbs told me about the meeting but she
omitted to tell me where it was.
omission Ioo'rmSdn, o-! a failure to include some or do
something that you should do, especially because you
forget, usually causing unpleasant results In C]
Failing to invite the bride's aunt was a very serious omis-
sion.I glaring omission (=a very bad, obvious omission)
I can't believe he would be guilty of such a glaring omission.
oversight I"oovorsaItl a failure to do something, espe-
cially because you forget to do it or do not notice that it has
to be done In C]
The manager gave her a real telling off, all on account of
some harmless oversight. I Through an oversight of George's,
the letter never got to the committee.
4
to not do anything because you do not have
anything to do
have nothing to do sit around/about
be at a loose end vegetate
twiddle your thumbs inactivity
stand around/about
have nothing to do/hev ,nAOlll to 'du:/[v phrase not
in progressive]
When there's no school, the kids are always complaining that
they have nothing to do. I have nothing to do except/but
The bus was delayed in traffic for five hours and I had noth-
ing to do except sleep. I with nothing to do While her mother
went shopping, Clara wandered around the hotel with noth-
ing to do.
be at a loose end/hi: at o ,lu:s 'end/a British expres-
sion meaning to be unable to think of anything to do [v
phrase]
At the end of term, I felt rather at a loose end so I decided to
take a trip to London. I Perhaps you'd like to come and visit
some time if you're at a loose end.
twiddle your thumbs /,twldl j3: r ' OAmz/to do nothing
while you wait impatiently for something to happen or for
something to do Iv phrase not in passive]
I wasn't going to sit there twiddling my thumbs, waiting for
you to show up. I Find those boys something to do - they've
been twiddling their thumbs all morning.
stand around (also stand about in British English)
/, stend o' raond, , stend o'baot/to stand somewhere for a
period of time, feeling bored, especially when you are wait-
ing for something to happen or for someone to arrive [phr
v I]
Let's go someplace, I'm tired of standing around doing noth-
ing. I I seem to spend my whole life standing about in the rain
waiting for buses.
sit around (also sit about in British English) /,st
o'raond, ,st o'baot/to sit somewhere for a period of time,
feeling bored, especially when you are waiting for some-
thing to happen or for someone to arrive [phr v I]
As an actor, you spend a lot of time sitting around waiting
for your scenes. I All our teachers seem to do is sit about in
the staff room, smoking.

NOT DO STH 902 NOT HAVE
vegetate/I ved3oteIt/to not do anything and feel bored,
especially because you have had nothing interesting to do
over a long period of time, and have not been using your
mind as much as you should Iv I]
Mira stops herself from vegetating by writing short stories
and helping out at a local hostel.
inactivity/,inekt:voti/the state of doing nothing In U]
My father finally died after years of inactivity. I Life in the
emergency services may seem exciting, but you have to put
up with long periods of inactivity.
• to not do something now because you can
do it later
leave
put sth to one side
leave Ill:v/[v T]
If you can't answer a question, don't waste time - leave it and
go on to the next one. I leave sth for now/for a while etc
Leave the dishes for now. We can do them later. I These let-
ters must be typed up by this afternoon so leave that filing
till the morning.
put sth to one side/,pot (sth) ta I wnn sad/to not do
something such as a piece of work, especially because you
have something more important to do [v phrase]
I wantyou toput everything else to one side, and concentrate
on the Atlas account.
6 to not do something because you do not
think it is important or because you want to
do something else
not bother
give sth a miss
skip
not bother/not 'bo6a r II -'bo:-/Iv I]
not bother to do sth Oscar didn't bother to return Fay's
call - that could wait till morning. I Most people don't bother
to make a will while they're still young. I not bother "Shall
I come and fetch you from the station? .... No, don't bother -
I can walk. "'
give sth a miss/,g,v (sth) o 'ms/an informal expres-
sion meaning to not do something that you had decided to
do or that you usually do, especially because you do not
want to do it or are too tired to do it [vphrase not inpassive]
Do you mind if we give the show a miss? It's for kids, after
all. I That Sunday, John decided to give church a miss and
took a ride into town instead.
skip/skip! to not do something that you usually do or that
you should do, especially because you would prefer to do
something else Iv T]
Bill likes to leave work early so he skips lunch sometimes. I
I used to skip classes in the afternoons and go and visit my
grandmother.
words for describing someone who is not
doing anything
idle
inactive
passive
idle / aidl/not doing anything, especially work, because
there is nothing to do [adj not usually before noun]
Almost half the skilled workers in this country are now idle. I
sit/stand idle During the power cut the women sat idle
among piles of unfinished clothes.
inn©rive /In'mktv/ not doing anything, for example,
because you are old or ill [adj]
She dreads becoming old and inactive. I Very shy people often
become socially inactive.
passive/Ipms IV/not making decisions or taking control
of situations yourself but allowing other people to do it for
you, especially in a situation where other people are trying
to control or influence you [adj]
Emma plays far too passive a role in group discussions
passively [ adv ] The majority of people will passively accept
what newspapers tell them.
8 ways of saying that you did not do something
- that someone else says or thinks you did
no I/she etc didn't
it wasn't me/her etc
I/she etc did nothing of the sort/kind
no I/she etc didn't/,n0u (I, etc) 'didnt/
"You heard what I said." "No I didn't, say it again. "'1 "'I
think we played really badly." "'No you didn't - you were just
playing against a very good team."
it wasn't me/her etc/It woznt (me, etc) II -wo:-/
"Who's taken the last copy?" "It wasn't me!" I The teacher
said Beth had stolen the necklace, but it wasn't her.
I/she etc did nothing of the sort/kind/(I, etc) did
,nAOrJ ov 6o 'sa:rt, 'kaInd/(used when the person who says
you have done something is completely wrong because you
definitely did not do it)
"You said my work was rubbish. '" "I said nothing of the
sort. '"
9 an act of not doing anything to influence or
affect what is happening to someone else, in
another country etc
non-intervention
non.intervention/intn Int0r'venfan II ,no:n-/In U]
The US continued to stick to its policy of non-intervention in
the Yugoslav conflict. I Non-intervention simply has not
worked and now we must do something to create jobs.
10 to not usually do something, because you do
not approve of it
not be given to
not be in the habit of
not make a habit of it
not be given to/not bi: 'gIvan tu:/Iv phrase]
She was not given to staying out late, so we were very wor-
ried about her. I It's the truth. We are not given to telling lies.
not be in the habit of/not bi: In 60 'hmbot Dv/ an
expression meaning to not usually do something, used
especially when you are annoyed or offended that someone
has suggested that you have done it Iv phrase]
He was not in the habit of letting his children tell him what
to do. I I'm not in the habit of letting complete strangers into
my house.
not make a habit of it/not meIk o 'hmbot av ;t/an
expression meaning to not often do something, used espe-
cially when someone has done something once and you are
telling them not to keep doing it Iv phrase not in progres-
sive or passive]
I'll let you borrow my car this time, but don't make a habit
of it. I You "re ten minutes late. Don't make a habit of it. I Our
new neighbours called round last night - I hope they don't
make a habit of it.
NOT HAVE
to not have something
to not have something that you need
to not have any more of something because
you have used it all, sold it all etc
ways of saying that a product, food, or drink
does not have a particular substance in it
to not allow yourself to have something that
you normally have

NOT HAVE 903 NOT HAVE
1 to not have something
not have
haven't got
without
be missing
not have/not hmv/[v T not in progressive or passive]
not have sth Idon't have any brothers or sisters. I We didn "t
have enough money to buy a new house last year. I She asked
at her local hardware store but they said they wouldn't have
any for a couple of weeks. I not have sth with you (=not
have brought something with you) I'm sorry, I don't seem
to have my credit card with me - can I pay by cheque?
haven't got/,hevnt 'got II-'go:t/ an expression used
especially in British English meaning to not have some-
thing Iv TI
She hash "t got anything to wear for her interview. ] Haven't
we got any more tomatoes? I need some for the salad. I I
haven't got a penny (=I haven't got any money) I'd love
to lend you the money but I haven't got a penny.
without/wIS'aot II wISaot, wIOaot/if you do something
without something, you do it while not having it [prep]
Billy came to class without his school books. [ You can't get
a passport without a birth certificate. I A car's so useful -
I don't know what I'd do without it.
be missing/hi: ms/if something is missing, you do
not have it because it has been removed or stolen [vphrase]
Two of her front teeth were missing. I When I put my hand
inside my pocket I discovered that my wallet was missing. I
have sth missing He has part of his left ear missing. I
what's missing is/all that's missing is It's such a roman-
tic setting - all that's missing is the candles.
2 to not have something that you need
lack do/manage without
be without through lack of/for lack of/
go without for want of
lack/lk/to not have something that you need, especially
in order to do something [v T not in progressive]
Tom lacks confidence and needs a lot of encouragement. ]
They lived in appalling conditions, lacking even the most
primitive sanitation.
lack [n singular] She showed a complete lack of interest in
her own baby.
be without/bi: wibaot/ if someone is without food,
water, clothing, or other important things that they need,
they do not have them [v T]
Over a million people in the Sudan have been without proper
supplies of food and water for several months. [ Some towns
are still without electricity after last week's storms.
go wilhout/,gao wI6 aut/if you go without something
that you usually have, for example food or sleep, you do not
get it, either because you decide not to have it or because
it is impossible to get [v I/T not in passive]
go without sth I went without sleep for two nights when my
baby was sick. I During the month of Ramadan, Moslems
go without food and drink between the hours of sunrise and
sunset. I go without Meat was expensive and a lot of people
had to go without.
do/manage without/du:, menId3 wI6aot/ to live
your life or do something you want to do, without having
something you need or without someone's help [v I/T not
in passive]
I need to use the car today, so you'lljust have to do without. I
do/manage without sth/sb Computers are so much part
of everyone's lives now that it's difficult to imagine what
people would do without them. I Don't worry -Iexpect we'll
be able to manage without you.
through lack of/for lack of/for want of/0ru: lek
ov, fa r 'lek ov, fa r 'wont t)v II-'wa:nt-/if something hap-
pens through lack of a particular thing, it happens
because there is not enough of that thing available or
because there is none at all [prep]
Crops and animals died through lack of rain. I The case was
abandoned for lack of evidence.
3 to not have any more of something because
you have used it all, sold it all etc
not have any left be out of
not have any more run out of
not have any left/not hev ,eni left/ [V phrase not in
progressive ]
When I phoned the theatre they told me they didn't have any
seats left. I I'd love to give you one of my chocolates, but I'm
afraid I haven't got any left.
not have any more/not haev eni m:r/to not have any
more of something [v phrase not in progressive]
That was my last one - I don't have any more. I He says he
hasn't any more time this week.
be out of/bi: 'aot ov/to not have something that you
usually have, especially because you have used or sold all
of it [v T]
Looks like we're out of milk again - can you go to the store
for me? I Sorry, we're right out of that wallpaper at the
moment, but we should be getting some more in next week.
run out of/rAn 'aut ov [[ -a:v/if you run out of some-
thing, especially something that you use regularly, you use
all of it and you no longer have any [v I/T not in passive]
I hope we see a gas station soon - we're running out offuel. I
In the end she ran out of patience and started hitting him. I
run out Better take plenty of water - we don't want to run
out.
4 ways of saying that a product, food, or drink
does not have a particular substance in it
without
be free from
-free
without/wI6'aot II wi6'ao, wI0'ao/not containing a par-
ticular substance, used especially when saying that you do
not want someone to add salt, sugar etc to something you
are about to eat or drink [prep]
"'With or without sugar? .... Without, please?" [ She always
insists on having her meals made without any salt in them.
be free from/bi: 'fri: from/if a product, food or drink
is free from a substance, especially one which is harmful,
it does not contain that substance [v phrase]
The new shampoo uses only natural products and is com-
pletely free from artificial colouring and preservatives./All
our products are free from harmful chemicals.
.free/fri:/sugar-free/fat-free/lead-free ere (=not con-
taining sugar, fat, lead etc, especially because people think
that they may be harmful) [adj]
More and more people are using lead-free fuel. I It looks like
wine and tastes like wine, but it's almost alcoholfree.
5 to not allow yourself to have something that
you normally have
abstain do without
deny yourself go without
abstain lab 'stein/to not do something that you usually
do or that you want to do, especially to not eat particular
foods, for reasons of health or religion [v I]
abstain from Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat
on Good Friday. [ Consumers are being asked to abstain
from spending as many goods are in short supply. [ abstain
If you can't control your drinking you 'll just have to abstain.
abstinence /ebsunans/ [n U] a season of fasting and
abstinence
deny yourself/dI 'nal j3: r ,self/to not do things you enjoy
doing because you think this will be good for you [vphrase]
He denied himself all small pleasures and luxuries in his
effort to live a holy life. [ Stop denying yourself? Relax - have
a good time?
do without/,du: wi6'aot/to be able to manage without
something you really want to have [v I/T not in passive]
do without sth Of course I'm back on gum. I just adore
gum. I can "t do without it. [ He didn't say how I'm going to

NOT HAVE
adjust myself to doing without sleep. I do without Things
like butter and fresh eggs were scarce during the war. Most
of the time we simply had to do without.
go without/,gao w6 'aot/to be unable to have something
you usually have or do something you usually do, often
because you have not enough money Iv I/T not in passive]
go without sth His father and mother often went without
their share of lunch or supper so that he could have more. I
go without The kids will have to go without this summer
- we simply can't afford any new clothes.
NOT KNOW
1 to not know a fact or piece of information
2 to not know a person, place, book etc
because you have never seen them before,
never experienced it etc
3 to not know or realize what is happening,
what the situation is etc
4 to not know anything about a particular
subject
5 to not know about something that other
people know about and are trying to keep
secret
6 to not know the most recent information about
something, how something is developing etc
7 what you say to tell someone that you do not
know something when they ask you a
question
8 ways of saying that no one knows something
or that it is impossible to know something
9 words for describing someone who does not
know anything or knows very little about
something
10 words for describing something such as a
place or an experience that people know little
or nothing about
11 a person who you have not met before and
who you do not know
12 words for describing a person, book, film etc
that is not famous or that people know little or
nothing about
I to not know a fact or piece of information
not know
have no idea/not have a clue
not have the faintest idea/slightest idea/
least idea
it beats me
not know/not 'haul Iv I/T not in progressive]
"'What time's the next train to Paris?" "I'm sorry, I don't
know. "" I I wish I could tell you the name of the restaurant
but I honestly don't know. I not know anything about We
don't know anything about Dave's new girlfriend; she's a
complete mystery. I not know how/what/why etc He
didn't know how to get to our house, so I drew him a map. I
No one knows if there really is a Loch Ness monster, or if it's
just a myth. I not know (that) Eric's so ignorant. He didn't
even know that they speak Spanish in Mexico.
have no idea/not have a clue/hav Inao a Idia, not
hmv a *klu:/to know nothing at all about the answer to a
question so that you cannot even guess what it might be
[v phrase not in progressive]
"How much is this painting worth?" "I'm sorry, I've no
idea. "'1 When I asked him where Louise had gone he said he
didn't have a clue. I have no idea what/how etc I asked
my wife and she didn't have a clue what it meant. I I fell
asleep half way through the film and I have absolutely no
idea how it ended.
9O4
NOT KNOW
not have the faintest Idea/slightest idea/least
idea/not hmv 6a ,feintst a 'dIa, ,slaitst a 'dia, tli:st aI 'dia /
expressions meaning to know nothing about something,
used when you want to say very strongly that you know
nothing at all Iv phrase not in progressive]
"Why isn't Peter in the office today?" "I haven't the slightest
idea. "[ not have the faintest etc idea what/how/where
etc I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about
- can you explain please? [ No one in the States has the slight-
est idea how beautiful it is here in England. I not have the
faintest etc idea about They didn't have the least idea
about how to put up a tent.
it beats me/It ,bi:ts 'mi:/an informal expression: you
say it beats me when you find something very surprising
and you cannot understand why it happens or is true
"'What I can't understand is why they make you wait three
months just to give you a stamp on your passport. "" "'Beats
me too. '" I it beats me how/why etc It beats me how these
young people can afford to spend so much money on clothes
and CDs.
2 to not know a person, place, book etc
because you have never seen them before,
never experienced it etc
not know
not be acquainted with
unfamiliar
not know/nt nao/[v T not in progressive]
I don't know him - I've never met him before in my life. I
Susan didn't know New York and she was worried she
wouldn't be able to find the address.
not be acquainted with /no bi: akwentId w6/ a
formal expression meaning to not know someone because
you have not met or talked to them before Iv phrase]
I'm not acquainted with him personally, though I have heard
his name mentioned on a number of occasions.
unfamiliar/,^nfa'mflja r/ if someone or something is
unfamiliar to you, you do not know them because you
have never seen, heard, or experienced them before [adj]
The voice on the phone sounded unfamiliar. I It took Steven
some time to get used to his unfamiliar surroundings. I
unfamiliar to The name of the band will probably be
unfamiliar to US audiences.
3 to not know or realize what is happening,
I what the situation is etc
not know/not realize/have no idea
be unaware
unbeknown to sb
little did I/she etc know
for all I know/you know etc
how was I to know?
be unconscious of
oblivious
not know/not realize/have no idea/not nao, not
'rialaz, hmv ,nao a dla/Iv I/T not in progressive]
"'It's my birthday today. "' "'Oh, I didn't realize. I should have
bought you a card. "1 not know etc (that) I wish I'd brought
my coat. I didn't know it would be so cold. I Until then he
hadn't realized that his mother was so ill. I not know etc
what/how Her husband had no idea what was going on or
who she was seeing.
be unaware/bi: ,^na'wear/to not know about a situa-
tion or about something that is happening near you, espe-
cially because you have not noticed it Iv phrase]
be unaware of People who invest money are often unaware
of the risks involved. [ Sarah remained unaware of his
presence and carried on talking about him for several
minutes. [ It seemed inconceivable that the President had
been unaware of what was happening in his own office at
the White House. [ be unaware (that) The boys were appar-
ently unaware that they had broken any of the rules.

NOT KNOW 905 NOT KNOW
unbeknown to sb/^nbi'naon tu: (sb)/if you say that
unbeknown to you something was happening, you mean
that it was happening without you knowing about it at the
time [adv phrase]
Unbeknown to me he was using all my money for gambling.
little did I/she etc know/llIt] d:d (I, etc) 'no/you say
little did I know when you mean that you did not know
or imagine that something was the case or would happen
Little did she know that this picture would one day be worth
more than a million dollars. [ "'Don't worry," she said,
"things can only get better. "" Little did I know how wrong
she was.
for all I know/you know etc/far :1 (I know etc)/you
say for all I know when you mean that you know very
little about a situation and you suggest something that
could have happened or be true, especially something
unlikely
I don't know where they are. They may have gone to South
America, for all I know. [ You shouldn't have got in the car
with him on your own -for all you knew he could have been
a mass murderer.
how was I to know? /hao wz la: t no/you say how
was I to know? when someone is complaining because you
have done something wrong, but you feel that you could
not have known then that what you were doing was wrong
"'You could have waited for me - I arrived only a few minutes
after you left. "" "How was I to know?"[ how was I to know
(that) How was I to know that the gun was loaded? [ How
the hell was I to know the paint wash 't dry yet?
be unconscious of/bi: ^n'konfs ov [[ -'ka:n-/if you
are unconscious of the effect of something that you have
said or done, you do not realize how it affects other people
Iv phrase]
She appeared to be unconscious of the amusement she had
caused by her remarks. [ Like many tourists they were
unconscious of the fact that they had deeply offended their
hosts.
oblivious/a'blivias/someone who is oblivious of what
is happening around them does not notice it and continues
to do other things without being affected by it
oblivious of They soon fell asleep, oblivious of the danger.[
oblivious to The walkers in front crossed the ledge easily,
seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was a 3000foot drop
on either side. I He had always been oblivious to the way she
looked, and had never once paid her a compliment.
4 to not know anything about a particular
subject
not know anything/know nothing
ignorant
have no knowledge of
not be familiar with/be unfamiliar with
be a closed book
have no idea/not have a clue
not know anything/know nothing/not nu 'eniOirj,
nu 'n^On3/[v phrase not in progressive]
Don't ask me. I know nothing at all about fixing cars. [ No
one else at school knew anything about blues music. [ know
nothing of(used especially in literature) When he arrived
in Venice he knew almost nothing of its history or its beauty.
Ignorant /Iignarant/ someone who is ignorant about
something, especially something important that affects
them, does not know enough about it and should know
more [adj]
ignorant about Many drivers are either ignorant about
road safety or don't care about it until it is too late. [
ignorant of People who live with smokers are often ignorant
of the dangers of passive smoking. [ She was a humble
peasant girl, barely fifteen years old, and was entirely
ignorant of such matters.
have no knowledge of/hmv n InDlld5 Dv II -'no:-/
to know nothing about a subject or situation because you
have not experienced it, read about it, or heard about it
Iv phrase not in progressive]
The general public has little or no knowledge of what is hap-
pening inside prison hospitals.
not be familiar with/be unfamiliar with/not bi:
fo'mIlj; r wI6, bi: ,Anf)'mllj; r wI6/to know little or noth-
ing about a subject, book, play etc because you have not
studied it, read it, or seen it Iv phrase]
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Professor Vaughan's work. [
For those of you who may not be familiar with the play I'll
give a brief summary of the plot. [ It is difficult for anyone
unfamiliar with astronomy to grasp the concept of the Black
Hole.
be a closed book/bi: a klaozd bukl a subject that is
a closed book to someone is one that they know nothing
about, and which they believe they will never understand
Iv phrase]
For many people science is something of a closed book.
have no idea/not have a clue/hmv nao aIdia, not hmv
a klu:! an informal expression meaning to know nothing
at all about how to do something Iv phrase not in
progressive]
have no idea/not have a clue about When Pamela first
started teaching she didn't have a clue about dealing with
children. I have no idea/not have a clue I'm amazed how
he puts all the bits of the engine back together. I wouldn't
have a clue.
5 to not know about something that other
people know about and are trying to keep
secret
be in the dark
not be privy to
not be in on
be In the dark/bi: in 6a 'do:rk/if you are in the dark
about something, especially something important, you
have not been told about it because other people want to
keep it secret Iv phrase]
We have no idea why he's been arrested. We're still completely
in the dark. [ keep sb in the dark about She's been kept
in the dark about it for too long - it's time you told her who
her real father is. [ We're being kept in the dark about the
dangers of food additives by the big food manufacturers.
not be privy to/not hi: 'privi tu:/a formal expression:
if you are not privy to official information about some-
thing, you are not allowed to know it, especially because
you are not in a high enough position in an organization
[ v phrase]
I was notprivy to the decision, even though it affected my own
future employment. [ Burgess was not a party member at the
time and therefore would not have been privy to its innermost
secrets.
not be in on/not bi: I in on/an informal expression: if
you are not in on a secret plan, you have not been told
about it and are not involved in it Iv T]
They weren't in on the robbery - only me and my brother
knew about it.
6 to not know the most recent information about
something, how something is developing etc
be out of touch lose track of
lose touch not be up on
be out of touch/bi: ,act av 't^tJ'/someone who is out
of touch with something used to know about it but does
not now know the most recent information about it,
because they have not read about it or been involved in it
for a long time Iv phrase]
I don't know what kind of music kids listen to these days -
I'm really out of touch. I be out of touch with He left the
computer industry a couple of years ago, so he's probably
completely out of touch with it by now.
lose touch/,lu:z 'tntJ'l if you lose touch with a situation
or a subject, you no longer know the latest information
about it and are unable to understand what is happening
Iv phrase]

NOT KNOW
lose touch with The French President has lost touch with
the reality of thepolitical situation in France. I When you're
living abroad it's so easy to lose touch with what's happen-
ing back home in the US. I lose touch I must do some teach-
ing again - I'm worried about losing touch.
lose track of / ,lu:z 'trmk ov/if you lose track of some-
thing or someone, you no longer know where they are or
what has happened to them Iv phrase]
I had the file on my desk a minute ago, but seem to have lost
track of it. I After the war they lost track of each other. I The
others kept interrupting and she started to lose track of the
conversation.
not be up on/not bi: lap on/an informal expression: if
you are not up on the latest fashions, music, or news, you
do not know about them Iv T]
I spend most of my time in Minnesota these days, so I'm not
really up on all the latest fashions and movies.
7
what you say to tell someone that you do not
know something when they ask you a
question
I don't know
have no idea/not have a clue
don't ask me/search me
how should I know?
I give up
I don't know/a ,daont nao/
"What's the time, Bill?" '7 don't know, I don't have my
watch. "" I "'Which way's the station, please?" "I'm afraid I
don't know. I'm a stranger here myself. "'
have no idea/not have a clue/hmv no a 'da, ,not
hmv  klu:/ informal expressions used when you know
nothing at all about the answer to a question
"How much longer is he going to be in there?'" "I have no
idea. "' I "What part of England is she from?'" "I haven't a
clue. "'
don't ask me/search me /,daunt o:sk 'mi:, is3:rtf
Imi: II -rusk-/(=used when you know nothing at all about
the answer to a question, especially when you do not care
about the answer)
"Why is your brother in such a bad mood?" "Don't ask me,
he never tells me anything. "'1 "How are we going to get home
now that we've missed the last bus? .... Search me, I've never
been here before. ""
how should I know?/,hao J'od 'aI haul (used when you
know nothing at all about a subject and you are surprised
or annoyed that someone has asked you about it)
"Do you think that Diana really loves me? .... How on earth
should I know?" [ how should I know why/what/who
etc What a stupid question! How should I know where she
is?I've only just got here myself. I How the hell should I know
why you've not been invited?
I give up/a glv 'Ap/(used when you do not know the
answer to a difficult question or a joke, and you want some-
one to tell you the answer, especially after you have spent
some time thinking about it)
"Who do you think I met today?" "I give up. Tell me. "' l "Why
did the chicken cross the road?" "I give up, why did the
chicken cross the road?"
8
ways of saying that no one knows something
or that it is impossible to know something
who knows/who can say?
God knows/heaven knows
it's anybody's guess
there's no knowing/telling
your guess is as good as mine
who knows/who can say?/,hu: tnaoz, ,hu: kan tseI/
Maybe the world will end tomorrow. Who can say? ] He
might come back and say he still loves me, who knows? Who
cares? ] who knows what/where etc Who knows what she
was thinking at that moment?
906
NOT KNOW
God knows/heaven knows Itgod 'naoz, ,hevan
'nauz ]1 ,go:d-/informal expressions used when you mean
that it is impossible to know something
"'Where'd she go?" "'God knows. "[ God knows what/who
etc I've just missed my train, so God knows what time I'll
get home now. ] Heaven only knows what might happen if
my parents ever find out about this.
it's anybody's guess /ts 'enibodiz ,ges 11-bo:diz-/
(used when neither you, or anyone else knows the answer
to a question or knows what is really true, and any answer
could be correct)
"Do you know when they're coming back from Thailand?"
"Tve no idea, it's anybody's guess.'"
there's no knowing/telling/6earz ,nau naor], 'telIrj/
(used when it is impossible to know what will happen, espe-
cially when you are worried that something bad might
happen)
there's no knowing what/how etc "He's a desperate man.
There's no telling what he'll do next, "said Holmes. ] If a war
breaks out in Eastern Europe there's no knowing how many
thousands of people might be killed.
your guess is as good as mine /ja:r ges IZ }z ,god
az rnaln/(used when someone asks you a question and you
mean that you do not know the answer so that they are just
as likely to guess the right answer as you are)
"Do you think Italy will win the World Cup?" "I don't know,
your guess is as good as mine. '"
9 words for describing someone who does not
know anything or knows very little about
something
ignorant ill-informed
ignorance layman/lay person
uninformed
ignorant/'Ignrant/[adj]
I was afraid to ask her what she meant because Ididn't want
to appear ignorant. I Don't take any notice of what he says
- it's just a lot of ignorant nonsense.
Ignorance/' ignrns/lack of knowledge, especially about
something that you should know about in U]
I've read very little about your work, so I hope you'll forgive
my ignorance. I ignorance of He showed almost complete
ignorance of even the most basic facts about the situation. I
sheer ignorance (=complete ignorance) Some people's
attitudes towards foreigners are based on sheer ignorance
and prejudice.
uninformed / i^nln'fa:rmd-/people or opinions that are
uninformed show a lack of knowledge and information
about the subject which they are discussing [adj]
uninformed about The Vice-President gave the impression
of being remarkably uninformed about South American
affairs. I uninformed There has been a lot of criticism about
the project, mostly uninformed, by people who believe it will
be dangerous to the environment.
ill.informed / ,I1 n' f:rmd/people or opinions that are ill-
informed show a lack of knowledge about a subject,
because they have been given wrong information about it,
or because they have not read or heard enough about it
[adj]
He's either a liar or he's incredibly ill-informed. I Writers
such as Oscar Wilde were the target of ill-informed and often
hostile criticism simply because they were gay. I ill-
informed about Most people I've spoken to are extremely
ill-informed about what actually happened during the Gulf
War.
layman/lay person ! qeman, 'leI pa:rsan/a person who
has no special knowledge about a subject such as science
or medicine, as compared with people who have special
knowledge or training In C]
Professor Hawking's book is intended for the lay person who
has an interest in the field of nuclear physics and astronomy. I
You can't expect a layman to understand everything that
goes on in court.

NOT KNOW 90? NOT MOVING
1 0 words for describing something such as a
place or an experience that people know little
or nothing about
unknown unidentified
the unknown little known
uncharted
unknown/^nlnaon-! [adj]
After they left Kathmandu they would be travelling through
unknown territory. I There are still some unknown species
of animals in the South American rain forests. I Yesterday
the village was quite unknown, but today it's on the front
page of all the newspapers.
the unknown/6i ,^n'noun/a place or an experience that
people have not been in before and which they are there-
fore often nervous about or frightened of [n singular]
In 1492 Columbus and his group of tiny ships set off into the
unknown. I Starting a new relationship with someone is
always a journey into the unknown. I Many people are put
off from leaving their job by their fear of the unknown.
uncharted/^n'tJ'o:rQd/uncharted territory/waters/
areas etc (=places that have not been put on a map, or new
experiences which people have when they are trying plans
that have never been used before) [adj]
Space is filled with unknown stars and uncharted galaxies. I
When Indian politicians established mass democracy in 1947
they knew they were entering uncharted territory.
unidentified /I^na 'dent Iafad-/if something is uniden-
tified people do not know what it is, what its name is, or
who it belongs to [adj]
A large unidentified object was spotted floating in the sea
near our ship. I At 6 am an American sailor reported an
unidentified plane flying low over Pearl Harbor. I The body
remained unidentified until the police checked dental
records.
little known/htl  natJn-! a little known place or thing
is one that few people know about [adj usually before noun ]
He was born on a little known island off the south coast of
Spain. I The kakapo is a little known species of parrot that
lives in New Zealand.
1 1 a person who you have not met before and
who you do not know
stranger
stranger/stre;nd3ar/[n C]
The room was full of strangers, and I couldn't see anyone
whose face Irecognized. I My mother always warned me not
to take candy from strangers. I perfect/complete stranger
(=someone who you have never met at all) On her way to
work a perfect stranger started to talk to her.
1:2 words for describing a person, book, film etc
that is not famous or that people know little or
nothing about
unknown shadowy figure
little known be an unknown
obscure quantity
unknown/,^n'naun-/[adj]
The picture was painted in the 15th Century by an unknown
Italian artist. I Until their first single the Beatles were vir-
tually unknown outside Hamburg and Liverpool. I
unknown to Oldenburg's work is unknown to many British
people.
little known / ,htl naun-/a little known artist, film etc
is one that few people know about [adj usually before noun]
The concert began with a series of pieces by a little known
American composer. I Bernardo Vittone is little known out-
side his native Italy.
obscure/ob'skjoar/not at all well-known and usually not
very important [adj]
He quoted some lines written by an obscure English poet
named Mordaunt. [ Picasso's first exhibition received only
a short mention in an obscure Parisian newspaper.
obscurity [n U] An American publishing company rescued
him from obscurity (=from being unknown) and offered him
$100,000 for his first novel.
shadowy figure/,Smdaoi 'fIga r II -'fIgjar/a mysterious
person that people know very little about, especially some-
one who seems dangerous [n C]
The bar was used by Don Pasquale and other shadowy
figures from the Mafia underworld.
be an unknown quantity/bi: on nn-naon kwtntti II
-Ikwa:n-/if you say that someone is an unknown quan-
tity you mean that people know very little about their abil-
ities and you are not sure if they will be able to succeed at
doing something [v phrase]
The team's new pitcher has never played pro baseball before
and is something of an unknown quantity.
NOT MOVING
words for describing someone who is not
moving
not moving because you are too frightened or
surprised to move
words for describing something that is not
moving
words describing vehicles that are not moving
words for describing water or air that is not
moving
what you say to tell someone not to move
1 words for describing someone who is not
moving
still immobile
motionless not move a muscle
still/still [adj not before noun]
stand/keep/lie still She told the children to keep still so
that she could count them. I She collapsed on the floor and
lay perfectly still. I Johnny sat quiet and still as he always
did when his mother spoke to him. I still It seemed that the
people in the square were never still.
motionless / mauSdnlas! a word used especially in liter-
ature meaning completely still [adj]
stand/lie motionless She stood motionless in the doorway. I
motionless Ellen remained seated on the couch, motionless. I
He saw four motionless figures standing on the pier.
immobile/ maubad l[ -bdl! completely still, especially
because you are looking steadily at something which
interests or frightens you [adj not before noun]
stand/sit/remain immobile She stood immobile, staring
ahead at the strange object. I For a time Mary remained
immobile, seemingly in a trance. I immobile His face which
was normally immobile, lit up with a smile.
not move a muscle/nDt mu:v a 'mAsal/ to be com-
pletely still, especially because you are frightened or
because you do not want someone to see you [v phrase]
He hid behind the door, not moving a muscle, hardly breath-
ing. I I didn't dare move a muscle. He would have shot me.
2 not moving because you are too frightened or
surprised to move
paralyzed be glued/rooted to the spot
freeze transfixed
paralyzed (also paralysed British) /'paralazd/ so
frightened or shocked that you are unable to move [adj not
before noun]
paralyzed with fear/shock etc Paralyzed with fear, the
boy faced his captors and waited. I The force of the blow
drove the man to his knees and, paralyzed with shock, he
remained in this position.

NOT MOVING 908 NOT SURE
freeze/fri:z/to suddenly stop moving and stay completely
still because you are frightened or surprised [v I not in
progressive]
She froze when she saw that he was holding a gun. I There
was a huge explosion behind us and we all froze. I freeze
in your tracks (=suddenly stop walking and become very
still) When Russell heard Dunbar's voice, he froze in his
tracks.
be glued/rooted to the spot/bi: glu:d, Iru:td to 5a
spot [I -spo:t/to be unable to move from the place where
you are standing because you are very frightened, sur-
prised, or interested by something that is happening [v
phrase]
I was glued to the spot, unable to take my eyes off the strange
creature that was now approaching. I stand glued/rooted
to the spot Sam ran for cover, but Lorne stood rooted to the
spot.
transf|xed/trens fiksq completely still because you are
extremely shocked, frightened, or interested by something
[adj not before noun]
sit/stand transt-txed He used to sit transfixed as his grand-
father told him stories of the war. ] transfixed by She was
transfixed by the sight of a tall stranger entering the room. I
transfixed with fear They waited, transfixed with fear.
3 words for describing something that is not
moving
still
motionless
still/stil / [adj not before noun]
The branches had been still, but now they moved slightly in
the breeze.
motionless/maodnlas/a word used especially in liter-
ature meaning completely still [adj]
stand/lie/hang motionless I looked into the sky, where the
clouds hung motionless.
4 words describing vehicles that are not moving
stationary
at a standstill
stationary/'steJ'andri II -neri/[adj]
Several stationary vehicles were also damaged in the acci-
dent, but no one was hurt. I We walked in front of the line
of stationary trucks.
be at a slandslill/bi: at a 'stendstl/if vehicles are at
a standstill, they are not moving because something has
caused them to stop, especially other traffic [v phrase]
Traffic on the main road out of the city is almost at a stand-
still with lines of cars stretching over 20 miles. I When I
awoke, the train was at a standstill, stopped between two
stations.
5 words for describing water or air that is not
moving
still
calm
stagnant
still/still [adj]
Madeleine looked out across the still water of the huge lake. I
a column of blue smoke drifting upward through the still
air l still morning/evening etc It was a warm still even-
ing in early June.
calm/ko:m II k:m, k:lm/not moving because there is no
wind [adj]
The sea here is usually calm, so it's safe for the children to
swim. I dead calm (=completely calm) The sea was dead
calm and the coral glistened beneath its surface. I calm
night/evening etc The night was calm and warm.
stagnant /  stmgnant/water or air that is stagnant smells
bad and is unhealthy because it never moves [adj]
The dog stopped to drink from a pool of stagnant water. I
The disease is carried by bacteria that live in stagnant or
slow-moving water. I The hall was too hot, the air was stag-
nant and there was an overpowering smell of sweat.
6 what you say to tell someone not to move
don't move freeze
keep still/stay still stay where you are
don't move / daont Imu:v/
Don't move. I'll be back in five minutes. I Don't move or they'll
see us.
keep still/stay still /ki:p stil, stei stil/(used to tell
someone not to change position or not to move any part of
their body)
Keep still or I won't be able to cut your hair. I Be quiet and
stay still.
freeze /fri:z! (used especially by police officers or by
people who want to threaten you)
Freeze! Now put down the gun - slowly.
stay where you are/,steI wea r jo: 'o:r/(used to tell
someone not to go anywhere)
Stay where you are, don't come any closer. I Now just stay
where you are until I come back.
NOT SURE
ways of saying that you do not feel sure about
something or someone
I not sure if something is true, will happen eta
2 not sure whether you should do something,
or whether something is good or right,
especially when you think it probably is not
3 to make someone feel unsure about something
1 not sure if something is true, will happen etc
not be sure/not be certain doubt
be unsure/be uncertain wonder
not know can't be sure
not be sure/not be certain /not bi: 'j'oar, not bi:
Isa:rtn/[v phrase]
"Do you think she would be a good person for this job?'" "I'm
not sure." l not be sure/certain (that) She was not certain
that a doctor would be able to help. I not be sure/certain
about sth If you're not certain about the meaning of a word,
look it up in a dictionary. I not be sure whether/how/
when/who etc I studied French at school but I'm not sure
whether I could speak it now.
be unsure/be uncertain/bi: An'foa r, bi: ansa:rtn/[v
phrase]
be unsure/uncertain about I'm still a bit unsure about
how to work this computer. I be unsure/uncertain of
Many workers are still unsure of their rights. I be unsure/
uncertain who/what/whether etc David decided to
become a teacher but was uncertain which subject to special-
ize in.
not know/not natJ / to not be sure whether something is
true, what will happen, what to do etc, because you do not
have enough information [v I/T not in progressive]
"Are you going to go to the cinema tonight?" "I don't know
yet. "1 not know if/whether/how etc She did not know
if she should accept the job or not. I It started to rain when
they were halfway up the mountain and they did not know
whether to go on or go back.
doubt/daot/if there is doubt about something, people
cannot be completely sure about it [n U/
doubt about There is still some doubt about the date of the
Presidential election. I doubt who/what/whether etc
There was never any doubt who would win the Olympic
Gold. I element of doubt (=the slightest doubt) If there is
any element of doubt about the prisoner's guilt, a jury should
not convict. I doubt Of course, there will always be some
doubt when it comes to religious belief.

NOT SURE
909
wonder / w^ndar/to think about something that you are
not sure about, and try to guess what is true, what will
happen, etc Iv I/T not in progressive]
wonder if/how/whether etc I wonder if she'll recognize
me after all these years. I He wondered whether he would be
able to find the hotel again. I wonder He says he's had no
formal training but when you see how good his work is, I
really start to wonder.
can't be sure/Ika:nt bi: Ifoa r [[ kent-/if you say you
can't be sure, you mean that you are fairly sure about
something but not completely Iv phrase]
I think that's the man who stole my bag, but l can't be sure. [
can't be sure of I can't be sure of this, but I think she is
lying. [ can't be sure (that) You can't be sure it was him
you saw. [ can't be sure whether/what/how ete Tom says
he can never be sure whether she's being honest with him.
2 not sure whether you should do something,
or whether something is good or right,
especially when you think it probably is not
have doubts have mixed feelings
have reservations have qualms
have misgivings hesitant
have doubts/hmv dauts/[vphrase not in progressive]
Peter promised that it was all for the best, but I still had
doubts. I have doubts about Any doubts Jo had about mar-
rying him soon disappeared. I have my/her etc doubts We
had our doubts as to the car's reliability from the start.
have reservations /hmv ,rezar've:fanz/ to feel that
some things about a plan, idea etc are not good or right, so
that you think there may be problems or difficulties Iv
phrase not in progressive]
I know you're very keen to go to the Middle East, but I'm
afraid I still have reservations. [ have reservations about
Scientists developing the atom bomb had deep reservations
about the project.
have misgivings /hmv mtsgtvItJZ/ to not be sure
whether something is good or right, because you are wor-
ried about what will happen if it is done Iv phrase]
We didn't try to stop our son from joining the army, but we
both had misgivings. [ have misgivings about Even the
government's most loyal supporters have misgivings about
changes to the education system. [ have serious misgivings
(=be very unsure) At the time, many doctors had serious mis-
givings about the new treatment.
have mixed feelings Ihmv ,mtkst 'fi:h0z/to be unable
to say that something is definitely good or right, because
there are both good and bad things about it Iv phrase not
in progressive]
have mixed feelings about She had mixed feelings about
her daughter getting married so young. I have mixed feel-
ings I have very mixed feelings - I want to travel but I know
I'll miss my family.
have qualms /hmv 'kwa:mz/ to feel unsure and not
happy about doing something, especially because you do
not think that it is morally right Iv phrase not in progres-
sive]
have qualms about I had no qualms about taking money
from such a rich man. [ Do you have any qualms about doing
experiments on animals?
hesitant / hezItant/someone who is hesitant is nervous
or unsure about doing something, and therefore pauses
before doing it or does it slowly and without confidence [adj
not usually before noun]
He seemed hesitant and unwilling to talk about it. [ hesitant
about I must admit I'm still rather hesitant about the deal.
I'm not sure if it's such a good idea. [ hesitant to do sth She
was hesitant to accept the offer, since she didn't know him
very well.
hesitantly [adv] The boy spoke slowly and hesitantly,
unsure whether or not to trust us.
nothing to do with
3 to make someone feel unsure about something
make sb unsure/uncertain
cause doubt/cause uncertainty
it makes you wonder
raise doubts
make sb unsure/uncertain/meek (sb) An'ua r, An-
'sa:rtn/[v phrase]
make sb unsure when/if/whether etc It made him
unsure whether he would pass his exams. [ make sb un-
sure/uncertain about doing sth The news about the
bomb made me uncertain about going to Munich. [ make
sb unsure/uncertain of sth Being widowed three times
had made her unsure of marrying again.
cause doubt/cause uncertainty/k:z 'daot, k:z
^ns3: rtnti/if a situation or event causes doubt or causes
uncertainty, it makes people feel generally unsure about
what will happen as a result Iv phrase]
The Director's resignation has caused considerable doubt as
to the future of the company. [ Changing political leaders has
caused a great deal of uncertainty within the country.
it makes you wonder/It ,meIksju: 'wAndar/if you say
it makes you wonder, you mean that something makes
you think that there are a lot of things you cannot be sure
about
it makes you wonder if/whether etc So many people
believe in astrology, it makes you wonder if it's all true. I His
behaviour after hearing my news made me wonder if he knew
more than he had told me. I it makes you wonder This
latest scandal doesn't mean all politicians are corrupt - but
it makes you wonder.
raise doubts /reiz daots/ to make people become
unsure about something they were previously fairly sure
about Iv phrase]
raise doubts about People who raise doubts about safety
on air flights can cause a lot of unnecessary worry. I Her
report has raised doubts about the likely success of this
project. I raise doubts I don't want to raise too many doubts,
but I wonder whether he's really fit for the job.
 notable IMPORTANT 2
  notably ESPECIALLY 1
note LETTER 1, NOTICE 1, REMEMBER 9
note: make a mental note REMEMBER 9
note: make a note of/note down WRITE 1
note: take note ATTENTION 1
noted FAMOUS 1
noted: be noted for FAMOUS 2
notes WRITE 11
noteworthy IMPORTANT 2
nothing NONE/NOTHING 1, 2
nothing: all or nothing EXTREME 1
nothing: come to nothing FAIL 3
nothing: do nothing NOT DO STH 1
nothing: for nothing CHEAP 7, FAIL 2, FREE/COST
NOTHING 2, 3
nothing: it's nothing UNIMPORTANT 1
nothing: next to nothing LITTLE/NOT MUCH 6, 9
nothing: stop at nothing DETERMINED 5
nothing: think nothing of it/it was nothing THANK 6
nothing but ONLY 2, 4
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
doing REFUSE 3
else ONLY 4
ever happens BORING 5
fancy SIMPLE/PLAIN 1
in common: have nothing in common
DIFFERENT 2
like: there's nothing like BEST 2
of the sort: I/she etc did nothing of the
sort/kind NOT DO STH 8
on: have nothing on NAKED 1
special BAD 5
to choose between EQUAL 4
to do: have nothing to do NOT DO STH 4
to do with: havelbe nothing to do with
CONNECTED WITH 9, INTERFERE 3

nothing to do with
910
NOTICE
nothing to do with: have nothing to do with TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED 11
nothing to it: there's nothing to it EASY 2
nothing to worry about: there's nothing to worry about
WORRIED 14
notice NOTICE 1
notice: come to sb's attention/notice FIND OUT 2
notice: escape sb's notice NOTICE 3
notice: give sb notice LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 3
notice: give sb their notice LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 2
notice: not notice NOTICE 3
notice: not take any notice of/take no notice of
IGNORE 1, 2
NOTICE
to become conscious of something, for example
by seeing it, hearing it, or smelling it
to notice something or someone
good at noticing things that other people do
not notice
to not notice something or someone
not good at noticing things
1 to notice something or someone
notice note
spot perceive
become aware/ observe
conscious catch sb's eye
detect
notice / naots/to become conscious of something, espe-
cially after it has happened or when it has already been
happening for some time Iv I/T not in progressive]
notice (that) I suddenly noticed that he was holding a gun. I
notice sb/sth She had crept into the house without me notic-
ing her. I Doctors have recently noticed a drop in the number
of patients with heart disease. I notice sb doing sth I hope
the boss didn't notice me coming into work late. I notice
how/when/where etc They were so busy, they didn't notice
how late it was getting. I notice I don 't know whether you "ve
noticed, but she never wears her wedding ring any more.
spot/spot II spo:t/to notice something, especially some-
thing that is difficult to notice or that no one else notices
Iv T not in progressive]
I'm glad you spotted that mistake before it was too late. I An
experienced manager will spot problems among his staff
quite quickly. I The fake painting was spotted by a New York
art dealer.
become aware/conscious/bi,kAm a'wea r, 'kt)nfas [I
-Ika:n-/ to gradually notice something, by using your
senses or by just feeling that it exists Iv phrase]
become aware/conscious (that) I gradually became
aware that I was not the only person in the room. I become
aware/conscious of She became conscious of a certain
amount of hostility between them. I After a while he.became
aware of sounds such as the hiss and crackle of the fire.
detect/di Itekt/to notice something that is difficult to see,
hear etc, especially because it is very small, faint, or
unclear Iv T]
Marlowe detected a faint smell of perfume as he entered the
room. I Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice? I The
system is so sensitive that it can detect changes in tempera-
ture as small as 0.003 degrees.
detection/d  tekfan/[n U] A Geiger counter is designed for
the detection of (=for detecting) minute differences in radio-
activity.
note /naot/ to notice a fact or detail and remember it,
because it tells you something about a person or because
it might be useful to you in the future Iv T not in
progressive]
note sth I noted her habit of looking at the floor whenever
I asked her a question. I note how/when etc He chatted to
her, noting how her face reddened every time Ian's name was
mentioned.I note that Note that the compound is more stable
at high temperatures.
perceive /par'st:v/ a formal word meaning to notice
something, especially something that is difficult to notice
Iv T not in progressive]
perceive sth Although Jane thought her father seemed anx-
ious and uneasy, Susan did not perceive any change in his
looks or ways. I perceive (that) One can perceive, in many
of these films, that the director wishes to express a mood of
melancholy.
observe/ab'za:rv/ to notice something as a result of
watching or studying it closely Iv T not in progressive]
I didn't observe anything out of the ordinary about her
behaviour that day. I observe that Psychologists observed
that the mice became more aggressive when they were put in
smaller cages.
observation/,obzar'veIan II ,o:b-/ [n U] I have learned
much about child psychology from the observation of(=by
observing) my own children.
catch sb's eye/kmt (sb's) ai/if something catches
your eye, you notice it because it is surprising, interest-
ing, attractive etc Iv phrase]
Suddenly something caught his eye - a piece of paper on the
table where nothing had been earlier. I We need big adver-
tisements in the newspapers. Something to catch the eye. I
Because all the lines are indented, the paragraph catches the
reader's eye and adds impact to the text.
good at noticing things that other people do
not notice
observant have eyes like a hawk
perceptive have eyes in the back of your head
eagle-eyed powers of observation
observant lab za:rvant/good or quick at noticing things
[adj]
Men aren't very observant about things like hair or clothes. I
An observant reader has pointed out an error on page 26. I
observant of She was acutely observant of everything that
went on around her.
perceptive/par'septv/good at noticing and understand-
ing what is happening or what someone is thinking or feel-
ing [adj]
She knew there was something on my mind - mothers are
very perceptive like that. I The radio programme gave a per-
ceptive analysis of Anglo-American relations. I With the sup-
port of a sensitive and perceptive teacher, Julian managed
to overcome some of his learning difficulties.
perceptively [adv] As Shakespeare perceptively remarked,
'love looks not with the eyes but with the mind'.
eagle.eyed / i:gal ald,/someone who is eagle-eyed is
very good at noticing everything that people do or how they
behave [adj]

NOTICE 911 NOW
The hotel was run by an eagle-eyed old man who knew every-
thing about all the guests. I Two eagle-eyed reporters noticed
the politician leaving a prostitute's house.
have eyes like a hawk/hmv aiz laik o ha:k] someone
who has eyes like a hawk notices every small detail or
everything that is happening and is therefore difficult to
trick or deceive Iv phrase not in progressive]
Don "t let him see you looking at those files; he's got eyes like
a hawk.
have eyes in the back of your head/hzev ,aIz n
So bmk ov ja: r *hed! someone who has eyes in the back of
their head is able to notice things that other people try to
do when they are not looking, so that they are impossible
to trick or deceive
You'll never get out without her seeing - she has eyes in the
back of her head.
powers of observation/,paoorz ov obzo r 'veifan II -o:b-/
someone who has good powers of observation, has a
natural ability to notice what is happening around them
[n phrase]
Keith would make a good detective - he has excellent powers
of observation. I His powers of observatio/t were very acute.
3 to not notice something or someone
not notice escape sb's notice
miss unnoticed
overlook not see the wood for the trees
fail to notice
not notice/not 'nootls/[v I/T not in progressive]
not notice (that) I didn't notice that it was getting so late.
I must go. I not notice sth If the plastic surgery is a success
no one will notice your injuries from the fire. I not notice
sb doing sth He didn't notice the police car following him
until he reached the freeway. I not notice who/why/how
etc I don't usually notice what people are wearing but Jan's
outfit was so striking I can remember it vividly. I not notice
The sales assistant was so busy she gave me the wrong bag,
but I didn't notice until I got home.
miss/ms/to not notice something which is difficult to
notice Iv T not in progressive]
She noticed a fault in the engine design which everybody else
had missed. I I moved the sofa when I was cleaning to see if
I had missed any dust. I The restaurant is easily missed
because its name has fallen off the entrance.
overlook / tovor tlok/to not notice something, especially
something important, because you have not taken enough
care Iv T not in progressive]
I always check my work to see if there is anything I have over-
looked. I In chemistry it is easy to overlook a vital factor and
draw the wrong conclusions from an experiment.
fail to notice/,fell to 'nootts/to not notice something,
especially when this could have a serious result [v phrase
not in progressive]
They were not prepared for his second heart attack, having
failed to notice the warning signs. I There was a growing
resentment among inmates which the prison authorities had
either failed to notice or just ignored.
escape sb's notice /l,skelp (sb's) nootgs/ if a fact
escapes someone's notice, they do not notice it, especially
when they should have noticed it [v phrase not in
progressive]
This problem has completely escaped his notice. I It may have
escaped your notice but your father is much too ill to drive
you to the station.
unneticed/An 'noot st/go/pass/escape etc unnoticed
(=happen without anyone noticing) [adj not before noun]
The death of the former movie star passed unnoticed. I Many
financial problems go unnoticed until it is too late to do any-
thing about them. I There were a lot of people at the party,
which made it easy for Gary to slip away unnoticed.
not see the wood for the trees/not si: So ,wod fa r
So 'tri:z/to not notice the most important and general facts
about something, because you are thinking too much about
the small details [v phrase not in progressive]
You can't see the wood for the trees, can you? The reason we're
losing money is that we spend so much time trying to save
it and neglecting the running of the company!
4 not good at noticing things
unobservant
unobservant / Anob za:rvont,/ [adj]
You "re so unobservant. It was obvious that Margaret and
Greig weren't speaking to each other.
noticeable OBVIOUS 1
notify TELL 3
notion IDEA 7
notoriety: achieve notoriety FAMOUS 6
notorious FAMOUS 5
nought NONE/NOTHING 3
nourishing HEALTHY 7
nourishment FOOD 1
novel NEW 7
novelty NEW 7
novelty: the novelty wears off BORING 10
novice EXPERIENCED 4
now NOW 1, 2
now: for now NOW 6
just now
now: NOW 1
now: not now NOW 7, 8
now: right now NOW 1
now: up to now/up till now NOW 3
now and again/now and then SOMETIMES 1
NOW
I now, at this moment
2 now, compared with what happened in the
past
8 until now
4 words for describing a situation that exists
now or events that are happening now
5 words for describing something that belongs
to the period you live in and not to the past
 ways of saying that something happens now
or is true now, but may change in the future
7' ways of saying that something does not
happen now, although it did happen in the
past
8 ways of saying that something has not
happened and is not happening now, but will
probably happen later
1 now, at this moment
now
right now
at the moment
at this time
currently
just now
already
at present/at this moment in time/
at the present time
now/nao/[adv]
We have to go to class now. I It's not raining now, but they
said it might do later. I It is fall and the leaves are now turn-
ing brown. I I'm going now. See you tonight.
right now/,rat 'nao/an expression meaning exactly
now, used especially in commands, excuses, explanations
etc [adv phrase]
The boss wants to see you right now in his office. I That will
be ten dollars - cash - right now. I I can do it later but right
now I have some work to finish. I I'm going through a
difficult phase in my life right now.
at the moment lot So 'moomont/if something is true at
the moment, it is true now but you do not expect it to be
permanent [adv phrasel

NOW 912 NOW
I'm working in a restaurant at the moment. I At the moment
she can't afford a babysitter so she never goes out. I What
about that guy she's seeing at the moment?
at this time /at ,]s 'taIm/ an American expression
meaning at this particular time [adv phrase]
Mary-Lou doesn't want to think about her exams at this
time. I "Do you have an attorney? .... Not at this time. ""
at present/at the present time/at 'prcznt, at (a
, prezant ta=m! formal expressions: if something is true at
present or at the present time, it is true now but you do
not expect it to be permanent [adv phrase]
The money available for public libraries will be less in future
than at present. I We do not envisage any changes in the tax
structure at the present time.
at present/at this moment in time/at the
present time/at 'preznt, at s ,maomant in ,ta]m, at a
prezant tam/ expressions used especially in spoken
English, by politicians, reporters, or other public figures,
meaning during the present period of time [adv phrase]
At this moment in time, we're not sure whether the Princess
intends to speak about her marriage. [ It would be inap-
propriate, at this moment in time, to make any rash
promises.
currently/knrantli II ks:r-/(used about something that
is happening or being done at the present time, and is not
expected to change for a fairly long time) [adv]
Spielberg is currently working on a new adventure movie. [
Austin-Rover currently exports around one-third of its
output. [ Currently, the most a senior nurse can earn is
Ј16,000.
Just now/,d3^st 'nao/ if something is happening just
now, it has not been happening for long and will not con-
tinue for long [adv phrase]
There's a lot in the papers about the Olympic Games just
now. I The best place for you just now is in bed. I Just now
it would be difficult for me to pay back the money.
already/:l'redi/ if something is happening or is true
already, it is happening or is true now, and has been before
and until now [adv]
He's only three and he's already reading. I Are the guests here
already? I Sarah doesn't need a new dress - she's got enough
already.
2 now, compared with what happened in the
past
now in this day and age
nowadays these days
today
now/nao/(used when comparing the situation now with
what was true in the past) [adv]
We used to be good friends but I don't see very much of her
now. I People don't seem as polite now as they used to be. I
In the 1950s industry gave no thought to the environment,
whereas now it has to be ecologically aware.
nowadays / 'naoadez/(used especially when describing
the ways in which society has changed) [adv]
More women have executive jobs nowadays, especially in
publishing. I People are much more likely to buy a video
camera than a film camera nowadays. I Nowadays, it's
really useful to have computer skills.
today/ta'dei/(used especially when describing general
conditions, attitudes, or what is true now, as compared
with the past) [adv]
The motor car is the biggest cause of pollution in the world
today. I a painting that is as realistic today as it was 300
years ago I Today, only a few of these rare and beautiful
animals survive.
in this day and age/In '6is del and ,eIds/(used to show
that you are surprised and shocked that something still
happens now) [adv phrase]
It's amazing, in this day and age, that people still expect
women to stay at home. [ It's not right, in this day and age,
that people all over the world are still starving.
these days/'i:z ,deiz/(used especially when saying
that someone's life and habits are different now from what
they used to be) [adv phrase]
I don't get up to London much these days. [ These days, she
can hardly bear to visit her parents, they argue so much. I
There is a different mood in the country these days.
3 until now
so far until/up to the
up to now/up till now present day
to date yet
so far/,sao 'fa:r/true until now in a situation that is
likely to continue [adv phrase]
So far we have finished about half of the jobs we have to do.I
This is the hottest day we've had so far this summer. [ So far,
no one had noticed that the key was missing. I so far, so good
(=there have been no problems so far) Following the
instructions on the map, we reached the entrance to the cave.
So far, so good.
up to now/up till now/,^p ta 'nao, ^p td nao/(used
when describing something that has been true, or has been
happening until now, but that is likely to be different in
the future) [adv phrase]
"You've been in charge up to now, "he said, "but now it's my
turn. "'[ She is sixteen years old and up till now has been
educated privately.
to date/ta 'det/a formal or official expression meaning
until now [adv phrase]
To date we have received 50 applications for the job. [ Geo-
logical experts say that there is much more oil in the area
than has been found to date.
untlllup to the present day/an,td, ,^p ta 6a ,prezant
'de/ from a time in the past until modern times [adv
phrase]
Plato has influenced many philosophers over the centuries
and up to the present day. [ These two companies have domi-
nated the industry from the end of World War Two until the
present day.
yet/jet/(used when asking whether something has already
happened or whether people are still waiting for it to
happen) [adv]
Has the washing machine arrived yet?[ Do you know if she's
got a new job yet?
4 words for describing a situation that exists
now or events that are happening now
present current
existing present-day
present/'preznt/[adj only before noun]
No one can drive that car in its present condition. I Before
we moved to our present house we lived in Malibu. [ the
present electoral system
existing/ig'z]stn]/(used when talking about the systems,
situations, and arrangements that exist now, rather than
ones that may exist in the future) [adj only before noun]
The government may insist that existing access roads to the
hospital are improved before new ones are built. I It will not
be easy to replace existing laws regarding adopted children's
rights to contact their natural parents.
current/'knrant II 'k3:r-/happening or existing now but
not expected to last for a long time [adj only before noun ]
Coca-Cola's current advertising campaign [ her current
boyfriend I The current boom in long-haul travel has led to
fierce competition between travel agents.
present-day / ,preznt de /present-day France/Ari-
zona/Mexico/Latvia etc (=as it is now, especially when
compared with the way it was in the past) [adj only before
noun]
Celtic tribes settled in parts of present-day France and
Wales. I Present-day Australia is a very different place from
what it was when my grand-parents first arrived there.

NOW 913 number
words for describing something that belongs
to the period you live in and not to the past
modern contemporary
today's/of today topical
present-day modern-day
modern/'modn 11 'mo:dorn/[adj only before noun]
I don't like modern architecture at all. [ The theatre puts on
a good combination of both classical and modernplays. [ The
pyramids are a remarkable piece of engineering, even judged
by modern standards.
today$1of today/to'deaz, ov todea/existing now, espe-
cially compared with the way things were in the past [adj]
The Linthwaite mine produced gold worth $180,000 ($48
million in today's money). [ Children of today are given much
more freedom than their parents ever had. I The safety
measures on early airliners seem very primitive by today's
standards.
present-day/prezant de /a present-day situation,
fact, idea ete is one that exists now rather than in the past
[ adj only before noun]
Present-day political life is much more difficult than it used
to be. [ The present-day process is much the same as the one
evolved centuries ago.
contemporary/kontemparori,-purl [[-poreri/contem-
porary art, writing, thought, society ere is the type that
exists, is accepted, or belongs to, the present time [adj only
before noun]
Contemporary Indian cinema has its roots in folk culture. [
the declining importance of religion in contemporary
societies
topical/'topIkal [[ 'to:-/a.story, subject, problem etc that
is topical is interesting because it deals with something
that is important at the moment [adj]
It's an old story but it has a topical message. I a topical new
comedy programme on television [ The editor thinks that if
an article isn't topical it isn't worth publishing.
modern-day/modn de [[ mo:dorn-/a modern-day sit-
uation, person, or thing is one that exists now, lives now,
or is typical of what is available now [adj only before noun]
There is no modern-day racing driver who could be com-
pared with Fangio. [ Modern-day equipment has made
mining much safer than it was.
6 ways of saying that something happens now
or is true now, but may change in the future
for the moment for the time being
for now for the present
for the moment/fo r 6o 'moomont/[adv phrase]
For the moment the capital seems quiet, but the fighting
could start again at any time. ] Let's not do anything for the
moment until we've heard from the bank manager. ] Assum-
ing for the moment that you did get the job, where would you
live?
|or now/fo r 'nao/(an informal expression) [adv phrase]
Bye for now. See you later. I That's it for now. There'll be
more next week. I We've got enough to worry about for now
without the car breaking down as well.
for the time being/fo r )o taim bi:trj/(used especially
when saying that something can or should be done now,
but not done permanently) [adv phrase]
You can stay here for the time being, until you find a place
of your own. I My doctor has advised me to stop going to aer-
obics classes for the time being.
for the present/fo r 6o prezant/(a formal expression)
[ adv phrase]
Thank you, Inspector, I have no more questions for the
present. [ It is assumed, for the present, that the meeting will
go ahead.
7 ways of saying that something does not
happen now, although it did happen in the
past
no longer
not any more
not now
no longer/noo 'lorjgo r II -'la:rJ-/(used especially in writ-
ten English and formal speech) [adv phrase]
It's a very old car and the spare parts are no longer availa-
ble. [ The public will no longer accept the government's eco-
nomic policy.
not any more / not eni 'ma:r/(used when something has
changed, especially suddenly) [adv phrase]
Alex doesn't work here any more. I Do what you like. I don 't
care any more! I He was not angry any more. He was
ashamed. I She used to be a shy little girl - but not any more!
not now/not 'nao/(used especially when you have just
mentioned what used to happen) [adv]
People used to respect teachers but they don't now. I I'm not
so worried now. I He doesn't live in Dallas now.
8 ways of saying that something has not
[ happened and is not happening now, but will
probably happen later
not yet
not now
not yet/not 'jet/[adv]
I can't come out because I haven't done my homework yet. I
A cure for cancer has not yet been discovered. ] "'Can I open
my eyes now? .... No, not yet.'"
not now/not 'nao/you say not now when you are busy
and cannot do something until later
Not now, Daniel! Can't you see I'm busy? I "'Can I play with
my train set? .... Not now, it's nearly time for dinner. ""
nowadays NOW 2
nowhere PLACE 12
nowhere: from out of nowhere SUDDENLY 1
nowhere: get nowhere FAIL 2, PROGRESS 4
nowhere near FAR 2
nowhere to be found LOSE/CAN'T FIND 2
noxious HARM/BE BAD FOR 4
nuance DETAIL 1
nuclear family FAMILY 1
nucleus MAIN 4
nude NAKED 1
nude: in the nude NAKED 1
nudge PUSH 4
nuisance: be a nuisance ANNOY 5
null and void USE STH 16
numb FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 5
number AMOUNT 2, NUMBER 1, 2, 3, TOTAL 3
number: a large number of/large numbers of
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
number: a number of SOME/A FEW 1
number: a small number of FEW/NOT MANY 1
number: bring the number/total to TOTAL 3
number: in large numbers LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 7
number of times OFTEN 5
number one BEST 1, FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 1
number one: look out for yourself/for number one
SELFISH 2
number: opposite number SAME 9
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

NUMBER
number
NUMBER
1 a written number
2 a number of people, things etc
3 to write or put numbers on a set of things
914 nymphomaniac
figure/,fgr II 'f, gjor/a number, especially an officially
supplied number, showing amounts, how much something
has increased, how much it has decreased etc In C]
Government figures published today show that unemploy-
ment is rising again. I The total value of all drugs seized by
the police reached a record figure of $116, 000,000. I Inflation
in Japan is around 3%, while the German figure is now over
4%.
toll/troll the number of people killed or injured in acci-
dents, by illness etc In C usually singular]
The final toll was 83 dead and more than 100 injured. I death
toll At dawn the death toll from the earthquake rose still fur-
ther in the worst disaster since 1952. I The death toll of the
Air India crash is the third highest in aviation history.
statistics/st'tistiks/information that has been carefully
collected and is shown in the form of figures, especially
something that is of interest to the public, a government,
or other organization In plural]
Statistics show that women buy most of their husband's
shirts for them. I It is difficult to be precise about health in
Uganda because few statistics are available. I She doesn't
appear in the unemployment statistics because she isn't
claiming unemployment benefit.
1 a written number
number digit
figure numeral
number/'n^mbr/a written word or sign that represents
an amount, a quantity, or something that has been
arranged in a particular order, and that is part of the
system used for counting and calculating In C I
Type in the number of the page you want to print, and press
ENTER. [ Football shirts usually have a number on the
back. [ Think of a number and double it. [ number 12/20/4
etc I live at number 12 Liverpool Road. [ Please step up for
your prize, contestant number nine. [ even number
(=2,4,6,8,10 etc) Write down all the even numbers between 2
and 20. [ odd number (=1,3,5,7,9 etc) All the doors on this
side of the street have odd numbers. ] phone/registra-
tion/door/fax etc number What's your phone number? [
registration number A307 TFB
figure/,figr [[ ifIgjar/a number, especially in the form
of a sign rather than a word In C]
Write the amount in words and in figures. [ double figures
(=more than 9 and less than 100) Teachers have asked for
a double-figurepay increase (=an increase of 10 per cent or
more). [ five-figure/six-figure etc (=having five, six etc
figures in it) The managing director earns a sixfigure
salary (=a salary of Ј100,000 or more). [ the figure 8/2/8
etc (=the sign that represents a single figure) A large figure
3 was carved in the wood.
digit /'dids]t/a single number between 0 and 9, for exam-
ple 1, 5, or 8 In C]
French telephone numbers have six digits. [ This calculator
can display only nine digits at a time. [ To unlock the gate
you must know the four-digit security code.
numeral /Inju:maml [[ 'nu:-/ a sign that represents a
number in a particular number system, especially a system
that is no longer generally used In C usually plural]
Arabic/Roman/European etc numerals The European
numbers 1,2,3 and so on, are based on Arabic numerals. [
The date was written in Roman numerals - MCMLXXXII.
3 to write or put numbers on a set of things
number
numbered
number/'nAmbr/[V T]
Remember to number the pages before you hand in your
essays. I We finished numbering the seats just as the audience
began to arrive. I If you don't number your answers, how will
I know which questions they refer to?
numbered /Inhmbrd/something such as a seat, a ticket,
or a page that is numbered, has a number written on it
[adj]
The tickets are numbered, so you can find your seat quite
easily. I A series of numbered diagrams illustrate the results
of the experiment.
numbered
numbers
numeral
numerous
nurse
nurture
nut
nutcase/Ioony CRAZY 6
nutritious HEALTHY 7
nuts: be nuts/crackers CRAZY 1
nuts: drive sb crazy/nuts CRAZY 5
nuts: drive sb crazy/nuts/up the wall
nuts: go crazy/go nuts CRAZY 3, 4
NUMBER 3
AMOUNT 2
NUMBER 1
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 1,
HOLD 1, LOOK AFTER SB 3
DEVELOP 5
CRAZY 6
ANNOY 2
nutshell: to put it in a nutshell SUMMARIZE 3
nutter CRAZY 6
nymphomaniac SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 8
' a number of people, things etc
number toll
figure statistics
number / ' nAmb r/[n C ]
There was a ten per cent increase in tourists in 1988, bring-
ing the total number of visitors to 12 million. [ The number
of cars on our roads rose dramatically last year. I large
number Large numbers of women, especially immigrant
women, work in the clothing industry.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

oar
0
oar: put/shove/stick your oar in
obedience OBEY 4
obedient OBEY 4
obese FAT 2
obesity FAT 2
obey OBEY 1, 2
obey
INTERFERE 1
OBEY
to do what someone tells you to do or to do
what laws or rules say you must do
1 to do what someone in a position of authority
tells you to do
2 to obey official laws and rules
3 to obey the rules of a group or society, by
behaving in a way that is acceptable to them
4 words for describing someone who always
obeys laws, rules, or orders
5 to be in a position where you have to do
whatever someone tells you to do
6 words for describing someone who is too
willing to do what they are told to do
7 someone who always obeys and is friendly to
their employer in order to gain some
advantage
1 to do what someone in a position of authority
tells you to do
obey
do as you are told
knuckle under
obey/)uIbei, a-/ [V I/T]
obey sb Ialways obey my father. I obey A soldier must obey
at all times. I "Everyone stand still!'" he bellowed. Only a few
obeyed. I obey an order/a command The dog had to obey
a command before she gave him any food. I Nazi war crimi-
nals who tried to justify their actions by saying that they were
simply obeying orders
do as you are told/Idu: oz ju: (:t: r It)uld/if someone,
especially a child, does as they are told, they do what
someone in authority tells them to do Iv phrasel
"'Oh, Daddy, why? .... Don't ask why, just do as you're told. "'1
Some children will do as they are told immediately. Diana
wouldn't. I "'Close the door, "'Dawson said softly. Bill did as
he was told.
knuckle under /Inakl ^ndzr/ a British expression
meaning to start obeying someone because you are forced
to, even though you do not want to [phr v I]
knuckle under to The people have so far refused to knuckle
under to the new dictator. I Critics accused the government
of knuckling under to foreign pressure. I knuckle under He
will knuckle under in the end. He has no choice.
915
OBEY
2
to obey official laws and rules
go by the book
respect
stick to the rules
uphold
obey
comply with
observe
abide by
keep to
obey/3OIbc], -I [V T]
All citizens must obey the law and be loyal to the Constitu-
tion. I Drivers obey speed laws only when they think the police
are near. I A restless boy, Arthur hated obeying the rules.
comply with/k:)mIplal w6/ an expression used espe-
cially in legal or official contexts, meaning to do everything
you need to do or are expected to do because of a law, agree-
ment, or decision Iv T]
Britain's bosses are being told that they must comply with
the European employment laws. I The Government is obliged
to comply with the court's ruling. [ He was shot after failing
to comply with a policeman's order to stop.
compliance In U] The factory has installed an elevator for
disabled people, in compliance with the new law.
observe/)b Iz3: rv/to take notice of and obey rules, laws,
customs etc Iv T]
Too many accidents are occurring at work because employers
are not observing safety regulations. I We should observe the
local customs so that we don't offend people. I You can avoid
danger by observing these simple rules.
observance In U] The police ensure strict observance of the
law (=that the law is observed).
abide by/lbaid bai / to accept and obey a decision, rule,
agreement etc, even though you may not agree with it Iv T]
Those are the rules and regulations - we don't make them
but we have to abide by them. I Players have to abide by the
referee's decision. I The Americans sought assurances that
the Russians would abide by this treaty.
keep to/ ki:p tu:/to always obey the law or rules closely
and not ignore them Iv T]
If you keep to the rules nothing can go wrong. I Keep to the
law, but apart from that, do whatever you have to do to find
this man.
go by the book IlgWu baI 6 Ibok/ to do something
exactly according to the rules or instructions, rather than
in your own way Iv phrase]
Police must always go completely by the book when making
arrests. [ The management realized that Mr Fichtel had gone
by the book, and that the error was in the computer.
respect/r; ' spekt/a formal word meaning to obey the law
or customs of a place, especially because you believe it is
important to obey them Iv T]
He's an honest, responsible citizen who respects the law and
is dedicated to his family. [ The President is expected to
respect the constitution.
stick to the rules /stk tz  'ru:lz/an informal expres-
sion meaning to do something exactly as it should be done,
especially so that there is no chance of anything going
wrong Iv phrase]
We can't have proper meetings unless everybody sticks to the
rules.
uphold / ,^p'hold/a formal word meaning to make sure
that laws and rules are obeyed Iv T]
It is the duty of the court to uphold the law and punish law-
breakers. I In upholding the principle of'freedom of the press"
it is easy to infringe the freedom of individual privacy.
to obey the rules of a group or society, by
behaving in a way that is acceptable to them
conform
toe the line
conformity
conform/konIf:):rrn/[V I]
conform to Being part of a group means you conform to
their beliefs and standards. I She was always different, refus-
ing to conform to society's expectations. I conform The other

OBEY
kids put a lot of pressure on him to conform. I Little tolera-
tion is shown to individuals who do not conform.
toe the line !,tao 6a 'lain/to obey the rules and behave
in an acceptable way in your job or in an organization, even
if you do not want to, do not agree etc [v phrase]
They didn't agree, but as government employees they had to
toe the line. I She realized that she had to toe the line if she
wanted to keep her job.
conformity /kan'f:rmti! behaviour that obeys the
accepted rules of society and is the same as that of most
other people [n U]
Conformity among young people is difficult to expect or
achieve. I conformity to These harsh measures were
introduced to ensure conformity to Party doctrines.
4 words for describing someone who always
obeys laws, rules, or orders
obedient dutiful
obedience disciplined
law abiding
obedient/a 'bi:diant/someone, especially a child, who is
obedient always does what they are told to do [adjl
He was a good tempered, obedient child. [ Max was still an
obedient dog. [ Eileen had been a quiet, meek and obedient
woman, who never answered back. ] obedient to sb He could
see that she would be totally obedient to him, would cook and
mend and wash for him.
obedience/abi:dions/obedient behaviour In U]
In this school children are taught obedience first of all. [
"'Bravery is not enough, "" the officer said. "'Loyalty and obe-
dience are more important.'"
law.abiding /b: abaido/ always obeying the law
because you think this is the right thing to do [adj]
They are decent, tax-paying, law-abiding people. [ Children
must be educated so that they grow up law-abiding.
dutiful /'dju:tifdl II 'On:-/ always doing what you are
expected to do and always behaving in a loyal and obedient
way [adj usually before noun]
Tom Campbell has been a loyal and dutiful employee of this
firm for 25years. I She rejected the traditional female roles
of docile daughter and dutiful wife.
disciplined/ds]plnd/a group of people that is dis-
ciplined has developed obedience or has been trained to
be obedient [adj]
They are a well-trained, disciplined and efficient fighting
force. I well-disciplined The only strong and well-
disciplined lxtrty in northern Italy was the Communist lxtrty.
5 to be in a position where you have to do
whatever someone tells you to do
take orders from
be under sb's thumb
be at sb's beck and call
take orders from ! teik 3:rdarz from/to be in a posi-
tion, especially a job, where you have to obey someone Iv
phrase]
From now on you take orders from General Manning. I He
resented taking orders from a younger man for whom he had
no respect. I The local authorities took their orders from the
Minister of the Interior.
be under sb's thumb/bi: tnnda r (sb's) 'Onm/to be so
strongly influenced by someone so that they control you
completely and you have to do anything that they want or
tell you to do [v phrase]
The President, senators, and deputies are all under the
thumb of the military. I have sb under your thumb He
never goes out on his own; his girlfriend's got him under her
thumb.
be at sb's beck and call/bi: at (sb's) bek and Ik:l/if
you are at someone's beck and call, they are always tell-
ing you to do things for them, and you always have to be
ready to do things for them Iv phrase]
916 oblige
She was always rushing around at her mother's beck and
call. I I have never liked to be at anybody's beck and call.
 words for describing someone who is too
willing to do what they are told to do
submissive slavish
servile compliant
subservient
submissive/sab'misiv/always willing to do what some-
one tells you to do even if it is unpleasant or they ask you
in an unpleasant way [adj]
My father was a violent, demanding man, who expected my
mother to be completely submissive. [ If you constantly try
to make someone happy, you end up becoming submissive,
saying yes when you don't really mean it.
submissively [adv] He didn't like the plan, but smiled sub-
missively and did what he was told.
servile /sa:rvaIl [[-val, -vail/ obeying someone too
eagerly and showing them too much respect [adj]
The driver asked in a servile tone for more instructions. [ He
was young and hard-working, though annoyingly servile.
subservient/sabls3: rviant/someone who is subservient
is always willing to do what people tell them to do and
behaves as if they expect to be told what to do [adj]
The waiter had an excessively subservient manner. We felt
most uncomfortable. [ subservient to What she hated about
being a nurse was having to be so subservient to doctors.
slavish / tsleiviS/slavish obedience/compliance/con-
formity ere (=obeying much too easily without thinking
or asking questions) [adj]
Their slavish obedience disgusted me. [ He was able to
manipulate their slavish willingness to serve in the name of
patriotism.
slavishly [advl She made all the decisions, gave all the
orders, and he slavishly complied.
compliant/kamplalant/too obedient because you are
used to obeying people or because you are afraid not to obey
[adj]
It's depressing to see an intelligent, spirited young woman
like her turning into a meek and compliant wife. I Patients
who are less compliant may be forced to take medication
against their will.
7 someone who always obeys and is friendly to
their employer in order to gain some
advantage
creep
yes-man
creep/kri:p/someone who always obeys, praises, and is
friendly to their employer, teacher etc In C]
You're such a creep, Phil!How could you tell him the lecture
was brilliant? It was rubbish! I Take no notice of Martha.
She's just a jealous little creep.
yes-man/'jes men/an informal word meaning someone
who always agrees with and obeys their employer or leader
etc [n CI
It's no good applying for a job with him unless you're happy
being a yes-man. I She packed the committees with yes-men
and then did just what she bloody well liked.
object COMPLAIN 1, PROTEST 1, PURPOSE 1, THING 1
object: money is no object SPEND MONEY 2
object to AGAINST/OPPOSE 4
bj
o ection AGAINST/OPPOSE3
objection: have no objection DON'T CARE 2
objection: raise objections AGAINST/OPPOSE 4
objectionable OFFEND 5, UNPLEASANT 1
objective FAIR 4, PURPOSE 1
obligation: be under/have an obligation to o 8th
MUST 
obligation: be unOer no obligation to o 8th MUST 7
ligato MUST 5
oblige HELP 2

obliged
obliged: be obliged to do sth MUST 2
obliged: feel obliged to do sth MUST 4
obliging HELP 7
obliterate DESTROY 1
oblivious NOT KNOW 3
oblong SQUARE 1, 2
obnoxious UNPLEASANT 1
obscene RUDE/OBSCENE 1
obscenities SWEAR 2
obscure FAMOUS 9, NOT KNOW 12, UNDERSTAND 14
obsequious FRIENDLY 6
observant NOTICE 2
observation SAY 11, WATCH 4
observation: keep sb/sth under observation WATCH 4
observation: powers of observation NOTICE 2
observe NOTICE 1, OBEY 2, RELIGION 3, SAY 1, SEE 3,
WATCH 1
observer WATCH 5
obsess OBSESSION 2
obsessed: be obsessed OBSESSION 2
obsession OBSESSION 1
917
OBSESSION
an unreasonably strong and continuous
interest in one particular thing or person
I an obsession about someone or something
2 to have an obsession about something or
someone
1 an obsession about someone or something
obsession fasci nation
mania fetish
fixation preoccupation
obsession/ob'sen/[n C]
Julia's desire to stay slim has become an obsession. I obses-
sion with/about Picasso's obsession with death and sick-
ness greatly influenced his work. I have an obsession The
eccentric millionaire John Paul Getty had several strange
obsessions.
mania/'mcufil a desire or need to think about something
or behave in a particular way that is so strong that it
changes your behaviour [n singular]
He had a fear of the cold that was almost a mania. I mania
for You'd think Peg would have grown out of her schoolgirl
mania for talking about boys all the time.
fixation /flk'selan/ a strong tendency to think about
something or someone in a particular way, which prevents
you from thinking clearly about it [n C]
fixation about/with We Americans have something of a
fixation about the "Wild West'. I fixation Jim has problems
with women because he has a mother fixation.
fascination/,fms]o'ne]an/a very strong and unusual
interest in a particular subject [n singular]
fascination for/with I've always had this strange fascina-
tion with the circus. [ a fascination for the darker side of life
fetish /  fet, fi:-/an extremely strong and unreasonable
interest in something such as one type of clothing or one
part of the body, in which the thing becomes a strong cause
of sexual pleasure [n C]
A surprising number of men have some kind of fetish, the
most common being women's stockings.
preoccupation /pri:okj°opeij'an [[-a:k-/ a strong
interest in one thing, usually because you are worried
about it, which means that you cannot pay attention to
other things [n singular]
preoccupation with Georgina's preoccupation with her
appearance takes up most of her time. I Writing a will is not
evidence of a morbid preoccupation with death.
obvious
 to have an obsession about something or
someone
be obsessed
obsessive
can't get sb/sth out
of your mind
have a thing about
have an unhealthy
interest in
obsess
have a one-track mind
be obsessed/bi: b'sest/[v phrase]
be obsessed by/with He was obsessed by death and fainted
twice in church. [ She became obsessed in her old age with
what to do with her immense wealth. I be obsessed How can
you suspect your own brother? You're obsessed - that's your
problem.
obsessive/ab'sesiv/having an unreasonably strong and
continuous interest in something, so that you spend a lot
of time doing it or thinking about it [adj]
obsessive about Davy is absolutely obsessive about his
health - he runs at least ten miles a day! [ obsessive She's
got this obsessive fear of losing control so she never shows
her emotions.
can't get sblsth out of your mind / ka:nt get (sb/sth)
aot av ja: r 'mand 11 ,kent-/an informal expression mean-
ing to be unable to stop thinking about someone or some-
thing, even when you do not want to think about them [v
phrase]
Since the divorce he hadn't been able to get the thought of
his ex-wife out of his mind. [ She knew the story wasn't true,
but she couldn't get it out of her mind.
have a thing about /hev a 'Or] obaot/ an informal
expression meaning to have an unreasonably strong
interest in, liking for, or fear of something [vphrase not in
progressive]
Joanne's got a thing about her hair. She changes the style
every week. I The Captain had a thing about neat handwrit-
ing; in fact he couldn't bear to look at anything that wasn't
beautifully written.
have an unhealthy interest in/hev n AnthelOi 'n-
trIst In/to have a strong and unnatural interest in some-
thing, so that you think about it a lot [v phrase not in
progressive]
As a child she had an unhealthy interest in death. I an
unhealthy interest in the darker side of life
obsess/obses! if an idea, activity, or type of behaviour
obsesses someone, they think about it all the time and
cannot think about anything else Iv T]
She wanted everyone to help her with this project which
obsessed her. I Minute details of legal practice seem to obsess
lawyers and judges.
have a one.track mind/hev z tWAn trek tmalnd/to be
continuously thinking about one subject, especially sex, so
that you often talk about it when there is no reason to [v
phrase not in progressive]
You've got a one-track mind, Ryan. What on earth makes you
think she's interested in you?
obsessive OBSESSION 2
obsolete OLD-FASHIONED 1
obstacle PREVENT 5, 7
obstinate STUBBORN 1
obstruct PREVENT 3, 6, 8
obstruction PREVENT 7
obtain GET 1
obtainable AVAILABLE 1, GET 13
obtuse STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
obvious OBVIOUS 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

OBVIOUS 918 OBVIOUS
OBVIOUS
1 ways of saying that it is easy to notice or
understand what is happening, why someone
is behaving in a particular way etc
2 words used to show that what you are saying
is obviously true
3 so obvious that it would be impossible not to
notice it
4 obviously wrong, bad, or dishonest
5 not obvious
1
obvious
clear
can tell
it is easy to see
evident
apparent
noticeable
ways of saying that it is easy to notice or
understand what is happening, why someone
is behaving in a particular way etc
conspicuous
perceptible
and it shows
distinct/definite
stand out
clear-cut
obvious / 'obvias II 'a:b-/something that is obvious can
easily be noticed by anyone [adj]
it is obvious (to sb) that From the very start it was
ous that Adele had outstanding natural ability. I It must be
quite obvious to everyone that we cannot go on as we are.
it is obvious Why is she leaving? It's pretty obvious, isn't
it? I obvious The reason for their distress was obvious. They
had lost everything. I The government has made several mis-
takes - cutting interest rates is an obvious example.
clear/klmr/something that is clear is easy to notice and
understand [adj]
it is clear that It was clear from the expression on her face
that she was rather angry. I It is becoming increasingly clear
that the government has no intention of changing its poli-
cies. [ clear There are clear differences between the attitudes
of the French and the British towards European unity. I It
was murder all right. That much was clear.
can tell/ken 'tel/if you can tell that something is hap-
pening or is true, you are easily able to notice it, especially
because one particular detail makes it obvious Iv phrase]
can tell (that) I could tell there was something not quite
right. He sounded nervous. I Once we'd tidied up, you couldn't
tell that we'd had a party. I can tell by I could tell she was
lying by the way she couldn't look at me.
it is easy to see/it iz ,i:zi ta si:/if you say it is easy
to see that something is true, or what the reason for some-
thing is, you mean that it is very easy to notice
it is easy to see that It is easy to see that knowledge equals
power in today's financial markets. I it is easy to see
how/why It's easy to see why so many PC-users have bought
this software.
evident ! 'ev dant/a word used formally or in literature
meaning obvious [adj]
it is evident (from sth) that From the look on Jill's face
it was evident that the news came as a complete shock. I Bob
began eating his lunch with evident enjoyment. I become
evident As the management's incompetence became evident,
the staff grew more and more disheartened.
apparent/a'pmrant/something that is apparent is obvi-
ous, especially when it has been gradually becoming more
easy to notice [adj not usually before noun]
Even at the age of eight his musical talent was apparent.
it became apparent that We started the game confidently,
but it soon became apparent that our opponents were too
strong for us. I for no apparent reason (=without a clear
reason) Suddenly, for no apparent reason, he turned his back
and walked away.
noticeable/'naotIsabdl! easy to notice [adj]
it is noticeable that It was noticeable that she invited every-
body except Gail. I noticeable There has been a noticeable
improvement in his behaviour lately. I barely/hardly/
scarcely noticeable (=almost not noticeable) Stop worry-
ing about your spots; they're barely noticeable.
noticeably [adv] The company's performance was notice-
ably better in 1989 than it was in 1988.
conspicuous/ken' sp[kjuas/something or someone that
is conspicuous is very easy to notice, because they are
different from everything or everyone else around them
[adj]
I was very conspicuous, standing there in the snow without
an overcoat or jacket. I The most conspicuous result of this
policy has been a 6% rise in unemployment.
conspicuously [adv] We walked through customs control
with our conspicuously heavy suitcases.
perceptible/par'septIbal! changes, characteristics etc
that are perceptible are small, weak, or unimportant, but
still able to be noticed [adj]
There had been a small but perceptible change in the nature
of their relationship. [ barely/scarcely/hardly percep-
tible (=almost not perceptible) There was a barely percep-
tible quaver in his voice.
perceptibly [adv] His heartbeat was now perceptibly
quicker.
and it shows/and t 'Sauz/you say and it shows at the
end of a statement when it is very obvious that someone's
behaviour, achievement etc is the result of the situation
you have just mentioned
He's always been dominated by his mother - and it shows. [
The champion hasn't done much training recently, and it
shows.
distinct/definite /d]stIrjkt, Idefanlt/ a distinct or
definite possibility, feeling, quality etc is noticeable and
cannot be ignored [adj only before noun l
There is, of course, the distinct and unpleasant possibility
that it may be a bomb. [ His writings show a definite hostil-
ity towards all forms of authority.
distinctly/definitely [adv] I distinctly heard the noise
again, this time coming from the cellar.
stand out/,stand 'aut/to be noticeable by being differ-
ent from everything else in a place, especially by looking
different, sounding different etc [phr v I]
There are many great tracks on the album but "Alison"
stands out in particular. [ If you want to make them stand
out I'd paint them a dark colour. [ stand out against Farms
and outbuildings stood out grey-white against the green of
the fields.
clear-cut [ kha r 'kAt-/a fact, situation etc that is clear-
cut is obvious and easy to understand, so that you know
what decision to make, what action to take etc [adj]
The situation was fairly clear-cut: we could either surrender
or fight on and probably die. [ There is no clear-cut distinc-
tion between severe depression and mental illness.
2 words used to show that what you are saying
is obviously true
obviously/clearly
evidently
obviously/clearly/,obviasli, 'kl[arli [[ 'o:b-/[advl
"'Obviously the experiment has been a success," said the
professor. I Clearly, there is no point in continuing this inves-
tigation until we have more evidence. I There are obviously
a lot of problems that still have to be dealt with.
evidently/'ev Idantli/if something is evidently true, it
is obviously true, because something that happens, that
someone says etc shows that it is true [adv]
John evidently didn't get the job - he hasn't said anything
about it since the interview. [ Her parents were evidently
shocked when she told them she was getting married. [ They
evidently had no intention of buying the property, but were
just curious to have a look around.

OBVIOUS 919 obviously/clearly
3
 notice it
unmistakable
blindingly obvious
speaks for itself
self-evident
you only have to...
so obvious that it would be impossible not to
it sticks/stands out a mile
be written all over
sb's face
you can't miss it/
him etc
unmistakable/,Anm I 'stekobal/[adj]
There are unmistakable signs that the economic situation is
improving. [ Colin greeted us quietly but with unmistaka-
ble warmth in his voice.
unmistakably [adv] The car had been resprayed and the
license plates changed, but it was unmistakably hers.
blindingly obvious /,blalndloli 'obvi0s [[-a:b-/ an
informal expression meaning so obvious that it is impos-
sible not to notice [adj]
I would have thought the reason she stopped smoking was
blindingly obvious. She's pregnant. I Sometimes a mistake
is so blindingly obvious that you forget to correct it.
speaks for itself / spi:ks for itlself/if you say that a fact
speaks for itself, you mean it shows that something is so
obviously good or obviously bad that you do not need to tell
people how good or bad it is Iv phrase not in progressive]
The quality of our products speaks for itself. ] The fact that
parents refuse to send their children to that school speaks for
itself.
sell.evident/self evddnt/ a formal expression: facts,
ideas etc that are self-evident are obvious and true,
although some people may not accept them or know about
them [adj]
These facts may seem self-evident, yet many people are still
unaware of them. I Democracy is based on the self-evident
truth that all people are equal. I it is self-evident that It
is surely self-evident that radical changes must be made
before any real progress can be achieved.
you only have to .../ju: oonli hmv tu: .../you say that
you only have to look at something, read something etc
when you think something is so obvious that anybody will
notice it
You've only got to look at the adverts for government jobs
to realize that these people are paid too much. [ You only have
to look at Turner's later oil paintings to see what a genius
he was.
it Stickslstands out a mile/t Istks, ,stzend3 aot o
mail/an informal expression: you say it sticks or stands
out a mile when you think that someone's character, feel-
ings, or background are obvious
I'm absolutely sure he's a retired army officer. It sticks out
a mile. I You can see he's desperately jealous. It sticks out a
mile.
be written all over sb's face/bi: rtn :1 oovo r (sb's)
feis/if you say that a fact or feeling is written all over
someone's face you mean that you can see, just by look-
ing at the expression on their face, that it is true [vphrase]
He had smugness written all over his face. I Not wanting to
see the adoration and longing written on his face, she turned
away.
you can't miss it/him etc/ju: ,ko:nt 'ms (it etc) 1[
-,kzent-/you say you can't miss it when you are giving
someone directions to a place that is very easy to find or
notice
Their house is on the left. It has a pink door. You can't miss it.
4 obviously wrong, bad, or dishonest
blatant patently
flagrant right under your nose
glaring
blatant / bleitgnt/a wrong or dishonest action that is bla-
tant is very obviously wrong but the person who does it
is not at all embarrassed or ashamed [adj usually before
noun ]
This is a lie, a blatant lie. I The provocation was so strong
and so blatant that it was amazing there wasn't a riot. I This
government's policy of cutting taxes is a blatant and
irresponsible attempt to buy votes.
blatantly [ adv ] Her claim that she knew nothing about the
affair was blatantly false.
flagrant/'flegr0nt/flagrant abuse/disregard/viola-
tion etc (=done in a very obvious way and showing no
respect for laws, rules, or the truth etc) [adj usually before
noun]
The current regime has often been criticized for its flagrant
abuses of human rights. I Poison gas was used, in flagrant
disregard of the Geneva Convention.
flagrantly [ adv ] For over six years the mayor and his associ-
ates have flagrantly misused public funds.
glaring / gledrx]/a glaring mistake or example of some-
thing bad is obvious and you think it should not exist [adj
only before noun]
It was a glaring error, which cost the company over Ј2 mil-
lion in lost business. I One of the most glaring examples of
injustice is the huge gap between rich and poor in this
country.
patently/'petntli II 'pe-/patently false/absurd/ridic-
ulous/impossible etc (=a formal word meaning obviously
false etc, in a way that no reasonable person could disagree
with) [adv]
It is patently false to suggest that these problems are unavoid-
able. [ His explanation of the situation is patently absurd.
right under your nose/rat ^ndo r j:r nooz/if some-
one does something wrong right under your nose, they
do it very openly and obviously and you should notice it
but you do not [adv phrase]
The prisoners were digging an escape tunnel right under the
noses of the guards. I There was a security guard in the
gallery. The thieves must have stolen the picture from right
under his nose!
5 not obvious
subtle
unobtrusive
inconspicuous
subtle/' s^tl/subtle changes, ideas, qualities etc are not
obvious and can only be understood or noticed if you pay
careful attention to them [adj]
At first, we didn't notice the subtle changes in his character I
It is a complex novel, subtle in some ways, obvious and
predictable in others.
subtly [adv] The pictures may look the same, but in fact
they "re all subtly different.
unobtrusive /,nob'tru:siv/ something, especially an
object, that is unobtrusive is not very noticeable, espe-
cially because it is small or ordinary compared to other
things [adj]
The TV aerial is small and unobtrusive, fitting close to the
chimney stack. I The writer uses an economical, unobtrusive
style of description.
unobtrusively [adv] The new hearing aid fits unobtru-
sively into the outer ear.
inconspicuous /  nkonspIkjuos/things or people that
are inconspicuous are not noticeable because they look
the same as the people or things around them [adj]
Try to look inconspicuous and find out as much as you can. I
Under the telephone there was a tiny, inconspicuous
microphone.
inconspicuously [ adv ] Throughout the meal she was incon-
spicuously passing food to the dog under the table.
.,,.,,.,, obviously/clearly OBVIOUS 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

occasion 920 OFFEND
I occasion or chance? i
OFF/SWITCHED
OFF
1 ways of saying that a machine or piece of
equipment is switched off
occasion HAPPEN 10
occasion: on one occasion ONCE 1
occasion: rise to the occasion DEAL WITH 4
occasional SOMETIMES 2
occasionally SOMETIMES 1
occupant LIVE SOMEWHERE 9
occupation JOB/WORK 2
occupational JOB/WORK 3
occupied LIVE SOMEWHERE 6
occupied: be occupied USE STH 7
occupier LIVE SOMEWHERE 9
occupy ENTER 4, LIVE SOMEWHERE 2
occur EXIST 1, HAPPEN 1
occur to REALIZE 1
occur to sb THINK STH/HAVE A THOUGHT 1
occurrence HAPPEN 9
ocean: a drop in the ocean LITTLE/NOT MUCH 6
odd APPROXIMATELY 3, STRANGE 1
odd: the odd SOMETIMES 2
odd/funny STRANGE 2, 5
oddball STRANGE 7
oddly enough/funnily enough/strangely enough
STRANGE 2
oddments THING 2
odds PROBABLY 8
odds: be at odds DISAGREE 2
odds: be at odds with DIFFERENT 8
odds: the odds are stacked against you
DISADVANTAGE 3
odds: the odds are stacked in sb's favour
ADVANTAGE 3
odds and ends THING 2
odds on: be odds on to win WIN 8
odour/odor SMELL 1
of BEFORE 5
of course YES 1, 2
of course not NO 1
off DECAY 4, DISTANCE 3, OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1
off: Ј1/$20120p etc off CHEAP 5
off: away/off FUTURE 6
off: be away/off HERE 7, THERE 8
off: be off CANCEL 1, LEAVE A PLACE 4
off: be off to GO 1
off: day off/afternoon off etc HOLIDAY 3
off: I'm off LEAVE A PLACE 2
off: knock Ј1/$20/20p etc off CHEAP 8
off: on and off/off and on REGULAR 2
off: be switched off OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1
off: be turned off OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1
off colour ILL 2
off guard: catch sb off guard READY 7
off-peak BUSY PLACE 5
off-putting UNPLEASANT 1
off
1 ways of saying that a machine or piece of
equipment is switched off
off out
be switched off disconnected
be turned off off the hook
off/of II :f/a machine, light, water supply etc that is off
is not operating [adv/adj not before nounl
Is the cooker off?. I can smell gas. I I thought it was strange
that all the lights were off. I Make sure everything's off before
you leave the house. I go off Suddenly all the lights went off.
be switched off Ibm: ,swt[t 'of/ a machine, piece of
equipment, or light that is switched offhas had its power
supply stopped by moving or turning a control, so it will
not operate [v phrase]
The light was switched off and I couldn't see the door. ] Even
If your car engine is switched off you can still use the hazard
warning lights. [ Don't worry, it's perfectly safe. It's switched
off.
be turned off/bi: ,ta:rnd Iof/a machine, light, or gas
or water supply that is turned off has been made to stop
operating or flowing [v phrase]
Is the TV turned ofjY. [ Make sure the gas fire is turned off
before you go to bed. [ This machine is only really safe when
it is turned off.
out/aot! if a light is out, it is not shining or burning
[adv/adj not before nounl
She must have left the office as her light is out. I go out Sud-
denly all the lights went out.
disconnected /,dIsko'nektod! a machine, telephone,
water supply etc that is disconnected has had its power
supply, water supply, gas supply etc completely removed
so that it can not be used [adj not before noun]
That washing machine doesn't work. It's disconnected. I
When the power was disconnected, he carefully removed the
back of the computer.
off the hook/f 6o 'hok/a telephone that is off the
hook has not been put back correctly or has been arranged
so you cannot receive any calls [adj phrase]
I've been trying to call her for about half an hour. I think
her phone must be off the hook. [ take the phone off the
hook I locked the door and took the phone off the hook so
no one could disturb me.
offbeat/off-beat UNUSUAL 1
offence: capital offence/crime KILL 10
offence: cause offence OFFEND 5
offence: take offence OFFEND 2
offence/offense CRIME 1, ILLEGAL 2
offend OFFEND 1
OFFEND
to make someone angry or upset by doing
something that is socially unacceptable or
that goes against their feelings of what is fair
or morally right
1 to offend someone
2 to feel offended by something that someone
says or does
3 easily offended and upset by things people
say to you

OFFEND 921 OFFEND
4 easily offended and shocked by anything
immoral or connected with sex
5 words for describing behaviour, remarks etc
that offend people
6 unlikely to offend anyone
1 to offend someone
offend
insult
get/put sb's back up
offend/  fend/to make someone angry or upset by doing
something that is socially unacceptable or that goes against
their feelings of what is fair or morally right Iv I/T]
offend sb The new beer commercial will probably offend
older viewers. [ The vulgar sexual nature of the painting
offended me. [ offend sth Films are sometimes banned on
the grounds that they offend common decency. [ offend He
didn't speak during the meeting for fear of saying something
that might offend.
offending [ adj only before noun] Winston read through the
offending article (=the article which had offended people).
insult/n  salt/to make someone very angry or upset by
doing something that shows little respect for them, confi-
dence in their abilities etc Iv T]
He insulted Dina by suggesting that women are less intelli-
gent than men. [ You insulted me by arriving late to my per-
formance - it looks as though you don't care about my
music.[ be insulted Louise was extremely insulted when
everyone left without thanking her for the party.
insult/ msAlt/In C] She took it as a personal insult that you
did not ask her opinion about your book.
get/put sb's back up / get, pot (sb's) bak Ap/an infor-
mal expression meaning to say something that offends and
annoys someone, often accidentally Iv phrase not in
passive]
I think you might have got his back up when you mentioned
his drink problem. I Go and help your father in the garden,
but try not to put his back up, he's in a terrible mood.
2 to feel offended by something that someone
says or does
be offended take exception to
take offence be put out/feel put out
take sth personally
be offended/bi: o'fendIod/Iv phrase]
She'll be offended if you don't say thank you for her help. I
be offended by He's always offended by jokes aimed at Irish
people. I I was offended by the hint of criticism in her voice.
offended [adj] "'She's not coming, "" said Mrs Evans, in an
offended tone.
take offence/teik o'fens/to show that you are very
offended by something that someone says or does, even if
it does not seem serious to other people Iv phrase]
Don't mention her hairstyle. She'll probably take offence. ]
Please don't take offence but I would prefer you not to swear
in front of the children. [ take offence at Don't take offence
at every little suggestion I make, I'm only trying to help. [ be
quick to take offence Some of these liberated women are
quick to take offence if a man holds a door open for them.
take sth personally /tek (sth) p3:rsanali/ to feel
offended by something, especially a criticism, even though
it was not intended to offend one particular person Iv
phrase]
Anna took it personally when the boss said some people were
not working hard enough. I This is a general criticism, so
I hope none of you will take itpersonally. I The annual pay
rise this year is derisory, but please don't take it personally.
It's the fault of the recession.
take exception to / tek ksepan tu:/to make it clear
that you are offended by something that someone has said
or done Iv phrase]
I took exception to what he said about my family. I Paul took
exception to her advice which he said undermined his self-
esteem. I take great exception to I take great exception to
the suggestion that I neglected my responsibilities.
be put out/feel put out/bi: pot aot, fi:l ,pot aot/to
be offended and upset by something that someone has done
to you or said about you, especially because you feel that
it was unfair or unkind Iv phrase]
When she didn't invite me to her party, I was a bit put out. I
He said I was interfering, and I felt very put out. I be put
out about sth She was rather put out about being described
as plain. I feel put out by He's feeling very put out by your
refusal to go and visit him.
3 easily offended and upset by things people
say to you
be easily offended sensitive
touc hy t hi n-ski n ned
be easily offended/bi: ,i:zoIli 'fendod/Iv phrase]
Be careful what you say to Jenny; she's so easily offended. I
be easily offended by Barry gets very easily offended by
comments about his parents" divorce.
touchy /'tAti/ too easily offended, especially so that
people are afraid to t/lk to you, or offer suggestions or
advice [adj]
Our authors get very touchy if you make even the slightest
alteration to their work. I Why are you so touchy today? I
touchy about Although he is a successful manager, he is
very touchy about his lack of qualifications.
touchily [adv] "'You said you didn't like my painting, so
don't buy it out of pity, "" she said touchily.
sensitive/ sensoItw/very easily offended by a particular
thing because you think too much about it [adj]
sensitive about He's sensitive about his bad teeth, so try not
to look at them. I Children nowadays are very sensitive about
being treated in a patronising way. I sensitive Paul is too
sensitive for this job. He can't take even the smallest criticism.
thin-skinned /Om skmd,/ too easily offended and
annoyed by criticism or remarks from other people [adj]
John's terribly thin-skinned, isn "t he? I only said his report
was a little long and he went mad!
4 easily offended and shocked by anything
immoral or connected with sex
prim
prude
prim/prim/offended by anything that is immoral or con-
nected with sex, especially so that other people think you
are old-fashioned or you have no sense of humour [adj]
Jane Meyerhoff was a small, prim-looking woman with grey-
ing hair in a small bun. [ I was surprised when he told such
a rude joke - he always seemed soprim. [ prim and proper
We had to entertain our very prim and proper Swiss aunt
for an evening.
primly [adv] "'I don't approve at all, "" said Gladys primly.
prude/pru:d/someone who is easily offended by anything
that is rude or connected with sex, especially in a way that
other people think is unnecessary In C]
"I don't want to take my shirt off in front of everyone. "" "Oh,
don't be such a prude!'" [ Sarah "s no prude, but she thought
some of the sex scenes were quite shocking.
prudish [adjl The other students sometimes found Yin's
sweetness and prudish innocence rather irritating.
words for describing behaviour, remarks etc
that offend people
offensive objectionable
insulting cause offence
be an insult to
offensive/'fensv/]adj] .
The BBC received a number of complaints about the offen-
sive remarks made during the interview. I Throughout the

OFFEND 922 OFFER
football game a small section of the crowd was chanting
offensive slogans. I offensive to These semi-pornographic
magazines are deeply offensive to women.
offensively [adv] As usual, he got drunk and behaved offen-
sively towards the guests.
Insulting /InsAltIrJ/ behaviour, remarks etc that are
insulting offend someone a lot because they show lack of
respect for them or for their ability, honesty etc [adj]
The film critic's reviews were often insulting. [ He suggested
that we only did the concert for the publicity. I find that
rather insulting.
be an insult to/bi: an ' InsAlt tuff to offend a particular
person or group of people by showing little respect for
someone's intelligence, ability etc Iv phrase]
be an insult to sb's intelligence/ability etc The lesson
was awful. It was an insult to our intelligence. I If I didn't
finish this meal it would be an insult to your superb cook-
ing. I be an insult to sb Pornographic magazines are an
insult to women.
objectionable lab  dsekJ'nbl/something that is objec-
tionable is likely to offend people because it is moratly
unacceptable or very unpleasant [adj]
They found the speaker's racist views objectionable. I Our
policy is to get rid of many of the objectionable features of
capitalism. I highly/deeply objectionable I find it highly
objectionable to have to sit near people who are smoking.
cause offence / ,k:z a'fens/if something that someone
does causes offence, it offends a person or group of people,
especially accidentally Iv phrase]
The publication of photographs of wounded soldiers has
caused offence. I cause offence to I hope I didn't cause
offence to anyone when I left early. I cause great offence
A remark that is considered humorous in one culture can
cause great offence in another.
OFFER
to say that you will give someone something,
help someone etc if they want you to
1 to offer to give someone something
2 to hold something out to someone so that
they can take it if they want it
3 to offer to help someone or to do something
for someone
4 an act of offering something to someone
5 to offer someone money for something that
you want or need
6 an amount of money that has been offered in
exchange for something
6 unlikely to offend anyone
Inoffensive
harmless
innocuous
Inoffensive/,in'fensw/[adj]
He was the nicest, most inoffensive of men. It was impossi-
ble to imagine him getting angry. [ Although the reviews had
said it was a disturbing movie, I found it quite inoffensive,
almost boring. [ His remark about her height was inoffen-
sive, but she seemed rather upset by it.
harmless /'ha:rmlas/something that is harmless does
not cause offence in your opinion, although some people
may not agree [adj]
My mother thinks we play cards for money, but we don't -
it's quite harmless. I Although in my opinion it was a harm-
less documentary, the BBC received five letters of complaint.
innocuous/i'nt)kjuas [[ I'na:k-/a statement, question, or
action that is innocuous is not at all offensive [adjl
The question was perfectly innocuous, but Maria looked
embarrassed. I The decision to extend the supermarket's
opening hours seems fairly innocuous.
offended: be easily offended OFFEND 3
offended: be offended OFFEND 2
offender CRIME 5
offense: offence/offense CRIME 1, ILLEGAL 2
offensive ATTACK 6, OFFEND 5
offensive: be offensive RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
offer OFFER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, PROVIDE 1
offer: be on offer CHEAP 5
offer: make an offer OFFER 5
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to offer to give someone something
offer
offer/'Df r II ,o:-/to ask someone ifthey want to have
something that you are able to give them Iv T]
offer sb sth They offered him a very good salary, but he
turned it down. I He offered me a cup of tea before I left. I She
was offered a job on a local newspaper. I offer sth The school
offers this scholarship every year.
 to hold something out to someone so that
they can take it if they want it
offer
hold out
offer/Dfa r II 'a:-, 'o:-I to offer food, a drink etc to some-
one so that they can take it if they want it Iv T]
offer sth to sb Mary came around offering chocolate to
everyone. I offer sb sth He offered me a cigarette. "'No
thanks, I've quit," I replied.
hold out/,haold taut/to hold out something in front of you
so that someone can take it if they want it [phr v T]
hold out sth "'Here, borrow mine, "she said, holding out an
umbrella. I He unscrewed the cap and held out the bottle. "'A
quick drink, Jim?"
;3 to offer to help someone or to do something
for someone
offer come forward
volunteer let me
offer/'f0 r II 'o:-/Iv I/T]
offer to do sth Paul offered to lend him some money, but
he said no. I offer sb sth Let me offer you some advice. I offer
sth to sb A telephone helpline has been set up to offer coun-
selling to children with problems. I offer sth People are
always ready to offer advice on how you should bring up
your kids. I offer It was nice of her to offer, but I couldn't
let her pay for the meal.

OFFER 923 OFTEN
volunteer/,volan'tla r II ,vo:-/to offer to do something,
usually something that other people do not want to do Iv
I/T]
volunteer to do sth dill volunteered to go with me to the
hospital. I volunteer for sth No one would volunteer for
such. a horrible job. I volunteer help/advice/suggestions
etc A number of experts volunteered their advice, in an
attempt to solve the problem. I volunteer "Someone should
tell him what we think. "' "'What? Are you volunteering then?'"
come forward /kAm fa:rward/to offer to give help,
information, money etc, especially after someone has pub-
licly requested something Iv phrase]
come forward to do sth None of the parents came forward
to help with the school party. I come forward The number
of operations may have to be limited unless more blood
donors come forward. I come forward with The negotia-
tions will come to an end unless someone comes forward with
a new proposal.
let me/let mi:/you say let me do something when you
are offering to do it
Let me get you a drink. I Let me help you with those bags. I
No, it's more complicated than that, let me explain.
4 an act of offering something to someone
offer
offer/'Dfa r II 'a:-I In c]
Thanks for your offer. I'll think about it. ] I had an offer of
a job in advertising, which sounded great. I accept an offer
He suggested that I stay the night, and I accepted this offer
gratefully. I refuse/decline/turn down an offer He
turned down the offer of a free trip to Milan.
 to offer someone money for something that
you want or need
offer
make an offer
bid
offer/'Dfa r II ,o=-I Iv T]
offer sb $100/a lot of money etc for sth I've offered him
Ј2000for the car. I offer sb $100/a lot of money etc to do
sth Chaldon was offered a huge salary to become team
manager. I offer $100/a lot of money etc The police are
offering a large reward.
make an offer /meik an 'fa r [[ -':-/to offer a particu-
lar amount of money for something such as a house or a
job Iv phrase]
Has anyone made an offer yet for the house?[ make sb an
offer The company made them an offer which was very
generous. [ make sb an offer they can't refuse (=persuade
them by offering a very large amount of money) I didn't
particularly want to sell the business, but they made me an
offer I couldn't refuse.
bid/bid/to offer to pay a particular amount of money for
something you want to buy, in competition with other
people Iv I/T]
bid $10/Ј20 etc for sth At the auction I bid Ј10 for a small
mirror, but it sold for Ј25. [ bid for sth Competition between
the two companies bidding for the contract is fierce. [ bid
against sb Two men were bidding against each other for
the table until the price reached over $4000.
bidder In C] The equipment will be sold to the highest bidder
(=the person who bids the highest amount).
6 an amount of money that has been offered in
exchange for something
offer
bid
offer/'Dfa r II 'o:-/In c]
I'll sell the car if Igor an offer over $5000. I offer for sth We
have already received several offers for the land. I accept an
offer Although the town council want to sell Lanham Hall
they will only accept offers on condition that it is repaired
and restored.
bid Ibdl an offer to pay a particular amount of money for
something, when other people are also offering different
amounts of money, and hoping to buy it In C]
The highest bid for the piano was only Ј400, so we decided
not to sell it after all. I put in/submit/make a bid (=say
how much you will pay) A number of companies have sub-
mitted a bid to buy the chain of restaurants.
offhand DON'T CARE 5
office: hold office GOVERNMENT 5
office: in office POWER 3
office: take office POWER 4
officialdom GOVERNMENT 3
officially PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATE 1
officious TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 9
offing: be in the offing SOON 5
offload GIVE 16
offset EQUAL 7
offspring CHILD 2
often OFTEN 1
often/oftentimes OFTEN 3
often: all too often/only too often TOO/TOO MUCH 1
often: every so often SOMETIMES 1
often: how often OFTEN 5
often: not often RARELY 1
OFTEN
ways of saying that something happens or is
done on many occasions
ways of saying what someone or something
often does, especially when this is bad,
annoying etc
ways of saying that something happens in
many cases
words for describing something that often
happens or someone who often does
something
how often something happens
1 ways of saying that something happens or is
done on many occasions
often many a time
frequently
time after time/
time and time again
repeatedly
often I'Dfan, 'Dftan II
hundreds/thousands
of times
half the time
I often see her walkingpast with the children on the way to
school. I Yes - we go there quite often. I Dad wasn't often
angry so I knew something terrible must have happened. I
It's not often that you see a grass snake these days - they've
become quite rare.
frequently/' fri:kwantli/a word meaning often, used espe-
cially in writing or formal speech lady]
Anger and contempt seem to be the emotions most frequently
expressed in elections. I You have to be willing to change jobs
frequently if you want to get to the top in business. I Fre-
quently, she would find herself gazing out of the window lost
in thought.
time after time/time and time again/,mm a:fta r
tam, tam and tam a gen II -af-/if you say that something
happens time after time or time and time again, you
mean that it happens often over a long period, especially
in a way that is surprising or annoying [adv phrase]
Sue always says she's going to divorce her husband, but time
after time she goes back to him. I Time after time we were
told "'it's impossible, it can't be done." I Time and time again
the police are having to deal with road accidents which could
easily have been avoided.

OFTEN 924 OFTEN
repeatediy /r[Ipi:tldli/ if something is done or said
repeatedly, it is done very often, especially because some-
one is trying hard to explain something, achieve some-
thing, persuade someone etc lady]
Cardinal Tomasek has repeatedly spoken out for religious
freedom. [ The Mongols tried repeatedly to invade Japan
from the Chinese mainland. [ The prisoners repeatedly pro-
tested their innocence and were eventually granted a re-trial.
many a time/,meni o talm/ an expression used espe-
cially in stories: if someone has done something or some-
thing has happened many a time in the past, they have
done it often or it has happened often lady phrase]
He had been there many a time, and knew everyone well. [
Many a time she had wondered what was behind that door.
hundredsllhousands of times /hAndrdz, 10aozondz
ov ta:mz/ if you say that someone has done something
hundreds or thousands of times, you mean that they
have done it very often lady phrase]
It was a sound he'd heard thousands of times before. I My
grandmother must have spoken to him hundreds of times
but, surprisingly, she didn't know his name. I I've been
rejected hundreds of times but if you don't try you never will
get a job, will you?
half the time/ho:f 6o taim II hef-/if you say that half
the time something happens or is done, especially some-
thing bad or annoying, you mean that it happens or is done
very often lady phrasel
Half the time he doesn't seem to know what he's doing. I This
computer is useless. It doesn't work half the time and when
it does it's so slow.
2 ways of saying what someone or something
often does, especially when this is bad,
annoying etc
tend to do sth
be apt to do sth
have a tendency
to do sth
be inclined to do sth
with annoying/shocking
etc regularity
have a habit of doing sth
tend to do sth/,tend to 'du: (sth)/to often do a particu-
lar thing, especially something that is bad or annoying [v
phrase not in progressive]
Dave tends to arrive late, so don't worry yet. I The problem
with this model of car is that the gearbox tends to seize up. I
My father tends to interfere too much in other people's busi-
ness. I The banks tended to employ only white middle-class
men.
be apt to do sth/bi: ,ept to du: (sth)/to often do some-
thing or be likely to do something, especially at a particu-
lar time or in a particular situation [v phrase]
He was apt to get very upset when things went wrong. I The
pond was apt to dry up during summer, causing us great
inconvenience.
have a tendency to do sth/hev o tendonsi to 'du:
(sth)/to often do something and be more likely to do it than
others are [v phrase not in progressive]
Divorced people have a tendency to live with new partners
rather than marry again. I It's poor quality cloth, with a ten-
dency to shrink.
be inclined to do sth/bi: ;nklalnd to 'du: (sth)/to do
something fairly often or be fairly likely to do something,
especially because you have a particular kind of charac-
ter Iv phrase]
If she sees clothes that she likes, she's inclined to buy them
immediately. I Victor is inclined to be somewhat domineer-
ing. I Middle-class victims are more inclined to contact the
police.
with annoying/shocking etc regularity /wI(3
(annoying etc) regjOtlerti/ if something happens with
annoying, shoeldng ete regularity, it happens often and
this makes you feel annoyed, shocked etc lady phrase]
These attacks happen with shocking regularity on the streets
of New York. I The computer system is breaking down with
annoying regularity these days.
have a habit of doing sth/hev o ,hebt ov 'du:o (sth)l
an expression meaning to do something many times, used
especially when you are warning someone that it may
happen again [v phrase not in progressive]
Be careful not to annoy the boss. He has a habit of losing his
temper. I We shouldn't rule out a Democrat victory yet. These
things have a habit of changing just when you least expect it.
3 ways of saying that something happens in
many cases
often/oftentimes
frequently
often (also oftentimes in American English)/'ofn,
'DfntaImz II '3:f-/[advl
Children from poor families often do less well at school. [ We
often find that women are better at helping and advising
people than men. [ Oftentimes it's best just to let the burn heal
itself without putting anything on it. [ As is so often the case,
she had no idea that her husband was HIV positive.
frequently/' fri:kw0ntli/a word used especially in writ-
ing and in formal speech meaning often [adv]
Frequently it is the children who suffer most when their par-
ents decide to get divorced. [ When a large factory closes
down, workers are frequently unable to find new employment
because too many people are chasing too few jobs.
4 words for describing something that often
happens or someone who often does
something
frequent
repeated
habitual
frequent/'fri:kwont/[adj]
The doctor recommended frequent salt baths to help the
wound heal [ Most local radio station managers have close
and frequent contact with community organizations. I As the
treatment began to take effect, her headaches became less
frequent. I frequent visitor/user/correspondent ete
(=someone who visits, uses something etc frequently) Miss
Collins has been a frequent visitor at his home, ever since his
wife died.
repeated Ir 'pi:td/repeated actions are done on several
occasions, especially because they do not have any effect
at first [adj only before noun]
There have been repeated requests for the United Nations to
send peace-keeping forces to the area. [ The torture involved
repeated beatings and electric shock treatment. I Despite
repeated blood transfusions, he failed to recover.
habitual /ho'bltfuol/ habitual gesture/attitude/ten-
dency etc (=one that someone makes often or uses often
because it is a habit of theirs) [adj]
The Prime Minister passed his hand across his face, a
habitual gesture. [ She has a habitual tendency to overesti-
mate difficulties. [habitual drinker/smoker/offender
etc (=someone who does something bad such as drinking,
smoking etc very often) He was not a habitual drinker and
the wine soon went to his head.
habitually lady] Bernstein habitually arrived at airports
just moments before departure.
5 how often something happens
how often the number of times
how many times frequency
how often/hao 'ofan II -'a:f-/[adv phrase]
How often do you go to church? [ What should you feed a
puppy and how often? [ When Peter said I was heartless it
made me wonder how often I'd shown my lack of sympathy.[
It's amazing how often this kind of thing happens.
how many times/,hao meni 'talmz/[adv phrase]
how many times a week/month ete How many times a
week do you go swimming? l The doctor wanted to know how
many times I went to the toilet in a day.

OFTEN 925 OLD-FASHION ED
the number of times/6 ,nAmbor ov 'tazmz/ exactly
how often something happens [n phrase]
The rate of respiration is the number of times the patient
breathes in and out during a given period. [ Try to increase
the number of times you exercise per week. [ The computer
can tell you the number of times a word occurs in a piece of
writing such as a book.
frequency/'fri:kwnsi/the number of times that some-
thing happens during a particular period of time [n U]
frequency of sth The frequency of mining accidents has
steadily decreased over the past 20years. [ high frequency
(=happening very often) The high frequency of cases of diar-
rhoea is attributable to poor food hygiene. [ with increas-
ing frequency (=more and more frequently) Crimes of this
type are happening with increasing frequency.
ogle LOOK AT 8
OK: be all right/OK GOOD ENOUGH 1
OK." be OK GOOD/EXCELLENT 9
OK: be OK for/be all right for ENOUGH 5
OK: that's all right/that's OK THANK 6
OK/okay YES 2, 3
okay LET/ALLOW 8
okay/OK/alright/all right NEW 2
old BEFORE 6, OLD/NOT NEW 1, 2, OLD/NOT
YOUNG 1
old: be 5/50/100 years old etc AGE3
old: get/grow old OLD/NOT YOUNG 6
old: how old AGE 1
old age OLD/NOT YOUNG 1
old age pensioner: pensioner/old age pensioner
OLD/NOT YOUNG 7
old as the hills OLD/NOT NEW 1
old days: in the old days PAST 3
old-fashioned FASHIONABLE 8, OLD-FASHIONED 1, 2, 5
old flame GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND 1
old fogey OLD-FASHIONED 3
old guard OLD-FASHIONED 3
old hand EXPERIENCED 1
old man FATHER 1
old school: of the old school OLD-FASHIONED 5
old-time OLD-FASHIONED 5
old wives' tale BELIEVE 14
old I
CONDITION/
STATE OF STH
BEFORE
OLD-FASHIONED
typical of a time in the past, and unsuitable
in the modern world
1 words for describing old-fashioned machines,
equipment, or methods
= words for describing old-fashioned people
and their opinions or behaviour
3 someone who is very old-fashioned in their
ideas and opinions
4 words for describing ideas, methods etc that
are so old-fashioned that they seem stupid in
the modern world
pleasantly old-fashioned in a way that
reminds you of nice things from the past
1 words for describing old-fashioned machines,
equipment, or methods
old-fashioned obsolete
out-of-date/out of date dated
outdated be on the way out
antiquated
old.fashioned l,uld 'faJ'nd,,l [adj]
The local telephone exchange is very old-fashioned and is
about to be replaced by a computerized system. [ Some
farmers manage to get a good crop yield even when they use
old-fashioned machinery and methods. [ Mine's a good old-
fashioned wind-up watch - and it never goes wrong.
out-of.date/out of date Iaut v det/information,
knowledge, laws etc that are out-of-date are no longer
useful because they belong to the past and have not been
changed to make them modern [adj]
This guide book is five years old, it must be very out of date. [
The newspaper printed an out-of-date photo of Ms McKay. [
When hospital files were checked, test results for cancer were
found to be as much as four months out of date. [ A signifi-
cant proportion of what children are studying at school will
be out of date within the space of a few years.
outdated /,aot'deltd/ outdated equipment/
methods/customs etc (=no longer effective or useful in
comparison with modern equipment, ways of doing things
etc) [adj]
Many customs which were outdated twenty years ago seem
to have becorae popular again. I Her teaching methods are
so outdated. I The packaging is outdated and so is the
product.
antiquated/entkweztd/very old and old-fashioned
and no longer suitable for modern needs [adj]
The country's power stations are antiquated and 10 new ones
have to be built. [ My mother's antiquated old vacuum
cleaner still works, believe it or not.
obsolete/ vbszli:t [[ a:bs li:t/machines or equipment
that are obsolete are no longer useful because they have
been replaced by something newer and better [adj]
The computer is going to make the ordinary typewriter obso-
lete. [ Large stockpiles of obsolete weapons are to be scrapped.
dated / detId/language, literature, clothes etc that are
dated were once fashionable but now very clearly belong
to the past [adj]
Just look at the hairstyles in this photo - they're so dated![
The language was one of the aspects of the play which made
it appear very dated.
be on the way out/bi: on 6z we: aot/to be gradually
becoming less popular or common after having been very
popular or fashionable Iv phrase]
It is said that coal is on the way out and will be replaced by
nuclear energy. [ House music was all the rage for a while,
but now it's definitely on its way out.
 words for describing old-fashioned people
and their opinions or behaviour
old-fashioned be living in the past
outdated unfashionable
outmoded straitlaced
be behind the times
old.fashioned/,old 'fand/[adj]
Mr Griffiths is a real old-fashioned teacher who still believes
that learning lessons by heart is the best method. [ She dresses
in quite an old-fashioned way. [ The judge's views were
predictable and old-fashioned. [ Her father is very old-
fashioned and doesn't approve of her going to night-clubs
with us.

OLD-FASHIONED 926 OLD-FASHIONED
outdated /,aut'de:toId/ outdated views/attitudes/
opinions (=belonging to a particular time in the past but
now no longer suitable for the modern world) [adj]
Craig has outdated views on the role that women should play
in modern society. [ Your attitude to bringing up children
is outdated and unrealistic.
outmoded /aotrnaodd/ outmoded belief/attitude/
way of thinking etc (=once popular but not useful any-
more) [adj usually before noun]
The views of many of the senior professors reflect outmoded
concepts and ideas. I The government's outmoded attitudes
are dragging the whole country back into the nineteenth
century.
be behind the times/bi: bi Ihaxnd 6 Italmz/ira person
or organization is behind the times, they are old-
fashioned because they have not changed while the world
around them has changed Iv phrase]
I'm afraid I'm a bit behind the times - what exactly is a fax
machine? I The company is behind the times and losing out
to its competitors on style.
be living in the past/bi: lxvirj in 6 pa:st [[ -'pest/to
think and behave as fflffe is still like it was when you were
young, especially because you do not like the modern world
Iv phrase]
Dad, you have to stop living in the past. Everything's
changed since you were young. ] A political party that still
believes in white supremacy is living in the past.
unfashionable/^n'ffanbal/a belief or attitude that is
unfashionable is no longer fashionable or popular [adj]
Smoking has become very unfashionable in the last ten
years. ] it is unfashionable to do sth It's unfashionable
these days to say you want to get married and give up your
job, isn't it?
straitlaced /,stret'leIst/ having a very strong, old-
fashioned attitude to moral behaviour Iadjl
My aunt's very straitlaced and would be shocked if you men-
tioned sex. I Vicars are traditionally thought to be boring
and straitlaced men, but in fact this is rarely true.
3 someone who is very old-fashioned in their
ideas and opinions
ruddy duddy old guard
old fogey traditionalist
fuddy duddy/' fAdi ,dAdi/a person who you think is old-
fashioned and boring because they disapprove of new ideas
and are unwilling to change their attitudes In C]
Don't be such a fuddy duddy. You don't have to wear a hat
nowadays. I The advertisement campaign made the Presi-
dent look like a fuddy duddy with ridiculously old-fashioned
ideas.
fuddy-duddy [adj] She has some rather fuddy-duddy ideas
about what is proper music.
old fogey /,void ,foogi/someone, usually an old person,
who you think is old-fashioned because they prefer old-
fashioned ideas and ways of doing things to modern ones
[nC]
The old fogies all sit together and talk about the old days.I
This country is being run by a bunch of old fogies - we need
some fresh blood, people with initiative.
old guard /old ga:rd/ a group of people with old-
fashioned opinions, who have been in an organization or
society for a long time and oppose anyone who wants to
change things In singular used with singular orplural verb
in British English]
Inevitably, the revolution is affecting the old guard much
more than the rest of us. I The party's old guard have their
own candidate for leader.
traditionalist/tro'dJ'anlst/a person who believes that
the old ways of doing things are the best, and who does not
like modern methods or ideas In C]
I'm something of a traditionalist myself, I'd much rather use
pen and paper than a word-processor. I There are still many
traditionalists in the church who strongly oppose the idea
of women priests.
4 words for describing ideas, methods etc that
are so old-fashioned that they seem stupid in
the modern world
medieval anachronism
out of the ark archaic
dinosaur Dickensian
medieval I,medi'i:val- II ,mi:-/extremely old-fashioned
and therefore annoying [adj]
I find his medieval opinions on women's rights extremely
hard to accept. I positively medieval (=very medieval)
This so-called accounting system is positively medieval.
out of the ark/aot av 5i 'o:rk/an informal, humorous
British word meaning extremely old-fashioned [adjphrase]
Her views on social policy are embarrassing - really out of
the ark. I Their typewriter looks like it came out of the ark
- it's about time they got a new one.
dinosaur/'danasa:r/a system, organization etc that is
very old-fashioned and large and cannot continue to exist
in the modern world In C usually singular]
The Health Service has become a dinosaur. It needs radical
reform if it is to survive.
anachronism /'nmkmnzam/ something such as an
organization or custom that belongs to a time in the past,
and therefore appears very strange in the modern world
In C usually singular]
The harvest festival celebrations in the town are an
anachronism since almost everyone who lives there nowa-
days works in an office. I It has been argued that the consti-
tution is an indefensible anachronism.
anachronistic/nekromstk/[adj] Many people believe
that the role of the Royal Family in Britain is anachronistic.
archaic/o: r 'kex-ik] archaic system/law/language etc
(=one that was used a long time ago but which is now con-
sidered too old-fashioned and needs replacing) [adj]
The text was full of archaic spellings. I The laws that decide
who owns items discovered on an archeological exploration
are ridiculously archaic.
Dickenslan/di kenzin/buildings, conditions etc that
are Dickensian are extremely old-fashioned and below
acceptable standards, for example because they are danger-
ous or unhealthy [adj]
They were living in a Dickensian apartment block without
proper heating or running water. I positively Diekensian
The working conditions in the factory were positively
Dickensian.
5 pleasantly old-fashioned in a way that
reminds you of nice things from the past
old-fashioned of the old school
quaint olde worlde
old-time
old.fashioned/,old 'feand/[adj]
She was wearing a pretty old-fashioned bonnet with lace
around the edge. I He was a nice, old-fashioned gentleman
who would hold open the door for you, or offer to carry your
bags. I Computers are no substitute for good, old-fashioned
personal service.
quaint /kweinq quaint cottage/custom/clothes etc
(=old-fashioned and attractive, but often in a way that you
find a little strange or amusing) [adj]
We spent our vacation in a quaint cottage that had been built
at the beginning of the century. I The boys in the photograph
look so quaint in their caps and short pants.
old-time /'aold taxm! a word used especially in American
English for describing something that is pleasantly old-
fashioned because it belongs to the past and has special
qualities that no longer exist in the modern world [adj only
before noun]
The flavor was delicious, like old-time country butter. I In
my music collection I have records by such old-time greats
as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Lotte Lehmann.

OLD-FASHIONED 92? OLD/NOT YOUNG
of the old school/av 6i 'aold ,sku:l/someone who is of
the old school has qualities or values which are no longer
common, especially when these are good and well respected
[ adj phrase ]
Colonel Stredl was an officer of the old school and was
respected and well liked by the local community. I The image
he had of Grandma was of a real English lady of the old
school.
aide worlde/,aoldi 'w3:rldi/a word used especially in
British English for describing something, especially a shop
or room, that has deliberately been made to look old-
fashioned so that people will think it is more attractive [adj
phrase]
I like your kitchen; it's very olde worlde. I Some misguided
architect had created an olde worlde tea shop in the modern
shopping centre.
OLD/NOT NEW
1 words for describing something that has
existed for a long time
2 words for describing something that has been
used and so is no longer new
3 old and valuable
1 words for describing something that has
existed for a long time
old be as old as the hills
ancient ancient
age-old be years old
old/avld/[adj]
Our house is very old. I She wore running shoes and an old
pair of blue jeans. I Do you have any old newspapers that
you don't want? l Most of their weapons were far too old to
be of much use against tanks and machine guns. I one of the
oldest established banks in the UK I There's an old Scottish
custom that the wife has to look after all the family's finan-
cial affairs.
ancient/'enSant/ancient customs, buildings, civiliza-
tions etc existed many hundreds of years ago [adj]
The story of King Arthur is based on an ancient Celtic
legend. [ Rome is famous for its ancient monuments such as
the Coliseum and the Forum. [ The custom of kissing people
under the mistletoe is ancient, dating back to pre-Christian
times.
age-old /eld 5 aold/age-old custom/tradition/ritual/
symbol/saying etc (=one that has existed for a very long
time) [adj only before noun]
The vine is an age-old symbol of peace and prosperity. [ The
ladies who lived next door were full of age-old proverbs and
sayings. I man's age-old fear of snakes
be as old as the hills/bi: az ,aold oz 6a 'hI1z/stories,
jokes, customs etc that are as old as the hills are so old
that no one remembers when they were first invented [v
phrase]
He's so boring - all his jokes are as old as the hills and he
laughs every time he tells them. I I don 't know where the story
comes from - it must be as old as the hills.
ancient/'exnSant/an informal word meaning very old,
used especially for describing machines, equipment etc
[adj]
This refrigerator is ancient - it's time we bought a new one. I
He drives an ancient Ford convertible - it must be at least
30 years old.
be years old/bi: jIarz ,aold/an informal expression: if
you say that something is years old, you mean it is very
old [v phrase]
"'How long have you had that sweater? .... Oh it's years old
- my boyfriend bought it for my 18th birthday."
2 words for describing something that has been
used and so is no longer new
old
second-hand
used
old laoldl no longer new [adj only before noun]
I was the youngest one in the family so I had to wear all my
sisters' old clothes. I Can you lend me a piece of paper - it
doesn't matter if it's an old one, I just need omething to write
on.
second-hand /sekand hand*/ second-hand books/
cars/clothes/furniture etc (=ones that have already been
owned by someone else when you buy them) [adj]
It's easy to find good, cheap second-hand clothes at the
market. I I love looking for second-hand books - you can
often find some real bargains.
used/ju:zd/a used car is one that has already been owned
by someone else when you buy it [adj only before noun]
You can buy a two year old used Ford Mustang, still in good
condition, for half the price of a new one.
3 old and valuable
antique
vintage
antique/,een'ti:k-/antique furniture, clocks, guns etc
are valuable because they are old and of very good quality
[adj]
She makes her living buying and selling antique china. I The
typewriter was so old it was practically antique.
antique [n C] a little shop that sells antiques (=antique
objects)
vintage / vntds/vintage champagne/wine/car (=old
and one of the best of its type) [adj only before noun]
The family owns a museum full of vintage cars. I They
lunched on lobster and strawberries accompanied by a fine
vintage champagne.
OLD/NOT YOUNG
no longer young
older than someone else
older than anyone else
informal expressions meaning too old to do
something
words for describing an old person whose
face looks very old
to become old or start to look old
an old person who has stopped working
words for describing hospitals, medical care
etc for old people
to be almost a particular age, especially when
this is older than you would expect
1 no longer young
old
elderly
aged
ageing/aging
ancient
be getting on
not be as young as you were
old age
old/aold/[adj]
Old people often have difficulty climbing stairs. I When I'm
old I want to have lots of money so I can travel around the
world. I The cottage was owned by a little old lady who had
three cats. I We didn't know any of the bands that they were
talking about - it made us feel incredibly old. I the old (=old
people) The old, the sick and the wounded have been allowed
to leave.

OLD/NOT YOUNG
elderly/'eldrli/a polite word meaning old [adj]
Many of our members are elderly and have to manage on
very low incomes. I The photograph was of an elderly, rather
dignified-looking gentleman with a white moustache. I the
elderly (=old people) The building has now been converted
into a retirement home for the elderly.
aged/'ed3d/very old [adj]
Jane's aged mother spends most of the time complaining. I
the aged (=very old people) President Roosevelt set up pro-
grams to provide health care for the poor and the aged.
ageing/aging/'ed3/ageing rock star/movie star/
hippy/romeo ete (=one who is becoming old, especially
in an unattractive way, and seems too old to be a rock star,
film star etc) [adj only before noun]
These days most of the houses in the Hollywood Hills are
owned by aging movie stars and rich businessmen. I On
Saturday nights the bar was filled with ageing hippies with
Grateful Dead T-shirts and straggly beards.
an©lent/exnfant/a humorous but slightly unkind word
meaning very old [adj]
The man who owns the truck stop looks ancient: I'd say he
must have fought in the First World War. [ The door was
opened by an ancient butler in a dusty black uniform.
be getting on/bi: getir] nl an informal expression
meaning to be fairly old [v phrase]
Now that my uncle is getting on a bit he doesn 't play golf any
more. [ getting on in years She's getting on in years now
- she must be in her late 60s.
not be as young as you were/nt bi: z j^rj z ju:
w3: r! if you say you are not as young as you were, you
mean you are getting old, especially so that you are not
strong enough or healthy enough to do things that you used
to do Iv phrase]
I'm starting to feel tired - I guess I'm not as young as I used
to be. [ Cromartie only hit one home run in the whole series
- he's not as young as he once was.
old age/old 'eldS-/the period in someone's life when
they are old, or the state of being old In U]
in your old age (=when you are old) Iremember her in her
old age sitting by the fire and quietly singing to herself.[ I
didn't used to care what clothes I wore - perhaps I'm getting
fussy in my old age. [ die of old age (=die because you are
old) There wasn't anything significantly wrong with him -
he just died of old age. [ do sth into old age (=continue to
do it when you are old) People can enjoy an active life well
into old age if they do not smoke and are careful about what
they eat.
2 older than someone else
older
elder
elders
older/'oldr/[adj]
I used to have to wear all my older brother's old clothes. [
People say that older people need less sleep. [ older than Her
husband's a lot older than she is - I think she only married
him for his money.
elder/eldr/elder sister/brother/daughter/son ete
(=one who is older) [adj only before noun; not used with
than]
The two elder children looked just like their mother. [ John
always envied his elder brother for his success with girls.
elders/ eldrz/your elders are people who are older than
you, such as your parents or teachers, and who you should
therefore respect and be polite to In plural]
Don't be so cheeky! You shouldn "t talk to your elders like that!
3 older than anyone else
oldest
eldest
oldest/'ooldstl [adj]
The oldest woman in America is 110 years old. [ There are
20 students in the class, and I'm the oldest.
928
OLD/NOT YOUNG
eldest/'eldest/eldest son/daughter/brother/sister etc
(=the oldest one) [adj]
My eldest daughter is studying French in Paris. [ I'm the
eldest - my brother's two years younger than me.
4 informal expressions meaning too old to do
something
be past it
be over the hill
be a bit long in the tooth
be past it/bi: ,pa:st It II -'peest-I Iv phrase]
Talbot's past it - he should have given up playing basket-
ball long ago. I I'm starting to think I'm past it - I'm not
nearly as quick as I used to be.
be over the hill Ibi: ,oovo r 6 'hill if you are over the
hill, you are no longer young or attractive, and your mental
and physical abilities are getting weaker Iv phrase]
Some of these young people think that when you're 30you're
already over the hill. I He's always chasing after younger
women, but they all think he's over the hill.
be a bit long in the tooth/hi:  bt lorj n 8a 'tu:O [[
-, l:rj-/a humorous British expression meaning old, espe-
cially too old to do something Iv phrase]
A lot of the top English players are getting a bit long in the
tooth - Lineker's past 30.
5 words for describing an old person whose
face looks very old
wrinkled
wizened
wrinkled I'rirjkaldl skin that is wrinkled has lines on it
that are caused by old age [adj]
Her face looked old and wrinkled in the morning sunlight. [
At the far end of the market a wrinkled old woman sat smok-
ing a pipe.
wizened/wzand/a wizened old man or woman has a
small, bent body and lines on their skin because they are
very old [adj]
The door was opened by a wizened old man clutching a walk-
ing stick. I He barely recognized her wizened face and hag-
gard features.
6 to become old or start to look old
get/grow old ageing/aging
age show your age
get/grow old/,get, ,gmo 'oldl [v phrase]
I must be getting old! lOyears ago I could have run up this
hill! [ He looks worn out - I think he's getting rather too old
for all these late nights and parties. [ grow olfl gracefully
(=accept old age easily) She wanted to grow old gracefully,
and retire to a cottage in the country.
age/eds/if someone ages, they change so that they look
older, because they have lived a long time or because they
have suffered a lot over a long time [v I]
Her face had aged quite dramatically since I last saw her. [
Western men tend to age much more quickly than Japanese
men.
ageing/aging/'eld3iq/the process of becoming old In U]
Our society is full of negative attitudes towards ageing and
old people. I Scientists in California believe they may have
discovered a way to delay the aging process. [ premature
ageing/aging (=ageing earlier than usual) His hair was
white and he showed signs of premature ageing.
show your age/foo j:r 'eId3/if someone shows their
age, they look older, or they talk or behave in a way that
makes other people realize they are old Iv phrase]
She's still very beautiful, but she's starting to show her age
now. [ "'I saw dimi Hendrix in concert. .... Careful Michael
- you're showing your age!"

OLD/NOT YOUNG 929 ONION TOP OF
7 an old person who has stopped working
senior citizen/senior
pensioner/old age pensioner
retired
senior citizen (also senior in American English)
/Isi:ni r Slttzan, 'si:nir/[n C]
The normal admission fee for the museum is 50francs but
senior citizens and students are allowed in half-price. [
Seniors can enjoy an active healthy life well into their 80s.
pensioner/old age pensioner / IpenSana r, =aold eId5
penSanar/British words meaning an old person who has
stopped working In C]
Pensioners receive less than Ј50 a week from the government
for a single person, Ј80 for a married couple. [ In the day-
time the buses are always packed out with pensioners.
relired/r'taard/a retired person is someone who is old
and has stopped working [adj]
Our neighbours were an old retired couple. I The company
specializes in holidays for retired people.
words for describing hospitals, medical care
etc for old people
geriatric
geriatric/,d3eri'etrIk-/[adj only before noun]
Geriatric hospitals are often severely under-staffed. I The
clinic specializes in geriatric medicine.
9 to be almost a particular age, especially when
this is older than you would expect
be getting on for
be pushing
be getting on for/bi ,getIrj n f:r/be getting on for
50/65/80 etc (=an expression meaning to be almost a par-
ticular age, used when you do not know exactly what age
someone is, but you know that they are quite old) [vphrase]
Old Willis must be getting on for sixty-five. I The queen was
getting on for eighty and only the elderly could remember her
coronation.
be pushing/bi poJ'n3/be pushing 40/50/65 etc (=to be
almost a particular age, especially when this is quite old
to be doing a particular activity) Iv phrase]
When you're pushing seventy it's not surprising when you
start forgetting things. I What astonishes me is the ease with
which this man, pushing sixty, can play his trumpet for
hours at a time.
olde worlde OLD-FASHIONED 5
olden times: in olden times/in the olden days
older OLD/NOT YOUNG 2
oldest OLD/NOT YOUNG 3
omen SIGN/INDICATION 1
ominous WARN 5
omission NOT DO STH 3
omit INCLUDE 6
omit to do sth NOT DO STH :3
on
on:
on:
on:
on:
on:
on:
PAST 3
ABOUT 1, FORWARD 1, ONION TOP OF 1, ON/
SWITCHED ON 1, TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME 1
be on COOK 3, EARN 1, HAPPEN 6,
TELEVISION/RADIO 4
be on me/her etc PAY FOR 9
be onsb BUY3
be on sth DRUG 3, MEMBER 2
drive on/play on/read on/walk on etc
CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1
have a lot on/have a lot going on BUSY/HAVE A
LOT TO DO 1
on and off/off and on REGULAR 2
on-going CONTINUOUS 1
on-stream WORKING/NOT BROKEN 2
on top of the world HAPPY 2
on your side: have youth/experience etc on your side
ADVANTAGE 3
on
ONION TOP OF
on or on top of something
to stay on the surface of water and not go
down into it
1 on or on top of something
on be lying on
on top of be standing on
be sitting on
on In II a:n, o:n/on the surface of something [prep]
There are no more chairs - you'll have to sit on the floor. I
Richard put the letter down on the table. [ Neil Armstrong
was the first human ever to set foot on the Moon.
on top of/on top v II -Ita:p-/on the highest part of some-
thing tall [prep]
On top of the church was a large illuminated cross. I The
plane crashed on top of Sugarbush Mountain, in Vermont.[
one on top of the other (=in a pile) The bottles rattled as
Joey stacked the crates one on top of the other.
be sitting on/bi: stIr3 n/to be in an upright position
on a surface Iv phrase]
The telephone was sitting on the floor near the bed. [ Sitting
on the mantelpiece were two photographs - one of my sister
and one of me.
be lying on Ibi: la-rj n/to be in a flat position on a
surface Iv phrase]
There were several books lying on the table. I Rushing out
of the apartment she almost missed the note that was lying
on the doormat.
be standing on/bi: 'stend3 on/something, especially
something tall, that is standing on a surface is in an
upright position on that surface Iv phrase]
Four bottles of wine were standing on the shelf. I The red
cloth parted and fell to reveal a statue, standing on a base
of green marble.
to stay on the surface of water and not go
down into it
float
afloat
stay up
float/flzut/to be supported on the surface of water by the
water itself Iv I]
Annie was floating on her back in the water. I They could
see something pale and white floating in the water. I float
along/down ete (=go somewhere while floating) The logs
from the forest float down the river to the woodyard.
floating [adj] Some tropical rivers are covered with float-
ing vegetation (=vegetation which floats).
afloat I'fltl be/stay/remain/keep afloat (=to stay on
the surface of water without sinking) [adj/adv]
I moved my hands and feet slightly to stay afloat. I We had
to leave the boat where it would remain afloat when the tide
went out.

ONION TOP OF 930 ON TIME
stay up/,ste 'APl if something stays up, especially some-
thing large and heavy, it stays on the surface of the water
even though you would expect it to sink [phr v I]
It amazes me how these enormous aircraft carriers stay up
in the water. I You won't sink - you'll stay up because of the
air in your lungs.
ON/SWITCHED ON
1 ways of saying that a machine, light etc is
switched on
I ways of saying that a machine, light etc is
switched on
on
be switched on
be turned on
be running
be going
be ticking over
be working
on I' ./if a machine, light etc is on, it has been turned
on and is operating [adv/adj not before noun]
The gas heater is on. I There's a light on in the house but no
one seems to be in. I leave sth on Someone has left their radio
on upstairs -Ican hear it. I The central heating was left on
all day by mistake.
be switched on/hi: swtj't Dn/if something electrical,
such as a light or machine is switched on, it is operating
and is using electricity Iv phrase]
A yellow light showsyou thatyour computer is switched on. I
If the electric heater had not been switched on, the fire would
never have started. I The coffee machine was switched on but
it did not appear to be working properly.
be turned on/bi: ta:rnd 'on/if a machine or a gas or
water supply is turned on, it is operating Iv phrase]
When she's at home there's a radio turned on in every room
in the house. I I looked up at second floor of the building
where I could see that a light was turned on. I Do not attempt
to empty the cistern if the water is turned on at the mains.
be running/hi: 'fAn,q/ffan engine or a machine is run-
ning, it is operating and its parts are moving Iv phrase]
He got out of the car, leaving the engine running, and went
into the shop. I In the cooler weather the ventilation system
was usually kept running at half power. I If the drilling
machine is running do not open the gearbox cover.
be going/hi: 'gvuq/a word used especially in spoken
English: if a machine is going, it is working and its parts
are moving Iv phrase]
The clock stopped during the night, but it's going again
now. I The washing machine's going, I can hear it.
be ticking over/hi: ,uk;j vuvvr/if an engine or a vehi-
cle is ticking over, it is working just enough to be on, but
at its lowest level Iv phrase]
The plane's engines were ticking over just enough to hold
position in the air. I He left the car ticking over while he
dashed into the house.
be working/bi: wa:rkq/ifa machine or piece of equip-
ment is working, it has been switched on and is doing
what it is supposed to do Iv phrase]
You mustn't open the lid while the steriliser is working. I The
only disadvantage is that you can hear the pump when it's
working.
ON TIME
1 happening or arriving at the arranged time
2 words for describing someone who always
arrives on time or does things on time
3 ways of saying that someone does something
or something happens before it is too late
4 to finish a piece of work within the time that is
allowed for it
1 happening or arriving at the arranged time
on time punctually/promptly
right/dead on time on cue
bang on time on the dot
on time/on 'taIm/[adv phrase]
Most days the bus is on time but today it was l O minutes late.I
The company will lose a lot of money if the work isn't com-
pleted on time. I Did Philip pay up on time? l I hate not being
on time for class.
right/dead on time/,raIt, ,ded on 'taim! exactly on time
[adv phrase]
Here's the train - dead on time! [ Gary turned up right on
time, holding a big bouquet of flowers.
bang on time /,beerj on 'tram/ an informal British
expression meaning exactly on time lady phrase]
We're about to touch down in Delhi, bang on time. [ The baby
arrived on the 16th - bang on time!
punctually/promptly/'pArJktfuli, 'promptli [[ 'pra:-/ if
you do something punctually or promptly, you do it at
the time that you arranged to do it [adv]
Anne knocked on the door punctually at 8 o'clock. I Linda
always pays her rent promptly on the 1st of the month.
on cue/on kju:/if you do something on cue, you do it
exactly at the moment when other people expect you to do
it [ adv phrase]
Jim told one of his terrible jokes and everyone laughed on
cue. I right on cue We were looking out over the sea when,
right on cue, the dolphins appeared.
on the dot/on 6 'dot II-'do:t/at 6.30/ten o'clock/
seven etc on the dot (=at exactly that time) lady phrase]
He gets annoyed if his lunch isn't ready at one o 'clock on the
dot. t I expect you to arrive at 7:30 on the dot.
2 words for describing someone who always
arrives on time or does things on time
punctual
punctual/'pArjktfuol/[adj]
Dinner is served at nine: please try to be punctual. I Our
clients are usually punctual - so would you be if you were
paying $10 a minute.
punctuality ] pmjktu lti/In U] Punctuality is not one of
my strong points, I must admit. I Cadets are taught dis-
cipline, neatness and punctuality.
3 ways of saying that someone does something
or something happens before it is too late
in time
just in time
in the nick of time
not a moment too soon
in time/n 'tmml [adv]
at the last minute
at the eleventh hour
catch
cut it fine/cut it close
David said he'd take me to the concert, if he's home in time. [
If you don't leave enough space between your car and the car
in front, you may not be able to stop in time. I in time to do
sth Don't worry, I'll be back in time to cook dinner.
just in time /,dsAst In 'talm] almost not in time to do
something before it is too late lady phrase]
She put her foot on the brakes just in time. I just in time
to do sth He got to the airport just in time to catch the flight
to Madrid. [just in time for sth Come in. You're just in time
for a cup of coffee. I only just in time We were only just in
time. A few more minutes and the bank would have been
closed.
in the nick of time/In 6o ,nlk ov 'talm/an informal
expression meaning just in time, especially before some-
thing serious or dangerous happens [adv phrase]
In the old stories, the heroine always gets rescued in the nick
of time. I Luckily radio contact was established in the nick
of time and we managed to transmit a message to the ship.

ON TIME 931 only too
not a moment too soon /ntt a ,maumant tu: Isu:n/
almost too late, and when you had thought that something
was not going to happen in time lady phrase]
The ambulance finally arrived, not a moment too soon.
at the last minute/at 6a ila:st mnt [[ -,lmst-/if you
do something or something happens at the last minute,
you do it at the latest possible time before something else
happens [adv phrase]
Tony does all his studying at the last minute - the day before
the exams! [ She was supposed to come to the meeting, but
she phoned at the last minute and said she couldn't make it.
last-minute [adj only before noun] The stores are all open
late on Christmas Eve for last-minute shoppers.
at the eleventh hour/at 6i I levan0 'aoar/if you do
something at the eleventh hour, you do it unexpectedly
at the latest time that it is possible to do it [adv phrase]
Tom was injured and at the eleventh hour they asked me to
take his place in the football team. [ War was averted at the
eleventh hour when both sides agreed to talks.
eleventh-hour [adj only before noun] Fernandez waits on
Death Row, hoping for an eleventh-hour reprieve.
catch Ikmtfl to be able to do something, talk to someone,
see something on television etc, while there is still time
Iv T]
catch a bus/plane/train ere If you hurry you can catch the
8:30 bus. [ I've never managed to catch a train with any time
to spare. [ catch sb I managed to catch her just as she was
leaving the office. [ catch the post (=post letters, etc in time
for them to be collected that day) The letters were all
addressed and stamped, and there was still plenty of time to
catch thepost.[ catch the news/a TV programme ere She
was rushing to catch her favorite show on TV.
cut it fine (British) I cut it close (American) l lkt it fain,
kt it klaus/to have very little time left before you have
to be somewhere or do something, so that you are nearly
late Iv phrase]
Kelly had only 10 minutes to reach the studio - even in
normal traffic that was cutting it fine. [ cut it a bit fine/
pretty close You're cutting it a bit fine aren't you? The show
starts in 2 minutes. [ We cut it pretty close, only giving our-
selves 30 minutes to get to the airport.
4 to finish a piece of work within the time that is
allowed for it
meet a deadline
on schedule
meet a deadline/,mi:t a dedlain/to finish some work
within the time that you have been allowed to do it, espe-
cially when it is very important that it is done by that time
iv phrase]
Journalists have to work very quickly in order to meet their
deadlines. I Without extra help, it's going to be very difficult
to meet the Friday deadline.
on schedule IDn 'j'ed3u:l [[ -'sked3al/if a piece of work,
especially a piece of work that lasts a long time, is finished
on schedule, it is done within the time that has been
allowed for it to be done [adj/adv phrase]
The builders were lazy and failed to finish the boat on sched-
ule. [ be on schedule So far we are on schedule and the
project should come to an end in two months, as planned.
once ONCE 1, PAST3
once: at once IMMEDIATELY 1, TIME/AT THE SAME
TIME 1
once again/once more AGAIN 1
: .
 once and for all CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 10
i once in a blue moon RARELY 1
once in a while SOMETIMES 1
-. once more AGAIN 4
ONCE
1 on one occasion in the past
1 on one occasion in the past
once at one stage
one time at one point
on one occasion one day
once IwAns/ [adv]
You're Beverley, aren't you? I'm Fiona - we met once at
James's hotel. [ She once called me a liar and I don't think
I ever forgave her. [ Once when he was a little boy he found
a gold watch.
one time ] iWAn taIm/an informal expression meaning
once lady phrase]
I remember coming home from school one time and finding
we'd been burgled. [ One time we went out fishing on the lake
at night.
on one occasion/tn 'WAn ,kesan/something that hap-
pened on one occasion happened once in the past, but is
usually an example of similar things that happen more
often lady phrase]
He drinks far too much. On one occasion I saw him drink
a whole bottle of vodka. I A jokeyoufoundfunny on one occa-
sion may not be so funny when told by someone else. [ On one
occasion I made the mistake of arriving at work late and my
boss has never let me forget it.
at one stage/at wAn steldS/if a particular situation
existed at one stage during a period in the past, it existed,
but only at that time lady phrase]
It was a terrible winter. At one stage I had to wear two coats.[
At one stage during the season the team were last in the com-
petition but they are improving fast now. [ I went on a diet
and at one stage I weighed only 71 kg.
at one point/at w^n ,paint/ffsomething happened, espe-
cially something interesting or important, at one point
during an activity or period of time in the past, it happened
then lady phrase]
At one point in the interview Gorbachev admitted he had
made serious mistakes. [ "You play the piano very well, "" I
remember Mrs Saito remarking at one point. [ I had several
narrow escapes during the war, at one point just missing
death when my plane was shot down over the Mediterranean.
one day/,wAn 'deI/if something happened one day, it
happened on a day in the past, especially when the exact
day is not important or not mentioned lady phrase]
I was sitting eating my breakfast one day when the telephone
rang. [ One day when we had nothing else to do, we went
down to the river for a swim. [ He used to go and come, then
one day he went away and never came back.
one VERY 1
one: the one ONLY 1
one and the same SAME 1
one another: each other/one another EACH OTHER 1
one day ONCE 1
one day/some day FUTURE 2
one-liner JOKE 1
one-horse town BORING 5
one of a kind DIFFERENT 3
one of us MEMBER 3
one-off: be a one-off DIFFERENT 3
one or two FEW/NOT MANY 1
one-parent family/single-parent family FAMILY 1
one-sided UNFAIR 5
one-track mind OBSESSION 2
ones and twos: in ones and twos FEW/NOT MANY 5
onlooker WATCH 5
only BUT 5, ONLY 1 2, 3, 4, 5
,
only: you only have to... OBVIOUS 3
only/except BUT 6
only hope: last hope/only hope HELP 6
only if IF 2
only just JUST/A MOMENT AGO 1, JUST/ALMOST NOT
1,3,5
only too: all too/only too TOO/TO0 MUCH 1

ONLY 932 ONLY
@ ONLY
1 words for describing the only person, thing
etc when there are no others
2 no more than or no better than
3 ways of saying that something happens or is
done for only one reason or purpose
4 one thing and nothing else
5 ways of saying that particular qualities and
characteristics belong only to one particular
place, type of person, animal, or situation
1 words for describing the only person, thing
etc when there are no others
only lone
sole solitary
the one
only/'onli/[adj only before noun]
the only person/thing ere Gordon is the only person I
know who actually enjoys going to the dentist. I Today's the
only day I've had free and the phone hasn't stopped ringing. [
The only reason I went to India was to see the Taj Mahal. [
It seemed that their only option was to abandon ship. [ an
only child (=the only child in a family) I rather enjoyed
being an only child.
sole/sol/a formal word for describing the only person,
thing etc, especially when you would expect there to be
more [adj only before noun]
the sole person/thing ere Kyanzo was the sole supplier of
gasoline in the whole town. [ My mother is sole beneficiary
of my father's $10,000 insurance policy. [ NASA's sole con-
cern was the safety of the astronauts.
the one ] IwAn/being the only person, thing etc, espe-
cially when you wish there were more, or it is surprising
that there are no more ]determiner]
Sonia is the one person I can trust. [ Playing squash once a
week is about the one thing he does to keep fit. [ My grand-
mother says smoking is the one pleasure left to her.
lone/lun/being the only one, when usually you would
expect to find more [adj only before noun]
The lone whale had somehow got stranded on the beach. [
a lone cowboy riding across theplain [ lone parent (=the
only one of two parents bringing up a child) Childcare costs
are so high, it can be difficult for lone parents to go out to
work.
solitary /'svltari II so:lteri/ a solitary person, tree,
building etc is the only one you can see in a place, and may
therefore seem a little lonely or sad ladj only before noun]
A solitary light shone in the street. I There was one solitary
hotel left standing after the earthquake. I I could see a soli-
tary figure outlined against the horizon.
2
no more than or no better than
mere
all
nothing but
only
merely
just
no more than
only / ' unli/lady ]
It's no good asking me. I'm only the cleaner. I Naomi was
only 17 when she married. [ In 1977, only 45% of thepopula-
tion had access to public health services. I I breathed a sigh
of relief- the noise had only been the wind in the trees.
merely/mlrli/a formal word meaning only lady]
He made no response to her accusation, he merely looked at
her and walked away. I If it were merely a question of find-
ing someone with sufficient qualifications, it would be easy
to appoint a new chairperson.
just/d3ast/a word meaning only, used especially when you
want something to seem unimportant or not worth worry-
ing about lady]
"What's that letter? .... Oh nothing. It's just a bank state-
ment. "" I It may have been just a game to you, but it was
deadly serious to me. [ You don't want to go and see a movie?
Never mind, it was just a thought.
no more than/nzo Imz: r 6an/an expression meaning
only, used especially when you are surprised that some-
thing is so small, unimportant, difficult to notice etc [prep]
We were standing no more than 10 metres away from the
scene of the crime and we didn't realize it. [ David watched
the car drive slowly away, until it was no more than a speck
in the distance.
mere/mizr/a word meaning only, used especially when
you do not expect very much from the thing you are
describing, or you think it is unimportant [adj only before
noun]
How can you expect him to understand? He's a mere child. [
He was determined to see her - mere weather conditions
weren't going to keep him away.
all/:1/the total amount of something, or the only thing
you have, when you expected something more or better
[pron]
When I asked him to pay his share, all he gave me was Ј5
for money towards the rent. [ All I ever asked for was a bit
of peace. [ is that all? "'How many people said they'd come
to the party? .... Ten.'" "'Is that all?'"
nothing but /'n^Oirj bat/ nothing but an exeuse/a
failure/a cheat ete (=only that and not something better
that something is intended to seem like)
You're nothing but a cheat and a liar. [ The government's
latest promises are nothing but a further attempt to cynically
deceive the public. [ I was taken in for years until I finally
realized he was nothing but a phoney.
3 ways of saying that something happens or is
done for only one reason or purpose
only purely
just merely
only / 'onli/lady]
She said she only started stealing because her kids were
going hungry. [ Ionly did it for the money. [ Don't get so mad
at him - he's only trying to help.
just/dB^st/for no other reason than the one you have given
[advl
We don't want to move just because of my job, but we might
have to. [ Hi - I just called to see how you are. [ I don't think
he meant those things he said - he was just trying to cheer
me up.
purely I tpjozrlil for one reason or purpose only, and not
involving anything else lady]
The government is doing this for purely economic reasons. [
"'Now Sarah, this is purely medicinal, "" he said, handing me
a glass of brandy.
merely !  m  z r li/if you are merely trying to do something,
you are doing it for only that reason, and not any other
[adv]
I merely wanted to explain what had happened, but she
wouldn't listen. [ Diana knew Jo was talking to her merely
to get news of how his ex-wife was getting along.
4 one thing and nothing else
only nothing but
just nothing else
exclusively
only / 'ounli/lady]
I haven't read all herpoems, only the ones for children. [ Pas-
sengers may take one piece of hand luggage only. [ I only saw
one pair I liked in my size.
just /d3^st/ a word used especially in spoken English,
meaning intended for or designed for only one reason or
purpose lady]
You're not supposed to use the sofa as a trampoline, it's just
meant for people to sit on. I This isn't just a penknife you
know. It has a corkscrew and a pair of scissors attached too.

ONLY 933 OPEN
exclusively/Ik'sklu:sIvli/made of, including, or involv-
ing only one thing, especially something that has been spe-
cially chosen, or something that is of good quality [adv]
All her clothes are made exclusively of silk or cotton. I These
birds feed exclusively on nutmeg, which is what makes their
feathers so shiny.
nothing but / IRAOIIJ bat/if someone does or has nothing
but something, that is the only thing they do or have
Since he's been ill he eats nothing but bread and cheese. I
have nothing but She has nothing but praise for her
employer. I and nothing but! The only thing that child ever
does is complain - and nothing but!
nothing else /inAOIlJ 'els/only that, and not anything
more important, more valuable, or more useful [pron]
if nothing else If nothing else the meeting serves as a useful
way of getting everyone's ideas together. [ nothing else She
sees him as a friend and nothing else.
5 ways of saying that particular qualities and
characteristics belong only to one particular
place, type of person or animal, or situation
only be confined to
just be unique to
be limited to/ be peculiar to
be restricted to exclusive
only / 'oonli/[adv]
The disease is only found in cows at the moment and scien-
tists are trying to stop it from spreading. [ women/men/
staff ere only Women only swimming sessions are held every
Thursday. [ only for This type of activity is only for people
who are extremely fit.
Just/ds^st/only affecting a particular group, place, time
etc ]adv]
just for This class is just for beginners. Why don't you try
the class next door? [ just So far the virus has been isolated
to just the tourists visiting the area.
be limited to/be restricted to/bi: 'hmtd tu:, bi:
r strkQd tu:/if something is limited to or is restricted
to someone or something, it has been officially decided that
only particular groups can do or use something, or that
something can only happen in particular places or situa-
tions [v phrase]
Access to the files is limited to management. [ The cultiva-
tion of rice has to be restricted to areas of high rainfall.
be confined to/bi: kanfand tu:/to affect or happen to
only one group of people, or in only one place or time Iv
phrase]
So far, fighting has been confined to the capital city. [ME
or "Yuppie Flu', is not just confined to people in high-
powered, well-paid jobs.
be unique to/bi: ju:  ni:k tu:/if an unusual or rare qual-
ity or characteristic is unique to a particular thing,
person, place etc, only that thing, person, or place has it
[v phrase]
This type of tapestry work is unique to the region. [ Each set
of genes is unique to the individual.
uniquely [ adv ] There's something uniquely English about
the scene (=the scene is unique to England).
he peculiar to /hi: pikju:lio r tu:/ to belong very
definitely to one particular person, place, period of time etc
and not to any other [v phrase]
This way of grinding corn is peculiar to North American
Indians. [ a gesture peculiar to himself
peculiarly [adv] a peculiarly South African phenomenon
(=it is only found in South Africa)
exclusive/ik  sldu:s tv/exclusive access/rights/cover-
age etc (=that only particular people have the advantage
of having, doing, or using) [adj only before noun]
There will be exclusive coverage of the championship on
Channel 5. [ The recent takeover gave Rafferty exclusive
control of the company. [ Your password gives you exclusive
access to your personal computer files.
exclusively [adv] The creche is exclusively for the children
of the teachers.
onset BEGINNING 1
onus: the onus is on RESPONSIBLE 2
onward/onwards FORWARD 1
ooze POUR 2
opaque SEE 13
open AVAILABLE 4, FASTEN/DO UP 4j FREE TO DO
WHAT YOU WANT 2, HIDE/NOT SHOW 6,
HONEST 2, OPEN 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, SHOW A
FEELING OR ATTITUDE 3, START STH/MAKE
STH START 1, 3, START TO HAPPEN, EXIST
ETC 1
open: blow/burst/fly open OPEN 2
open: lay yourself open to RISK 4
open: push/slide/throw open OPEN 1
open air OUT/OUTSIDE 8
open air: in the open air OUT/OUTSIDE 1
open-ended FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT 2
open fire SHOOT 2
open-handed GENEROUS 1
open to discussion/negotiation DISCUSS 4
open up OPEN 4, SHY 3
open your eyes/mouth OPEN 7
OPEN
to open something such as a drawer, a
window, or a door
ways of saying that something such as a
door, window, or drawer becomes open
to unlock a door, window etc so that it can be
opened
to open something such as a parcel or
packet
to open a container such as a bottle or jar by
removing the top
to open something by force
to open your eyes or mouth
to open something that was folded or rolled
and spread it out
ways of saying that a door, gate, or window is
open
1 to open something such as a drawer, a
window, or a door
open
push/slide/throw open
wind down/roll down the window
try
open/'opn/[v T]
Will you please open the door. I want to come in. I He ran to
the kitchen, opening drawers one after another in search of
a sharp knife. I open sth wide I opened the windows wide
to let out the smell of burnt food.
push/slide/throw open/ipo[, islaId, i0roo oopon/to
open something by pushing or sliding it or by throwing it
open quickly [v phrase]
push sth/it/them open She pushed the window open and
called down into the street. [ Bernard hurried to the door and
threw it open. [ I slid the screen open, just far enough to make
a tiny gap. [ push open sth Pushing open the door, we crept
into the room.
wind down (British) I roll down (American) the
window/,waind daon, ,tool daon 6 'wndo/to open a
window in a vehicle, especially by turning a handle [v
phrase]
She wound down her window and cold air rushed into the
car. I Penelope stopped the car and rolled down the window
on the passenger's side. "'Can you tell me the way to Sunset
Boulevard, please. "'1 It's so hot in this car. Could you roll
the window down, morn?

OPEN 934 OPEN
try/tra/to try to open a door or window in order to see
if it is locked [v T not in passive]
I knocked then tried the door. It was open, but the room was
empty. [ He tried the driver's door. It wasn't locked. [ We ran
along the corridor trying every door, but they were all locked.
2 ways of saying that something such as a
door, window, or drawer becomes open
open
blow/burst/fly open
open / 'opn/[v I]
The train doors open and close automatically. [ The door
slowly opened and a small boy entered the room. [ After a
short discussion with the customs officers, the gates opened
and the truck moved off.
blow/burst/fly open /b]o, ,b3:rst, ifla opn/to open
very suddenly [v phrase]
Before Mr Carey could speak, the door burst open and Mr
Watson rushed into the room. [ Suddenly the door flew open
with a bang and a man entered carrying a gun. [ There was
a gust of wind and the window blew open.
to unlock a door, window etc so that it can be
opened
unlock
unbolt
pick a lock
unlock/AnlDk ]] -lo:k] to undo the lock on something
such as a door, box, or cupboard [v T]
He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. [ Will
you please unlock that drawer and pass me thejewellery box
that is in there. [ Lila unlocked the safe and took out a large
wad of banknotes.
unlocked [adj] The door was left unlocked, which is the
custom in the village.
unbolt/ An' boolt/to unlock a door by sliding back a metal
bar that keeps it shut [v T]
Every morning he unbolted the gate and let the dogs out for
a run. [ There was a polite knock at the door. "Unbolt it,"
Toranaga said.
pick a lock/pk a Ilok [[ -la:k/to undo a lock by using
something such as a pin or a tool, instead of the key, espe-
cially for an illegal purpose Iv phrase]
He was an expert at picking locks using a large needle. [
Davis claims he can pick the lock on any house and get inside
within two minutes.
4 to open something such as a parcel or
packet
open
open up
unwrap
open / 'opn/[v T]
She opened the letters one by one and read them in silence. [
Morn opened another box of cookies and passed them
around. [ "'What's in that parcel?" "I don "t know, why don "t
you open it and have a look. '"
open up/opn ^P/to open something such as a large
box or case [phr v T]
open up sth Jason opened up a tool-box and took out a long
screwdriver. [ open sth/it/them up Is this your suitcase?
Right, open it up. I want to look inside.
unwrap/^n  rap/to open a parcel, especially a gift, by
removing the paper that is wrapped around it Iv T]
I just love unwrapping presents! [ He began to unwrap the
gift, curious about what it might be. [ Sarah sat down,
unwrapped her sandwiches and began to eat.
5 to open a container such as a bottle or jar by
removing the top
open
unscrew
open ! 'upn/[v T]
I asked the waiter to open a bottle of champagne. [ Could you
open that jar of honey for me?
unscrew/^nskru:! to remove the top or lid from a con-
tainer by turning it, in order to open the container Iv T]
He unscrewed the top and held out the bottle, offering me a
drink. [ Wipe dirt from around the cap before unscrewing it.
6 to open something by force
break open prise open/pry open
force open break the door down
force
break open / brelk opn/to open a container by using
force, so that it is damaged Iv phrase]
break open sth Someone had broken open the cash-box and
taken all the money. [ We managed to break open the crate
with an axe. [ break sth/it/them open There's no key for
the suitcase, we'll have to break it open.
force open /f:rs open/to open a door, drawer, cup-
board etc by using force, often using a tool [v phrase]
force open sth One of the drawers had been forced open and
it was now empty. [ force sth/it/them open Imanaged to
force the door open and drag the unconscious driver to safety
just before the car exploded.
force/f:rs/force a door/lock/window (=open a locked
door etc by force) Iv T]
"'How did you get in without a key?" "I forced the lock on
the back door. "'[ Thieves usually gain entry to houses by
forcing a door or a window.
prise open (British) I pry open (American) /praIz
 opn, ,pra opn/to open something by forcing one part
of it away from the other part, using a tool [v phrase]
prise sth/it/them open The thief must have used that iron
bar to pry the window open. [ prise open sth Mark prised
open the crate with a hammer. [ prise the lid off (=remove
the lid to open it) Ipicked up the coffee tin and, using a knife,
prised the lid off.
break the door down/brek 6o d: r daon] to com-
pletely break a locked door in order to get into a room or
building [v phrase]
Firemen had to break the door down. [ This is the police!
Open the door now or we'll break it down/
7
to open your eyes or mouth
open your eyes/mouth
open
wide open
open your eyes/mouth/,oopon j:r 'aiz, 'maoO/ Iv
phrase]
"'Close your eyes and open your mouth, "' said the dentist. [
She opened her eyes as soon as the alarm clock rang.
open / opn/ if someone's eyes open or if their mouth
opens, they open their eyes or mouth [v I]
Her mouth opened in a wide grin.
wide open/wa[d Iopn/if someone's eyes or mouth
are wide open, they are open as much as possible, for
example because they are shocked [adj phrase]
The children were standing with their eyes wide open, full
of fear. [ Her mouth was wide open and she was shouting at
the top of her voice.
8 to open something that was folded or rolled
and spread it out
unfold
unroll
unfold/An' fold/to open something that was folded, such
as a piece of paper or cloth, and spread it out [v T]
He took out the receipts, unfolded them and smoothed them
out with his hands. [ One of the long-aproned waiters went
round unfolding napkins and spreading them on people's
laps.

OPEN 935 OPINION
unroll/An'rao1/to spread out something that was rolled
up, so that it lies flat Iv T]
Winston examined the four slips of paper which he had
unrolled. I While we were admiring the rugs, the shopkeeper
started to unroll a splendid carpet.
9 ways of saying that a door, gate, or window is
open
open
wide open
ajar
open/'upn/[adj]
A fresh, cool breeze was coming in through the open
window. I His door was open, but I knocked on it anyway, just
to be polite. I The doorman smiled and nodded and held the
door open for him.
wide open/,waid 'opan-/completely open [adjphrase]
The front door was wide open so everyone in the neighbour-
hood could hear their argument. I The windows were wide
open, and through them came the distant, airy sound of
violin music.
ajar/a'dSo:r/a door that is ajar is slightly open [adj not
before noun]
He had left her bedroom door ajar and she could hear him
cooking in the kitchen.
opening BEGINNING 4, 6, CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 1
HOLE 2, JOB/WORK 7, SPACE/GAP 1
openly PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATE 1
operate BUSINESS 6, CONTROL 14, CURE 2
operation CURE 4
operation: be in operation EXIST 1 HAPPEN 6
operation: come into effect/operation START TO
HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 3
operational WORKING/NOT BROKEN 2
operations BUSINESS 2
operative WORKING/NOT BROKEN 2
opinion OPINION 1, 2
opinion: be of the opinion that THINK/HAVE THE
OPINION THAT 1
opinion: difference of opinion DISAGREE 6
opinion: have a high opinion of ADMIRE 1
opinion: in my opinion THINK/HAVE THE OPINION
THAT 2
Iopinionl
OPINION
what you think about a particular subject,
situation, problem etc
an opinion that is shared by a particular
group of people, especially people who know
a lot or are important
the opinion of most people or of people in
general
the publicly stated opinion of a government,
political party, or someone in an official
position
5 a particular way of thinking about something,
which is influenced by your own personal
situation
6 words for describing a statement, report,
attitude etc that is influenced by personal
opinion
1 what you think about a particular subject,
situation, problem etc
opinion
view
attitude
point of view
what you think about sth
thoughts
feelings
ideas
sentiment
opinion/a'pinjon/[n C]
Do you want my opinion? I think those jeans are too tight. I
opinion on/about They have very different opinions about
religion. I We should listen to other people's opinions on the
matter.I in my/our opinion (=I; we think) In my opinion,
he came along at just the right time. [ have a high/low
opinion of(=think something is good/bad) She had always
had a very low opinion of hippies. I give/express an opin-
ion (=say what you think) I've never known him to express
an opinion about anything. I everyone's entitled to their
opinion (=often said when you actually disagree with
someone else's opinion)Everyone's entitled to their opinion,
but I think what you have suggested is absurd. [ my/our etc
considered opinion (=the opinion that I, we etc have after
thinking about it carefully) It is my considered opinion that
we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into this war.
view/vju:/ what you think or what you believe about
something, especially an official matter [n C]
view about/on What's your view on this? l We want to hear
young people's views about our transport services. I view
This report sets out the views of our members very clearly. I
view that There was a widely-held view that fascism was
not a threat to Europe. I express the view that (=say you
think that) The chairman expressed the view that it would
be better not to increase investment at this point in time. I
take the view that (=have the opinion that) The City Coun-
cil took the view that the new airport was essential to the
city's future. [ in my/your etc view (=I, you etc think) In
my view, the attack should never have taken place.
attitude/'mttju:d II -tu:d/what you think about some-
thing, especially when this is influenced by the kind of
person that you are In C]
attitude to/towards I like her attitude to young children. I
He has a very old-fashioned attitude towards women. I atti-
tude This book will give you some idea of the values and atti-
tudes of that time. I take the attitude that I take the atti-
tude that if people can't afford the repayments, they shouidn't
buy things on credit.
point of view/,paint v 'vju:/the opinion that someone
has about something, especially when this depends on your
situation In C]
When I'm discussing something with someone, I always try
to nderstand their point of view. I We interviewed a cross-
section of society in order to get several points of view. I share
sb's point of view (=have the same point of view as them)
Abortion is one of the few issues on which I share my mother's
point of view.
what you think about sth/,wt ju: iOIrJk baut (sth)/
an informal expression meaning your opinion about some-
thing In phrase]
I don't know what yourfather will think about you dropping
out of school. [ Tell me what you think about this design. [
what I think is What I think is, you should never have
married her.
thoughts/Oa:ts/your opinion about something, espe-
cially a possible course of action after you have thought
about it carefully In plural]

OPINION 936 OPINION
thoughts about/on Does anyone have any thoughts or sug-
gestions about how we should spend the money? I We're
thinking of moving abroad, I don't know if you have any
thoughts on that. I thoughts I can't decide on a suitable
punishment for her. Any thoughts?
|ee|ings/'fi:lIOz/what you think about something, espe-
cially when you have very strong or angry feelings about
it [n plural]
feeling about She has very strong feelings about this elec-
tion. I You've made your feelings very clear to us all. I feel-
ings My own feelings are that their marriage won't last more
than a year.
ideas/ai'dJz/what you think about something, espe-
cially about the best way to do something [n plural]
ideas about/on Her dad hates anyone with liberal ideas on
divorce and abortion. I They have some weird ideas about
bringing up kids. I ideas They don't think his ideas are
going to be too popular with the electorate.
sentiment /  sentmant/a formal word meaning an opin-
ion, especially one that is based on feelings rather than
practical reasons [n C/U/
They agree with most of the sentiments that you expressed. I
He is trying not to offend right-wing sentiment within the
party. I popular sentiment (=what most people think) an
opinion poll to determine popular sentiment towards the
industry
an opinion that is shared by a particular
group of people, especially people who know
a lot or are important
opinion school of thought
thinking body of opinion
opinion/3'pinj3n/[n U/
government/professional/medical etc opinion Govern-
ment opinion is that the economy will improve on its own. I
world opinion Their refusal to obey UN regulations had
an effect on world opinion. I in the opinion of sb In the opin-
ion of the board of directors, Marwell should resign.
thinking/'Oqktq/the opinion of a group of people that
is accepted at a particular period of time In U]
His opinions are in line with government thinking. [ There
has been a distinct change in thinking over the past ten
years. ] thinking on/about It is time for new thinking about
education.
school of thought / sku:l v Oa:t/an opinion shared by
a group of people who have a very different way of looking
at a problem or subject from another group of people [n
phrase]
There were two schools of thought as to how the country
should respond to such aggression. I She is from the school
of thought that believes the poor have only themselves to
blame, i According to one school of thought, the disease is
caused by a genetic defect.
body of opinion/,bodi zv aptnjzn II bo:di-/an opinion
shared by a large group of people, that is considered to be
important or that should be listened to [n phrase]
A significant body of opinion is strongly opposed to the new
development. I We represent a large body of opinion amongst
parents of school-age kids. I We're planning to hold a meet-
ing so that each body of opinion is represented.
the opinion of most people or of people in
general
consensus
majority view
public opinion/,p^bhk a pnjan/what most of the people
of a country think or feel, especially about something in
the news In U]
The death of this innocent man has outraged public opin-
ion. I Her policies were popular abroad, but did not suit
public opinion at home. I They publicized the results of their
survey, in an attempt to change public opinion.
consensus/kansensas/an opinion with which most of
the people in a particular group agree in a general way [n
C/U/
consensus that There was a growing consensus that the
Prime Minister should resign. I popular consensus (=what
most people think) Events in Eastern Europe shifted popu-
lar consensus against a new generation of nuclear weapons. [
consensus of opinion The President seems to reject the con-
sensus of opinion that he should concentrate on domestic
affairs.
majority view/m'd3orIti ,vju: II -'d3:r-/what most of
the people in a group or a society think about something
[n singular]
The majority view was that we should start immediately. I
The Senator is deliberately going against the majority view. I
I know what you think, but what's the majority view?
 the publicly stated opinion of a government,
political party, or someone in an official
position
position stance
line where sb stands
policy
position/pa'zin/what a government, political party, or
a person has decided to be their official opinion, especially
after discussing it or thinking about it carefully [n C
usually singular]
It's important that the Unionists clarify their position before
the conference. I position on The President has made his
position on taxation perfectly clear. I Recent events have
forced the Republicans to reconsider their position on dis-
armament.
line/lain/the publicly stated opinion of a political party,
government etc, which all their members are supposed to
agree with [n C usually singular]
party/government/official etc line We demand strict
obedience to the party line. I line on sth We're all strongly
opposed to the government line on education.
policy/polsi II Po:-/the official opinion of an organi-
zation or government which clearly states how various
problems and situations should be dealt with [n C/
Our policy is only to give refunds if goods are faulty. I a
major change in economic policy I policy on What is your
policy on employing women?
stance/sto:ns II stens/the publicly stated opinion of a
person or of a newspaper towards something, especially a
political matter [n C/
I admired the newspaper'spolitical stance. ] It was a small
conservative town, and my reformist stance was not popu-
lar. I stance on At first he thought the party's stance on
apartheid was very radical.
where sb stands/wea r (sb) standz/the publicly stated
opinion of a person or group, especially when previously
this may not have been clear
where sb stands on Where do the Democrats stand on the
issue of sanctions? l Asked where he stood on immigration,
Brentwood could not think of an answer. I where sb stands
I'm going to arrange a meeting with the union bosses, to see
where they stand.
 a particular way of thinking about something,
which is influenced by your own personal
situation
point of view angle
viewpoint perspective
standpoint
point of view/,paint av vju:/someone's particular way
of thinking about something, especially when this is differ-
ent from your own [n C/
from sb's point of view Try to see the problemfrom her
point of view. I From a vet's point of view, all dogs are more
or less alike. I point of view You think it was a bad movie.
If you were a child you might have a different point of view.

OPINION 93? OPPOSITE/FACE
viewpoint/' vju:pant! a particular way of thinking about
a problem or subject In C]
Her viewpoint differs from his entirely. I The group have let
the viewpoint of their leader dominate their thinking. I
They're trying to look at the problemfrom several different
viewpoints.
standpoint ! , stmndpalnq the particular way of thinking
about something, especially of someone who is involved in
a situation or who has to make a professional judgment
about it In C]
from sb's standpoint From the teacher's standpoint, the
new tests just mean more work. I From a literary standpoint
his novels aren't actually much good. I standpoint The
standpoints of historians and politicians are often completely
different.
angle ! ' atjgdl! one of a number of ways of thinking about
something that should be considered when dealing with a
particular problem or subject In C]
Let's look at this from another angle. I Viewed from that par-
ticular angle, of course the whole thing looks suspicious. I
angle on There are obviously many different angles on this
issue.
perspective/p;)r  spektIv/a way of thinking about some-
thing which is influenced by the kind of person you are or
by things that have happened to you In C]
from sb's perspective Feminists say that the book was
written from a rnale perspective. [ perspective on The death
of his father gave him a whole new perspective on life.
 words for describing a statement, report,
attitude etc that is influenced by personal
opinion
subjective
subjective/sb'dsektv/[adjl
His description of their marriage is totally subjective. I I can
only give you my own subjective view of the situation.
opponent AGAINST SB IN A GAME 2, AGAINST/OPPOSE 2
opportune TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 2
opportunist CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
opportunities: equal opportunities RIGHT/HAVE THE
RIGHT TO 5
opportunity CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 1, 3, JOB/WORK 7
opportunity: jump at the chance/opportunity
ACCEPT 2, CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
opportunity: miss a chance/an opportunity
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 5
opportunity: take the opportunity
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 4
oppose AGAINST/OPPOSE 1, FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST
STH 3
opposed: be opposed to AGAINST/OPPOSE 1
opposed: diametrically opposed OPPOSITE/REVERSE 3
opposing OPPOSITE/REVERSE 3
opposite OPPOSITE/FACE 1, 2, OPPOSITE/REVERSE 1, 3
opposite: be opposites OPPOSITE/REVERSE 1
opposite: the opposite OPPOSITE/REVERSE 2
opposite number SAME 9
ioppositel
@ OPPOSITE/FACE
ways of saying that two things, buildings, or
people face each other
to be opposite something or someone else
words for describing something that is
opposite something else
1 to be opposite something or someone else
opposite face to face
face on the other side
across
opposite /'opazIt II 'o:-/ opposite the front or most
important part of a thing, building, or person ladyCrep]
opposite sb/sth We sat opposite them at dinner last night. [
There's a bus stop immediately opposite my house. [ She
looked again at the man opposite her. [ the house/chair/
man etc opposite He looked out of his bedroom window at
the house opposite. [ Peter sat near the window and Mary sat
down in the seat opposite. [ Opposite, across Millar Street,
there was a Chinese butcher.
face/fels/ffa person, building, seat etc faces someone or
something, they are opposite them with their front towards
them Iv T]
Rita's apartment faces the harbour. [ They stood facing each
other. I She sat down in a leather chair directly facing mine.
across la'kms II o'kr  :s/across the street/road/river/
table etc (=opposite and on the other side of the street etc)
[prep ]
Our neighbours across the street are always having noisy
parties. I The prisoners" cells faced each other across an
aisle. I across the street/table etc from Bill sat down
across the desk from him. I across from (=across the road
from a place) There's a hotel across from the station where
we can go.
face to face/,fels ta' fe;s/if two people are face to face,
they are very close to and facing each other [advphrase]
sit/stand face to face We sat face to face across a narrow
table. I They stood face to face, inches from each other, each
struggling to control his temper. I come face to face with
(=suddenly and unexpectedly face someone) Turning the
corner I came face to face with a security guard.
on the other side/n 6i ,AbO r isaldl on the opposite side
of a road, river etc [adv phrase]
The cinema isn't next to the shop, it's on the other side. I If
you look across the lake, you can see Donald's house on the
other side. I on the other side of You can park on the other
side of the road.
words for describing something that is
opposite something else
opposite
opposite 16i 'opazt II -'o:p-/[adj only before noun]
She parked the car and walked across to the opposite side
of the street. I There was a calendar on one wall and on the
opposite wall a map of the city. I Draw a diagonal line to the
opposite corner of the rectangle. I The two teams were lined
up on opposite sides of the gymnasium.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

OPPOSITE/REVERSE 938 OPPOSITE/REVERSE
OPPOSITE/
REVERSE
as different as possible
1 as different from something else as it is
possible to be
2 a person, activity, opinion, situation etc that is
as different from something or someone else
as it is possible to be
,3 words for describing two statements or
opinions that are as different as possible from
each other
4 what you say when you disagree with
someone and believe that the opposite of
what they have said is true
5 in or from the opposite direction
6 a surprising situation or statement in which
two ideas with opposite meanings seem to
exist together
1 as different from something else as it is
possible to be
opposite be opposites
reverse be the antithesis of
opposite/'Dp3zt II ,a:-/[adj]
I thought the medicine would make him sleepy, but actually
it had the opposite effect. I Being friendly and humorous with
the class didn't work so Miss Thomson tried the opposite
approach and became strict and serious. I Of course, Mar-
garet has very strong opinions, but she always tries to under-
stand the opposite point of view.
reverse /r; ' v3:rs/ reverse order/procedure/process
ere (=the opposite order etc to what is usual or to what has
just been stated) [adj only before noun]
The judge read out the results of the competition in reverse
order. I Assemble the equipment according to the instructions
and then use the reverse procedure to dismantle it.
be opposites/bi: 'opoz;ts II -' a:p-/to be as different as
possible from each other Iv phrase]
Love and hate are opposites. [ Although the sweet and sour
flavours are opposites, they combine very well in this oriental
dish. I In both looks and personality the girls were complete
opposites.
be the antithesis of/hi: 6i anitiOss Dv] a formal
expression meaning to be completely opposite in quality
or character to something, used especially when express-
ing a strong opinion Iv phrase]
Living on borrowed money is the antithesis of good house-
keeping. [ Although he called himself a National Socialist,
his policies were the very antithesis of socialism.
2 a person, activity, opinion, situation etc that is
as different from something or someone else
as it is possible to be
the opposite be the other way around
the reverse vice versa
the converse go to the other extreme/
opposite extreme
the opposite/6i 'pozt II-':P-/In singular]
Our first baby hardly ever cried in the night, but our second
is the opposite - we never get any sleep. I just the opposite
(=exactly the opposite) My friends say I spend too much time
studying but my parents say just the opposite. I In the 1970s,
unions were dictating to the government but now it's just the
opposite. I the opposite of "Hard'is the opposite of "soft'. I
My way of doing things is the opposite of yours and you'll
just have to accept that.
the reverse 16a rI Iv3:rs/the exact opposite of the situa-
tion, idea, process etc that has just been mentioned In
singular]
The economic situation is certainly improving, although
food shortages and widespread unemployment suggest the
reverse. [ The acid must be added to the water - the reverse
can be highly dangerous. [ the reverse of He said that the
rioeters had been killed accidentally, the reverse of what had
really happened.
the converse/63 'konv3:rs II -ko:n-/a formal or tech-
nical expression meaning the exact reverse of a statement
that has just been made In singular]
Wage increases on a large scale always lead to inflation, but
unfortunately the converse is not always true. I The system
must adapt itself to the user rather than the converse.
converse [adj] We've discussed how plants affect air, so now
let's consider the converse problem - the effect of air on
plants.
conversely /kon'v:rsli, 'knv:rsli II 'k:n-/ [adv] Lan-
guage is a system for translating meanings into sounds, or
conversely (=in the opposite way)for translating sounds into
meanings.
be the other way around/bi: 6i ,A6a r Wel 'raond/if
a situation is the other way around, it is the reverse of
the situation that you have just mentioned Iv phrasel
Usually regular work pays better per hour than part-time,
but sometimes it can be the other way around. [ How would
Sally's husband have felt if it had been the other way around
- if she'd treated him so badly?
vice versa /,va;s 'v3:rso, ,vasi-/ an expression used
when you have just described a situation and you mean
that the reverse of that situation is also possible [adv
phrase]
Whenever I'm at home, my husband seems to be out, and vice
versa (=when I'm out, he's at home)! I Dutch speakers can
usually understand German quite well, but not vice versa. I
Astronomers were still uncertain whether the Earth travelled
around the Sun or vice-versa.
go to the other extreme/opposite extreme/gu
t 6i ,A63r ,k'stri:m, ,pzt k'stri:m II -, o:p-/to behave in
an unreasonable way which is completely opposite to the
unreasonable way you behaved before or the unreasonable
way someone else behaves Iv phrase]
Some people are very selfish, but others go to the opposite
extreme of being too anxious to please. I I know I always used
to say that you ate too much, but there's no need to go to the
other extreme.
3 words for describing two statements or
opinions that are as different as possible from
each other
opposite
opposing
diametrically opposed
opposite/'opazt II 'a:-/[adj]
We're good friends, but we have opposite views when it comes
to politics. I It is strange how two scientists studying the same
problem can come to completely opposite conclusions.
o p p o s i n g /  ' poz; r] / opposite and in direct dis agreement
[adj only before noun ]
Try to treat opposing ideas with an open mind. I Brad was
prepared to accept that opposing beliefs could be held equally
strongly and passionately. I The Green Party seems to be
unsure which of two opposing political philosophies to
follow.
diametrically opposed/daia,metrildi a'paozd/exactly
opposite and in complete disagreement [adj]
She and I have always held diametrically opposed views on
abortion. I Guthrie and Linforth follow diametrically
opposed methods and reach contradictory conclusions. I
diametrically opposed to Churchill's policies were
diametrically opposed to those of the Labour Party.

OPPOSITE/REVERSE 939 ORDER/SEQUENCE
4 what you say when you disagree with
[ someone and believe that the opposite of
what they have said is true
on the contrary/quite the reverse
on the contrary/quite the reverse/on 6e 'kDntrri,
kwaIt 6 rI'v3:rs II -'ko:ntreri/[adv phrase]
"You should go home. "" "'On the contrary, I must stay here
with you. "1 "'You may feel that you should have received the
award. "" "On the contrary - I feel the judges made the right
decision. "'[ "Do you think the divorce will upset her family?'"
"'Quite the reverse. It will probably come as a relief.'"
5 in or from the opposite direction
the other way
the opposite direction/the other direction
in opposite directions
the other way/6i ,A6a r 'wed if you go, face, look etc the
other way, you go etc in the opposite direction [adv
phrase]
Turn around and face the other way. [ I waved to her but she
didn't see - she was looking the other way. [ When you're
overtaking, make sure there's nothing coming the other way.
the opposite direction/the other direction/6i
iopozIt d I Irekfan, 6i IA6) r d trekfan 11 -o:p-/[n phrase]
in the opposite direction On seeing the policeman the rob-
bers ran off in the opposite direction. I The driver did not stop
to see if any damage was done but sped off in the opposite
direction. I from the opposite direction Whilst everyone
was watching the action on the left of the stage, the dancers
entered from the opposite direction
in opposite directions/in ,Dpzt d rek'anz 11 -,o:p-/
if two people or things go or face in opposite directions,
each goes or faces in the opposite direction to the other [adv
phrase]
There were two paths going in opposite directions. I Two
trains travelling in opposite directions crashed, killing
twenty passengers.
orbit AROUND/ROUND 4
orbit: in orbit AROUND/ROUND 4
orchestrate ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 3
ordeal EXPERIENCE 2
order ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE
1, ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 2, 6,
ORDER/SEQUENCE 1, ORGANIZE 5,
TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 1, 2, 7
order: be in order ORDER/SEQUENCE 2
order: be out of order BROKEN 2
order: be out of order/in the wrong order
ORDER/SEQUENCE 4
order: in order ORDER/SEQUENCE 3
order: in order to do sth TO/IN ORDER TO 1
order: in order not to do sth TO/IN ORDER TO 1
order: out of order/in the wrong order
ORDER/SEQUENCE 5
order: put sth in order ARRANGE A GROUP OF
THINGS OR PEOPLE 1
order sb about/around TELUORDER SB TO DO STH 8
order
6 a surprising situation or statement in which
two ideas with opposite meanings seem to
exist together
paradox
paradox/'pmrodoks II -do:ks/[n C]
It is a paradox that some of the funniest comics are, in real-
ity very unhappy people. I The paradox is that the more
labour-saving devices we invent, the more people complain
of tiredness.
paradoxical /pmroldoksIkal II-do:ks-/ [adj] Raising
interest rates is a paradoxical way of bringing down
inflation.
paradoxically lady] Musical notes just a semi-tone apart
have, paradoxically, the least similarity to each other.
opposition AGAINST SB IN A GAME 2,
AGAINST/OPPOSE 3
opposition: the opposition AGAINST/OPPOSE 2
opposition: voice/express opposition to
AGAINST/OPPOSE 4
oppress CONTROL 6
oppressive CONTROL 6, HOT 7
opt CHOOSE 2
opt out TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 12
optimist EXPECT 6
optimistic EXPECT 6, HOPE 1
optimum BEST 1
option CHOOSE 7, DEAL WITH 6
option: leave sb with no choice/option FORCE SB TO
DO STH 3
optional MUST 8
options: keep your options open DECIDE 8
or/or else IF 3, 6
oral EXAM/TEST 1, SPEAK A LANGUAGE 5
orator TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 2
ORDER/SEQUENCE
the fixed and regular way that a number of
things or events happen or are arranged
words meaning an order
to be in the correct order
doing things one after the other
to be in the wrong order
ways of saying that something is done in the
wrong order
1 words meaning an order
order rota
sequence pattern
cycle
order/':rd;)r/the fixed way that several things, events
etc happen or are arranged showing what is first, then
second, then third, and so on In C/U]
This programme shows the order of events for the day. [ It
doesn't matter what order you do your work in, as long as
you get it done. [ in alphabetical/reverse/chronological
etc order All our files are kept in alphabetical order. [ Do
you want me to announce the winners in any particular
order?[ in order of age/height/importance etc (=with,
for example, the eldest first, and the youngest last) Try to
deal with problems one by one, in order of importance. [ By
the age of 5, most children can arrange blocks in order of size.
sequence/'si:kwans/a series of events, actions etc which
have a fixed order, especially when each event or action
is connected to the next one In C/U]

ORDER/SEQUENCE 90 ORDINARY
The sequence of events leading up to the war is very interest-
ingfrom a historical point of view. I The dance is basically
a sequence of steps repeated over and over again. I Your com-
puter will only respond to commands given in the correct
sequence. I out of sequence (-not in the correct sequence)
All the door numbers seemed to be out of sequence.
cycle / sakal/a series of events or changes that happens
in a fixed order and is then repeated when it has finished,
especially in a way that is difficult to stop In C[
The human body has adapted to the cycle of sunrise, day-
light, sunset and night-time. [ Abused children often grow
up to be abusive parents, and so the cycle continues. [ life
cycle (=the way in which plants and animals produce new
plants and animals, and then die) We were never taught
about sex - only about the life cycle of the frog.
rota/'raota/a word used especially in British English
meaning the order in which two or more people do a par-
ticular job at different times, so that the work is shared
equally and fairly In C[
We all work in this house, so we've got a rota for cooking and
cleaning. [ When the baby was ill, the women would organize
a rota to stay up at night with him.
pattern / petan [[ petarn/the order in which things are
usually done or usually happen, with the result that it
becomes the typical and expected order [n C]
Some young people find it hard to get used to the length and
pattern of the working day. [ Women's lives used to follow
a predictable pattern: school, then marriage and children.
2 to be in the correct order
be in order
be the right way round
be in order/bi: n la:rdor/[v phrase]
Make sure the playing cards are in order before you start the
game. [ Ben was an extremely fussy man: his apartment
immaculate, his books and CDs all in order.
be the right way round /bi: 6 irat we[ 'raond/ a
British expression meaning to be in the order that people
expect or consider to be correct, especially after not being
in the correct order Iv phrase]
The list of events is the right way around but you've got all
the place names wrong. [ Spelling is simply a matter of get-
ting all the letters in a word the right way round.
3 doing things one after the other
in order
take turns
in order/n 'a:rdar/[adv phrase]
Make a list, and then tackle all your problems in order. [ If
you pack everything in order you won't forget to take any-
thing with you.
take turns (also take it in turns in British English)
/,telk 'ta:rnz, te[k It n 'ta:rnz/if two or more people take
turns or take it in turns to do something, they decide to
do it in order, one person after another, so that it is shared
equally and fairly [v phrase]
If they can't decide who's going to have the car this week they
ought to take turns. [ If you all want to use the computer
you'll have to take it in turns. [ take turns to do sth Mandy
and Debbie took it in turns to look after the baby.
4 to be in the wrong order
be out of order/in the wrong order
be the wrong way round
be out of order/in the wrong order /bi: ,aot av
':rdar, In ha ,rorj 'a:rd r II -,m:rj-/ [v phrase]
After a week, Claudia's carefully arranged books were all
out of order. [ All the files were in the wrong order and it took
her hours to find the right one.
be the wrong way round/bi: 6a trot] we traond [[
-, ra:rj-/a British expression meaning to not be in the order
that people expect or consider correct, especially when
there is only one accepted order [v phrase]
That new receptionist's hopeless - all my appointments are
the wrong way round. [ I think there's been a printing error
- the chapters in this book are the wrong way around.
5 ways of saying that something is done in the
wrong order
out of order/in the wrong order
the wrong way round
backwards
out of order/in the wrong order/aot av ':rdar, In
6a ,rorj a:rd r [[-,ra:q-/[advphrase]
You idiot, you've done the work in the wrong order! [ Most
children attempt this puzzle in completely the wrong order.
the wrong way round/6a ror] weJ raond [[-,ro:o-I
a British expression meaning done in the wrong order,
especially when there is only one order which people
expect or consider correct [adv phrase]
No, you've done it the wrong way round. You're supposed to
fry the onions first. ] She's arranged the whole day the wrong
way around, with the meeting not starting till 4 o'clock.
backwards/Ibaekwardz/in the opposite order to that
which is usual, starting at the end and finishing at the
beginning [ adv ]
Can you say the alphabet backwards?[ No, no, you're read-
ing the numbers backwards. Start with the numbers on the
left.
orderly BEHAVE 2
orders: give orders/instructions TELL/ORDER SB TO
DO STH 2
orders: issue orders/instructions TELL/ORDER SB TO
DO STH 2
orders: on sb's orders TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 6
orders: take orders from OBEY 5
orders: under orders/instructions TELL/ORDER SB TO
DO STH 6
ordinary ORDINARY 1, 2
ordinary: out of the ordinary UNUSUAL 1
ordinary people ORDINARY 3
ORDINARY
not special or unusual in any way
very ordinary, and without any interesting or
unusual features
ordinary people, who are not rich, famous, or
powerful
the ordinary members of an organization, not
the leaders
1 not special or unusual in any way
ordinary day to day
normal mainstream
average everyday
standard run-of-the-mill
regular neutral
routine down-to-earth
ordinary/'a:danri II 'a:rdaneri/[adj]
It's just an ordinary house in an ordinary street. I He's not
particularly intelligent or particularly stupid -just ordi-
nary really. I From the moment I met her, I knew she was
no ordinary kind of girl. I What is it about a football match
that can turn ordinary friendly people into monsters?
norma| /'n:rml/ people, events, objects etc that are
normal are ordinary because they are the same or almost
the same as other people, events, or objects of the same type
[adj]
It was a normal day, just like any other, until the bomb
exploded. [ When she was too big for her cot, we bought her
a normal bed. [ I wish I could run around and play like

ORDINARY
ORDINARY
normal children. I She seemed quite normal at first, but later
I realized she was rather odd.
average ]'awnds] an average person or thing has
characteristics that are typical of most people or things [adj
only before noun]
The average student spends two to three hours a night doing
homework. I James Joyce would probably not be familiar
to the average French person. I In an average week we get
through about six packets of paper. I a baby of average size
standard /Istandord] a standard answer, method, or
course of action is usual in a particular situation [adj
usually before noun]
The politician had nothing new to say. He just gave standard
answers to the interviewer's questions. [ The 'cutaway" is a
standard technique in television news film. [ standard prac-
tice/procedure (:what usually happens in a particular
situation) It used to be standard practice for the sons of army
officers to go into the army too. [ Don't worry too much if the
Electricity Company threaten legal action - it's standard
procedure when you "re late paying your bill.
regular ! Iregj°lor/ordinary but good enough for a partic-
ular purpose [adj only before noun]
If you get back pain, regular aspirins should help. [ Even
though the dye is quite strong a regular shampoo will remove
it.
routine /ru:ti:n-! routine job/operation/check etc
(=usual and done frequently, not just when there is a seri-
ous problem) [adj usually before noun]
The fault was discovered during a routine check of the plane. [
Don't worry, having your tonsils out is a routine operation
- surgeonsperform it every day! [ Emptying radiators is not
routine maintenance and is only necessary if air has entered
the system.
day to day/'dei to dei/day to day life/running/man-
agement/problems etc (=the ordinary, regular activities,
duties, problems etc that happen every day) [adj phrase]
Mr Harper is in charge of the day to day running of the hotel. [
Very little is known about day to day life in Peru at that time. [
I also have an assistant, to help deal with the day to day
problems that crop up.
mainstream / melnstri:m] mainstream books, ideas,
organizations etc ar6 not strange or extreme in any way,
and are therefore popular with or suitable for most ordi-
nary people [adj only before noun]
She writes mainstream novels, and is very successful. [ Most
disabled students are integrated into the mainstream educa-
tional system. I The mainstream political parties are losing
support to smaller ones with more specialist concerns.
everyday ! evride! everyday language, objects, events
etc are not unusual or special in any way, especially
because they are used a lot or happen a lot [adj only before
• noun[
A good photographer can make everyday objects look rare
and special. [ She uses ordinary everyday language to
explain complicated ideas. [ everyday life Personal strug-
gle and systematic humiliation are a part of everyday life for
blacks under apartheid.
run.of.the.mill /rAn ov 60 'mIl-/someone or something
that is run-of-the-mill is ordinary because it is the same
as all the other people or things and is therefore a little
boring [adj]
She had run-of-the-mill California good looks. [Stan was not
your normal run-of-the-mill husband - he was kind, gener-
ous and helpful. [ Crimes like rape and murder are almost
run-of-the-mill for the New York Police Department.
neutral/nju:trol [[ nu:-/language, words, ideas etc that
are neutral are deliberately chosen to avoid expressing
any strong opinion or feeling, especially so that you do not
influence other people's decisions [adj]
News readers must use neutral language to describe the polit-
ical situation [ This word used to be insulting but now it's
fairly neutral. [ Can you rephrase the politician's argument
in a more neutral way?
down.to.earth !,datJn to 13:r0,/sensible and realistic
[adj]
In many ways the story-line is not very realistic, unlike the
last series which was much more down-to-earth. I I like her.
She's always very natural and down-to-earth.
2 very ordinary, and without any interesting or
unusual features
ordinary nondescript
banal bland
mundane
ordinary/'a:danri II 'a:rdneri/[adj]
The house was clean, and well-kept, but very ordinary. I It's
surprising that a girl as attractive as Sarah is going out with
someone so ordinary-looking.
banal/bo*na:l, bo* nael! stories, books, remarks etc that are
banal, are ordinary and uninteresting, especially because
they do not contain anything new, exciting, or original
[adj]
It was just another banal newspaper story. [ I was expect-
ing an interesting interview but he only asked a few banal
questions about the weather. [ Much of the artwork in the
museum was banal and dull.
mundane/mAn'dein! a job, event, or activity that is mun-
dane, is ordinary and dull and gives little satisfaction,
especially because you do it every day [adj]
The play is about the mundane existence of factory workers. I
Peter tries to do every task well, however mundane it may
be. I My initial work was pretty mundane, but as I was given
more responsibility, there was more variety in my job.
nondescript/Inondg skrlpt II na:nd skrIpt/a person or
object that is nondescript is not at all interesting to look
at because they have no special or unusual features [adj]
The only people in the waiting room were a couple of rather .
nondescript elderly ladies. I The detective drives a non-
descript blue Ford, perfect for observing people unnoticed.I
They were an average family living a boring life in a non-
descript little house in the suburbs.
bland/blend! very ordinary and not containing anything
interesting, shocking etc, often in order to avoid offending
or upsetting anyone [adj]
The language in her speech was deliberately bland. I Most
job descriptions are bland, boring and totally lacking in
colour. I The college's bland appearance made it seem a little
unfriendly.
3 ordinary people, who are not rich, famous, or
powerful
ordinary people
the man/woman in the street
the general public
ordinary people/,a:dnri 'pi:pal II ,a:rdneri-! In plural]
Politicians don't care about ordinary people. I In the eight-
eenth century ordinary people had no access whatsoever to
education.
the man/woman In the street 16o imen, wumon In
6o stri:t/a typical person who has ordinary opinions, likes
the same things as most other people etc In phrase]
The advertising industry has to know exactly what the man
in the street is thinking. ] This latest legislation will not
really affect the man or woman in the street.
the general public 16o d3enarol p^blIk/all the ordi-
nary people in a society or country, especially those
without special knowledge of a subject In phrase]
Very little official information is given to the general public. [
Computer techniques are now becoming familiar to the
general public. [ She is a poet who is admired by other poets
but not well-known to the general public.
4 the ordinary members of an organization, not
the leaders
the rank and file
the grass roots

ORDINARY 942 ORGANIZATION
the rank and file/6a irerjk and 'fail/the ordinary mem-
bers of an organization, especially a political organization,
when compared with its leaders In phrase]
The rank and file has lost confidence in the party leadership. I
conflict between union leaders and the rank and file at an
Alfa Romeo factory
rank-and-file [adj only before noun] rank-^^riffle members
the grass roots/6a igra:s ru:ts II -,graes-/the ordinary
members at the bottom of a political or religious organiza-
tion In phrase]
The decisions were taken by the party leadership without con-
sulting the grass roots.
grassroots / gra:sru:ts II gres-/[adj only before noun ] The
party is in some difficulty, but still has grassroots support.
organ BODY 3
organic NATURAL 2
organism LIVING/ALIVE 4
organization ORGANIZATION 1, ORGANIZE 4
ORGANIZATION
a large group of people who work together in
some way, for example for business or
educational purposes, or in order to help
people
1 an organization
2 an official organization that has political aims
or responsibilities
3 an organization that gives help or advice
4 an organization formed by people who all
have the same aims or interests
1 an organization
organization
institution
institute
organization (also .isation British) I,:rgana['zen II
-gana-! [n C with singular or plural verb in British English]
There's an organization called The Blue Cross that runs
clinics for animals. I The Pan-American Health Organiza-
tion has been commissioned to conduct a trial of the drug. I
All the local women's organizations have been asked to take
part in International Women's Day celebrations.
institution i nst tju:j'an [[ -tu:-/an organization, espe-
cially a large, important, and long-established organiza-
tion, whose work is in fields such as business, education,
or science In C]
His laboratory is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washing-
ton DC. I Mr Hale was offered the position of office manager
in a large financial institution. I librarians working in
educational institutions
institute/nsQtju:t 11 -tu:t/ an organization which has
professional or educational aims In C with singular or
plural verb in British English]
My colleague is a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of
technology. I the National Cancer Institute ] the work under-
taken by government research institutes
2 an official organization that has political aims
or responsibilities
authority party
council body
authority/a:'Ooroti, a- II a,oo:-, a'Oa:-/an official organi-
zation, or a localgovernment department, which has power
in public affairs, provides public services etc In C with sin-
gular or plural verb in British English]
Regional health authorities are planning improvements to
the ambulance services. I Roosevelt created the Tennessee
Valley Authority in 1933. I You can claim housing benefit
from your local authority.
council Iikaonsal/an official organization responsible for
the public services in a town or area, or a large organiza-
tion which represents particular people In C with singular
or plural verb in British English]
She's been elected onto the city council. [ the United Nations
Security Council [ His case was taken up by the Joint Coun-
cil for the Welfare of Immigrants.
party/'po:rti/a political organization with members and
leaders, especially one that governs a country or wants to
be elected to govern a country In C with singular orplural
verb in British English]
The Democratic Party won the election. [ This is the first time
Spain "s political parties have come up with a joint approach
to terrorism. [ join a party He joined the Communist party
while studying at university.
body/bodi [[ bo:di/any organization made up of people
working together, especially in government, making laws
or advising people In C with singular or plural verb in Brit-
ish English]
UEFA is the governing body for European football. [
national po licy-making bodies for science and technology
 an organization that gives help or advice
charity
fund
trust
charity/'tJ'aerti/an organization which raises money in
order to help people who are poor, ill etc, and does not make
any profit for itself In C with singular or plural verb in Brit-
ish English]
I work for a charity that helps refugees. I My mother does
a lot of fund raising for local charities.
fund /f^nd/ an organization that collects and controls
money that it uses to help people or do some other good
work In C]
New York's Inner City Scholarship Fund pays the college fees
of students from poorer families. [ All proceeds of the draw
will be donated to a vocational rehabilitation fund for the
disabled.
lru$1 /tr^st/ a word used especially in British English
meaning an organization that receives money which it
then uses to help people or do some other good work [n C
with singular or plural verb in British English]
The National Trust owns and maintains many buildings of
historical value. I I regularly give money to a trust which
cares for the families of political prisoners.
4 an organization formed by people who all
have the same aims or interests
club league
society federation
association union
club Ild^bl a group of people who meet regularly together
to do something that they are all interested in, for exam-
plea sport or game In C with singular or plural verb in Brit-
ish English]
"'What's the swimming club like?" "It seems to be quite well
run. "" I His speech to the National Press Club attracted huge
publicity. ] join a club It costs Ј15 to join the club, but then
you get cheap rates for the use of all the facilities. I belong
to a club (=be a member of a club) They belong to several
local clubs.
society/sa' sa oti/a large official organization for people
who have the same aim or interest In C with singular or
plural verb in British English]
He was president of the Washington Humane Society. I The
Society of Authors publishes a quarterly magazine. I the
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
association/a,saosi'en, asaoi-/ a group of people
with the same aim or interest, especially people in an area
or country who do the same kind of work or activity In C
with singular or plural verb in British English]

ORGANIZATION 943 ORGANIZE
He had the support of the National Education Association
and the Association of American Colleges. I He was invited
to speak at the association's annual dinner.
ieague/li:g] an organization consisting of people, coun-
tries, or groups that have joined together because they have
the same aim In C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
The League of Nations was formed to promote international
peace and security. I Morocco is a member of the Arab
League. I Leaders of the Football League met to discuss the
problems of hooliganism.
federation / ,fed  reISan / a group of separate organiza-
tions or clubs which have joined together to help and sup-
port each other In C with singular or plural verb in British
English]
The inquiry was set up by the National Federation of Hous-
ing Associations. [ The Chicago Teachers Federation helped
her to win an administrative position.
union /ju:njon/ an organization which represents the
interests of people who work for the same company or do
the same type of work In C with singular orplural verb in
British English]
The Teamsters Union called a national strike. [ The party
depends on the support of the unions. I trade union (Brit-
ish) / labor union (American) The trade union leader was
in negotiation with the management. I join a union Some
workers who resfused to join the union were harassed by
their colleagues.
organize ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 1,
ORGANIZE 1
organize I
ORGANIZE
ARRANGE A
MEETING,
EVENT ETC
ARRANGE A
GROUP OF
THINGS OR
PEOPLE
ORGANIZE
1 to arrange something properly or carefully, so
that it is effective, clear, tidy etc
2 words for describing an event, piece of work,
system etc that has been properly organized
3 words for describing someone who always
organizes things well and whose own life is
organized in an effective way
4 the way in Which something has been
organized
5 a situation in which everything is properly
organized
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to arrange something properly or carefully, so
that it is effective, clear, tidy etc
organize structure
sort out get your act together
get together
organize (also-ise British)/':rgnaz/Iv T]
organize sth Here is an example of how you should organize
your notes. I When you prepare a training video, you should
organize things so that recording and playback sessions are
on different days. I organize sth into groups/piles etc The
books were organized into groups according to subject.
sort out/, s3:rt aot/to organize something that is mixed
up, untidy, or confused so that it becomes tidier, clearer
and easier to use or understand [phr v T]
sort out sth I must sort out my clothes for tomorrow. I After
class we needed time to sort out the enormous amount of
information we had absorbed. I I think you should just accept
the offer and sort out the financial side of things after the
holidays. I sort sth/it/them out When are you going to sort
all these files out?
get together /get tge6r/ an informal expression
meaning to arrange to do something or organize an
activity, event etc, especially if you have taken a long time
to start doing it [phr v T]
get together sth They've been saying for years that they'd
get together some evening classes in the old school. I get it
together (=organize yourself so that you can do some-
thing) At last, the four of us got it together and painted the
house.
structure/' strAkt.[:)r/to carefully organize the different
parts of a piece of writing, piece of work, activity etc, so
that it has a clear structure Iv T]
When there is intense pressure of work you absolutely have
to structure your time effectively. [ Film-makers are cons-
tantly turning up new ways of structuring the information
within their films.
get your act together/get j:r mkt tgegr/an infor-
mal expression meaning to organize your life or work so
that you are able to do things well and effectively instead
of badly Iv phrase]
I must get my act together andfind a job [ Why can't they
just get their act together and do the whole thing properly?
2 words for describing an event, piece of work,
system etc that has been properly organized
organized
well-ordered
structured
organized (also-ised British)/':rgnaizd/[adj]
Make sure your information is organized properly before you
start writing. [ The evolution of organized urban society
began in the Middle East about eight thousand years ago. [
well-organized These four individuals form the nucleus of
a well-organized management team.
well.ordered / ,wel 'z:rdrd-/a place, organization, way
of life etc that is well-ordered has been carefully organized
so that nothing goes wrong, nothing imexpected happens,
and everything is where it should be [adj]
Mary has such a well-ordered household - it makes ours look
like total chaos. [ The whole well-ordered social system of the
pre-war years was blown away.
structured/'str^ktrd/a word used especially in tech-
nical or scientific contexts: structured work, activities,
information, methods etc are carefully organized so that
they have a clear structure [adj]
The initial questionnaire was presented during a structured
interview. [ The new computers can display information in
a more structured format. [ highly structured Tradition-
alists prefer a highly structured approach to language
teaching.

ORGANIZE 944 OUT/OUTSIDE
 words for describing someone who always
organizes things well and whose own life is
organized in an effective way
organized
together
organized (also .Ised British)/'a:rgonazd/[adj]
You'll need to be a bit more organized when you get to univer-
sity. I well-organized He has the perfect personality for the
job: he's tough, well-organized, but knows when to relax.
together/to ge6or/an informal word: someone who is
together always thinks clearly and does things in a sensi-
ble, organized way [adj]
You'll have to be a bit more together when you've had the
baby. [ Rosie's a really together person - she'll be great as
the co-ordinator.
4 the way in which something has been
organized
organization
organization I,o:rgona1'zeifn II -gono-/In U]
The Festival was a disaster. The organization was very poor
and one of the groups didn't turn up. ] The maintenance of
the canals required a great deal of money and careful
organization.
 a situation in which everything is properly
organized
order
order/'a:rdor/In U]
Can we have a bit of order here? Someone straighten those
desks out to start with! I the illogical desire of philosophers
and scientists to impose order on the Universe
organized ORGANIZE 2, 3
organized crime CRIME 6
organizer ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 5
orientation: sexual orientation SEX/HAVE SEX WITH
origin COME FROM/ORIGINATE 9
original FIRST 1, 9, NEW 7,
originate COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7'
originator: the originator of INVENT 2
origins CAUSE 14, COME FROM/ORIGINATE 4
origins: have its origins in COME FROM/ORIGINATE
ornament DECORATE 3
ornamental DECORATE 4
ornate DECORATE 5
orphan CHILD 3
orphaned: be orphaned DIE 7
orthodox RELIGION 3
ostentatious SHOW OFF 3
ostracize REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 6
other DIFFERENT 6
other: each ... the other EACH OTHER 1
other side BACK OF STH 2
other side: on the other side OPPOSITE/FACE 1
other way OPPOSITE/REVERSE 5
other way around: be the other way around
OPPOSITE/REVERSE 2
otherwise DIFFERENT 9, IF 3
otherwise engaged: be otherwise engaged
BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
ought to be/should be PROBABLY 4
ought to do sth SHOULD/OUGHT TO 1, 2
ought to do sth: say sb should do sthlought to do
sth ADVISE 1
ought to do sth: you should do sthlyou ought to do
sth ADVISE 2
ounce: every bit of/inch of/ounce of/drop of
ALL/EVERYTHING 2
oust GET RID OF 4
out FASHIONABLE 8, OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1,
OUT/OUTSIDE 1, 4, 5
out: be just out NEW 3
out: be out FREE/NOT IN PRISON 1, HOME 8, THERE 7,
UNCONSCIOUS 1, WRONG/INCORRECT 1
out: be out/not be in HERE 6
out: before the year/month/day is out FINISH/COME
TO AN END 2
out: go out FASHIONABLE 9
out: let sb go/out FREE/NOT IN PRISON 2
out: that's out IMPOSSIBLE 2
out loud: laugh out loud LAUGH 5
out
out
out
out
out
out
out
out
out
out
out
out
of BECAUSE 1, OUT/OUTSIDE 2, 3, 5
of: be out of NOT HAVE3
of date OLD-FASHIONED 1
of doors: outdoors/out of doors OUT/OUTSIDE 1
of fashion FASHIONABLE 8
of the way FAR 5, REACH 6
of the woods: not be out of the woods
PROBLEM 6
of this world GOOD/EXCELLENT 2
of turn: speak out of turn SAY 10
to do sth INTEND 1
to get: be out to get REVENGE 1
with it TELL A SECRET 6
®OUT/OUTSIDE
not inside a building
outside a place, country, organization etc
close to a place, town etc, but not in it
not in a room or building but close to it
moving or looking out of something or away
from the inside of it
words for describing a part, covering, surface
etc on the outside of something
the outside part or surface of something
words for describing places or events that are
outside, not inside a building
words for describing people, influences etc
that come from outside a country or town
1 not inside a building
outside outdoors/out of doors
out in the open air
outside/aot'sad/[adv]
When I woke up it was still dark outside. I It's such a nice
day. Why don't you kids play outside?
out/aot/[adv]
out in/under/there ete We had to stand out in the rain for
over an hour. I We had a great holiday, sleeping out under
the stars every night. I What's that dog doing out there in the
yard?

OUT/OUTSIDE 945 OUT/OUTSIDE
outdoors/out of doors /laotlda:rz, laot av dz):rz/out-
side, especially when the sun is shining [adv]
We often sit outdoors on summer evenings. I I could tell from
his brown wrinkled face that he'd spent most of his life work-
ing outdoors. I The weather was fine and the children were
out of doors from morning to night.
in the open air/n 6i opn er/not inside a building,
but outside where the air is fresh [adv phrase]
I lovepicnics and eating in the open air. I out in the open
air It was nice to be out in the open air again after all those
long months stuck in the office.
2 outside a place, country, organization etc
outside
out of
the outside world
outside/aotsaId, aotsaid/[prep]
It was the Emperor's first journey outside Japan since 1921. I
This is the only museum of its kind outside London. I No one
outside the party realized that there was a leadership strug-
gle going on.
out of/ aot ov/not in the place where you usually are
[prep l
I never heard about the riots. I was out of the country at the
time. I The prisoners spend only four hours a day out of their
cells.
the outside world/6i aotsad wa:rld/the rest of the
world that is unknown to you because you only know a par-
ticular small place and small group of people In phrase]
The members of this jungle tribe had never seen anyone from
the outside world before. I After six weeks in the hospital I
was beginning to forget what the outside world looked like.
3 close to a place, town etc, but not in it
outside
out of
outside/aot'said, autsa:d/[prep]
just outside (=very close to a place) The university is situ-
ated on a hill just outside the city. [ two miles/three kilo-
metres ete outside (=two miles etc away from a place) The
train stopped three miles outside Doncaster.
out of / aut av/two miles/three kilometres out of(=two
miles etc away from a place) [prep]
The car broke down just a few miles out of town.
4 not in a room or building but close to it
outside
out
outside/aotsaId, aotsad/ [adv/prep]
The manager asked me to wait outside in the corridor. I
There's someone outside the door listening. I We saw a crowd
of people standing outside the theatre. I You can park your
car outside the main entrance.
out/aoq [adv]
out here/there/in ere You go on in. I'll wait out here. [
Leave your coat out in the hallway.
5 moving or looking out of something or away
from the inside of it
out lady[ out [prep]
out of outwards/outward
outside
out/aot/moving or looking out of a place, building, con-
tainer etc [advl
Janice opened the door and looked out, but she could see no
one in the garden. [ Two firemen carried his body out and
laid it on the ground. [ When I dropped my bag, some of my
money must have fallen out. [ out came/jumped/fell etc
I opened the box and out jumped a frog.
out o| /  aut v/moving or looking out of a place, building,
container etc [prep]
I can just see her coming out of the office. I You mustn't lean
out of the window. It's dangerous. [ Thousands of refugees
are now streaming out of the city. [ Sharon would sit there
all day staring out of the window.
outside /aotsaId, aotsad/ out of a building or room
ladyCrep]
Why don't you go outside and get some fresh air? I I walked
outside into the street and was dazzled by the bright sun-
shine. I She stepped outside the door and called him up the
corridor. ] Would you look outside and.see if there's anyone
there.
out/aot! out the door/window (a word used especially
in American English meaning moving or looking out of the
door or window) [prep]
She ran out the door and down the street. [ If you look out
the window, you can see the ocean.
outwards (British) I outward (American) / laotwrd(z)/
away from the inside or centre, towards the outside lady]
The windows open outward. [ As the plane exploded, the
metal of the fuselage was blown outwards. [ London is
expanding outwards at an alarming rate, swallowing up
large areas of beautiful countryside.
6 words for describing a part, covering, surface
etc on the outside of something
external
outer
external/k'st3:rnl/[adj only before noun]
The external shell of the snails is yellow and green. I The
external walls of the castle are beginning to crumble. I Exter-
nal cladding materials help to insulate the buildings from
the cold. I There are no external signs of injury.
outer / aotar/outer skin/layer/wall/shell etc (=on the
outside of something) [adj only before noun]
These are the rocks that make up the outer layers of the
Earth's surface. I Boil the beans for ten minutes and then
remove the tough outer skin. I the outer wall of the temple
precinct
7 the outside part or surface of something
the outside
the exterior
the outside/6i 'aotsaid/ In singular]
the outside of The outside of the bowl is green, the inside
is blue. [ The outside of the house needs painting. [ on the
outside The steak was burned black on the outside and raw
in the middle. [ from the outside The door can only be
locked from the outside.
the exterior/6i Ik'starir/a word used especially in a
technical context meaning the outside part or surface of
a building, vehicle etc In singular]
Sun, rain and frost have damaged the exterior of the build-
ing. [ The exterior of Durham cathedral is one of the most
magnificent sights in England. [ Clean the exterior of the car
thoroughly before applying paint.
words for describing places or events that are
outside, not inside a building
outside
outdoor
open-air
outside /'aotsad/ outside toilet/staircase/door etc
(=one that is outside or on the outside of a building) [adj
only before noun]
Our house only had an outside toilet. I You reach the apart-
ment by going up an outside staircase at the back of the
building.
outdoor / aotd: r/outdoor activities/swimming-pool/
shoes etc (=happening, existing, used outside etc) [adj only
before noun]
The hotel only had an outdoor swimming pool. [ The pro-
gram of outdoor activities includes skiing, climbing, and

OUT/OUTSIDE 946 overheads/overhead
hiking. I She peeled off her heavy outdoor clothing and
slumped into an armchair.
open-air /upn cr/open-air cafe/restaurant/mar-
ket/meeting/concert etc (=one that is outside, especially
because it is pleasant to be outside) [adj only before noun]
We had lunch at an open-air cafe in the city square. I There's
a big open-air market there on Saturdays. I In summer there
were open-air concerts and theatre performances in the park.
9 words for describing people, influences etc
that come from outside a country or town
outside
external
outsider
outside /laotsald/ outside consultants/workers/ob-
servers etc (=who do not belong to a particular company
or organization) [adj only before noun]
Outside observers believe that the election was conducted
fairly. I Why had the university allowed outside influences
to shape its academic policies? I Police blamed the violence
on outside agitators who disrupted an otherwise peaceful
demonstration.
external ] k I st3: rnl/external interference/pressure/
forces etc (=from outside a particular country or organi-
zation) [adj only before noun]
China will not tolerate any external interference in its affairs
by countries such as Britain and the United States. I Exter-
nal pressure forced the town council to impose a ban on
trucks driving through it.
outsider/aotsaidr/a person who does not belong in a
particular group or organization or who is not accepted by
it In C]
Although she had married into the family she was still
regarded as an outsider. I As an outsider, I can look at
modern British society objectively.
outbreak of START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 4
outburst ANGRY 6
outclass BETTER 5
outcome RESULT 2
outcry PROTEST 3
outdated OLD-FASHIONED 1, 2
outdo BETTER 5
outdoor OUT/OUTSIDE 8
outdoors/out of doors OUT/OUTSIDE 1
outer OUT/OUTSIDE 6
outfit CLOTHES 2
outgoing FRIENDLY :3
outgo/rigs SPEND MONEY 9
outing TRAVEL 10
outlandish STRANGE 6
outlaw FORBID :3
outlawed FORBID 9
outlay SPEND MONEY 9
outlet: retail outlet SHOP/STORE 1
outline DETAIL 5, SHAPE 2, SUMMARIZE 2, 4
outlive LIVING/ALIVE :3
outlook ATTITUDE 1
outlook: the outlook FUTURE 8, WEATHER :3
outmoded OLD-FASHIONED 2
outnumber MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
outplay BEAT/DEFEAT 1
outrage BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 7, SHOCK 5, 6
outraged SHOCK 6
outrageous BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 2
outrank/rank HIGH POSITION OR RANK 3
outright IMMEDIATELY 2
outsell SELL 15
outset: at the outset BEGINNING 4
outset: from the outset BEGINNING 5
outshine BETTER 5
outside OUT/OUTSIDE 1, 2, :3, 4, 5, 8, 9
outside: the outside OUT/OUTSIDE 7
outside chance PROBABLY 10
outsider LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 4,
OUT/OUTSIDE 9
outsizeloutsized BIG 3
outskirts EDGE 1, TOWN 3
outsmart: outwit/outsmart BEAT/DEFEAT 4
outspoken HONEST 4
outstanding GOOD AT 2, GOOD/EXCELLENT 4, OWE 5,
REMAIN/BE LEFT 2
outstay/overstay your welcome STAY/NOT LEAVE 4
outstrip BETTER 5
outwardly SEEM 3
outwards/outward OUT/OUTSIDE 5
outwit/outsmart BEAT/DEFEAT 4
oval CIRCLE 4
ovation: standing ovation PRAISE 8
oven: like an oven HOT 5
over
over ABOVE 1, AGAIN 2, CROSS 1, DURING 1,
MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1,
POSTPONE/DO LATER 1
over: be over FINISH/COME TO AN END 1, 2
over: be over and done with FINISH/COME TO AN
END 4
over: be overlbe all over FINISH/COME TO AN END 4
over: be over sth BETTER/RECOVERED 1, 2
over: get it over with/get it over and done with
FINISH DOING STH 7
over: have sb around/over INVITE 2
over: the over-30sl40sl50s etc AGE 5
over and above MORE/EXTRA 1
over and back RETURN 4
over there THERE 1
overact ACTOR/ACTRESS 8
overall ALL/EVERYTHING 4
overawed: be overawed IMPRESS 3
overbearing TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 9
overcharge CHEAT 2
overcome DEAL WITH 4
overcome: be overcome with/by FEEL
HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 1
overconfident CONFIDENT 3
overcook COOK 5
overcrowded CROWD 6
overdo EXAGGERATE 1, TOO/TOO MUCH 3
overdo it WORK HARD 3
overdose: take an overdose DRUG 5
overdose on DRUG 5
overdraft OWE 4
overdrawn: be overdrawn OWE 1
overdue LATE 3, 5
overeat EAT 3
overemphasize EMPHASIZE 2, EXAGGERATE 1
overestimate GUESS 7
overexcited EXCITED 2
overflowing FULL 1
overfriendly FRIENDLY 6
overhang ABOVE 1
overhaul REPAIR 1 5
,
overhead ABOVE 1
overheads/overhead SPEND MONEY 9

overhear 94:? OWE
 overhear HEAR 1
 overheat HOT 11
 overindulge TOO/TO0 MUCH 3
!i!! overindulgent STRICT 10
!iil overjoyed HAPPY 5
,'; overkill TOO/TOO MUCH 1
;; overland TRAVEL 2
...
4: overlap SAME 11
;; overload TOO/TOO MUCH 3
iii overloaded CARRY 5
; overlook IGNORE 3, NOTICE 3
" overmanning WORKER 6
... overpaid: be overpaid PAY SB FOR WORK 5
: overprotective PROTECT 5
I overrate EXAGGERATE 1
..
;;:: overreact REACT 3
 ..... override TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 5
.... overriding IMPORTANT 4
:,,!! overrule TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 5
;.-. overrun/run over LONG TIME 4
:;' overseas FOREIGN 1, 3
, overseas: go overseas TRAVEL 4
 :;
.;: oversee IN CHARGE OF 2
.::. oversight MISTAKE 1, NOT DO STH 3
 oversimplify SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 4
.,
; oversleep WAKE UP/GET UP 6
' overstaffed: be over-staffed WORKER 6
overstate EXAGGERATE 1
;# overstatement EXAGGERATE 3
! overstay: outstay/overstay your welcome STAY/NOT
:!:i!:i LEAVE 4
i!!! overtake PASS/GO PAST 2
;ii!i overthrow GET RID OF 4
::;,,.::'",: overtime PAY SB FOR WORK 3
';i;..,':
ii overturn FALL 12, TURN 7, 11
ili!i overview SUMMARIZE 2
: overused USE STH 15
.:.::. overweight FAT 1
::--: overwhelm BEAT/DEFEAT 3
;., overwhelming LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT :3
:.,. overworked-" be overworked WORK HARD 3
. ....
,,.
i:::..,ii owe OWE 1, THANK 3
: owe: be owed DESERVE 1
be Ј1000/$2000 etc in debt The family is over $30,000 in
debt, and may lose their house. I be in debt to The company
is more than Ј1 million in debt to its financial backers. I
Many consumers have found themselves in debt to credit card
companies without meaning to be.
be in the red/bi: n 60 red/ff a person, business, coun-
try etc is in the red, they owe more money than they have
Iv phrase]
My son's bank account is usually in the red. I After five
quarters in the red, the business will soon be profitable. I be
deep in the red (=owe a lot more than you have) Overseas
payments could keep the country deep in the red for the next
decade.
be overdrawn/bi: ova r dr:n/if you are overdrawn,
you owe money to the bank because you have spent more
than you have in your bank account Iv phrase]
The bank wrote to tell him that he was overdrawn. I be over-
drawn by Your account is overdrawn by Ј200.
:2 to owe a lot of money
be deep/heavily in debt
be up to your ears/neck in debt
be over your head in debt
be deep/heavily in debt/bi: ,di:p, ,hevli n 'det/to
owe a lot more money than you can pay Iv phrase]
When my father died we discovered that he was heavily in
debt. I This disastrous attempt to expand left the airline deep
in debt. I be deep/heavily in debt to The country is already
heavily in debt to foreign banks.
be up to your ears/neck in debt/bi: ^p to ja:r  Iarz,
,nek n 'det/ informal expressions meaning to owe
extremely large sums of money that you cannot pay Iv
phrase]
Knowing that I was up to my ears in debt, Edwin offered to
help me out. I When their business failed, they found them-
selves up to their necks in debt.
be over your head In debt/bi: aova r j3: r hed in det/
an American expression meaning to owe so much money
that there is no possibility of paying it Iv phrase]
He got over his head in debt when he bought a lot of stock
he couldn't sell. I Some students quickly get over their heads
in debt because they don't understand budgeting.
@ OWE
1 to owe money to a person or organization
= to owe a lot of money
to begin to owe money
money that is owed
words for describing debts that have not
been paid
someone who owes money
someone that money is owed to
to not owe any money
to agree that money which is owed no longer
has to be paid
1 to owe money to a person or organization
owe be in the red
be in debt be overdrawn
owe Iul to owe money to someone because you have bor-
rowed from them or because you have received something
from them and not paid for it Iv T]
owe sb sth Don't forget that you owe me $5. [ The girl said
she owed a lot of people money for drugs. [ owe sth to Cuba
owed $153 million to British companies in 1987. [ owe
money/S50 etc He had lost his job and would never be able
to pay back the money he owed.
be in debt/bi: in det/to owe sums of money that you
cannot pay Iv phrase]
 to begin to owe money
get into debt
run up debts
default
get into debt/,get nt det/[v phrase]
The only way we could avoid getting into debt was to borrow
money from our parents. [ get heavily into debt (=begin
to owe a lot of money) They got so heavily into debt that they
couldn't even pay the interest on all their loans.
run up debts /r^n ^p 'dets/ to allow your debts to
increase quickly, especially by continuing to spend money
that you do not really have Iv phrasel
I'm not in the habit of running up debts, l Zambia has run
up an unrepayable debt of $6 billion. [ His son was wild and
irresponsible and had run up debts that he expected his
father to pay.
default/di ' fa:lt/to failto pay back money at the time that
you have a legal duty to pay it back Iv I]
default on The country had defaulted on its World Bank
loans. I default If the purchaser defaults, the house becomes
the property of the savings and loan company.
default In C/U] Loans are often refused to poorer borrowers
because the risk of default is greater. I The high rate of
defaults in the business loan program is starting to worry
the government.
4 money that is owed
debt
overdraft
arrears
liabilities
borrowings

OWE 948 OWN
debt/dot/an amount of money, especially a large amount,
that is owed In C/U]
The central government now has debts totalling $2.5 billion. [
Charles inherited nothing from his father except a heavy
burden of debt. I To pay the interest on our foreign debt, we
will have to import less. I Crippling debts incurred last year
have prevented any expansion of the company. I The state
governor is worried about the high level of corporate debt.I
pay off a debt (=pay the whole of a debt) We haven't had
much spare cash this year as we've been paying off all our
debts.
overdraft / aovardro:ft II -draeft/an amount of money that
the bank has agreed to let you use when there is no more
money in your account In CI
We had no money, just a huge overdraft. I Our friends used
their savings, together with an overdraft from the bank to
finance their new kitchen. I You can,t pay that bill without
getting an overdraft.
arrears/a Iriarz/money that is owed because regular pay-
ments such as rent have not been made at the right time
In plural]
She has not made any mortgage payments for three months
and the arrears now stand at Ј1000. I When they applied for
help with rent arrears, the welfare people told them to sell
some of the furniture. I Banks have reported that arrears are
soaring in the present day economic climate.
liabilities / la[abfltiz/a word used especially in law and
business meaning the debts that a company, government
etc is legally responsible to pay In plural]
The chart shows the movements in the company's liabilities
and assets during a particular trading period. I US exter-
nal net liabilities rose throughout the 1980s.
borrowings/'borooIOZ [[ 'bo:-, 'b:-/a word used espe-
cially in business meaning the total amount of money that
a company has borrowed and owes In plural]
Borrowings at the end of the year amounted to nearly $27 mil-
lion. [ The company was now so large it could increase its bor-
rowings to almost any figure it chose.
creditor/kredtor/In C]
When George inherited some money, the first thing he did
was to pay his creditors. [ The UN warned creditors to ease
Brazil's debt burden or see the country go bankrupt.
8 to not owe any money
be all square be in credit
be quits be in the black
keep your head above water
be all square/bi: :1 'skwear/ if two people are all
square, neither of them owes any money to the other Iv
phrase]
I'll pay you back that $20 1 borrowed and then we'll be all
square, right?
be quits/hi: kw:ts/an informal expression: if two people
are quits, neither of them owes any money to the other Iv
phrase]
If I pay for dinner and you pay for the taxi, we'll be quits.
keep your head above water/ki:p ja:r hed obAv
wa:tar/to stay out of debt, although it is difficult to do this
because you have very little money Iv phrase]
Although I've been out of a job for three months I've managed
to keep my head above water. [ If Igor this raise, we'll just
about keep our heads above water until next year.
be in credit/hi: n kredt/if your bank account is in
credit, there is money in it Iv phrase]
be Ј5/$10 etc in credit At the end of the month, their
account was only $5 in credit. [ be in credit We offer free
banking for customers whose accounts stay in credit.
be in the black/hi: in 6a blek/ if you or your bank
account are in the black, you do not owe money to anyone
and you have money in the bank Iv phrase]
The newly reorganized company is now in the black. [ Our
oil and gas operations are comfortably in the black. [ We
have to get our account into the black otherwise the bank will
never give us a mortgage.
5 words for describing debts that have not
been paid
unpaid owing
due outstanding
unpaid/,^n'peid/[adj]
She left a number of unpaid bills when she went back home. I
go unpaid (=remain unpaid) Last month they owed Ј500.
This went unpaid and the arrears will total ЈI000 by
December.
due/dju: II du:/an amount of money that is due is the
amount that should be paid now [adj not before noun]
The computer printout shows the name and address of the
buyer, the quantity ordered and the amount due. I Million
dollar interest payments will be due in two years.
owing / IOOIIJ/an amount of money that is owing is still
left to be paid [adj not before noun]
The total amount owing at the end often years will be over
$20,000. [ Most of the money has been repaid but there is still
Ј5 owing.
outstanding /autstendrj/ outstanding debt/loan/
mortgage/payment (=one that has not yet been paid and
is still owed to someone) [adj]
The government plans to reduce its outstanding debt, free-
ing capital for investment. [ The amount outstanding on your
house mortgage and any other loans will be counted as lia-
bilities.
9 to agree that money which is owed no longer
has to be paid
write off
write off/,rat IDf II -'a:fl to officially say that a company
or country no longer has to pay a debt, especially because
they will probably never be able to pay it [phr v T]
write off sth European governments were persuaded to
write off the republic's largest debts. I A number of the com-
pany's debts were written off even before they went bank-
rupt. [ write sth/it/them off We'll never see that money
again so we might as well write it off.
write-off/Irat of/In C] The corporation is still suffering
from $350 million in losses and write-offs (=amounts of
money written off).
owing OWE 5
:.i owing to BECAUSE 1
own OWN 1, 2
own: alone/on your own ALONE 1
own: get your own back REVENGE 1
own: of your own OWN 7
own: on your own/by yourself ALONE 2, HELP 13,
" INDEPENDENT PERSON 4
ii!i own: your own OWN 7
own woman/man: be your own woman/man
i!'i'i" INDEPENDENT PERSON S
" own up ADMIT 5
6 someone who owes money
debtor
debtor/detar/[n C]
Some of the debtors cannot afford to pay these high interest
rates. I the decline of America into debtor status
7 someone that money is owed to
creditor
@OWN
to have something because you have bought
it or because someone has given it to you
to own part or all of a company or business
ways of saying who the person that owns
something is

OWN 949 OWN
the person who owns something
someone who owns a house, a business, or a
piece of land
the things that someone owns
words for describing something that you own
to state that you have a right to own
something
interest / I ntro st/ if a person, company, or government
has an interest in a business, they own part of that busi-
ness In C]
interest in The bank has interests in several companies,
including a 15% share of Morgan's Brewery. I controlling
interest (=a large enough part of the company or business
to give you the power to make decisions about it) Although
the government has made some shares in National Oil
Products available, it intends to maintain its controlling
interest.
1 to have something because you have bought
it or because someone has given it to you
own possess
have/have got have sth in your possession
own Ionl [v T not in progressive]
"Who owns this car?" demanded the police woman. [ Jessie
owned a small house which she rented to students. I The vast
majority of the slaves were owned by Europeans. [ privately
owned (=owned by an individual person, not by a company
or government) Most of the houses on the estate are privately
owned but a few belong to the council.
have (also have got in British English) Ihav, hv Igot 11 -
go:t/to have something so that you can use it when you
want Iv T not in progressive]
I used to have a bicycle but it got stolen. I No, I don't have
a recordplayer, that one belongs to my room-mate. I The refu-
gees have nothing except the clothes that they are wearing. I
What kind of car has she got?
possess/pa zes/a formal word meaning to own or have
something, used especially when you are surprised that
someone does not have something, or when saying that this
is all that they have Iv T not in progressive]
Most of the families do not possess a washing machine or a
telephone. I Joe never wore a suit. I don't think he even pos-
sessed one. I He used all the money he possessed. I Do you pos-
sess a driver's license?
have sth in your possession /,hev (sth) in ja: r
p' zeSan/to own something valuable or something that you
should not have Iv phrase not in progressive]
The portrait used to belong to my father but now it was in
my possession. [ We have reason to believe that you have a
stolen vehicle in your possession.
• to own part or all of a company or business
own have a stake in
control/have control of interest
hold
own/on/[v T not in progressive]
Her father was rich and owned a large printingfirm. [ Most
evenings we dined at "Long John's', a restaurant owned by
a Mr Silver. [ He has branched out into the fast food busi-
ness and now owns a successful chain of pizza restaurants.
control/have control of/kntmol, hev kntmol Ov/
to own a larger part of a company than other people so that
you have power to make decisions about that company Iv
T]
As well as owning Mirror Group Newspapers, the Maxwell
Corporation also controlled several other businesses. [ The
Johnson family has effective control of the company, owning
almost 60% of the shares.
hold/hold/to own part of a company because you own
a number of the equal parts into which it is divided Iv T]
Around 1.5 million employees hold shares in the companies
they work for.
holding [n C] Mr Davis has a 30% holding in (=owns 30%
of) Montague Enterprises.
have a stake in / haev  stek zn/to own part of a com-
pany and therefore be able to receive the rewards of its
success Iv phrase not in progressive]
Labatt beer has a 45% stake in the Blue Jays baseball club. [
. She has a stake in her husband's company, which she will
have to give up if they divorce.
3 ways of saying who the person that owns
something is
be mine/yours/hers etc
belong to
be the property of
be mine/yours/hers etc Ibi: (yours, etc)/if something
is mine/yours/hers ere I, you, she etc owns it [vphrase]
"Whose is this watch?" "It's mine - I must have taken it off
when I went swimming." [ Give Sarah her doll back - it's
not yours. [ This sweater has to be Kathleen's - no one else
would wear anything so bright/
belong to/bilDrJ tu: II -Ila:rj-/if something belongs to
you, you own it Iv T not in progressive]
These pearls belonged to my mother, I always think of her
when I wear them. [ You can't just take things that don't
belong to you - that's stealing. [ In Appalachia three
quarters of the land belongs to energy companies.
be the property of/bi: 6 'proprti DV [[ -prO:-/a formal
expression meaning to belong to someone, which is often
written on books, clothes etc to show who owns them Iv
phrase]
This hymn book is the property of Pitt Street Methodist
Church. 1 lf he defaults on the loan the land will become the
property of the bank.
4 the person who owns something
owner
owner/'onr/[n C]
• The previous owner said the car would need to have some
work done on it. [ Dog owners have been warned to keep their
animals under proper control. [ owner of Will the owner of
a silver Ford Fiesta with the registration number G701 NWJ
please report to reception.
ownership In U] The brothers quarrelled about the owner-
ship of (=who owned) the family home.
someone who owns a house, a business, or a
piece of land
owner householder
proprietor home-owner
landlord/landlady
owner/'oonar/In C]
owner of Dianne had never met the owners of the house,
which she rented through an agent. I owner We bought the
business very cheaply when the previous owner retired. I
landowner (=someone who owns a lot of land) a family of
wealthy landowners
proprietor/pmpraotr! someone who owns and runs a
business, especially a small business such as a shop or a
restaurant In C]
proprietor of As proprietors of the general store, Mr and
Mrs Stacey knew everything that went on in the town. [
proprietor The proprietor welcomed them and showed them
to a table. [ My father had fallen victim to an unscrupulous
garage proprietor.
landlord/landlady/'lendla:rd, laendledi/someone who
owns a building and receives rent from other people who
use it or live in it In C]
Landlords are entitled to inspect their property whenever
they want. [ I went over to Jay's house but his landlady said
he'd moved on - she didn "t know where. [ We started up the
business in a rented garage. It was hard at first, and the
landlord often had to wait for his rent.

OWN 950 owner
householder/'haus Ihooldar/a word used especially in
official or legal contexts meaning someone who owns or
lives in a house In C]
The police are giving advice to householders on how to
improve the security of their homes. [ Householders and
tradesmen both use the refuse dump to dispose of their
garbage.
home.owner ] I haom aonar/someone who owns their
own home In C]
The latest rise in interest rates is bad news for home-owners. [
The latest trend is for home-owners to carry out improve-
ments before selling their properties.
6 the things that someone owns
property things
possessions belongings
assets stuff
property/'pmparti II 'pro:-/things someone owns, espe-
cially large expensive things such as houses, land, or cars
In U]
They had lost all their property in the flood and were stay-
ing with relatives. I After suffering racial abuse and damage
to her property, she called in the police. [ Arguments over the
division of property are often the cause of great bitterness in
divorce cases.
possessions/pa zefdnz/all the things someone owns
and keeps or uses themselves In plural]
After his mother died Andrew had the unpleasant task of
sorting through her possessions and dividing them amongst
the family. [ He makes no secret of going through my posses-
sions and taking whatever he needs. I We began to acquire
material possessions, a television, a washing-machine, even-
tually an old car.
assets / I esetsl a word used especially in legal or business
contexts meaning property that a person or a company
owns and which they would be able to sell if they needed
money In plural]
The decline in the business threatens both his income and his
assets. I The company has debts of more than 4 billion dol-
lars, against assets worth less than 2 billion.
things/OOz/an informal word for possessions, especially
those that are small and not very valuable In plural]
My new apartment is very small so I've had to leave most of
my things at my parents'. [ Can't you tidy your things up
properly instead of just throwing them on the floor?
belongings/bx lorjrJz [[ b: Ib:rJ4 the things you own that
are small enough to be carried, or that you have with you
In plural]
When you lea ve the plane please make sure you ha ve all your
personal belongings with you. I Thousands fled the city,
pushing their belongings on bicycles or small carts. I I threw
him out. I just bundled up all his belongings and flung them
down the stairs.
stuff /StAf/ an informal word for the things, especially
small things, that you own or the things that you have with
you In U]
Just leave my stuff alone, will you. t I The thieves frightened
her and took all her stuff- but didn't harm her.
of your own/ovja:r oun/a room/car/computer etc of
your own (=one that belongs to you and no one else, espe-
cially when this is something you want to own) [adjphrase]
Our neighbours let us use their garage, but we need one of
our own. I We could adopt, but we really want a child of our
own.
personal ! p3:rsdnol/personal possessions/property/
belongings/supply etc (=a word used especially in an offi-
cial context meaning belonging only to you) [adj only before
noun ]
The dead man's personal possessions were sent back to his
family. ] During the war, the president had his own personal
supply of luxury food items.
8 to state that you have a right to own
something
lay claim to
stake your claim
lay claim to / ,lex klem tu:/to say that you have a right
to own something, especially something that is owned by
someone else Iv phrase]
Both Britain and Argentina lay claim to the Falkland
Islands. I A stranger who said he was my father's brother
had arrived to lay claim to his fortune.
stake your claim /stekj3: r klem/to say publicly that
you believe you have a right to own something, especially
when other people also say they have a right to own it Iv
phrase]
If you want some of the furniture, now's the time to stake your
claim.
owner OWN 4, 5
owner: homeowner OWN 5
7 words for describing something that you own
my/your/his etc of your own
your own personal
my/your/his etc [determiner]
Please can you move your car? It's blocking my driveway. I
I've got a problem with my dishwasher. I My grandmother
lives near your place -just around the corner in fact.
your own /ja:r oun/ your own home/car/desk etc
(=belonging to you and no one else) [determiner/pron]
I'll be glad when you've got a job. You'll be earning your own
money and you can buy your own things. I Skis can be hired
at the hotel, but if you bring your own, the vacation costs
less. I your very own (=especially when you want some-
thing very much) When we move into the new house you'll
have your very own room.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

pace
pace SPEED 1 WALK 2, 16
'
pace: keep pace with EQUAL 2
pace: put sb through their paces
PRACTISE/PRACTICE 3
pacifist PEACE/NO WAR 5
pacify ANGRY 11
pack FULL 6, PUT 17
pack in STOP DOING STH 5
pack it in STOP DOING STH 2
pack it in/jack it in LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 1
pack off SEND 4
pack up BROKEN 5, STOP DOING STH 7
packed CROWD 6
packed: be packed with FULL 2
packed: get packed PUT 17
packed out: be packed out FULL 1
pact AGREE 7
pad WALK 8
paddlelwade WALK 12
paid: badly-paid/poorly-paid PAY SB FOR WORK 6
paid: be badly paid/poorly paid PAY SB FOR WORK 7
paid: be highly paid/well paid EARN 4
paid: be paid/get paid EARN 1
paid: well-paid/highly-paid PAY SB FOR WORK 4
pain PAIN 1
pain: be in pain PAIN 2
pain: cause pain HURT/CAUSE PAIN 2
pain: feel pain PAIN 2
pain: have a pain in PAIN 2
pain: inflict pain HURT/CAUSE PAIN 1
pain In the ass: be a pain in the ass/butt ANNOY 5
pain in the neck: be a pain in the neck ANNOY 5
PAIN
the feeling you have when part of your body
hurts
to feel pain
a pain in a particular part of your body
1 the feeling you have when part of your body
hurts
pain pains
ache spasm
aches and pains twinge
pain/penni [n C/U]
I had a pain in my chest so I went to see the doctor. I He
twisted my arm again and this time the pain was unbear-
able. I "'Will I feel any pain?" Mr Flynn asked the dentist,
nervously. I ease (the) pain (=make it hurt less) These
pills should help to ease the pain. I sharp pain (=a very
strong pain) Grandpa keeps getting sharp pains in his back. I
stabbing pain (=a sudden, sharp pain) I suddenly got a
stabbing pain across my heart and collapsed to the floor. I
951
PAIN
nagging pain (=a continuous pain) The nagging pain from
my tooth was keeping me awake. I throbbing pain (=a
continuous pain that hurts more and then less in a regular
pattern) When I woke up I felt a throbbing pain in my head.
ache ]ek] a continuous pain that is not sharp, for exam-
ple, the pain you feel after you have used a part of your body
too much In C]
After three days the ache in his shoulder had almost disap-
peared. I The pain was not particularly severe; it was the
constant ache that was unbearable. I dull ache (=contin-
uous, annoying ache that is hard to describe) My hand sud-
denly started to hurt, with a dull ache which soon spread into
my wrist.
aches and pains/,eks and 'penz/many small pains
which you feel at the same time, making your body feel stiff
and difficult to move, for example as the result of too much
exercise or growing old In phrase]
Grandma said that apart from a few aches and pains she
was feeling quite well. [ You'll probablyfeel all kinds of aches
and pains after running a marathon, but you'll be all right
after a couple of days" rest.
pains/pemz/pain that you feel repeatedly inside part of
your body In plural]
A young man was admitted to hospital complaining ofpains
in the abdomen. [ labor pains (American) / labour pains
(British) (=before giving birth) The labour pains started
about 2 o'clock and our baby daughter was born six hours
later in St Bartholemew's hospital. [ menstrual pains (also
period pains in British English) (=the pains a woman gets
when she bleeds each month) What can I get to alleviate
menstrual pains?
spasm /  spaezarn/a sudden sharp pain which makes your
body or part of your body shake uncontrollably for a short
time In C]
He lay on the ground, breathless and frightened, waiting for
the next spasm. [ spasm of pain A spasm of pain twisted
Cheviot's face. [ muscle spasm Throughout these fits he felt
every painful muscle spasm.
twinge/twnds/a sudden but not severe pain that comes
and then disappears quickly In C]
I'd had the odd twinge now and again but my heart-attack
was totally unexpected. [ twinge of pain/rheumatism etc
George felt a twinge of pain in his ankle from when he had
slipped on the ice.
2 to feel pain
be in pain
be in agony
feel pain
have a pain in
be in pain/bi: n 'pen/to be experiencing a lot of pain
Iv phrase]
Young children cry if they are in pain, if they are hungry or
if they are left alone. [ Someone was crying, as if they were
in pain. [ be in constant pain (=be in pain all the time)
Some of these patients are very sick and in constant pain.
be in agony/bi: in ' egani/to feel a lot of very severe pain
Iv phrase]
He was in agony. We had to carry him up the stairs. [ Daniel
could see that Emily was in agony but there was nothing he
could do.
feel pain/fi:l pen! to be able to feel pain [vphrase not
in progressive]
There's a long-running argument over whether animals feel
pain in the same way that we do. [ We've given him an
anaesthetic so that he won't feel any pain.
have a pain in ! ,hev a 'pen n/to have a pain in a par-
ticular part of your body Iv phrase not in progressive]
Yes doctor, he has a pain in his chest and he can't breathe
properly. [ Robert doubled up and gasped, "'I have an awful
pain in my left side. "" [ I've got a pain in my jaw.
a pain in a particular part of your body
backache/earache/stomach-ache/toothache
a backache/an earache/a stomach-ache/
a toothache

PAIN 952 paper
backachelearachelstomach-acheltoothache
/Ibakclk, mreik, stmk elk, tu:0cfl British expressions
meaning a pain in your back, ear, stomach, or tooth In U]
My daughter has severe toothache. How soon can you see
her? l During pregnancy some women have backache because
of the extra weight they are carrying.
a backache/an earachela stomach-achela
toothache Io 'bekeik, on' iarelk, o 'stamak eik, a 'tu:Oeik/
American expressions meaning a pain in your back, ear,
stomach, or tooth In C]
You have a stomach-ache because you ate too much. I If your
child has frequent earaches, she may need to take antibiotics.
 painful HURT/CAUSE PAIN 2, 3, UPSET 5
: painless HURT/CAUSE PAIN 4
• --- pains PAIN 1
 pains: be at pains to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 2
painstaking CAREFUL 3
 paint PAINT 1, 2
 paint a picture DESCRIBE 3
PAINT
1 to paint a picture
2 to paint a wall, door, piece of furniture etc
3 someone who paints pictures
4 someone who paints walls, houses etc as
their job
5 words for describing something that has been
painted
1 to paint a picture
paint
paint/point/to make a picture of someone or something
by putting paint on a surface using a brush Iv I/T]
paint sth The picture was painted by Picasso in 1948. I
Henry asked the artist to paint a portrait of his wife. I "2Ґhat
are you painting?" "'I'm painting that church over there. "'1
paint It was during this summer vacation that she learned
to paint and draw.
2 to paint a wall, door, piece of furniture etc
paint redecorate
decorate respray
paint/pemtl to put paint on a wall, door, piece of furni-
ture etc in order to improve its appearance Iv I/T]
paint sth Last night I painted the kitchen ceiling, and today
I'm doing the walls. I paint sth red/blue/green ere I'm
thinking of painting the kitchen green. I What colour shall
we paint the doors? l paint The room smells as if you've been
painting.
decorate ! 'dekore;q to paint or put paper on the inside
walls of a house or room in order to improve its appearance
Iv I/T]
decorate sth How are you planning to decorate the
bedroom?l decorate sth in red/blue/silver etc Theprevi-
ous owner had decorated the house in a hideous shade of
pink. I decorate These walls are looking dirty. I think it's
time to decorate. I do the decorating It'll be difficult to find
time to do the decorating.
decorated [adj] I really like their house. It's so tastefully
decorated. I The dining room was decorated in blue and
yellow.
redecorate/ri:'dekreItl to change the paint or paper on
the walls of a house or room Iv T]
redecorate sth When they first moved in, they completely
redecorated the whole house. I We're thinking of having our
house redecorated - can you recommend anyone?
respray/ri:' spreII to change the colour of a car by putting
new paint on it Iv T]
The thieves resprayed the truck and changed the license
plates. I After the accident I took the car to a garage to have
it respra yed.
 someone who paints pictures
painter
artist
painter/'pelntr/[n C]
Ruth's a painter, and she also teaches art at college. I Turner
was probably the greatest landscape painter that England
has ever produced. I Michelangelo, sculptor, painter,
architect and poet, died in 1564.
artist/' ўarto st/someone who produces works of art, espe-
cially paintings [n C]
David Hockney is one of the world's greatest living artists. I
At that time Picasso was a struggling artist who was little-
known outside Paris. I an unknown Italian artist
4 someone who paints walls, houses etc as
their job
painter
decorator
painter/'pentorl [n C]
The painters are upstairs painting the offfu:es at the moment. I
house painter Adolf Hitler worked as a house painter in
Austria before becoming involved in politics.
decorator !'dekre;torl someone whose job is to paint
houses and put paper on the walls inside In C]
The decorators have left their ladders and pots of paint all
over the house - it looks a real mess. I We wanted the work
to be done properly, so we decided to get the decorators in.
5 words for describing something that has been
painted
painted
painted/'peintdl [adj]
On the shelf there was a painted statue of the Virgin Mary. I
The boats in the harbour were brightly painted. I hand-
painted (=painted by a person, not a machine) a beautiful
hand-painted vase I painted blue/green etc The front door
was painted yellow. I painted with The vases were painted
with pictures of flowers and butterflies.
painted PAINT 5
painter PAINT 3, 4
painting PICTURE 1
pair TWO 2, 3
pair: the pair of them/us/you BOTH 1
pal FRIEND 1
palatable DELICIOUS 1
palate TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 6
pale BRIGHT 5, COLOUR/COLOR 4
pale into insignificance UNIMPORTANT 3
pally: be pally FRIEND 4
palm sth off on GIVE 16
paltry LITTLE/NOT MUCH 7
pamper KIND 6
pan CRITICIZE 2
pan out: work out/pan out HAPPEN 5
panacea SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 2
panache STYLE/ELEGANCE 1
pander to PROVIDE 6
pane PIECE 4
panel GROUP OF PEOPLE 9
panic FRIGHTENED 5, 10
panic-stricken FRIGHTENED 1
panicky NERVOUS 2
panorama SEE 8
pant BREATHE 6
pants: catch sb with their pants down READY 7
paper: on paper WRITE 13
paper: put pen to paper WRITE 2

paper-thin/wafer-thin
paper-thin/wafer-thin THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 2
par: be on a par with EQUAL 4
parable STORY 3
parade LINE 7, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 3, WALK 9
paradox OPPOSITE/REVERSE 6
parallel LIKE/SIMILAR 11, TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 5
parallel: draw a parallel COMPARE 1
paralyze/paralyse STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 3
paralyzed/paralysed MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 7, NOT
MOVING 2
paralytic/legless DRUNK 3
parameters LIMIT 4
paramount IMPORTANT 4
paranoia WORRIED 5
paranoid WORRIED 5
paraphernalia THING 2
parasite ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 9
parched DRY 2, THIRSTY 1
pardon FORGIVE 1
pardon: I beg your pardon SORRY/APOLOGIZE 3
pardon: sorry?/pardon? REPEAT 7
pare down REDUCE 6
parent: one-parent family/single-parent family
FAMILY 1
parents FAMILY 1
parity EQUAL 3
park STOP MOVING 5
parochial PREJUDICED 2
parody FUN OF
MAKE
4
parrot REPEAT 3
parrot-fashion REPEAT 3
part PART 1, 3, 6, SEPARATE 2, 9
part: be part of PART 10
part: in part PARTLY 1
part: not take part/not participate/not be involved
TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 11
part: play a part CAUSE 12
part: play a part in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
part: play/play the part of ACTOR/ACTRESS 4
part: take part TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
part: take/have/play no part in TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 11
part: take no further part in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
IN 12
part: the best part/bit BEST 4
part: the better part of/best part of MOST 2
part: the first part BEGINNING 6
part: want no part in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 13
part of CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3
part of the body BODY 3
part with GIVE 12
part with: not part with KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 2
953
[part]
PART
PART
one of the divisions or pieces that make up a
whole thing or amount
 a part of something such as an object, area,
story, or period of time
2 a part of a total amount or number
3 one of the separate parts that something is
made of
4 one of the parts of a process
5 one of the parts of an organization
6 one of the separate parts of a book, film,
performance etc
7 a short part of a book, film, piece of music etc
that is read, shown, or played separately
8 a part of something that is examined in order
to show or find out something about the
whole
 one of the parts or features of a situation,
idea, problem etc
t0 to be a part of something
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 a part of something such as an object, area,
story, or period of time
part section
bit segment
portion
part Ip(a:rt/[n C]
The front part of the car was badly damaged. I What part
of America do you come from? l You will need to replace the
weak parts of the floor. I a range of exercises to strengthen
different parts of the body I Which part of the company do
you work in? I I only saw the first part of the programme. I
The best part of the holiday was the trip to the islands.
lilt lbt/an informal word meaning a part of a thing, story,
place etc, especially a small part In C]
He cut off the burnt bits of toast. I You can play on the grass,
but keep off the muddy bit.I Be quiet - this is the best bit of
the movie. I The bit you've painted looks really nice.
prt|/p:rn! a word used especially in a technical
context, meaning a part of something larger, especially a
part that is different from the other parts In C]

PART 954 PART
Fuel is carried in the lower portion of the rocket. [ The cen-
tral portions of the book are devoted to this theory.
section / 'sekfan/a part of something that is clearly differ-
ent and separate from the other parts In C]
The final section of this chapter will deal with recent develop-
ments. I First class seats are in the front section of the plane. I
The disease spread through the poorer sections of the city.
segment / 'segmant/a part of something such as a fruit,
insect etc that is naturally divided, or a part of something
that has been divided into separate, roughly equal parts In
C]
She gave me a segment of her orange. I the segments of an
insect's body [ The timetable broke up our day into short, neat
segments.
2 a part of a total amount or number
proportion
fraction
percentage
proportion /pra'pa:rfan/ one part of an amount or
number, when compared with the whole amount or
number In C]
What proportion of your students are vegetarians? I a high/
large etc proportion A high proportion of married women
also have part-time jobs. I a small proportion We get a
small proportion of our funding from the government.
fraction/'frekj'n/a very small part of an amount or
number In C]
Only a fraction of this money actually reaches the people it
is meant to help. [ A small fraction of young people break
the law.
percentage/pr' sentd3/a part of an amount or number
that can be measured and shown exactly compared to the
total In C]
Only a small percentage of business managers are women. [
What percentage of the world's population is starving? [ The
area has a high percentage of low income households.
3 one of the separate parts that something is
made of
part piece
component ingredient
element constituent
part Ipa: rt/one of the separate parts that a machine or a
structure is made of In C[
Dismantle the bike and clean all metal parts with gasoline. [
They send you the parts and you build it yourself.
component/kam'paonant/one of the separate parts of a
machine or a system, that is necessary to make the
machine or system work In Cl
The factory makes aircraft engine components. I All the com-
ponents should be tested before they are assembled. I Coun-
selling is an important component of our rehabilitation
programme.
element/'element/one of the separate parts of something
such as a person's character, a system or process, or a piece
of writing In C]
Rhyme is just one of the elements of his poetry. I An essential
element of democracy is the secret ballot. I Concentrate on the
more practical elements of this plan.
piece/pi:s/one of several different parts that must be
joined together to make something In C]
This puzzle has a thousand pieces. I The table arrived packed
flat, in seven pieces. I There are only four pieces in this simple
dress pattern.
ingredient/:n'gri:diant/one of the types of food that are
used to make a dish or a meal In C]
Weigh all the ingredients before you start. I Mushrooms are
the main ingredient in this dish.
constituent /kansUtfuant/ one of the chemical sub-
stances that something is made of In C]
Scientists have to break the compound down into its consti-
tuents in order to analyze it.
4 one of the parts of a process
stage
phase
round
stage IsteJd3/a part of a continuing process or series of
events In C]
At this stage of development, a baby begins to stand upright.[
We are still at the planning stage of this new product. [ In
the final stages of their mission, the astronauts will carry
out various experiments.
phase/fe :z/a part of a process of development or growth
In C]
The life of a butterfly has three separate phases. [ With the
development of this machine the industry entered a new
phase. [ This book was written in the author's experimental
phase.
round/raond/a stage of a process or competition that is
repeated several times before the process or competition
is completed In C]
The next round of trade talks will be held in Geneva. I All
our players were defeated in the early rounds of the
tournament.
5 one of the parts of an organization
branch sector
department wing
division end
section
branch/bro:nff II brentj'/one of the local offices or shops
that form part of a large organization such as a bank or a
political party In C]
We are trying to set up a branch of the Green Party in this
town. [ Our store has branches all over the country. [ My wife
is the local branch manager for Citibank.
department/d pa:rtmant/ one of the parts of a large
organization, such as a company, college, or government,
that is responsible for one of the organization's main areas
of activity In C]
Our department deals with exports. [ He had come to
Washington for an interview at the Treasury department. [
The university has hired her to set up a new research
department.
division/d 'vsan/a large part of an organization, espe-
cially a company, which often includes several smaller
parts In C]
The sales and advertising departments are both part of the
marketing division.
section/'sekan/a part of an organization, especially a
part of a company or of a political group, that is responsi-
ble for a special area of its work In Cl
The party's Young Democrats section is growing fast. [ We
had to go to the "late payments" section of the Financial Aid
office.
sector /sektar/ a part of an area of economic activity,
such as industry or trade In C]
The manufacturing sector is increasing its output. [ The new
sales tax caused problems for the retail sector (=the shops
and stores that sell goods to the public), i public/private
sector one of the major new hospitals in the public sector
(=the part of health care that is paid for and controlled by
the government)
wing/Wlrj/a part of a political party or a similar organi-
zation that has different ideas from the rest of the party,
or is involved in different activities In C]
They were members of the Marxist wing of the Socialist
Party. [ the militant wing of radical feminism
end/end/an informal word meaning a particular part of
an organization's activity In singular]
I make thepizzas, Fred drives the van, and Jane looks after
the financial end.

PART 9 particularly
one of the separate parts of a book, film,
performance etc
episode scene
instalment/installment part
chapter
episode /'epsaod/a part of a story on radio or television
that is told in separate parts, usually weekly In C]
I saw all fourteen episodes of The Lost City of the Jungle. I
Today's episode of "Neighbours" will be repeated at 5.30.
instalment (British) I installment (American) /n-
' st:lmant/part of a story that is told in several parts printed
regularly in a magazine or newspaper over a period of time
In C]
I wanted to read the next instalment of the story. I weekly/
monthly instalments Dickens wrote his novels in monthly
instalments for a magazine.
chapter/'t]eptar/one of the parts into which a book is
divided In C ]
Read a chapter before we go out this afternoon. [ These mat-
ters are dealt with in Chapters 8 & 9.
scene/si:n/one of the smaller parts into which a play is
divided In C]
The ghost appears in the first scene. [ We need to rehearse
the banquet scene again.
part Ipa:rtl one of the larger parts into which a book may
be divided In C]
Part One ends with her father's death. [ The first chapter of
Part Two begins at the funeral.
7 a short part of a book, film, piece of music etc
that is read, shown, or played separately
extract
excerpt
clip
extract/'ekstrmkq a part taken from something such as
a book or a speech in order to show its most important
points or to show what the whole of it is like In C]
What are the key points in this extract? [ The extract concerns
the birth of the book's hero.
excerpt ! 'eksa:rpt/a short part taken from a film, book,
speech, piece of music etc In C]
Here is a short excerpt from the poem. I The following excerpt
is from one of my students" essays. I Then he played excerpts
from Grieg's piano concerto.
clip/kllp/a short part of a film that is taken and used in
another film or in a television programme In C]
We watched a short clip of the team in action. I You could
edit together some clips of different people talking about the
election. I I saw a clip from the new Michael Douglas movie
on TV last night.
 a part of something that is examined in order
to show or find out something about the
whole
sample
cross-section
sample I'so:mpal II 'sam-/[n C]
The doctors took a small sample of tissue from my lung. I
They tested samples of the new cheese. I a fairly representa-
tive sample of modern English [ We put our question to a
sample of housewives numbering nearly 400.
cross-section/'kms ,sek]an l[ 'kr:s-/a group of people
or things that is a good example of all the people or things
of that type In C]
The area contains a good cross-section of the city's popula-
tion. [ His guests provide a cross-section of high society. [
Interview as many people as possible to obtain a cross-section
of response and opinion.
9 one of the parts or features of a situation,
idea, problem etc
aspect facet
side factor
dimension
aspect/'espekt/In C]
Time limits are an aspect of the problem that we have not
yet discussed. [ The association acts as an information centre
for all aspects of teaching. I We will deal with this matter
strictly from the moral aspect.
side/sad/one part of a subject, problem, or situation, or
of someone's character, especially when compared with
another part In C]
Jenny suddenly became aware of the destructive side of her
husband's character. [ We believe it to be a task of consider-
able difficulty from the technical side alone. [ Most people
are so involved in the emotional side of a conflict that they
ignore all the other aspects.
dimension Ida,'men]an, do-/a part of a situation that
makes you look at the situation in a particular way In C]
The arrival of the South African team has brought a new
dimension to the competition. [ Witsky's article describes the
authority dimension of a leader's behavior.
facet/' feest/one of the many different parts of a compli-
cated situation or subject In C]
Social life is an important facet of university education. [
Economists have had to understand all the new facets of
market competition.
factor/' fektar/one of the parts or features of a situation,
each of which has a different effect or importance In C]
There are one or two factors we haven't considered yet. [ The
most important factor in professional sport is psychology.
1 0 to be a part of something
be part of
form a part of/form part of
inherent
be part of/bi: 'po:rt v/ [v phrase]
Falling over is part of the process of learning to ski. [ It is
part of the doctor's job to give advice on emotional problems. [
Restrictions on foreign trade are part of the state's economic
and legal system.
form a part of/form part of/,fa:rm (a)'po:rt ov/to be
one of the things that together make up something larger
or more important Iv phrase]
Group discussion forms a major part of classwork. [ Such
acts of personal judgment form an essential part of science. [
The company forms part of the United Holdings group [
These three books form part of a series on religion in the
modern world.
inherent/n'harant, -'her-/an inherent fact, problem,
quality etc is one that is a naturalpart of an activity or sit-
uation and cannot be separated from it [adj]
inherent in Violence is just one of the many problems inher-
ent in city life. [ However, this theory does not reflect the com-
plexities inherent in real life. [ inherent Recruits soon learn
to cope with the inherent danger of police work.
inherently lady] Time and time again, the average worker
is portrayed as inherently lazy and stupid.
j partial COMPLETE 4
partial: be partial to LIKE SB OR STH 3
 partially PARTLY 1
 partially true: be partly true/partially true TRUE 5
.... participant TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 10
i participate TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
participate: not take part/not participate/not be
involved TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 11
particular DIFFERENT 7
i particular: be particular about CHOOSE 9
particular: in particular ESPECIALLY 1
particular: special/particular ESPECIALLY 1
particularly ESPECIALLY 1

particularly
particularly: not particularly NOT 1
particulars DETAIL 2, INFORMATION 1
partly PARTLY 1
956
PARTLY
partly but not completely
1 partly but not completely
partly
partially
to some extent/
to a certain extent
partly/'po:rdil [adv]
to a degree/
to some degree
up to a point
in part
A child's intelligence comes partly from its parents and
partly from its environment. I The failure of the restaurant
was partly due to bad management. I She shivered, partly
with fear and partly with excitement.
partially/pa:rfali/if something partially happens or is
partially done, it partly happens or is partly done, but is
not completed [adv]
The house was partially destroyed by the explosion. [ Reagan
was only partially successful in his Central American policy. [
The baby birds are fed with partially digested food.
partial [adj] The changes are due to the partial (=only
partly complete) destruction of the molecule's crystalline
structure.
to some extent/to a certain extent/ta I SAm Ik-
stent, to a sa:rtn ikstent/expressions used especially in
discussions and arguments: something that is true to some
extent or to a certain extent is partly true or true in a
limited way [adv phrase]
What you say is true to some extent, but I do not totally agree. I
To a certain extent it was our own fault we lost the contract. I
The new nationalism to some extent reflects the religious
revival in Europe as well.
to a degree/to some degree/to a dI gri:, ta Is^m di-
gri:/formal expressions used especially in discussions and
arguments: something that is true to a degree or to some
degree, is partly true or true in a limited way [advphrase]
Golding's novel is to some degree experimental in style. I To
a degree this course of action was forced upon her.
up to a point/lAp tO a 'paint/if you think a statement
is true, or you agree with an idea up to a point, you think
it is not completely true, or you agree in only a limited way
[ adv phrase]
He thought she was a good teacher, and she was, up to a
point. I "'It's not just in this country - the recession is world-
wide. .... Well, yes, up to a point, but the government is still
responsible to a large extent. ""
in part/n po:rt/a formal expression: ifa situation hap-
pens in part because of something, it is partly caused by
it [adv phrase]
His remarkable success was made possible at least in part
by his wife, who supported the family for several years. I
Although bad management was the major factor, the firm's
problems were due in part to a fall-off in demand.
partner GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND 1, MARRY 13, WITH 5
partnership COMPANY 1, TOGETHER 5
partnership: in partnership with WITH 3
party GROUP OF PEOPLE 2, ORGANIZATION 2,
PARTY 1
party: be party to/be a party to TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 4
party: the guilty party GUILTY 2
party: throw a party PARTY 4
party politics POLITICS 1
party pooper TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 15
PARTY
PARTY
a social event to which people are invited,
where they talk to each other, eat and drink,
dance etc
a party, especially at someone's home
a formal or official party
a very informal or exciting party
to have a party
the person who organizes a party and invites
people to it
1 a party, especially at someone's home
party dinner party
get-together cocktail party
gathering shower
do
party I'po:rtil [n C]
I really enjoyed your party last night. [ We need to get some
beer and wine for David's birthday party next Friday. I I met
her at Pierre and Annick's New Year party. I fancy dress
party (British) / costume party (American) (=a party
where people wear amusing, strange, or historical clothes)
What on earth can I wear for the fancy dress party? l invite
sb to a party How many people did you invite to the party?
get.together I 'get ta, ge6r/a small informal party, often
to celebrate something In C]
Shana's picture won first prize, so we had a little get-together
to celebrate. [ We had a get-together at Anne's house last
week.
gathering /gee6arn3/ a small party, usually for dose
friends or relatives In C]
It will just be a simple family gathering. [After the formal
celebrations, the President held a private gathering for his
close aides and advisers after the formal celebrations.
do/du:/an informal British word meaning a large party,
usually to celebrate something In C]
They had a big do for their daughter's wedding. [ I went to
a posh do in the Hilton Hotel for a friend's twentyfirst birth-
day. [ Are you going to Darren's leaving do?
dinner party / dina r Ipo:rti/a party at someone's house
in the evening, when people have dinner, drink, and talk
together In C]
I've been cooking all day. We're having a dinner party this
evening. [ He gave a dinner party at which the main topic
of conversation was the economy.
cocktail party/kokted po:rti 11 ko:k-/a fairly formal
party in the early evening, at which drinks are served and
people talk In C]
They met at a cocktail party organized by the company.
shower /'j'aoar/an American word meaning a party at
which presents are given to a woman who is getting mar-
ried or having a baby In C]
They had a shower for Barbara a month before the wedding. I
bridal/wedding shower (=for a woman who is getting
married) They gave Bonny a wonderful bridal shower. I
baby shower We must have a baby shower for Joslin - her
baby's due soon.
a formal or official party
function
reception
function /lf^lf[l-/ a large formal or official party,
usually for important people [n C]
The chairman is attending an important official function
this evening. [ The Lavender Room can be booked for private
functions or parties.

PARTY 9;5? PASS A TEST
reception /r:'sepfdn/ a large formal or official party,
usually held to welcome someone or to celebrate something
In C]
Mel had arranged an enormous champagne reception at the
hotel. I The wedding reception will take place at the Lennox
Hotel, starting at 3.30pm. I Two hundred guests attended the
reception, held in honor of the Chancellor's visit.
3 a very informal or exciting party
rave-up
bash
rave-up I 'rev ^p/an informal British word meaning a
very exciting party, where there are a lot of alcoholic
drinks and music and dancing In C]
It was a real rave-up - it went on until about four in the
morning. I The students who live downstairs are always
having rave-ups that last all night.
bash/bafl an informal word for an enjoyable party with
a lot of people, noise, laughter etc In C]
You missed quite a bash at Roger's last night - it was a really
wild night. I He was organizing a big birthday bash for a
friend.
4 to have a party
have
hold
give
throw a party
host
entertain
have Iv, av, hav; strong hev/have a party/dinner party/
get-together etc Iv T]
I'm having a party on Saturday. Do you want to come? I The
place is sort of a mess - we had a tea party for the children
yesterday. I I had a get-together with some old school friends
last night.
hold/haold/hold a party/reception/function (=have a
formal or official party) Iv T]
A reception will be held afterwards at the Civic Centre. I The
anniversary dinner was held Wednesday night at the
Washington Hilton.
give/g:v/give a party/dinner party/lunch party etc
(=be the person who organizes a party, usually for some-
one at your home) Iv T]
give a party for sb The director gave a great partyfor every-
one to celebrate finishing the film. I On Monday night the
Bethes are giving a dinner partyfor John. [ give sb a party
We gave Debbie a good going-away party, with lots of food
and drink and some nice presents.
throw a party/,0rao a po:rti/to have a party at your
home, often a large or expensive one, especially in order
to celebrate something Iv phrase]
Have you heard? Monique is throwing a huge party to
celebrate her promotion. I They must be pretty wealthy to be
throwing parties like that every week! I He introduced me to
his friends, and even threw a party in my honor.
host/hat;st/host a party/dinner party/reception etc
(=be the person who organizes a formal party) Iv T]
After the first performance of the play, the theatre hosted a
party for all the actors. I Part of my job is to host receptions
for overseas visitors.
entertain /enta r ten/to give parties, especially fairly
formal parties for people who are not particularly close
friends, usually in your home Iv I/T]
We don't have much time to entertain during the year so at
Christmas we have a huge party and invite everybody. I
Being a sociable person Eva loved entertaining. I entertain
sb He often goes down to New York to help her entertain
important clients.
5 the person who organizes a party and invites
people to it
host/hostess
host/hostess/haust, 'hausts/In C]
The host met all the guests at the door and gave them a warm
welcome. I Lisa is the perfect hostess - charming, generous
and entertaining.
pass ACCEPT 6, GIVE 2, GOOD ENOUGH 3, LAW 4,
MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2 PASS
A TEST 1, PASS/GO PAST 1, 2, THROW 4
pass: could pass for/could be mistaken for
LIKE/SIMILAR 4
pass around/round GIVE 4
pass away/pass on DIE 1
pass by PASS/GO PAST 1
pass/go by PASS/TIME PASSING 1
pass off: go off/pass off HAPPEN 5
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
on GIVE 7, 10, 17, TELL 7
out UNCONSCIOUS 2
sb by GET 17
sb/give sb a pass PASS A TEST 2
sblsth off as PRETEND 10
the buck BLAME 4, RESPONSIBLE 10
the time SPEND TIME 2
the time of day TALK TO SB 6
with flying colours PASS A TEST 1
pass
PASS A TEST
to be successful in a test or examination
t to pass a test or examination
• to judge that someone has passed a test
1 to pass a test or examination
pass pass with flying
get through colours
scrape through qualify
sail through/ graduate
breeze through
pass/po=s II pros/[v I/TI
pass a test/exam etc Congratulations/I hear you passed
your accountancy exams. I To be accepted on the course you
have to pass an aptitude test. I pass "'How did your driving
test go ?'" "'I passed first time.'"
get through/, get 'Oru:/to pass a difficult test or exami-
nation [ v I/TI
get through sth He's certain of t he job if he gets through
the medical test. I get through The entrance exam is very
difficult and only a small minority of candidates get through.
scrape through / skrep Oru:/to only just pass a test
or examination by getting only one or a few marks more
than the number necessary to pass Iv I/TI
Lenny didn't expect to do well, he was happy just to scrape
through. [ scrape through sth It'll be a miracle if he
manages to scrape through his exams.

PASS A TEST 958 PASS/TIME PASSING
sail through/breeze through/'seal Oru:, 'bri:z Oru:/
informal expressions meaning to pass a test or examina-
tion very easily Iv I/T]
sail/breeze through sth She sailed through her driving
test with no trouble at all. I After months of revising and wor-
tying he absolutely breezed through it. I sail/breeze
through Don't worry - you'll breeze through as usual.
pass with flying ©olours/Ipo:s w6 Ifla-trj k^lorz II
pes-/to pass a test or examination with extremely high
marks Iv phrase]
pass sth with flying colours We weren't sure if the new
manager would be up to our standards, but he passed the
tests with flying colours. I pass with flying colours She
was so nervous about her examination results, but in fact
she passed with flying colours.
qualify /kwlofa: II 'kwo:-/ to pass all the necessary
examinations in order to be able to work in a particular
profession Iv I]
"'Is Peter still studying to be a doctor? .... No, he qualified a
year ago. "1 qualify as a doctor/lawyer/teacher etc He
hopes to qualify as a lawyer and then return to India.
qualified [adj] She's a fully qualified accountant (=one who
has passed all the necessary examinations).
graduate / gredsueIt/to pass all your final examinations
at university or college, or (in the US) at high school Iv I]
Two years after he graduated he was working in an impor-
tant New York law office. I graduate from William gradu-
ated from Harvard with a degree in Economics in 1987. I
graduate in LawCnglishCistory etc She graduated in
modern languages and got a job as an interpreter.
graduate / I gredsut/In C ] We only accept graduates on our
training courses. I Piers is a history graduate.
2 to judge that someone has passed a test
pass sb/give sb a pass
pass sblgive sb a pass/'pa:s (sb), ,gv (sb) a 'pa:s II
-'pees/Iv T]
The examiners passed him because he'd worked so hard
throughout the term. [ I didn't think the candidate deserved
to be given a pass but the other examiners disagreed.
PASS/GO PAST
1 to go past a place, person, or thing
2 to go past someone, or go past a vehicle
because you are going faster
I to go past a place, person, or thing
past
pass
pass by
past/po:st II pest/go/run/drive etc past (=to go, run,
drive etc past a person, place etc) [adv/prep]
The house looked empty when I went past this morning. I
Newsboys ran past, selling copies of the evening paper. I
Chris rushed past me in the hall. I You should go slowly when
you're driving past horses or other animals.
pass/po:s II pes/to go past a place, person, or thing and
continue beyond it Iv I/T]
pass sb/sth They must be almost home by now - they passed
us half an hour ago. I She waved as she passed the cheering
crowds. I pass They leaned over the balcony, watching the
people passing below.
pass by/,po:s ba[ II ,pes-/to go past something or some-
one while going somewhere else Iv I/T]
People inside the cars waved as they passed by. I We stood
for a while watching the parade pass by. I pass by sth As
she passed by the house she glanced through the window and
saw something move.
2 to go past someone, or go past a vehicle
because you are going faster
pass
overtake
pass/po:s II pes/Iv I/T]
pass sb/sth Diana passed me as she ran up the stairs. I pass
In the UK, cars and other vehicles should only pass on the
right. I He clipped the side mirror of a parked car as he was
passing.
overtake /aova r te;k/to pass a moving vehicle or person
because you want to get in front of them Iv I/T]
Before you start to overtake, make sure the road is clear
ahead of you. I The skier who is overtaking must give the
slower skierplenty of space. [ overtake sb/sth On the way,
we overtook a battered old Chrysler.
PASS/TIME
PASSING
1 ways of saying that a period of time passes
2 ways of saying that a period or event seems
to pass quickly
3 ways of saying that a period or event seems
to pass slowly
I ways of saying that a period of time passes
pass/go by the passage of time
elapse the passing of time/the years
pass/go by/po:s, ,gau 'ba[ II pes/[v I]
Three weeks passed and Max had still not found a job. I As
time passes you will become more confident about using the
computer. I When you get older, the time seems to go by more
quickly. I Hardly a month goes by without the announcement
that unemployment has risen again.
elapse/'leps/a formal word meaning that a period of
time passes, especially between two events Iv I not in
progressive]
A period of three days elapsed before Mr Heath decided to
resign. I A surprisingly long time had elapsed between the
discovery of the body and the arrival of the police.
the passage of time 16 ,pesId5 av 'taIm/an expres-
sion used especially in stories or descriptions of events
meaning the process of time passing over a long period,
especially when people or things change during this time
In phrase]
Two children, a successful marriage and the passage of time
had helped Maisie to forget her unhappy childhood. I with
the passage of time With the passage of time, the clothes
had become stiff and old-fashioned.
the passing of time/the years/6 ,po:sn3 av taim,
6) 'jI)rz II ,-pes-/an expression meaning the process of
time passing over a long period, used especially when talk-
ing about how people or things change during this time
In phrase]
The passing of time can totally change the way you feel about
something. I with the passing of time/the years Bessie's
voice had grown softer and more mellow with the passing
of the years.
2 ways of saying that a period or event seems
to pass quickly
go fast/quickly time flies
fly/speed by tick away
go fast/quickly/,gao 'fo:st, 'kwikli II -'feestl [vphrase]
Reading on the train makes the journey go faster. I I didn't
want my last few days with Paul to go quickly.

PASS/TIME PASSING 959 PAST
fly/speed by / iflaI, I spi:d baI/ifa period of time flies by
or speeds by, it seems to pass extremely quickly, especially
when you have been very busy or enjoying yourself [phr
v I]
We were having such a good time that the holiday seemed
to fly by. [ The days leading up to the wedding sped by and
before I knew it the big day had arrived.
time flies /itaim iflaiz/you say time flies when you are
surprised at how quickly the time has passed, especially
when you have been enjoying yourself
Is Richard eight already? Doesn't time fly. ["'Hasn "t the after-
noon passed quickly, "'said Carol. "'Yes, time flies when you're
having fun. ""
tick away/itIk a'we/if the minutes, the hours, time etc
tick away, you seem to have no control over how quickly
they pass, especially when you must do something before
a particular time or when you are frightened or nervous
[phr v I]
As the seconds slowly ticked away, I became more and more
terrified. [ Aware of how the minutes were ticking away,
Julia desperately scribbled down the last few answers.
PAST
the time before the present, in someone's life
or in history
1 the time that existed before the present time
2 all the things that have happened to
something or someone in the past
3 ways of saying that something happened or
existed in the past but not now
4 words for describing something that
happened or existed in the past, or someone
who had a particular job or position in the
past
5 to try to live as you used to live in the past
6 ways of saying or asking how long ago in the
past
3 ways of saying that a period or event seems
to pass slowly
go slowly drag on
drag wear on
go slowly/,gao 'slaoli/[v phrase]
The week I spent in the hospital went really slowly. I When
you're at work time seems to go quite slowly but at the
weekend it flies by.
drag/drmg/ira class, a meeting, a period of time etc drags,
it seems to pass slowly because you are bored Iv I]
Why do physics lessons always seem to drag? I The first half
of the meeting wasn't too bad but after that it really started
to drag. I The months have dragged since I last saw you.
drag on / idreg Ion II -'o:nl ira process or event drags on,
it seems to take a long time to finish [phr v I]
What makes wars drag on so interminably? I drag on for
The legal haggling had dragged on for two bitter years.
wear on/iwear Ion II -Io:n/if time or a period of time
wears on, it seems to pass very slowly, especially when
you are waiting for news or waiting for something to
happen [phr v I]
The night wore on and there was still no news of the miss-
ing boat. I as time wears on As time wore on, the sig-
nificance of Kyanzo's mysterious disappearance became
clear.
passable GOOD ENOUGH 1
passage of time PASS/TIME PASSING 1
passenger TRAVEL 11
passing SHORT TIME 4
passing of time/the years PASS/TIME PASSING 1
passion FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC 2,
LIKE SB OR STH 9, LOVE 9
passion: have a passion for LIKE SB OR STH 2
passionate EMOTIONAL 1, LOVE 10, STRONG FEELING
OR BELIEF 1
passionately EMOTIONAL 2
passive NOT DO STH 7
passport to WAY/METHOD 4
passport to: be a passport to POSSIBLE 3
past AFTER 10, PASS/GO PAST 1, PAST 4
past: be living in the past OLD-FASHIONED 2
past: break with the past TRADITION 5
past: for the last/past few weeks/months etc
RECENTLY 2
past: in the last/past few weeks/months etc
RECENTLY 2
past: in the past PAST 3
past: it's all in the past FINISH/COME TO AN END 4
past: sb's/sth's past PAST 2
past: the past PAST 1
past caring: be past caring DON'T CARE 1
past it: be past it OLD/NOT YOUNG 4
1 the time that existed before the present time
the past
past
the past/6a 'pa:st [I -'pmst/[n singular]
Historians study the events of the past. [ Old photographs
provide us with images of the past. [ She enjoyed getting
together with friends to talk about the past. [ the distant
past (=a very long time ago) Iseemed to remember meeting
him before, in the distant past. [ the recent past (=before
the present time but not a very long time ago) Bad
memories from the recent past began to flood through his
mind.
past /po:st II pest/ past years/centuries/times etc
(=ones that happened in the past) [adj only before noun]
In past years this festival was always held in August. I the
accumulated wisdom of past centuries
all the things that have happened to
something or someone in the past
sb's/sth's past record
history track record
sb'slsth's past/(sb's/sth's) 'pa:st [I -'pest/[n singular]
One thing I would like to change about my past. I wish I'd
never got married. [ There were certain things in his past
which he could not bear thinking about for long. [ The coun-
try is rediscovering its past and moving, with hope, towards
an uncertain future. I As soon as an actress becomes famous
the newspapers start digging into her past.
history/ihistari/all the things that have happened in the
past, especially to a country, organization ere that has
existed for a long time In singular]
sth's history India has been invaded several times in its his-
tory. [ Last year the company recorded the best profits in its
history. [ the history of sth Throughout the entire history
of the newspaper there has never been a woman editor. [ have
a history of(=have had a lot of particular problems in the
past) She has a history of mental illness.
record / Irekz:d II -ard/an the things that a person, organi-
zation, country etc has done in the past, especially when
talking about how good or bad they are In singular]
The country's human rights record is atrocious. [ The depart-
ment has a long record of high achievement. [ He looks like
a model employee, with a very good war record.
track record /Itrek irek:d II -ard/all the things that a
particular person, or organization has done in the past,
which shows how experienced or skilful they are, how well
they do their job etc In singular]
The company has a track record of efficiency and excellent
service. [ Even with his track record I still don't think we
should employ him. I We are looking for someone with a
proven track record in managing major engineering
projects.

PAST
 ways of saying that something happened or
existed in the past but not now
in the past used to
once in the old days
formerly in olden times/
at one time in the olden days
in the past/n 6a 'po:st II -'pabst! something that hap-
pened or existed in the past happened or existed during
past times lady phrase]
In the past I've always given her a birthday present but I
don't think I'll bother this year. [ In the past parsley tea was
sometimes used to make childbirth easier. [ Marks on the
rock indicate that in the past the lake had been perhaps
twelve feet deeper.
once/w^ns/at some time in the past but not now lady]
The dress Sarah was wearing had once belonged to her
mother. [ He was a school teacher once, long ago. [ The build-
ing the bank is now in was once the Public Library. [ Once
a leader in the clothing industry, the company has been
forced to close because of poor sales and high debts.
formerly / ' f:rmarli/if someone or something formerly
existed, was in a particular condition etc, it existed or was
in that condition in the past, especially a long time ago, but
not any more [adv]
Archaeologists are searching for an ancient kingdom they
believe formerly existed in this area. I He looked at the old
ruins which had formerly been a castle. I India was form-
erly a large island near Australia in the Indian Ocean but
has drifted away over millions of years.
at one time lot iw^n :tam/in the past but not now, espe-
cially at a particular time in the past compared to other
times [adv phrase]
She has had a variety of jobs, at one time even working as
a cleaner. [ At one time the city's population was as low as
300,000. [ At one time it was believed that life might exist on
Mars.
used to/'ju:st tu:/used to be/do/smoke/live etc (=did
it for some time in the past or did it regularly in the past,
but not any more) [modal verb]
He used to be fat!Now he's as thin as a pencil! [ I used to be
a waiter but now I own my own restaurant. [ "'Do you
smoke? .... No, but I used to. "' [ That little red Volkswagen you
used to have was such a reliable car. [ She used to play tennis
a lot when she was younger.
in the old days/n 6i 'auld ,dez/an expression mean-
ing in the past, used especially if you think that things were
better or very different from the way they are now [adv
phrase]
My grandmother would talk to me about life in the old days,
before the war. [ Of course, in the old days it was better. [ in
the good old days (=when you think that things were
better than now) In the good old days people showed more
respect to the older generation.
in olden times/in the olden days/in 'uldn ,tamz,
n 6i 'aoldn deiz/an expression used especially in stories
about the past meaning a long time ago, before you were
born, especially hundreds of years ago lady phrase]
The port has a long history. In olden times the Persians,
Arabs and Greeks all came here. I The children all want to
know what life was like in the olden days.
4
words for describing something that
happened or existed in the past, or someone
who had a particular job or position in the
past
past ex
bygone former
past Ipo:st II pest/[adj only before noun]
He's learned a lot from past mistakes. I On past experience,
I'd say we're going to need more workers. I She's always been
interested in past civilisations. I Scientific research is firmly
based upon past scientific achievements. I Arthur is a past
president of the school debating society.
960 patronize
bygone /'bagon II -ga:n/bygone age/days/era/centu-
ries etc (used especially if you have pleasant memories or
a pleasant image of these times) [adj only before noun]
To me this sailing ship represented all that I had imagined
of the bygone age of sail. [ The little garage had serviced hs
small car in bygone days, but now it was about to close.
ex/eks/ex-husband/-wife/-policeman etc (=someone
who was your husband, wife, a police officer etc but is not
any more) [prefix]
One of my ex-boyfriends was an actor. I Most of the security
guards are ex-police officers.
former/'fa:rmar/former president/soldier/wife etc
(=someone who was the president, a soldier, your wife etc
in the past but not any more) [adj only before noun]
Marina is a former Miss World who is now a top model. I
I walked down a corridor of portraits of all the former
presidents.
5 to try to live as you used to live in the past
go back
put/turn the clock back
live in the past
go back/,gu 'beck/[phr v I]
It's no use having regrets. You can't go back! I go back to
I wish I could go back to my school days. [ I wish we could
go back to the old days when people respected authority.
put/turn the clock back/,put, ,ta:rn 60 'Eluk bck 1[
-'klo:k-/ to want to live in past times because you are
unhappy about something that you have done or because
you think things were better then [v phrase]
If you could turn the clock back would you do things differ-
ently? I turn/put the clock back to It would be nice to put
the clock back to the years before the war ever started.
live in the past I,lv n 60 'po:st [[-'pabst/ to try to
behave or live as you did at some time in the past, usually
because you do not like your present situation or you are
unhappy that things have changed [v phrase]
It's no good living in the past. You have to get on with your
life. I Poor old thing! She lives in the past and still thinks
her husband will return from the war.
6 ways of saying or asking how long ago in the
past
ago
ago/a'gau/five minutes/two weeks/twenty years etc
ago (=five minutes/two weeks etc before now) [adj not
before noun]
He went out about half an hour ago, but he'll be back soon. [
She died two months ago [ How long ago did you come to live
in London? [ long ago/a long time ago She remembered
the night, long ago, when she first met her husband. [ ages
ago (=a long time ago) He wrote to me once, ages ago.
paste THICK LIQUID 1
pastel COLOUR/COLOR 4
pastime DO 10
pat TOUCH 2
pat: have sth off pat/have sth down pat
patch AREA 7, 8, MARK1
patch: bad patch PERIOD OF TIME 1
patch: not be a patch on WORSE 1
patch up REPAIR 1
patch up/settle your differences
patchy BAD 5
patently OBVIOUS 4
paternal FATHER 4
path ROAD/PATH 7
path: route/path WAY/METHOD 4
pathetic
patience
patient
patriotic
patron
patronize
KNOW STH 8
ARGUE 8
BAD 2, BAD AT 2, SYMPATHIZE 5
WAIT 6
ILL 6, WAIT 6
COUNTRY/NATION 8
BUY 7
BUY 6, TALK TO SB 12

patronizing 961 PAUSE
patronizing RUDE/IMPOLITE 6
patter SOUND 8
pattern ORDER/SEQUENCE 1, PATTERN 1
PATTERN
1 a regular arrangement of shapes, colours, or
lines on a surface
2 covered with a pattern
I a regular arrangement of shapes, colours, or
lines on a surface
pattern patterning
design markings
motif
pattern /'proton II 'pmtarn/ a regular arrangement of
shapes, colours, or lines on the surface of something, espe-
cially one that is used for decoration In C]
I like this wallpaper but I really wanted something with a
pattern on it. [ Alice wore a new summer dress with a vine-
leaf pattern and I wore my linen suit. [ The sunshine through
the branches made beautiful patterns on the ground. [ A dot
matrix printer creates each letter or number from a pattern
of dots.
design/d 'zam/ a pattern which is used to decorate a
surface such as cloth or paper In C]
The cloth was covered with a design of big yellow flowers. [
It's cream-coloured and there's a golden design on it.
motif Imaolti:f/a single shape which is repeated to form
a pattern which decorates something In C]
The cloth is green with a feather motif. [ A motif based on
four heart-shaped leaves decorated the ceiling.
patterning/Ipmtni I[ patarm/the pattern that covers
the surface of an object, animal, plant etc In U]
The vase's rosebud patterning matches that of the fruit bowl. [
By comparing the two fish we can see the diversity of pattern-
ing within a species.
markings/' mfl:rkn3z/the natural patterns, especially of
different colours, on the fur, skin, or feathers of animals,
birds or fish In plural]
The markings of a Siberian tiger are much paler than those
of a Bengal tiger. [ You can identify the birds by checking
their markings in this book.
2 covered with a pattern
patterned
patterned/'petand II 'patarnd/[adj]
Would you prefer patterned or plain material for the seat-
covers? l Patterned stockings were very fashionable last year.
 patterned PATTERN 2
 patterning PATTERN 1
 paunch FAT 6
 pause PAUSE 1, 3
@ PAUSE
1 to stop for a short time then start again
2 to stop what you are doing for a while in
order to rest, eat etc
3 a short time during which something stops
happening, before starting again
4 a short time during which you stop working,
or during which a performance, game,
meeting etc stops
1 to stop for a short time then start again
pause
stop for a moment/a while/a second
hesitate
pause/pa:z/to stop speaking or doing something for a
short time before starting again Iv I]
"'You'll have to tell him the truth. "" She paused for a moment
before adding, "'I don't think he'll take it very well. "'1 Hen-
drik was playing the piano, but he paused and looked up as
we came in. I The hill rose so sharply in places that the old
man had to pause for breath.I Gabriella's English is almost
fluent, but she has to pause occasionally to work out the more
complicated tenses.
stop for a momentla whilela second/,stp fa r a
'maomant, a 'wad, a 'sekand II ,sto:p-I to stop doing some-
thing or to stop happening for a short time, before start-
ing again Iv phrase]
At the foot of the steps Paul stopped for a moment and turned
to wave goodbye. I The sound of the siren stopped for a
second, when you could hear people screaming. ] We stopped
for a moment to catch our breath, then cycled down the hill
as fast as we dared. ] stop doing sth for a moment etc The
baby stopped crying for a while when we played with him,
but he soon started up again.
hesitate/'heztext/to pause and wait before doing some-
thing, because you are uncertain or nervous about it Iv I]
She opened her mouth to say something, but then hesitated. ]
Barry hesitated, looked around to see if anyone was watch-
ing, then picked up the money and slipped it into his pocket.
hesitation/,hez 'tean/In U] After a moment's hesitation
(=hesitating for a moment) she reached out and patted the
dog on the head.
2 to stop what you are doing for a while in
order to rest, eat etc
have/take a break take time out
take five adjourn
take a breather recess
break for lunch/dinner/coffee etc
have/take a break/,hmv, ,tczk a brck/to stop for a
while in order to rest, eat etc, especially because you have
been working very hard Iv phrase]
You're all looking a little tired. Let's take a break and meet
up again in ten minutes. I have/take a break from She
decided to take a break from her studies and go to the
movies.I have a five minute/quick/short break Can we
have a quick break while I go out and mail this letter?
take five/,teIk 'fav/an informal American expression
meaning to stop for a while in order to rest Iv phrase]
Take five, guys. You're working too hard/
take a breather/,teik a 'bri:6ar/an informal expression
meaning to stop for a while because you want a rest, espe-
cially because you have been doing something very
difficult or tiring Iv phrase]
We've been rehearsing for three hours now. Let's take a
breather. I The meeting's going to be very long so I vote we
take a breather and get something to drink.
break for lunch/dinner/coffee etc/brexk fa r (lunch,
tc)/to stop for a while because it is time for a meal, a drink
etc Iv phrase]
We worked all morning, and only broke for coffee at twelve
thirty or so. I My staff have been trying very hard to meet the
deadline, working 9 till 7 without breaking for lunch.
take time out/teIk ,tam 'aot/to stop for a while and
rest, either because you are tired or while you are waiting
for something to be done Iv phrase]
The cast took time out while the new scenery was set up. I
take time out to do sth Taking time out just to relax each
day is important during pregnancy.
adjourn/a'dsa:rn/if a meeting or court adjourns, or if
someone in authority adjourns it, the meeting or court
stops for a short time, so that more information can be
collected Iv I/T]

PAUSE 962 PAY FOR
adjourn sth The chairperson has the power to adjourn the
meeting at any time. I The trial was adjourned for two weeks
until the psychiatrist's report was ready. I adjourn If there
are no more questions, the committee will adjourn until
tomorrow morning.
recess/r ses/an American word; ifa court or a commit-
tee recesses, it stops for a short time Iv I]
Court will recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
3 a short time during which something stops
happening, before starting again
pause lull
break breathing space
respite
pause/p:zl a short time during which someone stops
doing something or something stops happening, especially
a conversation In C]
Read the poem more slowly, with a slight pause at the end
of each line. I They worked for almost six hours without a
pause. I There was a long pause as Bill searched for a way
to tell Jackie that he did not love her. I pregnant pause (=a
pause just before something important is said) "'I've decided
one of you will have to leave, "she told us. There was a preg
nant pause.
break/bretk] a short time when something that is happen-
ing for a long time stops In C]
She finally returned to her career after a break, during which
she had two children. I break in I waited until there was a
break in the storm before running into the garden. I break
from Murray felt he needed a break from studying, so he
arranged a holiday in South America.
respite 1 respt, -pat [[ -p tl a short time when something
unpleasant stops happening so that the situation is tem-
porarily better In singular]
The noise went on all night, with not even a moment's
respite. I The war had lasted without respite for more than
8years. ] respite from They occasionally have time to relax,
but it is never more than a short respite from the daily grind.
lull/l^l/a temporary break in busy activity, noise, talking,
fighting etc In C I
lull in You could hear the clock ticking every time there was
a lull in the conversation. [ The soldiers waited until there
was a momentary lull in the gunfire and then made their
advance. [ lull There was a lull, and then the thunder
crashed again.
breathing space  bri:6 spes! a short time when you
stop doing something difficult, tiring etc, so that people
have time to think more clearly about the situation In C/U]
Wendy took a few days off work to give her more breathing
space in which to deal with her other problems. ]Alfonso isn't
coming until tomorrow, so you have a little breathing space
to think of an excuse.
4 a short time during which you stop working,
or during which a performance, game,
meeting etc stops
break/recess interlude
interval adjournment
intermission recess
break (British) I recess (American)/break, 'ri:sesl a short
time between school classes when children can play, eat
something etc In C/U]
In this school we only have 15 minutes" break. [ I'll speak to
you about it in morning recess.
interval I' Intorval/ a British word meaning a planned
pause during a play, concert, or film In C]
Drinks will be on sale during the interval. [ The musical was
a bit .ring to begin with, but after the interval it really
improved.
intermission I  Intar manl a word used especially in
American English meaning a planned pause during a play,
concert, or film In C]
There will now be a short intermission. Please return to your
seats when you hear the bell.
interiude /  Intarlu:d/a planned pause during a play or
concert, when music is often played In C]
Halfway through the performance there was a short musi-
cal interlude during which the orchestra played tunes from
the show.
adjournment/'d3a:rnmant/a pause when a court, meet-
ing etc has been stopped for a short time, so that more infor-
mation can be collected In C]
Peters told me that, during an adjournment, he had seen a
member of the jury talking to a reporter.
recess/r ses [[ ri:sesl a word used especially in Ameri-
can English meaning a planned pause in a court, meeting
etc In C/U]
It was only during the recess that the delegates got a chance
to talk. [ call a recess At four o'clock the judge called a recess
and the jury was led out of the courtroom. [ be in recess
Court will be in recess for 20 minutes.
pave the way PREPARE 5
pave the way for POSSIBLE 3
pavement ROAD/PATH 6
pawn USE A PERSON 2
pay
pay:
pay:
pay:
pay:
pay:
pay:
pay:
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
pay
EARN 5, PAY FOR 1, 5, 9, PAY SB FOR WORK
1, 2, SUFFER 2
be a high price to pay LOSE/NOT HAVE ANY
MORE 2
be able to pay PAY FOR 13
be in the pay of SPY1
doesn't pay POINTLESS 4
make sb pay PUNISH 1
not pay well PAY SB FOR WORK 6
there'll be hell to pay PUNISH 6
a visit/a call VISIT 1
attention ATTENTION 1
attention: not pay attention ATTENTION 5
attention to ATTENTION 2, CAREFUL 1
back PAY FOR 5
back: pay sb back REVENGE 1
for PUNISH 5
good money for SPEND MONEY 1
in advance PAY FOR 3
off PAY FOR 5, 12, SUCCEED IN DOING STH 4
out SPEND MONEY 1
sth towards GIVE 14
up PAY FOR 6
well PAY SB FOR WORK 4
Ј51510 etc for SPEND MONEY 1
PAY FOR
1
2
3
4
5
to pay for something
to pay for something unwillingly, especially
because you have to pay a lot of money or
more than you want to pay
to pay or partly pay for something before you
receive it
to buy something and pay for it later
to pay back money that you owe or have
borrowed

PAY FOR 963 PAY FOR
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
to finally pay after a long time
to give someone back money that they have
paid
to pay someone money because they have
suffered injury, loss, damage etc
to pay for someone else, especially for their
food and drink
to provide money that someone else needs to
live on
to provide money to help a person or
organization to do something
to pay money to someone in an official
position in order to persuade them to do
something dishonest
to have enough money to pay for something
an amount of money that is paid for
something
a document showing the amount of money
that you have to pay for something you have
received
to send or give someone a document
showing how much money they must pay
you
money paid to someone in an official position
in order to persuade them to do something
dishonest
money that you have to pay as a punishment
1 to pay for something
pay
meet the cost of
pay Ipei/to give money in exchange for goods or services
[v I/T/
Where do I pay? ] pay for He didn't have enough money to
pay for the meal. ] Our house will be paid for by this time
next year. ] pay sb I need Ј5 to pay the window cleaner. ] pay
tax/a bill/the full price ere There has been great debate
about whether the Royal Family should have to pay income
tax. ] pay Ј20/$60/a lot of money ete It's crazy topay $40
to have your hair cut in a salon when I could do it for free./
pay cash She pays cash for everything and never borrows
money. ] pay by cheque/credit card "'How wouldyou like
to pay?" "'By credit card please. ""
meet the cost of/,mi:t 6a 'kust uv [[ -'ka:st-/if a com-
pany or organization meets the cost of something, it pays
for it for someone else, especially when it does not have a
legal duty to do this [v phrase]
meet the cost of sth We will meet the cost of any expenses
you may incur travelling to your interview. ] meet the cost
of doing sth A local firm has agreed to meet the cost of send-
ing ten disabled children on an adventure holiday.
' to pay for something unwillingly, especially
because you have to pay a lot of money or
more than you want to pay
cough up stump up
fork out shell out
cough up I,kof '^p II ,k:f-/ an informal expression
meaning to pay, especially money that you owe or that
someone has persuaded you to pay [v I/T/
I sent them their bill at least ten weeks ago and they still
haven't coughed up. ] cough up Ј3/$100/a few pence etc
If we can get your mom to cough up a few bucks, we can go
to the football game.
fork out ! ,f:rk 'aut/to pay a lot of money for something
because you have to and not because you want to, espe-
cially because it is something you need [phr v I/T/
fork out Ј1000/$10,000/a lot of money etc He had to fork
out $500 to get his car fixed. ] fork out Ј100/$20,000/a lot
of money etc on I'm not forking out Ј17,000 a year on taxes
when I can work abroad and pay half that. [ fork out for
By the time we've forked out for things for the house and kids
we don't have much money to spend on ourselves.
stump up /,stAmp 'Ap/ an informal British expression
meaning to pay for something when you do not want to, but
when other people think you should [v I/T/
stump up Ј50/$200/a lot of money etc Can you believe
it? She needs a new typewriter and her boss won't stump up
the money. ] stump up Don't you think Bill should stump
up for his mother's nursing home bills?
shell out/,el 'aut/an informal expression meaning to
pay a lot of money because you have to, especially when
you find this annoying or feel that it is unfair [phr v T/
In just three years we've shelled out $10,000 in interest on the
loan. [ We're forever shelling out money on this car! [ Why
should I have to shell out thousands of dollars so that these
kids can just hang around doing nothing?
to pay or partly pay for something before you
receive it
pay in advance make a down payment on
up front put a deposit on
cash down put $100/Ј100 etc down on
pay in advance/,pei [n od'vo:ns i[ -'veens/to pay for
something before you receive it Iv phrase]
Travel agents usually ask you to pay for your flight in
advance. [ We won't deliver unless you pay in advance.
up front lap ' frAnt/if you pay for something up front, you
pay or partly pay for it before you receive it, especially in
order to show the person you are paying that they can trust
you [adv phrase]
I paid the builders Ј100 up front and will give them the rest
when the job's finished. [ We've had so many unpaid bills
that we've started to demand payment up front.
cash down I,kmJ' 'daun/if you pay for something cash
down, you pay for it before you receive it, in money and
not by cheque etc [adv phrase]
You can have the guitar for Ј50, cash down.
make a down payment on/me;k o ,daon peimont on/
to pay part of the cost of something expensive, especially
a home or car, and agree to pay the rest at a later time or
over a period of time [v phrase]
We saved enough money to make a down payment on a house.
put a deposit on/,put  dI'pozt on [[ -'po:zt-/to pay
part of the cost of something before you buy it, especially
so that no one else can buy it before you pay the rest of the
money [v phrase]
We've put a deposit on a round-the-world tour. [ Sorry. this
sofa isn't for sale. Someone's already put a deposit on it.
put $1001Ј100 etc down on/put ($100 etc) 'daun on/
to pay money towards the cost of something so that you can
be sure it will be sold to you [phr v T/
I've put Ј200 down on a new bedroom carpet. [ Greg's parents
are going to give us some money to put down on an
apartment.
4 to buy something and pay for it later
get/buy sth on credit
put sth on the slate
get/buy sth on credit/,get, ,ba] (sth) on 'kredIt/to buy
something and pay for it later, especially through a special
arrangement with a shop in which you agree to pay regu-
lar payments [v phrase]
Most new electrical goods are bought on credit. ] We can't
afford a new car without buying it on credit. [ What happens
to the economy when so many people are getting things on
credit?
put sth on the slate/,put (sth) on 6 'sleiq an informal
British expression meaning to receive goods or services,
especially in small shops or places where you know the
owner, and agree to pay for them at a later time [vphrase]
Can I put it on the slate, and I'll pay at the end of the week?

PAY FOR 964 PAY FOR
S to pay back money that you owe or have
borrowed
pay back settle up
repay settle
pay clear
pay off
pay back/,pel 'bkl [phr v T]
pay back Ј30/$5/20p etc How are you going to pay back
all that money? I pay back a loan/debt She hopes to have
paid back all her debts within six months. I pay sb back I'll
pay you back tomorrow, if that's ok.
repay/ri 'pei/to pay money that you owe, especially to a
bank or other financial institution [v T]
repay sth Banks will only lend you money if they think you
will be able to repay it. I Loans made to students need not
be repaid for several years. I repay sb You can repay me
when you get a job.
pay/pei! to pay money that you owe for goods or services
you have already received [v I/T]
We've booked our holiday but we haven't paid yet. ] We
finished the work three months ago and we're still waiting
for Mr Jones topay. I pay sb If we are notpaid within three
weeks we will take legal action. ] pay a bill/the rent/your
debts etc Have you paid the phone bill?
pay off/,pei 'of II -':f/to finish paying back a sum of
money that you owe [phr v T]
pay off a debt/loan/overdraft ete He paid off the whole
loan in six months. [ The house was repossessed because of
the large mortgage which they could not afford to pay off[
pay a debt/loan ete off The country is trying to pay all its
debts off by 1995.
settle up 1, setl ^P/to pay someone money that you owe
them for work that they have done for you, or for a service
they have provided you with [phr v I]
settle up with We can settle up with the hotel manager after
breakfast. ] I've settled up with the builders, so now there's
only the plumbers left to pay. ] settle up You go and get in
the car while I settle up.
settle/Isetl/settle an account/bill/loan etc (=a word
used especially in a business context meaning to pay
money that you owe someone) [v T]
Please settle this account within two weeks. [ I settled the bill
and left the restaurant.
clear IklIorl to ffnally pay all the money that you owe, after.
some time or with some difficulty [v T]
This cheque should clear my overdraft. [ We're hoping that
we can clear all our debts by the end of the year.
6 to finally pay after a long time
pay up
pay up/,peI '^pl [phr v I]
If they don't pay up we will take legal action. [ The company
paid up eventually, but only after repeated threats and
reminders.
7 to give someone back money that they have
paid
give sb their money back reimburse
refund rebate
give sb their money back/,giv (sb) 6e r 'm^ni ,bmk/
[ v phrase]
If you are not completely satisfied with your new washing
machine, we will give you your money back. ] It's the wrong
size. Do you think they'll give me my money back?
refund/' ri,'f^nd/the money that you are given back, for
example when you return something that you do not want
because it is damaged or broken [n C]
She was told by the sales assistant that she couldn't have a
refund without a receipt. ] refund of Some people are enti-
tled to free prescriptions and a refund of travel costs to and
from hospital. ] demand a refund (=ask for a refund) He
decided to take the shirt back to the store and demand a
refund.
refund/ri ' f^nd/[v T] The store has a policy of refunding any
customer who isn't satisfied.
reimburse I,ri:Im'ba'.rsl to pay money to someone for
something that they have had to pay for or have lost
because of you [v T]
You pay for the hotel room now, but we'll reimburse you
later. [ He wouldn't let me reimburse him for the cost of his
journey. [ We payfor any repairs that need doing to the house,
and are reimbursed by the landlord.
rebate/'ri:beit/some of the money that you have paid in
taxes, that is returned to you by a government or official
organization, because you have paid more than your share
[n C]
Of the 4 million households entitled to rent rebates, only 2.9
million actually received them. [ tax rebate We were
delighted to hear that we were entitled to a tax rebate of
Ј1000.
8 to pay someone money because they have
suffered injury, loss, damage etc
compensate
damages
compensation
compensate/'komponseit II 'ka:m-/[v I/T]
compensate for No amount of money can compensate for
my father's death. [ compensate sb for The workers have
still not been compensated for their loss of wages. [ compen-
sate sb People are entitled to be compensated fully whenever
they are injured by others" carelessness.
damages/'damidsIz/money that a law court orders
someone to pay to you because they have caused you harm
[n plural]
pay sb damages Survivors of the air crash were paid $3000
each in damages. [ award sb damages (=when a court
agrees that damages should be paid) Damages of $2500 were
awarded by the court. [ sue sb/take action etc for
damages (=take someone to court to try and make them
pay damages) They are determined to sue the hospital for
damages.
compensation/,kmpnseI[an [[ ,ko:m-/ money that
someone pays you because they have caused you harm,
loss, or damage to your property [n U]
pay sb compensation His employers paid him $5000 com-
pensation for his broken leg. [ compensation for Criminals
should be made to pay compensation for the damage they
cause. [ compensation See if you can get some compensa-
tion from the airline for your lost baggage.
9 to pay for someone else, especially for their
food and drink
pay pick up the tab
foot the bill be on me
pay/pei/[v I]
If lgo out for a meal with my parents they always pay. ] pay
for sb Oh come on, let's go out dancing. I'll pay for you. [
pay for sb to do sth My company paid for me to go to even-
ing classes.
foot the bill / ,fut 6 'bill to pay for something for some-
one else, especially when you do not want to or do not think
that you should [v phrase]
It's nice knowing that when something goes wrong, it's not
me that has to foot the bill. [ foot the bill for After the riots,
it was down to the city to foot the bill for cleaning up.
pick up the tab/,pIk ^p 6 'tmb/to pay for something,
especially when it is not really your responsibility to do
this [v phrase]
They all pretended they didn't have any money so Alfie was
left to pick up the tab. [ Over the last few years the taxpayer
has been picking up the tab for the government's mismanage-
ment of the economy.
be on me/her etc/bi: vn (me, etc)/you say the drinks
are on me, this meal's on me ete when you are telling
someone you will pay for their drinks, their meal etc
[ v thrase ]

PAY FOR 96 PAY FOR
Order whatever you like - this is on me/I Put your money
away - the drinks are on us.
1 0 to provide money that someone else needs to
live on
provide for
support
maintain
provide for/pra'vaid fa:r/ to provide money for your
family to live on Iv T]
When she was unemployed it was very difficult to provide for
her children. [ A life insurance policy enables you to provide
for your family after your death. [ Don't worry - you'll be
well provided for, no matter what happens.
support/sa'pa:rt/to provide enough money for someone
to pay for all the things they need, especially if you do this
by working Iv T]
He has a wife and two children to support. [ These days I can
barely earn enough to support myself, let alone my family. [
My parents didn't have to support me when I was at college
as I received a grant.
maintain/melnten, man-/to provide someone with the
money that they need to live at a reasonable level Iv T]
How can you maintain a family on $300 a week? [ They were
paid just enough to maintain themselves, no more and no
less.
11
support
sponsor
subsidize
fund
put up the money for
bankroll
to provide money to help a person or
organization to do something
underwrite
finance
pour money into
put money into
back
support/sa'pa:rt/to provide the money for a plan, event,
organization etc because you agree with it and think it is
a good idea Iv T]
The public has been quick to support the new hospital. I
NASA supports programs to build astrological telescopes. ]
On numerous occasions he had supported artistic exhibitions
with his own money.
sponsor/'sponsa r II 'spo:n-! if a company or an organi-
zation sponsors an event or a person, they provide them
with the money they need, especially because they want
people to notice their company and have a good opinion of
it Iv T]
The football team is sponsored by the local newspaper. I a
research project sponsored by the European Commission ]
Young athletes have to find companies to sponsor them if they
want to make a career in sport.
sponsor In C] Tennis players chatted with their sponsors in
the hospitality tent after the game.
sponsorship In U] The theatre is considering approaching
local businesses for sponsorship (=asking them to sponsor
it).
subsidize (also -ise British) / 'sAbs daiz/ifa government
or an organization subsidizes something, it pays part of
the cost, in order to make it possible for people to do it, use
it or buy it Iv T]
The education authority subsidizes school lunches. I Farm-
ing in Europe is highly subsidized.
subsidy In C] Subsidies are available to farmers who
produce wheat. I British Rail has had its public subsidy
halved in the past five years.
fund/f^nd/to provide all the money needed to pay for
something, especially an important or expensive plan Iv T]
Both schools and industry will be involved in funding the
new training projects. I a charity funded by private dona-
tions I The state should fund the arts for the benefit of us all.
put up the money for /,pot ^p 6a 'mAni fo:r/to provide
allthe money that someone else needs in order to do or buy
something Iv phrase]
My father put up the money for us to buy our first house. I
Who will put up the money for the movie? I The bank will-
ingly put up the money for Kate to start her own business.
bankroii/'bakraol! an informal American word mean-
ing to provide the money for something such as a business
or a plan Iv T]
Mr Terence had bankrolled them when they had nothing. I
C.V.S. was a huge company bankrolled by the State.
underwrite / ,Anda'ralq to provide the money needed for
something and agree to take responsibility and pay any
debts if it fails Iv T]
The British government has agreed to underwrite the project
with a grant ofЈ5 million. I The venture was underwritten
by several companies.
finance/faI'nmns, f- II 'fanmns, f 'nmns/to provide the
money needed to pay for something, especially by doing
something to earn or collect that money Iv T]
The government uses money from taxes to finance higher
education. I She gave swimming lessons to finance her stay
in Australia. I State pensions are financed by the contribu-
tions of those still at work.
pour money into/,pa: r 'mAni Intu:/to provide a lot of
money over a period of time to pay for something, espe-
cially something unsuccessful Iv phrase]
We have been pouring money into this research for five years
and we have still not seen any results.
put money into /,pot 'mAni Intu:/to provide some of the
money needed to start or continue in business, with the
expectation that you will get more money back if the
business is successful Iv phrase]
Small investors and large companies have both put money
into the exhibition. ] He's put quite a lot of money into a liter-
ary magazine which helps young writers get started.
back/bmkl to provide the money for a business, plan,
show etc, because you think it is a good idea and believe
that it will be successful Iv T]
It's a great show, but he can't find anyone to back it. ] Our
bank is eager to back business ideas by local people.
12
to pay money to someone in an official
position in order to persuade them to do
something dishonest
bribe buy off
bribery make it worth sb's while
pay off
bribe/braib/Iv T]
bribe sb to do sth We bribed the doorman to let us in. I
bribe sb Two American businessmen were charged with
bribing customs officials. ] bribe sb for sth Prisoners were
bribing jailers for cigarettes and alcohol.
bribe !'braIbari/dishonestly giving money to someone,
in order to persuade them to do something which will help
you In U]
There was widespread bribery and corruption in the police
department.
pay off/,peI of II -'a:f/to give someone money to stop
them talking about a crime [phr v T]
pay off sb The Mafia paid off the principal witnesses and
the men were found not guilty. I pay sb/her/them etc off
The company tried to pay him off with Ј1,000,000.
buy off/,bai 'of II -'a:f/to give someone money to stop
them from causing trouble or doing something that they
have threatened to do [phr v T]
buy off sb Eichmann's deputy was greedy, an easy man to
buy off. I buy sb offwith The management has been trying
to buy off union activists with substantial pay offers.
make It worth sb's while/melk It ,w3zrO (sb's) 'wail/
if you tell someone you will make it worth their while,
you mean you will give them money if they agree to do
something for you, especially something dishonest Iv
phrase]
I didn't want to lend Terry my car, but he said he'd make
it worth my while. ] Look, if you forget about the whole thing
I'll make it worth your while.

PAY FOR 966 PAY SB FOR WORK
1 3 to have enough money to pay for something
can afford
be able to pay
can afford/kn 'f3:rdl [V phrase]
can afford to do sth I don't think I can afford to go out
tonight. I can afford sth Only millionaires can afford the
houses around here. I Britain isn't able to afford its present
high defence spending. I I really wanted to have my hair
permed, but couldn't afford it.
be able to pay/bi: ,eibal t 'pel/to have enough money
to pay for something important such as a tax or a bill
[v phrase/
They say they will have all the money on Friday, but I don't
think theyTl be able to pay. I be able to pay sth Somepeople
just aren't able to pay the tax. I be able to pay for Many
people use credit as a way of buying goods they are not able
to pay for.
an amount of money that is paid for
something
payment
instalment/installment
deposit
payment / 'pemanq an amount of money that is paid for
something, when this is the full amount or one of a number
of payments [n CI
Your first payment is due on duly 16th. I payment of
$60/Ј12 etc I bought my new TVset on credit and make pay-
merits of Ј20 per month for it. I payment for The deal
includes a payment of $94m for the site. I make a payment
Each time you make a payment you will be given a receipt.
instalment (British) I installment (American)/in'st:l-
mnt/a regular payment you make to pay back money that
you have borrowed or to pay for things that you have
already received [n C/
We just can't afford to pay the installments on the loan any
more. I instalment of Ј250/$1000 ere I borrowed $1000
which was to be paid back in monthly installments of $250. I
in instalments You can pay me in instalments if you can't
afford to give me all the money back in one go.
deposit Ida pozt II d 'po:-/part of the cost of something
that you pay before you get it, so that it will not be sold to
anyone else and so that the seller is certain that you will
buy it [n C/
Most stores ask for a small deposit if they are to keep goods
for you. I $20/Ј5 etc deposit Yes, we have plenty of rooms
available, but you'll have to pay a $20 deposit. I deposit on
She's paid the deposit on a new bed. I leave a deposit Would
you mind leaving a deposit? You can collect the picture when
it's ready next week.
1,5 a document showing the amount of money
that you have to pay for something you have
received
bill tab
check invoice
bill/bi1 / a document that you are given or sent, that tells
you how much you must pay for goods, meals, or services
you have received [n C/
I don't know how I'm going to pay all these bills! ] We asked
the waiter for the bill and left the restaurant. [ Ken was sur-
prised the bill came to so much.
check/tSek/an American word meaning the bill you get
in a restaurant [n singularl
With his dinner and the cigarettes, the check came to about
15 dollars.
tab itmb/an informal word meaning a bill that is added
up at the end of the evening, showing how much you owe
for drinks, food etc [n singular]
Could you put these drinks on a tab - we'll payfor everything
at the end.
invoice/'Invais/a bill given to you by a company or
organization, which tells you how much you owe them for
goods or services they have provided [n C/
You will find the invoice attached to the box. I You must send
in your invoice before the end of the month. I invoice for
Ј250/$300 etc We have received an invoice for $250.
1 6 to send or give someone a document
showing how much money they must pay
you
bill
invoice
bill/bill to send someone a document showing how much
money they must pay you, for goods or services they have
received [v T/
bill sb We won't bill you until you are sure you're satisfied
with the product. I bill sb for The firm has agreed to pay
for the trip, so we'll bill them for it.
invoice I' inv3is/if a company or organization invoices
you, they send you a bill showing how much you have to
pay for goods and services they have provided [v T]
invoice sb You will be invoiced as soon as the work is com-
pleted. I invoice sb for The company invoiced us for the cost
of using their conference hall.
1 7 money paid to someone in an official position
in order to persuade them to do something
dishonest
bribe
kickback
backhander
bribe/braab/[n C]
He tried everything to make the policeman change his mind
- bribes, threats, the lot! I offer sb a bribe I was told to offer
the embassy staff a $50 bribe to make sure Igor my visa. I
accept a bribe A New York judge was convicted of accept-
ing a bribe from gangster Anthony Corallo.
kickback/'kIkbmk/ a large amount of money paid to
someone in a high position in a company or government,
for arranging a business deal for you [n C/
Top executives received millions of dollars in kickbacks, t He
offered me $20,000 as a kickback if I'd push through a
$500,000 loan.
backhander I'bekhendr/ an informal British word
meaning a small amount of money paid to someone to per-
suade them to do something that is dishonest but usually
not very serious In C]
If you let him have a backhander, I'm sure he'll be able to
speed things up for you.
18 money that you have to pay as a punishment
fine
fine
fine/fain/[n C/
Igor a fine for parking on a double-yellow line. I heavy fine
There are heavy fines for drink-driving. You might even go
to prison. I Ј30/$100 fine He raped a girl and all he got was
a Ј1000fine. I library fine/parking free etc lf you're going
into town, will you go and pay my library fines for rne please?
fine/fain/to make someone pay money as a punishment
Iv T]
fine sb for That cop's just fined me for having no tax on my
car. I fine sb Ј5/$100 etc Every time you swear I'm going
to fine you $5. I be/get tined You will be fined for any lost
library books.
@ PAY SB FOR WORK
to pay someone for work
money that someone gets paid for their work

PAY SB FOR WORK 96? PAY SB FOR WORK
money and other things that someone gets in
addition to their ordinary pay
words for describing work for which people
get paid a lot of money
ways of saying that someone is paid a lot of
money for their work
words for describing work for which people
are paid very little money
ways of saying that someone is paid very little
money for their work
pay that is low or too low
words for describing a worker or job that is
not paid
1 to pay someone for work
pay
Pall Ipel Iv T]
pay sb $50/Ј200 etc Ipald the garage mechanic $50. I How
much do they pay you a week? ] pay sb for doing sth She
said she would pay me for washing her car and mowing the
lawn. I pay sb to do sth The CIA paid him to assassinate
Fidel Castro. ] pay sb by the day/hour/page etc Trans-
lators are usually paid by the page. I get paid (=receive
money for your work) We get paid on the 25th of each month.
paid [adj only before noun] She often worked unsocial hours
and had nopaid holidays (=holidays when someone is paid
even though they are not working). ] No he isn't one of the
President's friends. He's a paid adviser (=he is paid for
giving advice).
 money that someone gets paid for their work
pay wage
salary fee
wages remu neration
pay/pei/In U]
I left that job because the work was hard and the pay was
lousy. I The government has agreed on a new structure for
teachers'pay. [ In many areas of work women are still fight-
ing for equal pay. I The miners have agreed to take a cut in
pay. I high/low pay This company has a reputation for low
pay and bad conditions. I sick pay (=money paid when you
are sick and cannot work) They are demanding shorter
hours and more sick pay. I holiday pay (British) / vaca-
tion pay (American) (=money paid when you are on holi-
day) The trouble with being self-employed is that you don't
get any holiday pay.
salary /'selari/ money paid every month, especially
directly into a bank, especially to people who work in
offices or in professional jobs In C]
This sounds like a good job - company car, generous salary,
opportunity to travel - why don't you apply? I Two thirds
of my salary goes on my monthly rent and fuel bills. I high/
low salary For some people, job satisfaction is more impor-
tant than a high salary. I starting salary The starting
salary is $25,000, rising to $40,000 after 2 years.
wages/'wed3z/money that is paid each week, espe-
cially by handing it directly to the worker, to people who
work in factories, shops, restaurants etc In plural]
When he gets his wages he usually goes straight to the pub
for a drink. I high/low wages High wages throughout the
country can lead to inflation.
wage/wed3/the amount of money, usually calculated
hourly and paid weekly, which someone is paid for work
they do, especially work in a non-professional job In
singular]
They earn the basic wage of $11.50 per hour. I Without
qualifications it's difficult to get a job with a decent wage. I
The government would like to slow the rate of wage increases.
fee/fi:/money paid to a professional person such as a
doctor or lawyer for a piece of work In C]
Dr Allison charges a fee of $6O for a consultation. I Last year
IBMpaid $12million in legal fees to a single law firm. I The
fee for the standard structural survey is Ј175.
remuneration IrI,mju:na'reIfanl a formal word meaning
everything that is paid to someone, especially to an impor-
tant professional person for the work they do In U]
The responsibilities of corporation executives are very great,
but so is their remuneration. I The total remuneration pack-
age, including bonuses and stock options, is worth over
$200,000.
3 money and other things that someone gets in
addition to their ordinary pay
overtime tip
bonus fringe benefits
commission perk
overtime/'aovartaim/money that is paid to someone for
additional hours that they have worked In U]
Last week Alex earned $300, including ten hours of overtime. I
Teachers never get paid overtime.
bonus /'baonzs/money added to someone's pay, especially
as a reward for good work In C]
Liz earned a $I000 bonus for being the best salesperson of
the year. I The management offered a large bonus to those
workers who stayed to the end of the contract.
commission Ika'mifan! money earned by someone
whose job is to sell things, based on the value of what they
sell In U]
His basic salary is low but begets20% commission on every-
thing he sells. ] be on commission (=receive commission
every time you sell something) Most insurance agents are
on commission and some earn a lot of money.
tip/tp/a small amount of money in addition to the ordi-
nary payment, which you give to someone such as a waiter
or a taxi-driver In C]
The boy carried my suitcases up to my room and then stood
waiting for a tip. ] We finished our lunch and left a tip on
the table for the waiter.
tip Iv T] She tipped the taxi-driver (=gave the taxi-driver
a tip).
fringe benefits/,frInd5 'benflts/the extra things such
as holiday pay, free food, or free health insurance, which
a worker receives in addition to their pay In plural]
The salary isn't very high but fringe benefits include free
health insurance and a company car.
perk/pa:rk/something valuable or enjoyable that you get
from your work apart from pay, especially something you
get unofficially In C]
One of the perks of working for a fashion designer is that you
get to wear lots of nice clothes. [ It's not always fun being an
air hostess, but the perks are good. [ The professors regard
foreign travel as a perk and they go to all the international
conferences.
4 words for describing work for which people
get paid a lot of money
well-paid/highly-paid
pay well
lucrative
well.paid/highly.paid/,wel 'peid-, ,haili 'peid/[adj]
There are not enough women in well-paid, responsible jobs.
pay well /Ipei 'wel/ if work or a job pays well, the
workers are paid a lot of money for doing it Iv phrase]
Boring jobs often pay well. I Modelling usually pays very
well but the work is not very regular.
lucrative /  lu:krotlV/work or a particular type of business
that is lucrative earns a lot of money for the people who
do it [adj]
Transferred from Barcelona to Naples, Maradona signed
a highly lucrative three-year contract. I An increase in
consumer demand has made sports shoe retailing a
lucrative business.

PAY SB FOR WORK 968 PEACE/NO WAR
 ways of saying that someone is paid a lot of
money for their work
be well paid/highly paid
be overpaid
be well paid/highly paid/bi: ,wel 'peld, ,haIli-/to be
paid a lot of money for your work [v phrase]
Executives are highly paid but they have to work extremely
hard. I The best paid jobs these days are in local government.
be overpaid/hi: ,oova r 'peid/to be paid more money for
your work than you should be paid [v phrase]
In my opinion, lawyers are overpaid and underworked.
6 words for describing work for which people
are paid very little money
badly-paid/poorly-paid
not pay well
badly.paid/poorly-paid/,bmdli 'peid4, ,puarli 'pond-/
[ adj ]
Teenagers often have part-time, badly-paid jobs in super-
markets. ]Although her job is relatively poorly-paid she does
get a lot of holidays and free time.
not pay weii/nt 'pe ,well if work or a job does not pay
well, the people who do it do not receive much money, espe-
cially considering the amount of work they have to do, the
amount of knowledge they need to have etc Iv phrasel
It used to be accepted that teaching didn't pay very well but
things have changed a lot.
7 ways of saying that someone is paid very little
money for their work
be badly paid/poorly paid
be underpaid
slave labour/slave labor
be badly paid/poorly paid/hi: ,bmdli 'pond, ,poarli
'peid/to be paid very little money for your work [vphrase]
Nurses in Third World countries are often poorly paid.
be underpaid/hi: ,^ndar'peid/to be paid less money
than you should be paid for a job Iv phrase]
The shoe factory workers claim that they are overworked and
underpaid.
slave labour (British) I slave labor (American)/,slelv
'lebar/ if you say that what someone is paid is slave
labour, you mean that they are paid very little money even
though they have to work extremely hard, and this is
unfair In U]
Ј50a week? That's slave labour! l Working for them is slave
labour - they only pay five bucks an hour.
8 pay that is low or too low
low pay
a pittance
peanuts
low pay/,lao 'peI/[n U]
Low pay is one of the disadvantages of working in publish-
ing. [ These jobs are unattractive because of low pay and
inadequate training.
a pittance la 'ptans/an unfairly small amount of money
paid to someone for their work In singular]
In the 19th century, children worked long hours in factories
for a pittance. ] Compared to what some people earn, my
salary is a pittance.
peanuts /  pi:nAts/an informal word meaning an unfairly
small amount of money paid to someone for their work In
plural]
"'It "s no t fa Jr,'" she said. "'He pays me peanuts and he expects
me to work late as well. ""
9 words for describing a worker or job that is
not paid
unpaid
voluntary
unpaid/,An'peId/[adj]
unpaid worker/volunteer etc Perry stayed on with the
Agency as an unpaid adviser. I unpaid work/service/
overtime etc Employees were often required to work unpaid
overtime.
voluntary /'volantri II 'vo:lanteri/voluntary work is
done by people who want to do it, without expecting to be
paid for it [adj]
Since retiring Martha has been doing voluntary work for the
Red Cross. ] voluntary worker/helper etc Most charities
depend on the services of voluntary workers.
payment PAY FOR 14
payment: make a down payment on PAY FOR 3
payroll: be on the payroll WORK FOR SB 1
peace PEACE/NO WAR 1, PEACEFUL 2
peace: be at peace with PEACE/NO WAR 1
peace: keep the peace PEACE/NO WAR 2
peace: make peace PEACE/NO WAR 3
peace-keeping PEACE/NO WAR 2
peace-loving PEACE/NO WAR 5
PEACE/NO WAR
a situation or a period of time in which there
is no war
1 ways of saying that there is peace between
countries or in a country
2 to try to prevent or end a war between two or
more countries or enemies
3 to end a war with a country or enemy you are
fighting
4 a situation in which two or more countries or
armies agree to stop fighting each other
5 words for describing someone who supports
peace and is against war
1 ways of saying that there is peace between
countries or in a country
peace be at peace with
peacetime peaceful
peace/pi:s/[n U]
UN negotiators have drawn up a new settlement that they
hope will bring peace to the region. ] The war had lasted for
6 years and now everyone wanted peace. ] world peace A
meeting of the superpowers was held in Geneva to discuss
world peace. ] peace movement (=an organization that
works to try to prevent wars) Margaret was an active
member of the peace movement and often went on demonstra-
tions against nuclear weapons.
peacetime/'pi:stalm/a period of time when there is
peace, used when you are comparing it with a period when
there is war In U]
A country's permanent army may be quite small in peace-
time. I The food we were served was appalling by peacetime
standards.
be at peace with/bi: at 'pi:s w6/if two or more nations
are at peace with each other, they are not fighting each
other and have a friendly relationship Iv phrase]
France and Germany have been at peace with each other for
over forty years, lit is possible that we will soon be at peace
with our enemies.
peaceful I'pi:sfal! a change or process that is peaceful
happens without war or violence [adj]
It seems unlikely that there will be peaceful change in South
Africa. ] Hungary witnessed a relatively peaceful transfer of
power from the communists to the new government. I The new
government is still hoping for a peaceful resolution to the
conflict.
peacefully [adv] The two nations have existed peacefully
side by side for over a hundred years.

PEACE/NO WAR 969 PEACEFUL
2 to try to prevent or end a war between two or
more countries or enemies
keep the peace
peace-keeping
mediate between
keep the peace I ,ki:p 6a 'pi:s/to prevent a war or fight-
ing between two countries, or between two opposing
armies within a country iv phrase]
The President sent federal troops to Grenada to keep the
peace. ] keep the peace between Many people believe that
the existence of nuclear weapons has kept the peace between
the superpowers.
peace.keeping /pi:s ki:pI/ peace-keeping force/
army/authority (=intended to prevent two opposing
armies, especially within a country, from fighting) [adj
only before noun]
A United Nations peace-keeping force has been sent to pre-
vent fighting starting again. ] Panama has called for the
States to withdraw its peace-keeping army.
mediate between/=mi:dieIt bI =twi:n/to help two or
more countries or armies that have been at war to make
peace with each other by discussing the situation Iv T]
A senior diplomat has agreed to mediate between the
warring factions in Bosnia.
mediation/mi:dieIfan/ [n U] They hoped that Russia's
mediation would end the war.
mediator In C ] He received the Nobel Prize for his work as
mediator in the Palestine conflict.
3 to end a war with a country or enemy you are
fighting
make peace
lay down arms
make peace /meik pi:s/if two or more countries make
peace, they stop fighting and agree to end the war Iv
phrase]
The famine can only get worse if military chiefs fail to make
peace at next month's talks. ] make peace with The two
armies made peace with each other in 1918.
lay down arms I=le daon o:rmz/an expression used
especially in literature or history meaning to stop fighting
Iv phrase]
No sooner had they laid down their arms than the English
broke their word and attacked.
4 a situation in which two or more countries or
armies agree to stop fighting each other
ceasefire armistice
truce peace treaty
ceasefire I' si:sfaiar/an agreement between the leaders
of armies to stop fighting for a particular period of time,
especially in order to discuss making peace In C]
No ceasefire has yet been agreed between the government and
the rebels. [ News of the famine in the North came in the first
week after the ceasefire last August. [ violate the ceasefire
(=start fighting again during a ceasefire) So far no one has
violated this three-day ceasefire. [ ceasefire agreement
Both generals were happy to sign a ceasefire agreement.
truce/tru:sl an agreement to stop fighting for a short time,
especially in order to discuss making peace In C]
De Valera agreed to discussions and a truce was signed on
8 July. [ For the next few months there was an uneasy truce,
and civil war was only suspended.
armistice/'o:rmIsts/an agreement between govern-
ments to stop all fighting in a war and discuss making
peace In C]
Despite a few outbreaks of fighting, an armistice agreement
was signed in July. [ Work stopped in shops and offices as
news of the armistice spread. [ The government appealed to
President Wilson for an immediate armistice and for the
opening of peace negotiations.
peace treaty/'pi:s tri:ti/a written agreement between
countries that have been at war, that contains conditions
about how the fighting is going to end, and what the situa-
tion will be like afterwards In C]
The truce was followed later in the year by a peace treaty. ]
After 10 years of war a peace treaty was signed with Zaire. ]
draw up a peace treaty The 1919peace treaty was drawn
up at Versailles, without any German representation.
 words for describing someone who supports
peace and is against war
peace-loving
pacifist
anti-war
peace-loving I pi:s 1AVlrJ/a group of people or countries
that are peace-loving believe strongly in peace rather than
war [adj]
The Australian Aboriginals are a peace-loving race who live
simply off the land. [ In the 1960s it seemed impossible that
the United States would ever believe that the USSR was a
peace-loving nation.
pacifist / =pmsflst/someone who believes that all wars
are wrong, and refuses to join the army In C]
Even if I was ordered to join the army, I wouldn't - I'm a
pacifist. ] The historian Bergson was imprisoned as a pacifist
during the First World War.
pacifist [adj] In the 1930s there was a strongerpacifist feel-
ing in the country than ever before.
anti.war /  enti IW)Ir/strongly opposing war, especially
a war that your own country is fighting at the moment [adj
only before noun]
Anti-war feeling was very strong in the US during the Viet-
nam war. I anti-war movement (=an organization of
people who are opposed to war) Luke was an active member
of the anti-war movement and often went on marches and
demonstrations.
peaceful PEACE/NO WAR 1, PEACEFUL 1, VIOLENT 7
PEACEFUL
words for describing a place or situation
where there is no noise, violence, or excited
activity
a peaceful state or situation
1
words for describing a place or situation
where there is no noise, violence, or excited
activity
peaceful tranquil
calm restful
quiet
sleepy
still
peaceful I'pi:sfali [adj]
Langcliffe is a peaceful little village. ] The park is a cool and
peaceful haven in the midst of a bustling city. ]After a dis-
tinguished and very active career she was looking forward
to a happy and peaceful retirement.
calm /ko:m [[ ko:m, ko:hn/ without worry, hurry, or
excitement, especially after a period of noise, violence,
lively activity etc [adj]
The city centre was calm in spite of the bomb earlier. ] Univer-
sity campuses are calmer these days as students concentrate
more on getting careers than staging demonstrations. [ After
yesterday's fighting, the region is now calm again.
quiet/kwaiaq without much activity, noise, or excite-
ment [adj]
Let's have a nice quiet evening at home, watching TV. [ Earl
prefers to live a quiet life, away from the noise and tempta-
tions of the city. [ Since the last big outbreak of fighting six
days ago, the city has been strangely quiet.

PEACEFUL
970
sleepy/' sli:pi! a small town or village that is sleepy is
peaceful and relaxing, usually because there is very little
to do there and not much ever happens there [adj]
I stood at my window, which overlooked the sleepy little fish-
ing village. [ In my grandfather's time, Edgeware was on the
sleepy rural outskirts of an expanding London.
tranquil/'trmokwl/a place that is tranquil is pleasantly
quiet and makes you feel relaxed [adj]
In summer the normally calm, tranquil streets fill with
crowds of tourists. ] Efforts are being made to make life more
tranquil in Japan's noisy and overcrowded cities.
restful i'restfal/ restful day/summer/holiday/vaca-
tion ete (=quiet and relaxing, without much activity, espe-
cially after you have been busy or working hard) [adj]
I'm looking forward to a quiet, restful summer vacation. [
It's very restful, staying up here in the mountains.
still/still without wind, movement, or noise [adj]
It was a long, hot, still September afternoon. [ Everything
was very still inside the little chapel. Nothing broke the
silence.
2 a peaceful state or situation
peace
calm
tranquillity/tranquility
peace/pi:s! a peaceful situation with no unpleasant noise
or interruptions In U]
The residents complained that their peace was being dis-
turbed by the traffic. [ peace and quiet They've gone to the
countryside for some peace and quiet. [ in peace (= in a peace-
ful way, without being interrupted) Let me get on with my
work in peace.
calm/kfl:m [[ kfl:rn, kc;:lm/a situation in which there is
no loud noise, hurried activity, or worry In U]
She didn't want to leave the calm of the country for a job in
a busy city. [ Far from being depressingplaces, most hospices
provide an atmosphere of calm and restfulness.
tranquiility (British) I tranquility (American)/trO-
' kw d ti/a very pleasantly peaceful situation, especially one
in which nothing seems to change In U]
Nothing ever happens to disturb the tranquillity of this little
town, hidden in the Tuscan hills. [ He often comes here alone
to these woods to sit and enjoy the quiet and tranquillity.
peacetime PEACE/NO WAR 1
peak BUSY PLACE 3
peak: be at your peak BEST 6
peak hour: rush hour/peak hour BUSY PLACE 3
peanuts LITTLE/NOT MUCH 7, PAY SB FOR WORK 8
peck BITE 4
peck/give sb a peck KISS 1
peckish HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 1
peculiar STRANGE 1, 5
peculiar: be peculiar to ONLY 5
peculiar: feel funny/peculiar ILL 4
pedantic ARGUE 3
peddle SELL 5
pedestal: put sb on a pedestal ADMIRE 2, PERFECT 9
pedestrian WALK 18
peek/have a peek LOOK AT 5
peel off REMOVE 3
peeled: keep your eyes peeledlopen WATCH 7
peeplhave a peep LOOK AT 5
peer EQUAL :3, LOOK AT 6
peeve: pet hate/pet peeve HATE 4
pejorative DISAPPROVE 4
pelt THROW 8
pen name NAME OF A PERSON 3
penalize PUNISH 1
penalty PUNISH 4
pencil in ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 1
penetrate ENTER 4, 10
penetrating LOUD/NOISY 6
penitentiary PRISON 1
penniless POOR 1
PERFECT
penny-pinching GENEROUS 2
pension MONEY 7
pensioner/old age pensioner OLD/NOT YOUNG 7
pensive THINK ABOUT 8
penultimate LAST 3
people COUNTRY/NATION 4, PERSON/PEOPLE 2, 4
people: of all people ESPECIALLY 1
people: the BritishlRussianlSpanish etў people
PERSON/PEOPLE 3
people: the people SOCIETY 1
Ipeople[
PERSON/PEOPLE
MAN
WOMAN
CHILD
GROUP OF
PEOPLE
EVERYONE
-. LOTIA LARGE
NUMBER OR
AMOUNT
per: miles per hour/metres per second etc SPEED 1
per capita PERSON/PEOPLE 7
per person PERSON/PEOPLE 7
per usual: as per usual USUALLY 2
perceive NOTICE 1
percentage AMOUNT 1, 2, PART 2
perceptible OBVIOUS 1
perceptive NOTICE 2
perennial ALL THE TIME 1
perfect GOOD/EXCELLENT 2, IMPROVE 4, PERFECT 1,
2,3,6
perfect: be a perfect match/pair SUITABLE 2
perfect: be in perfect/mint condition
CONDITION/STATE OF STH 3
[perfect]
PERFECT
having no faults or weaknesses
1 words for describing a performance, piece of
work, type of behaviour etc that is perfect

PERFECT 971 PERFECT
10
2 words for describing something that is in
perfect condition
3 words for describing something that is exactly
what you want or need
4 ways of saying that something is done in a
perfect way
5 a standard of work, life, behaviour etc that is
perfect
6 to make something perfect
7 words for describing something that is perfect
as an idea, but is impossible in reality
8 ways of saying what you would like to
happen if anything were possible
9 to say or imagine that someone or something
is perfect when in fact they are not
not perfect
 perfect
faultless
flawless
impeccable
perfect/'p3:rfI]/[adj]
1 words for describing a performance, piece of
work, type of behaviour etc that is perfect
can't fault
unblemished
textbook/copybook
model
"'Your English is perfect, "" he said. I The pilot brought the
aircraft in for a perfect landing. I You spend all your time
trying to be the perfect wife and mother!
perfectly [adv] Sophie played the piano piece perfectly.
faultless ]' fa:ltlos! completely perfect, with no mistakes
at all [adj]
Daniel's programming is usually faultless. I faultless per-
formance She gave a faultless performance as Lady
Macbeth.
faultlessly [adv] The horse jumped gracefully and fault-
lessly over all eight fences.
flawless !'fla:los! something that is flawless is com-
pletely perfect, so that you admire it very much [adj]
He read his speech in a strong, confident voice. It was a flaw-
less performance. I As a violinist his technique was flawless,
but somehow he lacked passion.
flawlessly [adv] She had competed flawlessly all week,
despite the tremendous pressure.
Impeccable ]im'pekobal] behaviour, judgment, or argu-
ment that is impeccable is impossible to find any fault in
[adjl
Her manners are always impeccable. I As I expected, her
house was decorated with impeccable taste. I The argument
they used was based on impeccable logic.
impeccably [adv ] As a host, he was behaving impeccably.
can't fault/,ka:nt 'fa:lt [[ ,kent-/if you say you can't
fault something, you mean you can not criticize it because
it has no faults or mistakes [v phrase]
I can't fault her driving, except that it's rather fast. [ No one
could fault the way he handled the crisis.
unblemished / ,An'blemlJ't/unblemished reputation/
record/past ete (=perfect over a long period of time) [adj]
She had an unblemished reputation as a lawyer. [ In twenty
unblemished years with the company she was never once late
for work. [ He cast his mind back over his almost unblem-
ished record of service to his community.
textbook/copybook/'tekstbuk, 'kopibuk [[ 'ka:-/done
or happening exactly as something should be done or as
it should happen [adj only before noun]
textbook ease/example The house-buying market is a text-
book case of how capitalism operates. [ That advertising
campaign was a copybook example of how to sell a product.
model/'modl [[ 'mo:dl/model husband/wife/student
ete (=behaving like a perfect husband, wife, student etc)
[adj only before noun]
Karen was a model student: hardworking, bright and
enthusiastic. [ In business terms, he is the model boss.
2 words for describing something that is in
perfect condition
perfect
flawless
perfect/'p3:rfIkt/[adj]
Her hair and make-up has to be perfect before she can be
photographed. [ My mother is in perfect health, even though
she's nearly 80. [ He gave her a white, waxy, perfect rose.
flawless/'fla:los/something that is flawless does not
have the faults, marks etc that similar things often have
[adj]
The baby was plump, his skin flawless and his eyes bright
blue. [ As usual Maria Callas gave a flawless performance.
flawlessly [adv I Her fingernails were flawlessly trimmed
and polished.
3 words for describing something that is exactly
what you want or need
perfect tailor-made
ideal be just the thing/job
perfect ]'p3:rfIkt] [adj]
A dry white wine is the perfect drink to have with any fish
dish. [ The sun was shining on the slopes and the snow was
perfect. [ perfect for The blue dress would be perfect for the
wedding. [ The house was large and ramblimg -just per-
fect for a young family.
Ideal/ai'diol! most suitable or perfect for a particular
purpose [ adj ]
A green salad is the ideal accompanimentforpasta. [ It was
not an ideal arrangement - the room was too small.
tailor.made/,teilo r 'med-/so close to what you need
that it seems to have been specially designed for you [adjl
tailor-made for It's got three bedrooms, a big garden and
a garage - it's tailor-made for us![ tailor-made If you're
looking for a job that's tailor-made come to the White Star
Agency!
be Just the thing (also be Just the Job in British
English)/bi: ,dsAst 60 '0Ill, bi: ,dsAst 60 'd3ub II-'d3a:b/
an informal expression meaning to be exactly what is
needed Iv phrase]
Cold lemonade is just the thing on a hot day. [ Fred's mother
gave us an old table to put the phone on. It was just the job.
4 ways of saying that something is done in a
perfect way
perfectly
to perfection
perfectly/'p3:rflktli/[advl
The new coffee machine works perfectly. I He was perfectly
dressed in a dark suit and tie. [ They dance together perfectly.
to perfection/to por'fekfan! if something happens, or
has been done to perfection, it is perfect and you are very
pleased with it lady phrase]
The pasta was cooked to perfection. [ It seemed that their plan
was working to perfection.
5 a standard of work, life, behaviour etc that is
perfect
perfection
perfection/por'fekfan/In U]
After years of work, I think their garden has now reached
perfection. [ The technical perfection of these photographs is
outstanding. [ Don't expect perfection in your relationships.
6 to make something perfect
perfect
bring sth to perfection
perfect/por'fekt/[v T]
She has spent a long time trying to perfect her singing. I This

PERFECT
is a skill that takes about three years to perfect I A new tech-
nique of heart surgery has been perfected by doctors in
Victoria.
perfection Ipar'fekfan! In U] She put all her effort into the
perfection of her acting skills.
bring sth to perfection/,brltj (sth) ta par'fekfan! to
make something perfect over a period of time, especially
by doing the last things that are needed in order to make
it perfect Iv phrase]
Keeping the wine in a cool place for five years will bring it
to perfection. I This style of music was brought to perfection
at the end of the last century.
7 words for describing something that is perfect
as an idea, but is impossible in reality
ideal
utopian
idealized
ideal/ai'dial/[adj only before noun]
Plato dreamed of an ideal society. [ This looks like my ideal
kitchen.
ideal In C] She's spent her whole life in pursuit of an ideal,
and of course, she's been disappointed.
utopian/ju:'taopian/a utopian society is one in which
you imagine there is a perfect social or political situation,
although this is unlikely to ever really exist [adj usually
before noun[
He was a romantic, with a utopian vision of society. [ In the
1930s we all thought that communism would lead to a uto-
pian future.
idealized (also -ised British)/ai'dlalazd/an idealized
view or description of something considers it to be perfect
when really it is not [adj]
The film shows an idealized view of rural life in the
nineteenth century. I He painted idealized landscapes, rather
than showing nature as it was. I These magazines present
an inaccurate, idealized picture of marriage.
8 ways of saying what you would like to
 happen if anything were possible
ideally
in an ideal world
ideally/aI 'dlali/it', ideally, something would happen, that
is what would happen if a perfect situation existed [adv]
Ideally, we'd like to provide regular training for everyone. [
Ideally, schools would be provided with enough resources
and equipment.
in an Ideal world/in an ai dial 'wa:rld/if you say that
something would happen in an ideal world, you mean that
it would be possible if the situation were perfect, but you
know that things are not really like that [adv phrase]
In an ideal world women would be taken as seriously as
men.[ In an ideal world there would be no war.
to say or imagine that someone or something
is perfect when in fact they are not
idealize
put sb on a pedestal
can do no wrong
idealize (also -ise British)/a; 'dlalaiz/if a film, book etc
idealizes someone or something, it shows them as perfect,
without noticing their faults Iv T]
These films tend to idealize the past, presenting it as a com-
fortable, homely world. I Many surrealist poets idealized
women in their work.
put sb on a pedestal /,put (sb) on a 'pedaIstal/ to
wrongly think that someone is perfect so that you are
unable to treat them as an ordinary person Iv phrase]
She always puts her boyfriends on a pedestal, and so she
always has problems with her relationships with them.
can do no wrong/kan ,du: nao rDrJ [[ -'ra:rj/if you say
or think that someone can do no wrong, you think they
972
PERFORM
are perfect, even though they really do have faults [v
phrase]
As far as my mother is concerned, my sister can do no wrong.[
He was lucky enough to become one of those poets who could
do no wrong in the eyes of the critics.
10 not perfect
imperfect
flawed
imperfect IIm'p3:rflkt/[adj]
She had a lovely smile, with small though imperfect teeth. [
Imperfect goods are sold off cheaply. [ Our political system
has always been imperfect.
flawed/fb:d/something such as a plan, idea, or system
that is flawed, has a fault which prevents it from working
as well as it should do [adjl
The problem with the British political system is that the basic
structure of government is flawed. [flawed logic[ The results
are based on flawed interpretations of the data. [ deeply
flawed (=seriously flawed) I'm sorry, but your whole
analysis of the issue is deeply flawed.
perfection PERFECT 5
perfection: bring sth to perfection PERFECT 6
perfection: to perfection PERFECT 4
perfectly PERFECT 4
perforated HOLE 7
perform DO 1, PERFORM 1
PERFORM
to perform in a show, concert, play etc
to perform without practising at all
how well or badly someone performs
someone who performs in a show, concert
etc
ways of saying that a company or group of
people arrange and perform a show, concert,
play etc
one occasion on which a play, piece of music
etc is performed
a piece of entertainment that is performed in
public
the business of entertaining people with
shows, plays, films etc
I to perform in a show, concert, play etc
perform
appear
perform/pa r 'fa:rm/to perform in a play or show [v I/T[
perform sth A group of actors performed a series of
medieval plays. [ His award-winning play about AIDS was
performed by Mark Crowshaw. [perform The pianist per-
formed brilliantly in last night's concert at the Royal Fes-
tival Hall. [ Before every play, she worries herself sick about
how well she will perform.
appear/a'pmr/to be one of the actors, singers, dancers
etc that can be seen performing in a film, play, or show Iv I]
appear in a concert/play etc Pavarotti will be appearing
in a number of concerts over the summer. [ The American
actors" union threatened to prevent her from appearing in
the New York version of the show. [ appear as King Lear/
Cinderella etc Hopkins will be appearing as Willie Lomax
in next week's production.
2 to perform without practising at all
improvise
ad-lib

PERFORM 9?3 PERIOD OF TIME
improvise / I improvaiz/to play music, give a speech, act
on stage etc without having planned or practised what you
are going to do Iv I/T]
Modern jazz players like to take a theme and improvise
around it. [ improvise sth It was difficult to believe that the
whole sketch was improvised.
improvisation/lImpmvaIzeff dn II impro:va-/In C/U] His
new album is full of improvisations. I Rapping relies heavily
on improvisation.
adolib ! ad lib! to say or sing something as part of a public
performance or speech without having planned or prac-
tised it Iv I/Tl
ad-lib sth The other actors were thrown into confusion when
she started ad-libbing her final speech. I ad-lib No one could
remember the song very well, so we had to ad-lib.
3 how well or badly someone performs
performance
performance/par'fa:rmans/[n C]
His performance on the first night of the play was spoilt by
nerves. I She's best remembered for her brilliant performance
in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'.
4 someone who performs in a show, concert
etc
performer
artist
performer /prfa:rmOr/ someone who performs in a
show, concert etc In C]
As a jazz performer she is astounding, capable of express-
ing a broad range of feeling and expression. I Enrico is
impressive both as a performer and a choreographer.
artist /'o:rtst/ a professional performer, especially in
music, dance, or the theatre In C]
Many of the artists in the show donated their fees to charity.
5 ways of saying that a company or group of
people arrange and perform a show, concert,
play etc
put on do
stage present
put on/,put 'n II -'ran/[phr v T]
put on sth The students are putting on an end of term con-
cert. [ A special show is being put on to raise money for
famine victims in Africa.
stage/steid31 stage a play/production/show/concert
etc (:arrange and perform a play or show, especially one
that needs a lot of planning and organization and costs a
lot of money) Iv T]
It cost thousands of pounds to stage the concert, including
performers'fees and the hire of equipment. [ They staged a
magnificent production of "Aida" in the amphitheatre.
do/du:/an informal word meaning to arrange and perform
a play, show or concert [v T]
We're doing 'The Merchant of Venice" at the local theater for
two weeks. [ I've done dozens of shows in the north of
England, and the audiences were great!
present/pri zent/if an organization such as a theatre
presents a concert, play etc it provides the money and
arranges for it to be performed [v T]
The National Theatre is presenting 'King Lear" later this
month. [ Prowse Inc in association with Coca-Cola proudly
presents Michael Jackson in concert.
6 one occasion on which a play, piece of music
etc is performed
performance
performance/por'f:rmons/[n C]
performance of The first performance of the opera 'Tosca"
was on September 7th. I performance The evening perfor-
mance will begin at 8:00 pro.
7 a piece of entertainment that is performed in
public
show
production
act
show I.[ou/a piece of entertainment, usually with music,
songs and dancing In C]
We went to see a show on Broadway when we were in New
York. [ It's a terrific show - lovely songs, beautiful costumes,
it's got everything.
production /pradAkdn/ a play, film, television
programme etc which has been prepared to be performed
to the public In C]
production of He will star in the Los Angeles production
of'Phantom of the Opera' this year. [ The Borovansky Ballet
put on a production of Giselle in Sydney. [ production The
play will be recorded as a new production especially made
for television.
act/aktl a short performance as part of a show which has
several different performances in it [n C]
I do a comedy act at the theatre every night. [ She earns her
living doing juggling acts at children's parties. ] Your act
was great! I particularly enjoyed the sketch in the drug store!
 the business of entertaining people with
shows, plays, films etc
entertainment
showbiz
entertainment/,ent0 r teInmont/[n U]
Las Vegas is one of the biggest entertainment centers in the
US. [ She'd like to work in the entertainment business.
showbiz/lubiz/an informal word meaning the busi-
ness of entertaining people [n U]
Do you really want a careeer in showbiz? You have to work
very hard, you know. [ Several people from the world of show-
biz will be at the wedding.
iii: performance PERFORM 3, 6
!i performer PERFORM 4
ii!! perfume: scent/perfume/fragrance SMELL 2
{ perfumed SMELL4
 perhaps: maybe/perhaps MAYBE 1, 2, 3
# peril DANGEROUS 8
 peril: at your peril DANGEROUS 6
}i[ peril: be in peril DANGEROUS 4
;. perilous DANGEROUS 3
 perimeter EDGE 1
 period CLASS/LESSON 1, PERIOD OF TIME 1, 2
...... period: for a period PERIOD OF TIME 4
PERIOD OF TIME
a period of time
a period of time in history
a specific period of time during which
someone has a particular job or duty or is in
prison
for a period of time, especially when the
length of time is not stated
1 a period of time
period spell
time stretch
period of time season
space a bad patch
period / 'piariod/a particular length of time with a begin-
ning and an end In C]

PERIOD OF TIME 97 PERIOD OF TIME
People who work for long periods at a computer screen must
ensure they have regular breaks. I Iron and steel more than
tripled in value in the period 1910-1917. I holiday/Christ-
mas etc period The store makes most of its profit during
the holiday period. I three-year/two-month etc period
After a three-year period in North America, Jake and Violet
returned to England. I period of two months/four days
etc a course of pills to be taken over a period of two weeks
time/taim! a period of time, especially in the past, that you
remember or think about In singular]
My father was sent away to prison. That was a difficult time
for the whole family. I I really enjoyed my time in the army. I
I've learnt a lot during the short time I've been here.
period of time/piariod ov 'taim/an expression mean-
ing a certain length of time, used especially when you do
not say exactly how long that time is In phrasel
The money must be repaid within a reasonable period of
time. I Some children find it very difficult to concentrate for
long periods of time. I Over a period of time, changes in the
radiation level will occur.
space/speis/a specific period of time during which you
do something or something happens In singular]
Make sure that every day you have at least a short space in
which you relax and do just what you like. I in/within the
space of Within the space of twenty years there has been
great progress in the treatment of kidney disease.
spell/spell a period of time, usually a short period, during
which someone does a particular job or activity, or during
which there is a particular kind of situation, condition, or
weather In CI
After a spell in the advertising business, Jim worked for a
large insurance firm. [ In the middle of September there was
a warm spell. I The town is enjoying its first spell of pros-
perity for a long time.
stretch/stretf/a continuous period of time, especially one
during which you sleep, wait, or are not active In C]
Sometimes between battles there were long stretches of time
when nothing happened. I The baby has been ill and crying
constantly, making it impossible for us to get a solid stretch
of sleep.
season/'si:zan/a period of several weeks or months,
which happens at the same time every year, during which
a particular activity takes place In C]
Archibald was a talented player who made his league debut
at the end of the 1978-9 season. I breeding/mating/hunt-
ing/fishing etc season. Every breeding season, the female
turtle swims from the open ocean to coastal waters. I When
does the baseball season start?
a bad patch/o 'bed ,petf/a British expression mean-
ing a short period of trouble, difficulty, or unhappiness,
experienced by someone who is usually happy, successful
etc In phrase]
go through a bad patch (=experience a period of trouble
etc) He went through a bad patch after his wife died, but now
he seems to be back to normal. I hit a bad patch (=start to
experience a period of trouble etc) The team aren't doing
so well at the moment are they? They seem to have hit a bad
patch.
2 a period of time in history
period
age
period/'pidriod! a particular period of time in history,
especially a period that is studied as a historical subject
[nCl
Which period are you studying in history at the moment? I
the Roman/Tudor etc period Many of Britain's roads
were built originally in the Roman period. I The rocks were
formed during the Jurassic period.
era/dro! a period of time in history that is remembered
because of important political, religious, or artistic events
and achievements, that make it different from other
periods In C ]
When Charles De Gaulle died, it seemed like the end of an
era. I The treaty marks the dawn of a new era in East-West
relations. I the Roman/Christian/Stalin/McCarthy etc
era archaeological remains dating from the late Roman era I
During the McCarthy era hundreds of innocent US citizens
were persecuted for their beliefs.
age/c[ds/a period of time in history that represents a par-
ticular stage in the development of civilization or machines
and tools In C]
Newton lived in an age of exploration and discovery. I Stone
Age/Nuclear Age etc These simple tools were used for
hunting in the Stone Age. I golden age (=the period consi-
dered to be the best, the most successful etc) the golden age
of Hollywood movies
 a specific period of time during which
someone has a particular job or duty or is in
prison
term stint
stretch sentence
term/t3:rm/a length of time that is officially fixed for
someone's period of responsibility or power, for someone's
period in prison, or for a business contract In C]
Mr Toplak had just started his term as vice-president of the
company. I The Socialists are hoping to secure another term
in government. I term of imprisonment/prison term
Political dissidents are sentenced to long terms of imprison-
ment. I The bank says that they can extend the term of our
mortgage. I term of office (=term for holding an official
position) General Herrera was elected to his third term of
office as President.
strelch/stret! a period of time that someone spends in
prison In C I
There's no evidence that a stretch in jail does young offenders
any good.
slinl/sunt/a specific period of work, duty, or training In
C]
I enjoyed my two-year stint at West Point. I Dimascio was
promoted after serving a stint of five years as a sergeant
pilot.I do a stint We should thank Mary for the long stint
she's done as party treasurer.
sentence / ' sentons/a period of time that someone has to
spend in prison as a result of a judge's decision [n C]
She was given a five year prison sentence. I life sentence
(=a sentence to spend the rest of your life in prison) lt's not
worth risking a life sentence for a few jewels. I serve a sen-
tence He is in jail serving a ten-year sentence for robbery
with violence.
4 for a period of time, especially when the
length of time is not stated
a while/for a while during this time
for a time for some time
for a period
a while/for a while/o 'wail, for o 'wail/for a period of
time that is usually not very long [adv phrase]
I'm afrald you'll have to wait a while. We're very busy. I They
decided to postpone the decision for a while. 1 l"d like to talk
to you if you can stay on for a while.
for a time/for o 'ta:m/for a period of time, especially until
something happens [adv phrase]
For a time all went well and then one day the trouble started. I
For a time he was Principal of Yorktown College. I Once the
glue has dried, leave it for a time to fully harden.
for a period/for o p:driod/for a specific length of time
[ adv phrase]
for a period of two weeks/ten years ere She had been
unemployed for a period of six months. I for a two-week/
ten-year etc period The school will close for a six-week
period in the summer.
during this time/,djodrIrj is 'ta;m II ,dud-/[advphrase]
We'll be spending two hours in Newport. During this time
you can go shopping, sightsee, whatever you like. I It was

PERIOD OF TIME 9?5 PERSON/PEOPLE
during this time that Godfrey developed his skills as a
manager.
for some time/fa r s^m Itatm/for a period of time, espe-
cially a period that seems long [adv phrase]
We've now been studying this problem for some time. I I have
not been back to Cleveland for some time.
periodic SOMETIMES 2
peripheral UNIMPORTANT 3
perish DECAY 1, DIE 2
perjury LIE/TELL A LIE 1
perk PAY SB FOR WORK 3
perk up HAPPY 9
permanent ALWAYS/FOREVER 3
permanently ALL THE TIME 1, ALWAYS/FOREVER 1
permeate ENTER 10, SPREAD 2
permissible LET/ALLOW 12
permission LET/ALLOW 9
permission: ask sb's permission LET/ALLOW 2
permission: give permission LET/ALLOW 8
permissive STRICT 10
permit LET/ALLOW 8, 10, POSSIBLE 3
perpendicular VERTICAL 1
perpetual CONTINUOUS 4
perpetuate CONTINUE/NOT STOP 5
perplex SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 2
perplexed CONFUSED 2
persecute CRUEL 6
persecution CRUEL 5
perseverance DETERMINED 6
persevere CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
persist CONTINUE/NOT STOP 2, 4
persistent CONTINUOUS 4
person PERSON/PEOPLE 1
person: in person PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 1, 2
Iperson
1 a person
person character
human being/human someone/somebody
individual
person / I p3: r san/[n C ]
I think she's a really niceperson. I I keep phoning the school
but the person I need to speak to isn't there. I Your handwrit-
ing can reveal a lot about the kind of person you are. I I don't
care if you were desperate, it's still wrong to steal another
person's property.
human being/human /,hju:mn 'bi:irj, 'hju:mnl a
person, especially when you are comparing people with
other forms of life, or with machines [n C]
Chimpanzees are closely related to human beings. I Many
jobs that were once done by humans are now performed by
computers.
individual/, Ind 'vIdsual* / a person, especially when you
are talking about a person who is responsible for their own
actions, rather than as part of a group In C]
It is the responsibility of each individual within the class to
make sure they have the correct books. I The decision to have
an abortion should be up to the individual involved.
character / kmrktr/a person who seems rather strange
or dishonest In C]
A couple of suspicious-looking characters were standing out-
side the house.
someone/somebody /SAmWAn, sAmbodi, -bdi II
-'bo:di, -badi/a word meaning a person, used when you do
not say, or do not know, exactly who they are, or what their
name is [pron]
Someone phoned you but I didn't get their name. I He was
never popular and people say he once killed somebody. I As
someone once said, all's fair in love and war. I someone
else/somebody else I don't want to clean the kitchen -get
someone else to do it.
2 people
people
folks
people/'pi:pl! [n plural]
There were fifty people in the queue. I The streets were sud-
denly full of people, all moving in the same direction. I The
people who carried out the attack should be put in jail for life.
folks/faoks/an informal word meaning people, especially
people you know and like In plural]
Do you folks mind if I come along with you? I I kept the pic-
ture to show the folks back home.
PERSON/PEOPLE
a person
people
all the people who live in a particular city,
country etc
people in general
a person in a story
typical of or done by humans, especially
when compared with machines or with other
forms of life
ways of saying that something costs a certain
amount for each person, a country produces
a certain amount for each person etc
no person or people
 all the people who live in a particular city,
country etc
population
the French/the Germans/the Chinese etc
the British/Russian/Spanish etc people
population/,ptpj°'leQ'an II ,pa:-I In C with singular or
plural verb in British English]
London contains almost a quarter of the population of the
United Kingdom. I In 1966Lima had a population of two mil-
lion. I The health of the population as a whole is better than
it was 30 years ago. [ black/male/Catholic etc popula-
tion 30% of the male population suffer from heart disease. [
indigenous population (=the group of people who live in
a country before any other groups go to live there) The
Europeans conquered the Americas, wiping out most of the
indigenous population.
the French/the Germans/the Chinese etc/6
French etc)/an expression meaning all the people who live
in France, Germany etc, used especially when describing
them in a general way or as a political force In plural]
The French are famous for their love of good food. I The
Chinese are trying to industrialize without changing the
essential nature of their society.

PERSON/PEOPLE 9?6 PERSONALLYIYOURSELF
the BrltishlRusslanlSpanish etc people
(British ctc) Ipi:pal/an expression meaning all the people
who live in Britain, Russia etc, used when describing
events, facts, or beliefs that affect them all In plural]
The Russian people suffered greatly during the last war.
It was clear that the American people wanted a change of
government.
4 people in general
people man
the human race humanity
mankind/humankind
people/Ipi:pal/people in general In plural]
People around here are getting fed up with rich foreigners
buying up all the best land. I In the last few years, people have
become very interested in the environment. I Students claim
that the loan scheme will deter people from entering higher
education.
the human race/6 ,hju:mn 'reis/all human beings
considered together as one single group In phrase]
Continued developments in nuclear warfare could seriously
affect the future of the human race. I Women make up half
the human race, but only own 10% of the wealth. I Skin
colour is irrelevant - we're all members of the human race.
mankind/humankind /menkaInd, hju:mnkaInd/
human beings in general, used especially when talking
about their history and development, or how something
affects their continued existence [n U]
The Americans exploded the first nuclear weapon in the his-
tory of mankind. I Travelling into space was a great advance
for mankind. I In the interests of humankind we must stop
destroying our planet.
man/men! a word meaning people in general that some-
people do not use because it can seem offensive to women,
especially when you are comparing humans with other
living things In U]
The beauty of the mountains is a constant reminder of man's
insignificance. I Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited
city known to man. I The Dutch reclamation of their land is
a classic case of man's struggle against nature.
humanity ]hju:menti] people in general, especially
when you are talking about people's rights to be treated like
all other humans and not suffer cruelty, hunger etc In U]
30% of humanity live in conditions of terrible poverty. I At
Nuremberg the Nazis were accused of committing crimes
against humanity.
S a person in a story
character
hero
heroine
character/'kerIktr/a person in a story in a book, film,
or play In C]
It was a wonderful story - the characters were so convinc-
ing.[ The interesting thing about the play is the conflict
between the two main characters.
hero/'hamo/the man or boy who is the main character
in a book, play, film etc, who people admire because they
are good, strong, brave, honest etc [n C]
Indiana Jones is the hero of the film.
heroine/IhemtjIn/the woman or girl who is the main
character in a book, play, film etc, who people admire
because they are good, strong, brave, honest etc In C]
Jane is the book's tragic heroine.
6 typical of or done by humans, especially
when compared with machines or with other
forms of life
human
human/'hju:mn/[adj only before noun]
The producers admitted that the contamination of their
mineral water was due to human error. I Most forms of
bacteria cannot be seen with the human eye. [ Computers can
use and enhance human skill and ingenuity.
7 ways of saying that something costs a certain
amount for each person, a country produces
a certain amount for each person etc
per person
a head
per capita
per person/p;r =pu:rsan/ $500/2 pieces/4 apples etc
per person (=$500/2 pieces/4 apples etc for each person)
[ adv phrase]
Cut the pie so that there are 2pieces per person. [ The annual
income per person in some countries is less than $250.
a head / 'hed/ $5/Ј20 etc a head (=$5/Ј20 for each
person, used when saying how much something such as
a meal costs) [adv phrase]
Our Christmas dinner worked out at Ј12 a head.
per capita/pr 'kmpt/a word used especially in busi-
ness, politics, or economics: if something costs a particu-
lar amount, or someone uses a particular amount etc per
capita, that is how much each person pays, uses etc [adv/
adj]
Among the largest consumers of energy per capita is the
United States. I The average per capita income has decreased
over the past five years. I In Europe the per capita supply of
trained medical staff has increased dramatically.
8 no person or people
no one/nobody
not a soul
no one/nobody/'n0o WAn, 'noobodi/[pron]
I rang the bell, but there was nobody at home. [ He explained
what had happened, but no one would believe him. [ Nobody
has the right to interfere in my personal affairs.
not a soul/,not  'sol/an expression meaning no one,
used when it is unusual or surprising that there is no one
somewhere In phrase]
It was strange. There wasn't a soul in the street. [ Steve looked
in every room, but there was no sound and not a soul to be
seen.
: personal OWN 7, PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 3,
 PRIVATE/PERSONAL 1, 2, 3
personality CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 1, 2, FAMOUS
personally PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 1, 2, THINK/HAVE
 THE OPINION THAT 2
 personally: take sth personally OFFEND 2
PERSONALLY/
YOURSELF
ways of saying that you do something
yourself rather than through someone else
1 ways of saying that you do something
yourself, rather than asking someone else to
do it for you
2 ways of saying that you meet or talk to
someone personally
3 words for describing something that you do
or learn or experience yourself
4 words for describing something that you do
not do or learn or experience yourself, but
through someone else
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 9?? PERSUADE
1 ways of saying that you do something
yourself, rather than asking someone else to
do it for you
personally in person
yourself/herself/myself etc by hand
personally / 'p3: r snli/[adv ]
Our managing director will personally check that the work
has been done to the highest standard. I The archbishop
visited the Middle East personally to try to secure the release
of the hostages. I After the disaster the President sent a per-
sonally signed letter of sympathy to the bereaved.
yourself/herself/myself etc [pron]
If you want a job done right, do it yourself. I Encourage your
child to cut out the shapes herself. I "'Did Sven make this?"
"'No, I made it myself. '" I Instead of your boss talking to the
director, why don't you speak to him yourselff
in person/n Ip3:rsn/if you do something in person,
you do it by going somewhere yourself, rather than
telephoning, sending a message, or asking someone else to
do it [adv phrase]
My letters were all returned to me, so I decided to go round
to her house in person. I These days you don't have to do your
shopping in person; you can get almost anything by mail
order.
by hand/ba Ihmnd/if you deliver a letter, parcel etc by
hand, you deliver it yourself instead of posting it [adv
phrase]
I wantyou to deliver the letter by hand and ifhe's not there,
bring it back with you.
2 ways of saying that you meet or talk to
someone personally
personally face to face
in person in the flesh
personally /pa:rsnlil [adv]
We thought we'd pay you a visit, as we would like to thank
you personally for all your help. I The author of the book had
not personally met with the publishers before its publication.
in person/in pa:rsan/if you meet or talk to someone in
person, you meet or talk to them directly, not by letter or
through another person who speaks for them [advphrase]
I'm fed up with this. I want to see the manager in person right
now. I I've often heard stories about him, but I've never met
him in person. I She wanted me to give you this message in
person.
face to face /feis ta fe:s/if you meet or talk to some-
one face to face, you are in the same place as them and
looking directly at them lady phrase]
The senator cannot meet every voter face to face, but he is cer-
tainly doing his best. [ come face to face with (=meet per-
sonally, especially when you do not want to) Victims who
go to court dread coming face to face with their attacker
again.[ When I stuck my head out of my tent, I found myself
face to face with a cow.
face-to-face [adj only before noun] In a face-toface confron-
tation angry demonstrators threw bricks and bottles at the
police.
in the flesh/in 6a IfleS/an informal expression: if you
meet or see someone, usually a well-known person, in the
flesh, you are in the same place as them and not seeing
them on television or in a film [adv phrase]
I saw the actress outside the TV studios. She looks much
younger in the flesh. I O.J. Simpson's my favourite player.
Meeting him in the flesh was a real thrill.
words for describing something that you do
or learn or experience yourself
personal
direct
first-hand
personal/'pa:rsanal/[adj only before noun]
The novel is based on the author's own personal experience. I
The President made a personal appeal to the terrorists. I Our
bank manager assured us she would give the matter her
personal attention. I I intend to take personal responsibility
for seeing that the proofs reach you in time.
direct/d rekt, daI-/done or learned yourself, without
help from anyone else, or information from anywhere else
[adj only before noun ]
We have had no direct contact with any government offi-
cials. [ From 1914 to 1918 the British people had their first
direct experience of war from the air. [ The company is not
planning to make a direct approach to potential customers
abroad, but will operate through the Chamber of Commerce.
directly [adv] She's not directly involved in the selling side
of the operation.
direct [ adv ] I had to contact the suppliers direct (=directly).
first-hand /fa:rst hmnd-/ first-hand information/
experience/account etc (=that is the result of actually
seeing something or experiencing something, rather than
the result of reading about it or hearing about it) [adj only
before noun]
Our new chef worked in Paris for many years, so he has first-
hand knowledge of French cooking. I Clara knew from first-
hand experience that living in a foreign country would be
difficult. [ This letter remains the only first-hand account of
life on the island in the 17th century.
at first hand [adv phrasel Work placements are an oppor-
tunity for students to learn at first hand about the world of
business.
4 words for describing something that you do
not do or learn or experience yourself, but
through someone else
indirect
second-hand
vicarious
indirect/,nd rekt-/[adj]
Since he left his wife Rick has only had indirect contact with
his children. She won't let him see them. [ The changes will
have only an indirect effect on us, by making our customers
less willing to use the service we provide.
indirectly [ adv ] I'm afraid I was indirectly responsible for
her losing her job.
second-hand /seknd heend*/if you hear about some-
thing second-hand, you hear about it from another person
or by reading about it, for example in a newspaper [adv]
I was abroad at the time, so Igot the news second-hand. [ We
only learnt about their divorce second-hand from some
mutual friends.
vicarious/VI 'kearios [[ vai-/vicarious pleasure/satis-
faction/excitement etc (=experienced by watching or
reading about someone else doing something, rather than
by doing it yourself) [adj only before noun]
Mothers often get some vicarious pleasure from their
children's success. I Many people enjoyed the vicarious thrill
of military victory.
personify TYPICAL 3
personnel WORKER 2
perspective OPINION 5
, perspiration SWEAT 2
.... perspire SWEAT 1
persuade PERSUADE 1, 6
persuade sb not to do sth PERSUADE 12
@ PERSUADE
to make someone decide to do something,
especially by telling them reasons why you
think they should do it
1 to persuade someone to do something
continued

PERSUADE 9?8 PERSUADE
PERSUADE
continued
10
11
12
13
2 to gently persuade someone to do something
by being kind to them, saying nice things to
them, making jokes etc
3 to try hard to persuade someone by arguing
with them, threatening them, or asking them
repeatedly
4 to persuade someone to support your ideas
or opinions
5 to persuade someone to change their religion
or become a member of a particular religion
6 to persuade someone that something is true
7 to persuade someone to do something or
make them want to do it, by making it seem
enjoyable, exciting etc
8 good at persuading people
9 words for describing a reason, statement etc
that persuades someone
too easily persuaded by other people
something that is offered or given in order to
persuade someone to do something
to persuade someone not to do something
something that persuades someone not to do
something
1 to persuade someone to do something
persuade put sb up to
persuasion egg sb on
get sb to do sth swing it
encourage pull strings
talk sb into
persuade/pr'swc;d/[v T]
persuade sb to do sth I persuaded Sally to go with me to
the concert. I Can he be persuaded to reconsider his decision? l
persuade sb Dean refused to join in the game, even though
they all did their best to persuade him. I be persuaded into
doing sth Don't let yourself be persuaded into buying things
that you don't really want.
persuasion/pr'swe3an! the act of persuading someone
to do something [n U]
She'll need a lot of persuasion before she'll agree to sell the
house. I powers of persuasion (=skills used for persuad-
ing) I managed to get him to lend me the money, but I had
to use all my powers of persuasion.
get sb to do sth/,get (sb) t du: (sth)l an informal
expression meaning to persuade someone to do something
that you want them to do, especially when this is not easy
[ v phrase]
My parents are always trying to get me to have my hair cut. [
In the end I got them to agree to my plan.
encourage/in'kArd5 [[ In'ka:r-/to try to persuade some-
one to do something by telling them that they should do it
because it is good for them ]v T]
encourage sb to do sth If you can encourage him to take
more exercise he will recover more quickly. I Parents are
being encouraged to take more responsibility for their chil-
dren's education. I encourage sb She probably won't want
to eat anything but try to encourage her a little.
talk sb into/,ta:k (sb) ' intu:/to persuade someone to do
something they do not want to do, by explaining to them
all the reasons why you think they should do it [phr v T]
talk sb into doing sth l"d talked her into coming by saying
there'd be free food and drink. [ talk sb into it He's trying
to get people to invest in his business but don't let him talk
you into it.
put sb up to/,pot (sb) 'Ap tu:/to suggest to someone that
they should do something that is wrong or stupid, espe-
cially when they would not have thought of doing this
unless you suggested it [phr v T]
Danny would never have thought of taking the money on his
own - one of his friends must have put him up to it. I Tell
me who put you up to this. It must have been someone's idea
if it wasn't yours.
egg sb on/,eg (sb) 'Dn 11 -o:nl to keep telling someone to
do something and encouraging them to do it, although it
is something they should not do [phr v T]
He was a big guy and I didn "t really want to fight him, but
the others kept egging me on. I Danny said he had only stolen
the car because his friends had egged him on. I Eventually,
egged on by her brother, she picked up a rock and hurled it
through the window.
swing It / ' swat] it/an informal expression meaning to suc-
ceed in arranging something by persuading someone to
allow it, often in a slightly dishonest way [v phrase]
swing it with I'll see if I can swing it with my boss to give
me a day off. I swing it for Why don't you speak to my
brother? He works in the visa department and he might be
able to swing it for you.
pull strings !,pol 'strrz/to use secret influence to per-
suade someone to arrange something for you [v phrase]
You can't usually pull strings to get your son a good job in
the army nowadays. I Otis pulled a few strings and the next
day I heard that my attorney had changed his mind about
defending me.
2 to gently persuade someone to do something
by being kind to them, saying nice things to
them, making jokes etc
get round/get around cajole
coax sweet-talk
get round (British) I get around (American) /,get
(a)raond/[v T not in progressive or passive]
I managed to get round him by saying he could borrow my
car anytime he wanted. [ She always holds my hand when
she's trying to get around me.
coax Ikaoks! to persuade someone to do something that
they do not want to do by talking to them gently for a long
time until they agree to do it [v I]
"Oh come on, Vic, "" she coaxed, "We need you, don't let us
down." [ coax sb into doing sth The children had to be
coaxed into coming with us. I coax sb out of/down etc She
hated the first day of school so much we had to coax her back
there the following day. I coax sb I urged him, coaxed him
and finally begged him to tell me the truth.
cajole/ka'dsaol/to persuade someone to do something
that they do not want to do by being nice to them, praising
them etc until they agree to do it [v I/TI
cajole sb into doing sth I cajoled my brother into taking
me to the game with him. I Ted dicln't want to go to the dance,
but he got cajoled into it by his girlfriend. I cajole Although
she cajoled and pleaded, she couldn't get Benjy to stop crying.
sweet-talk / 'swi:t t:k/an informal word meaning to say
nice things to someone, especially things that are not true,
in order to persuade them to do something for you [v T]
sweet-talk sb into doing sth She sweet-talked him into
lending her the money.
3 to try hard to persuade someone by arguing
with them, threatening them, or asking them
repeatedly
put pressure on press
lean on twist sb's arm
put pressure on/put 'prej'ar tn/to keep trying to per-
suade someone to do something by using threats or unfair
influence [v phrase]
put pressure on sb to do sth It was her parents who put
pressure on her and her boyfriend to get married. [ The
government is puttingpressure on the banks to reduce their
interest rates. [ put pressure on sb Threats of dismissal
were intended to put pressure on the strikers.
lean on/'li:n on 11 -o:n/ to use threats or influence to
persuade someone to do something [v T]

PERSUADE 9?9 PERSUADE
lean on sb to do sth The loan company has been leaning
on me quite heavily to pay them back the money I owe them. I
lean on sb If they don't start to co-operate pretty damn quick,
you'll have to lean on them.
press/pros/to try hard to persuade someone to do some-
thing by repeatedly asking them to do it [v T]
press sb to do sth I wanted to go home but they all pressed
me to stay. I The senator was pressed repeatedly to explain
what he had done with the money. I press sb about (=press
someone to talk about something) Some of the protesters
pressed the spokesperson about the company's new policies.
twist sb's arm/Itwist (sb's) la:rm/an informal expres-
sion, often used humorously, meaning to persuade some-
one, especially a friend, to do something, especially some-
thing that they will in fact enjoy Iv phrase]
I'm sure he would never have come if l hadn "t twisted his arm
a little. I "'Go on, have another drink." "'Oh well, if you twist
my arm ....
4 to persuade someone to support your ideas
or opinions
win over/around talk sb round
bring sb round convert
win over/around /win ov r, raond/ to persuade
someone to support your ideas or opinions, by making
them believe that you are right, or by being nice to them
[phr v T]
win sb over/around Paul tried to win her over by buying
her lots of expensive presents. I win over sb The President
has succeeded in winning over his critics. I win sb over/
around to First of all we had to win them around to our
plan.
bring sb round (British) I around (American)/,brr (sb)
()' raond/to persuade someone to change their opinion so
that they agree with you, especially by spending a long time
talking to them and giving them reasons why you are right
[phr v T]
At first my parents didn't like the idea but I think I've
managed to bring them round. [ bring sb round/around
to sth In the end I brought him around to my point of view.
talk sb round (British) I around (American) I,ta:k (sb)
(2)  raond/to discuss something with someone and persuade
them to change their opinion so that they agree with you
or agree to do what you want them to do [phr v T]
I'll have to talk my mother round, but I'm sure she'll say yes.
convert/kn v3:rt/to change someone's opinion about
something, so that they begin to like it or think it is useful
Iv T]
convert sb I used not to like Indian food, but Cathy's con-
verted me. I convert sb to By the end of the conference most
of the teachers had been converted to the idea of using com-
puters in the classroom.
5 to persuade someone to change their religion
or become a member of a particular religion
convert
convert/knv3:rt/[v T]
convert sb The missionaries built a church and converted
many of the local people. I convert sb to Spanish settlers
converted thousands of people to Christianity.
conversion/kzn Iv3:rSan II -san/In C/U] After his own con-
version (=after he was converted) the king ordered that
Islam should become the national religion.
6 to persuade someone that something is true
persuade
convince
satisfy
persuade/pr,sweid/[v T]
persuade sb (that) It will be difficult for the government
to persuade people that nuclear power stations are safe. [
Diana had almost persuaded herself she didn't love him. [
He eventually managed to persuade me that the documents
were genuine. [ persuade sb of It took us a long time to
persuade them of the truth of our story.
convince/kn'vins/to make someone completely sure
that something is true, especially when they doubted it
before Iv T]
convince sb (that) I managed to convince my parents I
needed the money. [ The Socialist party has failed to convince
the majority of voters that it is capable of governing the coun-
try. [ convince sb of In the end she convinced the jury of her
innocence. [ convince sb A lot of people say that salt is bad
for you, but I've yet to be convinced.
satis|y/'seQsfai/to give enough facts, information etc
to make someone believe that something is true, especially
someone in a position of authority Iv T]
satisfy sb (that) Applicants will have to satisfy the commit-
tee they are suitable for the job. I satisfy sb It was an expla-
nation that failed to satisfy the experts. I be satisfied with/
that (=accept something as true) The police said that they
were satisfied with his story and they let him go free.
7 to persuade someone to do something or
make them want to do it, by making it seem
enjoyable, exciting etc
tempt
lure
entice
tempt/tempt/Iv T]
tempt sb into doing sth She may try to tempt us into stay-
ing for dinner. I Don't let yourself be tempted into betting
money on horses. [ tempt sb to do sth The club is giving
away free T-shirts in order to tempt people to join. I tempt
sb Travel companies often try to tempt people with special
offers.
lure/lea r, ljo; r 1[ lear/to persuade someone to go some-
where or to do something, especially something which they
should not do, or which will be harmful to them Iv TI
lure sb into/to/away ere The terrorists lured him into the
building and shot him. I Young teenagers are being lured
away from their homes by drug dealers. I lure sb into doing
sth Peasants were lured into joining the People's Army by
the promises of large sums of money for their families.
entice/tn tais/to persuade someone to do something or
go somewhere by offering them something pleasant if they
do it Iv T]
entice sb into doing sth She had often tried to entice him
into coming back home with her. I entice sb avi, ay He made
all kinds of promises to entice her away from her husband. I
entice sb The banks are offering special low rates in an
attempt to entice prospective customers.
good at persuading people
persuasive smooth-talking
forceful slick
pushy
persuasive/pr'swelslv/[adj]
Like most politicians, she can be very persuasive when she
wants to be. [ The salesman's voice was warm and persua-
sive.
persuasively [ adv ] He argues very persuasively, doesn't hey
forceful/f:rsfal/able to express your ideas and opinions
in a strong, confident way so that you persuade people to
agree with you [adj]
Tom is really forceful and it's difficult for anyone to argue
against him. [ Betty Friedan was a forceful advocate of
women's rights.
forcefully lady] For over an hour she spoke forcefully about
the famine in Africa.
pushy/'poSi/someone who is pushy tries hard, in an
annoying way, to make other people do what they want,
especially by repeatedly asking them or telling them to do
something [adj]

PERSUADE 980 PERSUADE
Throughout my childhood, I was dominated by my three
pushy sisters. I Anthony fell under the influence of an attrac-
tive but pushy girl called Becky.
smooth-talking /smu:6 It:k[r]/ a smooth-talking
person is usually insincere or dishonest although they
have a pleasant, confident way of talking which easily per-
suades people [adj only before noun]
I bought the insurance from a smooth-talking young man
in a dark suit and shiny shoes.
slick/shk/good at persuading people by talking to them
in a clever, confident way but usually insincere or dis-
honest [adj]
I don't trust her. She's too slick. [ a slick salesman
9 words for describing a reason, statement etc
that persuades someone
persuasive compelling
convincing forceful
persuasive/pa r I swet s v/effective enough to persuade
you that something is true or that you should do something
[adj]
His explanations were so persuasive that his parents never
thought of blaming him. [ She used some very persuasive
arguments. I couldn't refuse. [ The government has put
forward many ingenious and persuasive justifications to
support its case.
convincing /knv:ns:rj/ good enough and reasonable
enough to persuade you that something is true [adj]
There is now convincing evidence that smoking causes lung
cancer and heart disease. [ I didn't find her excuses at all
convincing.
compelling /krnpelIr/ compelling reason/argu-
ment/ease ete (=one that is so strong and powerful that
it can persuade you that something is true or that some-
thing should be done) [adj]
There are no compelling reasons to keep us here any longer. [
In her book she gives several compelling arguments why Lee
Harvey Oswald could not have shot President Kennedy. I
Freud's approach to the analysis of dreams is highly com-
pelling.
forceful/f:rsfall a forceful argument is one which is
likely to have a powerful effect on people so that it can
persuade them to do or believe something [adjl
The speaker put forward some forceful arguments in favour
of capital punishment. [ a forceful plea on behalf of the
victims of the earthquake
10 too easily persuaded by other people
be a pushover easily-led
be a soft touch impressionable
be a pushover Ibi: a puuvar/if you say someone is
a pushover, you mean it is easy to persuade them to do
what you want them to do Iv phrase]
There'll be no problem getting Andrew to co-operate, he's a
real pushover.
be a soft touch/bi: a sDft ItAt [[ -sa:ft-/ if yOU say
someone is a soft touch, you mean you can easily persuade
them to give you what you want, especially because they
are too kind and sympathetic Iv phrase]
It's important that the kids don't think the teacher is a soft
touch.
easily-led ]i.-zli led! someone who is easily-led does
not have a strong character and can easily be persuaded
to do things, even things that are wrong [adj not usually
before noun]
She's naive and easily-led and he's a smooth-talking rogue. [
He's more easily-led than his friends so I don't like him stay-
ing out late at night.
impressionable Iim'prednball someone who is
impressionable, especially a young person, is easily
influenced and can easily be persuaded to do things or to
change their opinions [adj]
It's wrong that impressionable young minds should be sub-
jected to this sort of propaganda in school. [ at an impres-
sionable age (=when you are young and impressionable)
When I first heard jazz I was at an impressionable age and
I was soon hooked.
1 1 something that is offered or given in order to
persuade someone to do something
incentive carrot
sweetener inducement
incentive/In sentv/something which encourages you
to work harder, start new activities etc In C/U]
No wonder employees aren't working properly. You need to
provide some kind of incentive. [ incentive to do sth With
prices so low farmers have little incentive to increase produc-
tion. [ The new plan will create strong incentives for young
people to improve their skills. [ tax incentives (=offers of
reduced taxes) The government is offering special tax incen-
tives to people wanting to start up small businesses.
sweetener /  swi:tnr/something that is offered to some-
one in order to make them more willing to accept a situa-
tion or plan In C]
The new airport is an unpopular development but the
government has promised Ј4 million in grants to the local
community as a sweetener.
carrot/keemt/an informal word meaning a reward that
is offered to someone to encourage them to do something
[n C usually singular]
I think we should offer him some kind of carrot - a newjob
title perhaps. [ carrot and stick (=a combination of
rewards and punishments) Governments were forced to
adopt a carrot and stick approach to the trade unions.
Inducement/ndju:smnt [[ xn Idu:s-/something such as
a gift that you offer to someone in order to persuade them
to do what you want In C/U]
They're still refusing to agree to the deal - perhaps we could
offer them some kind of financial inducement. [ inducement
for sb to do sth He was hoping that the new house and all
the expensive clothes would be sufficient inducement for her
to stay with him.
12 to persuade someone not to do something
persuade sb not to do sth deter
dissuade discourage
talk sb out of put sb off
persuade sb not to do sth/pa r swexd (sb) nDt t 'du:
(sth)/Iv phrase]
She managed to persuade him not to resign. [ I wanted to go
with him but my friends persuaded me not to.
dissuade/di  sweid/a formal word meaning to persuade
someone not to do something, especially something you
think is wrong, stupid, or harmful Iv T]
dissuade sb from doing sth Susan intended to do every-
thing in her power to try and dissuade him from leaving
home. [ Tom had wanted to join the army, but had been dis-
suaded from doing so. [ dissuade sb She's determined to
marry that horrible man and there's no way I can. dissuade
her.
talk sb out of Ita:k (sb) aot tv [[ -o:v/to talk to some-
one about something they are planning to do, and persuade
them not to do it [phr v T]
talk sb out of sth I was thinking of giving up my job but
fortunately my friends succeeded in talking me out of it. [ talk
sb out of doing sth It's not too late, we can still talk her out
of having the operation.
deter/di It3:r/to make someone decide not to do some-
thing by making them realize that it will be difficttlt or dan-
gerous or will have unpleasant results Iv T]
deter sb The new alarm system will deter car-thieves. [ deter
sb from doing sth Once he's made a decision nothing can
deter him from doing it. [ The drug is used to deter the alco-
holic from drinking by creating an unpleasant taste in the
mouth.

PERSUADE 981 PICTURE
discourage/dIs'kArld 3 II -'ka:r-/to make someone less
likely to try to do something by making them think they
will not succeed Iv T]
discourage sb I don "t want to discourage you, but it's a very
difficult examination and only 10% of the candidates will
pass. I discourage sb from doing sth Herparents tried to
discourage her from living with her boyfriend but she
wouldn't listen to them. I We leave the lights on to discourage
burglars from breaking in.
put sb ott/,pot (sb) 'of II to make someone lose
interest in something that they were thinking of doing, by
making it seem difficult or unpleasant [phr v T]
Don't let your mother put you off. You'll easily pass your driv-
ing test. [ put sb off sth She was thinking of a trip to the
States but I managed to put her off that idea. i put sb off
doing sth A lot of people are put off becoming a teacher by
the long hours and the low pay.
1 3 something that persuades someone not to do
something
deterrent
disincentive
deterrent /dI'terant II-'t3:r-I something that makes
people afraid to or less likely to do something In C]
A burglar alarm is a very effective deterrent, i act as a deter-
rent against sth People who support the death penalty
believe that it acts as a powerful deterrent against murder
and rape. i be a deterrent to sb The possibility of dismis-
sal is a strong deterrent to any employee considering going
on strike, i nuclear deterrent (=the atomic bomb as a
deterrent) The nuclear deterrent is seen as a necessary safe-
guard against aggression.
disincentive /,dsn'senuv/ a disadvantage which
makes people less willing to do something In C]
We "re trying to attract more graduates into nursing, but the
low salary and long hours are strong disincentives. I be a
disincentive to Raising taxes on unearned income would
be a major disincentive to saving and investment.
:;iii; persuasion PERSUADE 1
;:.i  persuasive PERSUADE 8, 9
::ii;,. pertinent CONNECTED WITH 5
 pervasive COMMON 2
 pervert BAD PERSON 2
• , perverted BAD PERSON 2
 pessimist EXPECT 7
t.,.--.- pessimistic EXPECT 7
i!:: pester ANNOY 3, ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 4
"; pet TOUCH 2
 pet: teacher's pet FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 2
i!i= pet hate/pet peeve HATE 4
 pet name NAME OFA PERSON 2
 peter out STOP HAPPENING 1
: petite SHORT PERSON 1
} petition ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 3, 10
 petrified FRIGHTENED 1
,:ill petty UNIMPORTANT 1
--- petulant BAD-TEMPERED 4
::! phantom GHOST 1
phase in START STH/MAKE STH START 2
phase out STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 5
...
 phenomenon HAPPEN 9
philanthropist GIVE 18
philosophical WORRIED 11
.. phobia: have a phobia about FRIGHTENED 3
= phone/call TELEPHONE 1
.: phone: be on the phone TELEPHONE 1
ii. phone: by phone/by telephone TELEPHONE 6
;-: phone: on the phone TELEPHONE 6
 phone: over the phone TELEPHONE 6
ii I phone call: make a call/phone call/telephone call
..:. TELEPHONE 1
} phone up TELEPHONE 1
ii phoney/phony FALSE 1, PRETEND 7
;ilii photo/picture PICTURE 2
photo finish EQUAL 5
photocopy/xerox COPY 2
photograph PICTURE 2
phrase SAY 2, WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 1, 3
physical BODY 5
physical fitness: fitness/physical fitness FIT PERSON 1
physically fit: fit/physically fit FIT PERSON 1
physician DOCTOR 1
physique BODY 2
pick CHOOSE 1, 4
pick: have a bone to pick with ARGUE 4
pick: take your pick CHOOSE 1
pick a fight FIGHT 2
pick a fight/quarrel ARGUE 4
pick and choose CHOOSE 9
pick at EAT 8
pick holes in CRITICIZE 4
pick of the bunch BEST 3
pick off SHOOT 3
pick on CRUEL 6
pick out CHOOSE 3, RECOGNIZE 1
pick sb's brains ASK A QUESTION 3
pick up BUY 1, GET 15, IMPROVE 2, INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, LEARN 1, LIFT 1,
MEET 4, SAVE/RESCUE 1, TAKE/BRING 3
pick up/take up CONTINUE/START AGAIN 4
pick up the pieces RECOVER/GET BETTER 3
pick up where you left off CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1
pick your way WALK 14
pick yourself up STAND 2
picky CHOOSE 9
picky eater: be a fussy/picky eater EAT 8
picnic MEAL 3
picture IMAGINE 1, PICTURE 1, SITUATION 4
picture: form a picture/an idea IMAGINE 1
picture: get the picture UNDERSTAND 1
picture: paint a picture DESCRIBE 3
picture of health: be a picture of health HEALTHY 3
PICTURE
picture made by painting or drawing
photograph
picture or photograph of a person
picture or photograph of a place
humorous drawing
1 a picture made by painting or drawing
picture sketch
painting illustration
drawing study
picture /'pIktor/ lines and shapes which have been
drawn or painted onto a surface and which show a person,
place, scene etc In C]
Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers" is one of the most famous pictures
in the world. I an early picture by the French Impressionist
painter Claude Monet [ do a picture (=paint or draw a pic-
ture) My son did a lovely picture of our house today at
school. I It's supposed to be a picture of me, but I don't think
it looks much like me at all. I sb's picture (=a picture of
someone) The castle was once owned by the Duke of North-
umberland; his picture hangs above the fireplace in the hall.
painting/'peintirj/a picture that has been painted In C]
The museum has an impressive collection of early 20th cen-
tury English paintings. I Gaugin is famous for his paintings
of native women on the Pacific island of Tahiti. I do a paint-
ing Dali did several paintings of his wife.
drawing I ' dry: rj/a picture that has been drawn using a
pencil, pen etc In C]
On the wall was a drawing of a woman's head by Matisse. i
do a drawing Degas did a series of drawings in pastel of
dancers at the ballet school in Paris. i The classroom was

PICTURE
decorated with drawings which had been done by the
children.
sketch ]sket] a rough picture consisting of a few lines
which have been drawn quickly In C]
This isn't the finished picture - it's just a rough sketch. I
do/make a sketch I've made a few quick sketches of how
the building will look when it's completed.
illustration/, iI'streIfdn/a picture in a book, that shows
someone or something that has been mentioned in the book
[nC]
The new encyclopaedia is full of colour illustrations and pho-
tographs. I A typical example of this kind of dinosaur is
shown in the illustration at the top of the page. I A A Milne
wrote the story of Winnie the Pooh, and Ernest Shepherd did
the illustrations.
illustrated/'Ilastretd/[adj] The story is beautifully illus-
trated (=has beautiful illustrations) and is sure to appeal
to children of all ages.
study /'stAdi/ a small detailed drawing, especially one
which is done in order to prepare for a larger picture, or
as part of a series of drawings of the same kind of subject
[nC]
study of sth Renoir did several studies of small plants and
flowers. I study for The exhibition includes a series of
studies by Picasso for his painting Guernica.
2 a photograph
photograph mug shot
photo/pictu re snap
shot
photograph I'faotagro:f II -grmf/a picture made using a
camera In C ]
Ansel Adams" photographs of the American wilderness are
now worth thousands of dollars. I take a photograph Visi-
tors are not allowed to take photographs inside the Museum. I
My camera's fully automatic and takes really good photo-
graphs, i sb's photograph (=a photograph of someone) I
hate having my photograph taken. I wedding/passport/
graduation ere photograph The photographer asked all
the guests to stand still and pose for the wedding photograph.
photo/picture/'faotao, 'p[ktj'ar/a word meaning a pho-
tograph, used especially when talking about photographs
of you, your friends, your family, places you have visited
etc In C]
take a photo/picture Did you take any good photos while
you were in Paris? ] Karen showed me a picture of her new
boyfriend - he's very good-looking! l sb's photo/picture
(=a photo or picture of someone) Do you want me to take
your photo? I I saw her picture in the paper the other day.
shot/for II fo:t/a photograph that you take for a specific
purpose, often one that you have to go to a particular place
in order to take In C]
I got some great shots of Mount Fuji with the sun setting
behind it. I take a shot The cars went past so quickly that
she only had time to take a couple of shots.
mug shot/'mAg j'Ot II 4o:t/an informal word meaning
a photograph of the face of a criminal or a possible crimi-
nal which has been taken by the police In C]
The police showed me some mug shots and I had to say if any
of them looked like the man who attacked me.
snap/snmp/a photograph of someone's holiday, friends,
family etc which was taken by them, rather than by a
professional photographer In C]
I've got some snaps of my family, if you want to see them. I
holiday snaps (British) Patrick showed me his holiday
snaps, i take a snap I took a few snaps of the old part of the
city.
3 a picture or photograph of a person
portrait
portrait I'pa:rtrgtl In C]
The artist Hans Holbein was best known for painting por-
traits. I Afull-length portrait of the Queen hangs above his
desk. I take a portrait (=do a portrait using a camera) Cecil
982
PIECE
Beaton took portraits of the rich and the famous in his studio
in the south of France. I self-portrait (=a picture of the
artist painted or photographed by the artist) a self-portrait
by the Dutch artist Van Dyck
4 a picture or photograph of a place
landscape
landscape/tlmndskeip/a picture or photograph of an
area of land, especially one in the country, for example a
forest, or a field In C]
"'What kind of photographs do you take?" "I usually do land-
scapes. "1 landscape painter/artist/photographer Con-
stable is probably England's most famous landscape artist.
5 a humorous drawing
cartoon
caricature
cartoon/ko:r'tu:n/a humorous drawing, especially in a
newspaper or a magazine, often with a joke written under
it In C]
The cartoon shows a group of elephants trying to get into a
phone-box. I Gary Trudeau does a satirical cartoon for the
Washington Post under the title Doonesbury.
caricature /'kmrkatfoar/ a humorous drawing that
makes certain parts of people's faces or bodies seem larger
or stranger than they really are, in order to make them look
funny In C]
Politicians are used to having caricatures of themselves
printed in newspapers, i We had our caricatures drawn by
a street artist while we were on vacation in Turkey.
picturesque BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 5
piece PART 3, PIECE 1, WORK THAT SB DOES 3
piece: in one piece INJURE 7
piece/article/item of clothing CLOTHES 1
piece de resistance BEST 4
piece of cake: be a cinch/a piece of cake EASY 2
piece of work JOB/TASK 1
piece of work: nasty piece of work UNPLEASANT 1
PIECE
that has been
cut, or separateo
@PIECE
a part of something that has been broken or
cut from the rest of it
a piece that has a regular shape with straight
sides
a piece that has an irregular shape
a thin flat piece
a very small piece
a small piece that is left after something has
been broken or torn
[ "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

PIECE 983 PIECE
1 a part of something that has been broken or
cut from the rest of it
piece
bit
piece/pi:s/[n C]
That pie looks good. Can I have apiece? I She broke off a piece
of bread and dipped it into her soup. I I stepped on some pieces
of broken glass, cutting my foot badly. I The kidnapper tied
them up with apiece of rope. I in pieces (=broken into many
pieces) The vase lay in pieces on the floor.
bit ]bit] an informal word used especially in British
English meaning a small piece of something In C]
I'd like to try that cake. Just give me a small bit please. I Have
you got a bit of paper I can write your address on? I The
bird's nest contained bits of fabric and old newspaper. I All
she gave me was a bowl of pea soup with two miserable bits
of sausage floating in it.
 a piece that has a regular shape with straight
sides
block slab
cube bar
block/blDk II bla:kl a piece of something such as wood,
ice, or stone that has regular straight sides, especially so
that it is longer than it is wide or deep In C]
The statue had been carved out of a single block of stone. I
Concrete blocks were used by most builders in the 1960s when
constructing office buildings. I All the wood had been cut into
blocks and left next to the fire.
cube/kju:b/a piece of something such as ice, meat, or
sugar that has been deliberately made or cut so that it has
sides that are all the same length, width and depth In C]
She screamed because her brother put an ice cube down the
back of her dress. I My grandfather used to have four cubes
of sugar in his tea. I 2cm/1/2 inch etc cube (=each side
measuring 2cm/1A inch etc) Cut the melon into 2cm cubes
and leave to soak in some port or red wine.
slab/slmb/a heavy piece of something such as stone that
has been cut so that it is not very deep but is fairly long
and wide In C]
Huge slabs of concrete had been used to build a pathwayfor
people to walk on. ] Her headstone was a marble slab, upon
which had been carved her name and the date of her death. I
The butcher's counter was covered in huge slabs o fred meat
and the air smelled of blood.
bar/b(:r/a piece of something such as metal, soap, or
chocolate that has been made into a long shape with regu-
lar straight sides, so that it is easier to use, carry etc In C]
I used to buy a bar of chocolate every day and give half to
my friend. I The gold bars were transported from the bank
in an armored truck. I We go through so much soap in our
family that I buy about 10 bars a month.
3 a piece that has an irregular shape
chunk lump
hunk dollop
chunk/tSArJk/an irregularly-shaped piece of something,
especially a large piece that has been torn or pulled away
from the rest of it [n C]
The hunter threw his dog a chunk of meat to eat. I The
builder prised a chunk of rotten wood from the window
frame. I He gouged out huge chunks from the rock.
hunk/hArjk/hunk of meat/bread/cheese etc (=a large,
irregularly-shaped piece of something, especially food, that
has been cut or torn from a bigger piece) In C]
For lunch I had cheese with a hunk of bread and a glass of
red wine. I Jack cut off a hunk of meat and handed it to
Simon.
lump/l^mp! a small piece of something, with no definite
shape In C]
She added some lumps of coal to the fire. I Add a lump of
butter to the pan before you begin to cook the vegetables. I
He stooped to pick up a lump of rock from the dry earth.
dollop / 'dDlop II 'da:-I a piece of a thick liquid or soft sub-
stance, usually served from a spoon In C]
Louise watched as the dollop of mashed potato fell onto her
plate. I He put a dollop of honey on his bread and spread it
around with a knife.
4 a thin flat piece
sheet pane
slip slice
sheet/.i:t/sheet of paper/glass/metal/plastic etc (=a
thin flat piece, usually with four regular sides) In C]
I looked at the sheet of paper in the typewriter, unable to write
a word. I Put your muddy boots on the sheet of newspaper
next to the door.
slip Ishpl a small narrow piece of paper, usually with infor-
mation written on it In C]
The bank clerk handed me an official blue slip to sign. I
Everyone who votes has to fill in a slip of paper in order to
register. I I looked through my wallet for last month's wage
slip.
pane/peTn/a fiat piece of glass which has been cut to the
size of a window In C]
The bullet shattered two panes of glass. I I watched the rain
as it pounded against the window pane.
slice/slaTs/slice of bread/meat/cheese etc (=a thin fiat
piece of food that has been cut from something, usually
with a knife) In C]
I had two slices of toast for breakfast. I My mouth watered
as I admired the thick slices of plum cake arranged on the
plate. I cut/carve sth into slices The beef was carved into
slices so thin you could almost see through them.
5 a very small piece
grain crumb
flake morsel
speck titbit/tidbit
fleck
grain Igre=n/a very small hard piece of something such
as sand or salt In C]
If you drop any rice you'll have to pick up every single grain.[
You always end up with grains of sand in your food when
you eat at the beach. I A few grains of the tablet are left at
the bottom of the glass.
flake/fleik] a very small, fiat piece of something such as
snow or skin, that easily breaks away from the rest of it
or is very easily broken In C]
Large white flakes of snow fell upon the cold ground. I Her
sunburnt skin was beginning to peel off in big flakes. I She
brushed the flakes of dandruff from her shoulder.
speck/spek/speck of dust/dirt etc (:a piece of dust, dirt
etc that is so small you almost cannot see it) In C]
The room looked immaculate, not a speck of dust anywhere. I
We watched the plane fly off, until it was just a speck on the
horizon.
fleck /flek/ fleck of grease/dust/mud/etc (=a small
piece, usually in the form of a small mark or spot, that can
be seen on a surface) In C]
There were flecks of mud on her trousers after the walk in
the woods. [ By the time he'd finished painting the ceiling the
whole floor was covered with flecks of red paint. I The men
looked closely at the black volcanic sand, searching for flecks
of gold.
crumb/kr^m/a very small piece of food such as bread or
cake In C]
Put a plate under your chin to catch the crumbs. I She
brushed the crumbs of cake onto the floor. I Coat the fish in
the beaten egg and milk, then roll it in the prepared crumbs.
morsel /Im3:rsl/a word meaning a very small piece of
food, used especially in literature In C]
The hungry tramp rummaged through the rubbish to find
a morsel of bread or meat. I The food was good and she ate
every morsel. I Determined to keep to her diet she could not
be persuaded to eat even a morsel.

PIECE
984
titbit (British) I tidbit (American) I,tit,bzt, ,tId,bztl a very
small piece of good food, especially given as a reward for
good behaviour or as a surprise In C]
If Rosie had been a good girl all day, her mum used to give
her titbits when she was preparing the evening meal. I When
your dog obeys your instructions, praise him and reward
him with a tidbit.
6 a small piece that is left after something has
been broken or torn
fragment splinter
scrap chip
fragment I ' freegmont/[n C ]
He was piecing together torn fragments of a letter. I The
bullet had pierced the bone, leaving behind fragments which
the surgeon was unable to remove. I With his tweezers the
doctor lifted a fragment of cloth from under the corpse's
fingernail.
scrap/skreep/a very small piece of something such as
paper, cloth, or food that is no longer useful or needed In C ]
He scribbled a note on an old scrap of paper. I This quilt was
lovingly made from scraps of material.
splinter/'splIntor/an extremely small, thin, and sharp
piece of something such as wood, glass, or metal that was
formed when the wood, glass, or metal was broken In C]
The window smashed and splinters of glass flew every-
where. I She sucked so hard that she drew the splinter of wood
out of her finger. [ The doctor painstakingly removed the
small steel splinters that had lodged themselves in my leg in
the explosion.
chip/tp/a small, irregularly-shaped piece of something
such as wood, stone, or metal that remains after someone
has been cutting or working with the wood, stone, or metal
[nC]
Wood chips covered the fioor in the carpenter's workshop. [
After the decorators had left there were chips of plaster all
over the lobby.
 pieces: be in pieces SEPARATE 8
::. pieces: come to pieces SEPARATE 8
I pieces: fall to bits/fall to pieces/go to pieces BREAK 10
pieces: go to pieces CONTROL 8
" pieces: pick up the pieces RECOVER/GET BETTER 3
pieces: take sth to pieces SEPARATE 5
pierce CUT 1, HOLE 9
piercing HIGH SOUND OR VOICE 1, LOUD/NOISY 6
pig GREEDY 1
pig: make a pig of yourself EAT 3
pig: sweat like a pig/sweat buckets SWEAT 1
pig-headed STUBBORN 1
pig out EAT 3
pigeonhole TYPE 5
pigsty UNTIDY 6
pile GROUP OF THINGS 4, PUT 6
pile: a load ofla pile of UNTRUE 4
pile up INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5
pile-up ACCIDENT 2
piles of/heaps of/stacks of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 1
pilfer STEAL 2
pillory CRITICIZE 2
pilot TEST/EXPERIMENT 1
piloting TEST/EXPERIMENT 1
pimple MARK 4
pimply MARK 5
pin ATTACH 2
pin: you could hear a pin drop QUIET 1
pin sth on GUILTY 4
pin your hopes on HOPE 1
pinch LITTLE/NOT MUCH 3, PRESS 5, STEAL 1
pinch of salt: take sth with a pinch of salt BELIEVE 6
pinched THIN PERSON 6
pinpoint FIND OUT 5
pins and needles: be on pins and needles NERVOUS 1
pioneer FIRST 7
PITY/IT'S A PITY
pioneering NEW 7
pipe TAKE/BRING 6
pipe down QUIET 7
pipe-dream HOPE 6
pipe up TALK TO SB 1
pipeline: be in the pipeline PLAN 9
piping hot HOT 2
piquant HOT TASTE 1
pirate COPY 3
piss: take the mickey/take the piss MAKE FUN OF 1
piss off LEAVE A PLACE 3
piss sb off ANNOY 1
pissed ANGRY 1, DRUNK 1
pissed off ANGRY 1 FED UP 1
,
pissed out of your headlmindlbrain DRUNK 3
pit yourself against COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 1
pit HOLE 3
pitch SOUND 2, THROW 2, 4, 9
pitch dark/pitch black DARK 1
pitiful SYMPATHIZE 5
pits: be the pits BAD 1
pittance: a pittance LITTLE/NOT MUCH 7, PAY SB FOR
WORK 8
pity SYMPATHIZE 1 4
pity: it's a pity/shame PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
pity: more's the pity PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
pity: take pity on SYMPATHIZE 1
Ipityl
PITY/IT'S A PITY
ways of saying that you think a situation is
disappointing and that you wish things had
happened differently
t ways of saying it is a pity that something
happened or that a particular situation exists
= words for describing actions, behaviour, or
events which you wish had not happened
ways of saying it is a pity that something
 happened or that a particular situation exists
it's a pity/shame regrettably
too bad it's unfortunate
unfortunately it's sad
sadly more's the pity
it's a pity/shame Its o ,piti, 'j'em/
it's a pity/shame (that) I'd love to go to Hawaii. It's a pity
it costs so much to get there. [ it's a pity/shame l"m afraid
there isn't time to finish the game. It's a shame, but it can't
be helped. I it's a pity/shame about lt's a pi O, about your
car, but I m just reheved that no one got hurt. / t s a pity/
shame to do sth It seems a pity to waste all that food. I it's
a great pity/shame I always thought it was a great pity
that Harold never wrote a book about his experiences. I what
a pity/shame! "Murray missed the concert because his train
was late. .... What a shame! He was really looking forward
to it." l what a pity/shame (that) What a pity your wife
couldn't come to the party tonight!

PITY/IT'S A PITY 985 PLACE
too bad /ttu: 'ba2d/ an expression used especially in
American English to say it is a pity that something hap-
pened or that a particular situation exists
too bad (that) Too bad Dickie isn't here to enjoy the fun. I
It's too bad you have to leave, just when we need you most. I
too bad "Senator Volk's out of town. "" "'Too bad! I wanted
to meet him and talk about the campaign. ""
unfortunately/An'fa:rtJ'ntli/(used when you are men-
tioning a fact and you wish it were not true) [adv]
Unfortunately I never had the chance to go to college. I Our
chairman is unwell and can't be with us this evening unfor-
tunately.
sadly/smdli/(used when you mention a situation that
you wish did not exist, especially when a better situation
existed in the past) [adv]
Sadly, behaviour among football fans has got worse in recent
years. I aline newspaper that is sadly no longer published
regrettably/rl'gretobli/(used when you consider the
existing situation to be unsatisfactory) [adv]
Regrettably Jousse's work has not been translated into
English. I The spelling "Ghandi" is incorrect but regrettably
very common.
it's unfortunate /ItS An'fo:rtfanot/ (used when some-
thing causes disappointment, suffering or is inconvenient
etc)
it's unfortunate (that) It's unfortunate that you have to
travel so far to work. [ It's unfortunate that so few of these
people can afford medical treatment. I it's unfortunate It's
unfortunate, but we don't have enough players to make a full
team.
it's sad/its 'stud/(used when a situation makes you feel
sad)
it's sad (that) It seems sad that most children never
experience the pleasure of playing a musical instrument. I
it's sad He's completely lost interest in his work. It's really
rather sad.
more's the pity/,m3:rz 6a 'plti/a British expression:
you say more's the pity when you wish that the fact that
you have just mentioned was not true
Now I'm too old to fall in love, more's the pity. [ I'm afraid
this car doesn't belong to me, more's the pity.
2 words for describing actions, behaviour, or
events which you wish had not happened
unfortunate
regrettable
unfortunate/^n'f3:rtj'anott/[adj usually before noun]
She had been arrested by the police after an unfortunate inci-
dent in the hotel bar. I two young girls with an unfortunate
habit of laughing too much I it would be unfortunate if
It would be unfortunate if these rumours were to damage the
President's reputation abroad.
regrettable/rI'gretobl/something that is regrettable
makes you feel sorry because it has unpleasant results [adjl
Most workers regarded the strike as a regrettable necessity. I
it's regrettable It's regrettable, but the fact is that violence
often succeeds where gentle persuasion fails. I most regret-
table (=very regrettable) It is most regrettable that he spoke
as he did.
pivotal
place
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
IMPORTANT 3
CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 1, HOME 1, PLACE 1,
POSITION/RANK 2, PUT 1, SIT 6
all over the place EVERYWHERE 2, 3
anywhere/any place EVERYWHERE 4
be in place PLACE 9
be in the right place PLACE 9
be out of place PLACE 10,
WRONG/UNSUITABLE 4, 5
can't place FORGET 3
every place EVERYWHERE 3
fall into place UNDERSTAND 7
first place WIN 1
in the first place FIRST 3
in place of INSTEAD 1
in sb's place INSTEAD 2
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place:
place
place
place
place
in that place THERE 1
in this place HERE 1
its/their place PLACE 11
no place PLACE 12
put sb in their place PROUD 10
put yourself in sb's place UNDERSTAND 3
replace/take the place of REPLACE 4
someplace PLACE 4
sb's place PLACE 6
take place HAPPEN 3
take sb's place REPLACE 1
name NAME OF A THING 1
of birth COME FROM/ORIGINATE 2
to hide HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 6
to stay: somewhere to stay/a place to stay
STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 4
[place]
PLACE
place where something or someone is
1 words meaning a place
• the exact place where something or someone
is, or where something happens
3 in a place
4 in or to a place, but you do not know which
place
8 in another place, not here
6 a place where someone usually is or often
goes
7 ways of saying that an object is in a particular
place
 ways of saying that something such as a
country, town, building, or organization, is in
a particular place
g to be in the right place
10 to be in the wrong place
t ways of saying where something is normally
kept or put
2 not in any place or to any place
1 words meaning a place
place site
location venue
spot whereabouts
position
place/ples/[n C]
It's easy to grow these flowers in a sunny place I She prefers
to read in a quiet, private place. I An eclipse may be visible
in one place and not in another. I The British Isles is one of

PLACE
986
the most highly populated places in the world. I a place to
eat/sleep/camp etc (=a place where you can eat, sleep,
camp etc) It took an hour to find a place to camp.
location/lao' keian/a word used especially in business,
advertising, or official contexts, meaning a place in which
someone lives, something happens, or something is built
[n C]
The company hopes to build its new hotel in an attractive
location. I Transport is a major consideration in choosing
a new home, so central locations are favoured.
spot /spot II spa:t/a place, especially a pleasant place,
where you spend time or live [n C]
We camped in a pleasant, shady spot beside the river. ] It's
a beautiful spot, skiing in winter, a lake in summer. [ This
must be a nice spot to live.
position/pa'zian/the place where something or some-
one is, especially in relation to other things or people [n C]
Jessica moved to a position where she could see him better. [
He estimated that he would be directly opposite the enemy
position. [ From the sun's position I judged that it was two
o'clock.
site/salt/a place where something such as a building
exists now, is going to exist in the future, or where some-
thing existed in the past [n C]
The architects discussed a possible site for the new office
building. [ They are thinking of building a new summer
home on the site of the old house. I an important archaeolog-
ical site
venue I' venju:l a place for an arranged event or meeting,
for example a sports or musical event [n C]
venue for The venue for the 1996 Olympics will be Atlanta
in the USA. I Ministers have not yet agreed on a venue for the
next Conference on European Security. I venue The concert's
still on Saturday but the venue has been changed.
whereabouts I'waarabaots/ the place or area where
someone or something is, especially when this is unknown
or is being kept secret [n U with singular or plural verb]
sb's whereabouts They refused to reveal his whereabouts,
but agreed to give him our message. I Despite numerous
searches and enquiries, her whereabouts are still unknown. I
the whereabouts of The police have appealed for informa-
tion concerning the whereabouts of the stolen car used in the
robbery.
2 the exact place where something or someone
is, or where something happens
exact/precise location
point
spot
exact/precise location I ig,zCkt, pr; ,sals lao'kean/
[n singular]
Witnesses showed the police the exact location of the acci-
dent. I I tried to determine their exact geographical location. I
A 15 cm telescope is being used to establish the precise loca-
tion of the new star. '
point/p,nt/a particular place on a line or on a surface,
especially a place that is used for measuring distances,
heights etc [n C]
The river at this point is half a mile wide. I Soon they came
to a point where the road divided. I The island's highest point
is over 700feet at the summit of Ward Hill. I She dropped me
off to hitchhike to a point where a friend had arranged to
meet me.
spot/spot II spa:t/the exact place where something hap-
pens [n C]
the exact spot/very spot/same spot etc If you can show
me the exact spot where you lost your keys it will save time. I
It was the man I had seen on the same spot two nights before.
3 in a place
in
at
on
PLACE
in/In/in Africa/Europe/Rome/the city/the garden/
the forest/the mountains/Oxford Street etc (=in a coun-
try, town, area etc) [prep]
"Where's Annie? .... She's in the yard. "1 I'm going to a con-
ference in Tokyo. I The plane crashed in the Andes. I John
spent several years teaching in Zimbabwe before returning
to London. ] She lives in Fern Street. I In the park there was
a football match going on, so I joined in. I European
manufacturers are facing ever increasing competition from
companies in the Far East.
at/rot/at the bank/the doctor's/the theatre/the air-
port/school etc (=in a place where you go for a particu-
lar purpose) [prep]
I'll meet you at the station at 6.30. I Joe's at the dentist- he's
got to have a tooth out. I "'Where were you last night? .... We
were at the cinema. "" I I get the shopping done in the after-
noons when the kids are at school.
on/on II a:n, o:n/on the island/the coast/the outskirts/
Oxford Street etc [prep ]
It's a beautiful little fishing village on the south coast. I We
could go to that Chinese restaurant on 23rd street. I The gang
were hiding in a disused warehouse on the edge of town.
4 in or to a place, but you do not know which
place
somewhere
someplace
knocking around
somewhere/ts^mwear/[adv]
She lives somewhere near Manchester. I I saw it somewhere,
but I can't remember exactly where. I From somewhere along
the corridor there came the sound of laughter. I somewhere
to live/sleep/sit etc (=a place where you can live, sleep,
sit etc) She's hoping to find somewhere to live that isn't too
far from work.
someplace /'s^mple;s/ an informal American word
meaning somewhere [adv]
Let's go someplace. I'm tired of sitting around. ] Frankie?
He's out in the yard or someplace. I She lives someplace up
near Portland and I haven't seen her for years.
knocking around I,noklr] a'raund [[ -,no:-/an informal
British expression: if you say that something or someone
is knocking around, you mean you have seen them
recently somewhere near you and you think they are prob-
ably still near [adv phrase]
I've seen it knocking around somewhere but I can't remem-
ber exactly where. I See if Derek's still knocking around. He's
got some change I think.
5 in another place, not here
somewhere else
elsewhere
somewhere else/, s^mwer 'els/in or to another place
[ adv phrase]
Go and play somewhere else. I am trying to work. I We don't
sell that model. You could try somewhere else. I The apart-
ment wasn't really suitable so they looked for somewhere else
to live.
elsewhere/els' wea r, t elswear II telswear/in or to another
place or other places [adv]
If they don't have what we want, we will have to look else-
where. I Elsewhere, as in the United States, violence is on the
increase. I elsewhere in Elsewhere in the region, conditions
are significantly better.
6 a place where someone usually is or often
goes
haunt
sb's place
haunt/h:nt/a place such as a bar or park that someone
likes to go to often, especially in order to meet people [n C]
While I was in my hometown I went back to some of my old

PLACE 98'7 PLACE
haunts. I Cafes like "Les Deux Magots" were once the favourite
haunts of French artists and intellectuals.
sb's place ](sb's) 'pleis! the place where someone usually
sits or stands, especially in a bar, at work, or in their home
In phrase]
Old Bob was in his usual place by the fire when I reached
the 'Black Lion'. I This is my place and Karen works at the
desk by the window.
7 ways of saying that an object is in a particular
place
be
stand
lie
be/bi; strong bi:/Iv not in progressive]
The television is in the living room. I Do you know where my
keys are? I be in/on/near/there ete Your supper's in the
oven.
stand ]stend] to be in a particular place in an upright posi-
tion Iv I]
stand in/on/near/there etc A single tall candle stood in
the middle of the table. I A small fir tree stood in the front
yard. I Stone tables stood in the garden.
lie ]lai! to be in a flat position on a surface Iv I]
lie in/on/near/there etc Her packed suitcase was lying
in the middle of the floor. I The children's clothes were lying
all over the bedroom floor. I Lying in the sun by the steps was
a flattened Coca-Cola can.
8
ways of saying that something, such as a
country, town, building, or organization is in a
particular place
be be sited
lie stand
be situated be based
be located
be/bi; strong bi:/[v not in progressive]
be in/on/near/there etc Egypt is in North Africa. I The
bank is on the next corner. ] Can you tell me where the sta-
tion is?
||e ]laI] a word used especially in stories or descriptions
of places: if an area of land or water, or a town or country
lies somewhere, it is in that place Iv I not in progressive]
lie in/on/near/there etc The tiny Comoro Islands lie in
the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Africa. I The
little town lies in a valley. I The village, lying on the Mediter-
ranean coast, is famous for its fishing.
be situated /bi: 'situeitXd/ an expression used espe-
cially about an attractive or interesting place: if something
such as a town or building is situated somewhere, it is in
that place Iv phrase]
be situated in/on/near/there etc The hotel is situated
close to the banks of the Loire River. [ The Duke's home is
situated in an attractive part of central London. [ My new
house is conveniently situated just ten minutes walk from
where I work.
be located/bi: lao'keItd II -'laokeItad/if a building is
located in a particular street, town, or area, it is in that
place Iv phrase]
be located in/at/near/there etc The bookshop is located
at 120 Chafing Cross Road. I Each town has its own Visitors"
Bureau, centrally located and a veritable mine of informa-
tion. I Many people are losing their jobs in the depressed
areas in which many coal mines are located.
be sited Ibi: ' saitId/if something such as a town or build-
ing is sited in a particular place, it has been built in a place
that was carefully chosen Iv phrase]
be sited in/on/near/there ere Istanbul is sited on the
main route between Europe and Asia. I The nuclear power
stations are all sited away from major cities.
stand/stand/if a building stands in a particular place,
it is in that place Iv I not usually in progressive]
stand in/on/near/there etc The house stood behind the
village. I The Pyramids have stood in the Egyptian desert for
thousands of years. I American Express's new headquarters
stands between two of the oldest buildings in town.
be based /bi: 'best/ if a company or organization is
based in a particular place, its main offices are in that
place Iv phrase]
be based in/on/near/there etc The Parker Pen company
is based in Newhaven in Sussex. I The United Nations is
based in New York. I an organization employing about 7000
staff based at seven separate physical locations
London/Tokyo/foreign etc-based [adj phrase] The staff
of the Luxembourg-based bank were surprised by the
announcement. [ The problem has been caused by rivalry
between two foreign-based companies.
9 to be in the right place
be in position
be in place
be in the right place
take up position
be in position/bi: n pa'zISan/to be in the right place and
ready to do something Iv phrase]
A large tent was in position, ready for the circus to begin. I
The crew remained in position, waiting for orders from the
captain.
be in place ./bi: n 'plels/to be in the usual place, espe-
cially with the result that a room, area etc is tidy [vphrase]
Everything's in place: the books on their shelves, the pictures
on the walls and the cushions on the sofa. I The factory will
open next week when all of the machinery is in place.
be in the right place/bi: in 6a ,ralt plelsl if something
or someone is in the right place, they are where they
should be Iv phrase]
Please check your work to make sure that all the commas and
full stops are in the right place. [ He glued the bits together,
each in its right place. [ Excuse me, I'm not sure I'm in the
right place - does this bus go to the city center?
take up position/,teik Ap po' ztj'an/to move to a partic-
ular place where you can do what you have planned to do
Iv phrase]
The guards took up position at the back doors. [ The army
took up position before the attack began. [ take up your
position The ringmaster took up his position in the exact
centre of the circus-ring.
10 to be in the wrong place
be out of position
be out of place
be out of position/bi: ,aut zv pa'ziSan/if someone or
something is out of position, they are not in the place
where they were put or where they should be In phrase]
The guard was standing out of position and so didn't see the
prisoner climb over the wall. [ Strong winds had blown all
of the equipment out of position and it took us hours to put
it all back.
be out of place/bi: ,aot ov 'plels/if something is out
of place, it is not where it should be and this makes the
place look untidy Iv phrase]
Sarah glanced around the room once more, checking that
nothing was out of place. [ He gave special care to his garden:
not a leaf, not a stone, was out of place.
1 1 ways of saying where something is normally
kept or put
go/belong
its/their place
go/belong I'gao, bi'hgrjl[ -'la:rj/ if something goes or
belongs in a place, it is usually kept there or it should be
put there Iv I not in progressive]
go in/on/near/there etc "'Where do these plates go?" "'In
the cupboard on your left. " l Your books don "t go there, they
should be on the shelf in your bedroom. I When he'd finished
he put all the equipment back where it belonged and went
home.

PLACE ,988 PLAN
its/their place/ITS, 6e3 r 'ples/the place where some-
thing is normally kept or put In phrase]
When you've finished with the hoover, put it back in its place. [
I can't find the coffee tin - it isn't in its place.
12 not in any place or to any place
nowhere
no place
nowhere I'nower/[adv]
Nowhere is more beautiful than this part of Canada. I What
can I do? I have nowhere to live. I "'Where are you going?"
"'Nowhere, I'm just going to close the door." I nowhere else
(=no other place) We didn't particularly want a Chinese
meal, but there was nowhere else open at that time of night.
no place I'no ples/an informal American word mean-
ing nowhere [adv]
She had no place else to live, so I let her stay in my apart-
ment. I I was lonely and broke with no place to go. [ I ain't
going no place!
. places: be going places SUCCESSFUL 3
ii placid CALM 2
! plagiarize COPY 4
,;,, plague PROBLEM 9
 plain CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 1,
-::o SIMPLE/PLAIN 1 2, UGLY 1
;; ,
# plaintive SAD/UNHAPPY 9
 plan DESIGN 1, INTEND 1, PLAN 1, 4, 5, 7
i' plan: go according to plan SUCCEED IN DOING STH 7
 plan: have no plans to INTEND 2
 plan: make plans for PLAN 1
...... plan ahead PLAN 2
; plan of action PLAN 4
PLAN
10
to think carefully about something you intend
to do, and decide exactly how you will do it
to make plans for something that will happen
a long time in the future
to secretly plan something bad, illegal, or
dishonest
a plan for achieving something that you want
to do
an official plan that a government or
organization has for achieving a particular
aim
a secret plan to do something bad or illegal
a detailed plan that describes exactly what
will happen, and where and when it will
happen
someone who plans something
ways of saying that something is being
planned
words for describing something that has been
planned
words for describing something that has not
been planned
to not plan what you are going to do, but just
decide when the time comes
1 to think carefully about something you intend
to do, and decide exactly how you will do it
plan formulate
make plans for mastermind
map out planning
work out
plan/plenl [v I/T]
plan sth She spent months planning her trip. I Police said
the burglary had obviously been very carefully planned. I
The operation to free the hostages went exactly as planned. I
plan how/what/where etc Have you planned how you're
going to spend your prize money? I plan for (=make plans,
expecting that something will happen, or in case something
happens) We hadn't planned for rain, and the party had to
be cancelled. I have sth planned (=have planned some-
thing carefully)Don't worry, I have the whole thing planned.
make plans for /meIk 'plaenz fa:r/to think about an
event or something you intend to do, and do everything
necessary to prepare for it Iv phrase]
I've started to make plans for the wedding - there's so much
to do. I Mustafa was making plans for me to meet everybody
in the village. I He's too upset at the moment to begin to make
any plans for the future.
map out /Imap aot! to plan all the details of how some-
thing is going to develop in the future, especially over a
long period of time [phr v T]
have your future/career/education etc mapped out
Jodie has her career all mapped out. I By the time he was 15
his parents already had his future mapped out. I map out
sth Representatives from several European countries met to
map out details of the proposed aid program.
work out / wa:rk 'aot/to think carefully about how you
are going to do something, especially something compli-
cated or difficult, and plan a good way of doing it [phr v T]
work out sth Management consultant Peter Brant worked
out the schedule in October 1983. I UN negotiators have
worked out a plan which they hope will be acceptable to both
sides. I work out what/where/how etc I'll certainly go
back to work once I've worked out who's going to look after
the kids during the day. I have it all worked out (=have
completely planned how you are going to do something)
Why isn't she here? I I thought you said you had it all worked
out?
formulate /'fa:rmj°let/ if members of a government,
company, or other organization formulate a plan or
proposal, they decide the details of what is going to be done
[v T]
The government has set up a working party to formulate
proposals for reducing environmental pollution. I Changes
to the education system should be formulated by teachers not
politicians, say the teaching unions.
formulation /,fa:rmjUa'lefanl [n U] A small group of
advisers helps the President with the formulation of foreign
policy.
mastermind/'mo:starmand II 'mms-/to be the person
who is in charge of planning a complicated or difficult oper-
ation Iv T]
The Liberal campaign was masterminded by Peter Walters. I
Well-known as a tough industrialist, he masterminded 50
company takeovers in one year.
planning / plaenir/the activity of making plans In U]
After two years of intensive planning and preparation, the
project is finally ready to begin. I In spite of all our careful
planning the mission ended in failure.
2 to make plans for something that will happen
a long time in the future
plan ahead
look ahead
forward planning
plan ahead/,plen 'hed/[phr v I]
When you have a new baby, it's wise to plan ahead. I Create
some free time for yourself by planning ahead, for example

PLAN 989 PLAN
by cooking double quantities so you don't have to cook the
following day.
look ahead/, luk  Ihed/to consider what may happen at
some time in the future so that you have a better idea of
what to plan for that time [phr v I/
look ahead to We must look ahead to the next century and
avoid further environmental damage. I look ahead Eddy
was always a serious boy; he'd look ahead and plan
carefully.
forward planning/If:rword 'pleenirj/.the activity of
thinking carefully about what will happen in the future,
and including this in your present plans, especially in
order to make possible problems easier to deal with when
the time comes [n U/
With a little more forward planning, we could have avoided
these problems, i Expert advice is available for investors who
wish to engage in some forward planning.
3 to secretly plan something bad, illegal, or
dishonest
plot
scheme
conspire
plot/plot II plo:t/ to secretly plan to harm a person or
organization, especially a political leader or government
[v I/T/
plot sth Exiled leaders spent their time plotting the down-
fall of the new regime. I Mandela was one of eight ANC men
jailed in 1964for allegedly plotting the overthrow of the white
minority government. I plot to do sth An extreme right wing
organization is suspected of plotting to assassinate the Presi-
dent. I plot against The 47fundamentalists jailed in Sep-
tember for plotting against the State have not been released.
plotter [n C/Several of the plotters were arrested soon after
the bomb went off.
scheme/ski=m/ to secretly make clever and dishonest
plans to get or achieve something [v I/
scheme to do sth Behind the scenes, a small group was
scheming to remove the Chairman from office. ] For the last
few years of her rule, she manoeuvered and schemed to stay
in power. I scheme against As he grew older, he became con-
vinced that his family was scheming against him.
conspire/kanspaIar/if two or more people conspire to
do something illegal or harmful, they plan secretly to do
it [v I/
conspire to do sth Two men appeared in court, charged
with conspiring to murder the former Prime Minister. I Trot-
skyites were suspected of conspiring to overthrow the Soviet
state. I conspire against I'm sure they're all conspiring
against me. I conspire with There was no doubt that they
were conspiring with other African guerilla movements.
conspirator [n C/The conspirators (=people who are con-
spiring) met in a disused warehouse to discuss their plans.
4 a plan for achieving something that you want
to do
plan
plan of action
plan/pleen/[n C/
Our original plan was to spend a week in London and then
stop off in Cambridge for a day. I plan to do sth The
prisoners came up with a cunning plan to get out of the
camp. I plan for What are yourplans for next year? l make
plans All the plans have been made and everything's ready. I
plan A/plan B etc (=first plan, second plan etc) If plan A
fails, we'll have to resort to plan B. I a plan falls through
(=it becomes impossible to follow because something unex-
pected happens) There was an airline strike in India and
all our plans fell through at the last minute. I thwart sb's
plans (=prevent someone's plans from being successful)
The prince's enemies did their best to thwart his plans.
plan of action/,pleen av 'eekj'an/a series of things that
someone has decided must be done in order to achieve
something [n phrase]
After the conference, directors announced their plan of action
for the rescue of the company. I If this doesn't work, we're
going to need another plan of action.
5
an official plan that a government or
organization has for achieving a particular
aim
plan programme/program
policy project
strategy scheme
blueprint
plan/plmn/[n C/
Some 4000families will be re-housed under the latest plan. [
The next 5-year plan involves a radical restructuring of the
economy. [ plan to do sth A government think-tank has been
asked to formulate a plan to tackle the problem. [ come up
with a plan We'll be facing bankruptcy within a year unless
one of you comes up with a plan. I plan for Hitler's plans
for invading England were dealt a severe blow by the RAF
in 1940. [ draw up plans (=make plans) The government has
already drawn up plans to deal with this kind of emergency.
policy/'p,osi II 'pfl:-/a plan or set of principles agreed
by the members of a government, a political group, a com-
pany etc, that says how they intend to deal with a particu-
lar subject or problem [n C/
Most large companies these days operate an equal opportu-
nities policy. ] It is not our policy to reveal our clients" names. [
US foreign policy [ policy on sth I totally disagree with the
government's policy on immigration. [ policy towards sb
European governments haven't yet agreed on their policy
towards the former Yugoslavia. [ policy of The government
will not abandon its policy of non-intervention in the
economy.
strategy /  strmtdsi/a carefully planned way of achiev-
ing a particular aim, for example success against an oppo-
nent in business, war, or politics, especially when this may
take a long time [n C/U/
He was heavily involved in formulating naval strategy
during the Second World War. [ Watt's job is to develop mar-
keting objectives and strategies. [ The rebels'strategy of guer-
rilla warfare has been remarkably successful.
blueprint /'blu:,prnt/a completely new plan for impor-
tant changes or ways of dealing with a problem [n C]
blueprint for Conservation groups have suggested a
blueprint for a 'Green World'. I The government regards any
attempt at social reform as a blueprint for a socialist state.
programme (British) l program (American) I'pmu-
greem/an important plan that continues over a long period
of time, especially one organized by a government or a
large organization, to develop a new product, provide a
service, or deal with a social problem [n C/
The government has launched a programme to help unem-
ployed young people find work. [ the US space program [ So
far the testing program for the drug has produced encourag-
ing results.
project/'prodsekt [[ 'pro:-/a planned activity that takes
place over a long period of time in order to build or produce
something new, or to deal with a particular problem [n C/
The project to build the dam lasted 10 years and cost over
$2 billion. [ The aim of the project is to encourage more people
from ethnic minorities to attend university. [ British
engineers working on construction projects in the area have
been told to leave for their own safety.
scheme/ski:m/a word used especially in British English
meaning an official plan that is intended to help people, for
example people who are very poor, without jobs, or who
need a better education [n C/
The government's Youth Training Scheme soon ran into
difficulties. I Adult literacy schemes have been run with great
success in the inner cities. I scheme to do sth Several organi-
zations run schemes to help women findjobs after their chil-
dren have started school.

PLAN 990 PLAN
6 a secret plan to do something bad or illegal
plot Intrigue
conspiracy scheme
plot/plot II pin:t/a secret plan to do something harmful to
a person or organization, especially a political leader or
government In C]
plot to do sth In 1971, the FBI uncovered a plot to assas-
sinate the President. [ plot It is thought that an extreme
Christian group was behind the plot.
conspiracy/kan'sprosi/a secret plan by two or more
people to do something bad, harmful, or illegal In C/U]
conspiracy against It seemed almost certain that there was
some kind of conspiracy against the elected government. [
conspiracy to do sth They were involved in a conspiracy
to defraud the company out of millions of pounds. [ con-
spiracy Smith pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy.
intrigue /'intri:g/ secret planning and arrangements,
agreed in order to gain advantages and power for yourself
In U]
The world of politics is a world of jealousy, deception and
intrigue. I He claims he is the victim of boardroom gossip and
intrigue.
scheme ]ski:m] a clever plan to do something bad or ille-
gal, especially one that you consider to be stupid or
unlikely to be successful In C]
He's always coming up with these dumb schemes for making
money that just land us in trouble.
7 a detailed plan that describes exactly what
will happen, and where and when it will
happen
plan
programme/program
schedule
plan Ipleen] In C usually singular]
When we arrived at the hotel we were given a detailed plan
of all the events for the coming week. I OK, you guys, here's
the plan.
programme (British) I program (American) /'prou-
grmm] a plan of the activities at an event such as a
ceremony, sports meeting, or performance, and of the order
in which they will take place In C]
The first event in today's sports programme is the women's
100 metres sprint. [ Before the conference began, we were
given details of the day's program.
schedule/'fedju:l II sked3ol,-d3al/a plan of what some-
one is going to do and when they are going to do it In C]
His schedule includes a two day stopover in Washington to
meet the President. [ I'm afraid she has a very busy schedule
at the moment and she doesn't have time for interviews. ]
tight schedule (=one that includes a lot of things that must
be done in a short time) We work to a very tight schedule
when filming, i light schedule (=one that is not very busy)
My schedule's pretty light next week - why don't we meet
sometime? i behind schedule (=later than the time
planned) Bad weather has again put the shuttle launch
behind schedule.I ahead of schedule (=before the time
planned) We've managed to finish paying off our debts a year
ahead of schedule.
8 someone who plans something
planner
architect
mastermind
planner I'pleenar/someone who works for a government
or a company, who tries to guess what will happen in the
future and who plans how future situations and problems
should be dealt with In CI
Economic plannersfear that there will be a 5% fall in real
incomes next year. l a corporate planner l Military planners
are warning against sudden cuts in defence spending.
architect I' a:rkItekt] the person who originally thought
of an important and successful plan, especially in politics
or business In C]
the architect of Beveridge is usually thought of as the
architect of the British National Health Service. [ the chief
architect of the election victory
mastermind /'rna:starmaInd [[ 'mes-/ a person who
cleverly plans a complicated operation, especially in order
to carry out a crime [n C]
the mastermind behind sth Andropoulos is the master-
mind behind a huge drug-smuggling operation. [ master-
mind The court heard that it was Mrs Robbins who was the
mastermind, not her husband.
9 ways of saying that something is being
planned
be in the pipeline
be afoot
be at the planning stage
be in the pipeline/bi: In 6a 'paiplain/if something such
as a new product or a change is in the pipeline, it is being
planned and prepared and it will be ready soon [v phrase]
We have carried out a lot of market research and now several
new products are in the pipeline. I There are one or two
important changes in the pipeline.
be afoot/hi: a'fot/if you think that something is afoot,
especially something dishonest or something that may
cause you trouble, you think it is being planned by other
people, but you cannot be really sure Iv phrase]
I suspected something was afoot when he asked me to lend
him my passport. I There seems to be some evil conspiracy
afoot between architects, planners and greedy developers.
be at the planning stage/bi: at 6a 'plmnlr3 ,steld3/if
something such as a product is at the planning stage, it
is being planned, but the final details have not yet been
decided Iv phrase]
I can "t tell you exactly what the terminal will look like - we're
still at the planning stage. I Advice Centres have been estab-
lished in several major cities, with four more at the planning
stage.
1 0 words for describing something that has been
planned
planned strategic
scheduled well-thought-out
planned/plmndl [adj]
Some people prefer a vacation that has a lot of planned
activities. [ Conservatives tend to be against a controlled or
planned economy.
scheduled /'fedju:ld [[ 'sked3old, -d3ald] planned to
happen at a particular time [adj]
No details of the four scheduled meetings were to be provided
to the press, i be scheduled to do sth King Hussein is sched-
uled to arrive at 10 am local time. [ scheduled for The play
was originally scheduled for October 1992, but had to be
cancelled.
strategic /stra'ti:dsIk/ strategic withdrawal/alli-
ance/response etc (=one that is done as part of a plan,
especially in a military, business, or political situation, in
order to get an advantage against your opponents) [adj]
The British army made a strategic withdrawal across the
Channel. [ The two countries agreed to join together in a stra-
tegic alliance.
strategically lady] My attacker had placed himself strateg-
ically between me and the door.
well.thought-out/,wel Oa:t 'auto/ something that is
well-thought-out has been carefully planned so that it will
work well and achieve its desired results [adj phrase]
All her arguments had been well-thought-out and
thoroughly prepared. I The result of the inquiry should
produce a comprehensive and well-thought-out aid proposal.

PLAN 991 PLAY A GAME OR SPORT
1 1 words for describing something that has not
been planned
unplanned not well thought out
impromptu ad hoc
spontaneous
unplanned I,^n'plandl [adj]
On the way we made an unplanned visit to my mother's. I
Very few burglaries are completely unplanned. I Figures
show that unplanned pregnancies among teenagers are
rising rapidly.
impromptu Iim'promptju: 11 im'pru:mptu:/impromptu
speech/performance/meeting/party/game etc (=done
or happening without any planning or preparation) [adj
usually before noun]
We finished the day with an impromptu game of football in
a nearby field. I Jem's impromptu speech met with thunder-
ous applause.
spontaneous/sponlteInias II spa:n-/something that is
spontaneous is done without having been planned,
because you suddenly feel that you want to do it [adj]
My parents never showed any kind of spontaneous affection. I
The audience broke into spontaneous applause. I Politicians
are saying that the riots were not spontaneous, but were care-
fully planned by activists.
spontaneously [adv ] Thousands of people have spontane-
ously donated money for famine relief.
spontaneity In U] /spota'ni:oti, -neIoti II spo:n-/ The
President's responses definitely seemed to lack spontaneity.
not well thought out InDt wel O:t 'aotl something that
is not well thought out has not been planned carefully
enough and therefore is unlikely to work well [adjphrase]
The route for the race had not been well thought out, and
caused traffic delays in many parts of the city. I It was a very
good idea but not very well thought out, so it would be
difficult to get financial backing.
ad hoc/ed'hok Ji -hu:k,-'hook/ad hoc meeting/dis-
cussion/committee etc (=one that has not been planned
or organized in advance) [adj phrase only before noun]
We have meetings every Monday but also ad hoc discussions
about other matters. I on an ad hoc basis (=when you need
to do it, not in a planned way) They use the services of a com-
puter programmer on an ad hoc basis.
1 2 to not plan what you are going to do, but just
decide when the time comes
take sth as it comes
play it by ear
live from day to day
take sth as it comes/,telk (sth) az It kAmz/ to not
worry about or plan for something that has not happened
yet, but decide what to do when it happens Iv phrase]
I always think the best way of approaching an interview is
to take it as it comes. I take things as they come "'How are
we going to cope with a reduced income? .... We'll just have
to take things as they come. "l take life as it comes He was
a carefree soul who believed in taking life as it came.
play it hҐ ear / plei it bal 'lot/to not make plans about
how to deal with a particular situation, but decide to wait
until it actually happens and hope that you will know what
to do then [v phrase]
We can't be sure how she'll react to ourproposals - we'll just
have to play it by ear. I We've booked the flight, but not the
accommodation - we'll play it by ear when we get there.
live from day to day/tllv from tdei to Idei/to not plan
very far in the future because you have too many problems
now to be able to think about what may happen later Iv
phrase]
I don't know if I'll be allowed to keep my kids - we're just
living from day to day. I There's nothing as depressing as
living from day to day with no purpose, as the unemployed
are forced to do.
planet: the planet WORLD 1
planned PLAN 10
planner PLAN 8
planners DESIGN 3
planning PLAN 1
planning stage: be at the planning stage PLAN 9
plans: have no plans to INTEND 2
plans: make plans for PLAN 1
plant GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 2, GUILTY
4, PUT 15, 19, 20
plastered COVER 3
plastered: smashed/plastered DRUNK 3
plate: hand sth to sb on a plate/on a silver platter
EASY 7
plate: have a lot on your plate PROBLEM 6
platitude SAYING 5
platonic SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 14
plausible BELIEVE 11
play DEAL WITH 3, PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 1, 2
play: bring sth into play USE STH
play: the state of play SITUATION 3
play a part CAUSE 12
play a role in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
play a trick/joke on sb JOKE
play against PLAY A GAME OR SPORT
play down UNIMPORTANT 4
play fair HONEST 2
play for money GAMBLE 1
play for time DELAY 4
play into sb's hands HELP 1
play no part in: take/have/play no part in TAKE
PART/BE INVOLVED 11
play on USE STH 4
play/play at PRETEND 9
play/play the part of ACTOR/ACTRESS 4
play safe CAREFUL 7
play sb off against ARGUE 4
play the fool STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 8
play the horses GAMBLE 1
play/toy with your food EAT 8
play up: act up/play up BEHAVE 3
play up/make great play of EMPHASIZE 1
play with HOLD 4
@ PLAY A GAME OR
SPORT
to play a game or do a sport
to play against someone else at a game or
sport
someone who plays a game or does a sport
a group of people who play together against
another group
I to play a game or do a sport
play
do
go
play Iplel/play football/tennis/golf/chess etc (=take
part in that sport or game) Iv T]
Laura plays golf in her spare time. I They spent the rest of
the night playing roulette. I It's a long time since I played
hockey.
do/du:/do gymnastics/karate/archery etc (=take part
in a sport that you have to learn and practise alone, either
for enjoyment or in order to become skilled enough to
compete in it) Iv T]

PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 992 point
She does aerobics three nights a week. I Jim's been doing
karate since he was seven. I He doesn't have time to do circuit-
training or anything like that.
go /gao/ go riding/skiing/jogging/hang-gliding etc
(=take part in a sport or activity, especially for enjoyment
and not in order to compete against people) [v I]
How often do you go swimming? I Jake used to go fishing
every weekend. I He had once gone wind-surfing in the South
of France.
2 to play against someone else at a game or
sport
play take on
play against give sb a game
play Iplc/ [v T not in passive]
play sb Barcelona will play Milan in the final. I play sb at
tennis/golf etc I'm playing Andy at tennis this afternoon.
play against / Iple agenst/to play against someone else
in a game, or to be part of a team that is playing against
another team [v T not in passive]
The Rams played against the Giants twice in three weeks. I
Last week I played against a team with two internationals
in it.
take on /Itek n II -'a:n/a British word meaning to play
against a person or team, especially one that will be
difficult to beat Iv T]
Tonight Jane Wilkes, a first-round qualifier, takes on the
world number one Monica Seles. I It was a shock when San
Rome took on and beat Juventus.
give sb a game /gIV (sb) a 'BetH/an informal British
word meaning to play a game against another person, espe-
cially when it is not a serious or important game [vphrase]
If you want to play chess ask Maria - she'll give you a game.
someone who plays a game or does a sport
player
sportsman/sportswoman
competitor
player/'plear/ someone who takes part in a game or
competition In C]
One of the players has been sent off the field. [ He is recog-
nized as the world's greatest chess player. [ The school has
a reputation for producing top-class football players.
sportsman/sportswoman /spa:rtsman, I spa:rts -
woman/someone who takes part in and is usually good at
sports, especially as a profession In C]
Sarah was an excellent sportswoman. She had played hockey
and tennis for her country. [ Tonight we remember one of the
greatest sportsmen of our time. [ The prizes are being
presented by sportswoman Tessa Sanderson.
competitor/kam pettar/someone who competes, espe-
cially against a lot of people, in a game or sport In C]
Our competitors tonight came from all over the world. [ The
competitors in the lOOm sprint are being asked to take their
places at the start.
4 a group of people who play together against
another group
team
side
squad
team Iti:m/a group of people who play together against
another group, especially when the number of players is
fixed by the rules of the sport In C with singular or plural
verb in Brtiish English]
There are nine players in a baseball team. I Both teams are
looking tired now. I play for a team Tim played for the
national youth team but never became a professional. l in
a team (British) / on a team (American) She was dating
Larry, a big hunk who was on the school basketball team.
side/sad/a British word meaning a sports team In C
with singular or plural verb]
They are playing today against one of the best sides in the
country. I I don't know which side I want to win.
squad/skwd II skwa:d/a group of players from which a
team will be chosen In C with singular or plural verb in
British English]
I hope I'm picked for the Olympic basketball squad. I Vivian
McGrath was the star of the 1938 Davis Cup squad.
player PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 3
playful JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 2
playing at: what are you/they etc playing at? DO 7
playing with fire RISK 5
plea ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 10
plead ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 7
plead not guilty INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 2
pleasant NICE 1, 2
pleasant/nice FRIENDLY 1
please HAPPY 10
pleased HAPPY 4, SATISFIED 1
pleased to do sth: be glad/happy/pleased to do sth
WILLING 1
pleased with: be pleased with PROUD 1
pleased with yourself PROUD 5
pleasing SATISFIED 3
pleasurable ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5
pleasure ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 5, 9
pleasure: take pleasure in ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4
pledge PROMISE 2, 5
plentiful LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4
plenty LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 9,
ENOUGH 7
plenty of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2, 4
plight SITUATION 5, SUFFER 3
plod WALK 4
plonk PUT 5
plop SOUND 16
plot PLAN 3, 6, STORY 6
plough into/plow into HIT/BUMP INTO 2
plough/plow DIG 1
plough through/plow through READ 5
play WAY/METHOD 5
pluck up the courage to do sth BRAVE 5
plug: pull the plug on STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 2
plug/give sth a plug ADVERTISE 1
plug/plug up SHUT/CLOSE 6
plumb EXACT 6
plummet FALL 8
plummet/plunge LESS 5
plump FAT 4, 5
plump for CHOOSE 2
plunge CAUSE 3, DOWN 6, FALL 8, PUSH 5
plunge: be plunged into darkness DARK 4
plunge: take the plunge RISK 3
plus COUNT/CALCULATE 4, MORE THAN A
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
plus/plus point GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 1
pluses and minuses ADVANTAGE 2
plush EXPENSIVE 3
pocket SMALL 3
pocket: have sb in your pocket CONTROL 4
pocket money MONEY 7
podgy/pudgy FAT 5
poignant EMOTIONAl_ 3
point DETAIL 1, END/POINT 1, LEVEL 1, MEANING
10, PLACE 2, POINT AT 1, PURPOSE 1,
SU BJ ECT 2
point: at one point ONCE 1
point: at that point THEN 1, 2
point: at what point WHEN 4
point: be beside the point CONNECTED WITH 9
point: drive the point home/drive home the point
EMPHASIZE 1
point: get/come to the point SUBJECT 4
point: I take your point ACCEPT 3
point: keep/stick to the point SUBJECT 4
point: make a point of DELIBERATELY 1
point: miss the point UNDERSTAND 11

point
point: moot point UNCERTAIN 4
point: plus/plus point GOOD POINT OR
CHARACTERISTIC 1
point: the main/key points MAIN 3
point: there's no point POINTLESS 2
point: to the point SUBJECT 4
point: up to a point PARTLY 1
point-blank: refuse point-blank REFUSE 2
point of contact CONNECTED WITH 7
point
point
point
point
point
of view OPINION 1, 5
out ATTENTION 7, POINT AT 1, SAY 1, SHOW/LET
SB SEE STH 4
the finger at ACCUSE 1
to SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 3, SHOW/LET SB SEE
STH 4
up EMPHASIZE 1
@ POINT AT
to point at someone or something with your
finger, in order to show which one you mean
1 to point at someone or something with your
finger, in order to show which one you mean
point gesture at/towards
indicate point out
point/pntl Iv I/T ]
point at '7"11 have that one, "" he said, pointing at a large
piece offish in the shop window. I The teacher pointed at her
and told her to come to the front of the class. I point to/
towards "That's Margo's bouquet, on the table. "" Mother
pointed to a massive bunch of spring flowers. I point Chil-
dren are taught that it's rude to point. I point your finger
Don't point your finger at me.
indicate / I indkeit/to show someone the person or thing
you mean in a more polite way than pointing, for example
by looking at them or moving your head slightly Iv T]
indicate sb/sth "Shall we go in here?" Calvin indicated the
cafe. [ "'I'd like you to meet Todd, "' he said indicating his
friend, who appeared to be the strong silent type. [ indicate
sb/sth to sb If any of the photographs looks like the man
who attacked you, please indicate it to me.
gesture at/towards/=d3estar et, towo:rdz/to point
towards a person or thing by holding out your arm towards
them instead of your finger Iv T]
"'Please sit down, "" said Winters, gesturing at the chair facing
his own. [ "Do you see all these people here?" She gestured
towards the hospital corridor and the wards.
point out / point aot/to show someone a person or thing,
especially one that they are interested to know about, by
pointing or holding out your arm [phr v T]
point out sb/sth John pointed out the building where he
worked. I point sb/sth it/her etc out She wanted to know
which was my car, so Ipointed it out to her. I point out sb/
sth to sb I asked him to point out his boss to me at the party.
993
pointed
pointedly
pointless
SHARP 2
DELIBERATELY 1
POINTLESS 1, PURPOSE 4
POINTLESS
POINTLESS
not worth doing because you will not gain
anything from it
I words for describing an action or attempt to
do something that does not achieve any
useful result, and so is not worth doing
2 ways of saying that it is pointless for someone
to do something because they will not
achieve anything by doing it
3 ways of saying that it is pointless to argue
with someone or try to persuade them or
explain something to them
4 words for describing an activity that is
pointless because you know that you will gain
nothing from doing it
1 words for describing an action or attempt to
do something that does not achieve any
useful result, and so is not worth doing
pointless be a waste of time
futile be a waste of effort
useless senseless
pointless I'pntlosl [adj]
it is pointless to do sth It is pointless to worry about the
future. I it is pointless doing sth He wanted to help, but
it was pointless risking his life to save a cat. I pointless
Unless sales increase dramatically, the advertising cam-
paign will have been a costly and pointless exercise.
pointlessly [adv] "When...? How... ?'" I stammered point-
lessly. I already knew the answers.
pointlessness [n U] Trevor began explaining the pointless-
ness of a classical education.
futile/' fju:tai1 [[ -tl/a futile effort or attempt to do some-
thing is completely pointless because there is no chance
of its being effective or successful [adj]
Kevin made one last futile attempt to persuade Sandra to go
with him, then left. [ All efforts to save the child proved futile.[
The refusal of either side to compromise could trigger a
totally futile confrontation. I it is futile to do sth Theprison
was on an island. It would have been futile to try to escape.
futility/fju:tilti/ In U] Wilfrid Owen's poems stress the
absolute futility of war.
useless /Iju:slas/an action that is useless is not worth
trying or is annoying because you cannot possibly get the
result you want from it [adj ot before noun]
it is useless to do sth I just can't talk to my wife about any-
thing these days, it's useless to even try. I useless The guide
explained that shouting was useless because no one would
hear us down in the caves.
uselessly [adv] Miss Carr shouted uselessly at the class in
an attempt to make them listen.
uselessness [n U] Simon realized the uselessness of trying
to explain what was in his mind.
be a waste of time/bi: a ,west av 'taim/if you say that
something is a waste of time, you mean that it is so point-
less that it is not worth spending any time doing it Iv
phrase]
be a complete/total waste of time These meetings are a
complete waste of time. Nothing ever gets decided. I it is a
waste of time doing sth It's a waste of time thinking about
how things might have been.
be a waste of effort/bi:  ,welst ov 'efrt/if you say
that something is a waste of effort, you mean that it is so
pointless that it is not worth putting any effort into doing
it [v phrase]

POINTLESS
It was a waste of effort trying to get Bob to change his mind. I
Watering the lawn turned out to be a waste of effort as it
rained immediately afterwards.
senseless ] I sensls] a crime or something bad that is
senseless seems to have no meaning or purpose and you
cannot understand why someone would do it [adj]
It was a senseless and cruel murder. I Smashing up trains
is such a senseless form of vandalism. I The suicide was
described as a senseless waste of a young woman's life.
senselessly [ adv ] How could you jeopardize your career so
senselessly?
senselessness In U] The public was shocked by the sense-
lessness of the crime.
J2 ways of saying that it is pointless for someone
to do something because they will not
achieve anything by doing it
there's no point it's not worth it
there's no sense in be wasting your time
it's no good/no use
it won't get you anywhere/do you any good
there's no point/6erz ,no 'pmt/
there's no point in doing sth There's nopoint in waiting.
The train's obviously gone. I I decided there was no point in
making a fuss about the broken plates. I there's no point
The prisoner thought of trying to escape, but there was no
point. There were armed guards everywhere. I can't see the
point Occasionally she asks for us to meet up but I can't
really see the point.
there's no sense in/6earz nao 'sens in/(used when
you think it is not sensible or wise to do something)
There's no sense in spending too much on baby clothes - they
grow out of them so quickly. I There's no sense in going back
to work before the doctor advised, you've got to recover
properly.
it's no good/no use/ts ,noo god, ,noo 'ju:s/ (used
when you think that doing something will not help to deal
with a problem)
Well, it's no good worrying about it now. Have another
whisky. I It's no use talking to me about interest rates and
mortgages - I find it all too confusing.
it won't get you anywhere/do you any good/t
wont get ju: 'eniwe r, du: ju: eni Igodl (used when you
think that someone will not be able to change a situation
or persuade someone by doing something)
You can try writing to the travel agency to complain, but it
won't do you any good. I Try to persuade her if you want, but
it won't get you anywhere.
it's not worth It/ItS nt)t w3zr0 It/(used when you think
that something someone wants to do is not important
enough to spend any time or money on)
Don't get angry. It's not worth it. [ "'You should have your
car serviced. "" "'It isn't worth it. I hardly ever drive now. ""
be wasting your time/bi: weistrj j3: r taIm/(used
when you think that someone should not spend their time
doing something because it will definitely not achieve any-
thing) Iv phrase]
You're wasting your time trying to start that car. The bat-
tery's completely flat. I Sam must be crazy, wasting his time
chasing that girl.
3 ways of saying that it is pointless to argue
with someone or try to persuade them or
explain something to them
it's like talking to a brick wall
be wasting your breath
till you're blue in the face
It's like talking to a brick wall/ItS laik ,t:kirj to a
,brik 'wad/if you say it's like talldng to a brick wall, you
mean that it is pointless to talk to, argue with, or try to per-
suade someone because they do not listen to you or pay
attention to what you are saying
994
polite
I wouldn't bother arguing with Francis - it's like talking
to a brick wall. I Don't even try to talk to Jody when she's
watching television - it's like talking to a brick wall.
be wasting your breath/bi: ,weist j3: r 'breO/ifyou
say you are wasting your breath, you mean that it is not
worth the effort of persuading, arguing with or telling
someone something because they will ignore you [vphrase]
It's no good trying to make Kit change her mind -you'd just
be wasting your breath. I He's wasting his breath. There's
no way they "re going to lend him the money.
till you're blue in the face/td ja: r blu: n 6a 'fes/if
you say you can talk, argue etc with someone till you're
blue in the face, you mean that even if you talk or argue
with them for a very long time it is pointless because they
will not listen or understand [adv phrase]
You can tell Richard that smoking's bad for him till you "re
blue in the face - he won't give up. I I argued with Sara till
I was blue in the face but she would insist on putting up those
awful curtains.
words for describing an activity that is
 pointless because you know that you will gain
nothing from doing it
unrewarding unprofitable
doesn't pay be a mug's game
unrewarding /tAnrIwo:rdIB-/ pointless because you
know that you will gain nothing, especially after spending
a lot of time or effort on something [adj]
Trying to teach kids who just don't want to learn is so
unrewarding. I The search for new drugs can be a slow and
often unrewarding process.
doesn't pay /IdAzant pei/ if you say that doing some-
thing doesn't pay, you mean that it is not worth doing
because you will not gain the advantage from it that you
thought you would Iv phrase]
In the tough world of city finance, loyalty simply doesn't pay.
No one will thank you for it. [ It's not always true that crime
doesn't pay. [ it doesn't pay to do sth One expert's advice
is "'Don "t grovel. It doesn "t pay to be too humble in an inter-
view or you could look like a loser. ""
unprofitable /AnprofItabal II-pra:-/ a formal word
meaning bringing no advantage or gain [adj]
I don't want to get involved in unprofitable speculation about
the future of the program. [All Miss Reece's attempts to meet
a man at parties, dances, classes and the like had proved
unprofitable.
be a mug's game/bi: a 'm^gz geim/if you say that
something is a mug's game, you mean that it is not worth
doing and stupid to attempt Iv phrase]
The others told me that gambling was a mug's game, but I
was determined to try it. [ Taking drugs is a mug's game -
don't start!
points: good points CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3
poise GRACEFUL 3
poised BALANCE 1
poison SPOIL 3
HARM/BE BAD FOR 4
poisonous
poke fun at MAKE FUN OF 1
poke/give a poke PUSH 4
poke out STICK OUT 1, 4
poke/stick your nose in INTERFERE 1
poker-faced EXPRESSION ON SB'S FACE 3
poky/pokey SMALL 4
pole: not touch sth with a barge pole/ten-foot pole
REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 2
poles apart: be worlds apart/be poles apart
DIFFERENT 2
police state GOVERNMENT 4
policy OPINION 4, PLAN 5
polish CLEAN 5
polish off DRINK 3, EAT 6, FINISH DOING STH 1
polished SHINY 1
polite POLITE 1, 2

POLITE 995 POLITE
@ POLITE
someone who is polite speaks and behaves in
a way that is correct for the social situation
they are in, and is careful to consider other
people's needs and feelings
1 words for describing someone who is polite
2 careful not to do or say anything that will
upset or embarrass other people
3 behaving in a very polite and formal way,
especially when this is not necessary
4 polite behaviour
5 words for describing children who behave
politely and well
6 polite, confident, and relaxed, but in a rather
insincere way
1 words for describing someone who is polite
polite courteous
have good manners civil
well-mannered respectful
polite IPa'laItl [adj]
When I first met him he seemed such a polite young man. [
It is not considered polite to ask a lady how old she/s. [ polite
to She's always extremely polite to me, but I never know what
she's really thinking. [ make polite conversation (=talk
politely about unimportant things, especially to someone
you do not know very well) Karen was in the dining room
making polite conversation with David's parents.
politely lady] He politely refused her offer, saying that he
didn't want to trouble her any further.
have good manners/hev ,god Imenarz/someone who
has good manners is always careful to behave according
to the accepted rules of social behaviour [v phrase not in
progressive]
We need someone who looks clean and neat and has good
manners. [ He was one of those people that everyone's mother
seemed to like - he had such impeccable good manners.
well.mannered/Iwel menrd-/someone who is well-
mannered has good manners, and always knows the
correct way to behave in social situations [adjl
Henry was a typical Oxford man - well-mannered, easy-
going, and very sure of himself. [ The children were good
little things, well mannered, and beautifully dressed.
cougteous I ka:rtias/polite and considering the needs of
other people, especially in formal situations when you do
not know the other people well [adj]
Airline staff must be courteous at all times, even when pas-
sengers are not. I I received a courteous letter from Jane's
mother thanking me for my help. I courteous to He was
always kind and courteous to me, but we never really became
friends.
courteously lady] Customers are always treated court-
eously in our stores.
civil !  sival! polite in a rather formal way, without neces-
sarily being friendly [adj]
I expect a civil answer when I ask you a question. I civil to/
towards I wish you'd be a little more civil towards our
guests.
civilly [adv] She tried to speak to him civilly, in spite of the
bitterness that she still felt towards him.
civility/s vflti/[n U] Throughout my stay on the island
I was treated with the utmost civility (=extremely civilly)
by everyone there.
respectful/ri ' spektfal/showing proper respect for some-
one who is older than you, has a higher position than you
etc [adj]
They waited in respectful silence as the funeral procession
went past. [ respectful to/towards If children were taught
to be more respectful towards their elders, maybe these crimes
wouldn't happen so often.
2 careful not to do or say anything that will
upset or embarrass other people
tactful discreet
diplomatic polite
tactful I 'taktfall [adj]
I wish you'd be more tactful - didn't you realize she was
divorced? [ tactful about My parents tried to be tactful
about my new boyfriend, but I knew they didn't like him. [
tactful with sb Don't worry, I'll be very tactful with him. [
it is tactful of sb to do sth It wasn't very tactful of you to
mention her husband's death.
tactfully [adv ] "Well, that's certainly an interesting sugges-
tion, "" Henriker said tactfully.
diplomatic/dpla Immtlk/skilful in the way that you
deal with other people, and carefully avoiding saying any-
thing that might offend or annoy them [adj]
A good secretary needs to be efficient, and above all diplD-
matic. [ diplomatic about I tried to be as diplomatic as I
could about the money she owed me.
diplomatically [adv] My father suggested diplomatically
that becoming an astronaut might not be as easy as I
thought.
discreet/dr ' skri:t/someone who is discreet is careful not
to say anything that willembarrass another person, espe-
cially by making sure that secret or private information
does not become generally known [adj]
Doctors and lawyers have to be discreet in their work. [
Andrew's very discreet - he won't tell anyone you're leaving. [
We offer a discreet and personal service to our clients.
discreetly [adv] The lawyer murmured discreetly that he
would like to speak to her alone.
polite/pa'lalt/careful not to offend someone, especially
by not being completely honest when telling them what you
think about something [adj]
Did you mean what you said about my dress, or were you just
being polite? [ polite about He was very polite about my per-
formance, but I could tell from his expression that he was
disappointed.
politely [adv] When she asked what I thought of the meal
I lied politely and said it tasted really good.
3 behaving in a very polite and formal way,
especially when this is not necessary
formal
correct
stiff
formal I'f:rmall [adj]
Our boss is very formal, he doesn't call anyone by their first
name. I A lot of people found my father rather formal and
aloof, particularly when they first met him. I You shouldn't
use 'Yours faithfully'- it's much too formal for this kind of
letter.
formally [adv] He stood by the door to welcome the guests,
bowing formally to each one in turn.
correct Ik  rekt/polite and strictly following the rules of
social behaviour, but often in a way that seems unneces-
sary [adj not usually before noun]
Andrew's marriage proposal was very correct and proper. I
One must be correct about these things, mustn't one?
stiff/stlf/very formal and difficult to talk to, in a way that
makes other people feel uncomfortable [adj not usually
before noun]
She gives the impression of being rather stiff and unfriendly,
but I think that's because she's basically shy. I Their good-
byes were stiff and formal.
stiffly lady] Dr Aziz replied stiffly, "7 do not consider Mrs
Moore my friend. ""
4 polite behaviour
politeness
manners
courtesy
tact
formality

POLITE
politeness/pa'laitns/In U]
During my stay in Japan, I was treated with great politeness
by everyone I met. I American businessmen were surprised
that their French colleagues wanted to shake hands each
morning, a formal sign of politeness in the US. I out of
politeness (=simply in order to be polite) Do you really
want to know, or were you just asking out of politeness?
manners / Imenarz/polite ways of behaving that parents
teach their children for situations such as eating, meeting
people, or asking for something In plural]
I wish she'd teach that boy of hers some manners! I it is good
manners (to do sth) (=it is polite to do something) You
should always say "please'" and "'thank you", it's only good
manners. I It wouldn't be good manners to leave so soon -
the party has only just started. I table manners (=behav-
iour when eating) Our kids" table manners are appalling
- half the food never reaches their mouths.
courtesy/'k3:rtosi/polite behaviour that pays attention
to the needs of other people, especially people you do not
know well In U]
Businessmen value the service and courtesy offered by tradi-
tional hotels. I The taxi driver treated all his passengers with
the same cheerful courtesy. I out of courtesy (=simply in
order to be polite) I don't think she wanted us to come and
stay with her, she just offered out of courtesy. I have the
courtesy to do sth (=used especially when you are
annoyed with someone who has behaved impolitely) I wish
he'd had the courtesy to tell me when he was coming back.
tact/tekt/the quality of being polite and careful about
what you say, in order to avoid making other people feel
embarrassed or upset In U]
Helping people who have marriage problems requires a
great deal of tact and patience. I I wish you'd used a little
more tact when you told her about her cat dying.
formalily/f3:r  melti/a polite and rather formal way of
behaving, which avoids being too friendly In U]
The following morning, Mr Harrison greeted her with care-
ful formality. I When I re-read my letter I saw that I had writ-
ten it with a formality I did not intend.
5 words for describing children who behave
politely and well
well-behaved
good
well-brought up
well.behaved/,wel b 'hevd-/[adj]
He was a thoughtful, kind, and well-behaved boy. J Their
children are too well-behaved - it seems unnatural. I He was
quieter than his older brother and far better behaved.
good/god/a child who is good behaves in a polite, obe-
dient and helpful way [adj]
She's a good girl - I'm sure she won't give you any trouble. I
What good children - they went to bed as soon as I told them
to! I If you are good you can stay up till eight o'clock tonight.
well-broughl up ] wel br3:t  ^p-! a child or young adult
who is well-brought up always behaves well because their
parents have taught them to be polite [adj phrase]
David is very well-brought up but he tends to get too excited
at parties. I They are well-brought-up children, and have a
great respect for their teachers.
6 polite, confident, and relaxed, but in a rather
insincere way
smooth
suave
smooth/smu:6/someone who is smooth, especially a
man, has good manners and a relaxed, confident way of
talking to people, but in a way that you do not completely
trust radii
Smooth and charming, Francis was the kind of man your
mother would love you to marry. I Don't let his smooth
manner fool you - he's just after your money.
996
pollution
suave Iswo:v/very polite, pleasant and stylish, especially
in a way that is intended to be attractive to women [adj]
Reginald was suave, handsome and charming. I He was tall
and suave, careful in dress, careful in behaviour.
politeness POLITE 4
politician POLITICS 3
politics POLITICS 1
@ POLITICS
1 words meaning politics
2 connected with politics
3 someone who works in politics
1 words meaning politics
politics
party politics
politics I'pDltIks JJ 'po:-/ ideas and activities that are
concerned with the gaining and using of government
power in a country, city etc In U]
She takes a lively interest in politics and current affairs. I
Thomson has always been deeply involved in local politics. [
The University runs a course in American politics and
government. I left wing politics I go into/enter politics
(=begin to work or be active in politics) Marshall didn'tgo
into politics until he was over forty.
party politics /,po:rti 'poltIks Jl-'pod-/ political
activity involving official political organizations that have
their own ideas and aims, and that compete against each
other in order to gain power In U]
Most of the people questioned thought that unions should not
get involved in party politics. I The guests could talk about
nothing but party politics and their political careers.
2 connected with politics
political
political Ip ' htIkall [ adjl
Political activity tends to be discouraged in most work-
places. I Revelations of an affair brought his political career
to an end in 1983. I Political power remains in the hands of
the white minority.
politically [adv] As a nation, it is politically and economi-
cally unstable. I Criticizing the communist party soon
became politically unacceptable.
3 someone who works in politics
politician
statesman/stateswoman
politician/,pDl'tlJn II ,po:-/In C]
She's a very clever politician. I a meeting between local
politicians and business people I On the TV was some minor
politician talking about interest rates.
statesmanlstateswoman / steItsmon, ' steitswomon/
an important and very experienced politician who is
admired and respected both in their own country and in
other countries In C]
European statesmen are meeting in Paris today to discuss
the situation in what was Yugoslavia. [ She has become a
stateswoman of international stature.
poll ASK A QUESTION 2, 8, VOTE/ELECT 8
polling VOTE/ELECT 1
polling day VOTE/ELECT 5
polls VOTE/ELECT 5
polls: go to the polls VOTE/ELECT 1
pollute DIRTY 5
polluted DIRTY 2
pollution DIRTY 6

poltergeist
poltergeist GHOST 1
poltical POLITICS 2
pompous PROUD 7
ponder THINK ABOUT 5
pong SMELL 3, 5
pool AMOUNT 5, SHAFIE 3
pooped/tuckered out TIRED 1
poor BAD 2, BAD AT 1, GFIOW PLANTS,
VEGETABLES ETC 5, POOR 1, SYMPATHIZE 5
poor: the poor POOR 4
poor/bad BIGHT 5
poor health: be in poor health iLL 3
poor people POOR 4
poor taste: in poor/bad taste RUDE/IMPOLITE 5
@ POOR
1 having very little money and few possessions
2 words for describing people who have fewer
chances in life than other people because
they are poor
3 having very little money at the present time
4 poor people
5 to become poor
6 the situation or experience of being poor
7 an area of a city where poor people live
1 having very little money and few possessions
poor
badly off
needy/in need
impoverished
poor Ipor/[adj]
penniless
poverty-stricken
destitute
down-at-heel
We were so poor we couldn't afford to eat more than one meal
a day. I I'm just a poor farmer, how can Ipay that much
money for my daughter's wedding?] She was born in a poor
district of Chicago in 1925. ] People who live in poor coun-
tries have a much lower life expectancy. I These cuts will hit
the poorest members of society.
badly off /bdli f] a British expression meaning
having less money than most other people [adj not usually
before noun]
My parents were not really badly off- they both had full-
time jobs. I She was quite badly off for a while after her hus-
band died. I We were pretty poor but most of our friends were
even worse off.
needy/in need/'ni:di, in 'ni:d/families, children etc,
who are needy or in need do not have enough money to
buy food, clothes etc and they need and deserve help [adj]
More aid should be given to needy families, instead of wast-
ing huge sums of money on tax-cuts for the rich. I The fund
was established to help needy widows whose husbands had
died in the war. I All profits from the concert will go to help
children in need. I the needy (=needy people) It was fairly
common in Victorian times for middle-class women to work
among the needy in the big industrial cities.
Impoverished /im'pDvarQ't a formal word
meaning poor, used especially about people or places that
were not poor in the past [adj]
His family became so impoverished they were forced to sell
the farm. I All there was in the region was dry soil and
impoverished villages.
penniless/'penflos/a word used especially in literature
or stories meaning very poor [adj]
When I first met him he was a penniless shoeshine boy in
Harlem. I Montmartre was full of penniless artists desper-
ate to sell their work. I Her father died leaving them
penniless.
poverty-stricken/tpovorti tstrlk)n II 'pro-/a poverty-
stricken place or group of people is extremely poor and is
suffering as a result of this [adj usually before noun]
997
POOR
In the 1960s planners dreamed of creating model cities which
would transform poverty-stricken neighborhoods. I His
photographs show vividly the lives of poverty-stricken fami-
lies in the Gorbals area of Glasgow.
destitute/'dest ]otju:t II -tu:t/having no money or posses-
sions, and often nowhere to live, especially when there
seems to be no possibility of improving the situation [adj]
The rest of her family all died in a smallpox epidemic, leav-
ing her destitute. I In 1860 he set up a home for orphans and
destitute children.
down-at-heel / daon t hi:l-/someone who is down-at-
heel is poor and looks poor, for example, because their
clothes and shoes are old and in a bad condition [adj]
R was sad to see her looking so down-at-heel and helpless. I
I wouldn't have thought a guy likeyou would want to be seen
with a down-at-heel private eye like me.
2 words for describing people who have fewer
chances in life than other people because
they are poor
disadvantaged
underprivileged
deprived
disadvantaged / ,dls)d'vo:ntld3d II -'vmn-/a word used
especially in social or political contexts: people or groups
that are disadvantaged have less chance of being success-
ful in life because they are poor [adj]
Like many other disadvantaged groups in Britain, black
people have little representation in Parliament. I The pro-
gram is aimed at helping disadvantaged children in inner-
city neighborhoods.
underprivileged /tAnd) rtpr;vIlld3d/ having little
money, bad living conditions, and little chance of being
successful in life [adj]
Princess Anne has done much to help underprivileged chil-
dren all over the world.
deprived/dI praIvd/deprived area/background (=one
where the people are poor, the housing conditions are bad,
and there is little chance of getting a good education or a
job) [adj usually before noun]
Children growing up in deprived areas are far more likely
to turn to crime and drug abuse. I Girls from deprived back-
grounds often become pregnant at an early age.
3 having very little money at the present time
hard up skint
broke be down on your luck
hard up /,ho:rd 'Ap-/having little money at the present
time and being unable to buy the things that you need [adj
phrase not before noun]
I'd really like to buy some new clothes, but we're a bit hard
up at the moment. ] I can't believe that she's working in the
evenings on top of her normal job - she must be really hard
up.
broke /brook/ an informal word meaning having no
money at the moment [adj not before noun]
When I was a student I was so broke I had to live on baked
beans on toast the whole time. I flat/stony broke
(=completely broke) He turned up at my house yesterday, flat
broke and hungry.
sklnt/sknt/an informal British word meaning having no
money at all at the moment [adj not before noun]
I'm really skint - you couldn't lend me a few pounds could
you? I At that time I was skint and I would have taken any
job I could get.
be down on your luck/bi: daon n ja: r l^k/an infor-
mal expression meaning to have had a lot of bad luck over
a period of time so that you now have very little money
Iv phrase]
When you "re down on your luck you find out who your
friends are. I We bought the necklace from an old man who
was down on his luck and in need of a penny or two.

POOR 998 POPULAR
4 poor people
poor people
the poor
the have-nots
poor people/'po r ,pi:pl/[n plural]
The company takes advantage of poor people by offering
loans at very high rates of interest.
the poor/5 I po r] a word used especially in social or
political contexts meaning all the poor people in a society
[n plural]
Finding adequate housing for the poor has been one of the
city council's priorities. I The poor always suffer worst in a
recession.
the have-nots/5 'hmv nots/the people in society who
are poor and have very few possessions compared to people
who have a high income and own property, cars etc [n
plural]
Society seems to be increasingly divided into the haves and
have-nots - with most of the have-nots living in the North.
5 to become poor
fall on hard times
fall on hard times/,f:l on huzrd 'taImzl to lose your
money, job, possessions etc and become poor [v phrase]
Many of the girls are from middle class families who have
fallen on hard times. I After the war my father fell on hard
times and sank deeply into debt.
6 the situation or experience of being poor
poverty
poverty/'povarti II 'po:-/[n U]
Engels was shocked by the poverty he saw in the slums of
Manchester. I abject/grinding poverty (=extreme
poverty) In spite oft heir abject poverty the local people are
friendly and cheerful. I live in poverty Like many of his
fellow poets he lived in poverty throughout his life.
7 an area of a city where poor people live
slum
ghetto
shanty town
slum/sl^ml an area or a group of houses where very poor
people live, which is very dirty, in bad condition and has
too many people living in it [n C]
My father grew up in a New York slum. I The slums are to
be pulled down and the families will be rehoused on the other
side of the city.
ghetto/'getao/an area in a city where a group of poor
people live, especially people who are all of the same race,
religion, or nationality [n C]
He was born in the ghetto in Harlem in 1928. I The murder
rates are even worse in inner city ghettos. I The picture is of
a Jewish boy photographed in 1943 in the Warsaw ghetto.
shanty town/'enti taon/an area, especially outside a
large city, where many poor people have built temporary
huts, because they are too poor to afford real houses [n C]
The boy lived in the shanty town behind De Beers farm. I
Overcrowded slums and shanty towns nestle close to high-
rise multi-storey office buildings.
poorly ILL 1
pop PUT 5
Pop FATHER 2
pop in/pop by VISIT 2
pop out/step out lEAVE A PLACE 5
pop the question MARRY 3
popular LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 8, CLASS
IN SOCIETY 4, POPULAR 1, 2
POPULAR
liked by a lot of people
I words for describing someone that a lot of
people like
2 words for describing an activity, product, or
performer that a lot of people like and want to
do, buy, see etc
3 a book, film, song etc that is very popular
4 to make something popular
5 words for describing someone who is not
popular
6 words for describing an activity, product, or
method that is not popular
1 words for describing someone that a lot of
people like
popular
well-liked
be in favour/favor
popular/'popjUlo r II 'pu:-I [adj]
Lisa's the most popular girl in school. I popular with sb
Senator McKenzie has always been popular with journalists.
popularity/popjlarti II PU:-/[n U] Margaret always
resented her sister's popularity.
well-liked /wel Ilaikt-/ popular and having a lot of
friends [adj not before noun]
She's a cheerful, good-natured girl, well-liked by all the
people she works with. I As a politician, he may lack
experience, but he's very well-liked.
be in favour (British) I favor (American)/bi: In 'fe;var/
if someone is in favour people like them and approve of
them at the present time [v phrase]
Suzannah and I are both in favour at work at the moment. I
be back in favour (=be in favour again) It looks as ifJoey,
her old boyfriend, is back in favor again. I be in favour
with Her fresh approach to environr,ental issues makes her
very much in favor with young voters.
2 words for describing an activity, product, or
performer that a lot of people like and want to
do, buy, see etc
popular sought-after
be in demand be big
popular/'popjoOl r II 'PG:-/[adj]
Baseball is one of America's most popular games. I Small
and economical, the new model VW continues to be extremely
popular. I Madonna was one of the most successful and
popular rock-stars of the 80s. I popular with Video games
are very popular with children these days.
popularity/,popjlmrIti II ,pu:-/[n U] The popularity of
home computers has increased dramatically in recent years.
be In demand/bi: in dimo:nd II -Immnd/if something
such as a product or skill is in demand, it is considered
to be very valuable and a lot of people want to have it or
use it [v phrase]
Big country houses are no longer in demand. I be in great
demand/be much in demand Skilled mechanics are very
much in demand.
sought-after/'sa:t o:fto r II -,  f-/wanted a lot by many
people, but very rare and difficult to find [adj]
much sought after/highly sought after Early records by
the band are much sought after and can fetch very high
prices.
be big/hi: b;g/an informal expression: if someone such
as a singer or writer, or a type of product is big in a partic-
ular place, they are very popular there [v phrase]
You don't hear much of him in this country, but apparently
he's very big in Italy and Spain.

POPULAR 999 POSITION/RANK
3 a book, film, song etc that is very popular
best-seller
blockbuster
hit
Grammar-based language teaching was out of favour in the
1960s and 70s, but it's starting to come back into fashion
now. I go out of favour with (=become out of favour with
someone) Socialist policies went out of favour with many
voters because they were thought to be too costly to maintain.
best-seller /,best 'solar/ a very popular book that is
bought by more people than most other books in C]
Jackie Collins" latest book looks certain to be a bestseller.
bestselling [adj] bestselling novelist Celia Brayfield, author
of 'Pearls"
blockbuster/'blok,bAst r 11 'blo:k-/a book or film that
is extremely popular, especially one that has a lot of excit-
ing action in it in C]
She starred as A1 Pacino's partner in the blockbuster
"Scarface:
hit/hit/something such as a piece of music, a film, or a
play that is extremely popular, that most people know
about, and that is likely to be remembered in C]
When I first heard the record, I knew it would be a hit. [ a
big hit/a smash hit The movie was a big hit in America
when it first came out. [ hit musical/song/record etc
While we were in London, we bought tickets for the hit
musical "Cats'.
4 to make something popular
popularize
popularize (also -Ise British)/'popjUlaraiz II 'po:-I iv T]
Self-service supermarkets were first popularized by business-
man Clarence Saunders. I Most attempts to popularise
science and technology have failed.
 words for describing someone who is not
popular
unpopular
be out of favour/favor
unpopular/^n'popjla r II-'pc:-/[adj]
The government is more unpopular now than it has been for
years. I Mr Venables must be the most unpopular teacher in
school. [ unpopular with sb Taylor wasn't a successful
coach. He was unpopular with players and fans alike.
unpopularity I,^npDpjU'laerti 11-pc:p-/ in U] He's too
scared of unpopularity to say what he really thinks
be out of favour (British) I favor (American)/bi: ,act
av ' fevar/if someone is out of favour, they are no longer
liked, for example by their employers, teachers, or by the
people who voted for them iv phrase]
be out of favour with sb I'm out of favour with the boss
popularize POPULAR 4
populated LIVE SOMEWHERE 6
populated: be populated by LIVE SOMEWHERE 5
population COUNTRY/NATION 4, LIVE SOMEWHERE 8,
PERSON/PEOPLE 3
pore over READ 4
porn SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
pornographic SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
pornography SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
porous HOLE 7
portable CARRY 4
portion AMOUNT 3, PART 1, SHARE 6
portly FAT 1
portrait PICTURE 3
portray ACTOR/ACTRESS 4
portray sb/sth as DESCRIBE 3
portrayal DESCRIBE 4
pose a threat DANGEROUS 2, RISK 8
pose as PRETEND 2
pose problems PROBLEM 9
poseur .SHOWOFF2
posh CLASS IN SOCIETY 2, EXPENSIVE 3
position JOB/WORK 6, OPINION 4, PLACE 1,
POSITION/RANK 1,2, PUT2, 12, SITUATION 3, 5
position: be in a position to do sth CAN 5
position: be in position PLACE 9
position: be out of position PLACE 10
position: not be in a position to do sth CAN'T 4
position: take up position PLACE 9
position of strength: be in a strong position/a
position of strength ADVANTAGE 3
position of trust: be in a position of trust/responsibility
RESPONSIBLE 1
[position 1
at the moment - I think that's why I didn't get the promo-
tion. I fall out of favour (=become out of favour) Once a
presidential candidate falls out of favour, it's very difficult
for them to regain popularity.
6 words for describing an activity, product, or
method that is not popular
unpopular
there's no demand
be out of favour/favor
unpopular/^n'popjUl r II-'pro-/[adj]
The poll tax was so unpopular that the government had to
abandon it. I unpopular with sb Products made from real
fur are extremely unpopular with young people.
unpopularity/,^npopjU'laerlti II -pc:/in U] the unpopular-
ity of the law
there's no demand/6earz ,nao di'mo:nd II-'mand/if
there is no demand for a product or service people do not
want to buy it
there's no demand for sth There's no demand for heavy
immovable furniture any more. I there's no demand We
stopped selling cloth diapers - there was no demand.
be out of favour (British) I favor (American)/bi: ,act
av 'fevar/methods, ideas etc that are out of favour are
no longer fashionable or popular, because people do not
think they are effective iv phrase]
POSITION/RANK
someone's position in an organization or in
society
the numbered position of someone or
something in a competition, race, list etc
to be in a particular position in a competition,
race, list etc
a number of positions that something can be
placed on according to how high or low it is

POSITION/RANK 1000 possible
1 someone's position in an organization or in
society
position status
level standing
rank
position Ip'zfn/In C]
Teachers are in a position of both authority and trust. I This
book examines women's position in society from a feminist
point of view. I hold a position How could someone hold-
ing such a high position in the BBC be classed as a freelance
employee?l abuse your position (=to dishonestly use the
fact that you are in a position of trust, authority etc to get
advantages for yourself) Chambers blatantly abused his
position of company chairman by promoting personal
friends and family members.
level ]1 lewl] one of the official positions within an organi-
zation, among a set of positions of increasing importance
or authority [n C]
In this company there are four levels of senior management. I
Kerry was able to communicate easily with people at all
levels. I Top salaries are high, but wages for those below
management level are very low.
rank ]rakJ someone's position within an organization
that has a very clear, fixed structure of positions of increas-
ing importance and authority, for example the army or the
police In C]
A captured soldier will give his name, rank and serial
number and nothing more. I She joined the police force in
1990 and quickly rose to the rank of sergeant. I top rank
(=belonging to the highest ranks in an organization) a hotel
suite reserved for royalty and top rank government officials
status 1' ste[t[[ I steitas, 'ste-/someone's position within
an organization or within society, based on how important
they are considered to be In U]
Terri's very aware of her status within the company, and is
always trying to improve it. I low/high status This is a
relatively low status job, but it involves a lot of hard work.I
the high status accorded to priests and other religious figures
standing/'suendr/someone's position within society or
a particular area of activity, based on the respect and admi-
ration that other people have for them In singular U]
Stefano's standing as an artist had improved over the past
few years. I Graduates from certain colleges have a lower
standing in the eyes of employers. I a man of standing and
wealth
 the numbered position of someone or
something ifl a competition, race, list etc
position
place
ranking
position/p'zfan/In C]
Schoolchildren used to be variously rewarded or punished,
according to their position in the class. [ What position did
she finish the race in? [ first/fourth etc position Jonson
is in third position after the first part of the competition.
place/ples/the position that someone achieves, espe-
cially in a race or competition, based on how well they per-
form against the others taking part In C]
Manchester United go up two places after their win at Liver-
pool. [ first/third/eighth etc place The horse I was bet-
ting on finished in second place. [ Victoria took first place
in a national essay writing competition.
ranking/ rerjklrj/the numbered position of someone in
a sport, especially based on their performance in the previ-
ous year In C]
In 1992 Jim Courier had the number one ranking in world
tennis. [ At the end of this event, Davies is sure to have moved
up a place in the world rankings.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
3 to be in a particular position in a competition,
race, list etc
rank
be first/second etc
be ranked first/second etc
rank/rmnk] Iv I not in progressive]
rank first/fourth/eighth etc Chris Dittmar has ranked
in the top ten of world squash players since 1985. I rank
among/as etc Faldo ranks among the world's best golfers.
be first/second etc/bi: (first, etc)/to be first, second
etc in a competition, race, or list Iv phrase]
be first/second etc in Christie was first in the lOOm final. [
be first/second etc on I'm second on the list for an inter-
view with the manager. [ Single young people are very low
down on public housing waiting lists.
be ranked first/second etc Ibi: rerkt (first, etc)/to
be first, second etc in a list, especially one based on qual-
ity, or your ability [v phrase]
She was beaten by someone who was ranked only 200th in
the world. I The name Scott was ranked 5th in a list of the
most popular boys" names of 1991.
4 a number of positions that something can be
placed on according to how high or low it is
scale
scale/skefl/[n C]
Women are often found near the bottom of the pay scale in
large organizations. [ Salaries will be towards the higher
end of the scale for experienced teachers. [ What's the name
of the scale they use for grading reading ability?
positive SURE 1
positively COMPLETELY 1
possess HAVE 1, 4, OWN 1
possession: come into sb's possession GET 6
possession: have sth in your possession HAVE 2,
OWN 1
possession: keep possession of KEEP/CONTINUE TO
HAVE 1
possessions OWN 6
possessive JEALOUS 1
possibility POSSIBLE 2
possibility: be a strong possibility PROBABLY 1
possibility: there's a possibility POSSIBLE 2
possible POSSIBLE 1, 2
possible: it is possible MAYBE 1
possible: it is possible for sb to do sth CAN 3
possible: make it possible CAN 7
possible: make possible POSSIBLE 3
possible: not be possible for sb to do sth CAN'T 3
possible: not possible IMPOSSIBLE 1, 3
[possible I

POSSIBLE 1001 POSSIBLE
POSSIBLE
ways of saying something can be done or can
happen
1 words for describing something that can be
done
2 words for describing something that can
happen
8 ways of saying that a situation, event, process
etc makes it possible for something to
happen or to be done
1 words for describing something that can be
done
possible attainable
can be done doable
feasible practical
practicable viable
workable
possible/Iposbal II 'po=-/[adj]
it is possible to do sth Is itpossible topredict what's going
to happen in Russia? I It's still possible to make a bit of money
if you invest wisely. I possible The committee has considered
all the possible options. I everything possible (=everything
that can possibly be done) Everything possible is being done
to save your husband's life. I if possible (=if it is possible
to do it) I'd like you all to arrive on time if possible.[ as
soon/quickly/accurately etc as possible You should see
a doctor as soon aspossible. I strongest/greatest etc pos-
sible I want to make the strongest possible protest about the
behaviour of the police.
possibly [adv] It was the best vacation you could possibly
imagine.
possibility /pos] Ibilgti [I ,po:-/In U] I'm exploring thepos-
sibility of renewing my contract (=whether it is possible to
renew it).
can be done/kan bi: dAn/ Iv phrase]
They say the job can be done by Wednesday if they get extra
help. [ I'm sure more can be done to encourage union mem-
bership. [ Our friend, Paula, took a masters'degree while she
was still working. So, you see, it can be done.
feasible/'fi:z]bal/a plan, idea, or method that is feasible
is possible and is likely to work [adj]
Barrington suggest transporting the supplies by air. This
of course is perfectlyfeasible. [ We agreed on a feasible plan
and within a week we implemented it.
feasib ill ty /  fi:z i b i l  ti/[ n U ] Experts are study ing the feas-
ibility of a solar energy project (=whether it is feasible).
practicable / prekt:kabal/a course of action or a method
that is practicable can be done because it is practical [adj]
it is practicable to do sth Will it be practicable for the
doctor to visit all these patients every day? [ practicable/f
we were attacked, the only practicable course of action would
be to retreat. [ Any practicable method of testing must take
into account the students" ability to understand test
instructions.
workable /wa:rkabal/ workable solution/system/
arrangement etc (=one that can be used and made to work
effectively) [adj]
There is a dispute over land but we believe we have found
a workable solution to thisproblem. [A new plan provides
for loans to students, but to make the system workable more
government funding will be needed.
attainable /atenabal/ an aim or standard that is
attainable is one that can be achieved and it is reasonable
to try to achieve it [adj]
Perfect democracy is not attainable, nor is perfect freedom
or perfect justice. [ Every child should be educated to the
highest attainable level.
doable/'du:abal/an informal word: a job that is doable
is one that can be done [adj not before noun]
You did well to even start the project - at first we didn't think
it was doable at all
practical / prektIkal! a course of action or method that
is practical can be done or used, for example because it
is simple or does not cost too much money [adj]
We'd like to have a dog but we're out at work all day so it's
just not practical. I The police have produced a leaflet, "Prac-
tical ways to crack crime'. [ practical alternative (=some-
thing practical you can do instead of something difficult
or impossible) It's not ideal having Sara's mother living
with us but there's no practical alternative at the moment.
viable /vaIbal/ viable plan/alternative/method/
way/proposal/system etc (=one that can be used and will
succeed) [adj]
We need a viable plan to produce our goods more cheaply. [
Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas. I
They are in favour of the program, but they want strong
assurances that it is viable.
viability / vam bflti/In U] We are currently investigating
the viability of this proposal (=whether or not it is viable).
2 words for describing something that can
 happen
possible potential
possibility chance
can there's a possibility
possible/'posbal II 'po:-/[adj]
Accidents are always possible in heavy industries like
mining. I He never stopped to consider the possible conse-
quences of his actions.
possibility /pos'b:lti II po:-/ something that can
happen or may happen In C/U]
A Republican victory in next month's election must be
regarded as a possibility. I If the war was allowed to spread,
it would be impossible to foresee all the terrifying possibili-
ties. I We could not ignore the possibility of an enemy attack. I
a distinct possibility (=something that is quite likely to
happen) A peaceful settlement to the dispute is now a distinct
possibility.
can/kan; strong ken/if something can happen, it is possi-
ble for it to happen [modal verb]
It can be warm in England, even in March. I A lot could
happen in two years. I Anyone can make a mistake.
potential /potenfal/ potential problem/customer/
winner etc (=that may become a problem, customer etc in
the future, although they have not become one yet) [adj
only before noun]
The sales exhibition attracted over 2000potential customers. I
It is important for manufacturers to identify potential
problems at the design stage.
potentially [adv ] Ski instructors should war8 beginners to
keep off potentially dangerous slopes.
chance/tfo:ns [I tens/a word meaning a possibility that
something will happen, used especially when you are
saying how likely that possibility is In C]
chance (that) There's always a chance that something may
go wrong. [ slight/fair/good etc chance of There's a slight
chance of some rain later tonight. ] what are the chances
of (=how great is the possibility of) What are the chances
of an early upturn in the economy?
there's a possibility/6erz  ,pos bIlti [[-,po:-/if
you say there's a possibility that something will happen,
you think it might happen
there's a possibility (that) There's a possibility that she'll
lose her job. I there's a possibility of At last there's a real
possibility of peace in the Middle East.
3 ways of saying that a situation, event, process
etc makes it possible for something to
happen or to be done
make possible
enable
allow
permit
be a passport to
pave the way for
clear the way for

POSSIBLE 1002 POSTPONE/DO LATER
make possible/,meik 'posbal II -'po:-/[v phrase]
make it possible for sb to do sth Television made it pos-
sible forpeople all over the world to watch the 1960 Olympic
Games. I make sth/it/them possible I want to thank the
sponsors of this festival, whose generosity made it all
possible. I make possible sth There has been astonishing
progress in surgery, making possible the transplant of major
organs including the heart. I Nixon's new relationship with
the Chinese was made possible by the ending of the Vietnam
War.
enable/J 'neJbal/to make it possible for someone to do
something that they want to do, that will help them etc Iv
T not in passive or progressive]
enable sb to do sth Short skis enable a skier to move more
easily. I Free education enabled ordinary people to reach
positions ofpower. I enable sth to happen/be done Care-
ful planning in advance of the conference enabled negotia-
tions to be completed more quickly.
allow/ lao/to make it possible for something to happen
or for someone to do something, especially something that
they want, that will help them etc Iv T]
allow sb sth The new seatbelt allows the driver greater free-
dom of movement. I allow sb to do sth A 24-hour ceasefire
allowed the two armies to bury their dead. I allow sth
Winter temperatures are too low to allow the development
of the reptile's eggs.
permit/pa r 'mIt/a formal word meaning to make it pos-
sible for something to happen or for someone to do some-
thing Iv I/T]
permit sb to do sth Unit pricing is a system that permits
the customer to compare the costs of products. [ weather/
time ete permitting (=if the weather makes it possible)
In summer, meals are taken in the garden, weather permit-
ting.
be a passport to/bi:  po:spa:rt tu: [[ -pes-/if you say
that something is a passport to success, happiness ere, you
mean that it makes it possible for someone who has it to
achieve success, happiness ere Iv phrase]
A university degree used to be a passport to a good job. I Billy
always felt that marriage and a family would be his pass-
port to true adulthood.
pave the way for/petv 6 wei fa:r/to make it possi-
ble for something to happen by producing the right condi-
tions for it Iv phrase]
Galileo's achievements in physical science paved the way for
Newton's discoveries. I In Germany in the 30s, the depression
helped Hitler rise to power, paving the way for the Second
World War.
clear the way for/,klla r 6a wei fa:r/to make it possi-
ble for something to happen by removing difficulties that
existed before Iv phrase]
The removal of trade restrictions cleared the way for a rapid
development of East- West relations.
possibly MAYBE 1, 2
possibly: can't possibly IMPOSSIBLE 2
post JOB/WORK 6, LETTER 2, PUT 12
post: put sth in the post SEND 2
post: relieve sb of their duties/post LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 2
post/mail SEND 2
post mortem EXAMINE 3
posted: be posted SEND 4
postpone POSTPONE/DO LATER 1
POSTPONE/
DO LATER
to arrange to do something at a later time,
especially because it is not possible to do it at
the time that was planned
to postpone something until later because
you do not want to do it now or because you
are too lazy to do it now
1 to arrange to do something at a later time,
especially because it is not possible to do it at
the time that was planned
postpone be put back
put off defer
delay over
reschedule
postpone/paos paon/to arrange for an event, especially
an important event such as a wedding or a football game,
to happen at some time later than was planned or expected
Iv T]
We decided to postpone the wedding until Jane's mother has
recovered from her illness. I Liverpool's first game of the
season had to be postponed because of bad weather. I Con-
gress postponed a decision on the UN's proposals until after
the summit meeting.
postponement In C/U] Most of the Prime Minister's
advisers are recommending a six-month postponement of the
election.
put off /,pot 'of II-a:f/ to arrange for something to
happen at a later time, especially because of a problem or
difficulty [phr v T]
put sth/it/them off We can't have the meeting today. You'll
have to put it off until tomorrow afternoon. [ The rehearsal
has been put off until next Tuesday because not everyone can
make it tonight. [ put off sth Can you put off your holiday
for a few days?
delay/d: 'let/to arrange to do something a short time later
than planned, especially because you are waiting for some-
thing else to happen first Iv T]
delay sth I'm going to delay my departure until I've had a
chance to speak to Mr Graham. [ Perhaps we were wrong to
delay our announcement until now. [ delay doing sth The
government will delay making any announcement until after
next week's crisis talks in Moscow.
reschedule / ri: U'edju:l II -'skedsol, -dsal/reschedule a
meeting/press conference/visit ere (=officially postpone
it and fix another date or time for it) Iv T]
The President asked one of his staff to reschedule the press
conference for March 19. [ I pointed out that Kissinger's visit
would have to be rescheduled.
be put back/bi: pot 'bek/if an event that has been
arranged for a particular date is put back by a certain
length of time, it is postponed until that time has passed
[ v phrase]
be put back a week/a month ere The elections were origi-
nally planned for November 1989 but they were put back a
year. [ be put back by a week/a month etc The start of
the long vacation has already been put back by a week.
defer/di' fa:r/a formal word meaning to postpone some-
thing that you intend to do or have to do until some later
date, especially because of a problem or difficulty Iv T]
defer sth The school agreed to defer their decision until they
had spoken to William's parents. [ defer doing sth The edi-
tors have been advised to defer publishing the article, pend-
ing possible criminal proceedings.
deferred [adj] Some universities will agree to deferred entry
if students do not wish to take up their places immediately.
over / aovar/a word used especially in business, mean-
ing to postpone a decision or discussion until a later time
or meeting Iv T]
"'What about the training program?" "q/Ve'll have to over that
until next week. ""
2 to postpone something until later because
you do not want to do it now or because you
are too lazy to do it now
put off
procrastinate
put off / ,pot 'of II v T]
put sth/it/them off He knows he'll have to report the acci-
dent but he just keeps putting it off and putting it off. I The
longer you put it off, the worse it will be. I put offdoing sth

POSTPONE/DO LATER 1003 power-hungry
She knew she couldn't put off going to the dentist any longer. I
put offsth There's always the temptation to put off the most
difficult task till last.
procrastinate/pra'krmstneit/a formal word meaning
to continually delay doing something that you have to do
Iv I]
I wish Howard would stopprocrastinating and ask Joanne
to marry him. I Why do we all procrastinate when it comes
to writing a will?
procrastination/pro,kresQ neIJ'an/[n U] Hamlet missed
his chance to become a hero through his hesitation and
procrastination.
pot-bellied FAT 1
pot belly FAT 6
potential FUTURE 5, GOOD AT 6, POSSIBLE 2
potential: have potential SUCCESSFUL 4
potshot: take a potshot at SHOOT 1
pounce ATTACK 2
pound SQUASH 1
pour GO 2, POUR 1, 2, PUT 10
pour cold water on SPOIL 2
pour in/flood in ENTER 7, GET 5
pour money into PAY FOR 11
pour out your heart/soul TELL 9
pour scorn on MAKE FUN OF 2
POUR
to pour a liquid or substance out of a
container
ways of saying that a liquid, gas, or substance
pours out of something, down something etc
1 to pour a liquid or substance out of a
container
pour empty
tip spill
sprinkle
pour/p:r/Iv T]
pour sth on/into/out ofetc She poured some milk into the
glass. I Don't pour salt all over your food. It's bad for your
health. I Dan picked up the bucket and poured the sand out
of it.
tip/tip/to pour something onto a surface or into something
by turning the container that it is in upside down [v T]
tip sth into/out of/onto etc Now lift thepan and carefully
tip the soup into a bowl. I The inspector tipped the contents
of my bag onto the desk and studied them.
sprinkle /  sprn3kal/to pour a liquid or substance in small
amounts on something, especially food, so that the surface
is thinly covered Iv T]
sprinkle sth on/over etc Sprinkle some water on it, but
not too much. I I love sprinkling sugar all over my cereal. I
sprinkle sth with Before serving, sprinkle the sauce with
parmesan cheese and a little olive oil.
empty /  empti/to make a container empty by pouring out
everything inside it Iv T]
empty sth Paul emptied the glass and washed it. [ You'd
better empty the wastebasket, it's getting prettyfull. I empty
sth into/onto etc We crept up behind him and emptied the
bucket of water over his head.
spill/spill to accidentally pour something onto something
[vT]
spill sth on/over etc I'm sorry. I have spilt some wine on
the carpet. I An oil truck had crashed, spilling its load all
over the road. I spill sth The glass is very full so be careful
not to spill anything.
 ways of saying that a liquid, gas, or substance
pours out of something, down something etc
pour drip
come out leak
flow ooze
pour/p:r/ifa liquid, ga, or substance pours out of some-
thing, down something etc it moves that way in large
amounts Iv I]
pour out of/off/down etc Water was pouring out of the
hole. [ As the rain falls, it pours off the roof and into the
drain. [ Blood poured from the wound. I White hot lava from
the volcano is pouring down the mountain towards the town.
come out ! ,lm 'aot/to pour out of a container, place etc
[phr v I]
I turned on the tap, but nothing came out. I After a while
cracks appeared and water started to come out. I come out
of Look - there's smoke coming out of that window.
flow Iflool if a river or liquid flows, it pours in a steady,
continuous way Iv I]
flow out of/over/down etc The river flows through the
middle of the town. I She had been badly cut and the blood
was flowing down her face. I A narrow stream flowed down
the mountain, twisting and turning on its way.
drip/drip/ if a liquid drips somewhere, it slowly and
steadily falls there, one drop after another Iv I]
drip onto/from/into etc Water dripped off the ceiling onto
the floor. I In the intense heat, sweat was dripping into his
eyes, making it hard to see.
drip In singular] In the kitchen, all I could hear was the
steady drip, drip, drop of the tap (=the sound of water drip-
ping out of it).
ieak/li:k! ifa container or object leaks, or if liquid or gas
leaks out of a container or object, the liquid or gas pours
out of it accidentally through a hole in it Iv I]
The roof leaks and lets the rain in. [ After a few hours" driv-
ing we realized that the car's gas tank was leaking. [ leak
out of/from/through etc The oxygen cylinders had been
damaged in the accident and a stream of bubbles was leak-
ing out.
ooze/u:z! if a thick, usually unpleasant liquid or sub-
stance such as blood or mud oozes out of something, it
pours out of it slowly and steadily Iv I]
ooze out of/from A mixture of mud and rainwater oozed
out of the bottom of the bucket. I Blood was oozing from the
wound in a steady stream. I I stood and watched as thick,
sticky syrup oozed out of the tree trunk.
pouring: be pouring/dripping/running with sweat
SWEAT 1
poverty POOR 6
poverty-stricken POOR 1
power CAN 6, COUNTRY/NATION 1 POWER 1
STRONG PERSON 5
power: be in power GOVERNMENT 5
power: be In sb's power CONTROL 5
power: come to power POWER 4
power: have the power to do sth CAN 5
power: in power POWER 3
power: not have the power to do sth/it is not in your
power to do sth CAN'T 4
power: take power POWER 5
power-hungry AMBITIOUS 1
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

POWER
physical .strength <"'.  .,  STRONG
....., ...,.  ...... 
-.: .....  ............... ,:- PERSON
...................................
................. -, ,. .... ...-. ...................................................
POWER
ability to control events, give orders, and
make important decisions
words meaning power
words for describing someone who has a lot
of power
to have an official position of power
to start working in an official position of power
to get power through violence
having no power
1 words meaning power
power clout
strength authority
muscle jurisdiction
influence have a say
power/'paor/[n U]
I think the police have too much power. I power over The
Government wants more power over how people spend their
money. [ have/wield power Trade unions have much less
bargaining power than they used to have. [ Helen Duyer
wields considerable power as head of the Marketing Depart-
ment. [ have the power to do sth In theory, the President
doesn't have the power to make laws.
strength/strerj O, strene/power that an organization has,
especially because a lot of people support it In U]
The unions still have great strength in the old steel towns. [
She made a speech attacking the growing strength of the
pharmaceutical companies.
muscle I'm^sail power that someone has because of their
money, political position, or strength, and which makes it
possible for them to do things that other people or organi-
zations cannot do In U]
The government has for years been trying to destroy the
muscle of the trade unions. [ have the muscle to do sth
Hanson Trust has the financial muscle to buy up some of
America's biggest companies. I financial/political muscle
The Republicans do not have the political muscle to prevent
the treaty being rejected by Congress.
influence/ nfluns! power that is the result of wealth,
your position in society, or the respect people have for you
In U]
influence over/in The Labour Party has attacked the big
four banks for having too much influence over the British
economy. [ The church has always had great influence in
Polish politics. [ influence In governing the country, the var-
ious lobbies have influence rather than power. [ Student
leaders had used all their influence to stop the march.
clout/klaut/the power that you have to influence other
people's decisions, especially because you can use your
position or your knowledge to persuade people in authority
to do what you want In U]
1004
POWER
The Managing Director is willing to use whatever clout she
has to get this measure accepted. I political/financial clout
etc Doctors have considerably more political clout than
teachers. I have/carry clout The banks do not carry quite
as much clout as they used to.
authority/z:'Oorti, -II o,0a=-, o,o  =-/power that you
have because of your official position or because people
respect your knowledge and experience In U]
This decision was the President's first display of his
authority over Congress. I The current system gives no
authority to managers and no incentives to workers. I
Nobody had questioned father's authority before. He was
shocked.
Jurisdiction/,d3ors'dlkSn/the power that a govern-
ment, court, or organization has to make laws or to decide
whether people are breaking the law In U]
In general, the American courts have no jurisdiction to deal
with crimes outside the USA. I The Air Transit Authority's
jurisdiction extends beyond the airport itself to include ware-
houses and associated buildings. I be within/under sb's
jurisdiction It's not within our jurisdiction to tell people
what to do in the privacy of their own homes. I jurisdiction
over The council has no jurisdiction over these matters.
have a say/,hmv  'seq to have some power to influence
what happens by giving your opinion about it [vphrase not
in progressive]
have a say in sth By giving the workers a greater say in
the running of the company, we hope to encourage co-
operation rather than confrontation. I have the final say
(=have the power to make the final decision) NATO will
probably have the final say on what's done with these
nuclear weapons.
words for describing someone who has a lot
of power
powerful
strong
influential
all-powerful
dominant
big shot
the powers that be
have friends in high places
powerful /paorfal/having a lot of power, for example
because of your wealth, position, or because people respect
you [adj]
These departments are seen as the most powerful parts of the
government. [ Mr Shevardnadze came from a powerful Geor-
gian political family. [ The powerful finance committee
rejected my ideas as unworkable.
strong/strot311 stranj/ifa political group is strong, it has
a lot of power because many people support it [adj]
The communists were particularly strong in the big indus-
trial cities before the war. [ The Democratic Party is very
strong at the moment.
influential /,;nflu'enSal,/ having a lot of power to
influence what happens and persuade people to agree with
your opinions or with what you want [adj]
Tom Sherman, an influential columnist for the New York
Times, has strongly criticized the President's decision. I
Teachers have been a consistently radical and influential
force in El Salvador. I Amnesty International is a highly
influential organization fighting for human rights.
all.powerful/,3:1 'paoarfal-/having more power than
anyone else, especially when this is not fair [adj]
The all-powerful central committee meets twice a year. [
Catherine the Great, the all-powerful ruler of the Russian
Empire I Hollywood stars of the 30s were in awe of the all-
powerful studio bosses.
dominant/'domInant II 'do:-/someone who is dominant
is more powerful than other people or groups and is able
to control them, especially because they have strong per-
sonal qualities [adj]
Gradually Brad had become the dominant member of our
group. [ The chiefs of big corporations occupy a dominant
position in society. [ In Spring, the dominant males fight to
decide which of them will mate with the females.
dominance In U] Some are worried by the prospect of
German dominance (=being dominant) in Europe.

POWER
1005
practise/practice
big shot/'big for II 4o:t/someone who has power and
influence in a particular area of activity such as business
[nC]
She was talking to some record industry big shot at the party
last night. I Tertia started out working on our local
newspaper but now she's a big shot in the advertising world.
the powers that be 16 paoarz 6t bi:/people that
have official power because they have a high position in
government or within an organization In phrase]
I'll speak to the powers that be about these files. I What do
the powers that be care about us humble employees?
have friends in high places /hmv frendz in ,hal
'pleisz/ to have power or influence because you know
people who have very important jobs and positions and
who will help you if necessary [vphrase not in progressive]
He'll go far in the Navy because he has friends in high
places. I Her friends in high places enabled her to buy the
castle even though she was a foreigner.
3 to have an official position of power
in power ruling
in office rule
in authority reign
in power/in 'payor/in an official position of power [adj
phrase]
Once in power, Bradley set about changing policy from the
top down. I The Communist party have been in power since
the 1965 revolution. I Troops cannot expect to install Mr
Savimbi in power and then return elegantly home.
in office/n 'ofs II -'a:f-/having a job in government that
puts you in an official position of power [adj phrase]
The decision was made to remove the President after 30 years
in office. I remain/continue in office Hayward has
expressed his willingness to continue in office.
in authority/in :'0orti [[ -aOa:-I in a position of offi-
cial power over people, especially when you have a right
to tell people what to do [adj phrase]
He has problems dealing with people in authority. [ Whoever
is in authority around here is unable to maintain discipline.
ruling/'ru:l]/ruling party/authority/bureaucracy
etc (=that has an official position of power, especially in
government, at the present time) [adj]
The ruling party is confident of winning the election. [ He
emerged as the chief political representative of the ruling
bureaucracy.
rule/ru:l/if a king, queen, political party, or organization
rules, they have an official position of power in a country,
and over the people who live there Iv I/T]
rule France/Spain etc The Pol Pot regime ruled Cambo-
dia before 1978. [ Italy and the Mediterranean were still ruled
by autocracies. I rule While they ruled, the country remained
isolated from the rest of the world.
rule In U] After nearly seventy years of Communist rule,
statues of Lenin are now being pulled down.
reign/ren! if a king or queen reigns, they have an offi-
cial position of power, although they may not have any real
power over the government of the country Iv I]
Richard III reigned a century before the play was performed. I
The last Moorish king reigned there until 1492.
reign In singular] Important reforms were initiated during
the reign of Nicholas H (=when he reigned).
4 to start working in an official position of power
come to power
take office
come to power /kAm ta paoar/ifa person or political
group comes to power, they take political control of a
country, especially by being elected Iv phrase]
When Mrs Thatcher came to power in 1979, nobody expected
her to stay therefor 13years. I Since coming to power, Presi-
dent Clinton has tried to resolve the conflict.
take office/,teIk 'l:)fs II -'3:f-/if a person or political
party takes office, they start working in an official posi-
tion of power or take political control of a country Iv
phrase]
Soon after taking office Reagan won much popular
sympathy. [ Less than three weeks after Labour took office,
an economic crisis developed.
5 to get power through violence
take power
seize power
take over
take power/,teik 'pao)r/[v phrase]
The Bolsheviks took power in 1917. I General da Souza had
the intention of taking power through a coup d'etat.
seize power /si:z paoar/to take power suddenly or
quickly, by using military force Iv phrase]
Communist forces had come out in an attempt to seize power. I
The Czar was overthrown when the revolutionaries seized
power.
take over /tek laovar/to take power from an existing
government or organization by using military force Iv I/T]
A revolutionary government took over, featuring a reor-
ganized council. I take over sth The authorities began to
make the necessary arrangements for taking over the garri-
sons, which were still in the hands of the enemy.
having no power
powerless
weak
have no say
powerless/'pauarlas/[adj]
Blocked by the Republican Congress, Truman appeared
powerless. I powerless to do sth At the start of the meeting
members felt powerless to redirect company policy.
powerlessness In U] The current powerlessness of the trade
unions is bad for democracy.
weak/wi:k! having no power to control a situation or
other people, especially because people do not respect you
and refuse to obey you [adj]
The principal is weak, and this results in poor discipline in
the school. I Weak leadership within the trade union move-
ment was the main problem.
weakness In U] The weakness of this government is damag-
ing the country's image abroad.
have no say /hmv ,nov 'SeI/ to have no power to
influence what happens because your opinion is ignored
or regarded as unimportant Iv phrase not in progressive]
Whenever we have to make an important decision I feel that
I have no say. [ have no say in sth The French government
allows the Annamese almost no say at all in running their
affairs.
powerful POWER 2, STRONG FEELING OR BELIEF 1,
STRONG PERSON 1, STRONG TASTE OR
SMELL 2
powerful/potent EFFECTIVE 3
powerless CAN'T 1 4, POWER 6
powers CAN 6
powers: be at the height of your powers BEST 6
powers: the powers that be GOVERNMENT 3,
MANAGER 3, POWER 2
practicable POSSIBLE 1
practical EXAM/TEST 1, POSSIBLE 1, REAL/NOT
IMAGINARY 2, SENSIBLE 2, 3, USE STH 13
practical joke JOKE 3
practical joker JOKE 5
practically/virtually ALMOST 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
practice PRACTISE/PRACTICE 4, 5
practice: be out of practice PRACTISE/PRACTICE 6
practice: in practice IN FACT 1
practice: put into practice DO 2
practise/practice PRACTISE/PRACTICE 1, WORK/DO
WORK 2

PRACTISE/PRACTICE 1006 PRACTISE/PRACTICE
PRACTISE/
PRACTICE
1 to practise in order to improve your skill or
prepare for a competition, test, or
performance
2 to practise for a performance by playing
music, speaking the lines of a play etc, again
and again
3 to make someone practise something many
times, in order to improve their skill
4 activities that people do in order to practise
and improve their skill
5 an occasion when people practise in order to
prepare for a performance
6 not as good at something as you used to be
because you have not practised for a long
time
1 to practise in order to improve your skill or
prepare for a competition, test, or
performance
practise/practice keep your hand in
work on work at
practise (British) I practice (American) I'prmkts/Iv
I/T]
practise sth He spent two hours practising the violin. I We
usually go on holiday to Canada, so our son can practice his
French. I practise Your driving will never improve if you
don't practise. I I won't have drums in the house, so he goes
to the church hall to practise. I practise doing sth In the
first part of this training session we are going to practise
dodging tackles. I practise on I wanted to be a hair stylist
and used to practise on my friends. I practise for sth The
kids have been practicing hard for next week's school con-
cert. I I'm practising for my audition.
practice /'prakts/In U] He's had a lot of practice, but he
doesn't seem to get any better. I Practice makes perfect.
work on / wa:rk on II -o:n/to practise a skill that you need
to play a sport, a musical instrument etc, so that your whole
performance improves Iv T l
Your tennis is generally good, but you need to work on your
serve. I Scales and finger exercises are the areas to work on
if you want to improve your piano playing technique. I work
on doing sth The athletes have been training hard, work-
ing particularly on improving their style.
keep your hand In/,ki:p j:r hmnd in/to practise some-
thing just enough to still be good at it but not enough to
improve, especially when you no longer do it regularly Iv
phrase]
He still comes around the gym occasionally, just to keep his
hand in. I Although she has retired now she keeps her hand
in by giving her grandchildren music lessons.
work at/wa:rk et/to practise something over a long
period of time and with a great deal of effort in order to
achieve a good enough standard Iv T]
You'll have to really work at it if you want to be a profes-
sional dancer. I Learning another language is never easy,
but if you work at it you'll soon get results. I Teachers prefer
students who really work at a subject to those who don't need
totry.
to practise for a performance by playing
music, speaking the lines of a play etc, again
and again
train rehearse
be in training go through/run through
train ItreIn/to practise a physical activity in a planned and
controlled way in order to be ready for a race, game, or com-
petition Iv I]
The school swimming team trained hard in the weeks lead-
ing up to the competition. I If you're going to run a mara-
thon you need to start training now. [ train for He's down
at the gym, training for his big fight.
be in training/bi: In 'tren/if you are in training, you
are in the period before a sports event or competition when
you practise a physical activity in a planned and controlled
way Iv phrase]
When I'm in training I spend at least four hours a day at the
swimming pool. I be in training for He's not allowed to
drink alcohol, as he's in training for an important race.
rehearse/rI'ha:rs/to practise something such as a play
or concert, so that it is ready to be performed to the public
Iv I/T]
rehearse sth The director made us rehearse the scenes over
and over, until they were perfect. I rehearse for sth Cher
was rehearsing for a TV show when she heard about the
award. I rehearse I waited outside the studio where the band
was rehearsing to try and get their autographs.
go through/run through/'go Oru:, 'rAn Oru:/to prac-
tise something such as a play, speech, or piece of music by
reading or playing it from start to finish, especially just
before it is performed to the public Iv T]
I promised to hear her go through her speech. I Let's go
through it once more, and see if we can get it right. I We went
through the whole symphony four times and he still wasn't
satisfied.
3 to make someone practise something many
times, in order to improve their skill
drill
put sb through their paces
drill/drdl to make a group do the same thing many times
so that they become very good at it, especially in a school
or during military training Iv T]
drill sb We were standing next to an enormous square where
soldiers were drilled. [ The sounds of a language, especially
stress and intonation, are best taught by drilling the class. ]
drill sb in/on She teaches golf, so she's used to having to
drill people on improving their swing.
put sb through their paces /,pot (sb) 0ru: 6e r
'pes z/to make someone practise something many times
and give them advice on improving so that they show how
well they can do it Iv phrase]
Your new coach will put you through your paces, and tell you
which strokes to work on. I The documentary showed a school
band being put through its paces by a world famous
conductor.
4 activities that people do in order to practise
and improve their skill
practice exercise
training drill
practice I'praktgs/activities that people do to practise
a sport or musical instrument etc, either as a group or on
their own In U]
Are you going to hockey practice tonight? [ At the end of prac-
tice, the coach took me aside and told me I wasn't playing
Saturday. [ Sara's upstairs doing her piano practice.
training /tren;tj/a regular activity where people prac-
tise a sport together In U]
Take it easy in training today, you need to be in great shape
for the game. [ Unfortunately England's captain sustained
a knee injury during training.
exercise / 'eksarsaz/an activity that is designed to make
you practise a particular skill and improve in a particular
area of something In C]
This is a book of guitar exercises to improve finger flexibil-
ity [ A number of exercises in Chapter 3 are helpful for stu-
dents learning the infinitive in French. [ A good ski instruc-
tor gives students many varied exercises to keep their interest.

PRACTISE/PRACTICE 1007 PRAISE
drill/dri1 / a type of activity that practises a particular skill
by making the person who is learning it repeat it many
times, so that they remember it later [n C]
This book contains grammar and pronunciation drills in
every unit. I The soldiers went through some marching drills.
an occasion when people practise in order to
prepare for a performance
practice
rehearsal
run-through
practice I'prektts/[n C]
We only have three more practices before the concert. I Before
we give our presentation we should all get together for a prac-
tice. I have a practice Golfers always have a quick practice
before a tournament starts.
rehearsal/ri Iha:rsal/an occasion when all the people in
a play, concert etc practise it before it is performed to the
public In C/U]
The rehearsal for the concert was called off because the con-
ductor was sick. I Alterations are often made to a script
during rehearsal. [ dress rehearsal (=when everyone
wears the clothes they will be wearing in the actual con-
cert, play etc) Dress rehearsal tonight - everyone has to be
there on time.
run-through/Ir^n Oru:/an occasion when you practise
a play, speech, piece of music etc by reading or playing it
from start to finish In C]
Let's have one more run-through and then finish for today. ]
The cast could all have done with an extra run-through of
some of the songs.
6 not as good at something as you used to be
because you have not practised for a long
time
rusty
be out of practice
rusty/' r^sti/if someone's skill in a particular activity or
subject is rusty, it is not as good as it used to be, because
they have not practised it for a long time [adj not before
noun ]
Although she used to be a secretary her typing's a bit rusty
now. I "'How's your piano playing?" she asked "rusty, "" he
replied. I I haven't been to Senegal for years so my French
is a little rusty.
be out of practice/bi: aot ov prmkts/if you are out
of practice, you have not practised something for a long
time and are therefore unable to do it as well as you once
could Iv phrase]
I'm afraid I'm a little out of practice, you might be better off
with someone else. I I try to play squash whenever I can but
it's easy to get out of practice.
 practised/practiced EXPERIENCED 1
 practising/practicing RELIGION 3
 pragmatic SENSIBLE 2, 3
 praise PRAISE 1, 2, 3, 5
PRAISE
I to tell someone that you admire and approve
of them
2 to publicly praise someone, or to praise
someone to other people
3 to praise something such as a book, a film, or
a useful product or machine
4 ways of saying that a performer, achievement,
product etc is praised by a lot of people
.5 an expression of admiration and approval
6 words for describing written or spoken
statements that give prai.se
7' words for describing behaviour or actions that
deserve praise
8 to show that you admire and approve of
something, such as a play or performance,
for example by cheering
9 to praise someone in an insincere way in
order to please them or get something from
them
10 to praise someone for doing something well,
passing a test etc
1 to tell someone that you admire and approve
of them
praise
compliment
pay sb a compliment
praise/preiz/Iv T]
praise sb When her students work hard and are successful,
she always praises them. I praise sb for Everyone praised
Douglas for the calm and competent way he had handled a
very awkward situation. I praise sb highly Bobby has
always been highly praised by his teachers and his
employers.
compliment / komplment II ko:m-/to tell someone that
you admire or like something about them, for example,
something they have done or the way they look Iv T]
compliment sb on People are always coming up to Clau-
dia in the street and complimenting her on her books. [ After
complimenting me on my work, my boss offered me a pro-
motion. [ compliment sb for The President complimented
the banks for not panicking during last week's crisis.
pay sb a compliment/,pei (sb) o komplImont II -ko:-/
to tell someone that you like, admire, or respect something
about them Iv phrase]
Mrs Smith paid me a nice compliment today - she told me
I looked much younger with my hair in this style. [ My hus-
band was paid the biggest compliment possible when his
boss asked him to become a partner in the business.
to publicly praise someone, or to praise
someone to other people
praise
speak highly of
pay tribute to
sing sb's praises
praise/preIz/[v I/T]
say good things about
put in a good word for
glorify
commend
praise sb to sb All her teachers eagerly praised Jenny to her
parents. [ praise sb's work/honesty/behaviour etc The
behaviour of Scottish football fans has been praised both at
home and abroad. [ praise In general people are quicker to
criticize than to praise. [ praise sb to the skies (=praise
someone a great deal) He's really pleased with his new secre-
tary and praises her to the skies.
speak highly of/, spi:k hadi ov/to praise someone to
someone else because you admire them or the work they
do Iv phrase]
I'm so pleased to meet you - my wife has always spoken very
highly of you. I All her former clients speak highly of her
legal skills.
pay lribule Io /pei Itribju:t tu:/to praise someone pub-
licly, especially to show respect for them and what they
have achieved Iv phrase]
We are all gathered here this evening to pay tribute to the
late Sir Laurence Olivier. [ pay tribute to sb's devotion/
honesty ere A judge yesterday paid tribute to the victim's
wife. [ pay glowing tribute to sb (=praise them very
highly) The Western media have been paying glowing trib-
ute to President Gorbachev.

PRAISE 1008 PRAISE
sing sb's praises/,s (sb's) 'preizz/to praise some-
one very highly and very frequently Iv phrase]
Craig adored Jane and would sing her praises to anyone
who would listen. I Feminists have long sung the praises of
writers such as Germaine Greer and Simone de Beauvoir.
say good things about/,se god 'Orjz abaot/if you say
good things about someone, you praise their abilities,
usually in their work Iv phrase]
People are saying really good things about you - that you
have good medical training, are thorough, conscientious...
put in a good word for/,pot in a god wa:rd fa:r/if
someone puts in a good word for you to someone in a posi-
tion of authority, they praise you to them, especially in
order to help you to get a job or to avoid punishment Iv
phrase]
I know the boss's daughter - I wonder ifshe'llput in a good
word for me. I put in a good word for sb with sb I'll put
in a good word for you with the police, but I can't promise
you'll be set free today.
glorify/'gl:r]faI/to praise someone and their achieve-
ments very highly, in order to make them seem more
important and worthy of respect than they really are [v T]
The emperor's achievements were glorified in numerous
poems. I The book is a vain attempt to glorify the name of
one of the worst dictators in modern history.
commend/kamend/if someone in a position of authority
commends someone, they publicly praise them, for exam-
ple because they have achieved something special or been
extremely brave Iv T]
commend sb Police taking part in the operation were later
commended by Judge Williams. I commend sb highly The
emergency services have been highly commended by the
government for their work during the riots. I commend sb's
bravery/virtues etc In his speech he warmly commended
the bravery of his colleague.
3 to praise something such as a book, a film, or
a useful product or machine
praise
rave about
sing sth's praises
praise Iprez/[v T]
praise sth Ever since she bought the washing machine she's
done nothing but praise it. I praise sth for Picasso's work
is praised for many reasons, not least for its originality. I
highly praise sth (=praise it very much) His three earlier
poems had been highly praised and widely read.
rave about/rev baot/an informal expression mean-
ing to talk or write about something, saying how wonder-
ful you think it is Iv T]
I bought some of that Colombian coffee you used to rave
about.[ Anyone who raved about the series "Roots" will be
pleased to hear it's being shown on TV next week.
sing sth's praises/,su] (sth's) prelzalz/to talk or write
about something, saying that you think it is very good |v
phrase]
Ray's really been singing the praises of the latest Ford model
- maybe we ought to try it out. [ After years of singing the
praises of country life they've now moved back to New York.
, ways of saying that a performer,
achievement, product etc is praised by a lot
of people
get a good press much-praised
get rave reviews be hailed as
acclaimed
get a good press/get a god pres/if something gets a
good press, it is praised in the newspapers, on television
etc Iv phrase]
I haven't read it yet, but I know her latest novel got a very
good press. [ Eastern European cars have never really had
a good press in this country.
get rave reviews/get ,re[v r[ vju:z/an informal expres-
sion: if something such as a new book, film, or play gets
rave reviews, it is praised a lot in newspapers and maga-
zines Iv phrase]
Her roles in "Miami Vice" and "A Room with a View'got rave
reviews. I Woody Allen's latest film got rave reviews in New
York.
acclaimed/a 'klelmd! if something such as a film, per-
formance, or achievement is acclaimed, it is praised pub-
licly by people who have a lot of knowledge about that sub-
ject [adj]
highly/widely/universally acclaimed The musician's
solo career has resulted in a string of highly acclaimed
albums. [ Her work on finding a cure for cancer has been
widely acclaimed by her colleagues in the medical profes-
sion. [ critically acclaimed (=praised by critics) 'LA Law"
is one of the most critically acclaimed TV series in the USA.
much-praised/Im^t prelzd,/praised a lot by many
people [ adj]
They run a much-praised restaurant in Soho. [ The Beatles"
album "Sergeant Pepper' was much praised when it first
came out.
be hailed as/hi: 'hedd mz/if something or someone new
is hailed as something, they are praised a lot and are called
something very good Iv phrase]
She is being hailed as the new Marilyn Monroe. [ The new
peace agreement is being hailed as a major breakthrough. [
When it was first introduced, the birth control pill was hailed
as a wonder drug.
5 an expression of admiration and approval
praise recognition
compliment commendation
praise/prelz/[n U]
The chairman has earned widespread praise for dramati-
cally improving the company's financial situation. [ heap/
lavish praise on sb (=give someone a lot of praise) When
she passed her Oxford exams her teachers lavished-praise
on her. [ high praise (=praise from someone important or
respected) She said you have talent, and that's high praise
coming from a bestselling author like her.
compliment/kmplmant [[ ko-,m-I a pleasant remark
or statement made in order to praise someone, for exam-
ple about something they have done or the way they look
[n C]
"You have lovely hair, "Bob told Emma, who blushed at the
compliment. [ shower sb with compliments (=give them
a lot of compliments) After the play the leading actor was
showered with compliments from enthusiastic fans. [ back-
handed compliment (=one which is both a criticism and
a compliment) "'Many people hate you, but I like you, "" she
said. Talk about a back-handed compliment!
recognition / rekog'mfan/public approval and admira-
tion of someone's work or success [n U]
She had to spend l O years as a struggling artist, before receiv-
ing any recognition for her work. [ Although he was popu-
lar in Europe, Hendrix had yet to achieve recognition in his
home country.
commendation/.komon deIfan [[ ko:-/an official state-
ment praising someone, especially someone who has been
very brave or very successful [n C]
Patroni received official commendation after rescuing twelve
people from a sinking ship. I After winning the world cham-
pionship, he received a note of commendation from the
President.
6 words for describing written or spoken
statements that give praise
glowing
complimentary
favourable/favorable
glowing l'gloool glowing report/account/description
etc (=one that is full of praise) [adj usually before noun]

PRAISE 1009 PRAISE
She sent back home a glowing description of her new sur-
roundings. I The young soldiers who returned home gave
glowing accounts of Paul's bravery and devotion to duty. I
in glowing terms (=with words of high praise) At the
funeral the Archbishop paid tribute to the late statesman in
glowing terms.
glowingly [ adv ] In his first letter home, the Governor wrote
glowingly of his view of the scene.
complimentary /kt)mpl'mentari, II ,ko:m-/ com-
plimentary remarks say good and approving things about
someone or their achievements [adj]
highly complimentary Everything I've heard about your
work has been highly complimentary. I complimentary
about The networked TV programme was far from com-
plimentary about the President's campaign manager.
favourable (British) I favorable (American)/'feiwr-
abal/favourable reports, remarks, etc generally praise the
person, event etc that they are about, and say nothing bad
[adj]
Responses to his latest movie have generally been favour-
able. I I don't want to hear your opinion - unless it's favour-
able of course.
7' words for describing behaviour or actions that
deserve praise
commendable
praiseworthy
laudable
commendable/k'mendabal/a formal word meaning
deserving praise [adj]
The headteacher thanked the boys for their efforts, which he
said were most commendable. [ with commendable speed/
patience etc The whole workforce has adapted to the new
computing system with commendable speed. [ The police
acted with commendable restraint, considering the amount
of pressure they were under.
commendably [ adv ] The investigation was commendably
thorough.
praiseworthy /'prezwa:r6i/deserving praise for your
actions, efforts, and intentions even if the final restflt is not
always completely successful [adj]
The studio has produced several praiseworthy, but rather
dull, films. I Negotiators have made a praiseworthy attempt
to bring the two sides together.
laudable I'la:dbal/a formal word meaning deserving
praise [ adj]
Equal pay for equal work is a laudable principle. [ Such
honesty is laudable and rare.
to show that you admire and approve of
something, such as a play or performance,
for example by cheering
clap cheer
applaud applause
give sb a big hand standing ovation
clap/klap/to hit your hands together loudly and quickly
to show that you approve of and are pleased with a play,
someone's performance etc Iv I/T]
The actors took their final bow and the audience clapped
excitedly, shouting 'Bravo!" and 'Encore!" l clap your hands
A crowdgathered to watch the runners, clapping their hands
and urging them on.
clapping In U] After a while the clapping died down.
applaud/a'pb:d/ffpeople applaud, especially at the end
of a performance, they hit their hands together loudly,
excitedly, and often for a long time, in order to show how
much they liked it Iv I/T]
By now the audience was standing up, applauding
enthusiastically. I applaud sb/sth A group of supporters
applauded the strikers as they were led into court.
give sb a big hand/,glv (sb)  ,big 'hand! if people give
a performer a big hand, they hit their hands together
loudly at the end of their performance, to encourage them
and to show approval Iv phrase]
Come on ladies and gentlemen, let's give young Suzy a big
hand for that marvellous dancing display!
cheer/tj'Iar/to give a loud, happy shout expressing admi-
ration, approval, and often excitement, for example at a
sports event or after a speech [v I/T]
Fans cheered and screamed hysterically as their idol started
to sing. [ The audience were now on their feet, cheering
wildly. [ cheer sb Everyone here is cheering Lineker as he
makes his final appearance for England.
cheer In C] A great cheer went up when the first goal was
scored. I Three cheers for our leader!
cheering In U] The cheering went on for ages as the victori-
ous athletes ran around the track.
applause/ pb:z/the sound of a crowd of people hitting
their hands together loudly and cheering someone, to show
their approval and admiration In U]
There was loud applause when the band members ran onto
the stage. I applause dies down (=it gradually stops) The
murmur of applause from the spectators soon died down. I
a round of applause (=a short period of applause) Can we
have a round of applause for our next guest, Miss Liza
Minelli!
standing ovation /standIrj oveSn/ if someone
receives a standing ovation at the end of a performance
or speech, the people who are watching or listening to them
stand up, hit their hands together loudly and cheer, to show
their approval and admiration In C]
We got a standing ovation. The audience loved us! I give sb/
sth a standing ovation The speech was given a standing
ovation.
9 to praise someone in an insincere way in
order to please them or get something from
them
flatter
butter up
flattery
flatter/'flzetar/[v T]
All her life, she'd been adored and flattered by men. [ Oh come
on - I know you're just fiattering me. What did you really
think? I Have you noticed how he always fiatters the boss -
it makes me sick!
flatterer In C] The President's been surrounded byflatterers
for too long.
bulter up/,bAtar 'Ap! an informal expression meaning
to say nice things to someone in order to make them do
something you want [phr v T]
butter up sb David's in the yard buttering up Dad in the
hope that he 71 buy tickets for the football game next month! l
butter sb/her/them etc up It's no use trying to butter me
up - I'm not changing my mind.
flattery / fletari/insincere praise [n U]
As a reporter, she finds out what she needs to know, using
a mixture of charm and fiattery. I flattery will get you
nowhere (=flattery will not help you get what you want
from me) I'll choose the best person for the job, so fiattery
will get you nowhere.
1 0 to praise someone for doing something well,
 passing a test etc
congratulate
congratulations
well done
I J
congratulate /kon grmtSoleIt/ to praise someone for
doing something good or special such as passing an
examination, getting married, or getting a good job Iv T]
congratulate sb on doing sth I would like to congratulate
you on getting such good exam results. [ congratulate sb
on sth The President congratulated them on the success of
their mission. [ congratulate sb She's been appointed
managing director. We must write to congratulate her.

PRAISE 1010 predict
congratulations /kan,grq'leifanz/ you say con-
gratulations to someone when they have done something
good or special such as passing an examination, getting
married, or getting a good job
Congratulations! Is it a girl or boy? [ congratulations on
doing sth Oh, by the way, congratulations on passing your
driving test. [ congratulations on sth Congratulations on
your promotion. You certainly deserved it. I many con-
gratulations Many congratulations. I'm sure you'll be very
happy together. [ send/give sb your congratulations
(=because you cannot be there to say it yourself) Give her
my congratulations and say I'll be in touch very soon.
well done ! wel 'd^n/ you say well done to someone
when they have succeeded in doing something that was
difficult to do, or when they do something difficult well
Well done! You got all the answers right. [ Well done,
Charles. That was excellent for a first try. [ Oh, well done!
I could never have done that myself.
2 the activity of praying
prayer
worship
prayer/prear/In U]
The synagogue is used for prayer and study. [ The monks
here believe very strongly in the power of prayer and medi-
tation. [ Their heads were bowed in prayer.
worship/w3:rfIp/the activity of praying in a church,
temple etc in order to show love and respect for the god you
believe in In U]
Christians, Muslims and Jews came together for an act of
communal worship. [ In legendary times Samos was a centre
of worship to Hera, the Queen of Heaven. [ freedom of wor-
ship (=the social freedom to worship whoever and where-
ver you like) There is freedom of worship in most western
countries.
praised: much praised PRAISE 4
praises: sing sb's praises PRAISE 2
praises: sing sth's praises PRAISE 3
praiseworthy PRAISE 7
prank JOKE 3
pray PRAY 1
PRAY
1 to pray
2 the activity of praying
3 an occasion on which people pray together
4 a set of words that people say when they
pray
1 to pray
pray worship
say a prayer be at prayer
pray/prei/to speak to God or to a god, either silently or
aloud, especially to ask for help or to express thanks Iv I]
He got down on his knees and began to pray. [ pray to God/
the gods/Allah ere In her time of distress she prayed to
Allah to help her. [ pray for sb (=pray because someone
needs help) We pray for the sick and for their families. [ pray
for sth (=pray that something will happen) To save their
crops, people prayed for rain. [ pray (that) Before every
plane trip she prays that everything will be alright.
say a prayer /sel a prear/to say a set of words, espe-
cially a short, established set, in order to pray for some-
thing Iv phrase]
We could hear the priest at the altar saying a prayer. I say
a prayer for sb Maisie asked Sister Agnes to say a prayer
for her, to ask that she might be forgiven. I say your prayers
(=say prayers, especially as a regular religious duty) When
I was a child, I had to say my prayers every night.
worship/'wa:rIp/to pray in a place such as a church or
temple with other people in order to show love and respect
for the god you believe in Iv I/T]
This is a mosque, where Muslims come to worship and
study. I The people of this tribe only worship when there is
a full moon. I worship God/gods/Allah etc Thepreacher
exhorted them to worship God whenever possible, or perish
in hell fire.
be at prayer/hi: at prear/if someone is at prayer, they
are praying at this moment, especially as part of a group
who are praying together, or at an arranged time Iv phrase]
The saint appeared to him in a vision while he was at
prayer. I Between seven and eight on Friday evenings, the
whole school is at prayer.
3 an occasion on which people pray together
prayers
service
prayers/prearz/In plural]
They were forbidden to talk during prayers. I morning/
evening prayers Immediately after supper Mrs Carey rang
the bell for evening prayers.
service /Isa:rvs/the religious ceremony when people
pray, sing etc in a religious building such as a church or
temple In C]
We always go to the service on Sunday morning. I marri-
age/funeral/morning etc service The priest who per-
formed the marriage service is a friend of the family.
4 a set of words that people say when they
pray
prayer
prayer/prear/[n C]
We used to recite prayers such as the 'Hail Mary" and the
'Magnificat'. [ a prayer for the dead I She repeated his name
over and over again, as if it were a prayer.
prayer PRAY 2, 4
prayer: be at prayer PRAY 1
prayer: say a prayer PRAY 1
prayers PRAY 3
pre- BEFORE 1
pre-ordained CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
preamble BEGINNING 7
precarious BALANCE 5, RISK 2
precautions: take precautions CAREFUL 7
precede BEFORE 10, 11
precedence: take precedence over IMPORTANT 4
preceding BEFORE 7, 9
precinct AREA 2
precious VALUE 3
precious little LITTLE/NOT MUCH 9
precipitate CAUSE 7
precis SUMMARIZE 2
precise EXACT 1
precise location: exactlprecise location PLACE 2
precisely EXACT 3, 4, 5, 8
preclude IMPOSSIBLE 5
precocious INTELLIGENT 2
precondition CONDITION/STH THAT MUST BE DONE 1
precursor BEFORE 13
predate BEFORE 10
predecessor BEFORE 13
predestined CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
predict PREDICT 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

PREDICT 1011 PREDICT
PREDICT
to know or say what is going to happen before
it actually happens
1 to say that something will happen before it
actually does happen
2 to think you know what is going to happen
before it happens
3 something that someone predicts
4 words for describing something that has been
predicted but has not yet happened
5 words for describing future events that can
be predicted
6 words for describing something that cannot
be predicted
1 to say that something will happen before it
actually does happen
predict prophesy
forecast second-guess
predict/prIIdIkt/iv T]
predict sth The critics have predicted a huge box office suc-
cess for this film. [ It was a freak accident that could not have
been predicted by anyone. [ predict how/where/what etc
It's hard to predict what he will do next. [ predict that
Experts are predicting that unemployment will fall slowly
next year.
forecast/Ifo:rko:st II -kst/to publicly say that some-
thing will happen, basing your statement on special
knowledge, technical methods etc, especially when talking
about business, politics, or the weather iv T]
forecast sth The finance committee has forecast a loss ofЈ1.4
million this year. [ Rain is forecast over southern England
for the next 24 hours. ] On the basis of recent opinion polls,
commentators are forecasting a narrow win for the
Democrats. [ forecast that No one could have forecast that
the recession would last so long.
prophesy I'profsal [I 'pro:-/to say that something will
happen, especially because you have religious or magical
powers iv I/T]
prophesy about Her ability to prophesy about the future
made many people think she was a witch. [ prophesy sth
That war was prophesied hundreds of years ago by a
medieval mystic. [ prophesy that Jesus prophesied that one
of his disciples would betray him.
second-guess I sekond 'ges/to try to predict what an
opponent will do in order to gain an advantage over them
[vT]
I just couldn't get the ball past him; he second-guessed me
every time. ] Second-guessing the bank's next move in the
takeover bid proved very difficult.
2 to think you know what is going to happen
before it happens
foresee feel sth in your bones
envisage have a premonition
see sth coming
foresee /f:r'si:/ to know that something is going to
happen before it actually happens iv T]
foresee sth No one foresaw the Great Depression of the thir-
ties. ] Businesses are alarmed at the costs they foresee in com-
plying with the new rules. [ foresee that Ten years ago she
could not have foreseen that her marriage would end in
divorce.
envisage (also envision in American English)/in'viz-
Idb, Invxban/to have a clear idea of something that will
happen in the future, especially important changes in a sit-
uation iv T]
I cannot envisage what the circumstances will be in twenty
years' time. ]Most of those who voted for independence did
not envision war as the eventual outcome. [ We do not
envisage a general election for at least another two years.
see sth coming/,si: (sth) ilm/to know or think you
know what is going to happen because there are signs that
it will Iv phrase]
dason saw the stock market crash coming and sold most of
his shares. I It happened so quickly that they didn't see it
coming. There was a brief scuffle and the thieves ran off with
a handbag and camera. I Then one day she just walked out
- I suppose I should have seen it coming really.
feel sth in your bones/fi:l (sth) in j:r 'bonz/an infor-
mal expression meaning to think that something is going
to happen, especially something bad, not for any clear or
specific reason, but just because you have a feeling that it
will Iv phrase]
I think the trip's going to be a disaster. I can feel it in my
bones. I As she turned into the dark alley she knew she was
in danger, she could feel it in her bones.
have a premonition/hev  pri:rnonIfan/to have a
strange or unexplainable feeling that something is going
to happen, especially something unpleasant Iv phrase]
have a premonition that When Paola failed to phone,
John had a horrible premonition that she was in danger. ]
have a premonition of Robert had been under terrible
strain in the past few weeks. Perhaps he had a premonition
of his death.
3 something that someone predicts
prediction prophecy
forecast prog nosis
prediction/pr'dlkJ'an/[n C]
My prediction is that Mr Hussein will get the job. ] In spite
of confident official predictions, no agreement could be
reached. ] prediction of As election day approached all the
previous predictions of a big Democratic victory looked like
coming true. ] make a prediction It is impossible to make
an accurate prediction, but we expect to see some increase in
profits this coming year.
forecast /'f:rko:st [I-kst/ a public statement made
about what will happen in the future, especially in politics,
business, or the weather, based on special knowledge, tech-
nical methods etc in C]
If the company's forecasts are right, their investment will
have doubled in value within two years. [ According to the
weather forecast, tomorrow will be cloudy and dull.
prophecy/'pmfsi l[ 'pro:-/a statement that says some-
thing will happen, especially made by someone with reli-
gious or magical powers in C]
prophecy of The old woman's prophecies of disaster were
soon fulfilled. ] prophecy that Lij Yasu was never crowned,
possibly because he believed a prophecy that if he became
king he would die. [ Amazingly, the manager's prophecy that
the team would get into the first division seems to be coming
true.
prognosis/prog'nooss II pro:g-/ (plural prognoses) a
formal word meaning the likely result of a process such as
an illness or a series of events that has already started In C]
Well, doctor, what's the prognosis? I By the early 1990s the
prognosis for Communism wasn't at all good.
words for describing something that has been
predicted but has not yet happened
predicted
projected
predicted/prI 'dlktd/[adj usually before noun]
More than a century after Marx, the predicted dissolution
of capitalism has still not taken place. ] The champion's
widely-predicted victory was little more than a formality.
projected/prd3ektd/projected figures/sales/pro-
fits/results (=the figures, sales etc that a business expects
to achieve considering past and present performance) [adj
usually before noun]

PREDICT 1012 PREFER
Next year's projected sales are 5% higher than this year's. I
It seems that the company will not be making its projected
profit, but a Ј3 million loss.
5 words for describing future events that can
be predicted
predictable
foreseeable
predictable Ipr 'diktbal/ [adj]
The drug is usually effective but unfortunately the side effects
are not always predictable. I There are few predictable ele-
ments of this conflict - the only certainty is that it's going
to get worse before it gets better. I it is predictable that In
the current economic climate it is fairly predictable that
unemployment will continue to rise.
foreseeable/fo:r,simbal/able to be predicted within a
particular period of time in the future [adj]
Due to rising costs and delays in the delivery of equipment,
losses are already foreseeable on the Channel Tunnel
project. [ foreseeable circumstances Your insurance policy
should take into account all foreseeable circumstances. [ in
the foreseeable future There will not be any redundancies
in the foreseeable future.
6 words for describing something that cannot
be predicted
unpredictable it remains to be seen
unforeseeable can't say/tell
unpredictable /,^npr'dktbal/ something that is
unpreflietable is impossible to predict because the situa-
tion changes a lot and has no regular pattern [adj]
Britain is well known for its unpredictable weather. [
Unpredictable changes in the climate have been caused by
the greenhouse effect. [ highly unpredictable We have to
face a highly unpredictable and volatile period of transition
in the coming months.
unforeseeable ]l^nfa:rsi:abal/ a situation or event,
especially a bad one, that is unforeseeable could not have
been predicted because it is the result of unusually bad
luck [adj]
unforeseeable circumstances The circumstances which
combined to cause this accident were unforeseeable. [
totally/completely unforeseeable His stomach ulcer was
a completely unforeseeable complication of the treatment.
it remains to be seen IrK melnz t bi: 'si:n/if you say
it remains to be seen, you mean you are unable or unwill-
ing to say what will happen, and so people have to wait and
see
"'What is your next film going to be about? .... Well, that
remains to be seen. "1 What remains to be seen now is whether
it is too late to save the rainforests. [ it remains to be seen
how/when/if ete It remains to be seen how many senior
citizens will actually benefit from this new plan.
can't say/tell /ka:nt Isei, tel [[ kmnt-/ an informal
expression meaning to be unable to say or predict what will
happen [v phrase]
The doctors can't say whether he will recover at this stage. [
I don "t know if we'll stay together or not. I can "t tell how I'll
be feeling in a month's time.
2 to want or like to do one thing rather than
another
3 to want someone else to do one thing rather
than another
4 ways of saying that one thing is preferred to
others
1 to like someone or something better than
 others
prefer favour/favor
like sb/sth better give me sb/sth any day!
have a preference
prefer/pr= 'f3:r/[v T not in progressive]
prefer sb/sth Which do you prefer, black coffee or white
coffee?[ "'Which restaurant shall we go to?" "'I really don't
mind. Whichever one you prefer. "] much prefer sb/sth
(=like something much better) She doesn't like romantic fic-
tion - she much prefers detective stories. [ Robert Redford?
Oh no, I much prefer Paul Newman![ prefer sb/sth to sb/
sth He normally prefers classical music to rock. [ I'd prefer
sth (-I'd prefer to have) She'd probably have preferred a
different dress to the one I bought her - something rather
more modern.
like sblsth better /lak (sb/sth) tbetr/ to like one
person or thing more than another one Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Which do you like better, the red tie or the green one? [ "What
do you think of my new hairstyle?" "'I liked it much better
the way you had it before." [ like sb/sth better than/more
than I like the new boss a lot better than the last one we had. ]
Sometimes I think Paul likes his new camera more than he
likes me.
have a preference/hmv  prefamns/an expression
meaning to prefer something, used especially when dis-
cussing which one of several things should be chosen [v
phrase not in progressive]
We could eat Chinese, Indian, or Italian. Do you have any
preference?[ have a preference for The new leader has a
preference for people who come from the same area of the
country as he does. [ have no strong/particular prefer-
ence (=you don't prefer any of them more than the others)
I really have no particularpreference - you choose. [ express
a preference (=say that you prefer one rather than others)
When I asked her about where she wanted the meeting to be
held she didn't express any particular preference.
favour (British) I favor (American) I'fevr/if a person
or group in a position of authority or influence favours
something such as a plan, idea, or system, they think it is
better than the others [v T not in progressive]
President Bush is known to favor the use of military force. [
In the 1930s the Bauhaus school tended to favour the scien-
tific and technological approach to art.
give me sblsth any day!/glv mi: (sb/sth) 'eni de/an
informal expression used when you want to say that you
strongly prefer one type of thing
I can't stand English men - they're so boring. Give me an
Italian any day! [ Forget all your salad and beans and
organic food - give me a thick juicy steak any day!
predictable EXPECT 8, PREDICT 5
predicted PREDICT 4
prediction PREDICT 3
predominant MAIN 1
predominantly MOST 6
predominate MOST 6
preemptive PREVENT 9
prefer PREFER 1, 2
PREFER
I to like someone or something better than
others
2 to want or like to do one thing rather than
another
prefer
would prefer/would rather do sth
would sooner do sth
prefer/prI 'fb:r/if someone prefers to do something, they
like doing it better than something else Iv T not in
progressive]
prefer to do sth French people usually prefer to buy goods
that are made in France. I Some actors like to be surrounded
by a crowd of people all the time, while others prefer to be
on their own instead. I prefer doing sth She likes lying on

PREFER 1013 PREJUDICED
the beach, but I prefer visiting museums. I prefer doing sth
to doing sth She seems to prefer watching soap operas on
TV to talking to me. I prefer sth to sth Most women prefer
breastfeeding to bottle feeding.
would prefer/would rather/wod prx ifa:r, wod 'ra:5o r
]] -'rm-/ if you would prefer to do something or would
rather do something, you want to do it more than another
thing you could do instead, or that you are doing now [v
phrase]
would prefer to do sth/would rather do sth We would
both prefer to live in the North of England, but there aren't
many jobs there. I "'Do you want to stay for supper?" "'I'd
much rather go home, if you don't mind. "'[ would rather
do sth than do sth A significant group of young men would
rather risk going to jail than be forced into joining the army.
would sooner do sth/wod isu:n r 'du: (sth)/ if you
would sooner do something, you would very much prefer
to do it especially instead of something else that you dis-
like or that is unpleasant [v phrase]
Marry him? I'd sooner die.t l He's the kind of person who'd
sooner help people than make money out of them.
3 to want someone else to do one thing rather
than another
would prefer/would rather
would prefer/would rather /wod prI'f3: r, wud
'ra:6or II -'re-/Iv phrase]
would prefer sb to do sth I'd prefer them to come next
weekend rather than the one after. [ If you'd prefer me to wait,
that's no problem. I would rather sb did sth I'd rather we
went skiing this year instead of hiking.
4 ways of saying that one thing is preferred to
others
preferably
preferable
preferred
preferably/'prefamblil [advl
Come early in the week - on Monday preferably. I We're look-
ing for well-qualified young people, preferably with good
computer skills. I "'How many do you want?" "Preferably
three, but otherwise as many as you have."
preferable/'prefambal/a choice, result, situation etc that
is preferable is one that you would prefer [adj]
So we're agreed. Our preferable course of action is to do noth-
ing until the report is published. I The most preferable
arrangement would be for us to pay very low interest over
a longperiod of time. I preferable to As far as I'm concerned
anything would be preferable to staying here alone.
preferred/prIf3:rd/preferred method/option/course
of action etc (=the one that you would prefer when there
are several to choose from) [adj only before noun]
The preferred method was to cut the grass early in the morn-
ing when it was still wet. i Yes, that would be my preferred
course of action. Do you think it's possible?
preferable BETTER 4, PREFER 4
preferably PREFER 4
preference FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 1
preference: have a preference PREFER 1
preference: in preference to INSTEAD 1
preferential treatment UNFAIR 7
preferred FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 1, PREFER 4
pregnancy BABY/HAVE A BABY 9
pregnant BABY/HAVE A BABY 7
prejudice PREJUDICED 3
prejudiced PREJUDICED 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
PREJUDICED
having an unreasonable dislike and distrust
of people who are different from you in some
way, for example people from other countries
or other religions
t words for describing prejudiced people,
attitudes, or behaviour
2 unwilling to accept any ideas and beliefs that
are different from your own
8 prejudiced attitudes, behaviour etc
4 prejudiced attitudes or behaviour towards
people from other races or other countries
.5 someone who is prejudiced against people
from other races or other countries
6 prejudiced attitudes or behaviour towards
women
7 words for describing the remarks, attitudes
etc of men who are prejudiced against
women
1 words for describing prejudiced people,
attitudes, or behaviour
prejudiced bigoted
intolerant bigot
prejudiced/'preds°odost/[adj not usually before noun]
Of course he's suitable for the job, you're just prejudiced
because he's black. I My father's so prejudiced, he'd disown
me if he knew I was gay. I prejudiced against People
around here are prejudiced against Catholics.
intolerant /intolmnt [I-'to:-/ refusing to accept that
other people have the right to have beliefs or customs that
are different from yours [adj]
The new President is so intolerant that all public meetings,
demonstrations or speeches are banned. I intolerant of
People in the area are very intolerant of anyone who follows
a different religion.
bigoted/'blgatIad/someone who is bigoted has a com-
pletely unreasonable hatred for people of a different race,
religion etc, based on strong and fixed opinions that no one
can persuade them to change [adj]
She has especially bigoted attitudes towards poor people. I
He is the most bigoted man I ever met. I Too many English
speakers have the bigoted idea that English is the only lan-
guage worth knowing.
bigot/'bigat/someone who has a completely unreasonable
hatred for people of a different race, religion etc, based on
strong and fixed opinions that no one can persuade them
to change In C]
He hates gay people, black people, Catholics - everybody.
Basically, he's a bigot. [ Candice denounces her parents as
middle-class bigots.
2 unwilling to accept any ideas and beliefs that
are different from your own
narrow-minded insular
closed-minded parochial
blinkered
narrow-minded/,neeru 'maindd II 'nerao ,maindod/
unwilling to accept new ideas or ideas that are different
from your own [adj]
My parents are very narrow-minded when it comes to mixed-
race marriages. I He left his home town in 1963, hoping to
meet some less narrow-minded people in the city. I Many
mainstream schools have an incredibly narrow-minded
approach to the education of kids with special needs.
narrow-mindedness [n U] Gay people often move to the big
cities in order to avoid small-town narrow-mindedness. I
Ignorance and narrow-mindedness have long stood in the
way of equality for women.

PREJUDICED 1014 PREJUDICED
closed-minded I,kloozd 'rnaindoId/an American word
meaning unwilling to accept new ideas or ideas that are
different from your own [adj]
You can't be so closed-minded if you want to succeed in a
multi-racial company.
blinkered/'blrjkord/unable to accept ideas that are new
or different from your own, even though you know noth-
ing about them and make no effort to find out [adj]
People are leaving the church in their thousands because of
its blinkered and outdated attitudes towards women. I If the
government wasn't so blinkered it would do more for single
parents.
insular/'Insj°l) r [[ I nslr, ' Ino-/interested only in your
own country, religion, ways of life etc, and having no
interest in what other people do or think [adj]
The English have a reputation for being very insular. [ He
wasn't at all insular, he was well-traveled and could speak
several languages.
insularity /lInsj°'leroti [[ ,inso-, In.f-/ [n U] Very few
journalists have ever managed to penetrate the insularity
and suspiciousness of these people.
parochial/pmokiol/ interested only in the people or
things that you already know and not interested in other
people's countries, beliefs, religion etc [adj]
It's not really surprising to find that these rural areas and
their local councils are so parochial. [ People often tend to
be parochial simply through lack of education.
parochialism [n U] He went to live in Paris to escape what
he called American parochialism.
3 prejudiced attitudes, behaviour etc
prejudice intolerance
bias bigotry
prejudice/'pred3°dIs/[n C/U]
Almost all immigrant groups have faced prejudice in their
new countries. I In England in the 1920s there was wide-
spread anti-American prejudice. I Kids looking for work
around here come face to face with the prejudices of local
employers. [ prejudice against Unfortunately there is still
a great deal of prejudice against unmarried mothers.
bias/'baxs/a tendency to treat one group of people less
fairly than another, based on your dislike of people whose
ideas, beliefs etc, are different from yours In singular/U]
bias against Most western history books are written with
a strong bias against non-European nations. I bias The way
to avoid bias in newspapers is to try to show all sides of the
story. I bias in favour of The Olympic ice-skating judge was
accused of bias in favour of her own country's skaters.
intolerance/n'tolmns II -'to:-/unreasonable refusal to
accept that other people have the right to have beliefs or
customs that are different from yours In U]
Religious intolerance has always been a major cause of war. I
intolerance of/towards The ban on political meetings
strongly reflects the regime's intolerance of any views other
than its own.
bigotry / 'bgtri/a completely unreasonable hatred for
people of a different race, religion etc, based on strong and
fixed opinions that no one can change In U]
Gay people face a constant struggle against bigotry. I Reli-
gious bigotry has caused the deaths of hundreds of people
in Northern India. I The 1948 election was fought on a plat-
form of Afrikaaner chauvinism and anti-black bigotry.
4 prejudiced attitudes or behaviour towards
people from other races or other countries
racism xenophobia
racial prejudice racist
racism/' reIsIzgm/the belief than people of your race are
naturally better, more intelligent etc than people of other
races, especially when this leads to hatred and violence
[nU]
The ANC has spent fifty years fighting against racism. I A
French company has been accused of racism after sacking
three Algerian workers for minor offences. I There seems to
have been a disturbing growth in racism among young
people in the new European states.
racial prejudice /,reIj'al 'preds°ds/ the belief that
people of one race are naturally better, more intelligent etc
than people of other races, especially when this leads to
unfair treatment In U]
As a Hispanic child in Atlanta he had often been the victim
of racial prejudice. I dackle Robinson overcame racial
prejudice to become the first black baseball player in the
Major leagues.
xenophobia / ,zena' faobia/an unreasonable dislike of for-
eign people and places In U]
In an atmosphere of growing xenophobia many foreigners
were deported or even imprisoned.
racist/'reisst/someone who believes that people of their
race are naturally better, more intelligent etc than people
of other races In C]
The senator was accused of being a racist after refusing to
allow a black journalist into his mansion in Georgia. [ The
racists had driven the most articulate young blacks into
hiding by the end of the 1960%
5 someone who is prejudiced against people
from other races or other countries
racist
xenophobic
chauvinistic
racist /'resst/ believing that people of your race are
naturally better, more intelligent etc than people of other
races [adj]
Asian kids in mostly white schools are well aware of the
racist attitudes they face. I Community leaders have protested
at the police's refusal to take racist attacks seriously.
xenophobic/,zen'fobk*/having a very strong and
unreasonable dislike of foreign people and places [adj]
A typical xenophobic Englishman, he had never been abroad
and never wanted to.
chauvinistic / ,trv nlstlk*/having the belief that your
country is better or more important than any other coun-
try [adj]
The French can be very chauvinistic, especially about food
and wine from other countries.
 prejudiced attitudes or behaviour towards
women
sexism
male chauvinism
sexism I'sekszm/the belief that women and girls are
weaker, less intelligent etc than men and boys, which often
also includes offensive attitudes towards women's sexual-
ity In U]
Most teachers are women but most head teachers are men -
this shows the sexism that exists in the education system. I
Sexism in advertising is becoming less common thanks to the
new complaints commission.
male chauvinism/,mefl 'Iov nizgrn/the attitude held
by some men that women are less good than men at jobs,
sports, activities etc and that they should do nothing except
cook, clean, and look after children In U]
Expecting women to do all the ironing is sheer male
chauvinism.t[ Police officers are to go on a course designed
to combat male chauvinism in the forces.
7 words for describing the remarks, attitudes
etc of men who are prejudiced against
women
sexist
chauvinist
male chauvinist
sexist I'seksI st/believing that women and girls are weak,
not intelligent etc and often showing offensive attitudes
towards women's sexuality [adj]

PREJUDICED 1015 PREPARE
He often makes sexist remarks about his female colleagues. I
Comedians should avoid stupid sexist jokes if they want to
make women laugh.
sexist In C] That new computer operator's a real sexist.
©hauvinist ]'auvnst] having the belief that women are
less good than men at jobs, sports, activities etc and that
they should do nothing but cook, clean, and look after chil-
dren [adj]
Women often have to work twice as hard to overcome the
chauvinist attitudes of their male colleagues. I She finally
divorced her husband after years of suffering his chauvinist
behaviour.
male chauvinist/,meil 'aovnst-/a man who believes
that women are less good than men at jobs, sports, activi-
ties etc and that they should do nothing except cook, clean,
and look after children etc In C]
She refuses to give up her career in the Marines, despite being
surrounded by male chauvinists. [ male chauvinist pig
Don't you dare tell me to be quiet, you male chauvinist pig.
preliminary BEGINNING 4
prelude: be a prelude to BEFORE 10
premature EARLY 5
premeditated DELIBERATELY 3
premiere FIRST 5
premonition: have a premonition PREDICT 2
prenatal: antenatal/prenatal BABY/HAVE A BABY 8
preoccupation OBSESSION 1
preoccupied ATTENTION 3, WORRIED 4
preoccupied: be preoccupied THINK ABOUT 6
preparation PREPARE 6
preparation: in preparation for PREPARE 1
preparations PREPARE 6
preparations: make preparations PREPARE 1
prepare COOK 1, MAKE 6, PREPARE 1, 2, 4
prepare yourself PREPARE 3
Ipreparel
PREPARE
1 to make plans or arrangements for something
that will happen in the future
2 to prepare something such as a place, a
machine, or a piece of equipment, for an
event or activity that has been planned
3 to prepare yourself for something that you
have to do
4 to prepare someone for something that they
will have to do, by providing them with the
skills, training, or experience that they will
need
5 to provide the conditions that are necessary
for something to happen in the future
6 the act or process of preparing something
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 to make plans or arrangements for something
that will happen in the future
prepare do the groundwork/
get ready spadework
make preparations gear up
in preparation for mobilize
prepare/prI 'pear/ to make plans or arrangements for
something that will happen in the future, so that you will
be ready when it happens Iv I]
I've been so busy that I've had no time to prepare. I prepare
for We have 5 weeks in which to prepare for the visit. [ People
on the island are preparingfor another storm. I prepare to
do sth The company is preparing to expand its European.
network.
preparatory Ipr 'pmratri II -tz:ril [adj only before noun] a
series of preparatory meetings [preparatory talks (=done in
order to prepare for something)
get ready/get 'redi/to prepare for a special occasion or
event Iv phrase]
get ready for We've spent the last few days getting ready for
Christmas, putting up the lights and decorations. [ get ready
to do sth We have to get ready to go to America next week.
make preparations/meek ,prepa'rexnz/to do all the
things you must do in order to prepare for an important
event Iv pht:ase]
make preparations for Six months should be enough time
to make preparations for the wedding. [ We have started
making preparations for the opening ceremony, to be
attended by the Chief Executive. [ make your preparations
I made my preparations with great care.
in preparation for/in ,prepa rexan f):r/if you do some-
thing in preparation for a planned event, you do some-
thing to make it possible or more likely to be successful
[prep ]
Japan National Railways was split up in preparation for
sale to private investors. [ They have 150,000 troops on their
border in preparation for a new attack.
do the groundwork/spadework Idu: 6a graund-
w3:rk, 'speIdw3:rk/to do the hard but uninteresting, work
that has to be done before something else can happen
Iv phrase]
All the necessary groundwork for the advertising campaign
has already been done. [ Although I did most of the spade-
work, I wasn't given any credit for it.
gear up ] ,gxar '^p] if a company or organization gears
up to do something important or difficult, they prepare to
do it [phr v I]
gear up to do sth Factories are already gearing up to meet
the Christmas rush. [ gear up for The company will shortly
be relocating and gearing up for a major expansion.
mobilize (also-ise in British English) I'maublaizl if a
country or its army mobilizes, it prepares to fight a war
Iv I]
We were ordered to mobilize immediately. I While the US
mobilizes, top-level diplomats are making a last attempt to
reach a negotiated settlement.
 to prepare something such as a place, a
machine, or a piece of equipment, for an
event or activity that has been planned
prepare
get sth ready
set up
prepare Ipr 'pear/ Iv T]
Maintenance staff are busy preparing the field for tomor-
row's big game. [ One of her duties was to lay and prepare
the big coal fire in the drawing room. [ The Americans are
preparing two new satellites for launch.
preparation /,prepa'reIanl [n U] I was involved in the
preparation of the documents.
get sth ready/,get (sth) 'redi/to make sure something
is ready to be used Iv phrase]

PREPARE 1016 PREP ARE
I'll get the car ready. I Jason got his things for the journey
ready the night before he was due to leave. I Could you get
the honeymoon suite ready for tomorrow evening, please. A
young couple will be arriving at 9 pm.
set up !, set '^p/to prepare the equipment needed for an
activity by putting it into a suitable position, in the correct
place etc [phr v T]
set up sth We've set up a microphone in the corner. I It was
6:30 and traders were already setting up their market stalls. I
set sth/it/them up The first thing I did when I moved into
the new house was to set my computer up in the study.
3
to prepare yourself for something that you
have to do
prepare yourself
be prepared
get ready
brace yourself
steel yourself
psych yourself up
work up to
gear yourself up
allow for
prepare yourself/pr'pea r ja:rself/to get yourself into
a suitable mental state or physical condition for something
that you expect to happen soon [v phrase]
prepare yourself for Prepare yourself for a shock. [ They
prepared themselves for a long wait. [ She has spent the last
year preparing herself for the race. [ prepare yourself
Before starting to write an answer in an exam, prepare your-
self by thinking about what you want to say.
be prepared Ibi: pr 'peord/ if you are prepared, you
have prepared yourself, especially for something difficult
or unpleasant [v phrase]
be prepared for We must be prepared for the worst -your
mother is very ill. [ I was not prepared for this question. [ be
prepared Yvette was prepared. She knew the interview
would be difficult but she was determined to do her best. [
Police called the casualty department to warn them to be pre-
pared, as there had been a terrible road accident.
get ready/get ' redi/to prepare yourself mentally or phys-
icadly for something [v phrase]
I'll need another I0 minutes to get ready. [ get ready to do
sth Mrs Dalloway had spent the entire morning getting her-
self ready to receive her guests. [ I gave up my job in Septem-
ber to get ready to go to university. [ get yourself ready for
In the stadium now, the sprinters are getting themselves
ready for this important race.
brace yourself/'brels ja:rself/to prepare yourself for
something unpleasant that is about to happen [v phrase]
brace yourself to do sth I didn't really want to hear the
rest but I braced myself to listen. I brace yourself for
Socialist party leaders are bracing themselves for defeat. [
brace yourself Brace yourselves! Dad's coming do wnstairs
with the telephone bill!
steel yourself [ I sti:l ja:rself/to prepare yourself to do
something that you know will be upsetting, frightening, or
unpleasant [v phrase]
He had to steel himself before telling her about her father's
accident. I steel yourself to do sth I steeled myself to look
at the body again. I steel yourself for Jim had steeled him-
self for the unpleasant encounter.
psych yourself up /,sai'k jz):rself '^p/ an informal
expression meaning to prepare yourself mentally for some-
thing difficult by making yourself believe that you can do
it and that you really want to do it [v phrase]
I tried to psych myself up before the interview. I psych your-
self up for The two boxers have spent the last few months
training hard and psyching themselves up for the fight.
work up to/,wa:rk '^p tu:/to prepare yourself to do some-
thing which you do not want to do by gradually making
yourself more and more determined to do it Iv T]
I haven't asked him yet, but I'm working up to it. I "Have
you managed to get to the dentist's yet? .... No, I'm still work-
ing up to it. "1 work up to doing sth She's been working
up to telling the boss she's leaving for weeks.
gear yourself up /igm r j:rself ^p/to prepare yourself
mentally for something such as a test or important game,
by gradually making yourself believe that you can do it
successfully [v phrase]
I'm gearing myself up. It's the big game on Saturday. I gear
yourself up for He's been gearing himself up for his exams
over the past few weeks.
allow for/o'lao fa:r/to consider the fact that you may
have to deal with an additional number, amount, or
problem, or that something may take a long time, when you
are preparing or planning something [v T]
We'd better allow for fifty people, in case they bring some of
their friends. [ Unfortunately they hadn't allowed for the
heavy traffic and got to the airport too late. I Allowing for
additional expenses, you should take at least $500 with you.
4 to prepare someone for something that they
will have to do, by providing them with the
skills, training, or experience that they will
need
prepare equip
groom prime
prepare/prI'peor/Iv T]
prepare sb Schools should prepare children more for the
world of work. I The new programs are aimed at preparing
young people who want to start up their own business. I pre-
pare sb for Nothing in his life so far had prepared him for
such a tragic loss.
groom/gru:m, grom/to carefully prepare someone for an
important job or for a particular position in society by
training them over a long period of time Iv T]
groom sb as sth Apparently she's being groomed as the new
vice-president. I groom sb to be sth Mrs Adams had
groomed her only daughter to be a perfect wife and mother. I
groom sb for Within the ranks of up and coming young poli-
ticians, it seems McAvoy in particular is being groomed for
great things.
equip/i 'kwip/to give someone the skills which they need
to deal with problems, especially by training them Iv T]
equip sb to do sth A good education will equip your chil-
dren to get a good job. I equip sb for Nothing had equipped
me for this kind of emergency.
prime/praim/to prepare someone for a situation in which
they will have to answer difficult questions, by telling them
what kind of questions to expect and advising them about
how to answer them Iv T]
prime sb for I was well primed for the exam. I prime sb
The defence witnesses had been carefully primed and said
nothing about his past history of violence.
5 to provide the conditions that are necessary
for something to happen in the future
set the scene
pave the way
lay the foundations
set the scene/,set 6o si:n/if an action or event sets
the scene for another event, it provides the conditions in
which that event can take place [v phrase]
set the scene for The negotiations in Geneva have set the
scene for a possible agreement when the leaders of the two
countries meet later this year. [ Events during the previous
weeks have set the scene for a potentially violent confronta-
tion between the demonstrators and the army.
pave the way/,pelv 6o 'weq to provide the conditions
that will make something much easier to achieve in the
future [ v phrase]
pave the way for These experiments may pave the way for
a vaccine against some forms of cancer. ] The Married
Women's Property Actpaved the way for further legislation
on women's rights.
lay the foundations/lei 60 faon'delJ'anz/to provide the
conditions that will make it possible for something success-
ful to take place much later [v phrase]
lay the foundations for His experience as a student leader
laid the foundations for his future career as a politician. [

PREPARE 1017 press on
Far-sighted planning after the war laid the foundations for
the nation's economic miracle.
6 the act or process of preparing something
preparation
preparations
preparation/,prep'ren/[n U]
I'm not worried about the exams - I've done lots of prepara-
tion. I This dessert needs very little preparation, and you can
serve it right away. I preparation for The government has
been accused of inadequate preparation for this kind of
emergency.
preparations I prep' reifanz/arrangements and plans
for a future event [n plural]
preparations for She's busy with the final preparations for
the wedding. [ Preparations for the hi-centennial celebration
are well under way. [ preparations In spite of all our care-
ful preparations, the party was a disaster from start to finish.
 prepared READY 1
 prepared: be prepared PREPARE 3
 prepared: be prepared to do sth WILLING 1
 preponderance: a preponderance of MOST 6
 prerequisite CONDITION/STH THAT MUST BE DONE 1
 prerogative RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 6
 presence IMPRESS 4
 presence: in sb's presence WITH 1
 presence of mind CALM 1
 present GIVE 5, 19, NOW 4, PERFORM 5,
 PRESENT/INTRODUCE A SHOW 1, SHOW/LET
:i SB SEE STH 1, SUGGEST 2
 present: at present/at the present time NOW 1
;*-
 present: be present HERE 5, THERE 4, 5
 present: for the present NOW 6
 present-day NOW 4, 5
 present day: until/up to the present day NOW 3
 present itself HAPPEN 2, THINKSTH/HAVEATHOUGHT 1
• : present problems/difficulties PROBLEM 9
[present[
PRESENT/
INTRODUCE A
SHOW
to tell the people who are watching or listening
to a programme or a show what it is about,
who is in it etc
1 to present a programme or show
 someone who presents a programme or show
1 to present a programme or show
present
introduce
host
present/pr 'zent/to be the person on a programme who
tells the people watching or listening about the different
things that will happen or are happening in it, says who
is in it, explains more about the music played etc [v T]
The programme, 'Rock Music in Russia', will be presented
by Radio 1 "s Anne Nightingale. [ Now, presented by Cliff
Mitchelmore, "Holiday ".
introduce/ IntmdJ u:s [[ -'du:s/to speak at the beginning
of a programme or show and tell the people watching or
listening what it will be about, who will be in it etc [v T]
And now here is Harvey Wolfsheim to introduce the show. [
The concert will be introduced by Richard Baker, who will
describe the music we are going to hear.
host/host/to introduce and take part in a show in which
people, especially famous people, talk about themselves
and answer questions Iv T ]
Oprah Winfrey regularly hosts her own TVchat show. I The
show, hosted by journalist Robert Elms, features movie stars
and singers.
 someone who presents a programme or show
presenter host
announcer MC
presenter/pr'zentr/[n C]
It is a refreshing change to have a woman as the new
presenter of the Saturday morning show. I BBC sports
presenter, Frank Bough
announcer I naonsr/someone who speaks at the begin-
ning or end of radio or television programmes, giving infor-
mation such as the name of the programme and the names
of the people taking part in it In C]
The announcer came on at the end of the programme to say
that this was the last show in the series. I a local radio
announcer
host/host/ the person on a programme or show who
introduces and talks to interesting or important people, or
leads a game that famous people or members of the public
take part in In C]
The host of the show told the audience who his guests were
that night. I Jay Leno, the host of the 'Tonight" show.
MC /em si:/someone who introduces a series of short
acts, songs, dances etc in a humorous way, on a television
programme or show In C]
The MC came on to the stage to introduce the next act.
presentable SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
presentation SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 8
presenter PRESENT/INTRODUCE A SHOW 2
preserve CONTINUE/NOT STOP 5, KEEP/STORE 1
preside over IN CHARGE OF 5
president MANAGER 2
press PERSUADE 3, PRESS 1 2, 3, 4, PUSH 7,
SQUASH 1
press: get a good press PRAISE 4
press: roll/press/squash sth flat FLAT 2
press: the press REPORT 3
press charges: bring charges/press charges
ACCUSE 2
press for/push for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 3
press on CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

PRESS 1018 PRESS
PRESS
to put weight or force on something, using
your hands, feet, or a machine
to press a button, key etc with your finger in
order to make a machine work
to press something against something else
to press something so that it becomes flatter
or smaller
to press something between your fingers or
hands
to press something to remove the liquid from it
the force or weight with which something is
pressed
I to put weight or force on something, using
your hands, feet, or a machine
press
apply pressure
put pressure on
press Iprcs/Iv I/TI
press sth The doctor gently pressed the child's stomach. I
Hannah was pressing the edge of the pastry with a fork. I
press sth down She stuffed the papers back in the box and
pressed the lid down. I press down on Press down on the
wound to stop the bleeding. I press on Jim pressed hard on
the brake pedal.
apply pressure/,plai 'prefar/an expression used espe-
cially in technical contexts meaning to put a particular
degree of weight or force on something Iv phrase]
Apply thirty kilos of pressure and leave for 48 hours. I apply
pressure to Firm pressure should be applied to the affected
part of the body with the hand.
put pressure on/,pot 'pre[ar on/to put firm and steady
weight or force on Iv phrase]
This massage puts firm, concentrated pressure on specific
points. [ The equipment is capable of putting up to 500 kilos
of pressure on each square centimetre.
 to press a button, key etc with your finger in
order to make a machine work
press
push
press/pres/Iv T]
You press a button to start the engine. I Put the car in gear
and press the accelerator very gently. I I keyed in my name
and pressed "ENTER'. I The doctor will press the buzzer
when she's ready to see you.
push/pof/to press something fairly hard with your hand
or finger Iv T]
I stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the tenth
floor. I To send a fax, youjustphone your number, then push
a button. I I spend all day pushing levers on some stupid
machine.
3 to press something against something else
press
press/pres/Iv T]
press sth against sth He hid in the shadows, pressing his
back against the wall. I Their noses were pressed against a
toyshop window. I press sth to sth Pierre pressed the napkin
to his mouth. I press sth into sth Julie pressed her face into
the pillow.
4 to press something so that it becomes flatter
or smaller
press roll
flatten compress
press/pres/Iv T]
We pressed the flowers between the pages of a book. I press
sth into sth (=press something to make it a different
shape) The dough is then pressed into small shapes and
baked in a hot oven.
flatten/'fleetn/to press something into a flat shape Iv T]
He flattened the clay and turned it up at the edges. I She said
that the crash-helmet would flatten her hair-do.
roll Iraol! to press something such as pastry, using a tool
or machine shaped like a tube Iv T]
Roll the pastry as flat as you can. I Roll the dough out to a
thickness of four centimetres.
compress/kam pres/a word used especially in techni-
cal contexts meaning to press something together, so that
it takes up less space Iv T]
Behind the factory is a machine that compresses old cars into
blocks of scrap metal.
compression /kam'prefan/ In U] The engine's efficiency
depends on the effective compression of gas in all its
cylinders.
 to press something between your fingers or
hands
squeeze
pinch
knead
squeeze/skwi:z/to press something firmly together or
inwards especially with your hand Iv T]
Do you always squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle? l
Just squeeze the fruit to see if it's ripe. I a horrid doll that
cried when you squeezed it
squeeze In C] She gave my hand a squeeze and smiled reas-
suringly.
pinch/pint f/to quickly press something, especially a part
of someone's flesh, between your finger and thumb Iv T]
The children began to pinch each other spitefully. I She
pinched her nose shut to stop herself sneezing. I The tube can
be pinched to control the flow of liquid.
pinch In C] He gave Sally a pinch to wake her.
knead /ni:d/ to press a soft substance such as clay or
pastry repeatedly with your hands Iv T]
She kneaded the dough and shaped it into loaves. I The clay
should be kneaded thoroughly to remove any bubbles of air.
6 to press something to remove the liquid from it
squeeze
wring out
squeeze/skwi:z/Iv T]
Squeeze the lemons and pour the juice into a jug. I Alice
squeezed the wet sponge. I squeeze sth out of sth I can't
squeeze any more tomato paste out of this tube.
wring out/,ri 'aot/to press and twist wet cloth or wet
clothes in order to remove water from them [phr v T]
wring out sth Would you wring out these towels and hang
them up to dry? I wring sth/it/them out I had to take off
my skirt and wring it out when I got home.

PRESS 1019 PRETEND
7 the force or weight with which something is
pressed
pressure
pressure/'prefor/[n U]
The pressure can be adjusted by valves. I Her voice and the
gentle pressure of her hand gradually calmed him down. I
pressure on The pressure on the piston must be released
slowly.
pressed: be pressed for time TIME/HAVE TIME 2
pressed: be pushed/pressed for time HURRY 3
pressed: would be hard pressed to do sth DIFFICULT 10
pressure FORCE SB TO DO STH 2, PRESS 7
pressure: apply pressure PRESS 1
pressure: be under pressure BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO
DO 2
pressure: put pressure on FORCE SB TO DO STH 2,
PERSUADE 3, PRESS 1
pressurize FORCE SB TO DO STH 2
prestige REPUTATION 1 2
prestigious REPUTATION 2
presumably THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
presume THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
pretence PRETEND 8
pretences: under false pretences TRICK/DECEIVE 10
pretend PRETEND 1, 2, 3, 4, 9
pretend not to notice/see IGNORE 4
PRETEND
to behave as if something is true when in fact
you know that it is not
to behave as if you are someone else in order
to deceive people
to pretend to be angry, surprised, ill etc
to pretend that something is true in order to
get out of a difficult or dangerous situation
to speak or behave in a way that is not your
usual way of speaking or behaving, especially
in order to impress people
someone who pretends to be someone else
in order to deceive people
words for describing someone who pretends
to be friendly, good, sincere etc, when in fact
they are not
an attempt to pretend that something is true,
especially in order to deceive people
to pretend something as part of a game or
because you enjoy it
to pretend that someone or something is
different from what they really are
to do or create something that is not actually
real but is as close as possible to what is real,
especially in order to find something out
1 to behave as if something is true when in fact
you know that it is not
pretend
make out
keep up appearances
pretend/prI'tend/[v I/T]
pretend (that) When I mentioned her name he pretended he
hadn't heard me. I They pretended that it was all a mistake,
but I know what really happened. I pretend to do sth To
fool the Security Police, she had to pretend to take the chil-
dren to the beach for the day. I pretend We're not really
sisters - we were just pretending.
make out /,meik 'aot/an informal expression meaning
to pretend that a situation exists in order to deceive some-
one [phr v T]
make out (that) We managed to fool the ticket collector by
making out we couldn't speak English. I Two days later
Joyce phoned to ask about the check, so I had to make out
I'd already mailed it. I make sth out to be They made it out
to be a really interesting job, but in fact it was boring and
monotonous.
keep up appearances/ ki:p ^p o'pIronsz/to pretend
that everything in your life is still as happy and success-
ful as it used to be, even though you have suffered some
kind of trouble or loss Iv phrase]
Their marriage was over but they still went out as a couple
just to keep up appearances. I Of course, he tries to keep up
appearances, but he lives entirely off borrowed money.
to behave as if you are someone else in order
to deceive people
pretend pose as
make yourself out to be masquerade as
impersonate
pretend/pn'tend/Iv T]
pretend to be Let's pretend to be students - we might get
some free tickets for the museum. I pretend (that) I'll call
him and pretend I'm Dory asking for a date. I The man got
into the conference centre by pretending he was a security
guard.
make yourself out to be/,me[k j:rself aut to bi:/to
pretend that you are cleverer, richer, more important etc
than you really are Iv phrasel
What I don't like about her is that she makes herself out to
be something special. I Richard led us around the art gallery,
making himself out to be some kind of expert on modern art.
impersonate/Im'pa:rsoneIt/to pretend to be someone
else, especially someone in an official position, by dress-
ing or behaving in the way that they do Iv T]
He is charged with impersonating a police officer and theft. I
By impersonating her boss, she managed to get Ј10,000 out
of the bank.
pose as /pouz eez/to pretend to be someone else, espe-
cially someone in an official position, in order to make it
easier for you to do something bad or illegal Iv T not in
passive]
He posed as a doctor to gain access to the hospital, i There
have been cases of thieves posing as telephone engineers to
trick people into letting them into their houses.
masquerade as/masko're:d az/a formal expression
meaning to pretend that you are someone else, especially
by dressing or behaving in the way that they do Iv T not
in passive]
Masquerading as a Moslem pilgrim, Lawrence made his
way across Saudi Arabia. I The police were accused of
masquerading as journalists to gain access to the meeting.
3 to pretend to be angry, surprised, ill etc
pretend fake
put it on mock
feign false
pretend/pn 'tend/[v T]
pretend to be Why does he pretend to be so happy about it
all? I Sharon pretends to be thrilled with her new life but I
know she misses her old friends. I pretend (that) For all
those months he pretended he was fine when really he was
a very sick man.
put it on/,put it 'on/an informal expression meaning to
pretend to be ill, upset, tired etc, because you want to avoid
doing something or you want to make people feel sorry for
you Iv phrase]
She "s not ill, she's just putting it on because she doesn't want
to go to school. I I couldn't tell if Harvey was putting it on
or if he really was upset.
feign/feIn/feign surprise/annoyance/indifference etc
(=pretend to react to a situation in a particular way when
in fact you feel differently) Iv T]

PRETEND 1020 PRETEND
John looked at him and raised his eyebrows, feigning sur-
prise. I When I asked for her autograph she acted coy for a
moment, feigning embarrassment, then signed with great
eagerness.
fake/feik/to pretend to be ill, mad, angry etc, in a deliber-
ate attempt to deceive someone Iv T]
That morning, Claudia faked illness so she didn't have to
go to work. I He pretended to be really interested in the paint-
ings but you could tell he was faking it. I There is concern
that other serial killers may try to fake insanity in order to
evade prosecution.
mock ]mtk II ma:k! mock surprise/horror/indigna-
tion etc (=that you pretend to feel, especially as a joke) [adj
only before noun]
Diana gave her cousin a look of mock horror and then dis-
appeared through the door, smiling. I in mock surprise/
horror etc (=showing mock surprise, horror etc) The grey
eyes widened in mock surprise. "How unusual to meet you
here, "she said sarcastically. I "It's not fair, "' he complained,
pulling at his hair in mock distress. "I really wanted to visit
your parents!"
false/f:ls/false emotions are not real and the person is
only pretending to feel them [adj]
"'Merry Christmas, "" she said with false heartiness. [ Her face
took on a look of false delight.
4 to pretend that something is true in order to
get out of a difficult or dangerous situation
pretend
bluff
brazen it out
pretend/prI'tend/[v T]
pretend (that) Melissa will never understand why I spent
her money - I'll have to pretend I lost it. [ Play it safe - pre-
tend you didn't see anything. [ pretend to do sth Every time
her ex-husband calls round she just pretends to be out.
bluff/bl^f/to pretend that you will do something bad, espe-
cially to get something you want, when you are in a
difficult or dangerous situation Iv I]
She says she'll leave if they don "t pay her more, but I think
she's only bluffing. [ Surely they won't really kill the
hostages. They must be bluffing. I bluff your way out of
(=get out of a difficult situation by bluffing) He's got an
incredible ability to bluff his way out of awkward situations.
brazen it out /ibretzan It aotl to keep pretending that
you are telling the truth or are not guilty even though
people know you are not, and are trying hard to make you
admit it Iv phrase]
It was pretty obvious that Mark had stolen the money, but
he tried to brazen it out.
 to speak or behave in a way that is not your
usual way of speaking or behaving, especially
in order to impress people
put on artificial
assume affected
put on/,pot 'on II -'o:nl [phr v T]
put on sth Whenever the boss is around she puts on a false
enthusiasm about her job. I put it/sth on He wasn't really
drunk. He was just putting it on.
assume /asju:m II a'su:ml a formal word meaning to
behave or speak in a way in which you do not usually
behave or speak, especially so that you look more confident
or feel better Iv T]
When socializing with his co-workers he would assume a
hearty, over-bearing manner. [Assuming a carefree air, he
ran to the end of the spring board and dived into the water.
artificial I, o-rtI fIj'al/.  a person or their behaviour that
is artificial is not natural or sincere, because they are
pretending to be something that they are not [adj]
Sebastian seems vain and artificial. [ On the surface she is
quite a pleasant woman, but there's something very artifi-
cial about her.
affected /o'fektdl someone who is affected is not
natural or sincere because they are trying to make people
think they are better than they really are [adj]
I can't bear him - he's so loud and affected. I That stupid
affected laugh of hers really annoys me. I She treated her
guests with an affected politeness.
6 someone who pretends to be someone else
in order to deceive people
impostor
charlatan
bogus
impostor IIm'pt)sta r II Im'po:s-/someone who pretends
to be someone else in order to deceive people and gain
something such as money or power In C]
It was not the real Dr Frazer but an impostor. I We thought
he was a kind man but he turned out to be a cheat and an
impostor.
charlatan I'fa:rlatnl someone who pretends to have
special skills or knowledge, for example as a doctor or
teacher, when in fact they do not In C]
No. She isn't a miracle worker. She isn't even a doctor. She's
a complete charlatan. I Somepeople said that he was one of
the greatest philosophers who ever lived; others claimed he
was a charlatan.
bogus / baogas/bogus official/social worker/police-
man/salesman (=someone who pretends to be an official,
social worker etc so that people will allow them into their
homes) [adj only before noun]
The child was taken away from its parents by a bogus social
worker. I There has been a spate of incidents where bogus
officials have called on the homes of elderly people.
7 words for describing someone who pretends
to be friendly, good, sincere etc, when in fact
they are not
insincere hypocritical
phoney/phony two-faced
hypocrite
insincere /t Insln'sIor/pretending to be good or nice by
saying nice things to someone, but not really meaning what
you say [adj]
He described his boss as insincere, hypocritical and ruthless. I
It was not difficult to tell that the hairdresser's compliments
were insincere.
phoney/phony / ' foni/an informal word used especially
in American English meaning someone who pretends to
be good, clever, kind etc when really they are not In C]
When I realized what a phoney he was I didn't want to know
him any more. I I can't stand her - she's such a phoney.
hypocrite /hlpokrlt/ someone who pretends to be
morally good, or to have beliefs or qualities that they do
not really have In C]
You're a hypocrite! You tell us we shouldn't be rude to people
and then you do it yourself. I If you ask me, all politicians
are hypocrites. I I don't know how my father could be such
a hypocrite - he must have made the same mistakes as me
when he was young.
hypocritical / ,h ipa' krtkdl/behaving in a way that is
intended to make people believe that you are morally better
than you really are, or that you have beliefs or qualities
that you do not really have [adj]
Going to church when you don't believe in God is really
hypocritical. I He wondered if newspapers weren't a little
hypocritical, demanding one standard for others and
another for themselves.
hypocrisy /hl'pokrosi II-'pfl:-I In U] The government's
claim to be concerned about the poor is sheer hypocrisy (=it
is very hypocritical).
two-faced /,tu: 'felst/pretending that you like someone
by behaving in a friendly way towards them when you are
with them, but behaving completely differently when they
are not there [adj]

PRETEND 1021 PREVENT
I've never met anyone so two-faced: she's sweet and charm-
ing to you, and then goes and complains about you to the
boss/
 an attempt to pretend that something is true,
especially in order to deceive people
pretence sham
charade front
pretence/pri'tcns II C usually singular]
prdtence of I find it hard to keep up the pretence of liking
your family when they are so rude to me. I pretence that
The worst thing about liberal academics is the pretence that
they are somehow more open-minded than their opponents. I
on the pretence that/of(=pretending that it is the reason
for what you are doing) Wilson asked Carly out to dinner,
on the pretence that he wanted to talk to her about business. I
make a pretence of doing sth (=pretend to do it) Mr Tell-
wright made no pretence of concealing his satisfaction. I
keep up the pretence (=continue pretending) After two
weeks he could keep up the pretence no longer and decided
to tell her the truth.
©harade/a'ra:d II a'rcId/a situation in which people
pretend that something is true and behave as if it were true,
especially when everyone really knows that it is not true
In C]
The trial was just a charade - the verdict had already been
decided. I Simon told Susan that his marriage was a cha-
rade, continued only for the sake of the children.
sham/am/an attempt to deceive people by pretending
that something is true, especially if it is easy for people to
see that it is not true In singular]
If you look at how he treated his wife you can see that his so-
called "Christian Morality" was a complete sham. I She
believed that the kid's sudden good behaviour was only a
sham.
front/fr^nq an organization or activity that seems to be
legal and ordinary but which is secretly being used for an
illegal purpose In singular]
front for The company was just a front for an enormous
drugs ring. I front The meetings had to be held in secret, so
they used the religious service as a front.
9 to pretend something as part of a game or
because you enjoy it
pretend
play/play at
make believe
pretend/pri'tend/Iv T]
pretend (that) I like to drive around in my brother's BMW
and pretend I'm a rich businessman. I pretend to be He
burst into the room with a toy gun in his hand, pretending
to be John Wayne.
play/play at/plei, plei et/play schools/doctors and
nurses etc (=pretend to be at school etc, as part of a game)
[vT]
Did you ever play doctors and nurses when you were small? l
When I was young we played at pirates whenever we were
on the beach.
make believe/meik bI li.-v! to pretend that pleasant
things are happening, that you are someone or somewhere
you want to be, ere [v phrase not in progressive]
make believe (that) The two little girls used to make believe
that they were princesses. [ The audience is asked to make
believe that the theatre is a church and that they are guests
at a wedding. I make believe Right, kids. We don't have any
proper cowboy hats so you'll have to make believe.
make-believe In U] He hasn't really got an uncle in America
- it's only make-believe (=he's only pretending).
10 to pretend that someone or something is
different from what they really are
pass sblsth off as
pass sblsth off as/,pa:s (sb/sth) 'of eez II ,pms-/[phr
vT]
I advised Hall not to try to pass herself off as a police officer
as it was too risky. I Jim had thought of passing the report
off as his own, but didn't dare. I The man in the shop tried
to pass it off as ivory, but it was obviously just made of bone.
1 1 to do or create something that is not actually
real but is as close as possible to what is real,
especially in order to find something out
simulate
simulation
simulate/'sImj°leIt/Iv T]
During the practice we try to simulate a real accident situa-
tion. I The machine is designed to simulate conditions in
space.
simulation /,sImja°'len! an activity or test that
involves a situation that is not actually real, but is as simi-
lar as possible to what is real In C]
This simulation is used to train airline pilots. [ The team has
developed a computer simulation that recreates the exact
weather conditions in a particular area. [ simulation of In
one part of the exhibition there is an audio-visual simula-
tion of the beginning of the universe.
pretentious SHOW OFF 3
pretext REASON 6
prettily BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 6
pretty BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 4, 5,
QUITE/FAIRLY 1
pretty well ALMOST 7
pretty well/pretty much ALMOST 2
prevail WIN 2
prevalent COMMON 2
prevent CAN'T 5, PREVENT 1, 2
[prevent]
PREVENT
to prevent someone from doing something
to prevent something from happening
to prevent a plan or process from
succeeding, especially by taking deliberate
action to make sure that it does not succeed
to prevent people from freely expressing their
opinions
something that prevents you from doing what
you want to do
to prevent someone from entering a place or
going where they want to go
something that prevents you from entering a
place or going where you want to go
continued

PREVENT 1022 PREVENT
12
8 to prevent water, oil, gas etc from moving
through a pipe, hole, or passage
9 used or intended to prevent something
happening, especially something unpleasant
10 words for describing something that can be
prevented
11 words for describing something that cannot
be prevented
to prevent yourself from having or showing a
feeling
1 to prevent someone from doing something
prevent hold back
stop get in the way of
keep sb from discourage
restrain militate against
prevent/pri'vent/Iv T]
prevent sb (from) doing sth The mist prevented him from
seeing very far. I We'll have to think of a way of preventing
vandals getting onto the premises. I Girls should not be
prevented from taking part in "rough'sports. I prevent sb
He's determined to go, even though we've done everything to
prevent him.
stop IstDp [I ste:pl to prevent someone from continuing to
do something they are doing already, or from starting
something that they have planned to do Iv T]
stop sb (from) doing sth How can I stop my son biting his
fingernails? [ The BBC has been stopped from broadcasting
a programme about the secret service. [ stop sb She says she's
going to marry that awful man - can't we stop her? [ there
is nothing to stop sb There's nothing to stop you phoning
him whenever you want.
keep sb from/ki=p (sb) fmrn II -fr^m/to prevent some-
one from continuing or starting to do something, usually
over a period of time [phr v T]
keep sb (from) doing sth Staying busy kept her from think-
ing about her illness. [ keep yourself from doing sth It was
all I could do to keep myself from hitting him.
restrain/r  streln/to prevent someone from doing some-
thing harmful or stupid that they really want to do, either
by physically stopping them or by persuading them not to
do it Iv T]
restrain sb Burgess was at his most angry, and Alice had
to restrain him. I restrain yourself She wanted to ask him
all about his private life, but wisely restrained herself. I res-
train sb from doing sth I tried to restrain him from going
back into the burning building. I His arm was hurting him
and he had to be restrained from doing too much.
hold back/,huld 'bek/to prevent someone or some-
thing from advancing or developing [phr v T]
hold back sb/sth The police had already erected crash bar-
riers to hold back the advancing crowds. I UK cotton
manufacturers deliberately held back the growth of the
Indian textiles industry. I hold sb/sth/it/her etc back
Two men held Frank back as he tried to lash out at Bill.
get in the way of/,get in 6 'wel v/if something gets
in the way of an activity or plan, it causes problems that
make it difficult to do or achieve easily Iv phrase]
Parents shouldn't let their own feelings get in the way of their
children's chosen careers. I International differences of
interest inevitably got in the way of any successful peace
treaty. I get in the way I'd like to play more tennis, but I
find that work gets in the way.
discourage/dIs'khrId 5 II -'k3:r-/to make it less likely
that someone will do something, for example by warning
them that it may have a bad or unwelcome result Iv T]
discourage sth Higher taxes are likely to discourage invest-
ment. I It is a well known fact that a negative working
environment discourages creativity. I discourage sb from
doing sth Higher prices on cigarettes should discourage
people from smoking.
militate against/'mfltet o,genst/if a situation mili-
tates against something, it prevents it or makes it less
likely to happen Iv T]
Adverse economic conditions militate against the ability of
the government to reduce inflation.
prevent
stop
avoid
avert
head off
2 to prevent something from happening
nip sth in the bud
guard against
inhibit
.
keep/hold sth in check
prevent/pr] 'vent/Iv T]
prevents sth It's simply not true that vitamin C prevents
colds. I The new laws are designed to prevent discrimination
in the workplace. I prevent sth (from) happeningA stone
wall prevents the hillside from tumbling into the road.
prevention/pr 'venj'an/In U] How does a healthy diet help
in the prevention of heart attacks? I The police are very happy
to talk to local groups about crime prevention.
stop/stp II sto:p/to make sure that something bad does
not continue to happen Iv T]
stop sth The Federal Reserve Board is trying to stop any fur-
ther rises in interest rates. I stop sth (from) happening
Sterilizing equipment stops germs from spreading.
avoid/v'v:d/to do something to prevent something bad
from happening Iv T]
To avoid danger of suffocation, keep all plastic bags away
from children. I avoid sth at all costs (--do everything pos-
sible to avoid something happening) A nuclear war must
be avoided at all costs.
avert/ va:rt/to do something to prevent something bad
from happening, especially something that will happen
very soon if you do not do anything Iv T]
It may already be too late to avert another disaster. [ Talks
will be held today in a final attempt to avert strike action.
head off/,hed 'f II -'a:f/to do something to stop some-
thing bad from happening to you [phr v T]
head off sth Republicans succeeded in heading off further
equal rights legislation. [ head sth/it offlcould see a finan-
cial crisis coming, but I managed to head it off by selling my
car.
nip sth in the bud / ,nip (sth) m 5 'b^d/to prevent a bad
situation from becoming too serious by stopping it when
it is just beginning Iv phrase]
He had the beginning of a bad cold and had gone to bed to
nip it in the bud. I Police have been drafted into the area,
determined to nip any unrest in the bud.
guard against /'go:rd ,genst/ to carefully plan and
think about what you can do in order to prevent something
bad from happening Iv T]
There's no known way of completely guarding against
cancer, but you can take precautions. I We took care to hide
our meeting place so as to guard against disruption by
protesters.
inhibit/in'hbt/to prevent something, especially some-
thing desirable, from growing or developing as much as it
might have done otherwise Iv T]
Poor soil structure will inhibit root growth. I The new export
tax has inhibited our sales overseas.
keep/hold sth in check/,ki:p, ,hould (sth) n 'trek/to
prevent someone or something from getting out of control
[ v phrase]
The children need a firm teacher to keep them in check. I
Arguments among the politicians were held in check by the
need to find a solution quickly.
[ 3
to prevent a plan or process from
succeeding, especially by taking deliberate
action to make sure that it does not succeed
block foil
obstruct forestall
frustrate impede
thwart

PREVENT 1023 PREVENT
block/blok II bla:k/to prevent someone from doing some-
thing that they are planning to do, especially legally or offi-
cially Iv T]
France voted to block Britain's entry into the European Com-
munity. I The proposed welfare program has been blocked
by limitations on state spending.
obstruct/b I str^kt/to try to prevent someone from doing
something by deliberately making it much more difficult
for them Iv T ]
Right wing forces in the party are likely to obstruct any fur-
ther moves towards reform. I Eric was arrested for obstruct-
ing a police officer in the course of his duty.
obstruction/b'strAkan/In C/U] The habit of appointing
graduates to positions of responsibility can be a great
obstruction (=something that obstructs)for non-graduates
wanting promotion.
frustrate/fr^ tstrelt [[ 'frAstrelt/ to deliberately prevent
someone's attempts, efforts, or plans from succeeding by
repeatedly delaying action that would make it possible [v T]
Government lawyers frustrated all attempts to get the book
published. I Hopes of further progress in civil rights were
frustrated by Southern whites.
thwart/0w:rt! to prevent someone from doing some-
thing, especially something that they very much want to
do because it is personally important to them [v T]
Nothing her parents could do could thwart her ambition to
be a rock singer. I Their attempts to reach the top of the moun-
tain were thwarted by storms.
foil Ifl/to prevent something bad or criminal that some-
one is planning to do, by being more clever than they are
Iv T]
The government has foiled an attempted military coup. I Co-
operation between the public and police is vital if criminal
activity is to be foiled.
forestall/f:r  st:l/to prevent someone doing something
before they have even begun Iv T]
In, January, ill health forestalled his intention of starting on
his novel. I James turned on the television, to forestall any
further remarks.
impede/lmpi:d/ a formal word meaning to make the
advance or development of something slower or more
difficult Iv T]
Progress has been impeded by a number of economic factors. I
In fact, the use of these drugs may even impede the patient's
recovery.
4 to prevent people from freely expressing their
opinions
muzzle
silence
gag
muzzle / 'mAzal/to prevent someone such as a politician
or news reporter from publicly expressing their opinions
or ideas Iv T]
Newspapers in the regime are muzzled by strict censorship
laws. I Congress has tried to muzzle politicians who com-
plain about US policy in the Middle East.
silence/sallons/to prevent someone from expressing
their opinions, or making public something that someone
is trying to keep secret, especially by threatening them or
taking legal action to stop them Iv T]
The Mafia uses threats of physical violence or death to silence
any opposition. I Legal attempts to silence the former secret
agent have failed.
gag Igzegl a word used especially in newspapers meaning
to unfairly prevent someone from publicly telling people
facts or expressing opinions Iv T]
The government has once again used concerns about
'National Security" as an excuse to gag the press. I We are
unable to publish today - but we can't be gagged for ever.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
something that prevents you from doing what
you want to do
bar
obstacle
limiting
bar Iba:rl In C usually singular]
a bar to His disability was no bar to his entry into theprofes-
sion. I Fear of being famous is a surprisingly common bar
to success.
obstacle /tobstokal II 'a:b-/ a problem that makes it
difficult but not impossible for you to achieve what you
want to achieve In C]
The fact that neither speaks the other's language is a seri-
ous obstacle. I obstacle to The greatest obstacle to economic
progress has been mass unemployment. I overcome an
obstacle (=deal with it successfully) To get to Harvard, she
had to overcome the usual obstacles facing someone from a
poor background.
limiting/llmoltirj/preventing something from improv-
ing, developing, growing etc [adj]
I found the lack of books very limiting. I limiting factor The
weed problem is proving a limiting factor in rice production
in the United States.
6 to prevent someone from entering a place or
going where they want to go
be in the way bar
block blockade
obstruct
be in the way/bi: in 6 we/if something is in the way,
it is in a position that stops someone from entering a place
or going where they want to go Iv phrase]
Your car's in the way, I can "t get out of my garage. I be in
sb's way duck tried to enter the room, but Mr Bloom was
in his way. [ be in the way of Several empty boxes stood in
the way of the fire exit.
block/blok [[ No:k/to completely prevent anyone or any-
thing from passing, especially by putting something in
their way [v T]
block sth The road was blocked by a fallen tree. [ Would
passengers please make sure that their baggage does not
block the gangways. [ block sb's way (=prevent someone
from continuing) Two men blocked my way and demanded
to see my passport. [ be blocked off (=so that it is imposs-
ible to enter or leave) Park Avenue was completely blocked
off by fire engines.
obstruct lob I str^kt/to make it difficult or impossible for
someone to enter somewhere or to go where they want to
go Iv T]
A small aircraft now obstructed the runway. I The crate only
obstructed one lane of the freeway, but this was enough to
slow the traffic down.
bar /ba: r] bar sb's way/path/passage etc (=prevent
them continuing towards the place they are going by phys-
ically placing yourself or something else in front of them)
[vT]
The Canadian officer apologized as he barred her way, "No
one may leave the ship, Madam. "']I found my path through
the forest barred by fallen branches.
blockade/blo'keld 11 bla:-/to use military force to pre-
vent people or goods from entering or leaving an area Iv T]
In June 1948 the Russians blockaded the western sectors of
Berlin. 1 A US fleet blockaded the port of Veracruz.
blockade [n C ] Getting food supplies through the blockade
is almost impossible.
7 something that prevents you from entering a
place or going where you want to go
barrier
obstruction
obstacle

PREVENT 1024 price sth out of the market
barrier/'beriar/something that has been deliberately put
somewhere, especially across a road or entrance, to prevent
people from entering an area or building In C]
When the parking lot has spaces available the barrier will
lift and you may enter. I The driver slowed down as he
approached the police barrier. I Only a flimsy barrier stops
the crowd from spilling onto the field.
obstruction lab I str^kfan/something that blocks a road,
entrance etc, and that makes it difficult for you to continue
beyond it In C]
A truck was causing an obstruction on the road as a man
unloaded furniture. [ Construction workers building the
tunnel have encountered a number of obstructions.
obstacle/Iobstakl II o:b-! something that you have to
make a special effort to get around or over in order to con-
tinue in the direction in which you are going In C]
Skiers must beware of rocks or other obstacles hidden by the
snow. I The aim of the game is to ride your motorcycle over
or around all the obstacles as quickly as possible.
8 to prevent water, oil, gas etc from moving
through a pipe, hole, or passage
block
clog
obstruct
block/bltk II No:k/Iv T]
The water won't drain - there's something blocking the
pipe.[ We've blocked the hole, so the mice shouldn't return.
blocked [adj] The symptoms of a cold are typically sneez-
ing and a blocked nose.
clog/khg II kla:g! if dirt, dust etc clogs a tube or passage,
especially in a machine, it gradually blocks it until noth-
ing can move through it, or until the parts of the machine
cannot run smoothly Iv I/T]
dog sth Leaves are clogging the drain. I clog sth with At
one point in the journey, their engine became clogged with
sand. I dog up (=become clogged) Check the vacuum cleaner
regularly to prevent the filters inside from clogging up.
clogged [adj] You can buy special stuff for clearing clogged
pipes.
obslrucl/abstrnkt! if something obstructs a passage,
pipe etc, it becomes stuck in it so that it is difficult or
impossible for anything to move through it Iv T]
Earth and rocks had fallen into the tank, obstructing its
opening.
!9 used or intended to prevent something
happening, especially something unpleasant
preventive/preventative
preemptive
preventive/preventative /przventIv, prtventatIv/
preventative measure/medicine/action (=intended to
prevent something from happening or getting worse) [adj
only before noun]
We should spend more money educating people about preven-
tive medicine. I Public servants need to take preventative
measures to deal with violent clients. I Preventative action
can easily be taken to avoid damp occurring in your house.
preemptive /pri:emptIv/ pre-emptive strike/meas-
ure/action (=one in which you do something to harm
someone so that they cannot do it to you first) [adj]
The US says it is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with
nuclear weapons if it is threatened.
10 words for describing something that can be
prevented
preventable
avoidable
preventable/prI ventbal/something that is preventa-
ble, especially an illness, is one that can be prevented [adj]
Whooping cough and measles are both preventable diseases. [
Death from smoking should be preventable.
avoidable Ialva:dabal/difficulties or problems that are
avoidable can be prevented, and therefore you should not
have to deal with them [adj]
Running out of gas is annoying and easily avoidable. I
Environmental pollution is avoidable provided certain
simple steps are followed.
1 1 words for describing something that cannot
be prevented
unavoidable
inevitable
unavoidable/l^nalvaIdabal/[adj]
I had intended to arrive earlier, but there were some unavoid-
able delays. I Sometimes absence from work is unavoidable.
unavoidably [adv] He sent a letter to say he had been
unavoidably detained in Paris.
inevitable/ nevtabal/something that is inevitable is
impossible to prevent from happening, for example
because something has already happened that causes it
[adj]
After the peace talks broke down, war seemed inevitable. I
Unemployment is an inevitable consequence of free market
economics.
inevitably [adv ] The children were inevitably very excited
before the party.
1 ' to prevent yourself from having or showing a
feeling
hold back suppress
fight back conquer
stifle
hold back / ,haold beek/to try hard to stop yourself laugh-
ing, crying, or showing anger [phr v T]
hold back sth Jack held back his tears and pretended not
to be disappointed. [ I felt like yelling but I held back my feel-
ings and wrote a calm letter afterwards. [ hold sth/it/them
back I wanted to laugh, but I managed to hold it back.
fight back /ifaxt 'bak/if you fight back tears, you try
very hard to stop yourself from crying, but do not always
succeed [phr v T]
fight back tears Wanting to appear to be strong, he tried
to fight back his tears. I I banged the mug down on the table,
fighting back tears of rage and frustration. I fight tears/
them back I had tears in my eyes, but I fought them back.
stifle/' staifl/stifle a yawn/a smile/laughter etc (=to
try to stop yourself showing that you are tired, amused etc
especially because you do not want to seem rude) Iv T]
She stifled a yawn as the boss read out the sales figures. I
A huddle of girls sat at the back of the class, stifling giggles
throughout the lesson. I She hid her face in the pillow to stifle
her sobs.
suppress/sa pres/to try to stop yourself showing feelings
of anger, sadness etc, through great effort or determination
[vT]
She could not suppress a pang of sadness when he walked
away. I He looked at me, waiting with suppressed anger.
conquer /korka r II kmr-/ to manage to stop feeling
something that affects you very strongly, for example
extreme fear, pain etc Iv T]
It took years of therapy for her to conquer her fear of heights. I
Hilton stepped into the room, fighting to conquer his feelings
of disgust.
preventable PREVENT 10
preventive/preventative PREVENT 9
previous BER3RE 2, 6, 7, 9
previously BER3RE 2
prey on your mind WORRIED 7
price COST 1 3
price: be low in price CHEAP 1
price: be priced at COST 2, VALUE 2
price: put a price on VALUE 5
price sth out of the market EЧPENSIVE 4

priceless ]025 PRISON
dignity / 'dIgnaiti/the ability to behave in a way that shows
you respect yourseffand have pride in yourseff, even in a
very difficult situation In U]
She was slowly recovering her sense of dignity and purpose. I
I remember my uncle's honesty, and his remarkable dignity. I
preserve your dignity In these terrible conditions, the
family managed to preserve their dignity. I human dignity
Even amid the squalor and filth of the concentration camps,
the starving inmates managed to retain some scraps of
human dignity. I do sth with dignity The dignity with
which the victim's father has appealed to the terrorists has
won him the admiration of the whole nation.
priceless VALUE 3
pricey EXPENSIVE 1
prick HOLE 9
prickly ROUGH/NOT SMOOTH 1
pride PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 1, PROUD 2
pride: be sb's pride and joy PROUD 3
pride: be the pride of PROUD 3
pride: swallow your pride SORRY/APOLOGIZE 1
pride: take pride in PROUD 1
pride yourself on PROUD 1
PRIDE/
SELF-RESPECT
the feeling of having respect for your own
qualities, abilities, and moral standards
words for describing someone who has a lot
of self-respect
1 the feeling of having respect for your own
qualities, abilities, and moral standards
pride self-esteem
self-respect dignity
pride/praId/a feeling that you like and respect yourself
and what you do and that you deserve to be respected by
other people In U]
He has too much pride to say he's sorry. I Jim has his pride.
He won't ask for help. I hurt sb's pride You'll only hurt her
pride if you offer her money. I take pride in sth/doing sth
They take pride in their work. I Many elderly people take
pride in paying all their bills promptly.
self-respect /,self ri' spekt/a feeling of pride in what you
are, what you do, and what you believe in, that you can lose
if for example you do something that is against your moral
principles, or feel that what you are doing is no longer valu-
able In U]
We aim to instil in our students a feeling of self-respect, and
pride in their work and achievements. I lose your self-
respect She had never quite lost her self-respect, in spite of
her years in prison. I rob sb of their self-respect People
can easily be robbed of their self-respect after years of unem-
ployment.
self-esteem /  self  ' sti:m/the feeling that you are some-
one who deserves to be liked, respected, and admired In U]
When Igor myfirstjob I developed more self-esteem and con-
fidence. I high/low self-esteem Drug users often have very
low self-esteem. I damage/erode sb's self-esteem Years of
being trapped in a marriage with an abusing husband had
seriously eroded her self-esteem. I restore/increase sb's
self-esteem The chance to work again did a lot to restore
her self-esteem.
' words for describing someone who has a lot
of self-respect
proud
dignified
be too proud to do sth
proud/praod/[adj]
They were poor, but proud. I His mother was a strong, proud
woman. I She gave back the money with a proud gesture. I
proud to say sth I'm proud to say that I refused to betray
my friends.
proudly [adv] They carried the banners proudly.
dignified/'dignaIfaid/behaving in a way that shows you
respect yourself and have pride in yourself, even in a very
difficult situation, for example when people are criticizing
you [adj]
She was a quiet, dignified old lady. I Jose listened to my com-
plaints in dignified silence. I He made a short, dignified
speech, announcing his resignation.
be too proud to do sth/bi: tu: ,praod tu: 'du: (sth)/to
be unwilling to do something because you think it will
make people feel sorry for you, or make them think you are
poor, lonely, helpless etc Iv phrase]
She was too proud to ask the taxi driver for help. I He was
too proud to even consider getting a washing-up job.
prim OFFEND 4
primarily MAIN 5
primary MAIN 1
prime BEST 1, MAIN 1, PREPARE 4
prime: be cut off in your prime DIE 3
primitive SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1
principal MAIN 1
principally MAIN 5
principles GOOD/MORAL 10
principles: first principles BASIC 3
print WRITE 1, 9, 14
print: the small/fine print DETAIL 3
prints: fingerprints/prints MARK 6
prior BEFORE 3, 6
prior engagement: have a previous/prior engagement
BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
prior to BEFORE 1
priority IMPORTANT 4
priority: take priority IMPORTANT 4
prise open/pry open OPEN 6
prison PRISON 1
prison: in prison/jail PRISON 3
prison: put sb in prison PRISON 2
prison: send sb to prison PRISON 2
PRISON
a place where people are kept for a period of
time as a punishment
to put someone in prison
to be in prison
someone who is in prison

PRISON 1026 private sector
1 a place where people are kept for a period of
time as a punishment
prison
jail/gaol
penitentiary
prison Ipnzanl In C/U[
A new prison has been built in the area. [ Many prisons are
now seriously overcrowded. [ It's a school now, but it used
to be a prison. [ Compared to prison this detention centre is
a holiday camp! [ Changes in the prison system are likely. [
For many young offenders, prison may not be the answer.
jail (also gaol in British English)/dBcil/a prison, especially
a small or old one [n C]
This old building is the actual jail that Butch Cassidy
escaped from in 1887. I The old man spent a week in the town
jail on a charge of vagrancy.
penitentiary / pen ' tenril an American word meaning
a large prison for people who are guilty of serious crimes
[nC]
Jed was sent to the state penitentiary.
:2 to put someone in prison
put sb in prison incarcerate
send sb to prison intern
jail/gaol detention
imprison
put sb in prison/,pot (sb) n 'prIzan] [v phrase]
Eventually, the rapist was caught and put in prison. [ Put-
ting people in prison is a costly business, that does not always
help reduce crime.
send sb to prison/,send (sb) t 'prtzan/to officially
order someone to be put in prison Iv phrase]
The group believes that more people should be sent to prison
for drink-driving offences. [ Women are more likely than men
to get sent to prison for non-violent crimes. [ The judge sent
him to prison for seven years.
jail (also gaol in British English)/dsell / to put someone in
prison, especially for.a short, fixed period of time [v T
usually in passive]
Many of the protest group's leaders had been jailed. I Because
he couldn't pay the fine, he was jailed for seven days. I
Vagrants are often quite happy to be gaoled for the night,
especially during the winter.
imprison/Im'pr:zan/a formal word meaning to put some-
one in prison Iv T usually in passive]
The man was imprisoned for violent assault. I The military
government had wrongfully imprisoned her for treason.
imprisonment In U[ The maximum penalty is three years"
imprisonment. I false imprisonment
incarcerate/In'ka:rsreIt/to keep someone in prison,
especially unfairly or illegally Iv T usually in passive]
As a direct result of Chile's new regime, thousands of people
have been incarcerated in prisons and labour camps. I Here
is the cell where Hari and the others were incarcerated for
so many years.
incarceration I[n,ko:rs'refan/ [n U] Anyone speaking out
against the regime faced possible death or incarceration for
life. [incarceration without trial
intern / n't3: rn/to put someone, especially someone from
another country, in prison during a war, because they are
thought to be dangerous Iv T usually in passive]
Our Japanese neighbours were interned throughout the
war. I The French ensured that these people were interned for
the rest of the war.
internment In U[ The troubles in Ireland escalated rapidly
with the introduction of internment for suspected paramili-
taries.
detention/dltenfn/a situation in which someone is
kept in a place, especially a prison, because they have
broken the law In U[
I was never able to visit Steve during his periods of deten-
tion. I James was arrested last night for fighting, and now
he's been locked up in a detention centre.
3 to be in prison
be in prison/jail do time
be inside serve
be in prison/jail/bi: in 'pnzan, 'dseIl/[v phrase]
The two Irishmen were in prison for five years before they
were found to be innocent. [ Both her sons are now in jail.
be inside/hi: m' sad/an informal expression meaning
to be in prison, especially when you are talking about the
actual period during which you are in prison Iv phrase]
"When I was inside, "" said Jimmy. "I really learned how to
look after myself. ""
do t|me/,du: 'talm/an informal expression meaning to
be in prison for a period of time as a punishment for a crime
Iv phrase]
do time for None of us knew that Greg had done time for
stealing cars. I do time He was afraid his wife would run
off with another man, while he was doing time.
sere/s3:rv/to spend a period of time in prison, especially
the period that a judge has said you must spend there Iv T[
serve time His name was MacDonald and he had served
time in San Quentin. I serve a sentence Fowler was
released after serving two-thirds of his sentence. I serve 3
years/6 months etc Holwerda is currently serving five
years for child abduction.
4 someone who is in prison
prisoner
convict
inmate
prisoner/'prIzanrl [n C]
The prisoners get an hour of exercise each day. [ political
prisoner (=someone who is a prisoner because of their
political beliefs) The regime is accused of torturing politi-
cal prisoners.
convict/'konvkt [[ ka:n-/a word meaning someone who
has officially been found guilty of a crime in a court of law,
and has been sent to prison In C]
This island, now a holiday paradise, is where convicts were
once sent for a lifetime's hard labour. [ Police are searching
for two convicts who escaped from Dartmoor prison last
night.
inmate/ tnmelt/a prisoner in a particular prison [n C]
Joseph sat up late the first night, talking with a fellow
inmate. [ The police marched the inmates back in and locked
the gates.
 prisoner KEEP SB IN A PLACE 4, PRISON 4
 prisoner: be a prisoner ESCAPE 10
,! prisoner: hold sb prisoner/captive KEEP SB IN A
! PLACE 1
 prisoner: take sb prisoner CATCH 2
i privacy PRIVATE/PERSONAL 4
 private PRIVATE/NON-GOVERNMENT 1,
 PRIVATE/PERSONAL 1 2, 3, 5
z private: in private SECRET 6
:
 private enterprise BUSINESS 1
 private enterprise/free enterprise PRIVATE/
. NON-GOVERNMENT 1
'!i! private investigator/private detective INVESTIGATE 3
-:: private sector PRIVATE/NON-GOVERNMENT 1

PRIVATEINON-GOVERNMENT 1027 PRIVATEIPERSONAL
PRIVATE/NON
GOVERNMENT
words for describing businesses, services,
organizations etc that are not owned or
controlled by the government
1 words meaning private
2 tO make a public company or organization
private
3 to bring a private industry or company under
the control of the government
1 words meaning private
private the private sector
commercial private enterprise/
independent free enterprise
private/'praivat/not owned, controlled, or paid for by the
government [adj usually before noun]
Private hospitals can afford to pay much higher salaries
than state-run hospitals. I Among the proposals set forth by
the opposition were lower defence spending and the abolition
of private education. I The housing association leaders hoped
that their offer would attract private investors.
privately [adv] Oxfam is a privately funded organization
set up to help the poor in the third world.
commercial /ko'ma:rJ'M/ commercial TV/radio/
station/channel etc (=one that is not owned or paid for
by the government and earns money especially by adver-
tising) [adj only before noun]
Most European countries have a mixture of commercial and
state-run television. I Denmark's first commercial channel
went on air on June I, 1987. I Steve Ellis is a DJ on the most
popular commercial radio station in Sussex, Southern
Sound Radio.
independent/, Jnd 'pendant/independent Tv/radio/
school/business (=not owned or paid for by the govern-
ment) [adj]
Robin worked for one of the largest independent television
companies. I Local companies and industries have been help-
ing independent schools to provide buildings and equipment.
the private sector/6 praIvIt ,sektr/all the indus-
tries and services that are not owned or paid for by the
government In phrase]
The government is now turning to the private sector for alter-
native ways of dealing with the country's transportation
problems. I private sector spending/housing/finance
ere The document relates to the financing of private sector
housing.
private enterprise/free enterprise / tpraivt tenta r-
pralz, ,fri: 'entarpra]z/the economic system in which indus-
tries, factories etc are owned and controlled by private com-
panies and not by the government In U]
Sweden has always had a mixture of private enterprise and
state control in its economy. I Margaret Thatcher tried to
encourage private enterprise by selling off Britain's nation-
alized industries. I Even in the United States, free enterprise
is subject to government controls.
2 to make a public company or organization
private
privatize
privatize /'pra]valtaiz/ if a government privatizes a
government-controlled industry, service, or company, it
sells it to private owners, who then run it for their own
profit Iv T]
There is a lot of controversy over the government's plans to
privatize the National Health Service. I Employees of the
Strathtay bus company, which has been privatized, are con-
cerned that some of them will be made redundant. I Hungary
has been very keen to privatize its major industries, follow-
ing the democratic reforms of 1988.
privatized [adj] The government plans to introduce a priva-
tized health system.
privatization /praivtai zeifan II -ta-! In U] The recent
privatization of bus services has led to escalating prices.
3 to bring a private industry or company under
the control of the government
nationalize
nationalize/'neJ'nlaiz/[v T]
The Bank of England was nationalized in 1946. I Castro
nationalized most foreign holdings in Cuba. I When the steel
industry was nationalized the Government had to pay gener-
ous compensation to the companies involved.
nationalized [adj] Nationalized industries (=industries
which have been nationalized) are not, in general, highly
profitable.
nationalization/,nmanalai 'zeJan II -b-/[n U] the nation-
alization of the coal industry
PRIVATE/
PERSONAL
concerning only yourself, your family, or
your close friends, and not for other people to
know about
1 words for describing private thoughts and
feelings
2 words for describing private conversations,
letters etc
3 words for describing the part of someone's
life that is private and not connected with their
work or public life
4 a situation in which you can be alone and
other people cannot watch you or concern
themselves with what you are doing
5 words for describing someone who likes to
keep their feelings, thoughts, and opinions
private
6 what you say to someone to tell them that
something is private and they have no right to
ask you about it
I words for describing private thoughts and
feelings
private personal
secret innermost
intimate
private/'pralvt/[adj]
She finds it difficult to talk about her private hopes and
fears. 1 Some things I prefer to keep private. I He wash "t listen-
ing - he seemed lost in a private daydream.
privately [adv] Simon seemed confident, but privately he
grew increasingly anxious.
secret / t si:krt/known or felt only by you, and not talked
about or shown to anyone else [adj]
I had a secret ambition to return to politics. I Pyschologists
say that dreams can reveal our secret desires. I He seemed
calm, but he boiled with secret anger.
secretly [adv] She said nothing, though she secretly
admired his courage. I Many men secretly envy women.
intimate/' intalmIt/very private, and usually concerned
with your relationships, sexual feelings etc [adj]
Only my diary knows my most intimate thoughts. I Some feel-
ings she considered too intimate to share with anyone, even
her husband. I Taylor's most intimate secrets are chronicled
in this revealing biography.

PRIVATE/PERSONAL
personal/Ipa:rsanal/concerning only you, or felt espe-
cially strongly by you [adj]
I felt a deep personal guilt and shame for my country. [
Jeffrey feels great personal pride in the ability of his stu-
dents. [ She felt her problems were too personal to confide in
someone else.
Innermost/I narmaost/innermost feelings/thoughts/
secrets etc (=ones that are very important to you, but that
you do not like to talk to other people about) [adj only before
noun]
He's not the kind of person to reveal his innermost feelings,
even to his closest friends. I Very young children often think
their mother knows all their innermost thoughts and fears.
2 words for describing private conversations,
letters etc
private
personal
private l'pra:vot/[adj]
It's rude to listen to someone's private conversation! I The
dead author's wife has refused to allow his private letters to
be published. I He keeps his private papers locked away in
the top drawer of his desk.
personal/pa:rsanal/concerning only you, and not to be
seen, listened to, or read by anyone else [adj]
I'm sorry but my diary is personal. I don "t let anyone else read
it. I There was a letter on Sarah's desk marked 'personal'.
3 words for describing the part of someone's
life that is private and not connected with their
work or public life
private
personal
domestic
private/'pravIt! [adj]
private life The newspapers are full of stories about the pri-
vate lives of famous people. I He tries to keep his private life
separate from his work. [ private The senator argues that
his private investments have nothing to do with his politi-
cal behaviour.
personal /pa:rsanal/not concerned with your work or
business [adj]
She had worked with Bill for 5years, but she knew nothing
of his personal life. I I keep my business and personal rela-
tionships well apart from each other. I If you must make per-
sonal phone calls at work, please keep them short.
domestic/damestlk/concerning your life at home, espe-
cially with your family, and not your business or work
[adj]
Domestic problems are affecting his work. I History books
do not tell us much about the domestic lives of our ancestors. I
It can be difficult for people with domestic responsibilities
to work late at night.
4 a situation in which you can be alone and
other people cannot watch you or concern
themselves with what you are doing
privacy
privacy/'prxvosi, 'pray- II 'praI-/In U]
Her only periods of peace and privacy are when the children
are in bed. I Privacy is very important to most teenagers. I
respect sb's privacy (-let someone have some privacy)
The press has been asked to respect the privacy of the Royal
Family during this very difficult time. I in the privacy of
your own room/home etc (=in a place where you can
have some privacy) I waited until I was in the privacy of my
own room before I opened the letter.
5 words for describing someone who likes to keep
their feelings, thoughts, and opinions private
private
keep yourself to yourself/keep to yourself
1028
PROBABLY
private/'pra:vt/[adj only before noun]
She was a very private person whose happiness was based
on close family ties. I Brando is a private man who almost
never gives interviews to the press.
keep yourself to yourself (British) l keep to your.
self (American)/ki:p j:r,self t j:r'self, ,ki:p t j:r'self/
to not spend much time with other people and not talk
much with other people, especially about your personal
feelings or opinions Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
Mrs Jackson, a widow who kept herself to herself lived in
the flat above. I Until he got used to his new school, Davy kept
to himself and almost never spoke to the other children.
6 what you say to someone to tell them that
 something is private and they have no right to
ask you about it
it's none of your business
mind your own business
it's none of your business/:ts ,nAn av ja:r ,b:znis/
(used when someone asks you about something private
that you think they have no right to ask you)
You've no right to ask questions like that. My private life is
none of your business. I "I don't care what you think, and
anyway it's none of your business, "" she said rather rudely. I
it's none of your business what/where/how etc It's
none of your business how much I earn. I that's my busi-
ness "Who gave you that ring? .... That's my business.'"
mind your own business/mand j:r on IbIznls/
(used when someone is asking questions about your pri-
vate life that you do not want to answer)
"Where did you sleep last night? .... Mind your own busi-
ness. "'1 I wish you'd stop interfering and mind your own
business.
privatize PRIVATE/NON-GOVERNMENT 2
privilege ADVANTAGE 1, RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 6
privileged CLASS IN SOCIETY 2
privy: not be privy to NOT KNOW 5
prize WIN 10
pro EXPERIENCED 1, JOB/WORK 4
pro- SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 1
probability PROBABLY 8
probability: in all probability PROBABLY 3
probability: there is a strong likelihood/probability
PROBABLY 3
probable PROBABLY 1
probable: likely/probable PROBABLY 2
probably PROBABLY 1, 2
probably: very probably PROBABLY 3
PROBABLY
8
9
10
1 ways of saying that you think it is likely that
something will happen
2 ways of saying that you think it is likely that
something is true
3 very likely to happen or very likely to be true
4 ways of saying that something good or
enjoyable is likely to happen
5 ways of saying that something bad or
unpleasant is likely to happen
6 ways of saying that something or someone
will probably be successful
7 ways of saying that you think someone will
probably do something bad
how likely it is that something will happen
possible but not very likely
ways of saying that someone or something
will probably not be successful

PROBABLY 1029 PROBABLY
1 ways of saying that you think it is likely that
 something will happen
probably be on the cards/
likely be in the cards
probable as likely as not
be a strong I wouldn't be
possibility surprised if
it looks as if/looks like I dare say
chances are I should think
may well I guess
probably/'probabli ii 'pra:-/[adv]
Take your umbrella - it'll probably rain later. [ 'Working
Girl" is a romantic comedy which will probably be seen by
more women than men. [ Dickson would probably have been
fired if they had found out that he was lying.
likely /'laikli/ something that is likely will probably
happen [adj]
A peace settlement now seems likely. I He is seen as the Presi-
dent's likely successor. I it is likely that It's quite likely that
the committee will accept our recommendations. I be likely
to do sth Men are generally more likely to die from heart
attacks than women.
probable/'probabal II 'pra:-/a word used especially in
formal contexts meaning likely to happen [adj]
it is probable that It now seems probable that the report
will damage the President's reputation. I highly probable
Everyone in the industry admits that strike action now seems
highly probable. I probable cost/result/outcome ere
(=likely to be the cost, result etc) Theproject will go ahead
at a probable cost of $2.1 million.
be a strong possibility/bi: a ,stroo pos'bflaIti II -stm:rj
po:-/an expression meaning to be likely to happen, used
especially when you have considered the situation care-
fully Iv phrase]
there is a strong possibility that There is now a strong
possibility that the election will be in June. I there is a
strong possibility of There is a strong possibility of strike
action by factory workers. I be a strong possibility The
withdrawal of the occupation forces is now a strong possi-
bility.
it looks as if/looks like/It loks z If, tloks laIk/if you
say it looks as if or looks like something will happen, you
mean you can judge from the present situation or from
something someone has said, that it will probably happen
There aren't any taxis. It looks as if we will have to walk. I
It looks like he'll be staying here for a while, judging by the
amount of luggage he's brought. I it looks like being (Brit-
ish) It looks like being a rough voyage with these winds.
chances are/,ta:nsz 'a: r II ,ten-/an informal expres-
sion: if you say chances are something will happen, you
mean that it is fairly likely to happen
chances are (that) If you make a mistake, don't worry.
Chances are no one will notice. [ Chances are that the negoti-
ations will be successful but we can't rely on it.
may well/mei 'well if you say something may well
happen, you mean it is fairly likely to happen [modal verb]
Wages may well fall to extremely low levels over the next
year. I There may well be some good financial news on the
16th for those born under Pisces. [ Her life might well have
been saved if she had been taken to the hospital sooner.
be on the cards (British) I be in the cards (Ameri-
can)/bi: on 6a 'ko:rdz, bi: In 6a-/if you say that something
is on or is in the cards, you mean that the present situa-
tion makes it likely to happen Iv phrase]
They say another tax increase is on the cards. I Beverley and
L we've split up. It's been on the cards for quite a long time,
and now it's all over. I Donaldson has been wanting to leave
the White House for months, but that's not in the cards right
now.
as likely as not/az ,lakli az not/you say something will
happen as likely as not when you think that something
is fairly likely to happen but it does not matter much to you
whether it does or not [adv phrase]
He'll come to see you soon, as likely as not, since he leaves
the country next week. I Don't worry about your quarrel with
Ray - as likely as not he'll have forgotten about it by
tomorrow.
I wouldn't be surprised if/ai ,wodnt bi: sa r'praIzd If/
you say I wouldn't be surprised if something happens
when you are giving your personal opinion about what you
think is likely to happen
I wouldn't be surprised if we see wolves or bears in these
mountains. I I wouldn't be surprised if most of those laid off
are offered jobs again.
I dare say/ai ,dea r 'sei! a British expression: you say I
dare say when you think that something is likely to
happen or to be true
One day he will tell everyone what really happened, I dare
say. I I dare say (that) I'm not really sure what we ought
to do, but I dare say you're right.
I should think i,a Ad 'OtJk/you say I should think
something will happen when you think it is likely because
of everything you know about it
Yes, I should think everyone will be able to come - as it is
on a Saturday. I I should think we'll be notified by post as
soon as they decide. I "Will the match still go ahead? .... Yes,
I should think so. ""
I guess/a; 'ges! an informal expression used especially
in American English: you say I guess when you think that
something is likely to happen or to be true
I guess (that) I guess you'll want to do some sightseeing
while you're here. I I guess not "I won't see you tomorrow. ""
"I guess not. "1 guess so "If you don't pass the test, will you
take it again?" "I guess so. ""
2 ways of saying that you think it is likely that
 something is true
probably may well/easily
likely/probable as likely as not
it looks as if I should think
it's a fair bet
probably/'probabli II 'pro:-/[adv]
This is probably the best dictionary you can buy. I Schmidt's
optimism is probably justifled. I These buildings were prob-
ably erected in the third or fourth century AD.
likely/probable/'laikli, 'probabal II 'pro:-/something
that is likely or probable is probably true [adj]
it is likely/probable that It is likely that radioactive
material was released during the fire. I It is probable that
this architectural style came from the Greeks. I likely/prob-
able The probable cause of the accident was ice on the road.I
The committee will discuss the likely effect of the oil crisis on
the economy.
it looks as if/t 'loks az if/if you say something looks
as if it is true, you mean you can judge from the present
situation that it is probably true
That white car has been behind us ever since we left home.
It looks as if we're being followed. I The cause of death seems
clear. It looks as if he was poisoned.
it's a fair bet/its a ,fea r 'bet/an informal expression
meaning that something is fairly likely to be true
it's a fair bet (that) No one knows for certain what hap-
pened to the jewels, but it's a fair bet they were stolen. I It's
a fair bet that when Juliafinds out you crashed her car, she's
going to be really angry.
may well/easily/meI 'wel, 'i:zoIli/if you say something
may well or may easily be true, you mean it is fairly likely
that it is true [modal verb]
If you need some soap, try the drugstore, though it may well
be closed by now. ] He may easily have been exaggerating
when he said that there were 200 people at the party. I
Problems to do with body temperature may well have
brought about the death of the dinosaurs.
as likely as not/az ,laikli az 'not/you say something is
true as likely as not when you think that something is
fairly likely to be true although it does not matter much
to you whether it is true or not lady phrase]

PROBABLY
1030
PROBABLY
Jones was driving at the time of the accident, as likely as not,
but we can't prove anything. I The rest of the team can't be
far away. As likely as not they'll be in the bar celebrating.
I should think/aI ]^d 'Oirjk/you say I should think
something is true when you think it is likely because of
everything you know about it
I should think she's about 24 or 25. I I should think this loose
wire was causing all the problems. I The cupboard must be
about two metres high, I should think.
3 very likely to happen or very likely to be true
very probably almost certain
very likely be more than likely
there is a strong in all probability
likelihood/probability ten to one
very probably/,veri 'probbli l[ -'pro:-/[adv]
I will veryprobably go abroad soon. I My old colleagues have
very probably retired by now. I This anthropological puzzle
is fascinating and very probably impossible to solve.
very likely/,veri 'laikli/something that is very likely
will very probably happen or is very probably true [adj]
it is very likely (that) It's very likely that he'll be late - he
usually is. I very likely to do sth The plan is very likely
to succeed. I very likely An early end to the dispute now
seems very likely.
very likely [adv] If you want a job doing quickly, you'll very
likely find the builders are too busy.
there is a strong likelihood/probability/6er iz 
, strrj 'laiklihtJd, proba 'b iI ti II -, stro:r-, pro:-/an expression
used especially in formal contexts meaning that something
is very likely to happen or be true
There is a strong probability that the army will withdraw,
after their defeat yesterday. [ There is now a strong likelihood
of a breakthrough in the research process.
almost certain/,3:lmatJst 's3:rtn/extremely likely to
happen or be true [adj]
it is almost certain (that) It is almost certain that the
government will lose the next election. [ almost certain If
they get a divorce, which seems almost certain now, the chil-
dren will stay with their mother.
almost certainly [adv phrase] Without proper guidance,
you will almost certainly run into difficulties.
be more than likely/bi: ,ma: r 6an 'laddi/to be very
likely to happen or be true [v phrase]
it is more than likely that I think it's more than likely I'll
catch a cold after standing here in the rain for an hour. ]
More than likely she's still in love with him. I be more than
likely A victory for the German team now seems more than
likely.
in all probability/In ,3:1 probz'bIlti l[ -pro:-/an expres-
sion meaning very probably, used especially when you are
making a judgement about something [adv phrase]
We could in all probability buy new hardware and software
at a lower cost than updating our old equipment. I This
building is of special interest as it was in all probability
designed between 1842 and 1848 as a royal palace.
ten to one/,ten t 'wan/an informal expression: you say
ten to one something will happen when you think that it
is extremely likely to happen lady phrase]
ten to one (that) Stop worrying, Ed. Ten to one the
weather'll clear up soon. I I knew that if the police came back
the chances were ten to one that I'd be discovered.
4 ways of saying that something good or
 enjoyable is likely to happen
ought to be/should be
promise to be
ought to be/should be/':t t bi:, 'fed bi:/you say that
something or someone ought to be or should be good,
enjoyable etc when you think they will probably be good
etc because of what you know about them Iv phrase]
The party should be good. There's going to be a band play-
ing and there's lots of drink. [ She has all the right
experience, so she ought to make an excellent manager.
promise to be/'promIs ta bi: l[ 'pro:-/if something that
has just started promises to be good, enjoyable etc, people
think it will be good etc because it has started well Iv
phrase]
The day promised to be bright. [ This new system promises
to be simpler and more versatile than the old one.
5 ways of saying that something bad or
unpleasant is likely to happen
be heading for threaten
be in for threat
be heading for/bi: 'hedIrj fa:r/if someone is heading
for an unpleasant situation, it is becoming more and more
likely that this situation will actually happen Iv phrase]
I'm worried about Molly. She looks as if she's heading for
a nervous breakdown. I The world could be heading for the
worst economic recession since the 1930s.
be in for/bi: ' in fa:r/if you say you are in for something
unpleasant, it is almost certain to happen to you fairly soon
[v T]
It's pretty stormy! I think we're infer a rough flight. I I felt
awful, and realized I was in for an attack of malaria.
threaten !'Oretn/ if something threatens to cause an
unpleasant situation, it seems likely that it will cause it
[vT]
threaten to do sth The dispute threatened to damage East-
West relations. I Somalia is again crippled by a drought that
threatens to kill hundreds of thousands more. I threaten
sb/sth with Large areas of the world are now threatened
with destruction in the interests of providing cheap wood.
threat/Oret/something that is a threat is likely to cause
something unpleasant to happen In C]
threat of sth The threat of famine is causing alarm
throughout Southern Africa. I Threats of inflation and high
interest rates led to a wage freeze. I threat to sb/sth Auto-
mation presented the biggest threat to the workforce.
6 ways of saying that something or someone
will probably be successful
have/stand a good chance
be set to do sth
be on course
have/stand a good chance/hev, stand a ,god tfo:ns
[1 -'tj'ensl [v phrase not in progressive]
have/stand a good chance of doing sth She stands a good
chance of becoming world champion. I With your qualifica-
tions you have a good chance of getting a good job. [ His
design stood a good chance of winning a prize until this new
one was entered in the competition.
be set to do sth/bi: 'set tu: du: (sth)/to be very likely
to be successful because of being well prepared or because
the present situation is favourable Iv phrase]
Dittmar, who has won every major competition this year, is
set to become the next World Squash Champion. [ Daimler-
Benz seems set to win the battle for control of Germany's
automobile industry.
be on course/bi: on k:rs/to be likely to achieve some-
thing because there has already been some success Iv
phrase]
be on course for The company is on course for record profits
this year. I be on course to do sth After three major victo-
ries, the Brazilian team seemed on course to win the World
Cup.
7 ways of saying that you think someone will
 probably do something bad
be quite capable of
I wouldn't put it past him/her etc
be quite capable of/bi: ,kwait 'keIpbal ov/if you say
someone is quite capable of doing something bad, you
think it is fairly likely that they will do it because of what
you know about their character [v phrase]

PROBABLY 1031 problem
She promised to come, but she's quite capable of changing
her mind. I Philip was quite capable of reducing his son to
tears with his bad temper.
I wouldn't put it past him/her etc/ai wodnt pot it
'pa:st (him, etc) II -'peest-/an informal expression: if you say
I wouldn't put it past him/her ere, you think that this
person is fairly likely to do the bad thing that you are
mentioning
I wouldn'tput itpast Kevin to have borrowed the car without
asking. I "'They wouldn't have deliberately damaged the
apartment, would they? .... Well, I wouldn't put it past them."
it is doubtful that It's doubtful that we'll finish this
tonight. I doubtful There was only a doubtful possibility that
the old system could survive. [ Would Madelaine come? It
looked doubtful, as she was really sick.
remote/r 'moot/remote chance/possibility/prospect
etc (:when something is extremely unlikely to happen)
[adj]
The chances of such an accident happening again are very
remote. I There is only a remote prospect of peace in the Gulf.]
Political commentators consider the possibility of a clear
majority for the Left to be slender, almost remote.
how likely it is that something will happen
likelihood chances
probability odds
prospect
likelihood/'laiklihod/[n U]
likelihood of Studies have shown that there is a greater
likelihood of teenagers having car accidents. [ A reduction
in nuclear defences might well increase the likelihood of a
nuclear war. I likelihood that There is little likelihood that
prices will stop rising in the near future.
probability/,probo'bIloti II ,pra:-/how likely it is that
something will happen, especially if you can calculate this
in U]
probability of The probability of such a coincidence is
extremely small, t We want to redouble our efforts to reduce
the probability of a major accident recurring, t there is a
strong probability that There is a strong probability that
the problem will recur if we do not solve it now.
prospect/'prospekt 11 'pro:-/the chance that something
you hope for will happen soon In C/U]
prospects for The prospects for peace are improving. ] no/
not much/little prospect of He had no job and no prospect
of getting one. [ there is every prospect of (=it is very
likely) There is every prospect of an economic recovery next
year.
chances/'ffa:nsoz [[ 'ffeen-I how likely it is that some-
thing will happen, especially something that you want to
happen In plural]
chances of What are the chances of getting a taxi at this time
of night? ] This ability to adapt to a changing environment
increases a species" chances of survival.
odds/odz II a:dz/ how likely it is that something will
happen, especially when this can be stated in numbers in
plural]
odds in favour of The odds in favour of a win for the Rus-
sian team are around 10 to 1. t odds of If you are male, the
odds are about I in 12 of being colourblind. I odds against
The odds against being killed in a plane crash are very high.
9 possible but not very likely
unlikely doubtful
improbable remote
unlikely I^n'laIklil [adj]
it is unlikely that It is unlikely that anyone saw the crime
being committed. I unlikely to do sth A very small amount
of food is unlikely to cause a bad allergic reaction. [ unlikely
A change of plan at this stage seems unlikely. ] highly
unlikely It is highly unlikely that the bank will agree to this
loan. I in the unlikely event of (=if something which is
unlikely happens) In the unlikely event of a fire, would
passengers make their way to the top deck.
improbable J im'pmbobal II -'pra:-I a formal word mean-
ing not likely to happen [adj not before noun]
highly improbable The new pay agreement makes further
industrial action by the union highly improbable. ] it is/
seems improbable that It seems improbable that
America's allies will oppose the proposed arms reduction.
improbability/irn,prbo'bIlti II-,pra:-/In u] We must
recognize the improbability of an ideal peace settlement in
the Middle East (=recognize that it is improbable).
doubtful I'dautfall something that is doubtful seems
very unlikely to happen [adj]
1 0 ways of saying that someone or something
will probably not be successful
little chance/hope/prospect
have/stand little chance
outside chance
little chance/hope/prospect /,lItl 'ffa:ns, 'hoop,
'pmspekt [[ -'ffens, 'pra:-/if there is little chance/hope/
prospect of something happening, it is unlikely to happen
although you want it to happen In phrase]
There's little chance of the hostages being released. [ There
seemed little prospect of any great decrease in unemploy-
ment. [ I see little hope of improvement in relations between
our two countries.
have/stand little chance/hev, stend ,htl 'ta:ns II
-'tens/ if someone or something has or stands little
chance of doing something, they are unlikely to succeed
in doing it Iv phrase not in progressive]
We have little chance of getting tickets for the concert, it'll
be so popular. [ Jock's opinions stood little chance of being
heard amid all the other voices.
outside chance/,aotsald 'ta:ns II -'tans/a very small
possibility of being successful In singular]
have an outside chance of sth/doing sth She lost thefirst
two games of the tournament, but still has an outside chance
of winning the cup. ] there is an outside chance (that)
There's still an outside chance that the FBI will find the man
they are looking for.
: probe INVESTIGATE 1 2
i!i problem DIFFICULT 7, PROBLEM 1
 problem: cause/create problems PROBLEM 9
iii! problem: have a problem PROBLEM 6
o problem: no problem THANK 6, YES 2
i'4 t problem: no trouble/no problem CONVENIENT 1
 problem: not my problem DON'T CARE 3
 problem: that's your problem/lookout DON'T CARE 3
[problem]
DIFFICULT
ILL
COUNT/
CALCULATE
SOLVE/DEAL
WITH A
PROBLEM

PROBLEM
@ PROBLEM
1 a problem
2 a problem that causes a delay or prevents
you from doing something
3 a complicated problem that makes it hard for
you to decide what to do
4 small problems that a new company, product,
system etc has in the beginning
5 full of problems
6 to have a problem
7 to have a problem that is so difficult that you
do not know what to do
8 to start having problems
9 ways of saying that a fact or situation causes
problems
10 ways of saying that a person causes
problems
11 to cause problems or inconvenience for
someone, especially by asking them to do
something for you
12 what you say to introduce an explanation
about a particular problem
1 a problem
problem
difficulty
trouble
hassle
complication
ups and downs
snag
catch
fuss
problem /'prDblm II 'pra:-/ a situation that causes
difficulty and needs to be dealt with in C]
He's always talking about his personal problems. [ The
department's main problem is lack of money. [ problem
with If you get any problems with the car, just give me a
call. ] flrug/erime/unemployment ere problem The US
government is planning tough new measures to deal with the
increasing drug problem. [ problem of The problem of
providing an adequate water supply has made farming very
difficult in this area. ] solve a problem (=do something to
deal with the problem) The disposal of nuclear waste is a
major problem that has not yet been solved. [ serious
problem Teenage vandalism is a serious problem in this
area. [ a problem arises (=starts to exist) How did the
problem first arise?
difficulty ]'dfikalti/ a problem that makes it more
difficult to do something that you are trying to do [n C]
He loved shopping in the markets in Mexico, in spite of the
language difficulty. ] Several nations have agreed to help
Poland overcome its economic difficulties. [ difficulty with
The main difficulty with this method is that it takes twice
as long.
trouble / 'tr^bal/a problem or several problems that make
something difficult, spoil your plans etc [n C/U]
Every time there's trouble I have to go along and sort it out. [
The trouble was caused by a loose connection in the fuse box. [
trouble with We have had a lot of trouble with the car this
year. [ the trouble with (=the one part of something that
is a problem) The trouble with lasagne is that it takes so long
to make. [ troubles (=all the problems, especially personal
problems, that someone has) Because I'm a priest, people
often come to me with their troubles, looking for advice.
hassle/' hasal/an informal word meaning a problem or
a series of problems that are annoying because they involve
a lot of work, arguing, inconvenience etc [n C/U]
When I had a car there was just so much hassle, you know
- insurance, tax, repairs and everything. [ It would be less
hassle if you just paid it all in November. [ Sometimes the
hassles of family life get too much for her and she has to take
some time away.
1032
PROBLEM
complication I,kompl 'keian II ,ka:m-/a small, addi-
tional detail or fact that makes an activity or situation even
more difficult than it is already [n C]
A further complication is that somepeople have not been sent
the correct application forms. [ Legal and financial compli-
cations have made it impossible for the two companies to
complete the deal on time.
ups and downs /,^ps n Idaunz/an expression meaning
the good times and the bad times in a relationship, in life,
in a job etc, used especially when you are saying that it is
natural for this to happen [n phrase]
Marriage has its ups and downs. [ While there are bound to
be some ups and downs, economic recovery is certain in the
near future.
snag/sneg/a small problem or disadvantage in some-
thing which is mainly good and satisfactory In C]
The only snag in this arrangement is that I have to do all
the driving. [ There's just one snag - we can't find a place
to have the party.
catch Ikatfl a word meaning a problem or disadvantage
in something which is mainly good, used especially when
you think that the problem has been deliberately hidden
to trick people [n singular]
Ј200 for a sports car? There must be a catch somewhere. [ You
get free meals and accommodation, but there's a catch -you
have to look after the children. [ the catch is (that) The
catch is that you can't enter the competition unless you have
spent $100 in the store.
|u$$/fAS/a lot of small and annoying problems that you
think are unnecessary and are only caused by people being
deliberately unhelpful [n U]
We hope the problem can be solved without fuss and without
the need to go to court. [ We hired people who could do the
job with the least fuss and inconvenience. [ It's so much fuss
changing bank accounts. I'm going to leave mine where it is.
2 a problem that causes a delay or prevents
you from doing something
hitch hurdle
setback stumbling block
hiccup hindrance
hitch/hIt/a problem that causes a short delay [n C]
hitch in The show started 20 minutes late due to a hitch in
the arrangements. [ technical hitch I'm afraid there's been
a slight technical hitch, so we'll have to postpone the video.
until later. ] go offwithout a hitch (=happen successfully,
without any problems) The Independence Day parade went
off without a hitch, despite concern about protestors.
setback/'setbmk/a problem that delays your plans or
may even cause you to lose part of what you have already
achieved In C]
In spite of all the setbacks we are determined to continue the
peace talks. ] The injury to their best player was a serious
setback to the team.
hiccup /'hkhp, -kp/ a small problem which causes a
short delay, but which is not very important In C]
There was a slight hiccup when I couldn't find my car keys,
but finally we set off. [ After some last minute administra-
tive hiccups, the plane was allowed to land.
hurdle / Ih3:rdl/a problem or difficulty that must be dealt
with before you can do or achieve something else [n C]
Even if the project passes the hurdle of the financial commit-
tee, it still has to get the board's approval. [ There are lots
of bureaucratic hurdles to deal with when adopting a child.
stumbling block/'stAmblirj blk [[ -bla:k/a fact or sit-
uation that will make it very difficult for something else
to be easily achieved [n C]
Changing the voting system won't be easy; one stumbling
block is theparty's constitution. [ be a stumbling block to
The main stumbling block to an arms agreement is SDI. [
Austria's neutral status could be a stumbling block to EC
membership.
hindrance / 'hlndmns/a fact, situation, or physical object
that makes it difficult for you to successfully do or achieve
something In CI

PROBLEM 1033 PROBLEM
America's top golfers played well despite the hindrance of
early morning mist. I be a hindrance to The country's poor
infrastructure is a major hindrance to importers. I Seagulls
and other birds are a serious hindrance to planes taking off. I
more of a hindrance than a help (=causing more
problems.than there would be otherwise) Ian's offering to
supervise dining arrangements turned out to be more of a
hindrance than a help.
a complicated problem that makes it hard for
you to decide what to do
dilemma no-win situation
catch-22 vicious circle
dilemma/d 'lemo, daJ-/a situation in which it is very
difficult to decide what to do, because all of the possible
courses of action seem equally good or equally bad [n C]
It's a real dilemma - what do you think I should do? I This
is the industrialist's dilemma: invest, and risk going
bankrupt, or not invest and risk losing your share of the
market.
catch.22 /,kant5 twenti 'tu:/ a situation in which you
cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you
cannot do that thing until you do the first thing, with the
result that you can do neither In U]
It's catch-22 - she can't get a job unless she has experience
and she can't get experience unless she has a job. [ a catch-
22 situation I found myself in a catch-22 situation. There
was no way out of it.
no.win situation I,nau IwIn SltJ'u,elJ'an/a situation in
which something bad will happen whatever you decide to
do [n singular]
It's a no-win situation -ifI tell him, he'll be upset, but if I
don't he'll be mad at me for not telling him.
vicious circle/,VINOS 'sa:rkal/a situation in which one
problem causes another problem, that then causes the first
problem again, so that the whole process continues to be
repeated In singular]
Many people who diet put on even more weight when they
stop, creating a vicious circle. I More and more teenagers are
caught in a vicious circle of drug addiction and crime.
small problems that a new company, product,
system etc has in the beginning
teething troubles
teething troubles/'ti:6irj ,trAbalz/ [n plural]
After a few teething troubles, the new car worked perfectly. I
There were the usual teething troubles, but business settled
down and the firm made over Ј2 million in the first year.
 full of problems
problematic minefield
fraught with problems/ can of worms
difficulties
problematic /iprobla'metik,, II ,pro:-/full of problems
and difficult to deal with [adj]
It is important to understand the problematic nature of
historical evidence. [ The new salary scale remains a
problematic area. [ highly problematic The Foreign
Minister said that relations between the two countries are
"highly problematic'.
fraught with problems/difficulties /,fra:t
'probloms, 'difikaltiz II -'Pro:-/an activity that is fraught
with problems or fraught with difficulties is full of
unexpected problems which make it very difficult [adj
phrase]
The preparations for the wedding were fraught with
problems, but finally everything went well. ] Any attempt to
replace the old system would be fraught with difficulties.
minefield / 'mainfi:ld/an activity that you should be care-
ful about starting to do, or a subject that you should be care-
ful about starting to examine, because it will be full of very
difficult problems [n singular]
House-buying can be a minefield - you need a good lawyer, t
The English language is a minefield for the foreign student
because of all its irregularities and exceptions.
can of worms/,kan av 'waIrmz/an informal expression
meaning a situation or subject which at first seems to be
simple and easy to deal with, but is full of complicated
problems for anyone who gets involved with it In phrase]
Many people won't get involved in psychotherapy, saying it's
a real can of worms. I open up a can of worms (=suddenly
find that you have to deal with a lot of difficult and unex-
pected problems) The government opened up a can of worms
when it decided to reorganize the education system.
6 to have a problem
have a problem be faced with
have difficulty/trouble be up against
be in trouble have a lot on your plate
encounter not be out of the woods
be confronted with
have a problem/,hmv o 'problom II -'pro:b-/[vphrase]
If you have any problems, just come and ask me. I have a
problem with I'm having a bit of a problem with my dish-
washer. I She has a problem with noise from her neigh-
bouts. I Jane can be quite difficult to get on with - I've had
one or two problems with her in the past.
have dlfficullҐ1trouble/hev 'dlflkalti, 'trAbl/to have
problems that make it more difficult to do something Iv
phrase]
You look as if you're having trouble - do you want any help? l
have trouble/difficulty with I had some trouble with the
car this morning. I She might have trouble with her spell-
ing when she's older, t have trouble/difficulty doing sth
He had a lot of trouble finding a job. I The child was having
difficulty breathing.
be in Irouble/bi: :n 'trAbl/to have serious problems Iv
phrase]
It's clear from these figures that the company is in trouble, t
When someone's in trouble it's natural to try and help them. I
get into trouble (=start having serious problems) I took
out a loan but got into trouble when I lost my job. t in
deep/serious/big trouble (=have very serious problems)
If you accidentally change round the two wires of the power
supply, you are in deep trouble.
encounter/in'kaontor/to experience problems, difficul-
ties, or opposition while you are trying to do something
Iv T]
We encountered a serious setback when two members of the
expedition fell ill. I Drivers on the M25 are likely to encoun-
ter fog and black ice tonight. I The Hong Kong government
has encountered strong opposition over its plans to build a
new airport.
be confronted with/bi: kon  fr^ntId wIb/to have a seri-
ous problem, need, or difficult situation that you must deal
with [v phrase]
Confronted with the possibility that their husbands may be
sexually abusing their children, many mothers simply deny
the problem. I The volunteers are confronted with a more
complex situation than they expect.
be faced with /bi: 'felst wI6/ to have a problem, a
difficult choice, or the possibility of something bad happen-
ing soon Iv phrase]
If we want to reduce population, we are faced with some
difficult choices. [ Manufacturing industries are faced with
decreasing productivity and increasing international com-
petition. [ Faced with a choice between risking the lives of
his crew or abandoning the ship, the captain decided to order
an emergency evacuation.
be up against/hi: 'Ap ogenst/to have a difficult problem
or opponent that you must deal with or fight against Iv T]
In my job we're up against terrible problems like poverty and
unemployment. [ The company is up against tough competi-
tion from abroad. [ In the semi-finals he is up against one
of the best players in the modern game.

PROBLEM
have a lot on your plate/hav o ,lo . jo: r 'ple:t II
-,lo:t-/an informal British expression meaning to have a
lot of difficult problems to deal with or a lot of things to
worry about Iv phrase not in progressive]
Don't bother your mother - she's got a lot on her plate at the
moment. [ Not for the first time this year, the President's got
a lot on his plate. [ Susan's had a lot on her plate recently,
what with the car accident and everything.
not be out of the woods/not bi: ,aot ov 60 'wodz/an
informal expression: if you say you are not out of the
woods, you mean that you are still having to deal with seri-
ous problems, even though your situation has started to
improve [ v phrase]
"Be careful, "' he told her. "You're not out of the woods yet. "'[
House buyers may still not be out of the woods, as interest
rates could remain high for some time.
7 to have a problem that is so difficult that you
do not know what to do
be in a fix be in an impossible
be in a tight spot position
be in a mess be in a quandary
be in a difficult/ be in dire straits
awkward position it's one thing after
another
be in a fix/bi: m o 'hksl an informal expression mean-
ing to be in a difficult situation and not know what to do
Iv phrase]
We're in a real fix - we've missed the last bus home, and it's
too far to walk.
be in a tight spot/bi: in o ,tat 'spo II -'spa:t/an infor-
mal expression meaning to have a difficult or dangerous
problem, which you must deal with quickly Iv phrase]
We're in a tight spot - if things don 't get better we may have
to close the factory. [ put sb in a tight spot (=give someone
a difficult problem) The hostage crisis hasput the President
in a tight spot.
be in a mess/bi: m o 'mes/to have serious problems
which make your situation very hard to escape from, espe-
cially as a result of mistakes or carelessness Iv phrase]
We're really in a mess, aren't we? Why didn't you tell me
you'd forgotten the passports? [ The previous manager had
left the firm in a terrible mess.
be in a difficult/awkward position Ibi: in o ,dlfIkalt,
,o:kwrd po'zfdn/ to be in a difficult situation so that,
whatever you do, you will upset or offend someone Iv
phrase]
I was in a difficult position. I didn't want to tell a lie, but
if I told the truth Frank would be upset. I put sb in a dif-
ficult/awkward position Clara was angry at Harry for
putting her in such an awkward position.
be in an Impossible position/bi: In on im,posobdl
pa'zfan [[ -,pa:-/to be in an extremely difficult situation,
in which you cannot do one thing, because that will cause
something else to become an equally difficult problem Iv
phrase]
By bringing his objections out into the open, the Chancellor
has put the Prime Minister in an impossible position. ] I'm
in an impossible position - if I tell him what he's doing
wrong he'll resign, but if I don't he'll end up ruining the
whole project.
be in a quandary/bi: In o 'kwondori II -'kwa:n-/to be in
a very difficult situation and not be able to decide what is
the best thing for you to do Iv phrase]
I'm in a real quandary - I don't know whether to tell the
police or not. [ The government has got itself into a quandary
over the new tax - if they abandon it they will be seen as
weak, if they keep it they will be very unpopular.
be in dire straits/bi: In daIo r 'streits/to have very seri-
ous problems, especially financial ones, which could have
very serious results Iv phrase]
The company is in dire financial straits. I The team is in such
dire straits they've even considered selling their three best
players.
1034
PROBLEM
it's one thing after another /ItS ,WAn 0IrJ ,o:ftor
O'nA6O r II -, af-/you say it's one thing after another when
you keep having problems with something and you feel
that these problems will never end
It's been one thing after another since I started renting out
the place to students. I It's one thing after another with that
bloody photocopier! What's wrong with it now?
8 to start having problems
run into problems/difficulties
come up against
run into problems/difficulties/,r^n nto 'prolemz,
I d I fl kaltiz II - 'pro:-I to unexpectedly start having problems
while you are doing something Iv phrase]
The corporation has run into serious financial problems. ]
Our staff will be happy to answer your questions should you
run into difficulties installing the equipment yourself.
come up against l,kAm 'Ap ogenstl to start having
problems or difficulties that you have to deal with Iv T]
I've come up against a similar problem before. [ Older people
applying for jobs come up against an age barrier. ] The com-
mittee found itself coming up against the prejudices of many
staff when it tried to introduce new working practices.
9 ways of saying that a fact or situation causes
problems
cause/create problems
pose problems
make life difficult
present problems/
difficulties
troublesome
be a headache/
cause sb
headaches
plague
dog
hamper
hinder
cause/create problems /,ko:z, i,et 'problomz II
-'pro:-/ [v phrase]
Rebecca was frequently late for work, which caused problems
for her colleagues. I The complexity of the programming lan-
guage is creating problems for the software developers.
pose problems I,pouz 'problomz II-'pro:-/ to cause
problems for someone that may be very difficult to deal
with [v phrase]
Both parents and teachers are worried about the problems
posed by drugs. [ Rising inflation could pose a major
problem for this government.
make life difficult /,meik laf 'dIhkalt/ to cause
problems, and inconvenience for someone, and make it
difficult for them to do what they want to do [v phrase]
make life difficult for sb The rail strikes are making life
increasingly difficult for people who have to travel into
London everyday. [ make life difficult The recession is
making life very difficult at the moment, and many small
businesses may be forced to close.
present problems/difficulties/pri,zent 'problomz,
'dIfIkaltiz [[ -'pro:-/if an activity presents problems or
difficulties, there are problems or difficulties connected
with it which need to be dealt with [v phrase]
Live television programmes present special problemsfor the
broadcaster. I present sb with a problem/difficulty Find-
ing a suitable actor to play the main character presented the
producers with their toughest problem.
troublesome /'trAbalsam/ something that is trouble-
some keeps causing problems over a period of time [adj]
The infection can be particularly troublesome if it affects the
lungs or throat. [ The troublesome issue of the border dis-
pute is sure to remain a problem.
be a headache/cause sb headaches/bi: o 'hedek,
,k:z (sb) 'hedelks/ an informal expression meaning to
cause problems over a period of time that are difficult to
deal with Iv phrase]
Censorship is always a constant headache for newspapers
in the republic. [ The break-up of the former Soviet Union
has given the Pentagon a lot of headaches.

PROBLEM
1035
proceed to do sth
plague/pleigl if difficulties, illnesses, doubts, problems
etc plague someone, there are a lot of them and they keep
causing trouble for a long time [v T]
In its first months in office, the government was plagued by
scandals. I Stigmas like these continue to plague the children
of divorced families.
dog/dg II d:g/if a problem or bad luck dogs someone
or something, it keeps causing trouble for a long time and
prevents them from succeeding Iv T]
The team has been dogged by injury all season. I Zambia had
none of the heritage of war and violence that dogged, say,
Kenya or Zimbabwe.
hamper/Ihempar/ if a fact or situation hampers an
activity or plan, it makes it very difficult for it to be done
successfully Iv T]
Search efforts were hampered by strong winds and fifteen
foot waves, t Staff problems are seriously hampering the
work of the government central computers, t A US slump
would hamper China's plans to increase exports there.
hinder / IhIndar/to cause problems and therefore delay the
development or growth of something Iv T]
Higher interest rates could hinder economic growth, t Forc-
ing children to walk before they're ready could hinder their
natural development. I Heavy rains had hindered the expe-
dition's progress through the north-west of the country.
1 0 ways of saying that a person causes
problems
cause problems
cause/make trouble
make life difficult
give sb a hard time
rock the boat
troublemaker
harass
cause problems I,k:z 'prDblamz II -'pro:-/to cause a
problem, even if you do not intend to Iv phrase]
He's always causing problems - it would be much easier
without him. I She'll cause a problem if she comes, because
there won't be enough room in the car.
cause/make trouble ! k:z, meik trnbal/to deliber-
ately cause problems, especially by starting arguments or
fights Iv phrase]
Don't give him another drink, or he'll start causing trouble. I
Some of the demonstrators were determined to make trouble,
whatever the police did. [ I think I should leave. I feel I've
caused you enough trouble.
make life difficult /imeIk latf idtftkalt/to deliberately
cause problems and make it difficult for someone to do
something, for example in order to punish them or per-
suade them to do something Iv phrase]
make We difficult for It's not a good idea to upset the boss,
he can make life very difficult for you. I make life difficult
They can't stop us physically, but they could make life
difficult.
give sb a hard time/gIv (sb) a Iho:rd itaIm/an infor-
mal expression meaning to deliberately treat someone
badly and cause trouble for them, for example by criticiz-
ing them, complaining, or asking them a lot of difficult
questions Iv phrase]
When I first came here everyone gave me a really hard time
because I was the first woman to run a department. I I'm
sorry we gave you such a hard time.
rock the boat I,rok 6a 'baot II ,to:k-/an informal expres-
sion meaning to cause problems by upsetting a situation
that everyone else thinks is satisfactory Iv phrase]
Are you sure it's OK if we change our plans? I don't want to
rock the boat. t This kind of corruption can go on for years
as long as nobody rocks the boat.
troublemaker/trAbalmeikar/ someone who deliber-
ately causes problems, especially by making people argue
with each other or by complaining about things In C]
Some troublemaker has been spreading rumours about me. t
Because they complained about safety they were seen as
troublemakers. I I don't like her. She's always been a trouble-
maker.
harass / 'haras, ha'ras II ha'ras, haras/to cause some-
one problems for example by repeatedly saying rude things
to them, or annoying them Iv T]
The family were continually harassed by hostile neighbours. [
During his time in jail he was increasingly persecuted and
harassed. [ be sexually/racially harassed (=to be
harassed because of your sex or race) She says she was
sexually harassed by her employers.
1 1 to cause problems or inconvenience for
someone, especially by asking them to do
something for you
inconvenience cause inconvenience
put sb out put sb to a lot of trouble
trouble
inconvenience I, inkan'vi:nians/[v T]
Would I be inconveniencing you if I arrived about ten thirty?[
I'm afraid the photocopier's not working. I hope this doesn't
inconvenience anyone. [ The builders promised the Browns
that they would not be inconvenienced for more than two
days.
put sb out/,put (sb) 'aut/to make someone have to do
something that is inconvenient for them, especially by
asking them to do something for you [phr v T]
Are you sure you don't mind picking the children up from
school? I don't want to put you out. [ I hope I'm not putting
you out, but I need someone to stay in the office at lunchtime
today. [ put yourself out for sb (=do additional work or
use additional effort in order to help someone else) He
didn't see why he should put himself out for Ruth, since she
never did anything for him.
trouble /Itr^bal/ a word meaning to cause someone
problems or more work than usual, used especially when
you are asking them politely if they will do something for
you Iv T]
I hope you won't mind my troubling you, but I wonder if you
could tell me what the last speaker said. t She doesn't want
to trouble you by asking lots of questions.
cause Inconvenience/,k:z inkan'vi:nians/to make
things more difficult for someone or make them have to do
more work, spend more time on something etc Iv phrase]
It was weeks before a decision was made, which caused incon-
venience for everyone. [ cause sb inconvenience The road
works caused us a lot of inconvenience as it took longer to
get to work.
put sb to a lot of trouble/put (sb) to a lot av 'trAbal
[[ -lo:t-/to make someone spend a lot of time or use a lot
of effort in doing something for you [v phrase]
We've put her to a lot of trouble. Let's buy her a present to
say thank you. [ I don't want to put you to any trouble.
12 what you say to introduce an explanation
 about a particular problem
the trouble is
the thing is
the rub is
the trouble is
I know you want to speak to him, but the trouble is, he's not
here. [ The trouble is that no one seems to know what is
happening. [ The trouble was, I didn't trust him.
the thing is/ha 1OIrj 'iz/(used in spoken English to say
what the problem is)
I'd like to come. The thing is, I promised to see Jim tonight. [
Well they seem cheap but the thing is, when you really com-
pare what you're getting it's not such a bargain.
the rub is/6a 'tAb IZ/(used in American English to say
what the problem is)
We'd like to come visit, but the rub is that our car has broken
down.
 problematic PROBLEM 5
 procedure WAY/METHOD 2
,i proceed CONTINUE/NOT STOP 4, DO 5, GO 1
 proceed to do sth START DOING STH 1

proceedings
proceedings HAPPEN 10
proceeds PROFIT 1
process DEAL WITH 2
processed ARTIFICIAL 1
procession LINE 7
procrastinate POSTPONE/DO LATER 2
prod/give a prod PUSH 4
prodigy INTELLIGENT 2
produce CAUSE 5, MAKE 4, 5, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1
producer MAKE 8
product MAKE 5, SELL 11
production PERFORM 7
productive LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 11,
EFFICIENT 3
profession JOB/WORK 2
professional JOB/WORK 3, 4
professor TEACH 5
proficient GOOD AT 1
profile DESCRIBE 4, SHAPE 2
profile: high profile FAMOUS 1
profile: keep a low profile ATTENTION 10
profit PROFIT 1
profit: make a profit PROFIT 3
profit from GET 11, PROFIT 7
PROFIT
money that you make by doing business,
selling things etc
profit that you make by putting money in a
bank, lending money to a company etc
to get a profit from something such as a
business deal
to get an unusually large profit
words for describing a company, type of
business etc that produces a profit
to neither make a profit nor lose money
to get a profit from a situation in a way that
people think is wrong or unfair
1 money that you make by doing business,
selling things etc
profit surplus
proceeds gain
profit/'pmfIt II 'pra:-/the money that you gain from a
business activity or from selling something, which is the
difference between the amount you have spent and the
amount you have earned [n C/U]
The company's profit at the end of last year was 3 million
dollars. ] They don't care who they sell weapons to. All they
are interested in is profit. [ The introduction of a computer-
ized stock-control system should increase profits and effi-
ciency. [ a big/fat/healthy profit You can make a very
healthy profit if you sell your house at the right time.
proceeds / prusi-.dz/all the money that you get from sell-
ing something or from a business activity In plural]
The proceeds of the sale of the house went to an animal-
welfare charity as the owner had requested. [ His first year
in business was so successful that John could afford to buy
a delivery van with the proceeds.
surplus /s3:rpls/the amount of money that remains
after a company has paid all its costs, charges, wages etc
[nC]
Our surplus on book publishing last year was $47 million,
of which $11 million was used to acquire a distribution com-
pany in California.
gail/gein/the profit that someone makes, especially when
you think that the person or company that makes it is only
interested in getting money or an advantage for themselves
In U]
1036
PROFIT
for gain (=in order to make a profit) If private hospitals are
operating purelyfor gain, how can we be sure they have the
patient's best interests at heart? [ short-term gain (=a sit-
uation in which profits may be made for a short time, but
which may cause losses and problems in the future) Com-
panies just don't invest enough - short-term gain is all they
think about.
profit that you make by putting money in a
bank, lending money to a company etc
interest
return
yield
interest / ' ntrst/an amount of profit that you make at
an agreed rate when you put money into a bank or similar
institution [n U]
John had put his grandfather's money in the bank and was
getting $400 a month in interest. ] The interest can be paid
directly to you or added to the money in your savings
account. [ rate of interest (=the agreed amount paid as
interest) The best rate of interest the banks can offer is
around 14 per cent.
return/r ta:rn/a word used especially in business mean-
ing the total profit that you get as a result of putting money
into a bank, company etc [n C]
return on an investment (=the amount you get, compared
to the amount you put in) The return on the initial invest-
ment was huge. [ return The company offers the hope of big
returns for people who buy its shares.
yield/ji:ld/a word used especially in business meaning
the exact amount of profit that you get as a result of lend-
ing money to a company, government etc [n C]
We have calculated the probable yield from this investment
at around 17%. [ If you invest the money now the yield after
only twelve months will be $3160.
 to get a profit from something such as a
business deal
make
make a profit
earn
make/mek/Iv T]
make Ј1 million/$10,O00 ere British Telecom made over
Ј3 billion last year. I make money doing sth You could
make a lot of money selling your photographs, they're excel-
lent. [ make money out of Plastic surgeons make millions
out of the fact that many women want to have perfect bodies.
make a profit/,mek  'pmfIt [[ -pra:-/to get a profit
from a business or from selling something Iv phrase]
Harry bought the house for Ј45,000 and sold it six months
later for Ј55,000, so he made a good profit. [ When you con-
sider how much this meal would cost to prepare at home, you
realize that the restaurant must be making an enormous
profit. [ make a profit of $53m/Ј600 etc Sasco made a
profit of $53 million last year. [ make a profit on a deal/
sale/transaction etc Even though the price has been
reduced, the builders will still make a profit on the sale.
earn/:rn/to make a profit from business or from putting
money in a bank, lending it to a company etc [v T]
The Washington Post Company earned $187 million in 1987. [
Our finances look better if we include the profit earned on
the sale of our London offices. [ high-earning investments
4 to get an unusually large profit
make a fortune
make a killing
clean up
make a fortune/,meik  'f:rtj'n/[v phrase]
That restaurant must be making a fortune - they serve quite
simple food but look at the prices ! ] make a fortune doing
sth Sam made a fortune selling ice-creams on the beaches
last summer. [ make a fortune out of They have made a
fortune out of Florida real estate.

PROFIT 103"/ PROGRESS
make a killing/,meIk :) IkilioI to get a very large profit
quickly from one successful business deal [v phrase]
He had made a killing on the stock exchange that morning. [
The property developers were hoping to make a quick killing.
ciean tap / kli:n I^p! an informal expression meaning to
get a very large profit quickly and easily ]phr v I]
Some days all your deals go wrong and you don't make a
cent; other days you really clean up.
5 words for describing a company, type of
business etc that produces a,profit
profitable money-spinner
lucrative goldmine
profitable I'proQtobl II 'pro:-/[adj]
Mr Tare ran a highly profitable grocery store. I It's only in
the last year that our business has become profitable. Before
that we were just managing to cover our costs. ] There is not
a very profitable market for this product.
profitability /,profotobfllti [[ pro:-/In U] Since the reces-
sion, many of the successful retailers have recorded reduced
profitability (=they have been less profitable).
itacrative /lu:krauv/a type of business or activity that
is lucrative produces a very large profit [adj]
Catering is a very lucrative business if you succeed in it. I
Sam's journalistic work was much more lucrative than his
painting had ever been. t There is still an illegal but lucra-
tive trade in ivory between Africa and South-East Asia.
money-spinner / mAnisplnor! an informal British word
meaning a business or product that produces a large profit
[n C]
The little bar turned out to be a real moneyspinner and was
always full. ] The toy companies are always trying to find
another money-spinner like 'Monopoly' or the "Barbie' doll.
goidmine / Igoldmaln! an informal word meaning a bus-
iness that produces a very large profit [n C usually
singular]
It's just a scruffy little beach caf#, but in summer it's an
absolute goldmine.
6 to neither make a profit nor lose money
break even
non-profitmaking
break even I,breIk 'i:vanl Iv phrase]
The company made a small loss last year but this year has
managed to break even. I We'll be just breaking even if we
can get an average audience of 300.
non.profitmaklng/nn proftmekIO l[ na:n 'pra:-I a
company or business that is non-profitmaking does
business so that its profits are used to provide money for
hospitals, poor people etc [adj]
Traidcraft is a non-profitmaking organization that buys
goods from Indian workers at fair prices.
7 to get a profit from a situation in a way that
people think is wrong or unfair
cash in on
profit from
profiteering
cash in on I,kJ" 'in on II -o:n/to make a profit from a
bad situation in a way that other people think is wrong or
unfair Iv T]
He'sjust cashing in on the fact that his wife is famous. I Have
you noticed how the record companies cash in on the death
of famous pop stars by re-releasing all their old records?
profit from/'profIot from II 'Pro:f It frAm/to make a profit
from a bad situation that most people would be trying to
help with, and not trying to make money out of [v T]
Nobody should be allowed to profit from war and human
suffering. ] Crafty entrepreneurs like Harper profited from
the ignorance of the masses.
profiteering /,pro I tiarirJ [[ ,pro:-/ the making of
unfairly large profits by charging unreasonably high
prices for something which people need to buy [n U]
The emergency government brought in a special law to pre-
vent hoarding and profiteering. I As food supplies dwindled,
complaints against 'profiteering' became more vociferous.
profitable PROFIT 5
profiteering PROFIT 7
profound INTELLIGENT 10
prognosis PREDICT 3
programme/program LIST 4, PLAN 5, 7, TELEVISION/
RADIO 5, TIME THAT IS PLANNED 2
progress CONTINUE/NOT STOP 4, PROGRESS 1
progress: be in progress HAPPEN 6
progress: make no progress PROGRESS 4
progress: make progress PROGRESS 1
PROGRESS
to gradually move towards achieving
something that you want to achieve
to progress very rapidly
an important discovery, achievement, or
event that brings progress or helps you to
progress more quickly
to progress very slowly or not at all
a situation in which no further progress can
be made, especially because people cannot
agree on what to do next
an action or change that makes the situation
worse, so that the progress which has
already been made is lost
1
to gradually move towards achieving
something that you want to achieve
move
advance
come along/come on
be getting there
progress
progress
make progress
go
make headway
progress/pro'gresl [v I]
Work on the ship progressed quickly. I Her career progressed
rapidly after she took over as head of the department. I
progress from/to Most children start .by looking at the
pictures, and gradually progress to being able to read the
words.
progress/'przogres II 'pro:-/movement towards a result
that you want to achieve [n U]
We are pleased with your son 's progress at School I progress
in The funds will boost progress in cancer research and help
to save lives. I There has been a lack of progress in cleaning
up public water supplies.
make progress Imelk praogres II -Ipro:-/to progress
by your own efforts towards a particular result [vphrase]
The negotiations are going slowly but the two leaders are
making progress. I make progress in/on Medical
researchers have made great progress in developing drugs
to control schizophrenia in the past five years. I Rapid
progress was made on the development of gas turbines at this
time.
go/gao/if a particular activity or piece of work goes well,
badly etc it progresses well, badly etc [v I usually in
progressive]
The class is going very well so far and all the students are
happy with it. I "How's it going Kate? .... Fine, thanks." l
She's very happy with the way the plans for her wedding are
going. I Things went better after the new computer system
was installed.
make headway/tmelk thedwei/to make progress in
spite of problems or difficulties, as a result of hard work
and determination [v phrase]
Sylvia started learning French, and soon made great
headway. I make headway in If either side is to make

PROGRESS 1038 PROGRESS
any headway in these negotiations, they must be prepared
to compromise. I Women were not making much headway in
getting selected as parliamentary candidates.
move/mu:v/if an event or activity moves quickly, in the
right direction, slowly etc, it progresses in that way, and
at a particular rate [v I]
Things moved quickly once we had sorted out who was going
to do what. t I think that events in Europe are moving in the
right direction. I The investigation is moving slowly because
we don't have the time or the staff to do the job right.
advance lad'vo:ns II ad'vens/ if something, especially
scientific and technical knowledge, advances, it develops
and improves Iv I]
Disk technology is advancing very rapidly, t Our knowledge
of the deepest parts of the ocean has advanced considerably
over the last ten years. [ advance in It is a country that has
advanced in many fields, particularly in industry and
technology.
come along/come on/,knm a'lorj, knm 'on II a'l:):rj,
-'a:n/if something such as a piece of work or someone's
studies comes along, it progresses in a very satisfactory
way [phr v I]
The work on the new house is coming along very well. [
Mary's reading and writing came on much better with the
new teacher.
be getting there/bi: 'gemj bear/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be making some progress, although
slowly, especially after many difficulties or problems Iv
phrase]
The company had a lot of problems to deal with, but they're
getting there. I It's been a long struggle paying off all our
debts but I think at last we're getting there.
breakthrough/'breikOru:/an important discovery or
achievement that makes it possible to progress, especially
one that happens suddenly after a long period of trying In
C]
breakthrough in There has been a major breakthrough in
the search for safe nuclear energy. [ breakthrough A break-
through that has opened the door to a successful conclusion
of arms negotiations.
milestone /'madstaon/ a very important moment or
event in the progress or development of something, espe-
cially the first time that something is done In C]
milestone in This is a milestone in the history of car design
- the world'sfirst electric car. [ Davies and Coltrane then
recorded the album "Kind Of Blue', which proved to be a mile-
stone in the development of modern jazz. [ milestone an
agreement that has been described as a milestone on the road
to a federated Europe
step/step/an action or discovery that brings progress and
takes you closer to the result you want to achieve In C]
step in The discovery of penicillin was a gigantic step in the
treatment of wound infections. I step forward The new law
on drink driving is being seen as a major step forward. I step
towards Identifying the cause of a disease must always be
the first step towards finding a cure. I step in the right
direction Re-thinking our management techniques would
be an important step in the right direction.
stepping stone/' stepirj staon/an event or action that
is not always very important itself but helps you to
progress towards achieving something [n C]
Temporary jobs can be a stepping stone out of unemploy-
ment. [ This agreement was an important diplomatic step-
ping stone towards independence.
2 to progress very rapidly
make great strides
forge ahead
come on in leaps and bounds
make great strides /melk ,greIt 'straidz/ if people
make great strides, they progress very rapidly towards
improving knowledge or methods, especially in scientific,
technical, or educational areas Iv phrase]
make great strides in Great strides have been made in
reducing air pollution in US cities. I make great strides
The conference highlighted the great strides made in the
educational field in Third World countries. I Biotechnology
companies are now keen to exploit the great strides science
has made since the 1970s.
forge ahead /,fmrd5 a'hed/ to progress very quickly
towards achieving something, especially faster than other
people [phr v I]
In the years after the Second World War the US forged ahead
in nuclear research. I Exports are forging ahead while home
sales are going down.
come on in leaps and bounds/kAm ,on in ,li:ps and
'baundz/ if a person or the study, development etc of
something comes on in leaps and bounds, they progress
very quickly, especially in knowledge or ability [v phrase
usually in progressive]
Jake was slow to learn to read, but now he's coming on in
leaps and bounds. I Development in this field was coming
on in leaps and bounds.
3 an important discovery, achievement, or
event that brings progress or helps you to
progress more quickly
advance step
breakthrough stepping stone
milestone
advance/ad'va:ns [[ ad 'vans/a new discovery or inven-
tion that brings progress In C]
This discovery marks a significant technological advance. ]
advance in Dr Martineau had written an article about
advances in medicine over the last five years.
4 to progress very slowly or not at all
make no progress go around in circles/
get nowhere go round in circles
go badly/not go well stagnate
make no progress/meik ,nao praogres 11 -'pro:-/to not
progress at all with a piece of work or activity [v phrase]
She'd made no progress with the the report she had to write. [
Because of bad weather we made no progress on the house
for the next three days. ] The solicitors are trying to reach
an agreement but no progress has been made to date.
get nowhere/,get 'naowear/to not progress at all in
spite of hard work or effort [v phrase]
I feel as though I'm getting nowhere in this job. [ A creative
idea from a junior executive will get nowhere unless it is sup-
ported by other people with more influence. ] get nowhere
fast The project is chewing up time and money but seems to
be getting nowhere fast.
go badly/not go well/gao 'badli, ,not gao 'well if a
piece of work or activity goes badly, it progresses only
slowly or not at all [v phrase usually in progressive]
My essay isn't going very well. It's difficult to find any useful
books on the subject too. [ Negotiations for a new peace deal
were going badly and there seemed to be no hope for recon-
ciliation.
go around in circles (also go round in circles in
British English) Igao (a),raond in 'sa:rkalz/to keep finding
the same problem or repeating what you have said, when
you are trying to make a decision or find the answer to a
problem [v phrase usually in progressive]
We've discussed this for six hours without deciding anything.
We're just going round in circles. I This conversation's going
around in circles.
stagnate/stg'neIt [[ 'stagneit/to not progress at all and
get into a worse state, so that there does not seem to be any
chance of progressing [v I]
Business in this area has stagnated compared with other
wine regions. [ If we do not have any objectives in life we tend
to stagnate.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

PROGRESS 1039 PROMISE
 a situation in which no further progress can
be made, especially because people cannot
agree on what to do next
stalemate dead end
deadlock impasse
stalemate/'stcihncit/a situation in which no further
progress can be made because two groups or organizations
disagree with each other about what to do and cannot think
of any way to end the disagreement In singular]
The discussions ended when it was clear that a stalemate had
been reached. I The stalemate between the Liberals and Con-
servatives meant a new election had to be called.
deadlock/'dedhk II -la:k/a situation in which no fur-
ther progress can be made because two groups disagree
strongly with each other and refuse to change their minds
In U]
In the same year the issue came before Congress, but instead
of a decision there was complete deadlock. [ break the dead-
lock (=to make it possible to agree so that you can progress)
In an attempt to break the deadlock President Carter tabled
fresh proposals.
dead end/,ded end-/a situation in which it is impossi-
ble to make any further progress in your work or in what
you are trying to do [n singular]
come to a dead end (=stop making any progress) The
development of this drug has come to a dead end because of
doubts about its safety. I dead end The police were asking
if anyone had seen a man fitting the description but this was
a dead end. People around here don't like talking to the
police.
Impasse/em'pa:s [[ 'mpes/a formal word meaning a
situation in which progress has stopped completely, espe-
cially because people cannot agree on what to do next [n
singular]
Despite the impasse in the pay negotiations, progress has
been made in other problems. [ Hirohito broke the impasse
in his bitterly divided cabinet by casting the deciding vote.
 an action or change that makes the situation
worse, so that the progress which has
already been made is lost
a step backwards
a retrograde step
a step backwards la Istep Ibekwardz/ [n phrase]
The new outbreak of fighting is a step backwards for peace
in the area. [ One councilman described the new rules as "an
enormous step backwards'.
a retrograde step/a retragred step/ an action or
change that is deliberately chosen but makes you lose any
progress you have made, socially or politically, so that you
return to an earlier, much worse state [n phrase]
The new tax would be a retrograde step because it makes
everybody pay the same no matter how rich or poor they are. [
Women will win this struggle, in spite of recent retrograde
steps.
 progression DEVELOP 3
?; progressive CONTINUOUS 5, MODERN 2
 prohibit FORBID 3
 prohibited: be prohibited FORBID 4
ii prohibitive/prohibitively expensive EXPENSIVE 4
iilii project JOB/TASK 2, PLAN 5, SEND 6, STICK OUT 1
iii project yourself EXPRESS 2
iili projected PREDICT 4
!i}ii proliferate INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
ii!ii, prolific LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 11
....41,.i.'-- prologue BEGINNING 7
!i!!i  prolong LONG TIME 9
 prom DANCE 5
i prominent IMPORTANT 6, STICK OUT 2
.:.,. prominent: figure prominently in/be prominent in
= IMPORTANT 7
 promiscuous SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 5
e promise PROMISE 1, 2, 3, 5
promise: break a promise PROMISE 9
promise: I promise PROMISE 6
promise: keep your promise PROMISE 7
promise to be PROBABLY 4
PROMISE
to tell someone that you will definitely do
something that they want you to do
to tell someone that you will definitely give
them something that they need or want
to tell someone that something will definitely
happen or be done, or that something is
definitely true
to make a solemn or formal promise
a promise that you will definitely do
something or that something will definitely
happen
what you say when you tell someone that you
promise to do something
to do something that you promised to do
to make someone do something that they
have promised to do
to fail to keep a promise
1 to tell someone that you will definitely do
something that they want you to do
promise assure
undertake give an assurance
give an undertaking
promise /'prrmols II 'pro:-/ Iv I/T not usually in
progressive]
promise (that) Hurry up, we promised that we wouldn't be
late. [ Shirley promised that she'd come as soon as she could. [
promise to do sth It's no use promising to clean up the back
yard if you've got no intention of doing it. [ She made the chil-
dren promise never to play near the railway line again. [
promise sb (that) Sue promised her teachers she would
work harder. [ promise "I can 't take you to the beach today. ""
"'But you promised/"
undertake / Andor telk/to publicly or officially promise
to do something, especially something that is difficult and
needs a lot of effort or money, and say that you will be
responsible for making sure it is done Iv T not in passive]
undertake to do sth The builders undertook to complete
the project within 5 years, at a cost ofЈ18 million.
give an undertaking/Ig:v an nnda r telk:rj/to publicly
or officially promise to do something, so that your promise
becomes a formal agreement Iv phrase]
give an undertaking that The British Government has
given an undertaking that it will hand Hong Kong back to
China in 1997. [ In court he had to give an undertaking that
he would stay away from his former girlfriend's house. [ give
an undertaking The Minister insisted that no such under-
taking had been given.
assure/o'oar/to tell someone that you will definitely do
something and that they can trust you to do it, especially
because they are worried and need to feel more confident
about it Iv T]
assure sb that The doctor assured her that he would do his
best to save the child's life. [ The president has assured us
that he will look into the matter. [ assure sb "Its OK, '" she
assured me, "I'll do a good job. Don't worry. '"
give an assurance ! gIv an aoarans/to officially tell
someone that you will definitely do something, and that
they can depend on you to do it [v phrase]
give sb an assurance that The Russians gave Japan an
assurance that they would not attack. I I had to give them
an assurance that I would not leave before the end of my
contract.

PROMISE 1040 PROMISE
2 to tell someone that you will definitely give
them something that they need or want
promise
pledge
promise/'prom,s II 'pra.--/Iv I/T]
promise sb sth They've promised us their full support. I
She's been promised a new bicycle if she passes her exam. t
promise (that) You promised you'd give me $10 for helping
yOU.
pledge ]pled3] to publicly or officially promise to give
help, support, or money to an organization, group, or
person Iv T]
pledge to do sth Many rock stars have pledged to support
the campaign to save the rainforests. I pledge sth to The
government has pledged Ј50,000 worth of aid to the drought-
stricken area.
3 to tell someone that something will definitely
happen or be done, or that something is
definitely true
promise guarantee
assure give sb a guarantee
give sb an assurance
promise/'prom,s II 'pro:-/to tell someone that some-
thing will definitely happen Iv I/T]
promise sb (that) They promised us that the car would be
ready on Friday. [ promise (that) He promised that it
couldn't happen ever again. I as promised (=at the time,
in the place etc that was promised) The parcel arrived the
next day, as promised.
assure /luar/ to tell someone that something will
definitely happen or is definitely true, and that they should
trust you about this, especially in order to make them feel
less worried about it Iv T]
assure sb (that) Her mother assured her that everything
would be alright. [ assure sb "'There's no need to worry, "'
he assured them, "I've got everything planned.'" I I can
assure you The document is genuine, I can assure you. I
assure sb of sth When I bought the clock, the dealer assured
me of its quality.
give sb an assurance /iglv (sb) an a'odrans/to offi-
cially promise someone that something will definitely
happen and that they can depend on this Iv phrase]
give sb an assurance (that) The manager gave me his per-
sonal assurance that the parts would be here today. I give
sb an assurance about/on His lawyer was unwilling to
give him any kind of assurance about the outcome of the trial.
guarantee /,geran ti:/to promise that something will
happen, especially because you are going to make sure that
nothing goes wrong, or promise that something is
definitely true and you have checked this very carefully
Iv T]
guarantee (that) We guarantee that you won't lose your
jobs when the company is taken over. [ I can't guarantee the
plan will work, but I'll give it a try. t guarantee sth We were
travelling through bandit country, but the king had guaran-
teed our safety. I guarantee sb sth (=guarantee to give) The
first emigrants to Canada were guaranteed 200 acres of land
each.
guaranteed [adj ] The label says guaranteed 100% pure new
wool. I same day delivery guaranteed
give sb a guarantee Ig:v (sb) a geran ti:/to promise
someone that something such as a product or method will
definitely work, be successful etc Iv phrase]
give sb a guarantee (that) Can you give me a guarantee
that the machine won't break down? I give sb a guarantee
of I can't give you any guarantee of success.
4 to make a solemn or formal promise
give sb your word
swear
VOW
give sb your word/,g:v (sb) ja:r ,wa:rd/to promise
someone very seriously and sincerely that you will do
something Iv phrase]
I can't tell you her name; I've given her my word. I give sb
your word (that) Phil made me give him my word that I
wouldn't tell anyone about what had happened.
swear/swear/to publicly make a very firm promise that
you will never break Iv T]
swear (that) The witness stood up in court and swore that
she would tell the truth. [ He swore that he'd kill me if he ever
saw me again. [ swear to do sth Jessica had a terrible row
with her father, during which she left home and swore never
to go back. I swear an oath Each member of the society has
to swear an oath which says they will never reveal any of its
secrets. [ swear allegiance (=swear to be loyal) American
soldiers swear allegiance to the constitution of the United
States.
vow/vao/a word used especially in literature meaning to
firmly promise something to yourself [v T]
vow to do sth Ben vowed to avenge his mother's death. I
vow (that) Penny boarded the plane, vowing she would
always love me.
5 a promise that you will definitely do
something or that something will definitely
happen
promise undertaking
assurance pledge
guarantee
promise I'pmmoIs II 'pro:-/[n c]
I will never lie to you again. That's a promise. I promise
that We do not believe the oil company's promises that explo-
ration will not harm the Arctic. [ promise to do sth State
legislators included a promise to introduce equal pay for
women in their annual budget report.
assurance/a'Yudrans] a promise that you will do some-
thing or that something will happen, especially given in
order to make someone who is worried about something
feel more confident about it In C]
assurance that I approached the animal carefully after
Jim's assurance that it could do me no harm. I I need an
assurance that you will support me. I assurance Then sud-
denly, despite all their assurances, they broke the agreement
and signed a deal with a rival company. [ categorical
assurance (=one that says that without any doubt some-
thing will definitely happen) It is impossible to give a cate-
gorical assurance that the food supplies will reach all of the
people who need them.
guarantee /,geran 'ti:/a formal, often written, promise
that you will make sure that something will definitely
happen, for example one that a company makes about its
products In C]
guarantee that The contract contains a guarantee that the
building will be finished within 6 months, t After the Second
World War, Belgium wanted a guarantee that it would not
be invaded again. I under guarantee (=within the period
when a company promises to repair a product free of
charge if something goes wrong) Is the camera still under
guarantee?
undertaking / inndar itelktrj/a public or official promise
to do something, especially something difficult, which
needs a lot of effort or money, and that you will be respon-
sible for making sure that it is done In C]
undertaking to do sth Khrushchev demanded an Ameri-
can undertaking not to attack Cuba. I undertaking that
Before we can release you, we need an undertaking that you
will not leave town before the trial.
pledge/pleds/a firm, public promise to do something or
provide something, especially one made by a politician [n
C]
The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election
pledges, t pledge of We have received pledges of help from
various organizations. [ pledge to do sth The coup leaders
have ignored their pledges to hold democratic elections.

PROMISE 1041 propel
6 what you say when you tell someone that you
l promise to do something
I promise
cross my heart
I give you my word
I promise lai 'prom,s II -'pro:-/
"Promise me you'll write to me. "" "'I promise. "[ I promise
(that) I won't go. I promise I won't go.
cross my heart/ikros mai Iha:rt [[ kr3:s-] (used when
promising something very sincerely to someone you know
well, such as your girlfriend or boyfriend)
"Do you promise? .... Cross my heart. "" [ "I promise that I'll
never leave you darling. Cross my heart. ""
I give you my word lat gv ju: ma w3zrd/(used when
you want to promise something very seriously and
sincerely)
"Will you meet me there?'" "I give you my word. "[ I give you
my word (that) I give you my word that I'll never mention
the matter again.
7
to do something that you promised to do
keep your promise
be as good as your word
deliver
keep your side of the bargain
stand by/stick to
go through with
keep your promise /,khp j:r 'prom,s II-'pra:-/ [v
phrase]
I promised to let you have it if you really wanted it and I will
keep my promise. [ Ellen kept her promise, telling the major
nothing about the family secret. [ keep your promise to do
sth The government has kept its promise to cut taxes, but this
will mean cuts in services, too.
be as good as your word/bi: az god az jz):r w3:rd/
to do exactly what you promised to do [v phrase]
The President promised to lower income taxes and he's been
as good as his word. I dane saw that Giles had been as good
as his word.
 to make someone do something that they
have promised to do
hold sb to
hold sb to/Ihold (sb) tuz/hold sb to a promise/bar-
gain/contract etc (=make sure that they do what they
have promised to do) [phr v T]
You've broken your side of the contract so you can't hold us
to ours. [ I once said I'd give her half my share of the busi-
ness, and now she wants to hold me to my promise.
9 to fail to keep a promise
break a promise back out
go back on renege on
break a promise I,brek  'prom]s II -'pra:-/to fail to
do something that you had promised to do Iv phrase]
I must take my son to see the movie. I said I would and I don't
like to break a promise. [ break a promise to do sth The
government has broken its promise to reduce the size of the
army.
go back on/go bek on [[-a:n/go back on your word/
promise etc (=change your mind and not do something
that you had earlier promised to do) [v T]
You can rely on her to do it. She won't go back on her word. [
The rebels had agreed to a ceasefire, but they've gone back
on their word and started fighting again.
back out/,bek aot/to decide that you no longer want
to be part of an agreement with someone [phr v I]
Agreeing to speak at the conference was a mistake, but it was
too late to back out now. I back out of an agreement The
company backed out of an agreement to test the new drug,
claiming they didn't have enough money for research.
renege on/r 'ni:g on 11 r 'rag a:n/a formal expression
meaning to fail to keep to officially agreed promises or
responsibilities [v T]
The government has had to renege on its commitment to full
employment. [ Kenoco Inc has reneged on its agreement to
finance the film.
deliver/d] 'l]vor/to do or provide what you promised,
especially in politics or business when people are uncer-
tain whether you can do this Iv I/T]
deliver sth The Prime Minister's economic development
strategy has not delivered the promised benefits. [ deliver
on a promise Yet again the management has failed to
deliver on its promise to provide extra staff training. [
deliver Election candidates frequently promise a lot more
than they can deliver. [ deliver the goods (=deliver what
you have promised) Do you think she will be able to deliver
the goods?
keep your side of the bargain/ki:p ,j:r saxd v 6
,ba:rg]n/to do what you promised to do as part of an agree-
ment in which both sides promised to do something [v
phrase]
I did my bit and now it's up to you to keep your side of the
bargain. [ The strike has ended. The employers must now
keep their side of the bargain and increase overtime pay.
stand by/stick to/'stand ba, stk tuz/ stand by or
stick to a promise/agreement (=to faithfully keep an
earlier promise or agreement although there may now be
reasons for not keeping it) [v T]
Despite his family's opposition, Jake stood by his promise
to marry her. [ How could she stick to the agreement now that
everything had changed so drastically?
go through w|th/igo ru.- w! to do something that
you promised or arranged to do before, even though it
causes problems or you are no longer sure you want to do
it Iv T]
He wasn't really sure he should marry Alice, but he went
through with it anyway. [ Claire had arranged to have her
baby adopted, but she couldn't go through with it in the end.
promising HOPE 7, SUCCESSFUL 4
promising/shows promise GOOD AT 6
promote ADVERTISE 1, ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT
ETC 1, HELP 5, PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1,
UP 13
promoted: be promoted UP 12
promoter ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 5
promotion ADVERTISE 2, UP 12
prompt CAUSE 9, 10, FAST/QUICK 6, REMIND/MAKE
SB REMEMBER 1
promptly: punctually/promptly ON TIME 1
prone to: be prone to ILL 3
pronounce SAY 7, SAY/STATE 6
pronunciation SPEAK A LANGUAGE 10, 11
proof PROVE 3
prop PUT 3
prop up SUPPORT/HOLD UP 3
prop yourself up SUPPORT/HOLD UP 5
-[pr0paganda or advertising? l-
....................................... :;. • ...................... ,, 
:. • . .. -.. .... ..  . - ..... . ,. . - ......  ,.:,: .:
lnformaton used by    PUBLICIZE/ 
.theg-overnmentto  MAKE KNOWN 
..... L  ...... "- : .......... ,F ;.:-
propaganda LIE/TELL A LIE 2, PUBLICIZE/MAKE
KNOWN 2
propel: catapult/propel THROW 9

proper
 proper REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 2,
 RIGHT/PROPER 1, 2
{i! proper name NAME OF A THING 1
" properly RIGHT/PROPER 3
 property CHARACTER OF STH 2, OWN 6
 property: be the property of OWN 3
,,,,,- prophecy PREDICT 3
..-.
il;;;- prophesy PREDICT 1
 proportion AMOUNT 1 2, PART 2
lit proportion: blow sth up out of all proportion
':'" EXAGGERATE 2
;;::';, proportions: epidemic proportions COMMON 2
..-.4
;:;.. proportion: in proportion to COMPARE 3
;!:, proportion: keep sth in proportion TOO/TOO MUCH 6
!.i proposal SUGGEST 5
!--;!;: propose MARRY 3, SUGGEST 2, 4
,,,;.; proposition SUGGEST 5
'..-;i;; proprietor OWN 5
!! pros and cons ADVANTAGE 2
;ii"! proscribed FORBID 9
-; prosecute ACCUSE 2, JUDGE 10
ili. prosecuted: will be prosecuted FORBID 4
i prosecution: the prosecution ACCUSE 5
', prosecutor ACCUSE 5
';; prospect FUTURE 8, PROBABLY 8
!i;.. prospect: little chance/hope/prospect PROBABLY 10
,;. prospective FUTURE 5
:z. prospects CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 3
...
; prosper SUCCESSFUL 1 2
=,:' prosperous RICH 1
 prostitute SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 9
 prostitution SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 9
• ..,.. protect PROTECT 1
PROTECT
1 to prevent someone or something from being
harmed or damaged
• to protect someone by providing a place
where they are safe from danger
3 someone whose job is to protect a person,
place, or something of value
4, something that protects someone or
something
5 words for describing someone who wants to
protect someone from harm, danger etc
1 to prevent someone or something from being
harmed or damaged
protect guard
give/offer protection safeguard
shield
protect/pro tektl to keep someone or something safe from
something unpleasant, such as injury, damage, illness, or
loss [v T]
1042
PROTECT
protect sb/sth The camera comes with a free leather car-
rying case to protect it. I The union's basic function is to pro-
tect the interests and employment rights of its members. I pro-
tect sb from/against It is the responsibility of the police
and the courts to protect us from these killers and maniacs. [
The legislation is designed to protect European farmers
against unfair US competition. [ I jumped behind a wall to
protect myself from the explosion.
give/offer protection/g[v, ofo r pro'tekj'n [[ -o:f-/to
protect someone from something harmful or unpleasant [v
phrase]
Vitamin C is believed to offer some protection against colds
and other minor illnesses. I The new regulations will give
consumers protection from dishonest traders. I They called
on the United Nations to give protection to the minority com-
munities in Serbia.
shield I/i:ldl to protect someone from something harm-
ful or unpleasant, especially by putting yourself or some-
thing else between them and the cause of the harm Iv T]
shield sb/sth He had received gunshot wounds while trying
to shield his children. ] shield sb/sth from A new type of
glass has been produced, which shields your eyes from the
sun's ultra violet rays. ] Fuel taxes were reduced, shielding
industry from the effects of the rise in oil prices.
guard Iga: rd/to protect a person, place, or valuable object
by staying near them and watching them [v T]
guard sb/sth Since receiving these death threats, Mr Rush-
die has been guarded day and night by police officers. I The
gang managed to hijack a heavily-guarded convoy of gold
bullion. ] guard sb/sth against Soldiers have been called
in to guard the embassy against further attacks.
safeguard / sefgo:rd/to protect something from harm
or damage by deliberately taking action, making laws etc
Iv T]
safeguard sth Unless we fight pollution now, we cannot
safeguard our children's future. I new legislation to
safeguard the rights of low-paid workers I safeguard sth
against This program is an effective way of safeguarding
your data against computer viruses.
:2 to protect someone by providing a place
where they are safe from danger
shelter
give sb shelter/refuge
harbour/harbor
shelter /'eltrl to provide a place where someone is
protected, for example from danger or from the weather Iv
T]
shelter sb from sth We hid behind a low wall, which
sheltered us from the gunfire. I Joe sheltered his child from
the sun under an old sheet. I shelter sb Police are appeal-
ing to anyone who may be sheltering the wanted man to come
forward.
sheltered [adj] She and her friends found a sheltered spot
under the trees and waited for the rain to stop.
give sb shelter/refuge/,g]v (sb) felto r, refju:ds/to
protect someone who is in danger or being hunted by some-
one who wants to harm them, by giving them a safe place
to stay Iv phrase]
The British government has been accused of giving shelter
to known war criminals. ] During the war, she gave refuge
and arms to local resistance groups.
harbour (British) i harbor (American)/'ho:rbor/to let
a criminal stay with you, or in a safe place that belongs to
you, so that the police cannot find them Iv T]
The UN has condemned Libya for harboring known ter-
rorists. I She had been harbouring a wanted murderer for
almost 15 years.
3 someone whose job is to protect a person,
place, or something of value
guard defender/guardian
bodyguard minder

PROTECT 1043 PROTEST
guard /ga:rd/ someone whose job is to watch a place,
person, or object in order to protect them from attack or
from thieves In C]
The robbers had used a cunning plan to trick the guards and
get inside the building. [ We were stopped by a security guard
who searched our bags.
bodyguard /'bodiga:rd [[ 'ba:-/ a person or group of
people whose job is to protect rich or important people who
are in danger of being attacked In C]
The President, surrounded by armed bodyguards, made his
way through the crowd. [ Indira Gandhi was killed by two
members of her own bodyguards.
defender/guardian/dfend r 'gazrdbn/a person or
organization that protects, or appears to protect, someone
or something that people think is important or morally
right In C]
The Catholics now regard themselves as the true defenders
of the Christian faith. [ The film was banned as a result of
protests by the Viewers Association and other so-called guar-
dians of public morality.
minder/'mandr/ an informal British word meaning
someone employed by a criminal to protect him or her [n C]
Police are looking for Patterson and his minder Charlie
Field, who both disappeared after the robbery.
4 something that protects someone or
something
protection guard
protective safeguard
shield
protection Ipm'tekSan/[n U]
protection against Our flimsy beach clothes were no pro-
tection against the bitter cold. [ People used to think strong-
smelling herbs offered some protection against disease. [ pro-
teetion 'Cardcare" gives you protection if your credit cards
are lost or stolen. [ protection from At present, the law gives
women very little protection from violent or abusing part-
ners. [ for sb's own protection (=in order to protect some-
one) The new seat belt laws are for your own protection.
protective/pmtekuv/used, designed, or intended to pro-
tect someone or something from being harmed or damaged
[adj only before noun ]
Several of the victims had not been given protective clothing
to wear during the tests. [ When dry, the chemical forms a
protective layer over the skin which lasts for days.
shieid/Si--ld! an object or material that protects someone
or something from harm or damage In C]
Suncream acts as a kind of shield against the sun's harm-
ful ultraviolet rays. [ The spacecraft is covered in a material
that acts as a heat shield. [ Before operating this machine,
make sure the safety shield is in place.
guard/ga:rd[ something that is, for example, fixed to a
machine or worn on a part of your body, in order to pro-
vide protection against damage or injury In C]
You can buy guards for electric sockets that make it impos-
sible for little children to stick their fingers into the holes. [
In order to clean the oven, you first have to remove the heat
guards. [ Football players are strongly advised to wear shin
guards.
safeguard/'sefga:rd/something, for example a law or
rule, that provides protection against danger, problems, or
failure In C]
There's a safeguard built into the tenancy agreement that
says the landlord must give you six months notice to quit. [
As an additional safeguard we will only invest your money
where we know it will yield high returns. [ safeguard
against As a safeguard against misuse, memorize your PIN
number immediately and destroy this advice slip.
5 words for describing someone who wants to
protect someone from harm, danger etc
protective
overprotective
protective Ipm'tektv/wanting to protect someone from
harm or danger, often in a way that stops them behaving
freely [adj ]
protective towards sb I've always felt very protective
towards him, as though he were my little brother. [ It's per-
fectly natural that parents feel protective towards their chil-
dren, even when they've grown up. [ protective Some people
say it's nice to have a protective boyfriend, but I feel as if I'm
suffocating! [ She put her arm around his shoulders in a
tender, protective manner.
overprotective /,aovarpratekt;v/ too anxious about
wanting to protect someone from harm, danger etc in a way
that seriously restricts that person's freedom, or stops
them developing the skills they need for dealing with
normal life [adj]
I don't know if I'm right to stop my kids going out on their
own, or whether I'm being overprotective. [ Her father's an
extremely jealous, overprotective man, who won't let her meet
any boys at all. [ a spoilt rich kid with an overprotective
mother
protection PROTECT 4
protection: give/offer protection PROTECT 1
o protective PROTECT 4, 5
 protest COMPLAIN 1, 3, PROTEST 1, 2, 3, 4, 6,
!!,. SAY/STATE 4
 protest: in protest PROTEST 2
!: protest your innocence INNOCENT/NOT GUILTY 2
PROTEST
to say or do something publicly to show that
you oppose or disagree with something
1 to say something to protest
• to do something publicly, especially in a
group, to show that you strongly disagree
with something
3 speeches, letters etc protesting about
something
4 something that people do in order to protest
5 someone who protests against something
6 connected with protesting
1 to say something to protest
protest
object
speak out
protest/pro'test/Iv I/T]
protest about The kids are protesting about the amount of
homework they have to do. [ protest It doesn't matter how
much you protest, no-one's going to listen. [ protest against
Union representatives are protesting against the introduc-
tion of longer working hours. [ protest sth (American)
Women protested the sexual harassment and jailing of
prostitutes. [protest (that) Passengers are protesting that
rail fares have doubled in price, and the service has been cut.
object/ob'dsekt/to protest about something, especially
because you think it is unfair or unreasonable [v I/T]
object to sth All the political parties object to such high
levels of unemployment. [ Most farmers don't object to
walkers on their land. [ object to being eallefl/being told
ere sth I object to being called a liar! [ object Half the
audience enjoyed the joke, but the other half objected. [ object
that Morn objected that we were too young to go on vacation
alone.
speak out /  spi:k aot/to protest about something, espe-
cially when it could be dangerous to do so [phr v I]
speak out about/against Students who spoke out against
the regime were sent to labour camps. [ Many of the victims
of racism are afraid to speak out about their experiences. [
speak out No one will ever know the truth unless you have
the courage to speak out.

PROTEST 1044 PROTEST
' to do something publicly, especially in a
group, to show that you strongly disagree
with something
protest boycott
demonstrate in protest
march riot
protest/pm'tcstl to come together with other people in
order to show you oppose and strongly disagree with some-
thing, for example by attending a large public meeting
Iv I/T]
protest against/about Teachers from all over the country
are meeting in London to protest about the government's edu-
cation reforms. I protest sth (American) Highways were
blocked by thousands of farm workers protesting wage cuts.
demonstrate / IdcmnstreIt/if people demonstrate, they
come together for a large organized public meeting or
march through the streets in order to protest about some-
thing Iv I]
demonstrate against Thousands of workers and students
demonstrated against US involvement in the war. [ demon-
strate Members of the anti-apartheid movement are demon-
strating outside the South African embassy. •
march/ma:rff/to walk from one public place to another
as a large organized group, in order to show that you oppose
or disagree with something Iv I]
march through/across/to etc Demonstrators marched
through the capital to protest against the use of chemical
weapons. [ Protesters were marching in front of the Capitol
Building.
boycott l lbxkDt II -ka--t/to refuse to take part in some-
thing, buy someone's products, or do business with some-
one as a way of protesting Iv T]
Many shoppers now boycott cosmetic products that have been
tested on animals. I Athletes from some countries may boy-
cott the Olympic Games.
in protest / = n praotesq if you do something in protest,
you do it to show that you oppose or disagree with some-
thing [adv phrase]
I was so disgusted at the amount of litter on the streets that
I wrote to the city authorities in protest. I in protest at/
against Prisoners have been holding hunger strikes in pro-
test against their inhuman living conditions. [ Public
employees have threatened mass resignations in protest at
the plans.
riot /raatl if a large group of people riot, they protest
about something that they think is unfair, for example by
fighting the police, damaging public buildings, or setting
fire to things Iv I]
At Barmike Jail in Scotland, prisoners rioted and took three
warders hostage. [ They've got no jobs, no money and no
future - it's no wonder young people riot.
rioting In U] Five days of rioting followed the police shoot-
ing of student leaders.
3 speeches, letters etc protesting about
something
protest
outcry
protest/'prootest/In U]
storm of protest (-a lot of angry protest) There has been
a storm of protest over the release of the film, which many
consider to be obscene. I wave of protest (-protest that
more and more people are beginning to support) The wave
of protest against repressive political reforms is growing. [
protest His latest book charts the progress of working class
protest throughout the nineteenth century.
outcry/'aotkraq an angry protest about something by a
lot of ordinary people, especially because they think some-
thing is unfair In singular]
The higher tax rates are bound to cause an outcry among
ordinary working people. I public outcry The government
has had to back down following the huge public outcry over
college closures.
4 something that people dd in order to protest
protest boycott
demonstration riot
demo unrest
march civil disobedience
protest/' pmotest/In C ]
protest against There was a protest against the imprison-
ment of three women's rights campaigners. I protest Despite
a strong protest from some Congressmen, the government
decided to go ahead with the deal. I The protest begun by
Soweto children rapidly spread throughout the country.
demonstration/,demn'streanl a protest in which a
large number of people march through a place or gather
in a place in order to show that they disagree with and
oppose something In C]
Fifty people were arrested during the animal rights demon-
stration yesterday. [ Student demonstrations backed by wor-
kers scored a partial victory against the government. [
demonstration against Thousands of people recently
blocked the streets in a mass demonstration against whaling.
demo/'demo/an informal word meaning a demonstra-
tion In C]
The anti-nuclear demo will start at 2 o'clock next Sunday.
march/ma:rtS/a large organized walk from one place to
another, done in order to protest about something In C]
The organizers led a march to the Supreme Court calling for
the acquittal of the prisoners. I protest march They were
breaking the law by staging a protest march without obtain-
ing permission from the police.
boycott /'bkDt [[-k:t/ a situation in which a large
number of people or a country refuses to buy something,
take part in something, or do business with someone as a
protest, especially for political reasons In C]
The US has joined in a boycott offish products from the
region.
riot/' rarer/violent and illegal behaviour by a large group
of people in order to protest against something that they
think is unfair and that has made them very angry In C]
Altogether the riots cost 130 lives and well over $700 million
in property damage. [ Racial tension boiled over in the inner
city riots which spread across the nation last week.
unrest/^nrest! a situation in which a large number of
ordinary people are protesting, especially violently and not
in an organized way, for example because they are not
happy with the way their country is being run In U]
Poverty is one of the major causes of unrest in the townships. [
social/civil/political etc unrest The coup was followed
by several years of social unrest and civil war. [ During the
1960s in the US there was a long period of civil unrest which
included riots in many major cities.
civil disobedience /,sval diso'bi:dions/ a carefully
planned and organized method of protest in which a lot of
people do something that is not violent but is intended to
harm a government, for example refusing to pay taxes or
blocking roads In U]
Gandhi recommended non-violence and civil disobedience. [
Hundreds of anti-nuclear protesters are refusing to pay taxes
as part of their campaign of civil disobedience.
 someone who protests against something
protester
demonstrator
dissident
protester /pmtestr/ someone who protests against
something, especially by taking part in a public activity
In C usually plural]
According to unofficial reports, over l OO protesters have been
arrested after disturbances in Johannesburg. I One protester
died and several others were injured when police opened fire
with rubber bullets.
demonstrator /demnstretr/someone who takes part
in a large organized meeting of people in a public place in
order to protest In C usually plural]

PROTEST 1045 PROUD
Angry demonstrators massed outside the presidential palace,
demanding political freedom and human rights. I Peace
demonstrators marched through the streets carrying
banners.
dissident/'dIsdant/someone who protests against the
political system of their country, for example by writing
articles or books that criticize the government, or by
organizing illegal meetings, in a country where political
opposition is not allowed [n C]
Andrei Sakharov, a leading dissident, was released from
prison shortly before his death.
dissident [adj only before noun] The authorities have
banned a group of dissident writers from holding a human
rights conference.
6 connected with protesting
protest
protest/'prootest/[adj only before noun]
protest movementCroupCongCarch ete Despite vio-
lent attacks, the black protest movement in the US grew
throughout the sixties. [ In response to the "backlash" against
women's equality, protest groups have sprung up through-
out the country.
protester PROTEST 5
protocol RULE/REGULATION 2
prototype FIRST 9
protracted LONG TIME 3
protrude STICK OUT 1
protruding STICK OUT 2
proud PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 2, PROUD 1
proud: be proud of PROUD 1, 4
proud: be too proud to do sth PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 2
SELF-RESPECT
BOAST
SHOW OFF
PROUD
to feel happy and pleased about something
good that you have achieved, something
special that you own etc
the feeling of being proud of something good
that you have done, something special that
you own etc
something or someone that you are very
proud of
too proud of your own abilities, achievements,
or appearance in a way that other people
think is rude
too satisfied with yourself, in a way that
annoys other people
an unreasonably strong feeling of pride,
which other people think is rude
thinking you are much more important than
you really are
8
9
10
thinking you are better than people who have
less money than you or come from a lower
social class
to behave proudly towards people who have
less money than you or come from a lower
social class
to stop someone from behaving too proudly,
for example by criticizing them or proving that
they are wrong
1 to feel happy and pleased about something
good that you have achieved, something
special that you own etc
be proud of be thrilled with
proud take pride in
be pleased with pride yourself on
be delighted with
be proud of/bi: praod av/to feel happy and pleased with
your achievements, possessions, family, country etc,
because you think they are very good and you want other
people to know about them ]v phrase]
Your mother and I are proud of you, son. You're a real hero. I
Andrew learned to speak Japanese in six months - now
that's something to be proud of. I We're proud of our coun-
try and we don't like people insulting it. I be justly proud
of (=be proud of something that you have a right to be
proud of, because it is very good) a city that is justly proud
of its cultural heritage
proud/praod/very happy and pleased with your achieve-
ments, possessions, family etc because you think they are
very good, special, or beautiful [adj]
I feel very proud when people admire my work. I It was a
proud moment when she stepped up to collect her diploma. I
proud owner/parents/possessor etc She's now the proud
owner of an original painting by Van Gogh. I the proud par-
ents of a beautiful baby I proud to do sth The school is
proud to announce that 20 students have been awarded
national scholarships this year. I proud that Won't your
father be proud that you've joined the navy?
proudly [ adv ] She proudly showed the medal to her friends.
be pleased with/bi: 'pli:zd w6/to feel happy about a
new possession or about the result of your work, because
you think it is very good [v phrase]
Are you pleased with your new motorcycle? I Mel was feel-
ing pretty pleased with the progress he had made in his
studies. I She went upstairs, rather pleased with the way the
party had gone.
be delighted with/bi: d'laltld wt6/to be extremely
pleased with a new possession or with the result of your
work, especially because it is better than you expected it
to be [v phrase]
She was delighted with her room. It had a wonderful view
across the valley. [ William was thoroughly delighted with
the success of his first business venture.
be thrilled with/bi: 'Orild w6/to be very pleased and
excited with something such as a new possession or a new
baby [v phrase]
Charles was thrilled with his baby son. [ be thrilled to
bits/pieces (=very thrilled) We love our house and we're
thrilled to bits with the garden.
take pride in /tek prald m/to feel proud of your work,
appearance, family etc, so that you always want them to
reach a high standard [v phrase]
I wish Nancy would take morepride in her appearance. [ He's
a real craftsman and takes pride in a job well done. [ Tul-
liver took obvious pride in his manly, capable son.
pride yourself on/pratd ja:rself on/to be especially
proud of something that you do well or of a particular
quality that you have, so that you want people to notice it
[ v phrase]
Archer prided himself on his knowledge of Italian art. [ She
prides herself on getting things done quickly. [ For some

PROUD 1046 PROUD
reason the school prided itself more on its athletic achieve-
ments than its academic record.
 the feeling of being proud of something good
that you have done, something special that
you own etc
pride
sense of achievement
pride/pra[d/[n U]
As she went to collect her diploma she felt a great sense of
pride. [ I remember his unconcealed pride as he showed us
over his beautiful yacht. [ pride in Your pride in being a
parent can suddenly turn to frustration when your child
starts to rebel.
sense of achievement / ,sens v 'tJ'i:vmznt/a feeling
of pride that you get when you have succeeded in doing
something difficult after working very hard to do it [n
phrase]
You get a wonderful sense of achievement when you reach
the top of a mountain.
3 something or someone that you are very
proud of
be sb's pride and joy
be the pride of
be a credit to
be sb's pride and joy/bi: (sb's) ,prad n 'd33i / if some-
thing that you own, something that you have made etc is
your pride and joy, yeu are especially proud of it and it
is very important to you [v phrase]
Todd's magnificent Rolls Royce had been his pride and joy
for many years. I The garden was my father's pride and joy,
the real expression of his creativity. I Christina was an only
child, her parents" pride and joy.
be the pride of/bi: 6z 'prad ov/to be the one thing or
person in a particular group or place that people are most
proud of Iv phrase]
Bolton "s famous football team was the pride of the town. [
The Mary Rose, which was the pride of Henry VIII's fleet,
sank on her maiden voyage.
be a credit to/bi: z'kredoIt tu:/if someone is a credit to
you, they have good qualities that make you feel proud to
be connected with them [v phrase]
Your children are a credit to you, Mrs Dodge. I Ernie Runacre
was a fine, upstanding young man and a credit to the police
force.
4
too proud of your own abilities, achievements,
or appearance in a way that other people
think is rude
arrogant
be proud of
bigheaded
conceited
be full of yourself
vain
fancy yourself
let sth go to your head
arrogant/' emgznt/someone who is arrogant is so proud
of their own abilities or qualities that they behave rudely
as if other people are of no importance or interest at all [adj]
I found Peter arrogant, sly and insincere, t He's so arrogant
- he just automatically assumes that his ideas are always
the best. I She threw him an arrogant look and smiled super-
ciliously.
arrogantly [adv] Ite arrogantly believed that he had been
specially chosen for the job.
be proud of/bi: 'praod Dv/to be so pleased with yourself
or with something you have done that you tell everyone
about it, especially in an annoying way [v phrase]
They're so proud of themselves - they seem to think no one
has ever had a baby before. [ Will we ever stop hearing about
the PhD that she's so proud off.
bigheaded /ibglhedod*/ someone who is bigheaded
thinks that they are very clever, very good at doing
something etc especially as a result of being successful in
something [adj]
She became really bigheaded after she was chosen to play the
lead. I People keep congratulating him on winning the
scholarship - which just makes him even more bigheaded!
conceited/knlsi:tod/someone who is conceited is too
proud of their own abilities, appearance, or achievements
in a way that annoys other people [adj]
He's very conceited about his new book. I He gave her a con-
ceited look after having pulled her idea to pieces.
conceitedly lady] He told her conceitedly that she wasn't as
intelligent as him.
be full of yourself/bi: fol v j:r selfl to be too proud
of your own abilities or achievements and not at all
interested in those of other people [v phrase]
She's become rather full of herself since she won a place at
Cambridge. I He was too full of himself to care about anyone
else.
vain/vein/someone who is vain is very proud of their
beauty or other personal qualities, and spends a lot of time
looking after their appearance [adj]
He believed that everyone was in love with him but denied
being vain. [ You kept a scrap book of newspaper photo-
graphs of yourself- how vain of you. t
vainly [adv] He stood in front of the mirror, preening him-
self vainly.
fancy yourself I'fensi jz):rself/ an informal British
expression meaning to behave as though you think every-
one admires you because of your abilities or appearance,
used especially when you think someone is too proud
[ v phrase]
Like most young professional footballers, he really fancied
himself. [ Sarah is very good-looking and I wouldn't mind
going out with her if she didn't fancy herself so much.
let sth go to your head/let (sth) go tjo: r hed/if you
let something go to your head, you start behaving as if
you are very important because you have had a success,
someone has praised you etc [v phrase]
It's not surprising that young rock bands let success go to
their heads. I I know you did well but don't let it go to your
head - the hardest part's still to come.
5 too satisfied with yourself, in a way that
annoys other people
self-satisfied pleased with yourself
smug complacent
self.satisfied /self 'setIsfa;dl someone who is self-
satisfied thinks that they are very clever, very successful
etc, often without good reason, and shows this in a very
annoying way [adj]
Doyle's self-satisfied smile irritated Haworth. [ He was in his
early 40s and had the self-satisfied air of someone who has
achieved fame and success. [ What makes a second-rate
actress like dean so self-satisfied, so over-confident?
smug /sm^g/ quietly pleased with yourself in an
unpleasant and annoying way, because you think you are
in a better position than other people [adj]
Yes, we know you're been promoted but there's no need to be
so smug about it! [ With the smug certainty of a teenager,
I told him he was wrong.
smugly [ adv ] 'Tin getting a motorcycle soon, "he announced
smugly. "My dad's buying me one for my eighteenth
birthday. ""
pleased with yourself/pli:zd w;6 j:rself/feeling
unreasonably proud of yourself, especially because you
think you have done something clever [adj phrase]
I had made a big profit on the deal and was feeling inor-
dinately pleased with myself. I After deceiving us all like that
she went away, no doubt very pleased with herself.
complacent/kom plesant/unreasonably pleased with
your achievements or with the situation you are in, so that
you think there is no need to worry or make an effort [adj ]
The other team were playing so badly that we got complacent
and lost our advantage. I Although business is improving

PROUD 1047 PROUD
we cannot afford to be complacent - there is still a lot of hard
work to be done.
complacency In U] McGrath accused the government of
complacency and inertia in allowing the crisis to develop.
complacently [adv] He parked the car and smiled at her,
complacently assuming he had passed the test.
an unreasonably strong feeling of pride,
which other people think is rude
arrogance
conceit
vanity
arrogance 1, erogons/an unreasonable pride in your own
abilities or qualities, which makes you behave rudely, as
if other people were of no importance or interest In U]
"'I ought to be in charge here,'" said Jack with simple
arrogance. [ His arrogance and unwillingness to learn from
others prevent him from being an effective member of the
team.
conceit/knsi:t/too much pride in your own abilities,
appearance, or qualities, especially following a success
which has made you behave as if you are very important
In U]
After scoring the winning goal he almost danced along the
road in his satisfaction and conceit. ] I got so sick of his
conceit that I threw the damn trophy out.
vanity/'venIti/great pride in yourself so that you are
always thinking about yourself, especially about your
appearance In U]
Such was Jo's vanity that she couldn't walk past a mirror
without looking in it. I His life is driven by vanity. He has
to drive around in the most expensive car and wear the best
designer clothes.
'7 thinking you are much more important than
you really are
self-important have delusions of grandeur
pompous get too big for your boots
jumped up
self-Important/,self [m'p:rtdnt-/[adj]
As a waiter he had grown to despise self-important cus-
tomers. I He was one of those self-important little officials
who made everyone call him 'Sir'.
self-importance In U] He strutted into the room, full of his
own self-importance.
pompous/'pomps II 'pa:m-/someone who is pompous
tries to make people think they are clever or important,
especially by using very formal and important-sounding
words [adj]
The school principal gave a very pompous speech about us
"entering through the portals of learning'. I The village
mayor is so pompous - he behaves as if he's the President
of France.
pompously [adv] He told her pompously that he considered
himself to be the backbone of the company.
Jumped up/'dsAmpt hp/an informal British word: some-
one who is jumped up thinks they have a more important
job or position than they really have [adj]
He was interviewed by a jumped up woman who did her best
to make him feel small. I The senior management is made
up of jumped up sales reps!
have delusions of grandeur /hev dIlu:sanz v
'grend3or/ someone who has delusions of grandeur
behaves as if they are more important than other people,
especially because they are in a position that gives them
slightly more authority than others Iv phrase]
Ever since she became supervisor she's had delusions of
grandeur.
get too big for your boots/get tu: bIg fr j:r bu:ts/
an informal expression meaning to start thinking that you
are more important than you really are, especially because
you have been successful in something [v phrase]
You're getting too bigfor your boots. Who are you to tell me
I should try harder?
8
thinking you are better than people who have
less money than you or come from a lower
social class
snobbish haughty
snob snooty
superior snotty
stuck-up class conscious
snobbish/'snobt[ II 'sna:-I someone who is snobbish
stupidly thinks that they are better than people from a
lower class, so that they will not be friendly with them or
do the things they do [adj]
Our neighbours are so snobbish. Just because I'm unem-
ployed they don't even talk to us. [ his snobbish attitude to
soap operas on TV [ snobbish about She's very snobbish
about people who live in the suburbs.
snobbery In U] To say that working class people are all the
same is sheer snobbery (=is being very snobbish).
snob /sno [[ sna:b/ someone who stupidly thinks that
they are better than people from a lower class, so that they
will not be friendly with them or do the things they do [n C]
My mother was such a snob she wouldn't let me play with
the local children. [ intellectual snob (=someone who
thinks they are too intelligent to enjoy ordinary forms of
entertainment) They're unlikely to watch game shows on TV
- they're real intellectual snobs.
superior /su:'piari r, sju:-[[ so-/ someone who is
superior thinks they are more intelligent, or morally
better than other people, and takes very little interest in
other people [adj]
What makes her think she's so superior? [ He made few
friends because he was so superior and aloof. [ The manag-
ing director gave them a superior smile before leaving the
office.
stuck-up/,stnk 'np-/an informal word: someone who is
stuck-up thinks they are better than people from a lower
social class, people in a less important job etc, and is
deliberately unfriendly towards them [adj]
He was a pompous, stuck-up little man. I She was so stuck-
up that people used to laugh at her behind her back.
haughty/'h:ti/someone who is haughty behaves in a
proud and very unfriendly way, as if they think other
people are completely unimportant [adj]
He was widely regarded as being haughty and difficult to
talk to. I dessica turned away with a haughty look on her
face.
haughtily [ adv ] She refused his request, haughtily explain-
ing that such things were beneath her.
snooty / 'snu:ti/an informal word: someone who is snooty
is rude and unfriendly because they think they are better
than other people [adj]
Sir James is charming and easy to get along with, but his
wife is terribly snooty.
snolty I'snoti II 'sna:-I an informal word used especially
in American English: someone who is snotty thinks that
other people are less important than themselves [adj]
The landlady was real snotty toward her tenants. I Jessica's
snotty behaviour often upset him.
class conscious / 'klo:s ,kvnSos II ,Ues ,ko:n-/someone
who is class conscious is too concerned with social class
and judges other people according to the class they belong
to [ adj phrase]
Lady Fraser was too class conscious to be friendly with the
servants. I The social and racial mix in this area makes it
no place for the class conscious.
9 to behave proudly towards people who have
less money than you or come from a lower
social class
look down on
look down your nose at
be beneath
think you're too good for

PROUD 1048 PROVE
look down on/lok 'daon on ]] -a:n/to think that you are
better than someone else, for example because you are
more successful, better educated, or of a higher social class
[v T]
He looks down on anyone who hasn't had a university
education. I It seems to be increasingly acceptable for people
to look down on the unemployed.
look down your nose at/,lok daon j:r 'naoz aet/an
informal expression: if you look down your nose at people
or their possessions, you behave as if you think they are
not good enough for you [v phrase]
He looks down his nose at anyone or anything foreign. [
Whenever she visits, I feel she's looking down her nose at my
furniture.
be beneath/bi: b' ni:0/if it is beneath you to do some-
thing or to talk to someone, you think you are much too
important to do it Iv T]
He thinks it's beneath him to work with farm labourers. [
Do you think you could make the tea for once - or is that
beneath you!
think you're too good for/,O/ok ja: r tu: 'god fo:r/if
you say that someone thinks they are too good for a par-
ticular kind of work or for a particular person, you mean
they are too proud to do that kind of work or to spend time
with that person [v phrase]
Well, I suppose you think you're too good for us now you've
inherited a fortune. ] Since he got a college degree, he seems
to have decided that he's too good for the army.
10 to stop someone from behaving too proudly,
for example by criticizing them or proving that
they are wrong
put sb in their place
wipe the smile off sb's face
cut sb down to size
put sb in their place/,pot (sb) in 6ca r 'piers/to stop
someone behaving too proudly by saying something that
makes them look stupid or unimportant [v phrase]
She's been showing off about her promotion for days -it's
time someoneput.her in herplace. I put sb firmly in their
place The manager put Cartwright firmly in his place, by
telling him he was only office junior and should behave as
such.
wipe the smile off sb's face/wap 6a ,smafl of (sb's)
'fes/ to suddenly stop someone who is behaving too
proudly or seems pleased about something, by telling them
some bad news [v phrase]
I told her I'd scored more than her in the test, just to wipe
the smile off her face. I Wait till he finds out he's been fired
- that will wipe the smile off his face.
cut sb down to size/,lt (sb) daon ta 'smz/to stop some-
one behaving too proudly by making them feel that they
are unimportant Iv phrase]
Louise's sarcastic comments soon cut him down to size. [ He's
got so big-headed recently - he really needs cutting down to
size.
prove PROVE 1, 3
prove-that mething iii !P-@ PROVE
sw that something ++ + SHOW/BE
:might be true, might ++++++++ SIGN OF
ned .......
........
have happe etc.
........ ::.....  .
PROVE
to show that something is true by means of
facts, information, documents etc
1 to prove that something is correct or true
2 to provide additional information that helps to
prove that something is correct or true
3 the facts or information that prove something
is correct or true
4 to prove that something is wrong or untrue
1 to prove that something is correct or true
prove demonstrate
show bear witness to
prove/pru:v/[v T not usually in progressive]
prove (that) I have documents which prove that I am the
owner of this land. [ Can you prove you were at home when
the crime was committed? [ prove to sb that He proved to
me by means of diagrams that the wind machine would
work. [ prove sth Look here's the artist's signature. I
thought the picture was genuine, and this proves it. [ Until
there is evidence to prove any of these claims we cannot pass
judgement. [ prove sb's innocence/guilt (=prove they are
innocent or guilty) She felt that now was the time to prove
her brother's innocence. I prove how/what etc This letter
proves just how wrong we were to blame everything on
Hilary. [ prove conclusively/beyond doubt (=prove
something definitely so that there is no doubt) This new dis-
covery proved conclusively that the tomb belonged to King
Tutankhamen.
show/ao/to provide facts or information which make
it clear that something is true [v T not in progressive]
show that These papers show that Mr Symes knew about
the illegal transfer of money from his company. I show sth
Recent events in Somalia clearly show the futility of war. [
show how/what etc Only three people passed the test,
which just shows how hard it was. I show sth/sb to be A
scientific theory is only "true" until someone shows it to be
false or innaccurate.
demonstrate/'demanstre;t/to prove something, espe-
cially something about your own abilities or qualities by
doing something that proves it [v T]
demonstrate that President Bush was anxious to demon-
strate that he had a strong foreign policy. [ It was good to
be able to demonstrate that I did know something about
handling animals. [ demonstrate sth Bud used to demon-
strate his manliness by stubbing out a cigarette on his arm. I
demonstrate how/what etc He showed us a statuette he
had stolen from the Louvre, proudly demonstrating how easy
it was to rob the place.
bear witness to/bea r 'w;tnls tu:l a formal expression:
if something bears witness to past events or situations,
it proves clearly that they happened or existed [v phrase
not in progressive]
The ruins of temples, theatres and villas all bear witness to
the past greatness of the Roman Empire. [ At the memorial
site, there are thousands of skulls which bear witness to the
horrific cruelty Cambodia has suffered.
to provide additional information that helps to
prove that something is correct or true
support validate
back up corroborate
bear out confirm
substantiate
support /sa'po:rt/ support a theory/claim/notion/
view etc (=help to prove that a belief, idea etc is probably
true) [v T not in progressive]

PROVE 1049 PROVIDE
Do you have any evidence to support these claims? I The
notion that women are worse drivers than men is simply not
supported by the facts. [ For twenty-five years he painstak-
ingly amassed evidence to support his hypothesis.
back up/bk Ap/to provide additional information to
help to prove that a statement, belief, or explanation is
correct [phr v T not in progressive]
back up sth When you write a history essay, you should
back up all your points with facts. [ I read an article in the
Herald Tribune that backs up what you were saying yester-
day. I back sth/it/them up They claim they can give us the
best deal, but can they back this up with guarantees?
bear out /ber laot/if facts or information bear out a
claim or opinion, they support it and help to prove that it
is probably true [phr v T not usually in progressive]
bear out sth Most of the available evidence bears out the
view that students learn better in small classes than in large
classes. I My warnings about Jean-Paul were later borne out
by his dishonesty. I bear sb out (=prove what someone has
said is true) Last summer I predicted an increase in terrorist
violence, and recent events have borne me out.
substantiate/sablstaniett/ substantiate an allega-
tion/claim etc (=a formal word meaning to provide addi-
tional information that helps to prove that a statement is
correct, especially if the statement is difficult to believe)
Iv T not in progressive]
This is a very serious accusation - do you think you can sub-
stantiate it? I The manufacturers have made astonishing
claims for this drug but have so far failed to substantiate
them. I Allegations made by prisoners are usually only con-
sidered when substantiated by the evidence of a prison officer.
validate / velIdett/a word used especially in scientific
or technical contexts meaning to prove that information
or results are correct by means of scientific tests or very
careful checking Iv T not in progressive]
All the information used in this report has been validated
by an independent panel of experts. I This is an interesting
hypothesis, but all attempts to validate it have so far failed.
corroborate/karobaret [[ kara:-/ corroborate find-
ings/results/a story/a view etc (=a formal word mean-
ing to provide additional information which supports or
agrees with something that most people already accept as
true) Iv T not in progressive]
Professor Carling's findings have been corroborated by more
recent research. I Levine claims that a third car was involved
in the accident and witnesses have corroborated this. I The
depressing view that New York is a city in terminal decay
is corroborated by even the briefest of visits.
confirm/kanf3:rm/ if a fact or some information con-
firms an idea, explanation, belief, fear etc that you already
have, it proves that it is correct Iv T not in progressive]
confirm sth The doctor's diagnosis was confirmed by a
blood test. I This just confirms what I was saying earlier. I
confirm that New data has confirmed that the damage to
the ozone layer is not confined to the southern hemisphere. I
confirm sb's worst fears (=prove that something is as bad
as you thought it was) As soon as I looked at the accounts
my worst fears were confirmed - we were heavily in debt.
confirmation/konfarlrnean II ka:n-/In U] Astronomical
observations provided confirmation of Einstein's theory.
3 the facts or information that prove something
is correct or true
proof
evidence
documentation
proof/pru:f/In U]
I know you visited the house, I have proof. [ He was the only
person in the office when the money disappeared. What more
proof do you want? [ proof that Researchers in America
have found proof that non-smokers can develop cancer by
working in smoky rooms. [ conclusive proof (=definite
proof of something, which makes you completely sure)
Lowell firmly believed there was a ninth planet, but as yet
he had no conclusive proof of its existence.
evidence/'evdans/facts, information, or signs which
make you believe that something is true and which you can
use to help you prove that it is true In U]
The police did not have enough evidence to charge anybody
with the murders. I evidence of Detectives have found evi-
dence of a violent struggle at the victim's house. I evidence
that Long-term health studies have shown evidence that
teenagers may be particularly susceptible to depression. I
evidence to suggest/indicate/show etc There is strong
evidence to suggest that the Australian Barrier Reef will
have disappeared in 20years time. I not a shred of evidence
(=no evidence at all) The police detained us both for 24 hours
without a shred of evidence. I medical/scientific/archaeo-
logical etc evidence Medical evidence shows that men are
more likely to have heart attacks than women.
documentation/dDkj°monteJan,-men- [[ da:k-/offi-
cial documents that are used to prove that a claim or state-
ment is true or correct In U]
Can you produce documentation to support your claims? [
documentation of As there is no formal documentation of
your business partnership, it has no legal status.
4 to prove that something is wrong or untrue
disprove invalidate
refute debunk
disprove Id]s'pru:v/Iv T]
People used to think that there was life on the moon, but this
has now been disproved. [ The financial figures provided by
the company totally disproved Mr Gardiner's allegations. [
The existence of God is a question of faith and therefore
impossible to prove or disprove.
refute /r fju:t/a formal word meaning to use facts or
arguments to prove that what someone has said is not true
[vT]
I knew that he was lying but I had no evidence with which
to refute his story. I The accusation has been wholly refuted
by an in-depth analysis of the evidence.
invalidate / in val.deit/if a fact or piece of information
invalidates something such as a scientific explanation or
idea, it proves that it contains mistakes which make it
unlikely to be true Iv T not in progressive]
If we look closely at Professor Thomson's argument, we see
that his conclusion is invalidated by a number of factual
errors. [ Let us now examine the latest evidence available
which I believe invalidates the line of reasoning just followed.
debunk /di.-b^rjk/debunk a myth/theory/belief etc
(=prove that something is not true, especially something
that people have believed for a long time, and make it seem
silly or unimportant) Iv T]
In her book she debunks a lot of the claims made by
astrologers. [ Payton wants to debunk the myth that eco-
nomics is a science.
:.: proverb SAYING 1
 provide PROVIDE ]
• ;i,i• provide for PAY FOR ]0, PROVIDE 5
..... providelcome up with an explanation REASON 8
-.@ PROVIDE
to make something available to someone who
needs it or wants it
to provide someone with the things they need
for a particular activity
a system of supplying things that people
need, such as food or medicine
a company, country etc that supplies
products to people
to provide services for a particular group or in
a particular area
to provide something that a particular type of
person likes or wants, but which you think is
bad, stupid etc

PROVIDE 1050 PROVIDE
1 to make something available to someone who
needs it or wants it
provide lay on
supply fix sb up with
offer furnish
provide/pro'vaid/[v T[
provide sth Although the course is free, you have to provide
your own books. I A sports centre will be built on a site
provided by the city council. I Surely, the state should pro-
vide the money? I provide sth for Translations are being
provided for foreign visitors. I We are also able to provide
suitable facilities for business meetings and conferences. I
provide sb with Money from the aid programme will be
used to provide farmers with the necessary tools.
provision/prolvIsan/ [n U[ Local government is usually
respon, sible for the provision of (=for providing) primary
education.
supply/solpla/to provide people with something that
they need or want, especially regularly and over a long
period of time [v T]
supply sth to sb Three men have been arrested for supply-
ing drugs to street dealers. [ The rural development project
includes supplying clean drinking water to 350, O00 people. [
supply sb with Householders are supplied with special
bags for recyclable paper and glass. [ The city was supplied
(=provided with food, etc) by air during the time of the siege. [
supply sth We were looking for someone who could supply
clerical help.
supply [n U[ The US government has agreed to halt the
supply of arms to the Contras.
offer/'Dfo r [[ ':f-/to provide people with something that
they need or something that will be good for them, such as
help, advice, or a chance to do something [v T[
offer sth to sb The booklet offers practical advice to new
parents. [ Senator Joseph's speech will have offered little com-
fort to bankrupt businessmen. [ offer sth The shelter offers
some protection from the icy winds. [ Road transport offers
greater speed and flexibility.
lay on/,lel ion [[ -'a:n/a British expression meaning to
provide things such as food or entertainment, so that they
are available when people want them [phr v T]
lay on sth I've asked the catering manager to lay on refresh-
ments at the meeting. [ lay sth/it/them on We're inviting
a few people over for lunch next Wednesday. Could you lay
something on? [ We had a wonderful holiday. Everything
was laid on.
fix sb up with ! ifiks (sb) i^p wi6/an informal expression
meaning to provide someone with something that they
need, especially in an unexpected situation [phr v T[
Can you fix me up with a bed for the night?[ The garage fixed
me up with a new tyre pretty quickly. [ We'll have to get Doro-
thy fixed up with a boyfriend.
furnish / If3:rn[S/a formal word meaning to provide some-
one with the information they need in order to do their job,
make a decision etc Iv T]
furnish sb with The police have been furnished with a list
of suspected terrorists. I She was asked to furnish the com-
mittee with details of her complaint. [ furnish sth If you
could furnish additional information and guarantees we
would be prepared to advance the sum you request.
2 to provide someone with the things they need
for a particular activity
equip
issue
kit sb out
equip/i'kwip/to provide a person, group, or organization
with the things they need for a particular kind of activity
or work Iv T]
equip sb with All the soldiers have been equipped with
AK47 assault rifles. [ Denver police have equipped 45 high-
way patrol officers with electronic breathalysers.
equipped [adj] Callan Bay Institute is the largest, best
equipped (=provided with the best equipment) clinic in the
country.
issue i' flu:, 'isju: [II ISUI/if an organization or someone
in an official position issues equipment, clothes, weapons
etc, they provide these things because people need them
[v T usually passive]
issue sb with Police in Britain are not usually issued with
guns. I Visitors are issued with identity cards to wear inside
the factory. I issue sth to sb Blankets and warm clothes will
be issued to those who need them.
kit sb out/iklt (sb) laot/a British expression meaning
to provide someone with the clothes or equipment they
need for a particular activity [phr v T]
kit sb out with Before we left, we were kitted out with diving
suits. [ kit sb out for I hope you've kitted yourselves out
properly for rock climbing.
 a system of supplying things that people
need, such as food or medicine
flow
supply/solplai/[n singular]
supply of Russia has found it difficult to improve its supply
of consumer goods. [ The steel industry depends on a regu-
lar supply of raw materials. [ water/blood/electricity ete
supply Sometimes there is a sudden decrease in the blood
supply to part of the brain. I The drought is threatening the
water supply in some areas.
flow Ifloul a continuous supply of something, especially
from one place to another [n singular]
the flow of oil from the Middle East I The civil war has
severely disrupted the flow of aid to the region. I Meters in
the river bank measure the water flow at hourly intervals.
4 a company, country etc that supplies
products to people
supplier
supplier/solpla]or/[n C]
They will make the fuel from cheap natural gas provided by
foreign suppliers. [ supplier of The company remains the
main supplier of defense equipment to the Pentagon.
 to provide services for a particular group or in
a particular area
cater for
serve
provide for
cater for ! Ikeltor f3:rl to provide services to a group of
people, especially a group that has particular problems or
particular needs [v T[
Children are well catered for at the Hotel Paradiso. I Hostels
cater for single people who are unable to find affordable
accommodation. [ We hope to appeal to an audience that does
not feel itself adequately catered for by existing radio
stations.
serve/s3:rv/to provide a service for a very large group
of people, especially those living in a particular area [v T[
The center was opened four months ago to serve the health
needs of a low-income neighborhood. I He served the commu-
nity for over thirty years as a head teacher. I The new bus
route will serve the villages to the west of York.
provide for/pro I vaid f:r/to provide a service for a par-
ticular group of people, especially one that they really need
[v T[
Our nursing home provides for the needs of the elderly. I The
National Health Service has been forced to provide for
increasing health care demands with decreasing funds.

PROVIDE 1051 PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATE
to provide something that a particular type of
person likes or wants, but which you think is
bad, stupid etc
cater to
pander to
cater to/'keItar tu:/Iv T]
This kind of film just caters to the lowest elements in soci-
ety. I Increasingly, many rail and airline companies are only
interested in catering to business customers who can afford
more luxurious services.
pander to /Ipmnda r tu:/to provide what someone wants
or behave in a way that pleases them, when other people
think this is wrong or unnecessary Iv T]
You shouldn't pander to her like that. She will just take
advantage of you. [ Mr Kent was accused of pandering to the
lowest elements in society and encouraging racism.
provided: as long as/so long as/provided/providing
IF2
province AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC 1
provisional TEMPORARY 2
proviso CONDITION/$TH THAT MUST BE DONE 2
provocative SEXY2
provoke ANGRY 10, CAUSE 8
prowl WALK 10
proximity NEAR 3
prude OFFEND 4
prudent SENSIBLE 3
prune CUT 8
pry FIND OUT 8
pry open: prise open/pry open OPEN 6
pseudonym NAME OF A PERSON 3
psych out NERVOUS 6
psych yourself up PREPARE 3
psyche MIND 1
psychiatric hospital HOSPITAL 2
psychiatrist DOCTOR 3
psychological MIND 2
psychology MIND 1
psychopath VIOLENT 5
public PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT 1
public: in public PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATE 1
public: make sth public PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1
public: the public SOCIETY 1
public eye: be in the public eye FAMOUS 4
public holiday/bank holiday/legal holiday HOLIDAY 4
public opinion OPINION 3
public sector PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT 1
public speaking TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1
[pub c
WATCH
PUBLIC/
GOVERNMENT
words meaning public
to make a private company or organization
public
1 words meaning public
public the public sector
state nationalized
government
public /'pAblIk/ public services/property/library/
money etc (=owned, controlled, or paid for by the govern-
ment) [adj usually before noun]
In 1977, only 45% of the population had access to public
health services. I Damage from the Windsor Castle fire will
have to be paid for by public money. I Copies of the document
are available at public libraries and post offices.
state/stett/state education/enterprises/welfare etc
(=provided and paid for by the government) [adj only before
noun]
The government should be investing more in state education. I
a debate about thepurposes of state welfareprovision I Such
a project would involve too great a degree of state aid.
government/'gAvamont, 'gAvanmant II 'gAvarn-/govern-
ment grants/bonds/initiative etc (=provided, paid for,
or run by the government) [adj only before noun]
Most of their money was tied up in industrial and govern-
ment bonds. ] The Poll Tax was an unpopular government
initiative that was forced on the British people. I How much
government money is to be poured into this program?
the public sector ]6a pAblik sektar/all the industries
and services that are owned or paid for by the government
[ n phrase]
I've worked in the public sector all my life -first I was a
librarian and then I went into local government. I Public
sector borrowing is increasing all the time. I a pay freeze
imposed on public sector employees
nationalized (also-ise British)/'nm$nalalzd/nation-
alized industries/firms/properties etc (=once privately-
owned, but now owned and run by the government) [adj]
Trade unions have a long tradition in the nationalized
industries. I A whole range of nationalised companies now
face privatization. I It is simply not true that nationalised
industries are less profitable.
2 to make a private company or organization
public
nationalize
nationalize (also-ise in British English)/'neJ'nlaz/if
the government nationalizes an industry or service, it
buys it, especially so that there is now one large company
instead of several small ones [v T]
The mines were nationalised by the Labour Party. I Castro
speeded up his land reforms and began to nationalize foreign
holdings in Cuba.
PUBLIC/NOT
PRIVATE
1 happening or done in public, so that
everyone sees it or knows about it
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATE
1 happening or done in public, so that
everyone sees it or knows about it
in public openly
publicly officially
in public/m 'pAbllk/[adv phrase]
Most people are a little nervous about speaking in public, i
I've always been too embarrassed, to take off my clothes in
public. I It was the first time the former hostage had appetred
in public since his release.
publicly / IpAblkli/if you do or say something publicly,
you do it in public, so that everyone knows what you
believe, what you plan to do etc [adv]
Many senators disagreed with the President but lacked the
courage to say so publicly, i Both governments have
announced publicly that they will not be building nuclear
weapons. I The deposed dictator was publicly humiliated in
front of his former supporters.
openly/' oponli/if you do something openly, you do it
publicly, especially something that other people might dis-
approve of or be too embarrassed or afraid to do lady]
He was the first AIDS sufferer to talk openly on TV about
coping with the disease. I A group of youths were standing
next to a van, openly selling drugs, i She was fired qfter she
openly criticized her boss and factory working conditions.
officially/fifali/done, agreed, or decided by someone
in authority, and therefore made public, legal, or official
[adv]
The changes to borders were officially announced in the
European Parliament. i October was officially named
import-promotion month in Japan. I The details of the
reforms are to be released officially next month.
publicity PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 2
publicize PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1
@ PUBLICIZE/MAKE
KNOWN
to make information or opinions known to
people in general
the activity of making information, opinions
etc known to the public
words for describing something that a lot of
people know about because it has been
mentioned in newspapers, television etc
1 to make information or opinions known to
people in general
publicize make sth public
announce promote
publish advertise
broadcast
publicize (also-ise British)/'p^blotsaiz/[v T]
Every year there is a World Food Day that publicizes the
work done by small farmers. I Orlov spent seven years in
prison for publicizing human-rights violations: I The show
has been well publicized so we are expecting a big crowd.
announce/onaons/to tell the public about a decision
that has been made, or about something that will happen
Iv T]
The government has announced the date of the next election. I
The Minister for War made a dramatic appearance on
nationwide television to announce plans for a fresh peace
initiative. I The winners will be announced in next month's
issue of this magazine.
announcement In C/U] Two days after Hirohito's death,
the announcement was made that the Duke would represent
the royal family at his funeral.
1052
puff on
publish I 'pAblI/to make something known to the public
by printing it in books, newspapers etc Iv T]
Schools will have to publish their students' exam results. [
The news sheet just published by the Pentagon includes
details of the banned spy book. I Once research scientists had
published their findings, the drug was withdrawn from sale.
broadcast /tbra:dko:st II-k  est/ to make something
known to the public by television or radio Iv T]
The interview with the president will be broadcast live on
Friday. [ The World Service broadcasts messages to the
hostages from their families.
broadcast In C] Millions of British people heard of the out-
break of war via a radio broadcast by Chamberlain.
make sth public/tmek (sth) pAblik/to make a piece
of important information known to the public, especially
after keeping it secret for some time Iv phrase]
The Senator will make his decision public on Friday. [
Reporters learned the news on Friday but agreed not to make
it public until the following day. [ make it public that Fred-
die Mercury died only two days after making it public that
he was suffering from AIDS.
promote /pramoot/ to make your ideas or opinions
known to the public with the intention of persuading them
to accept them or agree with them Iv T]
Unfortunately the politician used the interview to promote
his racist views. I She made a passionate speech promoting
peace and equality.
advertise ! edv3rta]z! to make known a piece of infor-
mation about yourself that you should keep secret, because
it might make people dislike you, try to cheat you etc Iv T]
I've won a lot of money in a lottery but I'm not going to adver-
tise the fact. I She had been sexually harassed at work but
did not want to advertise it by taking court action.
2 the activity of making information, opinions
etc known to the public
publicity
propaganda
publicity/p^'blIsti! In U]
Scandals involving prominent politicians always receive
widespread publicity. I generate publicity (=produce pub-
licity) It was thought that the strike might generate some
press publicity for the workers. I adverse publicity (=bad
publicity) Any adverse publicity about the environmental
impact of the new plant would be disastrous. I glare of
publicity (=a lot of unwelcome attention from the news-
papers, television etc) Survivors of the disaster suffered the
glare of publicity for a few days and then their plight was
forgotten.
propaganda/Ipropogendo 11 pro:-/ the clever use of
newspapers, film, television etc in order to persuade the
public to accept certain political ideas, often by giving
them false or incomplete information in U]
The government encouraged film directors to create propa-
ganda so that people would not become too discouraged by
the war. [ Roadside hoardings displayed anti- Western propa-
ganda.
3 words for describing something that a lot of
people know about because it has been
mentioned in newspapers, television etc
well-publicized
well.publicized/,wel 'pAblsaizd/[adj usually before
noun]
The President went on a well-publicized tour of the new
hospital. [ A well-publicized campaign organized by friends
of the hostage meant that people did not forget about those
still in the Lebanon.
 publicly PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATE 1
 publish PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 1, SELL 12
 pudgy: podgy/pudgy FAT 5
i:. puff BREATHE 6
i puff on SMOKE 1

puffy
puffy BIG13
puke/throw uplbarf SICK/VOMIT I
pull INJURE 2, PULL 1, 4, 6
pull: give sth a pull PULL 3
pull ahead FAST/QUICK 14
pull away BACK/BACKWARDS 2
pull down: knock down/pull down DESTROY 3
pull in ARRIVE 3, STOP MOVING 5
pull off/bring off/carry off SUCCEED IN DOING STH 2
pull on PULL 3
pull out LEAVE A PLACE 4, 13, TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED 12, TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 1
pull over STOP MOVING 5
pull/pull at PULL 3
pull/push the door to SHUT/CLOSE 1
pull sb over STOP MOVING 7
pull the other one BELIEVE 16
pull through SURVIVE 1
pull together UNITE 2
pull up STOP MOVING 5
pull yourself together CONTROL 9
PULL
to take hold of something and pull it so that it
moves towards you
to pull something quickly or suddenly
to pull something towards you, but without
making it come away from the thing it is
connected to
to remove something from its position by
pulling it violently or with force
to pull something heavy with great difficulty,
especially by pulling it along the ground
ways of saying that an animal, vehicle, or
boat pulls something so that it moves along
behind
1 to take hold of something and pull it so that it
moves towards you
pull
draw
tug
pull/poll [v I/T/
pull sth up/along/towards etc She reached over and
pulled the bag towards her. I Mr Grover began pulling the
blind down over the window. I The two men started fight-
ing and had to be pulled apart. I pull sth In an emergency,
pull the lever to stop the train. I pull You push and I'll pull. I
pull hard (=using all your strength) Grab the rope andpull
as hard as you can.
draw /dra:/ to pull someone or something slowly and
smoothly towards you [v T]
draw sth in/up/back/near ere She took my hand and
drew me closer. I He wound in the line, steadily drawing the
fish towards the bank. I Paula drew back the sheet and
looked at the sleeping child. I draw the curtains/drapes
(=pull them so that they cover the windows) Time to draw
the curtains and switch on the light.
tug/t^gl to pull something with one or more short pulls
especially something that is difficult to move Iv T]
Stephen tugged my sleeve to get my attention. I They tugged
the dinghy over the sand and into the water.
1053
PULL
He jerked the string and the light came on. I Jerking her coat
from the hook, she rushed out of the door.
jerk [n C] She pulled the dog back with a sharp jerk of his
leash.
yank Ijaokl to pull something with one sudden, quick and
forceful movement out of somewhere or away from some-
thing Iv T]
I ran to the door and yanked it open. I yank sth off/out/
back etc After a moment's thought he yanked the fuel pipe
off the carburettor. I His friends grabbed him and yanked
him to his feet.
yank [n C] With one quick yank, he pulled the post from the
ground.
 to pull something towards you, but without
making it come away from the thing it is
connected to
pull/pull at tug at
pull on give sth a tug
give sth a pull
pull/pull at/pol, 'pol mtl to take hold of something such
as a rope, a piece of cloth, or someone's hair, and to pull
it, causing it to stretch or become tight Iv T]
Stop pulling at my dress. You're going to tear it. [ He walked
up and down, pulling at his beard. [ The boys took a mali-
cious pleasure in pulling the cat's tail.
pull on/'pol on II -o:n/to pull repeatedly at something
such as a rope, causing it to tighten [v T]
Sailors were pulling on the ropes to let down the sails.
give sth a pull/,giv (sth) a Ipol/to pull something once,
especially quickly Iv phrase]
She gave a gentle pull on the reins, and the horse stopped. [
That door sticks a bit, give it a good pull.
tug at/'tAg et/to pull something quickly and repeatedly,
without causing much movement Iv T]
She tugged at the dog's collar but the stubborn animal would
not move an inch. [ We tugged at the door but it wouldn't
open.
tug In C] She felt a gentle tug at the hem of her coat.
give sth a tug/,gv (sth)  It^g/to pull something with
a short, strong movement, especially something that is
difficult to move [v phrase]
Peter gave his boot another tug and it came off. I If the
window is stuck, give it a few tugs and it should go up again.
 to remove something from its position by
pulling it violently or with force
pull
wrench
tear
pull/poll [v T]
pull sth away/from/out ete They pulled branches from
the trees for firewood. [ This tooth is really bothering me. I
wish I could just pull it out.
wrench/renq/to pull something forcefully or violently
from its position especially by twisting it or breaking it off
[v T]
wrench sth open/off/away ete I managed to wrench the
knife out of her hands. [ The necklace broke as she wrenched
it from her neck and flung it on the floor.
tear /tear/ to pull something violently from the place
where it is fixed or held [v T]
tear sth out/from/away etc She tore his photo from her
album. I Tearing the bag out of Carl's hand the thief ran into
the crowd. I They tore down the curtains.
2 to pull something quickly or suddenly
jerk
yank
Jerk/d53:rk/to pull something with a sudden quick move-
ment Iv T]
to pull something heavy with great difficulty,
especially by pulling it along the ground
drag haul
lug heave

PULL 1054 PUNISH
drag/dreegl Iv T]
drag sth along/away/out etc Bill and Sandy dragged the
boat far up the beach. I He seized my arm and tried to drag
me towards his house. I Don't drag that table across the
room, you'll scratch the floor!
lug /lAg/ to drag something heavy awkwardly and with
great difficulty to or from a place Iv T]
lug sth along/out/across etc We lugged the refrigerator
out of his apartment. I I'm not lugging that huge case up the
road - I'll call a cab!
haul Ih:l! to pull something heavy with a continuous,
steady movement in order to move it Iv T]
haul sth up/onto/along etc He helped them to haul the
cart up the slope. [ The fishermen hauled in their heavy nets. I
haul sth They plan to walk to the South Pole, using sledges
to haul their supplies as Scott had done.
heave/hi:v/to pull or lift something very heavy with one
great effort Iv I/T ]
heave sth onto/into/towards etc He heaved the pack up
onto his back. [ heave We heaved with all our strength but
we couldn't shift the piano.
heave In C] With a final heave he brought the huge tuna to
the side of his boat.
6 ways of saying that an animal, vehicle, or
boat pulls something so that it moves along
behind
pull drag
tow draw
pull/pol/Iv T usually in passive]
The trucks were pulling heavy 130 mm guns. I They hired a
carriage pulled by two white horses to take them away from
the church after their wedding.
tow/tool if a vehicle or boat tows another vehicle or a
boat, it pulls it by a rope or chain so that it moves along
behind Iv T]
tow sth up/down/along etc The barges are towed up the
river by powerful tugs. [ tow sth A small car like this isn't
powerful enough to tow a trailer. I tow sth away (:remove
by towing) A truck- which broke down on the freeway had
to be towed away by the police.
drag/drag/ira vehicle or animal drags something, espe-
cially something very heavy, it pulls it along the ground
behind it, often with a lot of effort Iv T usually in passive]
drag sth along/across/towards etc The heavy logs were
dragged across the ground by elephants. [ drag sth Caught
in the door, the terrified policeman was dragged 20yards by
an accelerating car.
draw/dr:/if an animal or a vehicle draws a carriage, a
piece of farming equipment etc, it pulls it along the road
or field Iv T usually in passive]
The plough was drawn by a tractor. I in days gone by when
horse-drawn carts delivered milk to the door I The King's
carriage was drawn by six horses.
pulse: have your finger on the pulse KNOW STH 9
pump ASK A QUESTION 3
pump up AIR 6
pun JOKE 2
punch HIT 1, HOLE 9
punch: throw a punch HIT 1
punch line JOKE 1
punch sb out HIT 3
punch-up FIGHT 4
punches: pull no punches HONEST 4
punctual ON TIME 2
punctually/promptly ON TIME 1
punctuated: be punctuated by/with REGULAR 1 "
puncture HOLE 6, 9
pundit KNOW STH 6
pungent STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 2
punish PUNISH 1
punish: be punished PUNISH 5
.[punish
@ PUNISH
to punish someone
to make someone pay money as a
punishment
to officially say what someone's punishment
will be, in a law court
something that is done to someone in order
to punish them
to be punished for something you have done
wrong
ways of saying that someone is very likely to
be punished for something they have done
to get only a small punishment for something
you have done wrong
to not be punished even though you have
done something wrong
to not punish someone even though they
have done something wrong
1 to punish someone
punish come down on
discipline make sb pay
penalize teach sb a lesson
make an example of bring sb to book
punish/'p^m/[v T]
punish sb for His mother decided to punish him for break-
ing the window. I These men deserve to be punished for their
vile crimes. I punish sb The teacher punished all three of
them by keeping them behind after school. I Sometimes she
sent us to bed without any supper. It was her way of punish-
ing us when we were naughty. I punish a crime/offence
etc Minor offences will be punished with appropriate fines. I
severely punish Anyone who broke these rules was severely
punished.
punishment In U] As Lord Chief Justice, he was responsi-
ble for the administration of the law and the punishment of
crime.
discipline /'disIpln/to punish someone who has broken
the rules of an organization that they belong to or work for
Iv T usually in passive]
be disciplined Anyone who is regularly late for work is
likely to be disciplined or dismissed. I Even when Morton and
Collins started fighting on the field, neither player was dis-
ciplined. I discipline sb Officers were expected to discipline
those soldiers who hadn't kept their uniforms in good
condition.
penalize (also .ise British)/'pi:nal-az II 'pi:-, 'pe-/to offi-
cially punish someone, especially by taking away their
right to do something or by limiting their freedom in some
way Iv T]

PUNISH 1055 PUNISH
penalize sb for A referee may penalize players for wasting
time. I He was penalized for drink driving by having his
licence taken away from him. I penalize sb New laws will
penalize those firms that continue to pollute the environ-
ment. I It is unfair that the whole class should be penalized
because of the bad behaviour of a few students.
make an example of/ImeIk an iglzo:mpal ov ]] -zmm-/
to give someone a hard punishment for something they
have done in order to warn other people against doing the
same thing Iv phrase]
The judge decided to make an example of the young vandals
and gave them each a year in prison.
come down on/kAm daon Dn [[ -o:n/to immediately
punish someone for something they have just done because
you want to make it clear that their actions are completely
unacceptable Iv T not in passive]
come down on sb for Mrs Green really came down on him
for swearing. [ come down heavily/hard on (=punish
very severely) And remember, in the examinations we shall
come down hard on any student who attempts to cheat. [ The
authorities are threatening to come down more heavily on
drink-driving offences.
make sb pay/melk (sb) pe;/to punish someone whose
actions have affected you or people who you know, and
make them suffer a lot, usually over a long period, so that
they will wish that they had never done what they did [v
phrase]
make sb pay for "'I'll make youpayfor this, "he threatened.
"'I'll make you wish you'd never been born. "[ She promised
she would find some way to make Billy Pilgrim pay for
David's death. [ make sb pay He apologized for being rude
but, poor Richard, how I made him pay!
teach sb a lesson/,ti:tf (sb) a 'lesan/to punish some-
one because you want to make sure that they will not
behave badly again Iv phrase]
I'm going to teach him a lesson. He'll never dare to talk to
me like that again. I Let's lock the door so that when he comes
home drunk he won't be able to get in. That'll teach him a
lesson.
bring sb to book/,brn] (sb) ta Ibok/an expression used
especially in British English meaning to punish someone
who has been breaking laws or rules, especially when you
have been trying to punish them for a long time Iv phrase
usually in passive]
bring sb to book for The thief was caught and brought to
book for his crimes. [ I was considering bringing him to book
for his continual lateness.
2 to make someone pay money as a
punishment
fine v
fine n
fine/fain/to punish someone, especially for a not very seri-
ous offence, by making them pay a specific amount of
money Iv T]
fine sb The traffic police here can fine you on the spot if you
are caught speeding. [ fine sb Ј10/$100 etc Every time you
swear, I'm going to fine you 2Op. [ You can be fined up to $500
for traveling without a ticket.
fine/faro/an amount of money that you are ordered to pay
as a punishment In C]
Most of the gang were sent to jail, but the youngest one only
got a fine. [ heavy fine There are heavy fines for drink-
driving. [ Ј30/$100 fine He raped a 15-year-old girl and all
he got was a Ј1000fine. [ impose a fine (=officially order
someone to pay a fine) The courts will impose heavy fines
on anyone convicted of racial violence.
3 to officially say what someone's punishment
will be, in a law court
condemn sentence
give sb 6 years/lO months/ pass/pronounce
a life sentence etc sentence
condemn/kandem/to give someone a severe punish-
ment after finding them guilty of a serious crime Iv T
usually in passive]
be condemned to 20 years/life imprisonment ere
Thomas McMahon was condemned to life imprisonment for
killing Lord Mountbatten. [ be condemned for murder/
robbery/theft etc He was taken away after being con-
demned for robbery and armed assault. [ condemn sb to
death Lewis was condemned to death after a trial lasting
a year and a half. [ condemned man/woman (=condem-
ned to death) The prison rules allow no communication with
a condemned man.
give sb 6 yearsllO monthsla life sentence etc
/gIv (sb) (six years, etc)/to send someone to prison for a par-
ticular period of time [v phrase]
After a lot of thought, the judge gave him l O years. [ give sb
6 years ete for It was a long trial but in the end she was
given a life sentence for the bombings.
sentence /  sentans/to give someone an official punish-
ment, usually sending them to prison for a period of time
Iv T]
sentence sb to 20 years/life imprisonment etc The judge
said that her crime was quite minor and only sentenced her
to a year in prison. [ sentence sb to 20 years etc for The
newspapers were full of stories of young men being sentenced
to life imprisonment for rape. [ sentence sb to death 60
prisoners have been sentenced to death in political trials.
pass/pronounce sentence /,pa:s, pranaons sen-
tans II ,pas-/to formally state in a law court what a person's
punishment will be, especially for a very serious crime
[ v phrase]
Keele has been convicted of murder. The judge will pass
sentence tomorrow. [ passCronounce sentence on The
prisoner's family wept as the judge pronounced sentence on
him.
4 something that is done to someone in order
to punish them
punishment punitive
penalty disciplinary
retribution
punishment/'pAniJmant/[n C/U]
punishment for As a punishment for breaking the window,
she made him stay behind after class. [ What do you consider
to be an adequate punishment for murder? [ harsh/severe
punishment A prison sentence seems a very severe punish-
ment for tax evasion. [ corporal punishment
(=punishment by hitting someone, usually with a stick) In
schools, corporal punishment has been replaced by other
more subtle forms of punishment. [ capital punishment
(=punishment by death) Advocates of capital punishment
point out that violent crime has increased since hanging was
abolished.
penalty / penlti/an official punishment for someone who
breaks a law, a rule, or a legal agreement In C]
penalty for A new law has increased the penalties for non-
payment of taxes. [ impose a penalty (=force someone to
accept a penalty) We caught him and he got the maximum
penalty a court can impose. [ stiff/heavy penalty (=severe
penalty) There are heavy penalties for anyone who breaks
the contract. [ The police are calling for stiffer penalties for
juvenile offenders. [ death penalty The two men were con-
victed of treason and there were immediate demands for the
death penalty.
retribution /Iretr bju:J'an/ a formal word meaning a
severe punishment that is deserved or expected from God,
from fate, or from the person that you have offended In U]
retribution for We expected some terrible retribution for
the bombings but nothing happened at all. I She feared retri-
bution for having told the police the gang leader's name. I
divine retribution (=retribution from God) The earth-
quake was seen by some people as divine retribution for their
sins.
punitive /'pju:notiv/ punitive actionCeasuresCe-
strictionsCanctions etc (=intended to punish someone)
[adj usually before noun]

PUNISH 1056 PUNISH
Government forces immediately took punitive action against
the rebels. I the withholding of federal funds and other puni-
tive measures
disciplinary/'dIsIphnori, ,dIs'plI- [[ 'displneri/dis-
ciplinary action/measures/charges/procedures etc
(=intended to punish someone for breaking a rule or law
or to force them to obey rules) [adj only before noun]
The committee members promised that appropriate discipli-
nary measures would be taken against the offenders. I So far,
not a single person has faced prosecution or disciplinary
action over the case.
5 to be punished for something you have done
wrong
be punished pay for
get 10 years/6 months/ take the rap
a fine etc face the music
be punished/hi: 'p^nIJ't/[v phrase]
If you commit a crime you must expect to be punished. [ be
punished for I was once punished for swearing at the
teacher.
get 10 yearsl6 monthsla fine etc/get (10 years, etc)/
to be officially punished in a particular way because you
have broken the law [v phrase]
Any murderer deserves to get at least life imprisonment. I The
oil company caused untold damage to the environment, yet
all they got was a $1000 fine. I get 10 years/a fine etc for
He expected to be fined but he got lO years for fraud.
pay for I'peI fa:rl to suffer for having done something
wrong, especially for breaking the law ]v T]
I've spent the last three years in jail. I tell you, I've paid for
what I did. I By God, you swine, you'll pay for this! I pay
dearly for (=be severely punished for) With a ten year
prison sentence, he's paying dearly for his crimes now.
take the rap /,teik 6o 'rmp/ an informal expression
meaning to be punished, especially for something you did
not do and in order to protect the person who did do it [v
phrase]
Ken offered to take the rap so his sister wouldn't have to go
to jail. [ take the rap for I ended up taking the rap for a
crime I never committed.
face the music/,fes 6o mju:zk/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be ready to accept punishment for some-
thing you have done [v phrase]
I'd better get home and face the music, I should never lave
taken Dad's car in the first place. [ She'd stolen the money
six months back, but now she'd been found out it was time
to face the music.
6 ways of saying that someone is very likely to
be punished for something they have done
be in trouble there'll be hell to pay
be in for it/be for it be going to catch it/
get it/cop it
be in trouble/bi: In 'trAbal/to be in a situation in which
you are very likely to be punished [v phrase]
You'll be in trouble if they catch you cheating. ] be in trouble
with the police/authorities My brother's in trouble with
the police again.
be in for it (also be for it in British English)/hi: 'In for
it, hi: 'fa:r It/informal expressions meaning that someone
is very likely to be punished, used especially when you are
worried because you think you will be punished for some-
thing you have just done, especially something that is not
very serious [v phrase]
We've lost the papers! Now we're for it! [ I'm in for it now.
I forgot to do my homework.
there'll be hell to pay/6eorl bi: 'hel to ,pei/you say
there'll be hell to pay when you know that there will be
serious trouble and that you or someone else will be
punished for something that has happened
If we don't finish this work now there'll be hell to pay. [
There'll be hell to pay when the boss finds out about this.
be going to catch it/get it (also be going to cop
it in British English)/bi: ,gooirj tO 'ketJ" it, 'get It, bi: ,goorj
to 'kop it II -'ka:p-/ informal expressions meaning that
someone will definitely be punished for something they
have done wrong [v phrase]
You'll catch it your mother finds out you still haven't cleaned
up your room. [ He's isn't half going to cop it for hitting little
Veto. [ Just wait until the principal gets to hear about this
- you're going to really get it.
7 to get only a small punishment for something
you have done wrong
get off lightly
get off with
get off lightly/,get of 'laitli/ [v phrase]
Phil kept complaining that the $500 fine was unfair, but I
think he got off lightly. [ You got off lightly. You could have
been expelled for stealing.
get off with/,get 'of wi6 [[ -'3:f/to get a punishment that
is less severe than is usual or fair for a particular crime
[v T not in passive]
If you're lucky you'll get off with a warning, if you're not
you'll have to pay aline. [ It's appalling that rapists often
get off with such short prison sentences.
 to not be punished even though you have
done something wrong
get off
get off scot-free/get
away scot-free
get away with
get away with murder
go unpunished
with impunity
beat the rap
get off/,get 'of II -,o:f/ifa criminal gets off, they get little
or no official punishment for their crime [phr v I]
If he gets off, it's because he has a smart lawyer. [ I think the
defendant will get off on a plea of insanity.
get off scot-free/get away scot-free/get ,of skot
' fri:, get o, wel- II -sko:t-/if a criminal gets off scot-free or
gets away scot-free they do not get punished at all, and
you think that this is very bad Iv phrase]
Even though there was lots of evidence against him. he was
lucky and got off scot-free. [ Meanwhile the real criminals
- the big money crooks - were getting away scot-free.
get away with/,get o'wei wi6/to do something wrong
and not be caught or not be punished for it Iv T not in
passive]
He was the only child in the class who could be rude to the
teacher and get away with it. [ That crook won't get away
with this! [ Yesterday I managed to get away with parking
right outside the theatre, in a "no parking'zone.
get away with murder/,get owei w6 'm3:rdor/an
informal expression meaning to continually do things that
are wrong and not be punished for them Iv phrase]
She gets away with murder because the boss really likes her.
go unpunished/,goo ^n'p^mJ't/if bad behaviour, crime
etc goes unpunished, the person who behaved badly or
did something wrong is not punished for it [v phrase]
Such terrible behaviour cannot go unpunished. [ There was
a complete breakdown of law and order with the result that
all kinds of crimes went unpunished.
with impunity/wi6 im'pju:ngti/if someone is able to do
something wrong or illegal with impunity, they can do it
without any risk of being punished [adv phrase]
If you see others breaking the law with impunity, you may
be tempted to do the same. [ The previous regime was riddled
with corruption, and government officials were able to flout
the law with seeming impunity.
beat the rap /,bi:t 6o 'rmp/ an informal American
expression meaning to avoid being punished after break-
ing the law, especially because you cannot be proved guilty
[ v phrase ]
Devito was arrested for taking bribes, but he managed to
beat the rap.

PUNISH
to not punish someone even though they
have done something wrong
let sb off off the hook
reprieve amnesty
let sb off/,let (sb) 'of II-'  ,fl to allow someone to go
without punishment when they deserve [phr v T]
I'll let you off this time, but don't do it again. [ let sb offwith
Mike got let off with a warning because it was his first
offence. [ let sb off lightly (=give someone a less severe
punishment than they deserve) Considering what they have
done in the past it is amazing that they were let off so lightly.
reprieve/ri'pri--v/an official order stopping or delaying
someone's punishment, especially when the punishment
is death In C]
He was granted a reprieve only a few hours before his
execution.
off the hook/,of 6a 'hokl if someone gets offthe hook
or if you let them off the hook, they escape from the
punishment they deserve or from difficult and unpleasant
questions [adv phrase]
The police turned their attention to another suspect, which
let me off the hook. [ George had made some clever excuses,
but he wasn't going to get off the hook that easily. [ be off
the hook When he saw her smile at him, he realized he was
off the hook.
amnesty ! ' zemnsti! an official order forgiving offenders
or freeing prisoners, especially political offenders and
prisoners In C]
issue/declare/proclaim an amnesty The President
issued a general amnesty to all the rebels including their
leader. [ The government has been forced to declare an
amnesty for anyone who has not paid their taxes because
there are now too many to collect.
punishable by death KILL 10
punished: be punished PUNISH 5
punishing DIFFICULT 3
punishment PUNISH 4
punishment: be a glutton for punishment
punishment: capital punishment KILL 10
punishment: corporal punishment HIT 4
punitive PUNISH 4, STRICT 6
punter GAMBLE 3
puny WEAK 1
pupil STUDY 4
puppet USE A PERSON 2
purchase BUY 1
pure CLEAN 2, NATURAL 2, PURE 1
SUFFER 5
PURE
containing only one substance, not mixed
with anything else
I words for describing a substance, material
etc that is pure
2 words for describing a drink that is not mixed
with water or another drink
3 to make a substance pure
4 not pure
1 words for describing a substance, material
etc that is pure
pure
solid
100%
pure/pjor/containing only one substance, not mixed
with anything else [adj]
The Spanish use pure olive oil in their cooking, which gives
it a delicious flavour. [ Clothes made of pure cotton are much
cooler than those made of mixed fibers. [ When iron ore is
1057
PURE
melted, impurities rise to the top while the metal, which is
pure, stays at the bottom. [ 20%/50% ere pure Crude
cocaine is only about 25 percent pure.
purity [n U] The gold is then tested to determine its purity
(=to determine how pure it is).
solid/'solIod 1[ 'so:-/solid gold/silver/pine etc (=made
of gold, silver, pine etc that has not been mixed with any
other metal or wood) [adj only before noun]
For her 18th birthday, Marianne received a solid gold neck-
lace. [ The antiques dealer guessed that the furniture was Vic-
torian and solid mahogany. [ The salesman told Joe that the
ring was made of solid silver, but after a week it turned a
dull grey colour.
100°/o /,hnndrd par'sent/ 100% cotton/wool/beef/
chicken etc (=made only from cotton, wool, beef, chicken
etc and no other material or food) [adj]
Clothes made from 100% cotton are cooler than those made
from other materials. [ The hamburgers at this restaurant
are 100% beef.
' words for describing a drink that is not mixed
with water or another drink
neat/straight
undiluted
neat/straight/ni:t, stret/neat whisky/vodka/gin etc
(=not mixed with another drink) [adj]
She likes her vodka straight, so don't put any cola or tonic
in it. [ "'Whiskey, please. .... Neat, or with water?'"
undiluted / ,Anda 'lu:toId-/a liquid that is undiluted has
not been mixed with another liquid [adj]
You can drink this orange juice undiluted. I She uses
undiluted turpentine to clean her brushes.
 to make a substance pure
purify
refine
distil/distill
purify/'pjoar]faII Iv T]
You can purify water by boiling and filtering it. [ Scientists
used a complicated process for purifying proteins. [ The solu-
tion is purified by passing it through a carbon filter.
purified [adj] Purified butter is used for frying, because it
burns less easily than other fats.
refine/r 'fain/to make a substance such as oil or recta]
pure using an industrial process Iv T]
The dealers buy raw cocaine in the south, refine it here, and
smuggle it into the north. [ The oil is piped to the coast, where
it is refined.
refining [adj] After the first refining process the metal is
washed. [ He works in the petroleum-refining industry.
distil (British) l distill (American) /dt'stll/ to make a
liquid purer, for example alcohol or water, by heating it so
that it becomes a gas and then allowing it to go cold again
[v T]
My grandfather used to distil whisky on the farm. [ The solu-
tion is distilled until it is 95% pure. [ distilled water You
should only use distilled water for cleaning contact lenses.
distillation ! ,dIstI 'leiJ'an/[n U] Steam distillation is used
to purify liquids.
4 not pure
impure
diluted
impurity
impure / Im'pjoar/a substance that is impure is not pure
and contains other substances [adj]
New laws restrict the sale of impure chemicals. [ The last
sample was impure and quite useless for manufacturing
purposes.
impurity In U] The impurity of the water here causes many
diseases.
diluted [daI 'luztd/a liquid that is diluted has been mixed
with water to make it weaker [adj]

PURE 1058 PURPOSE
The bar owner was arrested for selling diluted beer. I
diluted with Blackcurrant juice tastes better diluted with
mineral water.
impurity/m'pjuarIti/something in a substance which
should not be in it and which makes it not pure in C usually
plural]
Lime is added to the liquid metal to remove all the impuri-
ties, including both sulphur and phosphorus. I impurity in
There were impurities in the aluminum.
 purely ONLY 3
 purge GET RID OF 5
:i purify PURE 3
!i; purpose PURPOSE 1
 purpose: on purpose DELIBERATELY 1
::; purpose: to all intents and purposes ALMOST 2
PURPOSE
the result that you intend to achieve when
you do something or plan something
ways of saying that something is done,
planned, or made for a particular purpose
the purpose that a machine, tool etc is made
for
words for describing an activity, way of life
etc that seems to have no purpose
1
purpose
aim
object
point
idea
the result that you intend to achieve when
you do something or plan something
objective
goal
target
end
purpose/'p3:rp0s/[n C]
The purpose of the Prince's tour is to attend a conference. I
Now all Americans traveling abroad, for whatever purpose,
are potential terrorist targets. I sb's purpose in doing sth
The author's purpose in writing this book was to draw atten-
tion to the problems of the Maoris in New Zealand.
aim/eim/what you are hoping to achieve by a plan, action,
or activity, which is what makes you do it in C]
The council's aim was to improve services and cut costs. I A
paper on Overseas Development outlines the aim of foreign
aid. I The course's aim is to train students to develop their
communicative skills.
object/'obdskt II 'a:b-/the intended result of a plan,
action, or activity, especially when this may be difficult to
achieve in singular]
The object of the research is to find a cure for this illness. [
In this game the object is to score as many points as you can
in the time given. [ the object of the exercise (=the object
of whatever you are doing) The object of the exercise is to
avoid any international conflict.
point/point/a word meaning the purpose of an activity,
used especially when explaining this to someone who does
not understand it or does not want to do it in singular]
The point of sending out the questionnaires is to get infor-
mation from consumers. I Thepointofthese events is to raise
money for children in need. I what's the point? What's the
point in me keeping all these clothes that the children have
grown out o]?.
idea/ai'dio/the effect or result that you hope or imagine
something you do will have, although in reality this might
not happen in singular]
When we decided to have a party for Gillian the idea was to
surprise her. I We make toys that are both entertaining and
educational - at least, that's the idea. I The idea of alterna-
tive medicine is that it treats both mind and body.
objective lob  d3ektIV/a word used especially in business
or politics meaning the result that someone is working
towards in C]
The main objective for unions should still be to safeguard
the wages and conditions of their members. I One of the objec-
tives behind our current advertising campaign is to increase
sales overseas. [ achieve an objective This company is con-
tinually failing to achieve its objectives.
goal/goul/what a person, organization, or country hopes
to achieve in the future, even though this might take quite
a long time in C]
The company's goal is to become world leaders in the home
computer market. I More motivation can be created if the chil-
dren have definite goals towards which they can work. I
Grand-scale national planning is at present the goal in
underdeveloped countries.
target/'ta:rgt/the exact result that a person or organi-
zation intends to achieve by doing something, often the
amount of money they want to get in C]
The target for the appeal is Ј20,000, all of which will go to
children's charities. I Our target is the release of all politi-
cal prisoners. I meet/reach/achieve a target The govern-
ment is struggling to reach its original target of $23 billion
in spending cuts.
target [adj] The magazine has a target readership of half
a million people (=its target is half a million readers).
end/end/the result that a person or group is trying to
achieve, especially when this is bad or dishonest in C]
The demonstrators' ends do not justify their means. I With
some selfish end in view, Bette was being very nice to the rest
of the family. I political/personal etc ends Racial tensions
in Fiji were exaggerated for political ends by leaders of the
opposition.
 ways of saying that something is done,
planned, or made for a particular purpose
be meant to do sth/ be designed to do sth
supposed to do sth with the aim of
be intended to do sth
be meant to do sthlsupposed to do sth/bi: 'ment
tu:, so'pouzd to du: (sth)/to be done or made for a particular
purpose, especially when the purpose is not achieved iv
phrase]
If the book was meant to shock people, it has failed. I The
government's latest policies are presumably supposed to
improve its image. I It is ironic that the latest pay offer, which
was meant to prevent strike action, has actually caused it.
be intended to do sth/bi: in'tendoid to du: (sth)/to be
done or made for a particular purpose iv phrase]
The concert is intended to raise money for charity. I I didn't
think the movie was as dramatic as it was intended to be.
be designed to do sth/bi: dx'zaxnd to du: (sth)/to be
carefully or skilfully made or arranged in order to achieve
a particular result iv phrase]
Mr Smith's comment was designed to end the argument. I
This tax system punishes and oppresses the people it was
designed to help.
with the aim of/wi6 6i 'em ov/if something is done
with the aim of achieving something, it is done in order
to try and achieve it [prep]
Congress has been called this weekend with the aim of for-
mulating a detailed policy. I The Social Democratic Party
was established in 1981 with the aim of "breaking the mould'
of British politics. I with the express/deliberate etc aim
of We ask students to write essays under examination con-
ditions with the deliberate aim of familiarizing them with
these conditions.
3 the purpose that a machine, tool etc is made for
be for
function
use
be for/bi: fa:r/to be intended to be used for a particular
purpose iv T]

PURPOSE 1059 PUSH
This machine is for cleaning the carpet without getting it
wet. I These shoes are for running, they have shock-absorbant
soles. ] I've never seen one of these before, what's it for?
|un©tion ! 'f^rjkan! the purpose that a machine, tool, or
piece of equipment is made for In C]
The function of a cash-machine is to allow customers to with-
draw cash and order statements outside of banking hours. I
The equipment's function is to provide the patient with a
steady stream of glucose nutrients.
use/ju:s/a purpose that a machine, tool, plant etc can be
used for In C]
This amazing machine has many uses. I This plant has no
regular medicinal use, but the leaves have some beneficial
effect.
4 words for describing an activity, way of life
etc that seems to have no purpose
pointless
aimless
meaningless
pointless/'p[ntlos/[adj]
Never give your students pointless exercises to do - always
provide interesting, meaningful tasks. I This war is just
another pointless waste of human life.
aim|ess / 'elmbs/without any purpose or plan and there-
fore boring or sad [adj]
Sometimes Mick felt as if he were leading a completely aim-
less life. i Carol walked round the room, opening and shut-
ting drawers in an aimless way.
aimlessly [adv] John wandered aimlessly all day and
returned to his gloomy room in the evening.
meaningless / 'mi:n01s/without any meaning or pur-
pose and therefore boring and sad [adj]
Life has become so meaningless - it hardly seems worth
living any more. I So many of us spend our lives doing
meaningless work in huge faceless companies.
purposefully DETERMINED 1
pursue CONTINUE/NOT STOP 1, FOLLOW 2
pursuit: in pursuit FOLLOW 2
pursuits DO 10
push ADVERTISE 1, FORCE SB TO DO STH 2, PRESS 2,
PUSH 1, 2, 7, SELL 5
push: give sth/sb a push PUSH 1
push: pull/push the door to SHUT/CLOSE 1
push a button SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
push
push
push
push
push
push
push
for: press for/push for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO
DO STH 3
in/cut into the line WAIT 9
off/shove off LEAVE A PLACE 3
over FALL 11
sb around TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 8
up/drive up/force up INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 6
yourself WORK HARD 1
PUSH
to push something or someone
to push something that has wheels or is
round, so that it moves along
to push someone roughly in order to make
them go somewhere
to push someone or something with your
finger or elbow or with something pointed like
a stick
to push an object into an opening or into
something soft
to push something into a space or container
that is too small
to push people in order to move forward,
especially when you are in a crowd
I to push something or someone
push shove
give sth/sb a push give sth/sb a shove
push/po/to push something or someone, especially with
your hands, so that they move away from you [v I/T]
push sth to/into/from etc Pushing his plate to one side
he called for the waiter. I She pushed the table into a corner
of the classroom and arranged the chairs in a circle. I Wit-
nesses had seen the man push Mrs Cooper off the bridge over
the canal. ] The force of the crash pushed the bus 120 yards
down the road. I push sth/sb He pushed and punched the
referee, then attacked his opponent. I push One of the trac-
tors had sunk into the mud and however hard they pushed
they couldn't move it. I Keep pushing, t
give sthlsb a push/,gv (sth/sb)  'po/to push some-
thing or someone once, for a moment, so that you force
them to move Iv phrase]
If we give the logs a push they'll roll downhill. I They gave
the car a push to start it. I He was standing by the swimming
pool when someone gave him a push and he fell in.
shove/^v/to push something or someone, using your
hands or shoulders, in a rough or careless way Iv T]
shove sth against/aside/under etc One of the bank rob-
bers shoved her against the wall. I Tom shoved his suitcase
under the bed.with his foot. I Armed police shoved the pro-
testors aside to make way for the president's car. I shove sth/
sb Some of the journalists shouted, swore, and shoved each
other.
give sthlsb a shove/,gIv (sth/sb)  '^v/to push some-
thing or someone suddenly and strongly to force them to
move Iv phrase]
If the door won't open just give it a shove. I It was my first
parachute jump, and as I stood hesitating, the instructor
gave me a shove from behind.
' to push something that has wheels or is
round, so that it moves along
push roll
wheel trundle
push/poJ'/Iv T ]
push sth in/around etc Shoppers were pushing their carts
around the supermarket. I The car had run out of gas so they
pushed it into a side-street. [ push sth Paul held the door
open for a woman pushing a trolley of heavy books.
wheel/wi:l/to push something with wheels while hold-
ing it with your hands Iv T]
wheel sth out/into/down ere As I arrived she was just
wheeling her bicycle out of the shed. I Karl heard the sound
of a cart being wheeled down the hall, followed by a crash. I
Every morning he would wheel his 90year-old mother round
the park in her wheelchair.
roll/rool/to push a round object along so that it turns over
and over and moves forward Iv T]
roll sth up/down ere They were rolling the barrels up a
ramp on to the back of a truck. I Roll the logs down the hill
into the river. I The children rolled a ball of snow along the
ground until it got big enough to form part of their snow-
man.
trundle /tr^ndl/ to push something heavy that has
wheels, slowly and with difficulty Iv T]
trundle sth in/along ere The porters were trundling bar-
rows loaded with vegetables into the market. I The soldiers
trundled the massive gun carriage along the road.
3 to push someone roughly in order to make
them go somewhere
hustle
bundle
manhandle
hustle/'h^sal/to push someone along roughly in order
to make them move forward quickly [v T]
hustle sb out/into etc The prisoner shouted insults at the

PUSH 1060 PUSH
judge as guards and court officials hustled him out. I The
two men were hustled into a police van and driven away.
bundle ! Ib^ndl] to quickly push someone or something
into something such as a car, a bag, or a cupboard, for
example because you are in a hurry or you want to hide
something Iv T ]
bundle sb/sth into He had been bundled into the back of
a Volkswagen by three masked men. I There had just been
time to bundle his bloodstained jacket and gloves into the
washing machine before the police arrived.
manhandle !'maenhendl] to push someone, especially
someone who does not want to move, very roughly, often
hurting them as you do so [v T]
manhandle sb into/toere The soldiers were manhandling
two men into the yard. I Two secret servicemen manhandled
the gunman to the ground and handcuffed him. I manhan-
dle sb I ktzow he was drunk but there was no need for you
to manhandle him like that.
4 to push someone or something with your
finger or elbow or with something pointed like
a stick
nudge poke/give a poke
prod/give a prod dig sb in the ribs
nudge In^dsI to push something or someone gently, espe-
cially using your elbow, in order to get their attention or
to make them move a little way Iv T]
nudge sth/sb "'Look!" Benjamin nudged his mother.
"There's my teacher, Miss Watts. "'1 Carefully, I nudged the
snake with the toe of my shoe. I nudge sb aside/forward
etc He nudged me aside and took my place at the micro-
phone.I Karen nudged her friend forward to ask the singer
for his autograph.
nudge In C] There were nudges and significant looks among
the people standing around, listening to the argument.
prod/give a prod/prc], gv  prod II -pra:d! to gently
push someone, or the surface of something, using your
finger or something such as a stick Iv T]
Sergeant Thompson raised his stick and prodded the soldier
in the chest. I The gardener often prods the lawn with a fork,
looking for weeds. I Give the potatoes a prod to see if they're
cooked yet.
poke/give a poke/pok, g[v  pok/to touch some-
one or something with your finger or something such as
a stick, pushing it with a little force [ v T]
Be careful with that umbrella or you'll poke somebody in the
eye [ He poked the fish with his finger to see if it was still
alive. [ The farmer gave the cow a poke with his stick to make
her move.
dig sb in the ribs/Idig (sb) n 6 rbz/to suddenly push
your finger or elbow into someone's body, especially to get
their attention Iv phrase]
Jenny dug me sharply in the ribs and told me to be quiet. [
The old man laughed loudly, digging me in the ribs, want-
ing me to share a joke.
 to push an object into an opening or into
something soft
stick plunge
ram thrust
drive
stick/stik/to push an object, especially a pointed object,
into something Iv T]
stick sth into/up etc Back at headquarters a staff officer
was sticking pins in a map to mark the enemy's positions. I
One of the nurses stuck a tube up my nose. I She rose, stick-
ing her knitting needles through a ball of blue wool.
ram Iraml to push something very hard or violently into
something Iv T]
ram sth into I rammed my key into the lock and swung the
door open angrily. I Construction workers had to spend the
night ramming iron girders into place to support the
building.
drive/dra[v/if a natural force such as the wind drives a
boat or a ship somewhere, it pushes it there Iv T]
drive sth into/towards etc The strong westerly wind was
driving the yacht towards the rocks, i The crippled ship had
been driven on to a sandbank by the tide.
plunge/pl^nds/to push something deep inside another
thing, especially violently or suddenly [v T]
plunge sth into Plunging both hands deep into the sack she
rummaged among the parcels. [ Then he plunged the knife
into his victim's chest.
thrust/Or^st/to push something suddenly and hard into
an opening or into something soft [v T]
thrust sth into/away/down etc He thrust some money
into my hand and told me to drive him to the airport. [ The
pressure of contractions thrusts the baby down the birth
canal. [ Thrusting the gun back into its holster, the man
grinned at the body lying on the floor.
 to push something into a space or container
that is too small
force squeeze
stuff jam
force/f:rs/to push something with force and difficulty
into a space or container that is too small or the wrong
shape Iv T]
force sth into/up etc It was the wrong key and when she
forced it into the lock, it broke. I The heart has to pump hard
to force blood through the arteries and veins and up to the
brain. I There's no point trying to force my feet into these
boots - they're just not big enough for me.
stuff/staf/to push something soft into a small space in a
careless, hurried way Iv T]
stuff sth up/into etc She stuffed two more sweaters into her
bag. I He picked up the wad of bank notes and stuffed it in
his pocket. I As the police officers walked in, Jamie stuffed
something down the side of the sofa.
squeeze/skwi:z/to push something with difficulty into
a space that is too small Iv T]
squeeze sth into I don't think I can squeeze any more files
into this drawer. I It's no use trying to squeeze your feet into
shoes that are too small for you.
Jam /dsem/ to push something forcefully into a small
space or onto something too big, so that it fits tightly and
is difficult to pull out or pull off again Iv T]
jam sth under/on etc Just hold the door open while I jam
a wedge under it. I Kelly poured himself another glass of wine
and jammed the cork back into the bottle.
7
to push people in order to move forward,
especially when you are in a crowd
push jostle
shove elbow
press barge
force your way
push/poS/to push people, especially in a crowd, in order
to move past them or in order to make them move [v I/T]
Stop pushing. The people at the front are getting crushed. I
push your way through/into etc He pushed his way
through the crowd. I push past sb She pushed past me to
the front of the queue.
shove IS^vl to push people in a rough and careless way
with your hands, arms, or shoulders in order to move
forward or past people [v I/T]
There was a lot of pushing and shoving as people tried to
get to the front. I shove your way through/into etc Peter
shoved his way through the dense crowd in search of his son.
press/pres/to push in order to move forward with the rest
of the crowd [v I]
press forward/round etc As the race started the crowd
pressed forward towards the track. I The security men tried
to hold back crowds of reporters pressing round the Presi-
dent's car.

PUSH 1061 PUT
force your way /Ifo:rs ja: r IweI/to push hard in order
to go somewhere when your way is blocked Iv phrase]
force your way through/into etc He forced his way
through the dense crowd. I Police forced their way into the
flat and arrested two men.
iostle /dsDsal II dsa=-/ to push against one person or
several people so that you knock them to one side, espe-
cially in order to reach a place or get something before they
do Iv I/T]
jostle sb Passengers were jostling each other at the news
kiosk for the last remaining copies of the evening paper. I
jostle Dr Ferwin noticed two women patients jostling to be
seen first.
elbow / Selboo/to push with your elbows in order to move
past people Iv T ]
elbow your way through/into etc She elbowed her way
through the crowd. I elbow sb Elbowing me to one side he
took hold of the microphone.
barge/b(r.rdS/to move forward so fast and forcefully that
you push someone as you pass them [v I]
barge into sb She just barged into me, without even
apologizing. I Angrily, Derek strode into the bank and
barged right into the manager. I barge past/through etc
A woman carrying a large basket bargedpast me to the front
of the queue.
pushed: be pushed for time/be pushed TIME/HAVE
TIME 2
pushed: be pushed/pressed for time HURRY 3
pusher SELL 10
pushing: be pushing 40150 etc ALMOST 1, OLD/NOT
YOUNG 9
pushover: be a pushover EASY 2, LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION, OR WAR 4, PERSUADE 10
pushy AMBITIOUS 1, PERSUADE 8
put PUT 1, 2, 4, 12, WRITE 1
put away PUT 7
put back PUT 7
put back: be put back POSTPONE/DO LATER 1
put back: set back/put back DELAY 2
put by; have sth put by/put away SAVE MONEY 2
put down CRITICIZE 4, PUT 1, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 7, WRITE 1
put down: couldn't put it down INTERESTING 3
put down/put away KILL 14
put-down CRITICIZE 6
put forward SUGGEST 2
put in ADD 2, PUT 9, SPEND TIME 3, VOTE/ELECT 4
put in for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 2
put it SAY 2
put it another way EXPLAIN 2
put it like this/put it this way EXPLAIN 2
put it on PRETEND 3
put off POSTPONE/DO LATER 1, 2
put on ADD 1, PERFORM 5, PRETEND 5, PUT 8, PUT
ON CLOTHES 1, SWITCH ON OR OFF 1,
TELEVISION/RADIO 3
put one over on TRICK/DECEIVE 1
put out STICK OUT 4, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING
11, SWITCH ON OR OFF 2
put out: be put out/feel put out OFFEND 2
put/run yourself down MODEST 2
put sb off DISTURB 1, DON'T LIKE 4, PERSUADE 12
put
put
put
put
put
put
put
put
put
put
put
put
sb onto TELL 1
sb out PROBLEM 11
sb up to PERSUADE 1
sth at GUESS2
sth by KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 3
sth down DOWN 10
sth down to CAUSE 13, RESULT 10
sth in/into PUT13
sth into English/French/Japanese etc
TRANSLATE 1
sth on COOK 1
sth over COVER 1
sth to/before sb SUGGEST 2
put up ATTACH 2, BUILD 1, INCREASE IN NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 6, STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL
ETC 5, UP 10
put up with STAND/BEAR 1
put 10p/$5 etc on INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT7
put Ј100/5100 etc down on PAY FOR 3
• @ PUT
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
to put something on a surface or on the ground
to put something in a particular place or
position
to put something in a sloping position so that
it is against a wall or other surface and is
supported by it
to put something into a hole or small space
to put something somewhere quickly or
carelessly
to put several things together on top of each
other
to put something back in the place where it
was before or where it should be
to put something such as paint, glue etc onto
a surface
to put a piece of equipment into a place or
position so that it is ready to be used
to put something such as liquid or powder
somewhere, by making it fall out of the
container it is in
to put something into a liquid for a short time
and take it out again
to put someone in a place
to put information into a computer or other
system for storing information
to put something somewhere while it is not
being used
to put seeds or young plants into the ground
so that they can grow
to put money in a bank
to put clothes, books etc into a bag, because
you are going to travel
to put things into a vehicle in order to take
them somewhere
to put something in someone's pocket, room
etc in order to make them seem guilty of a
crime
to put a bomb in a public place
1 to put something on a surface or on the ground
put lay
place deposit
put down stand
set down slam down

PUT 1062 PUT
put/pot/[v T]
put sth on/over/there etc Put those files there, on my
desk.I Someone must have put the plates on the table
already. I Don 't put your things all over the floor. Someone's
going to trip over them.
pla©e/ples/to carefully put something somewhere [v T]
place sth on/in/over/there etc Every week someone comes
and places fresh flowers on her grave. I Place some lemon
slices on the fish before serving it. 1 Place the picture in the
centre of the frame. I "'Do come, please, "said Winters, plac-
ing his hand over my arm.
put down / pot daon/to put something which you were
holding onto a surface such as a table or the floor [phr v T]
put down sth Miss Taite put down the book and looked at
me. I put sth/it/them down Why don't you put your bags
down and have a rest for a minute?
set down/.set daon/an expression used especially in
literature meaning to put down something big and heavy
which you have been carrying [phr v T]
set sth/it/them down They set the coffin down in front of
the altar. I set down sth The two men were carrying a huge
wardrobe, which they set down in a corner of the room.
lay/lei/to put something on a surface so that it is lying
flat [v T]
lay sth on/over/here etc Sarah carefully laid the blue
dress on the bed. I The President bent down to lay a wreath
at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I Lemira came up close
and laid her hands on his shoulders. I lay down sth Laying
down his spade, he strode across the garden to meet us.
deposit/dI 'pozt 11 dI 'pa:-/a word meaning to put some-
thing down, used especially when describing events in a
humorous way [v T]
Aunt Augusta deposited the contents of her bag on the kitchen
table. [ Opening the package, he deposited an oily, disassem-
bled carburettor on the immaculate surface of the President's
desk.
stand/stand/to put something in an upright position [v
T]
stand th on/in/here etc James stood the clock in the
corner of the room. I Make sure you stand the bottle in a cool
place so that the sediment collects at the bottom.
slam down /,slaem daon/to put something down very
quickly and with a lot of force because you are angry [phr
vT]
slam sth/it/them down She slammed the cup down and
coffee splashed all over him. [ "To hell with you, '" he finished
angrily, and slammed the phone down.
2 to put something in a particular place or
position
put
position
put/put/Iv T]
put sth in/on/here etc Where have you put my pen? [ I
think we should put this painting in the hallway, on the wall
facing the door. I Why don't you put your chair over here in
the sun?
position/p)'zIan/to carefully move something into the
right position for a particular purpose [v T]
She had positioned the mirror so that she could see both
doors at the same time. [ Make sure you position the wheel
correctly before you tighten up the nuts.
3 to put something in a sloping position so that
it is against a wall or other surface and is
supported by it
lean stand
rest prop
lean Ill:n/[v T]
lean sth against/up against She leaned the ladder against
the house and climbed up to the window. [ I'm not sure where
I want to hang thepicture - let's just lean it up against the
wall for the moment.
rest/rest/to put something against a surface so that it is
supported by it [v T]
rest sth on/against She slid down in her chair and rested
her head on the back of the seat. [ Resting his spade against
the wall he went to help Michael light the fire.
stand/strand/to lean something in an almost upright posi-
tion against something such as a wall [v T]
stand sth against/in etc He stood the poles against the
garden shed but the wind blew them all down. [ We don't
have anything to plant the Christmas tree in. Just stand it
in the corner for now.
prop/prop II pra:p/to lean something against a wall or
other surface, especially quickly and for a short time [v T]
prop sth against He propped his bicycle against the fence
and ran inside. [ stand/lie propped against An old guitar
lay propped against a wall.
4 to put something into a hole or small space
put tuck
slide insert
put/pot/[v T]
put sth in/into/inside etc I put the coin in my pocket. [
While she was putting the potatoes into the pan, she told me
what had happened.
slide/slaid/to move something smoothly into a small
narrow space [v T]
slide sth into You have to slide your card into the machine
and then tap in your special number. [ A thief must have slid
his hand into my pocket and taken the wallet.
tu©k/t^k/to put something in a small space so that it is
covered and is safe, comfortable, or warm [v T]
tuck sth into/under/in etc It was starting to get cold and
she tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans. [ be
tucked in/under etc The old man slept with all his money
tucked under his pillow.
insert/In's3:rt/to carefully put something long or thin
into a hole or space, especially one where it is designed to
go, for example in a machine or piece of equipment [v T]
insert sth in/into/between etc The doctor carefully
inserted the needle into my left arm. I A very thin sheet of
paper is then inserted between the metal plates. [ insert sth
To use the machine, first insert the correct coins then select
the drink you want and press the button.
insertion bn  s3:ryan/[n U] After insertion (=being inserted)
the pipe is filled with gas.
S to put something somewhere quickly or
carelessly
shove plonk
stick dump
bung thrust
pop
shove/J^v/to push something quickly or carelessly into
a space or container [v T]
shove sth in/into/under etc Shove anything you don't
want in that sack. I He bundled the papers together and
shoved them into a drawer.
stick/stik/an informal word meaning to put something
somewhere quickly and without thinking carefully [v T]
stick sth in/on/there etc I was so excited I stuck the
flowers in the vase and forgot to add any water. I "Where do
these books go? .... Oh, just stick them on that shelf there. ""
bung/b^/an informal British word meaning to put some-
thing somewhere quickly and without thinking carefully
[v T]
bung sth in/into/on etc Could you bung those clothes into
the washing machine for me? I Just sign the card, bung it
in an envelope and send it off.
pop/pop II pa:p/an informal word meaning to put some-
thing somewhere quickly for a short time [v T]
pop sth in/into/under etc She took out a piece of chewing
gum and popped it in her mouth. [ Pop it in the microwave
and it will be ready in no time. [ John popped his head
around the office door.

PUT 1063 PUT
plonk/ploJk II pla:jk, pl3:qk/a word used especially in
British English meaning to put something down some-
where noisily and carelessly Iv T]
plonk sth on/in/there etc She brought a bottle of beer and
a glass andplonked them on the table in front of me. I plonk
sth down Are those things for me? Just plonk them down
anywhere.
dump/d^mp/to carelessly drop something somewhere in
an untidy way, especially something heavy Iv T]
dump sth on/in/there etc Who's dumped all these books
on my desk? I dump sth down I dumped my heavy suitcase
down on the doorstep. I dump sth unceremoniously on/in
etc (=dump it roughly and without formality) He pulled a
chair over for me, dumping clothes unceremoniously on the
floor.
thrust/0r^st] to put something forchfully and suddenly
into a place [v T]
thrust sth in/on/under etc They thrust a document under
the prisoner's nose and ordered him to sign it. I She thrust
the bag into my hands. "Hide it quickly, "" she hissed. I He
thrust his hands deep in his pockets, searching for the key.
6 to put several things together on top of each
other
pile
heap
stack
pile/pail/[v T]
pile sth on/onto The porters piled our luggage onto carts. I
On hot days they would pile their clothes on the river bank
and slide into the icy water. I pile sth high The supermar-
ket's motto was "Pile them high, and sell them cheap'.
heap ]hi:p/to put a lot of things on top of each other in an
untidy way [v T]
heap sth on/onto There's no need to heap food on your
plate, you can always go back for more. I heap sth in a pile
Eileen collected the leaves, heaping them in piles for burn-
ing. I lie heaped Her clothes lay heaped together in a corner
of the room.
stack/stzck] to put things neatly on top of each other Iv T]
stack sth in/on etc There weren't enough shelves for her
books so she had to stack them on the floor. I By evening they
had chopped the logs and stacked them in the shed for
winter.I stack sth Mr Plant collected all the empty crates
and stacked them neatly, one on top of the other.
7 to put something back in the place where it
was before or where it should be
put back replace
put away return
put back/,pot 'bmk/[phr v T]
put sth/it/them back Vivien fdlded the letter and put it
back in the envelope. [ You never put the soap back when
you've finished with it! l put back sth When he'd finished
decorating the sitting room, he put back all the furniture and
tidied up.
put away ! pot o we/to put something in the place where
it is usually kept, especially in order to make a room tidy
[phr v T]
put sth/it/them away Can you put your toys away now
please. [ You wash the dishes and I'll put them away in the
cupboard. I put away sth Olga put away the files and locked
the cupboard.
repla©e/ri pleis! to carefully put something back in its
correct position Iv T]
Please replace the books in the right order after you've looked
at them. [ There's no need to replace the receiver if the num-
ber's engaged -just press this button and try again.
return/rI ta:rn/a formal word meaning to put something
back in the place where it was before Iv T]
Johnson.carefully returned the document to its hiding place. I
Return the pan to the heat and boil the liquid for 5 - 10
minutes.
 to put something such as paint, glue etc onto
a surface
put on
apply
slap on
put on/,put 'on II -'a:n/[phr v T]
put sth/it on Dad put the paint on too thickly, and it
dripped. [ put on sth When you're putting on the glue you
have to be careful not to get any on your flngers. ] It's a waste
of time putting on make-up. It always gets smudged.
apply/o plaff a word meaning to put paint, make-up, glue
etc onto a surface, used especially in instructions about
how to use it Iv T]
Apply the cream in the morning and the evening. I Make sure
the surface is completely dry before applying the final coat
of paint.
slap on/,slp Dn [I -'a:n/to put paint, make-up etc onto
a surface quickly and without much care, usually in large
amounts [phr v T]
slap sth/it on Don't just slap the paint on, you need to put
it on slowly and evenly. I slap on sth Wait a minute while
I slap on some make-up.
9 to put a piece of equipment into a place or
position so that it is ready to be used
put in
install/instal
fit
put in /put  n/to put a piece of equipment, or something
such as a bath or toilet, in your home, and fix it into a posi-
tion so that it is ready to be used [phr v T]
put in sth The workmen were here today putting in the new
water tank. [ Since we moved into the house we've put in cen-
tral heating. [ We're going to have a new bathroom put in. [
put sth/it/them in A new sink unit? That's no problem,
you can easily put it in yourself.
install (British) I instal (American)/in' st:l/to put a piece
of equipment, a machine, a system etc into a building and
make it ready for use, especially when an engineer or
builder is paid to do this [v T]
The man who installed our washing machine advised me not
to use the hottest wash. I All gas stations have now installed
pumps for lead-free gasoline. I The cost of installing a com-
puter system can be justified in terms of greater efficiency.
fit/fit! to put a small piece of equipment into a place, or
a new part onto a machine, so that it is ready to be used
Iv T]
fit sth to/on etc The landlord has fitted a safety lock to the
front door. I fit sth The man who fitted the battery said it
would last about five years. I How much does it cost to have
a new tire fitted?
1 0 to put something such as liquid or powder
somewhere, by making it fall out of the
container it is in
pour
tip
empty
pour/p3:r/to make a liquid or a substance such as sand
or sugar flow out of a container by holding the container
at a sloping angle Iv T]
pour sth into/over/down etc I'm going to pour the milk
into a smaller jug. I The builders poured more sand into the
cement mixer. I He poured kerosene over the rags and set
them alight. I pour sth (=pour a drink into cups or glasses)
Do you want me to pour the coffee. [ pour sb sth Why don't
you pour yourself a drink?
tip ]tip/to make things fall out of a container by turning
it over Iv T]
tip sth in/on/out etc He tipped a load of sand onto the
ground and we began mixing water into it. I While she was

PUT 1064 PUT
tipping the contents of the bag out on the table she discovered
one of John's old love-letters.
empty ]  empti! to make all of something come out of a con-
tainer by turning the container over completely [v T]
empty sth into/down etc I watched Grandpa emptying a
new packet of tobacco into his tin. I Anna emptied the
garbage into a sack.
1 1 to put something into a liquid for a short time
and take it out again
dip
dunk
dip/dip/Iv T]
dip sth in/into I dipped my toes into the water, but it was
too cold for a swim. I You should serve this dish with pieces
of bread to dip in the sauce.
dunk/d^tjk] to dip something such as a piece of bread or
cake into a hot drink or soup before eating it Iv T]
dunk sth in/into I know it doesn't look very nice, but I
usually dunk my bread in the soup. I He drank his tea stand-
ing by the fire and now and again dunking a hard biscuit
in his cup.
1  to put someone in a place
put
post
position
put/pot/[v T]
put sb in/on/at etc They put me in a room on my own and
locked the door. I The photographer arranged the wedding
guests, putting the smallest ones at the front. I Grandmother
was getting too frail to live on her own so we had to put her
in an old people's home.
post/pausq to put someone, especially a soldier or police
officer, in a position where they will be able to guard a place
or watch whoever is coming in or going out [v T]
They have posted guards at every door to make sure no one
enters the building. I Sentries are being posted outside all
government buildings.
position /pa'zfn/ to put a group of soldiers, police
officers etc in a particular place, especially so that they are
ready to guard it Iv T]
The French generals had positioned thousands of troops
along the border. ] Units of the Nigerian Army are to be posi-
tioned at all major installations including factories and
power stations.
1 3 to put information into a computer or other
system for storing information
put sth in/into enter
input load
put sth in/into/,pot (sth)'n, 'intu:/[phr v T]
We put all these details into our computer, and it chooses a
suitable partnerforyou. I The quality of output data will
depend on the data you have put in.
input/I repot/a technical word meaning to put informa-
tion into a computer [v T]
The user inputs the data, and the computer stores it in its
memory. I We're currently inputting the names and addresses
of all our customers into a database.
enter / ўntvr/to put information into a computer by press-
ing the keys Iv T]
Enter the amount of money you wish to take out of your
account. I If a word is entered incorrectly the nuzchine refuses
to obey the command.
load/lood/a technical word meaning to put a program into
a computer so that it is ready to be used Iv T]
load sth LOAD is a command which loads a new program
from the file. I load sth into The program can be encoded
on the disc's surface and then loaded into the microprocessor.
1 4 to put something somewhere while it is not
being used
store
stash away
stow
store/sta:r/to put something somewhere and keep it there
until it is needed Iv T]
store sth in/under etc Store the vegetables in a cool dark
place. I The computer stores the information in its memory
automatically. I store sth away (=store something where
it cannot be seen) The food was not distributed. It was
unloaded and stored away in a warehouse.
stash away /,stmf oweI/ to put something such as
money, valuable things, or drugs in a secret place, espe-
cially when you have them illegally [phr v T]
stash away sth After the robbery the gang stashed away
the jewels in a nearby garage. I have sth stashed away He
must have all that money stashed away somewhere.
stow/stao/to put something such as equipment or a bag
neatly in a space until you need at again Iv T]
stow sth in/on/under etc She stowed her luggage on the
rack above her head and then sat down. I stow sth away
(=stow it where it cannot be seen) In the daytime the mat-
tress is stowed away in that cupboard.
1 5 to put seeds or young plants into the ground
so that they can grow
plant
SOW
plant/plo:nt II pleent/[v T]
Before you plant the seeds prepare the soil carefully. I Many
of the flowers that we planted in our garden last year have
been destroyed by the very cold winter. I Her great grand-
fatherplanted large numbers of fruit trees at the back of the
house.
sow Isaul to put seeds in the soil or scatter them on the
soft so that they can grow Iv I/T]
sow sth Sow the seeds in a line about 20 centimetres apart. I
lfI had a little more land, I could sow some wheat. I sow If
you want an early crop, you should sow in September.
16 to put money in a bank
put money in a bank/account
deposit
put money In a bank/account/pot ,mAni In o 'baqk,
o' kaunt/[ v phrase]
I put $50 in my bank every week. [ Any money that you put
in your account will immediately start earning interest. [ put
money/a cheque/Ј100/$200 etc in When didyouput the
money in?
deposit /dIpDzt 11 dIpo:-/ a word used especially by
people who work in banks meaning to put money in a bank
account, usually intending to keep it there for some time
[vT]
The money is deposited in my account every month. I Our
records show that you deposited $200 in your account on the
17th of January.
1 7 to put clothes, books etc into a bag, because
you are going to travel
pack
get packed
pack/peek/[v I/T]
pack a bag/suitcase etc She decided to pack her bags and
leave home. I pack I'm going away on vacation tomorrow
and I haven't even started packing yet. I do the packing You
go and make us a cup of tea while I finish doing the pack-
ing. I pack clothes/books etc Did you remember to pack
the alarm clock? ] pack sth into We packed all our equip-
ment into boxes and loaded it into the van.

PUT
get packed /iget 'pakt/to put all the clothes and other
things you need for travelling into bags Iv phrase]
How long do you think it'll take you to get packed? I By the
time we'd gotten packed it was almost midnight.
to put things into a vehicle in order to take
them somewhere
load
load up
load /lod/ to put something into a vehicle, especially
something big or heavy, so that it can be taken somewhere
[vT]
load st^ into/on etc Joe and Frank loaded the piano into
the truck. I load a car/truck/ship etc with It took an hour
to load the car with all my stuff from college.
load up / lod Ap/to put a lot of things into a vehicle or
boat, especially so that it is full [phr v I/T]
load up a truck/car etc Do you have time to help us load
up the car? l load up with The ship's lifeboat was taken into
Lerwick to load up with fresh vegetables. I My mother was
driving this huge van round Manchester loaded up with
bread.
1  to put something is someone's pocket, room
etc in order to make them seem guilty of a
crime
plant
plant/pla:nt II plaint/Iv T]
plant st^ inCnChere ete I didn't have a gun. Someone
must have planted it in my apartment. [ plant sth He
accused the police of planting the evidence.
1065 puzzling
throw on/,0too 'on II -'a:nl to put on a piece of clothing
very quickly, especially because you are in a hurry [phr
vT]
throw sth/it/them on I heard a strange noise from down-
stairs so I threw my robe on and went to investigate. [ throw
on st^ I'll just throw on a few clothes and I'll be right with
you.
try on/tra] vn II -la:n] to put on a piece of clothing in
order to see if it fits and what it looks like when you are
wearing it [phr v T]
try on sth I went into the shop to try on a skirt and ended
up buying two. I try sth/it/them on Why don't you try it
on - you don't have to buy it. I He tried the shoes on, but they
were too small.
slip on/ishp IDn [[ -a:n/to put a piece of clothing on
quickly and easily [phr v T]
slip on st^ Slip on this jacket and see if it fits. [ slip
sth/it/them on She took a pair of shoes out of the cupboard
and slipped them on. [ I'll come with you but let me just slip
a coat on first.
wrap up/irmp lap/ to put on warm clothing, especially
because you are going out in cold weather [phr v I]
The night was cold so he wrapped up before going out. [
wrap up warm You ought to wrap up warm - I think it's
going to snow. [ wrap up in a coat/scarf ere She wrapped
up in her biggest sweater and a scarf and hurried down to
the bus stop.
dress up /idres i^p! to put on special clothes so that you
look like a particular type of person [phr v I/T]
Most children love dressing up. I dress up in They had
dressed up in old sheets, pretending to be ghosts.I dress up
as It's a costume party. Let's all dress up as cartoon charac-
ters. I dress yourself up We'd dressed ourselves up in
Grandma's old twenties clothes.
20 to put a bomb in a public place
plant
plant/pla:nt [I plmnt/Iv T]
plant sth in/at/outside/nearby etc The two rnenplanted
the bomb outside Harrods department store in London. [
South Korea claims that North Korean agents were respon-
sible for planting the explosives on the plane.
PUT ON CLOTHES
1 to put on a piece of clothing or a set of
clothes
2 to put on special clothes or your best clothes
in order to go to a party or other social
occasion
3 to put someone else's clothes on for them
2 to put on special clothes or your best clothes
in order to go to a party or other social
occasion
dress up
doll yourself up/get dolled up
dress up/,dres '^p/[phr v I]
You don't need to dress up - we're only going to the movies. I
I feel like dressing up and going somewhere really nice.
doll yourself up/get dolled up ! idol ja:rself hp, get
dtld ^p [[ ,dad-/an informal expression, used especially
about women, meaning to put on your best clothes and pay
a lot of attention to your appearance, usually for a special
occasion Iv phrase]
You don "t need to doll yourself up. It's only my sister who "s
coming to dinner, not the Queen. [ We got all dolled up to go
into town on Saturday evening, and then found out that there
were no buses. [ be dolled up Laura's all dolled up - I
wonder what she's doing tonight?
1 to put on a piece of clothing or a set of
clothes
get dressed/dress slip on
put on wrap up
throw on dress up
try on
get dressed/dress/,get 'drest, dres/to put all your
clothes on Iv phrase]
We washed in cold water and dressed quickly. [ I was still
getting dressed when the taxi arrived. [ Go and play with
your toys while Mummy gets dressed.
put on/put on [I -'a:nl to put on a particular piece of
clothing [phr v T]
put sth/it/them on Put your coat on - we're going out. [
I don't care how much you paid for that ridiculous hat - I'm
not putting it on! I put on sth Dennis put on his brother's
jeans and looked in the mirror.
3 to put someone else's clothes on for them
dress/get sb dressed
dress/get sb dressed/dres, ,get (sb) 'drest! Iv T]
Stop jumping! I haven't finished getting you dressed. [ The
nurses have to wash and dress the patients before the doctor
comes to see them.
putrid DECAY 2
putting: be having sb on/be putting sb on
JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 3
putty: be putty in sb's hands USE A PERSON 2
puzzle CONFUSED 3, MYSTERIOUS 3, SOLVE/FIND
THE ANSWER 2
puzzled CONFUSED 2
puzzling CONFUSED 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

quack
:4 quack DOCTOR 1
.
..- quadruple INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
 quaint OLD-FASHIONED 5
 qualify PASS A TEST 1
:i quality CHARACTER OF STH 2,
CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3,
; GOOD/EXCELLENT 1, 7
 quality: good quality/high quality GOOD/EXCELLENT 1
• _
 quality: of a higher standard/of higher quality
: BETTER 1
 qualms: have no qualms about GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 3
 qualms: have qualms NOT SURE
2
 quandary: be in a quandary PROBLEM 7
ili quantifiable MEASURE 2
quantify MEASURE 1
 quantity AMOUNT 1
' quantity: be an unknown quantity NOT KNOW 12
 quantity: in large quantities LOT/A LARGE NUMBER
 OR AMOUNT 4
quarantine: in quarantine SEPARATE 7
quarrel ARGUE 1, 5
quarrelsome ARGUE 7
 quarter AREA 2
? quarters: at close quarters NEAR 6
 queasy SICK/VOMIT 3
queer STRANGE 1
I quell STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 7
 quench your thirst DRINK 1
 query ASK A QUESTION 7
iquestionl
1066
quick !
QUIET
............    FAST/QUICK
quick FAST/QUICK 1, 5, 6, INTELLIGENT 3, SHORT
TIME 3
quick: be quick on the uptake INTELLIGENT 3
quick look: have/take a quick look LOOK AT 5
quick-tempered: short-tempered/quick-tempered
BAD-TEMPERED 5
quicken your pace FAST/QUICK 11
quickly FAST/QUICK 1, 8
quickly: go fast/quickly PASS/TIME PASSING 2
quickly: move fast/quickly FAST/QUICK 12
quiet BUSY PLACE 4, 5, PEACEFUL 1, QUIET 1, 2, 3,
4, TALK TO SB 16
quiet: be quiet QUIET 7, TALK TO SB 18
quiet: go quiet QUIET 5
quiet: keep quiet SECRET 9, TELL A SECRET 4
quiet: on the quiet SECRET 6
QUIET
words for describing a place where there is
little or no noise
a state in which there is little or no noise
words for describing sounds, music, voices
etc that are not loud
words for describing something or someone
who makes little or no noise
to become quieter
to make someone or something quieter
what you say to tell someone to be quiet
question
question:
question:
question:
question:
question:
question:
ASK A QUESTION 3, 4, 7, SUBJECT 1
ask a question ASK A QUESTION 1
leading/loaded question ASK A QUESTION 7
open to question/debate UNCERTAIN 4
out of the question IMPOSSIBLE 1
shoot/fire a question at sb ASK A
QUESTION 3
there is no question CERTAINLY/
DEFINITELY 1
questionable UNCERTAIN 4
questionnaire ASK A QUESTION 9
queue LINE 12, WAIT 3
queue: be in the queue WAIT 3
queue: jump the queue WAIT 9
queue/line LINE 7, WAIT 3
queue up LINE 12, WAIT 3
quibble ARGUE 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 words for describing a place where there is
little or no noise
quiet
you could hear a pin drop
quiet/kwat/[adj]
I usually work in the dining room as it's the quietest room
in the house. I It was quiet upstairs and I was glad to be alone
for a while. I Inside the church it was quiet and peaceful.
you could hear a pin drop/ju: kod ,h]r  p]n drop II
-dro:p/if you say you could hear a pin drop, you mean
it is very quiet, especially because no one is talking, and
even a very small sound wotttd be heard clearly
It was so quiet in the hall you could hear a pin drop. I After
he finished telling the story you could have heard a pin drop.
 a state in which there is little or no noise
quiet
silence
hush
quiet/'kwamt/[n U]
I come here for the quiet and the country air. I There was a
moment of quiet before the drilling started again. I His voice
seemed to echo in the quiet of the hall. I peace and quiet I'm
tired, I just want some peace and quiet.

QUIET 1067 QUIET
silence/' sailons/complete absence of sound In C/U]
The silence came as a shock after two solid hours of loud
music. J No sound disturbed the silence of the night. J deathly
silence (=a silence which makes people feel nervous and
uncomfortable) A deathly silence descended on the room.
hush/hA/a state in which there is little or no noise, espe-
cially in a place where people have all suddenly stopped
talking In singular U]
There was a sudden hush as the musicians came onto the
stage. I a hush falls/descends (=people stop making noise)
In the hush that fell you could hear someone whisper "'It's
a trap. ""
3 words for describing sounds, music, voices
etc that are not loud
quiet muffled
low hushed
soft subdued
quiet/'kwamq [adj]
"'Stop it, "" she said in a quiet but determined voice. I All of
a sudden, we heard a quiet knock at the door. I At thispoint
the music gets much quieter before rising to a crescendo at
the end.
quietly [adv] I played my music very quietly so that I
wouldn't disturb his work.
low/lo/a voice, whisper, sound etc that is low is quiet
and deep [adj]
"You haven't said you love me, "" he said in a low voice. I There
was a low humming noise coming from the refrigerator. I
In a low, threatening whisper he said, "'You'd better watch
out. ""
soft/soft II s:ft/a sound, voice, or music etc that is soft
is quiet, gentle, and pleasant [adj]
Fiona was a shy but pretty girl and spoke in a very soft voice. I
With candlelight and soft music you can create a romantic
atmosphere in your own home. I Then he heard the sound
again, a soft gentle sigh, a stirring and breathing in the
night air.
softly [adv] Through the open doorway he could hear some-
one singing softly.
muffled /I rnhfld/sounds, voices etc that are muffled are
quiet and unclear, especially because they come from
behind a wall or door, or because someone is deliberately
talking in an unclear way [adj]
We heard muffled shouts and screams from the bar below. I
He gave a muffled apology and walked off. I His voice was
muffled, "'I'm in the bathroom. I'm stuck. ""
hushed/h^t/a hushed voice, conversation, crowd etc is
intentionally quiet, for example because someone is afraid
of being heard or because they are waiting for some impor-
tant news [adj usually before noun]
She spoke in a hushed whisper, "'I think my husband knows
about us. "'1 Two men in dark suits were having a hushed
conversation in the corner. I A hushed congress heard the offi-
cial declaration of war.
subdued/sbdju:d II -Sdu:d/a voice, conversation, group
of people etc that is subdued is quiet and not very lively,
especially because of embarrassment, nervousness, or
politeness [adjl
"'I'm sorry, '" she said in a subdued voice. I At the end of the
speech the assembly murmured in subdued agreement. I
From the library there was a murmur of voices, as subdued
as a funeral gathering.
4 words for describing something or someone
who makes little or no noise
quiet not make a sound
silent in silence
without a sound
quiet/'kwamt/[adj]
Our new washing machine is so much quieter than the old
one. I The children are very quiet - what are they doing in
there? I The machine has a very quiet engine - in fact you
sometimes have to check that it is still running.
quietly [adv] Everyone was working quietly in the
classroom.
silent/'saflont/making no noise at all [adj]
He was silent for a minute or two and then started shouting. [
Although her steps were light and silent, it seemed to her that
she was trudging up the stairs. [ The jet fighter stands on
the runway like a silent monster about to strike out at an
enemy.
silently [ adv ] Margaret bowed her head and prayed silently
without a sound/w6 ,aot a 'saond/an expression used
especially in stories and descriptions of events: if you do
something or something happens without a sound, you
do it or it happens with no noise at all [adv phrase]
The animal remained perfectly still, watching us without a
sound. [ There was a final shudder and then the ship sank
without a sound. [ Each man died where he stood; they fell
in their tracks without a sound.
not make a sound/no mek  s saond/to not make any
noise at all Iv phrase]
Sit still, and don't make a sound. [ A line of cars passed and
in the snow seemed not to make a sound. [ without making
a sound She opened the door without making a sound.
in silence/n saflns/if you do something in silence,
you do it without speaking, for example because you are
angry with someone [adv phrase]
After the argument, Freddie finished his breakfast in
silence. [ He sat down and placed his drink on the table, star-
ing in silence at the wall. [ We were expected to sit in silence
until the teacher arrived.
5 to become quieter
get quieter die away/fade away
go quiet fall silent
die down lower your voice
get quieter/get 'kwamtr/[v phrase]
That buzzing noise seems to be getting quieter now. I grow
quieter (=get quieter slowly) As we walked into the woods
the noise of the traffic grew quieter.
go quiet/go 'kwamt/to stop making any noise at all
because you are shocked or embarrassed Iv phrase]
When he heard what Mary had to say, James went very quiet
and thoughtful. [ Why has everyone gone quiet now I've
switched the tape recorder on ?
die down/da Idaon/ if shouting, music, laughter etc
dies down, it gradually becomes quieter after being very
loud [phr v I]
Wait for the shouting to die down and then continue with
your speech. [ The music was dying down. The show was
over. [ die down to Jessie's wails died down to a whimper
and then stopped altogether.
die away/fade away /da a'we, ,feld a'weI/if noise,
music, laughter etc dies away, it very gradually becomes
quieter, so that at the end you can hardly hear it [phr v I]
Finally, the laughter died away. I As the last note died away,
the cast makes its exit and the curtain comes down. I He was
listening intently to an ambulance siren as it faded away in
the distance.
fall silent ! ,fail 'sailnq an expression used especially in
literature meaning to suddenly stop talking and become
quiet Iv phrase]
Dixon fell silent again, deep in thought. I "" I had hoped .... "',
he began, and then fell silent again. I The bar-room door
crashed open and the voices at the tables fell silent.
lower your voice /,1o r ja:r IValS / to speak more
quietly, especially so that most people can not hear you Iv
phrase]
She moved closer and lowered her voice so Alex wouldn't
hear. I Kevin got so excited that Robert had to tell him to
lower his voice. I "'Do you think you can trust him?" Sheila
said, lowering her voice to a confidential whisper.

QUIET 1068 QUITE/FAIRLY
6 to make someone or something quieter
quieten sb down/ muffle
quiet sb down turn down
silence shut sb up
hush
quieten sb down (British) I quiet sb down (Ameri-
can) /Ikwamtn (sb) Idaon, skwamt (sb) daonl to make a
person or animal quieter and calmer when they are making
a lot of noise because they are excited, angry, or upset [phr
vT]
I thought that if I gave the child some chocolate it might
quieten him down. I How she did it I don't know but she
managed to quiet us both down and stop us arguing.
sll®n©® /  sailons/to make someone suddenly stop speak-
ing or to make something such as a bell stop making a noise
[vT]
I opened my mouth to speak but she silenced me with an
angry look. I She squeezed Patrick's arm just above the
elbow, the sudden pain silencing him. I The buzzer had now
been silenced but the distinctive radar signal remained.
hush ]h^f! to make someone, especially a child, make less
noise or make no noise at all, especially by telling them in
a quiet voice to stop talking or crying [v T]
I turned to Margaret but was hushed before Icould open my
mouth. I David hushed me. "Sh-h-h. You're not allowed to
speak in here. "'1 She gave up trying to hush the baby and
took him outside.
mutlie /  rnhfal! if something muffles a sound it makes it
quieter and less clear Iv Tl
He dragged her into the car, putting his hand over her mouth
to muffle her screams. I The snow was muffling the sound
of the traffic. I John's voice was muffled by the door and I
couldn't tell what he was saying.
turn down ] ,tu-'rn daun] to make a television, radio etc
quieter by moving or turning a button or control [phr v T]
turn sth/it/them down Do you mind turning the radio
down? I Turn that music down, you'll wake the whole street! l
turn down sth She turned down the volume on the TVand
picked up the phone. I turn sth right down (=make it as
quiet as possible) No wonder you can't hear anything -
you've turned your hearing aid right down.
shut sb Up/f^t (sb) ^p! an informal expression mean-
ing to make someone be quiet, especially by speaking to
them rudely or angrily [phr v T]
Could you shut those kids up? - I'm trying to sleep! I Merv
started to complain but I soon shut him up.
7 what you say to tell someone to be quiet
 shh/sh/ssh keep it down
shut up pipe down
be quiet
shhlshlssh/j'/(used when you want someone to speak
more quietly or make less noise, especially because you are
in a place or situation in which you need to be quiet)
Shh! Tim's asleep. I "Shh, "" said Steven. "'We're in church
now. ""
shut up/l^t ^p/(an informal and impolite expression
used to tell someone to be quiet, especially because they are
annoying you)
Just shut up, will you! You're giving me a headache! I shut
up about If you don't shut up about my girlfriend I'll pour
this drink all over you!
be quiet/bi: kwait/(used when you want someone to
stop talking or to make less noise) [phr v I]
"'Be quiet, Bill, and let me finish, "'said Hazel. [ The children
were making so much noise that the teacher had to tell them
to be quiet more than once.
keep it down/,ki:p it daon/(used when you want some-
one to speak more quietly or make less noise, especially
because you do not want people to hear them)
"'Keep it down, you idiots, "" McGrath said. "We don't want
the guards in here. "1 keep your voice down "'Shh! Keep
your voice down,'" said Fiona.
pipe down/,paip 'daon/(used when you want someone
to stop talking so loutlly and excitecHy or to stop talking
completely)
Come on, pipe down and get on with your work.
 quieten sb down/quiet sb down QUIET 6
{ quieter: get quieter QUIET 5
 quirk CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3
 quit LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 1 STOP
 ,
 DOING STH 1, 3, 5
 quit it/that/doing that STOP DOING STH 2
il quite QUITE/FAIRLY 1 VERY 1
. quite a bit LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 9
i!i quite a few LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
...ii quite a/some UNUSUAL 2
........
 quite a way: a fair way/quite a way FAR 1
 quite a way: a fair way/quite a way/a good way FAR 2
 quite a while/some time LONG TIME 1
QUITE/FAIRLY
more than a little, but not very
1 more than a little, but not very
quite pretty
fairly reasonably
rather somewhat
quite/kwait/a word used especially in British English
meaning more than a little, but not very
[ p redeterm ine r / ad v ]
To my surprise the door opened quite easily. I He is quite well-
known in the field of microbiology. I I quite like it here but
I'd rather live in Manchester. I quite a nice day/good
book/long way etc It's quite a long way to the centre of
town from here. I It was quite an interesting film, wasn't it?
fairly 1' ferli/more than a little, but much less than very
[adv]
The house has a garage and a fairly big garden. [Although
the experiment is not yet finished we are fairly certain of some
of the findings. [He was driving fairly slowly, so there wasn't
much damage when he crashed. [ She sings fairly well, but
still needs a few more lessons.
rather/'ra:6 r 11 'ra-/a word used especially in British
English, meaning much more than a little, but not very,
often describing something bad, unsuitable etc
[predeterminer/ adv ]
She seems rather unhappy today. [ a rather old building [
You're driving rather fast. [ My husband hates this dress but
I rather like it. [ He'sfeeling rather better than yesterday. [
rather a strong drink/long way/short dress ete That's
rather a short dress Tina. [ rather too bigCateCtrong ete
This coffee is rather too strong for me.
pretty/'pnti/an informal word meaning more than a
little, but not very lady]
It's pretty cold today. [ I come here pretty often and I've never
seen her before. [ I thought the book was pretty good, espe-
cially considering it was his first novel. [ pretty much the
same ete This wallpaper is pretty much the same as the one
we've got.
r®asonably ] ri:zanbli/to a satisfactory degree [adv]
She speaks Spanish reasonably well. I Kevin is sensible and
he works reasonably hard but he has never been promoted. I
At the moment the only reports that are reasonably accurate
are from the BBC. I a reasonably good film
somewhat /'s^mwm 11 -wa:t/ a formal word meaning
more than a little, but not very [adv]
The ambassador looked somewhat irritated by the interrup-
tion to his work. [ My husband has a somewhat higher opin-
ion of Mr Jones than I do. [ She complained somewhat about
the noise. [ somewhat too old/large/often etc She was
somewhat too large to fit into the dress.

quits
quits: be quits OWE 8
quiver SHAKE 3
quiz ASK A QUESTION 3, EXAM/TEST 1
quota AMOUNT 4
quotation COST 3, SAYING 2
quote REPEAT 3
1069
RACE
rabbit on: witter on/rabbit on TALK TO SB 10
rabble CROWD 2
race COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 2, FAST/QUICK
7, RACE 1
race: a race against time HURRY 3
RACE
one of the large groups of people into which
human beings are divided
involving people of different races
words for describing places, organizations,
activities etc that involve or include people
from different races
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 one of the large groups of people into which
human beings are divided
race
colour/color
ethnic group
race/res/one of the large groups of people into which
human beings are divided according to the colour of their
skin, the type of hair they have etc In C/U]
People from many different races and nationalities have
come to compete in the games. I This company hires people
regardless of age, race or religion. I race relations (=re-
lations between different races in one country) Thepolice
force are trying to promote good race relations in our cities.
colour (British) I color (American)/'klarl the colour of
someone's skin, which shows which race they belong to,
especially whether they are black or white |n C]
People of all colors and nationalities were at the ceremony. I
You can't judge people by the colour of their skin.
ethnic group /eOmk gru:p/a group of people of a par-
ticular race or nationality living in a place where most
other people are of a different race In C]
The Indonesians of the city form a distinct ethnic group. [ We
have a program to develop the cultures of various ethnic
groups.
involving people of different races
racial integration
ethnic segregation
racial/'re;Jail racial conflict/prejudice/harmony/ten-
sion (=conflict, prejudice etc between people of different
races) [adj only before noun]
Our laws forbid racial discrimination. I Racial violence used
to be commonplace on the streets of the city. I In Jamaica
black and white people have lived together in racial harmony
for many years.
racially [adv ] Police suspect that the attack could be racially
motivated. I The school's intake is racially quite diverse.
ethnic/'cOmk/ethnic divisions/unrest/violence (=div-
isions, unrest etc between groups of people of different
races, or with different customs, living in the same place,
especially when one group is smaller than the other) [adj
only before noun]
Hundreds of people have been killed in the recent ethnic vio-
lence. I Ethnic unrest is spreading throughout the south-
western republics of the former Soviet Union. I Reports of
"ethnic cleansing" in Yugoslavia forced the European States
and the US into taking action.
integration /,ntl'greIanl the bringing or coming
together of people of different races so that they live and
work peacefully together In U]

RACE 1070 RARE
In the 1960s the government passed a law to promote racial
integration in schools. I Members of extreme right wing par-
ties are completely opposed to the integration of blacks into
white South African society.
integrated ]lintgreitd] [adj] Aru was a perfectly inte-
grated society (=one in which all the different races lived
and worked together peacefully).
segregation ! ,segrI geQ'an/keeping people of different
races apart and making them live, work, or study
separately, especially because one race believes that it is
better than the other In U]
The Board of Education banned segregation in schools. [
Segregation encourages racial tensions.
segregated / segrIgeItId/[adj] Segregated restaurants are
no longer allowed.
3 words for describing places, organizations,
activities etc that involve or include people
from different races
multiracial muir/cultural
interracial mixed
cosmopolitan
multiracial /,m^lti'refal/ a multiracial society/
school/organization etc (=one which contains people of
different races [adj]
The National Union of Students has a membership which
is large and multiracial. I Britain became a multiracial soci-
ety in the 1960s and 70s. after large-scale immigration from
the West Indies and the Indian subcontinent.
interracial I,Into'relfal/ between people of different
races [adj only before noun]
The danger of an interracial war in South Africa still exists. [
Interracial marriages are common in England these days.
cosmopolitan /,ktzma'pltan [[ ,ka:zma'pa:-I a cos-
mopolitan city/district/society ere (=one where people
of many different races and nationalities live or go, which
is therefore lively and interesting) [adj]
Istanbul is a great cosmopolitan city, situated between East
and West. [ She grew up in an apartment in a cosmopolitan
district of Chicago. [ The thing I like most about living in
London is that it's so cosmopolitan.
muItlculturai / mAlti' kAltaral,/muir/cultural school/
society/experience ere (=one which contains or involves
people from different races, when this is considered an
advantage) [adj]
There are many benefits of a society which is truly muir/cul-
tural. [ To be American is to have a muir/cultural experience.
mixed/mkst/mixed marriage/parentage (=between
two people of different races) [adj only before noun]
Mixed marriages are becoming more and more common-
place.
racial RACE 2
racial prejudice PREJUDICED 4
racism PREJUDICED 4
racist PREJUDICED 4, 5
rack and ruin: go to rack and ruin CONDITION/STATE
OF STH 7
rack your brains REMEMBER 2
racket CHEAT 4, LOUD/NOISY 7
radiant HAPPY 2
radiate SEND 6
radical BIG 10
radio TELEVISION/RADIO 2
raft: a raft of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
rage ANGRY 5
rage: be all the rage FASHIONABLE 1
ragged TEAR 4
rags: go from rags to riches RICH 7
raid ATTACK 3, 6, LOOK FOR 4, 7, STEAL 8
rain check: I'll take a rain check REJECT/NOT
ACCEPT 1
rain or shine WEATHER 4
raise GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 1,
INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 4,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6, LIFT 1
2, LOOK AFTER SB 4, MENTION 2, UP 10
raise: rise/raise INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 10
raise a laugh LAUGH 7
raise hopes HOPE 7
raise/lift sb's spirits HAPPY 10
raise objections AGAINST/OPPOSE 4
raise your voice SHOUT 1
raised HIGH 6
rake it in EARN 4
rake up: drag uplrake up REMIND/MAKE SB
REMEMBER 2
rally RECOVER/GET BETTER 4, UNITE 5
rally round HELP 3
ram PUSH 5
ramble SUBJECT 5, TALK TO SB 10
ramifications RESULT 4
rampant CONTROL 21
ramshackle CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
rancid DECAY 4
random CHANCE/BY CHANCE 5
random: at random CHANCE/BY CHANCE 5
randy SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 7
range DISTANCE 2, VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 5
range: at close range NEAR 6
range: out of range FAR 6
range: within range NEAR 5
range from INCLUDE 1
rank POSITION/RANK 1, 3
rank: outrank/rank HIGH POSITION OR RANK 3
rank: be ranked first/second etc. POSITION/RANK 3
rank and file: the rank and file ORDINARY 4
ranking POSITION/RANK 2
ransack LOOK FOR 4, UNTIDY 4
ransom: hold sb to ransom THREATEN 1
rant and rave SHOUT 1
rap HIT 7
rap: beat the rap PUNISH 8
rap: take the rap BLAME 2, PUNISH 5
rap/rapping SOUND 8
rape SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 10
rapid FAST/QUICK 5, 6, 9, 10
rapport RELATIONSHIP 2
raptures: go into raptures over EXCITED 12
rare RARE 1, 2, RARELY 2, UNUSUAL 2
RARE
words for describing something that is not
common and exists only in small numbers
words for describing something that does not
happen often
1 words for describing something that is not
 common and exists only in small numbers
rare be few and far
scarce between
not common be a rarity
be thin on the there aren't many
ground around
rare/rear/an animal, plant, object etc that is rare does not
exist in large numbers or in large amounts [adj]
These birds are very rare, and are protected by law. [ They're
pretty rare. Only about a hundred were made. [ The palace
library contains some of the rarest books in Europe. [ In Cho-
Ion's narrow streets, Europeans were far rarer than on the
boulevards of Saigon.

RARE 1071 rather than
scarce/skears/something that is scarce, especially some-
thing that people need such as food, clothing, or water, is
not available in large enough numbers or amounts at the
moment [adj]
After the war, food and clothing were scarce. [ Government
departments often found themselves competing for scarce
resources. [ With the increase in trade, good timber for ship-
building was becoming scarcer.
not common/not 'koman [[ -'ka:-] fairly rare, especially
in one particular area or group [adj]
This style of pottery is not common outside the island. I Unfor-
tunately, common sense is not very common among
politicians.
be thin on the ground/bi: ,bln on 6a 'graund/if you
say that someone or something is thin on the ground,
especially a type of person or thing that you need, you mean
that there are very few available Iv phrase]
Our only problem is finding staff, because good program-
mers are really thin on the ground. [ The nationalists make
a lot of noise in Parliament, but their supporters are thin on
the ground.
be few and far between/bi: ,fju: and ,fa: r bi'twi:n/
to not be as common as you expect or as you would like Iv
phrase]
The schools were crowded, and good teachers were few and
far between. [ Toys were few and far between, but the chil-
dren invented games and played together.
be a rarity/bi: a 'rearti/if something is a rarity, it is
surprising to find one, because very few exist Iv phrase]
This disease is now a rarity. [ The traditional costume is
becoming a rarity, even in remote villages.
there aren't many around/6ear ,a:nt meni a'raund [[
-, a:rant-/an informal expression meaning that something
is rare, especially something that has been made such as
a machine, car, or piece of furniture
He drives an original Volkswagen, and there aren't many
of those around these days.
2 words for describing something that does not
 happen olten
rare
uncommon/not common
you don't often
rare/rear/[adj]
Snow is a rare sight here, except on the mountains. [ On the
rare occasions when we had to work hard, we enjoyed it. I
In a rare moment of generosity, father let me use the car for
the night.I it is rare for sb/sth to do sth It is very rare for
anyone to actually die from bee stings in this country.
uncommon/not common/An'koman, ,nt)t 'kt)man [1
-'ka:man/fairly rare [adj]
Crimes against elderly people are still uncommon. [ The stu-
dents felt able to speak freely to me, which is not common in
China. I it is uncommon to do sth When I was young it
was uncommon to see a man pushing a baby buggy.
you don't often/ju: ,daunt 'ofan II -'o:fan/if you say you
don't often see something, find something etc, you mean
this happens only very rarely
You don't often find really good tropical fruit in this coun-
try. [ We had over 200 replies. You don't often get such a good
response from an advert.
rarely/seldom RARELY 1
RARELY
ways of saying that something does not often
happen or is not often done
1 words meaning rarely
2 words for describing something that someone
rarely does, or that rarely happens
1 words meaning rarely
not often hardly/scarcely ever
rarely/seldom once in a blue moon
not often/not 'ofan II -'a:fan/[adv]
I don't often see my grandchildren because they live a long
way from here. I Sometimes, but not very often, Pippa per-
suaded her father to lend her his car. I Tina didn't get to work
until ten o'clock this morning, which is unusual because she's
not often late. I it's not often (that) Of course I'm going to
take the job, it's not often that you get a chance like this.
rarely/seldom/'marli, 'sddam/not at all often [adv]
Michael Jackson rarely speaks to journalists. ] Discipline is
rarely a problem in this school. I They're a very nice young
couple, although I very seldom see them. I rarely does/has
Very rarely do we have a complaint from any of our cus-
tomers. I Seldom have I seen such a miraculous recovery in
one of my patients. I rarely/seldom, if ever Anti-govern-
ment demonstrations do occur, but they are seldom, if ever,
reported in the press.
hardly/scarcely ever / ,ha:rdli, ,skearsli 'evar/almost
never [adv phrase]
My grandmother hardly ever goes out of the house. I She's
hardly ever ill. I We scarcely ever walk through the town
without meeting someone we know. I There used to be a lot
of disputes over land boundaries but nowadays such
problems scarcely ever arise.
once in a blue moon /,wAns ;n a ,blu: 'rnu:n/an infor-
mal expression meaning very rarely [adv phrase]
1used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there
once in a blue moon. I Once in a blue moon Eric will offer
to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any house-
work at all.
2 words for describing something that someone
rarely does, or that rarely happens
rare
infrequent
rare/rear/a rare event, occasion, or action does not often
happen or is not often done [adj]
He made the announcement in a rare television interview. I
In those rare moments when I have some free time, I try to
relax completely. I it is rare for sb to do sth It is rare for
someone who has spent years studying medicine not to
become a doctor.
Infrequent/n' fri:kwant/a formal word meaning not hap-
pening often [adj]
As time went on, her visits became more and more infre-
quent. I Cases of typhoid are relatively infrequent in North-
ern Europe.
raring to go ENTHUSIASTIC 1
rarity: be a rarity RARE 1
rash CARELESS 5
rash: rash of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5
rasping UNPLEASANT 4
rat on TELL 10
rat race COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 3
rate AMOUNT 7, COST 1, SPEED 1
rather QUITE/FAIRLY 1
rather: would prefer/would rather PREFER 3
rather: would prefer/would rather do sth PREFER 2
rather than INSTEAD 1

ratify
i!i ratify
-'-" ratio
; ration
i rational
" rationale
,i rationalize
:;° rattle
;" ratty
i!  raucous
.'.,.. raunchy
ACCEPT 6
AMOUNT 2
AMOUNT 3
LOGICAL 1, 4, SENSIBLE 3
REASON 4
EFFICIENT 4
FRIGHTENED 7, SHAKE 1, 2, SOUND 8
CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
LOUD/NOISY 2
SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
ravaged: be ravaged by DESTROY 1
rave about PRAISE 3
rave reviews: get rave reviews PRAISE 4
rave-up PARTY 3
ravenous: starving/ravenous/famished
HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 1
ravishing BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1
raw COOK 4, NATURAL 1
ray of hope: a glimmer of hope/a ray of hope HOPE 7
razor-sharp SHARP 1
re ABOUT 1
re-elect VOTE/ELECT 4
reach ARRIVE 1, CONTACT SB 3, REACH 1, 2, 3, 4,
TOTAL 3
reach: can be reached REACH 5
reach: out of reach FAR 6, IMPOSSIBLE 4
reach: within reach NEAR 4, 5
reach/achieve your goal SUCCEED IN DOING STH 2
reach agreement AGREE 3
reach for TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 3
h
m  III .m, ',1,., m-m m'.m. ..  .... .
go aS..fr .a:place   REACH
i i ii1[i i i i i i
REACH
to be long enough, high enough, or large
enough to reach as far as a particular point
ways of saying that a number, amount, value
etc reaches a particular level
to succeed in reaching or touching something
by stretching your arm or moving your body
to succeed in reaching a place, especially
when this involves danger, difficulty, or a long
journey
ways of saying that a place can be reached
words for describing a place that is difficult or
impossible to reach
1 to be long enough, high enough, or large
enough to reach as far as a particular point
go come up to
reach come down to
go up to stretch
go down to extend
go/go/[v I not in progressive]
go to/as far as etc You'll have to move the television a little
this way, the plug won't go as far as the wall from there. I
The road only went up to the farmhouse. It didn't actually
go to the fields.
reach/ri:t/if something reaches a particular point, it
covers the area as far as that point Iv I/T not in progressive]
1072
REACH
reach sth This ladder won't reach the window. I Look at
that skirt she's wearing - it hardly reaches her knees/I reach
as far as/down to etc In front of us was afield of flowers,
reaching as far as the eye could see. I reach It's no good, it
won't reach/
go up to/,go '^p tu:/to be high enough to reach as far
as a particular point Iv T not in progressive]
The scaffolding only goes up to the second floor of the build-
ing. I After the flood the water level in the river went up
almost to the top of the dam. I go all/right the way up to
(=reach a long way up) The decorations went all the way up
to the ceiling.
go down to/,go 'daon tu:/to be long enough to reach
down as far as a particular point Iv T not in progressive]
The rope went down to the bottom of the cliff. I How far down
the stairs does the flex of the hoover go? I go all/right the
way down to (=reach a long way down) He's got a scar that
goes from his neck all the way down to his stomach.
come up to / kAm ' ^p tu:! to reach up to a part of the body
such as the knee, neck, or shoulder Iv T not in progressive]
In the shallow end of the pool the water comes up to my
waist. I Freddie has been growing and growing and now he
comes up to my shoulder.
come down to/,k^m daon tu:/ if a piece of clothing
comes down to a part of your body such as your elbows,
waist, or knees, it is long enough to reach that part Iv T not
in progressive]
This sweater is far too big, it practically comes down to my
knees. I This shirt is too small, the sleeves hardly come down
to my elbows.
stretch/stretJ/if something such as a river, road, or area
of land stretches to a particular place, it reaches that place
Iv I not in progressive]
stretch to/into/as far as ere The oil slick stretched all the
way to the horizon. I She saw the highway stretching into
the distance ahead of her. I Korea is a peninsula which
stretches into the sea from the south-eastern corner of Man-
churia.
extend/k' stend/a word used especially in technical writ-
ing, descriptions etc: if something such as a river or area
of land extends as far as a particular place, it reaches that
place Iv I not in progressive]
extend as far as/to ete The River Nile extends as far as
Lake Victoria. I The Soviet Union extended all the way from
the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. I Smith Point was a jut
of land extending a hundred yards or so into the water.
2 ways of saying that a number, amount, value
etc reaches a particular level
reach hit
attain touch
reach/ri:t/[v T]
Wind speeds reached over 100 mph in coastal districts. I Gold
prices have reached their lowest level in 15 years. I Quality
control in this factory almost reaches Japanese standards. I
reach its peak (=reach its highest level) Unemployment
reached its peak in March but is now going down.
attain /'ten/ a formal or technical word meaning to
reach a high level Iv T]
This new design is capable of attaining speeds in excess of
300 kph. [ Share prices attained a high of $3.27. [ Birds com-
monly fly at a thousand metres, but on migration may attain
three thousand metres or more.
hit Ihtl to reach a very high or a very low level Iv T]
Temperatures hit 30 degrees celsius in some areas. I If our
efficiency continues to improve, output could hit the 200,000
mark this year. I hit rock-bottom (=reach an extremely
low level) World oil prices have hit rock-bottom and are
expected to rise in the near future.
toech It^tl to reach a high or a low level, especially for
a very short time Iv T]
The plane touched the speed of sound in a power dive. I In
July the Dow Jones index briefly touched an all time high
of 2455.

REACH 1073 REACT
3 to succeed in reaching or touching something
by stretching your arm or moving your body
reach
get to
reach Iri:tj'l Iv I/T not in progressive]
reach sth None of the kids can reach the top button in the
elevator. [ I've put your tea down here. Can you reach it?[
reach there was something on the top shelf, but I just
couldn't reach.
get to / 'get tu:/to be able to reach something that you need
by stretching your arm, moving your body etc, especially
after you have been hurt Iv T not in progressive]
She had fallen and broken her ankle and couldn't get to the
phone when it rang. I Although I was badly injured I
managed to get to the door and call for help.
4 to succeed in reaching a place, especially
when this involves danger, difficulty, or a long
journey
reach make it to
get get through
make
reach/ri:t/[v T not in progressive]
By the end of the first day we had reached a small town
500kin south of Paris'. [ Your letter should have reached
Bombay by now, if you posted it three weeks ago. [ Relief
workers must ensure that food reaches every area that needs
it.
get/get/a word used especially in spoken English mean-
ing to reach a place [v I not in progressive]
get to/as far as ere We got as far as the river when it started
raining so we decided to come back. [ Branson's balloon got
within 20kin of the Irish Coast. [ Igor halfway to the station
before I realized I'd left all my money at home.
make/meIk/to succeed in reaching a place, especially by
a particular time [v T not in progressive]
We'll be lucky if we make San Fernando by nightfall. [ The
team aims to make the South Pole and back in a month.
make it to/'melk it tu:/to succeed in reaching a partic-
ular place, especially after a long or difficult journey Iv
phrase not in progressive]
When the car broke down for the third tirne l began to wonder
if we would ever make it to .Rome. I The New Zealand sail-
ing team made it to Auckland in record time. [ Although he
could not swim, he managed to make it to the other side of
the river.
get through/,get '0ru:/to succeed in reaching a partic-
ular place, after much danger and difficulty [phr v I]
Heavy rains have prevented relief supplies from getting
through. [ get through to Rescue teams finally got through
to the survivors by digging a tunnel.
5 ways of saying that a place can be reached
can be reached
accessible
can be reached/kn bi: 'ri:tt/Iv phrase]
The island can be reached on foot at low tide. [ Some parts
of Northern Canada are so remote that in winter they can
only be reached by plane. [ The top floor rooms can be
reached by a number of staircases.
accessible/ksesbal/easily reached, especially by car,
boat, plane etc [adj]
accessible by boat/plane ere Because oft he heavy rains
many parts of the countryside are only accessible by boat. [
There are no good roads in the area so most of the ranches
are only accessible by jeep or other off-road vehicles.
words for describing a place that is difficult or
impossible to reach
inaccessible
out of the way/out-of-the-way
inaccessible I, inktsesbal/[adj]
The country consists mainly of dense jungles and inaccessi-
ble mountain ranges. [ inaccessible to The bathroom is
situated at the top of a flight of stairs, making it inaccessi-
ble to the disabled.
out of the way/out-of-the-way/,aot v 6 'wei/an
out of the way place/cottage/village etc (=far away and
therefore difficult to reach from the nearest big town) [adj]
Watertown is a little out of the way, so why don't we come
over to your house in Boston? [ Bus services to out-of-the-way
destinations are being cut more and hore.
REACT
to behave in a particular way as a result of
something that has happened
to react to a situation, to someone's
behaviour, or to something that someone has
said
to react to someone in a similar way to the
way they treat you
to react too strongly to something that has
happened
what someone says or does to react to
something
the ability to react quickly to moving objects,
danger etc
words for describing someone who reacts
well, in a useful or helpful way
1 to react to a situation, to someone's
behaviour, or to something that someone has
said
react
respond
react/ri'mkt/Iv I not in progressive]
react to sth People reacted to the speech in different ways:
some got angry, others nodded appreciatively. [ react by
doing sth The baby reacts by gripping hold of the object.I
react How did your parents react when you told them you
were going to marry Jim? [ react with disappointment/
laughter/violence etc The team reacted with disappoint-
ment at losing the game. [ react against (=deliberately
behave in a way that is the opposite of what is expected of
you) Emma is not behaving very reasonably nowadays. I
think she's reacting against her teacher's strictness.
respond/r spond 11 r spa:nd/to react to something that
someone has said to you, or something that someone has
done to you or for you [v I]
The more attention you pay him, the better he responds. I
respond with Although some employees disliked the
retraining programme, most responded with greater moti-
vation and effectiveness. I respond to sth Girls respond
better than boys to our new teaching technique. [ repond by
doing sth They responded to our protests by reducing their
entrance fees.
• to react to someone in a similar way to the
way they treat you
reciprocate
back
give as good as you get
reciprocate Ir spmket/ a formal word meaning to
react to someone's feelings or actions towards you by show-
ing the same feelings to them, doing the same thing for
them etc Iv I/T ]
We asked them over for dinner, hoping they would recipro-
cate. [ I had told her all about myself but she was not pre-
pared to reciprocate. [ reciprocate feelings/an invitation
etc Although he valued her friendship he was not capable
of reciprocating her feelings of love.

REACT 1074 READ
back [beck/if you smile back, hit someone back etc, you
smile at someone, hit them etc, after they have done the
same thing to you ]adv]
Carol yelled back: "If it's so easy, you come and have a go!" l
She slapped me so I slapped her back. I The man just sat there
smiling back at me. I I'm not inviting them to our parties any
more - they never invite us back.
give as good as you get/gv z ,gud z ju: gctl an
informal expression: if someone who is being attacked or
criticized gives as good as they get, they are just as vio-
lent or rude as the person who is attacking them [vphrase]
Don't you worry about Tim. He may be small but he gives
as good as he gets! I It was a tough interview, but I thought
the President gave as good as he got.
3 to react too strongly to something that has
happened
overreact
overreact /uvrieekt/ to react too strongly to some-
thing that has happened, especially by becoming increas-
ingly angry, worried, or afraid Iv I]
Don "t you think you're overreacting? I only gave her a ride
home from work - we're not having an affair. I Managers
should learn to see trouble ahead, and not to overreact if
trouble comes. I overreact to sth He overreacted to this
warning and stopped going out altogether. I Some elderly
people have overreacted to the crime problem by just not
going out at all.
4 what someone says or does to react to
something
reaction feedback
response backlash
reaction/ri'mkan/[n C]
Crying is a natural reaction when we are sad or in pain. I
reaction to/against sth Maria's reaction to the birth of her
sister was to demand more attention from her mother. I The
boy's behaviour is probably a reaction against his mother's
continual worrying.
response/r'spons 1[ r 'spa:ns/ your reaction to some-
thing that someone has said to you, done to you, or asked
you for In C]
I got a totally different response from him than what I
expected. I We've tried to include Susan in our social activb
ties, but we get no response. I response to sth Tina's out-
burst was a delayed response to her husband's behaviour the
week before. I in response to (--as a way of responding) In
response to local demand, we will be opening this store from
nine till seven on Sundays from now on.
feedback/ fi:dbek/helpful and useful advice, criticism,
praise etc that you give to someone, telling them how well
they are working In U]
give feedback Every Friday, Mr James would hand out the
students" essays and give them some feedback. I feedback
on sth It is important to give employees regular feedback on
their performance.
backlash/bmklm/an angry or violent reaction by a
group of people to the actions or decisions of others, espe-
cially of the government, the police, or other people in
authority In C usually singular]
The government's decision to increase taxes is likely to cause
a backlash by angry voters. I Intense police activity in the
neighbourhood eventually provoked a violent backlash from
the community. I backlash against There are a number of
explanations for this backlash against gay people.
5 the ability to react quickly to moving objects,
danger etc
reactions
reflexes
reactions/ri'mkanz/In plural]
Alcohol slows a driver's reactions, making it harder for him
to avoid an accident. I He was a natural boxer, with a cold
temper, fast reactions and a killer instinct.
reflexes/' ri.-fleksIz/the natural ability to react quickly
and well to dangers etc, without having to think about what
you are doing [n plural]
You need good reflexes to be an airline pilot. [ Her reflexes
were astonishingly quick, as she dodged the punch, stuck out
afoot and sent him crashing to the floor.[ "Good player" said
Georgiou. "'Moves fast. Swift reflexes."
6 words for describing someone who reacts
well, in a useful or helpful way
responsive
responsive/r;'spons;v II r!'spa:n-/ [adj]
I think you'll find Mr Evans an excellentperson to work for;
he's very helpful and responsive. I responsive to sth
Edward is a very good doctor who is very responsive to his
patients' needs.
responsiveness [n U] The government's responsiveness to
criticism has won approval even from its most bitter
opponents.
reaction REACT 4
reactionary CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
reactions REACT 5
read MEASURE 1, READ 1, STUDY 1, UNDERSTAND 6
read: can read READ 9
read: can't read READ 10
read aloud READ 1
read between the lines MEANING 7
read into MEANING 7
read out READ 1
read through/over READ 4
read up on READ 6
READ
13
14
to read something such as a book,
newspaper, or letter
to read something quickly, especially in order
to find interesting information
to read only parts of something
to read something carefully
to read all of something that is very long or
boring, especially because you have to
to read a lot about something or someone in
order to find out about them
someone who reads a lot
the people who read a particular newspaper,
book, or magazine
able to read
unable to read well or at all
easy to read because it is clearly printed or
written
difficult or impossible to read because it is not
clearly printed or written
words for describing something that is
enjoyable or interesting to read
words for describing something that is not
enjoyable to read
1 to read something such as a book,
newspaper, or letter
read
read aloud
read out
read/ri:d/Iv I/T]
People watch too much TV and don't read enough these
days. 1 She works in an adult education centre, teaching
people to read and write. I read sth My father used to read
my school reports with despair. I read sb a story/book If

READ 1075 READ
you're good, Daddy will read you a story before you go to
sleep. I read Shakespeare/Dickens/Camus etc Students
studying English literature spend a lot of time reading
Shakespeare. I read about I used to read about the early
space flights in the newspapers, but it didn't seem very real. I
read that I have read in the local press that the police think
Adams committed the murder.
reading [n U/Every child must study reading (=the activity
of reading) writing, and arithmetic at school.
read aloud/, ri:d a'laud/to read something so everyone
can hear it, not silently in your head [phr v I/T/
read sth aloud He glanced at the letter then began to read
it aloud. I read aloud Why do children always read aloud
when they first start learning to read? I read aloud to After
he went blind, she would read aloud to him from his favorite
newspaper.
read out/ ri:d 'aut/to read a list, results, a letter etc to
someone especially because they need the information that
it contains [phr v T/
read out sth He opened the envelope and read out the name
of the winner. I read sth/it/them out The commentator
read the football results out in a monotonous drawl. I read
sth out to Read the names out to me and I'll write them
down.
interest you, just for something to do or in order to choose
something from it [v T/
I was standing at the station bookstall, browsing through
the magazines when I noticed Susan. I She browsed through
several catalogues before deciding which outfit to buy.
4 to read something carefully
read through/over
pore over
read through/over/'ri:d 0ru:, aovar/to read something
carefully especially in order to check every detail or find
any mistakes [phr v T/
read through/over sth Students are always advised to
read through what they have written before leaving the exam
room. I My professor read over my dissertation and said that
he was very impressed with it. I read it through/over When
the signed confession was on his desk, the sergeant read it
through carefully before contacting the press.
pore over / pa:r aovar/to read something for a long time,
very carefully, and with great interest [v T/
When the newspaper arrived we pored over it to get the latest
news about the earthquake. I Ian pored over the letter and
soon committed it to memory.
2 to read something quickly, especially in order
to find interesting information
skim through/skim
scan
have a look at
skim through/skim /'skim 0ru:, skim/to read the whole
of something quickly so that you get a general idea of what
it is about [v I/T/
skim through/skim sth She didn't have much time so she
just skimmed through the report before the meeting. I An
important skill to learn is skimming a text to gain a general
impression. I skim through/skim If there isn't enough time
you'll just have to skim.
scan/skan/to read something quickly in order to find
particular pieces of information, or to pick out the main
parts of it [v T/
scan sth She scanned the menu outside the restaurant, but
decided it looked too expensive. I scan sth for The students
were told to scan the novel for references to the main
character.
have a look at /,hoev a 'lok oet/ to read something
quickly to check that there are no mistakes or problems
[ v phrase/
Would you mind having a look at this report for me? I I've
had a quick look at the insurance contract and everything
appears to be in order.
3 to read only parts of something
dip into
leaf/flick/thumb through
browse through
dip into /dIp ntu:l to read short parts of a book, maga-
zine etc because you do not feellike reading the whole thing
or because you are looking for a particular piece of infor-
mation [v T ]
He had some books by his bed which he would dip into when
he couldn't sleep. I An encyclopedia is not the kind of book
you read from cover to cover, but something to dip into when
you need a particular fact.
leaf/flick/thumb through/,li:f, 'flk, 'O^m Oru:/ to
turn the pages of a book, magazine etc without reading
much of it, looking for something interesting or useful [v T/
She flicked through the guidebook, looking for somewhere
to visit in the afternoon. I The vicar returned to his office and
began to leaf through his books in search of material for his
sermon. I sitting there in the dentist's waiting room, thumb-
ing through old magazines
browse through/brauz 0ru:/to turn the pages of a
magazine, book etc, stopping to read the parts of it that
5 to read all of something that is very long or
boring, especially because you have to
plough through/plow through
wade through
plough through (British) I plow through (American)
/'plao 0ru:/to read all of something even though it takes a
long time and is boring [v T/
As I ploughed through the book I began to wonder whether
it was worth it. [ After ploughing through so many heavy
textbooks it was a relief to pick up a novel again. [ plough
your way through When you've ploughed your way
through all that mail, you'll be ready for a cup of tea.
wade through/'wed 0ru:/to read something that is
very long and boring, or to read many pieces of writing
such as letters, reports etc which together are long and
boring to read [v T/
The personnel department waded through a huge pile of
applications to select people for interview. [ I could never
wade through all the volumes of Proust!
6 to read a lot about something or someone in
order to find out about them
read up on
read up on/,ri:d 'Ap on II -a:n/[v T/
You'd better read up on road signs before you take your driv-
ing test. I Karen spent the summer reading up on the subjects
she would be studying at college.
7 someone who reads a lot
be a great/keen/avid reader
bookworm
well-read
be a great/keen/avid reader/bi:  ,greit, ,ki:n, ,mvd
ri:dar/ if someone is a great/keen/avid reader, they
enjoy reading and read a lot [v phrase]
My grandchildren are great readers, so I always give them
books for their birthday. [As I became an avid reader, I also
began to have dreams of going to college. [ be a great/keen/
avid reader of Bill is a keen reader of detective stories.
bookworm /'bokwa:rm/ a humorous word meaning
someone who seems to be always reading [n C/
Are you reading again? You're a real bookworm, aren't you. [
Dennis was the kind of bookworm who will read anything
rather than nothing at all.
well-read/,wel'red-/someone who is well-read has read
a lot of books, often the most important or famous books,
and has learned a lot of information from them [adj]

READ 1076 READ
Harvey had only had a high school education but he was an
enormously well-read and cultured man. I Although Jack
had left school at 16, he was very well-read, especially in the
classics.
8 the people who read a particular newspaper,
book, or magazine
reader
readership
circulation
reader /'rizdr/ someone who reads a particular
newspaper, magazine, type of book or books written by a
particular writer In C]
All Ms Atwood's readers will be delighted with her latest
book.I The magazine's editors are doing all they can to
attract more women readers. I The average reader of science-
fiction is young and male.
readership / ri:drfp/all the people who read a partic-
ular book, magazine, or newspaper, and who are usually
similar in age, social class, or intelligence In singular]
Be sure of your readership and keep them in mind when writ-
ing. I a young/educated/large readership These books
are obviously written for a young readership.
circulation/sa:rkj°lefan/the number of people that
buy and read a particular newspaper or magazine [n
singular]
a circulation of 500,000, 1 million etc The local news-
paper has a circulation of around 16,000. I a small/large
circulation A specialist journal may have a small circula-
tion compared with a newspaper, but it is of particular
importance to those who use it.
9 able to read
can read
literate
be a good/competent reader
can read/kn 'ri:d/[v phrasel
Just a century ago, few ordinary people could read or write. [
Even if children can read perfectly well, they need lots of
listening practice. [ Picasso could paint before he could read.
literate / IlItar Itl able to read and write to a good standard,
especially because you have had a formal education [adj]
We must make sure that every student becomes literate, at
the very least. [ Story-telling tends to disappear as a society
becomes more and more literate. [ The farm manager was
barely literate but highly competent.
literacy [n U] Literacy (=the ability to read) has increased
steadily since the new testing system was introduced.
be a good/competent reader/bi:  Igod, ,kt)mpItnt
'ri:do r [[ ,ka:m-/someone, usually a child, who is a good
or competent reader can read well or has just learnt to
read well Iv phrase]
Children are expected to be competent readers by the time
they leave this class. [ Good readers tend to be better at spell-
ing than other children.
10 unable to read well or at all
can't read
illiterate
be a bad/slow reader
can't read/,ka:nt 'ri:d II ,kmnt-/to be unable to read at
all Iv phrase]
A new report says that 25% of all 7-year-olds cannot read. [
Those boys are so smart, I don't believe they can't read. I It
was not until I had lived with her for a year that I realised
she couldn't read.
illiterate/i 'htarIt/someone who is illiterate cannot read
or write, or reads and writes badly, usually because they
have never been to school [adj]
My father was an illiterate factory worker, so he was deter-
mined that I should get a good education. [ For many illiter-
ate people, television is the one means of getting news. [ In
a country where 70% ofthepopulation is illiterate, leaflets
on safe sex are of little use.
be a bad/slow reader/bi:  bmd, slo ri:dr! some-
one, especially a child, who is a bad or slow reader can
read, but not very well Iv phrase]
At first Katy was a bad reader, but now she reads all the
time. [ At the end of the day the teacher does half an hour's
extra work with the slow readers.
1 1 easy to read because it is clearly printed or
written
legible
legible/'led3Iball [adj]
It is good to hand in neat, legible, and carefully presented
work in school or college. I I received a barely legible carbon
copy of a pencil-written note from the Director. I The poster
was written in letters big enough to be legible across the
room.
1 2 difficult or impossible to read because it is not
clearly printed or written
illegible
indecipherable
scrawl
illegible/ 'led3ball something that is illegible is impos-
sible to read because it has been printed or written very
badly or because the writing is too small or has been
damaged in some way [adj]
The date on the letter was illegible, and the rest of the writ-
ing was shaky and hurried. I The check was from an Ameri-
can bank and endorsed on the reverse side with an illegible
signature. [ Without her glasses she found ordinary .
newsprint almost illegible.
indecipherable / indisafambal/ writing that is
indecipherable is impossible to read because it is very
untidy, very unclear, or is in a language you do not under-
stand [adj]
The painting had an indecipherable signature in the corner. I
The photocopy of the report I was given was almost
indecipherable, l It's completely indecipherable- it's cer-
tainly not English.
scrawl/skin:l/something that someone has written in a
very untidy way which is very difficult to read [n C/U]
The end of the letter was a scrawl, but her signature was
clear enough. [ I kept a diary then - pages and pages of
closely-written scrawl.
scrawl Iv T] He scrawled his telephone number on a piece
of paper (=he wrote it in very untidy writing).
1 3 words for describing something that is
enjoyable or interesting to read
readable make interesting
well written reading
worth reading reads well
readable/' ri:dbl/easy and interesting or enjoyable to
read [adj]
Hudson's book is a readable introduction to linguistics. [
This biography is readable, if a little sentimental I The book
provides a readable summary of all the key themes in nuclear
science.
well written/,wel 'ritn-/something that is well writ-
ten has been written in a good, clear style that makes it
enjoyable or interesting to read [adj]
The article was well written, informative and enjoyable. I If
they are well-written, satirical plays can be extremely amus-
ing. ] Well-written notes are as good as any textbook and
easier to absorb.
worth reading/,wa:ro 'ri:dIr/a book, piece of writing
etc that is worth reading is good enough or interesting
enough to make you want to read it [adj phrase]
Have you seen Amis' latest book?It's worth reading. [ be well
worth reading Although it is long and difficult, it's still
well worth reading.

READ 1077 READY
make interesting reading/meik, intralstirj 'ri-.dirj/if
you say that something makes interesting reading, you
mean that it is interesting to read because it contains new
or surprising information Iv phrase]
His story would make interesting reading. I The true account
of what happened made far more interesting reading than
the official version.
reads well l, ri:dz wel/if you say that a piece of writing
reads well, you mean it is enjoyable to read because it is
written in a clear style Iv phrase]
The report reads well but it doesn't cover the most important
ooints.
14 words for describing something that is not
enjoyable to read
unreadable
badly written
unreadable/An'ri:dabal/[adj]
I find all his novels unreadable. I Everything by this author,
even his unreadable Life of Saint Helena, has been published
in several countries.
badly written / Ibmdli 'rim-/if something is badly writ-
ten it is not enjoyable to read because the style of the writ-
ing is not good [adj]
The book was so badly written that I didn't get further than
the first chapter.
readable READ 13
reader READ 8
reader: be a bad/slow reader READ 10
reader: be a good/competent reader READ 9
reader: be a great/keen/avid reader READ 7
readership READ 8
readily WILLING 2
readiness: in readiness READY 1, 2
reading MEANING 8, MEASURE 3
reading: make interesting reading READ 13
reading: take a reading MEASURE 1
reads well READ 13
ready READY 1, 2, 3
ready: get ready PREPARE 1, 3
ready: get sth ready PREPARE 2
ready: have/keep sth at the ready READY 2
ready: not ready READY 5, 6
ready to do sth WILLING 1
ready to drop: be dead on your feet/ready to drop
T IR ED 1
ready to go: be ready to go READY 1
[ready]
READY
ready to do something
ready to be used, eaten etc
words for describing fruit or vegetables that
are fully grown and ready to eat
ready to take action or provide services if
they are needed
not ready
words for describing fruit or vegetables that
are not ready to eat
to do something or to happen when someone
is not ready
1 ready to do something
ready be geared up
prepared in readiness
be ready to go be good and ready
be all set
ready/'redi/[adj not before noun]
Are you ready? The taxi's here. [ We'll start the meeting when
you're ready. [ ready for Are you ready for the big day? [
ready to do sth Everything's packed, roe're ready to leave. [
ready and waiting The wedding guests were all ready and
waiting long before the bride arrived. [ ready when you are
(=I am ready to do something as soon as you are) OK, the
tow-rope is fastened - ready when you are!
prepared/pri 'peard/ready to do something or deal with
a situation, especially because you have made carefuland
thorough preparations [adj not before noun]
prepared for I was not prepared for all these questions. [
Luckily we were well prepared for the storm. [ prepared At
the start of the game I wasn't prepared, either physically or
mentally.
be ready to go/bi: ,redi t 'go/to be ready and eager
to start doing something Iv phrase]
The band had arrived and the kids were ready to go. I "Right
then, ready to go?" said the driver.
be all set/bi: ,a:l 'set/to be ready to start doing some-
thing that you have planned to do and want to do [vphrase]
be all set to do sth We were all set to go on vacation, when
we heard the news. I be all set I'm all set, I'll say goodbye
now.
be geared up/bi: ,gmrd '^p/if an organization or group
of people are geared up for something that is going to
happen, they have made careful plans so that they can deal
with it as soon as it happens Iv phrase]
be geared up to do sth The company is geared up to meet
the increased demand. I The airport was being geared up to
deal with a heavier schedule of flights. I be geared up for
They were getting geared up for the first tourists.
in readiness/in  redins/if you do something in readi-
ness for something that you expect will happen, you do it
so that you will be ready [adv phrase]
He lifted his gun in readiness as he entered the thicket. ] in
readiness for My aunt drained her glass in readiness for
the next round.
be good and ready/bi: god and redi/ an informal
expression meaning to be completely ready to do some-
thing, used especially when telling someone not to be impa-
tient or not to make you hurry Iv phrase]
I'll give you your supper when I'm good and ready. I He says
he'll come when he's good and ready.
2 ready to be used, eaten etc
ready
have/keep sth at the ready
in readiness
ready/'redi! [adj not before noun]
Sally, your dinner's ready. I When the pasta is ready, add
the sauce. I ready for Do you have everything ready for
work? I ready to eat/drink/wear etc When the wine is
chilled it is ready to drink. I have sth ready He worked late
to have the papers ready for the next day.
have/keep sth at the ready/,hmv, ,ki:p (sth) at 60
' redi/to have something in your hands so that you can use
it immediately if something happens and you need it
[v phrase not in progressive]
Have your pencils at the ready to take down the address. [
I kept my camera at the ready in case the bird reappeared. [
with sth at the ready Twopolice officers advanced towards
the man with guns at the ready.
in readiness/in 'redinls/ready to be used when some-
thing that you are expecting happens lady phrase]
We've been keeping this wine in readiness for your visit. [
Everything was laid out on the bed, in readiness for the new
baby.

READY
words for describing fruit or vegetables that
are fully grown and ready to eat
ripe
ready
ripe/raIp/fruit that is ripe is sweet, soft, and ready to eat
[adj]
The apples were ripe and juicy. I He could smell ripe peaches
and fresh thyme. I Is this melon ripe enough to eat? l She likes
bananas that are very ripe and turning black.
ready !' redi/fully grown and ready to be taken and eaten
[adj not before noun]
The beans will be ready in a couple of weeks. [ How soon will
the new potatoes be ready? [ ready for The grapes are ready
for picking.
4, ready to take action or provide services if
they are needed
be standing by be on call
be on standby be on full alert
be standing by/bi: ,stmnd0 'ba/Iv phrase]
The firefighters were there and ambulancemen were stand-
ing by. [ We have a plane standing by to take the hostages
from the airport.
be on standby/bi: on 'stendbaI/if a group of people,
especially soldiers or police are on standby, they are wait-
ing, ready to go somewhere if they are needed when some-
thing happens that is expected to happen soon Iv phrase]
Extra troops have been brought in, and riot police are on
standby. I The crew had been on standby for several days. I
Operating theatre teams will be on 24-hour standby.
be on call/hi: on 'ka:l/if someone such as a doctor or
engineer is on call, they are ready to go and help anywhere
they are needed, as part of their job Iv phrase]
I'm on call at the hospital from midnight onwards. I It is
good to know that there is someone on call if the machine
isn't working. I Junior hospital doctors may be on call for
extended periods.
be on full alert/bi: on ,fol a'13:rt/ if soldiers, police
officers etc are on full alert, they are completely ready to
deal with a dangerous situation Iv phrasel
All ships were on full alert. [ For a day and a night we
travelled on full alert. [ Security forces were on full alert
against a possible terrorist attack.
5 not ready
not ready
unprepared
not ready/not 'redi/[adj not before noun]
not ready to do sth She wasn't ready to make any lasting
decisions. ] not ready for They are not yet ready for more
advanced work. ] not ready No, I'm sorry sir, your car isn't
ready yet.
unprepared/, Anprl 'peard/not ready to deal with some-
thing because you were not expecting it, and have not
thought about it or made plans [adj not before noun]
unprepared for Mexico was unprepared for war. [ The com-
pany was totally unprepared for the scale of the disaster. [
unprepared to do sth The soldiers were unprepared to meet
the attack.
6 words for describing fruit or vegetables that
are not ready to eat
unripe
not ready
unripe ! ,An'raIp/fruit that is unripe is not soft, sweet,
or ready to eat [adj]
Don't use unripe apples for making cider. [ The cherries on
the tree were still unripe.
1078
real world
not ready/not ' redi/not ready to be taken and eaten [adj
not before noun]
The blackberries are not ready yet, but we can pick them next
week. I I'm afraid the lettuces are still not ready.
7 to do something or to happen when someone
is not ready
catch sb on the hop
be caught napping
catch sb with their pants down
catch sb off guard
catch sb on the hop/,kt (sb) on 6a 'hop [[ -'ha:p/an
informal British expression meaning to do something, or
to happen, when someone is not expecting it and is not
ready to deal with it Iv phrase]
They left early and caught the reporters on the hop. I The dra-
matic fall in share prices caught even the experts on the hop.
be caught napping /bi: ,lo:t 'nmpirj/ an informal
expression: if you are caught napping by something that
happens, you are not expecting it and are not ready to deal
with it, although you should expect it and be ready for it
Iv phrase]
This firm was caught napping by this new development in
technology. I Most of the taxi drivers were caught napping.
catch sb with their pants down/,kat[ (sb) w6 6ca r
'pmnts daon/an informal expression meaning to arrive or
to do something when someone is not ready, and make
them feel stupid or embarrassed Iv phrase]
They really caught us with our pants down - all we could
do was make a public apology. I The hotel management were
caught with their pants down, there was no food in the hotel
and the rooms were dirty.
catch sb off guard/kmt[ (sb) of 'ga:rd/to say or do
something when someone is not expecting it so that they
cannot deal with it as well as they would like to Iv phrase]
Her question caught him off guard. [ She was caught off
guard by their sudden entrance.
reaffirm REPEAT 2
real REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 1, 2, 3,
REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 1, VERY 1
real: get real SENSIBLE 1
real find: be a real find FIND 8
real life: in real life IN FACT 2
real live REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 1
real thing: the real thing REAL/NOT FALSE OR
ARTIFICIAL 1
real world: in the real world IN FACT 2
real
REAL/NOT
FALSE OR
ARTIFICIAL
REAL/NOT
IMAGINARY

REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 1079 REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL
REAL/NOT FALSE
OR ARTIFICIAL
1 words for describing things or people that
really are what they claim to be or seem to be
2 words for describing things or people that are
an example of a particular type and have all
the characteristics you expect of them
3 words for describing feelings, attitudes,
beliefs etc that are real and not pretended
4 ways of saying that someone really feels
something or really means something
5 ways of saying that although someone
pretends to feel or think something, they
really feel or think something else
real
genuine
authentic
bona fide
real/nol/[adj]
1 words for describing things or people that
really are what they claim to be or seem to be
the real thing
the genuine article
the real McCoy
That's a nice watch - is it real gold? I Peter (that's not his
real name) works for the intelligence service. I If the threat
was real, we would have to prepare to fight. I the real
Michael Jackson/Queen Elizabeth ere That wax figure
didn't look anything like the real Michael Jackson.
genuine / ' d3enjun/real, and not just intended to appear
to be real [adj]
These shoes are made of genuine leather. I For years this was
thought to be a genuine Van Gogh, but in fact it's a fake. I
A handwriting expert has been called in, to check if the sig-
nature is genuine. I I wonder if he's a genuine doctor. He
wouldn't tell me where he went to medical school.
aulhentlc/3:  0enuk] something that is authentic is real,
especially something that comes from a particular place
or country, or period in history [adj]
Flamenco dancing added an authentic atmosphere to the
Latin nightclub. I authentic Chinese food served in pleasant
surroundings I The story has a very realistic setting, using
an authentic background with real places and believable
characters.
authenticity / ,a:0en'usIti/In U] The cabinet was sent to an
antiques valuer in London, to establish its authenticity.
bona fide/,boonofadi II 'boonofad/someone or some-
thing that is bona fide are really what they say they are,
especially when this can be checked by looking at official
records, personal papers etc [adj]
This club is only open to bona fide members. I We have to
check that he holds a bona fide qualification.
the real thing/6o ,rml 0r/something that is real, and
not a cheaper, more common, or lower quality thing of the
same type In phrase]
Sparkling wine's OK, but you can't beat the real thing -
champagne! I I don "t like reproductions. It has to be the real
thing or nothing.
the genuine article/6o d3enjun ' o:rtkl/something
such as a car, painting, or piece of furniture or clothing,
that really is made, produced, or designed by a famous and
admired person or company [n phrase]
He owns a 1947 Ferrari - the genuine article. I The thing
about imitations is that they make you appreciate the
genuine article.
the real McCoy/o ,nol mo'k3;/an informal expression
meaning something that is real, and not a cheaper, lower
quality product [n phrase]
The moment I smelled it I knew it was the real McCoy - 100%
pure Colombian coffee. I This is the real McCoy all right. No
doubt about it.
2 words for describing things or people that are
an example of a particular type and have all
the characteristics you expect of them
real
true
proper
real/rIol/[adj usually before noun]
He's not a real boyfriend - more of a good friend, really. I
Real mice are actually much smaller, but this species has
some of the same characteristics. I Why can't you be more like
a real mum and bake cakes and things?
true /tru:/ someone who is a true friend, believer etc,
really is a friend, believer etc and does not just pretend to
be one or think they are one when they are not [adj only
before noun]
True Christians believe that Christ died for them. I A true
friend wouldn't have forgotten your birthday. I Being a true
Redsox fan, he never missed a game.
proper/'propo r II 'pre:-/a word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning real and suitable, rather than simi-
lar but not as good [adj only before nounl
When are you going to get a proper job? I We don't have a
proper guest room, but you can have the sofa in the study.
3 words for describing feelings, attitudes,
beliefs etc that are real and not pretended
real heartfelt
sincere true
genuine from the heart
real/nail [adj]
She was clearly in real pain. I He didn't show any real regret
for the suffering he had caused. I Janice looked at me with
real hatred.
sincere /sn'sIor/ a feeling that is sincere is real and
shows that you really care about someone, are really sorry
etc [adj]
His love for her was deep and sincere. I I think she's sincere
in her concern for the patients. I a sincere apology
sincerity/s;n  seroIti/In U] She believed in his sincerity and
good intentions.
genuine/'dsenjuI n/a feeling that is genuine is real and
not pretended, especially when this may seem surprising
or unusual radii
They have a genuine affection for each other. I Although he's
a politician he seems to take a genuine interest in whoever
he meets. I Her smile was warm, genuine and friendly.
heartfelt /ho:rtfelt/ heartfelt sympathy/gratitude/
regret etc (=very real and strongly felt) [adj usually before
noun]
Please accept our heartfelt sympathy on your sad loss. I The
parents of the kidnap victim appeared on TV last night to
make a heartfelt plea for her release.
true /tru:/ true love/concern/kindness (=real, not
pretended, and deeply felt) [adj usually before noun]
He spoke out of duty, rather than from any true concern for
his students. I Asfar as Gabby was concerned this was true
love.
from the heart/from 6o Iha:rt/if you say or mean some-
thing from the heart, you really mean it and feel it very
strongly [adv phrase]
He stood up and spoke simply but from the heart. I from the
bottom of my heart I want to thank you from the bottom
of my heart. I straight from the heart What she said came
straight from the heart.
4 ways of saying that someone really feels
something or really means something
really sincerely
genuinely truly
really I'rioli/[adv]
You don't really mean that, do you? I This time she could see

REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 1080 REAL/NOT IMAGINARY
that he really was upset. I Maybe they really are interested
in buying the house.
genu|ne I'dsenjunli! not pretending about what you
really think or feel, especially when this opinion or feel-
ing is a little unusual or surprising [adv]
He seems to genuinely like his mother-in-law. I Val genuinely
believed that what we were doing was legal. I Lionel was
genuinely surprised when I told him some people found his
personality a little too loud.
sincerely Isln'sorli/meaning very strongly what you say
or feel [adv]
"'I'm going to miss you, "she said sincerely. I He sent a letter
sincerely apologising for his behaviour the night before. I I
sincerely hope things will turn out well for you.
truly /'tru:li/if you truly believe, want, or feel something,
you believe, want, or feel it very strongly and are not just
pretending [adv]
I truly believe he is innocent. [ If you truly wanted to see me,
you could have managed it. I I truly am impressed with your
work, but I can't buy any at the moment.
5 ways of saying that although someone
pretends to feel or think something, they
really feel or think something else
really underneath it all
deep down inside
really I'rIalil [at/v]
I said I'd go out with him but really I didn't want to. I She's
nice to her boss's face, but really she thinks he's rude and
arrogant. I Don't trust James -all he's really interested in
is your money.
deep down/,di:p 'daon/if you think or feel something
deep down, that is what you really think or feel even
though you may not say or show it [adv phrase]
He pretends to be tough, but deep down he's a big softy. I I
agreed to go along with what he said even though deep down
I though it was a little stupid.
underneath it all/nnda r I ni:O It ,a:l/if someone is a par-
ticular kind of person underneath it all, this is what they
are really like, especially when they are really nicer than
they seem to be [adv phrase]
He comes across as being a ruthless businessman but under-
neath it all he's quite a sensitive person.
inside/m'sa:d/if you feel something inside, that is the
way you really feel, even though you do not show it [adv]
I wish I knew what he was feeling inside. I He tried to be
brave, but inside he was hurting.
REAL/NOT
IMAGINARY
1 words for describing things or people that
really exist and have not been imagined
2 words for describing information, statements
etc that are based on real facts
3 words for describing things such as pictures,
books, or films that show or describe things in
a way that seems real
4 words for describing an imaginary situation
which you talk about as if it were real in order
to solve a problem, say what might happen
int he future etc
5 words for describing things such as pictures,
books, or films that show or describe things in
a way that does not seem real
1 words for describing things or people that
really exist and have not been imagined
real true
actual real live
real Irial/[adj]
The new system has some real advantages. I I had to explain
to the children that Santa Claus wash 't a real person. I very
real His unhappiness is very real. I don't think you should
laugh at him. I There was a very real danger of being robbed
during the night.
reality/ri'mlti/In U] We know that this dream will never
turn into reality.
actual/' mktSual/real, especially as compared with what
is intended, believed, or what is usually expected [adj only
before noun]
How does the actual cost compare with the planned cost? I
Although buses are supposed to run every fifteen minutes,
the actual waiting time can be up to an hour. I The actual
amount of water needed by the crop depends on other weather
conditions.
true/tru:/real, and not hidden by other, less important
facts or considerations [adj only before noun]
We must consider the true benefits and costs. I The true sig-
nificance of the General's offer has yet to be established.
real live ! 'rlal la:v/an informal expression for describ-
ing a person or animal who, although they are strange,
different, or very rare, are actually real [adj phrase only
before noun]
I saw a real live monkey on the streets of New York! I I've
never met a real live movie star before!
2 words for describing information, statements
etc that are based on real facts
solid empirical
concrete practical
tangible
solid/'sold II 'so:-/[adj only before noun]
We need some solid evidence to help us catch the thief. I Do
you have any solid information about our new boss, or just
rumours and gossip?
concrete /'kvtjkd:t II kmn'kri:t/clearly and firmly based
on facts, rather than on beliefs or guesses [adj]
Have they any concrete information that would make them
think that Dickie was murdered? l Until we get more news
we can't say anything concrete.
tangible /tvendsaI ball tangible evidence/proof/results
etc (=irnnnly based on facts and therefore likely to be
believed or understood) [adj]
He needed some tangible results to make people believe what
he said. I The police used what tangible information was
available in their investigation. I I'm afraid we can't accept
your story unless you give us more tangible evidence.
empirical/m'p:rilol/based on real facts, experiences,
and scientific tests, rather than on what someone thinks
may be true [adj only before noun]
They claim that the new pills can dramatically increase life
expectancy, but there's no empirical evidence to support this. I
An empirical study of electoral behaviour proves that people
vote for personalities and not policies.
practical/'praktlk9l/a practical plan or idea is based
on a careful consideration of the real facts of a situation,
so that it is very likely to be successful, or suitable for a
particular purpose [adj]
He's made several practical suggestions about the best way
to organise the holiday. I The plan for a new office has been
based on practical considerations such as the increase in staff
numbers.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 1081 REALIZE
 words for describing things such as pictures,
books, or films that show or describe things in
a way that seems real
lifelike true to life
realistic vivid
realism
lifelike ! Ilaflak/a picture, photograph, model etc that is
lifelike looks very like the person, building, animal etc
that it represents [adj]
A lifelikeplasticparrot was hanging in the bar. I The artist
had tried to make the figures lifelike. I No one can expect a
pantomime horse to be lifelike.
realistic/ralhstlk! showing or describing things as they
really are [adj]
The book gives us a realistic picture of life in the Middle
Ages. I The model was very realistic, showing a small lake
surounded by trees. I Some of the pots were in the form of
realistic human heads.
realism ! rahzzrn/the quality in a painting, film, story
etc that makes it seem real and believable In U]
The battle scenes are described with extraordinary realism. I
His style combines plain language and gritty realism.
true to life/,tr.: to 'laf/afflm, play, stow ere that is te
to life, shows or describes things as they really are [adj
phrase]
I thought the play was very true to life. [ The movie may seem
fantastic to us but apparently its very true to life in gangland
Los Angeles.
viv|d/'vivd! vivid descriptions, memories, dreams etc
are so clear that they seem real [adj]
His vivid description of the place made us want to go there
too. [ One of my most vivid memories is of my first day at
school. [ The drug can make people suffer hallucinations and
vivid nightmares.
words for describing an imaginary situation
that you talk about as if it were real in order to
solve a problem, say what might happen in
the future etc
hypothetical
hypothetical/,hapa'Oetikal-/[adj]
Given the hypothetical choice between having $Ѕm and
giving up their TV, 80% of people said they'd rather keep
their TV than have the money. I The future is all hypotheti-
cal, you've got to think about what you are going to do now. I
Economics is a hypothetical rather than a strictly factual
science.
hypothetically [adv] I'm speaking hypothetically, but if
your ex-husband came back, what would you do?
 words for describing things such as pictures,
books, or films that show or describe things in
a way that does not seem real
abstract
unrealistic
contrived
abstract /'ebstrakt/ abstract paintings, pictures,
designs etc contain shapes and images that do not look like
real things or people [adj]
Abstract painting relies heavily on color, shape, and texture. I
It's an abstract design that "s supposed to represent freedom
and strength. I All this modern art is too abstract for me. I
can't understand it at all.
unrealistic /Anra llstik/something that is unrealistic
shows or describes things in a way that does not seem real,
and is therefore not very good or cannot be believed [adj]
I hated the film - the characters were completely unrealistic
and the acting was terrible. [ The book is essentially an enter-
taining though unrealistic portrait of a rich family in the
1920s.
contrived/kan'traxvd/a story, situation etc that is con-
trived has been written or arranged in a way that seems
false and not natural [adj]
The storyline is rather contrived - people in real life just
don't behave like that. [At the end of the movie there's this
ridiculously contrived scene where everyone gets killed or
disappears.
realism REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 3
realistic REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 3, SENSIBLE 2, 3
reality: in reality IN FACT 1
reality: the reality is IN FACT 1
realize KNOW STH 2, REALIZE 1
realize: not know/not realize/have no idea NOT
KNOW 3
@--REALIZE
1 to realize something
1 to realize something
 realize hit
occur to sink in
dawn on wake up to the fact that
become aware that it clicked
strike
realize / rialaz/to notice and understand a fact, situation
etc that you did not notice before Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
realize (that) I suddenly realized that the thumping noise
was the sound of my own heart. [ It wasn't until she was fifty
miles along the road that Sheila realized she'd lost her way. [
realize what/how "'Is there a problem between you two?'"
said Beatrice, not realizing how right she was. [ realize sth
Only Bartram realized the seriousness of Tom's illness. [ We
wandered, without realizing it, into the red-light area.
realization / Irmla zean [[ -la-/In U] The realization that
he would soon be leaving home for the last time filled him
with a confusing mixture of emotions.
occur to/a ka: r tu:/if something occurs to someone, they
suddenly realize that it might be true, especially when they
had been thinking something completely different before
Iv T not in progressive or passive]
it occurs to sb that It suddenly occurred to me that maybe
she was lying. [ It never occurred to him that people could
deliberately do harm to others purely out of malice. [ occur
to sb Strangely enough, the most obvious explanation did
not occur to Jackie until the next day.
dawn on/da:n on [[ -a:n/if a fact dawns on you, you
slowly start to realize it, especially when you shottld have
realized it before Iv T]
it dawns on sb that Eventually it dawned on me that we
were walking in completely the wrong direction. [ It began
to dawn on the cadets that the assignment might not be so
much fun as they had thought. [ dawn on sb The truth
dawned on me a few days later.
become aware that/bI kAm a Iwea r 6at/to slowly real-
ize something, especially over a fairly long period of time
[ v phrase]
In the days that followed, we became aware that there was
some big secret from which we were excluded. [ More and
more middle-aged women were becoming aware that they
had missed out on further education.
strike/strak/to suddenly begin to understand the reasons
for something, or to suddenly realize how important, bad,
special etc something is Iv T not in progressive]
it strikes sb (that) Suddenly it strikes me that the only way
for Robert to know these details of the burglary is if he was
there at the time. [ strike sb The enormity of the deception
struck me. How dare they take moneyfrom people who were
so helpless and desperate!

REALIZE 1082 REASON
hit Iht/ff a fact hits you, you suddenly realize its impor-
tance or its full meaning and you feel shocked [v T not in
progressive]
it hits sb I watch the stranger walk past and then it hits me:
I know this guy! [ Suddenly it hit me. He was trying to ask
me to marry him. [ hit sb The full impact of what he'd said
hit me a few hours later.
sink in/,sk 'nl ff a fact or someone's words sink in,
you gradually realize their full meaning [phr v I]
I know I'm world champion, but it just hasn't sunk in yet! [
The foolishness of what he had done was beginning to sink
in. [ She paused to let the full irony of her words sink in.
wake up to the fact that I,wclk Ap ta 6a I fkt 6at/to
begin to fully realize and understand something, especially
after you have avoided thinking about it because it is
unpleasant or it makes you feel uncomfortable [v phrase]
How long will it be before people wake up to the fact that
anyone can catch AIDS. I The speaker warned that we must
"wake up to the fact that we are in a tough competitive
market:
it clicked/:t 'khkt] you say it clicked when you suddenly
realize something that makes a situation very easy to
understand
Then it clicked. The man at the station must have been her
brother! I I found the whole affair quite baffling but then
suddenly it clicked.
realized: be realized HAPPEN 4
really LOT/VERY MUCH 1, IN FACT 1, REAL/NOT
FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 4, 5, TRUE 7, VERY 1
really: not really NO 1
"; really?: seriously?lreally? SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 4
reallylactually IN FACT 2
realm AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC 1
,, reappear APPEAR 1
rear BACK OF STH 1, 4
:- rear: at the rear BACK OF STH 3
... rear: at/to the rear of BEHIND 1
rear: bring up the rear LAST 2
,. rearm WEAPON 4
rearrange ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE 1
reason REASON 1, 2, 3, 4
;- reason: be no reason REASON 12
reason: be the reason for/why REASON 7
reason: the reason .... is that BECAUSE 1
reason: with good causelreason RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 2
reason: within reason SENSIBLE 3
reason: won't listen to reason STUBBORN 1
reason with ARGUE 1
;  SENSIBLE
: t RIGHT/
JUSTIFIED
WRONG/
UNJUSTIFIED
10
REASON
a reason why someone does something or
feels a particular way
a reason that explains why something
happened
a reason that makes it right or fair for
someone to do something
a reason that someone gives to support a
plan or suggestion
a reason that someone gives to explain why
they did something wrong or bad
a false reason that someone gives to explain
why they do or do not do something
to be the reason why something happened
to tell someone the reason why something
happened
to tell someone the reason why you did
something wrong or bad
ways of saying that something is the reason
why it is right or suitable to do something
to have a particular reason for doing
something
ways of saying that there is no reason for
someone to think or behave in a particular
way
I a reason why someone does something or
feels a particular way
reason
motive
motivation
reason I'ri:znl [n C]
Why did you do it? I hope you had a good reason. I She wants
to change herjob for purely personal reasons. I reason for
There was simply no reason for the attack. I reason why I
think the reason why she left him was that he drank too
much. I reason to do sth You don't need a reason to phone
her. Just call her up and say hello. I reason (that) The only
reason I went was that I wanted to meet your friends. I for
reasons best known to herself/himself(=for secret rea-
sons that other people do not understand) Then, for reasons
best known to herself, she decided to leave school and join
the army!
motive I I moatv/ that reason that makes someone do
something, especially something that is dishonest or
wrong In C]
motive for/behind The police believe the motive for this
murder was jealousy I People are begining to question the
political motives behind the decision to release the prisoners. I
My only motive for writing this book was so that the truth
would be known, not for the money. I motive It's rather hard
to understand her motives.
motivation I,moto I ven/the strong feeling that is your
reason for wanting to do something or achieve something,
especially something that may take a long time to achieve
[n U]
She enjoyed the excitement of her work. Money was not her
main motivation. I For some contestants the promise of for-
eign travel and fame were motivation enough. I motivation
for My love of children was my motivation for entering the
teaching profession.
' a reason that explains why something
happened
reason
explanation

REASON 1083 REASON
reason / ' ri:zan/In C[
I wish I knew why it didn't work. There must be a reason I
suppose?[ reason for The tax on fuel has increased and this
is the main reason for the price rise. [ reason (that) She used
to get very depressed, which is one of the reasons she commit-
ted suicide. [ reason why Now we know the real reason why
he's late for work every morning.
explanation / ,ekspl'neIfan/the reason for something
happening, that explains it in a way that is easier to under-
stand or that answers people's questions In C]
I don't know where that book is. The only explanation I can
think of is that someone has borrowed it. [ It's not possible
that an entire program can be wiped off the computer. There
must be some explanation. [ explanation for Scientists have
offered various explanations for these changes of climate.
3 a reason that makes it right or fair for
someone to do something
reason justification
grounds cause
reason/'ri:zdn/In U]
reason to do sth You may be dissatisfied but is that suffi-
cient reason to resign? I We have reason to believe that this
man's death was not an accident. I every reason (=very
good reasons) With profits up by 40% they had every reason
to be happy. I good reason (=an acceptable or fair reason)
She would never complain without good reason. I There was
good reason for making the staff learn the fire drill. There
had been two fires that year already. I with good reason
He had suspected her of being unfaithful, and with good
reason; she'd been having an affair with his friend for the
last two years.
grounds/graondz/a legal or official word meaning the
reason that makes it right or fair for someone to do some-
thing In plural]
on the grounds of(=for this reason) He had been fired from
his job on the grounds of incompetence. I On what grounds
are you claiming compensation? I grounds for Is mental
cruelty sufficient grounds for divorce? l on the grounds
that She was prohibited from speaking to the students on
the grounds that it would stir up trouble.
justification/,ds^sQf'kefan/a reason that makes it
seem right or fair to do something that most people think
is wrong In C/U]
justification for There can be no justification for using
nuclear weapons. I What justification is there for paying
women lower wages?l justification With absolutely no
justification, Bernard was charged with stealing.
cause/k:z/a strong reason that makes you think you are
right to feel or behave in a particular way In U]
There's no cause to be upset. It was an accident. I good/just
ete cause We have little sympathy for people who leave their
jobs without just cause. I cause for eomplaint/alarmfcon-
tern etc I don't think I have given anyone cause for com-
plaint. I give sb cause for The child's behaviour is giving
us cause for concern.
4 a reason that someone gives to support a
plan or suggestion
reason
argument
rationale
reason/' ri:zdn/In C]
reason for/behind I had to ask him to explain the reason
behind his choice. I sound reason (=good reason) He backed
his proposals up with some very sound reasons, so that
nobody could disagree.
argument/' rgj°mant/a reason or series of reasons that
someone gives to try to persuade another person to agree
with their plan, suggestion, or opinion [n C]
John had not been persuaded by my argument. He still
believed the nation should go to war. I The major problem
with your argument is that you assume that everyone agrees
with you. I argument for/against The argument against
capital punishment has been proved time and again.
rationale/,reJa'no:l II -'nml/a formal word meaning the
reason or series of reasons that someone has used to
support a plan, suggestion, change etc In singular]
rationale for/behind In the document he explains the
rationale for his plan to build a car for the African market.I
The rationale behind the new examination system is twofold.
On the one hand it provides for fairer assessment and on the
other hand it is simpler to administer.
5 a reason that someone gives to explain why
they did something wrong or bad
excuse
explanation
excuse/k' skju:s/a reason that you give to explain why
you did something wrong or bad, especially because you
want someone to forgive you In C]
"What's your excuse this time?" "'I overslept. "" [ Don't give
me that pathetic excuse again. I'm sick of hearing about how
you missed the bus. [ excuse for I was halfway through a
polite excuse for being late when my boss hung up.
explanation I,eksplanean! a reason you give to explain
why you did something wrong or bad so that the situation
is easier for someone else to understand In C]
I told my wife my car broke down but she wasn't satisfied
with that explanation. [ All the students were taken to the
principal and an explanation was demanded of us. [ expla-
nation for Would you like to offer any explanation for the
fact that your work is never completed on time?
6 a false reason that someone gives to explain
why they do or do not do something
excuse
pretext
excuse/Ikskju:s/In C]
Don't you see? Pretending to need his advice about her car
was just an excuse. Really she just wanted to speak to him. I
excuse to do sth I said I wanted some fresh air but really
it was just an excuse to leave the room. I make an excuse
I'll make an excuse to get away from the meeting early, and
I'll meet you at 9 o"clock.
prelext /'pri:tekst/ the reason that someone gives to
explain why they do or do not do something but which is
only partly true In C]
His sore leg was a pretext, he just wanted a day off work. I
pretext for She desperately wanted to see inside his office,
but she had no pretext for going there. [ on the pretext of/
that (=giving the reason that) He used to spend hours at her
house on the pretext of giving her Japanese lessons.
7 to be the reason why something happened
be the reason for/why account for
explain lie behind
be the reason for/why /bi: 6a 'ri:zan fz):r, wa;/ [v
phrase]
What's the reason for such bad behaviour? [ be the reason
(why) The reason everyone is cheering is that it's just been
declared a national holiday. [ The package arrived after you
left. That's the reason why you didn't realize it had come.
explain/;k'splen/to be the fact or situation that is the
reason for something that happened, especially when this
makes it easier to understand what happened Iv T not in
progressive]
explain sth So you never told Rachel about the party? Well
that explains everything. [ Scientists still have found noth-
ing to properly explain such phenomena as flying saucers. [
explain why Can genetic differences explain why some
children thrive while others die?
account for/a'kaont fa:r/to be the fact or situation that
is the reason for something that has happened, especially
when people have been looking for a reason to explain it
Iv T not in progressive]
If he really is taking drugs, that would account for his
strange behaviour. [ There seemed to be no legitimate

REASON 1084 REASON
explanation to account for the patient's depression. I Many
of the scientist's findings in the tests simply cannot be
accounted for.
lie behind/laI bi'haind/to be the secret or hidden reason
for someone's action or behaviour [v T not in passive]
I wonder what lies behind Arthur's sudden interest in golfl?.l
I think that behind Tania's aggression lay a deep insecurity
about herself.
8 to tell someone the reason why something
happened
say why/tell sb why provide/come up with
give reasons an explanation
explain explain away
account for
say why/tell sb why/,seI 'wai, ,tel (sb) 'wai / [vphrase]
He admitted stealing the horse, but didn't say why. I It was
so embarrassing. I kept having to go to the toilet and didn't
want to have to tell her why. I say why/tell sb why sth hap-
pened Ralph never told us why he resigned. I suppose there
must have been a good reason.
give reasons /iglv ri:zanz/to say the reasons why you
did something or why something happened, especially in
order to make people think you are right [v phrase]
She left town suddenly without giving any reason. I The
health department announced that the hospital would be
shut down but gave no reasons for its decision.
explain / klspleln/to tell someone your reason for doing
something or the reason why something happened, so that
they understand the situation or so that you can answer
their questions [v I/T]
explain sth He obviously wants to humiliate me. How else
could you explain his behaviour towards me? I explain why
The medical experts cannot explain why this disease is more
common in some regions than in others. I explain that He
sent a telegram explaining that he would be late due to the
pressure of work. I explain to He explained to the children
that the boat had sunk on its maiden voyage. I explain sth
as (=say that it is) Police explained the killings as the actions
of a sick man. I explain I haven't time to explain. Come and
see what I've found.
account for/a'kaunt fa:r/to tell someone the reason for
something that has happened, especially when people are
looking for a reason to explain it [v T not in progressive]
How do you account for the sudden disappearance of all the
money?[ I find it very difficult to account for the fact that two
of our best students failed the exam.
provide/come up with an explanation/pra,vad,
kAm ,Ap WI6 an ,ekspla'neSan/to tell someone the reason
why something happened when they have asked you to
explain [v phrase]
In an attempt to provide an explanation she said she thought
I had given her permission to be absent. [ After failing to
come up with an adequate explanation, Jones was arrested
for robbery.
explain away/Ikspleln awei/to tell someone the reason
why you did something or why something happened, with
the intention of making them think you have not done any-
thing wrong or bad [phr v T]
explain away sth George was trying to explain away his
outburst, saying that he'd been under a lot of pressure. [ The
government tried to explain away the police's unexpected
brutality, but this only led to rioting. [ explain sth/it/them
away Everyone saw you steal it. How do you intend to
explain that away?
9 to tell someone the reason why you did
something wrong or bad
explain
make excuses
explain/ik'spleln / [V I/T]
explain sth I know it looks bad but I can explain every-
thing. I explain Let me explain. I didn't mean to hurt you. I
explain why You will be given an opportunity to explain
why you stole the money. I explain that She was deeply
apologetic, explaining that she had failed to send the tickets
because she was very busy.
make excuses /,meek k'skju:sz/to tell someone the
reason why you did something wrong, so that they will not
punish you or blame you [v phrase]
Don't make excuses. I saw you do it. I When they caught her
she made no excuses and asked for no sympathy.
10 ways of saying that something is the reason
why it is right or suitable to do something
justify call for
make it right warrant
justify/'ds^stfai / to be the fact or situation that makes
it seem right or suitable to do something that would usually
be wrong or unfair [v T]
justify sth There is not enough evidence to justify such accu-
sations. ] No matter what the circumstances, street violence
cannot be justified. I justify doing sth How can you possi-
bly justify charging three pounds for a glass of beer?
make it right/,me;k t 'rat/if you say that something
that is wrong or bad makes it right for you to do some-
thing wrong or bad, you mean that it makes your action
acceptable [v phrase not in progressive]
It's wrong to steal and nothing you say will make it right.I
make it right to do sth Does the fact that you are desperate
make it right to kill someone? I Just because you know she
cheats, that doesn't make it right for you to do the same.
call for/'ka:l fa:r/ if a situation calls for a particular
behaviour or action, it is a good reason to behave or act in
that way [v T not in progressive]
I hear that you two are getting married. This calls for a
celebration. I It was a tricky situation that called for a lot
of diplomacy.
warrant /wrant II 'wa:-, wo:-/ a formal word: if a
situation warrants a particular behaviour or action, the
situation is so bad that there is a good reason to behave or
act in that way [v T]
Patients will only be given morphine if their medical
condition warrants it. I The offences he has committed are
not serious enough to warrant a full investigation.
1 1 to have a particular reason for doing
something
have reasons
be sb's reasons
have ulterior motives
have reasons / hev 'ri:zanz/an expression meaning to
have a reason for doing something, used especially when
you do not want to say what that reason is [vphrase not in
progressive]
I can't tell you why I asked you to come but I have reasons. [
have reasons for sth Each of us had reasons for wanting
to leave best known to ourselves. [ have your reasons I
know it sounds silly but I have my reasons, believe me. [ have
good reasons If you have good reasons for suspecting her,
she should be closely questioned.
be sb's reasons/bi: (sb's) 'ri:zanz/to be the reasons why
someone does something, especially when you know they
have a reason but do not know what it is [v phrase]
Do you think that your decision is fair? What are your
reasons?[ be sb's reasons for doing sth What were his
reasons for leaving the country so quickly?
have ulterior motives/hmv ^ltaria r Imaotvz/to do
something for a secret reason when everyone thinks you
are doing it for a different reason [v phrase not in
progressive]
You're so suspicious. Whenever I buy you a present, you think
I have ulterior motives. [ It was difficult to accept that she
had no ulterior motives. Why would she want to see the office
records?

REASON 1085 REBELLION/REVOLUTION
12 ways of saying that there is no reason for
someone to think or behave in a particular
way
be no reason
groundless
unfounded
be no reason/bi: nao 'ri:zdn/ [v phrase]
there is no reason for Please remain calm everyone. There
is no reason for panic. I be no reason to do sth I know I'm
late, but that's no reason to lose your temper.
groundless/'graondlas/groundless fears/suspicions/
allegations etc (=wrong or unnecessary because there are
no reasons or facts to base them on) [adj]
Fleury dismissed our fears as groundless, though he was
secretly alarmed. I A message from Interpol confirmed that
our Inspector's suspicions were far from groundless.
unfounded/^n'faondIdl worries, fears, hopes etc that are
unfounded are wrong because there are no reasons to have
these feelings [adj]
I am going to prove to you that your suspicions are entirely
unfounded I All the signs indicate that the general's opti-
mism is unfounded.
reasonable CHEAP 2, FAIR 1, GOOD ENOUGH 1,
LOGICAL 1, RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 1, SENSIBLE 1, :3
reasonably QUITE/FAIRLY 1
reasoned LOGICAL 1
reasoning LOGICAL 3
reasons: be sb's reasons REASON 11
reasons: give reasons REASON 8
reasons: have reasons REASON 11
reassure COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 1,
WORRIED 13
reassuring COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 2
rebate PAY FOR 7
rebel DISOBEY 1, 3, REBELLION/REVOLUTION 3, 4
rebellion REBELLION/REVOLUTION 1
@ REBELLION/
REVOLUTION
an organized attempt to change the
government or other authority, using violence
an attempt by the army to take control of the
government
to take part in a rebellion
someone who takes part in a rebellion
someone who encourages people to oppose
their government, sometimes with violence
actions, speeches etc that are intended to
encourage rebellion or opposition to the
government
1 an organized attempt to change the
government or other authority, using violence
rebel lion i nsu rrection
revolution uprising
revolt mutiny
rebellion/r'beljn/[n C/U]
The rebellion started in Kilalla and spread quickly through
the Western provinces. I xn 196 a student rebellion in Paris
sparked off a nationwide general strike. I rebellion against
A large rise in food prices led to a rebellion against the
government. I crush/put down a rebellion (=use force to
stop it) The army was brought in to crush the rebellion.
revolution /,revz'lu:j'dn/ a successful attempt by the
people of a country to change or destroy the government,
by using violence In C/U]
The 1789 revolution marked the end of the French monarchy. I
Trotsky was one of the leading figures in the Russian Revo-
lution of 1917. I Revolution always brings about great polit-
ical and social change. I foment revolution (=try to start
a revolution by persuading people to oppose the govern-
ment) The socialists toured the famine areas, fomenting
revolution.
revolutionary [adj] In Africa, Asia and Latin America
there were revolutionary movements eager to discard capital-
ism.
revolt/r ' voolt/an attempt, especially one that only lasts
for a short time, to change the government by using vio-
lence In C/U]
Toussaint Louverture headed the revolt of the slaves in the
French colony of San Domingo. I revolt against In 1925,
during the revolt against the French, the wooden pavilion
over the palace was destroyed.
Insurrection/,insa'rek$n/a formal word meaning an
organized attempt to change the government, through vio-
lence, especially an attempt that involves a large number
of people In C/U]
armed insurrection (=insurrections in which weapons
are used) The reign of civil disorder and terrorism culmi-
nated in armed insurrection. I insurrection Regular insur-
rections threatened the foundations of the bourgeois
supremecy.
uprising /'^p,raizr/ a sudden unplanned, and often
unsuccessful attempt to change the government or other
authority, using violence In C/U]
Peasant uprisings were the first signs of discontent among
the people. I Slave owners usually forbade education for
slaves as they feared uprising and rebellion. I quell an
uprising (:stop it) President Herrera took immediate steps
to quell the uprising.
mutiny/'mju:txni, -tni/an organized attempt by a group
of people in the army or navy to take power from their
officers by refusing to obey their orders and using violence
In C/U]
The two sailors led a mutiny against their captain follow-
ing his cruel treatment of crew members. I Due to the un-
realistic demands made of them, the French armies were
brought to the verge of mutiny.
' an attempt by the army to take control of the
government
coup/coup d'6tat
military takeover
coup/coup d'tat /ku:, ,ku: de'to: II-de'to:/ In C]
plural coups/coups d'6tat
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the coup that brought a mili-
tary dictatorship to power here nine years ago. I The attemp-
ted coup against the government was frustrated by the lack
of popular support. I stage a coup (=attempt a coup) The
armed forces chief intended to take power by staging a coup
d 'dtat.
military takeover/,mllltri 'telkaov r II -teri-/a suc-
cessful attempt by the army to take control of their own
country by removing the legal government [n C]
The election was the first since the military takeover in 1980. I
The economic crisis and the threat from separatist guerillas
led to a military takeover.
3 to take part in a rebellion
rebel rise up against
revolt mutiny
rebel/ri'bel/[v I]
rebel against The slaves were punished for rebelling
against their owners. I rebel When the federal government
refused this request, the Southern States rebelled.
revolt/rl 'vaolt/to take part in an attempt, especially one
that lasts only for a short time, to change the government
using violence Iv I]
Parliament proposed another new tax so the American colo-
nies revolted. I revolt against Some of the Arab tribes were
induced to revolt against Turkish rule.

REBELLIONIREV OL UTION 1086 RE CENTL Y
rise up against /,raiz 'Ap agenst/ if people rise up
against the government or those in authority, large num-
bers of them begin to violently oppose it, especially without
planning to do this Iv T]
The people of Damascus rose up against their governors.
mutiny/'mju:tni, -tani/if a group in the army or navy
mutiny, they attempt to take power from their officers by
refusing to obey their orders and using violence Iv I]
At Odessa, the sailors of the Imperial navy mutinied.
4 someone who takes part in a rebellion
rebel guerrilla/guerilla
revolutionary freedom fighter
rebel / 'rebal/[n C]
Missiles were supplied to the rebels by the US from 1986. I
Carson, the former Ulster rebel, became attorney general.
rebel [adj only before noun] Rebel forces have attacked the
town of Kandatar.
revolutionary /,revo'lu:Sanari II 4aneri/ someone who
takes part in or supports an attempt to change the govern-
ment by using violence In C]
Having taken control of the capital city, the revolutionaries
proceeded to form a new government. [ She had a poster of
Che Guevara, the South American Revolutionary on her
bedroom wall. [ Garcia Gutierrez wrote two plays with
revolutionaries as their heroes.
guerrilla (also guerilla in American English)/go'rllo/
someone who fights in an unofficial military group, trying
to remove their country's existing government, especially
by making surprise military attacks In C]
The guerillas began their assault on troops on March 8th. [
Heavily armed guerrillas violated the Namibian peace deal
shortly after it had been made.
guerrilla [ adj only before noun] Poor peasants were the first
recruits to the guerrilla forces (=forces made up of guer-
rillas).[ Guerilla warfare (=war between guerillas and an
army) has been escalating in this area.
freedom fighter / fri:dam fatar/an expression mean-
ing someone who is fighting to try to remove their coun-
try's existing government, used by people who think that
this is the right thing to do In C]
News of the diversion of funds to the Nicaraguan freedom
fighters from arms sales to Iran was released today. [
Although many disapproved of violent acts carried out by
the freedom fighters, they all admired their determination.
5 someone who encourages people to oppose
their government, sometimes with violence
agitator
activist
subversive
agitator/'ed3teltr/someone who encourages people to
oppose the government by trying to make them angry
enough to use violence In C]
Among the demonstrators were some trained agitators,
intent on encouraging violence. I Hobson was a Bolshevik
agitator, who had so far been too sly to be caught spreading
his political views.
activist/'ektvlst/ someone who spends a lot of time
trying to encourage people to oppose the government or to
accept new and different political beliefs In C]
Friendship with an activist like Steve Biko increasingly drew
me into political activities. I Pro-life activists picketed the
abortion clinic.
subversive/sab'v3:rSlV/someone who is secretly trying
to make their own government weak by encouraging
people to oppose the government or to take part in a rebel-
lion In C]
The government feels there is a real threat from subversives
inside the country. I The Home Office must weed out subver-
sives from such highly sensitive jobs. I Should intelligence
files on subversives be resumed?
6 actions, speeches etc that are intended to
encourage rebellion or opposition to the
government
sedition
subversion
sedition /s'dIan/ a legal word meaning actions or
speech that is intended to encourage people to oppose the
government or to take part in rebellion In U]
Secret service agents are responsible for breaking up organi-
zations suspected of sedition.
seditious [adj] He was sentenced to three years in prisonfor
possession of seditious literature (=literature that encour-
ages sedition).
subversion/sab'v3:ran II -5an/secret activities that are
intended to encourage people to oppose the government or
to take part in a rebellion In U]
All those on trial had used their government positions to
carry out subversion. [ The movement was making danger-
ous strides elsewhere in Asia by means of subversion.
subversive/sbvu:rslv/[adj] The magazine was banned
for being 'subversive" (:encouraging subversion) in the
Government's opinion.
 rebellious DISOBEY 3
 rebound HIT/BUMP INTO 4
..... rebound on HARM/BE BAD FOR 2
rebuff REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 6
rebuke TELL SB OFF 1
• !i recall REMEMBER 1, 10, SELL 14
recant CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
!i!: recap REPEAT 4
i recap/give sb a recap SUMMARIZE 1
' recapitulate REPEAT 4
:r" recapture CATCH 2
recede LESS 6
receipt: on receipt of GET 5
I
. receive ........................ ....
,... .... ...:.=.,,,
..................
.... ,,,.m,rtrtnm,,h,,,,,?;:.:.:::.::.:<<'<::<ЈxЈ -.' .....t . 4t7"=. .. -..-.:::.:: ........  -   .................................................................................. .. ....
receive G ET 3, 5, 12
receive/come in for criticism CRITICIZE 8
receiving end: be on the receiving end GET 12
recent NEW 3, RECENTLY 3
recent: in recent weeks/months etc RECENTLY 2
recently RECENTLY 1, 2
@ RECENTLY
only a short time ago
happening over a period of time up to the
present
words for describing an event that has
happened recently
words for describing news or information that
is recent
1 only a short time ago
recently
not long ago
a short time ago
newly
freshly
a little while back
a short/little while ago

RECENTLY 1087 reclairn
recently/'ri:santlil a few days, weeks, months etc ago
lady]
The President has recently come back from a five day tour
of South America. [ Michael Jackson's recently released
album has gone straight to number one. [ only recently It
was only recently that Frank got a police warning about
dangerous driving.[ until recently Until quite recently
nobody had opposed the new road plans, but it seems that
attitudes are changing.
not long ago/not ,1 a'gao [[ -la:-/in the recent past
[ adv phrase]
Not long ago women were expected to stay at home and look
after the children. [ not so long ago There was a time not
so long ago when everyone felt confident about investing in
property.
a short time ago [) f:):rt talm agao/very recently,
especially only a few minutes, hours, or days ago lady
phrase]
You've just missed Angela. She went to a meeting a short time
ago. [ only a short time ago Seeing the tramp, Thomas
remembered how he himself had been poor only a short time
ago.
newly/nju:li [[ nu:li/newly formed/created/appoin-
ted/married ete (=formed, married etc very recently,
especially during the last few days or weeks) lady]
A newly married couple have moved into the house next
door. [ The group meets regularly in the newly built Chinese
community center. [ Mr Chandler is now business develop-
ment director for Courtauld's newly formed lace and knit-
ted fabrics division.
freshly / frefli/freshly cutCookedCadeCainted ete
(=cut, cooked etc a very short time ago, especially during
the last few minutes or hours) ladvl
There's a pot of freshly made coffee on the kitchen table. [Add
one clove of freshly crushed garlic. [ Someone had placed a
bunch of freshly cut roses on her desk. [ At the beginning of
term the school looked bright and clean with its freshly
painted walls and polished floors.
a little while back/a ltl waft bak/an informal expres-
sion meaning fairly recently, usually a few weeks or
months ago [adv phrase]
I broke my leg a little while back when I fell off my horse. [
The village, when we found it, was just as George had
described it a little while back.
a short/little while ago/o ,o:rt, ilIt] IWaI10,gOO/ a
short time ago, usually not more than a few hours [adv
phrase]
"Is there a Mrs Lambert staying at the hotel? .... Yes, she
checked in a short while ago. "[ just a short/little while
ago Bobby's attorney gave me a call just a little while ago
to talk about the terms of the will.
2: happening over a period of time up to the
present
recently
lately
in recent weeks/months etc
in the last/past few weeks/months etc
for the last/past few weeks/months etc
recently / 'ri:santli/[adv]
I haven't been feeling well recently. [just recently There
have been quite a few robberies around here just recently. [
more recently Mrs Wilkes became a full-time official in 1990
and more recently has been in charge of the training
program.
lately /'le;tli/ in the recent past until now, especially
during the weeks or days closest to now [adv]
Have you done any painting lately?[ I don't know what's
come over Angela lately - she's so moody. [ The company
went through a bad time last year, but lately things have
been looking up.
in recent weeks/months etc/xn ri:sant (weeks, etc)/
a formal expression, used especially in news reports, mean-
ing during the weeks or months closest to now lady phrase]
Flight cancellations have increased in recent weeks. [ In
recent months there have been rumors of at least two
attempted coups.
in the last/past few weeks/months etc/m 6 lo:st,
pa:st fju: (weeks, etc) II -last, pmst-/during the weeks or
months closest to now lady phrase]
A lot has happened in thepastfew months. I Fvegrown very
fond of you in these last few days. [ In the past few weeks there
has been a lot of serious talk about a merger.
for the last/past few weeks/months etc/fa r 6
la:st, pa:st fju: (weeks, etc) II -lmst, pabst-/all through a recent
period of time until now lady phrase]
Jamie's been abroad for the last few months. [ Hello! I've been
trying to get in touch with you for the last few days. [ With
local elections coming up, the Green Party has been cam-
paigning for the past few months.
3 words for describing an event that has
happened recently
recent
latest
recent/'ri:sdnt/[adj usually before noun]
The team returned to a heroes' welcome after their recent
success in the European championships. I Recent develop-
ments in medicine have revolutionized the treatment of heart
disease.
latest/letst/most recent [adj usually before noun]
The latest attempt to reach a peace settlement ended in
failure. I Members are unhappy with the union's decision to
accept the latest pay offer. I the latest (=the latest one) This
is the latest in a series of Mafia killings.
4 words for describing news or information that
is recent
latest
up-to-date
up-to-the-minute
latest/'lextst/the latest news/information/gossip etc
(=the most recent news, information etc) [adj usually before
noun]
This is CBS bringing you the very latest news from Washing-
ton. I According to our latest information from the scene the
passengers and crew are all safe. I The girls spent the even-
ing catching up on the latest gossip. I the latest (=the latest
news) Have you heard the latest? Nicky's getting married.
up.to-date/,^p ta delt-/up-to-date information is the
most recent and correct information [adj]
These files provide up-to-date information on selected groups
of employees within the organization. I Is this map up-to-
date? It doesn't seem to show the new road.
up-to-the-minute/,Ap ta 6a ImIn]t-/up-to-the-minute
news or information is the most recent news or informa-
tion about something that is likely to change very quickly
all the time [adj only before noun]
Our sports broadcast will be bringing you coverage of the
afternoon's sporting events and up-to-the-minute results. [ A
computer link with Wall Street gives traders up-to-the-minute
market data worldwide.
receptacle CONTAIN/HOLD 3
reception PARTY 2
recess HOLE 5, PAUSE 2, 4
recess: break/recess PAUSE 4
recession FAll 11
recipe COOK 8
recipe for/formula for WAY/METHOD 4
reciprocal EACH OTHER 2
reciprocate REACT 2
reckless CARELESS 2
reckon GUESS 2, THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 1,
THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
reckon on/figure on EXPECT 3
reckon with: have sb/sth to reckon with DEAL WITH 5
reclaim GET 10

recline 1088 recommend
recline LIE DOWN 2
recluse ALONE 3
recognition PRAISE 5
recognition: in recognition of THANK 1
recognizable RECOGNIZE 2
recognize ACCEPT 7, RECOGNIZE 1, THANK
@ RECOGNIZE
1 to know who someone is or what something
is, especially because you have seen them
before
2 words for describing someone or something
that you recognize or that is easy to
recognize
3 difficult or impossible to recognize
1 to know who someone is or what something
is, especially because you have seen them
before
recognize pick out
know tell
identify not mistake
recognize (also -ise British)/'rekognaz, 'rekon-I Iv T not
in progressive]
Lisa! I'm sorry - I didn't recognize you - you "re had your
hair cut! I I can't remember how the tune goes but I'll recog-
nize it when I hear it. I You'll probably recognize these two
designs when you see them - they're very popular.
recognition / ,rekag I njan/In U ] There was no look of recog-
nition on her face. She obviously had no idea who I was.
know/nao/to recognize something or someone, especially
when you have not seen them for some time or when they
have changed a lot Iv T not in progressive]
The town has changed so much you wouldn't know the
place. I He was so ill at one stage he didn't even know his
sister. I You'll know him when you see him. He has red curly
hair and is very tall and thin.
identily/al dentfai/to recognize and name someone who
has done something illegal or someone who has died in an
accident Iv T]
Detectives hope someone will be able to identify the man seen
running away just after the murder. I The airline hopes that
most of those who died in the crash will be identified by their
families. I With the use of television film, police were able to
identify those responsible for the riots in the football stadium.
identification/ai dentfI Iken/[n U] The tags on the feet
of dead bodies in a police morgue are used for identification
purposes.
pick ou| ! Ipik aOt/to recognize someone or something
out of a group of things or people [phr v T]
pick out sb/sth There were a gang of boys coming towards
them. Ralph picked out Jack easily, even from that distance. I
In an identity parade the witness must pick out the guilty
person from a line of people of similar ages and appear-
ances.I pick sb/sth/it/her etc out I was listening for
Steve's voice, but it wasn't easy to pick it out among all the
others.
leli /tel/ to be able to recognize someone or something,
especially when this is not easy Iv I/T not in progressive]
tell (that) You look so different in the photograph - but I
can tell it's you. I tell who/what etc There's someone on the
phone for you. I can't tell who it is. I tell "'Was it a green or
a blue car?" "'I couldn't tell in the dark. ""
not mistake/not mi steik/to be able to recognize some-
thing very easily, especially because someone has given
you a very good description of it Iv T]
"'How will I know her? .... Don't worry, you can "t mistake her.
She looks exactly like the rest of the family. "[ You won't mis-
take their house, it's the one with the tennis court in the front
yard.
 words for describing someone or something
that you recognize or that is easy to
recognize
familiar
recognizable
unmistakable
familiar /fa'mliar! someone or something that is
familiar is easy to recognize, because you have seen or
heard them many times before [adj]
To most American people the National Anthem is a familiar
piece of music. I a familiar figure (=someone who is often
seen in a particular place and therefore is familiar to the
people there) The local policeman has become a familiar
figure in our school. I look/sound etc familiar "'Have you
ever seen this person before? .... Well he looks familiar but I
couldn't tell you where I know him from. "'1 familiar to sb
The voice on the phone sounded familiar to me.
recognizable (also-isable British)/'rekgnazbl/easy
to recognize, especially because of being clear or having
a particular sound or mark [adj]
Tourists are easily recognizable because of their cameras. I
Muffled noises were coming from the house, the only recog-
nizable sound being her daughter's laughter. I Caked solidly
in mud, it was scarcely recognizable as a bulldozer.
unmilkable / ^nm steikabal/impossible not to recog-
nize [adj]
The handwriting on the envelope was unchanged and
unmistakable after all those years. I The sound gradually
became louder and louder. It was unmistakable - a heli-
copter. I There was a slight but unmistakable odour of
perfume in the corridor.
3 difficult or impossible to recognize
unrecognizable changed beyond all
unfamiliar recognition
strange
unrecognizable (also-isable British)/an'rekagnaizabal/
[adj not before noun]
He'd shaved off his beard and was wearing a business suit
- he was quite unrecognizable! I My bicycle was unrecogniz-
able after the accident.
unfamiliar/, Anfalrndiar/something that is unfamiliar
is not recognizable because you have never seen it, heard
it, done it etc before [adj]
The voice that floated across the room was unfamiliar, a
girl's voice, young and fresh. I Everything in her new job was
exciting and unfamiliar. I unfamiliar to sb His name may
be unfamiliar to Western audiences.
strange/strends/a strange man/voice/smell etc (=one
that is not recognizable because it is different from other,
similar things that you know already) [adj only before
noun]
There were strange voices coming from upstairs. I Mum,
come quick! There's a strange man coming up the path. I She
took the dish out of the oven. It had a strange but pleasant
smell.
changed beyond all recognition/tfendsd bjond
,a:l rekag'nan II-jo:nd-/ something that is changed
beyond all recognition has changed so much that you can
no longer recognize it [adj phrase]
You wouldn't recognize the island now. It's changed beyond
all recognition since the developers moved in. I What they
heard was Inn's voice, but it had changed out of all recogni-
tion.
recognized: be recognized/acknowledged as
THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
recoil BACK/BACKWARDS 2
recOllect REMEMBER1
recollection- have a hazy/vague recollection
REMEMBER 3
recollection: have no recollection of FORGET 1
recommend ADVISE 1, SUGGEST 1, 2, 4

recommendation 1089 RECOVER/GET BETTER
recommendation ADVISE 5, SUGGEST 5
reconciled: be reconciled ARGUE 8
reconditioned REPAIR 2
record INFORMATION 2, MEASURE 1, PAST 2,
RECORD 1, 2
record: keep a record KEEP/STORE 3, RECORD 1
record: put/place on record RECORD 1
record: put/set the record straight CORRECT 5
record-breaking BEST 1
RECORD
I to keep information about something, so that
it can be used or studied later
2 information that is kept to be used or studied
later
1 to keep information about something, so that
it can be used or studied later
record document
chart register
keep a record put/place on record
record/r 'ka:rd/to write something down or store it in
a computer or on film so that it can be looked at in the
future Iv T]
Make sure you record the date that you bought your tickets. I
His job is to count and record the number of people who use
the swimming pool. I Temperature variations in the museum
are recorded by a computer.
chart/tso:rt/to record information about a situation or
a set of events over a period of time in order to show how
it changes or develops Iv T]
She aims to chart incidents of cancer in areas around nuclear
power stations. I The doctor said it was impossible to chart
the spread of AIDS without extra funding. I The computer
will chart the spacecraft's progress as it approaches Saturn.
keep a record /,ki:p a 'reka:d II-ard/to write down
details about something you have done or something that
has happened because it may be important to have this
information available at a later time Iv phrase]
keep a record of She always keeps a record of how much
money she spends. I Employees were asked to keep a detailed
record of any accident in the workplace. I keep a record The
personnel department keeps a record so that they know how
many sick days each employee has had.
document/'dokjment II 'do:k-/to write about important
events, activities, and developments and record all the facts
and details connected with them Iv T]
Many writers have documented the changes in feminist
politics over the last decade. [ Attempts to document social
problems in some parts of the country had been difficult.
register / !redsstar/to put something on an official list
or record Iv I/T]
register sth You had to register a baby's birth within a
month. I register as They claimed that the new rules would
discourage people from registering as unemployed. I
register with The new students were told that they must
register with the University before they could claim their
grants. I register for The number of people who register for
welfare has been growing steadily over the past three years.
put/place on record/Ipot, Iples n reka:d [[ -ard/to
publicly say something that you want to be recorded,
because you think it is important Iv phrase]
put/place on record that The lawyer asked the court to put
on record that her client had always been co-operative. I
put/place sth on record Yes, we do remember your initial
objections, but unfortunately you didn't place them on
record.
2 information that is kept to be used or studied
later
record chronicle
archives register
record/'reka:d. II -ard/information that is written down
or stored on computer or film so that it can be looked at in
the future In C]
Civil Liberties activists are worried about what information
will be permanently stored on police computer records. [ She
complained that she had been denied all access to her son's
medical records. [ record of This is a record of all the people
that have ever been employed by this company.
archives/'o:rkaivz/a collection of records that provide
information about the history of a country, organization,
family etc In plural]
Government archives will be available to the public after 30
years. [ New evidence has come to light from the 4tyear-old
United Nations archives.
archive [adj] Any old photographs that relatives might have
would provide the school with some interesting archive
material.
chronicle/'kmnlkal [[ 'kro:-/a historical record in which
events are recorded in the order in which they happened
In C]
The report is a chronicle of the history of the Party since its
formation. [ Chronicles written by Roman scholars can give
us a good idea of how their political system worked.
register ]' red 5 ;astr/an official list of names kept for legal
purposes that records information such as who attends a
particular school, who has been born or has died, or who
is legally allowed to do something In C]
Teachers were reminded that school attendance registers
were actually legal documents. [ the electoral register [
register of To find out about her family history, she looked
through the register of births, marriages and deaths. [
Government plans to keep a register of all non-taxpayers
proved to be very unpopular.
; recoup GET 10
 recover GET 10, RECOVER/GET BETTER 1, 3
recover
RECOVER/GET
BETTER
1 to recover after an illness or accident
2 to spend time resting in order to recover from
an illness, operation etc
3 to start feeling better or stronger after
experiencing problems or unhappiness
4 to start to recover from illness or problems,
especially if this is only a temporary
improvement
5 the process of recovering from an illness
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

RECOVER/GET BETTER 1090 RECOVER/GET BETTER
1 to recover after an illness or accident
recover
get better
make a slow/quick/
complete etc recovery
get over
get well
recover/ri'kvr/[v I]
feel better
improve
be on the mend
respond to
treatment
shake off
My brother is recovering after a car crash. I Sammy needed
to recover a little before they could move him to a hospital
nearer his home. I recover from It takes a long time to
recover from glandular fever. I fully recover (=completely
recover) It was several months before John had fully reco-
vered from his heart attack.
get better/,get Ibetr/an informal expression meaning
to recover after an accident or illness [v phrase]
If you don't get better by the beginning of the week I'll have
to take you to the doctor. I My left ankle is still weak, but it'll
get better with continued physiotherapy. I I didn't remember
anything about the accident, but little by little, as I got better,
memories started coming back to me.
make a slow/quick/complete etc recovery/mexk
a (slow etc) r; 'k^vari/to recover slowly, quickly, completely
ete [v phrase]
The children made a quick recovery to the surprise of all the
medical staff ] If he made a good recovery he might be
expected to live another three years. ] They do not know if the
condition will recur of if she will make a full recovery.
get over/get 'aovar/to recover from an illness, espe-
cially one that is not very serious [v T1
Mark hasn't got over the flu yet, He still feels pretty weak. I
I've still got a cold, but I'm getting over it quite quickly now. ]
The doctor told Mum it was only a stomach upset, not food
poisoning, and she would get over it in a day or two.
get well/get 'well an expression meaning to recover,
used especially when you are encouraging someone to
recover [v phrasel
Get well soon - we all miss you! [ If you get well quickly,
darling, we can go away somewhere for a few days.
feel better/,fi:l 'betr/an American expression mean-
ing to recover, used especially when you are encouraging
someone who is ill [v phrase]
Feel better soon - we all miss you at work. I The drugs were
powerful and soon helped me feel better.
Improve / Im'pru:v/to recover partly, but not completely
[v I]
Susie is improving all the time. She'll probably soon be
allowed out of the hospital. I My health finally began to
improve when I changed to a less stressful job. I The results
of the study showed that patients treated with CMI improved
steadily, whereas those treated with DMI relapsed.
improvement [n U] I'm afraid there have been no signs of
improvement yet; she is still extremely ill.
be on the mend/bi: on 5 mend/if you say that some-
one is on the mend, you mean that they are in the process
of recovering [v phrase]
I'm glad to see you "re on the mend now. You had the flu
badly, didn't you?] "'I forgot to ask you how your father is
doing? Is he on the mend? .... Yes, he's much better, thank
you. ""
respond to treatment/ri ,spend t 'tri:tmnt II -,spa:nd-/
if a person or an illness responds to treatment, they get
better as a result of the medical treatment that is being
given [v phrase]
Her doctor told me that she was responding well to the treat-
ment they were giving her at the hospital. I He contracted a
lung infection which did not respond to treatment.
shake off / SeIk 'f ,, -'::f/to manage to recover from an
illness such as a cold or an infection, which you have had
for a fairly long time [phr v T]
shake sth/it off Towards the end of the year he caught flu,
and he couldn't shake it off [ shake off a cold/flu/an
infection ete It seems to be taking me a long time to shake
off this cold.
2 to spend time resting in order to recover from
an illness, operation etc
recuperate
convalesce
recuperate/rI'kju:preIt, -'ku:-/ [v I]
George is recuperating in the hospital after his operation. [
It was a very difficult birth, and Mary is now recuperating
at home with the baby.
convalesce/,konv'les [[ ,ka:n-/to spend a long period
of time recovering from a serious illness, especially by rest-
ing [v I]
Stephanie has been very sick, and is now convalescing at
home. [ They travelled to Bermuda for six weeks so that
David could convalesce in the sun.
3 to start feeling better or stronger after
experiencing problems or unhappiness
recover bounce back
get over pick up the pieces
get back to normal
recover/rI'khv;r/ [V I]
recover from Mark seems to have recovered from the shock
of his father's death. [ It took a long time for the British econ-
omy to recover from the effects of the war. [ recover The scan-
dal split the party, which has not yet recovered enough to win
an election.
recovery [n U] American aid played a major part in the
country's recovery.
get over /iget 'ovr/ to recover from a particular
problem or from a difficult or unhappy time [v T]
It took Joe quite a long time to get over the divorce. [ Jenny
hasn't got over her fear of flying yet. [ The corporation never
really got over the workforce problems it had in the early
seventies.
get back to normal/get bmk t 'n3:rmal/ifa situation
gets back to normal after there have been problems or
difficulties, it changes back to the way it usually is [v
phrase]
Life is slowly getting back to normal after last week's floods. [
Now that Mum and Dad have got together again, things
should get back to normal. [ Unions promised that output
would return to normal once the pay claim had been settled.
bounce back /,baons 'bmk/ an informal expression
meaning to recover quickly and easily after problems or
an unhappy period of time [phr v I]
Having a good sense of humour helped her bounce back after
her dreadful experience. [ Over at Ford they still believe that
the car industry will bounce back to what it was if the good
old days.
pick up the pieces /,pIk ^p 6 'pi:sz/ to begin to
recover from difficult or unhappy times by trying to do all
the things that you used to do before the problems started
[v phrase]
When her husband walked out on her and the children.
Hilary was left to pick up the pieces. I Following bankruptcy
there was nothing else for it but to pick up the pieces and start
again.
4 to start to recover from illness or problems,
especially if this is only a temporary
improvement
rally
rally / 'radii/[v I]
The economy rallied in late July, but slumped again in
October. I Grandfather seems to have rallied, but the doctors
still don't think he has much of a chance.
5 the process of recovering from an illness
recovery
convalescence
recuperation

RECOVER/GET BETTER 1091 REDUCE
recovery/ri'kAvari/[n singular]
The doctors were surprised at Phillip's quick recovery. I The
generous support Fay received from her family helped speed
her recovery.
convalescence / ,ktnva'lesns II ,ka:n-/ a process of
resting for a long time in order to recover from a serious
illness In U]
They suggested that I spend a period of convalescence in the
mountains. I During the second week of her convalescence
Wanda felt that she was beginning to recover.
recuperation/r; ,kju:paireIfan II -ku:/a process of rest-
ing in order to recover from an illness, operation etc In U]
After a few days of recuperation, she went back to work. I I
had time to think during my long recuperation, and decided
to start writing.
recovered: be fully recovered BETTER/RECOVERED 1
recovery RECOVER/GET BETTER 5
recovery: make a slow/quick/complete etc recovery
RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
recreation ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1:2, INTERESTED 8
recriminations BLAME 6
recruit JOB/WORK 10, JOIN AN ORGANIZATION 5
rectangle SQUARE 1
rectangular SQUARE 2
rectify SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 1
recuperate RECOVER/GET BETTER 2
recuperation RECOVER/GET BETTER 5
recur HAPPEN 14
recurrent/recurring AGAIN 1
recycle USE STH 10
red: be in the red OWE1
red: go/turn red EMBARRASSED 2
red-handed: catch sb red-handed CATCH 4
red herring: be a red herring CONNECTED WITH 9
red hot HOT 1
red rag: be like a red rag to a bull ANGRY 10
red tape COMPLICATED 2
redecorate PAINT 2
redeeming feature GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 2
redirect SEND3
redistribute SHARE 1
redo AGAIN 2
redress the balance EQUAL 8
reduce REDUCE 1, 2, 3, 4
reduce/cut CHEAP 8
reduce sb to CAUSE 4
reduce sb to tears CRY 7
reduce speed SLOW 10
reduce
REDUCE
to make something smaller in size or number,
or less in degree
I to reduce the number, amount, price, or size
of something
2 to reduce pain or other unpleasant feelings
 to reduce the amount of something that you
eat, drink, or use because it is bad for you
4 to reduce the level of heat, light, sound etc
ways of saying that something gradually
reduces the amount or value of something
ways of saying that a company or other
organization reduces the money it spends,
reduces the size of its plans etc
to make a written or spoken statement less
forceful or extreme
an act of reducing something or the amount
by which it is reduced
1 to reduce the number, amount, price, or size
of something
reduce slash
lower roll back
decrease knock down
cut halve
reduce/rr'dju:s II r'du:s/Iv T]
reduce sth I'm not buying that car unless they reduce the
price. I Schools have economized by reducing the amount of
meat in school meals. I reduce sth by half/ten per cent/a
small amount etc The workforce has been reduced by half. I
Board members agreed that costs should be reduced by 15
percent.
reduced [adj] It's possible to get tickets at a reduced rate.I
Most airlines offer reduced prices for children.
lower/laoar/to reduce something, for example a price
or limit, especially because people want or expect this to
happen Iv T]
Politicians are putting pressure on the Bank of England to
lower interest rates. I In an attempt to attract more customers,
entrance fees have been lowered. I Several rock stars have
joined the campaign to urge the government to lower the age
of consent for gay men. 
decrease/d kri:s/to reduce something, especially by a
fairly small amount or number Iv T]
Various methods are being explored in order to decrease the
volume of traffic on our roads. I Better health education
should help to decrease the incidence of heart disease.
cut/kArl to reduce something by a lot, especially prices,
time, or money [v T]
cut sth by half/several weeks/ten per cent ere Because
of the recession, salaries in the advertising industry have
been cut by a half. I cut sth The new system is aimed at cut-
ting the average waiting time. I cut sth from/to The forces
leave period has been cut to 10 weeks from fifteen.
slash /sla/ a word used especially in advertising or
newspapers meaning to reduce prices by a very large
amount [v T ]
slash sth American car manufacturers have started slash-
ing prices in an effort to stimulate sales. I Public spending
has been slashed over the past two years. I slash sth by
10%/half/78% ere Come to our Summer Sale, where prices
have been slashed by up to 75%.
roll back/raol bak/ an American word meaning to
reduce prices, costs etc Iv T]
Most of the big downtown stores have rolled back their prices
to dispose of winter stock. I Hoover vowed to roll back govern-
merit spending, cut taxes and stimulate demand.
knock down/,ntk daon [[ ,no:k-/to reduce the price of
something by a large amount, especially in order to make
it easier to sell [phr v T]
knock down sth We bought our new oven last week - it had
been knocked down from Ј450 to Ј200. [ knock sth/it/them
down People are having to knock their house prices down
by quite substantial amounts.
halve/ha:v [[ hav/to reduce something by half Iv T]
The overseas aid budget has been almost halved, from $18m
to just over $10m.

REDUCE 1092 REDUCE
lessen
relieve
ease
alleviate
2 to reduce pain or other unpleasant feelings
reduce deaden/dull
take the edge off
allay
mitigate
reduce/rI'du:s II rI'du:s/[v T]
In the 19th century, new drugs were invented to reduce pain
in childbirth. I Prompt action can often reduce the severity
of shock in road accident victims. I Miriam finds that yoga
and meditation help her in reducing stress.
lessen / 'leson/to slightly reduce pal.n, guilty feelings or
shock Iv T]
He shifted his position a little, in order to lessen the pain in
his leg. I No amount of comforting could lessen Charles"
disappointment.
relieve/r[ 'li:v/to make pain or feelings such as being
bored or anxious easier to bear, without actually removing
the cause of the feeling Iv T]
Peppermint has long been regarded as a plant that can
relieve indigestion. [ Magnetic board games can help relieve
the boredom of long car journeys for kids. [ Harry attempted
a couple of jokes to relieve the tension of the occasion.
relief/ri'li:f/ In U] Massage is excellent for the relief of
stress. I pain relief
ease/i:z/to reduce pain or unpleasant feelings and make
someone feel happier or more comfortable [v T]
Rod rubbed his jaw to ease the pain a little. I The knowledge
that she wasn't the only person in this situation eased her
nervousness.
alleviate/o'li:viet/a formal word meaning to reduce
pain, make a problem less serious, or reduce feelings such
as being bored or anxious Iv T]
You can't cure a common cold, but you can alleviate the
symptoms. I Western aid has helped to alleviate the situation
in Eritrea.
alleviation/alli:vi'efan/[n U] There has been very little
research into the alleviation of depression in new mothers.
deaden/dull / Idedn, dAl/to reduce physical pain, espe-
cially with the result that you feel nothing at all Iv T]
Her arm was so badly burned that the nerve endings had
been deadened. She could feel nothing. [ Wilson's senses were
still dulled by the pill the doctor had given him.
take the edge off/itelk 6i ted3 of/to make something
such as pain, hunger, or a shock slightly less unpleasant
or upsetting Iv phrase]
Dry biscuits helped to take the edge off their hunger -for a
short while at least. [ "'I'm leaving home, "" she announced
"'but In not goingfar away, "she added, as if this might take
some of the edge off the news.
allay Io'leq allay sb's fears/concern/suspicions etc (=a
formal word meaning to make someone much less fright-
ened, concerned etc) Iv T]
Democrats were anxious to allay the anti-Communist fears
of the voters. I Showing her his identity card went some way
towards allaying her suspicions.
mitigate/'mltolgelt/a formal word meaning to make an
unpleasant situation or its effects less serious and less
difficult to bear Iv T]
Car workers'organizations have tried to mitigate the inhu-
man nature of assembly-line work. I Their extreme poverty
is mitigated slightly by the fact that Rosa has a part-time job.
3 to reduce the amount of something that you
eat, drink, or use because it is bad for you
reduce
cut down
reduce/ri'dju:s II r, 'du:s/[v T]
Doctors are urging the public to reduce the amount of salt
in their diet. I Supermarkets can help promote healthy eating
habits by reducing "hidden'sugar and fat in their products.
cut down /,kAt daon/if you cut down on food, alcoholic
drink, or tobacco, you eat, drink, or smoke less of it, espe-
cially in order to lose weight or to improve your health [phr
vii
If you can't give up smoking completely, at least try to cut
down. I cut down on People concerned about cholesterol
levels often try to cut down on red meat.
4 to reduce the level of heat, light, sound etc
reduce
lower
turn down
reduce/rl tdju:s II rI Idu:s/to T]
Cook the sauce for 3-4 minutes, then reduce the heat and
simmer gently. I The Environmental Pollution Agency is also
concerned with reducing noise levels in cities.
lower/' laoor/to reduce the level or degree of something,
especially something you can measure exactly, for exam-
ple temperature or pressure Iv T]
You can increase a tyre's grip in winter by slightly lowering
its pressure. I The freezing point of water is lowered by the
addition of salt.
turn down / tta:rn daon/to reduce the level of sound, heat,
light etc, especially by turning a control [phr v T]
turn down sth Ask Barry to turn down that music, would
you? I She's so short of money she keeps turning down the
heating, even when the weather's freezing. I turn sth/it/
them down Once we've turned the lights down, the show's
ready to begin.
ways of saying that something gradually
reduces the amount or value of something
erode deplete
eat into whittle away
erode/i'rood/to gradually reduce the amount or value
of something, especially money, wages, or profits over a
period of time Iv T]
Over the years, the value of our savings and investments has
been steadily eroded by inflation. I High interest rates can
gradually erode profit margins.
eat into /  i:t intu:/if costs, rising prices, etc eat into the
amount of money you have, they reduce its value, espe-
cially in a way that you do not notice when it is happening
[vT]
Rising rents and travel expenses simply eat into any pay rise
that nurses might get. I Theft from offices and factories eats
into company profits.
deplete/dI'pli:q to reduce supplies of something to a
level that is too low Iv T]
Over the last few years, rainforests have been steadily
depleted. I The ranks of the teaching profession are rapidly
depleted by those dropping out. I CFC is just one chemical
that depletes the ozone layer.
whittle away / twtl o'weq to reduce something by small
amounts over a period of time, so that the final effect is very
serious [phr v T]
whittle away sth Inflation has been whittling away the
value of state pensions for the last fifteen years.
6 ways of saying that a company or other
organization reduces the money it spends,
reduces the size of its plans etc
scale down/scale back pare down
cut back downsize
trim
scale down (British) I scale back (American)/,skefl
daon, skell bak/to reduce something, such as the size
of an organization or a plan, so that it is still operating but
on a smaller level [phr v T]
scale down sth European central banks have scaled down
their operations in South Africa. I scale sth/it/them down
The two companies have announced plans to scale auto
production back next year. I After the Wall Street Crash,
/)roiections of economic zrowth were scaled back.

REDUCE 1093 REFLECT
cut back/,kt 'bmk/to reduce the numbers of something
or the time or money spent on something, especially
because you can no longer afford to continue at the previ-
ous level [phr v I/T]
cut back sth Our music department has been cut back to
almost nothing. [ Farmers have agreed to cut back wheat
production. [ cut back on Her friends know that she is under
stress and have warned her to cut back on her workload.
cutbacks / 'ltbeks/[nplural] Women's groups are saying
that cutbacks in public transport staffing could endanger
passengers" safety.
trim/trm/to reduce something by a small amount that
will not harm or change it very much, especially in order
to save money Iv T]
They are expected to trim the workforce by 10%. ] By trim-
ming costs and improving service the hotel has now started
to make a profit again.
pare down/,pe r 'daon/to reduce something by small
amounts over a period of time so that the effect is not very
serious or noticeable while it is happening [phr v T]
pare down sth The company has pared down expenditure
and hopes to recoup its losses this year.
downsize / daonsaIz/a word used especially in Ameri-
can English meaning to reduce the number of people that
work for a company, especially in order to save money Iv T]
They are downsizing the workforce in a desperate attempt
to save the firm. I Advised to downsize its operation, the
company has shrunk to 2,000 employees.
7 to make a written or spoken statement less
forceful or extreme
tone down
moderate
dilute
tone down / ton daon/to reduce the effect of a speech
or piece of writing, especially by making the language you
use less forceful [phr v T]
tone sth/it/them down I think that letter of complaint was
rather strong - you might get better results if you toned it
down a little. I tone down sth The US ultimatum to the
Soviet Union was eventually toned down in March 1959.
moderate /rnDdarelt II 'ma:4 to make your language
more acceptable, especially by not swearing or being very
rude Iv T ]
We had to ask Joan to moderate her language in front of the
kids.
dilute / ,da: 'lu:t/to reduce the effect or force of an argu-
ment or belief, by allowing additional people, things, or
ideas in, that may make it bigger but also weaker [v T]
He thinks that by including white liberals in the party they
would be diluting the essentially black nature of the anti-
apartheid struggle.
 an act of reducing something or the amount
by which it is reduced
reduction
cut
reduction IrI'dkanl [n C]
reduction in The Union is asking for a one-and-a-half hour
reduction in the working week. [ reduction on I'm afraid
we can't offer you much of a reduction on your car insurance. [
reduction of $10/5% ete During the sale they were offer-
ing reductions of over 20%. [ reduction Tax reductions are
welcomed by the majority of the population.
cut/kArl a word used especially in politics, business, or
news reporting, meaning the amount, size, or number by
which something is reduced, especially by the government
[n C]
cut in Cuts in health spending have particularly affected
people from poorer backgrounds. [ A professor from Stan-
ford University declared that a drastic cut in strategic arms
would be necessary during the 1990s. [ cut Students arepro-
testing about widespread education cuts.
 reduced CHEAP 5
 reduction LESS 7, REDUCE 8
i redundancy LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 2
 redundant: be made redundant LEAVE A JOB OR
 ORGANIZATION 3
 redundant: make sb redundant LEAVE A JOB OR
' ORGANIZATION 2
reek SMELL 5
ii .... reel off LIST 6
ili!i refer to MENTION 1
;.. referendum VOTE/ELECT 2
: refill FULL 7
.. refine IMPROVE 4, PURE 3
' reflect REFLECT 1, 2, SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 2, THINK
ABOUT 5
reflect badly on/not reflect well on SHOW/BE A SIGN
OF 5
reflect well on SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 4
REFLECT
ways of saying that a surface or object sends
back light, heat, sound etc that hits it
to reflect light, heat, sound etc
ways of saying that light, heat, sound etc
reflects off something
an image that is reflected
something that reflects light
1 to reflect light, heat, sound etc
reflect
reflect/ri'flekt/[v T]
reflect sth The white painted walls reflected the firelight. I
The satellite is covered in gold foil to reflect the heat. [ be
reflected in sth The city's lights are reflected in the broad
river that runs through the middle of it. [ One poster was
reflected in the mirror on the wall opposite.
 ways of saying that light, heat, sound etc
reflects off something
reflect
bounce off
reflect/ri'flekt/[v I]
reflect off/from/between etc I was dazzled by the sun-
light reflecting off the wet road. I The radar signal that
reflects back from the airplane is received by the radar dish
and is electronically analysed.
bounce off /,baons tDf II-to:f/ if something such as
sound or a radio wave bounces off an object or surface,
it reflects off it Iv T]
When atmospheric conditions are right, radio waves bounce
off the ionosphere and can be received many thousands of
miles away. ] The bat makes a series of clicking sounds which
bounce off any objects in its path.
3 an image that is reflected
reflection
reflection/ri'fleklan/[n C]
He looked at his reflection in the mirror. ] a beautiful photo-
graph of the reflections of the trees in a quiet lakeland stream
4 something that reflects light
mirror
reflective
mirror I' mImr/a piece of glass or other shiny or polished
surface that reflects images In C]
I saw her in the long mirror behind the bar, staring at me. I
She never left the house in the morning without having a

REFLECT 1094 REFUSE
quick look at herself in the hall mirror. I The telescope con-
tains a large convex mirror to collect the light.
reflective ]r 'flcktiv!. reflective paint/coating/sur-
face/material etc (=especially made to reflect light or
heat) [adj]
Survival bags are made of reflective material to prevent heat
loss. I Reflective paint increases the light levels in a room.
:,. reflection REFLECT 3
; reflection: be a reflection on SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 5
;; reflective REFLECT 4
ili reflex THINK ABOUT 10
: reflexes REACT 5
i;;i reform BEHAVE 4,CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT5, 7
;! reformed CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 5
)I refrain NOT DO STH 2
; refresh sb's memory REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 1
i;!: refreshments FOOD 1, MEAL 7
,ii,; refrigerate COLD 8
ili! refuge SAFE 5
!ii refuge: give sb shelter/refuge PROTECT 2
!; refund PAY FOR 7
.!!; refusal REFUSE 1
;i refuse REFUSE 1, 4, 5, REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 1, 3,
:;i::.
-,.:: RUBBISH/WASTE 1
i refuse: flatly refuse REFUSE 2
 refuse entry ENTER 9
{ refuse food FAT 11
information (=because she refused) I had to abandon the
project. I Graham's refusal to admit his part in the crime
means that he is unlikely to be granted parole. I refusal Her
refusal startled him - he was a man used to always getting
what he wanted.
will not /,wfl 'not/to refuse to do something that some-
one wants you to do or orders you to do [modal verb]
will not do sth He won't do what I tell him. I Even if you
threatened her, she wouldn't tell you anything. I will not
"'Open the door/ .... No, I will not/'"
say no /,se 'no/to tell someone that you are not going
to do what they are asking you to do Iv phrase]
Boys often ask her to dance with them but she always says
no. I Would you be terribly offended if lsaid no? l Weshould
never have agreed to take on this work but we're not very
good at saying no.
decline/d 'klan/to politely refuse to do what someone
has asked you to do, especially when they have asked for
your opinion or asked for information Iv I]
When asked to comment on details of the agreement, Presi-
dent Mitterand declined. I decline to do sth A security
officer at the factory, who declined to give his name, said he
had seen two men leave the building. I I asked Mr Hughes
if he was satisfied with the jury's verdict but he declined to
comment.
shake your head /,J'eIk jo:r 'hed/ to show that you
refuse by turning your head from side to side [v phrase]
I wanted him to join us for a drink, but he shook his head.
refuse
REFUSE
to say that you will not do something that
someone has asked you to do
to refuse very firmly
what you say to tell someone that you refuse
to refuse to give someone something that
they need or have asked for
to refuse to do something or get involved in
something because you think it is morally
wrong
to refuse very firmly
flatly refuse
refuse point-blank
dig your heels in
slam the door in
sb's face
flatly refuse /,fletli r[ 'fju:z/to refuse firmly, showing
that you will not change your mind or discuss your deci-
sion, especially if this seems surprising or unreasonable
Iv phrase]
flatly refuse to do sth She flatly refused to give us any
information. I flatly refuse We only wanted him to tell us
the manufacturer's address, but he flatly refused/
refuse point.blank Ir fju:z pont 'blenk/to refuse very
firmly and directly without giving any explanation, espe-
cially when this seems unreasonable Iv phrase]
I wanted Janet to invite my father to stay with us over
Christmas, but she refused point-blank. I The company has
refused point-blank to provide child-care for its employees.
dig your heels in I,dIgjo: r 'hi:lz zn/an informal expres-
sion meaning to firmly refuse to do what someone wants
you to do, especially because you think that what you are
being asked to do is unreasonable Iv phrase]
Mandy may work through the lunch hour, but I think she'd
dig her heels in if you asked her to stay on after five o'clock. I
Such a low pay offer makes it even more likely that the union
will dig its heels in.
slam the door in sb's face/,slem  ,d:r in (sb's)
I feI S/an informal expression meaning to very firmly refuse
to meet someone or to consider their offer, so that there can
be no discussion or agreement Iv phrase]
I offered to discuss it, but they slammed the door in my face.
1 to say that you will not do something that
someone has asked you to do
refuse say no
refusal decline
will not shake your head
refuse/r'f]u:zl [v I]
I'm sure if you ask her to help you, she won't refuse. I The
students were asked to leave the building but they refused. I
refuse to do sth Employers are refusing to discuss a pay
settlement until the staff return to work. I If anyone refuses
to pay their bill, send for the manager.
refusal/r 'fju:zal/[n C usually singular]
refusal to do sth Because of her refusal to provide the
what you say to tell someone that you refuse
not likely no way
nothing doing and that's flat
not likely/nut 'laildi/(used when you think what some-
one has asked you to do is stupid or dangerous)
You want me to lend you five hundred? Not likely! I "'Kerry,
you go and ask the boss for a raise. "" "'Me? Not likely!'"
nothing doing/,nAOIlJ 'du:rJ/(used to firmly refuse to
do something that someone has asked you to do)
"'Be a pal, lend me your car this evening. "" "'Sorry - nothing
doing. "'
no way /nu we/(used to f'nav_ly refuse to do what some-
one wants you to do, and to show that nothing will change
your mind)

REFUSE 1095 REGRET/FEEL SORRY
"'I think you should phone him and apologise. "" "'No way -
it was his fault. "'1 no way am I/is he etc No way am Igoing
to look after all three children on my own/
and that's flat/ond ibeets Ifleet/(a British expression
used after you have refused to do something, in order to
show that you will not change your mind or discuss your
decision)
I'm not coming, and that's flat. Now stop bothering me.
4 to refuse to give someone something that
they need or have asked for
refuse
deny
withhold
refuse/r 'fju:z/Iv TI
refuse sb sth He was unable to attend the meeting in
Moscow as the Russian authorities had refused him a visa. I
You wouldn't refuse an old friend a favour, would you? l
refuse sth to sb Some banks are threatening to refuse loans
to anyone who cannot provide suitable guarantees.
deny/di nai/ if someone in authority denies someone
something that they want, for example money, a right, or
the chance to do something, they refuse to give it to them
Iv T usually passive]
be denied sth The scientists have been denied the necessary
funds for their research program, i Up to 450 disaster victims
were denied compensation by their insurers. I She com-
plained that she had been denied the opportunity to appeal
against the court's decision.
withhold/w6 hoold, wO-/a word used especially in offi-
cial or legal contexts meaning to refuse to give someone
something that they want Iv T]
The new law allows you to withhold payment if you think
a bill is incorrect.
register LIST 2, RECORD 1, 2, SHOW A FEELING OR
ATTITUDE 1, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 6
regret REGRET/FEEL SORRY 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
regret: have no regrets REGRET/FEEL SORRY 8
regret: not regret REGRET/FEEL SORRY 8
regret: with regret REGRET/FEEL SORRY 6
REGRET/FEEL
SORRY
to feel sorry or sad about something that has
happened, and wish that it had not happened
1 to feel sad about something that has
happened, or annoyed with yourself about
something you have done, and to wish it had
not happened or you had not done it
2: to feel sorry or ashamed of yourself because
of something bad that you have done
3 what you say when you wish that you had not
done something which you now regret
4 to feel sorry or sad about something that has
happened to someone else or something that
affects someone else
,5 ways of saying that you are sorry to have to
tell someone something that will make them
feel worried, upset, or disappointed
6 ways of saying that you do something sadly,
because you wish the situation was different
7 something that you have done that you wish
you had not done
8 to not feel sorry about something
 to refuse to do something or get involved in
something because you think it is morally
wrong
refuse
draw the line at
have none of/not have any of
refuse/rI 'fju:z/Iv I]
Terri was asked to conceal the drugs in her baby's toys, but
she refused. I refuse to do sth Hundreds of solcliers were shot
when they refused to accept the General as their leader.
draw the line at /,dra= 60 'lan et/ to allow certain
things, but feel that you must refuse when a particular
point is reached Iv phrase]
I don't mind your father coming to stay, but I draw the line
at him moving in! i Our rules about time-keeping are fairly
flexible, but we have to draw the line somewhere.
have none of/not have any of/heev nAn ov (sth), not
hev eni ov (sth)/if you say you will have none of some-
thing, you mean that you refuse to accept or approve of the
way someone is behaving [v phrase]
I'm not having any of your tantrums! I The House Majority
Leader said he would have none of the President's usual
evasions.
PROVE 4
GET 10
consciousness CONSCIOUS 2
control CONTROL 16
THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
refute
regain
regain
regain
regard
regard: hold sb in high esteem/regard ADMIRF 1
regard: regard/IOOkTRuST 5 upon/view sb with suspicion
regard: with regard to ABOUT 1
regarding ABOUT 1
regardless NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC 1
regime GOVERNMENT 1
region AREA 1
region: something/somewhere in the region of
APPROXIMATELY 2
I to feel sad about something that has
happened, or annoyed with yourself about
something you have done, and to wish it had
not happened or you had not done it
be sorry regret v
wish you had/ regret n
hadn't done sth
be sorry/hi: 'so II -'s3:ri/[v phrase]
be sorry (that) Aunt Jean had always felt a little sorry that
she'd never married. I It was a stupid idea - I'm sorry I ever
mentioned it. I be sorry to be doing sth He was sorry to be
leaving the small town where he had grown up. I be sorry
for They'll be sorry for the mess they've made in the house
when their mother gets home.
wish you had/hadn't done sth/,wif ju: hind, hmdnt
d^n (sth)/to wish that you had behaved differently, espe-
cially because you feel you have made a bad decision Iv
phrase]
Sophie wishes she'd gone to college instead of leaving school
and getting a job. [ I wish I hadn't said I'd go to the party. ]
It made me wish I'd never met him!
regret/r gret/to wish that you had not done something,
especially something that has a result that affects you for
a long time Iv T]
regret doing sth I have often regretted leaving the police
force. I regret sth Inviting the family to live with her was
a decision she would later regret. I regret it It's a great
opportunity, Mr clones, you'll never regret it. I I said they
could camp in the field, but immediately regretted it. I regret
(that) He was dying now, and regretting that he had never
made a will. I deeply regret (=regret very much) I deeply
regret losing touch with my friends from school. [ bitterly
regret (=regret very much and feel angry with yourself)
She bitterly regretted helping him all those years ago.
regret /rigret/ the feeling you have when you regret
something, especially something that has had an important
effect In U]

REGRET/FEEL SORRY 1096 REGRET/FEEL SORRY
sigh/expression/feeling of regret With a feeling of regret
he left, knowing he would probably never see any of them
again. I "7 was too young to know what I was doing, "" said
Martha with a deep sigh of regret. I express regret The ter-
rorist group has expressed regret about the murder of the
four civilians.
2 to feel sorry or ashamed of yourself because
of something bad that you have done
be sorry
regret
be sorry Ibi: 'sort II -'sa:ri/[v phrase]
Violent husbands are only sorry after they have hit their part-
ners, but then it is usually too late. I If you don't tell me what
drugs she's taken she could die, and then you'll be sorry. I be
sorry about There's nothing to be sorry about. You haven't
done anything wrong. I be sorry (that) She was sorry that
she had hurt him, but she felt she had to tell him.
regret/ri gret/to wish that you had not done something
that you knew was wrong Iv T]
regret doing sth He regretted hitting the small boy, who
was now crying loudly. [ regret sth Try not to make me
angry - I don't want to do something I might regret. [ regret
(that) He sincerely regretted that he'd hurt her so much. [
bitterly regret (=regret very much and feel angry with
yourself) My client bitterly regrets his behaviour and would
like to apologise to the victim's family.
3 what you say when you wish that you had not
done something which you now regret
why did I/why didn't I
I could have kicked myself
why did I/why didn't I/'wa dd ai, 'wai dldnt aI/
Why did I say I'd clean the car? - it's going to take hours! l
Why didn't I do my homework sooner ?Now I'll hake to spend
all Sunday afternoon doing it.
I could have kicked myself/a[ kod hv 'kikt ma[self/
you say I could have kicked myself when you are very
sorry about something you have just said, for example
something embarrassing or upsetting, or something you
did not want people to know
I was standing there joking about funerals when Isuddenly
remembered her father had died only last week. I could have
kicked myself.
to feel sorry or sad about something that has
happened to someone else or something that
affects someone else
be sorry
regret
be sorry/bi: 'sort II -'sa:ri! Iv phrase]
She told me you didn't get the job. I'm very sorry. I be sorry
to see/hear/learn etc I was sorry to hear about your
mother's illness. How is she now? I We'll all be sorry to see
Joe go, he works well and he's good at his job.
regret/r'gret/a word used especially in formal contexts
meaning to be sorry and sad about something that has
happened Iv T not in progressive]
regret sth No one regrets this situation more than I do, but
I'm afraid there is nothing I can do about it. I The United
States said that it greatly regretted the breakdown of talks
between Israel and the Arab states. I deeply regret (=regret
very much) The management deeply regrets any incon-
venience caused. I regret that The company regrets that so
many people will have to be made redundant.
ways of saying that you are sorry to have to
tell someone something that will make them
feel worried, upset, or disappointed
I'm sorry
regret
I'm sorry/aim 'soft II -'sa:ri/
I'm sorry to have to tell you that your grandmother is in
hospital. I "'Could you lend me some money, Katy? .... Sorry
to disappoint you, dim, but I'm completely broke. "" I "'The
job's off, "" said Sarah, "'I'm sorry. ""
regret/ri gret/a formal way of saying that you are sorry
to be telling someone bad news Iv T]
regret to inform/tell/say ere The management regrets to
inform you that your contract will not be renewed next
month. I Sergeant Collins, I regret to have to tell you that you
are suspended from duties for the next two weeks. I regret
inconvenience/difficulties/delays ere The airport
announced that due to bad weather all flights were cancelled
and they regretted any inconvenience this would cause to
passengers.
 ways of saying that you do something sadly,
because you wish the situation was different
with regret
regretfully
ruefully
with regret/wIb ri'gret/[adv phrase]
He spoke with regret of his youthful decision to become a
priest. I The woman, who is now divorced, looks back with
regret on her ten years of marriage. I with deep regret
(=with very much regret) The Chairman accepted Hall's
resignation with deep regret.
regretfully IrI'gretfali/if you say or do something regret-
fully, you say or do it sadly because you do not want to say
or do it lady]
Regretfully she told him that she would have to fire him. I Sue
said "'Goodnight, "" sighing regretfully as she walked towards
her car.
regretful [adj] "'My children are too old to be told what to
do, "" he said with a regretful sigh.
ruefully/ ru:fali/if someone laughs, smiles, or says some-
thing ruefully, they laugh, smile, or say something a little
sadly because they wish they had not done something or
did not have to do something lady]
I began to laugh, rather ruefully, because I could see how
silly I looked. I Smiling ruefully, Frank admitted that polit-
ical campaigning was a dirty business.
rueful [adj] "'I'm sorry Igor angry, "" he said with a rueful
smile.
7 something that you have done that you wish
you had not done
regret
regret/ri'gret/[n C]
My one regret is that I never visited the Taj Mahal when I
was in India. I Her biggest regret is that she turned down
a job with Gardner's in 1985. I I knew that ifIdidn't make
a clean break with Victor Ishould befilled with regrets for
the rest of my life.
8 to not feel sorry about something
not regret have no regrets
not be sorry would do the same thing again
not regret/not r 'gret/[v T]
not regret doing sth I still miss him sometimes, but 1don't
regret finishing the affair. I not regret it It's worth trying
to save a little every month - you won't regret it.
not be sorry/not bi: 'soft II -sa:ri/to not feel sorry that
you did something, especially when other people think you
should Iv phrase]
not be sorry to do sth She wasn't sorry to leave her job -
she hated it. I not be sorry about Although he was serving
a two yearprison sentence he couldn't feel sorry about what
he had done. I not be sorry (that) I'm not sorry 1never got
married - I"m only sorry I didn't have any children.
have no regrets/hev noo r 'grets/to be glad that you
did a particular thing or that things happenened in a
particular way Iv phrase]

REGRET/FEEL SORRY 1097 REGULAR
I'm glad I left Britain and came to live in the US. I have no
regrets. I She had decided to have the baby and had no regrets
about her decision. I have few regrets Even though it's hard
work they have few regrets about setting up their own
business.
would do the same thing again/wod du: ) ,sem
OII]  'gen! you say I'd do the same thing again when you
are not at all sorry that you did something, especially some-
thing important in your life
"'Are you sorry you left home so young? .... Oh no, I'd do the
same thing again." [ do the same again Julia doesn't regret
having Ben and if she could turn the clock back she'd do the
same dgain.
.;;). regretfully REGRET/FEEL SORRY 6
!i;ii regrettable PITY/IT'S A PITY 2
ii:iiii.: regrettably PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
;..-i  regular ORDINARY 1, REGULAR 1, 4
REGULAR
1 happening or done regularly
2 ways of saying that something keeps
happening but not continuously or regularly
3 ways of saying that things are arranged with
regular spaces in between them
4 words for describing something that has a
regular shape
5 words for describing something that does not
have a regular shape
1 happening or done regularly
regularly every day/week/year etc
regular hourlyldailylweeklylmonthly etc
at regular be punctuated by/with
intervals with great regularity
regularly /'regj o°lorli/if you do something regularly, you
do it again and again, every day, every month etc, usually
with the same amount of time between each time you do
it [adv]
Have you been taking your medicine regularly? [ Peter writes
to his mother regularly, every week. [ Company reports are
published regularly and sent out to all shareholders.
regular/'regj°lor/an event or activity that is regular
happens repeatedly every hour, day, month etc, usually
with the same amount of time between each time it
happens [adj usually before noun]
The Chess Club holds regular meetings throughout the year.[
It is very important to take regular exercise. [ the regular
rhythm of his breathing [ regular feature (=a regular event
that has become an important part of something) End-of-
season tours abroad were becoming a regular feature of the
team's programme.
at regular intervals lot regj o°lor ' Intorvalz/if something
is done at regular intervals, it is done again and again
with an equalamount of time between each time, especially
according to a plan or system [adv phrase]
The oil container has to be refilled at regular intervals. I
Workers" contracts are revised at regular intervals to ensure
that they meet legal requirements.
every day/week/year etc/evri (day, etc)/[adv phrase]
She cycles to work every day. I Every Sunday we go to my
mother's for lunch. I He's sent me a Christmas card every year
for twenty years.
hourlyldailylweeklylmonthly etc happening or
done every hour, day etc [adj usually before noun]
There are daily flights to Miami. I our weekly visits to the
supermarket I a monthly magazine
hourly/daily etc [adv] The news is broadcast hourly
(=every hour) on Network Five. I Lola used to perform
nightly at the Flamingo club.
be punctuated by/with/bi: 'pAoktSuetId bai, WI6/if
an event, period of time etc is punctuated by or with
something, this thing happens regularly throughout that
event, period of time etc Iv phrase]
The ambassador's speech was punctuated with applause and
cries of approval. I His working life has frequently been punc-
tuated by spells of unemployment.
with great regularity/w6 grert regj°'leerti/if some-
thing happens with great regularity, it keeps happening,
often in an annoying way [adv phrase]
Yes, the bank keep piling these outrageous charges on my
bank account with great regularity. I With great regularity,
wasps would fly in through the open window and get trapped
behind the glass.
2 ways of saying that something keeps
happening but not continuously or regularly
intermittently by/in fits and starts
intermittent sporadic
on and off/off and on
intermittently / ,into r 'mtvntli/[adv]
I slept intermittently through the night. I A strong breeze was
blowing intermittently from the Dry River.
intermittent ], inta r'mtant/ happening repeatedly but
not continuously [adj]
There will be intermittent thunderstorms throughout the
day. I After two days of intermittent street fighting, order was
finally restored.
on and off/off and on/,n and 'of, ,tf ond 'n/if you
do something on and off or offand on during a long period
of time, you do it for several short periods but not continu-
ously or regularly [adv phrase]
Linda had been using drugs on and off long before she met
Bill. 1 I worked as a typist off and on for two years before I
came here.
by/in fits and starts/ba, n ,fits and sto:rts/repeat-
edly starting and stopping, but not regularly and never for
more than a short time [adv phrase]
Beverly was inclined to do things by fits and starts, never fol-
lowing any routine, and often leaving jobs unfinished. I Hot
water was provided in fits and starts by an old-fashioned
boiler.
sporadic /spored;k/ sporadic fighting/volence/
shots/outbreaks etc (=happening repeatedly but not
regularly and only for short periods) [adj]
There was rioting and sporadic fighting in the city as rival
gangs clashed. I sporadic outbreaks of plague and other
epidemic diseases
3 ways of saying that things are arranged with
regular spaces in between them
at regular intervals
every metre/mile/lO kilometres etc
evenly spaced
at regular intervals lot ,regj°br ' ntzrvlz/if things are
arranged at regular intervals, they are arranged, usually
in a line, with equal distances between them [adv phrase]
There were gas stations spaced at regular intervals along
the highway. I At regular intervals down the long table, we
placed white gardenias.
every metrelmilell0 kilometres etc/evri (metre,
etc)! at regular points that are a metre etc apart along a line,
road etc [adv phrase]
We had to stop and rest every two hundred metres - we were
so tired. [ There are coastguard stations every ten miles along
the coast.
evenly spaced/,i:vanli 'spest/arranged with regular
spaces [ adj phrase]
He counted thirty tents evenly spaced over the site. [ The word
processor will arrange your text in evenly spaced columns.

REGULAR 1098 REJECT/NOT ACCEPT
4 words for describing something that has a
regular shape
regular
symmetrical
regular I'regjbr/evenly shaped with parts or sides of
equal size [adj]
Draw a regular hexagon with 90 mm sides. I regular fea-
tures (=having a face in which the eyes etc are of equal size
and evenly spaced in a way that looks attractive) Matisse
was strikingly handsome with his regular features and his
thick, golden beard.
symmetrical [s i tmettkal/something that is symmetri-
cal has an evenly balanced shape so that its two halves, on
either side of a central line, are exactly alike [adj]
The leaves of most trees are symmetrical in shape. I Palla-
dio built the Villa Rotunda follow.trig a symmetrical plan
with rooms radiating out from a central hall.
symmetrically [adv ] Unless the ship's hull is symmetrically
designed it will keel over.
symmetry / slmtri/In U] the delicate symmetry of a snow-
flake (-how symmetrical it is)
words for describing something that does not
have a regular shape
irregular
asymmetrical
lop-sided
irregular/I' regjlrl unevenly shaped with parts or sides
of unequal size [adj]
Kate's garden was an irregular oblong of grass surrounded
by bushes. I I recognized the doctor's strange, irregular
handwriting.
irregularly [adv] a large, irregularly shaped room
asymmetrical / ,es  'metrikal, ,m-/a word used espe-
cially in formal or technical contexts for describing some-
thing that does not have an evenly balanced shape, so that
one half of it is not like the other [adj]
The design of the house is consciously asymmetrical with a
large tower at one end. 1 Asymmetrical geometric forms are
characteristic of much 20th-century abstract art.
lop-sided /,ltp'saidd 1[ ,la:p-/ something that is lop-
sided is lower or larger on one side than on the other [adj]
She grinned at me with her face all lop-sided. [ Harry's hat
was stuck on his head like a lop-sided crown.
 regularity: with annoying/shocking etc regularity
i OFTEN 2
: regularity: with great regularity REGULAR 1
 regularly REGULAR 1
 regulate CONTROL 2
 regulation RULE/REGULATION 1
ii regurgitate REPEAT 3, SICK/VOMIT 1
 rehash COPY 5
. rehearsal PRACTISE/PRACTICE 5
....-
..... rehearse IRACTISE/PRACTICE 2
 reign POWER 3
i reimburse PAY FOR 7
i reinforce STRONG OBJECT 2
ў reinforced STRONG OBJECT 1
reintroduce START STH/MAKE STH START 5
i reiterate REPEAT2
...
. reject REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
REJECT/NOT
ACCEPT
to refuse to accept an offer, invitation,
suggestion, request, someone's friendship etc
I to say no when someone offers you
something or invites you to do something
to refuse very firmly to accept something, buy
something or get involved in something
because you disapprove of it or dislike it
to use official powers to formally refuse a
request or suggestion
ways of saying that a company, college etc
says no to someone who asks them for a job
or a chance to study
to state very firmly that you do not agree with
an opinion, statement, or explanation
to refuse to speak or listen to someone who
wants to be friendly with you or wants to help
you
to reject established ideas, beliefs, or ways of
living, especially if you used to accept them in
the past
1 to say no when someone offers you
 something or invites you to do something
reject decline
not accept turn down
refuse I'll take a rain check
reject/r'dsekt/[v T]
Lauren rejected all her parents offers of financial help. [ The
Secretary of State offered his resignation, which the Presi-
dent promptly rejected. [ I asked her out several times, but
she kept on rejecting me.
rejection/rI td3ekan/In U] Union leaders called yesterday
for the rejection of the government's latest offer.
not accept/nm k'sept/to say no when someone offers
you something such as money, a job, or an invitation [v T]
My neighbour often babysits for us, but she won't accept any
money. I I badly needed a place to live, but I wouldn't accept
help from my ex-husband. [ Never accept the offer of a ride
from someone you've only just met.
reluse/rl  fju:z/to say no when someone very much wants
you to accept something such as money, a gift, a job, or an
invitation [v I/T]
refuse sth Simon had to refuse the excellent job offer because
it would mean moving house again. [ refuse to do sth The
teacher refused to accept her apology. [ refuse I want you
to have it. I'll be insulted if you refuse. [ flatly refuse
(=refuse very firmly) The doctor flatly refused a fee, though
I did almost everything except stuff the money in her hand.
refusal [n U] The union's refusal to accept the Administra-
tion's latest pay offer has thrown the State Department into
disarray.
decline /di 'k lain/ a formal word meaning to say no
politely when someone invites you to do something Iv I/T]
decline sth Mr Casey regrets that he will have to decline
your kind invitation owing to a prior engagement. I decline
The bishop was invited to attend the opening ceremony, but
he declined. I decline to do sth The Japanese Prime
Minister was asked for his opinion but declined to comment.
turn down /,ta:rn 'daon/to say no to an offer or a chance
to do something, especially one that could bring you a lot
of advantages in the future [phr v T]
turn down sth Bruce always regretted turning down the
opportunity to go to college. I turn sth/it/them down
You'd be stupid to turn such a good job offer down. I "Animal
Farm" quickly became a best-seller. Several publishing com-
panies must regret turning it down.
I'll take a rain check/all teIk  treln trek/you say I'll
take a rain cheek to tell someone that you cannot accept
their invitation at the time they have suggested, but would
like to do it at some time in the future
"'How about dinner tonight? .... Sorry - I"ll have to take a rain
check on that. ""

REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 1099 REJECT/NOT ACCEPT
to refuse very firmly to accept something, buy
 something or get involved in something
because you disapprove of it or dislike it
not have anything to do with
turn your nose up at
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole/a ten-foot
not have anything to do with Int hav ,eni0irj t
'du: wI6] to refuse to take part in an activity or someone's
plan because you disapprove of it or think it willnot work
[ v phrase]
Joe and Start asked me to hide the stolen goods but I said I
wouldn't have anything to do with it. I She said the idea was
stupid and won't have anything to do with it.
turn your nose up at/tta:rnja: r 'nooz Ap at/an infor-
mal expression meaning to refuse to accept something that
someone offers you because you think it is not good enough
for you [v phrase]
Key's girlfriend turned her nose up at the tiny diamond ring
that he offered her. I I offered to lend her a sweater, but she
turned her nose up at all my clothes.
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole (British) I a
ten-foot pole (American) ]aI wudnt ,t^t It wI6 ) 'bo:rd5
paol, a ,ten fot 'pol/you say I wouldn't touch it with a
barge pole/a ten-foot pole when you will definitely not
accept something, buy something, or get involved in some-
thing because you think it is probably dishonest, of bad
quality, or likely to be unsuccessful
My nephew wants me to invest in his business, but frankly
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. I I know millions of
people buy those cars, but I wouldn't touch one with a ten-
foot pole.
3 to use official powers to formally refuse a
request or suggestion
reject say no to
throw out veto
turn down vote against
refuse give sth the thumbs down
reject/r'dsekt/[v T]
The immigration authorities have rejected his application
for refugee status. I The Germans had marched into Belgium,
and rejected Britain's ultimatum. I It was predicted that the
Senate would reject the education bill by about 60 to 40.
rejection/rJ 'dsekan / [n U] The rejection of the Equal Rights
Bill by a small majority was disappointing.
throw out / ,0too laot/if a parliament, a council, or other
official political organization throws out a plan or sugges-
tion, they refuse to accept it or make it legal, especially
after voting on it [phr v T]
throw out sth The bill was passed in the House but thrown
out by the Senate. I Councilmen threw out proposals for the
building of a new stadium.
turn down ] ,ta:rn 'daon/to refuse to accept a request or
to give someone permission to do something, especially
when the request is a reasonable one [phr v T]
turn down sth The proposal to build a new extension has
been turned down by the planning authority. I turn sth/it/
them down We put in a request for a little extra time for us
to finish the project, but the board turned it down.
refuse /ri'fju:z/ refuse an application/request/
demand/permission (=officially decide that someone
cannot have something they have asked for, or cannot do
something they want to do) [v I/T]
refuse sth Jill's application for housing benefit was refused
by the authorities on the grounds that she was married. I
refuse sth to sb City Hall is refusing contracts to firms
which do not practise an equal opportunities policy. I refuse
sb sth Under the new laws, doctors cannot refuse patients
access to their medical records.
say no to/se 'noo tu:/to formally refuse to accept a
request or suggestion, especially when this refusal seems
unreasonable [v phrase]
The company has repeatedly said no to requests for child
care. I The power to say no to bids for higher spending gives
the Treasury enormous influence.
veto / 'vi:tao] if a person or organization vetoes something
that other people and organizations have officially agreed,
they use their special position of power to refuse to allow
it to happen or be done [v T]
EC plans to deregulate air fares were vetoed by Spain. I
Predictably, requests to take foster children abroad are often
vetoed by the biological parent.
veto [n C/U] As a result of thepresident's veto (=because the
president has vetoed it) the inner-cities program will not
now go ahead.
vote against/'vot agenst/to refuse to accept a plan,
proposal, or new law by voting [v T]
The majority of union members voted against further indus-
trial action. [ While many students polled intend to vote in
favour of legalized abortion, a growing number said they'd
vote against it.
give sth the thumbs down/gv (sth) 6 ,0^mz 'daon/
an informal expression meaning to reject a plan or sugges-
tion [v phrase]
Proposals to build a new store were given the thumbs down
by city councilmen today. I A Presidential Commission gave
the plan a thumbs down.
 ways of saying that a company, college etc
says no to someone who asks them for a job
or a chance to study
reject
not accept
turn down
reject Ir 'd3ekt/to formally tell someone, usually in writ-
ing, that they have not got the job or chance to study that
they have asked for [v T]
Several hundred people applied, but we had to reject nearly
all of them. I Jim was rejected from every college he applied
to.
rejection /r;'dsekan/ [n C/U] I got a rejection from
Harvard, but I'm still waiting to hear from UCLA. I Once
the appointment has been made, rejection letters will be sent
out to all the unsuccessful candidates.
not accept/nt oklsept/to not give someone the job or
chance to study that they have asked for [v T]
You could apply for a job at IBM, but Idon't think you'll be
accepted. I Most universities will not accept anyone without
an interview.
turn down/,ta:rn 'daon/to tell someone that they cannot
have the job or chance to study that they have asked for,
especially when there is a particular reason for doing this
[phr v T]
turn sb/her/them etc down When Uncle John tried to join
the army, they turned him down because he was too old. I be
turned down Marion applied for a job teaching in Min-
neapolis, but she was turned down. I turn down sb We auto-
matically turn down any candidate who makes a spelling
mistake in their job application.
5 to state very firmly that you do not agree with
an opinion, statement, or explanation
reject
not accept
dismiss
reject/rI 'd3ekt] [v T not in progressive]
The Secretary of Finance rejected suggestions that his eco-
nomic policy favored the most wealthy. I A poll shows that
the majority of Americans reject the notion that the Soviet
Union is a military threat. I The belief that the children of
working mothers suffer is rejected by most child psycholo-
gists.
not accept ]nt ak I sept] to not accept a statement, expla-
nation, or decision because you think it is wrong or untrue
[v T not in progressive]

REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 1100 relationship
Our managers claim the new system will increase our effi-
ciency but I don't accept that. I As I grew up, I didn "t accept
my mother's explanation of the divorce. I Feminist theorists
did not accept a purely masculine definition of human
nature.
dismiss/dis ImIs/to refuse to accept someone's opinion,
argument, criticism etc without even considering it iv T
not in progressive]
The managing director always dismissed any suggestions
that his company was in difficulty. [ The government has a
tendency to dismiss peace movements as representing only
a minority opinion. [ dismiss sth out of hand (=dismiss
completely) The argument for tariffs cannot be dismissed
out of hand.
6 to refuse to speak or listen to someone who
wants to be friendly with you or wants to help
you
reject shun
rebuff snub
give sb the brush-off ostracize
reject IrI'dsektl Iv T]
Samantha had consistently rejected all Bob's offers of help. [
Little Paul adores his mother, and yet she always rejects
him. [ She's scared to broach the subject with him in case he
rejects her again.
rejection Iri  d3ekf an! In U] The biggest problem people have
with selling is fear of rejection (=fear that they will be
rejected).
rebuff/r Ib^f/to reject someone's friendly invitation or
offer in an unpleasant or rude way, so that they feel
offended [v T ]
Sheila's tried to talk to him, but he rebuffs all her attempts
to sort things out between them. [ I left the room, feeling hurt
that he had rebuffed me.
rebuff In CI Fear of a rebuff (=being rebuffed) had
prevented Madge from asking for help.
give sb the brush-off/,gv (sb) 6 br^j" tf/an infor-
mal expression meaning to refuse to accept someone's help,
friendship, invitations etc in a rude and unfriendly way
Iv phrase]
Russell tried to give me the brush-off, but I don "t give up that
easily. [ Now that Higginbotham had been given the brush-
off Bates decided to approach the boss with some of his ideas.
shun I^nl to refuse to accept or be friendly with someone
because they are different from you in some way or have
done something that you disapprove of Iv T]
Richard knew what it was like to be shunned by the other
students in the class. [ When the truth emerged about her hus-
band being in prison, the neighbours shunned her and
talked about her behind her back.
snub/snhb] to deliberately behave in an unfriendly way
to someone, for example by ignoring them or being rude,
so that they feel hurt Iv T]
Rosanna felt snubbed when you didn't invite her to the
wedding. [ Try to be nice to the Martins - they think you're
snubbing them. [ They're only behaving so strangely towards
you because they feel they've been snubbed.
snub In C] The assistant director took it as a snub (=felt that
he had been snubbed) when he was not invited to the
conference.
ostracize (also -lee British) 1 ostrosaz [[ l a:-/if a group
of people ostracize a person or another group, they refuse
to talk to them and make them feel that they are strongly
disliked iv T]
Zita was ostracized by the girls at school simply because her
skin was darker than theirs. [ The Ripper had committed
crimes so repugnant that even other prisoners ostracized
him.
reject/ri'd3ekt/[v T]
When Sandra left home she rejected her religious upbring-
ing and principles. I Vegetarians reject the theory that you
must eat meat to get all the nutrients you need. I Our society
has tended to reject the concept of guilt in favor of self-
fulfillment.
rejection /rIIdSekj'an/ In U] Modern civilizations are
weakened by young people's rejection of traditional values
and skills.
turn your back on /Ita:rn j:r bek on/to completely
change your former beliefs and way of life because you now
think that they were wrong Iv phrase]
The probation officer advised the prisoner to turn his back
on his previous life. I Esther completely turned her back on
her former lifestyle - gave up smoking, took up jogging and
became a vegetarian.
scorn/sk3:rn/to reject ideas, values, or behaviour because
you think they are stupid and old-fashioned Iv T]
scorn sth We used to scorn our father's ideas about "a
woman's place being in the home', i scorn sth as Many
young people of the sixties scorned regular careers as
wage-slavery.
drop out/dmp aot II ,dra:p-/to refuse to live the way
that other people usually live in your society, for example
by not working in a job, not going to college, especially
because you disagree with that society's aims and beliefs
[phr v I]
Everyone thinks I've dropped out, but in fact I just can't get
a job. I A group of young people dropped out and set up a
commune in the middle of the forest. [ drop out of school/
college/society ere Some teenagers drop out of school
because they can't afford to stay on.
drop-out/tdmp aot II tdra:P-/In C] He believes all New Age
hippies are drug addicts and drop-outs.
rekindle interest/revive interest INTERESTED 4
relapse WORSE 7
relapse: have a relapse WORSE 7
relate TELL 5
relate to LIKE/SIMILAR 8, RELATIONSHIP 2
related CONNECTED WITH 4
related: be related CONNECTED WITH 1, 2, FAMILY 4
relation
';: relation FAMILY 5
relation: bear no relation to DIFFERENT 2
i!!i relations RELATIONSHIP 1
'iii relationship CONNECTED WITH 7, RELATIONSHIP 1, 5
.....
;: relationship: be a relationship between CONNECTED
-=- WITH 2
..
 relationship: have a good relationship
;...?: RELATIONSHIP 2
..,....--., relationship: have a relationship RELATIONSHIP 4
to reject established ideas, beliefs, or ways of
living, especially if you used to accept them in
the past
reject scorn
turn your back on drop out
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

RELATIONSHIP 1101 RELATIONSHIP
RELATIONSHIP
a relationship between people, organizations,
or countries
1 the way that people, organizations, or
countries behave towards each other, feel
about each other etc
2 to have a good or close relationship
3 to have a bad relationship
4 to have a loving or sexual relationship with
someone that you are not married to
5 a loving or sexual relationship between two
people who are not married to each other
I the way that people, organizations, or
countries behave towards each other, feel
about each other etc
relationship
relations
relationship/r'lefdnp/[n C]
relationship with What kind of relationship did you have
with your father? I Her relationship with her employees has
never been particularly friendly. I Successful companies
know the importance of establishing good relationships with
their customers. I relationship between This decision will
not affect the relationship between France and its European
partners. I relationship Generally, girls were thought to be
interested in relationships, and boys in activities and tasks. ]
close relationship (=between people, organizations, or
countries that know each other very well and like each
other very much) Terry had a very close relationship with
his grandmother, and was heartbroken when she died.
relations ]r lednz] the official or public relationship
that exists between groups of people, organizations, or
countries In plural]
relations between In recent years there have been much
better relations between East and West. I relations with The
police are making great efforts to improve relations with the
public. I race relations (=between people of different races)
These attacks are certain to damage race relations in the
area. I industrial relations (=between workers and man-
agers) Before becoming union representative, Bob went on
an industrial relations course. I diplomatic relations (=the
official relationship and contacts between two countries)
Britain threatened to break off diplomatic relations with
Iran over the issue.
2 to have a good or close relationship
have a good fit in
relationship rapport
get along/on bond
be on good terms chemistry
hit it off affinity
relate to ties
have a good relationship/hmv  ,god r] 'leJnp/to
have a good relationship with another person, organiza-
tion, or country [v phrase not in progressive]
have a good relationship with Miss Taylor is an excellent
teacher and has a good relationship with her students. I It
is crucial that Germany continues to have a good relation-
ship with its neighbours. I have a good relationship Even
though they're divorced they still have a reasonably good
relationship.
get along (also get on in British English)/,get 'on,
'loo II -' o:., -'b:O/if two or more people get along or get
on, they like each other and have a friendly relationship
with each other [phr v I]
get along/on with Peter's very friendly and gets along with
most people. I get along/on well/all right etc My brother
and I used to argue a lot but we get on fine now that we're
older. I get along/on together If we're going to be sharing
this room we'd better learn to get along together. I get along/
on As things progressed it became increasingly difficult to
get along. I get along/on like a house on fire (=extremely
well) I wasn't sure whether Ann and David would like each
other, but they got on like a house on fire.
be on good terms/Ibi: on god It3:mz/to have a polite
and friendly relationship with someone, especially some-
one you do not know socially, for example someone you
have to deal with in a business context [v phrase]
be on good terms with We're on good terms with all our
neighbours except the couple upstairs. ] The police should
try to stay on good terms with local community leaders. I be
on good terms Despite one or two differences they are still
on good terms.
hit it off/,h;t it of !! -o:f/an informal expression mean-
ing to immediately have a good relationship with someone
when you meet them for the first time [v phrase]
Everyone was surprised at how well the two of them hit it
I knew you and Mike would hit it off straight away.
relate to/r lct tu:! to be able to have a good relationship
with someone because you understand how they feel and
think Iv T]
Many parents find it difficult to relate to their teenage chil-
dren. I These activities help children develop the skills of
learning and relating to others.
fit in ! ft m! if someone fits in, they have a good relation-
ship with the other people in a group because they have
the same attitudes, interests etc [phr v I]
fit in with Somehow she never seemed to fit in with her
fellow students. ] fit in It was a question of fitting in or being
ignored by the others.
rapport/rm p',r! a good relationship between people who
understand and agree with each others' opinions and ideas
In singular]
rapport with You are lucky to have such a good rapport
with your boss. I rapport between The rapport between
them was unique, and produced some of the greatest music
of all time. I establish a rapport Before you do business
with someone, it is important to establish a rapport.
bond/bond II ba--nd! a very strong relationship between
two people or groups that makes it difficult for them to
separate from each other In C]
bond between The bond between mother and child is
extremely strong. I bond with It's almost inevitable that the
client will form a very close bond with the therapist. I bond
These bonds are deeply historical, and not easily broken.
chemistry/'kemstri/a good and often exciting relation-
ship between two people who naturally like, understand,
and admire each other, even if they have very different
characters and attitudes [n U]
chemistry between As soon as we met I could feel the
chemistry between us. I The chemistry between Mrs Thatcher
and Mr Gorbachev was obvious from the start. I chemistry
Jane and Alan tried very hard to make their marriage work,
but the chemistry just wasn't right.
affinity /o'fnoti/ a formal word meaning a feeling of
liking and understanding someone because you have the
same interests or beliefs as them, or because you are in the
same situation as them [n singular]
aff'mity with/between She felt a natural affinity with
these people. [ They seemed so different, yet he sensed an
affinity between them. I affinity We have a deep affinity
formed through many years of friendship.
ties /talz/ a strong relationship between two people,
organizations, or countries, especially when they have
responsibilities towards each other or official agreements
with each other In plural]
We can't sign a contract with them - we already have other
ties. ] ties with The country wants its independence, and
intends to loosen its ties with Britain. I ties between Since
the accident, the ties between father and son have grown even
stronger. [ family ties (=between members of a family)He
says he can't leave home yet because of family ties.

RELATIONSHIP 1102 RELAXED
3 to have a bad relationship
not get along/on
not hit it off
incompatible
not get along (also not get on in British English)/not
get lm3, not get on ]] -1:3, - o:n/to have a bad relation-
ship with someone [phr v I]
I don 't know why, but we just don?get along. ] She and her
father have never really got on. [ not get along/on with
Tom didn't get on with the other guests - he found them chil-
dish and boring.
not hit it off/not h;t ;t of/an informal expression mean-
ing to have a bad relationship with omeone when you
meet them for the first time Iv phrase]
Geoff took her out on a date but they didn "t really hit it off. I
We didn't hit it off at first, but gradually we came to be
friends.
incompatible/ nkm pmtbl/people who are incom-
patible cannot have a good relationship with each other
because they are completely different in their characters,
interests etc [adj]
It was obvious that she and David were incompatible and
she wished she'd never married him. I We're completely
incompatible - I find her extremely dull and conservative
and she thinks I'm some kind of anarchist.
4 to have a loving or sexual relationship with
someone that you are not married to
go out with/go with have a relationship
be seeing have an affair
be dating be involved with
be going steady
go out with (also go with in American English)/,gao
laot WI, Igao WI/ [V T]
I've been going out with Marie for four years. I She used to
go with that Italian guy from the gas station. I be going out
together My dad was furious when he found that we had
been going out together.
be seeing/bi: 'si:II'J/to be having a relationship with
someone at the moment, especially a relationship that is
not very serious or will not last very long Iv phrase]
Do you know if Karen's seeing anyone at the moment? [ I hear
he's been seeing someone from work.
be dating/bi: 'det10/an American expression meaning
to be having a relationship with someone, especially a rela-
tionship that is not very serious yet Iv phrase]
He's dating a girl from college. [ I thought we were just
friends, but when I started dating other men, he suddenly got
really jealous.
be going steady/bi: ,gaoI 13 I stedi/an American expres-
sion: if two young people are going steady, their relation-
ship has become fairly serious, and they see each other
often over a long period of time Iv phrase]
Hank and Marlene have been going steady since high
school. [ Laurie and I have started going steady.
have a relationship /haev a r'leianxp/ to have a
sexual relationship with someone, especially one that lasts
for a long time Iv phrase]
I have had several relationships before, but this is special. [
They had been having a relationship for over a year when
Julie discovered she was pregnant. [ When they first met,
Dave was having an unhappy relationship with someone
he'd known for years.
have an affair/haev an a I fear/to have a secret sexual
relationship with someone who is not your husband or wife
[ v phrase]
My husband and I divorced after I found out he'd been
having an affair. I have an affair with The senator has
been accused of having an affair with his publicity assistant.
be involved with /bi: involvd w;6 [[-vo:lvd-/ to be
having a serious relationship with someone, especially
someone who is not suitable for you [v phrase]
She's involved with a much older man. [Brad doesn't want
to get involved with anyone right now. He's still upset about
Suzanne.
5 a loving or sexual relationship between two
people who are not married to each other
relationship romance
affair fling
relationship IrI'leI.an.pl In C]
Magazines for older women are more about children and
careers, and less about relationships. [ It was the most impor-
tant relationship of her life. [ relationship with Bill didn't
want a long-term relationship with me, because he would
soon be going back to America. [ relationship between
Relationships between people of different races and cultures
are often extremely difficult. [ sexual relationship An esti-
mated 30% of teenagers have had sexual relationships by the
age of 17.
affa|r/a fear! a secret sexual relationship between two
people, when one of them or both of them are already
married to someone else In C]
The affair had been going on for years before his wife found
out. [ affair with He was forced to resign when details of his
affair with Miss Anderson were revealed in the press. [ love
affair (=between two people who love each other very
much) They soon became involved in a passionate love affair
that ended in tragedy.
romance/rao'mmns, ra-/an exciting and often short rela-
tionship between two people who feel very much in love
with each other In C1
It was a beautiful romance but it couldn't last. I Richard and
Penny had made no great secret of their romance, even
though they were both married. [ romance with Like most
soap stars, it was impossible for him to keep his romance
with Lesley a secret.
fling Iflo! a short and not very serious relationship
between two people In C]
Yes, I did go out with him for a little while, but it was just
a fling. [ All she wanted was a casual fling. [ have a fling
with Their marriage broke up because John had a fling
with his secretary.
 relative COMPARE 4, FAMILY 5
"= relax CALM 5, LOOSE 5, RELAXED 2, 3, REST 1
: relaxation REST 3
relaxed CALM 2, RELAXED 1
@ RELAXED
1 feeling calm and comfortable and not
worried, impatient, or annoyed
2 to become more relaxed or behave in a more
relaxed way
3 to make someone feel more relaxed
1 feeling calm and comfortable and not
worried, impatient, or annoyed
relaxed feel at home
at ease laid-back
comfortable uninhibited
relaxed/r'laekst/[adj]
By the end of the dinner party everyone was very relaxed. [
How can you be so relaxed when you have an interview in
five minutes? [ Maria has a very mature and relaxed atti-
tude to her work.
at ease/at i.-z! feeling relaxed in a situation in which
most people might feel a little nervous, uncomfortable, or
anxious [adj phrase]
Nurses should do all they can to make their patients feel at
ease. [ at ease with Diana is completely at ease with young
children. [ ill at ease (=not relaxed) He had the nervous voice
of someone who was ill at ease.

RELAXED 1103 RELIGION
comfortable/'kmflobal, 'mft-[[ 'k^mfort-, 'kmft-/
happy and without worries, especially because you are
with someone you like and trust or because you are in a
situation you are used to [adj]
comfortable with When choosing a baby-sitter, look for
someone both you and your child feel comfortable with. I The
successful applicant should speak and write English fluently
and be comfortable with modern technology. I comfortable
There's a comfortable, friendly atmosphere in our office.
feel at home / I fi:l t hoom/to feel relaxed because you
are in a place or situation similar to one that you know very
well Iv phrase]
feel at home with He was fond of using his hands and felt
at home with machinery. I feel at home As in your previ-
ous job, we also use computers a lot - so you should feel at
home here. I Although she had lived in Toronto for five years
she didn't feel at home there.
laid.back / le:d Ibek-/an informal word meaning very
relaxed and seeming not to get worried about anything [adj
phrase]
My parents are pretty laid-back and don't mind me staying
out late. I laid-back about They were very laid-back about
having 20 people to stay at Christmas. I laid-back
approach/attitude etc Her laid-back approach to teach-
ing led to some serious discipline problems in her classes.
uninhibited/^nmhbotd/very relaxed in the com-
pany of other people, and not at all shy about showing your
true feelings and opinions [adj]
Even though she is only fifteen she is quite uninhibited in the
company of men. I Her acting is completely spontaneous and
uninhibited. I uninhibited about The boys were quite unin-
hibited about taking their clothes off in front of strangers.
let yourself go/,let jo:rself 'goo/to allow yourself to
completely relax in a social situation, and not worry about
what is polite, or about what other people may think Iv
phrase]
You need to let yourself go - go to parties, have fun. t ]
Although she liked him she could never let herself go when
she was with him.
3 to make someone feel more relaxed
relax make sb feel at home
put sb at their ease relaxing
relax/r 'leks/[v T]
Meditation relaxes you and makes you feel more healthy. I
The drink relaxed him so much he fell asleep.
put sb at their ease /pot (sb) ot 6er i:z/to make some-
one feel more relaxed, especially by talking to them in a
calm, friendly way when they are in a difficult or worry-
ing situation Iv phrase]
The interviewer did all she could to put me at my ease. I
Instead of putting me at ease, his comments made me worry
even more about the operation.
make sb feel at home/melk (sb) fi:l t hom/to make
someone feel more relaxed by being kind and friendly to
them and treating them as though they are welcome [v
phrase]
I did my best to make him feel at home but he wasn't happy
and soon left. ] Ricardo has never been to England before,
so we must do all that we can to make him feel at home.
relaxing/r leksrj/making you feel more relaxed [adj]
I find listening to music is very relaxing. I Enjoy a deep relax-
ing massage or the refreshing stimulation of a jacuzzi.
2 to become more relaxed or behave in a more
relaxed way
relax loosen up
unwind let your hair down
take it easy let yourself go
make yourself at home
relax/r'leks/Iv I]
Now my exams have finished I can relax and enjoy myself.]
Relax/I'm sure they'll be here soon. ] After a hard day's work
he liked to relax by going for a swim.
unwind ]hn wamd/to relax gradually, especially after you
have been working very hard Iv I]
A hot bath is a very pleasant way to unwind. ] I love cook-
ing - it helps me unwind when I get home from work.
take it easy/tetk tt i:zi/to do everything slowly and
with less effort than usual so that you do not become wor-
ried or tired, especially because you are not feeling strong
or healthy Iv phrase]
This vacation I'm just going to lie on a beach and take it
easy. I As usual Suzie was taking it easy when she was sup-
pos.ed to be working. I take things easy After my heart
attack the doctor said I should take things easy and avoid
sport for a while.
make yourself at home/meik j:rself ot hoom/ to
behave in the same way you usually do so that you feel
relaxed in an unfamiliar place or situation Iv phrase]
Help yourself to tea or coffee whenever you want - make your-
self at home. I They had all made themselves at home in
Olivia's house eating her food and watching her TV.
loosen up/lu:san ^p/an informal expression meaning
to stop worrying and become more relaxed about some-
thing [phr v I]
Hey, loosen up. t It's not worth getting upset about something
she said. I He is a tough manager but he knows when to
loosen up.
let your hair down/let j:r heor daon/an informal
expression meaning to relax completely and enjoy yourself,
especially in social situations Iv phrase]
The Christmas party gives everyone the chance to let their
hair down and have a good time.
relaxing
relay
release
relegate
relent
relevant
reliable
reliant: be
relic
relief
relieve
relieve sb
relieve the boredom/monotony
relieved WORRIED 12
religion RELIGION 1
RELAXED 3, REST 2
SEND 5, TELL 7
FREE/NOT IN PRISON 2, HOLD 9, MOVE STH
OR SB 4, SELL 12
IMPORTANT 10
STRICT 8
CONNECTED WITH 5
BELIEVE 11, DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2, 3,
EFFECTIVE 2, EFFICIENT 2
reliant on NEED 3
REMAIN/BE LEFT 4
COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 3,
WORRIED 12
REDUCE 2, REPLACE 2
of their duties/post LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 2
BORING 9
@ RELIGION
a system of belief in a god or gods, and the
ceremonies, customs, and duties which go
with that belief
1 religion
2 a religious group
3 words for describing someone who believes
strongly in a particular religion
4 words for describing a place, object, or
person that is connected with religion
5 not connected with religion or any religious
group
1 religion
religion belief
faith creed

RELIGION 1104 relish
religion/rI'lId3n/In C/U/
We spent hours discussing politics, religion and poetry. J My
parents' religion is very important to them. I "'What's your
religion?" "'I'm a Catholic. "'1 The kids at this school belong
to many different religions. I be against sb's religion (=be
not allowed by their religion) She can't eat meat. It's against
her religion.
faith/fei0/one of the large, important religions that have
been established throughout the world, and according to
whose rules many people worship, and live their lives In C]
Jewish/Catholic/Islamic faith Both my parents belonged
to the Jewish faith. I faith Suleka has no objections to mar-
rying someone of a different religious faith. I People of all
faiths united in support of the UN peacekeeping initiative.
belief/b 'lift/the ideas, moral rules etc that people believe
in because of the religion they belong to [n C usually plural]
People should not be discriminated against on the grounds
of their religious beliefs. I Our background, and our cultural
and religious beliefs, will all affect the way we raise our
children.
creed/kri:d/a word used especially when talking about
religions in general, meaning the set of religious ideas that
the people of a particular religion believe in In C]
people of every creed/all creeds The company welcomes
applications from people of every race, creed and colour. I
creed The belief in Jesus as a prophet is a major part of
several world creeds.
2 a religious group
sect denomination
church cult
sect/sekt/a religious group that is part of a larger reli-
gious group, but has slightly different beliefs and ceremo-
nies [n C]
Ezra belongs to a strict religious sect, that forbids smoking,
drinking alcohol and watching TV. I Islam has two main
sects; the Sunnis and the Shias. [ The temple belongs to the
Rinzai sect of Buddhism.
church /t3:rt/ a smaller group within the Christian
religion [n C]
Which church do you belong to? [ The evangelical churches
are particularly strong in the big cities. [ the Catholic/
Methodist ere Church She left the Catholic Church because
she disagreed with its attitudes towards women.
denomination/dI nom tnelan [[ di ina:-/one of the big
official groups within a religion, especially within the
Christian religion [n C]
The main denominations in England are the Church of
England and the Catholic Church. [ Leaders of the various
Christian denominations are meeting to discuss church
unity.
cult/kAlt/an extreme religious group that is not part of
an established religion, and that many people think is
strange and possibly harmful to the people who get
involved in it In C]
Dozens of religious cults have appeared in the US, most
making a fortune for their leaders. I Members of the cult are
not allowed to marry or own property without permission.
3 words for describing someone who believes
strongly in a particular religion
religious practising/practicing
devout observe
believer orthodox
religious IrI'lId3s/[adj]
Although he was raised as a Muslim, he's not really very reli-
gious. I deeply religious (=very religious) Her parents were
both deeply religious people, who believed it was sinful to
work on Sundays.
devout/dI'vaot/believing very strongly in a particular
religion and carefully obeying all its rules [adj usually
before noun]
devout Muslim/Catholic/Jew etc Clare's mother is a
devout Catholic who would never miss Sunday mass. I
Devout Muslims pray to Allah 5 times a day. I There was no
one in the church apart from three devout old ladies.
devoutly [adv] Mandy prayed devoutly every night.
believer/b Ili:vr/someone who believes strongly in a
particular religion In C]
The priest asked the man at the back of the church if he was
a believer. I true believer A true believer would never eat
meat, as killing any living thing is forbidden.
practising (British) I practicing (American)/'prk-
tsirj/practising Catholic/Jew/Muslim etc (=someone
who is actively involved in a particular religion and keeps
its rules, customs etc) [adj only before noun]
Harri was the only practising Muslim in the class. I He says
he's a Jew but he's not a practising one.
obsee/b z3:rv/if you observe a religious custom, you
do something on a particular day or in a special way
because it is part of your religion Iv T]
Jews observed many fasts, for example on the Day of Atone-
ment. I Centuries ago, about a hundred different Holy Days
were observed in Europe.
orthodox/a:rOdoks [[ -do:ks/believing in, and follow-
ing very closely, all the ideas, rules, and customs of one of
the main religions, even when other people within the
same religion do not always think they are important [adj]
Orthodox Christianity teaches that Christ was raised to life
three days after he was crucified. I Ian's parents are both very
strict orthodox Jews.
4 words for describing a place, object, or
person that is connected with religion
religious sacred
holy spiritual
religious/rI'lId3)s/[adj only before noun]
They don't eat meat for religious reasons. I Religious educa-
tion is compulsory in all English schools. I religious beliefl
Trying to resolve the religious and political differences of the
Indian subcontinent was a near impossible goal.
holy/ holi/connected with God and religion, and there-
fore treated in a special way, or thought to have special
qualities or powers [adj]
Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I
Criminals were not allowed to be buried in holy ground. I The
priest sprinkled the congregation with holy water.
sacred/'seikrd/very holy and therefore treated with
great respect [adj]
Mount Fuji is regarded as a sacred mountain by the
Japanese. I The temple contains a number of sacred objects,
including one of Buddha's teeth. I Cats were sacred animals
to the ancient Egyptians.
spiritual / ' spir ]ffual/connected with the soul, the spirit,
and religion, and not with physical things or ordinary
human activities [adj]
The priest's role is to give advice on spiritual matters. I the
spiritual leader of the Tibetan people I African music has a
spiritual quality which is lacking in Western music.
spiritually [adv] Eliot considered modern society to be both
culturally and spiritually empty.
5 not connected with religion or any religious
group
secular
secular/'sekjlr/[adj]
Schools should be secular and include children of all reli-
gious, social, and economic groups. I Much of the church's
role in our society has been taken over by secular institu-
tions. I The ensemble played a mix of religious and secular
music.
religious RELIGION 3, 4
religiously EXACT 7
relinquish GIVE 7
relish ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4

relish 1105 REMAIN/BE LEFT
relish: with relish ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1
relive REMEMBER 4
reload SHOOT 7
relocate MOVE STH OR SB 2
reluctant WILLING 3
rely on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 1
rely on: can rely on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2, 3
rely on: can't rely on DEPEND ON/RELY ON 4
rely on: depend/rely on NEED 3
remain REMAIN/BE LEFT 1, STAY/NOT LEAVE 1, 2,
STILL 1, 2
remain: it remains to be seen PREDICT 6
remain: what is left/remains of REMAIN 3
. remain
REMAIN/BE LEFT
1 to be the last part of something that is left
after everything else has gone, or been used,
destroyed etc
2 words for describing something that remains
after everything else has been done, used,
dealt with etc
3 the part of something that remains after
everything else has gone or been used,
eaten, destroyed etc
4 an object, custom, or practice that belongs to
a time in the past but still exists
1
to be the last part of something that is left
after everything else has gone, or been used,
destroyed etc
left be still standing
remain to spare
be left over to go
survive in hand
left/left/[adj not before noun]
be left Take as much as you like and I'll have whatever's
left. I There aren't many of the original members of the club
left. I have sth left How much money do you have left? I've
spent all of mine. I By the end of the week we had no food or
fuel left - we were completely stranded.
remain /rtmetn/ a word used especially in written
English and in descriptions of places or events, meaning
to still be left after everything else has gone, been used etc
Iv I]
Some of the animal bones have been removed but many still
remain. [ Not much remained of the house after the fire. [
Hundreds of pilgrims visit the site every year, although no
traces of the original temple remain.
be left over/bi: left ouvor/to be the last part of some-
thing that is left after the rest has been used, eaten, or spent
[ v phrase]
If there's any meat left over, I usually give it to the dog. I Any
money that's left over will go to charity. ] be left over from
She had quite a few pieces of fabric left over from making
the costumes for the show.
survive/sr'vav/to remain in existence even after a very
long time has passed or after something dangerous has hap-
pened Iv I/T]
Many Roman roads still survive today. [ The English lan-
guage is littered with Saxon words that have survived for
over 1000years. [ survive sth Very few government build-
ings survived the bombing in Hanoi.
be still standing/hi: stl 'stndo/if something such
as a building or tree is still standing after a fire, explo-
sion etc, it is left, after many others have been destroyed
Iv phrase]
After the earthquake only a few houses were still standing. [
The tree had been struck by lightning and was only just still
standing.
to spare/t sper/if you have three metres, an hour, ten
pounds etc to spare, that amount remains and you do not
need to use it [adj phrase not before noun]
We arrived at the station with only a few seconds to spare
before the train left. ] After I had made the wedding dress
I had at least a metre of satin to spare. [ He jumped the stream
with yards to spare, landing on the sloping ground at the
other side.
to go/t 'go/if you still have four miles, six hours, two
years etc to go you have that distance or length of time left
before a difficult, boring, or unpleasant journey or period
of waiting is over [adj phrase not before noun]
Keep it up - only another four miles to go! [ On no - we have
hours to go before there's another flight. [ We still have a few
miles to go before we get to London.
in hand/xn hmnd/if you have a particular amount of time
in hand, you still have that much time left to do something,
especially because you have been working faster or have
finished earlier than you expected [adj phrase not before
noun]
We still have a few days in hand. Are there any changes you
want to make? I As it turned out, the project was completed
with weeks in hand.
2 words for describing something that remains
after everything else has been done, used,
dealt with etc
remaining spare
last leftover
outstanding
remaining/r'memrj/[adj only before noun]
The remaining money will be divided among his relatives. [
Chop up the ham and add to the beans with the remaining
butter. I Four of the paintings were donated to museums
while the remaining two were sold to private collectors.
last /lmst [I lst/ the last thing is the only one that
remains [adj only before noun]
I'm on my last roll of film and we're only halfway through
the vacation. [Apparently she's just got to write the last chap-
ter and her novel will be finished.
outstanding/autstando/work or money that is out-
standing still has to be done or paid, especially after the
time when it should have been done or paid [adj]
We need more time to catch up with outstanding work. [Any
outstanding claims must be settled by the end of the year. [
There are a few problems still outstanding.
spare/sper/left after everything else has been used, and
therefore available to be used [adj usually before noun]
Are there any spare chairs we can borrow? [ I'd love to help
you but I don "t have any spare cash. I The company has some
spare offices at its Pittsburg plant.
leftover / leftovr/not used, not eaten etc at the end of
a meal or an activity [adj only before noun]
The dog gets all our leftover food to eat. I There's some
leftover wine in my glass if you want it. I Take all your
leftover bottles to be recycled.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

REMAIN/BE LEFT 1106 REMEMBER
3 the part of something that remains after
everything else has gone or been used,
eaten, destroyed etc
the remains what is left of/what remains of
remnants the rest
leftovers the remainder
ruins the last of
the remains/6 r'menz/[n plurall
the remains of They found the remains of an old boat on
the seashore. I The remains of her lunch were still on the
table, but she was nowhere to be seen.
remnants !'remnants/the few parts of something that
remain after people have stopped using it [n plural]
The last remnants of the old system have now been swept
away. [ In the east of the building stood a marble font and
two short pillars, remnants from the Christian church.
leftovers/'left,uvrz/food which has not been eaten and
is left after a meal In plural]
We used the leftovers to make a casserole the next day. I
Microwaves are great for reheating leftovers and defrosting
meat.
ruins/'ru:nz/the parts that remain when the rest of a
building has been destroyed [n plural]
In Greece we spent a lot of time exploring old churches and
ruins. I After the earthquake, people were camping in the
ruins of their houses.
what is left of/what remains of I,wot iz 'left v, ,wot
ri'meinz v/the little that is left after everything else has
been used, eaten, destroyed etc In phrase]
After the fire they returned to see what was left of their home. I
A few text books and a bunsen burner, are what remains of
his laboratory. I They saw him riding towards them, with
what was left of a flag raised on a stick.
the rest/6 'rest/what is left after everything else has
been used, destroyed etc, or the people that are left after
everyone else has gone, been killed etc In singular or
plural]
the rest of What are you going to do with the rest of the
money? l He'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I the
rest Many of the residents have already left the island; the
rest are preparing for the typhoon.
the remainder/6 n'memdr/a formal word meaning
the part of something that remains after everything else
has gone In singular]
$100 of the purchase price must be paid now, and the
remainder is to be paid off in monthly installments. I the
remainder of He went around to the front of the tent where
the remainder of the occupants were huddled.
the last of/6 'la:st v [[ -'lmst-/the very last part of
something that is left after everything else has gone [n
phrase]
He knocked back the last of his brandy and went upstairs
to bed. [ The volcano began to erupt shortly after the last of
us had left the island.
4 an object, custom, or practice that belongs to
a time in the past but still exists
relic
hangover
survival
relic/'relk/an object, custom, idea etc that is left from
long ago in the past and that most people think is very old-
fashioned [n C]
relic from His strange ideas about raising kids must be a
relic from his own childhood. [ Standing on the sandbags,
quaint relics from the war, she looked out to sea.
hangover/'harjovr! a British word meaning some-
thing that is left over from a time in the past, and is no
longer suitable or practical In C usually singular]
hangover from Meg's habit of putting everything on high
shelves is a hangover from when she had small children. [
The custom of putting curtains on car windows is a hangover
from the days of sedan chairs.
survival Isar'vaIval/something that is left from a time in
the past and that was almost destroyed, or almost disap-
peared, when everything else from its time was destroyed
In C]
survival from Some types of reptile are a survival from the
days of dinosaurs.
remainder: the remainder REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
remaining REMAIN/BE LEFT 2
remains: the remains BODY 4, REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
remains to be seen PREDICT 6
remark SAY 1, 11
remarkable UNUSUAL 2
remarkably/exceptionally VERY 2
remarry MARRY 1
remedy CURE 3, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 1, 2
remember REMEMBER 1, 8
remember: for as long as you can remember
ALWAYS/FOREVER 2
remember: never forget/always remember
REMEMBER 6
remember: not remember FORGET 1, 2
remember me to HELLO 4
remember sth as if it were yesterday REMEMBER 4
remember well/vividly REMEMBER 4
remember
REMEMBER
10
11
to remember something that happened in the
past, or remember a person or fact that you
used to know
to try very hard to remember something that
is difficult to remember
to remember something unclearly or with
difficulty
to remember something very well and clearly
to spend time remembering events, people,
and experiences from the past
to remember something for a long time
words for describing something that is easy to
remember or that you remember for a long
time
to remember something that you must do
to remember important facts that you may
need to know in the future
the ability to remember things
words for describing something that is done
so that a person or event will not be forgotten
1 to remember something that happened in the
past, or remember a person or fact that you
used to know
remember
recollect
recall
remember/rI'membr/[v I/T not usually in progressive]
remember sb Yes, I remember Jean. She has blonde hair

REMEMBER 1107 REMEMBER
and blue eyes. I remember sth I was going to phone you,
but I couldn't remember your number. I remember who/
why/how etc Remember where we lived when we were first
married? They've knocked it down now. I remember that
I remember that the atmosphere was tense between mother
and father for years before they divorced. I remember doing
sth He took a long look at the girl and faintly remembered
seeing her at a party somewhere. I remember What did I
do with my car keys? Oh, I remember, I left them on the
kitchen table. I as far as I remember (=what I remember
is) As far as Iremember he was a short man with fair hair.
recollect ! reko lekq to be able to remember something,
especially by deliberately trying to remember ]v T not
usually in progressive]
recollect sth/sb I recognize his face but I can't seem to
recollect much about him. I recollect who/why/how etc
She recollected how she used to dream of being a pilot when
she grew up. I recollect that There was little evidence until
a driver said he recollected he'd seen two men running away
from the bank. I recollect doing sth I do not recollect ever
having been to Ohio although my mother says we went there
when I was a child.
recollection ] rekollekan! In C/U[ He had no recollection
o fever having received the money.
recall ]r  k:l! to deliberately remember a particular fact,
event, or situation from the past in order to tell someone
about it, especially in a law court or other official situation
Iv I/T not usually in progressive]
recall sth The lawyer asked the witness to try to recall as
much about the accident as possible. I recall that I recall
that on at least one occasion I saw him taking money from
the office safe. I recall doing sth Howard sighed. He could
not recall ever being this tired before. I as I recall (=that is
what I recall) The meeting went very well, as I recall.
2
to try very hard to remember something that
is difficult to remember
try to remember rack your brains
think come back
cast your mind back
try to remember/,trai to r membor/[v phrase]
You must try to remember what happened - it's very impor-
tant. I You want to know his name? Wait a minute. I'm trying
to remember. [ She sat in the examination room and desper-
ately tried to remember some of the things she had been
taught.
think/Ook/to try to remember something by deliberately
thinking about it a lot Iv I[
think of You used to go out with the man from the bank,
didn't you? I just can't think of his name. I try to think
"'What did you do with the keys? .... Hang on, I'm just trying
to think. "l think hard Think hard. What were they wear-
ing? I think and think (=think for a long time) He thought
and thought but he couldn't remember. I think what/why/
how etc I can't think where I put it.
cast your mind back/,ka:stj3: r mand bek 11 kest-/
to try to remember something that happened a long time
in the past [v phrase not in passive]
Cast your mind back. Are you sure you can't remember what
happened?[ Casting his mind back forty years, he could just
remember his first day at school. [ cast your mind back to
It is difficult to cast one's mind back to early childhood, but
I can just remember my third birthday.
rack your brains/rek j:r brelnz/to try extremely
hard to remember something that you find very difficult
to remember Iv phrase not in passive]
He racked his brains trying to remember where he had put
the letter. [ danice sat in the station racking her brains, but
couldn't remember the French for 'ticket:
come back/kAm bek/ if something comes back to
you, you gradually start to remember it again after a lot
of effort [phr v I[
come back to sb I can't think of the number at the moment
but it'll come back to me. [ come back I thought I'd forgot-
ten about that vacation but seeing the photos made it all come
back.
3 to remember something unclearly or with
difficulty
vaguely remember be on the tip of
have a hazy/ your tongue
vague recollection ring a bell
vaguely remember/,vegli rl membor/if you vaguely
remember something, you can remember it slightly but
not all the details are clear Iv phrase not usually in
progressive]
vaguely remember sth Yes I vaguely remember what
happened. We were travelling somewhere by train, I think. [
vaguely remember doing sth He vaguely remembered
meeting her in a club the night of the concert.
have a hazy/vague recollection/haev o hezi, veg
rekolekan/to be able to remember that something hap-
pened but not be able to remember the details clearly, espe-
cially because you did not notice the details at the time
[ v phrase not in progressive[
have a hazy/vague recollection of sth I have a vague
recollection of that night, but I couldn't tell you exactly what
happened. [ have a hazy/vague recollection of doing sth
The next day she had only a hazy recollection of getting
drunk and dancing in a fountain.
be on the tip of your tongue/bi: on 60 tlp 0v j:r 'tAJ/
ifa name or word is on the tip of your tongue, you usually
know it but have difficulty remembering it at the present
moment Iv phrase]
His name's on the tip of my tongue. I'll think of it in a minute.[
What was that place where they'd had dinner? It was on the
tip of her tongue.
ring a bell [ro o bel! if something, especially a name,
rings a bell, you remember that you have seen or heard
it before but you are now not sure of the details Iv phrase]
Does the name Wade ring a bell at all? [ I looked at the coin.
It certainly rang a bell but I couldn't remember where I'd
seen it before.
4 to remember something very well and clearly
remember well/vividly remember sth as if it
distinctly remember were yesterday
be fresh in your mind relive
I can still
remember well/vividly /ri,inembo r 'wel, 'vivdli/
[v phrase not usually in progressive]
"Do you remember a guy called Casey?'" "'Sure, I remember
him well. "'1 1 remember the party vividly because I had never
spoken to a Russian before. I The sight of Julia, gun in hand,
was something Henry would vividly remember for the rest
of his days. I remember sth all too well (=remember some-
thing that you would prefer to forget) I met my ex-husband
in France. I remember it all too well.
distinctly remember/d  strjktli ri membor/to remem-
ber the details about something extremely clearly, espe-
cially when it is not something that would usually stay in
someone's memory [v phrase not usually in progressive]
distinctly remember sth I distinctly remember her dress.
It was blue with a red belt. I I told you my name last time
we met. I distinctly remember. [ distinctly remember
doing sth It was a long speech and I can distinctly remem-
ber thinking "'Hurry up, it's getting late."[ distinctly
remember sb doing sth The cashier said she distinctly
remembered the accused waiting outside the bank a week
earlier.
be fresh in your mind/bi: fre nj: r maind/if some-
thing is fresh in your mind, you remember it very clearly
because it happened very recently or because it had a great
effect on you [v phrase]
The day war was declared is still fresh in my mind. [ She
noted down the details of the conversation while they were
still fresh in her mind. [ with sth fresh in your mind It
was going to be difficult forming a new relationship with the
memory of Marian still fresh in his mind.
I can stiil/a kan stfi/I can still hear/see/feel ete (=I
remember clearly the sight, sound, feel etc of something)

REMEMBER 1108 REMEMBER
I can still see his face when I told him I wanted a divorce. I
I can still hear my mother even now, singing away in the
kitchen. I Next morning in the elevator, going down, he could
still feel the much of her lips on his face.
remember sth as if it were yesterday/r memb r
(sth) oz if It wo r 'jestordi/to remember something that hap-
pened a long time in the past so dearly that it seems to have
happened very recently, especially because it had a great
effect on you Iv phrase only in present simple tense]
That weekend in Ireland? I can remember it as if it were
yesterday. I "'My husband fell into the river once, "" said the
old woman. "'I remember it as if it were yesterday. '"
relive / ,ri: 'hv/to clearly remember something, especially
an experience from the past, by im.agining that you are
doing it again now Iv T]
Helping to bring up her granddaughter she was, in a sense,
reliving her own past. I In my dreams Ioften relived my fears
and thought I was being attacked. I I have relived that game
many times and I still don't know how I missed the goal.
5 to spend time remembering events, people,
and experiences from the past
reminisce hark back to
reminiscences memory
look/think back nostalgia
reminisce /IremlnIs/ to talk about pleasant events,
people, experiences etc from the past, because you want to
remember them or enjoy talking about them Iv I]
reminisce about As a child I used to spend hours listening
to my grandfather reminisce about life in the army. I Lazlo
was sentimental and enjoyed reminiscing about his life in
Poland before he went to America. I reminisce The reun-
ion was great. It gave us the chance to reminisce and have
a laugh about the old days.
reminiscen©es / I rem nlsnsz/stories about events,
people, experiences etc from the past, that people tell when
they want to remember them In plural]
David became a writer and published his reminiscences
many years later. I reminiscences aboutCf It was a night
of pleasant talk, the two of them exchanging reminiscences
about the war. I There's nothing more boring than listening
to people's reminiscences of their school days.
look/think back I lok, ,Orjk 'bmk/to remember events
that happened in the past because you want to think about
them [phr v I]
Army life was fun only when you had left and could look
back and laugh. [ look/think back on When I think back
on my life Irealise how lucky I have been. [ look/think back
to Thinking back to when I was married, I would have done
quite a few things differently.
hark back to/, hozrk 'bmk tu:/to repeatedly remember
and talk about events, people, experiences etc from the
past, in a way that annoys other people Iv T]
Don't keep harking back to the war, it's over and we should
forget it! I Even though he'd been married for five years he
still kept harking back to his first girlfriend.
memory /'memari/ something, especially an event or
experience, that you remember from the past In C]
He smiled to himself at the memory of his first kiss. I She
loved the old house and its memories. I One of my earliest
childhood memories is of being given a doll for my birthday.
nostalgia/no'stald3o ]1 no:-/the slightly sad feeling of
remembering happy events or experiences from the past,
especially when you are not so happy with your life now
In U]
The annual reunion was a time for nostalgia and renewal
of friendships. I nostalgia for Lying in her bed, full of
nostalgia for the good old days, she remembered all the
happy times they'd shared.
nostalgic [adj] Seeing those old school photographs has
made me quite nostalgic (=filled me with a feeling of
nostalgia).
nostalgically [adv] They talked nostalgically about old
times.
6 to remember something for a long time
never forget/ stick in sb's mind
always remember be haunted by
stay with
never forget/always remember I,nevo r for'get, -
,o:lwelz r; 'membor/ [v phrase]
never forget sth/sb I'll never forget the sight of him lying
there in the hospital. I She promised she would come and see
him sometimes and that she would never forget him. I I'll
always remember what you've done for me. I never forget
doing sth She said she would never forget opening the door
and seeing all her family standing there as a surprise.
stay with/'stei w;6/if something such as an experience
or event stays with you, you remember it for a very long
time because it has such a great effect on you Iv T not in
passive]
The memory of the accident stayed with Mick a long time. I
John's remark about snakes stayed with me the whole time
I was in Kenya. I The sensation of panic when I realised I
was stranded will stay with me for the rest of my life.
stick in sb's mind !,stlk In (sb's) 'maind/if something
such as an experience or event sticks in someone's mind,
they find it very difficult to forget it Iv phrase]
That play sticks in my mind because it was so unusual. I
Little things, like the watch he had given her, stuck in her
mind. I What really sticks in my mind about the poor woman
was that she had such a sad face.
be haunted by/hi: ha:ntd bai/if you are haunted by
something, especially something that you are worried
about or afraid of, you find it extremely difficult to forget
it so you are always thinking about it [v phrase]
She was still haunted by what happened in Barcelona,
although she had left twenty years earlier. I Even at night,
in his dreams, he was haunted by his fear of going bankrupt.
7 words for describing something that is easy to
remember or that you remember for a long
time
memorable haunting
unforgettable catchy
memorable/'merrrobal/something that is memorable,
especially an event or occasion, is so enjoyable, beautiful,
unusual etc that you remember it for a long time [adj]
We had many wonderful trips abroad, perhaps the most
memorable being our holiday in Australia. I Then we drove
up to the hill overlooking the town - a memorable sight at
sunset. I On one memorable occasion, he played Brahms'
violin concerto with a broken arm.
unforgettable /,^nforgetobdl/ something such as an
event or occasion that is unforgettable has such a power-
ful effect on you that you will never be able to forget it [adj]
The trip had been an unforgettable experience for both of
them. I Bogart's performance in the movie "Casablanca" was
absolutely unforgettable. I There had been an unforgettable
family argument when Teresa said she was leaving home to
join the circus.
haunting ]ha:ntirj/ something that is haunting has a
very mysterious or beautiful quality that makes you
remember it for a very long time [adj]
A haunting melody he had heard somewhere kept passing
through his mind. I Andy kept thinking about the girl. There
was something so haunting about her.
hauntingly [adv] the hauntingly lovely valleys of Norway
catchy/'kmtfi/catchy tune/song/name (=simple and
easy to remember) [adj]
The postman was whistling a catchy little tune. I The secret
of selling the product is giving it as catchy a name as
possible.
8 to remember something that you must do
 remember
be sure
don't forget

REMEMBER 1109 REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER
remember/r membar! [v I/T not in progressive]
remember to do sth Did you remember to lock the back
door? l I hope he remembered to buy some stamps. I remem-
ber sth Last time we went camping he remembered a cork-
screw but forgot to bring any glasses. I remember Remem-
ber, if the examiner asks you to speak in French, don't be
surprised.
be sure/bi: ur/if you tell someone to be sure to do
something, you want them to remember that it is impor-
tant that they do it [v phrase]
be sure to do sth Be sure to phone me when you get in. [ Be
sure to wear something suitable for the walk - comfortable
shoes and a waterproof coat. [ be sure and do sth Be
sure and let me know if you need anything. [ be sure that
Be sure that you lock the door behind you when you come out.
don't forget/,dont fr,get/you say don't forget when
you want to tell someone to remember something that they
must have or must do Iv I/T[
don't forget to do sth Don't forget to pick me up tomorrow.
Seven-thirty. [ don't forget sth Don't forget your key, there
won't be anyone in when you come back. [ don't forget that
Don't forget that we have to be in Paris on the twenty-sixth. [
don't forget You promised to take the lads out. Don't forget.
9 to remember important facts that you may
need to know in the future
note consider
make a mental note take account of/
bear/keep in mind take sth into account
note/not/to remember something, especially a fact or
information, especially by writing it down, because you
may need to know it in the future [v T[
note sth Before leaving the station she noted the times of the
return trains. [ He read the text carefully, noting doubts and
questions to be resolved later. [ make a note of sth If you
have any complaints let me know and I'll make a note of it.
make a mental note /melk  ,mentl Inot/ to make
yourself remember something because you may need to
know it or do it in the future [v phrase]
make a mental note to do sth I said nothing to Liz but
made a mental note to ask her sister about it later. [ make
a mental note of sth As he came in I made a mental note
of where he put the keys. [ Behind him two cops were discuss-
ing a murder case and he made a mental note of the things
they said for his next book.
bear/keep in mind /be r, ki:p in 'maind/to remem-
ber a fact or some information because it will be useful to
you in the future Iv phrase]
"'You're always welcome to stay here, you know. "" "'Thanks,
I'll keep it in mink "'[ Bearing in mind how much we spent
last year, I think we should start making cuts. [ bear/keep
in mind that It's worth keeping in mind that drinks are
cheaper before eight o'clock.
consider/kn'sldr/to remember and think carefully
about something before taking any action [v T[
consider sth Please consider the possible consequences of
this behaviour. [ consider what/why ete We hadn't consi-
dered what might happen if we refused to help them. [ con-
sider that It is worth considering that the operation is only
successful in 16% of cases.
take account of/take sth into account /,tek
'kaunt ov, tek (sth) nto  kaunt/to remember and include
particular facts, details etc when you are planning or decid-
ing something Iv phrase]
A number offactors must be taken into account, such as the
person' age and sex. [ These figures do not take account of
changes in the rate of inflat.ion.
10 the ability to remember things
memory
recall
memory I'memari/a person's ability to remember facts
or past events [n singular]
He's got a good memory but I wouldn't call him intelligent. [
The student with a poor memory, for instance, will be at a
disadvantage in traditional exam situations. I photo-
graphic memory (=the ability to remember exactly every
detail of something you have seen) One thing a successful
spy will have is a photographic memory. I memory for I've
got a terrible memory for names - what was yours again? l
lose your memory (=no longer have the ability to remem-
ber things) After the accident he lost his memory for a week.
recall/r'kz:l 1[ r'ka:l, ri:ka:l/the ability to take infor-
mation from your memory in order to use it In U]
Even in old age his powers of recall were astonishing. [ In
advanced cases of the disease there is a very rapid loss of
recall and a decay of memory. [ total recall (=the ability
to remember everything you want to remember) She was
a highly talented musician with total recall, and she never
needed sheet music.
1 1 words for describing something that is done
so that a person or event will not be forgotten
in memory of
memorial
commemorate
in memory of/:n 'memari zv/if something is done in
memory of someone who has died, it is done so that the
person is not forgotten, and to show respect for them [prep]
The statue was built in memory of all the soldiers who died
in the war. I The inscription on the gravestone said simply,
"In memory of David James Flower 1892-1917." I in sb's
memory When Alfred Nobel died an annual peace prize was
established in his memory.
memorial/rn I rn:rbl/memorial concert/fund/serv-
ice etc (=done to show respect for someone who has died,
especially someone who was important, so that that person
will not be forgotten) [adj only before noun]
The memorial service for the actor was attended by the
greatest names in Hollywood. I Eliot was asked to give the
first Yeats memorial lecture in Dublin in 1940.
commemorate /k'memret/ if something com-
memorates someone's death or an event where people
died, it is done in order to show respect for them and to
remind other people of their lives Iv T]
The Monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of
London. I Keats' death is commemorated in a fine poem by
Shelley. I When a famous citizen died he was commemorated
by a statue or a plaque.
 remind REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 1, 2
i remind sb of LIKE/SIMILAR 3
[remind or r  emember?]
i, i} ' SB REMEMBER
REMIND/MAKE SB
REMEMBER
1 to make someone remember something that
they must do, some information that they
should know etc
2 to make someone remember a person, event,
or experience from the past
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 1110 remove
1 to make someone remember something that
they must do, .some information that they
should know etc
remind prompt
jog sb's memory be a reminder
refresh sb's memory reminder
remind/rl 'mand/[v TI
remind sb to do sth Remind me to pick up some liquor at
the supermarket. I Leave a note on the fridge to remind your-
self to buy extra milk. I remind sb Oh, that reminds me, I
have to go to the dentist. I remind sb about By the way, Paul
telephoned to remind you about the jgarty on Saturday. I
remind sb (that) She tried to think of a tactful way of
reminding dim it was their wedding anniversary. I remind
sb why/how/when etc We'll be there by 60"clock. Can you
send me a map to remind me where you live?
jog sb's memory/d3og (sb's) memari II id3a:g-/ if a
particular detail about someone or something jogs some-
one's memory, it makes them remember someone or
something that they have forgotten [v phrase]
She had almost forgotten to call Doug when the sight of a
phone box jogged her memory. I jog sb's memory about
He never remembers my birthday - I always have to jog his
memory about it.
refresh sb's memory/r ,fre (sb's) memri/to look at
photographs, written information etc in order to help you
remember facts or details that you already know but may
have forgotten [v phrase]
Before the exam he read through his notes once more to
refresh his memory. I These photos should refresh your
memory, Mr Ball, if you can't remember where you were on
dune 15.
prompt/prompt II pra:mpt/to remind someone, especially
an actor in a play, what words to say when they have for-
gotten what they are supposed to say [v I/T/
prompt sb His job is to prompt the actors when they forget
their lines. I The presidential aide did a fine job prompting
his boss during a tough press conference. I prompt Most of
the children knew their lines so the director didn't need to
prompt very much.
prompt [n C/He managed to say the whole speech without
a single prompt.
be a reminder/hi: a r Imalndr/if something, especially
something that happens or something you experience, is
a reminder, it reminds you of a fact or situation that you
have forgotten or ignored [v phrase]
It is easy to forget that there are people starving all over the
world but these television programmes are a good reminder. I
be a reminder of dim's death is a reminder to all of us of
the danger of drugs. [ act/serve as a reminder The latest
attacks on women can only serve as a reminder that no
woman is safe at night. I be a reminder that The sound of
a jet overhead was a reminder to doe that he should be
making his way to the airport very soon.
reminder/r; Imandar/a written note or something that
someone says that reminds you about something you have
forgotten or ignored, especially something that you must
do [n C/
There was nothing much in the mail -just a few bills and
a reminder from the dentist that her check-up was due. I Chil-
dren often forget to do their jobs around the house but a quick
reminder will soon make them do it.
to make someone remember a person, event,
or experience from the past
remind drag up/rake up
be a reminder evoke
bring back memories evocative
take sb back make sb think of
remind Ir;'ma;nd/[v T/
remind sb of sb/sth Hearing that song always reminded
her of a certain night in Santa Cruz. I Looking down on the
valley, he was suddenly reminded of his childhood days play-
ing on the mountain slopes.
be a reminder /bi: a rimaindar/ if something is a
reminder, it makes you remember people, places, events
etc from the past [v phrase]
The town wanted to forget the war but the disused fortress
was a painful reminder. I be a reminder of I'll keep these
shells. They'lt be a reminder of a pleasant holiday. [ be a
constant reminder of The children were a constant
reminder of his first wife.
bring back memories/brir3 bek memariz/if some-
thing brings back memories it reminds you of a particu-
lar and often pleasant event or experience from your past
that you thought you had forgotten [v phrase]
The order and discipline of the job brought back memories
of his army days. [ "This brings back some memories, "" said
Grandad flicking through the album. [ He didn't show her
the picture in case it brought back unhappy memories.
take sb back/,te;k (sb) bek/an informal expression:
if something takes you back, it makes you start to remem-
ber a pleasant time or experience in the past that you
thought you had forgotten [phr v T/
It's years since I heard any Beatles" music, it really takes me
back. I You know, this vacation takes me back to the happi-
est years of my life. I It was really good to have a baby in the
house. It took them back to the days when their own children
were young.
drag up/rake up /dreg Ap, irek Ap/to remind some-
one of unpleasant events and experiences from the past
that they would prefer to forget [phr v T]
drag sth/it/them up Look, we all make mistakes but it's
all in the past so I don 't want you to keep raking it up again. I
Dragging this up won't help - it's best forgotten. I drag up/
rake up sth If I'd known it was going to rake up all thepast
and cause bad feeling I would never have mentioned your
ex-wife.
evoke 1 vaok/a formal word meaning to remind some-
one of how they felt at a particular time in the past by
producing a particular feeling, emotion, or memory in
them [v T/
Gorky's writing has a wonderful way of evoking childhood. [
Just the name Charlie Chaplin evokes in people an earlier,
more innocent age. I David hardly needed any encourage-
ment to visit the sea, since it still evoked for him the happi-
est memories.
evocative /'voktv II 'va:-/ if something such as a
poem, a painting, or an image is evocative, it makes people
remember a particular part of their past by producing a
particular feeling, emotion, or memory in them [adj]
The interior of the bar was done in pre-war style and was
extremely evocative. I The air was full of evocative smells of
flowers and freshly cut grass. I evocative of The painting
was evocative of all the sun and bright colours of Provence.
make sb think of/,me;k (sb) '0;rjk ov/if you say that
something makes you think of a person, experience, or
time in your life, you mean that it reminds you of it [v
phrase]
This record always makes me think of you. I Hearing her
voice again made me think of my college days. I Baked beans
make me think of that time we went camping in Wales.
reminder REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 1
reminder: be a reminder REMIND/MAKE SB
REMEMBER 1, 2
reminisce REMEMBER 5
reminiscences REMEMBER 5
reminiscent: be reminiscent of LIKE/SIMILAR 3
remiss CARELESS 1
remnants REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
remorse GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 2
remorseless STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 10
remote FAR 5, PROBABLY 9
remotely: not remotely NOT 2
removal REMOVE 5
remove REMOVE 1, 2, 3, TAKE STH FROM
SOMEWHERE 1

REMOVE 1111 REMOVE
[:::,ke:.:.:'-:ti: ........ ,,,,  TAKE STH FROM.
Something :; .,,,,,a,.  GET RID OF "
@ REMOVE
1 to remove something from inside something
2 to remove a piece or part that is attached to
something
3 to remove something from a surface, such as
paint, dirt, or marks
4 to remove words, images, music etc from a
book, tape etc
5 the act or process of removing something
6 a substance that is used to remove
something
1 to remove something from inside something
take out cut out
remove get out
extract
take out/,tek 'aot/[phr v T]
take out sth The mechanic says he'll have to take out the
engine in order to look at the gearbox. I She opened her brief-
case and took out a letter. I I don't like eating grapes - I hate
taking out all the pips. I take sth/it/them out The tooth's
rotten I'm afraid - I'll have to take it out.
remove/rl mu:v/a word used especially in instructions
and in written descriptions meaning to carefully take
something from inside something else Iv T]
remove sth Cut the fruit in half and remove the stones. I The
bomb squad officer put his hand inside the bomb and care-
fully removed the fuse. I remove sth from Someone had
removed some papers from the file.
extract/ik'strakt/to carefully and skilfully remove a
natural substance or object from the ground, from a plant,
from someone's body etc [v T]
extract sth 42 tons of gold were extracted at the mine in
1987.[ In those days people used to have teeth extracted
without an anaesthetic. [ extract sth from The nuts are
crushed in order to extract the oil from them. [ The bird uses
its long beak to extract nectar from the fiowers.
cut out/,kt 'aot! to remove something from the inside
of something else using a knife [phr v T]
cut out sth Before you cook the fish you have to cut out the
poisonous parts around the stomach. [ cut sth/it/them out
Igor a thorn stuck in my foot and had to cut it out with my
hunting knife.
get out/, get 'aot! to remove, often with difficulty, some-
thing from deep inside something else [phr v T]
get sth out ofsth I hope I've managed to get all the dirt out
of the wound. [ get sth/it/them out It's impossible to get
the cork out once it's fallen inside the bottle.
 to remove a piece or part that is attached to
something
remove break off
take off cut off
detach cut away
tear off
remove/r 'mu:v/a word used especially in instructions
or in written descriptions meaning to carefully take off a
piece or part that is joined to something Iv T]
remove sth Remove all the screws which hold the front cover
onto the front of the radio. [ It is important that all the dis-
eased parts of the plant are completely removed before begin-
ning the treatment. [ remove sth from Surgeons removed
a piece of skin from another part of the patient's body and
used it to cover the wound.
take off/Itek Iof II -':f/to take off something that is a
part of something else [phr v T]
take sth/it/them off As I was taking the pen top off all the
ink started pouring out. I take off sth They take off the
silencers on their motorbikes to make them sound more
powerful. [ "'How much hair do you want me to take off?. .... Oh
just a couple of inches. "[ take sth off sth He took the lid
off the pan and tasted the soup.
detach/dl 'tatf/to remove a piece or part of something
that is designed to be removed Iv T]
Please detach the last section of this form, fill it in and return
it to us. [ You can detach the collar by unzipping it at the
back.
detachable [adj] The coat has a detachable hood (=that can
be detached).
tear off/,teor 'of [[ -':f/to remove a part of something
such as a piece of paper or cloth by pulling it so that it tears
[phr v T]
tear off sth Tear off the coupon and send it to this address. [
Some of the buttons had got torn off and the coat looked
rather old. [ tear sth/it/them off I'd like to keep this part
- is it alright if I tear it of/?.
break off/,brek of [[ -:f/to remove a part of something
by using force to break it [phr v T]
break off sth When I got back to my car I found that some-
one had broken off the aerial. [ break offsth from He broke
a branch off from a tree to use as a walking stick. [ break
sth/it/them off Gerard broke the handle off accidentally
when he was trying to open the door.
cut off/,kAt f [[ -':f/to remove a part of something by
using a knife [phr v T]
cut sth/it/them off He cut the top off the coconut. [ If you
see any bad bits on the meat just cut them off. [ cut off sth
Cut off the burnt bits of material and it will look fine.
cut away /,lt o'weq to remove a part of something by
cutting it with a knife, especially a part that is not wanted
or not necessary [phr v T]
cut away sth Cut away all the dead leaves and fiowers. [
The doctor had to cut away the sleeve of his coat so that she
could get to the wound.
3 to remove something from a surface, such as
paint, dirt, or marks
take off scrape off
remove scratch off
wipe off rub off
peel off
take off/,tek 'of II-'o:f/[phr v T]
take off sth She was told to go to the washroom and take
off her lipstick. [ take sth off sth Could you take all those
things off the table? [ take sth/it/them off You'll need a
special cleaning fluid to take those marks off.
remove/r  mu:v/a word used especially in instructions
and written descriptions meaning to carefully take some-
thing such as paint, dirt, or marks from the surface of
something Iv T]
She removed her make-up with a piece of cotton wool. I
Remove any dirt from the negative before printing the
photograph.

REMOVE 1112 REPAIR
wipe off / wap 'of, II remove something such as
a mark or dirt by moving a cloth over it [phr v T]
wipe sth/it/them off./wiped the paint off with my hand-
kerchief. I wipe sth off sth The killer wiped his fingerprints
off the gun and tossed it on the fioor. I wipe off sth Make
sure you wipe off all the marks.
peei off/,pi:l 'of II -':f/to remove something such as the
skin of a fruit or a piece of paper that is fixed with glue,
by gently pulling it [phr v T]
peel off sth Slice each avocado in half, then peel off the skin. I
peel sth/it/them off When I peeled the label off I discovered
that the old price was $2 cheaper.
scrape off / ,skrep '.of ll-':f/to remove something from
a surface by rubbing it with someth, ing sharp such as a
knife [phr v T]
scrape off sth We started by scraping off the old wallpaper. I
It took a long time to scrape off all the dirt and bits of food
from the top of the cooker. I scrape sth/it/them off The car
was covered in rust and Joey had to scrape it off with a knife.
scratch off/,skrat 'of II-':f/ to remove part of the
surface of something by rubbing it with your nail [phr v T]
scratch off sth She scratched off the fiaking gold paint and
saw that the ring was made of brass. I Lottery cards have
silver panels which you scratch off to see if you have won a
prize. I scratch sth/it/them off I noticed a mark on my
shirt and tried to scratch it off.
rub off /,rAb 'of II-':f/ to remove something from a
surface by moving a cloth or other material hard and
continuously over it [phr v T]
rub off sth Use a cloth soaked in white spirit to rub off paint
stains. I rub sth/it/them off Mitchell tried to rub the dirt
off the nameplate with his gloved thumb.
4 to remove words, images, music etc from a
book, tape etc
erase rub sth out/erase
delete go over
cross out
erase/J'reJz II l'rels/to remove writing, film, or music
that has been recorded on a machine or computer [v T]
You can erase what you have recorded by pressing this
button. I I stupidly erased the movie by mistake before I had
a chance to watch it. I The system has a security code that
prevents anyone from erasing the files.
deiete/d 'li:t/to remove words, numbers etc on a com-
puter [v T]
After you've finished you can go back and delete or change
any words you want. I The computer automatically deletes
any files you have not saved. I To delete a document, press
control and then D.
cross out/,kros 'aot [1 ,kr:s-/to draw a line or several
lines through a word, sentence, number etc in order to
remove it or replace it with another [phr v T]
cross sth/it/them out That's no good. Cross it out and
start again. [ cross out sth The word 'hare'had been crossed
out and the word "dislike'put in its place.
rub sth out (British) I erase (American)/,rAb (sth) 'aot,
'rez II I'reIs/to remove a word, picture etc from a piece
of paper or other surface by rubbing it with a piece of
rubber, a cloth etc [v T]
The circle was too small so I rubbed it out and drew a larger
one. I The kids who had put graffiti on the wall were given
brushes and told to erase it.
go over I,go 'uvr/to remove a film, piece of music etc
by recording another film, piece of music etc in its place
[v T]
Have you got an old film I can go over? I want to record the
football. I You can go over the same recording as many times
as you like and the sound quality stays the same.
5 the act or process of removing something
removal
extraction
removai/r'mu:vdl/[n U]
If the removal of the tumour takes place early enough, the
patient will be completely cured. I Removal of the brake pads
is a simple operation which can be done with a few basic
tools.
extraction / k  strakdn/the process of carefully and ski]-
fully removing something from inside something else,
especially removing a natural substance from the ground,
from a plant, or from someone's body [n UI
The extraction of mineral resources from the ground has left
huge scars on the landscape. I Acid is used in the extraction
of uranium from uranium ore. I These days, dentists try to
avoid extraction whenever possible.
6 a substance that is used to remove
something
remover
remover/r ' mu:vr/stain/paint/make-up etc remover
(=a substance that is used to remove stains, marks,
make-up etc) [n C]
That stain remover didn't work very well, my jacket's still
not clean.
remover REMOVE 6
remuneration PAY SB FOR WORK 2
rename NAME OF A THING 6
render CAUSE 3
renegade BETRAY 5
renege on PROMISE 9
renew CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1, REPLACE 6
renewal of CONTINUE/START AGAIN 5
renovate REPAIR 2
renown FAMOUS 7
renowned FAMOUS 2
rent BORROW 3, COST 1, LEND 2
rent: hire/rent BORROW 3
rent boy SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 9
rent out LEND 2
rental COST 1
rented BORROW 4
rented: hired/rented BORROW 4
reopen CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1
reorganize CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 5
repair REPAIR 1
repair: be beyond repair REPAIR 7
repair: be in bad repair CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
repair: be in for repair REPAIR 6
REPAIR
to repair something that is broken, damaged,
or not working properly
to carefully repair something that is old and in
bad-condition, such as an old building,
machine or piece of furniture, so that it looks
or works like a new one
to make sure that something stays in good
condition or keeps working properly, by
regularly examining it and making repairs if
necessary
to try to repair something by making small
changes or without really knowing how to do
it
work that is done in order to repair something
ways of saying that something is being
repaired
too old or too badly damaged to be repaired

REPAIR 1113 REPAIR
1 to repair something that is broken, damaged,
or not working properly
repair put sth right
make/do/carry out repairs patch up
mend overhaul
fix
repair/r pear/to do work on something that is broken,
damaged, or not working properly, in order to make it work
again or look the way it looked before Iv T]
It's difficult to find anyone who knows how to repair a clock. I
It could cost $5 million to repair the damage caused by the
storm. I The convicts were employed in repairing the high-
way. I In those days, all the farming equipment was made
and repaired in the village. I Could you take that tire to the
garage and have the puncture repaired?
repair In U] The building was in desperate need of repair
(=needed repairing). I I bought some books on engine repair
and maintenance.
make/do/carry out repairs/Imelk, du:, ,keri act
rI peorz/to repair something, especially when this involves
special skills or equipment Iv phrase]
A team of engineers was called in to carry out emergency
repairs on the bridge. I The ship stopped for several hours
while repairs were made to the engines.
mend /mend/ to repair something that is broken or
damaged, especially something that has a hole in it, such
as a roof, a fence, or a piece of clothing Iv T]
He had been mending a tiny hole in the lining of his leather
coat. I I got into conversation with the man who came to mend
the roof. I People still bring their shoes to his shop to have
them mended.
fix/fIks/to repair something that is broken or not work-
ing properly, especially something that can be repaired
quite easily and quickly Iv T]
There's a window broken at the back of the house. Could you
fix it for me? I "'What's wrong with the dishwasher? .... Noth-
ing much - it'll only take a few minutes to fix. "'1 There's
something wrong with my car, but I don't have the money
to get it fixed.
put sth right/.pot (sth) Iralt/to repair a machine, which
is still working but which is not completely satisfactory
Iv phrase]
The TV's not working too well so they're coming round from
the store to put it right. I The lighting system is still giving
us some problems but it'll be put right in time for the show.
patch up / tpet 'ap/to repair something quickly and not
very thoroughly so that it is good enough to be used again,
especially something that has a hole in it [phr v T]
patch up sth We managed to patch up the roof enough to
stop it leaking. I- patch sth/it/them up I couldn't afford a
new fence just then, so I had to patch the old one up.
overhaul /ov r h:l/to thoroughly examine a machine,
vehicle, piece of equipment etc and repair it if necessary
Iv T]
The garage overhauled the engine last week and it sounds
much better now. I completely overhaul All the electrical
wiring in the house was being completely overhauled because
of the risk of fire.
2 to carefully repair something that is old and in
bad condition, such as an old building,
machine, or piece of furniture, so that it looks
or works like a new one
renovate do up
restore reconditioned
renovate /'renvet/ to thoroughly repair something,
especially an old building, so that it looks as it did when
it was first made Iv T]
This fine old theatre has been renovated and re-fitted. I Are
you interested in buying an old house and renovating it? I
The chairs had been rescued from the old school building
and renovated by my mother.
renovation/,renven/In U] a charming old property,
suitable for renovation
restore/rI sto:r/to repair and clean an old and valuable
building, vehicle, or work of art Iv T]
These historic buildings have been carefully restored after
suffering the damage of three wars. I She has a job restor-
ing paintings for the museum. I He spent almost three years
restoring a 1922 Rolls Royce.
restoration / rest'redn/In U] The church was closed for
restoration (=so that it could be restored).
do up / du: Ap/an informal expression meaning to repair
an old building or old vehicle so that it looks like a new one,
especially when you do this as a way of making money [phr
vT]
do up sth That's how I made my first ten thousand - by
doing up old cars and selling them. I do sth/it/them up
We did an old house up and sold it for a huge profit.
reconditioned /ri:kondIIdnd-/ reconditioned
engine/motor/washing machine/gearbox etc (=an old
machine that has been thoroughly repaired so that it works
like a new one) [adj]
If you can't afford a new engine, you could always get a
reconditioned one. I New and reconditioned washing
machines for sale - prices start at Ј100.
 to make sure that something stays in good
condition or keeps working properly, by
regularly examining it and making repairs if
necessary
maintain
service
maintain/memten, man-/Iv T]
Our engineers were sent to Japan to learn how to maintain
the new machines. I We need more money to maintain the
university's buildings. I well/badly maintained Make sure
you use a reputable firm with well maintained cars.
service / s3:rvo s/to examine a vehicle or machine, espe-
cially at fixed regular times, and repair it if necessary ]v T]
If machinery isn't serviced regularly it will eventually break
down. I While its Boeing aircraft are being serviced, the com-
pany is leasing ten Airbus AlOOs from other airlines. I I told
him she should have her car serviced every six months.
service ]n C] My motorcycle needs a service (=needs to be
serviced).
4 to try to repair something by making small
changes or without really knowing how to do
it
tinker with
fiddle with
tinker with/ItllJka r wi/to try to repair a machine by
making small changes to it, especially because you enjoy
doing this Iv T]
For an hour he tinkered with the engine, totally absorbed
in the activity I Maurice was tinkering with the valve on the
stove.
fiddle with/' fldl WlO/to try to repair something without
really knowing how to do it Iv T]
He fiddled with the pump until he figured out how the brake
mechanism worked. ]Mrs Parsons was fiddling helplessly
with a blocked waste-pipe.
5 work that is done in order to repair something
repairs
maintenance
overhaul
repairs/r'perz/[n plural]
The landlord of a rented apartment is responsible for all the
repairs. I repairs to Repairs to my car have cost me Ј500 in
the last six months. I make/do/carry out repairs Builders
are carrying out repairs to the roof and walls.
maintenance I'mentannsl regular work done to check,
clean, and repair something so that it keeps working
properly or remains in good condition In U]

REPAIR 1114 REPEAT
The Highways Department is responsible for the construc-
tion and maintenance of bridges and roads. I car/motor-
cycle etc maintenance You should learn about car main-
tenance before you buy a car. I routine maintenance
(=simple and regular maintenance) Routine maintenance
should be carried out by the driver of the vehicle.
overhaul /aovorha:l/ a thorough examination of a
machine, vehicle, or piece of equipment, making repairs
if necessary In C]
The electrical system needs a complete overhaul. I If you find
during the overhaul that the pistons are worn or damaged
they will have to be replaced
6 ways of saying that something is being repaired
being repaired
be in for repair
be under repair
being repaired/bi:;o r;'peord/
While your car's being repaired you're welcome to use my
bicycle. ] All the traffic was stopped while the water main
was being repaired.
be in for repair/bi: ,in fa r r peor/ifa machine or vehi-
cle is in for repair, it has been taken to a place such as a
shop or a garage to be repaired Iv phrasel
The TV is in for repair at the moment. [ I'll be late to work
tomorrow. I have to take the car in for repair.
be under repair/bi: lando r r per/if something large,
especially a road or bridge, is under repair, people are
repairing it and usually it cannot be used Iv phrase]
The road between Moscow and St Petersburg was under
repair and we couldn't get through. [ The line is under repair
and will be closed to all trains for two weeks.
7 too old or too badly damaged to be repaired
irreparable
be beyond repair
Irreparable /  ' reprobl/[adj ]
The city council says the buildings are irreparable and plans
to demolish them. ] irreparable damage Campbell's home
suffered irreparable damage in the fire.
be beyond repair/bi: b; ,jond r; peo r II -ja:nd-/to be so
badly damaged that it cannot be repaired [v phrase]
I'm sorry, I can't do anything about your watch. It's beyond
repair. [ be damagedCmashedCuined ete beyond
repair The box had been dropped and most of the contents
were smashed beyond repair.
repairs REPAIR 5
repairs: make/do/carry out repairs REPAIR 1
repartee JOKE 4
repatriate LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 5
repay PAY FOR 5
repeat AGAIN 2, REPEAT 1, 2, 3
repeat: repetition/repeat HAPPEN 14
repeat: would you mind repeating that? REPEAT 7
repeat after me REPEAT 3
repeat itself HAPPEN 14
repeat peormance HAPPEN 14
repeat yourself REPEAT 5
[repeat]
REPEAT
to say something again
1 to repeat something
2 to repeat an opinion, statement, promise etc,
in order to be sure that people believe you
3 to repeat what someone else has said or
stated
4 to repeat the important parts of a speech or
piece of writing in order to help people to
understand or remember them
5 to keep saying the same thing, especially in
an annoying way
6 the act of repeating something several times
7 ways of asking someone to repeat something
1 to repeat something
repeat
say sth again
repeat/ri 'pi:t/to say again something that you have just
said because someone did not hear you or understand you
[vT]
She didn't understand so she asked him to repeat it slowly. [
"'I just can't believe it, '" he repeated. ] Peter asked the teacher
to repeat the question.
say sth again/se (sth) o'gen/to say a word or phrase
again, especially because someone did not hear it [vphrase]
I'm sorry. I didn't quite hear that. Could you say it again? I
Say that again and I'll smash your face in!
2 to repeat an opinion, statement, promise etc,
in order to be sure that people believe you
repeat reiterate
say sth again reaffirm
repeat/r'pi:t/Iv T]
repeat sth The new leader repeated his promise o f free elec-
tions. ] The terrorists have repeated their request for more
ammunition. I repeat that She repeated that there was no
way the government was going to give in.
say sth again/, se; (sth) o'gen/an expression meaning
to repeat an opinion or statement, used especially when
you are telling people that you strongly believe what you
are saying Iv phrase]
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I've never trusted that
man. I say again that Let me say again that the government
has no intention of raising taxes. ] say again and again I've
said again and again that I will not tolerate this disgusting
behaviour.
reiterate/ri:' ;tore;t/a formal word meaning to repeat an
opinion or statement to make your meaning very clear Iv T]
reiterate that I want to reiterate that this government
remains absolutely committed to the European Community. I
reiterate sth All that Sonnenberg could do was reiterate his
client's plea of not guilty.
reaffirm/, ri:o  f3:rm/a formal word meaning to publicly
or officially repeat an intention, opinion etc Iv T]
reaffirm sth The President reaffirmed the US government's
willingness to negotiate. I In the conference of 1913 the coun-
cil reaffirmed its opposition to the payment of MPs for the
holidays. ] reaffirm that She reaffirmed that she would not
give in to their demands.
3 to repeat what someone else has said or
 stated
repeat regurgitate
quote repeat after me
echo parrot-fashion
parrot

REPEAT 1115 REPLACE
repeat/rl pi:q [v T]
repeat sth The teacher asked me to repeat what she had just
told me. I The operator repeats the message to check for
accuracy. [ repeat sth to yourself (=repeat something,
usually silently) Henry knew he'd only be able to remember
her phone number by repeating it over and over to himself.
quote/kwot/to repeat exactly something that someone
else has said or written, especially someone famous or
important such as a writer or politician [v I/T[
quote sb/sth He was always quoting Warhol's line about
everyone being famous for 15 minutes. I quote from sb/sth
When you are making a point about one of the novel's charac-
ters try to quote from the text. [ be quoted as saying Par-
ents were quoted as saying that their children could no longer
learn at the school. I quote sb on sth (=repeat what they
say about something) I don't think that this tax was very
successful, but don't quote me on that!
quotation/kwo teifan/ [n C] The report did not contain an
exact quotation from the document.
echo/ekoo/to repeat someone's words or opinions to
show that you agree with them [v T usually in passive]
Her comments were echoed by her friend Alison. [ It was a
promise that was clearly echoed in July by the President.
parrot/prt/to repeat someone else's words or ideas,
especially when you do not really understand what you are
saying [v T]
These people aren't speaking for themselves - they're just
parroting what the government says. [ They parroted US
rhetoric when it came to the question of terrorists.
regurgitate/r; Ig3:rdste]t/to repeat someone else's writ-
ten or spoken old ideas, with the result that people think
you have no new ideas of your own lv T]
His essa3simply regurgitated all the ideas he'd found in the
book. I He gets some inside information which he then regur-
gitates with a few comments in his next newspaper column.
repeal after me /r;pi:t a:ftz r 'mi: II-  ef-/ you say
repeat after me when you want someone to repeat your
exact words, for example in a language lesson
Repeat after me: "'Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the
station?"
parrot.fashion/pert fmJ'n/if you repeat something
parrot-fashion, you repeat exactly what someone has just
said, usually without thinking about it or really under-
standing it [adv]
She learnt French at school by repeating the words and
phrases parrot-fashion. I I could hear them reciting the poem
parrot-fashion, over and over again.
4 to repeat the important parts of a speech or
piece of writing in order to help people to
understand or remember them
go over
recap
recapitulate
go over/,goo 'oovor/to repeat the important parts of a
speech or explanation so that people can understand it
better [v T ]
Don't worry if you don't understand everything - I'll go over
the main points again at the end. [ The teacher had to go over
the whole lesson again because nobody had been listening.
recap/ri: 'kmp/to say again the important parts of what
has been said or done before in order to remind people
[v I]
Before I finish the lecture I'd just like to recap. [ recap on
She paused to recap on the story so far.
recapitulate / ri:k'pt°let/a formal word meaning to
say again the important parts of a speech or piece of writ-
ing [v I/T[
recapit.ulate sth As a preliminary to the discussion it is
necessary to recapitulate a little of last week's lecture. I
recapitulate At this point I would like to recapitulate
briefly..
5 to keep saying the same thing, especially in
an annoying way
keep saying/asking/telling etc
repeat yourself
keep saying/asking/telling etc/ki:p (saying, etc)/[v
phrase]
Don't keep telling me how to cook this meat - I already
know. [ She kept saying how rich her father was.
repeat yourself /ri'pi:t j3:rself/ to unintentionally
repeat something you have already said [v phra.se]
Perhaps you've heard this story before, so stop me if I'm
repeating myself. ] He repeats himself sometimes, but his
memory is very clear, considering his age.
6 the act of repeating something several times
repetition
repetition/.rep'tin/[n U]
repetition of The poem is so effective because of the repeti-
tion of the consonants. [ repetition Through repetition, the
child soon associates the word with the object it refers to.
7 ways of asking someone to repeat something
 sorry?lpardon? what did you say?
excuse me? would you mind repeating
what? that?
sorry?lpardon?/'sori, 'p(a:rdn II 'so:ri/(used when you
want someone to repeat what they have said because you
did not hear it clearly)
"'It's very cold today. "" "'Pardon?" l "q/Vould you like a drink?"
"'Sorry?" "7 said, would you like a drink?"
excuse me?/lk' skju:z mi:/(used especially in American
English)
"'Do you have a pen? .... Excuse me? .... Do you have a pen?'"
what?/wot II w:t, w^t/(used in very informal situations)
"'Give me that book." "'What?" "`1said, give me that book. ""
what did you say? / wot dd ju: Ise;/(used especially
when you think someone has said something annoying)
"'What did you say?" "'1only mentioned that I thought you
were looking quite tired. "'
would you mind repeating that?/wod ju: mand
r pi:tr3 6et/ (used especially in a formal situation and
when you think someone has said something annoying)
"'Your speech wasn't very interesting." "'Would you mind
repeating that?"[ "'My name's Marsden. "' "'Would you mind
repeating that, please? .... Marsden. Shall I spell it?"
repeated AGAIN 1, OFTEN 4
repeatedly OFTEN 1
repercussions RESULT 4
repetition REPEAT 6
repetition/repeat HAPPEN 14
repetitive BORING 2
rephrase: let me rephrase that EXPLAIN 2
replace PUT 7, REPLACE 1, 5, 6
replace/take the place of REPLACE 4
REPLACE
to take the place of someone or something
else
1 to start doing a job or holding an official
position that used to belong to someone else
2 to take someone's place for a short time but
not permanently
3 someone who replaces someone else,
permanently or for a short time
4 ways of saying that something new, such as
a new machine or method of doing something,
replaces an older one continued

REPLACE 1116 REPLACE
REPLACE
continued
5 to put someone into someone else's job or
position
6 to put something new in the place of
something old, damaged, or broken
7 to secretly replace something without
someone else knowing
1 to start doing a.job or holding an official
position that used to belong to someone else
replace take over
succeed supplant
take sb's place
replace/rIpleIs/iV W]
We're looking for someone to replace our managing direc-
tor. [ Carter was replaced by Reagan in 1960. [ The present
bishop was appointed last autumn, replacing Dr Allcock,
who took early retirement.
succeed/sok'si:d/to be the next person to have a job or
position, especially an important or powerful position,
after someone else has left it or died iv T]
George VI died in 1952, leaving his elder daughter Elizabeth
to succeed him. [Angus is being groomed to succeed his father
on the board of Western Oil.
take sb's place/Itek (sb's) Ipleis/to replace someone
in a job or position, especially because you have similar
skills and experience to them iv phrase]
There's no one suitable to take Simon 's place when he leaves. [
To my surprise I was promoted from trainee manager to take
Graham's place as manager.
take over /te;k ouvor/to replace someone in a job or
position, and to continue the work they started [phr v I]
take over from Who can we get to take over from Fred when
he goes? [ Maria's been my partner in this business since I
took over from my father. [ take over The new manager took
over in July.
supplant/sopla:nt [[ soplant/to replace a competitor or
enemy in a position of authority or influence, especially
by using unfair methods iv T]
There were turnouts that Heseltine wanted to supplant
Thatcher as leader of the party. [ Life became much harder
in the second year, when Miss Dear was supplanted by a
ruthless character called Miss Turnbull.
2 to take someone's place for a short time but
not permanently
stand in for sub for
deputize relieve
take over cover for
stand in for /,stand ';n f3:r/to replace someone at work
for a short time or on a particular occasion, because they
are unable to be there iv T]
Can you stand in for me at the meeting next week? [ Well,
everything's fixed up. Carol's standing in for Diana while
she's away. [ During the dangerous scenes, a stunt woman
will stand in for Goldie Hawn.
deputize (also .ise British)/'depj°taIz/a British word
meaning to replace someone in a higher position for a
limited period or on a particular occasion, especially when
they are busy doing something else iv I]
deputize for The Foreign Minister will be deputizing for
the Prime Minister while he recovers from his operation. [
Paine, the second in command, deputized for the Colonel. [
deputize My boss had to go to the Caribbean unexpectedly
and asked me to deputize.
take over/Ite;k ouvor/to replace someone and do the
same job as they were doing, so that they are free to have
a rest or to do something else [phr v I/T]
Liz, could you take over in reception while I make a couple
of phone calls?[ take over sth After we'd stopped for lunch
Sheila took over the driving for a while. [ take over from
Can I see you in my office, Carl?Dan will take over from you.
sub for / 'sAb f:r/an informal American word meaning
to replace someone at work on a particular occasion iv T]
I'll sub for you Monday so that you can go to the doctor's.
sub in C] We'll need a sub for Dawn's class tomorrow
(=someone to take Dawn's place).
relieve/rl 'li:v/to replace someone, especially a soldier,
when they need a rest or when they have completed their
hours of work iv T]
Can anyone relieve Phillipa? She's been on duty for ten hours
without a break. [ I want you to go to Cairo to relieve Cap-
tain Roberts for a few days.
cover for /kav r f:r/to do the work, or to be ready to
do the work, of someone who is absent Iv T]
Go and get some lunch. I'll cover for you. I My name's Dr
Brown. I'm covering for Dr Steele while he's on holiday. I It
seems that they're using trainees to cover for qualified staff
to save money.
3 someone who replaces someone else,
permanently or for a short time
replacement acti ng
successor substitute
stand-in
replacement /r'plesmont/ someone who replaces
another person in a job or in a team, especially perma-
nently In C]
They asked Barbara to stay on until a suitable replacement
had been found. [ replacement for Real Madrid are pre-
pared to spend a fortune on a replacement for Gomez. [ I'm
just a temporary replacement for the receptionist.
successor/sok  sesor/the next person to have a perma-
nent job or position after someone else has left it In C]
Mason is Claire's chosen successor as campaign manager.I
Smyth resigned as Chief Superintendent two months ago and
they still haven't appointed his successor. [ successor to
After his second heart attack the search for a successor to
Ferguson began in earnest.
stand.in /steend n/ someone who temporarily takes
another person's place in a job or performance when they
are unable to do it themselves, especially when this hap-
pens unexpectedly In C]
Ms Green couldn't be here today, so l"m her stand-in. [
Pavarotti's lost his voice? Where are we going to fincl a stand-
in at such short notice? [ stand in for I'd like Mary to act
as a stand-in for Julian until he returns to work.
acting /'eektirj/ acting chairman/director/manager
ete (=someone who replaces someone in a position of
authority for a limited period of time) [adj only before noun]
While Kershaw was in the hospital Saunders became acting
chairman. [ Mrs Hamilton has been appointed acting head
of the school until a permanent replacement can be found.
substitute/'s^bsttju:t [[ -tu:t/someone who takes some-
one else's place in a team for a limited period of time, espe-
cially because the other person is injured or tired in C]
If Marsh is unfit for the start of the tour, his likely substi-
tute will be Robinson. [ bring sb on as substitute Ten
minutes into the second half Davies was brought on as
substitute for Ward.
4 ways of saying that something new, such as
a new machine or method of doing
something, replaces an older one
replace/take the place of
supersede
give way to
replace/take the place of/ri Ipleis, ,te;k 60 'ple;s ov/
iv T]
Gas and electricity have largely replaced coal for domestic
cooking and heating. [ The US is funding research to find

REPLACE 1117 REPORT
new chemicals to replace CFCs. I Ugly new concrete build-
ings have taken the place of the medieval ones. I Eventually
the old system collapsed, and anarchy took its place.
supersede/,su:prlsi:d, sju:-II ,su:-/if anew invention,
idea, or method supersedes another one, it replaces it
because it is more modern or effective Iv T]
In Japan CDs have already superseded cassettes. [ Iron
began to supersede bronze for tool making about 3000years
ago. [ It is doubtful whether superstition and religion will
ever be entirely superseded by scientific thinking.
give way to /:giv Iwei tu:/to be gradually replaced by
something better, more suitable, or more advanced [v
phrase]
Hunting and fishing settlements gave way to small towns as
the population grew. [ With the rise in oil prices the tradi-
tional big American car was forced to give way to smaller,
more economical models.
5 to put someone into someone else's job or
position
replace
replace/r'ples/Iv T]
replace sb with The firm has been dismissing experienced
staff and replacing them with younger people on lower salar-
ies. [ replace sb Five members of the administration
resigned over the issue, but only three had been replaced a
week later. [ How are we going to replace the team's captain
at such short notice?
6 to put something new in the place of
something old, damaged, or broken
replace change
renew substitute
replace/rIpleIs/[v T]
replace sth Your car's in good condition but you ought to
replace the spare tyre. [ Before we move in, the place has to
be redecorated and all the carpets replaced. [ replace sth
with The old viaduct is unsafe. They're going to replace it
with a bridge made of concrete.
replacement In U] This wiring is in need of replacement
(=needs to be replaced). It's old and dangerous.
renew/r nju: [[ r nu:/to replace something, such as a
piece of machinery or equipment, after it has been used for
a certain length of time and is damaged or likely to be
damaged Iv T ]
You should check the engine carefully, renewing any parts
that are worn or damaged. [ It is wise to renew your water
filter every month, even though it may seem to be working
satisfactorily.
change/tendb/to replace a piece of equipment when it
is broken or not working Iv T]
Can you change this light bulb for me? I can't reach. [Always
turn off the mains supply before you try to change a fuse. [
We got a puncture on the way back last night and it was no
joke changing the wheel in the rain.
substitute/sAbsttju:t [[ -tu:t/to replace something old
or broken with something different, often something less
satisfactory Iv T ]
substitute sth with/for I had no more scissors, so I had
to substitute the blunt ones with a knife. [ They rebuilt the
stand substituting strong metal supports for the old wooden
ones. [ substitute sth When the chain broke, he substituted
an old piece of rope until something more suitable could be
found.
7 to secretly replace something without
someone else knowing
switch/swap
switch/swap/swxt, swtp II swa:p/[v T]
switch/swap sth Someone must have switched the suitcases
at the airport when I was in the toilets. [ switch/swap sth
for Wait till he goes out, then we can swap your book for his.
replacement REPLACE 3
replenish FULL7
replica COPY 6
reply ANSWER/REPLY 1, 4, 5, 6
reply: in reply ANSWER/REPLY 1
reply: no answer/reply ANSWER/REPLY 8
report DESCRIBE 5, REPORT 1, 2, SAY/STATE 1, TELL
4, 11
REPORT
to give people information about recent
events, in newspapers and on television and
radio
I to report the news
2 a piece of writing in a newspaper or a part of
a TV or radio programme that reports the
news
3 someone whose job is to report the news
1 to report the news
report
cover
run a story
report/r['po:rt/[v I/T]
report sth "'We aim to report the news as fairly and fully
as possible, '" said the President of CBS News. [ report on
sth The Post sent her to Bangladesh to report on the cholera
epidemic. I report that As part of the government cover-up,
the newspapers reported that he had died in a car accident. [
report This is Gavin Williams, reporting from the United
Nations in New York.
cover/ khvor/if someone who works for a newspaper or
news programme covers an event, they find out all the
details about that event to see if there is anything worth
reporting Iv T]
As a journalist he was sent to Northern Ireland to cover the
recent bombings. [ Spender's job is to decide which events are
worth covering and including on the 6o'clock News. [ It was
a wet night in Brixton and I was covering a boring council
meeting for the local newspaper.
run a story /rAn o sto:ri/ if a newspaper or news
programme runs a story, it reports a particular event,
especially something important or something that people
did not previously know about Iv phrase]
Before we run this story I want you to double-check all the
facts. I Bernstein asked why the Post shouldn't run a story
accusing the government of concealing the truth.
2 a piece of writing in a newspaper or a part of
a TV or radio programme that reports the
news
report scoop
story exclusive
item coverage
report/rlp:rt/[n C]
During the war most reports were compiled under govern-
ment restrictions. [ We're getting reports from the scene of the
fighting that 12 hostages have been killed. [ news/weather
report We'll be giving you further news and weather reports
every hour throughout the day. ] We can't always rely on
newspaper reports to be accurate. [ report about/on A
recent report on child abuse in The Guardian suggests that
as many as one in ten children are at risk.
story /  st:ri/a report in a newspaper or news programme
about a recent event or something that is interesting to the
public [n C]
The main story on tonight's news is the earthquake in Alba-
nia. [ story about/on The Tribune story on his activities
was a complete misrepresentation of the facts. [ cover story

REPORT :1:1:18 REPRESENT
(=the main story in a magazine that is advertised on its
front cover) Newsweek's cover story this month was about
the elections in Chile.
item / awom/a word used especially in the news business
meaning a small report that is part of a programme or
larger piece of writing [n C[
There's an item about the robbery on page seven. I The next
item will be of special interest to viewers who are dog-owners.
scoop/sku:p/an important or exciting piece of news that
is printed in one newspaper before it appears in any other,
because that newspaper and its reporters were the first to
find out about it In C usually singular]
It was his first major scoop and he promised not to reveal
the source of his information. I The Times" scoop on the
Ventura scandal really increased its sales.
exclusive / k ' sklu:s=v/an important or surprising piece
of news that is printed in only one newspaper or broadcast
by only one news programme, especially because someone
has let them use the information before anyone else In C
usually singular]
Michael Jackson has promised the network an exclusive. I
world exclusive (=something that has never been
reported anywhere before) The newspaper has a reputation
for good reporting and world exclusives.
exclusive ]adj] At the end of the programme we have an
exclusive interview with Senator Goldwater.
©overage /kAvr=ds/ the way an event or subject is
reported in the news, especially how much space or time
is given to reporting it ]n U[
Too much coverage is given to sport on TV and not enough
to political issues. I coverage of Extensive media coverage
of the Vietnam War was an important factor in changing
public opinion. [ Television coverage of court cases is not yet
allowed in the UK.
3 someone whose job is to report the news
reporter hack
journalist the press
correspondent
reporter/r: Ip: rtr/someone who finds out about events
and writes about them in newspapers or tells people about
them on television or radio In C[
She works as a junior reporter for the Today programme.[
TV/newspaper reporter He's been fined Ј100 for talking
about the scandal to the newspaper reporters waiting
outside.
journalist /  dSa:rnal-o st/someone who reports the news,
especially for a newspaper, as their profession In C[
All foreign journalists have been told to leave the war zone
as soon as possible. [ investigative/freelance/sports etc
journalist After he retired from football he became a sports
journalist for the Gazette.
journalism In U[ After l O years I left po litics and went into
journalism (-the work of being a journalist).
correspondent /,korspondnt [[ k:rspa:n-, ka:-/
someone who reports the news about one particular sub-
ject or place, for a newspaper or news programme In C[
We now go over to our correspondent in Lisbon for a report
on the election. I foreign/war/Washington ete corres-
pondent He left his local paper to become the Daily Tele-
graph's defence correspondent. I This report comes from our
European correspondent in Geneva.
hack /hmk/ an informal word meaning someone who
writes for a newspaper, especially one whose writing is not
good or interesting In C[
The latest scandal was quickly picked up by the hacks on The
Post. I Look I don't want to wake up tomorrow and find a
bunch of bloody hacks on my doorstep!
the press/6 pres/all newspapers and reporters, consi-
dered as a single group In singular with singular orplural
verb in British English]
I never give interviews to thepress! [ local/national press
Make sure the local press are there to hear my speech. I in
the press (=in the newspapers) There was a lot of specula-
tion in the press that the Prime Minister was about to resign. I
press box/pass/room etc (=something provided free for
reporters at public events) We don't need tickets for the
concert - I've got a press pass.
reporter REPORT 3
reports RUMOUR/RUMOR 1
reprehensible BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 1
represent BE 1, 3, MEANING 1, REPRESENT 1, 2
@ REPRESENT
to do something for someone as their
representative, especially because you have
been chosen to do it
to express truly the feelings, thoughts, beliefs
etc of a group of people
someone who represents another person, an
organization, or a group
people who are sent somewhere to officially
represent a person, organization, or group in
discussions
someone who officially represents their
government in a foreign country
1 to do something for someone as their
representative, especially because you have
been chosen to do it
represent play/run/swim etc for
act for on behalf of
represent / repri zent/[v T]
Mr Kobayashi was chosen to represent the company at the
national trade conference. ] Peter Shilton represented
England in international football matches on over 100 occa-
sions. [ Edwards was represented in court by her lawyer. [
Senator Dole has represented Kansas in the Senate for over
20 years.
act for / ekt fa:r/to represent someone in a legal or finan-
cial matter Iv T not in passive]
Please contact my lawyer, who is acting for me in this
matter.[ Lawyers acting for the defendant asked for her case
to be adjourned while they examined new evidence. [A firm
of estate agents had acted for them over the sale of the house.
play/run/swim etc for/(play, etc) fa:r/ffyou play, run,
swim etc for a school, club, or country, you represent them
in a sports competition against other schools, clubs, or
countries Iv T not in passive]
She's such a good player - her coach hopes that one day she'll
play for England. I I used to swim for my school. I Before
becoming a sports commentator, Frank Shorter ran the
marathon for the United States.
on behai| of/on bi hcl:f ov II - hf-/ifyou do or say some-
thing on behalf of someone, you do or say it as their
representative ]prep]
On behalf of us all, may I wish you a long and happy retire-
ment. I The buyer of the painting said that he was acting on
behalf of an unnamed Japanese collector. I on sb's behalf
I received a letter signed on the manager's behalf by her
assistant.
to express truly the feelings, thoughts, beliefs
etc of a group of people
speak for
represent
speak for/'spi:k f:r/[v T not in progressive orpassive]
I think Ispeakfor everyone here when Isay that we wish you
every success in your new job. [ He is still our president, but
he no longer speaks for the majority of the people of this coun-
try. [ John Lennon spoke for a whole generation when he
sang "Give peace a chance'.

REPRESENT 1119 REPRESENT
represent /repr-zent/ to say or do something that
expresses truly the thoughts, feelings, opinions etc of a
group of people Iv T]
The government claimed that the protesters represented only
a minority opinion. I They feel that they represent not only
black students but all black people. I Right wing political
views in Britain are represented in "The Evening Gazette"
newspaper.
3 someone who represents another person, an
organization, or a group
representative deputy
spokesman/spokeswoman mouthpiece
spokesperson token
agent
representative/,reprI 'zenttiv/[n C]
We have received a message from Isaac Sternbuch, the com-
pany's representative in Switzerland. i A union representa-
tive said that the workers would strike if the employers did
not agree to their demands. I The army has promised to hand
over power to freely elected representatives of thepeople early
next year.
spokesman/spokeswoman /spoksmn, I spoks-
womn/a person who speaks officially for an organization,
company, government etc In C]
spokesman/spokeswoman for A spokesman for the com-
pany denied reports that the new drug was dangerous. I
government/ministry/party etc spokesman A govern-
ment spokeswoman said the new laws would make the system
more efficient. I Mr Gennady Gerasimov, the Soviet foreign
ministry spokesman, spoke to reporters after the meeting.
spokesperson Ispokspa:rsan/ a word meaning
spokesman or spokeswoman which some people use
because they think that spokesman should not be used to
mean both sexes In C]
governmentCartyCnion ete spokesperson Ms Short
has been chosen as the Labour party 's spokesperson on edu-
cation. I spokesperson for A spokesperson for the company
read to waiting reporters from a prepared statement.
agent/eldSant/a person or company which represents
another person or company in business, financial, or legal
matters In C]
We have agents in Sydney dealing with our Australian busi-
ness. [ The licence application must be signed by the appli-
cant or his agent. ] agent forAt the moment she's working
in Britain, acting as an agent for a Japanese computer
games manufacturer.
deputy /depjUti/ a person, especially the second most
important person in an organization, who has the power
to take control when the leading person is away In C]
sb's deputy Martin Roberts wasn't in the office, but I spoke
to his deputy, Mr Harris. [ Fraser's deputy, John McLean,
was appointed Acting Superintendent while Fraser was in
hospital.
mouthpiece /maoOpi:s/ a person, organization, or
newspaper which only gives the opinions of one person or
organization and which does not have anything original
to say In C usually singular]
In 1917 Stalin became editor of Pravda, the official mouth:
piece of the Communist Party. ] The Chemical Manufacturers
Association is the mouthpiece of the American chemicals
industry.
token/'tookon/token black/woman etc (=one who is
given a position in an organization or on a committee to
make everyone think that all races or both sexes are
represented in that organization etc, when this is not really
true) [adj only before a noun]
If I'm being invited to join this committee simply as the token
black, I'm not interested. I The company has one or two token
women in important positions, but they really don't take
equal opportunities for women seriously.
4
people who are sent somewhere to officially
represent a person, organization, or group in
discussions
representative deputation
envoy mission
delegate contingent
delegation
representative/,repri zenttiv/ [n C]
Japan, Britain, and the US are all sending representatives
to the talks in Geneva. I Zambia's representative at the UN
called for more aid for Africa.
envoy /env/a person who is sent to another country as
an official representative, especially by one government to
discuss important matters such as war with another
government In C]
Iran agreed to send an envoy to the United Nations for talks
on ending the war. I A special envoy was sent to Beirut to try
and secure the release of the hostages.
delegate / tdelIgIt/someone who is sent to an important
meeting by a country or organization in order to represent
them by speaking for them and voting for them In C]
C.H.Cahan, the Canadian delegate, was the first to speak. I
delegate to Delegates to the conference will be elected by
local committees from all over the country.
delegation /del o gelan/a team of people who have been
sent by an organization or a country to represent them at
an important meeting In C with singular or plu.ral verb in
British English]
Twenty countries have sent delegations to the conference. ]
The Dutch Prime Minister led a 12 member economic dele-
gation to Indonesia to discuss future investments in the
country.
deputation/depjoUteidn/a group of people represent-
ing a larger group who a2e sent to talk to a person in
authority in order to make a complaint or a request In C
with singular or plural verb in British English]
After the accident, a deputation of miners went to their
employers to ask them to improve working conditions. I
meet/receive a deputation In the morning the minister
received a deputation from the National Union of Farmers
protesting about the government's plans to cut agricultural
subsidies.
mission I tmlanl a group of people who are sent by their
government to another country in order to discuss some-
thing In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
The French President has sent a mission to the Middle East
to try to find a peace formula. I trade mission (-a mission
to discuss trade) A British trade mission has arrived in
Moscow.
contingent/kon tInd3ont/a group of people representing
a place or organization at a meeting, celebration, event etc
In C with singular or plural verb in British English]
There was a large Canadian contingent at the Olympics. I
I attended this conference aspart of a contingent of scientists
from Sydney University.
5 someone who officially represents their
government in a foreign country
diplomat ambassador
diplomatic embassy
diplomat/'diplmet/[n C]
Ambassador Thompson is an experienced diplomat who has
served in France, South America and the Middle East. I Brit-
ish and Argentinian diplomats met to discuss peace.
diplomatic /,dipl'mmtlk/relating to the people who
officially represent their government in a foreign country
[adj only before noun]
Most of the Western diplomatic community have already left
the country as war now seems inevitable. [ diplomatic serv-
ice (=the government department that employs diplomats)
He joined the diplomatic service and was posted to Ankara. [

REPRESENT
1120
REPUTATION
diplomatic relations (-the relationship between govern-
ments that depends on having diplomats in each others'
countries) The governments of Britain and Syria are
anxious to re-establish diplomatic relations.
ambassador/ambasadar/a diplomat of the highest
rank who is the official representative of their government
in a foreign country In C]
ambassador to Sir Auckland Geddes is the British ambas-
sador to Washington, [ Ms Takahashi was the first Japanese
woman ever to be appointed ambassador to a foreign
country.
embassy/' embosi/the group of people who are sent to
live in a foreign country in order to officially represent
their government in that country In C]
The US Embassy in Haiti is headed by Ambassador Brun-
son McKinley. [ The British embassy in Paris has asked the
French authorities for information about the missing Brit-
ish tourist.
representative
repress
repressed
reprieve
reprimand
reprisal
reproach
REPRESENT 3, 4, TYPICAL 1
CONTROL 6, HIDE/NOT SHOW 1
HIDE/NOT SHOW 4
PUNISH 9
TELL SB OFF 3, 4
REVENGE 2
BLAME 6, TELL SB OFF 1
reproach: be above/beyond reproach GOOD/MORAL 5
.... reproach yourself BLAME 1
reproduce BABY/HAVE A BABY 15, COPY 2
 reproduction BABY/HAVE A BABY 14, COPY 6
• .;' repulsive DISGUSTING 1 , UGLY 2
:.
; reputable HONEST 1, REPUTATION 2
# reputation REPUTATION 1
! reputation: harm/damage sb's reputation
.!ii: REPUTATION 3
::;: reputation: have a bad reputation REPUTATION 4
;> reputation: have a good reputation REPUTATION 2
;;,' reputation: have a reputation for REPUTATION 2
REPUTATION
the general opinion that people have about a
person or organization
1 words meaning reputation
;2 to have a good reputation
3 to harm the good reputation of an
organization, profession, person etc
4 to have a bad reputation
standing /'stendx3/ social/moral/national/profes-
sional etc standing (=someone's reputation and position
in a group, in society etc, based on other people's opinion
of them) In U]
The class system in Great Britain encourages people to be
very aware of their social standing. I Jacques Tati was a man
of international standing in the world of screen comedy. I
This legal case is very likely to damage the company's profes-
sional standing.
Image/' mds/the idea or opinion that people have about
a person, organization, product etc, especially when this
has been deliberately made or planned ]n C usually in
singular]
Marilyn Monroe never completely got rid of the "dumb
blonde' image she had developed. I The company can't afford
to get involved in a court case. It would be bad for our image. I
live up to your image (=behave in the way people expect)
Todd Fleming lives up to his image as a womanizer. I
project an image (=deliberately try to make a particular
image) The image we want to project for the new range of
confectionery is 'affordable luxury'.
name/norm/the reputation a person or an organization
has because of something they do or because of the qual-
ity of what they produce, usually when this is good In
singular]
have a name for doing sth This man has a name for
making tough business deals. I good/bad name (=good/bad
reputation) He's a determined man and he values his good
name. I make a name for yourself (=get a reputation)
Marks and Spencer have made a name for themselves as a
producer of high quality goods at reasonable prices.
prestige /pre'sti:5/ the respect and good reputation a
person, organization, profession etc has because they have
a high position in society, are admired by people etc In U]
The teaching profession has lost the prestige it had informer
times. I Hosting the Olympic Games would add to our coun-
try's international prestige. I Becoming a film star confers
status, power, prestige and wealth.
stature /'sttJ'r/ a reputation for being very good at
something very important or influential that makes people
respect you In U]
As he got older, Picasso's stature as an artist increased. I
People wonder whether John Major has the stature of an
international statesman. I At that time there were no other
universities in England equal in stature to Oxford and
Cambridge.
character/'karktor/a formal word meaning someone's
reputation, especially whether or not other people think
they are honest or morally good In U]
Her husband was a man of good character, well-liked and
respected by the townspeople. I Baker accused the press of
casting a slur on his character.
1 words meaning reputation
reputation prestige
standing stature
image character
name
reputation /,repj  °' te[an! the general opinion that people
have about a person, organization etc based on what they
have heard, read, seen, or experienced In C usually
singular]
I am surprised that a company with your good reputation
would produce such poor quality goods. [ reputation as
Despite my reputation as a trouble-maker, I was promoted
to department manager. [ Baltimore cultivated a national
and international reputation as an example of successful
inner-city regeneration. [ reputation for A reputation for
impulsiveness is not the best credential for the leader of a
nuclear superpower. [ reputation of being The Southern
Philippines had the reputation of being warlike. [ live up
to your reputation (=be as good, bad etc as people say) The
restaurant certainly lived up to its reputation; the food was
delicious.
2
to have a good reputation
have a good reputation
have a reputation for
reputable
prestigious
be well thought of
prestige
have a good reputation/hev z ,god repj°'telfan/Iv
phrase not in progressive]
I joined a lawfirm which had a good reputation. I The school
had an excellent academic reputation. I A talented journalist
with a good reputation.
have a reputation for/hev a ,repjOtefn fa:r/to be
well-known for something good such as hig h quality or spe-
cial skills Iv phrase not in progressive]
The nannying agency I recommended has a reputation for
reliability. I a brilliant director with a reputation for
thoroughness I Burberry's has an excellent reputation for
high-quality rainwear.
reputable / ' repj °tabal/reputable firm/dealer/bank etc
(=one that has a good reputation and can be trusted) [adj]
Do you know of a reputable firm of builders to build an exten-
sion onto my kitchen? I Get the painting valued by at least
two reputable dealers.

REPUTATION
1121
prestigious /pre'stIdSas II-'su:-, -'sti-/ prestigious
firm/event/job/newspaper etc (=one that has a reputa-
tion for being one of the very best and most important, and
is highly respected) [adj only before noun]
I am a partner in one of Cleveland's oldest and most presti-
gious law firms. I The anxiously awaited invitations to the
prestigious end-of-year dance began to arrive. I Women of the
twentieth century are attaining powerful and prestigious
managerial positions.
be well thought of/bi: ,wel IO:t ov/ifa person or their
work is well thought of, they have a good reputation for
the quality of their work iv phrase]
Richards is well thought of within his own firm. I Millet's
work is less well thought of today than it was during his
lifetime.
prestige/pro I sti=s/prestige goods, products, services etc
cost a lot and have a very good reputation because they are
of very good quality or are very fashionable [adj only before
noun]
A prestige name on a garment is no guarantee of quality. I
champagne, caviar, truffles and other prestige goods l There
are always prestige neighbourhoods where only the wealthy
or successful can afford to live.
3 to harm the good reputation of an
organization, profession, person etc
harm/damage sb's reputation
give sb a bad name
bring sb/sth into disrepute
discredit/bring discredit on
harm/damage sb's reputation /,ha:rm, ,demzd3
(sb's) repjg'teifan/iv phrase]
If the representative gets drunk at the convention, it may
harm the firm's reputation. I The producers called in all sup-
plies, in order to avoid damaging their reputation when news
of possible contamination leaked out. I In order to win elec-
tions, candidates often set out to damage their opponents"
reputations.
give sb a bad name/gIv (sb) o ,bd *neim/.to give
someone or something a bad reputation by behaving in an
unacceptable way iv phrase]
Students who are rude and scruffy give the school a bad
name. I The regular brawling and violence in the bar had
given it a bad name. I He was the type of person that gives
insurance salesmen a bad name.
bring sblsth into disrepute/,brlr (sb/sth) into dis-
r[ pju:t/a formal expression meaning to harm the reputa-
tion of the organization that you work for, the job that you
do etc, by doing something bad or illegal [v phrase]
This is exactly the kind of incident that brings international
companies into disrepute. [ The officers were charged with
bringing the police force into disrepute.
discredit/bring discredit on/dIs'kredot, ,br;r] d;s-
Ikredot on/to make people stop trusting or believing in
someone or something Iv T]
There was a plot by certain members of the opposition to dis-
credit the government. [ The old leaders were discredited by
the massive defeats at Verdun and Flanders. [ Through your
selfishness, you have brought discredit on yourself and your
whole family.
4 to have a bad reputation
have a bad reputation
have a bad reputation/haev o ,baed repj°o'teIfan/ [v
phrase not in progressive]
The area has a really bad reputation but it isn't as bad as
people think. [ have a bad reputation as The boxer had a
very bad reputation as a devious fighter. [ have a bad repu-
tation for The firm has a bad reputation for the way it treats
its staff.
responsible
request ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 1, 10
require NEED 1 7
required: be required to do sth MUST 2
requirement NEED 6
requirements CONDITION/STH THAT MUST BE DONE 2
requirements: fulfil/meet requirements NEED 8
requisite NEED 5
reschedule POSTPONE/DO LATER 1
rescue SAVE/RESCUE 1 2, 3, 4, 5
'
rescue: come to sb's rescue SAVE/RESCUE 3
research STUDY 3, 5
resemblance LIKE/SIMILAR 10
resemble/bear a resemblance to LIKE/SIMILAR 1
resent ANGRY 3
resentment ANGRY 5
reservation BUY 4
reservations: have reservations NOT SURE 2
reserve BUY 4, KEEP/STORE 2
reserve: keep sth in reserve SAVE STH TO USE LATER 1
reserved SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 4, SHY 2
reserves AMOUNT 5
resettle LIVE SOMEWHERE 7
reside LIVE SOMEWHERE 1
residence HOME 1, 2
residence: take up residence LIVE SOMEWHERE 4
resident LIVE SOMEWHERE 3, 8
residential LIVE SOMEWHERE 3
resign LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 1
resign yourself to ACCEPT 5
resignation ACCEPT 5
resigned: be resigned to ACCEPT 5
resilient STRONG PERSON 4
resist FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3
resist: can't resist LIKE SB OR STH 3
resistance FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3
resit AGAIN 5
resolute DETERMINED 2
resolve DECIDE 2, DETERMINED 6, SOLVE/DEAL WITH
A PROBLEM 1
resolve itself SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 4
resolved: be resolved DETERMINED 1
resonant LOW SOUND OR VOICE 1
resonate SOUND 5
resound SOUND 5
resounding LOUD/NOISY 5
resourceful INTELLIGENT 4
resources CAN 6, MONEY 6, SERVICES 1
respect ADMIRE 1, 4, OBEY 2
respect: in every respect COMPLETELY 1
respectable GOOD ENOUGH 1, GOOD/MORAL 3
respectful POLITE 1
respiration BREATHE 4
respite PAUSE 3
respite: without respite CONTINUOUS 4
respond REACT 1
respond to ANSWER/REPLY 1
respond to treatment RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
response ANSWER/REPLY 4, REACT 4
response: in answer/response to ANSWER/REPLY 1
response: make no reply/response ANSWER/REPLY 8
responsibility RESPONSIBLE 11
responsibility: assume responsibility RESPONSIBLE 5
responsibility: be in a position of trust/responsibility
RESPONSIBLE 1
responsibility: be the responsibility of RESPONSIBLE 2
responsibility: have responsibility for RESPONSIBLE 1
responsibility: take responsibility RESPONSIBLE 6
responsibility: take responsibility for RESPONSIBLE 5
responsible GUILTY 1 SENSIBLE 1 TRUST 3
responsible: be responsible FAULT/BE SB'S FAULT 1,
RESPONSIBLE 1
responsible: be responsible for CAUSE 1
responsible: be responsible to RESPONSIBLE 3
responsible: make sb responsible RESPONSIBLE 8

RESPONSIBLE
RESPONSIBLE
having the job or duty of doing something
1 to be the person who has the job or duty of
doing something, and who can be blamed or
asked to explain if something goes wrong
2 ways of saying that it is the duty or
responsibility of a particular person to do
something
3 to be officially responsible for something and
to have the duty of explaining your actions to
someone in a higher position
4 to be legally responsible for something,
especially money that is owed
5 to agree to be responsible for something that
must be done
6 to agree to be responsible for someone else's
actions or behaviour
7 to take responsibility for something for a short
time, because the person who is usually
responsible is not there
8 to give someone the responsibility of doing
something
9 to make someone responsible for doing
something so that you do not have to do it
yourself
10 to refuse to accept responsibility for
something
11 something that you are responsible for doing,
looking after etc
1 to be the person who has the job or duty of
doing something, and who can be blamed or
asked to explain if something goes wrong
be responsible
be in charge of
have responsibility for
be in a position of trust/responsibility
look after
be responsible/bi: ri'sponsgbal II -'spa:n-/[v phrase]
be responsible for You e responsible for the children while
they are in your classroom. I The Government is responsible
for the general management of the economy. I As District
Magistrate, he continued to be responsible for all local
matters. I be responsible All accidents must be reported to
the officer who is responsible.
be in charge of/bi: n 'ta:rd3 ov/to be the person who
controls something and is responsible for it Iv phrase]
Who's in charge of the club's finances? I The UN local agent
is in charge of co-ordinating domestic and overseas refugee
programs. I The executive in charge of the project was having
some difficulties in negotiating terms.
have responsibility for /heev rlsponslbdIti fz:r II
- spa:n-/if a person or organization has responsibility for
doing something, they are responsible for it, especially offi-
cially or legally Iv phrase not in progressive]
The health minister has overall responsibility for Britain's
hospitals. I Divorced fathers still have responsibility for their
children. I Which authority will have responsibility for
monitoring river pollution?
be in a position of trust/responsibility/bi: n 
po,zIfdn av 'trAst, r,spons I 'bIlti II -,spa:n-/to be in a situ-
ation in which other people are depending on you and
trusting you to look after their money, their children etc
Iv phrase]
If you are in a position of trust you must not abuse it. I put/
place sb in a position of trust/responsibility It is not
acceptable to put people with criminal records in positions
1122
RESPONSIBLE
of trust. I He was a sensible teacher, and could safely be
placed in a position of responsibility.
look after/lok ' ozft r 11 -ef-/to be responsible for a par-
ticular part or area of an organization, process, system etc
[vT]
Sally looks after the accounts, I'm in charge of the building
itself. I Deputy Sanitary Commissioners looked after the sani-
tation of the districts and towns within their areas.
2
ways of saying that it is the duty or
responsibility of a particular person to do
something
be the responsibility of
be up to
be down to
the onu is on
it is sb's job/business
be the responsibility of/bi: 6a ri,spons'bflti ov II
-,spa:n-/Iv phrase]
Development research was the responsibility of scientists
attached to universities. I The drawing of Boundaries is the
responsibility of Boundary Commissions. I it is the respon-
sibility of/sb to do sth It is the responsibility of the nurse
to assess the patient's condition.
be up to/bi: =Ap tu:/if you say it is up to someone to do
something or to make sure something is done, you mean
it is their responsibility to do it Iv T]
She had done her part of the job. The rest was up to Philip. I
it is up to sb to do sth It is up to the teacher to keep the class
quiet and working hard. I The guidelines have been laid
down. Now it is up to the administrators to implement them.
be down to/hi: daon tu:/if you say it is down to some-
one to do something, you mean it is their responsibility to
do it, especially because no one else is able to or available
to do it Iv T]
Teachers must control children in school, but everything else
is down to the parents. I It's all down to Maradona now as
he steps up to take this penalty with one minute of the game
left. I it is down to sb to do sth It's down to us to help him.
Everyone else has abandoned him.
the onus is on/6i 'aonas iz on/if the onus is on some-
one to do something important or to make sure that some-
thing important is done, it is their responsibility to do it,
without waiting to be helped or told to do it
the onus is on sb to do sth The onus is on the taxpayer to
make sure they pay enough tax. I At university the onus is
on you to work hard - no one is going to force you.
it is sb's job/business/t lZ (sb's) d3ob, =blzns II
-' d3o:b-/if it is someone's job or business to do something
or to make sure that something is done, it is officially their
responsibility
it is sb's job/business to do sth It is my business to make
sure no one makes any serious mistakes when they are draw-
ing up contracts. [ It is not the court's job to rid America of
social injustice. I It is the bank's job to smooth out fluctua-
tions in the exchange rate. [ it is sb's job/business I don't
get involved in financial matters. That's the principal's job.
3 to be officially responsible for something and
to have the duty of explaining your actions to
someone in a higher position
be responsible to
be accountable
be answerable
be responsible to Ibi: r 'sponsbdl tu: II -'spa:n-/to offi-
cially have the duty of explaining your actions to someone
who is in a higher position than you, in a company or other
organization Iv phrase]
Mr Gipps, the manager, was responsible to his seniors in the
States. I The Chief of Police is appointed by and is responsi-
ble to the City Council. I be responsible to sb for Her sub-
ordinates were responsible to her for any lost or damaged
merchandise.

RESPONSIBLE
1123
RESPONSIBLE
be accountable/bi: z'kaontabal/to be officially respon-
sible to the public, or to the people who have given you
power or responsibility [v phrase]
The reformers believe that the police department should be
more accountable. I be accountable to sb All government
ministers are accountable to Parliament. I Lawyers some-
times fail to recognize that they are accountable to their
clients.
be answerable/bi: 'a:nsambal II -'en-/to be officially
responsible to someone, especially when you have done
something wrong [v phrase]
She has caused suffering for which she alone is answerable. I
be answerable to sb White House Chiefs have full control
over their departments and are answerable to the President
when something goes wrong.
4 to be legally responsible for something,
especially money that is owed
be liable
be liable/bi: 'laIbal/ [v phrase]
If you buy a car and crash it before you have paid for it, you
are still legally liable. I be liable for Accountants are liable
for all their mistakes. I be liable to do sth Thepharmaceu-
tical company found itself liable to pay hundreds of pounds
in compensation.
liability /la:zbilti/ [n U/ The company accepted full
liability for the costly mistakes it had made (=accepted that
it was liable).
5 to agree to be responsible for something that
must be done
take responsibility for assume responsibility
take on shoulder
take responsibility for I,telk rl,sptns'bdti fo: r II
-,spa:n-/[v phrase/
He was made a team leader, taking responsibility for mar-
keting. [ I want you to take responsibility for all the arrange-
ments. I take full responsibility for My husband took full
responsibility for organizing the trip.
take on /,teik 'on 11 -'a:n/to take responsibility for some-
thing that will involve a lot of work [phr v T/
take sth/it/them on I'm very busy. I'm afraid Ican't take
anything else on at the moment. I take on sth There were
no longer any members of the staff willing to take on the job
of supervising the apprentices.
assume responsibility /z,sju:m ri,sponsbdti II
z,su:m r: spo:n-/ a formal expression meaning to take
responsibility for something that must be done [v phrase]
assume responsibility for It was natural for Richard, as
elder son, to assume responsibility for the family.
shoulder/'Szoldar/shoulder responsibility/debts/the
cost/burden (=agree to take responsibility for something
that will be difficult to deal with) [v T/
My mother was unwilling to shoulder the cost of having the
whole house redecorated. I The burden of supporting the poor
is shouldered mainly by charities.
6 to agree to be responsible for someone else's
actions or behaviour
take responsibility
answer for
vouch for
take responsibility/,teik ri ,spons I 'bdti II -,spa:n-/[v
phrase]
Whatever that awful child has done I promise to take full
responsibility. I take responsibility for The manager
wasn't very helpful, but I told her clearly that she should take
responsibility for her staff's actions.
answer for/'a:nsa r fa: r II 'aens-/to take responsibility
for someone else's actions or behaviour, especially when
they have done something wrong [v T]
The teachers must answer for the appalling behaviour of
their students on the school trip. I If these vandals are allowed
to continue unchecked, I should not like to answer for the con-
sequences.
vouch for/'vaotS f:r/to say that you believe that some-
one will behave well and that you will take responsibility
if they do not [v T]
You'll need someone to vouch for you before you can join the
club. I I can vouch for both Eddie and Suzanne personally.
They are both extremely trustworthy and sensible.
7 to take responsibility for something for a short
time, because the person who is usually
responsible is not there
look after keep an eye on
mind hold the fort
look after/,lok 'a:ft r II -'ef-/[v T]
I'm going to the toilet. Look after my bag. I Does she want
us to look after her dog while she's up in Scotland? I Could
you look after the store for ten minutes? I need to go out.
mind/rnaind/to take responsibility for something for a
short time, for example for a child or animal or for some-
thing valuable such as someone's bag [v T]
Peter couldn't go to the party because he had to stay and
mind the kids. I I asked a young couple to mind my suitcases
while I went to get a cup of coffee.
keep an eye on /,ki:p n a on/an informal expression
meaning to take responsibility for something for a short
time while the person who is usually responsible is away,
and to sometimes check that it is safe and that there are
no problems [v phrase]
The neighbours will keep an eye on the house while we are
away. [ I left the car in front of the hotel and asked the night
porter to keep an eye on it.
hold the fort/,hold 6 'fa:rt/an informal expression
meaning to take responsibility for a short time for some-
one's work or for something that they have to do, because
they have to be away for a while [v phrase]
Would you stay here in the office and hold the fort until I get
back? I It's settled then. I'll go to Paris while you hold the
fort at home.
;8 to give someone the responsibility of doing
something
make sb responsible
put sb in charge
entrust
make sb responsible/,meik (sb) rI 'sponsbal II -'spa:n-/
[ v phrase ]
make sb responsible for The new department was made
responsible for all areas of training. [ The best way of ensur-
ing that the chores are done is by making the children respon-
sible for them. [ make sb responsible He'S keen but he's not
very smart - I wouldn't like to make him responsible.
put sb in charge/pot (sb) In 'tJ'a:rd3/to give someone
the total responsibility of doing something [v phrase]
The arrangements are going to be complicated so we want
someone responsible put in charge. [ put sb in charge of
After Stalin's death he had been put in charge of agricul-
ture. [ He had done rather well in the job and had been put
in charge of a whole chain of stores.
entrust/in'trAst/to give someone the responsibility of
doing something important, especially because you believe
they will do it well and honestly [v T/
entrust sb with sth Mr Li leads the committee entrusted
with boosting China's trade. [ entrust sb/sth to sb I fool-
ishly entrusted the task of collecting the money to my youn-
ger brother. [ Audits of government spending are usually
entrusted to government accountants.

RESPONSIBLE
9
to make someone responsible for doing
something so that you do not have to do it
yourself
leave it to
leave sth with
delegate
leave it to /'li:v Jt tu:/to make someone responsible for
doing something, especially something that you have
partly planned yourself Iv phrase]
leave it to sb to do sth Can I leave it to you to sort out the
details of the conference? I Some companies still leave it to
individual executives to plan their overseas travel. I leave
it to sb Leave it to me. I'll find you a place to stay.
leave sth with / li:v (sth) WlS! to make someone respon-
sible for something that you cannot do or do not have time
to do [phr v T]
I didn't have time to do the accounts so I left them with
Sophie. I Can we leave all this with you? It's just too compli-
cated for us to understand.
delegate /'delgelt/to make someone, especially some-
one in a lower position than you in your job, responsible
for a job or duty, so that you do not have to do it yourself
Iv I/T/
New managers often find it difficult to delegate. I delegate
sth I've delegated numerous tasks to other people, but I'm
still very busy.
1 0 to refuse to accept responsibility for
something
accept no responsibility for
duck/shirk your responsibilities
wash your hands of
pass the buck
accept no responsibility for/ok,sept noo r:,sptnso I-
bIlti f:r l[ -,spa:n-/[v phrase]
The management accepts no responsibility for cars parked
in the car park. I At the moment the chemical industry will
accept no responsibility for the health of its workers.
duck/shirk your responsibilities/dAk, Iu:rk j:r
r: Isp[ns bdotiz II -rJspa:n-/ to deliberately refuse to do
something that you are responsible for and that people
expect you to do Iv phrase]
The government has shirked its responsibilities in this
matter and many pensioners have suffered. I You can't go on
ducking your responsibilities like this. You have to consider
your students' welfare.
wash your hands of/,w[J ja:r 'hendz ov [1 wa:f-/to
refuse to accept any responsibility for someone or some-
thing that you have been responsible for before but which
you no longer want to be involved with [v phrase]
Kruger washed his hands of the matter and told Miles that
he didn't want to know anything more about it. [ It's noth-
ing to do with me anymore. I wash my hands of the whole
affair.
pass the buck/,pa:s 6 bAk [[ pes-/to try not to accept
responsibility for a problem or a mistake that you have
made, by saying that it was someone else's fault [vphrase]
It's easy to pass the buck and blame someone else for your
failure. [ The Senator accused the President of passing the
buck and said that he should face up to his mistakes.
1 1 something that you are responsible for doing,
looking after etc
responsibility
burden
responsibility/rJ ,spons'b,lti II ri ,spo:n-/ [n C/
Having children is a big responsibility and I'm not sure I'm
ready for that yet. ] I can't leave Anna here. She's only twelve
and she's my responsibility. I take on a responsibility
(=accept a responsibility) There's nothing wrong with decid-
ing not to take on too many responsibilities.
1124
REST
burden/'ba:rdn/something difficult or worrying that you
are responsible for In C/
The minister has the burden of explaining why he must raise
taxes. [ heavy burden (=a very difficult burden) She has
three children and heavyfinancial burdens at home. I carry
a burden (=have that responsibility) Carrying the burdens
of leadership is never an easy task.
!?:: responsive REACT 6
;. respray PAINT 2
-;i.
:: rest PUT 3, REST 1, 3, SUPPORT/HOLD UP 5
rest: come to rest STOP MOVING 2
rest: take/have a rest REST 1
. rest: the rest REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
ii! rest assured WORRIED 14
;; rest on DEPEND/IT DEPENDS 1, 2
restroomlwashroom TOILET 1
rest with DECIDE 4
REST
to stop working or doing something for a
while and sit down, lie down etc in order get
more energy
t to rest
:2 words for describing situations, activities etc
that help people to rest and relax
3 a period of time when you are not doing any
tiring activities
1 to rest
rest relax
take/have a rest laze
lie down/have a lie down take it easy
put your feet up chill out
rest/rest/[v I/
You've had a long journey. Come in and rest for a while. [
He lay down and rested, using his coat as a pillow. [ Take
some time off work and try to rest.
takelhave a rest ! tek, ,hev  rest/to rest for a short
time in the middle of a tiring activity [v phrase]
Don't use a computer for long periods of time - take a rest
occasionally [ Halfway up the mountain we took a rest [ You
look tired. Why don't you have a rest? [ take/have a rest
from Everyone needs to take a rest from looking after their
kids.
lie down/have a lie down/la daon, heev a la daon/
to put yourself in a flat position, usually on a bed, in order
to rest when you are tired, although not necessarily in
order to sleep [phr v I/
Have something to eat and then you should lie down and rest.
There's a lot to do later. I She's trying to do too much - see
if you can persuade her to have a lie down for an hour. I
Towards evening she grew tired, and went to her room to lie
down.

REST 1125 RESULT
put your feet up /pot jo: r fi:t Ap/an informal expres-
sion meaning to rest for a short time after a tiring activity,
especially because you think you deserve it [v phrase]
Have a rest. Put your feet up. I'll pour you a drink. I When
you're pregnant and doing a full-time job you must find time
to put your feet up.
relax/ri 'leks/to rest by being less active, worrying less
etc [v I/
It's been a long day so why don "t we just go home and relax. I
She was lying on the couch, relaxing. I In the evenings she
relaxes with a glass of wine and a good book.
iaze/lelz/to rest, especially by lying in a pleasant place,
often when you should be working or doing something [v I/
laze in/on/beside etc I found him in the garden, lazing
in the sun. I She lazed on the big bed admiring the ornate
ceiling. I I'm sick of you kids lazing around the house watch-
ing TV all day.
take |t easy/teik it li-.zi/to do things gently and with
less effort than usual in order to avoid becoming worried
or tired, especially because you are not feeling strong or
healthy [v phrase]
After my operation I had to take things easy for a month or
two. I He's working very hard at the moment so he tends to
take it easy at the weekend. I She does aerobics every day of
the week - she should take it easy now and then.
chili out /ItJ'II sot/ an informal American expression
meaning to spend time resting or doing something enjoy-
able which does not need much effort [phr v I/
We chilled out in front of the TV with a couple of beers. I I've
been chilling out with some of the guys.
words for describing situations, activities etc
that help people to rest and relax
restful
relaxing
restful/'restfal/[adj]
She finds walking in the country very restful. I After living
in the war zone, London seems quiet and restful. I I'd been
looking forward to a quiet restful summer. Instead I was
plunged into the strangest events of my life.
relaxing/ri'lmksi/activities or places that are relaxing
help you to rest so that you feel comfortable and not wor-
ried [adj]
I go to my brother's house in the country at weekends. It's so
calm and relaxing there. I After work she always has a warm
relaxing bath.
 a period of time when you are not doing any
tiring activities
rest
relaxation
break
rest/rest/In C/U]
After lunch we went to bed for a rest. t You'll feel much better
after a good night's rest. I They had covered twelve hundred
miles with only two days' rest. I The doctor says I need com-
plete rest.
relaxation I,ri:lek'se1anl an enjoyable activity which
helps you to rest and stop thinking or worrying about your
work, study ete In U]
You should find time for some relaxation every day ! We
usually go for a walk in the evenings. It's really good relax-
ation after a hard day at work. I Her relaxation includes
singing in a small choir.
break ]brexk] a short rest in the middle of an activity In C]
Tina has been looking after her father ever since he got sick,
and it's time she had a break. I "Take a break, Keith, "" the
boss said. I a break from You look as though you need a
break from studying. Come on, I'll make you a cup of coffee.
;;. restart CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1
..: restful PEACEFUL 1, REST 2
- restore GIVE 11, REPAIR 2, START STH/MAKE STH
!i START 5
 restrain PREVENT 1
• ® restrain yourself CONTROL 7
i restrained CONTROL 19
i; restraint CONTROL 7
:..:....
! restraints CONTROL 13
!; restrict LIMIT 6
 restricted: be limited to/be restricted to ONLY 5
"-. restricted: be restricted LIMIT 5
restriction RULE/REGULATION 1
 restrictions LIMIT 3
restructure CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 5
 result ANSWER/RESULT 1 RESULT 1 2, 3
 result: as a result SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
result: as a result of BECAUSE 1
 result: be a result of/result from RESULT 8
 result: end result RESULT 2
.... result: net result/effect RESULT 2
P result: with the result that SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
result in CAUSE 6
RESULT
10
something that happens because of
something else that happened before
the situation that exists at the end of a
meeting or discussion, an attempt to do
something, or a series of events
the result of a competition, game, election etc
an additional result, especially one that was
not expected or intended
an unpleasant or harmful situation, especially
one that lasts for a long time, that happens as
a result of something else
a series of events, often unpleasant, each of
which is the result of the one before
a natural or necessary result of something
to happen or exist as a result of something
else
words for describing something that happens
as a result of something else
to say or believe that one thing is the result of
something else
1 something that happens because of
something else that happened before
result effect
consequence implications
result/r;'zhlt/[n C/
He's been having problems with his back for years, the result
of an industrial accident. I The result of the crisis was that
in 1649 the king was beheaded. ] Maeve's difficult breathing
and husky voice were the result of years of heavy smoking. I
Trying to teach children at home can have disastrous
results. I direct result (=something caused by one thing
only) Our problems are the direct result of economic mis-
management. I as a result of (=being the result of some-
thing) Three prisoners have been released as a result of the
new ruling.

RESULT 1126 RESULT
consequence/konskwns [1 ka:nskwens/the result
of something, especially a bad result that could have been
prevented [n C[
A build-up of gas in the mine could have terrible conse-
quences. [ The governor's decision could lead to a breakdown
of law and order with unforseeable consequences. [
take/face the consequences (=accept the bad results of
something you do) They had decided to steal the money, and
now they must take the consequences.
effect/i'fekt/the way something changes or is affected
as a result of something else happening In C[
The effect of the pollution on the fish was devastating. [ One
of the effects of the job was that I'd become a heavy drinker. [
effect on The breakup of a marriage can have a disastrous
effect on the children. [ have an effect Do you think the new
training plans have had any effect on unemployment
figures?l cause and effect (=what happens, and what hap-
pens as a result) The professor argues that there is a cause
and effect relationship between stress and illness.
implications/, ImplI' keanz/the possible results that a
plan or action could have and which should therefore be
considered or discussed before doing it In plural]
Have you considered the implications of this new policy? [
What would be the likely implications of changing to a com-
puterized system? [ At the time, few people recognized the sig-
nificance of this discovery and its profound implications. [
implications for Clearly, the rapid increase in the number
of countries with nuclear weapons will have serious impli-
cations for world security.
2 the situation that exists at the end of a
 meeting or discussion, an attempt to do
something, or a series of events
result end result
outcome net result/effect 0
upshot the long and the short of it is
result/rI'zAlt/In singular]
We talked about my job, and the result was a dramatic
change in my career plans. [ Whoever was to blame for the
accident, the result remains the same.
outcome / 'aotk^m/the final result of a discussion, meet-
ing, war etc, especially when that result is uncertain until
it actually happens In singular]
The outcome of the negotiations was more favourable than
anyone had expected. [ The most likely outcome seemed to be
that the Mexicans would lose the war and their territory. [
Whatever the outcome, both parties have agreed to remain
friends.
upshot/'ApOt [[ -a:t/a word used especially in British
English meaning the result of something, especially when
it is a little unusual or unexpected [n singular]
the upshot is that The upshot of the inquiry was that the
postman lost his home and his life savings. [ I met Ivo last
year at a party - and the upshot is that we're getting married
on Saturday.
end result /,end ri z^lq the final situation or product that
exists after a long time, or after a long process or series of
events ]n singular]
From time to time we meet for a drink but the end result is
always the same - we argue. [ The director used a lot of
revolutionary methods and the end result is a very interest-
ing new film.
net result/effect /net r 'z^lt, i 'fekq the final situation
that exists when you consider all the details and facts,
usually when this is not as good as you thought it would
be In singular]
The new system is designed to spread payments over several
months but the net effect is that people pay more in total. [
The net result of the efforts between the workforce and
management has been a loss of confidence in the bosses.
the long and the short of it is 16o ,1 nd 6 jb:rt
;v It IZ II -,l::rJ-/you say the long and short of it is when
you are going to quickly explain the most important results
or facts of a situation, especially when the situation is not
very satisfactory
the long and short of it is (that) The long and short of it
is that unless she has an operation very soon, both she and
the baby may die. I that's the long and short of it We don't
have enough money to buy the house - that's about the long
and the short of it.
3 the result of a competition, game, election etc
result
score
result/ri'zAlt/In C[
It was a really exciting game, the result being 2-1for West
Germany. [ The result of the vote was that Elaine Sands was
elected President.
score/sk:r/the number of points that each team has at
the end of a game or competition In C[
At the end of the game, the score was 32-15. [ Did Manchester
United win? What was the score?[ final score After an excit-
ing competition, the final score was 21points to the Russian
team.
4 an additional result, especially one that was
not expected or intended
indirect result by-product
ramifications spin-off
repercussions side effect/side-effect
fallout
indirect result I, indrekt r1 'zAlt/In C usually singular]
Some young people have died as an indirect result of sniff-
ing glue. ] One indirect result of this disaster is that it tells
us a lot about our standards of engineering.
I l
ramifications /,reemf 'keanzl the additional results
of something you do, that are not always clear when you
first make the decision to do it In plural]
Any ramifications of an invasion must be considered care-
fully before war is declared. I You should consider the wider
ramifications of living abroad before jumping on a plane
to a foreign country. [ ramifications for The government's
new foreign policy could have serious ramifications for the
entire population if a war starts.
repercussions /ri:p rk^j'anzi the additional and
usually bad results of something that you do that continues
to affect you for a long time afterwards, in a way that was
not intended or expected In plural]
The psychological repercussions of the accident might affect
her for the rest of her life. I The transport strike had all sorts
of repercussions in other industries.
fallout /'f:laot/ an informal word used especially in
American English meaning an unexpected result of some-
thing that you do, that affects people badly In U]
When an international row developed the White House
became worried about possible fallout.
by-product/baI ,prodAk-t II -pro:-/an unexpected result
of something that you do that happens in addition to the
result that was intended and planned [n C[
One of the by-products of the peace treaty was the growth of
trade between the two nations. [ Another by-product of space
exploration is a growing awareness of this planet's fragile
environment.
spin-off/'spin ./an unexpected but useful result of some-
thing that you do, that happens in addition to the result that
was intended In C[
Research into lasers has had important spin-offs for eye-
surgery. [ The Olympic Games will bring many tourists to
the region and have a spin-off effect on hotels, theatres and
restaurants.
side effect/side-effect /'said fekt/ an unexpected
result of an action or decision, that happens in addition to
the result that was intended, especially one that changes
or strongly affects people's lives In C[
Giving the police more power could only have serious side
effects, especially corruption and illegal police practices. [
Increased racial segregation could be one side-effect of the
city's proposed housing projects.

RESULT 1127 RESULT
S an unpleasant or harmful situation, especially
one that lasts for a long time, that happens as
a result of something else
effects
after-effects/after effects
aftermath
effects I'fes/[n plural]
We do not know if the children will ever completely recover
from the psychological effects of the tragedy. I effects on The
effects of the oil spillage on local wildlife were more serious
than anyone had imagined. I feel the effects of We're still
feeling the effects of the recession.
after-effects/after effects/'o:ftr ifekts II '  f-/an
undesirable effect, especially a physical effect, that exists
for a long time after the activity or event that caused it [n
plural]
None of them seemed to have suffered any permanent after-
effects of the accident. I A large number of working days are
lost through the after-effects of alcohol abuse. I The earth-
quake struck a week ago but the city is still feeling the after
effects.
aftermath /'o:ftrmeO II period of time, espe-
cially a long time, in which people try to improve things
after the unpleasant results of a very serious event such
as a war, an explosion, or a serious weather condition [n
singular]
in the aftermath of In the immediate aftermath of the war,
many families left the area to start new lives in Canada. I
The Mexican government is appealing for aid to provide
emergency supplies in the aftermath of the earthquake. I
aftermath A local photographer captured the explosion and
its dreadful aftermath.
6 a series of events, often unpleasant, each of
which is the result of the one before
chain reaction
knock-on effect
chain reaction I,ten ri' akanl a series of events, each
of which is the result of the one before, and which can not
be stopped [n C]
When oil prices rise, prices of other goods all over the world
rise in a chain reaction. I start/set off a chain reaction
The revolution was successful and soon set off a chain reac-
tion of revolts in neighbouring states.
knock-on effect / nok on l ,fekt II 'no:k-/something that
happens, especially something you do not want to happen,
that is a result of something that has happened before [n C]
The rise in electricity prices will have a knock-on effect on
the economy. I Workers soon realised the knock-on effect of
the dismissals. Some of the administration team would also
lose their jobs.
7 a natural or necessary result of something
corollary
go with/go hand in hand with
corollary /ka'rolari II 'ka:mleri, 'ka:-/ a formal word
meaning a natural or necessary result of something, espe-
cially one that you do not really want In C]
The government has promised tax cuts, but the corollary of
that must be a reduction in public services. I A rapid increase
in population would be a natural corollary of any such
changes in the birth control program.
go with/go hand in hand with/'gu w6, go ,hand
;n hamd w6/ if something goes with or goes hand in
hand with a situation or activity, it is a natural or neces-
sary result of it, so that you cannot have one without the
other [v T]
Wealth usually goes hand in hand with power. [ Do you think
you can handle the stress and responsibility that goes with
the job?
;8 to happen or exist as a result of something
else
be a result of/result from arise from
come of come out of
stem from
be a result of/result from Ibi:  rI 'zAlt OV, r; 'zalt from/
to happen as a result, especiatly an unpleasant or unwanted
result, of something else Iv phrase]
He explained that his bad temper and unfriendliness were
the result of a long time with very little sleep. I The organisers
of the party are being held legally responsible for damage
resulting from the fire. I Anyfever or rashes that result from
the snakebite can be treated with quinine.
come of/'kAm ov II -owl ifa situation comes of another
situation or activity, that situation exists as a result of it
Iv T not in progressive or passive]
come of sth There was talk of her marrying William Banks
but nothing came of it. I come of doing sth I've lost ten kilos
- so at least one good thing has come of being ill!
stem from/'stem from II -frAm/if something especially
a problem, stems from something else, it has developed
as a result of it and is directly connected with it Iv T not
in progressive or passive]
stem from sth Many of the patients" anxieties stem from
experiences in their childhood. I Part of the education
problem stems from the fact that class sizes have increased
dramatically in the last 5years. I stem from doing sth The
dog's aggressiveness stems from being kept locked up all day.
arise from/a'ra;z from II -frAm/ if something such as a
problem or difficult situation arises from something, it
starts to exist as a result of it Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
arise from sth Any problems arising from last week's meet-
ing will be dealt with next week. I The difficulty arises from
the fact that there has been insufficient time to train new
staff. I arise from doing sth Lung cancer is just one of the
many diseases that arise from smoking too many cigarettes.
come out of [ knm 'aut ov II -o:v/to happen or exist as
a helpful or useful result of someone's actions, decisions
or discussions [v T not in progressive or passive]
We're waiting to see what comes out of the inquiry before we
make a decision. [ One of the best things to come out of the
scandal is an increased public awareness of politicians"
morality.
9 words for describing something that happens
as a result of something else
resultinglconsequent
resulting/consequent/rI'ZAltll], 'konskwont II 'ko:n-I
happening or existing as a result of something else that has
happened before [adj only before noun]
Various animals were living in the old house, and the result-
ing smell was horrible. I Without government support the
factory might be forced to close with the consequent loss of
thousands of jobs. I A large number of people have been
killed in the area. The resulting tension is worrying UN
officials.
10 to say or believe that one thing is the result of
something else
" put sth down to
attribute sth to
put sth down to/,pot (sth) daon tu:/to say that one
thing is the result of something else, especially when you
are not completely sure that this is true [phr v T]
He's changed a great deal lately. I put it all down to his
family problems. [ We can put his bad manners down to his
lack of education. I Sheila's restlessness was put down to
excitement and nobody realized she was seriously ill.
attribute sth to/'trbju:t (sth) tu: [[ -bjot-/to say that
something is the reason for a situation or event, especially
one that you do not fully understand, by saying that it is
the result of something else [phr v T]

RESULT 1128 RETURN
The management attributed the success of the company to the
new Marketing Director. I I have never been good at
mathematics, a fact that I have always attributed to miss-
ing several years of school when I was a child. I 1150 deaths
a year can be attributed to drunk driving.
RESULT/GRADE
the number or letter which is put on a
student's piece of work to show how good or
bad it is
1 a result or grade
2 to look at a student's test or piece of work, to
decide what result you should give it
1 a result or grade
mark score
grade results
mark/mmrk/the number or letter that is put on a stu-
dent's piece of work to show how good or bad it is In C]
The highest mark achieved in the Geography test was 75%. I
Their marks have improved since we started the extra gram-
mar classes. I If the examiners think you are guessing the
answer, they will give you low marks.
grade/grcid/a word used especially in American English
meaning the letter that is put on a piece of a student's work
to show how good or bad it is In C]
If he gets good enough grades he'll get a scholarship to Michi-
gan State. I Most of her grades were very good but she only
got a C in biology.
score/slo:r/an American word meaning a number which
shows the result of a test given to a group of students, espe-
cially a large number of students In C]
Scores on standardized tests have been steadily falling over
the past ten years. I SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores are
falling, which means fewer kids get to go to college.
resu|t$ ]r[ 'z^lts] a word used especially in British English
meaning the numbers or letters that students get in a set
of tests or examinations which show whether they have
been successful in the tests or examinations In plural]
His examination results weren't very good so he's going to
stay at school for another year. I The results will be put on
a noticeboard outside the Professor's office.
•
' to look at a student's test or piece of work, to
decide what result you should give it
mark
grade
mark/ma:rk/to look at students' examinations, tests, or
written pieces of work and give them numbers or letters
to show how good their work is [v T]
The worst thing about teaching is all the test papers you have
to mark. I The examiners who marked her A-level paper were
very lenient and gave her a pass.
grade/gred/an American word meaning to look at stu-
dents' tests or pieces of work and give them letters to show
how good they are Iv T]
I have 48 English papers to grade this evening. I When all
the tests have been graded you'llfind out where you stand.
resulting/consequent RESULT 9
results RESULT/GRADE 1
results: get results SUCCEED IN DOING STH 1
resume CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1, 5
resurrect START STH/MAKE STH START 5
resuscitate CONSCIOUS 3
retail at COST 2
retail outlet SHOP 1
retailer SELL 9
retain KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 1, 4, 5
retake AGAIN 5
retaliate ANSWER/REPLY 2, ATTACK 4
retaliation: in retaliation REVENGE 1
retarded STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 2
retch/heave SICK/VOMIT 2
reticent TALK TO SB 16
retire LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 1, SLEEP 5,
STOP DOING STH 8
retired OLD/NOT YOUNG 7
retort ANSWER/REPLY 2, 4
retrace your steps RETURN 6
retract SAY/STATE 7
retreat BACK/BACKWARDS 2, LEAVE A PLACE 13
retrial TRIAL 1
retribution PUNISH 4
retrieve G ET 10
retrograde step PROGRESS 6
return GIVE 11, PROFIT 2, PUT 7, RETURN 1, 3, 4,
TAKE/BRING 4, VOTE/ELECT 4
return: in exchange/in return EXCHANGE 3
return/go back RETURN 2
return/return ticket RETURN 5
return sb's call TELEPHONE 3
return to AGAIN 3, CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1, 2
return
RETURN
to go back to the place where you started
from
to go back to a place that you have been to
before
the time when you return somewhere,
especially to your home or to the country
where you were born
words for describing a journey back to the
place where you started
words for describing a ticket that allows you
to go somewhere and to return to where you
started
to return to a place, going exactly the same
way that you went when you left it
1
to go back to the place where you started
from
go back go home
return get in/get home
get back come home
be back be on your way back
come back will be back
back
go back/go 'bk/to go back to the place where you
started from, especially to your home or to the place where
you were born [phr v I]
go back to When will you be going back to Japan? I go back
for (=go back to get something) He left his credit cards at
home, so he went back for them. I go back I heard that Hans
had to leave Germany because of a scandal, and does not

RETURN 1129 RETURN
dare to go back. I go back in/out/inside/downstairs etc
It's cold out here - shall we go back inside? l The phone had
stopped ringing, but when I went back upstairs it started
again.
return Ir'ta:rn! a word used especially in written English
meaning to go back to your home, your country etc Iv I]
return to He had to return to India to look after his mother. I
The ship was forced to return to the harbour for repairs. I
return She returned later to finish some work. I return
from He returned from the office late in the evening. I return
home (=return to your home or to the country where you
were born) After several years in exile they were excited at
the thought of returning home.
get back ! get bak/to arrive at the place where you
started from, especially when this is your home [phr v I]
She went out at six and didn't get back until midnight. [ get
back to After three months of travelling, we were longing
to get back to our homes. I Thomas and Gerald had gotten
back to the office late after lunch and were reprimanded by
the boss. I get back from When did you get back from Swit-
zerland, Dad?
be back/hi: 'bak! to be in the place where you were
before you went away [phr v I]
Jack! What a surprise!How long have you been back? l She's
been away on business but she's back now. I Phone me when
you're back from holiday.
come back I,lm 'bak! if someone comes back, they
return to the place where you are now [phr v I]
come back to When will you be coming back to London? [
come back from She's just come back from a vacation in
Canada. I come back She's left me, and I don't think she'll
ever come back.
back Ibmkl run/drive/fly/walk etc back (=go back to
where you were before by running, driving etc) lady]
We took the train to Paris, but fiew back. I back to/from
etc It was a lovely day, so I strolled slowly back to the office. I
We cycled back from the beach in the evening.
go home I,gou 'hum/to return to your home or to the
country where you were born Iv phrase]
I must go home now. I He went home at weekends when he
could afford the train fare. [ Chang has been in Manchester
for 4 years but next week he's going home to stay.
get in/get home /get 'm, ,get hum! to return to the
house where you live [phr v I]
What time did you get in last night? l When we got home later
that evening, Laverne's gang was waiting for us. I get in
from work/school etc He hasn't had anything to eat yet.
He just got in from work.
come home/, kAm 'hom/ff someone comes home, they
return to the place where they live, the country where they
were born etc, which is where you are now Iv phrase]
Since he went to college he only comes home at weekends. I
come home from She came home from school yesterday
absolutely covered in bruises. I come home to Thousands
attended the ceremony on July 2nd, the day the hostages came
home to the United States.
be on your way back/bi: on j:r we bak/to be in
the middle of your journey home, or to the place where you
started Iv phrase]
be on your way back from/to I saw an awful accident
when I was on my way back from the airport. ] Tomorrow
evening he'll be on his way back to Bombay. I be on your
way back Hayley's just phoned to say she's on her way back.
will be back/wil hi: bak/if you say you will be back,
you mean you will return later, especially in order to do
something, collect something etc Iv phrase]
She'll be back later. Would you like to take a seat? I will be
back for (=will be back to get something) That's all Ican
carry at the moment. I'll be back for the rest later. I will be
back to do sth The man said they'd be back to check that
it's working properly some time next week.
2 to go back to a place that you have been to
before
return/go back stop back
call back revisit
return/go back/ri 'ta:rn, gu 'bak/Iv I]
I had a wonderful time in China, and I hope I'll be able to
return one day. [ return/go back for The dentist says I have
to go back again next week for a check up. I return/go back
to do sth These birds always return to the same place every
year to build their nests. I He'll have to go back to Moscow
in June to finalize the deal.
call back I,k:l beek/a British expression meaning to
return to a place that you have already been to earlier, espe-
cially to someone's house or to a shop [phr v I]
call back for (=call back to collect someone or something)
I'll call back for the children at 5 o'clock. I Ipaid for the paint-
ing and said I would call back for it later. I call back to do
sth The doctor called back on his way home to see if Ian was
feeling better. I call back Look, I haven't got time to do it
now, but I'll call back later.
stop back/,stp bak II ,sta:p-/an American expression
meaning to return to a place that you have already been
to earlier, especially to someone's house, or to a shop [phr
vii
Can you stop back later? I'm really busy right now. [ Tom
stopped back at the drugstore to pick up his prescription.
revisit/ri:'vzot/to go back to a place that you have been
to before, especially a place that you like and that you have
not visited for a long time Iv T]
He revisited the places where they had played as children. I
Maria was eager to revisit her first school.
3 the time when you return somewhere,
especially to your home or to the country
where you were born
return
homecoming
return/r 't3:rn/ In U usually with possessive]
After a long illness, Ruth's return to work was greeted with
delight. I Immediately after his return he was forced to do
his military service. [ return from On her return from a bus-
iness trip she found that her apartment had been burgled.
homecoming !' hom,lm3/your return to your home
or to the country where you were born after you have been
away for a long time, especially when this is celebrated in
some way In U usually with possessive]
We arranged a party for my brother's homecoming, when
he returned from five years in Australia.
4 words for describing a journey back to the
place where you started
return
there and back
over and back
return/ri 't3:rn/return journey/trip/flight etc [adj only
before noun]
The return journey always seems much longer than the out-
ward one. I The sea was much calmer on the return voyage.
there and back/,6er znd bek/t a place and back
again to the place that you started from [adv phrase]
"'How far is it to Milwaukee?" "'It's about 30 miles there and
back. " l He was the first European to have actually made it
there and back.
over and back/, ztrvr znd 'bek/an American expres-
sion meaning to go to a place, especially someone's house
or a shop, and back again to the place that you started from
[adv phrase]
We went over to the store and back while you were gone. I
"'When are you going to Joe's ?'" "'I've already been over and
back."
words for describing a ticket that allows you
to go somewhere and to return to where you
started
return/return ticket
round-trip ticket

RETURN
return/return ticket/rl 't3:rn, rl t3:rn 'tIkt/a British
word meaning a ticket that includes your return journey
[nC]
How much is a return ticket to Dublin? I Would you like
singles or returns, Sir?
return lady] It costs $475 return to Helsinki (=for a return
ticket to Helsinki).
round-trip ticket /'raond ,trip tkIt/ an American
expression meaning a ticket that includes your return
journey in C]
A round-trip ticket to St Louis costs $100.
round trip [adv phrase] The ferry only costs $2 round-trip
per person.
6 to return to a place, going exactly the same
way that you went when you left it
go back the way you came
double back
retrace your steps
go back the way you came Igoo ,bk 8o we ju: IkcIn/
[ v phrase]
This is a private road: you'll have to go back the way you
came. I The track was cut off by a landslide, so we had to go
back the way we had come.
double back/d^bal bek/to suddenly walk or run back
the way you came, especially because you are being chased
or followed [phr v I]
He doubled back and hid in the bushes. [ Suddenly the rabbit
doubled back and headed off in another direction.
retrace your steps/ri,treis j:r steps/to walk for a
short distance back along the way that you have just taken,
especially because you have lost your way or because you
are looking for something you have lost [v phrase]
We retraced our steps as far as the church and found the path
we should have taken before. I They found Amy retracing her
steps, looking for a lost earring.
 reunited: be reunited TOGETHER 4
 reuse USE STH 10
 FEELING OR ATTITUDE 2, SHOW/BE
reveal
SHOW
A
....... A SIGN OF 1, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 2, TELL
A SECRET 1
 revel in ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4
o.
:; revenge REVENGE 2
 revenge: in revenge REVENGE 1
 revenge: take/get revenge REVENGE 1
REVENGE
to punish someone who has harmed or
offended you
1 to do something in order to punish or cause
trouble for someone because they have
harmed or offended you
2 something that you do in order to punish
someone who has harmed or offended you
1130
REVENGE
get your revenge When his ideas were stolen, Newton was
incensed and got his revenge by systematically deleting all
references to his colleague.
pay sb back / ,pI (sb) 'bek/to do something unpleasant
or unkind to someone because they have done something
unpleasant or unkind to you [phr v T]
I'm going to play my music really loud and see how he likes
being woken up in the middle of the night, just to pay him
back. [ pay sb back for John's being difficult about the
divorce just to pay me back for leaving him.
get even with /,get i:van wl6/to do something to some-
one that is just as unpleasant or unkind as what they have
done to you, in order to make yourself feel better [v phrase]
doyce had hurt him badly, and Bob vowed to get even with
her someday. [ What can I do to get even with him?
get back at/get 'bek mr/to do something unkind or
unpleasant to someone, to make them suffer for something
wrong they have done to you, or that you imagine they have
done to you [v T]
Leaving school at sixteen was just a way of getting back at
his father. [ get back at sb for Ever since I danced with her
boyfriend she's been trying to get back at me for it.
get your own back ! ,get j:r 'on beekl to get revenge
for something someone has done or said, especially when
it is not very serious [v phrase]
Wendy was sick o f Jane's practical jokes - she's getting her
own back now! [ get your own back on sb I'm going to get
my own back on Sam for telling the tgacher I copied his
homework.
in revenge I]n r 'vends! if you do something in revenge
for something that someone has done to you, you do it to
get revenge [adv phrase]
Her husband was having an affair so, in revenge Marion
took a lover. [ in revenge for They murdered Gillespi in
revenge for the death of their brother.
in retaliation/n r ,teli eij'an/if you do something in
retaliation for something that someone has done to you,
you do it to make them suffer even more than you did [adv
phrase]
The English fleet seized a Dutch ship in retaliation. I in
retaliation for In retaliation for the stories spread about
her, the actress has launched a scathing attack against the
tabloid press.
avenge /'vends/ a word used especially in literature
meaning to get revenge in a violent way iv T]
The Italian soldiers wanted to avenge their humiliating
defeat at Auda in 1896. I It was an insult which only Cassio's
death could avenge.
I'ii get you/him etc for this/all 'get (you etc) fr ,Sis/
you say I'll get you/him etc for this when someone has
done something unpleasant to you and you are warning
them that you will get revenge
"I'll get you for this, '" said Ian, realizing that he had been
tricked. I Did you hear what he just said to me? I'll get him
for this!
be out to get/hi: ,aot t 'get/an informal expression
meaning to be determined to punish someone when you
have the chance, because they have done something to hurt
or offend you iv phrase]
I did not trust them at all. I was sure they were out to get me.
1
to do something in order to punish or cause
trouble for someone because they have
harmed or offended you
take/get revenge
pay sb back
get even with
get back at
get your own back
in revenge
in retaliation
avenge
I'll get you/him etc for this
be out to get
take/get revenge/,teIk, ,get ri'vends/ [v phrase]
take/get revenge for sth He decided he was going to take
revenge for the murder of his sister. [ take/get revenge on
sb One of the inmates has said he is going to take revenge
on the prison authorities by going on hunger strike. [ take/
2 something that you do in order to punish
someone who has harmed or offended you
revenge vendetta
reprisal tit for tat
vengeance
revenge In'vends/[n U]
It is clear that the motive for this murder was revenge. I
Deborah's revenge would be to tell Mick's wife all about his
affairs. [ The main themes of the play are love, murder, and
revenge.
reprisal /rI 'praizal/ an action, especially a military or
political one, that is a reaction to something that has been
done by a country, government, organization etc in C
usually plural]

REVENGE 1131 RICH
Some people will not report attacks to the police for fear of
reprisals. I The attack was a direct reprisal for a raid on
British ships in Scapa Flow a few months before. I Demon-
strators surged through the capital city yesterday - ignor-
ing threats of reprisals from the government.
vengeance/'vend3ans! revenge, especially in the form
of violent actions or behaviour, for something very harm-
ful or violent that someone has done In U]
Throughout the play, Hamlet is driven by the desire for
vengeance for the murder of his father. I Nothing can justify
such acts of vengeance by violent terrorists.
vendetta /ven'deta/ a quarrel between two groups of
people that has lasted for a long time and during which the
two groups keep trying to get revenge on each other In C]
The killing was the result of a long-standing vendetta over
gambling. I family/tribal/private/personal vendetta a
period of history marked by tribal vendettas
tit for tat /,tit fa r 'tat/ something unpleasant done
because someone has done something unpleasant to you
[ n phrase ]
I didn't invite her to my party because she didn't invite me
to hers. It was just tit for tat. I tit for tat killings/bomb-
ings/raids etc In this latest round of tit for tat killings, eight
people have died.
reverberate SOUND 5
revere ADMIRE 2
reversal CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 3
reverse BACK/BACKWARDS 3, CHANGE/MAKE STH
DIFFERENT 6, OPPOSITE/REVERSE 1
reverse: on the contrary/quite the reverse
OPPOSITE/REVERSE 4
reverse: the reverse BACK OF STH 2, OPPOSITE/
REVERSE 2
reverse the charges TELEPHONE 2
revert to CONTINUE/START AGAIN 3
review JUDGE 7
revise CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 1, 3
revise your opinion CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
revised CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 9
revisit RETURN 2
revive START STH/MAKE STH START 5
revive interest: rekindle interest/revive interest
INTERESTED 4
revolt DISGUSTING 3, REBELLION/REVOLUTION 1, 3
revolting DISGUSTING 1, UGLY 3
revolution CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 3,
REBELLION/REVOLUTION 1, TURN 12
revolutionary NEW 7, REBELLION/REVOLUTION 4
revolutionize CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 6
revolve TURN 1
revolving TURN 13
revulsion DISGUSTING 2
reward GIVE 3, 19
rewarding SATISFIED 4
rewrite WRITE 12
ribs: dig sb in the ribs PUSH 4
rich LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 10,
COLOUR/COLOR 3, GROW PLANTS,
VEGETABLES ETC 4, LOW SOUND OR VOICE
1, RICH 1, STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 1
rich: get rich RICH 7
rich: stinking rich/filthy rich RICH 3
rich: the rich RICH 6
RICH
1 having a lot of money or possessions
2 having enough money to live comfortably
without worrying about money
3 extremely rich
4 having a lot of money at the moment or for a
short time, but not always rich
5 a rich person
6 rich people in general
7 to become rich
8 ways of telling someone that you are not rich
when they want you to buy them something
or pay for them
1 having a lot of money or possessions
rich well-heeled
wealthy affluent
well off prosperous
well-to-do
rich/rtJ'/having a lot of money, possessions etc [adj]
Her new boyfriend is very good-looking and he's very rich [
You have to be rich to afford anything in this shop. [ The rich
countries of the world have promised more aid for develop-
ing countries. [ "Fortune" magazine publishes a list of the i00
richest people in America.
wealthy/'welOi/rich, especially through owning land,
property, or valuable possessions over a long period of time
[adj]
She comes from a wealthy family, who own houses in London
and Paris. I The new taxes were aimed at the wealthiest and
largest corporations. I immensely wealthy (=extremely
wealthy) You have to be immensely wealthy to own so many
racehorses.
wealth In U] The discovery of oil brought great wealth to
the area (=made the people there very wealthy). I a coun-
try where there are extremes of wealth and poverty
well off/,wel 'f- [] -'3:f-/having more money than most
people, so that you have a comfortable and easy life [adj
not usually before noun]
They're not exactly rich, but.they're fairly well off. ] Her hus-
band was a lawyer in New York, and when he died he left
her very well off. [ better off The government claim that
people are better off now than they have ever been.
well-to-do /,wel ta 'du:-/ well-to-do family/baek-
ground/neighbourhood ere (=rich and respected because
they have a fairly high position in society, are well edu-
cated etc) [adj]
He wants to find a husband from a well-to-do background
for his daughter. [ Surprisingly, police statistics show that
many of these thefts were carried out by people from well-to-
do families.
well.heeled/,wel 'hi:ld-/an informal word meaning
rich and usually of high social class, especially when this
is shown by where you live, the way you dress etc [adj]
The woman who came in was elegantly dressed and obvi-
ously well-heeled. [ This company specialises in selling over-
seas properties to well-heeled clients.
affluent/'efluant/having a lot of money, especially as a
result of your own hard work, so that you can afford to buy
expensive clothes and cars, travel to foreign countries etc
[adj]
As people become more affluent, so their standard and style
of living improves. I We drove through affluent suburbs with
large houses and tree-lined streets. I Consumer goods are a
symbol of prestige in an affluent society.
affluence In U] Since the Second World War there has been
an increasing level of affluence in the West.
prosperous/'prosparas 11 'pro:-/having a lot of money
and a high standard of living, especially as a result of being
successful in business [adj]
He looked like a lawyer and a prosperous one. [ After the war,
Germany became one of Europe's most prosperous countries.
prosperity/pm'speroIti [[ pro:-/In U] The town's prosperity
comes from the textile industry.
2 having enough money to live comfortably
without worrying about money
comfortable lack for nothing
be comfortably off not go without

RICH 1132 RICH
comfortable/'k^mftobal, 'kamfot- [[ 'k^mfort-, 'kamft-/
[adj]
My wife and I are very lucky, really, we're comfortable, even
though we're both retired. [ He had supposed Mrs Mack to
have been in comfortable circumstances, so he was surprised
when he saw her tiny apartment. ] have a comfortable life
They've had a much more comfortable life since she started
her new job.
be comfortably off/bi: ,kAmfortobli 'of/to have enough
money to live without worrying about money Iv phrase]
When the children were small we never had much money, but
now we seem to be comfortably off.
lack for nothing/,lk fo r ' nAOirJ/to have enough money
so that you can always afford whatever, you want to buy,
especially things that you need such as food, clothes etc [v
phrase]
I'm going to make sure my children lack for nothing. [ How
do you know what it's like to be starving? You've never lacked
for anything.
not go without/nut goo w[6aot/to have just enough
money to buy everything that you need and want [v phrase]
Your mother and I worked hard to make sure that you never
had to go without. [ We might not have had much money, but
we didn't go without.
3 extremely rich
be loaded
stinking rich/filthy rich
be worth a fortune/be worth millions
have money to burn
be loaded (also be rolling in it in British English)/bi:
'loud,d, bi: 'roolir Jn ,t/ informal expressions meaning to
be extremely rich Iv phrase]
Did you know Peter has three houses? He must be loaded. [
Of course she can afford to come with us on holiday - her
family are absolutely rolling in it.
stinking rich/filthy rich /,st[oko 'r=tf, ,hlOi 'rIt/
informal expressions meaning very rich, used especially
when you think this is unfair [adj phrase]
Gregory is filthy rich but he never gives a penny to charity. [
Dawn's stinking rich uncle didn't even leave her any money
when he died.
be worth a fortune/be worth millions/bi: w3:r0
o 'f::rtj'an, bi: ,w3lr0 'm,ljonzl to be extremely rich, espe-
cially because you have earned a lot of money in business,
or through sport, entertainment etc Iv phrase]
Michael Jackson must be worth a fortune. I The Chief Execu-
tive started her career as a secretary, and no w she's worth
millions.
have money to burn/hev ,mAni t 'b3:rn/to have so
much money that you can buy anything you want, even
things that you do not need Iv phrase not in progressive]
Every time I see her she's wearing a new pair of shoes. She
must have money to burn. I "'So many clients have so much
money to burn, "" according to the manager of a firm deal-
ing in luxury bathrooms.
4 having a lot of money at the moment or for a
short time, but not always rich
flush
be in the money
flush/fl^/ an informal word meaning having a lot of
money at present or more money than you usually have,
for example because you have just been paid [adj not before
noun]
I'll buy the drinks, I'm feeling flush just now. [ Alan gives
his wife fifty dollars a week, or a little more if he's flush
be in the money/bi: in 6o 'mAni/ an informal expres-
sion meaning to have a lot of money at present because you
have received some money unexpectedly, for example by
winning a prize [v phrase]
Did you hear about A li? Her rich uncle's just died, and no w
she's really in the money.
5 a rich person
man/woman of means multi-millionaire
millionaire yuppie
man/woman of means/,maen, ,wumon ov 'mi:nz/a
person who is very rich, usually because they own land,
property etc or because they have a family that has always
been rich [n phrase]
Taylor is a man of means, his family owns several apartment
blocks in New York. I We must ask Louise to support the char-
ity - she's a woman of means.
millionaire/, m=ljo'neor/a person who has at least a mil-
lion pounds or dollars or more In C]
The money to keep the hospital open was provided by a
London millionaire. ] I can't afford a new car just now. I'm
no millionaire, you know.
multi.millionaire/,m^lti m;ljz'nezr/a person who has
many millions of pounds or dollars In C]
Louis Berg is a multi-millionaire who made his money in the
newspaper business.
yuppie/'j^pi/an informal word meaning a young person
who has earned enough money to have a very comfortable
life, especially someone who spends a lot of money on
possessions and on enjoying themselves In C]
That bar is where all the yuppies go after work. [ Since he
got a job in London, Michael's turned into a bit of a yuppie.
yuppie [adj] Look at Stephen with his yuppie suit and
mobile phone.
6 rich people in general
the rich the haves and the have-nots
the wealthy the jet set
the rich/6 ' r;tl/all the people who are rich in a particu-
lar country, society etc, especially when you are compar-
ing them with people who are poor In plural]
Under this government the rich seem to have got richer and
the poor poorer. [ Democracy gave the poor, as well as the
rich, a part to play in governing the city. I a tour around the
Hollywood homes of the rich and famous
the wea|thy ]5o welOi/people who are rich, especially
through owning land, property, or valuable possessions
over a long period of time, who have a lot of power or
influence in society In plural]
Private health care is not only for the wealthy. I The hotel
stood by a lake, where the wealthy went to go fishing or
pigeon shooting.
the haves and the have.nots/6o ,hevz ond 5 ,hev
'nots/an expression meaning the rich people and the poor
people, used when you are comparing both In phrase]
The widening gap between the haves and the have-nots is
becoming very noticeable in New York.
the let set ]Sz 'd3et set/people who are rich and fashiona-
ble, such as famous actors, entertainers or business people
that ordinary people admire or are interested in [n phrase]
I buy this magazine to read all about the lives of the jet set.
jet-setter In C] Liz Taylor's party was attended by celebri-
ties and jet-setters from all over the world.
7 to become rich
get rich
make a bundle/fortune
make good
go from rags to
riches
be made for life
get rich/,get 'rItj'/ [v phrase]
I'm trying to think of a way to get rich. [ get rich (by) doing
sth Mr Askin got rich selling second hand cars. ] get rich
quick The company promised its sales team that, if they
worked hard enough, they would get rich quick.
make a bundle/fortune/,me;k o 'bAndl, 'f3:rtdn/an
informal expression meaning to become very rich by earn-
ing or winning a lot of money Iv phrase]
If you're a good salesman you can make a bomb, but you
have to work hard. [ You shouldn't have sold your shares,
you could have made a bundle. ] make a bundle/fortune
(by) doing sth Richard made a fortune breeding racehorses.

RICH 1133 RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO
make good/,meek 'god/an expression used especially
in newspapers meaning to become rich, especially when
you are from a poor family Iv phrase not in progressive]
He'sjust a poor country boy who made good in the city. [ Ion
thinks that just because he made good, everybody else can too.
go from rags to riches/goo from ,regz to 'rit.fz/to
become very rich after being extremely poor [vphrase not
in progressive]
Although he came from a poor family, he managed to go
from rags to riches.
rags to riches [adj phrase] Andrea's story of how she
became a top model was a real rags to riches story.
be made for life/bi: ,meid fa r 'laif/if'you say that some-
one is made for life you mean they are extremely success-
ful and so rich that they do not need to work any more
[v phrase]
Now he's got a contract to advertise sports clothing he'll be
made for life [ Sylvester Stallone need never make another
movie, he's already made for life.
8 ways of telling someone that you are not rich
when they want you to buy them something
or pay for them
I'm not made of money
money doesn't grow on trees
I'm not made of money/am not 'meid ov ,mAni/yOU
say I'm not made of money when someone wants you to
spend more money than you think you can afford
"Why don't you move to a bigger house?'" "'I'm not made of
money, you know.""
money doesn't grow on trees/,mAni d^zant ,groo on
'tri:z! you say money doesn't grow on trees when some-
one else, such as a child, husband, or wife, is spending more
of your money than you think you can afford
Look how much you've spent on clothes this month! Money
doesn't grow on trees, you know!
."i riches: go from rags to riches RICH 7
rickety CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
ricochet HIT/BUMP INTO 4
rid: be rid of GET RID OF3
rid: get rid of GET RID OF 1, 4, 5, THROW AWAY 1
ridsthof GET RID OF2
riddle MYSTERIOUS 3
riddled with holes HOLE 7
ride DRIVE 1, 3, TRAVEL 8
ride: go for a ride DRIVE 2
ride: take a ride DRIVE 2
ride: take sb for a ride TRICK/DECEIVE 3
ride roughshod over IGNORE 5
rider DRIVE 5
ridicule MAKE FUN OF 2
ridiculous STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 4, 5, 6
ridiculously/absurdly VERY 2
rife: be rife COMMON 2
rift DISAGREE 3
rift: cause a rift between ARGUE 9
rig up MAKE 2
rigged: be rigged CHEAT 7
right CORRECT 1, 3, 4, EXACT 6, GOOD/MORAL 5,
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
right:
RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 3, 4, RIGHT/
JUSTIFIED 1, RIGHT/PROPER 1, 2, 3, YES 3
be right CORRECT 2
be right for SUITABLE 2
be right for/the right person for SUITABLE 1
be right with you/right there WAIT 2
be sb's by right DESERVE 1
by right RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 4
come out right/turn out right SUCCEED IN
DOING STH 3
get sth right CORRECT 2
give sb the right RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 2
have the/a right RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 1
have the/a right to do sth RIGHT/JUSTIFIED 2
it is right that FAIR 2
make it right REASON 10
right: put right SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 1
right: put sth right REPAIR 1
right: think sth is right APPROVE 1
right arm: would give anything/give your right arm
WANT 3
right away/straight away IMMEDIATELY 1
right/dead on time ON TIME 1
right-hand man HELP 8
right now NOW 1
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
right
[rig
now: this minute/right now IMMEDIATELY 1
off/right off the bat IMMEDIATELY 4
person: be right for/the right person for
SUITABLE 1
place: be in the right place PLACE 9
place: be in the right place at the right time
LUCKY 1
place: sb's heart is in the right place KIND 1
side: get on the right side of LIKE SB OR STH 7
size: be the right size FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1, 4
size: not be the right size FIT/BE THE RIGHT
SIZE 3
there: be right with you/right there WAIT 2
track: be on the right track CORRECT 2
way round: be the right way round
ORDER/SEQUENCE 2
way round: the right way round CORRECT 3
way up: the right way up CORRECT 3
CORRECT
RIGHT/HAVE
THE RIGHT TO
RIGHT/
JUSTIFIED
SUITABLE
RIGHT/PROPER
RIGHT/HAVE THE
RIGHT TO
to have the legal or official right to do
something or be given something
to give someone the right to do something or
have something
the legal or official right to do something
the legal or official right to have, own, or use
something
the political and social rights that belong to
everyone in a country
a special right that belongs to a particular
person or group
the right to do something wrong or illegal

RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 1134 RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO
1 to have the legal or official right to do
something or be given something
have thela right
be entitled to
be within your rights
have thela right /,hcv 5,  'rat/ Iv phrase not in
progressive]
have the/a right to do sth Everyone should have the right
to live in their own country if they want to. I We have a con-
stitutional right to defend ourselves, our family, and our
property. I have the/a right to sth Olivia felt she had a
right to information about her illness.
be entitled to/bi: n'tatld tu:/to hav the legal or offi-
cial right to do something or be given something, especially
when you do not realize that you have this right [vphrase]
The public is entitled to information about how public money
is spent. I be entitled to do sth You are legally entitled to
take faulty goods back to the store where you bought them. I
Was the reporter actually entitled to access the personal and
financial records?
be within your rights/bi: w6,n j3:r 'rats/to have a
legal right to do something although it may seem unfair
or unreasonable Iv phrase]
be within your rights to do sth According to Singapore
law, the immigration officers were quite within their rights
to refuse me entry if they thought my hair was too long. I be
within your rights If Mrs Cobb wanted to take the com-
pany to court for unfair dismissal, she'd be within her rights.
right Irat/In singular]
You should get maintenance from your ex-husband - it's
your right. I Everyone should have the right to a good basic
education.
entitlement /n'taitlmnt/ the official right from a
government or employer to have or receive something In
C/U]
entitlement to sth The amount of money you earn does not
affect your entitlement to child benefits for your children. I
holiday/pension etc entitlement Holiday entitlements for
temporary workers are less than for permanent staff. I
entitlement Despite the entitlements spelled out in the
supplementary benefit regulations, many people are still not
receiving benefits.
claim/kleJ m/the right to be given something because you
were its original owner, or because you have a moral right
to it In C]
claim to sth No one can dispute the Mohawks'claim to this
land. I His claim to the house was finally recognized by the
court.
rights/raits/the legal control or possession of something
such as a product, a book, an idea etc In plural]
rights to sth This is the publishing company which brought
the rights to Somerset Maugham's short stories. I Channel
7 has exclusive rights to television coverage of the Olympics.
by right/baJ 'rait/if something is yours by right, you
have a moral right to have it or be given it [adv phrase]
It's so unfair that Jean was promoted instead of me - that
job was mine by right! l Developers were met by angry locals
protesting that the land was theirs by right.
2 to give someone the right to do something or
have something
give sb the right
entitle
give sb the right I,gv (sb)  'rait/Iv phrase]
give sb the right to sth This government programme gives
families on low incomes the right to extra financial help. I
He may be having problems at home, but that doesn't give
him the right to take days off work anytime he wants. ] give
sb the right to do sth The new regulations give dissatis-
fied customers the right to receive a full refund.
entitle/ntaJtl/to give someone the legal or official right
to do or have something [v T not in progressive]
entitle sb to sth Being a member entitles you to discounts
on tickets. I entitle sb to do sth In theory, bad behaviour
at a Christmas office party will entitle an employer to fire
someone.
3 the legal or official right to do something
right '
freedom
right/ratl In singular]
the right to do sth Women all over the world fought long
and hard for the right to vote. I the right of The executive
council has the right of veto over the management's policy. I
right Free speech is a fundamental right in a democratic
society.
freedom/' fri:dom/the right to do, say, think, or write
something without being controlled or stopped by anyone
In U]
freedom of speech/expression ere No democracy can exist
without freedom of speech and freedom of the press. I free-
dom to do sth This change in the law will give parents more
freedom to influence their children's education. I political/
religious ere freedom The leaders of the demonstration
made speeches demanding greater political freedom.
4 the legal or official right to have, own, or use
something
right rights
entitlement by right
claim
5 the political and social rights that belong to
everyone in a country
rights human rights
civil rights equal rights
civil liberties equal opportunities
rights Irats/In plurall
We must stand up and fight for our rights! I Union leaders
protested that the new law was an infringement of workers"
rights. I The party's manifesto promises to protect and
improve the basic rights of the individual.
civil rights/,svdl 'rats/the rights that every person
should have, such as the right to vote or be treated equally
and fairly by the law, whatever their sex, race, or religion
In plurall
She had been actively involved in the struggle for civil rights
in the US in the 60s. I The President has agreed to talks with
civil rights campaigners. [ The civil rights movement illus-
trates how people can change the constitution of their
country.
civil liberties/, sJwl 'lIbrtiz/the rights of any citizen
to be free to do whatever they want while respecting the
rights of other people, and to keep their personal informa-
tion private if they want to In plurall
The banning of public meetings was held to be a denial of
civil liberties. I The dangers of abuse and erosion of civil
liberties may outweigh the benefits of easily accessible com-
puter data on individuals.
human rights /,hju:mn 'rats/ the rights of freedom,
justice, and equality which every person in the world
should have In plurall
The Court ruled that hitting children was an abuse of human
rights. [ A number of leading human rights activists were
arrested yesterday. [ The regime has a long record of human
rights violations.
equal rights/i:kwl ra;ts/the right of every person to
be treated equally by the law, whatever their sex, race, or
social position In plurall
The battle for equal rights for women is not yet over. I The
Americans were the first to make law the principle of equal
rights for every individual. I Homosexual men and women
are campaigning for equal rights.
equal opportunities/, i:kwl op tju:ntiz II -mPrltu:-/
the right of every person to have a chance to get a job, go

RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 1135 RIGHT/JUSTIFIED
to university etc, whatever their sex, race, or social posi-
tion [n plural]
Only in a completely classless society can there be equal
opportunities for everyone. I equal opportunities legis-
lation/programs etc Certain jobs were dominated by men
until the equal opportunities legislation of the 1970s.
6 a special right that belongs to a particular
person or group
privilege
prerogative
birthright
privilege / prvlds/a special right or advantage given
to a person or group, because of their high social position,
because they are a member of a club etc [n C]
Why should famous people be given special privileges? I A
good education should not just be a privilege of the rich. I
the privilege of doing sth If prisoners behave well they are
allo wed the privilege of visiting their families at the weekend.
privileged [adj] Only the privileged club members (=those
who have privileges) can sit in the Royal Pavilion to watch
matches.
prerogative/pri 'rDgouv II -'ro:-/a special right that only
a particular person or group has because of their impor-
tance or position [n C]
In the old days, a university education was the prerogative
of the rich. I the prerogative to do sth The President has
the prerogative to free prisoners.
birthright/'ba:rOralt/a right that you think you should
have because you have been born into a particular family,
country, class etc [n singular]
The President ended his speech by saying "Dignity and self-
respect are the birthright of every American citizen'. [ She
seemed to regard an easy, comfortable life as some kind of
birthright.
7 the right to do something wrong or illegal
charter
licence/license
charter/'to:rtor/an informal word used especially in
British English meaning a law or official decision which
seems to give someone the right to do something that most
people think is morally wrong and should not be allowed
[nC]
charter for sb to do sth This housing law would be a
charter for dishonest landlords to cheat their tenants. I
thieves'/tax dodgers' etc charter The police decision to
reduce their burglary squad has been described as "a thieves"
charter'.
licence (British) I license (American)/'laisdns/official
permission to do something, especially something unusual
or illegal [n C/U]
licence to do sth Doctors do not have a licence to do
whatever medical experiments they wish. I Spielberg says his
9roducers gave him licence to do whatever he wanted.
RIGHT/JUSTIFIED
words for describing an action, statement, or
belief that is supported by a good reason
to have a good reason for thinking or doing
something
to show that an action or opinion is right by
giving good reasons
1 words for describing an action, statement, or
belief that is supported by a good reason
right reasonable
justified legitimate
justifiable
right Iraitl [adj not usually before noun]
right to do sth You were right to shout at him. He had been
behaving badly all day. I right He has decided to publish
his story, and we think this is right, because it has been kept
secret for too long. I the right thing to do Under the circum- .
stances, putting Mr Lechter into a mental hospital was the
right thing to do. I be right in doing sth Do you think we
were right in not telling her about her husband?
rightly lady] Rory believes, quite rightly (=he is right to
believe it) that women should have the same opportunities
as men. I People condemn big-game hunting, and rightly so
(=and they are right to condemn it) because many of the
species that are hunted are becoming extinct.
justified / 'd3hstI faId/behaviour, an action, or a statement
that is justified is right in the situation which you are talk-
ing about, even though in other situations it may be wrong
or unfair [adj not usually before noun]
He played very badly and I think your criticisms were com-
pletely justified. [ In some cases, spending so much money on
equipment is justified. [ justified in doing sth Am I justi-
fied in demanding such high standards? [ Because of the way
she had been behaving, Martin felt justified in leaving her.[
fully justified (=completely justified) Your reaction was
fully justified.
Justifiable/'ds^stifaiobal/a feeling, action, or reaction
that is justifiable seems to be acceptable because there is
a good reason for it [adj]
The employees have expressed justifiable anger at being
given extra work. [ I think that under the circumstances your
decision to withdraw from the contest was justifiable. I What
her husband doesn't seem to understand is that there are
times when a little expense is justifiable.
justifiably [adv] The company can justifiably claim that
it has met all its obligations.
reas;onable/rizzanoball right because it is supported by
reasons which are fair and sensible [adj]
it is reasonable to do sth If you look at all the facts, I think
it is reasonable to say that Alan should never have been given
the job. I it is reasonable that It is perfectly reasonable that
a prospective employer should want to know if you have a
criminal record. I reasonable Campaigners say that there
is no reasonable objection to women becoming priests.
reasonably lady] Alison can't reasonably be expected to do
the work of two people.
legitimate /l'd3Itmt/ legitimate claim/explana-
tion/excuse etc (=one that can be proved to be right
according to accepted rules, known facts etc) [adj]
Three different scientists have a legitimate claim to the dis-
covery of oxygen. I If you can give me a legitimate explana-
tion for why you took Ј500 of company money, I won't fire
you. I Many people think that democracy is the only legiti-
mate form of government.
legitimately [adv] You could legitimately argue that the
best way to bring down pollution levels is to ban cars
completely.
2 to have a good reason for thinking or doing
something
have the/a right to do sth
justly
with good cause/reason
have thela right to do sth/hev 6o, o ,raIt to 'du: (sth)/
to have a good reason to behave in a particular way, espe-
cially in a way that you would not normally behave, or that
other people would normally disapprove of [v phrase not
in progressive]
He has a right to be upset; he has just discovered his car has
been stolen. I She's just passed her exams; she has the right
to be pleased with herself. I have every right to do sth
(=have a very good reason) After what happened last time
we bought a house, I think we have every right to be wary.
justly / dsAstli/justly proud/angry/critical etc (=when
there is a good reason for feeling this way or reacting in
this way) [adv]

RIGHT/JU S TIFI ED 1136 RIGHT/PROPER
The Chinese are justly proud of their ancient culture. I The
press has been justly critical of the delays in paying compen-
sation. I Bordeaux is an area of France justly famous for its
red wine.
with good cause/reason/wT6 Igod 'k:z, ri:zn/if
someone does something, feels something, or thinks some-
thing with good cause or with good reason, they have
a good reason for what they do or think or feel [advphrase]
The jockey is confident, and with good reason, that he will
win the race. I Harry is trying to get financial guarantees
from the company before he lends them any money - and
with good reason. 1 Many doctors are worried about the
reforms, and with good cause, because they will drastically
change the way hospitals are run.
3 to show that an action or opinion is right by
giving good reasons
justify
justify/'ds^sQfa[I Iv T]
justify sth When a company is losing money it's hard to
justify big pay increases for its managers. I justify doing
sth The belief that women may give up work to have chil-
dren is repeatedly used to justify giving a job to a man and
not to a woman. I justify yourself (=justify what you have
done) You don't have to justify yourself. I think you did the
right thing putting your mother in a nursing home.
RIGHT/PROPER
right for a particular purpose, job, or situation
1 words for describing something such as a
way of doing something or a piece of
equipment that is right for a particular
purpose or job
2 words for describing something that you do,
say, wear etc that is right or suitable for a
particular occasion or situation
3 ways of saying that you do something in the
right way
1
words for describing something such as a
way of doing something or a piece of
equipment that is right for a particular
purpose or job
right accepted
proper approved
correct appropriate
right/rait/[adj]
Today I will show you the right way to saddle a horse. I I
always forget which is the right fork for the dessert. I Hold-
ing the racket in the right position gives you more control
over the ball. I "Do you know how to set the video? .... No, but
that can't be right - the light isn't on. ""
proper/'propa r II 'pro:-/considered by most people as
being right [adj only before noun]
You can't climb a mountain without the proper equipment. I
They have not followed the proper procedure for registering
a complaint. I She would want her father to have a proper
burial.
correct/ka'rekt/if something is done in a correct way,
it is the right way of doing it, especially according to a rule
or law [adj]
Always follow the correct procedure for the use of the ski-
lifts. I Yearly checks are carried out to ensure the correct oper-
ation and maintenance of the machines. I When lifting heavy
weights it is very important that your back is in the correct
position - straight, not bent.
accepted/akseptd/accepted methods, practices etc
have been used or done for a long time and are considered
by most people to be the right ones [adj only before noun]
The accounts have to be prepared according to acccepted
practice. I Doctor Harley had failed to abide by the accepted
principles of the caring professions. I commonly/gener-
ally/universally accepted the almost universally accepted
greeting of coffee or tea
approved/'pru:vd/officially recognized as being right,
by the government or by an official authority [adj only
before noun]
Baby food products are made according to approved recipes. I
Medical equipment should be soaked in an approved disin-
fectant. I government/police etc approved (=approved by
the government, police etc) New police officers have to learn
the government-approved restraint hold.
appropriate/a'propri-t/right for a particular purpose,
or in order to get a particular result [adj]
The disease can be easily identified using the appropriate
laboratory tests. I appropriate to We need marketing objec-
tives and strategies which are appropriate to the market.
2 words for describing something that you do,
say, wear etc that is right or suitable for a
particular occasion or situation
right acceptable
suitable be the done thing
proper in keeping with
correct fitting
appropriate apt
right Ira[t/(adj]
If you say 'no" in the right tone of voice, it will have much
more effect. 1 The teacher deals with the children with just
the right mixture of authority and friendliness. I be right
to do sth I think you were right to ignore what he just said. I
say/do the right thing My sister always manages to say
the right thing in an embarrassing situation. I the right
thing to do/say/wear etc Her hat was very striking, but
it wasn't really the right thing to wear at a funeral.
suitable/su:tabal, sju:-II ,su:-/somethingthat is suita-
ble can be done, used etc in a particular situation or on a
particular occasion because it does not offend anyone [adj]
It was hardly a suitable moment to mention her divorce. I
Before I could think of a suitable way of telling her her skirt
was unfastened, she realized herself. I suitable for It is not
suitable for a school teacher to visit strip clubs.
proper/'pnapa r II 'pro:-/right according to some people's
ideas of what is morally right, although other people may
think these ideas are old-fashioned [adj not usually before
noun]
It isn't proper for a girl to go out with her husband's best
friend. I right and proper You'll have to tell him you're
using him as a referee - it's only right and proper.
correct/ka'rekt/socially accepted as being right, espe-
cially for a particular situation [adj]
His greeting was cold but correct. [ Diplomats always know
the correct thing to do in social situations.
approprlale /a'praopri-t/ right and expected for a
particular time or situation [adj]
The administrator must be given all the available informa-
tion and she can then take the appropriate action. I
appropriate for I didn't think her short skirt was very
appropriate for a meeting with clients. I highly appropri-
ate I found the humble style of the introductory speech highly
appropriate.
a©©eplable/ak'septabal/behaviour that is acceptable
is considered morally or socially good enough to be allowed
or accepted by most people [adj]
Children soon discover what is considered acceptable
behavior. I Going to a dance without a partner is quite accept-
able nowadays. I acceptable for sb to do sth Most of the
male superintendents still consider that it is not acceptable
for women to assume leadership roles.
be the done thing (British) I be the way it's done
(American) Ibi: 6a ,dAn 'O;rj, bi: 6a ,wei ts 'dAn/if some-
thing is the done thing or is the way it's done, it is what
most people in a group or in society do in a particular

RIGHT/PROPER 1137 RISK
situation, and is therefore considered to be the right thing
to do Iv phrase]
You can't just turn up at the dinner party without being
invited - it's not the done thing. I In Japan the way it's done
is for the oldest person in the group to pay for the drinks or
a meal.
in keeping with/n 'ki:pg ,w6/behaviour that is in
keeping with a particular belief, plan, idea etc is right
according to the principles of that belief etc [prep]
In keeping with the family tradition, John was educated at
Harvard. [ This remark was quite in keeping with her rather
old-fashioned attitudes.
fitting / fitg/a formal word meaning right for a particu-
lar situation or occasion, especially when this is your own
personal opinion [adj]
They got married the year after his first wife died which
people seemed to think was not very fitting. [ The state funeral
was a fitting tribute to a great politician.
apt Igept! a remark, description etc that is apt is the right
thing to say, considering what has just happened or the sit-
uation you are in [adj]
"'Aren't weddings boring?" isn't a very apt remark when
you're standing next to the bride's father. I Cartoon captions
must be apt and amusing. [ Perhaps 'post-modern" would be
the most apt description of his painting.
3 ways of saying that you do something in the
right way
right correctly
properly by the book
right/rait/[adv]
You're not doing it right - you should hold the golf club like
this, with two hands. [ I've been practising this piano sonata
for weeks but I still can't play it right. [ Have I got this hat
on right, or should it be the other way around?
properly/'prDparli [[ 'pro:-/in the right way, especially
paying careful attention to correct methods [adv]
Failure to use the equipment properly may result in serious
injury. [ Small children often refuse to eat properly - they
prefer to just play with their food. [ The clothes look very nice
but they haven't been finished off properly - they'd proba-
bly fall to pieces if you washed them.
correctly/ka'rektli/ in the way that is officially right
lady]
If you do not do the exercises correctly, you may strain your
stomach muscles. [ The form has not been filled in correctly
-please would you complete and return it as soon as possi-
ble. [ Over half the class failed to spell the word "chauffeur"
correctly.
by the book/bai 6a 'bok/if you do something by the
book, you carefully follow all the official rules that have
been made concerning that activity or process [advphrase]
go by the book My boss always goes by the book and never
lets us leave work early. [ do/play sth by the book If we're
going to play it strictly by the book, we can only give you three
hours" work a day. [ Lawyers need to do everything by the
book so that no one can catch them out.
:. rightly CORRECT 4
} rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 4, 5
-"!!i rights: civil rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
rights: equal rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
• rights: human rights RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO 5
.;:.. rigid BEND 5, CHANGE YOUR MIND 4, CHANGE/
iliil MAKE STH DIFFERENT 11, HARD 2, STRICT 4
-;: rigorous CAREFUL 3, STRICT 4
-i!, rile ANGRY 8
4 rim EDGE 1
:. ring AROUND/ROUND 3, CIRCLE 1, 3, CRIME 6,
SOUND 9, 15, TELEPHONE 1
....  ring: circle/ring CIRCLE 5
!i.. ring a bell REMEMBER 3
':ii ring back: call back/ring back TELEPHONE 3
!i" ring of truth: have a ring of truth BELIEVE 11
..
; ring off TELEPHONE 7
 ring road ROAD/PATH 5
 ring true: not ring true UNTRUE 1
t ring up/call up TELEPHONE 1
 rings: run rings around BETTER 2
 rinse WASH 8
 riot FIGHT 5, PROTEST 2, 4
 rip TEAR 1, 3, 5
 rip: tear/rip sth to shreds TEAR 2
ii rip off CHEAT 2, STEAL 1
;:.-: rip-off: be a rip-off EXPENSIVE 5
i rip up TEAR 2
' ripe READY 3
i ripped: get torn/get ripped TEAR 3
' rise INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 9, 10,
?; STAND 2, UP 3, 8, 9, 12, 14, WAKE UP/GET
i  UP 4
rise: give rise to CAUSE 6
i!! rise above DEAL WITH 4
"ii rise in value: increase/rise/go up in value VALUE 6
iii! rise/raise INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 10
! rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame FAMOUS 6
; rise to the occasion DEAL WITH 4
 rise to the top SUCCESSFUL 1
:4 rise up against REBELLION/REVOLUTION 3
ii!il rising INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
:.;..;' rising star FAMOUS 6
::; risk DANGEROUS 7, 8, RISK 1, 3, 4, 6
.-
i:;; risk: at the risk of RISK 3
i:...:ii risk: at your own risk DANGEROUS 6, RISK 3
i; risk: be a fire risk/health risk DANGEROUS 2
! risk: be at risk DANGEROUS 4, RISK 4, 7
i!i: risk: put sb's life at risk DANGEROUS 5
i risk: put sb/sth at risk RISK 8
i!iii risk: take a risk RISK 3
iii risk-taking RISK 3
ii risk your life DANGEROUS 6
iT risk your neck DANGEROUS 6
RISK
a possibility that something will go wrong or
something bad or unpleasant will happen to you
1 a risk
2 words for describing an action, plan, or
situation that involves risks
3 to deliberately accept a risk when you decide
to do something
4 to be in a situation that involves a risk,
especially when you do not realize this
5 to do something that seems stupid because it
involves unnecessary risks
6 to risk losing something such as your money,
your job, or people's good opinion of you, in
order to gain something
7 ways of saying that there is a risk of
something being harmed, destroyed, or lost
8 to cause risks for someone or something
1 a risk
risk threat
danger hazard
risk/rsk/a possibility that something bad or unpleasant
will happen to someone In C/U]
He is unwilling to start a new business because of the risks
involved. [ risk of They keep the patients in separate rooms
to reduce the risk of infection. [ We have to wear protective
clothing here because there is a risk of exposure to radiation. [
Thieves can use stolen credit cards with little risk of being
caught. [ risk that There is always the risk that someone will
press the wrong button. [ an element of risk (=some risk,
even if only a small amount) There's an element o frisk in
any kind of investment.

RISK 1138 RISK
danger /tdeIndSar/a risk, though not a very strong one,
that something bad will happen, especially something that
will have very serious results In C/U]
danger of Is there any danger of Mike being arrested? I
There was always the danger of spies slipping through the
gaps in our defences. I danger that The biggest danger is
that neither side will accept these terms, and the war will con-
tinue as before. I danger If you try too hard to be friendly
with your students you can lose their respect. That's the
danger!
threat/Oret/a strong possibility that something very bad
will happen to someone In C usually singular]
the threat of Once again the people of the Sudan face the
threat of famine. I The ever-present threat of unemployment
makes workers less willing to go on strtke. I threat to The
most serious threat to European unity is the tendency of some
states to pursue their own national interests.
hazard/hzard/a risk that cannot be avoided because
it is always there in a particular activity In C]
hazard of doing sth He could not have foreseen the eco-
nomic hazards of running a small farm. I hazard For
exporters, changes in the exchange rate are an unavoidable
hazard. I occupational hazard (=a hazard that always
exists in a particular job) For politicians, divorce and
alcoholism seem to be occupational hazards.
2 words for describing an action, plan, or
situation that involves risks
risky dangerous
dicey precarious
high-risk a gamble
risky/'riski/involving a risk that things will go wrong or
that you will lose something of value [adj]
It's always risky leaving your car out on the street overnight. I
Being self-employed is much more risky than being a wage
earner. ] If it is a risky investment the lender will expect to
be offered much largerprofits. ] We can't offer the job to some-
one with so little experience - it's just too risky.
dicey/'dasi/an informal word meaning involving a risk
that things will go wrong or that you will lose something
of value [adj]
I think it's a little dicey buying a used car offJake. I The
antiques trade is a pretty dicey business at the best of times.
high.risk/hai trisk-/high-risk strategy/investment/
shares (=deliberately chosen even though it involves a
serious risk) [adj only before noun]
It was a high-risk strategy to attack with such a small
number of aircraft, but it was brilliantly successful. I In
times of economic hardship, banks are less willing to put
their money into high-risk investments.
dangerous / 'deIndSaras/a belief, attitude, or action that
is dangerous is one that should be avoided because it
involves unnecessary risks [adjl
A lot of workers think company safety regulations are stupid.
This is a dangerous attitude. I We can't accept any student
who has failed the University entrance examination. It would
be setting a dangerous precedent. I it is dangerous to
think/assume etc It is dangerous to assume that share
prices will continue to rise.
precarious /prIkearias/ precarious situation/posi-
tion/state/existence etc (=where there is always a risk
of suddenly losing your money, power, job etc) [adj]
No one would lend money to a company in such a precarious
position I The Bangladeshi peasant farmer has a precarious
existence, at the mercy of flood, disease and famine. I The
President's control over the country is now even more
precarious.
a gamble/a gembal/a very risky action, which you take
in the hope that it will succeed and that you will gain some-
thing from it In singular]
The attack on Arnhem was a gamble and, unfortunately for
the soldiers involved, it failed. I Khruschev challenged the
US in a nearly fatal gamble, as he attempted to install
nuclear weapons in Cuba. I a gamble pays off(=is success-
ful) Leaving their goal undefended, the whole team moved
on to the attack. It was a desperate gamble, but it paid off.
3 to deliberately accept a risk when you decide
to do something
take a risk
risk
take a chance
chance it
take a calculated risk
stick your neck out
take the plunge
at your own risk
at the risk of
risk-taking
take a risk / teik a 'risk/to decide to do something even
though you know there is a risk that it may have bad or
unpleasant results Iv phrase]
Nobody is successful in business without taking a few risks. I
You let Scott take the money to the bank? Don't you think
you "re taking a risk? I Goddammit, we're taking one hell of
a risk, McGrath. Ifyourplan doesn't work, we'll lose every-
thing we have. I I know he may refuse, but that's just a risk
we'll have to take.
risk /risk/ to do something that you know may have
unpleasant or dangerous results Iv T]
risk doing sth I couldn't risk taking a photograph - there
were too many soldiers around. I Are you prepared to risk
driving through Beirut without an armed guard? I risk sth
He risked a cautious glance over the wall, and saw a group
of guards standing by the gate. ] risk it You could slip out
of school between classes, but I wouldn't risk it if I were you.
take a chance/,tek a 'tSo:ns II -'tSens/to decide to do
something that involves some risk, because you are fairly
confident that it will have the result you want Iv phrase]
Victor took a chance and set up his own company, which has
been very successful. I take chances (=always be ready to
take a chance, especially in your work) There are a lot of
people in the movie industry who are afraid to take chances
and do new things. [ take a chance on (=hope that some-
thing happens) I won't reserve a table, I'll just take a chance
on the restaurant not being too full.
chance it/'to:ns It II 'tfens-/an informal expression
meaning to do something that involves some risk because
you are fairly confident that you will be successful Iv
phrase]
If we creep in quietly, perhaps no one will notice. Anyway let's
chance it.
take a calculated risk/,teik a tkelkjleItd 'risk/to
do something that involves a risk, after thinking carefully
about what might happen and then deciding that it is worth
taking the risk Iv phrase]
No, we aren't being stupid - we are just taking a calculated
risk. I It was a calculated risk to appoint a man without
management experience to such a senior position, but Paul
has been a great success.
stick your neck out/tstIk jo:r nek apt/an informal
expression meaning to give your opinion about something
even though you know there is a risk that you may be
wrong or that people may disagree with you Iv phrase]
Not many Congressmen are prepared to stick their necks out
and say what they really think. I Look I'll stick my neck out
and say I'll have finished the whole job by tomorrow evening.
take the plunge ] teik 6a pl^nds/to finally decide to
do something which is important but which also involves
some risk, after thinking about it very carefully [v phrasel
She was gathering her courage to take the plunge, resign
from her job and start her own business. I "Are you two get-
ting married? .... Yes. We've decided to take the plunge. '"
at your own risk/at j:r ,aon 'rJsk/an expression used
to warn people, especially on signs or notices: if someone
does something at their own risk, it will be their own fault
if something bad happens when they do it [adv phrase]
Visitors who park their cars in front of these gates do so at
their own risk. I We haven't finished the repairs yet, so if you
use the vehicle in its present state it will be entirely at your
own risk.
at the risk of/at 6a trisk av] if you do or say something
at the risk of something unpleasant happening, you do it
even though you realize that something unpleasant may
happen or that someone may be annoyed or offended [prep]
At the risk of offending you, I am going to tell you exactly
what you did wrong. I She was determined to support her

RISK 1139 RISK
mother, even at the risk of upsetting her father. I This is a
point which - at the risk of being tedious - I must empha-
size once again.
risk.taking/ risk tekrj/a way of working, especially in
business, in which people deliberately do things that
involve risks, in order to achieve what they want In U]
Our company likes to encourage boldness, initiative and risk-
taking. I Problem-solving and risk-taking are essential
attributes for candidates for this job.
4 to be in a situation that involves a risk,
especially when you do not realize this
risk lay yourself open to
run a risk be on dangerous
be at risk ground
be in danger of high-risk
risk/rsk/risk death/defeat/punishment/dismissal/
an accident etc (=be in a situation where there is a risk
of death, defeat etc especially when you do not realize this
or when you have no control over the situation) Iv T]
risk sth Six months ago the Republicans had a clear lead
in the opinion polls but now they risk defeat. I I never buy
cheap tyres. It isn't worth risking an accident. [ risk doing/
being sth Of course, workers who don't join the strike may
risk being attacked when they leave the factory. [ If you make
a claim on the insurance policy, you risk losing your no-
claims bonus.
run a risk /rAn o risk/to be in a situation where there
is a risk of something bad happening to you, simply
because of the type of person you are or because of what
you are doing Iv phrase]
run the risk of being/doing sth Men run a greater risk
of dying from heart disease than women. I Anyone travelling
without a passport runs the risk of being arrested by the secu-
rity forces. ] run a risk The people who use these drugs are
often unaware of the risks they are running.
be at risk/hi: at r:sk/to be in a situation where there
is a risk of something bad happening to you, especially ill-
ness or injury, and you are unable to prevent it [vphrase]
The children were taken into council care because their father
was violent and they were believed to be at risk. I be at risk
of(also be at risk for in American English) Those with fair
skin are more at risk of skin cancers than those with dark
skin. I Some firms conduct back clinics for employees who
are at risk for back injury.
be in danger of/bi: In 'dendsar av/to be in a situation
where your actions may unintentionally cause something
bad to happen Iv phrase]
lf he continues to make such stupid mistakes he is in danger
of losing his job. I The Democrats are in danger of alienat-
ing their traditional supporters. I I think we are in danger
or forgetting the purpose of this discussion - can we get back
to the subject?
lay yourself open to/leI j:rself 'aopan tu:/lay your-
self open to blame/criticism/ridicule/attack etc
(=stupidly do or say something that makes it likely that
people will blame you, criticize you etc) Iv phrase]
Any journalist who writes a story without checking his facts
is simply laying himself open to ridicule. I It is impossible
to discuss supernatural phenomena without laying onbself
open to the charge of being against science. I Her former
friendship with a prominent Nazi had laid her open to all
kinds of criticism.
be on dangerous ground/bi: on tdendsaras 'graond/
to talk about a particular subject when there is a risk that
you may offend or upset someone by talking about it Iv
phrase]
I had to be careful when I asked questions about her family
- I knew I was on dangerous ground. ] When Proctor
finished speaking there was an awkward silence. Instinc-
tively he knew he was treading on dangerous ground, that
he had somehow blundered.
high-risk/ha 'rsk/high-risk group/category/indi-
viduals/ patients (=people who are at risk, because of
their behaviour or because of the type of people they are)
[adj only before noun ]
The AIDS awareness campaign was targeted at high-risk
groups, especially drug users and prostitutes. I a program
for monitoring the nutritional status of high-risk individuals
 to do something that seems stupid because it
involves unnecessary risks
invite tempt fate
be asking for trouble be playing with fire
push your luck
invite /n'vat/ invite trouble/criticism/attack/dis-
aster (=do something that seems likely to cause you trou-
ble or to encourage people to criticize you, attack you etc)
[vT]
Their whole policy invites the criticism that they do not take
human rights seriously. I To wander around on the other side
of the rampart was to invite almost certain death. I If you
don't maintain the car regularly, you're just inviting trouble.
be asking for trouble/bi: 'a:sko fa r ttrhbl 11 -'sk-/
to stupidly do something that is almost certain to involve
risks and cause trouble Iv phrase]
Anyone who buys second-hand car tires is just asking for
trouble. ] I wouldn't just pick anybody at random. That'd
be asking for trouble.
push your luck/,poS jo:r 'lhk/an informal expression
meaning to stupidly do something that involves unneces-
sary risk, because you have been successful before when
doing the same type of thing Iv phrase]
You've cheated and swindled to get what you wanted, but I'm
warning you, don't push your luck! I Twelve months later,
the captain of Sea Rover pushed his luck once too often.
tempt fate/tempt tfet/to do something that involves
unnecessary risk, because you are too confident that there
will be no problems Iv phrase]
Letting the children take a boat out in this weather is just
tempting fate. I It would be tempting fate to travel without
a spare wheel.
be playing with fire/hi: ple:-:O w6 faIar/to stupidly
take a risk, especially by doing something illegal or
morally wrong that is likely to have a much more
unpleasant result than you realize Iv phrase]
He's started getting friendly with the boss's wife. If you ask
me, he's playing with fire. ] Can't you see you're playing with
fire! If you get caught, you'll wind up in jail,
6 to risk losing something such as your money,
your job, or people's geod opinion of you, in
order to gain something
risk
stake sth on
put sth on the line
risk Irxsk/Iv T]
risk sth on You'd have to be crazy to risk your money on
an investment like that. I risk sth I don't want to risk my
job prospects by getting involved with any anti-government
demonstrations. I It would be impossible for me to refuse her
request without risking her friendship.
stake sth on/'stek (sth) on 11 -o:n/to risk losing some-
thing that is of great value or importance to you, if the
result of a plan or action is not successful [phr v T]
This plan has to succeed. I'm staking everything I have on
it. [ She had staked her academic reputation on the accuracy
of the figures she provided.
put sth on the line/,pot (sth) o 6a tlaIn/put yourjob/
career/reputation on the line (=to risk losing your job,
reputation etc if something is not successful or if you make
the wrong decision) Iv phrase]
When Yeltsin challenged Gorbachev's position, he knew that
he was putting his own political career on the line. I We may
be putting our jobs on the line if we start protesting about
safety standards.

RISK 1140 ROAD/PATH
7 ways of saying that there is a risk of
something being harmed, destroyed, or lost
be at risk be at stake
be in danger be under threat
be in jeopardy be on the line
be at risk Ibi: t 'rislq Iv phrase]
The situation is serious. Thousands of jobs are at risk. I If
we insisted on payment in dollars, the entire deal would be
at risk.
be In danger/bi: in 'deind3 r/if something is in danger,
especially something of great importance, there is a seri-
ous risk that it will be harmed, destroyed, or lost [vphrase]
With the rise of the fascist right, democracy itself was in
danger. I be in danger of collapsing/disappearing ere
The whole building is in danger of collapsing. I The achieve-
merits of the 1917 Revolution are now in danger of being
forgotten.
be In Jeopardy/bi: in 'd3eprdi! if something such as a
plan, an agreement, or a relationship is in jeopardy, there
is a serious risk that it will fail Iv phrase]
Without her leadership the whole campaign for women's
rights would be in jeopardy. I Negotiations have broken
down, and the Namibian peace agreement is now in
jeopardy.
be at stake/bi: t 'steik! if something of great value is
at stake, for example your honour, principles, or all your
money, there is a risk that it will be lost if something that
you are doing has an unsuccessful result Iv phrase]
We can't afford to lose this contract. Too much is at stake. I
They played much better in the next game because they felt
that the honor of the school was at stake. I We cannot simply
give in to their demands; matters of principle are at stake.
b® under lhreal/bi: ,^ndz r '0ret/if something impor-
tant and valuable is under threat, there is a risk that it
will be lost or destroyed as a result of someone's actions
Iv phrase]
With so many new offices being built in London, a lot of
archaeological remains are under threat. I be under threat
from The American car industry is under threat from
foreign imports. I be under threat of closure/attack etc
Demand for coal is falling and several mines are under
threat of closure.
be on the line/bi: on 50 'lain/ifyourjob or people's opin-
ion of you is on the line, there is a risk that you will lose
it if you fail in something that you are trying to do Iv
phrase]
This is a big game for the coach, Kowalski. You could say
his reputation is on the line. I Your job's on the line, White-
house. This hunch of yours had better be right.
8 to cause risks for someone or something
endanger pose a threat
put sb/sth at risk threaten
jeopardize/put sth in jeopardy
endanger/In'deInd3r/[v T]
By establishing closer relations with China, they might
endanger their relations with the Russians. I If unemploy-
ment continues to rise, social stability may be endangered. I
He knew that he would be endangering the lives of his pas-
sengers by attempting a landing in such poor visibility.
put sblsth at risk/,pot (sb/sth) t 'risk/to make it more
likely that someone or something will be harmed or hurt
[ v phrase ]
Alcoholism is much more common than people think. As little
as two glasses of beer a day is enough to put you at risk. [
Do you realize that by acting in this stupid way you may be
putting your whole future at risk?
Jeopardize/put sth In Jeopardy/'dsepordaIz, ,pot (sth)
In 'dsepvrdi/to do something which increases the risk that
something good will be harmed or lost Iv T]
A scandal like this might jeopardize his political career. I
seriously jeopardize The country's economic future is
seriously jeopardized by the exodus of young people. I
Government cutbacks have placed in jeopardy research into
the AIDS virus. I Chuck was too crafty, too careful to put
himself in jeopardy that way.
pose a threat /,paoz  '0ret! a formal expression: if an
activity, change, or a situation poses a threat to something
such as health, peace, or society it makes it more likely that
this thing will be harmed Iv phrase]
pose a threat to sth/sb Terrorist activity along the border
still poses a real threat to peace. [ Imports of foreign meat
have increased, but they do not appear to pose a threat to the
local beef industry. I pose a threat Our river system still has
high levels of pollution, and fertilizers draining from farm-
land pose a serious threat.
lhrealen / 0retn/if a change or event threatens some-
thing it makes it likely that it will be harmed Iv T]
The spread of illegal drugs threatens the stability of western
society. I Because drought often threatens the rice crop,
Shikoko has an elaborate irrigation system. [ The river had
risen by four metres and was now threatening the bridge.
risky
risqu
rite
ritual
rival
rivalry
DANGEROUS 3, RISK 2
RUDE/OBSCENE 2
TRADITION 3
TRADITION 3
COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 4, EQUAL 4,
GOOD AT 1t)
COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 2
river: sell sb down the river BETRAY 2
riveting INTERESTING 3
road ROAD/PATH 1, 2
road: hit the road START DOING STH 6
road: middle of the road MODERATE 1
ROAD/PATH
a road in a town
a road outside a town
a small road in the country
a wide road for cars to travel quickly between
cities
a road that goes around a city so that people
driving cars can avoid it
a hard path at the side of the road made for
people to walk on
a natural path in the country
1 a road in a town
road Main Street
street back street
high street alley
road/rod/a hard level surface made for cars and other
vehicles to travel on In C]
Dixon stepped into the road and raised his hand, shouting,
"Taxi. Taxi." l Before crossing the road, stop, look, and
listen. I across/over the road (=on the other side of the
road) A widow lives in the house just across the road. I
along/down/up the road (=on the same road) I went to
the girls" school down the road. I main road (=a large road
where there is likely to be a lot of traffic) They turned left
at the gas station, into the busy main road. I busy road (=a
road where there is a lot oftratYm) We're coming up to a busy
road and it's dangerous, so hold my hand.
street/stri:t/a road with houses or shops, and usually a
path on both sides, in the middle of a town or in a part of
a town where there are a lot of houses, shops etc In C]
There were stores on both sides of the street. I Pablo loved
wandering through the streets and cafes of Barcelona. I side
street (=a small quiet street away from any main roads)
If the carpark's full you might find a space in one of the side
streets. I live in a street (British) / on a street (American)
She had lived in the same street in London all her life.

ROAD/PATH 1141 role
high street / 'haI stri:t! a British expression meaning the
main shopping street in the middle of a town In C]
The High Street was crowded with Saturday morning shop-
pers. [ Our bank has a branch in every high street.
Main Street/Imein stri:q an American expression mean-
ing the main street in the middle of a town or city where
there are a lot of shops, offices, hotels etc In C]
Every Fourth of July there is a parade down Main Street. [
Let's have lunch at the diner on Main Street.
back street/Ibak stri:q a small street, away from the
centre of a town, where there are no large shops or impor-
tant buildings In C]
They went exploring the dark, narrow back streets of the old
part of town. [ It took us almost an hour to find her house
in a narrow little back street.
alley/ ali/a very narrow street or path between build-
ings in a town In C]
A narrow alley led up between the houses to the main street.[
Women in white aprons gossiped in the alley between the
apartment blocks.
2 a road outside a town
road
road/rood/In C]
We drove into the countryside, along straight roads lined
with trees. I The hospital was right on Route 66, the main
road across the United States. I There are many interesting
things to see on the road to Cairo.
3 a small road in the country
lane
track
dirt road
lane/lein/a narrow road connecting villages or farms,
sometimes with a few houses beside it In C]
We rode our bikes along the little country lanes. I It's a great
day for the country show, but all those cars will jam the
narrow lanes.
track/trak/ a narrow road leading to a farm or field,
usually formed by the pressure of farm vehicles on the
ground In C]
The track was only wide enough for one car. t The road lead-
ing to the farm was little more than a rough track.
dirt road / da:rt ,rood/a narrow road with a dirt or soil
surface In C]
A dirt road ran from the highway past the dump and into
some trees. I Rain fell continuously and turned the winding
dirt road into a river of slippery mud.
4 a wide road for cars to travel quickly between
cities
motorway
highway
freeway/expressway
motorway/'motrweq a British word meaning a wide
fast road that connects big cities and towns In C]
The speed limit on British motorways is 70 miles an hour. t
It's motorway nearly all the way - you should get there in
a couple of hours. I the M1/M62 etc motorway The M1
motorway links London with the north of England.
highway/'ha]weq an American word meaning a wide
fast road that connects big cities and towns In C]
I was on the four-lane highway now, finally free of the down-
town traffic. I highway 61/70 etc There's a police mobile
phone unit somewhere on highway 61.
freeway/expressway / fri:wei, ik  spreswei/an Ameri-
can word meaning a wide, fast road that takes traffic into
and out of a big city and is often busy In C]
Marcia drove onto the freeway, joining the Saturday traffic
leaving the city. I They got into the expressway to Manhat-
tan. t We need to build more freeways to speed up traffic
around Los Angeles.
5 a road that goes around a city so that people
driving cars can avoid it
by-pass
ring road
by.pass/'bar pu:s II -pas/In (2]
It will be much quicker if we take the by-pass rather than
drive through the middle of town. I The village has become
much quieter, since the creation of the by-pass.
ring road / Irirj rood/a British word meaning a circular
road around the edge of a large town, with roads leading
from it into the centre of the town In C]
The ring road goes right around London.
6 a hard path at the side of the road made for
people to walk on
sidewalk
pavement
sidewalk / saidwa:k] a word used especially in American
English meaning a path at the side of a road made for
people to walk on In C]
We agreed to meet on the sidewalk in front of the UN build-
ing. I A weed grew from every crack in the sidewalk.
pavement /peivmant/a British word meaning a path at
the side of a road made for people to walk on In C]
Christopher wandered along the pavement, looking into shop
windows. I What annoys me is that everyone parks on the
pavement in front of our house.
7 a natural path in the country
path
footpath
trail
path/po:O II pasO/In C]
She went through the gate and followed the path across the
fields. I There used to be a path down to the stream but it's
all overgrown now. I A narrow grassy path led down the hill
to the town.
footpath /fotpa:O [[-paO/ a British word meaning a
narrow public path for people to walk on through farms,
parks, hills etc In C]
It was a pleasant walk along the public footpath beside the
river. [ Mining companies are blasting away the sides of
beautiful valleys and destroying footpaths and woodland.
trail/treil! a very rough path, especially in a forest or in
the mountains, for people and animals to walk on In C]
We followed a narrow trail which led into the forest.
roam WALK 10
roar LOUD/NOISY 7, SHOUT 1, 2, 3, SOUND 10, 14
roar/howl/shriek with laughter LAUGH 5
roaring drunk DRUNK 3
roaring trade: do a roaring trade SELL 15
roast COOK 2
rob STEAL 3, 4
robber STEAL 6
robbery STEAL 7, 8
robbery: be daylight robbery/be highway robbery
EXPENS!VE 5
robot MACHIN E 1
robust HEALTHY 2, STRONG OBJECT 1, STRONG
PERSON 4, STRONG TASTE OR SMELL 1
rock SHOCK 1, SIDE 4
rock bottom: hit/reach rock bottom WORSE 6
rock the boat PROBLEM 10
rockbottom prices: at rockbottom prices/at giveaway
prices CHEAP 3
rocker: be out of your mind/off your rocker CRAZY 1
rocket INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4
rocks: be on the rocks FAIL 9
rod of iron: rule with a rod of iron STRICT 2
role: play a leading part/role IMPORTANT 7
role: play a role in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1

role model 1142 ROUGH VOICE
!i  role model IMITATE 5
-; roll PRESS 4, PUSH 2
i- roll back REDUCE 1
" roll down: wind down/roll down the window OPEN 1
,..
,- roll over TURN 6, 7
roll/press/squash sth flat FLAT 2
rolling FLAT 4
; rolling: start/set the ball rolling START STH/MAKE STH
::: START 1
: romance LOVE 9, RELATIONSHIP 5
: romantic LOVE 10
.i romp home WIN 4
roof: go through the roof INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
•
AMOUNT 4
roof over your head HOME 3
rookie EXPERIENCED 4
room CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 3, SPACE/ROOM 1
room: make room SPACE/ROOM 2
room with LIVE WITH SB 1
roommate LIVE WITH SB 3
.i, roomy BIG 6
 root CAUSE 14, COME FROM/ORIGINATE 9
" root: be at the root of/the bottom of CAUSE 11
i:'. root for SUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 2
root out GET RID OF 5, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
+.. rooted: be glued/rooted to the spot NOT MOVING 2
,.
roots: have its roots in COME FROM/ORIGINATE 7
roots: the grass roots ORDINARY 4
rope together TIE1
ropes: know the ropes EXPERIENCED 1
roster LIST 2
rot DECAY 1, 7
rota LIST 2, ORDER/SEQUENCE 1
rotary TURN 13
rotate CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 2,
TURN 1
rotating TURN 13
rote: learn sth by rote LEARN 2
;; rotten DECAY 2, 4
7 rough APPROXIMATELY 6, COMFORTABLE 10,
.... DETAIL 5, EXACT 9, FLAT 4, ROUGH VOICE 1,
:i. ROUGH/NOT SMOOTH 1, VIOLENT 3
:!;i , rough: feel rough ILL 4
 rough: in rough WRITE 10
rough: sleep rough SLEEP 10
; rough and ready SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 2
: rough guess GUESS 5
@ ROUGH/NOT
SMOOTH
words for describing a surface that is rough
when you touch it or looks rough because it
has lumps or holes on it
to make the surface of something rough
 words for describing a surface that is rough
when you touch it or looks rough because it
has lumps or holes on it
rough scaly
coarse prickly
rough/rAft [adj]
She was surprised at how rough his hands felt. I Suddenly
he fell headfirst, badly cutting his forehead on the rough edge
of a rock. t The clay has a rough, gritty texture.
roughness In U l friction caused by the roughness of the road
surface
coarse/k3zrs/something such as material or hair that is
coarse feels rough and hard, especially because it is made
of thick thread, hair etc [adj]
All the hospital beds were covered with coarse cotton sheets. I
Her straight hair, once dark brown, was becoming grey and
coarse. I The fisherman's skin was dark and coarse, his
hands big and strong.
scaly/'skedi/ skin that is scaly is rough because it is
covered with a lot of small hard pieces of skin [adj]
To relieve tight, itchy or scaly skin, add a teaspoon of fine
oil to your bathwater. I Experiments with snakes have shown
that these scaly creatures are far from stupid.
prickly / ' prikli/clothing or material that is prickly feels
rough and uncomfortable to wear next to your skin or to
touch [adj]
I hate wearing woollen underclothes - they feel so prickly.
2 to make the surface of something rough
roughen
roughen/'r^Dn/Iv TI
Her hands had been roughened by coarse soap and years of
labouring. I The shining surface of the lake was roughened
by a sudden gust of wind.
ROUGH VOICE
words for describing a voice that sounds
rough
1 words for describing a voice that sounds
rough
rough gruff
throaty hoarse
husky
rough/r^ft not sounding soft or gentle, especially because
• the person speaking is angry or rude [adj]
"'What are you doing in here?" shouted the farmer in a rough
voice. I Roars of rough laughter rang out from the other end
of the bar.
roughly [adv] "'Well, what are you waiting for? Get a move
on!" said the guard roughly.
roughness In U] The roughness of his voice was due to years
of drinking and smoking cigars.
lhroaly/'Omoti/deep and rough, as if the sounds are
produced deep down in the throat [adj]
Julie had a throaty voice that made her sound older than she
was. I She always spoke with a throaty, German accent.
husky/'h^ski/a husky voice sounds slightly rough, as if
you have a sore throat, but it also sounds attractively soft
and deep [adj]
Stephen put his arms around her and his voice became a soft
husky whisper. I Caron Wheeler's rich, husky vocal is per-
fect for the song's mellow soulfulness.
huskily [adv] Mel cleared his throat and chuckled huskily.
gruff/gr^f/sounding deep and rough, especially when the
speaker is feeling annoyed or being rude and does not want
to talk much [adj]
"'If this happens again, "" said Dad, in a gruff voice, "'I shall

ROUGH VOICE 1143 rub sth together
be extremely angry!" t He was an irritable old man, who
seldom spoke except to say a gruff hello.
gruffly [adv] The guard asked me gruffly for my identity
card.
hoarse /h:rs/ rough and not very clear, especially
because the throat is sore as a result of illness or too much
shouting, singing etc [adj]
You sound very hoarse. Do you have a cold? ] shout your-
self hoarse (=shout so much that you become hoarse) The
boys had shouted themselves hoarse at the football game.
hoarsely [adv] "'Sorry, I'm losing my voice, "Sam whispered
hoarsely.
hoarseness In U] The hoarseness in Brenda's voice made
it very difficult to hear her over the phone.
: roughen ROUGH/NOT SMOOTH 2
 roughly APPROXIMATELY 1, 5
......
 roughshod: ride roughshod over IGNORE 5
 round CIRCLE 2, PART 4, ROUND 1
! round: around/round AROUND/ROUND 1
,.:,.: round about APPROXIMATELY 4
;i: round here: around herelround here HERE 2
 round off FINISH DOING STH 5
::i2 round the clock: around the clock/round the clock
 CONTINUOUS 3
 round the corner: around the corner/round the corner
;;;;;
 NEAR 4
 round-trip ticket RETURN 5
 round up CATCH 2, 5
round
ROUND
words for describing something that is
shaped like a ball
an object that is shaped like a ball
words for describing an object whose sides
are curved or slightly round
words for describing something that is
shaped like a tube
1 words for describing something that is
shaped like a ball
round
spherical
round/raondl [adj]
a basket full of big, round oranges I They're round and white
-from a distance they look like enormous golf balls. I Euro-
pean watermelons are much rounder than the American
variety.
spherical /  sferikl/a word used especially in technical
contexts meaning shaped like a perfectly round ball [adj]
The earth is not quite spherical, because it is slightly flat at
the poles. I La Geode, in Paris, is a unique spherical build-
ing with a cinema inside, t Fish eyes have lenses which are
almost spherical and give virtually all-round vision.
2 an object that is shaped like a ball
ball
sphere
globe
ball/b3:]/In C]
Shape the chocolate into balls and put them in the refriger-
ator. I When they are in danger hedgehogs roll their bodies
into tight balls. [ ball of The kitten was playing with a ball
of wool. I The morning sun rose above the horizon like a
great ball of fire.
sphere/sfmr/a word used especially in technical con-
texts meaning an object that is in the shape of a perfectly
round ball In C]
At the top of each column is a perfect sphere of white marble. I
The volume of a sphere is equal to twice the square of its
radius, multiplied by pi.
globe/gbub/a ball-shaped object, especially one that is
used for decoration In C]
For the occasion the town square was lit up by coloured
globes strung together. I The stems were heavy with globe-
shaped berries.
words for describing an object whose sides
are curved or slightly round
curved
rounded
curved/k:rvd/neither straight nor completely round
[adj]
The sword had a beautifully curved steel blade. I The bird
uses its long curved bill to dig out worms and small insects. I
Shaving mirrors are slightly curved in order to magnify the
image.
rounded I 'raonddl a rounded surface does not have any
sharp edges or points [adj]
The knife had a rounded wooden handle. I Her nails were
perfectly rounded and coloured with delicate pink nail-
polish. I The blocks have rounded edges so that if the baby
puts them in her mouth she won't hurt herself.
4, words for describing something that is
shaped like a tube
tubular
cylindrical
tubular/'tju:bjOb r II 'tu:-/a tubular object is hollow and
shaped like a tube [adj]
A bicycle tyre consists of a long tubularpiece of rubber. I The
Renaissance Center is a huge tubular steel and glass shop-
ping mall.
cylindrical /s'lndrkl/ a cylindrical object has
straight sides and flat round ends [adj]
The cylindrical glass jars are used for keeping spaghetti. I
a cylindricalpiece of solid metal I A cylindrical drum stood
in one corner of the music room.
rout
route
route/path
routine
routinely
row
roundabout way: in a roundabout way
rounded ROUND 3
rouse WAKE UP/GET UP 2
BEAT/DEFEAT 2, 3, 5
WAY/ROUTE 1
WAY/M ETHOD 4
ORDINARY 1, USUALLY 4
USUALLY 1
ARGUE 5, 6, LINE 6, 7
row: have a row ARGUE 1
row: in a row SERIES 4
rowdy LOUD/NOISY 3
rub RUB 1, 2
rub: give sth a rub RUB 1
rub: the rub is PROBLEM 12
rub against RUB 3
rub off REMOVE 3
rub out/erase REMOVE 4
rub shoulders with SOCIALIZE 2
rub sth together RUB 2
SAY 3

RUB 114 RUBBISHIWASTE
RUB
to rub something by moving your hand, a
cloth etc over its surface while pressing
against it
to make something rub against something
else
ways of saying that something moves over a
surface while pressing against it
1 to rub something by moving your hand, a
cloth etc over its surface while pressing
against it
rub
give sth a rub
scratch
rub/r^b/[v I/T]
rub sth The child yawned and rubbed her eyes. I The
window was filthy. Shirley rubbed it with her sleeve and
peered through, t rub sth into sth About once a week I rub
oil into the table to keep it in good condition, t rub sth in Tom
spread sun cream onto his baby's back and began to rub it
in. I rub sth off sth (=rub in order to remove something)
The teacher turned and rubbed what he had written off the
board. I rub If you rub hard the brasses will become really
shiny.
give sth a rub/,gv (sth)  'rAb/to rub something with
repeated movements for a short time [v phrasel
The boy's mother gave his knee a rub after he fell over. I I
gave the mirror a quick rub with a cloth and it was clean
again.
scratch ]skratf! to rub something, especially a part of the
body, with short, repeated movements of the fingers [v I/T]
scratch sth He sat thinking, scratching his head. I I had
several mosquito bites, and it was difficult not to scratch
them. I scratch "'Don't scratch in public, dear, "" said my
mother.
2 to make something rub against something
else
rub
scrape
rub sth together
rub/rAb/[v T]
rub sth against/on When the cat rubs its back against my
legs, I know it's hungry. [ Rubbing a dock leaf on a nettle
sting is said to get rid of the pain.
scrape/skreip/to make something rub roughly on a hard
surface [v T]
serape sth onCgainstCcross ete We scraped our shoes
on the doorstep to get the mud off them. [ serape sth off
(=scrape in order to remove something) The men spent
hours scraping rust off the side of the ship. [ serape sth Stop
scraping your chair!
rub sth together / t rAb (sth) t ge6or/to rub two things
together [phr v T]
Jan rubbed his hands together to keep them warm. [ Some
insects make a noise by rubbing their back legs together.
;3 ways of saying that something moves over a
surface while pressing against it
rub against
scrape
rub against/'rAb ogenst/to rub against something, often
causing pain or damage [v T]
As the teacher addressed his class, he accidentally rubbed
against the blackboard, getting chalk all over his back. I
These days rucksacks are made with specially padded straps
so that they do not rub against the shoulders.
scrape/skreip/to rub roughly against a hard surface,
often making a noise [v I]
scrape on/against/along etc Three workmen came into
the store - I could hear their boots scraping on the floor. [
It was not until we felt the exhaust pipe scraping along the
road that we realized there was something wrong with the
car. [ The sound of knives and forks scraping against plates
filled the canteen.
rubber-stamp ACCEPT 6
rubbish RUBBISH/WASTE 1
rubbish: be rubbish/a load of rubbish
BAD 1
@ RUBBISH/WASTE
1 unwanted objects or substances that are
thrown away
1 unwanted objects or substances that are
thrown away
rubbish litter
garbage refuse
trash waste
rubbish /'rAblf/ a British word meaning unwanted
objects or substances, such as paper, empty containers, or
pieces of food which are thrown away [n U]
Rubbish is collected once a week. ] The place looked awful-
there was rubbish and broken glass everywhere. I You
haven't got enough rubbish bins. There should be at least
one in each room.
garbage /go:rbld3/ an American word meaning
unwanted objects or substances, such as paper, empty con-
tainers, or pieces of food which are thrown away [n U]
The city clearly has a garbage problem, and it's getting
worse. I Empty the wastebaskets and take out the garbage.
trash/trm/an American word meaning waste such as
paper, and empty containers [n U]
Polyethylene bags of trash were left outside the back door. I
A West German company has developed a process that burns
almost any trash. I The trash can is full. I'll have to empty it.
litter/tlltr/waste such as empty packets, bottles, and
pieces of paper that people have dropped on the street or
in a public place [n U]
You can be fined up to Ј100 for dropping litter. [ A new super-
store would destroy this sleepy little town, by attracting
traffic, noise, and litter.
littered [adj] The park was littered with empty cans and
broken bottles.
refuse / t reu:s! a word used especially in official contexts
meaning the waste that is produced by people's way of
living, factories, shops etc [n U]
The main entrance was cluttered with spilling refuse con-
tainers. I refuse collection (=a system of collecting the
waste from people's homes etc) Refuse collection has been
seriously affected by the strike. I refuse disposal (=a system
of destroying or burying the waste from people's homes,
etc) We are gradually developing safer and more effective
ways of refuse disposal.
waste/west/unwanted materials or substances that are
thrown away, especiatly after they have been used for an
industrial process [n U]
The Government has agreed to halt the dumping of waste in
the North Sea by the end of the year. I Several companies are
now trying to recycle waste in an effort to save money. I
industrial/chemical/nuclear etc waste Industrial waste
has found its way into the drinking water supply. I toxic/
radioactive/hazardous waste (=waste that is dangerous
and needs special treatment) Radioactive waste had escaped
from a damaged pipe, and polluted a large area of coast.
waste [ adj] One office alone can be responsible for as much
as five tonnes of waste paper per year. I The purification
process leaves behind a number of waste products.

ruckus 1145 RUDE/IMPOLITE
ruckus ARGUE 5
rude RUDE/IMPOLITE 1, RUDE/OBSCENE 2
rude awakening SHOCK 7
rude: be rude to INSULT 1
lit _ 
...... ;,, ..4#.; ..;,; ...,..... 4. ..... <<, -..:-<.::v . ;,--;;;3;;&%%..
co.ntain[ng -oLta:lki..hg .:;:;i, , ;-  RUDE/OBSCENE
........ • . ;-  .......... :. -.
a"ou'"=:n-s
'ue"[ue :I--:n.g.ge,;b.:i. ..... :;:,..  SWEAR
RUDE/IMPOLITE
words for describing someone who does not
behave politely towards other people, and so
annoys them or offends them
words for describing someone who is rude to
their teachers, parents, or other people in
authority
to do something rude without seeming
ashamed or embarrassed
words for describing someone who speaks to
you or answers you quickly and in very few
words, so that they seem rude
ways of saying that what someone says or
does is rude because it is unacceptable in
this particular situation
behaving rudely to other people by talking to
them as if they are stupid
words for describing someone who does not
behave politely towards other people, and so
annoys them or offends them
rude be unpleasant
impolite be offensive
ill-mannered/bad-mannered loutish
discourteous churlish
rude/ru:d/[adj]
What a rude man! He just ignored me when I said "Good
morning'. I I don't mean to be rude, but could you tell your
children to keep quiet? I She's a very competent business-
woman but many people fincl her rude and aggressive. I Very
rarely did President Reagan lose his temper or utter a rude
or unkind word. I rude to st) I know you're upset, but there's
no need to be rude to your mother. I it is rude to do sth Stop
looking at him - it's rude to stare. I I thought it was very rude
of her not to even answer my letter. I rude about Are you
being rude about my cooking?
rudely lady] "'Mind your own business, "" he replied rudely.
rudeness In U] I will not tolerate such rudeness in my
classes.
impolite/, mp'lat/doing and saying things that are con-
sidered rude, even though you do not intend to be rude [adj
not before noun]
it is impolite to do sth You may think she's too old for the
job but it would be impolite to point that out. I In Senegal
it is considered very impolite not to share your food. I impo-
lite How could you be so impolite! You didn't even answer
his question.
ill-mannered/bad-mannered /,fl 'menrd*, ,bad
' mamrd*/always behaving in a rude and unpleasant way,
especially because of never having been taught how to be
polite [adj]
Her children are so bad-mannered - she should be more strict
with them. I She had expected to get some respect as a teacher,
but found her students were lazy and ill-mannered, t As soon
as English people go abroad on holiday, they change into
bad-mannered, loud, insensitive oafs.
discourteous/d;s'k3:rtis/a formal word for describing
behaviour that is rude because it breaks the normal rules
of social behaviour [adj]
She thought his refusal to invite her in was discourteous. I
Discourteous though it may appear, I would prefer not to give
you my name at the moment.
be unpleasant/bi: ^nplezant/to deliberately behave in
a rude and unfriendly way towards someone Iv phrase]
be unpleasant to She was shocked at how unpleasant they
were to their mother. I be unpleasant He can be ery
unpleasant when he's in a bad mood.
be offensive/bi: fensw/to be very rude to someone,
especially by saying rude things Iv phrase]
The drunk was swearing and being extremely offensive. I be
offensive to We stopped to ask someone the way, and he was
really offensive to us.
loutish/'laotq/someone, especially a young man, who is
loutish is rude and unpleasant and shows no respect to
anyone [adj]
Her son just hangs around in the park with his loutish
friends and they're always getting into trouble, t The lout-
ish behaviour of many English football fans has gained them
an appalling reputation.
churlish /=t3:rlI/impolite and ungrateful, especially by
refusing something that you have been offered [adj]
As they have already sent us tickets, I think it would be
churlish to refuse to go. I It may seem rather churlish to ask,
but what do these groups gain by playing charity concerts?
words for describing someone who is rude to
their teachers, parents, or other people in
authority
impudent insolent
cheeky disrespectful
impertinent sassy
impudent/' Impj °dnt/someone who is impudent, espe-
cially a child or young person, is rude and has no respect
for people who are older or more important [adj]
She didn't think the child's questions were endearing -just
impudent. I Lisl was young, impudent and quite outrageous.
impudence In U] I've never seen such impudence in all my
life!
cheeky / ' ti:ki/a British word used especially in spoken
English for describing someone who is rude because they
say things that they should not really say [adj]
No, you can't go on holiday with your grandma - don't be
so cheeky, t You cheeky little monkey! Your father isn't fat! l
it is cheeky ofsb to do sth Doyou think it would be cheeky
of me to ask him to lend me some money?
impertinent / ]m p3: rt  nont/rude and showing no respect
for someone in authority, especially by saying things or
asking questions that you should not [adj]
By now he had gotten used to reporters" impertinent ques-
tions about his private life. I I don't wish to seem impertinent,
professor, but are you sure your calculations are correct?
impertinence In U] The sheer impertinence of Rory's
remarks made her want to slap him.
insolent / Ilnsbnt/very rude to someone in authority and
appearing to have no respect for them, especially by not
doing what they tell you to do [adj]
Although she didn't actually say anything offensive, her
expression was sulky, insolent and hostile. I The police men-
tioned the suspect's insolent manner when they tried to arrest
him.
insolence In U] She said she would not tolerate such rude-
ness and insolence from her subordinates.

RUDE/IMPOLITE
1146
RUDE/OBSCENE
disrespectful / I dIsrI I spektfal/rude, especially towards
someone that you should respect, for example, your par-
ents, the head of a company, or the leader of a country [adj]
disrespectful about I don't mean to sound disrespectful
about the Royal family, but some of them do seem a little
stupid. I disrespectful You could be imprisoned for making
disrespectful remarks about Ho Chi Minh. I The tourists in
the mosque did not realise how disrespectful their behaviour
was.
sassy /sasi! an American word meaning rude to
teachers, parents, or other people in authority [adj]
Mrs Hoover did not like the new maid's sassy tone. I It wasn't
a pleasant school to teach at. The girls were sassy and the
boys unruly and aggressive.
3 to do something rude without seeming
ashamed or embarrassed
have the nerve/cheek
have the gall to do sth
have the nerve (also have the cheek in British
English) Ihav 5o na:rv, hav 5o ti:k/if someone has the
nerve to do something they do something that you think
is so rude that you are surprised they did it Iv phrase]
have the nerve to do sth It's amazing! First they fire me
and then they have the nerve to ask if I can help them out at
Christmas! I have a nerve/cheek He's got a cheek, coming
back at midnight and then expecting me to cook his dinner. I
what a nerve/cheek What a nerve! I hope you told him
what he could do with his bloody essay!
have the gall to do sth/hav 5o go:l to du: (sth)/if
someone has the gall to do something they do something
that you think is very rude and unreasonable Iv phrase]
I don't know how she had the gall to show herself here again,
after all the trouble she's caused. I Ruth was always on the
phone and yet she had the gall to tell me off for making one
call.
4 words for describing someone who speaks to
you or answers you quickly and in very few
words, so that they seem rude
curt dismissive
terse be short with
brusque
curt/ka:rt/replying in very few words in a way that seems
rude, especially because you think that what someone has
just said is stupid [adj]
She answered their questions with a curt "'No comment". I
They can expect a curt reply when Mrs Thatcher finally
decides to answer their letter. I Polly was curt and business-
like with her clients.
curtly [adv] "'That will be all, thank you, "" said Mrs Rice
curtly.
terse/t3:rs/a terse message, reply, statement etc uses
very few words and is deliberately intended to make people
stop speaking to you or asking you questions [adj]
We asked them if they would like to change seats, but back
came the terse reply - "'We are perfectly comfortable where
we are. "" t Gorbachev had replied to the journalist in a terse
and noncommittal letter.
tersely [ adv ] a tersely-worded White House announcement
brusque /bru:sk, brusk II br^sk] using very few words
because that is the way you usually speak, even though it
may seem rude to most people [adj]
Her brusque manner and determination to win made many
men afraid of her. [ In public he appears brusque and dis-
missive but he is in fact a very caring person.
brusquely [adv] "'It doesn't matter much anyway," he
responded brusquely.
dismlssive/dIsmIsv/treating someone's ideas, sug-
gestions, or problems as if they are not at all important or
serious, especially by dealing with them in very few words
and then changing the subject [adj]
She was very dismissive when I tried to tell her about my
problems at work. "'In the meantime, you leave this matter
to us. "" His tone was dismissive, and I got up to go.
disimissively [adv ] "Forget it, "Buzz had said dismissively
when he'd mentioned it to him.
be short with/bi: )j'3:rt wI6/to speak to someone in a
rude way, using very few words, especially because you are
angry with them Iv phrase]
I'm sorry if I was short with you but I was worried about
my interview. [ She was very short with me. I wonder if I've
offended her in some way.
5 ways of saying that what someone says or
does is rude because it is unacceptable in
this particular situation
in poor/bad taste
uncalled-for
in poor/bad taste In Ipoo r, ,bad teist/[adj phrase]
On such a serious occasion his jokes seemed in poor taste. [
When I was flying to New York they showed us a movie about
an air crash, which I thought was in very bad taste.
uncalled-for / Anko:ld f:r/ruder or more unpleasant
than is suitable or reasonable [adj phrase]
I felt it was a little uncalled-for when they read out the names
of everyone who had failed. [ "'Are you ever going to stop
boasting about that daughter of yours? .... Now that's
uncalled-for, "" I replied, as coolly as I could.
6 behaving rudely to other people by talking to
them as if they are stupid
patronizing
condescending
patronizing (also-islng British)/'paetronaizirj II 'pei-,
pa-/someone who is patronizing talks to you in a way
that seems friendly and polite but in fact shows that they
think you are less intelligent or important than them [adj]
Don't be so patronizing - I'm not a child any more. I The
Health Minister treated her visitors to a patronizing lecture
on how to cut costs. I patronizing to She is awed by her
superiors, but terribly patronizing to her subordinates.
patronizingly [adv] "'Are you sure you understand?" she
asked patronizingly.
condescending/kond sendn3 II ka:n-/someone who
is condescending talks to you as if they are more impor-
tant than you, and as if you are lucky that they are talking
to you at all [adj]
He thinks he's doing us a favour if he even says hello to us
- he's so condescending! [ Her boss's manner is warm,
friendly and not in the least bit condescending. [ con-
descending to She could be a good teacher if she wasn't
always so condescending to her students.
condescendingly [adv] The Duke asked him -just a touch
condescendingly - if he had attended a "state school'.
RUDE/OBSCENE
words for describing remarks, jokes, books,
types of behaviour etc that are likely to offend
people because they deal with sex in a
socially unacceptable way
words for describing remarks, jokes, types of
behaviour etc that deal with sex, but in an
amusing way that does not cause much
offence
words for describing someone who talks or
behaves in a very offensive, impolite, and
embarrassing way

RUDE/OBSCENE 1147 RULEIREGULATION
1 words for describing remarks, jokes, books,
types of behaviour etc that are likely to offend
people because they deal with sex in a
socially unacceptable way
obscene dirty
indecent filthy
improper vulgar
obscene/ob'si:n/[adj]
The editors of the film cut several scenes containing obscene
language, t She made an obscene gesture at the driver of the
truck who had pulled right in front of her. I The crumbling
walls of Picasso's house were covered with obscene drawings.
indecent/In'di:sanq actions, movements, clothes etc that
are indecent are likely to offend people, especially because
they involve showing parts of the body that are usually
covered [adj]
Models were forced into all sorts of indecent poses for the
camera. I You can't wear that dress to the dinner party - it's
positively indecent!
improper/m pmpo r 1[ -tpra:-/likely to offend people and
cause strong disapproval, especially among people who
have very high standards of what is morally correct [adj]
Some people still think it improper to discuss sex openly. [
You can't go topless on the beaches here - it's regarded as
improper. [ improper suggestion (=especially when
indirectly asking someone to have sex) I'm not going to sit
here and listen to his improper suggestions.
dirty I  d3:rti/concerning sex in a way that is offensive but
also rather stupid [adj]
Where did you find all these dirty pictures? [ dirty joke
A few young boys were sitting around, telling dirty jokes
and giggling.
filthy/' fllOi/showing or describing sexual acts in a very
offensive way [adj]
The magazine printed filthy pictures that shocked everyone. I
"Lady Chatterley's Lover" was denounced as a filthy and vile
book when it was first published.
vulgar ! vAlgr/jokes, remarks etc that are vulgar deal
with sex in an offensive and very direct way [adj]
He ruined the evening with his vulgar talk about women and
about how much he could drink. I His humor is unsophisti-
cated, sometimes even vulgar.
2
words for describing remarks, jokes, types of
behaviour etc that deal with sex, but in an
amusing way that does not cause much
offence
rude risqu
naughty suggestive
saucy lewd
rude/ru:d/jokes, stories, songs etc that are rude deal with
sex or parts of the body, especially in a rather stupid or chil-
dish way [adj]
I don't want to hear any more of your rude jokes, Damien
- shut up. [ They sang rude songs on the bus on the way home
from the zoo. I If you are going to tell the children some of
your stories make sure they aren't too rude.
naughty/'n:ti II n:ti, tna:ti/a word used especially in
British English for describing magazines, pictures, songs
etc that deal with sex in a rude, but not very serious way
[adj]
Dennis sat on his bed reading a naughty magazine. ] I've got
a joke to tell you but wait till your mother's gone out - it's
a bit naughty! ] They were reading an American novel that
seemed to have had all the naughty bits cut out.
saucy I  s:si/jokes, stories, songs etc that are saucy are
slightly rude but also rather amusing [adj]
Edgar kept us entertained with a stream of unusual and
rather saucy stories. ] Most of his jokes are a little too saucy
for my parents.
risqu6/'rlskeI II rI 'skeI/jokes, stories, songs etc that are
risqu( are slightly rude and therefore likely to offend some .
people, especially people who are easily shocked [adj]
Those jokes are a bit risqu# - don't tell them in front of your
grandparents. I Chelito had become the talk of Barcelona
with her risqud songs and uncensored sensuality.
suggestive /so'd3estlv II sog-/ remarks, questions etc
that are suggestive have a slightly hidden meaning that is
about sex [adj]
When she worked in the pub, men used to make suggestive
remarks to her all the time. t The film "Tom Jones" is famous
for its sexually suggestive eating scene.
lewd/lu:d/lewd laugh/wink/remark/joke etc (=one
that is rude and shows a strong interest in sex) [adj]
"'Say no more!'" he grinned, giving her a lewd wink. I
Although his jokes were a little lewd, he always made us
laugh.
3 words for describing someone who talks or
behaves in a very offensive, impolite, and
embarrassing way
crude
coarse
crude/kru:d/rude, offensive, and deliberately trying to
shock people [adj]
The comedian wasn't funny at all; he was just crude and
offensive. [ She was worried that her husband's crude.
remarks might have upset some of the guests.
coarse/k:rs/talking in a rude and offensive way, espe-
cially about sex [adj]
"'You're quite safe; I won't rape you. "" "'There's no need to be
coarse. "' [ She tried to ignore his coarse jokes and crude
innuendos - he was obviously drunk.
rudimentary SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1
ruefully REGRET/FEEL SORRY 6
rugged BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 2
ruin SPOIL 6
ruined: be ruined MONEY 16
ruins REMAIN/BE LEFT 3
ruins: be in ruins DESTROY 4
rule GOVERNMENT 5, LINE 11, POWER 3,
RULE/REGULATION 1
rule: as a rule USUALLY 1
rule out IMPOSSIBLE 5
RULE/
REGULATION
a rule that says what people must do or not
do, for example in a game or in an
organization
rules and customs of acceptable behaviour
1 a rule that says what people must do or not
do, for example in a game or in an
organization
rule restriction
regulation code
law rules and regulations

RULEIREGULATION 1148 RUMOURIRUMOR
rule/ru:l/an official instruction that says what must be
done, what is not allowed etc, for example in a game or in
a school, company, or other organization In C]
No one's allowed to ride with the driver. That's a company
rule. I It says in the rules that you collect 200points every time
youpass the start. I against the rules (=not allowed by the
rules) You can't do that/It's against the rules. I break a rule
(=disobey it) I have no sympathy for Jonson. He broke the
rules and got caught, that's all. I rules govern sth (=say
how something should be done) There have been some
changes in the rules governing the use of safety equipment.I
hard and fast rule (=a definite fixed rule) We're expected
to look neat for school, but there aren't any hard and fast
rules about what to weai .
regulation / regjleI'an/an officialwritten rule, espe-
cially one made by a government, that describes exactly
how something should be done, exactly what is allowed etc
In C usually plural]
There are various regulations about claiming disability
benefit. I'll get you some information on it. I a new regula-
tion requiring stronger rubber for car tires I building/
planning/environmental regulations The building
regulations are very strict about the materials you can use. t
comply with/conform to a regulation (=be correct
according to a regulation) All cars sold in Germany must
conform to the regulations laid down by the Federal Road
Safety Board. I contravene a regulation (=do something
that is forbidden by it) Anyone who takes milk from an
unhealthy cow will be contravening public health
regulations.
law/b:/one of the rules that say how a sport should be
played In C usually plural]
FIFA is the organization that runs world football and
decides whether any of the laws should be changed. I the laws
of cricket
restriction/ri 'strlkj'an/an official rule that limits what
people can do In C usually plural]
restriction on There are restrictions on what you can bring
into the country. Alcohol, for example, is totally forbidden. I
impose a restriction (=bring it into operation) The restric-
tions imposed by the censors make objective reporting of news
impossible. I lift a restriction (=stop it from operating)
Congress has voted to lift trade restrictions against Iran. I
travel/price/import restrictions (=rules that limit the
amount that someone can travel, how much something can
cost etc) For a while they tried using price restrictions as a
way of controlling inflation.
code/kaod/a set of rules that people or organizations
agree to obey but are not forced to obey In C]
Despite supporting the United Nations baby food code, they
were continuing to sell powdered milk to Third World
mothers. I code of practice (=rules saying what a particu-
lar type of organization should or should not do) a new code
of practice governing the advertising of tobacco products I
code of conduct (=rules saying how members of a profes-
sion should behave) Hobbs had blatantly ignored the legal
profession's code of conduct.
rules and regulations /,ru:lz and regjlleI'anz/ an
expression meaning a set of rules, used especially when
you think the rules are too detailed or cause unnecessary
inconvenience In phrase]
There were so many petty rules and regulations that some
companies gave up trying to export their products.
2 rules and customs of acceptable behaviour
convention unwritten law
protocol etiquette
convention/kan' venfan/the rules and customs of accept-
able behaviour, which are generally accepted by the mem-
bers of a group or society In C/U]
She shocked her neighbours by ignoring every convention of
respectable society. I It is a matter of convention that male
business people usually wear suits. I Many artists feel that
convention stifles creativity and initiative.
protocol I'praotakl [[-k:l/ the system of rules for
behaviour on official occasions In U]
According to protocol, he was to arrive at the official meet-
ing exactly five minutes early. [ breach of protocol
(=behaviour not according to protocol) Shaking hands with
the Queen was definitely a breach of royal protocol.
unwritten law/,hnritn '1:/a rule or way of behaving
that is not official but is accepted by most members of a
society or group In C]
It was an unwritten law of the Mafia that nobody should talk
to thepolice. [ Jobs like this never go to women - it just seems
to be one of those unwritten laws of business.
etiquette /etket [[-kat/ the formal rules for correct
behaviour in society or in a particular group In U]
Etiquette is still important on occasions such as weddings
and funerals. [ breach of etiquette (=behaviour not
according to etiquette) It was considered a breach of eti-
quette to refuse an invitation. [ professional etiquette (=the
etiquette followed by people working in a particular profes-
sion) Professional etiquette dictates that judges should not
express their opinions about a case in public.
rules: against the rules ILLEGAL 1
rules: bend the rules LET/ALLOW 11
rules: break the rules ILLEGAL 3
rules: stick to the rules OBEY 2
rules and regulations RULE/REGULATION 1
ruling POWER 3
rumble SOUND 10
rummage/rummage about LOOK FOR 5
rumour/rumor RUMOUR/RUMOR 1
rumour/rumor has it SAY 12
@ RUMOURIRUMOR
information that is passed from one person to
another and is often either untrue or only
partly true
1 a rumour
2 to hear a rumour
1 a rumour
rumour/rumor
talk
hearsay reports
gossip scandal
speculation
rumour (British) I rumor (American) I'm:mar/informa-
tion which is passed from one person to another and which
may or may not be true, especially information about peo-
ple's private lives or about something that a government,
company etc has done or is planning to do In C/U]
rumour about/ofL/z has always denied rumours about an
affair with her director. I There were rumours of bombings
in the northern part of the country. I The truth has finally
come out after months of rumour and gossip in the
newspapers, t rumour that There was a rumour that the
White House put pressure on NASA to keep quiet about the
accident. I spread a rumour (=tell other people a rumour)
I don "t know who's been spreading that rumour, but it's not
true. t rumour has it that (=there is a rumour that)
Rumour has it that there will be major job cuts, but we don't
yet have any confirmation.
hearsay / IhmrseI/something that you have been told, or
that you have heard only indirectly, but which you have
no way of proving to be either true or untrue In U]
There's no way we can really find out what's happening in
this town - we have to rely on hearsay. I Journalists must
learn to distinguish between fact and hearsay.
gossip /'gsp [[ 'go:-/ information which people tell
each other about other people's private lives, and which
may or may not be true, especially when this is done in an
unkind or disapproving way In U]
I'd been out of town for three months, and was eager to hear
all the latest gossip when I got back. [ exchange gossip

RUMOURIRUMOR 1149 RUN
(=tell each other gossip) Over dinner we exchanged gossip
and she told me about Marsha getting pregnant. I gossip
column (=part of a newspaper that contains gossip about
famous people) The story about the Princess's suicide
attempt was sold to a gossip column in a British newspaper. I
malicious gossip (=unkind and untrue gossip that some-
one spreads deliberately) That's just malicious gossip. She
never had an affair with him.
speculation /Ispekj°llefn/ if there is speculation
about something, especially about something that is hap-
pening in politics or public life, a lot of people are talking
about it and trying to guess what the truth is In U]
speculation about There was a great deal of speculation
about the possibility of an alliance between the two parties. I
speculation that The capital buzzed with speculation that
the President may be about to resign. I wild/idle specula-
tion (=speculation that is very unlikely to be true) Reports
that a divorce is imminent have been dismissed as wild
speculation.
talk It:k/what people tell each other about other people's
personal lives, especially about their sexual relationships
In U]
In those days there was always talk if two people lived
together without being married. I just talk (=a rumour that
is .unlikely to be true) "'They say he's having an affair with
a colleague at work. "" "'That's just talk. ""
reports/r p:rts/information or news that you think
might be true, although you do not have any definite proof
In plural]
reports of The government has promised to investigate
reports of police corruption. I unconfirmed reports
(=reports that have not yet been proved to be true) We are
getting unconfirmed reports of a gas explosion in downtown
Los Angeles.
scandal/' skandl/something that people tell each other
about a person or organization, which is shocking but also
exciting and interesting In C/U]
Have you heard the latest scandal? Mick Green has been
arrested for bribery and corruption. I Gossip and scandal
is what sells newspapers.
2 to hear a rumour
hear sth on/through the grapevine
hear sth on/through the grapevine/,hIa r (sth) n,
Oru: 6a 'grepvam/if you hear some news or information
on or through the grapevine, someone else tells it to you
unofficially, often in conversation Iv phrase]
"'Who told you I was moving house? .... Oh, I just heard it on
the grapevine. "" I He heard through the grapevine that his
own department may be closed. I According to the motor
industry grapevine, a Japanese company is about to bring
out a new solar powered car.
rumoured: be rumoured/rumored to be SAY 12
rumpus ARGUE 5
run COLOUR/COLOR 9, GO 3, GOVERNMENT 5, IN
CHARGE OF 1, MANAGER 5, RUN 1, 2,
SPREAD 2, VOTE/ELECT 9, TEAR 3,
WORKING/NOT BROKEN 3
run: badly-run EFFICIENT 5
run: be on the run ESCAPE 6
run: break into a run RUN 1
sb the of LET/ALLOW 7
run:
give
run
run: go for a run/jog RUN 2
run a risk RISK 4
run a story REPORT 1
run a test TEST/EXPERIMENT 2
run after FOLLOW 2
run away LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 1
run away/run off ESCAPE 4
run down CRITICIZE 4, ILL 2, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 5
run-down CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
run for LAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIME 1
for it/make a run for it ESCAPE 4
run
run for your life ESCAPE 4
run in the family FAMILY 3
run into HIT/BUMP INTO 2
run into: bump into/run into MEET 2
run into problems/difficulties PROBLEM 8
run/ladder TEAR 5
run late: be running late LATE 7
run of bad luck UNLUCKY 2
run of good luck LUCKY 4
run-of-the-mill ORDINARY 1
run off/away LEAVE A PLACE 6
run on LONG TIME 4
run out FINISH/COME TO AN END 3, 5, FINISH/USE
ALL OF STH 2
run out of FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 1, NOT HAVE ;3
run over HIT/BUMP INTO 6
run over: overrun/run over LONG TIME 4
run rings round BETTER 2
run short: be running short ENOUGH 9
run short: be running short of ENOUGH 12
run through: go through/run through
PRACTISE/PRACTICE 2
run-through PRACTISE/PRACTICE 5
run to ENOUGH 6
run up MAKE 3
run yourself down: put/run yourself down
MODEST 2
RUN
to run, for example because you are in a
hurry or because you are chasing someone
to run as a sport or for exercise
to run with short quick steps, in the way that
small animals do, especially in order to
escape from danger
tear
charge
run/rAn/ [VI]
1 to run, for example because you are in a
hurry or because you are chasing someone
run sprint
dash trot
bound
break into a run
You'd better run or you'll miss the train. I Some species of
deer can run as fast as 60 miles per hour. I run across/
through/along/out etc She was so upset that she ran
upstairs and threw herself on the bed. I An assistant came
running out of the store shouting, "'Stop! Thief!" l This dog
ran right out in front of my car. I run for the bus/train
etc (=run in order to catch it) Just running for the bus leaves
me out of breath. I run away/off (=leave somewhere run-
ning, especially in order to escape) When he realised he'd
been seen the robber ran off in the direction of the subway. I
run after (=run because you are chasing someone) A group
of fans were running after Michael Jackson, screaming.
dash/daf/to run very quickly and usually for just a short
distance, especially because you have to do something
urgently [v I]
dash across/in/past etc She dashed forward and pulled
the child away from the edge of the road. I I'm exhausted -
I've spent the whole day dashing around looking for
Christmas presents. I dash for/make a dash for (=run
quickly towards) As soon as the rain started everyone made
a dash for the nearest shelter. I dash off/away (=leave
somewhere very quickly) She hated school and as soon as
it was finished she used to dash off to play with her friends.
tear/tear/to run very quickly and without really looking
where you are going, because you are in a hurry Iv I]
tear along/past/through etc Bobby tore past, shouting
something about being late for work. I A masked man came
tearing out of the bank and jumped into a waiting car. I tear
off (=leave somewhere running very quickly) As soon as
she heard she had a new baby brother she tore off to tell all
her friends.

1150
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey
said:
run 32%
jog 47%
other 21%
RUN
2 to run as a sport or for exercise
rrjj go for a run/jog
( jog sprint
jog/d3Dg II d3o:g/to run fairly slowly, for a
long distance, especially as a way of
exercising and staying healthy Iv I]
:":a.p#:0#.ii:ate word"to: .leri#-t::
What the 200 English and American teachers
in our survey said:
jog 86%
run 5%
other 9%

RUN 1151 ruthless
charge/tJa:rds/to run quickly and with a lot of energy,
especially when you are going to attack someone or some-
thing Iv I]
charge at/towards/into etc Riot police charged at the
demonstrators. I charge He lowered his head like a bull
about to charge. I charge off(=leave somewhere in a hurry)
"'Sorry, can't stop, "" muttered Jill, as she charged off down
the corridor.
sprint/sprnq to run as fast as you can, usually over a
short distance Iv I]
I began to sprint - I wasn't going to let him catch me. I sprint
along/out/into etc As the train started up, I sprinted along
the platform and managed to leap aboard just in time.
trot/trot II tra:t/to run fairly slowly, taking short steps Iv I]
trot behind/through etc The teacher walked briskly, his
young students trotting obediently behind. I trot off(=leave
somewhere trotting) The old dog heard a noise and trotted
off to investigate.
bound/baond/to move quickly forward with long high
jumps Iv I]
bound towards/across/up etc The dog came bounding
towards me. I He burst through the front door and bounded
up the stairs.
break into a run/.break into a 'rAn/to suddenly start
running, especially when you have been walking [vphrase]
Suddenly two of the prisoners broke into a run, heading as
fast as they could for the gap in the fence.
2 to run as a sport or for exercise
run go for a run/jog
jog sprint
run/rAn/to run in a race or for exercise Iv I]
Every morning before breakfast I run or play tennis. I go
running She must be in really good shape - she swims three
times a week and goes running every evening. I run 2
miles/400 metres etc Roger Bannister was the first person
to run a mile in under four minutes.
running In U] After my first baby I took up running (=the
sport of running) to try to lose some weight.
runner In C] Long distance runners (=people who run)
follow a different training programme from other athletes.
run In C] After his run (=period of time that you are run-
ning) he had a long cool shower.
jog/d3g II d3o:g/to run fairly slowly for a long distance,
especially as a way of exercising and staying healthy Iv I]
She jogs regularly to keep fit. I go jogging Tony and Sheila
went jogging together every evening after work. I jog 2
miles/5 kilometres etc The doctors say that I have to jog
at least 3 miles every day.
jogging In U] Swimming, cycling, and jogging are all aer-
obic exercises.
jogger In C] On Sundays the park is full of joggers and
people walking their dogs.
go for a run/jog I.gao far a 'rAn, 'd3og II -'d3o:g/to go
out and run in order to get exercise Iv phrase]
What a beautiful day - I think I'll go for a run. I After
Christmas, I decided I would go on a diet and go for a jog
every day.
sprint/sprint/to run as fast as you can over a short dis-
tance, usually in a race Iv I]
Athletes who have been tr, ained to sprint aren't usually very
good at running long distances.
sprinter In C] They chose Alex for the last leg of the relay
race because he was an excellent sprinter.
scurry away/about/along etc A mouse scurried across the
floor. I The nurses were scurrying about the ward, prepar-
ing everything before the doctor's inspection.
scuttle/' skAtl/to run with short quick steps, especially
because you are afraid of something, in a way that makes
you look funny or stupid Iv I]
scuttle across/out/past ere A loud bang sent all the crabs
scuttling across the sand. I The women gathered their chil-
dren and scuttled indoors to hide from the soldiers.
scamper ]' skmmpa r] to run with very short quick steps,
especially when running in a group and often in a playful
way Iv I]
scamper away/down/up etc The monkeys scampered
down the tree, anxious to investigate what was happening
on the ground. I Aggie raised her fist, sending all the chil-
dren scampering up the stairs.
.'°' runaway CONTROL 21 ESCAPE 6
- rundown SUMMARIZE 2
 rundown: give sb a rundown SUMMARIZE 1
i runner up LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 6
i  running SERIES 4
ii running: be in the running WIN 8
.....
. running: be pouring/dripping/running with sweat
!? SWEAT 1
', running: be running ON/SWITCHED ON 1
• I running: be up and running WORKING/NOT BROKEN 2
running: not be in the running LOSE A GAME,
i! COMPETITION, OR WAR 4
!i running costs COST 1
:i runny LIQUID 3
 rural COUNTRYSIDE 2
 ruse TRICK/DECEIVE 7
 ..... rush HURRY 1, 5, 6
.;;,, rush: hurry through/rush through HURRY 1
..... rush: in a hurry/in a rush HURRY 1
rush: the rush BUSY PLACE 3
rush: there's no hurry/no rush HURRY 7
.. rush: what's the hurry?/what's the rush? HURRY 7
 rush hour BUSY PLACE 3
}i}}: rush job HURRY 4
,-, rushed HURRY 4
 rushed: be rushed TIME/HAVE TIME 2
....4 rushed off your feet BUSY/HAVE A LOT TO DO 2
ii'ii rust DECAY 5
 rustic COUNTRYSIDE 2
{: rustle SOUND 12
...-:-"-: rustle up COOK 1
ii!!i/ rusty DECAY 6, PRACTISE/PRACTICE 6
-'-" rut LINE 5
 rut: be in a rut CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 8
- ruthless CRUEL 1, DETERMINED 5
to run with short quick steps, in the way that
small animals do, especially in order to
escape from danger
scurry
scuttle
scamper
scurry /'skAri II 'ska:ri/ to run with short quick steps,
especially when you need to move quickly to escape from
danger Iv I]
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
__

sabotage
S
sabotage DAMAGE 4, SPOIL 2
sack: get the sack LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 3
sack/give sb the sack LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 2
sacred RELIGION 4
sacrifice GIVE 12
sad SAD/UNHAPPY 1, 3, 9
sad: it's sad PITY/IT',S A PITY 1
sad: make sb sad/unhappy SAD/UNHAPPY 11
wnlcn:
fl:i:g sad }: :-:  "";,  SAD/UNHAPPY
....... . ; .... ...
sad, :ang: etcbecause e UPSET
someone was unk=nd,  ......... #:,:,,%:::.. ;...
tO OU, 8o.meth g {  ........ , ........ =.:-:=..:.....
. Y .-::::....:..:. .......... :-..:.. . .... ,;;.,.;:.:..;:.
bad happened etc :-:. . ...... . ..... .....:-:=:::-...
feel sa d for,someone ;,;,,  SYMPATHIZE
who has a problem, s- - ............ -  ; .... ,,, ...... - ....
.................... . ................. ,
SAD/UNHAPPY
I feeling sad or unhappy
2 feeling sad for a long time because you are
unhappy with your life
3 words for describing an occasion or a time in
someone's life when they feel sad or unhappy
4 words for describing someone who looks sad
or unhappy
5 extremely sad, especially because someone
you love has died or left you
6 to feel sad because someone has died, and
to show this in the way you behave publicly,
the clothes you wear etc
7 to feel unhappy and to pity yourself, in a way
that other people find annoying
8 words for describing someone who often
feels or looks sad
9 words for describing something such as a
story, film, tune, or piece of news that makes
you feel sad
10 words for describing a place or situation in
which it is difficult to feel happy or hopeful
1 1 ways of saying that something makes you feel
sad or unhappy
12 a sad feeling
13 what you say to tell someone not to be sad
I feeling sad or unhappy
sad
unhappy
miserable
be fed up
homesick
with a heavy heart
sad/smdl not happy, especially when you are thinking
about something unpleasant that happened to you or to
someone else, or when a happy time is ending [adj not
usually before noun]
1152
SAD/UNHAPPY
Helen felt very sad as she said goodbye to him for the last
time. I All the children were sad because their vacation was
over for another year. I It always makes me sad when I think
about those poor people who have nowhere to live. I sad to
see/hear/learn etc I was very sad to hear of his death. He
was a wonderful man. I sad about On his last day at work,
he said he felt sad about retiring.
sadly [adv] As she looked at the photograph, she smiled so
sadly that I thought she would cry.
unhappy IAn'hmpi/not happy, especially because you e
in a situation, job, relationship etc which is very difficult
or unpleasant, and which you do not enjoy at all [adj]
I was very unhappy at school and left as soon as I could. I
If you are unhappy or have a problem, you should talk to a
friend. I Rich and powerful though he was, he remained an
unhappy man. I unhappy about She's terribly unhappy
about being so fat. I desperately unhappy In the movie, she
plays a woman who is desperately unhappy with her wasted
life.
unhappily [ adv ] He shrugged his shoulders unhappily and
told her to mind her own business.
miserable/'mzarabal/extremely unhappy, especially
because you are lonely, hungry, cold etc [adj]
He sat alone in his room, thoroughly miserable. He had never
felt so lonely in his life. I The cold and miserable survivors
sat among the wreckage, unable to believe what had
happened.
miserably [adv] He shook his head miserably, the tears
pouring down his cheeks.
be fed up/hi: ,fed '^p/an informal British expression
meaning to be unhappy and dissatisfied because you do not
like the situation that you are in and you wish it would
change Iv phrase]
be fed up with I'm fed up with this job. It's so boring. I
Tom's getting pretty fed up with married life. He never goes
out any more. I be fed up It rained every day of our holiday.
We were thoroughly fed up.
homesick/'haom,skl unhappy because you are away
from home and wish you were at home with your family
and friends [adj]
She was very homesick during her year in America. [ We
spent much of out time comforting homesick children at the
beginning of summer camp. [ homesick for They were too
excited by the thought of adventure to be homesick for their
mothers.
homesickness In U] Some of the young soldiers suffered
from homesickness at first.
with a heavy heart/wI6 o ,hevi 'ho:rq an expression
used especially in stories: if you do something with a
heavy heart, you feel very sad when you do it [advphrase]
I said afinalfarewell to my friends and set out homeward
with a heavy heart. I It was with a heavy heart that Philip
sold his father's watch.
2 feeling sad for a long time because you are
unhappy with your life
depressed despondent
low/down feel blue
be down in the dumps
depressed /dI 'prest/ feeling very unhappy for a long
time, so that you have no physical energy and no hope for
the future [adj not usually before noun]
My sister's been feeling really depressed since she lost her
job. ] I need something to occupy my mind. I get depressed if
I have nothing to do. [ depressed about She quarrelled with
her boyfriend and was depressed about it for weeks
afterwards.
low/down / loo, daon/informal words meaning unhappy
and without much hope for the future, especially because
something bad has happened to you [adj not before noun]
John's pretty low at the moment - his business is losing
money. ] He's been feeling down since he failed his driving
test for the fifth time.
be down in the dumps/bi: daon in bO 'dAmps/ an
informal expression meaning to feel unhappy and without

SADIUNHAPPY 1153 SAD/UNHAPPY
much interest in life, but usually not in a very serious or
permanent way Iv phrase]
Mom's kind of down in the dumps at the moment - why don't
you buy her something to cheer her up? l Whenever you're feel-
ing down in the dumps, you should come over and have a
chat.
despondent /dIIspondont [[ dlspa:n-/ unhappy and
without much hope of success, especially because you have
already experienced disappointment [adj]
The interview had gone badly and Kathryn looked despon-
dent as she came away. [ No wonder the fans were growing
despondent. The team had already lost eight out of nine
games.
despondently [adv ] She sat despondently at her desk, her
head in her hands.
feel blue/fi:l blu:/an informal American expression
meaning to feel sad or unhappy, often without any partic-
ular reason iv phrase]
Feeling blue? Don't know who to talk to? Phone Depression
Hotline, 24 hours a day.
3 words for describing an occasion or a time in
someone's life when they feel sad or unhappy
sad
unhappy
miserable
sad Ismd/sad time/occasion/day/moment etc (=when
you feel sad, especially because someone you love has died
or because a happy time is ending) [adj only before noun]
The day her mother died was one of the saddest days of her
life. [ The years after the war were a sad time for our family.
We all missed father terribly. ] Today is a very sad occasion
for us all - we're having to close the store due to lack of
business.
unhappy /Anhepi/ unhappy childhood/marriage/
life/year etc (=when you are unhappy because you are in
an unpleasant situation that you do not enjoy) [adj]
My childhood was particularly unhappy because my parents
divorced when I was nine years old. ] an unhappy marriage
that only lasted two years [ Terry spent a very unhappy six
months teaching in a boys" school.
miserable/mlzaroball a time that is miserable is one
when you are extremely unhappy because you are in a very
unpleasant or uncomfortable situation [adj]
As a sailor he spent many miserable hours being seasick. [
Factory workers during the 18th century led miserable lives. [
The journey home was miserable. It was cold and wet and
everyone was very depressed about losing the game.
4 words for describing someone who looks sad
or unhappy
dejected wistful
downcast glum
dejected IdI 'dsektdl someone who is dejected shows by
the expression on their face and by their lack of energy that
they are very unhappy, especially when they are disap-
pointed about something [adj]
He looked utterly dejected when she told him he'd failed
again. I Out of the stadium came a crowd of dejected-looking
supporters. I I was so dejected that I just wanted to stay in
bed all day.
dejectedly [adv] Hands in pockets, he walked dejectedly
back to his room to cry.
downcast/'daonka:st II -kmst/sad and disappointed, in
a way that is noticeable from the expression on your face
and your behaviour [adj]
He seems very downcast at the moment. He misses Jenny
terribly. I Martha had been really looking forward to the trip
and was quite downcast when it was cancelled.
wistful/wistfal/someone who looks wistful has a sad
and thoughtful expression on their face, especially because
they are thinking about the past and wishing things were
different now [adj]
She looked at them with a wistful smile. "I wish I could go
with you. " l Simon's face grew wistful as he recalled the
happy days of his youth.
wistfully [adv ] Writing the letter, she dreamed wistfully of
her hometown.
glum/gl^m! someone who is glum shows by the expres-
sion on their face that they are very unhappy and do not
have much hope for the future [adj]
I had to go and cheer her up - she looked so glum. I The
doctor looked glum. "Bad news, I'm afraid. "'[ Why the glum
face? Things can't be that bad.
glumly [adv ] She sat staring glumly at the door, "'I'll never
see him again. ""
5 extremely sad, especially because someone
you love has died or left you
broken-hearted/heartbroken
inconsolable
desolate
broken.hearted/heartbroken/,brookon 'ha:rtd,
ha:rtbrookon/extremely sad because you have been deeply
upset by something that has happened [adj]
When her parents separated she was heartbroken. [ Broken-
hearted fans camped outside the star's house when he
announced the end of his career.
inconsolable /  inkon' soolobal! so sad that it is impossi-
ble for anyone to comfort you, especially because you have
been deeply upset by the death of someone you love [adj
not usually before noun]
After the death of her baby she was inconsolable. I Poor Doris
was inconsolable. How could her husband walk out on her
like that?
desolate ! 'desolot/extremely sad especially because you
are alone and lonely [adj]
She walked slowly across the courtyard, a lonely and deso-
late figure. [ He was really desolate when his wife died.
6 to feel sad because someone has died, and
to show this in the way you behave publicly,
the clothes you wear etc
grieve
be in mourning
mourn
grieve/gri:v! to feel extremely sad because someone that
you love has died Iv I/T not in passive]
grieve for Millet continued to grieve for his wife many years
after her death. ] grieve sb's death/loss People must be
allowed to grieve the loss of a relative for as long as they need
to. ] grieve It's no use grieving. It won't bring him back.
be In mourning Ibi: in Imo:rnlrj/to show sadness and
respect for someone who has died, by the way you behave
publicly, the clothes you wear etc Iv phrase]
The family was in mourning and refused to see anyone. [ be
in mourning for The Queen appeared, dressed from head
to toe in black in mourning for her husband.
mourn/ma:rn/to show how sad you are that someone you
love has died Iv I/T]
All the neighbours and relations who had come to mourn
stood around the coffin. [ mourn for They mourned for their
dead children, killed during the war. [ mourn sb's
death/loss His family were weeping and mourning their
son's death.
7 to feel unhappy and to pity yourself, in a way
that other people find annoying
feel sorry for yourself wallow in
mope self-pity
feel sorry for yourself/rid sori fo r jo:rself II -'so:ri-/
Iv phrase]
It's no good feeling sorry for yourself. You got yourself into
this mess. I No one wanted to hear about her problems. She
just lay on the bed feeling sorry for herself.

SAD/UNHAPPY 1154 SAD/UNHAPPY
mope/mop/to feel very unhappy and pity yourself so
that you have no interest in anything and no energy to do
anything Iv I]
Don't just lie there moping. Do something with your life! I
mope around/about (=go around a place moping) He's not
even attempting to look for a job - he just mopes around the
house all day.
wallow in/wolo In II 'wa:-/wallow in self-pity/des-
pair/misery etc (=keep thinking about how unhappy you
are, because you seem to enjoy pitying yourself) Iv T not
in passive]
She spent days wallowing in despair because her lover had
left her. [ I saw a nation wallowing in self-pity and defeat
and I got angry.
self-pity/,self piti/the feeling you tave when you feel
sorry for yourself because you think that you are very
unfortunate or that you have been treated unfairly In U]
In moments of self-pity she would plan her own death. ] Full
of self-pity, he considered how cruelly fate had treated him.
8 words for describing someone who often
feels or looks sad
gloomy morose
miserable misery
gloomy/'glu:mi/someone who is gloomy feels and looks
unhappy because they think there is nothing to be happy
about [adj]
The doctor was a tall, gloomy Scotsman, who had a depress-
ing effect on his patients. I When I saw their gloomy faces,
I knew that something was wrong.
gloomily [adv] "Things always go wrong for me, "" he said
gloomily.
miserable /'razdrbal/ someone who is miserable
always seems unhappy and makes other people feel
unhappy [adj]
What do you mean you're not coming to the Christmas party!
Don't be so miserable! I She's a miserable person to have
around the office - she never smiles or says hello to anyone.
morose/m'ros/someone who is morose behaves in an
unhappy, bad-tempered way, and does not speak much to
other people [adj]
He was such a morose child but he's grown into a very
pleasant young man. I Since the accident she has been morose
and moody.
misery/'mlzari/ an informal British word: if you call
someone a misery, you mean that they are always com-
plaining and they never enjoy anything [n singular]
Stop grumbling, you old misery. I Don't invite her to the
party. She's such a misery!
9 words for describing something such as a
story, film, tune, or piece of news that makes
you feel sad
sad plaintive
depressing mournful
heartbreaking/heart-rending
sad / stud/[adj ]
What a sad story! I Fairuz sang a sad song that made every-
one feel homesick. I A meeting was called to announce the sad
news that the school would be closing .down.
sadly [adv] The film ended very sadly. Everyone in the
cinema was crying.
depressing/d 'pres j/making you feel sad and unhappy
about life, especially so that you feel less hopeful about the
future [adj ]
I admire Kafka as a writer, but Ifind his novels terribly
depressing.I a very depressing movie about life after a
nuclear war I It's so depressing the way no one seems to care
what's happening to this country.
heartbreaking/heart-rending / 'ha: rtbreiki , 'ha: rt
,rendI/ an event, story, or piece of news that is heart-
breaking makes you feel extremely sad or bitterly disap-
pointed [adj ]
It's heartbreaking to see children dying just for lack of clean
drinking water. I a heart-rending story of pain and
suffering l The decision to kill the infected animals was a
heart-rending one for the farmers.
plaintive /'pleint]v/a sound that is plaintive is a high
sound that sounds like thb voice of someone who is sad or
crying for help [adj]
I could hear someone playing a plaintive tune on the guitar. [
the plaintive cry of a seagull
plaintively [adv] The baby was crying plaintively.
mournful / 'ma:rnfal/a sound or voice that is mournful
sounds as if it comes from someone who is very sad [adj]
I could hear the slow, mournful music of the bagpipes. [ His
voice sounded so mournful and so miserable that tears came
into her eyes.
mournfully [adv ] They could hear the dogs howling mourn-
fully across the hills.
1 0 words for describing a place or situation in
which it is difficult to feel happy or hopeful
dismal bleak
depressing cheerless
dreary
dismal I'dizmM/[adj]
The prison cells were dark dismal places. I It was dismal
living in France for a year, with all my friends still in
England. I a grey November afternoon, dismal and cold
dismally [adv] The sound echoed dismally through the
empty streets.
depressing /di'pres[]/ a place or situation that is
depressing makes you feel that life is sad, unpleasant, and
without purpose [adj]
The town was a depressing place with its dirty streets and
grey concrete buildings. I There's nothing more depressing
than spending Christmas alone. I the only cheerful aspect of
an extremely depressing situation
depressingly lady] The work was depressingly monotonous.
dreary/ drigri/a place, activity, or time that is dreary
is one in which you feel unhappy and bored Iadj]
This room is so dreary. You really ought to brighten it up
a little. I One dreary winter's day Isuddenly decided to leave
and go and live in Jamaica.
bleak/bli:k/a place or situation that is bleak is one in
which there is nothing to make you feel cheerful, especially
because it is cold and unattractive [adj]
The wild landscape was bleak and bare. I The high-rise office
towers stood bleak and isolated on the outskirts of London.
cheerless/'tj'Iarlas/a place or a kind of weather that is
cheerless is cold and dull, so that it is impossible to feel
happy or comfortable [adj]
They were damp, cheerless rooms, with little furniture. I The
weather was grey and cheerless with very low cloud and the
prospect of snow.
1 1 ways of saying that something makes you feel
sad or unhappy
make sb sad/unhappy
sadden
upset
depress
get sb down
break sb's heart
drive sb to despair
make sb sad/unhappy/,meik (sb) 'stud, Anthmpi/ [v
phrase]
If something is making you unhappy at work you should tell
your boss about it. I It always makes me sad when I see so
many talented people out of work.
sadden/'smdn/ifa situation or event saddens someone,
it makes them feel sad, especially because they think that
things like this should not happen Iv T]
sadden sb The sight of all the kids fighting saddened her.
She'd always tried to teach them not to fight. I We are sad-
dened by the fact that so many of our friends have deserted
us. I it saddens sb to see/hear/think etc It saddens me
to think that hospitals all over the country are so short of
staff.

SADIUNHAPPY 1155 SAFE
upset /Ap'set/ to make someone suddenly feel very
unhappy, especially so that they want to cry Iv T]
upset sb Please don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you. I The
idea of having to give up his job seemed to upset him more
than we thought it would. I it upsets sb to see/hear/think
etc She's very emotional. It upsets her a great deal to hear
about other people's problems.
depress/d'pres/to make someone feel extremely sad or
unhappy, especially so that they feel that life is without
hope or purpose Iv T]
depress sb I don't read the newspapers because it depresses
me too much. I I decided to leave. The place was beginning
to depress me. I it depresses sb to see/hear/think etc It
depresses me to think that only 5 years ago I was earning
twice as much as I do now.
get sb down/,get (sb) 'daun/an informal expression
meaning to gradually make someone feel unhappy and
tired over a period of time [phr v T]
I know you haveproblems, but don't let them getyou down. [
The soldiers said that it was the monotony of army life that
got them down.
break sb's heart / ,break (sb's) 'ho:rt/to upset someone
very much, especially after a love affair ends unhappily or
their hopes for you are destroyed [v phrase]
She's a beautiful girl, but she's cruel and one day she'll break
your heart. [ it breaks sb's heart It'll break your mother's
heart when she finds out you've been arrested. [ it breaks
sb's heart to seeCearChink ete It breaks my heart to see
the children starving.
drive sb to despair/,drav (sb) ta d'spear/ to make
someone feel very unhappy and without hope, especially
because they think that they have been badly treated Iv
phrase]
The whole atmosphere at the boarding school drove me to
despair. I just couldn't understand why my parents made me
stay there. [ Matthew, an orphan, was driven to despair by
his uncle's constant bullying.
12 a sad feeling
sadness gloom
unhappiness depression
misery despondency
sorrow heartache
grief
sadness/'sedns/In U]
After h is mother's death Charles felt a great sense of sadness
and loss. [ The old man's eyes were full of pain and sadness
as he watched them walk away. [ During her life she had
known great joy and great sadness.
unhappiness/An'hapins/the feeling of being unhappy,
especially because you are in a difficult or unpleasant sit-
uation that you do not enjoy at all In U]
If you marry that awful man, you will have nothing but
unhappiness. ] There is no doubt that personal unhappiness
contributes to ill health. [ You've no idea what unhappiness
you cause your parents when you say that you want to leave
home.
misery / 'mizari/great unhappiness, caused especially by
living or working in very bad conditions In U]
The freezing cold weather increased the misery of the retreat-
ing army. [ She didn't seem to be affected by the misery of
having to work in such terrible conditions.
sorrow/'soro [[ 'so:-, 'sa:-/the feeling of being very sad,
especially because someone has died or because terrible
things have happened to you In U]
She was full of sorrow at the loss of her child. [ He came to
express his sorrow and to offer his help in organizing the
funeral.
grief/gri:f! great sadness that you feel when someone you
love has died In U]
The entire family was overwhelmed with grief at the death
of their father. [ They say he has been shattered by grief and
refuses to leave the side of her coffin.
gloom/glu:m/the feeling of being very unhappy because
of something that has happened, especially so that you feel
that there is no hope for the future In U]
When news of the defeat was announced, an awful gloom
descended over everyone. I There was a note of gloom and
pessimism in the air.
depression/d 'pre.fan/extreme unhappiness and worry,
which causes loss of energy and interest in life, and some-
times becomes a mental illness In U]
He suffered periods of deep depression, when his mood
became suicidal. I Perfectly stable people are often plunged
into depression by divorce, unemployment, or failure in their
work.
despondency/dI 'spondonsi [[ -'spo:n-/a feeling of being
very unhappy because you have no hope for the future,
especially after you have experienced disappointment [n U]
The doctor could offer them no comfort, and they walked
away from the hospital with a feeling of despondency. ]As
the war continued and more and more men died, there was
a growing despondency.
heartache / 'ha: rtelk/a feeling of great unhappiness and
anxiety, often continuing over a long period and usually
caused by personal or family problems In U]
Being unpopular at school can cause real heartache to chil-
dren of any age. [ If she had simply called them on the phone,
her parents would have been spared the heartache they've
been going through.
13 what you say to tell someone not to be sad
cheer up
cheer up /itSIar 'Ap/you say cheer up to someone who
looks sad, when you want them to become more cheerful
Cheer up! Don't forget tomorrow's Saturday and you won't
have to work. [ Gosh, you do look gloomy. Have a drink with
me and cheer up.
sadden SAD/UNHAPPY 11
sadism CRUEL 5
sadist CRUEL 1
sadistic CRUEL 1
sadly PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
sadness SAD/UNHAPPY 12
safe SAFE 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
safe: play safe CAREFUL 7
safe as houses SAFE 3
safe bet: it's a safe bet/it's a sure bet
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 3
safe distance: at a safe distance SAFE 1
safe pair of hands DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2
SAFE
1 not in danger of being killed, harmed, or
attacked
2 the state of being safe from danger or harm
3 not in danger of being lost, damaged, or
stolen
4 words for describing an activity, way of doing
something etc that does not involve danger
5 words for describing a place where people or
things are safe from harm, damage, loss etc
6 words for describing something that will not
cause harm or injury
I not in danger of being killed, harmed, or
attacked
safe be out of danger
safely at a safe distance
in safety be in good hands
secure

SAFE 1156 SAFE
safe/seIf/[adj not usually before noun]
Do you think she'll be safe in the house all alone? I As long
as we keep to the main road we should be safe. ] safe from
The turtles lay their eggs in the damp sand where they are
safe from marine predators. I safe and sound (=safe and
unharmed, especially after being in danger) The missing
children were eventually found at a friend's house, safe and
sound.
safely/' seffii/if you do something safely, you succeed in
doing it without being killed, harmed, or attacked lady]
Once we were safely back on shore, we checked the boat for
damage. ] Most air travellers would be prepared to pay more
to be sure of travelling safely.
in safety /In I sefii/ if you do something in safety,
arrangements have been made to maVe sure that you can
do it without any danger [adv phrase]
Our planes are regularly serviced, so that passengers can be
sure they are travelling in safety. I in complete safety The
seating area is enclosed by glass, allowing spectators to
watch the rocket launch in complete safety.
secure/si Ikjoar/feeling safe and free from danger [adj]
She felt much more secure now that she had put a bolt on the
door. I The children all slept together in the same bed, snug
and secure. ] He had never really felt secure under the pro-
tection offered to him by the police.
be out of danger/bi: aot av delnd3ar/to be no longer
in danger of dying or being killed, harmed, or attacked
[ v phrase]
They're still following us; we're not out of danger yet. I
Although she has come out of the coma, she's not yet entirely
out of danger. I We climbed over the fence without the guards
seeing us and knew that we were out of danger.
at a safe distance/at a sef distdns/far enough away
from something dangerous for it not to be a danger to you
I adv phrase]
When I was at a safe distance I turned around and watched
the building go up inflames. I at a safe distance from The
accident happened because you were not driving at a safe dis-
tance from the car in front.
be in good hands/bi: in igod hmndz/if someone such
as a child or sick person is in good hands, they are safe
because doctors or other responsible people are looking
after them [v phrase]
Don't worry about the children. They're in good hands with
Monica. I Although Grandad was very ill in hospital it was
a comfort for us to know he was in good hands.
2 the state of being safe from danger or harm
safety
security
welfare
safety/'seifti/[n U]
For your own safety, please do not smoke until you are out-
side the plane. I The boy has been missing for six days, and
there are fears for his safety. [ The court was satisfied that
the company had taken reasonable steps to ensure the safety
of their staff.
security/s ikjoartil freedom from harm or danger, espe-
cially from the danger of being robbed, killed, or attacked
[n U]
For the security of passengers, all hand baggage is carefully
checked. I Everyone can play a part in improving the secu-
rity of their neighborhood.
welfare ! 'welfear/someone's safety, health, and comfort
[n U]
Concern is growing over the welfare of the hostages. [ Social
sercices staff are responsible for the welfare of these children.
3 not in danger of being lost, damaged, or
stolen
safe
secure
be as safe as houses
safe/seif/[adj not before nounl
Put the vase on the table - it'll be safe there. I Bank here -
your money will be safe with us. I keep sth safe It's a very
valuable necklace, make sure you keep it safe.
secure/si kjoar/safe, especially from thieves or other
criminals [ adj ]
Make sure the building is completely secure before you leave. I
If computer code words are not used, your data may not be
secure. I secure from He kept his savings under his bed,
secure from the prying eyes of his roommate.
security [n U] The security of the information depends on
how many people know the access code.
be as safe as houses/bi az I self az Ihauzz/a British
expression for describing something, especially money or
savings, that is completely safe [v phrasel
There's no financial risk. Your money is as safe as houses
with this company. I Investing in property was at one time
thought to be - quite literally - as safe as houses.
4 words for describing an activity, way of doing
something etc that does not involve danger
safe
safety
safe/serf/[adj]
Goodbye, Sarah. Hope you have a safe journey. I As long as
you have proper training, parachuting is a safe sport. I it
is safe to do sth A lot of women now feel that it is not safe
to be out on the streets at night. I safe sex (=done in a way
that avoids the risk of disease) They advise people to prac-
tise safe sex in order to prevent the spread of AIDS.
safety /seifti/ the state in which an activity is safe,
because it does not involve danger for the people who are
doing it In U]
Over the years improvements in safety have made hang-
gliding much more popular. I Some scientists expressed con-
cern about the safety of the test. I safety measures/precau-
tions/checks (=done to make sure that something is safe
to use, safe to do etc) Pharmaceutical companies carry out
strict safety checks on drugs before releasing them into the
market. I The ban on smoking at gas stations is just a safety
precaution. I road safety (=safety of people using the roads)
Police officers are visiting schools as part of their road safety
campaign.
5 words for describing a place where people or
things are safe from harm, damage, loss etc
safe refuge
safety haven
safe/seif/[adj]
Keep your money and your keys in a safeplace. I In Nazi Ger-
many there was no place where it was safe for Jews to hide. I
Most parents want nothing more than a safer world for their
children to grow up in.
safety / selfti/a place where you are safe and free from
danger [n U]
The firefighters rescued the children and carried them to
safety. I After the terrible storm we were relieved to reach dry
land and safety.
refuge/'refju:d3/a peaceful place where you can go in
order to escape danger, especially the danger of being
attacked [n C/U]
When he was being bullied at school the principal's office
became a kind of refuge to him. I refuge from The caves were
a place of refuge from persecution. I seek refuge (=try to
find a safe place) Terrified families flooded over the border,
seeking refuge from the civil war. I take refuge (=go some-
where that is safe) During the frequent air-raids people take
refuge in their cellars.
haven ! 'he:wn/a peaceful place where people go to in
order to escape from danger or suffering, and where they
feel very safe [n C]
She has finallyfound a place to escape to, a small haven for
herself and her daughter. I The great ideal was that America
would make itself a haven for all the oppressed people of the
11orld.

SAFE 1157 SAME
6 words for describing something that will not
cause harm or injury
safe
out of harm's way
harmless
safe/seIf/[adj]
That building doesn't look very safe. The city council ought
to put a fence around it. [ safe to use/drive/eat ere All the
planes have been tested and declared safe to fly. ] safe for
Mothers want additive-free foods that are safe for their
children.
out of harm's way/aut v ha:rmz weq if something
dangerous is out of harm's way it is in a place where it
cannot cause harm or damage [adv phrase]
Keep all drugs locked in a cupboard, out of harm's way. ]
These toys ought to be put out of harm's way until the chil-
dren are old enough for them.
harmless/ha:rmbsl safe, even though you do not expect
it to be [adj]
Our dog makes a lot of noise, but he's pretty harmless really. [
The human skin is covered with harmless bacteria.
harmlessly [adv] The knife was wrenched from his hand
and fell harmlessly to the ground.
safeguard PROTECT 1, 4
safely SAFE 1
safety SAFE 2, 4, 5
safety: in safety SAFE 1
saga STORY 5
sage INTELLIGENT 6
sail TRAVEL 2
sail/set sail LEAVE A PLACE 4
sail through/breeze through PASS A TEST 1
sailor ARMY 2
saint GOOD/MORAL 2
saintly G/MRAL 2
salaried/on a salaw EARN 6
salaw EARN 5, PAY SB FR WRK 2
sale CHEAP 9
sale: be on sale SELL 13
sale: be up for sale SELL 13
sale: for sale SELL 13
sale: on sale CHEAP 5
sale: the sale of SELL 1
sales SELL 3
sales assistanUshop assistant SELL 8
sales clerWstore clerk SELL 8
salesman/saleswoman SELL 8
salesperson SELL 8
salt of the each GOOD/MOAL ]
lvage SAVE/ESCUE 4, 5
salve conscience GUILTY/FEEL GUIL 4
your
same: all the same BUT 2
same: be the same EQUAL 2, SAME 3
same: much the same LIKE/SIMILA ]
same: not the same DIFFErEnT ]
same: one and the same SAME ]
same: the same SAME ], 2, 4
same: the same old USUALLY 3
same: the ve samelself-same SAME ]
same ae AGE 4
same language: speak the same language SAME ]0
same opinion: be of the same opinion AGREE ]
same time: at the same time TIME/AT THE SAME TIME
same time: at the same timelhavin said that BUT 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
same
SAME
12
the same person or thing, not a different one
exactly like someone or something else
words for describing someone or something
that is the same as before and has not
changed
never changing, always staying the same
words for describing something that is the
same in all its parts
to make all the things in a particular group
the same
ways of saying that two or more different
facts, descriptions, numbers etc are the same
as each other or have the same effect
words for describing something that has the
same position, effect, value, or importance as
something else
someone or something that has the same
position or purpose as another person or
thing in a different organization, system,
country etc
to have the same beliefs, ideas, or opinions
as someone else
a part of a subject, activity, job etc that is the
same as part of another subject, activity, job etc
to state or believe that two things have the
same characteristics, meaning etc
1 the same person or thing, not a different one
the same one and the same
the very same/self-same common
the same 16 'sem/[adj only before noun]
He always tells the same jokes. I "Is that a new car? .... No,
it's the same one I've always had. "'] We discovered we'd both
been to the same college. ] She's the same age as Suzie's little
girl. ] I get the same feeling of anger every time I see news
of the war.
the very same/self.same/60 veri seim, self seim/
the same person or thing, especially when this is surpris-
ing, strange, or unexpected [adj phrase usually before noun]
It was strange to think that this was the very same church
where we were married all those years ago. [ This man who
claims to be an animal-lover is the self-same man who was
seen kicking his horse yesterday.

SAME 1158 SAME
one and the same/twAn ond 8o Isem/two people or
things that are one and the same may seem to be differ-
ent but are in fact the same [adj phrase]
Arthur Wellesley and the Duke of Wellington were one and
the same person. I Photography and art can be one and the
same thing, you know.
common/' komon II 'ko:-/two or more people who have
common aims, interests, beliefs etc have the same
interests, aims, or beliefs [adj only before noun]
We have a common goal, the creation of a united Europe. ]
Dating agencies try to match people with similar personali-
ties and common interests.
2 exactly like someone or something else
the same
identical
indistinguishable
can't tell the
difference
can't tell them apart
be no different from
match
be a carbon copy of
word for word
be synonymous with
be no better than/
nothing more than
the same 18o 'se,m/[adj/pron]
the same dress/book/car etc as Someone at theparty was
wearing the same dress as me. I just/exactly the same
Richard is a little terror at school, and his brother's just the
same. [ be all the same Take whichever one you want -
they're all the same. [ look/sound/feel etc the same The
twins look the same, but they have very different personali-
ties. [ do the same Lesley watched closely as her mother
applied her make-up, and tried to do the same.
identical/aI Identilol/exactly the same in every way [adj]
The accused men gave identical stories about where they had
been that night. I The two brown leaves looked identical to
me, but Dr Smith could tell the difference. I identical to
Roman coins that she showed me were identical to the one
I had found in the garden. I identical in size/shape/
eolour ete The two triangles are identical in size and shape.
identically [ adv ] They were dressed identically.
indistinguishable /lInd[IstIngWlSobal/ two people or
things that are indistinguishable are so similar that it is
impossible to know which is which or to see any differ-
ences between them [adj not usually before noun]
At the moment, the twins are indistinguishable. I It was
claimed that Russian and American defence policies" were
indistinguishable. ] indistinguishable from He tasted the
cheap wine and found it indistinguishable from a superior
one.
can't tell the difference/,kmnt tel 8o dlfarons [I kmnt-/
if you say you can't tell the difference between two people
or things, you mean that they look, sound, or seem exactly
the same to you Iv phrasel
Emma and Louise sound so alike on the phone, I can't tell
the difference. ] can't tell the difference between Don't let
her help you with the gardening - she can't tell the differ-
ence between a weed and a strawberry plant!
can't tell them apart /ikfl:nt tel 8om olpmrt/ to be
unable to see a difference between two very similar people
or things [v phrase]
They are identical twins and it's impossible to tell them
apart. I These rap bands all sound the same to me - I can "t
tell them apart.
be no different from/hi: noo tdlfaront from/to be just
the same as other people, activities etc, even though you
might expect there to be a difference [v phrase]
At the moment her new job seems exciting but really it's no
different from her last job and she will soon be bored. ] Don
works with criminals every day and says they are no differ-
ent from other people.
match/matSl if one thing matches another or if two
things match, they look the same or have the same quali-
ties or characteristics [v I/T]
His socks don't match - one is red and the other is blue. I
match sth Their performance in government didn't quite
match their election promises.
be a carbon copy of/bi:
to be exactly like someone or something else that has hap-
pened or existed before Iv phrase]
This murder is a carbon copy of the one last month - it must
be the same killer. I She's a carbon copy of her mother.
word for word /,wa:rd fo r Iw3:rd/if you repeat or copy
something word for word, you do it using exactly the
same words [adv phrase]
Janice repeated word for word what Harold had told her.
It appears that someone has copied your essay word for word.
be synonymous with/bi: sIo In,]omos wig II -'no:-/if
a word or idea is synonymous with another word or idea
it has come to have the same meaning for the people who
use it [v phrase]
For some people "football fan" is synonymous with "crimi-
nal'.I These politicians regard capitalism as being synony-
mous with imperialism.
be no better than/nothing more than/bi: noo Ibetor
6on, i nh0 I IJ I ma:r 6an/to be exactly the same as something
bad or dishonest, in spite of being made to seem fair and
acceptable Iv phrase]
These banking charges are no better than daylight robbery! l
The previous TV franchise system was really nothing more
than a licence to print money.
3 words for describing someone or something
that is the same as before and has not
changed
be the same hasn't changed a bit/at all
unchanged unaffected
be the same/bi: 6o 'seml [v phrase]
"How's Peter? .... He'sjust the same - still crazy about motor-
cycles!"] My job's still the same - as demanding as ever! I
be the same as When I went to visit Ross in the hospital it
was the same as before - neither of us could think of any-
thing to say.
unchanged /,An'qemd3d-/still the same, especially after
a long period of time when you might have expected a lot
of changes [adj not before noun]
She kept her son's bedroom unchanged for years after his
death. ] On going back to visit the village after almost twenty
years, Mrs Simons was surprised to find it unchanged. I
remain unchanged They speak an Indian language which
has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
hasn't changed a bit/at all/ihmznt itend3d o tbtt,
ot 'off/if you say that a person or place hasn't changed a
bit or at all, you mean they have not changed, not even a
little, even though a long time has passed since you last saw
them Iv phrase]
I went to visit my old school - it hadn't changed a bit. I You
haven't changed at all, have you? You're still as impatient
as ever.
unaffected /iAno'fektlod/ the same as before, and not
changed or affected by something that has happened [adj
not before noun]
Computerization was rapid in the smaller businesses, but
for years the big national newspapers were largely
unaffected. I unaffected by The Queen's role remains the
same, apparently unaffected by the changes and upheavals
of recent years.
4 never changing, always staying the same
the same unchanging
consistent constant
the same/60 'se m/[adj ]
The tune played by the bass guitar is the same all the way
through the song. I No matter where in the world you have
a Macdonald's hamburger, it always tastes the same. [ Eco-
nomic output fell to a new low in 1990, and stayed about the
same throughout the following year.
consistent/kon'sstnt/always staying the same in your
beliefs, your behaviour, the quality of your work etc [adj]
She is one of the most consistent players on the tennis circuit,
never having a bad tournament. ] To secure our future, we

SAME 1159 SAME
need a consistent economic strategy for the nineties. I con-
sistent in Judges must be firm, fair and consistent in their
application of the law.
consistently [adv] The team has played consistently well
since the start of the season. I Economists have consistently
failed to predict accurately when the recession will end.
unchanging/AntSeIndSrJ/not changing, even when con-
ditions or situations change [adj]
Unlike us, animals have needs that are fixed and unchang-
ing. I She always had the same unchanging expression on
her face, whatever mood she was in.
constant /'konstont II ko:n-/ constant level/price/
speed/temperature etc (=one that always stays the same)
[adj]
The temperature in the museum is maintained at a constant
16 degrees Celsius. I The price of the product is not constant
but varies with supply and demand.
5 words for describing something that is the
same in all its parts
uniform
homogeneous
uniform I'ju:nfo:rm/something that is uniform has the
same appearance or characteristics in all its parts or
among all the members of a group of things [adj]
The temperature must be uniform in every area of the reac-
tor. ] The postal system operates a uniform price structure,
so it always costs the same to send a letter, i uniform in size/
shape etc Grade A vegetables have to be uniform in size and
without marks or blemishes.
uniformly lady/Throughout the industry the standard of
product is uniformly high (=the products are all of the same
high standard).
uniformity/,ju:n 'fo:rmIti/ In U/ Most modern housing
developments show a tedious uniformity of design (=they
have the same design for every house).
homogeneous/,hoomo'd3i:nios, ,homo-/ a word used
especially in technical contexts to describe something
whose parts all have the same characteristics [adj]
The mixture is then heated to form a homogeneous mass. I
Computer analysis is used to check whether each text is
stylistically homogeneous.
6 to make all the things in a particular group
the same
standardize
bring sth into line
standardize (also -ise British)/'standordalz/to make
sure that a particular type of product, service, activity etc
is always made or done in exactly the same way Iv T/
At first there were several competing designs of electric plug-
sockets, but these were standardized in the 1920s. I The cur-
riculum must be standardized so that all students are
guaranteed to receive a certain minimum level of education.
bring sth into line/,br (sth) rata 'lain/to change some-
thing such as a rule or system so that it is the same as
another generally accepted rule or system Iv phrase]
They were forced to improve their safety standards in order
to bring them into line with those in other European coun-
tries. ] What we are demanding is that our wage levels should
be brought into line with those of our competitors.
7 ways of saying that two or more different
facts, descriptions, numbers etc are the same
as each other or have the same effect
correspond tally
be consistent with coincide
agree match up
correspond/,ko 'spond II ,k:r I 'spo:nd, ,ko:-/[v I not
in progressive]
correspond to/with The witness's statements correspond
with the available evidence. [ His own domestic situation did
not correspond very closely to his ideal of a loving, equal part-
nership. I correspond The dates quoted in these two docu-
ments do not correspond.
be consistent with/bi: kon'sstont w6/if something
that is said, written, or done is consistent with a particu-
lar idea or piece of information it says the same thing or
follows the same principles [v phrase]
The figures in the accounts must be consistent with the infor-
mation given in the annual report. I Charging these very
high fines is hardly consistent with your policy of 'user-
friendly banking'. I This sort of repression is not consistent
with a democratic system.
agree/o'gri:/if two pieces of information agree with each
other they are the same, and so they are both likely to be
correct Iv I not in progressive]
agree with Your story doesn't agree with what the police
have told us. [ agree I'll have to check these calculations
again - the totals don't agree.
tally / tmli/if one piece of information or set of numbers
tallies with another, they add up to the same result or say
the same thing Iv I not in progressive]
tally with His account of the discovery of the body tallied
with the testimony of his wife. [ tally Check both sets of
results to see if they tally.
coincide / ,koon'sad/if two people's ideas, opinions, or
wishes coincide, they are the same, even though this may
be completely by chance [v I not progressive]
For once our wishes coincided. We both wanted a quick
divorce. [ coincide with His views coincided perfectly with
our thinking. [ Even if her advice does not coincide with what
you want, I advise you to follow it.
match up /,raetS '^p/ if information from one place
matches up with information from another, both sets of
information are the same, which shows that they are both
correct [phr v I not in progressive]
match up with You must make sure that your sales figures
match up with your receipts at the end of each week. [ match
up I've questioned both suspects and so far their stories just
don't match up. One of them must be lying.
 words for describing something that has the
same position, effect, value or importance as
something else
corresponding
equivalent
corresponding/,korg'spondHj II ,ko:ro i'spa:n-, ,ka:-I
[adj only before noun]
Compared with the corresponding period last year, average
temperatures have been low. I The removal of American
nuclear forces brought a corresponding withdrawal of Rus-
sian troops. I A big fall in steel productivity caused a cor-
responding decrease in profits.
equivalent /I 'kwlvalont/having the same importance,
purpose, or value as something else [adj]
He was fined $50 but given the choice of doing the equivalent
amount of community work. I equivalent to His monthly
US salary is equivalent to a year's pay here in Mexico. I The
US Congress is roughly equivalent to the British Parliament.
9 someone or something that has the same
position or purpose as another person or
thing in a different organization, system,
country etc
counterpart
equivalent
opposite number
counterpart/kaontorpo:rt/[n C/
Belgian government officials are discussing the matter with
their counterparts in France. [ the American counterpart of
the Bank of England [ Eighteenth-century urban dwellers
lived in much worse conditions than their modern counter-
parts.

SAME 1160 SATISFIED
equivalent I I 'kwvalont! an idea, institution, person etc
that has the same importance or meaning as someone or
something else In C]
Jupiter was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Zeus. [
the French equivalent of our House of Representatives
opposite number/,oozt 'nAmbo r [[ ,o:-/a word used
especially in British English meaning a person who has
the same job as another person in a different organization
In C]
The project was run jointly by Morris and his opposite
number in the New York office. I After years of communica-
tion by telephone she finally met her opposite number in the
Spanish government.
10 to have the same beliefs, ideas, or opinions
as someone else
like-minded be in tune with
be on the same wavelength be in harmony
speak the same language
like.minded/laIk 'maindd/having the same attitudes
and beliefs and enjoying the same things [adj]
Being with like-minded people makes my job much more
enjoyable. I She convinced a group of like-minded friends to
join her trekking in the Himalayas.
be on the same wavelength/hi: on 6o selm 'wev-
lerj0/to have the same opinions, attitudes, and feelings as
someone else, so that you understand each other very well
Iv phrase]
My mother and I aren't on the same wavelength - she just
can't understand why I don't want to get married.
speak the same language/,spi:k 6o selm lmrjgwdh/
to have the same opinions as someone else and agree about
most things, so that you can exchange ideas easily without
misunderstanding each other Iv phrase]
I can't get through to Dave at all. We just don't speak the
same language! I Yes, politically they are our enemies, but
when it comes to trade I think we speak the same language.
be in tune with/hi: n 'tju:n w6 [I -'tu:n-/to have the
same ideas and attitudes as a group, society, country etc
and be easily accepted by it Iv phrase]
Sartre's novels and plays were in tune with the revolution-
ary spirit of post-war France. [ I'm not sure you're quite in
tune with the philosophy of the organization. [ What we need
is a tax system that is more in tune with the 'ability to pay"
principle.
be in harmony/hi: in ho:rmoni/to have the same ideas
and beliefs as a particular person, society, or organization
so that things work smoothly together Iv phrase]
be in harmony with The poems were completely in har-
mony with Athenian attitudes towards beauty. [ be in har-
mony The mid-nineteenth century in England was a time
of great stability, with Church, Parliament and Monarchy
in harmony.
I I a part of a subject, activity, job etc that is the
same as part of another subject, activity, job etc
overlap
overlap/'ouvorlap/[n C/U]
overlap between There is bound to be some overlap between
the study of Modern History and the study of Politics. I The
legislation creates a huge overlap between the responsibili-
ties of central and local government. I overlap The two com-
panies have merged to get rid of any overlaps in their busi-
ness activities.
1 2 to state or believe that two things have the
same characteristics, meaning etc
equate
equate/IikweIt/[V T]
equate sth Being intelligent and passing exams aren't
necessarily the same thing, and it is wrong to equate them. I
equate sth with right-wing politicians who seem to equate
poverty with laziness
sample GROUP OF PEOPLE 11, PART 8, TASTE OF
sanctimonious GOOD/MORAL 11
sanction LET/ALLOW 8
sanctions FORBID 11
sanctions: impose sanctions FORBID 5
sand: bury your head in the sand IGNORE 3
sandwiched: be sandwiched between BETWEEN 1
sane MENTALLY ILL 4, SENSIBLE 1
sanity MENTALLY ILL 4
sap sb's strength/energy WEAK 4
sarcasm MAKE FUN OF3
sarcastic MAKE FUN OF 3
sass ANSWER/REPLY 3
sassy RUDE/IMPOLITE 2
satellite COUNTRY/NATION 2
satire MAKE FUN OF 4
satisfaction SATISFIED 5
satisfaction: to sb's satisfaction SATISFIED 6
satisfactory GOOD ENOUGH 1, SATISFIED 3
satisfied SATISFIED 1 2, SURE 1
satisfied: not satisfied SATISFIED 7
SATISFIED
feeling pleased because you have what you
want or because things have happened in the
way that you hoped
1 satisfied because things have happened in
the way that you hoped or wanted
2 satisfied because you have everything that
you want and you do not want or need any
more
;3 words for describing a result, situation,
achievement etc that makes you feel satisfied
because it is what you were hoping for
4 words for describing a job or activity that
makes you feel satisfied because you think it
is worth doing
5 a feeling of being satisfied
6 to make someone feel satisfied
 not satisfied
8 words for describing desires or needs that
are so strong that they cannot be satisfied
1 satisfied because things have happened in
the way that you hoped or wanted
satisfied be in sb's good books/
pleased good graces
happy
satisfied/'smtsfaid/[adj]
At the end of the day the conference organizers were satis-
fied. Everything had gone smoothly. I satisfied with Brian
wouldn't leave work until he was satisfied with the job he'd
done. I 80% of respondents said they were "fairly satisfied'
or 'very satisfied" with the president's performance. I well
satisfied (=very satisfied) Judging from your school report,
all the teachers are well satisfied. I satisfied customer
(=satisfied with what they have bought or with the serv-
ice they have received) "'Another satisfied customer, '" said
Miss Wilkes ringing up 50 dollars on the register. I satisfied
grin/smile/expression etc Sussman would puff on his
pipe, a satisfied grin on his face.
pleased/pli:zd/satisfied and happy, especially with what
someone else has done or achieved [adj not before noun]
pleased with You've passed in all five subjects - I'm very
pleased with you! I We've been really pleased with the
response to our appeal for blood donors. I pleased about
I told him that he should bepleased about how hard his son
had been working at school. I pleased Tanya had found the
course very difficult but she had done her best tnd was
pleased.

SATISFIED 1161 SATISFIED
happy / ' hepi/satisfied because something has been done
or made well or because you have achieved what you
wanted to achieve [adj not before noun]
happy with I think Mr Forbes will be happy with the way
the morning's gone. I happy about The director was very
happy about rehearsals so far.
be in sb's good books (British) I good graces
(American)/bi: n (sb's) ,god 'buks, ,god 'gresIz/if you are
in someone's good books or good graces, they are very
pleased with you or satisfied with something you have
done for them Iv phrase]
I'm in my dad's good books at the moment because I passed
my French exam. I Giving us a ride to the train station was
just a way of getting into our good graces.
2
satisfied because you have everything that
you want and you do not want or need any
more
satisfied content
happy fulfilled
satisfied/'seQsfaidl [adj not usually before noun]
Delia won't be satisfied until she's earning more than her
husband. ] We don't go out much - as long as we can go for
a drink once a week we're satisfied. I satisfied with I don't
really want a bigger house - I'm quite satisfied with what
I've got. I satisfied to do sth She seems to be satisfied to
spend her evenings watching TV with her family.
happy / hepi/satisfied with what you have, so that you
do not want to change it for anything else [adj not before
noun]
Just give the children some coke and ice-cream and they'll
be happy. I happy with I would be happy with a part-time
job, as long as the wages were reasonable. I We have no plans
to change our supplier - we are quite happy with our exist-
ing one.
content/kon'tent/satisfied with the way things are or the
way you live your life, and not wanting to change anything
or ask for anything more [adj not before noun]
A long as Alison gets to see her boyfriend once a week she's
content. I content to do sth At the moment my mother seems
content to take things slowly. I content with Although
Barry was poor he was basically content with his life.
fulfilled/fol 'fiN/satisfied with your life because you feel
that what you do, for example at work, is interesting,
useful, and important [adj not usually before noun]
I'm sure I'd be more fulfilled if I had a job that involved
caring for other people. I It was only when she had had a
child that Emily felt completely fulfilled.
3 words for describing a result, situation,
achievement etc that makes you feel satisfied
because it is what you were hoping for
satisfactory
pleasing
satisfactory/,sets'fektdri/[adj]
Profits have risen by 30% - a very satisfactory result. I most
satisfactory (=very satisfactory) The way your patients are
responding to the new treatment is most satisfactory, Dr
Powells.
satisfactorily [adv ] Mr Cobb just didn't answer the ques-
tion satisfactorily.
pleasing/'pli:z/making you feel satisfied and pleased
because things have happened in the way you hoped they
"would [adj]
It was a pleasing conclusion to the day's negotiations. I The
speaker managed to strike a pleasing balance between
authority and humour.
4, words for describing a job or activity that
makes you feel satisfied because you think it
is worth doing
satisfying
fulfilling
rewarding
satisfying /I setgsfa;-/a job, activity, or experience that
is satisfying is one that makes you feel satisfied because
you enjoy doing it and the results are often very good [adj]
There's something very satisfying about baking your own
bread. [ Working with the mentally handicapped can be a
satisfying and rewarding experience.
fulfilling/fol'fili/something that is fulfilling, such as
a job or way of life, makes you feel satisfied and happy,
especially because you feel that you are using all your abil-
ities in a useful way [adj]
A fulfilling career was all Barbara wanted, but she hadn't
yet found one. I Many older people who have no close fulfill-
ing personal relationships lavish their affection on pets. I
With no prospects of employment or housing, these kids have
nothing fulfilling to look forward to at all.
rewarding/ri 'w:rdIrj/a job or activity that is reward-
ing is satisfying because you feel you are doing something
useful for yourself or for other people [adj]
Nursing is a very rewarding job. [ The literature course has
been hard work, but very rewarding.
 a feeling of being satisfied
satisfaction
fulfilment/fulfillment
satisfaction/,sets'fekfdn/In U]
Martin typed in the last word of his novel with a sense of
satisfaction. I Customer satisfaction is what we should
always be aiming for. I job satisfaction (=satisfaction that
you get from doing your job) Thepay ispretty good, butyou
don't get much job satisfaction.
fulfilment (British) I fulfillment (American)/ful' filmnt/
a feeling of being satisfied and happy with your life In U]
Marriage brought the couple happiness and fulfillment. I a
sense/feeling of fulfilment Being offered the job of
managing director at the age of 30 gave her a tremendous
feeling of fulfilment. I seek fulfilment (=try to find it)
Thomas sought fulfilment in the single-minded pursuit of
wealth.
6 to make someone feel satisfied
satisfy
to sb's satisfaction
fulfil
satisfy/'setsfai/Iv T not in progressive]
I tried on dozens of wedding dresses before I found one that
satisfied me. I A compromise was eventually reached between
the factory and the water company, yet even this failed to
satisfy environmentalists.
to sb's satisfaction/t (sb's) ,sets' fekj'an/if you do
something to someone's satisfaction, you do it in a way
that satisfies them [adv phrase]
Having settled the matter to his satisfaction, Jonathan tried
to put it out of his mind. I When Lara had set the table to Mrs
Kentwell's satisfaction, she invited everyone to sit down.
fulfil/fol'fil/to satisfy what someone expects or wants
Iv T]
You must give more detailed answers if you are to fulfil the
examiner's expectations. I I resigned because I was not ful-
filling my career aspirations in the job I was doing. I He
wanted a perfect wife and mother, and Susan fulfilled this
role with great success.
7 not satisfied
not satisfied
not happy/unhappy
displeased
dissatisfied
discontented
disgruntled
I I
not satisfied/not setosfad/[adj not before noun]
We've even offered to install brand new machines free of
charge, but the company is still not satisfied. I not satisfied
with The boss called James in because she wasn't satisfied
with his work. I not fully satisfied If you are not fully satis-
fied with this product, your money will be refunded.

SATISFIED 1162 SAVE MONEY
not happy/unhappy/not 'hepi, ^n'hapi/not satisfied
with something, especially with someone's work or with
the way something has been done or made [adj not before
noun]
not happy/unhappy about If you decide you're not happy
about the way the dress fits, we'll alter it for you. I The buyers
are unhappy about the service they are getting from our sales
department. I not happy/unhappy with Mr Parker
returned to Phoenix unhappy with what he had achieved
while on business in Cleveland.
displeased/ds pli:zd/a formal word meaning not satis-
fied and rather annoyed about the way something has been
done [adj not before noun]
displeased about/with My superiors have contacted me.
They are displeased about recent incidents in this sector. I
most displeased (=very displeased) The president was
most displeased with his press officers for allowing this infor-
mation to become public. I displeased Sarah seemed dis-
pleased but did not say anything to me.
dissatisfied/dl tsetIsfaId, dlsts-/not satisfied, espe-
cially because you feel that something is not being done as
well as it could be [adj]
The campaign for better teaching was led by dissatisfied par-
ents. I dissatisfied with During the debate, Mr Law said
he was dissatisfied with the government's handling of the
refugee crisis. I deeply dissatisfied (=very dissatisfied) R
was obvious that most rail-users were deeply dissatisfied
with the sort of service they were getting.
dissatisfaction/disets'fekjdn, disse-/ [n U] Baker's
increasing dissatisfaction with his role in the party led him
to resign.
discontented / diskontentd/not satisfied, especially
because you are doing something that you do not really
want to do [adj]
Many women are discontented being housewives. I discon-
tented with Eva was ambitious and was discontented with
her job at the post office.
discontent [n U] The discontent caused by lack of opportu-
nity leads some young people to turn to crime.
disgruntled/dis Igr^ntld/not satisfied and slightly angry,
especially because you feel you have been treated badly or
unfairly [adj]
Anne expected a going-away present and seemed rather dis-
gruntled to receive a small bunch of flowers. I When it was
decided that the bus could not continue, the disgruntled
passengers were taken to a nearby hotel.
8 words for describing desires or needs that
are so strong that they cannot be satisfied
insatiable
insatiable /n'sefobM! insatiable appetite/desire/
need/curiosity/demand etc (-so strong that it cannot be
satisfied) [ adj ]
Brenda's appetite was insatiable - chocolate, fruit, pickles,
she would eat anything. I Motor manufacturers are finding
it difficult to keep up with the US's sudden and insatiable
demand for small cars. I Humankind seems to have an
insatiable urge to conquer and explore.
.!! satisfy PERSUADE 6, SATISFIED 6
::ў satisfy a need: meet/satisfy a need NEED 8
i ,--, satisfying SATISFIED 4
saturate WET 7
. saturated WET2
saucy RUDE/OBSCENE 2
•
saunter WALK 3
savage VIOLENT 1, 2, 3
savagery VIOLENT 6
save KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 1, SAVE MONEY 1,
SAVE STH TO USE LATER 1, SAVE/RESCUE 1,
2,3,4,5
.. save sb's life SAVE/RESCUE 1
; save sth for sb KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE 3
:.. save up SAVE MONEY 1
save
" "
• 4":.:-: . .2-,. :. :.:-,:.= , v     ,
.... m:: .:. ,,: ....
which .meaning
save someone or
something from :z::"
danger
..,.
............. -
sve. money
..
save something to
use later
SAVE/RESCUE
SAVE MONEY
SAVE STH TO
USE LATER
keep something
instead of selling it,
throwing it away etc
,.
collect something :as=.
a hob.by ..... :...;: .......
KEEP/CONTINUE
TO HAVE
COLLECT
@ SAVE MONEY
to save money
to have some money that you have saved
the money that you have saved
1 to save money
save
save up
set aside
scrimp and save
save/SelV/to gradually collect an amount of money and
keep adding to it, especially by regularly putting a certain
amount into a bank [v I/T]
save money/S500 etc How long did it take you to save all
that money? l It's a low-paid job, but she still manages to save
a few dollars each week. I Sheplanned to work until she had
saved enough money to attend nursing school in Nashville. I
save R is hoped that these lower tax rates will encourage
people to save. I save for (=save money in order to pay for
something) They've already started saving for their next
vacation.
save up / ,seiv '^p/to save money in order to buy some-
thing or to do something [phr v I/T]
Dave's been saving up for months to buy a new camera. I
save up sth She's saved up enough money to take a course
in computer science. I save up for I can't possibly afford that
car now - I'll have to save up for it.
set aside / ,set 'sald/to regularly save part of the money
you earn, especially over a long period [phr v T]
set aside sth We've all been setting aside a little money each
month for a trip to Disneyland. [ If you want to build up a
good pension fund, you should start setting aside a small
part of your earnings now.
scrimp and save/,skrmp nd 'sev/to try to save as
much money as you can even though you do not earn very
much [v phrase]
We really had to scrimp and save when we first bought the
house. I For eleven years Mrs White scrimped and saved to
pay for her daughter's education.
 to have some money that you have saved
have sth saved up/saved
have sth put by/put away
have sth tucked away
have sth saved up/saved/hev (sth) ,selvd 'Ap, 'selvd/
[ v phrase]
It's a good thing I had some extra money saved - I didn't
expect the car repairs to be so expensive. I Luckily he had
enough saved up to tide him over till his new job started.

SAVE MONEY 1163 SAVE/RESCUE
have sth put by/put away/hev (sth) ,put 'bai, ,pot
o'weq if you have money put by or put away, you have
saved it over a long period of time Iv phrase]
I think Philip has quite a lot ofmoneyput by. [ I thought my
aunt had a few thousand put away but I never realized she
was practically a millionaire/
have sth tucked away/hav (sth) t^kt o'wei/if you
have money tucked away, you have saved it, especially
when other people do not know that you have it or where
you keep it [v phrase]
It turned out that he had several million tucked away in a
secret Swiss bank account. I I try to keep a little money tucked
away for my retirement.
3 the money that you have saved
savings
nest egg
savings/'selvlljZ/In plural]
The old woman kept her savings in a big jar under her bed. [
I'm paying for the course out of my own savings. [ life sav-
ings (=all the money you have saved in your life) Mypar-
ents spent their life savings on a retirement home in Florida.
nest egg/'nest eg/an amount of money that you have
saved for the time when you stop working, get married etc
In C usually singular]
This investment will be a nice little nest eggfor you when you
get married. [ A long period of high inflation will eventually
reduce the value of your nest egg.
SAVE/RESCUE
1 to save someone from danger or death
2 to save someone from a difficult or
unpleasant situation
3 to save someone from a boring or
embarrassing social situation
4 to save something from being damaged or
lost, especially something valuable or
important
5 to save something such as an organization, a
business, or a relationship that is in serious
difficulties and about to fail
little. [ rescue team/party (=group of people who go to
rescue someone) They huddled in a crevice on the cliff face
waiting for the rescue party.
save sb's life /selv (sb's) lalf/to save someone who is
in great danger of dying or being killed Iv phrase]
Surgeons carried out a heart transplant in an attempt to save
her life. I In the fighting of early 1915 Graves had saved the
life of his commanding officer. [ Millions of lives have been
saved by improved nutrition and hygiene.
pick up/pik '^P/to save someone from a dangerous and
distant place by taking them away in a boat or aircraft [phr
vT]
They spent the night near the top of the mountain, before
being picked up by helicopter. [ A ship was sent to pick up
the survivors.
2 to save someone from a difficult or
unpleasant situation
save come to the rescue
rescue get sb out of
save/seiv/to save someone from a difficult or unpleasant
situation, especially a situation that is likely to get even
worse Iv T]
save sb The bank saved us, just when we thought we would
have to sell our house. [ save sb from Doctors advised him
that only complete rest could save him from a total nervous
breakdown.
rescue/'reskju:/to help someone to get out of a difficult
or unpleasant situation, especially when they are unable
to help themselves Iv T]
rescue sb from Larry seems to expect his parents to rescue
him from all his difficulties. [ She was rescued from her
underpaid factory job by a movie director searching for new
talent. [ rescue sb She has devoted her life to rescuing home-
less teenagers.
come to the rescue / ,kAm t 6 ' reskju:/to save some-
one from a difficult or unpleasant situation, when they
urgently need help [v phrase]
She didn't know what she was going to do, until Thomson's
bakery came to the rescue by offering her a job. [ Luckily,
Sally came to the rescue and lent us her car.
get sb out of/get (sb) 'aot ov [[ -a:v/to help someone
to escape from a situation in which they have a lot of
difficult problems to deal with [phr v T]
You got us into this mess, so you can get us out of it.
1 to save someone from danger or death
save save sb's life
rescue v pick up
rescue n
save/seiv/Iv T]
save sb The children were saved, but their parents died in
the car crash. [ Ben would have died in the blaze if a fire-
man hadn't saved him. [ The President had been shot from
close range. It was only his bullet-proof vest that saved him. [
save sb from Officer McCarthy had saved her from a savage
attack in the park. [ Environmental groups are campaign-
ing to save the white rhinoceros from extinction.
rescue/' reskju:/to save someone by removing them from
a dangerous place or situation, especially when this
involves taking serious risks Iv T]
rescue sb from We were rescued from the sinking ship by
a passingJ'ashing boat. [ In this movie Shame Kapoor rescues
a girl from a gang of kidnappers. [ rescue sb He stood on
the roof of the burning building and waited for the Fire
Department to rescue him. [ In these waters you have to rescue
them in 15 minutes or they're dead.
rescue/'reskju:/an act of rescuing someone [n C/U/
The rescue of all 208passengers from the blazing ship seemed
like a miracle. [ A daring rescue was attempted. [ rescue
attemptCperationCfforts At last the appalling weather,
which had hindered rescue operations, began to improve a
3 to save someone from a boring or
embarrassing social situation
rescue
save
come to sb's rescue
rescue / ' reskju:/to help someone to get away from a con-
versation or social situation that is boring or embarrass-
ing Iv T]
rescue sb I was stuck talking to Aunt Martha until Morn
rescued me. I "'No, I can't go out with you, "" he said, looking
around for someone to rescue him. "'I think I'm busy on
Friday." [ rescue sb from Excuse me a moment, I must go
and rescue Mary from boring old Mr Potter.
save/selv/to do or say something to help someone in a
situation where they feel bored or embarrassed, so that the
situation does not get worse Iv T]
save sb I felt embarrassed, not knowing how to answer his
question, but Jane saved me by changing the subject. I save
sb from To save her nephew from boredom, she often took
him out for walks.
come to sb's rescue/krn t (sb's) reskju:/to help
someone at a particular moment in a social situation that
is embarrassing, boring, or unpleasant [v phrase]
I couldn't remember my doctor's name;fortunately Maria
came to my rescue. [ The chairman criticized me for five full
minutes, and none of my colleagues at the meeting would
come to my rescue.

SAVE/RESCUE
4 to save something from being damaged or
lost, especially something valuable or
important
save
rescue
salvage
save/sew/to save objects, buildings, places etc that are
in danger of being damaged or destroyed Iv T]
save sth We could only save some clothes and a few pieces
of furniture before the house burned down. I Developers want
to build a shopping mall on these meadows, but local people
are campaigning to save them. I save sth from It is almost
too late to save the rain forest from destruction.
rescue /reskju:/ to save something just before it is
damaged or destroyed Iv T]
They were able to rescue their most precious possessions
before the boat sank. I The Landmark Trust is a charity
which rescues buildings of architectural interest.
salvage/'saJvJds/to save something, especially some-
thing valuable, from a situation in which other things have
already been damaged, destroyed, or lost Iv T]
The fire had destroyed most of the building, but we managed
to salvage a few valuable items. I Divers hope to salvage some
of the ship's cargo.
5 to save something such as an organization, a
business, or a relationship that is in serious
difficulties and about to fail
save come to the rescue
rescue salvage
bail out throw sb a lifeline
save/sexy/Iv T]
save sth from Financial experts are trying to save one of
Britain's biggest holiday companies from bankruptcy. I save
sth Bob and Martha worked hard to save their marriage,
for the sake of the children.
rescue /'reskju:/ to save an organization or a country
from serious financial difficulty, for example by lending
money or by improving the way it is organized Iv T]
rescue sth The World Bank hopes that these emergency
measures will rescue the Zambian economy. I rescue sth
from He reorganized the family business, rescuing it from
severe debt.
rescue In U] The rescueplan (=the plan to rescue an organi-
zation etc) involves a ten million dollar loan from the Euro-
pean Community.
bail out / be;l aot] to save a person or organization from
serious financial difficulty, especially when their problems
are caused by bad management and when the money that
saves them is provided by the government [phr v T]
bail out sb The government bailed out the ailing car com-
pany in order to protectjobs. I Why should taxpayers" money
be used to bail out businesses that have failed to invest in
their own future?
come to the rescue /tkAlll ta 60 reskju:/to save an
organization when it needs help, especially by giving finan-
cial support Iv phrase]
The city council had continued to overspend, assuming that
the federal government would come to its rescue. ] If our bus-
iness goes into debt, the parent company will come to the
rescue.
salvage/' saJv ds/to take action so that you do not com-
pletely lose everything when a company or relationship is
in serious difficulties Iv T]
The banks have installed a new management team in the
struggling company in an attempt to salvage some of their
investment. I Is there still a chance of salvaging our
marriage?
throw sb a lifeline / Oroo (sb) o laflaln/to save a person
or company that is in serious financial difficulties and
about to fail, by giving them enough money to continue Iv
phrase]
1164
say after
Just before my business went bankrupt, my father threw me
a lifeline in the form of a $10,000 loan. I throw a lifeline
to The Administration refuses to throw a lifeline to the trou-
bled automobile industry by raising import tariffs.
SAVE STH TO USE
LATER
1 to save something so that you can use it later
to save something so that you can use it later
save keep back
keep conserve
keep sth in reserve
save/seJv/to keep something and not use it now, because
you want to be able to use it later Iv T]
save sth He took out his last cigarette, which he'd been
saving for just this moment. I I'd like to save some of this
paint and use it when I do the windows. I save sth for later
We can save all this food for later. I save sth for a rainy
day (=save something to use at a time when you really need
it) Would you like some Scotch? I have a bottle somewhere
that I've been saving for a rainy day.
keep/ki:p/to save something so that you will still have
it if you need it at any time in the future Iv T]
keep sth We can use half the wood now but we ought to keep
the rest - we might need it. I keep sth for later I'll keep some
of these magazines for later, and read them on the plane.
keep sth in reserve/,ki:p (sth) n n tzaxrv/to save part
of something in case the part that you are using is not good
enough, large enough etc Iv phrasel
It's a good idea to keep a little money in reserve for those
unexpected emergencies. [ Luckily I had kept some wine in
reserve, in case the rest got finished quickly.
keep back/,ki:p 'bek/to not use or give away all of
something, so that you will still have some of it left for your-
self later [phr v T]
keep sth/it/them back dake never sold all his eggs - he
always kept a few back for his own family. [ keep back sth
When Emily has a party she often keeps back the best wine
for herself.
oonserve/kants3:rv/conserve resources/energy/mat-
erials/fuel/water etc (-to use them very carefully so that
you will have enough for the future) Iv T]
As a way of conserving water, people were not allowed to use
hosepipes or wash their cars. [ Recycling helps conserve
natural and often limited resources, such as wood and
aluminum.
saved: have sth saved up/saved SAVE MONEY 2
saved my life: you've saved my life THANK 2
saving grace GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 2
.:i. savings MONEY 6, SAVE MONEY 3
:} savour/savor ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 1
.... savoury' SWEET 3
.:.. saw CUT 5
saw through CUT 3
.: say EXAMPLE 3, EXPRESS 1, SAY 1, 2, 3, 7,
: SAY/STATE 1, 11, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 6
say: can't say/tell PREDICT 6
say: have a say POWER 1
say: have no say POWER 6
say: have your say SAY/STATE 2
say: not say anything about TALK TO SB 20
say: not say much for/not say a lot for SHOW/BE A
SIGN OF 5
 say: supposing/suppose/say IF 8
say: they say/people say SAY 12
say: what did you say.'? REPEAT 7
say a lot for SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 4
" say after: repeat after/say after REPEAT 3

say good things about
1165
say good things about PRAISE 2
say no REFUSE 1
say no to REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 3
say sb can do sth LET/ALLOW 1
say sb can't do sth: tell sb not to do sth/say sb can't
do sth FORBID 1
say sb should do sthlought to do sth ADVISE 1
say-so: sb's say-so LET/ALLOW 9
say something you shouldn't SAY 10
say
say
say
say
say
say
say
say
say
say
sth TALK TO SB 1
sth again REPEAT 1, 2
sth is sb's fault BLAME 1
sth under your breath SAY 5
(that) sthlsb is CALL/DESCRIBE AS 1
what you like SURE 1
what you think SAY/STATE 2
why/tell sb why REASON 8
you are sorry/say sorry SORRY/APOLOGIZE 1
8.00/2.45 etc TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 3
say
SAY
10
11
12
1 to say something
2 to use particular words in order to express
what you mean or think
3 to say or suggest something in an indirect
way
4 to say something suddenly or unexpectedly
5 to say something quietly, especially so that it
is difficult for other people to hear you
6 to say something in a low voice, especially
because you are angry
7 to say something in a particular way of
speaking
8 to be unable to say anything because you are
too surprised, shocked, upset etc
9 to stop yourself saying what you really want
to say to someone, because you do not want
to upset them or cause trouble
to say something that you should not say
something that someone says
ways of saying that you have got some
information by hearing people say something
SAY
1 to say something
say
remark
comment
point out
mention
observe
utter
say/sei/to say something using spoken or written words
[v I/T]
"'It's getting late, "" she said. [ say (that) You should write
to the bank and say you need more time. [ He's been saying
for weeks that he's going to repair that plug. [ it says (that)
It says in today's paper that gas prices are going up again. [
say what/where/why etc The chairman started by saying
why he'd called the meeting. [ say "'Where was Ellie going?"
"7 don't know. She didn't say."[ say sth I couldn't think of
anything to say. [ I'm sorry - that was a stupid remark. Just
forget I ever said it. [ say hello/goodbye/sorry/yes etc He
came to say goodbye. [ say a word/a few words about I'd
like to say a few words about our weekend programme.
remark/ri 'mo:rk/to say what you have noticed about a
particular person, situation etc or to express an opinion
about them Iv I/T not in passive]
"There's a strange smell in here, "" she remarked. [ remark
that Kate remarked that it was amazing how much her kids
knew about science. [ remark on (=notice something and
then say something about it) A lot of our customers remark
on the quality of our workmanship.
comment/'kvment [[ 'ko:-/to express an opinion about
someone or something that you have seen, heard, or read
about Iv I/T]
"'He only wears those clothes to prove that he's rich, "" com-
mented Harold. I comment on The prime minister was
asked to comment on the crisis. I comment that Some critics
have commented that the film lacks originality. I comment
Journalists asked General Curran how the campaign was
going, but he refused to comment.
point out/,paint 'aoq to say that there is an important
fact which other people may not have noticed or realized
[phr v T]
"'Profits are up this year, "" said Roger. "'But so are costs, ""
pointed out Chris. I As Durkheim points out, suicide rates
are much higher in some occupations than in others. I point
out that I'd just like to point out that whenever there's a
problem I'm the one who has to deal with it. I point out sth
a simplepamphlet on road safety, pointing out the dangers
of cycling without a helmet
mention/'menfdn/to say something about a particular
fact without saying much about it, especially during a con-
versation Iv T]
mention (that) When I was talking to him last night, he
mentioned that his wife was ill. I I forgot to mention that I'd
be working late tonight. I mention where/who/what etc
Did she mention where she was going?
observe/ab'za:rv/a formal word meaning to say what
you have noticed about a situation, someone's behaviour
etc Iv T]
"'Life is full of problems, "" Martha observed philosophically. I
observe that In his speech the president observed that the
economic situation was improving.
utter/'Atr/a word used formally or in literature meaning
to say something that expresses, in spoken words, what you
think or feel Iv T]
Petrov was shaking with rage,, unable to utter a word. I Her
remark was uttered in a casual tone but it was meant as a
criticism. I Despite the pain, she never uttered a single word
of complaint.
2 to use particular words in order to express
what you mean or think
say be worded
put it in your own words
phrase
say IseII [v T]
say sth How do you say "'Good morning" in Italian? I say
that Mary wasn't sure how to say that she didn "t want to see

SAY 1166 SAY
him any more. I "'Don "t let me keep you'" is just a polite way
of saying that you want someone to leave.
put it / pot it! to express an idea in a particular way using
particular words, especially in order to explain what you
mean as simply and clearly as possible Iv phrase]
If you haven't quite understood, I'll try to put it another way. I
to put it bluntly/briefly etc To put it bluntly, this film is
not very good. I as sb puts it Long term planning is useless,
because, as Keynes puts it, in the long term we are all dead.
phrase ]ffeiz! to choose the words that you use to express
something, especially when you choose them carefully
[vT]
If you make any critical comments, make sure you phrase
them carefully - she's very sensitive..I Clara phrased her
question so that the politician could not avoid discussing the
issue.
be worded/bi: 'w3:rdold/if something such as an official
statement or document is worded in a particular way, the
speaker or writer has deliberately chosen their words in
that way to express their meaning Iv phrase]
His speech to the police officers about racial violence had to
be very carefully worded. ] The Defence Secretary made a
public statement about the crisis, but it was worded in such
a way as to give very little information. ] a clumsily worded
letter
in your own words/tn ja:r aon w3:rdz/ if you say
something in your own words you say it in your own way
and do not copy what someone else has said [adv phrase]
Tell the court, in your own words, what happened on the
night of January 2nd. ] It's a good idea to get your students
to retell a story in their own words.
3 to say or suggest something in an indirect
way
imply hint
suggest drop a hint
say in a roundabout way
imply/Impla/Iv T]
imply {that) He sort of implied that I could have the job if
I wanted it. I What are you implying - that my paintings are
no good? I imply sth You seem to be implying something that
is not quite true.
sugge$| ]sdsest! to say something in an indirect way,
especially something bad or something you dare not say
directly Iv T]
suggest sth What do you mean, I'm too "proud? What are
you suggesting? l suggest {that) I think he's trying to sug-
gest that you get your hair cut. I I'm not suggesting you
should see a psychiatrist but I do think you should talk to
someone about your problem.
say ]seq a word meaning to say something in an indirect
way, used especially when you are asking someone what
the real meaning of a statement is Iv T]
say sth What do you think the writer is saying in this story?l
say {that) Are you saying I'm fat? I So what you're saying,
Mr President, is that taxes may have to rise.
hint ]hlnt] to say something in a very indirect way, espe-
cially something good or encouraging Iv I/T]
"It's not just me who will be getting a prize, "" Sam hinted. I
hint {that) She hinted that there might be a possibility of
a pay rise. I I had the feeling he was hinting that he would
like to go out with me. I hint at What are you hinting at?
drop a hint/,drop  hInt [[ dro:p-/to say something that
suggests that you want to do something or that you want
someone to do something, but without saying it directly Iv
phrase]
She kept dropping hints about her birthday, just to make
sure none of us forgot about it. [ drop a broad hint "'I don't
want to go out with him but I don't know how to tell him. ""
"Can't you just drop a broad hint?"
in a roundabout way/in a  raondbaot iweI/if you say
something in a roundabout way you say it in an indirect
way, especially to avoid being rude or embarrassing some-
one [adv phrase]
I told him, in a roundabout way, that he wasn't really good
enough to join my English class. I He said he did not need
their services any more but that was just a roundabout way
of firing them.
4 to say something suddenly or unexpectedly
exclaim
come out with
blurt out
exclaim / ik' sklem/to say something suddenly and loudly
because you are angry, surprised, or excited Iv T]
"'What a beautiful house!'" she exclaimed. [ "'Oh, no!'"
exclaimed Bill in terror. "'The house is on fire. ""
come out with/,kAm 'aot wl6/ to suddenly say some-
thing, in an unplanned way, which other people find
unusual or surprising Iv T]
It was strange to hear a little old lady come out with a swear
word like that. [ I don't want to make a speech - I'll only come
out with something stupid that everyone will laugh at. [ You
never know what he'll come out with next.
blurt out/ bla:rt laot/to suddenly say something without
thinking, especially something embarrassing or something
that should be kept secret [phr v T]
blurt out sth She had blurted out my secret when she was
upset, and now everyone knows about it. [ "'I never liked your
friends anyway, "" she blurted out tearfully.
5 to say something quietly, especially so that it
is difficult for other people to hear you
murmur whisper
mutter say sth under your breath
mumble
murmur / m3:rmr/to say something very quietly so that
only one person or a few people can hear Iv T]
"'I love you, Matthew, '" murmured Fiona as their lips met. I
The child was murmuring something in its sleep. I murmur
agreement/approval etc (=say you agree etc by murmur-
ing) When the speaker mentioned tax reductions, the crowd
murmured approval.
murmur In C] There were excited murmurs as the President
entered the hall.
mutter / ImAtar/to say something quietly, especially when
you are annoyed about something Iv I/T]
"'Why do I have to do all the work?" she muttered irritably. I
Mr Clarke looked at the leaking pipe and went off, mutter-
ing something about coming back later to fix it. ] mutter
to yourself He paced impatiently around the room, occa-
sionally muttering to himself.
mumble /m^mbvl/ to say something quietly and not
pronouncing your words clearly Iv T]
He keeps mumbling something about his pension, but I can "t
understand what he's saying. I Bill was late into the meet-
ing and sat down, mumbling an excuse.
whisper /wlspar/to say something very quietly, using
your breath rather than your voice Iv T]
"'Don't wake the baby, "" whispered Jemima. I The child was
whispering something in her mother's ear so that no one else
could hear.
say sth under your breath/sei (sth) Anda r jz): r 'bre0!
to say something extremely quietly, especially something
rude or criticizing, so that no one will hear what you are
saying Iv phrase]
"'Stupid idiot,'" he said under his breath as the old man
walked away. ] Hannah's so bad-tempered these days. She
never says anything but I always think she's swearing under
her breath.
6 to say something in a low voice, especially
because you are angry
growl
snarl
grunt

SAY 1167 SAY
growl/graol/to say something in a low angry voice, espe-
cially in order to make someone feel afraid Iv T/
"'Come over here and say that, "" he growled, i He walked into
the house, growled a few words at my mother and then went
upstairs to bed.
snarl/sno:rl/to say something in a nasty angry way that
makes people feel threatened [v T/
"'Keep your dirty hands off me, "" he snarled. I Every time he
asked her a question she snarled a bad-tempered answer.
grunt/grAnt/to say a few words in a low rough voice, espe-
cially when you are not really interested in what someone
is saying to you [v T/
"'What about a stripey wallpaper for this room?" "T dunno, ""
he grunted. I He grunted something I didn't catch.
7 to say something in a particular way of
speaking
pronounce
say
pronounce/pronaons/to make the sound of a word or
a part of a word in a particular way, especially in the cor-
rect way [v T/
Some foreign students find it difficult to pronounce the word
"the'. [ Leicester is pronounced "Lester'. [ "'One of you Mr
Cillan-Davies?'" he asked, pronouncing the first part of the
name in a way no Welsh person would.
say /seq a word used in spoken English meaning to
pronounce something [v T/
How do you say this word? [ I'm not sure if I can say this
name - it's very unusual.
8 to be unable to say anything because you are
too surprised, shocked, upset etc
silent speechless
be lost for words/be at tongue-tied
a loss for words clam up
be struck dumb I don't know what
words fail me to say
silent /Isadont/not saying anything especially because
you are very shocked or affected by deep feelings of wonder,
fear etc [adj not before noun]
Philip stood silent, very white and trembling a little as he
heard the dreadful news. I fall silent (=become silent) As
the building went up inflames the crowd of onlookers fell
silent.
be lost for words/be at a loss for words/bi: lvt
fa r Iwa:rdz, bi: at o los fa r wazrdz 11 -la:st-, la:s-/to be
unable to say anything because you are very surprised or
because you are not prepared for the situation that has
suddenly happened [v phrase]
When they told me I had won firstprize I was lost for words. I
No matter what happens he never seems lost for words. I She
stared at his letter, clearly at a loss for words.
be struck dumb/bi: strAk dAm/to be suddenly unable
to say anything because you are extremely surprised or
shocked and cannot believe what has happened [vphrase]
Amy was struck dumb. Was it possible that her own son was
accusing her of lying? [ be struck dumb with shock/
amazement etc When he arrived at the scene of the disaster,
he was struck dumb with horror and amazement.
words fail me / wa:rdz fefl mi:/you say words fail me
when you are so shocked or angry that you cannot think
of anything to say to express how you feel
Just look at this mess. Look at it. It's... Words fail me!
speechless / spi:tflos/unable to say anything because
you are extremely angry, surprised, or upset [adj not before
noun]
Anna was speechless. She just couldn't believe what had hap-
pened. [ speechless with anger/rage/horror etc Speech-
less with anger, I watched the train leave without me.
tongue-tied / tArJ taid/unable or unwilling to say any-
thing because you are nervous or embarrassed [adj not
before noun/
She wants to get to know him, but whenever she gets a chance
to talk to him she becomes tongue-tied. I The child stared ner-
vously around the room and when she was asked to speak
remained absolutely tongue-tied.
clam up / klam Ap/an informal expression meaning to
suddenly become unwilling to talk ]phr v I/
Frank always clams up when I ask him about his job - do
you think he's doing something illegal? [ The police took her
in for questioning, but she clammed up when they asked
about her boyfriend.
I don't know what to say/ai doont noo wot to 'so; II
-wo:t, wAt/you say I don't know what to say when some-
one gives you an unexpected present, or does something
bad or shocking, and you cannot express how happy, angry
etc you feel
You're so kind! I don't know what to say. I "7 don't know
what to say. "" She had never been so touched. I Well, I don't
know what to say. It's absolutely disgraceful!
9 to stop yourself saying what you really want
to say to someone, because you do not want
to upset them or cause trouble
bite your tongue
bite your tongue/,bait j3: r 'tAil/ [V phrase]
I had to bite my tongue to stop myself telling Nell exactly
what I thought of his stupid plan. I She's so temperamental
that even if you disagree with her it's better to bite your
tongue and say nothing.
10 to say something that you should not say
say something you shouldn't
speak out of turn
say something you shouldn't I,sei SAm0II'J ju: fodnt/
an informal expression meaning to say something that you
should not say, for example something embarrassing, rude,
or supposed to be secret [v phrase]
Of course, Mary has to be careful now she's pregnant- oh,
sorry, have I said something I shouldn't?
speak out of turn / spi:k aot ov ta:rn/to say something
you should not say, especially when you do not have the
right or authority to say it [v phrase]
I hope I haven't spoken out of turn - I didn't know it was sup-
posed to be a secret. [ One of the generals said there may be
major defense cuts, but Mr Cheney promptly slapped him
down for speaking out of turn.
1 1 something that someone says
remark comment
observation thing to say
remark /rimo:rk/ something that you say when you
express an opinion or say what you have noticed about a
situation, a person etc [n C/
I ignored his rude remark about my clothes. I make a
remark Mr Hargreaves approached us and made a couple
of remarks about the weather. I opening/closing/conclud-
ing remarks (-at the beginning or end of a speech) the
speaker's opening remarks
observation/,obzor'vej'dn II ,a:b-/a remark expressing
your opinion about something such as a place, organiza-
tion, or someone's behaviour, especially when you describe
what you have noticed about something that you have
looked at and thought about carefully [n C/
The inspector began his report with the observation that the
school was a happy place. I make an observation A tour
of Washington DC inspired one visitor to make some interest-
ing observations about the gap between the rich and the poor.
comment /  koment II ko:-/something that you say when
you express an opinion about something that you have
seen, heard, or read about [n C/
The teacher read out the poem and asked the class for com-
ments. I comment on/about I'd be interested to have your
comments on the new plan. I make a comment The chief
of police made no comment about the bomb attack on the
supermarket.

SAY 1168 SAY/STATE
thing to say/lOIIJ tO ISCI/a strange/stupid/horrible
etc thing to say In phrase]
It may seem an awful thing to say, but I wasn't sorry when
my father died. I I told her I was crazy about her. It was a
silly thing to say.
1 2 ways of saying that you have got some
 information by hearing people say something
according to apparently
rumour/rumor has it supposedly
they say/people say be rumoured/
there is talk of rumored to be
according to /olko:rdIl tu:/ according to John/my
sister/today's paper ete (=this is what they say) [prep]
According to dohn, we're getting a new teacher next month. I
The Queen is very distressed about these rumours, accord-
ing to sources in Buckingham Palace.
rumourlrumor has it ! Iru:mo r hez it/you say rumour
has it when you are telling someone something that you
heard from someone else, which may not actually be true
rumour has it (that) Rumour had it that she only married
him for his money. I rumour has it To join the club, rumor
had it, you had to be earning more than $100,000 a year.
they say/people say/6eJ seJ, pi:pM sei/you say
they say when you are telling someone something, espe-
cially something surprising or shocking, that everyone
seems to know about or be talking about
they/people say (that) They say that her husband is in
prison for killing a man. I People say he's confined to a wheel-
chair because the surgeon made a mistake, but I don't believe
it. I so they say (used at the end of a statement, or in reply
to a statement, to show that you are not sure whether it is
true) The nightclub burnt down and shots were heard, or
so they say.
there is talk of/6eor z Ito:k ovl you say there is talk
of something when you are telling someone some informa-
tion about what may happen in the future, which you have
heard other people talking about
He was doing very well at college and there was talk of him
being accepted for Harvard. I The company already does bus-
iness with Germany and Japan and there's been some talk
of a deal with the French.
apparently ]oparantli! if something apparently hap-
pened or is true, you mean you have heard people saying
that it happened or is true, but you are not completely cer-
tain about it [adv]
Apparently he's a very good pianist. I Jenny's father had,
apparently, tried to prevent her marriage. I Did you know
they've bought a new house? The back yard is the size of a
football field apparently.
supposedly/so'pouzIdli! if something supposedly hap-
pened or is true, you mean that you have heard people
saying that it happened or is true but cannot believe it [adv]
Old Mr Arkwright supposedly hit the other guy in his office! l
He was supposedly delivering some papers to her but I think
it was just an excuse to see her. I The city of Chengdu is sup-
posedly architecturally quite different from the rest of China.
be rumouredlrumored to be/bi: ru:mord to bi:/if
someone or something is rumoured to be doing some-
thing, be happening, be in a particular condition etc, that
is what you have heard people saying Iv phrase]
It's a five star hotel and rumored to be the best in Europe. I
The hospital is rumoured to be heading for closure, after the
government's announcement on cuts.
@ SAY/STATE
to say something to a number of people,
especially in public, in order to give them
information or make clear your opinions
1 to state something publicly or officially
2 to clearly state your opinions about something
12
3 to state firmly and publicly that something is
true
4 to state very firmly that something is true,
especially when you think other people do
not believe you
5 to state that something is true, even though it
has not been proved and may not be true
6 to officially state that a particular situation
exists or that someone or something has a
particular characteristic
7 to state that something which you said
previously is not in fact true
8 to state that something which other people
are saying about you is not in fact true
9 something that you say or write publicly in
order to let people know your opinions,
intentions etc
10 a statement of a belief or opinion that other
people may not believe or agree with
1 1 ways of saying that a law, rule, or contract
states what is allowed, what must be done etc
to state facts or information in a court of law
I to state something publicly or officially
say express
state make a statement
announce issue a statement
declare report
say/sei! Iv T]
say (that)A Japanese computer firm has said that it is plan-
ning to build a new factory in the north of England. I The
President said in an interview that he had no intention of
resigning. I R says here that the tunnel will be open at the
end of 1994. I say what/how/who etc The rebel leader has
already said what his conditions for a ceasefire are.
state /stet/ to say something clearly and publicly, in
words or in writing Iv T]
state that In 1985 Rajiv Gandhi stated that he would reform
the Congress Party of India. I state what/who/how etc
The official handbook clearly states what safety procedures
to follow in an emergency. I state a belief/your opposi-
tion/your position etc Most US firrns are willing to state
their commitment to equal opportunities.
announce/o nauns/to tell people about something that
has happened or will happen, by means of a written or
spoken public statement Iv T]
announce sth General Motors announced profits of about
$400 million. I Several banks have announced their intention
to reduce their workforce. I announce (that) This morning
the newspapers announced that the last hostage had been set
free.
declare/di 'kleor/to state officially that you have a par-
ticular intention or attitude Iv T] ,
declare that He has repeatedly declared that he will not join
a coalition government. I A White House spokesman declared
that there would be no change in the Administration "s policy
on Iraq. I declare your opposition/loyalty/interest etc
The UK declared its support for the new government of
Namibia.
express !k'spres/ express sympathy/concern/
interest etc (=to say publicly what your feelings are about
something) Iv T]
President Clinton expressed his sympathy for victims of the
disaster. I The defense secretary expressed his concern about
the deepening crisis in the Baltic states. I Fears have been
expressed about England's future in world class cricket.
make a statement/,meek o 'steitmonq to let people
know your opinion or give them information about a situ-
ation by talking about it in an official or public situation
Iv phrase]

SAY/STATE 1169 SAY/STATE
After his meeting with the Secretary General, Mr Vance made
the following statement. I She rigorously denies ever making
the statement attributed to her in the press. I make a state-
ment about Senator Allan cannot be persuaded to make a
statement about the alleged affair.
issue a statement /  ij'u: a Isteltmant/ifa government,
politician, film star etc issues a statement, they make an
official public statement on an important subject by writ-
ing down the statement and having it read in public or
printed in the newspapers [v phrase]
The White House is expected to issue a statement in just a few
minutes. I issue a statement through sb (-ask sb to read
it publicly for you) Evans has issued a statement through
his attorney, saying he knows nothing about the crime. I
issue a final/joint/public etc statement Coal and steel
union bosses have issued a joint statement opposing any fur-
ther closures.
report /r'pa:rt/ if a company or organization reports
information, it officially gives this information to the
public Iv T]
Sony have once again reported record profits. I Scientists in
France are due to report the first step towards the develop-
ment of an AIDS vaccine.
2 to clearly state your opinions about something
say what you think air your views
speak your mind have your say
say what you think/,seI wt ju: 1011]k/ [V phrase]
She usually says what she thinks even if it offends her polit-
ical colleagues. [ say what you think aboutCf I'll make
a few suggestions, and the rest of you can say whatyou think
about them.
speak your mind/,spi:k jo: r 'maind/to say what you
think, even though what you say might upset or offend
other people [v phrase]
I'll put our complaints to the management - I'm not afraid
to speak my mind. [ She's very direct and believes in speak-
ing her mind.
air your views /lea r ja:r  vju:z/to say publicly what you
think about something important, especially in a situation
where it can be discussed Iv phrase]
Every Friday there is a meeting at the factory where the wor-
kers can air their views and discuss problems. [ For a long
time citizens were denied the right to air their views fully or
to hold public debates.
have your say/,havja: r 'se/to be allowed to say what
you think about something, for example in a meeting or
among a group of people Iv phrase]
You've had your say - now let someone else speak. [ have
your say about At a public meeting yesterday, environmen-
talists were finally permitted to have their say about the
future of the ancient forest.
3 to state firmly and publicly that something is
true
assert confirm
declare affirm
argue
assert/a's3:rt/[v T]
assert (that) Professor Sykes has asserted that the skeleton,
which was said to be man's first ancestor, is in fact a fake.[
assert your intention/independence/supremacy etc If
women are to have equal opportunity, they must loudly assert
their ability to do all traditional "male'jobs.
declare/di  k lear/to officially say that something is true
[vT]
declare (that) Reagan's 1981 budget message declared that
the new economic program was working well. [ An upbeat
report, just issued, declares that the company's profits will
remain high.
argue 1' o:rgju:/to state, giving clear reasons, that some-
thing is true, should be done ere, although other people are
disagreeing with you Iv I/T]
argue that She argued that taxes must be increased to pay
for public services. I Film makers themselves would no doubt
argue that their films do not influence ceople's behaviour.I
argue for/against (=argue that something should or
shotfld not be done) Senator Harvey argued strongly against
taking any form of military action.
©onfirm /kanf3:rm/ to say publicly that something is
definitely true, when people have not been completely sure
whether it was true or not Iv T]
confirm (that) The company has confirmed that it will fire
300 strikers. I confirm your opposition/support/posi-
tion ete European Green parties have yet to confirm their
position on East European recovery. I confirm sth Elton
John is refusing to confirm or deny these turnouts.
affirm/a f3:rm/a formal word meaning to state publicly
in speech or writing, that something is true, did happen
etc Iv T]
affirm sth In his later work, Kelly affirms his belief in God
and the power of goodness over evil. I affirm that When
questioned, all the witnesses affirmed that the shooting had
taken place exactly as the police described it.
4 to state very firmly that something is true,
especially when you think other people do
not believe you
swear insist
maintain protest
swear/swear/Iv T]
swear (that) It was a mistake - she swears that she didn't
mean to do it. I "'I can't remember, "" he said, "'I swear I can't
remember. "" l The plane flew so low that Geoff swears he saw
one wing touch the top of a tree.
maintain/meinlteln, man-/to repeatedly say that some-
thing is true, especially when other people do not believe
you [v T]
maintain (that) My mother always maintains that I
learned to talk at six months old. [ The authors of "Super-
diet" maintain you can lose pounds without eating less. [
maintain your innocence (=repeatedly say that you did
not commit a crime) Even after four years in jail he still
maintained his innocence.
insist/n'sist/to say that something is true, especially
when a lot of people think that it might not be true, and
continue to say it Iv T]
insist (that) Though there are no other witnesses, she insists
that she saw a man in the yard that night. I UFO spotters
will always insist that their data is correct.
protest/pra'test/to firmly and repeatedly state that you
have not done something wrong Iv T]
protest (that) Marge protested that she had never had any
kind of affair with Lawrence. I protest your innocence
(=say repeatedly that you did not commit a crime)
Throughout the trial Reilly protested his innocence.
5 to state that something is true, even though it
has not been proved and may not be true
claim
allege
allegedly
claim/kleim/Iv I/T]
claim (that) He claims that his grandfather was a personal
friend of Roosevelt. I Gascoyne claimed he'd been drinking
with friends at the time of the murder, but the police are still
suspicious. I claim to be/do sth She claimed to be a descen-
dant of Charles Dickens. I Joe claims to have met Jimi
Hendrix at a party.
allege /a'leds/ to say publicly that someone has done
something wrong or illegal, even though this has not been
proved Iv T]
allege (that) Mrs Harlow is alleging that her employers dis-
criminated against her because she was a woman. I be
alleged to be sth He was alleged to have been the leader of
a plot to assassinate the pope.

SAY/STATE 1170 SAY/STATE
alleged [adj not before noun] A special committee is inves-
tigating the alleged abuse (=which someone has alleged) of
company money for private expenditure. I the alleged rapist
allegedly /olcd3dli] if something is allegedly true,
someone has said it is true, even though it has not yet been
proved [ adv l
He is wanted by Los Angeles police for allegedly importing
rare animals for sale. I a prison where officers have allegedly
beaten and tortured prisoners
6 to officially state that a particular situation
exists or'that someone or something has a
particular characteristic
declare
pronounce
certify
declare/dI'kleor/[v T]
declare sb insane/unfit/a traitor etc In the last century,
mothers of illegitimate babies could be declared insane. I
After nearly forty years" membership, the Japanese Com-
munist party have declared him a traitor. I declare (that)
Finally, the doctor declared that the man was dead. I declare
war/an amnesty/a state of emergency (=state that it
now officially exists)In 1941 the US declared war on the Axis
powers. I A state of emergency has been declared in
Bangladesh.
pronounce/pm'naons/to officially state that something
is true, so that it becomes a legal condition, for example,
to state that someone is legally married, guilty of a crime,
or has a right to live in a country Iv T]
pronounce sb guilty/dead ere The judge pronounced him
guilty on all five charges. I pronounce sth illegal/a for-
gery ete Election officials have pronounced the ballot ille-
gal. I pronounce sb man and wife (=officially state in a
marriage ceremony that two people are legally married to
each other) I now pronounce you man and wife.
certify/ sa:rQfaq if someone such as a doctor or another
professional person certifies that something is the case,
they officially say that it is true Iv T]
certify (that) Doctors have certified that the suspect was in
a lot of pain at the time of the incident. I certify sb fit/
unfit/insane etc The doctor certified me unfit to go to work
for the next month.
7 to state that something which you said
previously is not in fact true
take back
withdraw
retract
take back / ,teIk 'bak/to say that something which you
said previously is not true, especially because you now
know it was unfair or wrong to say it [phr v T]
take back sth I want to take back some of the things I said
yesterday. [ take sth/it/them back If you don't take that
back I'll never speak to you again. [ Look, I'm sorry I accused
you - I take it all back.
withdraw/wi6dra:, wlO-/to publicly say that something
which you said earlier is not true, especially something
unkind or unfair you have said about someone Iv T]
He has been asked to withdraw remarks he made in a
national newspaper about the honesty of the president. ]
withdraw sth unreservedly (=completely) Mary said that
she was very sorry and that she withdrew the accusation
unreservedly.
retract/r 'trakt/to formally or officially state that some-
thing you previously said is not true Iv I/T]
retract sth The prisoner retracted his confession later,
saying it was made under duress. I Galileo was not the first
scientist to be forced to retract his theories. [ retract Harry
realized he had gone too far and retracted a little.
 to state that something which oher people
are saying about you is not in fact true
deny
deny/dl 'naq [v T]
deny sth He has been accused of stealing a car, but he denies
it. [ Rumours of possible new tax increases have been denied
by the Treasury Secretary. [ deny that Both companies
denied that they had discharged any toxic waste. [ deny
doing sth He now denies ever having spoken to the woman. [
vigorou sly/strenuou sly/strongly/firmly/categori-
cally deny (=deny very much) North categorically denied
all the allegations made against him.
9 something that you say or write publicly in
order to let people know your opinions,
intentions etc
statement
announcement
declaration
statement/'stetmnt/In C]
Yeltsin read his opening statement to the press before start-
ing the conference. I Tyson's attorney has issued a statement
denying all the allegations against his client.
announcement/o' naonsmont/a public statement about
something that has happened or will happen In C]
Here is an important announcement - there will be severe
gales in all parts of the country tonight. I announcement
that After the announcement that France was to provide
$100,000 to help Romanian orphans, several other govern-
ments did the same. I make an announcement Quiet
please, everyone - the Chairman is about to make an
announcement.
declaration / deklolreIan/an important official state-
ment, especially about what a government or organization
intends to do In C]
declaration of On the 19th of July a declaration of war was
delivered in Berlin and hostilities began soon afterwards. [
a declaration of independence [ declaration that IBM
issued a declaration that it will be attempting to take over
another three British companies.
1 0 a statement of a belief or opinion that other
people may not believe or agree with
claim
allegation
assertion
claim Ikleml a statement that something is true, even
though it has not been proved and may not be true In C]
claim that Despite claims that she was once involved with
drugs, she says she will still be running for election. [ Claims
that new drugs can stop skin cells from ageing are based on
tests using rats, not humans. I claim of There is no evidence
to support his claim of unfair dismissal. [ claim Police are
sending a special team to San Francisco to investigate these
claims.
allegation/,a eli 'gean/a public statement, especially
one that has not been proved, that someone has done some-
thing wrong or illegal In C]
This is a serious allegation. Can you prove it? [ allegation
that The commissioner will investigate allegations that the
election was rigged. [ allegation of The company finances
will be examined closely after allegations of corruption. [
make an allegation Several newspapers have made false
allegations about a government minister's private life. [
refute/deny an allegation (=say that it is not true) My
client refutes the allegation that he leaked these documents
to the newspapers.
assertion/a'sa:rfan/a statement that is made very con-
fidently about something you believe to be true, even
though you do not provide any facts to support what you
are saying In C]

SAY/STATE 1171 SAYING
Their policies on education are really just a set of ill-informed
assertions. I assertion that The assertion that people learn
nothing from studying history is completely untrue.
1 1 ways of saying that a law, rule, or contract
states what is allowed, what must be done etc
say lay down
state according to
stipulate
say/seq [v T]
say (that) The law says we're not allowed to sell alcohol
after 11.30 at night. I It says in the rules that if you foul some-
one, they get ten extra points. I At that time I had a contract
that said I was entitled to just one week's holiday per year. I
say what/how/whether, etc Does the insurance policy say
whether we are covered against storm damage?
state/steiq to say officially what is allowed and what
must be done, according to a law or rule Iv T]
state that The US constitution states that all citizens have
the right to remain silent when questioned in a law court. ]
R is expressly stated in the regulations that tenants are not
allowed to keep pets of any kind.
stipulate/'stIpj°let/ to state very clearly and exactly
what is allowed by a law or rule Iv T]
stipulate that The new law stipulates that the legal age of
marriage is twenty for both men and women. [ clearly
stipulate The law clearly stipulates that cigarettes must not
be sold to children. [ stipulate how/what/who ete We need
tighter rules that stipulate what procedures to follow if there
is a fire.
lay down/lei daun/to officially state the rules which
describe what is allowed in a particular situation [phr v T]
lay down sth The new law lays down strict rules about the
way guns may be bought and sold. [ lay down that It is laid
down in the club rules that guests are not allowed in unless
they are accompanied by a club member.
ccording to/aka:rdIr3 tu:/according to the rules/the
constitutionChe Sale of Goods Act ete (=as the rules or
laws state) [prep]
According to rule 15, only 22players are allowed on the field
at any time. [ According to the Australian Constitution, all
citizens have an obligation to vote in national elections.
12 to state facts or information in a court of law
testify
testify / testo[faq to make a solemn statement in a court
of law after promising to tell the truth [v I/T]
testify that I'm prepared to testify in court that I was in
Carolyn's apartment last night. [ testify to Most people who
survived can testify to the atrocities that took place. [ testify
Police had to guard him in hospital until he was well enough
to testify.
SAYING
a well-known phrase that contains advice or
says something about human life, human
problems etc
a saying
a well-known saying taken from a play, poem,
speech etc
a saying used by a particular person or
organization, which expresses their aims or
beliefs
a short phrase that is easy to remember,
especially one that is used by advertisers,
politicians, or entertainers
a phrase that is used so often that people
think it is boring or stupid
1 a saying
saying
proverb
expression
saying/'seI-O/In C]
One of my mother's favourite sayings was: 'What can't be
cured must be endured'. I Mr Church has made a fascinat-
ing collection of the common sayings used in his part of the
country. I as the saying goes (=according to a saying) As
the saying goes, if you give a man a fish, you feed him for
a day - but teach him how to fish and you feed him for life.
proverb /'prov3:rb [[ pra:-/ a well-known saying that
gives advice or says something about human life, espe-
cially using words that represent a wider meaning In C]
The old proverb 'A stitch in time saves nine" advises you to
deal with problems early, before they become too serious. ]
When I ask my grandparents for advice they always quote
proverbs to me.
expression / ik'sprefan/a fixed group of words with a
particular meaning In C]
When he said that he was so hungry that he could eat a horse,
he didn't really mean it - it was just an expression. [ The
expression "Kangaroos in his top paddock' is used in Aus-
tralia to describe a stupid person.
 a well-known saying taken from a play, poem,
speech etc
quotation
quotation Ikwu'teanl [n C]
Spencer ended his speech with a famous quotation from
Shakespeare. [ She seems to know a quotation to fit every
occasion.
 a saying used by a particular person or
organization, which expresses their aims or
beliefs
motto
motto/'motou II 'ma:-/In C]
The school's motto was "Work hard and play hard'. [ "'All
my life, '" said Sir Humphrey, "'my motto has been "aim
high'."
4 a short phrase that is easy to remember,
especially one that is used by advertisers,
politicians, or entertainers
slogan
catchphrase
slogan/'shogun/In C]
Their cars were marketed with the slogan "Everything we do
is driven by you'. I The Berlin Wall was covered in slogans
calling for world peace.
catchphrase/kaetfrexz/a short, well-known phrase
used regularly by an entertainer or other public figure, so
that people think of that person when they hear it [n C]
Game show hosts usually have a catchphrase that the
audience shout out as the programme begins.
a phrase that is used so often that people
think it is boring or stupid
clich
platitude
clich/'kli:ei 11 kli:'eq a saying that has been used so
often that it has lost its original meaning and seems stupid
or unlikely to be true [n C]
It was a badly-written article, full of journalistic cliches. [
"My wife doesn't understand me" is one of those old cliches
used by married men to impress young girls.
platitude/pletgtju:d [[ -tu:d/a phrase that is true but
very boring because it has been used too much [n C]

SAYING 1172 scratch
The management tried to satisfy staff with some platitudes
about the need to make sacrifices for the benefit of the com-
pany. I boring/dull platitude She has a trick of making
boring platitudes sound like profound and original
statements.
saying SAYING 1
scads of: loads of/tons of/masses of/scads of
LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 2
scald BURN 5
scalding/scalding hot HOT 2
scale CLIMB 1, JUDGE 8, POSITION/RANK 4
scale down/scale back REDUCE 6
scalper: tout/scalper SELL 10
scaly ROUGH/NOT SMOOTH T
scare CHEAT 4
scamper RUN 3
scan READ 2
scandal RUMOUR/RUMOR 1
scandalize SHOCK 5
scandalized SHOCK 6
scandalous BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 2
scapegoat BLAME 3
scar MARK 4
scarce ENOUGH 8, RARE 1
scarce: make youself scarce LEAVE A PLACE 6
scarcely: barely/scarcely/hardly JUST/A MOMENT
AGO 1
scarcely: can hardly/barely/scarcely JUST/ALMOST
NOT 4
scarcely any: hardly any/scarcely any FEW/NOT
MANY 2, LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 4
scarcely ever: hardly/scarcely ever RARELY 1
scare FRIGHTENED 7, 11
scare easily FRIGHTENED 9
scare sb into: frighten/scare sb into FRIGHTENED 8
scared FRIGHTENED 1
scared: be afraid/scared/frightened FRIGHTENED 2
scared: be afraidlscaredlfrightenedlterrified
FRIGHTENED 4
scared: be afraidlscaredlfrightenedlterrified of
FRIGHTENED 3
scared stiff/scared out of your wits/scared to death
FRIGHTENED 1
scarcely: hardly/scarcely/barely any LITTLE/NOT
MUCH 9
scarred MARK 5
scary FRIGHTENED 6
scathing CRITICIZE 7
scatter ESCAPE 4, LEAVE A PLACE 11, SPREAD 4, 5
scatterbrained FORGET 5
scattered SPREAD 10
scenario FUTURE 8, SITUATION 2
scene PART 6, SEE 7
scene: be on the scene THERE 5
scene: make a scene ANGRY 6
scene: set the scene PREPARE 5
scene: the scene of HAPPEN 8
scenes HAPPEN 11
scenes: behind the scenes SECRET 6
scenic BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 5
scent SMELL 1, 9
scentlperfumelfragrance SMELL 2
scent: throw sb off the scent ESCAPE 5
sceptical BELIEVE 10
schedule LIST 4, PLAN 7, TIME THAT IS PLANNED 2, 3, 4
schedule: ahead of schedule EARLY 1
schedule: be behind schedule LATE 7
schedule: on schedule ON TIME 4
scheduled PLAN 10
scheme PLAN 3, 5, 6
scheming BAD PERSON 3
schmaltzy EMOTIONAL 5
schmuck STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 7
scholarly INTELLIGENT 10
school GROUP OF PEOPLE 8
school-leaver LEAVE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE 2
school of thought OPINION 2
schoolboy/schoolgirl STUDY 4
schoolkid STUDY 4
schoolwork WORK THAT SOMEONE DOES 2
scoff EAT 6
scold TELL SB OFF 1
scoop REPORT 2
scoop up LIFT 1
scope CHANCE/OPPORTUNITY 3, LIMIT 4
scorch BURN 6
score GET 16, RESULT 3, RESULT/GRADE 1,
SCORE 1, 2
score: the score SITUATION 4
SCORE
to get points in a game or sport
the number of points that each team or player
has scored in a game
1 to get points in a game or sport
score make
get equalize
score/sk:r/to get points in a game, competition, or sport
Iv I/T]
score a point/goal Tottenham scored the first goal of the
game. I In this game you score points by making words on
the board. I score San Francisco scored twice in the last ten
minutes of the game.
get/get/an informal word meaning to score points in a
game, competition, or sport Iv T]
When you get a total of S points it's your turn to throw the
dice.
make/me;k/an American word meaning to score points
in a game, competition, or sport Iv T]
Jordan made 34points to put his team into the lead. I He ran
30 yards to make his second touchdown of the quarter.
equalize (also -ise British)/'i:kwalaIz/a British word
meaning to score a point in a team game such as football,
so that the number of points that both teams have is equal
Iv I]
Liverpool equalized in the last minute. I Manchester United
were a goal down against Real Madrid when Bobby
Charlton equalized.
the number of points that each team or player
has scored in a game
score
score Isk3:rl In C]
Are you listening to the game on the radio? What's the score? l
As the whistle goes, the score stands at 12-18. I With the score
on 40-love, Edberg now serves for the match. I final score
Do
you know the final score in the play-offgame?
scorn REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 7
scorn: pour scorn on MAKE FUN OF 2
scot-free: get off scot-free/get away scot-free
PUNISH 8
scour CLEAN 6, LOOK FOR 4
scowl LOOK AT 7
scraggy THIN PERSON 4
scrap FIGHT 4, PIECE 6, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 4
scrape RUB 2, 3, SOUND 7
scrape home WIN 6
scrape off REMOVE 3
scrape through PASS A TEST 1
scratch CUT 2, 11, RUB 1
scratch: not be up to scratch BAD 5
scratch: not be up to scratch/not come up to scratch
GOOD ENOUGH 4
scratch: without a scratch INJURE 7

scratch off 11"/3 seat
/ scratch off REMOVE 3
 scrawl READ 12, WRITE 4, 8
iiiii scrawny THIN PERSON 4
- scream SCREAM 1, 2, 3, SHOUT 1, 2, 3
 scream: let out a scream/shriek SCREAM 1
SCREAM
to make a loud, high noise with your voice
because you are in pain, frightened, very
angry etc
I to scream
2 to say something in a screaming voice
3 the sound of someone screaming
1 to scream
scream squeal
shriek yelp
screech let out a scream/shriek
scream/skri:m/[v I]
Suddenly there was the sound of shooting, and a woman
screamed. [ The band's singing was drowned out by thou-
sands of screaming fans. [ scream with terror/excite-
ment/pain ete My leg was badly injured and I was scream-
ing with pain. [ scream your head off (=scream loudly)
At 4 o'clock in the morning the baby started screaming its
head off.
shriek/Sri:k/to make a sudden short screaming sound,
because of fear, excitement, pleasure, or amusement [v I]
The woman shrieked as someone grabbed her by the throat
from behind. [ shriek with excitementCaughterCear
ete The clown fell over again and the audience began shriek-
ing with hysterical laughter.
screech/skri.-tS/to make a long, unpleasant, very high
screaming sound, especially because you are angry Iv I]
I wish you'd stop screeching - you "re giving me a headache. [
The old woman chased me around the house, screeching and
cursing.
squeal/skwi:l/if someone, especially a child, squeals,
they make a sudden very high screaming sound, because
they are excited, amused, frightened, or in pain Iv I]
When Billy showed her the frog, Nicky squealed and ran
away. [ squeal with excitement/laughter/delight/pain
ere The children squealed with delight as soon as they saw
their presents.
yelp/jelp/to give a short cry because you have just hurt
yourself Iv I]
yelp with pain Sophie yelped with pain and dropped the
pan. [ yelp I accidentally stood on the dog's tail and it started
to yelp.
let out a scream/shriek /let aot o 'skri:m, ri:k/to
scream or shriek suddenly Iv phrase]
Karen let out a scream of terror, as if she had seen a ghost. [
The children ran down the hill, letting out shrieks of delight.
2 to say something in a screaming voice
scream screech
shriek squeal
scream/skrizm/[v I/T]
"'Look out!'" he screamed, "'there's a train coming!"[ scream
at Rosie started screaming and yelling at him like some kind
of madwoman. [ scream for (--ask for someone to come, in
a screaming voice) When I saw the fire I screamed for help
at the top of my voice. [ scream insults/abuse ete (=loudly
criticize someone in a screaming voice) McKenzie would
occasionally emerge from his office to scream abusive com-
ments at his staff.
shriek/rizk/to suddenly shout something in a loud, high
voice, especially because you are very frightened, upset,
or angry Iv I/T ]
"'Be careful "" she shrieked, "'that gun is loaded. "[ shriek at
The class was beginning to get out of control, and the teacher
had to shriek at them to be quiet.
screech/skrizt! to shout something in an unpleasantly
loud, high voice, especially because you are very angry Iv
I/T]
screech at Whenever I come home from school my Mom's
always screeching at me about something. [ "'Get out!" she
screeched angrily. "'I hate you!'"
squeal/skwi:l! to say something in a very high voice,
especially because you are excited or amused Iv I/T]
"'Don't, "Bobby squealed, "'you "re tickling me!"[ squeal at
He pushed the swing harder and harder until the children
squealed at him to stop.
3 the sound of someone screaming
scream
shriek
yelp
scream/skri:m/[n C]
We could hear screams coming from inside the blazing build-
ing. [ The battlefield echoed with the screams of the wounded
and the dying.
shriek/ri:k/a sudden short screaming sound made by
someone who is very frightened, excited, or amused In C]
I was woken up by a loud shriek from the bathroom. [ There
was a sudden shriek of excitement from the crowd when
England scored. [ Almost before he started speaking they all
burst into shrieks of laughter.
yelp/jelp! a short cry of pain because you have just hurt
yourself In C]
She jumped back from the fuse-box with a sudden yelp of
pain. [ There were lots of yelps and growls, but I knew the
puppies were just playing with each other.
screech SCREAM 1, 2, SOUND 7
screen HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 4,
TELEVISION/RADIO 3, TEST/EXPERIMENT 4
screen: the small screen TELEVISION/RADIO 1
screw on SHUT/CLOSE 3
screw up DO BADLY 1, SPOIL 6, SQUASH 1
screwy CRAZY 7
scribble DRAW 1, WRITE 4
scrimp and save SAVE MONEY 1 SPEND MONEY 5
scrounge ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 5
scrounger ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 9
scrub CANCEL 1, CLEAN 6, WASH 5
scruffy U NTI DY 2
scruples GOOD/MORAL 10
scruples: have no scruples DISHONEST 1
scrupulous CAREFUl_ 3
scrutinize EXAMINE 1
scrutiny EXAMINE 3
scuffle FIGHT 4
scurry RUN 3
scuttle RUN 3
seal SHUT/CLOSE 6
sealed SHUT/CLOSE 7
seams: be bursting at the seams FULL 1
search LOOK FOR 4, 6, 7
search: in search of LOOK FOR 1, 2
search for LOOK FOR 1, 2
search for: look for/search for LOOK FOR 3
search me: don't ask me/search me NOT KNOW 7
search party LOOK FOR 8
season PERIOD OF TIME 1
season: out of season/off-season BUSY PLACE 5
season: the season BUSY PLACE 3
seasoned EXPERIENCED 1
seat SIT 6
seat: be in the driving seat CONTROL 1
seat: be on the edge of your seat EXCITED 3
seat: be seated SIT 3
seat: take/have a seat SIT 2
seat: take your seat SIT 1

secluded 1174 SECRET
secluded FAR 5
second SHORT TIME 2
second-guess PREDICT 1
second-hand OLD/NOT NEW 2,
PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 4
second-in-command MANAGER 4
second-rate/third-rate BAD AT 1
second thoughts: have second thoughts CHANGE
YOUR MIND 1
second to none BEST 2
secondary UNIMPORTANT 3
secondary importance: be of secondary/little/minor
etc importance UNIMPORTANT 3
secrecy SECRET 10
secrecy: swear sb to secrecy TELL A SECRET 7
secret PRIVATE/PERSONAL 1, SECRET 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
8, WAY/METHOD 4
secret: be a secret SECRET 1
secret: be an open secret KNOW STH 12
secret: be no secret KNOW STH 12
secret: can keep a secret SECRET 9
secret: in secret SECRET 6
secret: keep sth secret SECRET 9, TELL A SECRET 4
secret
sec.rt informatio-n, :.. ,;; .-SECRET
p:rit.rnl ;::  PRIVATE/
......................................................................................................................................... -, ................... -,..-, ............ -,......-,...........-, ........... ..
SECRET
9
10
words for describing secret information,
documents etc
words for describing secret activities, plans,
meetings etc
words for describing an object, place etc that
very few people know about
words for describing secret organizations, or
people who work secretly
a secret fact, piece of information etc
ways of saying that something is done
secretly
words for describing someone who keeps
their intentions, feelings, or actions secret
from other people
words for describing someone who secretly
does something that other people disapprove
of
to keep something secret from other people
a situation in which information, plans, facts
etc are kept secret
1 words for describing secret information,
 documents etc
secret
be a secret
top secret
confidential
classified
sensitive
between you and me
secret / si:krt/something that is secret is known about
by only a small number of people, who do not tell other
people about it [adj]
Secret documents containing details of Britain's defence
plans have been stolen. I The letter was written in some kind
of secret code which I couldn't understand. [ The tapes were
so secret that only the President and his closest aides knew
of their existence.
be a secret/bi:  si:krt! [v phrase]
You mustn't tell anyone about this. It's a secret. [ We lived
in a small village and I knew that the news wouldn't remain
a secret for very long.
top secret/tp si:kQt, [[ to:p-/an official government
document or information that is top secret is very secret,
and only a few people are allowed to know about it [adj]
The minister opened his drawer and took out a file marked
TOP SECRET. [ While she was inside the embassy she
managed to obtain top secret documents relating to a new
Russian fighter plane. [ I can't discuss it with you at the
moment. It's top secret.
confidential/knfI denal [[ ko:n-/something that is
confidential should not be discussed with or made known
to other people, for example private information that is
known only by someone's doctor or bank, or by certain
members of an organization [adj]
As a doctor I'm not allowed to reveal confidential informa-
tion about my patients. ] The envelope was marked "Private
and Confidential'. [ strictly confidential (=completely
confidential) I trust this information will remain strictly
confidential - I don't want the newspapers to get hold of it.
classified/klasfad/classified information or docu-
ments are ones which the government has ordered to be
kept secret [adj]
She was jailed for selling classified documents to the Rus-
sians. [ "'How many nuclear warheads does your country pos-
sess?" "Tin afraid that information is classified for security
reasons."
sensitive/, sens tv/information or documents that are
sensitive are likely to cause problems or embarrassment
if they are made public and therefore they are kept secret
[adj] '
If government officials consider that a piece of information
is politically sensitive they can prevent it from being pub-
lished. [ highly sensitive As a senior member of the White
House staff he had access to documents of a highly sensitive
nature.
between you and me/bI ttwi:n ju: ond 'mi:/you say
between you and me when you tell someone something
which you expect them to keep secret from other people
[ adv phrase]
Between you and me, Carol, I think he's having an affair
with his secretary. [ strictly between you and me This is
strictly between you and me of course - I don't want him to
think we're gossiping about him behind his back.
2 words for describing secret activities, plans,
meetings etc
secret
hush-hush
covert
secret/'si:krt/[adj]
be veiled in secrecy/
shrouded in secrecy
undercover
cloak-and-dagger
The South African President has been holding secret talks
with Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders. [ I've always
had this secret desire to become a writer. [ In tomorrow's
Daily Mirror we reveal the secret life of Princess Diana and
Prince Charles.
hush-hush /,h^ 'h^, II 'h^ h^! an informal word
meaning officially secret [adj]
Blake's on some kind of hush-hush mission - he's not allowed
to tell anyone about it. [ It's all very hush-hush at the moment
- no one knows exactly what's going on.
covert /'kAvt, 'kovu:t [I 'kovrt/ covert operations/
methods/activities/surveillance (=ones that are done

SECRET 1175 SECRET
secretly, especially by a government or official organiza-
tion, and may involve breaking the law) [adj only before
noun]
The CIA carried out covert military operations in Cambo-
dia in the early 70s. I When direct action failed, Western
governments used covert methods in order to try to get rid
of him. I covert racism in the police force
covertly lady] Banks were covertly passing on information
about their customers "financial circumstances to consumer
credit companies.
be veiled in secrecy/shrouded in secrecy/bi:
,vedd n 'si:krsi, ,raodd-/ if something is veiled or
shrouded in secrecy, very little is known about it and it
seems very mysterious Iv phrase]
His departure was shrouded in secrecy. No one knew where
or why he had gone. I In Japan the private lives of the
Emperor and his family were once veiled in secrecy.
undercover /And rkAvr,/ undercover operation/
methods ere (=done or used secretly by the police or other
government organizations in order to catch criminals) [adj
usually before noun]
Italian police have arrested two senior Mafia leaders after
a massive undercover operation.
undercover [adv] Working undercover, they managed to
smash a Colombian drugs network.
cloak-and-dagger /,klzok nd 'dzegr/ cloak-and-
dagger operation/methods etc (=involving a lot of
secrecy, but often in a way that seems unnecessary) [adj
usually before noun]
There's no need for all this ridiculous cloak-and dagger stuff,
now the Cold War is over. I They seemed to be enjoying the
cloak-and-dagger atmosphere in which the negotiations were
conducted.
3 words for describing an object, place etc that
very few people know about
secret
secret/'si:kQt/[adj]
I've hidden the money in a secret place - no one will ever find
it. I TheyJ7ew from a secret airfield in Canada to a military
base in Siberia. I The robbery was filmed using a secret
camera hidden in the ceiling.
4 words for describing secret organizations, or
people who work secretly
secret clandestine
u ndergrou nd u ndercover
secret/'si:kQt/[adj]
She was arrested and beaten up by the secret police. I Secret
agents working for the CIA tried to poison Fidel Castro by
putting cyanide tablets in his drink. I The Freemasons form
a secret society with its own special rules and customs.
underground/' ^ndrgraond/an underground organi-
zation/newspaper/movement etc (=one that is secret
and opposes the government, especially when it is too dan-
gerous to do this publicly) [adj]
The IRA is an underground terrorist organization operat-
ing against the British in Northern Ireland. I "Pravda"
started as an underground newspaper distributed in facto-
ries. I go underground (=become an underground organ-
ization) The ANC was forced to go underground in the early
1960s when the South African government began arresting
its leaders.
clandestine /klen destn/ clandestine meeting/or-
ganization/force/operation (-one that is secret, and
usually illegal) [adj]
Suspected members of a clandestine communist organization
are being rounded up and put in prison. I The rebels joined
together to form a clandestine fighting force known as the
"contrast
undercover / 'nndrknv r,/undercover agent/police-
man/investigator etc (=one who works secretly for the
police or government in order to catch criminals) [adj only
before noun]
The men were arrested when they tried to sell heroin to under-
cover FBI agents posing as drug dealers.
5 a secret fact, piece of information etc
secret
skeleton in your cupboard/closet
secret/'si:krt/In C]
I thought I could trust Karen enough to tell her my little
secret. I We're worried that someone may be passing on com-
pany secrets to our competitors. I dark secret (=a mysteri-
ous secret, especially about something wrong that you have
done in the past) He never talked about his childhood, and
I always felt there might be some dark secret which he hadn't
told me about. I closely-guarded secret The ingredients of
the sauce are a closely-guarded secret, known only to the com-
pany which makes it. I state secret (=information that a
government keeps secret from other countries) Burgess
was charged with giving away state secrets to the Russians. I
let sb in on a secret (=let them be one of the few people
who knows it) What's the big secret - won't you let me in on
it?
skeleton in your cupboard (British) I closet (Ameri-
can) I,skeltan In jo: r 'kAbord, 'kloz't II 'kla:zt/a secret
about yourself that you have kept hidden for a long time
because you are ashamed or embarrassed about it In
phrase]
Well we know he's been in prison - I wonder if there are any
more skeletons in his cupboard? I None of us is perfect - we
all have a little skeleton somewhere in our closet that we'd
rather other people didn't know about.
6 ways of saying that something is done
secretly
secretly
in secret
on the quiet
behind the scenes
behind closed doors
in private
behind sb's back
in confidence
surreptitiously
furtively
secretly/'si:kr,'tli/[adv]
She was secretly giving arms and money to the rebel forces. [
Russia and Germany secretly agreed not to attack each
other.I He was secretly ashamed of his family and never
brought his friends home to meet them.
in secret/Tn 's,:krt/secretly, especially in a place where
other people cannot find you or see you [adv phrase]
My parents didn't approve of our relationship, and we had
to meet each other in secret. 1 In communist Russia religious
worship was forbidden and church ceremonies had to be con-
ducted in secret.
on the quiet/on 6 'kwaot/if you do something on the
quiet, you do it secretly, especially because you think that
people will disapprove of what you are doing [adv phrase]
His doctor has told him he mustn't drink, but he still has an
occasional brandy on the quiet. I My husband's always late
home from the office these days - I'm worried that he's seeing
another woman on the quiet.
behind the scenes/b,haInd b 'si:nz/ if something
important is happening behind the scenes, it is happen-
ing secretly while other things are happening publicly [adv
phrase]
His book describes what was actually going on behind the
scenes in Washington during the Vietnam war. I Gorbachev's
position looked secure, but behind the scenes a major power
struggle was in progress.
behind-the-scenes [adj only before noun ] The final agree-
ment was only reached after a lot of behind-the-scenes
negotiating.
behind closed doors/bi haind klozd dz:rz/if impor-
tant official meetings, discussions, or decisions take place
behind closed doors, they take place secretly without the
public being allowed to see or hear them [adv phrase]
The meeting was held behind closed doors. I Although
America is a democracy, a lot of key decisions are made
behind closed doors by unelected presidential advisers.

SECRET 1176 SECRET
in private/:n 'pra:vt/if you do something in private,
you do it where other people cannot see or hear you lady
phrase]
Can I have a word with you in private? l People now are able
to talk openly about things that were once only whispered
about in private, i Although party officials give the Presi-
dent their public support, many are saying in private that
he may have to resign.
behind sb's back/b ,haInd (sb's) 'bek/if you do some-
thing or say something unpleasant about someone behind
their back, you do or say it without telling them lady
phrase]
She knew that as soon as she left the room they would all start
talking about her behind her back. i I don't mind you seeing
another man - I just wish you wouldn't ?lo it behind my back.
in confidence/m 'knfdans li -'ko:n-/if you tell some-
one something in confidence, you tell them it on the con-
dition that they will not tell anyone else lady phrase]
I'd like to talk to you in confidence about my personal
problems. I in strict/the strictest confidence (=com-
pletely in confidence) Everything I'm about to tell you is in
the strictest confidence.
surreptitiously/, SArp't]sli/ if yOU do something sur-
reptitiously, you do it while other people are not looking
because you do not want them to see you doing it lady]
She glanced surreptitiously up at the clock. I He surrepti-
tiously placed the money in his pocket while the others were
talking.
furtively/'fa:ruvli/if you do something furtively, you
do it in a way which makes you look as if you are keeping
something secret, especially something wrong that you
have done lady]
She looked around furtively to make sure that no one was
watching her. I The older boys hovered furtively outside the
school gates clutching thinly rolled cigarettes.
7 words for describing someone who keeps
their intentions, feelings, or actions secret
from other people
secretive
cagey
play your cards close to your chest/vest
furtive
secretive /'si:krtiv, sl'kri:tv! unwilling to let other
people know what you are doing, or to give them informa-
tion about yourself [adj]
Years of living alone had made her secretive and unwilling
to trust anyone. I secretive about Banks are notoriously
secretive about their affairs and detest the idea of coopera-
tion with other banks.
•
cagey/'kedsi/an informal word meaning unwilling to
tell people definitely what your plans, intentions, or opin-
ions are [adj]
He gets very cagey whenever I ask him about his job. I cagey
about The senator is being very cagey about whether or not
he will run for President.
play your cards close to your chest (British) I vest
(American)/ple ja: r ,ko:rdz klus t j:r ItJ'est, 'vest/if some-
one plays their cards close to their chest or vest, they
do not allow other people to know what they are planning
to do next Iv phrase]
No one knows what the Israelis are going to do about the
Palestinian problem - they're playing their cards very close
to their chest.
furtive / I fa:rtlv/someone who is furtive or behaves in a
furtive way looks as though they are keeping something
secret, especially something wrong that they have done
[adj]
There was something furtive about the man's appearance
which made me immediately suspicious. I The two girls
exchanged furtive glances across the dinner table and tried
hard not to giggle.
8 words for describing someone who secretly
does something that other people disapprove
of
secret
closet
secret/'si:krt/[adj only before noun]
Many housewives get bored with their lives and become secret
drinkers. ] a secret admirer of Hitler
closet/'ldozt ]i ldo:-, 'kb:-/closet homosexual/alco-
holic etc (=one who is secretly a homosexual, an alcoholic
etc) [adj]
He finally "came out" as gay in 1989, after years as a closet
homosexual. [ a closet soap-opera fan
 to keep something secret from other people
keep sth secret keep sth under wraps
can keep a secret discretion
keep quiet
keep sth secret/ki:p (sth) 'si:krt/ to not tell other
people something because you want it to remain secret [v
phrase]
No one knew about their love affair - they kept it secret. I
keep sth secret from You've been keeping something secret
from me, haven't you? I Stalin's worst crimes were kept secret
from the rest of the world until well after his death.
can keep a secret/kan ki:p a si:krt/someone who
can keep a secret will not tell your secrets to other people,
so you can trust them with secret information Iv phrase]
Don't worry, you can tell me - I can keep a secret. I Can you
keep a secret?
keep quiet/ki:p kwaiot/to not talk to other people about
something, especially something that they will find out
about later Iv phrase]
keep quiet about She thought she was pregnant, but she
decided to keep quiet about it until after she'd seen a doctor. I
I think we'd better keep quiet about these radiation leaks for
the time being, i keep quiet I just wish I'd kept quiet - now
the whole neighbourhood knows I'm getting married.
keep sth under wraps/,ki:p (sth) And r 'reps/to not
allow people to know about something that has been offi-
cially planned or decided Iv phrase]
The government has kept its plans for reorganizing educa-
tion under wraps. [ Ford's new range of cars is being kept
firmly under wraps until the Geneva auto show.
discretion /dx'skrean/ the ability to judge when you
should or should not tell people things that you know about
someone In U]
Absolute discretion is required from everyone working for
the Royal Family. [ be the soul of discretion (=be very
trustworthy because you will never tell something that
should be kept secret) Don't worry about Marian being here
- she's the very soul of discretion.
10 a situation in which information, plans, facts
etc are kept secret
secrecy
confidentiality
secrecy/'si:krlsi! In U]
Much of the secrecy that once surrounded the KGB has now
disappeared. I Our commanding officer emphasized the need
to maintain the utmost secrecy about the operation at all
times. I swear sb to secrecy (=make someone swear that
they will not tell other people a secret) Ican't tellyou what
she said - she swore me to secrecy.
confidentiality /,konfdeni'elti II ,ko:n-/ the trust
that exists between people who share secrets, especially
between a professional person such as a doctor or lawyer
and someone who gives them private information In U]
The relationship between attorneys and their clients is based
entirely on confidentiality. I breach of confidentiality (=an
act of breaking confidentiality by telling a secret) The
doctor shouidn "t have told your parents that you'd had an
abortion - it was a blatant breach of confidentiality.

secrete 1177 SEE
secrete
secretive
secretly
sect
section
sector
secular
secure
security
sedentary
sedition
seduce
seductive
see
HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 1
SECRET 7
SECRET 6
RELIGION 2
PART 1, 5
AREA 2, PART 5
RELIGION 5
ATTACH 3, GET 1, SAFE 1, 3
SAFE 2
SIT 5
REBELLION/REVOLUTION 6
ATTRACT 1, SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 6
SEXY 2
FIND OUT 1, HAPPEN 8, IMAGINE 1, SEE 1,
UNDERSTAND 1, 3, VISIT 4, WATCH 1
'- see: as I see it/the way I see it THINK/HAVE THE
i!: OPINION THAT 2
'' see: be seeing RELATIONSHIP 4
see: can see SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 1
 see: go to see/go and see VISIT 1
", see: I don't see/I can't see UNDERSTAND 13
--, see: I see UNDERSTAND 1
: see: let sb see SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1
,.::., see how things go WAIT 2
iii{ see if you can do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1
:.!! see reason SENSIBLE 4
.,::: see reason: get sb to see reason SENSIBLE 5
see sb off GOODBYE 1
:...: see sth as UNDERSTAND 6
see sth coming PREDICT 2
;
seesthinsb LIKESBORSTH5
:ii see sth through FINISH DOING STH 7
• ii; see sth with your own eyes SEE 1
i see that/see to it CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 4
;: see the back of sth: be glad/happy to see the back
ii! of sth GET RID OF 3
.'-ft..
:;i!i see through TRICK/DECEIVE 6
iii see to DEAL WITH 2
:. see you GOODBYE 2
:;:,,
.- see you around GOODBYE 2
;.i.. see you later GOODBYE 2
......
ii see you tomorrow/in the morning/at the club etc
e. GOODBYE 2
happening:, what.
somehb isOing
visit so.me:e
check to find out if
somet:hing
correct etc ..:'
.:':: :. :-:.....::'?' ::,-::--.,:..
 NOTICE
"@ VISIT
@ CHECK/MAKE
SURE
UNDERSTAND
SEE
12
13
14
15
to see someone or something
to see someone or something quickly or for a
very short time
to see someone or something that you have
been looking for
to see someone or something with difficulty
words for describing something that can be
seen
ways of saying that something happens in a
place where people can see it
something that you see, especially something
unusual, interesting, or shocking
the whole area that you can see from
somewhere, especially from a high place
something that you imagine you can see, but
which is not really there
words for describing something that cannot
be seen
words for describing something that is difficult
to see or that you can only just see
words for describing something you can see
through
words for describing something that is difficult
or impossible to see through
how far it is possible to see
to make it difficult for you to see
1 to see someone or something
see witness
set eyes on see sth with your own eyes
see/ski [v T not in progressive]
see sth/sb Have you seen my pen? I We'd better get out of
here before your father sees us. I It was strange seeing him
without his wig on for the first time. I see sb/sth do sth He
saw the car cross the road in front of him and collide with
a bus. I No one actually saw her leave. I see sb doing sth
I could see her standing outside our house. I see who/what/
where A woman walked past me, but it was too dark to see
who it was. I be seen to do sth The suspect was then seen
to leave the building and get into his car.
set eyes on (also clap eyes on in British English)/,set
'a,z on, klaep 'az on/an expression meaning to see some-
one or something, used either when talking about the time
when you first saw them, or when saying strongly that you
have never seen them or never want to see them again
Iv phrase]
This was the woman he was going to marry - he knew it the
moment he set eyes on her. I I tell you I don't know the man
- I've never clapped eyes on him before in my life. I Janet
hated the place so much that she never wanted to set eyes on
it again.
witness 1' witns/to see something happen, especially an
accident, a crime, or an important event, because you are
present when it happens Iv T]
Only one person witnessed the accident. I It was exciting to
be in Moscow in 1991 and to witness those historic events.
see sth with your own eyes/,si: (sth) wi( j:r ,un
'az/to see something strange or surprising, which other
people may find difficult to believe [v phrase]
If I hadn't seen the destruction with my own eyes, I would
never have believed it. I There's no doubt it was him. I saw
him with my own eyes.
to see someone or"something quickly or for a
very short time
catch sight of
catch a glimpse of
get a look at

SEE 1178 SEE
catch sight of/,ket 'salt ov/to suddenly see something
or someone for a moment, especially by chance [vphrase]
She caught sight of her face in the mirror. I I just happened
to catch sight of him as he was going past our office. I It was
only when they caught sight of a police car at the bottom of
the road that the robbers realized they were in trouble.
catch a glimpse of/,ketI  glmps ov/to see someone
or something for a moment without getting a complete
view of them [v phrase]
I can't describe him very well - I only caught a glimpse of
him. I Everyone was pushing and shoving, trying to catch
a glimpse of Madonna. I catch a fleeting glimpse of (=a
quick short glimpse) We caught a fleeting glimpse of the
Queen as her black limousine drove past.
get a look at/,get  lok et/to be able to see clearly some:
one or something that you want to see, even though you
see them for only a very short time [v phrase]
Before the car turned the corner I managed to get a look at
its licence number. I get a good/proper look at "'Could you
identify your attacker in court? .... No, he ran off before Icould
get a good look at him." I get a close look at Something was
moving in the water - we rushed down to the edge of the river
to get a closer look.
3 to see someone or something that you have
been looking for
spot
sight
observe
spot/spot II spa:t/to suddenly see someone or something
that you have been looking for or that is difficult to see
[v T not in progressive]
She spotted the ring under her bed and reached to pick it up. I
I think they've spotted us. Quick, run! I Security guards spot-
ted the shoplifter as he tried to put a bottle of whisky into his
bag.
sight/salt/to suddenly see something or someone from
a long distance, especially when you have been looking for
a long time [v T not in progressive]
be sighted The missing boys were sighted by a rescue
helicopter. I Several deer have been sighted in the forest this
year. I sight sth It was many weeks before they sighted land.
sighting [n C/ There have been a number of sightings of
"Unidentified Flying Objects" in the area around Glaston-
bury.
observe /blz3:rv/ a formal word meaning to see
something happening or see someone doing something,
especially when it is your job to watch what is happening
[v T not in progressive]
observe sb doing sth Police observed a man entering the
building. I observe sth When I returned to the area, the car
I had observed earlier had disappeared.
to see someone or something with difficulty
make out
distinguish
make out/ meek aoq to see someone or something, but
only with difficulty, for example because they are far away
or because it is dark [phr v T not in progressive]
make out sth Patrick could just make out the vague shape
of a young woman in front of him in the darkness. I make
out what/where/who It was hard to make out where the
rocks ended and the sea began. I make sth/it/them out
"'Can you read what it says on this stone? .... Yes, I can just
about make it out. '"
distinguish/di' surjgw I/to see the shape of someone or
something with difficulty Iv T not in progressive]
The room was too dimly lit for me to distinguish anything
clearly. I If you look carefully at the picture, you can just
distinguish his face at the back of the crowd.
5 words for describing something that can be
seen
visible in view
show in sight
visible/'vzbdl/[adj]
The church tower is visible from the next village. I Parts of
the ship are still clearly visible at low tide. I Detectives found
no visible signs of a struggle. I visible to the naked eye
(=visible without using special instruments to help you
see) These stars are barely visible to the naked eye.
visibly lady/She was visibly tired (=you could see she was
tired) after her ordeal.
show/Io/if something shows, people can see it, espe-
cially when you do not want them to see it [v I/
Button up your shirt - your vest's showing. I Do you think
this wine stain will show? I She has a small scar on her cheek
but if she puts plenty of make-up on, it doesn't show. i Steve
hadn't slept for three days, and it was starting to show in
his face.
in view/m vju:/if something or someone is in view, they
can be seen from where you are and are not hidden by any-
thing [adv phrase]
She waited until the whole of the island was in view before
taking the photograph. I David pulled the blankets over him
so only the top of his head remained in view. I come into
view (=begin to be in view) No sooner had we reached the
top of one peak than another one came into view. I keep sb
in view Charles craned forward to keep her in view through
the wing mirror of his car.
in sight / In 'salt/if something or someone is in sight, they
are close enough for you to be able to see them [advphrase]
As the ship drew closer to the coast the white cliffs were soon
in sight. I The only building in sight was a small wooden
barn. I It was late in the afternoon and there wasn't anyone
in sight.
6 ways of saying that something happens in a
place where people can see it
in full view of
in front of
in front of sb's eyes/before sb's eyes
in full view of/in ,fol 'vju: v/if something happens,
especially something unpleasant or shocking, in full view
of a group of people, they can see it clearly [prep]
The accident happened in full view of everyone waiting at
the bus stop. I Thomas was to be punished in full view of the
whole school.
in front of/in 'fr^nt v/if something happens in front
of someone, it happens where they can see it, especially
when you do not want them to [prep]
I don "t like getting undressed in front of other people. I He's
always flirting with other women in front of his wife. I right
in front of Unfortunately, when I hit him I was standing
right in front of a police officer.
in front of sb's eyes/before sb's eyes /in  frAnt v
(sb's) 'aIz, bi,fa: r (sb's) 'aiz/ if something surprising or
shocking happens in front of someone's eyes or before
someone's eyes, it happens very close to someone, so that
they can see it clearly [adv phrase]
The man suddenly vanished in front of my eyes - one second
he was there, the next he was gone. I before sb's very eyes
Before our very eyes he produced $50,000 out of his suitcase
and offered to buy the house. I right in front of/before
your eyes If someone is murdered right in front of your eyes,
you don't forget it easily.
something that you see, especially something
unusual, interesting, or shocking
sight
scene
spectacle

SEE 1179 SEE
sight/sait/In C]
Sunrise over the Himalayas is a magnificent sight. I the
sight of People are growing accustomed to the sight of riot
police patrolling the streets. I a familiar sight (=someone
or something that is often seen) Sweet potato sellers are a
familiar sight in Tokyo on winter nights. I a welcome sight
(=something you are happy to see) The warm fire was a wel-
come sight when we came in from the snow. I the sights
(=the interesting places for tourists to see in a particular
place) Jean-Paul took me around Paris and showed me the
sights.
scene/si:n/all the things and people that you see in a
place, especially when you are describing a place where
something unusual, interesting, or shocking is happening
In C]
Reporters described the horrific scenes which followed the
bombing. I a scene of The President arrived by helicopter
to witness a scene of absolute chaos.
spectacle /  spektkl/something that you see that is very
surprising, strange, or shocking In C usually singular]
the spectacle of Visitors to London are often shocked by the
spectacle of people begging in the streets. [ a strange/
bizarre/tragic etc spectacle The sight of European
tourists dancing in grass skirts made a bizarre spectacle.
8 the whole area that you can see from
somewhere, especially from a high place
view
panorama
view/vju:/the whole area, especially a beautiful place,
that you can see from somewhere [n C]
His studio has a spectacular view over Sydney Harbour
Bridge. I If you stand here you get a marvellous view of the
cathedral. I We just stood there, admiring the view.
panorama / pena  ro:ma II -'rema/an impressive view
of a very large area that stretches a long way across in front
of you [n C]
At sunrise they surveyed the vast panorama of snow-covered
hills and mountains. I From the top of the tower there was
a spectacular view of the sky, a panorama of twinkling stars.
 something that you imagine you can see, but
which is not really there
hallucination mirage
illusion vision
hallucination/h,lu:s 'neff tin/an experience of seeing
something which is not really there, for example because
you have been taking drugs or because you are ill In C]
In the last stages of his illness he suffered continually from
hallucinations. I In tests the drug caused patients to have hal-
lucinations - some imagined the walls were melting, others
that they could fly.
illusion/ lu:3dn/something that you imagine you can
see, which is either not there at all, or is actually something
else In C]
The road appears to get narrower as you look into the dis-
tance, but it's just an illusion. I give/create an illusion It's
a small room, but the mirrors create an illusion of space.
mirage/'miro:3 II m 're:3/something, especially an area
of water in a desert, which you think you can see in the
distance but which is not really there, caused by hot air
conditions In C]
They looked into the desert and saw what looked like a lake,
but it was just a mirage.
vision /'vI3an! something that you imagine you can see,
especially as part of a strong religious experience [n C]
In her vision Joan of Arc saw an angel telling her to go and
fight for France. I Many people claim to have had visions
while praying at Lourdes.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 0 words for describing something that cannot
be seen
invisible
out of sight
lose sight of
invisible/zn'vizbal/[adj]
Jagger was dancing on stage, and pretending to play an
invisible guitar. I Sometimes it was difficult to talk to her
- it was as if an invisible wall had been erected between
them. I invisible to the naked eye (=cannot be seen
without special instruments to help you see) The moons of
Saturn are invisible to the naked eye.
out of sight / ,aot v saq if something or someone is out
of sight, they cannot be seen because they are behind
something else or too far away [adv phrase]
A plain-clothes police officer parked his car around the
corner, just out of sight. I She walked off down the road. He
waited until she was out of sight before going back into the
house.
lose sight of/lu:z sat ov/to no longer be able to see
someone or something because they have moved too far
away from you, especially when you are chasing them
Iv phrase]
Police lost sight of the man when he ran into a crowd of
people. I They gave up the chase, losing sight of the car as
it turned the corner. I Soon we had lost sight of the boat house
and were drifting helplessly downstream.
1 1 words for describing something that is difficult
to see or that you can only just see
dim
indistinct
dim/dim/dim shape/outline/figure etc (:one that is
difficult to see because it is too far away or because there
is not enough light) [adj usually before noun]
He saw the dim outline of the taxi-driver's head inside the
cab. I Through the mist she could just make out the dim shape
of what looked like an enormous dog.
dimly lady] The distant coastline was dimly outlined
against the evening sky.
Indistinct/, :nd ' SUl]kt/something that is indistinct is
difficult to see because its edges are unclear or it is very
small [ adj]
The faces in the photograph were too indistinct for me to iden-
tify them clearly. I The foregrounds of Lowry's paintings are
often filled with small indistinct human figures.
12 words for describing something you can see
through
clear
see-through
transparent
clear lid far/water, air, glass etc that is clear does not con-
tain anything that will prevent you from seeing through
it easily [adj]
The water was so clear you could see the sea bed. I On a clear
day, you can see Mount Fuji from Tokyo. I Students may
wear clear nail polish but no bright colors.
see-through/' si: Oru:/clothes or materials that are see-
through allow you to see through them, especially because
they are very thin [adj]
The material of her dress was soft and fine, almost see-
through. I The singer appeared on stage wearing black
underwear under a see-through blouse. I The frogs are kept
in large see-through containers that are escape-proof.
transparent/transperant, -spear-/something that is
transparent allows light to pass freely through it so that
objects behind it can be dearly seen [adj]
The meat is covered in transparent plastic wrapping
material, i Fry the onions until they are soft and almost
transparent. I For the most part the Earth's atmosphere is
transparent, and high-resolution pictures of the surface can
be obtained from space.

SEE 1180 SEEM
1 3 words for describing something that is difficult
or impossible to see through
opaque
frosted
opaque/o'pek/[adj]
As the liquid cools it becomes cloudy and opaque. [ There was
a shower with an opaque glass door.
frosted /'frostd II 'fro:s-/ frosted glass/windows
(=fairly thick and with an uneven surface that is difficult
or impossible to see through) [adj]
I saw the outline of a man through the frosted glass panel
of the door. I The bathroom is tiny and square with one
frosted window.
14 how far it is possible to see
visibility
visibility/,wz 'blti/how far it is possible to see, espe-
cially when this is affected by weather conditions [n U]
Fog has reduced visibility to less than 20 metres. I good visi-
bility (=when the air is clear so you can see a long distance)
Conditions are perfect for the yacht race; there is a light wind
and visibility is good. I poor visibility (=when it is difficult
to see very far) Poor visibility made skiing extremely
hazardous.
1 5 to make it difficult for you to see
blind
dazzle
blind/blaind! ifa light blinds you, it is so bright that you
cannot look into it and it makes you unable to see for a few
moments afterwards Iv T]
Rabbits on the road are often blinded by the glare of car
headlights. ] The floodlight had blinded him and he couldn't
see to reload his gun.
dazzle/i dzal/if a very bright light dazzles you, it is so
strong that you cannot see anything else, especially when
this may have dangerous results Iv T]
If you are dazzled by oncoming traffic, slow down and look
for a place to stop. I Dazzled by the sun, mice and other small
animals cannot see the hawk hovering above.
' see-through SEE 12
ii seeds: sow the seeds of CAUSE 6
:" seedy BAD PERSON 6, DIRTY 3
".;..:.
;!i seeing: be seeing RELATIONSHIP 4
..... seeing as BECAUSE 1
:-
: seeing things: be seeing things IMAGINE 3
seek ASK FOR STHIASK SB TO DO STH 1, LOOK
" FOR 2
: seek advice ADVISE 3
• i; seek out LOOK FOR 2
 seek to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH. 1
.:..... seem SEEM 1, 2
:!i seem: not be what you seem SEEM 6
seem: it seems SEEM 3
• ..- seem: it seems to sb THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1
SEEM
to have the appearance of being something
or of having a particular feeling, opinion, or
characteristic
to seem to be doing something, or seem to
be happening
ways of saying what seems to be happening,
seems to be true etc
words for describing a feeling, attitude, or
quality that someone or something seems to
have
5 ways of saying that, because of the way
something seems, you think that something
will happen, is true etc
6 to be different from what you seem to be
7 the opinion or feeling that you have about
someone or something because of the way
they seem
8 the appearance of being something or of
having a particular quality or feeling
1
to have the appearance of being something
or of having a particular feeling, opinion, or
characteristic
seem
appear
look
have a sad/interested/
angry etc look
come across as
show signs of
sound
strike sb as
have all the
hallmarks of
an air of
give the impression
seem lee:m/[v not in progressive]
She seems very intelligent. I What's the matter with Henry?
He seems worried about something. I seem to sb The whole
situation seemed very unfair to me. I seem like The last few
days had seemed like a dream. I "'Why did you move to New
York?" "'It seemed like a good idea at the time. "" I seem to
be The doctor said that there didn't seem to be much wrong
with her son.
appear/a,p]ar! a word used especially in formal or writ-
ten English meaning to seem Iv not in progressive]
The city appeared calm after the previous night's fighting. I
It's difficult to ask a woman her age without appearing
rude. I appear to be My grandfather appeared to be in good
health. I The stables were part of what appeared to be some
kind of dairy farm. I appear to sb The matter appeared to
me to be of some importance.
look/lok/to seem to be something by having a particular
appearance Iv]
This food looks disgusting! I The boys were all wearing
leather jackets and doing their best to look macho. I look
like She's really pretty - she looks like a model. I The
intruder was homing what looked like a shotgun. I look as
if You look as if you've been up all night.
have a sad/interested/angry etc look/hev  (sad,
etc) 'lok/to have the appearance of being sad, interested,
angry etc [v phrase not in progressive]
I think she was impressed. She had a very interested look on
her face. I She had such an angry look I thought she was
going to hit him.
come across as /  kAm o  kros az [[ -o' kra:s-/if you say
someone comes across as a particular type of person, you
mean they seem to have a certain type of character, even
if in fact their true character is different Iv T]
He often comes across as being rather cold and arrogant. [
It's hard to tell other people about your personal problems
without coming across as some kind of neurotic. [ come
across well (=seem to be a good or suitable kind of person)
She doesn't come across very well in interviews, but she's a
very able and enthusiastic worker.
show signs of/Jao samz uv/if someone or something
shows signs of age, improvement, tiredness etc, some fea-
tures of their appearance or behaviour make them seem
old, better, tired etc Iv phrase]
show signs ofsth The economy is showing no signs of any
improvement. I Maria's hands were beginning to show signs
of age. I show signs of doing sth If the soil shows signs of
drying out, water it sparingly. I British prisoners-of-war
showed signs of having been ill-treated by their captors.
sound Isaond/ if someone or something sounds good,
terrible, excellent etc, that is how they seem to be from
the way someone has described them Iv I]

SEEM 1181 SEEM
sound like His description of the island made it sound like
paradise on earth. I This doesn't sound like a very practical
plan. I sound good/bad/awful etc Your new boyfriend
sounds really nice. I That sounds great!
strike sb as/IstraIk (sb) ez/if someone or something
strikes you as having a particular quality or feature, they
seem to you to have it [phr v T]
He's always struck me as a very kind and well-intentioned
man. i If you see anything that strikes you as being remotely
suspicious or odd, let me know at once. [ She didn't strike me
as the type who would want to become a teacher.
have all the hallmarks of/hev la:l 6a Iha:lma:rks tv/
if a thing or event has all the hallmarks of something,
it has all the typical features of someone's work or actions,
and therefore seems to have been done or made by them
[v phrase not in progressive]
The explosion has all the hallmarks of an IRA attack. [ The
painting isn't signed by Matisse, but it has all the hallmarks
of one of his later works.
an air of/an lear av/if someone or something has an air
of confidence, mystery, authority etc, there is something
about their appearance which makes them seem confident,
mysterious etc [n phrase]
When he spoke he had an air of authority.[ have an air of
sth about you I really like this room - it has a certain air
of elegant simplicity about it which appeals to me. i with an
air of She walked quickly into the room with an air of com-
plete confidence, i there is an air of There was an air of
solemnity about the occasion - it was a bit like being at a
funeral.
give the impression [ igIv 6i Im IpreSan / if someone or
something gives the impression that something about
them is true, they make other people think it is true, espe-
cially when it is not [v phrase]
give the impression that Paul liked to give everyone the
impression that he knew a lot about cars. I We always leave
the lights on when we go out at night so as to give the impres-
sion that there's someone in the house. I give the impres-
sion of Mirrors are used in the dining room in order to give
the impression of space.
2 to seem to be doing something, or seem to
be happening
seem
appear
seem/si:m/Iv not in progressive]
seem to do sth At first she didn't seem to notice me. I The
rainbow seemed to end on the hillside opposite. [ seem as if
The man seemed as if he was trying to tell me something. I
Babies often seem as if they're thinking very deeply.
appear/apar/a word used especially in formal or writ-
ten English, meaning to seem to be doing something or
seem to be happening [v not in progressive]
appear to do sth Mrs Williams appeared to have forgotten
our last conversation. [ The soldiers appear to be digging a
large trench. [ The economy appears, at long last, to be
coming out of recession.
3
it seems
it appears
it looks as if
apparently
to/by all appearances
ways of saying what seems to be happening,
seems to be true etc
seemingly
on the face of it
on the surface
outwardly
it seems/It Isi:mz/
it seems (that) It seemed that everyone had heard about the
accident except me. I It seems Sarah wants to study engineer-
ing instead of sociology. I it seems likely/probable/pos-
sible etc (that) It seems likely that the men are innocent. I
it seems as if/as though It seemed as if they had spent their
whole life together, even though they had only just met. I it
seems like She was very quiet - it seemed like she had some-
thing on her mind. I so it seems (=it seems so, but it may
not be true) Her father had visited every country in the world,
or so it seemed.
it appears lit a IpIarz/an expression used especially in
written English meaning that something seems to be hap-
pening or seems to be true
it appears (that) From her letters it appeared that Tracy
was now living in South London. I it appears likely/prob-
able/possible etc (that) It now appears likely that there
will be a summit meeting in May. I it appears as if Heplaced
the gun next to the body, so as to make it appear as if the
victim had shot himself. I so it would appear Kennedy was
probably killed by the CIA, or so it would appear from this
book.
it looks as if/it Iloks az If] you say it looks as if when
you mean that something seems to be the situation or that
it seems something will happen in the future
It looks as if the company will make a profit this year. I It
doesn't look as if we will be able to afford a vacation next
summer. I it looks like She held the thermometer near a
light bulb to make it look like she had a fever.
apparently/alperantli! if something has apparently
happened or is apparently true, that is what seems to have
happened or to be the situation, especially because you
have been told or have heard it lady]
Apparently she tried to phone you this morning. [ I didn't see
the game but it was very exciting apparently. I Apparently
some of these trees are over 5000years old. I It's a mystery how
an apparently lifeless seed can grow to become a beautiful
plant.
to/by all appearances/to, bai i:l alpIransz/if you
say that something is true to/by all appearances, you
mean that it is true according to what you can see or have
noticed [adv phrase]
To all appearances, they were a happily married couple. I
The two countries remained, by all appearances, hostile
towards each other.
seemingly/Isi:mlrjli/seemingly impossible/endless/
unimportant/unbelievable etc (=seeming to be impos-
sible, endless, unimportant etc, especially when this is not
actually true) lady]
Running a mile in under 4 minutes was a seemingly impos-
sible task. I I looked down at the seemingly endless expanse
of green of the Serengeti Plain. [ The music was strange,
seemingly without a melody.
on the face of it/Dn 5a fels av it/ifyou say that some-
thing seems true on the face of it, you mean that it seems
true, but you are not at all certain that it actually is,
because you do not know all the facts lady phrase]
On the face of it, this seems like a perfectly good idea - we
must wait and see if it turns out well. [ On the face of it, he
appeared to be an ideal candidate for the position.
on the surface/tn a Is3:rQs/according to what you
can clearly or easily see or know, but not true if you dis-
cover more about the situation, person etc, that you are
talking about [adv phrase]
Rebecca seems confident, but it's all on the surface. I On the
surface, parts of China appear very westernized. I On the
surface, life seemed perfectly normal in Belfast.
outwardly /lautwardli/if someone is outwardly calm,
happy etc, that is how they seem to be, but in fact they are
probably nervous, unhappy etc lady]
outwardly calm/unconcerned etc Henry remained calm
and outwardly unaffected by the terrible events of the previ-
ous day. [ outwardly Outwardly she seemed contented and
happy with life.
4 words for describing a feeling, attitude, or
quality that someone or something seems to
have
apparent
seeming
superficial
apparent/a'perant/[adj only before noun]
I was surprised by their apparent anger at my suggestion. I
She ignored his apparent indifference towards her and asked
if they could go to the theatre together.

SEEM 1182 selective
seeming / ' si:mr]l a formal word meaning seeming to be
true about someone's feelings, attitudes, or abilities [adj
only before noun]
I wondered about the reason for Richard's seeming reluc-
tance to talk about his childhood. [ The professor became
frustrated by his students" seeming inability to understand
simple questions.
superficial /su:por'flJ'al, ,sju:-[i ,su:-/ feelings, atti-
tudes, or qualities that are superficial are not real or true,
even though someone or something seems to have them
[adj]
He may appear charming at first, but it's all very super-
ficial.l Despite their superficial resemblance, the two
computers are in fact totally different.
5 ways of saying that, because of the way
 something seems, you think that something
will happen, is true etc
judging by/judging from/going by
from the way
you'd think/anyone would think
from
judging by/judging from/going by I'dsAdsIrj ba,
'd3Adsirj from, 'goorj bar/[prepl
Judging by Michael's expression I'd say he wash "t in a very
good mood today. [ She looks like a student, judging from
the number of books she's carrying under her arm. [ Going
by the quality of the runners, I think this week's 800 metres
final could produce a new Olympic record.
from the way/from 6o 'we J/seeming to be true because
of the way someone or something looks or the way they do
something [conjunction l
It was clear from the way Dorothy spoke that she was wor-
ried about something. [ From the way the body was lying I'd
say it was suicide.
you'd think/anyone would think/ju:d '0Jrjk, ,eniwan
wod '0n]k/(used when you want to say that someone is
making a situation seem much more serious or important
than it really is)
He's only cut his finger but you'd think he was bleeding to
death, the amount of noise he's making. [ Mary's spent at
least three days cleaning up and preparing the meal -
anyone would think she was expecting royalty!
from/from; strong from ii from; strong frAm, fro:m/ from
sb's face/voice/clothes/appearance/expression etc
(=because of the way someone's face etc looks or sounds,
something seems to be true) [prep]
From his voice I'd say he was born somewhere in the North
of England. I She looked from her clothes like some kind of
high-powered executive.
6 to be different from what you seem to be
 there's more to sb/sth than meets the eye
deceptive
deceptively
not be what you seem
there's more to sblsth than meets the eye/6eorz
,ma: r to (sb/sth) 6an ,mi:ts 6i 'a/ if you say that there's
more to someone/something than meets the eye, you
mean that they are more interesting, important, intelligent
etc than they seem to be
"'I didn't know he wrote poetry. "" "Yes - he also does paint-
ing. There's more to him than meets the eye. "" [ People think
of Bradford as a dull industrial city, but there is more to it
than meets the eye. [ It looks like a simple case of burglary,
but there may be more to it than meets the eye.
deceptive/dI'septlv/seeming to be good, friendly, safe
etc, but in fact being very different [adj]
The sea here is very deceptive - it looks safe but is in fact very
dangerous. [ He had a deceptive smile on his face. [ The cult's
leaders all exude a deceptive air of simplicity and innocence.
deceptively/di'septvli/deceptively simple/easy etc
(=seeming simple, easy etc, but actually very difficult)
[adv]
The first question seemed deceptively simple. [ The cycling
route looks deceptively easy, especially when seen from a car.
not be what you seem/,not bi: wot ju: 'si:m/if you
say that someone is not what they seem, you mean that
they are not what they seem to be, especially because they
are deliberately trying to trick you Iv phrase]
There's something odd about him - I don "t think he's what
he seems. He might be a cop.
7 the opinion or feeling that you have about
someone or something because of the way
they seem
impression
impression/m'prean/[n C]
He seemed older than 21 and his old-fashioned glasses added
to this impression. [ first impression What was your first
impression of Jane when you met her?[ First impressions can
be deceptive. Wait till you have known him longer before you
decide what he's like. [ have an impression When they
returned to Japan they each had very different impressions
of what England was like. [ create an impression I don't
want to argue with him in public - it might create a bad
impression. [ be under the impression that (=think that
something is true because of the way the situation seems,
when in fact it is not) I'm sorry. I was under the impression
that you were married.
 the appearance of being something or of
having a particular quality or feeling
appearance
semblance of
appearance Io'p[aronsl In C]
The prisoners were dressed in civilian clothes to give some
appearance of normality. [ I stifled a yawn, trying to keep
up some appearance of being interested. [ appearances can
be deceptive (=what something seems to be is not always
true) The company seemed well-organized, efficient, and
modern at first, but appearances can be deceptive.
semblance of/'semblons ov/semblance of truth/real-
ity/hope/freedom etc (=the appearance of truth, reality,
etc that seems to exist in a situation, but which may be
false) In singular]
Any semblance of democracy quickly disappeared when the
military government announced it was taking over. [ A novel
needs to have some semblance of truth.
seeming SEEM 4
seemingly SEEM 3
seep in ENTER 10
seething ANGRY 2
segment PART 1
segregate SEPARATE 6
 segregation RACE 2, SEPARATE 6
 seize CONTROL 15, TAKE STH FROM SB 2, TAKE
 STH FROM SOMEWHERE 2
[: seize power POWER 5
i:i;, seldom: rarely/seldom RARELY 1
;..-.;,,'-
ii!! select CHOOSE 1, 4
 selected CHOOSE 8
-- selection CHOOSE 6, 8, VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 5
ii selective CHOOSE 9
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

self-assurance 1183 SELFISH
self
..... do somethi,g y0self N PERSONALLY/
 rathe.r...than .$.h.rough YOURSELF
someone else
someone':g :chracter  @ CHARACTER/
........................ " ..... PERSONALITY
(eliS::bt .C.ing .... : ---=  SELFISH
about others
:i- self-assurance: assurance/self-assurance
ii.: CONFIDENT 4
i self-assured: assured/self-assured CONFIDENT 1
 self-centred/self-centered SELFISH 1
 self-confidence CONFIDENT 4
--"- self-confident CONFIDENT 1
: self-conscious EMBARRASSED 1
self-control CONTROL 7
self-defeating FAIL 4
 self-defencelself-defense DEFEND 2
::: self-discipline CONTROL 7
• self-effacing MODEST 1
self-employed WORK FOR SB 3
: self-esteem PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 1
self-evident OBVIOUS :3
;:..
, self-governing INDEPENDENT COUNTRY OR
i,.: ORGAN IZATIO N 1
.i::: self-important PROUD 7
::'=: self-indulgent ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 11
:i,-: self-interest SELFISH 3
...
: self-made ALONE 2
":;'- self-pity SAD/UNHAPPY 7
;i; self-reliance INDEPENDENT PERSON 6
:; self-reliant INDEPENDENT PERSON 1
!:il self-respect PRIDE/SELF-RESPECT 1
....
.i;ii self-righteous GOOD/MORAL 11
ii;:i: self-same: the very same/self-same SAME 1
::" self-satisfied PROUD 5
::: self-sufficiency INDEPENDENT PERSON 6
-::, self-sufficient INDEPENDENT PERSON 1 2
..
;,:: selfish SELFISH 1
SELFISH
I caring only about yourself, not about other
people
:2 behaving selfishly in order to make sure that
you gain money or advantage
 selfish behaviour or a selfish attitude
4 not selfish
1 caring only about yourself, not about other
people
selfish self-centred/
think of nobody self-centered
but yourself egocentric
selfish IselflJ'/[adj]
All she ever thinks about is herself and her own selfish
interests. [ Even the kindest acts usually have some sort of
selfish motive, t He's a cruel pitiless, selfish man. I Annie,
let Luke play with your toys - don't be so selfish/I Sometimes
it's all right to be a little selfish, and forget about everyone
else for a change. [ He was a great reformer, believing that
the needs of society should override the selfish demands of
individuals.
selfishly [ adv ] "'Well if she can't cope, that's her problem, ""
said Yvonne selfishly. [ Her husband behaved extremely self-
ishly, refusing to_ help with the kids and never letting her
have any money of her own.
think of nobody but yourself/Ook v nobodi bt
j3:rself/ an informal expression meaning to be selfish,
especially when you are making plans or arrangements [v
phrase]
You think of nobody but yourself/Don't you realize that I
don't like holidays in hot countries. I My husband thinks of
no one but himself. He's going out with his friends on my
birthday.
self.centred (British) I self.centered (American)/,self
 sentrd-/paying so much attention to yourself that you do
not notice what is happening to other people [adj]
He was too self-centered to notice how unhappy Ruth was. [
Roland was becoming ever more set in his own self-centred
routine. [ Jill's attractive and pleasant to talk to, but she's
extremely self-centred.
egocentric /i:gosentrk, e-/someone who is egocen-
tric believes that what they do and think is much more
important than what anyone else thinks or does [adj]
He was a man of undoubted genius, but bad-tempered,
egocentric, and impossible to live with. I Older children are
less egocentric than younger ones, and more willing to accept
other people's ideas.
,e) behaving selfishly in order to make sure that
you gain money or advantage
look out for yourself/for number one
mercenary
look out for yourself/for number one Ilok ,aot fr
j:r self, fr n^mbr w^n/informal expressions meaning
to behave selfishly, especially in a situation where this is
necessary because everyone else is doing the same
[ v phrase]
I don't blame anyone for looking out for themselves, that's
human nature. [ The government's message is clear - look
out for number one and give no thought to the rest of society.
mercenary / m3:rsvnari [[ -neri/someone who is merce-
nary is only willing to do something, especially for some-
one else, if they can make money from it [adj]
You'll have to pay him for helping you - he's extremely
mercenary. I It was purely mercenary considerations that
made me accept the job.
3 selfish behaviour or a selfish attitude
selfishness
self-interest
selfishness/'selfiJ'ns/[n U/
Our society would be much fairer if it wasn't for the selfish-
ness of a few rich and powerful individuals. [ Miller's self,
ishness and grasping nature were bound to eventually make
him a very lonely and unpopular old man. t pure selfish-
hess He would be lonely without his daughter, but it would
seem pure selfishness to stand in the way of her career.
self.interest/self  intrst/a selfish attitude that makes
you do things only for selfish reasons, especially in busi-
ness or politics In U/
Advertising is most effective when it appeals directly to peo-
ple's self-interest. [ Politicians should always put the good
of the people above self-interest.
4 not selfish
unselfish
selfless
altruistic
unselfish/n'selfil [adj]
Jeanie devoted six years of loyal and unselfish service to
caring for her father before his death. [ Even when we main-
tain we are being unselfish, truthful analysis of our actions
often shows that we stand to benefit.

SELFISH 1184 SELL
unselfishly [adv] Throughout her career she unselfishly
devoted herself to the cause of free, universal education.
selfless / Jselris/caring only about other people's needs,
not your own, and never behaving selfishly [adj]
The idea of the selfless, self-sacrificing mother is not one that
appeals to most women these days. I selfless devotion
People will never forget him and the years of selfless devo-
tion he gave this country.
selflessly [adv ] The medical staff here work selflessly and
tirelessly, seven days a week.
altruistic / jeltru* stIk-/sincerely concerned about other
people and willing to help them or give money to them if
they need it [adj ]
.We have reason to believe that his motives aren't entirely
altruistic, t You can't expect a large corporation to be altru-
istic.
altruism / eltru-lzm/[n U] Top politicians aren't usually
motivated by altruism.
: selfishness SELFISH 3
• :: selfless SELFISH 4
 sell ADVERTISE 1, SELL 1, 2, 4, 15
sell for COST 2
. sell off SELL 1
;.;. sell out BETRAY 3, SELL 16
sell-out BETRAY 4
:. sell-out: be a sell-out SELL 16
: sell out/be sold out SELl_ 16
sell sb down the river BETRAY 2
•
sell up SELL 1
:: sell yourself short MODEST 2
SELL
16
I to sell something to someone
:2 to succeed in selling a particular quantity of a
product
;3 the number of products that a business sells
4 to sell particular products as a way of making
money
5 to sell illegal goods such as drugs
6 to sell something at a public meeting to the
person who offers the most money
7 someone who sells something to someone
else
8 someone whose job is to sell things
9 a company that sells goods to the public or to
other companies
10 someone who sells things illegally
11 things that are produced in order to be sold
1:2 to start offering to sell something by making it
available for people to buy
1;3 ways of saying that something is available for
people to buy
14 to stop something being available for people
to buy
15 ways of saying that something is being sold in
large numbers
ways of saying that all of a particular product
has been sold
17 to be able to control the sale of a particular
product, for example because you have
bought or produced most or all of it
1 to sell something to someone
sell sell up
the sale of flog
sell off serve
sell/sell [v I/T]
sell sth Steve's thinking of selling his old guitar and buying
a new one. I sell sth for Ј10/$200 etc I sold my car for a
couple of hundred dollars. I sell sb sth The man who sold
her the watch said it was waterproof. I sell sth to sb In many
states it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under 21. I Some
of the country's greatest art treasures have been secretly sold
to foreign buyers and shipped abroad. I sell It's best to sell
when house prices are high.
the sale of/6 'seal tv/In phrase]
The rebels are using money from the sale of drugs (=from
selling drugs) to buy weapons. I The law prohibits the sale
and consumption of alcohol on unlicensed premises.
sell off/,sel 'tf II -'3:f/to sell something, especially at a
reduced price, in order to get rid of it quickly, because you
need the money soon or because it will not last a long time
[phr v T]
sell sth/it/them off The bakery usually sells its cakes off
at half price just before closing time. I sell off sth After the
funeral the house contents were sold off quickly to pay all his
debts. [ The government plans to sell off its share-holdings
in British Telecom.
sell up / ,sel 'Ap/a British expression meaning to sell all
the things that you own in a place, such as your house, your
business etc in order to move to a different place or to do
something different [phr v I/T]
Why don't we sell up and move to Canada?Property is really
cheap there! I sell up sth My parents sold up the farm and
went to live in Glasgow.
fleg/flog II rio:g/an informal British word meaning to sell
something, especially something that is of low quality or
that has something wrong with it [v T]
flog sth There was a man at the market who was flogging
fake Cartier watches for Ј10 each. t flog sb sth Don't let him
try and flog you his car - he's had endless trouble with it.
serve/s3:rv/if someone who works in a shop or a bar
serves a customer, they help them to buy or choose the
goods or drinks that they want [v T]
Are you being served, or can I help? I I'll be with you in a
minute - I'm just serving another customer. I There was a
line of people in front of me who were all waiting to be
served. [ It is illegal to serve alcoholic drinks to anyone under
18.
to succeed in selling a particular quantity of a
product
sell
sell/sell Iv T]
In 1989 Ford sold over 800,000 cars in the UK alone. I We sold
our entire stock of Elvis records within hours of the news of
his death.
3 the number of products that a business sells
sales
turnover
sales Isedz/[n plurall
Sales of vinyl records have slumped drastically in recent
years. I They've recruited a top advertising agency to help
boost sales of their new computer games system. I Small
storekeepers are worried that their sales will be badly
affected if the new supermarket is approved by the city
authorities.
turnover/' t3: rn )ov)r / the value of goods or services that
a company sells over a period of time, especially during one
year In singular]
Apple Computer Inc has an estimated annual turnover of
more than $1 billion. [ Recently the company has been trying
to increase its turnover by diversifying into other fields.
4 to sell particular products as a way of making
money
sell stock
deal in export
trade in

SELL 1185 SELL
sell/sell Iv T]
"'Do you sell batteries? .... No, we don "t - try the store across
the street. "" I Duncan earns his living buying and selling
antiques. I IBM manufactures and sells a complete range of
computer products, ranging from laptops to mainframe
systems.
dea| in /Jdi:l In/to buy and sell a particular kind of goods
as part of your business Iv T]
The gallery deals mostly in paintings but they do sometimes
sell photographs. I My grandfather used to have a shop deal-
ing in second-hand furniture. I'm sure he could tell you how
much that table's worth.
trade in / Jtred in/to buy and sell large quantities of som
thing, especially basic materials such as rice, wool, gold
etc, or money from different countries etc iv T]
Only licensed dealers are allowed to trade in gold and silver, t
Trading in shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange has
been suspended.
stock/stok II sto:k/ifa shop stocks a particular product,
it has that product in the shop so that it is available for
people to buy iv T]
I'm sorry, sir. This store only stocks Cuban cigars, not
American ones. I We stock a large range of wines from all
over Europe.
export/ikspa:rt/if a country or a company exports its
products, it sends them to another country in order to be
sold iv T ]
export sth Japanese televisions and hi-fi systems are
exported all over the world. I export sth to sb Once the fish
are caught they're put into boxes and exported to other coun-
tries. I In 1986 the company exported about 210,000 kilos of
oranges to the UK.
export / eksp:rq [ adj only before noun] Canada is the US " s
biggest export market. [ Export industries such as textiles
and manufacturing are being badly hit by the worldwide
recession.
exporter in C] Saudi Arabia is one of the world's leading
exporters of oil.
 to sell illegal goods such as drugs
peddle trafficking
deal in black market
push
peddle /'pedl/to sell illegal drugs to people iv T]
peddle sth He was arrested for peddling marijuana on
street corners, t peddle sth to sb Roberts claimed she earned
thousands of dollars a year peddling drugs to teenagers.
deal in/'did in/to buy and sell illegal goods such as drugs
or things that have been stolen iv T]
The police suspect him of dealing in stolen goods, t The
National Basketball Association announced a lifetime ban
on players caught dealing in narcotics.
push /'pu/an informal word meaning to sell illegal drugs,
especially to people who are dependent on them iv T]
Anyone caught pushing heroin or cocaine is given a long
prison sentence.
trafficking/'trflklrj[ selling large quantities of illegal
drugs or taking them into another country in order to sell
them in U]
drug trafficking In Thailand the penaltyfor drug traffick-
ing is death. I Customs officials claim to have uncovered a
major drug-trafficking ring. I trafficking in drugs The two
girls were arrested for trafficking in hard drugs.
black market/jblak mo:rkt/ the system by which
people illegally buy and sell goods or foreign money, espe-
cially for high prices, often because these things are
difficult to obtain legally in C usually singular]
A man came up to me in the street and offered to sell me some
black market cigarettes. I The people here are forced to pay
exorbitant black market prices for everyday goods such as
food and clothes. I on the black market Famous name
jeans fetch anything up to $100 on the black market. I You
can get a much better rate for your dollar on the black market
than in a bank.
6 to sell something at a public meeting to the
person who offers the most money
auction v put sth up for auction
auction n come/go under the hammer
auction/'a:kdn/iv T]
One of the Beatles" guitars is being auctioned for charity.
The contents of the house were auctioned to pay off the
family's debts.
auction/a:kJdn/a public meeting at which things are
sold to the person who offers to pay the most money in C]
They're holding an auction at the house to sell off all the con-
tents. I The highest bidder at the auction bought the paint-
ing. I at auction We thought we'd get more money for the
chairs if we sold them at auction rather than selling direct
to a dealer. I How much do you think the painting would fetch
at auction?
put sth up for auction/put (sth) hp far J:kn/to
decide that something is going to be sold at a public meet-
ing to the person who offers to pay the most money [v
phrase]
After months trying to sell the farm, they decided to put it
up for auction. I One of the world's finest collections of vin-
tage cars is to be put up for auction.
come/go under the hammer ikm, go Anda r
hamar/if something comes or goes under the hammer,
especially something valuable such as a famous painting,
it is sold at an auction iv phrase]
A collection of prints and paintings by Picasso came under
the hammer at Sotheby's yesterday. I Unless the National
Gallery can find the money soon, one of Britain's greatest
national treasures will go under the hammer.
1 someone who sells something to someone
else
seller
vendor
seller I'selr/[n C]
Both the buyer and the seller should agree on the terms before
the contract is signed, t flower seller/fruit-seller etc The
streets are full of fruit-sellers with boxes of tomatoes and
watermelons. I The entrance to the Taj Mahal was crowded
with postcard sellers. I seller of Fortnum and Mason's have
been sellers of fine food and drink for over a hundred years.
vendor /vendr! ice cream/newspaper etc vendor
(=someone who sells ice creams, newspapers etc in the
street) in C]
The shops are closed but you can always buy an ice-cream
from an ice-cream vendor. [ Frank stopped to buy the even-
ing paper from a news vendor. [ street vendor I could hear
the cries of the street vendors competing with each other for
customers.
8 someone whose job is to sell things
shopkeeper/storekeeper salesperson
sales assistant sales staff
sales clerk/store clerk hawker
salesman/saleswoman
shopkeeper (British) I storekeeper (American)/'p-
ki:p ar, Jsta:rki:p ar il a:p-/ someone who owns or is in
charge of a small shop [n C]
The shopkeeper chased the boys out of his shop, accusing
them of stealing. [ Many storekeepers are finding they can't
compete against the large chain stores.
sales assistant also shop assistant (British) / seilz
,SlStant, 'tp ,sxstant II 'a:P-/someone who deals with
customers in a shop and sells them goods in C]
She worked as a shop assistant in the shoe department of a
big department store in London. I The sales assistant told
me they wouldn't be getting the magazine until next week.
sales clerk/store clerk /seilz Ida:k, sta: r Ida:k [[
-kla:rk] American expressions meaning someone who deals
with customers in a shop and sells them goods in C]

SELL 1186 SELL
Estelle worked as a sales clerk in a Beverly Hills shopping
mall.
salesman/saleswoman /'seIlzman, seflzwomon/
someone whose job is to persuade people to buy their com-
pany's products, for example by telephoning them or by
going to other companies [n C]
Gall has been the company's top saleswoman for the last two
years. [ door-to-door salesman (=one who goes to people's
houses) A door-to-door salesman knocked on my door and
asked me if I was interested in buying a set of encyclopedias. [
travelling salesman (British) / traveling salesman
(American) Being a travelling salesman means I get to go
to lots of interesting places.
salesperson / seflzp3:rsan/a word meaning someone
whose job is to persuade people to buy their company's
products, or who sells goods to people in a shop, used espe-
cially when you are talking about either a man or a woman
[n C]
Wanted: Salesperson to work in small shop. Must be able to
work weekends. I Each salesperson is responsible for giving
their total sales figures to the accountant at the end of the
week.
sales staff/'selz sta:f i/ -staf/the members of a com-
pany whose job is to persuade people to buy that company's
products, or to sell goods to people in a shop [n C with sin-
gular or plural verb in British English]
One of the techniques used by the company's sales staff is to
keep phoning people until they finally agree to buy. [ A
member of the sales staff informed me that I couldn't have
a refund without proof of purchase.
hawker /ha:kr/ a word used especially in British
English meaning someone who goes around in the street,
asking people to buy their goods [n C]
Hawkers moved through the crowd selling cigarettes and
nuts.
9 a company that sells goods to the public or to
other companies
retailer dealer
wholesaler trader
merchant
• retailer/'ri:te=lor/a word used especially in business
meaning a company or person that sells goods to the public
in a shop [n C]
Our products are sold through the Body Shop and other well-
known retailers, i Many of Poland's leading high street
retailers have gone out of business. [ If you have a complaint
about any of our products take it back to the retailer and they
will replace it immediately.
wholesaler 1 haolseilar/a person or company that sells
goods in large quantities and at low prices, especially to
other companies, that then sell the goods to the public In C]
The early morning market is for wholesalers only, the
general public have to wait until later in the day. [ Rocky
works in the cold store of a large meat wholesaler in New
York.
merchant / ' ma:rtant/a person or company that buys and
sells large quantities of goods such as wine, or basic
materials such as coal and wood [n C]
The label should always state the country of origin and the
wine merchant who imported it. I She was born in 1432, the
daughter of a wealthy London merchant.
dealer I di:lar/a person or a company that buys and sells
a particular type of goods, or that sells a particular com-
pany's products [n C]
She bought the painting from a famous Swiss art dealer.I
Make sure you buy your used car from an authorised dealer. I
Apple dealers are offering discounts of up to 30% on the latest
Apple computers.
trader 1 treldar/someone who buys and sells goods, espe-
cially in a very far away place, or who buys and sells shares
on the financial market [n C]
Montreal was founded by French fur traders in the 17th
century. I He moved from desk to desk, shining the shoes of
the young bond traders in their striped shirts. I The port was
used by slave traders who loaded human cargoes bound for
America.
10 someone who sells things illegally
pusher
dealer
tout/scalper
pusher/'polar/someone who sells illegal drugs, espe-
cially to people who are dependent on them [n C]
They picked up a couple of dope pushers who were trying to
sell heroin to a 14 year old girl.
dealer /di:lar/someone who buys and sells large quan-
tities of illegal goods such as drugs [n C]
The police should concentrate on catching the dealers instead
of punishing the addicts. I The apartment building was
burned down by drug dealers who suspected a rival gang
of operating in their territory.
tout (British) I scalper (American)/taut, 'skelpar/some-
one who stands outside a sports event or concert and sells
tickets for it at high prices [n C]
Touts were selling tickets to the match for Ј50 or more. i "Did
you see the ball game Friday night? .... Yeah, but I had to pay
a scalper $100 to get a seat. ""
1 1 things that are produced in order to be sold
goods merchandise
product exports
goods/godzl [n plural]
Countries such as Japan and Korea put taxes on imported
goods, i The household goods department is in the basement, i
The average family's weekly expenditure on goods and serv-
ices has risen by more than 20%. i consumer goods (=goods
such as televisions, washing machines etc) After the war
there were shortages o f food and consumer goods.
product /'pmd^kt ii pra:-/ something that is made,
produced, or designed in order to be sold, for example some-
thing for your home, a financial arrangement, or a holiday
[n C]
Most of our money comes from the sale of small household
products like soap and light bulbs. [ We'll send a selection
of products for you to try. [ The company's most successful
product in recent years has been its personal pension
package.
merchandise/ma:rtandaIz, -dats/a word used espe-
cially in business meaning things that are produced in
order to be sold, especially when they are shown for sale
in a shop [n U]
Customers are requested not to touch the merchandise. [ The
merchandise is attractively displayed and the assistants are
friendly and helpful. [ The fire at the warehouse destroyed
merchandise valued at over $2 million.
exports / ekspa:rts/goods that are sent to a foreign coun-
try in order to be sold [n plural]
The value of China's exports to the US rose by over 50% last
year. [ Britain's total exports to the other EC member states
now exceed imports. ] The country's main export is coal.
1 2 to start offering to sell something by making it
available for people to buy
put sth on the market publish
bring out release
launch
put sth on the market/,pot (sth) n 6a 'mo:rkaItl [v
phrase]
We put our house on the market last September and we still
haven't sold it. [ Most merchants prefer to let their wines
mature before putting them on the market.
bring out/,brirj 'aotl if a company brings out a new
product that they have made, they make it available for
people to buy [phr v T]
bring out sth Kodak has just brought out a camera which
stores up to 100 images on a computer disc. [ bring sth/it/

SELL 1187 SELL
them etc out Since they brought it out last autumn, sales
of the new word processor have been very slow.
launch/la:nt! ifa company launches a new product, they
publicly declare, especially with a lot of advertising, that
it is available for people to buy [v T/
GM's all-new electric car was launched at the Paris Auto
show. I Next month we're planning to launch an exciting
range of sports clothes for men.
publish/' p^blil to print a book, magazine, or newspaper
and make it available for people to buy [v T/
Ladybird publish books for young children. I AmateurPho-
tographer is published every Tuesday. I Jackie Collins" latest
novel was published 2 months ago, and has already sold over
a million copies.
publication /,pAblI 'keian/[n U/Since the publication of
her book (=since it was published) she's received thousands
of letters from women who have had similar experiences.
publisher [n C/None of the big UKpublishers (=companies
that publish books) wanted to do a paperback version of the
book.
release/ri'li:s/if a company releases a record or film,
it makes it available for people to buy or see [v T/
Paul McCartney's new album will be released at theend of
the month, t His new comedy is due for release in the US very
soon.
release [n C/ Her latest release (=record that has been
released) is a rock n" roll version of "My Way'.
1  ways of saying that something is available for
people to buy
for sale be on sale
be up for sale on the market
for sale/fo r 'seil/[adj phrase]
Excuse me, is this picture for sale? It doesn't have a price on
it. I Several houses had "For Sale"notices outside. I For sale;
racing bike, Ј70 or nearest offer. Tel 852-9130.
be up for sale/bi: ,^p f)r 'sei1/an expression used espe-
cially in British English: if something such as a house, a
shop, or a piece of land is up for sale, it has been publicly
declared that it is available for people to buy [v phrase]
The house has been up for sale for months. I Most of the small
businesses in the area are up for sale; they just can't compete
with the supermarkets.
be on sale/bi: on 'seal/if a product is on sale, you can
buy it in a shop [v phrase]
Shiseido moisturising cream is on sale in most department
stores, priced Ј4.99. I "Have you got the new Bob Dylan album
yet? .... No, I didn't know it was on sale yet. ""
on the market/on 60 'mo:rkt/if something is on the
market, it is available for people to buy, especially when
there are several similar products also available [adj
phrase]
The new Amstrad is one of the cheapest computers on the
market at the moment. I With so many shampoos on the
market today, the customer is often unsure which is the best
value for money. I Their house is on the market again. I
wonder why they can't sell it.
14 to stop something being available for people
to buy
take sth off the market
withdraw
recall
take sth off the market/,teIk (sth) of 6a 'mo:rkIt/if
a company takes a product offthe market, it stops produc-
ing it and shops stop selling it Iv phrase]
Pettier took the mineral water off the market while tests were
being made. I The Federal Drug Administration has said
that all products containing the additive must be taken off
the market immediately. [ Sales of the newspaper were so
poor that it was taken off the market within a couple of
months.
withdraw/wi6'dra:, wIO-/if a shop or a company with-
draws a product, it makes it unavailable for people to buy
by removing it from shops [v T]
Newsagents across the country have withdrawn the maga-
zine after numerous complaints from women's groups. I
withdraw sth from sale Christmas decorations were with-
drawn from sale yesterday following afire-risk warning. I
After two children had been hurt the shop was forced to with-
draw the toy from its shelves.
withdrawal [n U/Stores have agreed to the withdrawal of
the offending videos.
recall/ri 'ka:l/if a company recalls a product, they ask
all the shops that sell it and the people that have bought
it to send it back to them for checking, because there may
be something wrong with it [v T/
Thousands of car baby-seats have had to be recalled after
a fault was discovered in the safety harness. I We've had so
many complaints about the lamps that we've decided to recall
all of them.
recall Irl 'ka:l II ri 'ka:l, 'ri:ka:l/In U] They put a notice in
the press ordering the recall of all the baby food that might
have been contaminated.
1 5 ways of saying that something is being sold in
large numbers
sell do a roaring trade
outsell best-selling
be selling like hot cakes best-seller
sell/sell [v I]
An electric bicycle sounds like a good idea, but I don't really
think it'll sell. I Our new range of underwear is selling very
well at the moment. I The last model didn't sell as well as
they'd expected.
outsell/aot'sel/if one product outsells another, more of
it is sold than the other product [v T/
By the end of the 1980s portable computer systems were out-
selling larger systems by 30%. I His latest album has outsold
all his other records put together.
be selling like hot cakes/bi: ,seln3 lalk ,hot 'keiks II
- ha:t-/an informal expression: ff a product is selling like
hot cakes, it is being sold very quickly and in large
amounts because people very much want to buy it
[ v phrase/
The new book, which reveals intimate details about Princess
Diana's private life, is selling like hot cakes in New York.
do a roaring trade/du: a ,ra:rirj 'treid/a British expres-
sion: if a shop or a person that sells a particular type of
goods is doing a roaring trade, they are selling large
quantities of goods because a lot of people suddenly want
to buy them [v phrase]
Since the heatwave started, ice cream sellers have been doing
a roaring trade. I In the tourist season the restaurants and
cafes were all full and doing a roaring trade. I do a roar-
ing trade in The shops outside the station were doing a roar-
ing trade in umbrellas.
best.selling/, best 'sellrj-/a best-selling product is one
that is sold in large numbers, especially more than any
other product of the same type [adj only before noun]
Coca Cola soon became the world's best-selling soft drink.
Agatha Christie is said to be the world's best-selling author.I
Chanel Number 5, the best-selling scent of all time
best-seller !,best ' selar/a book that has been bought by
a very large number of people [n C/
Jane Fonda's new diet book is sure to be a bestseller in
America. I bestseller list Her biography of Nancy Reagan
has been top of the Sunday Times bestseller lists for several
months.
1 6 ways of saying that all of a particular product
has been sold
sell out be out of stock
sell out/be sold out be booked up/
be a sell-out fully booked

SELL 1188 SEND
sell out / .sel Jaot/ifa shop has sold out of a product, they
have sold all of it and do not have any more available
lphr v I]
"Do you have this month's Cosmopolitan magazine? .... No,
I'm sorry. We've sold out. "" [ sell out ofsth The shop always
sells out of sandwiches before lunchtime. ] By the time we got
to the stadium they'd already sold out of match programtnes.
sell out/be sold out /sel aot, bi: saold Jaot/ if a
product, or tickets for a film, football game, concert ere sell
out or are sold out, they are all sold, especially very
quickly [phr v I/v phrase]
The Sunday newspapers always sell out by about 10 o'clock,
so we'd better get there early. [ The advertising campaign
was so successful that all the new computers have completely
sold out. i Fans are advised not to go to the theatre unless
they have tickets, because the show is completely sold out.
be a sell-out/hi: a 'sel aotl ira play, football game, con-
cert ere is a sell-out, it is very popular and all the tickets
for it have been sold [v phrase]
Madonna's European tour was a total sell-out.
be out of stock/hi: aot av stk [[ -sto:k/if a product
or the shop selling the product is out of stock, the shop
does not have any of that product available now, because
they have sold all of it [v phrase]
"Do you have any sunglasses? .... I'm sorry. They're out of
stock. "'1 we're out of stock (=we do not have that product
because it has all been sold) We seem to be out of stock right
now. We'll probably be getting some more bird cages in next
week.
be booked up/fully booked/bi: ,bokt 'ap, ,foli 'bokt/
if a hotel, restaurant, or organized trip somewhere is
booked up or fully booked, all the places have been
bought and no more are available ]v phrase]
Flights to the US are all booked up this time of year. [ I'm
afraid we can't accept any more guests this evening - we're
fully booked. [ All the hotels in the area are booked up months
in advance.
17 to be able to control the sale of a particular
, product, for example because you have
! bought or produced most or all of it
corner the market
have a monopoly
corner the market/,k:rno r 6a Imo:rkolt/ [V phrase]
corner the market in The big car companies used this new
law to corner the market in car spares. [ corner the market
For years you could never find decent self-catering accommo-
dation, but this company seems to have cornered the market.
have a monopoly/,hmv o monopoli 11 -no:-/if a com-
pany or organization has a monopoly of a product or ser-
vice, they are the only people who sell it, and they have no
competition from other organizations [v phrase not in
progressive]
have a monopoly of At the moment, British Telecom has
a virtual monopoly of the British telephone service. I have
a monopoly There are two main manufacturers of hand-
held games systems, and netther has a monopoly.
seller SELL 7
selling like hot cakes SELL 15
semblance of SEEM 8
semicircle CIRCLE 6
seminar CLASS/LESSON 1
send SEND 1, 2, 4, 5
send/offer condolences SYMPATHIZE 2
send ahead SEND 4
send away for/send off for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO
DO STH 2
send back SEN[:) 1, 2, 4
send for ASK FOR STHtASK SB TO DO STH 6,
TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 3
send in SEND 2, 4
send into exile: exile/send into exile LEAVE YOUR
HOME/COUNTRY 5
send off SEND 1, 2
send on SEND 3
send out SEND 1, 4, 6
send out for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 6
send sb to sleep SLEEP 12
send sth/sb flying THROW 9
send up MAKE FUN OF 1
send word TELL 6
send you to sleep BORING 3
send-up MAKE FUN OF 4
SEND
to make something or someone go from
yourself to another person or place
1 to send something to another place
:2 to send something by mail
,3 to send something such as a letter to
someone else after it has come to you
4 to send someone somewhere
5 to send messages using electronic equipment
6 ways of saying that something sends out
signals, light, heat etc
1 to send something to another place
send send back
dispatch/despatch send off
send out
send/send/[v T]
send sb sth Kate sent me a message, saying she might be
late. I His mother sent him a home-baked cake every week. [
send sth Don "t worry about getting there. I'll send a car for
you. [ send sth to The US sent more warships to the Gulf.
dispatch/despatch/d' spmtf/a formal word meaning
to send something to another place iv T1
be dispatched to Parcels of food were dispatched to him by
American friends. [ be dispatched As soon as the news
reached them, a second airplane was despatched.
send out /send aot/to send things from a central point
to various other places [phr v T]
send out sth The club sends out a monthly newsletter to all
its members. I send sth/it/them out How soon can we send
the new equipment out?
send back/, send bmk/to return something by sending
it to the place it came from [phr v T]
send sth/it/them back He sent his steak back because it
wasn "t cooked enough. I This coat's too small. I think I'll send
it back. I send back sth Then they send back the data to the
States for further revision.
send off/,send 'nf II -'a:f/to use a service or system to
send something, especially so that it can then receive
further attention [phr v T/
send sth/it/them off They sent the film off to be processed. ]
send off sth She sent off a second batch of messages on the
computer before she went home
2 to send something by mail
send get sth off
send off post/mail
send in put sth in the post
send back address
send/send/[v T]
send sb sth Don't forget to send us a postcard from Spain. [
send sth to If you "d like more information, send a stamped
self-addressed envelope to the following address. I send sth
He's phoned his mother to ask her to send a cheque.
sender [n C] There was no indication of who the sender
(=the person who sent it) was on the envelope.

1189 SEND
SEND
send off/,send 'o [[ -'a:f/to put something into a post
box or send it from a post office, especially something
important or urgent [phr v T/
send sth/it/them off l sent the letter off this morning. [ Put
it in an envelope and send it off as quickly as possible. [ send
off sth It is important to send off your Christmas cards in
plenty of time.
send In/,send 'n/send in a bill/application form/
passport ete (=send a bill etc, especially to an organiza-
tion, by mail) [phr v T/
send sth/it/them in We've sent our passports in to get them
renewed, i send in sth I've applied for the job, but I sent in
the application form rather late. i send sb in sth Send us
in your bill when you have finished the work.
send back/, send 'bek/to return something to someone
by mail [phr v T/
send back sth She sent back my letters without opening
them. ] Your work will be sent back by registered mail. i send
sth/it/them back Please fill in this form and send it back
to us.
get sth off/,get (sth) 'of II-':f/an informal expression
meaning to send something by mail, especially when it is
urgent [phr v T/
Let me stay in to finish my letter. I want to get it off to London
today, t She managed to get all the letters off before five
o'clock. I I'll get it off to you first thing in the morning.
post (British) I mail (American)/pust, meIl/ to put a
letter, card etc into a post box [v T]
post/mail sth The letter had only been posted the night
before. I The company promised that the permits would be
mailed in due course, but we never received them. I post/
mail sth to Just fill in the form and post it to your nearest
tax office.
put sth in the post/,pot (sth) in 6a 'paosq a British
expression meaning to put a letter, parcel etc into a post
box or take it to a post office Iv phrase]
Would you put this letter in the post on your way past the post
box, please? [ If I manage to find another copy of the book,
I'll put it in the post to you tonight.
address/a'dres/address a letter/parcel/envelope etc
(=write on the letter etc the name and address of the person
you are sending it to) Iv T/
address sth to He addressed the envelope to Mrs R Kings-
ley, 15 Hythe Avenue. i Address it to The Manager and it will
get to him eventually.
3 to send something such as a letter to
someone else after it has come to you
forward
send on
redirect
forward/' f:):rword/to send something to another person
after it has come to you, especially because it belongs to
them or because they have to deal with it Iv T/
After the report had been translated, it was forwarded to
Admiral Turner. I I asked the landlord to forward all my
mail, but he didn't.I She wanted all her luggage to be
forwarded to her next hotel in Rome.
send on/,send 'o II -'o:n/to send someone's letters or
possessions to them at their new address because they have
moved [phr v T/
send sth/it/them on If any letters arrive, please send them
on to me in Los Angeles. I There was a letter under her door.
The last hotel must have sent it on. I send on sth I promised
that I'd send on her final salary cheque.
redirect /,ri:daI'rekt, -do-/ to write someone's new
address on a letter or parcel that has arrived for them, and
send it to them Iv T/
I'm redirecting all his letters to his college. I A package
arrived for Kevin yesterday, but I can't redirect it because he
left no forwarding address.
4
to send someone somewhere
send in
send out
be posted
be stationed
send
send back
send ahead
pack off
dispatchIdespatch
send/send/Iv T]
send sb They sent their best reporter to cover the story. I send
sb to/into/there ete She didn't have enough eggs so she
sent John to the supermarket to get her some. i UN peace-
keeping troops were sent into the war zone.
send back/,send 'bzek/to make someone return to a
place [phr v T/
send sb/her/them ere back When they caught him they
immediately sent him back to prison. I Even though she had
travelled a long way, he sent her straight back to London to
see another specialist there. ] send back sb They're cam-
paigning to stop the government sending back refugees.
send ahead/,send o'hed/to send someone to the place
where you are going so that they arrive there before you
do, for example, in order to make sure that everything is
ready for your arrival [phr v T/
send ahead sb The boys were sent ahead to find us a place
to stay. ] send sb/her/them ete ahead Send some men
ahead to find out if the bridge is still intact. I send sb on
ahead I wasn't ready to leave with my wife, so I sent her on
ahead. She should be in Canada by now.
pack off /,pzek 'o ]l-:f/ to send someone away to
another place very quickly, especially in order to avoid
problems [phr v T/
pack off sb To prevent a scandal, John was rapidly packed
off overseas, i He had just enough time to drink a whisky
before being packed off to the station. I pack sb/her/them
ete off After he was arrested they read him his rights and
then they packed him off to jail.
dispatch/despatch/d' spetj'/a formal word meaning
to send someone to another place Iv T/
He despatched his assistant to pick up the plans from the
office, i Colonel Maudsley dispatched a messenger immedi-
ately to find out the Indian chief's name.
send in/,send 'in/to send a group of soldiers, police,
medical workers etc somewhere to deal with a very
difficult or dangerous situation [phr v T/
send sb/them in We must send more troops in. i send in
sb After the earthquake, the Red Cross sent in medical teams.
send out/, send 'aoq to send someone somewhere, espe-
cially somewhere far away, so that they can do a particu-
lar job [phr v T/
send sb/her/them ete out The captain decided to send
Lord Roberts out to take command of the soldiers, i send out
sb Sussman had sent out several teams of reporters to follow
the progress of the war in different areas of Yugoslavia. I
Missionaries were sent out to Africa to bring Christianity to
the people.
be posted/hi: 'poostoId/ff someone such as a soldier or
government official is posted to a place, especially some-
where abroad, they are sent there for a period of duty Iv
phrase]
be posted to My father was posted to Hong Kong when I was
six. I He joined the Company three years ago and is hoping
to be posted to Asia soon. i be posted as Terry's just heard
he's been posted as liaison officer on the USS Nebraska.
posting In C/U/news of his posting (=that he had been
posted) to India
be stationed Ibi:' steiSnd / if a member of an army, navy,
or air force is stationed somewhere, they are sent to that
place for a period of military duty Iv phrase]
be stationed in/at/there etc My uncle was stationed in
Burma during the war. i At the weekend, all the local bars
were full of soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg.

SEND
 to send messages using electronic equipment
send relay
beam fax
transmit
send/send/Iv T]
send sb sth I sent him a message on my computer. I send
sth They were trained to send coded messages by radio. [
send sth to This letter is urgent. It must be sent by fax to
the States this morning.
beam/bi-.m/to send radio or television messages over a
long distance using electronic equipment [v T usually
passive]
be beamed to The concert will be beamed to a TV audience
of well over l OO million. [ Satellite signals are beamed back
to earth from a height of 36,000 km.
transmit/trmnz 'mt l] trens-/a technical word meaning
to send out electronic signals, messages, news etc espe-
cially by radio and television Iv I/T]
transmit sth The programme will be transmitted this even-
ing as usual. I the obvious benefits of being able to transmit
documents and graphics by telephone I Data will be stored
on board the spacecraft and transmitted only to EOSAT's
ground station in Oklahoma. I transmit The Voice of
America transmitters outside Monrovia transmit to the
entire African Continent.
relay I' ri:leI/relay a programme/transmission/mess-
age (=send it out to other places as soon as it is received)
[v T]
The television pictures were relayed to America by satellite. I
The bad news was being relayed throughout the building by
loudspeaker. I Information stored on the computer in
Washington is then relayed half-way around the world.
|ax/feks/to send writing, designs etc directly from one
person to another through telephone wires, using a special
machine [v T ]
fax sth to sb You can fax your report to us on this number. I
fax sb Don't forget to fax me when you get there/
6 ways of saying that something sends out
signals, light, heat etc
send out radiate
give out cast/throw
give off project
emit
send out/, send 'act/to send out signals, heat, or smoke
[phr v T]
send out sth The beacon sends out a beam of light every
thirty seconds. [ The yacht sent out a distress signal which
was picked up by a passing steamer. [ He lit afire which sent
out clouds of dense smoke.
give out/,g Jr aot/to send out light, sound, heat etc [phr
vT]
give out sth The oil lamp gave out a pleasant yellowish
light. [ The fire gave out a welcoming heat and suddenly I
felt relaxed and happy. ] The musical triangle gives out a
clear, beautiful note when struck.
give off/,giv '. [[ -'a:f/to send out heat, smells, gas etc
as a result of a natural or chemical process [phr v T]
give off sth The plant gives off a delicate smell of lemons. [
In reaction with oxygen, it gives" off a green, choking gas.
emit/i 'rmt/a formal or technical word meaning to send
out heat, light, smells etc Iv T]
He kicked the front tyre, which emitted a faint hiss. ] When
an iron object is heated in a fire it glows red and emits
radiation.
radiate/' re;dieq to send out light or heat in all directions
from a central point Iv T]
The old and faded lights radiated a feeble glow upon the
walls. [ The sun radiates both warmth and light.
cast/throw/ka:st, 0too II kmst/words used especially in
literature meaning to send out light onto a surface or onto
a particular area Iv T]
1190
SENSIBLE
The sun shining through the trees threw a pattern of light
and shade on the sandy footway. [ My father stood beside the
lamp in the circle of light it cast. I Candles in tarnished
holders threw a warm light over the room.
project/prd3ekt/to send out light, sound, or an image
so that it is directed onto a surface or across a certain dis-
tance Iv T]
A point of light was projected onto a rotating disc. I We didn't
have a screen, so our home movies were projected onto the
wall of our living room.
i senile MENTALLY ILL 5
:;i senior HIGH POSITION OR RANK 2
:.; senior: be senior to HIGH POSITION OR RANK 3
;:. senior citizen/senior OLD/NOT YOUNG 7
sensation FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 3
-.o. sense: make sense of UNDERSTAND 2
: sense KNOW STH 14, MEANING 2
, sense: there's no sense in POINTLESS 2
sense: a sense of FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED
ETC 2
sense: common sense SENSIBLE 6
sense: in every sense COMPLETELY 1
 sense: make no sense/not make sense LOGICAL 5
 sense: make sense LOGICAL 2, SENSIBLE 3
 sense: talk sense SENSIBLE 1
sense: talk some sense into SENSIBLE 5
sense/good sense SENSIBLE 6
 sense of achievement PROUD 2
: sense of direction DIRECTION 3
i sense of humour/humor FUNNY 6
i; sense of humour: have no sense of humour
: SERIOUS PERSON 2
;!, sense of right and wrong GOOD/MORAL 10
; sense of smell SMELL 10
sense ot taste TASTE OH FOOD OR DRINK 6
i sense of timing TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIE 3
 senseless POINTLESS 1
senses: bring sb to their senses SENSIBLE 5
•
..... senses: come to your senses SENSIBLE 4
::,t sensible SENSIBLE 1, 3, USE STH 13
lsensible or sensitive.
beh.ing in a way
. SENSIBLE
that shows good ... -- --
• " :: .............. -: ...... : :-!C": .ii'.:, ,.  ......... "
practical: s :nse : ......
:i. ;:-i:: ........... i,:i: ", -;i!-.--.. :.;. ':.-;. ,. :o ":'1" :.:. .....
someo.ne who is -
easily ..upse t " "
, eЧledencing phys...ical
'.feelj,..ngs more than is
usual
UPSET
FEEL HOT,
COLD, TIRED
ETC
SENSIBLE
behaving in a way that shows good practical
sense
 words for describing someone who behaves
in a sensible way and is unlikely to do
anything stupid or unreasonable
2 good at dealing with problems in a sensible
way, because you clearly understand what is
possible
 words for describing decisions, plans,
suggestions etc that are based on good
practical reasons and judgments
4 to stop behaving in a stupid or unreasonable
way and start behaving sensibly

SENSIBLE 1191 SENSIBLE
5 to try to persuade someone to start behaving
in a sensible and reasonable way
6 the ability to think and behave in a sensible
way
1
words for describing someone who behaves
in a sensible way and is unlikely to do
anything stupid or unreasonable
sensible
reasonable
responsible
level-headed
mature
sane
have your feet on the ground
talk sense
have your head screwed on/
screwed on straight
get real
sensible/'sensbdl/[adj]
Laura is a sensible girl. She wouldn't talk to strangers. I He
was sensible enough to take some warm clothes with him on
vacation. I Be sensible - you can't wear high heels to a
garden party.
sensibly [ adv ] At this point, the captain sensibly decided to
recall his troops.
reasonable/'ri:zdnbl/able to make sensible and fair
decisions [adj]
Any reasonable person must agree that praising children for
good behaviour is better than punishing them for bad. I He
is a good negotiator and a reasonable moderate man. I Be
reasonable, Paul. ! only want to help.
reasonably [adv] They're asking us to work much harder
than can reasonably be expected.
responsible/r:'sponsbl II r:'spa:n-/someone who is
responsible can be trusted to behave sensibly and to make
good judgements, especially when these may affect other
people [adj]
The older children look after themselves, but there is always
someone responsible around if they have any problems. I
Crime prevention is one of the obligations of all responsible
citizens.
responsibly [adv ] Only people who can handle guns respon-
sibly should be given weapons.
level.headed !,level 'hedd-/able to behave sensibly,
think clearly, and remain calm, even in a difficult situa-
tion [adj]
A goodpilot needs to be calm and level-headed. I It's a matter
of public importance that this matter should be discussed in
a level-headed way.
mature/m'tftjzr/a child or young person who is mature
behaves more sensibly than you would normally expect
someone of their age to behave [adj]
Eddy was a mature and serious boy; he'd think ahead and
plan carefully. I Having a baby makes me feel a lot older and
more mature. I We need an older manager who can handle
the staff in a mature and calm manner.
maturity In U] She handled the situation with a maturity
that was astonishing in somebody so young.
sane/sere/able to think clearly and likely to behave in
a sensible way, especially when other people are not being
sensible [adj]
I don't think any sane person would take his threats seri-
ously. I I'm going to miss her when she leaves - she keeps us
all sane! I It was a relief to hear one sane voice among all
the shouting and hysteria.
have your feet on the ground/heev j:r ,fi:t on bo
'graund! if you say that someone has their feet on the
ground, you mean that they are always sensible and prac-
tical, and do not allow their success or good luck to affect
their judgment Iv phrase not in progressive]
have your feet firmly on the ground Despite landing a
$3m Hollywood contract, Carmen has her feet firmly on the
ground: 'Acting is a tough game," she says. I have both feet
on the ground Football coach Terry Venables is delighted
at the team's success, but nonetheless still has both feet on
the ground.
talk sense/,t:k 'sens! if someone talks sense, they have
sensible ideas and opinions that other people respect and
agree with Iv phrase]
I know my aunt can be annoying, but this time I think she's
talking sense. I For goodness sake, John, talk sense. No one
will agree with that! I It is time that Europe and America
start to talk sense on agricultural policy.
have your head screwed on (British) I screwed on
straight (American)/heev j:r 'hed skru:d on, skru:d on
,street/if you say someone has their head screwed on or
has their head screwed on straight, you mean they
always behave sensibly in a difficult or confusing situation
Iv phrase not in progressive]
Don't worry about Sheila. She's got her head screwed on!l
If he had his head screwed on straight there's no way he'd
marry her!
get real /,get 'rl/ an American expression: you tell
someone to get real when they are not being sensible or
practical, for example if they think that a difficult problem
will be easy to deal with
"I guess we could try asking for a bigger loan. "" "Get real,
Billy - those guys won't give us another cent!"
good at dealing with problems in a sensible
way, because you clearly understand what is
possible
practical realistic
pragmatic no-nonsense
practical/'prektikal/good at dealing with problems in
a sensible way, especially because you do not attempt any-
thing too difficult or risky [adj]
She's a practical manager who realizes that a happy work-
force is also a productive one. [ Richard was much too prac-
tical to risk all his money in such an insecure business
venture.
pragmatl©/preg'metik/able to deal with problems in
a practical way, and able to make sensible decisions based
on facts, but not attempting anything more exciting or
risky, and not always considering things, such as people's
feelings [adj]
He was usually very pragmatic, so for him to suddenly leave
his wife and marry a penniless girl came as a great surprise. [
She is a tough, pragmatic, intuitive leader.
realistic/,ri'hstk,/having the ability to understand
situations and know what is or is not possible [adj]
Some think the project can be completed within a year, but
she is more realistic and thinks it will take at least eighteen
months.
no-nonsense / ,no 'nonsans II -' nx:nsens/no-nonsense
approach/style/manner (=direct and practical and
showing that you are determined to deal with something
without wasting time on things that do not matter) [adj
only before noun]
They missed her calm no-nonsense approach to the problems
of staff management.
3
words for describing decisions, plans,
suggestions etc that are based on good
practical reasons and judgments
sensible pragmatic
make sense logical
reasonable wise
rational prudent
practical within reason
realistic
sensible I 'sensball [adj]
He gave me some very sensible advice. I The most sensible
thing would be to sell the house. I it is sensible to do sth
It is sensible to avoid rich foods if you are feeling ill.
sensibly [ adv ] She sensibly decided to put all her money in
a bank.

SENSIBLE
1192
make sense ! i meIk Isens/if you say that an idea, action,
• suggestion etc makes sense, you mean that you think it
is a sensible thing to do Iv phrase]
Strange as this idea may sound, it does make sense. [ it
makes sense to do sth It would make no economic sense
to put up interest rates at this stage. I make sense for sb
to do sth It made sense for Sam to live nearer the college.
reasonable I' ri:zanball an explanation, request, excuse
etc that is reasonable seems to be sensible, and you can
understand the reasons for it [adj]
I thought their request for more information was reasona-
ble, but it was refused. [ it is reasonable to do sth It's
reasonable to assume that most people are concerned mainly
with the well-being of their children.
rational/raIanll based on facts and intelligent think-
ing, and not influenced by feelings or the imagination [adj]
Education helps us to make rational decisions. [ People's
behaviour isn't always purely rational. [ In a more rational
world the fall in share prices on Wall Street would make very
little difference•
rationally [ adv ] We must consider the problem rationally.
practical/'praktikal/a practical plan, decision etc is
likely to be successful because it does not involve anything
too difficult or risky ]adj]
The city authorities are trying to work out a practical solu-
tion to the problem of homelessness. [ "I'm not an academic, ""
he says, "but I believe I have more practical common sense
than any professor. "[ More work was necessary to make the
idea more economically practical.
realistic ! I r I  I 1  st i k/based on a good understanding of
a situation and of what is or is not possible [adj]
Starting my own business isn't a very realistic proposition
at the moment, i That's not a very good idea - can't you think
of something more realistic.
realistically [ adv ] I don't realistically hold out much hope
of the patient's survival.
pragmatic /prag'mmuk/ based on facts and what is
likely to really succeed, but not always considering other
things such as people's feelings, or attempting anything
more exciting or risky [adj]
The ban was imposed for pragmatic reasons, in order to
avoid disruption. [ He appears to have engineered another
of the pragmatic compromises for which he is famous.
logical/lodsikal [i Ilo:-/a logical decision or action is
sensible and likely to succeed because it is based on prac-
tical experience and intelligent thinking, especially when
this will make it possible for you to continue to a further
stage of a process, plan etc [adj]
As I wanted to travel, studying languages was the logical
choice. I The logical next step was to establish local offices
in each area.
wise/waz/based on practical experience and intelligent
consideration of all the different parts of a problem or sit-
uation, and including an understanding of all the possible
results of your actions [adj]
It was a wise decision to get professional advice. [ it is wise
to do sth He thought it might be wise not to tell her the
details of the bank loan. [ it is wise for sb to do sth It would
be wise for the director to select someone younger as his assis-
tant. [ wise move (=a wise thing to do) Keeping quiet about
the money was a wise move.
wisely [adv] He invested his money wisely.
wisdom / wzdam/In U] Idoubt the wisdom of his decision
(=how wise it was).
prudent/'pru:dant/a plan or action that is prudent is
carefuland sensible, and does not involve anything risky,
especially because this is most likely to result in an advan-
tage for yourself [a]
The safest and most prudent course would be for you to wait
for a few weeks before committing yourself. [ it is prudent
to do sth They felt it would be prudent to keep on good terms
with the press in case they needed to win public support. [ We
will reduce interest rates when it is prudent to do so.
prudently [adv] Learning that a frightening number of
land-based planes were ready to attack, the rebels prudently
withdrew to their underground shelter.
sentiment
within reason !wioin ' ri:zan! according to what is gener-
ally accepted as being sensible and reasonable [advphrase]
I'll give you anything you like, within reason, if you go away
and leave me alone for the next two hours. I Within reason,
I think we canplant whatever we like. I What goes on behind
closed doors is, within reason, each company's exclusive
business.
4 to stop behaving in a stupid or unreasonable
way and start behaving sensibly
come to your senses
see reason
come to your senses/,kAm t j:r 'sensz/Iv phrase]
You'd better come to your senses and spend some time study-
ing if you want to pass the exam. [ We're glad the govern-
ment has come to its senses about the urgency of the situation.
see reason / ,si: ' ri:zan! to start behaving sensibly after
listening to advice from other people Iv phrase]
I wish he'd see reason and stopputtingpressure on me to do
more work.
5 to try to persuade someone to start behaving
in a sensible and reasonable way
talk some sense into
get sb to see reason
bring sb to their senses
talk some sense into /to:k som sens ntu:/[vphrase]
It took some time to calm him down and talk some sense into
him. [ They urged the union leaders to talk some sense into
their members. [ Will you try and talk some sense into him
- he says he's going to drop out of school.
get sb to see reason/iget (sb) ta si: ri:zan/to manage,
with some difficulty, to persuade someone to behave sen-
sibly by talking to them about the situation Iv phrase]
Eventually police managed to get the gunman to see reason
and release the hostages.
bring sb to their senses / brrj (sb) ta 6ca r 'sensz/if
something that has happened, especially an unpleasant
surprise, brings someone to their senses, it makes them
stop behaving in a stupid way and start behaving sensibly
Iv phrase]
The accident certainly brought me to my senses and made
me realize that life was worth living after all.
6 the ability to think and behave in a sensible
way
common sense
sense/good sense
common sense/,komon 'sens,. II ,ko:-/the ability to
behave in a sensible way and make practical decisions,
especially when this is based on your experience, or on
what people generally know to be true In U]
Common sense alone tells us that his story could not possi-
bly be true. I Don't ask me what to do - use your common
sense! I it is common sense to do sth It's only common
sense to say that the guiltyperson is not going to admit that
he took the money.
sense/good sense !sons, igod 'sons! if someone has
sense/good sense they behave in a sensible way, espe-
cially in a difficult or confusing situation In U]
I wish you'd show more sense. [ have the sense to do sth
Fortunately someone had the good sense to call an
ambulance when they saw the man had collapsed. [ The
management had the good sense to buy up most of the shares.
sensitive DIFFICULT 5, FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 4,
OFFEND 3, SECRET 1, UPSET 6
sensual SEXY 2
sentence PERIOD OF TIME 3, PUNISH 3, WORD,
PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 3
PUNISH 3
sentence: pass/pronounce sentence
sentence sb to death KILL 10
sentiment OPINION 1

sentimental 1193 SEPARATE
sentimental EMOTIONAL 4, 5
sentimentality EMOTIONAL 4
separate DIVORCE 4, SEPARATE 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9
separate: go their separate ways SEPARATE 9
SEPARATE
10
words for describing things or people that are
separate from each other
to physically separate people or things so that
they are not touching or close together
ways of saying that something keeps two
things, places, or people separate from each
other
to separate something into two or more parts
to separate a machine, piece of equipment
etc into parts
to separate groups of people so that they
cannot work together, live together etc
to completely separate someone from
everyone else so that they are alone
to be or become separated into two or more
different parts
ways of saying that two people or groups
stop having a relationship, friendship, or other
connection with each other
to stop having a relationship or connection
with a person, group, or organization that you
used to be connected with
1 words for describing things or people that are
separate from each other
separate
apart
separate/'separt/[adj]
All the kids have separate rooms. [Although she's now mar-
ried she still has her own separate bank account. [ England
and Scotland are two distinct, separate countries. [ separate
from I keep the personnel records separate from the other
files. [ keep sth separate He likes to keep his private and
professional lives completely separate.
separately [adv] Each of the men talked to her separately
after the meeting. [ Books for more advanced students are
listed separately.
apart/'pa:rt/not together or with someone or something
else lady]
apart from When Laura got a new job in Seattle, she had
to live apart from her husband for a while. [ Going to school
was the first time she had been apart from her mother. [
be/live/stay ete apart They can't bear to be apart. [ Over
the last 200 million years, the two continents have moved
apart.
2 to physically separate people or things so that
they are not touching or close together
separate
part
keep sth apart
separate/'sepret/[v T]
separate sb/sth The two boys began to fight but Mr Roberts
separated them. [ Some of the pages had got stuck together
and I couldn't separate them. [ separate sb/sth from Break
an egg into a bowl and separate the white from the yolk.
part /pa:rt/ to pull the two sides of something apart,
making a space in the middle Iv T]
Joe parted the curtains and the sunlight came flooding in. [
She parted the branches with her hands as she moved further
into the forest.
keep sth apart/,ki:p (sth) o'pa:rq to stop things from
touching each other or coming together, in order to prevent
something from happening [phr v T]
The plastic casing keeps the wires apart. I After mating, male
and female sheep are usually kept apart.
 ways of saying that something keeps two
things, places, or people separate from each
other
separate
divide
separate/'sepret/[v T]
separate sth from Karen walked across the field that sepa-
rated the house from the stables. [ be separated by He was
at one end of the table, I was at the other, separated by a
group of drunken students. [ separate sth The River Danube
separates the two countries.
divide/d 'yard/to keep two areas or two parts of an area
separate from each other Iv T I
divide sth Only a thin partition divides the room. [ divide
sth from A busy highway divides one half of the town from
the other.
4 to separate something into two or more parts
separate break up
divide break down
split
separate I'sepreit/[v T]
separate sth Carrie separated the two parts of the ticket and
gave one to the controller. I separate sth into He sat at a
desk, separating a pile of mail into "urgent" and 'non-urgent:
divide/d I 'vaid/to separate something into two or more,
usually equal, parts Iv T]
be divided into Some of these big old houses have been
divided into apartments. I divide sth between The coun-
try was divided between Germany and Russia.
split/split/to separate something into parts, usually into
two parts [v T]
split sth in two/in half There are forty students here. We'll
have to split the class in two. [ split sth down/along/
across etc The lightning had split the old tree right down
the middle.
break up / Ibrek I^p/to separate something into several
smaller parts [phr v T]
break sth/it/them up We are putting some illustrations
in the book in order to break up the text. [ break sth up into
Some experts agreed that IBM should be broken up into
several smaller companies. [ break up sth The head has
decided to break up the school day into eight lessons, instead
of six.
break down /breik daon/to separate something such
as a report or a job into parts, especially in order to make
it easier to understand or easier to do [phr v T]
break down sth Try to break down the calculation and get
the students to do it in stages. [ break sth/it/them down
This report is very long and complicated. Isn't there any way
we can break it down? [ On the assembly line, the work was
broken down into very simple elements.
5 to separate a machine, piece of equipment
etc into parts
take sth apart take to pieces
dismantle strip down
take sth apart/,teik (sth) o'pa:rq [phr v T]
My brother knows how to take cars apart, but he can't put
them back together again. I They had to take the building
apart brick by brick.
dismantle /ds'meentl/ to take a large or complicated
machine apart, in order to repair it or so that it can no
longer be used [v T]
Jimmy was in the garage, dismantling his bike. [ The first
thing the soldiers did was to dismantle the enemy's surveil-
lance equipment.

SEPARATE
take sth to pieces/,teik (sth) to 'pi:soz/to separate
something into pieces, especially in order to check for a
fault or to clean it Iv phrase]
He took the toy to pieces to find out how it worked. I You can't
clean a watch without taking it to pieces.
strip down ]strip Idaon] to separate an engine or
machine into pieces in order to clean it or repair it [phr v T]
strip sth/it/them down He took the shotgun to his room,
stripped it down and cleaned it. I strip down sth She knew
how to strip down her motorcycle.
6 to separate groups of people so that they
cannot work together, live tog.ether etc-
segregate segregation
separate apartheid
keep sb apart
segregate ! Isegrlgelt/to separate one group of people
from the others, especially because they are of a different
race, sex, religion etc Iv T]
be segregated from As a result of the school system,
Catholics were segregated from Protestants at an early age. I
segregate sb Some communities still segregate men and
women.
segregated [adj] In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that
segregated education was illegal.
separate ] IsepreIt] to keep two or more people apart,
especially so that they cannot cause any trouble together
Iv T]
separate sb Teachers thought it best to separate Paul and
Fred and put them in different classes. I separate sb from
Separating prisonersfrom each other is sometimes the only
way of preventing riots.
keep sb apart/,ki:p (sb) o'pa:rt/to separate two or more
people so that they cannot talk to each other or harm each
other [phr v T]
Sex offenders are often kept apart from other prisoners for
their own safety. [ At the party it seemed only sensible to keep
her ex-husband and her new boyfriend apart.
segregation I,segrI'geanl the practice of keeping
people of different races apart and making them live, work,
or study separately, especially because one race believes
that members of the other race are not as good as they are
In U]
Racial segregation in schools still exists in some southern
states. I Civil rights protestors called for an end to all
segregation.
apartheid/a'po: rthe[t, -telt, -talt, -tald/the former South
African political and social system in which black and
white races had to go to separate schools, live in separate
areas ere In U]
Mandela was in prison for over 25years for opposing apart-
heid in South Africa. [ an anti-apartheid organization
7 to completely separate someone from
everyone else so that they are alone
isolate keep sb apart
cut sb off from in quarantine
isolate/'aisleit/[v T]
isolate sb It is the hospital's policy to isolate any patient who
is suffering from an infectious disease. [ Several villages had
been isolated by the floods. [ By winning massive popular
support the government succeeded in isolating the extreme
left. I isolate sb from China isolated itself from the rest of
the world in the early part of the century.
isolation/aIslleISan/In U] She could not bear the isola-
tion of being at home alone all day.
cut sb off from /ikAt (sb) 'of from II-'  :f frAm/ to
separate someone from the people that they are usually
with [phr v T]
She realized that he was trying to cut her off from her
friends. I It's easy to get cut off from your family when you
first go overseas.
1194
SEPARATE
keep sb apart / ,ki:p (sb) o'pa:rt/to keep someone away
from the people or things they are usually with, either for
your own advantage or for theirs [phr v T]
The best thing to do is to keep these two apart. [ I try to keep
my mother and my husband apart. [ keep sb apart from
Don't keep Sam apart from other kids just because he's
disabled.
in quarantine/In Ikwmnti:n [[ -'kwa:-/separated from
other people because you have or may have an infectious
illness that they could catch if they were with you [adv
phrase]
One of the crew caught smallpox, and soon they were all in
quarantine. [ put sb in quarantine All animals entering
the UK must be put in quarantine.
8 to be or become separated into two or more
different parts
divide break up
separate be in pieces
split come to pieces
divide/d Ivald/ [v I]
The travellers came to a point where the river divided. [
divide into A fertilized cell divides into two and continues
to multiply.
separate ! IsepreIt/to become separated into different
parts, usually in a natural way Iv I]
separate into The whole process separates quite naturally
into three smaller stages. [ As the milk turns sour, it separates
into thick curds and watery liquid.
split/split/to separate into parts, usually two parts Iv I]
split apart At the bottom of the cliff the rock had split apart. [
split into two/in half etc The team split into two groups.
break up/ibrek IApl to separate into several smaller
parts [phr v I]
In spring the icebergs begin to break up. [ The crowd broke
up slowly. [ break up into Eventually, the old ruling group
broke up into a number of political parties.
be in pieces/bi: in 'pi:sz/if something is in pieces it
is separated into pieces Iv phrase]
The table Alan was supposed to have put together was still
in pieces when I arrived home. I Within five minutes of me
telling Carmel there was something wrong with my iron, she
had it in pieces on the kitchen table.
come to pieces /,kAm ta 'pi:sz/if something comes to
pieces it is designed so that it can be broken into its
separate parts without being damaged Iv phrase]
The bed comes to pieces, so we can fit it in the car.
9 ways of saying that two people or groups
stop having a relationship, friendship, or other
connection with each other
separate drift apart
split up go their separate ways
part estranged
break up separation
separate ! ' sepreq to start to live apart from a husband,
wife, or sexual partner that you used to live with Iv I]
They separated several years ago, but they're not divorced. I
Kids are put under a tremendous emotional strain when their
parents separate.
split up/i split lap/if tWO people split up, they stop having
a relationship with each other, especially a sexual relation-
ship [phr v I]
split up with He started drinking heavily after he split up
with Debbie. [ split up They're always arguing, but I don't
think they'll ever split up.
part/pa:rq a word used especially in literature meaning
to separate from someone so that your relationship ends
Iv I]
They parted in a fairly amicable way.. [ She hoped that she
and Jonathan would never part.

SEPARATE 1195 SERIES
break up/,break '^p/ifa group of people, a family, or an
organization breaks up, the people in it separate so that
they are no longer together in that group [phr v I]
After the war the regiment broke up. i President Richards
had done everything possible to stop the party breaking up.
break-up/'breik ^p/ In C] the break-up of the family
drift apart /,drift 'po:rt/ if people drift apart, they
gradually become less friendly and see each other less,
until their relationship finally ends [v phrase]
Over the years my schoolfriends and I have drifted apart. [
Teddy and Maria never really argued - they just drifted
apart.
go their separate ways/,go 6e r ,separIt 'weiz/ if
a group of friends go their separate ways, they each go
to different places or do different things Iv phrase]
After we left college we all went our separate ways and I never
saw those friends again.
estranged / 'stremdsd/separated from a relation, espe-
cially a close one such as a husband or mother, so that you
almost never see them, for example because you have had
a serious argument [adj]
In 1975, he wrote a formal letter to his estranged father. [ be
estranged from Stevie became increasingly estranged from
his wife and children.
separation ],sepo'reifdn] a situation in which a husband
and wife agree to live apart from each other even though
they are still married In C/U]
In the case of separation or divorce, the children's needs
should come first. I Since the separation they've each been
seeing different people.
10 to stop having a relationship or connection
with a person, group, or organization that you
used to be connected with
split from
cut yourself off
sever links/connections/relations
detach yourself from
split from/'spht from II -frnml to deliberately separate
yourself from a larger group or organization, especially
because you no longer want to work with them Iv T]
Last year, he split from the rock band, 'Hot City'. I The left
wing of the party is likely to split from its parent organ-
ization.
cut yourself off / ,kAt j3:rself 'of/to deliberately separate
yourself from a group of people, usually permanently,
because you want to be alone or independent Iv phrase]
cut yourself off from When his first book was published,
he cut himself off from all his old friends. I Quite deliberately,
she cut herself off from the rest of the family. I cut yourself
off She had cut herself off and when David left her she had
no one to turn to.
sever links/connections/relations/seva r (links, etc)!
to formally and permanently end a relationship with
another person, company, country etc Iv phrase]
Throughout the seventies, the government was urged to sever
all links with South Africa. I Tobolewski, like many immi-
grants into America, severed all his ties with his Polish
background.
detach yourself from/d 'tetf ja:rself from/to deliber-
ately separate yourself from a person, organization etc,
because you do not want people to think you are connected
with or are responsible for something that they are doing
Iv phrase]
The government is seeking to detach itself from the latest
financial scandal. I Some traditional Anglicans have taken
the decision to detach themselves from the main body of the
church.
separated DIVORCE 4
separation SEPARATE 9
sequel AFTER 5, 7
sequence ORDER/SEQUENCE 1, SERIES 1
serial SERIES 2, 3
series SERIES 1, 2
SERIES
several things or people that come or happen
one after another
I a series of events, things, numbers, people
etc
2 a series of television programmes, books etc
3 words for describing things that happen in a
series
4 ways of saying that someone does two or
more things in a series
1 a series of events, things, numbers, people
etc
series
sequence
string of
succession of
stream
train of events
course of
drugs/treatment/injections
series/'sIdri:z/[n singular]
series of There has been a series of accidents on the M25 near
the junction with the MII. I The following year, a series of
victories in local elections strengthened the Conservatives"
position. I Police smashed a major drugs ring after a series
of dawn raids. I series Question 3: What is the next number
in the series - 12, 24, 48, 96?
sequence /'si:kwans/ the order in which events or
actions follow one another, or the order in which they are
supposed to follow one another In C usually singular]
sequence of Police are not sure of the sequence of events that
led up to the crime. I Many of our students find it difficult
to learn the sequence of movements for this particular dance. I
sequence The keys have to be turned in a particular
sequence to open the safe.
string of/'strn av/a series of similar events that happen
very close together, or a group of similar things that exist
or are found very close together In singular]
O'Neill had a string of successes with his first four plays. I
a string of tiny islands off the coast ofFloridal Jackson was
imprisoned in 1934for a string of sensational crimes.
succession of/sk' sedan v/a number of events, rela-
tionships, people etc following closely after each other,
especially when it is bad that there have been so many of
them In singular]
Fay had had a succession of affairs with out-of-work actors. I
A succession of half-day strikes hasparalysed business. I Like
many rich kids, Georgie was raised by a succession of under-
paid nannies.
stream/stri:m/a long and almost continuous series of
events, people, objects etc following closely after each other
In C usually singular]
a stream of Over the last 20 years Sony has produced a
steady stream of innovative products. I Dorothy's job is to
guide the non-stop stream of visitors around the castle. I in
an endless stream (=continuously, in large numbers)
Refugees were pouring across the border in an endless
stream.
train of events /,treIn av  'vents/a series of events, espe-
cially a series in which each thing that happens causes the
next one to happen In phrase]
The discovery of his grandfather's will set off a remarkable
train of events that was to change his life. I Western politi-
cians watched the train of events in Eastern Europe with
increasing amazement.
course of drugs/treatment/injections/,ka:rs v
'drngz, 'tri:tmnt, n'd3ekanz/a planned process of medi-
cal treatment consisting of a series of regular amounts of
treatment, drugs etc over a fixed period In phrase]
Europeans usually need to have a course of injections before
travelling to India. I It's a potentially fatal disease, but can
in fact be cured with a simple course of antibiotics.

SERIES 1196 SERIOUS/NOT JOKING
 a series of television programmes, books etc
series
serial
series/' sari:z/a regular series of television programmes,
books etc that tell the same story or are the same kind of
programme, book etc In C]
A new TVseries called "The Hamilton Dynasty" will be start-
ing next autumn. I series of a series of articles about the state
of the economy
serial/'s:riol/a story that is broadcast in several separate
parts on television or radio, or printed in separate parts
in a magazine or newspaper In C]
The BBC sells most of its successful serials to the US. i Don't
miss the latest episode in our serial 'David Copperfield :
serialize Iv T] Her novel 'The Awakening" was recently seri-
alized on TV (=made into a serial for television).
3 words for describing things that happen in a
series
successive alternating
consecutive serial
successive / sok ' ses: v/coming or following one after the
other [adj only before noun]
Successive governments have tried and failed to solve the
Irish problem. I With each successive baby, Suleka grew
weaker and weaker. I Jeffrey had been absent from Church
on six successive Sundays.
successively [adv] As you go north, you tend to find suc-
cessively higher levels of ozone depletion.
consecutive/kon'sekj°otIV/consecutive days, years etc
come after one another, with no breaks in between [adj]
The company has made a profit for seven consecutive years. ]
You must get a doctor's certificate if you're off work sick for
more than three consecutive days. I In 1960, Brabham won
five consecutive races in Holland.
alternating /'3:lt0rneItIrj/ alternating colours/pat-
terns/layers etc (=first one colour etc then another, then
the first colour again, then the other etc) [adj only before
noun l
Alternating layers of grey and pink stone formed the walls
of the church, i The alternating pattern of light pine and
dark mahogany wood was very beautiful.
serial / 'siariol/serial murders/killings etc (=one after
another by the same killer) [adj only before noun]
Police haven't yet solved the serial murders that have been
taking place in North Californian holiday resorts over the
last five years. I Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe has been moved
to a high-security psychiatric hospital.
4 ways of saying that someone does two or
more things in a series
in succession
one after the other/
one after another
on the trot
straight
in a row
running
alternate
in succession/n sok'seJ'an/if something happens on a
number of occasions, days, years etc in succession, it hap-
pens on each of those occasions, days, years etc, without
a break [adv phrasel
She's won the championship four times in succession. I It's
not advisable to sow afield with wheat more than two years
in succession.
one after the other/one after another/,wAn o:fto r
6i 'Ab r, ,wAn o:ftr 0inA60 r II -af-] if a number of events
happen one after the other or one after another, each
one happens soon after the previous one, with no other
events in between [adv phrase]
One after another they got up and left the room. ] He was so
thirsty that he drank five glasses of water, one after the
other.] She smoked nervously throughout the meeting, one
cigarette after another.
on the trot /on 60 'trot II-'tro:t/an informal British
expression meaning one after another, used especially to
talk about a series of victories or successes [adv phrase]
We won six games on the trot. ] Could Spurs make it three
wins on the trot?
straight/streq happening immediately one after another
in a series, especially in an unusually long series [adj/adv]
Some of these Bedouin guides can go without food or water
for three or four days straight. I She is hoping to beat her
personal record of 21 straight victories.
in a row/in o 'roo/ done two or more times, one after
another, without a break [adv phrase]
Last week I overslept three days in a row. I No one's won the
championship more than four times in a row.
running I' raml]/if you do something for the third time,
fifth time etc running, you do it that number of times
without a break [adv]
This is the fourth time running you've been late. ] Spender
won the Cambridge Poetry Prize three years running.
alternate/:l'ta:rnolq two alternate actions, events, feel-
ings etc are done in a fixed order, first one, then the other,
then the first one again etc [adj only before noun]
He worked alternate night and day shifts. I I had a nerve-
racking twenty minutes of alternate hope and despair. I
alternate Sundays/weekends etc (=first one Sunday or
weekend, but not the next, then the next Sunday or
weekend but not the next etc) She visits herparents on alter-
nate Sundays.
alternately lady] She lay therefor three days, alternately
sweating and freezing cold.
serious INTELLIGENT 10, SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 5,
SERIOUS PERSON 1, SERIOUS SITUATION 1
serious: be serious SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 1
serious: not be serious INTEND 2, SERIOUS/NOT
JOKING 6
JOKING/NOT
SERIOUS
@ SERIOUS/NOT
JOKING
to be serious in what you say or do
to believe that someone's remarks or actions
are serious
ways of telling someone that what you are
saying is serious
ways of asking someone if what they are
saying is serious
words for describing serious statements or
behaviour
to not be serious in what you say or do
to not believe that a remark, situation etc is
serious, when in fact it is

SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 1197 SERIOUS/NOT JOKING
1 to be serious in what you say or do
be serious seriously
not be joking be in earnest
mean it
be serious/bi: 'sxarios/to really mean what you say or
really intend to do something [v phrase]
Do you think she was serious when she said she used to be
an actress? I Listen! I'm serious! I'm not lending you any
more money! I be serious about I hope Jeff's serious about
giving up smoking, i Tina's quite intelligent, but she's not
really serious about her schoolwork, i get serious about
(=start dealing with a problem in a determined way) Car
manufacturers should get serious about making security a
design priority. [ deadly serious (=extremely serious) Her
voice suddenly sounded deadly serious.
not be Joking/n.t bi: 'dsaok:rj/if you say you are not
joking, you mean that you are serious about what you are
saying, even though other people might not believe you [v
phrase]
This is a real Ming vase. I'm not joking - it's worth thou-
sands of dollars. I When he said he'd fire you if you didn't
change your attitude to work, he wasn't joking.
mean it/' rni:n it/if you say something and you mean it,
you are serious about what you are saying and you want
the person you are talking to to believe you [v phrase not
in progressive]
You're the only one I love. I mean it. i When I said it was the
best performance I'd ever seen, I meant it. I Can I really come
and stay with you in London? Don't just say it if you don't
mean it.
seriously !'stariasli/ if you say or do something seri-
ously, you really mean it, really intend to do it, or really
think it is important [adv]
Are you seriously suggesting that she should give up her job
in order to look after her husband? I seriously intend/
want/attempt etc to do sth Those who seriously attempt
to kill themselves usually manage to do so. I seriously con-
cerned/interested/worried etc She was talking about
children's social education at a time when no one else was
seriously concerned with it.
be in earnest/bi: in 3:rnost/if someone is in earnest,
they really mean what they say, especially when they are
expressing an intention or a wish [v phrase]
I'm sure he was in earnest when he said he wanted to marry
her. [ be very much in earnest She spoke lightly but it was
obvious that she was very much in earnest. [ be in deadly
earnest (=be completely in earnest about something
unpleasant) At first I didn't take Arnold's threat seriously.
Then I suddenly realised he was in deadly earnest.
2 to believe that someone's remarks or actions
are serious
take sth/sb seriously
take sthlsb seriously/,telk (sth/sb) 'siariosli/to con-
sider that what someone says or does is serious and worth
paying attention to [v phrase]
We had only been pretending to fight, but Sammy had taken
the whole thing seriously. I Kevin paused for a moment, not
sure if Ralph would take him seriously.
3 ways of telling someone that what you are
 saying is serious
seriously joking apart
in all seriousness no kidding
seriously / ' sIrisli/(used at the beginning of a sentence,
when you want someone to know that you mean what you
are going to say and that you are not joking) [adv]
Seriously, I think he'll definitely pass his exams if he works
hard. [ Seriously though, if you don't stop smoking now
you'll be dead by the time you "re thirty.
in all seriousness /In ,aft 'sIariasnols/ (used when
reporting what someone has said, when you are surprised
that they really meant it because it seemed so stupid or
wrong to you) [adv phrase]
He asks me, in all seriousness, if I will marry him next week. [
She had heard it said in all seriousness that women would
never make good golfers because of the shape of their bodies.
joking apart/,d3okItj o'po:rt/(used when you want to
show that you are now being serious about something,
after you and other people have been joking and laughing
about it)
Joking apart, I do feel somebody should tell him what we
think. It's for his own good.
no kidding/,nao 'kidirj/(an informal expression used
when you think other people will not believe that you are
being serious and telling the truth)
I'm telling you, this guy's as fast as Carl Lewis - no kidding!
4 ways of asking someone if what they are
 saying is serious
seriously?/really?
no kidding?
seriously?lreally? I's:arbsli, 'r:oli/
"Jonathan's just bought me two tickets for a world cruise. ""
"Seriously?"[ "It took three hours to travel ten miles, the
traffic was so bad.'" "Really? You must be exhausted. '"
no kidding?/,noo kldirj/(used informally)
"My dad's a millionaire." "No kidding?"
5 words for describing serious statements or
behaviour
serious
serious I 'sIarisl [adj]
It's not a joke. It's a perfectly serious question. I All the other
people in the office seemed to have a very serious attitude
towards their work.
6 to not be serious in what you say or do
not be serious be joking/kidding
not mean it lightly
not be serious/not bi: saris/[vphrase]
I hope I didn't upset you - I wasn't really being serious. I not
be serious about I hope Paul isn't serious about resigning
- it'd be awful if he left.
not mean it/not 'mi:n it/to not really mean what you
say [v phrase not in progressive]
I'm sure he didn't mean it. I She says she's go/ng to start diet-
ing tomorrow, but I bet she doesn't mean it.
be Joking/kidding/bi: td3oklrj, IkldI/to say some-
thing that is not true, but in a serious way in order to make
a joke [v phrase]
be only joking/kidding Take no notice of anything he says
about your appearance - he's only joking. I "'I'm only kid-
ding, "" I said, laughing. "You shouldn't believe everything
I tellyou, you know. "'[ you must be joking/kidding! (=you
can't mean it seriously) "He's a good friend of yours, isn't
he? .... You must be joking! I can't stand him. ""
lightly / 'laltli/in a way that sounds as if you do not think
that something is important or serious [adv]
"There's no need to worry about it, "" he said lightly. [ Yes,
I called you a liar - and 'liar" is not a word I use lightly.
7 to not believe that a remark, situation etc is
serious, when in fact it is
not take sth/sb seriously
laugh at
laugh it off
not take sthlsb seriously/not teik (sth/sb) 'siorisli/
to not consider what someone says or does to be serious,
important, or worth paying attention to ]v phrase]
Although she threatened to go to the police we didn't really
take her seriously. [ Many women artists complain that their
work is not taken seriously.

SERIOUS/NOT JOKING
laugh at/'loft et II 'lef-/to treat what someone has said
in a way that shows you think it is completely stupid Iv T]
When I suggested going there by bicycle, everyone laughed
at the idea. I You can't tell them the dog ate your passport
- they'll laugh at you.
laugh it off/,loft it 'of II ,lef-/to laugh and refuse to
worry or be serious about a problem or fault that you have,
when someone is trying to talk to you about it Iv phrase]
I tried to tell him he was drinking too much but he just
laughed it off as usual. I Peter pretended to laugh it off but
I could see he was worried.
SERIOUS PERSON
serious, quiet, and not laughing or joking
much
1 words for describing someone who thinks
about and talks about serious matters, and
does not seem to enjoy jokes or ordinary
pleasures
2 words for describing someone who never
laughs or smiles, even when something is
funny
:3 looking or sounding very serious, especially
when something sad, worrying, or very
important is happening
4, words for describing someone who looks
serious, even though they are in fact joking or
amused by something
,5 ways of telling someone to relax and stop
being so serious about something
1 words for describing someone who thinks
about and talks about serious matters, and
does not seem to enjoy jokes or ordinary
pleasures
serious
earnest
take sth seriously
serious I'sariasl ladj]
Margaret was a small, quiet, rather serious young woman, i
His mother used to say that he should smile more, be less seri-
ous, but he had always been a thoughtful boy. I John's face
was serious and attentive.
earnest/a:rnst/ someone who is earnest, especially
someone young or not very experienced, is very serious or
too serious, believing that what they say or do is very
important [adj]
One earnest young man asked De Mille about the philosophi-
cal meaning of his films. I She always has such an earnest,
naive expression on her face.
earnestly [adv] The men began to talk earnestly about
protecting the Earth for future generations.
take sth seriously/,teik (sth) 's;ariasli/to be serious
about something that you are involved in, because you con-
sider it to be important Iv phrase]
I wish Dan would take his work more seriously. I She cer-
tainly takes her politics seriously - she's always out at meet-
ings. I take life seriously (=think that everything in life
is very important and serious) You're looking worried
again - you mustn't take life so seriously.
2 words for describing someone who never
laughs or smiles, even when something is
funny
humourless/hu morless
have no sense of humour/humor
stuffy
1198
SERIOUS PERSON
humourless (British) I humorless (American)/.'hju:-
mrbs/never laughing at anything anyone says or does,
and never being funny or telling jokes yourself [adj]
She is a cold and humourless woman with no interest in
other people. [ Since the death of his wife he has become
isolated, defensive and humorless.
have no sense of humour (British) I humor (Ameri-
can)/hav ,nao sens av 'hju:mar/to lack the ability to enjoy
jokes, funny situations etc Iv phrase not in progressive]
I was only joking; don't you have any sense ofhumor?l She
takes life so seriously. She seems to have no sense of burnout.
stuffy/' StAff/ someone who is stuffy does not laugh or
smile at things that other people find funny because they
are rather formal and have old-fashioned attitudes [adj]
Diana is lots of fun, has a great sense of humour and is not
at all stuffy. I Victor was as old-fashioned as his father, and
equally stuffy. I Come on Dad. Don't be so stuffy!
3 looking or sounding very serious, especially
when something sad, worrying, or very
important is happening
grave solemn
grim sombre/somber
grave/grelv/quiet and very serious, especially because
something important or worrying has happened [adj]
His face grew grave as we told him about the accident. I
Holmes looked grave and stood deep in worried thought for
a minute or two.
grim ]grim] serious and not smiling, because you are
angry, upset, or worried about something ]adj]
She looked grim and upset, standing silently in the corner. I
A grim-faced diplomat read out the declaration of war.
grimly [adv] This is going to be an awful week, he thought
grimly.
solemn/'sDlam II ,so:-/very serious because of an impor-
tant or sad occasion or ceremony [adj]
Everyone stood respectfully and looked solemn throughout
the funeral. ] The judge read the verdict in a clear and solemn
voice.
solemnly lady] They listened solemnly as the list of those
missing at sea was read out.
sombre (British) I somber (American)/'somba r li 'so:m-/
sad, quiet, and serious because something unpleasant or
worrying has happened or is going to happen [adj]
She was in a depressed, sombre mood for weeks after losing
her job. I They sat in sombre silence.
4
words for describing someone who looks
serious, even though they are in fact joking or
amused by something
keep a straight face
straightfaced
deadpan
keep a straight face/ki:p a ,streit 'fexs/to stop your-
self from laughing or smiling when you are joking or when
you think something is funny Iv phrase]
Barbara tried to keep a straight face, but in the end she just
couldn't help laughing. I He looked so ridiculous - I don't
know how I managed to keep a straight face.
straightfaced /,streit'fest] if you say something
straightfaced, you do not show by your expression that
it is just a joke and is not really true [adv]
He told me, completely straightfaced, that he had left acting
to become an accountant. [ Lea told him, completely straight-
faced, that sunglasses are called moonglasses in Canada.
deadpan/'dedpen] if you do or say something funny
deadpan, you intentionally do or say it without smiling
or laughing [adv]
Laurel and Hardy played all their great comic roles com-
pletely deadpan. I She told me, deadpan, that she was the
Queen of Sweden's sister, and for a moment I almost believed
her.
deadpan [adj] the deadpan humor of the silent movies

SERIOUS PERSON 1199 SERVICES
 ways of telling someone to relax and stop
being so serious about something
lighten up
lighten up /,latn '^p/ (an informal expression used
especially in American English)
Hey, lighten up! It's only a job, you know! I "But we're not
supposed to leave campus at lunchtime, we'll get into trou-
ble. "" "Lighten up, it'll be fine. ""
SERIOUS
SITUATION
words for describing a situation, problem,
illness, accident etc that is bad and that
people are worried about
a very bad and dangerous situation which
might get suddenly worse
1
words for describing a situation, problem,
illness, accident etc that is bad and that
people are worried about
serious desperate
bad be no laughing matter
grim be no joke
grave acute
critical
serious/'sdrbs/[adj]
Drugs such as heroin and cocaine are a serious problem in
every city in Britain. [ In the last two weeks, the situation has
become more serious, with riots and strikes spreading across
the country. I The recent storms have caused serious damage. [
The climbers got into serious difficulties and had to be air-
lifted to safety. I a serious illness
seriously [adv] The collapse in coffee prices has seriously
affected the economies of Brazil and Colombia.
seriousness In U] The public are beginning to realize the
seriousness of drunk driving.
bad ]bzedl a problem, illness, or accident that is bad is
severe, and serious enough for you to worry about it [adj]
I'm afraid your sister's had a rather bad accident. I The sit-
uation at the moment is not quite as bad as it was last week. [
She's got a bad case of flu. I things look bad (=the situa-
tion seems serious) Things are looking very bad on Wall
Street.
badly [adv] The driver was badly injured.
grim/grm! a situation or piece of news that is grim is seri-
ous and unpleasant, and people think it will not get better
[adj]
I'm afraid the news is rather grim - at least twelve people
are dead. I things look grim (=the situation seems grim)
Things look grim for our business at the moment. I Prospects
for the long-term unemployed look pretty grim.
grave/greiv/very serious and worrying because people
are in danger or because the situation seems likely to get
worse [adj]
The situation is grave - war now seems inevitable. I He feels
totally responsible for the grave error of judgement which
cost so many people their lives. I We're in very grave danger.
gravely lady] Your grandmother is gravely ill.
gravity / ' grzev] ti/In U] He didn't seem to realize the gravity
of the situation (-to realize how grave it was).
critical/' krit]kal/a critical situation is very serious and
dangerous and might get worse very suddenly [adj]
Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical con-
dition. I The situation is said to be critical and the army has
been brought in to disperse the mob.
critically [adv] A police officer is critically ill after being
shot in the chest.
desperate/' despdr It/a desperate situation or problem
is very serious or dangerous and there seems to be no pos-
sibility of things improving [adj]
Refugees on the border are living in appalling conditions
with desperate shortages of food, medicine and water. I The
situation was desperate. The enemy were now only a mile
away. [ Washington Redskins are in a really desperate posi-
tion, trailing by fifteen points with only five minutes to go.
desperately [adv ] The company is desperately short of cash
and may have to sell part of its overseas operations.
be no laughing matter/bi: no 'lo:hrj met:) r II -'laf-/
if you say that a situation or event is no laughing matter,
you mean that it is serious Iv phrase]
Losing yourjob is no laughing matter. I It was no laughing
matter - I was terrified. I Arthur's illness was obviously no
laughing matter.
be no Joke/bi: ,no 'd3ok/an informal expression: if
you say that a situation or event is no joke, you mean that
it is difficult or unpleasant Iv phrase]
It's no joke if you have an accident in the mountains - it's
fifty miles to the nearest hospital. I Crossing the road was
no joke with all the early morning traffic.
acute/a'kju:t/an acute illness, problem, or situation is
one that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs
to be dealt with quickly [adj]
She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendi-
citis. I Patients suffering from acute depression may well need
medication. I Food shortages in some areas are becoming
acute.
2 a very bad and dangerous situation which
might get suddenly worse
crisis
emergency
crisis I'kra, s]sl(plural crises) In C]
The Cuban missile crisis in 1960 was probably the closest we
have been to nuclear war. [ Nurses are trained to act calmly
in a crisis. ] General De Gaulle was obviously aware of the
gravity of the crisis through which the nation had passed.
emergency/; 'm3:rd59nsi/a very serious situation such
as an accident, that happens suddenly and needs to be dealt
with immediately In C]
There's an emergency at the airport. I The staff were trained
to deal with any emergency. I in an emergency (=if there
is an emergency) In an emergency, dial 911 for police, the
fire department or an ambulance.
 seriously SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 1, 3
 seriously: not take sth/sb seriously SERIOUS/NOT
 JOKING 7
. seriously: take sth/sb seriously SERIOUS/NOT
::::! JOKING 2
::. seriously: take sth seriously SERIOUS PERSON 1
: seriously?/really? SERIOUS/NOT JOKING 4
:.: seriousness: in all seriousness SERIOUS/NOT JOKING3
;i; serve GIVE 4, PRISON 3, PROVIDE 5, SELL 1, SPEND
TIME 4
serve as USE STH 5
serve sb right DESERVE 2
iii service PRAY 3, REPAIR 3, USE STH 1
serviceable USE STH 13
services SERVICES 1
services: the services ARMY 1
@ SERVICES
useful or helpful services that are provided for
people to use such as hospitals, public
transport, or banks
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

SERVICES 1200 SEX/GENDER
1 useful or helpful services that are provided for
people to use such as hospitals, public
transport, or banks
services utilities
facilities supply
amenities resources
services/, .r i I
s3. vsz/In plural]
A national strikeparalyzedpostal services everywhere. I Will
the use of private contractors improve public services? I The
1980s saw a decline in manufacturing but a growth in serv-
ices such as banking and retailing.
facilities Ifo'sdtiz! things that are pr.ovided in a place
in order to make particular services or activities available
In plural]
The facilities at the hotel were excellent - tennis courts, swim-
ming pool, several bars and a good restaurant. I sports/
leisure/childcare etc facilities The company does not yet
have childcare facilities on the premises. I facilities for
Facilities for washing and drying clothes are hopelessly
inadequate in many Romanian orphanages.
amenities /'mi:ntiz 11 'men-/ things such as shops,
parks, or restaurants that make living or working in a
place more pleasant In plural]
I prefer this part of the city because there are plenty of good
amenities. I The town has grown, and offers many more
amenities - a new shopping mall, play areas and a variety
of restaurants. I The problems in the refugee camp are over-
crowding and a lack of basic amenities.
utilities /ju:tdtiz/ organizations that supply certain
necessary things such as electricity, water, and gas [n
plural]
Public utilities almost always make huge profits. I Govern-
ment ownership of utilities should mean that gas and elec-
tricity costs are kept to a minimum.
supply /slplaI/ electricity/water/gas supply (=the
system by which basic services such as electricity and
water are supplied to houses, factories etc) In C usually
singular]
The electricity supply is less reliable in mountainous areas
of the country. [ cut offa supply (=stop the supply) During
the drought some households had their water supply cut off.
resources/ri 'z3:rs z/things or people that are availa-
ble to be used to help an organization, town, area of a coun-
try etc In plural]
All the teaching resources - books, cassettes and so on - are
kept in a special room. [ Due to lack of funding some univer-
sities are now forced to share research resources. I The com-
pany's human resources are its most precious asset. I limited
resources (=a small amount of resources) The City Coun-
cil does the best it can with its limited resources.
servile
serving
session
set
OBEY 6
AMOUNT 3
CLASS/LESSON 1
CLASS/GROUP OF STUDENTS 1, COLLECT 3,
DOWN 4, FRIEND 3, GROUP OF THINGS 9,
HARD ,5, JOB/TASK 3, THICK LIQUID :3
set: be all set READY 1
set: be set in your ways CHANGE/BECOME
DIFFERENT 7
set: be set on DETERMINED 1
set: be set to do sth PROBABLY 6
set about START DOING STH 2
set a bad example BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 5
set an example IMITATE 5
set back/put back DELAY 2
set down PUT 1
set eyes on SEE 1
set fire to sth/set sth on fire BURN 4
set in START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 4
set/lay a trap for TRICK/DECEIVE 2
set off CAUSE 7, EXPLODE 2, LEAVE A PLACE 4,
START DOING STH 6, START STH/MAKE STH
START 4, SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2,
SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
set out ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE
1, EXPLAIN 5, START DOING STH 6
set out to do sth INTEND 1
set/put sb's mind at rest WORRIED 13
set sb back COST 2
set sb free FREE/NOT IN PRISON 2
set sb/sth apart DIFFERENT 11
set sb up GUILTY 4
set up ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 1,
PREPARE 2, START STH/MAKE STH START 3
set-up SITUATION 1, SYSTEM 1
set up as START DOING STH 12
set upon ATTACK 1
set your heart on WANT 5
setback PROBLEM 2
settle FINISH DOING STH 6, LIVE SOMEWHERE 4,
PAY FOR 5
settle down SIT 1
settle down to START DOING STH 4
settle in/down USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 4
settle on CHOOSE 2
settle up PAY FOR 5
settle your differences: patch up/settle your
differences ARGUE 8
settlement TOWN 1
sever CUT 4, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 9
sever links/connections/relations SEPARATE 10
several SOME/A FEW 1
severe STRICT 7
sew up FINISH DOING STH 6
sex SEX/GENDER 1, SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
sex: have sex SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
sex appeal SEXY 3
sex drive SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 4
sex maniac SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 8
SEX/GENDER
the male or female nature of a person,
animal, or plant
words for describing groups, organizations,
or institutions that include people of both
sexes
words for describing schools, colleges etc
that are only for people of one sex
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

SEX/GENDER 1201 SEX/HAVE SEX WITH
1 the male or female nature of a person,
animal, or plant
sex
gender
sexual
sex/seks/In C/U]
When filling in the form remember to put your name, age,
and sex. I You can now find out your baby's sex before it is
born. I Teachers of both sexes are employed by the school. I
the opposite sex (=the sex which is not your own) Rupert
has never shown much interest in members of the opposite
sex. I sex discrimination (=unfair treatment of someone
because of their sex) Most women are confronted by sex dis-
crimination at some time in their working lives.
gender/'d3endr/a word meaning sex, used especially in
job advertisements and in writing about politics and
society In C/U]
The job is open to any suitably qualified person regardless
of age, gender or race. I gender bias/distinction/differ-
ence ere (=based on a person's gender) Sociologists believe
that gender differences in voting will gradually disappear
as women become more politicized.
sexual /'sekfuzl/ of or connected with the differences
between male and female [adj usually before noun]
The sexual division of labor confines women to the family.I
Birds have developed a sexual difference in the colours of
their feathers. I sexual equality/inequality (=equality or
inequality between men and women) Sexual inequality
exists, to some degree, in every society.
sexually [adv] Male and female behaviour is partly sexu-
ally determined and partly learned.
2 words for describing groups, organizations,
or institutions that include people of both
sexes
mixed
coed
mixed/mkst/mixed school/class/group etc (=one that
is for students or other people of both sexes) [adj]
Brisbane High was a mixed school so we had plenty to dis-
tract us from our lessons. I One residence hall is for men, one
is for women and the third is mixed.
coed/ koo'ed- II 'kooed/coed schools/dormitories etc
(--a word used especially in American English meaning
one that is for children or students of both sexes) [adj]
Many coed schools provide excellent education. I Almost all
college students live in coed dormitories or in houses shared
with friends.
words for describing schools, colleges etc
that are only for people of one sex
single-sex
single-sex/,sIOgal 'seks-/ [adj]
Single-sex schools often achieve better academic results
because there is no rivalry between the sexes.
@ SEX/HAVE SEX
WITH
to have sex with someone
ways of saying that animals have sex in order
to produce babies
words for describing feelings, problems etc
that are connected with having sex
the ability or desire to have sex
to have sex with a lot of people
to persuade someone to have sex with you
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
words for describing someone who is
sexually excited and wants to have sex
someone who always wants to have sex or
thinks about sex all the time
someone who has sex with people for money
to attack or harm someone in a sexual way
words for describing books, films etc that are
about sex or that show sexual acts
words for describing someone who does not
have sex or has never had sex
the type of sexual attraction that someone
feels, either to people of the same sex or to
people of the opposite sex
ways of saying that people do not have sex
with each other but are just good friends
I to have sex with someone
have sex make love
sex sleep with
have intercourse/ go to bed with
sexual intercourse lose your virginity
have sex/hev 'seks/[v phrase]
have sex with He's never had sex with anyone but his wife. [
Would you have sex with someone on your first date? [ have
sex The first time I had sex was on my 18th birthday.
sex/seks/the act of having sex with someone [n U]
Since I had my baby I've had absolutely no interest in sex. [
She is very religious and doesn "t believe in sex before marri-
age. [ Most modern films seem to contain some sex or violence.
have intercourse/sexual intercourse /heev
' ntrk:rs,, sekful-/an expression used especially in med-
ical or legal contexts meaning to have sex with someone
Iv phrase]
Half the men interviewed said that they had intercourse less
than twice a week. [ You are strongly advised to wear a
condom while having sexual intercourse. I have inter-
course/sexual intercourse with The victim later claimed
that her attacker forced her to have sexual intercourse with
him.
intercourse/sexual intercourse [n U] The AIDS virus
can be passed on during sexual intercourse.
make love/mek 'lAy/to have sex with someone that you
love Iv phrase]
After twenty years of marriage my wife and I still make love
regularly. [ make love to He took her to the bedroom,
undressed her slowly, and made love to her tenderly. [ make
love with "I want to make love with you, "' she said, no
longer trying to hide her feelings.
lovemaking/'lAvme;k0/In U] The book is intended to help
couples improve their lovemaking (=the way they make
love).
sleep with/'sli:p wi6/to have sex with someone and
usually spend the night with them, especially someone that
people think you should not have sex with Iv T not in
passive]
Most people at college were sleeping with their boyfriends. [
From the way he was talking, it was obvious he had slept
with her. [ sleep together You and that secretary of yours
- have you been sleeping together?
go to bed with/,gao ta bed wI6/to have sex with some-
one on one occasion, especially because they ask you or per-
suade you to do so [v phrase not in progressive]
He said he'd give me the job if I went to bed with him. [ go
to bed together We longed to go to bed together, but there
was no opportunity.
lose your virginity/,lu:z j:r vor dsinIti/to have sex for
the first time in your life [v phrase]
I lost my virginity at the age of seventeen. I lose your
virginity to She had lost her virginity to a law student while
at university.

SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1202 SEX/HAVE SEX WITH
 ways of saying that animals have sex in order
to produce babies
mate
mate/melt/[v I]
The birds mate in the same tree every year. I mate with
Adult males fight each other to decide which of them will
mate with the young females.
mating In U] During the mating season (=period when
animals mate), the males become more aggressive.
3 words for describing feelings, problems etc
that are connected with having sex
sexual
sexual/'sekful/[adjl
Dr Ruth offers advice on sexual problems. [ It's important
to take your partner's sexual needs into consideration. [ He
had to admit that his feelings for her were mostly sexual.
sexually lady] 70% of all males are still sexually active at
the age of seventy.
 the ability or desire to have sex
sexuality desire
sex drive lust
libido
sexuality/, sekj'u'elti/the type of sexual feelings and
needs that someone has and which are part of someone's
character In U]
She has written a fascinating book on female sexuality. I
Gradually he came to understand and accept his own
sexuality.
sex drive / seks draiv/a person's ability or need to have
sex regularly In C usually singular]
These drugs may affect your sex drive. I For many men,
having a powerful sex drive is essential to their confidence.
libido/h 'bi:dao/a word used especially in a medical con-
text meaning the desire to have sex regularly In singular U]
Drinking too much often results in a loss of libido. I Most doc-
tors agree that a suppressed libido is often associated with
emotional and psychological problems.
desire/d, 'za;ar/a strong physical and emotional feeling
of wanting to have sex with someone because you find
them very beautiful or attractive In C/U]
As she held him close she was filled with desire.I sexual
desire When she was drunk she could hardly contain her
sexual desires. [ desire for sb The smell of her perfume was
enough to awaken his desire for her.
lust/lAst/a very strong physical desire to have sex without
any tender, loving feelings In UI
These were not feelings of love but of lust, pure and simple.I
He was a man possessed by greed, jealousy and lust.
5 to have sex with a lot of people
sleep around
promiscuous
sleep around/,sli:p 'raond/ an informal expression
meaning to have sex with a lot of people [phr v I]
I don't sleep around any more, not since I met clack. I If you
sleep around you increase your risk of getting AIDS.
promiscuous/pro ' m iskjus/someone who is promiscu-
ous has sex with a lot of people [adj]
Promiscuous men are rarely criticized as severely as promis-
cuous women. I The survey found that single men aged 18-35
were more promiscuous than any other social group.
promiscuity/,prom 'skju:ti II ,pra:-/In U] The introduc-
tion o f free contraceptives led to an increase in promiscuity
(=in people being promiscuous).
6 to persuade someone to have sex with you
seduce
get sb into bed
seduce Is; 'dju:s/to persuade someone to have sex with
you, especially someone who is younger than you or has
less sexual experience Iv T]
Another bottle of wine? Are you trying to seduce me? l Sher-
rie knew what Hank was doing, but she allowed herself to
be seduced by him.
seduction Is, 'dAkj'an/In U] The seduction of rich men was
a game that she loved to play.
get sb into bed/,get (sb) nta 'bed/an informal expres-
sion meaning to persuade someone to have sex with you
Iv phrase]
How did the date with Tom go? Did you manage to get him
into bed?[If anyone can get Mandy into bed, Steve can. He's
a real smooth talker.
words for describing someone who is
sexually excited and wants to have sex
randy
horny
randy/' rendi/an informal British word meaning sexu-
ally excited and wanting to have sex [adj]
Thinking about her made me feel really randy.
horny /'ha:rni/ an informal word used especially in
American English meaning sexually excited and wanting
to have sex [adj]
I don 't want a room-mate who acts like a horny teenager with
every woman he meets.
8 someone who always wants to have sex or
thinks about sex all the time
sex maniac lecherous
dirty old man nymphomaniac
sex maniac I 'seks ,meiniek/someone who always wants
to have sex or thinks about sex all the time and is unable
to control these feelings In C]
You can't go out with him - he's a sex maniac.
dirty old man/,d3:rti old 'men/a middle-aged or old
man who is always looking at or touching young women
or girls in a sexual way In C]
One of the school doctors was a dirty old man who always
wanted to examine the girls. [ Go away, you dirty old man.
Have you never seen girls playing tennis before?
lecherous/'leqams/a man who is lecherous is always
looking at, thinking about, or talking to women in a sexual
way that is unpleasant and offensive [adj]
He was as lecherous as always, telling rude jokes and trying
to kiss all the girls. I Her driving instructor was a disgust-
ing lecherous old devil - always undressing her with his eyes.
nymphomaniac/, nimfa' me;niek/a woman who always
wants to have sex or has sex with a lot of people, and is
therefore considered morally bad In C]
Even now, a woman who has a lot of boyfriends is labelled
a "nymphomaniac'.
9 someone who has sex with people for money
prostitute rent boy
hooker prostitution
call-girl
prostitute/'prosttju:t II 'pra:stotu:t/someone, usually a
woman, who has sex with people for money [n C]
She didn't look like a prostitute. She wasn't even wearing any
make-up. I About once a month he used to go and pick up a
prostitute for the night. I male prostitute Male prostitutes
lined the street looking for customers.
hooker/' hokr/an informal American word meaning a
woman who has sex with men for money In C]
Take those clothes off- you look like a hooker. I Some of the
hookers in Vegas are under 13 years old.
call.girl/'k:l g3:rl/a woman who has sex with men for
money and arranges to meet them by telephone [n C]
His wife found out that he regularly visited call-girls. I She
was earning $5000 a night working as a high-class call-girl.

SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1203 SEX/HAVE SEX WITH
rent boy/*rent b3I/a British expression meaning a boy
or young man who has sex with other men in return for
money In C]
There were rent boys as young as twelve or thirteen waiting
outside the gay bars.
prostitution /iprotoltju:j'an II Pra:sto I tu:j'an/ the
activity or business of having sex with people for money
In U]
Crimina 1 gangs contro 1 all the drugs, gambling and prosti-
tution in the city. I Women can become so desperate for money
that they turn to prostitution.
10 to attack or harm someone in a sexual way
rape molest
abuse/sexually abuse sexual harassment
sexual abuse
rape /reIp/ to force someone to have sex by violently
threatening them or hurting them Iv T]
She was attacked by a stranger who raped and murdered
her. I I could never prove that I was raped because I had no
visible in,juries.
rape In C/U] Victims of rape (=who have been raped) need
to be encouraged to go to the police.
rapist In C] Rapists (=men who have raped someone) and
child sex offenders are kept separate from other prisoners.
abuse/sexually abuse /a'bju:z, sekuali o'bju:z/ to
harm a child by regularly forcing them to have sex or
touching them in a sexual way Iv T]
He had been sexually abusing his daughter since she was
eleven years old. I Many people who abuse their children were
abused themselves when young.
sexual abuse/,sekul  bju:s/the bad treatment of chil-
dren, by regularly forcing them to have sex or touching
them in a sexual way In U]
Sexual abuse and violence against children are increasing
every year. I The team is investigating reports of child labour
and sexual abuse of children by employers.
molest/mo lest/to harm or upset a child or woman by
touching them in a sexual way Iv T]
Her father had molested her and her sisters when they were
children. I She was frequently annoyed and molested by men
in the street.
child-molesting In U] They arrested the guy for child-
molesting, but he swears he didn't do it.
sexual harassment/i sekJ'ual hemsmnt/the bad treat-
ment of someone by a person that they work with, espe-
cially of a woman by a man, who repeatedly talks to them
or touches them in a sexual way In U]
Victims of sexual harassment are often afraid to report it in
case they lose their,jobs. I She successfully prosecuted her boss
for sexual harassment.
11
erotic
pornographic
pornography
porn
adult
words for describing books, films etc that are
about sex or that show sexual acts
blue
dirty
steamy
raunchy
erotic/J 'rouk II i'ro:-/a book, film, painting etc that is
erotic shows or describes sexual acts or images in an artis-
tic and sexually exciting way [adj]
He wrote both poetry and erotic literature. [ A number of
scenes in the film were very erotic. I These are marvellous
drawings of the female form, truly erotic pictures.
pornographic /,pa:rn'grefik-/ films, magazines etc
that are pornographic show or describe sexual acts and
images that are intended to make people sexually excited
and are sometimes illegal [adj]
He and his friends were in the living room watching porno-
graphic videos. [ Customs officers have seized thousands of
pornographic magazines.
pornography/pa:r,nogmfi II -'na:-I films, magazines etc
that show sexual acts and images intended to make people
feel sexually excited In U]
It is now clear that there is a link between pornography and
sex crimes. I child pornography Police are extremely
alarmed by the rapid growth of child pornography in this
country.
porn /'p3:rn/an informal word meaning books, films,
magazines etc that show or describe sexual acts in order
to make people sexually excited [n U]
porn film/magazine etc He was arrested for selling porn
magazines to kids. I soft porn (=of a not very offensive
kind) Parents are worried about the amount of soft porn on
television.I hard porn (=of an extremely offensive kind)
The hard porn industry is big business and will not go away
without a fight.
adult / 'aedhlt, a'dhlt/adult film/magazine/entertain-
ment etc (=not suitable for children or young people
because it shows sexual acts or images) [adj only before
noun]
Adult magazines in shops must be kept where children
cannot see them. I The film has been classed as strictly adult
entertainment and will be televised after lO pm.
blue/blu:/blue movie/joke (=an informal word mean-
ing one thai shows or is about sex, and may be considered
offensive) [adj]
I found the kids watching a blue movie on the video last
night. [ Her jokes are too blue for most audiences.
dirty/Id3:rti/dirty book/film/joke etc (=an informal
word meaning one that shows or describes sexual acts and
images that people find offensive) [adj only before noun]
We used to buy dirty magazines and read them in class.
steamy /sti:mi/ steamy film/play/scene etc (=a
humorous word meaning one that shows sexual acts that
people find exciting and slightly shocking) [adj]
The movie contains some pretty steamy scenes! [ His latest
production is a steamy thriller set in Hong Kong.
raunchy/r:nffi/raunchy film/scene/performance
etc (=an informal British word meaning one that contains
a lot of sexual activity that people find exciting, amusing,
or shocking) [adj]
You'll like "Nine and a Half Weeks', it's a really raunchy
film. [ Bette Midler came up with a typically raunchy perfor-
mance that delighted the audience.
12 words for describing someone who does not
have sex or has never had sex
celibate
virgin
celibate/'selbt/someone who is celibate has chosen
not to have sex at all, especially for religious reasons [adj]
He had remained celibate for three years before he met
Hannah. I She was not prepared for a celibate life in the
Church.
celibacy In U] He had taken a vow of celibacy (=promised
to remain celibate) at eighteen, when he became a priest.
virgin / v3:rdSI n/someone, especially a woman, who has
never had sex In C]
Some men will not marry a woman who is no longer a
virgin. I At 27 he was still a virgin and very shy about it.
virginity/va: r dsInti/In U] Women in these countries are
expected to keep their virginity (=remain virgins) until
marriage.
1 3 the type of sexual attraction that someone
feels, either to people of the same sex or to
people of the opposite sex
sexuality
sexual orientation
sexuality/,sekj'u'eelati/[n U]
Homosexual men are often deeply preoccupied with their own
sexuality. I Many teenagers go through a period when they
are unsure of their sexuality.

SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1204 SEXY
sexual orientation/,sekfual a:rian'te:fan/ a question
about someone's sexual orientation is about whether they
are sexually attracted to people of the same sex or to people
of the opposite sex In U]
Candidates for the job will be considered regardless of age,
race, sexual orientation, and religion.
14 ways of saying that people do not have sex
with each other but are just good friends
platonic
be just good friends
platonic /pla'tt)nik II--'to:-/ platonic relationship/
friendship/love etc (=one between people who do not
have sex with each other, but are just friends) [adj]
Their relationship was strictly platonic, even though she was
living in his apartment. [ In the novel, Edward and Susan-
nab present a perfect model of platonic love.
be just good friends/bi: ,d3Ast god Ifrendz/if you say
that two people are just good friends you mean that they
are just friends and do not have sex with each other,
although some people think that they do Iv phrase]
I keep telling my mother Peter and I arejust good friends but
she doesn't seem to believe me. I "'Are you going out with
Liam? .... No, we're just good friends. '"
sexism PREJUDICED 6
sexist PREJUDICED 7
sexless SEXY 4
sexual SEX/GENDER 1, SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 3
sexual abuse SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 10
sexual harassment SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 10
sexual intercourse: have intercourse/sexual
intercourse SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
sexual orientation SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 13
sexuality SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 4, 13
sexy SEXY 1, 2
SEXY
words for describing someone who is
sexually attractive
words for describing people's clothes,
movements, remarks etc that are sexually
exciting
the quality of being sexually attractive
not sexy
1 words for describing someone who is
sexually attractive
sexy sultry
attractive alluring
desirable luscious
voluptuous
sexy/'seksi/[adj]
The advertisement showed a very sexy girl in a short skirt
standing beside a sports car. I Peter is strong and handsome
and very masculine. He's the sexiest man I've ever met. I The
editor of one fashion magazine describes her as "astonish-
ingly sexy and supremely sophisticated'.
attractive/a'trekt:v/someone who is attractive has
physical or personal qualities that make them sexy to a par-
ticular person or goup of people [adj]
attractive to I don't know what makes James so attractive
to women. I find sb attractive She's a good looking girl,
but I don't really find her attractive. I sexually attractive
Amanda is sexually attractive and quite uninhibited in the
company of men.
desirable/d: 'zaIarabl/making you feel a strong sexual
desire [adj]
He found Lana excitingly desirable. He could not stop think-
ing about her. I Tom Cruise was as desirable in real life as
he was in his films.
voluptuous/va  Ihptj'uas/a woman who is voluptuous is
sexually exciting, especially because she has large breasts
and a soft, rounded body [adj]
Penny's voluptuous figure was held in at the middle by a
wide leather belt. [ Everyone turned to look when Steve
entered the room with a voluptuous and beautifully groomed
young woman.
voluptuousness In U] Although she was only sixteen, Suzie
had a figure of surprising voluptuousness.
sultry/' SAltri/ a woman who is sultry is very sexy in a
quiet way especially because she appears to have strong
sexual feelings [adj]
The club was dark and smoky and a sultry black singer
stood in one corner next to a piano. [ sultry look The woman
at the bar gave me a sultry look.
alluring/aljorlrj [[ a'loa-I a woman who is alluring has
a strong power to attract men and to make them desire her
[adj]
He had heard plenty about the alluring, bewitching Helene
and he was longing to meet her. I She was encouraged to use
her feminine charm, to be coy and alluring.
luscious 1' 1AaS/a word used especially in popular maga-
zines or newspapers meaning beautiful in a very sexy way
[adj]
A luscious blonde wearing a white swimsuit was climbing
the ladder to the diving board. I The luscious Miss Ekberg
had already left town.
2 words for describing people's clothes,
movements, remarks etc that are sexually
exciting
sexy suggestive
provocative sensual
seductive be a turn-on
sexy/'seksi/[adj]
Don't you like leather? It's supposed to be sexy. I Marlene
wasn't a great singer but she had a wonderfully deep, sexy
voice. [ Gabby dived into the pool, leaving her sexy black dress
draped over a chair.
provocative /pra'vokativ [[-va:-/ sexually exciting,
especially in a way that is deliberately intended [adj]
"'Come here and lie beside me, '" said James in his usual
provocative way. [ The magazine is full of partially dressed
women in provocative poses.
provocatively [adv] "'Please will you help me," said
Jemma, parting her lips provocatively.
seductive/si'dhktlv/having a strong sexual power to
attract you [adj]
From across the room, I noticed that Philip was giving me
a seductive stare. [ Even in her forties Anna had lost none
of her seductive allure.
seductively [adv] He sat down beside me and started
whispering seductively in my ear.
suggestive/sad3estlv [[ sag-/remarks, looks, or move-
ments that are suggestive are intended to make you think
about sex [adj]
Victor winked at her, and his smile was so wickedly sugges-
tive, Francesca blushed. I The artist drew his model in all
sorts of suggestive postures.
suggestively [adv] As she passed, he touched her sugges-
tively on the arm.
sensual /'senual/ sensual lips/curves/beauty etc
(=suggesting strong sexual feelings and sexual pleasure)
[adj]
Peter leaned forward and kissed the girl's sensual red lips. I
The artist became obsessed by her strange, sensual beauty.
sensuality /senumalti/ In U] The sensuality of the
woman's face was emphasized by her off-the-shoulder dress.
be a turn-on /bi: a t3:rn on/ an informal expression
meaning to be something that you find sexually attractive
[ v phrase]

SEXY 1205 SHAKE
The sight of all those half-naked men may be a turn-on to
some women, but I find it unappealing.
the quality of being sexually attractive
sex appeal
sex appeal / seks a ,pi:ll the appearance and behaviour
of a person which makes them sexually attractive In U]
He's a very talented actor, but he doesn't have much sex
appeal. I Our new aerobics instructor exuded vitality, energy,
and sex appeal.
4 not sexy
be a turn-off
sexless
be a turn.off/bi: a 'ta:rn-t)f/an informal expression: if
something, especially someone's behaviour, is a turn-off,
it makes you lose interest in sex Iv phrase]
I wish you wouldn't wear your socks in bed, it's such a
turn-off.
sexless ! ' seksls] someone who is sexless does not have
any strong male or female qualities and is not at all sexu-
ally attractive [adj]
I don "t find him attractive at all, he's such a sexless lump. I
"'I've no patience with these pious sexless females, "" said
Richard.
shh/sh/ssh QUIET 7
shabby CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
shackle TIE 3
shade COLOUR/COLOR 1
shade: put sb/sth in the shade BETTER 2
shadow FOLLOW 3
shadow: cast a shadow over SPOIL 4
shadows: the shadows DARK 3
shadowy figure NOT KNOW 12
shake SHAKE 1 2, 3, 4
shake: give sth a shake SHAKE 1
shake off ESCAPE 5, RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
shake sb's confidence CONFIDENT 6
shake-up CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 7
shake your fist ANGRY 6
shake your head NO 3, REFUSE 1
SHAKE
to make something move up and down or
from side to side with quick movements
ways of saying that something moves up and
down or from side to side with quick
movements
ways of saying that someone's body shakes,
for example because they are nervous,
frightened, or tired
to shake a part of the body
1 to make something move up and down or
from side to side with quick movements
shake
give sth a shake
rattle
shake/eIk/[V T]
Shake the blanket before you fold it - it's full of dust. [
Always shake the orange juice before opening it. [ The earth-
quake that shook Mexico City in 1985 was one of the worst
this century. [ Jim remembered being shaken awake by his
angry mother.
give sth a shake/,giv (sth) a Ifeik/to take something
in your hand and shake it quickly for a short time Iv
phrase]
Casey stood up, gave her towel a shake and started walking
along the beach. [ Give the box a gentle shake to see if there's
anything inside. [ Give your brother a shake - it's time he
got up!
rattle ! 'ratl/to shake something, especially something
made of metal, so that it repeatedly hits something else,
making a loud noise Iv T]
My Dad rattles his keys in his pocket when he's bored - it's
really annoying. [ Mary rattled the knives and forks ner-
vously. They'd never had her boss to dinner before. [ Volun-
teers were rattling their boxes outside the stadium, hoping
that people would donate some money to the charity.
2 ways of saying that something moves up and
down or from side to side with quick
movements
shake wobble
shudder vibrate
judder jolt
rattle
shake/eik/[v I]
Peter banged the door so hard that the whole house shook. [
People could feel the ground shaking beneath their feet. This
was the second tremor in one day. [ The car suddenly stopped
and the whole engine started to shake quite violently.
shudder /hdr/ if something such as a piece of
machinery or a vehicle shudders, it shakes violently and
uncontrollably Iv I]
The washing machine shuddered and finished its cycle. I
During the bombings the buildings shuddered and swayed
from side to side, but no permanent damage was done. I
shudder to a halt (=shake violently and then stop moving)
The train began to slow down and shuddered to a halt when
it got to the station.
shudder In C] With a series of shudders the bus slowed to
a standstill.
judder / 'dsAdar/a word used especially in British English:
if a vehicle judders, it shakes violently and uncontrollably
with very small, quick movements Iv I]
The planejuddered along the runway. I judder to a halt
(=shake very violently and then stop moving) We had
driven 10 miles with the engine smoking but eventually the
car just juddered to a halt.
judder In C] The engine gave a final judder and then
stopped altogether.
rattle /  retl/if something rattles, especially something
made of metal, it shakes and hits something else, making
a loud noise Iv I]
Rosita's bracelets rattled while she danced. I On windy
nights, the noise of the windows rattling keeps me awake. I
An old blue Ford rattled around the corner with fumes
pouring out of the exhaust.
rattle In singular] The rattle of the prisoners" chains could
be heard all over the prison.
wobble /'wobal [[ wo:-/ if something that is usually
steady wobbles, it moves from side to side because it is not
supported strongly enough or not balanced well enough
Iv I]
I tried to stand on a chair but it wobbled too much. [ Carry-
ing so many boxes her legs wobbled and suddenly everything
went crashing to the floor.[ The jello was difficult to eat
because it was wobbling so much.
wobbly [adj] The table was old and wobbly (=wobbled a
lot) so food and drink was always getting spilt.
vibrate/vai'breIt [[ vaibreit/ if something vibrates, it
shakes continuously with very small, fast movements, so
that it makes a sound or you can feel it Iv I]
The whole stage was vibrating with the loud music. [ When
the vocal cords vibrate it changes the sound that the mouth
produces. [ The empty glasses on the table vibrated slightly
as a train passed.
vibration /vai'brelfan/ In C/U] The factory floor was
moving up and down with the vibration of the machines.
jolt/dsaolt/to move up and down or side to side in sudden
large movements Iv I]

SHAKE 1206 SHAPE
There was a sudden thump and the cups on the table jolted
noisily. I We talked about the war as the truck jolted along
the rough road. I People standing near the doors of the
crowded train risk being thrown out when it jolts out of the
station.
 ways of saying that someone's body shakes,
for example because they are nervous,
frightened, or tired
shake quiver
shiver shudder
tremble twitch
shake/J'elk/[v I]
My hands were shaking as I opened the envelope. I By the time
he'd finished the race his legs were shaking so badly he could
hardly walk. I The poor woman was shaking with fear.
shiver/'j'Ivar/to shake with small uncontrollable move-
ments, especially because you are very cold or because.you
have had a shock Iv I1
As the patient's fever got worse his body began to shiver
uncontrollably. I Ellen shivered inhorror, "To think that I
almost married a murderer!" l They were all shivering in
their thin coats, praying that the bus would come soon.
shiver In C] Sam kissed me on the back of my neck and I
felt a cold shiver pass through me.
tremb|e ] Itrembal] to shake very slightly and uncontroll-
ably, especially because you are very nervous, excited,
angry, or upset Iv I]
Mother's lips were trembling. She was obviously going to
start crying again. I I was so nervous during the wedding
ceremony that my hands were trembling when I put the ring
on her finger. I Lydia was trembling with excitement at the
thought of meeting her heartthrob Tom Cruise.
qu|ver ]kwiva r] to shake so slightly that it is almost
impossible to see, especially because you are very excited
or nervous Iv I]
John's hands were quivering as he put down his papers and
started his speech. I The children stood there quivering with
excitement as I opened the package.
shudder ]f^da r] to shake uncontrollably for a moment,
especially because you are very upset by something
unpleasant Iv I l
Dave tried to kiss Julia but she shuddered and turned away. I
shudder at the thought of/to think of I shuddered to
think of my son all alone in New York.
shudder In C] Trying to suppress a shudder, the nurse cut
the bullet out of his arm and bandaged it up.
twitch/twitj'/if a part of the body twitches it makes very
small, sudden movements because the muscle will not
relax Iv I ]
At first we thought the cat was dead, then its tail twitched. [
Roberta's mouth twitched as she tried to stop herself laugh-
ing out loud.
twitch In C] A twitch of anguish crossed my Father's face.
4 to shake a part of the body
shake waggle
wiggle wag
shake Ie,kl Iv T]
Brad got up off the floor and shook his legs to get all the dust
off his pants. I Once they reached dry land the birds shook
their wings vigorously. I Shaking his fist at the doorman,
Mr Williams said he had never been so rudely treated in his
whole life.
w|gg|e ] wgal] to move your toes, fingers, bottom etc with
a series of small movements, especially because it gives
you pleasure Iv T ]
Karen wiggled her toes in the cold water. I Marilyn Monroe
was famous for being able to wiggle her hips in a way that
drove men wild. I She kept wiggling her loose tooth till even-
tually it came out.
wagg|e ]weegal] a British word meaning to move part of
your body, especially your bottom or toes, from side to side,
with quite large movements Iv T]
Look at the way that girl's walking, she looks like a duck
waggling its bottom.
wag ]weeg! to shake your finger or head repeatedly, espe-
cially in order to show that you do not like something that
someone has done Iv T]
"You shouldn't have done that!" Mum said, wagging her
finger at me.
shaken
shaky
shall
shallow
sham
shamble
shambles:
shame
shame: it's a pity/shame
shame: put sb to shame
shame/bring shame on
SHOCK 3
WEAK 2
WILL 2
DEEP 5
PRETEND 8
WALK 5
be a shambles DISORGANIZED 1, FAIL 6
ASHAMED 2, 3, GUILTY/FEEL GUILTY 2
PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
BETTER 2
ASHAMED 4
shame ............
which meaning ,?
feel ashamed f
yourself, what you
have done etc
feel embarrassed in a
social situation ........ :.
what a pity, what a
shame etc ::::;:";: :"
..
@ ASHAMED
EMBARRASSED
PITY/IT'S A PITY
shamefaced ASHAMED 1
shameful BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 1
shameless ASHAMED 5
shampoo WASH 4
shanty town POOR 7
shape CONDITION/STATE OF STH 1, EFFECT/
shape:
shape:
shape:
shape:
shape:
shape:
shape:
shape:
shape:
INFLUENCE 2, MAKE 7, SHAPE 1
be in bad shape CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
be in good shape CONDITION/STATE OF STH 2
be in shape FIT PERSON 1
be out of condition/shape FIT PERSON 3
in the shape of/in the form of SHAPE 3
.knock sth into shape IMPROVE 3
lose its shape SHAPE 4
not be in shape FIT PERSON 3
out of shape SHAPE 4
SHAPE
the shape of something or someone
the shape of the outer surface or edge of
something or someone
having a particular shape
having the wrong shape
having no clear or exact shape
1 the shape of something or someone
shape silhouette
form figure
shape/J'eip/In C/U]
What shape is the table, round or square? I He could make
out the blurred shapes and navigation lights of other air-
planes. I round/triangular etc in shape Edam cheeses are
small and spherical in shape. I change shape In the fifth
month of pregnancy her body began to swell up and change
shape

SHAPE
form/f:rm/a word meaning the shape of something, used
especially in art or when the shape is not very clear [n C]
Many of his paintings are inspired by basic forms and
mathematical symbols. I Sleeping forms lay in groups and
rows on the earth floor.
silhouette !, silu'eq the dark shape of something or some-
one seen against a bright background [n C]
I saw the silhouette of someone waiting under the streetlight. I
We had to be able to identify all the enemy planes by their
silhouettes. I The trees, black with dampness, were silhouettes
in the morning fog.
figure/'fIg r II 'figjor/the shape of a person [n C]
I saw the figure of a woman below the bridge. I There were
figures painted on the walls of the cave. I Dark figures
emerged from the building, and disappeared into the night.
2 the shape of the outer surface or edge of
something or someone
outline profile
lines contour
outline /'aotlain/ a line around the edge of something
which shows its shape [n C]
The outline of a footprint was visible in the snow. I You can
draw the outline of the picture by tracing it through thin
paper.
lines/lainz/the outer shape of something long or tall, espe-
cially when it looks very graceful or attractive [n plural]
She looked out upon the dark grey lines of the church tower
in the distance. I I admired the ship's smooth sweeping lines
as it moved across the bay. I The lines of her black dress were
very flattering.
profile / 'pmofai1/the shape of someone's face when seen
from the side [n C]
I spent a largepart of every day checking my profile with two
mirrors. I He sat by the window, his handsome profile out-
lined against the sky. I in profile They showed her a photo
of a young brunette, taken in profile.
contour/'konto r II 'ko:n-/the outer shape of something,
that has many irregular curves, especially an area of land
or a person's body [n C]
He gazed at the beautiful smooth contours of her face and
body. I A topographical map shows the contours of the
earth's surface.
3 having a particular shape
shaped
in the shape of/in the form of
shaped/J'eIpt/[adj]
star-shaped/L-shaped etc We had coffee in the L-shaped
sitting room. lEach flower is less than an inch across and
star-shaped. I The plants are grown in a strange, egg-shaped
building which has artificial light and a controlled temper-
ature. I shaped like She made a birthday cake shaped like
a rabbit for her little boy.
in the shape of/in the form of/in 6 'eip v, In 6
'f3:rm v / having the same shape as something such as a
bird, animal, or object [prep]
She was wearing a pin in the shape of a bird. I In the film
the trees were shown in the form of giant men.
4 having the wrong shape
deformed out of shape
distorted lopsided
misshapen lose its shape
deformed/di f: rmd/something that is deformed, espe-
cially part of a living thing, has the wrong shape, usually
because it has grown or developed wrongly [adj]
I noticed that one of the beggars had a deformed foot. I The
desert plants were strange deformed bushes with bizarrely
twisted branches.
deformity [n C/U] He was born with a deformity of his right
leg. I The drug wasshown to cause deformity in a high
proportion of babies born to mothers taking it.
1207
SHARE
distorted/di 'st:rtd/twisted out of its correct or origi-
nal shape [adj]
As a result of the crash, the remains of the vehicles were
distorted out of all recognition. I The woman showed her
teeth in a distorted smile.
misshapen /,mIs'eipn, mlei-/ having the wrong
shape, usually because of growing that way over a long
period of time [adj]
The old woman's fingers were misshapen and useless. I Give
the small misshapen potatoes to the pigs. I Ballerinas often
have very blunted, misshapen toes.
out of shape/,aot ov 'elp/a British expression: clothes
that are out of shape do not have the shape they should
have because they are old and have been worn and washed
many times [adj phrase]
She was wearing her favourite sweater, an old out-of-shape
black thing with huge pockets. I The jacket has gone out of
shape but its colour has not faded at all.
lopsided/loplsaidd, II ,la:p-/something that is lop-
sided does not have the same shape on each side, for exam-
ple because one side is higher than the other [adj]
He looked at me and gave a lopsided smile. I She was embar-
rassed because her new hairstyle looked lopsided. I His whole
face was lopsided, one cheek being badly scarred.
lose its shape / ,luzz ItS 'eip/if something such as a hat,
coat, or skirt loses its shape, it becomes the wrong shape
because it has been worn a lot [v phrase]
His battered old hat had completely lost its shape. [ The good
thing about a lycra dress is that it won't lose its shape.
5 having no clear or exact shape
shapeless
formless
amorphous
shapeless I'eIplos/something that is shapeless has no
clear or definite shape, and often looks unattractive [adj]
He was wearing a shapeless grey coat which really did not
fit him. I The middle-aged woman stood, round and shape-
less in her widow's sari, at the end of the table.
formless / 'f:rmlos/a word used formally or in literature
meaning having no clear or definite shape [adj]
At the beginning of time the earth was a formless wasteland,
covered in darkness. I Shapes began to emerge out of the
muddy water, dim and formless at first.
amorphous/ama:rfs/a formal word meaning having
no definite shape that can be described or recognized
because everything you can see is unclear or is mixed
together [adj]
All she could see in the garden were dark amorphous shapes
which could be anything. I The plate contained an amor-
phous mass of sausages, potatoes and beans.
shaped SHAPE 3
shapeless LOOSE 1, SHAPE 5
share BOTH 1 EVERYONE 5, LIVE WITH SB 1
' ,
SHARE 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
share out GIVE 4, SHARE 1
share sth with SHARE 2
share the view that AGREE 1
@ SHARE
to divide something into parts, so that a
number of people each get a part of it
to share something with someone else,
part for yourself and giving part to
keeping
them
ways of
and use
saying that a number of people have
the same thing
to share an activity or job, so that each
person does part of it
continued

SHARE 1208 SHARE
SHARE
continued
5 to share the cost of something, so that each
person pays part of it
6 the part of something that you receive when
money, food, or property is shared
7 part of a company or business that someone
owns, which gives them a right to receive a
share of the profits
1 to divide something into parts,so that a
number of people each get a part of it
share redistribute
share out split
divide/divide up carve up
distribute
share Ifcrl Iv T]
share sth In this business we always share the profits. I
share sth among/between The cake was shared between
the three children. I We shared the remaining water among
the four of us.
share out /,fear 'auq to share all of something into equal
parts for a number of people [phr v T]
share sth out among/between When he died his property
was shared out between his relatives. I After the game was
over they shared out the candy among the children. I share
out sth The prize money will be shared out.
divide/divide up/d 'va;d, d;,vaId '^p/to divide some-
thing into separate parts and give them to two or more
people Iv T]
divide sth (up) among/between After she died the estate
was divided between her four sons. I Proceeds from the con-
cert will be divided up among four major charities.
distribute /d;'strbju:t/ to share something such as
wealth or power among different people, groups, or organi-
zations Iv T]
The party's aim is to distribute power more evenly among
the people. I We must try to distribute the country's wealth,
so that we help those who need it most.
redistribute/,ri:d; strbju:t/to share something, espe-
cially money, in a different way from before, so that more
people have a fair share of it Iv T]
The socialists are committed to redistributing wealth. I The
tax will be collected nationally and the money raised will be
redistributed to local authorities.
spilt/spht/if two or more people split something, they
divide it into separate parts and then each of them takes
a part Iv T]
The thieves sold the jewels and split the money between them. I
I think we should split whatever we get three ways.
carve up/,ko:rv '^p/ if two or more people, organiza-
tions, or countries carve something up, especially land or
a company belonging to someone else, they divide it into
separate parts and share it between them [phr v T]
carve up sth When the war ended the country was carved
up by its neighbours. I carve sth/it/them up Hitler and
Stalin ruthlessly carved Poland up between them. I The two
companies wanted to acquire the business and carve it up.
to share something with someone else,
keeping part for yourself and giving part to
them
share sth with
share sth with I'fe r (sth) w61 [phr v T]
He sat on a bench and shared his lunch with a hungry dog.
Jim won quite a lot of money, and decided to share some of
it with his friends.
3 ways of saying that a number of people have
and use the same thing
share shared
pool communal
share Iferl Iv I/T]
share sth You have your own room, but you'll have to share
the kitchen and bathroom facilities. I share sth with I
shared a room with her while I was in college. I share We
don't have enough books, so some of you will have to share.
pool/puzl/pool your resources/ideas/money etc (=put
them together so that everyone can use them and gain from
them) Iv T]
Why don't we get together and pool our ideas? I If we all pool
our money I'm sure we'll have enough to buy her a present.
shared/j'eard/a shared room, garden, telephone etc is
used by two or more people who live in the same place [adj
usually before noun]
The two apartments have a shared garden at the back. I The
problem with having a shared telephone is that someone else
always seems to be using it.
communal /'ktmj°onal, ka'mju:-II ko:-/ shared by a
group of people who live together [adj usually before noun]
There are four bedrooms in the house, and a large communal
kitchen. [ The college has communal dining rooms, nurser-
ies and clinics. [ communal facilities
4 to share an activity or job, so that each
person does part of it
share
take it in turns/take turns
alternate
share/fear/[v T]
Nicky and I shared the driving so it wasn't as tiring. I She
shares her job with another woman who also has a young
baby.
take It In turns/take turns/,telk t n 'tazrnz, telk
'ta:rnzl if two or more people take it in turns or take turns
to do something, they do it one after the other Iv phrase]
take it in turns/take turns to do sth France and Britain
will take it in turns to command the brigade, with a French
officer starting next month. I take it in turns/take turns
There aren't enough plates for you all to eat at the same time,
so you'll have to take it in turns. I take turns at doing sth
The children took turns at playing with the computer game.
alternate /':lt3:rnelt/ if two people alternate, one
person does something one time and the other person does
it the next time, changing regularly Iv I]
You'll have to alternate. One of you can use the room in the
mornings, and the other in the evenings. I The class has two
teachers who alternate on a weekly basis.
5 to share the cost of something, so that each
person pays part of it
share go halves
split go dutch
share/fear/Iv T]
We pay rent separately, but we share the other bills. I It's only
fair that they should share the running costs of the car.
split/spht! to share the cost of something between two
people or groups Iv T]
split sth between/with We decided to split the bill between
us. I The US is hoping to split the cost of developing the new
plane with Japan. I split sth down the middle (=so that
each person pays half) Why don't we just split it down the
middle?
go halves/goo 'hozvz II -'hevz/if two people go halves,
they each pay half of the cost of something they are buying
together Iv phrase]
go halves with sb on Why don "t you go halves with him on
the cost of the trip? ] go halves We've decided to go halves.

SHARE 1209 sheen
go dutch/gao ' dt[/an informal expression meaning that
two people share the cost of a meal, cinema tickets etc,
when they go out together Iv phrase]
"'Did he pay for you? .... No we went dutch!"
6 the part of something that you receive when
money, food, or property is shared
share portion
allocation slice of the cake
cut
share/[ear/[n C]
The three men sold their business - Jeremy's share was
$500,000. I They're all eager to grab a share of the profits. I
When Grandpa died, we each got a share of his property.
allocation/,eeb'kei[n/the share of something, espe-
cially money, that has been officially given to a person or
an organization [n C]
The allocation for atomic research has been doubled. I
Schools will be given cash allocations per student. I Special
ticket allocations were made for members of the company
and their guests.
cut ]knt/an informal word meaning someone's share of
something, especially money In singular]
How much is my cut going to be? I The distributors and the
wholesalers all get their cut, and this is what pushes up the
price. I Investigators found that her cut of the profits
amounted to more than 25%.
portion/pa:r[n/a part of something, especially food,
that is divided and shared between people [n C]
I cut the cake into several pieces to make sure that everyone
got a portion. I Most of the profit goes to the retailer; some
goes to the middleman, and the remaining portion goes to
the producer.
slice of the cake/,slais av iSa IkcIk/ a share of some-
thing such as a company's profits or the sales of a product
which a particular group wants to get, or organization
believes it has a right to [n phrase]
Since the company's announcement of record profits, workers
are demanding a bigger slice of the cake. I By building cars
in Britain, Toyota aim to win an even larger slice of the cake.
1 part of a company or business that someone
owns, which gives them a right to receive a
share of the profits
share
stake
share/[ear/a part of a company that you have bought
-which gives you the right to a share of the company's
profits In C]
The company sold its share in the Alaskan pipeline at a
profit of Ј2.8 million. [ The Australian businessman has
bought a 10 percent share in the project.
stake/stek/a large or important part that you own or pay
for in a plan or organization, especially when this involves
some risk In C]
She went into business by acquiring a stake in a Copper mine
in Australia. I The American investor boosted his stake in
the company to 15%. ] China has a major stake in the project.
!i: shared SHARE 3
:-.::
-:-:: sharp CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 2, EXACT 3,
 INTELLIGENT 3, SHARP 1, 2, SMART/WELL-
-:':: DRESSED 1, SOUR 1
!i: sharp practice DISHONEST 5
SHARP
I having a sharp edge
:2 having a sharp point or end
:3 to make something sharp
4 not sharp
1 having a sharp edge
sharp
razor-sharp
jagged
sharp/[a:rpl something that is sharp has an extremely
narrow edge, so that it can easily cut things [adj]
Be careful. That knife's very sharp. [ You "d better wear san-
dals - there are a lot of sharp stones on the beach. [ Front
teeth are for cutting, and so are much sharper than the back
teeth.
razor.sharp I reza r [o: rp/ extremely sharp and possibly
dangerous [ adj]
Their razor-sharp swords could slice through leather, and
even metal. I the razor-sharp teeth of a shark
jagged/dsaglad/having an irregular edge with many
sharp, uneven, points [adj]
The rocks on that part of the coast are jagged and irregu-
lar, presenting a major hazard to shipping. I The can-opener
left a nasty-looking jagged edge round the top of the can. I
All that was left of the window was a piece of jagged glass.
2 having a sharp point or end
sharp
pointed
spiky
prickly
sharp/[a:rp/something that is sharp has a very narrow
point or end, so that it can easily cut through things or
make narrow lines [adj]
This pencil's not very sharp. I He plunged the sharp stick into
the ground. I You'll need the smallest, sharpest needles for
the most delicate sewing.
pointed / palntd/long, thin, and ending in a point [adj]
Julie picked up a pointed stick and started drawing in the
sand. I The fox had pointed brown ears. I For the kids'fenc-
ing classes, we use rounded tips instead of pointed ones.
spiky/spalki/having a lot of sharp points [adj]
Chestnuts are protected by a thick, spiky shell. I The flowers
were covered with spiky black caterpillars. I She had
brightly-coloured, spiky hair.
prickly/'prlkli/something that is prickly, especially a
plant, is covered in a lot of sharp points [adj]
The dog, not realising how prickly the brambles were, gave
a yelp of pain.
3 to make something sharp
sharpen
sharpen/'J'o:rpan/[v T]
My mother used to use a special stone to sharpen kitchen
knives. I After cutting the grass, he thoroughly cleaned the
machine and sharpened the blades. I They cooked their meat
over afire with sticks that they had specially sharpened.
4 not sharp
blunt
blunt/blAnt/[adj]
Ray chopped furiously at the treetrunk with his blunt axe.I
He had shaved with a blunt razor, cutting his neck in several
places. I Police say the victim was hit with a blunt instru-
ment, possibly a hammer.
sharpen SHARP 3
shatter BREAK 3, 5, 9
shattered SHOCK 4, TIRED 1
shattering SHOCK 2
shave CUT 9
shave: close shave JUST/ALMOST NOT 2
sheaf GROUP OF THINGS 3
shed GET RID, OF 1, LEAVE A JOB OR
ORGANIZATION 2, THIN PERSON 7
sheen SHINY 4

sheep
sheep I M ITATE 3
 sheepish EMBARRASSED 1
..... sheer VERTICAL 1
 sheet PIECE 4
sheet: go as white as a sheet FRIGHTENED 5
 shell SHOOT 1
shell: bring sb out of their shell/bring sb out SHY 3
: shell: come out of your shelllcome out of yourself
SHY 3
 shell out PAY FOR 2, SPEND MONEY 2
 shelter PROTECT 2
 shelter: give sb shelterlrefuge PROTECT 2
 shelve CANCEL 1
 shepherd TAKE/BRING 7
,:::......;.. shield PROTECT 1, 4
,:' shift CHANGE YOUR MIND 2, MOVE STH OR SB 1,
- 4, MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 2, WASH 9
i shift the blame BLAME 4
shiftless LAZY 1
shifty DISHONEST 4
 shimmer SHINE 3
i shimmering SHINY 3
.! shin up/shinny up CLIMB 1
 shine CLEAN 5, SHINE 1, SHINY 4
 shine: take a shine to LIKE SB OR STH 6
shine
SHINE
I to give off bright light
2 to shine brightly for a short time, then go dark
again
:3 to shine with small bright points of light
4 to shine with an unsteady light that keeps
going on and off
5 words for describing something that shines in
the dark
1 to give off bright light
shine gleam
glow blaze
shine/fain/[V I]
The barman polished the wineglasses until they shone. I The
sun shines all summer and most people spend their after-
noons on the beach. I In the distance, we could see lights shin-
ing in the cottage windows. I All the slate roofs of the village
shone black with rain.
glow/glao/to shine with a warm, soft light Iv I]
Thepine walls of the kitchen were glowing in the warm light
from the stove. I The full moon glowed above them through
the mist. I A bobbing cigarette glowed as the guard trudged
up the hill.
glowing [adj] We gathered round the glowing embers of the
great wood fire.
glow In singular] I find that coal gives afire a lovely glow
(=makes it glow in a lovely way).
gleam/gli:m/to shine brightly, especially by throwing
back light off a very smooth surface Iv I]
The Rolls Royce parked outside was gleaming in the sun. I
Small puddles gleamed in the lamplight. I Whenever the
captain smiles, his gold tooth gleams.
1210
SHINE
gleaming [adj] In the candlelight, Nula's gleaming hair fell
like silk on her shoulders.
gleam In singular] I heard the back door of the house open,
and saw the gleam of a lantern (=saw a lantern gleam)
against the mill wall.
blaze/blez/to give off an extremely bright light Iv I]
An enemy searchlight blazed overhead and temporarily
blinded the pilot. I The windows of the cathedral blazed with
coloured light.
blazing [adj] A line of camels moved across the plain in a
haze of dust under a blazing sky.
blaze In singular] The rabbit stopped, caught in the blaze
of the car's headlights.
 to shine brightly for a short time, then go dark
again
flash
flash Iflml Iv I]
The storm broke and lightning started to flash across the
sky. I A red warning light flashes every ten seconds. I The blue
beacon on top of the police car was flashing.
flash In C] There was a bright flash of light as the bomb
exploded.
3 to shine with small bright points of light
sparkle shimmer
twinkle glisten
glitter
sparkle/'spo:rkal/if something such as a jewel, water,
or ice sparkles, it shines with many small, bright points
of light, especially under the light Iv I]
The storm had passed, and moonlight made the raindrops
sparkle. I She wore a diamond necklace, which sparkled in
the light of the fire.
sparkling [adj] a pair of beautiful sparkling earrings
sparkle In singular] Nana was polishing the glasses - "put-
ting a sparkle into them" (=making them sparkle), as she
would say.
twinkle / tWlrjkal/if something such as a light, or a star
twinkles, it shines in the dark or under the light with
small points of light Iv I]
Through the trees the lights of the town twinkled brightly. I
We went for a walk in the moonlight with the stars twinkling
high above us.
twinkle In singular] I could see a twinkle in the old man's
eyes and I knew he was only joking.
glitter / glltar/if something such as a jewel, a star, or ice
glitters, it shines attractively, especially under the light,
with very bright, small points of light Iv I]
The frost glittered on the ground. I Jewels glittered in the
dimness of the cave.
shimmer/'flmar/to shine with a soft light that seems to
move very slightly and very quickly up and down or from
side to side Iv I]
The blue sky seemed to shimmer in the heat. I When he moved,
his silk shirt shimmered.
glisten/'glIsan/if something glistens, it shines because
it is wet or oily and throws back the light from its surface,
especially in an attractive way Iv I]
The grey roofs glistened after the rain. I glisten with Her
face was glistening with sweat.
 to shine with an unsteady light that keeps
going on and off
flicker
blink
flicker/' flIkar/to shine with an unsteady light that keeps
going on and offvery quickly, especially because it is about
to stop shining or is moving around Iv I]
Light from the television flickers on the living room wall. [
The candles were flickering in the draughty bedroom.

SHINE 1211 SHINY
blink/bhrjk/ifa light on a machine blinks, it goes on and
off, especially in order to make you notice something [v I]
The message light on my answering machine was blinking.
5 words for describing something that shines in
the dark
luminous
fluorescent
glow in the dark
luminous / lu:mo nas/something that is luminous shines
in the dark, especially because it is made from or painted
with a substance that shines in the dark [adj]
The hands on my alarm clock are luminous so I can tell the
time in the dark. [ It's a good idea to paint your bike with
luminous paint so that you are more visible to motorists.
fluorescent/floaresant [[ floa-, flo:-/made from a very
brightly coloured material which throws back light from
its surface very strongly, and can easily be seen, even when
there is little light [adj]
For safety when cycling, wear conspicuous fluorescent cloth-
ing. [ Flamboyant ties, sports jackets and fluorescent green
socks are not suitable for an interview.
glow in the dark/glao ;n 6a Ido:rk/something that
glows in the dark gives offa continuous soft light and can
be easily seen when it is dark, especially because it is
covered in special paint [v phrase]
In the hotel they have wall switches that glow in the dark so
that guests can locate them more easily at night.
@ SHINY
1 words for describing something with a
smooth surface that shines
2 words for describing something with a
surface that shines like metal
3 words for describing something that shines
like water
4 the shiny appearance of something
5 not shiny
I words for describing something with a
smooth surface that shines
shiny gleaming
glossy sleek
polished silky
glassy
shiny/'fani/[adj]
She wore a fashionable jacket and high shiny boots. [ a big,
shiny automobile [ His cheeks were very red and very shiny
above his black moustache.
glossy /glsi [[ glo:si, Iglo:si/ something that has a
glossy surface is shiny because it is in good condition or
is of very good quality [adj]
The plant looked very healthy, with bright flowers and glossy
leaves. [ The parcel was wrapped in glossy paper. [ He looked
as though he had just walked out of a glossy advertisement.
polished/pohj't [[ po:-/something such as wood, metal,
or stone that is polished has been made shiny by being
rubbed [adj]
Her nails were beautifully shaped and polished. [ a polished
oak floor
glassy/'glo:si [[ glmsi/something that is glassy looks
smooth, shiny, and hard [adj]
I found a beautiful piece of glassy green rock. [ Nothing
moved on the lake's glassy surface.
gleaming/ gli:mn]/shining softly, especially because of
being very new or clean [adj]
The new refrigerator arrived, white and gleaming. [ You
could see your face in the soldier's gleaming boots.
sleek Isli:k/hair or fur that is sleek is shiny and smooth,
especially because it is in good condition [adj]
The kitten grew into a sleek handsome cat. [ She looked won-
derful at the party, her hair long and sleek, her make-up
perfect.
silky/sflki/hair, material etc that is silky is soft and
smooth to touch and looks shiny [adj]
He stroked her silky black hair. [ a skirt and jacket made of
smooth, silky fabric
2 words for describing something with a
surface that shines like metal
silvery
metallic
silvery/slvari/shiny with a colour like silver fad.j[
She could see little silvery fishes darting through the muddy
water. [ The hills looked silvery in the moonlight.
metallic/rn 'taehk/shiny like metal [adj]
The table had been painted white with metallic green
stripes. [ a metallic gold Mercedes limousine[material with
a bronze-like metallic lustre
3 words for describing something that shines
like water
shimmering
glistening
shimmering I Ij'mrIrj/ shining with a soft, unsteady
light [adj only before noun]
They looked out across the shimmering water of the lagoon. [
Gabby bought a shimmering black dress for the ball.
glistening/' gllsann]/shining like something that is wet
[adj only before noun]
His glistening bald head moved from side to side. [ In the
morning, glistening snow lay over everything.
4 the shiny appearance of something
shine gloss
sheen lustre/luster
shine/j'ain/[n singular]
I can remember the pink glow of the candles and the shine
of the silver candlesticks. [ They polished their boots to a daz-
zling shine.
sheen/i:n/a soft, smooth, shiny appearance [n singular]
Her grey dress had a silver sheen. [ What a magnificent cat!
His furry coat shone with the sheen of silk.
gloss/gls [[ gl:s, glo:s/the shiny appearance of some-
thing that is of good quality or that is in good condition [n
singular]
After her illness the gloss went from her blonde hair. [ high
gloss (=a very shiny gloss) His shoes are always shined to
a high gloss.
lustre (British) I luster (American)/'lAstar/a soft, attrac-
tive, shiny appearance like that of gold [n U]
The necklace had a wonderful, rich lustre. [ The light
reflected off the smooth lustre of the china. [ This herb can
be used as a hair rinse to add luster.
5 not shiny
dull
matt
dull/dhl/a colour or surface that is dull is not bright or
shiny [adj]
Her hair was a dull, darkish brown. [ They chose a red clay
pot decorated with patterns in dull white paint.
matt (also matte in American English) Immt/matt sur-
face/paint/finish etc (-one that is produced so as not to
be shiny) [adj only before noun]
Do you want matt paint or gloss paint? [ photographs with
a matte finish

ship
ship TAKE/BRING 5
ship: abandon ship . ESCAPE 2
shipshape TIDY 1
shirk LAZY 3
shirk: duck/shirk your responsibilities RESPONSIBLE 10
shiver COLD 6, SHAKE 3
shock SHOCK 1, 5, 7, 8, SURPRISED 5, 8
shock: be in a state of shock SHOCK 4
shock: come as a shock SHOCK 1
SHOCK
to make someone feel surprised and very
upset at the same time
1 to make someone feel very upset and
surprised and unable to believe what has
happened
2 words for describing something that makes
you feel shocked
3 words for describing how you feel when
something has shocked you
4 so shocked by something that the effects of
the shock last for a long time
5 ways of saying that something shocks and
offends you because it is morally wrong, very
unfair etc
6 feeling shocked and offended by something
that is morally wrong, very unfair etc
7 something that shocks you, especially a piece
of unpleasant and unexpected news
6 the unpleasant feeling of surprise and
disbelief that you have when something
unpleasant and unexpected happens
1 to make someone feel very upset and
surprised and unable to believe what has
happened
shock knock sb for a loop
stun drop a bombshell
come as a shock rock
shock ISok II Sa:kl Iv I/T not in progressive]
shock sb The car accident really shocked me. [ Marian was
shocked by the news of her father's company going
bankrupt. I It shocked us to see how ill Mother looked. [ shock
Of course a programme about drug addiction in children is
intended to shock.
stun Ist^nl if something stuns you, especially a piece of
news, it makes you feel so surprised and upset that you do
not react immediately Iv T not in progressive]
Sasha was too stunned by what had happened to say any-
thing. [ His words stunned her, and she stared at him in
disbelief.
come as a shock/,khm az a 'ok II -'a:k/if something
unpleasant that happens comes as a shock, it shocks you
because it is so unexpected Iv phrase not in progressive]
His death came as a great shock - I had no idea he was so
sick. I come as a shock to sb It came as a shock to them to
find their apartment had been burgled. I come as a com-
plete shock I tried to warn Ann that her husband was
having an affair, so that it wouldn't come as a complete
shock.
knock sb for a loop I,nok (sb) far a 'lu:p II no:k-/an
informal American expression meaning to shock someone
[v phrase not in progressive]
When Amanda left Theo so suddenly it really knocked him
for a loop.
drop a bombshell/Idrop a 'bomJ'el [1 ,dra:p a Iba:m-/an
informal expression meaning to say something that shocks
other people because it is so unexpected Iv phrase not in
progressive]
1212
SHOCK
Then he dropped a bombshell and told me he wanted a
divorce. [ The manager dropped a bombshell at the weekly
meeting - we were all going to lose our jobs.
rock/rok [[ re:k/a word used especially in news reports:
if a piece of news rocks a large group of people or an organi-
zation, it shocks them Iv T]
Last month's scandal rocked the banking world. [ The law
firm was rocked by accusations of bribery and dishonesty.
words for describing something that makes
you feel shocked
shocking
shattering
shocking/'J'ok=rj 11
The pictures of the war on the TV were so shocking - I was
shaking afterwards. I Some shocking new facts about the
effect of drinking on health have been revealed. I One of every
four New Yorkers lives in poverty - a shocking statistic. I
Sometimes an advertisement is so shocking that it fails to get
its real message across.
shattering/'aetarir/extremely shocking and upsetting
[adj usually before noun]
It was a shattering experience and it will be some time before
she fully recovers. [ The company's huge financial losses were
shattering news for the shareholders.
3 words for describing how you feel when
something has shocked you
shocked speechless
stunned horrified
shaken aghast
dazed
shocked/J'okt II j':kt/[adj]
When the police came to arrest him he was shocked - he
didn't thinkhe had done anything wrong. I Unprepared for
the sight of such poverty, she felt shocked and sad. I shocked
at/by I was shocked at the change in his appearance - he
looked so thin and ill. I deeply shocked (=very shocked)
We were deeply shocked to hear of the baby's death.
stunned/stand/so shocked that you are unable to react
immediately [adj]
The news of his brother's death left him too stunned to speak.[
She looked pale and stunned - it was clear that something
awful had happened. [ There was a stunned silence when she
walked into the party - no one expected her to come after her
split with Freddie.
shaken /'ekan/ shocked because something very
unpleasant or frightening has happened, so that you feel
weak and nervous [adj not usually before noun]
He was pulled from the wreckage of the car alive but very
shaken. [ shaken up The fire in the hotel was not very seri-
ous but everyone was shaken up by it. [ badly shaken She
was badly shaken by the attack and found it difficult to
describe her ordeal to the police.
dazed/dmzd/very shocked and unable to think clearly
or do anything [adj]
She sat in the kitchen looking dazed, telling us over and over
again about the accident. [ He stood there with a dazed
expression on his face watching her pack her bags.
speechless/' spi:tj'lasl so shocked and angry that you
cannot speak [adj not before noun]
The chairman was speechless when he heard that he had
been dismissed. [ Her children's behaviour is sometimes so
bad that it leaves her speechless. [ speechless with rage/
horror/shock ete She stared at the mutilated body, speech-
less with horror.
horrified/h)rafaid [[ ha:-,  ha:-/ extremely shocked by
something very unpleasant or frightening that has
happened [adj not usually before noun]
The whole nation was horrified by the fire at the football
stadium in which seventy people died. [ They looked out of
the window and were horrified to see two men attacking each
other with knives.

SHOCK
aghast/o'go:st [[ o'gmst/feeling or looking shocked by
something that you have been told or have found out about
[adj not before noun]
"'Ten thousand pounds!'" she said, aghast. [ aghast at Mr
Sullivan seemed aghast at the prospect of losing his only
daughter to this rude, arrogant young man.
4 so shocked by something that the effects of
the shock last for a long time
be in a state of shock
traumatized
shattered
be in a state of shock/bi: m a ,ste;t av 'Sok II -'So:k/
Iv phrase]
Two days after the earthquake many people were still in a
state of shock. I He arrived at my house in a state of shock,
unable to talk clearly about what had happened.
traumatized (also-Ised British)/'tra:mataizd/so badly
shocked by something that has happened to you that it
affects the way you behave or react to things for a very long
time afterwards [adj]
Her experiences in the war left her traumatized and she never
wanted to talk about it. I Dr Kidd treats traumatized chil-
dren whose parents have used violence on them.
shattered /'Smtard/ so badly shocked by something
unpleasant that has happened, that you lose your confi-
dence or ability to do things [adj not usually before noun]
After the death of his son he was shattered, unable to do his
work. I Her recent experience has left her shattered and now
she is nervous about going out and meeting people.
S ways of saying that something shocks and
offends you because it is morally wrong, very
unfair etc
shock
outrage
scandalize
shock/Sok II So:k/Iv T not in progressive]
The explicit sex scenes in the play shocked a number of people
in the audience. I We were shocked when the judge said
women should not go out alone.
outrage /'aotreds/ to make someone feel extremely
shocked and angry because they feel that something is
morally wrong or unfair Iv T not in progressive]
Many parents were outraged by the teachers'strike last year. I
The film tries to disturb and even outrage people in order
to raise awareness of the terrible situation.
scandalize (also -ise British) / skmndl-az/ to make
someone shocked and offended by doing something that
they disapprove of Iv T not in progressive]
Oscar Wilde scandalized many people in polite society with
his behaviour.
 feeling shocked and offended by something
that is morally wrong, very unfair etc
outraged
scandalized
outrage
outraged/'aotredsd! someone who is outraged has a
very strong feeling of shock and anger about something
they think is morally wrong or unfair [adj]
The boy was punished by his outraged parents. I We were
outraged when we heard the rapist had only got two years.
scandalized (also-ised British) /'skmndl-alzd/ to be
shocked and offended by something that you disapprove
of and to discuss it a lot with other people [adj]
Many people were scandalized by the artist's nude paint-
ings. I The country was scandalized by the news of the Presi-
dent's alleged affair.
outrage/'aotreldS/the strong feeling that people have
about something such as a public statement or action that
they regard as morally wrong or unfair In U]
1213 shoot yourself in the foot
The sense of anger and outrage within the community seemed
to grow hourly. I The city council provoked public outrage
when it announced that it was closing the library and the
7 something that shocks you, especially a piece
of unpleasant and unexpected news
shock bolt from the blue
shocker rude awakening
blow
shock/Sok II So:k/[n c]
Robert's revelation that he was suffering from AIDS was a
great shock. I It must have been an awful shock when you
discovered your wife was having an affair.
shocker/'S)ka r [1 'So:-/ an informal word meaning a
shocking piece of news In singular]
Steve opened the meeting with a real shocker. "'Ladies and
gentlemen, "' he said, "'we are about to be bought out by our
main business competitors."
blow/bbo/an unpleasant event or piece of news that
makes you shocked, upset, and disappointed In C]
Not being allowed to return to her own country was a blow
from which she never really recovered. ] The party suffered
a tremendous blow when they lost the election for the third
time in a row.
bolt from the blue/,bolt fram 6 'blu:/an extremely
unexpected and shocking event or piece of news In phrase]
Without warning, the government raised taxes by 10% - it
was a bolt from the blue. [ The telegram contained a bolt
from the blue; her uncle in Canada had been killed in a
mining accident.
rude awakening/, ru:d o'welkann]/an unpleasant and
sudden shock that happens when you find out the truth
about a situation In C]
Moving to the city was a rude awakening for an innocent
country girl like Eli.
8 the unpleasant feeling of surprise and
disbelief that you have when something
unpleasant and unexpected happens
shock
horror
shock/Sk II So:k/In u]
Mike listened to the news with shock and disbelief- another
bomb had exploded in the city. [ I was numb with shock when
I saw the body in the water.
horror/'horn r 11 'ha:-, 'ho:-/a very strong feeling of sur-
prise and disbelief that you have when something very
unpleasant or frightening happens In U]
The crowd gasped in horror as the young man threw him-
self from the top of the building. [ The expression on his face
was a mixture of horror and disbelief.
 shocked SHOCK 3
 shocker SHOCK7
; shocking BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 2, SHOCK 2
i shoddy BAD 4
 shoestring: on a shoestring SPEND MONEY 6
 shoot SHOOT 2,.3
 shoot at SHOOT 1
 shoot down SHOOT4
 shoot down/bring down DOWN 8
"i;;;;;; shoot/fire questions at ASK A QUESTION 3
 shoot for TRY TO DO OR GETSTH5
 shoot off LEAVE A PLACE 6
• shoot the breeze TALK TO SB 6
 shoot up INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4, UP 4, 14
shoot up: fly up/shoot up UP 4
 shoot yourself in the foot HARM/BE BAD FOR 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

SHOOT 1214 SHOOT
SHOOT
to use a gun or weapon that shoots bullets,
arrows eta
1 to shoot-at someone or something in order to
try and hit them
2 to make a gun or weapon shoot or start
shooting
3 to kill or injure someone by shooting at them
4 to damage or destroy an aircraft by shooting
at it
5 to be shot at by someone
6 to point a gun or weapon carefully before
shooting
7 to prepare a gun or weapon for shooting by
putting bullets in it
8 an act of shooting or a period of time during
which shooting takes place
9 the sound of shooting
10 ways of saying how good someone is at
shooting
1 to shoot at someone or something in order to
try and hit them
shoot at shell
take a shot at bombard
take a potshot at
shoot at/']u:t et/Iv T]
A gunman burst into the bank and began shooting atpeople
without warning. I We used to shoot at empty bottles for prac-
rice. I The soldiers are shooting at anything that moves.
take a shot at/,tek  'lot mt JJ -']a:t-/to shoot once at
someone or something, hoping to hit them Iv phrase]
Agent Cooper stood back and took a shot at the lock on the
door. I One of the guards took a couple of shots at me but
luckily he missed.
take a potshot at/tek  pot]ot et li-'pa:t]a:t-/to
shoot at someone or something, especially from far away,
without aiming carefully Iv phrasel
The bird flew out of the tree and Harry took a potshot at it. I
Somebody was taking potshots at us from behind the bushes.
shell AJell to shoot at enemy soldiers, cities etc in a war,
using large guns which can shoot from a long distance
away Iv T ]
shell sb/sth British warships began shelling German posi-
tions along the coast. I shell sb/sth heavily (=shell it many
times) Some of the towns had been shelled so heavily that
there were no buildings left standing.
shelling In U] Soon after dawn there was another round of
heavy shelling in the eastern part of the city.
bombard/bom'bo:rd II be:m-/to shoot at a place using
a lot of large guns all firing at the same time Iv T]
Cromwell's men had been bombarding the fort with their
artillery for several days. I The allied forces bombarded the
enemy trenches mercilessly for weeks.
fire/famrl to make bullets come out of a gun or weapon,
or to make small bombs etc go into the air Iv I/T]
The soldier raised his rifle to his shoulder and fired. I Ready!
Aim! Fire! I fire a gun/weapon The gun was still warm
and had obviously been fired very recently. I fire a bullet/
missile/rocket etc Rebel troops have Started firing rockets
indiscriminately into densely populated areas of the city. I
fire a shot/round (=fire one bullet) Several shots were fired
at the President's limotzgtne as it sped past. I Modern auto-
matic weapons are capable of firing hundreds of rounds a
second.
open fire/,opn far/to start shooting Iv phrase]
The colonel gave the order for the soldiers to open fire. I open
fire on Troops opened,fire on a group of unarmed demon-
strators in Riga.
3 to kill or injure someone by shooting at them
shoot hit
gun down pick off
shoot I]u:tl Iv T]
shoot sb The President's been shot. ] The colonel went to his
room and shot himself using his own revolver. I shoot sb
dead Hector Petersen was shot dead by South African police
in June 1976. ] shoot sb in the back/head ere She had been
shot in the head at close range with a pistol.
gun down/g^n daun/to shoot someone, especially some-
one who cannot defend themselves, so that they are killed
or badly injured [phr v T]
The bank robbers gunned down two employees who tried to
stop them getting away. ] Four students were gunned down
by National Guardsmen at Kent State University in 1970.
hit Ih;tl to hit someone or something with a bullet fired
from a gun, plane ete Iv T]
hit sb/sth Did you manage to hit any of them? ] I knew that
I was hit as soon as I felt the blood on my face. I be badly
hit (=be hit and badly injured or damaged) The ship's navi-
gation system had been badly hit, and we started going
around in circles. I hit sb in the chest/face ere He was hit
in the arm by a sniper's bullet but carried on fighting.
pick off/pk of II -':f/to shoot people or animals one
by one from a distance [phr v T]
pick off sb Jesse hid behind a rock and picked off the
sheriff's men one by one as they rode past. I pick sb/them
etc off Our rifles were much more powerful and we were able
to pick the enemy off before they could even fire at us.
4 to damage or destroy an aircraft by shooting
at it
shoot down
hit
shoot down I]u:t daun/to shoot an aircraft so that it
falls down from the sky [phr v T]
The Iraqis failed to shoot down any of the Allied fighter
planes. I My father was shot down over Germany on his
fortieth bombing mission.
hit/hit/to hit an aircraft with bullets, bombs etc Iv T]
They succeeded in hitting three American bombers, one of
which crashed into the sea. I Looks like we've been hit by
Triple A - nothing too serious though.
2 to make a gun or weapon shoot or start
shooting
shoot
fire
open fire
shoot/]u:t/[v I]
We surrender! Don't shoot! I Hold the gun steady and make
sure you shoot straight. I go shooting (=go to shoot birds
or animals for sport) He's gone out shooting with his
friends. I shoot on sight (=shoot as soon as you see some-
one) The troops had orders to shoot on sight if they saw
anyone on the streets after 10 pro.
5 to be shot at by someone
be shot at
under fire
be caught in the crossfire
be shot at/bi: 'lot t II -']a:t-/Iv phrase]
The UN troops shouldn't be there just to get shot at - they
should be allowed to defend themselves. I I heard a bullet
whistle past my ear, and I realized we were being shot at by
someone across the street.
under fire Inndg r 'far/ if someone is under fire, they
are being shot at, especially by several people during a
battle [adv phrase]

SHOOT 1215 SHOP/STORE
The men's faces were white with fear - none of them had ever
been under fire before. I under heavy fire (=being shot at
repeatedly) Although they were under heavy fire from all
sides they managed to get the wounded off the battlefield. I
come under fire (=start being shot at) When theplanes got
near the town they suddenly came under heavy anti-aircraft
fire.
be caught in the crossfire/bi: ,k:t In (a =krDsfaia r [[
-kr:s-I if someone is caught in the crossfire, they are
trapped between two groups of people who are shooting at
each other, and may be shot accidentally themselves Iv
phrase]
Two civilians were killed when they were caught in the cross-
fire between the police and the terrorists.
6 to point a gun or weapon carefully before
shooting
aim
take aim
aim/eim/to choose the place, person etc that you want to
hit and point your gun or weapon at it carefully Iv I/T]
aim at Which part of the target were you aiming at? I aim
for sb's head/chest etc You can tell he was a professional
killer - they always aim for the chest. I aim sth at The rocket-
launchers are aimed at Washington. I aim sth The firing
squad were already aiming their rifles and waiting for the
order to shoot. I aim He picked up his shotgun, aimed then
fired.
take aim/,telk ern/to point a gun or weapon towards
someone or something when preparing to shoot them
Iv phrase not in passive]
take aim at The hunter took aim at the tiger. I take aim
Taking careful aim, I fired two shots - one missed, the other
hit him in the leg.
7 to prepare a gun or weapon for shooting by
putting bullets in it
load
reload
loaded
load/laud/[v T]
We'd better load our weapons now - we might need to use
them. I You have to be careful when you're loading a gun not
to point it at anybody.
reload/,ri:'laud/to load a weapon again Iv I/T]
reload sth Rambo paused for a moment to reload his
grenade launcher. I reload The first row of troops knelt down
to reload while the men behind fired above their heads.
loaded/'laodIdl a loaded gun is one that has bullets in
it [adj]
Ron always slept with a loaded shotgun under his bed. [
Don't worry, it's not loaded.
8 an act of shooting or a period of time during
which shooting takes place
shot volley
shooting bombardment
gunfire barrage
shot/St II So:q an attempt to shoot someone or something
[nC]
His first shot missed. The second hit its target. I I don't nor-
mally hit the bullseye first time - it was just a lucky shot.
shooting / Su:t,O/an occasion on which someone is shot
at, and killed or injured In C/U]
Oswald was seen running away from the building just after
the shooting. I Unless all this bombing and shooting stops
there will never be a solution to the civil war in Somalia. I
There has been an alarming increase in the number of shoot-
ings on our streets.
gunfire I gAnfaar/the repeated shooting of a gun or guns,
especially in a battle In U]
The jeep's front window was shattered by a hail of enemy
gunfire. I At least 4people were killed by gunfire when police
stormed the building.
volley/'vli [[ 'va:li/several shots fired together from
several weapons at the same time In C]
The soldiers fired a volley into the air as a warning to the
crowd. [ Before it was lowered into the ground, a volley of
shots was fired over the General's coffin.
bombardment/bDm'bo:rdmant [[ ba:m-/the continuous
firing of a lot of large guns in order to attack an enemy
town, city etc in a war In U]
The Germans began their bombardment of Paris in early
1870. [ come under heavy bombardment (=be attacked
by a lot of guns over a long period) In World War II the town
came under heavy bombardment from Allied Forces.
barrage /'bmra:5 [[ ba' ra:3/the continuous firing of a lot
of guns, especially in order to protect a place or a group of
soldiers In C usually singular]
The idea was to fire a rolling barrage of shells so that our
troops could creep forward behind it and attack the enemy
lines. [ The enemy anti-aircraft batteries put up a heavy bar-
rage of machine-gun fire.
9 the sound of shooting
shot
gunfire
shot/SDt [I So:t/the sound of a shot being fired In C]
One witness claimed she heard at least 8shots. [ a shot rings
out (=a shot is heard loudly and clearly) Suddenly, a shot
rang out breaking the nervous silence that had descended on
the town.
gunfire IgAnfaar/the sound of guns being fired, espe-
cially large military guns being used in a war [n U]
Enemy gunfire could be heard from several kilometres
away. I The earth shook with the sound of heavy gunfire.
1 0 ways of saying how good someone is at
shooting
be a good/bad shot
marksman
be a good/bad shot Ibi: a ,god, ,brad 'So II -'So:t/some-
one who is a good or bad shot is good or bad at shooting
[ v phrase]
I used to be the best shot in the whole school. [ You'd have
to be a really good shot to get that bird from here. [ We were
all such poor shots that we didn't even manage to hit the
target once.
marksman/'mo: rksmanl someone who is highly trained
and very skilful at using a gun, either for sport or for their
job with the army or the police In C]
Police marksmen surrounded the building. [ A marksman
was called in to try and hit the enemy's machine gun post.
shooting SHOOT 8
shop BUY 6, SHOP/STORE 1
shop: talk shop TALK TO SB 4
shop around BUY 5, CHOOSE 9
@ SHOP/STORE
1 a shop
2 a large shop
3 a small local shop
4 a building or area where there are a lot of
shops together
5 a place outside where you can go to buy
things

SHOP/STORE 1216 shore up
1 a shop
shop chain store
store retail outlet
shop /fDp II fo=p/ a word used especially in British
English meaning a building where goods are sold to the
public In C]
There's a shop that sells milk just down the road. I Could you
run down to the shop and get me some cigarettes? I shoe/
record/flower etc shop I asked in my local record shop but
they said early Lee Perry albums are no longer available.
store/sta:r/a word used especially in American English
meaning a shop In C]
A lot of the stores on the main street had been boarded up. I
Which store did you buy that sweater from? i book/shoe/
liquor etc store When his car passed a liquor store, Harry
asked the driver to wait.
chain store / tfein st:r/one of a group of large shops that
have the same name and are owned by the same company
[nC]
Most of the shops in the city centre are chain stores like C &
A and Marks and Spencer. I The big chain stores have driven
many small family stores out of business.
retail outlet/,ri:ted autlet/a business or legal expres-
sion meaning a shop where a company sells its goods In C]
Benetton has retail outlets in every major European city. I
The company has been forced to close hundreds of its retail
outlets due to the recession.
2 a large shop
store supermarket
department store superstore
store/sto:r/In C I
All the big stores are open from 8 am until 8pro. I DIYstores
were among the first to trade on Sundays. I This discount
is available at all Woolworth's stores.
department store/dpo:rtmont sto:r/ a large shop
which is divided into several parts, each of which sells one
type of thing, for example men's clothes, children's toys,
or kitchen equipment In C l
He took a job as a sales assistant in a big department store. I
I remember everything about my home town; my school, the
department stores, the little restaurant.
supermarket (also grocery store in American
English)/'su:par,ma:rkt, 'graosari ,sta:r! a large shop that
sells food and other things that people regularly need In C J
We go to the supermarket once every couple of weeks. [ The
grocery store is usually busy on Saturday mornings. [
There's an ever greater variety of goods to be found on super-
market shelves.
superstore /Isu:parsta: r, sju:-11 ,su:-I a British word
meaning a very large shop, especially one that is just out-
side a town and that people have to drive to In C]
Halfords Superstore opens next month. I Some of the local
residents were protesting about plans to build a Tesco super-
store just outside Tiverton.
3 a small local shop
general store the butcher's/baker's/
corner shop grocer's etc
kiosk
general store/'dsenrl st:r/a small shop, especially
in the country or in a small town, that sells food and all the
things you may need at any time In C]
There's a post office, a pub and a general store. [ The general
store sells everything from shoe laces to barbeques.
corner shop Ika:rna r ,J'op 11-J'o:p/ a British word
meaning a small shop in a town, especially on a street
corner, that sells food and all the things people regularly
need In C]
It's nice to have a friendly corner shop, but it's very expen-
sive. I Mrs Bates has run the corner shop for over 45years.
kiosk/'kimsk II -o=skl a small hut on a street, at a railway
station etc, that sells things such as newspapers, cigarettes,
and drinks In C]
He stopped at a kiosk and bought an evening paper.
the butcher's/baker's/grocer's etc/6 (butcher's,
etc)/a shop where meat, bread etc is sold, especially the one
nearest where you live or where you are In phrase]
She used to live in a room above the butcher's. I Run down
to the greengrocer's and get some onions, will you?
4 a building or area where there are a lot of
shops together
shopping centre/shopping center
mall/shopping mall
shopping precinct
shopping centre (British) I shopping center (Ameri-
can) I'J'tpirj ,senta r II 'J'o:p-/[n C]
You can catch a bus just outside the shopping centre. I
They're building a new shopping centre where the old ware-
houses used to be.
mall/shopping mall Imp:l, lgpIl] m:l II o:p-/a word
used especially in American English meaning a specially-
built large covered area where there are a lot of shops In C]
We went to the mall looking for a dress for the party. I The
Renaissance Center is a huge steel and glass shopping mall
in downtown Detroit.
shopping precinct / J'Dprj ,pri:sirjkt II U'o:p-/a British
expression meaning an area of a town where there are a
lot of shops, especially one where vehicles are not allowed
[nC]
They wandered around the shopping precinct for an hour
while Suzie was having her hair cut.
5 a place outside where you can go to buy
things
market
stall
market I'ma:rkIt/a large group of tables, especially out-
doors, where you can buy food, clothes etc In C]
The markets tend to be much cheaper, especially for fruit and
vegetables. I vegetable/fish/antiques etc market There's
an antiques market in the town square every Saturday. I flea
market (=a market where cheap goods that used to belong
to someone else are sold) You might find a nice ring at the
flea market.
stall/st:l/a word used especially in British English mean-
ing a table, especially outdoors, where goods are sold In C]
Janet has a fruit and veg stall on the market. I Justin used
to mind the stall while his father was in the cafe, drinking.
shopkeeper/storekeeper SELL 8
shoplift STEAL 3
shoplifter STEAL 6
shoplifting STEAL 7
shopper BUY5
shopping centre/shopping center
shopping: do the shopping BUY 5
shopping: go shopping BUY 5
shopping mall: mall/shopping mall
shopping precinct SHOP 4
shops: go to the shops/go to the store
shore up SUPPORT/HOLD UP 3
SHOP 4
SHOP 4
BUY 5
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

short 1217 SHORT/NOT LONG
/
's.@:thmiS++t:+  ,  SHORT/NOT
i tona ++++ LONG
SHORT TIME
.::;&]Sh+@ ' .................. ++:++++++ ..... +T   SUMMARIZE
shod
short:
short:
short:
shod:
short:
short:
short:
short:
SHORT PERSON 1, SHORT TIME 3,
SHORT/NOT LONG 1, 2
be shod ENOUGH 8
be shod for SHORT/NOT LONG 6
be shod of ENOUGH 12
be shod on ENOUGH 12
be short with RUDE/IMPOLITE 4
for short SHORT/NOT LONG 6
go short ENOUGH 12
in short SUMMARIZE 3
short: sell yourself short MODEST 2
short/brief space of time SHORT TIME 1
shod distance NEAR 1
shod fuse: have a short fuse BAD-TEMPERED 5
shod-handed: be shod-handed WORKER 5
short-haul FAR 8
short list LIST 2
short-lived SHORTTIME 4
short of breath BREATHE 7
short of time TIME/HAVE TIME 2
short-range FAR 8
short-sighted SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 2
shod-staffed: be shod-staffed WORKER 5
shod supply: be in shod supply
short-tempered/quick-tempered
short term TEMPORARY 1
short time SHORTTIME 1
short time ago RECENTLY 1
short work: make short work of
ENOUGH 8
BAD-TEMPERED 5
FAST/QUICK 12
SHORT/NOT LONG
1 short in length from top to bottom or from one
end to the other
2 words for describing a book or other piece of
writing that is short
3 to make something shorter
4 words for describing a book or other piece of
writing that has been made shorter
5 to say or write something using only a few
words, especially because there is little time
6 ways of saying that a name or word is a
shorter way of saying something
short L[a:rt/[adj]
The new teacher has short dark hair and blue eyes. i This
skirt's much too short to wear for an interview. I Mickey's
legs were very short and he couldn't reach the table. I A short
path brings you out at St Michael's falls.
stubby / 'sthbi/stubby fingers/legs/wings etc (=short
and thick or fat) [adj]
The baby poked me with his stubby little fingers. I Pheasants
have short stubby wings which enable them toffy very fast
and low.
stumpy/' stAmpi/stumpy legs/tail etc (=short and thick,
especially in a way which looks funny) [adj]
The picture showed a fat little boy with stumpy legs. [ The
dog was wagging its stumpy tail enthusiatically
skimpy /'skimpi/ skimpy dress/shorts/t-shirt ete
(=very short) [adj]
The little girls wore skimpy skirts and looked very cold.
2 words for describing a book or other piece of
writing that is short
shod
brief
concise
short ISa:rt/[adj]
It's a short book, no more than 60pages long. [ Roald Dahl
has written a new book of short stories for children. [ I sent
the manager a short note explaining my reasons for leaving.
brief /bri:f/ brief noteCescriptionCutlineCnstruc-
tionsComments ete (=short and not giving much detail)
[adj]
There was a brief note with the ffowers. I The book begins
with a brief outline of the history of modern China. I The
pamphlet gives brief instructions on what to do in the event
o f fire.
concise/kvn' sais/short, clearly presented, and with no
unnecessary words [adj]
Saussure expressed his arguments in a concise and logical
way. I Make sure that your answers are as clear and concise
as possible.
3 to make something shorter
shorten cut down
make sth shorter condense
shorten/'s:rtn/[v T]
My tutor says my essay's too long and I'll have to shorten it
by a couple of thousand words. I The Community used to be
called the EEC, but now they've shortened it to the EC. I My
mother used to shorten all my brother's old pants so that I
could wear them
make sth shorter/,mek (sth) 'o:rtr/to make some-
thing shorter, especially by removing part of it Iv phrase]
You could make your speech shorter by taking out all the quo-
tations. [ make sth one metre/two eentimetres ere
shorter Engineers have removed a section of the pipeline,
making it about a hundred metres shorter.
cut down ! kht daun/to make a piece of writing shorter
by removing some of the words [phr v T]
cut sth/it/them down The introduction's too long. Can
you try and cut it down? [ cut down sth They want me to
cut down my article so that it'll all fit onto one page.
condense/kn' dens/to make something spoken or writ-
ten shorter, by not giving as much detail, or by using fewer
words to give the same information Iv T]
Hawkins condensed all his writings into one volume for
publication. [ This speech is much too long - you'll have to
condense it.
1 short in length from top to bottom or from one
end to the other
short stumpy
stubby skimpy
4 words for describing a book or other piece of
writing that has been made shorter
shortened
abridged

SHORT/NOT LONG 1218 SHORT TIME
shortened/'l:rtnd/[adj]
This chapter is a shortened version of a paper that was writ-
ten in 1977. I The book contains many of the most popular
stories from the Bible in shortened form.
abr|dged ]'brdsd/abridged version/edition/account
(=one that has been made shorter by having parts of it
removed but which keeps its basic structure and meaning)
[adjl
An abridged version of the novel was published in 1900. I The
book is an abridged account of his experiences in India
before Independence.
5 to say or write something using only a few
words, especially because there is little time
be brief
be brief/bi: 'bri:f/[v phrase]
Be brief, I don't have much time. I I'm sure you're all very
busy, so I'll be brief.
 ways of saying that a name or word is a
shorter way of saying something
be short for abbreviate
stand for abbreviation
for short
be short for/bi: '.[:rt f:r/[v phrase]
AF is short for autofocus. I "Bob" is short for Robert, and
'Betty' is short for Elizabeth. I What's "esp" short for?
stand for/ strand f: r/if a letter stands for a particular
name, it is the first letter of that name Iv T]
What do the initials "WC" stand for? I The F in John F
Kennedy stood for Fitzgerald.
for short ifr ,:rt/if you call someone or something a
particular name for short, you call them by a name which
is a shorter way of saying their real name lady phrase]
His name's Moses - Mo for short. I Japan's major internal
airline is All Nippon Airlines, or ANA for short.
abbreviate I'bri:viet/to make a long name or word
shorter so that it is easier to say or write Iv T usually
passive]
be abbreviated to The word "kilogramme" is usually
abbreviated to "kg'. I abbreviate sth It is generally a good
idea when taking notes to abbreviate words that occur
repeatedly.
abbreviation/,bri:vi e[n/a shorter way of saying a
word or the name of something such as an organization or
someone's job In C]
Disk Operating Systems are usually known by the abbrevi-
ation DOS. I abbreviation for BBC is an abbreviation for
British Broadcasting Corporation. I Etc is an abbreviation
for the Latin words et cetera.
SHORT PERSON
1 words for describing someone who is not tall
2 very short
3 a short person
1 words for describing someone who is not tall
short little
not very tall petite
small squat
short/:rt/[adj]
Balzac was short and fat. I When l saw her I was really sur-
prised - she's a lot shorter than she looks in the movies, l She
was talking to a short dark-haired young man who wore
glasses.
not very tall/nDt veri tz:l/fairly short [adj phrase not
before noun]
He's not very tall, about 5foot 2, I'd say. I She described her
attacker as a fair-haired man of about 30, strongly-built but
not very tall.
small/sm:l/having a small body, especially compared to
other people of your age [adj]
a small man in a dark suit I small for his/her age
(=smaller than other children of the same age) She's small
for her age but she's very bright.
little/'lltl/a word meaning short and small, used espe-
cially to describe children or old people [adj only before
noun]
Who's this little boy in the blue sweater? I a little old lady
with a walking-stick I Diana found the little rascal in the
kitchen.
petite/p'ti:t/a woman who is petite is attractively short
and thin [adj]
His wife was a petite dark-haired woman in her early thir-
ties. I She looks so slim and petite in that dress!
squat/skwDt II skwa:t/short and fat, especially in an unat-
tractive way [adjl
The cook was a short, squat woman with thick eyebrows and
a slight moustache. I a shabby, squat, balding man in an old
raincoat
2 very short
tiny
diminutive
tiny I'ta[ni/[adj]
A tiny old lady answered the door. I He had brought her sister
along with him, a tiny little girl in a pink dress. I They look
so funny together. She's tiny and her husband's about six foot
five.
diminutive/do  'm,nj°t,v/ a formal or humorous word
meaning unusually small and thin [adj]
Peter was a shy, diminutive man who seldom said anything
to anyone. I A diminutive figure appeared in the doorway.
3 a short person
midget
squirt
dwarf
midget/'mid3ot/a humorous and offensive word used
especially in British English meaning a very short person
lnC]
Her husband won't hurt you - he's only a midget.
squirt/skw3:rq an informal word meaning a short person
that you dislike or that annoys you In C]
If I ever get hold of that little squirt I'm going to kill him!
dwarf ]dw3:rf/a person who does not continue growing
to the normal height, but remains very short In C]
The smallest man in the world was a dwarf who lived in the
United States. I The monkeys were played by dwarfs wear-
ing special costumes.
SHORT TIME
1 a short time
2 a very short time
3 lasting for a short time or taking a short time
4 words for describing fashions, feelings, ideas
etc that last for only a short time
1 a short time
short time a bit
a little while/ a short/brief space of time
a short while
short time/,3:rt 'taim/a period of time that is shorter
than usual or shorter than expected In singular]

SHORT TIME 1219 should
A month is a very short time to organize a wedding. I
Hannah was here in the office a short time ago, but I think
she's gone home now. I Unfortunately we could only spend
a short time together. I The cathedral was built in the
astonishingly short time of five years.
a little whilela short while/0 ,lItl 'wail, o ,J'o:rt 'wail/
a short period of time, during or after which something
happens In singular]
Bob's only worked here for a short while, about six months
I think. ] It always takes a little while to get used to the
climate. I If you take the pills now, your headache will go
after a short while.
a bit/ 'bt/an informal British expression meaning a
short time In singular]
Do you mind looking after the baby for a bit? I want to go
shopping. [ I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit. I She bought
a country cottage, but after a bit she got bored with life in
the countryside and moved back to London.
a short/brief space of time/o J'o:rt, ,bri:f Ispeis ov
'taiml a short period of time during which a lot of things
happen In phrase]
in/within a short space of time It's amazing how much
you can learn in such a short space of time. [ In that brief
space of time his whole life had changed. I She had gained
an awful lot o f journalistic experience within a short space
of time.
2 a very short time
moment second
minute instant
moment / 'movmont/In C]
I'm sure I had heard a dog barking a moment ago. I Charles
paused a moment and then added, "'I hope you don't mind. "1
For one brief moment, as we flew over the Alps, I thought I
could see Mont Blanc. I There had been a few worrying
moments during the operation.
minute/'mInt/a very short period of time, used espe-
cially when you want to tell someone that something will
not take long In C]
Wait a minute. I'm nearly ready. I Can you help me with the
dishes - it'll only take a couple of minutes. I The money was
here on the desk a minute ago. I I'll be back in half a minute.
second/' seknd/an extremely short period of time In C]
Carrie stopped, but only for a second, and then ran after her
friend. I It took me just a few seconds to realize what was hap-
pening. I a fraction ofa second/a split second (=less than
a second) For a split second, I caught a glimpse of Helen's
face in the crowd.
instant/' instant/a word used especially in stories mean-
ing a very short time In C]
For one instant David thought his father was going to hit
him. I An instant later the door opened and in walked Dr
Dunstable.
3 lasting for a short time or taking a short time
short not take long
brief momentary
quick fleeting
short/'o:rq [adj]
They had expected the meeting to last all afternoon, but it
was actually quite short. I the shortest day of the year I They
all said a shortprayer before leaving the monastery. I He died
at the age of 28, but he achieved a great deal during his short
life.
brie|/bri=f! something that is brief lasts only a short time,
especially because there is not much time available to do
it in [adj]
After a brief interval the performance continued. I General
Schwarzkopf made a few brief remarks to the press. I We
tried to go to as many museums as we could during our brief
visit to Berlin. I keep it brief (= make your speech etc short)
I'd like you to present your findings at the annual meeting,
but keep it brief- we have a lot to fit in.
briefly [adv] We talked briefly about the financial side of
the ar.m.pn.t nn.d thpn mo1.d on. to oth.r mnttpr.
quick Ikwik! quick look/visit/meal/shower etc
(=taking only a short time, especially because you are in
a hurry) [adj only before noun]
Fd like a quick look at your work please. I Do I have time
for a quick shower before we go out?
not take long/nm tcik 'lDrj II -'b:O/to not take a long
time to do or finish Iv phrase not in progressive]
Let me show you how to use the computer, it won't take long. I
it does not take long to do sth It didn't take long to solve
the problem.
momentary /'moomontri II-teri/ lasting only a few
moments, then changing back to what was happening
before [adj usually only before noun]
There was a momentary pause before the policeman told us
the horrible truth. I a momentary lapse of memory
momentarily/'moomantarlali II maornanterIalil lady] We
were momentarily dazzled by oncoming car headlights.
fleeting/fli:tlO/fleeting glimpse/impression/visit/
smile/moment etc (=lasting only a very short time) [adj
only before noun]
For a fleeting moment he thought he was going to cry but
he managed to control himself. I We were travelling so fast
that I only had a fleeting glimpse of the building as we sped
by.
4 words for describing fashions, feelings, ideas
etc that last for only a short time
short-lived transient/transitory
ephemeral passing
short-lived/,J'o:rt 'hvd-/[adj]
She thought she would enjoy working with computers but
her enthusiasm was short-lived. I the President's short-lived
popularity
ephemeral ! i  femoral/a word used formally or in litera-
ture meaning lasting only a short time [adj]
Styles of dress have always been influenced by ephemeral
fashions. I In her poems she states clearly that life is
ephemeral and it is what happens after death that is
important.
transient/transitory/'trmnziont, 'trenzatori ]] 'trmn-
Sant, -to:r//words used formally or in literature meaning
lasting only a short time and then quickly disappearing
without having any lasting effects [adj]
His many love affairs had only brought him transitory pleas-
ures. [ The relationship between the two organisations is
likely to be transient and will last only as long as it is profit-
able. I Only historians fully understand the transitory nature
of civilization.
passing/'po:sio II 'pros-/passing thought/fad/whim
etc (=one that lasts a short time and then quickly disap-
pears) [adj only before noun]
"'Yesterday you said something about going abroad. .... Oh,
it was just a passing thought." I Is this sudden enthusiasm
for exotic music anything more than a passing fad?
shortage ENOUGH 8
shortcut WAY/ROUTE 2
shorten SHORT/NOT LONG 3
shortened SHORT/NOT LONG 4
shorter: make sth shorter SHORT/NOT LONG 3
shortlisted: be shortlisted CHOOSE 4
shortly SOON 1, 3
shot DRUG 6, PICTURE 2, SHOOT 8, 9
shot: be a good/bad shot SHOOT 10
shot: be shot CONDITION/STATE OF STH 5
shot: be shot at SHOOT 5
shot: get shot of GET RID OF 1
shot: give sth your best shot TRY TO DO OR GET STH 2
shot: mug shot PICTURE 2
shot: take a shot at SHOOT 1
shot in the arm HELP 9
shot in the dark GUESS 5
shots: call the tune/shots CONTROL 1
should IF 1
should: ought to be/should be PROBABLY 4

should 1220 SHOUT
should: say sb should do sth/ought to do sth
ADVISE 1
should: you should do sth/you ought to do sth
ADVISE 2
should do sth SHOULD/OUGHT TO 1, 2
SHOULD/OUGHT
TO
ways of saying that someone should do
something becaijse it is their duty to do it or
because they have agreed todo it
ways of saying that someone should do
something because it is good for them, will
help them etc
1 ways of saying that someone should do
something because it is their duty to do it or
because they have agreed to do it
should do sth be expected to do sth
ought to do sth have a duty to do sth/
had better do sth be sb's duty to do sth
be supposed to do sth
should do sth/Sod 'du: (sth)/(used to show that you have
a moral or legal duty to do something, or that something
is the best or fairest thing to do in a particular situation)
Iv phrase]
You should always tell the truth. I I'm sorry, I shouldn't have
lost my temper. I Technically, you should ask permission
before you use the computer, but most people don't bother. I
People should be made to pay extra if they bring their cars
into the city. I Should we tell the kids about this? I should
"'Do they pay her travel expenses?" "I don't know but they
should."
ought to do sth/,a:t to du: (sth)/(used to show that
someone should do something because it is the best thing
to do in a particular situation, especially when this is your
personal opinion) Iv phrase]
You ought to go to church more often. I Do you think we ought
to call the police? I What you ought to do is have a deadline
and make sure everyone sticks to it. I I think we ought not
to tell him until we know a little more ourselves. I ought to
"'Do you think we should tell him? .... Well, we ought to
really. ""
had better do sth/hod beto r du: (sth)/(used to show
that you should do something because it is the fairest or
most polite thing to do in a particular situation) [v phrase]
I'd better do the dishes before I go out - I can't leave them
all for Kate to do. I The keys were in her dad's car but she
thought she'd better ask him before she took it. I had better
"'Do you think we ought to tell dane about the money? .... Yes,
I think we'd better. ""
be supposed to do sth/bi: sopoozd to 'du: (sth)/(used
to show that you should do something because it is the
right thing to do according to a rule, an accepted way of
behaving, or what someone has told you to do) Iv phrase]
You're supposed to ask the teacher if you want to leave the
room. I I didn't know what I was supposed to do so I just
waited for Mrs Garcia to come back. I Stop it! You're not sup-
posed to swing babies around like that. I be supposed to
Only use the telephone when you "re supposed to.
be expected to do sth/bi: ikspekto[d to du: (sth)/(used
to show that people think you should do a particular thing
because of your position, age etc) Iv phrase]
An officer is expected to set a good example to his men. I In
many societies women are expected to stay at home. I be
expected to "Can I help myself to something to eat? .... Of
course, you're expected to, you're our guest. ""
have a duty to do sthlbe sb's duty to do sth/hmv
o ,dju:ti to 'du: (sth), bi: (sb's) ,dju:ti- II -,du:ti-/(used to show
that it is your moral duty to do something) Iv phrase not
in progressive]
The government has a duty to provide education for every
child. I Many Christians believe it is their duty to go out and
convert people. I If you buy a puppy, it is your duty to see that
it is properly fed and exercised.
2 ways of saying that someone should do
 omething because it is good for them, will
help them etc
should do sth advisable
ought to do sth it's a good idea
it's worth
should do sth/Sod 'du: (sth)l [v phrase]
You should ask her. I'm sure she'd be happy to help. I He
should get his house painted - it would look so much nicer
then. I The book gives a lot of practical advice and tells you
what you should do to make the most of your garden.
ought to do sth/,a:t to du: (sth)/[v phrase]
Do you think I ought to buy the red dress or the blue one? I
You ought to be more careful with your toys. They are so
expensive to replace. I If you really want to be a journalist,
you ought to get some training and experience first.
it's worth/its w3:0 II -3:rO/if you say it's worth doing
something, you mean that someone should spend the time
or money, or make the effort etc needed to do it, because
they will gain something useful from it
it's worth doing sth It's worth comparing a range of
models before deciding which one to buy. I it's worth the
time/effort ere It's worth all the hard work and prepara-
tion to make the show a real success. I it's worth it Get the
car thoroughly checked by a professional. It may cost a bit
of money but it's worth it, believe me. I it's well worth
it/doing sth ere It's well worth booking early, as tickets
tend to sell out very fast.
advisable /od'vaizobgl/ a formal word for describing
something that should be done, used etc in order to avoid
problems or risks and succeed in what you are doing [adj
not before noun]
it is advisable to do sth It is advisable to take some warm
clothing with you, as the weather can change quite suddenly. I
advisable Use of the drug is not considered advisable when
driving or using machinery.
advisability/od,vazo'bIloti/In U] We wondered about the
advisability of driving (=whether or not it was advisable
to drive) in such bad conditions.
It's a good idea/ItS o god a 'din/if you say it's a good
idea to do something, you mean that someone should do
it because it will help them, prevent problems etc
it's a good idea to do sth It's a good idea to look at a lot
of different models before choosing one. I It's always a good
idea to leave a spare set of keys with a friend in case you lose
yours. I it's a good idea "Do you think I should reserve a
table? .... Well, it would be a good idea. '"
i}}i shoulder" RESPONSIBLE 5
•  ..... shoulder: a shoulder to cry on KIND 3
• i!!! shoulder to shoulder with WITH 3
#.'.i shoulders: rub shoulders with SOCIALIZE 2
i; shout SHOUT 1 3
,.- ..... shout out SHOUT2
SHOUT
to say something very loudly
to call out loudly, for example because you
are excited, angry, or in pain
a loud sound expressing excitement, pain,
anger etc
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English

SHOUT 1221 SHOUT
1 to say something very loudly
shout scream
yell roar
raise your voice bawl
call out bellow
holler rant and rave
shout/aot/to say something very loudly, for example
because you are angry or want to get someone's attention
Iv I/T]
There's no need to shout. I'm not deaf you know. I She had
to shout to be heard, because the crowd had begun to cheer. I
shout sth They marched through the streets shouting slo-
gans in support of animal rights. I "Watch out/'" she shouted,
as the child ran across the road. I shout at sb I find myself
shouting at the kids when I'm tired. I shout out sth If the
teacher shouts out your name, go to the front immediately.
fell/jell to shout very loudly, for example because you are
very angry or excited, or because you want to get someone's
attention Iv I/T]
Don't yell. I heard you the first time. I yell sth We just had
time to yell a few orders to the staff before the bomb
exploded. I "'Get out of here!" he yelled. I yell at sb The chil-
dren were yelling at each other across the street. I yell out
sth He stood in the doorway and yelled out "'Anybody home?'"
at the top of his voice.
raise your voice/tre:z jzr tva:s / to speak more loudly
than usual because you are angry about something Iv
phrase]
I had never heard my father raise his voice in his life. I
There's no need to raise your voice - I'm sure we can discuss
this in a civilized manner. I raise your voice at/to sb Don't
you raise your voice to me young lady -you should have more
respect for your teachers.
call out /k:l taut/to shout loudly because you want to
get someone's attention, to let someone know where you
are etc [phr v I/T1
A voice called out for help from somewhere in the distance. I
"'Is there anybody there?" he called out, but there was no
reply. I call out sth She called out his name but he didn't
look back. I call out to sb The prisoners used to call out to
each other through the cell walls.
holler /thDbr II tho:-/ an American word meaning to
shout very loudly, for example to get someone's attention
or because you are angry iv I/T/
If you need anything, just holler. ] There were so many kids
you had to holler to be heard. I holler sth Suddenly some-
one hollered my name.
scream /skri:m/ to shout in a very loud high voice,
because you are so angry, afraid, excited etc that you
cannot control your voice Iv I/T/
There was a woman screaming for help through one of the
windows. I scream sth The moment anyone moved the
hijacker screamed "Get down! Down!" l scream at sb The
trainer used to scream at the players from the sidelines to
make them run faster..
goal'/ra'.r/to shout in a very loud voice because you are
extremely angry or want to frighten someone Iv I/T/
roar sth Suddenly the teacher roared my name across the
classroom. I roar If he had snapped at her last time, this time
he positively roared. I roar at sb "'Didn't you hear me?" he
roared at her. "I told you to leave me alone. ""
bawl/ba:l/to shout very loudly and rudely in order to
make sure that people hear what you are saying Iv I/T/
bawl sth The captain bawled an order and people started
running around. [ There's no need to bawl my name like
that.[ bawl at sb That couple next door are always shout-
ing and bawling at each other.
bellow / tbebo/to shout in a very loud deep voice, espe-
cially if you want a lot of people to hear you Iv I/T/
He had to bellow loudly to get them to come and help him. [
bellow sth One oft he guards bellowed something obscene
in our direction.
rant and rave/trent and reJv/to keep shouting and
complaining for a long time about something that has made
you angry or upset, often in a way that other people find
annoying Iv phrase]
It's no good ranting and raving - you should make an offi-
cial complaint. I rant and rave about There was an old
man on TV ranting and raving about racial inequality.
to call out loudly, for example because you
are excited, angry, or in pain
shout out roar
cry out yell/let out a yell
scream groan
shout out/,aut 'aut/[phr v I]
The pain made him shout out. [ During the night she shouted
out several times.
cry out / kraJ taot/to make a sudden loud noise, for exam-
ple when you are suddenly hurt or afraid [phr v I]
He cried out in pain as they bandaged the wound. I She cried
out when the men jumped on her from behind.
scream/skri:m/to make a loud, high, continuous noise,
especially because you are very afraid Iv I]
When the lights suddenly went out, people started scream-
ing. I He started to tickle the child, making her scream with
laughter.
roar/r:r/to make a very loud, deep, continuous noise, for
example because you are very excited or in a lot of pain Iv I]
As the snake bit him O'Brien roared with alarm and pain. I
When the team came onto the field the crowd roared and
clapped wildly.
yell/let out a yell /jel, tlet aot  jel/ to make an
extremely loud noise, for example because you are very
afraid or excited, or because you want to get someone's
attention Iv I]
I heard someone yelling and went to see what was happen-
ing. I When she saw the spider she let out a yell that made
it run away.
groan/gron/to shout or cry in a deep voice, especially
because you are in pain or because you are disappointed
[v I]
Steve was clutching his stomach and groaning with pain. I
Mitch groaned under the weight of the cupboard. I The spec-
tators groaned when Henden dropped the ball.
3 a loud sound expressing excitement, pain,
anger etc
shout roar
yell groan
scream
shout/j'aot/a loud call that expresses anger, excitement
etc, or is made in order to get someone's attention In C]
I followed the sound of the shouts coming from the kitchen. I
give a shout He gave a sudden shout of joy as he realised
he'd won the race.
yell/jell a very loud shout that expresses great anger,
excitement etc or is made in order to get someone's atten-
tion In C ]
The children ran away when they heard their mother's yells. [
A great yell went up from the crowd. Liverpool had scored.
scream/skri:m/a sudden loud shout or cry that expresses
fear In C]
The woman's screams could be heard all over the park. [ The
train whistle blew, drowning out the sound of the child's
scream.
roar /r3:r/ a very loud deep shout, especially one that
expresses anger, pain, or amusement In C]
At the sound of her father's roar, the child stopped running. [
roar of laughter (=very loud laugh) There were several
roars of laughter coming from the living room.
groan/gmon/a loud, long shout or cry in a deep voice that
expresses suffering, pain, or disappointment In C]
He hated to think of her in so much pain and covered his ears
to hide her groans. [ Instead of laughter from the audience
there were only groans.

shove 1222 SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE
shove PUSH 1, 7, PUT 5
shove: give sth/sb a shove PUSH 1
shove: put/shove/stick your oar in INTERFERE 1
shove off: push off/shove off LEAVE A PLACE 3
show the way/lead the way FIRST 7
show ARRIVE 2, PERFORM 7, PROVE 1, SEE 5,
SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 1, SHOW/BE
A SIGN OF 1, 4, 5, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1,
2, 4, 6, 7, 8, TAKE/BRING 7,
TELEVISION/RADIO 3, 5
show: and it shows OBVIOUS 1
show: be on show/on display SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 7
show: for show IMPRESS 6
show: put sth on show/on display SHOW/LET SB SEE
STH 7
show: put up a good show TRY TO DO OR GET STH 4
show interest INTERESTED 1
show no interest INTERESTED 7
show off SHOW OFF 1, SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 3
show-off SHOW OFF 2
show sb around/round SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 5
show
show
show
show
show
show
show
show
show
sb sth SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 5
sb the door LEAVE A PLACE 10
sb the way WAY/ROUTE 3
signs of SEEM 1
up GO TO/ATTEND 1
up: not turn up/not show up MEET 8
up: turn up/show up ARRIVE 2, 4
your age OLD/NOT YOUNG 6
your appreciation THANK 1
let someone see .... :  SHOW/LET SB
something ;i%1; .... SEE STH
. < " ""
sho feeling,  SHOW A
attitude etc ....  ,--,i!i;;::;- FEELING OR :
"-' " ....... ::'::: TTITUDE
show off in order to
impress people
show that. something
is probably true, will
probably happen etc
prove that something
is certainly .true., ,
certainly happened
etc
,.
............
SHOW/BE A
SIGN OF
PROVE
.;
ir "'"i..;f.: *. .,,..
-:-, , .,
. .-.
. ..
....
. .. ..z;. •
. ,.,.
SHOW A FEELING
OR ATTITUDE
to show your feelings, attitudes, qualities etc
by the way you behave or by the expression
on your face
to show a feeling, attitude, or quality although
you do not intend to
words for describing someone who usually
shows how they feel and what they think
words for describing someone who does not
show their feelings
to make or encourage someone to show a
particular feeling or quality
1 to show your feelings, attitudes, qualities etc
by the way you behave or by the expression
on your face
show demonstrate
display register
exhibit
show/ou/[v ]
show sth Lily's face showed surprise. I She's always shown
enormous enthusiasm for all kinds of sports. I Kim received
the news without showing any visible sign of emotion. I All
the captives showed great courage in the face of extreme
danger. I show how/what I was determined not to show
how upset I was.
display/d sple/to clearly show an attitude, quality, or
feeling by what you do or say Iv T]
You've never displayed the slightest interest in what I do. I
The previous government displayed a notable lack of enthu-
siasm for women's rights. I The contestants here today have
displayed tremendous skill.
display In C] I felt deeply grateful for this display of affec-
tion and support. I Workers and students gathered in a
remarkable display of solidarity.
exhibit/g'zbt/a formal word meaning to clearly show
how you feel Iv T]
The prisoner exhibited no emotion when he heard his sen-
tence. I Anyone who exhibits extreme anxiety in the face of
potential danger is unlikely to become an effective military
leader.
demonstrate/'demnstret/to do something in order to
deliberately and clearly show an attitude or feeling Iv T]
Brenda wanted to demonstrate her sympathy in a practical
way. [ Nenni was under constant pressure to demonstrate his
true loyalties. [ The new law was intended to demonstrate
the government's concern for the low-paid.
register / redsstr/to show a feeling by the expression
on your face, especially when you are reacting to some-
thing that happens or something someone says Iv T]
He stepped back, his face registering alarm. [ It was only
when I mentioned the money that she registered a flicker of
interest.
 to show a feeling, attitude, or quality although
you do not intend to
reveal
betray
can't hide
reveal/r vi:l/to show a feeling, quality, or attitude, espe-
cially without realizing that you are showing it Iv T not
usually in progressive]
It was the first time I had seen him reveal any emotion in his
face. [ A slight trembling of his hands revealed his growing
excitement. [ Dad revealed an unexpected talent for Flamenco
dancing while on vacation in Spain.
betray/b treI/to show a feeling or attitude when you do
not want to or intend to Iv T not in progressive orpassive]
Joe's voice betrayed his nervousness. I It took great self-
control not to betray her feeling of shock when she heard the
news.
can't hide/,ko:nt 'had II kant-/if you can't hide a feel-
ing, you cannot stop yourself from showing it because the
feeling is so strong Iv phrase]
Kris couldn't hide his delight. [ Miss Hutton no longer
appears in public because she cannot hide her embarrass-
ment when reporters ask her questions.
3 words for describing someone who usually
shows how they feel and what they think
demonstrative
open
extrovert
demonstrative/d monstmtv [i d mo:n-/someone who
is demonstrative shows feelings of friendliness or love for

SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 1223 SHOW/BE A SIGN OF
other people clearly and without being embarrassed, for
example by kissing or touching them [adj]
His parents were never very demonstrative towards him, and
so now he needs to be shown a lot of love. I She's not a very
demonstrative person, but her friends are important to her.
open / oopn/someone who is open does not try to hide
what they are feeling or thinking [adj]
He had a very open nature. I be open about Julia was quite
open about her disappointment.
openly [adv] She spoke openly about her fears.
extrovert /tekstmvb:rt/ someone who is extrovert is
cheerful and enjoys talking to and having fun with other
people [adj]
George was talkative, extrovert and quick to laugh at things.
extrovert [n C] The twins are very different. Tim is an
extrovert, while Andrew is basically shy.
4 words for describing someone who does not
show their feelings
reserved
undemonstrative
reserved/r Iza:rvd/someone who is reserved is usually
quiet and unwilling to talk about or show their feelings
ladj]
Maxim is very quiet, very reserved. You never know what's
going on in his mind. [ They are very reserved people, the
English. It takes some time to get to know them.
undemonstrative /^nd;tmonstrtiv II-tmo:n-/ some-
one who is undemonstrative does not show feelings of
friendliness or love for other people, for example by kiss-
ing them or touching them [adjl
He was so undemonstrative, it was difficult for his wife to
believe he really loved her.
5 to make or encourage someone to show a
particular feeling or quality
bring out
bring out/,brII] 'aot/[phr v T]
bring out sth Competitive games bring out my aggressive
spirit. I Counsellors are specially trained to bring out peo-
ple's innermost fears and emotions. I bring out the best/
worst in sb (=make them show their best or worst charac-
teristics or qualities)By adopting a patient, gentle manner
he hopes to bring out the best in people.
@ SHOW/BE A SIGN
OF
ways of saying that a fact, statement, or
someone's behaviour shows something about
a situation, the way someone feels etc
ways of saying that one specific detail or fact
is a sign of something more important or
more general
ways of saying that a fact or situation shows
that something is likely t,o be true, to exist, or
to happen
to be a sign that someone or something has
good qualities
to be a sign that someone or something has
bad qualities
to be a sign of something that is going to
happen
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1
ways of saying that a fact, statement, or
someone's behaviour shows something about
a situation, the way someone feels etc
show reveal
be a sign make it clear
mean demonstrate
indicate betray
show ISoI Iv T not in progressive]
show (sb) how/what/why It cost $5000 to repair the car
- that shows how bad the damage was! [ It showsyou what
they think of their customers, if they can't even be bothered
to answer your letter! I show that The piles of shells show
that this building was probably part of a Roman dyeworks. [
The polls clearly show that the voters are dissatisfied with
the present government. [ show sth Her nervousness is
shown by her tendency to laugh a lot in public.
be a sign/bi:  sam/if something is a sign of something
else it shows it, but the connection between the two is not
always completely clear Iv phrase]
be a sign that When a dog wags his tail it. 's a sign that he's
happy. I be a sign of The public opposition to the airport
is a sign of how much people's attitudes have changed in the
last twenty years. [ be a sure sign of/that (=be a clear sign)
The President pursed her lips, a sure sign of displeasure. I
take sth as a sign that (=decide that it shows something)
If you are late for the interview, they will take it as a sign
that you are not interested in the job.
mean/mi:n/to be a clear sign that something is happen-
ing, has happened, or is true Iv T not in progressive or in
passive]
mean (that) There's no letter from Jess. That means he
couldn't have got our letter. [ This sort of behaviour means
that the child is definitely unhappy. [ mean sth Cloudy water
from the taps usually means problems with your storage
tank.
indicate /  ndkeit/to be a sign that something is likely,
but not certain Iv T not in progressive]
indicate that Yes, I'm afraid the circumstances do seem to
indicate that Richard committed suicide. I indicate sth
about What do these quotations indicate about the proba-
ble reliability of the document? l indicate sth The jaw struc-
ture of the stegosaurus fossils indicates a vegetarian diet.
reveal/r vi:l/to show something which most people did
not know or realize [v T not in progressive]
reveal sth The way he spoke in the bar afterwards revealed
prejudice and bitterness that I had never suspected. I
Separate holidays and weekends apart reveal more clearly
than any words the state of their marriage. I reveal how/
why/what etc The President's refusal to meet the press
reveals just how serious the crisis is. ] reveal that The fact
that there are no black officers in the entire regiment reveals
that the army is not serious about its anti-discrimination
policies.
make it clear/tmeIk It 'klIar/to show something very
clearly Iv phrase not in progressive]
make it dear (that) This new evidence makes it clear that
Rourke was acting independently of the others. [ The tone of
the President's statement makes it perfectly clear that he has
no intention of resigning. I make it dear what/why/how
ete The look in her eyes made it clear what she meant.
demonstrate / Idemnstreit/if an event or action demon-
strates a fact, it shows that the fact is true and it is a very
clear example of it Iv T not in progressive]
demonstrate sth The Chernobyl disaster clearly demon-
strates the dangers of nuclear power. [ His commitment to
the company is demonstrated by his work on this project. I
demonstrate that Domingo's performance as Figaro
demonstrates that h is vocal technique has indeed improved
with age.
betray lb trei! to show something about someone's feel-
ings, character, ability etc, especially something bad or
embarrassing that they want to keep hidden Iv T not in
progressive or passive]

SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 1224 SHOW/BE A SIGN OF
Her shaking hands betrayed her nervousness. I Barker's com-
ments on Germany betray a woeful ignorance of history and
recent politics. I His reaction betrayed a surprising vulner-
ability in someone so confident and well-organized.
ways of saying that one specific detail or fact
is a sign of something more important or
more general
be a sign be indicative of
be evidence illustrate
reflect bear witness to
indicate tell
be a sign/bi:  san/[v phrase]
be a sign of Lack of communication is often a sign of
problems in a marriage. I Heavy drinking may be a sign of
a more deep-seatedproblem. I be a sign (that) Redpatches
on the skin can be a sign that the infection is getting worse. I
She's arguing with me again - that's a sign she's getting
better.
be evidence Ibi: levdans/to be a sign that a general
situation, attitude, type of behaviour etc exists [v phrase]
be evidence of Changes in sexual laws in recent years are
evidence of a gradual movement towards tolerance and
understanding. I Writing a will is not evidence of a morbid
obsession with death. I be evidence that Journalists argue
that being attacked by both sides is evidence that their cover-
age is fair.
reflect Ir ' flekt/if something reflects a situation or fact,
it shows that the situation or fact exists, especially because
it is a direct result of it [v T not in progressive]
The three-year guarantee reflects the company's confidence
in the quality of its products. [ The 2-1 final score hardly
reflects the ease with which Manchester United won. [ reflect
what/why/how ete The rising crime rate clearly reflects
what's going on in our society. [ be reflected in The culture
of a nation is always reflected in its language.
indicate/I ndkelt/a word used especially in technical,
scientific, or medical contexts meaning to be a sign that
a particular situation exists [v T not in progressive]
indicate that The first results from the test indicate that the
original laser was not powerful enough. I I think these
responses indicate that there is a general feeling of dissatis-
faction among voters of all age groups. [ indicate sth The
presence of antibodies in the blood does not necessarily indi-
cate infection with the disease.
be indicative of/bi: :ndktlv or/a formal expression
meaning to be a sign of something, but not definitely or
clearly [v phrase]
Persistent abdominal pain may be indicative of appendici-
tis. [ The absence of any famous female composers is more
indicative of male dominance than male genius.
illustrate/ iIstre:t/to be an example which shows that
a fact is true or that a situation exists [v T not in
progressive]
The Watergate scandal and the resignation of President
Nixon illustrated the power of the media in America. [ The
speed at which Japanese car companies continue to expand
illustrates a difference between British and Japanese manag-
ment styles. I illustrate how/why/what The experiment
illustrates how careful you have to be when interpreting
results.
bear witness to / tbe r tw:tns tu:/a formal expression
meaning to show clearly that something happened in the
past or that something exists in the present [v phrase not
in progressive]
Only a few crumbling walls bear witness to the past great-
ness of the city of Aksum. [ Cracked windows and peeling
paintwork bore witness to years of neglect. [ His neat rooms"
bear witness to a well-ordered mind.
tell/tel/to help you to know, understand, or guess more
about something [v T not in progressive or passive]
tell sb (that) A crack in the wall told me that perhaps the
house was not in such good condition after all. [ tell sb sth
about Now, what can the shape of the jaw tell us about this
creature's feeding habits?
 ways of saying that a fact or situation shows
that something is likely to be true, to exist, or
to happen
suggest imply
point to give the impression
suggest/s'dsest II sg'dsest/Iv T not in progressive]
suggest (that) All the evidence suggests that he is guilty, but
we have no absolute proof. [ The presence of stones and gravel
on the river bed suggests that the water is fast-flowing. I sug-
gest sth There is nothing in the accounts to suggest finan-
cial difficulties.
point to / Ipnt tu:/to show that a particular explanation
for something is likely to be true or that something is likely
to happen in the future Iv T not in progressive orpassive]
The evidence all points to a fatty diet being the main cause
of heart disease in Western countries, i The poor economic
climate and the attitude of leading executives both point to
a grim future.
imply/mpla/if a fact or piece of information, especially
scientific information, implies something, it shows that
it is likely to be true [v T not in progressivel
imply that The results imply that the disease originated in
West Africa. i The existence of radiation in the rock samples
seems" to imply that they are volcanic in origin. I imply sth
Among the ruins there are inscriptions, implying some
degree of literacy even in the 9th century BC.
give the impression/glv 6i m'prej'an/to make people
think that a particular situation exists, even though this
may not actually be true Iv phrase not usually in
progressive ]
give the impression that The luxurious offices gave the
impression that the company had plenty of money to spare. I
He has a nervous habit of looking over his shoulder all the
time which gives the impression that he's not really listen-
ing to what you are saying. [ give the impression of All
this splendour and ceremony may at first give the impression
of high culture and sophistication.
4 to be a sign that someone or something has
good qualities
show reflect well on
be a tribute to be testimony to
say a lot for
show IIaol [v T not in progressive]
show sth His performance shows great talent. [ show how/
what Ten records were broken at the European Games,
which just shows how high the standard was.
be a tribute to/bi:  tribju:t tu:/ifa fact or achievement
is a tribute to someone or something, it shows their good
qualities because it is a result of those qualities [v phrase]
It was a tribute to her teaching methods that most of the chil-
dren passed the tests. [ That the book was ever finished was
a tribute to the patience and dedication of all concerned. [
She displayed a discretion which was a remarkable tribute
to the influence of her training.
say a lot for/se  lot f3: r II -Ila:t-/if a fact or achieve-
ment says a lot for someone or something, it shows very
clearly that they have good qualities [v phrase not in
progressive]
it says a lot for sb/sth that It says a lot for Banks that he
decided to finish the race even though he had no hope of win-
ning. i It says a lot for the strength of their relationship that
they can be very honest and critical about each other's faults. I
say a lot for sth/sb Recovering from such a severe setback
says a lot for her strength of character.
reflect well on/r flekt wel on/if an action or event
reflects well on a person or organization, it shows that
they have good qualities and that this makes people's opin-
ion of them improve Iv phrase not usually in progressivel
Military success always reflects well on the government in
power at the time. i This win reflects well on the growing
strength of our young players.

SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 1225 SHOW/LET SB SEE STH
be testimony to/bi: 'testmoni tu: II -mooni-/a formal
expression: if something is testimony to the power,
strength, skill etc of someone or something, it shows that
these qualities really exist, because it could not have been
produced without them Iv phrase]
The incredible precision of the equipment is testimony to the
mechanical skill of the engineers who built it. I The chame-
leon lizard is striking testimony to the power of natural
selection.
5
to be a sign that someone or something has
bad qualities
show
be a reflection on
be a comment on
be a symptom of
be symptomatic of
be an indictment of
not say much for/
not say a lot for
reflect badly on/
not reflect well on
make a mockery of
sign of the times
show/o/iv T not in progressive]
show sth His approach to the problem showed a complete
lack of understanding. I show how/what Inflation is run-
ning at 60%. That shows just how weak the economy is.
be a reflection on/bi: a ri 'flekjan on/ifa bad situation
or a bad result is a reflection on someone, it shows their
character or abilities in an unfavourable way, especially
because it seems to be their fault Iv phrase]
The fact that we a/l failed the test was a reflection on our
teacher, Mr Forbes. I When children are criticized, mothers
often see it as a reflection on themselves. I It was no reflec-
tion on the actors that the play was a flop. It was badly writ-
ten and badly directed.
be a comment on/bi:  'koment on II -'ko:-/to be a sign
of something bad, especially problems or changes which
affect all of society Iv phrase]
The large amount of sex and violence in most movies is a
comment on the changing tastes of the movie-going public. I
News programmes are nearly always about our own coun-
try, which is a comment on the way in which we view the out-
side world. I be a sad comment on The food queues were
a sad comment on the quality of life in the new republic.
be a symptom of/bi:  'smptm ov/ifa small problem
is a sympton of a more serious or general problem, it
shows that the more serious or general problem exists
Iv phrase l
Noisy classrooms are a symptom of a breakdown in
authority. I The rising crime rate is a symptom of social
unrest, not of moral degeneration.
be symptomatic of/bi: ,smpto'metik ov/ a formal
expression: if a problem is symptomatic of a more seri-
ous or general problem, it shows that the more serious or
general problem exists Iv phrase]
Her irritation seems symptomatic of something deeper, i
Increasing divorce is symptomatic of a growing instability
in sexual relationships.
be an indictment of/bi: n In'daItmant ov/to be a very
clear sign that a system, plan etc is very bad, very wrong,
or not working in the way it should Iv phrase]
The numbers of homeless people sleeping on the streets is a
real indictment of our society. I be a glaring indictment
of (=be a very clear sign of something bad) This shocking
miscarriage of justice is a glaring indictment of the entire
British legal system.
nol say much forlnol say a lot for/not sei 'mAtJ fz:r,
not se:  'lot fz:r II -']o:t-/if you say something does not say
much for someone or something, you mean it shows that
they are not as good, skilful etc as they should be Iv phrase
not in progressive]
Only a quarter of the class passed the exam, which doesn't
say much for the quality of the teaching. I The way your par-
ents have reacted to your divorce doesn't say much for them,
does it? I The referee's decisions didn't say much for his
impartiality.
reflecl badly on/not reflect well on/ri ,flekt 'bmdli
on, not r: ,flekt 'wel on/if an action or event reflects badly
on a person or organization, it shows that they have bad
qualities and that this has a damaging effect on what people
think of them Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
The way that the refugees have been treated reflects very
badly on the government. I Not one of those arrested was ever
charged, which doesn't reflect well on the officers who inves-
tigated the case.
make a mockery of/,meik g mokari ov II -'mo:k-/to
show that something such as a system, plan, or idea is com-
pletely worthless, false, stupid, or ineffective Iv phrase]
If that man gets released it will make a mockery of our legal
system. I These figures from the personnel department make
a mockery of our equal opportunities policy. I Disharmony
among the permanent members made a mockery of the Secu-
rity Council's name and peace-keeping function.
sign of the times/,sawn av ba 'taimz/if you say that
something is a sign of the times, you mean it shows how
bad society has become, because it is typical of society at
the present time In phrase]
All the houses around here have burglar alarms now. I sup-
pose it's a sign of the times. I They've turned our local church
into a night club - it's a sign of the times isn't it?
6 to be a sign of something that is going to
happen
mean bode well/ill
herald spell
mean/mi:n/[v T not in progressive or passive]
mean sth Dark clouds usually mean rain. I mean (that)
High interest rates and high inflation mean a recession is
not far away.
herald / 'herld/a word used especially in literature or in
newspapers meaning to be a sign that something is going
to happen soon, especially something important Iv T not
in progressive]
Suddenly the bombing stopped, which heralded the start of
another ground attack. I The charter for women's rights
adopted in 1986 was supposed to herald a new emphasis on
women in future elections. I In February the first storks
arrive, heralding spring.
bode well/ill/,bod 'wel, 'ill a formal word meaning to
be a sign that something good or bad is likely to happen
in the future Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
bode well/ill for All these successes bode well for the
future. I The judge is in afoul temper, which bodes ill for the
defendant. I bode ill/well Gandalf's late arrival did not
bode well.
spell I spell if a situation or action spells trouble, problems
etc, it makes you expect that something bad will happen,
because there are clear signs that it will Iv T not inprogres-
sive or passive]
An increase in nuclear power could spell disaster for the coal
industry. I The company has high wage costs and low turn-
over. This spells problems. I The barman is phoning the
police. That spells trouble.
SHOW/LET SB SEE
STH
to let someone see something, for example
by holding it out so that they can look at it
to let someone see something by removing a
cover, opening something etc
to show someone something that you want
them to see, for example because you are
proud of having it
to show someone where a place or thing is
to show someone a house, building, or other
place by taking them around it
ways of saying that a machine, piece of
equipment, or sign shows information,
measurements etc continued

SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1226 SHOW/LET SB SEE STH
SHOW/LET SB SEE
STH continued
7 to show something publicly to a lot of people,
for example a work of art or a new product
8 an event at which things are shown publicly,
for example works of art or new products
1 to let someone see something, for example
by holding it out so that they can look at it
show present
let sb see produce
let sb have a look flash
show l.[ul Iv T]
show sb sth Show him your ticket, Charlie. I "'I'm engaged
now, "' she said, showing the others her ring. I Have you cut
your finger? Show me. I show sth to sb He got out a photo
of his wife and showed it to me. I show sth All passes must
be shown on entering the building.
let sb see/llet (sb) 'st:/[v phrase]
Let me see the menu. ] Can I see your passport, please (=please
show it to me). I She won't let us see what she's painting until
it's finished.
let sb have a look/let (sb) hav  Ilok/to show some-
thing to someone, especially so that they can look at it
closely, for example in order to fix it [v phrase]
let sb have a look at Let me have a look at your necklace.
Perhaps I can fix it. I Are you having problems with your
homework? Let me have a look at it. I let sb have a look "'My
back hurts doctor. .... Well, take off your shirt and let me have
a look. ""
present/pr 'zent/to show something such as an official
document or ticket to someone in an official position [v T]
present sth to sb All passports must be presented to the
immigration officer. I present sth Please present your
boarding card at the gate.
produce/pmdju:s [[ -'du:s/to take something such as a
ticket or official paper out of your pocket or bag and show
it to someone in an official position [v T]
The policeman wanted to see Tom "s permit, and he produced
it from his insidejacket pocket, i "'Can you produce a licence
for that gun, sir?" the officer asked.
flash/fle/to very quickly show something such as a
ticket to someone when entering or leaving a place [v T]
flash sth He flashed his membership card as he went
through the door of the club. I I opened the door to a plain-
clothes policeman, who flashed his card. [ flash sth at sb
She flashed her ticket at the inspector, hoping he wouldn't
notice that it was out of date.
2 to let someone see something by removing a
cover, opening something etc
show
expose
reveal
show/j'o/to let someone see something such as a part
of the body or piece of clothing that is not usually seen
[v I/T]
Does my bra strap show? [ show sth You should respect the
local culture and not show too much flesh on the beach.
expose/kspoz/to let someone see something that is
usually covered [v T]
expose sth The animal opened its mouth to expose a row
of sharp white teeth. [ The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up,
exposing forearms covered with auburn hair. [ expose sth
to In Protestant tradition, everything that happened at
school was above board and exposed to public view.
reveal /r vi:l/ to let someone see something that is
usually hidden or which they did not know was there [v T]
She lifted the lid of the box to reveal a life sized baby doll. i
Her jacket was open, revealing a polo shirt with a little
embroidered emblem on the pocket.
3 to show someone something that you want
them to see, for example because you are
proud of having it
show off parade
flourish flaunt
show off/,o 'of II -':f/to show someone or something
that you are proud of to other people [phr v T]
show offsb/sth He only gave me a lift home to show off his
new car. I show sth/sb/it/her etc off The jacket was
designed to show off his broad shoulders and narrow waist.[
show sth/sb offto sb The proud father wanted to show his
new baby off to everybody.
flourish /'flAr II fl3:r/to wave something in your
hand in order to make people notice it [v T]
She came in excitedly flourishing a letter with her exam
results. [ George flourished a $50 bill and told the taxi driver
to drive as fast as possible.
parade/p Ired/if someone parades another person, they
show that person in public for others to see, usually
proudly or as if they own them [v T]
The captured soldiers were paraded through the streets of
the city. [ The senator Ioves parading his beautiful new wife
before the nation.
flaunt/fl:nt II fl:nt, fla-.nt/to let people see your valuable
possessions so that they know you are rich or successful
[vT]
He's a very rich man but he doesn't like to flaunt his wealth
or waste his money. I Jean comes into our shop each week,
flaunting her jewellery and expensive clothes.
I 4 to show someone where a place or thing is
I
 show mark
1 point out indicate
I
 point to
show Iol Iv T]
show sb where The secretary showed him where to hang
his coat. I Can you show me exactly where the accident hap-
pened? l show sb sth Uncle Joe showed me the best place to
go fishing. I show sb the way I'll show you the way to the
station. It's not far.
point out /,pant aot/ to show someone a particular
person or thing that you want them to notice, especially
by pointing with your finger [phr v T]
point out sth/sb As we drove through Baltimore she
pointed out the house where she was born. [ point sb/sth/it/
her ere out Which one's your boss? Can you point her out?[
point out sth/sb to sb "'Aren't they beautiful?" said the
guide, pointing out the paintings on the ceiling to us.
point to /pant tu:/to show someone where something is
by holding out your finger towards it [v T not in passive]
He took out a map and pointed to the island. [ "The whiskey's
over there, "'Katie said, pointing to a bottle on the table. [ She
pointed to a man in the corner of the room. "'That's the guy
you want to speak to. ""
mark/mo:rk/to show where something is by putting an
object there or making a mark Iv T]
Michael had given us a map of the city and marked some
places of interest to visit. [ The church marks the spot where
St Peter died. [ He put a slip of paper in his book to mark
his page.
indicate/ndket/to show where something or some-
one is by pointing with part of your body [v I/T]
"'Have a seat, "" he said, indicating the chair near his desk. [
'7 want to plant flowers from here to here, "" she indicated
with her hands. [ "'That's my boss, "" he said, indicating with
a nod of his head.

SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 1227 SHOW/LET SB SEE STH
 to show someone a house, building, or other
place by taking them around it
show sb sth
show sb around
conduct
show sb sth I'fu (sb) (sth)/Iv T]
Let me show you the garden. I The guide showed us all the
famous sights in the city. I The real estate agent showed them
house after house, but they couldn't find one they liked.
show sb around (also show sb round in British
English) / ,j'o (sb) ()' raond/to show someone the interest-
ing or important parts of a place or building when they first
visit it [phr v T]
show sb around the house/the town ete He showed Mar-
garet all around his new house. [ In the afternoon, we were
shown around the Kennedy Space Center. [ show sb
around/round She'd never seen Oxford before so I offered
to show her round.
conduct/kn Id^kt/to show someone a building or place
on an official tour Iv T]
conduct sb around The visitors were conducted around the
factory by senior managers. [An officer was sent to conduct
the journalists around the shattered building. [ a conducted
tour (=when an official guide shows people a place) We
went on a conducted tour of the castle.
6
ways of saying that a machine, piece of
equipment, or sign shows information,
measurements etc
show say
display register
indicate
show I.[ul [v T]
show sth The airline's passenger brochure shows air-routes,
aircraft speeds and arrival and departure times. [ A menu
showing all your options will appear on the computer
screen.[ show that The graph shows that gas volume
increases with temperature.
display/dI Isple/ifa computer or a notice displays infor-
mation, it shows the information so that it can be seen
clearly [v T]
The computer displays the date in the top right corner. [ If
you press key 'F' the graph is displayed on the screen. [ There
was a noticeboard displaying job vacancies and information
on how to apply for them.
indicate /  mdken/if an instrument for measuring indi-
cates information, it shows the information Iv T]
The thermometer on the wall indicated a temperature well
over 30°C. [ This gauge indicates oil pressure in the engine.
say Isel an informal word meaning to show a particular
distance, time, speed etc Iv T not in passive]
When we left the house the clock said 3 o'clock. [ We had
already driven 300 miles and I was surprised to see that the
petrol gauge still said half-full.
register / red3I str/if a piece of equipment registers a
particular speed, distance, time etc, the speed, or distance
reaches a particular point on the equipment's scale [v T]
We were in the hottest place on earth, with the thermometer
registering 55 degrees. [ The tiny voltmeter registered the
voltage in the machine as normal.
7 to show something publicly to a lot of people,
for example a work of art or a new product
show exhibit
display be on show/
put sth on show/ on display
on display unveil
show /j'o/ to show something such as paintings or
interesting objects publicly to a lot of people Iv T]
She wants to show her paintings at the Institute of Contem-
porary Art. [ Some of Bresson's best photographs are being
shown at the National Portrait Gallery this month.
display/dsplei/to show goods for sale in a shop, or
works of art or interesting objects in a public place, espe-
cially by arranging them in an attractive way Iv T]
The store windows were displaying the latest spring
fashions. [ Most of the city's leading artists display their work
in the local art gallery. [ Colourful market stalls displayed
gleaming vegetables and polished fruits.
put sth on show/on display/pot (sth) Dn o, Dn
d  spleq to put works of art or interesting objects in a public
place where people can look at them [v phrase]
Mr Hughes has offered to put his private art collection on dis-
play at the Museum of Fine Arts. [ New products will be put
on show in the visitor's centre.
exhibit/gzbt/to show a special collection of paintings,
photographs etc in a public place where people can look at
them Iv T]
Picasso's paintings have been exhibited in galleries and
museums all over the world. [ The gallery exhibits mainly
contemporary sculpture and photography.
exhibit In C] All exhibits (=objects being shown) are listed
in the catalogue.
be on show/on display/bi: n IJo, n dspleq if
works of art, new products, or interesting objects are on
display, they have been put in a public place where people
can look at them Iv phrase]
Mercedes' new model will be on display this weekend. [
Several famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci are on show
at the National Gallery.
unveil/^n ved/unveil a plan/proposal/new model etc
(=publicly show or make known a new product, plan etc
for the first time) Iv T]
GM's new solar-powered car was unveiled at last month's
Geneva auto show. [ The government has unveiled its plans
for the future of Britain's armed forces.
8 an event at which things are shown publicly,
for example works of art or new products
show display
exhibition presentation
show I.[ul an event where a collection of things such as
works of art or industrial products are shown in public
[nC]
The show features paintings and sculpture by leading
artists. [ I was given a ticket for a fashion show at the Design
Center. [ show of The museum is putting on a show of
Arbus's early photographs.
exhibition (also exhibit in American English)/,eks I-
'ban, gzbt/a public show of a special collection of
objects, especially works of art or industrial products In C I
All the photographs in the exhibition are for sale. I Milan
is hosting an international trade exhibition this month. I
exhibition/exhibit of Davis is organizing an exhibit of
paintings by contemporary black artists.
display/d sple/a public show of art, dance, or other
objects and activities, especially to entertain or inform
people In C]
There will be a bigfirework display for the President's birth-
day. [ display of The festival of Luchia is a dazzling display
of the art, music and dance of an ancient culture. [At the
Commonwealth Institute is a display of Shona sculpture
from Zimbabwe.
presentation / prezan tefan i[ pri:zen-, -zan-I an event
at which something such as anew product or a new policy
is made public, and described and explained In C]
The new software package was launched with a major
presentation to all the sales staff. [ give a presentation I've
been asked to give a presentation to the senior management,
to explain the new employment legislation.

SHOW OFF 1228 shut
show off
SHOW OFF
to behave in a way that attracts other people's
attention, because you want to make them
admire your abilities, your possessions etc
1 to show off
2 someone who shows off
3 words for describing someone who likes to let
everyone see how rich, successful, or clever
they are
1 to show off
show off
flash your money around
show off/,o 'f II -':f/[phr v I]
He doesn't usually drive as fast as this. He's just showing off
because you're here. [ Billy, will you stop showing off and
sit down quietly like the other children: [ show off to sb We
used to wear as much make-up as we dared, in order to show
off to our friends. [ show off in front of sb I think he was
trying to show off in front of the girls.
flash your money around/,flajzr 'mani raond/an
informal expression meaning to show off by letting people
see that you have a lot of money, especially by spending
it unnecessarily [v phrase]
He's always flashing his money around. Yesterday he bought
three bottles of champagne and told us to share them between
US.
2 someone who shows off
show-off flamboyant
poseur dramatic
exhibitionist
show-off/'ou Df II -o:f/In C]
He loves driving around in his dad's BMW - he's a real
show-off. [ You have to be a bit of a show-off to be an actor. ]
Yes, we all know about your brilliant qualifications - now
shut up and stop being such a show-off.
poseur/po'z3:r/someone who behaves in a certain way
because they think that it makes them seem fashionable,
clever, or well-educated and they want people to admire
them [n C]
He doesn't like classical music, but he always plays it when
he has visitors. What a poseur!
exhibitionist /,eks I'b]j'anst/ someone who publicly
behaves in a way in which most people would usually only
behave in private, in order to attract attention [n C]
Don't invite Jerry and Vicky around - they're complete
exhibitionists, always kissing and cuddling at the table. I I've
always liked singing for an audience - I suppose I'm just an
exhibitionist.
flamboyant/flem'bint/someone who is flamboyant
behaves, performs, or dresses in an extremely confident,
stylish way that makes other people notice them [adj]
On stage he was flamboyant and shocking, yet in private he
was shy and introverted. I She was wearing a flamboyant
costume made of feathers and beads. I Lombardi was never
:flamboyant, he simply exercised a quiet control over the rest
of the team.
dramatic/dm'matk/dramatic entrance/exit/gesture
ete (=done in a loud or very noticeable way that is intended
to get people's attention) [adj only before noun]
Rumpole produced the evidence with a dramatic flourish. [
I'll never forget Rosa's dramatic entrance, when she swept
into the room that night dressed as Cleopatra.
3 words for describing someone who likes to let
everyone see how rich, successful, or clever
they are
ostentatious
flashy
pretentious
ostentatious /,Dstan'te,os II ,o:-/ doing things or
buying things only in order to show people that you have
a lot of money, because you want them to admire you or
be jealous of you [adj]
I decided not to wear my new fur coat. I didn't want to seem
ostentatious. [ The Marcos's were famous for their lavish
displays of ostentatious wealth.
ostentatiously [adv] There were people at college who
would ostentatiously park their Lamborghinis outside.
flashy /  flai/spending a lot of money unnecessarily and
always wearing expensive clothes, driving expensive cars,
etc in a way that other people disapprove of [adj]
We get some very flashy dressers coming here in the even-
ings. [ The Herberts were a flashy, noisy couple, that many
of the other neighbours snobbishly avoided.
flashily lady] There were a couple of flashily-dressed
tourists sitting in the lobby.
pretentious/pr tenas/doing something in a way that
is intended to show how artistic or well-educated you are,
in order to make people admire you [adj]
I think it's a little pretentious of him to keep the complete
works of Proust in his bathroom. I Even her poetry is preten-
tious, full of references to mythical Nordic fertility goddesses.
pretentiousness [n U] Churchill was intolerant of intel-
lectual pretentiousness of any kind.
pretentiously [adv] "Tamburlaine? C'est moi, "' he once
remarked pretentiously in a TV interview.
showbiz PERFORM 8
showdown ARGUE 5
shower GIVE 13, PARTY 1, WASH 2
shower: have a shower/take a shower WASH 2
showpiece BEST 5
shows promise: promising/shows promise GOOD AT 6
shred CUT 6, TEAR 2
shreds: be in shreds TEAR 4
shreds: tear/rip sth to shreds TEAR 2
shreds: tear to shreds CRITICIZE 2
shrewd INTELLIGENT 4
shriek SCREAM 1, 2, 3
shriek: let out a scream/shriek SCREAM 1
shriek with laughter: roar/howl/shriek with laughter
LAUGH 5
shrill HIGH SOUND OR VOICE 1
shrink DOCTOR 3, SMALL 5
shrivel/shrivel up DRY 3, SMALL 5
shrouded: be veiled in secrecy/shrouded in secrecy
SECRET 2
shrouded/veiled in mystery MYSTERIOUS 1
shrug off DON'T CARE 1, IGNORE 1
shudder SHAKE 2, 3
shuffle WALK 5
shun REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 6
shunt MOVE STH OR SB 2
shut SHUT/CLOSE 1, 3, 7
shut: be shut/be closed SHUT/CLOSE 8

shut 1229 SHUT/CLOSE
shut: close/shut SHUT/CLOSE 2, 4
shut: push/kick/slide etc sth shut SHUT/CLOSE 1
shut: slide/blow/slam etc shut SHUT/CLOSE 2
shut out ENTER 9, IGNORE 4
shut sb up QUIET6
shut up KEEP SB IN A PLACE 1, QUIET 7, TALK TO SB 18
shut your eyes to/close your eyes to IGNORE 3
=: -wmЈ ! ,,@o  SHUT/CLOSE
..... " . '" . • :" - ":* - ";;:":;i,;;,,: -: ,, r";,-,,.-:,-:..: :.:-:.., -.,...-. ,, ::
container,: .bU:lldl.Bg ;;;;;;,%ii;i:;L.4:; ;
:;47%;@:V:?.., • ........... ,.  ......................... . .......
:.fasten a piece'Sof ::.!:-,.--,?,, . FASTEN/DO UP
" "   iii;,,;':;:iii"5; ,.',:'.,,.}:.::. ': :::."iiii;ii?  :,. ';:: ::":" ':,Ј ,,..."
@ SHUT/CLOSE
1 to shut a door, window, gate etc
2 ways of saying that a door, window, gate etc
shuts
3 to shut a container, such as a box, case, or
bottle
4 to shut your eyes or mouth
5 to shut something so that it cannot be opened
or so that people cannot come in
6 to close an entrance or opening by putting
something into it
7 words for describing a door, entrance, lid etc
that has been shut
8 words for describing a shop, office etc that is
not open for business
1 to shut a door, window, gate etc
shut push/kick/slide etc sth shut
close pull/push the door to
slam draw
shut Itl [v T]
Come in and shut the door behind you. I Someone had shut
the gate to stop the sheep getting out into the road. I She heard
Charlotte downstairs shutting the windows, and locking up
for the night.
close Iklguzl to shut a door, window, gate etc, especially
when you do it gently or quietly Iv T]
Marie covered the child with a blanket and quietly left the
room, closing the door gently. I It was getting dark, and the
old man closed the curtains, before settling down to read his
book. I I went out on to the veranda to close the shutters.
slam/slm/to shut a door violently, so that it makes a
loud noise, especially because you are angry Iv T]
He didn't speak but left the room, slamming the door behind
him. I She slammed the door so hard that the glass cracked.
push/kick/slide etc sth shut/(push, etc) (sth) ^t/to
push, kick, slide etc something so that it shuts [v phrase]
The woman pushed the door shut with her foot. I It started
raining, so I quickly pulled the window shut. I "'Sorry, we're
closed, "" said the official, sliding the wooden panel shut.
pull/push the door to /pol, poJ b d:): r 'tu:/to move
a door so that it is almost shut [v phrase]
"'Tell me what's wrong, "" I said, pulling the door to. I She
pushed the door to against the blinding sunlight.
draw/dra:/draw the curtains (=close curtains by pull-
ing them across a window) Iv T]
Let's draw the curtains. We don't want people looking in. [
In Nancy's room the curtains were drawn but light came in
around the edges.
2 ways of saying that a door, window, gate etc
shuts
close/shut
slam
slide/blow/slam etc shut
close/shut/kloz, j'^t/if a door, window, gate etc closes
or shuts, it moves so that the entrance or opening is no
longer open Iv I]
The door closed behind him. [ There was a bang as the gates
shut.
slam/slm/if a door slams it shuts violently, making a
loud noise Iv I]
They heard the front door slam. I Car doors slammed, and
voices called, "'What's happened?"
slide/blow/slam etc shut/(slide, etc) 'j'^t/if a door,
window, gate etc slides, blows, slams etc shut, it shuts
by moving in that way Iv phrase]
The window suddenly blew shut, with a loud bang. [ The
elevator doors silently slid shut.
 to shut a container, such as a box, case, or
bottle
shut
put the lid on
screw on
shut/^t/[v ]
As the teacher appeared, Matt shut the box quickly. I Rus-
sell shut his briefcase with a snap, and the meeting was over.
put the lid on/.pot  ld n/to shut a container such
as a bottle or box by putting a lid onto it Iv phrasel
put the lid on sth Put the lid on the cookie jar when you've
finished with it! I put the lid on If you leave cooked food in
a pan, you should always put the lid on.
screw on/,skru: on II -a:nl screw on a lid/top/cap
(=shut a container such as a bottle by putting the lid on and
turning it round and round until it cannot be turned any
more) [phr v T]
screw on sth I screwed on the top of the bottle as tightly as
I could. I screw sth back on The fuel tank cap hadn't been
screwed back on properly, and it came off when I drve
away. I screw sth/it/them on She screwed the lid of the jar
on again.
4 to shut your eyes or mouth
close/shut
close/shut/ldoz, ^t/[v T]
He shut his eyes and listened to the music. [ Ella opened her
mouth to speak, but closed it again when she saw his face.
 to shut something so that it cannot be opened
or so that people cannot come in
lock bar
bolt lock sb out
lock/lok II le:k/to shut something such as a door, window,
or box by turning a key in a lock Iv T]
As she left the house she locked the door. I Don't forget to lock
the car. I He locked the safe and put the key in his pocket.
bolt/bolt/to shut a door by sliding a small metal bar
across both the door and its frame so that it cannot be
opened from the other side Iv T]
My husband always bolts all the doors before going to bed.
bar Iba:r/to shut a door or window and put a bar, a piece
of wood, etc across it so that people cannot get in or out Iv T]
The owner of the house had barred the back door. [ Some of
the survivors said that one of the fire exits had been barred.

SHUT/CLOSE 1230 SHY
lock sb out/llDk (sb) laot II la:k-/to prevent someone
from entering a room or building by locking the door Iv
phrase]
If she wasn't home by midnight her father would lock her
out. [ lock yourself out (=accidentally lock yourself out)
We always leave a key with a neighbour in case we lock
ourselves out.
6 to close an entrance or opening by putting
something into it
block up
plug/plug up
seal
block up/,blok 'np II ,bla=k-/to put something into a hole
or entrance so that it is permanently closed [phr v T]
block sth/it/them up Martha tried to block the mouse
holes up, but new ones kept appearing. [ block up sth Some
of the windows in the church had been blocked up. [ He
blocked up the entrance to the tunnel with stones.
plug/plug up/ping, plng np/to put something into a
hole in order to stop a liquid from getting through Iv T]
We tried to plug the hole in the bottom of the boat with a plas-
tic bag. [ They didn't have enough material to plug up the
gaps around the pipe.
seal/si:l/to close an entrance or container with something
that completely prevents air or water from getting in or out
[vT]
If you seal the jars well, the jam will keep for months or even
years. [ In this experiment, the chamber must be completely
sealed.
7 words for describing a door, entrance, lid etc
that has been shut
shut bolted
locked sealed
shut Intl [adj not before noun]
Make sure all the windows are shut before you go out. i The
huge iron gates were shut, and there was no other way in. ]
The lid was shut tight, and wouldn't open.
locked/lokt [i la:kt/something that is locked has been
shut using a key [adj]
Jamie tried the door. "It's locked, "" he said. JAil office wor-
kers should keep their personal belongings in a locked
drawer. I I need my coat out of your car - is it locked?
bolted/boltd/a door that is bolted has been shut by
using a metal bar that slides across and prevents the door
from being opened from the other side [adj]
The door's bolted, we'll have to break it down. [ Burglars can
always find a way in, in spite of bolted doors and windows.
sealed/skid/shut with something that prevents air or
water from getting in or out [adj]
Plants cannot survive in a sealed jar. i Sealed nuclear waste
containers are then enclosed in concrete.
8 words for describing a shop, office etc that is
not open for business
be shut/be closed
be shut/be closed Ibi: 'nt, bi: 'kbozd/ifa shop, office,
etc is closed or shut, it is not open for business at this par-
ticular time Iv phrase]
You'd better hurry, or the post office will be shut by the time
you get there. [ The ticket office was closed. [ A sign on the
door said "'Closed for lunch. "'[ It was midnight, and all the
stores were shut.
; shy SHY 1
.; shy away from
AVOID 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
SHY
1 not confident about talking to people,
especially people you do not know
2 words for describing someone who does not
want to be too friendly or does not like talking
about their feelings
3 to stop being shy
4 shy feelings or behaviour
1 not confident about talking to people,
especially people you do not know
shy coy
bashful diffident
timid
shy/j'a/[adj]
When Paul first arrived at the school he was extremely shy
and nervous. [ Carrie looked up at him and gave him a shy
smile. [ I wanted to ask for his autograph, but was too shy. [
shy with girls/boys/adults etc (=shy when you are talk-
ing to girls, boys etc) Because little Danny spent all his time
with his mother, he was rather shy with men.
shyly [ adv ] The girl returned Victor's greeting rather shyly.
bashful I'bmfall someone who is bashful is unwilling
to give their opinions or do something that they would
enjoy, especially because they are embarrassed, or afraid
that they will look stupid [adj]
Don't be bashful, tell me what you think. [ Kirsty gave Willy
a bashful grin. [ Alice was too bashful to admit that she had
won a place at college.
bashfully [adv] Bashfully, he kissed the bride lightly on her
cheek.
t|mld/ tmId/frightened to talk to people or unwilling to
give your opinions, especially because you are young and
lack confidence [adj]
Carl was straight out of school and very timid, and did not
know how to talk to girls. I Tracey was far too timid to pro-
test at his unreasonable behaviour. I She reminded herself
that she was an adult woman, not a timid teenager.
timidly [adv ] The little girl peered out timidly from behind
her mother's skirts.
coy /kq someone, especially a woman, who is coy,
deliberately behaves in a shy way because they think it is
attractive [ adj l
Teresa blushed when she saw me and turned very coy. I Her
mother encouraged her to use her feminine charm, to be coy
and alluring.
coyly [advl "'Oh I don't know if I could do that. t" she said
coyly.
d|ffident / dffdanq shy about your own achievements or
abilities, so that you do not like talking about them or doing
things that show them [adj]
When the conversation turned to the subject of Shaun's pro-
motion, he became noticeably diffident.
diffidently [ adv ] "'I couldn't possibly do an article for your
magazine, "" said Irene diffidently, '7 don't write any more. ""
2 words for describing someone who does not
want to be too friendly or does not like talking
about their feelings
reserved in trove rted
withdrawn inhibited
reserved/ri z3:rvd/not wanting to be too friendly or to
show your feelings to other people, especially because you
have been taught to think this is the correct way to behave
[adj]
English people have a reputation for being rather reserved. I
Sam's father was a grey-haired man in his late 50s, cool and
reserved, but polite enough.

SHY 1231 SICK/VOMIT
reserve [n U[ Americans have a certain lack of reserve
(=they are not reserved) that some people find threatening.
withdrawn /w6'dm:n, wiO-/ not wanting to talk to
anyone, especially because you are upset or unhappy [adj]
After her husband died Priscilla became very withdrawn
and seldom left her home. [ Many patients are severely with-
drawn and have great difficulty in coping with the outside
world. [ He'd always been an unhappy, withdrawn little boy.
introverted /  Intmv3:rtoI d/ someone who is introverted
thinks too much about their own interests or problems and
finds it difficult to talk to people [adj]
Peters is just too introverted to be a good manager. [ The
young girl, once so lively, became introverted and developed
a nervous stammer.
introvert [n C[ Chris was a bit of an introvert (=was
introverted) and didn't have many friends.
inhibited / i n h ib I oto I d/shy and unwilling to express your
feelings, especially feelings concerned with sex or with
your own body [adj]
inhibited about Young people of the nineteenth century
were, in general, extremely inhibited about sex. I inhibited
Don't be so inhibited! Just get in there with everyone else. [
Sicilian funerals are, how shall I put it, much less inhibited
than the American variety!
3 to stop being shy
come out of your shell/come out of yourself
bring sb out of their shell/bring sb out
open up
come out of your shell/come out of yourself/m
,aot vv j:r 'el, lm 'aot v j:r,self/to become less shy and
more willing to talk to people, especially as the result of an
experience that has made you more confident Iv phrase]
When he firstjoined the company he was very quiet but now
he's come out of his shell and is the life and soul of the office.[
Since Jolene started night school she's really come out of her-
self - it's as though she's a new person.
bring sb out of their shell/bring sb out/,brI8 (sb)
aot ov 6co r j'el, =brIrj (sb) 'aot/to try to make someone less
shy and more willing to talk to other people [v phrase]
If Nick stayed with you this vacation, perhaps it would bring
him out of his shell a little. [ Emma was always such a shy
girl, but these drama classes have really brought her out.
open up/,opn '^Pl to gradually stop being shy, and
become more willing to talk about yourself [phr v I]
On our third date Melissa began to open up and told me
about her family and about the years she spent in Italy. I
open up to sb Many people find it easier to open up to a
trained professional, such as a counsellor.
4 shy feelings or behaviour
shyness
inhibition
shyness/'anos/In U[
A course in assertiveness could help her overcome her shy-
ness. i Greg wanted to ask Julie for a date, but shyness
always held him back.
inhibition / nh; b;anl an uncomfortable feeling of shy-
ness that makes it difficult for you to behave naturally,
show your feelings, or do things that may be embarrass-
ing In C/U]
I was amazed at Sam's lack of inhibition about singing in
public. [ Inhibition and embarrassment caused her to hide
her naked body. [ lose your inhibitions (=stop having
inhibitions) Alcohol can make you lose all your inhibitions.
}i!i: shyness
il;ii sick
' sick:
! sick:
 sick:
i sick:
'Ji sick:
 sick:
.;. sick:
SHY 4
BAD PERSON 2, ILL 1
be going to be sick SICK/VOMIT 3
be sick/throw up SICK/VOMIT 1
be sick of FED UP1
feel sick SICKNOMIT 3
feel sick/feel sick to your stomach
make you sick ANGRY 8
the sick ILL 6
ILL 4
sick
SICK/VOMIT
1 to bring food or drink up from your stomach
through your mouth because you are ill,
drunk etc
2 to try to vomit or almost vomit
3 words for describing how you feel when you
think you are going to vomit
4 the physical condition of being sick
1 to bring food or drink up from your stomach
through your mouth because you are ill,
drunk etc
be sick/throw up bring up
vomit regurgitate
puke/throw up/barf
be sick (British) I throw up (American)/bi: 'sik, ,Omo
'^p/bring food or drink up from your stomach out through
your mouth because you are ill, drunk etc Iv phrase]
Karen ran into the bathroom to be sick. [ I was violently sick
last night, I think it must have been those prawns we ate. ]
The baby had thrown up all over her mother's blouse. [ It
tasted so awful I almost threw up.
vomit/vomot [[ va:-/a word used especially in a medi-
cal context meaning to bring food or drink up from your
stomach out through your mouth, especially because you
are ill Iv I ]
If the baby starts vomiting contact a doctor immediately. [
Mary suddenly turned pale and vomited.
vomit In U] The car seat was covered with vomit.
puke/throw up (British) I barf (American)/pju:k, ,Oro
'hp, ba:rf/informal words meaning to bring food or drink
up from your stomach out through your mouth because
you are ill, drunk etc Iv I]
Someone at the party threw up all over the bathroom floor. [
I couldn't stand the stench from the river - it made me want
to puke. [ We spent the whole night with bowls by our beds,
barfing.
bring up/bro ^P/to bring food or drink up from your
stomach out through your mouth, especially straight after
eating or drinking [phr v T]
bring up sth It is quite normal for your baby to bring up
some milk after feeding. ] bring sth/it up She was cough-
ing so much she brought all her food up as well as the
phlegm.
regurgitate/r g3:rd3 tet/if birds or animals regurgi-
tate something they have just eaten, they bring it up
through their mouth in order to feed it to their young [v T]
Birds feed their young by regurgitating food into their open
mouths.
I
2 to try to vomit or almost vomit I
retch/heave [
gag
retch/heave /ret, hi:v/ if you retch or heave, your
stomach muscles move in an uncontrollable way as though
you are going to vomit Iv I]

SICK/VOMIT 1232 SIDE
The terrible smell made me retch violently. I The nurse gave
him some milk of magnesia to stop his retching. ! She could
keep nothing down; even water made her stomach heave.
gag/geg/if you gag, your throat moves as though you are
going to vomit, especially because you have tasted or
smelled something very unpleasant Iv I]
The medicine tasted revolting and made him gag. I gag
at/on She wasn't feeling too well and gagged on the first
swallow of her coffee.
 words for describing how you feel when you
think you are going to vomit
feel sick be going to be sick
queasy nauseated
nausea
feel sick / ,rid 'slk/to have the feeling that you are going
to vomit Iv phrase]
If you suddenly feel sick, there's the bowl, okay? l I had no
urge to smoke when I was pregnant, it made me feel sick. I
He developed quite a severe migraine headache and felt very
sick by day three.
queasy / ' kwi.-zi/how you feel in your stomach and head
when you think you are going to vomit [adj]
He felt queasy as soon as the boat started to move. I Just the
thought of all that food's made me feel quite queasy.
nausea/'na:zio, -sio [[ -zio, -j'o/the feeling that you have
when you think you are going to vomit [n U]
Cancer drugs often have unpleasant side effects, such as
nausea and loss of hair. [ Katie inhaled deeply and fought
off nausea.
be going to be sick/bi: ,gooiI] t bi: 'sik/if you feel that
you are going to be sick, you feel that you are going to
vomit very soon [v phrase]
"I think I'm going to be sick, "" said a voice from the back of
the classroom. [ You look very pale - you're not going to be
sick are you?
nauseated /'n3:zieitId/ feeling that you are going to
vomit, especially because you are ill or injured [adj]
His head was aching and he felt feverish and nauseated.
4 the physical condition of being sick
vomiting
morning sickness
vomiting/'vomtIrj II 'va:-/[n U]
Symptoms include dizziness, vomiting and headache. I Per-
sistent vomiting can lead to dehydration.
morning sickness/,m:rmrj 'skns/a feeling of sick-
ness that some women have when they are expecting a
baby, especially when they get up in the morning [n U]
Morning sickness usually disappears after the third month
of pregnancy.
sicken DISGUSTING 3
sickened DISGUSTING 4
sickening DISGUSTING 1
sickly ILL 3
sickly/sickly sweet SWEET 1
sickness: morning sickness
side
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
side:
SICK/VOMIT 4
CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3, PART 9, PLAY A
GAME OR SPORT 4, SIDE 1, 2, SURFACE 1
at the side SIDE 3
at the side of NEXT TO 2
be on sb's side SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP,
OR PLAN 3
by the side of/beside NEXT TO 2
from side to side SIDE 4
have youth/experience etc on your side
ADVANTAGE 3
on its side HORIZONTAL 1
on one side/to one side/to the side SIDE 3
on the side JOB/WORK 5
put sth to one side NOT DO STH 5
to the side/to one side SIDE 3
" side by side NEXT TO 4, TOGETHER 1, 2
- side by side with WITH 3
°= side effect/side-effect RESULT 4
 side issue UNIMPORTANT 3
side with SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 3
SIDE
the part of an object or area that is not in the
middle but is at or near its left or right edge
one of the two areas that are on either side of
a border, wall, river etc
on one side of something
moving towards the side, or from one side to
another
1 the part of an object or area that is not in the
middle but is at or near its left or right edge
side
flank
side/said/[n C]
The dancers came on from both sides of the stage [ Down one
side of the room there was a long row of seats. [ There's a
hardware store on the right side of the road. [ We live on the
south side of town.
flank/fle]k] one of the two sides of an attacking army or
military force In C]
The left flank was made up of New Zealanders and Cana-
dian troops. [ They were waiting to strike at the flank of
Napoleon's army.
2 one of the two areas that are on either side of
a border, wall, river etc
side
side/said/[n C]
This side of the fence is private property. [ The food supply
situation is much worse on the Russian side of the border. [
From the other side of the wall came the sounds of children
playing. [ The stream ran through rich farmland, with fields
of wheat on one side and orchards on the other.
3 on one side of something
on one side/to one at one end
side/to the side to the side/
at the side to one side
on one sidelto one side/to the side/on ,w^n 'said,
to ,w^n said, to 6o 'said/not in the middle of a place or
object but somewhere between the middle and the side [adv
phrase]
On one side there was a small table with bottles and glasses. [
The prisoner was seated a little to one side of the courtroom. [
Away to the side a fountain trickled quietly.
at the side lot 6 'said/next to the side or edge of some-
thing such as a room or road [adv phrase]
at the side of He sat down on a grassy bank at the side of
the road. [ At the side of the stage the director was sitting with
her assistants. [ at the side Fold up the chairs and stack
them neatly at the side.
at one end lot whn 'end/near the edge of a long object
or area, for example a table or a room, and close to the end
of one of the long sides [adv phrase]
at one end of At one end of the hall there was a small plat-
form, and at the other end, a bar. [ They had supper at the
Guards' club, a dozen officers at one end of the long, empty
table. [ at one endA complete set of the works of Proust were
in the middle of the shelf, with a volume of Wordsworth at
one end.
to the side/to one side/to 6o tsald, to ,wan tsald/if
you move something to the side or to one side, you move

SIDE 1233 SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE
it away from the middle of something and towards the side
[ adv phrase]
We lifted the table and dragged it to the side. I Winston
pushed the dictating machine to one side and opened the first
file.
4 moving towards the side, or from one side to
another
sideways rock
from side to side swing
sway
sideways/Isaidwelz/moving towards the side [adv]
The cyclist skidded sideways and hit the kerb. [ He dodged
sideways to get past his brother. [ If you move sideways a
little, we'll have room to sit down.
from side to side/from sad t sad/to one side and
then to the other [adv phrase]
Children and dogs ran from side to side of the garden. I The
tractor swayed from side to side, weaving down the road.
sway/SWel/to move slowly from one side to another, espe-
cially in an irregular or uncontrolled way [v I/
A light wind was making the branches sway. I He had had
too much to drink, and his body swayed as he walked. [ sway
from side to side The ski lifts were swaying alarmingly
from side to side.
rock /rok [[ re:k/ to move repeatedly from one side to
another, with small gentle movements [v I/
Tony rocked in his chair. I a sailboat rocking gently on a
flooding tide I rock from side to side The baby eventually
falls asleep, as the cradle rocks from side to side.
swing/swr]/to move from side to side with long, usually
regular, movements [v I/
Monkeys were swinging in the trees. I swing shut/open
Doors swung shut as hospital porters pushed a patient down
the corridor. I swing from side to side a pendulum swing-
ing from side to side
sidekick WITH 5
sideline JOB/WORK 5
sidelines: on the sidelines TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 11
sides: not take sides FAIR 4
sides: on all sides/on every side AROUND/ROUND 1
sides: take sides SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR
PLAN 3
sidestep/dodge/duck AVOID 5
sidetracked: be/get sidetracked SUBJECT 5
sidewalk ROAD/PATH 6
sideways SIDE 4
sidle up TOWARDS 3
sieve: have a memory like a sieve FORGET 5
sigh BREATHE 5
sight SEE 3, 7, SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 1
sight: be in sight SOON 5
sight: catch sight of SEE 2
sight: come into view/come into sight APPEAR 1
sight: go/move/sail etc out of sight DISAPPEAR 1
sight: in sight SEE 5
sight: know sb by sight KNOW SB 1
sight: on sight IMMEDIATELY 4
sight: out of sight SEE 10
@ SIGHT/ABILITY TO
SEE
1 the ability to see
2 unable to see very well
3 unable to see at all
4 to make someone unable to see
1 the ability to see
sight eyesight
can see vision
sight/sat/[n U/
The five senses we normally use are sight, smell, hearing,
taste and touch. I When the infection cleared, her sight was
much better than it had been before. I lose your sight
(=become blind) He lost his sight in a factory accident. I save
sb's sight (=prevent someone from becoming blind) The
doctors would have to work fast if they were to have any
chance of saving her sight.
can see/kon Isi:/[v phrase]
My mother's getting old and can't see very well. I Some people
go blind as a result of accidents or illness, others have never
been able to see.
eyesight/'alsalt/a word meaning your ability to see,
used when you are talking about how well or how badly
you can see [n U/
My eyesight's not as good as it used to be - I think I need
glasses. I You must have incredibly good eyesight if you can
read that sign from here. I poor eyesight (=bad eyesight)
He was unable to join the A ir Force owing to poor eyesight. I
failing eyesight (=eyesight that is getting worse)
Grandma's rheumatism and failing eyesight meant that she
could no longer live on her own.
vision/'vGan/a word meaning the ability to see, used
especially when talking about damage to someone's sight
or someone's sight being badly affected by illness, alcohol
etc [n U/
My aunt still has some vision in her left eye - she can make
out colours and shapes. I When he woke up he had a split-
ting headache and his vision was blurred. I impair sb's
vision (=make someone see less well) Recent evidence sug-
gests that as little as l OOml of beer may cause drivers" vision
to be impaired. I 20-20 vision (=perfect vision) Until she
was eighteen she had 20-20 vision - now she has to wear
glasses.
 unable to see very well
short-sighted
long-sighted/far-sighted
as blind as a bat
short-sighted/,fa:rt 'satId-/unable to see things that
are far away [adj]
I have to wear glasses for driving because I'm short-sighted. I
a short-sighted boy with thick spectacles
long-sighted (British) I far.sighted (American)/,loj
'saIta Id', , fo:r 'saIta Id II ,b:rj-/only able to see things that
are far away and unable to see things that are close to you
such as the writing in a book [adj]
My daughter's long-sighted and wears reading glasses. [
Many people become far-sighted as they grow older.
as blind as a bat/z ,bland oz  'bat/an informal and
humorous expression meaning having great difficulty in
seeing things [adj phrase]
Didn't you see me coming? You must be as blind as a bat! l
She's as blind as a bat but still refuses to wear her glasses
when she goes out.
unable to see at all
visually handicapped
blind/bland/[adj]
Stevie Wonder is a famous blind musician. I Lion cubs are
born blind. [ go blind (=become blind) Eventually her ill-
ness caused her to go blind. [ the blind (=people who are
blind) The new coins are specially designed for the blind.
1
blindness/blaxndnos/[n U/If left untreated the disease can
result in permanent blindness.
visually handicapped / ,vGuli 'hendIkepq an expres-
sion for describing people who are blind or who have great
difficulty in seeing, used especially when talking about
their needs [adj phrase]

SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 1234 SIGN/GESTURE
a school for visually handicapped 16-19 year oldsl Visually
handicapped people often have to overcome discrimination
in the workplace. I the visually handicapped (=people
who are visually handicapped) Local authorities are fail-
ing to provide enough facilities for the visually handicapped.
4 to make someone unable to see
blind
blind/blared/to make someone blind, either permanently
or for a short time [v T]
You should never look at the sun through a telescope - it
might blind you. I Many children are blinded every year by
fireworks exploding in their faces. I As I emerged from the
tunnel I was blinded for a moment by the light of the midday
sun.
sights: see the sights VISIT 4
sights: set your sights on WANT 5
sightseeing VISIT 4
sign SIGN YOUR NAME 1, SIGN/GESTURE 1,
SIGN/INDICATION 1, SIGN/SYMBOL 1
beasign SHOW/BEASIGNOF1,2
sign:
sign: make a sign SIGN/GESTURE 2
sign: tell-tale sign SIGN/INDICATION 1
sign away GIVE 7
sign in/out SIGN YOUR NAME 1
sign of the times SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 5
sign up JOB/WORK 10, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 8
SIGN/GESTURE
a movement, sound etc that you make in
order to tell someone to do something or give
them information
1 a sign
2 to make a sign
1 words meaning a sign
sign
gesture
signal
sign/saIn/[n C]
At a sign from the captain, the soldier lowered the flag. [ sign
for sb to do sth The children know that when the teacher
puts her finger to her lips, this is a sign for them to be quiet. I
sign that The conductor lifted his baton, as a sign that
the orchestra should get ready to play. I sign language (a
language based on signs rather than words) Although
Tina is deaf and cannot speak, she can communicate with
other people using sign language.
gesture / 'd3estr/a movement of your body, especially
your hands or your head, that shows how you feel about
• something or what you mean when talking about some-
thing In C/U]
On hearing the bad news, he raised his hands in a despair-
ing gesture. I Facial expression and gesture are almost as
important as language for expressing meaning. I gesture
of One small kiss on the cheek was his only gesture of affec-
tion all evening.
signal /sgnal/a sign that tells someone to start doing
something or tells them what you are going to do In C]
At a signal from the guard, the prisoners went back into their
cells. I signal (for sb) to do sth The men waited for the
signal to begin firing. [ When I nod my head, this is the signal
for you to start singing. I hand signals The lights had
broken on my car, so I had to use hand signals every time
I wanted to change direction.
2 to make a sign
make a sign
signal
motion
give the signal
gesture
beckon
wink
wave
gesticulate
make a sign I.mek a 'sam/[v phrase]
Make a sign when you're ready and I'll come up to the stage. [
Rachel made a sign across the room to indicate that yes, she
would like Ian to bring her a drink. [ make a sign that
Turning to Fiona, she made a sign that they should leave the
room before they woke the baby.
signal /  sgnal/to make a sign especially using your arms
or hands, in order to tell someone what to do or to attract
their attention Iv I/T]
signal to sb Capone finished his drink and signalled to the
waiter. [ signal sb to do sthAs wepassed through the town,
two policemen signalled us to stop. [ signal that All shouted
my name across the street before signalling that he was going
into the mosque. [ signal for When Billy walks off the stage,
I will signal for the curtain to rise. [ signal The ship's cap-
tain began signaling as they approached the harbor.
motion /  moan/to use a short movement of the arm to
tell someone what to do or where to go [v I/T]
motion to sb to do sth Nell stood up briefly, motioning to
the bartender to bring him another drink. [ motion for sb
to do sth Seeing Bert in the doorway, I motioned for him to
come in. [ motion sb to do sth Kemp started to object, but
I motioned him to be quiet. [ motion sb to/towards "Come
in, come in," he smiled, motioning me towards a chair.
give the signal/,gv 6o 'signal/to make a previously
agreed sign that tells someone that they should start doing
something Iv phrase]
When I give the signal, I want you all to take a bow. [ give
(sb) the signal to do sth A light flashed on the pilot's
control panel - he had been given the signal to land at the
airport.
gesture / dsestor/to use a movement of the hand, espe-
cially to tell someone to go to a place or to show someone
what you mean when you are talking about something [v I]
gesture to/at The guide gestured to us to follow him. [
"'Please sit down, "said Winters, gesturing at the chair facing
his own. [ gesture The man greeted us in perfect French,
gesturing elegantly with his hat and stick.
be©kon / bekn/to use a movement of your hand or head
to tell someone to come towards you Iv I/T]
beckon sb He was leaning over the wall, beckoning me. [
beckon to sb The child's mother beckoned to him to come
in for his tea. [ beckon sb in/over/to etc "Come and look
at this, "he said, beckoning me over to the window. [ beckon
She beckoned and he came running immediately.

SIGN/GESTURE 1235 SIGN/SYMBOL
wink/wqk! to quickly close and open one eye, especially
in a way that shows someone that you know something Iv I]
wink at The old man put the money into his pocket and
winked at me. I wink He smiled, winked, and I knew he had
won the card game.
wink [n C] She gave me a wink, then started to laugh.
wave/wev/to move your hand or arm from one side to
another, especially to greet someone or say goodbye, or to
attract attention [v I/T]
wave at/to Jim waved at us as he came across the field. I
wave Look, someone in the car in front is waving. I wave
sb through/on (=wave to show someone that they can go
through or continue their journey) I thought I would get
stopped at passport control but they just waved me through.
gesticulate/d3e'stkjo°leq to make several quick move-
ments with your hands while you are talking, especially
because you are angry or excited [v I]
Several people stood round the injured man, shouting
instructions and gesticulating. I The old woman gesticulated
angrily as she made her complaint.
SIGN/INDICATION
1 a sign which shows that something has
happened, that something is true etc
1
a sign which shows that something has
happened, that something is true etc
sign symptom
indication omen
evidence tell-tale/telltale
trace be a giveaway
manifestation
sign/saIn/In C]
sign of Signs of this illness are rapid breathing and a weak
pulse. I The police searched the house thoroughly but found
no signs of a break-in. I sign that A score of 70% or more
in an exam is a sign that the student has a good understand-
ing of the subject. I The old man coughed, a sign that he was
going to speak. I sure sign (=definite sign) If Harry offers
to help with the housework it's a sure sign he wants some-
thing from you.
indication /,ndo  'keSani something, especially some-
one's behaviour or what they say, that makes you believe
that something is probably happening or has probably
happened In C/U]
indication that There are indications that the Democratic
Party will win the next election. I with every indication
of (=seeming to show clearly) The two politicians greeted
each other warmly, and with every indication of good feel-
ing. I give no indication of If she knew what was going on
outside she gave no indication of it.
evidence/'evdans/facts that show that a particular sit-
uation exists, especially when you are trying to prove that
this situation exists In U]
evidence of All her jewellery had been stolen, but the police
could find no evidence of the lock having been tampered
with.I evidence that Studies have shown evidence that
teenagers often suffer from depression. I visible evidence
(=evidence that can be seen) There was no visible evidence
that Joan had ever had plastic surgery.
trace/treis/a very small sign that a particular situation
exists or is true In C usually singular]
trace of The thief closed the door leaving no trace of his
activities in the office. [ "Do you really think this plan is
going to work?" asked Jimmy, showing a trace of interest
for the first time. I with/without a trace of Hans speaks
English beautifully, without a trace of a foreign accent.
manifestation/,manfe'ste;San [[-f-/a formal word
meaning a very clear sign that a particular situation or feel-
ing exists In C]
manifestation of This latest outbreak of violence is a clear
manifestation of discontent in the city. I A major manifesta-
tion of the town council's attitude towards culture was the
opening of a new theatre.
symptom /  smptom/a sign that something bad such as
a medical problem or social problem is happening or has
happened In C]
symptom of High interest rates are a symptom of a weak
economy. I The first symptoms of hepatitis are drowsiness,
vomiting and loss of weight. I sympton Can you describe the
symptoms?
omen /  aoman/something that happens which you think
is a sign that something good or bad is going to happen in
the future In C]
bad omen George thought the car breaking down on the way
to his wedding was a bad omen. I good omen "Maybe this
is a good omen, "'said Jill, seeing a blue sky for the first time
in weeks. I omen This was the first time the Managing Direc-
tor had missed a meeting. Was it some kind of omen?
tell.tale/telltale/,tel tefl/tell-tale signs/marks/sym-
ptoms etc (=that clearly show, to someone who can recog-
nize them, something that is secret, unexpected, or not
admitted) [adj only before noun]
In his face you could see the first tell-tale signs of alcoholism.]
The thieves had left tell-tale marks on the window where they
broke in. I Chaotic meetings are a telltale sign of bad
management.
be a giveaway/bi:  'gvweq if you say that something
is a giveaway, you mean it clearly shows you the real truth
about something, rather than what someone would like you
to believe Iv phrase]
Those fake beams are a giveaway - it isn't really an old pub.[
be a dead giveaway (=show very clearly) It's a dead give-
away isn't it? He'll send you a check tomorrow? I bet he will. t
SIGN/SYMBOL
1 a picture, shape etc that has a particular
meaning
1 a picture, shape etc that has a particular
meaning
sign logo
symbol insignia
emblem
sign/sain/In C]
If you get three dollar signs in a row, you win the prize. I
Road signs shaped like a triangle usually warn you about
something.
symbol / 's;mbal/a picture or shape that has a meaning
or represents an idea In C]
In many cultures, the shape of the human skull is a symbol
that represents death. I She had knitted a sweater, making
a pattern with peace symbols. I the ancient Chinese symbol
representing Yin and Yang
emblem /'emblam/ a picture or shape that represents
something, especially a country or organization In C]
The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. I the hammer
and sickle, the emblem of the Communist Party
logo /'laogao/ a shape, often cleverly designed using
letters, that represents a company, organization, or product
In C]
It seemed strange at first to see the famous McDonald's logo
shining above Moscow. I The marketing department prints
the company logo on towels, T-shirts, headbands, and
sneakers.
insignia/msignia! a shape or picture that represents a
powerful group or organization, especially a military
organization In plural]
All the officers wore on their blazers the insignia of the
Gurkha regiments. I the appalling sight of Nazi insignia
back on the streets of Germany

SIGN YOUR NAME 1236 simple
SIGN YOUR NAME
1 to write your name on something such as a
document or cheque
2 someone's name written by them in the way
they usually write it, on a letter, document etc
3 someone who has officially signed their name
on something
1 to write your name on some.thing such as a
document or cheque
sign autograph
write your name countersign
initial sign in/out
3 someone who has officially signed their name
on something
signatory
the undersigned
signatory/'signatri II -ta:ri/a formal word meaning a
person who signs an official agreement, or the country or
organization that they are signing for In C]
The two signatories of the Camp David agreement were
Egypt and Israel. I Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jeffer-
son were both signatories of the Declaration of Independence.
the undersigned/6i  ^ndarsaInd/an expression used in
legal documents meaning the person or people who have
signed the document In singular or plural]
We, the undersigned, promise to pay the sum of five thousand
dollars. I L the undersigned, agree that in the event of my
death all my worldly goods should be given to my children.
sign/sa,n/to write your signature on something, for exam-
ple in order to prove who you are, to show that you agree
to something, or at the end of a letter Iv I/T]
sign sth Could you sign the back of the cheque please? I In
1975 a peace treaty was signed in Paris, between the US and
North Vietnam. I A will is invalid unless it is signed by at
least two witnesses. I Thousands of people signed the petition
in protest against the new road. I sign Sign here on the dotted
line. I sign for sth (=sign to show you have received some ....
thing) Can you sign for this package please?
signing [n U] The official signing of the agreement will take
place tomorrow.
write your name/,rat ja: r 'neim/to write your name
on something, especially to show that it is yours [vphrase]
Can you write your name at the top of your essay and put
today's date? I She writes her name,, in all her books.
initial/ 'nl/ to write the first letter of each of your
names on something such as a document to show that you
agree to it, have read it etc Iv T]
The memo had been initialled by the President. [ If you alter
something you have written on a check, you must initial the
change.
autograph/'a:tagro:f 11 -grmf/ifa famous person auto-
graphs a book, photograph etc, they write their signature
on it for someone else to keep Iv T]
Members of the band will be in the store on Monday to auto-
graph copies of their latest album.
autographed [adj] One collector paid over $20,O00 for an
autographed edition (=one which had been autographed)
of a novel by Charles Dickens.
countersign / kaontarsan/to write your signature on an
official document, especially one that has already been
signed by someone else, in order to approve it Iv T]
You have to get your visa countersigned by someone at the
embassy. I Traveller's cheques must be countersigned in front
of the cashier, or they are not valid.
sign In/out /san :n, aot/to write your name on a form,
in a book etc when you enter or leave somewhere such as
a hotel, club, or company [phr v I]
Isigned in and a porter took my bags up to the room. I Don't
forget to sign out when you leave the building.
2 someone's name written by them in the way
they usually write it, on a letter, document etc
signature
autograph
signature/'sIgnoffor/In C]
I have some documents that require your signature. I You can
tell by the signature if the painting is genuine. I The protes-
tors have so far collected the signatures of more than 5000
people opposed to the new development.
autograph /a:tgra:f [[ -gref/a famous person's signa-
ture, written by them for someone to keep In C]
Can I have your autograph? [ Jackson was quickly sur-
rounded by hundreds of fans, all wanting his autograph.
signal SIGN/GESTURE 1, 2
signal: give the signal SIGN/GESTURE 2
signatory SIGN YOUR NAME 3
signature SIGN YOUR NAME 2
significance MEANING 2
significant BIG 7, IMPORTANT 3
significant/of great significance IMPORTANT 1, 2
significantly LOT/VERY MUCH 1
signify MEANING 1
signs: show signs of SEEM 1
silence PREVENT 4, QUIET 2, 6
silence: in silence QUIET 4
silent QUIET 4, SAY 8, TALK TO SB 16
silent: fall silent QUIET 5, TALK TO SB 17
silent: keep silent about TALK TO SB 20
silhouette SHAPE 1
silky SHINY 1
silly STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1, 3
silly/foolish STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 4, 5
silver platter: hand sth to sb on a plate/on a silver
platter EASY 7
silvery
similar
similarity
similarly
simmer
simple
SHINY 2
LIKE/SIMILAR 1
LIKE/SIMILAR 10, 11
LIKE/SIMILAR 2
COOK 2, 3
EASY 1, SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1, 2,
SIMPLE/PLAIN 1, 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1237 SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED
@ SIMPLE/NOT
COMPLICATED
1 words for describing tools, machines, designs
etc that are not made in a complicated way
2 words for describing methods and processes
that are not complicated
3 to make something such as a plan, method,
or system simpler
4 to make a situation or problem seem less
complicated than it really is
1 words for describing tools, machines, designs
etc that are not made in a complicated way
simple rudimentary
basic unsophisticated
crude Iow-tech
primitive
simple/'smpal/[adj]
Cavemen used very simple tools, like hammers and axes. I
I only needed to do basic adding and subtracting, so I bought
the simplest calculator I could find. I The design of the build-
ing is deceptively simple from the outside.
simply [adv] The tiny garden was very simply designed.
simplicity/smlpllsti/[n U] Hockney's pictures have an ele-
gant simplicity about them which is very appealing.
basic / I bei si k/equipment, tools, designs etc that are basic
only have the most important things that you need, and do
not have any other features to make them more comfort-
able, attractive, useful etc [adj]
The sleeping accommodation in the hostels is incredibly
basic - all they give you is a mattress and a single sheet. I
The GL is the most basic model in Ford's new range of cars. I
We only have basic printing machinery here. Anything
special we send to the main workshop.
crude/kru:d/something that is crude has been made or
done in a simple, unskilful way, without paying much
attention to its appearance [adj]
The earliest skis were crude, short boards covered in fur
skins. I The three men built a crude barbecue using a few old
bricks. I Babbage's great calculating machine was a crude
form of computer.
crudely [adv] crudely built huts
primitive/ prmtl v! a tool or machine that is primitive
is very simple when compared to modern tools or machines
that do the same job [adj]
In those days dental equipment was primitive and a visit to
the dentist was a painful experience. I In some regions of
Africa the shadoof, a primitive but effective device for rais-
ing water, is still used.
primitively [adv] The well was old and primitively
designed.
rudimentary /ru:d rnentari-/tools, machines etc that
are rudimentary are very simple and are only able to do
very simple jobs [adj]
The tools that the ancient Egyptians used to build their tem-
ples were extremely rudimentary. I I was able to make a
rudimentary radio set using a few pieces of wire and some
old valves.
unsophisticated /t Ans:) t fist I keit Id-/tools or machines
that are unsophisticated do not have many of the features
that more modern or more advanced tools or machines
have [adj]
Factories in Eastern Europe are full of relatively unsophisti-
cated machinery. I The Leica looks unsophisticated compared
to modern h igh-tech cameras, but it still producesfirst-rate
pictures.
Iow-tech /  lo tek-/equipment, vehicles, machines etc
that are low-tech have a very simple design but this is
often seen as an advantage because they are cheaper and
more practical [adj]
My old record player is very low-tech compared to your new
CD system, but I'm quite happy with it. I Our department
designs low-tech water purification systems for use in the
Third World.
2 words for describing methods and processes
that are not complicated
simple be simplicity itself
straightforward unsophisticated
uncomplicated rough and ready
elementary
simple/'slmpM/[adj]
He thought he had found a wonderfully simple way of
making a lot of money very quickly. I One simple solution
would be to store all the information on a single disk. I We
have developed a method of deterring thieves that is both
simple and effective.
simply [ adv ] The instructions are presented so simply that
even a child of six could understand them.
simplicity/sire pllsti/[n U] The main advantage of send-
ing documents by fax is its sheer simplicity.
straightforward/, street ' f:rwrd/simple and easy to
use or operate [adj]
The system is quite straightforward -you just type in the file-
name you want, then press 'P', and it prints the file for you. I
I can't understand why you're having so much difficulty -
it all looks pretty straightforward to me.
uncomplicated/^nkomplkeltId II -'ka:m-/simple and
without any unnecessary features that could cause
problems or confuse the user [adj]
Make your experiments as clear and as uncomplicated as
possible. I The just-in-time" production system works because
it is simple and uncomplicated.
elementary/el I 'mentri-/needing only simple skills or
knowledge to do or understand |adj]
The snowplough is an elementary means of controlling
downhill skiing speed. I Using a series of elementary opera-
tions, you can calculate the values of equations.
be simplicity itself /bi: slm,plstti it'self/ to be
extremely simple to do or operate [v phrase]
Transferring money is simplicity itself - just phone your
bank and it will be done the same day.
unsophisticated /,AnsflstkeltId-/ a method or
process that is unsophisticated is very simple compared
to the most modern ones [adj]
It may be a pretty unsophisticated system but it has worked
well for over fifty years. I In comparison with modern produc-
tion methods it seems an incredibly slow and unsophisticated
way of making cars.
rough and ready/t rAf ond t redi/a system, calculation,
way of doing something etc that is rough and ready uses
a quick, simple method but ignores small details and there-
fore does not produce a completely perfect result [adj
phrase]
Here are my calculations. They're a little rough and ready
as yet, but you'll get a general idea. I Justice was adminis-
tered in a rough and ready fashion without using courts and
juries.
3 to make something such as a plan, method,
or system simpler
simplify
streamline
simplify/'smplfai/[v T]
The government is planning to simplify the tax laws so that
they are easier to operate and easier for people to under-
stand. I The program contains over a thousand lines and I'm
trying to find ways of simplifying it.
simplified [adj] The Japanese alphabet is based on a sim-
plified version of the Chinese one.
streamline ! stri:mla;n/a word used especially in busi-
ness contexts, meaning to make a method or system
simpler, quicker, and usually cheaper [v T]

SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 1238 since the year dot
The new computer has made it possible to streamline our
data processing operations. I By streamlining production at
its Cardiff factory the company has been able to cut its work-
force by 10%.
streamlined ladj] We've introduced a new, streamlined
filing system.
4 to make a situation or problem seem less
complicated than it really is
oversimplify generalize
simplistic see things in black and white
oversimplify/,euvor'smplfaI/[v T]
There's a tendency in news reports to.oversimplify complex
issues to make the news more interesting and entertaining. I
I thought the play rather oversimplified the issue of race in
South Africa.
oversimplified [adj l We were presented with a grossly over-
simplified version of the truth.
oversimplification/ovorlsImplfkeIj'an/ [n C/U] To
say that the problem is all the fault of the US would be an
oversimplification.
simplistic/smplstlk/an opinion or way of thinking
about something that is simplistic treats difficult matters
in too simple a way [adj]
The President has been criticized for having a simplistic
approach to foreign policy. I Galbraith condemned what he
called their 'naive and simplistic'faith in market forces.
generalize (also-ise British)/'d3enrlmz/to say that a
particular fact is true of all men, all drivers, all teachers
etc even though you have only seen a few examples of this
fact Iv I]
I know I shouldn't generalize, but I do think men find it
difficult to show their feelings, i The research was carried
out on a very small number of patients and one shouldn't
generalize too much. I generalize about It's difficult to
generalize about the effects of the ending of the Cold War
between the US and Russia.
see things in black and white/si: Orjz n blmk nd
'wat/if you say that someone sees things in black and
white, you mean they tend to judge people in a very simple
way as being either completely bad or completely good,
completely right or completely wrong etc [v phrase]
My son always sees everything in black and white. To him
the worM's full of rich greedy capitalists and poor underpaid
workers.
SIMPLE/PLAIN
1 words for describing something that is simple
and does not have a lot of decoration or a lot
of things added to it
2 words for describing furniture, rooms, etc that
are not highly decorated or particularly
comfortable
1
words for describing something that is simple
and does not have a lot of decoration or a lot
of things added to it
plain nothing fancy
simple no-frills
simplicity
plain/plen/[adj!
The chapel was a small, plain whitewashed building. I After
a week of the hotel's elaborate meals he longed for simpler,
plainer, more natural food. I Are you going to decorate the
cake, or will you leave it plain? l plain brown/blue/green
etc (=only one colour and not patterned or decorated in any
way) His parcel arrived wrapped in plain brown paper. I a
plain gold ring
plainly [ adv ] She was dressed plainly and wore no make-up.
simple /Ismpl/ not having any unnecessary things
added, but still attractive or useful [adj]
She wore a simple black dress when she had to give evidence
in court. [ My father liked simple food and neither drank nor
smoked. [ The tunes that accompanied the dancing were of
the simplest kind.
simplicity/sm'pllsti/the attractive quality of being
simple, and not having a lot of decoration or things added
In U]
The jacket follows the lines of the body with graceful simplic-
ity. I There is a simplicity about Madagascan sculpture that
lends it a certain raw power. I Van Gogh was attracted to
the beauty and simplicity of a common table or kitchen chair.
nothing fancy/,naOHJ 'feensi/an informal expression
meaning plain or simple with nothing special or unneces-
sary added [ adj phrase]
This was his favourite meal. Nothing fancy, just steak and
salad. I We're thinking of going on vacation. Nothing fancy
- maybe a week by the sea somewhere.
no-frills/' nu frilz/a no-frills shop, restaurant, or serv-
ice provides only the things that you really need and noth-
ing else [adj only before noun]
The new supermarkets are no-frills stores that have a good
choice of products at low prices. I We tried a couple of the no-
frills curry restaurants that they have in Bradford - they
were actually very good.
2 words for describing furniture, rooms, etc that
are not highly decorated or particularly
comfortable
simple austere
plain basic
simple / 'smpl/not decorated at all but often attractive
or enjoyable [adj]
Our hotel room was very simple but clean, and had a mar-
vellous view across the bay. I Simple country pine furniture
is now extremely popular.
simply [adv] The room was furnished simply but
adequately, with a bed, a table, and a chair.
plain/plein/not decorated at all [adj]
The house was square and plain - not very welcoming. I He
was sitting in a plain wooden chair, and leaning back
against the wall.
plainly lady] Grant returned to his plainly-furnished apart-
ment above the liquor store.
austere /3:'stm r, o-II 3:-I a room or building that is
austere is not decorated, has very little and very plain
furniture, and is rather uncomfortable [adj]
Students ate in an austere hall built by New England Puri-.
tans. I The couple lived together in an austere old two-storey
mansion.
austerity/3:'steQti, o- II 3:-/[n u] Protestant churches often
have an appearance of extreme simplicity and austerity.
basic /'beisik/only having what is completely necessary
and therefore often uncomfortable and unpleasant [adj]
Basic accommodation is available for school groups at very
low prices. I She prefers not to take a shower at the tennis
club after playing because the facilities there are sort of basic.
simplicity SIMPLE/PLAIN 1
simplicity: be simplicity itself SIMPLE/NOT
COM PLICATED 2
simplify EXPLAIN 4, SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 3
simplistic SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 4
simulate PRETEND 11
simulated: imitation/simulated ARTIFICIAL 2
simulation PRETEND 11
simultaneous TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 5
simultaneously TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 1 2
sin: be a sin BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 2
since BECAUSE 1, SINCE 1
si.ce/from day one BEGINNING 5
si.ce the year dot/si.ce the year one LONG TIME 1

SINCE 1239 sink into unconsciousness
@ SINCE
1 since a particular time or event in the past
1 since a particular time or event in the past
since from
ever since starting from
for
since/sins/[prep/adv/conjunction]
The chicken must be cooked by now - it's been in the oven
since 11 o'clock. ] I haven't had one cigarette since Friday
night. I Since when have you had a computer? l The reports
went missing in "87and nobody has seen them since. I I saw
Jane in Los Angeles a few years ago, but she has since relo-
cated to the East. I She hasn't had a night out since she had
the baby. I Since leaving the army, he's spent most of his time
looking for a job.
ever since/.ev r 'sins/for the whole of a long period of
time since a particular time or event [prep/adv/conjunc-
tion]
I've been getting these pains in my back ever since I fell down
the stairs. I Joan had been an early riser ever since she was
a child. ] Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to be a
dancer. I Sarah had an argument with her mother on
Monday and she's been in a bad mood ever since, i Haig had
been prophesying an early German collapse ever since the
Battle of the Somme.
for/far; strong f:r/during the whole of a period of time
until now [prep]
We've been waiting here for over two hours! I I haven't been
to Lyme Regis for a while. Everything looks just the same
though. I Daniel's been complaining of a stomach ache for
a couple of days.
from/from; strong from II from; strong fr^m, fra:m/continu-
ously after a particular time in the past [prep]
From the first time we met, I knew we would be good friends. ]
Timmy Connell has been a problem in class right from the
beginning of term. I from then on/from then (=from a
time already mentioned) Julie found out she was pregnant
in September and from then on she felt a sense of pride and
excitement.
starting from/ sta:rtlrj from/continuously after an exact
time or important event in the past [prep]
Benson became chairman of the company on October 12th,
1992, and starting from that day things steadily improved.
?;i?; sincere REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 3
• ;":" sincerely REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 4
.iili! sing SING 1
...
; sing sb's praises PRAISE 2
" sing sth's praises PRAISE 3
SING
to sing
to make musical sounds by using your voice
but without using words
someone who sings
1 to sing
sing
singing
burst into song
sing/sr3/ Iv I/T/
sing sth The whole class sang 'Happy Birthday" as the
teacher came into the room. I In one of the bars an old man
was singing Irish folk songs. I sing John plays guitar,
Trevor's on keyboards and I sing. I sing to sb We still get
nervous even though we've sung at some of the biggest venues
in the world. I sing in tune/out of tune (=sing the right
notes/wrong notes) Anyone who can sing in tune is invited
to join the local operatic society, i sing along (=sing at the
same time as someone else) Peter put our favorite record on
and we all sang along.
singing/'son]/the activity of singing [n U/
I hear Frank's taken up singing again, i He asked her why
she didn't make use of her talent and give singing lessons, i
There were several items in the concert - singing, a steel
band, a dance group and other things.
burst Into song/b3:rst Inta 'sor II -'sa:r/to suddenly
start singing Iv phrase]
He felt so happy he wanted to burst into song. I The orches-
tra played a few notes and the choir burst into song.
 to make musical sounds by using your voice
but without using words
whistle
hum/h^m/to make musical sounds with your voice but
without opening your lips or singing words Iv I/T]
A man walked by, humming. [ hum sth She used to hum
tunes from Italian operas as she worked.
whistle / wsl/to make musical sounds by blowing air
out through a small hole made between your lips when you
press them together Iv I/T]
I can't whistle at all. [ The builders came and put up a new
wall, whistling as they worked. [ whistle sth Why does he
always have to whistle the same tune?
 someone who sings
singer
vocalist
choir
singer/' srjr/someone who sings, especially as their job
[nC]
She's probably the finest traditional singer since June
Tabor. I I've decided I'm going to try a career as a rock
singer. I lead singer (=main singer in a group) Screaming
girls massed in front of the stage, shouting the name of the
lead singer.
vocalist ] voklst/a singer in a group that plays popu-
lar music In C/
The female vocalist came on in a long white gown. I He's a
session musician, providing studio backing to well-known
vocalists. I lead vocalist (=main vocalist) Mick, the lead
vocalist, is also a talented guitarist.
choir/kwamr/an organized group of singers who sing
together regularly, especially a group that sings serious or
religious music In C with singular or plural verb in Brit-
ish English]
Are you going to have a choir at your wedding? I She plays
the flute and sings in the school choir. I There is a competi-
tion for male voice choirs this evening in the auditorium.
:,;i! singe BURN 6
!ii".i singer SING 3
=& singing SING 1
i... single MARRY 16
 single file: in single file LINE 7
.... single out CHOOSE 3
,v; single-handed/single-handedly ALONE 2
.... single-minded DETERMINED 3
! single-parent family: one-parent family/single-parent
-:- family FAMILY 1
• .
.;-.. single-sex SEX/GENDER 3
;i sinister BAD PERSON 1
, sink DOWN 4, 6, 8
& sink in REALIZE 1 UNDERSTAND 5
. ,
 sink into SIT 1
 sink into unconsciousness: slip/sink/fall into
!!!!! unconsciousness UNCONSCIOUS 2

sink your teeth into
sink your teeth into BITE 2
sip DRINK 1
sir MAN 6
sit EXAM/TEST 2, SIT 1, 2, 3
!,{ sit:babysit/sit LOOKAFTERSB1
sit around/about LAZY 3,
NOT
DO
STH
4
sit astride SIT 4
sit by: stand by/sit by DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
sit down SIT 1, 2
sit-down SIT 5
sit in judgment/judgement JUDGE 3
sit on the fence DECIDE 8
sit sth out WAIT 1
sit there/stand there DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
sit tight STAY/NOT LEAVE 1
sit up SIT 3
1240
SIT
to sit down after you have been standing
what you say to someone to tell them to sit
down
to be sitting in a chair, on the floor etc
to sit on something or someone, with one leg
on each side
words for describing something that is done
while sitting
a place where someone can sit
1 to sit down after you have been standing
sit down take your seat
sit sink into
settle down squat/squat down
sit down/,sit 'daun/to sit on a chair, bed, floor etc [phr
vii
Father came in and sat down. I She sat down on the edge of
the bed. I I'm so tired - can I just sit down for a few minutes?
sit Islti to sit in a particular place or position Iv I]
It's so hot in here. Shall we go and sit by the window? l Come
and sit next to me - I haven't seen you for ages. I sit up (=sit
after lying down) After a few days' rest he was finally
allowed to sit up in bed. I sit back (=sit and lean back
against something) Just sit back and relax. I sit about/
around (=to sit in order to relax) It was great, we just sat
about and sunbathed for two whole weeks.
settle down l, setl 'daun/to sit down and become calm
and quiet after having been active, especially in order to
pay attention to something [phr v I]
Settle down everyone! The lesson has started. I I'd just settled
down to watch the film when the telephone rang.
take your seat /,telk ja: r 'si:t/to sit in a chair or seat
in a public place such as a theatre or cinema, so that you
can watch a play, film, ceremony etc Iv phrase]
Would the audience please take their seats - the show will
begin in five minutes. I She waved to the bride before taking
her seat at the back of the church.
sink into/' s=rjk ntu:/to sit in a comfortable chair, by let-
ting yourself fall back into it, especially because you are
tired Iv T ]
It had been an exhausting day. Christina gratefully sank
into the armchair and kicked off her shoes.
squat/squat down/skwot, ,skwot 'daon II skwo:t-/to sit
on the ground or floor with your feet flat, your knees bent
up to your chest, and your bottom off the ground Iv I]
We made camp in the woods and squatted down by the river
to wash our hands.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
SIT
2 what you say to someone to tell them to sit
down
sit down please be seated
take a seat sit
sit down/,s;t 'daon/
Sit down. I have some bad news for you. I Sit down and finish
your breakfast.
take/have a seat/,teik, ,hev  si:t/(a polite way of
asking someone to sit down)
Take a seat. Mr Bennet will be available in a moment. I Glarl
you could make it - come in and have a seat.
please be seated ! pli:z bi: si:td/(a formal way of tell-
ing a lot of people to sit down, especially during a public
occasion or ceremony)
Would the audience please be seated.
sit/sit/you say sit to a dog when you want it to sit down
Sit! Fido, sit! There's a good dog!
 to be sitting in a chair, on the floor etc
sit be slumped
be seated squat
sit up slouch
lounge
sit/s It/ [ V I]
sit in/around/on etc When I arrived everyone was already
sitting around the table. I I know Larry. I used to sit next to
him at school. I The little girl sat on the edge of the table,
swinging her feet backwards and forwards. I sit at a table/
counter/bar ere (=sit in front of it) She spends all day sit-
ting at a desk.
be seated/bi: 'si:tId/to be sitting in a place, especially
because someone has asked or arranged for you to sit in
that place Iv phrase]
John was seated to the left of me. I Zella was more than
pleased to be seated beside Kris. She'd always wanted to meet
him. I The meal cannot start until everyone is seated.
sit up/, st 'Apl to sit with your back straight rather than
leaning back against something or lying down [phr v I]
She's been very ill, but now she's sitting up again. I sit up
straight (-sit with your back very straight) Cadets here are
taught to always dress neatly and to sit up straight.
lounge/laund3/to sit in such a way that you are almost
lying down, because you want to relax and be comfortable
[v I]
lounge around/about It was a beautiful sunny day, with
everyone lounging about on the porch. I lounge on I lounged
on the sofa in the attic, dreaming about the day I could leave
home.
be slumped/bi: slAmpq to be sitting and leaning com-
pletely forwards or completely backwards, as if you have
no strength in your body or as if you are unconscious [v
phrase]
be slumped in/on/under etc Horace was slumped in front
of the television watching a football game. I He sat slumped
in his chair, as if he were dead.
squat/skwot II skwa:t/to sit on the floor or ground with
your feet fiat, your knees bent up to your chest, and your
bottom off the ground Iv I usually in progressive]
They were looking at a little boy who was squatting at the
edge of a rock pool. I He was squatting over the fire, desperate
to get it alight. I In a side street a vegetable seller was squat-
ting in the shade of a wall.
slouch/be slouched/slaotJ', bi: 'slaott/to sit in a tired
or lazy way, often with your head down and your shoulders
sloping downwards Iv I]
A horse came slowly into the yard, its rider slouched in the
saddle.
4 to sit on something or someone, with one leg
on each side
sit astride
straddle

SIT 1241 SITUATION
sit astride/,sit o'straId/[v T]
Matthew sat astride a big chestnut horse. I He pinned her to
the ground by her shoulders, sitting astride her so that she
couldn't move.
straddle/' straedl/to sit on someone or something with
one leg on each side of them, especially if you have to
stretch quite a long way to do this Iv T]
Alex eventually managed to straddle the bike, and wobbled
unsteadily along the sidewalk.
5 words for describing something that is done
while sitting
sit-down
sedentary
sit.down Ist daon/sit-down meal/dinner etc (=where
everyone has a meal together sitting at a table) [adj only
before noun]
I can't possibly organize a sit-down supper for 200 people.
There just isn't enough room.
sedentary/sedantari II -teri/sedentary job/lifestyle/
existence ere (=in which you spend most of your time
sitting down) [adj]
People with sedentary jobs generally need to eat less than
those in very active occupations.
6 a place where someone can sit
seat
place
seat/si:tl In C]
As soon as we were in our seats a waiter came hurrying up. I
Leaning back in her seat, Carole took a long drag at her
cigarette. I I want a seat at the front of the theatre. I How
many seats does the bus have?
place/ples/the particular seat in which you are supposed
to sit at a formal meal, in a theatre or in some other public
place In C]
We'd better hurry to get to our places before the play starts. I
I don't think there are enough places for everyone. I Josie
found a place at the back of the hall.
1 the general situation that exists in a particular
place, country, society etc
situation state of affairs
things set-up
conditions
situation I,sItu'ean/In C usually singular]
The White House is paying close attention to the political sit-
uation in the Arab States. I The policeman quickly assessed
the situation and realized what was happening. I in this/
the present situation In the present situation, I don't think
it would be a good idea to try to sell your house.
things/0ijz/an informal word meaning the general sit-
uation that exists, used especially when saying how it
affects people's lives In plural]
If things had been different we probably would have been
married by now. I Don "t worry - at least things can't get any
worse! ] Things haven't changed much since I last wrote.
conditions/konldIanz/the situation in which people
live or work, especially the physical things such as their
houses, pay, and food that affect the quality of their lives
In plural]
Latest reports from the capital suggest that conditions there
are getting rapidly worse. I This country needs to take urgent
action to deal with unemployment, bad working conditions
and poor housing. I I don't know how kids can study in such
dreadful conditions.
state of affairs/, stet v lferz/an unsatisfactory, dis-
appointing, or surprising situation that causes a lot of
problems In phrase]
Senators are demanding to know how such a state of affairs
could have come about. I sorry/sad state of affairs (=bad
state of affairs) Her parents are divorced and her brother's
in prison - it's a sad state of affairs.
set-up/ set ^p/the way something such as a family, com-
pany, or country is arranged, especially a way that you do
not understand or do not approve of In C]
Although they've separated, they live next door to each other
and still go out together - it seems a very strange set-up to
me. i The set-up is totally corrupt because basically the army
runs the whole country.
site PLACE 1
sited: be sited PLACE 8
sitter: babysitter/sitter LOOK AFTER SB 2
sitting duck ATTACK 9
sitting on: be sitting on ON/ON TOP OF 1
situated: be situated PLACE 8
situation SITUATION 1 2, 3
situation: no-win situation PROBLEM 3
SITUATION
1 the general situation that exists in a particular
place, country, society etc
2 the combination of conditions, restrictions,
economic forces etc that exists at one point in
time and that strongly influences what
happens or what people can do
3 the situation that has been reached so far in
something that is still happening
4 the situation that really exists rather than the
situation that people think exists
5 the situation that a particular person is in, for
example how much money they have, where
they live etc
6 ways of saying that because of the situation
something is necessary, impossible, etc
2
situation
circumstances
environment
climate
conditions
the combination of conditions, restrictions,
economic forces etc that exists at one point in
time and that strongly influences what
happens or what people can do
the lie of the land/
the lay of the land
which way the wind blows
scenario
situation/,sItj'u'eIj'an/ [n C usually singular]
I know I let you come along with me last year, but the situa-
tion was different then. [ In view of the current economic sit-
uation, we will not be investing any money abroad this year. I
In some situations, simply talking things over with a friend
can help.
circumstances /  s3: rkmstzens z/[n plural]
in some/certain/these ere circumstances In some cir-
cumstances it may be necessary to wake your baby up for a
feed. [ under some/these/such etc circumstances Under
normal circumstances, I would never have left my passport
with a stranger. [ circumstances It's impossible to say how
you would react - it depends on the circumstances. [ circum-
stances arise (=a situation begins to exist) Circumstances
• have arisen which have made it impossible for the President
to be here today.
environment/invaiarnmnt/the whole combination of
conditions, influences, rules etc that make up the situation
in which someone or something exists or develops [n C]

SITUATION 1242 SITUATION
Only part of your character is inherited from your parents.
The rest comes from your environment. I We try to create a
working environment in which people can develop their
skills. I In such an environment, it's not surprising that crime
increased.
climate 11 klatmt/a word meaning the economic, social,
and political situation that exists now, used especially
when discussing what is possible or acceptable in this sit-
uation In C usually singular]
political/economic etc climate .In today's political climate
the return of communism seems impossible. I Hopefully,
when the financial climate gets better we'll be able to take
on more workers. I climate of opinion/hostility/distrust
etc In the 1920s the climate of opinion was totally dominated
by memories of the Great War.
conditions/kn Idgnz/the general situation at one par-
ticular time that affects a lot of people, especially the eco-
nomic or social situation in a country In plural]
Business conditions in America at the moment aren't really
very good. I The government is insisting that conditions are
right for economic recovery.
the lie of the land (British) I the lay of the land
(American) /6 ,la v 6 'lend, 6 ,le-I an expression
meaning the political, economic, or social situation that
exists at a particular time, used especially when it is impor-
tant that someone finds out or understands this informa-
tion before deciding what to do In phrase]
Alistair's very cautious about entering into a long-term
agreement before he knows what the lie of the land is.
which way the wind blows/wt wei 6 wnd bbuz/
an informal expression meaning the way in which the sit-
uation in a country, company, relationship etc is likely to
change in the future [n phrasel
Don't worry about Artie. He can see which way the wind is
blowing and will look after himself.
scenario/s na:riao 11 -In,e-, -'ne-/a situation that could
possibly happen but has not happened yet In C]
A peaceful transfer of wealth from the rich countries to the
poor ones?l find that scenario difficult to imagine. I worst-
case/nightmare scenario (=the worst possible situation)
In a worst-case scenario all life on the planet would be wiped
out by a nuclear war. I Every politician's nightmare scenario
is the prospect of prices, interest rates and unemployment all
rising at once.
 the situation that has been reached so far in
something that is still happening
situation
position
state of play
situation I,sxtu'en/In C usually singular]
The current situation is that we have agreed a price but
haven't arranged when we will finally sign the contract. [
And now for the latest situation at the disaster site we go over
to our reporter, Chuck Bryson.
position/pzdnl the present situation in something
that is still happening, especially when people are disagree-
ing with each other In C usually singular]
The position now is that neither side in the dispute is pre-
pared to compromise. [ If the position changes I'll let you
know.
state of play /stext av 'plei/ the present state of a
situation that is still developing and is likely to change
In phrase]
Every four weeks we get a briefing from the boss, giving us
the state of play. I The current state of play in Anglo-French
relatiot'ts is best characterized as "cautious cooperation'.
4 the situation that really exists rather than the
situation that people think exists
the picture
the score
what's going on
the picture/ 'pxktr/a true idea of what is happen-
ing in a situation rather than what you think is happen-
ing In singular]
People personally involved with running football clubs real-
ize how bleak the economic picture really is. I put sb in the
picture (British) / give sb the picture (American) (=tell
them what the situation is) I seem to have missed a lot of
news while I've been away - could you put me in the picture? l
get the picture (=understand the situation) So we can't
start work till all the documents are signed? I get the picture.
the score/6 sk3:r/an informal expression used espe-
cially in spoken English meaning the real facts of a situa-
tion, including any unpleasant facts In singular]
Most people think Tom and Kate's marriage is fine, but I
know the score. I The doctor's been with him for over an hour
now - what's the score?
what's going on I,wots gor3 on/an informal expres-
sion meaning what is really happening, used especially
when a situation is difficult to understand In phrase used
especially in questions and negative sentences]
I've been waiting here for nearly two hours! Does anyone
know what's going on? I Nobody could tell her what was
going on. I Sit down and .I'll try to explain what's going on.
the situation that a particular person is in, for
example how much money they have, where
they live etc
situation case
circumstances plight
position
situation/,stlu'en/In C usually singular]
sb's situation Leaving home was the only way I could think
of to improve my situation. I In your situation, I would have
done exactly the same thing. I situation For most refugees,
the situation is pretty hopeless.
circumstances /Is3:rkmstensz/ a word used espe-
cially in an official context, meaning how much money you
earn, where you live, whether you are married or not
married etc In plural]
Please contact your Social Security office if there is any
change in your circumstances. I In Victorian times, people
in desperate circumstances had nowhere to go but the
workhouse.
position Ip$zij'n/the situation that someone is in, espe-
cially a difficult or embarrassing situation that restricts
what they can do In C usually singular]
Her father's the boss of the firm she works for - she's in a
rather awkward position. I Few rich people can really
appreciate the position of the single mother living on welfare.
case/kes/the particular situation affecting one person
or group, especially when this is different from that of the
other people you are talking about In C usually singular]
in sb's case In John's case, the first he knew of any problems
in the company was when a redundancy notice arrived on
his desk! I in the case of In the case of teenagers, very few
of them knew much about contraception.
plight/plait/a very difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous
situation that is difficult to escape from In singular]
All his life he's been concerned about the plight of kids grow-
ing up in the ghettoes. I The nations of Europe have very little
sympathy for America's financial plight.
6 ways of saying that because of the situation
something is necessary, impossible, etc
under/in the as it is
circumstances as things stand
given the situation/ force of circumstances
circumstances the way things are
under/in the circumstances /And r, In  s3:rkm
stensz/[adv phrase]
Normally I would have gone straight home, but under the
circumstances I decided to call by at my mother's apartment.
Under the circumstances, 1think the only thing you can do

SITUATION 1243 skin
is apologize. I In the circumstances, it might be better ifI gave
the lecture rather than you.
given the situation/circumstances /,givan 6
stu eIan, 's3:rkomstensz/(used especially when you are
explaining that something is not surprising when you con-
sider the situation it happened in) [adv phrase]
They tried to contact everyone and given the circumstances,
I think they did very well. [ Given this situation, one might
well expect to find a breakdown in law and order.
as it is /Iz it 'iz/(used especially when the present sit-
uation is different from what you expected or from what
you need) [adv phrase]
We wanted to leave by four o'clock but as it is, 171 still be
working at seven! [ As it is, scientists have no way of know-
ing what caused the Big Bang. [ Why start an argument?
You're in enough trouble as it s!
as things stand/laz Orjz stnd/(used when you are
saying that something happens, is true, or must be done
because of the present situation, although this situation
may change in the future) lady phrase]
We may get a few more applicants, but as things stand we'll
have to choose from the candidates we already have. I People
talk about the British constitution, but as things stand there
is no real constitution.
force of circumstances/bai ,fa:rs ov 's3:rkmstansz/
if something happens by force of circumstances it hap-
pens differently from the way you expect or intend because
the situation has changed In phrase]
By force of circumstances, I found myself having to share an
office with my previous manager. I Force of circumstances
compelled the senator to retire in 1934.
the way things are/6 wei Oirjz a:r/(used especially
when you are explaining that, because of the present,
unsatisfactory situation, something is necessary, impos-
sible, difficult etc)
The way things are, we hardly ever manage to go out together
except at the weekend. [ The way things are in this country,
she's decided to move abroad with her family.
: sixth sense INSTINCT 1
 size BIG 11, SIZE 1, 2
 size: be a good size BIG1
, size: be quite a size BIG 2
 size: be the right size FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 1 4
@ size: not be the right size FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 3
SiZE
how big something is
1 the size of an object, building etc
2 the size of an area or space
3 the size of a container, expressed as the
amount of something that it can hold
4 to be of a particular size
1 the size of an object, building etc
size
how big
dimensions
size Isalz/In C/U]
Our old house and our new house are roughly the same size. [
boxes of different shapes and sizes [ What size is that shirt?[
the size of a radio the size of a matchbox [ increase/
double/decrease etc in size Leave the flour and yeast
mixture until it has doubled in size.
how big/hao Iblgl if you say how big an object or build-
ing is, you are talking about its size [adj phrase]
How big is the desk? Will it fit in the car, do you think? [ Erin
insists on telling everyone how big his new house is.
dimensions/daI'menfanz, d-/ the size of something,
especially when this is given in an exact way In plural]
The dimensions are printed on the side of the box. [ In any
new building the minimum dimensions for "Fire Exit' signs
are strictly laid down.
2 the size of an area or space
size area
how big extent
size/saIz/In C/U]
Our yard is exactly the same size as yours. [ the size of Every
day, an area of forest the size of Wales is cut down. [ The over-
all size of the carpet is around ten square metres.
how big/hao 'big/if you say how big an area is, you are
talking about its size [adj phrase]
How big is the Dead Sea? [ We'll have to try and figure out
how big their island is.
area ['earia/the amount of space that a flat surface or
shape covers In C/U]
It's best to measure the exact area of the floor and walls
before you start decorating. [ a mathematical formula to
calculate the area of a circle
extent/lkstent/the size of a large area In U]
The extent of the Red Creek ranch is enormous. [ in extent
a huge nationalpark, over 10,000 square kilometres in extent
3 the size of a container, expressed as the
amount of something that it can hold
capacity
capacity/ka'paesIti/In singular]
We need a storage tank with a capacity of 500 gallons or
more. [ The computer's memory has a capacity of over 200
megabytes.
4 to be of a particular size
measure
be 5 metres long/2 miles wide/10 cm high etc
cover
extend over
measure ! me3r/[v not in progressive]
measure 10 metres/6 feet etc That tree measures lOmetres
in height. [ His chest measures 40 inches. [ Put the soil into
a sack measuring 50 centimetres across.
be 5 metres iongl2 miles wide/lO cm high etc
to be a particular length, width, height etc Iv phrase]
The river Nile is over six thousand kilometres long. [ At this
point, the road is only two metres wide.
cover ! khvr! if something such as a city or a forest
covers a particular area it is the same size as that area Iv T
not in progressive]
New York City covers about one thousand square kilometres. [
St Anne's Wood isn't very big - it only covers a few miles.
extend over/Ik'stend )uvr/ if something such as a
system or type of land extends over a large area, that is
the size of the area in which it is used or exists Iv T not in
progressive ]
Cultivation of rice extends over two-thirds of the area. [ A
large irrigation system that extends over the whole country
is difficult to maintain.
 sizeable/sizable BIG 7
: sizzle SOUND 11
iii! skeletal THIN PERSON 5
 skeleton in your cupboard/closet SECRET 5
® sketch DRAW 1, PICTURE 1
 sketch out SUMMARIZE 4
 sketchy DETAIL 6
N skid SLIDE 1
 skilful/skillful GOOD AT 2, 4
. skill CAN 6, GOOD AT 8
® skilled GOOD AT 2, 4, 5
:N skim READ 2, TOUCH 3
  skimp on SPEND MONEY 6
 skimpy SHORT/NOT LONG 1
N skin: get under sb's skin ANNOY 2

skin 1244 SLEEP
skin: nearly jump out of your skin FRIGHTENED 5
skin and bone: be skin and bone THIN PERSON 5
skin of your teeth: by the skin of your teeth
JUST/ALMOST NOT 3
skinflint GENEROUS 3
skinny THIN PERSON 4
skint MONEY 17, POOR 3
skintight/figure-hugging TIGHT 5
skip JUMP 1, NOT DO STH 6
skirmish WAR 3
skirt AROUND/ROUND 5
skive WORK HARD 9
skive/skive off GO TO/ATTEND 3
skulk HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
skunk BEAT/DEFEAT 2
sky: the sky's the limit LIMIT 8
slab PIECE 2
slack CARELESS 1, LOOSE 4, WORK HARD 9
slacken LOOSE 5
slag off CRITICIZE 5
slam CRITICIZE 2, SHUT/CLOSE 1, 2
slam down PUT 1
slam on the brakes STOP MOVING 4
slam the door in sb's face REFUSE 2
slang LANGUAGE 1
slanted UNFAIR 5
slap HIT 1, 4
slap/clap sb on the back HIT 5
slap on PUT 8
slap-up meal MEAL 6
slapdash/slipshod CARELESS 3
slash CHEAP 8, CUT 1, REDUCE 1
slate: put sth on the slate PAY FOR 4
slaughter KILL 8, 9, 14
slaughter: smash/slaughter BEAT/DEFEAT 2
slave away WORK HARD 2
slave driver WORK HARD 7
slave labour/labor PAY SB FOR WORK 7
slavish OBEY 6
sleazy BAD PERSON 6
sleek SHINY 1
sleep SLEEP 1, 13
sleep: can't get to sleep SLEEP 11
sleep: get a good night's sleep SLEEP 6
sleep: get sb off to sleep SLEEP 12
sleep: get some sleep SLEEP 1
sleep: go to sleep FEEL HOT/COLD/TIRED ETC 5,
SLEEP 3
sleep: have a sleep SLEEP 2
sleep: not get much sleep SLEEP 11
sleep: not sleep a wink SLEEP 11
sleep: put sb to sleep UNCONSCIOUS 3
sleep: snatch/grab some sleep SLEEP 2
sleep around SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 5
sleep badly/not sleep well SLEEP 11
sleep in WAKE UP/GET UP 6
sleep it off SLEEP 8
sleep like a log SLEEP 6
sleep on it THINK ABOUT 2
sleep out SLEEP 10
sleep over SLEEP 9
sleep rough SLEEP 10
sleep through SLEEP 7
sleep well SLEEP 14
sleep well/soundly SLEEP 6
sleep with SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
SLEEP
to sleep •
to sleep for a short time, especially during the
day
to begin to sleep
to begin to sleep immediately because you
are very tired
10
11
12
13
14
15
5 to go to bed at the end of the day in order to
sleep
6 to sleep well
7 to continue to sleep and not wake up easily
even if there is a noise
8 to sleep for a long time in order to get rid of
the effects of alcohol, drugs etc
=3 to sleep in a place where you do not usually
sleep
to sleep outdoors
to sleep badly or be unable to sleep at all
to make someone go to sleep
the time during which someone sleeps
what you say to someone who is going to
sleep for the night
to not go to bed at the usual time but to stay
awake until later
16 to prevent someone from sleeping
17 not sleeping
1 to sleep
sleep
be asleep
get some sleep
sleep/sli:pl [v I]
Nurse Burnley works all night and sleeps all day. ] Charlotte
was sleeping and her mother didn't want to wake her up. I
If my snoring is that bad.I'll go down and sleep on the sofa. I
I had slept only a few hours but I had to finish packing my
bags to get ready for the journey.
sleeping ]adj only before noun] I watched the sleeping child,
the gentle rise and fall of her breast.
be asleep/bi: lsli:p/to be sleeping [v phrase]
It was nine o'clock and Nicky was still asleep, i We found
morn asleep on the sofa. I be fast/sound asleep (=sleeping
very well) By the time her father had carried her up to bed,
the child was sound asleep. I be half asleep (=nearly asleep)
The old man was half asleep and barely able to respond to
the policeman's questions.
get some sleep /Iget sam sli:p/to sleep after a period
of time when you have not been able to sleep because of ill-
ness, worry, work etc Iv phrase]
You must stop worrying and try to get some sleep. ] I have
to stay up and finish this report, but I can get some sleep on
the train tomorrow. I The children had to be quiet to let their
sick mother get some sleep.
2 to sleep for a short time, especially during the
day
have a sleep doze
snooze/have a have a kip
snooze snatch/grab some
have/take a nap sleep
have a sleep /hev  sli:pl to sleep for a short time
during the day because you are tired Iv phrase]
Are you tired? Why don't you have a sleep this afternoon? l
Sandra found Robert curled up on the sofa having a sleep.
snooze/have a snooze/snu:z, heev  snu:z/an infor-
mal expression meaning to sleep for a short time during
the day Iv I]
I think I'll have a snooze before lunch. I Mr Redcot had eaten
and drunk well at dinner and was now having a snooze.
have/take a nap / ,hev, tek  'nep/to sleep for a short
time, especially at the same time each day Iv phrase]
The children have a nap every morning at about eleven
o'clock. ] Try to take a nap in the afternoons if you're feeling
tired.
nap In C] I feel refreshed after that little nap.

SLEEP 1245 SLEEP
doze/doz/to sleep very lightly for a short time, especially
when you do not intend to [v I]
On the train journey I dozed for a few minutes. I After a while
Sonya began to doze, enjoying these moments of intermittent
sleep.
have a kip/,hev v kip/an informal British expression
meaning to go to sleep for a short time [v phrase]
All I want to do is lie down and have a good kip. I If I can
have a few hours" kip .I'll feel a lot better.
snatch/grab some sleep/,sneet, ,greb sam 'sli:p/
to stop what you are doing when you are very busy in
order to sleep for a short time when you have a chance to
[v phrase]
I'll go home, snatch a couple of hours" sleep and meet you at
four o'clock. I Sam worked throughout the night, grabbing
some sleep just before dawn.
3 to begin to sleep
go to sleep
fall asleep
doze off
nod off
go off
drift off
drop off
go to sleep/,gau ta sli:p/[vphrase]
I usually go to sleep as soon as I close my eyes. I Are you two
going to stop talking and go to sleep? I go back to sleep (=go
to sleep again after waking up) Angrily, Joe switched off his
alarm clock and went back to sleep.
fall asleep/fo:l osli:p/to go to sleep, especially when
you do not intend to ]v phrase]
The lecture was so boring that half the students fell asleep. I
The hotel's night porter was still at his desk but he had fallen
asleep. I fall asleep at the wheel (=fall asleep while you
are driving) It's a six-hour drive from Penarth to Norwich.
I nearly fell asleep at the wheel a couple of times.
doze off/,doz 'of II -'a:f/to go to sleep when you do not
intend to and sleep lightly for a short time [phr v I]
Later that evening Mrs Hope dozed off while reading the
newspaper. I I was just beginning to doze off when the tele-
phone rang. I Peter has a habit of dozing off in the movie
theater.
drop off /drop 'of II dro:p 'a:f/to go to sleep easily and
peacefully [phr v I]
Sally lay down on the sofa and soon dropped off. [ drop off
to sleep Some babies will drop off to sleep quite happily with
some music playing. I He sat up in bed, looked around him
and then dropped off to sleep again.
nod off/,nod 'of II no:d 'a:f/to go to sleep when you are
sitting down especially when you are trying hard to stay
awake [phr v I I
After a heavy lunch Tom often nods off at his desk. I As the
speaker droned on only the occasional nudge from my
husband kept me from nodding off.
go off/gao 'of II -':fl if someone, especially a baby or a
young child, goes off, they begin to sleep [phr v I]
The baby finally went off at around midnight, but only after
a lot of crying. I It's so late the kids'll have no trouble going
off. I go offto sleep Patty collapsed on the bed and went off
to sleep immediately.
drift off/,drift 'of/to go to sleep gradually [phr v I]
I was just starting to drift off when I heard a sudden scream
downstairs. I drift off to sleep Maisie would always stay
at her son's bedside, reading him stories as he drifted off to
sleep.
4 to begin to sleep immediately because you
are very tired
go out like a light
flake out
as soon as your head hits the pillow
go out like a light/gao ,aut laik a 'lait/an informal
expression meaning to go to sleep very quickly and deeply
because you are very tired [v phrase]
Anita was so tired that she went out like a light as soon as
she went to bed. I He must have been exhausted after that long
walk - he went out like a light before he'd even undressed.
flake out/ fleik aoq an informal expression meaning to
fall asleep very deeply because you are extremely tired,
especially when you do not want to because you would
rather continue with what you are doing [phr v I]
When Victoria came home from the theatre she flaked out on
the sofa. I I feel fine in the mornings, but in the afternoons
I just flake out at my desk.
as soon as your head hits the pillow/z ,su:n z
j:r ,heal hits 6'pIlo/if you begin to sleep as soon as your
head hits the pillow, you are so tired that you fall asleep
as soon as you lie down in your bed [adv phrase]
As soon as his head hit the pillow he fell into a deep, untrou-
bled sleep.
5 to go to bed at the end of the day in order to
sleep
go to bed hit the sack
turn in bedtime
retire
go to bed/go t 'bed/[v phrase]
Marianne came home and had dinner, a hot bath and went
to bed. I Oh Morn! Idon't want to go to bed! I Keith was look-
ing forward to going to bed after not sleeping for twenty-four
hours.
turn. in/,ta:rn 'in/an informal expression meaning to go
to bed after you have been doing something such as talk-
ing with other people or working for a long time [phr v I]
We worked until midnight and then we all turned in. I Kate
was almost asleep when her guests finally decided to turn in.
retire/r tamr/a formal word meaning to go to bed lv I]
The captain retired at ten o'clock with a glass of whisky.
hit the sack/,hit 6a ' sek/an informal expression mean-
ing to go to bed when it is very late or you are very tired
[v phrase]
Come on, it's getting late - let's hit the sack. I I was about
ready to hit the sack when Detective Minelli of homicide
called.
bedtime /  bedtaim/the time when you go to bed in order
to sleep [n Ul
It's late - it must be nearly bedtime. I This medicine should
be taken at bedtime and first thing in the morning. I my/
your/his etc bedtime (=the time when you usually go to
bed) It's past my bedtime - I really must get some sleep now.
6 to sleep well
sleep well/soundly
get a good night's sleep
sleep like a log
sleep well/soundly/sli:p 'wel, 'saondli/to sleep very
comfortably until you are ready to wake up [v phrase]
"'Did the storm keep you awake? .... No, I slept very well.
The day had been long and difficult, and Harry slept soundly
till the morning.
get a good night's sleep/get a god naits ' sli:p/to sleep
well for a whole night and get a good rest so that you do
not feel tired in the morning [v phrase]
Perhaps we both need a good night's sleep. You're too upset
to talk about it now. I You look exhausted. Go home and get
a good night's sleep. I After getting a good night's sleep,
Pedro awoke refreshed and full of energy.
sleep like a log/sli:p laik a 'log II -b:g/an informal
expression meaning to sleep very well [v phrase]
The ship was swaying but Janet slept like a log while every-
body else around her was being sick!
7 to continue to sleep and not wake up easily
even if there is a noise
be a heavy sleeper
sleep through
be dead to the world

SLEEP 1246 SLEEP
be a heavy sleeper/bi: o hevi 'sli:por/to always sleep
very deeply and not wake up easily, even if there is a lot
of noise Iv phrase]
The traffic won't bother me - I'm a heavy sleeper.
sleep through/'sli:p 0ru:! to stay asleep while some-
thing noisy is happening around you Iv T]
There was a big storm last night but I slept right through
it. I Benny can sleep through even the loudest party. I Can
you imagine paying all that money to see an opera, and then
sleeping through the whole thing?
be dead to the world/bi: ded to 6o Iwj:rld/an infor-
mal expression meaning to be sleeping so deeply that it is
very difficult to wake you Iv phrase]
I'm sorry I didn't hear the phone -I must have been dead
to the world this morning.
8 to sleep for a long time in order to get rid of
the effects of alcohol, drugs etc
sleep it off
sleep it off/,sli:p ,t 'of/Iv phrase]
Martin had a terrible hangover so he's gone back to bed to
sleep it off.
9 to sleep in a place where you do not usually
sleep
sleep over
crash out
doss
sleep over /Isli:p 'oovor/to sleep for one night at some-
one else's house [phr v I]
Is it okay if I sleep over at Jim 's place tomorrow night? I Why
not stay longer in Paris? You could sleep over at Virginia's
tonight.
crash out/,kreef aot/an informal expression meaning
to go to sleep in the most convenient place that you can
find, for example at a friend's house or on the floor of a
room [phr v I]
You can crash out at my place if you like. I I came home at
two in the morning and found my brother crashed out on the
sofa.
doss ]dos II da:s! an informal British word meaning to
sleep in a place where you do not usually sleep, especially
not on a proper bed Iv I]
The party finished late, so I dossed on Adele's living room
floor. I Joss down Sally had missed the last bus home. so
she dossed down on a park bench for the night.
10 to sleep outdoors
sleep out
sleep rough
sleep out/,sli:p aot/[phr v I]
What I like most about camping is sleeping out. I Bring a
sleeping bag with you, because we're going to sleep out and
walk back tomorrow.
sleep rough/sli:p rAf! a British expression meaning
to sleep outside or in an empty building because you have
no home or nowhere to stay Iv phrase]
Hundreds of homeless people have to sleep rough every night
in London. I I was forced to sleep rough that night in a dis-
used warehouse.
11
sleep badly/
not sleep well
can't get to sleep
not get much sleep
not sleep a wink
to sleep badly or be unable to sleep at all
lie awake
toss and turn
sleepless night
insomnia
sleeplessness
sleep badly/not sleep well/,sli:p 'bedli, not sli:p
wel/Iv phrase]
During exam week 1slept badly because I was so nervous.
Tanya didn't sleep well at all last night.
can't get to sleep/Ika:nt get to sli:p II kent-/to be
unable to go to sleep especially because of noise, worries,
pain etc Iv phrase]
David couldn't get to sleep because of all the noise. I Can't
you get to sleep?
not get much sleep/no get mAt 'sli:p/to sleep badly
and only for short periods, especially because of noise,
worries, pain etc Iv phrase]
The people next door are having a big party tonight, so I
don't suppose we'll get much sleep. [ I'm sorry I'm so irrit-
able today - I didn't get much sleep last night.
not sleep a wink/not ,sli:p o wirjk/to not sleep at all,
especially during the night Iv phrase]
John's still very worried about his new job - he didn't sleep
a wink last night. [ That morning Liz was very pale, not
having slept a wink the night before.
lie awake/la o'wek/to be in bed unable to sleep, espe-
cially because you are worried or excited about something
Iv phrase l
Martin was a nervous teenager, often lying awake and
worrying about the future. [ dust one little worry about her
children's health and Kathleen lies awake all night.
toss and turn/tos and 'tj:rn II ,to:s-/to keep changing
your position in bed because you are unable to sleep and
do not feel comfortable Iv phrase]
I tossed and turned for hours before falling asleep. [ Iflgo
to bed straight after a big meal, I usually toss and turn all
night.
sleepless night/ sli:plos nat/a night when you cannot
sleep at all In C]
Tom spent a sleepless night on the sofa. [ Kathryn was suffer-
ing from the sharp headache that often follows a sleepless
night.
insomnia/Insomnio II In sozm-/the inability to sleep at
night In U]
People used to experint with herbs to find a cure for iom-
nia. I The side-effects of this drug are insomnia and feelings
of depression.
insomniac/nsomnik II in'so:m-/In C ] I'm an incurable
insomniac (=someone who does not sleep well) so Iget a lot
of my work done while the world sleeps.
sleeplessness/sli:plsns/an inability to sleep that
continues for several nights or more In U]
Doreen's been suffering from sleeplessness since her hus-
band's death. I Sleeplessness and loss of appetite are often
symptoms of too much pressure at work.
12 to make someone go to sleep
send sb to sleep
get sb off to sleep
soporific
send sb to sleep/send (sb) to sli:p/if something such
as music or a warm drink sends you to sleep, it relaxes
you so much that you go to sleep easily Iv phrase]
Certain types of music always relax me and sometimes send
me to sleep. I "'Drink this, "" mother said, "'It'll send you to
sleep. ""
get sb off to sleep/get (sb) ofto sli:p/to makea baby
or a young child go to sleep, for example by singing to them
or reading them a story Iv phrase]
It's sometimes very difficult to get my young son off to sleep
when he's excited. I The baby cried for a while but I finally
got her off to sleep.
soporific /,soporfik-II sa:-/ making you feel very
sleepy and unable to stay awake [adj]
John loved the hot, still air of those soporific summer after-
noons. [ I found the monotonous tone of his lecture rather
soporific, and could barely stay awake.
13 the time during which someone sleeps
sleep
sleep/sli:p/In U]
Katie sometimes talks in her sleep. I Eight hours'sleep a night
is enough for most people. I deep sleep (=a sleep that is

SLEEP 1247
difficult to wake from) The alarm clock woke Eileen from 
a deep sleep. 
what you say to someone who is going to
 sleep for the night
goodnight/good night
night
sleep well
goodnightlgood night/god'nat/
"'Good night, "" Alice said, "'I'll see you tomorrow. "' I On the
doorstep I said goodnight to Paul. I kiss sb goodnight
Gabrielle kissed her parents goodnight and yawned as they
got into the car and drove off.
night/nat/an informal word: you say night to someone
who is going to sleep for the night
"'Well, .I'm going to bed - I'm tired. Night, John. "" "'Night
Mary."
sleep well/,sli:p 'well you say sleep well to someone
when they are going to bed and you hope they are going
to sleep well
"'Sleep well, "" said Jeff. "'See you in the morning. "'
1 5 to not go to bed at the usual time but to stay
awake until later
stay up
wait up
stay up/,ste '^p/[phr v I]
stay up doing sth We went to bed, but Julie and Kate stayed
up talking and playing cards. I stay up When I was young
I was sometimes allowed to stay up and watch television. I
stay up till the small (British) / wee (American) hours
(=keep awake until very late or nearly morning) That night
Carl stayed up into the small hours preparing work for the
next day.
wait up /,weit 'Ap/to keep awake and not go to bed at the
usual time because you are waiting for someone to come
home [phr v I]
Julie's parents waited up all night but she never came home. I
I'll be home late tonight, so don't wait up.
1 6 to prevent someone from sleeping
keep sb awake
keep sb up
keep sb awake/,ki:p (sb) a'wek/[v phrase]
I need another coffee to keep me awake. I Simon's mother
coughed throughout the night, keeping him awake. I Molly
kept Paula awake all night talking.
keep sb up / ,ki:p (sb) '^p/to prevent someone from going
to bed or from going to sleep when they want to go to sleep
[phr v T]
Mrs Andrews kept her two young daughters up until her
husband came home from work. I I'm often kept up by the
noise of laughter and music from next door.
17 not sleeping
awake
awake/'wezk/[adj]
John, are you awake? I think there's someone downstairs.
Gareth remembered shaking Barbara until she was awake.
wide awake (=awake and not tired at all) Grandad
appeared to be sleeping, but in fact he was wide awake.
i sleeper: be a heavy sleeper SLEEP 7
#, sleeper: be a light sleeper WAKE UP/GET UP 3
 sleepless night SLEEP 11
ili;i! sleeplessness SLEEP 11
 sleepy BUSY PLACE 4, PEACEFUL 1, TIRED 2
.......
 slender THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 1 THIN PERSON 3
 ,
 slice CUT 5, PIECE 4
.....
 slice of the cake SHARE 6
• } slice of the cake: the biggest slice of the cake MOST 2
slice through CUT 3
slick PERSUADE 8
slide LESS 5, PUT 4, SLIDE 1, 2
slightest bit
SLIDE
to move smoothly across a surface
to make something slide
words for describing a smooth surface that
makes you slide
1 to move smoothly across a surface
slide slip
glide skid
slither
slide Island/[v I]
slide around In the street below, children were sliding
around on the icy sidewalks. I slide off/across/along etc
Several glasses slid off the tray and crashed to the floor. I
Harry slid across the bench so he was sitting next to me. I
slide We slipped and slid, losing our balance on the ice.
glide/glad/to move smoothly and quietly, as if no effort
was being made in order to move [v I]
glide across/around/along ere A swan glided across the
surface of the lake. I Servants in white robes glided silently
around the room, holding silver trays. I glide Your skis
should glide naturally as you move across the snow.
slilher /  sl;6or/to slide smoothly across a surface, twist-
ing or moving from side to side [v I]
slither off/across/through ere The snake slithered away
through the tall grass stems. I As Katie fell asleep her book
fell from her hands and slithered off the bed. I Four small
children came slithering through the crowd to the front so
that they could see better.
slip/slp/ to slide across or down a surface, especially
accidentally [v I]
"'What happened? .... He slipped and fell. I think he's broken
his arm. "" I slip down/on/across ere These glasses are too
heavy, they keep slipping down my nose. I As the boys went
down the path they slipped on the wet leaves.
skid/skd/ff something skids, especially a car or bicycle,
it slides uncontrollably and usually dangerously lv I]
The car in front of me skidded and I slammed the brakes on
to avoid it. I skid across/on/along etc He lost control of
the bike and it wentskidding across the road. I Her foot skid-
ded on the wet floor and she fell down, hurting her back.
skid [n C] Turn the steering wheel in the direction of, and
not against, a skid.
2 to make something slide
slide
slide/sla,d/[v T]
slide sth across/along/towards ere "'Your money, "' said
White, as he slid a roll of banknotes across the table. I Fold
the omelette over, slide it onto a plate, and serve immediately.
3 words for describing a smooth surface that
makes you slide
slippery
slippery/' slIpgri / smooth or wet, and difficult to stand on
without slipping [adj]
The floor has just been polished - it may be slippery. I
Danger - slippery roads I I don't think we'll be able to get
across the stream without getting wet, the stepping-stones
look really slippery. I slippery with mud/grease/ice etc
The path by the side of the field is always slippery with mud
at this time of year.
slight SMALL 6, THIN PERSON 1
slightest bit: not the least bit/not the slightest bit
NOT 

slightest idea
# slightest idea: not have the faintest idea/slightest
i idea/least idea NOT KNOW 1
!!! slightly LITTLE/NOT VERY 1
 slim THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 2, THIN PERSON
, slimy FRIENDLY 6
;;;; sling THROW 2
.;;i slink off/away LEAVE A PLACE 8
i!; slip DOWN 14, FALL 3, GIVE 2, MISTAKE 1, PIECE 4,
!i SLIDE 1, WORSE 3
;,;i" slip: give sb the slip ESCAPE 5
: slip: let slip TELL A SECRET 3
,. slip back into CONTINUE/START AGAIN 3
• ; slip in ENTER 3
 slip of the tongue MISTAKE 2
:" slip on PUT ON CLOTHES 1
;,, slip outlaway LEAVE A PLACE 8
; slip/sink/fall into unconsciousness UNCONSCIOUS 2
 slip through sb's fingers ESCAPE 5
; slip up MISTAKE 4
 slip-up MISTAKE 1
 slip your mind FORGET2
...
; slippe SLIDE 3
 slipshod: slapdash/slipshod CARELESS 3
 slit CUT 1, 11, HOLE 4
"- slither SLIDE 1
: slob UNTIDY 3
 slog: be a slog DIFFICULT 3, WORK THAT SB DOES 4
 slogan SAYING 4
': slope HORIZONTAL 4
 slope off LEAVE A PLACE 8
{ sloping HORIZONTAL 4
:' sloppy CARELESS 3
;; slot HOLE 4
 slouch SIT 3
', slovenly UNTIDY 3
. slow BUSY PLACE 5, SLOW 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12,
:,.,::. STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 2
•  slow down SLOW11,12
slow-motion: in slow motion SLOW 2
....
; slow-moving SLOW 1
1248
SLOW
words for describing something or someone
that moves slowly
words for describing slow movements and
actions
words for describing something that happens
or develops slowly
ways of saying that something or someone
moves slowly
ways of saying that someone does something
slowly
ways of saying that something happens or
develops slowly
ways of saying that someone does something
or something happens very slowly or too
slowly
8
9
10
11
12
13
SLOW
to be slower than the other people in a group
someone who does things too slowly
to move more slowly than before
to make something go or happen more slowly
than before
to do something, move, or happen more
slowly than before
to move very slowly along, towards, away
from etc something or someone
1 words for describing something or someone
that moves slowly
slow
slow-moving
sluggish
slow/sbu/[adj]
The trains were slow and crowded and the journey was
awful. I We watched the truck make its slow progress up the
mountainside. I After dinner, Beth and Mark decided to take
a slow walk into town. I The ambulances are slow in coming,
and people often die before they reach the hospital.
slow-moving /slou mu:vg-/ slow-moving traffic/
crowd/water ete (=moving slowly especially because
something prevents it from going any faster) [adj]
.In the evenings the roads out of town are clogged with slow-
moving traffic. ] Some diseases are carried by bacteria that
live in stagnant or slow-moving water.
sluggish/'slg/moving more slowly than usual, espe-
cially because of a loss of power or energy [adj]
The car felt sluggish as we drove up the hill. I His soldiers
were so weak, their movements so sluggish, that they couldn't
continue.
sluggishly [adv] We could just see the little boat moving
sluggishly through the dense swamp.
2 words for describing slow movements and
actions
slow deliberate
unhurried languid
leisurely in slow-motion
slow/sbo/[adj]
The only sound was of the baby's slow, steady breathing. I
He was a wonderful dancer, especially to the slow songs. I
His father spoke in the slow drawl typical of the deep South.
unhurried/An thArid II -th3:-/doing something slowly and
calmly, especially something difficult that needs a lot of
skill [adj]
The team continued to play unhurried and skilful football. I
He began to fill in the crossword, with precise, unhurried
strokes of the pencil.
leisurely /le3orli II li:-/ moving or doing something
slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are
doing and do not have to hurry [adj]
Sunday mornings she gets up late and then takes a leisurely
breakfast with her family. I They drove down to Mexico, some
four hundred miles, at a leisurely pace.
deliberate/d lbrq moving or doing something slowly
and carefully, especially because you do not want to make
a mistake [adj]
Her way of talking is slow and deliberate. I The little girl
climbed the stairs with firm, deliberate steps.
deliberately [adv] She lit a cigarette, slowly and deliber-
ately, while she thought about her answer.
languid / l]gwd/slow in a graceful or lazy way, without
showing any sign of effort [adj]
He gave a rather languid wave and turned back into the
house. I They seemed to have descended from the same tall,
languid, handsome family.
languidly [adv] She picked up a bottle of perfume and
languidly sprayed some onto her neck.

SLOW 1249 SLW
in slow.motion/In Islao ImaoSan/moving at a slower
speed than usual, especially when shown on a film [adv
phrasel
The car crash seemed to take place in slow-motion, i The
documentary showed the hawk's dive in slow-motion.
3 words for describing something that happens
or develops slowly
slow
gradual
bit by bit
slow Islaul [adj]
After the operation Penny made a slow and steady recovery. I
The pace of modernization has been very slow. I In the north
and east of the country, progress is slower than in the richer
south.
gradual ] gredsual] happening, developing, or changing
slowly, over a long period of time [adj]
There has been a gradual decline in the number of students
attending this course. I The twentieth century has seen a
gradual increase in the number of working mothers.
bit by bit/bIt baI bIt/happening or done in small stages,
and frequently being interrupted or stopping before con-
tinuing [adv phrase]
Bit by bit, we began to understand the language and get used
to the customs, i Then add the olive oil, bit by bit, beating
continuously until the sauce thickens.
4 ways of saying that something or someone
moves slowly
slow
at low speed
slowly/'slauli/[adv]
Large white clouds drifted slowly across the deep blue sky. i
Judith sighed and moved slowly towards the door. i As the
river widens it begins to flow more slowly.
slow/slao/go/drive/move etc slow (=to go, drive, move
etc slowly) [adv]
To save on gas, try to drive slow whenever possible. I Just
read the words slow, don't try to sound dramatic.
at low speed/at lao spi:d/ifa vehicle travels at low
speed, it moves more slowly than it is able to or more
slowly than it usually does [adv phrase]
He rode the bike carefully at low speed for the first thousand
miles of the journey. I You'll save money on gas if you drive
your car at low speed.
low-speed/llau spi:d/[adj only before noun] Constant low-
speed city driving increases pollution.
5 ways of saying that someone does something
slowly
slowly in easy stages
take your time be in no hurry
take it slowly/take things slowly
slowly/'slaoli/[adv]
Lynn was slowly beginning to realize the job wasn't as easy
as it seemed. I She slowly removed her hat and gloves, i I was
tired and noticed I was working more slowly than usual.
take your time / teik j:r tam/to do something slowly
because you do not want to hurry, for example, if you are
making a decision or doing a difficult piece of work
Iv phrase]
Just take your time. You don't have to decide immediately. I
I took my time to look round and take somepictures, i take
your time over/about Eulah Mac stood over the sink,
taking her time about washing the lunch dishes.
take it slowly/take things slowly/teIk It slaoli,
teik OIlJZ I slauli/to deliberately do something slowly over
a period of time because you have to, for example in order
to get better after an illness or to learn something new
Iv phrase]
You've just had a serious operation - you'll have to take
things slowly for the next few weeks, i Let's take it slowly,
one step at a time, okay?
in easy stages/In i:zi steid3z / if you do something
in easy stages, you do it in several short stages, stopping
or resting regularly [adv phrase]
We made our way home from Australia in easy stages over
several months.
be in no hurry/bi: in ,nao 'hAri II -'ha:-/to do something
slowly because you are enjoying what you are doing and
want to continue doing it Iv phrase]
be in no hurry to do sth The sun was shining and I was
in no hurry to get back to college, i be in no hurry "'We're
supposed to meet Dick at three o'clock. "' "'I'm in no hurry -
he can wait. ""
6 ways of saying that something happens or
develops slowly
slowly by degrees
gradually little by little
slowly but surely
slowly / ' slaoli/[adv ]
Slowly prices began to fall. I The capsule slowly releases its
contents about an hour after you swallow it.
gradually/ gredsuali/slowly over a period of time [adv]
Gradually add the milk to the mixture. I As the weeks passed,
I gradually accepted the idea of him leaving.
slowly but surely / slaoli bat 5oarli/if something hap-
pens slowly but surely, it happens slowly and steadily
until it is completed [adv phrase]
It's taken a long time, but she's getting better, slowly but
surely. I Slowly but surely, the dam collapsed under thepres-
sure of the water.
by degrees/ba d gri:z/happening very slowly by a
series of small changes or in small amounts [adv phrase]
By degrees, little children grow less dependent on their par-
ents. i Add water by degrees, stirring continuously.
little by little/,lItl ba[ 'lItl/ happening slowly and in
small stages, especially when this leads to an improvement
or a good result [adv phrase]
Little by little, as I got better, I stopped thinking about the
accident, i Bill made good wages, and little by little the family
paid back their debt.
7 ways of saying that someone does something
or something happens very slowly or too
slowly
slow at a snail's pace
take too long dawdle
slow/slaol [adj]
That waiter's so slow - we're going to be late! I These days,
the mail seems to be slower than ever. I He was a very slow
writer and never really produced very much work. I be slow
to do sth (=take action too slowly) Why was Britain so slow
to develop a national education system before 1914?1 Despite
the new rules, employers have been slow to act.
take too long/,telk tu: 'lorj li -'l:rj/to take more time
than is necessary or more time than you have [v phrase]
take too long to do sth It'll take too long to get home by
bus - I'll call a taxi. I take too long I skipped coffee because
I thought it would take too long. I take too long over Don't
take too long over a question that you cannot answer - move
on to the next one.
at a snail's pa©e/at a tsnellz pels/moving or happen-
ing so slowly that it is difficult to see any movement,
change, or development [adv phrase]
We were driving at a snail's pace, the traffic was so heavy.
dawdle/d:dl/to move or work too slowly, especially
because you are not really paying attention to what you are
doing Iv I]
We'll never get all the shopping done today if you dawdle like
this. I I saw that Trimingham was following us - he wasn't
dawdling as we were and he would soon catch up with us.

SLOW 1250 small-time
8 to be slower than the other people in a group
lag behind
fall behind/drop behind
lag behind/,leg bi haind/to walk or move more slowly
than other people in the group you are with Iv I/T]
lag behind sb Bob and Sarah had only lagged behind us
for a couple of minutes but already we couldn't see them. I
lag behind He deliberately lagged behind so he could have
a cigarette.
fall behind/drop behind/If:l bl Ihaind, drop- II drozp-/
to move slowly so that you get separated from the group
you are with Iv I/T]
Because he made such a bad start in the race he soon dropped
behind. I fall/drop behind sb Of all the ships crossing the
Atlantic the Vanzetti was so slow it dropped far behind the
rest of the convoy.
9 someone who does things too slowly
slowcoach/slowpoke
slowcoach (British) I slowpoke (American)/,slokotJ',
 slopok/someone who does something too slowly, works
too slowly, walks too slowly, etc In C]
Come on, slowcoach! If you don't hurry up, we'll be late. [
Don't bring Alan. He's a real slowpoke!
10 to move more slowly than before
reduce speed
reduce speed/ri,dju:s 'spi:d II-,du:s-/an expression
used especially on road signs or in official instructions to
drivers meaning to drive more slowly Iv phrase]
Reduce speed now - roadworks ahead. I There is heavy fog
on all roads tonight so drivers are advised to reduce speed
and drive with extra care.
1 1 to make something go or happen more slowly
than before
slow down
slow down/,silo 'daon/[phr v T]
slow sb/sth/it/her etc down I'm sorry I'm late but the
snow slowed me down a bit. I There's a strike at the post
office, so that might slow things down. I slow down sb/sth
The government is introducing new measures to slow down
the inflation rate.
1 ' to do something, move, or happen more
slowly than before
slow down
slow
ease up
slow down/,silo 'daon/[phr v I]
She was driving so fast that I had to tell her to slow down. i
At the age of six, a child's growth slows down considerably. I
Property price rises are slowing down.
slow/silo/to become much slower than before Iv I]
The train slowed to walking pace as we approached the
tunnel.
ease up /i:z ^p/ to do something more slowly than
before, especially because you have been going too fast,
working too hard etc [phr v I]
People spend their whole lives rushing about - they should
ease up a little, i Without easing up, he repeated the punch
again and again.
1 3 to move very slowly along, towards, away
from etc something or someone
inch crawl
edge creep
inch/mtJ'/ if a person, animal or vehicle inches some-
where, they move there very slowly and carefully, stopping
regularly, for example because they have very little space
to move in, or do not want to be noticed Iv I]
inch along/towards/across etc The car inched forward
into the narrow parking space. I We watched the cat inch-
ing along the ground, not taking its eyes off the bird for a
second. I inch your way along/towards/across etc I
inched my way across the crowded room to where Lou was
standing.
edge led3/if someone edges somewhere, they move there
very slowly and carefully, stopping regularly, because they
do not want to be noticed, or because they are watching
someone carefully at the same time
edge along/towards/across etc I started edging towards
the door, hoping to slip away unnoticed. I He kept an eye on
me as he edged across the room. I edge closer Charlie slowly
edged closer, gripping the knife tightly in his hand.
crawl Ikr3:l! if a vehicle crawls, it moves very slowly,
because there is a lot of other traffic on the road, or because
something is preventing it from moving at its usual speed
Iv I]
crawl along/down/up etc We sat in the car with the radio
on, crawling along behind a long line of other cars. I The
old Buick struggled and strained, and just managed to crawl
up the hill. I crawling traffic Snowbound roads will mean
crawling traffic and long delays for commuters this
morning.
at a crawl/et v km:l II -aft/[adv phrase] Due to a major
road accident, southbound traffic is moving at a crawl.
creep/kri:p/a word used especially in literature: if light,
a shadow, mist, water etc creeps somewhere, it moves
there very slowly, so that you almost do not notice it Iv I]
creep across/towards/up etc A thin shaft of sunlight
crept across the floor, and disappeared. I The mist started
to creep across the fields towards the house. [As evening drew
on long shadows seemed to creep out of the corners, making
strange frightening shapes.
 slowcoach/slowpoke SLOW 9
. slowly SLOW 4, 5, 6
 slowly: go slowly PASS/TIME PASSING 3
 slowly: take it slowly/take things slowly
ii slowly but surely SLOW 6
ii sluggish SLOW 1
 slum POOR 7
 slump FAIL 11
 slumped: be slumped SIT 3
 slur CRITICIZE 6, SPEAK A LANGUAGE 2
--
..!. sly DISHONEST 1, INTELLIGENT 8
 smack EXACT 6
 smack/spank HIT 4
 small SHORT PERSON 1, SMALL 1, 6, 7,
.:.
 UNIMPORTANT 1, YOUNG 1
ii small amount: a small amount of
i small fry UNIMPORTANT 6
. small number: a small number of
 small talk TALK TO SB 7
: small-time UNIMPORTANT 6
SLOW 5
LITTLE/NOT MUCH
FEW/NOT MANY 1
small

SMALL 1251 SMALL
SMALL
1 small in size
2 extremely small in size
3 made or designed to be small in size and
easy to carry
4 words for describing rooms, houses etc that
are too small to be comfortable
5 to become smaller in size
6 words for describing changes, differences,
increases etc that are small in amount or
degree
7 words for describing small numbers or
amounts
1 small in size
small
little
dainty
miniature
compact
small/sm:ll [adj]
They lived in a small cottage on the edge of the forest. I Lux-
embourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe. I a small
bottle of perfume I I'm getting really fat - all my clothes are
too small for me. I People are turning to smaller cars because
they are cheaper to run.
little/litl/a word meaning small, used either to show
fondness or sympathy, or to show that you think something
is unimportant [adj only before noun]
The poor little boy was crying for his mother. I He had the
brightest little black eyes I've ever seen! I They all think he's
a great leader - I think he'sjust a boring little man with a
silly voice, t It's just a little souvenir I picked up when I was
in Kyoto. I What a lovely little dog!
dainty /'dmnti/ an object that is dainty is small and
delicate in an attractive way [adj]
She wore a dainty hat with a little feather in it. I They sat
drinking Turkish coffee out of dainty china cups.
miniature /miniatfa r, mlntJ'a r II mlni;tfoar/ minia-
ture garden/lake/train/version etc (=one that is a much
smaller copy of a bigger one and is used especially as a
decoration or as a toy) [adj usually before noun]
She made a miniature garden using moss instead of grass,
and a mirror for a pond. I Next to the beach there's a minia-
ture railway.
compact /kmpekt, kompmkt [[ kampakt/ rooms,
houses, or offices that are compact are small but comfort-
able and convenient, because the space has been used
cleverly and effectively [adj]
"What a lovely little house this is!" he said happily. "So
compact! So well planned!"[ The hut was indeed very
compact and comfortable, complete with bunk beds, a sink
and bathroom facilities.
2 extremely small in size
tiny microscopic
minute infinitesimal
minuscule/miniscule
tiny/taIni/[adj]
Have you seen Vic's apartment? It's tiny. I Luke put out his
big hand and touched the tinyfingers of his baby daughter. I
They lived in a tiny village in the Alps. I tiny little The box
was full of tiny little blue and white beads.
minute/mai nju:t II -'nu:t/extremely small and difficult
to see [adj ]
Police found minute traces of blood on the car seats. I Don't
worry about the stain - it's so minute no one will ever notice
it. [ The wound was full of minute pieces of glass and the
nurse had to take each one out very carefully.
minusculelminiscule/'mlnskju:l/very much smaller
than usual, especially in a way that seems surprising [adj]
She was wearing a minuscule bikini bottom, held on by
almost invisible straps. [ Compared to its adult size, a new-
born kangaroo is minuscule.
microscopic /,maIkm'skpik [[-'ska:-/ an object or
living creature that is microscopic is so small that it is
difficult or impossible to see [adj]
microscopic particles of dust [ The fish feed on the millions
of microscopic water organisms in the sea. I This part of the
skin is covered with microscopic hairs, invisible to the naked
eye.
infinitesimal/, inflnta 'tesoImal/infinitesimal amount/
proportion/quantity/change etc (=extremely small, and
almost impossible to see or notice) [adj]
Their equipment is so sensitive that even an infinitesimal
change in temperature is recorded. [ An infinitesimal propor-
tion of the whiskey produced is used for testing. [ The differ-
ence between the twins was infinitesimal.
infinitesimally [adv ] The eggs of the lice are infinitesimally
small and very easy to miss.
3 made or designed to be small in size and
easy to carry
compact
pocket
miniature
compact/km'pmkt, 'ktmpmkt II km'pekt/[adj]
Modern compact cameras produce fine quality pictures and
weigh very little. [ The new Toshiba laptop computer is
extremely compact and fits neatly into your briefcase.
pocket /'pokt II 'po.-kt/ pocket calculator/torch/
camera etc (=one that is small and can be carried easily,
for example in your pocket or your bag) [adj only before
noun]
Students are allowed to take pocket calculators into their
exams. [ She took a pocket mirror out of her handbag and
put on some lipstick. I In his left hand he carried a pocket
Bible.
miniature /mlniatJ'a r, mintJ'a r [I mlniatj'oar/ minia-
ture camera/television/tape recorder etc (=one that is
much smaller than a normal camera, television etc) [adj
usually before noun]
Miniature cameras such as the Minox are used by spies for
photographic documents. [ a miniature television with a 2
inch screen
4 words for describing rooms, houses etc that
are too small to be comfortable
cramped
poky/pokey
cramped /krmmpt/ small and uncomfortable because
there is not enough space [adj]
Conditions on board ship were extremely cramped and
uncomfortable. [ I couldn't wait to move out of my cramped
apartment.
poky/pokey / 'poki/a British word meaning small, unat-
tractive, and uncomfortable to live in [adj]
I didn "t like the kitchen, I thought it was rather poky. [ Brian
lives with his wife and three children in two pokey little
rooms at the back of the shop.
5 to become smaller in size
get smaller
shrink
shrivel/shrivel up
get smaller/,get Isma:lor/iv phrase]
She watched the plane get smaller and smaller as it disap-
peared into the distance. [ Am I getting fatter or are these
trousers getting smaller?
shrink/J'rn]k/to become smaller because of the effect of
heat or water iv I]
I washed my sweater in hot water and it shrank. [ The meat
will probably shrink a little during cooking.

SMALL 1252 SMART/WELL-DRESSED
shriveilshrivei up /'frivdl, ,j'rivdl '^p/ if something
such as a plant or a fruit shrivels or shrivels up, it
becomes smaller and drier because of heat or because it is
old Iv I]
The grapes are left out in the sun to shrivel and become rai-
sins. I The crops began to shrivel up in the heat.
shrivelled/shrivelled up [adj] I don't want this orange,
it's all shrivelled up.
6 words for describing changes, differences,
increases etc that are small in amount or
degree
small tiny
slight minut
small/sm:l/[adj]
I got a small increase in my salary - only about $10 a week. I
Government statistics show a small drop in the annual rate
of inflation. I The new Rolls Royce is much the same as the
previous model apart from a few small changes to the
interior.
slight /slalt/ a change, difference, increase etc that is
slight is very small and seems unimportant [adj]
We've made a slight change of plan - we've decided to meet
at 7.30, not 7o'clock. I The doctor says there's been a slight
change in her condition.
tiny/talni/extremely small [adj]
There's been a tiny decrease in the number of people out of
work, but nothing significant. I I've made one or two tiny
alterations, but basically the house is the same as when I
bought it.
minute/mai 'nju:t II -nu:tl a change, difference, increase
etc that is minute is so small that it is difficult to know that
it has happened or exists [adj]
The machine is capable of recording minute changes in air
pressure. I The difference between them is so minute, I really
wouldn't worry about it.
7 words for describing small numbers or
amounts
small tiny
low minute
small/sm:l/[adj]
There wasn't really much I could buy with such a small
amount. I Only a small number of people eventually turned
up. I The level of radiation in the atmosphere is really very
small.
low Ilaul a low figure or amount is smaller than usual, and
often smaller than you would like it to be [adj]
Our test results show you have a very low iron count. I Half-
yearly profits are very low this year. I The number of people
visiting the area was the lowest on record.
tiny/'taini/a tiny number or amount is very small [adj]
A tinyproportion of babies suffer from the disease. I You only
need to use a tiny amount of saffron in this recipe.
minute/real 'nju:t II -'nu:t/a minute amount is extremely
small, so that you almost do not notice it, or it makes very
little difference to something [adj]
It was a minute dose of the drug. I'm sure it won't do him
any harm. I Baby sterilizing equipment will kill most germs,
but a minute number may survive.
smaller: get smaller SMALL 5
smarmy FRIENDLY 6
smart INTELLIGENT 1,4, 9, SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
smart: not intelligent/bright/clever/smart
STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
smart aleck INTELLIGENT 7
smart-ass/wise guy INTELLIGENT 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
@ SMART/
WELL-DRESSED
I words for describing someone who wears
good clothes and has a tidy appearance
2 to make youself look smart
1 words for describing someone who wears
good clothes and has a tidy appearance
smart well-groomed
well-dressed sharp
presentable dapper
well turned out snazzy
smart /sma:rt/ a British word meaning wearing neat,
clean, attractive clothes and having a generally tidy
appearance [adjl
The editor was slim, smart and dark-haired. I Chris was
going for an interview that day, and came in looking very
smart. I The waitresses were the smartest ones I'd ever seen. I
a smart, clean-cut young man from south Calcutta
smartly [adv] The children stood in neat rows, smartly
dressed in school uniform, their faces scrubbed and shining.
well.dressed/ wel drest-/wearing good or expensive
clothes [adj]
She was a tall, well-dressed woman of about 35. I Jean, who
was usually pretty well-dressed, turned up in dirty jeans and
a tee-shirt.
presentable /pri'zentball smart enough for meeting
people, socially or in your job [adj]
We don't have to wear suits for work, but we do have to look
presentable. [ Arnold was a very presentable young fellow. [
My parents are coming around tonight - do try to look
presentable.
weii turned out /wel t3:rnd aot-/someone who is well
turned out has taken care that their clothes and general
appearance are clean and neat, for example for a special
occasion [adj phrase]
The Principal expected everyone to be well turned out on
Graduation Day. [ It used to be accepted that everyone would
be well turned out on Sundays.
well.groomed/ wel 'gru:md-/having clean, neat hair,
wearing good clothes, and looking as if you have spent a
lot of time and money on your appearance [adj]
Her boss is a well-groomed businessman named Paul. I
Ambassadors" wives are required to look expensive, fashion-
able, and well-groomed. [ Clara's beautiful, well-groomed
appearance made her stand out from the rest of us.
sharp/a:rp/dressed in a way that shows you have good
judgement about what clothes look good on you and what
other people will admire [adj]
She looked pretty sharp in her new jeans and denim jacket. I
sharp dresser A friend of mine, a sharp dresser, had told
me never to wear brown tweed.
dapper / 'dcpor/a man, especially a small man, who is
dapper wears neat, tidy clothes and is generally very smart
in appearance [adj]
The Captain was a dapper little man with a neat moustache
and shiny shoes, t Grahame Billings was at the dance look-
ing dapper and elegant in his dress suit.
snazzy /  snmzi/an informal word: clothes that are snazzy
are bright, colourful, and attractive [adj]
I love those snazzy little silk dresses. I Dressed in an old
anorak and dirty jeans, no one could have called him a
snazzy dresser.
• 2 to make youself look smart
smarten yourself up
spruce yourself up/get spruced up

SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1253 SMELL
smarten yourself up/,sma:rtn ja:rself '^p/a British
expression: if you smarten yourself up, you make your-
self look smart by changing your clothes, arranging your
hair etc [v phrase]
There's a button missing from your shirt and your shoes need
polishing - go and smarten yourself up. I She was busy smar-
tening herself up in the ladies room. I smarten up Smarten
up! It's time for inspection.
spruce yourself up/get spruced up/,spru:s jo:rself
'^p, get ,spru:st '^p/to wash, tidy your hair, put on good
clothes etc before doing something or going somewhere [v
phrase]
I think I'll go and spruce myself up before dinner. I On Satur-
days we got spruced up and headed off into town.
• !!! smarten yourself up SMART/WELL-DRESSED 2
::. smash BREAK 3, 9
smash into HIT/BUMP INTO 2
, smashlslaughter BEAT/DEFEAT 2
:!i smash up DAMAGE 4
.:, smashedlplastered DRUNK 3
:.. smattering: a smattering of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 9
 smattering: have a smattering of KNOW STH 10,
:!i SPEAK A LANGUAGE 7
.; smear SPREAD 8
i;!i smell SMELL 1, 3, 5, 7, 8
iiil smell: can smell SMELL 9
:: smell: have a good/bad etc smell SMELL 7
.,
• -{ smell a rat SUSPECT 1
! smell nice/good SMELL 4
@ SMELL
something that people and animals recognize
by using their nose
10
I a smell
:2 a pleasant smell
3 an unpleasant smell
4 having a pleasant smell
5 having an unpleasant smell
6 having an old, not fresh smell
7' to have a particular smell
8 to put your nose near something or someone
in order to find out what kind of smell they have
9 to notice or be able to recognize a particular
smell
the ability to notice or recognize smells
1 a smell
smell
odour/odor
scent
smell/smell [n C]
The drink had an unusual smell, but it tasted delicious. I
We're used to the smells from the factory. I I opened the
window to try and get rid of the smell of beer and cigarettes.
odour (British) I odor (American) I'odr/a word mean-
ing a smell, used especially when describing a smell that
is easy to recognize [n C]
Lingering in the air was the unmistakeable odour of bar-
becue smoke. I We immediately noticed the heavy odor of
opium in the room.
scent/sent/the smell left by animals [n C]
The dogs followed the fox's scent as far as the forest, but there
it ended. I The deer caught the scent of the man, and sprang
off over the hill.
a pleasant smell
scent/perfume/fragrance
aroma
scent/perfume/fragrance/sent, 'pa: rfju:m, 'freIgmns/
a pleasant smell, especially from flowers [n C]
Graham could smell the perfume of roses from the park. I The
bashes were so thick with flowers their scent was almost over-
powering. [ Katie breathed deeply, inhaling the fragrance
of wild herbs and shrubs.
aroma/a' moma/a pleasant smell, especially from food or
coffee [n C]
Each cheese has its own texture, fiavour and aroma. I An
aroma of coffee beans made Paul stop in front of a small
cafe. I The tantalizing aromas of roast pork and hot potatoes
filled the air.
3 an unpleasant smell
smell stench
odour/odor stink
pong
smell/smell [n C]
There's a smell in here - open the window, i The dirt and
smells of the crowded streets really depressed me.
odour (British) I odor (American)/'udr/a word mean-
ing an unpleasant smell, especially one that is easy to
recognize [n C]
Use our new air freshener to get rid of unpleasant household
odors. [ It was only in the late 19th century that body odour
came to be considered unpleasant or anti-social. [ If any food
you buy seems mouldy, discoloured or has an offensive odour,
return it immediately.
pong/prJ II pan]/an informal British word meaning a
bad smell [n singular]
What a pong! This place hasn't been cleaned for years!
stench/stenq/a very strong, very unpleasant smell, espe-
cially one which makes you feel unwell [n singular]
I couldn't bear to go in the room with its stench of beer and
vomit. I The body must have been dead for days because the
stench was overpowering.
stink/st:ok/a very unpleasant smell, especially of some-
thing decaying In singular]
There was a stink of dead fish and old vegetables coming
from the dustbin. I The stink from the drains is" almost
unbearable in summer.
4 having a pleasant smell
fragrant
aromatic
sweet-smelling
fresh
perfumed
smell nice/good
fragrant / ' fregmnt/having a light, pleasant smell, espe-
cially of flowers [adj]
The plant has fragrant white and red fiowers. I The house
was cool and fragrant. [ Choose from one of Chanel's new
range of fragrant body lotions.
aromatic /emmmtk*/ a word meaning having a
pleasant smell, used especially when talking about plants
and leaves that are used in cooking [adj]
The leaves of this bush are highly aromatic. [Aromatic herbs
are the ones most used in cooking. [ This kind of massage
is a gentle treatment using aromatic oils.
sweet-smeiiing/, swi:t  smel  rj*/having a strong, sweet
smell [adj]
Danny brought me a bunch of sweet-smelling violets. [ The
room was warm, sweet-smelling and luxurious. [ The old city
lay among sweet-smelling pine woods and almond groves.
fresh/fre/having a clean, natural, pleasant smell [adj]
Clean your teeth regularly to keep your breath fresh. [ There
was a stale atmosphere in the room after the party, but in
a few days it smelt fresh and clean again.
perfumed/'p3:fju:md [[ pr'fju:md/having a strong but
pleasant smell, especially because an artificial smell from
a bottle has been used [adj]
She was perfumed, elegant and very beautiful. [ Clare spent
a long time soaking in a perfumed bath.
smeii nice/good/.smel 'nms, 'god/to have a pleasant
smell [v phrase not in progressive]

SMELL
Something smells good. What are you cooking? t I put
lavender in my cupboard to make my clothes smell nice.
5 having an unpleasant smell
smelly reek
smell stinking
stink acrid
pong stink the place out/stink the place up
smelly ismeli/[adj]
The hut was dark and smelly. I Gillian pushed her way
through a mass of smelly bodies to the showers at the back
of the changing rooms. I The lake was rapidly turning brown
and smelly from the factory wastes.
smell /smel/ to have an unpleasant smell [v I not in
progressive]
This milk smells, I think it's gone bad. I It's about time we
cleaned the bird cage out, it's starting to smell. I Don't let him
come near me. He smells/
stink/sti0k/to have a very unpleasant smell, especially
of something decaying Iv I not in progressive]
This meat stinks, it must have been here for weeks. I This
room stinks/I stink to high heaven If we don't clean this
mess up now, the place is going to stink to high heaven by
the time my parents get home.
pong/po II pan]/an informal British word meaning to
have a very unpleasant smell Iv I not in progressive]
Put your shoes back on, your feet pong/
pongy [adj] That cheese is rather pongy.
reek/ri:k/to have an extremely strong, unpleasant smell
Iv I not in progressive]
reek of We got into the hot taxi, which reeked of tobacco. I
The dark room reeked dreadfully of old beds and fungus. I
reek Get that dog out of here - he reeks.
stinking/' stJrjkJrj/having a very strong unpleasant smell
l adj only before noun/
The yards were full of stinking garbage cans, and untidy
lines of washing. I I was stopped by a man who kept blow-
ing his stinking breath in my face while I gave him
directions.
acrid/mkrd/having a sharp, unpleasant smell, espe-
cially one that hurts your nose [adj]
The chemical has an acrid smell. I He was wet with acrid-
smelling sweat. I The old man lit his pipe and a cloud of acrid
smoke rose to the ceiling.
stink the place out (British) I stink the place up
(American)/,stirjk 6 'pleJs aot, ,suok 6 ples ^P/ informal
expressions meaning to make a whole room smell
unpleasant Iv phrase]
You "re not bringing that cat in here, it'll stink the place out.
6 having an old, not fresh smell
musty
stale
musty/ mAsti/ things such as books, clothes, or rooms
that are musty have a smell that is old and not fresh, espe-
cially because they have not been used or been in fresh air
for a long time [adj]
The rooms were musty, as though the windows hadn't been
opened for many days. I The library was full of musty old
books which no one wanted to read.
stale/sted/ smelling old, not fresh, especially because
something such as cigarette smoke or food has left its smell
in the air [adj ]
She noticed the stale smell of drink on his breath. ] The hotel
smelled of stale cigarettes. [ The air was hot and stale.
7 to have a particular smell
have a good/bad etc smell
smell
give off
have a good/bad etc smell/hev a (good, etc) smel/
Iv phrase not in progressive]
1254
smile
The contents of the jar had a horrible smell. [ This wine has
a light, lemony smell.
smell/smel/Iv I not in progressive]
smell nice/horrible/sweet ete This hand cream smells
lovely, what's it called? [ The meat smelled horrible, and I
refused to eat it. I smell like It smells like a hospital in here
- has someone been using disinfectant? I smell of sth The
car smelled of leather and wood.
give off/,gw 'o [[ -'a:f/to produce a particular, fairly
strong, smell Iv T]
The flowers were giving off a smell that filled the room. [ The
gin gave off a sickly, oily smell. [ When dried, this plant con-
tinues to give off fragrance for months and even years.
8 to put your nose near something or someone
in order to find out what kind of smell they have
smell
sniff
smell/smell Iv T not in passive]
Smell this perfume, it's exactly the same as the one in the
expensive bottle. [ I don't believe you haven't been drinking.
Let me smell your breath. I The police smelled the milk to see
if it was sour.
sniff/snif/to take in air through the nose in short, quick
breaths, making a noise, in order to smell something [v I/T
not in passive]
The dog was sniffing the gate and the wall. I Sniff the wine
two or three times before drinking it. I sniff at sth The
animal stopped to sniff at the dead bird.
9 to notice or be able to recognize a particular
smell
can smell
scent
get/catch a whiff of
can smell Ikon 'smell Iv phrase]
I can smell burning - are you sure you turned the oven offf. [
Don't pretend you haven't been smoking, I could smell
cigarettes the minute I walked through the door.
scent/sent/ if an animal scents something, especially
another animal, it can smell that it is near Iv T not in
progressive]
The dog had scented something in the bushes. [ Police dogs
have a very keen sense of smell and can scent even the slight-
est traces of drugs.
get/catch a whiff of/,get, ,ketj"  'wf av/an informal
expression meaning to notice a smell, just for a short time
[ v phrase]
I caught a whiffofroast beef as I walkedpast the kitchen. [
Lisa passed so close to Paul that he got a whiff of her
perfume.
1 0 the ability to notice or recognize smells
sense of smell
a good nose
sense of smell /sens v smel/[n phrase]
Blind people often have a much better sense of smell than
other people. [ I didn't notice her perfume - but then I have
a terrible sense of smell. [ The animal relies greatly on its
sense of smell to guide it to food.
a good nose 1 god noz/if someone has a good nose,
they are good at recognizing smells, especially when this
enables them to judge the quality of something such as
wine or coffee In phrase]
You have to have a good nose to be a wine expert.
smelly SMELL 5
smile SMILE 1, 3
smile: be all smiles SMILE 1
smile: break into a smile SMILE 2
smile: force a smile SMILE 1
smile: wipe the smile off sb's face
PROUD 10

SMILE 1255 SMOKE
@ SMILE
1 to have a happy expression on your face
2 to start smiling
3 a happy expression on someone's face
I to have a happy expression on your face
smile force a smile
grin smirk
beam leer
be all smiles
smile/smail/Iv I]
She smiled and said, "Good morning. "1Rosie's such a cheer-
ful girl - always smiling. ] My father rarely smiled. I smile
at For many mothers the biggest thrill comes when their
baby first smiles at them. I make sb smile I like Jonah -
he always makesme smile, even if I'm feeling depressed. I
smile broadly Ronnie's at the front of the photo, smiling
broadly.
grin ]grin/to smile widely, for example because you are
pleased about something or because something has amused
you [v I]
When I heard they were going to get married, I couldn't stop
grinning all day. I grin at She entered the classroom and
the kids all grinned at her. I grin broadly When he saw us
he grinned broadly and waved. I grin from ear to ear
(=grin very widely) He was standing up and waving to the
crowd, grinning from ear to ear.
beam/hi:m/to smile very happily because you are very
pleased about something Iv I]
"Congratulations, "' said my teacher beaming, "You've come
top in the whole county. "" I He beamed with pleasure when
he saw his family waiting for him. ] beam at Mrs Onofrio
beamed at the little children. "'Come in/'" she said.
be all smiles/bi: ,a:l smailz/to be very happy and to
show this by smiling a lot and behaving in a friendly way
towards other people Iv phrase]
I don "t understand it - the boss was all smiles this morning. [
Sometimes she was all smiles, delighted to see me, but other
times she'd just say "'Oh, it's you again. ""
force a smile/,fa:rs a 'small/force a smile/laugh ete
(=try hard to smile or laugh when you do not feel happy
or cheerful) Iv phrase]
'Tin getting married, "" he said. Somehow I managed to force
a smile. [ Ann was in a lot of pain, but she looked up and
forced a smile.
smirk/sm3:rk/ to smile in a satisfied way, that other
people find annoying or silly Iv I]
I hated the way he was smirking, as if he was the only one
who knew the answer. [ The waiter smirked as I took a
mouthful of the burning hot chilli. [ smirk at She stopped
talking, for the man was smirking knowingly at her.
leer/liar/to smile in an unpleasant or threatening way
that shows an unwelcome sexual interest in someone Iv I]
Then he leered slightly and leaned over toward her. [ leer
at My boss was a disgusting man who used to leer at me
whenever he passed by my desk. [ The city is particularly un-
pleasant at night, when lone women are leered at constantly.
2 to start smiling
break into a smile
sb's face lights up
break into a smile/,break ,nto a 'smad/to suddenly
start smiling Iv phrase]
All at once she broke into a smile as she remembered what
had happened. [ "We're going to have a visitor, "" said her
mother, and Anna's face broke into a smile at the thought.
sb's face lights up/(sb's) ,fels la;ts '^p/if someone's
face lights up, they suddenly look happy, for example
because they have received some good news
He gave her the letter and watched as her face lit up. [ The
baby's face lit up when her mother entered the room.
3 a happy expression on someone's face
smile leer
grin sneer
smirk
smile/maIl/[n C]
She glanced up at Mel with a warm smile and a look of pleas-
ure. I have a smile on your face He was singing to himself
and had a wide smile on his face. [ Carrie always has a smile
on her face. ] do sth with a smile The people I met in Turkey
were so friendly. They always welcomed me with a smile. [
smile of welcome/pleasure/friendship ete She came to
meet me with a smile of welcome and her hand extended. [
give sb a smile He gave her a friendly, reassuring smile.
grin/grin/a wide, happy smile In C]
grin on sb's face When I saw the grin on his face I knew
he'd passed his driving test. [ give sb a grin Mary gave him
a grin as she waved goodbye. I broad/friendly/big grin
She had a broad grin on her face and obviously had some
good news to tell me.
smirk/sm3:rk/ a satisfied smile that other people find
annoying or silly In C]
His lips curled in a derisive smirk as Penny showed him her
paintings. [ "'You're being rude, "" said Cordelia. "'Take that
smirk off your face.'"
leer l11 a r/an unpleasant or threatening smile, showing an
unwelcome sexual interest in someone In C]
He leaned over the girl with a leer and she could smell the
whisky on his breath. [ He stood there, an ugly leer on his
face, watching the women go past.
sneer/snIar/an unpleasant, offensive smile, that shows
that you think that someone is stupid or that you are better
than them In C]
The policeman obviously didn't believe a word I said. He had
a sneer on his face the whole time I was talking. [ Sometimes
his smiles seemed like sneers, and she could never tell what
he was thinking.
smirk SMILE 1, 3
smoke SMOKE 1, 2
smoke: don't smoke SMOKE 4
smoke: there's no smoke without fire TRUE 5
smoke like a chimney SMOKE 3
SMOKE
to smoke a cigarette, pipe etc
to regularly smoke cigarettes, a pipe etc
someone who smokes a lot
someone who does not smoke
to.set fire to a cigarette, pipe etc in order to
start smoking it
1 to smoke a cigarette, pipe etc
smoke
puff on
draw on
smoke/smaok/[v I/T not in passive]
smoke sth He sat at his desk, smoking a fat cigar. [ smoke
Tina doesn't like people smoking in her house. I smoke
dope/cannabis/hash ere A few people were smoking dope
in the corner of the room.
puff on/'p^f n [[ -azn/to take small amounts of smoke
into your mouth from a cigarette, pipe etc with small suck-
ing movements [v T not in passive]
He put a match to his cigarette, puffing on it. [ Every few
words Sussman would puffon his pipe, a satisfied grin on
his face.

SMOKE,
1256
so do I
draw on/'dry: on II -a:n/to take a lot of smoke into your
lungs from a cigarette, pipe etc, in one long breath Iv T not
in passivel
She lit her last cigarette, and drew on it slowly. [ drawing
on his cigar, savouring the aroma
have you got a light? (British) I do you have a
light? (American)/,hav ju: got  'hit, ,du: ju: hmv- II -ga:t-/
you say have you got a light? or do you have a light?
when you are asking someone if they can give you some-
thing such as a match so you can light your cigarette
Excuse me, do you have a light?
2 to regularly smoke cigarettes, a pipe etc
smoke
smoker
smoke/smok/Iv I/T]
Do you smoke? [ She first started smoking when she was four-
teen. [ smoke sth I've stopped smoking cigarettes - now I
just have a pipe. I give up smoking (=stop smoking) She's
given up smoking, but still drinks a lot.
smoker /'smookr/someone who smokes frequently as
a habit In C]
Smokers make up about 30% of the adult population. [ He
had been a habitual opium smoker since his early twenties.
3 someone who smokes a lot
heavy smoker
chain-smoker
smoke like a chimney
heavy smoker/,hevi 'smokr/In C]
He had been a heavy smoker all his life and only stopped
when his doctor told him to. [ She's quite a heavy smoker -
she gets through about 40 a day.
chain.smoker/'tJ'ein smookr/ someone who smokes
continually, lighting one cigarette immediately after
finishing the previous one In C]
I noticed that the thin, nervous man was a chain-smoker.
chain-smoke Iv I] She chain-smokes all the time, especially
in meetings.
smoke iike a chimney / srnok lak o tflrnni/an infor-
mal expression meaning to smoke a lot, especially too
much Iv phrase]
She's only thirteen and she already smokes like a chimney. I
All they do is sit around drinking and smoking like
chimneys!
4 someone who does not smoke
non-smoker
don't smoke
non.smoker/non 'smoko r II na:n-/[n C]
She was the only one who smoked in a house of non-smokers. [
Don't assume that because you're a non-smoker you're neces-
sarily in good shape.
don't smoke/,dont 'smok! if you don't smoke you
never smoke cigarettes, pipes etc Iv I]
"Cigarette? .... No thanks, I don't smoke. "" [ He doesn't smoke
or drink.
5 to set fire to a cigarette, pipe etc in order to
 start smoking it
light have you got a light?/
light up do you have a light?
give sb a light
light/hit/[v T]
He leaned over to light my cigarette. I Vaughan filled his pipe
and lit it. [ She smoked constantly, lighting afresh cigarette
from the stub of the last.
light up/lait '^p! to light a cigarette, pipe etc for your-
self [phr v I/T]
They're not allowed to smoke at work, so they all light up
as soon as they leave. [ light up sth He paused to light up
his pipe. [ "Who are you?" he asked, casually lighting up a
joint.
give sb a light/,giv (sb) 'lait/to provide a flame so that
someone else can light their cigarette Iv phrase]
Ask that man over there to give you a light.
!i!i smoker SMOKE 2
:i smoker: heavy smoker SMOKE 3
 smokescreen HIDE/NOT SHOW 5
iў smoking: no smoking/parking etc FORBID 4
!hi smooch KISS 2
! smooth COMFORTABLE 9, EFFICIENT 1 FLAT 2,
 ,
  GRACEFUL 2, POLITE 6, SOFT 3, THICK
-'% LIQUID 1
i I smooth-talking PERSUADE 8
 smooth the way EASY 7
 smoothly: go smoothly SUCCEED I DI T 7
 smother BREATHE 10, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 11
; smoulder/smolder BURN 2
. smudge ARK 1
 smug PROUD 5
 snack EAT 2, MEAL 7
 snack: have a snack EAT 2
: snag PROBEE 1
.....
 snail's pace: at a snail's pace SLOW 7
:: snap BREAK 2, 8, CONTROL 8, PICTURE 2,
: SUDDENLY 2
•  8nap: be a sap/a breeze EASY 2
 snap at BITE 2, TALK TO SB 2
{-: 8nap out of it CONTROL 9
 sap up BUY 1
 snare CATCH 5
4: $narl SAY 6
}} 8hatch STEAL 4, TAKE STH FROM SB 1, TAKE STH
 FROM SOMEWHERE 2
[ 8hatch at: grab at/8atcb at TAKE STH FROM
{ SOMEWHERE 3
:,] 8hatch/grab 8ome 81eep SLEEP 2
•  8nazz SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
 sneak WALK 8
:.4 sneak in ENTER 3
# ..... sneak off/awa LEAVE A PLACE
;] sneaking suspicion: have a seaking
}}]. SUSPECT 1
seaky DISHONEST 1
 seer MAKE FUN OF 2, SMILE 3
: snide UNKIND 2
 sniff BREATHE 5, SMELL 8
:= snigger/snicker LAUGH 4
. snip CUT 4
}i; snip: be a snip CHEAP 3
 snitch STEAL 2
 snivel/sniffle CRY 3
 snob PROUD 8
 snobbish PROUD 8
 snog KISS 2
: snoop FIND OT 8
 snooty PROUD 8
:: snooze/have a snooze SLEEP 2
i snore BREATHE 5
 snort BREATHE 5
; snotty PROUD 8
snowball INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AGUNT 3
 snowed under: be snowed under BUSY/HAVE A LOT
....
 TO DO 2
 snub IGNORE 4, REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 6
 snuff it DIE 1
 snug COMFORTABLE 1, 2
 so SG/CONSEGUENTLY 1, VERY 1
 so: or so APPROXIMATELY 3
 8oadso NAME OF A PERSON 7
i 8o as ot to do stb TO/IN ORDER TO 2
$o as to do st TO/IN ORDERT01
8o big/tall/old etc that SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
8o-called NAME OF A THING
8o do I/8o a$ 8be/8o are tbe ere AND/ALSO 1

so far
i so far NOW3
i so long GOODBYE 2
i.ii so long as: as long as/so long as/provided/providing
,, so much LOT/VERY MUCH 1
:: so-so BAD 5
-:
. so that SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
So that/so TO/IN ORDER TO 1
,i so that/so...not TO/IN ORDER TO 2
:.-::-' so what? DON'T CARE 1
SO/
CONSEQUENTLY
ways of saying what happens, or what
someone does, as a result of something else
1257
1 ways of saying what happens, or what
someone does, as a result of something else
so consequently
so big/tall/old etc as a result
that therefore
such a bad day/ with the result that
an old carla tall then
man etc that as a consequence
so that
so Isul (used when you want to say that because of a par-
ticular situation, someone decides to do something or
something happens) [conjunction]
There was nothing on TV, so I decided to go to bed. I There's
not much water left, so be careful not to use too much. I The
rest of the week I'm tied up, I'm afraid, so it'll have to be
Monday.
so big/tail/old etc that/so (big, etc) 6t/(used when
you want to say that because someone or something is very
tall, big etc, something happens or someone does some-
thing as a result)
I was so busy today that I didn't have time for lunch. I The
box was so heavy he could hardly lift it. I Feldman was so
drunk that he had to be carried home.
such a bad day/an old carla tail man etc that
Is^O" o (bad day etc) 6ot/(used when you want to say that
because it is a very bad day, an old car etc, something
happens or someone does something as a result)
It was such a cold day that I decided to stay indoors. [ Paul
remained silent for such a long time that we were beginning
to wonder if there was something the matter with him. I She
always buys such expensive clothes I'm not surprised that
she never has any money.
so that/'sou hot/(used when you want to say that because
of a particular situation, another situation happens)
[conjunction]
His hair was very long and covered his eyes, so that you could
hardly see his face. I Suddenly it began to rain heavily, so
tfiat it was almost impossible to carry on driving.
consequently/'knskwontli [[ 'ka:ns ,kwentli/a word
used especially in written English to say that because of
a particular situation or because someone has done some-
thing, something else happens or is true lady]
Japan has a massive trade surplus with the rest of the world.
Consequently it can afford to give more money to the Third
World. ] The virus attacks the plant, the flower does not open,
and consequently no seeds are produced.
as a result/az  r 'zAlt/(used when you want to say that
because of a particular situation, something else happens
or is true) lady phrase]
Many roads are flooded. As a result there are long delays. [
She had had a good long rest, and was feeling much better
and much more relaxed as a result. [ as result of As a result
of the latest news about the economy, public confidence in the
government has reached an all-time low.
SOCIALIZE
therefore/, 6earfa:r/(used especially in written English
to say that because something happens or is true, some-
thing else necessarily happens or is true) [adv]
Calcium carbonate contains 40% calcium by weight. There-
fore a 125 mg tablet should contain 50mg of calcium. I Some
films are highly sensitive and react quickly to light. They are
therefore known as 'fast'films. I The cost of running the club
has increased and we therefore must ask our members to
contribute more each week.
with the result that/wI6 60 rI 'z^lt hot/if you say that
something happens or that someone does something with
the result that something else happens, you mean that
they cause it to happen [conjunction]
The value of the dollar is rising, with the result that imports
into the US are getting cheaper. [ The dangers of the drug
have not been made public, with the result that some patients
are unaware of the side-effects.
then/6en/(used when suggesting that because of a par-
ticular situation something else is probably true) [adv]
"'The house has been empty for a week. "" "Then they must
have gone on vacation. "" [ 'Tm full. "" :'Does that mean you
don't want any dessert then?" [ if..., then .... If both men say
they are innocent, then one of them must be lying.
as a consequence/z  'ktnskwons [[ -ka:nskwens/
(a formal expression used to say that because something
has happened or someone has done something, something
else has happened or is true) [adv phrase]
The Red Cross has not been allowed to inspect the camps, and
as a consequence little is known about them. [ The Cold War
has ended. As a consequence the two major world powers
have been able to reduce their arms budgets dramatically.[
as a consequence of As a consequence of media pressure,
he's been asked to donate the proceeds of the libel suit to
charity.
soak WET 7
soak/leave sth to soak WASH 8
soak up TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 4
soaked WET 2, 3
soaking: be soaking/be soaking wet WET 3
soaking wet/sopping wet/wringing wet WET 2
soar INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4, UP 4
sob CRY 3
sober DRUNK 9
sober up DRUNK 9
sociable FRIENDLY 3
social SOCIETY 3
social climber CLASS IN SOCIETY 5
social life SOCIALIZE 1
social standing CLASS IN SOCIETY 1
socialize SOCIALIZE 1
SOCIALIZE
to go out and spend time with other people
for enjoyment
to socialize with a particular group or type of
person
to go out and spend time with other people
for enjoyment
socialize meet/see sb socially
go out social life
socialize (also -ise British)/'saolal-aiz/to go out and
spend time with other people for enjoyment, for example
at parties, or in bars or restaurants Iv I]
Since he got divorced, Bob has found it very difficult to social-
ize. I socialize with Having a meal is more enjoyable when
it involves socializing with others.
socializing In U] We occasionally have friends round for
dinner but apart from that we don't do a lot of socializing
(=we don't socialize very much).

SOCIALIZE 1258 soft
go out / ,gvo  aot/to go somewhere in order to socialize
with other people, rather than staying at home [phr v I]
I haven't been going out much recently, because I want to save
money for my vacation. I Shall we go out to the theatre
tonight? I Why don't you ask him to go out for a drink with
you?
meet/see sb socially/mi:t, si: (sb) 'sooj'li/to social-
ize with someone who you work with or do business with
Iv phrase]
We all get on well at work, but we don't see each other socially
very much. I I know she's my client, but that doesn't mean
I can't meet her socially.
soc|al life [ sooj'! laff/. the social activities you take part
in and the time you spend with other people for enjoyment
In singular]
Although she's 85 she still has an active social life. I Is your
social life as busy as it used to be? I Every aspect of his social
life is reported in the gossip columns.
2 to socialize with a particular group or type of
person
mix with fraternize
rub shoulders with move in literary/
hobnob with artistic etc circles
mix with/'mks w6/to socialize with other people, espe-
cially people you do not know very well or have not met
before Iv T]
She's been seen mixing with pop stars and other glamorous
people at Madonna's nightclub. I I find it easy to mix with
all kinds of people. ] She has one or two close friends but she
doesn't really like mixing with other people.
rub shoulders with I,r^b 'ooldorz w6/to be in the
same place as people from a completely different social
group from your own, especially people who are rich or
famous, so that you have the chance to meet them and get
to know them Iv phrase]
In his work as a reporter he rubs shoulders with rich
businessmen and politicians. I Come to the Acapulco club
where, for a mere $15, you can rub shoulders with the stars.
hobnob with /htbntb w6 II 'ha:bna:b-/ an informal
expression meaning to socialize with people in a higher
social position than yours Iv T]
Gerald spent the summer months hobnobbing with the rich
and famous in Monte Carlo. I He's out hobnobbing with some
of the high-ups in the company.
fraternize (also .ise British)/'frmtornalz/to socialize or
be friendly with someone you should not be socializing
with, for example because of your official position Iv I]
According to the report, police officers and criminals had
openly fraternized in well-known lowlife bars and clubs. I
fraternize with The Principal disapproves of teachers who
fraternize with the students.
move in literary/artistic etc circles/mu:v in (liter-
ary, etc) s3:rkdlz/ to socialize with a particular type of
people, such as writers or artists Iv phrase]
After leaving university she began to move in literary circles. I
Pablo moves in the upper-class circles of the art world.
• , socially: meet/see sb socially SOCIALIZE 1
society ORGANIZATION 4, SOCIETY 1, 2
SOCIETY
people in general
I people in general, considered as an
organized group that lives together according
to a system of laws and accepted behaviour
2 all the people who live in a particular area or
country, and who share certain laws, beliefs,
and ways of living and behaving
3 connected with or affecting people in society
I people in general, considered as an
organized group that lives together according
to a system of laws and accepted behaviour
society the public
the community the people
society/s'saiti/In U]
We aim to educate our students to be useful and responsible
members of society. I In this programme we will discuss the
role of computers in society. I He sees the function of the police
as protecting society from crime. I The sick and the elderly
are considered by some people to be a burden to society.
the community/6 kz rnju:nti/the people in a society,
used especially when discussing matters such as the law,
health, and education In singular with singular or plural
verb in British English]
An increased program of child immunisation will contrib-
ute to improved health within the community. I The whole
community will benefit from the wide range of resources now
available at the college.
the public/6z p^blik/ordinary people in general, who
do not belong to the government or have any special posi-
tion of power or authority within society In singular with
singular or plural verb in British English]
The public has a right to know what their elected represen-
tatives are doing with their money. [ We want to find out
what you, the public, really think about the situation. I the
general public The museum is open to the general public
from April till October. [ members of the public Police are
asking members of the public to help them find two danger-
ous bank robbers.
the people/6 'pi:pl/the ordinary people in society,
used when comparing them to members of the government
In plural]
In a true democracy, government is chosen by the people for
the people. I The interests of the people must always come
first.
2 all the people who live in a particular area or
country, and who share certain laws, beliefs,
and ways of living and behaving
society
community
society/so'saizti/In C usually singular]
We live in a multiracial society. I the problems which con-
front a modern industrialized society I The socialist dream
of a classless society has gone up in smoke.
community/kz mju:noti! a small group of people who are
closely connected because they live in a small local area,
or are the only people in that area who belong to a particu-
lar religious group, race etc In C]
The local community was shocked by the attack. I New York's
Jewish community I The village is a tightly-knit community.
3 connected with or affecting people in society
social
community
social/'sol/[adj only before noun]
The government's housing policy created more social
problems than it ever solved. I Feminists have always
believed that social change is needed to achieve full rights
for women. I It's fairly obvious that social and economic con-
ditions have an effect on the crime rate.
community Ika  mju:nti/community issues/matters/
policing/relations (=concerning the people who live in
a particular local area)[adj only before noun]
Ethnic leaders are meeting the police to discuss how commu-
nity relations can be improved. I The association provides
information on community resources such as health care and
education.
sodden WET 2
soft BRIGHT 5, QUIET 3, SOFT 1, 3, STRICT 10

soft 1259 solution
soft: get soft/go soft SOFT 5
soft drink DRINK4
soft drug DRUG 2
soft option EASY 6
soft spot: have a soft spot for LIKE SB OR STH 5
soft touch: be a soft touch PERSUADE 10
SOFT
soft and easy to press or crush
soft and wet
soft and pleasant to touch
soft and not stiff or firm
to become soft
to make something soft
1 soft and easy to press or crush
soft spongy
tender springy
soft/soft II sa:ft/[adj]
The children loved to make footprints in the soft, new snow. I
The mattress had become softer and more uncomfortable
with age. I Coal and oil are derived from the soft tissues of
plants.
softness In U] Alice lay back, submerging herself in the
softness of the pillow.
tender/'tender/meat and vegetables that are tender are
soft and easy to cut and eat, especially after they have been
well cooked [adj]
Boil the onions in salted water until tender. I When the beans
are ready to eat they should be reasonably tender but not fall
apart.
tenderness In U] Methods of cooking such as braising and
stewing are used to increase tenderness in tougher cuts of
meat.
spongy/'spAnd3i/soft and full of holes that contain air
or liquid [adj]
The ground was wet and spongy underfoot. I Protecting the
edge of the bone is a layer of soft, spongy tissue.
springy/'sprIrji/springy grass/moss/heather/turf etc
(=soft and able to return to its original shape after some-
one has walked on it) [adj]
The walkers liked the feel of the springy moss under their
tired feet. I The grass was so springy, silky and deep it was
like a rug.
2 soft and wet
squashy
squelchy
squishy
squashy/'skwi II 'skwo:i, 'skwa:fi/squashy fruit or
vegetables are soft and wet, especially because they are too
ripe [adj]
Julie opened her shopping basket and pulled out a bag of
squashy tomatoes.
squeichy/' skwelffi/an informal word: squelchy mud or
ground is soft and wet and makes a sucking noise when you
walk on it [adj]
We loved the feel of squelchy mud between our toes. I It had
been raining and Sara could hear the man's footsteps on the
squelchy lawn.
squishy !  skwlJ'i/an informal word meaning soft and wet
when pressed [adj]
The kids made pies out of a squishy mixture of flour and
water.
soft and pleasant to touch
soft velvety
fluffy smooth
soft/sft II s  :ft/[adj]
Some women rub cocoa butter into their skin to keep it soft. I
The veil sat prettily on Anne's head, her hair soft and glossy
against it. I Pierre would bring back soft fabrics, furs and
jewels from his trips around the world.
softness In U] the softness of her skin
fluffy / 'flAil/made of or covered with something soft and
light, such as wool or feathers [adj]
All we could see of the baby was a little head poking out of
a fluffy blanket. I fluffy white clouds [ Tim thought the new-
born chicks would be fluffy and cute but instead they were
slimy and had big eyes.
velvety/velvti/soft, smooth, and a little shiny [adj]
Rose petals have a smooth, velvety texture. I He gently
touched her velvety cheek.
smooth/smu:6/skin or fur that is smooth is soft and
pleasant to touch and your hand moves easily over it [adj]
"How do you keep your skin so smooth?" "7 use cream every
night. " [ Anne stroked the horse's smooth nose and whispered
in its ear.
4 soft and not stiff or firm
limp
floppy
limp/hmp/something that is limp is not as stiff or firm
as it should be or usually is [adj]
What spoiled the salad was the limp lettuce. [ Andy bent over
her limp, apparently lifeless body.
floppy/'flopi [[ 'fla:pi/something that is floppy is made
from a soft material and often hangs loosely downwards
[adj]
On his head was a large, floppy hat. I The toy rabbit had a
little tail and big, floppy ears.
5 to become soft
get soft/go soft
soften
get soft (also go soft in British English)
,goo 'soft II -'sam/[v phrase]
When the fat begins to get soft, take thepan off the heat. I Rice
tends to get soft very quickly after a certain cooking time.
Put the butter in the fridge or it'll go soft.
soften/'soan II 'sa:-/to become more soft Iv I]
Most cheeses will soften when heated. I Soak the raisins in
warm water till they soften.
6 to make something soft
soften
soften/'sofan II T]
First, soften the garlic in olive oil. I Choose a good
moisturizer to soften and protect your skin.
soften SOFT 5, 6, STRICT 8
soggy WET 2
soil COUNTRY/NATION 3, DIRTY 4
soiled DIRTY 1
solace COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 3
sold out: sell out/be sold out SELL 16
soldier ARMY 2
soldier on
sole
solemn
solid
solidarity
solidify
solitary
solitude
solo
soluble
solution
CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
ONLY 1
SERIOUS PERSON 3
CONTINUOUS 2, 6, DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2,
HARD 1, PURE 1, REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 2,
STRONG OBJECT 1
FAITHFUL 2, UNITE 4
HARD 5
ALONE 3, ONLY 1
ALONE 3
ALONE 2
LIQUID 6
ANSWER/RESULT 1, MIX 4, SOLVE/DEAL WITH
A PROBLEM 2

solution 1260 SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM
::- solution: find a solution SOLVE/DEAL WITH A
i!i PROBLEM 1
 solve ANSWER/RESULT 3, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A
::::i PROBLEM 1, SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 1
SOLVE/DEAL WITH
A PROBLEM
to successfully deal with a problem or
unsatisfactory situation, especially one that
has existed for a long time
a way of dealing with a problem or
unsatisfactory situation
to successfully deal with something that is
causing problems or disagreement and
preventing you from making progress
ways of saying that a problem or
unsatisfactory situation is solved
words for describing a problem that has not
been dealt with successfully
words for describing a problem that is difficult
or impossible to solve
to successfully deal with a problem or
unsatisfactory situation, especially one that
has existed for a long time
cure
remedy
rectify
solve
resolve
put right
find a solution
solve/sDlv II s,  :lv, s  :lv/Iv T]
He thought that he could solve all the family's problems
simply by borrowing more money. I The roof used to leak but
last week I fitted some new tiles and that seems to have solved
the problem. I The government is to launch a new building
programme in an attempt to solve the housing crisis.
resolve/r 'zDlv II r 'zo:lv, r 'za:lv/a formal word mean-
ing to successfully deal with a problem or unsatisfactory
situation, so that the problem no longer exists Iv T]
Progress is being made to resolve the financial difficulties
of the two nations. I It is difficult to see how this conflict can
be resolved without taking the matter to court. I There had
been a misunderstanding over the terms of the contract but
the matter was resolved by a telephone call.
put right / ,pot ' rat/to deal with an unsatisfactory situa-
tion, especially by making sure that any damage which has
been caused is paid for, removed, stopped etc Iv phrase]
put sth/it right There seems to be something wrong with
the computer but we hope to put it right before too long. I If
there is bullying in the classroom, it is the teacher who should
put the problem right. [ put right sth This government
intends to put right everything that the last government did
wrong.
find a solution/,fand a sa'lu:j'anl an expression used
especially in political contexts meaning to think of a way
to solve a particular problem Iv phrase]
The possibility of civil war seems stronger; the government
must find a solution soon. I The conflict between the police
and certain sections of the community is a problem for which
a solution has to be found. I find a solution to/for There
has been considerable activity world-wide to find a solution
to the growing problem of water shortages.
cure/kjoar/to permanently solve a practical problem so
that it does not happen again Iv TI
You can soon cure a gas leak by filling the holes with plaster. I
The football authorities hope to cure the problem of vandal-
ism by showing how it will ruin the sport.
remedy/'remo di/to deal with an unsatisfactory situation,
especially an unfair or unjust situation, by doing some-
thing so that it no longer exists or so that it is greatly
improved Iv T]
The new President decided that police corruption was the
first thing to remedy when he came to power. I Equal rights
for women were necessary to remedy the injustices done to
them over the centuries.
rectify /'rekQfax/ a formal word meaning to solve a
problem, especially a mistake, by doing something to make
the situation satisfactory again Iv T]
When the manager realized that she had made a mistake she
rectified it immediately. I There are a couple of small errors
in the program that can easily be rectified.
2 a way of dealing with a problem or
unsatisfactory situation
solution remedy
answer panacea
key way out
cure
solution Is'lu:anl In C]
I was all alone and penniless. My only solution was to take
a job Ididn't want. I It looked like they would have to move
to another, cheaper neighborhood. No other solution seemed
possible. I solution to/for Sleeping tablets are not the best
solution to insomnia as they upset the natural rhythm of
sleep.
answer/' ozns r II an-] a way of dealing with a problem
or unsatisfactory situation, especially one that has been
worrying you tbr a long time In C]
The city council has to find a better way of dealing with
domestic waste. One answer is to burn it. I answer to There
are never any easy answers to today's environmental
problems. I A bank loan seemed like the answer to all our
problems.
key/ki:/the best or only way of dealing with a problem,
especially a way that is not immediately clear In singular]
Surviving in low temperatures is very difficult and having
the correct clothing and food is the key. I key to Control of
the money supply is the key to the whole problem of inflation.
cure/kjoar/a way of dealing with a problem, especially
a practical problem, so that it does not happen again In C]
The experts believe they know the causes of the crime wave
but they cannot agree on a cure. I cure for Adding a little
oil into the mechanism is one of the best cures for a noisy
engine.
remedy/'remodi/ a way of dealing with a problem or
unsatisfactory situation, that makes it no longer exist or
greatly improves it In C]
If you find it hard to live on your present salary, the best
remedy would be to change jobs. I remedy for One remedy
for racial attacks would be to educate our children more
about social issues.
panacea/, pen 'si/a formal word meaning something
that people hope will solve all their problems In C]
panacea for Librarians welcomed computerization as the
panacea for all their cataloguing problems. I panacea Elec-
toral reform is not a panacea. It causes almost as many
problems as it solves.

SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 1261 SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER
way out /,we aot/a way of dealing with an unsatisfac-
tory situation that allows you to avoid it instead of solv-
ing it in C]
We are faced with a very difficult situation, but there must
be a way out. I I don "t see any way out of the present deadlock.
to successfully deal with something that is
causing problems or disagreement and
preventing you from making progress
iron out clear up
sort out straighten out
iron out/,aI)rn 'aut/to remove any small problems or
difficulties before you start something, especially by
discussing them, so that they do not cause problems later
[phr v T]
iron out sth A number of little snags have to be ironed out
before the conference can proceed smoothly. I iron sth/it/
them out We decided it was best to iron our differences out
at an early stage in the production.
sort out/,s:rt 'aut/to remove any small problems or
difficulties before you do something [phr v T]
sort sth/it/them out I'm afraid Ican't help you until I've
sorted my own problems out. [ sort things out There's been
a serious misunderstanding; I'll try to sort things out and
then I'll phone you back. [ sort out sth You can't possibly
start decorating yet. We've not sorted out the roof yet. [ get
sth sorted out I want to get everything sorted out before I
leave.
clear up/, khr '^p/to make sure that everyone involved
in something understands all the facts and agrees with
each other, so that there will be no problems [phr v T]
clear up sth I'd like to clear up something with you before
I agree to work with you. I There are a couple of points we
need to clear up before the discussion begins. I clear sth/it/
them up We won't rest until we clear the matter up.
straighten out/,streItn 'aut/to make a difficult or con-
fusing situation easier to deal with by removing any small
problems and explaining anything that is unclear [phr v T]
straighten sth/it/them out Mr Rogers promised he would
straighten everything out, so I signed the paper. ] They seem
to have completely the wrong idea of what I want. Can you
straighten it out? I straighten out sth Davis is the only
person who can straighten out this mess. ] get sth straight-
ened out The police arrested me for no reason but Ellie is
coming over to try to get it all straightened out.
4 ways of saying that a problem or
unsatisfactory situation is solved
sort itself out
resolve itself
work out
sort itself out I, so:rt Itself 'aut/ira problem or unsatis-
factory situation sorts itself out, it either stops happening
or is solved without you having to do anything iv phrase]
I know this problem is worryingyou but it'll sort itself out
soon. I Childhood problems and anxieties have a habit of
sorting themselves out.
resolve itself/r] zolv Itself II -'za:lv-/if a complicated
problem resolves itself, it either stops being a problem or
is solved without you having to do anything iv phrase]
Fortunately, our employee problem resolved itself when two
workers moved house and resigned voluntarily. I If we are
patient the whole problem will resolve itself in due course.
work out /,wa:rk 'aut/ if a problem or bad situation
works out, it gradually gets better or gets solved, but you
usually have to make an effort to make this happen [phr
v I/T]
When Ken and Elsie got married they had lots of problems
but things worked out in the end. [ work itself out Have you
had another row with Paul? Don't worry I'm sure everything
will work itself out.
 words for describing a problem that has not
been dealt with successfully
unresolved
unresolved/,^nrI'zlglvd, II -'zo:lvd', -,za:lvd,/[adj]
The problems with the refugee camps, set up 30 years ago,
are still unresolved. I The design of the new shopping mall
is almost complete, although there are still some unresolved
difficulties. I The chairman will not accept any more ques-
tions while the main issue remains unresolved.
6 words for describing a problem that is difficult
or impossible to solve
insoluble
intractable
insoluble/In'slglj°bal II in'sad-/radii
The government has to deal with what seems like an insolu-
ble political problem - racial harmony within the commu-
nity. [ The cleaning-up operation after the oil spill will be
difficult but not insoluble.
intractable/In'traktbal] a formal word for describing
a difficult and complicated problem that is impossible to
deal with however hard you try [adj]
The disposal of toxic wastes is one of the most intractable
problems facing industrialized societies. [As far as both of
them were concerned, the divisions in their marriage were
intractable.
SOLVE/FIND THE
ANSWER
to find the explanation for something that is
very difficult to understand
ways of saying that a mystery, scientific
problem etc is difficult or impossible to
explain or understand
words for describing an event, crime etc that
has never been solved
1
to find the explanation for something that is
very difficult to understand
solve find an explanation
figure out/work out crack
clear up unravel
solve/solv II sa:lv, sa:lv/Iv T]
It took detectives two years to solve the crime. I At last
astronomers have solved the mystery of the rings encircling
the planet Saturn. I These games encourage children's abil-
ity to solve puzzles using their mathematical skills.
figure out/work out/flg)r aut, ,w3:rk 'aot II hgj)r-/
to find the explanation for something that is difficult to
understand, by thinking carefully about it and using the
information available to you [phr v T]
ligure out how/why/what ere My husband bought me a
knitting machine for Christmas but I still haven't figured
out how it works. I From the evidence gathered from wit-
nesses we should be able to work out what happened that
night. I figure/work out sth I'll never finish this crossword
puzzle - I just can't figure out these cryptic clues.
clear up/klar 'Ap/ to find the whole explanation for
something that is strange and hard to understand, such as
a crime, so that the matter is satisfactorily solved [phr v T]
clear up sth I was hoping that your research would clear
up a question that has been bothering me. [ The Dreyfus case
was never completely cleared up. R remains a mystery.
find an explanation/,fand an ekspl'neIj'an/to find a
way of explaining something, especially after trying to do
so for a fairly long time iv phrase]

SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER
find an explanation for No one has been able to find a
rational explanation for the ship's sudden disappearance. I
find an explanation Sheena has had these stomach pains
before but the doctors think they have found an explanation
this time.
crack/krek/an informal word meaning to find the expla-
nation for a crime or something that is very difficult to
understand, especially after trying for a long time Iv T]
It's a tough case but I'm determined to crack it. I Give Tom
a mathematical puzzle and he'll just keep on trying till he
cracks it.
unravel/An'ravM/to gradually find the explanation for
something that is difficult to understand because it is
complicated and contains a lot of infor-mation Iv T]
We are only just beginning to unravel the mysteries of the
human brain, i Can scientists unravel the complex interac-
tions of chemicals within foods?
1262
2 ways of saying that a mystery, scientific
problem etc is difficult or impossible to
explain or understand
puzzle baffle
mystify perplex
puzzle /'p^zal/ if something puzzles you, you find it
difficult to explain or understand Iv T]
There are things that still puzzle me about this new computer
system. I What puzzles me about the robbery, is how they
managed to enter the building unseen.
puzzling [adj] Sandra's sudden departure was puzzling.
mystify / 'mlstfaI/if something mystifies you, you find
it impossible to understand or explain Iv T]
How birds know when and where to migrate every year
mystifies us. I Detective Oakley was mystified. He had never
seen such a strange set of evidence in the whole of his career.
mystifying [adj] His decision to retire seems rather
mystifying.
baffle /'bafM/ if something baffles you, you find it
difficult to understand and confusing Iv T]
What baffles me is how anyone could escape from the jail in
broad daylight. I it's got me/us etc baffled (=it baffles me/
us etc) We've spent weeks investigating this case and it's got
us completely baffled.
baffling [adj] I found the whole episode quite baffling.
perplex /por'pleks/ a formal word: if something per-
plexes you, you find it confusing, worrying, and difficult
to understand [ v T ]
The question of how the murderer had gained entry to the
house perplexed the police for several weeks.
perplexing [adj] The deterioration of the ozone layer is a
perplexing phenomenon.
3 words for describing an event, crime etc that
has never been solved
unsolved
unexplained
unsolved/,^n'solvd- II -'sa:lvd-, -'so:lvd-/[ad)l
All too often, crimes of violence are left unsolved. I What hap-
pened to the men on the expedition will always be an
unsolved mystery.
unexplained /,^nk'spleInd/ an event or fact that is
unexplained has never been explained so no one knows
exactly what happened [adj]
For years, Sukhbir's death remained unexplained. [ There
had been three unexplained fires at the school in the previ-
ous six months.
" sombre/somber SERIOUS PERSON 3
some APPROXIMATELY 2, SOME/A FEW 1, 2
:..
;i some day: one day/some day FUTURE 2
;: some doing: take some doing DIFFICULT 1
i;
;i some people have all the luck LUCKY 2
i some place PLACE 4
il some thought: give it some thought THINK ABOUT 2
!i'.;.: some time APPROXIMATELY 4, LONG TIME 1
SOMEIA FEW
some time: for some time PERIOD OF TIME 4
some time: quite a while/some time LONG TIME 1
some timelsometime FUTURE 2
@ SOMEIA FEW
a number of people, things etc, when the
exact number is not stated
an amount of something, when the exact
amount is not stated
t a number of people, things etc, when the
exact number is not stated
some several
any a number of
a few a couple of
some/sam, strong SAm/ [quantifier]
some people/things/places etc There were some children
playing on the shore. I For some classes it might be worth
producing worksheets. I some of I'd like you to meet some
of my friends. I Some of these drugs depress the respiratory
system. I some "Do we have any lemons?" "Tvejust bought
some. ""
arty/'eni/ (used especially in questions and negatives)
[quantifier]
any people/things/places etc Did you bring any clothes
with you? I There aren't any eggs left. I any of Do any of your
friends know about this? I We don't need any of the yellow
ones -just bring a few of the red ones. I any Ineed some extra
chairs but I can't find any.
a few/o 'fju:/a small number [quantifier]
a few people/things/places etc Thomas Hardy was born
a few miles from Tolpuddle. I Your daughter will be all right
in a few days. I We had a few people over for drinks. I a few
There were a few like me, but most people had played the
game before, l a few of Is it alright if we take a few of these
chairs?
several/' sevarll a fairly large number [quantifier]
several people/things/places etc Several people com-
mented on my haircut. I Chicken will keep for several days
in the refrigerator. I We've had several meetings with the law-
yers, but still nothing has been agreed. I several If you don't
like the colour, I have several for you to choose from. I
several of Animal imagery appears in several of Flaubert's
books.
a number of ]a 'n^mbor or] a formal expression mean-
ing a fairly large number [quantifier]
Michelson measured the speed of light a number of times
between 1878 and 1926. I There are a number of recognised
sites which can be used for the dumping of waste materials. I
It's apparent from the meeting here that a number of people
feel they have a grievance.
a couple of/o 'lpal ovl an informal expression mean-
ing a very small number but at least two [quantifier]
I'd just like to ask you a couple of questions before you go. I
Those baskets are nice - they only cost a couple of quid. I The
waiter had to speak to the chef a couple of times to get his
attention. I I'm going out with a couple of mates.
an amount of something, when the exact
amount is not stated
some a certain amount of
any a measure of
some/sam; strong sam/[quantifier]
some money/time/food etc Can I borrow some money?]
We must pack some soap and a towel. ] Penelope longed for
some excitement. ] some The doctor suggested cough medi-
cine, but I forgot to get some. I some of A leader loses some
of his effectiveness if he tries not to offend anyone.

SOME/A FEW 1263 soon
any/'cnil (used especially in questions and negatives)
[quantifier]
any money/time/food etc Do you need any help? I I didn't
see any cash in the drawer. I any of (=part of a thing or
amount) Is there any of that cake left? I any "Where's the
milk? .... Oh, I'm sorry I didn't bring any. ""
a certain amount of/a I s3:rtn a I maont av/a fairly large
amount of a quality, a feeling, or something such as help,
disagreement, advice etc [quantifier]
A certain amount of preparation is usually necessary before
these presentations. I A certain amount of unemployment is
inevitable in a capitalistic economy. I George encountered a
certain amount of hostility in the officers" barracks.
a measure of/a me3ar av/a measure of freedom/con-
trol etc (a formal expression) [quantifier]
A measure of control is necessary, even in a democracy. I
There is a certain measure of flexibility in the system.
..,: somehow WAY/METHOD 6
ii"i someone/somebody PERSON/PEOPLE 1
ill something THING 1
-ii something: there's something about CHARACTER OF
,.!!i STH 2, CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3
;-:: something: there's something in TRUE 5
. something like APPROXIMATELY 2
iii sometime: some time/sometime FUTURE 2
.... sometimes SOMETIMES 1
SOMETIMES
1 words meaning sometimes
2 words for describing something that happens
sometimes but not often
1 words meaning sometimes
sometimes at times
occasionally now and again/
every so often now and then
once in a while from time to time
sometimes/'sAmtaimz/on some occasions or in some
cases, but not often, not always, and not in every case lady]
I sometimes have no breakfast at all but generally I have
some coffee and bread. I Soap can sometimes cause skin
rashes. I She helps me with my work sometimes. I It takes
about an hour, sometimes even longer. I Sometimes the
government subsidizes farmers who want to buy more land.I
Wounds of this type sometimes take a long time to heal.
occasionally/akei3anali/sometimes, but not regularly
and not at all often [adv]
Rachel travels on business to Paris, Rome, and occasionally
Tokyo. [ Occasionally she would look up from her book and
stare out of the window. I Malaria is still occasionally found
in parts of the United States. [ very occasionally (=quite
rarely) He lives in San Francisco now, so we only see him
very occasionally.
every so often /,evri sao Dfan ]1-'a:fan/ at regular
periods but not often [adv phrase]
Gradually add water to the mixture, stirring every so often. I
The silence was broken every so often by the sound of guns
in the distance.
once in a while / ,w^ns In a waI1/sometimes but not at
all often, and especially in a way that is unexpected or hard
to explain lady phrase]
It would be nice if we could see each other once in a while. I
Teaching art can be fairly dull, but once in a while I come
across a talent that really excites me. I every once in a
while (=quite rarely) Every once in a while he disappears
for days on end.
at times/at 'tamz/if something happens at times, it
happens on particular occasions but it is not normal or
typical of what usually happens [adv phrase]
In a job like this, you're bound to feel a little stressed at times. I
At times even the most talented athletes lose their motivation.
now and again/now and then/nau and agen, ,nao
and 'Sen/(used when talking about something that some-
times happens, which is different from what happens most
of the time) [adv phrase]
Now and then she would look up from her work and smile
at him. I every now and then/every now and again She
walked steadily north, pausing every now and again to check
her direction.
from time to time/fram taim ta taim/sometimes, but
not regularly and not very often [adv phrase]
These plants are easy to care for - they just need a little water
from time to time. I From time to time a helicopter flew by,
but mostly the sky remained clear.
:2 words for describing something that happens
sometimes but not often
occasional intermittent
the odd casual
periodic
occasional la'keI3anall ladj only before noun]
The prisoners are allowed occasional visits from their rela-
tives. I the occasional/an occasional The street was silent
except for the occasional burst of laughter from one of the
workmen. I I didn't know Terry very well, but we went out
for an occasional drink together.
the odd 16i Dd il -a:dl the odd drink/break/day etc
(=an informal expression meaning not happening often
and not happening regularly) ladj phrase only before noun]
They spent most of the afternoon digging the garden with just
the odd break for coffee. I You'll work from home mostly,
though you may have to spend the odd day in the office.
periodic /,pmrilodk, [[ -'o:d-/ happening sometimes,
usually every few months, years etc [adj only before noun]
Periodic check-ups with your dentist are vital. I High unem-
ployment is one of the periodic crises of a capita list system.
periodically [adv] She visits Rome periodically to see
friends.
intermittent/, tatar 'm[tant'/happening for short irregu-
lar periods, often with long periods in between, not con-
tinuously [adj usually before nounl
She is the sort of person who works with intense but inter-
mittent effort. I The afternoon will be warm but unsettled,
with intermittent light rain.
casual /'kae3ual / casual user/visitor/traveller etc
(=someone who does not often use something, visit some-
where etc) [adj only before noun]
Casual users of the library may not realize that they now
need a computerized ticket. I Charging an entry fee for
museums will not affect the casual visitor very much.
somewhat QUITE/FAIRLY 1
somewhere PLACE 4
somewhere: take sb somewhere DRIVE 3
somewhere else PLACE 5
son CHILD 2
song: burst into song SING 1
soon SOON 1, 3
soon: as soon as possible SOON 4
soon: as soon as/the moment IMMEDIATELY 2
soon: as soon as you can SOO 4
soon: not a moment too soon O TIME 3
soon: too early/too soon EARLY 5
-[soon or early? I
in a short time from
now :-:
SOON
early, not late
@ EARLY

SOON 1264 SOON
SOON
1 in a short time from now
2 very soon
3 in a short time after a particular point in the
past
4 ways of saying that something will or should
be done as soon as it can be done
5 words for describing something that will
probably happen soon
6 ways of saying that something unpleasant,
worrying, or dangerous is going to happen
soon
1 in a short time from now
soon in the near future
before long in the not too
won't be long distant future
shortly
soon/su:n/[adv]
It will soon be lunchtime. ] How soon will you be back? ] It's
difficult at first, but you'll soon get used to it. I Don't decide
too soon. Think about it for a while. I Computers will soon
be capable of translating from one language to another. I
The sooner we get him to the hospital, the more chance he
has of survival. I The soonest we can have it ready for you
is Saturday.
before long/b ,f.3: r 'lmj ]] -'13:rj/(used especially when
you are waiting for something to happen, and it will
happen fairly soon) ]adv phrase]
I expect the bus will be here before long. I We'll be finished
before long. I Before long, you will be able to get on a train
in London and go non-stop to Paris.
won't be long l,woont bi: 'lorj li -'bn]l (used especially
in spoken English to say that something will happen or
someone will arrive fairly soon) Iv phrase]
Dinner won "t be long - it'll be ready in 10 minutes. I "When "s
Dad coming home? .... He won't be long. "" I it won't be long
before It won't be long before we're off on vacation.
sholy / '3:rtli/(used especially when talking about what
will definitely happen soon) [adv]
We are sorry for the delay - the train will leave shortly. I The
present ruling council is shortly to be replaced by a new legis-
lative chamber. I New guidelines are being prepared, and
these will be available shortly.
in the near future/=n 8 ,n=o r 'fju:tor/(used when talk-
ing about what will happen fairly soon, for example in a
few weeks or months from now) ]adv phrase]
The economy is unlikely to improve much in the near future. ]
The committee will look at these proposals and report back
to you in the very near future.
in the not too distant future/In 8 ,not tu: ,distont
' fju:tJbr/(used when talking about what will happen in a
few months or years from now) [adv phrase]
A new health club may be built here in the not too distant
future. I In the not too distant future we will see the Earth's
ecology go through some irreversible changes.
2 very soon
very soon
in a minute/
in a moment
before you know it
in no time/in no
time at all
at any moment/minute
momentarily
any time now
any minute now/
any moment now
very soon/,veri 'su:n/[adv]
"'We ought to meet for lunch soon." "'Yes, very soon. "" I We're
going to have to get that roof fixed very soon. ] Very soon after
birth a baby can recognize its mother's voice.
in a minute/in a moment/in  'mlno't, in  'moomont/
(used when talking about something that will happen
within a few minutes, usually because someone is waiting
for it to happen) lady phrase]
Coffee will be ready in a minute. ] I'll find it for you in a
moment - let me just make a quick phone call.
before you know it/bi ,fa: r ju: 'no It/(used when talk-
ing about something that happens so soon that you do not
realize it is happening) [adv phrase]
We must go, or it'll be dark before we know it. I Be careful
with your money or it'll begone before you know it. I Almost
before she knew it her children were grown up.
in no time/in no time at all/in 'nao ta,m, zn ,noo taIm
ot 'off/(used especially when talking about something good
that will happen very soon or surprisingly soon) [adv
phrase]
In no time at all he'll be feeling better. ] "'Back in no time, ""
Mr Bloom said, hurrying out. ] You just wait - in no time
at all this business will be making millions.
at any moment/minute /t ,eni 'm)omnt, 'mint/
(used when talking about something that may happen very
soon, especially something dangerous or unpleasant) [adv
phrase]
The teacher might come in at any moment. ] I felt as though
I was going to faint at any minute. ] We knew that war might
break out at any moment.
momentarily /'momontaroli ]] ,moomon'terIli/ (an
American word used especially when telling someone that
something will happen very soon) [adv]
Mr Ewing will see you momentarily, Sir.
any time now/,eni taim 'nao/(used when talking about
something that will probably happen very soon, but you
do not know exactly when) lady phrase]
A decision should be made any time now. [ Any time now,
the volcano could erupt again.
any minute now/any moment now/,eni mint 'nao,
,eni maomant 'nao/(used when talking about something
that will probably happen at any time within the next few
minutes) l adv phrase]
My father might arrive any moment now. I Any minute now
the bell will go off.
3 in a short time after a particular point in the
past
soon shortly
before long it wasn't long before
in no time/in no time at all
soon/su:n/[adv]
He was elected to congress in 1980, and he soon showed him-
self to be a skilled and cunning politician. ] It very soon
became clear that she wasn't telling us the truth. ] Soon the
big house came into view - we had arrived. ] soon after/
afterwards Soon after we came to live here, I got a job with
Citibank.
before long /bl,fo: r '1(I II-'lo:o/(used when talking
about something that happened fairly soon, especially
something surprising or unexpected) [adv phrase]
The kids were playing in the yard, and before long they were
covered in mud. I She joined the business as Sales Director,
but before long she had taken control of the whole company. I
We started off again, but before long I was tired and had to
stop.
in no time/in no time at all/In 'noo taIm, in ,noo taIm
ot :1/(used when talking about something that happened
very soon or surprisingly soon, especially something good)
lady phrase ]
She loved the work and had all the files straightened out in
no time. ] In no time at all he had built up a big following
among the local black community.
shortly / j'3:rtli/(used when talking about something that
happened soon after another event in the past) lady]
The first blast was shortly followed by two further explo-
sions. [ shortly after/afterwards Her last novel was pub-
lished shortly after her death.

SOON
1265
sorry?/pardon?
it wasn't long before/t ,wt)zant lm] b:fa: r II -,wa:zant
'la:rj-/(used when talking about something that happened
fairly soon after a particular event)
They started playing together in June 1961, and it wasn't
long before they got a recording contract.
4 ways of saying that something will or should
] be done as soon as it can be done
as soon as possible
as soon as you can
the sooner the better
as soon as possible/zz ,su:n 0z 'posbl II -'on:-/[adv
phrase]
We want to move into our new house as soon as possible. I
As soon as possible, write to me at the above address. I If the
meat has been frozen, cook it as soon as possible after
thawing.
as soon as you can/z ,su:n z ju: 'ken/(used espe-
cially in spoken English, when talking about something
that needs to be done urgently) lady phrase]
You should tell them as soon as you can. I Try not to worry
- I'll come over as soon as I can.
the sooner the better/6 ,su:na r 8a betor/(used to
say that it is important that something should happen very
soon) [adv phrase]
We must talk about this problem, and I think the sooner the
better. I The sooner we get the car fixed the better.
5 words for describing something that will
probably happen soon
imminent
forthcoming
upcoming
be in the offing
be in sight
be coming up
be around/round
the corner
imminent/' imnnt/something that is imminent, espe-
cially something important, unpleasant, or dangerous, is
likely to happen very soon [adj]
War was imminent. I With the election imminent, Churchill
returned to London. I Some of the buildings were in a state
of imminent collapse. I imminent danger The child was in
imminent danger of falling into the water.
forthcoming / f:r0'khm0 /forthcoming event/wed-
ding/meeting/election ere (=that has been planned to
happen soon) [adj only before noun]
Dixon was convinced he could win the forthcoming election. I
The matter will be discussed at the forthcoming general meet-
ing. I Forthcoming attractions include a magician and a .
quiz competition.
upcoming /'^p,kAmuj/ upcoming meeting/election/
session ere (=an American word for describing an event,
especially a political event, that is planned to happen soon)
[adj only before noun ]
The space program will be reviewed during the upcoming
congressional session. I He was preparing the federal budget
for the upcoming fiscal year.
be in the offing/bi: In 6i ofIrJ II -'3:f-/to be likely to
happen soon, although you do not know exactly when
[ v phrase]
The weather changed, as if a storm was in the offing. [
Expansion of the business is in the offing.
be in sight/hi: m 'salt/if something that you are hoping
for is in sight, you think it will probably happen soon
[ v phrase ]
A solution to the problem now seems in sight. I The end of
the economic nightmare is still nowhere in sight.
be coming up/bi: ,kmir Ap/if you say that something
is coming up, you mean it is definitely going to happen
soon Iv phrase]
I'm pretty busy right now - I have exams coming up next
week. I Winter's coming up.
be around the corner (also be round the corner
in British English)/bi: (),raond 6 'k:rnr/ifsomethingis
around the corner, it might happen very soon but you
cannot be sure that it will happen Iv phrase]
They keep telling us that better economic times are just
around the corner. I Misfortune could be lurking round the
corner.
6 ways of saying that something unpleasant,
worrying, or dangerous is going to happen
soon
loom hang over
impending be brewing
loom/lu:m/Iv I]
As the day of my interview loomed, I became increasingly ner-
vous. I With the prospect of bankruptcy looming, life is get-
ting tough for small businesses.
impending /m'pendrj/impending attack/disaster/
death/doom ere (=that is going to happen very soon) [adj
only before noun]
Extra troops were usually a sign of an impending attack. I
We were sorry to hear about Arlene's impending divorce. I
warnings of an impending ecological disaster
hang over / he3 'oovor/ if something dangerous or
unpleasant hangs over you, it is likely to happen soon and
this makes you feel worried and nervous Iv T not inpassive]
The threat of nuclear war hangs over mankind. I With the
court case hanging over us, we couldn't enjoy our vacation.
be brewing/bi: 'bru:rj/if problems, difficulties, argu-
ments etc are brewing, they are starting to develop and
will probably happen soon Iv phrase]
Union bosses fear that a strike is brewing in the coal indus-
try. I A major political row over the European question had
been brewing for some time.
sooner: no sooner ... than IMMEDIATELY 2
sooner: the sooner the better SOON 4
sooner: would sooner do sth PREFER 2
sooner or later EVENTUALLY 2
soothe COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 1
soothing COMFORT/MAKE SB FEEL BETTER 2
sophisticated ADVANCED 1, EXPERIENCED 2,
STYLE/ELEGANCE 2
sophistication STYLE/ELEGANCE 1
soporific SLEEP 12
sopping wet: soaking wet/sopping wet/wringing wet
WET 2
soppy EMOTIONAL 4, 5
sordid DIRTY 3
sore ANGRY 3, HURT/CAUSE PAIN 3
sorrow SAD/UNHAPPY 12
sorrows: drown your sorrows DRUNK 4
sorry SORRY/APOLOGIZE 3
sorry: be sorry REGRET/FEEL SORRY 1, 2, 4
sorry: feel sorry for SYMPATHIZE 1
sorry: feel sorry for yourself SAD/UNHAPPY 7
sorry: I am sorry SYMPATHIZE 3
sorry: I'm sorry REGRET/FEEL SORRY 5,
SORRY/APOLOGIZE 2
sorry: not be sorry REGRET/FEEL SORRY 8
sorry?lpardon? REPEAT 7
feel sOrr:)ifor h.at ..%
feel. sorry for someon:e

SORRY/APOLOGIZE 1266 sorts
SORRY/
APOLOGIZE
1 to tell someone that you are sorry for
something bad, unkind etc that you have
done
2 what you say to tell someone that you are
sorry, for example if you have upset them or
done something wrong or unfair
3 what you say to apologize for something
unimportant, such as a small mistake
4 a spoken or written statement in which you
apologize to someone
1 to tell someone that you are sorry for
something bad, unkind etc that you have
done
say you are sorry/ be apologetic
say sorry swallow your pride
apologize
say you are sorry/say sorry/,se
'soe II -lea:re/to tell someone that you are sorry, especially
because you have upset or offended them [v phrase]
She said she was sorry and that she hadn't meant to hurt my
feelings. [ say sorry to Go and say sorry to your mother,
Andrew. [ say you are sorry for Oliver said he was sorry
for causing everyone so much trouble. [ say you are sorry
(that) She rushed in through the door, saying she was sorry
she was so late.
apologize (also .ise British) I'pobd3az [[ 'pa:-/to tell
someone that you are sorry, especially in a formal situa-
tion or when saying sorry to someone you do not know well
[vI]
apologize for sth I must apologize for my son's behaviour
- he isn't usually this moody. [ The bank wrote to apologise
for overcharging me. [ apologize to sb The US has apolo-
gized to Britain for the accident that cost nine British lives. [
apologize That was an awful thing to say - I think you
should apologize. [ apologize profusely (=apologize very
much) She apologized profusely for being so late.
be apologetic /be: polo'd3etIk-[[-o,pa:-I to keep
saying you are sorry especially because you feel guilty or
embarrassed about something you have done [v phrase]
The manager was very apologetic when he realized he'd
wrongly accused me. [ be apologetic about He was most
apologetic about not being able to come to the party.
swallow your pride/,swolou j3: r 'prad [[ ,swa'.-/ to
admit you were wrong or that you have behaved unfairly,
by saying sorry, especially when this is very difficult for
you to do [v phrase]
If you want him back you'll have to swallow your pride and
say sorry. [ "'OK, I admit it wasn't your fault, "" said Elaine,
swallowing her pride.
2 what you say to tell someone that you are
[ sorry, for example if you have upset them or
done something wrong or unfair
I'm sorry forgive me
I apologize please accept
I owe you an apology my apologies
I'm sorry/aim 'st)re II -'s:ri/
I'm sorry, Ididn't mean to upset you. I I'm sorry (that) I'm
sorry I lost my temper. I I'm very/awfully/really/so/ter-
ribly sorry I'm terribly sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I
I'm so sorry, dohn - I didn "t realize that was your boss. I I'm
sorry to have done sth I'm sorry to have kept you waiting,
ladies and gentlemen.
I apologize (also -Ise British)/aI )'pt)lodsaiz [[ -opa:-/
(used to say you are sorry in a fairly formal way)
You were right and I was wrong. I apologize. [ That was so
stupid of me, I really do apologize. [ I apologize for I apolo-
gise for not believing you. Sincerely.
I owe you an apology/aI ,ouju: an :)'pol0d3i [[ -'pa:-/
(used when you have done something that you later find
out to be wrong or unfair)
It seems I owe you an apology - I was supposed to phone you
on Saturday night. [ I owe you an apology for I owe you
an apology for what I said. I'm afraid I was rather
emotional.
forgive me/fa r 'gv me:/(used when you have done some-
thing wrong or have upset someone, or when you are going
to say or ask something that might seem rude or offensive)
Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend you. ] forgive me for
Forgive me for asking, but how old are you?[ Forgive me
for saying this, but you really don't look well at all.
please accept my apologies /,pli:z ok,sept maI
'pold3iz II -'pa:-/(=used when you want to apologize in
a formal letter for a mistake or a problem)
Please accept my apologies. I will be taking steps to ensure
it does not happen again. [ please accept my apologies for
The replacement should reach you shortly. Please accept my
apologies for any inconvenience this error has caused.
3
what you say to apologize for something
unimportant, such as a small mistake
,,
sorry
excuse me
I beg your pardon
sorry/'sori II 'so:ri, 'so:ri/
"'Sorry, is this your coat? I picked it up by mistake. "" I She
stepped backwards onto someone's foot. "'Oops, sorry, I didn "t
see you there. "'1 sorry (that) Sorry we're a bit late. We got
lost. I Dear ,Jane, sorry I haven't written earlier, but things
have been pretty busy.
excuse me /Ikskju:z rni:/(an American expression used
when you accidentally touch someone, make a small
mistake etc)
Oh, excuse me, did I step on your foot?[ excuse me for
Excuse me for interrupting, but you're wanted on the phone,
Viktor.
I beg your pardon/aI beg j3:r ,pa:rdn/(a formal expres-
sion used when you touch someone accidentally, make a
small mistake etc)
I begyourpardon, I thought you were someone else. [ Coming
out of the elevator he accidentally crashed into Mr Davidson.
"'I beg your pardon, "" he said.
4 a spoken or written statement in which you
apologize to someone
apology
apology/z'polod3i il 'pa:-I In C/U]
She stood there waiting for an apology, but he refused to say
sorry. [ accept sb's apology (=forgive them for what they
have done after they have apologized) Okay, I accept your
apology. [ make an apology Charles made some sort of
apology for his bad temper of the previous night. [ letter/
note of apology I expect a letter of apology from the bank
for their mistake. [ demand an apology Your treatment of
my family and myself was outrageous, and I demand an
apology. [ an abject/grovelling apology (=a very full apol-
ogy which makes you lose self-respect or pride) We lost the
libel case and had to pay him Ј200,000 as well as printing
a grovelling apology. [ full apology (=a complete apology)
As well as sending a full apology and refunding our fares
they gave us a free holiday!
 sort GROUP/PUT INTO GROUPS 1
 sort: kind/sort TYPE 1
- sort out ORGANIZE 1 SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 3
: sort out: sort itself out SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 4
 sorts: all sorts/kinds of VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
- KINDS 2

sorts 1267 SOUND
...
... sorts: different kinds/types/sorts of VARIOUS/OF
DIFFERENT KINDS 1
: sorts: of different kinds/types/sorts VARIOUS/OF
ii: DIFFERENT KINDS 1
-{ sought-after POPULAR 2
 soul: not a soul PERSON/PEOPLE 8
 soul: not breathe a word/not tell a soul TELL A
ў.: SECRET 4
: soul: pour out your heart/soul TELL 9
 soul-destroying BORING 2
 sound LOGICAL 1, SEEM 1, SOUND 1, 3, 4
ii sound: make a sound/noise SOUND 4
i!ii: sound: not make a sound QUIET 4
;i'!!i sound: without a sound QUIET 4
{ sound mind: of sound mind MENTALLY ILL 4
.-. sound sb out ASK A QUESTION 1
SOUND
sound of laughter grew louder. I clicking/tapping/echo-
ing etc sound A strange clicking sound was coming from
behind the fence. I sights and sounds (=the things you see
and hear) His mind was dazzled by the thrilling sights and
sounds around him.
noise/n3z/a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one,
that is made by a thing, not a person [n C]
What's that funny noise coming from the back of the car? l
cracking/hissing/scratching etc noise There was a loud
cracking noise and the chair collapsed. I noise of all the
noises of a city at night: cars, police sirens, dogs barking
 the quality of a sound
pitch
tone
pitch/pItJ/how high or low a sound is, especially some-
one's voice or the notes from a musical instrument In U]
pitch of The pitch of the whistle is so high, only your dog
will hear it. I As she twisted in agony, the pitch of her screams
rose higher than you would have thought possible. I drop/
rise in pitch (=when the pitch becomes lower or higher)
The sudden drop in pitch of an ambulance's siren when it
passes you is due to the doppler effect.
tone/ton/the quality of a sound, especially the sound of
a musical instrument or of someone's voice In C/U]
Your piano has a beautiful tone. I tone of The firm, confi-
dent tone of the violins could be heard above the rest of the
orchestra. I in tone Ruth's voice was shrill in tone and he
couldn't bear to listen to it.
SOUND
something that is heard or something that
can be heard
I a sound
:2 the quality of a sound
8 using sound or connected with sound
4 to make a particular sound
5 ways of saying that a sound is repeated or
continues for a long time
6 sounds made by something hitting or falling
on a surface
7' sounds made by two hard surfaces rubbing
roughly against each other
8 sounds made by the repeated hitting of
something
8 sounds made by glass or metal hitting
something
10 sounds made by guns, bombs etc
11 sounds made by something burning
1;2 quiet gentle sounds
t3 sounds made by the movement of air through
something or past something
14 sounds made by machines, engines, vehicles
etc
t5 sounds made by bells or horns
t6 sounds made by liquids or by something wet
1 a sound
sound
noise
sound/saod/In C/U]
What was that? I thought I heard a sound. I The cave was
cold and dark, and there was no sound. I sound of The
 using sound or connected with sound
sound
acoustic
sound/saond/[adj only before noun]
The ear picks up sound waves and converts them into sig-
nals which it sends to the brain. [ sound effects (=sounds
produced to make it seem that something is happening)
Through the clever use of sound effects, the impression of
being under the sea can be created on the radio.
acoustic/'ku:stIk] a technical word meaning related to
sound, especially the way in which people hear sounds [adj
only before noun]
Various pieces of recording equipment are used to produce
interesting acoustic effects. [ Deaf people get no acoustic feed-
back when they talk, so their speech is often impaired.
4 to make a particular sound
make a sound/noise
emit
go moolquack/banglbeep etc
go off
sound
let out
make a sound/noise /meIk 3 saond, nlz/[vphrase]
The engine makes a strange noise when I try to start the car. I
Her bare feet made no sound on the polished wood floor.I
make a screeching/tapping ete sound As it cut through
the metal, the saw made a horrible screeching noise. I make
a sound like He gasped and tried to speak, making a sound
like an exhausted animal.
emit/I'mlt/a word used especially in technical contexts
and in literature, meaning to make a particular kind of
sound Iv T]
If you try to turn off the machine it emits a loud bleep. I
Sounds emitted by the dolphins were recorded with an under-
water microphone. I The Boys Brigade bugle band came
marching by, emitting a rich collection of wrong notes.
go moolquacklbanglbeep etc/go (moo, etc)/if an
animal goes moo/quack etc or if something goes
bang/beep etc, it makes that sound Iv phrase not in
progressive ]
Ducks go quack. I The microwave goes ping when it's
finished. I I watched the bubble getting bigger and bigger
until suddenly it went pop.
go off/,gao 'of II -'a:f/if something such as an electric

SOUND 1268 SOUND
bell goes off, it starts making a noise and continues
making it for a fairly long time, especially in order to give
a signal [phr v I]
I woke up even before my alarm went off. [ When your micro-
wave oven has finished cooking, a buzzer will go off.
sound/saond/to cause something such as a bell or gun
to make a sound, usually for a short time, and especially
in order to give a signal Iv T]
As soon as I sounded the horn Robin came rushing out to the
car to meet me. I Before they attacked, the soldiers had
sounded warning shots.
let out / ,let 'not/if someone lets out a particular kind of
sound, they make it, especially when something surprises,
frightens, or hurts them Iv T]
A hand touched her shoulder. She let 6ut a sudden scream. I
Every time the doctor tried to insert the needle Francis would
let out an almighty yell. I She sighed, letting out a long plain-
tive moan.
5 ways of saying that a sound is repeated or
continues for a long time
echo resonate
reverberate resound
echo /'ekau/ifa sound echoes, it is repeated, more quietly
and less clearly each time, especially in a large empty room
or building Iv I]
echo around/through/among etc Footsteps echoed down
the hall. I echo If you listen carefully, you will hear your
voice echoing.
echo In C] There was an echo when I shouted.
reverberate/r 'v3:rbare;t/ifa loud sound reverberates,
it is repeated or continues for a fairly long time, so that the
building or room where it is seems to shake Iv I]
reverberate around/along/through etc The sound of a
train passing reverberated through the house. I reverber-
ate He has a loud, deep voice which reverberates when he
• talks.
reverberation/r, ,v3:rb;' ren/[n C/U] After the thunder-
clap it took quite a while for the reverberations to die down.
resonate /rezanelt/ if something such as a musical
instrument resonates, it makes a continuous, rich, musi-
cal sound Iv I]
With stringed instruments such as cellos, the sound made by
the bow on the strings resonates throughout the wooden box.
resonant [adj] His voice was deep, rich and resonant.
resound/rI 'zaond/ifa very loud sound resounds, it con-
tinues for a fairly long time, filling a place with sound Iv I]
resound around/in/through etc As he fell a great long
"aaaaah" resounded around the canyon. I resound Ray-
moncl's huge laugh resounded everywhere we went.
6 sounds made by something hitting or falling
on a surface
bang clatter
thud bump
crack thump
crash
bang IbaoI a loud sound caused when something hard or
heavy hits something else or falls on a surface In C]
I heard a loud bang. Someone had crashed into my car! I I
knew from the bang of the door that he had left. I dose/
land/collide ete with a bang The lid of the box fell shut
with a bang.
thud/O^d/the low dull sound produced when something
heavy but soft hits something else or falls on a surface In C]
There was a thud as the sack dropped to the floor. I hit/
drop/land ere with a thud A snowball hit her on the back
of the neck with a soft thud. I the thud of the thud of their
father's stock inged feet
crack/krak/a loud sudden very sharp sound like the
sound of a stick being broken In C]
There was a loud crack. "I think we're being followed, "" I
whispered. I The branch broke with a sickening crack.
crash/kra/the very loud sound produced when some-
thing hard such as metal or glass hits something else or
falls on a surface, especially when damage is caused In C]
A burst of crashes and shouts was coming from where the
two men were fighting. I The thunder was as sudden and
startling as a crash of cymbals. I fall/land/hit sth with
a crash The whole tray of dishes fell to thefloor with a crash.
clatter /klator/ the loud unpleasant sound produced
when a lot of hard things fall on a hard surface In singular]
There was a clatter as the knives and forks fell to the floor. I
You could hear the clatter of someone washing dishes coming
from the kitchen. I fall/drop sth etc with a clatter Bert
set down his tools with a clatter, and surveyed the room.
bump/bnmp/the dull, fairly quiet sound produced when
something such as part of your body hits something or falls
against a surface In C]
fall/sit down/hit sth with a bump He sat down with a
bump. I bump Doors slammed and the house echoed with
thumps and bumps.
thump/Onmp/the dull, fairly loud sound produced when
something heavy suddenly hits something else or falls hard
on a surface In C]
Overhead, in my bedroom there was a thump. I I heard the
thump of a mug on the table. ] hit sth/fall etc with a
thump A suitcase toppled off the top of the wardrobe and
landed on the fioor with a thump.
7 sounds made by two hard surfaces rubbing
roughly against each other
scrape squeak
creak screech
scrape/skreIp/to produce an unpleasant sound when two
hard surfaces rub roughly together Iv I]
A blind man made his way along the street, his white stick
knocking and scraping along the road. I Her fingernails
scraped on the blackboard.
serape In singular] There was a scrape and a bang as our
boat hit a rock. I I could tell by the sudden scrape of chair
legs on the floor that the class had finished.
creak/kri:k/if something creaks, especially something
wooden such as a door, bed, or stair, it makes a long, high
noise when someone puts pressure on it [v I]
A door creaked and closed. I She listened to the floorboards
creak as the servants rushed around outside her door.
creak/creaking In singular] The only sound in the carri-
age was the creak of the wheels and the slow clop of the
ponies" hoo yes.
squeak/skwi:k/if something squeaks, it makes a very
high noise as it is moved, pushed etc, especially because
two parts of it cannot rub smoothly together Iv I]
If you oil the hinges, they won't squeak. [ My running shoes
squeaked on the shiny floor.
squeak In singular] Every time the wheel turned there was
a loud squeak.
squeaky [adj] They had to sit on a squeaky leather couch.
screech/skri:t/to make a loud, long, unpleasant high
sound, like the sound made by car tyres when the car stops
suddenly Iv I]
The loudspeaker screeched and then went dead.
screech In singular] There was a screech of brakes and then
a tremendous bang.
sounds made by the repeated hitting of
something
knocking rattl(
rap/rapping tap
patter
knocking /'nvk=tj II 'na:-/ the sound produced when
something hard keeps hitting another hard surface In U]
As I was driving I heard a knocking sound coming from the
engine. I The builders" knocking and hammering made it
difficult for me to concentrate on my work.

SOUND 1269 SOUND
rap/rapping/'rzep, 'rzep[tj/the sound produced when
someone keeps hitting a surface, especially a door or
window, with their hand or with a hard object In singular]
There was a rap on the window. It was my neighbour coming
to borrow some money. I rapping at/on ere A violent
rapping at the door made me run downstairs.
patter/' pator/to make a quiet irregular sound, like the
sound of rain falling or quick, light steps [v I]
patter on/in ete Raindrops were pattering on the car roof. I
patter I could hear feet shuffling and pattering upstairs.
patter/pattering In singular] the patter of mice running
behind the wainscot
rattle/' ra:fl/if something rattles it makes a hard, quickly
repeated sound, especially because part of it is loose and
keeps hitting against something Iv Il
There's something rattling inside the washing machine. I
Sometimes, the bolts work loose and start rattling and creak-
ing. I rattle along/past ete (=move with a rattling sound)
A battered old Chevrolet rattled past.
rattle/rattling In singular] I heard the rattle of a key in
the door, and knew David was home.
tap/tzep/to produce a sound by lightly and repeatedly hit-
ting a hard surface Iv I]
tap on/against A branch from the apple tree outside was
tapping against her bedroom window. I The rain tapped
monotonously on the roof.
tapping In singular] Every time I thought they had finished
fitting the carpet, the tapping would begin again.
9 sounds made by glass or metal hitting
something
clink jingle
clank ring
clang tinkle
clink/klil]k/if something made of glass or metal clinks,
it makes a short ringing sound as it hits another glass or
metal object Iv I]
Their glasses clinked. "'Happy Anniversary Darling, "" said
Roger. [ He had on a pair of black leather trousers, worn with
a selection of solid gold chains clinking around his neck.
clink/clinking ]n singular] A delicate clink of cups and
saucers told him the guests were drinking tea.
clinking [adj] He could hear noise and bustle, the sounds
of clinking cutlery and glasses being placed on tables.
clank/kle if something heavy made of metal clanks,
it makes a short, loud noise as it hits another metal object
Iv I]
The carriages clanked together as the train braked sud-
denly. I The strange iron machines were clanking and splut-
tering, giving off foul smelling smoke.
clank/clanking In singular] The only sound was the
wheels of his bike whizzing round and the clank of his tool
bag against the mudguard.
clang Ikl] if something metal clangs, it makes a loud,
long, dull ringing noise when it hits another metal object
Iv I]
The doors clanged shut and the elevator disappeared up the
deserted building.
clang [n singular] I dropped the metal bar and it hit the floor
with a loud clang.
clanging [adj] The sound reverberated in Matt's head like
a clanging cymbal.
jingle/'d3Iogl/ifa set of things jingle, especially things
made of metal or glass, they make a continuous musical
sound as they hit each other Iv I]
The coins jingled together noisily. I Her bracelets jingled as
she lifted the veil that hid her face.
jingle In singular] Dean raised his hand and with a jingle
displayed a set of keys.
ring /rill/ if something rings, it makes a high, loud,
continuous sound after it hits another object Iv I]
Several seconds later, the glass bowl was still ringing from
when Inn had accidentally hit it.
ringing [adj] I hit the empty water tank and it let out a loud
ringing noise.
tinkle/'titjkal/to produce the pleasant, high, continuous
sound that is made, for example, by light pieces of glass or
metal hitting each other Iv I]
The chandeliers tinkle quietly as the guests dance below. [
There were little bells attached to his collar, that tinkled
musically when he moved.
tinkle/tinkling In singular] the tinkle of cups and cutlery
10 sounds made by guns, bombs etc
bang roar
boom rumble
bang Ibaej/ a short sudden loud noise made by a gun,
bomb etc In C]
There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded. I "Bang, bang
- you're dead!'" shouted the children as they pretended to
shoot each other. I go off/explode ete with a bang The fire-
work went off with a loud bang.
boom/bu:m/an extremely loud noise that can be heard
for several seconds after it begins In C]
There was a crack and a loud boom. The chemical works was
on fire. I The celebratory boom of cannon continued for most
of the day.
roar/ra:r/an extremely loud noise that gets gradually
louder and continues for a fairly long time In C]
There was a great roar, then the whole building was
engulfed inflames. I We threw ourselves to the ground as the
roar of an explosion thundered over us.
rumble /  rAmbal/to make a very low sound, like the sound
of distant thunder, that gets quieter then louder continu-
ously Iv I ]
In the distance thunder rumbled across the dark sky. I The
sound of rebel gunfire rumbles constantly in the hills.
rumble In singular] An echoing rumble became a power-
ful roar as the volcano erupted.
1 1 sounds made by something burning
crackle
sizzle
crackle / ' kraekl/if a fire or something burning in a fire
crackles, it makes a repeated sharp sound Iv I]
A log crackled on the fire. I Aunt Mabel was in the hall where
a big fire was crackling away.
crackle In singular] It was impossible for me to make out
what they were saying above the crackle of the bonfire.
sizzle/'Slzal/to produce the continuous sound that is
made, for example by food being cooked in a small amount
of very hot oil Iv I]
The bacon sizzled in the frying pan. I Drops of water sizzled
and evaporated on the hot engine.
sizzle In singular] There was a loud sizzle as the cook flung
another hamburger onto the grill.
12 quiet gentle sounds
murmur
rustle
murmur/'ma:rmar/the continuous, low, quiet sound of
something that is a fairly long way away or that is continu-
ously there as well as other noises In singular]
The radio was on, but turned down to a murmur. I murmur
of The murmur of distant traffic reached the farm when the
wind was in the east.
rustle/' rAsal/if things such as papers, leaves, or clothes
rustle, they make a continuous quiet sound as they rub
against each other Iv I]
Leaves rustled in the breeze. I I knew when the princess was
approaching. I could hear her dress rustling.
rustle In singular] There was no sound in the library except
the occasional cough and the rustle of papers.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

SOUND 1270 SOUND
1  sounds made by the movement of air through
something or past something
hiss
swish
fizz
hiss Ihsl if something such as a tyre, ball, or part of a
machine hisses, it makes a continuous high sound as air,
water etc escapes from it [v I/
Air hissed out of the burst football. I The chimney hissed like
a firework and great rockets of flame came gushing out of it.
hiss ]n singular] He turned on the gas tap. There was a brief
hiss, then silence.
swish /sw/ the smooth quiet souhd produced when
something such as a skirt or curtains moves quickly
through the air ]n singular]
As she opened the window there was a swish, and the cur-
tains fiew up. I swish of He lay on his bed, listening only
for the swish of his mother's skirt.
swish Iv TI The horse swished its tail from side to side.
fizz IfIzl to produce the continuous high sound that is
made for example by some kinds of drinks that produce
bubbles when they are poured into a glass [v I/
The tablets fizzed in the glass as they dissolved. I I lit the fire-
work. It fizzed and then went off with a bang.
14
sounds made by machines, engines, vehicles
etc
buzz bleep
hum roar
whirr tick
whine
buzz/b^z/to make a continuous sound, for example, like
the sound made by bees Iv I1
The shaver buzzed quietly. I When the telephone buzzes, pick
up the receiver.
buzz In singular] I could hear the buzz of a chainsaw far
away among the trees.
hum/hAm/to make a soft, low continuous sound like the
sound made by some electric or electronic equipment Iv I/
The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner. I You can tell
if a building has air-conditioning because you can hear it
humming.
hum ]n singularl Secretaries were chatting above the hum
of photocopiers and the clatter of typewriters.
whirr/w3:r/to make a fairly quiet, regular sound like
something turning very quickly and beating against the
air ]v I/
The camera whirred as the film was rewound. I I could hear
a vacuum cleaner whirring in the background as Ispoke to
him on the telephone.
whirr In singular] There was a grinding whirr as the
plane's engine started up.
whine/wan/an unpleasant long high sound, especially
produced by an engine or vehicle running at very high
speed In singular]
The whine of the engine grew louder as we raced for the
finishing line. I The sky was filled with the whine and roar
of bombers and the thudding of explosives.
bleep/bli:p/a high, sometimes repeated, electronic sound
sent out by a machine, especially in order to attract some-
one's attention In C/
You will hear a bleep when the photocopier has finished
printing.
bleep Iv I/The machine bleeps if you leave it switched on for
more than 10 minutes.
roar/r3: r / if a car engine or plane engine roars, it makes
a very loud noise when it is near full power Iv I/
The engine roared and we shot off down the road. I roar
past/along etc (=move with a roaring sound) There was
a big cloud of dust as a truck roared past.
roar In singular] The roar of the motor made it difficult to
talk to the driver.
tick/tik/if a clock or other machine ticks, it makes a
quiet, regular, repeated sound [v I/
There must be a clock somewhere in here. If you listen care-
fully you can hear it ticking, i Something's ticking in my
briefcase. What if it's a bomb/
tick/ticking ]n singular] Everything was silent except his
breathing and the tick of his gold pocket watch.
15 sounds made by bells or horns
ring hoot
toll honk
chime
ring/rI]/to make a sound like that of a bell Iv I/
The phone's ringing. I An alarm was ringing somewhere
near the railway station.
toll Itaoll if a large bell tolls, it makes regular, separate
ringing sounds, especially as a sign of someone's death Iv I/
The funeral procession left the church as the bells began to
toll.
•
chime/tfam/if a bell or clock chimes, it makes a single
ringing sound or a small number of ringing sounds, espe-
cially in order to tell you what time it is Iv I/T/
chime six/eight/twelve etc (=ring six, eight, twelve etc
times to show the time) The clock chimed six. I chime The
house is silent except for a clock chiming in the room.
chime In C/ The chime of a bell announced a customer's
entrance into the store.
hoot/hu:t/if a vehicle's horn hoots, it makes a loud clear
sound which lasts for only a few seconds and is like a single
musical note Iv I/
Drivers were hooting and shouting for me to move my car.
hoot/hooting In C/ The hoot of the horn made me turn
round.
honk /hork II h:k/ an informal word: if you honk a
vehicle's horn or if the horn honks, it makes a loud clear
sound which lasts for only a few seconds [v I/T/
The driver honked his horn and waited.
1  sounds made by liquids or by something wet
squelch bubble
gurgle
splash/splef/the sound that a liquid makes when it falls
from a height, hits something hard, or is moved rapidly
around In C/
Judging from the splashes coming from upstairs, there must
be someone in the bath. [ Until I heard the splash I hadn't
realized how near the river was. [ fall/land etc with a
splash Ashlee fell into the pool with a loud splash.
splash Iv I/the sound of wine splashing into the glasses
squelch/skwelt/to make a sound like someone walking
in soft, wet mud Iv I/
It had been raining and the grass squelched as I walked
across the park. [ As I stepped out of the car the mud
squelched and a brown trickle came over my shoes.
gurgle/g3:rgal/if something such as a stream gurgles
it makes a low irregular sound like water flowing through
a pipe Iv I/
The plumbing in this house gurgles in the night and keeps
me awake. [ I threw the disgusting soup down the sink and
watched it gurgle down the waste pipe.
gurgle [n singular] She could hear a gurgle as he drank
from the bottle.
plop/plop [[ pla:p/to make a sound like something solid
falling smoothly into water Iv I/
plop into/onto etc Nora threw a stone high in the air and
it plopped into the river. [ plop The drips of melting ice
plopped as they fell into a puddle.
plop/plopping [n singular] As we got nearer the stream we
could hear the plop of frogs jumping into the water.
bubble/I bAhai/to make the continuous repeated sound
that is made, for example, by water boiling [v I/
What's that I can hear bubbling on the stove?

soundly 1271 SPACE/GAP
bubbling [adj] The kitchen was full of the sounds and smells
of bubbling curries.
 soundly: sleep well/soundly SLEEP 6
.. sour DECAY 4, SOUR 1, SPOIL 3
 sour: go sour DECAY 3
 sour: turn sour UNFRIENDLY 3
= sour grapes JEALOUS 4
SOUR
having a sharp taste
1 having a sharp taste
sour tart
bitter tangy
sharp
sour Isauar/food that is sour has a taste that stings your
tongue slightly, especially because it does not contain
enough sugar [adj]
The lemonade had a sour but refreshing.flavor. I Tomas bit
into a sour apple and screwed up his face. I Rhubarb is too
sour to eat on its own, you have to sprinkle sugar on it.
bitter lib[tar! bitter foods, such as some types of coffee,
chocolate, or oranges, have a strong, usually unpleasant
taste that is the opposite of a sweet taste [adj]
Try not to burn the oil, it will make the sauce taste bitter. I
John was sipping bitter black coffee in an attempt to get rid
of his hangover. I Rue, although a strongly]Tavoured herb,
has a bitter and acrid taste, which makes it unpopular for
cooking.
sharp ISo-" rp/having a strong but pleasant taste that stings
your tongue [adj]
The drink had a very sharp lemony taste. I I like this mar-
malade. It's very sharp. I The lemon juice gives that sharp
aftertaste to the dressing.
tart ]to-'rt] fruit that is tart, especially apples, stings your
tongue and makes water come into your mouth [adj]
Those apples are a lovely bright green but their taste is a little
tart. I Used on salads, this tart citrus dressing is guaranteed
to refresh the palate.
tangy/Imrji/having a fresh, pleasant taste that stings
your tongue slightly [adj]
The orange juice had a delicious tangy taste. I We made a
tangy mayonnaise from yoghurt and honey. I scrumptious
croquettes, served with a tangy mustard sauce
source COME FROM/ORIGINATE 6, 9
source: be a source of CAUSE 5
sovereign INDEPENDENT COUNTRYOR ORGANIZATION 1
sow GROW PLANTS, VEGETABLES ETC 2, PUT 15
sow the seeds of CAUSE 6
space AREA 6, EMPTY 5, PERIOD OF TIME 1,
SPACE/GAP 1, SPACE/ROOM 1
space: breathing space PAUSE 3
space: clear a space SPACE/ROOM 2
space of time: short/brief space of time SHORT TIME 1
space out SPACE/GAP 2
SPACE/GAP
a space between two objects or surfaces
to arrange things with spaces between them
ways of saying that things have spaces
between them
1 a space between two objects or surfaces
space opening
gap break
space IspeIsl In C]
space between I put my bag down in the space between two
chairs. [ She managed to park her car in a small space
between the wall and a tree. [ space Plant cells contain liquid
in spaces known as vacuoles.
gap Igmpl a space between two objects or surfaces from
which there is something missing In C[
gap in Freddie managed to squeeze through a gap in the
fence and run away. I gap between Melanie's dentist says
that as she gets older the gap between her two front teeth will
disappear. I fill/fill in a gap Melianthus is a good plant
for filling in gaps in flower borders.
opening I Iupmol a space through which something can
pass or through which you can see In C[
"It's only Fred, "" said Joyce, looking through an opening in
the curtains. I The dog darted through an opening in the
hedge, chasing the rabbit.
break / IbreIk/break in the clouds/in the mountains
etc (=a space, especially in something large and continu-
ous) In C[
Every now and then there are breaks in the clouds and the
sun shines through them. I They walked around the lake and
continued westwards towards a break in the mountains.
 to arrange things with spaces between them
space out
space out/,spes laot/[phr v T]
space sth/it/them out Space the chairs out so there is
plenty of room to walk between them. [ space out sth The
teachers had to space out the desks two metres apart so the
students did not cheat in the exam.
3 ways of saying that things have spaces
between them
spaced
apart
be well spaced out
spaced/speist/objects that are spaced in a particular
way are arranged with spaces of a particular size between
them [adj ]
evenly spaced (=with equal spaces) The fence was made
of evenly spaced metal posts. [ closely/widely spaced
Widely spaced runway lights guide the planes in to land. [
spaced two centimetres/a metre etc apart The young
trees should be spaced about fifteen metres apart.
apart/pa:rt/three inches/five miles etc apart (=with
a space measuring three inches, five miles etc between
them) [adv]
Place the cake mixture on the baking tray two inches apart.[
The street lights were set five metres apart.
be well spaced out/bi: wel ispeist aot-/things that
are well spaced out are arranged with quite large spaces
between them [v phrase]
When you are planting the seeds make sure that they are well
spaced out.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they, are
especially used in Spoken English.

SPACE/ROOM
SPACE/ROOM
1 the amount of empty space that is available to
be used
2 to provide space for someone or something
3 a situation where there is only just enough
room for things or people to fit
I the amount of empty space that is available to
be used
space floorspce
room elbow room
clearance
space/spes/an area that is empty and can be used or
filled by objects or people In C/U]
I need more space in this closet for my clothes. I Dancers need
plenty of space to move in. I You must have enough space on
your disk to store your documents. I Can you find a space to
park your car? I cupboard/closet/office etc space The
company is moving because of a lack of office space in the
present building. I storage/living/parking space I don't
mind sharing my living space if I like the other person.
room/ru:m, rom/enough space available to put things in,
or to use for a particular purpose In U]
We can't sit there, there's not enough room. I have room for
Do you have room for this in your bag? l leave room for
(=make sure there is enough room for) Leave room for
people to get by. I room to do sth He didn't think he had
room to pass the car in front. I room to spare (=some room
available) They had no room to spare in their car, so we had
to take a taxi. I leg-room/head-room (=room for your legs
or head, especially in a vehicle) I enjoy flying with Air
Canada because the seats have plenty of leg-room.
clearance /klimns/ a technical word meaning the
amount of space around one object which is needed to avoid
it touching another object In U]
The plane entered the hangar with very little clearance on
either side. I You have just enough clearance to drive under
the bridge.
fioorspace/lfl:rspels/the area of the floor of a room,
especially the area that can be used In U]
The workshop is quite big but there's not much floorspace. I
Office floorspace is restricted now that the new computers
have been installed.
elbow room/' elbo ru:m/an informal expression mean-
ing space to move or work easily In U]
Move your chair a bit to give him elbow room. I They stood
in the crowd, fighting for elbow room.
2 to provide space for someone or something
make room
clear a space
make way
make room/,meik ru:m/to move closer together, or
push things closer together in order to provide space for
another person or thing Iv phrase]
The campers made room for us around the fire. [ I managed
to make room on the shelf for my new books. [ There are two
more people coming - can you make room for them to sit
down?
clear a space/khr  'spes/to move several things,
especially things that were untidily arranged, to provide
a space for something Iv phrase]
She cleared a space on her desk to put her computer.I The
gardener was clearing a space amongst the weeds so he could
plant the young seedlings.
make way / melk 'we/ifa crowd makes way for some-
one or something, it divides to make a passage for that
person or thing to pass Iv phrase]
1272 SPEAK A LANGUAGE
make way for The onlookers stepped back to make way for
the ambulance to pass. I make way If you can all make way
please, so the actress can leave.
3 a situation where there is only just enough
room for things or people to fit
a tight squeeze
a tight squeeze/a Ita;t 'skwi:z/[n phrase]
Put the spare bed in here, it will be a tight squeeze but it's
only temporary. I It was a tight squeeze but everything even-
tually fitted into my suitcase.
spaced SPACE/GAP 3
spaced out: be well spaced out SPACE/GAP 3
spacious BIG 6
spade: call a spade a spade HONEST 4
spadework: do the groundwork/spadework
PREPARE "1
span INCLUDE 2, LONG 6
spank: smack/spank HIT 4
spanner: throw a spanner/wrench in the works
SPOIL 2
spare GIVE 1, MORE/EXTRA 1, REMAIN/BE LEFT 2
spare: can spare ENOUGH 6
spare: to spare REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
spare no expense SPEND MONEY 2
spare the time: can spare the time TIME/HAVE TIME 4
spare time TIME/FREE TIME 1
spare tyre FAT 6
spark off: trigger/spark off CAUSE 7
sparkle SHINE 3
sparse FEW/NOT MANY 1
spartan COMFORTABLE 6
spasm PAIN 1
spat ARGUE 5
spate of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5
spawn CAUSE 6
speak SPEAK A LANGUAGE 1 6, TALK TO SB 1,
TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1
speak: can't speak SPEAK A LANGUAGE 12
speak: speaks for itself OBVIOUS 3
speak: to speak of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 2, 9
speak for REPRESENT 2
speak highly of PRAISE 2
speak out PROTEST 1
speak out of turn SAY 10
speak to/with TALK TO SB 3
speak up SPEAK P LANGUAGE 1
speak your mind HONEST 4, SAY/STATE 2
SPEAK A
LANGUAGE
I to speak or talk
2 to speak unclearly

SPEAK A LANGUAGE 1273 SPEAK A LANGUAGE
8 to have a problem speaking because you
cannot say words or sounds correctly
4, the ability to speak
5 words for describing descriptions,
agreements, words etc that are spoken rather
than written
6 to be able to speak a particular language
7' to be able to speak a little of a particular
language
8 very good at speaking a language
9 able to speak more than one language
10 the way someone speaks the sounds of a
language
11 the way that a word or sound is spoken
12 to be physically unable to speak
1 to speak or talk
speak
talk
speak up
speak/spi:k/to use your voice to produce words [v I]
She opened her mouth to speak. I He has a throat infection
thatprevents him from speaking. I The old woman spoke so
slowly I sometimes thought she had fallen asleep. I speak
to sb John! John! Speak to me! Are you all right?
ta|k /trek/ to produce words in a language especially in
order to have a conversation with someone Iv I]
The way that five-year-olds talk is often very funny. I Par-
rots can't talk, they can only mimic human sounds. I Listen-
ing and talking is an important part of the learning process.
speak up/I spi:k I^p/to speak in a louder voice so that
people can hear you [phr v I]
You'll have to speak up a little - we can't hear you.
 to speak unclearly
mumble
slur
mumble/ m^mbal/to speak unclearly in a quiet voice,
without opening your mouth wide enough Iv I]
Don't mumble, I can't understand what you're saying. I He
always mumbles when he's embarrassed.
shJr/sla:r/to speak unclearly, without separating your
words or sounds correctly Iv I/T]
After just a couple of drinks, she starts to slur. I slur your
words When he is tired he tends to slur his words.
slurred [ adj] Stroke victims often have seriously impaired
or slurred speech.
to have a problem speaking because you
cannot say words or sounds correctly
stammer/stutter
lisp '
stammer/stutter / stmo r, stAtOr/ to have difficulty
speaking because you cannot stop yourself from repeating
the sound at the beginning of some words [v I]
At school they used to laugh at him because he stammered. [
"'My n-n-name is D-david, "' he stuttered.
lisp/lsp/to speak unclearly because you have difficulty
pronouncing 's' sounds [v I]
As a child she used to lisp but she has no problem speaking
now. I "What time ith it?" he lisped.
4 the ability to speak
speech
speech/spi:t/In U]
The drug may affect your speech and make you feel sleepy. [
The power of speech is what distinguishes humans from
animals.
words for describing descriptions,
agreements, words etc that are spoken rather
than written
spoken oral
verbal by word of mouth
spoken/ spoukon/a word meaning spoken rather than
written, used especially in language teaching and in the
study of language [adj usually before noun]
There are significant differences between spoken and writ-
ten language. [ In normal spoken communication, words are
backed up by facial expressions and gestures.
verbal / 'v3: rbal/verbal agreement/statement/instruc-
tion etc (=spoken rather than written) [adj usually before
noun]
We had a verbal agreement but no written contract. I They
were given verbal assurances by the management that their
complaints would be dealt with.
oral/' :rol/based completely on spoken language rather
than written language [adj usually before noun]
In the Middle Ages poetry and songs were part of a largely
oral culture. ] The German test consists of a written part and
an oral part.
orally lady] Most of their poems and stories were orally
transmitted.
by word of mouth/baI w3:rd ov 'maoO/ if you find
something out by word of mouth, you find it out because
someone tells you, not because you have seen it advertised,
read about it in a newspaper etc lady phrase]
These illegal boxing matches are never advertised -people
always find out by word of mouth. [ pass sth on by word
of mouth (=tell it in spoken form) The tribe's history was
passed on by word of mouth.
6 to be able to speak a particular language
speak
know
speaker
speak Ispi:k/Iv T not in progressive]
Can you speak German? [ We'll have to find someone who
speaks English. [ He can speak six languages" and is boring
in all of them.
know/nov/to be able to speak, read, and understand a par-
ticular language Iv T not in progressive]
I know enough Italian to travel around there. [ You have to
know Spanish pretty well to do the job properly.
speaker/spi:kor/someone who knows how to speak a
particular language [n C]
speaker of English/Russian/Chinese ere Most speakers
of English are aware of the difference between American and
British English. [ native speaker (someone who is speak-
ing or using the language that they first learned as a child)
We like our French teachers to be native speakers if possi-
ble. [ English/Spanish etc speaker The Romanian
government made an attempt to eject all Hungarian speakers
from the country.
7 to be able to speak a little of a particular
language
get by in have a smattering of
know a few words broken
get by in/get 'ba n/to speak enough of a language to
be able to buy things, ask for help etc Iv T not in progressive ]
I've just bought a book called 'Get By In Portuguese'. [ He
went to Tokyo and within a few weeks knew enough
Japanese to get by in it.
know a few words/,nao a fju: 'w3:rdz/to be able to
speak a few words of a language Iv phrase not in
progressive]
Her English is good but she only knows a few words of
German.

SPEAK A LANGUAGE
1274
speed
have a smattering of/hv o 'smmtrirj Dr/to be able
to speak a small but useful amount of a language Iv phrase
not in progressive]
Martin is fluent in French, and also has a smattering of
Swedish.
broken / 'brookn/broken English/French etc (:spoken
slowly and badly by someone who only knows a little of the
language) [adj only before noun]
The two students, one Chinese, the other Greek, communi-
cated in broken English. [ Slowly, in broken Italian, I asked
for a room at the hotel.
8 very good at speaking a language
fluent
fluent I 'flu:ant/able to speak a language very easily and
able to say what you want to say in it [adj]
His English was fluent and he expressed himself well. I
fluent in Japanese/Freneh/a language ete Danielle is
,fluent in several languages, including Thai and Cantonese.
fluently [ adv ] Douglas speaks Hindi very.fluently.
9 able to speak more than one language
bilingual
multilingual
bilingual/ba 1l13gwal/able to speak two languages very
well [adj]
Masanori has lived in England for almost lO years now, and
he's practically bilingual. I Bilingual children can switch
from one language to another without even realizing it.
bilingualism In U] Bilingualism arises when two lan-
guages are taught from childhood.
multilingual /Im^ltIlogwal,/ able to speak several
languages very well [adj]
Many people who work at the European Parliament are
multilingual.
multilingualism In U] Multilingualism is very common in
several parts of Africa.
1 0 the way someone speaks the sounds of a
language
speech accent
pronunciation diction
speech/spi:q/the way that someone speaks In U]
It was pleasant to listen to her soft, lilting speech. I His eye-
lids started to droop and his speech became slurred. I She
works as a speech therapist.
pronunciation/pra,nAnsieifan/the way someone speaks
the words of a language, used especially when you are talk-
ing about how well someone has learned a foreign language
In singular]
Luigi doesn't know much English, but his pronunciation is
good. [ I'm sure my pronunciation is appalling, because I've
never actually been to Russia.
accent / mksant [[ aksent/the way someone pronounces
the words of a language, showing which part of a country
they come from or which country they come from In C]
He speaks Spanish with a Mexican accent. I From her accent
I guess she's from the Northeast. [ strong/broad accent
(:very noticeable) The old farmer had a strong regional
accent that I found very difficult to understand.
diction /dkfan/ a formal word meaning how clearly
someone speaks a language, especially in a play or other
performance In U]
Gertrude read the story with a beautiful voice and perfect
diction.
1 1 the way that a word or sound is spoken
pronunciation
pronunciation Ipra,n^nsi eqn/[n C]
The American pronunciation of "tomato" rhymes with the
British pronunciation of'potato: I I'm not sure of the pronun-
ciation but the town's name is spelled z-y-w-i-e-c-z.
1 2 to be physically unable to speak
dumb
can't speak
lose your voice
dumb/dArn] a word which some people find offensive and
which is not used in a medical context, meaning unable to
speak because you were born unable to speak [adj]
Martin was born dumb, but he has managed to get a job. I
deaf and dumb
can't speak/,ko:nt Ispi:k II ,kent-/to be unable to speak,
especially because you are too ill, weak, or shocked Iv
phrase]
He can't speak at all, he's far too ill. I I was so shocked I
couldn't speak.
lose your voice/lu:z ja: r 'V.OlS/ to become unable to
speak because you have an illness that affects your throat
Iv phrase]
Ms Gribbins can't give her speech today as she has
unfortunately lost her voice. I Years of heavy smoking and
a serious throat infection have caused him to lose his voice
almost completely.
 speaker SPEAK A LANGUAGE 6, TALK/MAKE A
[ SPEECH 2
 speaker: native speaker LANGUAGE 3
: speaking terms: not be on speaking terms TALK TO
SB 19
:[special !
•  ,-- ; : -- .  .. ;,Z1a'-';- -'-I=" ..... .;.;, .
:4 . .:.:: ,. ........... - ..... -,- ..*-- ,- J.;, ,-.
i" . : :  :i-'"-: .: : . ' .. • : -: .... , ..:-  ) . ' ,,s  : -,,:-. ..
g;t,.,. ,-,.. ..... ,,:-.-:.,... • "ў'" ,.: . .:---,. * ...... .-----. "=5 ". 
!diffЈf'ftom::e .'@ DIFFERENT 
:;,.,..,:. ,,, ,,:e,:.,, :<.,m,.,z:,,+  =:-.  ,r- .............................. .,
:...:.es.eal!y-.-m ,,,, >,-- ESPECIALLY :,.
special: nothing special BAD 5
special needs DISABLED 1
special offer CHEAP 5
special/particular ESPECIALLY 1
specialist DOCTOR 2, KNOW STH 6
speciality BEST 8, FOOD 4
specialize in KNOW STH 4
specially ESPECIALLY 1
species TYPE 2
specifics DETAIL 2
specify DETAIL 7
speck PIECE 5
spectacle SEE 7
spectacular IMPRESS 4
spectator WATCH 5
spectre/specter GHOST 1
spectrum VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 5
speculate GAMBLE 4, GUESS 1
speculation GUESS 6, RUMOUR/RUMOR 1
speculative GUESS 6
speech SPEAK A LANGUAGE 4, 10, TALK/MAKE A
SPEECH 3
speech: deliver a speech TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1
speech: make a speech/give a speech TALK/MAKE A
SPEECH 1
speechless SAY 8, SHOCK 3, SURPRISED 3
speed FAST/QUICK 7, SPEED 1
speed: at a terrific/tremendous speed FAST/QUICK 2
speed: at high speed FAST/QUICK 2
speed: at speed FAST/QUICK 1
speed: pick up/gather speed FAST/QUICK 11

speed by
 speed by: fly/speed by PASS/TIME PASSING 2
 speed up FAST/QUICK 11
SPEED
1 how fast something or someone travels or
moves
"1 how fast something or someone travels or
moves
speed velocity
rate momentum
pace miles per hour/metres per second etc
speed/spi:d/In C/U]
What was the speed of the car at the time of the accident? I
The designers of the train claim it is capable of attaining
speeds in excess of 350 kph. I This device measures speed and
direction while theplane isfiying. I a speed ofSO mph/lO
metres per second etc The Earth moves round the Sun at
a speed of 30 kmper second. I top speed (=the fastest speed
that a car, plane etc can reach) The Ferrari Testarossa has
a top speed of 188 mph.
rate/ret/the speed at which something happens or is
done In C]
Individual children develop physically and emotionally at
different rates. I To increase productivity you have to either
increase your production rates or reduce your workforce. I
rate of The amount of light available will determine the
plant's rate of growth.
pace/pe;s/the speed at which someone walks, runs, or
works, over a period of time In C usually singular]
Denise's time for the first lap of the race was 1 minute 20
seconds. Can she keep up thatpace? I at a brisk/steady etc
pace David walked along the street at a brisk pace. I at your
own pace (=at the pace you choose) Work through the
exercises at your own pace.
velocity Iv] Ih)s]ti II vo' 'la:-/a technical word meaning
the speed at which something moves in a particular direc-
tion In C/U]
This instrument is used for measuring wind velocity. [
Provided the velocity of the two planes remains constant, they
will both reach their target at the same time.
momentum/mo I mentm, m-/a technical word mean-
ing the force or power contained in a moving object, a
result of its weight multiplied by its speed In U]
The driver tried to halt the train before the bridge, but it had
already built up too much momentum. I Carling was tack-
led two metres from the goal-line but his momentum carried
him over to score.
miles per hour/metres per second etc expres-
sions used when you say how fast something moves
The maximum spbed on motorways is 70 miles per hour. [
As it left the Earth's atmosphere the rocket was travelling
at a speed of 7 miles per second.
speedy FAST/QUICK 6, 9
spell MAGIC 2, PERIOD OF TIME 1, SHOW/BE A
SIGN OF 6, WRITE 7
spell: be under sb's spell CONTROL 5
spell: cast a spell MAGIC 3
spell out CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 2
spellbound INTERESTED 3
spelling WRITE 7
spelling mistake MISTAKE 2
spend SPEND MONEY 1 SPEND TIME 1
spend a lot SPEND MONEY 2
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1275
SPEND MONEY
@ SPEND MONEY
to use your money to buy or pay for things
to spend money
to spend a lot of money
to spend money quickly or carelessly
words for describing someone who spends a
lot of money carelessly
to spend less money than usual, or less than
you would like to
ways of saying that you do something without
spending much money
words for describing someone who spends
money carefully
to begin to spend money that you have
saved or do not want to spend at the moment
the amount that you spend
1 to spend money
spend
pay Ј5/510 etc for
pay out
give Ј5/$10 etc for
pay good money for
spend/spend/[v I/T]
spend money/Ј5/$10 etc I bought two dresses and a pair
of shoes and I only spent $100. I Between them they earn quite
a lot, but in the town where they live there's nowhere to spend
it. [ spend money/Ј5/$10 on sth He spends at least Ј5 a
day on food. I More should be spent on health and education
services. I spend money/Ј5/$10 on sb She spends far too
much on those spoilt kids of hers. I spend The recession is
really bad. Even the tourists aren't spending.
pay Ј51510 etc for/pei (Ј5, etc) fo:rl to spend a partic-
ular amount of money in order to buy something [phr v T]
I like your new car - how much did you pay for it? [ All the
food is included in the bill but you have to pay extra for wine. [
You can expect to pay $40 for a good ticket, maybe $80 if you
want to be in the front row.
pay out /pe; aut/to spend more money on something
than you want to spend or more than you think is fair
[phr v T]
pay out Ј5/$10 ete We had to pay out so much money just
to get the TV fixed. I pay out Ј5/$10 etc on The idea of
paying out half my salary on rent didn't appeal to me.
give Ј51510 etc for /g;v (Ј5 etc) fo:rl an informal
expression meaning to pay a particular amount of money
for something, especially when you are buying it from
another person, so that the price is not fixed [phr v T]
give sb Ј5/$10 etc for I wanted Ј50 but he said he'd give
me Ј4Oso Idecided to take it. [ give Ј5/$10 etc for How much
did you give for your hi-fi? I was thinking of getting one
second-hand.
pay good money for/peI god rnni f:r/to pay a lot
of money for something that you expect to be of good qual-
ity and that you think should be used properly so that your
money is not wasted [v phrase]
I paid good money for that tennis racquet and it broke the
first time I used it. I I can "t see the point in paying good money
for a wedding dress when I'm only going to wear it once.

SPEND MONEY 1276 SPEND MONEY
2 to spend a lot of money
spend a lot go on a spending spree
go to great expense money is no object
spare no expense live the high life
shell out
spend a lot/,spend a 'lot II -'lo:t/Iv phrase]
You don't have to spend a lot to be fashionable -you just need
plenty of style. I spend a lot on They must have spent a lot
on their new kitchen. It looks so much better than before. I
spend a lot of money In recent years the company has spent
a lot of money on new technology.
go to great expense Igao to ,gret k'spens/to spend
very large amounts of money on something important,
even if it costs you more than you can afford Iv phrase]
The wedding was wonderful. Your parents obviously went
to great expense. I go to great expense to do sth We hope
you like the plans for the new offices - we're going to great
expense to get everything just right.
spare no expense/spea r ,nao ikspens/ to spend as
much money as is necessary to get what you want or make
something successful, without worrying about the cost Iv
phrase]
When she's staying in hotels she spares no expense - only the
best! I spare no expense on They spared no expense on the
party and even hired a jazz band. I no expense spared No
expense spared! It will be the most stunning event of the year!
shell out/,fel 'out/an informal expression meaning to
have to spend a lot of money on something when you really
do not want to [phr v T]
shell out money/Ј80/$100 etc on I'm not shelling out any
more money on this car. It's not worth it! [ shell out money/
Ј50/$100 ere When he thought about his ex-wife and all the
money he'd had to shell out, it made him mad.
go on a spending spree/,gao on a 'spendrj spri:/an
informal expression meaning to spend a lot of money and
buy a lot of things in a short time for enjoyment, especially
when other people think this is stupid or wasteful [v
phrase]
You haven't been on another spending spree, have you? What
did you buy this time? [ The first thing 17l do when I get my
pay check is go on a spending spree and buy myself some new
clothes.
money is no object/,mAni IZ nao 'obd3ikt [1 -'o:b-/if
you say that money is no object, you mean that you do not
care how much money you spend on something because
you have a lot of money and you want the best quality
Honestly, money's no object. Choose whatever you want. I
money no object I'll.have the best stereo system in the store,
money no object!
live the high life/,llv ia 'hal lair/to enjoy yourself by
going out very often and spending a lot of money, especially
with rich or important people |v phrase]
You've been living the high life recently, haven't you! You're
always going out to parties and fancy restaurants. I For
several years they lived the high life with Hollywood stars
and celebrities.
3 to spend money quickly or carelessly
squander go through/get through
blow spend money like water/
like there's no tomorrow
squander/'skwonda r [[ 'skwo:n-/to spend all the money
you have on something unnecessary or wasteful instead
of saving it or using it carefully Iv T/
squander money/Ј50/$100 ere They were foolish and
squandered the little money they had. I In less than three
years he had squandered the entire family fortune. I
squander money/Ј50/$100 ere on I didn't give you that
money so you could squander it on luxuries - invest it!
blow/blao/an informal word meaning to spend a lot of
money on expensive and enjoyable things that you do not
really need Iv T/
blow money/Ј50/$100 etc I thought he had a lot of money
saved but he says he's blown the lot. I blow money/Ј50/
$100 etc on We blew three thousand dollars on a trip to
Barbados.
go through (also get through in British English)/,gau
' Oru:, ,get-/to spend the money you have more quickly than
expected, so that you have nothing left Iv T not in passive]
The hotel was so expensive. We went through $2000 in the first
week. I I went through all of my money in under a month and
had to get my parents to send me more.
spend money like water/like there's no tomor-
row/spend ,mAni laik 'wo:ta r, lalk 6earz ,nau ta'morao 11
-ta'mo:-/ informal expressions meaning to spend a lot of
money very quickly and carelessly without worrying how
much you are spending or how long your money will last
Iv phrase]
He spends money like there's no tomorrow! Where does he get
it from? I I don't trust myself with a credit card - I spend
money like water as it is.
4 words for describing someone who spends a
lot of money carelessly
extravagant
spendthrift
big spender
extravagant / ik' strevagant/spending more money than
you can afford on expensive things that you do not really
need [adj]
Elizabeth is very extravagant. She goes to restaurants and
gets taxis even though she can't really afford it. I It was ter-
ribly extravagant of you to buy five bottles of champagne,
two would have been plenty. I All the children had new
clothes, bought by their extravagant parents specially for the
occasion.
extravagantly [adv] She always put her salary in to a sav-
ings account so she wouldn't be tempted to spend it
extravagantly.
spendthrift/' spend,Orfft/a word used especially in liter-
ature meaning someone who spends money carelessly even
when they know that they do not have much money In C]
John was careful with his money but his brother was a real
spendthrift. I I remember my father as a spendthrift - gener-
ous and impulsive.
big spender/,big 'spendar/a rich person who spends a
lot of money regularly or who enjoys spending a lot of
money, especially in order to appear impressive to other
people In C]
She was a real big spender, buying drinks for everyone and
ordering the most expensive dishes. I This is the time of year
when all the big spenders pour into Las Vegas hotels and
casinos.
5 to spend less money than usual, or less than
you would like to
economize tighten your belt
scrimp and save budget
economize (also -ise British)/i'konamalz II I'ko:-/ to
spend less money by only buying things that are necessary,
or by buying cheaper things, in order to save money Iv I]
I need to save $1000for my vacation so I'm going to have to
start economizing. I economize on (=spend less money on)
If we economized on food and entertainment we could prob-
ably save quite a lot of money. I The government has decided
to economize most on education spending.
scrimp and save/,skrimp and 'sev/to spend as little
money as possible, only buying things you really need,
because you have very little money and want to save it to
use in the future Iv phrase]
His parents scrimped and saved so that he could go to col-
lege. I I had hardly any money left and was scrimping and
saving just to buy the bare necessities.
tighten your belt /taltn jo: r 'belt/ if people tighten
their belts, they spend less money than usual for a short
time, because they have less money than usual [v phrase]
We will have to tighten our belts a little until things get
better. [ Governments and companies are forced to tighten
their belts during a recession.

SPEND MONEY 1277 SPEND MONEY
budget/'b^d3It/to carefully plan and control how much
you spend [v I/
We'll have to budget more carefully in the future. We've spent
far more than we can afford. I budget for (=plan how much
you need for something) By the time she has budgeted for
food and rent she only has a few pounds left to spend on
luxuries.
6 ways of saying that you do something without
spending much money
on a shoestring
skimp on
on the cheap
on a shoestring IDn a 'J'u:strirj/if you make a film, run
a business etc on a shoestring, you spend very little
money on it, but it is usually a success lady phrase]
'The Tall Guy" was made on a shoestring - much less than
the average Hollywood film - but it was very successful. [ In
fact, a work experience program can be started and main-
tained on a shoestring.
skimp on/'skimp Dn 1[ -a:n/to not spend enough money
on important materials, equipment etc, so that what you
are doing or making is unsuccessful or of bad quality [v T
not in passive]
Don't skimp on materials if you want to build something that
will last for a long time. I A company will never get anywhere
by skimping on training and technology.
on the cheap/n 6a 'tj'i:p/a British expression: if you
do or make something on the cheap, you spend as little
money as possible on it, so that it is often unsuccessful or
of bad quality [adv phrase]
You can tell that these skirts were made on the cheap because
the material is such bad quality. I There's no point doing
things on the cheap. I think we should get a professional to
do the work.
7 words for describing someone who spends
money carefully
th rifty economical
careful frugal
thrifty / 'Orifti/spending money carefully and cleverly'so
that nothing is wasted and you can manage with the money
you have [adj]
Mrs Jones was a very thrifty woman who never wasted any-
thing. [ By being thrifty and shopping wisely you can feed
an entire family on as little as $80 a week.
thrift [n U/ The old values of thrift (=being thrifty) and
hard work seem to be things of the past.
carefui/' kerfal/spending money only on things that are
necessary or cheap because you want your money to last
as long as possible [adj not before noun]
I wouldn't say he was mean - he's just careful. [ careful
with money Once you've spent your allowance there won't
be any more. You must learn to be more careful with money.
economical/,ek'nomikal, ,i:- [[ -'na:-/spending money
carefully and sensibly, especially on things for your home,
so that you do not spend more than necessary [adj]
I'm trying to be more economical when I go shopping, and
only buy what I really need. [ He was a very economical
person, and always shopped around before buying anything.
economically [adv ] After years of never having any money,
living economically had become almost second nature.
frugal / ' fru:gal/spending very little money, even on things
that are necessary such as food and drink, usually because
you have very little money [adj]
As a student he was very frugal, living mainly on bread and
cheese. [ These monks lead a frugal life, allowing themselves
only the bare necessities.
frugally [adv] We moved to a little house in the country and
tried to live as frugally as possible.
8 to begin to spend money that you have
saved or do no.t want to spend at the moment
break into
break into /'break intu:/break into your savings/a ten
pound note etc (=start spending this money before you
really wanted to) Iv T]
I had to break into my savings to pay the hospital fees. I I
didn't really want to break into a twenty pound note but I
didn't have any change.
9 the amount that you spend
expenditure overheads/overhead
spending expenses
outlay costs
outgoings budget
expenditure / ik'spenditj'ar/the total amount of money
that a government, organization, or person spends during
a particular period of time In U]
This government believes in high expenditure and high
taxes. I expenditure on Her weekly expenditure on food and
rent comes to Ј.200. [ public expenditure (=the amount the
government spends on public services) The government has
been criticized for its latest cuts in public expenditure.
spending/, spend]13/the amount of money that a govern-
ment or large organization regularly spends on public serv-
ices, education, health etc In U]
There is increasing pressure on the government to reduce
military spending. [ spending on Industry, forced to reduce
spending on research, has been badly affected by foreign com-
petition. [ government spending The decline in educa-
tional standards is being blamed on cuts in government
spending.
outiay/'aotlei/the amount of money that someone must
spend in the beginning on materials, equipment etc in
order to start a business or a new activity that you have
planned to do In singular]
The best business is one with a small outlay and with no risk
involved. I outlay on When we built the factory the outlay
on machinery was heavy but we were able to buy all the latest
equipment. ] initial outlay (=outlay in the beginning) T-
shirts are easy to produce, requiring little initial outlay and
a minimum of time and effort.
outgoings/'aot,goirjz/the amount of money that some-
one has to spend regularly on rent, bills, food etc for their
home or business [n plural]
The outgoings on a house this size are very high. [ I wrote
a cheque for $200 to cover various outgoings.
overheads (British) I overhead (American)/'aUv:) r-
hed(z)/the amount of money that a company or a business
person has to spend on rent, pay, furniture etc, which is
used when calculating their profits [n plural/n singular]
The cost of the movie was high because of the large produc-
tion overhead. I The company's overheads were much lower
this year due to the closure of several offices nationwide. ]
Restaurant prices have been put up to cover the ever-increa-
sing overheads.
expenses /k'spensz/the amount of money that you
spend on your daily food, travelling costs etc, especially
when it is paid back to you by the person you work for [n
plural]
Our general household expenses are about Ј300 a month. I
travel/living/medical etc expenses Fill in this form to
claim your travel expenses. ] cover your expenses (=pay
your expenses) I need to take out a bank loan to cover my
extra holiday expenses. I all expenses paid Last year I went
on an all expenses paid business trip to Brussels.
costs/ktsts [[ l:sts/the amount of money that you must
regularly spend on various things in order to continue
having a home, car, business etc In plural]
We can no longer afford the high costs involved in running
a business. [ cut costs (=reduce costs) Factory owners who
routinely cut costs by employing children have been exposed
in the localpress. [ running costs (=the cost of owning and
using a car or machine) Because of the engine's efficiency
the car has very low running costs.
budget /'b^dsaIt/the particular amount of money that you
have planned to spend or have been given to spend on some-
thing In C usually singular]

SPEND MONEY 1278 spiritual
You can choose any type of wood for your furniture, accord-
ing to your budget. I Government cuts in the defence budget
have meant a loss of 2OOOjobs on bases all over the world.I
low/high budget Unfortunately it is very noticeable that
the movie was made on a low budget.
@ SPEND TIME
1 to spend time somewhere, with someone, or
doing something
:2 to spend time doing something unimportant
because you have nothing else to do or you
are waiting for something
3 to spend time working hard or practising
something
4 to spend a period of time in an official
position, or in prison
5 to spend much longer doing something than
you wanted to
1 to spend time somewhere, with someone, or
doing something
spend
hang out
spend/spend/[v T]
I've spent the entire morning washing the floor and clean-
ing up. ] Peter and I spend a lot of time together. I Sadler had
spent most of his life in Los Angeles. [ Much of my time is
spent studying financial reports.
hang out/,heerj laut/an informal expression meaning to
spend a lot of time somewhere or with someone [phr v I]
You'll probably find Dave at the pool hall - he often hangs
out there. ] hang out with I used to hang out with them when
I was at college.
 to spend time doing something unimportant
because you have nothing else to do or you
are waiting for something
pass the time fill in time
while away busy yourself
kill
pass the time/,pa:s 6+ 'ta:m II ,pros-/Iv phrase]
To pass the time I started to do a crossword puzzle. [ pass
your time With all aircraft grounded, the pilots had noth-
ing to do and passed their time playing cards.
while away/Iwad 'we/to spend time in a pleasant and
lazy way Iv T]
while away the hours/evenings/time etc We used to
while away the long summer evenings talking and drinking
wine. [ while the time/the hours/it etc away Ruth had
more spare time than ever before, but she whiled it away
dreaming of the future.
kiii/ki1/kill time/a couple of hours etc (=try to make
time pass more quickly while you are waiting for some-
thing to happen, especially by doing something that you
do not need to do) Iv T]
I walked around thepark to kill time. It was no use getting
to his office before ten. [ I've just discovered that the train
doesn't leave until 11.30, so I've got a couple of hours to kill.
fill in time/fll n tam/to spend time doing something
unimportant when you have nothing else to do, especially
when you are waiting for something to happen Iv phrase]
The young German explained that he was a soldier filling
in his spare time with a little gardening. [ Customers who
have to wait for their shave or haircut can fill in the time by
having some refreshment at the bar.
busy yourself/ bIzi ja:rself/to keep yourself busy doing
things when there is no need to do them Iv phrase]
busy yourself doing sth Martin sat down nervously and
busied himself rearranging the papers on his desk. I busy
yourself Mrs Smithers pottered about busying herself with
light household tasks.
3 to spend time working hard or practising
something
put in
devote
put in/,put 'nl [phr v T]
Have you put in additional hours at work over the last few
days? I When I'm preparingfor a tournament I put in thirty
or forty hours of training a week.
devote/d ' vaut/to give a lot of your time for a particular
purpose, especially for some important work Iv T]
devote time/years etc to I need to devote a few hours every
day to reading and study. I He's decided to give up racing
and devote all his time to his farm in Ireland. I She intends
to devote the next ten years to her charitable work.
4 to spend a period of time in an official
position, or in prison
serve
do
serve/s3:rv/Iv T]
Reagan was serving his second term as President. I Smith
has already served a ten-year sentence for armed robbery.
do/du:/an informal word meaning to spend a long time
doing a difficult duty or doing something that you are
forced to do Iv T]
I did my time in the army like everyone else. I As a young
teacher she did two years in one of the city's toughest schools.
 to spend much longer doing something than
you wanted to
waste
lose
waste/weist/to spend some time without achieving any-
thing useful, so that your work takes much longer to finish
[vT]
Don't waste time. This work has to be finished by four
o "clock. I The amount of time that's wasted searching for lost
files! I I've just wasted two whole hours arguing with that
idiot in the accounts" office.
|ose/lu:z/to fail to use time for your intended purpose
because of delays, interruptions etc Iv T]
While you're talking, we're losing valuable time. I The work
is already behind schedule. The firm's lost at least 45 days
through staff illness. I Hurry, there's no time to lose.
..., spender: big spender SPEND MONEY 4
; spending SPEND MONEY 9
.,,4 spendthrift SPEND MONEY 4
' sphere AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC
.ii 1, RO U N D 2
... spherical ROUND 1
spick and span CLEAN 1
!!i spicy HOT TASTE 1
 spiky SHARP 2
ii spill POUR 1
ii! spill over SPREAD 1
ii spill the beans TELL A SECRET 2
-{{ spin TURN 1, 9, 12
' spin around/round TURN 2
 spin-off RESULT 4
•  spin out LONG TIME 9
 spine-chilling FRIGHTENED 6
 spineless BRAVE 6
. spinster MARRY 16
 spiral INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4, TURN 1
, spirit DETERMINED 6, GHOST 1
...: spirit: get into/enter into the spirit TAKE PART/BE
{ INVOLVED 2
{ spirits MOOD 1
; spirits: high spirits EXCITED 4
 spirits; raise/lift 8b'8 spirit8 HAPPY le
spiritual RELIGION 4

spit it out
spit it out TELL A SECRET 6
spite CRUEL 4
spite: despite the fact that/in spite of the fact that
ALTHOUGH 1
spite: in spite of DESPITE 1
spite: in spite of this/despite this BUT 2
spiteful CRUEL 4
spitting image: be the image of/be the spitting image
of/be the living image LIKE/SIMILAR 4
splash SOUND 16, WET 6
splash out on BUY 1
splendid BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 4
splinter BREAK 9, PIECE 6
splinter group GROUP OF PEOPLE 7
split BREAK 2, 8, DISAGREE 3, 4, HOLE 4,
SEPARATE 4, 8, SHARE 1, 5, TEAR 3
split: be divided/split DISAGREE 3
split from SEPARATE 10
split hairs ARGUE 3
split on TELL 10
split up SEPARATE 9, SPREAD 4
spoil KIND 5, 6, SPOIL 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
SPOIL
to make something less attractive, less
enjoyable, less effective etc
to spoil the appearance, quality, or
effectiveness of something
to spoil someone's plans, work, or efforts
to spoil a-relationship or friendship, often
unintentionally
to spoil an event or occasion by making it
less enjoyable or successful
to spoil the good opinion that people have of
a person or organization
to completely spoil something
someone who spoils people's enjoyment of
an event or activity
words for describing something that has not
been spoiled
1 to spoil the appearance, quality, or
effectiveness of something
spoil mar
impair detract from
spoil/spoil/[v T not usually in progressive]
The view from our hotel was spoiled by the building work
going on opposite. I She spoiled my joke by telling everyone
the ending. I I didn'tjoin them on their walk because I didn't
want to spoil my new shoes. I From a distance the young man
looked like a statue, but then he moved, spoiling the illusion.
impair/mpcvr/a formal word meaning to make some-
thing less good than it usually is or less good than it should
be, especially someone's ability, health, or appearance Iv
T not usually in progressive]
Working very long hours can impair the judgement and effi-
ciency of hospital doctors. I The face was thin and worn, but
no illness could impair the beauty of her features. I Do not
boil the soup, as this may impair its flavour. I seriously/
severely impair If the kidneys" functioning is severely
impaired, these drugs are no longer effective.
mar/me:r[ to spoil the appearance or beauty of a person
or place Iv T]
Electricity cables and oil pipelines mar many of the
world's most beautiful landscapes. I He had handsome
Arabic features, marred by a long scar across his face.
detract from/ditrekt from II-frAm/to slightly spoil
something that is generally very good, beautiful, impres-
sive etc Iv T not usually in progressive]
1279
SPOIL
A couple of mistakes by the orchestra detracted a little from
the effect of the music. I It's true that he had a lot of help, but
this shouldn't detract from his achievement.
2 to spoil someone's plans, work, or efforts
spoil throw a spanner/
mess up wrench in the works
undermine pour cold water on
sabotage
spoil Ispail/Iv T]
Dad spoiled our plans for the weekend by refusing to let us
borrow the car. I This scandal could spoil the Senator's
chances of becoming President.
mess up/mes Ap/an informal expression meaning to
spoil something that has involved a lot of work and effort
[phr v T]
mess up sth You've messed up all the arrangements by for-
getting to book the hotel rooms. I One stupid mistake messed
up his whole career.
undermine / Anda r man/to gradually spoil something
that has taken a long time to develop Iv T]
The kidnappings undermined several months of delicate
peace negotiations. [ A series of wrongful convictions has
undermined public confidence in the police and the courts.
sabotage /smbato:3/ to deliberately spoil someone's
plans or arrangements because you do not want them to
succeed Iv T]
Her father sabotaged her acting ambitions by refusing to let
her go to drama school. [ The attack is being seen as a deliber-
ate attempt to sabotage the peace talks.
throw a spanner (British) I wrench (American) in the
works/,0rao  spena r, rentj', In 6a iw3:rks/ informal
expressions meaning to unexpectedly do something that
prevents a plan or process from continuing or succeeding
[ v phrase ]
"'He won't lend us the money after all. "" "'Well, that's really
thrown a spanner in the works, hasn't it?"[ The President's
veto threw a wrench into a program that had already been
approved by a big majority of the Congress.
pour cold water on/pa:r kaold wa:tar on/to spoil
someone's plan, suggestion, or keenness to do something,
by saying something that makes it seem less attractive or
less likely to succeed Iv phrase]
Her mother had poured cold water on the whole idea of Eva
going to Africa. I The committee's final report, just pub-
lished, pours cold water on government proposals for help-
ing the unemployed.
3 to spoil a relationship or friendship, often
unintentionally
spoil
sour
poison
spoil Ispal/[v T]
His jealousy spoiled their relationship, and she left him after
a few months. I The assassination attempt will definitely
spoil the friendly atmosphere between the opposing parties.
sour/saoar/sour relations/the atmosphere/a relation-
ship (=spoil a friendly relationship between people, espe-
cially when this happens gradually) Iv T]
Reagan's constant criticism was beginning to sour relations
between the two superpowers. I The incident at the office was
serious enough to sour the atmosphere for weeks.
poison/'pazan/to spoil a relationship, especially a close
one, by causing a situation in which people can no longer
trust each other Iv T]
Our marriage was poisoned by mistrust, deceit and
jealousy.I The cruelty and injustice of her father had
poisoned her childhood.

SPOIL
4 to spoil an event or occasion by making it
less enjoyable or successful
spoil put a damper on
mar cast a shadow over
spoil/spol/[v T]
spoil sth The trip was spoiled by bad weather. I Why did
you have to invite Jerry? You've spoiled the whole weekend. I
This was her moment of glory, and she wasn't going to let
anyone spoil it. I spoil sth for sb I won't tell you the ending
of the movie. I don't want to spoil it for you. I spoil things
A pity it started raining, it really spoiled things.
mar/ma=r/if something unpleasant such as an argument
or accident mars a big or important event, it makes it less
enjoyable or less successful |v T usually in passive]
Outbreaks of fighting and lawlessness marred the New Year
celebrations. I The race was marred by a horrific accident
involving Niki Lauda.
put a damper on/put o dmmpr n/if bad news, bad
weather ere puts a damper on something, especially on
a social event such as a party, it spoils people's enjoyment
[ v phrase]
The bad news put a damper on the celebrations. I I hear the
boss is coming to the party tomorrow - that Tl really put a
damper on things!
cast a shadow over/,ka:st o 'Scdou :)uvo r II ,kcst-/if
something casts a shadow over an event, period of time
etc, it makes people feel less happy or hopeful because they
are worrying about it [v phrase]
The threat of war cast a shadow over the summer of 1939. I
This argument with Kuroda did, I must admit, cast a
shadow over my mood.
 to spoil the good opinion that people have of
a person or organization
spoil discredit
damage tarnish
damaging be tainted
spoil/sp3l/[v T]
The popstar's cleancut image has been spoiled by accusations
of gambling and drug-taking. I People used to think she was
the perfect wife and mother but her recent divorce has spoiled
all that.
damage/ damid3/to reduce the good opinion that people
have of a person or organization, especially by telling them
about dishonest or immoral behaviour Iv T]
My main concern was to prevent this incident from damag-
ing my reputation. I irreparably damage (=damage some-
thing so badly that it cannot be made better again) The
Party's prestige had been irreparably damaged by these
revelations.
damaging ]'damd3Irj] damaging stories/informa-
tion/scandals/revelations etc (=information about
someone's dishonest or immoral behaviour, which
damages the good opinion that people have of them) [adj]
We can't risk any damaging scandals just before a Presiden-
tial election. I His career had been ruined by the sensational
and damaging stories that appeared in the popular press. I
damaging to The recent court cases have been very damag-
ing to the public image of the medical profession.
discredit Ides kredt! to damage the good opinion that
people have of a person or organization, especially when
this is done deliberately and for personal advantage Iv T]
It was a blatant attempt to discredit the Prime Minister. I
There were reports that Bush's campaign team had been
trying to dig up information that might discredit Clinton.
tarnish/tta:rnf! to slightly spoil the good opinion that
people have of a person or organization, especially because
someone who is connected with them does something dis-
honest or immoral Iv T]
The activities of a few right-wing extremists tarnished the
reputation of the administration. [ A series of unpleasant
incidents has tarnished the school's respectable image.
1280
SPOIL
be tainted/bi: 'teinQd/to be regarded with a lack of trust
or respect, because of your connection with a dishonest
person or activity [v phrase]
Baker was convicted of corruption, and his business associ-
ates were tainted by their association with him. I Even
respectable firms are to some extent tainted by the dishonesty
and sharp practice so common in this profession
6 to completely spoil something
ruin screw up
destroy spoil everything
wreck
ruin/'ru:n/[v T]
The rain absolutely ruined our barbecue. I If you open the
camera, you'll ruin the film. I I've spent weeks planning this
surprise party for Dad and now you've ruined it by telling
him. I If the newspapers find out about this, it could ruin his
marriage, his reputation, and his career.
destroy/d stro/to completely spoil something such as
a relationship, a feeling, or a way of life, so that it can no
longer exist in the same way Iv T]
John's drinking and gambling eventually destroyed our
marriage. I A sudden noise outside startled me and destroyed
my concentration. I Some people think that television has
destroyed the art of conversation.
wreck /rek/ to completely spoil something, especially
deliberately, so that it is impossible for it to be good ever
again Iv T ]
The kidnap was a deliberate attempt to wreck the peace
negotiations. I She wrecked their relationship by seeing
another man.
screw up I ,skru: tap/an informal word meaning to com-
pletely spoil something such as a plan, especially by doing
something stupid [phr v T]
screw things/it up I can't trust you to do anything right,
can I? You always manage to screw things up. I screw up
sth There was no way he was going to allow her to screw
up his plans.
spoil everything /'spoil tevriOirj/ to completely spoil
something for someone else, especially something that they
had been planning to do or trying to achieve Iv phrase]
Morn arrived home just as we were sneaking out, which
spoiled everything of course. ] Why were you so rude to them?
I've been setting up this deal for months, and now you've
spoiled everything.
7 someone who spoils people's enjoyment of
an event or activity
wet blanket
spoilsport
killjoy
wet blanket/,wet 'blaeokIt II 'wet ,blaer3-/an informal
word meaning someone who spoils a happy event for other
people, especially by refusing to join in with everyone else
[nC]
Stop being a wet blanket and come and dance. [ Does he have
to come on vacation with us? He's such a wet blanket!
spoilsport/t spoilspo:rt/an informal word meaning some-
one who spoils other people's enjoyment, especially by
trying to prevent them from doing something In C]
My parents are real spoilsports. They won't let me have a
party while they're away.
killjoy / t kfld3o/an informal word meaning someone who
disapproves of things that other people enjoy and who tries
to stop them enjoying themselves [n C]
We wanted to do a sponsored dance after work but those kill-
joys in Head Office wouldn't let us.
words for describing something that has not
been spoiled
unspoiled/unspoilt
unblemished

SPOIL 1281 SPREAD
unspoiledlunspoilt / ^n'spodd, ^nlspoilt/a place or
area that is unspoiled or unspoilt has not been spoiled by
being changed or developed [adj]
This is one of Africa's oldest remaining areas of unspoilt
rain forest. I an unspoiled fishing village on the Mediterra-
nean coast
unblemished / ,^n'blemit/unblemished reputation/
career/record etc (=when the good opinion that people
have of someone has not been spoiled in any way) [adj]
Lord Edwards is retiring after an unblemished career that
has lasted thirty years. I an unblemished record of service
to the community
!ii' spoil everything SPOIL 6
i;,iil, spoiled/spoilt BAD PERSON 5
:..- spoiling: be spoiling for a fight/looking for a fight
ii FIGHT 2
....
i};* spoilsport SPOIL 7, TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 15
!i spoken SPEAK A LANGUAGE 5
iili spokesman/spokeswoman REPRESENT 3
i:i- 
!ili spokesperson REPRESENT 3
:i}}}i spongy SOFT 1
:ii sponsor PAY FOR 11
. sponsorship MONEY 14
 spontaneous PLAN 11
! spoof MAKE FUN OF 4
 spook FRIGHTENED 7, GHOST 1
 spooky GHOST 2
i!ii!, spooky/creepy FRIGHTENED 6
....
i!, spoonfeed EASY 7
! sporadic REGULAR2
-{ ..... sport SPORT/GAME 1, 2
@ SPORT/GAME
1 physical activities, such as games and races,
in which people compete against each other
2 a particular sport or game
3 used for sport or connected with sport
1 physical activities, such as games and races,
in which people compete against each other
sport
games
sport/sp:rt/physical activities that need effort and skill
and that are usually competitive In U]
She's interested in cinema, music and sport. I Sport has
always been very important in this part of the country. I
"'Politics and sport don't mix, "" said Mr Gatting.
gmes ]geimz] a British word meaning organized sports
activities for children at school In plural]
I was never any good at games at school. I Hurry up oryou'll
be late for your games lesson.
' a particular sport or game
sport
game
sport Isp:rt/a physical activity that needs strength or
skill, is played according to a set of rules usually in com-
petition between people or teams In C]
His favourite sports are swimming and tennis. I Motorcycle
racing is a dangerous sport.
gme/geim] an activity involving physical or mental
skills which is played according to a set of rules, and in
which you try to win against another player or to solve a
problem In C]
Tennis is an easy game to understand. I play/have a game
Shall we have a game of cards? I We played 10 games of chess
and I won all of them. I board game (=a game played on
a board with pieces of wood, plastic etc that you move
around) The kids enjoy board games like Monopoly and
Scrabble.
3 used for sport or connected with sport
sports
sporting
sports/sp: rts/sports equipment/shop/club/field etc
[adj only before noun ]
The shop sells sports equipment - tennis rackets, running
shoes and so on. I Here is a list of the sports clubs in your
area. I Heavy rain has flooded the sports field: all fixtures
have been cancelled for a month.
sporting / sp: rt/sporting occasion/event/achieve-
ment [adj only before noun]
The Italian Grand Prix is one of the great sporting occasions
of the year. I Breaking the world 1500 metre record was her
most memorable sporting achievement.
sporting SPORT/GAME 3
sports SPORT/GAM E 3
sportsman/sportswoman PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 3
spot AREA 8, MARK 1 4, NOTICE 1 PLACE 1 2,
SEE 3
spot: be on the spot THERE 5
spot: on the spot IMMEDIATELY 4
spot: on this very spot HERE 1
spot: put sb on the spot ASK A QUESTION 1
spot on: be spot on CORRECT 2
spotless/spotlessly clean CLEAN 1
spotlight: be in the spotlight/limelight FAMOUS 4
spotty MARK 5
spouse MARRY 13
sprain INJURE 2
sprawl out LIE DOWN 1
sprawled/sprawled out LIE DOWN 2
spray LIQUID 5
spread MEAL 6, SPREAD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12
spread: middle-age spread FAT 6
spread out SPREAD 4, 7, 10
SPREAD
to move into or affect a wider area or larger
group of people
1 ways of saying-that something such as a
problem, disease, or feeling spreads through
an area and affects more and more people
2 ways of saying that a liquid, fire, gas etc
spreads through a space or substance
3 ways of saying that information, ideas, or
stories spread through a large group of
people
4 ways of saying that people spread
themselves across a wider area
5 to spread things over a wide area
 to spread information or ideas among a large
group of people
7 to open something out so that it lies flat on a
table, floor etc, especially in order to look at it
8 to spread a liquid or substance over a
su rface
g to spread an activity over a longer period of
time
t0 words for describing things or people that
have been spread over a wide area
t t words for describing an illness which can
spread from one person to another
t2 ways of saying that an illness spreads, so that
more and more people have it

SPREAD 1282 SPREAD
1 ways of saying that something such as a
problem, disease, or feeling spreads through
an area and affects more and more people
spread
spill over
spread/spred/lv II
Dissatisfaction with the present government seems to be
spreading. [ Despite the fact that violence, crime, and racial
intolerance are spreading, the police are being asked to make
further cutbacks in spending. [ spread into/from/through
ere The drugs problem is spreading into the most affluent
white neighborhoods. [ Civil unrest spread even to remote
rural areas.
spread In U] attempts to combat the spread of HIV
spill over/Ispd aovar/ if a problem or bad situation
spills over, it spreads beyond the place or situation in
which it starts, and begins to affect other places, people,
or areas of activity [phr v I]
spill over to/into/from ere Racial attacks which began
in the area are beginning to spill over into other cities. [
Government chiefs are worried that the refugee problem
might spill over from neighboring countries. [ It is easy to
allow personal emotions to spill over into your work.
2 ways of saying that a liquid, fire, gas etc
spreads through a space or substance
spread
permeate
run
spread/spred/Iv I]
How can we stop the oil slick spreading? I The damp patch
on the ceiling seemed to be spreading. ] spread through/to/
across etc Once dry rot sets in, it can rapidly spread to other
parts of the building. ] The fire started in a baker's shop and
spread quickly through the whole city.
permeate / I p3: rmie I t/if a gas, liquid, smoke etc perme-
ates a space or substance, it gradually spreads through the
whole of it Iv T]
Soon the gas had permeated the entire area. I A stench of oil
and smoke permeated the room.
run/rAn/if a colour, for example in coloured cloth runs,
it spreads beyond where it should be and begins to colour
other things, especially because it has got wet Iv I]
I'm afraid the colors ran when I washed your shirt. I run
through/down/over ere She had started crying and her
eye make-up was running down her face.
;3 ways of saying that information, ideas, or
stories spread through a large group of
people
spread go around/round
circulate get around/round
spread/spred/[v I]
As news of the explosion spread, more and more people went
• to the scene to see if they could help. I In this town gossip
spreads so fast that it's hard to keep up with it. I With each
passing year, Islam is spreading northwards.
spread In U] Obviously, the press must be held partially
responsible for the spread of such lies.
circulate/sa:rkjlet/if news, information, stories etc
circulate, they spread through a large group of people,
especially because each person tells it to someone else Iv I]
One of the rumors circulating at the moment is that the com-
pany is about to go bankrupt. I The country has a fine media
• network allowing information to circulate rapidly.
circulation/sa:rkjle[an] In U] Buckingham Palace is con-
cerned about the circulation of stories on the subject of the
Queen's financial arrangements.
go around (also go round in British English) I,gu
() raund/ if information goes around, especially some-
thing a little shocking or exciting, it spreads among a lot
of people because they are all talking about it Iv I/T]
go around the office/school/town etc Some of the stories
going around the off'we at the moment are absolutely incredi-
ble. I go around Nothing is ever secret here. The slightest
bit of gossip goes around like wildfire. [ There's a terrible
rumor going round that he beats his children.
get around (also get round in British English)/,get
()raund/if news or information gets around, especially
something that may not be true, a lot of people get to know
about it because each person who hears about it tells some-
one else [phr v II
Once the story of the scandal gets around, he'll never work
in this town again. I It's amazing how quickly stories of peo-
pie's misfortune get round, isn't it?
4 ways of saying that people spread
themselves across a wider area
spread scatter
spread out split up
fan out
spread/spred/[v I]
As the settlers spread, more and more towns began to grow
up. [ spread northwards/eastwards etc Refugees have
entered the south of the country and are spreading
northwards.
spread out/ spred auq ira group of people spreads out,
each person moves into a position where they are as far
from the others as possible [phr v I/T]
"'Spread out. t" the sergeant shouted. "7 want the whole area
searched." l spread out across/through etc The two teams
spread out across the football field. I spread themselves/
yourselves/ourselves out I'm sure you'd be more comfort-
able if you spread yourselves out a little.
fan out/,finn aut/ if a group of people fans out, they
spread themselves across an area in order to make sure
that they cover the whole area, usually because they are
looking for someone [phr v I]
The soldiers were told to fan out and begin the search. I fan
out across/through etc We fanned out across the wood,
scanning the ground and branches for anything that might
help us find the girl.
scatter ] skmtr/ffa group of people scatters, everyone
suddenly moves in different directions, especially in order
to escape from danger Iv I]
As the bomb dropped the crowd scattered in all directions.I
The boys scattered. Nobody wanted to get caught looking
through the window.
split up /split '^p/if a group of people splits up, they
decide not to stay together as a group because they will be
able to move faster, find something more easily etc if they
are alone or in smaller groups [phr v I]
I think we should split up so that at least one of us makes
it to safety. I split up into groups/teams/twos etc We'd
have a much better chance of finding the child if we split up
into groups.
5 to spread things over a wide area
spread
scatter
distribute
spread Ispredl [v T]
spread sth The wind spreads the seeds so that the plants can
reproduce. [ spread sth over/across/through etc A single
tractor was slowly spreading fertilizer over a huge wheat-
field.
scatter /  skmtor/to spread things over a wide area in an
irregular and unplanned way Iv T]
scatter sth over/around/across etc The storm scattered
tiles everywhere. I Uncle Miles could never get sugar from the
sugar-bowl to his cup without scattering it all over the table. I
Why don't you scatter a few cushions around the room?
distribute/di 'str[bju:t/to spread things over a wide area
in regular amounts and in a controlled or planned way Iv T]

SPREAD 1283 SPREAD
distribute sth The plants rely on bees and birds to distrib-
ute their pollen. I distribute sth over/through/around
etc Troops have been distributed over the entire war zone.
6 to spread information or ideas among a large
group of people
spread
circulate
disseminate
spread/spred/Iv T]
Newspapers quickly spread the news of the royal engage-
ment. [ I hope you haven't been spreading rumors. [ Spread
the news/The President's going to stop off in town as part
of the election campaign/[ spread sth about/around Don't
spread it about, but I think she's having an affair with a
married man.
circulate [ s3: rkj°leIt/to send a letter or written message
to each person in a group in order to make sure that every-
one receives the information you want them to receive [v T]
circulate sth around/to/through ete Sneed had circu-
lated a letter round the department explaining the new pay
cuts. I A list of well-known fraudsters was circulated to all
local police chiefs. I circulate sth While Shelley was still at
school, he circulated a pamphlet attacking religion. I be
widely circulated (=circulated to a lot of people) The
results of the survey were widely circulated.
disseminate/d I semne[q to spread information, ideas
etc as widely as possible, especially in order to influence
the way people think or behave Iv T]
The Health Education Council is the central agency for dis-
seminating information about disease prevention. I The great
philosopher's ideas were disseminated throughout Europe
by the newly-invented technology of printing.
dissemination/dI Isem ne[an/[n U] It is very dangerous
for a government to have complete control over the dissemi-
nation of information within a country.
to open something out so that it lies flat on a
table, floor etc, especially in order to look at it
spread out
lay out
spread out/spred aut/[phr v T]
spread sth/it/them out Eventually we reached the beach,
spread the towels out on the sand, and lay down to sunbathe. [
spread out sth Dad spread out the map and showed us all
where we were going.
lay out I le aot/to spread something on a table, floor etc,
especially so that it can be more easily seen or used later
[phr v T]
lay sth/it/them out They spent two hours laying the food
out for the party. [ lay out sth Dolly continued to lay out her
cards on the table. I When all his clothes were laid out for
the following morning, he was allowed to go to bed.
8 to spread a liquid or substance over a
surface
spread
smear
spread/spred/to cover a surface with a thin layer of a sub-
stance such as butter or glue Iv T]
spread sth It's difficult to spread butter when it's been in
the fridge all night. [ spread sth on Louise spread some glue
on the back of the card and then stuck it in the front of her
book. [ spread sth with He spread a piece of bread with
blackcurrant jelly.
smear/sm[r/to spread a liquid or soft substance over
a surface, especially carelessly or when you do not have to
keep it within an exact area Iv T]
smear sth on Soldiers smeared burnt cork on their faces at
nighttime. [ "'You're jealous," said Kris, smearing on a
liberal amount of bright red lipstick. I smear sth with The
tablecloth was smeared with jam, crayon and berry-juice.
9 to spread an activity over a longer period of
time
spread
stagger
spread/spred! Iv T]
spread sth over a year/a few weeks etc You canpay Ј100
now and spread the other payments over five years. I The
research will be spread over a year and you will present your
thesis in December. [ spread sth I like to spread my engage-
ments so I'm not too busy in any one week.
stagger I lstegr/ to spread an activity over a longer
period of time because you would be unable to deal with
it if you did it all at once [v T]
stagger sth It's probably better to stagger the payments
rather than pay so much all at once. I stagger sth over six
months/a year ete The troop withdrawal program was
staggered over six months.
1 0 words for describing things or people that
have been spread over a wide area
scattered dotted
spread out strewn
scattered /skmtrd/ spread over a wide area in an
irregular or untidy way [adj]
He began to gather together his scattered clothes. [ Among
the ruins we found the scattered gravestones of the early set-
tlers. I scattered about/over/among etc The buildings
were ugly and scattered all over the hillside.
spread out ! spred 'aot/things or people that are spread
out are spread over a large area with a lot of space or a large
distance between them [adj phrase not before noun]
Her designs were lying on the floor, all spread out. I spread
out on/among/across etc She was amazed at the array
of food spread out on the long table I He looked at the orna-
ments spread out in front of him, unable to decide what to
buy.
dotted /  dt I d [I da:t-! if a number of things of the same
type are dotted around an area, they are spread over it
irregularly and unevenly [adj not before noun]
dotted around/along/here and there ere All we saw were
a few workmen's cottages dotted here and there along the
road. [ The picnic tables were dotted among the trees so that
most of them were in the shade. [ dotted with The hillside
was dotted with young lambs.
str®wn/stru:n! spread unevenly in a way that looks very
untidy [adj not before noun]
strewn over/around etc Clothes were strewn all over the
bedroom floor. [ strewn with The yard was strewn with
garbage and builders' debris.
1 1 words for describing an illness which can
spread from one person to another
infectious contagious
catching communicable
infectious/in'feks/[adj]
This skin disease is infectious so we'd better make sure we
use separate towels. I highly infectious (=very infectious)
Gary had gone down with a highly infectious flu bug and
his doctor had advised him to stay at home.
catching I'kmquj/an informal word: an illness or con-
dition that is catching, especially one that is not very seri-
ous, can spread from one person to another [adj not before
noun]
I'm keeping Timmy home from school. He has measles and
you know how catching it is. I Sally has red spots all over
her skin - I hope they're not catching.
contagious/kan 'teid3s / an illness which is contagious
can spread easily from one person to another, especially
by touch [adj]
Most eye infections are contagious so it is advisable to avoid
touching the eyes at all. [ a special ward of individual
cubicles for patients with contagious diseases [ highly

SPREAD 1284 SQUARE
contagious (=very contagious) This new virus is a highly
contagious disease that has spread at an alarming rate.
communicable Ik'mju:mkball a word used especially
in a medical context: an illness that is communicable can
spread from one person to another [adj]
Certain communicable diseases, such as typhoid fever, must
be reported to a central monitoring unit.
12 ways of saying that an illness spreads, so that
more and more people have it
spread epidemic
go around/round endemic
spread/spred/iv I]
spread to/into Since AIDS has spread into the heterosex-
ual population, public concern has become even greater. I
There have been reports that the disease is spreading to pigs
and fowl as well as cattle. I spread A supply of fresh drink-
ing water is the only way to prevent cholera from spreading.
spread in U] Nothing could be done to stop the spread of the
plague.
go around (also go round in British English)/,gu
()raund/if an illness goes around, it spreads from one
person to another, especially in a school, office etc iv I/T]
There's something going around at the moment - everyone
at work has had a stomach ache. [ go around the school/
off'ice etc If one child gets flu, it seems to go round the entire
school within a week.
epidemic /.ep 'demk/a situation in which an illness
spreads quickly to affect a very large number of people in
a particular area in C]
Both Brenda's parents had died in the 1918 influenza
epidemic. [ A serious epidemic broke out in Shanghai and
spread quickly throughout the province.
endemic/en'demk, n-/an illness that is endemic in an
area is very common there and spreads easily [adj]
The west coast of equatorial Africa had many dangers for
European settlers; endemic malaria was the worst. [
endemic to Skin diseases and eye infections were endemic
to the region.
:: spreadeagled LIE DOWN 2
 spree: go on a spending spree SPEND MONEY 2
 spring ESCAPE 8
 spring-clean CLEAN 7
spring to mind: come to mind/spring to mind THINK
 STH/HAVE A THOUGHT 1
.-
 spring up START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 2
springy SOFT 1
.... sprinkle POUR 1
i sprint RUN 1, 2
 spruce yourself up/get spruced up SMART/WELL-
!i DRESSED 2, WASH 1
spur CAUSE 14
!i spur of the moment: on the spur of the moment
-.
" SUDDENLY 1
::!
: spur sb on HELP4
, spurt: put on a spurt FAST/QUICK 11
::.: spy SPY 1, 2
SPY
t to secretly collect information about an enemy
country or an organization you are competing
against
:2 someone who spies
1 to secretly collect information about an enemy
country or an organization you are competing
against
spy be in the pay of
espionage counterespionage
spy/spai/iv I]
He was arrested for spying. [ spy on For years the satellite
spied on secret weapon bases. I She was recruited to spy on
the research program of a rival company. I spy for/on
behalf of sb Philby had been spying for the Russians for
several years.
spying in U] There has been far less spying in Europe since
the end of the Cold War.
espionage / 'espino:3! collecting political, military, and
industrial secrets from another country or organization
[nU]
He was involved in espionage for several years. [ Zakharov,
the KGB agent, has been charged with espionage.
be in the pay of/bi: in 6a 'pei Dv/if someone is in the
pay of a country or organization, they are being paid by
that country or organization to spy for them Iv phrase]
Before becoming President, the general was in the pay of the
CIA. [ There have been persistent rumours that the former
head of British Intelligence was in the pay of the Soviet
Union.
counterespionage / ,kauntar'espiano:3/the activity of
trying to find out about and prevent an enemy from spying
in your own country in U]
The men arrested at the airport were involved in counter-
espionage. I His novels deal with the worm of spies, espionage
and counterespionage.
2 someone who spies
spy
agent
mole
spy/spaq in C]
He was suspected of having been a spy during the war. I The
job of the secret police was to hunt down spies and traitors.
agent/'ed3ant/someone who works for a government or
police department in order to get secret information about
another country or organization in C]
Wray was filmed passing money to an enemy agent. [ He had
been a secret agent of the enemy all along. [ It's alleged that
CIA agents were involved in a secret plan to kill Fidel Castro
in the early 60s.
mole Imoll someone who works inside an organization,
usually for a long time, in order to provide secret informa-
tion to the enemies of that organization in C]
The government suspects there is a mole who is leaking infor-
mation to the press.
squabble ARGUE 2, 5
squad PLAY A GAME OR SPORT 4
squalid DIRTY 3
squander SPEND MONEY 3, WASTE STH 1
square SQUARE 1, 2
square: be all square EQUAL 5, OWE 8
square-shaped SQUARE 2
SQUARE
t a shape that has four straight sides
:2 shaped like a square
 an object which has six square sides
1 a shape that has four straight sides
square
rectangle
oblong
square/skwer! a shape that has four straight sides which
are of equal length and are at right angles to each other
in C]
How many squares are there on a chessboard?[ The Chinese
symbol for a rice-field consists of a square with a cross in the
middle.

SQUARE 1285 stab sb in the back
rectangle/'rektmrjgal/a shape that has four straight
sides which are at right angles to each other, especially
with two sides being longer than the other two In C]
The painter Klee used simple forms such as rectangles and
circles in his work. I The area of a rectangle is determined
by multiplying the length by the width.
oblong/'obloo II 'o:bl3.-j/a shape that has four straight
sides which are at right angles to each other, two of which
are longer than the other two In C]
Henry painted a big red oblong in the middle of the paper. I
Outside it was dark except for an oblong of light from an
open window.
2 shaped like a square
square rectangular
sq uare-shaped oblong
square/skwer/[adj]
The room is square and measures 12 feet by 12feet. [ It is
traditional for the cake to be baked in a square tin.
square.shaped/'skwea r eIpt/shaped like a square or
roughly like a square [adj]
The new church is an enormous square-shaped building near
the city center. [ The sweets on the table were small, white and
square-shaped.
rectangular/rek'tmrjgjlar! shaped like a rectangle [adj]
Most swimming pools are rectangular, 25 metres long by 10
across. ] The main building was a rectangular structure
made of wood.
oblong/'oblorj [1 o:bl3:rj/shaped like an oblong [adj]
I want an oblongpictureframe, about 50 cm by 30 cm. [ The
room was oblong, with windows on three sides.
3 an object which has six square sides
cube
block
cube/kju:b/[n C]
Cut the carrots into small cubes. [ She dropped an ice cube
into her martini.
block/blok [[ bla:k/an object which has six sides, two of
which are square and four of which are rectangular In C]
You start with a block of wood about 30 cm long. [ The blocks
of concrete are lifted into position by huge cranes.
squash SQUASH 1, STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 8
SQUASH
1 to break something or make it completely flat
by pressing down on it very hard
2 words for describing something that has been
squashed
1 to break something or make it completely flat
by pressing down on it very hard
squash mash
crush screw up
flatten grind
pound press
squash/skwoJ" II skwo:J', skw3:j'! [v T]
squash sth I left my hat on a chair and someone sat down
and squashed it. I That bag's full of tomatoes. Be careful not
to squash them. I squash sth flat I stepped on a flower that
someone had dropped and squashed it flat.
crush/krA! to put very heavy pressure on something so
that it breaks or changes its shape completely Iv T]
crush sth Coconuts have to be crushed in order to extract
the oil. I The man's legs were crushed in a car accident. I
crush sth into pieces/bits etc A huge machine crushed the
rocks into tiny pieces.
flatten / ' flmtn/to squash something until it is completely
flat Iv T]
He fell against me so heavily I thought he was going to flat-
ten me. [ Her little car was completely flattened in the
accident.
pound/paond/to press or hit something repeatedly, espe-
cially using a tool, so that it breaks into very small pieces
or becomes flat Iv T]
The cook pounded the steak with a special hammer before
frying it. I Here the loose earth had been pounded flat by
thousands of feet. [ The woman pounded some seeds in a
stone dish and added water to make a dye.
mash/me/to squash food with something such as a fork
until it is soft and there are no lumps in it Iv T]
mash sth I boiled the potatoes and then mashed them. [
mash sth up She mashed some banana up for her baby.
screw up / skru: '^p/to press and twist something soft,
especially a piece of paper, with your hands [phr v T]
screw up sth Sally screwed up the letter she was writing
and threw it into the wastebasket. [ screw sth up into a ball
His new silk handkerchief had been screwed up into a ball.
grind/grand/to break something hard such as corn or
coffee beans into small pieces or a powder, either by press-
ing and rubbing it between two hard surfaces or by using
a special machine Iv T]
These huge stones were once used for grinding the wheat into
flour. [ There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly ground
coffee.
press/pres/press grapes/olives/garlic (=crush them
using special equipment to remove the juice, oil etc) [v T]
Enough olives had been gathered and pressed to produce 1000
litres of cooking oil. [ The juice is made from selected, freshly
pressed grapes.
2 words for describing something that has been
squashed .
squashed flattened
crushed mashed
squashed Iskwoj't II skwo:ft, skw3:j't/[adj]
The box was full of squashed fruit. I He held out a squashed
packet of cigarettes and offered me one.
crushed /krAft/ something that is crushed has been
squashed and broken by something very heavy [adj]
Wine is made from crushed grapes. I The path was made of
crushed white sea-shells.
flattened / 'flmtnd/squashed until completely flat [adj]
There was a flattened coca-cola can on the ground. I a moun-
tain of flattened cardboard boxes
mashed/mmt/food that is mashed has been squashed
with something such as a fork until it is soft and smooth
[adj]
He ate the mashed potatoes but not the meat. [ The pudding
can be made from frozen mashed watermelon and honey.
.... squashed SQUASH 2
.... squashy SOFT 2
squat LIVE SOMEWHERE 2, LOW 3, SHORT
PERSON 1, SIT 3
squat/squat down SIT 1
squeak SOUND 7
:.. squeaky HIGH SOUND OR VOICE 1
 squeal SCREAM 1, 2, TELL 11
:) squeeze FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 5, GET 9, PRESS 5, 6,
::T: PUSH 6
.... squeeze: a tight squeeze SPACE/ROOM 3
iiiil squeeze: it's a squeeze FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 5
squeeze in TIME/HAVE TIME 4
squelch
squelchy
squint
squirm
squirt
squishy
stab: have a stab at
stab sb in the back
SOUND 16
SOFT 2
LOOK AT 6
EMBARRASSED 1, MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 5
LIQUID 5, SHORT PERSON 3
SOFT 2
TRY TO DO OR GET STH 4
BETRAY 2

stab sb to death 1286 STAND
stab sb to death: beat/kick/stab etc sb to death KILL 1
stable CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 9
stack GROUP OF THINGS 4, PUT 6
stacked: the odds are stacked against you
DISADVANTAGE 3
stacked: the odds are stacked in sb's favour
ADVANTAGE 3
stacks: piles of/heaps of/stacks of LOT/A LARGE
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
staff WORKER 2
staff: be on the staff WORK FOR SB 1
staff: be staffed by WORKER 3
staff: member of staff WORKER 1
staff: sales staff SELL 8
stage PART 4, PERFORM 5
stage: at one stage ONCE 1
stage: at that stage THEN 1, 2
stage: go on the stage ACTOR/ACTRESS 2
stage-manage ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC 3
stage name NAME OF A PERSON 3
stagger SPREAD 9, WALK 6
staggered SURPRISED 2
staggering SURPRISED 6
stagnant NOT MOVING 5
stagnate PROGRESS 4
stain MARK 1, 3
stained MARK 2
stake SHARE 7
stake: be at stake RISK 7
stake: have a stake In OWN 2
stake sth on RISK 6
stake your claim OWN 8
stale DECAY 4, SMELL 6, USE STH 15
stale: go stale DECAY 3
stalemate PROGRESS 5
stalk FOLLOW 3
stall DELAY 4, SHOP/STORE 5
stamina STRONG PERSON 6
stammer/stutter SPEAK A LANGUAGE 3
stamp on STAND 4
stamp out STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
stamp your foot ANGRY 6
stance OPINION 4
stand PLACE 7, 8, PUT 1,3, STAND 1, STAND/BEAR 1
VOTE/ELECT 9
stand: as things stand SITUATION 6
stand: can/will stand STAND/BEAR 5
stand: can't stand HATE 1, STAND/BEAR 3
stand: can't stand/can't bear HATE 2
stand: make a stand FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3
stand: not stand in sb's way LET/ALLOW 6
stand: sit there/stand there DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
stand: where sb stands OPINION 4
stand a chance: have/stand a good chance
PROBABLY 6
stand around/about NOT DO STH 4
stand by WAIT 1
stand by: be standing by READY 4
stand by/stick by FAITHFUL 1
stand by/stick to PROMISE 7
stand by/sit by DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
stand corrected: I stand corrected ADMIT 4
stand firm CHANGE YOUR MIND 5
stand for MEANING 1, SHORT/NOT LONG 6
stand-in REPLACE 3
stand in for REPLACE 2
stand in line/wait in line LINE 12, WAIT 3
stand little chance: have/stand little chance
PROBABLY 10
stand no nonsense STRICT 2
stand-offish UNFRIENDLY 2
stand on: be standing on ON/ON TOP OF 1
stand on end VERTICAL 2
stand on your own feet/your own two feet
INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
stand out OBVIOUS 1
stand out a mile: it sticks/stands out a mile
OBVIOUS 3
stand over WATCH 2
stand sb a drink BUY 3
stand sb up MEET8
stand the test of time LONG TIME 6
stand to do sth STAND 2
stand together UNITE 2
stand trial JUDGE 11
stand up STAND 1 2, VERTICAL 2
,
stand up/hold up TRUE 8
stand up: not stand up LOGICAL 5
stand up for DEFEND 3
stand up to FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 3
stand your ground CHANGE YOUR MIND 5
stand
STAND
to stand upright on your feet
to get up and stand after you have been
sitting, lying, bending, or kneeling
to stand with your back very straight
to stand very hard on something so that you
press it into a floor or surface
1 to stand upright on your feet
stand be on your feet
stand up on tiptoe/tiptoes
stand/strand/[v I]
stand in/on/under ere I've been standing at this bus stop
for over twenty minutes. I The girl you're looking for is stand-
ing on her own over there. I You mustn't stand on the chairs,
you might break them. I stand still (=stand without
moving) Stand still a moment while I do up your dress.
stand up/ strand ^p/to stand rather than be sitting, lying
down, or kneeling [phr v I]
I can't stand up any longer, I really have to sit down. I It's
generally better to do this exercise standing up. I The seats
were all taken and we had to stand up all the way from
Tokyo to Nagoya.
be on your fet/bi: on jz:r fi:t/to be standing, espe-
cially for a long time so that you feel tired Iv phrase]
I can't wait to sit down - I've been on my feet all day. I The
senator has been on his feet for over two hours, speaking
about US defense policy. I The audience was on its feet, cheer-
ing wildly. I stay on your feet (=remain standing) Erik
stayed on his feet until all the ladies had sat down.
on tiptoe/tiptoes/on tptoo, 'tptooz/standing on your
toes so that you can stretch up your body as high as possi-
ble, especially in order to see or reach something [adv
phrase]
He got up on tiptoes and peered over the heads of the people
in front. I If l stand on tiptoe I can just reach the light. [ stand
on your tiptoe/tiptoes Stand on your tiptoes and stretch
as high as you can, then relax slowly.

ST AND 1287 ST AND/BEAR
2 to get up and stand after you have been
sitting, lying, bending, or kneeling
get up rise
stand up stand to do sth
get to your feet on your feet
pick yourself up straighten up
get up/,get '^P/[phr v I]
We werejust getting up to say goodbye when thephone rang. I
The wounded animal tried in vain to get up. I get up from
He got up from his chair and walked towards me. I get up
off One of her friends helped her get up off the floor.
stand up /,strand '^pl to get up and stand, especially after
you have been sitting [phr v I]
She stood up, stretched her arms and began yawning. I The
crowd stood up before the game to sing the national anthem. I
See if you can stand up on your own without my help.
get to your feet /,get t ja: r fi:t/to stand up, especially
slowly or with difficulty, after sitting or lying down Iv
phrase]
Darren slowly managed to get to his feet, but by that time
his attacker was nowhere to be seen. [ She swung her legs over
the side of the bed and got to her feet.
pick yourself up /,pik j=rself '^p/to get up and stand,
using your hands to help you after falling onto the ground
or being knocked over Iv phrase]
I tripped over a stone, but was able to pick myself up and
carry on running. [ pick yourself up off/from He picked
himself up off the floor and brushed the dust from his clothes.
rise/raz/a word used especially in stories or descriptions
of events, or at important ceremonies, meaning to stand up
[v I]
The old woman rose stiffly and held out her hand. I The con-
gregation rose as the Royal family entered the Cathedral. I
rise from The Chairman had already risen from his seat
and was beginning his speech.
stand to do sth/, strand t 'du: (sth)/to stand up in order
to do something, for example to sing a religious song or to
formally welcome a guest Iv phrase]
The Senate stood to welcome the new President. I Would you
all please stand to sing hymn 106.
on your feet/on j3= r 'fi=t/you say on your feet to some-
one when you are ordering them to get up
On your feet everybody - it's time we were going.
straighten up/,stretn '^p/to stand up after bending
down low [phr v I]
She bent over the body, and when she straightened up there
were tears in her eyes. I If you're lifting something heavy, be
careful not to hurt your back when you straighten up.
 to stand with your back very straight
stand up straight
stand to attention
stand up straight/,stand ^p 'streit/Iv phrase]
The pain in his stomach was so severe that he could no longer
stand up straight. I First stand up very straight, and then
bend your knees!
stand to attention I,steend to 'tenan/if someone such
as a soldier or a police officer stands to attention, they
stand with their backs straight, their arms straight down
by their sides, and their feet close together Iv phrase]
The colonel gave the order for the men to stand to attention. I
We all stood stiffly to attention while Sergeant Hastings
inspected our kit.
4 to stand very hard on something so that you
press it into a floor or surface
tread
stamp on
tread Itredl to stand on something and press it hard Iv I/T]
tread on sth Aargh! You've just trod on my foot! [ tread sth
into (=press something hard into a floor or surface by
treading on it) Go and take your shoes off. You "re treading
mud into my new carpet.
stamp on / 'stmp on II -o:n/to suddenly stand on some-
one or something very hard using a lot of force, especially
in order to harm or destroy them Iv T]
He stamped on a snake that was lying on the garden path. [
During the fight I was kicked, struck and stamped on until
I couldn't move.
STAND/BEAR
to accept or be forced to accept an unpleasant
or difficult situation or be strong enough to
take a particular amount of weight, heat etc
1 to stand or bear something
2 words for describing something that you can
stand, even though it is difficult or unpleasant
3 to be unable to stand something
4 words for describing something very
unpleasant that you are unable to accept
5 ways of saying that something is strong
enough to take a particular amount of weight,
heat etc
1 to stand or bear something
stand tolerate
bear take
put up with live with
endure sweat it out
stand Istmnd/ to accept or be forced to accept an un-
pleasant situation Iv T not in progressive or passive]
can stand sth Can you stand another hour of this? [ Don't
bring me your problems, I've already got as much trouble
as I can stand. I There are cats in every room. I don't know
how she can stand it. I It's a good job, if you can stand the
noise and fumes from the engines. I can stand doing sth
I don 't think I'll be able to stand sharing an office with Bar-
bara. I stand sth I don 't know how she stood his behaviour
for so long.
bear ]bea r ] to accept pain or an unpleasant situation that
makes you angry, sad, or upset Iv T not usually inprogres-
sive or passive]
My leg really hurts - I'm not sure how much longer I can
bear it. I Talking to a counsellor can help divorcees to bear
the pain of separation. I The trial was a great scandal but
she bore it all with courage and dignity. I be hard to bear
Her loneliness was hard to bear, after her husband died.
put up with/,pot 'Ap wi6/to accept or be forced to accept
an annoying situation or unpleasant behaviour as part of
your daily life Iv T not in progressive orpassive]
Iput up with Claire's nagging for two whole weeks. [ I hated
my work, but had to put up with it as there weren't many jobs
available. [ I don't know how you put up with your neigh-
bors" noisy parties.
endure/in'djoa r II In'doar/to accept or be forced to accept
a very unpleasant or difficult situation for a long time Iv T]
She endured and survived incredible racism during her time
at college. I The people in this country have endured almost
a decade of economic hardship. I The thought of his ex-wife
being married again was more than he could endure.
tolerate/'tolareit II 'to:-/to be willing to accept some-
thing unpleasant or difficult, even though you do not like
it or approve of it Iv T]
Many workers said they couldn't tolerate the long hours. I
Why does she tolerate his behaviour? I Your parents don't
just tolerate him, they like him. I For years now we've had
to tolerate appalling working conditions and low quality,
outdated equipment.
take/'teik/an informal expression meaning to accept an
unpleasant situation or someone's unpleasant behaviour
without becoming upset Iv phrase]

ST AND/BEAR 1288 standpoint
take it Tell me the bad news. I can take it. I Are you going
to answer his criticism or are you just going to stand there
and take it? I take sth I've tried to be understanding, but
quite honestly his recent behaviour is more than I can take.
I|ve with/liv wib! to accept or be forced to accept an
unpleasant situation or bad conditions as part of your life,
without becoming too upset about it Iv T]
Some people can live with being fat but I couldn't. I Although
I never really liked it, at least I learned to live with the heat
after a few months. I From that moment, of course you have
to live with your secret.
sweat it out ],swet t aut! an informal expression mean-
ing to accept an unpleasant or dangerous situation because
you have no choice, and hope that it will improve or end
[ v phrase]
You'll just have to sweat it out until the end of term. ] We were
sweating it out, hoping no one would discover our mistake.
2 words for describing something that you can
stand, even though it is difficult or unpleasant
bearable
tolerable
bearable/bearbal/a situation or type ofbehaviour that
is bearable is difficult or unpleasant, but you are just able
to bear it [adj not before noun]
The only things that made her life bearable were the occa-
sional visits from her grandchildren. [ The pressure of all
this fame was scarcely bearable. [ His leg hasn't quite healed
yet, but pain-killers make it bearable.
tolerable/'toldrbal [[ 'to:-/a situation that is tolerable
is bad but you are able to accept it and deal with it [adj]
They wanted a tolerable existence - more food, better shelter,
and peace. I An active social life may make the boredom of
work more tolerable. ] I don't really like this apartment, but
it's tolerable for the time being.
;3 to be unable to stand something
can't stand can't stomach
can't bear can't abide
can't take
can't stand I,kmnt 'strand II ,kzent-/Iv phrase]
can't stand sth I can "t stand the loneliness of living on my
own. [ I used to like his music, but now I can 't stand it. [ She
couldn't stand the smell of cigarette smoke. I can't stand
doing sth Steph can't stand losing an argument.
can't bear/,kmnt 'beo r II ,kzent-/to be unable to stand
a difficult, painful, or upsetting situation Iv phrasel
can't bear sth Don't cry, Ican't bear it. t He could not bear
the thought of his wife leaving him. I can't bear doing sth
I can't bear thinking about the loneliness he must have felt. I
can't bear to do sth I just can't bear to see the sufferings
of others.
can't take/,kmnt 'teIk II kzent-/to be unable to stand the
way that someone treats you, or an unpleasant or upset-
ting situation Iv phrase]
Please don't be so mean to me, I just can't take it. I This hospi-
tal's awful. I can't take it any more. I want to go home. I By
Friday, I couldn't take any more of her whingeing.
can't stomach/ka:nt 'stAmok 1[ ,kzent-/to be unable to
stand something because thinking about it makes you feel
sick or angry Iv phrase]
He couldn't stomach the blood and the mess. I Another lec-
ture from my father was more than I could stomach.
can't abide /ka:nt o'bad 11 kmnt-/ to be completely
unable to stand something that is very annoying [vphrasel
Mary couldn't abide shopping on Saturdays because the
stores were always so crowded. ] I can't abide people who
push to get first in line.
[ "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
4, words for describing something very
unpleasant that you are unable to accept
intolerable
unbearable
unacceptable
intolerable In'toldmbal II -'tin-/a situation or type of
behaviour that is intolerable is too difficult, unpleasant,
or annoying to bear [adjl
Their living conditions were intolerable. [ I made no answer,
for I found his rudeness intolerable. [ He never leaves me
alone - it's intolerable. [ All the media attention during the
trial had put the family under intolerable strain.
intolerably [adv] John seems to think he can behave as
intolerably as he likes and that Penny will accept him back
every time.
unbearable/^n'bearabal] a situation, or physical or emo-
tional pain that is unbearable is too unpleasant or upset-
ting to bear [adj]
She felt an almost unbearable sadness at the sight of those
frightened, starving children. [ The pain was unbearable. [
Without him life was unbearable.
unbearably lady] The room had become unbearably hot.
unacceptable /  ^nok septbal! something that is unac-
ceptable is morally wrong and cannot be accepted or
allowed to continue [adj]
This behavior is unacceptable and must be stopped immedi-
ately. [ The plan was rejected because it involved an "unac-
ceptable risk to public safety'. [ We regard the idea of being
able to choose the sex of your baby as both morally and
socially unacceptable.
unacceptably [adv] Unemployment has remained at an
unacceptably high level for years now. I His work is unac-
ceptably sloppy.
S ways of saying that something is strong
enough to take a particular amount of weight,
heat etc
can/will stand
can/will take
withstand
can/will stand/kn, w il 'strand/[vphrase not in passive]
How much pressure do you think the pipes will stand? I I
wouldn't put those dishes in the oven if I were you - I don't
think they can stand high temperatures.
can/will take/kn, wil 'tek/to be strong enough to stand
a particular amount of pressure, heat, weight etc Iv phrase
not in passive]
Some insects can take massive doses of radiation and still
survive. I You'd better slow down a bit - I don't think the
engine will take much more.
withstand/w6'stmnd/ if something can withstand a
certain amount of pressure, heat etc, it can take it without
breaking or being damaged Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
can withstand The front of the car can withstand an impact
at 70 mph. [ Children's shoes need to be able to withstand
constant wear and tear. [ withstand This material is
designed to withstand temperatures of up to 200°C.
standard GOOD/EXCELLENT 7, JUDGE 8, LEVEL 2,
ORDINARY 1
standard practice USUALLY 4
standardize SAME 6
standards GOOD/MORAL 9
standby: be on standby READY 4
standing POSITION/RANK 1, REPUTATION 1
standing: be still standing REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
standing: leave sb standing BETTER 2, FAST/QUICK 14
standing joke JOKE 1
standing on your head: can do sth standing on your
head/with your eyes shut EASY 5
standing ovation PRAISE 8
standpoint OPINION 5

standstill 1289 START DOING STH
ii" standstill: be at a standstill NOT MOVING 4
:, standstill: bring sth to a standstill STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 3
.-. standstill: come to a standstill STOP MOVING 3
star ACTOR/ACTRESS 1, 5, 6, BEST 3, FAMOUS 8
-' star: film star ACTOR 1
: star in ACTOR/ACTRESS 6
:3 .... stardom FAMOUS 7
i:;:! stare LOOK AT 2
stark raving mad CRAZY 1
.i start BEGINNING 1, 6, START DOING STH 1, 2, 13,
.,.
#i START STH/MAKE STH START 1, 4, START TO
.....
:: HAPPEN, EXIST ETC 1, SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
start: at the beginning/start BEGINNING 3
:;;. start: false start START DOING STH 11
:.. start: from start to finish ALL THE TIME 2
,-: start: from the beginning/start BEGINNING 5
start: get off to a bad start START DOING STH 11
ii start: get off to a flying start START DOING STH 10
start: get sth started/going SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
, start: make a good start/get off to a good start
START DOING STH 10
start a family FAMILY 8
start a fight FIGHT 2
start a fire FIRE 4
start afresh/make a fresh start/make a new start
START DOING STH 9
start again CONTINUE/START AGAIN 1
start an argument ARGUE 4
start by/begin by START DOING STH 5
start for START DOING STH 6
start laughing LAUGH 3
start off START DOING STH 6
start on START DOING STH 2
start over START DOING STH 9
start sb on sth START DOING STH 8
start/set the ball rolling START STH/MAKE STH START 1
start/start up START STH/MAKE STH START 3
start to cry/start crying CRY 4
start with/begin with BEGINNING 4, START DOING STH 5
start with/begin with: to start with/begin with FIRST 3
.Istartl
" ;':.4 ;%.A.'.. .:: ..............
.ii " '.m. m;, m;':;:"  '; " '  ""  ""= ":::;';;;;;,;:::::::;;;;;'-:;;;; ""
..... start: doing somethin:g' .:::,  START DOING 
"make somethingStart, -:-.-- START STHI
 --.  ..... . . .- . ..: : " .. . ..,.:: ..
;:..2";:.::. : -.L,: ...... ..A :; ;;;: ::::::... ......... -.
#,..::..#:.,;,. ,,,:,,::.: ,,;$, ...........   .', ::: ..: ". :.-- .:.-'" ,',,'..-':'."I.:
'::Start to happe,. or:;:: -  START TO
exiSt ,,':;:;;;;',', HAPPEN, EXIST
:. sta  th:.,,ining  ", @ BEGINNING
"sc.h-sOmethingoff.'   SWITCH ON OR
@ START DOING STH
to start doing something
to start doing a job or a piece of work
to start a long speech about something
to start doing something after the start has
been delayed
to start an activity, job, speech etc by doing
the first part of it
to start a journey or start going somewhere
to start doing something regularly
to make someone start doing something new
by telling them about it, giving them a chance
to do it etc
to start doing something again in a different
or better way
to start doing something and be successful at
the beginning
to start doing something and be unsuccessful
at the beginning
to start a business
to start feeling or thinking differently about
something or someone
1 to start doing something
start
begin
proceed to do sth
start/ste:rt/[v I/T]
start doing sth The big man suddenly started shouting at
me in German. I I think we should start looking for a place
to stay the night. I The phones start ringing at 9 o'clock and
they don't stop until the office closes. I start to do sth The
baby was very tired and she started to cry. I It wasn't until
the day after the accident that my leg started to hurt. I start
We were supposed to have finished by 5.30 but we didn't even
start until 5.15.
begin/bI 'gin/ to start doing something, especially in a
deliberate way Iv I/T]
begin to do sth Slowly and carefully, Hamed began to climb
down the cliff. I She looked at him open-mouthed, then began
to laugh. I If you do not look after your plants well they will
begin to look pale and yellow. I begin doing sth Make sure
that you are in a comfortable position before you begin
typing. I begin Once the children were quiet, the teacher
began.
proceed to do sth/pmsi:d t du: (sth)/to start doing
something after you have finished doing something else Iv
phrase]
The doctor arrived and proceeded to examine the patient
without delay. [ After listening carefully to my advice she
proceeded t,o do the exact opposite.
' to start doing a job or a piece of work
start set to work
start on embark on/upon
set about get cracking
start/st:rt/Iv I/T]
start sth When the police start their investigation they will
need to speak to you. [ "'Have you finished the Dickens novel
yet? .... No, I haven't even started it yet, I'm afraid. "" [ She has
just started a course of tablets which should get rid of any
infection. [ start We'd better start if we want to finish this
by lunchtime.
start on/'sta:rt n [[ -a:nl to start a piece of work which
will take a fairly long time, especially if you have prepared
for it or you have just been doing something different Iv T]
Dalgliesh was briefing his team before he started on the
preliminary interviews. [ When you've finished the lawn you
can start on the vegetable patch. [ We'll start on our house-
hunting tomorrow morning!
set about / 'set baut/to start a long and fairly difficult
piece of work, especially in an energetic and determined
way Iv T]
set about doing sth Realizing that the disease was caused
by diet, Dr Alton set about finding out exactly what people
ate in the affected region. I Now that she was retired, Mrs
Goddard set about contacting every surviving member of her
class, to arrange a reunion. I set about stlGovernor Philip
set about the task with energy and optimism.

START DOING STH 1290 START DOING STH
set to work/,set t 'w3:rk] to start doing a job or piece
of work in an energetic and determined way, especially if
you start it as soon as you are able to Iv phrase]
set to work to do sth As soon as she discovered that her
niece was pregnant she set to work to knit her some baby
clothes. I set to work doing sth The house was old and dirty
so the next day we immediately set to work cleaning and
decorating. I set to work on When he had finished carving
the prow of the boat, Alikhan set to work on the delicate scroll
work round the edge.
embark on/upon I:mbo:rk on, opon II -o:n, opo:n/to
start a large piece of work or an important activity, espe-
cially one that will be difficult or will take a long time Iv T]
In the 1950s China embarked on a massive program of indus-
trialization and mechanization. I AfteFleaving the navy in
1954 he embarked upon a highly successful acting career.
get cracking /,get ' krmkrj/an informal expression: you
say get cracking! or let's get cracking! when you want
someone to start a piece of work immediately, with lots of
energy
Come on, you should have cleaned up this mess hours ago.
Let's get cracking! I I've put all the materials in the classroom
and there's a name on each box. Now get cracking!
3 to start a long speech about something
launch into
launch into/'b:nt ntu:/to suddenly start a long speech
or story, especially ff you are criticizing something or
giving an entertaining and lively description of something
[vT]
Hately did not shake hands with the ambassador, but
immediately launched into a bitter attack on his govern-
ment's treatment of refugees. I My mother called us in for
dinner before my father could launch into. another detailed
account of his fishing exploits.
4 to start doing something after the start has
been delayed
get down to
settle down to
get down to/,get 'daon tu:/to finally start doing some-
thing important that you are supposed to do, after some-
thing has prevented you from doing it, or you have been
avoiding doing it Iv T]
Our chairman Mr Butt has finally arrived with the report
so we can get down to the matter in hand. I I'm sure you want
to get down to business as soon as possible, so I'll make my
introduction brief. I I really must get down to some revision.
settle down to/,setl 'daon tu:/to start doing something
after a delay or interruption that has stopped you giving
it your full attention Iv T]
settle down to sth After several phone calls, Jake settled
down to his main job of the morning - lesson preparation. I
settle down to doing sth It was two o'clock before I finally
settled down to writing the first chapter.
5 to start an activity, job, speech etc by doing
the first part of it
start by/begin by lead off
start with/begin with kick off with
start by/begin by/'sta:rt baI, b'g;n bail to do some-
thing as the first part of an activity or job Iv T not inpassive]
start by doing sth If you are thinking of buying a house,
you need to start by collecting information from real estate
agents and newspapers. I When drawing the face you should
start by trying to imagine the bones underneath. I I began
by asking him a few questions about his childhood.
slarl with/begin with/'sta:rt w;b, b] 'gn wib/to think
about, introduce, or deal with something as the first part
of an activity Iv T not in passive]
Start with easy questions, then introduce more complicated
ones when the students are confident. I The lecturer began
with a short account of the history of the UN. I Decorating
the place was going to be a major job, and we decided to start
with the kitchen.
lead off/li:d of II -:f! to start something such as a
meeting or discussion by introducing a subject or speak-
ing first [phr v I/T not in passive]
lead off with We asked the sales director to lead off with the
latest sales figures. I lead off We are all here to discuss the
future of the town hall. Perhaps you would like to lead off,
Mr Price. I lead off sth The principal would always lead
off staff meetings with a report on discipline.
kick off with/,kk 'of w5 II -':f-/an informal expres-
sion meaning to do something as the first part of an activity
or an event such as a party or a concert [phr v T not in
passive]
Boy, what a night! We kicked off with a meal at Sandy's but
I don't remember much else! I The band kicked off with a
storming version of "Respect', the old Motown hit from the
sixties.
6 to start a journey or start going somewhere
set off start off
set out get going
start for hit the road
set off/,set 'of II -'z:fl [phr v I]
set off towards/along/in the direction ofetc Wepacked
our bags, locked the house and set off towards the station. I
Amanda suddenly remembered that her boyfriend had taken
the car keys, so she set off down the road after him. I set off
for When news came that his sister-in-law was dying, he set
off at once for Auckland. I set off What time do you have to
set off?.
set out/,set 'aot! to start a long journey or start going
somewhere, especially if your journey has been planned
or has a special purpose [phr v I]
The fleet set out from Portsmouth on July 13th. I We had
meant to set out before lunch but nobody was ready to leave. I
set out for That morning Andrew and Louise set out early
for JFK airport.I set out to do sth I left the boat tied to a
tree and set out to find someone to help me pull it ashore.
start for/'sta:rt f3:r/an expression used especially in
American English, meaning to start a journey to a partic-
ular place Iv T]
When are you starting for Seattle? I Some of the guests had
already started for home before it got dark.
slarl off/,ste:rt 'of II to start moving away from a
place where you have been standing still, especially if you
are driving a car, riding a bicycle etc [phr v I]
Before starting off you should check that your seat and driv-
ing mirrors are properly adjusted. I start off along/to-
wards/down etc The riders remounted and started off
along the track again.
get going/,get 'goiq/an informal expression meaning
to start a journey or start going somewhere, especially
when you are late or when there has been a delay [vphrase]
Let's get going now or we'll miss the train. I The bus was sup-
posed to leave at 10:30 but we eventually got going at 3:30.1
Get going, you two! There's only ten minutes till your test
starts!
hit the road / ,hit 5v 'rud/an informal expression mean-
ing to start a journey, especially if you do this suddenly and
without much planning Iv phrase]
In 1982 I hit the road again and headed west to San
Francisco.
7 to start doing something regularly
take to turn to
take up get into the habit of
take to /'telk tu:/to start doing something frequently or
habitually that you did not do before Iv T not in passive]
take to doing sth Shelley took to visiting us quite regularly
at the villa in Monte Cassino. [ Some of the local youngsters
have taken to wearing a single gold stud through their nos-
trils. [ There's a large orange cat that's taken to sitting in
our yard every afternoon.

START DOING STH 1291 START DOING STH
take up / Iteik lap/to start doing something regularly, for
example a type of work, or an activity that you can do in
your free time [phr v T]
take up sth Madeleine thinks that your pictures are so good
you should take up painting as a profession. I Natasha first
took up golf at the age of sixteen. I When I was in college I
took up languages and I have never regretted it.
turn to [ ta:rn tu:[ to start living in a different way or start
a different job because you are unsatisfied or unsuccess-
ful in your present life [v T]
Stress at work and in his home life made him turn to alco-
hol. [ The poorer people are, the more likely they are to turn
to crime. [ After an unsuccessful spell as a salesman, Warren
finally turned to teaching.
get into the habit of/,get into 6o hebt ov/to start to
do something so often that it becomes a habit Iv phrase]
Try to get into the habit of using your glasses for reading
and driving. [ Mr Griffin got into the habit of visiting his
aunt on Sunday afternoons.
8 to make someone start doing something new
by telling them about it, giving them a chance
to do it etc
introduce sb to sth
initiate sb into sth
start sb on sth
introduce sb to sth/,intro'dju:s (sb) to (sth) II -'du:s-/
to make someone start doing something or start enjoying
something for the first time, by telling them about it or
showing it to them [v phrase]
It was my sports teacher who first introduced me to skiing. [
Rick Astley introduced me to the pleasures of keeping tropi-
cal fish and I've become an enthusiast.
initiate sb into sth/: niielt (sb) Into (sth)/to give some-
one the chance to do something for the first time, especially
something unusual, or complicated Iv phrase]
Zhao decided to initiate us into the art of Chinese cookery. [
By the time Bernardo was lO years old his father had initi-
ated him into the rituals and the passions of the bullfight.
start sb on sth/'sta:rt (sb) on (sth)/to make someone
start doing something regttlarly, especially because it will
be good for them Iv phrase]
Most parents start their babies on solid foods when they are
about 4 months old. [ It was my music teacher who first
started me on the piano.
9 to start doing something again in a different
or better way
start afresh/make a fresh start/make a new start
start over
start afresh/make a fresh start/make a new
start/,sta:rt o'fre, meiko ,frej" 'sta:rt, meIk o ,nju: 'sta:rt
[[ - Inu:-/to start doing something again from the beginning,
because you want to do it better or differently from before
Iv phrase]
I see the new job as a chance to start afresh. [ It's the Chinese
tradition to pay off all your debts at the end of the year so
that you can make afresh start. [ If she wants to avoid gossip,
she should move house and make a new start someplace else.
start over /sta:rt 'oovor/an American expression mean-
ing to go back to the beginning of something and start again
[phr v I]
If you make a mistake when you are keying in just press
delete and start over. [ I lived it up for a few months in Rio,
went home broke, and started over again.
10 to start doing something and be successful at
the beginning
make a good start/get off to a good start
get off to a flying start
make a good start/get off to a good start/me;k
o god stozrt, get Iof to o god sto:rt/ [v phrase]
The governor made a good start in the Presidential election
campaign, with a big lead in the opinion polls. I Chelsea got
off to a good start with a victory over Southampton on the
first day of the season.
get off to a flying start/get ,of to o ,flai-ii] 'sto:rt/to
start doing something and be extremely successful at the
beginning Iv phrase]
Kate's got off to a fiying start. She was promoted twice in the
first six months.
1 1 to start doing something and be unsuccessful
at the beginning
get off to a bad start
get off on the wrong foot
false start
get off to a bad start /get ,of to o ,bed 'sto:rt/ Iv
phrase]
I got off to a bad start. On the first day I managed to lose
an important letter. [ The senator got off to a bad start, twice
forgetting the name of the town he was in.
get off on the wrong foot/get of on 5o rorj Ifot [[
- ra:o-! to start something such as a relationship or job and
be unsuccessful at the beginning, for example by uninten-
tionally making people upset or angry Iv phrase]
I'm afraid I got off on the wrong foot when I started here -
I did some really silly things. [ get off on the wrong foot
with sb John seems to have got off on the wrong foot with
Angela - she won't even speak to him.
false start / fa:ls sta:rt/an unsuccessful attempt to start
doing something such as a piece of work or a plan In C]
After a number of false starts, the Channel Tunnel between
England and France finally went ahead in the late 80s.
to start a business
set up in business
set up as
set up in business/,set Ap In 'bIznIas/[v phrase]
As soon as he left school he set up in business with his father. [
The Enterprise Center is a place where people can learn how
to set up in business on their own. [ Before setting up in bus-
iness there are financial and other questions to be addressed.
set up as /  set lap ez/to start your own business doing
a particular job or trade Iv T]
He set up as a builder in 1980 and now employs over twenty
men. [ Setting up as an interior designer was the best move
I ever made.
13 to start feeling or thinking differently about
something or someone
start
begin
come/grow/get to
start/sto:rt/Iv T]
start to get I used to love my job. Now I'm starting to get
bored. I start to realize/think/feel ere She had only been
working for the company for about a week when I started
to realize there was something odd about her. [ start realiz-
ing/thinking/feeling ete If we go on meeting like this
people are going to start thinking we're having an affair.
begin/b; g;n/to gradually start feeling or thinking differ-
ently about something or someone, especially because you
are starting to realize you were wrong about something or
did not notice something before Iv T]
begin to think/realize/feel ere I'm beginning to think we
might have chosen the wrong person for the job. [ began
thinkingCealizingCeeling ere Police began suspecting
him when a man fitting his description was seen leaving the
victim's house. [ begin to get As time went on, I began to
get a little worried. Where had they got to?
comelgrowiget to / kAm, grou, get to/if yOU come to
like, fear, expect etc something, you begin to like it, fear
it, or expect it over a period of time [v phrase]

START DOING STH 1292 START STHIMAKE STH START
Although she had come to dislike her boss, she tried not to
let t show at work. I He was a shy man, but I grew to know
him quite well while we were at college together. I We have
to experiment with our menu. People are getting to expect it.
START STHIMAKE
STH START
1 to make something start happening
2 to officially start a new law, rule, way of doing
something etc
3 to start an organization
4 ways of saying that something starts a natural
process
5 to start an old law, custom, system etc again
after a long time
1 to make something start happening
start set in motion
launch get things moving
open start/set the ball rolling
initiate begin
start Ista:rtl Iv T]
Our teacher always starts the lesson five or ten minutes late. [
They couldn't start the game because there were fans on the
field. I A "safe neighborhood" campaign has been started by
local residents. I The police have started their investigation.
launch /b:nO'/ launch a campaign/appeal/inquiry/
attack etc (=start it, especially with an official public state-
ment) Iv T]
The hospital has launched an appeal to raise Ј50,O00 for new
equipment. I Women's groups plan to launch a nationwide
campaign for equal pay. I The mayor and police chiefs last
night officially launched an offensive against drug dealers. I
A renewed consumer boycott of Kencoff was launched in
Britain on March 15.
open/' upon/open an investigation/inquiry (=start it,
and gather information or opinions from a lot of people)
Iv T]
Police have opened an investigation into the girl's disappear-
ance. I Residents are calling for the government to open an
enquiry into the effects of radiation on employees at nuclear
power plants.
initiate/i'nIiet/a formal word meaning to start some-
thing such as an inquiry or discussion concerning some-
thing very important, especially when other people will
continue it later Iv T]
Dr Endsleigh initiated a number of projects for disabled chil-
dren, but has now moved on to work in the Third World. [
The union initiated legal proceedings against the company
for negligence. [ Peace talks have finally been initiated in an
attempt to avert full scale war.
set in motion/,set in 'moo fan/to start a process or series
of events that will continue for a long time even if you take
no further action Iv phrase]
Once a change in any political system has been set in motion
it is very difficult to reverse it. I The Church voted in Novem-
ber 1984 to set in motion the process which would allow ordi-
nation of women priests. I By signing the contract he knew
he was setting in motion a chain of events completely beyond
his control.
get things moving/,get 00z 'mu:vi0/to make a process
start by doing or arranging the first part of it, after which
it will become easier Iv phrase]
Once we got things moving, the deal went smoothly, and the
money was exchanged on time. I The festival starts next week
so we'd better get things moving if we're going to be ready.
start/set the ball rolling/,sta:rt, ,set 60 'boil ,roohrj/
an informal expression meaning to start a meeting, discus-
sion, event etc by doing something in order to encourage
other people to take part in it as well, even though they may
be unwilling or embarrassed Iv phrase]
Once the speaker had finished nobody spoke, so Mark asked
the first question to set the ball rolling. I I'm collecting for
Tom "s present. Who'll give me a few dollars to start the ball
rolling. I start/set the ball rolling with We have a lot to
cover at this meeting so let's start the ball rolling with the
sales report.
begin/bI 'gin/begin a game/match etc (=make it start
or allow it to start) Iv T]
The referee blew his whistle to begin the game.
2 to officially start a new law, rule, way of doing
something etc
introduce
bring in
phase in
introduce/,intro'dju:s II -'du:s/[v T]
introduce sth The government is planning to introduce new
immigration laws. I Texaco has introduced compulsory med-
ical tests for all prospective employees. I introduce sth into
The National Curriculum was introduced into British state
schools in 1990.
introduction/,intro'dAkan/ [n U] The new tax has been
unpopular since its introduction (=since it was introduced).
bring in/, br;rj 'in/ifa government or large organization
brings in a new law or rule, it officially makes it part of
the law or rules to be obeyed by the people that it governs
or employs [phr v T]
bring in sth The city authorities are bringing in new park-
ing regulations in May. [ When the new legislation has been
brought in, it will be illegal to sell hand guns. [ bring sth/
it/them in We agreed on these safety recommendations in
June and the management has only just brought them in.
phase in/,fe;z 'in/to introduce a new law or rule gradu-
ally, over a fairly long period of time [phr v T]
phase in sth University authorities are about to begin phas-
ing in a new examination system. [ Management and unions
have agreed that new technology will be phased in over a five
year period. [ phase sth/it/them in In an attempt to reduce
opposition to its new tax reforms, the government plans to
phase them in gradually.
3 to start an organization
start/start up
open
set up
establish
found
inception
start/start up/sta:rt, ,sto:rt 'Ap/to start an organization,
especially a small organization or business Iv T]
start/start up sth They intend to use the money to start
their own taxi business. I The family arrived here in 1922 and
started up a chain of restaurants. [ start sth/it/them up
"'What's the idea behind the organization? .... Well they
started it up to improve community relations. ""
open/' oopon/to start something that will be used by the
public, such as a new shop, hotel, or restaurant Iv T]
Fifteen years ago Sally and her husband opened a small
hotel on the edge of town. [ He planned to open a chain of
restaurants across Europe. [ A new shopping mall has been
opened on the east side of town.
set up/, set 'Ap/to make all the plans and arrangements
in order to start an organization or business [phr v T]
set up sth Taylor is now in the process of setting up a new
marketing company called BMT. I Some of the people in our
street are setting up a neighbourhood crime prevention com-
mittee. I set sth/it/them up "'How long have you been run-
ning the business, Mrs Hardwick? .... We set it up in 1991."
establish/i'stebli/to start an important organization
that is intended to be permanent or to last for a very long
time Iv T ]
As soon as Ruanda became independent, it established its
own national bank. [ The company, William H. Shulte and
Sons, was established in 1899. [ Most of the money is to be
used to establish local industries and mobilize the work-
force.

START STH/MAKE STH START 1293 START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC
establishment In U] The establishment of NATO in 1949
gave the US a leading role in the defence of Europe.
found ]faond] if someone founded an important organi-
zation such as a school or hospital, they started it a long
time ago, usually by providing the money for it Iv T]
be founded The college was founded by Andrew Carnegie
in 1918. I Founded in 1935 in Ohio, Alcoholics Anonymous
has become a world-wide organization. I found sth My
grandfather founded a big chemical company at the turn of
the century.
foundation/faon 'deJ'anl [n U] The hospital has served the
needs of the local community since its foundation in 1863
(=since it was founded in 1863).
founder In C] A portrait of the company's founder (=the
person who founded the company) hangs in the boardroom.
inception/insepfan/a formal word meaning the start of
an organization or institution In singular]
Hurd's book is about the history of the Labour Party from
its inception to the present day. [ Within a few years of its
inception, the charity was involved in aid projects all around
the world.
4 ways of saying that something starts a natural
process
start
activate
set off
start/sm:rt/[v T]
Have you any idea what starts these coughing attacks? I
Adding acid to the test tube starts a chemical process which
leads to the formation of crystals. I It is thought that the
avalanche was started by a small rock-fall on the higher
slopes.
activate I'ektovcit] a word used especially in a scientific
context meaning to start a natural process, especially one
that will continue for a fairly long time Iv T]
The manufacture of chlorophyll in plants is activated by
sunlight. ] Throw horse manure on the compost heap to
activate the breakdown of any dead material.
set off I lset Iof II -a:f/to start a natural process, usually
accidentally and with the result that it is difficult to stop
it [phr v T]
set sth/it/them off The disease is impossible to cure and
high temperatures normally set it off. I set off sth In 1641
an earthquake near Tabsiz set off extensive landslides.
 to start an old law, custom, system etc again
after a long time
bring back restore
reintroduce resurrect
revive
bring back/,brlrj 'bek/to start an old practice, custom,
way of thinking etc again because you think it is good and
should never have been stopped [phr v T]
bring back sth They should bring back hanging; the streets
aren't safe any more. [ There was a lot of talk in the eighties
about bringing back Victorian values. [ bring sth/it/them
back Can you believe it? It took years to get rid of conscrip-
tion and now there's talk of bringing it back.
. I
reintroduce/,ri.intro dju:s [[ -'du:s/if a government or
large organization reintroduces a law or rule that used to
exist, it officially makes it part again of the law or rules
controlling its citizens or the people it employs [v T]
The demonstrators were protesting against government
plans to reintroduce property tax. [ As soon as the war was
over the President reintroduced the strict border controls of
the previous regime. [ Rigorous entrance tests were rein-
troduced in 1977 after a ten year break.
reintroduction I iri:intradAkfan/ In U] He supports the
reintroduction of compulsory military service.
revive/ri vaxv! to start or strengthen something such as
an old practice, custom, or idea after it had begun to dis-
appear, so that it becomes popular again Iv T]
A serious lack of workers led factory owners to revive the idea
of employing women. I Tour operators were quick to see the
advantage of reviving local customs and traditions.
revival In C] Pre-war music is undergoing a revival (=being
revived) at the moment.
restore/rI ' sLg:r/to introduce an old law, rule etc that had
been completely stopped Iv T]
Restrictions on currency exchange have been restored.
restoration/restalre;an/In U] Next week there will be a
debate on the restoration of capital punishment.
resurrect /rez rekt/to start an old practice, custom,
system etc again after it has not existed for a very long time,
especially because you think that a changed situation
makes it necessary again Iv T]
Once one of the strongest departments in the government, the
Department of War is being resurrected to deal with the
crisis. I Old theories about the origin of the universe have been
resurrected.
@ START TO HAPPEN,
EXIST ETC
1 to start happening
2 to start to exist
3 ways of saying that a new law, rule, or system
officially starts
4 ways of saying that something unpleasant
starts to happen
1 to start happening
start open
begin kick off
start/sto:rt/[v I]
What time does the meeting start? I Igor sick just before the
school break started. I Local car production started in 1980. I
My day starts at 6.30 am and the first thing I do is make
myself a cup of coffee.
begin/b gnl a word meaning to start, used especially
when you are describing past events or telling a story Iv I]
The Industrial Revolution began in the seventeeth century. [
Once the judge was seated the trial began. I The movie was
just beginning when the fire alarm went off.
open/ opn/if a play, a film, or a show opens, it starts
being shown to the public Iv I]
Bertolucci's new film opens in London on March 15. [ A per-
manent exhibition of Moore's work will open next year. I "The
Mousetrap' by Agatha Christie opened in 1952 and has been
running ever since.
kick off /Ikik of II-a:f/an informal expression: if a
planned event such as a game or a meeting kicks off, it
starts [phr v I]
The conference was supposed to kick off at nine o'clock, but
the main speaker didn't arrive until ten. I kick offwith The
carnival kicked off with a wonderful firework display.
2 to start to exist
come into being/existence arise
spring up be born
come into being/existence /kAm into bi:irj,
l g zistns/if something such as an organization or a coun-
try comes into being or into existence, it starts to exist
Iv phrase]
The Communist Party came into existence in 1918. I Pakistan
came into existence as an independent country in 1947. I The
theory of evolution shows how different species came into
being.
spring up/I sprI hp/to suddenly start to exist in a very
short period of time [phr v I]

START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC
I noticed that a friendship had sprung up between the two
new children in the class. I Whenever you go into town a new
shopping centre seems to have sprung up. I New businesses
are springing up all the time.
arise/ Iraiz/if something such as a problem, a difficulty,
or an argument arises, it appears or starts, usually as a
result of something else happening Iv I]
An argument arose about the appointment of a new represen-
tative. I Our problems have chiefly arisen because of the reces-
sion.I arise from/out of Many questions arise out of the
results of this research.
be born/bi: :bo.-rn/an expression used especially when
you are describing the history of something: if an impor-
tant idea, group, or organization is bor.n, it starts to exist
Iv phrase]
Then the electric guitar was invented and rock "n' roll was
born. I Picasso was painting pictures in a Cubist style long
before the Cubist movement was born.
1294
ways of saying that a new law, rule, or system
officially starts
come into effect/operation
come into effect/operation /Ikm into Ifekt, opv-
rexfan ]]-(]:pv-/Iv phrase]
The new law came into effect in 1991. ] The government ban
on the sale or fireworks to children will come into operation
next month.
 ways of saying that something unpleasant
starts to happen
break out erupt
outbreak of set in
break out /Ibrek aot/[phr v I]
We had been driving all day and eventually an argument
broke out between the children. I A serious epidemic has
broken out in South America and thousands of people are
dying. I A price war may break out if there is too much com-
petition.
outbreak of/'aotbre i k or/the sudden beginning of a war
or fighting, or an illness that affects a lot of people In C]
The outbreak of revolution in Rumania led to the death of
Ceausescu. ] There's been an outbreak of fever at the school
and all the children have it. I There was widespread politi-
cal unrest in Britain in the five years before the outbreak of
the First World War.
erupt/' rapt/if fighting, violence etc erupts, it starts very
suddenly Iv I ]
A fight over a game of cards had erupted in the corner of the
bar. I Gang violence can erupt for no apparent reason, i
Shouts of protest erupted from all sides before the President
could finish her speech.
set in/, set m/if something bad sets in, for example bad
weather or an illness, it starts and seems likely to continue
[phr v I]
We wanted to stay in Burma longer but we had to leave
before the wet season set in. I The doctors operated immedi-
ately to prevent any infection setting in. [ My grandfather
emigrated to America in 1930, just as the Great Depression
set in.
starting from SINCE 1
starting point BEGINNING 4, COME FROM/ORIGINATE 9
startle FRIGHTENED 7
startling SURPRISED 6
starvation HUNGRY/STARVING 3
starve HUNGRY/STARVING 1
starve yourself EAT 11
starved: be starved of ENOUGH 12
starving HUNGRY/STARVING 1
starving/ravenous/famished HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 1
stash HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 1
stash away PUT 14
state CONDITION/STATE OF STH 1, COUNTRY/
NATION 1, 11, PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT 1,
SAY/STATE 1, 11
stay with
state: be in a state CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4,
NERVOUS 2, UPSET 2
state: the state GOVERNMENT
3
state of affairs SITUATION 1
state of flux: be in flux/be in a state of flux
CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 2
of mind/frame of mind MOOD 1
state
state of play SITUATION 3
state of shock: be in a state of shock SHOCK 4
state-of-the-art ADVANCED 1
statement SAY/STATE 9
statement: issue a statement SAY/STATE
statement: make a statement SAY/STATE 1
statesman/stateswoman POLITICS 3
station TELEVISION/RADIO 6
stationary NOT MOVING 4
stationed: be stationed SEND 4
statistics NUMBER 2
stature REPUTATION 1, TALL PERSON 2
status CLASS IN SOCIETY 1, POSITION/RANK 1
statute LAW 1
statute book: get onto/reach the statute book LAW 5
statutory LEGAl_ 2
staunch FAITHFUL 1
stay STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 2, 6,
STAY/NOT LEAVE 1 , 2, STILL 1, 2
stay: somewhere to stay/a place to stay STAY WITH
SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 4
stay afloat SURVIVE 3
stay alive SURVIVE 1
stay back: keep back/stay back NEAR 11
stay close/keep close NEAR 10
stay in STAY/NOT LEAVE 1
stay in bed WAKE UP/GET UP 6
stay in shape/keep in shape FIT PERSON 2
stay in touch: keep in touch/stay in touch CONTACT
SB 2
stay/keep away AVOID 1, 7
stay/keep away from NEAR 11
stay/keep clear of AVOID "7
stay on STAY/NOT LEAVE :3
stay out of it: stay/keep out of it INTERFERE 3
stay out of trouble BEHAVE 2
stay put STAY/NOT LEAVE 1 2
stay up ONION TOP OF 2, SLEEP 15
stay where you are NOT MOVING 6
stay with REMEMBER 6, STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL
ETC 1
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

STAY/NOT LEAVE 1295 STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC
@ STAY/NOT LEAVE
1 to stay in a place and not leave it
2 to stay in the same job, school etc and not
leave it
3 to stay somewhere for longer than expected
or longer than necessary
4 to stay somewhere too long so that people
get annoyed with you
1 to stay in a place and not leave it
stay sit tight
remain stay in
stay put stick around
stop
stay/ste/Iv I]
Stay where you are and don't move. I When the children were
small I stayed at home to look after them. I I was having such
a good time in Paris that Iphoned my mother to say I was
staying another week. I stay for dinner/a drink/a game
of cards ere Why don't you come around to my house? You
can stay for supper if you like.I stay behind (=stay in a place
when everyone else has left) He stayed behind after class
to ask the teachers a few questions.
remain/r; 'me;n/a formal word meaning to stay Iv I not
usually in progressive]
The agitators only remained in the country long enough to
cause trouble. I remain behind (=stay when everyone else
has left) The others were dismissed, but Harwood was asked
to remain behind.
stay put/,ste 'pot/to stay in the same place and not try
to move from there Iv phrase]
He won't stay put long enough for me to take the picture. I
If we stay put, they'll soon come and rescue us.
stop/stop II sto:p/an informal British word meaning to
stay somewhere, especially at someone's house Iv I]
I'm not stopping, I've just popped in to pick up some books. I
stop for tea/a chat/a cup of coffee ere Why don't you stop
for lunch - there's loads of food.
sit tight/,sit 'tait/to stay in the same place and wait until
a difficult or dangerous situation has ended before moving
Iv phrase]
You sit tight while I go and get help. I We'd better sit tight
until the fighting stops and it's safe to leave.
stay in/,ste] 'In/to stay in your house and not go out,
especially in the evening, when you might otherwise go out
to enjoy yourself [phr v I]
I don't have much money. I think I'll stay in tonight. I How
can you expect to make friends when you stay in all the time?
stick around /,stIk raond/ an informal expression
meaning to stay in the same place for a short time longer,
especially in order to wait for something that you expect
to happen [phr v I]
I stuck around hoping to get a glimpse of her but she never
showed up. I Don't bother to stick around for the audition
- you've no chance of getting a part.
2 to stay in the same job, school etc and not
leave it
stay
remain
stay put
stay/ste/[v I]
He joined Dupont after graduating, and stayed there until
he retired. I We're trying to persuade our daughter to stay
at school for another year. I Gascoigne announced earlier he
would be staying with the Lazio soccer team.
remain/r 'mein/a formal word meaning to stay in the
same job, school etc and not leave it Iv I not in progressive ]
He's decided to remain in his present job for the time being. I
Williams was offered $200,000 to remain with the Defense
Department.
stay put/,stei 'pot/to stay in the same job, school etc,
especially because you have to and not because you want
to Iv phrase]
In view of the worsening employment situation, I had no
choice but to stay put. I Even if I stay put for another year,
there's no guarantee I'll be promoted.
;3 to stay somewhere for longer than expected
or longer than necessary
stay on
linger
hover/hover around
stay on/,stei 'on II -'o:n/to stay somewhere after other
people have gone, or after you had expected to leave [phr
vI]
After the funeral the rest of the family went home but I stayed
on to look after Grandma. I stay on for three days/a week
etc Bleasdale was persuaded to stay on for a further two
years as Senior Vice-President. I stay on at school/the
bank etc I stayed on at college an extra year in order to
graduate with a double major.
linger/'l[rjgar/to stay in a place a little longer, either
because you are hoping to see someone, or because you are
enjoying yourself Iv I]
Jack lingered for a while in the hall, hoping to get the chance
to talk with her. I The two women lingered, gossiping by their
adjoining fences. I linger on A few fans lingered on after
the concert was over.
hover/h0ver around/'hova r, ,hovar 'raond ]l hn-/to
stay close to someone for a period of time, especially in a
way that annoys them [v I]
Stop hovering around me - can't you find anything better
to do? l I wanted him to come in but he just hovered in the
doorway.
4 to stay somewhere too long so that people
get annoyed with you
outstay/overstay your welcome
outstay/overstay your welcome/aotste, 3ov r i steI
j::r 'welkm/to visit or stay with someone for too long, so
that you are no longer welcome Iv phrase]
Isn't it about time your friends left? They're overstaying their
welcome a bit. I She was so worried about overstaying her
welcome that she left after only one night. I It was great
having him at first, but by Friday he'd definitely outstayed
his welcome.
STAY WITH SB, IN
A HOTEL ETC
1 to stay at someone else's house, for example
with a friend or relative
2 to stay in a hotel or in a room in someone's
house that you pay for
3 someone who is staying in a hotel or in
someone else's house
4 a place where you can stay for a short period
of time
5 to let someone stay with you for a short
period of time
6 the period of time that you stay somewhere
1 to stay at someone else's house, for example
with a friend or relative
stay with
visit with

1296
What word is the picture illustratin?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
steal 41%
shoplift 38%
other 21%
i! Read. the"cfiOieesat STEAL
STEAL
_:.,:7,':
2
to take something that does not belong
to you
to steal something that is not very
valuable or important
to steal things from a house, shop, bank
etc
3 to steal things from a house, shop, bank
etc
burgle loot
burglerize hold up
knock over
shoplift /'lop,loft II 'Io:p-/ to steal things from
shops by taking them from the shelves and
hiding them under clothes or in a bag [; I]
apS..[t:'a. te:i.':::i.6it:d:: 
What the 200 English and American teachers in
our survey said:
shoplift 93%
steal 4%
other 3%
.....................
•  ', ;7  " '   ,._ ..a:..-:,
,, .- ,,,.,ў,,,..=, .... ......... . . ,.:,,;.
' " z,tbhtT,. ,,i'zE . ',  . ,.....,, .... ,.,.,-.. -"".zz .. ,z,i:-.- ."

STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 1297 STEAL
stay with / stei wi6/to stay at the house of someone you
do not usually live with, for example a friend or relative
[vT]
Next time you come to Paris you can stay with us if you like. ]
The children stayed with Grandma and Grandpa when I
went into hospital for a week. I Julie will be staying with
friends in Vermont over the summer vacation.
visit with I 'vIzt w6/an American expression meaning
to stay at the house of a friend or relative Iv T]
I visited with my sister in Chicago. [ Feel free to come visit
with us anytime.
2 to stay in a hotel or in a room in someone's
house that you pay for
stay
board
lodge
stay Iste/Iv I]
We know where we want to go for our vacation but we still
haven't found anywhere to stay. [ stay at/in The hotel we'd
planned to stay at was all booked up so we spent the night
in the car. [ Morn and Pop usually stay in a little motel not
far from the beach.
board/b3:rd/to stay in a room in a family house or in a
house where other people have rooms, and where some or
all of your meals are provided Iv I]
Phoebe boards here during the week and goes home at
weekends. [ board with I boarded with the Jansens until I
found a place of my own.
lodge /lod3 [[ la:d3/ a word used especially in British
English meaning to pay rent to someone to live in a room
in their house Iv I1
lodge in/at ere Brigg had lodged at Mrs Fern's for two
years and had got quite used to sharing with the family. [
Rebecca lodged in an attic above the shop and came home
at weekends.
3 someone who is staying in a hotel or in
someone else's house
guest house guest
visitor lodger-
guest Igest! someone who is staying with friends, rela-
tives, in a hotel etc [n C]
I'd love to go with you, but I'm expecting guests this
weekend. [ Douglas was a frequent and welcome guest at
Laurier House. [ The hotel bar is for the use of guests only.
visitor/'vzItr/someone who has come to visit someone,
and stay in their home, especially for a short time In C]
Janice was relieved when her visitors left. [ Mr and Mrs
Dawson were expecting a visitor and had spent the whole
week getting the house ready. [ A royal visitor to the White
House in July was Prince Nasrulla Khan.
house guest/I haos gest/a friend or relative who stays
in your home for a short period of time [n C]
Could we get together another time? I have house guests all
this week.
lodger/lod5 ar [[ Ilo:-/a word used especially in British
English meaning someone who pays rent to live in a room
in someone else's house In C]
She liked having him as a lodger because he often helped her
look after the children. [ take in a lodger (=start having
a lodger in your home) They've taken in a lodger to get some
extra cash.
4 a place where you can stay for a short period
of time
accommodation/ digs
accommodations somewhere to stay/
lodgings a place to stay
accommodation (British) I accommodations
(American) I,kom'de.an(z) II ,ka:-/In UI
The local tourist office will help you find accommodation. [
The company said Bonnie could go on the training course,
but she had to pay for her own accommodations.
lodgings / lds]z [[ la:-/a word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning a house where you pay rent to the
people who own it so that you can live in one of their rooms
In plural]
Bill enjoyed living in lodgings, and got on very well with his
landlady. [ She's going to stay in lodgings until she finds a
place of her own.
digs/digz/an informal British word for a room in a house
that you pay rent for, especially temporarily, for example
because you are a student In plural]
In our third year at university we moved into digs in Elm
Street.
somewhere to stayla place to stay/,shmwe r t
stei, ;) ples t-/(used especially in spoken English) In
phrase]
Finding somewhere to stay can be your biggest problem at
the festival. [ If you need a place to stay, give me a call. [ Right,
that's the tickets and passports. Now we need somewhere to
stay.
5 to let someone stay with you for a short
period of time
put up
take in
put up/,pot 'Ap/to let someone, especially a friend, live
in your house for a short period of time [phr v T]
put sb/her/them etc up Don't worry about a hotel - we
can easily put you up for a few nights. [ put up sb She said
she had a spare room, but I don "t think she'll be able to put
up the entire team/
take in /teik I;n/to offer someone a place to live, espe-
cially because they need your help [phr v T]
take in sb For every child we take in, thousands are left to
look after themselves on the streets. [ take sb/her/them etc
in Mary got pregnant and when her parents threw her out
my mother took her in.
6 the period of time that you stay somewhere
stay
visit
stay/stel In singular]
On the last morning of his stay in London he went to see St
Paul's Cathedral. [ You'll only be here for an overnight stay
so just bring a change of clothes.
visit/'vtzt/the period of time that someone spends visit-
ing and staying in a place In C]
Our visit was completely spoiled by the theft of our pass-
ports. [ During their visit they will stay at the US Embassy.
staying power STRONG PERSON 6
steadfast DETERMINED 2
steady BALANCE 1, 2, CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT
9, CONTINUOUS 5, DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2
steady: be going steady RELATIONSHIP 4
steady your nerves CALM 3
steal COPY 4, STEAL 1
steal: be a steal CHEAP 3
@ STEAL
to take something that does not belong to
you
to steal something that is not very valuable or
important
to steal things from a house, shop, bank etc
to steal something from a person, especially
in a public place
to steal money that you have been trusted to
look after, especially from the place where
you work continued

STEAL 1298 STEAL
STEAL continued
someone who steals
the crime of stealing
a particular act of stealing
words for describing something that has been
stolen
1 to take something that does not belong to
you
steal go 6ff with/
take walk off with
rip off pinch
help yourself to nick
steal/sti:l/[v I/T]
steal sth Someone stole Ј250 from the office yesterday. I My
bicycle's been stolen! l She was found guilty of stealing infor-
mation from the firm's data bank. I steal I never thought
that one of my children would be caught stealing. I have sth
stolen The police found it odd that he should have had so
many things stolen in the same week. I get stolen Put your
skateboard away. If you don't it'll get stolen.
stealing In U] You can't just take things without payingfor
them - that's stealing!
take/telk/ to physically take something that does not
belong to you Iv T]
These burglars see something they want and just take it. I
Someone's been taking money from the till. I Areyou aware
that taking flowers from a private garden is a criminal
offence?
rip off Irp 'of II -':f/an informal expression meaning
to steal something, especially other people's possessions
[phr v T]
rip off sth They make their money ripping off TVs and
videos and then selling them. I "'Let's go," he said, stuffing
his clothes into a laundry bag he'd ripped off from the hotel.
help yourself to / help j3: r Iself tu:/an informal expres-
sion meaning to steal something very easily and as though
you do not think that you are doing something wrong Iv
phrase]
While no one was looking Louise and Alice helped themselves
to some apples and bananas. I Someone had got into the
house and helped themselves to jewellery and other valu-
ables.
go off with/walk off with/,gao 'Dfw6, ,wa:k- II -'a:f/
to steal something very easily, by picking it up and walk-
ing away with it, usually without anyone noticing Iv T not
in passive]
My bag's disappeared! That woman must have walked off
with it! I A thief only needs a moment to go off with your valu-
ables - so be careful.
pinch/p;nt/an informal word used especially in British
English meaning to steal something, especially something
fairly small and not valuable Iv T]
pinch sth Somebody's pinched all the pensfrom the cup-
board. I Do you know anything about the money that was
pinched? I get pinched I don't have a lawn mower any more
- it got pinched. I have sth pinched I almost had my car
pinched last time I went to Marie's.
nick/mk] an informal British word meaning to steal some-
thing Iv T]
nick sth Who's nicked my cigarettes? I He goes up to the
corner shop and nicks what he wants for Christmas for the
kids. I get nicked She's worried about her car stereo getting
nicked.
2 to steal something that is not very valuable or
important
pilfer
snitch
swipe
pilfer/'pIlfar/to steal things, especially because you do
not consider them to be of any value or of use to anyone
[v T]
Sean was caught pilfering glasses from the hotel. I The
villagers pilfered stones from ancient ruined cities to build
their houses.
pilfering In U] Losses from stores through shoplifting and
pilfering amounted to over a billion dollars last year.
snitch /snit/an informal American word meaning to
steal something, especially something small and not very
valuable Iv T]
The supermarket has a problem with kids snitching candy
bars off the shelves. ] He snitched his mother's bread knife
to do the job.
swipe/swalp/an informal word meaning to steal some-
thing when someone is not looking, especially when you
do not think this is very serious Iv T]
While I was swimming in the river, somebody swiped all my
clothes! I I wish I knew who'd swiped my earrings.
to steal things from a house, shop, bank etc
burgle loot
burglarize hold up
rob knock over
shoplift
burgle/'b3:rgal/to illegally enter a building, especially
a house or office, and steal things from it Iv T]
burgle sth It would have been easy to burgle the Davis'
house because they always left the bedroom window open. ]
In the two minutes it takes to read this page, three hom will
be burgled somewhere in this country. I have your house/
flat/place etc burgled Any employee who has had his car
stolen or his house burgled will need time off work.
burglarize I Iba:rgloralz/an American word meaning to
illegally enter a building, especially a house or office, and
steal things from it Iv T]
We had never been burglarized in broad daylight before. I
Police suspected that the same men who were noticed
loitering in the halls were responsible for burglarizing the
law office.
rob/rob [[ ra:b/to steal money or other property from a
bank, shop, or other public building Iv T]
Two men robbed the Central Bank yesterday, escaping with
one million dollars. [ He was imprisoned for five years for
robbing a gas station.
shoplift/oplift [[ 'a:p-/to steal things from shops by
taking them from the shelves and hiding them under
clothes or in a bag [v I]
The boy was caught shoplifting with several cassettes in his
pocket. [ Psychiatrists claim that many people shoplift due
to emotional worries or personal problems.
loot/lu:t/to steal things from shops or other buildings,
especially during a war or at a time when the police or
army have lost control of an area [v I/T]
His store was broken into and looted during the riot. [ loot
sth As the army advanced toward Mantes it burned and
looted everything that lay in its path.
looting In U] The looting must be stopped before more
damage is caused.
looter In C] In full view of our cameras, looters calmly
walked off with TVs, radios, and video recorders.
hold up / hoold 'Ap/to threaten the people who work in
a bank, or somewhere else that holds a lot of money, and
then steal the money [phr v T]
hold up sth John Blomax held up a bank on Market Street,
but was caught by police. [ The great train robbers were
among the last of their kind to hold up a train and get away
with it.
knock over/,nok I)OV) r [[ na:k-/an informal American
word meaning to rob a place such as a shop or bank by
threatening or attacking the people who work there [phr
vT]
knock over sth The police have found the man who knocked
over the gas station in Red River last fall.

STEAL 1299 STEAL
4 to steal something from a person, especially
in a public place
rob
mug
snatch
rob/rob II ra:b/Iv T]
rob sb Two youths had attacked him and tried to rob him
in Gloucester Park. I The woman had been robbed and was
badly shaken. I rob sb of A gang of thieves was at work, rob-
bing people of their possessions as they slept.
mug/m^g/to attack and rob someone in the street [v T]
He mugged three old ladies before he was caught. I He won't
go out at night - he's afraid of being mugged.
mugging In C ] Every night at least one mugging takes place
along this street.
snatch/snet/to steal someone's bag from them in the
street and then run away Iv T]
She felt someone push her, and realised that her purse had
been snatched. I The boy was found guilty of several crimes,
including snatching handbags and stealing from shops.
 to steal money that you have been trusted to
look after, especially from the place where
you work
embezzle
misappropriate
have your fingers in the till
embezzle/im'bezal/to steal money from the place where
you work for your own use, especially over a period of time
Iv T]
The court was told that Julie had been embezzling funds for
the last two years. I He embezzled large amounts of money
to finance his gambling
misappropriate /ImslpraoprieIt/ a formal or legal
word meaning to steal money for your own use, which you
had been trusted to keep safe Iv T]
The charity was trying to get back some money which had
been misappropriated by a former director.
have your fingers in the till/hev j:r ifiogorz in 60
Itd/ an informal expression used especially in British
English meaning to steal money from the place where you
work, especially when your work involves handling money
Iv phrase not in progressive]
They knew that money was going missing and Davy was
eventually caught with his fingers in the till. I I think a lot
of the management here have had their fingers in the till at
one time or another.
6 someone who steals
thief shoplifter
robber mugger
burglar kleptomaniac
thief/Oi:f/In C]
The thief had been very clever, and had taken great care not
to leave any fingerprints or other marks. I Senior citizens are
advised to let a thief take their belongings rather than risk
personal injury. I car/camera etc thief Two teenage car
thieves were caught near the station last night.
robber /Irobar II ro:-/ someone who regularly steals,
especially from houses, banks, and other buildings, and
who plans their crime in advance In C]
So far, the police say, the robber has taken videos, TVs and
cash. I train/bank robber etc The train robbers got away
with a huge amount of money. I armed robber (=a robber
who carries a gun) A policeman shot dead one armed robber
and wounded another during a raid on a supermarket
yesterday.
burglar /Iba:rglar/someone who illegally enters houses
or offices and steals things In C]
A burglar could easily get into this house if he wanted to. I
The old woman was scared of burglars, and had extra locks
fitted on all the doors and windows.
shoplifter I'op,lftarl someone who steals from shops by
taking things from the shelves and hiding them under their
clothes or in a bag In C]
We have recently installed closed circuit cameras to help
detect shoplifters.
mugger /Im^gar/ someone who attacks people in the
street and steals their money or other possessions In C]
Don't let anyone approach you in the street - they might be
a mugger. I Some areas of the city are filled with muggers,
pimps and prostitutes.
kleptomaniac I i klept Imenimk/someone who is always
stealing things, especially small things, and who cannot
stop doing this In C]
She must be some kind of kleptomaniac - she can't go into
a bar without coming out with a stack of glasses.
7 the crime of stealing
theft larceny
burglary shoplifting
robbery
theft/Oeft/[n U]
This warehouse is not adequately protected against theft or
vandalism. I I don't care if you took it from your mother -
it's still theft. I car/luggage/bicycle etc theft The rate of
bicycle theft in this area is very high.
burglary /Iba:rglari/ the crime of illegally entering a
house or other building and stealing things In U]
Foster had been in prison twice already for burglary. I Bur-
glary, murder and rape are all on the increase. I If you live
in an area where burglary is common, it may be worth
investing in an alarm system.
robbery /'robari II 'ro:-/ the serious crime of stealing
things, for example large amounts of money, from some-
where such as a bank or shop In U]
Perkins was given five years in prison for robbery with vio-
lence. I Robbery was believed to be the motive for the killing. I
armed robbery (=when the robbers carry guns) He made
two escape attempts while serving a sentence for armed
robbery.
larceny / Ilo:rsani! a word used especially in the Ameri-
can legal system meaning the crime of stealing In U]
Brook now faces probablejail after an indictment for larceny
and income tax evasion.
shoplifting [lfoplliftit]/the crime of stealing things from
shops, especially by taking things off the shelves and
hiding them under clothes or in a bag In U]
Shoplifting cost the major stores billions of dollars last year.
8 a particular act of stealing
theft hold-up
burglary stick-up
robbery raid
break-in job
theft/Oeft! In C]
On August 21 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, a
theft that led to national outrage. I car/bicycle etc thefts
There have been a number of bicycle thefts in this area.
burglary / I b3: rglari/an act of illegally entering and steal-
ing from a house or other building In C]
Since the burglary my wife has had difficulty sleeping. I
Eight out often burglaries are not committed by professional
thieves.
robbery/Irobari II Ira:-/an act of stealing from a bank,
shop etc, especially when this involves a lot of money or
when violence is used [n C]
I took part in my first robbery when I was only thirteenyears
old. [ O'Halloran was arrested for the Princes Street dia-
mond robbery. [ In the first nine months of this year there
were 9611 street robberies involving violence.
break.in / IbreIk :n/an act of stealing from a place such
as a house or an office when the thief enters by breaking
a door, window etc [n C]

STEAL 1300 STICK
We had a break-in at work last night. The thieves seem to
have got in through the bathroom window. I Our TV and
video have been stolen, but there's no sign of a break-in.
hold-up/holdup /Ihaold hp/ an act of stealing from a
place such as a bank or a train, in which people are threa-
tened with guns In C]
George was put in prison for his part in the bank hold-up. I
Even children commit holdups and shootings in some parts
of the country.
stick-up/I stik ^p/an informal American word for an act
of stealing from a place such as a bank or train, in which
people are threatened with guns In C]
A man in a mask came in and shouted, "'This is a stick-up."
raid/re:d/an act of stealing from a bank or shop, which
has been carefully planned, and which is done while the
bank or shop is open In C]
The police have a photograph of the woman responsible for
a huge armed bank raid in Scotland. I raid on Detectives
managed to catch the gunman who had taken three hostages
in a raid on a jeweller's shop.
Job/d3ob [[ dsa:b / an informal word meaning a carefully
planned and organized act of stealing, especially from a
bank In C ]
It was Melvyn Jones who did the bank job last month. [
inside job (-a theft from a building or organization done
by someone who works there) The police think that the theft
was an inside job, since only the staff knew that the money
was there.
9 words for describing something that has been
stolen
stolen
loot
haul
stolen I'stoln/[adj]
Thieves can sell stolen passports for a lot of money. I The
antiques he was selling turned out to be stolen. I Stolen goods
require rapid disposal.
loot/lu:t/an informal word meaning the things that have
been stolen during a particular robbery In U]
Right lads, pick up the loot, and let's get out of here. I Before
unloading the loot, they pretended to be anglers out for a
day's fishing.
haul/h:l/a large amount of things that have been stolen
[nC]
The police caught three men examining their haul in a house
in north London. ] She knows where a massive haul in cash
and other valuables is hidden. I a drugs haul
steam: let off steam ANGRY 6
steam: run out of steam TIRED 4
steam: under your own steam INDEPENDENT
PERSON 4
steamy SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 11
steel yourself PREPARE 3
steep EXPENSIVE 5
steer CONTROL 1
steer clear of AVOID 1
stem from RESULT 8
stench SMELL 3
step DO STH/TAKE ACTION 3, PROGRESS 3, WALK 16
step: be out Of step DIFFERENT 4
step: in step WALK 13
step: watch your step CAREFUL 4
step back BACK/BACKWARDS 2
step ir)" DO STH/TAKE ACTION 2
step on it HURRY 2
step out: pop out/step out LEAVE A PLACE 5
step out of line BEHAVE 3
step up INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC 2
stepmother/stepfather etc FAMILY 6
stepping stone PROGRESS 3
steps DANCE 3
steps: take steps/measures DO STH/TAKE ACTION 1
stereotype TYPE 5, TYPICAL 1
sterile BABY/HAVE A BABY 13, CLEAN 2
sterilize CLEAN 9
stern
stew
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
stick
STRICT 1
in your own juice SUFFER 2
PUSH 5, PUT 5, STICK 1, 2
around STAY/NOT LEAVE 1
at it/stick to it CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
by: stand by/stick by FAITHFUL 1
down STICK 1
in sb's mind REMEMBER 6
in the mud CHANGE YOUR MIND 4
it out FINISH DOING STH 7
out STICK OUT 1, 4
out a mile: it sticks/stands )ut a mile OBVIOUS 3
out like a sore thumb DIFFERENT 4
to: stand by/stick to PROMISE 7
to it: stick at it/stick to it CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
to the facts TRUE 3
to the rules OBEY 2
to your guns CHANGE YOUR MIND 5
together STICK 1, 2, UNITE 2
., stick up STICK OUT 1
:.,ў..{
... stick-up STEAL 8
:i!ii stick up for DEFEND 3
il}il stick your neck out RISK 3
!i ' stick your nose in: poke/stick your nose in
STICK
to fix something to something else with glue
or a sticky substance
ways of saying that one thing sticks to
another
words for describing something that will stick
easily to something else
1 to fix something to something else with glue
or a sticky substance
stick stick together
stick down glue
stick/st:k/[v T]
stick sth in/on ate It took hours to stick all these photos
in my album. I Gall stuck lots of posters on her bedroom
wall. I stick sth to sth He's stuck chewing gum to the bottom
of my chair.
stick down/stik daon/to fix something to a surface
using glue and putting pressure on it [phr v T]
stick sth/it/them down The label's coming off. Can you
stick it down again? I stick down sth Make sure you stick
down the envelope properly. The contents are confidential.
stick together /,st]k tge6r/ to stick two objects
together [phr v T]
Paul stuck two pieces of paper together. I The vase broke into
several pieces, but I was able to stick them all back together.
glue/glu:/to fix something to a surface using glue Iv T]
glue sth to sth Glue a photo of yourself to the top right-hand
corner of the application form. I glue sth The chair leg is
broken - I'll try to glue it.
ways of saying that one thing sticks to
another
stick adhere
stick together grip
stick/stik/[v I]
stick to sb/sth He sat on the wet paint and it stuck to his
jeans. I Peter was very hot, and his shirt was sticking to his
body. I stick I can't get this stamp to stick.

STICK 1301 STICK OUT
stick together/istIk talge6ar/ if two or more things
stick together, they stick to each other because they have
a sticky substance on them [phr v I]
I spilled coffee on my book and some of the pages stuck
together, i Sheets of waxed paper are placed between the ham-
burgers to stop them sticking together.
adhere/adhmr/a formal word meaning to become stuck
to a surface or to another object iv I]
The operation will have to be repeated because the patient's
bones didn't adhere sufficiently. I adhere to sth The machine
is cleaned regularly to stop dirt adhering to the working
parts. I Edam cheeses have waxed coatings which adhere
tightly to the cheese.
grip /grip/ to stick to something firmly and without
slipping, by pushing against it Iv T]
The car has special wide tyres which grip the road really
well.
grip In U] If you're going rock-climbing you must wear shoes
that will give you a good grip.
3 words for describing something that will stick
easily to something else
sticky
tacky
adhesive
sticky/' stIki/made of or covered with a substance that
sticks to surfaces [adj]
She wrote her address on a sticky label and put it on her suit-
case. I This paper feels all sticky - have you spilt marmalade
on it? I The kids thought the sticky clay was lovely to play
with.
tacky / tmki/made of or covered with a substance that is
slightly sticky [adj]
Don't touch the paint. It's still tacky. I The sun was so hot
that it made the road surface tacky.
adhesive /adhi:sv/ adhesive material or paper is
covered with a sticky substance such as glue, that makes
it stick to surfaces [adj usually before noun]
The first aid box has adhesive dressings and antiseptic
cream in it. I He attached the paper to the wall with special
adhesive tape.
@ STICK OUT
to stick out from a surface or through an
opening
words for describing something that sticks out
something that sticks out
to deliberately make part of your body stick
out
protrude/pratru:d l[ prao-/ a formal word meaning to
stick out, especially to stick out further than is normal or
expected Iv I]
protrude from/through The broken bone protruded
through the man's skin. I I noticed a metal pipe protruding
from the wall. I protrude His arms were soft and shapeless,
his gut protruded like a huge basketball.
jut out/ids^t aot/if something juts out, for example a
piece of land or a part of a building, it sticks out sharply
and in a way that is very noticeable [phr v I]
jut out from/of/through/over Our guide led us to where
a fiat rock juts out from the side of the cliff. I The river was
lined with houses that jutted out over the water.
poke out/, pok aot/if something that is supposed to be
hidden or covered pokes out, it sticks out from something
that it is inside or is covered by [phr v I]
poke out of/from/through Susan tried to hide the letter
but I could see it poking out of her pocket. I Ella looked at
the tiny, dirty face poking out from the wool blanket.
bulge /bAld3/ if something such as a pocket or a bag
bulges, it sticks out in a rounded shape, especially because
it is too full Iv I]
The suitcases were bulging and I could hardly lift them up. I
His pockets bulged permanently with all the junk that he kept
in them.
project/pro  d3ekt/if part of a building, mountain, or other
very large object projects somewhere, it sticks out in that
direction Iv II
project into/over/from/through An old wooden balcony
projected over the street. [ The pier would be 1000 metres long
and project about 400 metres into the sea.
words for describing something that sticks out
prominent
protruding
bulging
prominent I'pmmnant [I 'pro:-/a part of someone's body
that is prominent is large and sticks out in a way that
people notice [adjl
Stephen is very handsome despite having a particularly
prominent nose. i Her stomach is fairly prominent but this
is typical of a child of 3 or 4 years.
protruding/praltru:dn3 II prao-/sticking out more than
is normal [adj only before noun]
Dentists have developed a new device to correct protruding
teeth. I Fortunately, as she fell, the rope caught on a protrud-
ing shelf of rock in the side of the cliff.
bulging /b^lds:rj/ bulging stomach/bag/pocket etc
(=sticking out in a rounded shape) [adj only before noun l
The athlete's bulging muscles were shiny with sweat. I Ginny
came through the door with a bulging suitcase -full of gifts
for the children.
I to stick out from a surface or through an
opening
stick out poke out
stick up bulge
protrude project
jut out
stick out/,stik 'aot/[phr v I]
The boy wore glasses and his front teeth stuck out. i The
fridge door won't shut because there's something sticking
out. I stick out of/from/through etc There was a long thin
pole sticking out of the ground, i His elbows stuck out
through holes in his old motheaten sweater.
stick up/tstIk ^p/to stick out and point upwards [phr v I]
When Sally arrived at school this morning her hair was all
sticking up at the back. i stick up from/through/in etc
Sticking up through the roof was an enormous television
aerial. I The dog came bounding up to us, his tail sticking
up in the air.
3 something that sticks out
bulge
lump
bump
bulge/bAlds/something, especially a part of the body, that
sticks out in a rounded shape In C]
Amanda chose her clothes carefully, to hide the slight bulges
of middle-age. [ Craig had a tape recorder hidden under his
coat, but fortunately it didn't make much of a bulge.
lump/lAmp/something, especially something small, that
sticks up in a rounded shape from the skin or from a
surface In C]
When I noticed that the lump on my neck was getting bigger,
I decided to go to the doctor. [ No one noticed the lump under
the carpet where she had hidden the money.
bump/b^mp/something that sticks up in a rounded shape,
for example from the surface of a road or piece of land In C]
The car rattled every time we went over a bump in the road. [
The field was covered in small bumps, apparently caused by
moles.

STICK OUT 1302 stock
4 to deliberately make part of your body stick
out
stick out
poke out
put out
stick out/stik 'aotl [phr v T]
stick sth/it/them out A woman stuck her head out of the
window and told us to come upstairs. I stick out sth Louise
looks very odd when she runs. She sticks out her elbows. I
stick your tongue out (=in order to be rude to someone)
When I told him to stop he just stuck his tongue out at me.
poke out / ,p0ok  act] to quickly stick part of your body
out from something that it is insideor behind [phr v T]
poke sth/it/them out Several passengers poked their
heads out of the train window and looked down the line. I
I poked my hand out of the tent to see if it was still raining
outside. I poke out sth We saw the rabbit poke out its nose
and sniff the air.
put out I lpot laot/to stick a part of your body out of some-
thing, especially slowly or carefully [phr v T]
put sth/it/them out Lionel opened the door and put his
head out to see who was there. I She put her hand out of the
car window to feel the cool air on her skin. I put out sth The
doctor asked me to put out my tongue and say "'Aah. ""
stickler: be a stickler for STRICT 1
sticky STICK 3, WET 5
sticky end: come to a sticky end DIE 2
stiff BEND 5, BODY 4, HARD 2, HURT/CAUSE PAIN 3,
MOVE STH OR SB 6, POLITE 3, STRICT 7,
THICK LIQUID 1
stiff upper lip: keep a stiff upper lip CALM 1
stiffen HARD 6
stifle PREVENT 12
stifling AIR 4
stifling/stifling hot HOT 7
stigma ASHAMED 2
still BUT 2, NOT MOVING 1, 3, 5, PEACEFUL 1,
STILL 1, 2
still: I can still REMEMBER 4
still: keep still/stay still NOT MOVING 6
NOT MOVING
@ STILL
ways of saying that something is still the same
or still the way it was in the past
ways of saying that something still exists or is
still in the same place
1 ways of saying that something is still the same
or still the way it was in the past
still continue to be
stay keep
remain
still/stil / [adv]
Even though they've moved out of the neighborhood we still
see them quite a lot. I Most people are still confused about
how the new tax will affect them. I Of the original patients
who had heart-lung transplants, 225 are still alive.
stay/steI/if someone or something stays in a particular
state, they are still the same as they were, and nothing has
changed Iv ]
They stayed friends after their divorce. [ The details of her
death have stayed a closely guarded secret.
remain/ri tmeIn/a formal word meaning to stay the same
as before, even after a long time Iv]
The three women have remained friends ever since they met
at an evening class. I He remains the only player to score in
twelve consecutive games. I A year after the civil war had
ended the situation in the country remained tense. I Despite
all the warnings he remained unconvinced that smoking was
bad for his health.
continue to be/kon |t:nju: to bi:l to be the same as in the
past, especially when you might have expected there to
have been a change Iv phrase]
Inflation continues to be one of the government's main
problems. [ UN soldiers continue to be killed for nothing. [
Peanut growing continues to be the main industry in
Senegal.
keep/ki:p/keep quiet/awake/silent ete (=continue to
be quiet, awake, silent etc, especially when you have to
make an effort to do this) Iv]
Paul managed to keep awake by drinking lots of strong
black coffee. I Keep quiet, will you. I The prosecution's main
witness has received death threats to make her keep silent.
2 ways of saying that something still exists or is
still in the same place
still remain
stay linger
still/stil / lady]
Soloviov returned to the town where he was born after more
than forty years and found his old house still standing. [
After two hours we were still stuck in a traffic jam.
stay/stei/if someone or something stays somewhere, it
remains in that place Iv I]
The car was abandoned in afield, and there it stayed until
police towed it back. [ stay with He stayed with the company
for over thirty years. [ The memory of his father's death
stayed with him all his life.
remain/r men/to still exist or still be in the same place,
especially after a long period of time Iv I not usually in
progressive]
remain with Her unhappy face remained with me through-
out the rest of my journey. [ The picture remained with the
artist's family for a number of years. [ remain The com-
puters remained in their boxes until enough money was
found to buy the software needed to operate them.
linger / llrgor/if a sight, smell, or taste lingers you can
still see it, smell it, or taste it even after a long time Iv I]
Garlic has a taste which tends to linger in your mouth after
you have swallowed it. [ The faint smell of cigar smoke lin-
gered on in the room.
stillborn BABY/HAVE A BABY 10
stimulating INTERESTING 2
stimulation INTERESTING 2
stimulus CAUSE 14
sting HURT/CAUSE PAIN 2, 3
.:. stingy GENEROUS 2
stink SMELL 3, 5
: stink the place out/stink the place up SMELL 5
stinking SMELL 5
stinking rich/filthy rich RICH 3
stint PERIOD OF TIME 3
stipulate SAY/STATE 11
. stipulation CONDITION/STH THAT MUST BE DONE 2
• stir MIX 1, 2, MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 1, WAKE
i:.ii UP/GET UP 1
stir it/stir it up ARGUE 4
stir up CAUSE 8
stitches: have sb in fits/stitches/hysterics LAUGH 7
stock AMOUNT 5, KEEP/STORE 2, SELL 4, TYPICAL 1,
-- USUALLY 3

stock 1303 STOP DOING STH
stock: be out of stock SELL 16
stock: take stock THINK ABOUT 3
stock up BUY 2
stocky STRONG PERSON 2
stodgy FULL 4
stolen STEAL 9
stomach: can't stomach STAND/BEAR 3
stomach: on an empty stomach EAT 12
stomach: turn your stomach DISGUSTING 3
stomach-ache: backachelearachelstomach-achel
toothache PAIN 3
stomp WALK 7
stone THROW 8
stone: leave no stone unturned LOOK FOR 2
stone dead/dead as a doornail DEAD 1
stone deaf: be stone deaf/as deaf as a post HEAR 6
stoned DRUG 4
stone's throw: be a stone's throw from NEAR 4
stool pigeon TELL 12
stoop BEND 2, DO 6
stop PREVENT 1, 2, STAY/NOT LEAVE 1, STOP
DOING STH 1, 4, 5, STOP HAPPENING 1, STOP
MOVING 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, STOP STH THAT IS
HAPPENING 1, 2, 3, 6, SWITCH ON OR OFF 2
stop: come to a stop/halt STOP MOVING 3
stop: put a stop to STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 6
stop at: call at/stop at GO 3
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
stop
at nothing DETERMINED 5
back RETURN 2
by VISIT 6
dead/stop in your tracks STOP MOVING 1
doing that STOP DOING STH 2
drinking: give up drinking/stop drinking DRINK 9
for a moment/a while/a second PAUSE 1
it/that STOP DOING STH 2
off VISIT 6
over VISIT 6
short of NOT DO STH 2
work STOP DOING STH 7
STOP MOVING
HAPPENING
FINISH DOING
STH
PAUSE
PREVENT
STOP DOING STH
1 to stop doing something
:2 ways of telling someone to stop doing
something, especially something that you find
annoying
;3 to stop doing something, especially
something difficult, without successfully
completing it
4 to stop doing something that you used to do
regularly
5 to stop doing something that you used to do
regularly, because it is harmful or unhealthy
6 to stop having a particular kind of food or
drink
7 to stop working, especially at the end of the
day
 to stop working at the end of your working life
or when you can no longer do your job
9 words for describing something that you are
unable to stop doing
1 to stop doing something
stop quit
finish cease
stop/st, II sta:p/[v I/T]
stop doing sth I stopped reading and turned out the light. I
If you stop talking and start listening you might actually
learn something. I As soon as she picks the baby up, he stops
crying. I stop He wrote quickly, but from time to time he
stopped and looked out of the window. I stop what you are
doing Could you stop what you are doing and pay attention,
please?l stop for lunch/coffee/a break etc (=stop what
you are doing in order to eat something, have a rest etc)
What time do you want to stop for lunch?
finish/'fin/to stop doing something because you have
completed it Iv I/T]
finish doing sth Can I borrow that when you have finished
reading it? [ When you finish painting the house you can start
on the garage. [ finish She spoke for ten minutes, and when
she had finished, the chairman rose to thank her.
qeit Ikwt] an American word meaning to stop doing some-
thing Iv I/T]
quit doing sth I quit reading my book and listened to what
morn and dad were telling me. [ Suddenly she quit talking,
turned her face to the pillow and went to sleep. [ quit When
the lights went off we'd start holding hands, and we wouldn't
quit till the movie was over.
©ease/si:s! a formal word meaning to stop doing some-
thing Iv I/T]
cease doing sth The French have ceased fighting and asked
for peace negotiations [ cease sth She appeared unable to
cease her dreadful weeping. [ cease to do sth By the follow-
ing week, most people had ceased to obey the 6 pm curfew.
ways of telling someone to stop doing
[ something, especially something that you find
annoying
stop doing that cut it out
stop it/that pack it in
quit it/that/doing that lay off
stop doing that/,stop 'dtl:Irj 6et l[ ,sta:p-/
Stop doing that/You're giving me a headache. [ stop doing
sth Stop interrupting and listen to me. [ Stop treating me as
if I were a fifteen year old.
stop it/that/stop t, ,6et [[ sta:p-/
Stop that/You'll break it/[ "'Stop that, "' he shouted, "'Stop
it at once. "'

STOP DOING STH 1304 STOP DOING STH
quit It/that/doing that/'kwlt It, 6t, du:l[i ,6t/(used
especially in American English when you want someone
to stop doing something)
Quit that! You'll spoil the cake if you touch it. I I hated the
way she was teasing me. "Quit it!" I said. I Quit fooling
around and pay attention.
cut it out/,kAt it 'at)t/(used when you want someone to
stop behaving badly or stupidly)
"Dad, Johnny pulled my hair. .... Cut it out, you two. "1 "Just
cut it out, "' I said, very annoyed at him. I "'Cut it out, Jim.
Stop acting like a kid. '"
pack it in / pek it 'in/(a British expression used when
you want someone to stop doing or saying something that
is annoying you a lot)
Oh, pack it in! I'm sick of listening to ou moaning all the
time. I "'Can't you pack it in?" I kept begging him. "'I'm too
tired to listen to your stupid jokes. '"
lay off/leI of II -':f/(used when you want someone to
stop saying or doing things, especially to you, that are
making you angry)
Look, I don't want to argue with you, so just lay off [ "'You
don't understand. I really love you. " "Oh, lay off "' said Celia,
and pulled away from him. I lay off sth Lay off the swear-
ing if you don't mind.
3 to stop doing something, especially
something difficult, without successfully
completing it
give up forget
abandon quit
drop put sth on ice/
leave it at that on the back burner
give up/,glv 'Ap/[phr v I/TI
She gave up when she saw it was no use arguing with him. I
I warn you, I don't give up easily, I shall try again. I give
up sth We will never give up our struggle. I give up doing
sth Even our meteorologists have given up trying to predict
the weather accurately. I give it/that up He tried to start
a business, butgave that up in 1980 when he realized he was
near to financial disaster.
abandon/'bendn/abandon a project/search/strug-
gle/efforts etc (=stop doing something, especially some-
thing important, because it is too difficult or is causing too
many problems) [v T]
The company decided to abandon the project in view of the
ever-increasing cost. I Due to rough weather, the coast guard
had been forced to abandon the search, i Afterfive unsuccess-
ful attempts, the mountaineers have abandoned their bid to
climb Everest.
drop/drop II dro:p/to stop doing something, planning to
do something, or talking about something, because it does
not seem useful or because people are opposed to it [v T]
Because of strong opposition, the government has dropped
plans to increase taxes. I "7"ve got too much important work
to do," Sara said. "I can't just drop everything and go off
on a picnic. ""
leave it at that/,li:v it t '6atl to stop doing something
because you are satisfied that you have done enough
[ v phrase]
Tom wanted to leave it at that, but his father wanted him
to see another doctor. I She had cleaned the room quite
thoroughly, and some people would leave it at that. But not
Alice.
forget/fr 'get/a word meaning to stop doing something
or thinking about doing it, used especially when suggest-
ing to someone that they should stop [v T not usually in
progressive]
Look, this isn't going to work, we aren't making any
progress, - let's just forget it. I My father told me it was stupid
and to forget the whole idea. I "Yes, Mr Lang. "' "'Look, why
don't you call me John and let's forget the formal stuff. "'
quit/kwit/an American expression meaning to stop doing
something because it seems pointless to continue [v I/T]
Bill was cold, hungry and tired and he wanted to quit. I She
was having a lot of trouble finding a job, but she refused to
quit. I quit doing sth Iquit asking her out when it got obvi-
ous she'd never accept.
put sth on ice/on the back burner /,pot (sth) on
on 5 ,bmk 'ba:rnr/if you put a plan, suggestion, idea etc
on ice or on the back burner, you decide to stop doing it
or thinking about it, because you intend to deal with it at
some time in the future Iv phrase]
We're going to have to put our plans on ice until we've raised
some more money. I I'm not sure that I like your idea for a
new car share scheme. I think we'll put it on the back burner
for a while.
4 to stop doing something that you used to do
regularly
stop
give up
drop
stop/stDp II sto:p/Iv I/T]
stop doing sth I stopped going to football games when I
started college. I Nobody wants this sort of car any more so
the factory has stopped making them. I stop "I thought you
were working. '" "`i was. I had to stop when I got pregnant. ""
give up/,glv 'Ap/to stop doing something that you used
to do regularly, especially because you are no longer phys-
ically able to do it or you do not have enough time or money
[phr v T]
give up doing sth As he grew older he gave up going for
walks and seldom went out. I He was crippled in middle age
by arthritis and had to give up riding and farming. I give
up sth People think that just because you have a baby you
should give up everything. I give sth/it up David enjoyed
playing tennis but tended to give it up during exam time.
drop /drop II dro:p/ drop a subject/English/Science/
Geography etc (=choose to stop studying a subject at
school, college, or university) Iv T]
I'm going to drop Physics this term. I I regret dropping
French in my second year at school because I can "t speak any
foreign languages now.
to stop doing something that you used to do
regularly, because it is harmful or unhealthy
stop kick the habit
quit grow out of
give up come off
break the habit pack in
stop/stop II stct:p/[v I/T]
stop doing sth Try to persuade your husband to stop smok-
ing before he has a heart attack. I I feel healthier since I
stopped eating so much red meat. I My doctor told me that
ifl didn 't stop drinking whiskey, I'd be dead within a year. I
stop She used to drink and smoke quite heavily, and feels
much better now she's stopped.
quit/kwit/an informal word meaning to stop doing some-
thing that is a habit, especially a bad or harmful habit [v
I/T]
quit doing sth They told me at the hospital to quit drink-
ing for a while. I I'd quit taking the pills because they were
making me overweight. ] quit I know I shouldn "t smoke. I've
tried to quit lots of times but I just can't.
give up/,gIV '^p/give up cigarettes/alcohol/drugs/
smoking/drinking etc (=stop smoking, drinking, taking
drugs etc because it is harmful or unhealthy) [phr v I/T]
give up doing sth You should take extra care with your diet,
or better still, give up smoking. [ give up sth Help the body
rid itself of toxins by giving up alcohol, tea and coffee,
cigarettes and refined sugars. I give sth/it/them up I
gradually cut down on the drug-taMng and eventually gave
it up altogether. [ give up If you're thinking of giving up,
nicotine chewing gum can sometimes help.
break the habit/,breik 6a haebaIt/to stop behaving in
a way that for a long time has been a habit, especially a bad
habit [v phrase]

STOP DOING STH 1305 STOP HAPPENING
I've always bitten my fingernails, and don't know how to
break the habit. I break the habit of doing sth A good way
to break the habit of eating too quickly is to put your knife
down between every mouthful.
kick the habit /kik 6 Ihmbt/an informal expression
meaning to stop doing something that is a harmful habit,
especially taking drugs or smoking [v phrase]
Some smokers use hypnosis to help them kick the habit. [ This
treatment helps to keep addicts who have kicked their habit
from returning to drugs.
grow out of /Igmo aot o [[ -fl:v/if a child grows out
of a habit, they stop doing it as they get older [v T/
Wetting the bed is a common problem, but children nearly
always grow out of it eventually. [ Don't worry about his
stupid behavior, he'll grow out of it by the time be's fourteen.
come off /kAm of [[ -:f/ come off drugs/pills ete
(=stop taking medicine or drugs that you have been taking
regularly) [v T not in passive]
The doctor told me I could come off the drugs six months after
the operation. [ She's been trying to come off cocaine for years.
pack in/pak in/an informal expression meaning to
stop doing something bad that you used to do [phr v T/
pack sth/it/them in No, he doesn't drink any more. Didn't
you hear? He's packed it in. [ pack in sth Trying to pack in
something like heroin addiction is no joke.
6 to stop having a particular kind of food or
drink
cut out
lay off
cut out /kAt aot/ cut out meat/eggs/fat/chocolate
(=stop eating meat, eggs etc but continue eating all your
other usual foods) [phr v T/
With this diet, I have to cut out bread, cookies, and cakes. [
Try to cut out red meat and dairy produce.
lay off/,le Iof [[-'a:f/ lay off alcohol/drugs/fat etc
(=stop having alcohol, drugs, fat etc because you have been
advised to, although you may only stop temporarily) [v T/
Maybe you should lay off the potatoes for a while until you've
lost a little weight. [ If he really wants to write the book, he'll
lay off the drink until he does it.
7 to stop working, especially at the end of the
day
stop work knock off
finish work call it a day
pack up
stop work/,stop 'wa:rk [I ,sto:p-/[v phrase]
We stop work at half past three on Fridays. [ Could you all
stop work and listen for a moment - I have an important
announcement to make.
finish work/,finij" wa:rk/to stop work at the end of the
day [ v phrase/
What time do you finish work? [ He took her to Mike's Bar
when they finished work. [ finish (=finish work) I don't
finish until seven tonight, so I'll be late home.
pack up /pak Ap/a British expression meaning to stop
work, put away your work equipment, and go home [phr
vI]
Everyone packed up and went home. [ Simon, I think I'll pack
up now. I have a visitor coming tonight.
knock off/nok of [[ na:k a:f/an informal expression
meaning to stop work, especially slightly earlier than usual
[phr v I/
Is it okay if I knock off a little early tonight? [ knock off for
the day All the schools had knocked off for the day and the
streets were full of kids walking home.
call it a day /,k:l tt  'de/an informal expression mean-
ing to decide to stop working because you have done
enough work, because you are very tired, or because it is
late [v phrase]
Exhausted, she checked her watch and decided to call it a
day. [ Look, we're all tired - let's call it a day.
 to stop working at the end of your working life
or when you can no longer do your job
retire
bow out
retire/rI Ita;)r/ [v I]
Mrs Davies retired after 45years with the company. [ Every-
one should have the right to a pension when they retire. [
retire at My father retired at 65.
retirement |n U/Since her retirement she's been spending
more time with her grandchildren.
bow out /bao aot/to stop doing your job or leave your
position in an organization after a long time, so that some-
one else can have it instead [phr v I/
I feel the time has come for me to bow out and let a younger
person take my place. [ bow out gracefully (=willingly, and
in a way that people respect and admire) If he refuses to bow
out gracefully, we'll have to find some way to get rid of him.
9 words for describing something that you are
unable to stop doing
compulsive
compulsive Ikm'p^IsIv/compulsive behaviour/gam-
bling/drinking/eating etc (=that you do continuously
without being able to stop yourseLf) [adj]
Her problem is her compulsive eating. [ Compulsive behavior
is often associated with stress-induced mental disorders. [ be
a compulsive liar/eater/gambler etc (=be unable to stop
lying, eating etc) He's a compulsive liar - you can't believe
a word he says.
@ STOP HAPPENING
1 to stop happening
2 ways of saying that a fire stops burning
1 to stop happening
stop fizzle out
cease peter out
come to an end wear off
stop/stop II sto:p/[v I]
When will all the fighting stop? [ Catherine stood watching
the rain, hoping it would stop soon. [ As suddenly as it had
started, the hammering noise stopped. [ Pollution will not
stop unless you make it financially painful for the compa-
nies responsible.
cease/si:s/a formal or technical word meaning to stop
happening [v I/
The malarial attacks occurred less frequently and after six
months they had ceased. I Presently, the rain ceased and the
sun came out, making the roads steam. I At absolute zero all
molecular motion ceases.
come to an end/, kAm tu n end/if something comes
to an end, especially something that has been happening
for a long time, it stops happening [v phrase]
When Mr Lewis retired, the company's annual day trips
came to an end. [ The college closed as a centre of agricul-
tural research and their experiments came to an end in 1870.[
All good things must come to an end.
fizzle out/, flzal 'aot/an informal expression meaning to
gradually stop happening, especially because people
become less interested in it [phr v I/
Student protests usually fizzle out at examination time. [
When we first moved here, he was really keen to do the
decorating and cleaning, but that soon fizzled out.
peter out /Ipi:tor aot/to gradually stop happening, for
no particular reason [phr v I/
Our meetings were quite frequent at first, but then they just
petered out. [ Complaints about the school petered out and
it began to re-establish its reputation.

STOP HAPPENING 1306 STOP MOVING
wear off/wezr 'of II pain or the effect of some-
thing wears off, it gradually becomes less until it stops
altogether [phr v I]
The effects of the anaesthetic will wear off within a few
hours. I The shock has not worn off yet and he seems to be
walking around in a daze. I the novelty wears off (=when
you stop feeling interested or excited about something
because it is no longer new) "He won't leave his new com-
puter alone. '" "Don't worry - the novelty will soon wear off."
 ways of saying that a fire stops burning
go out
die down
burn itself out
go out/g+o 'aot/if a fire, match etc goes out, it stops
burning, especially because there is nothing left to burn
[phr v I]
The fire has gone out. I Suddenly the candle went out. I The
symbolic flame that burns over the soldier's tomb will never
go out.
die dewn/dal 'daon/ if a fire or flame dies down, it
burns less strongly [phr v I/
The fire slowly died down during the night. I The barbecue
is not ready for use until the flames have died down and the
charcoal is glowing.
burn itself out/,ba:rn itself 'aot/if a fire burns itself
out, it burns until there is nothing left to burn, so that it
stops Iv phrase]
Firemen are hoping that the fire will burn itself out before
dawn. I It's only a small fire. We can leave it to burn itself out.
STOP MOVING
to stop running, walking, driving etc
ways of saying that a moving object stops
moving
ways of saying that a car, train, or other
vehicle stops moving
to make a car, bus etc stop moving by using
the controls
ways of saying that the driver of a car, bus
etc stops it in a particular place
to regularly stop at a particular place so that
passengers can get on and get off
to make someone stop moving
words for describing a journey during which
you do not stop
1 to stop running, walking, driving etc
stop stop dead/stop in your tracks
halt freeze
come to a halt
stop/stop 11 sto:p/[v I]
I was so tired, I had to stop and rest. [ Stop! Don't cross the
road by yourself! [ I stopped only in remote villages to pick
up supplies.
halt/ha:lt/a formal word used especially in a military con-
text, meaning to stop walking, moving, or running [v I/
The soldiers halted at the sergeant's order. I We halted as we
reached the dangerous ravine. I "'Halt! Who's there?" barked
the sentry.
come to a halt/ kAm to o 'h:lt/to slow down and stop
Iv phrase/
come to a halt next to/beside/outside etc The group of
tourists came to a halt outside the museum. I I strolled along
the sea-front, coming to a halt next to a cafe.
stop dead/stop in your tracks/,stop 'ded, ,stop ]n
ja: r 'tracks 11 ,sto:p-/to suddenly stop, especially because
something has surprised or frightened you [v phrase]
Katie stopped dead and stared at him. I Francesca stopped
in her tracks. "'What a lovely house," she exclaimed. I The
mule suddenly dug in its hoofs and stopped dead.
freeze/fri:z/to stop moving very suddenly and stay com-
pletely still and quiet [v I/
I froze, and listened. Someone was in my apartment. I
"Freeze! Drop your weapons!" shouted Officer Greer.
 ways of saying that a moving object stops
moving
stop
come to rest
stop/stop II sta:p/[v I/
The bottle rolled across the floor and stopped near the door. [
It doesn't look as if the lava flowing down the mountain will
stop before it reaches the village.
come to rest/,kam t 'rest/to gradually slow down and
stop [v phrase]
come to a rest in/at/on etc The rock rolled down the hill
and came to rest at the bottom. I The ball slipped through the
goalkeeper's hands and came to rest in the back of the net.
 ways of saying that a car, train, or other
vehicle stops moving
stop come to a standstill
come to a stop/halt grind to a halt
•
stop/stp II sta:p/Iv I]
stop at/outside/on ere The car stopped outside the garage
in the main street, t stop The train stopped and all the
passengers got out.
ceme te a step/halt/,khm to  'stop, 'ha:lt II -sto:p/to
gradually slow down and then stop [v phrase]
come to a stop outside/next to etc The taxi came to a stop
outside the hotel. I come to a sudden/abrupt halt As Mr
Thanoo spoke the train came to an abrupt halt, nearly throw-
ing us on the floor of the carriage. I come to a complete stop
The plane taxied to the terminal before coming to a complete
stop.
come to a standstill /,kAm to  'standstil/ to stop
gradually and completely Iv phrase]
The train came to a standstill about a mile outside Abbeville
and didn't move for 20 minutes.
grind tea halt /,graind to  ha:lt/ifa large, heavy vehi-
cle grinds to a halt, it stops slowly and noisily [v phrase]
The whistle blew as the old train ground to a halt outside
the station. I The tank ground to a halt only inches from the
barricade.
4 to make a car, bus etc stop moving by using
the controls
stop
brake
slam on the brakes
stop/stop II sto:p/[v T]
Stop the car. I want to get out. [ The driver stopped the train
just before the station.
brake/brelk/to make a car, bus etc slow down or stop by
using the controls Iv I]
She braked as the guards came towards the car.[ brake
hard/sharply The driver had to brake sharply to avoid an
accident.
slam on the brakes /,slmm on 6 'breiks/to make a car,
bus etc stop very suddenly by pressing very hard on the
brakes Iv phrase]
I slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop.
ways of saying that the driver of a car, bus
etc stops it in a particular place
stop pull up
pull in park
pull over

STOP MOVING 1307 STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING
stop/stop II sto:p/[v I1
Could you stop just here, on the left please? l We'd better stop
at the next gas station.
pull in/,pol 'n/to stop a car at the side of the road or in
a parking space [phr v I/
I rounded the curve, looking for a place to pull in. I Jeff
parked in front of the house and I pulled in beside him.
pull over/,pol 'ovr/to stop a car at the side of the road
because you suddenly need to stop or because you have
been told to stop [phr v I/
A traffic cop drove up beside me and told me to pull over. I
I pulled over, unable to stop myself from going to sleep.
pull up/po] ^p/to stop, especially in a line of traffic [phr
vii
pull up at/outside/next to ere I saw Harry when we
pulled up at the lights together. I We pulled up outside a shop,
bought drinks and drove on.
park/po:rk/to leave a car, bicycle etc at the side of the road
or in a special place off the road [v I/T/
There's nowhere to park in this street. I park a ear/truck
ere I parked my car at the back of the house.
6 to regularly stop at a particular place so that
passengers can get on and get off
stop v
stop n
call at
stop/stop II sto:p/[v I/
stop at/near/in etc Does this train stop at Lyon? I I think
this bus stops near your house.
stop/sto II sto:p/a place where a bus, train, or plane stops
during a journey [n C/
Excuse me, could you tell me what the next stop is? I How
many stops are there to the airport?
call at / 'k:l q to stop somewhere for a particular reason,
for example to pick up passengers [v T/
This is the 14:30 to Bristol, calling at Reading and Bath. I
A fishing boat has called at Hamburg for repairs.
7 to make someone stop moving
stop Intercept
flag down stop sb dead/stop sb
pull sb over in their tracks
stop/stop II sto:p/[v T/
The police are stopping drivers to ask questions about the
accident. [ Thousands of cars have been stopped in the search
for the gunmen.
flag down/lflag 'daon/ to stop a car that is coming
towards you by waving your arm [phr v T/
flag down sth After the accident a man stood by the road-
side trying to flag down passing cars. [ flag sth/it/them
down The patrolman stepped out in front of the truck to flag
it down.
pull sb over/,pol (sb) 'ovr/if someone, especially a
police officer pulls you over, they make you stop driving
and park at the side of the road [phr v T/
Drive safely. You don't want to get pulled over. I If the police
pull you over and you're not wearing your seatbelt, you'll be
in trouble.
intercept/Inta r'sept/to stop something such as a boat
or plane, before it has finished its journey, so that it does
not arrive [v T/
We can see the enemy ship, but we are unable to intercept it. I
All three fighter planes were intercepted and destroyed.
stop sb dead/stop sb in their tracks/,stop (sb) 'ded,
,stop (sb) in 6e r treks II isto=p-/if something stops you
dead or stops you in your tracks, it surprises or frightens
you and you stop suddenly [v phrase]
Seeing the snake stopped me dead - I didn't know what to
do. I Jim was stopped in his tracks by the sound of a rifle
behind him.
8 words for describing a journey during which
you do not stop
non-stop
direct
non-stop/,non 'stop- II ,na:n 'sta:p-/without stopping
anywhere on a journey [adj/adv]
Is there a non-stop flight to Nairobi? [ You can fly non-stop
to Hong Kong, but it's more expensive.
direct/do  'rekt, da-/without stopping on a journey or
changing from one train, plane etc to another [adj/adv]
There isn't a direct flight, you'll have to change planes in
Miami. I Eurorail run a direct route between Madrid and
Lisbon. I With this ticket you can travel direct from Paris to
Berlin overnight.
STOP STH THAT
IS HAPPENING
1 to stop a process or action that would
continue if you did not do something to stop it
2 to stop an activity because of problems or
difficulties
3 ways of saying that something happens
which stops normal work or services from
continuing
4 to officially end a law, system etc that has
previously been planned or agreed
,5 to gradually stop something such as a system
or organization from being used or being
effective
6 to stop an activity that is harmful, illegal, or
unacceptable
7' to stop people opposing or fighting against
the government
8 to stop something that you dislike or oppose
before it has time to develop
9 to stop a relationship
10 words for describing a process that cannot
be stopped
1 1 to make a fire or a cigarette stop burning
1 to stop a process or action that would
continue if you did not do something to stop it
stop arrest
halt freeze
stop/stop II sto:p/[v T/
stop sth If Mr Evans had not stopped the fight someone
could have been badly hurt. I We had to get a plumber in to
stop the leaks. [ stop sb/sth from doing sth The only thing
that will stop a hungry baby from crying is food.
halt/h:lt/to completely stop something from continuing,
especially for a short time [v T/
The aim of this policy is to halt, or at least slow down, the
rate of wage increases. I Susan's progress in her career had
been halted because of staff cuts in the company. I All his
efforts had failed to halt the increase in street crime.
arrest/a 'rest/a formal word meaning to stop something
from continuing to develop, or to make it happen at a much
slower rate [v T not in progressive]
Drugs are often used to arrest the development of the disease. I
The company's aim is to arrest decline and improve their
market position.
freeze/fri:z/ifa government or a company freezes some-
thing such as wages or prices, they stop them increasing
and say that they must be kept at the present level [v T/

STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 1308 STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING
A ll government employees ha ve had their salaries frozen at
last year's levels.
freeze [n C usually singular] The Russian leader announced
a freeze on the prices of all essential items.
J2 to stop an activity because of problems or
difficulties
stop abort
call off pull the plug on
cut short suspend
stop/stop II sta:p/[v T]
The game had to be stopped because of heavy rain. i Rolls-
Royce announced that they are stopping production of the
new V8 engine because of technical problems.
call off/k:l of II -t:f/call off a strike/search/talks
etc (=decide, especially officially, that something should
be stopped after it has already started) [phr v T]
The Union decided to call off the strike when they were offered
a 10% pay rise. I Early in 1984 the talks were called off, to
the dismay of conservationists everywhere. I The hunt for the
missing boy had to be called off due to severe weather
conditions.
cut short /Ik^t I:rt/to suddenly stop an activity much
earlier than was planned, especially because of something
unexpected such as illness or bad news Iv phrase]
cut short sth The Princess cut short an official engagement
to be with her husband in hospital. I He had plans to start
up a business on his own but they were cut short by unex-
pected financial problems. I cut sth/it short Last summer
I had to cut short my vacation in order to deal with an emer-
gency at my office.
abort/a ba: rt/abort a landing/mission/manoeuvre etc
(=stop it because it would be dangerous to continue it) Iv T]
On hearing that rebel troops had entered the city, we decided
to abort our mission. I The expedition had to be aborted
because of supply problems. I The plane had already started
its descent, when the pilot received orders to abort his
landing.
pull the plug on /,pol 6 plng on/an informal expres-
sion meaning to prevent a plan or a business from being
able to continue by deciding to stop giving it money Iv
phrase]
The city council has pulled the plug on the new housing
project. [ The business was goingfine till the bank pulled the
plug on it.
suspend /saspend/ to officially order that something
should be stopped, especially when you intend to let it start
again at some time in the future Iv T]
Production had to be suspended while safety checks were car-
ried out. ] All pay increases are to be suspended until further
notice. I The trial was suspended after threats were made
against witnesses.
suspension/s  spenn/[n U] The President has ordered the
suspension of all sales of the drug until it has been properly
tested.
3 ways of saying that something happens
which stops normal work or services from
continuing
stop
paralyze/paralyse
bring sth to a standstill
stop/stop II sto:pl Iv T]
stop sth The strike has stopped all work at the factory, i stop
sth from doing sth Heavy snow had stopped the trains and
buses from running normally.
paralyze (also paralyse British) /'peemlaiz/ to com-
pletely prevent important public services or work from
operating, so that no one can work, travel etc Iv T]
Strike action has paralysed the region's public transport
system. [ Over Illinois, the storm broke, paralyzing the state
with blizzards and freezing temperatures.
bring sth to a standstill/,brIrj (sth) to a 'stmndstfl/to
completely stop normal work or services from continuing
so that nothing at all is happening Iv phrase]
bring sth to a standstill Unexpected bad weather has
brought London to a standstill. I It seems that further interest
rate rises may bring the manufacturing industry to a stand-
still. I The investigation has been brought virtually to a
standstill for want of fresh evidence.
4 to officially end a law, system etc that has
previously been planned or agreed
abolish do away with
scrap discontinue
abolish/'bolIJ II a'ba:-/to officially end a law, a system,
or an institution, especially one that has existed for a long
time [v T]
Several states in the US intend to abolish capital punish-
ment. [ Maclean attacked the government's decision to abol-
ish the laws on homosexuality. [ There have been calls for
the monarchy to be abolished.
abolition/,eb han/In UI Wilberforce campaigned for the
abolition of slavery.
scrap/skraep/to get rid of a system, an officially organized
activity, or a plan, especially because there is something
wrong with it [v T]
The plan had become so complicated that we decided to scrap
it and start again, [ Because of education reforms, the pub-
lisher's proposed series of history books will have to be
scrapped. [ The tax is so unpopular that it cannot be modi-
fied - it must be scrapped altogether.
do away with/du: o'wet w6/to get rid of a-system or
a way of doing something, especially because it no longer
works well Iv T!
The present system of collecting money for TV licences is
costly and inefficient. It's about time it was done away with. [
"'Do foreigners still have to go to the police station every 3
months? .... No, they did away with that system ages ago.'"
discontinue / Idisknttinju:/to stop something that has
happened or been done regularly over a period of time,
such as a course of medical treatment, a system, or a public
service Iv T]
Doctors decided to discontinue the course of drugs when the
patient failed to respond to treatment. [ The new bus route
hasn't been popular with Iocal people, so we have decided to
discontinue it.
5 to gradually stop something such as a system
or organization from being used or from
being effective
phase out
wind down
run down
phase out/,fez 'aot/[phr v T]
phase out sth The DEA announced that the system was to
be phased out over a period of seven years. [ The bureau is
"asking for ozone-depleting aerosols to be phased out in two
years. [ phase sth/it/them out It has been decided to phase
student grants out and to introduce a loan scheme instead.
wind down /waind daon/to gradually reduce the work
of a business or an organization so that it can be closed
down completely [phr v T]
wind sth/it/them down I'm thinking of retiring in a few
years - I've already started winding the business down. [
wind down sth The old system is being slowly wound down.
run down /r^n Idaon/to deliberately make something
such as a company, an industry, or a public service weaker
and weaker, by giving it less and less money [phr v T]
run down sth Opposition leaders are accusing the govern-
ment of running down the steel industry. I run sth/it/them
down They buy up rival companies and then just run them
down.

STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING
6 to stop an activity that is harmful, illegal, or
unacceptable
stop eradicate
put an end to eliminate
put a stop to root out
stamp out curb
crack down on clamp down on
call a halt to
stop/stop II sto:p/Iv T]
The hunting of rare animals for sport must be stopped. I A
decision to stop the dumping of industrial waste at sea has
been taken by the North Sea Council.
put an end to /,pot zn 'end tu:/to stop something, espe-
cially so that it never starts again Iv phrase]
The South African government claims to be working
towards putting an end to apartheid. I The police put an end
to her ordeal when they burst into the house and overpowered
her kidnapper. I Amnesty International is an organization
whose goal is to put an end to oppression and suffering
throughout the world.
put a stop to /,pot z 'stDp tu: II-'sto:p-/ to stop an
activity, especially one that you consider to be harmful or
unacceptable Iv phrase]
l strongly disapprove of smoking and I am going to do every-
thing I can to put a stop to it at this school. [ She knew that
if she didn "t put a stop to their squabbling now, it would go
on for weeks. [ The United Nations negotiated a ceasefire and
succeeded in putting a stop to the fighting.
stamp out/,staemp 'aot/to completely stop an illegal or
harmful activity by making a very determined effort [phr
vT]
stamp out sth The police have introduced new measures to
help stamp out violence on the city's streets. I We are deter-
mined to stamp out prostitution in this neighborhood.
crack down on/,kraek daon on II -ran/to take severe
action to stop an illegal activity Iv T]
The police are cracking down on driving without seat belts:
anyone caught without one will get an on-the-spot fine. i
Teachers must crack down on bullying as soon as they
become aware of it. I Only by cracking down on dealers, can
we stop young people getting involved with drugs.
crack-down /'kraek daon/ In C] Davies was eventually
caught during a government crack-down on tax evasion.
call a halt to/,k:l z 'hz:lt tu:/to officially order that an
activity should be stopped, especially after it has continued
for a long time Iv phrase]
The government has called a halt to the dumping of indus-
trial waste in the Great Lakes. ] The IWC has decided to call
a halt to commercial whaling.
eradicate / 'raedket/to completely get rid of something
harmful such as an illness, a social problem, or something
that causes these things Iv T]
The disease has been eradicated from the Western world
using vaccines. I The new technique has virtually eradicated
the tsetse fly from an experimental site in Zimbabwe. i The
President claims he will have eradicated poverty in the coun-
try within five years.
eradication/,raed keJ'dn/In U] The eradication of the
beetle has led to a five-fold increase in crop yields.
eliminate/ hmne:t/to completely get rid of something
that is unnecessary or unwanted Iv T]
The airline hopes to eliminate needless deaths in fires by
using more fire-resistant materials. I Recent advances in
medical science have eliminated the need for most patients
to spend long periods in hospital. [ Under the agreement all
trade barriers between the US and Canada will be elimi-
nated.
elimination/ ,hm ' neJ'dn/In U] Theprogram calls for the
elimination of all long-range nuclear weapons.
root out/,ru:t 'atJt/root out a problem/corruption/
discrimination etc (=to search for all examples of it in a
very determined way, and completely get rid of it) [phr v T]
root out sth The new president has promised to root out
high level corruption, i He spent his life trying to root out
1309
STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING
discrimination and prejudice. I root sth/it/them out
Wherever we find waste and incompetence we will root it out.
curb/k3:rb/to prevent something harmful from increas-
ing and start to control and reduce it Iv T]
The only way to curb the spread of the disease is by immuniz-
ing the entire population. I Their government has made
pioneering strides towards curbing air pollution.
clamp down on/,klaemp 'daon Dn II -o:n/if someone in
authority clamps down on an activity or group of people,
they take firm action to stop people doing something that
is illegal or against the rules Iv T]
The police are clamping down on drug dealing in the area. I
If we don't clamp down on these troublemakers now, the
situation could get out of control.
clampdown/klmmpdaon/ In C usually singular] These
measures are part of a government clampdown on tax
evasion.
7 to stop people opposing or fighting against
the government
suppress subdue
put down crush
break up quell
suppress/sa'pres/to stop people opposing or fighting
against the government, by using military force or by
making their activities illegal Iv T]
Gorbachev sent in troops to suppress the uprising in Lithu-
ania. [ Any opposition to the right-wing dictatorship is ruth-
lessly suppressed. [ The government tried to suppress dissent
by introducing harsh new press laws.
put down/,pot 'daon/put down a revolt/rebellion/
riot/demonstration etc (=stop it by using military force
against the people involved) [phr v T usually in passive]
The demonstrations were put down with force. I The rebel-
lion was put down and its leaders were executed.
break up/,break ^p/break up a march/demonstra-
tion/protest/meeting etc (=stop it from continuing, espe-
cially by using force) [phr v T]
break up sth The police were instructed to break up the
demonstration against the government. I break sth/it up
The protest was perfectly peaceful until government troops
came and tried to break it up.
subdue/szb'dju: II -'du:/if the army or the police sub-
dues a group of people who are behaving in a violent, angry
way, they stop them from behaving violently by using force
Iv T]
The soldiers managed to subdue the angry crowd.
crush/kr^f/crush a rebellion/an uprising/a revolt/
opposition etc (=quickly bring it to a complete end by
using very severe methods) Iv T]
The rebellion was quickly crushed by forces loyal to the Presi-
dent. I The army is stationed near the capital, ready to crush
any signs of a revolt.
quell/kwel/quell a riot/disturbance/rebellion (=stop
it by quickly using force before it becomes so serious that
it is impossible to control) Iv T]
The police had to be sent for to quell the riot. I If the rebel-
lion had been quelled in its early stages it would not have
had such terrible results.
8 to stop something that you dislike or oppose
before it has time to develop
nip sth in the bud
squash
kill
nip sth in the bud/,nip (sth) in 6 'b^d/to stop some-
thing, especially a situation that is likely to cause
problems, before it has time to develop Iv phrase]
If I'd known about their plan I could have nipped it in the
bud there and then. [ It's much better to nip problems in the
bud as soon as they arise, than to let them escalate into some-
thing serious.

STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 1310 STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE
squash /skwoj" II skwa:j', skw:j'/ squash a rumour/
opposition/dissent ete (=quickly stop something that is
likely to cause you trouble) Iv T]
The chairman did his best to squash any opposition to the
plan. [ squash a rumour By announcing their engagement,
Brian and Paula squashed any turnouts that they had split
up.
kill/kill to quickly and completely stop and get rid of some-
thing that is likely to cause you trouble [v T]
The statement is intended to kill any speculation about a rift
between the President and the Prime Minister. [ The big
record companies are trying to kill the deal.
9 to stop a relationship
end
break off
sever
end/end/Iv T]
One more argument like this would end our marriage. ] Our
relationship just isn't working. I've decided to end it.
end ]n singular] This event marked the end of our
friendship.
break off /,break 'tf [[-':f/ break off relations/an
engagement (=end a relationship) lphr v T]
Britain has broken off diplomatic relations with Libya. I
Alan's very upset, his girlfriend has just told him she wants
to break off their engagement.
sever 1, sevr/sever ties/links/relations/a connection
(=a formal word meaning to completely end your relation-
ship or connection with someone or something) [v T]
Since the job required that he be politically neutral, he had
to sever his links with the Socialist Party. [ We didn't quite
sever all relations between Britain and the People's Republic.
1 0 words for describing a process that cannot
be stopped
unstoppable inexorable
remorseless irreversible
unstoppable/An'stopobal II -'sto:p-/[adj]
In the 1950s people believed that scientific progress was
unstoppable and we would soon all live in a perfect world. [
At one time Becker won every tennis tournament he took part
in; it seemed as though his success was unstoppable.
remorseless/r; 'm:rslos/a process that is remorseless
continues in an unpleasant and threatening way and it
seems to be impossible to stop [adj]
It seems that there is nothing doctors can do to halt the
remorseless spread of the AIDS virus. I the remorseless
advance of the army across the war zone
remorselessly [adv l The destruction of the rainforests has
gone on remorselessly for the past 30 years.
inexorable/n'eksambal/a formal word used to describe
a gradual process which cannot be stopped, especially one
which leads to something very bad happening [adj]
During 1939 the approach of war seemed inexorable. [ the
inexorable decline in Britain's manufacturing industry
inexorably lady] The story moves inexorably towards its
tragic climax.
irreversible/t Ir tv3:rsbal/a process of change that is
irreversible cannot be stopped, and the situation that
existed before cannot return [adjl
Some people think that if this government stays in power
there will be irreversible changes in society. [ Despite claims
made by skincare manufacturers, the effects of ageing are
irreversible.
1 I to make a fire or a cigarette stop burning
put out smother
extinguish stub out
blow out
put out/,pot 'aot/[phr v T]
put out sth We put out the fire and went to bed. [ It took fire-
men over four hours to put out the blaze. [ put sth/it/them
out He tried to put the fire out with sand from a bucket. ] Put
that cigarette out!
extinguish/ik'st;rjgw;f/a formal word used especially
on warning notices or in reports about fires, meaning to
make a fire or a cigarette stop burning Iv T]
The fire was extinguished without much difficulty. [ Please
extinguish all cigarettes before entering the factory.
blow out/I blao 'aot/to make a flame or a fire stop burn-
ing by blowing on it [phr v T]
blow out sth He laid the book to one side and blew out the
candle. [ blow sth/it/them out She struck a match and
blew it out. [ We tried to light afire but the wind kept blow-
ing it out.
smother ! ' sm^6ar/to cover a fire with something in order
to stop it from burning Iv T]
If the victim's clothes are burning, use a blanket to smother
the flames.
stub out /  st^b aot! to stop a cigarette from burning by
pushing it against something [phr v T]
stub out sth She stubbed out her cigarette on the edge of the
table. [ Stubbing out his cigar, he said "Well, guess I'd better
be going now." [ stub sth/it/them out Don't stub your
cigarettes out on the floor - it leaves the horrible marks all
over it.
@ STOP WORKING/
GO ON STRIKE
to deliberately stop working in order to
demand better pay or better working
conditions
a situation in which people deliberately stop
working in order to improve their pay or
conditions
I to deliberately stop working in order to
demand better pay or better working
conditions
go on strike walk out
strike down tools
come out on strike be on strike
go on strike/,gu tn straik/[v phrase]
In 1926, all Britain's miners, railway workers, and transport
workers went on strike. [ The engineers have gone on strike
for better pay and shorter working hours. [ From tomorrow,
we're going on indefinite strike unless something's done to
reduce the number of accidents in the factory.
strike/straik/a word meaning to deliberately stop work-
ing or deliberately refuse to work, used especially in
newspapers and books Iv I]
Women workers are often more reluctant than men to strike
in order to get what they want. [ strike for Teachers were
not striking for higher pay, but for higher standards in
education.
striking [adj] Outside the offices, standing in the rain, were
1400 striking clerical workers.
come out on strike/k^m aot tn 'stra;k/ifa group of
workers come out on strike, they deliberately stop work-
ing, especially after discussions with their employers have
failed to produce any agreement Iv phrase]
Union leaders are calling on their members to come out on
strike from next Monday. [ The government just didn't expect
teachers to come out on strike in support of the miners. [ Wor-
kers are being assured that they will be paid full wages by
the union if they agree to come out on strike.
walk out / wa:k 'aot/to stop working and leave the place
where you are working, especially when this has not been
planned but happens as a protest about something that has
just happened [phr v I]

STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 1311 STORY
This afternoon, three hundred car workers walked out as a
protest over cuts in overtime. I Ambulance drivers have threa-
tened to walk out if their pay claim is rejected.
walk-out / Iwo:k aot/[n C] What started as a walk-out in a
small factory in Manchester was to develop into a national
and long-running strike.
down tools / Idaon tu:lz/an informal expression mean-
ing to stop work as a protest about something that has just
happened, especially if you work in a job using machinery
or tools Iv phrase]
Union leaders are telling their members to down tools if an
agreement isn't reached by Friday. [ After their workmate
was sacked, the other machinists all downed tools until she
was reinstated.
be on strike/bi: on straik/ifa group of workers are on
strike, they have deliberately stopped working in order to
protect, or to demand better pay or working conditions Iv
phrase]
Some two-thirds of the country's diamond miners are now
on strike. [ I might be late for work tomorrow - the railway
workers are on strike.
2 a situation in which people deliberately stop
working in order to improve their pay or
conditions
strike
industrial action
stoppage
strike/strak/In C]
The offices were closed by a strike that lasted two months. I
miners'/teaehers'/railworkers' ere strike Since the
miners" strike, thirty of the mines in the area have been
closed. I call a strike (=ask workers to strike) When union
bosses called a strike in protest over low pay, the response
was overwhelming. I call off a strike (=stop striking) The
administration has officially asked transportation workers
to call off their strike. I general strike (=when most wor-
kers in a country strike) Workers" organizations are call-
ing for a general strike of all black workers which they hope
will bring down the government. I strike action Ship-
builders and dockers were solidly in favour of strike action
in support of their claim.
industrial action /In,dAstriol tmkan/ a situation in
which a group of workers tries to persuade their employer
to improve pay or conditions either by going on strike or
by doing less work than they usually do In U]
Exactly what form the industrial action will take is not yet
known. I Most of the workers are against industrial action,
but are asking for talks with employers. I take industrial
action Union leaders are meeting to decide whether to take
industrial action over pay.
stoppage/'stopld5 II 'sto:-/a situation in which a group
of workers stops working, especially for a short time and
when the action is not officially planned or organized In C]
Customs officers will return to work today after a twentyfour
hour stoppage. ] Experts are being called in to examine the
resons for the sudden outbreak of unofficial stoppages in the
car industry.
stopgap TEMPORARY 2
stoppage STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 2
stops: pull out all the stops TRY TO DO OR GET STH 3
storage:, keep sth in storage KEEP/STORE 1
store KEEP/STORE 1,2, 3, PUT 14, SHOP/STORE 1, 2
store: be in store FUTURE 3
store: go to the shops/go to the store BUY 5
storekeeper: shopkeeper/storekeeper SELL 8
storm ATTACK 3 
storm out LEAVE A PLACE 9
stormy ANGRY 7
story REPORT 2, 5TY 1, 2
story: life story STY 7
story: tell a story TELL 5
stow of your life 5TY 8
STORY
a description of real or imaginary events,
written or told with the aim of entertaining
people
t a story that describes real or imaginary
events
2 a story you tell about something that really
happened to you or to someone you know
3 a story of imaginary events, which are
intended to teach people something about
life, morality etc
4 a very old story about great people or events
which may or may not be true
5 a long story about a series of events that take
place over a long period of time
6 the way that the events in a book, film, play
etc are arranged, so as to make an
interesting story
7' the story of a real person's life
8 the story of your own life
1 a story that describes real or imaginary
events
story yarn
tale fiction
story / ' sto:ri/a description of a series of events, especially
imaginary events, that is told or written down, usually
with the aim of entertaining people In C]
The first story is called "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ". l
As soon as you're ready for bed I'll read you a story. I The
story of Robinson Crusoe is based on the real-life experiences
of Alexander Selkirk. I a book of Irish ghost stories
tale/ted/a story describing interesting or exciting events,
especially an imaginary story involving magic or adven-
ture In C ]
"Treasure Island' is a stirring tale of piracy and adventure. ]
tell a tale Captain Graham used to tell us wonderful tales
about his life at sea. ] 'Tales from the Yukon" - a collection
of adventure stories for boys and girls. I fairy tale (=a tale
with magic in it, especially for children) Cinderella isprob-
ably the best-known fairy-tale among British children.
yarn/jo:rn/a long story, especially one told in a humorous
way, describing events that you say are true but which are
hard to believe In C]
They sat around the campfire, telling yarns or singing.
songs. I I thought it was just one of Chris "s yarns, but it turns
out that he really did join the Foreign Legion! l spin a yarn
(=tell a yarn, especially in order to deceive people) He tried
to spin us a yarn about his daring deeds in the war.
fiction / I flkJ'an/writing that describes imaginary people
and events In U]
So much modern fiction is full of sex and violence. I a work
of fiction Although it is a work of fiction it is based on fact. I
crime/romantic/science fiction (=fiction about crime,
romance etc) I usually read travel books or science fiction.
fictional [adj] It was so convincing I had to remind myself
they were fictional characters not real people.
2 a story you tell about something that really
happened to you or to someone you know
story
anecdote
story / 'sto:ri/In C]
tell a story He began to tell us funny stories about the
summer that he worked as a forest ranger. I story about We
heard numerous stories about pythons even entering the
houses at night. I story Some of Grandad's stories were pretty
hard to believe! [ Stacey told us the story of how she had first
met Jeff.

STORY 1312 straight
anecdote /lankdot/ a short, interesting, and often
amusing story that you tell about something that has
happened to someone you know or to yourself [n C]
Gerald was a good talker. He told her amusing anecdotes
about people they both knew. [ Try livening up speeches and
talks with anecdotes that illustrate the point you are making.
3 a story of imaginary events, which are
intended to teach people something about
life, morality etc
allegory
parable
fable
allegory/'aelgari II -ga:ri/a story in which the events
and characters represent something else from the real
world [n C]
'Animal Farm" is an allegory in which the animals represent
the Russian people and Farmer Jones the old Tsarist
regime.I The film was a dark, powerful allegory of life in
post-war America.
parable/Iperbai/a short simple story that is used to
teach something, especially what is morally right In C]
Jesus used parables to explain moral questions in a way that
people could understand and remember. I It is a kind of para-
ble for the eighties - a lesson about the destructiveness of
greed.
fable/ febal/a story that has a moral message, especially
a story in which animals are used to represent people's
good and bad behaviour In C]
The best-known of Aesop's fables is 'The Tortoise and the
Hare'. I The life of Howard Hughes cannot fail to remind us
of the fable of Midas.
4 a very old story about great people or events
which may or may not be true
myth
legend
myth ImOI a very old story about gods, the origin of the
world etc, which is believed by the people telling it to be
at least partly true In C/U]
In the Greek myth Theseus slew the minotaur in the
labyrinth. I The biblical story of the Great Flood is very simi-
lar to a Sumerian myth which is at least two thousand years
older. I Fundamentalist Christians do not distinguish
between what is literally true and what is myth.
legend/ ledsond / a very old story about strange or magi-
cal events, especially a story about someone who lived long
ago and who had special magical powers or was very brave
In C/U]
Many songs are based on the legend of Finn MacCool, the
great hero of Irish folklore. I According to legend, a wild
beast once lived in this cave guarding a treasure chest of gold.
5 a long story about a series of events that take
place over a long period of time
saga
epic
saga/'sa:g/a story about a series of connected events
or adventures that take place over a long period of time,
especially a story that follows one family over a long period
[n C]
Her saga of the rise and fall of a powerful family dynasty
was a great commercial success. I The novel is a historical
saga, set in Tudor times.
epic/epik/a story which is told in a long book, film, or
poem which describes the brave actions and adventures
of people in ancient times [n C]
The film was billed as an epic - an adventure story that
would take the world and the box-office by storm. I epic
poem/hero/style etc the epic peom "Beowulf'
6 the way that the events in a book, film, play
etc are arranged, so as to make an
interesting story
plot
storyline
plot/plot II plo:t/[n C]
The plot was so complicated that by the end of the book 1was
totally confused. I follow a plot (=understand it) It's much
easier to follow the plot if you have clearly defined characters.
storyline /sta:rilain/the basic story of a book, film etc,
including only the main events [n C]
When we are writing an episode of "Casualty Ward" we start
off with a single storyline and the usual group of characters.
7 the story of a real person's life
biography
life
life story
biography/ba; 'ogmfi II -'a:g-/a book that is the story of
a famous person's life [n C]
She is the author of several books, including a biography of
the artist Salvador Dali. [ [mac Deutscher's outstanding
biographies of Stalin and Trotsky
life/llaf/the story of a famous person's life, as described
in a book, or shown in paintings or a film [n C usually
singular]
Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson was published in 1791. t
The lower series of frescoes describe the life of Saint Francis
of Assisi.
life story /la;f ,sta:ri/an account, especially a spoken
account, of the main events that have happened in some-
one's life [n C]
When you meet someone for the first time, they don't want
to hear your entire life story in detail. I The newspaper has
been running his life story for the past two weeks.
8 the story of your own life
autobiography
memoirs
story of your life
autobiography/,z:tba, 'ogmfi II -bai'a:-/the story of
your own life, which you have written yourself [n C]
In his autobiography he describes his life as an explorer in
some of remotest parts of the earth. I Her autobiography will
be published next month, and will be a guaranteed best-
seller.
memoirs/' memwa:rz/the story of your own life which
you have written yourself, especially about your involve-
ment in important political or military events [n plural]
In his memoirs he gives a new insight into several political
scandals of the pre-war years. [ The duke's memoirs will be
serialised in the Sunday Times.
story of your life/, stz:ri v jz:r 'laif/a spoken account
of the main events that have happened in your life, espe-
cially if they are boring or unpleasant [n phrase]
tell sb the story of your life He told me the story of his life
right from the early days in a poor part of Washington. I She
began to tell him the story of her life, a long catalogue of
disappointment and gloom.
storyline STORY 6
storyteller TELL 5
stout FAT 3
stow PUT 14
stow away HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
straddle SIT 4
straggler LAST 2
straight CONVENTIONAL 1, HOMOSEXUAL 2, HONEST
2, SERIES 4, STRAIGHT 1, 2
straight: get the place/house etc straight TIDY 2
straight: give it to me straight TELL 8
straight: go straight HONEST 5

straight
!;i! straight: neat/straight PURE 2
 straight: put/set sb straight CORRECT 5
!::;i straight: stand up straight STAND 3
 straight: tell sb straight HONEST 3
 straight away: right away/straight away
 IMMEDIATELY 1
 straight face: keep a straight face LAUGH 8, SERIOUS
:; PERSON 4
 straight fight COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 2
 straight from the horse's mouth FIND OUT 2
_.
• ;; straight up VERTICAL 1
STRAIGHT
in a straight line without any bends or curves
words meaning straight
travelling or moving in a straight line
to become straight
to make something straight
1313
STRANGE
hardly straighten his legs. I straighten sth out He put the
rod in a vice and began straightening it out with a hammer.
 straighten STRAIGHT 4
:i straighten/straighten up TIDY 2
i straighten out SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 3,
 STRAIGHT 3
 straighten up STAND 2
. straightfaced SERIOUS PERSON 4
!i straightforward HONEST 3, SIMPLE/NOT
•  COMPLICATED 2
.i0 strain INJURE 2, TYPE 2, WORRIED 6
iill strain: be under a strain WORRIED 4
• i!; strained NERVOUS 5, UNFRIENDLY 3
.ii straitlaced OLD-FASHIONED 2
:ii stranded MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 8
 strange MYSTERIOUS 1, RECOGNIZE 3, STRANGE 1, 2,
:. 5, USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 7
g
1 words meaning straight
straight
straight/streIt/[adj]
First, draw two straight lines 5 centimetres apart. I Her hair
is blonde, and very straight. I Olivia loved Rome, with its
huge grassy spaces and its long straight avenues. I dead
straight (=completely straight) The road was dead straight
and ran for mile after mile across the desert.
2 travelling or moving in a straight line
straight direct
in a straight line as the crow flies
straight/street/[adv]
Jonathan was so tired that he could not walk straight. I The
cat sat down in front of the fire, its tail stretched out straight. I
straight ahead/towards etc If you look straight ahead,
you can see the cathedral in the distance.
In a straight line/n  ,street 'lan/[adv phrase]
Although the man said he had not been drinking, he was
incapable of walking in a straight line. I Try to make your
skis go in a straight line on this part of the hill.
direct/d 'rekt, dai-/direct route/way etc (=the simplest
and straightest way of getting from one place to another)
[adj]
This is the most direct route, but not necessarily the quick-
est. I If you don't have much time Ican show you a more direct
way.
as the crow flies /z 6 kro ,flaz/ an expression
meaning following a straight line between two places, used
when saying what is the shortest possible distance between
them [adv phrase]
The distance between the two towns is only 10 kilometres as
the crow flies, but it can take up to 2 hours along the narrow
coastal road. I "How far is it from here to the next village?"
"'I'd say about 5 miles as the crow flies."
STRANGE
different from what is normal or expected,
especially in a way that people do not
understand or are frightened by
t words for describing an object, noise, feeling
etc that is unusual or unexpected
2 words for describing a situation or event that
is strange and difficult to understand or
explain
8 very strange and rather frightening
4 so strange that it does not seem real
8 words for describing people, behaviour,
clothes, ideas etc that you find strange and
hard to understand
 words for describing people, behaviour,
clothes, ideas etc that are very different from
what is generally accepted as normal
7' a strange person
 to become straight
straighten out
straighten out /,stretn aot/ to gradually become
straight [phr v I]
The road twisted and turned for a few miles and then
straightened out again. I I could see his leg straightening out,
waiting to trip me up.
 to make something straight
straighten
straighten / ' stretn/Iv T]
The exercise involves repeatedly bending then straightening
your arms. I When Richard woke up he was so cold he could
1 words for describing an object, noise, feeling
etc that is unusual or unexpected
strange peculiar
odd queer
funny weird
strange/stre;nds/[adj]
She was woken by a strange noise outside her window. [ A
strange orange light shone through the dark clouds. I I have
the strangest feeling that we have met somewhere before. I
The strange little creature did not seem at all afraid.
strangely [ adv ] Roger bent down and picked up a strangely
shaped shell.

STRANGE 1314 STRANGE
odd/od II o:d/strange, especially in a way that is interest-
ing or amusing rather than frightening [adj]
She lives in an odd little house with tiny windows. I Aunt Lisa
loved her ornaments, but to me they seemed rather an odd
collection.
oddly [adv] It's an intriguing, original book, but organized
rather oddly, with all the chapters apparently out of order.
funny ], f^ni! strange and unusual, especially in a way that
makes you feel a little nervous [adj usually before noun]
She gave me rather a funny look. I There's a funny smell in
this fridge, I think something must have gone mouldy in
here. I The job's interesting, but there's a funny atmosphere
in the office - everyone is tense.
pecu|iar/p 'kju:lbr! strange, unfamiliar, and a little sur-
prising, especially in a way that makes you feel uncomfort-
able [adj]
During our stay on the island I had a most peculiar feeling
of being transported back in time. I The taxi came from the
farm and had a peculiar smell of stale straw.
queer/kwmr/strange, especially in a way that makes you
feel worried or nervous [adj]
Weinburger sat down and his lips twisted in a queer smile. I
Marshes make queer noises sometimes. It's the mud settling.
queerly [adv] The old book was printed in large, queerly-
shaped letters.
weird ]wIrd/very strange, and different from anything
you have seen or heard before [adj]
Weird music came from my brother's room. I He was wear-
ing purple and white striped trainers that looked weird on
such an old man. I What a weird machine. It looks like some-
thing out of Star Trek.
weirdly [adv] He was direct, and at the same time weirdly
polite.
2
words for describing a situation or event that
is strange and difficult to understand or
explain
strange uncanny
odd/funny oddly enough/
curious funnily enough/
weird strangely enough
strange/streinds/[adj]
What a strange coincidence, I'm reading that book too. I
That's very strange. I wonder what he's doing. I One night
the strangest thing happened. I dreamt I was a frog. I Psy-
chic healing is a strange phenomenon.
odd/funny /t)d, 'fAni II o:d/ strange in a way that is
interesting or amusing rather than frightening [adj]
Isn't that odd? She's never done that before. I When Igor to
the party I couldn't see one person I knew, which was very
odd. I That's funny. That dog doesn't like strangers but he
likes you. I The funny thing was, I sort of missed him after
we moved to Illinois.
oddly [ adv l It was oddly comforting to hear the rain drum-
ming on the attic roof, with all of us warm and dry
underneath.
curious/'kjoarias/strange in an interesting and unusual
way [adj usually only before noun]
Canadian life was a curious mixture of the old and the very
new. I He had come to some curious arrangement with his
landlady.
curiously [advl It was a curiously organized office.
weird/ward/very strange and not at all usual, normal,
or expected [adj]
They have a rather weird relationship. I I'm afraid you'll
find the set-up fairly weird. I She seems happiest in really
weird situations.
uncanny /Ankmni/ uncanny resemblance/coinci-
dence/knack (=surprising, very hard to explain, and
difficult to believe) [adj]
Gina had an uncanny ability to tell when I was lying. I The
two women, who had been friends for over twenty years, bore
an uncanny likeness to one another. I It was almost uncanny
the way the room had suddenly become filled with people
without her noticing.
uncannily [adv] The house was uncannily quiet.
oddly enough/funnily enough/strangely enough
/,odli i'n^f, ,fAnoli -, ,streIndsli - II ,o:dli-/ you say oddly
enough when you are telling someone a piece of informa-
tion that you think is strange or surprising [adv phrase]
Funnily enough, your Pepsi was more expensive than my
beer. I He met her through a dating agency, strangely
enough. I The campaign for nuclear disarmament is
supported, oddly enough, by a number of people from
military backgrounds.
3 very strange and rather frightening
eerie
unearthly
eerie /' ri/ eerie darkness/sound/feeling/voice/
silence etc (=strange and frightening) [adj]
I woke with the eerie feeling that somebody was watching
me. I My grandfather's voice sounded distant and eerie in that
house in which so few words were spoken. I The pumps were
shut off now. It was eerie, being in the factory without their
sound.
eerily [adv] The tropical forest through which the boat was
gliding remained eerily silent.
unearthly/An 3:rOli/unearthly light/sound/scream/
voice etc (=very strange, frightening, and unnatural) [adj
usually before noun]
They heard an unearthly scream coming from somewhere at
the back of the cave. I The strange unearthly light from the
obscured sun lasted nearly all day. I The child gave out a
little thin thread of a cry. A small, unearthly sound, hardly
a sound at all.
4 so strange that it does not seem real
unreal
surreal
fantastic
unreal /,^nrlol/ something that is unreal is very
strange and almost like a dream because it is so different
from normal life or typical experience [adj]
Everything happened so quickly that it all seemed rather
unreal. I If only she could return to that dream land, that
unreal but fascinating place. I Her daughter's wedding day
had an unreal quality about it.
surreal /sa'rlal/ extremely strange, because nothing
seems connected with real life or normal experiences, and
things happen or appear together that do not belong
together [adj]
The first months of war seemed almost surreal to the sold-
iers now. I Living on the commune turned out to be a surreal
experience. I The singer's life took on a surreal, often manic,
quality.
fantastic/fmntmstlk/ very strange and unusual, like
something that might be imagined, but could not be real
[adj]
The mountains were dim and vague in the distance, like some
fantastic landscape in a dream. I Most of us find the concept
of an infinite universe so fantastic that it is almost terrifying.
fantastically [adv ] The room was fantastically decorated
with swords and skeletons.
5 words for describing people, behaviour,
clothes, ideas etc that you find strange and
hard to understand
strange weird
odd/funny peculiar
strange/streIndS/[adj]
Peter was not stupid but there was something very strange
about him. I Playing cards in a corner of the bar were a
group of strange-looking fellows. I She says she's going to
have her baby under water - she's got some strange ideas,
my daughter.
odd/funny/od, 'fAni II o:d/slightly strange and different
from what you would normally expect [adj]

STRANGE 1315 stretched out
She's an odd little girl - you'd think she was forty, not five. I
Alice was wearing a long lacy dress with some funny little
boots. I He's a funny old bloke, but perhaps he'll take to you. I
That was a funny thing to say.
weird/wmrd/strange and slightly frightening, especially
because of being very different from yourself [adj]
We don't have much to do with the Scotts - they're a weird
family. I That jazz band's got some very weird characters
in it. I The club was full of teenagers, wearing black and with
weird hairstyles.
peculiar/p :kju:lir/slightly strange, and different from
what you would normally expect, especially in a way that
is either amusing or a little worrying [adj]
Suddenly, she had started to behave in a very peculiar way. I
She was intelligent and lovable and possessed a peculiar
sense of humour. I If he didn "t get married soon he'd be set
in his peculiar bachelor habits.
6 words for describing people, behaviour,
clothes, ideas etc that are very different from
what is generally accepted as normal
unconventional way out
outlandish extraordinary
eccentric kinky
bizarre
unconventional /: ^nkon  vendnl/very different from
the way that most people behave, speak, or think [adj]
Boy George had a very unconventional style of dressing. I He
was just trying to shock them by doing something unconven-
tional. [ They have a very unconventional relationship - each
of them can have as many affairs as they like.
outlandish/aot:lndi/something that is outlandish is
very strange, and not at all like anything you are used to,
as if it comes from a completely foreign place or another
time [adj]
She wore a long red dress with an outlandish gypsy air to
it. [ The food she served us was as outlandish as the silver-
ware we were expected to eat with.
eccentric /;ksentrlk/ someone who is eccentric has
strange habits and behaves a little strangely, especially in
a way that other people think is amusing and harmless
[adj]
The eccentric old vicar had a habit of wearing his raincoat
in church. I The department was run by an eccentric but bril-
liant scientist named Rose Trevelyan. I She's not senile, just
a little eccentric.
eccentric In C] Quentin Crisp is a noted eccentric who lives
in one room and never cleans it.
bizarre/b 'zozr/extremely strange, and very different
from what is generally considered to be normal, especially
in a frightening or slightly worrying way [adj]
They tell the most bizarre stories about him. I Her behaviour
was bizarre, but it was that of a desperate rather than a dan-
gerous woman. I We were three awkward people trying to be
normal in a bizarre situation.
bizarrely lady] Roland was dressed rather bizarrely in the
robes of a priest.
way out/,we; ',aot/an informal word meaning having a
very strange appearance or behaving in a very strange way
that other people, especially older people, do not under-
stand [adj]
I'll never understand those young people with their way out
hairstyles and clothes. [ She's into all-night raves and all that
way out stuff.
extraordinary !kstro:ddnri [[ k' stro:rdn-eri, ,ekstr-
':r-/unusual, surprising, and unexpected, especially con-
sidering what the situation is [adj]
Andrew has some extraordinary ideas sometimes. I It was
an extraordinary decision to make under the circumstances.
kinky/'kn]ki/ an informal word for describing sexual
behaviour that you think is strange and unnatural [adj]
I think he's a bit kinky. He asked me to tie him up in bed so
that he couldn't move. [ In the film they were doing kinky
things with chains and candles.
7 a strange person
oddball freak
weirdo crank
oddball /'odb:l II 'o:d-/ an informal word meaning
strange person In C]
Most of my family's OK, but my brother's a bit of an odd-
ball. [ No wonder you're considered an oddball. No one else
I know buys cream cakes for their dog.
weirdo [ wardo/an informal word meaning someone
who is very strange in an unpleasant and sometimes
threatening way [n C]
There's a weirdo who stands around outside the school, the
children are a bit frightened of him. [ When I travel by under-
ground I always seem to end up sitting next to some weirdo. I
The police said that whoever sent the letter must have been
some kind of weirdo.
freak/fri:k! an informal word meaning a very strange
person, especially one who behaves oddly and has strange
ideas [n C]
I just don't understand those freaks who go swimming in ice-
cold water each morning. I Vegas is full of natural freaks,
people who are genuinely twisted.
crank/krmok / someone who other people think is strange,
especially because they have beliefs, aims, or habits that.
are thought to be very unusual or too extreme In C]
She's a bit of a crank - she fills her house with animals that
have been hurt or lost. I Vegetarians were once regarded as
cranks. 
gely
stran MYSTERIOUS 2
stranger NEW 8, NOT KNOW 11
stranger: be no stranger to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED
TO 5
strangle BREATHE 10
CONTROL 3
stranglehold
strapped for cash: be strapped for cash ENOUGH 13
strapping STRONG PERSON 1
strategic PLAN 10
strategy PLAN 5, WAY/METHOD 1
straw: the last straw LAST 5
stray from SUBJECT 5
streak CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3, FAST/QUICK 7,
LINE 2
stream GO 2, LIQUID 4, SERIES 1
streamline EFFICIENT 4, IMPROVE 3, SIMPLE/NOT
COMPLICATED 3
street ROAD/PATH 1
street: high street ROAD/PATH 1
street: the man in the street ORDINARY 3
streets: be on the streets HOME 10
streets ahead: be streets ahead BEER 2
streetwise EXPERIENCED 2
strength GOOD AT 9, POWER 1, STRONG PERSON 5
strength: be in a strong position/a position of strength
ADVANTAGE 3
strength: in force/in strength LOT/A RGE NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 7
strengthen INCREASE IN ACTIVI, FEELINGS ETC 4,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7,
STRONG OBJECT 2
strenuous DIFFICULT 3
stress EMPHASIZE 1, 3, WORRIED 6
stressed out WORRIED 4
stresses and strains WORRIED 9
stressful WORRIED 8
stretch AREA 5, BIG 12, 14, DIFFICULT 2, DISTANCE 4,
LONG 3, 4, LOOSE 2, PERIOD OF TIME 1, 3,
REACH 1, TIGHT 4
stretch: at a stretch CONTINUOUS 2
stretch: by any/by no stretch of the imagination
IMPOSSIBLE 3
stretch out LIE DOWN 1
stretch the truth EXAGGERATE 1
stretch your legs WALK 11
stretched out LIE DOWN 2

strewn 1316 STRICT
strewn SPREAD 10
strict EXACT 2, STRICT 1, 4
STRICT
I words for describing people, organizations
etc that demand that their laws or rules are
always obeyed and punish anyone who does
not obey
2 to treat someone strictly
3 to deal very strictly with bad behaviour or
crime
4 words for describing a rule, law, or system
that is strict and must be obeyed
5 to make a rule, law, or system more strict
6 words for describing a law or system of
government that orders strict punishment
7 words for describing a strict punishment or
strict criticism
8 to become less strict
9 to treat someone less strictly
10 words for describing people or organizations
that are not strict
11 words for describing a punishment that is not
strict
1
words for describing people, organizations
etc that demand that their laws or rules are
always obeyed and punish anyone who does
not obey
strict authoritarian
stern disciplinarian
harsh be a stickler for
tough
strict/strIkt/[adjl
My father was very strict, he never let us go out on our own. I
Teachers have to be strict or the children take advantage of
them. I We had a very strict tennis instructor who made us
practise all day long. I strict about This company is very
strict about employees getting to work on time.
stern/sta:rn/strict in a serious and unfriendly way [adj]
The college principal was a stern old Scotsman called Mr
Fraser. [ "Be quiet/" I said, trying to sound stern. [ Sheila
walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.
sternly [adv] When she did not answer he said sternly and
coldly, "Do you understand me?"
harsh/ha:rsI showing cruelty and lack of sympathy in the
way that you deal with bad behaviour or mistakes [adj]
He remembered the harsh schoolmaster who had made his
life a misery. [ Her reaction to the child's bad behaviour was
unnecessarily harsh.
harshly [advl Sometimes it is the most loved child who is
treated the most harshly.
tough It^fl an informal word meaning strict, especially
when this makes you produce the highest standard of work
that you can [adj]
Miller had the perfect personality for the job. He was tough
and well-organized. [ Tough and uncompromising, Reuter
was a good manager. [ tough on They can be very tough on
people who fail to meet their sales targets.
toughness In U] Colonel Schultz had a reputation for tough-
ness, even by the standards of the Marines.
authoritarian/a:,eor'tearian [[ a:,ea:-, ,ea:-/demand-
ing that people obey your rules and orders even if the rules
are unfair or wrong [adj]
Their father was authoritarian in the home, insisting on
total obedience. [ The people were not allowed to criticize
their country's undemocratic and authoritarian government.
disciplinarian / ,dspl ' nearian/a very strict person who
makes people obey rules or orders and always punishes
those who do not obey In C]
She was a disciplinarian who always demanded obedience
from her students. [ strict disciplinarian As well as being
a strict disciplinarian she was also a fine administrator.
be a stickler for/bi:  'stIkla r fa:r/to demand that people
keep strictly to rules, customs etc, especially in a way that
people think is unnecessary and old-fashioned Iv phrase]
The school principal is a stickler for rules. I My mother was
a stickler for punctuality and punished us even if we were
a few minutes late for dinner.
2 to treat someone strictly
be hard on rule with a rod of iron
stand no nonsense keep a tight rein on
get tough with
be hard on/bi: 'ha:rd on/to treat someone very strictly
and sometimes unfairly Iv phrase]
You were a bit hard on your son, not letting him have his
present on his birthday. [ I wish the boss would ease up on
Gabby. He's so hard on her. I Don't be too hard on him. He
didn't mean to break it.
stand no nonsense / ,staend noo ' nonsans ][ -'no:nsens/
if you say that you stand no nonsense, you mean you treat
other people strictly, but in a way that makes people
respect you Iv phrase]
stand no nonsense from sb She's aline nurse, but stands
no nonsense from the patients. I stand no nonsense I won't
stand any nonsense. I want you all in bed by nine o'clock.
get tough with/get 't^f wI6/to begin to treat someone
strictly because they have been doing something that is
wrong or illegal [v phrase]
Football clubs can't afford to put up with hooligans - they
will have to get tough with them. [ The Colombian govern-
ment is now getting tough with the drug barons.
rule with a rod of iron/,ru:l wI6 a ,rod av 'alarn [[
-,ra:d-/to control an organization or group of people very
strictly, by always punishing people who break the rules
Iv phrase not in progressive l
He is an ex-soldier who runs his business with a rod of iron. [
Their teacher rules them with a rod of iron - they always
have to be on their best behaviour.
keep a tight rein on/ld:p a ,talt 'rein on/to strictly con-
trol someone's behaviour, for example by limiting their
freedom to do things without asking you [v phrase]
He kept a tight rein on his son by allowing him very little
spending money. [ The government is keeping a tight rein on
right wing extremists.
to deal very strictly with bad behaviour or
crime
come down hard on
crack down on
clamp down on
come down hard on / khm daon ha:rd on/to deal very
strictly with a particular kind of bad behaviour or crime
by always punishing the people who do it Iv phrase]
Margaret always comes down hard on people who try to
fiddle their expenses. [ The authorities are really coming
down hard on tax evasion.
crack down on 1 krak 'daon on [[ -a:n/to start dealing
with an illegal activity in a much stricter way than before
[v T]
The Athletics Federation plans to crack down on the abuse
of drugs by athletes. [ University authorities over the coun-
try have cracked down on student political activity.
crack-down/ krak daon/[n C] In the first week of the police
crack-down, over 500 car thieves were arrested.
clamp down on/, klemp 'daon on [[ -a:n/to treat a par-
ticular crime or activity much more strictly than before,
in order to reduce the number of people involved in it Iv T]
Government ministers are clamping down on illegal finan-
cial activities in New York. [ Recently the courts have
clamped down on drivers who drink.

STRICT 1317 STRICT
4 words for describing a rule, law, or system
that is strict and must be obeyed
strict rigid
tough tight
stringent binding
rigorous
strict/strktl [adj]
The rules of the competition are very strict - no professionals
can enter. I The deer and other wild animals in the park are
protected by strict laws. I We have a strict system of tests to
select the best candidates.
tough/t^f/a rule, law, system etc that is tough is strict
and allows very little freedom [adj]
Students at the school said the discipline was as tough as the
army. I A tough banking supervision system has been set up
to protect investors" money.
stringent / strndsont/ stringent tests/regulations/
conditions etc (=having very high standards and strict
controls) [adjl
There are stringent tests for bacteria on all food in the super-
market. [ Stringent safety checks are made before every
passenger flight.
rigorous / rgms/rigorous standards/tests/training
etc (=involving very thorough testing and checking of
something) [ adj]
New medicines have to go through years of rigorous tests. ]
The economy's recovery would have been impossible without
rigorous financial control. I At the end of the training course
is a rigorous examination.
rigorously [adv l The factory's output quality is rigorously
tested.
rigid/ rd3d/rigid discipline/censorship/rule (=strict
and impossible to change) fad j]
He built the team through hard training and rigid dis-
cipline. I There is to be rigid censorship on the sale of horror
videos. I Even the strict rules of the navy seemed preferable
to the rigid iron rule of his own country.
tight/tait/tight controls or limits are very exact about
what is allowed and what is not allowed [adj]
Laws on animal experiments are not tight enough. I Tighter
security has resulted in fewer factory break-ins.
binding/'baind/binding agreement/contract/rule
(=one that legally must be followed or obeyed) [adj]
Unfortunately we have a binding agreement with the govern-
merit that cannot be broken. I legally binding His contract
is legally binding, he must stay here for the next two years
whether he wants to or not. ] binding on All EEC decisions
are binding on the member states.
5 to make a rule, law, or system more strict
tighten up
tighten up /,tatn '^Pl to make rules, systems etc more
strict so that it is harder for people to break them [phr v T ]
tighten up sth The company will have to tighten up its
sickness regulations - too much time is being lost at the
moment. [ A government announcement promised that the
tax laws would be tightened up. [ tighten up on A way of
strengthening the economy would be to tighten up on import
allowances.
punitive /'pju:nItiv/ punitive taxation/measures/
damages etc (=used as a way of punishing people, some-
times unfairly) [adj]
The UN has approved punitive economic sanctions against
Iraq. [ Women's groups are arguing for an end to the puni-
tive taxation of childcare facilities.
draconian /dm'kaonian/ draconian laws/measures/
penalties etc (=a formal word meaning very strict and
usually cruel) [adj]
Dissident novelists often find exile in countries where the
laws aren't quite so draconian. [ Draconian measures have
been implemented to control population growth.
7 words for describing a strict punishment or
strict criticism
severe
heavy
stiff
severe/s'vmr/[adj]
Driving while drunk could endanger other people's lives, so
penalties are severe. [ Smuggling across the Kenyan border
continues, despite the severe penalties meted out to anyone
caught. [ Although there has been severe criticism of the non-
intervention policy, the US is determined to stick to it.
severely [adv] I'm going to purish him severely so he won't
do it again.
heavy / 'hevi/heavy freesCaxesCestrictionsCecurity
(=very strict) [adj]
The accident led to a court case which resulted in a heavy fine
for the careless driver. I Despite the heavy taxation of middle
income groups, the economy has not recovered. I The airport
is under heavy security for the President's visit.
stiff/stIf/stiff sentence/tax/penalty (=more strict than
usual) [adj]
For crimes involving the use of guns, the sentences are par-
ticularly stiff. [ The government has not helped farmers by
introducing stiff taxes on land profits.
8 to become less strict
relent
soften
mellow
relent/rJ 'lent/to change your mind and decide to be less
strict about something [v I]
Jo was in a bad mood at first, but then she relented. [ A week
after refusing she relented and allowed him to visit his
daughter. [ "'All right, "" said Rupert, relenting, "'if you're
really hungry you can have something to eat. ""
soften /'sofan II become less strict and more
sympathetic towards someone [v I]
Mr Reeves looked angry but then softened when he saw the
young man's frightened expression. [ soften your attitude
The police have softened their attitude towards young people
who live on the streets.
mellow/'mebo/to change your attitude and become less
strict, especially over a long period of time [v I]
My father has mellowed - he no longer treats me like an
idiot.[ mellow with age/time He hasn't always been so
understanding. He's really mellowed with age.
6 words for describing a law or system of
government that orders strict punishment
harsh
punitive
draconian
harsh/ha:r/[adj]
The laws concerning alcohol are very harsh. [ The country
has fallen into the hands of a harsh military regime. [ The
go vernment's policy on unemployment has been criticized as
harsh and authoritarian.
9 to treat someone less strictly
go easy on
ease up on
let up on
go easy on / ,gvo ' i:zi on/an informal expression mean-
ing to treat someone less strictly than usual, especially
because they have special problems or difficulties [v
phrase]
Go easy on her. She's had a very difficult time since her
parents died. [ I wish the police would go easier on him, he
doesn't even speak their language.

STRICT
ease up on/,i:z '^p on II -a:n/to stop being so strict to
someone, especially because they do not deserve to be
treated severely Iv T]
I wish he'd ease up on Sally. She usually works hard. I The
authorities are beginning to ease up on dissident authors and
playwrights.
let up on ! ,let '^p o II -a:n! to treat someone less strictly,
especially temporarily after a period of strict treatment
Iv T]
If you let up on him he'll have a chance to show that he can
behave himself. I Over the training period the commander
never let up on his soldiers.
10
words for describing people or organizations
that are not strict
lenient liberal
soft permissive
mild lax
tolerant over-indulgent
tolerance broad-minded
easy going
lenient/'li:nivnt! not strict or severe, especially when
punishing someone [adj ]
lenient with The judge was criticized for being too lenient
with rapists. I lenient The younger teachers took a more
lenient view of the fight between the two boys.
leniently [adv] He said he would ask the inspector to deal
leniently with the matter.
leniency In U] Is it true that rich people are treated with
more leniency by the police?
soft /sot II s:fl/ an informal word meaning not strict
enough [ adj]
He doesn't have the right personality to be an army officer,
he's too soft. I soft on They should have been punished more
severely - you were too soft on them.
mild/mafld/mild criticism/punishment ere (=not strict
in a way that is surprising) [adj]
Terracini's punishment was surprisingly mild. I She received
only mild criticism, even though she openly defied the
authorities.
tolerant/tolmnt II 'to:-/allowing people to do, say, or
believe what they like without fear of punishment or criti-
cism [adj]
In the past, I've tried to adopt a tolerant attitude towards
his behaviour. I A less tolerant manager would have stopped
our Friday afternoon parties. I As with a human baby, you
must be patient, tolerant, and understanding of your pet's
mistakes.
tolerance/'tobmns [[ 'ta:-/behaviour or an attitude that
allows people to do, say, or believe what they like without
fear of punishment or criticism [n U]
Schoolteaehs have to have a great deal of tolerance in order
to deal with difficult children. [ The government is beginning
to show more tolerance, and has finally ordered the disband-
ing of the secret police.
easy going/,i:zi 'goo! someone who is easy-going
does not care about being strict and is usually friendly and
pleasant [ adj phrase]
The girl who looked after us was easy going and loved small
children. I Although he looks stern he is in fact quite easy
going.
liberal/' lbaml/ready to listen to and accept the ideas and
opinions of many different people so that you are unwill-
ing to criticize or punish anyone [adj]
I had a very liberal mother who didn't mind my boyfriend
staying the night with me. [ His attitude on this point struck
me as strangely liberal in a man of his age.
permissive/pa r 'misv/allowing behaviour, especially
sexual behaviour, that many other people disapprove of
[adj]
In the permissive society of the 1960s anything was possible. [
Tim's parents pride themselves on being permissive, which
is why he is so disobedient. [ It's not always true that young
people have a more permissive attitude towards sex.
1318
strong
lax/leks/not strict enough, especially through careless-
ness or laziness [adj]
lax about He feels that he has been rather lax about his work
recently. [ lax Builders have been taking advantage of lax
regulations to put up houses on land listed as 'industrially
polluted'.
over-indulgent / ,ovr n 'd^ld3ant/allowing someone,
especially a child, to behave in whatever way they want
because you love them [adj]
Her parents are over-indulgent and never punish her. I With
a strict and over-indulgent mother, he has grown up with a
strange attitude to life.
broad-minded/,bm:d 'maindoId/willing to accept and
respect other people's beliefs or behaviour although they
may be very different from your own [adj]
My mother's quite broad-minded. She understands my
decision to bring up my baby on my own.
1 1 words for describing a punishment that is not
strict
light
lenient
light/last/[adj]
Her punishment was surprisingly light for such a serious
offence. [ A light penalty will be imposed if the work is not
completed on time.
lenient/'li:niantl an official punishment that is lenient
is not severe [adj]
Sometimes it is in the interests of an offender's family for a
lenient sentence to be imposed. [ Surprisingly, the judge gave
the rapist a very lenient sentence.
strictly EXACT 7
stride WALK 2, 16
stride: take sth in your stride DEAL WITH 4
strides: make great strides PROGRESS 2
strike A]-IACK 2, 6, FIND 6, HIT 1,6, HIT/BUMP INTO 1,
REALIZE 1 STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 1,2,
THINK STH/HAVE A THOUGHT 1
strike: be on strike STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 1
strike: come out on strike STOP WORKING/GO ON
STRIKE 1
strike: go on hunger strike EAT 11
strike: go on strike STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 1
strike a balance EQUAL 8
strike back: hit back/strike back ATTACK 4
strike/make a bargain AGREE 3
strike sb as SEEM1
strike up a friendship FRIEND 6
strike while the iron is hot CHANCEiOPPORTUNITY 4
striking BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 2, IMPRESS 4
string of SERIES 1
string sb along TRICK/DECEIVE 3
stringent STRICT 4
strings: no strings attached CONDITION THAT MUST
BE DONE4
strings: be pulling the strings CONTROL 1
strip TAKE OFF CLOTHES 1, 2
strip sb of sth TAKE STH FROM SB 2
strip down SEPARATE 5
strip off TAKE OFF CLOTHES 1
stripe LINE 2
striped LINE 9
stripy: striped/stripy LINE 9
strive TRY TO DO OR GET STH 2
stroke TOUCH 2
stroke: on the stroke of TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME 1
stroke of genius IDEA 2
stroke of luck LUCKY 3
stroke of work: not do a stroke of work WORK HARD 9
stroll WALK 3
stroll: go for a stroll WALK 11
strong BRIGHT 1, HOT TASTE 1, POWER 2, STRONG
FEELING OR BELIEF 1 STRONG OBJECT 1
STRONG PERSON 1, 4, STRONG TASTE OR
SMELL 1, 2

strong language 1319 STRONG OBJECT
, strong language SWEAR 2
.:; strong point: not be sb's strong point GOOD AT 9
:; strong position: be in a strong position/a position of
• =: strength ADVANTAGE 3
::; strong-willed DETERMINED 3
Istrongl
" =: .i-ii:i:...ii: '.;.:.i::: ::i ...... " ........
. .... ;;;.;. :..-;..-i: : i..;i;. .....
which meaning"?
':i:'::i'!" :." -; ::-;;":."!
physically:strong  STRONG
i:..iiLi:'.;L.. i-'.--'-.-:: ......
strong taste #r smell 0  STRONG T&STE
: OBJECT
strong feeling or :  STRONG
determined to do :,,  N DETERMINED
STRONG FEELING
OR BELIEF
words for describing emotions that you feel
very strongly or beliefs that you hold very
strongly
1 words for describing emotions that you feel
very strongly or beliefs that you hold very
strongly
strong deep
intense fervent
passionate ardent
powerful
strong/stroo II strz:o/[adj]
Stapleton has very strong views on capital punishment and
loves a good argument about it. I She had a strong urge to
sell everything she owned and tratel abroad. I The new police
have received strong support from local residents.
strongly [adv] I don't let people smoke in my house - it's
something l feel very strongly about.
strength/streo0, strenO/In U] No one doubts the strength
of his feelings on abortion.
intense/n'tens/a feeling that is intense is so strong that
the person who feels it can hardly control it [adj]
It always gave him intense pleasure when his students passed
the exams. I There were only a few hours to go before the
winner was announced and the excitement was intense. I All
cars were stopped and searched, to the intense annoyance of
many people.
intensely [adv ] From the moment I saw him I disliked him
intensely.
intensity [n U] She loved him with an incredible intensity
that eventually destroyed their marriage.
passionate /pent/ passionate feelings/views/
beliefs/arguments etc (=involving strong feelings, espe-
cially about what is right and wrong) [adj]
I remember many passionate arguments taking place
around this table. I be passionate about (=have strong feel-
ings about) He's passionate about the need to protect the
environment. I passionate believer/opponent/supporter
etc Baroness Thatcher has always been a passionate believer
in the ideals of a free market economy.
passionately [adv] He was passionately against nuclear
weapons.
passion [n U] The passion in his voice was amazing - he
was almost in tears.
powerful/paorfl/having a great effect on someone
[adj]
Jealousy, that powerful emotion that can make someone do
something they may regret. I Her desire to hit him was so
powerful that she had to force herself to leave the room at
once. I a powerful speech attacking the arms trade
powerfully [ adv ] The letter was po werfu lly written and the
response was enormous.
deep /di:p/ a deep feeling is one that you feel very
strongly, especially a feeling of love, sympathy, disappoint-
ment etc [adj usually before nounl
The news came as a deep disappointment to us all. I The
General had always had a deep concern for the wellbeing of
his soldiers.
deeply [adv] He was deeply offended by their remarks.
depth/depO/[n U] It was impossible to describe the depth
of her hatred for him.
fervent /'f3:rvnt/ fervent admirer/supporter/be-
liever/belief etc (=admiring, supporting, believing etc in
something extremely strongly) [adj usually before noun]
Despite her troubled life she has always had a fervent belief
in God. I Some of the President's most fervent admirers
admitted they were shocked by the news of his resignation.
fervently [adv] He will be remembered as a politician who
fervently argued for what he believed in.
ardent/, :rdnt/a formal word meaning feeling about
something or believing in something very strongly and sin-
cerely [adj usually before noun]
He was a man of strong beliefs and had always given ardent
support to the Reform cause. I He is one of this town's finest
prosecution lawyers and has heard these ardent proclama-
tions of innocence too many times before.
ardently Iadv] She ardently believed that women should
have the same rights as men and was determined to fight for
this.
@ STRONG OBJECT
words for describing something that is strong,
will last a long time, and will not break easily
to make something such as a building,
machine, or structure stronger
words for describing something that is strong,
will last a long time, and will not break easily
strong heavy-duty
solid hardwearing
durable reinforced
tough unbreakable
robust indestructible
strong/stroo II strz:r/[adj]
The floor of the workshop has to be strong because the
machines are very heavy. I A vicious-looking dog was in the
yard, at the end of a strong chain. I The bags are made of
strong black plastic. I After full heat-treatment, the alloy
proved to be five times as strong as the pure aluminium.
strength In U] The strength of the rope has been thoroughly
tested.
strongly [adv] Landrovers are incredibly strongly built.
solid /'sld II 'so:-/ a building, piece of furniture, or
structure which is solid looks strong and well-made, and
is unlikely to fall down or break [adj]

STRONG OBJECT 1320 STRONG PERSON
Shawbridge has rows of small, solid houses built of the local
sandstone. I The table seemed to be solid enough, so I climbed
up onto it. I as solid as a rock (=very solid) The frame looks
quite weak but in fact it's as solid as a rock.
solidly [adv] The house was so solidly built no storm could
damage it.
solidity/solldti/[n U] I was amazed by the solidity of the
old wall.
durable/'djoambal II redo-/substances or products that
are durable are strong and will last a long time, even if
they are used a lot [adjl
What you need for Africa is a simple, durable and inexpen-
sive vehicle. [ Bronze is harder and more durable than tin. [
The roofs are constructed from heavy and durable timbers,
usually teak or mahogany.
durability/,djuar'bIloti [[ ,do-/[n U] Utility, economy, and
durability are the qualities we are looking for in office
furniture.
tough It^f/strong and not easily broken or made weaker,
even in bad conditions [adj]
Firefighters'jackets are made from very tough waterproof
cotton. [ These knives are really tough - I've been using them
for twenty years.
robust ]mtb^st, t roobAst/strong and well-made, so that it
does not break easily or become damaged easily, even if it
is used a lot or used very carelessly [adj]
The record player is very robust - an important fact if it is
used in a classroom. [ Plastic furniture is robust and cheap
but not as attractive as wooden furniture.
heavy-duty /Ihevi mdju:ti-[I-du:-/ heavy-duty
materials, tools, machines etc are specially made to be
stronger than usual, often because they are going to be used
a lot or used in difficult conditions [adj only before noun]
If you are going to put an electric cable underground, you
must use the special heavy-duty type. [ The emergency equip-
ment includes food, a first-aid kit, and a heavy-duty flash-
light.
hardwearing/,ha:rd wearlrj-/a hardwearing cloth or
material is strong and will last a long time, even if it is used
a lot [adjl
Polyester is not particularly hardwearing but it is cheap. [
The carpet should last at least five years as it's made from
very hardwearing material.
reinforced / ri: o n  f: rst,/reinforced concrete/plastic/
material/glass-fibre (=strong because it has other
materials added to it to make it stronger) [adj only before
noun]
By using materials such as titanium and reinforced plastics,
the car's weight has been reduced by 40%. [ A reinforced con-
crete dome, two metres thick, protects the radioactive core of
the nuclear reactor. [ Like all the clothes in the range it has
specially reinforced seams.
unbreakable/^nbrelkbal/ difficult or impossible to
break because it is made of a very strong substance [adj]
Plastic plates are perfect for children because they are
unbreakable. [ The advert claimed that the steel was not only
unbreakable but impervious to heat and cold.
indestructible/, Indl str^kQbal/ impossible to break,
damage or destroy [adj]
Even if the building were burned down, the money and jewels
would be intact, as the safe was indestructible. [ Nylabone
- the indestructible nylon bone that makes theperfect toy for
your dog!
2 to make something such as a building,
machine, or structure stronger
make sth stronger
strengthen
reinforce
make sth stronger Imeik (sth) 'strorjg r II -'stra:I]-/[v
phrase]
The bottom of the boat has three separate layers of plywood
to make it stronger. [ A final heat-treatment makes the glass
much stronger and improves its optical qualities.
strengthen/strerjOan, tstrenOan/to make a structure,
machine, or object stronger, so that it will not break easily
[vT]
The metal rods in an airplane's wing are designed to
strengthen it. [ Finally the spider spins a spiral-shaped string
to strengthen its web. [ When we replaced the 2-1itre engine
with a 3 Ѕ-1itre one we had to strengthen the front suspension.
reinforce / ri: o n  f:rs/to make part of a building or struc-
ture stronger Iv T]
The sea wall at Southend is being reinforced with tons of
cement. [ Huge beams have been added at the top of the walls
to reinforce the carved medieval roof.
@ STRONG PERSON
1 physically strong, so that you can lift heavy
objects, work very hard etc
2 words for describing someone, especially a
man, who is strong but also rather fat, heavy,
or unattractive
3 strong but thin
4 strong and healthy, so that you can live
through illness or difficult conditions
5 the physical power and energy that makes
someone strong
6 the ability to continue doing something for a
long time, even though it is difficult or tiring
I physically strong, so that you can lift heavy
objects, work very hard etc
strong well-built
powerful st rap ping
muscular
strong/stroI] II str:q/[adjl
Tom was so strong he could lift that big table with one hand. I
Cassie is a lot stronger since she started going to the gym
every day. I A pit bull-terrier has such strong jaws it can bite
right through your hand. [ as strong as an ox (=very
strong) Twenty years of working in the steel-mill had made
him as strong as an ox.
powerful /tpaoorfal/powerful hands/arms/muscles
ere (=very strong) [adj usually before noun]
Gary felt a powerful pair of hands grab hold of his shoul-
ders. I With his powerful physique, Laurence could have been
a fine athlete. [ The boa constrictor can easily crush a man
with its powerful coils.
muscular/mm^skj°lor/having big muscles so that you
look strong and physically fit [adjl
A muscular young woman in grey shorts was leading the
exercise class. I I stood there admiring his bare, broad
muscular shoulders.
well-built/t wel bit-/a well-built man is strong and tall
in an attractive way [adj]
A well-built young man in uniform came to our table and
asked for a light. I Witnesses have described the attacker as
white, six feet tall and well-built.
strapping / strep:rj/a strapping young man or young
woman is strong, tall, and looks healthy and active [adj
only before noun]
She remembered Martin as a strapping youth with a big
appetite. [ The farmer's daughters were a fine pair of strap-
ping young girls.
2 words for describing someone, especially a
man, who is strong but also rather fat, heavy,
or unattractive
stocky beefy
burly hefty
brawny

STRONG PERSON 1321 STRONG PERSON
stocky/'stDki II 'sto-.-/strong but short and heavy [adj]
George Cumberland, a stocky bald man in his mid-fifties,
was the owner of the Malibu Club. I Leslie was short and
stocky, with an air of quiet aggression. I The stocky figure
of Mrs Dunstaple was seen striding purposefully towards the
gates.
burly/'b3:rli/a burly man is big, strong, and heavy, in
a way that may make you feel nervous [adj usually before
noun l
Jackson arrived for the interview, accompanied by two burly
bodyguards. I The farmer was a big, burly man with a red
face.
brawny /Ibr3:ni/ strong, with big muscles, but rather
stupid-looking [adj]
The gardener's assistant arrived - a brawny youth who
never said a word. i He had a football player's physique: big
head, thick neck, brawny shoulders, and heavy legs.
beefy 1 bi:fi/strong but rather fat and unattractive [adj]
The second prisoner was a fat-faced beefy fellow who smelled
of sweat, i Amanda and Tina were both beefy, sporty types.
hefty /'hefti/ big, strong, and heavy, but rather slow-
moving and awkward-looking [adj]
When the key could not be found, two hefty policemen broke
the door down. I Joe looked ridiculous as he squeezed his
hefty frame into the tiny cockpit of the glider.
3 strong but thin
wiry
athletic
wiry/wadri/fairly thin but with strong muscles [adj]
The corporal was a wiry little man with red hair and a fierce
temper. I Nearly six feet, slim and wiry, Hill was the fastest
runner of his generation.
athletic/mO'letk, 0-/strong, active, and healthy-looking
[adj]
He was in his forties, tall, athletic, not bad-looking. I Holmes
had sprung to his feet and I saw his dark, athletic outline
at the door of the hut. ] Her lean, tanned, athletic legs looked
great in tennis shorts.
4 strong and healthy, so that you can live
through illness or difficult conditions
strong hardy
sturdy tough
robust resilient
strong/stmo II stm:O/[adj]
She had three young daughters, all strong and healthy. I
After a week in bed I felt strong enough to try walking a few
steps. I have a strong constitution (=have a naturally
strong body which can live through serious illness) Your
father has a strong constitution and will soon recover.
sturdy/' sta:rdi/strong and healthy-looking, especially if
you are also rather short [adj]
Maria had her father's Sicilian looks. She was small and
sturdy, with dark hair and dark eyes. I Mrs Harding her-
self was thin and frail but her son was a sturdy sixteen-year-
old. I The ponies used underground were sturdy little
animals that came originally from Northern Spain.
robust/mbAst, 'raobAst/ someone who is robust, espe-
cially an old person or a child, is strong and healthy and
unlikely to become ill [adj]
Though he was over seventy, he was still robust and active. I
Jack, a robust four-year-old with red hair, was munching
an apple while I spoke to his mother. I Less robust persons
might need a siesta, but Eva worked right through from
dawn till dusk.
hardy/' ha: rdi/ people who are hardy are naturally strong
and healthy and can live in very difficult or uncomfortable
conditions [adj]
The people who lived in the hills were a hardy and hard-
working race. I Charolais cattle do not like rain or too much
cold. They are not hardy animals.
tough ItAf I physically and mentally strong, so that you can
live through very difficult conditions [adj]
When Aunt Agnes caught cholera out in India, we all
expected her to die - but she's a tough old lady and she pulled
through. [ I know she's only a kid, but she's tough - make
no mistake about it! I tough as nails (=very tough) He's a
good man to have on your side - tough as nails, from what
I hear.
resilient/r zflint/someone who is resilient, especially
a young person, is strong and healthy, so that they are only
affected for a short time by illness, difficulties, or sudden
changes in their lives [adj]
Amy will soon be out of hospital - children of her age are
very resilient. I Being twenty-three years old and quite
resilient, I got over the shock pretty quickly.
5 the physical power and energy that makes
someone strong
strength brawn
power force
strength/streo0, strenO/In U]
You need strength, courage and skill to be a good downhill
skier. I Katie was amazed at her own strength as she pulled
herself up onto the ledge. I great strength Because he cycled
so much, Richard had great strength in his legs. I build up
your strength (=do sport or exercises to make yourself
stronger) This exercise builds up your strength and stamina.
power / paor/great physical strength in one part of your
body In U]
Mike had tremendous power in his forearms. [ A dyna-
mometer is used to measure muscle power.
brawn/bra:n/a word meaning physical strength, used
when comparing strength with intelligence or skill In U]
You can't be good at tennis if you rely on brawn alone - it
takes skill as well. [ The battle was won by brain rather than
brawn.
force/fa:rs/physical strength that is needed to be able to
push, pull, or lift something In U]
It didn't require particular force to move the table. I I had
to use force to get the window open.
6 the ability to continue doing something for a
long time, even though it is difficult or tiring
stamina
staying power
endurance
stamina/'stmmIn/the physical strength you need so
that you can continue doing something very tiring, for
example a sport, for a long time In U]
Swimming is a very good exercise for increasing your sta-
mina. I A ballet-dancer needs the sensitivity of an artist and
the stamina of a marathon-runner.
staying power / I ste- 0 paoar/the ability to continue
doing something difficult until it is finished In U]
Ahmedi's performances were world-class in the 1500 metres
and 3000 metres but he just didn't have the staying power for
longer races. I You have to admire her staying power. No one
else has managed to stick that job for more than a year!
endurance /ndjodr0ns [[ ndoar-/ the physical and
mental strength you need to be able to continue in a very
difficult, unpleasant, or uncomfortable situation for a long
time In U]
The peasant farmers of Vietnam showed great courage,
patience, and endurance during the long years of the war.I
endurance feat (=an example of great endurance) Foster
once drove from Montreal to Calgary - twenty-seven hours
without a break, quite an endurance feat. I test of sb's
endurance (=a very difficult situation that needs great
endurance) The expeditions behind enemy lines were a
tremendous test of one's endurance and nerves.

STRONG TASTE OR SMELL
STRONG TASTE
OR SMELL
1 words for describing food or drink that has a
strong taste
2 words for describing a smell that is strong
3 words for describing food or drink that does
not have a strong taste or smell
1 words for describing food or drink that has a
strong taste
strong rich
full-flavoured/full-flavored robust
full-bodied
strong/strDo II str:o/[adj]
Stilton is a very strong English cheese, which has blue-green
veins running through it. I The meal was extremely tasty but
I left the restaurant with rather a strong taste of onions in
my mouth. I "'How do you like your tea?" "Strong please, with
no sugar.'"
full.flavoured (British) I full.flavored (American)/,ful
'fleIvrd/something such as cheese or coffee that is full-
flavoured has a strong pleasant taste [adj]
This coffee is strong and full-flavoured, excellent for after
dinner.
full.bodied/Iful 'bodid, II -Iba:-/a full-bodied wine has
a strong pleasant taste [adj]
The beautiful color and full-bodied taste of these Australian
wines make them an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes.
rich/rItl/food that is rich contains a lot of cheese, cream,
butter, or chocolate, and makes you feel full very quickly
[adj]
You mustn't eat too much rich food - it's bad for you. I The
meat was browned to perfection and topped with a rich
sauce.
robust Irb^st, mubAstl wine that is robust has a par-
ticular strong taste, which is not lost when you drink it
with strong-tasting food [adj]
When visiting the region you should try the robust local
wines.
words for describing a smell that is strong
strong pungent
powerful heady
strong Istroj II str:rj/[adj]
There's a strong smell of gas in here. [ Goat's cheese has a
strong smell. I strong-smelling George emerged from his
room wearing a white dinner jacket and covered in strong-
smelling aftershave.
powerful /'paoorfal/ very strong, and sometimes
unpleasant [adj]
Ammonia has a very powerful, distinctive smell.
pungent/'pAnd3ant/having a very strong, sharp, often
unpleasant, smell [adj]
When heated the substance gives off pungent fumes. I Garlic
has a pungent aroma.
heady Ihedi/ heady smell/scent/aroma/perfume
(=very strong and sweet, like a powerful smell of flowers)
[adj only before noun ]
A heady scent ofpeachesfilled the room. I Diane had chosen
roses because she could not resist their heady perfume.
words for describing food or drink that does
not have a strong taste or smell
mild faint
delicate bland
mild/maIld/-something such as cheese or coffee that is
mild, has a pleasant taste but is not strong [adj]
1322
STUBBORN
It's a smooth, mild coffee, excellent for finishing off a meal. I
a mild cigar I a mild English cheese
delicate/'delIkot/a delicate taste or smell is gentle and
pleasant [adj]
The fish was served with a delicate mushroom sauce. [
Salmon has quite a delicate flavour, and it should not be
over-cooked. I delicate-smelling flowers
delicately lady] The vegetables had been cooked in a deli-
cately flavoured marinade.
faint/feint/a faint smell or taste is very weak and you
almost do not notice it [adj]
He went out of the room, leaving behind him a faint smell
of tobacco. ] She could detect a faint taste of some kind of drug
in her coffee.
bland/blmnd/food that is bland has very little taste and
is uninteresting [adj]
I don't much like English cooking - it's too bland.
strongarm: use strongarm tactics/methods FORCE
SBTODOSTH 1
stronger: make sth stronger STRONG OBJECT 2
stroppy ARGUE 7
stroppy: get stroppy ANGRY 4
struck dumb: be struck dumb SAY 8
structure BUILD 3, ORGANIZE 1 SYSTEM 1
structured ORGANIZE 2
struggle FIGHT 1, FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 4
struggle: it is a struggle DIFFICULT 10
struggle for TRY TO DO OR GET STH 5
struggle to do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 3
strut WALK 9
stub out STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 11
stubborn DETERMINED 2, STUBBORN 1
STUBBORN
words for describing someone who refuses to
change their mind even though other people
think they are being unreasonable
1 words for describing someone who refuses to
change their mind even though other people
think they are being unreasonable
stubborn headstrong
obstinate wilful/willful
pig-headed won't listen to reason
stubborn/'st^barn/[adj]
You were always so stubborn when you were a boy, you
always wanted to do everything your way. I stubborn about
If he starts being stubborn about it, tell him we'll call the
police. I have a stubborn streak (=tend to be stubborn)
Jon had a stubborn streak in him which made him a very
difficult person to live with. I stubborn as a mule
(=extremely stubborn) I've tried everything to persuade the
old woman to sell her land, but she's as stubborn as a mule.
stubbornly lady] "No,'" she said stubbornly, "'I'm not going
to sign it and that's that. ""
stubbornness In U] A mixture of pride and natural stub-
bornness prevented him from giving up.
obsUnale/'obstnIt II 'G:b-/very stubborn, especially in
an annoying and deliberately unreasonable way [adj]
Paul could be very obstinate when he wanted. I She was
obstinate and proud and wouldn't admit she was wrong. I
His obstinate refusal to tell anyone about his illness was
typical of him.
obstinately lady] '7 don't care what they say, "" he said
obstinately, "'I'm not going, and that's final. ""
pig.headed /.pig 'hedId,/ behaving in a stupid and
unreasonable way by ignoring other people's advice or
warnings, and being determined to do something in the
way that you want to do it [adj]
If you hadn't been such a pig-headed fool you would still have

STUBBORN 1323 STUDY
your job and we wouldn't be in this mess. I I wish he wasn't
so pig-headed about not eating foreign food.
headstrong/'hedstrorj II -stm:rj/someone who is head-
strong, especially a child or young adult, is very indepen-
dent and wants to do things in the way that they want,
without listening to other people's advice or thinking about
the results of their actions [adj]
She was young, energetic, and extremely headstrong. I In
those days I was headstrong and impulsive, and always
thought I knew what was best.
wilful (British) I willful (American)/'wilful/someone who
is wilful, especially a child or young adult, deliberately
behaves badly by continuing to do what they want to do,
even after they have been told to stop [adj]
Billy is a very willful little boy who's constantly being
punished for not doing as he's told. I Teenagers often become
more wilful as they become more independent.
won't listen to reason /Iwoont Ihs9n to ri:zan/if you
say that someone won't listen to reason, you mean that
they refuse to change their unreasonable opinions or
behaviour even though people try very hard to persuade
them to Iv phrase]
It's no use trying to persuade her to change her mind, but
she won't listen to reason. I We all tried to talk him out of
taking the job, but he just wouldn't listen to reason.
stubby SHORT/NOT LONG 1
stuck MOVE STH OR SB 6, MOVE/CHANGE
POSITION 7
stuck: be stuck ESCAPE 10
stuck: be stuck with HAVE 3
stuck-up PROUD 8
student kEARN 4, STUDY 4
studies WORK THAT SB DOES 2
studious WORK HARD 4
t EXAMINE 1, , LEARN , PICTURE 1, STUDY 1,
STUDY
to study a particular subject at school,
university etc
to study very hard, especially when you are
preparing for an exam
to study something in order to find out more
about it
someone who is studying at school, university
etc
a piece of work done by someone studying a
particular subject
1 to study a particular subject at school,
university etc
study have/take lessons
do read
take major in
study/' stndi/to read books, go to classes etc in order to
learn about a subject [v I/T]
study sth I've been studying English now for 6years. I When
she was at school she hated studying Shakespeare. I study
It's really difficult to study when the weather's so hot. I Ken
studied hard and got offered a place at Tokyo University. I
study to be a doctor/lawyer etc My brother's studying to
be an accountant. I study for an exam/diploma etc I'd like
to study for an MA in French. I study under sb (=receive
classes from a famous teacher) Nicoll was himselfa noted
psychologist, having studied under Jung in Zurich.
do Idu'.l an informal word meaning to study a particular
subject at school, university etc Iv T not in passive]
I can't decide whether to do German or Spanish next year. I
I wish we'd been able to do computing when I was at school. I
do a course on We're doing a course on Spanish history next
term.
take/teik/to study a particular subject with the aim of
taking an examination Iv T]
Students have to take two main subjects in their final year. I
Our daughter's thinking of taking courses in A level physics
and biology next term.
have/take lessons /hmv, tek lesgnz/ to receive
lessons, especially private lessons, in order to learn about
something or improve your skill at doing something
Iv phrase]
My mother wanted me to take riding lessons. I Lucy used to
have singing lessons from an old lady on 57th street. I
have/take lessons in Before Jane went to Turkey she'd had
a few lessons in the local language.
read/ri:d/a word used especially in British English mean-
ing to study a subject at university Iv T not in passive]
Oliver is reading philosophy at Oxford. I She went on to read
medicine at Edinburgh.
major in/'med3or n/an American expression meaning
to study something as your main subject at university Iv T
not in passive]
Diane majored in psychology at Berkeley. ] Students major-
ing in a foreign language often take time out to live in the
country where the language is spoken.
 to study very hard, especially when you are
preparing for an exam
cram for
swot/grind
cram for / Ikrmm f:r/if you cram for an examination,
you learn as much information for it as you can, just before
you take it Iv T ]
She's upstairs cramming for her final exams.
swot (British) I grind (American)/swat, gra[nd II swo:t/
informal words meaning to study hard, especially when
you are preparing for an examination Iv II
swot/grind for I was too busy swotting for my exams to be
much interested in girls. I swot/grind He's sure to pass -
he's been grinding away for months.
 to study something in order to find out more
about it
study
research
study/' stAdi! to watch and examine something carefully
over a period of time in order to find out more about it Iv T]
study how/why/when etc I've been studying how differ-
ent people react to stress. I study sth This discovery will be
of great interest to scientists studying the origins of the
universe.

STUDY, 1324 STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT
research/rI ' s3:rt/to study something in a detailed, well-
planned, and scientific way, in order to find out new facts
or to test new ideas [v I/T]
research into Doctors researching into the causes of the dis-
ease believe they may have found a cure. [ research sth I'm
researching the life of Marie Curie. [ It is important to
research the market fully before putting a new product on
sale.
4 someone who is studying at school, university
etc
student schoolkid
pupil undergraduate
learner English/history
schoolboy/schoolgirl etc major
student/'stju:dant II 'stu:-I [n C]
Her sister is a first-year English literature student at the
University of Oslo. I Research shows that school teachers tend
to give more attention to male students than female. I Stu-
dent leaders had organized a sit-in to protest against the war
in Vietnam. I We would welcome any suggestions from both
teachers and students. I student days (=the time when you
were a student) John was an old friend from my student
days.
pupil/'pju:pal/a word used especially in British English
meaning a child who studies at a school [n C]
The school has over 700 pupils, i Phil Collins and Peter
Gabriel are both former pupils of Charterhouse School.
learner /  13:rnr/a word used especially by teachers and
people talking about the needs of students, meaning some-
one who is learning about a particular subject [n C]
Intermediate learners of English often have difficulty with
phrasal verbs. I At the end of each chapter there is a series
of exercises designed to help the learner.
schoolboy/schoolgirl /'sku:lb, 'sku:lg3:rl/ words
used especially in British English meaning a child who
studies at a school In C]
He was quickly surrounded by schoolgirls asking for his
autograph. [ Schoolchildren are often very self-conscious
about their appearance. [ The play relies heavily on school-
boy humour and jokes about toilets.
schoolkld / ' sku:lkId/an informal word meaning a child
who studies at a school [n C I
I was just a schoolkid - I didn't know anything about life
in the big wide worM. [ They were standing outside giggling
away like a couple of naughty schoolkids.
undergraduate /,^ndo rgred3ut/ a word used espe-
cially in British English meaning someone who is study-
ing at a university in order to get their first degree [n C]
They met when they were undergraduates at Cambridge.
undergraduate [adj] This textbook is primarily intended
for undergraduate students of history.
English/history etc major/(English, etc) meId3r/an
American expression meaning someone who is studying
English, history etc at university [n C]
Her boyfriend was a Politics major at Berkeley.
5 a piece of work done by someone studying a
particular subject
study
research
study/' stAdi/a piece of work, especially one that includes
a written report, that involves studying a particular sub-
ject in order to find out more about it [n C]
Recent studies have shown that women find it harder than
men to give up smoking. [ We're doing a study into how much
time people spend watching television each day. [ Marx's
'Das Kapital" is a classic study of the capitalist system in
Western Europe. [ conduct/carry out a study (=do a study)
One study conducted in the US found that children from
poorer families had a much lower life expectancy.
research/rI 's3:rtj ",  ri:s3:rtj'/work done by someone who
studies a particular subject in great detail, especially in
order to find out new facts or to test new ideas [n U]
The government wants medical research to be privately
funded by the big drug companies. [ conduct/carry out
research (=do research) A team of American scientists is
carrying out research into the effects of acid rain. [ research
into Cultural taboos are holding back research into marri-
age and fertility customs. [ research on (=research about)
A lot of the research on the destruction of the ozone layer was
done in the early 1980s.
stuff EQUIPMENT 1, FULL 6, OWN 6, PUSH 6,
SUBSTANCE 1, THING 2
stuff/gorge yourself EAT 3
stuffed FULL 3
stuffed: be stuffed with FULL 2
stuffy AIR 4, SERIOUS PERSON 2
stultifying BORING 2
stumble FALL 3, WALK 6
stumble on/across FIND 7
stumbling block PROBLEM 2
stump up
stumpy
stun
stunned
stunning
stunt
stupid
PAY FOR 2
SHORT/NOT LONG 1
SHOCK 1, UNCONSCIOUS 4
SHOCK 3, UNCONSCIOUS 1
BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 1, 4
DANGEROUS 3
ANNOY 5, STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1,
STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
[stupid[
STUPID/NOT
INTELLIGENT
not intelligent
words for describing someone who finds it
difficult to learn or understand
a person who is not intelligent
1 not intelligent
not intelligent/bright/ dim
clever/smart unintelligent
stupid brainless
dumb gormless
thick obtuse
not intelligentlbrightlcleverlsmart /not in'tel-
d3ant, braIt, klev r, sma:rt/[adj]
He works hard but he's really not very bright. I Just because
she hasn't had a good education doesn't mean she's not intel-
ligent. I Some of the kids in this class aren't too smart.
stupid /'stju:pd II 'stu:-/ having a low level of intelli-
gence, and having difficulty in learning and understand-
ing new facts, information, or skills [adj]
Robin was a rather stupid boy. I What d'you mean, you don't
understand? Are you stupid or something? I His relatives and
neighbors consider him stupid and lacking in ambition.

STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1325 STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE
stupidity/stju:'pIdti II stu:-/In U] Children's poor achieve-
ment at school is nearly always caused by bad teaching
rather than stupidity.
dumb/dAm/an informal word used especially in Ameri-
can English meaning stupid [adj]
That was a really dumb question to ask. I God knows when
that dumb kid of ours is going to graduate from high school. I
The thing about Marilyn is that she wasn't just a dumb
blonde.
thick/Oil{/an informal British word meaning not at all
intelligent [adj]
Paul seems quitepleasant, but he's a bit thick, isn't he? l After
half an hour chatting to her in the bar he began to realize
just how thick she was.
dim/dim/an informal word meaning unintelligent and
very slow to learn [adj]
She's not the brightest kid in the class - in fact, she's quite
dim. I I wouldn't bother asking Simon; he's kind of dim.
unintelligent /^nin'teld3ant-/a formal word meaning
not as intelligent as most people [adj]
It would be a mistake to assume that all football players are
unintelligent. I He may not be as bright as his sister, but he's
far from unintelligent.
brainless/breInlos/ an informal word meaning com-
pletely stupid [adj]
My sister's latest boyfriend is pretty brainless; it's impossi-
ble to have a conversation with him.
gormless /go=rmlos/an informal British word meaning
very stupid, used especially to describe someone who looks
stupid or who believes whatever anyone tells them [adj]
He just sat there with his mouth open looking really gorm-
less. I He plays the gormless Rodney in the TV series 'Only
Fools and Horses'.
obtuse/ob'tju:s II -'tu:s/deliberately behaving in a stupid
way, for example by pretending you do not understand
something [adj]
Oh, stop being obtuse. You know perfectly well what I mean.
2 words for describing someone who finds it
difficult to learn or understand
slow
backward
retarded
have learning difficulties
slow/sloo/needing more time to learn and understand
things than most other people [adj]
Jim's a nice enough boy, but rather slow. I She was always
a slow learner; it took her ages to start to read. I slow on
the uptake (=slow to understand when someone is telling
you something or explaining something) Though Matt was
a little slow on the uptake, he understood after a while.
backward /'bmkword/ a child who is backward has
difficulty in learning at school and develops more slowly
than other children [adj]
Ben's teachers thought he was backward, when all he needed
was a pair of glasses. I She got a job at the local school tutor-
ing some of the backward pupils.
retarded/r ta:rdd/someone who is retarded is men-
tally unable to learn or understand as well as other people
and may need special care [adj]
The center trains retarded people to do useful jobs in the com-
munity. I Doctors told them their child was likely to be men-
tally retarded, but they decided to go ahead with the
pregnancy.
have learning difficulties/hmv 13:rn;[I ,dIfIkaltiz/an
expression used especially in medical or educational con-
texts for describing children who are unable to learn as
quickly as other children and may have to go to a special
school Iv phrase not in progressive]
Tim was diagnosed as having learning difficulties and was
moved into a special class. I Children with learning difficul-
ties often make rapid progress when their problems are cor-
rectly diagnosed and treated.
3 a person who is not intelligent
idiot airhead
fool moron
bimbo
Idiot/'Idiot/In C]
Whenever I phone the bank I get through to some idiot who
sounds about twelve years old. [ Stop treating me like an idiot
- I can count you know.t
fool Ifu:ll someone who is stupid and often makes bad mis-
takes and wrong decisions, because they do not fully under-
stand the situation they are in In C]
He's a fool, but he's harmless. I The soldiers were led by some
young fool straight out of military academy, who didn't
know one end of a rifle from the other.
bimbo /'b;mboo/ an informal word meaning a young
woman who is attractive but not very intelligent, especially
one who spends time with rich and famous people In C]
Backstage, Paul was surrounded by bimbos in short skirts
just waiting for him to notice them.
airhead /'eorhed/ an informal word meaning a very
stupid person In C]
He treats his women staff as if they're all airheads just fill-
ing time before they get married. [ Halfway through their
date he decided she was just an airhead, and made some
excuse about having to get home early.
moron /mo:ron II mo:m:n/an offensive word meaning a
very stupid person In C]
Who could have written rubbish like this?It must have been
some complete moron. I Unofficially, the advertising agency's
policy is to assume the general public are all morons.
STUPID/NOT
SENSIBLE
1 words for describing someone who behaves
in a way that is not sensible and that shows
bad judgement
2 words for describing someone who behaves
less sensibly than they should, as if they vere
much younger than they really are
3 words for describing actions and behaviour
that show a lack of good sense or good
judgement
4 words for describing things people say that
show a lack of good sense or good
judgement
5 words-for describing ideas, plans, or
suggestions that are stupid and show a lack
of good judgement
6 words for describing a situation, arrangement,
or way of doing something which is stupid
and unreasonable
7 someone who behaves in a way that is not
serious or sensible
8 to behave in a childishly stupid way
9 stupid behaviour or thinking
I words for describing someone who behaves
in a way that is not sensible and that shows
bad judgement
stupid daft
silly foolhardy
foolish irrational
stupid/'stju:pd II 'stu:-/[adj]
My stupid brother spilled paint all over his new shoes. I You
told your boss you had applied for another job - how could

STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE
1326
STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE
you be so stupid? I You stupid idiot - that was my drink! I
Some of the girls in our class are really stupid - they're
always giggling and don't take anything seriously.
silly/'sili/behaving in a childish or embarrassing way
that makes you look stupid [adj]
Try to pay attention for a moment - you're behaving like a
silly little boy. I Kate started to laugh, but Mrs Jones was
serious. "'Don't be silly, Kate. '" I Television game shows
encourage otherwise intelligent people to be extremely silly.
foolish / ' fu:li[/stupid and not thinking sensibly about the
possible results of what you do [adj]
We were foolish to buy such an expensive house. I In those
days I was just a foolish,, naive young man. I Hannah had
been foolish not to tell the truth in the first place.
daft /do:ft II deft/ an informal British word meaning
stupid in what y.ou do or say, especially in a way that makes
people laugh [adj]
Look at the daft kids in that car, making funny faces. I I told
Ken how daft he was to take three thick sweaters with him
to Hawaii. I Don't be daft! Of course you're not too old for
discos.
foolhardy/fu:lho:rdi/taking stupid and unnecessary
risks without thinking about the results of your actions
[adj]
Two foolhardy tourists had tried to get too close to the edge
of the cliff and had to be rescued. [ To attempt an attack at
this stage would be foolhardy.
irrational/i ' rm[anol/behaving in a way that seems stupid
because it is unreasonable, unexpected, and hard to under-
stand [adj l
Whenever he's under pressure he becomes totally irrational. [
The old woman has become increasingly irrational and con-
fused over the past few months.
2 words for describing someone who behaves
less sensibly than they should, as if they were
much younger than they really are
childish
immature
juvenile
childish/'tj'aildij'/[adj]
I can't put up with your childish behavior any longer. [ Don "t
be so childish - the chocolates are for everyone to share.
childishness [n U] The way she shouts and cries whenever
he wants to go out on his own is sheer childishness.
immature /,Ima'tfo; r l[-'tuar/ behaving as if you are
much younger than you really are, especially in a situation
where more serious and sensible behaviour is expected
[adj]
During their teens, boys tend to be much more immature than
girls. [ I can't believe how immature those people sitting in
front of us were - they laughed all the way through the
concert.
immaturity [n U] In John's school report there were several
remarks about his immaturity and inattention to studies.
juvenile /'d3u:vnaIl [[-nal,-nail/ someone who is
juvenile, especially a young adult, behaves in a very silly
way like a child, when they should be more sensible,
because they are grown-up [adj]
This selfishness is just another example of Jason's juvenile
attitude. [ You wouldn "t think that college students could be
so juvenile.
3 words for describing actions and behaviour
that show a lack of good sense or good
judgement
stupid dumb
silly ill-advised
foolish unwise
daft be folly
stupid/IsOu:pold II Isttl:-/ [adj]
I was very drunk last night - I hope I didn't do anything
stupid. I Sit down and stop making that stupid noise! [ a
stupid thing to do You gave your coat away? That was a
really stupid thing to do. [ it is stupid (of sb) to do sth Isn't
it a bit stupid to only have one copy of your manuscript? [
It was stupid of me to lose my temper.
stupidly [adv] I'm sorry I reacted so stupidly.
silly/' sili/stupid and childish, in a way that may cause
either amusement or annoyance [adj]
After a while their silly behaviour began to annoy me. [ Then
Kay did something very silly and childish - she got up
abruptly and stomped out of the room. [ Greg thought of some
silly party games to keep the children amused.
silliness [n U] During the picnic Andrea's boyfriend
delighted the kids with his silliness (=by behaving in a silly
way).
foolish /'fu:hJ'/ stupid, and done without considering
what the possible result might be, and therefore likely to
cause problems in the future [adj]
Jan realized now that her behaviour during the weekend
had been very foolish. I I think the board of directors made
a foolish choice that they will regret. [ it is foolish (of sb)
to do sth Perhaps it was foolish to spend so much money.
foolishly [adv] I foolishly accepted a lift from a stranger.
daft /do:ft [[ draft/ an informal British word meaning
stupid and childish, in a way that other people often find
amusing [adj ]
You left your keys in the flat! What a daft thing to do! [ Please
don't put on that daft voice again!
dumb/dAm/an American word meaning stupid, annoy-
ing, and likely to have a bad result [adjl
Driving when you're drunk isn't clever - it's really dumb.[
You told your wife you were having an affair? That was
dumb.
Ill.advised/, i1 ad'vaizd-/a formalword: an action or plan
that is ill-advised is stupid because it will probably cause
problems in the future or be unsuccessful [adj]
Calvin lost a lot of money in an ill-advised attempt to sal-
vage the company's fortunes. [ be ill-advised to do sth I
think you would be ill-advised to approach the President at
this time, when he's under so much pressure.
unwise/An'waiz/done without thinking carefully enough
about the possible disadvantages that may result [adj]
Sun-bathing at noon in a very hot country like Greece is very
unwise. [ it is unwise to do sth I think it would be rather
unwise to try and combine two jobs. [ Realizing that it would
be very unwise to anger a man like Tony, I quickly took back
what I had said.
unwisely [adv] The government has, unwisely, set an early
election date.
be folly/bi: 'fli [[ -,fo:li/a formalexpression: if an action
is folly, it is very stupid and likely to have very serious
results Iv phrase]
be folly to do sth Chief executives felt that it would be folly
to enter into such an agreement. [ be folly Now, two years
later she regrets the marriage and realizes that it was folly.
4 words for describing things people say that
show a lack of good sense or good
judgement
stupid ridiculous
silly/foolish fatuous
daft inane
stupid/'stju:pIad l[ 'stu:-/[adj]
I always say something stupid when I've had too much to
drink. [ I've had enough of your stupid comments. [ a stupid
thing to say That was a stupid thing to say - can't you see
she's upset?
silly/foolish/'sill, fu:h[/stupid and childish [adj]
I can't sit here and listen to your silly chatter all afternoon. [
The children do say some silly things sometimes! [ It was a
foolish, thing to say, under the circumstances.
daft /do:ft [[ daft/ an informal British word meaning
stupid and childish, but often amusing [adj]
Is this another one of your daft jokes?[ You should hear some
of the daft things my brothers come out with when they "re
talking about girls.

STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1327 STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE
ridiculous /r:'dkjbs/ a remark or statement that is
ridiculous is so stupid that you cannot believe that the
person who says it really means it seriously [adj]
I've never heard anything so ridiculous/Of course I haven't
been trying to avoid you/I All the things Nora said about
me are totally ridiculous.
fatuous/' fatus/a statement that is fatuous is clearly
very stupid, even though the person saying it may be com-
pletely serious [adj]
It was a plainly fatuous claim - everyone knows the econ-
omy is in decline. [ He made some fatuous remark about us
always being out of the office on business lunches.
inane ! 'neon! inane remark/comment/conversation
ete (=stupid and completely meaningless) [adj]
He didn't contribute anything to the discussion but occasion-
ally made an inane remark. I I was becoming tired of the
girls' inane chatter.
5 words for describing ideas, plans, or
suggestions that are stupid and show a lack
of good judgement
stupid hare-brained
silly/foolish idiotic
daft ridiculous
half-baked ludicrous
stupid/'stju:poid II 'stu:-/[adj]
It's a stupid plan and it'll never work. [ Emily felt embar-
rassed when she thought of all her stupid, unrealistic
dreams, i Withdraw the police from the area? I've never
heard such a stupid idea/
silly/foolish/sIli, 'fu:h/stupid, childish, and not worth
taking seriously [adj]
At your age you need a good breakfast - let's not have any
silly nonsense about slimming/[ It was a foolish idea, I know,
but I really felt as if I was being followed.
daft /do:ft [[ draft/ an informal British word meaning
stupid and childish but often amusing [adj]
Brian does have some daft ideas about how to impress
women. [ I don't know why I thought that such a daft plan
would work.
half.baked /ha:f bekt- [[ hmf-/an informal word for
describing a stupid plan or idea that has not been properly
or carefully thought about [adj usually before noun]
It's not at all realistic - it's just another of his half-baked
ideas.
hare.brained / herbrend/hare-brained idea/notion/
scheme/plan (=which is very stupid and cannot possibly
be successful) [adj usually before noun]
If this is one of your hare-brained schemes I don't want to
know. ] Geoffrey had this hare-brained idea of spending a
year teaching English in Japan but he doesn't have any
experience or qualifications.
idiotic /diDtk, [[-a:tik-/ very stupid and likely to
involve unnecessary risks and dangers [adj]
Ian had this idiotic idea of stealing a car and going joyrid-
ing. [ How could you even think of bringing drugs into the
country - it's completely idiotic.
ridiculous/r; dIkjls/an idea, plan, suggestion etc that
is ridiculous, is so stupid that you cannot believe that
anyone would do it or think of it [adj]
How did you come to this ridiculous conclusion? [ If Janet
had any sense she would give up the whole ridiculous idea. [
Move to Minneapolis? - I've never heard of anything so
ridiculous.
ludicrous/,lu:dkms/an idea, plan, suggestion etc that
is ludicrous is so stupid that no one could take it seriously
[adj]
What a ludicrous suggestion/[ I still find that point of view
absolutely ludicrous and can't believe that any intelligent
person would agree with it. [ The document proves that the
government's plans for health spending are ludicrous.
6 words for describing a situation, arrangement,
or way of doing something which is stupid
and unreasonable
stupid absurd
ridiculous laughable
ludicrous
stupid/'stju:pId II 'stu:-/[adj]
There's no point in both of us going to get help - that would
be stupid. I it is stupid to do sth It's stupid to pay so much
for car repairs when you can do them yourself.
ridiculous/ri dIkjlas/a situation, arrangement etc that
is ridiculous is extremely stupid and you cannot believe
anyone would do it [adj]
This is a ridiculous situation to be in. I The way they're
planning to improve sales seems ridiculous to me. I it is
ridiculous that It's ridiculous that we have to wait six
weeks just to get a carpet delivered.
ludicrous/'lu:dkms/a situation that is ludicrous is so
stupid and unreasonable that it is difficult to believe and
may seem amusing [adjl
It was a ludicrous situation - the prison gate was left open
while the governor was holding a talk on security. I There
is now a quite ludicrous struggle going on for the possession
of a tiny strip of land.
absurd/ab'sa:rd! completely stupid and unreasonable
[adj]
It's absurd - they want me to drive six hours for a twenty-
minute meeting. [ He's put in a claim for expenses which is
just absurd.
laughable/'la:fabal l[ laf-/so stupid and unbelievable
that it makes you want to laugh [adj]
The government's attempt to privatize the prison service has
been simply laughable. I Really the whole set-up at the
company was so inefficient it was almost laughable.
7 someone who behaves in a way that is not
serious or sensible
idiot goof
fool dope
wally schmuck
jerk
idiot/'dit/[n C]
They must think I'm an idiot expecting me to work nights
and weekends. [ She felt a complete idiot when she found out
she was talking to his ex-wife. [ Some people were behaving
like real idiots at the staff party.
fool/fu:l/someone who behaves in a stupid way that may
lead to bad results In C]
He's a fool - he's just sacked his best employee. [ be a fool
to do sth We were fools to think we would be happy together.
wally/'wDli [[ wo:-/an informal British word meaning
someone who behaves in a stupid and annoying way In C]
Look at those wallies jumping around and pulling faces
behind the TV reporter. [ Simon acts like a real wally when
he's around women.
jerk/dSa:rk/a word used especially in American English
meaning someone who is a little stupid and annoying, and
who does not care if they upset or hurt other people In C]
Some jerk just drove right into the back of my car. [ She seems
to always end up in a relationship with some total jerk. ]
They're just a couple of jerks who aren't worth bothering
with.
goof/gu:f/an informal American word meaning someone
who is stupid and embarrassing In C]
Sharon is going out with such a goof. I don "t know what she
sees in him. [ He always acts like a real goof after a couple
of glasses of wine.
dope/daop/an informal American word meaning some-
one who is stupid and does not think about what they say
or do In C]
I'm sorry I was such a dope last night.

STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 1328 STYLE/ELEGANCE
schmuck ISmhk/an informal American word meaning
a man who is stupid and annoying, and who does not care
ff they upset or hurt other people In C]
He's a real schmuck - he owes money to everybody in town. I
He left her sitting in the restaurant all by herself for three
hours and didn't even apologize. What a schmuck!
to behave in a childishly stupid way
play the fool
fool around/about
goof around
play the fool/,ple 6 'furl/to behave in a silly way, espe-
cially in order to make people laugh [v phrase]
Stop playing the fool for a minute and pay attention! I Ernie
always plays the fool at parties.
fool around/about/Ifu:l lraond, 'baot/to behave in
a silly way especially when you should be working or being
more serious about something [phr v I]
There's no time for fooling around with so much work to be
done. I We didn't mean to hurt anyone, we were just fooling
about.
goof around /gu:f 'raond/ an informal American
expression meaning to behave in a silly way [phr v I]
The vacation gave us a great chance to just relax and goof
around. I I can hear the kids goofing around upstairs -
they're supposed to be doing their homework.
9 stupid behaviour or thinking
stupidity
foolishness
stupidity/stju:'pIdti II stu:-/In U]
Nigel thinks his car accident was bad luck, but it was caused
by his own stupidity. I What annoys me most is the children's
constant messing about and stupidity during lessons. I the
stupidity of doing sth The deaths of the two hikers shows
the stupidity of venturing on the hills unprepared.
foolishness /  fu:hSns/stupid behaviour that makes you
look silly or has bad results In U]
Even sensible people can be driven to foolishness when they
are in love. I I would never have expected such foolishness
from a senior manager.
:!-- stupidity STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 9
: sturdy STRONG PERSON 4
#: stutter: stammer/stutter SPEAK A LANGUAGE 3
 style STYLE/ELEGANCE 1, TYPE 1, WAY/MANNER 1
Istylei
STYLE/ELEGANCE
1 a confident and attractive appearance or way
of doing something that other people admire
2 words for describing someone or something
that has style
1 a confident and attractive appearance or way
of doing something that other people admire
style flair
elegance panache
sophistication
style/stad/[n U]
What she lacked in looks she made up for with sensational
style. I Stapleford does not really have the style, elegance, and
exotic decor of other luxury hotels. [ The right kind of models,
with good looks, style, and personality, were hard to find.
elegance/elgns/an attractive and graceful appear-
ance or way of doing something In U]
She remembered little about her mother except that she had
dressed with extraordinary elegance. [ It's difficult not to be
immediately captivated by the dancers'grace and elegance. [
As for accommodation in the area, you can choose between
country houses, old inns, and Georgian elegance.
sophistication/slfist keian/a style that is based on
confidence and wealth, and that shows an intelligent judge-
ment about what is artistic and fashionable In U]
Denver is a town of wealth and sophistication. [ Zulf was
wild and exciting, but lacked Arthur's sophistication. [ She
was acutely aware of her own lack of sophistication, her
simple appearance, her inexpensive, homely clothes.
flair/flezr/a natural ability to do things in interesting and
original ways In U]
Eva did everything with flair and gusto. [ He was then a curi-
ously wooden speaker with little of the flair he has shown
since. [ The American media had been captured by the energy
and flair of Gorbachev.
panache/p ne, pe-/a confident artistic manner that
makes even the simple things you do seem interesting or
exciting In U]
His clothes were not very fashionable, but he wore them with
panache. [ He pulled off the cover with all the panache of a
stage magician unveiling his latest impossible trick.
 words for describing someone or something
that has style
stylish sophisticated
elegant classy
stylish/'staIhJ'/[adj]
The room was full of stylish furniture and expensive paint-
ings. I She was a stylish woman, always dressed to suit the
occasion. I Riding clothes go in and out of fashion, but are
always stylish.
stylishly lady] The apartments are stylishly decorated and
furnished, and all have sea views.
elegant /'elegant/ having an attractive and graceful
appearance or way of moving, dressing etc [adj]
The house was elegant and well kept. I Vienna is a city of
parks, gardens, grand public buildings and elegant private
ones. i The elegant figure of Mr Reed appeared in the
doorway.
elegantly [adv] You can tell she used to be a dancer, she
moves so elegantly.
I I I
sophisticated/s fistkeItd/having a confident and
expensive appearance, and showing good judgement about
what is artistic and fashionable [adj]
She was glamorous and sophisticated, nothing like me. [
Country folk can't suddenly acquire the manners of sophis-
ticated city people. I suave and sophisticated Omar Sharif
walked onto the set, smooth, suave, and sophisticated.
classy/'kla:si II 'klesi/an informal word meaning styl-
ishly and expensively dressed, decorated, or prepared [adj]
Their wedding was a very classy affair. I This is one of the
classiest parts of town. [ classy joint (=a classy shop, bar,
hotel etc) a classy joint with Art Deco and twirling mirrors
and lights

stylish
stylish STYLE/ELEGANCE 2
suave POLITE
6
sub for REPLACE 2
subconscious MIND 1, 2
subdue STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 7
subdued QUIET 3
subject SUBJECT 1, 6, TEST/EXPERIMENT 6
subject: be the subject of debate/discussion
DISCUSS 3
subject: get off the subject SUBJECT 5
subject: on the subject of ABOUT 1
SUBJECT
what you are talking about or writing about in
a conversation, discussion, book, film, work
of art etc
a part of a subject that is being considered,
discussed, or written about
to start talking about a subject
to talk about the subject you are supposed to
be talking about
to start talking about something else instead
of the subject that you are supposed to be
talking about
a subject that you study at school, university
etc
all of the subjects that you study as part of
your work at school, university etc
1 what you are talking about or writing about in
a conversation, discussion, book, film, work
of art etc
subject question
topic matter
theme business
issue thing
subject/'sbd3kt/[n C]
The school of medicine is homing a series of 12 weekly lec-
tures. Subjects to be covered include stress, exercise and nutri-
tion. I Sheena Wilson is the author of two books on this sub-
ject. ] He has very strong opinions on most subjects. I the
subject of His memories of his own childhood were the sub-
ject of his first film. I change the subject (=start talking
about a different subject) Bill was obviously embarrassed
talking about money and tried to change the subject.
topic [ tt)plk II 't:-/a subject that people like to talk about
and give their opinions on, especially because R is interest-
ing, important, or in the news a lot In C]
When planning a discussion, choose a topic which will
interest and involve your students. I The environment is a
popular topic these days. [ topic of conversation/debate/
discussion Politics is his favorite topic of conversation.
theme/0i:m/the main idea or subject of a book, poem,
film, speech etc In C]
All his novels deal with the theme of love. I 'The Rainbow"
1329
SUBJECT
is about a changing society, and it is this theme which makes
the film relevant. [ Professor Brown will give a series of lec-
tures, each on a different theme connected with his research.
issue /lIl.lI, 'ISjU: [[ 'IUI/ a subject or problem that is
often discussed or argued about, especially a social or polit-
ical matter that affects or interests a lot of people [n C]
The health service is an important issue in the government's
election campaign. [Abortion is still a highly controversial
issue. I key issue (=the most important issue) I advised the
President that he must choose a few key issues on which to
concentrate.
question /'kwestan! a specific subject, especially a
difficult political problem, that has been discussed for a
long time in order to decide what to do about it In C]
Negotiating teams are making progress on the question of
reducing nuclear missiles in Europe. [ Politicians have been
discussing the Irish question for years now, but there is still
no peace in Ireland. I The rise of fascism in the 20s and 30s
is a question which has been endlessly debated by historians
and politicians.
matter/mmtzr/a subject that people disagree about or
are concerned about, and that needs to be considered and
discussed in order to deal with it or find an answer In C]
The first item on the agenda today is the matter of public
transportation. [ I hope that the Minister will go away to
think about the matter and come back with some firm
proposals. I a serious matter I'm sorry that you think
drunkenness at work is funny, Mr Townsend. It's a very seri-
ous matter, you know.
business / bIzngs/something that needs to be discussed
at a business or political meeting [n U]
Is there any other business before we close the meeting?[
Right, could we get started please? We have got a lot of busi-
ness to discuss this morning.
thing IOil a subject, usually one of many subjects that is
talked about in a conversation, discussion, or meeting [n C]
The first thing we have to discuss is next year's timetable. [
It was the first time I'd seen him for years, and we talked
about all kinds of things. [ The only thing she ever talks
about is her boyfriend.
a part of a subject that is being considered,
discussed, or written about
point
aspect
point/p3Int/a fact, suggestion, claim etc that is part of a
subject being considered, discussed, or written about [n C]
That is an important point, and we need to discuss it more
fully. [ The final point in the President's speech was the most
controversial. [ Make a list of the main points in the article.
aspect/' mspekt/one part of a subject, problem, etc or one
particular way of considering the subject [n C]
This book deals with the economic, social, and religious
aspects of Egyptian society. [ The government always looks
at problems from the financial viewpoint, and the social
aspect is never considered.
to start talking about a subject
get onto
get onto/,get 'ntu: [I-'o:ntu:/ get onto the subject/
topic/question of(=start talking about a subject after talk-
ing about something else that is connected in some way)
Iv T]
How did we get onto the subject of dogs? We're supposed to
be checking these figures. [ Once Frank got onto the subject
of football there was no stopping him; he would talk for
hours and hours.
4 to talk about the subject you are supposed to
be talking about
get/come to the point
keep/stick to the point
to the point

SUBJECT 1330 subordinate
get/come to the point/,get, ,khm t9 69 'p:)int/to start
talking about the subject you are supposed to be talking
about or really want to talk about, especially after you have
been talking about something else [v phrase]
He talked about the weather for a while before coming to the
point. I "We know that already, "" interrupted Steve impa-
tiently. "Get to the point". I get/come straight to the point
(=get immediately to the point) She came straight to the
point. "When do you think you'll be able to pay back that
money you owe me?'"
keep/stick to the point/,ki:p, ,stk t9 69 paint/to con-
tinue talking only about the subject you are supposed to
be talking about, and not talk about anything else that is
not really connected with it [v phrase]
Please stick to the point, I'm in a hurry. [ You must keep to
the point in your essays or you will lose marks.
to the point It9 69 'pnt/something that someone says
or writes that is to the point is only about the subject they
are supposed to be talking about, and not about anything
else [adj phrase]
The chairman's speech was short and to the point. [ Richard
ignored this suggestion because it didn't seem to be to the
point. ,.
5
to start talking about something else instead
of the subject that you are supposed to be
talking about
get off the subject
digress
be/get sidetracked
stray from
ramble
lose the thread/
lose your thread
where was I?
get off the sub|ect/get ,of 69 'sAbd3Ikt/ IV phrase]
I think we're getting off the subject. Could we get back to the
mainpoint, please? [ get off the subject of Somehow we got
off the subject of homework altogether - I really don't know
how it happened!
digress/dai gres/a formal word meaning to move away
from the main subject that you have been talking or writ-
ing about, especially for a short time during a speech or
story Iv I1
If I may, I'd like to digress for a moment at this point. [ You
see, she didn't like whiskey. But anyway, I digress. Back to
the story. On arrival Rick and I walked to the hotel reception.
digression/daI'greSanl [n C/After this slight digression
(=after digressing slightly) we can now return to the origi-
nal question.
be/get sidetracked/bi:, get 'saIdtrmkt/if you are talk-
ing about something and are sidetracked or get side-
tracked you allow yourself to start talking or thinking
about something else, especially something less important
[ v phrase/
Avoid being sidetracked. Leave irrelevant questions until
after your talk. [ be/get sidetracked onto We were sup-
posed to be discussing business but we got sidetracked onto
this morning's news.
stray from/'stre from [[ -frAm/stray from the point/
subject/question (=move slightly away from the main
subject that you should be talking about, because you
cannot keep your attention on it) [v T/
When you are explaining your reasons, be careful not to stray
from the point. [ He always strays from the subject, and meet-
ings go on for hours.
rambie /'rmmbal/ to talk, especially for a long time,
moving from one subject to another without any clear
order, so that your listener becomes bored or confused Iv I/
My history teacher rambles so much that it's really difficult
to understand him. [ ramble on (=ramble continuously and
in an annoying way) He had been rambling on about his
experiences in the war for over an hour. It was so boring!
lose the thread/lose your thread/,lu:z 69 '0red, ,lu:z
j:):r 'Ored/to become confused about or forget the connec-
tion between the things you are saying, especially so that
you have to stop talking and think about what you want
to say next Iv phrase]-
The audience's reaction surprised the speaker, and he lost
the thread. [ Her explanation was too complicated and she
soon lost her thread.
where was I?/we9 r 'woz ai JJ -'wo:z-/you say where
was I? when you want to continue what you were saying
before you were interrupted, but you cannot remember
what you were saying
That was an interesting comment, but let's get back to the
point. Now, where was I? [ Where was I? Oh yes, the acces-
sion of King Henry the Fifth.
6 a subject that you study at school, university
etc
subject discipline
major field
subject/'sAbdsIkt / [n C/
What was your favorite subject when you were at school?[
In general girls are better at arts subjects and boys are better
at science subjects. [ My best subjects are Maths and Physics.
major/'med59r/an American word meaning the main
subject that you study at university [n C usually singular]
"What was your major? .... Sociology".
discipline/'disoIploIn/one of the areas of knowledge such
as history, chemistry, economics etc that is studied and
taught at a university [n C/
The traditional academic disciplines are becoming less
popular among students who now prefer more vocational
subjects such as business studies. [ The new artificial intel-
ligence project will involve researchers from a wide range
of disciplines.
field/fi:ld/an area of knowledge that is studied by scien-
tists or by people studying it at a very high level, for exam-
ple in a university [n C/
Professor Hawking is one of the most brilliant scientists in
his field. [ Doctors working in the field of cancer research
have announced an important breakthrough in the fight
against the disease.
7 all of the subjects that you study as part of
your work at school, university etc
course
syllabus
curriculum
course/ka:rs/a planned series of classes, written work
etc that is given to students who are studying a particular
subject In C/
She's been sent on a training course to learn about using
computers. I The course of study includes classes on word-
processing, shorthand, and other secretarial skills. [ course
on We did a course on Charles Dickens when I was at
university.
syllabus/'si19bas/(plural syllabuses or syllabi) a plan
that states exactly what should be taught to students who
are studying a subject, especially a list of what they may
be tested on in their examinations In C/
The summer term was very short and the teacher didn't
manage to cover the whole syllabus. [ be on the syllabus
(=be part of the syllabus) We have to study algebra - it's on
the syllabus for the course.
curriculum/ka'rIkjlam/(plural curriculums or curric-
ula) the range of subjects that has been officially chosen
to be taught at a school or at all schools in a country In C/
Many teachers were against introducing sex education into
the curriculum. [ Parents want to have more say in the plan-
ning of the school curriculum.
subjected: be subjected to SUFFER 1
subjective OPINION 6
subliminal MIND 2
submerge DOWN 6
submerged UNDER/BELOW 3
submissive OBEY 6
submit SUGGEST 2
subordinate LOW POSITION OR RANK 3

subscribe to 1331 SUCCEED IN DOING STH
subscribe to AGREE 1, GIVE 6
subsequent AFTER 4
subsequently AFTER 1
subservient OBEY 6
subside LESS 6
subsidiary COMPANY 2, UNIMPORTANT 3
subsidize PAY FOR 11
subsidy MONEY 14
subsist on SURVIVE 5
substance MEANING 10, SUBSTANCE 1
substance: illegal substance DRUG 2
@ SUBSTANCE
I a type of solid or liquid
1 a type of solid or liquid
substance matter
stuff material
substance / ' s^bstvns/a type of solid or liquid which has
particular characteristics [n C]
If this substance is burned, the smoke is poisonous. I Putty
is a sticky substance used to hold windows in their frames. I
Flammable and explosive substances should be clearly
labelled.
stuff/stAr/an informal word meaning substance In U]
What's that red stuff on the floor? l Mildew is the soft white
stuff you see on trees.
matter [' mtor/a scientific word meaning the physical
substance from which everything in the universe is made
In U]
The amount of matter used in the experiment was measured
on a weighing machine. I In order to decompose, all vegetable
matter needs supplies of nitrogen.
material /m'tariol/ any solid substance from which
things can be made [n C/U]
Steel is a stronger material than iron, but it is more expen-
sive to produce. I Inside every cell of our bodies is the basic
genetic material called DNA. I The yard was used for stor-
ing building materials.
:': substandard GOOD ENOUGH 4
.: substantial BIG 7
;,:,,. substantiate PROVE 2
 substitute REPLACE 3, 6
!iiill substitute: there is no substitute for BEST 2
!:: subterranean UNDER/BELOW 3
.;:i! subtle OBVIOUS 5
;;; subtotal TOTAL 1
!!i subtract COUNT/CALCULATE 5
 suburb AREA 2
!71! suburban CONVENTIONAL 1
 suburbs TOWN 3
 subversion REBELLION/REVOLUTION 6
• i! subversive REBELLION/REVOLUTION 5
! subzero temperatures COLD 5
..... succeed AFTER 6, REPLACE 1, SUCCEED IN DOING
i STH 1, 3, SUCCESSFUL 1, 2
: .... succeed: not succeed FAIL 1, 3
. succeed ........................
w ., ........ .... .....
sgcceed, in':doing%;, .',,,  SUCCEED IN
:omhi,n::g : :" ..... DOING STH
. .;, .... ,..;.-
...... -,...... • - :,
SUCCEED IN
DOING STH
to do something that you hoped, tried etc to
do, or to happen in the way that was wanted
or intended
1 to do something that you hoped, tried, or
wanted to do
2 to succeed in doing something that is difficult
or seems impossible
3 ways of saying that a plan, method etc
succeeds
4 ways of saying that your work, effort, or plans
produce successful and useful results
5 the fact of succeeding in doing something
6 ways of asking someone if they succeeded in
doing something
7 ways of saying that an event or plan happens
in exactly the way you wanted, without any
problems at all
8 something that someone succeeds in doing
1 to do something that you hoped, tried, or
wanted to do
succeed get results
be successful make a go of
manage have some success
succeed/sok sizd/to do something that you have hoped,
tried, or wanted to do [v I not in progressive]
succeed in doing sth We succeeded in making contact with
the kidnappers. [ If they succeed in establishing a ceasefire
the UN observer will send in peace-keeping forces. [ succeed
If you try hard enough to get into medical school I'm sure
you'll succeed. [ If you were trying to cause trouble in the
family, then you've succeeded.
be successful/bi: sk'sesfal/to succeed in doing some-
thing, especially something that needs a lot of work or
effort such as passing a test or getting a job Iv phrase]
She failed her exams twice, but was successful at the third
attempt. [ He put himself up for election to the post, but was
not successful. [ be successful in doing sth She has finally
been successful in finding a new job. [ The Communists were
increasingly successful in shaping the television and radio
broadcasts from the Republic.
manage /'menIdS/ to succeed in doing something
difficult, especially after trying very hard [v I/T not in
progressive ]
manage to do sth He's finally managed to find a new flat. [
She managed to fight off her attacker, and escaped down a
sidestreet. [ I've only managed to finish the first three chap-
ters so far. [ manage sth (=manage to do it) She managed
the entrance test easily, and starts at the school next year. [
They're attempting to windsurf across the Channel, do you
think they'll manage it?[ manage She didn't think she could
jump that far, but somehow she managed.
get results/,get r] 'ZAIts/an expression used especially
in business meaning to achieve something difficult, espe-
cially when this is part of your job Iv phrase]
We are looking for someone who can get results and expand
our export operations. [ It was three or four years before we
really started getting results.
make a go of/,mc;k  'gu v/an informal expression
meaning to start being successful, for example in a busi-
ness you have started, especially as a result of hard work
and determination Iv phrde]
It's taken him a while to get it started, but he seems to be
really making a go of his gardening business. I I hope they'll
make a go of their marriage.'

SUCCEED IN DOING STH 1332 SUCCEED IN DOING STH
have some success/hmv s^m sokses/to be fairly suc-
cessful in doing something, or to achieve part of what you
wanted to achieve Iv phrase]
Our aim was to disrupt the enemy's transport network and
we had some success. [ have some success in doing sth The
Santa Barbara seismic research team has had some success
in predicting earthquakes.
2 to succeed in doing something that is difficult
or seems impossible
make it pull off/bring off/carry off
get there turn up trumps/come up trumps
reach/achieve do it
your goal achieve your ambition
make it/'meek t/(an informal expression) [vphrase not
in progressive]
I never thought I'dpass my degree, but somehow I made it. I
One hundred pages in one day? You'll never make it! [ make
it somewhere (=succeed in getting there) Ican't believe we
made it, all the way to the top of the mountain.
get there /  get 6er/an informal expression meaning to
succeed in doing something, especially after a lot of effort
over a long period of time [v phrase]
I never thought I'dpass my nursing exams, but I finally got
there. ] I aim to have my own company by the time I'm thirty,
but I sometimes wonder if I'll ever get there. [ We may not
have a perfect computer system yet, but we're getting there.
reach/achieve your goal/,ri:q, ,ti:v j.3: r 'gol/to
succeed in doing something you have been aiming for,
especially in your job or business Iv phrase]
Careful planning and self-criticism can help you reach your
goals. I To achieve individual and organizational goals,
managers must have the ability to motivate people. [ We need
to expand into new markets if we are to reach our goal of $100
million a year by 1996.
pull offlbHng off/carry off/,pol 'Dr, ,brl 0 'Df, ,keri
,of II manage todo something difficult, when other
people did not think that you could succeed [phr v T not
usually in progressive]
pull off sth If you bring off this deal you'll be promoted. I
In the opening game of the 1990 World Cup, Cameroon pulled
off a sensational 1-0 victory over Argentina. I pull sth/it
them off I doubt if we could have carried it off without your
help.
turn up trumps/come up trumps / t3:rn Ap tr^mps,
k^m ^p-/ informal expressions meaning to succeed in
doing something important or getting something very
valuable when other people think you are very unlikely to
succeed Iv phrase not progressive]
We didn't think he'd succeed as a salesman, but he turned
up trumps in the end. ] You really turned up trumps finding
us a new office at such short notice!
do it/du: q an expression meaning to succeed in doing
something, used especially in spoken English [v phrase
usually in past tense]
We did it! We won the cup! I You did it! Congratulations!
achieve your ambition/a,qi:v j:):r mlbU'n/to finally
succeed in doing something that you have wanted to do
more than anything else all your life Iv phrase]
Linford Christie finally achieved his ambition and won the
gold medal. I To achieve your ambition, you will have to be
disciplined and totally dedicated.
3 ways of saying that a plan, method etc
succeeds
work
succeed
be a success
successful
have some success
work/w3: rk / [v I]
work out
come off
come out right/
turn out right
go well
It's a good plan but do you think it will work? l Finally, Paul
tried adjusting the fuel pump and that worked. I I know it
seems a strange way of treating a cold but it works, believe
me.
succeed/sksi:d/ if a plan, method, attempt etc suc-
ceeds, it has the effect that it is intended to have Iv I not
in progressive]
If our plan had succeeded, we would have been free and miles
away by the time they realized we were gone. [ The policy of
multi-cultural integration in schools has only partly suc-
ceeded, i A sign-learning experiment can succeed only if we
can arouse the animal's interest in his task.
be a success/bi:  sakses/if a plan or event is a sue-
eess, it has the intended effect or is a good example of this
type of event [v phrase]
Despite the food arriving late, the party was a success. [ be
a great success (=be very successful) The experiment has
been a great success, and we will be repeating it again soon. ]
be a partial success (=be successful but not completely
successful) The Intrepid mission was a partial success, with
two out of the three satellites successfully launched into orbit.
successful/sk  sesfal/having the good effect or result
that is intended [adj]
We want the trip to be successful, and also safe for all the
children involved. [ a successful attempt to negotiate between
the two sides [ The musical opened to bad reviews, but has
been very successful.
have some success /hev s^m skses/ if a plan,
method etc has some success, it is fairly successful Iv
phrase]
This reading system had some success when it was
introduced in the 1960s. [ Mousetraps and poisons had some
success but in the end the only solution was to get a cat.
work out/iw3:rk aot/if a complicated situation or set
of problems works out, it ends successfully or reaches a
satisfactory state [phr v I]
There have been enormous problems with the project, but it
has all worked out now. [ They're thinking of moving in
together, do you think it'll work out? [ At first we didn't think
we'd ever move into our new house, but it all worked out in
the end.
come off / k^m of [[ -:f/if something that you arrange
such as a party or trip comes off, it happens successfully
even though there are problems in arranging it [phr v I not
in progressive]
Planning a surprise party is very hard work, I just hope it
comes off. [ We had hoped to organize a trip to the theatre
tonight, but it didn't come off.
come out right/turn out right/km aot rat, t3:rn
aot-/if something comes out right or turns out right, it
succeeds in the end when it seemed as though it would fail
Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
She's scared she'll fail her exams, but I think everything'll
come out right in the end. I Rehearsals for the play went very
badly but everything turned out right on the night.
go well/gao wel/if an attempt at something, a piece of
work, an event etc goes well, it is fairly successful and
there are no problems Iv phrase]
The party went well, everyone turned up and had a really
good time. I Business went really well last year, but things
aren't so good at the moment. [ How are you finding the
work? Is it going well?
4 ways of saying that your work, effort, or plans
produce successful and useful results
pay off
bear fruit •
fruitful
pay off/,pe 'f II -'a:f/if hard work, effort, a risk etc pays
off, it has a successful result at a later time [phr v I]
Her hard work, skills, and effort paid off a year later, when
she was promoted to supervisor, i Ed's persistence paid off
when he managed to find what was wrong with the com-
puter, i I suppose you could say that the decision to emigrate
paid off- at least he's now got a house and a job.

SUCCEED IN DOING STH 1333 SUCCESSFUL
bear fruit /be r fru:q if a plan, idea, or action bears
fruit, it has the successful result that it was intended to
have, especially after a long period of time Iv phrase]
At last it looked as if all our careful planning and invest-
ment was beginning to bear fruit. I Unfortunately, just as
these newer policies began to bear fruit, the Government had
to prepare for another electzon.
fruitful/'fru:tfgl/a meeting, discussion etc that is fruit-
ful is successful, useful, and produces good results [adj]
So far, the investigation has not been very fruitful. [ We've
just had a very fruitful meeting with the management and
we're now much more hopeful about the pay rise.
5 the fact of succeeding in doing something
success
success/sok'ses/[n U]
It's taken a long time but that just makes success even
sweeter. I He had been close to success before but had never
yet won an important tournament. [ success in doing sth
Her success in finding such a good job was simply the result
of hard work and persistence. I attribute your success to
(=believe your success is caused by) To what do you attrib-
ute your success?
6 ways of asking someone if they succeeded in
doing something
any luck?
any luck?/,eni 'l^k/(an informal expression)
'7 phoned them about the job." "Any luck? .... No, it had
already gone. "1 any luck with "Any luck with the car?"
"Yes! It was the battery that wasn't working."
7 ways of saying that an event or plan happens
in exactly the way you wanted, without any
problems at all
go like clockwork without a hitch
go smoothly go according to plan
go like clockwork I,go la;k 'ldokw3:rk II-'kla:k-I if
something you have arranged such as an event or journey
goes like clockwork, it happens in exactly the way that
was planned, with no problems Iv phrase]
We had to change trains three times with only minutes to
spare but it all went like clockwork. ] Every time this gang
robs a bank it goes like clockwork and the police don't seem
to be able to catch them. I All through that summer the work
of the farm went like clockwork.
go smoothly/,go 'smu:61i/if a planned event, journey,
piece of work etc goes smoothly, there are no problems
to spoil it Iv phrase]
If everything goes smoothly we should be in Delhi in about
three hours. I Things went smoothly for most of the class until
the teacher introduced some role-play exercises.
without a hitch/w6aot  'hltJ'/if a planned action or
event happens without a hitch, it happens exactly as
planned with no problems at all, even though some may
have been expected lady phrase]
The first phase of the operation was completed without a
hitch. [ go without a hitch (=happen without a hitch)
Remember, most holidays and business trips go without a
hitch - so enjoy your stay! I ''Any problems with the house-
moving? .... No, it went without a hitch."
go according to plan/go k::rdlrJ t 'plan/if some-
thing that has been carefully planned goes according to
plan, it happens in exactly the way you planned it would
Iv phrase]
Development of our new computer system is going according
to plan and it should be in operation by October.
8 something that someone succeeds in doing
success
breakthrough
success/sokses/[n C]
We have had a number of successes recently, including a $15
million contract with a Japanese firm. ] Looking back over
your long career, what do you feel was your greatest success?
breakthrough 1' brekOru:/a sudden, unexpected success
in something that you are studying or trying to do [n C]
This was an important breakthrough, which had an enor-
mous impact on the scientific community. I breakthrough
in The first real breakthrough in the investigation came
when the murder weapon was found.
succeeding AFTER 4
success SUCCEED IN DOING STH 5, 8, SUCCESSFUL
1, 2, WIN 3
success: be a success SUCCEED IN DOING STH 3,
SUCCESSFUL 1, 2
success: have some success SUCCEED IN DOING
STH 1, 3
success story: be a success story SUCCESSFUL 5
successful EFFECTIVE 1, SUCCEED IN DOING STH 3,
SUCCESSFUL 5, 6
successful: be successful SUCCEED IN DOING STH 1,
SUCCESSFUL 1, 2
@ SUCCESSFUL
successful in work or business
1 to be successful in your job or business
2 ways of saying that a company or product is
successful
3 to start to be successful
4 likely to be successful in the future
5 words for describing someone who is
successful in their job or in business
6 words for describing a successful company
or product
7 a situation in which companies or businesses
are generally successful because economic
conditions are very favourable
1
to be successful in your job or business
be successful succeed
do well rise to the top
be a success make your mark
get on/get ahead make good
thrive further/advance
prosper your career
make it success
be successful/bi: sk'sesfgl/to earn a lot of money or
to become well known and respected, because you do your
job very well Iv phrase]
Five years ago he started his own business and now he's very
successful. I What is it that drives people to be successful? I
be successful as a dancer/doctor ete In order to be suc-
cessful as a dancer, you need flair and stamina. I be success-
ful in your career/business ete She had a loving husband
and was successful in her career but would never feel com-
plete until she had a child.
do well/,du: 'well to be successful in your job, especially
through hard work and natural ability Iv phrase]
She was terribly ambitious and I knew she'd go on to do
well. I do well in business/your career ete Ihave only one
son, and he's in Florida doing well in the automobile busi-
ness. I do well as a policeman/actor ete He was doing
really well as a policeman until his wife left him and he
started drinking heavily.
be a success/bi:  skses/to be successful in your job
especially when at first it was not certain that you would
be [v phrase]
be a great success I'm glad we appointed Cyril - he's
proved to be a great success. I be a success in business/

SUCCESSFUL 1334 SUCCESSFUL
your career etc She doesn't know which career she will
follow yet, but she is determined to be a success in whatever
she does. I be a success as a manager/an actor etc He's
leaving the company, despite having been a big success as
marketing manager.
get on/get ahead/,get on, ,get a'hed II -'o:n/to be suc-
cessful in your job, especially because you have a very
strong desire to succeed [phr v I]
Most people want to get ahead and live comfortably. I He read
as much about economics as he could, knowing that it would
help him get on in the business world. ] get on/ahead in
life You may not like having to agree with everything the
boss says, but often that's the way to get on in life.
thrive/Orav/to be successful in a job or in working con-
ditions that some people may find difficult or unpleasant
[v I]
thrive on Three managers have left because of the pressure
of work but Simpson seems to thrive on stress. [ thrive Inven-
tive, clever coaches can thrive under difficult conditions and
Pool certainly did.
prosper/prosp r [[ pro:-/to be successful in your job,
especially when you own your own business, so that you
earn a lot of money and have a comfortable life Iv I]
My father was prospering inbusiness, and had bought
another shop. ] How could the silk manufacturers prosper
with legislation so restrictive and meddling?
make it/'meik t/an informal expression meaning to
become successful, especially in the sports or entertain-
ment business [v phrase not in progressive]
He was a talented football player and I knew he'd make it. I
Some bands, once they have made it in the record business,
forget about their fans. I make it big (=become very suc-
cessful) Many actors move to America, hoping to make it big
in Hollywood.
suooeed/sok  si:d/to become successful in your job by
doing it well and continuing to work at it for a fairly long
time Iv I not usually in progressive]
succeed as a teacher/actor/musician ete Do you think
he has enough patience to succeed as a school teacher? I sue-
eeed in your career/business ere Women need to be espe-
cially tough if they are to succeed in the male-dominated
world of finance. I succeed Some people have had setbacks
early in their careers and often they're the ones who are really
driven to succeed.
rise to the top / ,raz t 6a to II -'to:p/to get better and
better jobs in a company, organization, or profession so
that eventually you have one of the most important jobs
in it Iv phrase]
Those who rise to the top in advertising can expect to earn
in excess of $100,000. I Teaching is one of those professions
where women are more likely to rise to the top.
make your mark/,mek j:r ,mo:r,k/to be successful in
your job so that people notice you and respect your abil-
ity, especially because of a particular piece of work you
have done Iv phrase]
New employees are often anxious to make their mark and
impress their bosses. ] His ambition was to become a direc-
tor as quickly as possible, so he knew he had to make a mark
early on in his career.
make good/,mek 'god! to become successful in your
job even though you come from a home or family that is
not rich or successful, so you did not start with many
advantages Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
Joey came from a semi-criminal background in the slums of
Harlem - but he made good in the end. I made good It was
the typical story of a small-town girl made good returning
home a millionairess.
further/advance your career/,f3:r6a r, ad vo:nsj: r
karar II -vaens-! to gain more important and better paid
jobs in your chosen area of work, especially by doing things
that will get you noticed by more important people that you
work with Iv phrase]
He only started playing golf after work to advance his
career.] I refuse to socialize with people who I have nothing
in common with, just to further my husband's career.
success/sak'ses/the result of being successful in your
job In U]
Success has enabled him to travel all over the world. ] She
puts her success down to hard work and a lot of sleepless
nights/
2 ways of saying that a company or product is
successful
be successful thrive
do well prosper
be a success success
succeed
be successful/bi: sksesfal/[v phrase]
We are sure our new range of cat foods is going to be success-
ful. I For an organization to survive and be successful it must
continually adapt to its environment. I Ira new product is
successful at the introductory stage it may still fail later on.
do well ! ,du: wel! ifa company or product does well, it
is successful, especially in difficult conditions or when it
has not existed for very long [v phrase]
Despite the fact that its video was banned, the record did very
well. I For some reason garbage companies have been doing
well throughout the recession. I If the firm does well, your
shares will be worth far more than you paid for them.
be a success/bi: a skses/if a company, product, film
etc is a success, it makes a lot of money because a lot of
people like it, buy it, or go to see it Iv phrase]
There was a lot of uncertainty about whether or not the pic-
ture would be a success. I We've started our own business.
If it's a success we should be earning at least Ј3000 per
month. ] be a great success Lively video games with high-
quality graphics have been a great success.
sucoeed/saksi:d/ifa company or product succeeds, it
becomes successful and can continue to do business or be
produced Iv I not usually in progressive]
It is not always the cheapest products that succeed. I Even in
remote areas people open restaurants, and surprisingly
enough, they succeed.
thrive /Oraiv/ if a company, organization, or industry
thrives, it is very successful, especially because economic
conditions are favourable or because a lot of people want
to buy or use its products Iv I]
The business was thriving. We had one very successful store
and had just opened two new ones. ] The brothels that thrived
on Creek Street in the 1950s are now empty, run-down
buildings.
prosper/prosp r II 'pro:-/if a company, organization, or
industry prospers, it is very successful and earns a lot of
money, especially because of good management Iv I]
In India, the hand-loom industry prospers because it is sub-
sidized by the government. I We appointed a new financial
advisor, and the business prospered under his guidance.
success/sak' ses/the result of a company, organization,
industry etc being successful In U]
This is a highly competitive market in which success depends
on producing a well-priced, innovative product. I Marketing
has made a considerable contribution to business success in
all industries.
3 to start to be successful
take off be going places
be on the way up be on the up and up
up and coming
take off/,teIk 'of II -':f/if a product, company, or some-
one's job takes off, it suddenly starts being successful [phr
vii
In 1980, the pop video industry was just taking off. I Her sing-
ing career took off after an appearance on Johnny Carson's
"Tonight" show in America. ] The PCW series took off because
it was sold as a cheap word processing system.
be on the way up/bi: o 6a ,we 'np/if someone is on
their way up, especially someone like an entertainer or
a politician, they are becoming more and more successful
and well known Iv phrase]

SUCCESSFUL
He's not that famous a musician at the moment, but he's
definitely on the way up. I Several influential Party members
helped her when she was on the way up.
up and coming /,^p ond 'kam;r-/ up and coming
artist/player/executive etc (=an artist, player etc, espe-
cially a young one, who is getting more and more success-
ful and who will probably soon be famous) [adj phrase only
before noun]
The up and coming Swiss artist Hieronymus Grimm gives
his first major exhibition later this month. I Many up and
coming young players have trials for the national football
team.
be going places/bi: 'golr] ,plesz/if you say that a
person or company is going places, you mean that they
are already achieving success and will probably be even
more successful in the future [v phrase]
For the first time in his career he felt as though he was really
going places, i That company is clearly one that is going
places. Investing in it could be a very good move.
be on the up and up/bi: on 6i lap nd lap/a British
expression meaning to be getting more successful all the
time Iv phrase]
"'How's the restaurant doing? .... Oh, it's really been on the
up and up since we were featured in that magazine article."
4 likely to be successful in the future
have potential will go far/will go a long way
promising have a great/bright future
have potential Ihev p'tenJ'al/if a person, company, or
product has potential, it is likely to be successful in the
future, especially if it develops in the right way Iv phrase
not in progressive]
Slater has enormous potential, and should soon be playing
football for England. I She was the first to realize that cos-
metics made from natural products had great potential. I
reach/fulfil your potential (=be as successful as you
have the ability to be) Employers must reward women's
achievements and encourage more of them to reach their
potential.
promising Ipromsu] 11 'pra:-/ a promising career/
future/young man etc (=likely, but not certain, to be very
successful) [ adj]
Jonathan is one of our most promising employees. I Peter had
given up a promising career in chemical engineering to
become a Catholic priest.
will go far/will go a long way Iwfi ,go 'fa: r, wfi ,go
 ,ltr] 'we l[ -,13:rj-/if you say someone will go far/will
go a long way, you mean that they will be very success-
ful, especially because they have shown natural ability in
something or shown that they have the right sort of charac-
ter to do something Iv phrase]
If this girl is encouraged to develop her talent for dancing,
I think she will go far I With your confidence and capacity
for hard work, you 7l go a long way.
have a great/bright future /hev  gret, ,brat
'fju:tJ'r/if you say someone has a great future or has a
bright future, you mean they are likely to be successful
in whatever they choose to do as a job, especially because
they are clever or have natural ability in something
[v phrase not in progressive]
He is a successful student with a bright future. [ have a
great/bright future ahead of you She was an attractive
girl with a bright future ahead of her when her life was cut
short in a tragic car accident.
5 words for describing someone who is
successful in their job or in business
successful achiever
high flyer be a success story
successful isk'sesfall [adj]
Three years ago she married a successful businessman, and
now she never sees her old friends. I Eddie Murphy is one of
Hollywood's most successful stars. [ He doubted whether she
had the aggressive qualities necessary for a successful career
in politics.
1335 suck up to
high flyer I,ha 'flar/someone who is extremely suc-
cessful in their job, especially because they have an
unusually high level of ability [n C]
High flyers can expect promotion to Branch Manager by the
time they're 35. [ The potential high flyers of the diplomatic
service usually join as administrative trainees.
high-flying [adj] Veronica is a high-flying young solicitor
who lives in one of the more exclusive suburbs of Paris.
achiever/'tJ'i:vr/someone who is determined, who
works hard, and who is very successful at whatever they
do In C]
Achievers turn their jobs into profit-making opportunities. I
high achiever Our television screens are filled with adver-
tisements for sleek cars featuring high achievers and their
perfect children.
be a success story/bi:  sk ses st3:ri/if someone's
life or job is a success story, they have been very success-
ful especially when they start from a low position or from
a situation that does not give them many advantages Iv
phrase]
His life was a success story -from farm boy to business
tycoon. [ Hill represents a police success story, having risen
up through the ranks to become chief inspector.
6 words for describing a successful company
or product
successful
thriving
booming
successful Iszk' sesfal/[adj ]
Our most successful product is based on a very simple idea. [
Successful companies tend to have open management and
good industrial relations. [ Do you think any newspaper with
left-wing ideas could ever be commercially successful?
thriving/' Oraw/a company, organization, or industry
that is thriving is very successful, especially because eco-
nomic conditions are favourable or because a lot of people
want to buy or use their products [adj]
In the 1970s the company was thriving. [ From a hobby she
built up a thriving business and now has over 40 people
working for her. [ The once thriving motor industry has been
hit by steady recession.
booming /bu:m/a company or industry that is boom-
ing is extremely successful at a particular time, especially
because economic conditions are favourable [adj]
The movie business was booming. Hundreds of films were
being made each year. [ He arrived at his office in The Shop-
ping Plaza. Business was booming as usual. I There was
growing demand and ever-rising prices. What more could
the booming leisurewear industry want?
7 a situation in which companies or businesses
are generally successful because economic
conditions are very favourable
boom
boom/bu:m/In singularl
My father made a lot of money during the post-war boom of
the 1950s. [ economic boom The recession was followed by
an economic boom, when many new businesses started up. [
the computer/housing/leisure ere boom (=when a par-
ticular industry is very successful) The computer boom has
completely transformed the way we work.
succession: in succession SERIES 4
succession of SERIES 1
successive SERIES 3
successor AFTER 6, REPLACE 3
succulent DELICIOUS 2
such a bad day/an old carla tall man etc that
SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
such arid such NAME OF A THING 4
such as EXAMPLE 3
suck BAD 1, DRINK 1
suck up to FRIENDLY 7

sucker 1336 SUFFER
sucker TRICK/DECEIVE 5
sudden SUDDENLY 2
sudden: all of a sudden SUDDENLY 1
.. suddenly SUDDENLY 1
SUDDENLY
1 words meaning suddenly
2 words for describing something that happens
suddenly
1 words meaning suddenly
suddenly on the spur of the moment
all of a sudden out of the blue
abruptly from out of nowhere
without warning
suddenly/'sAdnli/quickly, unexpectedly, and without
any warning [adv]
The door suddenly opened and a policeman walked in. I The
weather has suddenly changed. I It's strange, I win all this
money and suddenly I have a lot of new friends:
all of a sudden /,:l v  's^dn/an expression meaning
suddenly, used especially in stories or descriptions of
events lady phrase]
All of a sudden the room went dark. I There was silence for
a few seconds then all of a sudden the child let out a loud
scream.
abruptly /o'br^ptli] if something ends or if someone
moves or speaks abruptly, they do it suddenly and unex-
pectedly [adv ]
The party was stopped abruptly when the police came to turn
the music off. I She turned abruptly and went back inside. I
"'You may leave now," he said, abruptly.
without warning/wbaot 'w:rn[o/if something dan-
gerous or unpleasant happens without warning, it hap-
pens suddenly and when you are not expecting it lady
phrase]
Without warning, the car swerved violently to one side. I
Smolensky was arrested without warning and taken to the
Secret Police headquarters. I without any warning With-
out any warning, Mattie's hand shot out and struck her on
the face.
on the spur of the moment /on 6z ,spa:r zv 6
'momznt/if you decide something or do something on the
spur of the moment, you do it suddenly, as soon as you
think of it and without any planning [adv phrase]
I just bought the ring on the spur of the moment. [ The holi-
day was so cheap, that we decided to go on the spur of the
moment.
spur-of-the-moment [adj only before noun] It was a spur-
of-the-moment choice.
out of the blue/,dOt v 6 'blu:/unexpectedly, but often
pleasantly surprising lady phrase]
The job had been offered to her out of the blue. I It was pure
coincidence; Harvard telephoned me out of the blue the day
I returned from my vacation.
from out of nowhere/fram ,dOt av 'naowear/if you say
that someone does something or something appears from
out of nowhere, you mean they do it or it appears sud-
denly and without warning lady phrase]
From out of nowhere he asks me to marry him. I So I'm doing
80 miles per hour when from out of nowhere this cop on a
motorcycle pulls me over.
2 words for describing something that happens
suddenly
sudden snap
abrupt jerky
dramatic
sudden/'s^dn/[adj]
My mother's death was very sudden. It came as a shock to
us all I Rebecca's decision to leave was rather sudden. I There
was a sudden noise and somebody ran out of the house and
down the steps. I The sudden increase in oil prices will have
a disastrous effect on the economy.
abrupt/o'brAptl abrupt end/departure/change/halt
etc (=sudden, unexpected, and often unwanted) [adj]
The police brought the demonstration to an abrupt end. I His
departure was abrupt and completely unexpected. I There
has been an abrupt shift in the government thinking regard-
ing these issues.
dramatic/dry' rnet;k/dramatic rise/fall/recovery/im-
provement etc (=very sudden and very great) [adj]
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of unem-
ployed. I After losing all his money in a matter of months,
Archer's subsequent recovery was equally dramatic.
dramatically [adv] Oil reserves have fallen dramatically
since the war broke out.
snap/snep/snap decision/election (=one that is made
or arranged very suddenly) [adj only before noun]
Snap decisions are not always the best decisions. I The
government called a snap election in 1974 in response to the
challenge.
Jerky / ' dSa:rki/jerky movements are not smooth and con-
tinuous, but stop and start suddenly and unevenly [adj]
He walked awkwardly, with nervous jerky mot)ements. I I
made a jerky involuntary movement with my hand: "It's over
there," I said.
suffer SUFFER 1, 2, WORSE 3
suffer a defeat LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION OR WAR 1
suffer from HAVE 5
suffer heavy losses DIE 2
@SUFFER
to experience physical or mental pain, or
difficult and unpleasant experiences
to suffer because of bad things you have
done or mistakes you have made
something that you suffer, such as great pain
or sadness, or serious problems
someone who suffers
someone who seems to enjoy suffering
1 to experience physical or mental pain, or
difficult and unpleasant experiences
suffer be subjected to
endure be in the grip of
undergo be in the throes of
go through
suffer/'s^fr/[v I/T]
All children suffer a good deal when parents divorce. I It is
the kindest thing that they shot the horse. It was suffering
terribly. I suffer sth The country is still suffering the effects
of a war which ended three years ago. I For years, because
of the injury, she has suffered a lot of pain. I suffer from
Survivors of the accident suffered horribly from burns and
respiratory problems.
endure /n'djoa r II ;n'doar/ to suffer severe mental or
physical pain or very bad experiences, over a long period
and usually patiently and without complaining [v T]
The report describes how political prisoners have to endure
hunger, humiliation and physical abuse. I They endured
months of despair as their daughter's illness grew progres-
sively worse. I She had to endure countless attacks on her
reputation from popular newspapers.
undergo/,^ndr'go/to experience a very difficult or
unpleasant situation that you have no control over and
cannot stop [v T]

SUFFER 1337 SUFFER
The hostages were eventually released after undergoing a ter-
rifying ordeal. I The country is undergoing the strains of
rapid population growth. I Many of the children involved
underwent traumatic changes in personality.
go through/gao 0ru:/to experience great difficulty,
unpleasant conditions, or bad treatment over a long period
of time Iv T]
The country is going through a very difficult period, trying
to cope with life after the revolution. I There was no denying
that she had gone through a very difficult ordeal. I go
through hell (=suffer very badly) She went through hell
with that man before she finally divorced him.
be subjected to /bi: sb'd3ektd tu:/ to be forced to
experience something very unpleasant, such as unfair or
violent treatment, especially over a long time Iv phrase]
Black people in the area are claiming they have been sub-
jected to repeated racial attacks from police officers. [ chil-
dren who have been subjected to domestic violence and sexual
abuse
be in the grip of/bi: n 6a grip vv/to be experiencing
an extremely unpleasant situation which you have no con-
trol over and cannot stop Iv phrase]
The Sudan was in the grip of its worst famine for 20years. I
Ever since her son died she has been in the grip of despair.
be in the throes of/bi: n 5 'Omoz ov/to be experienc-
ing a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one that
lasts a long time Iv phrase]
Texas is in the throes of the worst oil slump since the 1950s. i
The nation was in the throes of a dreadful war and could
do nothing to stop the invasion.
2 to suffer because of bad things you have
done or mistakes you have made
suffer stew in your own juice
pay know/find out to
count the cost your cost
cost sb dearly/dear at a cost to
suffer/'s^fvrl Iv I]
Anyone who lies to me will suffer in the end. I When his
mother caught him cheating she really made him suffer. [
suffer for writers who suffer for their political views ] You've
had your fun at my expense and now you'll have to suffer for
it.
pay /peq to have a bad experience as a way of being
punished for something bad that you have done, mistakes
you have made etc Iv I/T]
They think I've forgotten what they did to me, but I'll make
them pay. [ pay for "'You'll pay for this!" he shouted, with
tears of rage and humiliation in his eyes. ] pay dearly She
drank far too much at the party and paid dearly for it the
next day. ] pay the price/the penalty Tony didn't do any
studying all year but paid the price when it came to the
exams.
count the cost/ikaont 6 'kost II -'k3:st/to suffer or
start having problems as a result of mistakes or decisions
you made at an earlier time Iv phrase]
We thought that we could save time by using computers but
when they failed we really had to count the cost. [ count the
cost of We are now counting the cost of our earlier mistakes.
cost sb dearly/dear/kost (sb) drli, d r [[ ka:st-/
if a mistake or doing something stupid costs someone
dearly or costs someone dear, they suffer a great deal
because of it Iv phrase]
It was only two days late but it cost us dearly when they can-
celled the contract. [ The attack cost Paul dear. He was given
a two year prison sentence. ..
stew in your own juice/,stju: n ja:r ,on 'dsu:s [[ ,stu:-/
an informal expression meaning to suffer because of your
mistakes, especially when other people are unwilling to
help you because they believe you deserve to suffer Iv
phrase]
It was his own stupidity that caused him all these problems,
so we decided to let him stew in his own juice.
know/find out to your cost /noo, ,fa:nd aot ta j:r
'kost [[ -'k3:st/if you know or fred out something to your
cost, you realize that something that happened or some-
thing you did at an earlier time is now causing problems
or is likely to cause problems in the future [v phrase]
As we now know to our cost, the disease is highly contagious.[
The shop is closed on Saturday, as I have just found out to
my cost.
at a cost te/t  'kost tu: [] -'k3:st-/if you do something
at a cost to someone, that person suffers because you do
it [prep]
She's always tried to put his needs before her own - at con-
siderable cost to herself. ] Dave's fame and fortune have been
achieved only at a cost to his family and his health.
3 something that you suffer, such as great pain
or sadness, or serious problems
suffering agony
hardship torment ,
plight adversity
suffering /'sAfar8/ the experience of being in a lot of
pain, having great difficulties, being badly treated ere In U]
The President's message expressed sympathy with the suffer-
ing of the earthquake victims. [ She described in horrific
detail her suffering at the hands of the terrorists. ] a moving
portrait of incalculable human suffering and poverty
hardship / ho:rdJ'lp/the situation of suffering because
your life is very difficult, especially because you are very
poor In C/U]
One of the major causes of the continuing hardship in Ethio-
pia is the civil war. I Post-war welfare laws were designed
to eliminate many of the hardships ordinary people faced.
plight/plait/a difficult and unpleasant situation, in which
people are suffering a great deal and which makes you feel
great sympathy for them In singularl
The film deals with the nomadic desert people of the Sahel,
whose plight has worsened in the recent years of drought, i
a newspaper report exposing theplight of skilled nurses, who
earn less than the average typing clerk
agony/' eegani/a very sad, difficult, and unpleasant situ-
ation when people suffer a great deal, especially over a long
time In U]
It was absolute agony for him, an innocent man locked up
for over a year. i With renewed fighting for control of the cap-
ital, there seems to be no end to Kampuchea's agony.
torment / 'ta: rment/severe mental suffering, often lasting
a long time and usually caused by feeling guilty or sorry
about something you have done In U]
She suffered years of private torment over her decision to
have her children adopted. I It's difficult for us as outsiders
to understand the torment the hostages are going through.
adversity/ad'va:rsti/a situation in which you have con-
tinuing difficulties that seem to be caused by bad luck In U]
He was a brilliant businessman who displayed a knack for
turning adversity into opportunity. I in the face of adver-
sity (=when experiencing adversity) She somehow
manages to keep laughing in the face of adversity.
4 someone who suffers
victim
casualty
victim I'vktml someone who suffers because they are
affected by a bad situation or because of the deliberate
actions of other people In C]
She really feels that she's the victim of a deliberate plot to
sack her. I a massive aid program for the famine victims I
The former Finance Director has become the latest victim of
the new management's reorganization.
casuaity/'k3ulti / someone who suffers as a result of
an event or situation over which they have no control In C]
The corruption scandal has claimed yet another casualty: the
Finance Minister, who was forced to resign last night. I The
company is the latest casualty of the worldwide recession.

SUFFER 1338 SUGGEST
someone who seems to enjoy suffering
masochist
be a glutton for punishment
martyr
masochist l lmesaksq [n C/
He loves going swimming in freezing water in the middle of
winter - he must be some kind of masochist.
masochistic/'mmsaksuk-/ [adj] She seems to derive an
almost masochistic pleasurefrom going out with men who
treat her badly.
be a glutton for punishment/bi: a igl^tn fa r p^mJ'-
mant/a humorous expression: if you say someone is a glut-
ton for punishment, you mean they allow themselves to
be put in the situation where they will suffer, when it could
have been avoided Iv phrase]
There were about 40 little children at Tracy's party - her par-
ents must be gluttons for punishment!
martyr/' ma:rtar/someone who enjoys suffering because
they make other people feel guilty about it, and therefore
get sympathy and attention In C/
We've told her she doesn't have to do all the cleaning up -
she's just being a martyr, that's all. [ If he wasn't such a
martyr, he would have left her years ago.
!i " sufferer ILL 6
 suffering SUFFER 3
: suffice ENOUGH 2
 sufficient ENOUGH 1
i  sufficiently ENOUGH 3, 4
ii sufficiently: not sufficiently ENOUGH 10
:;. suffocate BREATHE 9, 10
i suffrage VOTE/ELECT 7
• sugary SWEET 1
! suggest MEANING 5, SAY 3, SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 3,
." SUGGEST 1, 4
:.: suggest: I suggest SUGGEST 3
SUGGEST
to tell someone your ideas about what they
should do, where they should go etc
to formally suggest a possible plan or course
of action to an official person or group
what you say to suggest that someone should
do something
to suggest someone as a suitable person for
a job or official position
something that someone suggests
1 to tell someone your ideas about what they
should do, where they should go etc
suggest float
make a suggestion recommend
suggest Isa'd3est II sag'd3est/Iv T]
suggest (that) She suggested that I should try the store in
town. [ Where do you suggest we go after the movie? [ The
chairman suggested that the two sides should meet again the
following day. [ suggest doing sth To save money the girls
suggested traveling in one car. [ suggest sth By suggesting
Geneva the mediator hoped to provide a venue that was
acceptable to all parties.
make a suggestion/,me;k a sa'dsestJ'an l[ -sag-/to sug-
gest something, especially something that you think will
help someone Iv phrase]
Mr Chairman, can I make a suggestion? [ make a sugges-
tion that A suggestion has been made that we appoint an
assistant to help Mr Brownlow.
float Ifbot/float an idea/plan/proposal ere (=suggest
it in order to find out what other people think about it) Iv
T not usually in progressive]
Several ideas were floated but none of them attracted much
attention. [ The following month David floated the possibil-
ity of launching a new TV company.
recommend / ,reka'mend/to suggest something to some-
one because you know from your own experience that it
is good Iv T not usually in progressive]
recommend sth Can you recommend a reasonable hotel
near here? [ This wine is highly recommended, sir. I recom-
mend sth to sb Corfu was wonderful. I'd recommend it to
anyone. [ recommend doing sth If you have trouble with
your serve, I recommend switching to a lighter racket.
2 to formally suggest a possible plan or course
of action to an official person or group
propose put sth to/before sb
recommend submit
put forward present
propose/pra'paoz/[v T/
propose (that) I propose we continue the meeting tomor-
row. I It was unwise of you to propose that the director should
take early retirement. I propose sth By the end of the year
the Russians were proposing a treaty banning all nuclear
tests.
proposed [adj only before noun/Theproposed new highway
will slice right through the town.
recommend /reka 'mend/to officially suggest a course
of action after discussing or considering the situation care-
fully Iv T/
recommend sth Following lengthy discussions, the commit-
tee recommended a change in the law. I recommend (that)
At the inquiry the judge recommended that the safety proce-
dures be thoroughly updated.
put forward /ptJt 'f:rward/to suggest plans, proposals
etc, especially in order to start discussions about some-
thing that needs to be decided Iv T/
The United Nations has put forward a peace plan that it
hopes will form the basis for discussions. I Management
initially put forward a number of proposals which were
wholly unacceptable to the union.
put sth to/before sb Ipot (sth) tu:, b f: r (sb)/to offer
a group something such as a proposal or plan which they
can accept or refuse Iv phrase]
We're going to put our plans before the committee on Monday
and we'll just have to hope that they are approved.
submit/sab'mlt/to offer something in writing, such as
a proposal, report, or plan, so that an official person or
group can consider it and decide whether to accept it [v T]
We have submitted proposals for a new pay structure to the
board of management. [ Applications for planning permis-
sion must be submitted before noon tomorrow.
present/pr;'zent/to offer something to an official group,
especially by going to them and explaining your ideas so
that they can decide whether to accept them Iv T]
Ms Rogers has developed some ideas for restructuring the
Marketing Department and will present these to the Board
at next week's meeting. [ We have been presented with a
number of plans. We shall study them all and publish the
one that is accepted.
3 what you say to suggest that someone should
do something
I suggest
can/may I suggest
can/may I make a suggestion
let's
how about/what about
why don't we/you/they etc
we/you/they etc could always
we may as well/might as well
I suggest/aI sa'd3est II -sag-/
I suggest that we meet here at nine. I I suggest you call your
wife right now.

SUGGEST 1339 suit yourself
can/may I suggest/,kcn, ,me: ai sa'dsest II -sag-/(used
when you want to suggest, especially politely, a different
plan or way of doing something better)
Can I suggest we go tomorrow instead? It won't be so
crowded. I May I suggest that you change the opening para-
graph?
can/may i make a suggestion /,kn, ,me ai ,mck
a s'd3estan II -sag-/(used to suggest something politely,
especially when you think someone may be making a
mistake)
Can I make a suggestion? Try adding a little more flour. [
May I make a suggestion? I think we should stop and look
at the map.
let's/lets/let's go/have/do etc (used when you want to
suggest something that the people you are with should do)
Let's dance. I We both need a break. Let's go to Paris for the
weekend. I let's not Let's not argue on our anniversary. I
don't let's (British) Come on, don't let's waste any more time
here.
how about/what about/'hao abaot, 'wot abaot/(an
informal way of suggesting something or offering
something)
"'How about a brandy?" said Tom. I What about going out
for lunch one day next week? When are you free? l How about
trying to get here a little earlier, Miss Hardy?
why don't we/you/they etc/'waI daont (we etc)l (an
informal expression used when you think it would be a
good idea to do something)
Why don't you wait for me downstairs? I won't be long. [ If
David wants someone to go with him, why doesn't he ask
Jacky? I'm sure she'd enjoy it. [ Why don't you all just shut
up and mind your own business!
we/you/they etc could always/(we etc) kod ':lwelz/
(used when you do not really know what else to suggest)
You could always stay at my place for a few days - I have
a spare bed. I We could always buy her someperfume, ifyou
can't find anything more interesting.
we may as well/might as well/wi: ,meI az wel, mat
az 'well (used to suggest something that is not very interest-
ing or exciting, when you do not have any better ideas)
It's too late to go to the movies so we may as well watch TEl
I think we might as well buy this one. We're not going to find
anything cheaper.
4 to suggest someone as a suitable person for
a job or official position
suggest propose
recommend put sb's name forward
nominate
suggest/sa'dsest 11 sag'd3est/[v T]
suggest sb for sth Robert suggested his son for the vacant
directorship. [ suggest sb All members are invited to suggest
names.
recommend / ,rekv  mend! to suggest someone you know
personally as suitable for a job or position [v T]
recommend sb The first applicant was recommended by a
friend of the boss. I Ask friends to recommend babysitters.
That's the safest way. I recommend sb for sth Who would
you recommend for this job, Stuart?
nominate/nomIneIt [[ 'no:-/to suggest someone for an
important or official position, usually when the final deci-
sion will be made by voting Iv T]
We need a treasurer. Does anyone want to nominate some-
body? I The President has power to nominate people to cer-
tain key offices, including judge of the Supreme Court.
nomination/,nom neIan [[ na:-I [n C/U] His nomination
as chief executive was approved by the board. [ the
Democratic nomination for President (=the person nomi-
nated by the Democrats)
propose/pra'paoz/to formally suggest someone for an
official position Iv T]
I would like to propose Mr Harrison for theposition of Party
Treasurer. [ At the last meeting, Mrs Williams was proposed
by several members.
put sb's name forward/,pot (sb's) 'neim f3:rwardi to
formally suggest someone, usually in writing, for an elec-
tion to an official or political position Iv phrase]
The local Democratic party put Charles's name forward for
the vacant seat. I Toby retires as chairman next year. Would
you mind if we put your name forward to replace him?
5 something that someone suggests
suggestion recommendation
proposal proposition
suggestion/sa'd3estJ'an II sag-/[n c]
That's an excellent suggestion. I That's one possibility. Does
anyone have any other suggestions? I suggestion about We
liked your suggestion about changing the timetable. I sug-
gestion for doing sth We welcome suggestions for improv-
ing our service to customers. [ at sb's suggestion (=because
someone has suggested it) At John's suggestion we had
lunch in a pizzeria.
proposal/pra'paozdl/a suggestion made formally to an
official person or group In C]
They will consider our proposal at their next meeting. [ put
forward a proposal (=make one) The government has
rejected the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by the
rebels. I proposal to do sth The proposal to close the hospi-
tal was defeated. I proposal for sth The nuclear industry
was instructed to prepare fresh proposals for the safe dis-
posal of radioactive waste.
recommendation I,rekamen'deIan/a suggestion made,
for example, by an official person or group, especially a
suggestion that is contained in a report In C]
We accept that recommendation and we shall act on it as soon
as possible. I The consultants have made several very good
and valid recommendations. I on sb's recommendation
(=because someone has recommended it) I bought the house
on therealtor's recommendation and have regretted it ever
since.
proposition/,propa'zian 11 ,pro:-/a plan of action that
is suggested, especially in business or politics In C]
I have a proposition to make. [ We must consider the propo-
sition carefully. I The proposition was put before the Senate.
suggestion SUGGEST 5
suggestion: can/may I make a suggestion SUGGEST 3
suggestion: make a suggestion SUGGEST 1
suggestive RUDE/OBSCENE 2, SEXY 2
suicidal KILL 12
suicide KILL 12
suicide: commit suicide KILL 12
suit CONVENIENT 1 SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 1
SUITABLE 1
suit: follow suit IMITATE 1
suit yourself DON'T CARE 2

SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 1340 SUITABLE
SUIT/LOOK GOOD
TOGETHER
ways of saying that clothes, colours, or styles
look good on someone or look good together
1 to suit someone
2 to look good with something else
3 to not look good with something else
1 to suit someone
suit
look good on
flattering
suit/su:t, sju:t [[ su:t/if something such as a piece of cloth-
ing, a colour, or a pattern suits someone, it looks good
when they wear it because it is the right colour, style etc
Iv T not in progressive or passive]
Do you think this colour suits me?[ Steve was wearing a red
scarf that didn't suit him at all. [ That blouse would really
suit Annie. [ Your hair suits you like that.
look good on/lok 'god n/if something looks good on
someone, it looks good when they are wearing it [v phrase
not in progressive]
Why don't you wear that black dress? It looks really good on
you. [ I don't think these glasses look very good on me, I'd
prefer some larger ones.
flattering/, flatdr;o/clothes or styles that are flattering
help to make someone look more attractive, for example
by making a fat person look thinner [adj]
High-heeled shoes are flattering but not very comfortable. [
The flattering shape of the jacket is emphasized by the broad
belt.
2 to look good with something else
go with complement
set off matching
match blend in
go together
go with I'gau w5/Iv T not in progressive or passive]
Helen was trying on her pearls to see if they went with her
yellow dress. I That jacket will go really well with your blue
skirt. I We saw some wallpaper that we really liked yester-
day but it wouldn't go with the new carpet.
set off / iset 'f II -a:f/if one thing sets off another thing,
it makes it look more attractive and noticeable, for exam-
ple by being different in colour or style [phr v T]
set offsth The brass rail sets off the wooden panelling very
nicely. [ set sth/it/them off That dress looks lovely - the
jacket really sets it off.
match ImatI/if something matches something else, or
if two things match, they look good together because they
are similar in colour, style, or pattern [v I/T not in
progressive]
I can't wear my blue shoes with a black skirt, they don't
match. [ In the lounge everything matched; the curtains, the
sofa, the carpet and the cushions. [ match sth The interior
of the airport has been redesigned and now the clocks match
the information boards. [ handbag/hat/glasses/shoes to
match (=which match) For every outfit, Diana has a hand-
bag and shoes to match.
go together/Igao ta,ge6ar/if two things go together
they 10ok good when they are worn or seen with each other
[phr v I not in progressive]
"Do you think this sweater and this skirt go together ? .... Not
really, the colours don't quite match."[ It's funny but the
yellow walls and the black floor actually go together quite
well.
complement / kmplIment [[ 'ka:m-/a word used espe-
cially in writing about fashion: if something complements
another thing, it helps to make the other thing look good
[v T not in progressive]
The tie and the jacket complement one another well. [ She
looked beautiful - the white silk of her blouse complemented
her olive skin perfectly.
matching / ' matj'rj/matching pieces of clothing, furni-
ture etc are similar to each other in colour, style, or pattern
[adj only before noun]
The long flowery skirt and matching blouse were just right
for the occasion. [ In the kitchen was a rustic oak table and
six matching chairs. [ The chauffeur opened the trunk of the
limousine and lifted out a set of matching luggage.
blend in / blend 'm/if something blends in with the back-
ground or the things around it, it looks good with them
because it has a similar colour or pattern to theirs and does
not look very different from them [phr v I]
blend in with We need to get some curtains that will blend
in with the carpet. [ That plant looks weird there. Somehow
it just doesn't blend in with the background. [ blend in Why
not plant some bushes next to the fence there - they should
blend in really nicely.
3 to not look good with something else
not go with/go together/match
clash
not go with/go together/match/nt 'gu w6, 'gu
t,ge6a r, 'metj'/[v not in progressive]
The curtains don't go with the carpet. [ That tie doesn't match
your shirt. [ Pink and purple don't usually go very well
together.
clash Iklm/if two things clash, they look very bad when
they are worn or seen together because they are completely
different in style, colour etc [v I not in progressive]
dash with Our hotel room was horrible, it had awful flow-
cry wallpaper that clashed with the striped carpet. [ clash
You can't wear those colours together, they clash.
suitable RIGHT/PROPER 2, SUITABLE 1
suitable: unsuitable/not suitable WRONG/UNSUITABLE 2
SUITABLE
right or convenient for a particular situation,
job, or purpose
ways of saying that two people are suitable
for each other, because they agree about
most things, like and dislike the same things
etc
ways of saying that two things are good when
eaten, done etc together
1 right or convenient for a particular situation,
job, or purpose
suitable
suit
good
lends itself to
be suited to
be cut out for
be made for
fit the bill
fit in
be right for/the right person for
make
suitable/'su:tabal, 'sju:- II 'su=-/[adjl
Be sure to wear something suitable - preferably black. I I've
been waiting for a suitable moment to tell you that I may be
leaving soon. [ highly/eminently suitable They're look-
ing for a place that's quiet but close to town - Joseph's Creek
seems eminently suitable. [ suitable for sth Even though he
has no experience he seems to be suitable for the job. [ These
programs are suitable for use on home computers. [ suitable
for sb The movie's perfectly suitable for a boy of his age.
suitably [adv ] No one should go mountain climbing unless
they are suitably dressed and equipped.

SUITABLE 1341 sum
suitability/tsu:ta'bilIti, ,sju:- II ,su=-/In U] I think we'll
have to seriously reconsider the company's suitability for the
contract.
suit/su:t, sju:t II su:q to be suitable and convenient for
someone, or for a particular situation or purpose Iv T not
in progressive or passive]
You should buy a database program to suit your needs. I
Wanted: Junior clerk for busy office, would suit high-school
graduate. I a credit agreement that gives you the flexibility
to use it in the way that best suits your purpose I suit sb fine
Those working hours will suit me fine.
good /godl very suitable for a particular purpose or
activity [ adj]
good for It was sunny, a good day for a walk along the
cliffs. I This knife is good for cutting vegetables, but not so
good for bread. I good The new station wagon is a good
family car and equally good as a working vehicle.
lends itself to ! t lendz itself tu:/if something lends itself
to being used in a particular way, it has qualities that make
it easy and suitable for using in that way Iv phrase]
The book, 'Out of Africa', lent itself well to being made into
a film. I Methods used in the study of physics and chemistry
lend themselves readily to the study of the social sciences.
be suited to/bi: t su:td tu:/if someone or something is
suited to a situation, purpose, or job they have the quali-
ties that make them suitable for it Iv phrase]
These plants are particularly suited to small gardens, as they
do not need very much room. I Amundsen used huskies, dogs
eminently suited to work in Antarctic conditions.
be cut out for/bi: tkAt 'apt fa:r/if you say that someone
is cut out for a particular job, you mean they are very
suitable for it and are likely to succeed at it Iv phrase]
Jenny will make a good nurse. She's really cut out for it. [
You know, Dad, I'm not so sure that I'm cut out for what you
want me to be.
be made for/bi: tmeld f:r/if you say someone or some-
thing is made for a particular job or purpose, you mean
they are completely suitable for that job or purpose Iv
phrase]
With his leadership qualities Charles Seymour was made for
the army. I The gently sloping sandy beach is made for chil-
dren. I In the garden stood an old apple tree with low
branches, just made for climbing.
fit the bill/tilt 6o 'bd/if you say that someone or some-
thing fits the bill, you mean they have exactly the quali-
ties needed to make them suitable for a particular job, sit-
uation etc [v phrase not in progressive or passive]
We know what kind of house we want, but we haven't yet
found one that fits the bill. I The company needed a Spanish-
speaking guide and it just happened that Bobby fitted the
bill.
fit In/tilt tn/if someone fits in, they are accepted by a
group of other people because they have the same opinions,
interests etc [phr v I not in progressive]
They wanted someone young to join the team, someone who
would fit in. I fit in with She tried to be one of the gang, but
she didn't really fit in with the others.
be right for/the right person for Ibi: 'rat fo: r, 6o trait
tp3:rsan fo:r/to be exactly suitable to do a particular job
[v phrase]
We've interviewed several people, but only one seems to be
right for the job. [ If you need someone to write a report on
the conference then Diane is the right woman for it.
make/meik/to be suitable for a particular use Iv T not in
progressive or passive]
Garlic bread makes a good accompaniment to chilli. [ These
hollow logs make ideal nesting places for hedgehogs.
2 ways of saying that two people are suitable for
each other, because they agree about most
things, like and dislike the same things etc
be well-suited/ be a perfect
well-matched match/pair
compatible be ideally suited
be made for each other be right for
be well.suited/well.matched/bi: twel tsu:td, ,wel
'metJ't/Iv phrase]
Selina and I are very well-suited. We seem to agree about
most things. I They're a well-matched pair. He's ambitious,
and she'll back him all the way.
compatible/kom  peQbal/able to have a very good rela-
tionship with each other, because you have characters,
interests, qualities etc that go well together [adj]
Compatible couples generally share the same values and
have similar lifestyles and aspirations. [ At their best,
arranged marriages are about matching people who are
compatible.
compatibility/kom t pet t b fl ti/In U] Compatibility is just
as important as romantic love.
be made for each other/bi: tmed for i:t t^6or/if you
say that two people are made for each other, you mean
they are naturally very suitable for each other Iv phrase]
Sam and Ellie are made for each other. I just can't think of
either of them with anyone else. I We're very happily mar-
ried you know. Made for each other, aren't we, darling?
be a perfect match/pair/bi: o tp3:rflkt tmaetj', tpeor/
to be considered to be very suitable for each other [vphrase]
Isn "t it marvellous that Georgina and Hamish are getting
married? I really think they are a perfect match. I Mom and
Dad were a perfect pair. Neither of them was easy to get on
with, but they made each other happy.
be ideally suited/bi: a tdmli tsu:td/if you say that two
people are ideally suited, you mean they are so suitable
for each other that it would be very difficult to find a better
relationship, for example because they understand each
other very well and have exactly the same interests and
ideas Iv phrase]
Malcom will be ideally suited for Angelina. They have such
a lot in common. [ They are both as mad as each other.
Ideally suited I would say.
be right for/bi: 'rat fa:r/if someone is right for some-
one else, they have the type of character, interests etc that
makes them likely to have a very good relationship with
that person Iv phrase]
She's a very nice girl, but I don't think she's right for my
brother. [ I'm sure we're right for each other. We each seem
to have what the other needs. [ be the right one forAs soon
as he met Margaret he knew that she was the right one for
him.
3 ways of saying that two things are good when
eaten, done etc together
go together/go with ,
complement
go together/go with I'goo to,ge6 r, 'gay w61 if two
things go together, or if one of them goes with the other,
they are suitable for each other Iv not in progressive]
Pork and apple sauce go well together. [ The company's old
headquarters didn't go with their corporate image.
complement / tkomplaIment 11 'ko:m-/if one type of food
or drink complements another, it improves the taste
because they taste good together Iv T not in progressive]
The wine complemented the meal perfectly. I Yoghurt and
honey complement each other very well.
suited: be ideally suited SUITABLE 2
suited: be suited to SUITABLE 1
suited: be well-suited/well-matched SUITABLE 2
suited: ill-suited to/not suited to
WRONG/UNSUITABLE 2
suited: not be suited WRONG/UNSUITABLE 6
suited: unsuited to/not suited to
WRONG/UNSUITABLE 1
sulk/be in a sulk BAD-TEMPERED 3
sulky BAD-TEMPERED 3
sullen BAD-TEMPERED 3
sultry SEXY 1
sum AMOUNT 1, COUNT/CALCULATE 9, MONEY 3
sum: a tidy sum MONEY 2
sum" to sum up SUMMARIZE 3

sum up
iil. sum up JUDGE 1, SUMMARIZE 1
=, summarize SUMMARIZE 1
SUMMARIZE
to make a short statement that describes the
main points of a plan, idea, set of events etc
1 to summarize something
2 a written or spoken statement in which facts
or ideas are summarized
3 what you say when you are going to
summarize something
4 to describe something in a general way,
giving the main points but not the details
1 to summarize something
summarize recap/give sb a recap
sum up give sb a rundown
summarize (also -ise British) I'sAmoraizl Iv I/T]
summarize sth You should always summarize your main
argument at the end of an essay. I In the first chapter, the
author summarizes Plato's theory of ideas. I The interview
was summarized on the frontpage of the New York Times. I
summarize Let me summarize then: nuclear power is not
only very expensive in the long term, it is also very danger-
ous to the environment.
sum up/, SAm tap/ to summarize something clearly and
in very few words, especially at the end of a speech, report
or meeting [phr v I/T]
sum up sth The last section of the report sums up the argu-
ments on both sides. [ sum up The Chairman's job was to
introduce the speakers and to sum up at the end of the debate. [
sum sth/it up I couldn't have summed it up better.
recap/give sb a recap/ri:'kep, ,gv (sb) o tri:kep/to
make a short spoken statement summarizing what has
already been said in order to remind someone of it Iv I]
Before you go, could you give us a recap of your suggestions? l
In case you've forgotten how to use the computer system, I'll
give you a quick recap. I Would you recap for us?
give sb a rundown/tglV (sb) o rAndaon/to give some-
one a short, spoken report, especially about a series of
events, including all the important facts [v phrase]
give sb a rundown on/of I gave him a rundown of the
day's events. I Can you give me a rundown on what was said
at yesterday's meeting? I give sb a rundown Before we go
to work on this problem, you'd better give us a complete
rundown.
2 a written or spoken statement in which facts
or ideas are summarized
summary precis
outline rundown
overview synopsis
summary/'sAmori/In C]
For homework, the students had to write a summary of any
book they had read. I The book provides a useful summary
of German foreign policy under Bismarck. I I'll start by
giving a brief summary of what happened at the last
meeting.
outline /'aotlain/a short statement, especially a written
one, that summarizes a statement or piece of writing and
contains only the most important points In C usually
singular]
The author has provided a historical outline to help readers
understand the novel. I broad outline (=a very general out-
line) In this paper I will give a broad outline of the research
we have been doing and show some of our results. I in out-
line (=giving an outline) This chapter shows, in outline, the
way money circulates through the economy.
overview / toovorvju:/a short statement that summarizes
a whole subject, situation, or problem in a general way In
C usually singular]
1342
SUMMARIZE
Before we can begin considering details we need to have an
overview of the whole situation. I The aim of this chapter is
to provide a general overview rather than a complete, in-
depth analysis.
precis / tpre;si: II prei 'si:/(plural precis) a short piece of
writing, especially one written by a student as a formal
language exercise, intended to summarize the main points
of a longer piece of writing In C]
I wantyou to write a precis of the wholepassage in not more
than 80 words. I The students were asked to study and com-
ment on some examples of precis writing.
rundown I t rAndaon/a report, especially a spoken one, that
summarizes a set of events or a situation quickly and
simply In C usually singular]
rundown on/of/want a complete rundown of what's been
happening while I've been away. I There's just time for a
quick rundown on the project before we open the discussion.
synopsis IsJ'nop%Is II -'no:-/(plural synopses) a short
piece of writing that summarizes the story of a film, play,
or book In C]
I read the synopsis and decided that it would make an
interesting film. I synopsis of Please write a synopsis of the
story, not more than 100 words long.
3 what you say when you are going to
 summarize something
to sum up in short
to put it in to cut a long story short/
a nutshell to make a long story short
to sum up/to t sAm tap/(used at the beginning of a sen-
tence when you are going to summarize everything that
you have already said, especially at the end of a speech)
To sum up, we cannot hope for greater success unless we
identify our needs clearly.
to put it in a nutshell/to pot t in O tnAtfel/(used when
you are summarizing a situation or idea in a few words)
I could say a lot more, but to put it in a nutshell, the project
was a complete disaster. I The Japanese have been quick to
adopt new technology, and that, in a nutshell, is the secret
of their success.
in short/In tfo:rt/(used to say the most important point
about a situation in a few words) lady phrase]
In short, the report says that more money should be spent on
education. I The plan, in short, was to persuade Jones to give
evidence in the trial by offering him his freedom. I Harry was
loud-mouthed, argumentative and rude; in short, a pain in
the ass.
to cut a long story short (British) I to make a long
story short (American)/to kAto ,lot] ,sto:ri 'j'o:rt, to me;k
o- II -tlo:rJ-I (used when you want to finish a story quickly
and only tell people the most important parts) [advphrase]
To make a long story short, Stephen had aright with Paul
and ended up in the hospital. I I was a waitress in a bar and
he was one of my customers, and that, to cut a long story
short, is how we met.
4 to describe something in a general way,
giving the main points but not the details
outline
sketch out
outline/'aotlan/[v T]
The President outlined his peace plan for the Middle East in
a speech to the United Nations. I The manager gave each
member of staff a letter outlining their responsibilities and
duties. [ We now need to make a detailed analysis of a
number of problems that were outlined in the company's
annual report.
sketch out ], sketj" rapt] to describe something such as a
plan or an idea in a general way without giving any details
or being very exact [phr v T]
sketch out sth He sketched out a plan under which the US
army would train the Contra forces. [ In the letter Marx
sketched out his ideas for a new work on the history of
capitalism in Britain.

summary 1343 SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN
 summary SUMMARIZE 2
• ;i summit MEET 6, TOP 1
 summon TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 3
i sundry: all and sundry EVERYONE 1, VARIOUS/OF
 DIFFERENT KINDS 4
;: sunken UNDER/BELOW 2
a sunlight LIGHT 1
}}= superb BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING 4,
 GOOD/EXCELLENT 2
! superficial CARELESS 3, SEEM 4
 superior BETTER 1, GOOD/EXCELLENT 1, IN CHARGE
 OF 4, PROUD 8
.i,!i superior: be sb's superior HIGH POSITION OR RANK 3
 supermarket SHOP/STORE 2
:;; supersede REPLACE 4
 supersonic FAST/QUICK 4
;; superstar FAMOUS 8
'":": superstition BELIEVE 14
ii superstitious BELIEVE 9
..:- superstore SHOP/STORE 2
 supervise IN CHARGE OF 2
i;;i: supervisor IN CHARGE OF 3
iii! supper MEAL 4
ilili supplant REPLACE1
i!i!ii.: supple BEND 4
 supplement ADD 3, 6
;. supplementary MORE/EXTRA 1
, supplier PROVIDE 4
• ii' supply KEEP/STORE 2, PROVIDE 1, 3, SERVICES 1
• iii! support HELP 3, 10, PAY FOR 10, 11, PROVE 2,
!iill S UPPORTAPERSON, GROUP, ORPLAN,,2,
5, 6, SUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 1, 2,
',i; SUPPORT/HOLD UP 1, 2, 6
 support: drum up support SUPPORT A PERSON,
GROUP, OR PLAN 4
 support: enlist support SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP,
" OR PLAN 4
i= support: for support SUPPORT/HOLD UP 5
"! support: give sb moral support HELP 4
 support: in support of SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP,
-; OR PLAN 2
....
i support yourself SUPPORT/HOLD UP 5
..... support yourself/your family EARN 3
[support]
SUPPORT A
PERSON,
GROUP, OR
PLAN
SUPPORT A
TEAM OR
PLAYER
SUPPORT/
HOLD UP
PAY FOR
SUPPORT A
PERSON, GROUP,
OR PLAN
t to want a person, group, or plan to succeed
:2 to help a person or group to succeed, for
example by giving money, voting for them, or
providing practical help
3 to support one person or group against
another in an argument, a war etc
4 to persuade someone to support you
5 approval for a person, organization, or plan,
especially when this is combined with
practical help
6 someone who supports a person, group, or
plan
7 words for describing a country that does not
support any of the countries involved in a war
1 to want a person, group, or plan to succeed
support be with sb
be in favour of/ be in sympathy with/
be in favor of sympathize with
advocate pro-
support/so'p:rt/[v T not in progressive]
support sb/sth I have always supported the Democrats. I
In 18th century England even the most respectable people sup-
ported slavery. I The People's Daily featured an article sup-
porting political reforms along Western lines. I support sb
in sth Public opinion in America supported Gandhi in his
struggle for an independent India. I strongly support Plans
for a new children's playground were strongly supported by
local residents.
be in favour of (British) I be In favor of (American)
/bi: in 'fevar ov/to support a plan or a suggested course
of action Iv phrase]
Most UN delegates are in favour of the new peace plan. I be
strongly in favour of He says he would be strongly in
favour of a system of national healthcare. I vote in favour
of Although more congressmen voted in favour of the
legislation than opposed it, it did not become law. I argue
in favour of Even the producer argued in favour of an 18
rating for the film on the grounds that "'he wouldn't want
his own kids to watch it. ""
advocate/' edvakeit/to support a course of action or way
of doing something that you yourself have suggested Iv T]
The Chinese leader publicly advocated a three-way alliance
with Japan and America. [ Some extremists are now openly
advocating violence.
be with sb/hi: 'wi6 (sb)/if you say you are with some-
one; you mean that you support them are willing to help
them in whatever they do Iv T]
We need people now for the anti-government march. Are you
with us or against us? [ be with sb all the way (=support
someone in every way possible until they succeed) When
youare fighting a war, it's good to know that your allies are
with you all the way.
be In sympathy with/sympathize with /bi: in
t smpoOi w16, 's;mpoOaz w;6/to think that someone's aims
or ideas, especially political ideas, re right and that you
should support them [v phrase]
Many Democrats felt in sympathy with Reagan's policies on
Nicaragua. I Soviet soldiers were punished severely if they
were suspected of sympathising with student agitators.
pro-/pmu/supporting a particular political party, leader,
country, plan etc [prefix]
A pro-American government came to power in 1970. I Some
of the pro-European Community politicians actually voted

SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 1344 SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN
against the government. I the ongoing abortion debate
between pro-life and pro-choice groups I staunchly pro-
(=very strongly supporting) a staunchly pro-Communist
stance
2 to help a person or group to succeed, for
example by giving money, voting for them, or
providing practical help
support back
be behind sb endorse
back up in support of
throw your weight behind
support Iso'pa:rt/Iv TI
The rebels were supported by a number of foreign govern-
ments who provided arms and money. I The President knew
that some congressmen would support him with their votes. I
Several firms supported the training program by providing
cash and expert advice.
be behind sb/bi: bi 'hand (sb)/if a group of people are
behind someone, they support and encourage them in
what they are trying to achieve Iv T]
If you run for election, the whole community will be behind
you. I I'm sure I'll succeed in finding the murderer - espe-
cially since the police are behind me. I be behind sb all the
way (=be ready to continue supporting them until they suc-
ceed) Just do your best and remember that we are behind
you all the way.
back up/bk 'Ap/to support someone, especially by
saying that you agree with them or giving information that
shows they are right [phr v T]
back sb/her/them etc up I was relying on you to back me
up, why didn't you? l Eventually, after my impassioned pleas,
backed up by my mother, dad agreed to let me go to the con-
cert. I back up a charge/demand/plea/claim etc The
Prosecutor had insufficient evidence to back up the grand
jury's charges.
throw your weight behind/,Oro ja:r 'weIt bi ,hand/
to use all your influence and ability to make sure a person,
group, or plan is successful Iv phrase]
Faced with a crisis, the Party united and threw its full weight
behind the President. I Please throw your full weight behind
us in our fund raising effort.
back/bak/ifa large or influential group backs a person,
group, or plan, they support them, making them more
likely to succeed Iv T usually in passivel
be backed by His proposals were backed by the executive
committee. I The Bangkok students, backed by the workers,
brought down the military regime. I back sb/sth The union
has a good record of backing the interests of its women
members.
backer In C] Bradfield was unable to get a backer for his
project.
endorse/n da:rs/to show publicly that you support a
plan or course of action, especially by voting for it [v T/
The convention endorsed the Yugoslavian peace pro-
gramme. I The President's position on the federal deficit was
endorsed by a large majority of the Senate. I I fully endorse
the measures taken to improve safety standards.
endorsement In U/Before a bill can become law it has to
have the full endorsement of both Houses of Parliament.
in support of/n sa'pa:rt av/if you do something in sup-
port of a person, group, or plan, you do it in order to show
that you support them [prep]
The miners were striking in support of the power workers. I
Speaking in support of the bill, he said, "'Something has to
be done, and now. "'.
 .
3 to support one person or group against
another in an argument, a war etc
be on sb's side
side with
take sides
be on sb's side/hi: on (sb's) 'sad/Iv phrasel
Why didn't you help me? I thought you were on my side. I
With the media on our side we stand a good chance of
winning this dispute. I In 1917 the United States came into
the war on the side of the Allies.
side with l'said wi6/to support one person or group
against another in an argument, especially in a way that
seems unfair Iv T not in passive]
Why do you always side with Lucy? [ side with sb against
You wouldn't expect the union to side with the employers
against their own members, would you?
take sides /,teik 'saidz/to support one of the two sides
in an argument when it would be fairer not to support
either of them Iv phrase]
I don't mind you two arguing, but don "t ask me to take sides. [
The chairwoman managed to stimulate a lively debate
without taking sides herself.
4 to persuade someone to support you
enlist support
drum up support
enlist support /In,hst sa'po:rt/ a formal expression
meaning to talk to people and persuade them to support you
Iv phrase not in passive]
enlist support for He spent the whole month enlisting sup-
port for his reforms. [ enlist sb's support Should you
attempt to take your employer to court alone, or enlist the
support of others?
drum up support/,drAm ^p sa'pa:rt/to try to get a lot
of people to support you Iv phrase not in passive]
drum up support for Drumming up support for a chil-
dren's play group proved harder than she had expected. [
drum up support If we can drum up enough support, we
will hire a bus to take us to the rally.
5 approval for a person, organization, or plan,
especially when this is combined with
practical help
support
backing
support/so'pa:rq [n U/
I couldn't have written this book without the support of my
family and friends, support for There was widespread sup-
port for Mandela in Europe and the USA. I count on sb's
support (=know that someone will support you) I'm going
to stand for election - can I count on your support? I full/
wholehearted support We can't go ahead with the deal
unless we have the full support of our members. I financial/
military etc support The US had been giving financial
support to the anti-communist rebels.
backing/'bakir/practical help given by an important
or influential organization or person etc to support a
person, group, or plan In U/
With the backing of the President, a trade agreement between
the two companies was signed. I He has managed to get back-
ing from a local sports store to help him train for the
marathon.
6 someone who supports a person, group, or
plan
supporter follower
support following
sympathizer
supporter/sa'pa:rtar/[n C]
He has always been one of Mitterand's supporters. I strong
supporter Managers who want more power are likely to be
strong supporters of change. I staunch supporter (=a very
loyal supporter) All her life Elizabeth had been a staunch
supporter of the women's movement. I fervent supporter
(=a very loyal and energetic supporter) Maddock is known
to be one of the project's most fervent supporters.

SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 1345 SUPPORT/HOLD UP
support/sa'pa:rt/all the people who support a person,
group, or plan in U]
The party's support has always been in the big cities. I Carter
had seen his support dwindling in the southern states.
sympathizer (also .iser British)/'slmpa0alzar/someone
who supports but does not belong to a political party or
organization, especially one that is illegal or disapproved
of in C]
His opponents accused him of being a Nazi sympathizer. I
Money for the group's terrorist activities was lavishly sup-
plied by sympathisers in the US.
follower I folu r [[ fo:-/a supporter of someone such as
a political leader, who believes that their ideas are right
[nC] -
As a young man he had been a faithful follower of Trotsky. [
Some of Biko's followers resented his friendship with a white
journalist.
following/folaoirj [[ fo:-/all the people who support a
person or organization because they believe that their
ideas are right In C usually singular]
Don't underestimate her strength, she has quite a following. [
strong following Jeffries has a strong following in the
industrial regions of the country. I attract  following The
civil rights movement had attracted a huge following in the
Northern cities.
7 words for describing a country that does not
support any of the countries involved in a war
neutral
neutrality
neutral/'nju:tral II 'nu:-I [adj]
The escaped prisoners-of-war hoped to get across the border
into a neutral country. [ Eire was neutral during the Second
Worm War and in 1949 the state became the Republic of
Ireland.
neutrality/nju:'treloIti II nu:-! [n U]
Switzerland's neutrality can always be relied upon. [ The
USSR signed a neutrality pact with dapan in 1941.
@ SUPPORT A TEAM
OR PLAYER
to like a particular sports team or player, and
want them to win
1 to regularly support a particular team or
player
2 to support a particular team or player during
a game or competition
3 someone who supports a team or player
1 to regularly support a particular team or
player
support
be a Milan/RaiderslBecker fan
be an England/Milan/Manchester United supporter
follow
support/sa pa:rt/to support a team over a period of time,
especially by regularly going to watch them play iv T]
"'Which team do you support? .... Oh Manchester United of
course, t" [ I like to watch the basketball on TV, but I don't
support any particular team.
be a MilanlRaiderslBecker fan/bi: (a Milan, etc) fen/
like a particular team or player Iv phrase]
She's a devoted Becker fan - she goes to see him every year
at Wimbledon. [ be a big fan (=like a team very much) My
brother's a big Chicago Bears fan.
be an England/Milan/Manchester United sup.
porter/bi: (an England, etc) s,p:rtr/a British expression
meaning to support a particular team Iv phrase]
Patrick was always a fanatical Marseilles supporter. He
would go anywhere to see them. I I'm not really a Leeds
United supporter, but I like to know how they are doing.
follow /'folau 11 'fo:-/ to be interested and concerned
about the performance and results of a sports team Iv T]
The President follows the Red Sox, but is unable to attend
many matches. [ She still follows her local team, Barcelona,
even though she no longer lives in Spain.
2 to support a particular team or player during
a game or competition
support
cheer sb on
root for
support/sa'pa:rt/to support a particular team or player
during a game or competition by shouting or cheering for
them iv T]
Which team are you going to support in the Superbowl
final?l Over 15,000 French fans have come over to Rome to
support their team in this crucial game. I Most of the crowd
will be supporting the local boy, Nigel Bonn.
cheer sb on/,trio r (sb) 'on II -'o:n/to encourage a person
or team during a game or competition by cheering and
shouting [phr v T]
I hope you're going to come and cheer me on in the judo
competition. I A crowd of 80,O00 turned out to cheer Italy on
to a convincing 2-0 victory over Denmark.
root for /ru:t fa:r/an informal expression meaning to
encourage a team or player by cheering and shouting
because you very much want them to win iv T]
We were all rooting for the Dallas Cowboys in the Superbowl
last night. [ Go out there and give it all you've got - the whole
crowd will be rooting for you.
3 someone who supports a team or player
supporter
fan
following
supporter Isa'pa: rtar/a British word meaning someone
who supports a sports team, especially by regularly going
to watch them play in C]
Several supporters were arrested outside the stadium. I Tot-
tenham supporters wear navy blue and white scarves.
fan/fan/someone who supports a team or player in C]
The fans went wild when their team scored. I English fans
had a bad reputation for soccer hooliganism. I Gazza fans
will be able to see their hero play next Saturday.
following/'folaolrj II 'fo:-/a large/devoted/loyal fol-
lowing (=all the people who support a team or player) in
C usually singular]
Inter Milan, with their star players and huge following, are
one of the most exciting clubs in Europe. I Former Sumo
grand champion Chiyonofuji had an enormous following in
Japan.
SUPPORT/HOLD UP
to hold up something or someone so that they
do not fall down
1 ways of saying that something supports the
weight of an object or person
2 to help someone to remain standing upright
by supporting their body
3 to prevent something from falling over by
putting something against it or under it
4 ways of saying that something such as a belt
prevents a piece of clothing from falling down
5 to use something, such as a wall or a piece of
furniture, to support yourself
6 an object or structure that is used to support
the weight of something else

SUPPORT/HOLD UP 1346 sure
1 ways of saying that something supports the
weight of an object or person
support carry
hold up take sb's/sth's weight
bear
support Isa'p:rt/[v T]
The branch was too weak to support his weight, and he fell
out of the tree. I The ceiling was supported by huge stone
columns. I Sitting at a table in the coffee shop, her chin sup-
ported by her hands, she was deep in thought.
support In U] The bridge fell down because it didn't have
enough support (=it was not strongly e.nough supported).
supporting [adj only before noun/The roof was held up by
supporting beams that ran right through my attic bedroom.
hold up/,haold 'Ap/to support the weight of something
and prevent it from falling down [phr v T]
hold up sth We can't knock that wall down. It's the one that
holds up the house. I A gust of wind blew down the board
that was holding up my picture. I hold sth/it/them up Why
don't we use some of these pieces of wood to hold it up? I The
bookcase was held up by two bricks, one at either end.
bear/bear/a formal or technical word meaning to support
all the weight of something, especially something heavy
Iv T]
The baby's narrow neck looked too fragile to bear the weight
of its head. I The tunnel would have needed to be extremely
strong to bear the full weight of the earth above.
carry / ' kaeri/if something carries a particular weight, it
is able to support it, especially because it has been designed
to do so Iv T]
The bridge could only carry up to two cars at a time. [ The
pillars have been specially strengthened in order to carry the
weight of the new ceiling. I Front tyros tend to go down more
quickly than back ones because they carry more weight.
take sb'slsth's weight / teIk (sb's/sth's) 'wet/to sup-
port the weight of someone or something, used when
saying whether or not something is strong enough to do
this Iv phrase]
I hope the ice is strong enough to take my weight. ] I'm not
sure if this table can take the weight of all these books.
2 to help someone to remain standing upright
by supporting their body
support
support/sapo:rt/Iv T]
Her body was so weak that she had to be supported by two
nurses. I Do you want me to support you, or can you manage
to walk on your own?
;3 to prevent something from falling over by
putting something against it or under it
prop up
shore up
prop up/,prop '^p II ,pro:p-/[phr v T]
prop up sth Builders tried in vain to prop up the crumbling
ruins of the church. [ prop sth/it/them up The bookcase
was leaning over to one side, so he put a book under one of
the legs to prop it up. [ "Let's get you comfortable, '" said the
nurse, propping him up with pillows.
shore up/,:r I^p/to support something such as a wall
or a building that has been damaged or is in bad condition
by putting big pieces of wood or metal against it [phr v T/
shore up sth The fence was shored up with sheets of old
iron.I shore sth/it/them up Our huts were falling down,
so we used pieces of metal from American planes to shore
them up.
4, ways of saying that something such as a belt
prevents a piece of clothing from falling down
hold up/keep up
hold up/keep up I,hold '^p, Iki:p ^p/[phr v T]
hold/keep up sth He always used an old piece of string to
hold up his jeans. [ Their skirts were held up by elastic belts
with big black buckles. [ hold sth/it/them up I have to
wear suspenders to keep my pants up.
5 to use something, such as a wall or a piece of
furniture, to support yourself
lean support yourself
rest for support
prop yourself up
lean Ili:n/to support your body or part of your body by put-
ting its weight against a surface such as a wall or a table
Iv I/T/
lean against Joe was leaning against the school wall, smok-
ing a cigarette. [ lean on She leaned on the railings and
looked out at the sea. [ lean your head/arms/elbows ete
on It's sometimes considered bad manners to lean your
elbows on the table when you're eating. [ lean back
0n/against I leaned back on the pillows and closed my eyes.
rest/rest/to support your body or part of your body by put-
ting it lightly on or against something [v I/T/
rest your head/arm/feet ete on John rested his head on
the back of the car-seat. [ rest against I rested against a wall
for a minute in order to tie up my shoe laces. [ rest on Her
head rested gently on his shoulder.
prop yourself up Iprop jo:rself ^p [[ ,pro:p-/to help
yourself stand or sit straight by supporting your body
against something, especially when you are ill or injured
[v phrase]
prop yourself up against/on I propped myself up against
a wall and took a deep breath. [ prop yourself up The sold-
ier tried to prop himself up again using his crutches.
support yourself/sap:rt j:rself/to prevent yourself
from falling by using a stick or by holding onto someone
or something, especially because you are injured or your
body is weak Iv phrase]
They walked out together, the old man supporting himself
with his stick. [ Jessica managed to support herself by put-
ting her arm around Gary's neck.
for support/fa r spo:rt/if you use something such as
a stick or another person for support, you use it or hold
onto them in order to prevent yourself from falling lady
phrase]
As he fell over he grabbed out at the table for support. [ She
moved towards Andrew, seeking his arm for support. [ He's
able to walk around on his own now, although he has to use
a cane for support.
6 an object or structure that is used to support
the weight of something else
support
support/s'p:rq In C]
Tall plants need supports to help them grow straight. [ Two
of the supports for the roof had fallen down, and the roof
hung down on one side.
supporter SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 6,
SUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 3
supporter: be an England/Milan/Manchester United
supporter SUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 1
supportive: be supportive HELP 4
suppose THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
supposed to: be meant/supposed to PURPOSE 2
supposed to: be supposed to do sth
SHOULD/OUGHT TO 1
supposedly SAY 12
supposing/suppose/say IF 8
suppress HIDE/NOT SHOW 1, 2, PREVENT 12, STOP
STH THAT IS HAPPENING 7
suppressed HIDE/NOT SHOW 4
sure SURE 1 YES 1 2, 3
, ,
sure: be sure REMEMBER 8
sure: be sure to/be certain to CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2

sure 1347 SURE
:i: sure: can't be sure NOT SURE 1
.... sure: for sure CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 2
 sure: make sure/make certain CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 4,
 CHECK/MAKE SURE 1
 sure: not be sure/not be certain NOT SURE 1
= sure of yourself CONFIDENT 1
sure
SURE
I to feel sure that something is right or true
2 to make someone sure about something
t to feel sure that something is right or true
sure confident
certain convinced
positive satisfied
know I bet
swear I'd put money on it
have no doubt say what you like
sure If oar/sure that something is right or true because
there are facts that prove this or because you have the feel-
ing that this is so [adj not before noun]
sure (that) I'm sure Simon lives here - I have a letter from
him with his address on it. I With all the revision you've done,
I'm sure you'll pass your exams. I Are you sure that you "re
doing the right thing? I sure about/of I'm quite sure of one
thing: the government will never negotiate with terrorists. I
sure The experts.think the painting is by Reubens but can't
be sure.
certain/I s3.-rtn/very sure, with no doubt that something
is right or true [adj not before noun]
certain (that) Jim was quite certain he had locked the back
door. I We are certain from what we know of late 16th cen-
tury architecture that the chapel was built at that time. I
"'And you "re certain you heard Mr Haines shout, "Hold her
down'?'" asked the detectives. I certain aboutCf Is she cer-
tain about this? I The charity is certain of being able to raise
sufficient funds to build two new children's hospitals next
year.
certainty [n U] I can say with certainty that we have enough
orders to keep us in work for some time to come.
positive/'pt)za;tIV II 'po:-/very sure, with no doubt at all,
that something is right or true [adj not before noun]
positive (that) David was positive that he would find his
watch somewhere in the house. [ Are you positive this is the
hotel we stayed in last time? I positive about/of The
stranger was definitely French. Lucy was positive about
that. I positive "'Are you completely sure about this? .... Yes.
I'm absolutely positive. ""
positively [adv] We are not leaving until I know positively
that all the children are back on the bus.
know/nao/to be sure because you have a strong feeling
that something is right or true, although there may be noth-
ing to prove that this is so [v I/T not in orozressive]
know (that) Sally knew that she and Carl would be the best
of friends. I I just know your Mother will love this necklace. I .
As soon as the phone rang, we knew something terrible must
have happened. I know it She's going to pass - I just know
it! I know for sure/certain (=be very sure) Iknowfor sure
that Marriot was involved in this affair.
swear/swear/to say firmly that you are very sure some-
thing is right or true, although the facts seem to prove that
this is not so [v T not in progressive]
swear (that) I swear I put my bag there - it just seems to
have disappeared! I I could have sworn (that) Icould have
sworn that Julia told me the plane was arriving at 4 o'clock.
have no doubt Ihav ,nao 'daotl to be so certain that
there are no doubts in your mind [v phrase not in
progressive]
have no doubt (that) I've no doubt that his story is true. I
have no doubt aboutCf My boss told me he had no doubt
about my abilities as a salesman. I I have no doubt "'She
was trying her best to help you. "" "'I've no doubt. ""
confident/'konfo'ddnt I[ 'ko:n-/very sure that something
will happen, especially something good, or that you will be
able to do something [adj not before noun]
confident (that) Police chiefs are confident that the case will
be solved very soon. [ confident of The team is quite confi-
dent of being able to win this important game.
convinced/kan'vinst/sure, especially because you have
enough information to make you sure that something is
true [adj not before noun]
convinced (that) Although he had been missing for 10
years, Alice was convinced that her brother was still alive.[
I feel that the advertising campaign is bound to be a success,
but you don't look very convinced. I convinced of We are
convinced of the need for further research into the causes of
the disease.
satisfied / 'salt asfaId/sure that you know the truth about
something that has happened, because you have enough
information to feel sure [adj not before noun]
satisfied (that) Police are now satisfied that her death was
suicide. I satisfied They had to show me all their documents
and ID but finally I was satisfied.
| bet/a beq an informal expression: you say I bet when
you are su.re that something will happen as you say it will
or that something is right or true
I bet (that) The builders want to finish the job by Friday,
but I bet they won't. I "'You can't run as fast as me!" "'I bet
I can!" l I bet Tom has a hangover this morning -you should
have seen how much he was drinking last night!
I'd put money on it/aid pot 'mAni on it/you say I'd put
money on it when you are so sure of something that you
would be willing to take the chance of losing money if you
were wrong
"'Do you really think the president will win a second term of
office?" "'I'd put money on it. ""
say what you like/,se wvt ju: 'laik/you say say what
you like when you are completely sure that you are right
about something and you are not going to change your
mind because of what someone else says to you
Say what you like, I think this government is ruining the
country. I You can say what you like, I'm not going to change
my view.
2 to make someone sure about something
convince
convince/kan'vns/to make someone sure about some-
thing, especially when this is difficult to do [v T]
convince sb Our new policy on tax reform will certainly
help the economy. The only problem will be convincing the
voters! l convince sb (that) The discovery of a bodyfinally
convinced Mrs Hayes that her son was dead. I I had tried to
convince my company's president that these ideas were
viable. I convince sb of sth How many more deaths will it
take to convince the authorities of the need to test drugs more
thoroughly?

surefire 1348 SURPRISED
surefire EFFECTIVE 2
surely MUST 6
surface APPEAR 1 SURFACE 1 2, 3, WAKE UP/GET
UP 4
surface: on the surface SEEM 3
SURFACE
the outside part of an object
the flat part on the top of something, for
example of a piece of furniture
the top part of an area of water or land
1 the outside part of an object
surface
side
face
surface I'sa:rQs/[n C]
The plant has light green leaves with silver marks on their
upper surfaces. I When using superglue, be sure the surfaces
are completely clean.
side ]sad] one of the flat or upright surfaces of something
such as a box, a piece of paper, or a shape with straight
sides In C]
A cube has six sides. I Please use both sides of the paper to
write your answers. I The word FRAGILE was written on
every side of the box in big, red letters. I I'll paint the other
side of the fence after lunch.
face/feis/one of the large steep sides of something such
as a mountain, or one of the outside surfaces of something
such as a cube, a diamond etc which has many surfaces In
C]
There were many unsuccessful attempts to climb the North
Face of Mount Everest. I The cliff face was starting to
crumble into the sea. I One of the faces of the cube has a line
across it.
2 the flat part on the top of something, for
example of a piece of furniture
surface
top
surface/'sa:rfs/a large fiat surface on a desk, table etc
which you can use for working on or for putting things on
In C]
Half-empty glasses covered every fiat surface in the room. I
In a kitchen all working surfaces should be kept spotlessly
clean. I I ran my fingers along the shiny surface of the
mahogany dining-table.
top/top II to:p/the flat upper surface of an object [n C]
This jewellery box would be worth a lot of money if the top
wasn't chipped. I a dressing-table with a glass top I The top
of the piano was covered with a lace cloth.
3 the top part of an area of water or land
surface
surface I'sa:rQs/[n singularl
Leaves fioated on the surface of the pool. I The clay is about
a metre below the surface of the soil. I She watched as the
bubbles rose to the surface and popped. I The moon's surface
is covered with rocks and dust.
:.,;
: surge
surgeon
surgery
surly
surmise
FORW,RD 2, INCREASE IN ACTIVITY,
FEELINGS ETC 6, INCREASE IN NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 11
DOCTOR 2
CURE 4
BAD-TEMPERED 3
GUESS 1
surname/last name NAME OF A PERSON 1
surplus PROFIT 1, TOO/TOO MUCH 5
surprise SURPRISED 1, 4, 5, 8
surprise: be a surprise SURPRISED 7
surprise: be no surprise/come as no surprise
SURPRISED 9
surprise: come as a surprise SURPRISED 7
surprise: come as no surprise EXPECT 8
surprise: take sb by surprise SURPRISED 7
surprised SURPRISED 1
surprised: I wouldn't be surprised EXPECT 2
surprised: I wouldn't be surprised if PROBABLY 1
surprised: I'd be surprised if DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT
IT 1
surprised: I'm not surprised SURPRISED 9
lsurprised]
SURPRISED
t surprised by something unexpected or
unusual
2 so surprised that you cannot believe what has
happened
3 so surprised that you are unable to speak
4 to make someone surprised
5 words for describing something that surprises
you
6 so surprising that it is hard to believe
7' to happen in a way that surprises you
8 something that happens which surprises you
9 not surprising
1 surprised by something unexpected or
unusual
surprised
be taken aback
surprise
surprised/sr'praizd/[adj]
When Charlotte saw how good her exam results were, she
was pleasantly suprised. I Kate looked surprised when I told
her I was leaving. I surprised (that) I'm very surprised that
he remembered my birthday. I The police officer told a sur-
prised group of drivers that the freeway was closed until fur-
ther notice. I surprised at Helen was surprised at how small
the room really was.I surprised to see/hear/learn etc
Parents were surprised to read of plans to sell off the school
playing fields.
be taken aback/hi: tekan abak/to be so surprised
by something, especially something unpleasant that some-
one says or does, that you do not know what to say or do
Iv phrase]
My aunt was quite taken aback when I told her I wouldn't
be spending the holidays at home. I be taken aback by I was
taken aback by the client's aggressive and unreasonable
attitude.
surprise/sa r'praz/the feeling of being surprised In U]
You can imagine my surprise when I saw my sister's photo-
graph on a magazine cover. I surprise at I expressed some

SURPRISED 1349 SURPRISED
surprise at the elaborate welcome which had been prepared
for me. I in surprise Sam stared at his girlfriend in surprise.
"'Why are you wearing that hat?" he asked. I to sb's sur-
prise To everyone's surprise the Labour Party lost the
election.
:2 so surprised that you cannot believe what has
 happened
amazed astounded
astonished staggered
can't get over flabbergasted
can't believe
amazed I'mezdl [adjl
So Mike finally passed his driving test. I'm amazed! I Sarah
stared at the photograph with an amazed expression on her
face. I amazed (that) We were all amazed that the city could
charge so much for a parking ticket. I amazed at Doctors
are amazed at the patient's rapid recovery. I amazed to see/
learn/find out etc We were amazed to discover that there
is a shop called Harrods in Buenos Aires.
amazement In U] To the amazement of all her friends, she
applied for a job in the police department. I Fans looked on
in amazement as Robbins missed a third goal for the
Norwich team.
astonished/a'stomft II a'sto:-/very surprised at some-
thing-that has happened [adj]
Mrs Beale was astonished when the nurse said there was no
bed for her in the hospital. I We climbed out of the hole right
in front of two astonished policemen. I astonished that The
estate agent was astonished that anyone should want to buy
the house - it was in such terrible condition! I astonished
at I mentioned that we were planning to get married. Every-
one seemed astonished at this piece of news. I astonished to
hear/see/discover etc The local history group was
astonished to hear era plan to build an office building right
next to the castle.
astonishment In U] Everyone gasped in astonishment as
David picked up the chair with me still sitting in it.
can't get over/,ka:nt get 'OOvor II Ikant-I if you say that
you can't get over something that has happened, you
mean that you are so surprised by it that you cannot
believe it Iv phrase]
I can't get over it! A week ago Grandad was so healthy and
now he's dead. I Mavis couldn't get over how big her nephew
had grown. The last time she had seen him he was just a little
baby.
can't believe/Ika:nt b li:v II kant/ifyou can't believe
something, you are extremely surprised by it because it
doesn't seem possible that it is true [v phrase]
can't believe it Have Ireally won?Ican't believe it! [ can't
believe (that) She was such a brilliant pianist - we couldn't
believe that she was only 15. [ can't believe your eyes/ears
I opened the envelope and I could hardly believe my eyes.
There was a cheque for $20,000.
astounded lastaondIdl extremely surprised at some-
thing that has happened or at some information you have
heard, because it is so completely unexpected [adj]
Philip was absolutely astounded when he saw how much
rubbish the workmen had left behind. [ astounded that
People were astounded that he gave up a successful acting
career to become a priest. I astounded at I was astounded
at how many children die during simple dental operations. [
astounded to learn/see/hear etc Miss Barnes" employers
were astounded to learn of her criminal record.
staggered / steegard/extremely surprised at something
very bad or very good that has happened, or at very bad
news that you have heard and find difficult to believe [adj
not before noun]
When parents heard of the terrible disaster at their children's
school, they were staggered. I staggered by/at We are stag-
gered by the response to our appeal - we raised twice as much
as we hoped. I Liz was staggered at the amount they owed
for the electric bill. I staggered to find/see/learn etc Emily
was staggered to find that she did not legally own the house
she had bought. I staggered that I was staggered that the
company simply refused to pay me.
flabbergasted /'flebargo:stld II-gas-I an informal
word meaning so surprised at something that has hap-
pened, especially something bad, that you do not know
what to say or do [adj]
The delivery men just left the furniture in my front yard. I
was flabbergasted. I flabbergasted at Doctors said they
were "flabbergasted" at the decision to close the children's
hospital.
3 so surprised that you are unable to speak
speechless dumbfounded
be lost for words/ gobsmacked
be at a loss for words gasp
speechless / I spi:tflas! so surprised and shocked that you
are unable to speak [adj not before noun]
When they told me how much the repairs would cost me I was
totally speechless. [ Mark watched, speechless, as his son
drove the car straight into a brick wall. [ speechless with
anger/grief/shock etc Benson made a coarse remark and
walked away, leaving the boss speechless with anger.
be lost for words/be at a loss for words/bi: ,lost
fo r 'wa:rdz, bi: at a lo:s fo r wa:rdz II -la:st-, -la:s-/to feel
so surprised and full of emotion that you are unable to
speak Iv phrase]
When I heard about Tom's death I was lost for words. I Jerry
was at a loss for words. He had never been given such an
expensive gift before.
dumbfounded/dAm' faondd/so surprised by something
unexpected that has happened that you are confused and
unable to speak [adj]
Suddenly all the air hostesses started screaming while the
passengers watched, dumbfounded. I The police officer
refused to help the woman, leaving her dumbfounded and
at a loss to know what to do.
gobsmacked/Igobsmakt 11 go:b-I an informal British
word meaning so surprised that you cannot speak [adj not
before noun]
I was absolutely gobsmacked when they told me she was
going to have triplets.
gasp /go:sp II gaesp/ to make a sudden short sound by
breathing in quickly as a reaction to something surpris-
ing that has happened, especially something very shock-
ing or very impressive Iv I]
Mrs Atkins gasped in disbelief." "'He's not dead, is he?"[ The
audience gasped as the curtains opened. The stage was
painted gold from floor to ceiling.
gasp In C] The crowd's gasps could be heard every time the
acrobat took a step on the wire.
4 to make someone surprised
surprise astound
amaze astonish
surprise Isa r praz/[v T not usually in progressive]
surprise sb Donna has surprised everyone by taking up
parachuting. I Dad never thought he'd be able to learn to
swim but he's quite surprised himself. I Everyone hid in the
cupboard to surprise Uncle Len when he walked in. I what
surprises sb is What surprised me was the number of chil-
dren begging on the streets. I it surprises sb that I must
say, it doesn't really surprise me that the company went
bankrupt.
amaze/a meiz/to make someone surprised, especially by
doing something impressive Iv T not usually in progressive ]
amaze sb Dave amazed his friends by leaving a well-paid
job to travel around the world. I it amazes sb It has always
amazed me how quickly the television cameras can get to the
scene of a disaster. I It will amaze you when you see inside
the new church. The walls are made of stained glass.
astound/astaond/if someone's behaviour or something
that has happened astounds you, you are very surprised
by it because it is completely unexpected and often very
bad Iv T not usually in progressive]
If I told you the size of the budget deficit it would astound
you. I what astounds sb is What really astounds me is the

SURPRISED 1350 SURPRISED
number of people who never lock their cars. I The workmen's
rudeness astounded me. I'd never heard anyone swear like
that before.
astonish/'ston,f [[ a'sto:-/ if someone's behaviour or
something that has happened astonishes you, you are very
surprised because you never thought you would see it
happen [v T not usually in progressive]
astonish sb My Father's reaction astonished me. How could
he be so calmW[ Tammy astonished her teachers by learning
to walk again so soon after the accident. I what astonishes
sb is What astonished Miss Cobb most was the new secre-
tary's complete lack of organization.
5 words for describing somethirig that surprises
you
surprising surprise
unexpected shock
surprising/sr'prazr! [ adjl
A surprising number of English words come from Arab lan-
guages. [ Some of the conclusions in the report were quite sur-
prising. [ it is surprising (that) It's surprising that so many
people prefer margarine to butter. [ it is surprising to
seeCndWlearn ete It was very surprising to find that most
of the museum's exhibits-were fakes. [ it is surprising
how/what ere It's surprising how expensive any sort of
repairs are these days.
surprisingly [adv] Deaths from asthma are surprisingly
common. [ Surprisingly the roof is still in good condition
since the storms.
unexpected / I^mklspektd-/surprising because you do
not expect it to happen or to be true [adj]
The new drug comes from an unexpected source -potatoes. [
There has been an unexpected and worrying increase in the
number of burglaries in our area. [ His sister's angry out-
burst was so unexpected that Mike really didn't know what
to say.
unexpectedly [adv ] Tom ran across the field, unexpectedly
fast considering the size of the man.
surprise /srlpraz/ surprise party/attaek/appear-
a_nee/win etc (=happening unexpectedly so that people are
surprised by it) [adj only before noun i
Josh's friends gave him a surprise party to celebrate his 21st
birthday. [ There have been some surprise developments in
the war in the Middle East. [ A surprise win against the
champion, Steffi Graf, has put Durie in the next round at
Wimbledon.
shock/fok [[ a.-k/shock defeat/result/announcement
ete (=unpleasantly surprising because the result is differ-
ent from what you expected) [adj only before noun]
Liverpool suffered a shock defeat at Halifax last night,
beaten by five goals to nil. [ The chairman made a shock
announcement last night, telling staff that 500 employees
would lose their jobs.
 so surprising that it is hard to believe
amazing
astonishing
astounding
startling
amazing/a'mezlrj/[adj]
staggering
unbelievable/
incredible
mind-boggling
He's an amazing player to watch - he's so fast. [ The play
itself wasn't that good, but the costumes were absolutely
amazing. I it is amazing that It's amazing that such a
small machine can do so much. I it is amazing to see/find/
think etc It's amazing to see these tiny children playing the
piano so beautifully: I it is amazing how/what etc It's
amazing how quickly the glue works - if you're not careful
your fingers could stick together.
amazingly [adv] Really, I've been amazingly lucky to see
so many countries and get paid for it. I 15 cars crashed into
each other but amazingly no one was hurt.
astonishing/asttnIIrj [[ asta:-/so surprising that it is
difficult to believe, especially because it is impressive [adj]
The way such a small spider creates such a large web is
astonishing. [ The submarine moved through the water at
an astonishing speed. I it is astonishing that/what/how
etc/t was astonishing that Sally could manage to do two
jobs and still have time for a social life.
astonishingly [ adv ] Many 16-year-olds are astonishingly
ignorant of the history of their own country.
astounding/a'staondn]/so surprising that it is almost
impossible to believe, especially because it is impressive
[adj]
The results of the tests are astounding. More than half of the
patients are now completely free of cancer. I Cycling around
the world was an astounding accomplishment. I In the area
around London, house prices rose by an astounding 200per
cent in three years.
astoundingly [adv] I thought Italy astoundingly beautiful
and found the Italians to be very friendly people.
startling/' sta:rthr.i/a fact or piece of information that is
startling is very surprising and unexpected, and may also
be worrying [adj]
There is startling new evidence that the hole in the ozone
layer may be much worse than was at first thought. I You
may find our methods a little startling but I think you'll see
that they work.
startlingly ] adv ] My eyes were fixed on the startlingly large
diamond ring on Lady Reece's finger.
staggering/' stagarr/a result, amount etc that is stag-
gering, is very surprising, especially because it is -unex-
pectedly large [adj]
The charities raised a staggering 8 million dollars last year. I
The number of bad programmes on TV is staggering. I The
results of the survey were staggering - over half the children
questioned said they went to school without any breakfast.
staggeringly [adv ] the staggeringly high cost of housing in
Tokyo
unbelievable/incredible/^nbi 'li:vabal, nkredbal/
extremely surprising and difficult to believe [adj]
I think the amount of profit the telephone company makes
is incredible. [ Some unbelievable things have happened since
I last saw you. [ It now only takes an unbelievable five hours
to fly from London to the States. [ it is unbelievable/in-
credible that/how etc Jim O'Keefe was such a disobedient
child it's unbelievable that he's become a priest. [ It's incredi-
ble how little mail we get since the fax machine arrived.
unbelievably/incredibly [adv] Some of the sales staff
there are unbelievably impolite.
mind.boggling /Imaind boghrj [[-bo:-/ an informal
word: something that is mind-boggling is so big, strange,
or complicated that it is almost impossible to imagine or
believe [adj]
The amount of money that some countries spend on weapons
is mind-boggling. [ It's mind-boggling to think that in this
day and age some adults still can't read or write.
7 to happen in a way that surprises you
be a surprise take sb by surprise
come as a surprise be an eye-opener
be a surprise/bi: o sorpraIz/[v phrase]
"'Bob and Linda are getting divorced. '" "'That's a surprise
- they seemed like theperfect couple. "[ be a surprise to sb
The announcement of the boss's resignation was a complete
surprise to everyone in the office.
come as a surprise / kArn az a s r praz/to be surpris-
ing because it is very unexpected [v phrase not in
progressive]
This may come as a surprise but I'm going to have a baby. [
it comes as a surprise to seeCearnCind ete It comes as
a surprise to learn that more people are murdered in New
York than in the whole of the UK. [ come as a surprise to
sb Considering their unusual musical style the band's suc-
cess has come as something of a surprise to everyone. [ come
as a complete surprise (=a big surprise) Seeing Michael
again after all these years came as a complete surprise.
take sb by surprise/teik (sb) bai sarlpraz/if some-
thing takes you by surprise, it happens suddenly and
unexpectedly, so that you are not prepared for it [vphrase]

SURPRISED 1351 SURVIVE
His heart attack was so sudden that I think even the doctors
were taken by surprise. I Donald's proposal of marriage took
her completely by surprise. She had never regarded him as
more than a friend.
be an eye.opener/bi: an l ai oopanor/if something is
an eye-opener, you learn something surprising from it
that you did not know before Iv phrase]
It was a real eye-opener when we saw where Johnny lives.
It's an absolute slum. [ That programme about the CIA was
a real eye-opener. I'd never realized before just how power-
ful they are.
8 something that happens which surprises you
surprise
shock
upset
surprise /sor'praz/ something, especially something
pleasant, that surprises you In C]
What a surprise! I thought you'd forgotten it was my birth-
day! ] The office staff bought the cake for Judy as a surprise
for winnng the contract. ] It was a real surprise when Tony
walked in. We thought he was in the States. I a complete
surprise Anita didn't expect to get the job, it was a complete
surprise.
shock/Sok [[ Sa:k/something completely unexpected that
surprises you so much you are not sure how to react In C]
It was a real shock when Carla came back from her vaca-
tion and told us she had married a local waiter. ] The big-
gest shock of the day was the gold medal for Holland in the
athletics competition.
upset/' Apset/an unexpected problem or difficulty that is
likely to spoil someone's plans In C]
The First Lady's sudden illness has caused a serious upset
at the White House and all official engagements have been
cancelled. [ Despite this latest upset, Vice Admiral Nagumo
decided to go ahead with the attack.
hardly surprising / ha:rdli sr'praIzIrj/you say that a
bad situation is hardly surprising when you are not
surprised by it, because there are clear reasons for it
[ adj phrase ]
it is hardly surprising (that) It's hardly surprising that
people with a criminal record can't get a job. [ It was hardly
surprising you failed the exam. You didn't do any work. [
hardly surprising "'Nobody came to my party! .... Hardly
surprising, really. You didn't send out any invitations.'"
surprising SURPRISED 5
surprising: hardly surprising SURPRISED 9
surprising: not surprising SURPRISED 9
surreal STRANGE 4
surrender GIVE 7, LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR
WAR 2
surreptitiously SECRET 6
surround AROUND/ROUND 2, 3
surrounding NEAR 2
surrounding area AREA 3
surroundings AREA 3
surveillance WATCH 4
survey ASK A QUESTION 8
survival REMAIN/BE LEFT 4
survival of the fittest COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 3
survive LIVING/ALIVE 3, REMAIN/BE LEFT 1, SURVIVE
1, 3, 4, 5
9 not surprising
not surprising I'm not surprised
be no surprise/ no wonder
come as no surprise hardly surprising
not surprising/,not sr'prazO/[adj]
it is not surprising (that) Considering you've been work-
ing all night it's not surprising that you're so tired. [ It's not
surprising our clients are dissatisfied. This is the second time
you've let them down this week. [ not surprising The songs
are quite similar, which is not surprising because they were
both written by the same songwriter.
be no surprise/come as no surprise/bi: nu s r
praiz, ,kAm oz-/to happen in a way that does not surprise
you because you were expecting it to happen Iv phrase]
Both dade's parents are doctors so it was no surprise when
she went to medical school. [ it is/comes as no surprise
that It came as no surprise that Hill and Perkins went
bankrupt. They were both terrible businessmen. [ be/come
as no surprise to sb Everyone knew Angela wanted to leave
so it came as no surprise to anyone when she resigned.
I'm not surprised/aim ,not so r ipralzd/you say I'm not
surprised when something bad happens and you are not
surprised because you can clearly see the reasons for it
"'I'm starving" "'I'm not surprised, you haven't eaten all
day. "1 I'm not surprised (that) I'm not surprised that you
didn't get the job if you went to the interview totally
unprepared.
no wonder/nou 'wAndor/you say no wonder something
happens when you are not surprised by it because there
are clear reasons why it happens
No wonder nurses are leaving the profession - their pay is
terrible! I Tessa is very beautiful. No wonder dake wants to
go out with her. I it's no wonder (that) It's no wonder that
you're sick. You never eat. I no wonder You failed because
you didn't revise. No wonder!
@ SURVIVE
to continue to live or exist in spite of
accidents, illnesses, or serious difficulties
I to not die in an accident or war or from an
illness
 someone who has survived an accident, war,
illness etc
8 ways of saying that something continues to
exist in spite of great difficulties and dangers
4 to continue to live your normal life in spite of
many problems or difficulties
8 to continue to live a normal life even though
you have only just enough money to do this
1 to not die in an accident or war or from an
illness
survive live
stay alive make it
pull through last
escape
survive/SO r 'vaIv/ [V I/T not in passive]
The plane crashed and caught fire, and only 12 of the 140pas-
sengers survived. [ The child won't survive for long out in
the open. We must find him! [ survive sth Not many of the
insects survive the winter. ] My Grandmother's very old and
she wouldn't be able to survive an operation.
survival In U] If there is a nuclear attack our chances of
survival are not good.

SURVIVE
stay alive/,ste 'lavl to continue to live and not die
when you are in a very dangerous situation, for example
in a war or when you have very little food Iv phrase]
They managed to stay alive by eating roots and berries.
When you're fighting in a battle the most important thing
is simply staying alive.
pull through/ pol 0ru:/to survive and get better after
having a very serious illness [phr v I]
I was so badly ill that the doctors weren't sure ifI was going
to pull through.
escape / I I skclp/to survive after being involved in a very
serious accident, especially because of good luck Iv I/T]
The driver was killed but his passenger escaped with only
a few scratches, i The bomb nearly wrecked the hotel, and
it was a miracle that the Prime Minister escaped. ] escape
injury/death etc She escaped death only because she
landed in a snowdrift. [ narrowly escape (=only just
escape) You idiot! Do you realize you narrowly escaped elec-
trocuting yourselJ?.
escape In C] The fireman said they'd had a very lucky
escape.
live/lv/if you say that someone will live, you mean that
they will survive, even though they have a very serious ill-
ness, injury etc Iv I not in progressive]
Don't worry, Mrs Hill, your son will live. I One of the victims
has severe burns and is not expected to live. i live to tell the
tale (-survive a very dangerous experience, so that you are
able to tell people about it afterwards) There were ten of us
in the lifeboat, but only three lived to tell the tale.
make it/' rnetk t] an informal expression meaning to sur-
vive when you are in a very dangerous situation or when
you have a very serious illness [vphrase not in progressive ]
At one point I was so exhausted and weak that I didn't think
I was going to make it. I Cancer isn't going to beat me. I'll
make it, you'll see!
last/lo:st I] lmst/if someone lasts a period of time, they
continue to live during that period, even though they have
a very serious illness or injury
His breathing was getting worse and he was not expected to
last the night. I It's amazing how she's managed to last this
long really.
2 someone who has survived an accident, war,
illness etc
survivor
survivor/sa r'valvar/ [n C]
So far rescue workers have found no sign of any survivors. I
The survivors of the accident were taken to the nearest hospi-
tal for emergency treatment. I sole survivor (=the only sur-
vivor) There were 40 other people on the plane and she was
the sole survivor.
3 ways of saying that something continues to
exist in spite of great difficulties and dangers
survive
come through
stay afloat
survive Isor'va:v/Iv I/TI
The government seems hopelessly divided and is unlikely to
survive much longer. I Only a few of Leonardo's earlier paint-
ings still survive. I survive sth Our friendship has survived
the bad times and has grown stronger. I The Cathedral
survived repeated bombings during the Second World War.
survival In U] The survival of the president's plans to cut
taxes remains in doubt.
surviving [adj only before noun] The museum possesses the
only surviving manuscript of Cicero's letters.
come through 1, kAm '0ru:/to survive a period of great
difficulty Iv I/T]
come through sth If we can come through this crisis the
company's future looks bright. [ come through The German
team were in deep trouble at the beginning of the match but
in the end they came through.
1352
SURVIVE
stay afloat I,stei a'flaut/ifa company stays afloat, it
continues to survive in spite of difficult financial problems
that may force it to dose Iv phrasel
Ever since we started the business two years ago, we've been
struggling to stay afloat.
4 to continue to live your normal life in spite of
many problems or difficulties
survive come through
survivor get through
survive Isar'vav/ [v I/T]
survive sth Liz Taylor has survived several broken mar-
riages, as well as periods of drug and alcohol addiction. [
I don't think I could survive another year as a teacher. It's
just too stressful. I survive Don't worry about Melanie. She's
tough. She'll survive.
suivor/sa r 'vatvar/someone who is used to dealing with
great personal problems and difficulties and is able to sur-
vive them In C]
He's had to face much worse problems than this - the man's
a great survivor. [ a born survivor (=someone who seems
to have a natural ability to survive difficulties) Although
she had an extremely hard life Edith Piaf was a born
survivor.
come through I kAm '0ru:! to successfully deal with a
very difficult problem or experience and be able to con-
tinue with your normal life after it Iv I/T]
She's had this kind of crisis before and she's always come
through. ] come through sth Now that I've come through
it all, it seems like a great weight has been lifted off my
shoulders.
get through/,get '0ru:/to succeed in reaching the end
of a very difficult period or experience Iv T]
The divorce was not an easy time for Tracy but her friends
helped her get through it. I "'Oh Jane, how will I ever get
through this?" she said, and the tears started flowing again.
5 to continue to live a normal life even though
you have only just enough money to do this
survive subsist on
get by eke out a living/
make ends meet an existence
keep your head live on
above water
survive/S r'vaIv/ [v I]
survive on Ј75 a week/a small income etc It's really
difficult to survive on Ј75 a week in London. I I don't know
how they expect me to survive on my salary. I survive When
I look at how much we spend on food I wonder how poor
people are able to survive.
get by/,get ba/to have enough money to buy the things
you need to live [phr v I]
We don't have a lot of money to spend on luxuries, but we
get by. I get by on $5 a day/a small income etc When I
was a student I used to be able to get by on $5 a day.
make ends meet/meek ,endz 'mi:q if it is difficult for
you to make ends meet, it is difficult for you to pay for
the things that you need in order to live Iv phrase]
Old people on pensions are finding it hard to make ends
meet.I My mother had to work 12 hours a day in a factory
just to make ends meet.
keep your head above water Iki:p ja: r ,hed b^v
wa:tar/to have just enough money to pay your debts or to
avoid closing your business Iv phrase]
Our company has been badly hit by the present economic
crisis and we "re barely managing to keep our heads above
water.
subsist on/sab'sst on [[ -o:n/if someone subsists on a
very small amount of money that they earn or a very small
amount of food that they grow, this is all they have to live
on Iv T]
subsist on a dollar a day/a small income etc The
workers are expected to subsist on a dollar a day. I Women

SURVIVE 1353 suspicious
who stay at home to look after elderly parents are often
forced to subsist on extremely low incomes.
subsistence [adjl The only pe@le who lived on the island
at that time were a few subsistence farmers (=who grow just
enough food to live on).
eke out a living/an existence/,i:k not  I]IVIl:l, an
ig'zstans/to get just enough food or money to live on by
doing a particular kind of work Iv phrase]
She eked out a living by sellingfirewood. [ Farmers eked out
a primitive existence on the dry, stony land.
live on/'lIv on [[ -o:n/if someone lives on a particular
amount of money, this is all the money that they have to
buy everything that they need Iv T]
How much do you need to live on? I $25,000 a year sounds like
a lot of money, but it's scarcely enough to live on in New York.
...
..::: survivor SURVIVE 2, 4
iii suspect SUSPECT 1, 2, 3, THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 1
, suspect: I suspect EXPECT 2
@ SUSPECT
to think that someone is probably guilty of
something illegal or dishonest
words for describing something that makes
you suspect someone
words for describing someone who is
suspected of doing something wrong"
1 to think that someone is probably guilty of
something illegal or dishonest
suspect have a sneaking suspicion
suspicious smell a rat
suspicion have your suspicions
suspect/s  spekt/[v T not in progressive]
suspect sb of sth The police suspect the boys of being
involved in a robbery. I No one would suspect the husband
of murder. I suspect sb Act naturally and no one will sus-
pect you. I suspect murder/foul play (=suspect that there
has been a crime) A man has been found dead in his home
and the police suspect foul play.
suspected [adj only before noun] The police or social
services will investigate any suspected case of child abuse.
suspicious/s'spffs/thinking that someone might be
guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest, without
being sure [adj]
I started to get suspicious when I found a hotel bill in Sarah's
pocket. I suspicious of sb The police were suspicious of
Simpson because his story did not quite make sense.
suspicion/sa' spS9n/a feeling that someone is probably
guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest In C/U]
Mamphela took a long time to lose her suspicion of white
people. I I had no solid evidence, only vague suspicions. I
arouse/cause suspicion (=make people suspect you) The
money was taken out of the bank in small amounts so as not
to arouse suspicion. I view/regard sb with suspicion
Anyone seen walking in the area late at night is regarded
with suspicion. I on suspicion of murder/theft etc
(=because the police suspect you are guilty of murder etc)
He's been arrested on suspicion of murder. I confirm sb's
suspicions (=show someone that they were right to
suspect something) Kyoko confirmed her suspicions. Her
mother's debts were closer to $300,000.
have a sneaking suspicion/hazy  ,sni:ktrj slsptfan/
to have a slight feeling that someone has done something
wrong without having any definite information Iv phrase
not in progressive]
I had a sneaking suspicion that my agent was not telling me
the truth.
sm®ii a rat ! Ismel a rmt/an informal expression mean-
ing to guess that someone is doing something bad or dis-
honest, even though you do not know exactly what it is Iv
phrase not in progressive]
We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra Ј500
deposit.
have your suspicions / ,hmv ja: r s  spanz! to suspect
that someone has done something wrong, even though you
do not tell anyone else what you suspect Iv phrase not in
progressive ]
Nobody says that John has any criminal connections, but I
have my suspicions. [ Brenda still had her suspicions about
Zack.
2 words for describing something that makes
you suspect someone
suspicious
suspect
fishy
suspicious/s'spffs/[adj]
We noticed the man's suspicious behaviour and called the
police immediately. I A full murder inquiry was launched
after the company chairman died in suspicious circum-
stances. I There was a suspicious silence as I opened the door. I
The public have been asked to report anything suspicious at
once.
suspiciously [ adv ] A man was seen acting suspiciously just
before the break-in. ] He had taken out a suspiciously large
life insurance on his wife.
suspect /sAspekt! suspect package/vessel/device
(=one that makes you suspect that something illegal, bad,
or dangerous is being planned) [adj only before noun]
A suspectpackage was discovered in the palace gardens and
the police were called to investigate. I The suspect vessel was
stopped by coastguards near Miami.
fishy / ' fU'i/an informal word: something that is fishy or
sounds fishy makes you suspect that something bad or dis-
honest is being done [adj not before noun]
Frank said there was nothing to worry about but it all
sounded very fishy to me. I There's somethingfishy about this
business, if you ask me.
;3 words for describing someone who is
suspected of doing something wrong
suspect
suspected
be under suspicion
suspect I' sAspekt/someone who the police believe may
have done something illegal In C]
The police now have another name to add to their list of sus-
pects. I prime/chief suspect (=the person that the police
suspect more than anyone else) A 32-year-old man from
London is the prime suspect in the murder investigation. I
murder/rape etc suspect (=a person suspected of a par-
ticular crime) The murder suspect is in custody and will be
charged soon.
suspected/saspektod/suspected terrorist/dissident/
spy etc (=someone the police or government believe is one)
[adj only before noun]
All opponents or suspected opponents of the military govern-
ment are being detained.
be under suspicion/hi: ^nda r saspISan/if someone is
under suspicion, people believe they may have done
something illegal or dishonest Iv phrase]
Crates of whisky have been disappearing from the warehouse
and a member of staff is under suspicion.
 suspected SUSPECT 3
suspend FORBID 7, LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION 2,
STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 2
 ..... suspense: keep sb in suspense WAIT 6
• , suspicion SUSPECT 1, TRUST 6
 suspicion: above suspicion HONEST 1
 suspicion: be under suspicion SUSPECT 3
iii suspicion: regard/look upon/view sb with suspicion
;iiii TRUST 5
i;!!i I suspicions: have your suspicions SUSPECT 1
;;.; suspicious DISHONEST 4, SUSPECT 1, 2

suspicious 1354 SWEAT
!i suspicious: be suspicious of TRUST 5
:! suss out FIND OUT 1
::-- sustain an injury INJURE 4
, swagger WALK 9
 swallow BELIEVE 2, EAT 1
-: swallow your pride SORRY/APOLOGIZE 1
 swamp WET 7
-, swamped: be swamped with GET 14
,
swan around TRAVEL 7
swap EXCHANGE 1
swap: do a swap EXCHANGE 1
' swap: switch/swap REPLACE 7
swarm CROWD 1,.4, GO 2
swarming: be swarming with CRO.WD 6, FULL 8
sway EFFECT/INFLUENCE 4, SIDE 4
?
sway: hold sway CONTROL 4
swear PROMISE 4, SAY/STATE 4, SURE 1, SWEAR 1
swear sb to secrecy TELL A SECRET 7
 swear word SWEAR 2
SWEAR
to use offensive language, especially because
you are very angry
the words that people use when they swear
words for describing someone who swears a
lot
1 to use offensive language, especially because
you are very angry
swear
curse
cuss
swear/sweor/Iv I]
He swore angrily when he realized he'd missed the train. I
Don't swear like that in front of the children/I swear at Then
Ronnie started swearing at the waiter. It was really
embarrassing.
swearing In U] I don't like all this swearing you get on TV
these days.
curse/ka=rs/to swear very angrily Iv I/T]
She hit her head on the door and cursed furiously. I curse
sb/sth When he was drunk he would curse everyone around
him. I I cursed myself for not having put some gas in the car
earlier.
cursing In U] It wasn't the cursing in the film that bothered
me as much as the violence.
cuss IkAsl an informal American word meaning to swear
[v I/T]
The men stopped cussing when Mrs Silver walked in. I cuss
sb/sth It's easy to cuss the government, but what are you
doing to change it?
2 the words that people use when they swear
bad language curse
strong language obscenities
swear word unprintable
four-letter word
bad language I,bmd 'lmrjgwidsI language that most
people think is offensive In U]
My mum always told us off if we used bad language. I When
the book first came out he was criticized for using too much
bad language. 
strong language/,stro 'leeogwId3 II ,stra:-/a polite
expression meaning language that most people think is
offensive, especially language used when someone is angry
[nU]
The following programme contains strong language, and
some viewers may find it offensive.
swear werd/'sweo r w3:rd] a word that people use when
they swear In C]
Children learning a foreign language always want to know
the swear words first. I We had to take the swear words out
of the play.
four.letter word/,fo: r leto r 'w3zrd/a word that most
people think is extremely offensive, especially one that is
connected with sex or the sexual organs In C]
The song was banned because it had a lot of four-letter words
in it. I Vinnie howled in pain and came out with a stream
of four-letter words.
curse/k3:rs/an offensive word or expression used when
you are very angry about something In C]
I heard the sound of breaking glass, followed by a loud
curse. I He threw the empty bottle across the room with a
curse.
obscenities/ob'senoltiz! words or expressions, especially
about sex, that most people think are extremely offensive
In plural]
Someone had written obscenities all over the classroom wall. I
Roger burst into the apartment, drunk and shouting
obscenities.
unprintable/An'prxntbal/remarks, words etc that are
unprintable are too offensive to appear in a newspaper,
magazine, or book [adj]
Most of what she said in the interview was unprintable. [
When questioned about his broken marriage, he uttered
several unprintable remarks and left the room.
 words for describing someone who swears a
lot
foul-mouthed
foul-mouthed I faul ' mauOt- / [adj ]
She's so foul-mouthed. It's embarrassing to go out with her
in public.t l Jake was the meanest, most foul-mouthed son-
of-a-bitch you ever met.
: sweat SWEAT 1 2
!&}... ,
sweat: be pouring/dripping/running with sweat
. SWEAT 1
 sweat: break out in a sweat/break into a sweat
 SWEAT 1
 sweat it out STAND/BEAR 1
:-- sweat like a pig/sweat buckets SWEAT 1
SWEAT
to become wet on parts of your body
because you are hot, nervous, ill etc
the liquid that appears on your skin when you
sweat
covered in sweat
1 to become wet on parts of your body
because you are hot, nervous, ill etc
sweat
perspire
break out in a sweat/
break into a sweat
sweat/swet/[v I]
be pouring/dripping/
running with sweat
sweat like a pig/
sweat buckets
You're sweating. Why don't you take your jacket offi?, l The
heat from the lights was making me sweat and my make-up
was starting to run. I I think Suzannah "s ill. She has a fever
and she's sweating a lot. I sweat profusely (=sweat a lot)
Sweating profusely, his heart pounding, Emerson opened the
door.
perspire/par t spaIor/a formal or polite word meaning to
sweat, especially because you are hot, embarrassed, or
have been doing hard work Iv I]
She felt hot and awkward and started to perspire. I perspire
freely/profusely (=perspire a lot) James, who wasperspir-
ing profusely, took out a silk handkerchief and mopped his
brow.

SWEAT 1355 switch/swap
break out in a sweat/break Into a sweat I,brelk
aot in  swet, brexk xnt -/to start sweating, especially
because you are nervous or afraid Iv phrase]
I was terrified. My hands were shaking and I broke out in
a sweat. I "It's got nothing to do with me" she said, break-
ing into a sweat.
be pouring/dripping/running with sweat /bi:
p3:rItj, idrIpIrj, rAnnj wi 'swet/ to be sweating a lot Iv
phrase]
What on earth have you been doing? You "re dripping with
sweat. ] Melissa was pouring with sweat, and her hair was
glued to her face. I The child clearly had a temperature; he
was crying and running with sweat.
sweat like a pig/sweat buckets/,swet laik  'pg,
,swet 'b^kts/informal expressions meaning to sweat a lot,
especially because you are hot or have been doing hard
work Iv phrase]
My God, it's hot in here - I'm sweating like a pig/I It was
tough work. Within minutes we were all sweating buckets.
2 the liquid that appears on your skin when you
sweat
sweat
perspiration
sweat/swet/[n U]
He stopped working for a moment to wipe the sweat off his
face. I You'd better get those clothes off quick. They're soaked
in sweat. I beads of sweat (=little drops of sweat) Beads of
sweat appeared on her forehead and she trembled visibly.
perspiration /,p3:rsp)'rei.an] a formal or polite word
meaning sweat In U]
His face was covered in perspiration. I This new deodorant
is highly effective against perspiration and keeps on work-
ing right through the day. I beads of perspiration (=little
drops of perspiration) Beads of perspiration trickled down
my back.
3 covered in sweat
sweaty
sweaty/'sweti/[adj]
I'm all hot and sweaty. I think I'll take a shower. I Raines
was a short fat guy with big sweaty hands. I Stripping off
his sweaty clothes he went into the bedroom to change.
 sweaty SWEAT 3
"i;
i sweep CLEAN 7
i sweep sth under the carpet
:ii! sweep the board WIN 4
 sweep to victory WIN 4
 sweep up CLEAN 8
:!i sweeping BIGIO
:.iil sweet NICE 2, SWEET 1
 sweet-talk PERSUADE 2
-i sweet-smelling SMELL 4
HIDE/NOT SHOW 2
sweet
SWEET
SWEET
1 having a sweet taste
2 to make something sweet
3 not sweet
1 having a sweet taste
sweet
sugary
sickly/sickly sweet
sweet/swi:t/having a pleasant taste like sugar [adj]
The plums were ripe and sweet. I I really fancied something
sweet, so I looked in the cupboard and found some cookies. I
No I don "t like Marsala wine. It's too sweet for me. I A good
mousse should be foamy, creamy, and taste very sweet.
sweetness In U] This wine complements the sweeetness of
the fruits beautifully.
sugary I U'ogori/food or drink that is sugary tastes sweet,
sometimes too sweet, because it contains a lot of sugar [adj]
Between meals it is best to avoid sugary snacks. I The
lemonade was horribly sugary. ] The crust of the apple pie
was crisp and sugary.
sicklylsickly sweet/skli, isikli 'swi:t/ tasting or
smelling so sweet that it is not pleasant [adj]
The melons were overripe and had a sickly taste. I the sickly
sweet smell of dying flowers
2 to make something sweet
sweeten
sweeten/swi:tn/[v T]
Sprinkle sugar onto the cooked fruit to sweeten it. I He prefers
to sweeten his yoghurt with honey rather than sugar.
3 not sweet
savoury
dry
savoury /'seIvari/ a word used especially in British
English: savoury foods are not sweet but have the taste of
meat, cheese, fish etc [adj]
As a child I didn't like sweets, but I loved crisps and savoury
things. I You can use thyme to flavour almost any savoury
dish.
dry/drai! wine that is dry is not sweet [adj]
White Burgundy is still considered to be the best dry white
wine. I The wine was OK but I prefer something a little drier
with a meal.
sweeten SWEET 2
sweetener PERSUADE 11
swell INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7
swell up BIG 12
sweltering HOT 5
swept off your feet: be swept off your feet LOVE 7
swerve TURN 3
swift FAST/QUICK 1, 5, 6, 9
swig DRINK 2
swimming: sb's head is swimming BALANCE 6
swimming: be swimming in WET 2
swindle CHEAT 1, 4
swindler CHEAT 5
swing MOVE STH OR SB 3, SIDE 4
swing: be in full swing HAPPEN 6
swing around/round TURN 2
swing it PERSUADE 1
swipe STEAL 2
swirl TURN 1
swish SOUND 13
switch CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1, 3
switch: throw the switch SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
switch off SWITCH ON OR OFF 2
switch off/turn off ATTENTION 4
switch on SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
switch/swap REPLACE 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

SWITCH ON OR OFF
SWITCH ON OR OFF
to switch a machine or piece of equipment on
or off
1 to switch something on
2 to switch something off
1
to switch something on
switch on
turn on
put on
start
come on
get sth started/going
set off
activate
set sth going
throw the switch
push a button
switch on / ,swIt 'on II -,a.../to make a machine, a light,
or a piece of electrical equipment start working by press-
ing something that starts the flow of electricity [phr v I/T]
switch on sth He switched on the electric heater to warm
up the room. I switch sth/it/them on Can you switch the
light on, please? I She walked to the television, switched it
on and sat down. I switch on Let's see if the engine is work-
ing properly - switch on, please, and let it run for a while.
turn on I, t3:rn 'on II - a:n/to make something start work-
ing by pressing or turning a control that starts the flow of
electricity, gas, or water [phr v T]
turn sth/it/them on Gerard turned the radio on to listen
to the news. I turn on sth turn on a tap I As night fell we
turned on the lights and the gas fire.
put on/pot on II -a:n/put on a light/kettle/radio/
TV/heater/gas fire etc (=make it start working) [phr v T]
put sth on He found the light-switch and put the light on. I
Put the kettle on, please and make us all a cup of tea. I This
room's freezing! Can you go downstairs ancl put the heating
back on? ] put on sth Shall I put on the lights?
start/sta:rt/start a ear/an engine/a motor (=make it
start working) [v T]
start sth I jumped into the car and started the engine. ] He
couldn't start his car so he had to catch a bus.
come on/km 'on JJ -'a:n/if a light comes on, it starts
to work [phr v I]
The street lights usually come on as it begins to get dark. I
Lights came on one by one in the houses in the village. ] While
I was driving along a warning light came on on the dash.
get sth started/going /Iget (sth) sta:rtd, gooirJl get
a ear/engine/machine ere started (=succeed in making
it start after having some difficulty) [v phrase]
1spent ages getting my car started this morning. I He rebuilt
the engine and finally got it going. I A man came to repair
the washing machine - it took him an hour to get it going
again.
set off /,set 'of II-'3:f/ set off an alarm/siren etc
(=cause it to start working and warn people about a fire,
a crime etc) [phr v T]
set off sth Someone accidentally set off the fire alarm. I The
escaping prisoner set off the sirens by mistake and was soon
recaptured. I set sth/it/them off The alarm is so sensitive
that the slightest movement will set it off.
aclivale/'ekQveit/a word used especially in technical
contexts meaning to cause a system to start operating [v T]
The bomb's firing mechanism is activated by a time-clock. I
The smoke activated the sprinkler system.
set sth going/,:.set (sth) 'goo0/to make a clock, a toy,
or other machine that does not have a power supply start
moving [v phrase]
The child's toy car had stopped so she picked it up and set
it going again. I Mr Carey wound up the old clock and gently
set the pendulum going. I She pulled the lever that set the
pump going and waited for the water.
throw the switch 1,0mo 6 'switS/to pull a large con-
trol which makes a machine or a group of lights start work-
ing lv phrase]
1356 symmetrical
The prisoner was strapped into the electric chair and the
warden gave the order to throw the switch.
push a button/,pof  'b^tn/to press a button which
makes a machine start or stop [v phrase]
What happens when you press this button? I If you want it
to stop, just press the red button.
2 to switch something off
switch off
turn off
stop
put out
go out
unplug
disconnect
switch off / ,SWlt 'of II make a machine, a light,
or a piece of equipment stop working by pressing some-
thing that stops it from being connected to a power supply
[phr v I/T]
switch off sth Switch off the machine before cleaning it. I
switch sth/it/them off The lights are still on in the kitchen
- someone must have forgotten to switch them off. I switch
off Let the engine run for a few minutes, then switch off and
check the oil level.
turn off / t3:rn of II -'a:f/to make a something stop work-
ing by pressing or turning a control that stops the flow of
electricity, gas, or water [phr v T]
turn off sth Alan turned off the light and went upstairs. I
I turned off the stereo at the wall. I Molly always turns off
the gas when she goes on holiday. I turn sth/it/them off
This faucet's really stiff- I can't seem to turn it off.
stop/stop II sto:p/to make an engine or a machine stop
working [v T]
George stopped the engine and got out of the car. I The Chief
Engineer had to stop the generators because they were
overheating.
put out/,pot 'aot/put out a light/lamp (=make it stop
working) [phr v T]
put out sth Norma put out the light and went to sleep. I put
sth/it/them out Could you put the lamp out in the
bedroom, please?
go out/,go 'autl if a light goes out, it stops working
because it has been switched off, or because there is no elec-
tricity [phr v I]
There was a power cut last week and every light in the city
went out. I The street lights go out at three o'clock in the
morning.
unplug/An'plAg/to remove the thing that connects a piece
of electrical equipment to the main electricity supply, so
that it is no longer connected to it [v T]
Did you remember to unplug the television?
disconnect / dlska'nekt/a formal word used especially
in warnings and instructions, meaning to separate a piece
of equipment from the main electricity or gas supply so
that it is no longer connected to it [v T]
Make sure that the hair-dryer is fully disconnected from the
mains supply before attempting to clean the inside.
 switched off OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1
 switched on: be switched on ON/SWITCHED ON 1
 swivel TURN 2
 swivel/swivel round TURN 8
N swollen BIG 13
 swot/grind STUDY 2, WORK HARD 4
 syllabus SUBJECT 7
 symbol SIGN/SYMBOL 1
--", symbolize MEANING 1
 symmetrical REGULAR 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

sympathetic
Isympathetic I
;;;;;.i!! sympathetic KIND 3
!i sympathize SYMPATHIZE 1
i!!!! sympathize: be in sympathy with/sympathize with
:i!! SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 1
SYMPATHIZE
1 to feel sorry for someone who is in an
unpleasant situation
2 to tell someone that you sympathize with
them
3 what you say or write to tell someone that you
sympathize with them
4 a feeling of sympathy
5 words for describing someone who is so
unlucky, so unhappy etc that you feel sorry
for them
6 to try to make someone feel sorry for you,
because you want them to help you, give you
money etc
1 to feel sorry for someone who is in an
 unpleasant situation
feel sorry for
have/feel sympathy
for
sympathize
feel for
pity
your heart goes out to
take pity on
feel sorry for/,fi:l 'sori f::r II -'sa:ri-/[v phrase]
Sometimes Gabby felt sorry for her. She seemed so lonely. I
I know he's behaved badly, but Ican't help feeling sorry for
him. I He'llprobably go to jail for this. lt's his wife I feel sorry
for. I feel desperately sorry for (=feel extremely sorry for)
They seemed to think Bill's failure was a joke. This annoyed
Jane, who felt desperately sorry for him.
have/feel sympathy for/,hev, ,fi:l 's;mp0i f:r/to
feel sorry for someone in an unfortunate situation and
understand how they they feel Iv phrase]
Ulrike felt some sympathy for the poor old woman. She knew
what it was like to be alone. [ I'm afraid I don't have much
sympathy for people who spend more than they can afford
and then find themselves in debt. [ have/feel a sneaking
sympathy for (=secretly feel sympathy for) In the end he
was murdered by his unhappy wife, for whom I've always
felt a sneaking sympathy.
sympathize (also .ise British) / 'sImpoOaIz/to feel sorry
for someone, and feel that you understand what it is like
to experience their problems Iv I]
sympathize with Lucy was in a terribly difficult position.
Mr Harding sympathized with her and offered to help. ]
Much as I sympathise with you in your predicament, I don't
really see what I can do. I sympathize I sympathize. My son
used to be bullied at school too.
feel for/'fi:l f:r/to sympathize very strongly and sin-
cerely with someone who has problems, is suffering etc,
and feel the same sadness, pain etc that they do Iv T]
1357
SYMPATHIZE
I really feel for her, with no job and three children tofeed.I
You couldn't help feeling for their team when they missed a
penalty in the last minute of the game.
pity/'pti/to feel very sorry for someone because you
think they are in an extremely fortunate situation [v T not
in progressive]
When we hear of refugees starving, it is not enough to pity
their misery; we must do something practical. I I pity you
having to live with that awful woman.
your heart goes out to/jo: r ha:rt gooz aot tu:/if you
say that your heart goes out to someone, you mean that
you feel extremely sorry for them, especially because some-
thing very sad has happened to them
Her heart went out to the motherless child. I I know how
awfully disappointed you must be, and my heart goes out to
you.
take pity on ] tek pti onl to feel sorry for someone and
do something to help them Iv phrase]
A starving child came to the door dressed in rags. The old
couple, poor as they were, took pity on her and gave her food. [
We walked on through the pouring rain until a kind driver
took pity on us and offered us a ride.
2 to tell someone that you sympathize with
them
offer your sympathy
commiserate
send/offer condolences
offer your sympathy /,Ьfor j3: r 'sImpoOi II ,z:f-/ a
formal expression meaning to tell someone that you feel
sympathy for them, especially in a letter, after someone
they love has died Iv phrase]
She wrote a short letter offering her sympathy. I offer your
sympathy to sb My husband joins me in offering our sin-
cere sympathy to you and to Susan at this sad time.
commiserate/ko mzoret/a formal word meaning to
express your sympathy for someone when they are
unhappy about something, especially something that is not
really very serious Iv I]
commiserate with When he failed his driving test I called
him up and commiserated with him. I commiserate about
In several of their letters Hartley and Burns, now both in
their 70s, commiserated about the problems of old age.
commiseration/ko ,mz' reiJ'dn/[n U] "'I'm afraid I didn't
have any success, "1 said, and my colleague shook his head
in commiseration.
send/offer condolences / send, , ofo r ken doolonsIz II
,:f-/to formally express your sympathy to someone that
you do not know personally, whose close relative or friend
has died Iv phrase]
We take this opportunity to send our sincere condolences to
the families of those who lost their lives in this disaster. [
After the funeral foreign ambassadors lined up to offer their
condolences to the widow of the late president.
3 what you say or write to tell someone that you
 sympathize with them
I am sorry
you have my deepest sympathy
bad luck/hard luck
I am sorry/aI am 'soft II -'so:ril (used when something
unpleasant has happened to someone and you want to
express your sympathy)
I had no idea that your father had been killed. I really am
so sorry. I be sorry to hear/see/read ere We were all very
sorry to hear about your accident.
you have my deepest sympathy /ju: hev mai
,di=pst 'simpzOi/(a formal expression used in a letter to
someone you do not know very well, whose close relative
or friend has died) .
We were so sorry to hear of your sister's death. You have our
deepest sympathy.

SYMPATHIZE 1358 SYSTEM
bad luck (also hard luck in British English)/,brad
ho:rd =lAk/(an informal expression used when talking to
someone who has failed to do something they wanted to do)
'7 didn't get the job after all. "" "Oh, bad luckWNever mind,
something will turn up. "'] Hard luckWI thought you were
going to win that game.
4 a feeling of sympathy
sympathy
pity
compassion
understanding
sympathy I' smpaOi/the feeling you have when you are
sorry for someone who. is in an unpleasant situation and
you understand how they feel in U] .
I wanted her sympathy, and that was why Ipretended to be
sick. I "Poor, poor girl!'" Tears of sympathy welled up in his
eyes. [ Don't waste your sympathy on them - they've got
plenty of money. [ message/letter of sympathy The Sena-
tor's widow has received hundreds of messages of sympathy.
pity/'p;ti/a feeling that you have when you feel very sorry
for someone, often when you are unable to help them in U]
She was full of pity for the little boy with no one to love and
care for him. [ It's a civil war. They don't want our pity, they
need our help. [ An old man was begging at the roadside.
Garth looked down at him with pity.
compassion /km'pan/ a strong feeling of pity for
someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them in U]
The government has shown little compassion for the less for-
tunate members of society. I Of course we must insist on
punishment, but the criminal must be treated with
compassion.
understanding/, Andar standtrj/a sympathetic attitude
to someone, that shows that you understand their problems
in U]
Guido's mother showed sympathy and understanding when
he lost his job. I There seems to be a lack of understanding
on the part of managers when it comes to employees'personal
problems.
5 words for describing someone who is so
unlucky, so unhappy etc that you feel sorry
for them
poor pathetic
pitiful wretched
poor Ipoarl [adj only before noun]
Poor old George/He always seems to be in some kind of trou-
ble. I We could not bear to see the poor creature in such dis-
tress. I poor thing You poor thing/You have had a bad time,
haven't you?
pitiful/'pitlfall a pitiful person looks or sounds very sad
and unfortunate and you feel very sorry for them [adj]
John looked pitiful, his whole body weak with exhaustion. I
The horses were in a pitiful condition, thin and covered with
sores. I the pitiful cries of an injured puppy
pitifully [advl The woman sobbed pitifully, begging to be
left alone.
pathetic/pa' Oet;k/someone who is pathetic is so unfor-
tunate that you feel sorry for them even though you may
also think they are weak and do not do enough to help them-
selves [adj]
We found a small dog sitting outside the back door, looking
pathetic. I Her voice trembled. It sounded pathetic. ] Most
murderers are pathetic creatures who regret their crime
immediately.
pathetically [adv] "'No one ever listens to me, "" she said
pathetically. I Theirclothes were pathetically inadequate for
the climate.  "
wretched/ retied! a word used especially in literature:
someone who is wretched is very unhappy or unfortunate,
so that you feel very sorry for them [adj]
With a violent drunkard for a husband, he thought, that
wretched woman must lead a life of terror. I All these alle-
gations are a tissue of lies, and that poor wretched boy is
innocent.
6 to try to make someone feel sorry for you,
because you want them to help you, give you
money etc
play on sb's sympathy
hard-luck stow
play on sb's sympathy/,ple n (sb's) 'smpoOi/to
unfairly try to make someone feel sorry for you, in order
to gain an advantage for yourself iv phrase]
When William puts on that whining voice he isn't really hurt,
he's just playing on your sympathy. I She had lain in her bed
for years, feigning illness and playing on the sympathy of
her daughters.
hard-luck story / ho:rd 'lhk ,sty:r//a story or explana-
tion, especially one that is untrue, told by someone in order
to make other people feel sorry for them in C]
A beggar approached me with a hard-luck story about an
accident, but I wasn't in a sympathetic mood.
sympathizer SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 6
sympathy SYMPATHIZE 4
sympathy: be in sympathy with/sympathize with
SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 1
sympathy: have/feel sympathy for SYMPATHIZE 1
sympathy: offer your sympathy SYMPATHIZE 2
sympathy: play on sb's sympathy SYMPATHIZE 6
sympathy: you have my deepest sympathy
SYMPATHIZE 3
symptom SIGN/INDICATION 1
symptom: be a symptom of SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 5
symptomatic: be symptomatic of SHOW/BE A SIGN
OF 5
synchronize TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 4
synchronized TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 5
syndicate CRIME 6
synonymous: be synonymous with SAME 2
synopsis SUMMARIZE 2
synthetic ARTIFICIAL 1
system SYSTEM 1, WAY/METHOD 1
system: legal system LAW 2
@ SYSTEM
the way that something such as a company,
country, or government is organized
1 the way that something such as a company,
country, or government is organized
system apparatus
structure mechanism
network set-up
framework
system/'sstIml in C]
The British education system used to be admired all around
the world. I Lille has a cheap and reliable public transpor-
tation system. I Minority interests are not represented in the
existing political system. I Not all countries have a
democratic system of government.
structure / t strAktor/a system, especially a complicated
one with a lot of different levels in C]
Many foreigners find the British class structure difficult to
understand. I She studied the organizational structure of the
company to see whether it could be made more efficient. I The
structure of the US banking system is changing.
network /netwa:rk/ a system that is made of several
separate parts, all closely related in C]
The late-night public transport network is efficient and safe. [
Blood is transported around the body via a network of veins
and arteries. I a support network to help the victims of rape
framework /  fremw3:rk/a basic system of rules or ideas
which guides people in their work or thinking in C]

SYSTEM
1359
How do you feel you can develop your skills within the frame-
work of the team? I The government has been criticized for
not providing a stable economic framework enabling
businessmen to plan and invest. I framework for The aim
of this legislation is to provide a framework for employers
and trade unions to operate in.
apparatus/,mp'reits II -'rm-/all the parts that make
up a system, especially when this system is large and com-
plicated In C]
We are examining the whole apparatus of the health system
to see how it can be made more efficient. I It is time that the
hostile and uncaring apparatus of apartheid was destroyed. I
The Americans condemned the aggressive operations of the
Soviet espionage apparatus.
mechanism /'meknzm/ a special system of rules
which makes it possible for certain things to happen or for
people to take particular action In C]
The peace plan includes a mechanism to share power
between all four parties. I Many schools already have a
mechanism which allows parents to inspect classroom
materials.
set-up/Iset Ap/ an informal word meaning the way in
which a company or institution is organized In C usually
singular]
They have a very strange set-up in this company - everybody
gets exactly the same pay.
systematic CAREFUL 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
take sb back
T
ta/cheers THANK 2
tab PAY FOR 15
tab: pick up the tab PAY FOR 9
taboo FORBID 10
taciturn TALK TO SB 16
tack: be on the wrong track/wrong tack
WRONG/INCORRECT 4
tack on ADD 5
tackle DEAL WITH 1
tacky STICK 3, TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 6
tact POLITE 4
tactful POLITE 2
tactic WAY/METHOD 5
tactics WAY/METHOD 1
tactics: bad tactics MISTAKE 3
tactics: use strongarm tactics/methods
TO DO STH 1
tactless CARELESS 4
tag CALL/DESCRIBE AS 3
tag along FOLLOW 1
tail FOLLOW 3
tail: be/sit on sb's tail FOLLOW 4
tail: can't make head or tail of sth
tailgate FOLLOW 4
tailor-made PERFECT 3
tainted: be tainted SPOIL 5
take
FORCE SB
UNDERSTAND 12
ACCEPT 1, CONTAIN/HOLD 2, CONTROL 15,
COUNT/CALCULATE 5, DRUG :3, EXAM/TEST 2,
EXAMPLE :3, GO 4, LAST FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME 1, NEED 7, STAND/BEAR 1, STEAL 1,
STUDY 1, TAKE STH FROM SB 1, TAKE STH
FROM SOMEWHERE 1, TAKE/BRING 1, 2, 5,
WRITE 6
take: can/will take STAND/BEAR 5
take: can't take STAND/BEAR 3
take: have what it takes GOOD ENOUGH 2
take/accept ACCEPT 8
take account of/take sth into account REMEMBER 9
take after LIKE/SIMILAR 6
take away COUNT/CALCULATE 5, TAKE STH FROM SB 2,
TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 1
take away: to take away/to go MEAL 8
take back ADMIT 4, SAY/STATE 7, TAKE/BRING 4
take care CAREFUL 1, 4, 8
take care/be careful WARN 3
take care: make the arrangements/take care of the
arrangements ARRANGE A MEETING,
EVENT ETC 1
take care: not take care CARELESS 1
take care of LOOK AFTER SB 6
take down WRITE 6
take five PAUSE 2
take in INCLUDE 1, STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC
5, UNDERSTAND 5
take in: be taken in TRICK/DECEIVE 4
take it from me ADVISE 2
take it: I take it THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 2
take it out of TIRED 5
take it/take the matter up with COMPLAIN 1
take no for an answer: won't/wouldn't take no for an
answer INSIST 1
take off INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 4, LEAVE
A PLACE 4, REMOVE 2, 3, SUCCESSFUL 3,
TAKE OFF CLOTHES 1, UP 5
take-off: do a take-off of/on IMITATE 6
take on ACCEPT 2, JOB/WORK 11, PLAY A GAME OR
SPORT 2, RESPONSIBLE 5
take out REMOVE 1, TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 1, 5
take over CONTROL 15, POWER 5, REPLACE 1, 2
take part TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1
take sb back REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 2

take sb by the arm/hand etc 1360 TAKE/BRING
 take sb by the arm/hand etc HOLD 7
take sb off IMITATE 6
 take sb up on sth ACCEPT1
take sides SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP OR PLAN 3
 take sth apart SEPARATE 5
... take sth as MEANING 7
 take sth as it comes PLAN12
 take sth for CURE 1
• , take sth out on UNKIN131
! take the cake WORSE 6
 take to LIKE SB OR STH 4, START DOING STH 7
 take up ACCEPT 1, START DOING STH 7
 take up: pick up/take up CONTINUE/START AGAIN 4
:, take up/use up USE/CONSUME 1 .
take
takeor bdng.
take "off:
TAKE/BRING
TAKE STH FROM
SOMEWHERE
TAKE OFF
CLOTHES
HOLD
DRUG
STEAL
GET
EAT
DRINK
BUY
CONTROL
TAKE/BRING
10
to take someone from one place to another
to take something from one place to another
to go to the place where someone or
something is, and take them from there to
somewhere else
to take someone or something back to the
place where they came from
to take people or goods from one place to
another using a car, plane, ship etc
to take something such as water, electricity,
or gas from one place to another
to take someone somewhere and show them
the way
to illegally take someone away from where
they are and keep them by force
someone whose job it is to take people to a
place or show them around a place
the process or business of taking goods from
one place to another
I to take someone from one place to another
take escort
bring whisk sb away
take/teik/Iv T]
take sb to/into/out ete Karen looked so ill that we decided
to take her to the hospital. [ Can you take me home please -
I'm feeling rather tired. I Guards! Take him away! l take
sb with you I'm going to the swimming pool tonight - shall
I take the kids with me? I take sb He's worried about get-
ting lost - can you take him?
bring/br/to take someone to the place where you are
now, to your home, or to the place you have been talking
about Iv T]
bring sb We've brought someone to see you! I bring sb to/
into/out ete My parents brought me to America when I was
9years old. [ Bring him here at once! I want to speak to him. [
bring sb with you I hope he hasn't brought his brother with
him - I can "t stand him. [ bring sb along (=bring someone
with you to a party, on a trip etc) Is it alright ifI bring my
boyfriend along? [ bring sb in (=bring them into the room
you are in) "'Mrs Baxter's here to see you. "" "'Bring her in. ""
escort/I ' sk3:rt/to take someone to a place and make sure
they cannot escape or that they arrive there safely Iv T]
escort sb to/into/out ere The prisoner was escorted into
the room by two large police officers. [ The guards escorted
them to a waiting helicopter.
whisk sb away/,wlsk (sb) o'wei/if the police, guards,
or people who are looking after someone whisk someone
• away, they take them away from a place very quickly, espe-
cially in a car [phr v T not in progressive]
The accused came out of the court room and was whisked
away in a police car. [ The ambulance arrived immediately
and whisked the injured man away to hospital.
• to take something from one place to another
take
bring
deliver
take/tek/Iv T]
take sth to/into/out ete He's taken the car to the garage
to have it repaired. [ Can you take some of these cups into the
kitchen for me? [ take sth with you I took my umbrella with
me in case it rained. [ take sth Don't forget to take your keys.
bring/bri/to take something to the place where you are
now, to your home, or to the place you have been talking
about [v T]
bring sth to/into/out ete Potatoes were originally brought
to England from America by Sir Walter Raleigh. [ bring sb
sth Robert asked the waiter to bring him the check. [ bring
sth with you Aunt Kate's forgotten to bring her glasses with
her again. [ bring sth Did you bring your camera?
deiiver/d[ 'l[vr/to take letters, newspapers, goods, or
messages to someone's house or office Iv I/T]
deliver sth The store say they can deliver the TV tomorrow
morning. [ deliver sth to Unfortunately the package was
delivered to the wrong address. [ deliver sth to your door
(=to your house) We get all our newspapers and groceries
delivered to our door. [ deliver The bed's too big to fit in my
car. Do you deliver?
delivery In C] The next delivery of coal will be in two weeks"
time.
to go to the place where someone or
something is, and take them from there to
somewhere else
get fetch
collect pick up
get/get/to go to the place where someone or something
is and bring them back, or to make them come to the place
where you are now by telephoning them, shouting for them
etc [v T not in passive]

TAKE/BRING 1361 TAKE/BRING
get sb Dinner's ready - can you go and get Jo? I Get the
police, will you? There's been an accident. I get sb sth I'll
just go and get you that book you lent me - it's in my
bedroom. I get sb/sth for sb His secretary's already gone
to get him for me - she said he was in a meeting.
collect/k'lekt/to go to the place where someone or some-
thing has been left, and bring them back Iv T]
collect sb/sth from She has to collect the children from
school at 4 o'clock. I collect sb/sth The mechanic said the
car would be ready for me to collect on Saturday. I Your
grandfather's gone down to the post office to collect his
pension.
fetch Ifct/ a word used especially in British English
meaning to go to the place where someone or something
is and bring them back Iv T]
fetch sb from Her father fetched her from the station in his
car. I fetch sth They waited downstairs while the hotel
porter fetched their luggage. I fetch sb sth Fetch me a glass
of water, will you?
pick up I,pIk '^p/to go to the place where someone or
something is waiting or ready to be collected, and take
them somewhere [phr v T]
pick up sb/sth Sarah's gone down to the travel agency to
pick up the tickets for our vacation. I I'm picking up Jane
on my way home from work. I pick sb/sth/her/it etc up
Has anyone picked the photos up yet? l Hayley and Dave are
at the airport, waiting for you to pick them up.
4 to take someone or something back to the
place where they came from
take back
bring back
return
take back I,teIk 'bek/[phr v T]
take sb/sth/her/it etc back I took the dress back and
changed it for a bigger size. I take sb/sth back to Paul got
into a taxi and asked the driver to take him back to his hotel. I
They were taken back to the police station for further ques-
tioning. I take back sb/sth Did you remember to take back
all your library books?
bring back/,brirj 'back/to take someone or something
back to the place where you are now, to your home, or to
the place you have been talking about [phr v T]
bring sb/sth/her/it ete back I'll bring it back as soon as
I've finished using it. [ bring sb/sth back to Sally's morn
will bring you back to Grandma's house when you've
finished playing. [ bring back sb/sth Hey you.t Bring back
my umbrella, t [ bring sb back sth They brought me back
a lovely present from America - a real cowboy hat.
return/ri t3:rn/a formal word meaning to take something
back [v T]
return sth to If this product is defective in any way, please
return it to the store where you purchased it. [ return sth
These library books should have been returned last Friday
- you'll have to pay a $5 fine.
 to take people or goods from one place to
another using a car, plane, ship etc
take fly
bring bus
transport ship
convey drop
carry in transit
drive
take Iteik/Iv T]
take sth to/into/away etc A modern rail system takes
travellers from Taipei to Kaosiung in about four hours. [ A
fieet of trucks has left the capital, taking urgently-needed
supplies into the earthquake zone. [ We're waiting for the
garbage van to come and take these boxes away. [ take
sb/sth There's no need to call a taxi - I'll take you myself.
bring IbrI/to take people or goods to the place where you
are now, to your home, or to the place you have been
talking about Iv T]
bring sth to/from/here etc Jumbo jets bring tourists to
New York from all over the world. [ Most of the drugs that
come into this country are brought here on board ships from
South America. [ bring sth/sb The planes cannot bring
enough food to feed all the people of Somalia.
transport Itren'sp:rtl to take large quantities of goods
or large numbers of people from one place to another Iv T]
transport sth to/from/across ete Fruit grown in Florida
can now easily be transported to Europe and Japan. [ Over
the past year more than 20, 000 'boat people" have been trans-
ported back to Vietnam. [ transport sb/sth lf we are to sell
our products overseas, how will we transport them?
convey/kn'vei/a formal word meaning to take people
or goods from one place to another Iv T]
convey sth to/from/across etc The space-shuttle is con-
veyed to the launch site on a giant truck. [ The ferry that was
once used to convey passengers across the river has now been
replaced by a bridge.
carry / keril if a ship, plane, train, or road vehicle car-
ries people or goods, it takes them from one place to
another Iv T]
carry sth to/from/across etc The ship was carrying a
cargo of oil from Kuwait to Japan. [ carry sb/sth This taxi
is licensed to carry up to 4 passengers. [ Air India carried
1.66 million passengers last year, only 5000fewer than Brit-
ish Airways.
drive IdraIvl to take someone from one place to another
in a car or other road vehicle Iv T]
drive sb to/from/away etc Bill offered to drive me home.[
The terrorists forced Mr Grey to drive them to the airport. [
Tyson declined to give any comment to reporters and was
driven away by a friend.
fly/flail to take people or goods from one place to another
by plane [v T]
fly sb to/from/home etc His company fiew him to Rio to
attend the conference. [ fly sth in/out Medical equipment
and food are being f i own in to the areas worst hit by the
disaster.
bus Ib^sl to take a group of people from one place to
another in a bus which has been specially ordered for them
Iv T usually in passive]
bus sb to Children were bussed to schools on the other side
of town. [ bus sb in/out The Democrats bussed supporters
in from all over the country to attend the march.
ship I.[IPl to take goods from one country to another by
ship Iv T]
ship sth to/from/across ete About half of the whisky
produced in Scotland is shipped to Japan and the US. [ ship
sth Some 80% of all New Zealand lamb is still shipped as
frozen carcasses.
shipment In U] Hundreds of cars are lined up outside the
factory, awaiting shipment to France and Holland.
drop/drop [[ dra:p/ to take someone or something to a
place in a car, bus, or other vehicle and leave them there
[vT]
drop sb/outside/near etc Do you want me to drop you at
the supermarket? [ drop sb/sth off I asked the bus driver
to drop me off outside my house. [ drop sth round (=drop
something at someone's house) I can drop the clothes round
for you tomorrow morning if you like.
in transit /In 'trmnstl lost/damaged/broken etc in
transit (=lost, damaged etc while being taken from one
place to another) [adv phrase]
The goods were damaged in transit. [ I'll have to report my
baggage as lost in transit.
6 to take something such as water, electricity,
or gas from one place to another
carry pipe
convey conduct
carry/'keri/Iv T]
carry sth to/from/across etc The pipelines which carry
oil across Alaska are designed to withstand extremely low
temperatures. I In Roman times the canal carried water from

TAKE/BRING 1362 TAKE OFF CLOTHES
the river Thames to the town. I carry st^ The electricity is
carried by means of cables which are up to 30cm thick.
convey ]knvei] a formal word meaning to take some-
thing such as water, electricity, or gas from one place to
another Iv T]
convey sth to/from/across etc The blood is conveyed to
the heart through the veins. I convey sth A fracture had
developed in one of the main cooling pipes which are used
to convey water.
pipe/paIp] to take water, gas, oil etc from one place to
another through a pipe Iv T]
pipe sth to/from/across etc Water is piped from the lakes
to supply the needs of big cities such as Manchester and
Leeds. 1 80% of the sewage is untreated a.nd much of it is piped
directly onto beaches.
conduct ]kn Id^kt] to take heat or electricity from one
place to another through pipes or along wires Iv T]
conduct sth from/to/away etc Water is used to conduct
heat away from the reactor. I Specially treated copper wires
conduct the signal from the amplifier to the speakers.
 to take someone somewhere and show them
the way
guide usher
lead shepherd
show
guide/gad/to take someone through or to a place that you
know very well, showing them the way iv T]
guide sb toChroughClong ete The travellers were guided
through the Hindu Kush by local people who had lived there
all their lives. [ The man guided us through the narrow
streets and alleys to the central Mosque. [ guide sb A blind
man, his dog guiding him, entered the station.
lead/li:d/to take a person or an animal to a place, espe-
cially by going in front of them iv T]
lead sb toChroughClong ete We led the horses through
the wood to a farm in the valley. ] The hostages were led blind-
fold to an empty house where they were tied up and left. I I
allowed the children to lead me to their 'secret' camp at the
bottom of the garden.
show ]So] to take someone to a place, such as a table in
a restaurant or a hotel room, and leave them there Iv T]
show sb to Could you show this gentleman to his room
please, Jones. I As soon as we entered the restaurant we were
shown to our table in the corner.
usher ] ^Sr / to take someone to a place such as a room
or building, especially as part of your job Iv T]
usher sb into/to/towards etc At the front door stood two
smart young men who ushered the guests into the house. I I
was ushered into the press conference by some very nervous
officials.
shepherd ]leprd] to guide a large group of people in an
orderly way Iv T]
shepherd sb up/along/to etc She shepherded the group
of children up the steps to the museum. I Russian tour
off'u:ials were sent to shepherd the American tourists round
Moscow.
8 to illegally take someone away from where
they are and keep them by force
kidnap
abduct
kidnap/' kdnep/to take someone away from somewhere
by force and keep them prisoner in order to demand money
or favours from their family, government etc before free-
ing them iv T]
The gang made millions of dollars by kidnapping the chil-
dren of rich families. [ Tourists have been advised to return
home after three journalists were kidnapped last week.
kidnap/kidnapping in C] She has had a permanent
bodyguard ever since the kidnapping. [ There have been over
thirty kidnaps in the last six months.
abduct/ab'dAkt, eb-/to take someone away from some-
where illegally or by force, either to keep them with you,
or to harm them iv T]
The woman, who is in her thirties, was abducted late last
night and is still missing. [ Mrs Kersey claims her ex-
husband abducted their daughter Clara and took her back
to the States against her will.
abduction lab  d^kan/In C/U] Police believe Lance Nailer's
abduction took place outside the Ace High bar at around 2:00
am.
9 someone whose job it is to take people to a
place or show them around a place
guide
courier
docent
guide/gaid/a person whose job is to take people to a place
or show them around a place, especially because they know
the area well in C]
You are advised not to enter the Kenyan game reserves
without a guide. [ Last time we went to Spain the tour guide
was extremely helpful and took us on some very interesting
trips. [ Experienced Mountain guides can be found in
Chamonix, a town at the base of Mont Blanc.
courier / 'koriar/a person whose job it is to take tourists
to the place where they are spending their holiday and look
after them while they are there in C]
The courier who met us at the airport was very helpful. [ We
had an awful vacation. The couriers all disappeared after
the first day leaving us in this appalling hotel.
docent ! 'dosant, do'sent/an American word meaning
someone who guides you around a museum and tells you
about what you are seeing in C]
The museum will provide a docent for school groups. [ The
docent who took us around the museum was very knowledge-
able about Native American pottery.
1 0 the process or business of taking goods from
one place to another
transportation/transport
haulage
transportation (also transport in British English)
/,traensp:'teiJ'an, 'traensp:rt II ,trnspor-/in U]
Carrying goods by ship reduces transportation costs. [ Lon-
don's transport problems are getting worse. ] The govern-
ment is planning to tighten up regulations governing the
transportation of toxic waste.
haulage / h:lld3/the business of taking large quantities
of goods from one place to another in U]
We decided to concentrate on the home market, to cut the cost
of haulage. [ haulage companyCostsContractor ete
dean works for a road haulage company based in St Etienne.
TAKE OFF
CLOTHES
I to take off your clothes
2 to take off someone else's clothes
1 to take off your clothes
take off strip
get undressed/undress tear off
strip off change
take off/,teIk 'of II -':fl [phr v T]
take off sth "It's warm in here, "" said Michael, taking off
his jacket. [ take sth/it/them off Take your shoes off before
you come in. [ This hat looks stupid. Shall I take it off?.

TAKE OFF CLOTHES 1363 TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
get undressed/undress /,get An'drest, An'dres/to take
off all your clothes Iv phrase]
He got undressed and stepped into the shower. I That night
she didn't undress, but waited until everyone was asleep and
then crept out. I Christine, it's time for bed. Come on, get
undressed.
strip off/,strip 'of II quickly take off all your
clothes or a piece of clothing [phr v I/T]
We stripped off and dived into the pool.,[ strip off sth She
ran upstairs, stripped off her jeans and sweater and pulled
on a dressing gown.
strip/strp/to take off all your clothes, especially because
someone has told you to or as part of a show or act Iv I]
Sometimes, they make you strip so they can search your body
for drugs. [ strip to the waist (=take off all the clothes on
the top half of your body) "I'd like you to strip to the waist
so I can listen to your chest, "said the doctor. [ strip (down)
to your shorts, underwear etc (=take off everything
except your shorts, underwear etc) The men went crazy at
the sight of the dancer stripping down to her underwear on
the stage.
tear off/,ter of 11 -':f/to take offyour clothes or a piece
of clothing very quickly and roughly [phr v T]
tear off sth Linda tore off her sweater and threw it on the
bed. [ tear sth/it/them off James began to undress wildly,
tearing his clothes off as if he was on fire.
change/tSemd3/to take off your clothes and put on differ-
ent clothes Iv I/T]
Polly's just gone upstairs to change. [ change sth Give me
two minutes to change my shirt and I'll be right with you. [
change into/out of When Terry gets home from work he
changes out of his suit into a sweatshirt and jeans.
2 to take off someone else's clothes
undress/get sb undressed
strip
tear sb's clothes off
undress/ge t sb undressed / An ' dres, ,get (sb) ^n ' drest/
to take off all someone's clothes for them, especially
because they are unable to do it themselves Iv T]
I'll get the children undressed and ready for bed if you start
making supper. [ Two nurses undressed the old woman and
lifted her on to the bed.
strip/strip/to take off all someone's clothes because you
are going to punish them or search their clothes Iv T]
One of the guards stripped the prisoner and beat him with
a chain. [ I was taken to police headquarters where I was
stripped and searched. [ strip sb naked The men were
stripped naked and herded into a small prison cell.
tear sb's clothes off/,te r (sb's) 'klo6z ofl to very
quickly and roughly take off someone's clothes [phr v T]
He went crazy and started tearing my clothes off- I was ter-
rified. [ tear off sb's clothes When she realized the child
had spilled boiling coffee on himself she tore off his clothes
and plunged him into a bath of cold water.
TAKE PART/BE
INVOLVED
1 to take part in an activity, event, sport etc
together with other people
2 to start to take part in something that other
people are already involved in
3 to become involved in something that you did
not really want to be involved in, such as an
argument, fight, or criminal activity
4 to take part in something secret or dishonest
5 to take part very actively in lots of different
things
6 to take part in a TV or radio programme
7 to make someone take part in something
14
8 to arrange to take part in something such as
an exam, a competition, or a course of
studies
9 to arrange for someone to take part in
something such as an exam or competition
10 someone who takes part in an activity, event,
competition etc
11 to not take part in something
12 to stop taking part or decide not to take part
13 ways of saying that you do not want to get
involved in something
to not let someone take part or be involved in
something
15 someone who rfuses to take part in
something enjoyable when other people think
they should
to take part in an activity, event, sport etc
together with other people
take part play a role in
be involved be active in
participate contribute
compete be engaged in
play a part in
take part/,tek 'pa:rtl [vphrase]
take part in Yes, I'd love to take part in the race. I Many
famous pop-stars took part in the recording of the song "We
are the World, "" to raise money for Ethiopia. [ I've been asked
to take part in a TV debate on sexual morality. [ take part
She wanted to take part but she was too ill. [ take an active/
leading part John has taken a leading part in getting
artists together for the festival. [ At college I took an active
part in student politics.
be involved/bi: in'vDlvd [[ -'vo:lvd/to take part in an
activity or event, or be connected with it in some way Iv
phrase]
be involved in Sixty-two patients suffering from heart
disease were involved in the study. [ Anybody involved in the
protest soon received a visit from the secret police - many just
disappeared. [ be involved It was a big scandal. A lot of
politicians were involved.
involvement In U] During questioning by police, Rogers
denied any involvement in the robbery.
participate/po: r'uspe;t/a formal word meaning to take
part in an activity or event [v I]
participate in Our employees are encouraged to participate
in the decision making process. [ The companies participat-
ing in this training have each agreed to provide employment
for successful trainees. [ participate Being a spectator wasn't
as enjoyable as participating.
participation/po:r,tlS 'pc;San/In U] Audience participa-
tion is a vital part of pantomime.
compete/km'pi:t/to take part in a race or competition
[v I]
compete in sth The school hockey team competed annually
in the national championships. [ compete for sth Let me
introduce our four finalists competing for the title of'Master-
mind 1993". [ compete with/against sb Bands came from
all over Montana to compete against each other. [ compete
Ben would have won every athletics event if he had been
allowed to compete.
play a part in / pleI  'pa:rt n/to take part in some way
in an activity or piece of work, especially one which has
a useful result or purpose [v phrase]
play an activeCargeCmportant part (=take part in an
active or important way) Beside her job as fashion director
of Vogue magazine she plays a very active part in charity
work. [ Men now play a larger part in looking after their chil-
dren. [ play a part in Together with the police everyone can
play a part in improving the security of their neighborhood

TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1364 TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
play a role In/plei a raol in/play an active/impor-
tant/leading etc role in (=help something to be success-
ful by taking part in an effective or important way Iv
phrase]
The minister played a leading role in the government's
successful foreign policy. I The chairperson plays a critical
role in guiding group discussion. [ The most effective learn-
ing occurs when the child is allowed to play a more active
role in the learning process.
be active in/hi: 'mktlv in/to actively take part in the
work of an organization such as a political group or church
Iv phrase]
He is very active in the church's work with homeless people. I
During the 1970s more women became active in politics and
public life. I Several members of my fhmily were active in
nationalist politics before the 1905 revolution.
contribute/kan'tribju:t/to actively take part in a group
discussion or group activity, especially by giving your
opinions and ideas Iv I/T]
When we have class debates we try and get all the kids to con-
tribute. I During the discussions MacDonald had nothing to
contribute. He just sat back lazily and listened. I contrib-
ute ideas/suggestions etc We expect all our employees to
contribute fresh ideas to the company's projects.
be engaged In/hi: in'geld3d In/a formal word meaning
to be taking part in an activity, a conversation etc, espe-
cially one that continues for a long period of time [vphrase]
The Nationalists have been engaged in a bitter fifteen-year
armed struggle for independence. I During dinner I found
myself engaged in a long and complicated conversation with
the doctor's wife. I In the 1970s, many American cities were
engaged in competition for economic growth.
2 to start to take part in something that other
 people are already involved in
get Involved get into/enter into
join in the spirit
get in on the act if you can't beat 'em,
climb/jump on the join 'em
bandwagon
get involved/,get in'volvd II -'vo:lvd/Iv phrase]
get involved in He got involved in anti-war demonstra-
tions. I get involved I asked some people on the street to help
me get Don to the hospital but they said they "didn't want
to get involved." [ Despite the fact that there would be a lot
of work, Sarah decided that she would like to get involved.
join in/,d3aln 'in/to start to take part in something such
as a game, a song, or a conversation Iv I/T]
join in sth Harry refused to join in the games of the other
children. I Everyone gathered round to join in the song. I join
in with Diana wanted to join in with the dancing but she
had no partner, l join in When you discuss changes in work
methods it is important that everyone be given the opportu-
nity to join in.
get in on the act/get  in on 6i 'mktl an informal expres-
sion meaning to start to take part in a new type of business
that other companies are already involved in because it is
successful and profitable Iv phrase]
'Golden Years' magazine had a large market of older
readers. Other publishers spotted this and wanted to get in
on the act. I Now our exporting business to Eastern Europe
has grown so successful, everyone wants to get in on the act.
climb/Jump on the bandwagon/,ldalm, ,d3^mP on
6a 'bandwagan/informal expressions meaning to start to
take part in an activity because a lot of other people are
doing it and not necessarily because you believe in it
[ v phrase]  "
Critics of the government's environmental policies say it has
simply jumped on the bandwagon and has not done any-
thing serious to fight pollution. I After the "Live Aid" concert
pop singers all over the worm were eager to climb on the
bandwagon and record songs for charity.
get into/enter into the spirit/,get Inta, ,entar inta 6a
'spirt/a British expression meaning to relax and take part
in a party, celebration, or special occasion Iv phrase]
Everyone was entering into the spirit - Christmas trees and
decorations had been put up in all the offices. I Although
Mark felt depressed he did his best to enter into the spirit for
Julie's sake. I You'll enjoy yourself much more if you just
relax and try to get into the spirit of the occasion.
if you can't beat 'em, Join 'em/fju: ,ko:nt ,bi:t am
d3oln am II -,kent-/you say if you can't beat 'em, join
'era when you decide to take part in something that you
disapprove of, because everyone else is doing it and you
cannot stop them from doing it
Everybody else was always taking my things, so I thought
"Oh well, if you can't beat "era, join "era.'"
3 to become involved in something that you did
not really want to be involved in, such as an
argument, fight, or criminal activity
get involved get drawn into
get caught up in get/become embroiled
get involved/,get ln'volvd II -'vo:lvd/[V phrase]
get involved in She didn't feel like getting involved in a long
argument on the phone so she hung up. I Somehow Danny
had got involved in a scheme to smuggle gold into Hong
Kong. I The company got involved in legal disputes over
copyright violations. I get involved Neighbors said they
heard a woman scream but they thought it was a family
problem and they didn't want to get involved.
get caught up in/get ,ko:t '^p in/to get involved in
something that you did not intend to get involved in Iv
phrase]
Robbie always seems to get caught up in aright when he goes
drinking with his mates. [ During the war everyone got
caught up in a sort of collective madness - they forgot how
to think logically. I One group of American tourists was
unlucky enough to get caught up in a revolution in Bolivia.
get drawn into/get 'dm:n Intu:/ to gradually be per-
suaded to get involved in something that you did not intend
to get involved in Iv phrase]
I was stupid enough to get drawn into an argument about
politics - a subject that always makes me angry and
unreasonable. [ Children who end up on the street are likely
to get drawn into prostitution and petty crime.
get/become embroiled /,get, bi ,kam im'bmild/to get
involved in a long and complicated discussion, argument,
or struggle which you do not want to get involved in Iv
phrase]
We became embroiled in a six-month battle with the union. [
I don't want to get embroiled in some interminable argument
over money.
4 to take part in something secret or dishonest
be in on
be party to/be a party to
have a hand in
be in on Ibi: 'In o II -o:n/an informal expression mean-
ing to take part in or know all about an illegal or secret
activity Iv T]
Is it true that the Chief of Police was in on the cover-up? l This
gang must have been in on the Chelsea robberies and The
Friary killings too. I He didn't have a clue about the surprise
party, but everyone in the office was in on it.
be party to/be a party to /bi: 'po:rti tu:, bi:
a formal expression meaning to take part in something
which is illegal or wrong Iv phrase]
The Secretary of State at the time was party to a sinister con-
spiracy. [ My clients do not want to be party to tax evasion. [
She, the Marchioness of Rossmayne, had been a party to
murder.
have a hand in/,hev o 'hand In/to be in some way
secretly involved in something and be partly responsible
for its results Iv phrase not in progressive]
have a hand in sth Do you suspect Ralph of having a hand
in these murders ?11swear that I didn't have a hand in it.
have a hand in doing sth My father may have had a hand
in getting me the job.

TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
5 to take part very actively in lots of different
things
have a finger in every pie
be in the thick of
hands-on
have a finger in every pie/heev a Ifirjgar in ,evri IpaII
an informal expression meaning to be involved in and have
influence over a lot of different activities, especially when
many people do not realize how much influence you have
[ v phrase not in progressive]
The company has a finger in every pie, from computer soft-
ware to oil exploration to children's toys.
be In the thick of/bi: In 6 '0Ik 13v/to be in the part of
something such as a battle or argument where most of the
important activity is taking place Iv phrase]
be in the thick of things As a foreign correspondent she
loves to be in the thick of things, right where everything is
happening. I be in the thick of Major Wooller was always
to be found in the thick of any battle.
hands-on/'heendz on/hands-on approach/style/man-
agement (=by someone who likes to be actively involved
in dealing with work problems, not just discussing them
and leaving the people who you are in charge of to do them)
[adj usually before noun]
They admired his hands-on approach to work. I Her hands
- on style prompted some moans about arrogance. [ They
were hands-on managers, who got to grips with the nitty
gritty of the work.
to take part in a TV or radio programme
appear on
guest on/be a guest on
appear on/o'pizr n II -o:n/[v T]
Joan Collins took the opportunity of appearing on the six
o'clock show to promote her latest novel. I He has often
appeared on the BBC sports programme, 'A Question of
Sport'.
appearance In C] Everyone must remember Oliver Reed's
last appearance on Channel Four.
guest on/be a guest on/gest n, bi:  gest n II -a:n/
to take part as a guest in a radio or television programme,
especially because you are famous Iv T]
The President will be a guest on the News Hour show tonight,
where he will be interviewed by Walter Cronkite. I Madonna
guested on the show last night.
7 to make someone take part in something
involve
drag sb into
bring in
Involve/in'volv II in'va:lv/to make someone take part in
something, especially by encouraging them to do this [v T]
involve sb in A good manager will try to involve everyone
in the decision-making process. [ The school has gained
improved exam results by involving parents more in the edu-
cation of their children. [ involve sb I always try and involve
the whole class.
drag sb into / draeg (sb) ' intu:/to make someone become
involved in a situation that they do not want to become
involved in, for example an argument or a problem [phr
vT]
Don't go dragging me into your silly family arguments - sort
it out yourself. [ The Prime Minister's advisors were anxious
that he shouldn't be dragged into a scandal before the
election.
bring |n / Ibrrj ml to involve someone in an activity that
they were not involved in before, especially so that they can
provide help or advice [phr v T]
bring in sb Now we've decided what we want, I think it's
time to bring in the engineeers to design it for us. I The
Japanese technicians were brought in because of their exper-
tise in electronics. I bring sb/her/them etc in I don't think
1365 TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
there's any need to bring the police in until we are sure the
money is missing.
8
to arrange to take part in something such as
an exam, a competition, or a course of
studies
enter put your name down/
go in for put yourself down
sign up enrol/enroll
enter /entar/to arrange to take part in a competition,
race, or examination Iv I/Tl
enter sth When I entered the competition I never thought I'd
win. [ Sarah was very attractive and her parents and friends
pushed her to enter beauty contests which she always won. [
enter Only people aged eighteen or over may enter.
go in for/,goo n f3:r/a British expression meaning to
arrange to take part in a race or competition Iv T]
We went in for the crossword competition and won twenty-
five pounds. I Dad said he was going in for the talent con-
test. [ Why don't you go in for the race? You ve got a very good
chance of winning.
sign up/sain '^p/to arrange to take part in a course of
study by signing an agreement [phr v I]
sign up for Helen was feeling bored in the evenings so she
signed up for pottery classes at the college. [ As Gary can't
get a job, he's signing up for Unemployment Training. [ sign
up Did you sign up yet. The course starts in two weeks, you
know.
put your name down/put yourself down/Ipot j:r
'neim daon, ,pot ja: rself daon/to arrange to take part in an
organized activity, for example a group trip, by writing
your name on a list Iv phrase]
put your name down for Have you put yourself down for
the boat trip in August? [ put your name down to do sth
We're going to put our names down to help set up the stalls
at the festival.
enrol (British) I enroll (American) In'mol/to formally
arrange to take part in a course of study [v I/T]
enrol on (British) / in (American) I'd like to enrol on the
German course, please. [ Bill enrolled in a five-week coun-
seling program in an attempt to cure his drink problem. [
enrol for That year Sam enrolled for law studies in Cape
Town. [ enrol Even though the course doesn't begin until
September it's best to enrol as soon as possible as it's so
popular.
enrolment (British) / enrollment (American) In U] Enrol-
ment will take place in the main hall between ten o'clock and
five o'clock. Please bring a passport-size photograph.
9 to arrange for someone to take part in
something such as an exam or competition
enter
put sb's name down/put sb down
enrol/enroll
enter ! entr/to arrange for a person or animal to take part
in a competition, race, or examination Iv T]
enter sb/sth in Your cats are beautiful, have you ever
entered them in a cat show ? I Christie has been entered in
the I00 metres, 200 metres and the relay. I enter sb/sth for
After a few months of careful grooming, excercise and
training the dog will be ready to be entered for the National
Competition.
put sb's name down/put sb down/,pot (sb's) nelm
,daon, pot (sb) 'daon/to arrange for someone to take part
in an organized activity by writing their name on a list [v
phrase]
put sb down for You should put Nadine down for the meal
- I'm sure she'd love to come. [ put sb's name down to do
sth Can we put you down to help with refreshments Carol?[
put sb's name down If you think Stan would enjoy look-
ing after the kids, put his name down.
enrol (British) I enroll (American)/n'raol/to formally
arrange for someone to take part in a course of study Iv T]

TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1366 TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
enroll sb in (American) / on (British) Hisparents enrolled
him in the Cinematic Arts program at UCLA. I Anybody who
has not yet been enrolled on the English course should contact
the tutor.
10 someone who takes part in an activity, event,
competition etc
participant contestant
entrant entry
competitor involved
participant/pa:r'ts pont/a formal word meaning some-
one who takes part in an activity or event In C]
participant in The participants in this survey were ran-
domly selected. [ There was another participant in the attack
whose identity has not been disclosed. [ participant Most
participants say that the course is very helpful in dealing
with stressful situations.
entrant / 'entrant/a formal or official word meaning some-
one who takes part in a competition In C]
All entrants for the Young Businesswoman of the Year Com-
petition must be under 35. [ The winning entrant will receive
a scholarship to Art School and a year's supply of artists"
materials.
competitor/kam'peQtor/someone who takes part in a
race or competition In C]
One of the competitors hurt her leg during the race. I Com-
petitors have to match each photo with the most appropri-
ate caption, and the winner gets a weekend in New York.
contestant/konltestant/ someone who takes part in a
competition or game, especially one that is judged by a
group of judges |n C]
Contestants for the "Miss America" title have to talk about
themselves for a few minutes. I On the new TV game show,
the contestants are asked how they would spend a million
pounds.
entry /  entri/the piece of work or answer which someone
has sent to be judged in a competition In C/
Organizers of the Lawson short story competition have
received over 100,000 entries. [ Judges are now looking at the
entries in the 'Biggest Potato" section of the gardening com-
petition. [ Send your entries on the competition form at the
bottom of the page.
involved/Inlvolvd [[ Inva:lvd/the people/everyone/
those ete involved (=the people who are taking part or
who took part in an activity or event) [adj only after noun/
In court she gave evidence about her torture, naming the
officers involved. [ The government will not be giving full
details of the discovery until the scientists involved have pub-
lished the research formally. [ All the people involved have
now been questioned by the police.
1 1 to not take part in something
not take part/not participate/not be involved
take/have/play no part in
have nothing to do with
armchair
on the sidelines
not take part/not participate/not be involved
/not tek pa:rt, not pa: r tispet, not bi: involvd [[ -lea:led/
Iv phrase]
not take part in ete Joe did not participate in the discus-
sion. [ I personally wasn't involved in any of the decision
making. [ not take part ete Somepoorer countries couldn't
take part because they didn't have enough money.
take/have/play n o part in / telk, hev, plei noo pa:rt
nl to not take part in something, especially because you
disapprove of it [v phrase]
Mrs James said she would have no part in such a pointless
argument. [ I played no part in leaking this information to
the press.
have nothing to do with/hmv inAOIl"J tO idu: wI6/to
not take part at all in something, especially in something
you disapprove of or something illegal [v phrase not in
progressive]
Explain to the police that you had nothing to do with the
robbery. [ Sally had nothing to do with arranging the
catering. Belinda and Diane did all that.
armchair /a:rmt.feor/ armchair critic/sportsman/
revolutionary (=one who does not take part in politics,
sport etc but who reads a lot about it or watches it on tele-
vision, especially someone who thinks they know better
than the people doing it and is ready to give them advice)
[adj only before noun ]
Like all armchair sportsmen, Terry is sure that if he really
tried he could be the greatest player in the history of base-
ball.I When it comes to economic policy, it's very easy to be
an armchair critic but much more difficult to actually do
something about the problem.
on the sidelines/on 6o  saidlainz/if you stay, sit, or wait
on the sidelines when something is happening, you do not
take part in it, even though you may want to or should do
[adv phrase]
You'll never influence what happens in your child's school
if you just sit on the sidelines, complaining. I I got fed up with
just sitting on the sidelines.
12 to stop taking part or decide not to take part
withdraw pull out
take no further part in drop out
opt out
withdraw Iwi6'dr:, WlO-/ IV I]
withdraw from After damaging her ankle in training she
was forced to withdraw from the race. [ I withdrew from the
transaction before the contracts were exchanged. [ It will be
very sad if Kinnock withdraws from politics altogether.
withdrawal In U ] The Moroccan runner's withdrawal gives
Elliot a real chance of winning the gold medal.
take no further part in/tek Inoo f3:rd)) r pa:rt In/to
stop taking part in something that you were actively
involved in before Iv phrase]
Lineker was injured and took no further part in the game.
opt out/,opt aot II , a:pt-/to decide not to take part in an
official system, especially one that has not started yet [phr
vii
opt out of The treaty gives Britain the right to opt out of the
single European currency system if it wants to. [ Employees
who do not wish to be part of the company's health-care pro-
gram have the right to opt out if they want to.
pull out/,pol 'aot/to stop taking part or decide not to take
part in something such as a competition or an official
discussion, especially suddenly and unexpectedly[phr v I]
pull out of lie's had to pull out of the finals because of a torn
leg muscle. [ If we pull out of the negotiations now, nobody
will believe we were ever serious. [ pull out One of the
backers pulled out at the last moment, so we'll have to
postpone the opening night.
drop out/drop aot [[ Idra:p-/to stop taking part in a
course of study or a competition before you have completed
it [phr v I]
One third of the city's million students drop out before gradu-
ation. [ drop out of He dropped out of school when he was
13 so he could get a job to support his family. [ Most of the
other candidates had now dropped out of the presidential
race.
1 3 ways of saying that you do not want to get
 involved in something
want no part in count/leave me out
want nothing to do with keep sb out of
want no part in/,wont noo ipa:rt In [1 ,wa:nt-/to not
want to take part at all in a plan or activity, especially
because you disapprove of it Iv phrase not in progressive]
I want no part in the deal if drugs are involved. [ Kyle and
Lewis have told me they want no part in it.
want nothing to do with/wont nAOIrJ tO du: wI6 11
wa:nt-/to not want to take part in or be involved with some-
thing, especially because you disapprove of it [vphrase not
in progressive]

TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 1367 TAKE STH FROM SB
"'Is Robert going to help ? .... No, he wants nothing more to
do with it. "'1 Don 't you understand? I want nothing more to
do with your stupid little scheme/
count/leave me out /kaont, ,li:v: mi: aot/ you say
count me out or leave me out when you do not want to
take part in something which has been suggested
Ron Jones stood up. "'Count me out, Bert, I'm too nervous.
If that's what you're going to do you can count me out. I Leave
me out. I'd be crazy to get involved in something like that.
keep sb out of/,ki:p (sb) 'aot ov [[ -a:v/to make sure
that someone does not get involved in a problem or
difficulty, especially because they do not need to be
involved [phr v T]
Keep me out of this, you two. It's yourproblem, not mine. [
Look, keep my wife out of this. It has nothing to do with her.
14 to not let someone take part or be involved in
something
exclude
leave out
drop
exclude / ik  sklu:d/to prevent someone from taking part
in an activity Iv T]
exclude sb from sth Black voters are excluded from next
month's elections. I Armies usually exclude women from
combat duties.
exclusion/ikl sklu:3an/[n U] the exclusion of South African
athletes from all international competitions
leave out / I li:v taut/to not include someone in an activity
that you are planning [phr v T]
leave sb out of sth She felt that her husband was always
leaving her out of his plans. I feel left out We tried to include
her in our games so that she doesn't feel left out.
drop/drop II dro:pl to not include someone in a team Iv T]
drop sb She wasn't running as fast as the others on the team
so she's been dropped. I drop sb from Maradona has been
dropped from the team for next Saturday's game because he
failed a fitness test.
15 someone who refuses to take part in
something enjoyable when other people think
they should
spoilsport
party pooper
spoilsport/'spIlspo:rt/In C]
Don't be such a spoilsport, Jemma, we can't play without
you. I I'm not being a spoilsport, I just don't feel well.
party pooper/po:rti ,pu:pr/an informal expression
meaning someone who refuses to take part in or enjoy a
party or celebration when you think they should In C]
So, why aren't you coming tonight, you party pooper?
@ TAKE STH FROM
SB
1 to physically take something from someone
2 to take away someone's rights, advantages,
or position
3 ways of saying that the government, police,
etc take something away from someone
because it is illegal or because they want to
use it
1 to physically take something from someone
take
grab
snatch
take Iteikl Iv T]
take sth Let me take your bags -you look exhausted. [ take
sth from sb Morelli slowly walked over and took the gun
from her. [ take sth away The teacher took the magazines
away from the kids and told them to get back to their school-
work.
grab/grmb/to suddenly take something away from some-
one Iv T]
grab sth from sb She grabbed the gun from him and made
him lie on the floor. [ grab sth I grabbed his book.
snatch/snmtS/to take something away from someone
using a quick sudden movement, especially in order to
steal it from them Iv T]
snatch sth A thief snatched her handbag while she was
walking down a busy street. [ snatch sth from sb He
reached out and tried to snatch the letter from me.
2 to take away someone's rights, advantages or
position
take away
deprive sb of sth
strip sb of sth
take away I,tek 'wei/[phr v T]
take away sth Her licence was taken away from her when
she was found guilty of drunken driving. [ We were all scared
that our jobs would be taken away from us. [ take sth/it/
them away Having granted us one or two privileges, the
company is now planning to take them all away.
deprive sb of sth/di 'pra;v (sb) zv (sth)/to take away or
not let someone have their rights, advantages etc, espe-
cially in a way that seems unfair [phr v T]
Under Stalin, Soviet citizens were deprived of their most
basic human rights. [ The management has threatened to
deprive union members of their new privileges if there is a
strike.
strip sb of sth/str[p (sb) v (sth)/to completely take
away someone's official title or responsibilities, especially
as a punishment for doing something wrong [phr v T]
The captain was stripped of his licence after the collision. [
The court stripped him of his rank and he was sent to jail.
3 ways of saying that the government, police,
etc take something away from someone
because it is illegal or because they want to
use it
seize impound
confiscate com mandeer
seize/si:z/to take something such as drugs, guns, or docu-
ments from someone who is keeping them illegally or
taking them from one place to another Iv T]
Customs officers have seized 20 kilos of cocaine. [ Weapons
and ammunition were seized last night in a police raid
confiscate/'konfosket [[ 'ko:n-/to take something away
from someone in order to punish them or because they are
not allowed to have it Iv T]
The police have the right to search football supporters and
confiscate anything that might be used as a weapon. [ When
the boy refused to turn off his Walkman, the teacher confis-
cated it.
impound/impaond/to take something such as a car or
an animal away from someone and keep it in a special place
until they are officially allowed to have it back Iv T]
The ships were impounded at the port until the debt had been
paid. [ The medical officer says that all the animals must be
impounded while tests are carried out.
commandeer / komn dI r [[ ko:- I if the army or other
military organization commandeers something such as
a vehicle or a building, they take it away from the owners
in order to use it in a war Iv T]
Bud's truck had been commandeered by the regiment. [ The
officers had commandeered every house in the area.

TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 1368 TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE
TAKE STH FROM
SOMEWHERE
1 to take something from the place where it is
2 to quickly or suddenly take something from
the place where it is
3 to put out your hand in order to take
something
4 to take liquid out of a substance or surface
5 to take money out of your bank
1 to take something from the place where it is
take pull out
take away withdraw
take out fish out
remove
take/te]k/[v T]
take sth off/from/to etc Take your feet off the table! I
"This should be useful for your course, "" he said, taking a
book down from the shelf. I take sth She went over to the
fruit bowl and took an orange. I Have you taken my keys?
take away /,telk  Iwel/to take something from a place
permanently [phr v T]
take sth/it/them away I wish they'd take the garbage
away. [ Ugh! Take it away - I hate rats! [ take away sth
He took away the sheet to reveal a shining white statue. [ take
sth away to/from The body was covered before being taken
away to the morgue.
take out /teJk laot/to take something from a place where
it is hidden or cannot be seen, for example from a pocket
or a drawer [phr v T1
take sth/it/them out She opened a drawer and took a
photograph album out. [ What's that in your pocket? Take
it out. [ take out sth Suddenly the man took out a gun, scat-
tering the crowd. I take sth out of sth Take that chewing
gum out of your mouth immediately!
remove/ri'mu:v/a formal word meaning to take some-
thing away from the place where it is, especially something
unwanted or something that should not be there Iv TI
remove sth from Would you mind removing your hand
from my leg! l Cars parked illegally are likely to be removed.I
remove sth Please do not remove this notice.
removal In U] Unauthorized removal of any office equip-
ment will lead to prosecution.
pull out/,pol 'aot/to suddenly and unexpectedly take
something from a place where it is hidden or cannot be
seen [phr v T]
pull out sth He pulled out a gun and fired three shots. [ pull
sth/it/them out I had no time to cover my face. He pulled
his camera out so quickly. [ pull sth out from "Scream and
I'll kill you, "said the attacker, pulling a knife out from under
his coat.
withdraw/WIb dr:, WI0-/to take something from inside
something else, especially slowly and carefully Iv T]
withdraw sth from He withdrew a hundred dollar bill
from his pocket and laid it on the table. [ withdraw sth
Extract the two remaining screws and withdraw the gear
lever.
fish out/,fir 'aot/to take something from a place where
you did not expect to find it or from a place that is difficult
to get things from [phr v T]
fish sth/it/them out My wedding ring fell in the garbage
can - will you fish it out for me? l fish out sth After search-
ing through his suitcase, he finally fished out his sun
glasses. I fish sth out of sth I fished the dead man's ID card
out of his pocket.
2 to quickly or suddenly take something from
the place where it is
grab whisk sth away
snatch seize
grab/grmbl to quickly and suddenly take something from
the place where it is, especially because you are in a hurry
Iv T not usually in progressive or passive]
She grabbed her coat and ran for the bus. [ grab sth from
All of a sudden Nicholas runs into the office and grabs the
parcel from my desk shouting, "It's a bomb!'"
snatch/snmtf/to take something quickly and violently
from the place where it is [v T not usually in progressive]
When no one was looking, he snatched a tray of watches and
ran out of the shop. [ snatch sth from Before I could say
a word, he'd snatched the keys from the table and run out
of the room.
whisk sth away/,wisk (sth) a'wei/to very quickly and
suddenly take something from the place where it is, espe-
cially to prevent someone from seeing or touching it [phr
v T not usually in progressive]
If I don't whisk the cookies away the moment they're out of
the oven, they're all gone within minutes. [ As soon as the
baby was born he was whisked away and put in an
incubator.
seize/si:z/to quickly and suddenly take something from
the place where it is, especially in order to steal it [v T not
usually in progressive]
The thief seized the money and ran out of the bank. I Seiz-
ing the woman's purse, the youths ran off into the crowd.
3 to put out your hand in order to take
something
reach for
grab at/snatch at
reach for/'ri:t f:r/Iv T not in passive]
I reached for the salt and knocked over a bottle of wine. [ I
saw the man begin to reach for his revolver, and went for my
own gun.
grab at/snatch at/'grmb et, 'snmt et/to quickly and
suddenly put out your hand in order to take something Iv T
not in passive]
Donna grabbed at the letter. "Give me that back!" she
shouted. [ Jessie snatched at the bag but I pulled it away.
4 to take liquid out of a substance or surface
absorb
soak up
absorbent
absorb lab s: rb, b'z: rb/if something absorbs liquid,
it takes it into itself from its surface or from what sur-
rounds it Iv T]
absorb sth Cook for 25 minutes or until the rice has
absorbed all the water. [ A frog cannot drink, so it absorbs
all the liquid it needs through its skin. [ absorb Sth from
Trees absorb large amounts of water and nutrients from the
soil.
soak up / suk ^Pl if something soaks up a liquid, espe-
cially something made from cloth, it takes liquid out of a
surface into itself [phr v T]
soak up sth The felt of the coat soaks up the horse's sweat. I
soak sth/it/them up Towels jammed against the leaking
window frames soaked the water up. I If you spill red wine
on the carpet, use salt to soak it up.
absorbent lab' sa:rbant, - 'za:r-/a material such as paper,
cotton, or cloth that is absorbent takes in liquid very
easily [adj]
Newspaper's good for mopping up spilt water - it's very
absorbent. [ Put something absorbent on the cut to stop the
bleeding.
5 to take money out of your bank
take out
withdraw
take out/,teik 'aut/[phr v T]
take out sth I took out $50 yesterday, and I've spent it
already. [ She took out all her savings and bought a one-way
ticket to Rio. [ take sth/it/them out You shouldn't have

TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 1369 TALK/MAKE A SPEECH
taken all that money out -you know you'll only waste it. I
take sth/it out of sth Someone stole my cheque book and
started using it to take money out of my account.
withdraw/wi6 Idra:, wIO-/a word used in official or bus-
iness contexts meaning to take money out of your bank Iv
T]
withdraw sth This card allows the user to withdraw money
at any time of day. I withdraw sth from Your statement
says that you withdrew Ј300 from your account on the 5th
of this month.
withdrawal In C/U] Customers can only make three with-
drawals in one day.
talk:
talk:
talk:
talk:
talk:
talk:
talk:
talk:
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
talk
takeaway/takeout MEAL8
taken: be taken USE STH 7
taken in'. be taken in TRICK/DECEIVE 4
taking: yours for the taking AVAILABLE 2
tale STORY 1
talent GOOD AT 8
talented GOOD AT 3
tales: tell tales LIE/TELL A LIE 1
talk RUMOUR/RUMOR 1, SPEAK A LANGUAGE 1,
TALK TO SB 1, 3, 4, 8, TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1,
TELL 11
be all talk BOAST 2, DO STH/TAKE ACTION 4
can talk the hind leg off a donkey TALK TO SB 15
get talking TALK TO SB 5
give a talk TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1
have a talk about DISCUSS 1, TALK TO SB 3
not be talking TALK TO SB 19
not talk about TALK TO SB 20
there is talk of SAY 12
about DESCRIBE 2, DISCUSS 1, TALK/MAKE A
SPEECH 1
about: know what you are talking about KNOW
STH 5
about: much talked about FAMOUS 4
back: answer back/talk back ANSWER/REPLY 3
over DISCUSS 1, TALK TO SB 3
sb into PERSUADE 1
sb out of PERSUADE 12
sb round PERSUADE 4
sense SENSIBLE 1
some sense into SENSIBLE 5
shop TALK TO SB 4
to yourself TALK TO SB 13
your way out of ESCAPE 9
TALK/MAKE A
SPEECH
to make a speech to a group of people
someone who makes speeches in public
a speech
1 to make a speech to a group of people
give a talk address
make a speech/ deliver a speech
give a speech talk about
speak public speaking
give a talk / ,gIv ) Ita:k/to make an informalspeech about
a particular subject to a group of people, for example at a
meeting or on the radio Iv phrase]
give a talk to sb Mr Jarvis agreed to give a talk to the
Gardening Club. I give a talk on sth Iremember her giving
a radio talk on the Women's Movement in North America. I
give sb a talk Dr Cookson gave us a very interesting talk
on her recent visit to Guatemala.
make a speech/give a speech /mek  'spi:t, giv
  spiztf/to speak formally to a large group of people, espe-
cially on an important occasion such as a ceremony or a
political meeting Iv phrase]
I always feel nervous when I'm asked to make a speech. I After
dinner the mayor got up and made a speech thanking every-
one for their support. I make/give a speech about The
Prime Minister gave a rousing speech about national unity
at a well-attended public meeting in Birmingham.
speak/spi:k] to make a formal speech Iv I]
I've been invited to speak at the party's annual convention. I
If we have a company dinner we'll have to have someone to
speak. I speak to Speaking to Congress, the President
appealed for co-operation in tackling the budget deficit.
address/a'dres/address a meeting/crowd/conference
etc (=make a speech to a large group of people) Iv T]
Mr Clinton drove I00 miles in order to address a farmers'
meeting on agricultural methods. I Addressing a crowd of
over 3000 angry union members, Sir Alec said that a pay deal
was in sight.
deliver a speech/d ,hvr  'spi:t/a formal expression
meaning to make an important speech, especially one that
has been carefully prepared Iv phrase]
Each year the mayor delivers a speech to commemorate the
founding of the city. [ She has been chosen to deliver the key-
note speech at the Media Awards ceremony.
talk about/'ta:k abaot/to talk about a particular subject
when you are making an informal speech to a group of
people, for example at a meeting or on the radio Iv I]
This evening I'm going to talk about Shakespeare's histori-
cal plays. [ Mr Baker went on to talk about his role in the
peace process.
public speaking/,pAblik ' spi:kir/the activity or art of
making speeches in public In U]
I've decided to go into politics, so I'm taking a course in
public speaking. [ The standard of public speaking is so low
among our university students that we have stopped having
debates.
2 someone who makes speeches in public
speaker
orator
speaker/'spi:kr/[n C]
The speaker looked around her audience for a few seconds
before beginning her speech. I A judge, a doctor and a priest
are the speakers in tonight's debate about medical research
on animals. I good/interesting/poor etc speaker (=some-
one who can make good etc speeches) He failed in politics
because he was such a poor speaker. I public speaker

TALK/MAKE A SPEECH 1370 TALK TO SB
(=someone who makes speeches in front of a lot of people)
Leonard has quickly gained a reputation as a brilliant
public speaker.
ocator /Dr)t r II :-, o:-/ someone who makes great
public speeches and is good at persuading people to accept
particular ideas, opinions, or principles In C]
Ogilvy was a great orator and was always chosen to speak
on important occasions. I Martin Luther King, a forceful
orator and an inspiring leader
 a speech
speech
talk
speech/spi:t/[n C]
A respectful audience listened in silence to the governor's
speech. I Boothby will be especially remembered for his witty
after-dinner speeches. I speech to In his speech to the nation
Churchill spoke of 'blood, toil, tears and sweat'.
talk/t:kl an informal speech about a particular subject,
for example at a meeting or on the radio In C]
At the end of my talk I invited the audience to ask me ques-
tions. I a series of radio talks by well-known journalists
TALK TO SB
2O
1 to talk
2 to talk to someone in a quick angry way
3 to talk to someone about a particular subject,
especially about a serious matter that needs
to be settled
4 to have a conversation
5 to start having a conversation with someone
6 to have a long conversation, especially with
someone you know well, about very
unimportant things
7 a conversation
8 to talk too much about other people's private
lives
9 to talk too much about a particular subject, in
a way that people find boring or annoying
10 to talk in a confused way about many
different things
1 t to talk to someone in a way that shows you
are sexually attracted to them
12 to talk to someone as if they are stupid when
in fact they are not
13 to talk to yourself
14 to talk too quickly, so that people cannot
understand what you are saying
15 words for describing someone who likes
talking or who talks too much
t6 words for describing someone who does not
usually talk very much
17 to stop talking
18 what you say to someone to tell them to stop
talking
19 ways of saying that two people refuse to talk
to each other because they have argued
to not talk about something
1 to talk
talk say something
speak pipe up
talk It:k/to say things to someone, especially in a conver-
sation Iv I/T]
talk to sb Don't talk to strangers. I talk I can "t hear anyone
when you all talk at once. I You shouldn't talk with your
mouth full. I talk about Vic finds it easy to talk about his
feelings. I I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking
about. I talk sense/nonsense/rubbish etc (=say things
that are sensible, stupid etc) Stop talking nonsense. I talk
non-stop (=talk without stopping) Rose just went on talk-
ing non-stop. I couldn't get a word in.
talk In U] There's been too much talk of failure and defeat
lately (=people have been talking too much about failure
etc).
speak Ispi:k/to say something [v I]
Harry's mother was crying so much that she was unable to
speak. [ Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't
think of what to say. [ For a long time no one spoke, then Mr
Cassidy asked a question. [ speak to sb Natalie's on the
phone. She wants to speak to you.
say something/sei s^m0lr/[v phrase]
Did you say something? I'm afraid I wasn't listening. [ No
one said anything. [ say something about Ican remember
him saying something about his mother being ill.
pipe up/Ipalp '^p/if someone, especially a child, pipes
up, they start to speak after having been silent for a short
time, or when no one expects them to speak [phr v I]
For a few minutes the children all looked at the pictures in
their books, then Ben piped up from the back of the class. I
We'd all been thinking, when Tim suddenly piped up with
a brilliant idea.
2 to talk to someone in a quick angry way
snap at
snap at/'Sheep etl Iv T]
Forsyth came out of the meeting in a rage, snapping at the
office staff and everyone else he met. I Sometimes Jason
became very nervous and argumentative and would snap at
his brother.
3
to talk to someone about a particular subject,
especially about a serious matter that needs
to be settled
talk have a word with
discuss talk over
speak to/with have a heart-to-heart with
have a talk about talk turkey
talk/ta:kl [v I]
talk to sb I can't make a decision until I've talked to my
wife. [ Is Shirley being difficult? Let me talk to her. [ talk
about If someone brings me a problem, we just sit down and
quietly talk about it. [ talk with sb (American) If you need
more money you should talk with Richard. [ talk Look,
Colin, I think there's been a misunderstanding. We need to
talk.
discuss/dl'skhs/to talk to someone about something in
detail, for example about a problem or future plans, in
order to reach a decision Iv T]
discuss sth Have you and your boyfriend ever discussed
marriage? l We never discuss our financial difficulties in
front of the children. I discuss sth with sb I think perhaps
I ought to discuss arrangements for the Christmas party with
your mother. I discuss which/what/how etc Dan and his
friend were still discussing which car to buy.
speak to (also speak with in American English) / Isp:k
tu:, spi:k wI6/to talk to someone about a serious matter
especially after you have arranged to see them Iv T]
speak to/with sb about I intend to speak to the manager
about the way I have been treated. [ Have you spoken with
Michael about your problem? [ speak to/with sb He had
a message saying that thepolice wanted to speak with him. [
The two sisters travelled to Rome to speak to the Pope.
have a talk about/,hav  t3:k obaot/to talk to some-
one seriously about something you have planned to dis-
cuss, especially about a problem or future plans [vphrase]
have a talk with sb about Mrs Weller had to have a talk
with her teenage son about his habit of staying out late at
night. [ have a talk about I think it's time we had a talk
about your future here in the company. [ I haven't finished

TALK TO SB 1371 TALK TO SB
sorting out your program yet. We'll have a talk about it later
on, okay
have a word with /Ihmv o Iwa:rd wiS/to talk to some-
one quickly, and usually privately, especially because you
need their advice about something or because you want
them to do something [v phrase]
If you need help with your finances, have a word with
Charles - he knows a lot about it. I I'll have to have a seri-
ous word with Dinah - this situation has gone on too long. I
I'd like a word with you I'd like a word with you in private.
talk over / t:k otrvor/to talk to someone about a problem
or situation, seriously and in detail, in order to reach an
agreement or a decision [phr v T]
talk sth/it/them over If you're worried about your work,
come round and see me and we'll talk it over. I talk sth over
with sb Carol and Bob were having problems with their
marriage but they were able to talk things over with a coun-
sellor. I talk over sth After every union meeting Jack and
I sat down and talked over what had been said.
have a heart.to.heart with / heev o ho:rt t ho:rt WIS/
to have a private conversation with a friend in which you
both say honestly and sincerely what you fed about some-
thing personal [v phrase]
Bruce was really upset, but I had a good old heart-to-heart
with him last night and he feels better about things now.
talk turkey/ta:k ta:rki/an informal expression used
especially in American English meaning to talk seriously
and honestly about matters that need to be agreed, espe-
cially business matters [v phrase]
We talked and joked, had a few drinks and then we sat down
ready to talk turkey.
4 to have a conversation
talk visit
chat converse
have a chat talk shop
be in conversation make conversation
talk It:k/[v I/T]
Julian and his friends just sat around the fire and talked
for hours. I talk about We talked about what we did when
we were children. I talk to sb It's been nice talking to you. I
talk with sb (American) Jurgis was standing at the bar
talking with an old fellow who Jonas had introduced. I talk
politics/sport etc (=talk about politics etc) Whenever we
meet Veronica we always seem to end up talking politics.
chat/tSmt/to talk in an informal and friendly way, espe-
cially about things that are not serious or important [v I]
chat with sb Senator Fulbright chatted with newsmen for
a few minutes beforegoing into the meeting. I chat to sb She
enjoys chatting to her friends over a cup of coffee. I chat We
can't sit here chatting all morning. I chat about "What were
you talking about for so long? .... Oh, nothing really, just
chatting about this and that".
have a chat/,hmv o 'flint/to have a friendly, informal
conversation with someone [v phrase]
have a chat with She went upstairs to have a little chat with
her sister. [ Why don't you go and have a chat with your bank
manager?[ have a chat When I heard you were feeling
depressed, I though I'd better come round and have a chat.
be in conversation/bi: ;n konvorseQ'an [[ -,ka:n-/to
be having a conversation, especially one that takes all your
attention [v phrase]
be in conversation with When I arrived, Diana was
already in animated conversation with Mr Summers. [ be
deep in conversation (-so that you do not notice what is
happening around you) The two men were deep in conver-
sation as they walked up the path.
visit /'vizXt/ an American word meaning to talk in a
friendly way with someone, especially when you have
come to see them [v I]
My grandmother used to love to sit and visit, but now she's
too deaf to follow the conversation. I visit with I've been over
to his house and visited with him a few times.
converse/kon'va:rs/a formal word meaning to have a
conversation [v I]
We met once and conversed briefly. That was the extent of
our acquaintance. I converse with The conference gave me
an opportunity to meet and converse with VIPs in relaxed
surroundings.
talk shop / t:k 'j'op II -'So:p/if two or more people who
do the same work talk shop, they have a conversation
about their work on a social occasion Iv phrase]
I don't want to go out to dinner with him and his lawyer
friends - all they ever do is talk shop.
make conversation /melk konv0rlseSan [I -ko:n-/to
make an effort to have a conversation with someone, just
in order to seem friendly or polite [v phrase]
I tried to make conversation but he remained silent. I make
polite conversation Sheila had been introduced to the
boss's wife and she felt obliged to make polite conversation.
5 to start having a conversation with someone
get talking
get into conversation/fall into conversation
get talking/get 't:klt]/[v phrase]
The three of us sat down and after a while we got talking. I
get talking to sb I hadn't been working there long before
someone got talking to me and invited me to a party.
get into conversation/fall into conversation/, get
nto konvo r 'seISan, ,fail Into- II -,ka:n-/to start having a con-
versation with a stranger, usually by chance Iv phrase]
After a while the two travellers fell into conversation. [ get/
fall into conversation with She got into conversation with
a woman in the baker's shop.
6 to have a long conversation, especially with
someone you know well, about very
unimportant things
natter pass the time of day
chatter shoot the breeze
natter/ 'neetor/an informal British word meaning to talk
continuously for a long time about unimportant things [v I]
I can't stand about nattering all day with you. I natter
about Keith and Tom were nattering about cars and not
doing a stroke of work.
chatter / 'tSmtor/if a group of people chatter, they alltalk
together quickly and in a friendly way, about unimportant
things [v I]
The boys chattered happily as they walked through the
fields.I chatter away (=chatter continuously) When I left,
Theo and Spiro were chattering away in Greek.
pass the time of day/,pa:s 6o talm 0v de] [[ ,pes-/to
have a short, friendly conversation about unimportant
things with someone you know, especially when you meet
them by chance [v phrase]
I liked Mr Karpati. Whenever we met in the street, he'd stop
and pass the time of day. I pass the time of day with One
of my neighbours called in to pass the time of day with me.
shoot the breeze I,Su:t 6o 'bri:z/an informal Ameri-
can expression meaning to have an informal conversation
about unimportant things [v phrase]
After dinner we had a few drinks and danced, but mostly just
sat around shooting the breeze.
7 a conversation
conversation
chat
small talk
conversation/,knvor'se;San II ,ka:n-/an informal sit-
uation in which two or more people talk to each other [n
C/U]
It's been interesting to talk to you. I've really enjoyed our
conversation. I conversation with My conversation with
him was interrupted by a knock on the door. I telephone
conversation Someone has been listening in on our private
telephone conversations I topic of conversation Bernard's
strange behaviour had become a regular topic of conversa-
tion among his colleagues. I come up in conversation (=be

TALK TO SB 1372 TALK TO SB
mentioned as part of the conversation) I hadn't intended
to talk about Henry's problem - it just came up in con-
versation.
•
chat/flint/an informal, friendly conversation [n C]
He didn't want anything in particular. He just stopped for
a chat. [ There will be no cosy chats or friendly discussions
in the boardroom. We are here to talk business.
small talk/ sma:l ta:k/the kind of conversation in which
people talk about unimportant things in order to be polite
or to avoid serious subjects [n U]
There was some preliminary small talk about the weather
before we all sat down to dinner. [ make small talk Heath
doesn't waste time making small talk - he comes straight
to the point.
 to talk too much about other people's private
lives
gossip
talk
gossip/'gosgp II 'go:-/to spend time talking without a
serious purpose, usually about other people's private lives
or behaviour, and other things that do not really concern
you [v I]
gossip about People tend to gossip about each other in a
small town. [ gossip It's best not to tell Frank anything. You
know how he gossips.
gossip [n U] The boss walked away and the women returned
to their gossip (--started to gossip again). [ The hotel where
he worked was a hotbed of idle gossip.
talk/t:k/if you say that people talk, you mean that they
talk about other people's private lives and behaviour,
usually in a disapproving way [v I]
We mustn't be seen together in public again. People are start-
ing to talk.
9 to talk too much about a particular subject, in
a way that people find boring or annoying
go on/keep on labour the point/labor the point
harp on hold forth
go on/keep on/,g0u 'on, ,ki:p 'on [[ -'e:n/to keep talk-
ing or complaining about something in a way that other
people find annoying [phr v I]
go/keep on about Stop going on about how expensive
everything is. [ Lucy knows that I'm afraid of spiders and
she keeps on about it all the time. [ go/keep on at sb about
You're always going on at me about stopping smoking - I'm
sick of it.
harp on/'he:rp on [[ -e:n/to keep mentioning something
in a way that other people find annoying [v I/T]
harp on sth I know I failed my examination and I must
work harder, but you don't have to keep harping on these
things. I harp on about I wish he wouldn't keep harping
on about the heat - we can't change the weather.
labour the point (British) I labor the point (Ameri-
can)/,leibo r 6o 'paint/to express the same idea again and
again with the intention of making it clear, but with the
result that people get bored [v phrase]
Everyone agrees with what you say - there's no need to labor
the point. I If the students aren't listening it's probably
because the teacher is labouring the point too much.
hold forth/,hoold 'fa:ro/to talk very loudly and confi-
dently to a group of people you are with, giving your opin-
ions or telling a story, especially in a way that some people
find annoying [v phrase]
hold forth about Tom was in the corner, holding forth
about the economidsituation. I hold forth Grandma was
holding forth as usual, retelling all the old family anecdotes.
1 0 to talk in a confused way about many
different things
ramble witter on/rabbit on
waffle windbag/gasbag
ramble / 'rmmbal/to talk for too long in a confused way,
so that you keep changing the subject and forget what you
have already said [v I]
ramble on about We let him ramble on about this and that
while we prepared dinner. [ ramble The trouble is once Dad
gets started on a subject, he's inclined to ramble.
waffle/,wofal [[ 'we:-/a British word meaningto talk for
a long time without making your meaning clear and
without really saying anything useful or important [v I]
Interviewers dislike candidates who just sit there and waffle
instead of answering the questions. [ I realized that he didn't
know what he was talking about - he was just waffling.
waffle [n U] A good lecturer will avoid waffle and will iden-
tify the essential points for the audience.
witter on/rabbit on /w:tor on, ,rmbt on [[-'e:n/
informal British expressions meaning to talk for a long
time about something in a stupid and boring way [phr v I]
It doesn't matter what she's talking about - she'll witter on
for hours. [ George just rabbited on, boring everyone to death
with his silly nonsense.
windbag (also gasbag in British English)/wlndbmg,
'gesbeg/an informal word meaning someone who talks
too much, especially in a very boring way [n C usually in
singular]
He thinks he's a good teacher but he's really an old windbag. [
What a gasbag that Mrs Jenkins is! I've been stuck with her
for over an hour.
1 1 to talk to someone in a way that shows you
are sexually attracted to them
chat up
flirt
chat up / ,tj'mt 'Ap/to talk to someone in a way that shows
you are sexually attracted to them, in order to try and make
them interested in you [phr v T]
chat sb/her/them etc up She looks nice. Why don't you go
and chat her up? l chat up sb When I left the party Kelly was
still chatting up that tall guy in the kitchen.
flirt /fla:rt/ to behave towards and talk to someone as
though you are sexually attracted to them, so that they will
pay attention to you [v I]
flirt with She sat in the corner of the room, smiling and flirt-
ing with one of the English professors. [ It had been ages since
anyone had flirted with me and I didn't really know how to
respond. [ flirt He used to flirt a little but he had never been
unfaithful to his wife.
1 2 to talk to someone as if they are stupid when
in fact they are not
patronize
patronize (also -ise British)/'petronaiz II 'peI-, 'pa>/Iv
T]
Just because you're older than me, it doesn't give you the
right to patronize me. [ Patients are no longer so willing to
let doctors patronize them. [ At 90, one of the things that
angers her most is the way people patronize old ladies.
13 to talk to yourself
talk to yourself
think aloud/out loud
talk to yourself/,t:k to j:r'self/Iv phrase]
I think he's crazy - he doesn't realize that he talks to him-
self all the time. I When Betty's concentrating on a difficult
piece of work she has this habit of talking to herself.
think aloud/out loud/Olrjk o'laod, aot Ilaod/to say
aloud what you are thinking, without meaning to talk to
anyone else Iv phrase]
Was I talking? I must have been thinking out loud. I I hate
playing chess with Boris - he thinks aloud while he's plan-
ning a move.

TALK TO SB 1373 TALK TO SB
t 4 to talk too quickly, so that people cannot
understand what you are saying
gabble
gabble/'gmbal/to talk very fast and unclearly, so that
people cannot understand what you are saying [v I]
Don "t gabble - I can't hear a word you're saying. [ Jean went
on gabbling excitedly, not realizing that no one could follow
him.
1  words for describing someone who likes
talking or who talks too much
talkative can talk the hind leg off
chatty a donkey
conversationalist can talk a blue streak
chatterbox gossip
talkative l'w:konv/liking to talk a lot [adj]
As she grew more relaxed she became more and more talka-
tive. [ He was never a talkative child.
chatty/'tjYeti/liking to talk a lot in a friendly way [adj]
The nurses at the hospital were pleasant and chatty and they
made me feel less nervous. [ We hadn't seen each other for
years but she was still the same chatty, warm-hearted
woman.
conversationalist I,lmnvor'se:lan01st II ,ka:n-/some-
one who is good at starting conversations and making them
interesting or amusing In C]
good/witty/wonderful ere conversationalist James can
talk to anyone about anything - he's a wonderful conversa-
tionalist. [ At dinner she showed herself to be a witty conver-
sationalist.
chatterbox/'tfeetorbos II -ba:ks/someone, especially a
child, who talks too much In C]
That girl never does any work, she's too much of a
chatterbox.
can talk the hind leg off a donkey/kon ,w:k 6o ,hand
leg of o 'dorjki [[ -'do:[lid/an informal British expression
meaning to be able to talk for a very long time without let-
ting anyone else talk [v phrase]
Once old Mulrooney got started there was no stopping him
- that man could talk the hind leg off a donkey.
can talk a blue streak/kon ,w:k o blu: 'stri:k/an infor-
mal American expression meaning to talk a lot without
stopping Iv phrase]
When Annie got excited she could talk a blue streak - I've
never known such a talker.
gossip/goso'p [[ ' go:-/ someone who likes talking about
other people's private lives and behaviour [n C]
Don't tell him anything private - he's a terrible gossip. [
Really, what wicked gossips some people are:
1 6 words for describing someone who does not
usually talk very much
quiet a man/woman of
taciturn few words
silent reticent
quiet/'kwaot/[adj]
She was sixteen, a quiet girl not used to expressing her ideas
out loud. [ The two brothers are very different - Mike is an
extrovert while Steve is really quiet.
taciturn/'tmst3:rn/someone who is taciturn does not
like to talk much, so that they may seem a little unfriendly
or bad-tempered [adj]
The ship's captain was a taciturn man who spoke only to give
orders. [ It was unlike her to be so taciturn - she must have
had something on her mind.
s|lent / ' saflont/usually saying nothing or almost nothing
[adj only before noun]
Ralph was an unhappy, silent youth of about sixteen. [
Andrew never joined in their conversations - he was the
strong silent type.
a man/woman of few words l0 ,mmn, ,woman ov
'wa:rdz/someone who does not talk very much because
they only speak when there is something important to say
In phrase]
My father was a man of few words, but when he spoke every-
one listened.
reticent !'reto'sant/unwilling to talk to other people or
unwilling to talk about a particular subject [adj]
reticent about Jimmy was very reticent about his past. [
reticent Alice just watched and listened to the others, being
more reticent than her sister.
reticence In Ul His reticence with strangers was sometimes
interpreted as unfriendliness.
17 to stop talking
break off
fall silent
break off/,breik 'of II-'  :f/to suddenly stop talking
without finishing what you were saying [phr v I]
Kathleen was just telling me about her new car when she sud-
denly broke off and ran to the window. [ "Listen," Van Gelder
said, "'I could tell you -'" He broke off and started to laugh.
fall silent l, f:l 'saflont/to suddenly stop talking, espe-
cially because something has happened to make you feel
afraid, sad etc Iv phrase]
An argument began but when Captain Bligh appeared the
men fell silent. [ "Your mother would be ashamed of you,
Paul, "" said Mr O'Conner. Paul fell silent, staring hard at
the floor.
1 8 what you say to someone to tell them to stop
talking
be quiet
shut up
be quiet/bi: 'kwaIot/(especially when you want someone
to listen or to let you speak)
Be quiet, please, I'm on the telephone. I The story isn't finished
yet, so be quiet and listen.
shut up /j'^t Ap/ (an impolite expression used when
someone is annoying you by talking too much or by saying
something that you do not like)
Shut up, I'm sick of the sound of your voice. I You're always
moaning about something. Why don't you just shut up?
1 9 ways of saying that two people refuse to talk
to each other because they have argued
not be talking
not be on speaking terms
send sb to Coventry
not be talking/no bi: 'to:kirj/[v phrase]
"Have you seen Tim lately? .... No, we're not talking at the
moment. "1 Have Clare and Linda quarrelled? They haven't
been talking for the past week.
not be on speaking terms/not bi: on spi:krj ta:rmz/
if two people are not on speaking terms, their relation-
ship has become so unfriendly that they refuse to talk to
each other Iv phrase]
She wasn't on speaking terms with Rachel for several weeks
after their quarrel.
send sb to Coventry/,send (sb) to 'kovontri [[ -'ko:v-/
a British expression: if a group of people send someone
to Coventry, they refuse to talk to that person as a way of
punishing them for something Iv phrase]
I don "t know why they won't talk to me, I didn "t know I'd been
sent to Coventry. [ When he refused to join the strike, Joe's
mates sent him to Coventry for three weeks.
20 to not talk about something
not talk about not say anything about
keep off not mention
keep silent about gloss over

TALK TO SB 1374 TALL PERSON
not talk about/not 't3:k abaot/ Iv T]
not talk about sth He won't talk about the accident. I think
he should. I not talk about doing sth I don't know what
they think about me marrying a Catholic - we never talk
about it. I not talk about sb She doesn't talk about her
husband half as much as she did when he first died.
keep off/ki:p 'of [[ -':t/to deliberately not talk about
something, especially because the subject could be embar-
rassing or difficult Iv T]
keep off the subject/question of I normally keep off the
subject of ex-girlfriends on a first date. [ Unless the inter-
viewer asks you directly, keep off the question of why you left
your last job. [ keep off sth Although they are her favourite
subjects, I try to keep off death and illness when talking to
Agnes.
keep silent about/, ki:p 'salant baot/to not talk about
an event or situation from the past for a long time, espe-
cially because it is very difficult to talk about ]v phrasel
He had kept silent about the murder for ten years before he
went to the police. [ Many people keep silent about sexual
abuse until they are adults. [ The), warned her that if she
didn't keep silent about what had happened, they would kill
her.
not say anything about/nt se 'eniO=o ,baot/to not
talk about something, because it could be embarrassing or
difficult or just because you did not think about talking
about it ]v phrasel
Don't say anything about the divorce - she gets very upset
about it. ] Did she say anything about the party? [ Have you
noticed that she never says anything about a husband?
net mentien/not mcnf(m/to not talk about something,
even for a short time or carelessly [v T]
not mention sth Did he mention the party? I not mention
(that) I didn't mention that we were going to the movies in
front of the children. I not mention sb Don't mention Dave
- I think he and Rachel may have .split up.
gloss over /,glos 'aovo r l[ ,gb:s-/ if you gloss over
unpleasant facts, you deliberately avoid talking about them
or you only mention them quickly and without giving
much detail Iv T]
In an interview you should highlight your strengths and
gloss over your weaknesses, ] She spoke in a direct way, like
one who doesn't want to gloss over anything.
talked about: much talked about FAMOUS 4
talkative TALK TO SB 15
talking-to: give sb a talking-to/telling-off TELL SB
OFF 1
talks DISCUSS 5
tall HIGH 2, TALL PERSON 1
tall: be 6ft/2m etc tall TALL PERSON 2
tall: how tall TALL PERSON 2
tall: not very tall SHORT PERSON 1
tall order: be a tall order DIFFICULT 1
tall tale/tall story UNTRUE 3
tall
which meaning?
tall person ,' TALL PERSON
tall building, tree, @ HIGH
mountain etc
TALL PERSON
1 words for describing someone who is tall
2 ways of saying how tall someone is
3 to be much taller than someone else
1 words for describing someone who is tall
tall leggy
lanky hulking/hulking great
gangling a giant
tall/t3:l/[adj]
"'What does he look like? .... Very tall and thin. "1 At the age
o f fifteen he was already six foot three and the tallest boy in
the school. I The photographer asked the taller people to
stand at the back of the group. I Who is that tall chap sitting
next to Diane?
lanky/larjki/a man who is lanky is tall and thin, and
has very long legs [adj]
We were approached by a lanky young man in a suit that
was too small for him I Sunburned and lanky, he looked
more like a farmer than a diplomat.
gangling /gzerjglrj! someone who is gangling, espe-
cially a young person, is tall and thin with very long legs
and arms, and moves in an awkward way ]adj usually
before noun]
Janet introduced me to her son, a shy, gangling teenager. I
a gangling long-legged man with big hands and feet
leggy ! legi/a woman who is leggy is tall and attractive
with long legs ladjl
Robert arrived at the party with a leggy brunette, who
rushed over to talk to her friends. I At sixteen she was taller
than average, with a .sporty, leggy appearance.
hulking/hulking great / 'hAlk[], 'hAlk gret/a hulk-
ing or hulking great man is tall and heavy and tends to
walk in a slow awkward way [adj only before noun]
The hulking figure of Mardelli advanced towards the
trailer. ] They looked strange together, a hulking great man
and a tiny young girl.
a giant/a dsa[ant/a man who is a giant is extremely tall,
especially when you are surprised at how tall he is In
singular]
Bigger even than his father, who was a tall man, James was
a giant. I a giant of a man The biggest of the three brothers
was a sad-faced giant of a man.
2 ways of saying how tall someone is
how tall height
be 6ft/2m etc tall stature
how tall/,hao 't:l/ [adj phrasel
"How tall are you?'" "Tm about I metre 65. "'[ I hadn't seen
her for 5 years, and I was amazed at how tall she looked.
be 6ftl2m etc tall/bi: (6ft, etc) 't:l/having a height of
6 feet/2 metres etc ]v phrase]
John is six feet tall and weighs 200 pounds.
height/ha,t/how tall someone is In U]
your/his/her etc height State your age, height, and
weight. [ Everything about her seemed exaggerated; her
height, the length of her extraordinary fingers, even her
facial features. [ be the same/right etc height She's about
the same height as I am.
stature/'statfr/a formal word meaning the height of
an adult, used especially when describing their appearance
In UI
The bank manager was a grey-haired man of imposing
stature. [ in stature I was by no means short in stature, but
next to this man I felt like a dwarf.
3 to be much taller than someone else
tower over/above
dwarf
tower over/above/taoar aova r, abAv/ [V T]
When Howard stood up, he towered over his father. I A tall,
broad-shouldered, striking figure, he towered above others
around him.
dwarf/dwa:rf/to be so much taller than someone else that
you make them seem shorter than they really are Iv T]
His massive body dwarfed her own but he was the kindest,
gentlest man she had ever known.

taller 1375 TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC
taller: get taller/bigger GROW/GET BIGGER 1
tally SAME 7
tally: keep a tally of COUNT/CALCULATE 4
tamper with DAMAGE 4
tang TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 1
tangible REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 2
tangled MIX 5
tangy SOUR 1
tantrum: have/throw a tantrum ANGRY 6
tap HIT 7, LISTEN 3, SOUND 8
tap: be on tap AVAILABLE 1
taper NARROW 2, THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 4
taper off LESS 5
target ATTACK 8, CHOOSE 5, CRITICIZE 8, PURPOSE 1
target: be an easy target ATTACK 9
tarnish SPOIL 5
tart SOUR 1
tart up DECORATE 1
task JOB/TASK 1
task: be no easy task DIFFICULT 1
taste TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 1, TASTE OF
FOOD OR DRINK 1, 2, 4
taste: be an acquired taste LIKE SB OR STH 4
taste: be in good taste TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC
ETC 4
taste: can taste TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 5
taste: get/acquire a taste for LIKE SB OR STH 4
taste: good taste/taste TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC
ETC 2
taste: have a sweet/strong/unpleasant etc taste
TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 2
taste: have a taste TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 4
taste: have bad taste TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 5
taste: have no taste TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 5,
TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 3
taste: have taste/have good taste TASTE IN
CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 3
taste: in poor/bad taste RUDE/IMPOLITE 5
taste: leave a bad/nasty taste in the mouth
UNPLEASANT 2
taste: not be to your taste/liking DON'T LIKE 1
taste: not taste of anything TASTE OF FOOD OR
DRINK 3
taste good/nice DELICIOUS 1
taste of LITTLE/NOT MUCH 8
TASTE IN CLOTHES,
MUSIC ETC
a person's judgment in choosing things like
clothes, music, furniture etc
good taste
words for describing someone who has good
taste
words for describing somethin'g that has been
made or chosen with good taste
words for describing someone who does not
have good taste
words for describing something that has not
been made or chosen with good taste
1 a person's judgment in choosing things like
clothes, music, furniture etc
taste
taste/tc[st/someone's judgment of what is good or suit-
able when they choose the kind of clothes, music, furniture
etc that they like In U]
taste in Lucy and I have almost exactly the same taste in
music. I You can choose the curtains - I can rely on your
taste. I be a matter of taste (-it depends on your taste)
Some people like Japanese cars and some people like Euro-
pean cars - it's a matter of taste. I there's no accounting
for taste (=everyone has different taste in things) "'She's
bought a bright orange crimplene trouser suit. "" "'Oh well,
there's no accounting for taste. "'
2 good taste
good taste/taste
discernment
good taste/taste/igod Itest, test/the ability to make
good or suitable judgments about what kind of clothes, fur-
niture etc is attractive In U]
She had instinctive good taste, especially in the way she
dressed. I My hotel room was furnished with style and taste. I
impeccable taste (=perfect taste) He wore a Paisley
dressing-gown, so typical of his impeccable taste. I a man/
woman of taste (=someone who has good taste) You're a
man of taste - what do you think of this painting?
discernment/d  sa:rnmnt/a formal word meaning the
ability to make good judgments about what is attractive,
valuable, or suitable and what is not, especially about
expensive things like art, old furniture, or fine food and
wine In U]
A successful antiques dealer, she is well-known for her
knowledge and discernment. I a man/woman of discern-
ment He was a man of ambition and discernment, who knew
both what he wanted and what he liked.
words for describing someone who has good
taste
have taste/ discriminating
have good taste have a good eye for
discerning
have taste/have good taste/hmv It6ISt, hmv ,god
Iteist/ [v phrase not in progressive]
That's a lovely carpet - you have very good taste. I You can
see that he has taste just by looking at his clothes I have
great/terrific ere taste You should see her house! She has
great taste. I have good taste in I always read the books
Julie recommends. She has remarkably good taste in
literature.
discerning/d! Is3:rrlllJ/able to judge what is attractive,
valuable, or suitable and what is not, especially about
expensive things like art, old furniture, or fine food and
wine, and notice small details about them [adj]

TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC
She is one of the most discerning buyers in the soft furnish-
ing trade. I The true quality of this wine will only be
appreciated by those who are discerning enough.
discriminating/d 'skr=mne=t=rj/able to judge what is
of good quality and what is not, especially because you
have a lot of knowledge or experience ]adj]
This is an excellent play. Even the most discriminating
theatregoer will not be disappointed. I Satin Blend - the
cigarette for the discriminating smoker
have a good eye for/hecv  god al f3:r/to be good at
noticing and recognizing what is attractive, valuable, of
good quality etc, and which things look good together
[v phrase not in progressive]
She has an incredibly good eye for fashion. I You need to have
a good eye for colour and design if you are going to decorate
your own house.
4 words for describing something that has been
made or chosen with good taste
tasteful
be in good taste
tasteful/'testfal/[adj]
My uncle wore a :flannel suit, a spotless white shirt and a
tasteful but sombre tie. I Her Christmas cards are always
very tasteful, and beautifully inscribed.
tastefully [ adv ] Griffiths sat behind a huge desk in a taste-
fully furnished office. I She was a small, pale, rather serious-
looking young woman, always tastefully dressed.
be in good taste Ibi: in Igod telst/to be attractive and
suitable in a way that shows good taste Iv phrase]
Whatever she wears, you can be sure it will be in good taste,
and just right for the occasion. I The furniture and decor are
all in the best possible taste.
5 words for describing someone who does not
have good taste
have no taste
have bad taste
vulgar
have no taste /hav ,nao 'test/ ]v phrase not in
progressive]
His parents are rich but they have no taste. I Colin always
wears the most hideous ties - he has no taste at all.
have bad taste/hav ,brad 'teist/to be bad at judging
what kind of clothes, furniture etc are attractive or suit-
able iv phrase not in progressive]
My sister has very bad taste. Have you seen the pink curtains
and orange carpet in her flat? I have terrible/appalling
etc taste How could anyone with such appalling taste
become an interior decorator?
vulgar/' v^lgar/not having good taste, but thinking that
you do, and that your clothes, furniture etc will be admired
by other people ]adj ]
Since Anna has been at that expensive school, she's consi-
dered her parents to be extremely vulgar. I The hotel was full
of vulgar businessmen in grossly expensive suits, smoking
huge cigars.
vulgarity/vAl 'gar'ti/In U] She was always complaining
about the vulgarity of the other women in her office.
words for describing something that has not
been made or chosen with good taste
tasteless tacky
vulgar naff
cheap
tasteless/'telstls/[adj]
It was an ugly room with tasteless decorations and shabby
furniture. I I think a lot of modern architecture is completely
tasteless.
tastelessly [adv] Steve glanced round the tastelessly
furnished apartment.
1376
TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK
vulgar/' vAlgar/something that is vulgar has been chosen
without good taste, and often cost a lot of money or is very
decorated or brightly coloured, because the person who
chose it thinks other people will admire it [adj]
Beatrice considered any bright colour 'vulgar'. So most of
her clothes were brown, fawn, grey, or black. [ He thinks
brass lanterns are vulgar.
vulgarity/v^l gerti/[n U] He was horrified by the vulgar-
ity of his uncle's house, and the tastelessness of his furniture.
cheap/tj'i:p/unattractive, of poor quality, and showing
a lack of good taste [adj]
The interior of the car is all plastic and has a cheap look
about it. I The girls wore bright frilly dresses and were
drenched in cheap perfume.
tacky / tzeki/looking cheap and of very poor quality lad j]
A man stood at the corner, selling fake gold chains and tacky
jewellery. I Those Mickey Mouse watches look pretty tacky.
naff Ineef/an informal British word for describing some-
thing you think shows very bad taste [adj]
Most people think taking a package holiday in Bognor is
really naff. [ Don't wear that shirt with those slacks - it looks
naff .
TASTE OF FOOD
OR DRINK
the taste that a food or drink has, which
makes it different from other foods or drinks
I the taste of a food or drink
2 to have a particular kind of taste
3 words for describing something that has little
or no taste and is therefore uninteresting to
eat or drink
4 to eat or drink a little of something in order to
find out what it tastes like
5 to recognize a particular taste in something
you are eating or drinking
6 the ability to recognize the difference between
one taste and another
1 the taste of a food or drink
taste aftertaste
flavour/flavor hint
tang
taste/test/[n singular]
I never eat yoghurt, I just don't like the taste. I Good cham-
pagne has afresh and delicate taste. I She gave me a glass
of water to take away the foul taste of the medicine.
flavour (British) ! flavor (American) /'fleIvr/ the
pleasant or interesting taste that a particular kind of food
or drink has In C/UI
You can improve the flavour of the sauce by adding a little
red wine. I The ice-cream comes in three flavors -fresh straw-
berry, chocolate-chip, and old-fashioned vanilla. I Contains
no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. I The vari-
ous grades of canned salmon differ in color, texture, and
flavor.
tang ]tin01 the pleasantly sharp taste that some kinds of
food or drink have In singular]
The lemon juice will give your sauce a delicious tang. I a
unique cheese, smooth but leaving a salty tang behind on the
tongue
tangy i adv ] The lemonade was home-made, with a delicious,
tangy taste.
aftertaste/'o:ftartelst [[ 'af-/the unpleasant taste that
some kinds of food and drink leave in your mouth after you
have swallowed them In singular]
The good thing about these new sweeteners is that they don't
leave a sickly aftertaste. [ a pleasant wine, though some
people have complained that it has a sour aftertaste

TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 1377 TEACH
hint/hnt/a slight, pleasant taste of something that you
can only just notice In singular]
a hint of You might notice a hint of nutmeg in the cheese
souffle. [ a wine that tastes of blackcurrants with just a hint
of vanilla
• to have a particular kind of taste
taste
have a sweet/strong/unpleasant etc taste
flavoured/flavored
taste/telst/]v I not in progressive)
taste good/delicious/sour/awful etc I hate cabbage, it
tastes awful. I taste of sth This is supposed to be a choco-
late ice-cream, but it tastes of coffee. I taste like sth I've never
eaten oysters - what do they taste like? I It was the first time
I'd tried trout. It tasted something like salmon.
have a sweet/strong/unpleasant etc taste lhev
 (sweet, etc) 'telst/(used especially when you are describing
to someone exactly what something tastes like) Iv phrase
not in progressive]
The fruit has a sweet, slightly sickly taste. I I found that the
venison had an unpleasantly strong taste.
flavoured (British) I flavored (American) /'flevrd/
having a particular kind of taste [adj]
lemon-/chocolate-/banana-/garlic- etc flavoured For
dessert we had chocolate-flavored cheesecake. I flavoured
with sth The bitter, black coffee was flavoured with figs in
the Viennese style. I highly-/strongly-/delicately- etc
flavoured The wines of Alsace are dry and delicately-
flavoured.
3 words for describing something that has little
or no taste and is therefore uninteresting to
eat or drink
tasteless bland
have no taste insipid
not taste of anything
tasteless/'testls/]adjl
Why is airplane food always so tasteless? I The medicine was
a colourless, tasteless liquid, almost like water.
have no taste /hmv no telst/ [v phrase not in
progressive]
Watermelon is very refreshing but it doesn't have much taste.
not taste of anything/nDt 'teJst v ,eniO3/a British
expression meaning to have no particular taste Iv phrase
not in progressive]
I'm not sure what kind of soup this is supposed to be. It
doesn't taste of anything to me.
biand/bland! food or drink that is bland is uninterest-
ing to eat or drink because it has no strong or noticeable
taste [adj]
Make sure the salad is correctly seasoned - it should not be
bland. I At first, give the baby tiny portions of any bland food
that has been sieved or pureed.
blandness In U) People are always complaining about the
blandness and sameness of processed food.
insipid/In's,pd/having very little taste and therefore not
at all enjoyable to eat or drink [adj]
It was a terrible meal - tough meat with insipid, watery
vegetables. I Herbs and spices can transform an insipid dish
into a delicacy.
4 to eat or drink a little of something in order to
find out what it tastes like
taste try
have a taste sample
taste/telst/[v T]
You should taste my Dad's fried chicken, it's delicious. [ "'Go
on then, taste it, "said my grandfather, pouring a little of his
home-made wine into my glass.
have a taste/,hmv o test/to eat or drink a very small
amount of something, to find out what it tastes like
[ v phrase ]
That cheese looks good. Can I have a taste? [ have a taste
of/know Clare is a good cook. I had a taste of her pumpkin
pie.
try/tral/to taste food or drink in order to find out if you
like it Iv T not in passive]
"'Do you like goat's milk?" "7 don't know, I've never tried it. "[
I've just made some carrot cake. Would you like to try a piece?
sample / so:rnpal [I Isam-/to taste food or drink in order
to see how it compares with other foods or drinks, espe-
cially when it is your job to do this Iv T]
I had satnpled every kind of chocolate that ny firm had
manufactured. ] No one shouM visit Normandy without sam-
pling the local cheeses.
5 to recognize a particular taste in something
you are eating or drinking
can taste
can taste/kan 'telst/ [v phrase]
Can you taste the garlic in the sauce? I Don't pretend you
haven't put vodka in my drink, I can taste it.
 the ability to recognize the difference between
one taste and another
sense of taste
palate
sense of taste/,sens v 'te,st/In phrase]
Richard's cold has made him lose his sense of taste. I Our
sense of taste is closely linked to our sense of smell.
palate/'palt/the ability to judge good food or wine by
its taste In C usually singular]
Among wine tasters Moineville had the finest palate and the
greatest experience. I dishes to satisfy the most discerning
palate
tasteful TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 4
tasteless TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC 6, TASTE OF
FOOD OR DRINK 3
tasty DELICIOUS 1
tattered TEAR 4
tattle: tell tales/tattle on sb TELL 10
tarry CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
taunt MAKE FUN OF 1
taut TIGHT :3
taxing DIFFICULT 2
tea MEAL 4
teach TEACH 1, 2, 3
teach sb a lesson PUNISH 1
TEACH
1 to teach someone a skill or how to do
something
2 to teach in a school, college etc as your job
3 to teach people that they should think or
behave in a particular way
4 the work of a teacher
5 someone who teaches
6 words for describing something that is
intended or designed to teach
1 to teach someone a skill or how to do
something
teach coach
train instruct
teach/ti:tj'/Iv T]
teach sb to do sth My father taught tne to swim. [ Who
taughtyou to cook so well? I teach sb how to do sth Hamad

TEACH 1378 TEACH
is teaching me how to play the guitar. I The company runs
courses for bank staff aimed at teaching them how to inter-
view clients. I teach sb sth She taught me several card tricks.
train/tren/to teach someone the skills they need for a par-
ticular activity, especially a job Iv T/
train sb A lot of etnployers can't afford to train their wor-
kers properly. I train sb to do/be sth Children as young
as nine are being trained to use guns and grenades. I train
sb in Women are now being trained in carpentry, construc-
tion, and engineering.
trained [adj usually before noun] We need more trained
nurses (=people who have been trained to be nurses). I/t
can help to talk to a trained counsellor.
coach/kootj'/to teach a person or a team the skills they
need for a sport Iv I/T/
coach sb Leila has natural sporting talent. I don't really
need to coach her. I He coached the 1984 United States Olym-
pic basketball team which won the gold medal. I coach sth
As well as teaching French, Martin coached tennis after
school. I coach in sth She coaches in voice techniques at the
Drama Acadetny.
instruct/n'strAkt/ to teach someone about something,
especially a practical subject or skill, by explaining it and
showing them what to do Iv T1
instruct sb in Volunteers are instructed in the use of several
types of weapon. I instruct sb in how to do sth Has anyone
instructed you in how to use the computer system? [ instruct
sb The person who instructed you obviously didn't know
much about map-reading!
2 to teach in a school, college etc as your job
teach
lecture
teach/ti:q/Iv I/TI
I taught for a year in France. I teach French/mathema-
tics/science etc Andy teaches German at a local school. I
teach a class I teach the youngest class, the four and five-
year-olds. I teach sth to sb She teaches English to Italian
students. I Teaching literature to the fifth grade is nojoke.'l
teach school (=an American expression meaning to teach
in a school) My Dad taught school in New York.
lecture / lektfor/to teach in a university or college lv II
lecture on She lectures on Shakespeare at Edinburgh
University. I lecture in For many years Dr Thornton lec-
tured in Applied Linguistics at University College. I lecture
We only spend two to four hours a week lecturing. The rest
of our time is spent on research. I Before his retirement he
lectured at the Institut Pasteur.
3 to teach people that they should think or
behave in a particular way
teach brainwash
educate condition
bring sb up to do sth indoctrinate
instil/instill
teach/ti:tj/to teach someone, especially a child or young
person, how to behave or what to believe Iv TI
teach sb to do sth When I was young, children were taught
to treat older people with respect. I teach sb (that) Joe's
mother taught him that he could do anything, if only he tried
hard enough. I teach sb sth Our school taught us discipline
and self-respect. I He's never been taught the difference
between right and wrong.
educate/edjoket II edso-/ to teach people, especially
over a long period of time, about things that will be help-
ful to them in life, fffr example how to behave in a socially
acceptable way or how to look after themselves properly
[vTl
educate sb about The public need to be educated about
healthy eating. I educate sb Marx believed the working class
should be politically educated. I educate sb to do sth What
we're trying to do is to educate young people to be responsible
citizens.
bring sb up to do sth/,brij (sb) Ap to 'du: (sth)/to teach
your child or children to behave or think in a particular
way as they grow up Iv phrase]
My parents brought me up to try and be kind to others. I Chil-
dren are often brought up to tell the truth in all circum-
stances. I bring sb up in the. belief/conviction/know-
ledge that Alison was brought up in the belief that she was
in some way superior to other children.
instil (British) I instill (American)/n'stl/to teach some-
one a way of thinking or behaving, especially concerning
morals and good manners, over a long period of time by
showing and telling them what they should do Iv T/
instil sth in sb Dick and Donna instilled good manners in
their children from an early age. I The Japanese educational
reforms were intended to instiI patriotism in the new gener-
ation. I instil sth It is the responsibility of parents with
teenagers to instill what they think are the right values.
brainwash/'brenwo II -w  :L -wa:  /to teach someone
to believe something that is not true, by using force, con-
fusing them, or continuously repeating it over a long
period of time Iv T/
Mrs Davis accused the religious movement of having brain-
washed her daughter. I brainwash sb into doing sth For
years we've been brainwashed by advertising into buying
more and more things that we don't need.
brainwashing In U/ Brainwashing techniques include
preventing the person from sleeping and depriving them of
any human contact.
condition/kon'dIan/to make someone think or react in
a particular way by influencing their attitudes or reactions
over a long period of time Iv T/
condition sb to do sth In his most famous experiment,
Parley conditioned dogs to associate the sound of a bell with
food. I condition sb into doing sth In the 1950s Americans
were conditioned into believing that Russia was 'The Evil
Ernpire" and that Communism was like some form of plague.
conditioning In U//t can take years of therapy to undo early
childhood conditioning.
indoctrinate/in'doktrnet [] in'do:k-/to teach someone
to accept a particular set of religious or political beliefs,
without allowing them to discuss it, doubt it, or consider
other possible beliefs Iv T/
indoctrinate sb The authorities were worried that socialist
teachers might indoctrinate their students. [ indoctrinate
sb into/to The whole nation was indoctrinated into believ-
ing that they were the superior race.
indoctrination /In,doktr'neIan / [[-,do:k-/ In UI She
believes that all religious teaching in schools is indoc-
trination.
4 the work of a teacher
teaching tuition
education training
instruction
teaching/'ti:tJ'r/In U/
John started his teaching career ten years ago. I Rachel has
taken time off from teaching to have her first baby.
education/,edjo'keIdn II ,edso-/the whole area of work
concerned with teaching people in schools, colleges,
universities etc In U/
People working in education are becoming angry with the
government's refusal to consult them about changes. I Jobs
in education are not usually highly paid. I Emily Harris, the
Labour Party's spokeswoman on education.
instruction /n'strAkldn/ teaching in a particular skill
[nUl
Young drivers come to us for instruction in safe and skilful
driving. [ Half an hour's instruction from an experienced
horse-rider is much better than anything you can learn from
a book. I be under instruction (=being taught) They're not
fully trained yet - they're still under instruction.
tuit|en/tju:an II tu:-/teaching given privately to one
person or a small group in a particular subject In UI
Nina's parents paid for extra tuition to help her with her
maths. [ Computerworld offers personal tuition on the latest
equipment.

TEACH 1379 TEAR
training / 'treInIrJ/teaching in the skills needed to do a job
In U]
Mr Hughes is responsible for staff training. I full training
(=all the training someone needs to be able to do some-
thing) No experience is necessary for this post, as full train-
ing will be given.
5 someone who teaches
teacher instructor
tutor coach
educator trainer
lecturer academic
professor faculty
teacher/'d:tfr/In C]
She's a teacher at the local elementary school. I English/
mathematics/biology etc teacher I am an English
teacher at Sichuan University. I secondary school/univer-
sity etc teacher Some high-school teachers of Spanish or
French do not speak the language as well as they should. I
a good/bad etc teacher I learned a lot from Mr Harrald
- he was a really good teacher.
tutor/'tju:t r 1[ 'tu:-/someone who gives private lessons
to a single student or a small group; in British English a
tutor also means a university teacher who is responsible
for directing the studies of a group of students and giving
them advice In C]
She had been too ill to attend school so she studied at home
with a private tutor. [ As well as lecturing, each member of
staff acts as personal tutor to two or three students. [ I've got
an appointment with my tutor.
educator/ledjoketzr II led3z-/an American word mean-
ing someone who teaches in a school, college, or univer-
sity In C]
Most educators agree that intimidating kids is not the best
way to encourage them to learn. I Professor Taylor is gener-
ally recognized as one of the state's most respected educators.
lecturer/' lektfamr/a British word meaning someone who
teaches at a university or college In C]
Dr Taylor is a senior lecturer at Sheffield University. I
lecturer in English/mathematics/physics ere John
Adams, lecturer in astrophysics at University College,
London. [ English/mathematics/physics ete lecturer
I used to write down every word my geography lecturer said.
professor /pr'fesr/ in Britain, a very high ranking
university teacher; in the United States, any university
teacher who has a second degree In C]
My professor was the famous historian A J P Taylor. [
Professor Noam Chomsky I College professors often do other
kinds of work in the vacations.
instructor ! In'strAktr/someone who teaches a practical
skill such as driving, horse-riding etc In C]
dancing/driving/ski etc instructor He's a driving
instructor at a transport school in Frankfurt. I She was
working full-time now as an aerobics instructor.
coach/kut/someone who trains a person or a team in
a sport In C]
He's a very successful coach. His teams have won five
national championships. I basketball/football/tennis etc
coach Many basketball coaches took up coaching after suc-
cessful playing careers.
trainer/ tre na r/someone who trains people in the skills
they need to do a job In C]
The company has hired a trainer to teach their workers sell-
ing and marketing skills. ] I work as a teacher trainer.
academic /,mk demik-/someone who works, studies,
and teaches in a university, and has great knowledge about
a particular subject [n C]
Academics can usually get time off teaching to do their own
research.
faculty /'fekalti/ an American word meaning all the
teachers in a college or university [n C usually singular]
Norman White has been on the faculty at UCLA for over
thirty years. [ They say she's had affairs with half the fclculty.
6 words for describing something that is
intended or designed to teach
educational
instructive
educational /,edjo'keianl- II ,eds-/ designed or
intended to help teach you something or encourage you to
learn something [adj]
Liz makes educational programmes for children's televi-
sion. I We produce a range of educational software for per-
sonal study on home computers. I educational toys for the
under-fives
instructive/in'str^ktiv/something that is instructive
teaches you a lot about something [adj]
I found his lectures instructive. I always felt I'd learnt some-
thing important by the end of them. I Our guided tours are
designed to be both entertaining and instructive.
teacher TEACH 5
teacher's pet FAVOURITE/FAVORITE 2
teaching TEACH 4
team GROUP OF PEOPLE 5, PLAY A GAME OR
SPORT 4
team up TOGETHER 6
tear FAST/QUICK 7, PULL 4, RUN 1, TEAR 1, 5
tear down DESTROY 3
tear off REMOVE 2, TAKE OFF CLOTHES 1
tear/rip sth to shreds TEAR 2
tear sb's clothes off TAKE OF CLOTHES 2
tear to shreds CRITICIZE 2
tear up TEAR 2
tear yourself away LEAVE A PLACE 14
TEAR
1 to damage something made of paper or
cloth, by pulling it too hard or letting it touch
something sharp
2 to deliberately destroy something by tearing it
into pieces
3 to become torn accidentally
4 words for describing something such as
cloth, paper, or clothing that has been torn
5 a hole that is made when something has
been torn
1 to damage something made of paper or
cloth, by pulling it too hard or letting it touch
something sharp
tear
rip
ladder
tear/ter/Iv T]
tear sth Mrs Bailey opened "the present carefully, trying not
to tear the wrapping paper. [ tear sth on sth I tore my dress
on a nail that was sticking out of the chair. [ tear sth out/
off (=remove something by tearing it) She tore a page out
of her diary and wrote her phone number on it. [ Jim's sleeve
was torn off during the fight with Martin. [ tear a hole in
sth I've torn a hole in my jacket, climbing over that fence.
rip/rp/to tear something quickly or violently [v T]
rip sth Stop pulling my dress! You'll rip it! [ rip sth out
Madge ripped the article out of the magazine and ran to
show it to her husband. I rip sth on sth The divers swam
cautiously so as not to rip their rubber suits on the sharp
rocks.
|adder / 'lzedar/ladder your tights/stockings (=a Brit-
ish word: to accidentally tear them so that a line of stitches
becomes loose) Iv T]
Damn! I've laddered my tights!

TEAR 1380 TELEPHONE
to deliberately destroy something by tearing it
into pieces
tear up tear/rip sth to shreds
rip up shred
tear up/,tcor '^p/to tear a piece of paper or cloth into
many pieces [phr v T]
tear up sth After Alan left, she tore up all his old letters. I
tear sth/it/them up Pamela picked up the cheque, tore it
up, and threw it in the waste paper basket.
torn-up / 't:):rn ^p/[adj] The rabbit hutch had a layer of torn-
up newspaper in the bottom.
rip up/, rp '^p/to tear something into pieces quickly or
angrily [phr v T]
rip up sth Martine ripped up her essay and started again. I
rip sth/it/them up Quickly, Pierre ripped his shirt up to
make bandages.
tear/rip sth to shreds/te r, ,rip (sth) tz j'redz/to tear
a piece of paper into very small pieces, especially because
you are angry Iv phrase]
In a fit of anger Karen tore his photograph to shreds. I As
Hilary wrote in her diary she had a sudden urge to tear out
the page and rip it to shreds.
shred/J'red/to deliberately destroy letters, secret docu-
ments etc by putting them through a special machine
which tears them into long thin pieces Iv T]
The superintendent handed his secretary some letters and
asked her to shred them. I Some photographs and important
documents - the only evidence available - had been
shredded.
3 to become torn accidentally
get torn/get ripped split
rip run/ladder
get torn/get ripped/,get 't:rn, 'ript/[v phrase]
If the cover of the book gets torn, the library sends it to be
repaired. I I'm afraid your coat got ripped. I don't know how
it happened.
rip/rp/to become badly torn, especially as the result of
a sudden movement Iv I1
Tom heard his shorts rip as he climbed over the gate. I I knew
that if I pulled the parachute too hard it would rip.
split/spl:t/if material splits, a long straight tear appears
in it lv I]
Hudson's coat had split right up the back. I These shoes are
so old the canvas has split.
run (also ladder in British English)/r^n, lmdr/if tights,
etc run or ]adder, they become torn so that a line of
stitches becomes loose Iv 1]
Woollen tights don't ladder as easily as nylon ones. I
Dammit! These stockings have run.
4 words for describing something such as
cloth, paper, or clothing that has been torn
torn tattered
be in shreds ragged
frayed
torn/t:rn/[adj]
My clothes were badly torn, and my face and hands were
black from the explosion. I The pages of the book are torn
and faded but I still enjoy reading it.
be in shreds/bi: n 'J'redz/if a piece of cloth or paper is
in shreds, it has been torn and damaged so much that it
has almost fallen apart Iv phrase]
The tent is in shreds. There's no way we can use it. [ The cur-
tains hung in shreds and the carpet was worn thin.
frayed/fred/ clothes or things made of cloth that are
frayed are torn a little along the edges, usually because
they have been used a lot [adj]
frayed at the cuffs/collars/edges ere The jacket was a
little frayed at the cuffs. [ frayed Jackie made her old jeans
into shorts with frayed, white edges.
tattered / 'tmtord/cloth, paper, or a piece of clothing that
is tattered is torn in many places and dirty, especially
because it has been used a lot [adj]
A man in tattered blue dungarees was busy in the garage. I
The old diary was yellowed and tattered and I could just
make out the initials "A.M.G. ".
ragged/' ringed/clothes or things made of cloth, that are
ragged are torn and untidy, often because the people who
own them are very poor [adj]
The blanket she wore over her head was ragged and filthy. I
I was approached for money by a man in ragged clothes.
 a hole that is made when something has
been torn
tear
rip
run/ladder
tear/tear/In C]
How did you get that tear in your jacket ?1 I've noticed there's
a small tear near the corner of the painting.
rip/rp/a long, usually irregular break that is made when
something such as a piece of clothing has been torn In C]
I keep forgetting to sew up the rip in this blouse. I The rips
in the boat's old sails had been patched again and again.
run (also ladder in British English)/r^n, 'lmdr/a line of
torn stitches in a pair of tights etc [n C]
There's a run in this pair of pantyhose - I can't wear these.
tearful CRY 1
tearjerker EMOTIONAL 5
tears: be close to tears/be on the verge of tears
CRY 5
tears: be in tears CRY 1
tears: bring tears to sb's eyes CRY 7
tears: burst into tears CRY 4
tears: fight back tears CRY 5
tears: have tears in your eyes CRY 1
tears roll/run down sb's cheeks CRY 2
tease MAKE FUN OF 1
technicalities DETAIL 2
technicality DETAIL 3
technique WAY/METHOD 1
tedious BORING 1, 3
teeming CROWD 6
teeming: be teeming with FULL 8
teenage YOUNG 8
teenager YOUNG 6
teens: in your teens YOUNG 6
teeth: by the skin of your teeth JUST/ALMOST NOT 3
teeth: sb's teeth are chattering COLD 6
teeth: sink your teeth into BITE 2
teething troubles PROBLEM 4
teetotal DRINK 8
telephone TELEPHONE 1
telephone: by phone/by telephone TELEPHONE 6
telephone call TELEPHONE 4
@ TELEPHONE
to speak to someone by telephone
to make a telephone call that is paid for by
the person you are phoning
to telephone someone again, for example
because they were not available when you
telephoned them before
a telephone call
someone who makes a telephone call
ways of saying that you tell someone
something on the telephone
to end a telephone call

TELEPHONE 1381 TELEPHONE
1 to speak to someone by telephone
phone/call ring up/call up
telephone give sb a call/ring
ring make a phone call
phone up be on the phone
phone/call/faun, k,:l/[v I/T]
phone sb/a number I'll phone you if there's any news. I To
find out more, call this number. I phone/call It's twenty
minutes since she called. She should have arrived by now. i
Anne phoned to say she's having a party on Friday. I phone/
call for I'll call for a taxi now. i phone/call round (=phone
several people or organizations, especially to get informa-
tion) I phoned round to see if anyone knew where Tom was.
telephone/'telaI faun/a word meaning to speak to some-
one by telephone, used especially in writing or in official
or business contexts Iv I/T]
telephone sb/a number At five o'clock I telephoned the
Defense Secretary, but he was unavailable. I For details of
your nearest tourist office telephone 4127. I telephone Mr
Dodd telephoned to refuse the invitation. I telephone news/
information etc Jack had the unenviable job of telephon-
ing news of flight cancellations to customers. I telephone
for I think we should telephone for a doctor immediately. I
Write or telephone for more information.
ring IrIOI a British word meaning to telephone someone
[v I/T]
ring sb/a number Shall I ring Sarah to see if she wants
to come out with us? I ring Did anyone ring while I was out? l
Gill rang to tell you she'll see you tonight. I ring for I think
we should ring for an ambulance, he's bleeding quite badly. I
ring round (=telephone several people or organizations,
especially to get information) You'd better ring round some
travel agents to get some prices.
phone up/, faun 'Ap/to speak to someone by telephone,
especially in order to have a friendly conversation with
them or to ask for information [phr v I/T]
phone up sb She uses the office phone to phone up her
friends in Sweden. I phone sb/her/them etc up I've got his
home telephone number. I might phone him up. I phone up
"I don't know what time the last train is." "'Well, phone up
and find out. '"
ring up (British) I call up (American)/,rrj '^p, ,ka:l ^P/
to speak to someone by telephone, especially in order to
have a friendly conversation with them or to ask for infor-
mation [phr v I/T]
Your uncle rang up about an hour ago. He wanted to speak
to you. I ring/call up sb Why don't you ring up Jackie and
apologize? I ring/call sb up He's an expert on financial
investment. People call him up from all over the world to get
advice.
give sb a call (also give sb a ring in British English)
/,gIv (sb) a 'k:l, glv (sb) a 'rlrj/expressions meaning to
speak to someone by telephone, used especially when you
are telling someone that you will telephone them or asking
them to telephone you Iv phrase]
Just give me a call if you need anything. [ Why don't I give
you a ring later and find out when you'll be free?
make a call/phone call/telephone call/,meIk a
'k:l, 'faun k:l, 'telfaon ,k:l/ expressions meaning to
speak to someone by telephone, used especially when you
do not mention the person or organization that you are
speaking to Iv phrase]
"'Can I make a phone call?" he asked the policeman at the
desk. [ Sam hadn't gone out to walk the dog, but to make a
telephone call. [ Diana made a quick call to Munich before
the meeting.
be on the phone/bi: Dn 6a ' faon/to be speaking to some-
one on the telephone Iv phrase]
Diana's still on the phone. I think we'd better start dinner
without her. [ There's someone on the phone for you. [ have
sb on the phone (=someone is on the phone to you) I've
had Dave on thephone nearly every day this week! I wish he'd
stop annoying me. [ be on the phone to sb Just a moment
- I'm on the phone to my mother.
2 to make a telephone call that is paid for by
the person you are telephoning
reverse the charges
call collect
reverse the charges/rI va:rs 6a 'tj'o:rd3az/a British
expression meaning to make a telephone call which is paid
for by the person you are telephoning Iv phrase]
I always reverse the charges when Iphone my parents; they
don't mind paying!
call collect/,k:l ka'lekt/an American expression mean-
ing to make a telephone call which is paid for by the person
you are telephoning Iv phrase]
call sb collect lf you run out of money, call us collect and
we'll send you some. I make a collect call I made an emer-
gency collect call to my attorney in Malibu.
3 to telephone someone again, for example
because they were not available when you
telephoned them before
call back/ring back
return sb's call
try again
call back (also ring back in British English) I,k:l 'bek,
,rIrj bekl [phr v I/T]
When I phoned she was out so I'll have to call back later. [
I'm afraid Mr Jones is in a meeting at the moment. Could
you ring back in about an hour? [ call sb back "'Does Jake
want me to call him back? .... No, he left a message asking
you to meet him at eight o'clock. ""
retMrn sb's call/ri ,t3:rn (sb's) 'k:l/an expression used
especially in business meaning to telephone someone
because they telephoned you before when you were not
available Iv phrasel
I'm afraid Dr Shapiro's busy right now, but I'll ask him to
return your call when he's free.
t/again / ,tra a 'gen, a'geln/to telephone a number again
because someone was already speaking on that line when
you telephoned before Iv phrase]
I've already phoned him twice, but I suppose I'd better try
again. [ try sb/a number again Can you try the station
again? It was busy when I called.
4 a telephone call
call/phone call
telephone call
call/phone call/k3:l, 'faun k:ll [n C]
We keep getting phone calls from newspaper reporters. [ One
phone call to London got her a job interview. [ Mr Deckard,
there's a call for you. Will you take it in your office? [ long-
distance call (=to or from someone a long way away) He
made several long-distance calls to Hong Kong. [ local call
(=to someone near you) Local calls are charged at a mini-
mum of ten cents per call.
telephone call/'telfaon ,k:l/a word meaning a phone
call used especially in writing or in official or business con-
texts In C]
There is a telephone call for you, Mr Baron. [ After several
telephone calls, detectives traced two witnesses to the accident.
5 someone who makes a telephone call
caller
caller/' k3:lar/a word used especially by people who work
with telephones, meaning a person making a telephone call
In C]
Did the caller leave a number? [ Hold on please, I have an
overseas call for you. Go ahead, caller.
[ "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

TELEPHONE 1382 TELEVISION/RADIO
6 ways of saying that you tell someone
something on the telephone
on the phone
over the phone
by phone/by telephone
on the phone/n 6 'fon/[adv phrase]
What did he tell you on the phone? l Margaret already knows
about the problem because I mentioned it to her on the
phone. I I didn't want to go into details on the phone, so we
arranged a meeting in my office for the next day.
over the phone/ov r 6, fon/on the telephone instead
of by letter or by meeting people [adv. phrase]
Since he got sick, he's been doing most of his business over
the phone. I I'm sorry - we're not allowed to give details of
customers" accounts over the phone. I "'I'd rather not talk
about it over the phone, "" said Nigel ominously.
by phone/by telephone/bai 'fon, ba: 'telfoon/if you
tell someone something by phone or by telephone, you
make a telephone ca]] to tell them it [adv phrase]
I dictated the letter to my secretary by phone, because I
couldn't make it to the office. ] Reservations can be made by
telephone, but must be confirmed in writing within seven
days.
7 to end a telephone call
put the phone down
hang up
ring off
get cut off
I must go/I have to go
put the phone down/,pot 6a 'faon daon/to put down
the part of a telephone you speak into after your telephone
conversation has ended Iv phrase]
His hand was trembling as he put thephone down. The news
was a disaster. I There was a long pause, and she was about
to put the phone down when the voice came back again. I
put/slam the phone down on sb (=put the phone down
while they are still speaking because you are angry) He
tried to calm her, but she slammed the phone down on him.
hang up / ,hm Ap/to finish a telephone conversation or
stop it before it has finished by putting the telephone down
[phr v I/T]
"'We'll expect you at seven thirty, then. Goodbye. "" She hung
up, and went back to the kitchen. I hang up the phone/
receiver I said I'd be right there. I hung up the phone and
grabbed my purse and car keys. I hang up on sb (=put the
telephone down while someone is still talking) Please don't
hang up on me. I must talk to you.
ring off/,rill 'f ii -::f/a British word meaning to end
a telephone call [phr v I]
Don't ring off.t I haven't finished what I was telling you. [
I suppose I'd better ring off now - we've been on the phone
for over an hour.
get cut off/get ,kAt 'f/if you get cut off when you are
making a telephone call, the telephone suddenly stops
working in the middle of your conversation and you cannot
continue Iv phrase]
I got cut off in the middle of the conversation; the phone sud-
denly went dead. [ I'm trying to phone someone in Newark,
but as soon as they answer we get cut off. Can you check the
line, please?
I must goll have to go/a: m^st 'go, ai ,hmv ta 'goo/
you say I must go or I have to go when you want to end
a telephone conversation
I must go now; there's someone at the front door. I I'm afraid
I'll have to go; I have a meeting in five minutes. I'll call you
back later. ..
• televise
:!: television
TELEVISION/RADIO 3
TELEVISION/RADIO 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
TELEVISION/RADIO
words meaning television
words meaning radio
to produce and send out television and radio
programmes
ways of saying that a programme is
broadcast on television or radio
a programme that is broadcast on television
or radio
an organization that broadcasts television and
radio programmes
1 words meaning television
television the box/the tube
TV the small screen
telly
television/'tel ,vI3an, ,tel 'vI.n] a way of broadcasting
pictures and sounds in the form ofprogrammes over a long
distance so that people can watch them on a television set
[n U]
Teachers today are using television and film much more in
the classroom. [ How has television affected family and com-
munity life?[ watch television Kids spend too much time
watching television and not enough time reading. [ on tele-
vision (=shown on television) There have been complaints
that there aren't enough serious programmes on television. [
television programme/series/documentary etc She
had first become interested in architecture when she saw a
television programme about it. [ in television (-in the
industry that produces programmes for television) Tom's
hoping to get a job in television.
TV/,ti: 'vi:/[n U]
People are learning about the rainforests through TV and
newspapers. [ The crowd got even more excited at the arrival
of a TV camera crew. [ on TV (=shown on television) I'm
looking for one of those new carpet cleaners I saw advertised
on TV. [ TV series/programme/documentary etc Peter
Falk, star of the popular TV series "Columbo'
telly/'teli/an informal British word meaning television
In U]
After supper, we all sat down and watched telly. [ on telly/
on the telly Is there anything good on telly tonight?
the box (British) I the tube (American)/6 'bks, 6
'tju:b II -'tu:b/informal expressions meaning the television
In singular]
That guyjust sits and watches the tube all day long. I on the
box/tube What's on the box?
the small screen /6a 'sma:l ,skri:n/ an expression
meaning television, used especially when comparing it to
cinema In singular]
I had seen the movie before, but it didn't look so good on the
small screen.
 words meaning radio
radio
radio/'re,dido/a way of sending sounds in the form of
programmes over a long distance, so that people can listen
to them on a radio set [n U]
The story was written especially for radio and the sound
effects are amazing. [ radio programme/series/cam-
paign etc Several celebrities have agreed to take part in the
radio campaign to combat drug abuse. [ listen to the radio
She would relax in the afternoons, listening to the radio. [
on the radio I heard on the radio that all the roads are
closed because of flooding. [ on radio (=on the radio system)
The event was broadcast immediately on radio and TK [ in
radio (=in the industry that produces programmes for
radio) Before he became a writer he used to work in radio.

TELEVISION/RADIO 1383 tell the truth
 to produce and send out television and radio
programmes
broadcast screen
televise put on
show
broadcast/'bm:dka:st II -kest/to send out television and
radio programmes so that people can watch or listen to
them Iv I/T[
broadcast sth The BBC will be broadcasting live coverage
of the Tyson fight. [Radio WXLM broadcasts on 98.2 FM. i
broadcast Mimi's Magic Show was due to be broadcast on
TV that afternoon.
broadcasting In U] A group was set up to encourage more
coverage of women's issues in broadcasting.
televise/'telvaz/to broadcast events, discussions etc
so that people can watch them on television Iv T]
This year's championships are not going to be televised at
all. [ Universities plan to televise classes so that students can
learn without having to leave their homes.
show/Sao/to broadcast programmes, films, etc which
people can watch on television Iv T]
This programme will be shown again at the same time
tomorrow. [ They're discussing whether scenes containing
such violence should be shown so early in the evening. [ In
the corner was a TVset showing a children's program with
the sound turned down.
screen/skri:n/a word used especially in newspapers or
in the television industry meaning to show a programme
or film on television Iv T usually in passive]
"Border War' is to be screened by Channel Four later on in
the week. [ She's a star of the American TV show, "thirty-
something', which is now screened in Britain.
put on/,pot 'on ii -'fl:nl an informal word meaning to
broadcast a programme on television or radio [phr v T]
put on sth Why do they put on so many comedy programrnes
these days? [ put sth/it/them on I think they should put
more sport on and less news.
4 ways of saying that a programme is
broadcast on television or radio
be on
be on the air
be on/bi: 't)n II -'am/if a programme, film etc is on, it
is being broadcast on television or radio Iv I/T[
Yes, I remember that programme - it was on last year. [ She
never goes out if her favourite show is on. I be on the radio/
television There's a good concert on the radio this after-
noon.
be on the air/hi: Dn 6i 'ear/if a programme is on the
air it is being broadcast Iv phrase]
We'll be on the air at the same time next week. i Someone
called in while the programme was still on the air and
identified the killer.
5 a programme that is broadcast on television
or radio
programme/program
show
broadcast
programme (British) I program (American) /'prau-
grmm/a performance, play, discussion, show etc that is
broadcast on television or radio In C]
Did you see that programme about cricket on TV last night?[
He presents a TVprogram called "Tonight at Five'. i news/
comedy/documentary programme It seems to be all sport
on TV these days and not enough news programme&
show ]Sat;! a programme on television or radio that is
intended to be entertaining or funny In C]
Good evening, and welcome to the show. I game/talk/quiz
etc show It's a game show wherepeople win prizes by guess-
ing someone's occupation. I Why do talk show hosts earn so
much money just for talking to someone?
broadcast/bm:dko:st il -kmstl a formal word meaning
a programme, especially a radio programme [n C]
The government has banned all broadcasts by opposition
groups. [ live broadcast (=a programme being broadcast
at the same time as it is happening) The exciting thing
about the show is that it's a live broadcast and anything can
happen.
6 an organization that broadcasts television and
radio programmes
station channel
network the media/the mass media
station / 'steISan / a company or organization that broad-
casts television or radio programmes In C]
A reporter from a local radio station asked me what I
thought about the latest economic crisis. I She became the
number one sales person at the US television station LMG.
network /'netwa:rk/ a group of television stations,
usually owned by the same company, that have the same
programmes but broadcast them in different places In C]
The series is sponsored by Ford and will be shown over the
ABC network. I He stayed with the network even though he'd
had offers from rival companies.
channel /tSenl/ a television station and all the
programmes that are broadcast by it In C]
Britain has only four major TV channels, i They want to
show all educational programmes on one particular
channel.
the media/the mass media /6a 'rni:dia, 6a ,rnas
' mi:db/allthe people and organizations that provide infor-
mation for the public, including television, radio, and the
newspapers [n singular with singular or plural verb in Brit-
ish English]
Much of what children learn comes directly from the mass
media. I Former vice-President Agnew launched a bitter
attack on the media, i There can be little doubt that in this
country the media is very biased.
tell
tell:
tell:
tell:
tell
tell
tell
tell
tell
tell
tell
tell
tell
EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1, EXPLAIN 3,
RECOGNIZE 1, SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 2, TELL
1, 2, 10, TELL A SECRET 2, TELL/ORDER SB
TO DO STH 1
can tell KNOW STH 14, OBVIOUS 1
can't say/tell PREDICT 6
not tell anyone TELL A SECRET 4
a joke JOKE 4
a lie LIE/TELL A LIE 1
a story TELL .5
of DESCRIBE 2
sb not to do sth/say sb can't do sth FORBID 1
sboff TELLSBOFF1
sb/sth apart DIFFERENT 10
sb straight HONEST 3
sb the way WAY/ROUTE 3
tell sb why: say why/tell sb why REASON 8
tell/see the difference DIFFERENT 10
tell-tale/tell tale SIGN/INDICATION 1.
tell tales LIE/TELL A LIE 1
tell tales/tattle on sb TELL 10
tell the difference: can't tell the difference SAME 2
tell the time TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 3
tell the time/tell time TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 4
tell the truth HONEST 2, TRUE 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

TELL 1384 TELL
. tell
which meaning?
tell someone
something
tell someone a secret
TELL
@ TELL A SECRET
tell someone to do
something
tell someone again
express your feelings
and opinions
say a word or
sentence
TELL/ORDER SB
TO DO STH
REPEAT
EXPRESS
SAY
make a statement
SAY/STATE
explain how to do
something, how
something works etc
information telling you
how to do something,
how something works
etc
EXPLAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
be told something
tell someone off for
doing something bad
tell someone that you
have done something
bad, made a mistake
etc
@ FIND OUT
@ TELL SB OFF
ADMIT
TELL
9
10
1 to give someone facts or information by
speaking to them or writing to them
2 ways of saying that a book, notice etc
provides people with information about
something
3 to officially or formally tell someone something
4 to tell someone about things that have
happened recently, so that they know all the
latest information
5 to tell someone a story
6 to let someone know something without telling
them clearly or directly
1 to give someone news, information etc that
someone else has told you
8 to tell someone some bad news or something
that might upset them
to tell someone what you are feeling
to tell someone in authority about something
wrong that someone has done
11 to tell someone, especially the police, about a
crime or something wrong that someone has
done
12 someone who gives information to the police
1 to give someone facts or information by
speaking to them or writing to them
tell
let sb know
put sb onto
tell/tell Iv Tl
tell sb (that) Jim told me you'd been offered a newjob. [ We
were told that the manager wanted to see us in his office
immediately. I She wrote to tell me she was getting married. ]
tell sb what/where/who etc You tell me what you'd like
to eat and I'll order it. I Just be honest and tell me how much
you think I weigh. ] tell sb sth I want you to tell me all the
details. ] Who on earth told you that? l tell sb about She said
that she had already told them about it. ] tell sb I don't think
he should be told, it might upset him too much. I I wish you'd
told me earlier.
let sb know/llet (sb) 'nao/to tell someone something,
especially something important that they need to know or
want to know Iv phrase]
If you're going to be late, you should let me know. I You mean
she just left without letting anybody know? I let sb know
sth Mario said he would let Helena know his new address
as soon as he found an apartment. ] let sb know (that)
When you get to Spain will you phone to let me know you "re
OK? ] let sb know what/where etc Jean tried to get in
touch with her husband to let him know what had happened.
put sb onto /pot (sb) nntu:/ an informal expression
meaning to give someone some useful information which
they did not know about [phr v T]
I'd never heard of aromatherapy - it was my wife who put
me onto it. I George put me onto this wonderful old house that
was up for sale in his street.
2 ways of saying that a book, notice etc
provides people with information about
something
tell
give
tell/tel/Iv T]
tell sb how/what/where ete This leaflet tells you how to
avoid catching AIDS. [ tell sb sth The two dials in the
middle tell you the airspeed and altitude. [ tell sb (that)
There is a sign telling people that this is the highest village
in England.
give/girl to give someone information or details about
something [v T]
LA Weekly magazine gives information about what's on in
Los Angeles every week. ] a brochure giving details of hotel
accommodation in the area
3 to officially or formally tell someone something
inform
notify
brief
inform/ln'f:rml [v T]
inform sb Why didn't you inform the police immediately?
This is vital evidence. I The company marketed drugs with
potentially dangerous side effects, yet failed to inform doc-
tors or the general public. I inform sb of Please write
informing the bank of your new address. I inform sb (that)
I am instructed to informyou thatyour application has been
rejected.
notify/'naot lafaI / to officially or formally give important
information to someone, especially by telling them about
something that has happened Iv T]
notify sb of Police notified the boy's parents of his death
immediately. [ notify sb Passengers are requested to notify
a member of staff if they see suspicious packages. [ notify
sb that Staff were notified several months in advance that
they would be losing their jobs.
notification/not af  kelj'an/[n U] Notification should be
in writing (=you should notify us in writing).

TELL 1385 TELL
brief/bri:f/to give someone all the necessary information
about a situation, so that they know exactly what is hap-
pening or so that they are prepared for something that they
have to do Iv T usually in passive]
brief sb Police officers were briefed before going out to arrest
the suspects. [ It was clear the witness had been well-briefed. I
brief sb on The ambassador briefed the President on the
situation in Nicaragua.
briefing In C] The drug squad's briefing lasted twenty
minutes.
4 to tell someone about things that have
happened recently, so that they know all the
latest information
keep sb informed give sb the low-down
keep sb up to date give an update on
fill sb in on report
keep sb informed/,ki:p (sb) Infa:rmd/to give someone
regular information about decisions, events etc, so that
they know exactly what is happening Iv phrase]
I want to know what you decide, so keep me informed. ] keep
sb informed of/about During the strike, the media kept the
public fully informed about the situation. ] Parents have
complained that we are not keeping them very well informed
of their children's progress.
keep sb up to date [ ki:p (sb) Ap to det/to give some-
one regular information about what has been happening
most recently Iv phrase]
keep sb up to date with/on Hannah wrote to me every
week keeping me up to date with everything at home. ] the
magazine that keeps you up to date on all the latest in rock
and pop I keep sb up to date We publish a newsletter to keep
the staff up to date.
fill sb in on/fil (sb) 'in tn! to tell someone about things
that have happened recently, which they do not know
about because they have not talked to you for quite a long
time or they have been somewhere else [phr v T]
Over dinner, Bob filled me in on what he had been doing
since we last met. I Marjorie filled us in on all the latest
gossip. I Keith will fill you in on changes in the computer
system.
give sb the low-down/,gv (sb) 6o loodaon/an infor-
mal expression meaning to tell someone all that they need
to know about a particular situation or subject Iv phrase]
give sb the low-down on Greg gave me the low-down on
the financial situation before we spoke to our boss. ] give sb
the low-down "Have you heard about the deal with IBM?'"
"'Yes, John's just been giving me the low-down. ""
give an update on/,gIv on t^pdelt o/an expression
used especially in a business context meaning to tell some-
one about the things that have happened concerning a par-
ticular piece of work or plan since they last saw you Iv
phrase]
Can you give me an update on any policy changes since we
last spoke? I Let me give you an update on the trial.
report/r 'p: rt/to officially tell someone about what has
been happening in a particular area of work, especially
because it is your job to do so Iv I/T]
report to sb on Nicky reports to me on any new develop-
ments in the relevant technological fields. I report back The
delegation will report back to Congress on the situation
inside China.
5 to tell someone a story
tell a story storyteller
narrate narrator
relate
tell a story/,tel o 'st3:ri/ [v phrase]
We used to gather round and listen to him telling wonder-
ful stories. I You said you would tell me a story if I was good.
narrate /no'relt II 'naret, na'rext, no-/ a formal word
meaning to describe an event, especially one which hap-
pened to you, as if it were a story Iv T]
The events narrated by Schoendel have been confirmed by
other sources. I She briefly narrated what she had seen.
relate/r'let/to give someone all the details about some-
thing that really happened to you or to someone else Iv T]
She related the story about the time they got stuck on a ledge
half-way up a mountain. I He related his experience in 'A His-
tory of Australian Exploration' published in 1881.
storyteller/'st:ri,telor/a person who tells stories for
entertainment In C]
He was a marvellous storyteller, people used to come from
miles around to hear him. I In the old oral tradition, the
storyteller was an important link with the past.
narrator/no'reto r II nerei-, ne 'reito r, no-/a word used
especially in writing about literature meaning the person
in a story who seems to speak directly to the reader and
who describes everything that happens In C]
Ishmael, the narrator of the story, tells the reader why he
went to sea. I Flaubert's narrator enters Emma Bovary's
consciousness from time to time, to describe events from her
point of view.
6 to let someone know something without telling
them clearly or directly
give sb to understand
make sth known
send word
give sb to understand /,glv (sb) to ,^ndor'stand/
a formal expression meaning to make someone think that
something is true, or that something will happen, but
without actually saying this clearly Iv phrase usually in
passive]
give sb to understand that Although I received no official
indication, I was given to understand that I would be
promoted within a year. I Jason's teacher gave his parents
to understand that with a little help he would be able to pass
his exams.
make sth known /,mek (sth) 'noon/ to let someone
know something without necessarily telling them directly,
for example by behaving in a particular way, or by pri-
vately telling one person, who then tells a lot of other people
Iv phrase]
make it known that The other boys in Steven's class took
every opportunity to make it known that he was not accepted. I
The Queen has made it known that she is not happy with
recent press coverage of the Royal Family. I make sth
known The Queen made her displeasure known by cancel-
ling her visit.
send word !, send 'w3: rd/to tell someone something by
sending them a letter or a message instead of going to them
and telling them directly yourself Iv phrase]
send word (to sb) that He should have sent word to Ardis's
lawyer that he would not be able to come. I Chief Justice
Warren Burger sent word that he wished to see the Presi-
dent. I send word through sb (=using someone as your
messenger) She sent word through Major Danby that she
would have the man arrested.
'7 to give someone news, information etc that
someone else has told you
pass on
relay
pass on/,PO:S ' on II ,p  es, o:nl tO give someone a message
or some information that another person has asked you to
give [phr v T]
pass on sth(to sb) Could you pass on my thanks for all these
lovely gifts? [ She was asked to pass on the congratulations
of the staff to the new mother. [ pass sth/it/them on (to sb)
I'm grateful for everything that has been said today, and I
will be sure to pass it on.
relay/' rifle:/ relay a message/news/information/facts
(=send or someone an official message, a piece of news etc
which you have received from another person) Iv T]
relay sth Mendoza relayed the news as soon as he returned
to the base. [ relay sth to sb The tower watch chief had
relayed the information earlier to Mel Bakersfeld.

TELL 1386 TELL
8 to tell someone some bad news or something
that might upset them
break the news/break it to sb
give it to me straight
break the news/break it to sb/,break Oo 'nju:z, 'break
t to (sb) II -'nu:z/Iv phrase]
break the news to After Dean's body was found the police
went to break the news to his mother, i break the news Do
you want to break the news or shall I? I break it to sb The
manager called a meeting to break it to the staff personally.
give it to me straight/,giv t to mi: ' stret/you say give
it to me straight when you want someone to tell you
simply and honestly some news which you expect will be
bad news
Give it to me straight, doctor. It's cancer, isn't it? i dust give
it to me straight. I'm going to find out eventually anyway.
9 to tell someone what you are feeling
get sth off your chest
pour out your heart/soul
confide in
get sth off your chest/,get (sth) of j3: r 'tfest/to tell
someone about something that has been worrying you or
annoying you for a long time so that you feel better after-
wards Iv phrase]
I feel so much better now that I've got that offmy chest. I Writ-
ing to you is a good way to get things off my chest.
pour out your heart/soul/,p3:r aut j:r ,ha:rt, soul/
to tell someone everything about some strong emotions
that you are feeling, especially feelings of unhappiness Iv
phrase]
pour out your heart/soul to sb I had no idea Kay was so
unhappy until she poured out her heart to me last night. [
pour out your heart/soul Suddenly, Jason burst into tears
and poured out his soul, telling his mother all about his
problems at school.
conf|de |n/kon'fad nl to tell someone about something
very private or secret, especially a personal problem,
because you feel that you can trust them Iv T]
confide in sb He was a good listener and Elinor found it
easy to confide in him. [ confide in sb about He wanted
desperately to confide in someone about his feelings of
failure. [ confide in sb that Harriet confided in me that she
and Mark were considering divorce.
1 0 to tell someone in authority about something
wrong that someone has done
tell tell tales/tattle on sb
rat on split on
tell/tel/to tell someone in authority, especially a parent
or teacher, about something wrong that someone has done
Iv I]
You're not allowed in the classroom during the lunch hour
- I'm telling! [ tell on Please don't tell on me - Mum thinks
I've been staying at my friend's house.
rat on/' rmt Dn 11 -a:n/an informal word meaning to tell
someone in authority about something wrong that some-
one has done, when it seems very disloyal to do this Iv T]
Can you believe he ratted on his own brother?
tell tales (British) I tattle on sb (American)/,tel 'teflz,
'tetl on (sb)/if a child tells tales or tattles on someone
to a parent or teacher, they tell them about something
another child has done wrong in order to cause trouble
[ v phrase] "
"'Mum, Daniel's broken a plate." "'Don't tell tales, dear. "'1
Sarah's teacher told her it was silly to keep tattling on her
classmates.
split on/'spirt on II -a:n/an informal British expression
meaning to tell someone in authority about something
wrong that someone has done Iv T]
Don't worry, I'd never split on you. I If you split on us, we'll
be in big trouble.
11
to tell someone, especially the police, about a
crime or something wrong that someone has
done
report talk
inform on blow the whistle
squeal tip off
grass name names
report/r; 'po:rt/to give information about a crime, an
accident etc to the police or to someone in authority [v T]
report sth I'd like to report a theft. [ report sth to sb All
accidents must be reported at once to the aviation authority. [
Many rape victims are too scared to report the attack to the
police.
inform on/In'fz:rm o II -ca:n/to secretly tell the police
that someone who you know is responsible for a crime Iv T]
Charlotte informed on her brother, who was then arrested
for drug-dealing. [ A lot is known about Clark because a
former associate informed on him.
squeal /skwi:l/ an informal word meaning to tell the
police about a crime that your friends or partners are plan-
ning or are responsible for Iv I]
When we got there the cops were waiting for us. Somebody
must have squealed. [ squeal on If the others ever found out
he'd squealed on them, they'd kill him.
grass/gra:s II gres/an informal British word meaning to
tell the police who is responsible for a crime or illegal
activity, especially one that you were also involved in
Iv I/T]
grass on You grassed on us to save your own life. [ grass
sb up I don't trust your girlfriend - what if she grasses us
up?
talk/t3-.k] to give the police information about a crime that
you know about or are involved in, especially when they
are questioning you officially about it Iv I]
It's no good Sarge. He isn't going to talk. [ The man who
attacked me said if I talked, he'd come back and kill me.
blow the whistle/,blou 6o 'wsl/to let people know
about an illegal activity which has been happening for a
long time, especially when you have been helping to keep
it secret Iv phrase]
blow the whistle about sth It was the factory manager
who eventually blew the whistle about the pollution scandaL[
blow the whistle on sb We'd better get her before she has
a chance to blow the whistle on us.
tip off/,up 'Df II -'o:f/to give the police or other authority
information that will allow them to prevent a crime taking
place [phr v T]
tip off sb A murder attempt was foiled when the assassin's
wife tipped off the police. [ They must have seen him buy the
gun and then tipped off the cops. [ tip sb/her/them ete off
The security guard did nothing, despite the fact that she'd
tipped him off about the shoplifter.
name names/,ne;m 'ne;mz/to make public the names
of people who have done something wrong Iv phrase]
If you don't give me the money, I'm going to start naming
names. I The headmistress paused dramatically before
naming names. [ Someone - I won't name names - has been
caught stealing from the stores.
12 someone who gives information to the police
grass
stool pigeon
informer/informant
grass Igro:s II gres/an informal British word meaning
someone who secretly gives the police information about
someone who is responsible for a crime, especially in
return for money In C]
I wouldn't inform on you - I'm no grass.
stool pigeon/'stu:l ,pIdSn/an expression used espe-
cially in American English meaning a criminal who helps
the police to trap other criminals by telling the police about
a crime that is going to take place In C]

TELL 1387 TELL A SECRET
How could he ever live with himself after being a stool
pigeon? I Big Jim explained that the man had looked that
way since he'd been punished for being a stool pigeon.
informer/informant/in ' f3:rm r, In'f: rmont/someone
who is part of or closely connected with a criminal organi-
zation but who secretly tells the police about its activities
[n C]
An informer had warned police about the bombing. I The
three men were released on condition that they became police
informants.
TELL A SECRET
to tell someone something that was previously
secret or not known by many people
to tell someone something that should be
kept secret
to accidentally tell someone something you
did not want them to know
to deliberately not tell someone something
that you know, because you want to keep it
secret
to make someone tell you something they do
not want to tell you
ways of asking someone to tell you
something they do not want to tell you
to make someone promise solemnly not to tell
anyone about something
I to tell someone something that was previously
secret or not known by many people
reveal impart
disclose expose
divulge
reveal ln'vi:l! [v T]
reveal sth The company has just revealed its plans for the
coming year, including the opening of new offices in Paris. I
One day the full story about the scandal will be revealed. I
reveal that Ginsberg withdrew his application to become
Attorney General after it was revealed that he had smoked
marijuana at college.
disclose/ds'kluz/to publicly reveal something such as
a fact or a name that has been kept secret or hidden [v T]
disclose sth The victim's identity was disclosed by police in
a statement last night. I Ministers are to disclose details of
their radical new policies in parliament today, i disclose
that In the report it was disclosed that neither pilot nor con-
troller had any experience of the radar system in use at the
time of the crash.
disclosure/dis'klauSar/[n C/U] Investors were shocked by
the disclosure (=when it was disclosed) that the company
director had been spending millions on luxury yachts and
villas.
divulge/dai 'vAlds, dIa-/to give someone some very impor-
tant and often personal information which was previously
secret or unknown [v T]
divulge sth The other three companies refused to divulge
their plans, i divulge what/where etc I'm afraid I cannot
divulge what Jameson said to me. I divulge sth to sb The
contract forbids employees from divulging details of this
work to anyone outside the company.
im part / im'pa: rt/a formal word: if you impart informa-
tion to people, especially secret information, you tell or give
it to them [v T]
impart sth Wesley imparted the information defensively,
avoiding catching Sarah's eye. I impart sth to sb Why did
he choose not to impart this knowledge to the authorities?
expose/ik' spuz/to tell the public about the secret activi-
ties of a person or organization, because you think that
people ought to know about something morally wrong that
is being done [v T]
Her criminal aztivities were finally exposed in the Washing-
ton Post by political columnist Richard McCallum. I They
threatened to expose him to the media unless he changed his
ways.
2 to tell someone something that should be
kept secret
tell let on
let sb in on leak
spill the beans blab
tell/tel/[v I/T]
tell sb where/what/who etc He couldn't tell me where he
got this information. I tell sb What did Lorna say? Tell me.t l
tell sb about Don't tell anyone about this. I tell sb sth in
the strictest confidence (=tell them it on the condition
that they definitely will not tell other people) I'm tellingyou
this in the strictest confidence - don't let it go further than
this room. I tell sb a secret Can I tell you a secret? l tell (used
especially by children) You'd better not tell, or you'll be in
big trouble.
let sb in on/,let (sb) 'In Dn il -a:n/to tell someone about
a secret plan, idea etc so that they are involved, especially
because you trust them and are sure they will not tell other
people [phr v T]
We'll let you in on our plan if you promise to keep it a secret. [
I know you're up to something so you might as well let me
in on it.
spill the beans/, sp:l 6 'bi:nz/an informal expression
meaning to tell someone about something that has been
planned to happen in the future, which you or someone else
wanted to keep secret [v phrase]
"Does Phillip know about our plan? .... Yes, someone must
have spilled the beans. "" [ The class managed to keep the party
a secret until Lorraine, unable to control herself any longer,
spilled the beans.
let on/let 'Dnl to say something that shows you know
about a secret, especially when you have been told not to
say anything [phr v I]
If you let on, I'll get you! I She obviously knew far more than
she let on - you could see it in her eyes.
leak Ill:k! to deliberately give a newspaper or television
company secret government information, such as a letter,
report, or document [v T]
leak sth to News of the secret deal was leaked to the press. I
leak sth The Congressman was furious that the report had
been leaked. I A man was charged today with leaking offi-
cial secrets.
leak [n C] The scandal began with a leak to "The Times'on
March 3rd.
blab/blmb/an informal word meaning to tell someone a
secret, especially because you are unable to control your-
self [v I]
OK I'll tell you, but you'd better not blab![ blab about She
went and blabbed about Ernie's surprise party. [ blab to sb
Better not say anything about it to Mickey - he'll just end
up blabbing to someone.
3 to accidentally tell someone something you
did not want them to know
let slip
let the cat out of the bag
give the game away/give the whole thing away
let slip/,let 'shp/[v phrase]
let slip that Alex let slip that he had spoken to Julie on the
phone and knew where she was. I let slip sth He inadver-
tently let slip the name of their new product.
let the cat out of the bag/let 6 ,ket aut v
an informal expression meaning to accidentally tell some-
one something that allows them to guess a secret [vphrase]
I'm sorry. Jim knows about last week's party. I'm afraid
let the cat out of the bag. i Some idiot's let the cat out of the
bag - Mrs Simpson realizes there's something going on.

TELL A SECRET 1388 TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH
give the game away (British) I give the whole
thing away (American) I,gv 6o 'germ O,wcl, ,gIv 60 ,h_fl
'Orj oweq informal expressions meaning to accidentally
spoil a surprise, trick, joke etc by saying or doing some-
thing that lets someone guess what your secret is [vphrase]
Don't mention Dad's birthday or you'll give the game away. I
If you don't want to give the whole thing away, take that
stupid smile off your face!
blow the gaff/,bloo 6o 'gmf/an informal British expres-
sion meaning to accidentally tell someone something that
was a secret Iv phrase]
Jackie was going to wait till later to tell her mum she was
pregnant, but her sister.blew the gaff. I blow the gaff on
Dave's blown the gaff on all our plans.
4 to deliberately not tell someone something
that you know, because you want to keep it
secret
not tell anyone
not breathe a word/
not tell a soul
keep sth secret
keep quiet
keep sth to yourself
keep sth from sb
keep back
withhold
hold out on
not give anything away
not let on
keep mum
not tell anyone/no tel 'eniw^n/[v phrase]
I'm leaving next month to start another job. But don't tell
anyone just yet. I She knew she had cancer, but she didn't tell
anyone. I You mustn't tell anyone, it's a big secret.
not breathe a word/not tell a soul/no bri:8 0
'w3:rd, not ,tel o 'sool/to not tell anyone anything at all
about something, because it is very important that no one
knows about it [v phrase]
It's supposed to be a big surprise, so don't breathe a word. I
Don't worry, I won't tell a soul about any of this.
keep sth secret/ki:p (sth) 'si:krt/to not tell other
people about something or not let them find out about it
[ v phrase]
The police have so far managed to keep the ambassador's
address a secret. I It was impossible for the affair to be kept
secret. I I don 't mind you knowing - but keep it secret, won't
you?
keep quiet / ,ki:p 'kwaoq to not tell anyone about some-
thing that you know is happening, especially something
that other people would disapprove of because it is slightly
illegal or unfair Iv phrase]
keep quiet about I wish I'd kept quiet about the money. I
We'd better keep quiet about this for now. I keep it quiet We
can give you a 10% raise, but not the others - so keep it quiet,
won't you?
keep sth to yourself/ki:p (sth) to j.o:r'self/to not tell
other people something that someone has told you, or some-
thing that you have found out about Iv phrase]
Don't tell Sam - he's incapable of keeping anything to him-
self [ keep it to yourself Branson knew who the killer was,
but had kept it to himself for twenty years.
keep sth from sb/'ki:p (sth) from (sb)/to deliberately
not tell someone something that you know, especially
because you are worried about telling them, or because it
might upset them [phr v T]
I've tried to ask her what's worrying her, but she says it's
nothing. I'm sure she's keeping something from me. ] If a
patient is dying, I don't think doctors have a right to keep
it from them.
keep back/, ki:p 'bak/to not tell someone certain facts
about something even though you do tell them everything
else about it [phr v-T]
keep back sth from sb You haven't told us the whole story.
There's something you 're keeping back from us. [ keep back
sth Although most of the facts were published the
government kept back certain details that might prove
embarrassing.
withhold/wI6 hoold, w0-/withhold information/evi-
dence/facts etc (=not give information, especially when
you have been officially asked to do so) Iv T]
I must warn you that you may be prosecutedfor withhold-
ing important information regarding this crime. I When the
article was published I asked for my name to be withheld.
hold out on/,hoold 'aot Dn II -a:n/an informal expression
meaning to refuse to give someone the information that
they want, even though they keep asking you Iv T]
I think you could tell us a lot more about the gang's activi-
ties but you're holding out on us. I Why are you holding out
on me like this? I'm your lawyer and I need to know what
happened.
not give anything away/nDt gv ,eniO o'weI/to not
tell anyone anything about something, especially about
your plans or intentions, when they are asking about them
or are very interested to know about them Iv phrase]
I asked Teresa if she thought she and Liam would get mar-
ried, but she wouldn't give anything away. I Whatever the
England manager's plans are for tonight, he's not giving
anything away.
not let on/not let 'on/to not tell someone a secret, espe-
cially when they are asking you questions about a subject
connected with that secret [phr v I]
Don't worry - I won't let on. [ not let on about He kept
asking me where I got the money from but I didn't let on
about it.
keep mum /,ki:p 'm^m/an informal expression mean-
ing to not tell other people about something ]v phrase]
I knew they wereplanning a special surpriseforyou, but they
made me promise to keep mum.
5 to make someone tell you something they do
not want to tell you
get sth out of
get sth out of/,get (sth) 'aot ov li -o,v/to make someone
tell you something they do not want to tell you by asking
them a lot of questions, persuading them, using force etc
[phr v T]
get it out ofsb "'Kevin won't tell me where he's been. '" "Don't
worry, I'll get it out of him. "'1 I finally got it out of them: they
had both got drunk and spent all my money in the bar! i get
sth out ofsb Getting information out of them is so difficult
I don't usually even try.
6 ways of asking someone to tell you
 something they do not want to tell you
out with it
spit it out
out with It I'aot wI6 It/
I know there's something you're not telling us, so out with
it![ His name, Cathy, his name! Out with it!
spit it out/,spit t 'aot/(used when someone does not
want to tell because they are feeling frightened or embar-
rassed) Iv phrase]
What have you done? Come on - spit it out! [ Are you imply-
ing something? Spit it out then!
7 to make someone promise solemnly not to tell
anyone about something
swear sb to secrecy
swear sb to secrecy/,sweo r (sb) to 'si:krosi/to make
someone seriously promise that they will not tell anyone
about something you have told them or something that
they know about Iv phrase]
"'What's she doing here?" "Td better not say. She swore me
to secrecy. "'1 Nobody knows much about the organization
)ecause its members are all sworn to secrecy.
@ TELL/ORDER SB
TO DO STH
I to tell someone that they must do something
2 to officially tell someone what they must do

TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 1389 TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH
to order someone to come to you
to tell someone who works for you to represent
you and do something instead of you
to change an order or decision that someone
else has made
ways of saying that you do something
because you have been ordered to do it
a statement ordering you to do something,
especially an official one
to give orders in a rude, unpleasant way,
especially because you enjoy telling people
what to do
words for describing someone who enjoys
telling people what to do
1 to tell someone that they must do something
tell demand
order insist
ask sb to do sth dictate
tell/tell [v T]
tell sb "'Wait here/" he told the children. I tell sb to do sth
The teacher told us to be quiet. I I thought I told you to be
in bed by 10 o'clock! l His wife's forever telling him not to
smoke so much, but he never listens to her. I tell sb (that)
I've been told by my boss that I must work harder.I tell sb
what to do I'm in charge here, and I'm not going to have
anyone telling me what to do. I do as you are told I wish
you children would just do as you're told.
order / 'o:rd3r/to tell someone to do something, especially
in a threatening way [v T]
"'Drop your gun and put your hands behind your head/"
McBain ordered. I order sb to do sth Two terrorists
hijacked a Boeing 737and ordered the pilot toffy to Beirut. I
order sb out of/into/back etc Order those children out of
the building. They're not allowed in here.
ask sb to do sth/,a:sk (sb) t 'du: (sth) [[ esk-/to tell
someone that they must do something or stop doing some-
thing, especially in a polite or formal way [v phrase]
We were making so much noise in the cinema that the
manager asked us to leave. [ I was asked to refrain from
smoking in the office.
demand/di 'ma:nd [[ dI 'mmnd/to tell someone that they
must do something, especially when you are angry or impa-
tient and want them to do it immediately [v T]
demand (that) You should demand that they finish the job
now, not some time in August. [ Realizing that her husband
had deceived her, she demanded that he tell her the whole
truth. I demand an apology/a refund etc (=tell someone
that they must say they are sorry, give money back etc)
How dare you say that/I demand an apology.
Insist/In'sIsq to tell someone firmly and repeatedly that
they must do something, especially something that they do
not want to do [v I/T]
insist (that) I wanted to pay by cheque but the landlord
insisted that Ipay him in cash. [ They're insisting we report
the matter to the police right away. [ insist I didn't want to
tell dad about the fight, but he insisted.
dictate/dik'telt [[ 'diktelt/to tell someone exactly what
they must do or how they must behave, as if you had power
to make them obey you [v I/T]
dictate to sb She refused to be dictated to by some stupid
official in Washington. [ dictate how/what/where ete
Your parents have no right to dictate how you should spend
your money.
to officially tell someone what they must do
order decree
instruct command
give orders/instructions direct
issue orders/instructions
order I'o:rd3r / [v T]
order sb to do sth The colonel ordered his men to advance. [
Noriega has been ordered to stand trial in the US on drugs
charges. [ order that The court ordered that Gilmore should
be executed. [ order sth Only the king has the power to order
her release from prison. [ After the accident the government
ordered afullpublic enquiry. [ order sb into/out of/back
etc It wasn't until 1973 that Nixon finally ordered US troops
out of Vietnam.
instruct Iin'str^kt/to officially tell someone to do some-
thing, especially when you tell them exactly how it should
be done [v T]
instruct sb to do sth Truman instructed General MacAr-
thur to give the new Japanese Prime Minister whatever sup-
port he needed. [ One of the secretaries had been instructed
to reserve me a seat on the next plane to London. [ as
instructed (=in the way that you have been instructed) She
took the tablets three times every day, as instructed by her
doctor.
give orders/Instructions/glv '.o:rdorz, In'strAkSanz/
to tell people officially exactly what must be done in a par-
titular situation [v phrase]
give orders/instructionsthat The boss has given strict
instructions that she is not to be disturbed. [ General Franco
gave orders that only those closest to him should have access
to this information. [ give sb orders/instruction to do sth
The soldiers had been given orders to protect civilians and
avoid unnecessary destruction.
Issue orders/Instructions / I ISUI 'o:rd)rz, in'strMcSanzl
to tell people officially that something must be done, espe-
cially by sending out a written statement [v phrase]
The EC plans to issue orders banning the sale of the drug. [
issue orders/instructions that The Department of
Defense has issued strict instructions that no one should enter
the area without permission.
decree/di'kri:/ if a government, parliament, or court
decrees that something should happen, they officially
order it by making a law or by changing the existing law
[vT]
decree that In 1929 Parliament decreed that all women
should have the right to vote. [ decree a ban/measure/
state of emergency etc A state of emergency was decreed
in November when widespread rioting had broken out.
command Ik'ma:nd [[ ko'mmnd/a word used formally
or in literature: if someone such as a king or a military
officer commands someone to do something, they tell them
officially that they must do it [v T]
command sb to do sth Admiral Byng commanded the
entire crew to assemble on deck. [ command that The King
had the power to command that parliament be dissolved.
direct /do I 'rekt, dai-/ if someone in a position of legal
authority such as a judge directs someone to do something,
they order them to do it [v T]
direct sb to do sth The judge directed the jury to find her
not guilty. I He was jailed for refusing to answer questions
when directed to do so in court.
3 to order someone to come to you
send for
summon
send for/'send f:r/to send someone a message ordering
them to come to you [v T]
We'd better send for a doctor - I think she's badly hurt. I "Is
the security officer here yet? .... No, but he's been sent for."
summon 1, sAmon/to officially order someone to come to
you [v T]
President Clinton summoned his top White House aides to
discuss the crisis. I The next day Paul was summoned to the
Principal's office along with two other students. [ summon
sb to appear (=summon them to a court of law to be
charged) I've been summoned to appear at Guildford
Magistrates court on June 1st.

TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 1390 TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH
4 to tell someone who works for you to represent
you and do something instead of you
delegate
delegate/Idelget/iv I/T]
delegate sb to do sth I've been delegated to look after the
visitors while they are at the factory. I delegate a job/task/
responsibility etc to sb The manager was very busy at the
time and she had to delegate the task to one of her subor-
dinates. [ delegate You can't do all the jobs yourself - you
must learn to delegate.
 to change an order or decision that someone
else has made
override
overrule
override/lovrad/ to use your power to change an
order or decision that was made by someone with less
power than you iv T ]
The President has the power to override Congress. I Chur-
chill issued a new order overriding previous instructions.
overrule I uv  ru:l/to use your power to change an order
or decision, especially one made by a court of law or by a
military leader, because you think it is wrong iv T]
After seeing new evidence the judge overruled the court's
original decision. [ A general commanding American troops
on the battlefield found himself overruled by politicians back
in Washington.
6 ways of saying that you do something
because you have been ordered to do it
on sb's orders
on sb's instructions
under orders/instructions
at sb's insistence
on sb's orders/on (sb's) 3:rdrz/if you do something
on someone's orders, you do it because they have ordered
you to do it and because they have the power to make you
obey [adv phrase]
On Stalin's orders Beria was given a quick trial and then
shot. I act on the orders of The soldiers are acting on the
orders of the new military government.
on sb's instructions/on (sb's) tnstr^kSdnz/ if you do
something on someone's instructions, you do it because
they have officially told you to do it [adv phrase]
Three of the paintings have already been sold on Lady
Fraser's instructions'. I On the instructions of the chief of
police the house was kept under 24 hour surveillance.
under orders/instructions /  ^ndr 3: rdrz, In' str^k-
Sdnz/if someone is under orders or under instructions
to do something, they have been ordered to do it as part of
their duty by the person they are working for [adv phrase]
under orders/instructions to do sth I am under in-
structions not to tell you the name of the person who has sent
you the money. [ The soldiers are under strict orders to abide
by the ceasefire. I act under orders/instructions State
troopers acting under orders from the Mayor of Los Angeles
have put down the riots.
at sb's insistence/t (sb's) nlslstans/if you do some-
thing at someone's insistence, you do it because they
have firmly and re,c2tedly said that you must, even though
you may not want to [adv phrase]
At Joanna's insistence we stayed the night at her house. I I
took a local guide with me at the insistence of the government
authorities. "
a statement ordering you to do something,
especially an official one
order directive
instruction decree
command
order/':rd:)r/in C]
Anyone who disobeys this order will be punished. I You will
report to me at eight o "clock in the morning - and that's an
order. [ order to do sth The guard has orders not to let
anyone into the building. [ your orders (=the orders you
have been given by someone else) My orders are to takeyou
to the airport and put you on the first plane to Paris. I give
orders I'm the one who gives the orders around here -just
remember that.
instruction /:n' str^kSan/ a statement telling someone
what they must do, usually giving them details of how they
should do it in C usually plural]
Mr Patel's instructions are to phone him immediately if you
get any news from the police. [ The boss won't be here tomor-
row, but she's left you detailed instructions, so you'll know
exactly what to do. I instructions that Mrs Edwards left
strict instructions that in the event of her death the money
was to be shared between her two sons. [ follow instruc-
tions (=obey instructions) If you'd followed my instructions
carefully none of this would have happened. I your instruc-
tions (=instructions you have been given by someone else)
My instructions were to give the package to him personally.
command /komo:nd II kvmaend/ an official order by
someone such as a king or a military officer which must
be obeyed In C]
An officer stood on one of the tanks and began shouting com-
mands through a loudspeaker. [ If any of the King's subjects
refused to obey one of his commands, they were put to death. [
give the command to do sth Admiral Collingwood gave
the command to open fire.
directive ]d rektv, dai-/an official order which is made
by a powerful organization and has the effect of a law In C]
Article 10 of the directive requires all food to be clearly
labelled. I under a directive (=as a result of a directive)
Under an EC directive unleaded petrol must be made avail-
able throughout Britain.
decree/di kri:! an official order which has the effect of
a law and is made by someone such as a king, queen, or
military government In C/U]
issue a decree (=send out a decree) In 1637 the Emperor
issued a decree ordering all foreigners to leave the country. [
by decree (--by making decrees) The king dissolvedparlia-
ment and ruled by decree.
 to give orders in a rude, unpleasant way,
especially because you enjoy telling people
what to do
order sb about/around
push sb around
boss sb around/about
lay down the law
throw your weight around
breathe down sb's neck
dictatorial
order sb about/around/,:rdor (sb) o'baot, o'raond/
[phr v T]
I wish you'd stop ordering me about - I'm not your servant
you know. I You won't get the best out of your staff by order-
ing them around like that.
push sb around/,pus (sb) raond/to order someone to
do things _; a rude, impatient, and often threatening way
[phr v T]
I'm sick and tired of being puslt . ,round by him. I You
shouldn't let other people push you around - you've got to
stand up for yourself.
boss sb aro..-_dlabout /,bos (sb) 'raond, 'baot [I
Ib:s-/to keep giving someone orders in an annoying way,
even though you have no authority to do so [phr v T]
My brother's always bossing me around and making me
clean up after him. I She's a strong-minded woman - she
doesn't let anyone boss her around.
lay down the law / le daon 5 '1:/to tell other people
what they should do in an annoying way because you enjoy
giving orders and think that you are always right [vphrase]
If Bob starts laying down the law, just : him to shut up.

TELL/ORDER SB TO DO STH 1391 TELL SB OFF
throw your weight around /0roj: r wet raond/
to use your position of authority to tell other people what
to do, in an unreasonable way Iv phrase]
She likes to throw her weight around - it makes her feel
important. [ Why is everyone so upset? Has the boss been
throwing his weight around again?
breathe down sb's neck / bri:6 daon (sb's) nek/to pay
very close attention to what someone is doing, in order to
make sure they are doing what you want them to do, espe-
cially in a way that makes them feel nervous or annoyed
[ v phrase l
Teaching suits him as a job because there's no one breath-
ing down his neck. [ with sb breathing down your neck
Ican 't concentrate with you breathing down my neck all the
time.
dictatorial / d  kta ta:riol-/someone who is dictatorial
uses their power in an unreasonable way by always tell-
ing people what to do or what is correct, and ignoring their
wishes or views [adj]
His attitude has become increasingly dictatorial. [ The Minis-
try of Trade was yesterday accused of being dictatorial in
its plans for a new motorway in Kent.
9 words for describing someone who enjoys
telling people what to do
bossy
overbearing
officious
bossy/'bosi II 'b3:si/ always telling people what to do,
especially when you have no authority to do so [adj]
Don't take any notice of him - he's just a bossy little man. [
"'You can't wear that hat, '" said Monica in her usual bossy
voice.
overbearing [ ovr berrj/someone who is overbear-
ing has an unpleasant and threatening manner, as if they
want to control you and expect to be obeyed, and refuses
to listen to other people's opinions and arguments ladj]
The manager can be very overbearing at times, and it's
difficult to argue with him. [ His wife felt stifled in the
presence of her overbearing mother-in-law and decided to
run away.
officious/o'tUs/someone who is officious, especially
an unimportant official, is too eager to tell people what they
must do and pays too much attention to unimportant rules
[ adj ]
The people at the tax department were very officious, and
kept everyone waiting for hours while they checked their
papers. I I got held up by an officious receptionist who
wouldn't let me in until I'd answered all her questions.
TELL SB OFF
1 to talk angrily to someone in order to tell them
that you disapprove of what they have done
2 to tell someone off very severely
3 to officially tell someone off
4 an act of telling someone off
give sb a talking-to/telling-off/,gv (sb) a 'ta:krj tu:,
,telirj 'of / to talk seriously and firmly to someone, espe-
cially a child, to make it clear to them that you disapprove
of something they have done, especially something serious
or dangerous Iv phrase]
Diana gave the children a severe telling-off when she saw
them playing near the road. I If I catch that boy smoking in
my room again I'm going to give him a good talking-to.
tick sb off/give sb a ticking off/,tk (sb) 'of, ,gv
(sb)  ,tkrj 'of/ a British expression meaning to talk
angrily to someone in order to tell them that you disap-
prove of something that they have done, especially when
it is not very serious [phr v T]
Simone was called out to the front of the class while the
teacher ticked her off for talking in class. I Ruth gave us a
real ticking off when she found us playing with her make-up.
lecture/'lektr/to talk angrily to someone for a long
time, especially in a way that they think is not necessary
or fair Iv T]
lecture sb Whenever 1got bad grades at school, my father
would lecture me for hours. [ lecture sb about/on My sister
had the nerve to lecture me on how I bring up my children.
I'd like to see her cope with them! [ After the violence on the
field, the manager lectured the team about acceptable stan-
dards of behaviour.
rebuke/r; 'bju:k/to talk severely to someone in order to
criticize them for doing something which they knew was
wrong Iv T]
rebuke sb for Amnesty International rebuked the British
government for its treatment of the refugees. I rebuke sb for
doing sth Welfare workers were sternly rebuked by the court
for ignoring the woman's plea for help. I rebuke sb When
the extent of the pollution became known, the company was
publicly rebuked by the Governor.
rebuke In C/U] There was a hint of rebuke in his voice. IThe
publication of the magazine drew a stinging rebuke from the
police, saying it would only encourage children to play with
drugs.
reproach/r ' prot/to tell someone, in a sad rather than
angry way, that you wish they had not done something they
have done, especially because it has offended you or hurt
you etc Iv T]
reproach sb for doing sth My mother gently reproached
my brother for not going to her when he needed her help. I
reproach sb for sth I started reproaching him for what he'd
done, but he looked so unhappy that I quickly stopped. I
reproach sb I am not going to reproach her - I behaved
badly and she left me.
reproach [n C/U] His face was full of reproach. [Her sad,
gentle reproaches made me feel ashamed.
scold/skold/if a parent or teacher scolds a child, they
tell that child angrily that they disapprove of something
bad or wrong that they have done Iv T]
scold sb for doing sth Don't scold him for doing badly at
school, he's doing his best. I scold sb for sth Our parents
were strict and we were frequently scolded for our bad
behaviour. [ scold sb I dreaded the thought of going home
and being scolded by my father.
scolding In C] Betty got a severe scolding and was made to
apologize.
1 to talk angrily to someone in order to tell them
that you disapprove of what they have done
tell sb off lecture
give sb a talking-to/ rebuke
telling-off reproach
tick sb off/ scold
give sb a ticking off
tell sb off/,tel (sb) 'of II -'o:fl [phr v T]
Make sure you do all your homework, otherwise Mrs Wilkins
will tell you off. I tell sb off for doing sth Did your dad tell
you off for getting home late? I tell sb off for/about The
manager said my work wasn't good enough. He really told
me off about it. I be/get told off/was always getting told
off for things I hadn't done when I was a kid.
2 to tell someone off very severely
give sb hell berate
chew sb out give sb a bollocking
blast
give sb hell / ,g]v (sb) 'hell an informal expression mean-
ing to tell someone, usually by shouting at them, that you
are very angry about something wrong that they have done
[ v phrase ]
I'd better go. My wife will give me hell if I'm late home again. I
give sb hell for doing sth The Chief gave his team hell for
getting the wrong man in such an important arrest.
chew sb out /,flu: (sb) 'aot/ an informal American
expression meaning to talk very angrily to someone for a
long time about something wrong that they have done
[phr v T]

TELL SB OFF 1392 TEMPORARY
The coach really chewed Bobby out after he lost the game. I
chew sb out for doing sth The boss called Diane into his
office and chewed her out for losing the Thurman account.
blast/No:st ]] blest/a word used especially in newspapers
meaning to criticize someone in a very angry or severe way
for something that they have done wrong or for allowing
something bad to happen Iv T]
blast sb The headline read, "President blasts New York
police over drugs crisis'. I blast sb for doing sth The report
blasted shipping companies for failing to ensure acceptable
safety standards.
berate/bl re,t/a formal word meaning to tell someone
in a very angry way that you do not approve of something
they have done Iv T I
berate sb about sth The hotel manager was always berat-
ing his staff about the state of the hotel. I berate sb for doing
sth The Airport Authority was berated for failing to main-
tain security standards. I berate sb In the meeting the
management berated the union officials, blaming them for
the firm's poor performance.
give sb a bollocking/,g,v (sb) o 'boloki II -'bo:-/an
informal and impolite British expression meaning to tell
someone, usually by shouting at them, that you are very
angry about something wrong that they have done
[ v phrasel
.My dad gave me a real bollocking for crashing his car. I
I expect I'll get a bollockingfrom my boss when he finds out.
3 to officially tell someone off
reprimand
censure
reprimand/'reprmo:nd II -meend/to officially tell some-
one that they have done something wrong or illegal, espe-
cially by warning them that if they do it again they will be
punished Iv T]
reprimand sb for doing sth The foreman severely
reprimanded the workers for not following safety proce-
dures. I reprimand sb for sth The man was released after
being officially reprimanded for illegal possession of a knife. I
reprimand sb After the trial two police officers were sus-
pended from duty; four others were reprimanded.
censure/' senor/to officially criticize someone publicly
for something wrong they have done, especially in order
to punish them lv T1
censure sb The university publicly censured the students
caught cheating in the exam. I censure sb for doing sth
They had to censure Paterson for attending a meeting they
had forbidden him to go to. I censure sb for sth The
newspaper has been censured by the press council for the pub-
lication of personal photographs of the King and his family.
censure In U] Opposition MP's have putforward a motion
of censure over the government's handling of the affair.
4 an act of telling someone off
telling-off
reprimand
lecture
telling-off / telil] of II -a:f/an act of telling someone that
they should not have done something, especially by a
teacher or parent to a child who has been disobedient or
done something wrong In C]
You should have heard the telling-off he got from his mum.
reprimand/' reprmo:nd II -meend/an act of officially tell-
ing someone that they should not have done something,
especially by warning them that they will be punished
more severely if they do it again In C]
This time the police let him go with a reprimand as it was
his first offence.
lecture 1 lektj'o r/ an act of talking angrily to someone for
a long time in order to tell them that they should not have
done something, especially in a way that they find annoy-
ing In C]
She launched into another one of her lectures about why we
should always do our homework. ,
telling: there's no knowing/telling NOT KNOW 8
telling-off TELL SB OFF 4
telling-off: give sb a talking-to/telling-off TELL SB
OFF 1
telly TELEVISIONIRADIO 1
temper BAD-TEMPERED 5
temper: be in a temper ANGRY 1
temper: keep your temper CONTROL 7
temperament CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 1
temperature HOT 10
temperature: have a temperature HOT 9
temperature: take a measurement/temperature
MEASURE 1
temperatures: subzero temperatures COLD 5
temporarily TEMPORARY 1
temporary TEMPORARY 1, 2
TEM PORARY
words for describing something that lasts or
exists for only a limited period of time
words for describing something that is
intended to be temporary and will probably
be changed or replaced later
1 words for describing something that lasts or
exists for only a limited period of time
temporary
temporarily
short term
temporary/temparori,-pari II-poreri/[adj]
While I was working in Portland I looked for temporary
housing. I Many women can only get part-time or temporary
jobs. I I'm sure this is only a temporary problem. I tem-
porary staff/teacher/worker etc (=who is temporary)
We usually take on more temporary staff in the summer.
temporarily/ ternparor li II ,tempo rerli/for a short time
[advl
The library is temporarily closed for repairs. I Well, I sup-
pose she can stay here temporarily, while she's looking for
an apartment.
short term/,fa:rt 't3:rm/short term plan/arrange-
ment/solution/effect etc (:one that will only last for a
short time) [adj usually before noun]
We should consider both the short term and the long term
effects of building nuclear power stations. [The government
measures are merely a short term solution that does not deal
with the underlying problem.
 words for describing something that is
intended to be temporary and will probably
be changed or replaced later
temporary makeshift
provisional stopgap
interim
temporary/'temparori,-pari II-poreri/[adj]
The National Party will form a temporary government until
an election can be held. I These arrangements are only
intended to be temporary while alternatives are sought. I
Temporary shelters were hastily constructed as the waves of
refugees started to pour in.
provisional /prov3anol/ provisional arrangement/
offerCgreementCovernment ere (=one that is needed
now but will be changed or replaced in the future) [adj]
The Tsar abdicated and a provisional government was
formed. I Bear in mind that this schedule is provisional and
mv be changed without notice at any time. [ The manage-
ment had made a provisional pay offer of 7%.
provisionally lady] Let us provisionally accept this estimate
as a basis for our calculations.

TEMPORARY 1393 TEST/EXPERIMENT
interim/ ntrm/interim report/measure/arrange-
ment etc (=one that is used temporarily until a final or
complete one is ready) [adj only before noun]
The superpowers have reached an interim agreement on
arms control. I The actual sales figures were 20% higher than
those estimated in the interim report in July. I The govern-
ment will announce interim measures to tackle food
shortages.
makeshift /'meikift/a makeshift table/shelter/bed/
kitchen etc (=something that is used for a particular pur-
pose because it is needed urgently or suddenly and there
is nothing better available) [adj usually before noun]
We made a makeshift table out of an old box. ] The facilities
and equipment at the school are makeshift to say the least. I
Doctors carried out operations in makeshift hospitals set up
on the battlefield.
stopgap/'stopgmp [[ sto:p-/something that is done or
used for a short time because there is an immediate need
for it, but is replaced as soon as possible with something
that is better In C]
I've given her some pills, but they're only a stopgap. What
she needs is plenty of food and sleep.
stopgap [adj only before noun] When will the government
abandon these stopgap measures and work out a sensible
econotnic policy?
tempt ATTRACT 1, PERSUADE 7
tempt fate RISK 5
temptation ATTRACT 5, WANT 9
tempting ATTRACT 4, DELICIOUS 3
ten a penny: be ten a penny/be a dime a dozen
COMMON 1
ten to one PROBABLY 3
tenacious DETERMINED 1
tenacity DETERMINED 6
tenant LIVE SOMEWHERE 9
tend IN GENERAL 1
tend to do sth OFTEN 2
tendency: have a tendency to do sth OFTEN 2
tender HURT/CAUSE PAIN 3, LOVE 4, SOFT 1
tense NERVOUS 1, 5, WORRIED 8
tension NERVOUS 4, TIGHT 3
tenterhooks: be on tenterhooks EXCITED 3
tepid HOT 3
term PERIOD OF TIME 3, WORD, PHRASE, OR
SENTENCE 1
termed: be termed NAME OF A THING 2
terminal DIE 9
terminate a pregnancy BABY/HAVE A BABY 11
terminology LANGUAGE 4, WORD, PHRASE, OR
SENTENCE 2
terms CONDITION/STH THAT MUST BE DONE 2
terms: be on good terms RELATIONSHIP 2
terrain LAND/GROUND 2
terrible BAD 2, BAD AT 2
terrible: awful/terrible/horrible BAD 1, 3
terrific: marvellousAwonderfulAfantasticAterrific
GOOD/EXCELLENT 2, 3, 5
terrifically VERY 2
terrified FRIGHTENED 1
terrified: be terrified FRIGHTENED 2
terrify FRIGHTENED "7
terrifying FRIGHTENED 6
territorial LAND/GROUND 1
territory AREA 7, COUNTRY/NATION 3, LAND/GROUND 1
terror FRIGHTENED 10, 11
terrorize FRIGHTENED 8
terse RUDE/IMPOLITE 4
test EXAM/TEST 1, 4, TEST/EXPERIMENT 1, 3, 5
test: carry out tests TEST/EXPERIMENT 2
test: do an experiment/test TEST/EXPERIMENT 2
test: give sb a test/exam EXAM/TEST 4
test: put sth to the test TEST/EXPERIMENT 3
test: set sb a test EXAM/TEST 4
test: stand the test of time LONG TIME 6
test sth on TEST/EXPERIMENT 4
..wni  B meanmaY
.;, :e....t..: [  .-.... EXAM/TEST
'Gtifi:6t"fifiB -- TEST/
"ot.:.:.gbt.:.-s0mbt:-n  EXPERIMENT
 ----: .. -- : ....     .,
,t::;g q..s,, --., . TRY STH TO SEE
ii.j.]S.,gb:';;Sii'b]' IF IT IS GOOD
., :... :.:: ........ ...:. :...:.: ............ . .................................................................................
@ TEST/
EXPERIMENT
a method or process that is used in order to
find out about something
2
3
4
5
6
a method or process that is used in order to
find out about something
to do a test
to test something in order to find out about it
to use a person or animal in order to find out
something about them
connected with or used for tests
a person or animal that is used in a test
1 a method or process that is used in order to
find out about something
test pilot
experiment piloting
trial
test/test/a process that has been developed to find some-
thing out, for example whether a machine or substance is
safe and works as it should, or whether something contains
a particular substance In C]
Doctors can check whether a woman is pregnant by carry-
ing out a simple test. I We want a complete ban on nuclear
tests. I test for Can anyone remember the test for carbon
dioxide? I routine test (=a test that is always done in a par-
ticular situation) These are just routine tests, Mrs Brown,
there's nothing to worry about.
experiment/Ikspermnt/a thorough test using scien-
tific methods and done especially to see how something or
someone reacts under certain conditions In C]
In one experiment the subjects were not allowed to sleep for
three days, and their powers of concentration were tested
regularly. I experiment on (=experiment using) Professor
Leigh has been condemned for his experiments on rabbits.
trial /'trail/ a test in which a new drug is given to a
number of people under carefully controlled conditions, in
order to test its safety and effectiveness before it is
produced for sale In C]
People participating in drug trials must be physicallyfit and
have no history of health problems. [ trial of Trials of a new
anti-cancer drug have begun in the United States.
pilot /paflt/a test in which a new idea or plan is used in
a limited number of places or situations, in order to see if
it is worth continuing or doing in a more general way In C]
pilot study/project/program ere The government spon-
sored a pilot project to find out how easy the education
reforms would be to adopt in schools. [ pilot The results of
the pilot have been encouraging.
piloting/'pailtlrj/a process in which a new system or
product is tested using different groups of people in order
to see how effective and popular it will be In U]
Extensive piloting has shown us our study book will be a
useful aid to students.

TEST/EXPERIMENT 1394 THANK
2
to do a test
do an experiment/test
run a test
conduct an experiment
carry out tests
do an experiment/test/,du: on ik'spermont, 'test/[v
phrase]
Today we will do an experiment to show what happens when
potassium and water come into contact. I All experiments are
done in the school laboratory under constant supervision. I
do an experiment/test on She's in the hospital having
some tests done on her to see why she keeps getting those
stomach pains.
run a test /,r^n o 'test/to do a test, especially one that is
often used, or one that has been prepared and is ready to
be done [v phrase]
I won 't keep you long. I just need to run a quick test to confirm
you are a suitable blood donor. I I think we should go ahead
and run the test, and just hope that it works.
conduct an experiment/kond^kt on ik'spera[mont/to
do a thorough test using scientific methods, especially in
order to see how something or someone reacts under cer-
tain conditions [v phrase]
It took Professor Shultz six months to conduct his experi-
ment, and a year to collect and analyze the results. I Zoolo-
gists have conducted a variety of experiments to determine
the behavioural characteristics of the panda.
carry out tests /,kmri aot 'tests/if someone such as a
doctor or scientist carries out tests, they do a set of tests
in order to find out what is wrong, what needs improving
etc Iv phrase]
Police scientists are carrying out tests on the murder victim's
clothes. I Results of tests carried out at this clinic are always
strictly confidential.
I am against scientists who experiment on living creatures. I
Joseph Mengele used to experiment on twins in Nazi concen-
tration camps.
test sth on/'test (sth) on [[ -o:n/to do tests in which a
group of people or animals use a product, take a drug etc
in order to see what their reaction is [phr v T/
This face cream has not been tested on animals. I Our new
brand of tea was tested on a group of volunteers, and the
results were very positive.
screen/skri:n/to test a person or a particular group of
people to see if they have a particular illness or infection
[vT]
screen sb Because breast cancer is common in older women,
we screen all women over 50. I When it was discovered my
brother had meningitis, the whole family had to be screened. I
screen sth for If you receive blood in the United Kingdom
it will already have been screened for HIV.
screening [n U/The company has recently introduced free
health screening for all its employees.
5 connected with or used for tests
experimental
test
experimental / Ik, spero  ' mentl- / [adj usually before noun]
The following information was obtained under carefully
controlled experimental conditions. I Experimental evidence
shows that the drug has three main side-effects. I The com-
pany has started a recruitment campaign aimed at the work-
ing classes, but it is still in the experimental stages.
experimentally lady/This drug was used experimentally
over 20years ago and is only just ready to sell to the public.
test/test/test site/equipment/procedure etc (=one used
in or for a particular test) [adj only before noun]
We live fifty miles from the nuclear test site. I Road test proce-
dures are followed very carefully.
3 to test something in order to find out about it
test
try out
put sth to the test
test/test/to use something or do a test with it to see if it
works or to find out something about it Iv T]
test sth Childless couples are helping to test a new kind of
fertilization technique. [ test how/where/when etc She
ran her finger along the knife blade to test how sharp it was. [
test sth to see/measure etc Smoke alarms should be regu-
larly tested to make sure they are working correctly. [ test
sth for (=test something to see if it contains a particular
substance) The next step is to test the sample for traces of
aluminium.
try out/, tral 'aot/to test an object such as a tool or piece
of equipment by using it, or to test a plan or idea by doing
it [phr v T]
try sth/it/them out I've mended the kettle - do you want
to try it out? [ Toy manufacturers use employees" children to
try new products out. [ try out sth Remember you may not
get another chance to try out your ideas.
put sth to the test/,pot (sth) to/50 'test/to test some-
thing, such as an idea, a belief, or a product, to see if it
works as well as someone says it does or as you think it
will [v phrase]
Now's our chance to put these new waterproof trousers to the
test. I The soldiers worked out a strategy which was then put
to the test in a training exercise.
4 to use a person or animal in order to find out
something about them
experiment on
test sth on
screen
i I
experiment on/Ik speroment on II -o:n/to do scientific
tests on something, especially an animal, to see how it
reacts under various conditions Iv T]
6 a person or animal that is used in a test
subject
guinea pig
subject/'sAbd...3Ikt/[n C]
Subjects for this experiment represented a good cross-section
of the American population. I All subjects were tested for per-
fect hearing before the experiment began.
guinea pig/'gmi pig/a person or animal who takes part
in a test to see how successful or useful a new idea, system,
machine etc is, sometimes without being asked [n C/
Would you both mind being the guinea pigs for a new recipe
I want to try out? I Students are complaining that they are
being used as guinea pigs for the new maths syllabus.
testify SAY/STATE 12
testimony: be testimony to SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 4
testing DIFFICULT 2, EXAM/TEST 1
tether TIE 1
tether: be at the end of your tether FED UP 1
text WRITE 14
textbook/copybook PERFECT 1
textile MATERIAL 1
texture TOUCH 5
thank THANK 1
thank: I'd like to thank THANK 2
thank you THANK 2
thank-you THANK 5
thank you: no thanks/no thank you NO 2
thank you: say thank you THANK 1
THANK
to tell someone that you are pleased and
grateful for something they have done
what you say when you thank someone
feeling that you want to thank someone
a feeling of wanting to thank someone

THANK 1395 THANK
5 something that you say or do to thank
someone
6 what you say to someone when they thank you
7 not grateful for something that someone has
done for you or given you
1 to tell someone that you are pleased and
grateful for something they have done
thank express your thanks/gratitude
say thank you acknowledge
show your recognize
appreciation in recognition of
thank/0mk/[v T[
thank sb I helped her a lot with her work, and she didn't
even thank me. I thank sb for sth We must write and thank
Cathy for the present. I He shook everybody's hand, thank-
ing them for their hospitality and kindness. [ thank sb for
doing sth The Spanish government has thanked the French
for helping to catch the terrorists.
say thank you Isei 'Omk ju:/an expression meaning
to thank someone, used especially by adults telling chil-
dren to do this [v phrase]
Remember to say thank you. [ say thank you to sb It's a
beautiful book! Make sure you say thank you to Uncle
Henry! [ say thank you for sth Did you say thank you for
your present?
show your appreciation /,f0o ja:r o,pri:fi'eIJ'an/a
formal expression meaning to show someone that you are
grateful for something they have done, by giving them
something or by doing something special for them [v
phrase]
He found a special way of showing his appreciation - dinner
at the Ritz. I show your appreciation for sth We have
decided to pay a special bonus to everyone on the staff, to
show our appreciation for their hard work during the year.
express your thanks/gratitude/ikspres ja: r Omrjks,
'grmQtju:d II -tu:d/a formal expression meaning to say in
a speech or write in a letter how grateful you are to some-
one for something they have done [v phrase]
I should like to express my thanks for all that you have done.[
He made a short speech expressing his gratitude to all those
who had sent him letters of support.
acknowledge/ak'nolld3 l[ -na:-I to tell people publicly
that someone has done something to help you and that you
are grateful for it [v T[
In his speech he acknowledged the help his parents gave him
at the start of his career. [ I did a lot of work on that book.
It annoys me that the editor never acknowledged it.
acknowledgement [n U[ She has received no official
acknowledgement of her contribution to the fund.
recognize (also .ise British) /'rekgnaIz, 'rekon-/ if a
country or a large organization recognizes something
important that someone has done for them, they officially
and publicly thank them, by giving them something or
doing something special for them Iv T]
The government recognized his bravery in the battle by
awarding him the Military Cross. I Her contribution to
horticulture was recognized when a new rose was named
after her.
in recognition of/in ,rekog'mn ov/if you are given
something in recognition of something you have done, it
is publicly given to you as a way of thanking you [prep]
He was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his work for
charity.
2 what you say when you thank someone
 thank you
thanks
ta/cheers
that's very kind of
you/good of you
! appreciate it
you shouldn't have
you've saved my life
I'd like to thank
many thanks
thank you / Omok ju:/(used to thank someone politely)
"Would you like to come to dinner with us on Sunday?"
"Thank you, I'd love to. "'1 thank you for sth Thank you
for a splendid evening. I really enjoyed myself. I thank you
for doing sth Thank you for letting me stay. I thank you
very much I've always wanted a book about birds. Thank
you very much.
thanks/Omolsl (used to thank someone for something
they have just done or given you)
"'Here's your coffee. "" "Thanks, Morn. "' l "'How do you feel
now?" "A lot better, thanks (=thanks for asking)."l thanks
for doing sth Thanks for coming. Hope we see you again
next year. I thanks for sth Thanks to everyone for all the
cards and flowers. They really cheered me up. I thanks a
lot/a million "'Here, let me help you. '" "'Thanks a lot. You're
very kind. '"
talcheers/to:, tIrzl (informal British words used to
thank someone for something they have just done or given
you)
"'Here's the book you wanted. '" "'Ta!" l "'I've made you a cup
of tea. "" "Cheers!'"
that's very kind of you/good of you /,6rots veri
Ikalnd zv ju:, 'god zv ju:/(used when someone has very
generously offered to do something for you)
"'Here, you can have my seat. "' "'Thank you, that's very kind
of you. "" I "'Would you like me to carry your shopping?"
"'That's very good of you!'"
I appreciate it/aI a'pri:ie;t It/(used to thank someone
who has done a lot to help you)
Thanks for helping out on a Sunday! I appreciate it. I
appreciate it I couldn't have managed without your sup-
port and encouragement. I really appreciate it.
you shouldn't have/ju: 'fudnt hzv/(used to thank some-
one who has unexpectedly given you something, especially
something expensive)
What a beautiful ring! Oh Mike, you shouldn't have!
you've saved my life/ju:v seivd mai Ilaif / (used to
thank someone who has got you out of a difficult situation,
or solved a problem for you)
Thank God you've found my passport! You've saved my life!
I'd like to thank/aid ,lak to Omqk/(used especially in
formal speeches to thank someone)
I'd like to thank everybody in the company for working so
hard to make this event a success. I I'd like to thank our spon-
sors, and the town council of course, who allowed us to use
this stadium.
many thanks/,meni ' Omrks/(used especially in letters
to thank someone)
Many thanks for your notes on grammar. They are very help-
ful. I We received the pictures on Wednesday. Many thanks.
3 feeling that you want to thank someone
grateful appreciative
thankful be indebted to
appreciate owe
grateful /'gretfal/feeling that you want to thank some-
one because they have done something for you or given you
something [adj]
Dr Cameron has received hundreds of letters from grateful
patients. I grateful to sb We're really very grateful to you
for all you've done for us. I grateful for sth She smiled at
him, grateful for his support. [ feel grateful to sb There's
no need to feel grateful to anyone. You're entitled to this
money. I deeply grateful (=very grateful) We are deeply
grateful to everyone who gave their time and money to the
charity.
gratefully lady] "May I give you a lift?" I accepted the offer
gratefully.
thankful /  Omrjkfal/grateful that someone has done some-
thing, because if they had not done it the situation would
have been much worse [adj not before noun]
Take what they give you, and be thankful. I thankful for
All of us should be thankful for the protection that our armed
forces have given us in two world wars.

THANK 1396 theatre/theater
appreciate /'pri:ieIt/ to be grateful to someone for
something that they have done for you, because you real-
ize that they did not have to do it or that they made a big
effort to do it for you Iv T not in progressive]
Thanks a lot for lending me the car, I really appreciate it. I
Alan asked me to tell you how much he appreciated your
hospitality when he was in London. [ I/he etc would
appreciate it I'd appreciate it if you could turn the music
down a little. I Would you do that for us? We'd really appreci-
ate it.
appreciative/opri:otiv/showing that you are pleased
and grateful for someone's help or kindness [adj]
He wrote a warm, appreciative letter, thanking her for every-
thing she had done. I They weren't particu.larly appreciative
the last time I helped them. I don't think I'll bother again. [
appreciative of Our new boss is a real joy to work for. She's
so appreciative of anything you do for her.
be Indebted to/bi: n'detd tu:/ a formal expression
meaning to feel very grateful to someone for something
they have given you or done for you Iv phrase]
We are indebted to the National Archives for permission to
print these photographs. I be greatly/deeply indebted She
said that she was greatly indebted to everyone who had sup-
ported her campaign.
owe ]ul to be very grateful to someone because they have
helped you to succeed at something or to improve your life,
and without their help this might not have been possible
[v T not in progressive]
owe a lot/a great deal to He owes a great deal to his pub-
lishers, who helped him to finish writing the book. I owe it
all/everything to I owe it all to you. You were the only one
who believed in me. I owe sb a lot/a great deal "I owe my
parents a lot, "" he admitted. "They worked real hard to put
me through college." ] owe a debt of gratitude to We all
owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs Stevenson, who kindly donated
the money for the project.
4 a feeling of wanting to thank someone
gratitude
appreciation
gratitude/'grmQtju:d 11 -tu:d/a strong feeling that you
want to thank someone for something they have done for
you, especially because they have been kind to you In U]
Dan does a lot for me, and I want to show my gratitude. I
She accepted my offer of help with gratitude. [ Keith has been
very kind. But is your feelingfor him love, or just gratitude?
appreclallon/apfi:.fi'e;.fan/a feeling that you want to
thank someone for their help or service and to show them
that you think it was important and valuable In U]
To show his appreciation of her kindness he sent her some
flowers. I in appreciation of (=in order to show apprecia-
tion of) In appreciation of Mr Mainwaring's years of serv-
ice, the company presented him with a gold watch. [ token
of appreciation (=a sign of someone's appreciation) We'd
like you to accept this gift as a small token of our apprecia-
tion.
5 something that you say or do to thank
someone
thanks
thank-you/thankyou
acknowledgements
thanks/0m0ks/what you say or do to thank someone In
plural]
He won't get any thanks from them for being so honest. I
Please accept this bottle of champagne as our thanks for
organizing the seminar. I letter/message ete of thanks
(=expressing thanks) He wrote me a touching letter of
thanks. I She left without a word of thanks. I a vote of
thanks (=a formal, public expression of thanks, especially
at a meeting) I'd like to propose a vote of thanks to Sandra
for organizing the whole evening.
thank.youlthankyou /'0m0kju:/ thank-you letter/
note/card ere (=a letter etc that you send to someone in
order to thank them for something they have done for you)
[adj only before noun]
Have you finished writing the thank-you letters for the wed-
ding presents? I I stayed with Aunt Jane, and when I got
home I sent her a thank-you card and some flowers.
acknowledgements/zknohd3mznts II -'no:-/a note at
the end or beginning of a book, article etc, in which the
writer thanks all the people who helped him or her to
produce it In plural]
In the acknowledgements the authors thanked everyone
who'd contributed to the book. I Her book was based on her
ex-husband's letters and yet his name did not even appear
in the acknowledgements.
6 what you say to someone when they thank you
 don't mention it my pleasure/not at all
that's all right/ think nothing of it/
that's OK it was nothing
you're welcome no problem
don't mention It/,dunt 'menn t/
"'Thanks for helping me carry all these bags! .... Oh, don't
mention it. t"
that's all right/that's OK I,mts z:l 'rat, mts zo'ke/
(informal expressions)
"'Thank you so much for looking after the children. "" "'That's
all right. I enjoyed having them. "'
you're welcome /j:r 'welkm/ (an expression used
especially in American English)
"'Thanks a lot. .... You're welcome!'"
my pleasure/not at all /,ma 'ple5 zr, ,not zt ':1/
(formal expressions used especially in British English)
"Thanks so much for fixing the car. t .... Not at all, Madam!"l
"'It was very good of you to sing for us at such short notice. ""
"My pleasure!'"
think nothing of It/it was nothing/0k ,nA0 'OV
It, t WZ 'n0;/(used when someone has thanked you a
lot for something you have done because they think it was
very difficult for you to do)
"'You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble, you know!'"
"'Oh, think nothing of it. ""
no problem /nzo 'pmblzm II-'pra:b-/ (an informal
expression used to say that what someone has thanked you
for was really a very easy thing for you to do)
"Thank you for coming all the way out here to fix my
freezer. .... No problem, lady.'"
7 not grateful for something that someone has
done for you or given you
ungrateful
ingratitude
ungrateful/^n'greitfl/[adj]
You ungrateful child. You could at least say thank you. I I
don "t want to seem ungrateful - it's a lovely sweater, really,
but I never wear blue. I He seriously thought the voters were
being ungrateful when he lost the election.
ingratitude / ;ngrmttju:d II -tu:d/a lack of any feeling of
being grateful when someone has given you something or
does something for you In U]
Such ingratitude! After all that I've done for him, he treats
me like dirt. I They were shocked by her ingratitude - she
didn't seem to appreciate the trouble they had gone to.
i thankful THANK3
 thanks THANK 2, 5
 thanks: express your thanks/gratitude
.... thanks: no thanks/no thank you NO 2
 thanks all the same NO 2
i thanks to BECAUSE 1
!i that is EXPkAIN 2
 that's more like it BETTER 3
 thaw LIQUID 6
ii the BEST 1
.,.,,. theatre/theater WAR 7
THANK 1

theft 1397 THERE
theft STEAL 7, 8
theme SUBJECT 1
then SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1, THEN 1, 2
then: back then THEN 1
then and there: there and then/then and there
IMMEDIATELY 4
THEN
1 at a particular time in the past
;2 at a particular time in the future
1 at a particular time in the past
then at that point
at that time at that moment
at the time at that stage
in those days back then
then/Sen/[adv]
She looked back over her early married life; everything had
been so different then. I They used to live in the country then,
on a farm. I These days it's OK for women to smoke in public,
but then it was unheard of. I then and only then (--not until
that time) Bob cleaned the house until everything was per-
fect. Then, and only then, did he allow himself to sit down
and relax. I just then (-at that exact moment) I was about
to enter the house. Just then, I heard a noise.
at that time/at ,beet 'tam/during a particular period
of time in the past, used especially when talking about what
the situation was then as compared to the present time [adv
phrase]
At that time, he was married to a woman called Jody. I A
photograph of my mother at that time shows a beautiful,
resolute face under waves of auburn hair. I The accepted view
at that time was that women should remain in the home and
not go out to work.
at the time/at 6a tam/at a particular time in the past
when something was happening that was different from
what is happening now lady phrase]
At the time she was working as a student nurse. I I can't
remember exactly what he said, but I do remember thinking
it was very funny at the time. I My tnother said some very
cruel things, but she was very ill at the time.
in those days/,n 6aoz Idelz/at that time in the past,
used especially when comparing life in the past with life
in the present lady phrase]
We used to get paid Ј2 a week. That was a lot of money in
those days. I In those days there was no proper road, just an
old stony track through the woods.
at that point/at 6eet pnt/at that exact time during
a past event or situation, used especially when talking
about what happened next lady phrase]
Most of the guests stood up to sing the National Anthem, and
at that point he left the room. I I thought he was dead. At that
point, everything seemed hopeless.
at that moment/at 6eet maomant/an expression used
when describing past events or telling stories, meaning at
the exact time when something happened or when some-
one did something lady phrase]
At that moment there was a knock on the door. I Fortunately,
Jorge appeared at that moment and was able to break up
the fight. I Just at that moment, the police arrived.
at that stage/at ,6eet 'ste ,d31 at a particular time in the
past, although things were going to change or develop later
lady phrase]
At that stage I lacked the experience to apply for a manage-
ment post. I At that stage in the inquiry no one, not even the
police, knew how serious the matter was.
back then / beek '6en/a word meaning then, used espe-
cially when you are saying how things are different now
from the way you remember they were many years ago
lady phrase]
Back then, no one had to worry that they might not get a job. ]
I remember thinking, back then, that I would never get
married.
at a particular time in the future
then at that stage
at that point by that time
then/6en/[adv]
Wait until you've had your dinner, then you can go out to
play. I by then Just wait until July - all the exams will be
over by then. I until then We will meet up again in Budapest
- until then goodbye and good luck. t I then and only then
(=not until then) Both sides must forget about the past. Then
and only then can there be peace in Northern Ireland.
at that point/at ,beet 'p3nt/at the exact moment during
an event or process when something will happen lady
phrase]
The computer will carry on printing until all the work is
done. At that point it will switch itself off.
at that stage/at ,6eet 'sted3/ at that particular time
during an event or process that is continually changing or
developing lady phrase]
We'll be taking a trip to Frankfurt in June. At that stage in
the course your German should be much better.
by that time/ba[ 6eet 'tam/if you say that something
will have happened by that time, you mean it will have
happened when the time that you have mentioned actually
arrives lady phrase]
We have to go at 6 pm, but by that time we should have
finished the work. I by which time The Connellys go to
Africa in April, by which time they hope to have sold their
house.
theory IDEA 7
therapy CURE 4
there THERE 1, 2
there: be all there COMPLETE 1
there: be neither here nor there CONNECTED WITH 9
there: be there DEPEND ON/RELY ON 2, THERE 4, 5
there: get there ARRIVE 1, SUCCEED tN DOING STH 2
there: not be there THERE 7
there and back RETURN 4
there and then/then and there IMMEDIATELY 4
there is EXIST 1, HAPPEN 1
there there CRY 8
THERE
in that place
to that place
from that place
to be in that place
to be present at an event or in a place where
something special is happening
the number of people that are at an event
to not be there
not present at school, work etc, for example
because you are ill or on holiday
1 in that place
there in that place
over there around there/round there
there/6ear/in a place or area that is not the place or area
where you are now lady]
I love Italy, I worked therefor a year. I Jackie should be arriv-
ing at the station at three fifteen, I said I'd meet her there. I
Sandy doesn't want to sit there, can she sit next to you? I right
there (=exactly there) Where's my umbrella?I'm sure I left
it right there, next to my bag.
over there/aova r Sear/in a place that you can see or
point to but cannot touch [adv phrase]
Look, isn't that Mrs Kelly over there? I I used to live over there,
on the other side of the river. I Do you think this picture would
look better on that wall over there? I "Look over there, "" she
said pointing.

THANK 1396 theatre/theater
appreciate /o'pfiqieit/ to be grateful to someone for
something that they have done for you, because you real-
ize that they did not have to do it or that they made a big
effort to do it for you [v T not in progressive]
Thanks a lot for lending me the car, I really appreciate it.]
Alan asked me to tell you how much he appreciated your
hospitality when he was in London. ] I/he ere would
appreciate it I'd appreciate it if you could turn the music
down a little. ] Would you do that for us? We'd really appreci-
ate it.
appreciative/o'pri:ftiv/showing that you are pleased
and grateful for someone's help or kindness [adj]
He wrote a warm, appreciative letter, thanking her for every-
thing she had done. ] They Weren "t particu.larly appreciative
the last time I helped them. I don't think I'll bother again. [
appreciative of Our new boss is a real joy to work for. She's
so appreciative of anything you do for her.
be indebted to/bi: in'detod tu:/ a formal expression
meaning to feel very grateful to someone for something
they have given you or done for you Iv phrase]
We are indebted to the National Archives for permission to
print these photographs. [ be greatly/deeply indebted She
said that she was greatly indebted to everyone who had sup-
ported her campaign.
owe ]o] to be very grateful to someone because they have
helped you to succeed at something or to improve your life,
and without their help this might not have been possible
Iv T not in progressive]
owe a lot/a great deal to He owes a great deal to his pub-
lishers, who helped him to finish writing the book. I owe it
all/everything to Iowe it all to you. You were the only one
who believed in me. I owe sb a lot/a great deal "I owe my
parents a lot, "" he admitted. "'They worked real hard to put
me through college." [ owe a debt of gratitude to We all
owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs Stevenson, who kindly donated
the money for the project.
4 a feeling of wanting to thank someone
gratitude
appreciation
gratitude/'grmtotju:d II -tu:d/a strong feeling that you
want to thank someone for something they have done for
you, especially because they have been kind to you In U]
Dan does a lot for me, and I want to show my gratitude. I
She accepted my offer of help with gratitude. I Keith has been
very kind. But is your feelingfor him love, or just gratitude?
appreciation/o,priqi'eqgn/a feeling that you want to
thank someone for their help or service and to show them
that you think it was important and valuable In U]
To show his appreciation of her kindness he sent her some
flowers. I in appreciation of (=in order to show apprecia-
tion of) In appreciation of Mr Mainwaring's years of serv-
ice, the company presented him with a gold watch. I token
of appreciation (=a sign of someone's appreciation) We'd
like you to accept this gift as a small token of our apprecia-
tion.
5 something that you say or do to thank
someone
thanks
thank-you/thankyou
acknowledgements
thanks/0m0ks! what you say or do to thank someone In
plural]
He won't get any thanks from them for being so honest. I
Please accept this bottle of champagne as our thanks for
organizing the seminar. I letter/message etc of thanks
(=expressing thanks) He wrote me a touching letter of
thanks. I She left without a word of thanks. [ a vote of
thanks (=a formal, public expression of thanks, especially
at a meeting) I'd like to propose a vote of thanks to Sandra
for organizing the whole evening.
thank.youlthankyou /'Omrkju:/ thank-you letter/
note/card etc (=a letter etc that you send to someone in
order to thank them for something they have done for you)
[adj only before noun ]
Have you finished writing the thank-you letters for the wed-
ding presents? [ I stayed with Aunt Jane, and when I got
home I sent her a thank-you card and some flowers.
acknowledgements/0knold3m0nts [[ -'no:-/a note at
the end or beginning of a book, article etc, in which the
writer thanks all the people who helped him or her to
produce it In plural]
In the acknowledgements the authors thanked everyone
who'd contributed to the book. [ Her book was based on her
ex-husband's letters and yet his name did not even appear
in the acknowledgements.
6 what you say to someone when they thank you
 don't mention it my pleasure/not at all
that's all right/ think nothing of it/
that's OK it was nothing
you're welcome no problem
don't mention it I,dont 'men, an It/
"'Thanks for helping me carry all these bags! .... Oh, don't
mention it!'"
that's all right/that's OK / tSets o:1 'ralt, ,Stats oo'ke;/
(informal expressions)
"Thank you so much for looking after the children. "" "'That's
all right. I enjoyed having them. ""
you're welcome /j:r 'welkom/ (an expression used
especially in American English)
"'Thanks a lot. .... You're welcome!'"
my pleasure/not at all /,mai 'ple3 r,
(formal expressions used especially in British English)
"'Thanks so much for fixing the car! .... Not at all, Madam!"[
"'It was very good of you to sing for us at such short notice. ""
"'My pleasure!'"
think nothing of It/it was nothing/0H3k ,nAOIl]
it, It WOZ 'nA010/(used when someone has thanked you a
lot for something you have done because they think it was
very difficult for you to do)
"You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble, you know!'"
"Oh, think nothing of it. ""
no problem /,nov problom [[-'pra:b-/ (an informal
expression used to say that what someone has thanked you
for was really a very easy thing for you to do)
"'Thank you for coming all the way out here to fix my
freezer. "" "'No problem, lady. ""
7 not grateful for something that someone has
done for you or given you
ungrateful
ingratitude
ungrateful/An'gre;tfal/[adj]
You ungrateful child. You could at least say thank you. [ I
don't want to seem ungrateful - it's a lovely sweater, really,
but I never wear blue. ] He seriously thought the voters were
being ungrateful when he lost the election.
ingratitude / in 'grmt Iv tju:d [[ -tu:d! a lack of any feeling of
being grateful when someone has given you something or
does something for you [n U]
Such ingratitude! After all that I've done for him, he treats
me like dirt. [ They were shocked by her ingratitude - she
didn't seem to appreciate the trouble they had gone to.
thankful THANK3
thanks THANK 2, 5
thanks: express your thanks/gratitude
thanks: no thanks/no thank you NO 2
thanks all the same NO 2
thanks to BECAUSE 1
that is EXPLAIN 2
that's more like it BETTER 3
thaw LIQUID 6
the BEST 1
theatre/theater WAR 7
THANK 1

THERE 1399 THICK LIQUID
be absent/bi: 'mbsant/a formal expression: if something
is absent it is not there when it is expected to be [vphrase]
Why is your name absent from this list? Aren't you apply-
ing for the post? [ All signs of tidiness were absent from her
work. [ The virus develops most quickly when antibodies are
absent.
missing lms! someone or something that is missing
is not there, especially when you expect them to be there
[adj]
Some of the pieces from the chess game are missing. [ There
is nothing more annoying than reading only to find that the
back page is missing. [ Can you spot the missing number in
this series?
8 not present at school, work etc, for example
because you are ill or on holiday
absent
be away/off
absent I'aebsantl if someone is absent, they are not there,
especially at school or at the place where they work,
because they are ill, on holiday etc [adj]
Mandy missed the-school exams because she was absent. [
While the boss was absent everyone started taking very long
lunchbreaks. [ Casual workers are rarely paid when absent
due to sickness.
be away/off /bi: lwe, 'r)f/ informal expressions: if
someone is away or off, they are not at school or at work,
because they are ill, on holiday etc [phr v I]
All the children who were away had to make sure they caught
up on the work they missed. [ Is Selina off today? Can you
ask her to phone me when she goes back to work? [ be off
work/school He's been off work ever since he hurt his back
in a riding accident.
thereabouts: or thereabouts APPROXIMATELY 4
thereafter AFTER 3
therefore SO/CONSEQUENTLY 1
they GOVERNMENT 1
thick STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1, THICK LIQUID 1,
THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL 1, 2
thick: be in the thick of TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 5
thick: how thick THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL 3
thick: 2cm/lm etc thick THICK OBJECT OR MATERIAL 3
thick and fast LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 7
.,
THICK OBJECT 
OR MATERIAL 1
THICK LIQUID
words for describing a liquid that is almost
solid
to make a liquid thicker
to become thicker
how thick or thin a liquid is
1 words for describing a liquid that is almost
solid
thick lumpy
stiff viscous
creamy paste
smooth
thick/OIk/almost solid and therefore flowing very slowly
or not flowing at all [adj]
If the soup is too thick, add more milk. [ a puree of fruit,
sugar, and fresh thick cream [ In summer the engine needs
a thicker oil. [ Even the tractor had got bogged down in the
thick mud.
surf/suf/so thick that you cannot pour it [adj]
Mix the powder and water to make a stiff paste. [ Whisk the
egg-whites until they are stiff.
creamy/'kri:mi/thick and smooth like cream [adj]
The tomato soup was hot, creamy and delicious. [ Add the
chocolate to the butter and eggs, stirring the mixture until
it is thick and creamy.
smooth /smu:6/thick, with no lumps in it, especially
because it has been mixed very well [adj]
Beat the eggs and flour until they are smooth. [ Potato soup
should have a delicate flavour and a smooth texture.
lumpy / l^mpi/thick but not smooth, and containing solid
lumps [adj]
Paint that has not been well stirred is often lumpy. [ If your
sauce has turned lumpy, press it through a sieve.
viscous/'vskas/a technical word meaning thick and
sticky and therefore not flowing easily [adj]
The bird's feathers were covered with a black viscous sub-
stance, probably oil or tar. [ a viscous fluid which stuck to
the inside of the bottle
paste/pelst/a soft and usually sticky mixture of liquid
and another substance, which you can spread easily In C]
Mix the flour in just enough milk to make a smooth paste. [
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. [ He made
a paste of mud and water.
 to make a liquid thicker
thicken
thicken/'Okn/[v T]
If you want to thicken the sauce add a little corn starch. [ The
paint can be thickened by stirring in more pigment.
 to become thicker
thicken/get thicker congeal
set clot
thicken/get thicker/'Oikan, get 'OIkor/[v I]
When the sauce is just starting to thicken, pour it over the
meat. [ Now boil the mixture until it thickens. [ As the tem-
perature goes down, the oil gets thicker.
set/set/ifa liquid sets, especially a type of food, it becomes
almost solid after being left for a while or put in a particu-
lar place to do this Iv I]
Leave the jam in a cool place to set. [ It's best to pour your
yoghurt into small containers before it sets.
congeal /kon'dsi:l/ to thicken as a result of becoming
cooler, and become almost solid and unpleasantly sticky
Iv I]
The soup had gone cold and was starting to congeal in the
bottom of the pan.
clot/klm [[ kin:t[ if blood dots, it becomes thicker and
more solid, especially as it dries Iv I]
Blood had clotted on his back and on his arms. [ This sub-
stance in the blood helps it to clot.
how thick or thin a liquid is
thickness
consistency
viscosity

THICK LIQUID 1400 THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL
thickness I'O,kns/In UI
The thickness of cream depends on the amount of butterfat
it contains. [ Various factors determine the thickness of egg
white. I You can keep adding water to the paste until you get
the sort of thickness you want.
consistency/kn  sIst,)nsi/how thick or thin, how lumpy
or smooth, etc a liquid is In U}
The consistency of the sauce is just as important as its taste. I
Boil the juice to bring it to the consistency of syrup. I The
cement and water should be mixed to a thick, smooth con-
sistency.
viscosity/vs kmti II -ko:-/a technical word meaning
the thickness of a liquid,, especially oil In U]
The viscosity of the oil varies according to the temperature. I
Before spray-painting your car, always check the viscosity
of the paint you are using.
THICK OBJECT
OR MATERIAL
1 words for describing an object that is thick
2 words for describing material such as cloth,
paper, or glass that is thick
3 ways of saying how thick something is
1 words for describing an object that is thick
thick
chunky
fat
thick/Olk/an object such as a book, a wall, or a rope that
is thick is large when measured across or from one flat sur-
face to another iadj]
The old house was warm in the winter because it had thick
solid walls. I The needle he sewed the boots with was the
thickest he could find. I It's a big, thick book and I have to
read it before the test.
thickly ladv ] The bread was spread thickly with butter and
jam.
chunky ] Itj'^rjki] thick, solid, and heavy [adj]
She wore a lot of chunky silver jewellery. I These chunky
glasses don't break easily in the dishwasher. [ The books
were small, chunky, and bright, specially designed for
babies.
fat/feet/fat wallet/briefcase/cigar/book (=unusually
thick, especially because it is very full) [adj]
He pulled out a fat wallet stuffed with notes. I Winston Chur-
chill smoked a fat cigar. I The saleswoman arrived carry-
ing a fat briefcase full of papers.
2 words for describing material such as cloth,
paper, or glass that is thick
thick
heavy
thick l0  k/[adj]
If you come in November, bring a thick winter coat. I I need
to buy some thicker black tights. I She is quite near-sighted
and has to wear very thick glasses.
heavy/' hevi/heavy cloth/fabric/clothes etc (=thick,
heavy, and usually warm) [adj]
She had heavy pants for wearing outside. I The curtains were
made of a heavy dark fabric which kept out all draughts and
light.
3 ways of saying how thick something is
how thick
2cm/lm etc thick
thickness
how thick/hao 'Ok/[adj phrasel
The price depends on how thick the material you want is. I
The cup didn't break when I dropped it, which gives you an
idea of how thick the china was.
2cmllm etc thick 1(2cm, etc) Ok/measuring a partic-
ular amount from one flat surface to the other [adj phrase]
Cut the cake in slices about an inch thick. I The tank was
made of plate glass, fifteen millimetres thick. I I need three
pieces of half inch thick wood.
thickness/'Okns/size from bne flat surface of an object
to another [n C/U]
The thickness of the walls ensures that the house is always
cool in the summer. I Your insulating material should be at
least 50ram in thickness. I We sell the carpets in a variety of
thicknesses.
thicken THICK LIQUID 2
thicken/get thicker THICK LIQUID 3
thickness THICK LIQUID 4, THICK OBJECT OR
MATERIAL 3
thief STEAL 6
thin DETAIL 6, LIQUID 3, THIN OBJECT OR
MATERIAL 1, 2, 3, THIN PERSON 1
thin: be thin on the ground RARE 1
thin: be wearing thin USE STH 15
thin out CROWD 5
thin-skinned OFFEND 3
which meanMg?
thin person
thin object or material
THIN PERSON
THIN OBJECT
OR MATERIAL
not far from one side
to the other
NARROW
THIN OBJECT OR
MATERIAL
words for describing ropes, hair, tubes etc
that are thin
words for describing something that is flat
and thin
words for describing a material that is light
and thin, such as cloth, china, or silk
to become thinner
1 words for describing ropes, hair, tubes etc
that are thin
thin
slender
fine
thin loinA [adj]
The roof is supported on thin iron columns. I a thin blue line l
William always carried a long thin black stick.
slender / slendr/a stem, stick etc that is slender is long
and thin in a graceful, attractive way [adj]
He poured the wine into a crystal glass with a long slender
stem. [ the slender mast of a ship at anchor I A spider was
hanging from a slender thread.
fine/fain/very thin and often well made, usually in a way
that is attractive [adj]
She was wearing a fine gold chain around her neck. I His
hair is very soft and fine. [ I prefer writing with a pen with
a fine nib.

THIN OBJECT OR MATERIAL 1401 THIN PERSON
 words for describing something that is flat
and thin
thin
paper-thin/wafer-thin
slim
thin loin/[adj]
He cut his mother one or two pieces of very thin bread. I In
her pocket was a thin leather wallet containing six ten dollar
bills. I The ice was dangerously thin.
paper-thin/wafer-thin/,pe]p r 0n-, wef r '0n-/
very thin and flat, like paper [adj]
The silver plate was very very old, and paper-thin. I She deco-
rated each bowl with a wafer-thin slice of lemon.
slim/slim/a book, box etc that is slim is thin in an attrac-
tive way and usually of good quality [adj]
Claude gave me a slim gold box for holding my business
cards. I a slim volume of poetry
 words for describing a material that is light
and thin, such as cloth, china, or silk
thin light/lightweight
fine flimsy
thin loin/]adj]
He wore only a thin blue cotton shirt. I It was a chilly night,
and he had only a thin blanket for warmth.
fine/fan/very thin and of good quality [adj]
She cut the cake and poured the tea. The cups were fine bone
china. I a fine chiffon veil with embroidered edges
lightllightwelghl/last, 'latwet/clothes that are light
or lightweight are thin and not very warm [adj]
She took a light sweater, in case the evening was cool. I In
a warm climate people wear loose, lightweight clothing.
flimsy/' flirnzi/clothes that are flimsy are very thin and
light, and do not cover your body very well [adj]
She changed into a flimsy dress, knowing Wayne would
disapprove. I flimsy underwear
4 to become thinner
get thinner/grow thinner
taper
get thinner/grow thinner/,get 'Ono r, ,gro 'OInr/Iv
phrase]
Rubber gets thinner if you stretch it. I The line ofsmokegrew
thinner and thinner as it drifted up into the sky.
taper /'telp;)r/if something long and thin tapers, it gets
gradually thinner at one end Iv I]
The dog's tail tapered to a point. I taper off (=taper and
come to an end) The human spine grows thick and then
tapers off at its base.
tapering [adj] She has long tapering fingers (=becoming
gradually thinner).
@ T H I N P E RSO N
1 words meaning thin
2 thin and strong-looking
3 thin in an attractive way
4 thin in a way that is not attractive
5 too thin, for example because of hunger or
illness
6 words for describing a face that is thin
7 to become thinner
1 words meaning thin
thin
slight
thin/On/having very little fat on the body [adj]
Larry was tall but very thin with dark brown hair and
bright blue eyes. I The war years had turned my mother into
a thin, ailing old woman. I I wish my legs were a bit thinner/
slight/slant/thin, delicate, and often weak-looking [adj]
The girl's name was Juana, she was slight and delicate-
looking. [ Her father's figure was slight, which made him
appear taller than he really was. I He pulled the little girl
to her feet, marvelling that so slight a creature could have
put up such a fight.
2 thin and strong-looking
lean
wiry
lean Ill:n/thin and physically fit, especially because you
do a lot of exercise or physical work ladj]
He's a very handsome man: tall, lean and tanned with thick
white hair. I At seventy-two my grandfather was lean and
strong and I expected him to live forever. I She was looking
lean and very fit today in training for tomorrow's race.
wiry/'wadril a man or boy who is wiry is thin and strong,
though often not very tall [adj]
Archie McNeile was a wiry, upright figure with an alert,
intelligent face. I Jedd rolled up the sleeves on his wiry arms
and was soon sawing the tree trunk with quick strong
movements.
3 thin in an attractive way
slim willowy
slender keep your figure
trim
slim/sllm/[adj]
He was tall, slim and blond and really good-looking. I Mrs
Ester was in her late thirties, about average height, with a
slim figure. I "Does he look like Dan? .... He's slimmer than
Dan, has chestnut hair and a neat beard. ""
slender / ' slender/thin in an attractive and graceful way
[adj]
Laurence was a tall slender young man with a light brown
moustache. I Mandy had her mother's colouring, she was
slender and very fair with long golden hair. [ Although her
face was quite plain, she had long, slender expressive hands,
like a concert pianist.
trim/trm/someone who is trim, especially a woman, has
an attractively thin body and all her flesh looks very firm
[adj]
Joan's trim figure suited the dark uniform she had to wear. I
She strolled along the beach toward him, her body sleek and
trim, without an excess gram of fat. I Iplay badminton regu-
larly to help me keep trim.
willowy I'wboil a woman or girl who is willowy is
attractively tall and thin in a graceful way ladj]
In contrast to Francesca, who was tall and willowy, Diana
was small and curvy. ] Anastasia was willowy and grace-
ful, with grey eyes and long, straight red hair.
keep your figure/ki:p j3: r flgar II -flgjar/to manage
to stay thin in an attractive way even though you are get-
ting older Iv phrase]
Lovely to see you again, Joan. You "ve kept your figure well
all these years. I Superstars like Jagger and Nureyev must
have worked incredibly hard to keep their figures into middle
age.
4 thin in a way that is not attractive
skinny scrawny
bony scraggy
skinny/'skni/[adj]
You need to put some weight on. You're far too skinny.
Jacob placed his arm around her skinny shoulders. I The old
man sat in the park, alone except for a skinny black dog at
h is feet.

THIN PERSON
bony/' baoni/a person or animal that is bony is extremely
thin, so that the shape of their bones can be seen [adj]
The old woman's jewelry had become too big for her bony
fingers and wrists. ] He was a long-legged man with a bony
face and receding hair. I When I picked up the cat it felt as
bony as a skeleton.
scrawny / tskr3:ni! thin, unattractive, and weak-looking,
because the flesh is hanging from the body [adj]
The old man stretched out his scrawny neck so that he looked
just like a tortoise. I A few scrawny chickens were searching
for scraps of food in the dry earth. I Last time I saw him he
was a scrawny kid in Levi's and a dirty T-shirt.
scraggy ! t skragi! very thin in an untidy and unhealthy
way [adj]
A scraggy old cat was looking for food in the dustbin. I If
you're not careful you'll end up like those scraggy old guys
that come up to you on the street and ask for money.
5 too thin, for example because of hunger or
illness
emaciated be skin and bone
skeletal underweight
emaciated II'melSieltd/ people or animals that are
emaciated are so thin because of extreme hunger or seri-
ous illness that they may die [adj]
Photographs of emaciated children during the famine
brought offers of money from all over the world. I Towards
the end of his life he looked emaciated, his cheeks hollow and
his eyes sunken. I As I viewed the withered crops and
emaciated cattle I realized how serious the drought had
become.
emaciation /I tmeIsi'eI.fan/ In U] Scenes from the prison
camps contained images of emaciation and desperation.
skeletal/'skeltl/so thin that the bones can be clearly
seen [adj]
The images of starving, skeletal prisoners made people real-
ize what had been happening in the prison camps. I A child
with outstretched, skeletal arms begged passers-by for food.
be skin and bone/bi: tskln and tbaon/if you say that
a person or animal is skin and bone, you mean they are
extremely thin in an unattractive and unhealthy way
Iv phrase]
When we found this dog on the streets he was just skin and
bone, but he's perfectly healthy now. [ We've got to do some-
thing to help that poor old man, he's all skin and bone.
underweight /,^nda r'welt-/a word used especially in
a medical context, meaning too thin and usually unhealthy
[adj]
The doctor says that I'm underweight and has put me on a
special diet. I Your baby is slightly underweight but it's noth-
ing serious.
6 words for describing a face that is thin
pinched gaunt
drawn hollow cheeks
pinched/pnfft/thin and tight-looking, especially as a
result of hunger, illness, or cold [adj]
The refugees trudged into the camp, with ragged clothes and
pinched faces. [ He was filled with anxiety and his face was
pinched and drawn in. [ Alice lay in bed, her hair unwashed
and her face wearing a pinched look.
drawn/dr3:n/thin and unhappy-looking because of tired-
ness, illness, or worry [adj]
Her face was pale and drawn, and she seemed to have been
crying. [ When he arrived he sat down heavily, his face
drawn, with beads of ;3weat on his forehead. [ look drawn
(=have a drawn expression on your face) The doctor came
out, looking drawn and exhausted.
gaunt/g3:nt/extremely thin and pale, especially because
you have been very ill or worried or because you have been
working too hard [adj]
When I visited him in hospital Albert looked terrible - his
face was gaunt and his hair had turned grey. [ He was con-
centrating, his face strained and gaunt, as it had been for
1402
THING
months. I The District Attorney at forty-four had the gaunt
look of a man under continual stress.
hollow cheeks/,holao 'tj'i:ks II ho:-/ ff someone has
hollow cheeks, their cheeks curve inwards, making their
face look very thin In plural]
He was a tall old man, with sallow skin and hollow cheeks.
7 to become thinner
lose weight shed
slim waste away
lose weight /,lu:z 'weit/ to become thinner, either
because you have been ill or because you want to look more
attractive, be healthier etc Iv phrase]
Soon after coming back from Mongolia Bernard developed
a cough and began to lose weight. I lose three kilos/five
pounds/a lot of weight etc Alec was re-admitted to hospi-
tal with exhaustion. He had lost seven pounds in one week. I
Elsie doesn "t look too well, does she? She's lost a lot of weight
recently. I You look so much better after losing all that
weight.
slim/slm/a word used especiMly in British English mean-
ing to try to become thinner, more healthy, and more
attractive, especially by eating less and doing more exer-
cise Iv I]
If you are slimming you should grill meat instead o f frying
it. I slim down to eleven stone/lO0 pounds etc (=try to
slim until you weigh eleven stone, 100 pounds etc) He's
trying to slim down to eleven stone.
shed/ed/to lose a particular amount of weight quickly
[v T]
Vicky shed ten pounds in a week when she went on a 500
calorie diet. I Christine often attempted to shed unwanted
pounds by not eating for several days. I Gascoigne has shed
nearly 6 kilos in pre-season training and looks much faster
and fitter now.
waste away/,west aweI/to become dangerously thin
and weak, usually as a result of illness [phr v I]
There was nothing we could do - she just wasted away and
within six weeks she was dead. I He would lie there and cough
and cough, day and night, wasting away.
 thing CHARACTER OF STH 2,
-... CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3, DETAIL 1,
 HAPPEN 9, SUBJECT 1, THING 1, 3
 thing: be the in thing FASHIONABLE 1
 thing- be just the thing/job PERFECT 3
 thing: do your own thing INDEPENDENT PERSON 3
 thing: have a thing about OBSESSION 2
ii thing: make a thing of EXAGGERATE 2
4 thing: not be your thing DON'T LIKE 1
' thing: the latest thing FASHIONABLE 5
 thing: the thing is PROBLEM 12
 thing: there's no such thing EXIST 2
 thing to do DO 9
• thing to say SAY11
THING
a physical object that need not be named
a number of things of different types, which
need not be named
something whose name you do not know or
cannot remember exactly
1 a physical object that need not be named
thing article
something item
object artifact/artefact
thing IOIll [n C]
What's that thing on the kitchen table? I Those oak trees are
over a hundred years old. They're huge things. I How can you

THING 1403 think of/look on
be bored with all these lovely things to play with? I Do you
have one of those things for unblocking the sink?
something/' s^mOj/something that you cannot name,
for example because you cannot see it properly, or some-
thing that it is not important to name [pron]
I could see something lying on the desk. I A man came and
left something for you. I Will you help me choose something
for Greg "s birthday? I He's got a stone or a nail or something
stuck in his shoe.
object /'obdsIkt II ca:b-/a thing, especially something
solid, that is not alive, and that you can hold or touch In C]
His foot struck a hard object and he fell. I What is it ? I've
never seen such a strange object before. I There were many
beautiful objects in the room but the clock was her favourite.
article/'o:rtIkl/ a thing, especially one of a group of
things In C]
Every article here has a history: this mirror belonged to my
grandmother. I Most of our wedding presents were household
articles, this dish-washer for example was from my parents.I
article o.f clothing/furniture/jewellery etc (=a single
piece of clothing, furniture, jewel]cry etc) She didn't take
much with her, just a few articles of clothing and a towel.
item/'atm/one particular thing, especially one that is
being bought or sold In C]
I took the items out of the trolley, one by one. I At the check-
out was a notice saying "Eight items or fewer'. I luxury item
(=an expensive item that is not really necessary) In Russia,
many of the things that people in the West take for granted
are considered to be luxury items. I collector's item (=a rare
item that some people would pay a lot of money to have)
My Aunt discovered that her old doll was a collector's item
and worth a lot of money. I an item of clothing/furni-
ture/jewellery etc (=a single piece of clothing, furniture,
jewellery etc) My house was burgled and a few items of
jewellery were taken.
artifact/artefact/' ca:rtfekt/an object that someone
has made such as a tool or piece ofjewellery especially one
that is interesting because it is very old, comes from a
different country etc [n C]
Many Bronze Age artifacts were discovered at Luddesdown. I
The vase was the most perfectly preserved artifact he had
come across.
' a number of things of different types, which
need not be named
things odds and ends
stuff bits and pieces
paraphernalia bits and bobs
oddments knick-knacks
things/OIOz/In plural]
I'm worried about my grandmother - she keeps losing
things. I I just threw a few things into a bag and ran to catch
the next train. I all sorts of things (=a lot of different types
of things) They sell furniture, towels, greetings cards - all
sorts of things.
stutf/staf/an informal word meaning a number of things
In U]
I don't know how we're going to get all this stuff into that
tiny van. I Just put it in the corner with all the other stuff. I
There's a man at the door who wants to know if we've got
any stuff for a jumble sale.
paraphernalia /,perzfzr'neIliz/ a word often used
humorously meaning a large number of different things
that you need for a particular activity In U]
The car is packed solid with all our camping parapherna-
lia. I When the police arrived at the scene of the crime they
found the usual paraphernalia of drug abuse.
oddments/Jodmnts II 'ca:d-/things that are old and no
longer wanted or needed, especially small, ordinary things
In plural]
The drawer was full of old calendars, bits of wool and other
oddments. I He gave away a few oddments of clothing that
didn't ilt him any more.
odds and ends/,odz nd 'endz II ca:dz-/an informal
expression meaning a number of different things that are
not important or not valuable In phrase]
There are a few odds and ends that I want to pick up from
the office before I go home. I Igor a few bargains in the sale
- nothing interesting, just odds and ends.
bits and pieces/,bits znd 'pi:sIz/an informal expres-
sion meaning a number of small objects that are all differ-
ent from each other In phrase]
There are all sorts of bits and pieces in this box. I You can
put all your bits and pieces in this bag.
bits and bobs /,bits nd 'bobz II-'bo  bz/an informal
British expression meaning a number of small objects that
are all different from each other In phrase]
Do any of these bits and bobs belong to you?
knick-knacks/'nk neeks/small objects that are nice to
look at, or interesting, but not valuable In plural]
The thing I remember about my grandmother's house is that
it was full of little knick-knacks.
3 something whose name you do not know or
cannot remember exactly
what's its name thingy/thingamajig
whatsit thing
what's its name/'writs its neim/[n phrase]
It's a what's its name - a chain saw. I Do you have a what's
its name - you know one of those things for taking off
wallpaper?
whatsit/'wotsit II 'wmt-/a British word meaning some-
thing whose name you do not know or cannot exactly
remember In C]
Undo the screw and take the whatsit off
lhingҐ/thingamaJig /,O]i, 'Oi]omId3ig/ something
whose name you cannot remember exactly, used especially
when you do not feel like taking the time to think of its
proper name In C]
Pass me that thingamajig please. I The towels are on the
thingy at the top of the stairs.
thing /Oir/ jacket/box/jelly etc thing (=something
whose name you do not know exactly but that is some kind
of jacket, box, jelly etc) In C]
What's that box thing on the table? I She was wearing one
of those Spanish-type jacket things -you know.
things EQUIPMENT 1, OWN 6, SITUATION 1, THING 2
thingy/thingamajig NAME OF A THING 4, THING 3
thingy/thingummy NAME OF A PERSON 7
think EXPECT 1, REMEMBER 2, THINK ABOUT 2, 5,
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think:
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 1, THINK STH/HAVE
A THOUGHT 1, THINK/HAVE THE OPINION
THAT 1
don't think DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT IT 1
have a think THINK ABOUT 2
I can't think/imagine UNDERSTAND 13
I should think PROBABLY 1, 2
I think THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 2
I think so THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 3
I would think/I should think EXPECT 2
make sb think THINK ABOUT 7
make sb think of REMIND/MAKE SB REMEMBER 2
what do you think you're doing? DO 7
what you think about sth OPINION 1
you'd think/anyone would think SEEM 5
about THINK ABOUT 1, 6
about/of THINK ABOUT 4
aloud/out loud TALK TO SB 13
back: look/think back REMEMBER 5
badly of DISAPPROVE 1
for yourself INDEPENDENT PERSON 5
highly of ADMIRE 1
not: I think not DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT IT 1
nothing of EASY 5
nothing of it/it was nothing THANK 6
of IDEA 3
of/look on THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1

think of
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
think
nobody but yourself
of nobody but yourself SFLFI$H 1
of: not think much of DON'T/IKF 1
on your feet INTELLIGENT 3
over THINK ABOUT 2
through THINK ABOUT 2
twice NOT DO STH 2
up INVENT 1
you're too good for PROUD 9
. think
1404
THINK ABOUT
think about/'Orjk baot/[v T]
You've been very quiet all evening. What are you thinking
about? I I thought about Harry and how kind he'd been to
my parents. I When you "re in prison, you have plenty of time
to think about your past mistakes.
be on sb's mind/bi: on (sb's) mand/if something is on
your mind, you are thinking about it a lot [v phrase]
I don't know what was on my mind at the time, but I com-
pletely forgot to give the boss your message. [ Attendance at
business meetings was the last thing on Sarah's mind at that
moment.
which meaning?
think about something
or someone
THINK ABOUT
have a particular
opinion
THINK/HAVE
THE OPINION
THAT
think that something
is the case but not be
completely sure
a thought comes into
your mind
;,.,.;-THINK SOl
NOT BE SURE
THINK STHIHAVE
A THOUGHT
not think that
something is true, will
happen etc
believe someone,
believe that something
is true
DON'T THINK SOl
DOUBT IT
BELIEVE
make a guess
have an idea
GUESS
IDEA
invent something new  INVENT
THINK ABOUT
1 to think about something
;2 to think about a plan, choice, problem etc
before making a decision
3 to think carefully about the advantages and
disadvantages of a plan or situation
4 to think about something that you might
possibly do in the future
5 to spend time thinking deeply about
something in order to learn about it or
understand it better
6 to think about something a lot, especially
because you are worried or unhappy about it
7' ways of saying that an event or situation
makes someone think about something
8 words for describing someone who is thinking
about something
g ways of sayin.g that someone does something
without thinking about it first
t0 words for describing something that someone
does without thinking about it first
1 to think about something
think about
be on sb's mind
2
to think about a plan, choice, problem etc
before making a decision
think
consider
think over
have a think
give it some thought
sleep on it
mull over
be under
consideration
think through
think IOokl Iv I]
think about I was very interested in your suggestion and
I've been thinking about it. [ I've made you a very good offer.
Go away and think about it. [ think This is a difficult ques-
tion. Think carefully before you answer. [ Give me time to
think. [ think hard (=think carefully) Politicians should
think hard before committing a UN force anywhere. [ stop
to think She rushed into that marriage. If only she'd stopped
to think!
consider/kan'sdar/to examine a plan, choice, problem
etc and think about it carefully in order to make a decision
[vT]
Before buying a new computer, I think we should consider
the cost. [ Having considered your application very carefully,
we regret that we are unable to offer you a place on the
course. [ "'Dad! Will you lend me the car this weekend?" "TII
consider it. "'
think over/Orjk aovar/to spend time thinking care-
fully about a suggestion, offer, problem etc in order to
decide what you are going to do [phr v T]
think sth/it/them over Now you've had time to think
things over, what have you decided to do? [ Don't make a deci-
sion just yet, think it over for a few days and let me know. [
think over sth Philip thought over all that the principal
had said.
have a think /,hev  'Orjk/ an informal expression
meaning to spend some time thinking carefully about a
question or problem in order to decide what to do [vphrasel
I'm still not sure what's the best route to take. I'll have a think
about it tonight. [ After Frances had had a think, she came
up with a brilliant suggestion.
give it some thought/gv t sam 'Oa:t/to spend time
thinking seriously about an idea, suggestion, or problem
[ v phrase]
I didn't like Phil's idea atfirst but Igave it some thought,
then decided he was probably right. [ The company needs to
save money but we don't want to lose staff. Perhaps you could
give the matter some thought.
sleep on it / sli:p on t/to delay making a decision about
a difficult problem until the next day in order to have more
time to think about it Iv phrase]
Let's sleep on it. Things never seem so bad in the morning. I
Once Craig's slept on it he's sure to realize we're right.
mull over/,mA1 ovr/ to spend a long time thinking
carefully about a plan or idea [phr v T not in passive]
mull over sth I spent hours mulling over the plans for my
new house. I mull sth/it over It was a good suggestion.
Victor mulled it over for a while, realizing it made sense.
be under consideration/bi: ,And r kn,sd'rean/if
a plan, request, suggestion etc is under consideration, it
is being considered and discussed so that an official deci-
sion can be made [v phrase]
A new pension plan for employees is now under considera-
tion. I One of the amendments under consideration proposes
that all European countries reduce pollution levels by 30%.

THINK ABOUT 1405 THINK ABOUT
think through /,Orjk 'Oru:/ to think carefully and
thoroughly about all the possible results and effects of
something you are doing or plan to do [phr v T]
think through sth The government is being criticized for
not thinking through the consequences o f further tax cuts. I
It seems to me the whole plan was very badly thought
through. I think sth/it through Before you commit your-
self to this contract you should take a couple of hours to think
it through.
3 to think carefully about the advantages and
disadvantages of a plan or situation
take stock
weigh up
take stock/,tek tstok II -'sto:k/to think carefully about
the situation you are in, and about the way it has developed
so far, in order to decide what to do next Iv phrase]
take stock of At the age of 25 1 began to take stock of my
career so far. I Now that the crisis is over, it is time to take
stock of the situation. I take stock Progress is slow at the
moment. I think we might do well to take stock and recon-
sider our goals.
weigh up / I wei I ^p/to carefully consider a plan or choice
by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages
involved, so that you can make a decision [phr v T]
weigh up sth We've weighed up all the costs and decided
that gas is more economical than nuclear power. I Working
parents should carefully weigh up the advantages and dis-
advantages of the various kinds of childcare on offer. I I've
been weighing up all the pros and cons of moving to London.
4 to think about something that you might
possibly do in the future
think about/of consider
contemplate toy with the idea
think about/of/'Ork baot, ov II-o:v/tv T not in passive]
think about/of doing sth We're thinking about going to
Disneyworld next year. I It's impossible to guess what
Stansky's thinking of doing next.
contemplate /  kontmplet II ko:n-/to think seriously
about something important you intend to do in the future
[vT]
contemplate doing sth Many years ago he had contem-
plated writing a book about his childhood. I I've never even
contemplated leaving my job. What makes you think I
would? l contemplate sth Isn't 17 a little young to be con-
templating marriage?
consider/kn'sdor/to think about something that you
might possibly do in the future, but without definitely
deciding whether you will do it or not Iv T]
consider doing sth I considered driving out to Atlantic
City. [ Ask Jack if he's considering applying for the Senior
Manager's post. [ consider sth For some time Peter White
had been considering a return to England. [ For any skin
problem, it's worth considering a change of diet.
toy with the idea/'ta w6 6i altdIo/to think about
doing something in the future, but not very seriously
because you probably will not do it Iv phrase]
I toyed with the idea of going to Kathmandu, but decided it
was too far. I None of our prisoners has ever tried to escape,
although they've probably toyed with the idea.
5
to spend time thinking deeply about
something in order to learn about it or
understand it better
think meditate
reflect contem plate
ponder
think/01rjk/Iv I]
think about Study this poem and think about it until you
understand its real meaning. [ think Paula stood therefor
several minutes, thinking and wondering. I I've been doing
a good deal of thinking recently and I'm starting to see things
differently.
reflect/r  flekt/to think deeply and carefully about a sit-
uation or about something that has happened, especially
in order to try to understand it Iv I]
reflect on/upon Mike had a chance to reflect on the events
of the past few weeks as he lay in hospital. I The next morn-
ing, as she showered, she reflected on the strange conversa-
tion she'd had with Ken. I reflect Edgar reflected a moment
before answering the question.
reflection Ir'flek]an/ In U] On reflection (=having
reflected) I think it would be better to cancel our meeting. I
After a few moments" reflection (=after reflecting for a few
moments) Calvin realized that he was wrong.
ponder/'ponda r II 'po:n-/to spend time thinking deeply
and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or a
strange thing that has happened Iv I/T not in passive]
ponder sth Grant sat down in front of the fire and pondered
this problem for some time. I ponder When she had told him
her story, he lit a cigarette and pondered a while. I ponder
on/over Flora stood pondering on what she had just heard. ]
I had been pondering over my sister's strange behaviourfor
some time. I ponder what/how/why etc You look at all
the money you've stashed away and you start pondering
what it's all for.
meditate/'medgtett/to think deeply for a long time about
the world, about life etc Iv I]
meditate on/upon Once safely abroad, MacGregor medi-
tated on the condition of his own country. I As a young man,
he had spent a lot of time meditating upon the purpose of life. I
meditate Philip was often found sitting in front of the fire
meditating quietly.
contemplate/'kontmplet II Ika:n-/to think deeply and
seriously about something for a long time, especially in
order to understand it more fully Iv I/T not in passive]
contemplate sth He remained there for hours deep in
thought, contemplating the mysteries of the universe. I monks
who spent their days silently contemplating the mercy of Godl
contemplate a quiet place where the poet used to sit and con-
template
6 to think about something a lot, especially
because you are worried or unhappy about it
think about
be preoccupied
brood
have sth on
your mind
dwell on
can't get sth out of
your head
turn sth over in your mind
think about/'OItjk abaot/[v T not in passive]
Trudi's still very upset, and she can "t stop thinking about the
accident. [ I wish he'd stop thinking about work - he never
relaxes!
be preoccupied/bi: pr 'okj°apald 11 -a:k-/to be think-
ing all the time about something that is worrying you or
that is important to you, so that it is difFlctflt to think about
anything else Iv phrase]
Since her husband's illness, Vicky's been very silent and
preoccupied. I be preoccupied with Russian leaders were
more or less permanently preoccupied with the problem of
Poland.
brood/bru:d/to keep thinking for a long time about some-
thing that worries you or that makes you angry or upset
[vii
brood on/over/about Neville couldn't stop brooding on his
father's unkind words. I On my way back to the office I
brooded over the fact that I was getting absolutely nowhere
with my work. I brood Austin sat and brooded in the corner,
rarely saying anything to anyone.
have sth on your mind/hmv (sth) onja: r 'maind/to be
thinking about something all the time, especially because
you are worried about it Iv phrase not in progressive]
She has something on her mind, but she won't tell us what
it is. I "'Should we tell Dad? .... No, he's got a lot on his mind
right now. ""

THINK ABOUT 1406 THINK ABOUT
dwell on / 'dwel on II -o:nl to spend too much time think-
ing about something sad or unpleasant [v T not usually in
passive]
Brian's still dwelling too much on the past, in my opinion. [
There's no use in dwelling on problems that we can't do any-
thing about.
can't get sth out of your head/,ka:nt get (sth) aut ov
j:r hed [[ ,kaent-/to be unable to stop thinking about some-
thing or remembering something, because it has had a
strong effect on you [v phrase]
She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He just
couldn't get her out of his head. [ Sophia just couldn "t get the
faces of those starving children out of her head. [ That song's
got such a catchy tune - I can't get it ou. t of my head.
turn sth over in your mind/,ta:rn (sth) oovor in ja:r
malnd! to think about something carefully and repeatedly,
especially something you do not fully understand or that
you have not made a final decision about [v phrase]
He went back to his study and turned the conversation over
in his mind. Why had she been so different towards him? [
When I was 18 my father gave me some advice that I've been
turning over in my mind ever since. [ Mary turned the invi-
tation over in her mind. Should she accept?
7 ways of saying that an event or situation
makes someone think about something
make sb think
set sb thinking
make sb think/,melk (sb) IOIrJk[ IV phrasel
make sb think about/of The roses in the dardin Botanico
made him think of his own garden back in England. [ You've
made me think a lot about political issues, but that doesn't
mean I agree with what you say. [ it makes you think
(=you think about it because it is surprising or impressive)
Do you know, each of those pictures is worth over $5 million.
Makes you think, doesn't it?
set sb thinking/set (sb) 0iqkiq/if something sets you
thinking, it makes you think about something you had not
thought about before, or had not thought was important
before Iv phrase]
Then it started snowing and that set me thinking. Perhaps
we were in danger after all. [ set sb thinking about Read-
ing that book again set me thinking about the way people's
attitudes to war have changed.
8 words for describing someone who is thinking
about something
thoughtful be lost in thought/
be wrapped up in deep in thought
pensive
thoughtful IOa:tfal/someone who is thoughtful has a
serious expression on their face and does not say anything,
because they are thinking deeply about something [adj]
Angus had been laughing and joking, but suddenly he
became thoughtful. [ My mother sat and watched me eating
my food with a thoughtful expression on her face - I could
tell she had something to say.
be wrapped up in/bi: ,rept ^p In/to spend all your
time thinking about something that concerns you, for
example your work, so that you have no time to think about
other things or other people Iv phrase]
These days she's so wrapped up in her children she rarely
thinks about politics. [ When we were first married we were
totally wrapped up in ourselves and lost touch with a lot of
friends.
be lost in thought/deep in thought/bi: ,lost in 'Oa:t,
,di:p In 'O:t II -,b:st-! to be thinking so deeply about some-
thing that you do not notice what is happening around you
Iv phrase]
She'd been so deep in thought, she hadn't heard the man open
the dining room door. [ Derek was gazing out of the window,
lost in thought.
pensive/'pens iv! thinking deeply about something and
seeming a little sad [adj]
He glanced from time to time at her sad and pensive face [
Hamad seems to be in a pensive mood tonight.
pensively [adv] Molly looked pensively out at the soft
September day.
9 ways of saying that someone does something
without thinking about it first
without thinking
off the top of your head
in the heat of the moment
automatically
without thinking/wI6 aot 'Oirjk;rj/if you do something
without thinking, you do it easily and naturally, espe-
cially because it is what you always do, although this might
have a bad result or effect lady phrase]
Many ex-smokers worry that they may light up a cigarette
without thinking. [ Without thinking, I let the man into my
apartment.
off the top of your head /of 6o ,top ov ja:r 'hed [[
-,to:p-/if you give an answer offthe top of your head, you
say it without thinking about it for very long and without
being sure it is correct lady phrase]
"'How much is the house worth? .... Off the top of my head, I'd
say it's worth maybe $160,000. ""
in the heat of the moment/in 60 ,hi:t ov 60 'maomonq
if you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you
do it very suddenly and without thinking when you are
feeling angry or excited, so that you feel sorry about it after-
wards [adv phrase]
Fiona was sorry about being rude to Mark. It was just some-
thing she had said in the heat of the moment.
automatically /  a:to' mat,kli! if you do something auto-
matically, you do it as a natural reaction and without
thinking, because it is what you always do [adv]
The woman started to cry and, without thinking, Richard
automatically took her hand. I You cannot automatically
assume that everything your teacher says is correct.
1 0 words for describing something that someone
does without thinking about it first
automatic off-the-cuff
reflex mechanical
knee-jerk reaction
automatic /,3:t0'metlk[ automatic response/reac-
tion/reflex etc (=one that happens immediately and
without you having to think, especially because you have
done it many times before) [adj]
A teacher's automatic reaction is to correct mistakes in lan-
guage. [ Elizabeth immediately flew into a rage. It was her
automatic response to any kind of criticism.
reflex/'ri:fleks/reflex action/response/movement etc
(=a physical movement that you make as a natural reac-
tion to something, without having to think about doing it)
[adj only before noun]
Blinking when something comes near your eyes is a reflex
action, not a sign that you're scared. [ A baby will close his
fist more tightly around your finger as a reflex response if
you try and take it away.
knee-jerk reaction/'ni: d33:rk ri, aekj'an/a reaction that
someone makes without thinking at all, because it is the
way they always react, especially a reaction that you expect
and disapprove of In C]
Their knee-jerk reaction is to object to everything the manage-
ment suggests. I A rise in taxes always produces a knee-jerk
reaction from financial institutions worried about their
investments.
off-the-cuff/,of 60 'kAf/an off-the-cuff remark is one
that you make without thinking carefulJy and without any
preparation [adj]
The press officer said that the president's statement was
intended as an off-the-cuff remark, not as an official state-
ment of policy.
off the cuff [adv phrase] She surprised everyone by her
ability to answer the most difficult questions off the cuff.

THINK ABOUT 1407 THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT
mechanical/m 'kmndol/an action or activity that is
mechanical is done without thinking and without
interest, especially because you have had to do it many
times before [adj]
At first Stevie found the job interesting but soon it became
mechanical and boring. I There must be more to language
learning than the mechanical repetition of verb tables.
mechanically [adv] He pushed forkfuls of food into his
mouth, chewing it mechanically and washing it down with
water.
THINK/HAVE THE
OPINION THAT
1 to have a particular opinion about someone
or something
2 what you say to tell someone your opinion
1
to have a particular opinion about someone
or something
think
reckon
figure
believe
feel
consider
regard
think of/look on
take the view that
be of the opinion that
be recognized/acknowledged as
it seems to sb
think/Ook/Iv T not in progressive]
think (that) Most people think that war is a terrible thing. I
She thinks I'm crazy to leave my job. I Do you think perhaps
we ought to have the kitchen redecorated? I think it
strange/outrageous/natural etc that I've always
thought it outrageous that women get paid less than men. I
think it polite/wise/important etc to do sth Maureen
did not think it polite to interrupt. I think sth (to be) sth
Some people would not think $5000 a large sum of money. I
be thought to be stupid/loyal/untrustworthy etc He
would not employ anyone who was thought to be untrust-
worthy. I This is generally thought to be her best book. I what
do you think of/about? (=do you think it is bad, good etc?)
What did you think of my suggestion? l What does Tom think
about the situation?
reckon/'rekan/an informal word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning to have a particular opinion about
something or someone, especially when you tell someone
what your opinion is Iv T not in progressive]
reckon (that) They reckon the French team's better than
ours. I I reckon people's telephone conversations ought to be
private. I I don't know whether to buy this picture or not.
What do you reckon? I be reckoned to be This hotel is reck-
oned to be one of the best in the country.
figure/'fIga r II Ifgjr/an informal word used especially
in American English meaning to develop a particular opin-
ion about a situation after considering it carefully Iv T not
in progressive or passive]
figure (that) Costello figured he'd better get out of the build-
ing before the cops arrived. I When I saw what a lousy driver
he was, I figured he was probably not the best person to learn
from.
believe/b li:v! to have a particular opinion which you
feel sure is right Iv T not in progressive]
believe (that) I believe that no one should ever interfere in
other people's private affairs. I Raising taxes may be unpopu-
lar, but we believe it's the right thing to do. I believe sb to
be capable/honest/a fool etc I had always believed
Catherine to be absolutely honest in money matters. I firmly
believe Both sides firmly believe that a peace settlement is
now possible.
feel/rid! to have a particular opinion which is based on
your feelings about a person or situation, not on facts or
practical reasons Iv T not in progressive]
feel (that) I really feel you would be happier in a different
jbb. I Naomi feels that she has not made much progress in
her studies, but actually she's doing very well. I We spent
several hours together. We felt we had a lot of talking to do.
consider/kanls;dar/a formal word meaning to have an
opinion about something or someone after thinking care-
fully about them Iv T not in progressive]
consider (that) Mrs Bonner considers that she has been
unfairly treated. I consider sth suitable/important/an
honour etc We do not consider this film suitable for young
children. I I would consider it an honour to serve on the
Executive Committee. I be considered to be sth She is con-
sidered to be one of the finest pianists of her generation.
regard [r 'gozrd/to think that someone or something has
a particular quality or is a particular kind of person or
thing Iv T not in progressive]
regard sb/sth as She seems to regard sex as sinful and
immoral. I I have always regarded Dr Fischer as a personal
friend. I be widely regarded as (=be regarded by many
people as) Edith wore strange clothes and was widely
regarded as eccentric.
think of/look on/'0l]k Dv, 'lok Dn II -o:v, -o:n/to think
that someone or something is a particular kind of person
or thing, especially when your opinion is wrong, unusual,
or unfair Iv T not usually in progressive]
think ofsb/sth as Most people think of Leonardo da Vinci
as a great artist, but he was also a great scientist. I Learn-
ing a language should be thought of as a natural process. I
We came to look on young Bobby almost as a son. I The
monarchy is increasingly looked upon as an old-fashioned
institution.
take the view that/,telk (:) 'vju: 6at/to decide to have
a particular opinion about a situation or about life in
general, especially when other people have different opin-
ions Iv phrase not usually in progressive]
I've always taken the view that no one should be blamed for
their parents" mistakes. [ The judge took the view that Mrs
Winters had been wrongly dismissed from her job.
be of the opinion that/bi: v 6i a'plnjan 6at/a formal
expression meaning to have a particular opinion, espe-
cially about an important matter that affects everyone, and
to strongly believe it is true Iv phrase]
Aristotle was of the opinion that there would always be rich
and poor within society. ] Some people are of the opinion that
no sacrifice is too great for our democracy.
be recognized/acknowledged as/bi: 'rekagnazd,
ak'nolId3d az [I -'no:-/to be thought of as being important
or very good by a large number of people Iv phrase]
Von Braun was then acknowledged as the world's foremost
expert on rocket engineering. [ Lawrence's novel was rejected
at first but it later came to be recognized as a work of genius.
it seems to sb/It si:mz ta (sb)! you say it seems to me
that something is true, when you think that it is true
because of what you know about the situation
it seems to sb (that) It seems to me that there's little chance
of the situation changing in the near future. I It seemed to
her that the whole thing was a waste of time. I it seems to
sb The Prime Minister is becoming a lot less popular, or so
it seems to me.
2 what
1 think
in my opinion
as far as I'm concerned
if you ask me
in my view
I think/aI '011]k/
Your pronunciation's getting a lot better, I think. I I think
(that) I think this jacket will look nice with my brown skirt.
in my opinion/in 'mai a,p;njan/(used especially when
you think other people may have different opinions)
[adv phrase]
In my opinion, these family problems are all Bernard's fault. I
She is, in my opinion, one of the foremost artists of our time
as far as I'm concerned/az ,fa:r oz am kansa:rnd/
(used when you think about something in a particular way
without considering what other people think) [advphrase]
you say to tell someone your opinion
to me
as I see it/
the way I see it
to my mind
personally

THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 1408 THINK SO/NOT BE SURE
I've no complaints. As far as I'm concerned everything was
perfect. I I don't enjoy travelling, I'm afraid. As far as I'm
concerned, it would just be a waste of money.
if you ask me/if ju: ,osk 'mi: [[ -,ask-/(an informal
expression used especially when you are saying what you
think about a particular problem) [adv phrase]
That man's been drinking. That's what's wrong with him,
if you ask me. [ If you ask me, all our civilization is heading
for disaster.
in my view/m 'ma ,vju:! (used especially in written
English or formal situations when you are giving your
opinion about something) [adv phrase]
In my view, the book fail, to give us a true picture of life in
modern Japan. I The study of psycholo.gy, in my view, is
outside the range of natural science.
to me/ta 'mi:! (used when you are giving your personal
opinions about something or someone, especially when
this is different from other people's opinions) [adv phrase]
They call Ned Kelly a criminal, but to me he will always be
a hero. I To me, the unemploymentproblem is the most criti-
cal issue facing our government.
as I see It/the way I see it/az 'at ,si: it, 6a ,wei a-/
(used when you want to make it clear what your own opin-
ion is about a problem or situation and about what should
be done) [adv phrase]
As I see it, there are two alternatives. We can either stay with
your parents or rent a place. I The way I see it, if you don't
borrow money now, you'll lose the opportunity to expand the
business.
to my mind/t 'ma maind/(used when you are giving
your opinion about something, especially about how good
or bad it is) [adv phrase]
This wonderful statue is, to my mind, the greatest piece of
sculpture of the nineteenth century. I The author describes
in detail his "ideal world', and yet, to my mind, something
is missing.
personally/'pa:rs9n9li/(used when you want to make it
clear that you are only giving your own opinion and not
anyone else's) [adv]
A lot of people are in favour of European unity, but per-
sonally, I'm against it. I Personally, I find the prospect of
never ending progress rather exhilarating. I personally
speaking Personally speaking, I think you can't find a better
resort than Denia.
THINK SO/NOT BE
SURE
1 to think that something is a fact, but not be
completely sure about it
2 to think that something is definitely true,
although you have no actual proof of it
3 what you say when you think something is a
fact, but you are not completely sure
1
to think that something is a fact, but not be
completely sure about it
think get/have the impression
reckon be under the impression
believe get the idea
suspect have/get the feeling
think/0ItJk/[v T not in progressive]
think (that) Ingrid thinks someone's stolen her passport. I
I was surprised to see David. I thought he'd gone to Paris. I
Did you think I'd forgotten your birthday? I I think Freda
said she was going to look after the children. I think this/
that Of course I'm not going! What on earth made you think
that? I just as I thought (=that is what I thought) "'Just as
I thought, "" said the Inspector. "They left here yesterday. ""
reckon/'rekn! an informal word used especially in Brit-
ish English, meaning to think that something is a fact Iv T
not in progressive]
reckon (that) They reckon there are sharks in the sea
around here. I I can't remember what happened in last year's
competition, but Graham reckons Sid scored the most points.
be|ieve/ba I li:v! to feel almost sure that something is a
fact although you cannot prove it Iv T not in progressive]
believe (that) We had always believed that the painting was
a genuine Rembrandt. I I believe you've met my daughter,
Elizabeth? I believe sb/sth to be sth I have every reason
to believe these cheques to be forgeries. I it is widely
believed (=by a lot of people) A century ago it was widely
believed that there was life on Mars.
suspect/s'spekt! to think that something is probably a
fact, especially something bad Iv T not in progressive]
suspect (that) I suspect that he never really loved her. [ No
one suspected anything was wrong. [ just as I suspected
Just as I suspected, there was a small oil leak at the gear-
box seal.
get/have the impression/,get 6i m'preSan/to start
to think something is a fact because of various things that
happen, because of the way someone is behaving etc Iv
phrase not in progressive]
get/have the impression (that) I got the impression she
was actually quite nervous about it. [ Walking down the
main street, you get the impression that nothing ever happens
in this town. [ I have the impression that you are accusing
me of being a traitor. [ get this/that impression She never
listens to what the teacher says - at least that's the impres-
sion I get.
be under the Impression/bi: ,Anda r 6i imtpre'an/to
wrongly believe that something is a fact, especially because
of what you have heard or seen Iv phrase]
be under the impression (that) I had always been under
the impression that all Americans were rich. I Your mother
seems to be under the impression that you want to marry
Sophie.
get the idea/,get 6i a'dm/to start to think that some-
thing is a fact, especially because of the way someone
behaves or talks [v phrase not in progressive]
get the idea (that) I somehow got the idea that they'd had
a fight. I I don't want you to get the idea I'm trying to inter-
fere. I get this/that idea "'He thinks you're angry with
them. "" "'Where on earth did he get that idea?"
have/get the feeling/,get 6 'fi:llt/to start to think
that something is probably a fact, although you may be
imagining it Iv phrase not in progressivel
have/get the feeling (that) She suddenly got the feeling
that someone was watching her. I I sometimes get the feeling
I'm not wanted around here. I I've got a feeling we've met
before somewhere.
2 to think that something is definitely true,
 although you have no actual proof of it
assume imagine
assumption take it for granted
presu me presu mably
suppose I take it
assume/asju:m II a'su:m/to think that something is true
although you have no proof of it Iv T]
assume (that) I assume you know how to drive a tractor.I
If you are rude to other people your child will assume that
this kind of behaviour is acceptable. I I'm sorry, I was assum-
ing that everyone had attended my last lecture. I assume sth
to be correct/equal/impossible etc At first the reports
were assumed to be correct. I can safely assume (=assume
it with certainty) I think we can safely assume that profits
will rise steadily over the next five years.
assumption /as^mp'n/ something, that you think is
true although you have no proof In C]
Yes the Socialists will probably win - that seems a fair
assumption. I make the assumption that Are you making
the assumption that most Californians will vote Republi-
can?l on the assumption that Eden acted on the assump-
tion that his allies would support him.

THINK SO/NOT BE SURE 1409 THINK STHIHAVE A THOUGHT
presume/pri 'zju:m II -'zu:m/to think you can be sure of
something, especially because you have a good reason to
think so, although you have no proof Iv T not in progressive ]
presume (that) There was a noise upstairs and I presumed
it was the cat. I The committee presumed that its decisions
would be carried out. I presume sb/sth to be sb/sth The
doctor came in accompanied by a woman whom I presumed
to be his wife. I be presumed innocent/dead/responsible
etc The defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
suppose/sa'paoz/to think that something is probably
true, especially because of some information you have Iv
T not in progressive]
suppose (that) What makes you suppose we are going to sell
the house? I I suppose old Chris will be late, as usual. I There
are many reasons to suppose that Shakespeare was familiar
with the stories of medieval Italy. I I don't suppose he'll be
home till after seven. I I suppose You think you've been very
clever, I suppose, deceiving everybody like that?
imagine/t  medsn/to think that something is probably
true but without having any proof or information that it
is true Iv T not in progressive]
imagine (that) I imagine she's just got stuck in a traffic
jam. I You think I am comfortable here and perhaps you even
imagine I am happy. I I'm no expert but what he says is
correct, I would imagine.
take it for granted/,tek It fa r 'gro:ntd l] -'grain-/to
believe that you can be sure of something without ever
asking yourself whether it is true or not Iv phrase]
take it for granted (that) He takes it for granted that look-
ing after the children is my responsibility. I When Kevin and
Julie got married they took it for granted they'd live happily
ever after. I take it for granted She didn't ask me if I wanted
to go. She just took it for granted.
presumably/prl 'zju:mabli II -'zu:-/if you say presum-
ably something is a fact, you think it must be true because
of the information you have [adv]
If she can write, presumably she can read too. I Several of
the villagers disappeared, presumably killed by enemy
soldiers.
I take it/a 'tek t/you say I take it when you think that
something is true and you are asking someone else to tell
you that you are right
I take it (that) I take it that you have already seen this
report. I So can we take it that you'll be at the meeting? I I
take it You've made plans for the future, I take it?
3 what you say when you think something is a
 fact, but you are not completely sure
I think so to the best of my knowledge
as far as I know as far as I'm aware
I think so/a '0tjk saul (used especially when answer-
ing a question)
"Is Matthew still there? .... Oh yes, I think so - I've just seen
him". I I should think so "'Will Jenny be at the meeting?"
"I should think so. ""
as far as I know/az fo:r az ai 'nau/(used when you
think something is true but you are not sure that you know
everything about a particular matter)
The plane hasn't arrived yet, as far as I know. I So far as
I know, he and his wife are a respectable couple.
to the best of my knowledge/ta 6a ,best av mai
'nolId5 II -'no:-/(a formal expression used when you want
to make it clear that you are not completely sure about the
statement you are making)
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that anyone
has translated these poems into English.
as far as I'm aware/az ,fo:r az aim a'wear/(a formal
expression used when you want to make it dear that there
may be things you do not know about a situation)
As far as I am aware, Mr Cusner and his family are still
living in Cleveland, Ohio.
THINK STHIHAVE
A THOUGHT
1 ways of saying that a thought comes into
your mind
2 a thought that comes into your mind
1 ways of saying that a thought comes into
your mind
think strike
have a thought come to mind/
occur to spring to mind
enter sb's mind/ present itself
cross sb's mind
think/0t]kl [v I/T]
She looked calm, but she was thinking, "'Supposing some-
thing should go wrong?" I think (that) I've brought along
some rope - thought it might be useful. I think what/how
I suppose some silly kid was passing by and thought what
fun it would be to break some windows.
have a thought/hev a ' 0a:t/[vphrase not in progressive ]
I've just had an awful thought. What if all the banks are
closed? I It was a thought I'd often had, but never put into
words.
occur to/a'ka:r tu:/if a thought occurs to you, you sud-
denly think it by chance Iv T not in progressive orpassive]
it occurs to sb that It suddenly occurred to Miranda that
perhaps no one would believe her story. I occur to sb The
possibility that he might be wrong never occurs to him. I it
occurs to sb to do sth I suppose it never occurred to you to
ask the police for assistance.
enter sb's mind/cross sb's mind /,enta r (sb's)
'maind, ,kros- l[ ,kra:s-/ if a thought enters or crosses
someone's mind, they suddenly think it, usually just for
a short time Iv phrase not in progressive]
At that moment a worrying doubt entered my mind that
maybe someone was trying to kill him. [ it never entered/
crossed sb's mind that It never crossed my mind that
Philip might be jealous.
strike/stralk/if a thought or idea strikes you, you sud-
denly think it, especially because of something you have
just seen or heard Iv T not in progressive or passive]
strike sb As she was walking away a thought struck me,
"but how can I write to her when I don't know her address?'.[
it strikes sb that I saw you sitting there alone and it
suddenly struck me that you might like some company. [ it
strikes sb how/what Has it ever struck you, Betty, what
it would be like to have no one you could trust?
come to mind/spring to mind/,km ta 'mand, ,sprlrj-/
if something comes or springs to mind, you suddenly
think it, especially in relation to a particular subject that
you are considering Iv phrase not in progressive]
As I read the letter again, a number of thoughts came to
mind. [Henry asked the first question that came.to mind. [
When we talk about French wines, Claret and Burgundy are
always the ones that immediately spring to mind.
present itself/pr; zent tself/a formal expression: if a
thought or question presents itself to you, you think of
it without deliberately trying to think of anything, because
of the situation you are in Iv phrase not in progressive]
Why not lie about it? The idea presented itself as the perfect
solution. [ present itself to A new thought presented itself
to her, that she must escape from Max's influence.
2 a thought that comes into your mind
thought
idea

THINK STHIHAVE A THOUGHT 1410 THREATEN
thought le:t/In c]
I was just going to pick up the telephone when I was stopped
by a sudden thought. I so many thoughts chasing each other
around my mind I It's a sobering thought that we spend more
on dog food than some countries spend on feeding their popu-
lations. I thought of These moments of quiet always brought
thoughts of the wife he had lost. I thought that The thought
that she might miss her train made her leave early. I dark
thoughts (=evil or sad thoughts) You mustput these dark
thoughts out of your mind.
idea/ai 'dl/a thought, especially a strange, worrying, or
confusing one, that seems to come into your mind from
nowhere In C]
All kinds of strange ideas run through your mind when you
are very tired. I I can't seem to get the idea out of my head. I
idea that I was haunted by the wild idea that perhaps I was
going mad.
thinking OPINION 2
thinking: set sb thinking THINK ABOUT 7
thinking: way of thinking ATTITUDE 1
thinner: get thinner/grow thinner THIN OBJECT OR
MATERIAL 4
thirst THIRSTY 2, 3
thirst: be dying of thirst THIRSTY 1
thirsty THIRSTY 1
@ TH I RSTY
needing to drink or feeling that you want a
drink
the feeling of wanting or needing a drink
the state of not having enough to drink
1 needing to drink or feeling that you want a
drink
thirsty dehydrated
dry be dying of thirst
parched
thirsty / '03:rsti/]adjl
I'm thirsty. Let's have a drink. I He was too tired even to notice
how hungry and thirsty he was. I The salty nuts had made
them feel very thirsty. I She's always been a thirsty baby. I
thirsty work (=something that makes you thirsty) I must
have a drink. Gardening's thirsty work, you know!
thirstily [adv] He gazed thirstily at her water bottle.
dry/dra/dry throat/mouth (=one that is dry, making
you feel that you want a drink) [adj]
My throat was so dry I could hardly speak. [ Swimming in
the sea always gives me a dry mouth.
parched/po:rtt/extremely dry or extremely thirsty and
needing water or a drink [adj]
She put her water bottle to his parched lips. [ "'Hurry up with
that coffee, '" she said. "I'm absolutely parched. ""
dehydrated /di:ha 'dreltld II di:haldret]d/fairly seri-
ously ill because you have lost a lot of water from your body
[adj]
Drink frequently on these desert trips, or you'll get
dehydrated. I With the onset of diarrhoea children can
quickly become badly dehydrated.
be dying of thirst/bi: ,da;-irj :)v '03:rst/an informal
expression meaning to feel very thirsty and want a drink
Iv phrase l .
Quick, let me have some of that lemonade. I'm dying of thirst!
2 the feeling of wanting or needing a drink
thirst
thirst/o3:rst/In singular]
That walk has given me quite a thirst. I quench your thirst
(=get rid of your thirst by drinking something) Here, have
some orange juice to quench your thirst. [ work up a thirst
(=do work or exercise that makes you thirsty) I really
worked up a thirst digging the garden.
3 the state of not having enough to drink
thirst
thirst/03:rst/In U]
Half the animals had died of thirst. I She was found safe and
well, suffering only from hunger and thirst.
this is MEET 9
this minute/right now IMMEDIATELY 1
this, that, and the other VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
KINDS 4
thorough CAREFUL 2, 3, COMPLETE 2
though ALTHOUGH 1, BUT 2
thought IDEA 1, THINK STH/HAVE A THOUGHT 2
thought: be lost in thought/deep in thought THINK
ABOUT 8
thought: don't give it another thought FORGIVE 2
thought: have a thought THINK STH/HAVE A
THOUGHT 1
thought: I wouldn't have thought so DONT THINK SO/
DOUBT IT 1
thoughtful KIND 1, THINK ABOUT 8
thoughtful: considerate/thoughtful KIND 2
thoughtless UNKIND 3
thoughts OPINION 1
thousands of/millions of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR
AMOUNT 3
thrash/lick BEAT/DEFEAT 2
thrash out DISCUSS 2
threadbare CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
threat PROBABLY 5, RISK 1, THREATEN 4
threat: be under threat RISK 7
threat: make/issue threats THREATEN 1
threaten DANGEROUS 2, PROBABLY 5, RISK 8,
THREATEN 1
THREATEN
to say you will harm someone, especially if
they do not do what you want
I to threaten someone in order to make them
do something or stop them from doing
something
2 to threaten someone in order to get money
from them
3 words for describing the way someone looks,
talks, or behaves when they are threatening
someone
4 a written or spoken statement that.threatens
someone
5 behaviour, actions etc that are intended to
threaten someone
1 to threaten someone in order to make them
do something or stop them from doing
something
threaten hold sb to ransom
warn sb off make/issue threats
intimidate get at
threaten/, Oretn/to tell someone that you will cause them
pain, unhappiness, or trouble especially if they do not do
what you want Iv T]
threaten to do sth Every time they have an argument, his
wife threatens to leave him. I When he refused to talk, the
soldiers threatened to kill him. [ threaten sb with sth The
politician is threatening the magazine with legal action
unless they publish a full apology. I threaten sb lt's no use
threatening me - I'm not going to do it. I threaten sth The

THREATEN 1411 thrilled
US threatened an all-out nuclear attack if Khruschev did not
withdraw his missiles from Cuba. I threaten that The
unions are threatening that if they don't get the pay increases
they have asked for, they'll bring production to a standstill.
warn sb off/,w3:rn (sb) 'of II -'3:f/to try to make some-
one stay away from somewhere or stop doing something
by warning or threatening them [phr v T]
Journalists trying to investigate the scandal were warned
off by the FBI. I warn sb offsth The old man warned them
off his land. I warn sb off doing sth Joanna's brothers had
warned him off seeing her again.
intimidate/n'tmdet/to make someone do what you
want by behaving in a threatening way, so that they are
afraid [ v T ]
intimidate sb You shouldn't let your husband intimidate
you - it's your decision just as much as his. ] The latest ter-
rorist bombing is just another attempt to intimidate people
through violence. I intimidate sb into doing sth Peasant
families are being intimidated into giving up their homes by
gangs of armed bandits.
hold sb to ransom/,hold (sb) t 'rmnsam/to force a
group, organization, or country to give you what you want
by threatening to cause them political or financial difficul-
ties Iv phrase]
In the 1970s the big unions had so much power that they were
able to hold Britain to ransom. I The President said that his
country would not be held to ransom by any of the Super-
powers.
make/issue threats/, mek,, Su: ' Orets/to repeatedly
threaten to harm someone Iv phrase]
make/issue threats against Threats have been made
against the President's life. I make/issue threats R's a
waste of time Lssuing vague threats about economic sanctions
- we should send in the army.
get at /get et/ an informal expression meaning to
threaten witnesses, judges, or other people involved in a
court case in order to influence the court's decision Iv T
usually in passive]
The trial had to be abandoned when it was discovered that
jury members had been got at by the Mafia.
2 to threaten someone in order to get money
from them
blackmail
extort
blackmail/' bleekmel/to threaten to harm or embarrass
someone, for example by saying you will make known
unpleasant facts about them if they do not give you money
or give you what you want [v T]
blackmail sb The priest was being blackmailed by a
woman who said he was the father of her child. [ blackmail
sb into doing sth The organization made threats against
his family in order to try and blackmail him into working
for them.
blackmail [n U] "'If you don't give me the money, I'm going
to tell your wife. '" "'This is blackmail!'"
extort / k st3: rt/to get money from someone by threaten-
ing them Iv TI
For years the gang extorted money from local storekeepers. [
The former US vice-president was charged with extorting
thousands of dollars in kickbacks from building companies.
extortion / i k st: rJ'dn/In U] The defendant pleaded guilty
to two counts of extortion.
 words for describing the way someone looks,
talks, or behaves when they are threatening
someone
threatening
menacing
intimidating
threatening/'Oretnrj/[adjl
His voice sounded really threatening and I thought I'd better
do what he said. I The other men started pushing me around
and treatinz me in a threateninz way.
threateningly [adv] The soldier pointed his gun at them
threateningly.
menacing/rnensj/threatening, especially in a quiet
way that makes people afraid even though nothing violent
is actually said or done [adj]
There was something strange and rather menacing about
the way she spoke. I One of the guards gave a low, menacing
laugh.
menacingly lady] The teacher towered menacingly above
him.
• intimidating/ntrndetrj! threatening in a way that
makes people afraid of you because you look strong, fierce,
or unfriendly [adj]
Many people find her rather intimidating.
4 a written or spoken statement that threatens
someone
threat
ultimatum
threat/Oret/a statement that you will harm or punish
someone if they do not do what you want In C I
The letter was full of threats and accusations, and she
decided to show it to the police. ] threat against There have
been death threats against the families of soldiers serving
in Northern Ireland. [ give in to threats (=do what some-
one wants because they threaten you) The president said
he would stand firm and not give in to threats from terror-
ists. ] empty threat (=when someone threatens to do some-
thing which in fact they cannot or will not do) I wouldn't
take any notice of what he says - it's just an empty threat. ]
under threat of sth (=because you have been threatened
with something) He claimed he was forced to carry out their
orders under threat of death.
ult|matum ]nlt  metm/a final, usually official, warn-
ing that unless someone does something you will punish
or attack them In C]
issue an ultimatum The hijackers have issued an ultima-
tum - either the government releases the prisoners or the
plane will be blown up. [ give sb an ultimatum She's
ignored all my previous warnings about being late for work,
so I've decided to give her an ultimatum.
behaviour, actions etc that are intended to
threaten someone
intimidation
menace
threatening behaviour
intimidation/n,tm'deJdn/In U]
The government was only able to continue by means of
threats and intimidation against the local people. ] The
march went ahead as planned, despite police intimidation
of the protesters.
menace/' mens/a way of behaving or speaking which
makes people think that you are threatening them even
though you do not actually say or do anything violent In U]
His face was full of menace and I was worried that he was
about to strangle me. I Her manner suddenly changed from
friendliness and warmth to one of faint menace.
threatening behaiour/,Oretnrj b hevjr/ a legal
expression meaning the criminal offence of behaving in a
threatening way towards someone In U]
He was taken down to the police station and charged with
being drunk and disorderly and using threatening
behaviour.
threatening THREATEN 3
threatening behaviour THREATEN 5
threshold LIMIT 2
thrifty SPEND MONEY 7
thrill EXCITED 7, 9, 11
thrill: do sth for the thrill of it EXCITED 10
thrill: give sb a thrill EXCITED 11
thrilled EXCITED 1, HAPPY 5
thrilled: be thrilled with PROUD 1

1412
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said:
throw 37%
toss/flip (a coin) 25%
other 38%
THROW
• ..,,...4.'.-'.. .: ,.
to throw something or someone
to throw something in a careless or
relaxed way
to throw something violently or with great
force
to throw a ball when playing a sport or
game
to throw something so that it goes high
in the air before coming down
to throw a flat object upwards so that it
turns over in the air before it falls
6 to throw a flat object upwards so that it
in the air before it falls
toss (especially British)I flip (especially
American)/tDs II ta:s, fhp/Iv T]
toss/flip a coin (=make a coin go upwards and
spin in the air, for example as a way of deciding
something)
What the 200 English and American teachers in
our survey said
toss/flip (a coin) 86%
flick 6%
other 8%

thrilling 1413 THROW
thrilling EXCITED 5, 6
thrive SUCCESSFUL 1, 2
thriving SUCCESSFUL 6
throat: be at each other's throats ARGUE 1
throat: jump down sb's throalJbite sb's head off
ANSWER/REPLY 2
throaty ROUGH VOICE 1
throes: be in the throes of SUFFER 1
throng CROWD 1
through BECAUSE 1, DESPITE 1, DURING 1, TIME/HOW
LONG 2, UNTIL 1
through: be through FINISH DOING STH 1
through: be through with/be done with FINISH
DOING STH 4
through: get through CONTACT SB 3, PASS A TEST 1,
REACH 4, SURVIVE 4
through: get through/go through USE/CONSUME 1
through: go through LOOK FOR 4, 5, SUFFER 1
through: go through/live through EXPERIENCE 3
through: go through/over EXAMINE 1
through: go through/run through
PRACTISE/PRACTICE 2
through and through COMPLETELY 1
throughout DURING 1
throughout/all through ALL THE TIME 2
throw CONFUSED 3, THROW 1, 4, 9
throw: cast/throw SEND 6
throw a punch HIT 1
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
throw
away THROW AWAY 1
in GIVE 15
on PUT ON CLOTHES 1
out REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 3, THROW AWAY 1
out/kick out LEAVE A PLACE 10
sb a lifeline SAVE/RESCUE 5
sb off the scent ESCAPE 5
sb out LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 3
the switch SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
together MAKE 3
up: puke/throw up/barf SICK/VOMIT 1
your weight around TELL/ORDER SB TO DO
STH 8
your weight behind SUPPORT A PERSON,
GROUP, OR PLAN 2
throw
THROW
1 to throw
2 to throw
way
3 to throw
force
4 to throw
something or someone
something in a careless or relaxed
something violently or with great
a ball when playing a sport or.game
'5 to throw something so that it goes high in the
air before coming down
6 to throw a flat object upwards so that it turns
over in the air before it falls
7 to make something small and light go forward
through the air with a quick movement of
your thumb and finger
8 to attack someone or something by throwing
things at them
9 ways of saying that a sudden force throws
someone or something forwards or through
the air
1 to throw something or someone
throw
throw/0ro/to make a quick movement of your hand and
let go of an object you are holding, so that it moves through
the air Iv T]
throw sth at sb Janet was so angry that she threw the sauce-
pan at her husband. [ A couple of kids had started throwing
stones at our window. [ throw sth to sb We stood on the
bank and threw bread to the ducks. [ throw sth
on/into/across/down ete Karen threw a $100 bill on the
table - "'Keep the change, "she said. [ On winning the match,
McEnroe threw his tennis racket high into the air. [ throw
sb/in/off ete They threatened to throw me into the river if
I didn 't agree to their plans. [ Mitchell was then thrown down
the stairs.
to throw something in a careless or relaxed
way
chuck toss
sling pitch
chuck/tf^k/an informal word meaning to throw some-
thing in a careless or relaxed way Iv T]
chuck sth on/out of/into ete She took off her shoes and
chucked them on the floor. [ chuck sb sth Chuck me those
cigarettes, would you?
sling/shr/to throw something carelessly, especially with
effort or force Iv T]
sling sth into/down/over ete The postmen just sling the
parcels in the back of the truck - they don't care if anything
gets broken. [ He watched horrified as they slung the body
over the cliff.
toss/tDs [[ t:s/to throw something, especially something
light, with a quick gentle movement of the hand Iv T]
toss sth into/out of/down ete Thefire was caused when
a passing motorist carelessly tossed a cigarette out of his car.[
toss sb sth He tossed her last week's edition of the 'Herald'.[
toss sth to sb "'Catch!" said Sandra, tossing her bag to
Andy.
plt©h Iptf! an American word meaning to throw some-
thing quickly and carelessly Iv T]
pitch sth across/over/onto ere Tod pitched his coat onto
the sofa and ran toward the kitchen. I pitch sth to sb She
pitched the ball to the little boy.
 to throw something violently or with great
force
hurl
fling
heave
hurl/h3:rl/to throw something violently and with great
force, especially because you are angry Iv T]
hurl sth at sb/sth Angry demonstrators began hurling
stones at the police. I Sasha was furious. She picked up the
nearest thing she could find and hurled it at him. I hurl sth
into/out of/down etc The warrior swung back his right
arm and hurled the spear into the air.
fl|ng Ifl! to throw something quickly and with a lot of
force Iv T]
fling sth out of/down/into etc He pulled the knife from
her hand and flung it out of the window. I Bond grabbed
hold of his attacker and flung him to the ground. I fling sth
at When he gave her the tickets she ripped them up and flung
them at him. I fling sb sth We flung him the safety rope.
heave/hi:v/to throw something heavy using a lot of effort
[vT]

THROW 1414 THROW AWAY
heave sth through/across/down etc We managed to
escape from the house by heaving a large wooden table
through one of the downstairs windows.
4 to throw a ball when playing a sport or game
throw pitch
pass bowl
throw/Orou/[v T]
throw a ball He threw the ball so hard it went over their
heads. I throw a ball at/into etc Julie threw the basket-
ball straight into the net. I throw a ball to sb Cromartie
runs after the ball and throws it back to the pitcher in one
smooth movement.
throw [n C] That was a very long tlrow (=the ball was
thrown a long way) - at least 80 yards.
pass/po:s II pes/to throw the ball to another player in
your team [v I/T/
pass the ball to sb The quarterback passes the ball to Olson,
who runs in for a touchdown. I pass to sb Johnson passes
to White, White passes to Eliot, Eliot scores. I pass I was
being selfish - I should have passed.
pass [n C] What a great pass!
pitch/pitS/to throw the ball at an opposing player when
playing baseball, in order for that player to hit it [v I/T/
Johnny learned to pitch by aiming at a target his Dad had
painted on the side of the garage. I pitch a ball Ryan pitched
a curve ball which easily beat the batter.
pitch [n C] Thepitch went wide (=the ball was pitched too
wide) the catcher had to chase it and the runner at third base
came home.
bowl/bol/to throw the ball at an opposing player when
playing a game such as cricket, in order for that player to
hit it [v I/T/
The batsman straightened up as Botham came in to bowl. I
bowl a ball He's a very aggressive bowler - he always bowls
the ball straight at the batsman's body.
 to throw something so that it goes high in the
air before coming down
lob
lob/ltb II la:b/[v T]
lob sth over/across etc Football supporters keep lobbing
empty beer bottles over our fence. I lob sth at sb Someone
lobbed a book at me, and it hit me in the face.
6 to throw a flat object upwards so that it turns
over in the air before it falls
toss/flip
toss (especially British) I flip (especially American)/ms,
flip II t:s/[v T]
Mum tossed the pancake but unfortunately it missed the pan
and hit the floor. I Josh took a mint and flipped it into his
mouth like a dime. I toss/flip a coin (=make a coin go
upwards and spin in the air, for example as a way of decid-
ing something) We couldn't decide which movie to go to, so
in the end we justflipped a coin.
pelt/pelt/[v T]
pelt sb with When the Vice-president toured the area in 1958
he was pelted with rotten eggs by angry farmers. I The boys
sat in the back row of the class, pelting each other with pieces
of rolled up paper when the teacher wasn't looking.
stone/ston/to throw stones at a person or building in
order to cause injury or damage [v T]
During the riot the mob started stoning the British embassy. I
stone sb to death (=throw stones at them until they are
killed, especially as a punishment) The thieves were caught
and sentenced to be stoned to death.
bombard /bDm'bc:rd II bc:m-/ to attack someone by
throwing large numbers of things at them at the same time
[vT]
bombard sb with My brothers bombarded me with snow-
balls as soon as I stepped out of the house. I When the police
tried to advance they were bombarded with petrol bombs.
 ways of saying that a sudden force throws
someone or something forwards or through
the air
throw catapult/propel
send sth/sb flying pitch
throw/Orool [v T]
throw sth in/off/out of etc The blast from the explosion
threw the bodies high up into the air. I The furniture was
thrown across the room by the forve of the earthquake. I I was
cycling home when I got hit by a car and thrown off my bike.
send sthlsb flying/,send (sth/sb) 'flai-irJI to make some-
thing or someone suddenly move forward or through the
air so that they fall over [v phrase]
The bus went round a sharp corner and the passengers who
were standing up were sent flying. I He swung round sud-
denly, sending the papers on his desk flying.
calapultlpropel /'ketzp^lt, pm'pel/to suddenly push
someone or something very hard so that they move
extremely quickly through the air [v T/
catapult sb in/over/out ere The car crashed into a tree
and the driver was catapulted through the windshield into
the bushes. I I felt myself being propelled into the air by the
force of the explosion.
pitch/ptS/if somethi, g such as a strong wind or a sudden
movement pitches someone off a boat or a high place, it
makes them fall off it [v T/
pitch sb in/over/out etc Two of the crew were pitched over-
board when a big wave hit their ship. I A sudden gust of wind
pitched him off the ledge and he was left hanging by his
safety rope.
@ THROW AWAY
to throw away something that you no longer
need or want
words for describing something that is
intended to be used and then thrown away
7 to make something small and light go forward
through the air with a quick movement of
your thumb and finger
flick
flick Iflkl [v T]
He paused and flicked a mosquito off his arm. I Stop flick-
ing water at me! ,: "
to attack someone or something by throwing
things at them
pelt
stone
bombard
1 to throw away something that you no longer
need or want
throw away get rid of
throw out discard
chuck away dispose of
chuck out dump
throw away/,Omo o'wei/[phr v T]
throw sth/it/them away I've thrown his photograph
away and I never want to see his face again. [ To avoid the
risk of infection, needles must be used once and then thrown
away immediately. [ Why can't people take their litter home
with them instead of just throwing it away? [ throw away
sth Some employers throw away all incorrectly addressed
letters of application without even reading them.

THROW AWAY 1415 TIDY
throw out/,0roo 'aut/to throw something away, espe-
cially when you are tidying up [phr v T]
throw sth/it/them out You haven't thrown those maga-
zines out have you? I That old chair's no use any more, why
don't you throw it out? I throw out sth She would do noth-
ing for days then spring into action and spend a day throw-
ing out all the garbage, cleaning the bathroom and dusting.
chuck away/,t]Ak o'weq an informal expression used
especially in British English meaning to throw something
away, often carelessly or without really thinking [phr v T]
chuck away sth Don't chuck away that bread - we can give
it to the birds. [ chuck sth/it/them away If the bristles keep
falling out of your toothbrush you should just chuck it away.
chuck out [,tf^k 'out[ an informal expression used espe-
cially in British English meaning to throw something
away, especially when you are tidying up [phr v T]
chuck out sth Why don't you chuck out all those old books;
you'll never want to read them again. [ chuck sth/it/them
out We chucked a lot of stuff out when we moved house.
get rid of/get 'rid Dv [[ -o:v/to throw something away,
especially something unpleasant, dirty, or old Iv T]
Give me the empty bottles - I'll get rid of them for you. [ If
you hate that furniture so much why don't you get rid of it
and buy some new stuff. [ I think it's time we got rid of all
these old toys.
discard/dJs'ka:rd/a formal word meaning to throw away
something that is no longer useful to you, especially by
dropping it on the ground or leaving it somewhere Iv T]
Ten minutes after being given the toy, he had discarded it
and had found something more interesting to play with. [
People who discard their litter in the streets should have to
pay heavy fines. I A child had become trapped in a refriger-
ator discarded by gypsies.
discarded ladj] The police believe that the fire was started
by a discarded cigarette.
dispose of/dls'pooz Dv ][ -a:v/to throw something away
that you do not want or no longer need, by putting it in a
suitable place Iv T]
Please dispose of this wrapper carefully - keep your coun-
try tidy. [ Nuclear waste can cause serious damage to the
environment if not disposed of properly. [ The killer disposed
of the body by throwing it in the canal.
disposal In U] This is an incinerator for the disposal of
hospital waste, such as used syringes.
dump /dAmp/ to throw away something dangerous or
something no one wants, especially by leaving it in an
unsuitable place Iv T]
Toxic waste is being dumped into the ocean. [ People who
wanted to get rid of old cars sometimes dumped them in the
woods. [ The half-burned bodies were dumped in mass
graves.
dumping [n U] a ban on dumping in the North Sea
2 words for describing something that is
intended to be used and then thrown away
disposable
disposable/d;'spoozobol/[adj]
Did you know you can buy disposable contact lenses now?[
Disposable syringes are being made freely available to drug-
users in an attempt to prevent the spread of AIDS. [ The plas-
tic gloves you get at some petrol stations are disposable.
thrown: be thrown FALL 1
thrust MEANING 10, PUSH 5, PUT 5
thrust: the thrust of MAIN 3
thud SOUND 6
thug VIOLENT 5
thumb: be under sb's thumb OBEY 5
thumb through: leaf/flick/thumb through READ 3
thumbs: be all thumbs CLUMSY 1
thumbs: twiddle your thumbs NOT DO STH 4
thumbs down: give sth the thumbs down
REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 3
thump HIT 1 SOUND 6
thunder LOUD/NOISY 8
thwart PREVENT 3
tick SOUND 14
tick: what makes sb tick CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 1
tick away PASS/TIME PASSING 2
tick off: it ticks me off/it hacks me off ANNOY 1
tick sb off/give sb a ticking off TELL SB OFF 1
ticked off/hacked off ANNOY 4
ticking over: be ticking over ON/SWITCHED ON 1
tickle TOUCH 2
tidbit: titbit/tidbit PIECE 5
tidy TIDY 1, 2, 3
tidy sum MONEY 2
tidy up TIDY 2
TIDY
words for describing a room, house, desk etc
that is tidy
to make a place tidy
words for describing someone who always
likes to keep things tidy
words for describing writing, schoolwork etc
that has been done carefully so that it looks
tidy
1 words for describing a room, house, desk etc
that is tidy
tidy shipshape
neat just so
immaculate
tidy/'taidi/a place or area that is tidy is nice to look at
because everything in it is arranged in an orderly way and
is where it should be [adj]
He entered Yvonne's room. It was bright and tidy. [ I don't
know how she always manages to keep her desk so tidy. [ He
has the tidiest office you ever saw.
tidily [adv] She put her things away tidily in the closet.
neat/hi:t/tidy, orderly, and looking nice [adj]
The house was neat and well cared for. [ He unpacked his
clothes and arranged them in a neat pile at the foot of his bed.
neatly [adv] The bottles were arranged neatly in rows on
the shelves.
immaculate/ 'mmkjlt/perfectly clean and tidy [adj]
He wants the place immaculate but he never does any clean-
ing himself. I A smart young officer got out, immaculate in
his army uniform, pants creased to a knife-edge.
immaculately [adv] The guide showed the visitors round
an immaculately kept garden.
shipshape/'j'pep/a place where everything is ship-
shape is kept very tidy, so that people can work there
easily and well [adj not before noun]
Try to keep everything shipshape while I'm away. I There
was a rush to get things shipshape for the Senator's visit.
Just so/,dsAst 'sou/if you say the everything in a place
is just so, you mean it is extremely tidy and well organized,
because the person in charge of it likes to do everything
exactly right [adj phrase not before noun]
She's very houseproud. Everything has to be just so. [ In the
dining room each place was just so.
2 to make a place tidy
tidy straighten/straighten up
tidy up get the place/house etc straight
clear up
tidy/'taidi/Iv T]
She tidied her room, made the bed, and went clown for break-
fast. [ By Friday lunchtime people were already tidying their
desks for the weekend.
tidy up/,tatdi 'Ap/ to make something tidier in order to
improve its appearance [phr v I/T]

TIDY 1416 TIE
tidy up sth Ann began to tidy up the house for her mother-
in-law's viMt. I tidy sth/it/them up The garden looked
much better when he had tidied it up. I tidy up I'm afraid
the place is rather a mess. I haven't had time to tidy up. I tidy
up after sb (=tidy a place after someone has made it
untidy) She was constantly running around tidying up after
the boys.
olear up ! ,klmr ^p] to tidy the things that are making a
place dirty or untidy [phr v I/T/
We all helped to clear up after the party. I Let's start clear-
ing up in the kitchen. I clear up sth I don't see why I should
clear up other people's mess. I clear sth/it/them up It'll
take ages to clear all this lot up. I clear up after sb She got
fed up with having to clearup after her husband all the time.
straighten (British) I straighten up (American)
/'stretn, ,stretn '^p/to make a place, area, or set of objects
tidy by rearranging things Iv T/
I just have to straighten up the kitchen, then I'll be ready. I
The librarian was busy straightening up the shelves.
get the place/house etc straight/get 6 (place etc)
Istret/an informal expression meaning to tidy a place and
put everything where it should be [v phrase]
She wanted to get the place straight before her friends came
to stay. I I'd just got the apartment straight when the kids
:ame back from football and left mud everywhere.
3 words for describing someone who always
likes to keep things tidy
tidy
neat
houseproud
tidy/ita[di/[adj]
Neither Kate nor Mike were particularly tidy, so their jTat
was in a permanent muddle. I George was an obsessively tidy
man with an intense dislike of crumbs and specks of dirt.
neat/ni:t/liking everything to be in its right place, and
liking to look clean and tidy [adj]
We're looking for a secretary who is neat and efficient. I He's
a pleasant man, very neat in his habits. I The next candidate
was a young girl, neat and pretty in a dark red suit.
houseproud / Ihaospraod/someone who is houseproud
wants their home to always look extremely clean and tidy,
and spends a lot of time keeping it like this [adj]
I couldn't stand living with such a houseproud person. I She
was so houseproud that no one was allowed in wearing their
outdoor shoes.
4 words for describing writing, schoolwork etc
that has been done carefully so that it looks
tidy
neat
neat/ni:t/
John filled out the form in his small neat handwriting, i
neat and tidy Examiners will naturally tend to be more
generous to those students whose work is neat and tidy.
:il tie EQUAL 5, FASTEN/DO UP 1, TIE 1, 2, 3, 4
 tiesbup TIE3
 tie up TIE 2
ii ' tie sth in with TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 4
; tie sth together TIE 1, 2
TIE
to fasten something to something else, using
a piece of stri0g, rope etc
to tie a string, rope etc around something to
keep it closed or keep all its parts together
to tie someone so that they cannot move or
escape
to tie a knot in a piece of string, rope, cloth etc
to remove a piece of string, rope etc that is
tied to something
1 to fasten something to something else, using
a piece of string, rope etc
tie tether
tie sth together rope together
lash
tie/ta/Iv T]
tie sth to/around etc Tom tied the knife to his belt and
walked on into the forest. I I found the old man tying hooks
to fishing lines. I The climber tied a rope around his waist
before setting off. I The dinghy had been tied to the yacht with
a thin painter-line.
tie sth together /:ta (sth) ta'ge6ar/to tie two or more
things together [phr v T]
If the rope is too short, tie two pieces together. I When the
teacher stood up he found that his shoes had been tied
together.
lash/lmJ'/to tie something very tightly to something else
so that it will not move at all Iv T]
lash sth to sth The bags were lashed tightly to the roof of
the jeep. I lash sth together (=tie things together very
tightly) The sailors made a raft by lashing tree-trunks
together.
lelher/te6ar/to tie an animal such as a dog or horse to
something, using a rope, so that it can move around but
cannot walk away Iv T]
tether sth The farmer tethered a goat in the field and left
it therefor the day. I tether sth to sth My horse had been
tethered to a post, but somehow it escaped.
rope together/ mop ta ge6ar/to tie things or people to
each other using a fairly long piece of rope, so that they are
connected to each other at a distance [phr v T usually
passive]
The climbers were roped together for safety and proceeded
cautiously.
to tie a string, rope etc around something to
keep it closed or keep all its parts together
tie
tie up
tie sth together
tie/ta:/Iv T]
tie sth with sth The package had been tied with strong
green string. I tie sth in bunches/bundles etc Theplants
were tied in bunches and left to dry.
tie up [ ,ta '^p[ to tie things fairly tightly together so that
they do not fall apart again [phr v T/
tie sth/it/them up I put the coins in a piece of cloth, tied
it up and put the package in my bag. I tie up sth Clara tied
up all the books again and put the bundle under the desk.
tie sth together/,taI (sth) toge6or/to tie string, rope
etc around things to keep them together [phr v T]
On the table was a pack of envelopes, neatly tied together with
ribbon. I He was forced to put down his bulging suitcase and
tie it together again.
 to tie someone so that they cannot move or
escape
tie bind
tie sb up shackle
tie/ta/Iv T]
tie sb to sth The young man had been tied to a lamp-post,
beaten up and robbed. I tie sb's hands/feet etc Taking a
length of rope, he tied my hands and feet.
tie sb up / ta (sb) 'Ap/to tie someone's arms, legs etc so
that they cannot move at all [phr v T]
He hit the burglar on the head, tied him up and phoned the
police. [ The victims had both been tied up, then shot.
bind /ba:nd/ a word used especially in literature or in
newspapers meaning to tie someone so that they cannot
move Iv T usually in passive]
The hostage had been bound and gagged and left in a corner
of the room.

TIE 1417 TIGHT
shackle/'mkl/to tie the legs or arms of a person or
animal with a thick chain Iv T]
The prisoners were shackled together and forced to walk 600
miles across country.
4 to tie a knot in a piece of string, rope, cloth
etc
tie
knot
tie Ital Iv T]
tie a knot in sth Quickly tying a knot in his tie, John
finished dressing and went to work. I tie a knot/bow At
school camp they taught us how to tie various knots. I tie the
laces/tapes etc Pull both ends tight, tie the tapes then
inflate the life jacket.
knot Into II ha:t/to tie a knot in something in order to
fasten it Iv T]
knot sth He tied the rope to the tree, knotted it and began
to pull. I knot sth around sth Britt casually knotted a silk
scarf around her neck.
 to remove a piece of string, rope etc that is
tied to something
untie/undo
untie/undo/An'tai, An'du:/ lv T]
Martha untied the string holding the bag shut, and took out
the money. I He walked into the room, undoing his tie and
loosening his collar. I I had to cut the knot because I couldn "t
untie it.
tied: sb's hands are tied CAN'T 4
tied behind your back: can beat sb with one arm tied
behind your back EASY 5
tied up: be tied up BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE 1
tier LINE 6
ties RELATIONSHIP 2
tiff ARGUE 5
tight FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 3, STRICT 4, TIGHT 1,
3, 5
tight: pull sth tight TIGHT 4
tight-fitting TIGHT 5
tight rein: keep a tight rein on CONTROL 12, STRICT 2
tight ship: run a tight ship EFFICIENT 3
tight spot: be in a tight spot PROBLEM 7
tight squeeze: a tight squeeze SPACE/ROOM 3
i! tight/tight-fisted GENEROUS 2
TIGHT
words for describing something such as a
screw, handle, lid etc that is firmly closed,
fastened, or fitted
to close or fasten something firmly by turning it
words for describing a rope, wire, chain etc
that has been pulled or stretched so that it
becomes tight
to make a rope, wire, chain etc tight
words for describing clothes that are tight on
the body
1 words for describing something such as a
screw, handle, lid etc that is firmly closed,
fastened, or fitted
tight
firmly
fast
tight/tat/firmly fixed in place and very difficult to move
[adj]
Keep spices in a jar with a tight lid. I I checked my bicycle
over to make sure that all the bolts were tight.
tight [adv] Someone had forgotten to screw the tap tight, and
during the night the water overflowed.
firmly / 'f3:rmli/something that is firmly closed, fastened
etc has been closed or fastened very tightly [adv]
The wheel must be firmly tightened, then locked in place. I
Make sure you put the cork back firmly in the bottle.
fast/fa:st II frost/if something is held, stuck, or tied fast
it is held, stuck, .or tied so tightly that it cannot be moved
at all [adv]
The tyro was on the back of the Jeep, held fast by three strong
bolts. I When the tide went down we found our boat was stuck
fast on a mud bank.
2 to close or fasten something firmly by turning it
tighten
tighten/tatn/[v T]
Who tightened this lid? I can't move it at all! I When chang-
ing a tire, make sure you tighten each nut correctly.
 words for describing a rope, wire, chain etc
that has been pulled or stretched so that it
becomes tight
tight
taut
tension
tight/tat/[adjl
If the straps aren't tight enough, the saddle can slip. I The
tug increased power until the cables were pulled tight.
taut/t::t/something such as wire, rope, skin, or muscle
that is taut is pulled or stretched very tight [adj]
When the breeze blew, the taut fishing-lines slanted across
the side of the boat I Every muscle in his body was taut with
effort. I As he got angrier, she saw the skin grow taut over
his cheeks.
tension / 'tcnn/the degree to which something such as
a rope or wire is stretched or pulled tight In U]
There is a lot of tension on the bridge cables - up to forty tons
on some of them. I Before you ride your motorcycle, check the
engine oil level, tyres, and chain tension.
 to make a rope, wire, chain etc tight
tighten
pull sth tight
stretch
tighten/tatn/[v T]
When you tighten guitar strings the note gets higher. I Wind
in a few feet of rope to tighten it, then start to raise the anchor.
pMII sth tight/,pol (sth) 'taiq to pull something so that
it becomes tight Iv phrase]
Brian wrapped some string round the parcel and pulled it
tight. I Pulling the laces tight, Martin made the boots as com-
fortable as he could.
stretch/streq! to pull something such as a piece of rope,
rubber or material, making it slightly longer than it
usually is, especially in order to tighten it Iv T]
Stretch the rubber band and pull it over the lid of the jar.I
The spinning machine stretches the yarn and twists it into
thread.
 words for describing clothes that are tight on
the body
tight tight-fitting
skintight/figure-huggin,g close-fitting
tight/tat/[adj]
I never wear tight clothes, I just don't feel comfortable in
them. I She wore a cream-colored gabardine skirt tight
enough to bring out the curve of her hips. I The collar was
a little too tight.
skintight/figure-hugging / ,skin'ta;t-, 'tiger h^gIrj II
'flgjor-/ skintight or figure-hugging clothes are made
very tight and fit exactly to the shape of your body [adj]

TIGHT 1418 TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME
Marilyn was wearing a figure-hugging black dress that
looked very sexy. I He wore high-top sneakers, skintight faded
jeans, and a ripped tee-shirt.
tight-fitting /,talt 'ftti/ tight-fitting clothes are
deliberately made to be tight when they are worn [adj]
Gerry was wearing a tight-fitting black shirt which looked
very elegant. I She kept pulling her tight-fitting skirt over her
knees, but it always crept back up.
close.fitting/,kbos f[t/not fitting very tightly, but
showing the shape of your body [adj]
Standing next to him was a small thin woman in a close-
fitting black velvet suit. I Thick underwear can cause
unsightly bulges under close-fitting clothes.
: tighten TIGHT 2, 4
tighten up STRICT 5
tighten your belt SPEND MONEY 5
tightwad GENEROUS 3
till UNTIL 1
till all hours LATE 6
till now: up to now/up till now NOW 3
till you're blue in the face POINTLESS 3
time MEASURE 1, PERIOD OF TIME 1, TIME THAT IS
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
time:
 time:
time:
 time:
time:
time:
 time:
time:
time:
time:
,.. time:
PLANNED 1, 4
a bad time CONVENIENT 2
a bad time/not a good time TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME 4
a good time CONVENIENT 1, TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME 1
ahead of time EARLY 1
all the time ALL THE TIME 1,2, KEEP DOING STH 1
any time now SOON 2
at no time NEVER 1
at one time PAST 3, TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 1
at that time THEN 1
at the same time as TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 2
at the time THEN 1
at this time NOW 1
be ahead of its time ADVANCED 1
be ahead of your time BEFORE 12
be no time/not be the time TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME 4
be out of time FINISH/COME TO AN END 3
be the time TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 1
come at the right time TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG
TIME 2
come at the wrong time/at a bad time
TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 5
do time PRISON 3
do you know the time? TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 1
during this time PERIOD OF TIME 4
find time/make time TIME/HAVE TIME 4
for a time PERIOD OF TIME 4
for the time being NOW 6
from time to time SOMETIMES 1
have a good time ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 3
have no time for DON'T LIKE 1
have the time of your life ENJOY/LIKE DOING
STH 2
have time/have the time TIME/HAVE TIME 1
in good time EARLY 3
in no time/in no time at all SOON 2
in time EVENTUALLY 1, 2, ON TIME 3
just in time ON TIME 3
most of the time MOST 7
not have time/not have the time/have no time
TIME/HAVE TIME 3
not on time LATE 1
on time ONTIME 1
one time ONCE 1
pass the time SPEND TIME 2
period of time PERIOD OF TIME 1
run out of time TIME/HAVE TIME 3
spare time TIME/FREE TIME 1
take/have time off HOLIDAY 5
take your time HURRY 7, SLOW 5
tell the time TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 3
: time: tell the time/tell time TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 4
:i time: the right time TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 1
- time: what time WHEN 4
ii: time: what time do you call this? LATE 2
i;: time after time/time and time again OFTEN 1 .
iiiii! time being: for the time being NOW 6
i time-consuming LONG TIME 5
ii time flies PASS/TIME PASSING 2
i time-honoured/time-honored TRADITION 4
!;i time off TIME/FREE TIME 1
; time out TIME/FREE TIME 1
 time out: take time out PAUSE 2
 time scale TIME/HOW LONG 1
i:!
.ў time span TIME/HOW LONG 1
 time to spare: with time to spare EARLY 1
PERIOD OF TIME;
LONG TIME i
SHORT TIME 
SPEND TIME
TIME/AT THE
SAME TIME
  TIME/WHAT
TIME IT IS
,
.... 5,.  TIME THAT IS
PLANNED
TIME/AT A
PARTICULAR
TIME
TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME
TIME/HOW
LONG
TIME/HAVE
TIME
TIME/FREE TIME i
TIME/AT A
PARTICULAR TIME
1 at a particular time
1 at a particular time
at in
on on the stroke of
at/;)t; strong mtl at l l:O0/quarter past eight/midnight/
dinner time [prep]
There will be another train at 2.30. I I turned the oven on at
quarter to eight. I The clocks change for summertime at mid-
night on Saturday.
on /on II o:n, a:n/ on Monday/Saturday evening/
August 18th/Thanksgiving Day (=at some time during
that day) [prep]

TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME 1419 TIME/AT THE SAME TIME
A one-day course for beginners will be held on May 14. I We
went on Friday and came back oh Monday. I On the 12th of
April they were secretly married. I The witness saw you on
the night Carolyn was murdered. I Do the buses run on
Christmas Day? "
In/n/in January/1920/the morning etc (=at some time
during that period) [prep]
He retired as a player in 1920 to become team manager. ] Tom
will be eight in November. ] We worked in the morning, then
went out for lunch.
on the stroke of IDn  'strok v/on the stroke of six/
midnight etc (=at exactly that time and not any earlier or
later) [prep]
On the stroke of midnight, the British flag was lowered for
the last time over Delhi. I She was there on the stroke of seven:
"'I'm not early, am I?'" she asked.
TIME/AT THE SAME
TIME
1 ways of saying that two or more things
happen at the same time
2 ways of saying that something happens at the
same time as something else
3 to happen at the same time
4 to arrange two or more things so that they
happen at the same time
5 words for describing something that happens
at the same time as something else
6 someone who lived at the same time as
someone else
1 ways of saying that two or more things
happen at the same time
at the same time at once
together simultaneously
at one time
at the same time/t  ,selm 'tam/[adv phrase]
Charlie and I arrived at the same time. I She wanted to laugh
and at the same time she wanted to cry. I We want to reduce
unemployment while at the same time controlling inflation. I
Trainees can learn and earn good money all at the same time.
together/tlger/if two or more people or things do the
same thing together, they do it at the same time and
usually in the same place [adv]
When they saw the body they both cried out together. I The
Baltimore and Boston trains came in together.
at one time/zt Iw^ntam/if someone does two or more
things at one time they do them at the same time, espe-
cially if this is difficult or impressive [adv phrase]
This word processor allows you to work with two documents
at one time. I You're trying to do too many things at one time.
at once/t wnns/if two or more things happen at once
or are done at once, they happen at the same time, but it
would be easier or more usual if they happened separately
[adv phrase]
When there's more than one conversation going on at once,
you can't hear anything. I I can't do both things at once. I
You wait half an hour for a bus, then six of them arrive at
once.
simultaneously/,s;ml'teInisli [I ,sa;-/at exactly the
same time [adv]
The audio-visual method uses sound and pictures simultane-
ously. I The famine hit Ethiopia arid Sudan simultarteously.I
In 1917Russia was faced simultaneously with war abroad
and revolution at home.
2 wa/s of saying that something happens at the
same time as something else
at the same time as . as
meanwhile simultaneously
while
at the same time as/t 6 ,sem 'tam z/[conjunction]
Charlie arrived at the same time as I did. I You must get a
visa at the same time as you buy your tickets. I You must have
been at Harvard at the same time as I was.
meanwhile/, mi:nwad/a word meaning at the same time,
used when you have described what is happening some-
where, and you are now going to describe what is happen-
ing in another place at the same time [adv]
Susan ordered another coffee. Meanwhile outside it began
to rain. I The French army was preparing to defend the
Maginot line. Meanwhile the German High Command was
planning an attack through the Ardennes. I Meanwhile, in
another part of the city, Barman and Robin were being held
prisoner by The Joker.
while (also whilst in British English) /wad, wailst/ if
something happens while something else is happening, it
happens at the same time as it or during it [conjunction]
While you were camping in Folkestone I was still working
on that stupid project! [ He was so tired that he fell asleep
while he was reading the paper. [ It is, of course, impossible
to breathe whilst swimming underwater.
as/z; strong mz/if something happens as something else
is happening, it happens at the same time [conjunction]
As the police were entering the building from the front
entrance the thieves escaped through the back door. [just
as (=at exactly the same time as) Then, just as we drive off,
Danny says he feels sick!
simultaneously/,slmalteIniosli II ,saI-/at exactly the
same time as something else lady]
The concert is on BBC TV and will be broadcist simultane-
ously on Radio 3. I We were unaware that a Japanese com-
pany had simultaneously begun very similar research.
3 to happen at the same time
coincide
clash
coincide /,konlsad/ if something coincides with
something else or if two things coincide, they happen at
the same time as each other, usually by chance Iv I]
coincide with The Suez crisLs of 1956 coincided with an
uprising in Hungary. I It's funny how your day's sick-leave
coincided with the international football match on TV! I
timed/arranged to coincide (=arranged so that some-
thing coincides) The exhibition was timed to coincide with
the anniversary celebrations. I coincide We both work shifts
and our days off don't usually coincide.
clash/klm/if one event clashes with another or if two
events clash they are arranged to happen at the same time,
and this usually causes problems or is inconvenient Iv I]
What a shame! The wedding and the concert clash. I clash
with No, I can't go to rehearsals this Saturday. It clashes
with the ball game.
4 to arrange two or more things so that they
happen at the same time
synchronize
tie sth in with
synchronize (also -Ise British)/'srjkmnaz/to arrange
two or more things so that they happen at exactly the same
time Iv T ]
Practise the different movements of the stroke and try to
synchronize them into a smooth, powerful motion. I If we
synchronize our attacks the disruption will be greater.
tie sth in with/,ta (sth) 'm w;/to deliberately arrange
an event so that it happens at the same time as something
else, because this helps you in some way [phr v T]

TIME/AT THE SAME TIME
Maybe I can tie in my visit to the university with a couple
of days holiday. I The advertising campaign has been
arranged to tie in with the World Cup Finals.
words for describing something that happens
at the same time as something else
simultaneous
synchronized
parallel
simultaneous/,simal'teinios II ,sat-/[adj]
The 1830s saw a rise in food prices and a simultaneous fall
in wages. I Witnesses said the two explosions were simul-
taneous. I We provide simultaneous translations for French-
speaking delegates.
synchronized (also -Ised British) / 'sxrjkronalzd/two sets
of movements that are synchronized are done at exactly
the same time [adj]
The two birds swam with synchronized strokes. I a fantas-
tic display of synchronized swimming
paraiiei /Ipmrolel/parallel development/change/trend
etc (=a formal word meaning connected and happening at
the same time) [adj]
There had been parallel developments at headquarters. I In
a parallel trend, more and more unmarried couple are
deciding to have children.
6 someone who lived at the same time as
someone else
contemporary
contemporary/kon'temparori, -pari II -poreri/someone
who lived at the same time in history as someone else, or
studied with someone at the same time at university In C]
be a contemporary of Mozart was a contemporary of
Haydn.[ contemporary Most of his contemporaries at
university went on to work in education, government or
business.
TIME/FREE TIME
time when you can do what you want,
because you are not working, studying etc
1 time when you can do what you want,
because you are not working, studying etc
free time time out
spare time leisure time
time off
free time/,fri: 'taIm/[n U]
Now that he's retired he has plenty of free time. [ On Wed-
nesday afternoons most of the students have free time. I
spend your free time Bobby spends all his free time play-
ing video games. I in your free time We don't really do any-
thing interesting in our free time.
spare time ! ispeo r tam! time when you are not doing
what you have to do or are expected to do, so that you can
do what you want to do In U]
in your spare time She's studying for a degree in her spare
time. [ Mothers with young babies rarely have much spare
time. I spend your spare time How do you spend your spare
time?
time off / taim Df/time when you are officially allowed
not to be at your plae of work or study In U]
All employees are allowed time off for doctor's appoint-
ments. I She hasn't had any time off for six months. I I'll need
some extra time off for revision. I time off work Americans
get much less time off work than European workers.
time out /talm aot! time when you stop what you are
doing, especially in order to rest In U]
Taking time out just to relax each day is important during
pregnancy.
1420
TIME/HAVE TIME
leisure time/'le5 or ,taim 11 'li:-/time when you are not
working, studying, etc and can do activities that you enjoy
[n U]
Very often, retired people need to be taught how to use and
enjoy their leisure time. I in your leisure time In his leisure
time he visits museums and art galleries. I leisure time
activities tourism, sightseeing, and other leisure time
activities
@ TIM E/HAVE TI ME
1 to have enough time to do something
2 to have very little time to do something
3 to not have enough time to do something
4 to make sure that you have enough time to
do something, even if you are very busy
1
to have enough time to do something
have time/have the time
there is time
when you have a moment/a minute
at your convenience
it's not too late
have time/have the time/,hmv Italm, ,hev 6o tam/
Iv phrase not in progressive]
If you have time, I could show you around the rest of the
house. [ I'll try and come over next weekend, but I doubt if
I'll have the time. I have (the) time to do sth Few agencies
have the time or the staff to train new employees. [ She put
the phone down before I had time to reply. [ dust leave it on
my desk till I have time to deal with it. [ have time for Do
you have time for a quick drink? [ Perhaps next yeat' I'll have
more time for gardening.
there is time/Seor iz tam/there is enough time for
someone to do something
We thought we'd go to the museum, and maybe have some
lunch too if there's time. I there is time for sb to do sth
There is still time for you to change your mind, you know. I
there is time for sth If you hurry there should be time for
a little shopping.
when you have a momentla minute / ,wen ju: hmv
o 'moomont, o 'mint/an expression meaning when you
have a small amount of spare time during a period when
you are very busy, used especially when you are asking
someone to do something lady phrase]
These letters are ready for you to sign when you have a
moment, Ms Powell. [ When you have a minute, dosie, I'd like
to talk to you. I have a spare moment/minute If you have
a spare moment, could you read through my essay?
at your convenience lot j:r kon'vi:nions/an expres-
sion used especially in formal or business letters, mean-
ing when you have time [adv phrase]
The tickets are ready to be picked up at your convenience. I
Please contact your accountant at your earliest possible
convenience.
it's not too late/ItS nDt tu: lelt/you say it's not too
late when you mean that there is still enough time for
someone to do something
Don't worry, it's not too late. She'll be alright if we get her
a doctor as quickly as possible. I it's not too late to do sth
I hope it's not too late to change my mind.
2
to have very little time to do something
have very little time/not have much time
be short of time
be pressed for time
be pushed for time/be pushed
be rushed
have very little time/not have much time/hmv
iveri htl 'tam, nDt hmv mAtj" tam/ [v phrase not in
progressive]

TIME/HAVE TIME 1421 TIME/HOW LONG
We had very little time to train for the big game. I Call a
doctor - quick! We don't have much time.
be short of time/bi: d':rt av 'taim/to have very little
time to do something, especially because you have a lot of
things to do [v phrase]
If you're short of time, I could make an appointment to see
you another day. I They were short of time, so they agreed
to adjourn the meeting until the following day.
be pressed for time/bi: ,prest fr taIm/to have very
little time to do something, especially because not enough
time has been allowed [v phrase]
We're very pressedfor time - can we leave your business until
next week's meeting? I Most of the students say they're too
pressed for time to read all of the books on the list.
be pushed for time/be pushed/bi: Ipoft fa r taim,
bi: ' port/informal expressions meaning to have very little
time to do what you have to do [v phrase]
It's probably best to avoid the main roads unless you're really
pushed for time. I I don't like to disturb him too often - he
always seems so pushed.
be rushed/hi: r^t! to have very little time to do what
you have to do, especially with the result that you do not
do it properly Iv phrase]
He had been too rushed and busy in Rome to enjoy his stay
there. I Sara's always so rushed at work - I'm surprised she
manages to do her job so well.
3 to not have enough time to do something
not have time/not have the time/have no time
there is no time
run out of time
not have time/not have the timelhave no time
/not hmv taJm, not hmv 6 ItaJm, hmv nao taim/[vphrase
not in progressive]
I can't speak to you now - I haven "t got time. I Harold was
supposed to organize the trip but he just didn't have the time. I
not have time to do sth I haven't had time to read that arth
cle yet. I I don't have time to explain -just get in the car.I
We had no time even to stop for a drink. I not have time for
She says she has no time for relaxation.
there is no time/6er iz ,no 'taim/there is not enough
time for someone to do something
there is no time to do sth The train was about to leave,
and there was no time to buy a ticket. I there is no time for
sth Look, there's no time for that now. We have to get moving.
run out of time/,r^n aot av taIm/to be unable to finish
doing something within the time that you have to do it in
Iv phrase]
We'd hoped to see more of Paris during our vacation, but ran
out of time. I Very soon the company would run out of time
as well as money.
4 to make sure that you have enough time to
do something, even if you are very busy
find time/make time squeeze in
fit in can spare the time
find time/make time/,faInd 'taIm, ,meIk-/to arrange
your plans so that you will have enough time to do some-
thing, especially something that you think is important [v
phrase]
I always said I'd visit her but unfortunately I never found
the time. I find/make time for However busy you are,
always be sure to make time for your family. I find/make
time to do sth A good nurse makes time to talk to her
patients so that they feel cared for. I We're delighted that you
have found time out of your busy schedule to come and chair
our meeting tonight.
fit in ] fit  m / to manage to do something or see someone,
even though you have a lot of other things to do [phr v T
not usually in progressive]
fit sth/sb/it/her etc in I'd love to visit Paris, but I just
don't see how I could fit it in. I I'll try and fit you in after my
next patient. I fit in sth/sb He and Louise would fit in a
quick lunch together before going back to their respective
families.
squeeze in / I skwi:z  n/to manage to do something, even
though you have very little time to do it in [phr v T]
squeeze in sth You just have time to squeeze in a shower
between now and dinner. I squeeze sth into sth Divorced
fathers often try to squeeze too many treats for the kids into
a short visit.
can spare the time/kan spea r 6 taim/to have enough
time to do something, especially something for someone
else Iv phrase usually in questions or negative sentences]
I wish I could come and meet you at the airport, but I can't
possibly spare the time. [ can spare the time to do sth Can
you spare the time to help out at the school dance? [ can spare
a minute (=a very small amount of time) 1need some help.
Can you spare a minute?
@ TIME/HOW LONG
the length of time that something lasts for or
takes to complete
ways of saying how long something lasts for
or takes to complete
ways of asking how long something lasts for
or takes to complete
t the length of time that something lasts for or
takes to complete
length of time time span
duration time scale
length of time/,lerjO v 'taim/[n phrase]
We couldn't believe the length of time it took for them to
repair the roof. I Make sure that the speakers only talk for
a reasonable length of time so that there's enough time for
everyone. I Dress the wound quickly, to reduce the length of
time it is exposed to infection.
duration/djoreldn II do-/a formal word meaning the
length of time that something lasts for In U]
two years'/a month's etc duration After a long voyage
of two years" duration, he arrived in Canton in 1669. I These
workshops, usually of one or two days' duration, bring
teachers and industrial managers together. [ the duration
of The doctor will ask you about the duration and frequency
of your headaches.
time span / 'taim spen/a period of time, especially a long
time, fixed by exact limits In C]
Accurate dating of planets and stars is difficult because of
the enormous time spans involved. I over a time span
Democratic governments are usually in power over a rela-
tively short time span.
time scale/ tam skeil/the period of time during which
something develops or exists, especially as compared with
another period that is much longer or shorter In C]
Compared to how long it took for the Universe to evolve, our
human time-scale is tiny. I Young children seem to exist in
a completely different time scale. I In today's computer indug
try the whole time scale of new product development is far
shorter than it was 10 years ago.
2 ways of saying how long something lasts for
or takes to complete
for through
from.,.to.., a year/month/hour etc
for/far; strong f3:r/[prep]
We went to New Mexico for a week. I I've lived in this house
for ten years. I The test will last for about three hours. I Bake
in a hot oven for 45 minutes, or until light golden in colour.
from...to.../fram.., tu:...! from July to October/1989
to 1991/Monday to Friday etc

TIME/HOW LONG 1422 TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME
The camp site is open from May to September. I Ronald
Reagan was president from 1980 to 1988. I Lunch will be
served in the restaurant from 12 noon to 2pm.
through /0ru:/ from 1981 through 1987/Monday
through Saturday etc (=a word used especially in Ameri-
can English meaning from the first time point to the second
one, including all the time in between) [prep]
The store is open Monday through Saturday. I From 1981
through 1987 the government sold off valuable state assets.
a year/month/hour etc for a year, month, hour etc
[ adv phrase]
We've been living here two years already. I We were there
about a month. I I'm just going to the store - I'll be gone
about fifteen minutes.
3 ways of asking how long something lasts for
or takes to complete
how long
how many days/weeks etc
how long/,hau 'loj II -'l:0/[adv phrase]
How long are we going to have to wait? I Go and ask her how
long she's going to be. I How long will it take to get these films
developed? I Do you know how long the film is?
how many days/weeks etc/hao meni (days, etc)/how
many days, weeks etc something lasts for or exists for ]adv
phrase]
Do you know how many weeks the festival runs for? I How
many years have you and Kevin known each other? I How
many hours does it take from Hamburg to Oslo?
TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME
1 the best time to do something because this is
when it is most likely to be successful or
effective
2 happening at the right time
3 the ability to choose the right time to do
something
4 the wrong time to do something
5 happening at the wrong time
I the best time to do something because this is
when it is most likely to be successful or
effective
the right time
a good time
be the time
the right time 16 ,rait 'taim/[n phrase]
I can't tell her yet, it's not the right time. I the right time
to do sth When is the right time to marry? l at just the right
time (=at exactly the right time) The rains came at just the
right time, and we had a huge harvest of fruit.
a good time/ ,god 'tam] a time when something is
likely to be successful [n phrase]
a good time to do sth Now is a good time to start applying
for jobs. I This is a particularly good time of year to consider
making changes. I The best time to plant daffodil bulbs is
between November and January. I a good time for Accord-
ing to my horoscope; October is a good time for starting a
new relationship. :. "
be the time/bi: 6 ta,m/an expression meaning to be
the right time to do something important, used especially
when you are advising someone what they should do [v
phrase]
be the time to do sth If you "re going to buy a house, now's
the time to do it. I When we know all the facts, then is the time
to consider what we should do. I be the time for This is the
time for negotiation, not aggression!
2 happening at the right time
timely well-timed
opportune come at the right time
timely/' ta;mli/actions, decisions etc that are timely are
taken at the right time, especially with the result that they
prevent something bad from happening [adj]
The Government's intervention was timely and may have
prevented economic disaster. I It was a timely political article,
coinciding with the unification of Germany.
opportune/'opotju:n II a:por'tu:n/opportune moment/
time etc (=a formal word meaning a time when you are
most likely to be successful, or a time which is convenient)
[adj usually before noun]
I judged it an opportune time to advance my claims to the
vacant professorship. [ You might have chosen a more oppor-
tune moment to inform me of your resignation!
well.timed/,wel 'taImd*/done at the right time so that "
it is likely to have a successful result [adj]
It was an attractive offer, and well-timed, because I was look-
ing for a new job anyway. I Wallace made a well-timed run
through the midfield, collected the pass and scored with a
low shot.
come at the right time/,knm t 6 raIt 'tam/if some-
thing helpful comes at the right time, it happens at the
time when you need it most [v phrase]
The pay raise came at the right time -just before the birth
of our first baby. I The upturn of the economy came at just
the right time for the goverment, with the result that they won
the election.
3 the ability to choose the right time to do
something
timing
sense of timing
timing/'taimio/the ability to choose the right time to do
something, especially when this is a skill you have learned
or practised [n U]
When you're a comedian, timing is very important. I The
goalkeeper's timing was perfect and he made a magnificent
save. I A general rule of timing is, don't blurt anything out
- take a moment to think about what you want to say.
sense of timing/ sons ov 'tairairj/the ability to choose
the right time to do something, especially when this is a
natural ability that you have [n phrase]
As usual, his wonderful sense of timing meant the work was
done just before it was needed. I My mother's sense of timing
did not fail her - no sooner had she brought the washing in
than it started to rain.
4 the wrong time to do something
the wrong time
a bad time/not a good time
be no time/not be the time
the wrong time/6 ,rmj tam II -,r:j-/[nphrase]
Airline pilots know that putting the landing wheels down
at the wrong time can be dangerous. I the wrong time to
do sth This is the wrong time to ask your father to borrow
his car - he's in a really bad mood.
a bad time/not a good time/ ,bed tam, not  ,god
'taIm/a time when something is not likely to be success-
ful [n phrase]
a bad time to do sth He had chosen a bad time to ask for
a raise - the company had just lost a major contract. I The
worst time to start a new relationship is immediately after
finishing another one. I It's not really a good time to start
investing in the stock market. I at a bad time Have I come
at a bad time? I can call back later.
be no time/not be the time/bi: ,no 'ta;m, ,no bi:
6 'tam/an expression meaning to be the wrong time to
do something, used especially when you are telling some-
one what they should do or how they should behave
Iv phrase]

TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 1423 TIME THAT IS PLANNED
be no time for Look, this is no time for silly games - where
have you put the car keys? I It's not the time for politeness
and etiquette when there are lives at stake. I be no time to
do sth This is not the time to argue about money - we're
meant to be enjoying ourselves!
5 happening at the wrong time
bad If-timed/ill-timed
come at the wrong time/at a bad time
inopportune
badly.timed/ill-timed/,beedli 'tamd, ,11 'tamd-/done
at the wrong time so that it is likely to have an unsuccess-
ful result [adj]
My arrival was badly timed - Jenny was having a big argu-
ment with her husband. I The management's clumsy and ill-
timed intervention almost caused a strike.
come at the wrong time/at a bad time/,lm t 6
,roo 'taIm, ot o ,brad 'taIm II -,ro:rJ-I to happen at a time that
is inconvenient or likely to cause problems Iv phrase]
These economic problems have come at the wrong time for
the Republican Party. I The news that Judy was pregnant
came at a bad time.
inopportune/In'opotju:n II ,no:por'tu:n/a formal word
meaning happening at the wrong time or at an incon-
venient time [adj usually before noun]
For the President this crisis was an unforeseen and extremely
inopportune event. I inopportune time/moment etc (=a
bad time for something to happen) It was an inopportune
moment to call on her - she was in a terrible mood.
TIME THAT IS
PLANNED
1 the time or date when something is planned
to happen
2 a printed list showing the times when certain
activities or events will happen
3 a detailed plan of the times when all the parts
of a process or activity will start and finish
4 to arrange or plan for something to happen at
a particular time
1 the time or date when something is planned
to happen
time
date
timing
time Itm/the time when something is planned to happen
[nC]
The letter doesn't say the time of the meeting. I Different stores
close at different times. I The programme lists the times and
dates of all the plays this season. I opening/closing/
arrival etc time The estimated arrival time is 17:42, but I'm
sure the plane will be late. I We got to the museum just after
closing time.
date/det/the date when something is planned to happen
[nC]
The dates of the concerts are published in the local paper. I
Congress had fixed the date for the election, the first Sunday
in May. I closing/finishing date The closing date for appli-
cations has passed.
timing/'tamirJl a word meaning the time, day, or date
that something is planned to happen, used especially when
you are considering how suitable this is In U]
He'd always disagreed with the timing of college examina-
tions, which were at the hottest time of the year. I I am will-
ing to discuss all details, including the timing, of a plan to
eliminate all nuclear weapons.
2 a printed list showing the times when certain
activities or events will happen
timetable
schedule
programme/program
timetable/' tam,teibal/a British word meaning a printed
list showing the times when something regularly happens,
such as what time trains, buses etc arrive or leave, or what
time school classes start etc In C]
Could I have a timetable for trains to London please? l School
governors may be consulted if there is a major change in the
school timetable.
schedule/'fedju:l II 'sked3ol,-d3al/an American word
meaning a printed list showing the times when something
regularly happens, especially what time trains, buses etc
arrive or leave In C]
I want a schedule of]lights from Boston to New York.
programme (British) I program (American) /'prgo-
grmm/a list showing a series of events or activities and
what time each one starts In C]
Two of the speakers talked for longer than they had been
given on the conference programme. I The program of events
was well under way by the time I got to the camp.
3 a detailed plan of the times when all the parts
of a process or activity will start.and finish
schedule
timetable
schedule/'fedju:l II 'sked3ol, -d3al/[n C]
It's important that everyone on the project keeps to the sched-
ule. I schedule for What's the schedule for today's meeting? l
according to schedule The director was given a budget of
$10 million and so far the film seems to be going according
to schedule.I ahead of/behind schedule (=earlier/later
than the time that was planned) Sorry this is late. We're run-
ning a little behind schedule today. [ on schedule (=at the
time that was planned) The building should be completed
on schedule.
timetable/Ita;mte;bal/a detailed plan showing exactly
when the various parts of an important process that is
planned to take place over a long period will happen In C]
timetable for The two presidents will discuss a timetable
for the withdrawal of troops from occupied territories. I The
delegates drew up a timetable for phasing out the burning
of toxic materials at sea. I timetable They have settled the
terms of the agreement but they still haven't worked out a
timetable.
4 to arrange or plan for something to happen at
a particular time
schedule
timetable
time
schedule /'edju:l II 'skedsol, -d3all to arrange for an
activity or event to happen at a particular time Iv T]
schedule sth for I've scheduled a meeting for tomorrow at
10:30. I hope everyone can attend. [ The casting was completed
by May and rehearsals were scheduled for July. I The rest
of the experiment has not been scheduled for completion until
sometime next year. o
timetable /'tamltebl/ a British word meaning to
arrange for something such as a meeting to happen at a par-
ticular time, especially in between several other events Iv
T usually passive]
The lessons were timetabled on Wednesday from 12 noon
until 2.10 pro.
time/tam/to arrange for an activity or event to happen
at a particular time, especially because this is the most suit-
able or convenient time Iv T]
time sth The meeting is timed during the lunch hour so that
everyone can come. I time sth for Stephen timed his arrival
for exactly six o'clock.

1424
;Wh.at s...the .r.gh-t
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey said
tired 40%
exhausted 20%
other 40%
TIRED
tired after physical or mental effort
i!.,.. ;:i.',.-1 -. .
I tired after physical or mental effort
worn out
weary
shattered
drained
beat/dead beat
be dead on your feet/
ready to drop
bushed
pooped/tuckered out
knackered

TIME/WHAT TIME IT IS 1425 TIRED
TIME/WHAT TIME
IT IS
1 ways of asking what time it is
2 to ask what time it is
3 ways of saying that a clock or machine shows
what time it is
4 ways of saying that someone is able to read
the time from a clock
1 ways of asking what time it is
what time is it?/what's the time?
have you got the time?/do you have the time?
do you know the time?
what time do you make it?/what time do you have?
what time is it? (also what's the time? in British
English)/wo 'taIm iz it, ,wDts 6 'taim/(used when you
think that the person you are asking has a watch, can see
a clock etc)
'Vhat time is it? .... Just after four o'clock. "'[ What's the time?
I think I'm late for school.
have you got the time? (British) I do you have the
time? (American) I,hmv ju: got 5a 'taIm, du: ju: ,hmv 6
'taIm II -go:t-/(used when you are uncertain whether the
person you are asking has a watch)
Excuse me, do you have the time? I have you got the time
on you? Have you got the time on you? I've got to be home
by eight.
do you know the time?/du: ju: nu 6 taIm/(used
when you are uncertain whether the person you are asking
has a watch, can see a clock etc)
The clock up there isn't working. Do you know the time?
what time do you make it? (British) I what time
do you have? (American)/wot 'taim du: ju: ,meek t, wot
talm du: ju'. hev/(used when you are asking someone who
has a watch, especially because you think your own watch
may be wrong)
What time do you make it, Emma? My watch has stopped. I
What time do you have, Dave? I don't want to miss my plane.
2 to ask what time it is
ask the time/ask what time it is
ask the time/ask what time it is /a:sk 6 'turin, ,azsk
wDt 'taim tt iz II ,rusk-/[vphrase]
ask sb the time/what time it is When someone asked me
the time I realized I wasn't wearing my watch. I She asked
a policeman what time it was. I ask the time/what time
it is I was distracted for a moment by someone asking the
time.
3 ways of saying that a clock or machine shows
what time it is
say 8.00/2.45 etc
tell the time
say 8.0012.45 etc/sei (8.00, etc)/Iv phrase]
The clock on the wall says five o'clock. I Your watch says 4.35,
mine says 4.30.
teii the time /tel ba taim/ [v phrase not usually in
progressive]
My calculator also tells the time.
4 to be able to read the time from a clock
tell the time/tell time
tell the time (British) I tell time (American)/,tel
taim, tel taim/[vphrase]
The children are learning how to tell time. I He's seven years
old and he still can't tell the time.
timeless LONG TIME 8
timely TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 2
times COUNT/CALCULATE 6
times: at all times ALL THE TIME 1
times: at times SOMETIMES 1
times: be behind the times OLD-FASHIONED 2
times: how many times OFTEN 5
times: hundreds/thousands of times OFTEN 1
times: move with the times MODERN 2
timetable T.IME THAT IS PLANNED 2, 3, 4
timid FRIGHTENED 9, SHY 1
timing TIME THAT IS PLANNED 1, TIME/RIGHT OR
WRONG TIME 3
timing: sense of timing TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 3
tinker with REPAIR 4
tinkle SOUND 9
tinny HIGH SOUND OR VOICE 1
tint COLOUR/COLOR 1
tinted COLOUR/COLOR 2
tiny SHORT PERSON 2, SMALL 2, 6, 7
tip ADVISE 5, END/POINT 1, PAY SB FOR WORK 3,
POUR 1, PUT 10, UNTIDY 6
tip of your tongue: be on the tip of your tongue
FORGET 3, REMEMBER 3
tip off TELL 11, WARN 1
tip-off WARN 6
tip over FALL 9
tip over/up FALL 12
tipsy DRUNK 2
tiptoe WALK 8
tiptoe: on tiptoe/tiptoes STAND 1
tire TIRED 4, 5
tire out/wear out TIRED 5
tired TIRED 1 2, 8
'
tired: be tired of FED UP 1
tired: get tired TIRED 4
tired out/worn out TIRED 1
TIRED
tired after physical or mental effort
wanting to sleep
feeling tired and lazy, as if you have no
energy and no interest in doing anything
to become tired
to make you feel tired
making you feel tired
7 the feeling of being tired
8 looking tired
1 tired after physical or mental effort
tired
exhausted
tired out/worn out
weary
shattered
drained
beat/dead beat
be dead on your feet/
ready to drop
bushed
pooped/tuckered out
knackered
tired/taIrd/the way you feel when you need to sleep or
rest after a great deal of physical or mental effort [adj]
They arrived back from their long walk, tired but happy. I
I usually feel too tired to cook after a day at the office. I A
tired driver has slower reactions than one who is wide
awake. I She lowered her tired limbs into a hot bath.
exhausted/Ig z:stod/extremely tired, especially after
a long period of hard work, exercise, walking, or running
etc has used up all your energy [adj]
I was exhausted every day when I first started teaching, but
I'm used to it now. I There was a trail of exhausted refugees
coming over the border. I completely/absolutely
exhausted You walked all the way from the station? You
must be absolutely exhausted! I exhausted from/by Peter
and Sally lay on the ground near the finish line, exhausted
from their long run.

TIRED 1426 TIRED
tired out/worn out / ,tabard 'aot, ,w:rn 'aot/very tired,
especially after a lot of hard work, physical exercise, or
travelling [adj phrase]
The farm workers had been working all day to bring in the
hay and they were tired out. I The whole family was worn
out after the overnight ferry trip from Athens. I tired/worn
out with/from Lily was tired out with travelling and slept
almost at once.
weary / wdri/so tired after a very long period of work-
ing, travelling, oi" great mental effort that you feel you can
hardly continue with what you are doing [adj]
The soldiers had been marching for three days and they were
dirty, weary and uncomfortable. I The hostel is a welcome
sight for weary walkers at the end of a. long day. I The meet-
ing had gone on for six hours and the President ran a weary
hand across his face.
wearily [adv] James sank wearily down at the table and
opened his books again.
shattered ]z.[etard] very tired, especially as a result of
mental effort or worry [adj not before noun]
When he came out of the exam he felt shattered. I I've had a
terrible day at the office and I'm.absolutely shattered.
drained /dreznd! very tired and feeling as if all your
energy has gone, especially as a result of an unpleasant
emotional experience, such as being worried, upset, or
shocked [adj not before noun]
The stress of giving up smoking can leave you feeling emo-
tionally and physically drained. I All through his body the
boy suddenly felt drained and weak.
beat/dead beat/bi:t, ded 'bi:t/informal words mean-
ing so tired that you cannot continue what you are doing
and want to stop [adj not before noun]
I'm sorry I can't go any further, I'm beat. [Let's rest before
we try lifting it again, we're both dead beat.
be dead on your feet/ready to drop/bi: ded Dn j:r
'fi:t, ,redi ta dmp [[ -'dra:p/informal expressions meaning
to be so tired that you are almost unable to remain stand-
ing Iv phrase]
After fourteen hours of non-stop work I was dead on my feet. [
For goodness" sake go home! You look ready to drop.
bushed/boj't/an informal word used especially in Ameri-
can English, meaning very tired [adj not before noun]
I'm bushed. I'm going to lie down. ] The whole team was
bushed after three weeks of gruelling training.
pooped/tuckered out/pu:pt, ,thkard "aot/ informal
American words meaning very tired [adj not before noun]
"'Wow, I'm pooped. "" dolene was amazed at how tired she
was. [ Thanks for the ride buddy, my little girl was pooped. [
Ben has fallen asleep. I guess he was tuckered out.
knackered/'nekard/an informal British word meaning
very tired [adj not before noun]
It was late and Bert complained that he was knackered. [
When you're training a team sometimes it's good to push
them until they're knackered.
2 wanting to sleep
tired half-asleep
sleepy can hardly keep your eyes open
drowsy
tired/taIard/.wanting to sleep, especially because you have
been awake for a long time [adj]
I wasgoing to watch the late-night movie, but I wasjust too
tired. [ The kids were tired and irritable, so we sent them to
bed.
sleepy ! ' sli.-pi! tired and ready to go to sleep immediately
[adj]
We arrived at the/oel at midnight but were too sleepy to
notice our beautiful surroundings. [ From my window I
could see a young woman pick up a sleepy child and carry
him inside.
drowsy/' draozi/tired and almost asleep, usually because
of food, drugs, or alcohol, or because you are in a warm
place [adj]
The heat of the stove made her drowsy and she was just fall-
ing asleep when the doorbell rang. [ Do not drive after taking
these tablets as they may make you drowsy. [ We sat by the
edge of the lake and talked until, drowsy with sun, swim-
ming, and wine, we went off to bed.
half.asleep/ha:f asli:p, [[ hmf-/ very sleepy, either
because you are ready to sleep or because you have just
woken up [adj not before noun]
Moira was half-asleep when the phone rang and it took her
a few seconds to realize what it was. [ I've only just got out
of bed and I'm still halfiasleep.
can hardly keep your eyes open/kan ,ha:rdli ki:p
j:r 'alz, aopan/to feel so tired that you find it hard to stay
awake Iv phrase]
The kids were still full of energy, but dulie and I could hardly
keep our eyes open.
3 feeling tired and lazy, as if you have no
energy and no interest in doing anything
lethargic
lethargic/l'Oa:rdbk/[adj]
Patients with depression may be lethargic during the day
and unable to sleep at night. [ All this hot weather is making
me feel lethargic.
4 to become tired
get tired run out of steam
tire burn out/burn yourself out
flag
get tired/,get 'taIard/[v phrase]
If you get tired, just stop for a while. [ I soon got tired because
I was carrying the heavy end of the box. [ Since her illness,
she finds that she gets tired really easily.
tire/taiar/a formal word meaning to become tired Iv I]
Riding over mountainous country, our horses soon tired. [
Pregnant women often tire easily and should take life more
slowly.
flag/fleg/to start to get tired, especially if you are doing
something that needs a lot of energy Iv I]
By the fifth game, I could see that my opponent was begin-
ning to flag. [ Jenny taught for four hours non-stop, without
-flagging.
run out of steam /  ran aot av 'sti:m! to become so tired
that you do not have enough energy to finish what you are
doing, especially when you have been working hard for a
long time Iv phrase]
The home team seemed to run out of steam well. before the
game was over. [ She has been working very hard all year,
but I think she's beginning to run out of steam.
burn out/burn yourself out/,b3:rn 'aot, ,ba:rnjo:rself
'aot/to become tired, ill, and unable to continue, as a result
of working too hard for too long, especially because you
want very much to be successful [phr v I/T]
Most of these high-flying young exec.utives burn out before
they're 30. [After a brilliant early career, she burned herself
out within months of starting her new job.
burnt-out/burned out [adj] It was one of those health
farms for burnt-out businessmen.
5 to make you feel tired
tire out/wear out do sb in
exhaust it nearly killed me
tire take it out of
tire out/wear out/,taIar 'aot, ,wear 'aot/ [phr v T]
tire sb/her/them ete out The last seven days have really
worn me out. ] Their constant quarrelling is tiring us out. [
tire/wear yourself out The baby's stopped crying. He must
have tired himself out. [ It's no good wearing yourself out all
the week and then being bad-tempered all weekend.
exhaust / ;g'za:st/if something exhausts you, it makes
you feel very tired, especially something that involves a lot
of mental effort, worry, or strong emotions Iv T]

TIRED
exhaust sb I find that teaching exhausts me. I What's the
point of exhausting ourselves with this stupid argument? I
it exhausts sb to do sth It exhausted him to talk for too
long, but he loved hearing all the theater gossip.
tire/taIar/to make someone feel tired, especially someone
who gets tired easily because they are old or ill [v T]
We're going to see Grandmother in the hospital this after-
noon, but we mustn't tire her with a long visit. I Take plenty
of rest and try not to tire yourself unnecessarily.
do sb in ! ,du: (sb) n/an informal expression used espe-
cially in British English, meaning to make you feel tired
as a result of hard physical work or exercise [phr v T l
The last half-mile of the climb really did me in! I It does you
in, all this marching and training.
it nearly killed me/t ,nIorli tkIld mi:/you say it nearly
killed you when you mean that doing a very hard job or
activity made you feel extremely tired
It nearly killed me carrying that fridge up the stairs!
take it out of/teik t aot or] an informal expression
meaning to make you feel as if you have no energy left [v
phrase]
Of course you're tired. Being in a new job and a new town
is bound to take it out of you. I I had a summer job as a con-
struction worker last year - that sort of work really takes
it out of you.
 making you feel tired
tiring
exhausting
wearing
tiring/Italrrj/[adj]
The job is tiring but rewarding. I Why don't you take a taxi
- it's a tiring walk from the station to my house. I tiring
day/morning/week ere I longed to go home for I had had
a very tiring day.
exhausting/ig'za:strj/very tiring, both physically and
mentally [adj]
She was off on another exhausting lecture tour. I These young
doctors are almost permanently 'on call', and this can be psy-
chologically exhausting. I The summers were even worse,
what with the heat and the exhausting social round.
wearing/'wedrrj/a person, activity, or situation that is
wearing is very tiring because it uses up a lot of your
mental energy [adj not before noun]
I find her constant questions and chatter rather wearing. I
Kids of that age can be very wearing, can't they?
7 the feeling of being tired
tiredness weariness
exhaustion lethargy
fatigue jet-lag
tiredness/'tamrdnIs/[n U]
Looking after two babies instead of one leads to increased
tiredness in new mothers. I Camomile tea soothes the nerves,
relieves tiredness, and helps headaches. I It was the end of
a long day. Tiredness overwhelmed me.
exhaustion/ig'z:stfan/extreme tiredness caused by
long and difficult physical activity or too much worrying
In U]
The soldiers were suffering from exhaustion after long days
and nights of marching. I After the death of her mother,
Grace was ill for three months with exhaustion.
fatigue/fti:g/a word used especially in medical con-
texts, meaning a state of extreme tiredness or weakness In
U]
Symptoms of the illness include fever, fatigue, and loss of
appetite. I Long hours spent in front of a computer screen
causes fatigue of the eye muscles. I She was beginning to show
signs of fatigue.
weariness /wirins/extreme tiredness, caused espe-
cially by a long period of mental effort, suffering, or worry
[n U]
1427 to-ing and fro-ing
She seemed to be overwhelmed by weariness. I I had never
seen such utter weariness, such blank despair on a human
face before.
lethargy / 'leOrdbi/extreme tiredness that makes you feel
very lazy, so that you do not want to do anything and you
are not interested in anything [n U]
The heat of the summer induced a feeling of lethargy among
the guests at the hotel. I It is quite common for new mothers
to go to the doctor complaining of tiredness, lethargy and
mild depression.
jet-lag /'dbet ling/ a feeling of tiredness and confusion
which you sometimes get when you fly to a part of the
world where the time is different from the place you have
left In U]
I always get jet-lag when IjTyfrom London to New York.
jet-lagged [ adj] On the first morning of the conference, most
of us were still jet-lagged (=suffering from jet-lag).
8 looking tired
tired haggard
washed-out bleary-eyed
drawn yawn
tired/taIrd/[adj]
I've never seen him looking so tired. I tired eyes/face/voice
ere Look at their tired little faces. I She began telling us, in
a heavy tired voice, about all her family problems.
washed-out I,woft 'dOt II ,wo:t-/feeling weak and look-
ing unhealthy as a result of tiredness [adj]
The last time I saw Helena she was looking pretty washed-
out. Is she alright? I Don't ask danine to do the cooking -
she's completely washed-out.
drawn/dra:n/someone who looks drawn is tired from ill-
ness, worry, or working too hard, and their face looks thin
and pale [adjl
The President had been in an all-night emergency meeting
and looked drawn when he made his announcement to the
press. I There was a great change in Connie's appearance:
her face was drawn, she looked old and weak.
haggard /  hegord/someone who looks haggard is tired
from illness, worry, or working too hard, and their face has
lines, shadows, and hollow areas around the eyes and
cheeks [adj]
One young surgeon who looked particularly haggard said
that she had not slept for the past three nights. I Nick's face
was pale and haggard with dark circles of exhaustion below
his eyes. I Looking haggard and washed out, Nureyev spoke
to the journalists about his illness.
bleary.eyed/,bllgri 'azd-/with red, half-open eyes, espe-
cially as a result of lack of sleep [adj]
After twelve hours of driving Jean was bleary-eyed and stiff . I
I banged on the door, and after a while a bleary-eyed,
bearded young man emerged.
yawn/j:n/to open your mouth very wide and breathe
deeply because you are tired Iv I]
She put down her book, yawned, and settled down to sleep. I
I couldn't stop yawning, I was so tired.
tiredness
tireless
tiring
tit for tat
tit-for-tat
titbit/tidbit
titillate
title
titled
titter
to
to do sth
to go
to-ing and
TIRED 7
ENERGETIC 1, 3
TIRED 6
REVENGE 2
ATTACK 4
PIECE 5
EXCITED 13
NAME OF A PERSON 1, NAME OF A THING 1
CLASS IN SOCIETY 2
LAUGH 4
BEFORE 5, UNTIL 1
TO/IN ORDER TO 1
REMAIN/BE LEFT 1
fro-ing BUSY PLACE 2

TO/IN ORDER TO
...... . • ....... o'.;,;'
towards?a piace .......
thin, or person..
until, a ti.me,date etc
too mch, too many
TO/IN ORDER TO
TOWARDS
UNTIL
TOO/TOO MUCH
TO/IN ORDER TO
ways of saying what the purpose of doing
something is
1 in order to get something, achieve something,
or make something happen
2 in order to prevent something from
happening
I in order to get something, achieve something,
or make something happen
to do sth with the aim of doing sth
in order to do sth with a view to doing sth
so that/so for
so as to do sth
to do sth/t 'du: (sth)/[adv phrase]
She went to the bank to get some money. I Salt is spread on
roads in cold weather to prevent the formation of ice. I These
organisations have joined together to call for a change in the
law on drinking and driving. I You didn't come all that way
just to see me, did you?
in order to do sth /In 3:rdo r to 'du: (sth)/ a formal
expression meaning to do something lady phrase]
Many drug users get involved in crime simply in order to pay
for their supplies of cocaine and heroin. I In order to under-
stand fully how film reacts to light, it is necessary to study
the chemicals in the film.
so thatl$o / sao 6t, sao/if you do something so that or
so you or another person can do something else, you do it
in order to make the other thing possible [conjunction]
I'll move my car so that you can get into the garage. I She's
studying English at night school so she can go to university. I
My uncle lifted me onto his shoulders so I could see over the
other people's heads.
so as to do sth/soo oz to 'du: (sth)/if you do something
so as to do something else, you do it in order to cause
something else to happen lady phrase]
We put everything we don't normally use into cupboards so
as to save as much space as possible. I The number of
employees at the factory has been cut to a bare minimum, so
as to lower production costs.
with the aim of doing sth/WI 6i ,elm ov 'du:irj (sth)/
if you do something with the aim of doing something
else, you do it in order to try and achieve this [advphrase]
The Green Party was started with the aim of protecting the
environment. I I originally went out to the Far East with the
aim of setting up my own import-export business.
with a view to doing sth/w6 z ,vju= to 'du=r (sth)/
if you do something with a view to doing something else,
you do it because you are planning to do something else
-later and this will help you to achieve it [adv phrase]
We bought the cottage with a view to settling down there after
retirement. I France originally joined the EC with a view to
becoming the community's main supplier of agricultural
products.
1428
together with
for/for; strong fo:r/if you do something for something, you
do it for a particular purpose [prepl
She's gone into hospital for a check-up. [ We climbed up here
for the view, and also because we wanted to get some exercise.
2 in order to prevent something from
happening
to avoid sthlin order to avoid sth
so that/so...not
in order not to do sth
so as not to do sth
to avoid sthlin order to avoid sth/to otv;id (sth),
n ,3:rdo r to ov3id (sth)/[adv phrase]
She agreed with Brian, to avoid an argument. I To avoid dis-
appointment, send us your holiday application form as soon
as possible. I The boy's name has not been mentioned, in
order to avoid upsetting his family.
so thatlso...not/'soo ot, soo...not/in order to make it
impossible for someone to do something or for something
to happen [conjunction]
We keep our best china in a cabinet so it doesn "t get broken. I
She drew the curtains so that the neighbours wouldn't see
them. I Steps must be taken so that this kind of disaster never
happens again.
in order not to do sth/In o:rdor not to'du:/a formal
expression meaning in order to prevent something bad
from happening Iadv phrase i
Tall people were obliged to bend down in order not to bang
their heads on the low ceiling. I In order not to get into a
lengthy discussion, the council decided to set up a sub-
committee to deal with the matter.
so as not to do sth/sou oz ntt to 'du= (sth)/done in
order to make sure that something bad does not happen
[ adv phrase ]
We went upstairs quietly, so as not to wake the children. I
The waitress carried the bowls very carefully, so as not to
spill any of the soup.
.... today NOW 2
:" today's/of today NOW 5
toddler CHILD 1
toe the line OBEY 3
together ORGANIZE 3, TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 1,
together:
together:
together:
together:
together:
together:
together:
together:
TOGETHER 1, 2, 8, 9
be joined/be joined together JOIN STH
TOGETHER 5
come together MEET 3, UNITE 1
do not go well together MIX 10
get together MEET 1, ORGANIZE 1,
TOGETHER 6
go together SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER 2
go together/go with SUITABLE 3
join together TOGETHER 6
not go with/go together/match SUIT/LOOK
GOOD TOGETHER 3
together: stand together UNITE 2
together: stick together STICK 1, 2, UNITE 2
together with WITH 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English

T OGET H ER 1429 T O GETH ER
TOGETHER
1 together in the same place, not alone or
separately
2 working together in order to achieve
something
3 to work together in order to achieve
something
4 to be together again after being separated for
a long time
5 an arrangement involving two or more people
or groups who agree to work together
6 ways of saying that people or groups join
together in order to do something together
7 done by or involving people or groups who
work together
6 ways of saying that two or more things are
used together
g ways of saying that several different things,
people, ideas etc are considered together as
if they formed a group
10 to bring together different people, things,
ideas etc, which were formerly kept separate
1 together in the same place, not alone or
separately
together
as one
side by side
together/t'ge(br/[adv]
The whole family spent Christmas together. I For years, these
people had all lived together very peacefully. I We'd better
stay together or we might get lost. I You just cook all the
ingredients together in the same pan. I As term went on, Paul
and Stubbs took to going for walks together.
as one/oz 'wAn/if two or more people speak, think, move
etc as one, they do it in the same way and at the same time,
as if they were one person [adv phrase]
The twins seemed to move and think as one. [ The whole
audience rose to their feet as one and cheered loudly.
side by side /,said bal sad/ if two or more people,
things, or ideas exist side by side, they are all in the same
place or situation together, even though there may be big
differences between them [adv phrase]
Hindu and Muslim families lived side by side in most of these
towns. [ The intention is that children with special needs
should be educated side by side with so-called 'normal'chil-
dren. I Two quite distinct views of the goddess existed side
by side in the Athenian cult.
 working together in order to achieve
something
together jointly
collectively side by side
together/t'ge6 rl [adv ]
"Did you build that wall yourself?. .... No. My brother and I
did it together. '" I The Sales, Marketing, and Research teams
work together to develop ideas for new products. I Together
we can fight and overcome the evil of terrorism.
collectively/k'lektivli/if people do something collec-
tively, they do it by working together as equal members
of an organized group [adv]
There is a small management team, but all important deci-
sions are made collectively, by the whole workforce. I A team
of six workers can accomplish collectively what it would take
twice as many to achieve individually.
joinlly/' d3ontli/jointly managed/owned/published/
funded ete (=by two or more people or organizations work-
ing together equally) [advl
The business is jointly owned and run by six TVcompanies. I
This project is jointly funded by the university and the Health
Department. I It was a major surveillance operation, carried
out jointly by the FBI and the US customs department.
side by side/,sa;d ba 'sa;d/if two groups work or fight
side by side, they work closely together to achieve some-
thing, even though there may be big differences between
them [adv phrasel
Soldiers and civilians worked side by side to rebuild the city. I
Radical feminists and traditional religious groups found
themselves working side by side to oppose pornography.
3 to work together in order to achieve
something
work together
cooperate/co-operate
collaborate
work together/,w3:rk to'ge(Szr/ [phr v I]
We can only succeed if we all work together. [ work together
to do sth Leaders of the two communities are working
together to reduce tensions in the area.
cooperatelco.operate /ko'opret II-'a:p-/ if two
people or groups cooperate with each other, they work
together and help each other in order to achieve something
that will be good for both of them Iv I]
cooperate to do sth Aid agencies and UN forces are cooper-
ating to get food supplies to the people who need them. I
cooperate closely (=work very closely together) The army
and the police have been co-operating closely to fight against
terrorism. I cooperate with sb For practical reasons, they
had no choice but to cooperate with the colonial government. I
cooperate in sth There were rumours that the two dicta-
tors were cooperating secretly in nuclear research.
cooperation/co-operation/kou,opo'rej'n II-,ca:P-/[n U]
America's economic future depends on increased cooperation
among government, unions and management. I There has
often been close cooperation between the ANC and the Com-
munist Party in the past.
collaborate/ko'leboret/to work together, especially on
a specific piece of scientific, artistic, or industrial work Iv I]
collaborate with sb He was one of the scientists who had
collaborated with Oppenheimer to produce the first atomic
bomb. I collaborate on/in sth In 1930, Boulestin collabo-
rated with Jason Hill on their book 'Herbs, Salads and
Seasonings'. I collaborate to do sth Researchers in Stan-
ford and Princeton collaborated to produce a new waterproof
textile.
collaboration/ko,lebo' refn/In U] We couldn't have done
it without their collaboration (=if they had not collaborated
with us).

TOGETHER 130 TOGETHER
4 to be together again after being separated for
a long time
be back together
be reunited
be back together/bi: ,beck t'gc(or/ [v phrase]
It's nice to be back together after all this time. I Now that the
two are back together we can expect some interesting ideas
from them soon. I be back together with I'm back together
with Johnny now and things are going pretty well.
be reunited/bi: ri:ju:natd/ to be brought together
again with someone that you lost or were unable to see for
a long time, especiallywhen someone helps you to be with
them again [v phrase] :
Eventually mother and child were reunited amid very emo-
tional scenes. I At last we were reunited, the old gang together
again. It was a day for celebration. I be reunited with The
hostages were reunited with their wives at Point Reach air-
base in the early hours of this morning.
5 an arrangement involving two or more people
or groups who agree to work together
partnership
alliance
partnership I'pa:rtnorIp/a relationship between people
or groups working closely together [n C]
The song-writing partnership has been very productive. [
partnership between Crime prevention is most effective
when it is a partnership between the police and the public. [
form a partnership Sir Keith spoke of the need to form a
new partnership between Local Education Authorities and
parents.
alliance/a'laians/an arrangement involving two or more
different groups or countries to work together to oppose an
enemy or to fight together for something that they both
believe in in C]
Before the revolution there had been an alliance between stu-
dents and factory workers. I enter into/form an alliance
The two countries entered into a defensive alliance. [ The
farmers formed alliances with other Wisconsin farm groups
and church organizations.
6 ways of saying that people or groups join
together in order to do something together
join together
get together
team up
Join together/,d3n to'geor/[phr v I]
join together to do sth The idea is that companies join
together to plan their training needs, which saves them
money. I join together with In 1942 Bogartjoined together
with Ingrid Bergman to make one of the greatest movies of
all time, 'Casablanca'.
gel logelher/,get t'ger/to join together in order to
do something, especially because you will be able to do it
better or more effectively as a group [phr v I]
Several small stores got together and agreed to boycott the
suppliers until they reduced their prices. I I can sing and you
play guitar - we should get together and form a band. I get
together with Andy's getting together with a few friends
from college to start up their own company.
team up / ti:m '^Pl to join together in order to work on
something together, especially in the areas of sport, busi-
ness, or the arts [phr v I]
team up with She teamed up with Nigel Birch and Jane
Edwards to write the book. I team up to do sth In 1979 MCA
and IBM teamed up to form Disco Vision Associates. I team
up If Seles and Graf were to team up, they would be unbeat-
able.
1 done by or involving people or groups who
work together
collective concerted
joint collaborative
combined
collective/ko'lekUv! collective action/responsibility/
decision etc (=involving several people or groups work-
ing together equally) [adj only before noun]
Collective action is needed to solve this problem. We cannot
do it alone. I The parents, the teachers and the city council
must take collective responsibility for this tragedy. I What
was needed was a collective show of force by the western
allies.
Joint/dsnt/joint effort/report/declaration/venture
etc (= made or done usually by two people or groups work-
ing together for a specific purpose) [adj only before noun]
Several people were arrested after a joint operation between
the CIA and Interpol. I The two leaders issued a joint decla-
ration after the meeting. [ Doctors from the Heart Research
Foundation and the University Hospital presented results of
a joint study.
combined/kom'ba;nd/combined action/efforts/oper-
ation etc (=done by several people or groups working
together in order to achieve something) |adj only before
noun]
Their combined efforts quickly produced the desired result. I
Combined action by British and French forces brought the
situation under control.
concerted /knsa:rtd/ concerted effort/attempt/
action etc (=done by people or groups working together
in a carefully planned and very determined way) [adj only
before noun]
Only a concerted effort by all sections of the community can
save the environment. I A concerted campaign of posters, TV
advertising, and letters to the press eventually led to the
prisoners' release.
collaborative/kz'lecbrztiv [[ -bore;t; v/ collaborative.
venture/project/effort etc (=involving separate and
sometimes very different people or groups working
together, especially in order to achieve something that will
bring advantage to both of them) [adj only before noun]
The new system was the product of a collaborative project
between Apple and IBM. [ a collaborative youth training pro-
gram involving several businesses
8 ways of saying that two or more things are
used together
together
in combination
compatible
together/t'gedor! [adv]
The two chemicals are much more effective when they are
used together. I Separately, thejTavours are unremarkable,
but taken together they produce a new taste sensation.
in combination/In komb I nefdn II -,ka:m-! if two or
more things or methods are used in combination, they are
used together at the same time, in order to achieve a par-
ticular effect lady phrase]
The best way to lose weight is using diet and exercise in com-
bination. I By using persuasion and threats in combination,
she achieved great political success. I in combination with
The artist uses photographs in combination with solid
objects to produce this strange effect.
compatible/km pectbl/different machines, methods,
ideas etc that are compatible can exist together or be used
together without producing problems [adj]
compatible with Unfortunately he bought a printer that
was not compatible with his computer. I The President
wanted peace, but only if it was compatible with his other
objectives. I compatible Certain kinds of drug are not com-
patible and should never be taken together. I The two busi-
nesses have compatible aims, and a merger would be to every-
one's advantage.

TOGETHER
 ways of saying that several different things,
people, ideas etc are considered together as
if they formed a group
together
collectively
together/tgebr/lady]
The Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary branches together
make up the US government. I taken together (=considered
as a group) Taken together, these measures should ensure
a rapid return to financial stability.
collectively/kzlektIvli/[adv]
collectively called/known as/referred to as etc Bel-
gium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands are collectively
known as the "Benelux' countries. I These substances are
referred to collectively as ketone bodies. I collectively These
various studies, despite differences in detail, collectively indi-
cated a clear link between smoking and cancer.
10 to bring together different people, things,
ideas etc, which were formerly kept separate
integrate
Integrate/'intgreit/[v T]
integrate sth with The Administration's first task is to inte-
grate the welfare system with the tax system. I integrate
sb/sth into a plan for integrating the Eastern European
economies into the western economic system I The group's
function is to integrate the refugees into the local community.
integration /int 'grefon/[n U] Members of the extreme
right are completely opposed to the integration of blacks into
white South African society.
toil
toilet
WORK HARD 2, WORK THAT SB DOES 4
TOILET 1
TOILET
the room where the toilet is
I the room where the toilet is
toilet gents/men's room
bathroom ladies/ladies' room
Ioo/john lavatory
rest room/wash room WC
toilet / t3dt/a British word meaning the room where the
toilet is In C]
Every room in the hotel has its own separate bathroom and
toilet. I men's/women's toilets The women's toilets are
downstairs on the right. I public toilets Pat refuses to use
the public toilets in this country because they are always so
dirty.
bathroom/ba:Orom, -ru:m II bmO-/a word used espe-
cially in American English meaning the room where the
toilet is, especially in someone's house In singular]
The bathroom is next to Jack's room. I "Can I use your
bathroom?" "'Sure, go ahead. ""
Ioo (British) I john (American)/lu:, dson II dscnn/informal
words meaning the toilet [n C]
Where's the loo? l Tony's in the john. He'll be back in a
minute.
restroomlwashroom/rest:m, woj" :m II w(zj'-/
American words meaning the toilets in a public place [n C]
Do you have restrooms here? I There's no paper in the
washroom.
gents (British) I men's room (American)/dsents, menz
ru:m/the men's toilets in a public place [n singular]
Can you tell me where the men's room is please? I "Where's
Kevin? .... He went to the gents.'"
ladies (British) I ladies' room (American) /'laid/z,
'leidiz ru:m/ the women's toilets in a public place In
singular]
1431
TOO/TOO MUCH
Wait for me outside. I'm going to the ladies. I The ladies'
room is just around the corner.
lavatory / lmvotri II -t:ri! a polite or formal word mean-
ing a toilet In C]
Excuse me. Could I useyour lavatory? l public lavatory The
public lavatories are situated on the other side of the beach.
WC I d^blju: si:l a British word meaning a toilet, used
especially in written information about buildings In C]
All our holiday apartments have a double bedroom, small
kitchen, bathroom, and WC.
token REPRESENT 3
told: be told FIND OUT 2
told: do as you're told OBEY 1
told: I told youl/I told you sol WARN 1
tolerable STAND/BEAR 2
tolerance STRICT 10
tolerant STRICT 10
tolerate STAN D/BEAR 1
toll COST 1, NUMBER 2, SOUND 15
toll: take its toll EFFECT/INFLUENCE 1
Tom, Dick, or Harry: any Tom, Dick, or Harry
EVERYONE 2
tomorrow: spend money like water/like there's no
tomorrow SPEND MONEY 3
ton: weigh a ton HEAVY 1
tone SOUND 2
tone down REDUCE 7
tongue: be on the tip of your tongue FORGET :3,
REMEMBER 3
tongue: bite your tongue SAY 9
tongue: slip of the tongue MISTAKE 2
tongue-in-cheek JOKING/NOT SERIOUS 2
tongue-tied SAY 8
tons: loads of/tons of/masses of/scads of LOT/A
LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 2
too AND/ALSO 1, TOO/TO0 MUCH 1
too: all too/only too TOO/TO0 MUCH 1
too bad PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
too big: be too big/small FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE :3
too far: go too far/take sth too far TOO/TO0 MUCH 3
too good to be true: be/seem too good to be true
BELIEVE 12
too little/too few ENOUGH 8
too
TOO/TOO MUCH
more than is reasonable, possible, or
necessary
an amount or number that is too much
to do something too much
too great in amount or in degree
words for describing the additional amount
that is not wanted when there is too much of
something
not too much

TOO/TOO MUCH 1432 TOO/TOO MUCH
1 more than is reasonable, possible, or
necessary
too unduly
all too often/only too often overkill
too/tu:/[adv]
I can't clean that window, it's too high. I You're speaking too
quietly - the people at the back can't hear. I much/a bit etc
too Jeremy always drives much too fast. I It was a good
movie but maybe a little too long. I too hot/too big etc to
do sth My coffee is too hot to drink. I The doctor told Mrs
Jenkins she was too old to have children. I too hot/too old/
too quick etc for If it's too hot for you, just add some cold
milk. I This room is too narrow for a double bed.
all too often/only too often /0:1 tu: 'fon, 0unli tu:-
II -':fdn/more often or in more cases than is reasonable
or acceptable, especially when this is sad, disappointing,
or annoying [adv phrase]
All too often the loopholes in these tax laws are exploited. I
Conservationists take in animals affected by oil pollution,
but only too often they die.
unduly/^ndju:li II -du:-/unduly concerned/anxious/
long etc (=too concerned, anxious etc, especially when
there is no good reason for this) [adv]
Many women are unduly anxious about their weight. I
Teachers feel that they have unduly Iong periods of pastoral
duties. I I think you're being unduly pessimistic.
overkill./oovorkl/ a situation in which something is
done so much that it is no longer interesting or effective
In U]
Of course, it's a serious disaster, but some of these sensational
newspaper reports are just overkill. I Many felt that the
expenditure amounted to overkill, and that a cheaper, less
glossy advertising compaign would have been just as
effective.
2 an amount or number that is too much
too much too much of a
too many good thing
glut an excess of
too much/,tu: 'm^q*/[quantifier]
too much coffee/money/time etc Len had a headache
because he had drunk too much coffee. I Jean spends too
much money on clothes. I too much I'm worried about your
son's health - I think he eats too much. I The older kids can
have some wine, but don't give them too much. I too much
of Too much of what we produce is exported. I far/much/a
bit etc too much You've given me much too much - I can "t
eat all that. t
too many / tu: meni/[quantifier]
too many things/people/problems etc There are too
many cars in the city - the traffic problems are awful. I The
police chief was reprimanded because too many accidents
had occurred in his area. I too many We couldn't possibly
reply to every application. There were just too many. I too
many of Too many of our employees are under-qualified. I
far too many Far too many of these children leave school
without being able to read.
glut/gl^t/a situation in which there is too much of a
product available at a particular time, which often results
in the price of the product being cut [n C usually singular]
a glut of In 1989 there was a glut of cocoa on the world
market. I When there is a glut of milk more products like
yoghurt are made. I glut For years there was a shortage of
oil and now there's a glut.
too much of a good thing/tu: m^tJ" v  gud 0[rj/if
you say that something is too much of a good thing, you
mean that it would be good in small amounts but you have
too much of it In phrase]
The rapid economic growth of the 1980s was too much of a
good thing, and now things are much worse. I Getting six
boxes of chocolates for my birthday was really too much of
a good thing.
an excess of/n ;kses ov/a formal expression mean-
ing too much of something [quantifier]
It was an excess of enthusiasm rather than recklessness that
caused the problems. [ an excess of alcohol
3 to do something too much
too much
overdo
go too far/
take sth too far
go to extremes
too much / ,tu: 'm^tj'/ [adv]
to excess
over the top
overload
overindulge
flog sth to death
John's main fault is that he talks too much. [ far/much/a
bit etc too much You all complain far too much - why don't
you just try to change things if you don't like them!
overdo / ovr du:/to do or say something that would
usually be helpful or welcome, but do it so much that it is
no longer helpful or so that people become embarrassed or
annoyed Iv T]
overdo sth I think he rather overdid the compliments - it
wasn't that good! I overdo it Be assertive in your interview,
but don't overdo it - the interviewer might feel threatened.
go too far/take sth too far /goo tu: 'fa: r, ttek (sth)
tu: fa: r/to do something so much that you offend, upset,
or annoy people, especially because you do not know when
it is reasonable to stop Iv phrase]
I didn "t mind you borrowing my car, but lending it to your
friends was going too far. [ John had taken the joke too far
and now Betty was crying. [ We all agree there have to be
some controls but the President has gone too far in ordering
all immigration to be stopped.
go to extremes / go to k'stri:mz/to do something so
much, state something so strongly etc, that people consider
your actions unacceptable and unreasonable Iv phrase]
Hunt went to such extremes to get his promotion that every-
one at the office hates him now. [ The film is not very good,
but some critics have gone to extremes, saying it is the worst
of the decade.
to excess/to ktses/if you do something to excess, you
do it so much that it is wrong or harmful lady phrase]
The government enthusiastically supports US foreign policy,
sometimes to excess. [ Drinking is OK as long as you don't
do it to excess.
over the top /ov r 6 tp II-ta=p/ behaviour or
actions that are over the top are so extreme and
unreasonable that they annoy or offend people [adj/adv]
The violence in that film is really over the top. [ go over the
top The boss really went over the top when he told the secre-
tary off for being two minutes late for work. [ go over the
top in doing sth This newspaper article goes over the top
in stating that all the government's policies are effective.
overload/ov r lod/to give someone too much work
to do or try to make a system handle too much work Iv T]
The teachers'schedules have been overloaded. [ They over-
loaded their rather outdated computer system and the whole
thing just stopped. [ Projects should stretch people and make
them work hard, but not overload them.
overindulge / ouvorin'dAld3/a polite or humorous word
meaning to eat too much rich food or drink too much alco-
hol Iv I]
Schneider told quite a funny story about how he had over-
indulged one night.
flog sth to death/flDg (sth) t deO II fla:g-/an infor-
mal expression meaning to talk too much about a subject
or repeat a joke or story too often, so that no one is
interested in it any more Iv phrase]
It was a good story a month ago but the newspapers have
really flogged it to death.
4 too great in amount or in degree
excessive
undue
inordinate
excessive ! ;k t ses; v/far more in amount or degree than
is reasonable or necessary [adj]

TOO/TO0 MUCH 1433 top
His wife left him because of his excessive drinking. I I know
he deserved to be punished but making him stay in every
night for a year is a little excessive. I Excessive quantities of
water are used nowadays with most houses having both a
dishwasher and a washing-machine.
excessively [adv ] The party was noisy but not excessively so.
undue /,^n'dju: li -du:-/ undue interference/criti-
cism/attention etc (=much more than is necessary,
reasonable, or helpful) [adj only before noun]
Is this new law an example of undue government interfer-
ence? I Bertie attaches undue importance to how a person
looks. I the undue concentration of power and wealth among
the privileged members of society
inordinate/'na:rdant/a formal word meaning much
more than is reasonable, especially when this is unfair to
other people or means that other things are not given
enough attention [adj only before noun]
Scientists have been criticized for devoting an inordinate
amount of time to research on animals. [ a man of inordinate
ambition
inordinately [adv ] Their wealth depends on them making
inordinately large demands on limited world resources.
5 words for describing the additional amount
that is not wanted when there is too much of
something
excess
surplus
excess ] ik  ses, ekses/excess water/weight/material
ete [adj only before noun]
Wash the shoes carefully and dry off any excess water with
a soft cloth. [ Excess vitamin D can cause kidney damage in
young children. [ Cut off excess fat from the meat before
cooking.
surplus / s3: rplos/the additional amount of something,
especially something that you produce or grow, which is
more than you need and which can therefore be given or
sold to other people In C]
The Gulf States produce more oil than they need and sell the
surplus to the rest of the worM. I food/milk/grain etc sur-
plus Farmers often turn their milk surplus into cheese and
butter.
surplus [adj only before noun] Early cultures used tech-
niques such as smoking and salting to preserve surplus meat
and fish.
6 not too much
not too much
in moderation
keep sth in proportion
not too much/nt tu: m^t/[adv phrase]
Give me some more wine, but not too much. [ not eat/
smoke/complain etc too much Don't complain too much
or you'll get fired!
in moderation/in mdorean II -rna=-/if you do some-
thing such as eating, drinking, or using something in
moderation, you do not do it too much, even though you
might like to [adv phrase]
We don't spend much money on wine - we only drink in
moderation. I Use basil in moderation, as it has a strong
]Tavour.
keep sth in proportion/,ki:p (sth) In propa:rSan/to not
allow yourself to become so excited, annoyed etc by an
event or situation that you lose a sense of what is reason-
able, sensible, or possible Iv phrase]
My confidence was so low it was difficult to keep things in
proportion - the smallest problem seemed like a major
tragedy.[ The Party's recent successes in the polls are
encouraging but they need to be kept in proportion.
tool TOOL 1, WAY/METHOD 3
@ TOOL
1 a piece of equipment that is used to do a
particular job
I a piece of equipment that is used to do a
particular job
tool device
implement instrument
utensil gadget
tool/tuff/a simple piece of equipment that you hold in
your hand and use to do a particular job In C]
Ian couldn't finish repairing the engine because he didn't
have the right tool. I Sheila got home to find the plumber
under the kitchen sink, surrounded by tools and bits of
piping. I When sharpening tools always wear protective
goggles.
implement/' implmont/a tool or simple machine used
for a particular job, especially when working in the garden
or on a farm In C]
The native women grind the wheat with heavy stone imple-
ments. ] It is best to cut weeds out at the roots with an imple-
ment such as a hoe. I a company that deals in agricultural
implements
utensil/ju: tensal/a piece of equipment, especially one
used in the kitchen to prepare food In Cl
Peter found the potato peeler in a drawer full of utensils. ]
We packed a few essential cooking utensils such as sauce-
pans, tin opener and wooden spoons for our camping trip. I
You wilI find a wide range of kitchen utensils in our cook-
shop on the second ]7oor.
device/d'vaIs/a small, usually simple but very well-
designed tool that is very useful and helpful In C]
This clever little device can be carried in a handbag or
pocket. [ State-of-the-art running-shoes have a special device
which makes it possible for the wearer to pump more air into
the soles. [ labour-saving device (=designed to help you
avoid physical work) labour-saving devices around the
home
instrument/nstr°mnt/a tool, especially a small and
delicate one, that is used for a particular job, usually one
for which a lot of skill is needed In C]
A row of shining surgical instruments lay on a tray to the
left of the dentist's chair. [ The company specializes in the
manufacture of high quality writing instruments. [ You will
be taken on a tour of the dungeons under the castle, where
medieval instruments of torture are displayed.
gadget/geed3ot/a small, rather unusual, and cleverly-
designed tool that is not really necessary but is useful
because it allows you to do something more easily [n C]
This clever little gadget enables you to slice hard boiled eggs
perfectly every time. [ The Body Shop is now selling a new
wooden gadget, designed for pain relief, that you roll around
the shoulders and back. [ A sales assistant was demonstrat-
ing several kitchen gadgets to a small crowd of shoppers.
i.: tools EQUIPMENT 1
•
; tools: down tools STOP WORKING/GO ON STRIKE 1
toothache: backache/earache/stomach-ache/
i toothache PAIN 3
top BEST 1, COVER 5, HIGH POSITION OR RANK
, SURFACE 2, TOP 1, 3
top: at the top TOP 2
top: be at the top HIGH POSITION OR RANK 1
top: blow your top/hit the roof/go crazy/go nuts/have
a fit ANGRY4
top: come out on top WIN 2
top: off the top of your head IMMEDIATELY 4, THINK
ABOUT 9
ii. top: on top TOP 2
! top: on top of ON/ON TOP OF 1
 top: over the top TOO/TO0 MUCH 3

top form 1434 TOTAL
top form: be on top form
top secret SECRET 1
top speed: at top speed
top up FULL 7
Itop
BEST 6
FAST/QUICK 3
TOP
the top part of something
at the top of something
words for describing the thing that is nearest
the top
1 the top part of something
top
summit
crest
top/top II ta:p/the top or highest part of something [n C]
The top of the hill is covered with snow. I There is a wonder-
ful view from the top of the tower. I The tops of the trees
swayed in the breeze. I We'll sew these squares together. I'll
start at the top and you can start at the bottom. I tree-top/
roof-top/hill-top etc I looked out over the roof-tops towards
the mountains beyond.
summit/Is^mot/the top of a mountain In C]
It took the climbers four hours to reach the summit. I In the
distance we could see the snow-covered summit of Mount
Kilimanjaro.
crest/krcst/the top of a hill or wave [n C]
We could see Joe standing on the crest of the hill. I They
walked along the crest of a ridge, looking up at the summit. I
The sea was whipped up by a westerly wind and there were
white crests on the waves.
2 at the top of something
on top
at the top
on top/on 'top II -to:p/on the top surface or highest point
of something [adv]
a hat with a redpom-pom on top I on top of The church stood
on top of a hill. I On top of the cupboard was an old trunk,
covered in dust.
at the top/at 6o top II -'to:p/on or near the top of some-
thing [adv]
When I'm painting a wall I always start at the top. I at the
top of He was waiting for me at the top of the stairs. I Write
your name at the top of the page.
 words for desoribing the thing that is nearest
the top
top
upper
topmost/uppermost
top/top II to:p/top shelf/drawer/floor/lip etc [adj only
before noun]
The books are on the top shelf. I Put the papers in the top
drawer of the filing cabinet. I We moved into an apartment
on the top floor of the building.
upper/ Apor/upper teeth/arm/deck/atmosphere etc
(=which is at the top above the other lower part) [adj only
before noun]
Several of his upper teeth are missing. I As the ship came into
the harbour, she could see Henry waving to her from the
upper deck.
topmost/uppermost/ttopmoost, t Ap0rm0ost ]] 'to:p-/
the topmost or uppermost part of something is the
highest of all its parts, right at the top [adj only before noun]
Human bones were found in the uppermost level of rock. I
She cut the topmost leaves off the bush.
topic SUBJECT 1
topical NOW 5
topmost/uppermost TOP 3
topple over FALL 2, 9
torment SUFFER 3
torn TEAR 4
torn: get torn/get ripped TEAR 3
torrent WATER 3
too BODY 3
toou8 BEND 8, COMPLICATED 3
tos8 THROW 2
to88 ad turn SLEEP 11
to88/flip THROW 6
toss-up: it's a to88-p UNCERTAIN 3
total ALL/EVERYTHING 4, DESTROY 5, TOTAL 1, 3
total= altogether/in totalli all/all told TOTAL 2
total: bring the number/total to TOTAL 3
total ўotroh hae total eotrol CONTROL 3
torah 8raad total TOTAL 1
TOTAL
the final number or amount of things, people
etc when everything has been counted
ways of saying that a particular number or
amount is the total
to reach a total
1 the final number or amount of things, people
etc when everything has been counted
total n subtotal
total adj gross
grand total aggregate
total/'toutl/In C]
If you add 30 and 45 the total is 75. I When you have finished
the sums please underline the totals. I a total of They were
jailed for a total of thirty years. I The police seized 112 kilos
of cannabis at Dover, and another 84 kilos in London,
making a total of 196 kilos. I A worldwide total of around
1.5 billion people are thought to have watched the concert.
total./ 'tol/ the total amount, number, cost etc is the fmal
amount, number, cost etc after everything has been
included [adj only before noun]
The total number of people arrested was twenty. I The film
was made on a total budget of just $3 million. I Just over one
fifth of the total labour force has part-time jobs.
grand total/, grmnd tootl/the total when everything has
been included, used. especially in a humorous way when
the final total is surprisingly small In singular]
The grand total is $4.15! [ a grand total of In the exam I
got a grand total of 4 points.
subtotal / s^b tol/the total of a single set of figures, for
example on a bill, which does not include other figures or
amounts that will be added later to find the final total In C]
The subtotal for spare parts was $23. With labor costs, the
bill came to $36.

TOTAL 1435 TOUCH
gross/graos/the gross amount is the total amount before
anything such as tax is subtracted [adj only before noun]
My gross annual income, before tax, is just over Ј11,000. I
Women's average gross hourly earnings were 63.1 per cent
of men's. I The gross weight of the package is 10 kilos, includ-
ing the box.
gross [adv] She earns about $100,000 a year gross.
aggregate /  mgrIg Iot/a formal or technical word used to
describe the total amount after a lot of different figures
have been added together [adj only before noun]
Assume that aggregate employment rose last month by
400,000. I The company's aggregate borrowings exceed Ј900
million.
2 ways of saying that a particular number or
amount is the total
altogether/in total/in all/all told
altogether/in total/in all/all told/,:lt'ge6r-, In
totl, In :1, :1 told/[adv]
There were probablyfewer than a hundred people there, all
told. I The recession lasted thirteen months altogether. [ The
company has subsidiaries in 36countries and in total owns
350 ships. [ If you include the crew, there were about 40 of us
in all.
the number/total of H/s death brings to 20 the number of
people killed in drugs-related murders this year.
number/ nhmbr/if a group of people or things numbers
a particular figure, especially a large figure, that is the total
when they are all included Iv T not in progressive orpassive]
Robots in use in British industry numbered 4303 at the end
of 1987. I Their army numbers almost half a million men.I
The crowd of students numbered at least 2000.
totalitarian GOVERNMENT 4
totally COMPLETELY 1
tote CARRY 1
totter BALANCE 4
touch REACH 2, TOUCH 1, 3, 4
touch: a touch of ILLNESS/DISEASE :2, LITTLE/NOT
MUCH 8
touch: be out of touch NOT KNOW 6
touch: don't touch TOUCH 6
touch: get in touch with CONTACT SB 1
touch: keep in touch/stay in touch CONTACT SB 2
touch: hardly touch your food/dinner/meal etc
touch: not touch DRINK 8
touch: to the touch TOUCH 5
touch and go: it's touch and go UNCERTAIN 2
touch down DOWN 7
touch on MENTION 1
EAT 8
3 to reach a total
come to add up to
amount to make
total bring the number/total to
reach number
come to/k^m tu:/[v T not in progressive or passive]
Including wine, the bill came to $70. [ That comes to 24pence
exactly. [ The liquidation value of our assets comes to Ј2.5
million.
amount to/'maont tuff to reach a total, especially a large
total Iv T not in progressive or passive]
Credit card fraud amounts to about $17 million a year.[ At
that time the number of staff employed amounted to 3400,
including those at Head Office. [ The collection of paintings
did not at that time amount to more than two thirds of its
present number.
total/'totl/a word used especially in official contexts
meaning to reach a particular total Iv T not in progressive
or passive ]
The company has made losses totalling 1.5 million over the
last three years. [ The number of people who fall into this
category totals 170.
reach/ri:tj'/ifa total reaches a particular figure, it rises
until it is equal to that figure [v T]
We expect our income from international sales to reach $300
million next year. [ Registered unemployment in the north
of the country reached 12%. [ The Appeal Fund has now
reached $65,000.
add up to / md '^p tu:/ifa group of numbers or amounts
adds up to a particular figure, that figure is the total Iv T
not in progressive or passive]
The numbers in each line add up to nine. [ The various bills
I hadpaid using my credit card added up to much more than
I had expected. [ Small savings on monthly bills add up to
significant sums in the course of time.
make/meilq if you add numbers together and they make
a particular figure, that figure is the answer or the total
Iv T not in progressive or passive[
Two plus two makes four. [ Another goal! That makes four
goals for Australia.
bring the number/total to / brIr 6 :rutmb r, 'tootl tu:/
an expression used especially in news reports: if the most
recent example of something brings the number or total
to a particular figure, that is the new total when it is
included [v phrase]
This latest bomb brings the number of terrorist attacks this
year to five. [ Three arrests in Blackpool yesterday bring the
total of those held in Lancashire to five. [ bring to 5/20 ere
TOUCH
to touch something or someone with your
hand
to touch someone or something in a gentle or
loving way
to accidentally or unintentionally touch
someone or something
ways of saying that two things are so close
that they touch each other
what something feels like when you touch it
what you say to tell someone not to touch
something
1 to touch something or someone with your
hand
touch run your hand over/along etc
feel finger
touch/t^t/to put your hand onto something or someone
[vT]
I could feel someone touching my shoulder, i She touched the
button and the electronic gates opened. [ Andy would never
let you drive his car - he goes mad if anyone even touches it.
feel/fi:l/to touch something in order to feel what it is like
Iv T not usually in passive]
Feel how soft this material is. [ Dr McKenzie felt Freddie's
forehead to see if he had a temperature. [ She felt the radia-
tor: "It's cold. The boiler must have gone out again."
run your hand over/along etc/ rAnj: r 'hmnd (over,
etc)/to move your hand over something and feel the sur-
face of it Iv phrase]
She ran her hand along the cat's back, feeling its soft fur.[
Blind people read by running their fingers over a series of
raised dots, called braille. [ He stood there, grinning and run-
ning his hand across his bald head.
finger / fIogr/to touch or move something between your
fingers, often nervously or without realizing that you are
doing it Iv T]
The pages are torn and tattered, having been fingered by
generations of bored schoolchildren. [ She fingered the coins
in her pocket - did she have enough for a cup of tea?

TOUCH 1436 towards/toward
 to touch someone or something in a gentle or
loving way
pat tickle
stroke pet
caress fondle
pat /pint/ to repeatedly touch someone or something
lightly with your hand flat, especially to give comfort Iv T]
pat sb/sth Penelope bent down to pat the dog. I Morn patted
my shoulder. "'Never mind, dear, "" she said. I pat sb on the
back "'Excellent work, Crawford, "" said the Managing Direc-
tor, patting me on the back.
pat In C] Mrs Dodd gave the child a pa.t on the head.
stroke/stmok/to move your hand or fingers lightly over
something, especially part of someone's body such as their
back, arm, or hair Iv T]
He stroked her arm as she cried. I He's quite a placid dog.
He doesn't mind being stroked.
caress/ka'res/to move your fingers lightly over the sur-
face of a smooth object or a part of someone's body, in a
gentle or loving way Iv T]
She began to caress his hair. I Cecile picked up the statue and
sat idly caressing the smooth marble.
tickle / tkal/to run your fingers quickly over someone's
body, or to touch them lightly with something, in order to
make them laugh Iv T l
Stop tickling me! I Most people hate having their feet tickled.
pet/pt/to gently move your fingers or hand over the body
of an animal in a loving way Iv T]
My cat loves to be petted, but refuses to sit on my knee. I Her
dog has to obey her commands before she pets him or gives
him titbits.
fondle/ fondl II  fa:ndl/to continuously touch and move
your fingers over a part of someone's body, in a gentle,
loving way [v T]
Children love to stroke and fondle puppies. [ He sat fondling
her feet as she lay back in the armchair.
 to accidentally or unintentionally touch
someone or something
touch skim
come into contact graze
brush
touch/tAt.[/[V T]
The plane came down so low that its wings touched the trees. [
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch your sore arm.
touch In singular] Just the touch of a nettle will sting you.
come into contact I,km int kontmkt [[-'ka:n-/ to
touch something, especially when something else happens
immediately as a result Iv phrase]
come into contact with If shampoo comes into contact with
your eyes, rinse well with water. I Steam condenses to water
when it comes into contact with a surface. I come into con-
tact When a positron and an electron come into contact, they
destroy each other.
brush/br^j"to accidentally touch someone or something
lightly when passing them Iv I/T/
brush against I felt something brush against the back of
my head. I As she passed, her sleeve brushed against his bare
arm, sending a shiver down his spine. I brush sth The car
drove down the narrow lane, brushing the hedges on both
sides.
skim/skim/to touch something lightly when moving over
it very quickly Iv T]
He threw a fiat stone and watched it skim the surface of the
lake. I Seagulls skimmed the water, looking f or fish. I The
helicopter circled, skimming some palm trees as it came in
to land.
grazo/greIz/to touch something lightly when passing it,
sometimes causing damage Iv T]
The bullet grazed the corner of the building, just missing my
arm. I All I did was graze a tree, but I had to have the whole
car door resprayed.
4 ways of saying that two things are so close
that they touch each other
touch
touch/t^t.[/[v I]
I put the cards together on the table so that the edges were
just touching. [ He drew me closer until our bodies were touch-
ing. [ Don't let the wires touch or you'll get electrocuted.
 what something feels like when you touch it
feel
to the touch
texture
feel/fi:l/[v not in progressive]
feel warm/cold/soft ere The stones felt rough and warm
under my feet. I I'm not sure what sort of material it is - it
feels kind of waxy. I feel like Good imitation leather looks
and feels like the real thing.
feel In singular] There was nothing Lucy liked more than
the feel of fur against her skin.
to the touch /t 6 tAt/ cold/hard/soft etc to the
touch (=feeling cold, hard, soft etc when you touch it) lady
phrase]
Cotton sheets are cool and smooth to the touch. I Aunt Mary's
hands were always cold to the touch, although she kept her
heater on all the time.
texture I'tcksffr/the way the surface of something feels,
especially how rough or smooth it feels In C/U]
The peaches had a smooth, velvety texture. I coarse/
smooth/gritty etc in texture Cotton is coarser in texture
than silk.
6 what you say to tell someone not to touch
something
don't touch
leave it alone
hands off
don't touch /,daunt 'tAt.j'/ (used when you are telling
someone, especially a child, not to touch something)
Don't touch! That's daddy's work. I Those glasses were very
expensive. You can look but don't touch. [ don't touch sth
Don't touch the iron - it's hot.
leave it alone/li:v It tlon/(used when you are tell-
ing someone not to touch something they are already
touching)
That's a very delicate piece of equipment -please leave it
alone. [ Leave that alone, it's already falling to pieces.
hands off/,hmndz ofl (used when you are angrily tell-
ing someone not to touch something, especially when they
are trying to take it away)
Hands off my coati I get/take your hands off sth Getyour
hands off my car!
touching
touchy
tough
tough[ DON'T CARE 3
tough: get tough with STRICT 2
tour TRAVEL 5, 6, 8
tour: be on tour TRAVEL 5
tourist HOLIDAY 7
tournament COMPETITION 1
tout/scalper SELL 10
tow PULL 6
towards: come towards/toward TOWARDS 2
towards: gesture at/towards POINT AT 1
towards: go towards/toward TOWARDS 2
towards: head towards/toward TOWARDS 2
towards/toward TOWARDS 1
EMOTIONAL 3
DIFFICULT 5, OFFEND 3
DIFFICULT 1, 8, HARD 3, STRICT 1, 4,
STRONG OBJECT 1, STRONG PERSON 4

TOWARDS 1437 TOWN
TOWARDS
1 words meaning towards
2 to go or come towards someone or
something
3 to go towards a person intending to speak to
them
1 words meaning towards
towards/toward bou nd
in the direction of at
for
towards (British) I toward (American) Ita'w:rd(z)/
moving, looking, or pointing in a particular direction
[prep ]
If you walk along the river bank towards Skipton you come
to a bridge. I She stood with her back toward the window. I
Glancing towards me, he started to laugh. I The plane
banked and turned toward the mountains. I Lift that side
and slide it toward me.
in the direction of/In 5a d  rekan avl towards a place
or object, but not moving, looking, or pointing directly at
it [prep]
Tyler strode off in the direction of Foxwood. I People were
making a move in the direction of the dining room. I in sb's
direction I glanced in her direction and our eyes met. I in
the general direction of (=roughly towards) He waved a
hand in the general direction of the bar. "Another drink?"
for/far; strong f3:r/set off/make/head for (=go towards
a place, especially in a determined way) [prep]
We set off for Boston at daybreak. I When it started to rain
we headed for the trees as fast as we could. I It's getting dark
- we'd better make for home.
bound /baond/ London/Paris/north/east etc bound
(=travelling in a particular direction) ladjl
The London bound train leaves at 22.00 hours. I There have
been several delays to southbound rail services. I We were
travelling westbound on Interstate 90. I All inward bound
flights are being cancelled due to heavy fog.
at/at; strong rot/if you look, smile, wave, throw something
etc at someone, you look, smile etc towards them [prep]
The children stared at the eerie old house. I Nick looked back
and grinned at her. I I threw the ball at Joe and hit him on
the back of the neck.
2 to go or come towards someone or
something
go towards/toward make for/head for
come towards/toward make a beeline for
head towards/toward advance on
go towards (British) I toward (American) /,gau
taw:rd(z)/[v T not in passive]
Go towards the church and take the first turning on your
left. I I was going toward the bank when I saw a man run
out carrying a gun.
come towards (British) I toward (American)/kAm
taw:rd(z)/ [v T not in passive]
He looked up to see two policemen coming towards him. I Is
that a fishing boat coming toward the harbor?
head towards (British) I toward (American) /hed
ta'w:rd(z)/to move in the direction of, especially going
quickly or in a determined way Iv T not in passive]
The bus was heading towards the Friedrich-Strasse railway
station. I She gathered up her papers and headed toward the
board room. I They saw the patrol boat turn and head
towards them.
make for/head for /meIk f:r, hed f:r/ to move
quickly towards somewhere, especially so that you can do
something when you get there Iv T]
We headed for the nearest island to try and repair our ships. I
As he made for the door he tripped and fell heavily.
make a beeline for !,meek a bi:lan fa:r/an informal
expression meaning to walk directly to a place or person
as quickly as possible, especially because there is some-
thing you want there or someone you want to talk to Iv
phrasel
I made a beeline for the bar and ordered myself a double
whisky. I Jeff made a beeline for a table where two pretty Rus-
sian girls were sitting.
advance on/ad'va:ns on II -vens ca:n/a formal expres-
sion meaning to move towards someone or something,
especially in order to attack them Iv T]
In May 1681 a force of about 2500 troops advanced on
Mondovi. I The guard advanced on the stranger, pointing
his rifle.
3 to go towards a person intending to speak to
them
come up to
approach
sidle up
come up to / ,kAm 'Ap tu:! to walk towards someone and
stop next to them especially because you want to say some-
thing Iv T not in passive]
An old guy come up to me in the street and asked for a dime
for coffee. I As the sergeant came up to them the soldiers stood
to attention.
approach/a praot/to walk towards someone you do not
know, especially so that you can ask them something Iv T]
A tourist approached us and asked us the way to the theatre. I
Several people approached Fleming as he left the hall. I She
was approached by a waiter.
sidle up/saldl Ap/ to move quietly towards someone,
trying not to be noticed, so that they do not realize you are
there until you are next to them [phr v I]
sidle up to A young man sidled up to me at a coffee stand.
"You want to change some dollars?" he whispered. I sidle
up I was sitting in the back row, when Harry sidled up and
sat down next to me.
i. tower over/above HIGH 5, TALL PERSON 3
iii! towering HIGH 2
!ii!i town TOWN 1, 4
;.,.,.,.,
iiii, town: home town COME FROM/ORIGINATE 2
ii'!, town: one-horse town BORING 5
@ TOWN
a place with streets, houses, shops etc where
people live and work
the biggest or most important town in a
country or area
the parts on the edge of a town or city
connected with or belonging to a town
1 a place with streets, houses, shops etc where
people live and work
town village
city settlement
town/taon/In C/U]
I live in a town near Paris called St Germain-en-Laye. I The
region consists mainly of farming areas and a few small
market towns. I go/drive etc into town (=to the nearest
town, when you are coming from outside the town or from
the edge of the town) Julie and her friends decided to go into
town that evening and see a movie. I in town He bought us
two tickets to the best show in town. I town centre (British)
town center (American) Brian works in a department store
in the town centre. I home town (=the town where you were
born or grew up) In this novel she remembers all the
characters and places in her home town.

TOWN 1438 TRADITION
city/siti/a large and important town In C]
You must go to New York. It's a wonderful city. I The value
of property in the city has increased greatly. I city centre
(British) city center (American) It takes me about thirty
minutes to travel into the city centre. I inner city (=areas
near the centre of a large city, where poorer people live and
there are social problems, crime etc) Something must be
done to combat inner-city decay and poverty.
village/vld3/a very small town in the country In C]
After living in Milan for two years I find life in a small
village quite boring. I There are some nice little pubs in the
villages round here. I News of the wedding spread rapidly
through the village.
settlement/'setlmant/a place where a group of people
have come to live, especially in a part of a country that is
a long way from any towns or cities In C]
She lived in a small settlement on the edge of the desert. I Set-
tlements started to appear all along the river. I The tools were
found in an early Iron Age settlement.
2 the biggest or most important town in a
country or area
capital
metropolis
capital/'kmptl/the town or city in which the govern-
ment of a country or area is found In C]
Rome is one of the world's most beautiful capitals. I capital
of What's the capital of Canada? I capital city People who
live in the capital city seem to think they are superior to every-
one else in the country. I state/regional/provincial capi-
tal Sacramento is the state capital of California.
metropolis /m'tropals II mgtro:-/ the largest, most
important city in a country or area In C usually singular]
After1850 Paris grew quickly into a busy metropolis. I They
drove quickly, leaving the immense metropolis behind them. I
metropolis of Our aim is to make Sydney the musical
metropolis of the world.
3 the parts on the edge of a town or city
suburbs
outskirts
suburbs / ' sAba:rbz/the parts of a city that are outside its
centre, especially where people live because there is more
space and it is quieter than the city centre In plural]
in the suburbs Most of the people in my office live in the
suburbs. [ suburb of Then we moved to Richmond, a
wealthy suburb of London. [ suburbs The train took us
through the seemingly endless Tokyo suburbs.
outskirts I'aotska:rts/the area around the edge of a town
or city or just outside it In plural]
on the outskirts of There is a big factory on the outskirts
of the city. I the outskirts of When you reach the outskirts
of Berlin give me a call and I'll direct you from there.
4 connected with or belonging to a town
town civic
city municipal
village downtown
urban
town/taon/[adj only before noun]
I'll meet you in the town park. I The town council has pro-
posed a new road building project. I With better town plan-
ning, traffic problems could be avoided.
city/slti/ connected with or belonging to a large and
important town [adj"only before noun]
The city library cost over $15 million to build. I City life is
becoming increasingly dangerous. I Residents blame city
officials for poor housing conditions.
village/'vlhds/connected with or belonging to a village
[adj only before noun]
We have a church, one pub and a village shop. I There is a
village festival every year at the beginning of May. I Has
village life changed significantly in the last few years?
urban /3:rban/ urban area/district/development/
policy/problem etc (=existing in or intended for towns
or cities) [adj only before noun]
Some urban areas can look quite pretty. I The film is about
urban society in the last century. I A program of urban
renewal has been initiated.
civic /svIk/ civic leader/duty/affairs/function etc
(=connected with or belonging to the government of a city
or town) [adj only before noun]
Civic leaders cannot agree on what is best for the city. I
Harlow Council has always been generous with civic fund-
ing for music and the arts within the town. I An important
civic function is taking place in the city hall this evening. The
Mayor will be attending.
municipal /mju:'mspdl II mju-/ municipal council/
elections/government/building/park/services etc
(=connected with the government of a town or city or with
the public services it provides) [adj only before noun]
Not far from the town centre is the municipal park. I
Municipal elections will be held on April 12th. I The museum
and other municipal buildings are threatened.
downtown /  daontaun/an American word meaning in or
belonging to the main business area in the centre of a town
or city [adj only before noun]
Taylor worked from a dingy little office in downtown
Chicago. I Many downtown department stores are moving
out into the wealthier suburbs.
toxic HARM/BE BAD FOR 4
toy with: play/toy with your food EAT 8
toy with the idea THINK ABOUT 4
trace LITTLE/NOT MUCH 1, 8, DRAW 1, FIND 2,
SIGN/INDICATION 1
trace: disappear without trace/vanish without trace
DISAPPEAR 1
track ROAD/PATH 3
track down FIND 2
track record PAST 2
track/trail FOLLOW 3
tracks LINE 5, MARK 6
tracks: I'd better make a move/make tracks LEAVE A
PLACE 2
tracks: stop dead/stop in your tracks STOP MOVING 1
tract AREA 5
trade BUSINESS 2, 6, EACH OTHER 1 JOB/WORK 2
'
trade away GIVE 12
trade in EXCHANGE 1 SELL 4
'
trade sth for EXCHANGE 1
trader SELL 9
tradition TRADITION 1, 2
tradition: break with tradition TRADITION 5
TRADITION
customs and practices that a particular group,
nation etc has followed for a very long time
I a custom, belief, or way of doing something
that has been followed for a very long time
2 all the traditions and customs of a country or
of a particular group of people
3 a special event that is part of the traditions of
a country or group of people
4 words for describing an event, custom, object
etc that is part of the tradition of a country or
group of people
5 to stop following tradition
1 a custom, belief, or way of doing something
that has been followed for a very long time
tradition
custom
institution

TRADITION 1,139 trainer
tradition Itrd++nl In C]
Local traditions, including the wearing of national dress, are
still followed in some mountain villages. I The tradition was
that when a man died, all his wealth and possessions would
go to the eldest son. I tradition of In the Jewish tradition
of 'bar mitzvah', teenage boys are officially accepted into the
synagogue.
custom !  kst3m! a way of behaving or doing something
that is considered to be normal, polite, and acceptable in
a particular society, and has been done for a very long time
[n C]
The custom here is not to shake the hand of a woman. I His
knowledge of the customs and languages of the country
proved invaluable on the expedition. I custom of the custom
of pinning money to the bride's wedding dress
institution/ [nst 'tju:j'an [[ -tu:-/a custom, belief, or way
of doing something that has become established and
accepted as part of normal life among a particular group
of people In C usually singular]
the institution of Most church-goers still believe in the
institution of marriage. [ institution Selling goods on the
black market had become almost an institution in some
Communist countries.
2 all the traditions and customs of a country or
of a particular group of people
tradition
folklore
heritage
tradition/tr3'dlan/[n U]
In some societies, tradition dictates that parents will choose
their daughter's husband. [ family tradition In accordance
with family tradition, Laura was sent to a boarding school. [
in the tradition of His art is firmly rooted in the tradition
of nineteenth-century naturalism.
folklore/' f3uld3:r/customs, stories, songs etc that are not
taught by educational or religious institutions, but are
passed on informally through families or friends and
become generally known to the people in a particular
society In U]
Russian folklore is extremely rich in dance, song and litera-
ture. [ Sometimes the folklore of an area or nation can be a
major tourist attraction.
heritage/'hertId3/art, literature, and traditions that are
considered to belong as a right to all the people in a soci-
ety, especially because they form an important part of a
country's history [n singular]
We are very proud of our rich literary heritage. [ The people
of Somalia are united by a common language, a common
heritage and a similar culture. [ heritage of Jewish parents
perpetuate their faith by transmitting to their children the
cultural heritage of Judaism.
 a special event that is part of the traditions of
a country or group of people
ceremony
ritual
rite
ceremony I'serm3ni II-m3oni/a traditional event or
action that is performed in order to mark an important reli-
gious or social occasion [n C]
The wedding ceremony took place in church and the recep-
tion was at a local hotel. [ The professors were wearing full
academic dress for the ceremony. [ Babies are kept in their
mother's compound until three days before the naming
ceremony.
ritual /  rltu31/a special action or a set of related actions
that are performed in a fixed pattern, especially in order
to mark important religious or social occasions In C/U]
All cultures have their own rituals for the burying of the
dead. [ the ritual of I have always been fascinated by the
ritual of the Roman Catholic church.
ritual [adj] the ritual slaughter of a goat
rite/rait! a special action that is done as part of an impor-
tant religious or social ceremony, especially one that only
particular people, for example priests, are allowed to
perform [n C]
Prayers and chants are an integral part of the religious
rites of most societies. [ The Batak chieftains perform the
traditional initiation rite.
4 words for describing an event, custom, object
etc that is part of the tradition of a country or
group of people
traditional
ceremonial
time-honoured/time-honored
traditional Itm 'dIan311 [adj]
The dancers were wearing traditional African dress. ]
Kumar gave the traditional Hindu greeting. I it is tradi-
tional (for sb) to do sth It is traditional for the bride's
father to escort his daughter down the aisle.
traditionally [advl Turkey is traditionally served on
Thanksgiving day.
ceremonial/ ser muni3l-/clothes, objects, and activi-
ties that are ceremonial are used in important religious
or social ceremonies [adj]
The Queen was in full ceremonial dress for the state open-
ing of parliament. [ His right hand rested on his ceremonial
sword. [ These dances are purely ceremonial.
time.honoured (British) I time.honored (American)
/ttam ,on3rd II -, a:n-I a time-honoured custom or way of
doing something, is part of the tradition of a group of people
because it has been done this way for a very long time [adj
only before noun]
Giving birthday presents is a time-honoured tradition in our
family, so I can't possibly economize on those. [ Taking the
pulse is a time-honored method of diagnosis in Chinese
medicine.
5 to stop following tradition
break with tradition
break with the past
break with tradition /,break w6 tr3'dian/ to stop
following tradition and start doing something in a differ-
ent way from usual Iv phrase]
The Church has finally broken with tradition and allowed
women into the ministry. [ In 1940 Roosevelt broke with tra-
dition and stood for a third term of office.
break with tradition [n phrase] When the bank decided to
appoint a woman as their manager it was a great break with
tradition.
break with the past/tbreIk wI6 63 tpa:st [[ -pmst/to
completely stop doing things the way you always used to
do them, and no longer follow old traditions, rules, and
customs Iv phrase]
Young immigrants are breaking with the past and using
their parents" language less and less.
break with the past In phrase] In the US and Japan the
break with the past has been extremely traumatic for many
people.
.... traditional CONVENTIONAL 1, TRADITION 4
:" traditionalist OLD-FASHIONED 3
51 trafficking SELL 5
.: tragedy DISASTER 1
::- tragic DISASTER 2
• ;i. trail LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR 3,
.'. ROAD/PATH 7
.--.ii: trail: track/trail FOLLOW 3
'' train EXERCISE 1, LEARN 3, PRACTISE/PRACTICE 2,
:i TEACH 1
: train of events SERIES 1
i: train of thought: break sb's train of thought/chain of
!i,;; thought DISTURB 1
}iil  trainee LEARN 4
i; trainer TEACH 5

training
training EXERCISE 3, PRACTISE/PRACTICE 4, TEACH 4
training: be in training PRACTISE/PRACTICE 2
traipse WALK 4
trait CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 3
traitor BETRAY 5
traitor: turn traitor BETRAY 1
tramp HOME 11
trample on/trample underfoot IGNORE 5
tranquil PEACEFUL 1
tranquillity/tranquility PEACEFUL 2
transaction BUSINESS 4
transcribe COPY 1
transfer CHANGE .FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 1, 6,
GIVE 8, MOVE STH OR S.B 1, 2
transfixed NOT MOVING 2
transform CHANGE/MAKE STH DIFFERENT 6
transgress ILLEGAL 3
transient/transitory SHORT TIME 4
transit: in transit TAKE/BRING 5
transition CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 4
translate TRANSLATE 1
TRANSLATE
to change writing or speech into another
language
a piece of spoken or written language that
has been translated
someone who translates from one language
into another
1 to change writing or speech into another
language
translate
interpret
put sth into English/French/Japanese etc
translate/trmns leit, trmnz-/[v I/T]
translate sth into/from Can you translate this into
French? [ Michael Meyer translated the play from the origi-
nal Norwegian. [ translate sth She has translated a
number of his books. [ translate As the old woman spoke,
Robert translated, trying not to miss a word.
translation In U] Computer programs are now used in the
translation of official reports and business contracts.
interpret/In't3:rprt/to immediately translate what is
being said to someone in a foreign language, so that it can
be understood, dealt with, or replied to Iv I]
No one in the tour group spoke Spanish so we had to ask the
guide to interpret. [ interpret for sb I'm terribly sorry, but
I don't understand a word. Could you interpret for me? [ Mrs
Patel does not speak any English, and relies on her daugh-
ter to interpret for her.
put sth into English/French/Japanese etc/pot
(sth) mtu: (English, ctc)/to translate a short piece of writ-
ing into a foreign language Iv phrase]
I've written a birthday message for Fabio. Could you put it
into Italian for me? [ Quick. Put this into German, I need to
send it urgently.
2 a piece of spoken or written language that
has been translated
translation.
version :
in translation
translation/trmns'le$an, trmnz-I [n C]
translation of/have only read the English translation of
this book, not the Japanese original. I translation Many of
the poems are translations, but Pound nonetheless manages
to convey the sounds and rhythms of the original language. I
be lost in (the) translation (=when the real meaning of
1440
TRAVEL
something cannot be translated in a completely satisfac-
tory way) Much of the humor in the book was unfortunately
lost in translation.
version/'v3:ran II -3an/English/Japanese/French etc
version (=a translation of a book, poem etc in that lan-
guage) In C]
version of She read an English version of the play. [ ver-
sion There is no doubt that the Italian version sounds better.
In translation / In tr3ns lean/if you read something in
translation, you read it after it has been translated from
another language lady phrase]
You can still appreciate the greatness of Dostoevsky in trans-
lation. I Her books are available in translation.
someone who translates from one language
into another
translator
interpreter
translator/trmnsleIta r, trmnz-/In C]
She worked in Geneva as a translator. I The publishers are
looking for an American translator for his novels.
interpreter /In'ta:rprtor/ a person who immediately
translates spoken language, for example when politicians
from different countries are speaking to each other In C]
Do you need an interpreter? I Both Presidents were accom-
panied by their personal interpreters. I through an inter-
preter (=using an interpreter) The only way we could figure
out what they were saying was through an interpreter.
translation TRANSLATE 2
translation: in translation TRANSLATE 2
translator TRANSLATE 3
transmit SEND 5
transparent SEE 12
transpire: it transpires that FIND OUT 4
transport TAKE/BRING 5
transportation TAKE/BRING 10
trap CATCH 1, 5, TRICK/DECEIVE 7
trap: set/lay a trap for TRICK/DECEIVE 2
trap sb into TRICK/DECEIVE 2
trapped ESCAPE 10
trash RUBBISH/WASTE 1
trauma EXPERIENCE :2
traumatic UPSET 5
traumatized SHOCK 4
travel TRAVEL 1, 5, 14
travel around TRAVEL 6
TRAVEL
to travel from one place to another
to travel somewhere using a particular form of
transport
to go a particular distance while travelling
to travel to another country
to travel as part of your job
to travel to many different places
to travel to many different places, without ever
planning where you will go
a journey
a long journey, especially a difficult one
a short journey, especially one made for
pleasure
someone who is travelling
someone who travels a lot, either for work or
pleasure
someone who keeps travelling from place to
place, especially because they do not live in
one particular place
the act or process of travelling

TRAVEL 1441 TRAVEL
t5 the place that you are travelling to or towards
t6 a strong desire to travel
1 to travel from one place to another
travel go on a trip
go en route
take a trip be on the move
make a journey cross
travel/'trmvl/Iv I/T]
The trip lasts a week, but two days of that will be spent travel-
ling. t I first met my husband when I was traveling to
Budapest ten years ago. I The parents refused to let their boys
travel abroad. I travel the world/Europe/Spain etc I
want to see life.
go/gaul to travel to a particular place or in a particular
direction Iv I]
go to We're going to Cyprus for our holiday this year. I Egypt
is a beautiful country. Have you ever been there? l go along/
down/through ere While we were going along the river one
of the boats capsized. I We went through the Alps on the way
to Italy.
take a trip /Itek  Itrp/to travel to a place where you
stay for a short time for pleasure, especially a place that
is not very far away [v phrase]
When Sally came out of hospital her husband suggested
taking a trip together. I We're thinking of taking a trip to
the mountains now that winter's here.
make a journey/,meik a 'd53:rni/to travel to a place,
especially when it is a long way away and the journey is
difficult Iv phrase]
Every year he was supposed to go, and every year he could
think of excuses for not making the journey. I When the tribe
had run out of food, they had no choice but to make the jour-
ney north to more fertile ground.
go on a trip/,gau Dn a 'tnpl to travel to somewhere where
you will stay for a short time before returning home, for
example because you want to do business or learn some-
thing about the place Iv phrase]
The geography class has gone on a trip to Wales. I They're
going on a trip to Australia to show the baby to their rela-
tives. I I'm going on a business trip to Japan next week.
en route/,Dn ru:t II ,o:n-/if someone is en route, they
are travelling from one place to another [adj/adv]
Two thousand refugees have already arrived, with at least
6000 more en route. I They were together at the start of the
journey, but decided to split up somewhere en route. [ en
route for He was killed in an accident while en route for his
house in Scotland.
be on the move/bi: n 6a 'mu:v! to be travelling from
one place to another, especially because it is impossible for
you to stay in one place Iv phrase]
My father was in the army when I was a child, so the entire
family was always on the move. [ The guerrillas try to stay
on the move to avoid capture. I The rains had failed, and
thousands of hungry people were on the move again.
cross/kms II kr  :sl to travel across a very large area such
as a desert, an ocean, or an area of mountains Iv T]
We still had to cross a hundred miles of mountains and
desert. [ They had taken eighteen days in terrible gales to
cross the Atlantic in an old Liberty ship.
:2 to travel somewhere using a particular form of
transport
drive
fly
sail
by land/air/sea
drive/drav/to travel to a place in a car [v I]
"'Did you come by train? .... No, actually I drove. "' l We drove
to the airport but couldn't find any place to park.
fly IflaII to travel to a place in a plane Iv I]
We always have to take our holidays in this country because
by boat/plane/train
overland
hitchhike/hitch
my wife is scared of fiying. I After we'd fiown to Melbourne
we thought we'd visit family before carrying on to Adelaide.
sail/seIl/to travel to a place by boat or ship Iv I]
I sailed from Bombay on November 11th, arriving a month
later in England.
by land/air/sea/bai lmnd, ea r, si:/if you travel or go
by land, air, or sea you travel on land, by plane, or in a
boat lady phrase]
They always chose to go by sea after a near fatal plane crash
over the Atlantic.
by boat/plane/train/ba 'baot, plen, 'tren/to travel
in a boat, plane, or train [adv phrase]
I don't like driving, I'd rather go by train. I "'How did you
get here?" "'By plane. ""
overland/,uv r'lend,/travelling by train, car, bus etc,
especially across a long distance, when people would
normally go by plane lady]
It's certainly quicker toffy but we thought it would be more
exciting to go overland. I With all the airlines on strike I had
no choice but to make my way overland.
hitchhike/hitch / Ihltfhaik, hlt/to travel by standing by
the side of the road asking people in cars to stop and take
you to the place you want to go Iv I]
He lost all his money in a casino in Vegas and had to hitch-
hike back to San Francisco. I I used to hitch myself so now
I always pick up people at the side of the road.
3 to go a particular distance while travelling
go
do
cover
go/gaol go 40 miles/five kilometres etc (=travel a par-
ticular distance, especially as only part of a journey) Iv T]
We had only gone about five miles when I started to feel sick.[
How far have we gone today?
do Idu:/do 20 miles/30 kilometres etc (=travel for 20
miles, 30 kilometres etc) Iv T]
We're aiming to do forty kilornetres a day, reaching the North
Pole by March. ] The car is in good condition and has done
only 15,000 miles.
cover / 'k^var/to travel a particular distance, especially
a long distance, that is part of a long journey you are
making Iv T]
It took him three days to cover the distance from Laingsbury
to Albertsville. I The scenery changed so dramatically that
we appeared to have covered several hundred miles in a few
minutes.
4 to travel to another country
go abroad visit
go overseas go out to
go abroad/,gao a'br:d/to travel to another country,
especially for pleasure and interest Iv phrase]
He wanted desperately to go abroad, never to see England
again. I I'm the only person I know who's never been abroad
or even on an aeroplane. I be abroad When their mother died
she was unable to contact her brother because he was abroad
somewhere.
go overseas / ,gao aova r'si:z/to travel to another coun-
try in order to stay there for a long time, for example
because you have been sent to work there Iv phrase]
At the age of twenty I went overseas and worked as a jour-
nalist in Britain and Canada. [ The soldiers underwent
training for 3 months before the unit went overseas.
visit/'vz]t/to travel to another'country for a short time,
especially because you want to find out what it is like Iv T]
He was the first traveller from the British Isles to visit
Abyssinia..[ The president caused an outcry by accepting an
invitation to visit Peking.
go out to/,gao 'aot tu:/a British expression meaning to
travel to another country that is a long distance away Iv T
not in passive]

TRAVEL 1442 TRAVEL
We're going out to Canada for a couple of months, would you
look after the house for us? I He went out to West Africa in
1962 and has been there ever since.
5 to travel as part of your job
travel tour
commute be on tour
travel/'trmvdl/Iv I]
Do you have to travel a lot in your new job? I The post will
involve you travelling to Germany about three times a year.
travelling (British) / traveling (American)]n Ul The job
involves a certain amount of travelling.
commute/k'mju:t/to travel a long distance every day
to get to work because you live in a different city or town
from the one you work in [v I]
We live a long way from the city center but the excellent
subway system makes it easy to commute. [ I decided to move
nearer my office because I was getting so sick of commuting
every day.
tour /tor/ if a sports team, entertainer, politician etc
tours, they travel to many different places in order to play,
perform, or be seen [v I/T[
The theatre company will tour later this year. [ tour the
country/the US/Russia etc The team is currently touring
Australia in a series of friendly games. [ When the president
toured the area as part of his campaign, he was greeted with
applause everywhere he went.
be on tour/hi: tm 'tor/if a group of musicians, actors,
sportsmen etc are on tour, they are travelling to many
different places in order to give people the chance to see
them play or perform [v phrase]
The band is on tour at the moment but will start working
in the studio in May. [ He first fell in love with Japanese
poetry when he was on tour there in 1952.
6 to travel to many different places
travel around/round explore
tour see the world
do on your travels
get around/round
travel around (also travel round in British English)
/ ,travol (o)' raond/to travel to many different places, espe-
cially in a way that is not carefully planned [v I/T[
travel around Europe/the North/Canada etc In the
book she tells how she travelled round the world taking only
a backpack. I We've been traveling around the country, stay-
ing in the first hotel we find. I travel around I can't really
remember where I met Joe. I travelled around a great deal
during those years.
tour/tor/to travel to many different places within a par-
ticular area, especially for pleasure and interest [v T]
For our summer vacation this year we're touring Spain in
a camper. I We shall tour the city for two hours and then meet
back at the bus.
do/du:/do Europe/Spain/the Greek Islands etc (=an
informal word meaning to travel to many different places
in Europe, Spain, the Greek Islands etc, especially as part
of a planned holiday) [v T]
Last year we did the Greek Islands but we were thinking of
the USA this year.
get around (also get round in British English)/,get
()'raond/to travel to a large number of places, usually in
a short time Iv I/T]
The metro system in Mexico City is very good. It makes it
really easy to get qround. I get around London/Europe/
the Mid West ere She used to get around Europe quite a lot
when she was younger.
explore/Ik'spb:r/to travel to many different places in
a particular area, because you are interested to find out
more about them Iv I/T]
explore the area/the forest/the old town ete Whenever
possible she and Flynn would go off and explore the
countryside, taking a picnic with them. I explore We'll be
in Istanbul for three days so there will be plenty of time to
explore.
see the world/,si: 8 'w3:rld/to travel around to differ-
ent places all over the world so that you get the experience
of living in other countries [v phrase]
After leaving college and earning some money he set off to
see the world. [ She'd like to see the world so she's thinking
of doing voluntary work abroad.
on your travels/Dn j:r 'trevalz/if you do something
on your travels, you do it while you are travelling to
different places lady phrase]
He made a beautiful garden with some of the seeds and bulbs
he'd collected on his travels.
7 to travel to many different places, without ever
planning where you will go
drift bum around/round
wander around/round swan around/round
drift/drift/lv I]
She's in Australia but I don't know exactly where. She's just
drifting. [ drift around/about I'd like to spend a couple of
weeks drifting around the Greek Islands this summer.
wander around (also wander round in British
English) /,wDndzr ()'raond II ,wa:n-/ to travel to many
different places without carefully planning where you will
go or caring how much time you take [v I/T[
wander around Britain/Indonesia etc What are you
doing? You can't wander around a country like this alone. [
wander around It was such a beautiful city I spent the day
just wandering around.
bum around (also bum round in British English)/,b^m
() raond/to travel around in an aimless, unplanned way,
living very cheaply, not worrying about work etc Iv I/T[
bum around the world/Europe ere Hosford had spent
several years bumming around the west coast, taking jobs
as a farm hand whenever he ran out of money. [ bum
around We didn't do anything special in Europe, just spent
the summer bumming around.
swan around (also swan round in British English)
/,swo (o)'raond II ,swa:n-/ to travel to many different
places in a relaxed way, especially when other people
expect you to be more responsible, to do a job etc Iv I/T[
swan around Asia/Australia ete It's alright for you to go
swarming around the States, but what about your career? [
swan around She spent the entire summer swarming
around and now she has no money left at all.
8 a journey
journey crossing
trip drive
flight ride
voyage tour
Journey /'d3a:rni/an act of travelling from one place to
another, especially to a place that is far away [n C]
I've made you some sandwiches for your journey. I He had
plenty of time to think of excuses during his journey to
Tokyo. I make a journey We shall have to make the jour-
ney by boat. I bus/train/ear ete journey We have a very
long train journey ahead of us. I a 12 hour/five mile ete
journey (=that takes 12 hours, is five miles long etc) It's
a gruelling 12 hour journey to Kabul by road.
trio/trip/the act of travelling to a place and coming back,
especially when you only stay in the place for a short time
[n C]
Did you have a good trip?[ I was feeling tired after my trip
to New York. [ boat/car/plane etc trip It's a lovely day,
how about going on a boat trip?[ business/school/skiing
etc trip a school trip to the seaside [ go on a trip She's gone
on a business trip and won't be back until Tuesday.
flight/flaIt/a journey in a plane [n C]
I'd love to go to Australia but it's such a long flight. [ Our
flight was delayed, so we were stuck at the airport all night.[
a 30 minute/12 hour ete flight (=that takes 30 minutes,

TRAVEL 1443 TRAVEL
12 hours etc) Even when you get to Vancouver there's still
a 90 minuteflight up to the .islands.
voyage ]'v-IdS] a long journey in a boat or ship In C]
Valerie did not like long voyages because she suffered from
seasickness. I The voyage from Europe was a hazardous
undertaking, with heavy seas and strong winds.
crossing/'krDs]q li kra:-/a short journey in a boat or
ship which goes from one side of a sea, lake, or other area
of water to the other side In C]
The ferry crossing was rough, but luckily none of us were sea-
sick. [ We boarded one of the tourist ferries for the crossing
to Staten Island, home of the Statue of Liberty.
drive/draIv/a journey in a car In singular]
Lettie was expecting her at seven and the drive across town
would be slower because of the rain. [ a 12 hour/15 minute
ete drive (=that takes 12 hours, 15 minutes etc) The six-
hour drive was worth it to spend the weekend with him. [ go
for a drive (=drive somewhere, just for enjoyment) Anyone
fancy going for a drive?
ride/raid/a short journey in a vehicle such as a car, or
on a bicycle or a horse [n C]
He pretended to be asleep for the entire two hour ride. [ bike/
ear/horse ete ride On the car ride back from the airport
he told her all about his trip. [ go for a ride (=ride some-
where just for enjoyment) It's a very fast bike. Do you want
to go for a ride?
tour/toor/a planned journey during which a politician,
entertainer, or sports team visits several different places,
usually within a fixed period of time In C]
The King has left for a six-week tour of Australia and New
Zealand. [ We have had a request to include Lhasa as one
of the cities visited on our tour. [ Planning has already begun
for next year's rugby tour by the Fijians.
9 a long journey, especially a difficult one
expedition
trek
expedition/,eksp ' d]fan/a long journey, especially one
made by a group of people, to visit a dangerous place or a
place that has never been visited before [n C]
They were sent to buy food, medicine, film and other require-
ments for the expedition. [ He was last seen on a hunting
expedition in Burma.
trek/trek/a long and difficult journey, for example over
mountains or through forests, especially when you are
walking In C]
The team is preparing for a two week trek across the Atlas
Mountains. ] I hope you have strong walking shoes, this will
be a long trek.
10 a short journey, especially one made for
pleasure
outing
day trip
excursion
outing I'aotIl a short journey on which a group of people
go to visit a local place of interest, the theatre etc In C]
The town is a great place for an outing - there's a castle, a
cathedral, and an interesting local market. [ school/church
ete outing a school outing to the ballet
day trip/'de trip/a journey lasting a whole day, on which
you visit a big city, a place of interest, the sea etc In C]
We couldn't afford a vacation but made a few day trips into
San Francisco.
excursion/Ik'sk3:rj'an [[ -5an/a short journey arranged
so that a group of people can visit a place of interest, espe-
cially while they are already on holiday In C]
We have a full program of excursions, if you wish to visit
local places of interest. [ One day he took an excursion to the
other end of the island for a change of scene.
1 1 someone who is travelling
traveller/traveler
passenger
commuter
traveller (British) I traveler (American)/'travalr/In C]
air/rail/sea ete traveller Eighty thousand air travellers
pass through the terminal every day. [ traveller Many
travellers find that facilities for young children are
inadequate.
passenger ! pas:nd3 or, -san-] someone who is travelling
in a vehicle, boat, or plane, but is not the driver In C]
The driver and all three passengers were killed in the crash. [
The airport was jammed with thousands of passengers from
delayed or cancelled flights.
commuter/ko'mju:tr/someone who lives in a different
town, city etc from the one where they work, and who
therefore travels a long distance every day to get to work
In C]
He looked around the train at the other commuters, all as
bored with their jobs as he was.
1 2 someone who travels a lot, either for work or
pleasure
traveller/traveler well-travelled/well-traveled
globetrotter travellingItraveling
itinerant
traveller (British) I traveler (American)/'trevalr/In C]
The tribe is very small and does not welcome travelers. ] We
provide a luxurious service for the business traveller. [ Many
19th century travellers wrote fascinating accounts of their
journeys that are still worth reading. [ seasoned traveller
(=someone who has travelled a lot) As a seasoned traveller
I know the value of being able to speak at least a few words
of the local language.
globetrotter/'glaobtmto r [[ -tro:-/someone who travels
around the world a lot, especially for their work In C]
Since she got the job she's become a real globetrotter, always
leaving for one foreign country or another.
well-travelled (British) I well.traveled (American)
/, wel 'trevaid-/someone who is well-travelled has visited
many different places around the world [adj]
My father was a well-travelled man who used to entertain
us with stories about his journeys abroad. [ If you have any
problems deciding what to take with you, ask Tom: he's
pretty well-traveled.
travelling (British) I traveling (American) I'trmvalIrl
travelling salesman/theatre/circus etc (=that travels
from place to place in order to work, perform etc) [adj only
before noun]
His father was a travelling salesman and was very rarely
at home. [ She ran away from home to join the traveling
circus.
itinerant /aI'tInmnt! itinerant worker/labourer
(:travelling from place to place to try to find work, espe-
cially of an irregular, low-paid kind) [adj only before noun]
He relied on itinerant farm workers coming every year to help
with the harvest. [ Many of the local community was made
up of itinerant labourers.
1  someone who keeps travelling from place to
place, especially because they do not live in
one particular place
traveller/traveler drifter
migrant vagrant
nomad itinerant
traveller (British) I traveler (American)/'travdlr/one
of a large group of people who continually travel from one
place to another because they have no land or permanent
homes of their own In C]
The government is keen to set up an education programme
for the high number of travellers presently in the area.

TRAVEL 1444 TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDS
migrant/' magrant/a person who has travelled from one
place or country to another in order to find work In C]
The urban poor, many of them migrants from the country-
side, siffered high levels of unemployment.
migrant [adj] Life for migrant workers was a constant
struggle to survive.
nomad/' naomed/a member of a tribe of people who have
no permanent home but travel from place to place looking
for food for their animals In C]
The film follows the nomads as they cross the desert with
their camels. I The restless nomads of the North were cons-
tantly moving around the country.
nomadic/nao'mmdlk/.[adj] The Aborigines are a nomadic
people indigenous to Australia.
drifter/'drlftar/someone who continually travels from
one place to another without ever planning where to go
next and without ever having a fixed job In C]
As far as the state is concerned you're just a drifter who
doesn't want anywhere to live. [ His grandfather was a
drifter from New Mexico, who spent half his life brawling
and drinking.
vagrant /vegrnt/someone who has no job, no home etc
and who travels around and sleeps outdoors, especially in
a city In C]
The shabby clothes, old newspapers and the bundles made
it obvious that they were vagrants.
itinerant ]a t:nmnt/ someone who regularly travels
from place to place trying to find work In C]
A police squad arrested over 500 itinerants, accusing them
of vagrancy.
14 the act or process of travelling
travel
travel/'trmvl/[n U]
It is said that travel broadens the mind. [ air/road/space
etc travel New computer technology has made air travel
considerably safer. [ business travel Due to the large
amounts of btcsiness travel included in the job the boss thinks
you should receive an increase in salary.
15 the place that you are travelling to or towards
destination
be on the way to
bound
destination/,dest 'ne]n/[n C usually singular]
At the frontier you will be asked your destination and how
long you plan to stay. [ The glorious Inca ruins of Machu
Picchu are the main tourist destination in Peru. [ arrive at/
reach your destination The roadblock was part of a
campaign to prevent them reaching their destination.
be on the way to/bi: on 6o 'we tu:/if you are on the
way to somewhere, you are travelling towards it [vphrase]
We were already on the way to the airport when we realized
we'd forgotten our passports. [ doe's not here. He must be on
his way to Alaska by now.
bound/baond/travelling in a particular direction [adj]
bound for Bound for Hawaii, the plane was full of excited
tourists. [ eastbound/westbound etc It was dark when the
southbound international express finally passed by. [
London-bound/Chicago-bound etc Take the London-
bound train but get off two stations before the end of the line.
16 a strong desire to travel
wanderlust
itchy feet "
wanderlust /'wondarl^st [I 'wo:n-/ a strong desire to
travel and to experience life in other countries In U]
My parents" incurable wanderlust meant that during my
childhood we lived in seven different countries.
itchy feet/, itJ'i fi:t/an informal expression meaning the
desire to travel, which makes it difficult for you to stay in
one place for very long In plural]
If she stays too long in one country she finds it boring and
begins to get itchy feet.
traveller/traveler TRAVEL 11, 12, 13
travelling/traveling TRAVEL 12
travels: on your travels TRAVEL 6
travesty UNFAIR 6
treacherous DANGEROUS 3, UNFAITHFUL 1
treachery BETRAY 4
tread STAND 4
tread carefully/warily CAREFUL 4
treason BETRAY 4
treasures VALUE 4
treat BUY 3, CURE 2, DEAL WITH 3, TREAT/BEHAVE
TOWARDS 1
treat sb like dirt CRUEL 6
• }  r-- . "-"
:: " "  ........ ""'-"  ......... " ':::i::-: .-":.
. which meamng?.
 ............. .................... .... ................  ::.
behave towards
.... eo n@...,,.,,,.........in. -. ,--:.,:..,..a ;:-.-,.; .... TO WARDS
when .... theY're ill
treat :mon.e
@ TREAT/BEHAVE
TOWARDS
to behave in a particular way towards
someone
the way in which someone treats someone
else
1 to behave in a particular way towards
someone
treat handle
behave towards/toward deal with
treat/tri:t/to behave towards someone in a particular
way, for example by being kind, helpful, cruel, or
unpleasant Iv T]
treat sb I don't see why you should treat disabled people
differently from anyone else. I You'd hardly expect him to be
generous, after the way she treated him. I treat sb like/as
I'm fed up with my parents treating me like a child. I It's dis-
gusting the way women are treated as sex objects. I treat sb
with contempt/respect/friendliness etc Her solicitor
was a respectable family man who had always treated her
with polite friendliness. I ill-treat sb (=treat someone in a
cruel way, especially by beating and hurting them) Pressed
to say whether he was ill-treated as a hostage he replied, "'No,
that's the way they treated everyone." I be well/badly/un-
fairly etc treated If you feel you have been unfairly treated
at work, see your union representative. I treat sb with kid
gloves (=be very careful in the way that you deal with
someone, so they do not become upset, angry etc) After my
nervous breakdown, everyone tried to treat me with kid
gloves.
behave towards (British) I behave toward (Ameri-
can) /b'heIv ta,w:rd(z)/ to behave in a particular way
when you are with someone Iv T]
Only an extremely jealous man would behave towards his
wife as Frank does. [ Sometimes he behaves very strangely

TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDS 1445 trick sb out of
towards me. I Her step-sisters excluded her from their gossip
and the servants behaved towards her with greater formal-
ity than the other girls.
handle / 'handl! to treat someone in a particular way in
order to avoid problems and get them to do what you want
Iv T]
I knew I would have to be very careful how I handled Odette
- she was so emotional. I Francis is a natural leader. He's
very good at handling people. I I'm sure Sandra will give us
the money if we handle her properly.
deal with/'di:l wIS/to treat someone in a particular way,
especially someone who has a problem or someone who has
behaved very badly Iv T]
There's only one way to deal with naughty children and
that's to be strict with them. I The police receive training in
how to deal with bereaved families. I "'How can you be so
heartless?" "It's the only way to deal with brash young
doctors, "" replied the nurse.
2 the way in which someone treats someone
else
treatment
behaviour towards/behavior toward
handling of
treatment/'tri:tmnt/the way in which a person, organi-
zation, government etc treats someone In U]
Harper was asked to describe the treatment he received at the
hands of his captors. I treatment of There have been many
complaints about the government's treatment of homeless
people. I ill-treatment (=cruel or violent treatment) Several
inmates have complained of ill treatment by the prison staff. I
special/preferential treatment (=when one person is
treated better than another, in a way that is unfair) Even
though she's the President's daughter, Chelsea doesn't get
any preferential treatment at school.
behavlour towards (British) I behavior toward
(American)/bI'heJvj) r t,w:rd(z)/the way in which one
person behaves towards someone else In U]
Your behaviour towards Lilly was disgusting. [ I was sur-
prised by her behavior toward me - one minute she was cold
and unfriendly, the next she was all smiles.
handling o|/hmndllrj v] the way in which someone
treats someone else when they have behaved badly or when
they have a particular problem In U]
The headteacher especially praised her handling of the
disruptive students in her class. I A more sensitive handling
of rape victims by law-enforcement officials is needed if more
women are to report attacks.
treatment CURE 4, TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDS 2
treatment: give sb treatment CURE 2
treaty AGREE 7
treaty: peace treaty PEACE/NO WAR 4
treble INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 3
treble: double/treble/quadruple INCREASE IN
NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
trees: money doesn't grow on trees RICH 8
trek TRAVEL 9, WALK 11, 15
tremble SHAKE 3
tremendous BIG 9
tremendously: enormously/tremendously LOT/VERY
MUCH 1
trend CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 4,
FASHIONABLE 5
trendy FASHIONABLE 1, 2
trespass ENTER 4
trial TEST/EXPERIMENT 1 TRIAL 1
trial: be on trial ACCUSE 6, JUDGE 11
trial: come to trial JUDGE 12
trial: put sb on trial JUDGE 10
trial: put sb on trial/bring sb to trial ACCUSE 2
trial: stand trial JUDGE 11
trial and error TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1
trial period TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 2
TRIAL
a process in a court of law to judge a person
or legal problem
the place where a trial takes place
1 a process in a court of law to judge a person
or legal problem
trial tribunal
hearing appeal
retrial
trial / 'trail/an official process in which a judge or group
of ordinary citizens decides if a person is guilty of break-
ing the law and decides on a punishment In C]
Three years after the trial, evidence was discovered that
proved he was innocent. [ The trial was set for August 7th,
leaving me just three months to prepare my defence. [
murderCapeCraud ete trial Like many journalists, he
was always interested to know about any murder trials on
the agenda. [ await trial (=be waiting to be judged in a
trial) Three men are being held in Brixton Prison, awaiting
trial for the murder of student Leroy Prescott.
hearing / h9rIj/an official process in which a judge or
official decides if there is enough proof to make a trial
necessary In C]
The Simpson divorce case was scheduled for a hearing. I You
must submit your driving documents to the police 21 days
before the date of your hearing.
retrial / ri:traml/a trial in which, for the second time, a
judge or group of ordinary citizens decides if a person is
guilty of breaking the law, because there was something
wrong or unfair about the first trial In C]
After the discovery of new evidence, there was a retrial at
which the defendant was acquitted. I There are many disturb-
ing features about the original prosecution and there have
been calls for a retrial.
tribunal/tra 'bju:nl/an official process in which a group
of officials meets to examine special problems or com-
plaints especially concerning someone's place of work, and
decides what action should be taken In C]
The workers" complaints were dealt with at a special
tribunal. [ The Appeals Tribunal considers all the evidence
very carefully.
appeal/ pi:l/an official process in which someone who
has been found guilty of breaking the law claims that there
are reasons why they should not have been found guilty
In C]
Carson's appeal will be heard next month and if successful
he will be freed immediately. [ appeal to The only remain-
ing course of action is an appeal to the European Court of
Human Rights.
2 the place where a trial takes place
court
court/k:rt/[n C]
On the first day of the trial the court was packed. I appear
in court (=come and take part in a trial) He received a letter
telling him he had to appear in court on 27th danuary.
: tribunal JUDGE 9, TRIAL 1
- ..... tribute: be a tribute to SHOW/BE A SIGN OF 4
tribute: pay tribute to PRAISE 2
 trick TRICK/DECEIVE 1, 7
 trick: play a trick/joke on sb JOKE 3
 trick sb into TRICK/DECEIVE 2
trick sb out of CHEAT 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

TRICK/DECEIVE
TRICK/DECEIVE
1 to deliberately make someone believe
something that is not true
2 to deceive someone so that they do
something they did not intend to do
3 to make someone believe or trust you for a
while in order to cheat them or get something
from them
4 to be tricked or deceived by someone
5 someone who is easily deceived
6 to not be tricked by something
7 something that is done in order to deceive
someone
8 a trick that is intended to take someone's
attention away from what someone else is
trying to do
9 the act of deceiving someone
10 words for describing words or actions that are
intended to trick other people
1 to deliberately make someone believe
something that is not true
deceive
trick
fool
mislead
deceive/di'si:v/[v I/T]
hoodwink
put one over on
pull the wool over
sb's eyes
deceive sb She's loved you for years. I wouldn't deceive you
about something as serious as this. I During the war both
sides sent false code messages to deceive the enemy. I an
ineffectual smile that could scarcely have deceived a child I
deceive yourself If they think their kids are happy they're
deceiving themselves. I deceive Honestly, our intention
wasn't to deceive - it just would have been too dangerous to
tell you about the plan.
trick ]trlk] to deliberately and cleverly make someone
believe that something is true when in fact it is not Iv T]
trick sb We're not trying to trick you - Roxy really is a
harmless dog. I When Herod saw how the astrologers had
tricked him, he fell into a rage and ordered them to be killed. I
trick sb into thinking/believing/assuming etc Contri-
butors to the fund were tricked into believing their money
would be used for famine relief. I trick I have never sought
to trick or deceive.
|ool/fu:l] to deceive someone, especially by means of a
simple trick Iv T]
fool sb His friendly manner fooled nobody. I A bird would
have to have extremely poor eyesight to be fooled by that
scarecrow. I fool sb into thinking/believing/assuming
etc Let us not be fooled into thinking that these drugs aren't
dangerous. I have sb fooled That innocent look of hers had
everyone fooled.
mislead ]mIs'li=d! to deceive someone by giving them
false or incomplete information Iv I/T]
mislead sb The general public was misled by official state-
ments that all was well in the coal industry. I We did not want
to mislead viewers by leaving out the scenes of violence, and
therefore only telling half the story. I mislead sb into think-
ing/believing/assuming etc Don't let yourself be misled
into thinking that.house prices will continue to rise for ever. I
mislead The godernment's unemployment statistics seem
deliberately designed to mislead.
hoodwink/'hud,wIk/to deceive someone, especially by
being more clever than they are Iv T]
He's clever enough to hoodwink those two girls without them
realizing it. I It was one thing to hoodwink a few friends, but
quite another to deceive the whole village.
put one over on/,put w^n 'uv0r on/an informal expres-
sion meaning to deceive someone, especially someone who
1446
TRICK/DECEIVE
is cleverer than you are or someone who is not easily
deceived Iv phrase not in passive]
That's the last time he puts one over on me! I The Police Chief
objected to the programme because it showed petty criminals
putting one over on his officers.
pull the wool over sb's eyes/,pul  ,wul oovo r (sb's)
'aiz/an informal expression meaning to deceive someone,
usually by hiding some facts or information Iv phrase]
If he finds out you've been pulling the wool over his eyes,
you're for it. I Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes - I
know you've been smoking.
2 to deceive someone so that they do
something they did not intend to do
deceive sb into trap sb into
trick sb into set/lay a trap for
deceive sb Into/di'si:v (sb) Intu:l [phr v T]
deceive sb into doing sth Mr Wilson's executors are argu-
ing that he was deceived into changing the terms of his will. I
We were quite cleverly deceived into thinking the terrorists"
offer was genuine.
trick sb into/'trlk (sb) Intu:/to get someone to do or say
something they did not intend to do or say, especially by
means of a clever trick [phr v T]
trick sb into doing sth She knew Paul was trying to trick
her into admitting something. I trick sb into sth The rebels
were tricked into surrendering and then shot. I Muslim
leaders are now saying they were tricked into the deal.
trap sb into/'trmp (sb) ntu=/to cleverly put someone in
a situation where they have to do or say something they
did not want to [phr v T]
trap sb into doing sth He had always felt she had trapped
him into marrying her. I Police are often accused of trapping
people into confessing to crimes they did not commit. I trap
sb into sth I've been trapped into some dreary expedit.ion
to Birmingham.
set/lay a trap for /,set, ,leI  'trmp f=r/to arrange a sit-
uation where you can make someone say or do something
that they did not intend to Iv phrase]
He set a trap for her, to make her talk about where she had
been the day before. I She refused to help her husband in
laying a trap for the old man.
3 to make someone believe or trust you for a
while in order to cheat them or get something
from them
lead sb on
string sb along
lead sb up the garden path
worm your way into sb's heart/affections/
confidence etc
take sb for a ride
lead sb on/,li:d (sb) 'on II -'(:n/to make someone believe
you and trust you, especially by promising them things
that are not true [phr v T]
Do you really care about me or are you just leading me on? l
Poor girl. She was a bit stupid, but he just led her on.
string sb along/,stri (sb) 'lDr II -o,b:m/to keep some-
one believing for a long time that you will do something
for them, or that you love them more than you really do
[phr v T]
Are you going to string him along forever while you
daydream about someone else? [ I felt we were being strung
along by the company who kept promising they would send
us the goods immediately.
lead sb up the garden path/,li:d (sb) Ap 5 ,ga:rdn
,pa:0 II -'pe01 to deceive someone, especially over a long
period of time, by making them wrongly believe that ffthey
continue to do something it will bring them some advan-
tage Iv phrase]
I think someone's been leading you up the garden path -
there's no career progression in this company. I It wasn't
until he called off the wedding that I realized I'd been led up
the garden path.

TRICK/DECEIVE
worm your way into sb's heartlaffectlonslcon-
fldence etc/,wa:rm ja:r 'weI Intu: (sb's heart, e.tc)l to
gradually gain someone's love, trust, or confidence by
pretending to be friendly and worthy of their trust Iv
phrase]
She wormed her way into his heart, because she wanted his
money. I Paula remembered with bitterness how Alex had
wormed his way into her confidence.
take sb for a ride/teik (sb) for o iraidl an informal
expression meaning to deceive someone, especially so that
you can get their money Iv phrase]
I'd already given him Ј50 when I realised he was taking me
for a ride. I I hate to tell you this but you've been taken for
a ride by that life insurance salesman.
4 to be tricked or deceived by someone
be deceived/tricked be taken in
be fooled fall for
be deceived/tricked Ibi: dI'si:vd, Itrlkt/[v phrase]
He knew he'd been tricked, but it was too late to do anything. I
be deceived/tricked by That was the last time I was going
to be deceived by a smooth-talking charmer like him!
be fooled /bi: 'fu:ld/ to be deceived by someone's
behaviour, words, or appearance, especially when the
result is not serious Iv phrase]
Don't let yourself be fooled - don't trust him. i When Ralph
phoned up pretending to be from the tax office, I was com-
pletely fooled. I be fooled by A lot of people were fooled by
what he said, but I was sure he was lying.
be taken in/bi: ,teIkon 'In/to be deceived by someone's
words or behaviour, so that you believe something about
them that is not true Iv phrase]
be taken in by We were all taken in by the old man's story,
and we gave him all the money we had with us. I be taken
in He seemed so confident that I was completely taken in.
fall for/'fad fa:r/to stupidly believe something that is
untrue and is intended to deceive you Iv T not in passive]
Doug was too clever to fall for a story like that! I She com-
pletely fell for his nonsense about being rich and famous.
5 someone who is easily deceived
dupe
sucker
mug
dupe/dju:p II du:p/someone who is tricked by someone
else, especially so that they become involved in the other
person's dishonest plans without realizing it In C]
She was horrified to find that she had been used as his dupe. I
Their defence was that they were the dupes in a high-powered
enterprise, and the real criminals were still out there.
sucker !' s^korl an informal word meaning someone who
believes everything they are told, even when it is clearly
not true In C]
I know I'm a sucker. I'll give $10 to anyone who tells me
they're hungry or wants a cup of coffee. [ If you weren't such
a sucker, you'd have realized what he's really like months
ago.
mug AmAgi an informal British word meaning someone
who is easily deceived, especially so that they do much
more or give much more than is fair or reasonable In C]
He's asked me to work over the weekend again - he must
think I'm some kind of mug. I Don't be a mug! Thatpicture's
not worth as much as that!
6 to not be tricked by something
see through
be wise to
see through l lsi: 0ru:i to not be tricked by someone's
behaviour or by what they say because you are clever
enough to realize what the truth is Iv T not in progressive]
He didn't dare tell a lie, because he knew Mike would see
through him. I Joanne was the only person to see through
my image and guess how lonely I really was. I Laurence was
the only one who saw through Jim's little ploy.
1447
TRICK/DECEIVE
be wise to/bit 'walz tu:/to not be tricked by someone
or by their intentions especially because you know what
they are like Iv phrase]
You should be wise to his schemes by now and know that
nothing will ever come of them. I She hadn't tried to get any
information out of me yet, but I was already wise to her.
7 sqmething that is done in order to deceive
someone
trick hoax
deception trap
ruse put-up job
trick/trIk/a clever plan or action used to deceive some-
one In C]
He pretended to be ill, but it was just a trick to make her go
to see him. I It was a trick - the enemy plane was disguised
as one of ours. I One trick is for a dealer to buy stock through
a friend, so that no one knows how much he is buying.
deception/dl' sepJ'an/something that is said or done with
the deliberate intention of deceiving people In C]
Ann quickly saw through his lies and deceptions. I The
colonel's declaration of support for the government was a
deliberate deception, because he was already negotiating
with the other side.
ruse Iru:z II ru:s, ru:z/a trick, especially one that is amus-
ing and not very serious In C]
It was just a ruse to get what I wanted! I She was delighted
with the success of her ruse.
hoax/hooks/a false warning about something dangerous,
given especially to someone in an official position, for
example the police In C]
To everybody's great relief, the bomb scare turned out to be
a hoax. I The firemen arrived at the scene only to discover
that it was a hoax.
trap/traep/a clever trick that puts someone in a situation
where they say or do something that they did not intend
to [n C]
His pleasant conversdtion was just a trap to make her say
more than she should. I The doctor suspected a trap in this
remark and determined to keep on his guard.
put-up Job/'pot ^p ,dsob II -,dso:b/something that has
been arranged in a way that deceives people In C]
The demonstration was a put-up job, organized by the
authorities so they could arrest the leaders.
 a trick that is intended to take someone's
attention away from what someone else is
trying to do
diversion
decoy
diversion/dai'va:rJ'an, d- II -3an/[n C]
Asking the guard for a cigarette was a diversion to give the
others time to escape, i create a diversion Rioters created
a diversion by settingfire to vehicles close to thepolice station
decoy/'dI:kai/a person or thing that is used to trick
someone by taking their attention away from an illegal or
criminal act In C]
The criminal used the stolen car as a decoy to lose the police.i
The investigation was further set back yesterday when the
detectives discovered that the gun was just a decoy.
9 the act of deceiving someone
deception
deceit
trickery
deception/d' sepan/the act of deceiving someone, espe-
cially by telling them lies In U]
She hated the lies and deception her husband used during
his affairs with other women. [ I'm sure many businessmen
use some form of deception, at times, to achieve their
objectives.

TRICK/DECEIVE 1448 true to life
deceit/dI ' si:t/a word meaning the act of deceiving some-
one, used especially when you strongly disapprove of this
In U]
It's not so much that he missed school - it's the deceit that
makes me angry. I He had to survive in a world where deceit
was accepted, even expected.
trickery/'trIkri/the use of clever plans or actions to
deceive someone In U]
Everyone was convinced they'd seen a ghost, but I'm sure it
was just trickery, i The whole thing had been a piece of psy-
chological trickery, and she had been completely deceived.
10 words for describing words or actions that are
intended to trick other people
deceitful
misleading
under false pretences
deceitful/di'si:tfl/[adj]
I don't trust her. I think she has a deceitful smile. I I could
go on without telling him, but it would be deceitful. I He got
the contract, but only by being deceitful.
deceitfully [adv ] I have behaved meanly and deceitfully to
you.
misleading/ms'li:dJo/information or a statement that
is misleading deceives people by giving false or incom-
plete facts [adj]
The picture in the holiday brochure was deliberately mis-
leading, not showing that the hotel was next to a building
site. I These studies give misleading results because they
haven't looked at enough cases, i it is misleading to say/
treat/speak of etc It would be misleading to say that the
recession will soon be over.
misleadingly [ adv ] Private schools are often misleadingly
called public schools.
under false pretences lando r ,foils pri'tensz II
-'pri:tensz/if you do something under false pretenees,
you do it by pretending that the situation is different from
what it really is lady phrase]
You've brought me here under false pretences! You said the
film was a comedy, but it's not! l He got a loan from the bank
under false pretences.
tricked: be deceived/tricked TRICK/DECEIVE 4
trickery TRICK/DECEIVE 9
trickle: a trickle FEW/NOT MANY 5, LITTLE/NOT MUCH 1
trickle in ENTER 7
tricky DIFFICULT 4, 5
tried: be tried JUDGE 11
tried and tested/well-tried DEPEND ON/RELY ON 3
trifle UNIMPORTANT 5
trigger/spark off CAUSE 7
trim CUT 8, 9, REDUCE 6, THIN PERSON 3
trip HOLIDAY 1, TRAVEL 8
trip: go on a trip HOLIDAY 2, TRAVEL 1
trip: take a trip TRAVEL 1
trip: trip up FALL :3, 11
trip sb up MISTAKE 6
trite USE STH 15
triumph WIN 3
trivia UNIMPORTANT 5
trivial UNIMPORTANT 1
trivialize UNIMPORTANT 4
troop GO 2
troop in ENTER 7
troops ARMY 1
trophy WIN 10
trot RUN 1 ..
trot: on the trot SERIES 4
"You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
trouble
trouble PROBLEM 1, 11, WORRIED 7
trouble: be asking for trouble BEHAVE 3, RISK 5
trouble: be in trouble DANGEROUS 4, PROBLEM 6,
PUNISH 6
trouble: cause/make trouble PROBLEM 10
trouble: get into trouble BEHAVE 3, CRIME 4
trouble: have difficulty/trouble DIFFICULT 10,
PROBLEM 6
trouble: no trouble/no problem CONVENIENT 1
trouble: put sb to a lot of trouble PROBLEM 11
trouble: take the trouble to do sth TRY TO DO OR
GET STH 6
trouble: the trouble is PROBLEM 12
troublemaker PROBLEM 10
troublesome PROBLEM 9
truant: play truant/play hooky GO TO/ATTEND 3
truce PEACE/NO WAR 4
trudge WALK 4
true REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 2, 3,
REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 1, TRUE 2, TYPICAL 1
true: be/seem too good to be true BELIEVE 12
true: be true TRUE 1
true: be true to FAITHFUL 1
true: come true HAPPEN 4
true: it's true that ADMIT 2
true: not be true/be untrue UNTRUE 1
true: not ring true UNTRUE 1
true colours CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 5
true to form TYPICAL 2
true to life REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 3
true
UNTRUE 
LIE/TELLA LIE 
REAL/NOT 
IMAGINARY  
......
REAL/NOT FALSE
OR ARTIFICIAL
HONEST

TRUE 1449 TRUE
TRUE
1 ways of saying that a statement or opinion is
based on true facts
2 words for describing a statement, story, or
description of events that is true, and was not
invented
3 to say what is true
4 definitely true, so that no one can argue or
disagree about it
5 not completely true, but partly true
6 the true information or facts about something
7 ways of saying that something is really true,
really happened etc
8 to be shown to be true after being carefully
examined
I ways of saying that a statement or opinion is
 based on true facts
be true it/that is so
be the truth go for
it is the case it's a fact
be true Ibi: Itru:l something that is true is based on facts
or is really happening, and is not a lie or something that
someone has imagined [v phrase]
At first I couldn't believe it was really true. [ "'You look like
a 20year old." "'If only it were true!"[ it is true that It's true
that women are better at languages than men. [ it is true
about Is it true about John and Tamara getting married?[
be true of sb/sth What is true of some groups of chiktren
may not be true of all of them. [ be true for sb Babies need
lots of sleep and this is lrticularly true for very young
babies.
truth Itru:O/In U] No one can deny the truth of what we're
saying (=no one can deny that it is true).
be the truth/bi: 6 'tr,:O/if you say that what you or
another person have said is the truth, you mean that it is
true [v phrase]
I'm not lying. It's the truth. [ We think that what she says is
the truth - she probably didn't intend to steal the money.
It is the case/It IZ 6 'keisl an expression used espe-
cially in formal or written English meaning that something
is true
Many women want to have children. However this is not
always the case. [ As is so often the case, the driver didn't see
the woman until it was too late. [ it is the case that It used
to be the case that British industry was plagued by strikes,
but this is no longer so.
it/that is so/It, ,6et IZ I SaUl a formal expression mean-
ing that something is true
"'I knew there was someone in the house.'" "'If that was so, why
didn't you call the police?" [ "Mr Harrison said they're going
to close the factory. "" "Well, if that's what he told you, it must
be so. ""
go for I'gau fa:r/ffsomething goes for someone or some-
thing, it is true about them just as much as it is about other
people or things Iv T not in progressive or passive]
Yes we know you're tired, but that goes for all of us. [ There
are some bad teachers in state schools, but the same thing
goes for private schools as well.
It's a fact/its a fakt/if you say it's a fact that something
is true, you are completely sure that it is true, especially
because you know it can be proved
it's a fact that It's a fact that more young people are killed
by road accidents than by any other cause. [ it's a fact/
that's a fact The divorce rate in the US is twice as high as
it was in the 1950s - that's a fact. [ I'm not going to argue
with you about it. It's a fact, that's all.
2 words for describing a statement, story, or
description of events that is true, and was not
invented
true accurate
truthful valid
true Itru:l a story, statement etc that is true is based on
real facts or on something that really happened [adj]
Everything she says in her book is true. I The movie is based
on a true story. I Even if only part of what environmental
scientists are telling us is true, then we need to look seriously
at the future of the motor car.
truthful /'tru:0fal/a truthful answer, account, statement
etc is one that tells the truth and contains no lies [adj]
Politicians rarely give truthful answers to questions. I Fox's
original statement to the police was not entirely truthful.
accurate/' akj aumt/a description, report, account etc that
is accurate is based on the facts, does not contain mistakes,
and tells you exactly what happened or is happening [adj]
Green gives a remarkably accurate description of life in
Saigon in the early 50s. I I think your assessment of the cur-
rent economic situation is pretty accurate.
valid /'veeld/ ideas, arguments, evidence etc that are
valid are based on what is true and reasonable, and so
should be accepted or taken seriously [adj]
Scientific theories must be backed up with valid evidence. I
Many of Rousseau's ideas are just as valid today as they were
in the 18th century. I The government still hasn't produced
a valid argument in favour of its policies on immigration.
validity/va'hd]ti/ In U] The validity of Freud's theories
about the subconscious is now being challenged.
3 to say what is true
tell the truth to tell the truth
truthful stick to the facts
tell the truth/,tel 6a 'tru:O/Iv phrase]
It's impossible to tell the truth all the time. [ tell sb the truth
I wish now I'd told him the truth, instead of making up all
those silly lies. [ tell (sb) the truth about Doctors don't
always tell their patients the whole truth about their condi-
tion, in case it upsets them. [ The truth about why Rudolf Hess
really flew to Scotland in 1941 has never been told.
truthful /'tru:0fal/someone who is truthful says what is
true and does not tell lies [adj]
Lucy's normally an extremely truthful little girl. I Be truth-
ful this time! Did you or did you not break your brother's
toys? l truthful (with sb) about I'm afraid I haven't been
entirely truthful with you about the money.
truthfully [adv] I want you to answer me truthfully.
to tell the truth/ta ,tel 6a 'tru:0/you say to tell the
truth when you want to say honestly your true feelings
about something, even if this is not what other people want
to hear [ adv phrase]
To tell the truth I'll be glad when the kids are back at
school. I to tell you the truth I'm not really in the mood
for going out. To tell you the truth, I'd rather sit down in
front of the TV.
stick to the facts/,stlk ta 6a 'fakts/to tell the truth
about things that really happened and not invent things
or give your opinions Iv phrase]
Witnesses were asked to stick to the facts and leave aside all
emotion and sentiment. [ We would appreciate it if yourjour-
nalists would stop making up stories and stick to the facts.
4 definitely true, so that no one can argue or
disagree about it
undeniable
Indisputable
be the gospel truth
undeniable/,^ndi 'naIobal/[adj]
The fact that she was intelligent was undeniable. I it is
undeniable that It is undeniable that during the 1930s there
was a fascist movement in both Britain and America.

TRUE 1450 trust
undeniably [adv] Rock Hudson was undeniably handsome.
indisputable/, Indl 'spju:tabal/indisputable evidence/
proofetc (=so clearly true that no one can doubt it or argue
about it) [adj]
The evidence against her appears indisputable. I The photo-
graphs provide indisputable proof that war crimes have been
committed in Yugoslavia.
indisputably [ adv ] The painting is indisputably a master-
piece of the highest order.
be the gospel truth/bi: 6 ,gospel 'tru:0 II -,go:s-/if
you believe that something is the gospel truth, you are
completely sure that it is true and you would never think
that it was a lie or a mistake Iv phrase]
When I was at school I thought that everything my teachers
told me was the gospel truth. I Many myths about pregnancy
are repeated as if they were the gospel truth.
5 not completely true, but partly true
be partly true/partially true
there's some truth in
there's something in
element/grain of truth
there's no smoke without fire
be partly true/partially true/bi: ,po:rtli 'tru:, ,po:r]li
'tru:/[v phrase]
This statement is partly true. [ A lot of people say that eating
candy is bad for you, but this is in fact only partially true.
there's some truth in/6erz ,sAm 'tru:O in/if you say
there's some truth in something, you mean that it is
partly true
I think there could easily be some truth in what she's saying. [
Do you think there's any truth in these rumors?
there's something in/6eorz 'sAm0II] ;n/ if you say
there's something in an idea you mean that you think
that it has some value or truth even if this seems unlikely
There's definitely something in those old Chinese ideas about
the Yin and the Yang. I The tnore I study astrology, the more
I'm convinced that there could be something in it.
element/grain of truth/,elmant, ,greta v 'tru:0/if
you say there is an element or grain of truth in a story
or an explanation, you mean that there is a little truth in
it In phrase]
I think there's an element of truth in the argument that car
seat belts are dangerous, but not enough to convince me not
to use them. I Most myths have a grain of truth in them
there's no smoke without fire/6erz nu ,smuk
wi6aot  ' faIar/if you say there's no smoke without fire,
you mean that something bad that has been said about
someone is probably partly based on the truth, because
there must be a reason for the story
If you ask me, there's no smoke without fire. I think that the
CIA was involved in the plots to kill JFK and Bobby
Kennedy.
6 the true information or facts about something
the truth home truths
fact truth
the truth/6a 'tru:0/In singular]
the truth about We may never know the truth about what
really happened to Marilyn Monroe. I Scientists believe they
are close to finding out the truth about the origins of the
universe. I the truth is (that) (=the true situation is that)
The truth is that she's worried about losing her job. I the
simple/plain truth (=the truth about something, espe-
cially when this is unpleasant) The plain truth is that I just
don't love him anymore. I the truth comes out (=the truth
becomes known) Nixon tried to cover up the burglary, but
the truth had to come out in the end.
fact/fekt/a true piece of information about something
[nC]
As a journalist my job is to report the facts. I One vital fact
was missing from the police report on the murder. I fact
about The book is full of interesting facts about American
history.
home truths/,haom 'tru:6s/facts about someone which
are unpleasant for them to know but are true In plural]
It's about time someone told that woman a few home truths.
truth/tru:0/important facts or principles about life, the
world etc that are always true in all situations In C/U]
Science is based around the search for truth. I Truth and
justice are always worth fighting for. I fundamental truths
about human nature
7 ways of saying that something is really true,
really happened etc
really
truly
honestly
really/'rmli/[adv]
Are you really a movie star? I It's all so long ago now, it's
difficult to believe that any of it really happened. I I really
feel grateful to you for all your help. I I'm sorry I said you
were stupid - I didn't really mean it. I "The company is
giving us all a 20% pay increase. "" "'Really?"
truly/tru:li/ if you truly feel or think something, you
really and sincerely feel or think it, and are not pretend-
ing [adv]
truly sorry/happy/surprised etc I'm truly sorry. I didn't
mean to upset you. I For the first time in her life she felt truly
happy. I truly believe/think etc My Dad was such a sexist
he truly believed that women were just there to serve men.
honestly/'onstli II 'o:n-/you say honestly, when you
want someone to believe that what you are saying is true
and that you really mean it [adv]
We honestly don't mind if you stay for dinner. I I was going
to give you it back, honestly. I Honestly, it makes no differ-
ence to me where we have the wedding.
8 to be shown to be true after being carefully
examined
stand up/hold up
check out
stand up/hold up/,strand 'Ap, ,hold 'Ap/if an idea, or
an explanation stands up or holds up, it is shown to be
true when carefully examined or questioned [phr v I]
I don't think your explanation is going to stand up under
police questioning. I We decided to check his hypothesis to see
if it actually holds up. I stand up to examination/scru-
tiny (=be shown to be true after being carefully checked)
None of his theories about language really stands up to close
scrutiny. I stand up/hold up in court My lawyer told me
there was no point in starting the case because it wouldn't
stand up in a court of law.
check out/,tSek 'aot/if something that someone has told
you checks out, it is proved to be true when you check it
[phr v I]
Everything she says checks out on our computer files. I If his
alibi doesn't check out the police are going to charge him with
murder.
 truly REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 4, TRUE 7
 trumped-up UNTRUE 2
trumps: turn up trumps/come up trumps SUCCEED
 IN DOING STH 2
 trundle PUSH 2
 trust DEPEND ON/RELY ON 1, ORGANIZATION 3,
TRUST 1, 2
 trust: be in a position of trust/responsibility
,.
' RESPONSIBLE 1
trust: not trust TRUST 5
i rust: put/place your trust in TRUST 1
: trust: take sth on trust BELIEVE 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

TRUST 1451 TRUST
trust
.- . --- . , • . . : --.,, -,., :,..., , . ў ў • :, .
.
=e!.-!:at .meone/: .  TRUST
is hnest andwill not ':'' , %t ....
depend, on someone   DEPEND
or so.methi:ng tq.d0.:;:j ON/RELY ON
What you need  work ........ ' 
TRUST
to believe that someone is honest and will not
harm you, cheat you etc
the feeling that you can trust someone
words for describing someone who you can
trust
words for describing someone who usually
trusts other people and therefore could easily
be tricked by them
to not trust someone
the feeling that you cannot trust someone
word for describing someone who does not
usually trust other people
words for describing someone who cannot be
trusted
1 to believe that someone is honest and will not
harm you, cheat you etc
trust put/place your trust in
believe in have confidence in
trust/tr^st/[v T not usually in progressive]
trust sb You can trust me, I'm your friend. I After the way
he's lied, I just don't trust him any more. I We trust each other
enough not to have to worry about whether I'm seeing
another man, or he's seeing another woman. I Can the
government really be trusted? I trust sb to do sth I'm the
only person he'll trust to look after his money. I trust sb
implicitly (=trust them completely) You must trust me
implicitly and do everything I say.
believe in/b 'li:v n/to feel sure that you can always
depend on someone to be honest, to do the right thing, and
to support you Iv T not in progressive]
I believed in Stella, and then she went and let me down. I All
of us students looked up to Miss Brodie and believed in her;
we would have done anything she told us to do.
put/place your trust in/put, ple;s jo:r tr^st in/to
decide that you can trust someone to help you or support
you Iv phrase]
Rebel troops have said they can no longer put their trust in
United Nations promises of protection. I In times of crisis,
some people decide to place their trust in a professional coun-
sellor. I It was stupid of me to ever put my trust in him.
have confidence in/hv konfgdans In II -'ko:n-/to feel
sure that someone or something will always do what they
are supposed to do and will not fail Iv phrase not in
progressive]
We want people to feel that they can have confidence in the
police. I The French had little confidence in their allies. I
have every confidence in (=have complete confidence in)
We have every confidence in your abilities.
2 the feeling that you can trust someone
trust faith
confidence blind faith
trust/trAst/[n U]
After the scandal the company lost the trust of many of its
clients. ] Trust between both parties is essential in this kind
of work. I trust in Despite her many misfortunes, her trust
in God was never shaken. I betray sb's trust (-do some-
thing that shows they should not have trusted you) I really
don't know how she could do such a thing, she's grossly
betrayed the trust which we placed in her. I mutual trust
(=when two people or groups trust each other) My partner
and I have a wonderful relationship based on mutual trust
and respect.
confidence/'knQdons [[ 'ka:n-/a strong belief that you
can trust a person, system, product etc, and that they will
do what they say they will or do what they are supposed
to do In U]
confidence in Our first priority is to maintain the con-
sumer's confidence in our product. [ confidence The new
president has the confidence and backing o fall of the leaders
of the surrounding states. [ lose confidence in Opinion
polls show that the voters have lost confidence in the adminis-
tration. ] undermine confidence in These miscarriages of
justice have undermined confidence in the legal system. [
public confidence (=the confidence of the people) Worried
by bad publicity, the banks are trying to restore public con-
fidence. [ crisis of confidence (=a point when confidence
in a person, system etc becomes very weak) A cisis of con-
fidence in the party led to the resignation of its leader.
faith/fe0/the firm belief that someone or something can
always be depended on to be right or to do the right thing
In U]
have faith in He had great faith in her judgement, and soon
fell into the habit of consulting her about everything. I faith
in Events were to prove that his faith in her had been entirely
justified. I faith "'I know you won't let me down, '" she said
with touching faith. I destroy sb's faith in Recent bitter
experiences have destroyed his faith in humanity.
blind faith / ,blatnd ' fe0/a very strong and unreasonable
belief that someone can always be trusted, especially when
it is wrong or dangerous to trust them In U]
blind faith in What I can "t stand is their blind faith in every-
thing she says. [ The people's blind faith in the King was shat-
tered when they realized the terrible consequences of the war
he had taken them into. I blind faith The rebels" loyalty to
their char.ismatic leader had been based on blind faith.
3 words for describing someone who you can
trust
trustworthy
responsible
trusted
trustworthy/'trAst,w3: r6i/[adj]
There was something odd about her, something that made
me suspect that she was not entirely trustworthy. [ On the
whole, our employees are trustworthy. [ We're looking for a
dedicated and trustworthy child minder.
trustworthiness In U] Mrs Evans was given assurances as
to the girl's reliability and trustworthiness (=the fact that
she could be trusted).
responsible /r'sponsbal 11 rispo:n-/ responsible
adultCitizenCather ete (=one who can be trusted to
behave correctly and make correct moral judgements
without having to be told what to do) [adj]
Children may only be admitted if they are accompanied by
a responsible adult. [ Thepurpose of this school is to educate
youngsters to become responsible, law-abiding citizens. I He's
always been very responsible, very mature for his years.
trusted / 'trhstd/trusted friend/colleague/advisor etc
(=one you trust and can depend on) [adj only before noun]
Lucas Cranach was one of Luther's most trusted friends. ]
Talahun was the Sultan's trusted adviser.

TRUST 1452 try to remember
4 words for describing someone who usually
trusts other people and therefore could easily
be tricked by them
trusting
trusting I'tr^stirl [adj]
Sometimes Sam you're too trusting. You shouldn't just lend
your money to anyone who says they need it. I She looked up
at him with those big trusting eyes of hers and he knew he
had to help her. I Nick's trusting nature led him to believe
all manner of lies.
5 to not trust someone
not trust regardBook upon/view
distrust sb with suspicion
be suspicious of
not trust InDt ItrAst/ [V T]
not trust sb I don't like him, I don "t trust him, and I think
he's a highly suspicious character. [ I wouldn't trust her if
I were you, I'm sure she's lying. I not trust sb with sth I
wouldn't trust Kate with anything, let alone something as
important as that. I not trust sb an inch (a British expres-
sion meaning not trust someone at all) I'm certainly not tell-
ing him anything - I wouldn't trust him an inch. I not trust
sb as far as you could throw them (=not trust them at
all) As for his advisors, he said he wouldn't trust them as far
• as he could throw them.
distrust/d;s ItrAst/ a formal word meaning not to trust
someone Iv T]
Karen still distrusted Ken, despite all his assurances that his
affair with Barbara was now finished. I He distrusted those
who were too friendly too quickly.
be suspicious of/bi: sospos tv/if you are suspicious
of someone or something, you feel that you should not trust
them, even though you may not know exactly why Iv
phrase]
I've always felt suspicious of men with beards. I The old lady
downstairs is suspicious of everyone, even people she knows. I
Conservatives have always been suspicious of any form of
state intervention.
regard/look upon/view sb with suspicion IrI-
,go:rd, ,lok apon, ,vju: (sb) w6 sa'spIan/to feel that there
is something about someone that you cannot trust, so that
you are always very careful when you deal with them Iv
phrase]
Because I was the teacher's favourite I was regarded with
envy, suspicion and hatred. I Any attempt to start peace talks
was looked upon with suspicion by the British High Com-
mand. I Offers of rides from strangers should always be
viewed with suspicion.
6 the feeling that you cannot trust someone
distrust
mistrust
suspicion
distrust Ids'trAst/ In U]
distrust of By the time they reached London, Phil's instinc-
tive distrust of Terry had changed to enthusiastic admira-
tion. I Dylan's natural distrust of reporters makes him a
difficult man to interview. I distrust The talks took place
in an atmosphere of hostility and distrust.
mistrust/mIs 'tr^st/a strong feeling of not trusting some-
one, especially a group of people or a particular type of
person In U]
mistrust of She had a deep-seated mistrust of the whole
legal profession. I miStrust Life had wounded her at an
early age and she looked on everyone with a mixture of skep-
ticism and mistrust.
suspicion/sa'spI]anl the feeling that you cannot trust
someone, even though you may not know exactly why In U]
Mary's enemies began plotting against her and she soon
became entangled in a web of intrigue and suspicion. [ When
I asked about Gerald, Susan's usually kind face clouded with
fear and suspicion.
7 words for describing someone who does not
usually trust other people
distrustful/mistrustful
distrustful/mistrustful/dIs'trAstfal, ms'tr^stfal/[adj]
An indifferent and sometimes violent Upbringing had left her
mistrustful and unhappy. IDa Vinci was unsociable and dis-
trustful, but a fanatical worker. I distrustful/mistrustful
of For nearly a whole century, Eastern amd Western Europe
remained deeply distrustful of each other. I Many people are
still very mistrustful of computers.
8 words for describing someone who cannot be
trusted
untrustworthy
can't be trusted
not to be trusted
untrustworthy I^n'tr^stw3:r6i/[adj]
A bank would never employ anyone who was considered
untrustworthy. I I felt uneasy because the man had a shifty,
untrustworthy look about him.
can't be trusted/kent bi: trAstd [[ Ikent-/if you say
that someone can't be trusted, you mean that they are dis-
honest or that people cannot trust them to do the right
thing, keep a secret etc Iv phrase]
can't be trusted to do sth Sharon can't be trusted to look
after her own money, let alone deal with other people's. [
can't be trusted with sth You have shown by your
behaviour that you cannot be trusted with confidential infor-
mation. [ can't be trusted Whatever they might say, our
military chiefs just can't be trusted.
not Io be Irusled/ntt to bi: trAstd/if you say that
someone is not to be trusted, you want to warn someone
else that they should not trust them Iv phrase]
That man's a crook. He's not to be trusted.
trusted TRUST 3
trusted: can't be trusted TRUST 8
trusted: not to be trusted TRUST 8
trusting TRUST 4
trustworthy BELIEVE 11, TRUST 3
truth TRUE 6
truth: be the gospel truth TRUE 4
truth: be the truth TRUE 1
truth: element/grain of truth TRUE 5
truth: half-truth LIE/TELL A LIE 2
truth: have a ring of truth BELIEVE 11
truth: tell the truth HONEST 2, TRUE 3
truth: the truth TRUE 6
truth: the truth is/the fact is IN FACT 1
truth: there's no truth in/nothing in
truth: there's some truth in TRUE 5
truth: to be honest/to tell the truth
truth: to tell the truth TRUE 3
truthful HONEST 2, TRUE 2, 3
truths: home truths TRUE 6
UNTRUE 2
ADMIT 3
try and do sth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1, 7
try for TRY TO DO OR GET STH 5
try for all you're worth TRY TO DO OR GET STH 3
try it on BEHAVE 3
try on FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE 2, PUT ON CLOTHES 1
try out TEST/EXPERIMENT 3, TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS
GOOD 1
try out for TRY TO DO OR GET STH 5
try to find LOOK FOR 1, 2
try to remember REMEMBER 2
try OPEN 1, TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK 4, TRY
STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1, TRY TO DO OR
GET STH 1, 2
try: give it a go/a try/a whirl TRY TO DO OR GET STH 4
try: give sth a try TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1
try: have a try TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1
try again TELEPHONE 3

try your best 1453 TRY TO DO OR GET STH
try your best: do your best/try your best TRY TO DO
OR GET STH 2
try your hand at TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1
try somet.hiogito-see  :" TRY STH TO
.if it is good,
do. a. scientific test
"t.
SEE IF IT IS
GOOD
TEST/
.!g is 86 : :ў- EASY
• . :
........
IIIIIIIII1[ [[ irr till iiii " i
@ TRY STH TO SEE
IF IT IS GOOD
to do or use something for a short time to
find out if it is suitable
to try something
a period of time during which you try
something
1 to try something
try
try out
give sth a try
have a go
try your hand at
experiment with
give it a go/a whirl
trial and error
try/traq to do or use something for a short time in order
to find out if it is successful, if you enjoy it, or if it is suit-
able Iv T]
try doing sth If you can't get that shirt clean, why don't you
try soaking it before you wash it? l I tried aerobics once, but
I didn't really enjoy it. I try sth Have you ever tried that
chewing gum that's supposed to help you stop smoking? I His
mother tried threats, bribery - everything, but Danny still
refused to go to school. I There was no answer at his work-
place, so Mandy tried his home number.
try out ]tra aot/to use a new method, a new product,
or a new skill that you have learned, in order to find out
how good, how successful or how suitable it is [phr v T]
try out sth They sell paint in very small cans so you can try
out the different colours at home. I Dietmar enjoyed trying
out his English on American troops stationed in Berlin. I try
sth/it/them out/t was six months before she had a chance
to try her songs out in front of a live audience.
give sth a try/,gv (sth) a trai/ to try using or doing
something, although you are not sure if it will succeed or
if it is suitable or good Iv phrase]
give it a try I'm not sure that writing to complain will do
much good, but we can give it a try. I give sth a try Why
don't we give that new restaurant a try?
have a go / hav a gao/an expression used especially in
British English meaning to do something for the first time
to see whether you can do it, whether you enjoy it etc
[ v phrase ]
She's never tried skiing before, but she's willing to have a
go. I have a go at doing sth Most kids get the opportunity
to have a go at writing poetry when they're at school. I have
a go on (-try using a machine) Can I have a go on your
computer?
try your hand at/trai jo:r hmnd aq to try an activity
that is new to you and that interests you, especially some-
thing that you need to learn special skills for Iv phrase]
try your hand at sth He first tried his hand at motor racing
in 1963, but without much success. I try your hand at doing
sth After she lost her job, she thought she'd try her hand at
writing a novel.
experiment with/iktsperment w:6/to try something
in order to see what it is like or what effect it has Iv T]
We're experimenting with a new filing system. ] A new wave
of rock bands experimented with different rhythms and
beats. I The City authority is running a new program to
prevent kids from experimenting with drugs.
give it a gola whirl /glv It 0 'gOO, 0 =w3zrl/informal
expressions meaning to try doing or using something new,
especially because it seems interesting and unusual
[ v phrase ]
"'Have you tried hang-gliding before? .... No, but I'll give it
a go. '"
trlai and error ] tral nd err/the process of trying lots
of different ways of doing something, in order to find out
which one works best In phrase]
by trial and error (=using trial and error) You can find
out by trial and error which flowers will grow best in your
yard. I trial and error For a baby, learning to speak is as
much a process of trial and error as it is imitation.
2 a period of time during which you try
something
trial period
trial period/traiol piariod/[n C]
You can keep the books for a trial period of 14 days, and then
return them if you don't want to buy them. I We're install-
ing the new security system for a three-month trial period.
-@ TRY TO DO OR
GET STH
to try to do something
to use your ability, strength, knowledge etc in
order to try to do something
to do everything you possibly can when you
are trying to achieve something
to try to do something, although you are
unlikely to succeed
to try hard to get something that you really
want
to try hard to do something for someone else
ways of saying that someone does something
in order to try to do, get, or achieve
something else
an act or process of trying to do something
1 to try to do something
try
have a try
attempt
make an attempt
try/trail [v I/T]
try to do sth Mr Bucket tried to get another job. But he had
no luck. [ As you read, try to find answers to these questions.[
He tried to walk past me down the stairs, but I stopped him. [
try hard (=try using a lot of effort) I was trying hard to
endeavour to do sth
seek to do sth
try and do sth
see if you can do sth

TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1454 TRY TO DO OR GET STH
concentrate, but my mind kept wandering. I try Sorry I didn't
phone you. I did try, but your line was busy. I try sth She
tried the entrance exam twice, but she didn't manage to pass.
try In C] After six or seven tries (=after trying six or seven
times) I gave up.
have a t//hev a 'traq to try on one occasion to do some-
thing Iv phrase]
You had a good try, so don't worry if you didn "t quite get it
right. I have one more try/have one last try The assis-
tant wasn't being very helpful, but I decided to have one last
try to get the information I needed.
attempt ]atemptl to try to do something that is difficult,
dangerous, or has never been done before Iv T]
attempt to do sth Any prisoner who attempts to escape will
be shot. I He attempted to turn it over, but it was too heavy. I
They are attempting to become the first to climb Everest
without oxygen tanks. I attempt sth Scientists attempted a
new analysis of the nature of light. I Chinese is the most
difficult language I've ever attempted.
make an attempt/,mek an a'tempt/to try on one occa-
sion to do something that is difficult or dangerous, or that
has never been done before Iv phrase]
make an attempt to do sth I made an attempt to find my
host, but the party was too crowded. I Einstein made a
number of unsuccessful attempts between 1908 and 1914 to
find a theory of gravity, i In 221 BC, an attempt was made to
reform the Chinese writing system. I make an attempt They
never actually reached the summit but they made a very
brave attempt. I make no attempt The protesters made no
attempt to resist arrest.
endeavour to do sth (British) I endeavor to do sth
(American)/n,deva r ta 'du: (sth)/a formal word meaning
to try, especially when you use a lot of effort or try for a
long time Iv phrase]
We always endeavour to provide our customers with the
highest standards of service. [ I remained for some time
endeavouring to engage Mr Campbell in conversation. I We
are endeavoring to measure as accurately as possible the
position of the new star.
seek to do sth/,si:k ta 'du: (sth)/a formal expression
meaning to try to achieve something, especially something
which may take a long time but which you think is impor-
tant Iv phrase]
The public relations experts seek to influence public opinion
with clever advertising campaigns. I For over two decades
the USA sought to prevent the spread of communism in
South-East Asia. I Our economic policies seek to increase
productivity, expand markets and create jobs.
try and do sth / ,tra and 'du: (sth)/to try to do something
because you think it is a good idea or because someone has
told you or advised you to do it Iv phrase not used in past
tenses ]
You're not paying attention. Now try and concentrate. I You
really should try and relax occasionally. I Now that's a splen-
did idea. I'll try and remember to do that.
see if you can do sth/,si: ;fju: kan 'du: (sth)/to try and
find out if you can do something Iv phrase not used in past
tenses ]
Let's see if I can help you. [ Shall I go and see if I can find
her?[ See if you can discover why critics of nuclear power
consider it to be dangerous.
2 to use your ability, strength, knowledge etc in
order to try to do something
try
do your best/
try your best
put your mind to it
make an effort
be at pains to do sth
try/traq Iv I]
strive
to the best of your
ability
do the best you can
as best you can
give sth your best shot
You can do better than that. You're not trying. I If he tries
hard enough, he will eventually succeed. I She's not really
up to standard, but she tries.
do your best/try your best I,du: jz:r 'best, ,tra] jz:r
'best/to try, using all your ability, knowledge, or determi-
nation, even when the situation is difficult and you are not
sure that you will succeed Iv phrase]
"'Could you have my car ready by lunchtime?'" "'I'll try my
best, but we're very busy this morning. "'1 Don't worry about
the examination. Just do your best. [ The government is
doing its best in difficult circumstances. [ do your best to
do sth Though Harry did his best to sound calm, it was obvi-
ous he was annoyed. [ do your best for sb She's doing her
best for her children, but it's so difficult bringing up a family
alone.
put your mind to it/,pot jz:r 'maind to t/to try to do
something, giving it all your attention and determination,
so that you are likely to succeed Iv phrase]
Of course you can get a job, you just have to put your mind
to it, that's all [ He knew that if he'd put his mind to it, he
could have passed the exam.
make an etfort/ ,me;k an 'efart/to try to do something
using more effort than usual, especially something you do
not really want to do Iv phrase]
make an effort to do sth Iknowyou don't like her, butyou
could make an effort to be more polite. [ Many problems could
be solved just by making an effort to find the right informa-
tion. [ make an effort He would find things much easier if
he just made an effort. I make every effort (=use a lot of
effort and try a lot of different ways) The ministers promised
to make every effort to protect the marine environment of the
North Sea. [ make no effort to do sth He's so badly
behaved. His parents make no effort to control him.
be at pains to do sth/bi: at ,peinz ta 'du: (sth)/to make
a lot of effort to do something, especially to explain some-
thing that is difficult for people to understand Iv phrase]
Picasso was at pains to make it clear that his art meant more
to him than money ever could. [ The President has been at
pains to point out that America is not the only country in seri-
ous economic trouble.
strive/strav/a formal word meaning to use all your deter-
mination, for a long time, when you are trying to achieve
something or improve something Iv I]
strive to do sth Whatever your job, you must strive to be
the best in your chosen area. I Toni has been striving to
achieve musical recognition for the past ten years. I strive
for The company must constantly strive for greater
efficiency.
to the best of your ability/ta 6a best av ja:r 'bIlti/
if you do something to the best of your ability, you do it
as well as you can, even if you are not sure that you are
doing it very well lady phrase]
I have always done my work to the best of my ability. I She
explained the situation to the best of her ability.
do the best you ©an/du: 6 best ju: 'kan/to try as hard
as you can to do something, even though it is difficult or
you do not have enough time, money etc to do it really well
[ v phrase]
It's a very tough exam but just do the best you can. I More
medical supplies will be arriving next week - until then, doc-
tors and nurses must do the best they can. I do the best you
can to do sth I did the best I could to make him change his
mind, but he refused.
as best you can/az best ju: ken/if you do something
as best you can, especially something difficult or
unpleasant, you try as hard as you can to do it because you
cannot change the situation lady phrase]
I didn't really like my stepmother but we decided to get along
as best we could for dad's sake. [ Cancer sufferers have to
come to terms with their illness as best they can. [ It's going
to be hard, but we'll carry on as best we can without you.
give sth your best shot/,glv (sth) j3: r ,best 'fDt II -'ft/
an informal expression meaning to to try to do something
as well as you can, even though you do not have all the
necessary skills, equipment etc Iv phrase]
I know you're not feeling very confident, but give it your best
shot. I John gave it his best shot but still couldn't figure out
the equation.

TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1455 TRY TO DO OR GET STH
to do everything you possibly can when you
are trying to achieve something
try for all you're worth
do your utmost
do everything you can/
do all you can
give your all
pull out all the stops
struggle to do sth
go to great lengths
to do sth
try for all you're worth / Itrai far 13:1j3: r 'w3:r0/to try
using all possible effort to do something that is very
difficult or even impossible Iv phrase]
Ben tried for all he was worth but still couldn't lift the crate. I
Even if you tried for all you're worth, you wouldn't be able
to solve the puzzle.
do your ulmost / du: jz:r AtmZost/to try as much as you
possibly can, and for as long as possible, to achieve some-
thing very difficult Iv phrase]
We have done our utmost. There is no more we could possi-
bly do. I do your utmost to do sth Her teacher did his
utmost to develop her talents. I The Secretary of State assured
reporters that the Administration was doing its utmost to
avoid War.
do everything you can/do all you can/du: ,evri0irj
ju: 'ken, du: :1 ju: 'ken/to use every possible method to
try to do something Iv phrase]
l"m trying to help - I'm doing everything 1possibly can. [ I
was busy doing everything I could to raise money, including
selling my house. I Her mother did all she could to encourage
her to study medicine.
give your all/,gv jz:r :1/to use all your energy and
determination to achieve something that is personally very
important to you Iv phrasel
The team gave their all, but they still lost. [ It was Sally's
last chance to win a gold medal and she gave her all in the
performance of a lifetime.
pull out all the stops/,pol aot z:l 6z stops II -Ista:ps/
to do everything possible to make an event, celebration,
competition etc successful Iv phrase]
Bob and Janice really pulled out all the stops for my leav-
ing party. [ In the second half the German team had to pull
out all the stops to protect their 2-1 winning lead.
struggle to do sth / strAgal t du: (sth)/to use all your
energy and determination to achieve something very
difficult or to deal with a difficult situation, especially one
that continues for a long time Iv phrase]
There are too many families struggling to survive on low
incomes. I I found father struggling to lift one end of an enor-
mous chest of drawers. [Amazed by his reaction, Teri strug-
gled to express her feelings.
struggle In C ] Some of these countries are involved in a cons-
tant struggle (-are continuously struggling) to pay off debt.
go to great lengths to do sth/go t grelt lerj0s t
'du: (sth)/to be willing to use any method that is necessary
in order to achieve something, even if this involves being
dishonest, breaking the law etc Iv phrase]
The government goes to great lengths to conceal all nuclear
accidents. I The company has gone to great lengths to reas-
sure women that the drug really isn't harmful, l Some firms
will go to great lengths, including spying, to obtain infor-
mation about their competitors.
4 to try to do something, although you are
unlikely to succeed
have a go give it a go/a try/a whirl
have a stab at put up a good show
have a go I,haev  'go/[vphrase]
"'I can't get the lid off this jar. "" "'Here, let me have a go. ""
"'Can't you do anything, then?" "Tll have a go, but I can't
promise anything." I have a go at We'll have a go at repair-
ing your fridge tomorrow.
have a stab at / ,hev  ' steb et/to try to do something
even though you do not have the necessary skill or you
have never done it before Iv phrase]
"'Would you try and fix my typewriter? .... Well, I'll have a
stab at it, but I'm no expert. ""
give it a gola tryla whirl/gv ;t  gzo,  tra,  Iw3:rl/
informal expressions meaning to try to do something,
without expecting to succeed, and not really caring if you
succeed or not Iv phrase]
I'm not sure I can make him change his mind, but I'll give
it a try. I "'I'm a bit worried about the audition. "' "' Oh, don't
worry. Just give it a whirl!'" I Come on! I know we don't stand
much chance of winning, but we ought at least to give it a go.
put up a good show/pot ^p  god j'o/to makea good
attempt to perform well in spite of a difficult situation Iv
phrase]
Despite losing two members of the team to injury, the British
showjumpers put up a good show.
5 to try hard to get something that you really
want
try for make a bid for
go for struggle for
try out for go all out
angle for go after
shoot for
try for /tra fa:r/to try to get something you really want,
for example a job, a prize, or a chance to study somewhere
Iv T not in passive]
Why don't you try for this job as an Assistant Scientific
Officer? l She's trying for Harvard University.
go for/'go f:r/to try to get something you really want,
especially something that is difficult to achieve, such as
a prize or a high position Iv T not in passive]
Never be content with second place, go for the first prize! I
Bernard's really ambitious - he's decided to go for a senior
manager's job.
try out for /,tra; l aot tb:r/an American expression mean-
ing to try to be chosen to join a sports team Iv T not in
passive]
Joan tried out for the school basketball team. 1 l"m not going
to bother trying out for the team, I know I'm not good
enough!
angle for/'erjgl f:r/angle for an invitation/compli-
ment (=try to get one without directly asking for it) Iv T
not in passsive ]
He was talking to Helen, angling for an invitation to her next
party. I I never know whether Jim wants an honest opinion
or whether he's just angling for compliments.
shoot for/']u:t fz:r/an informal American expression
meaning to try to get an important job or achieve some-
thing very difficult Iv T not in passive]
There are five Democrat candidates shooting for president
this year. I Management is shooting for a 40% increase in
productivity over six months. I Once clients have met inter-
mediate goals, then they can shoot for the top.
make a bid for/mek  bd fz:r/an expression used
especially in newspapers meaning to try to get an impor-
tant job or a position of power Iv phrase]
Michael Dukakis made an unsuccessful bid for the Ameri-
can presidency in 1988. I Japanese manufacturers are
making a bid for control of the British car market. I The
radicals will bide their time, and when they make their bid
for power they'll be ready.
struggle for / strAgl fz:r/ to make a lot of effort over a
long period to get something that is very important to you,
but that is very difficult to get Iv T not in passive]
During the sixties, women were struggling for their eco-
nomic, social and sexual liberation. I Many small businesses
are struggling for survival in this difficult economic climate. I
He struggled for the right words to say.
struggle In C] They are making some progress in their
struggle for political rights.
go all out/goo ,z:l 'aot/to put all your energy and deter-
mination into trying to get or win something Iv phrase]
go all out for The German team will be going all out for
a win in next Saturday's game. I go all out I've left it so late
that I'm going to have to go all out if I want to run the mara-
thon. I go all out to do sth We're going all out to make our
sales target this year.

TRY TO DO OR GET STH 1456 turn over
go after/' goo a:fto r II -af-/to try hard to get a job, posi-
tion, prize etc and not pay attention to anything else Iv T
not in passive]
If you see something you really want, you have to go after
it. It's no good waiting for it to come to you. I She's really
going after that promotion and I think she deserves it.
6 to try hard to do something for someone else
bend over backwards to do sth
go out of your way to do sth
take the trouble to do sth
bend over backwards to do sth /,bend ouvo r
bekwordz to I du: (sth)/to make every pqssible effort to be
helpful or to please someone, even when this causes you
difficulty or inconvenience Iv phrase]
I bend over backwards to help him, but I never get any
thanks for it. I You don't have to bend over backwards to
please the kids, just act naturally, be yourself.
go out of your way to do sth/goo laot ov j3:r wei
to du: (sth)/to make a special effort to help someone, espe-
cially someone who needs help and support, for example
because they are in a new job, a new social situation etc
[ v phrase ]
Jennifer went out of her way to help Vicky to feel comfort-
able in her new job. I When Annie arrived, Harriman went
out of his way to make life pleasant for her.
take the trouble to do sth/,te,k 6o trAbal to du: (sth)/
to make a special effort to do something you think will be
useful or helpful, even though you do not actually have to
do it [vphrase]
Take the trouble to learn all of your students" names. They
will appreciate it. I My bank manager took the trouble to
write a very detailed letter answering my inquiry. I He
couldn't have been kinder nor taken more trouble to see that
we enjoyed ourselves.
7 ways of saying that someone does something
in order to try to do, get, or achieve
something else
try and do sth
in an effort to do sth
in an attempt to do sth
try and do sth/,tra and 'du: (sth)/Iv phrase]
I'll tell some jokes to try and cheer him up. I We've arranged
a meeting with your teacher to try and sort something out
about your schoolwork. I Thepolice used tear gas to try and
disperse the crowds.
In an effort to do sth/in an efort to Idu: (sth)/if you
do something in an effort to achieve an aim, you do it in
order to achieve that aim, especially when this involves a
lot of effort over a long period lady phrase]
We have been working day and night in an effort to get the
work finished. [ The parties concerned met several times
yesterday in an effort to ease tensions between them. [ Par-
ents have been running sponsored events in an effort to raise
funds for a new nursery.
in an attempt to do sth/in an o,tempt to du: (sth)/if
you do something in an attempt to achieve an aim, you
do it in order to achieve that aim, although often you do
not think you will be successful [adv phrase]
He wasn't very talkative so in an attempt to make him open
up I asked him about his family. I In an attempt to diffuse
the tension, the chairman suggested we break for lunch. I She
was deliberately driving herself into exhaustion in an
attempt to forget about the divorce.
• .
8 an act or proess of trying to do something
attempt campaign
effort drive
attempt/o'tempt/an act of trying to do something, espe-
cially something difficult or something you have never
done before In C]
He needed four attempts before he passed his driving test. [
The climbers didn't reach the summit today, but they are
preparing for another attempt tomorrow. I attempt to do
sth All attempts to control inflation have failed. I attempt
at An attempt at suicide is frequently a last desperate cry for
help.
effort/efort/an attempt to do something, especially when
this involves a lot of hard work or determination In C/Ul
Cleaning up polluted rivers will take considerable time and
effort. I Faster and faster he pulled on the rope, gasping with
the effort, fighting to keep his balance. I effort to do sth His
efforts to convince Lucy failed. I effort at The workers went
on strike after efforts at negotiation with management broke
down.
campaign/kem'pen/a planned series of activities that
are intended to persuade people to do something or to bring
social or political change In C]
campaign to do sth The government's campaign to recruit
more black police officers has not been a success. [ campaign
for the campaign for prison reform ] election campaign
(=a campaign to win an election) All kinds of extravagant
promises were made during the election campaign. [
launch/mount a campaign (=start a campaign) The com-
pany has launched an advertising campaign in the hope of
attracting new customers. ] conduct a campaign (=plan
and do one) Local residents are conducting a campaign to
reduce street crime in the area.
drive/drav/a planned effort, especially by a company or
a government to achieve a particular kind of improvement
within a short time In C]
drive for What has happened to the company's much-
publicized drive for quality control? l efficiency/economy/
modernization etc drive As part of the bank's efficiency
drive substantial cuts are being made in the workforce. I
drive to do sth the government's drive to find alternative
sources of energy
tubby FAT 3
tube: the box/the tube TELEVISION/RADIO 1
tubes: go down the tubes WORSE 4
tubular ROUND 4
tuck PUT 4
tuck in EAT 1
tucked away: have sth tucked away
tuckered out: pooped/tuckered out
tug PULL 1
tug at PULL 3
tug: give sth a tug PULL 3
tuition TEACH 4
tumble FALL 1
tumbledown CONDITION/STATE OF STH 4
tune: be in tune with SAME 10
tune: be out of tune with DISAGREE 5
tune: call the tune/shots CONTROL 1
tune: change your tune CHANGE YOUR MIND 2
tune in LISTEN 2
tunnel DIG 1
tunnel: light at the end of the tunnel HOPE 7
turf AREA 7
turgid BORING 3
turkey: talk turkey TALK TO SB 3
turn BECOME 4, 7, TURN 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12
turn: do sb a good turn HELP 2
turn: speak out of turn SAY 10
turn around/turn round TURN 2
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
turn
SAVE MONEY 2
TIRED 1
away TURN 2
down FOLD 1, QUIET 6, REDUCE 4, REJECT/NOT
ACCEPT 1, 3, 4
in SLEEP 5
in/turn over GIVE 7
into BECOME 5
off SWITCH ON OR OFF 2
off: switch off/turn off ATTENTION 4
on ATTACK 2, SWITCH ON OR OFF 1
out EMPTY 6, HAPPEN 5, MAKE 5
over TURN 6, 7, 10
over: hand sb over/turn sb over GIVE 7
over: turn in/turn over GIVE 7

turn sb against
turn sb against DON'T LIKE 4
turn sb away ENTER 9
turn sb on EXCITED 13
turn to ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO DO STH 7, START
DOING STH 7
turn up FIND 1, 6, GO TO/ATTEND 1, HAPPEN 2,
INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 8
turn up: not turn up/not show up MEET 8
turn up/show up ARRIVE 2, 4
TURN
to go around in circles, change direction or
turn upside down
t to go around in circles
2 to turn so that you are looking in the opposite
direction
3 to change the direction you are going in
4 ways of saying that a road, river etc changes
direction
5 ways of saying that something such as a bird
or aircraft goes round in circles
6 to turn your body when you are lying down
so that you face the opposite way
7 ways of saying that something such as a
vehicle, ship, or plane turns upside down
8 to make something turn
9 to make something turn in circles very quickly
t0 to turn something upside down
11 to make a boat or vehicle turn over
12 a turning movement
t3 words for describing something that turns
with a circular movement
1 to go around in circles
turn
go around/round
revolve
rotate
go around in circles/
round in circles
turn/t3zrn/[v I]
go around and around/
round and round
spin
whirl
spiral
swirl
The wheel creaked and began to turn. I The door handle was
turning, and she wondered who was coming in. I The dancers
turned in a circle, moving faster and faster.
go around (also go round in British English) /,gao
() Iraondl if something goes around, it moves in a circular
way [phr v I]
The wheels of the train went around faster and faster, l As
she waited for the lesson to end, the hands on the clock seemed
to have stopped going round altogether.
revolve/rI 'volv II rI 'vo:Iv/to turn in a circle around a
central point Iv I]
A ceiling fan revolved slowly overhead. I Compact discs
revolve at high speed in order to reduce sound distortion. I
revolve around sth Comets are chunks of frozen gases, ice,
and dust that revolve around the sun.
rotate/rao'telt II 'raote;t/to turn around a fixed point [v I]
The Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours. I
Chickens were rotating on a spit inside the oven. I The experi-
ment was carried out using beams of light and a rotating
eight-sided mirror.
go around in circles (also go round in circles in
British English)/gao (a) ,raond In 'sb:rkalz/to continuously
or repeatedly move around in a circular way [v phrase]
I think we're lost. We've just been going around in circles for
the last half hour. I The children skipped around in circles
till the music stopped.
1457
TURN
go around and around (also go round and round
in British English) Igao (a),raond and (a)'raondl to go round
in circles many times [v phrase]
The horses went around and around trotting in time to the
music. ] Billy watched his toy train going round and round
on its little track for hours.
sp|n /spin/ to turn around in a circle very quickly many
times Iv I]
The ice skater began to spin faster and faster. ] The wheels
spun frantically in the mud, but the car wouldn't move an
inch. I spin around/round She liked to sit while her grand-
mother sewed, watching the wheel of the machine spinning
around.
whirl/w3:rl/to spin around extremely quickly, often in
an uncontrolled way Iv I]
whirl around/round Dust and sand were whirling around
in the air as the desert wind began to get stronger. I The
propellors whirled around as the engines strained to lift the
little airplane off the runway. I whirl As the roulette wheel
whirled, the gamblers prayed that they had picked the right
number.
spiral !  spaIral/to spin slowly upwards or downwards in
a circular way around a central point, continuously
moving towards it or further away from it Iv I]
Leaves spiralled down from the trees in the cold autumn
wind. I The evening was muggy and airless, clouds of midges
spiralled around a couple of heifers.
swirl/swa:rl/if water, dust, mist etc swirls, it keeps turn-
ing around quickly in a twisting, circular movement Iv I]
Dust swirled like smoke in the shaft of evening sunshine. I
The river had become a swirling torrent. I She wore a long
skirt that swirled about her ankles.
2 to turn so that you are looking in the opposite
direction
turn turn your head
turn around/round swing around/round
turn away spin around/round
turn your back swivel
turn on your heel
turn/t3:rn/ [v I]
She heard the door opening, and turned to see who was
coming in. I He was gripped by an almost uncontrollable
desire to turn and run away as fast as his legs would carry
him.
turn around (also turn round in British English)/,tb:rn
(a) I raond/to turn so that you are facing someone or so that
you are no longer facing them [phr v I]
Ian, turn round and face the front! l If you turn around I'll
fasten your dress for you. I Mr Darcy walked ahead with my
father, turning around occasionally to smile at me.
turn away / ta:rn a'weI/to turn so that you are no longer
facing someone, especially because you want to avoid them
[phr v I]
Alice turned away with tears in her eyes. I Already he was
turning away towards the stairs. I turn away from She
frowned and turned away from him without speaking.
turn your back /ttb:rnjo: r tbek/to turn so that you are
no longer facing someone, especially because you are angry
or disappointed, or because you are deliberately ignoring
them Iv phrase]
turn your back on There was nothing to do but say good-
bye and turn her back on him. I Don't turn your back on me
- I'm talking to you! I turn your back When the teacher
turned his back the children would start making faces at
him.
turn on your heel / ta:rn on j:r hi:l/to quickly and sud-
denly turn, especially before walking away [v phrase]
David angrily turned on his heel and marched towards the
door. I "7 never want to speak to you again, "" she snapped,
and turning on her heel she left.
turn your head / tb:rn J o:r Ihed/to turn your head in
order to look at someone or in order to look away from
someone Iv phrase]

TURN 1458 TURN
She did not turn her head to watch him go. I Whenever Suzie
walks into a room all the men immediately turn their heads.
swing around (also swing round in British English)
/. swrj ()'raund/to turn around suddenly and quickly, espe-
cially because you are angry or surprised [phr v I]
He swung around at the sound of her voice. I I felt a hand
on my shoulder and swung round quickly to find Chris
standing behind me.
spin around (also spin round in British English)/,spn
() ' raond/to turn around very quickly, especially because
you are angry or because something unexpected has
suddenly happened [phr v I]
The sudden crash made her spin round and look back down
the passage. I He tried to tell her that she must stay, because
he loved her, but she spun around and streamed, "'Don't lie
to me, you brute!'"
swivel/'swzwl/to turn around quickly as if you are fixed
to a central point, or when you are sitting in a chair which
can turn round Iv I]
The principal stopped and swivelled in our direction. I swi-
vel around/round Mr Tench swivelled round in astonish-
ment as the men burst through his office door.
3 to change the direction you are going in
turn veer
change direction swerve
change course
turn/t3:rn/[v I/TJ
Soon after leaving harbour the ships turned and headed
north. I The man was walking straight towards the hotel,
but suddenly he turned and went down a side street. I turn
left/right At the next intersection turn right and the hotel
is half way down on the left. ] turn a corner As the bus
turned a corner, I caught sight of Alice sitting in the back
seat. I turn off/into etc I told him where to turn off the
boulevard and where to turn again into my street.
change direction/,fie;hal3 d' rekfanl to turn while you
are moving so that you start to go a different way Iv phrase]
The horse suddenly changed direction, so that I lost my
balance and nearly fell off I Changing direction on skis isn't
difficult once you've learned the technique. I They were run-
ning towards the station but when they saw the police car
they changed direction.
change course I tfemd3 k:rs/ira vehicle, ship, or air-
craft changes course, it changes the direction in which
it is travelling Iv phrase]
The yacht changed course and approached the island. I Every
time the plane changed course the co-pilot had to write it
down in the logbook.
veer/vIr/if a vehicle or moving object veers, it suddenly
and unexpectedly changes direction Iv I]
veer off/away/across etc His car hit the kerb, and then
veered across the road. I The ship was heading for the rocks
but somehow veered away just in time. I At the last moment,
the meteorite veered away from Earth and sped off into space.
swerve/swa:rv/if a vehicle or moving object swerves,
it suddenly changes direction, especially in order to avoid
hitting something Iv I/
The driver swerved to avoid hitting a dog. I swerve into/
away from etc Police still have no idea why the motorist
suddenly swerved into the path of an oncoming truck. I Next,
the pitcher threw a curve ball, which swerved away from me
as I lunged forward to hit it.
4 ways of saying that a road, river etc changes
direction
turn wind
curve twist
bend weave
turn/t3:rn/Iv I]
Beyond the woods the path turns sharply and leads through
a gate into a farmyard. [ turn north/south/east etc About
three miles from the ocean the river turns north. [ twist and
turn The road twisted and turned right the way up to the
village.
ctlrve /k:rv/ to turn and change direction, in smooth
gradual curves Iv I]
curve round/across/through etc Craven Way, an ancient
road, curves round the northern part of the island. I The river
was a murkier green than the sea, curving away through the
jungle.
bend/bend/the place where a road, river etc turns In C]
Drive carefully here, there are a lot of bends in the road. I
The boat had got into difficulty when negotiating a shallow
bend in the river. I As you go round the bend there's a turn-
ing - my house is just up that road.
wind/waz nd/if a road, path, or river winds, it frequently
turns and changes direction, in smooth curves Iv I]
wind between/through/up etc A narrow road wound up
the hillside towards the little house. I The path wound
through the orchard and between small beds of flowers.
winding [adj only before noun ] She hated driving on high
bridges and winding mountain roads.
twist/twist/to frequently turn and change direction, espe-
cially in small but sharp turns Iv I]
twist up/through/towards etc We approached Assisi via
the chalky, dusty road that twists its way up Monte Suba-
sio. I He could see only part of the canyon twisting down to
the plain below. I A dry stream bed twisted through thick tree
roots.
twisting [adj only before noun] Wildflowers grew on either
side of the twisting path.
weave/wi:v/ to turn and change direction, especially
around things, in smooth curves Iv I/T/
weave through/up/across etc The river weaved across the
plain, towards the sea. I weave its way the road that weaves
its way down to Rome
5 ways of saying that something such as a bird
or aircraft goes round in circles
circle
wheel
circle /'s3:rkal/to fly around above a particular place,
waiting for something Iv I/T/
circle sth The plane circled the runway several times before
landing. [ circle overhead/above etc The birds seemed
enormous, and there were so many of them, circling above
us. [ circle We all looked towards the sky where the vultures
were circling.
wheel/wi:l/if birds wheel, they fly around in circles,
often changing direction Iv I/
Gulls were wheeling over the beach. I We watched the
swallows wheeling and darting and miraculously missing
each other.
6 to turn your body when you are lying down
so that you face the opposite way
turn over
roll over
turn over /t3:rn 'ovr/[phr v I]
Turn over and I'll give you a massage. I She turned over onto
her side and went to sleep. I Every time I turn over the bed
squeaks.
roll over/rul uvr/to turn your body so that it is
facing the opposite direction, in a single smooth movement
[phr v I]
The dog rolled over onto his back and waved his legs in the
air. [ I heard the alarm clock but Irolled over and went back
to sleep.
7 ways of saying that something such as a
vehicle, ship, or plane turns upside down
turn upside down roll over
turn over capsize
overturn turn turtle

TURN 1459 TURN
turn upside down/ta:rn Apsaid 'daon/ [v phrase]
The truck left the road and turned upside down on the hill-
side. I His little boat had turned upside down in the water. I
The stunt plane turned upside down and flew that way for
a moment.
turn over /It3:rn laovar/ifa vehicle turns over, it turns
upside down, especially as a result of an accident [phr v I]
On impact the car turned over and burst intoAlames. I The
train was travelling so fast that when it came off the rails
it turned over onto its roof.
overturn I ,aovar't3:rn/to turn over, especially because
of an accident or strong wind [v I]
The truck had overturned, but it was only partially
damaged. I The whole crew was drowned when their boat
overturned in a storm.
roll over/, raol 'aurar/if a vehicle or ship rolls over, it
turns upside down because it is not correctly balanced [phr
v I]
Ships have stabilizers to prevent them from rolling over in
rough seas. I The truck jackknifed and then rolled over.
capsize/kapsaiz II kapsaiz/ira boat or ship capsizes,
it turns over in the water [v I]
On March 6.1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized with
the loss of 193 lives. I People were fighting for places in the
lifeboat and there was a real danger of it capsizing.
turn turtle / ta:rn It:rtl/an informal expression: ira boat
or ship turns turtle, it turns upside down in the water [v
phrase]
We were just towing Tom's boat towards the harbour, when
suddenly it turned turtle and almost disappeared.
8 to make something turn
turn wind
twist swivel/swivel round
twiddle
turn/ta:rn/to make something such as a handle, screw,
or a part of a machine turn [v T]
She turned the doorhandle slowly, afraid to enter the room. I
To start the engine, simply turn the key in the ignition lock. I
Desperately trying to avoid the boy in the road, he turned the
steering wheel round as far as it would go.
twist /tw;st/ to make something turn quickly around,
especially something small, with a quick firm movement
of your hand [v T]
She twisted the dial on the washing machine. [ twisting the
cork firmly into the neck of the bottle I Realising he was about
to be robbed, he twisted the ring around his finger so that
the huge diamond didn't show.
twiddle/'twidll a British word meaning to turn some-
thing small backwards and forwards many times with your
fingers, especially because you are bored, or are trying to
make something work [v T]
She sat in the pub twiddling the stem of her wineglass, wish-
ing she was somewhere else. I He twiddled the knobs on the
radio for over an hour, but still couldn't receive a signal.
wind/walnd/to turn something such as a handle or part
of a machine around and around, especially in order to
make something move or start working [v T]
He started winding the knob on his watch. [ The fisherman
gently wound the reel on his rod, to bring the fish in. I She
wound the car window down to speak to the police officer.
swivel/swivel round/'swival, ,swval 'raond/to turn
something around on a central rod or point [v T]
He swivelled the camera on the tripod to follow her as she
crossed the yard. I swivel sth round The boss swivelled his
chair round and watched as I came in the door.
9 to make something turn in circles very quickly
spin
twirl
whirl
spin /spin/ to make something turn round and round
extremely quickly [v T]
Spin the wheel of the bicycle to make sure that it is fastened
correctly. I I used to sit in my grandfather's study spinning
the globe and dreaming of the places I would visit.
twirl/tw3: rl/to repeatedly make something turn in circles
or spin around, especially with your fingers [v T]
He picked up a pen and twirled it between his fingers. I The
cheerleaders performed their routine, twirling their batons
in the air. I The man, without answering, began to twirl the
ends of his moustache.
whirl/wa:rll to make something spin around in the air
extremely quickly [v T]
The warriors approached, whirling their swords and spears
around in the air, terrifying the enemy. I Leaves were whirled
from the branches by the approaching storm.
10 to turn something upside down
turn over flip
turn invert
turn over/t:rn ovr/[phr v T]
turn sth/it/them over Do not turn your exam papers over
until the teacher says you can. I Remove the fish from the oven
and turn it over carefully. I turn over sth The children were
turning over the stones to see what lay beneath them.
turn/t3:rn/to turn something so that the other side of it
is facing upwards or outwards [v T]
Roast the chilli pepper under the broiler, turning it as often
• as necessary, until the skin is charred. 1 The old man couldn't
read, but liked to turn the pages of a book, looking at the
illustrations. I turn sth upside down Take out the spark
plugs and turn the cylinder block upside down.
flip/fl;p/to turn something over with a quick, sharp move-
ment [v T ]
flip sth over My motherCipped the burgers over as they
were frying. [ flip sth open Flip the lid of the printer open
and feed the paper in through the top.
invert /inlv3:rt] a formal word meaning to turn something
upside down [v T]
A camera inverts the image it receives. I Place a plate over
the cake tin and invert it. [ We made a makeshift stove by
inverting a metal drum.
I I to make a boat or vehicle turn over
overturn
capsize
overturn / oovo r'ta:rn/ [V T]
During the riots several cars were overturned and set on fire. I
Sometimes the waves were so big that they would overturn
our dinghy.
capsize/kzep'saiz II 'kmpsaiz/to make a boat or ship turn
over in the water [v T]
A huge wave struck the side ofouryacht, almost capsizing it.
12 a turning movement
turn
revolution
spin
turn/t3:rn/the circular movement that a person or object
makes when turning something or being turned [n C]
With three swift turns of the wheel, he steered the boat away
from the rocks. I Powerful engines enabled the fighter planes
to make tight turns and aerobatic manoeuvres. I Loosen the
screw one complete turn in order to release the valve.
revolution / ,reva 'lu:j'an/ one complete circular move-
ment around a fixed or central point [n C]
Compact discs spin at thousands of revolutions per minute
which gives high sound quality. I the planet's ceaseless revo-
lutions around its star
spin/spin/a very fast turn that is repeated many times [n
C/U/
His eyes were fixed on the spin of the roulette wheel. I The
couple did a series of spins and twirls on the dance/loor, to
the applause of the other competitors.

TURN 1460 TWO
words for describing something that turns
with a circular movement
revolving
rotating
rotary
revolving/rI'volvIrJ II -'va:l-/designed so that it turns
with a circular movement [adj only before noun]
A revolving door led into the hotel lobby. I The revolving
stage turned to reveal the next scene.
rotating/roo'te]tO ][ Irooteitrj/a word used especially in
technical contexts meaning able to turn with a circular
movement [adj only before noun]
The plastic is cut by a rotating disc. [ They are polished in
a rotating drum full of abrasive powder.
rotary/'rootri/turning in a circle, or having a part that
turns with a circular movement [adj only before noun]
She cut the grass with a rotary mower. I The paper was
produced on a rotary printing press. I The crank converts the
piston's movement into rotary motion.
turnaround/turnround CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 3
turned: have turned 20/30 etc AGE 2
turned off OFF/SWITCHED OFF 1
turned on: be turned on ON/SWITCHED ON 1
turning-point IMPORTANT 1
turn-off: be a turn-off SEXY 4
turn-on: be a turn-on SEXY 2
turnout THERE 6
turnover BUSINESS 5, SELL 3
turns: take it in turns/take turns
turns: take turns/take it in turns
turtle: turn turtle TURN 7
tutor TEACH 5
tutorial CLASS/LESSON 1
"rv TELEVISION/RADIO 1
twenty-four-hour CONTINUOUS 3
twice TWO 6, 7
twice over TWO 7
twiddle TURN 8
twiddle your thumbs NOT DO STH 4
twig UNDERSTAND 7
twin TWO 3
twinge PAIN 1
twinkle SHINE 3
twirl TURN 9
twist BEND 1, 8, 10, CHANGE/MAKE STH
DIFFERENT 4, INJURE 2, TURN 4, 8
twist: wrap/twist sb around your little finger
CONTROL 4, USE A PERSON 1
twist sb's arm PERSUADE 3
twisted BAD PERSON 2, BEND 6
twitch SHAKE 3
two TWO 1
two: for two TWO 4
two minds: be in two minds DECIDE 9
two of a kind: be two of a kind LIKE/SIMILAR 7
two: the two of them/us/you BOTH 1
two-faced PRETEND 7
two-man TWO 4
two-time UNFAITHFUL 3
two-way EACH OTHER 2
SHARE 4
ORDER/SEQUENCE 3
. two
TWO
words meaning two
two people who live, work, or spend time
together
two things of the same type that are used
together
designed or intended to be used by two
people
words for describing something that has two
separate parts or uses
ways of saying that one amount or number is
twice as big as another amount or number
ways of saying that something is done or
happens two times
1 words meaning two
two
a couple of
two/tu:/[quantifier]
They have two beautiful young children. I Jo was away for
over two years. I There used to be five churches in this town.
Now there are only two.
a couple of/ 'kApal v/an informal British expression
meaning two [quantifier]
a couple of people/things/places etc He's got a couple of
tickets for the game on Saturday. [ The car only cost me a
couple of hundred pounds. [ She's married with a couple of
kids. [ a couple "'How many copies of this letter do you need?"
"'Just a couple. ""
 two people who live, work, or spend time
together
couple duo
pair twosome
couple I 'knpl/two people who are together, especially
because they are married, have a sexual relationship, or
are dancing together In C]
I like Jack and Betty. They're such a niceyoung couple. I The
elderly couple opposite us began talking in hushed voices. I
The band played a waltz and several couples got up and
started to dance. I married couple increased tax relief for
married couples with children
pair/per/two people who are together in the same place,
who are doing something together, or who share a relation-
ship In C]
Agneta and Anna were the pair chosen to represent Sweden
in the canoeing event. I make an odd/impressive/ideal
etc pair (=together they seem odd, impressive etc) They
make an odd pair - Clark is an ex-wrestler and Laura is a
ballet dancer. I the pair of you/us/them Now be quiet, the
pair ofyou. I in pairs (=working in groups of two) Dealers
often work in pairs, which can sometimes improve efficiency.
duo/'dju:o II 'du:u/two singers, musicians, or enter-
tainers who perform together In C]
Duos such as Simon and Garfunkel were popular in the
1960s. I The popular comedy duo will be appearing at the
Flamingo Club on July lOth.
twosome /tu:sgm/a word meaning two people who go
out together or spend a lot of time together, often used
humorously In C usually in singular]
John and Steve are a well-known twosome in the office. I
Their friends called them the terrible twosome because of the
way they behaved in public.
two things of the same type that are used
together
pair
twin

TWO 1461 TYPE
pair/peorl [n C]
a pair of shoes/gloves/socks etc I bought a new pair of
shoes today. I She could see a pair of eyes looking at her
through a crack in the wall. I a matching pair (=designed
to look good as a pair) On the bookshelf was a matching pair
of china ornaments.
twin/twn/twin beds/engines/carburettors etc (=like
each other and intended to be used as a pair) [adj only before
noun]
We reserved a hotel room with twin beds. I The new Volkswa-
gen has twin carburettors and a 5-speed gearbox. I twin-
engined/twin-bedded The DC9 is a twin-engined aircraft.
4 designed or intended to be used by two
people
for two
double
two-man
for two /fo r 'tu:/ tea/coffee/dinner/a table for two
(=for two people in a restaurant) lady phrase]
Tea for two please. I We'd like a table for two, next to the
window.
double / 'dAbl! double room/bed [adj only before noun]
We'd like a double room with a shower. I My parents have
bought a new double bed.
two.man ],tu: 'mn-! two-man tent/canoe [adj only
before noun]
Although it was supposed to be a two-man tent, there was
hardly enough room for one. I They raced down the river in
a two-man canoe.
double I'dAbll [predeterminer]
double the cost/price/weight/number etc Mark's bike
was almost double the price of mine. [ Cream has double the
calories of yoghurt. [ Interest rates are so high that you end
up paying double what you originally borrowed.
7 ways of saying that something is done or
happens two times
twice
twice over
twice Itwais/[adv]
I've only ever met her twice before. J twice a day/week/
month/year I play golf twice a week. I twice daily/
weekly/monthly/yearly The meetings are held twice
weekly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. [ Take one
teaspoonful of the medicine twice daily.
twice over ],twais 'aova r] if you do something twice
over, you do it twice in order to do it thoroughly lady
phrase]
You should read the exam question twice over before answer-
ing it. I The company's accounts were checked twice over, the
second time by an independent auditor.
twofold TWO 5
twosome TWO 2
type TYPE 1, WRITE 9
type: different kinds/types/sorts of VARIOUS/OF
DIFFERENT KINDS 1
type: not be sb's type. DON'T LIKE 1, WRONG/
UNSUITABLE 6
S words for describing something that has two
separate parts or uses
double
dual
twofold
double / 'd^bl/[adj only before noun]
I pushed the double door open and walked into the office. I
Opening her notebook to afresh double page, Joanna began
to write. I There was a double white line down the middle
of the road. ] For years Doris had been leading a double life,
a respectable housewife by day, a casino hostess by night.
dual /'dju:ol II Idu:al/ dual nationality/controls/pur-
pose/function/role etc (=which consists of two nation-
alities, two sets of controls etc) [adj only before noun]
He has dual nationality because his father was born in
Pakistan and his mother was British. I It's much safer if you
learn to drive in a car which has dual controls. I Don Jose
continued in his dual role of father and teacher to his son. I
The shorthorn is a fine dual-purpose animal producing quite
good milk and good beef.
twofold/'tu:faold! a formal word: if someone or some-
thing has twofold reasons, aims, effects etc, they have two
separate reasons etc and each one is equally important
[adj]
Smith's reasons for leaving were twofold. I The lack of dia-
logue in the film has a twofold effect. I Our objectives are
twofold -first, to increase sales and second, to cut expenses.
6 ways of saying that one amount or number is
twice as big as another amount or number
twice
double
twice Itwais/[predeterminer/adv]
twice as big/fast/much/many etc as I can run twice as
fast as you can. [ We were the same height, but he weighed
twice as much as I did. I Teenage brides are twice as likely
to end up being divorced as those aged over 21. I twice the
money/my salary/his age etc If you bought this sweater
in a store it would cost you twice the money.
TYPE
a group of people or things that are the same
in certain ways
a type of person or thing
a type of animal or plant
a type of product
a number of people or things of the same
type that are considered as a group
to regard someone or something as
belonging to a particular type
1 a type of person or thing
type form of
kind/sort style
like this/like that
type [taIp[ one of a group or class of people or things with
similar features or qualities, used when you are talking
about one person or thing rather than the whole group or
class In C]
"What type of music do you like? .... Mainly pop, and some
jazz. "" l Buy the correct shampoo for your own personal hair
type. I He's just the type to act without thinking of the conse-
quences. I this/that etc type of This type of architecture is
typical of the region. I of this/that type Wines of this type
can be found in most supermarkets.
kind/sort/kaInd, sa:rt/someone or something that is one
of a group of people or things with similar features or qual-
ities In C]
I don't know what kind of work she does, do you? I Karen
is not the sort of person who gives away secrets. I As well as
sailing, the boys learn all kinds of other skills from wood-
work to mathematics. [ this/that etc kind/sort of There's
no need to be rude. There's no excuse for that sort of thing.I
of this/that etc kind/sort On any expedition of this kind
there are always dangers.
like this/like that/lalk Ibis, lalk 'brat/someone or some-
thing like this or like that is one type of the people or
things that you have just been talking about [adj phrase]

TYPE 1462 TYPICAL
Their house is small and damp. with no heating - I couldn't
live in a place like that. I You shouldn't drive in weather like
this; it's too dangerous. I I don't know why they're borrow-
ing so much money at a time like this, with interest rates
going up every month/
|orm o| ] Ifa:rm v] a form of something is one type of it
of all the ones that are possible [n C]
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer. I Britain has a constitu-
tional form of government. I Sugar in chocolate and other
forms of confectionery is one of the major causes of tooth
decay.
style/stad! a type of something, when you are talking
about the different ways or methods of doing something,
making something etc In C]
Which style of chair do you like best? I This city has build-
ings built in every different style of architecture imaginable. I
Both men follow totally different management styles.
2 a type of animal or plant
species variety
breed strain
species/'spi:fi:z/(plural species) a particular class of
a larger group of animals or plants [n C]
Birds' eggs vary in size, shape and colour according to their
species. I Several species of flowering plants have been
attacked by an unidentified disease. I endangered species
(=one whose existence is threatened) The continued com-
mercial hunting of whales means that they are an endan-
gered species. I protected species (=one that you are for-
bidden to hunt or destroy) The Bengal tiger is now a
protected species, after being hunted almost to extinction.
breed Ibri:dl a type of animal, especially one that has been
developed by man, such as a dog, cat, or a farm animal [n C]
What breed of dog is that? I've never seen one like it before. I
It's a very unusual breed of goat, dating back to the time of
Cleopatra. I Most dairy herds today are "of Friesian or
Holstein breeds.
variety/va'raati/a type of plant or animal that is differ-
ent from another similar type [n C]
This is a new variety of apple; we're selling it for the first
time. I It may be possible to create varieties of animals that
have resistance to common diseases. I South American
growers use the best US seed varieties.
strain Istrein/a technical word meaning a type of plant,
animal, bacteria etc that has one particular feature that
makes it different from others of the same type [n C]
A pure-bred strain of barley is required in theproduction of
this whisky. I A particularly hardy strain of the virus can
make you ill for over a week.
3 a type of product
brand
make
model
brand/brmnd/a type of product made by a particular com-
pany, especially a type of food or drink [n C]
Which brand of coffee do you usually buy? I We are carry-
ing out a survey for a soft drinks producer to find out which
brands the public prefers. I brand name She'll buy anything
with a brand name on it, rather than the cheapest.
make/mek/a type of product made by a particular com-
pany, especially a type of machine, cars furniture etc [n C]
We sell several different makes of car. I If you give me details
of the make of the machine, I'll get the spare parts immedi-
ately. I I want to buy a new watch, but I can't decide which
make is best. ,:,. •
model ]lmDdl II ma:dll a type of product of a particular
design, especially a machine or car [n C]
This car is our latest model at only Ј15,000. I If you're look-
ing for a video recorder I can recommend this model. I The
MX20 computer is our best selling model this year.
4 a number of people or things of the same
type that are considered as a group
category
class
under the heading
category I'kmtgari II -ga:ril [n C]
The Eden Hotel is in the 'under $50 dollars a night" category. I
Drug users and homosexuals belong to high-risk insurance
categories. I Emma Thompson won an Oscar in the category
of best actress.
class/kla:s II klas! a number of people or things that are
considered as being of the same group because they have
the same physical features, qualities etc [n C]
French is one of a class of languages known as the romance
languages. I Doctors are reluctant to prescribe a new class
of drugs, especially ones which need to be taken for long
periods of time.
under the heading/,And r 6 hedirj/if a number of
things come under the heading of a more general group,
they are all types of that group [adv phrase]
come under the heading of Literature, novels, thrillers,
science fiction, and short stories all come under the heading
of fiction. [ under the heading (of) Under the heading of
staff development we have everything from management
training to social events.
5 to regard someone or something as
belonging to a particular type
categorize classify
stereotype pigeonhole
categorize (also .ise British)/'kmtgraxzl to decide that
a particular person or thing belongs to a particular type
[v T]
categorize sb/sth We have a simple system of categorizing
the rocks according to where we find them. I I wasn't sure
how to categorize our relationship - I supposed you could
say we had mutual respect. I categorize sb/sth as Dali was
categorized as a surrealist painter.
stereotype/' steritap/to decide, usually unfairly, that
certain people have particular qualities, abilities, or needs,
for example because they are of a particular sex, race, or
social class [v T]
stereotype sb/sth as There is a tendency to stereotype child-
less women as being hard and career-orientated. I stereo-
type sb/sth Teachers often stereotype kids who speak with
strong regional accents.
classify/, klas fa/to regard people or things as belong-
ing to a particular type because they have the same physi-
cal features, qualities etc [v T]
classify sb/sth It is useful to classify cancer patients accord-
ing to a clinical estimate of their lifespan. [ These cheeses
have been classified byflavour and odour. I classify sb/sth
as Carpentry and furniture making are often classified as
skilled trades.
pigeonhole/'pd3onhaol! to say that someone or some-
thing can be described as a particular type because they
have the general qualities, abilities etc that you would
expect of that type [v T]
It's a very difficu It job to p igeonho le - sometimes it "s office
work and sometimes it's helping the kids. I You shouldn't
pigeonhole people according to your first impressions of
them.
typed WRITE 13
typical TYPICAL 1, 2
TYPICAL
words for describing someone or something
that has the usual qualities of the type that
they belong to

TYPICAL 146.3 TYPICAL
:2 words for describing a kind of behaviour or a
quality that is usual and expected in a
particular type, group, or person
3 to be a good example of a particular kind of
person, situation, behaviour etc
4 ways of saying that a period of time or a
person's life or work has certain typical
qualities
5 not typical
6 words for describing a kind of behaviour or a
quality that is not usual or expected in a
particular type, group, or person
words for describing someone or something
that has the usual qualities of the type that
they belong to
typical stock
representative true
archetypal stereotype
classic
typical I'tpIkl/[adj]
There is a typical 12th century church in the plaza which is
absolutely beautiful. I McGarron looked like a typical Ameri-
can car salesman. I On a typical day in 1985, President
Reagan received more than 4,500 letters. I typical of This
song is typical of 1970s pop music.
typically [adv ] Everyone admired his typically Greek fear-
lessness when dealing with any official.
representative/,repri 'zentativ/typical of a group or
type, so that if you look at it or study it you willunderstand
what all the other members of the same group or type are
like [adj]
For our survey we asked a representative sample of voters
to give us their opinions. [ representative of These paint-
ings are representative of the kind of work being done by
young artists nowadays. [ Would you say that his views were
representative of the majority of French voters?
archetypal/Io:rkltalpal/the archetypal person or thing
is the most typical example of that kind of person or thing,
and has all their most important qualities [adj usually
before noun]
Indiana Jones is the archetypal adventure hero. I the arche-
typal pushy Hollywood mother
archetype In C] Merlin is the archetype of the Wise Old Man.
classic/'klms;k/classic case/example etc (=a very typi-
cal, almost perfect example of something, especially in a
way that is impressive or amusing) [adj usually before
noun]
She made the classic mistake of trying to drive away without
releasing the hand brake. [ The misunderstanding was
nobody's fault and was a classic example of bad communi-
cation. [ The invention of the X-ray was a classic case of
discovering something by accident.
stock /stok 11 sta:k/ stock example/phrase/remark/
excuse/joke etc (=one that is so commonly used in a par-
ticular situation or by a particular group that it no longer
seems interesting or effective) [adj only before noun]
It is a stock joke that Sam always forgets his money when
we go to the bar. [ The letter was full of all the usual stock
excuses. [ "Miss Lavish is so original. "'said Henry. This was
the stock remark whenever someone met Miss Lavish for the
first time.
true Itru:/ true Scotsman/Irishman/Frenchman etc
(=having the good qualities that you expect a typical person
from a particular country or place to have) [adj only before
noun ]
All true Americans will support this move towards freedom
and democracy. [ Spoken like a true Scotsman!
stereotype/'steriatalp/a fixed idea or image of what a
particular type of person or thing is like In C]
The characters in the book are just stereotypes, not real
people. [ sterotype of Charles quite plainly did not fit the
stereotype of a successful, high powered businessman. [ femi-
nine/racial ere stereotype She rejects the feminine stereo-
type that women find their true satisfaction in being mothers.
stereotypical [ ,steria'tpkal! [adj] Some people find his
novels offensive because of the stereotypical blacks he
portrays.
2 words for describing a kind of behaviour or
 quality that is usual or expected in a particular
type, group, or person
typical be just like
characteristic true to form
just what you'd expect would
be in character the Inevitable
typical I'upikal/behaviour or actions that are typical of
a person are just what you usually expect them to do, espe-
cially when this is something bad or annoying [adj]
Mrs Quilley greeted the guests with typical charm and con-
fidence. [ This is typical adolescent behaviour. [ "'Dacl forgot
to mail the letter.'" "That's just typical!"[ typical of It's typi-
cal of Ramon to waste time when he knows we are already
late. [ This lack of curiosity was typical of Sandra.
typically [advl Her reaction was typically serious.
characteristic / i ker akta'rIstIk-/very typical of a par-
ticular type of thing, or of someone's character or usual
behaviour [adj]
Each species of bird has its own characteristic song. [ Larry,
with characteristic generosity, invited everyone back to his
house. [ characteristic of This pattern is characteristic of
the local architecture.
characteristically [ adv ] Mrs B'halla started to apologise
in her characteristically nervous manner.
Just what you'd expect I,ds^st wot ju:d ikspekt/if you
say that something is just what you'd expect, you mean
that it is exactly what your idea of someone makes you
expect them to do [adj phrase]
Jenny's house is very clean and neat, just what you "d expect. [
He was annoyed, but he soon got over it -just what you'd
expect, in fact.
be in character/bi: in karktr/an action or remark
that is in character is typical of someone's character Iv
phrase]
Her reaction was quite in character - she gave me $10. t dulie
said that? That doesn't seem to be in character at all.
be Just like/hi: td3^st tlalk/-if you say that someone's
action or behaviour is just like them, you mean that it is
typical of them in a way that annoys you [v phrase]
It's just like Uncle Roy to invite us all to lunch and then forget
to tell Aunt Sarah. [ It would be just like my son to get the
measles twice. [ You have left everything to the last minute.
That's just like you.
true to form / itru: t 'fa:rm/if you say that someone does
something true to form you mean it is very typical of
them, especially when it is something annoying lady
phrase]
True to form, Oliver turned up late and drunk. [ They
promised to pay by Friday and yes, true to form, the money
didn't arrive till Wednesday.
would/wod/you say someone would do something when
they do something that is typical of them and you want to
criticize them for it [modal verb]
"'Janice is going to be late for the meeting. "" "'She would be!"[
"And then Harry got drunk. "" "He would do, wouldn't he!'"
the Inevitable/6i i'nevtabal/an expression often used
humorously, meaning usual and expected for a particular
person or type of person or a situation [adj phrase only
before noun]
It was a typical student's room with the inevitable Van Gogh
print on the wall. [ Dinner started with the inevitable chicken
soup. [ In the subway I got cornered by the inevitable
drunkard wanting to give me some advice.

TYPICAL 1464 tyranny
;3 to be a good example of a particular kind of
person, situation, behaviour etc
be a good example be the epitome of
typify personify
characterize exemplify
epitomize
be a good example Ibi-" a ,god ig'zo:mpal II-'za  m-/
something that is a good example of a group or type of
thing, has all the usual and typical qualities of that group
or type Iv phrase]
Most word processors are easy to operate, and this one is a
good example. I A good example of rising crime rates is theft
from cars, which has risen by over 25 per cent. I be a good
example of H/s latest movie is a good example of Hollywood
fantasy. I If you want to know how not to make a video, this
is a perfect example!
typify/'upfaq to be a typical example of a type of person,
thing, attitude, or situation Iv T not in progressive]
This letter typifies his loyalty and consideration. I Mrs
Maugham's attitude towards the television typified her
whole moral outlook.
characterize (also .ise British)/'karktrazl to be typi-
cal of a person, place or thing [v T not in progressive]
We approached the big empty square that characterizes the
centre of Chinese cities. I This perhaps explains the bright
colours which characterize his paintings.
epitomize (also -ise British)/ 'pitamaz/to be the most
typical example of a type of person, thing, attitude or situ-
ation [v T not in progressive]
His poems epitomize the feelings of the generation of soldiers
that fought in World War 1. I The auto assembly line
epitomizes the conditions that contribute to employee dis-
satisfaction.
be the epitome of/bi: 6i  'ptami ov/to be the best pos-
sible example of a particular type of person or thing or of
a particular quality Iv phrase]
Christine's clothes are the epitome of good taste. I With her
neat hair and her flat, sensible shoes, she was the epitome
of the traditional librarian.
personify/pr'snfa II -'sa:-/if someone personifies
a particular quality, they are the perfect example of some-
one who has that quality, and you feel very strongly about
them because of this Iv T not in progressive]
The little boy seemed to personify the poverty and famine of
his country. I To the school children kindness and beauty
were personified by their teacher Miss Appleby. "
personification /pr,sonQ'kefn II-,so:-/ [n U] Some
people considered the General to be the personification of
patriotic courage.
exemplify/g zemplfal/to be a very typical example of
something that you are talking about, which shows that
what you say is true Iv I not usually in progressive]
A hospital I visited last month exemplifies the need for extra
funding in the health service. [ The current trend towards
convenience foods is exemplified by the TV dinner.
 ways of saying that a period of time or a
person's life or work has certain typical
qualities
be marked by
be marked by/bi: 'ma:rkt bat/[v phrase]
His fihns are marked by a deliberate absence of glamour. [
The early sixties were marked by a considerable expansion
of American nuclear capability. [ There followed a period
of easier Sino-Americanrelations marked by exchanges at
Geneva and ambassadorial conferences.
5 not typical
atypical
uncharacteristic
atypical/eI 'tIpIkal/belonging to a type or group, but not
having the usual qualities of that type or group [adj]
Such letters of complaint are atypical; we usually receive
nothing but praise and admiration for our work. I atypi-
cal of This bird is atypical of most species here in that it does
not build a nest.
uncharacteristic/,^nkmrkt'rstik/not typical of a
particular situation, and therefore seeming unusual and
surprising [ adj ]
It was summer and despite the uncharacteristic coolness in
the air, there were hundreds of tourists. I There has been a
sudden and uncharacteristic increase in the incidence of staff
illness in this company.
6 words for describing a kind of behaviour or a
[ quality that is not usual or expected in a
particular type, group, or person
u ncharacteristic u ntypical
not be like/be unlike be out of character
uncharacteristic /,^nkzerktarstk/ not typical of
someone's character or usual behaviour and therefore
surprising [ adj]
She yelled at her mother with uncharacteristic fury. I
uncharacteristic of I'm worried about Louise, she has been
late every day this week. It is most uncharacteristic of her.
not be like/be unlike/not bi: la[k, bi: An'la[k/ ff you
say it is not like someone to do something, you mean it is
not typical of them to behave in that way, and it is strange
or surprising Iv phrase]
Cheer up Maria. It isn't like you to be as depressed as this. I
It's unlike him to drink so much, I hope he is all right. I I don "t
understand why Mr Beanie is being so nice today - it's just
not like him.
untypical /^n'tpkal ov/ not typical of the usual
behaviour of a person or group [adj]
He began a quite untypical poetic speech. I This was an
untypical failure on her part. I untypical of The solemn tone
of this story is untypical of her usual style.
be out of character/bi: aot av 'kmrktor/an action
which is out of character is not typical of someone's
character and usual behaviour Iv phrase]
I can't believe Andrew wrote this letter - it seems so out of
character. I "Jane never said a word all morning. "" "That
sounds very out of character to me. '"
typically USUALLY 1
typify TYPICAL 3
typing WRITE 9
tyrannical CRUEL 2
tyranny GOVERNMENT 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

U-turn 1465 UGLY
U-turn
ugly
U
CHANGE YOUR MIND 1
UGLY 2, 3
UGLY
1 words for describing someone who is not
good-looking
2 words for describing someone who is
extremely unattractive
3 words for describing something such as an
object, building, or piece of furniture that is
very unpleasant to look at
4 words for describing something that spoils its
surroundings because it is very unpleasant to
look at
1 words for describing someone who is not
good-looking
not good-looking not much to look at
plain unattractive
homely
not good.looking/not god 'lokrjI [adj not before noun]
His new girlfriend wasn't very good-looking and had terri-
ble taste in clothes. I Most women found Jason attractive,
even though he was not good-looking in the conventional
sense. I Our teacher's face is interesting rather than good-
looking.
plain/plem/having dull, uninteresting features [adj]
Margaret was always considered plain by the local boys. I
Miles was the plain one in an otherwise good-looking family.
homely/'houmli/ an American word meaning having
dull, uninteresting features [adj]
Lucille's sister was homely, with wide shoulders and big
hands. I a dull, rather homely-looking tomboy
not much to look at/not ,nq to luk mt] if you say that
someone is not much to look at, you mean that they are
not good-looking, especially when other things about them
are attractive [adj phrase]
Edward's not much to look at, but he has a great pcrsonality.
unattractive /,^no'trzektiv-/not good-looking at all [adj]
Fat people often worry because they think they are unattrac-
tive to members of the opposite sex. I The awkward, unattrac-
tive teenager I once knew was now a fine young woman.
unattractively lady] His face was unattractively long.
2 words for describing someone who is
extremely unattractive
ugly grotesque
hideous unslghtly
repulslve
ugly / ' ^gill [adj ]
Bailey and I hated our uncle. He was ugly, fat, and laughed
like a pig. I The man Gina had kicked suddenly went crazy,
his ugly face contorted with rage.
ugliness In U] Her ugliness made her an easy target for the
other girls" jokes.
hideous /hidios/extremely ugly, especially because you
were born with something wrong with you [adj]
In a fairy story, the Prince is very handsome, the witch
hideous. I a man with a hideous twisted lip
hideously [ adv ] His back was bent hideously and he stooped
when he walked. '
repulsive/ri'pMslv/very ugly and extremely unpleasant
to look at [adj]
The patient's disease was so terrible that his own skin was
repulsive to him. I Delia was frightened of the operation,
because afterwards she knew she would look repulsive.
grotesque /grou'tesk/ extremely ugly in a strange or
unnatural way [adj]
Suddenly the grotesque figure of the hunchback Quasirnodo
loomed out of the darkness. I The boy was twisting one side
of his face and.fluttering his hands in grotesque imitation
of his grandfather.
grotesquely [adv] Anne had been crying for so long that her
features were grotesquely distorted.
unsightly/^n'sa;tli/an unsightly spot, mark, hair on
your face etc is very unattractive [adj usually before noun]
The accident left Simon with unsightly scars. I Electrolysis
gets rid of unsightly facial hair.
3 words for describing something such as an
object, building, or piece of furniture that is
very unpleasant to look at
ugly revolting
hideous unattractive
ugly I'Agli/ [adj]
All the ugly brown wallpaper had been stripped off I The
room was bare except for a few pieces of ugly furniture ] The
Western European Union has its headquarters in the ugli-
est building in the city.
ugliness In U] The whole room seemed to focus on the ugli-
ness of that ornament.
hideous / hidios/very ugly, especially because the person
who chose it has no idea about what is attractive and what
is ugly [adj]
One of our wedding presents was a hideous clock. I What a
hideous colour khaki is. I The beautiful old city centre is now
dominated by hideous skyscrapers.
revolting/rI 'vooltlrj/something that is revolting is so
ugly that you do not like to look at it [adj]
The Martins have chosen a revolting pattern for the dining
room wallpaper. I This sweater is revolting. It's the sort of
thing my gran used to make me.
unattractive / ,^no 'trmktiw/ not at all pleasant to look
at [adj]
Large, unattractive housing estates surround the town. [
Wearing an unattractive blouse and old-fashioned skirt, Lisa
looked older than she was.
unattractively lady] Large orange cushions were strewn
unattractively over the brown sofa.
4 words for describing something that spoils its
surroundings because it is very unpleasant to
look at
u nslghtly monstrosity
eyesore blot on the landscape
unsightly/An'saitli/[adj]
Bushes and plants make the perfect screen for unsightly
objects such as dustbins. I The pile of soiled diapers in the
corner of the room was rather unsightly. I Tight bras and
knickers can cause unsightly bulges under close-fitting
clothes.
eyesore /'a;sa:r/something, especially a building, that
is ugly and that people cannot avoid seeing In C usually
singular]
Those new apartments are a real eyesore. I The only thing
that spoils the view is the gasworks - it's something of an
eyesore.
I I
monstrosity /mon strosoti II mo:n'stro:-/ something,
especially a very large building, that is extremely ugly and
unpleasant to look at In C]
I rented a Spanish-style monstrosity in Beverly Hills while
my apartment was redecorated. I This building is another
monstrosity celebrated as a brilliant piece of architecture.
blot on the landscape/,blot on 60 'lmndskeip II ,blo:t-/
a British expression meaning something such as an ugly
building that spoils the view In phrase]

ulterior motives 1466 UNCERTAIN
The container site at North Farm is a real blot on the
landscape.
ulterior motives: have ulterior motives REASON 11
ultimate BEST 1
ultimatum THREATEN 4
ultra EXTREME 1
unable to do sth: be unable to do sth CAN'T 1, 3
unable to have children: be unable to have children
BABY/HAVE A BABY 13
unacceptable STAND/BEAR 4
unaccompanied ALONE 1
unaccustomed- be unaccustomed to/unused to
USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 6
unaffected SAME 3
unaided ALONE 2
unambiguous CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 1
unanimous AGREE 1, EVERYONE 5
unannounced EXPECT 9
unappetizing UNPLEASANT 3
unarmed WEAPON 3
unassuming MODEST 1
unattainable IMPOSSIBLE 4
unattractive UGLY 1, 3
unavailable: not availablelunavailable AVAILABLE 6
unavoidable PREVENT 11
unaware: be unaware NOT KNOW 3
unbearable STAND/BEAR 4
unbeatable BEST 2
unbeknown to sb NOT KNOW 3
unbelievable BELIEVE 12
unbelievable/Incredible SURPRISED 6
unbelievably: incredibly/unbelievably VERY 2
unbiased FAIR 4
unblemished PERFECT 1, SPOIL 8
unbolt OPEN 3
unborn child/baby BABY/HAVE A BABY 3
unbreakable STRONG OBJECT 1
unbroken CONTINUOUS 6
unbutton FASTEN/DO UP 3
unbuttoned FASTEN/DO UP 4
uncalled-for RUDE/IMPOLITE 5
uncanny STRANGE 2
uncertain UNCERTAIN 1, 2
uncertain: be unsure/be uncertain NOT SURE 1
uncertain: make sb unsure/uncertain NOT SURE 3
uncertain
a:situ.ien:hat
UNCERTAIN
when it is impossible to be certain what has
happened, what will happen etc
words for describing a situation in which it is
impossible to be certain about what has
happened or what will happen
words for describing an uncertain situation in
which the most likely result is that something
bad will happen
ways of saying that two different results or
decisions are equally possible, and it is not
certain which one will happen
words for describing a subject or belief about
which it is difficult to be certain, because
there are many different opinions about it
1 words for describing a situation in which it is
 impossible to be certain about what has
happened or what will happen
uncertain it's up in the air
not be certain there is uncertainty
not be clear
uncertain/n's3:rtn/[adj]
The cause of the accident is uncertain. I it is uncertain
whether/if It is uncertain whether she'll take the job.
not be certain/not bi: 's3:rtn/[v phrase]
What happened next is not certain. I it is not certain how/
why/when/that It is not at all certain that Christopher
Columbus was the first European to discover America. I It
is by no means certain why Hitler decided to invade Russia. I
It is not certain when the recession will be over.
not be clear/nt bi: 'kliarl if something is not clear,
people do not know or understand enough about it to be cer-
tain about it Iv phrase]
What made Gauguin suddenly decide to take up painting is
not entirely clear. I it is not clear if/whether It is not yet
clear whether the disease is caused by a virus. I it is not clear
how/why/when It is not clear why my message wasn't
passed on. I it is not clear that It is not clear that she actu-
ally meant to kill him.
it's up in the air/ItS ,Ap n 6i 'earl you say it's up in
the air when what will happen is uncertain, because a
decision has not yet been made
I might be going on a training course next week, but it's still
up in the air. I They still haven "t said if I've got the job - it's
all up in the air at the moment.
there Is uncertainty/6ear iz An'sa:rtntil if there is
uncertainty about what has happened, or what will
happen, people do not feel certain and they are worried
about it
there is uncertainty about/over There is some uncer-
tainty about what will happen after the Emperor's death. I
Recently there has been a great deal of uncertainty over the
future of our car industry. I The Principal said there was
uncertainty about the candidate's qualifications.
2
words for describing an uncertain situation in
which the most likely result is that something
bad will happen
uncertain it's touch and go
doubtful be/hang in the balance
be in doubt iffy
there is doubt about
uncertain/an's3:rtnl [adj]
The situation on the island is still very uncertain and the
army is on full alert. I The economic outlook is so uncertain
that I would think carefully before investing any money. I
highly uncertdin The company faces a highly uncertain
future.
doubtful/datJtfl/uncertain but likely to be bad [adj]
The result of the President's re-election campaign remains
doubtful. I it is doubtful if/whether It is doubtful if she
will survive the operation. I It is extremely doubtful whether
the aid is actually reaching the people who need it most. I it
is doubtful that It is doubtful that the leaders of the two
sides will be able to reach an agreement.
be in doubt /bi: ;n 'daut/ if someone or something's
future or success is in doubt, it seems very uncertain and
they may not be able to continue or to succeed Iv phrase]
After Chernobyl the whole future of Russia's nuclear energy
programme was in doubt. I She wants to continue with the
course, even though her chances of success are in doubt.
there Is doubt about/6ear iz ,nao datJt abaot/if there
is doubt about something, it is uncertain whether it is
true, whether it will happen etc
There was some doubt about the authenticity of the diaries. I
At the time of the trial there was doubt about whether the
police had caught the right man.

UNCERTAIN 1467 UNCONSCIOUS
It's touch and go/ItS ,tAtf and 'gaol you say it's touch
and go when the situation seems extremely uncertain and
you are worried that something may not happen in the way
you want
"Do you think the operation will be successful? .... The nurse
says it's touch and go at the moment." I be touch and go
whether For a few nervous minutes it was touch and go
whether we would be allowed out of the police station.
be/hang in the balance/bi:, ,heo n 6a 'balans/if a
situation, especially a very serious situation, is or hangs
in the balance, it is very uncertain what will happen, and
there is a risk that something bad may happen Iv phrase]
The survival of the African elephant hangs in the balance. I
His career as a politician hung in the balance. I I can't say
what the outcome of the talks will be - they're very much in
the balance at the moment.
iffy/' Ifi/an informal word used to describe a plan or situ-
ation that seems uncertain and may not succeed or happen
as you want [adj not usually before noun]
"5Ґhat's happening about your new job? .... The whole thing's
rather iffy at the moment. "" l I haven't heard anything from
the people who wanted to buy the house and it's starting to
look pretty iffy.
3 ways of saying that two different results or
 decisions are equally possible, and it is not
certain which one will happen
could go either way
borderline
there's a fifty-fifty chance
it's a toss-up
could go either way/kod gao ,a;6a r 'we;/if you say
that something such as a game or a decision could go
either way, you mean that either of two results is equally
possible Iv phrase]
The court's decision could go either way. [ Becker is one set
ahead, but both men are playing extremely well and the
match could go either way.
borderiine /ba:rdarlaIn/ borderline case/candi-
date/decision (=when a decision may be made in either
of two ways) [adj]
In borderline cases we look at a student's class work to decide
the final exam result. I It was a borderline decision whether
to send him to prison or not.
there's a fifty-fifty chance 16earz a, ffti ffti tfo:ns II
-tfmns/if you say there is a fifty-fifty chance of some-
thing happening, you mean there is an equal chance of it
happening or not happening
The weather forecast said there was a fifty-fifty chance of
rain. [ be fifty-fifty (=there is a fifty-fifty chance) I don't
know if I've passed the exam - I'd say it was about fifty-fifty.
it's a toss.up/ts a 'tDs Ap [[ -t:s-/you say it's a toss-
up when you do not know which of two things will happen,
or which to choose between two possibilities
I don't know who'll get the job. Iguess it's a toss-up between
Carl and Steve. [ "Have you decided where to go on holiday?'"
"Well, it's a toss-up between Portugal and Turkey. ""
4 words for describing a subject or belief about
which it is difficult to be certain, because
there are many different opinions about it
debatable open to question/debate
questionable moot point
debatable/di'bcitabal I [adj]
it is debatable whether It is debatable whether these alter-
native medical treatments actually work. I a debatable
point Whether or not the US was right to invade Grenada
is an extremely debatable point.
questionable I'kwest[anaball something that is ques-
tionable seems doubtful and is likely to be wrong or
uhtrue [ adj]
The conclusions of the survey are questionable because the
research was based on a very small sample of people. I it is
questionable whether It is questionable whether these
advertisements will increase sales.
open to question/debate/,aopan ta 'kwest[an, dI 'bet/
something that is open to question or open to debate
seems doubtful and needs to be checked or discussed [adj
phrase]
Many people feel that the safety of the drug is now open to
question. I I'm not saying that she was wrong necessarily,
I just feel that one or two of her decisions were a little open
to question. I it is open to question/debate whether It is
open to debate whether the new government is any better than
the old one.
moot point /mu:t 'pa;nt/if you say something is a moot
point, you mean that different people have different opin-
ions about it, especially when you have some doubts about
it yourself [n C]
I'm not sure that bringing in computers has made our job
easier. It's a moot point. I Whether or not increasing taxes
will result in a fairer society remains a moot point.
uncertainty: cause doubt/cause uncertainty NOT
SURE 3
uncertainty: there is uncertainty UNCERTAIN 1
unchanged SAME 3
unchanging SAME 4
uncharacteristic TYPICAL 5, 6
uncharitable UNKIND 2
uncharted NOT KNOW 10
unchecked LET/ALLOW 6
unclear/not clear CLEAR/EASY TO SEE 3, CLEAR/EASY
TO UNDERSTAND 4, 5
uncomfortable COMFORTABLE 5, 6, 10,
EMBARRASSED 1
uncommon/not common RARE 2
uncomplicated SIMPLE/NOT COMPLICATED 2
uncompromising DETERMINED 3
unconcerned DON'T CARE 4
unconditional CONDITIONISTH THAT MUST BE DONE 4
unconnected: unrelated/unconnected CONNECTED
WITH 8
unconscious DELIBERATELY 6, UNCONSCIOUS 1
unconscious: be unconscious of NOT KNOW 3
UNCONSCIOUS
unable to see, hear, feel etc in the normal
way because you are not conscious
to become unconscious
to make someone unconscious by giving
them a drug
to make someone unconscious by hitting
them
1 unable to see, hear, feel etc in the normal
way because you are not conscious
unconscious comatose
be out stunned
be/lie in a coma dazed
unconscious IAn'kDn[as II -'ka:n-/not able to see, hear,
feel etc, usually for a short time, for example because you
have taken a drug or been hit on the head [adj]
The victim was found unconscious near the scene of the acci-
dent. [ The unconscious man was carefully lifted onto a
stretcher. [ Murphy was attacked and beaten unconscious.
unconsciousness [n U] A heavy concentration of the drug
may produce dizziness or even unconsciousness.
be out/hi: 'not/if someone is out, they are unconscious
for a short time [phr v I]
"How long was the boxer out? .... Only for a few minutes. "'[
Don't worry, they won "t operate until you "re completely out. [
be out cold (=be completely out) The old man was out cold,
surrounded by empty bottles.

UNCONSCIOUS 1468 UNDER/BELOW
be/lie In a coma Ibi:, =laI in a =koomo/to be unconscious
for a long time, because of a serious accident or illness [v
phrase]
Marina has been in a coma for the past four months. [ do
Columbo lay in a coma, paralyzed by bullet wounds.
comatose I  koomotoos/a word used especially in a med-
ical context meaning unconscious, usually for a long time
or permanently [adj]
Within hours of taking the pills the patient became comatose
and died without ever regaining consciousness.
stunned /stAnd/ almost unconscious for a short time
because you have been hit on the head, so that you do not
know where you are, what is happening etc [adj]
I don't think he's too badly hurt - I think be's just stunned. [
In the mist many of the soldiers were wandering stunned and
defenceless.
dazed Idezd] almost unconscious for a short time, and
often unable to move, because you have had a shock, been
hit on the head etc [adj]
After she'd realised she'd driven into a wall she didn "t do any-
thing, she just sat there looking dazed. [ He staggered
towards a stranger, slightly dazed and asked "Where am I?'"
• to become unconscious
lose consciousness
faint
pass out
black out/have a blackout
slip/sink/fall into unconsciousness
collapse
lose consciousness /,lu:z 'konj'osns II-'kmn-/ to
become unconscious, usually while lying down, for exam-
ple because you are seriously ill or because a doctor has
given you a drug before an operation [v phrase]
The last thing I remember before losing consciousness was
the surgeon's face. [ The vast framework of the building
collapsed on him, and Peter lost consciousness.
|aint/fent! to become unconscious and fall, usually for
a short time, for example because you are very hot or
hungry Iv I]
One of the soldiers guarding the palace fainted in the heat.[
I need to go outside. I think I'm going to faint. [ Imust have
fainted, and when I came to I didn't know where I was.
pass out /,pa:s 'aot l[ ,pas-/ to become unconscious,
usually for a short time, for example because you have had
too much to drink, or because you cannot breathe properly
[phr v I]
When I first smoked a cigarette, I almost passed out. [ I think
the poor guy's passed out. He certainly had enough to drink.
black out/have a blackout /blak aot, hav a blmkaotl
to become unconscious for a short time, usually without
warning and for no clear reason [phr v I]
Have you ever blacked out at the wheel of a car before?[ Her
father's been having blackouts, and the doctor has ordered
a brain scan.
slip/sink/fall into unconsciousness I,slp, ,sl0k,
,fad ntu An'kon[asns II-ka:n-I to gradually become
unconscious, especially because you are seriously ill or
near to death Iv phrase]
The patient slipped into unconsciousness at around 7 am. I
She managed to say a few words before falling into uncons-
ciousness again.
collapse Ika laps! to fall and become unconscious, espe-
cially because you are very ill Iv I]
Come quickly, one of the passengers has collapsed. [ After
half a dozen glasses of whisky he collapsed and could not
be revived.
3 to make someone unconscious by giving
them a drug
anaesthetize/anesthetize
put sb to sleep
anaesthetize (also anesthetize in American English)
I  'ni:se  ta  z II 'nes-I to make someone unconscious so that
they will feel no pain during an operation by giving them
a drug Iv T usually in passive]
Once the patient was fully anesthetized, the surgeon made
a small incision in his chest.
put sb to sleep/,pot (sb) t sli:p! an informal expres-
sion meaning to make someone unconscious by giving
them a drug [v phrase]
The doctor told me she was going to put me to sleep.
4 to make someone unconscious by hitting
them
knock out
stun
knock out I,nok 'aot II ,no:k-/[phr v T]
You shouldn't have hit him so hard. You've knocked him
out. [ knock sb out cold One of the tiles fell from the roof,
knocking him out cold.
stun IStAnl to make someone unconscious for a short time
so that they do not know where they are, what is happen-
ing etc Iv T]
Don't kill the guard, just stun him to give us time to escape. [
Gamekeepers use special darts to stun the rhinos.
unconsciously DELIBERATELY 6
unconsciousness: slip/sink/fall into
unconsciousness UNCONSCIOUS 2
uncontrollable CONTROL 21
uncontrollably: laugh helplessly/uncontrollably/
hysterically LAUGH 6
unconventional CONVENTIONAL 2, STRANGE 6
unconvincing BELIEVE 13
uncooked COOK 4
uncooperative HELP 11
uncoordinated CLUMSY 2
uncover COVER 7
uncover/unearth FIND OUT 3
undaunted CONTINUE/NOT STOP 3
undecided: be undecided DECIDE 8
undemonstrative SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE 4
undeniable TRUE 4
under HAPPEN 6, LESS 2, LOW POSITION OR RANK
3, UNDER/BELOW 1, 3
under: go under DOWN 6, FAIL 10
under repair: be under repair REPAIR 6
under the name of NAME OF A PERSON 3
under the weather ILL 2
under/underneath UNDER/BELOW 4
under your breath: say sth under your breath SAY 5
under your own steam INDEPENDENT PERSON 4
under your wing: take sb under your wing LOOK
AFTER SB 6
under-5s/11s/25s etc AGE 5
UNDER/BELOW
under something that is directly above
in a lower position or at a lower level than
something
under the ground or under water
under something such as clothes, skin, or
paint that covers the surface of something
1 under something that is directly above
under
underneath
beneath
under/'nd;r/[prep]
Wendy hid the box under her bed. [ If there's no one at home,
just shove the letter under the door. I A small dog scampered

UNDER/BELOW 1469 understand sth to mean
into the room and dived under the table. I They sheltered
from the rain under a store awning.
underneath l,^ndo r ni:O! directly under another object
and close to it [prep/adv]
We found your keys on the sofa underneath a cushion. I Look
underneath the car and see if anything's loose. I Sheets of
newspaper had been laid underneath the carpet. I A pipe was
leaking so we put a bucket underneath to catch the drips.
beneath/b ni:OI a word used especially in formal writ-
ing or in literature meaning directly under something
[prep ]
We sat down beneath an old oak tree, where it was cool and
shady. I Our ship passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge into
San Francisco Bay. I As he walked across the hall, the boards
creaked beneath his feet.
2 in a lower position or at a lower level than
something
below
beneath
sunken
below IbI lul [adv/prep]
John lives on the fourth floor and Julle lives on the joor
below. I They looked from the mountain to the valley far
below. I He had an ugly scar just below his left eye. I skirts
reaching below the knee I Our pilot spatted two MiG29s flying
below us.
beneath lbi ni:O/a word used especially in formal writ-
ing or in literature meaning at a lower level and especially
a little in front or to one side of something [prep/adv]
Beneath the east window of the church stands the great
altar. I The besieging army was encamped beneath the castle
walls.I Carlo turned to her, grinning jercely beneath his
heavy moustache. I They stood on the cliff and gazed down
at the raging sea beneath.
sunken l'skon] sunken bath/garden/road etc (=built
or made at a lower level than the floor or ground) [adj only
before noun]
It was a luxurious bathroom with an enormous sunken
bath. I Alongside the house was a sunken garden filled with
beautiful flowers.
3 under the ground or under water
under subterranean
beneath u nderwaterl
underground/ under water
below ground submerged
under l'^ndarl [prep]
Much of the ancient city of Apollonla now lies under the sea.
The builders of this railway had to construct a series of tun-
nels under the mountain.
beneath/bi ni:O! a word used especially in formal writ-
ing or in literature meaning under [prep]
Far beneath the waters of the North Atlantic lies the wreck
of the great liner, the Titanic. I Petroleum occurs in natural
deposits beneath the surface of the earth.
underground/below ground /^ndar graond, bi lo
'graondl under the ground [adv]
The new otce complex has as much floor space underground
as above ground. I The explosives, will be stored below
ground in concrete bunkers. I 10 metres underground/
two miles underground etc At sorne points the coal seam
is only ten metres underground.
underground [ adj] The town's underground water supply
has dried up.
subterranean / snbt reinin/subterranean passage/
stream/waterfall etc (=below the ground) [adj only before
noun l
Beneath the old church is a network of subterranean pas-
sages. I A subterranean stream is believed to]low underneath
the town. ] Electronic sensors have located a huge sub-
terranean cavern in the Sierre Madre mountain range.
undeaterlunder water I  nndr w'-tsrl under the
water [adv ]
I don't like opening my eyes underwater. I a camera specially
designed for use under water I On land the seal is a clumsy
creature, but underwater it moves with grace and agility.
underwater [adj] Underwater archaeology is a fascinating
and highly special/seal branch of the science.
submerged/sbm3:rd3d! just under the surface of the
water [adj]
The bottom of the boat scraped on some submerged rocks. ]
Sometimes at low tide you can just see the submerged wreck
of a large boat.
4 under something such as clothes, skin, or
paint that covers the surface of something
under/underneath
beneath
under/underneath l'^ndar, , ^ndar 'ni:OI [prep/adv]
I'm wearing a thick sweater under my coat. I Scabies is a dis-
ease caused by a tiny insect that lays its eggs just underneath
the skin. I As we removed some of theplaster we began to dis.
cover an ancient fresco underneath.
beneath/bini:O! a word used especially in formal or
literary writing meaning under something such as clothes,
paint etc that covers the surface of something [prep]
The boy lay trembling beneath the bedclothes. I Somewhere
beneath the snow they hoped to jnd the bodies of those who
had died. I The inscription was hidden beneath a layer of dirt
and grime.
underclass CLASS IN SOCIETY 4
undercooked COOK 4
undercover SECRET 2, 4
underestimate GUESS 7, UNIMPORTANT 4
underestimate yourself MODEST 2
underfed HUNGRY/STARVING 1
undergo HAPPEN 12, SUFFER 1
undergraduate STUDY 4
underground SECRET 4
undergroundlbelow ground UNDER/BELOW 3
underhand DISHONEST 3
underline EMPHASIZE 1, LINE 11
underlying BASIC 1 CAUSE 11
,
undermine SPOIL 2
underneath CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 5,
UNDER/BELOW 1
underneath: under/underneath UNDER/BELOW 4
underneath it all REAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL 5
undernourished HUNGRY/STARVING 2
underpaid: be underpaid PAY SB FOR WORK 7
underprivileged POOR 2
underscore EMPHASIZE 1
underside: the underside BOI-FOM 3
undersigned: the undersigned SIGN YOUR NAME 3
understaffed: be understaffed WORKER 5
understand UNDERSTAND 1, 2, 3
understand: begin to understand UNDERSTAND 7
understand: give sb to understand TELL 6
understand: I fail to understand UNDERSTAND 13
understand: not understand UNDERSTAND 12
understand by UNDERSTAND 6
understand sth/sb to mean UNDERSTAND 6
understand sth to mean MEANING 7
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

UNDERSTAND 14'70 UNDERSTAND
UNDERSTAND
I to understand what someone is telling you,
for example because they explain it clearly
2 to understand a fact, process, idea, or
situation because you have the mental ability
to do this
3 to understand how someone feels, why they
behave the way they do etc
4 to understand each part of a story,
explanation etc while you are listening to it or
reading it
5 to fully understand new facts or information,
especially by studying them for a fairly long
time
6 to understand the meaning of an event,
situation, or statement in a particular way
7 to begin to understand something that you
did not understand at first
8 to think about something until you understand
it
g the ability to understand
10 words for describing ideas, instructions,
statements, or subjects that are easy to
understand
1 1 to understand something wrongly
12 to be unable to understand something,
especially something difficult or .complicated
13 ways of saying that you are unable to
understand why someone does something or
why something happens
14 difficult or impossible to understand
1 to understand what someone is telling you,
for example because they explain it clearly
understand  get
know what sb means get the message
see get the picture
I see
understand ! ,^nd r 'stand/[v I/T not in progressive]
"'OK, now do you see what I mean? .... Yes, I understand
now. "[ understand sb/sth I nodded my head, pretending
I had understood her instructions. [ understand what/
why/how ere A reyou sure they understood how you wanted
them to do it? [ I couldn't understand what she was saying,
she talks so fast. [ understand perfectly (=completely) Yes
Dad, I understand perfectly. I can't borrow the car again.
know what sb means/, nu writ (sb) 'mi:nz/to under-
stand what someone is telling you, especially if they have
not expressed it very clearly [v phrase not in progressive]
He has a funny way of expressing himself-you never quite
know what he means. I "It's a thing you hold pieces of wood
in when you're doing woodwork. "" "Oh, I know what you
mean - a vice. "'1 She's always making sarcastic comments
- do you know what I mean?
see Isi:/to understand what someone is telling you, why
they are telling you it, and why they have that opinion Iv
I/T not in progressive]
see the point (=understand the main idea) I see your point,
but I can't really agree with you. I see sth She could see the
truth of what he was saying. I see why/how etc I don't see
why I should help her. I see what sb means "The house
hasn't been decorated for a while. "' "Yes, I see what you
mean!"l see the joke (=understand why something is
funny) Barry didn't see the joke until I pointed out the man's
name. I see It's just a question of planning. You just don't
see, do you?
I see/ai 'si:! you say I see in order to show that you have
understood what someone has told you, especially when
you find it interesting or surprising
"Jane says she's having dinner with Mark this evening. "' "I
see. "'1 "Then you press this button here. "" "Yes, I see. ""
get/get/to understand a joke or story, or the reason for
a rather surprising decision, action, or event that someone
has told you about Iv T not in progressive or passive]
get it I get it now - he set fire to the house to collect the insur-
ance money. [ Why did you turn down such a fantastic job?
I don't get it. [ get a/the joke Everyone was laughing but
I didn't get the joke. [ John told me one of his stupid jokes
and it took me about five minutes to get it. [ get the point
(=understand the main idea) "Did you get the point of that
story? .... No, not really.'" [ get what/why/who ete I just
couldn't get what he meant.
get the message/,get 6 mesd3/an informal expres-
sion meaning to understand what someone is telling you
or what they want you to do, especially after they have told
you several times lv phrase]
"I don't want anyone to know I've applied for the job. ""
"Alright Debbie, I've got the message, you don't have to tell
me again. "" I Just keep telling them. They'll eventually get
the message. I get the message that He doesn't seem to get
the message that he's not welcome here.
get the picture /get 6a 'pktar/an informal expression
meaning to understand a situation or arrangement that
someone is explaining to you Iv phrase]
I get the picture. You want me to say you were at my house
last night. I We don't want any trouble tonight. Do you get
the picture?
to understand a fact, process, idea, or
situation because you have the mental ability
to do this
understand get it
comprehend make sense of
grasp
understand /,^nda r 'stmndl [v I/T not in progressive]
understand sth I'm not very good at chemistry and I've
never really understood physics. [ The situation in Bosnia
is very difficult to understand. [ understand how/why/
where ere Do you understand how this computer works? [
They don't understand what's happening. [ understand
When he's old enough to understand, we'll tell him he's
adopted. [ fully understand (=understand something com-
pletely) Conveyancing is a very complicated aspect of law -
in fact I don't fully understand it myself. [ How the drug actu-
ally works isn't fully understood.
comprehend I,kompr'hend [[ ,ka:m-/ a formal word
meaning to understand something that is complicated or
difficult to understand Iv T]

UNDERSTAND 14'71 UNDERSTAND
There are some things happening on our planet that even
scientists do not comprehend. I fully comprehend
(=understand something completely) Theprocess offamily
breakdown cannot be fully comprehended without also
studying other external factors.
comprehension ],kDmpriIhenfan II Ika.-m-] In U] He was
caught up in frightening events far beyond his comprehen-
sion.
grasp/gra:sp [[ greesp/to firmly understand a fact or an
idea, especially one that it is important or difficult to
understand [v T not in progressive]
grasp sth Anyone who does not grasp the importance of
budget control will never be successful in business. [ Some-
thing fell into place and he grasped what we had been trying
to explain to him. [ grasp that Veronica has not yet grasped
that to pass exams you have to work very hard.
grasp In U] He presented a complex argument that was
completely beyond my grasp (=too difficult for me to grasp).
get it ! get t/to finally understand something, especially
after it has been explained to you several times [v phrase]
I think I've got it now - Jerry is Bob's ex-wife's sister. [ Keep
explaining it to them - they're sure to get it eventually. [ "'So
the plant takes in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen. ""
"'That's it. You've got it. ""
make sense of/,meIk 'sens Dv/to understand some-
thing that is not clear or easy to understand, especially by
spending time thinking about it [v phrase]
Police are trying to make sense of a bizarre note left by the
murderer. [ How can anyone make sense of the huge volume
of news information that bombards us daily.
3 to understand how someone feels, why they
 behave the way they do etc
understand know how sb feels
see put yourself in sb's place
appreciate understandable
understand/,^ndr'stend/[v I/T not in progressive]
Why don't you tell your teacher about the problem? I'm sure
she'll understand. [ understand sth It is difficult to under-
stand the humiliation rape causes unless you've actually
experienced it. [ understand sb (=understand their actions
or views) I'm glad we understand each other. [ fully under-
stand I've never fully understood (=completely understood)
why they got divorced. [ understand how/why/what ere
I can understand why no one wants to share an office with
him. [ understand that You must understand that some
people don't have the money to send their children to college.
see Isi'.! to understand how someone feels or why they feel
that way, especially because the reasons are very clear Iv
I/T not in progressive]
see why/how Icould see why she was so annoyed. [ Youcan
see what a blow it must have been to his pride. [ see (that)
They could see it was embarrassing for me, so they just
stopped mentioning it. [ see You just don't see. It's not that
I don't want to give up smoking. I simply can't.
appreciate/'pri:fieit/to understand someone's feelings
or opinions even though you are not in the same situation
as them and do not necessarily agree with them [v T not
in progressive]
appreciate that I appreciate that you are only doing what
you believe to be right. [ appreciate sth "/was so angry
when I heard Nell had been promoted and I hadn't. "" "'Yes,
I can appreciate that. "[ appreciate how/why ere At the
time no one appreciated how close to suicide he was. [ fully
appreciate (=completely understand) I don't think you
fully appreciate the delicacy of my situation.
know how sb feels/,no hao (sb) 'fi:lz/to understand
how someone feels because you are in, or have been in, the
same situation as them Iv phrase not in progressive]
'Tm fed up with this stupid job. "" "Yes, I know how you feel. "'[
know how sb feels about He knows how I feel about fail-
ing the exam - he says he was depressed for months when
it happened to him. [ know how it feels to be McCarthy
spent several years as a hostage and knows how it feels to
be deprived of human contact.
put yourself in sb's place /,put jo:rself n (sb's) 'ples/
you say put yourself in someone's place when you want
someone to imagine they are in the same situation as
another person, so that they can understand how the other
person feels [v phrase]
I feel sorry for Nula. Put yourself in her place - she has four
kids to look after and her husband's just run off with another
woman.
understandabie /^nd r  stamdbal/feelings or attitudes
that are understandable, especially feelings of anger,
annoyance, or fear, do not surprise you because you can
see that there are good reasons for them [adj]
The teachers" annoyance at having so much extra paperwork
is understandable. [ There is understandable anger among
the victims" families. [ it is understandable that It is under-
standable that she doesn't want to see Bill again.
understandably [adv] Understandably, she just wants to
leave as soon as possible. [ They were, quite understandably,
annoyed by the delay.
4 to understand each part of a story,
explanation etc while you are listening to it or
reading it
follow
be with sb
keep up
follow/'flo [[ 'fa:-I to understand each part of some-
thing that is quite long such as an explanation or a story
[v I/T not in passive]
follow sth It was obvious from the look on her face that she
didn't follow what I was saying. [ The lecture was quite hard
to follow. [ follow sb Does everyone follow me so far? If not
I'll go over it again. [ follow Could you say it again? I don't
follow.
be with sb/hi: 'wl6 (sb)! to have understood everything
so far in an explanation that someone is giving Iv phrase
usually in questions and negative sentences]
I'm sorry but I'm not with you. Could you explain that part
again? [ Then you switch on the current. Are you with me so
far?
keep up / I ki:p ^p! to manage to understand each part of
something, especially a very long or complicated explana-
tion or story [phr v I]
She covers so much material in these lectures -Idon't know
how you manage to keep up. [ keep up with It's such a com-
plicated film it can be quite difficult to keep up with the story
line.
5 to fully understand new facts or information,
especially by studying them for a fairly long
time
digest assimilate
take in sink in
absorb
digest/da dsest / to understand new information, espe-
cially when there is a large amount of it or when it is
difficult to understand, by thinking about it carefully for
a fairly long time Iv T]
Take these papers away with you and read and digest them. [
By the end of my day in the careers library, I had a lot of
information to digest.
take in / tek In/to understand and remember new facts
or information [phr v T]
take sth/it/anything ere in I'm not going to the next class.
I'm too tired to take anything in. [ take in what/why/how
ere Are you sure you're taking in what I'm saying? You don't
seem to be paying attention. [ take in sth She listened atten-
tively, taking in every word he said and asking questions.
absorb/ab 's3:rb, ab'z3:rb/to understand a large amount
of new information Iv T]
"How was your first day at work? .... OK, but there was a bit
too much to absorb all at once. "" [ A new baby has an enor-
mous capacity for absorbing new information. [Although

UNDERSTAND 1472 UNDERSTAND
she is English she has learned and absorbed Italian as
though it were her first language.
assimilate/'sImleit/to understand and use new infor-
mation or ideas quickly and easily Iv T]
The new traffic regulations have been written in simple lan-
guage to make them easier to understand and assimilate. I
The person we are looking for must be flexible, creative, and
able to assimilate new ideas.
sink In/,sirjk 'In / ifa fact, information etc sinks in, you
gradually understand it [phr v I]
You have to repeat yourself over and over again to those kids
if you want anything to sink in. [ I've been revising all day
but I don't think much of it has sunk in.
6 to understand the meaning of an event,
situation, or statement in a particular way
make sth of interpret
read understand by
take sth to mean understand sthlsb to mean
see sth as construe sth as
make sth of/'melk (sth) tv II -a:v/to believe that some-
thing strange, difficult, or unusualhas a particular mean-
ing [phr v T not in progressive; usually in questions or nega-
tive sentences]
make sth of sth What do you make of this message? [ It is
very difficult to make anything of what he says when he
starts talking about brain surgery.
read/ri:d/to think that a remark, an action, an event etc
shows that someone has a particular opinion or feeling
even though they do not say this directly Iv T]
read sth as I read the invitation to his house as a desire to
find out more about me. [ read sth Her ability to read the
mood of the voters meant that she won the election easily. [
Good managers are usually able to read a situation quickly
and take the right action.
take sth to mean/,tek (sth) t 'mi:n/to choose to under-
stand a particular meaning in someone's words or actions
without being sure that this is the correct meaning
[ v phrase]
They were asked to behave more normally, which they took
to mean less formally. I Television producers should not take
low ratings to mean failure.
see sth as / 'si: (sth) azl to understand a remark, a piece
of writing, an event etc as having a particular meaning
especially when this is influenced by your own personal
situation [phr v T]
I see this poem as an attack on social injustice. I Young chil-
dren often see the birth of a new brother or sister as a great
intrusion.
interpret In't3:rprtl to choose to understand a piece of
information or group of facts in one of several possible
ways Iv T]
interpret sth as I interpreted her silence as anger. I inter-
pret sth This myth can be interpreted in several different
ways. I They are worried that the workers might interpret
the new law as a restriction of their rights.
interpretation/In,t3-'rpr 'tej'an/In C] The author is being
ironic - that's my interpretation anyway.
understand by/,^nda r'stand bai / to find a particular
meaning in an expression or in the name of something,
even though other people may understand it differently
[vT]
What do you understand by the term "alternative medicine'? l
He spoke of freedom, by which I understood freedom for
Blacks in South Africa.
understand sthlsb to mean/Andar,stand (sth/sb) ta
'mi:n/to think that Someone's remarks, a word, a piece of
writing etc means something or has a particular message,
even though this is not stated directly Iv phrase]
"This passage shows the author's rejection of religion. ""
"That's not what I understood it to mean at all. "'[ The people
governing themselves - that was what democracy was origi-
nally understood to mean. [ "It was a real winner, "" was
uttered in such a way that we understood the speaker to mean
the movie was a financial success.
construe sth as/kan' stru: (sth) fez/a formal expression
meaning to understand a remark or action in a particular
way, especially when it seems unreasonable to do this [phr
vT]
Her casual remark was construed as an insult. [ I don't know
how on earth you can construe this as anything more than
a simple mistake!
7 to begin to understand something that you
did not understand at first
begin to understand twig
catch on click
cotton on fall into place
begin to understand/bI ,gin to ^nda r ' sttend/to slowly
begin to understand a situation or someone's feelings,
because you get more information or because you
experience something for yourself Iv phrase]
"Ah, now I'm beginning to understand - you have had a
fight with your boyfriend. "1 Treatment is supplemented by
educational videos so that patients can begin to understand
more about their condition. I begin to understand that I
was beginning to understand that being alone could be ter-
ribly depressing. I begin to understand why/how/what
etc It had hurt him at first but gradually he began to under-
stand why his wife did not want to have children.
catch on/,katJ" 'Dn [[ -'ore/to begin to understand some-
thing other people have understood for a fairly long time
[phr v I]
We all knew why Mary was in such a terrible mood but it
was only when Ian dropped an enormous hint that Alan
caught on. I catch on that The computer world has finally
caught on that the people at Apple are innovators.
cotton on/,kmn 'tn [[ ,ko:tn a:n/an informal British
expression meaning to begin to understand a situation by
what you see and hear around you, and not by being told
directly [phr v I]
cotton on to It took him a while to cotton on to what was
happening. [ Large stores have at last cottoned on to the fact
that mothers with pushchairs can't cope with stairs. [ cotton
on I don't like being interrupted when I'm working but my
secretary hasn't cottoned on yet.
twig/twig/an informal British word meaning to suddenly
begin to understand a situation or someone's feelings, espe-
cially by watching how they behave Iv I/T]
I'm not happy here and I think they've twigged. I twig why/
how/what etc/t was ages before anyone twigged why she
had been acting so strangely.
click/klIk] if something clicks, especially something you
are learning, you suddenly begin to understand it Iv I]
For ages I couldn't do algebra, then one day it just clicked. [
click with sb Most new recruits take a long time to master
our accounting system but it clicked with Peter almost
immediately.
fall into place/,fa:l nta 'pleis/if several facts fall into
place, you begin to understand how they are connected and
why each one is important, so that you understand a whole
situation or subject Iv phrase]
Once the police received this new evidence, things began fall-
ing into place. [ Studying physics was difficult at first, but
eventually things fell into place and she passed the exam with
a top grade.
 to think about something until you understand it
figure out
work out
figure out/,fIg r 'aot II ,fIgjr-/to think about a situa-
tion or a piece of work until you understand it, especially
when it is difficult to understand [phr v T]
figure sth/it out I've been trying to understand this dia-
gram for hours but I just can't figure it out. I figure out
how/why/what ere Will you help me figure out how to do
these sums? I'm completely stuck. I figure sth out for your-
self "'Why don't you like Susan?" "I'll let youfigure that out
for yourself. '"

UNDERSTAND 1473 UNDERSTAND
work out ! w3:rk 'aot/to understand something by think-
ing about information that you know and putting it
together to provide an answer to a problem [phr v T]
work sth/it out It's quite a complicated storyline - it might
take you a while to work it out. I work out sth I'm trying
to work out these sales figures. I work sth out for yourself
I'm not telling you the answer, you can work it out for
yourself.
9 the ability to understand
comprehension
understanding
insight
comprehension / ,kompri 'henfan II ,ka:m-I the ability
to understand the meaning of something, especially a piece
of spoken or written language in U]
The teacher gave us a comprehension test. I You need to
practise your reading comprehension more. I We were
trying to grasp ideas that were at the very limits of human
comprehension.
understanding/,^ndr'stendo/the ability to under-
stand a situation, idea, subject etc in U]
understanding of He seems to have very little understand-
ing of economics. I Thanks to Annie, whose understanding
of the situation was perfect, they managed to avoid a seri-
ous confrontation. I understanding A much greater level
of understanding is required to carry out more complex
experiments.
insight/'insazt/ability to understand or realize some-
thing new about a subject to clearly understand the nature
of a problem, situation, subject etc in C/U]
Crick soon established himself as a scientist of great insight
and creativity. I insight into She has a real insight into the
way people subconsciously seek to justify their actions.
words for describing ideas, instructions,
statements, or subjects that are easy to
understand
easy to understand/follow accessible
com prehensible coherent
intelligible
easy to understand/follow/,i:zi to Anda r'stend, 'fobo
II - ' fa:lo! [adj phrase]
The instructions are easy to follow. I Five easy to follow
recipes for you to cut out and keep. I We try to write it in
language that is easy to understand.
comprehensible /,ktmprI'hensobM II ,ka:m-I some-
thing that is comprehensible is easy to understand
because it does not contain any complicated information
and is expressed in very clear language [adj]
Each entry in the new opera guide is a brief, immediately
comprehensible paragraph. I Visual aids can make lessons
much more interesting and comprehensible. I comprehen-
sible to Dictionary definitions should not contain complex
vocabulary, because they must be comprehensible to their
users.
Intelligible/n'telIdsoIbal/something that is intelligible,
such as a subject you study or a piece of writing or speech,
is fairly easy to understand [adj]
In his book Montesquieu tries to make history intelligible. I
Her English was strwzgly accented but quite intelligible. I
intelligible to The aim of the documentary is to make
genetics intelligible to people who know nothing about it.
accessible/k'sesbl/books, films, information etc that
are accessible are written or made in a way that is easy
to understand even though they may concern subjects that
are complicated [adj]
Philip Glass has produced something very rare - an acces-
sible modern opera. I I don't find James Joyce's writing very
accessible. I accessible to He was specifically asked to write
a play that would be accessible to the local community.
cohorent/ko'hgmnt! a piece of writing or speech that
is coherent is easy to understand because it is clear and
well-planned, so that all the parts fit well together [adj]
The prosecution presented a number of pieces of evidence in
one coherent account. I Even though he was drunk, his speech
was still coherent. I My head was swimming so wildly that
I could not frame a coherent answer.
1 1 to understand something wrongly
 misunderstand miss the point
misread be/talk at cross-purposes
misinterpret take sth the wrong way
get the wrong end don't get me wrong
of the stick misunderstanding
misunderstand/,mis^ndor'stend/to think that some-
thing means one thing when in fact it means something
else iv I/T not in progressive]
misunderstand sb/sth They must have misunderstood the
directions you gave them. [ You misunderstand me. I don't
mean I want you to move out straight away. [ I think I had
better explain the situation in case you misunderstood it. [
misunderstand I'm sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you
were going on holiday tomorrow, not next Friday.
misread !,ms'ri:d! to wrongly believe that someone's
actions show that they have a particular opinion or feel-
ing iv T]
I was confused. Had I been misreading her intentions? I
Because of my own preoccupations I was totally misreading
the situation and what was going on. I Unless I have mis-
read your hesitation, you are reluctant to give Mr Hall the
job.
misinterpret / ,msn'ta:rprlt/to not understand the true
meaning of someone's actions or words, so that you believe
something that is not in fact true iv T]
Your friendliness could easily be misinterpreted. I "'That
shocks you does it?" said Seth, misinterpreting her silence. [
It was an innocent remark which he deliberately misin-
terpreted.
get the wrong end of the stick/get 6a ,mr] end av
6a 'sUk II informal expression meaning to make
a mistake about one part of something that you are told,
so that you understand the rest of it in completely the
wrong way iv phrase]
Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick. I thought she was
leaving him, not the other way round.
miss the point/,ms 6a 'paint/to think that the main
point of an explanation or argument is something differ-
ent from what it actually is iv phrase]
It was obvious from his reply that he had mssed the point
completely. I I think you've missed the point, Sally. We want
to encourage competitiveness, not prevent it.
be/talk at cross-purposes/bi:, ,t:k t ,kros 'pa:rlYSZ
II two people are at cross-purposes, each of
them thinks that they understand what the other is talk-
ing about, when in fact they are talking about two differ-
ent things iv phrase]
I think we're at cross purposes - I'm talking about John, not
Nigel.
take sth the wrong way/,telk (sth) 6o ,rOl 3 'weI [[
-,r:rj-/to be offended or upset by a remark that was not
intended to offend or upset you, because you understood
it wrongly [v phrase]
Don't tell Simon that - he might take it the wrong way. [ Why
do you always take things the wrong way? I wasn't criticis-
ing you. I was just saying how you could improve your work. I
Don't take this the wrong way, but don't you think it's time
you got a haircut?
don't get me wrong/,daunt get mi: 'm0 [[ -'ra:r/you
say don't get me wrong when you do not want someone
to understand something wrongly or be upset by what you
say
I like Jenny, don't get me wrong, but I do think she acts a
little childishly at times [ He wasn't like some of the men I
knew. Don't get me wrong, he was no wimp, just a little shy.
misunderstanding I, ms^ndzr'stendrj/ a problem,
especially an embarrassing or upsetting one, that is caused
by someone not understanding a question, instruction,
statement etc in C]

UNDERSTAND 1474 undressed
I don't think he's deliberately not come to the meeting. There
must have been some misunderstanding. I Harry got angry
because he thought Bobby was after his job, but it was all
a misunderstanding and now he's apologized.
1 2 to be unable to understand something,
especially something difficult or complicated
not understand be over sb's head
can't make head or be out of your depth
tail of sth be none the wiser
not understand/nDt Andrstaend/[v I/T]
not understand sb/sth I hate politics - I don't understand
it. I I don't understand him - one minute he's smiling and
friendly and the next he won't have anything to do with me. I
not understand Raise your hand and tell the teacher if you
don't understand. I not understand that Some people don't
seem to understand that parachuting is a dangerous sport. I
not understand what/why/how etc I really don't under-
stand what it is about a football match that makes grown
men act so stupidly.
can't make head or tail of sth/,ko:nt me[k ,hed :r
'ted av (sth) II ,kent-/an informal expression meaning to
be unable to understand something at all because it is very
complicated or confusing Iv phrase]
I just can't make head or tail of this train timetable. I He was
a tallyoung man with a drawly voice - it was hard to make
head or tail of anything he said.
be over sb's head/bi: ,aov) r (sb's) 'hed/to be much too
complicated or technical for someone to understand Iv
phrase]
It was obvious from their blank expressions that what I was
saying was over their heads. I be way over sb's head (=be
much too complicated or technical to understand) We
started watching a science documentary, but it was way over
our heads, so we watched a film instead.
be out of your depth /bi: ,aut v ja: r 'depO/ to be
involved in a situation or activity which is too difficult for
you to understand Iv phrase]
She was out of her depth in the advanced class, so they moved
her to the intermediate class. I Then they started discussing
Greek philosophy and I was completely out of my depth, so
Ileft.
be none the wiser/bi: ,nAn 6a 'wazar/ to still not
understand something after someone has tried to explain
it to you Iv phrase]
I've read the manual but I'm still none the wiser. I Unfor-
tunately his detailed explanations of how to use the word
processor left me none the wiser.
13 ways of saying that you are unable to
 understand why someone does something or
why something happens
I can't think/imagine I fail to understand
it's beyond me/ I don't see/I can't see
it's a mystery to me it beats me
I can't think/imagine lax ,ka:nt '0n]k, ]'madsn II
-,kant-/you say I can't think or I can't imagine how or
why someone does something when you cannot think of
any reasonable explanation why someone should do it, and
are very surprised that they do
I can't think why/how ete She's so bossy, Ican't think why
you want to marry her. [ He wants to join the army - I can't
think why. [ How such a stupid man ever got to be a politi-
cian, I simply can't imagine.
it's beyond me/it's a mystery to me/Its b,jnd
'mi:, ItS a ,mIstari ta ,.mi: [[ -,ja:nd-/you say it's beyond me
when you do not understand why or how someone does
something, and when you have stopped trying to under-
stand it
"'Why do they keep living together when they "re always argu-
ing? .... Oh, I don't know; it's beyond me. "1 it's beyond me
how/why/what etc It's a mystery to me how he puts up
with travelling so far every day. I She had such beautiful
hair, it's beyond me why she had it all cut off
I fail to understand lax ,fell to Ando r'stand/a formal
expression: you say I fail to understand when you do not
understand someone's behaviour or a situation and you
think it is unreasonable or annoying
fail to understand why/how etc I fail to understand how
anyone should make so much fuss about a few letters.
I don't seell can't see/ai ,daunt 'si:, m ,ka:nt- [[ -,knt-/
to not understand a fact, idea, or how to do something, espe-
cially because it has not been fully explained to you
She says she's going to buy a house, but I don "t see how. She
has no money. I I don't see how/why/what etc Idon't see
how a diabetic can overdose on sugar when they're taking
insulin.
it beats me/t bi:ts 'mi:/you say it beats me when you
find something too difficult to understand, even though
you have tried to understand it
What beats me is how they ever make any money out of that
business. I Well, it beats me. I don't know how to get this
compact disc player going.
14 difficult or impossible to understand
incomprehensible incoherent
unintelligible obscure
incomprehensible /in,ktmpri'hensbal II -,ka:m-/
impossible to understand [adj]
His French accent is so strong I find his English incompre-
hensible. I incomprehensible that It is incomprehensible
that anyone should want to live in such an out-of-the-way
place. I incomprehensible to The leaflet was written in
jargon that would have been totally incomprehensible to-
anyone outside the profession.
unintelligible/,Anlnteld3bal/speech or writing that
is unintelligible is impossible to understand because it
is not clear, simple, or well planned [adj]
doe muttered something unintelligible, clasping his head in
his hands. ] He worried that the teacher would make him
read aloud, or start asking him unintelligible questions.
incoherent I,nko'hIarantl incoherent speech is very
difficult to understand, especially because the person who
is speaking is drunk, i11, or very angry [adj]
He moved amongst the guests, stammering incoherent apol-
ogies. I She was clearly very ill and at times her speech was
incoherent.
incoherently [adv] Rochester was banging his fists on the
wall, raging incoherently.
obscure lab'skjoar/ a statement, joke, or idea that is
obscure is very difficult to understand because the mean-
ing is not clear unless it is slowly explained to you [adj]
The play is so full of obscure in-jokes that it is enjoyable only
for those in the cast. [ Publishers would not print his earlier
poetry because they felt it was too obscure.
understandable UNDERSTAND 3
understanding AGREE 7, KIND 3, MEANING 8,
SYMPATHIZE 4, UNDERSTAND 9
understate UNIMPORTANT 4
undertake PROMISE 1
undertaking JOB/TASK 2, PROMISE 5
undertaking: give an undertaking PROMISE 1
undertone MEANING 5
underwater/under water UNDER/BELOW 3
underweight THIN PERSON 5
underworld CRIME 6
underwrite PAY FOR 11
undeserved UNFAIR 2
undiluted PURE 2
undivided attention: give sth/sb your undivided
attention ATTENTION 2
undo FASTEN/DO UP 3
undo: untie/undo TIE 5
undone FASTEN/DO UP 4
undoubtedly CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
undress/get sb undressed TAKE OFF CLOTHES 2
undressed: be undressed NAKED 1
undressed: get undressed/undress TAKE OFF
CLOTHES 1

undue 1475 UNFAIR
undue TOO/TOO MUCH 4
unduly TOO/TO0 MUCH 1
unduly: not unduly NOT 1
unearth FIND 6
unearth: uncover/unearth FIND OUT 3
unearthly STRANGE 3
uneasy NERVOUS 1, 5, WORRIED 1
uneconomical WASTE STH 3
unemotional EMOTIONAL 6
unemployed JOB/WORK 9
unending: endlesslunending CONTINUOUS 4
unenthusiastic ENTHUSIASTIC 5
unequal EQUAL 11 12, UNFAIR 4
,
unequivocal CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 1
uneven FLAT 4
uneventful BORING 1
unexpected EXPECT 9, SURPRISED 5
unexpectedly EXPECT 9
unexplained SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 3
unexplained: the unexplained MYSTERIOUS 3
unfailing ALL THE TIME 1
unfair UNFAIR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
UNFAIR
not reasonable or acceptable according to
most people's idea of what is right or wrong
I words for describing someone who is unfair
:2 words for describing something that happens
to someone that is unfair because they do not
deserve it
3 words for describing a situation that is unfair
4 words for describing a law, system,
organization etc that operates in an unfair
way
5 words for describing something such as a
news report or official statement that unfairly
favours one side
6 unfair behaviour or an unfair situation
7 the practice of treating people unfairly or
helping them unfairly
words for describing something that happens
to someone that is unfair because they do not
deserve it
unfair undeserved
wrongful unreasonable
unjust it's a bit much
unfair/,^n,fer,/[adj]
He called the boy a complete idiot, which was unfair because
he was only trying to help. I She's taking the company to
court, claiming unfair dismissal.
wrongful /'mfal II 'ra:-/ wrongful arrest/convic-
tion/dismissal (=unfair because you did nothing wrong)
[adj only before noun]
How many wrongful convictions have there been in the US
in the past ten years? I The court decided she should be com-
pensated for wrongful dismissal.
wrongfully lady] The Supreme Court today admitted that
the four men had been wrongfully convicted.
unjust/,An'ds^st-/not fair or right according to the prin-
ciples or ideas of a particular society [adj]
They didn't mind breaking the law because they believed the
law was unjust. I Women have been subject to unjust taxa-
tion for years.
unjustly lady] Amnesty International campaigns on behalf
of people who have been unjustly imprisoned.
undeserved /And[ za:rvd/unfair because you do not
deserve it [adj]
He's come in for a lot of criticism, most of it completely
undeserved. I These birds" reputation for being a nuisance
is, in general, undeserved.
unreasonable/An 'ri:zanabl/an unreasonable demand,
action, or belief is difficult to give a good reason for because
it is unfair and wrong [adj]
I think your attitude towards young people is completely
unreasonable. I A baby is not making unreasonable
demands by crying.
unreasonably [adv ] They acted unreasonably in refusing
him entry to the country.
it's a bit much/xts a bt 'mAtf/a British expression: you
say it's a bit much when you think that what someone has
said, done, or asked for is unfair and rude
She's invited herself round for dinner- it's a bit much really.
1 words for describing someone who is unfair
unfair unreasonable
biased high-handed
favour/favor
unfair/,^n'fer-/[adj not usually before noun]
People are so unfair. You make one mistake and they never
let you forget it. I be unfair to sb I knew I was being unfair
to Stefan and should apologise. I it is unfair of sb to do sth
It's unfair of you to criticize her for things she cannot help.
biased /'bamst/having an unfair reason for liking or dis-
liking someone [adj not usually before noun]
I like Joanne, but then I'm biased; she's my sister. I At the
interview he didn't mention the fact that he was gay, because
some people are biased.
favour (British) I favor (American)/'fe;vr/to treat one
person in a group better than others when you should treat
all of them the same [v T not usually in progressive]
Many teachers favour boys, often without even realizing it. I
Mom always favored you more than any of us.
unreasonable/^n'ri:zanbl/behaving in an unfair way,
especially by refusing to do what other people want [adj]
My dad's always been a grumpy, unreasonable old moaner. I
He thinks I'm being unreasonable, not lending him the car.
high.handed/,ha 'handd-/someone with authority
who behaves in a high-handed way unfairly ignores the
wishes or opinions of other people [adj]
Her high-handed attitude has angered many voters. I The
police were accused of using high-handed methods to prevent
the carnival taking place.
 words for describing a situation that is unfair
unfair
not fair
unfair/,^n'fer-I [adj]
It's unfair to keep him waiting for an answer for so long. I
The applications procedure has always been an unfair
handicap for people from overseas. I unfair advantage
(=giving you an advantage that other people have not had)
The special tarifs on imports give an unfair advantage to
domestic producers.
unfairly [adv] They feel very strongly that wealth is dis-
tributed unfairly in Western countries.
not fair/not 'fer/an expression meaning unfair, used
especially by or towards children [adj]
Some people are rich and some are poor. That's life, and life's
not fair. [ not fair on (British) / not fair to (American)
Don "t expect your child to sleep when she's not tired. This isn't
fair on her. [ it's not fair It's not fair to Linda to leave her
at home all on her own. I Why do I have to go to bed first,
Mom? It's not fair.
4
words for describing a law, system,
organization etc that operates in an unfair
way
unfair discriminate
biased inequitable
weighted unequal
favou r/favor discriminatory

UNFAIR 1476 UNFAIR
unfair/,^n'fўr-I [adj]
The old employment law was widely disliked because it was
unfair. I I think Britain has an unfair electoral system. I The
welfare system is unfair and open to misuse.
biased/'balsq unfairly against, or unfairly in favour of
a particular group [adj not usually before noun]
biased towards/in favour of Export policy has been
biased towards overseas customers. I biased against Uni-
versity acceptance policies seem to be biased against minori-
ties. I biased The system is so biased that many people simply
do not register to vote.
weighted/'welted/giving an unfair advantage to a par-
ticular group [adj not usually before noun]
weighted in favour of The day to d.ay working of the
appeal court is weighted strongly in favor of the govern-
ment. I weighted against The exam was found to be heavily
weighted against non-native speakers of English.
favour (British) I favor (American)/'feIv)r/if a system,
arrangement, or method favours one group of people, it
gives unfair support or advantage to one group or person
rather than another Iv T not usually in progressive]
Aid programs favored businesses with church connections. I
The application procedure tends to favour children from a
middle-class background.
discriminate /d skrmnet/ if a law or system dis-
criminates, it treats one particular group in society, such
as women or black people, unfairly Iv I]
discriminate against The court has ruled that UK employ-
ment laws discriminate against part-time workers. I dis-
criminate Any system that discriminates has a harmful
effect on the stability of society.
inequitable ! n'ekwtobal/a formal word meaning not
equally fair to everyone [adj]
The legal system as it stands in South Africa is clearly in-
equitable. I The textile industry is in a mess, with inequit-
able payment systems and incompetent management.
inequitably ladv l The benefits of the 1950s "economic mira-
cle" were distributed very inequitably.
unequal/An'i:kwol/unfair because not everyone is given
the same advantages or chances [adj]
There is a highly unequal distribution of wealth between
north and south. I Women still have unequal access to mort-
gages and pensions.
unequally [adv] The employment rules treat married and
single women unequally in many ways.
discriminatory /d'skr[mnotari II-tz:ri! discrimina-
tory laws/systems/acts ere (=ones that treat one partic-
ular group in society, such as women or black people,
unfairly) [ adj]
Congress is to launch an inquiry into discriminatory acts by
immigration officials. ] Women have fought to eliminate dis-
criminatory pay structures within government departments.
 words for describing something such as a
news report or official statement that unfairly
favours one side
unfair one-sided
biased slanted
unfair/,An'fear-/[adj]
The press has been accused of unfair coverage of the recent
elections. I There is nothing unfair about a story that is writ-
ten from both points of view.
biased/'bamst/unfairly in favour of one particular group,
especially because you have a connection with that group
[adj not usually before noun]
Every administration has accused TV coverage of being
biased. I the usual complaints about biased reporting in the
tabloid press I biased towards/in favour of Most news-
papers are biased towards one political party or the other. I
biased against The book seems to be strongly biased
against Communist ideology.
one.sided /,wan sa[dd-/ accounts, descriptions,
reports, etc that are one-sided are unfair because they
deliberately give information about only one side of a
problem or question [adil
Newspapers often give a very one-sided account of political
events. I I thought the lecturer's summing up of the argu-
ments was rather one-sided.
slanted /'sla:ntoId II 'slaen-/ presenting facts or infor-
mation in a way that favours one opinion or side of an
argument [adj]
Reports coming out of the area are quite obviously slanted
to hide what's really happening. I Half of the stories were lies,
and the rest were slanted to make her look crazy.
6 unfair behaviour or an unfair situation
unfairness travesty
injustice miscarriage of justice
inequality double standards
unfairness/^n'ferns/In U]
As a child she was aware of the unfairness of a situation in
which boys got all the fun and girls had to be 'good'. I You
can't always find someone to complain to about official
unfairness, malpractice and delay.
injustice /inlds^sts! a situation in which people are
treated with great unfairness, especially in connection
with their legal rights In U]
Student organizations challenged the injustice of apartheid
laws. I She will be remembered for her ceaseless campaign-
ing against injustice.
inequality/l[ni'kwolti II -kwa:-/a situation in which
a particular group in society, such as women or black
people, is treated unfairly and has less money, power,
influence etc In U]
Unfair class structures and inequality are seen as permanent
features of our society. I Fighting inequality and poverty is
a major concern of the new government.
travesly /traev Isti/a situation that is extremely unfair
and morally wrong because it has completely the opposite
result to the one it is supposed to have In C]
The outcome of the case was an absolute travesty. Everyone
knew he was guilty, they just couldn't prove it. I travesty
of justice Not allowing her to speak in her own defence was
a travesty of justice.
miscarriage of justice/mis,kerId3 ov d3^stals/a sit-
uation in which someone is wrongly punished for a crime
that they were not responsible for In phrase]
Whenever a miscarriage of justice is discovered, people lose
respect for the law. I a gross miscarriage of justice (=a
very serious miscarriage) The execution was a gross mis-
carriage of justice against an innocent man.
doubie standards/,d^bal 'stendardz/ an attitude or
belief, usually about the way you should behave, that is
unfairly thought to be correct for one group in society but
not for another In plural]
Many societies still have shocking double standards about
what is "good" behaviour in men and women. I The govern-
ment operate a double standard when talking about rich and
poor.
7 the practice of treating people unfairly or
helping them unfairly
discrimination nepotism
favouritism/favoritism preferential treatment
discrimination Id[ ,skrIm ' neij'an/the practice of treat-
ing one particular group in society, such as women or black
people, in an unfair way In U]
For 21 years, federal law has forbidden discrimination on
the basis of race, sex, or colour. [ When it comes to applying
for jobs, unemployed people face overt discrimination. [ dis-
criminatioh against The Equal Opportunities Commission
upheld a complaint about discrimination against girls in the
education system. I racial discrimination (=discrimina-
tion against people because of their race) The court ruled
that Britain's immigration laws did not amount to racial
discrimination. [ sex discrimination (=discrimination
against women) Women teachers are less likely to become
heads than men because of sex discrimination in schools.

UNFAIR 1477 UNFRIENDLY
favourltism (British) I favoritism (American)/'feivaro
I tIzam/the practice of unfairly treating one person better
than another, because you like them personally and not
because they deserve better treatment In U]
If managers start to show favouritism people will stop
respecting their decisions. I Candidates should be selected
fairly and without favouritism.
nepotism !'nept[zgm/the practice of treating your rela-
tives better than other people when you are in a position
of power, for example by giving them good jobs In U]
A lot ofpeople thought it was nepotism, but actually his son
turned out to be a very good manager. I Nepotism and cor-
ruption were widespread in eighteenth-century government.
preferential treatment /prefrenJ'al 'tri:tmnt/ the
practice of unfairly treating some people better than others
because you think they are important in some way In U]
Even though he was a Harvard graduate he was given no
preferential treatment. I Employers tend to think men are the
bread-winners and generally give them preferential treat-
ment.
unfairness UNFAIR 6
unfaithful: be unfaithful UNFAITHFUL 2
unfaithful
UNFAITHFUL
1 unfaithful to your friends, your country, or the
group you belong to
2 to be unfaithful to your husband, wife,
girlfriend etc, by secretly having a relationship
with someone else
3 unfaithful actions or behaviour
1 unfaithful to your friends, your country, or the
group you belong to
disloyal
treacherous
disloyal/dls'lolol/[adj]
Government MPs who voted against the bill were accused of
being disloyal. I She didn't like to seem disloyal, but she
couldn't help laughing at her husband's embarrassment. I
disloyal to Refusing to serve in the army would be disloyal
to your country.
treacherous / ItretSrzs/someone who is treacherous is
extremely disloyal and cannot be trusted because they
secretly intend to harm other people in order to get advan-
tages for themselves [adj]
Captain Baxter was murdered by his treacherous crew. I One
of his treacherous friends gave his name to the KGB.
2 to be unfaithful to your husband, wife,
girlfriend etc, by secretly having a relationship
with someone else
be unfaithful
cheat on
two-time
be unfaithful/bi: AnlfeI0fl/to have sex with someone
who is not your husband, wife, girlfriend etc Iv phrase]
be unfaithful to Have you ever been unfaithful to your hus-
band? l If you think he's being unfaithful to you, you should
ask him about it. I be unfaithful He had flirted a little with
other women, but he had never actually been unfaithful.
unfaithful [adj] He was an unfaithful husband who spent
his days gambling and drinking.
cheat on / tSi:t Dn II -a:n/an informal expression mean-
ing to have sex with someone who is not your husband,
wife, girlfriend etc Iv T]
If I ever find out you've been cheating on me, I'll leave you
straightaway. I All the guys cheat on their wives when they
are away.
lwo-time /tu: 'talm! an informal word meaning to be
unfaithful to a girlfriend or boyfriend by having a relation-
ship with someone else at the same time Iv T]
He had been two-timing her for several months before she
found out.
two-timer In C] She may not be the most exciting girlfriend,
but at least she's not a two-timer like yours.
3 unfaithful actions or behaviour
disloyalty
infidelity
adultery
disloyalty/dls'loIalti/[n U]
disloyalty to People who criticized the union leadership
were accused of disloyalty to the socialist cause. I She was
appalled by his disloyalty to his old friends.
infidelity/,inQ 'del]ti/a lack of loyalty to your wife, hus-
band, girlfriend etc by having sex with someone else In
C/U]
Paul sometimes suspected her of infidelity. I Women often had
to tolerate their husbands' infidelity because they depended
completely on their money.
adultery/a dAltari/a legal word meaning the act of being
sexually unfaithful to your husband or wife In U]
She asked for a divorce on the grounds of adultery. I Those
found guilty of adultery were often executed. I commit
adultery She had committed adultery on numerous
occasions.
unfamiliar NOT KNOW 2, RECOGNIZE 3, USED
TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 7
unfamiliar: not be familiar with/be unfamiliar with
NOT KNOW 4
unfashionable FASHIONABLE 8, OLD-FASHIONED 2
unfasten FASTEN/DO UP 3
unfastened FASTEN/DO UP 4
unfinished FINISH DOING STH 9
unfit FIT PERSON 3
unfit for human consumption EAT 14
unfit/not fit WRONG/UNSUITABLE 3
unfold FOLD 4, OPEN 8
unforeseeable PREDICT 6
unforeseen EXPECT 9
unforgettable REMEMBER 7
unforgivable/unforgiveable FORGIVE 3
unfortunate PITY/IT'S A PITY 2, UNLUCKY 2, 3
unfortunate: it's unfortunate PITY/IT'S A PITY 1
unfortunately PITY/IT'S A PITY 1, UNLUCKY 3
unfounded REASON 12
unfriendly/not friendly UNFRIENDLY 1, 3, 4
UNFRIENDLY
words for describing someone who does not
behave in a friendly way towards other
people
words for describing someone who does not
enjoy friendly social relationships and prefers
to be on their own continued

UNFRIENDLY 178 UNFRIENDLY
UNFRIENDLY
continued
3 words for describing unfriendly relationships
between people
4 words for describing a place or situation in
which people behave in an unfriendly way
1
words for describing someone who does not
behave in a friendly way towards other
people
unfriendly/not friendly antagonistic
cold gie sb the cold
inhospitable shoulder
hostile
unfriendly/not friendly/An'frendli, nDt 'frendli! [adj]
He's so unfriendly. It's very difficult to work with him. I I'm
sorry ifI sounded unfriendly on the phone - I was just tired.
The service at the hotel was bad and the staff weren't very
friendly. I unfriendly to/towards Why are you always so
unfriendly to my sister?
©old/kold/unfriendly and behaving as if you do not care
much abotit other people [adj]
cold towards He was very cold towards us when we met him
yesterday. I cold The millionaire and his wife, a cold elegant
woman, walked straight past us without saying anything.
coldly [adv] He looked at me coldly but said nothing.
inhospitable /,nho'sptabal II ,inha:-/ unfriendly to
people who are visiting your home or country, and not
doing anything to make them feel welcome [adj]
Generally, the people I met in the city were rude and
inhospitable. I I knocked at the door, knowing that if these
people were inhospitable I would have to walk five more
miles to find food and shelter.
hostile /'hostall [[ ha:stl, 'ha:stai/ deliberately
unfriendly towards someone, and ready to argue with them
or cause trouble for them [adj]
I had to teach English to a class of hostile teenagers. [ hostile
to/towards He was hostile toward me when I met him, but
I soon realised he was just jealous.
hostility/hostlti [[ ha:-/ [n U] She made no attempt to
hide her hostility (=her hostile feelings).
antagonistic /am,tmgo'nstk-/ unfriendly towards
someone because you really dislike them, and trying to
cause arguments [adj]
antagonistic towards Why are Kate and dohn so
antagonistic towards each other? [ her antagonistic feelings
towards her father I antagonistic I can't understand why
he's being so antagonistic.
give sb the cold shoulder/,gv (sb)
an informal expression meaning to ignore someone and be
unfriendly to them, especially because they have upset or
offended you Iv phrase]
She gave me the cold shoulder at work because I got promo-
tion before her.
 words for describing someone who does not
enjoy friendly social relationships and prefers
to be on their own
distant antisocial
aloof dour
stand-offish
distant/'distnt/unfriendly and showing no emotion, as
if other people's lives are of no interest to you [adj]
My cousin always seems very distant, although I try to be
friendly. I Her manner had grown more distant since she had
discovered who he was.
aloof/lu:f! unfriendly and not wanting to talk to other
people or spend .time with them, especially because you
think you are better than them [adj]
The Headteacher is rather aloof in public. I His aloof style
of management does not improve relations with employees.
stand.offish /,steend 'ofI II-''-f-I behaving in an
unfriendly and rather formal way, as if you do not want
to get too involved with other people [adj not usually before
noun ]
She can be quite stand-offish sometimes. [ PatriCk's
behaviour, influenced by Tom's warning about the women,
had been stand-offish.
antisocial /antl soj'al/ someone who is antisocial
does not enjoy meeting or talking to other people, so that
people think they are rude and unfriendly [adj]
He didn't even try to talk to her - he's so antisocial. I She
wasn't so much shy as downright antisocial.
dour/do r [[ daor, dor! someone who is dour seems to
be unfriendly, because they do not talk much or smile
much [adj]
He is a dour, rather abrasive man, but good at his job. I
Behind her dour expression is a sincere, caring character.
3 words for describing unfriendly relationships
between people
unfriendly/not friendly frosty
cool turn sour
strained
unfriendly/not friendly/An'frendli, not 'frendli/[adj]
She used to get on well with her parents but now things aren't
very friendly. ] Unfriendly relations between the two coun-
tries nearly led to war. ] on unfriendly terms/not on
friendly terms (=with an unfriendly relationship) They've
been on unfriendly terms ever since their argument.
coo|/ku:l! less friendly than usual, so that people do not
smile at each other, talk to each other in a friendly way etc
[adj]
Relationships in their family are rather cool at the moment.[
When Bill finally arrived, nearly an hour late, he got a
rather cool reception.
strained /strelnd/ a situation or relationship that is
strained is not friendly or relaxed, because people feel wor-
ried or do not trust each other [adj]
At that time our relations with Russia were very strained. [
The meeting took place in a strained atmosphere.
frosty/'frosti [[ 'fm:sti/very unfriendly, especially follow-
ing an argument or because someone feels offended [adjl
After their quarrel things between Maria and her father were
rather frosty.
turn sour /t3 :rn saor/ifa relationship turns sour, the
people involved in it start to dislike each other and to
behave in an unfriendly way towards each other [vphrase]
After five happy years their marriage turned sour and ended
in divorce. [ When the company began to lose money things
turned sour between the directors.
4 words for describing a place or situation in
which people behave in an unfriendly way
unfriendly/not friendly impersonal
unwelcoming forbidding
inhospitable
unfriendly/not friendly/^n'frendli, not 'frendli/[adj]
I don "t like going to that bar - it's not very friendly. [ At first
the town may seem a rather unfriendly place.
unweicoming/An welkomn]/a place that is unwelcom-
ing makes you feel that you are not wanted there [adj]
The entrance to the factory is cold, bare, and unwelcoming. [
That restaurant has an unwelcoming atmosphere.
inhospitable/, mho'sptobal [[ ,nha:-/a place where you
stay, for example a hotel or someone's house, that is
inhospitable, is unfriendly and difficult to feel relaxed in,
so that you do not want to stay there [adj]
After a week in that inhospitable apartment we had had
enough.
impersonal /lm'pb:rsanl/ a place or situation that is
impersonal lacks the normal friendly relations between
people who work or do business together, as if such feel-
ings were considered unimportant [adj]

UNFRIENDLY 1479 UNIMPORTANT
They just handed over the keys and walked out - it was all
so impersonal. I a large, impersonal organization
|orbidding ]fr Ibdn3! a place that is forbidding seems
very unfriendly, uncomfortable, or frightening, so that you
do not want to go there [adj]
The school was a large, rather forbidding building. I In the
cold light the island looked dark and forbidding.
ungainly CLUMSY 2
ungrateful THANK 7
unhappiness SAD/UNHAPPY 12
unhappy SAD/UNHAPPY 1, 3
unhappy: make sb sad/unhappy SAD/UNHAPPY 11
unhappy: not happy/unhappy SATISFIED 7
unharmed INdURE 7
unhealthy HEALTHY 8, 9
unhealthy interest: have an unhealthy interest in
OBSESSION 2
unheard of UNUSUAL3
unhelpful HELP 11, USELESS 1
unhelpful: not helpful/unhelpful HELP 12
unhurried HURRY 8, SLOW 2
unhurt INJURE 7
unhygienic DIRTY 2
unidentified NAME OF A PERSON 8, NOT KNOW 10
uniform CLOTHES 3, 4, SAME 5
unimprtant/nt important UNIMPORTANT 
UNIMPORTANT
not important enough or serious enough to
cause much worry or difficulty
not important enough to influence or change
what happens
less important than other things or the main
thing
to make something seem less important than
it is
problems, facts etc that are not important
words for describing a person who does not
have much influence or importance
g not important
minor
insignificant
petty
trivial
1 not important enough or serious enough to
cause much worry or difficulty
small
no big deal
it doesn't matter
it's nothing
not important/nt ;m'p:rtnt/[adj]
"I forgot the olive oil. "" "Don't worry - it's not important.
It is not important that you understand everything at this
stage. I The meeting's not important enough to delay your
holiday for.
minor / Imamr/a minor problem, accident, disagreement
etc is small and fairly unimportant [adj]
Two car windows were broken and minor damage was done
to some shops. I She's always taking time off work for minor
ailments, like backache and sore throats. I We have a
problem with the computer system, but I think it's fairly
minor.
insignificant/, insg nifikant/not important enough to
worry about, especially because there are other problems
that are much more serious [adj]
Jane's personal troubles are insignificant compared to the
company's problems. I The theft was considered insignificant
until it was realised that the letter was missing too. I After
a week of negotiations the differences between the two sides
are now relatively insignificant.
insignificance [n U] What he told me reduced my own
problems to insignificance.
petty / 'peti/something such as a problem, argument, or
worry that is petty is small and unimportant, although it
may seem more serious to the people who are involved
[adj]
The problems at the office seemed so petty when she was lying
in the sun on a Mediterranean beach. I It's funny how even
the pettiest things can reduce you to tears when you're feel-
ing low.
trivial /'trwbl/ so small and unimportant as to be not
worth worrying about [adj]
I'm sorry to trouble you with such a trivial problem. I No,
I don't think your question is trivial at all. I It may seem
trivial to you, but wearing the right kind of trainers is very
important to a fourteen-year-old.
small/sm3:l/small matter/point/problem/mistake etc
(=easy to settle or put right) [adj only before noun]
Your essay is quite good - you just made a few small mis-
takes. I There's one small point I'd like to raise concerning
your report. I It was a small matter really - nothing to get
upset about.
no big deal/,no bg di:l/you say something is no big
deal or not a big deal when you do not think it is very
important or worrying, even though other people seem to
think that it is [adj phrase]
He's seventeen years older than me, but that's no big deal.I
I lost a client's file yesterday. It wasn't any big deal, but my
boss was furious.
it doesn't matter/it d^zant metar/you say it doesn't
matter when you think that a problem or unsatisfactory
situation is not really important because it is unlikely to
cause much difficulty or be inconvenient
"Look we've missed the bus!'" "It doesn't matter, we've plenty
of time."[ We'll probably never learn who stole the books,
but it doesn't matter now.
it's nothing/its InAOIO/yOU say it's nothing when you
think something is not important, especially if you do not
want someone to worry
"Jim, you're hurt. "" "Oh, it's nothing. "" I Why do you want
to speak to Danny?Is he in trouble again?No, it's nothing,
really. Just a couple of questions.
2 not important enough to influence or change
what happens
unimportant/not
important
it doesn't matter
be of no importance
irrelevant
it makes no difference
immaterial
unimportant/not important /,^nim'po:rtant, not
m'pa:rtant/ [adj]
What he thinks about it is unimportant - I'm going anyway. I
For this job your lack of experience is relatively unimpor-
tant. I The exact proportions of butter and oil are not impor-
tant. I He isn "t rich, but I don "t care - money's not important.
It doesn't matter/;t ,dAznt 'maetar/you say it doesn't
matter when you think that something is unimportant and
has no influence on the thing you are talking about
"She's only 17, you know." "'It doesn't matter - we're in
love."l it doesn't matter how/where/whether/if If
the ideas are good ones, it doesn't matter where they come
from. I It doesn't matter who you are, you can't go around
breaking the law.
be of no importance/bi: av ,nao im'pa:rtans/a formal
expression meaning to be unimportant Iv phrase]
Your age is of no importance provided you are in good
health. I Grammatical mistakes are of no importance so long
as the meaning is clear.
irrelevant/ 'relevant/a fact, idea etc that is irrelevant
is not important because it has no effect or influence on the
way something happens or is decided [adj]
The fact that he is your friend is completely irrelevant - we
can only give visas to members of your family. I Differences
in intellectual capacity are irrelevant when we are talking
about human emotions. I irrelevant to Durkheim implies
that psychology is irrelevant to the explanation of suicide.

UNIMPORTANT "180 UNIMPORTANT
it makes no difference/tt ,meiks nao 'difarons/if you
say that something makes no difference, you mean it is
not important enough to influence what happens or to
change a decision
it makes no difference "'Do you want cash or a cheque?"
"It makes no difference. "'1 Even if she had known he was
lying it would have made no difference. [ it makes no differ-
ence (to sb) if/whether It makes no difference to me
whether it rains or not. I have to stay at home anyway. [ it
makes no difference to sth You can have a single room
or a double - it makes no difference to the price.
immaterial / ,:ma 'tIarial/a formal word: something that
is immaterial has no real connection with the situation
you are dealing with or discussing, and is not important
enough to affect it [adj]
Your circumstances are immaterial. A standard payment is
made to all applicants. [ Whether he actually said it or not
is immaterial, but he certainly implied that Ken was an idiot.
3 less important than other things or the main
thing
secondary side Issue
subsidiary pale into insignificance
incidental be of secondary/little/
peripheral minor etc importance
marginal
secondary/'sekandari II-deri/less important than the
main thing, even though it may still be important or valu-
able [adj]
The system was introduced to save money. Any benefit to the
public was a secondary consideration. [ The government sees
unemployment as a secondary issue. [ secondary to (=less
important than) Tourism is secondary to oil revenues in the
growth of the economy.
subsidiary/sob's,diari [I -dieri/a subsidiary idea, ques-
tion, subject etc is less important than the main one but
it is connected with it [adj]
The conflict between religion and science is a subsidiary
theme running through the novel. [ If you take the English
literature course, you can do linguistics as a subsidiary
subject. [ subsidiary to (=less important than) The ques-
tion of raising finance is subsidiary to the question of get-
ting public approval.
incidental /,ins'dentl-/ existing in connection with
something else or as a result of something else, but com-
pletely unimportant when compared to the main fact,
event, cause etc [adj]
The Red Cross will provide money for food, housing, and
incidental expenses. I incidental to (=much less important
than) The sexual nature of rape is almost incidental to the
urge which motivates rapists to dominate. [ purely inciden-
tal We're doing the concert just for fun, really. Any profit we
make from it is purely incidental.
peripheral/pa'rifaral/an activity, question, or subject
that is peripheral to the main one is additional to it but
much less important [adj]
It is a society in which women's rights and concerns are still
treated as peripheral. I The company engages in a few
peripheral activities which bring in extra money. [
peripheral to The love interest is peripheral to the spy story
of the movie.
marginal/'rno:rdsXnal/a change, improvement etc that
is marginal is too small and unimportant to have any
useful or noticeable effect [adj]
The new controls are welcome, but their effect on reducing
COz emissions will be fairly marginal. [ When the students
are allowed time to prepare, this causes only a marginal
improvement.
side issue ]'said, ISu:/a subject or question that results
from or is connected with the main one being considered,
but is much less important In C]
Don't worry about the cost - that's just a side issue. I One
of the side issues that arose was the question of what to do
with the old equipment.
pale into Insignificance/,peil into ns;g'n;fIkans/if
someone's problems or achievements pale into insig-
nificance when they are compared to something else, they
are dearly seen to be much less important [v phrase]
Our little difficulties pale into insignificance when compared
to the problems of the homeless. I His achievements pale into
insignificance alongside those of Bach or Mozart.
be of secondary/little/minor etc Importance/bi:
av (secondary, etc) [m'pa:rtans/to be not very important com-
pared to other things [v phrase]
It's the perfect job for him - the salary is of secondary impor-
tance. [ Academic qualifications are of little importance to
her.
4 to make something seem less important than
it is
trivlalize u nderstate
play down underestimate
belittle
trlvlalize (also -Ise British)/'trvialaIz/to make some-
thing important or serious seem less important than it is
by not talking or writing about it in a serious enough way
[vT]
The newspaper's sensationalist headlines trivialized the war
as though it were a football game. I It would be difficult to
discuss this embarrassing illness on television without
trivializing its importance.
play down/,pie, 'daun/to pretend that a problem, illness
etc is less important or serious than it really is [phr v T]
play down sth The government is trying to play down the
seriousness of the unemployment figures. I play sth/it/
them down We suspected that his illness was worse than
he admitted, but he always played it down.
belittle/bi'htl/to show that you think that what some-
one has done or tried to do is not important or does not
deserve your approval or respect [v T]
You'll never make a good teacher if you belittle the efforts
of the slower learners. I I don't mean to belittle his achieve-
ment, but he did have a lot of help from his colleagues.
understate/,^ndar'steit/to describe the size, value, or
importance of something in a way that makes it seem less
than it really is [v T]
The official price of foreign exchange frequently understates
its real value. [ I think you are understating the importance
to young people of a stable home life. I In the report the true
incidence of violent crime is consistently understated.
underestimate/,^ndar'estrneIt/to mistakenly think
that something is less important than it really is [v T]
People often underestimate the importance of human rela-
tionships in successful companies. I Never underestimate the
value of really good training. [ Successive administrations
made the mistake of underestimating the strength of nation-
alist feeling in the province.
5 problems, facts etc that are not important
trivia
trifle
trivia ! 'trivia/unimportant information or facts that are
of no real use or value [n U]
The magazine was full of endless pages of trivia and gossip.[
I find that Ican remember trivia such as old sports results,
but I can't remember facts that I really need.
trifle/'tratfal/a word used especially in literature mean-
ing a very small and unimportant problem or detail that
is not worth worrying about or wasting time over [n C
usually plural]
You shouldn't trouble Dr Holmes with such trifles. I a mere
trifle (=only a trifle) My father's broken toe was a mere trifle
compared with my injuries.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

UNIMPORTANT 1481 UNITE
6 words for describing a person who does not
have much influence or importance
not important nonentity
insignificant small fry
small-time lightweight
a nobody
not important/not Im'p3:rtnt/[adj]
He's not really an important figure in the organization. I
Don't worry about the critics. They're not important; they just
think they are.
insignificant/, nstg n:f[knt/not important enough or
powerful enough to worry about or treat seriously [adjl
The anti-war group was a rather insignificant minority
within the party. I The teachers treated us as if we were too
insignificant to waste time over.
small.time / sm3:l 'taim-/small-time criminal/crook/
thief (=not very important and not very successful) [adj
only before noun]
She got to know a lot of small-time criminals during her stay
in prison. I He's just a small-time crook.
a nobody/ 'nobdi II -ba:di/someone who is regarded
as unimportant because they are not famous, powerful, or
rich In C usually singularl
You wouldn't know him. He's a nobody, but I fell in love with
him. I He hated his life. He was a poor nobody. I She wanted
to be famous - she was tired of being a nobody.
nonentity/nD'nentoti II na:-/someone who is not at all
important, influential, or interesting, and has no special
qualities or skills In C]
The General had surrounded himself with complete non-
entities. I He was very dependent on his rich relations,
without whom he would be a nonentity.
small fry/'sm3:l frail an informal expression meaning the
ordinary, unimportant people in an organization or field
of activity [n plural]
She didn't bother with small fry - she went straight to the
managing director with her complaint. I In an economic
recession the big companies usually survive - it's the small
fry who go to the wall.
lightweight / la[t-wet/someone who is well-known, for
example in politics or literature, but is not really respected
or regarded as important or really intelligent [n C]
It is unfair to write off President Johnson as a political light-
weight, for he had real achievements. I His books are tremen-
dously popular, but most of the critics regard him as a
lightweight.
ii unimpressed: be unimpressed IMPRESS 5
 unimpressive IMPRESS 5
j uninformed NOT KNOW 9
: uninhabitable LIVE SOMEWHERE 11
!!"4i uninhabited EMPTY 3
!iil uninhibited RELAXED 1
: uninitiated: the uninitiated EXPERIENCED 4
ii!!i unintelligent STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT 1
ii!i unintelligible UNDERSTAND 14
..
 unintentional DELIBERATELY 5
, unintentionally DELIBERATELY 4
 uninterested INTERESTED 7
 uninteresting BORING 1
 uninterrupted CONTINUOUS 1
ii.,,.' uninvited INVITE 4
 union ORGANIZATION 4
or only?
unique DIFFERENT 3
unique: be unique to ONLY 5
unit
unite
GROUP OF PEOPLE 5, HOSPITAL 3, MEASURE 4
UNITE 1, 2, 5
UNITE
1 to join together with other people,
organizations, or countries in order to achieve
a shared aim
2: ways of saying that all the people in a group
unite in order to deal with a difficult situation
:3 words for describing people, groups etc that
have united to achieve a shared aim
4 a situation in which people have united
because they share the same purpose
5 to make people, organizations, or countries
unite
6 ways of saying that a company or
organization joins together with another
7 to make two companies or organizations join
together
1
to join together with other people,
organizations, or countries in order to achieve
a shared aim
unite
combine
join forces
group together
align yourself with
come together
unite/ju:'nat/[v I]
unite to do sth Geldof called on Western countries to unite
to save the people of Ethiopia from starvation. I Liberals and
conservatives should unite to support the expansion of the
social welfare program, instead of fighting each other all the
time. ] unite In the Gulf War the Allies were able to unite
against a common enemy.
combine /kmbam/ to join together and work very
closely together so that you succeed in achieving the result
you want Iv I]
combine to do sth The opposition parties combined to drive
the President out of office. ] Members of the police and the
army combined to keep the true details of the case from ever
becoming known.
join forces/,d53n f3:rsz/to unite in order to work
together or to fight against an enemy [v phrase]
join forces to do sth The two manufacturers, who were once
bitter rivals, have now joined forces to develop a new sports
car. I join forces with sb The socialists hope to join forces
with the communists and will fight the next election together.
group together /gru:p t'ge6r/ if several separate
organizations group together, they join together in order
to do something [phr v I]
Colleges and public libraries have grouped together to form
inter-library loan schemes. I British textile manufacturers
have grouped together to lobby the European Parliament in
Brussels.
align yourself with/'lain j3:rself wi6/if a country,
political group etc aligns itself with another country or
group, they state publicly that they agree with them and
that they will work together with them Iv phrase]
Most of the major companies are run by businessmen who
have publicly aligned themselves with the ruling party. I be
aligned with The United States prefers to give aid to those
countries that are politically aligned with the West.
come together /,k Am tge6r/ to decide to work
together in order to achieve something, especially some-
thing that would be very difficult to do alone [phr v I]
The Conference called on everyone to come together to resist
the government's planned educational reforms. I Recently 25
Japanese electronics firms came together to form an overseas
development organization.

UNITE 1482 UNKIND
2 ways of saying that all the people in a group
unite in order to deal with a difficult situation
unite pull together
close ranks band together
stand together stick together
unite/ju: 'nat/[ v I ]
In the previous leadership contest most of the party united
behind Mrs Thatcher. [ Unless we unite we will never be able
to defend our rights against the employers.
close ranks/,kbuz 'ratks/if people who belong to a
group or organization close ranks, they join together to
protect each other, especially when the group or its mem-
bers are being criticized or attacked Iv phrase]
President Nixon's staff were instructed to close ranks in
response to the Watergate arrests. [ When she applied for pro-
motion, the male managers all closed ranks and made sure
she didn 't get it. [ TheANC has called on its members to close
ranks and exercise maximum vigilance against right-wing
white terrorist groups.
stand together/,stnd t'gebr/ if a group of people
stand together, they unite and deal with a difficult or dan-
gerous situation as a group [phr v I[
We must all stand together on this one. I don't want anybody
quitting or saying they don't want to get involved. [ Some-
how they stood together and kept the business going in spite
of all that was going on.
pull together /pol t'ge6r/ if a group of people or
organizations pull together, they all work together to deal
with a difficult situation, helping each other and ignoring
their differences [phr v I[
In Japan in the 50s and 60s, the government, bankers and
workers all pulled together and brought about what we now
call 'the economic miracle: [ pull together to do sth
Parents, teachers, and students should all pull together to
tackle the school's drugs problem.
band together /,band t'gebr/ if a small group of
people band together, they unite and work together to
gain or achieve something, or to deal with a threat or
danger [phr v I[
Dissatisfied residents have started banding together to
demand better housing conditions. [ The villagers banded
together and armed themselves with sticks and knives to
protect themselves against the raiders.
stick together /,stlk t'gebr/an informal expression
meaning to continue to be united, even when you face
problems or difficulties [phr v I[
If we stick together we should be alright. I If only they'd stuck
together maybe they could have sorted out their problems.
;3 words for describing people, groups etc that
have united to achieve a shared aim
united
united/ju:'natd/[adj]
The president finally left his post after a united opposition
campaign to force him to resign. [ remain united The coun-
tries that formed the Alliance in 1945 have remained united
ever since. [ In spite of all the government's attempts to break
the strike, the ambulance workers remained united in asking
for a 12% pay increase for all of their members.
 a situation in which people have united
because they share the same purpose
unity
solidarity
..
unity/'ju:nIti/[n U]
In his speech the Prime Minister stressed the need for party
unity. [ The main obstacle to European unity is the question
of a common currency.
solidarity/,sDl 'darIti [[ ,so:-/loyalty and support for a
person or group whose political views you strongly agree
with, especially someone who is fighting against or being
badly treated by people who are in authority [n U[
solidarity with Workers all over the country have gone on
strike to show their solidarity with the miners. [ solidarity
Gooch made an appeal to women the world over for solidar-
ity and action.
5 to make people, organizations, or countries
unite
unite
bring together
rally
unite/ju:'nat/[v T[
President Clinton's rousing speech united the Democrats. I
What united the two groups was their hatred of fascism in
all its forms. [ She and Picasso had always been friends, but
now they shared a secret that united them even more.
bring together/,bru3 tge6r/if an event or a situation
brings people together, it makes them have a closer, more
friendly relationship with each other [phr v T[
bring sb/her/them ete together What was it that first
brought you two together? Your love of music?[ The war
brought people closer together; there was no upper class and
lower class in those days.
rally/' radii/to persuade or encourage people to unite in
order to fight for or against something [v T[
rally support/opposition The main effect of the new tax
was to rally opposition to the government. [ Recent news
reports on the situation inside Kuwait have helped rally
support for the war. [ rally sb Churchill's stirring speeches
helped rally his countrymen to fight against the enemy.
6 ways of saying that a company or
organization joins together with another
amalgamate
merge
amalgamate/' melgmet/if two or more organizations
amalgamate, for example colleges, unions, or hospitals,
they join together to form a single organization Iv I[
The two schools amalgamated in 1974. I amalgamate with
The women's association has amalgamated with the men's.
amalgamation/a melg'melj'an/In U[ the amalgamation
of several small farms into one large agricultural unit
merge/ma:rdS/if two companies or organizations merge,
they join together to form a single organization or company
[vI]
The two banks have announced plans to merge next year. [
merge with The Liberal Democratic Party has merged with
the Social Democrats.
merger [n C] There were rumors of a merger between Ford
and Chrysler (=that Ford and Chrysler would merge).
7 to make two companies or organizations join
together
merge
merge/m3:rdS/Iv T[
merge sth There are definitely plans to merge the two most
successful TV channels. [ merge sth with He wanted to
merge his company with a South African mining firm.
• :" united UNITE 3
unity UNITE 4
=. universal EVERYONE 5
unjust UNFAIR 2
 unjustifiable WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
 unjustified WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
::
 unkempt UNTIDY 2
 unkind CRUEL 3, UNKIND 1, 2
@ UNKIND
1 unkind in the way you treat someone or talk
to them, and not caring if you upset them

UNKIND 1483 UNKIND
saying unkind things about someone or
criticizing them in an unkind way
behaving unkindly, often without intending to,
because you do not think about other
people's feelings
having no sympathy for other people's
troubles or suffering
1 unkind in the way you treat someone or talk
to them, and not caring if you upset them
unkind be hard on
mean give sb a hard time
nasty take sth out on
cruel
unkind ! ,An'kaznd/treating people in a way that makes
them unhappy or hurts their feelings [adj]
Philip, how can you be so unkind? You've upset your mother
terribly. I unkind to He was so unkind to his wife that she
left him. 1 it is unkind (of sb) to do sth It was unkind of
you to make jokes about Dad's cooking.
unkindly [adv ] He loves you, Fiona, even though you treat
him so unkindly. I She laughed unkindly at his misfortune.
unkindness In U] I couldn't forgive their unkindness
towards me.
mean/mi:n/treating someone in an unnecessarily unkind
way, especially by stopping them from doing something
that they enjoy [adj]
She hated him for being so mean. Why was he stopping her
from seeing her friends? l 1 never thought he was capable of
doing such a mean thing to his brother. I it is mean (of sb)
to do sth It was mean of you to disturb her when she was
having a rest.
nasty /'no:sti II 'nesti/ behaving in a deliberately
unpleasant, unkind way towards someone, as if you enjoy
upsetting them [adj]
nasty to Paul, you mustn't be nasty to the children. You'll
make them cry. I nasty That was a nasty thing to do - spoil-
ing your sister's party like that.
nastiness In U] She tried to make me look silly. She did it
out of sheer nastiness.
cruel/'kruml/treating someone very unkindly by doing
or saying things which you know will hurt their feelings
[adj]
He was always making cruel remarks about how fat she
was. 1 cruel to Children can sometimes be very cruel to each
other. I it is cruel (of sb) to do sth It was very cruel ofyou
to frighten the poor boy like that.
cruelly [ adv ] The other girls laughed at her and teased her
cruelly because she was different. I She had been cruelly
deserted on her wedding day.
cruelty In U] As a result of the scandal his family was
exposed to the odious cruelty of the press.
be hard on ]bi: ho:rd on! to be unkind to someone, espe-
cially by criticizing them or treating them more severely
than is really fair Iv phrase]
He's only just started work here - you mustn't be too hard
on him. I I thought you were a little hard on Denise, not let-
ting her go to the party.
give sb a hard time/,gv (sb)  ,ho:rd 'taim/an infor-
mal expression meaning to be unkind to someone by con-
tinually criticizing them and complaining about them in
an unreasonable way Iv phrase]
She left the company because her boss was giving her a really
hard time. I Stop giving rne such a hard time. I'm only trying
to do my best.
take sth out on/,teik (sth) 'aot on II -o:n/to be unkind
to someone because you are angry or upset about some-
thing else, even though it is not their fault [phr v T]
I know you've had a bad day at the office - but don't take
it out on me. I I'm sorry I was rotten to you - but there was
no one else to take it out on.
saying unkind things about someone or
criticizing them in an unkind way
unkind snide
caustic vicious
cutting behind sb's back
bitchy uncharitable
unkind/,An'kaind/[adj]
He said some very unkind things about my clothes. That's
why I'm upset. I Freddie, I think it's very unkind, the way
you talk about Mrs Hart. I I never heard her say an unkind
word about anyone.
caustic /  k:suk/caustic remarks/comments/wit etc
(=criticizing or expressing disapproval in an unkind but
often cleverly humorous way) [adj usually before noun]
Hayward made some pretty caustic comments about your
poetry. I In her speech the Prime Minister attacked her critics
with her usual caustic wit.
cutting /kAt,tJ/cutting remark/response etc (=very
unkind and intended to hurt someone's feelings) [adj]
At the meeting Mark made some cutting remarks about
Sally, who wasn't there to defend herself. I Emily always
managed to say something cutting whenever we met at a
party.
bitchy /'btJ'i/ someone who is bitchy or who makes
bitchy remarks, talks in a nasty, unkind way about other
people's character, appearance etc [adj]
She was always making bitchy comments about people's
clothes and make-up. I bitchy towards The other girls in
my class were often bitchy towards me because I studied so
hard.
snide /snaid/ snide comment/remark/criticism etc
(=indirectly mentioning someone in a very criticizing and
unpleasant way) [adj usually before noun]
The teacher kept making snide remarks about my pronun-
ciation, which really embarrassed me. I I've had enough of
John Slater's snide comments. Of course he never mentions
my name, but I know he's talking about me.
vicious/'vjbs/vicious attack/rumour/campaign etc
(=cruel and deliberately intended to hurt someone's feel-
ings or to make their character seem very bad) [adj]
The Senator launched a vicious attack on the former Presi-
dent. [ Someone is conducting a vicious campaign of false
rumors against the Royal Family.
viciously [adv] Margaret viciously blamed her husband for
all that had happened.
behind sb's back/b;,hamd (sb's) 'bk] if you talk about
someone behind their back, you say rude or unkind
things about them when they are not present [advphrase]
I like Jane except for the fact that she talks about her hus-
band behind his back. I His name is Mr McLeod but his stu-
dents call him "Big Nose' behind his back.
uncharitable/An'tertball unkind and unfair in the
way you judge other people, for example by immediately
thinking they are stupid [adj]
When you call William a coward I think you are taking a
very uncharitable view of his behaviour. I it is uncharit-
able to do sth It would be uncharitable to say that she is
resigning for selfish reasons.
3 behaving unkindly, often without intending to,
because you do not think about other
people's feelings
inconsiderate
thoughtless
insensitive
inconsiderate /,inkn'sidarIt/ not caring about the
feelings, needs, or comfort of other people [adj]
I have an inconsiderate neighbour who plays loud music late
at night. I it is inconsiderate of sb to do sth I'm sorry, it
was inconsiderate of me to phone so early.
thoughtless/'O:tls/forgetting about the needs of other
people, especially because you are only thinking about
what you yourself want [adj]

UNKIND 1484 UNLUCKY
A few thoughtlesspeople have spoiled the holiday for every-
one else. I it is thoughtless of sb to do sth It was very
thoughtless of him to leave his car blocking the entrance to
our driveway.
insensitive ]in'senstw! not noticing other people's feel-
ings and not realizing that they are upset or that something
you do will upset them [adj]
My boss is so insensitive he never notices when I am feeling
tired. I insensitive to sb's feelings/needs etc Doctors
sometimes seem insensitive to their patients 'feelings.
insensitivity ]m,senso  'tv ofi! [n U] the insensitivity ofsome
police officers in the way they treat rape victims
4 having no sympathy for other people's
troubles or suffering
unsympathetic
hard-hearted
hard
unsympathetic /,^nsmpoOetk/ someone who is
unsympathetic does not show you any sympathy when
you need help or when you tell them about your troubles
[adjl
I explained our problems to the bank manager, but he
remained cold and unsympathetic. ] I'm sorry, I don't mean
to be unsympathetic, but I don't see how I can help. I Our
appeal for government help met with an unsympathetic
response.
hard-hearted/,ho:rd 'ho:rtod"/someone who is hard-
hearted does not feel any sympathy and does not care at
all when people are in trouble or pain and ask for help [adj]
These hard-hearted businessmen care nothing for the poor
and homeless. I I've tried to help in the past, but I think now
I have to be hard-hearted and make them help themselves.
hard/ho: rd/someone who is hard feels no pity or sympa-
thy for anyone, especially because they are determined to
get what they want [adj]
You're a hard man, Amos. Can ?you see that these people are
starving? I as hard as nails (=very hard) You'll get no
sympathy from her. She's as hard as nails.
i! unknown FAMOUS 9, NAME OF A PERSON 8, NOT
 KNOW 10, 12
.! unknown: be an unknown quantity NOT KNOW 12
: unknown: the unknown NOT KNOW 10
 unlawful ILLEGAL 1
;ii unless IF 3, 4, 6
{ unlike DIFFERENT 1
 unlike: not be like/be unlike TYPICAL 6
i unlikely BELIEVE 12, PROBABLY 9
;: unlit DARK 2
i. unlock OPEN 3
unloved LOVE 12
unlucky UNLUCKY 1, 2, 3, 4
UNLUCKY
words for describing someone who always
has bad luck
unlucky in a particular situation or at a
particular time
words for describing an unlucky situation or
event
words for describing something that causes
bad luck
bad luck
1 words for describing someone who always
- has bad luck
unlucky just my luck
with my luck jinxed
unlucky /^n'l^ki/ always unlucky, so that bad things
happen to you more than to other people, for no particular
reason [ adj]
Some people are just unlucky - they're always having acci-
dents or losing all their money. I Of all the family, little Pauli
seemed to be the unlucky one. I Dr Wilson doesn't believe there
are either lucky or unlucky people. Life is what you make it,
she says. I unlucky with He seems to be very unlucky with
cars - every time he buys one it always has something wrong
with it.
with my luck/w6 'ma lAk] you say with my luck
when you think something bad is going to happen to you
and you are not surprised because you think you are an
unlucky person
With my luck they'll have sold out of tickets by the time we
get there. I I slung the rifle back on the saddle. Then I
thought, with my luck, it'll go off and shoot me in the foot.
just my luck/,dsnst ma 'Ink] you say just my luck when
something bad has happened to you and you are not sur-
prised because you think you are an unlucky person
Dad came home early and found out I wasn't at school -just
my luckWI Married, is he? Just my luck.
jinxed/dsokst/very unlucky, so that everything you do
or get involved in seems to go wrong, often in a way that
affects other people too [adj not before noun]
This is the fifth company she's worked for that's gone
bankrupt - she's jinxed. I I can't even get into a car without
it breaking down - I'm beginning to think I'm jinxed.
:2 unlucky in a particular situation or at a
 particular time
unlucky be out of luck
unfortunate a run of bad luck
have the misfortune to it's one of those
do sth days
have bad luck it's not my day
unlucky/An'l^ki/[adj not before noun]
Anne was very unlucky - she would have come first in her
class if she hadn't been feeling so ill. I There's no particular
reason why you shouldn't have got the job - you were just
unlucky. [ be unlucky to do sth They were unlucky to have
bought their house when property prices were so high. ]
unlucky with We were a little unlucky with the weather.
It rained every day of our vacation.
unfortunate/An  f:rtno t/having bad luck that you do
not deserve, especially when this has a serious effect on
your life, health etc [adj]
The government has set up an aid program to help unfor-
tunate victims of the civil war. I be unfortunate to do sth
He was unfortunate enough to lose his job when the new baby
was due.
have the misfortune to do sth/hev 8o mIs,f:rtJ'on
to 'du: (sth)/a formal expression: to be unlucky on a partic-
ular occasion, especially when this results in something
very unpleasant happening to you Iv phrase not in pro-
gressive]
Ten French soldiers had the misfortune to be in the village
when the bomb exploded. I Women who have the misfortune
to be involved with violent men often think it's their own
fault.
have bad luck/hev ,beed 'lAk/to be unlucky, especially
in a way that affects one particular part of your life
[v phrase]

UNLUCKY 185 UNPLEASANT
Why do we always have such bad luck when it comes to
hiring suitable workers? l have bad luck with Our kids
have always had very bad luck with their teachers.
be out of luck/bi: ,aot v 'l^k/to be prevented by bad
luck from doing something that you want to do, for exam-
ple going somewhere, buying something, or seeing some-
one Iv phrase]
You're out of luck, I'm afraid. The doctor isn't at home. [ We
were out of luck. All the hotels were full.
a run of bad luck/3 ,rAn v ,bad 'lAk/a period of time
during which a lot of bad things happen to you one after
the other In phrase]
He finally went bankrupt after a run of bad luck. [ I feel so
sorry for Mimi. She's had a terrible run of bad luck this year,
what with the car accident and her boyfriend leaving her.
it's one of those days/ItS ,wAn 3V 630Z 'dez/you say
it's one of those days when a lot of bad things have
happened to you that day
I just want to go home, take a bath and go to bed - it's been
one of those days. I She wanted to cry. It was one of those days
when nothing was going right.
it's not my day/ts nDt mai dei/you say it's not my
day when a lot of bad things have already happened to you
that day and you do not think anything you do will be
successful
First I missed the bus, then I lost my purse, and now I've had
a row with the boss - it's just not my day.
;3 words for describing an unlucky situation or
1 event
unlucky as bad luck/ill luck
unfortunate would have it
unfortunately be bad luck
unlucky / An ' IAki/ [adj ]
No one could be blamed for what happened, it must have
been just an unlucky accident. I By some unlucky chance none
of the phones were working that day. I It would be very
unlucky if something were to go wrong now, just when we're
so close to finishing. I it is unlucky for sb that It was
unlucky for Stephen that the boss happened to walk in right
at that moment.
unluckily [ adv ] Unluckily our teacher noticed me trying to
sneak out.
unfortunate /An'fa:rtfanot/ happening because of bad
luck and often having serious or dangerous results [adj]
it is unfortunate that It was unfortunate that the Presi-
dent was out of the country when the invasion took place. I
unfortunate I hope this unfortunate accident won't put you
off horse riding forever. I most unfortunate (=very unfor-
tunate) Just at the crucial time in his education he caught
glandular fever and then his father died - it was all most
unfortunate.
unfortunately/An'fa:rtfanotli/you say unfortunately
when you think that an event or situation you are talking
about is unlucky lady]
Unfortunately I arrived just as the man I wanted to see was
leaving. I The woman who he had just shouted at unfor-
tunately happened to be his new boss.
as bad luck/Ill luck would have it/z ,bed l^k, ,II
,l^k wod hev it/you say as bad luck or ill luck would
have it when you are describing something unlucky that
happened to you as part of a series of events, and that
caused you disappointment, inconvenience etc lady
phrase]
The landscape was stunning, but as ill luck would have it
I hadn't brought my camera. [ As bad luck would have it,
there was a thick fog the next day and our flight was delayed.
be bad luck/bi: bed 'Ink/to happen as a result of bad
luck, especially when something bad happens to you that
is not your fault Iv phrase]
She was late for the interview because her train was cancelled
- it was just bad luck. I it is bad luck (that) It was just bad
luck that his car broke down exactly halfway between the two
towns.
4 words for describing something that causes
bad luck
unlucky
be/bring bad luck
a jinx on
unlucky/An'lAki/[adj]
I never kill spiders - it's unlucky I English people say that
Friday 13th is an unlucky day. [ Traditionally sailors
thought it unlucky to learn to swim.
be/bring bad luck/bi:, ,brlrj bed 'lAk/something that
is bad luck or brings bad luck is believed to make bad
things happen [v phrase]
It's supposed to be bad luck to open an umbrella in the
house. ] For centuries, crows have been thought to bring bad
luck.
a ]|nx on ] 'd3ijks phi if you say there is a jinx on a plan,
occasion etc, a lot of things go wrong with it without any
reason and you think it is because of bad luck In phrase]
We've had personnel problems, computer problems, and now
the heating has broken down. There must be a jinx on this
office. I It'spouring with rain and the flowers haven't arrived
- Lynne's convinced there's a jinx on the whole wedding.
5 bad luck
bad luck
misfortune
bad luck/,bad 'lAk/the force that seems to make bad
things happen to someone for no particular reason In U]
The failure of their business was the result of both bad luck
and bad management. I All his life, Harry's been dogged by
bad luck.
misfortune/ms' fa:rtj'dn/bad luck, especially when this
results in someone having great difficulties in their life,
for example being very poor, having a serious accident etc
In C/U]
The family struggled for years against poverty and misfor-
tune. [ My mother believed that to fall in love was a great mis-
fortune. [ I saw by the travellers' appearance that they had
met with a thousand misfortunes on the road.
unmanageable CONTROL 21
unmarried MARRY 16
unmistakable OBVIOUS 3, RECOGNIZE 2
unmoved DON'T CARE 4
unnamed NAME OF A PERSON 8
unnecessary NEED 10
unnerve NERVOUS 6
unnoticed NOTICE 3
unobservant NOTICE 4
unobtainable AVAILABLE 6
unobtrusive OBVIOUS 5
unoccupied EMPTY 4
unorthodox CONVENTIONAL 2
unpaid OWE 5
unpalatable UNPLEASANT 3
unperturbed WORRIED 11
unplanned PLAN 11
unpleasant UNPLEASANT 1, 2, 3
unpleasant: be unpleasant RUDE/IMPOLITE 1
UNPLEASANT
I words for describing someone that you dislike
because they are unpleasant, rude,
unfriendly, or bad-tempered
;2 words for describing an unpleasant
experience or situation, which makes you feel
upset, uncomfortable, or anxious
3 words for describing an unpleasant taste or
smell
continued

UNPLEASANT
UNPLEASANT coo  ,o.  ,
4
5
words for describing an unpleasant sound
words for describing someone who is very
interested in unpleasant things such as death
and murder
1
unpleasant
not very nice
nasty
horrible
mean
words for describing someone that you dislike
because they are unpleasant, rude,
unfriendly, or bad-tempered
obnoxious
objectionable
off-putting
bastard
nasty piece of work
unpleasant/^n 'plezant/[adj]
Most people find him a mean and unpleasant old man. I
When annoyed, she can be very unpleasant. I A thoroughly
unpleasant fifteen-year-old youth had been going around
torturing cats.
not very nice/nDt veri 'na[s/someone who is not very
nice is unpleasant and may also be dishonest and have no
moral principles [adj phrase not before noun]
I think she's crazy to go out with him - he's really not very
nice. [ Debbie's job pays a lot, but it brings her into contact
with a lot of people who aren't very nice.
nasty/'no:sti [[ 'nesti/ someone who is nasty is very
unpleasant and often also unkind [adj]
Graham is a particularly selfish and nasty individual. [
nasty to/towards Why are you always so nasty to me?
I never say anything bad to you.
horrible/'hDrbal [[ 'h:-, ha..-/someone who is horri-
ble has a very unpleasant character or way of behaving
[adj]
My sister is a horrible spoilt child. [ Rebecca is a really nice
person, but her husband's horrible. [ be horrible to sb I'm
sorry I was so horrible to you the other day.
mean Imi:nl an informal American word meaning rude,
bad-tempered, and often unkind in the way you treat people
[adj]
The new teacher seemed a nice enough guy, but we soon
found out he could be real mean if ever we gave him any
trouble.
obnoxious/ob'nokos 11 -'na:k-/someone who is obnox-
ious is unpleasant, especially because they often say rude
or offensive things [adj]
I'd hate to be her secretary - she's such an obnoxious
woman. [ Who was that obnoxious man you were talking to
at the party? [ I really will not tolerate such obnoxious
behaviour.
objectionable lob 'd3ekanoball someone who is objec-
tionable is extremely unpleasant, especially because they
are bad tempered, rude, or have opinions that you strongly
disapprove of [adj]
Mrs Taylor is one of the doctor's most objectionable patients. [
We all got really sick of Norman and his objectionable racist
attitudes.
off.putting/'Dfpotrj [[ '3:f-/someone who is off-putting
behaves in a way that makes you dislike them or feel
uncomfortable with them, even though they may not really
be unpleasant [adj]
She wondered if Muriel found Stuart as off-putting as she
did. [ Sally, unlike her sister, was off-putting, with a very
abrupt manner that made you feel uncomfortable.
bastard /bo:stord [[ 'bins-/ an impolite word meaning
someone who is very unpleasant and inconsiderate, and
does not care how much they upset or harm other people
[nC]
He's a complete and utter bastard - I don't want anything
more to do with him. [ "And then he made us run another
5 miles.'" "What a bastard!"
1486
UNPLEASANT
nasty piece of work/'na:sti pi:s ov ,wa:rk II 'nasti-/an
informal expression meaning someone who is very
unpleasant and is likely to behave in a cruelor violent way
In phrase]
Most of the kids in the gang were OK, but derry was a nasty
piece of work who'd carve your face up if you gave him half
an excuse.
 words for describing an unpleasant
experience or situation, which makes you feel
upset, uncomfortable, or anxious
unpleasant horrible
not very nice leave a bad/nasty
nasty taste in the mouth
unpleasant/An'plezant/[adj]
I had an unpleasant feeling that I was not alone in the room. [
She left quickly, in order to avoid any unpleasant scenes with
her ex-husband.
not very nice/nt veri 'nais/an experience that is not
very nice makes you feel upset and certain that you do not
want it to happen again [adj phrase not before noun]
I don't want radiotherapy if it can be avoided - I've heard
it's not very nice. ] Being caught up in someone else's divorce
is never very nice. [ She didn't suffer any physical harm, but
living with such an abusive man wasn't very nice.
nasty/'no:sti [[ 'nasti/a nasty situation or event is shock-
ing or upsetting, and often involves people suffering, or
almost suffering, injury, violence, or death [adj]
In his first year, Philips endured several nasty beatings from
fellow sailors. [ The news of his death came as a very nasty
shock. [ It was a nasty moment - I thought she was going
to shoot me.
horrible/'horbal [[ ha:-, 'ha:-/somethingthat is horri-
ble is very unpleasant and often frightening or upsetting,
especially because it involves cruelty or suffering [adj]
You can't imagine anything as horrible as those scenes of
starvation and despair. [ A horrible, shuddering groan
escaped from his lips. [ I hope that something horrible hasn't
happened to them.
leave a bad/nasty taste in the mouth /lizv o bad,
tno:sti tteist in (0 ,maoO [[ -,nasti-/if an experience leaves
a bad or nasty taste in your mouth, there is something
about it that upsets you or makes you feel uncomfortable,
even a long time after it happened Iv phrase not in
progressive]
It's difficult to forgive someone when they say something like
that - it really leaves a nasty taste in your mouth.
 words for describing an unpleasant taste or
smell
unpleasant unappetizing
not very nice unpalatable
nasty
unpleasant/Anplezant/[adj]
His breath emitted an unpleasant mixture of onions and
whisky. [ Skunks give off an unpleasant odor that deters
attackers. [ Undercooked potatoes taste unpleasant and can
be harmful.
not very nice/nDt veri nais/tasting or smelling rather
unpleasant [adj phrase not before noun l
This cheese isn't very nice. I think it might be off. [ not taste/
smell very nice The first time I smoked a cigarette it didn't
taste very nice, but after a few tries I began to like them.
nasty/no:sti II 'nasti/a taste or smell that is nasty is
very strong and unpleasant [adj]
One tester complained that the drink had a nasty aftertaste. [
Police were alerted when neighbors complained of a nasty
smell coming from the basement. [ taste/smell nasty I'm
not wearing that perfume - it smells nasty.
unappetizing/^n  eeptaIzIo/a meal or food that is unap-
petizing has an unpleasant appearance or smell and does
not make you want to eat it [adj]

UNPLEASANT 1487 UNTIDY
The soup looked cold and unappetizing, but there was
nothing else to eat. I Dinner was a most unappetizing meal,
consisting of tough meat, soggy vegetables, and lumpy
potatoes.
unpalatable/^n'paJtbl/food that is unpalatable has
such an unpleasant taste that you cannot eat it [adj]
The local food is distinctly unpalatable, and revolves mainly
around yak meat.
4 words for describing an unpleasant sound
harsh
grating
rasping
harsh/hmrf/a sound that is harsh is unpleasant, rough,
and usually loud [adj]
Her sore throat made her voice sound rather harsh. I Cheap
loudspeakers often produce a harsh metallic tone. I the harsh
screaming of the wind in the rigging
grating/'gretig/a sound that is grating is unpleasant
and sharp and is usually produced by two rough surfaces
rubbing together [adjl
The metal wheels made a sharp grating sound on the gravel
drive. I We could hear a group of American tourists, talking
with loud grating voices.
grate Iv I] The chalk grated on the blackboard as the teacher
wrote.
rasping /'ro:spItj II 'rms-/a rasping sound is rough, loud,
and often threatening, and sounds as if it is produced by
two surfaces rubbing together [adj usually before noun]
The sergeant had a loud rasping voice. I The violins played
the introduction with an aggressive, rasping tone. I Far
down the canyon the owl made its strange rasping cry.
5 words for describing someone who is very
interested in unpleasant things such as death
and murder
morbid
morbid/'m:rbd/[adj]
Darryl was a morbid individual, always talking about
strange and horrible murders. I morbid interest Around
this time I started to develop a morbid interest in witchcraft
and black magic.
!i unplug SWITCH ON OR OFF 2
unpopular POPULAR 5, 6
 unprecedented FIRST 6, UNUSUAL 3
!i unpredictable PREDICT 6
;iiI unprepared READY 5
.iii,i unpretentious MODEST 1
;! unprintable SWEAR 2
i unproductive FAIL 3
;; unprofitable POINTLESS 4
..... unprovoked WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
 unpunished: go unpunished PUNISH 8
!{! unquestionably CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
 unravel SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 1
:':iiii unreadable READ 14
,iiii unreal STRANGE 4
i!!!! unrealistic REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 5
• ., unreasonable UNFAIR 1, 2, WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
:iii! unrecognizable RECOGNIZE 3
:'il unrelated/unconnected CONNECTED WITH 8
ilii unrelenting CONTINUOUS 4
iii unreliable DEPEND ON/RELY ON 4
{ unresolved SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 5
! unrest PROTEST 4
• "4 unrewarding POINTLESS 4
i unripe READY 6
i unrivalled BEST 2
- unroll OPEN 8
!i unruffled CALM 1
 unsatisfactory GOOD ENOUGH 4
!!ii unscathed INJURE 7
.. unscrew OPEN 5
unscrupulous DISHONEST 1 3
'
unselfish SELFISH 4
unsettle NERVOUS 6
unsettled: unsettled CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
unsightly UGLY 2, 4
unsolved SOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER 3
unsophisticated EXPERIENCED 5, SIMPLE/NOT
COMPLICATED 1, 2
unspoiled/unspoilt SPOIL 8
unstable BALANCE 5, CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
unsteady BALANCE 5
unstoppable STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 10
unstuck: come to grief/come unstuck FAIL 1
unsuccessful FAIL 3
unsuccessful: be unsuccessful FAIL 1
unsuitable/not suitable WRONG/UNSUITABLE 1, 2
unsuited to/not suited to WRONG/UNSUITABLE 1
unsure: be unsure/be uncertain NOT SURE 1
unsure: make sb unsure/uncertain NOT SURE 3
unsure of yourself CONFIDENT 7
unsurpassed BEST 2
unsympathetic UNKIND 4
untamed NATURAL 1
untapped USE/CONSUME 4
unthinkable IMPOSSIBLE 3
untidy UNTIDY 1, 2, 3
UNTIDY
words for describing a room, desk, house etc
that is untidy
words for describing someone whose clothes
and hair look untidy
words for describing someone who never
keeps things tidy
to make a place untidy
things that are spread around a place and
make it look untidy
informal words for a very untidy room or place
1 words for describing a room, desk, house etc
that is untidy
untidy be a mess
messy cluttered
untidy/An'tadi/[adj]
Their house is always very untidy. I Jan found the professor
in a small, untidy room. I Don't make the place untidy. 1 She's
such a perfectionist, she gets irritated if things are left untidy
or dirty. I These drawers are so untidy - I can never find
what I'm looking for.
untidily [adv] Tins and boxes were piled untidily on the
table.
untidiness In U] He liked the untidiness and comfort of the
big room.
messy / ' mesi/very untidy and dirty, with a lot of things
in the wrong place [adj]
She felt uncomfortable in such a messy house. I He only cleans
up his room when it gets really messy.
be a mess/bi: a mes/ira room, house, desk etc is a mess,
it is not neat and clean and there are things in the wrong
place everywhere Iv phrase]
Pull up a chair - sorry everything's such a mess. I There were
cups, ashtrays, and bits of food all over the table - what a
mess! I be in a mess Their place was in a terrible mess when
they went back after the storm.
©luttered /ldAtard/untidy because there are too many
things all together in a small space [adj]
The trailer was clean but very cluttered. I He sat behind his
cluttered desk and made phone calls.

UNTIDY 1488 UNTIL
 words for describing someone whose clothes
and hair look untidy
untidy unkempt
look a mess dishevelled/disheveled
scruffy bedraggled
untidy/An'tadi/[adj]
He wore an old raincoat and his untidy hair was wet. I a
wild, untidy, self-willed little girl I look untidy There's no
point dressing the children up, they look untidy within five
minutes.
look a mess/,lok  'mes/if you say that someone looks
a mess, you mean that their clothes and hair are untidy
and perhaps also dirty Iv phrase]
Please don't take my photo now, I look a mess. I What have
you been doing? You look a terrible mess.
scruffy/'skrAfi/someone who is scruffy does not look
tidy, especially because they are wearing old, untidy
clothes [adj]
My parents think I look scruffy, but I like wearing jeans and
an old sweatshirt. I Richard's scruffy little sister had turned
into a sophisticated young woman. I His dirty black hair was
pulled back into a scruffy ponytail.
unkempt/,Ankempt/ someone whose hair, beard, or
clothes are unkempt does not make any effort to keep their
hair etc tidy and dean [adj]
In prison her hair and clothes became unkempt and dirty. I
Fritz had a large beer-belly, a heavy moustache and long,
unkempt hair.
dishevelled (British) I disheveled (American) /d,-
'evald/someone who is dishevelled has untidy hair and
clothes, often because they have been in a hurry, or have
been travelling or working hard [adj]
She looked dusty, disheveled and very tired. I At this moment
Mother arrived, slightly dishevelled and out of breath. I She
was conscious of her rather dishevelled appearance.
bedraggled/b'dregald/someone who is bedraggled
looks untidy and dirty, especially because they have been
outside in the wind and rain [adj]
They saw the children coming along the path, looking mis-
erable and bedraggled after the storm. I A rather bedraggled
crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.
My daughter always makes a dreadful mess in the bath-
room.I You can play upstairs with your friends if you
promise not to make a mess.
mess up /,mes 'Ap/ an informal expression meaning
make a place untidy ]phr v T[
mess sth/it/them up You can use the sitting room, but
don't mess it up. ] mess up sth Who's messed up my nice
clean kitchen?
clutter/clutter up / ' klnto r, ,klAtOr 'Ap/ if a lot of things
clutter a room, desk etc, they make it untidy, especially
because there is not enough space for them Iv T]
Toys cluttered up the nurseryfloor. ] She often referred to the
piles of books that cluttered her desk. ] be cluttered (up)
with The main entrance was cluttered with spilling refuse
bins. ] His house was cluttered up with the things he had
collected.
ransack/, rensaek/to make a place very untidy, and often
also cause damage, while searching it to find things to steal
[vT]
The house had been ransacked; clothes lay on the floor, books
were thrown about, and all the cupboards were empty. I ran-
sack sth for (=in order to find) The soldiers ransacked the
palace for hidden treasure.
 things that are spread around a place and
make it look untidy
mess
clutter
mess/mes/things that have been spread untidily around
a place, for example because someone has been working,
playing etc [n singular]
He found Mary in the kitchen tidying up the mess after the
party. I It had taken him ages to clear up yesterday's mess. I
If there is one thing I detest, it is a mess. I The floods have
left a terrible mess in houses along the coast.
clutter / ' klAtr/a lot of things that have been left together
in one place, especially unnecessary things which prevent
you from moving around easily and make the place look
untidy [n U]
Most of us still expect men to create clutter and women to tidy
it. I clothing, magazines, household stuff, all the usual clutter
of an upcountry store
 words for describing someone who never
keeps things tidy
untidy slovenly
messy slob
untidy/An'tadi/an untidy person does not arrange things
neatly and does not put things away after using them [adj]
Don't come in - I don't want you to see how untidy I am. I
She is so untidy - always leaving her things all over the floor.
messy/'mesi/a messy person does things in an untidy
and careless way [adj]
He has a tendency to be messy, disorganized and dirty. I
messy eater/cook ere My husband's such a messy cook, it
takes me hours to clear up after him.
slovenly / slAvanli/a slovenly person is untidy and lazy,
so that they do not try to keep things clean and neat [adj]
Their landlady was fat and slovenly. I He straightened up
the room in his slovenly, half-hearted way.
slob/slo II slo:b/ an informal word meaning someone
who is very untidy and does not care at all about this, but
even seems to enjoy it In C[
Jo is such a slob, how can she live in such chaos?[ He was
a good worker, but a slob in his personal habits.
4 to make a place untidy
make a mess clutter/clutter up
mess up ransack
make a mess/,melk  'mes/to leave a room untidy,
especially because you do not put things away after using
them Iv phrase]
6 informal words for a very untidy room or place
dump
pigsty
tip
dump/dAmp/an informal word meaning a place that is
untidy and dirty In singular]
The Ewells'place is a real dump. [ Why don't you clean up
this dump?
pigsty/'p;gstai/an informal word meaning an untidy and
very dirty place In singular]
This place is a pigsty! We'd better clean it up before your
parents get here. [ I don't know how you can stand living in
a pigsty like this.
tip/tip/an informal British word meaning a very untidy
place [n singular]
Your room's an absolute tip! I It was a very nice house until
they moved in and turned it into a tip.
untie FASTEN/DO UP 3
untie/undo TIE 5
until UNTIL 1
until: up until/up to UNTIL 1
until/up to the present day NOW 3
@ UNTIL
until a particular time, date etc, or until
something happens

UNTIL 1489 UNTRUE
1 until a particular time, date etc, or until
something happens
until to
till through
up until/up to Monday-Friday/6:00-8:00 etc
until/An'tIl, an-/if someone does something or something
happens until a particular time or date, or until something
else happens, it continues and then stops at that particu-
lar time [prepConjunction]
Roger worked for IBM until 1989. I I'll be at home until 5:30,
if you want to call me. 1Rita polished the car until it shone. I
He refused to slow down until he was sure that nobody was
following us. I Until I read his book I never realised what
an exciting life he had. I It wasn't until I got married that
I could afford to buy my own house.
till/till a word meaning until, used especially in spoken
English [prepConjunction]
The shop's only open from ten till two on Sundays. I If you
wait till after breakfast I can give you a ride into town. I Can
you lend me some money till next week? I They won't let him
out of the hospital till he's completely recovered.
up untillup to/iAp ntfl, lap tu:/if something happens
up until or up to a particular time, date etc, it was hap-
pening continuously before that time but no longer hap-
pens after that time [prep]
Up until the nineteenth century wood was commonly used for
buildings. I She always thought she would get better, up to
the day she died. I Up until now you've worked very hard but
it seems to have suddenly changed. Why? l right up until/to
(=just before) Right up until the last minute she had hoped
that Peter would change his mind.
to/t; before vowels to; strong tu:! May to June/9 am to 5
pm etc (=starting in May and happening until the end of
June, starting at 9 am and happening until 5 pm etc) [prep]
Eisenhower was President from 1952 to 1956. I Most people
work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. I You can ski glaciers from
autumn to late spring.
through/0ru:/an American word meaning until, and
including, a particular time, day, or year [prep]
The store is open Monday through Saturday until 9:00pro. I
From 1977 through 1984, the use of insecticides greatly
increased. I I'll be here ten through four.
Monday.Fridayl6:00.8:00 etc (used especially on
written notices, advertisements etc)
Parents are invited to see the children's art exhibition,
Friday, June 19th, 7:30-9:30. I A special fishing licence is
required for the season (May-September).
..... ,: untimely EARLY 5
!'!'i untimely death DIE 3
 untogether DISORGANIZED 2
! untouched USE/CONSUME 4
ii untrained EXPERIENCED 4
. untrue UNTRUE 2
 untrue: not be true/be untrue UNTRUE 1
UNTRUE
ways of saying that a statement or opinion is
not based on true facts
words for describing a statement, story, or
description of events that is not true but was
deliberately invented
an untrue story that someone invents as an
excuse or to impress people
something that someone has said or written
which you think is stupid and completely
untrue
1 ways of saying that a statement or opinion is
not based on true facts
not be true/be untrue
not be the case
not ring true
not be true/be untrue/,not bi: 'tru:, bi: Antru:/ [V
phrase]
"'No one ever helps me. "" "That's not true. You know it isn't
true." l Many people think that the famine was a result of
the civil war, but this is untrue. I it is not true that It is
not true that all women prefer to stay at home and do the
housework. I it is not true to say It just isn't true to say that
the standard of living has improved in the last ten years. I
It would be untrue to say that all politicians are corrupt.
not be the case/not bi: z 'keis/a formal expression:
if what someone says or believes about a situation is not
the case, it is not true or correct Iv phrase]
Experts told us that the nuclear reactor was safe. Sadly this
was not the case. I The constitution stated that the govern-
ment was subject to the law, but in practice this was not the
case.
not ring true/not ro tru:/if an explanation, story etc
does not ring true, it does not seem to be true even though
you are not quite sure why you think it is untrue [vphrase
not in progressive]
She seemed to be guilty, but something about the whole case
just didn't ring true. I At first it sounds like a perfectly plau-
sible argument, but it doesn't quite ring true somehow.
2
false
fiction
be made up
words for describing a statement, story, or
description of events that is not true but was
deliberately invented
untrue trumped-up
be a fabrication
there's no truth/
nothing in
untrue/An'tru:/[adj]
Everything they say about me is untrue, every word of it. ]
completely/totally untrue I made up a long and totally
untrue story about an old friend who had lost all her money.
false/f:ls/false report/accusation/claim/rumour/
confession etc (=completely untrue) [adj]
Don't be deceived by the false reports which appear in the
newspapers. I We have no way of knowing whether what he
told us is true or false. I completely/totally false Sankyo
said yesterday that rumours of a takeover were totally false.
I Stalin extorted false confessions and had innocent victims
executed.
falsely lady] Beverly was falsely accused of murder.
falsehood In U] She seemed incapable of distinguishing
between truth and falsehood (=between what was true and
what was false).
fiction / fikJ'gn/an untrue story or piece of information
that someone has deliberately invented In U]
It's sometimes difficult to tell fact from fiction. I pure fiction
(=completely untrue and invented) Don't believe all that
stuff about him being wounded in the war. It's pure fiction.
be made up/bi: ,med 'Ap/ if a story or something that
someone tells you is made up, it has been deliberately
invented, especially in order to deceive people Iv phrase]
Some people suspected that Rawicz's story was not true - that
it was in fact made up. I I admit that a lot of what I told you
was lies, but it wasn't all made up.
trumped-up / tr^mpt '^p-/trumped-up charge/accu-
sation/case etc (=one that is false and has been invented,
especially in order to harm someone for political purposes)
[adj usually before noun]
He had been arrested by the secret police on trumped-up
charges of spying. I Zola believed that the case against Drey-
fus was trumped-up and utterly false.
there's no truth in/nothing in/beorz noo tru:0 in,
n^00 zn/if you say there's no truth in or nothing in a
story, report etc, you mean that it is completely untrue

UNTRUE 1490 UNUSUAL
I can assure you that there's absolutely no truth in this
rumour about me and Martin. I All this talk about a crisis
- there's really nothing in it at all. I there's not a grain of
truth in There wasn't a grain of truth in his story - it was
totally made up.
be a fabrication/bi: a ,faebr 'keifan/if something is a
fabrication, especially a long and complicated story, it has
been invented in order to make people believe it is true Iv
phrase]
He claimed he had discovered evidence that the Loch Ness
monster really existed, but the whole thing was a fabrica-
tion. [ The defendant's story turned out to be a complete
fabrication.
3 an untrue story that someone invents as an
excuse or to impress people
tall tale/tall story
cock and bull story
tall tale/tall story/,taft 'tell, ta:l 'sta:ri/a story about
something you have done or about something that has
happened to you, especially one told to have an effect on
people, which is difficult to believe In C]
He returned from the war with many tall tales of his adven-
tures in distant lands. I All that stuff about killing a shark
with his bare hands was just another tall story.
cock and bull story/,kok and bol ,st:ri [[ ,ka:k-/an
informal expression meaning a story, usually told as an
excuse, which people do not believe because the events in
it seem very unlikely to be true In phrase]
She turned up over an hour late with some cock and bull
story about leaving her typewriter in a phone box.
4 something that someone has said or written
which you think is stupid and completely
untrue
nonsense
crap/bullshit
a load of/a pile of
nonsense (also rubbish in British English)/'nonsns,
'r^blj" II 'noznsens/ In UI
Don "t believe a word of it. It's all nonsense. [ "'She says she's
39. "" "'Nonsense, she must be at least 50. "" [ "She's complain-
ing that her office is too cold. "" "Oh, that's rubbish! It's just
an excuse to avoid work. ""
craplbullshit/krep, boljht/ impolite words meaning
something that is stupid and completely untrue In U]
I'm not going to sit here and listen to any more of this crap. [
Never mind the bullshit, Harry. Save that for the suckers.
Just tell me what really happened.
a load of (British) I a pile of (American)/a 'laud av, a
pad av/a load of rubbish/nonsense/crap etc (=when
you think everything that someone has said or written
about something is stupid and completely untrue) In
phrase]
I told Julia what he'd said, and she said, "'That's a load of
nonsense. "[ Just read that article on the front page. It's a
load of rubbish, if you ask me. [ I've never heard such a pile
of crap in my life.
untrustworthy DISHONEST 1, TRUST 8
unturned: leave no stone unturned LOOK FOR 2
untypical TYPICAL 6
unused USE STH 9, USE/CONSUME 4
unused: be unaccustomed to/unused to USED
TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 6
unusual INTERESTING 5, UNUSUAL 1, 2
@ UNUSUAL
1 different from what is usual or ordinary, or
from what normally happens
2 unusually good or impressive
3 so unusual that nothing like it has ever
happened before
I different from what is usual or ordinary, or
from what normally happens
unusual freak
out of the ordinary offbeat/off-beat
extraordinary anomaly
exceptional
unusual/An'ju:sual, -Sail [ adj]
The bread had an unusual flavour. [ That vacation was a
little unusual because my wife wasn't well all the time we
were there. [ Kit. That's an unusual name! [ I first met Maria
in unusual circumstances - we were both trying to get into
the same taxi. [ it is unusual to do sth It is unusual to find
lakes of this size in Britain.
unusually [adv] The house was unusually quiet. [
Unusually for that time of year there was still a lot of snow
on the ground.
out of the ordinary Iaut av 6i 'a:rdanri [[-dn-eri/
unusual and surprising or special [adj phrase]
Something out of the ordinary happened to us that night. [
The soprano sang beautifully - her voice is quite out of the
ordinary.
extraordinary ]ik'str0:rdanari 11 -dn-eri, ,ekstrato:r-]
something that is extraordinary is very unusual because
it would normally be very unlikely to happen or exist [adj]
The man's story was so extraordinary that I didn't know
whether to believe him or not. [ an extraordinary thing to
do/say/happen What an extraordinary thing to say! [
quite/most extraordinary (=very extraordinary) The
whole incident had been quite extraordinary.
extraordinarily [adv ] The wind got stronger and the level
of the sea rose till it was extraordinarily high.
exceptional/Ik'sepanal/a situation that is exceptional
is very unusual or special, and likely to exist only very
rarely [adj]
Baldwin was now in a position of exceptional strength in
Parliament. I in exceptional circumstances Promotion
in the first year of employment is only given in exceptional
circumstances.
exceptionally [adv ] We've had exceptionally good weather
this summer.
freak/fri:k/freak accident/storm/conditions (=very
unusual and unexpected, and often causing difficulty or
damage) [adj only before noun]
My parents were killed in a freak car accident. I The ships
were swept out to sea by a freak summer storm.
offbeat/off-beat /'of bi:t [[ ':f-/ offbeat films/de-
signs/ideas etc are unusual and often seem interesting or
humorous because they are so different from the usual
ones [adj usually before noun]
We had some really offbeat ideas for T-shirt designs. I Movies
featuring original or offbeat material are rarely big box-
office successes.
anomaly/atnomali li ana:-/a formal word meaning an
unusual situation, practice etc, especially one that is not
helpful, satisfactory, or fair In C]
There are the most obvious undemocratic anomalies within
our political system. [ The requirement that a husband fills
in his wife's tax form is an anomaly that must be corrected.
2 unusually good or impressive
unusual remarkable
special rare
exceptional quite a/some
extraordinary
unusual/An tju:sual, -3all unusual beauty/talent/abil-
ity etc (=much better or impressive than usual) [adj
usually before noun]
Alan's work shows unusual talent and originality. ] The
whole building suggested an architect of unusual abilities.
unusually [adv] The professor is an unusually gifted
teacher.
special Ispeall unusually good, impressive, or impor-
tant [adj]

UNUSUAL 1491 UP
Joe has a special gift for mathematics. I The bond between
Sonya and her mother was very special.
exceptional / Ik I sepgnal/ an exceptional person or
thing is so good that people or things as good as they are
only exist very rarely [adj]
Graham Greene had exceptional talents as a story-teller. I
It's one of the best examples of old English furniture I've seen
- it truly is exceptional.
extraordinary/Ikstro:rdanari 11-dn-eri, lekstra'o:r-/very
much better, more beautiful, or more impressive than
usual [adj]
The view from up here is extraordinary! I Everything about
the woman - her hair, eyes, and jewellery - gleamed with
extraordinary brilliance. I He really was a most extra-
ordinary man.
extraordinarily [adv] Her latest movie is extraordinarily
funny.
remarkable /rI'ma:rkabM! a remarkable person or
thing is unusually good or impressive because they show
great skill or other qualities that make you admire them
very much [adj]
The record features some remarkable guitar and piano
solos. I Henry Tippett showed remarkable flair as a hotelier. I
a remarkable statesman and diplomat
remarkably [adv ] The service in the restaurant is remark-
ably quick and efficient.
rare/rear/rare beauty/honesty/courage etc (=very spe-
cial and unusual) [adj only before noun]
Cancer sufferers can show rare courage. I Bill Rogers had
rare charisma. I Huston is a film-maker who has achieved
a rare kind of beauty in his work.
quite a/some/' kwalt a, SAm/informal expressions for
describing something or someone that is unusually good,
impressive, or enjoyable [determiner]
This is quite a house, i Jane told me I was almost intelligent,
which from her is quite a compliment. I That was some party
last night! I "'She's some lady, "" he said, with admiration.
3 so unusual that nothing like it has ever
happened before
unheard of
unprecedented
unheard of/Antha:rd Ovl SO unusual that it has not hap-
pened or been known before and it is difficult to imagine
[adj]
When my father was a child, a television was an unheard-of
luxury. I The band had received six Grammy Awards - an
unheard-of achievement in such a short time. ] James is still
being faithful to his girlfriend - a state of affairs that is
ungeard of.
unprecedented /An'presdentd/ an unprecedented
rise/number/demand etc (=much greater, stronger,
more effective etc than has ever happened before) [adj]
There has been an unprecedented demand for second-hand
furniture. I An unprecedented boom in tourism brought
sudden prosperity to the town. I During the 1920"s the number
of Scots who made the journey across the Atlantic to the
United States was unprecedented.
unveil SHOW/LET SB SEE STH 7
unwarranted WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
unwelcoming UNFRIENDLY 4
unwell: not be well/be unwell ILL 1
unwieldy HEAVY 4
unwilling: be unwilling/not be willing WILLING
unwillingly WILLING 4
unwind RELAXED 2
unwise STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 3
unwrap OPEN 4
unwritten law RUkE/REGUkATION 2
u: be n the u n u SUCCSSFUk 
UP4
up: be up and about BETTER/RECOVERED 1
up: be up and running WORKING/NOT BROKEN 2
up: what's up? HAPPEN 7
up and coming SUCCESSFUL 3
up and down UP 1
up and down" jump up and down/bounce up and
down JUMP 1
up on: be up on MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 2
up on: be well up on/be up on KNOW STH 9
up on: not be up on NOT KNOW6
up to: be up to RESPONSIBLE 2
up to: up until/up to UNTIL 1
up to: what are you/they etc up to? DO 7
up-to-date MODERN 1 RECENTLY 4
up to date: bring sth up to date MODERN 4
up to date: keep abreast of/keep up to date with
FIND OUT 6
up to date: keep sb up to date IELL 4
up to here: have had it up to here EO UP 1
up to much: not be up to much BAD1
up to sb: be up to sb DECIDE 4
up to scratch: not be up to scratch BAD 5
up to sth: be up to sth DO 6
up-to-the-minute RECENTLY 4
up
meanm
@ UP
moving or facing upwards in space, or
moving to a higher position in a group or
organization
t moving up in space, in the air eta
2 facing or pointing upwards
 to move upwards through the air
4 to move up into the air very quickly
5 ways of saying that a plane, rocket etc leaves
the ground and goes up
6 to move up a slope or up stairs
7 ways of saying that a path or road goes
upwards
8 ways of saying that the level of water goes up
continued

UP 1492 UP
9
10
11
12
13
14
continued
ways of saying that the sun or moon comes
up into the sky
to move part of your body upwards
to send something up into the air or into
space
to move up to a higher position in a job or
organization
to give someone a higher position in a job or
organization
to move up in a list, for example of teams,
films, or records
I moving upwards in space, in the air etc
up upstairs
upwards/upward higher and higher
upward up and down
uphill
up/^pl [prep/adv]
The car went slowly up the hill. I She gets out of breath going
up the stairs. I up to/into/onto/over/at etc The balloon
rose up into the air. I The cat's not allowed to climb up onto
the table. I We made our way up to the top of the mountain.I
The dog surprised him by suddenly jumping up at him. I The
elevator's going up.
upwards (British) I upward (American) /'^pword(z)/
towards a higher position [adv]
The plane began to climb upwards into the sky. I Clouds of
smoke rose upward above the horizon. I A great wave of heat
surged upwards from the floor.
upward /'^pward/ upward movement/motion/pro-
gress etc (=towards a higher position) [adj only before
noun ]
The upward motion of the rocket suddenly stopped. I The
guard indicated to us to stop with a brief upward movement
of his hand. I A steep rockface on the mountain halted our
upward progress.
uphill/,Ap'hi1-/towards a higher position by means of a
road or path that goes up a hill [adv]
I don't like cycling uphill. I Rabbits can run faster uphill. I
Our guide led us uphill along a steep trail.
upstairs/,Ap'stearz-/towards a higher floor in a build-
ing by means of stairs [adv]
Ron walked slowly upstairs. I Flora watched Mrs Brown
staggering upstairs with a heavy tray. I Lucy came rushing
upstairs after her sister.
higher and higher /haxar and 'halar/ if something
moves higher and higher, it continues to move towards
a higher position in the sky [adv phrase]
The moon rose higher and higher. ] The kite went higher and
higher up into the sky. [ As the sun climbs higher and higher,
the risk of overheating grows.
up and down l, Ap and ' daon/if something moves up and
down, it moves towards a higher position and then back
to a lower position [adv phrase]
The boat was moving up and down on the sea. ] The earth
trembled and the house seemed to be moving up and down.
2 facing or pointing upwards
upwards/upward
up
face-up
upwards (British) I upward (American) /'^pward(z)/
[adv]
I put the cards on the table with the pictures upwards. I The
four smokestacks of the power station pointed upward. I She
lay facing upwards with a faraway look in her eyes.
up lap/look/glance/stare/gaze up (=look etc upwards)
[adv]
Rinaldi looked up and laughed. I up at The boy turned and
stared up at her. I We stood therefor a moment, gazing up
at the snow-capped summit.
face-up/,feis '^p/ffsomeone or something is lying face-
up, they are lying with their face pointing upwards [adv]
Police found the body lying face-up in the hall. I He put all
his cards face-up on the table.
3 to move upwards through the air
go up climb/climb up
rise gain height
ascend
go up/,goo 'Ap/ [phr v I1
The bird went up into the sky. I If you want to make the kite
go up, pull the string hard, then release it slowly.
rise/raz/to move straight up into the air [v II
The balloon rose quickly through the air. I Hot air rises. I
rise up Clouds of smoke rose up into the air.
ascend /a'send/ a formal word meaning to move up
through the air [v I]
The little bird ascended into the blue sky. I He leaned out of
an upstairs window and felt a current of warm air ascend-
ing from the street.
climb/climb up/klam, ,klam 'Ap/ if a bird or a plane
climbs or climbs up, it goes higher up into the sky [v I]
As the plane began to climb Karen started to feel ill. I A/lock
of geese climbed high above us and set off on their long jour-
ney south.
gain height/,ge:n 'bait/if an aircraft gains height, it
gradually moves higher up into the sky [v phrase]
The plane gained height and headed for Manila. I Gliders
use thermal up-currents to gain height.
4 to move up into the air very quickly
fly up
soar
shoot up
fly up I,flai '^p/to move quickly upwards as a result of
being blown, hit etc [phr v I]
The wind made my dress fly up. I I hit the nail but the wood
flew up and hit me on the chin.
soar/so:r/to go quickly upwards to a great height in the
air [v I]
soar upwards/above/into etc The ball soared high into
the air. I The whole world fell away beneath us as we soared
upwards.
shoot up/du:t 'Ap/ to suddenly go up into the air very
quickly [phr v I]
Flames shot up into the air and clouds of srnoke poured out
of the windows. I As she opened the bottle of champagne the
cork shot up and hit her nose.
 ways of saying that a plane, rocket etc leaves
the ground and goes up
leave the ground lift off
take off blast-off
leave the ground I,li:v 6o 'graond/[v phrase]
Soon after the plane had left the ground we unfastened our
safety belts. I Gunmen started firing at the helicopter as it
was leaving the ground.
take off/,telk 'of II -'o:f/if a plane or a bird takes off,
it leaves the ground and start flying [phr v I]
Some ducks took off and /lew along the river, t Soon after
we had taken off, drinks were served. I take off from The
president's plane took off from Andrews Air Force Base at
9:45 am.
takeoff/take-off/'teik o II -o:f/[n C/U/I hate that feeling
when you're on the runway waiting for take-off (=waiting
for the plane to take off).
lift off I,hft 'of II -'o:f/if a space ship lifts off, it leaves
the ground and starts its journey into space [phr v II

UP 1493 UP
Thousands of people had gathered at Cape Canaveral to
watch the rocket lift off. [ There was a burst of flame as the
rocket lifted off into the sky.
lift-off/ 'lift of II -:f! In c/u] This is Houston. We have lift-
off (=the rocket is now lifting off).
blast-off/bla:st ,of II 'blmst ,:f/the moment when a
space ship leaves the ground and starts its journey into
space In]
Minutes after blast-off the rocket exploded.
6 to move up a slope or up stairs
go up
climb/climb up
ascend
go up / ,go  ^p/[v T not in passive]
You have to go up two flights of stairs and then it's the second
door on your right. [ We could see a stream of people going
up the escalator ahead of us.
ciimblcllmb up/klam, ,klaim '^p[ to go up a steep slope,
especially with a lot of effort Iv T]
The old man slowly climbed up the stairs to his room. I The
little bus began to climb the steep hill which led out of the
valley.
climb In singular] The road was flat to begin with but then
there was a steep climb.
ascend Iz'send/a formal word meaning to climb Iv T]
We were walking on the forest path, ascending a steep slope. I
-He was turning to ascend the ladder to the engine room when
the ship's fire alarm sounded.
10 to move part of your body upwards
raise
lift/lift up
put up
raise/reIz/[v T]
She raised her head and looked at him. [ Frank raised his
hands in protest. [ Raising her eyebrows just a little, she
looked at my new coat.
lift/lift up/lift/to raise part of your body such as your arm
or your leg, especially carefully or with effort Iv T]
lift/lift up sth A few weeks after the accident I was able to
lift my leg again. I I was in so much pain that I could barely
lift up my arm. I lift your arm/leg ere up I want you all
to lift your right leg up as far as it will go.
put up / put '^p/put up your hand/arm (=raise it) [phr
vT]
put up sth John put up his hand and asked the teacher a
question. I As my father threatened to hit me I put up my arm
to protect myself. [ put sth/it/them up Karen put both her
hands up to shield her eyes from the sun.
1 1 to send something up into the air or into
space
launch
launch/l:nt/launch a rocket/missile/satellite etc
(=send it up into the air or into space) Iv T]
China is planning to launch a space rocket later this month.[
On the first day of the war over 400 missiles were launched.
7 ways of saying that a path or road goes
upwards
go up
climb
go up/,goo 'APl [phr v I]
The road goes up from the beach into the forest. [ I could see
a tiny track going up ahead of us.
climb/kla:m/to go up steeply Iv I]
The path climbs high into the hills above the village of
Glenridding.
8 ways of saying that the level of water goes up
get higher
rise
get higher/,get 'haIor/[v phrase]
The level of water in the boat got higher and we started to
sink.
rise/raxz/if the level of water rises, it goes up, especially
in a way that causes danger, problems ere Iv I]
The level of the water in the lake was rising fast. [ In 1956
the river rose to a height of more than 6 metres. I The waves
rose higher and higher till the rocks behind them were
hidden. I The tide was rising and they had to move further
up the beach.
9 ways of saying that the sun or moon comes
up into the sky
come up
rise
come up/,lm 'Ap/if the sun or the moon comes up, it
moves above the level of the horizon [phr v I]
The sun was coming up and you could just see the tops of the
mountains. [ The moon came up over the trees.
rise/raiz/if the sun or the moon rises, it goes above the
level of the horizon or it goes further up into the sky Iv I]
The moon was'rising behind the clouds. [ By midday the sun
had risen high in the sky and was burning down on us.
1 2 to move up to a higher position in a job or
organization
be promoted promotion
move up the ladder rise
move on to higher things advancement
be promoted/bi: pro' motd/to be moved up to a better,
more important job with higher wages and more respon-
sibility Iv phrase]
Three years ago Mr Johnson was promoted to the position
of manager of a large bank.
move up the ladder/,mu:v ^p 6 'ledzr/to gradually
become more and more successful, and get better, more
important jobs Iv phrase]
I knew I was slowly moving up the ladder to the Chairman's
job. I For some reason, female television producers have
failed to climb up the management ladder until recently.
move on to higher things/,mu:v Dn t ,haI r 1011]Z/
to leave a job in order to do a better, more important, or
better paid one, because you have become more success-
ful Iv phrase]
We're sorry you're leaving us but are pleased that you are
moving on to higher things. [ She doesn't work as a secre-
tary any more; she's moved on to higher things.
promotion/pr  mzoan/being moved up to a better, more
important job with more responsibility and higher wages
In C/U]
The enquiry heard that the women were paid at lower rates
than men and had less chance of promotion. I The job pays
well and promotion prospects are quite good. I She's already
had two promotions since she came here.
rise /raiz/ the process by which someone gradually
becomes more and more important and successful in their
work In singular]
The biography deals mainly with the actor's rise during the
silent film era. I rise to power Hitler's rise to power was
swift and unstoppable.
advancement/zd'va:nsmznt II d'ven-/a formal word
meaning moving up to a better, more important job In U]
Many people are forced to move from one city to another in
search of better jobs or career advancement. I Chances of
advancement are good in marketing, although you may have
to change companies to do so.

UP 1494 UPSET
1  to give someone a higher position in a job or
organization
promote
upgrade
elevate
promote/pm'mot/to move someone up to a better job
that gives them more responsibility and more money Iv T]
promote sb The only reason they promoted him was his
age. [ They promoted her to deputy headteacher.
upgrade/,Ap'greid/to move someone up in a job, espe-
cially by making the job they are already doing more
important and usually-pay them more for it [v T]
upgrade sb The women demanded that their work be
upgraded. I upgrade sb to After the inspector's visit all tem-
porary workers were upgraded to permanent status. ] They
will upgrade the post of science adviser so that you have more
authority.
elevate/'elovet/a formal word meaning to move some-
one to a better job or a higher rank or position Iv T]
You always get problems when you elevate mediocre people
to positions of authority. [ Griffiths was elevated to the dizzy
heights of assistant manager.
14 to move up in a list, for example of teams,
films, or records
move up climb
rise shoot up
move up/,mu:v 'AP/Iv I/T]
With this win Agassi moved up to 3rd place in the world
rankings. I move up sth FC Roma are slowly moving up
the league table.
rise/raz/to gradually move up in a list or group of people,
teams, records etc iv I]
Michael Jackson's latest single is rising steadily in the
charts. I Borland rose to the top of the computer software
industry by a mixture of innovation and good marketing.
climb/klaIm/to move up in a list of teams, records etc,
especially a long way up the list Iv I/T]
Madonna's new record has climbed to number 2 in the US
charts. I climb the table/charts etc Towards the end of the
season Benfica suddenly climbed the league table and
finished third.
shoot up/,u:t 'ap/to move up very quickly in a list of
people, teams, records Iv I/T]
shoot up sth The new detective series quickly shot up the TV
ratings. I shoot up We think that Jason will shoot up
through the school teams very quickly - he has so much
talent.
upbeat EXPECT 6
..,.. upcoming SOON 5
:r update MODERN 4
update: give an update on TELL 4
upgrade IMPROVE 3, UP 13
;:i upheaval CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 3
° uphill UP 1
uphold ACCEPT 6, OBEY 2
: upkeep LOOK AFTER STH 2
upmarket EXPENSIVE 3
upper HIGH 1, TOP 3
upper class CLASS IN SOCIETY 2
upper hand: have the upper hand ADVANTAGE 3
upper limit LIMIT 1
uppermost: topmost/uppermost TOP 3
upright GOOD/MORAL 3, VERTICAL 1
uprising REBELLION/REVOLUTION 1
uproar ANGRY 7
ups and downs PROBLEM 1
upset DISTURB 2, FALL 12, SAD/UNHAPPY 11,
SURPRISED 8, UPSET 1, 3
upset: get upset UPSET 4
UPSET
unhappy because someone has been unkind
to you or because something unpleasant or
disappointing has happened to you
so upset that you are very nervous and
unable to keep calm
to make someone feel upset
to become upset
words for describing an event or experience
that makes you feel upset
words for describing someone who easily
gets upset
1 unhappy because someone has been unkind
to you or because something unpleasant or
disappointing has happened to you
upset
hurt
distressed
upset/^p'set/[adj not before noun]
Leave Jane alone for a while: she's too upset to talk to
anyone. [ Claire was so upset when the promotion was given
to Paul. [ upset that The organizers were very upset that
so few people attended the exhibition. [ upset about Joel is
still upset about the accident, even though it wasn't his fault.
hurt/h3:rt/very upset, especially because someone has
been unkind to you and you cannot believe that they would
want to make you feel unhappy [adj not before noun]
Nick would be very hurt if he knew you had lied to him. [ be
hurt that He was hurt and surprised that no one came to
his party. I deeply hurt (=extremely hurt) Rosanna was
deeply hurt when her husband left her - she thought she'd
never get over it.
hurt In U] R's impossible to describe the hurt I felt when I
realised they had deceived me.
distressed/d 'strest/extremely upset and shocked about
something very unpleasant that has happened, so that you
cry or become confused ]adj]
The patient becomes distressed when people talk about the
accident. ] The airport was full of distressed relatives wait-
ingfor news of the crash. I deeply distressed (=extremely
distressed) She was deeply distressed to see the animal in so
much pain.
distress In U] Mr and Mrs Roberts spoke with obvious dis-
tress about their missing daughter.
so upset that you are very nervous and
unable to keep calm
distraught
be in a state
het up
distraught/dl 'str:t/extremely upset, usually because
you are very worried about something, so that you cry a
lot or seem confused [adj]
He could see that I was distraught, but he still kept question-
ing me. [ Mrs Dunstaple was so distraught that she no longer
knew what she was doing. ] Today the distraught parents
of the missing baby made a public appeal for her return.
be in a state/bi: In a 'steit/ an informal expression
meaning to be so upset that you cannot stop crying or con-
trol your emotions Iv phrase]
be in an awful/terrible/shocking etc state He's been in
a terrible state since he and Julie split up. I The children were
in such a state that the police couldn't question them.
het up/,het 'Ap/an informal British expression meaning
very upset or nervous about something, especially some-
thing that you have to do, in a way that other people think
is unnecessary [adj]

UPSET
bet up about She's so het up about the wedding she's going
to drive me mad! I get het up (=become het up) There's no
need to get so het up - it's only a driving test!
 to make someone feel upset
upset hurt sb's feelings
hurt distress
upset/Ap'set/Iv T]
upset sb We couldn't imagine what had happened to upset
him but he wouldn't stop crying. I They were careful not to
upset Amy while she was pregnant. I it upsets sb to
see/hear etc It upset me to see the war photographs being
used as an advert. I what upsets sb is What upsets me most
is the way she lied to me.
hurt ]h3=rt] to make someone feel very upset or offended
by doing something unkind or unfair Iv I/T]
hurt sb You know I would never do anything to hurt you. I
Her father refused to come to the phone, which hurt her more
than anything. I it hurts sb to see/hear etc It hurts me to
think that anyone could suspect me of cheating and stealing. ]
hurt When you said that you wished you'd never married
me, that really hurt.
hurt sb's feelings/,h3:rt (sb's) 'fi:lI13z/to make some-
one feel upset or offended by something that you say or do,
often unintentionally Iv phrase]
I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I Don't tell your sister what
William said: you'll only hurt her feelings. I She did not want
to hurt Tony's feelings, but she could not accept the gift.
distress ]di  stres] to make someone feel extremely upset
or worried Iv T]
distress sb I don't wish to distress you any further but I must
ask you a few questions about the accident. I it distresses
sb to see/hear etc It distressed him to see Susie cry.
4 to become upset
get upset
get worked up
take sth to heart
get upset/,get Ap'set/Iv phrase]
I get upset when I see people being cruel to animals. [ At the
slightest mention of her ex-husband's name she gets upset. I
Don't get upset, sweetheart, it's only a story.
get worked up/get w3:rkt 'p[ an informal expression
meaning to become very upset or angry, so that you think
things are worse than they really are Iv phrase]
There's no point getting worked up. Calm down and think
about what you're going to do. [ get worked up about/over
It's nothing to get worked up about. Anyone can make a mis-
take. I get all worked up Daddy got all worked up about
the new neighbors, but I couldn't see why.
take sth to heart/telk (sth) to ha:rt/to become upset
because you are more affected by what someone says than
they intended you to be Iv phrase]
Brian is a very sensitive kind of person and he takes things
very much to heart. I He was drunk. Don't take his words to
heart.
 words for describing an event or experience
that makes you feel upset
upsetting harrowing
distressing traumatic
painful
upsetting/Ap'sem]/[adj]
He won't even mention the war - he finds it too upsetting. ]
Many adults manage to forget their more upsetting child-
hood experiences. I It was upsetting to have to say goodbye
so soon.
distressing/dl' stresl]/making you feel extremely upset
or worried [adjl
Watching her mother die was the most distressing experience
of her life. [ It was distressing to see such bloody battle scenes
being shown on television. [ I'm afraid I have some news for
you which you might find distressing.
1495 use up
painful/'penfal/an experience or memory that is pain-
ful makes you feel extremely upset and sad [adj]
It's 5years since we separated, but I still find the memories
quite painful. [ the painful task of deciding what to keep after
Mother's death [ it is painful to see/hear ere It was so
painful to see children suffering.
harrowing /'hemuil/ something that is harrowing
makes you feel extremely upset because it is very fright-
ening or shocking [adj]
The film contained harrowing scenes of starving children. [
After a harrowing bus ride through the mountains, we
arrived at the port of Heraklion.
traumatic/tr:'metlk/an experience or event that is
traumatic makes you feel so upset that it affects the way
you think or behave for a very long time [adj]
For some, learning to swim can be a traumatic experience. [
the traumatic effect of the divorce on the children [ My child-
hood was quite traumatic, but I was happiest whilst I was
living at the orphanage.
6 words for describing someone who easily
gets upset
sensitive
sensitive/'senstiv/[adj]
My brother pretends he's tough, but he's very sensitive and
easily hurt. I sensitive about Diana is still very sensitive
about being blamed for something that she did not do. I sen-
sitive to If you are a politician you can't afford to be too sen-
sitive to criticism.
upsetting UPSET 5
upshot RESULT 2
upside down WRONG/INCORRECT 5
upside down: turn somewhere upside down/inside
out LOOK FOR 4
upside down: turn upside down TURN 7
upstairs UP 1
uptake: be quick on the uptake INTELLIGENT 3
uptight BAD-TEMPERED 1, NERVOUS 1
upturn INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 9
upward UP 1
upwardly mobile CLASS IN SOCIETY 5
upwards of MORE THAN A NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1
upwards/upward UP 1, 2
urban TOWN 4
urge ADVISE 1, WANT 9
urgent IMPORTANT 4
usable USE STH 8
use DRUG 3, PURPOSE 3, USE A PERSON 1, USE
STH 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, USE/CONSUME 1
use: be in use USESTH7
use: be of no use/be no use USELESS 1
use: be of use USEFUL 1
use: give sb the use of/loan of LEND 1
use: have no use for NEED 9
use: have the use of/have the loan of BORROW 2
use: it's no good/no use POINTLESS 2
use: let sb use LEND 1
use: make use of USE STH1, 2, 3, 4
use: put sth to use USE STH 2
use force FORCE SB TO DO STH 1
use up FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 1, USE/CONSUME 1
use up: take up/use up USE/CONSUME 1
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English

USE A PERSON 1496 USE/CONSUME
use
@- USE STH
use ; =i  USE/CONSUME
amount.of,somethi;og
be .usud;;:to .sOmhi,a'  . USED TOI
ACCUSTOMED
TO
:us somet  :ii0g
BORROW
available
AVAILABLE
-@ USE A PERSON
1 to use someone for your own advantage but
without helping them
2 someone who is used by someone else
1 to use someone for your own advantage but
without helping them
use
take advantage of
exploit
take libertiesla liberty
manipulate
wrap/twist sb around
your little finger
use/ju:z/[v T]
use sb She lets herself be used and then dropped by almost
every man she meets. I Can "t you see they're just using you? l
use sb to do sth The drug smugglers used innocent
travellers to carry the drugs through customs. I use sb for
your own ends (=for your own advantage) I eventually
realized that they had just been using me for their own ends
and that they had no intention of rewarding me.
take advantage of/,teIk l'vo:ntId 3 ov II -'vmn-/to use
someone for your own advantage, especially someone
who is very generous or is easily persuaded or deceived
[ v phrase ]
Don't let them take advantage of you. Stand up for yourself. I
Older brothers and sisters often take advantage of the youn-
ger children in a family. I take advantage of sb's good
nature Mary drives them everywhere, and they never pay
her. They just take advantage of her good nature.
exploit /k'spbt/to use someone in order to get what you
want, especially to make money from their work [v T]
Many employers are only too ready to exploit and underpay
female part-time workers. I Peasants in remote areas of the
country were being shamelessly exploited by wealthy land-
owners.
exploitation/ eksplo ten/[n U] His protests against the
exploitation of child labour were ignored by the government.
take libertiesla liberty /teik lIborti:z, o hbrti/to use
someone's generous nature to your own advantage, by
taking more from them than you have a right to Iv phrase]
I don't mind people making brief personal phone calls, but
spending hours of working time chatting really is taking
liberties.
manipulate/m nipjlet/to make someone, especially
someone who trusts you, do exactly what you want them
to do, especially by tricking or deceiving them in a very
deliberate way Iv T]
manipulate sb He's so crazy about her he doesn't realize
he's being manipulated. [ manipulate sb into sth Solici-
tors believe the old lady was manipulated into giving all her
money to her son's company.
manipulation/mz,nipj ° leian/In U ] the manipulation of
public opinion by the military regime
manipulative/mzmpj°lztv II -leiuv/[adj] Small children
can be quite manipulative (=good at manipulating people).
wrap/twist sb around your little finger /rmp,
tWlst (sb) araond j:r ,ltl fIrjgar/an informal expression
meaning to make someone, especially someone older than
you, do anything you want, because they like you [vphrase]
Young girls quickly learn how to wrap Daddy around their
little finger. I He can twist his grandmother around his little
finger because she simply worships him.
2 someone who is used by someone else
pawn
puppet
be putty in sb's hands
pawn Ipo:n/ someone who is used by a more powerful
person or group as part of their plans for getting power,
especially without realizing that this is happening In C]
The ambassador was being used as a pawn in the struggle
between the two countries. I The soldiers were nothing more
than pawns, regarded as dispensable by their officers.
puppet / pApt/an organization, especially a government,
that seems to be independent but is in fact controlled by
another more powerful organization for its own advantage
[n CI
During the 70s many Eastern European leaders were merely
puppets of the Kremlin. I a puppet regime (=a government
controlled by another government) The US had often been
accused of funding right-wing puppet regimes in South
America.
be putty In sb's hands/bi: pAti in (sb's) 'hendz/an
informal expression meaning to be willing to do anything
for someone because you love or admire them Iv phrase]
I was so in love with her, she could make me do anything.
I was just putty in her hands. I There wasn't a teacher in the
whole place who wasn't putty in the Principal's hands.
USE/CONSUME
1 to use an amount of something such as food,
gas, electricity, or water
2 a person or organization that regularly uses
something
3 the amount of something that is used
4 words for describing something that has not
yet been used
1 to use an amount of something such as food,
gas, electricity, or water
use
use up
consume
get through/go through
use/ju:z/Iv T]
We use about six pints of milk a week. I Planning is essen-
tial to make sure that resources are used effectively. I The
countries of Eastern Europe use far more low-grade brown
coal than Britain does.
eat up
take up/use up
expend

USE/CONSUME 1497 USE STH
use up /,ju:z '^p/to use all of something, so that there is
none left [phr v T]
use up sth Don't use up all the hot water. I We should use
up everything in the fridge before we go on vacation. I The
hotter a star is, the faster it will use up its fuel. I The coun-
try's oil reserves will soon be used up.
consume/kan'sju:m II -'su:m/a word used especially in
technical or official contexts meaning to use something Iv
T]
Last year, British households consumed over 50 million tons
of coal. I The human body consumes energy in the form of
carbohydrates. I Basicprovision of shelter, heat, and light
often consume more than half the total income of unemployed
people.
get through/go through/'get Oru:, 'go Oru:/to use a
large amount of something in a short period Iv T]
Sonia was getting through her money very fast and thought
she might have to cut short her vacation. I Sometimes I go
through a whole pack of cigarettes in a single afternoon. I
We went through our food supplies at an alarming rate.
eat up /,i:t 'Ap/if something eats up money, gas, electric-
ity etc, it uses it very quickly and in large amounts [phr v T]
eat up sth My rent eats up most of my money. I Non-energy
saving light bulbs just eat up electricity. I The V8 is a very
powerful engine but it really eats up gas.
take up/use up / terk 'Ap, ,ju:z Ap/to use space or time,
usually a lot of it Iv T]
Filing cabinets are very useful but they use up a lot of space. [
I'll be happy to help you, as long as you don't take up too
much of my time.
expend / ik  spend/expend energy/time/effort/resources
etc (=a formal word meaning to use energy etc when doing
something, usually too much of it) Iv T]
expend sth on/upon The government is unwilling to
expend any more of its already limited resources on other
projects. [ We expend a lot of effort every day upon quite point-
less activities. I expend sth The final result hardly justifies
the amount of time and energy that has been expended.
2 a person or organization that regularly uses
something
user
consumer
user/'ju:zr/In C]
There is a growing concern about the spread of AIDS among
drug users. I By far the largest commercial users of fuel-wood
are the sawmills. I Part of the increase in price will be passed
on to private users.
consumer/kn'sju:m r [I -'su:-/a word used especially
in business and economics meaning a person considered
as someone who buys and uses goods and services In C]
Only 25% of the price a consumer pays for a lettuce goes to
the farmer. I A large variety of green products are available
to consumers. [ consumer demand/behaviour/prefer-
ences etc market research, sales forecasting and analysis
of consumer behaviour I the consumer (=all the average
or typical consumers) Any increase in the cost of transport-
ing goods will be passed on to the consumer.
3 the amount of something that is used
consumption
consumption Ikn 'sAmp.[an/ [n U]
Since 1975, British consumption of beef has decreased by
20%. I Excessive fuel consumption is usually caused by a
fault in the ignition system of a car. I Economic theory would
predict that a fall in the price of a commodity would lead to
an increase in consumption.
4 words for describing something that has not
yet been used
unused
untouched
untapped
unused/,^n'ju:zd/something that is unused, has not
been used, especially because it has not been needed [adj
usually before noun]
Any unused wool can be returned to the shop. [ He gave up
smoking and threw three packets of cigarettes away, unused. [
the safe disposal of unused stocks of poison
untouched/,^n't^tj't-/not used at all, especially when
this is unexpected or surprising [adj]
She stared at her untouched sandwich. I cans of oil and
untouched containers full of rusty rivets I leave sth
untouched We managed to leave our savings untouched
when we bought the new car.
untapped/,An'tept-/untapped resources/reserves/
source etc (:resources, reserves etc that have not been
used yet but which could be very useful and valuable) [adj]
Untapped reserves of oil and minerals are thought to lie
beneath the desert. I The plants of the Australian outback
represent a vast untapped resource. I The firm recognized
that the potential of their databases went largely untapped.
USE STH
9
10
1 to use something for a particular purpose
2 to use a particular method, or use your
knowledge, skill etc, in order to achieve
something
3 to use a public service that is available, such
as a bus, train, or public library
4 to use a situation in order to gain an
advantage for yourself
5 ways of saying that something is used for a
particular purpose
6 what something can be used for
7 ways of saying that something is being used
at the present time
8 words for describing something that can be
used
no longer being used
to use something again after it has been used
already
11 to use something wrongly, for a purpose that
was not intended
12 someone who uses something
13 designed for practical use, not just for
decoration
14 words for describing something that can be
used in many different ways
15 words used to describe statements, jokes,
excuses etc that have been used too much
before and now seem stupid or boring
16 words for describing documents, tickets etc
that cannot be used
1 to use something for a particular purpose
use
make use of
service
use/ju:z/Iv T]
use sth I don 't drink milk but I use it in cooking. I Why don't
you use a calculator? I Do you mind if I use your phone? l
They rebuilt the church using local stone. I use sth to do sth
You should use a dictionary to check the spelling if you are
unsure. I use sth for We use this room for keeping all our
junk in. I use sth as The researchers use a laser beam as a
heat source.
use/ju:s/In U] The use of special glues makes the product
stronger.
make use of/,melk 'ju:s ovl to use something that is
available to you, especially something that not everyone
would think of using Iv phrase]

USE STH 1498 USE STH
make use of sth In his sculptures Blake makes use of
unusual materials such as broken bottles and scrap iron. I
make use of sth to do sth The invention made use of smoke
to disorientate burglars.
servi©e/' sa: ryes/use of something over a long period of
time [n U]
That old teapot has only been chipped once during its thirty
years of service. I see service (-be used) Our van had seen
a lot of service before it finally broke down for ever.
2
to use a particular method, or use your
knowledge, skill etc, in order to achieve
something
use utilize
make use of draw on
apply exploit
employ put sth to use
exercise bring sth into play
use/ju:z/[v T.!
use sth Researchers often use questionnaires in their work. I
use sth to do sth Use your management skills to improve
morale among your workers. I The teacher used strict dis-
cipline to control his classes. I These new techniques are
already being used to produce special effects in films.
use/ju:s/[n U] There have been complaints about the use of
excessive force by the troops.
make use of / mek ju:s ovl to use a method or skill for
a particular purpose, especially when it was not originally
intended for that purpose [v phrase]
make use of sth People asked her wh she didn't make use
of her musical talent and give singing lessons. I make use
of sth to do sth The police make use of the Doppler effect
to measure the speed of vehicles.
apply/a'plaq to use something such as a method, idea, or
system in a particular situation, activity, or process ]v T]
apply sth to do sth There are several tests you can apply
to find out how old a tree is. I apply sth to sth New technol-
ogy is being applied to almost every industrial process. I It
would be foolish to apply policies designed for a big country
like the United States to a small country like Cuba.
employ/m'pl/a formal word meaning to use a partic-
ular skill or method [v T]
Mr Baker has employed an investment strategy which
spreads his money across several financial markets. I These
politicians are not over-careful about the methods they choose
to employ.
employment [n U] The employment of such agricultural
methods eventually leads to a reduced crop.
exercise /eksrsaz/ exercise authority/power/a
right/a veto etc (=to use your authority etc effectively in
order to achieve something) [v T]
The Congress must decide whether to exercise its veto or not. I
Many people are exercising their right to leave the state
pension plan.
utilize (also .ise British)/'ju:Qlaz/a formal word mean-
ing to use something in a very effective way in order to
achieve something ]v T1
Employers must utilize their workers more effectively if Bri-
tain is to become an economic success. I Newspaper adver-
tising is the medium most frequently utilized by food stores.
draw on/ din: on II -o:n/to use information, knowledge,
or experience that you have learned in the past, in order
to do something more effectively [v T]
As a teacher, she drew on her knowledge of her own children. ]
Journalists draw on both published and unofficial informa-
tion from many different sources.
exploit/iksplt/to use something as fully and effectively
as possible in order to get the best possible result or the
greatest possible profit from it [v T]
Britain consistently fails to exploit the scientific discoveries
made in its universities. I Many programs have been deve-
loped over the years to exploit the computer's ability to
retrieve and manipulate information. I The country's
natural resources have not yet been fully exploited.
put sth to use/,pot (sth) ta 'ju:s/to start to use some-
thing, especially knowledge or skill that has not been used
before Iv phrase]
Your knowledge of computers can finally be put to use when
the office buys a new system next month. I When governments
acquire information they always try to put it to political use. I
put sth to good use He put the money he had won to good
use when he bought a house.
bring sth into play / brrj (sth) nto ple/to start to use
a method or skill because you think it will help you get
what you want [v phrase]
She brought her charm into play when she was trying toper-
suade people to do what she wanted. ] Electronic signalling
is only brought into play when necessary.
 to use a public service that is available, such
as a bus, train, or public library
make use of
use/ju:z/Iv T]
How often do you use the library? [ Now that we have a car
we very rarely use the buses. I The hotel used to offer a car-
valeting service, but no one ever used it.
use/ju:s/ [n U] There has been a decline in the use of the
subway system over recent years.
make use of !,meek 'ju:s ov/to use something that is
available, especially in order to enjoy it or to get something
that you want from it Iv phrase]
Not enough people are making use of the children's play
scheme. [ make good/enough etc use of Children should
be taught to make good use of the various information
services.
4 to use a situation in order to gain an
advantage for yourself
use play on
exploit take advantage of
make use of capitalize on
use/ju:z/Iv TI
use sth to do sth She used her position as manager to get
jobs for her friends. I The prisoners used the confusion caused
by the fire to conceal their escape. [ use sth for Charles was
the President's cousin, and he was able to use this family con-
nection for his own personal advancement. I use sth as The
ruling junta used the note as a pretext for arresting their
opponents.
exploit/ksplat/to use a situation in order to gain as
much advantage for yourself as possible, especially in a
way that people disapprove of Iv T]
Russia could exploit its position as a major oil producer to
push up world oil prices. I The Nazis gained a lot of popu-
lar support by exploiting social unrest.
make use of /,melk 'ju:s ov] to use a situation in order
to gain an advantage for yourself, especially when that sit-
uation has already existed for some time Iv phrase]
I made use of my old contacts to get a job when I come back
from Australia. I The Republicans were making use of their
large majority in congress to block legislation on taxes.
play on/'ple on II -o:n/play on sb's fears/greed/sym-
pathy/prejudices etc (:use their fears etc to persuade
them to do something in order to gain an advantage for
yourself) Iv T ]
A common sales tactic is to play on people's greed in order
to make them buy more than they need. I Disguised as an elec-
trician, he played on people's trust to trick them out of money.
take advantage of/,tek od'vo:ntid5 ov II -'ven-/to use
a temporary situation in order to do what you want or need
to do Iv phrase]
take advantage of sth This is harvest time and the farmers
are taking advantage of the fine weather. I take advantage
of sth to do sth Many small investors are taking advantage
of these attractive share offers to make a quick profit.

USE STH 1499 USE STH
capitalize on/'kapitl-aIz on 11 -o:nl to use a situation in
order to gain an advantage and make yourself more suc-
cessful or more effective [v T not in passive]
capitalize on sth to do sth Will the President capitalize on
his immense popularity to exert strong leadership? capital-
ize on sth Vallon failed to capitalize on the weaknesses and
divisions in the enemy camp. ] Teachers can capitalize on
young children's natural curiosity.
5 ways of saying that something is used for a
particular purpose
be used as serve as
be for sth double as
be used as/bi: 'ju:zd mzl Iv phrase]
Three extra rooms were used as classrooms when necessary. [
An old Chianti bottle can be used as an attractive base for
a table-lamp. I The pollutant gas, methane, is also used as
a fuel.
be for sth/bi: f:r/to be intended to be used for a partic-
ular purpose Iv T]
"What are these buttons for? .... They're for controlling the
heating system. "'] The phones are for internal communica-
tion only.
serve as/'sa:rv ez/to be used for a particular purpose,
especially one that is different from that for which it was
originally intended Iv not usually in progressivel
The old hospital in London Road now serves as a hostel for
single girls. ] They had no bathroom, so a hole in the ground
served as a toilet. ] Eastern European countries were intended
by Stalin to serve as buffers against military invasions from
the West.
double as l IdAbal ez/if something doubles as something
else, it is used for that purpose as well as its usual purpose
[v not usually in progressivel
The village post-office doubles as a store. ] His coat had to
double as a blanket when it was very cold.
6 what something can be used for
use
application
use/ju:s/In C]
Robots have many different uses in modern industry. I The
apparatus is old-fashioned now and its main use is in chem-
ical experiments. ] the military use of computer technology
application / ,epl I  keffan/a practical use of something,
especially in science or industry [n C/U]
The possible applications of this invention are limitless. [
scientific research and its practical applications [ the appli-
cation of sth to This new policy involved the application
of Marxist principles to every aspect of government.
7 ways of saying that something is being used
at the present time
be in use be occupied
be taken be engaged
be in use/bi: in 'ju:s/Iv phrase]
When I first visited Ireland, horses were still in use for many
agricultural purposes. [ At the moment only one runway is
in use, and there will be long delays for passengers flying
to Europe.
be taken/bi: tekn/ifa seat is taken, it is not available
because someone else is already sitting there or will be
soon [v phrase]
I'm sorry. This seat's taken. [ There was nowhere to sit down
in the hall. All the seats were taken.
be occupied/bi: Ikjo°pad [[ -a:k-/if seats, rooms, beds
etc are occupied, they are being used and are therefore not
available for anyone else to use [v phrase]
All the chairs in the hall were occupied and at least lOOpeople
had to stand. [ There were some rooms available in the hotel
last week, but now they're all occupied. [ We're having to turn
patients away because all the beds are occupied.
be engaged Ibi: n'ged3d/ a British expression: if a
public toilet is engaged, it is not available to be used
because someone is using it Iv phrase]
When the toilet is engaged, a red light shows above the door.
8 words for describing something that can be
used
available valid
usable good
available I'veilball something that is available can be
used, for example because no one else is using it or because
it is not being used for any other purpose [adj]
I'm going to take a bath. Is there a towel available? I This
software will take up all your available disk space. I Every
available seat was occupied.
usable/ju:zaball something that is usable can be used,
especially because it works well or because it has a partic-
ular use [adj ]
I know the bicycle's old, but it's still usable, t The informa-
tion will have to be reorganized into a more easily usable
form. I The refinery turns the crude oil into usable products
such as gas and tar.
valid / veld/a ticket or official document that is valid
can be used because it has the correct date, price, signa-
tures etc on it [adj]
You need a valid contract of employment to get a work
permit. ] Rail passengers travelling without a valid ticket
will have to pay a fine of Ј100. ] People who arrive in this
country without valid immigration papers may be sent home.
good/god/a ticket or official document that is good can
be used because the date by which it must be used has not
yet passed [adj not before noun]
I'm not sure whether this ticket is still good - I'll ask at the
station. I good for This rail pass is good for another two
days, but I don't need it - do you want it?
9 no longer being used
disused gather dust
unused fall into disuse
idle
disused I ,dis 'ju:zd/a building, road, railway etc that is
disused is no longer used and is usually uncared for and
unattractive [ adj]
There is a disused railroad line next to our house. [ A mouse
ran out of the disused fireplace in the sitting room. [ The
developers have transformed a huge area of disused docks
into an exciting place to live and work.
unused / An'ju:zd*/something that is unused has not yet
been used or has not been used for a long time [adj]
His old car sat in the garage, unused. [ Batteries which are
unused for long periods may have to be recharged. I Unused
muscles can feel very sore when you start exercising.
idle/'aldl/ stand/lie/sit/remain etc idle (=not being
used, for example because of a disagreement between wor-
kers and employers or because of a lack of money) [adj not
before noun]
Most of the factory stood idle during the strike. [ There has
been a proposal to tax land which is lying idle. [ The new
machines may sit idle for months until they have been paid
for.
gather dust /,ge6a r 'd^st/ if something such as a
machine or a plan gathers dust, it is not used, especially
when it could be useful Iv phrase]
Some of the new equipment is just gathering dust because the
staff have not been trained to use it. I The bridge that Sears
designed has still not been built and the plans lie gathering
dust in some government office.
fall into disuse / ,fo:l xnt dIs 'ju:s/ if something falls into
disuse, people gradually stop using it because they no
longer need or want it Iv phrase]
The canal system fell into disuse around the end of the
nineteenth century. I When the old woman died, the house fell
into disuse, and the family stayed there only occasionally in
the summer.

USE STH 1500 USE STH
1 0 to use something again after it has been used
already
reuse
recycle
reuse/,rizIjuzz/Iv T]
We could all help the environment by reusing bottles and
plastic bags. I Health workers in some parts of Africa have
to reuse disposable syringes that are meant to be used once
only.
reusable [adj] We now only buy reusable equipment
(=equipment which can be reused).
re©Ґ©le ] iri: Isakl] to put used objects or material, such
as bottles or paper, through a process o that they can be
used again Iv T]
Chemical companies are trying to find ways of recycling plas-
tic. I We need to offer incentives to recycle waste.
recycled [ adj] All our letters are printed on recycled paper.
1 1 to use something wrongly, for a purpose that
was not intended
misuse
abuse
misuse/,m[s'ju:z/[v T]
The question is whether judges might sometimes misuse their
power. I Measures must be taken to prevent confidential data
from being misused.
misuse/,ms ju:s/In C/U] The committee concluded that
there had been a serious misuse of public funds.
abuse/a'bju:z/to deliberately use something, especially
power or authority, for the wrong purpose Iv T]
Large banks are abusing their powers by charging cus-
tomers for basic services. I The system of prescriptions for
medicines is sometimes abused by addicts using it to get
drugs.
abuse/ bju:s/In U] This constant abuse of the system must
be stopped.
12 someone who uses something
user
user/'juzzr/In C]
A dictionary should be designed to be as accessible aspossi-
ble to users. [ road user/phone user/library user ere
Drunken drivers harm themselves and other road users. [ A
new information service will soon be available to library
users.
1 3 designed for practical use, not just for
decoration
practical sensible
fu nctional serviceable
practical IprektIkal/ something that is practical is
designed to be useful rather than attractive, so that it may
seem very unexciting [adj]
Emma always gets us practical Christmas presents - last
year we got a kettle. [ It's not fast and it's not at all stylish
- it's just a solid, practical car.
functional / fA]kanol/things such as furniture or rooms
that are functional have been deliberately designed to be
used for a particular purpose so they are simple and have
no special or interesting features or decoration [adj]
At my school the classrooms were purely functional, without
any decoration at all. I Our kitchen units are attractive as
well as functional.
sensible /'sensgbal/ sensible shoes/clothes/hat etc
(=designed to be practical and comfortable rather than
fashionable) [adj]
Miss Winters wore a blue blouse and skirt, and flat sensible
shoes. I Colin intended to do a lot of walking in Wales, so he
packed some sensible outdoor clothes.
serviceable I sa:rvsabzl/clothing, equipment etc that
is serviceable is suitable for practical use over a long
period of time [adj]
School uniforms may not be the height of fashion but they
are very serviceable. I The "Dolomite' is an extremely serv-
iceable all-weather tent made of tough lightweight fabric.
14 words for describing something that can be
used in many different ways
versatile
multi-purpose
all-purpose
versatile/'va:rstaIl II-tl/[adj]
Few foods are as versatile as cheese. I The Canon EOF 650
is one of the most versatile cameras you can buy. I The firm
has just launched a versatile range of stretch-cotton lycra
exercise clothing.
multi.purpose I mAlti pa:rpas,/a multi-purpose tool,
machine, piece of equipment etc has been specially
designed to have many different uses [adj only before noun]
The emergency box contains a multi-purpose knife with
screwdriver, scissors and a can-opener. I a new multi-purpose
bank card which gives access to your checking accounts and
can also be used as a credit card
all-purpose /:1 pa:rps/an all-purpose product has
been specially made for all the possible uses which that
type of product can have [adj only before noun]
You can buy an all-purpose greetings card, with blank space,
for you to write in your own message. [ an all-purpose clean-
ing fluid
15
words used to describe statements, jokes,
excuses etc that have been used too much
before and now seem stupid or boring
over-used be wearing thin
stale cllch6d
trite corny
banal hackneyed
over-used/,nova r ju:zd-/used too much and therefore
no longer interesting or effective [adj]
"Nice" is a word which is extremely over-used. [ His lecture
turned out to be full of unoriginal material and over-used
examples.
stale/steal/no longer interesting or exciting because of
having been used too much [adj]
The dialogue is stale and the music repetitive. [ I'm sick of
these stale advertising images: I want to see something
original.
trite/trat/a trite remark/comment/observation ere
(=one that has been used so often that it seems uninterest-
ing and meaningless) [adj]
They were concerned to push beyond the simple and trite
observation that elections are won on personalities, not
issues.[ It sounds trite, but I have enough love for both of us
to live on.
banal /ba'no:l, banel/ a question, remark etc that is
banal has been made many times before and is not at all
interesting, original, or unusual [adj]
He asked me some rather banal questions like, what car did
I drive. I a dreadful play with an unconvincing plot full of
banal clichds
be wearing thin/bi: wearir] 'Oin/if you say that an
excuse, an argument, someone's behaviour etc is wearing
thin, you mean that it has been used so often that it no
longer has any effect Iv phrase]
Her rebellious teenager act is wearing thin. After all, she's
nearly twenty-five. [ Neil just phoned to say that he will be
late again because his car has broken down, but I think that
excuse is wearing a bit thin.
©li©h6d / kli:eid II kli-" ed/statements or ideas that are
clich6d were once clever or amusing but have been used
so often that they seem silly or boring [adj]
Professor Jenks is so unoriginal. His lectures are full of
clichdd observations and banal conclusions. [ Advertisers
often use clichdd phrases in their work because they are
instantly recognisable.

USE STH 1501 USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO
corny/'ka:rni/a statement or joke that is corny has no
new ideas and is not at all clever or amusing [adj]
The entertainer started off a series of incredibly corny jokes. I
"What's a pretty girl like you doing unattached?" It sounded
like a corny line, but he was curious.
hackneyed / 'heknid/a phrase or statement that is hack-
neyed has been used so much that it is now meaningless
[adj]
Politicians all use the same hackneyed expressions. I All
those slogans we used to chant sound so hackneyed now.
16 words for describing documents, tickets etc
that cannot be used
invalid
null and void
Invalid In'veloid/a ticket or official document that is
invalid cannot be used because it does not have the correct
date, price, signatures etc on it [adj]
I'm afraid your ticket is invalid on this route. [ This pass-
port is invalid. Look at the expiry date.
null and void/'hAl on 'vad/a legal expression: a docu-
ment such as a contract that is null and void has no legal
force or effect and cannot be used for any purpose [adj
phrase]
If the contract has not been signed by witnesses, it is consi-
dered null and void.
used OLD/NOT NEW 2
used as: be used as USE STH 5
used to PAST 3
used to: be used to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 1 5
used to: get used to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 3, 4
used to: not be used to USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 6
used up: be used up FINISH/USE ALL OF STH 2
USED TO/
ACCUSTOMED TO
1 to be used to something, because you have
often done it or experienced it before
2 words for describing a situation that you are
used to because you have often experienced
it
3 to gradually become used to something over
a period of time
4 to get used to a new place, job, way of life
etc, so that you begin to feel relaxed and
confident in it
5 to be used to something difficult or
unpleasant because you have often
experienced it before
6 not used to something
7 words for describing a situation that you are
not used to
1 to be used to something, because you have
often done it or experienced it before
be used to
be accustomed to
be/feel at home with
be used to/bi: 'ju:st tu:/[v phrase]
be used to doing sth She lives on a farm, so she's used to
getting up very early. I My grandfather was used to having
everything done for him. ] He's used to being the smartest in
the class, so this new school may be a shock to him. [ be used
to sth Their car often breaks down, so I suppose they must
be used to it by now. I When we first came to Scotland we
weren't used to the cold weather.
be accustomed to/bi: a tkAstamd tu:/ an expression
used formally or in literature meaning to be used to some-
thing Iv phrase]
be accustomed to sth He was accustomed to a life of
luxury. [ be accustomed to doing sth The operator must
be accustomed to using sensory data.
be/feel at home with/bi:, ,fi:l at 'haom WI6/to be so
used to something that you feel comfortable and happy
with it, especially because you have learned how to do it
well [v phrase]
Practise using the computer until you feel quite at home with
all the keys and buttons. I dim is perfectly at home with this
sort of complicated calculation.
2 words for describing a situation that you are
used to because you have often experienced
it
familiar
familiar/fa'mIliar/[adj]
It was a relief to find myself once again in familiar surround-
ings. I The economy's decline seems to be following the same
familiar pattern. I familiar to This kind of problem will be
familiar to many owners of stereo systems. I that familiar
way/feeling etc Her husband always came back, begging
for forgiveness in that old familiar way.
3 to gradually become used to something over
a period of time
get used to
become/grow accustomed to
acclimatize/acclimatize yourself/become
acclimatized
adjust to
adapt to
get used to/,get 'ju:st tu:/[v phrase]
get used to sth Paul had got used to his friend's angry
moods. [ get used to doing sth After a long illness the
hardest thing is getting used to going out and seeing people
again. I I don't think I could get used to living in the States
although it's a great place to visit.
become/grow accustomed to Ib,k^m, ,grao
a  kAstamd tu:/an expression used formally or in literature
meaning to get used to something Iv phrase]
become accustomed to sth I have become so accustomed
to his bad behaviour that I no longer notice it. I After a while
Edward's eyes grew accustomed to the dark. I become
accustomed to doing sth She had become accustomed to
cooking for everyone in the house.
acclimatize/acclimatize yourself/become
acclimatized/a'klamataz (j:r,self), b ,lm a'klama-
taIzd/to get used to temperatures and weather that are
different from what you are used to, especially much hotter
or much colder Iv I]
My parents spent the first week of their vacation acclimatiz-
ing to the heat of an Australian summer. ] When first arriv-
ing in the Himalayas, mountaineers must give themselves
time to acclimatize. I If changes in climate take place gradw
ally, birds can acclimatize themselves.
adjust to/ald3^st tu:/to get used to a new situation by
making small changes in the way you do things Iv T]
adjust to sth It took George a couple of weeks to adjust to
his new job. I adjust to doing sth I'd only ever driven a car
before, but I adjusted to driving the truck without any
problems.
adapt to ] ladapt tu:/to gradually get used to a new situ-
ation, especially one that you do not like at first by chang-
ing the way you behave Iv T]
adapt to doing sth The children have found it difficult to
adapt to living in an apartment - they want a garden to play
in. I adapt to sth It's not easy, but we are slowly adapting
to the new style of management.

USED TO/ACCUSTOMED TO 1502 USEFUL
4 to get used to a new place, job, way of life
etc, so that you begin to feel relaxed and
confident in it
get used to find your feet
settle in/down find your way around
get used to / ,get 'ju:st tu:l Iv phrase]
She wasn't happy in her new office, but after a couple of
months she got used to it. I I never got used to the fast pace
of life in New York.
settle in/down/, setl I In, 'daon/to gradually get used to
a new place or way of life so that you feel relaxed in it [phr
vii
At her last school Jennie never really settled in. I Our new
neighbours helped us to settle in. I settle into/down to He
planned to marry a rich woman and settle into a life of
luxury. I It will take you a while to settle down to being a
mother.
find your feet/,falnd ja: r fi:q to get used to a new type
of work or a new way of life, especially one that is difficult
at first and takes time to learn Iv phrase]
The other students were friendly, and helped me find my feet
in the first few weeks. I This organization's role is to help
refugees find their feet when they arrive in the host country.
find your way around Ifatnd ja: r wei araond/to get
used to a new place where you have come to live or work,
especially so that you know where everything is Iv phrase]
At the end of my first week the boss asked me if I had found
my way around yet. ] Whenever Imove into a new neighbor-
hood I like to spend a couple of weeks just finding my way
around. ] find your way around sth The university
campus is quite large and it takes new students a while to
find their way around it.
doing sth Dan wasn't used to getting up so early in the
morning.
not be accustomed to/not bi: 0kAst0md tu:/a formal
expression meaning not used to something [v phrase]
not be accustomed to doing sth Mr Tench was not
accustomed to being treated with disrespect. [ not be
accustomed to sth I am not accustomed to the heat - I find
it very uncomfortable.
be unaccustomed to/unused to/bi: hnO I kAstomd tu:,
An ju:st tU:/ to be not used to something new or different,
especially so that you find it unpleasant or hard to accept
Iv phrase]
be unaccustomed to sth Curt is a country boy, unac-
customed to city life. ] be unaccustomed to doing sth We
were unaccustomed to being beaten at football. I Teachers
may be unused to hearing criticism of their methods.
7 words for describing a situation that you are
not used to
unfamiliar
strange
unfamiliar/,^nfa'mIliar*/[adj]
Everything in Florida was unfamiliar and exciting. ]
unfamiliar to The formality of the committee meetings was
unfamiliar to her.
strange /strends/ a country, food, custom etc that is
strange is unfamiliar to you because it is foreign or
because you have never seen it before [adj only before noun]
The strange food had made her ill. I Travelling alone in a
strange country can be a very rewarding experience.
i'.;.:i useful USEFUL 1
ili! useful: come in handy/useful USEFUL 3
5 to be used to something difficult or
unpleasant because you have often
experienced it before
be used to be no stranger to
be hardened to be inured to
be used to Ibi: 'ju:st tu:/Iv phrase]
be used to sth Living so far north, they are used to the very
cold winters. I be used to doing sth Martin's secretary is
quite used to being asked to work late.
be hardened to/bi: 'ho:rdnd tu:l to gradually get used
to something that most people find unpleasant, so that you
no longer get upset or worried about it Iv phrase]
be hardened t6 sth The relief workers are hardened to the
sight of people dying from starvation. I be hardened to
doing sth He has slowly become hardened to living in an
atmosphere of hatred and violence.
be no stranger to/bi: noo streind3 or tu:/to be used to
sad or unpleasant situations because you have experienced
them many times before Iv phrase]
Amanda is no stranger to sorrow - her parents died within
six months of each other. I As a writer he is no stranger to
controversy; his most recent book has attracted strong
criticism.
be inured to/hi: l tnjoord tu:/an expression used for-
mally or in literature meaning to be used to something
difficult or unpleasant so that you are able to bear it,
because it has happened so much or for so long Iv phrase]
be inured to sth/doing sth Diego looked like a man who
was inured to disappointment. I They were a strong, hardy
people, inured to the extreme cold of their environment.
6 not used to ;omething
not be used to
not be accustomed to
be unaccustomed to/unused to
not be used to/not bi: 'ju:st tu:/Iv phrase]
not be used to sth I am not used to cold weather. I She is
still not used to the new monetary system. I not be used to
USEFUL
words for describing things or people that are
helpful to you because you can use them to do
or get something that you want
1 words meaning useful
2 extremely useful
3 ways of saying that something becomes
useful in a particular situation even though it
does not appear to be useful most of the time
4 the quality of being useful
I words meaning useful
useful be good for
be of use be worth
handy constructive
helpful nifty
valuable
useful/'ju:sfl/[adj]
The book is full of useful information. I I find this little
penknife is very useful. I She's a really useful person to have
around when things go wrong. I useful to sb Wilson's
knowledge of the codes could be useful to the enemy. I useful
for sth These yellow stickers are useful for leaving messages
for other people. I I thought these canvas shoes would be
useful for summer. I prove useful (=be useful in a particu-
lar situation) Bill's experience in the building trade proved
useful in renovatidg the old cottage.
be of use/hi: av 'ju:s/a formal expression meaning to be
useful Iv phrase]
If there are items in the newspaper files which could be of use,
please take a copy of them. I be of use to sb Before retreat-
ing, we destroyed any equipment that might be of use to the
enemy. I be of some use (=be fairly useful) The informa-
tion is slightly out-of-date, but it could still be of some use.
handy / ' handi/a toolor piece of equipment that is handy
is useful, easy to use, and convenient [adj]

USEFUL 150 USELESS
My brother bought me a little pocket calculator - it's very
handy, you know. I This electric lemon squeezer is a handy
little gadget. ] The side-pocket is handy as a passport-holder. I
handy for doing sth The other blade is handy for getting
the lids off jars.
helpful /helpfal/ something that is helpful is useful
because it helps you to do something [adj]
I found these cassettes very helpful when I was learning
Spanish. [ She wrote to the administration in the hope that
they would supply her with some helpful data. ] it is help-
ful to do sth I think it would be helpful to summarize what
we agreed at the last meeting.
valuable /veljuabal, -jbal [[ velj°bal/ help, advice,
knowledge etc that is valuable is very useful in helping
you do something [adj]
Joyce gave us a lot of valuable advice when we first started
the company. [ Your knowledge and experience would be very
valuable to us. I Her most valuable contribution to physics
was her study of magnetic fields.
be good for/hi: god f:r! to be useful for a particular
job or for a particular purpose Iv phrase]
be good for doing sth This small hammer is good for
breaking bricks. I Don't throw the jars away. They're good
for keeping screws in. I be good for sth The big table does
take up a lot of space but it's good for parties and Sunday
dinner.
be worth/bi: 'w3: tO/be worth reading/finding/doing
etc (-be something that will be useful and helpful if you
read it, find it, do it etc) ]v phrase]
That book is really worth reading if you're going to take the
English exam. I It may be worth putting an advertisement
in the local paper. I be worth it I didn't bother looking at
the instructions - I didn't think it was worth it.
constructive/kan' strAktiv/constructive criticism/ad-
vice/suggestion etc (=useful because it is intended to be
helpful and to make improvement possible, rather than to
upset or offend people) [adj]
I don't mind constructive criticism but if you're just going
to insult me I'm not staying. I This advice may not be what
you want to hear, but at least it is constructive.
nifty / 'nifti/an informal word: a tool or piece of equipment
that is nifty is cleverly designed and useful, and is usually
small [adj]
Hey, I like your new radio. It's really nifty! I He's got this
really n iftypocket computer that even does word-processing
and graphics.
2 extremely useful
invaluable
indispensable
invaluable/In'veljuabal, -j°bal II n'velj°bal/[adj]
This book has been invaluable as a source of teaching
materials. I Contact with Western medical techniques proved
invaluable, and the student doctors have benefited greatly. I
invaluable to sb Margaret's sensible suggestions have been
invaluable to us. I invaluable in/for doing sth Improved
sewage and water services were invaluable in preventing
disease.
indispensable / i lndl' spensabal/a person, object, skill etc
that is indispensable is so useful that you must have it
[adj]
For mountain-climbing a really good sleeping-bag is
indispensable. I We didn't want her to leave because she had
become indispensable in the office. I indispensable to sb A
knowledge of classical music is indispensable to anyone who
wants to apply for this job.
3 ways of saying that something becomes
useful in a particular situation even though it
does not appear to be useful most of the time
come in handy/useful
have its uses
come in handy/useful /,kAm In 'hendi, 'ju:sfal/
[ v phrase]
My knowledge of Spanish came in handy when the car broke
down near Madrid. I Here, take my phone number in Mon-
treal. It might come in handy if you're over on a vacation.I
come in handy/useful for doing sth She got a teaching
degree, knowing that it could always come in handy forget-
ting a job. I come in handy/useful as On the the expedi-
tion our boat came in useful as a storm shelter.
have its uses/ihev its 'ju:sz/if you say that something
has its uses, you mean it is more useful than it seems to
be Iv phrase not in progressive]
This typewriter may be old but it has its uses. ] A knowledge
of Latin can have its uses -for instance, it can help you if
you are learning Italian.
4 the quality of being useful
usefulness
utility
usefulness I'ju:sfalnsl In U]
Statistics have some usefulness in the study of public health
issues. I outlive its usefulness (=not be useful any more)
We are beginning to think that this factory has outlived its
usefulness as our main supplier.
utility/ju: tllti/a formal or technical word meaning how
useful and effective something is In U]
Farm animals have economic value because of their utility. I
I have severe doubts about the utility of examinations on sub-
jects which have been learned parrot-fashion.
usefulness USEFUL 4
useless BAD AT 2, POINTLESS 1, USELESS 1
USELESS
words for describing something or someone
that is not helpful to you because you cannot
use them to do or get something that you
want
1 words meaning useless
2 things that are useless and are not needed
1 words meaning useless
useless unhelpful
be of no use/be no use be of no help/
be no good be no help
useless / 'ju:sls/not useful in any way or not useful for
a particular purpose [adj]
This bag is useless - it has a hole in it. [ a useless piece of
information [ A fine guard dog you turned out to be! Useless
animal! [ completely/totally/utterly useless At that time
art was considered a completely useless activity. [ useless
for doing sth That's a nice watch, but it's useless forgoing
underwater.
uselessly [adv] His injured arm hung uselessly by his side.
be of no use/be no use/bi: av nao ju:s, bi: ,nao Iju:s/
to be completely useless for a particular activity that you
want to do Iv phrase]
This map's no use - it doesn't show the minor roads. I be of
no use to sb The weather report came over on the radio, but
it was of no use to me. I be of no use for doing sth It's a
great rifle - but no use for shooting anything bigger than
a rabbit.
be no good/bi: natJ gud/if something or someone is no
good for something, they are completely useless for that
purpose, even though they may be suitable for other pur-
poses Iv phrase]
be no good for sth/doing sth These glasses are no good
for champagne. I We found out that the vehicle was not much
good for transporting heavy loads. I be no good Yeah,
Clancy's Bar is a lively place, but it's no good if you just want
a quiet drink with a friend. I be no good to sb You're no
good to me if you can't drive a car.

USELESS 1504 USUALLY
unhelpful /^n'hclpfMI unhelpful advice/directions/
instructions etc (=confusing or not providing enough
useful information)[adj]
There were some rather unhelpful instructions in Chinese on
the inside of the box. [After standing in line for an hour all
I got was another form to fill in and some unhelpful advice. [
Conventional blood tests are frequently inconclusive and
unhelpful.
be of no help/be no help/bi: ov inu Ihelp, bi: nu help/
if something is of no help, it does not help you to achieve
the result that you want [v phrase]
Seat belts are of no help at all in 30% of car accidents. I be
of no help to sb It was the nicest thing she could think of
to say, but it was really no help to me. I be no help in doing
sth In-store videos were of no help in identifying the
criminals.
2 things that are useless and are not needed
junk
garbage "
junk/dbAIjk/objects that have little value because they are
old, useless, broken, or unwanted [n U]
a market stall selling junk and old clothes I Her cupboards
were full of junk which she had accumulated over the years. [
They have made a lot of money from turning old junk into
fashionable jewellery.
garbage/'go:rbldb/an informal word used especially in
American English meaning things that are useless because
they are badly made, old, or broken [n U]
Don't buy from that store - it only sells garbage. I The attic
was full of all kinds of garbage including an old hifi and
boxes of broken toys.
user ADDICTED 2, USE STH 12, USE/CONSUME 2
user-friendly EASY 4
uses: have its uses USEFUL 3
usher TAKE/BRING 7
usual USUALLY 3
usual: as per usual USUALLY 2
usual: as usual USUALLY 2
usually/normally USUALLY 1
usual
USUALLY
ways of saying that something usually
happens or is usually done
ways of saying that what happens is not
surprising because it is what usually happens
words for describing the situation that usually
happens, the time when something usually
happens, the thing that is usually used etc
what is usually done
generally
as a rule/as a
general rule
on average
1 ways of saying that something usually
 happens or is usually done
usually/normally nine times out of ten
in most cases in the normal course of
events
typically
routinely
usually/normally/'ju:buoli, 'na:rmali/[adv]
She usually comes home from work earlier than this. I Other
people's dreams aren't very interesting, normally, l Usually
baby boys weigh a few ounces more than girls. I His normally
cheerful face looked sad for a moment. I She's not as patient
today as she is usually. I What's come over 2im? He isn't
usually this friendly, t
in most cases/in 'maust keisz! if something is true
in most cases, it is true for most examples of the particu-
lar situation, illness etc that you are talking about [adv
phrase]
In most cases, people with this disease need hospital treat-
ment. I The planting is best done in spring in most cases. I
The parents are, in most cases, unable to afford private
schoo I fees.
generally/'dsenaroli! if something generally happens or
is done, it usually happens but there are plenty of exam-
ples of it not happening lady]
The sea here is generally calm. I Generally, these small stores
do not keep fresh meat or vegetables. I In Ghana, the seeds
of this plant are generally used for cattle-feed.
as a rule/as a general rule/z  'ru:l, oz  ,dbenarol
' ru:ll an expression describing what happens in most cases,
used especially to introduce an example of when this does
not happen [adv phrase]
We do not, as a rule, provide funds for this type of expedi-
tion but in this case we will make an exception. I Large bus-
inesses tend, as a general rule, to drive the smaller ones out. I
Female skeletons are lighter and smaller than male ones, as
a rule.
on average/n 'avarldb/ if something happens or is
done on average a particular number of times, by a par-
ticular number of people etc, it has been calculated that it
usually happens or is done that number of times or by that
number of people [adv phrase]
On average, British men smoke five and a ha[f cigarettes per
day. I Women are still paid less than men - earning on aver-
age about three quarters of men's pay. I On average, 18% of
our daily calories come from sugar.
nine times out of ten /tnatn talmz aot av 'ten/ffyou say
that something happens nine times out often, you mean
this is what nearly always happens lady phrase]
Nine times out often I just skip breakfast and have a coffee. I
Nine times out of ten they've sold it by the time you phone.
In the normal course of events /in ;) tno:rmal
,ko:rs ov I tvents/ if something happens in the normal
course of events, it always happens unless some unusual
event prevents it or interrupts the usual process lady
phrase]
In the normal course of events a son would take over the farm
from his father. I We deliver the goods within seven days in
the normal course of events, but the postal strike is causing
delays at present.
typically/'tpIkli/a word meaning usually, used when
describing the way something usually happens, for exam-
ple what type of person is involved, what conditions exist
at the time etc lady]
The victim is typically a young man in his early 20s. I This
disease typically affects young cattle. I Typically, gasoline
taxes are used to fund road-building programs.
routinely /ru:'ti:nli! if something is routinely done,
tested, checked etc, it is usually done as part of the normal
process of working, doing a job etc lady]
The cars are routinely tested for safety and reliability before
leaving the factory. I We routinely check a new patient's
medical history, to see if there is any relevant information. ]

USUALLY 1505 utterly
It later emerged that prisoners at the camp were routinely
tortured, and many executed.
ways of saying that what happens is not
[ surprising because it is what usually happens
as usual
as ever/like always
as per usual
as usual Iz 'juBul/[adv phrase]
They woke early as usual. I He was dressed as usual in jeans
and T-shirt. I As usual they'd left the children at home with
the grandmother.
as ever (British) I like always (American) laz 'ev r, la[k
la:lwe[z/if something happens as ever or like always, it
is not surprising because it is what almost always happens
[adv phrase]
The performance was, as ever, excellent. I When he arrived
he stank of whiskey and tobacco, like always. I As ever, his
style is literary and formal.
as per usual / iez pa r ju:3ul/a British expression: you
say as per usual when you are annoyed because some-
thing bad that usually happens has just happened again
I adv phrase]
I'm in trouble at work, as per usual. I She was three hours
late as per usual. I He said he'd phone, but he won't. As per
usual!
3 words for describing the situation that usually
happens, the time when something usually
happens, the thing that is usually used etc
usual customary
normal same old
be the norm stock
usual/'juBuol, 'ju:sal/[adj only before noun]
She was sitting in her usual chair by the fire. I All the usual
people were there. I colder/better/slower etc than usual
It seemed comer than usual in the house. I This year we had
more than the usual amount of sunshine. I He was speaking
in his usual calm tone. I it is usual for sb to do sth Is it
usual for him to be so late?
normal / na: rmal/someone's normal behaviour or habit
is what they usually do in a particular situation [adj only
before noun]
She went to bed at her normal time of eleven o'clock. I It used
to be normal practice to live at home with your parents until
you got married. I My normal response would be to tell him
to sod off.
be tile norm/bi: 6 n:rm/to be the thing that most
people do or think, especially if this is rather surprising
Iv phrase]
Going to church on Sunday used to be the norm in most
households. I In the building industry, short-term employ-
ment contracts are the norm. I Smoking is no longer the norm
but the exception.
customa//'kastamari II -meri/an action or event that is
customary is usually done on a particular occasion or at
a particular time of year [adj]
it is customary to do sth It's customary to kiss the bride
at a wedding. [ customary The children will be staging the
customary New Year play. [ As is customary, both the
bridegroom and the bride's father made speeches.
same old / sem ouldl same old excuse/story/answer
ere (=an informal expression meaning the one that people
usually use and which you therefore do not believe) [adj
phrase only before noun]
They always come up with the same old excuses for why they
can't deliver on time. [ It's always the same old story. No one
ever sees how these fights start. [ When you are trying to
convince people it helps to have a range of viewpoints rather
than the same old party line.
stock/stDk II sta:k/stock phrase/example/question/
joke etc (=the one that people usually say or use, especially
because they are too lazy to think of anything better or
more original) [adj only before noun]
The press conference was pretty boring -just the stock ques-
tions and nothing new. [ The chairman gave the stock speech
of congratulation to his successful sales team. ] Try to avoid
the stock phrases.
4 what is usually done
standard practice
routine
standard practice/, stendrd ' prekts/an expression
meaning the way that something is usually done in a par-
ticular situation, used especially about things done in the
past that now seem surprising [n U]
Of course prisoners were shot. It was standard practice on
both sides. [ it is standard practice (for sb) to do sth Even
in the 1930s it was standard practice for workers to have only
seven days' holiday a year. I It's standard practice for the
architects and builders to haggle over costs.
routine/ ru: ti:n'/a series of things that someone usually
does in the same order, especially when it is the same every
day In C]
His routine consisted of work, dinner, then the pub. [ Most
babies soon develop a daily routine of eating and sleeping. I
She does not like having her work routine interrupted.
routine [adj] The weekly meeting soon became routine
(=usual, because it happened regularly).
utensil TOOL 1
utilities SERVICES 1
utility USEFUL 4
utilize USE STH 2
utmost: do your utmost
utopian PERFECT 7
utter SAY 1
utterly COMPLETELY 1
TRY TO DO OR GET STH 3
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

v: vslv 1506 VALUE
V
 v: vs/v AGAINST SB IN A GAME 1
 vacancy AVAILABLE 4, JOB/WORK 7
i!ii vacant AVAILABLE :3, 4, EMPTY 4
: vacate LEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY 1
 vacation HOLIDAY 1, 3
i vacation: be on vacation HOLIDAY 6
i vacation: go on vacation/take a vacation HOLIDAY 2
i? vacation: take/have a vacation HOLIDAY 5
...... vacationer HOLIDAY 7
-.;;i vaccinate/immunize DRUG 6
i! vacillate CHANGE YOUR MIND 3
.i.il. vagrant HOME 11, TRAVEL 13
 vague CLEAR/EASY TO UNDERSTAND 4, DETAIL 6,
:.-. EXACT 9
i/i! vague recollection: have a hazy/vague recollection
!: REMEMBER 3
:;:: vaguely remember REMEMBER 3
'' vain PROUD 4
 vain: in vain FAIL2
., valiant BRAVE 1
:! valid TRUE 2, USE STH 8
:.:!: validate PROVE 2
:::;"
:! valuable USEFUL 1, VALUE 3
: valuables VALUE 4
....  value VALUE 1 5
:.
,. value: be good value CHEAP 6
iii- value: double/triple in value VALUE 6
 value: increase/rise/go up in value VALUE 6
!il value: of great value VALUE 3
:: value for money CHEAP 6
@ VALUE
the amount of money that something is worth
the value of something
ways of saying what the value of something is
worth a lot of money
valuable objects or possessions
to decide what the value of something is
to become more valuable
to become less valuable
words for describing something that has no
value
1 the value of something
value
value I'valju:/[n C/U]
The value of land is rising all the time. ] Annual statements
inform staff of the value of their pensions. [ high/low value
The current value of property is very low compared with this
time last year. [ market value (=value if it is sold) This
beautiful antique vase has a market value of over $5000. [
street value (=the val.ue of illegal drugs when sold to drug
users) Customs officers seized heroin with a street value of
Ј2 million
ways of saying what the value of something is
be worth
be valued at
be priced at
be worth/bi: 'w3:ro/to be worth a particular amount of
money [v phrase]
My car is only worth a few hundred dollars. [ Due to falling
house prices, our apartment is worth less than it was a year
ago. [ The order for fighter planes is worth more than $2
billion.
be valued at Ibi: 'valju:d mr/to have a particular value,
especially a very high value, because the value has been
calculated Iv phrase]
As a wedding present he gave her some pearls valued at
$350,000. I They have a painting which has been valued at
a higherprice than theypaidfor it. I At current marketprices
their holding in the company is valued at over Ј25 million.
be pri©ed at/bi: prast act] to be on sale for a particular
amount of money Iv phrase]
The dress in the store window was priced at $400. I We
decided to sell the boat, which was priced at 700,500pesetas.
 worth a lot of money
valuable be worth a fortune
of great value precious
be worth a lot priceless
valuable /'veljuabal, -j°bal II 'velj°oball worth a lot of
money and expensive to buy or replace [adj]
Don't lose this ring - it's very valuable. I Besides her studio
apartment, she also owns a valuable estate in Italy. I Rogers
had purchased a valuable Hebrew manuscript from a dealer
in derusalem.
of oreat value/av ,grett velju:/something that is of
great value is worth a lot of money, especially a personal
possession such as a work of art or a piece ofjewellery [adj
phrase]
He has a few paintings of great value. I The burglars stole
the television and video, but nothing of great value.
be worth a lot/bi: ,w3:ro ; 'lot 11-'la:q an informal
expression meaning to be worth a lot of money Iv phrase]
Clive wants to sell our house, now that it's worth a lot. [ This
clock is worth a lot to a serious collector.
be worth a fortune/bi: w3zrO O 'f:rqan/an informal
expression meaning to be extremely valuable and very
difficult to buy Iv phrase]
Six years ago I couldn't get anyone to buy but now the land's
worth a fortune. [ In a few years my autograph will be worth
a fortune! l Tickets for Wimbledon finals are worth a fortune.
pre©iou$ /'preJas/ precious metal/stone/jewel ere
(=very valuable because it is, or is made from, a rare and
expensive material) [adj only before noun]
In her hand she held a small box full of precious stones. [ We
used to trade precious metals and luxury goods with the East.
pri©ele$$ / praslas/worth so much money that the price
cannot be calculated [adj]
When she was young, Picasso gave her a picture as a gift -
now it's priceless. [ There were some priceless things in the
exhibition, including a golden chariot.
4 valuable objects or possessions
valuables
treasures
valuables I'veljuabalz, -j°balz II-Jo°baZz/ valuable
personal possessions such as jewellery, cameras, and
important documents In plural]
The hotel management advises guests to deposit their valu-
ables in the hotel safe. I Thieves will take any bags, wallets,
and other valuables they can find.
treasures /tresarz/very valuable works of art, especially
ones that are very old In C]
The exhibition shows treasures from ancient China. I art
treasures Some of Spain's most valuable art treasures are
housed in El Prado.
to decide what the value of something is
value
put a price on
value/'velju:/to decide what the value of something is,
especially when it is your job to do this Iv T]
value sth He works for an antique firm, valuing furniture. [
The apartment was valued, and Stephen gave Julie a cheque
for half the amount. [ value sth at Ј100/$500 etc The

VALUE 1507 VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS
builder valued the work already done at $400. I have sth
valued (=get a professional person to value it for you)
Those silver bowls are worth a lot of money - you ought to
have them valued.
valuation/ vmlju cifan/ In U] I took the gold ring to a shop
for valuation (=to be valued).
valuer [n C] The valuer (=person whose job is to value
things) said the plate was worth Ј500.
put a price on /pot a 'pras Dn/to decide what the value
of something is because you want to sell it [v phrase]
When my aunt died an antiques expert came round and put
a price on her things. [ I'm not sure I want to sell this -
anyway, I can't put a price on it.
6 to become more valuable
increase/rise/go up in value
appreciate
double/triple in value
increase/rise/go up in value In kri:s, raiz, gao ^p
In Iva21.ju:/ [V phrase]
They bought a Ferrari knowing that it would increase in
value. [ Through clever marketing, the shares have gone up
in value quite quickly. ] The pound has risen in value against
the yen over the weekend.
appreciate/pri:fielt/to become gradually more valu-
able over a period of time Iv I]
This property has appreciated rapidly during the last ten
years. [ Most investments are still expected to appreciate at
a steady rate.
appreciation/ pri:fi eanl In U] This book shows the aver-
age appreciation of valuable stamps in the past 25 years.
double/triple in value /d^bal, ,trIpal In 'valju:/ to
become two or three times more valuable Iv phrase]
Fortunately, when I sold my apartment it had almost dou-
bled in value since I bought it. [ Production of iron and steel
more than tripled in value during the 1950s.
7 to become less valuable
fall/decrease/go down in value
depreciate
fall/decrease/go down In value/,fad, d ,kri:s,
daon in Ivelju:l [v phrase]
The prices of gold and silver have gone down in value. [ Most
European currencies fell in value yesterday.
depreciate/di Ipri:iet/to become gradually less valua-
ble over a period of time Iv I]
A new car depreciates more quickly than a second-hand one.[
US investors anticipate that the Deutschmark will, in the
long term, depreciate relative to the dollar.
depreciation/di pri:i 'cIan/ In U] The price of the equip-
ment must reflect depreciation.
8 words for describing something that has no
value
worthless
be worth nothing/not be worth anything
worthless/'w3:rOls/[adj]
When he died, all my uncle left me was a worthless painting. [
The market has crashed - all your shares are worthless. I I'm
afraid this banknote is a forgery; it's just a worthless piece
of paper.
be worth nothing/not be worth anything /bi:
w3:rO n^OIO, nt bi: w:ro eniOn3/to have no value, espe-
cially when something is being sold [v phrase]
I don't think my stereo is worth anything now, but it was
quite expensive when I bought it. [ It's just an old wardrobe;
it's worth nothing.
-: valued IMPORTANT 6
: valued: be valued at VALUE 2
. values GOOD/MORAL 9
i! vandal DAMAGE 4
ii. vandalize DAMAGE 4
vanish DISAPPEAR 1, 3
vanish into thin air DISAPPEAR 1
i!i, vanish without trace: disappear without trace/vanish
without trace DISAPPEAR 1
 vanity PROUD 6
' variable CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
variance: be at variance with DIFFERENT 8
variant DIFFERENT 6
:: variation DIFFERENT 6
varied VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1, 3
variety TYPE 2, VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 3
variety: a variety of VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
variety: add variety INTERESTING 7
-;: variety: add variety to VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 8
variety: in a variety of ways VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
KINDS 6
various VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
various: in various ways VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT
KINDS 6
VARIOUS/OF
DIFFERENT KINDS
words for describing a number of people or
things that are of different kinds
words for describing a large number of
people or things of many different kinds
consisting of or including many different
people, things, activities etc
words describing a group of different things
or people that seem to be together for no
particular reason
a set of things, people, numbers etc that are
different from each other but of the same
general type
ways of saying that something is or can be
done in a number of different ways
to start to get involved in new activities of
different kinds
to make something different and more varied
1 words for describing a number of people or
things that are of different kinds
various differing
different an assortment of
a variety of varied
different kinds/ assorted
types/sorts of
of different kinds/
types/sorts
varying
a mix of
a mixture of
various/'veorias/[adj only before noun]
I had to sign various documents before they would let me into
the country. [ The government will examine the advantages
of the various teaching methods used in schools. [ There were
various media personalities at the party.
different/'dIfamnt/not the same as each other [adj only
before noun]
Compare the cost of different brands of detergent. [ Some
words used have different meanings in different contexts. [
They've decorated their house in lots of different colours. [
The drug affects different people in different ways.
a variety of/a varaioti tv/a lot of things that are differ-
ent from each other, but of the same general type [nphrase]
a wide variety of The college offers a wide variety of courses
for women wanting to return to education. [ a variety of
Kids are sent to boarding schools for a variety of reasons. [
Rowe always kept a variety of pills and medicines in his
bedroom closet.

VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1508 VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS
different kinds/types/sorts of /,dffdront 'kandz,
taps, s:rts v/different kinds of things/people/prod-
ucts/problems etc In phrase]
A good thing about this job is thatyou meet so many differ-
ent kinds of people. I You can buy at least fifty different types
of honey in that specialist store. I Counsellors can help with
the different sorts of problems associated with losing a loved
one.
of different kinds/v idfdrnt ka]ndz/[adjphrase only
after noun]
The chiMren wandered along the beach, collecting pebbles
and shells of different kinds. I The compound consists of
atoms of different kinds bound together.
differing/'d;fgrn3/different from each other, especially
very different in degree, amount, character etc [adj only
before noun]
We aim to satisfy the differing needs of our customers. I Sur-
vivors sustained injuries with differing degrees of severity. I
widely differing The Democratic Party includes people
with widely differing political opinions.
an assortment of/n ' sa:rtmnt ov/several things that
are of the same general kind but are, for example, differ-
ent shapes or sizes In phrase l
Every good cook needs an assortment of knives for different
jobs in the kitchen. I Police confiscated an assortment of
weapons from the gang. I Hanging in the cloakroom was the
usual assortment of jackets, coats, and anoraks.
varied/'vearid/of the same general kind, but different
from each other, especially in an interesting way [adj
usually before noun l
A month should be long enoughforyou to visit the many and
varied sights the city has to offer. I We try to take the varied
backgrounds of our students into account.
assorted/a'sa:rtd/assorted chocolates/pens/stamps/
fruits/medicines ere (=various foods, products, books etc
of the same kind, all together in the same place) [adj usually
before nounl
In the centre of the table was a plate of assorted biscuits. I
a First Aid box containing assorted bandages and band-
aids I assorted pens and pencils
varying /'veari-IO/ varying degrees/amounts/con-
ditions etc (=degrees, amounts, conditions etc that are
different from each other) [adj only before noun]
Staff have the power to agree loans of varying amounts, l It
is now possible to grow satisfactory crops under varying cli-
matic conditions. I varying degree of She has tried numer-
ous diets with varying degrees of success.
a mix of/ mks av/an interesting or useful variety of
different people or things In phrase]
Her interest in art led to her meeting a mix of people, includ-
ing artists and designers. I The ideal lesson contains a good
mix of activities and subjects. I a broad/wide mix of a
broad mix of members from different places and of varying
backgrounds
a mixture of/ mIkstfor v/a variety of people or things,
especially when they have been deliberately chosen to be
together In phrase]
The film is largely a mixture of songs, dances, and comedy. I
The apartment was filled with a mixture of French and
English furniture. I Korean writing has used a mixture of
Chinese characters and purely phonetic symbols.
The category of "mammals" contains creatures as diverse as
lions, elephants, and human beings. I Politicians are trying
to appeal to the very diverse interests of women throughout
society. I Indian cinema shows several diverse influences.
diversity In U] The diversity of languages among our
schoolkids should be seen as a benefit, and not as a dis-
advantage.
all manner of/off 'menor ov/a British expression mean-
ing of many very different or surprisingly different kinds
of In phrase]
All manner of foodstuffs lay scattered on the kitchen table. [
I'm influenced by all manner of different artists.
from all walks of life/in all walks of life/from ,:1
wz:ks v 'laif, ;n ,:1-/from or in every kind ofjob and every
social class [adj phrase]
Members of the organization come from all walks of life. I
The invention of the microprocessor has affected the every-
day existence of men and women in all walks of life. I Golf
used to be a game for the rich, but now it attracts people from
every walk of life.
3 consisting of or including many different
people, things, activities etc
varied mixed
variety multi-cultural/multi-racial
diverse
varied/'verid/[adj]
The Indian vegetarian diet is varied and highly flavoured. I
He had a varied and outstanding career. I Our circle of
friends was varied, and often a little strange.
variety/vz'ra;ti/the differences within a group, set of
actions etc that make it interesting In U]
She's always complaining that her job doesn "t have enough
variety. I There is far greater variety among the white wines
of the district than red. I Radio is a medium of infinite
variety.
diverse/daIv3:rs II dal-/a diverse group of people
or things contains a lot of very different types of people or
things [adj]
We need policies to meet the needs of the diverse make-up of
our community. I Those opposing nuclear weapons are a
diverse group of people, ranging from conservative bishops
to scruffy young anarchists. I The country has a very diverse
range of music, from pure roots to techno-dance.
mixed/mkst/including two or more different things of
the same type, or people of different types, mixed together
[adj only before noun ]
After beating the cake mixture, add a handful of mixed nuts. I
This is a very mixed neighborhood, both racially and
socially. I It's a kind of hot wine flavoured with fruit and
mixed spices. I The show draws a mixed audience of children
and adults.
multi.cultural/multi-racial / mhlti  kAltJ'dr01-, i mAlti
'real-/including or concerning people of different races
or religions, especially those who live together in the same
society, go to the same schools etc [adj]
Most of today's teachers are committed to multi-cultural edu-
cation. I a multi-racial area in London's East End I Govern-
ment policies should reflect the multi-racial nature of our
society.
2 words for describing a large number of
people or things of many different kinds
all sorts/kinds of from all walks of life/
diverse in all walks of life
all manner of
all sorts/kinds of/:1 's:rts, 'kandz v/[nphrasel
She asked all sorts of absurd questions. I Pregnancy causes
all sorts of chemical changes to your body. I You meet all
kinds of people in my job. I I sought her advice on all kinds
of problems.
diverse/daI'v3:rs II d-, dai-/very different from each
other, though belonging to the same group or being con-
nected in some way [adj]
4 words describing a group of different things
or people that seem to be together for no
particular reason
miscellaneous this, that and the other
motley all and sundry
mixed bag
miscellaneous/,miso'lenis-/[adj only before noun]
You'll need enough money for food, transport, and other mis-
cellaneous costs. I Their junk shop was full of chairs, trunks,
ornaments and other miscellaneous objects. I a miscellane-
ous collection of students, bank managers, senior citizens
and hairdressers

VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS
motley/'mtli II 'rno:tli/motley crew/bunch/assort-
ment (=a group of people of very different kinds, especially
people that you disapprove of) [adj only before noun]
The people who travelled with us to Mexico were a motley
crew. I this motley bunch of adventurers, ex-convicts and
unemployed artists
mixed hag/,rmkst 'beg/an informal expression mean-
ing a group of people or things of very different kinds
which do not seem to have much connection with each
other [n singular]
The Democrats are offering voters a mixed bag of policies. I
Today, healthcare depends on a mixed bag of medical profes-
sionals, charity workers and patients'families.
this, that and the other/6is 6at and i har/a Brit-
ish expression used in spoken English meaning a variety
of different things that are done, talked about etc [nphrase]
We spent the evening chatting about this, that and the other. I
John's always promising to do this, that and the other, but
never does anything.
all and sundry/,3:1 and sAndri/ many people of very
different kinds, especially people that you do not approve
of or more people than you expected [n phrase]
He seems to have invited all and sundry to the wedding. [ The
Labour Party has been accused of taking in all and sundry,
from Marxists to Liberals. [ We can't just let the club facili-
ties be used by all and sundry.
5 a set of things, people, numbers etc that are
different from each other but of the same
general type
range selection
spectrum the whole gamut
range/remds/a set of many different things of the same
general type that are available in the same place for the
same use [n singular]
wide/broad range It was difficult to choose from such a
wide range of dishes on the menu. [ We stock the broadest
range of literature in town. [ range of She has an interest-
ing range of hobbies, from stamp-collecting to astro-physics. ]
range You should check out the video games at Vortex - they
have a really good range.
spectrum/, spektrom/a complete range of different types
of things or people, especially when those at one nd of the
range are the opposite of those at the other end In C usually
singular]
broad/wide/whole spectrum Their songs appeal to a
broad spectrum of music lovers. [ "Corn-home" Ltd provides
services for the whole spectrum of home computer users. [ at
one end/the other end of the spectrum At one end of the
spectrum were the Communists, and at the other, the Nation-
alists. [ spectrum The spectrum of activity goes from peace-
ful to extremely violent. [ political spectrum (=range of
political opinions) The announcement has annoyed people
from right across the political spectrum.
selection/sIo lekfan/a number of different things of the
same kind that are available for you to choose or use [n C]
a selection of Our staff restaurant offers a wide selection
of salads. [ In the library, they have a selection of English
language videos for students to borrow. I selection Cus-
tomers are invited to view the selection at any time.
the whole gamut/6a ,haul 'gamaq a formal expression
meaning a complete range of every possible emotion,
problem, experience etc In phrase]
New mothers can experience the whole gamut of emotions,
from intense joy to deep depression. [ a whole gamut Alter-
native therapies have been successful with a whole gamut of
health problems.
6 ways of saying that something is or can be
done in a number of different ways
in different ways in a variety of ways
in various ways variously
in different ways/In ,dIfarant 'welz/[adv phrase]
Different teachers approach practising for exams in
1509 velocity
different ways. [ Salesmen know that different customers will
react in different ways. I Newspapers can be used in a dozen
different ways for work in reading development.
in various ways/in ,vearias 'weIz/in several different
ways [adv phrase]
These prehistoric tools were made in various ways. [ I try to
explain grammar in various ways to make it more
interesting.
in a variety o| ways/in a va'ralati av welz/in many
very different ways [adv phrase]
The same statistics may be used in a variety of ways to prove
completely different things. [ Christianity affected English
society in a variety of ways. [ in a wide variety of ways The
money you have kindly donated will be used in a wide vari-
ety of ways to help people all over the world.
variously/'veadosli/variously described/considered/
explained etc (=described, considered etc differently by
different people according to their different ideas and opin-
ions) [adv]
The man has been variously described as 'short', 'medium
height" and "stocky: [ Unemployment is variously considered
to be caused by high inflation, high wage settlements, or
government incompetence.
7 to start to get involved in new activities of
different kinds
branch out
diversify
branch out/,bro:nt 'aot II ,brant-/[phr v I]
branch out into Many businesses are unwilling to branch
out into new and unfamiliar areas. ] branch out Center-
point Women's Center has recently branched out to provide
a careers consultancy service.
diversify/da v3:rsfaI II d-, dai-/ifa business or organi-
zation diversifies, it begins to make new products or get
involved in new areas of business in addition to what it was
doing before Iv I]
Most tobacco companies have been diversifying for years in
preparation for the decline in cigarette sales. ] diversify into
We started out making cash registers, but have diversified
into computer systems of all sorts.
 to make something different and more varied
vary
add variety to
vary/'veari/[v T]
We try to vary the kids" menu as much as possible. [ Joe
seemed to vary the story of his life with each person he told
it to.
add variety to/,rod va'raIati tu:/to make something
more varied, especially in order to make it more interest-
ing Iv phrase]
Try planting a few brightly coloured flowers to add variety
to your window boxes. I There was little she could do to add
variety to the dull routine of her daily life
....: variously VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 6
 vary CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER 2,
 CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 2, DIFFERENT 1,
 VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 8,
 varying VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 1
'-"" vast BIG 5, 8
 vast majority: the vast/great/overwhelming majority of
;; MOST 1
i.4 i: "
 vault/vault over JUMP 2
 veer TURN 3
i vegetate NOT DO STH 4
 veil. draw a veil over HIDE/NOT SHOW 2
 veiled HIDE/NOT SHOW 4
.....
i veiled in mystery: be shrouded/veiled in mystery
 MYSTERIOUS 1
i veiled in secrecy: be veiled in secrecy/shrouded in
 secrecy SECRET 2
.:-.- velocity SPEED 1

velvety 1510 VERY
i velvety SOFT 3
: vendetta REVENGE 2
,.,
;: vendor SELL 7
 vengeance REVENGE 2
i.: ventilate AIR 5
 venture BUSINESS 2
: venue PLACE 1
:..
 verbal SPEAK A LANGUAGE 5
 verge: be close to tears/be on the verge of tears
i-"-"- CRY 5
...;. verge: be on the verge of ALMOST 3
 verging on/bordering on ALMOST 2, 4
 verify CHECK/MAKE SURE 1
; versatile GOOD AT 7, USE STH 14
 version TRANSLATE 2
N versus AGAINST SB IN A GAME 1
•  vertical VERTICAL 1
VERTICAL
words for describing something that stands,
points, moves etc straight upwards or straight
downwards
to put something into a vertical position
1 words for describing something that stands,
points, moves etc straight upwards or straight
downwards
vertical perpendicular
upright erect
straight up sheer
vertical I'v:rtkl/[adj]
The wallpaper has vertical stripes, running from floor to ceil-
ing. I In some places the cliff was almost vertical, and much
too dangerous to climb. I The vertical line on the graph
represents the time taken, and the horizontal line represents
the distance travelled.
vertically [adv ] The hot air balloon rose vertically into the
air.
upright /'^p-rat/ sit/stand/remain/hold/keep etc
upright (=in a vertical position) [adj]
Keep the bottle upright - the top is rather loose. [ The ceil-
ing was so low that there was hardly enough room to stand
upright. [ After feeding, hold your baby upright against your
shoulder and gently rub her back.
straight up /strat Pl point/rise/grow/travel etc
straight up (:in a vertical direction, into or towards the
sky) lady phrase]
The towers of the hospital rose straight up from the edge of
the highway. I The signpost had fallen over, and now pointed
straight up into the sky. I The young trees were not growing
straight up, but leaning towards the window. I The rocket
shot straight up and exploded overhead.
perpendicular/p3:rpndkjlrl a word used espe-
cially in technical contexts meaning perfectly vertical in
relation to the ground, or in relation to another line [adj]
Ensure that the plumbline is perpendicular before you start
to draw the line. [ Behind them, there was a perpendicular
wall of rock. [ perpendicular to sth (=at an angle of 90 ° to
another line or surface) In a graph, the x-axis is perpendic-
ular to the y-axis.
erect /t rekt/sit/stand/walk/hold your head etc erect
(=in a very straight, stiff, vertical position) [adj]
The magistrate sat there, stern and erect, as the charge was
read out. [ The treeswhich lined the road stood tall and erect. ]
The rabbit sat with its ears erect.
sheer/zr/ sheer cliff/drop/slope etc (=very steep,
almost vertical) [adj only before noun]
Walkers must keep to the path and keep well away from the
sheer, high cliffs. I I stood at the edge of the old chalk quarry,
with a sheer drop of ten or twenty metres below me.
sheer lady] Great crags and cliffs rose sheer (=almost
vertically) from the surging Atlantic.
 to put something into a vertical position
stand sth up
stand sth on end
stand sth up/stand (sth) '^p/to put something into a
vertical position, especially when this is its usual position
[phr v T]
Tom stood the statue up and looked at it. [ Stand the wine
bottle up for a few hours in a warm place before drinking [
stand up sth The bartender had to go round standing up
all the stools that had been knocked down in the fight.
stand sth on end / st,nd (sth) on end/to put something
in a vertical position, when this is not its usual position
Iv phrase]
We had to stand the table on end to get it through the door.
vertigo HIGH 7
very VERY 1
VERY
I words meaning very
:2 extremely, even more than very
words meaning very
very mighty
really one
highly quite
deeply ever so
real bloody
so decidedly
very/'veri/[adv]
Ellie was a very good dancer. [ Your house is very different
from the way I'd imagined it. [ "'Was it a good movie? .... Yes,
very." I This explanation is very persuasive but not yet
universally accepted, t During our time working together I
had got to know her very well. [ The traffic was moving very
slowly.
really/'rmli/(used especially in spoken English) [adv]
Those shoes look really nice! I Give your teeth a really good
clean at the end of the day. I Considering it was your first
lesson, I think you did really well. I This poor patient was
really ill and there I was, breathing garlic all over her!
highly/hali/(used only with certain adjectives, espe-
cially in more formal or technical English) [adv]
highly dangerous/toxic/flammable Danger: highly
flammable materials! I highly skilled/educated/
trained/intelligent Our engineers are highly skilled and
very difficult to replace when they leave. I highly likely/
unlikely/probable/doubtful/suspicious I think it's
highly unlikely they will get more than three medals in the
Olympics. I highly successful/productive a highly suc-
cessful advertising campaign
deeply Idi:pli/(used especially to describe very strong or
very sincere feelings) [adv]
deeply disappointed/concerned/hurt etc We were all
deeply shocked to hear the news of Jonathan's tragic death. I
Local residents are deeply concerned about the threat to
health posed by the power station. I deeply sorry/moved/
ashamed etc The ceremony was short but deeply moving. ]
You couldn't fail to be deeply impressed by the prisoner's
courage and dignity.
real/rill/(an informal American word) [adv]
Thanks for calling me, Sergeant. It was real kind of you. ]
The sidewalk was real wet and slippery. I Now I was real
close to the bear. I could hear its breathing.
so/sao/(used especially in British English when you are
thanking or praising someone) [adv]
You've been so kind. I hope I can repay you some day. I The
dresses were lovely, and the colours were so pretty. I It all hap-
pened so quickly.
mighty /'matil (an informal word, used especially in
American English) [adv]

VERY 1511 VIOLENT
You're mighty dumb sometimes, Donna. I That's a mighty
fine car you have there. I Welcome on board - mighty glad
to have you with us/
one/w^n! (an informal American word used to add force
to a description of someone or something) [determiner]
She's one crazy ladyWI That's one amazing machine you have
there.
quite /kwait! (used especially when something is very
good, nice, interesting etc) [adv]
Thank you, Gloria. That meal was quite delicious/I The
facilities here are really quite wonderful.
ever $o ] ev r so] (an informal British expression, used
especially by or to children or when you are describing
something in an excited way) [adv phrase]
You look ever so smart in your new shirt, Gary/I There was
an elephant, mum/It was ever so big/I They're ever so handy.
You can put all your addresses in, and everything.
bloody / 'bl^di/(an impolite word used especially in Brit-
ish English when something or someone is very bad, very
stupid, very unpleasant etc) [adv]
We went to that film last night. It was bloody terrible/ I
That's a bloody stupid attitude/ I Your father works bloody
hard to support you, so show a bit of respect/
decidedly/dI' saiddli/(=a word used formally or in liter-
ature meaning so much that it is very noticeable) [adj]
The weather had turned decidedly chilly. [ Her face was start-
ing to look decidedly unhealthy, and we decided to take her
to a doctor.
2 extremely, even more than very
extremely
terribly/dreadfully
incredibly/unbelievably
ridiculously/absurdly
remarkably/exceptionally
extraordinarily
terrifically
enormously/
hugely
exceedingly
extremely I ik' stri:mli/[adv]
Before the interview I was extremely nervous. [ For young
children, regular visits to the dentist are extremely impor-
tant. [ It's always been extremely difficult to get your first
novel published. [ The winter of 1947 was extremely bad.
terribly/dreadfully /Jterobli, Jdredfali/(British expres-
sions used especially when something is extremely bad,
unpleasant, sad etc) [adv]
He's been terribly ill for the last two weeks. I The computer
system is terribly slow today. [ You must be dreadfully dis-
appointed/[ Dreadfully overcrowded trains and frequent
cancellations made commuting an ordeal.
incredibly/unbelievably /In'kredbli, ,Anb I lizvbli/
(used when something is surprisingly good, bad, large etc,
so that it is hard to believe) [adv]
Doctors work incredibly long hours, sometimes over eighty
hours in one week. [ The microphone is incredibly sensitive. [
Some of their decisions have been unbelievably stupid. [For
such a tall player, he could turn unbelievably quickly.
ridiculously/absurdly /rI dIkjo°losli, obts3:rdli/ (used
when something is unreasonable, stupid, or even funny)
[adv]
The questions seemed ridiculously easy. [ HIS salary is
ridiculously high - no one could ever be worth that amount
of money. [ With no proper equipment, our job was absurdly
difficult and dangerous.
remarkably/exceptionally/rI'ma:rkbli, Ik' sepJ'anli/
(used when something is very unusual and surprising,
especially when it is unusually good or impressive) [adv]
Mill's predictions turned out to be remarkably accurate. [
The mosaic is remarkably similar to one found at Barelli,
near Modena. I an exceptionally fine example of an eight-
eenth-century harpsichord [ The heavy soil of the delta
produces exceptionally high yields of rice and millet.
extraordinarily/ik'stro:darrli [[ ikstro:rdn'erli,! (a
formal word used especially in British English to describe
things that are difficult to believe) lady]
Everyone we met on the trip was extraordinarily friendly and
helpful. [ It is an extraordinarily beautiful landscape - with
craggy peaks and deep gorges. [ Levi gives a balanced but
extraordinarily moving account of life in the prison camps.
terrifically /t'rifikli! (an informal word used when
something is extremely impressive or unusual) [adv]
He's a fascinating man, and terrifically handsome. I She
wasn't frightened or nervous, just terrifically excited.
enormously/hugely/ n:):rmsli, 'hju:d31i! (used espe-
cially when something is very successful, popular, power-
ful etc) [adv]
Already this year, she has starred in two enormously success-
ful movies. [ the hugely influential German Federal Reserve
Bank [ I found it hugely entertaining but other critics have
been less impressed. [ McLuhan was enormously popular
when his books were first published.
exceedingly/ik'si:di]li/(a formal word) [adv]
It is exceedingly difficult to determine the exact cause of death
in some murders. I an exceedingly complex question
very much LOT/VERY MUCH 1
very same: the very same/self-same SAME 1
vet DOCTOR 5
veteran EXPERIENCED 1
veterinarian DOCTOR 5
veto REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 3
viable POSSIBLE 1
vibrate SHAKE 2
vicarious PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 4
vice versa OPPOSITE/REVERSE 2
vicinity: in the vicinity NEAR 1
vicious UNKIND 2, VIOLENT 1, 2, 3
vicious circle PROBLEM 3
victim ATTACK 8, SUFFER 4
victimize CRUEL 6
victor WIN 9
victorious WIN 9
victorious: be victorious WIN 2
victory WIN 3
vie COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT 1
view LOOK AT 4, OPINION 1, SEE 8
view: come into view/come into sight APPEAR 1
view: in full view of SEE 6
view: in my view THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT 2
view: in view SEE 5
view: take the view that THINK/HAVE THE OPINION
THAT 1
view: with a view to doing sth TO/IN ORDER TO 1
view with suspicion: regard/look upon/view sb with
suspicion TRUST 5
viewer WATCH 5
viewpoint OPINION 5
views: air your views SAY/STATE 2
vigilant WATCH 7
vigorous ENERGETIC 1 3
vigour/vigor ENERGETIC 4
village TOWN 4
villain BAD PERSON 1
vindictive CRUEL 4
vintage OLD/NOT NEW 3
violate DISOBEY 2
violation ILLEGAL 2
violence VIOLENT 6
violent VIOLENT 1, 3, 4
VIOLENT
words for describing violent people
words for describing violent animals
words for describing violent behaviour or
actions
words for describing stories, films etc that
include a lot of violent behaviour
someone who behaves in a violent way
violent behaviour
deliberately avoiding violence, especially
when you are showing your opposition to
something

VIOLENT 1512 VIOLENT
1 words for describing violent people
violent vicious
brutal savage
aggressive
violent/vaalant/likely to attack people and cause injury
by hitting them, shooting them etc, especially when this
is part of someone's character [adj]
My father was a violent man who couldn't control his
temper.I You can take court action to force a violent husband
to stay away. I turn violent (=start behaving violently)
Keep the handcuffs on the prisoner in case he turns violent.
brutal/ bru:tl/very violent and cruel and likely to kill or
injure people without any pity [adj]
The police are searching for the brutal attacker of a 98-year
old woman. I Several prisoners-of-war remember the brutal
commandant of the camp. I an organization of brutal and
ruthless bandits
aggressive/agres;vl behaving in an angry, threatening
way that often results in a fight [adj]
I was aggressive at school, and got into a lot offights. [ Some
of the patients become aggressive and violent, others are
angry and withdrawn.
vicious/'vifas/someone who is vicious is violent and
dangerous and seems to enjoy hurting people for no reason
[adj]
These drug dealers are vicious and cruel. [ "Vicious Killer on
the Loose" was the newspaper headline.
savage / 'SmvldS/hurting people in a particularly cruel
way [adj]
Police are hunting the savage killer of 5 men in South
London.
2 words for describing violent animals
fierce savage
vicious ferocious
fierce Ifirs/ready to attack people, and very frightening
to look at [adj]
Fierce animals lived in the forests many years ago. I Our
neighbours have a fierce dog to keep intruders off the farm
at night.
vicious/'viSas/a vicious animal is likely to attack and
cause injury, often suddenly and for no reason [adj]
Keep away from that horse - he can be vicious. ] Rottweilers
are vicious animals, far too dangerous to have as pets.
savage /seevd3/violent in a completely uncontrolled
way, and always ready to attack [adj]
They caught a big monkey, but it was so savage no one could
get near enough to feed it. I Packs of savage dogs roamed the
streets.
ferocious/fa  raoas/violent and frighteningly powerful,
and so able to cause great harm [adj]
The tiger is a ferocious beast which has already killed ten
villagers.
3 words for describing violent behaviour or
actions
violent savage
vicious ferocious
brutal rough
violent/'vaialant/[adj]
This was a particularly violent attack. I About half of all vio-
lent crime is committed by men under the age of thirty. I Even-
tually, because of his violent behaviour, he was sent to reform
school. "
violently [adv] He once hit a boy so violently that his hear-
ing was damaged.
vicious/'vfos/very violent, done by someone who seems
to enjoy hurting other people for no reason [adjl
It was a vicious fight, with neither boxer sticking to the
rules. I My neighbour's cat gave me a vicious scratch.
viciously [adv] As the boy spun around he was kicked
viciously in the back.
brutal/'bru:tl! very violent, done by someone who does
not feel any pity for-the person they attack [adj]
Prisoners described the brutal and degrading treatment they
had received. [ This rape is one of the most brutal I have ever
come across. I Last October's arrest followed a spate of brutal
killings.
brutally lady] The young girl had been brutally attacked,
though not murdered.
savage /smvds/ savage beating/blow/attack etc
(:extremely violent and uncontrolled) [adj]
The boy was a victim of savage beatings by his father. [ When
cornered, a camel may lash out with savage kicks that can
rip open a man's stomach.
savagely lady] Their dog bit savagely at everything in sight.
ferocious/fa'raofas/extremely violent and frighteningly
powerful [ adj ]
Then Menelik's army launched a ferocious attack. [ The tiger
gave a ferocious snarl.
ferociously lady] The boy fought ferociously.
rough/rAf/rough treatment/handling/behaviour etc
(=violent but not causing serious injury) [adj]
The hostages received some rough treatment during their
long period of captivity. [ The police have been criticized for
their rough handling of the demonstrators.
roughly lady] A man on the subway grabbed her roughly,
asking for money.
4 words for describing stories, films etc that
include a lot of violent behaviour
violent
gory
violent/'vaiabnt/ [adj]
I think Peckinpah's films are too violent. I Psychologists
studied the dreams of children who had seen violent tele-
vision programmes.
gory/'ga:ri/clearly describing or showing injuries, blood,
killing etc [adj]
There's a very gory picture of the accident. I Murder movies
these days show too much gory detail.
someone who behaves in a violent way
thug animal
brute psychopath
hooligan/hoodlum lout
thug/O^g/a man, especially a criminal, who has rough
manners and uses violent methods In C]
The two thugs were waiting for him in the back alley. He
didn't have a chance. I Al Capone's thugs lined up seven
mobsters and shot them.
brute /bru:t/ a cruel, violent man who seems like an
animal and does not care about hurting people In C]
I knew the brute was beating her, but I had no proof. I She
spun round and screamed, "Leave him alone, you brute!'"
hooligan (also hoodlum in American English) I'hu:l-
gn, 'hu:dbml a violent young man, often a member of a
group, who enjoys causing damage and hurting people,
especially in public places In C]
His father was attacked by a gang of hooligans in a back
street. I The mayor claimed that the race riots had been
started by young hoodlums. [ football hooligan Football
hooligans caused over Ј30,000 of damage in bars and
restaurants near the stadium.
animal IIenmall a man who is so violent and out of
control that he does not seem human In C]
They're just animals and should be locked up.
psychopath /'salkapmO/ a mentally ill person who
behaves violently and kills people, and is unable to feel
sorry for it In C]
Police described the killer as a psychopath. [ A lone house-
wife is murdered by a psychopath in the first chapter of this
grisly story.
lout/laot/a young man who behaves rudely or violently,
especially when he is in a group with others In C]

VIOLENT 1513 VISIT
Gangs of drunken louts roam the streets on Saturday
evenings.
6 violent behaviour
violence savagery
aggression ferocity
brutality force
violence/'vaIolons/[n U]
Her husband's violence and bad temper had made her leave
him. I Prison officers were injured in afresh outbreak of vio-
lence. I The organization was set up to monitor sex and vio-
lence on television. I violence against The troops had used
violence against people who were demonstrating peacefully.
aggression/o'gredn/angry threatening behaviour that
often results in fighting In U]
Some of the prisoners are given tranquillizers to control
aggression. I Television violence can encourage aggression
in children. I Rape is an act of sexual aggression against
women.
brutality /bru:'tmloti/ deliberately cruel and violent
behaviour that is done without any pity for the person who
is injured or killed In U]
His wife left him because of his brutality. I reports about
police corruption, brutality, and incompetence
savagery I'smvld3aril extremely violent and uncon-
trolled behaviour In U]
That night, the crowd attacked immigrants' homes with
terrible savagery. I With so many dead on both sides, is it
possible that such slaughter and savagery could ever be
justified?
ferocity/f'rDsoti II fo'ro:-/extremely violent and fright-
eningly powerful behaviour In U]
Eyewitnesses were shocked by the ferocity of the attack. I The
ferocity of the piranha fish has made it famous.
force /fa:rs/ violent behaviour, especially used by the
police or army in order to deal with a problem failed [n U]
We made her hand over the money without force or violence. I
use force The President obviously thinks that it's too early
to think of using force. I The police will not use force to arrest
people unless it is absolutely necessary.
7 deliberately avoiding violence, especially
when you are showing your opposition to
something
peaceful
non-violent
peaceful/'pi:sDll [adj]
If at all possible, we want the revolution to be peaceful. I
"This is a peaceful protest, "" someone told Dr Aziz. I We're
asking you in a peaceful manner to leave us alone.
non.violent /,ntn vaiolont-II ,no:n-/ non-violent
organizations, protests, methods etc deliberately avoid
using or causing violence [adj]
Non-violent demonstrators in Jullundur lay across railway
lines to stop the trains. I Our organization has always been
non-violent and non-partisan.
non-violence [n U] It was in South Africa that Gandhi first
used the methods of non-violence, by staging massive sit-ins
for the 'coloured" population.
!; VIP IMPORTANT 6
!ii!i virgin NATURAL 1, SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 12
".i!i virginity: lose your virginity SEX/HAVE SEX WITH 1
-:.-.-
::--. virile MAN 2
i!ili virtually: practically/virtually ALMOST 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
"" virtue GOOD POINT OR CHARACTERISTIC 1
ili virtuous GOOD/MORAL 1
viscosity THICK LIQUID 4
viscous THICK LIQUID 1
? visibility SEE 14
; visible SEE 5
i visible: become visible APPEAR 1
.. vision IMAGINE 4, SEE 9, SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 1
visit
visit with
STAY WITH SB, IN A HOTEL ETC 6, TALK TO
SB 4, TRAVEL 4, VISIT 1, 4, 5, 8
STAY WITH SB IN A HOTEL ETC 1
VISIT
to go and spend time in a place or with a
person, especially for pleasure or business
1 to visit someone for pleasure or business
:2 to visit someone for a short time, especially
without first arranging to visit them
;3 ways of saying that a lot of people, especially
members of your family, suddenly visit you
when you do not really want them to
4 to visit a place as a tourist
5 to visit a place in order to see something or
speak to someone there, as an official guest
6 to visit a person or place while you are on
your way to somewhere else
7 someone who visits someone else
8 an occasion when someone visits a place or
person
1 to visit someone for pleasure or business
visit come over/round
go to see/go and see pay a visit/a call
call on look up
go over/round
visit I'vIztl [v I/T]
visit sb Patricia said she was going to visit Vicky this
weekend. I In the next week, you will be visited by one of our
inspectors. I The midwife will visit you and your new baby
at home regularly to make sure you are coping. I visit
Perhaps you could stay with us at Christmas, we'd love you
to visit.
go to see/go and see /,goo to 'si:, ,goo ond 'si:/expres-
sions meaning to visit someone, used especially in spoken
English Iv phrase]
I'm going to see Amanda tomorrow - it's her birthday. I
Better go and see your father tonight.
call on/ka:l . II -o:n/to visit someone for a short time
[vT]
Why don't you call on Matt on your way back from work and
see how he is? l If you would like to take a closer look at the
product, one of our salesmen would be delighted to call on
you in your own home.
go over (also go round in British English)/,go 'ovo r,
go 'raond! to visit someone at their house, especially if
they live close to you [phr v I]
Let's get a bottle of wine and go over to Simon 's place. ] I saw
your Mum today and I promised that we'd go round later. I
"'What did you do last night?" "'I went over to Sarah's. ""
come over (also come round in British English)/,km
oovo r, kAm raond/ if someone comes over or comes
round, they visit you at your house, especially if they live
close to you [phr v I]
Janet said she'd come over about 7 o'clock, will you be in
then? I I'd rather not talk about it over the phone, why don't
you come round later and we'll discuss it over dinner?
pay a visitla call/,pei a vIZat, O 'k:l/to visit someone,
especially for a particular reason Iv phrase]
Your hand looks very swollen, I think you should pay a visit
to the doctor. I pay sb a visit Isn't it time you paid your
mother a visit? I pay a call on sb Kathryn decided to pay
another call on Jesse. Maybe he could help her out with her
work.
|ook up/,lok '^p! to visit someone you know because you
are in the place or area where they live for some other
reason [phr v T]
look sb/her/them etc up I'll give you my address so you
can look me up whenever you're in London. I look up sb

VISIT 1514 VISIT
Tina looked up this old boyfriend of hers who lives in Munich
and found he'd got married.
2 to visit someone for a short time, especially
without first arranging to visit them
drop in/drop by
pop in/pop by
come by
drop in/drop by/,dro ':n, ,dro 'ba, II ,dro:p-/to visit
someone you know well for a short time, often unexpect-
edly [phr v I]
Guess who dropped in earlier - Aunt Leone! I Lizzie said
she'd drop in later to let us know what the arrangements are
for tonight. I It's nice to have someone drop by occasionally.
pop in/pop by/,ptgp ':n, ,ptgp 'ba II ,pa:p-/an informal
expression used especially in British English, meaning to
visit someone for a very short time [phr v I]
I might be able to pop in for about half an hour. [ Just pop
by when you've got a minute and I7l show you our holiday
photographs.
come by/,kAm 'bai / an expression used especially in
American English meaning to visit someone for a short
time, usually in their home [phr v I]
Can you come by on Tuesday to pick up the keys? l Brad came
by this afternoon. He said to tell you he can't make it tonight.
ways of saying that a lot of people, especially
members of your family, suddenly visit you
when you do not really want them to
descend on/upon
descend on/upon/d, 'send on, ,pt)n II -o:n, ,pa:n/[v T]
Sorry for just descending on you like this, Pam - we had
nowhere else to stay. I The next morning Picasso and his
Spanish friends descended upon Max.
descent [n singular] I have to start planning in October for
the annual descent of the relatives at Christmas (--for when
they all visit me at Christmas).
4 to visit a place as a tourist
visit see
see the sights do
sightseeing
visit/'v,zIt/[v T[
Last year we visited Spain and Portugal. I By the end o/the
day I was fed up with visiting temples and all the traveling
around.
see the sights/,si: 6 'sats/to visit a city or country
and look at the famous and interesting places there [v
phrase]
I wanted to look round Moscow and see the sights. I see the
sights of We're going on a bus tour today, to see the sights
of Copenhagen.
sightseeing I' salt, si: r]l visiting and travelling around
a place to look at the famous and interesting places there
In UI
After an afternoon's sightseeing we were all exhausted. I go
sightseeing Why don't we go sightseeing? There are so
many places I want to visit - the Empire State Building. Cen-
tral Park and the Statue of Liberty.
see/si:! to visit a famous or interesting place, especially
when you are on holiday lv T not in passive]
While we were in lndia we saw the Taj Mahal and the
ancient Hindu holy city of Varanasi. I I/you get the chance
you must go and see.Ayers Rock - it's magical.
de/du:! an informal word meaning to visit a particular
famous place while you are on holiday, especially when
you are trying to visit as many famous places as possible
in a short time Iv T not in passive]
"'Would you like to visit the Eiffel Tower? .... No. we've done
it. "'1 This afternoon I'm going to do Madame Tussauds, St
Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London.
5 to visit a place in order to see something or
speak to someone there, as an official guest
visit
visit/'v,zt/ [v I/T not in passive]
visit London/Boston/China etc The Ambassador visited
Hong Kong in 1982. I As she does every year, the Queen visits
Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital this afternoon. I
visit A police officer will be visiting next week to give the
children a talk on crime prevention.
visiting [adj only before noun] Students presented bouquets
to visiting dignitaries (=important officials who were visit-
ing) on their arrival at the college.
6 to visit a person or place while you are on
your way to somewhere else
stop by/stop in stop off
call in/call round stop over
look in on
stop by (also stop in in American English)/,stop 'bal,
,stop 'In II ,sto:p-/[phr v I]
I just stopped in to say goodbye before Igo on vacation. [ Stop
by on your way home from work for a drink.
call in/call round / ,ka:l  n, ka:l raond/British expres-
sions meaning to visit a person or place while you are on
your way to somewhere else [phr v I[
Fred calls round sometimes on his way to the sports centre. [
I'll call in tomorrow then. Mum.
look in on/,luk 'tn n [[ -o:n/to make a short visit to
someone, while you are on your way somewhere, especially
if they are ill or need help [v T[
I promised to look in on Dad and see if be's feeling better.[
Tom will look in on you later to see if you need anything.
stop off/,stp 'f [[ ,sto:p a:f/to make a short visit to a
place during a journey [phr v I[
"'Did you see Tony? .... Yes, I stopped off there on my way to
Sylvia's." [ stop off in/at The candidate stopped off in
Fresno to make a speech to raisin producers before continu-
ing on to San Francisco.
stop over/,stp 'uv r [[ ,sto:p-/to visit somewhere for
a short time during a long journey, especially a plane flight
[phr v I[
stop over in The flight to Australia takes 28 hours but we
stop over in Singapore for a night.
stopover/stpauva r [[ 'sto:p-/In C[ The journey includes
a two-day stopover in Miami (=staying there for two days)
before flying on to Mexico.
7 someone who visits someone else
visitor guest
caller have company
visitor/'wztar/ [n C]
We have nowhere for visitors to sleep at the moment as the
spare room is being decorated. I Colette offered her visitor
a glass of wine. I I've been asked to show some important visi-
tors round the department.
caller / k:):lar/someone who visits you at home for a short
time, especially unexpectedly In C]
I like to have some wine in the house in case I have any
callers. [ When answering the door, check the identity of
callers and keep the chain on the door.
guest/gest/someone who you have invited to visit you
at your house In C]
You "re not supposed to do the dishes - you're a guest. [ Among
the Queen's foreign guests was the Archduke Franz Ferdi-
nand. [ have a guest We had a couple of guests for the
weekend.
have company/hev 'k^mpani/if you have company,
someone is visiting you in your home Iv phrase]
I didn't realise you had company, I'll call back tomorrow. I
When Robin "s working nights, I like to have some company.

VISIT 1515 V OTEIELECT
an occasion when someone visits a place or
person
visit
flying visit
visit/'vizt/In C]
Monique was getting nervous at the prospect of her mother-
in-law's visit. I The girls were quite excited because they were
expecting visits from their parents. I visit to The Senator's
visit to the Military Academy at Andover was a great suc-
cess. I make a visit to Lynn gave us a very interesting talk
on a visit she made to El Salvador. I We made frequent visits
to the theater.
flying visit /,fla1-[O vizt! a very short visit, made espe-
cially when you are on your way to somewhere else and
you do not have much time In C]
I'm afraid this is only a flying visit as we're on our way to
the station. I make a flying visit to Before going off on
honeymoon we had time to make a few flying visits to
relatives.
visitor VISIT 7
visualize IMAGINE 1
visually handicapped SIGHT/ABILITY TO SEE 3
vital IMPORTANT 3, NEED 5
vitality ENERGETIC 4
vivacious ENERGETIC 2
vivid REAL/NOT IMAGINARY 3
vividly: remember well/vividly REMEMBER 4
vocabulary WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 2
vocalist SING 3
vocation JOB/WORK 2
vocational JOB/WORK 3
vogue: be in vogue FASHIONABLE 1
voice
: voice/express opposition to AGAINST/OPPOSE 4
 voicelexpresslregister etc your disapproval
 DISAPPROVE 2
: voice: lower your voice QUIET 5
 voice: raise your voice SHOUT 1
; void: null and void USE STH 16
 volatile CHANGE/BECOME DIFFERENT 4
- volley SHOOT 8
 volume AMOUNT 1 LOUD/NOISY 9
! volume: at full volume/at full blast LOUD/NOISY 8
 voluntarily WILLING 2
'.T
.! voluntary MUST 8, PAY SB FOR WORK 9, WILLING 2
 volunteer OFFER 3
°" voluptuous SEXY 1
 vomit SICK/VOMIT 1
 vomiting SICK/VOMIT 4
 vote VOTE/ELECT 1, 2, 8
- vote: have a vote VOTE/ELECT 7
 vote: have/take a vote VOTE/ELECT 2
 vote: put sth to the vote VOTE/ELECT 2
 vote: the vote VOTE/ELECT 7
 vote against REJECT/NOT ACCEPT 3
-:"4 vote sb to/into VOTE/ELECT 4
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
VOTE/ELECT
9
10
to vote
ways of saying that a group of people vote in
order to decide something
ways of saying that a government gives
people the chance to choose a new
government
to choose a government, leader, or
representative by voting
an occasion when people vote to choose a
government, leader, or representative
someone who votes in a political election
the right to vote in political elections
ways of saying how many votes a person or
political group were given
to try to get elected
political activities before an election that are
intended to make you vote for a particular
party or person
1 to vote
vote polling
cast a vote/ballot the ballot box
go to the polls
vote/vut/to show, for example by marking a paper or by
raising your hand, who you want to choose for a position
of responsibility or which course of action you favour [v
I/T/
I haven't decided yet how I'm going to vote. I vote for sb Who
willyou be votingfor?l vote for/in favour of/against sth
The union voted against going on strike. 1 53% of Danes voted
in favour of the Maastricht treaty. I vote Democrat/Socia-
list/Republican etc I've voted Democrat all my life and I
don't intend to stop now. I vote to do sth Congress voted to
increase foreign aid to 10%. I v.ote on sth The Council voted
on a motion to close the hospital. I vote that The Board of
Directors have voted that the product be withdrawn from the
market.
cast a vote (also cast a ballot in American English)
/,ko:st a vaot, ,ko:st a 'bmlot II ,keest-/to vote in a political
election Iv phrase]
This chart shows the number of votes cast for each party. I
By the end of the day. less than 40% of the population had
cast their votes. ] Not until all the ballots have been cast can
they be counted.
go to the polls/,gao to 60 paolz/a word used especially
on television, radio, or in newspapers: tithe people of a par-
ticular country or area go to the polls, they vote in a polit-
ical election Iv phrase]
The people of San Fernando Valley will go to the polls in the
Spring. I With only two days left before France goes to the
polls, all parties are campaigning hard.
polling/'paulo/the activity of voting in a political elec-
tion In U]
Polling has been going on since 9 am. [ Polling was heaviest
in New York State.
the ballot box/6a bmlat bks [[ -be:ks/the system of
choosing a government by voting, especially compared
with violent methods [n phrase]
The rebels rejected the ballot box in favour of civil war. ] The
voters have expressed their views at the ballot box.
ways of saying that a group of people vote in
order to decide something
have/take a vote ballot
put sth to the vote referendum
vote

VOTEIELECT 1516 VOTE/ELECT
have/take a vote/,hmv, ,teik o voot/ if a group of
people have a vote or take a vote, they decide, for exam-
ple by raising their hands, which course of action, person
etc they favour [v phrase]
The chairman announced the decision without having a
vote. I have/take a vote on We couldn't agree on who to give
the prize to, so we decided to take a vote on it. [ Each candi-
date will give a short presentation, and then we will take a
vote on whose is the best.
put sth to the vote/,put (sth) to 6o 'rout/if a group of
people put something to the vote, they vote in order to
decide about it [v phrase]
Let's put it to the vote. All those in favour raise your hands. [
When the matter was put to the vote, it was discovered that
most people were in favour of the plan.
vote Ivoot! an occasion when a group of people vote in
order to decide something [n C usually singular]
The result of the vote was totally unexpected - 80% of wor-
kers favoured strike action. [ Without a proper, democratic
vote, this issue will never be resolved. [ After a quick vote it
was agreed that we would let Andy join our gang.
ballot/, bmlot! the occasion when voting is done by mark-
ing a piece of paper, especially in order to make sure that
it is secret In C]
It was decided that the matter should be decided by a ballot. [
Ellis won the third ballot by a majority of 38. [ secret ballot
Union members will choose their own leader by a secret
ballot.
referendum /,ref'rendom/ (plural referenda or
referendums) a vote by every person in a country to make
an important political decision, about which there is a lot
of disagreement In C]
The proposal was rejected by the Welsh people in a referen-
dum. I A change in the constitution has to be approved by
a referendum. I referendum on The government promised
to hold a referendum on the issue.
3 ways of saying that a government gives
people the chance to choose a new
government
hold an election
call an election
go to the country
hold an election/,hold on i'lekJ'an/[v phrase]
An election will be held in the autumn. [ The government is
waiting for the best moment to hold an election.
call an election/,ka:l on  lek.an/ifa government calls
an election, it says publicly and officially that there will
be an election on a particular day Iv phrase]
When do you think an election will be called? [ After its defeat
on this issue, the government had to either resign or call an
election.
go to the country/,g0o to 6o 'kAntri/a British expres-
sion used especially on television, radio, or in newspapers:
if a government goes to the country, it holds an election
[ v phrase]
The Prime Minister decided to go to the country in Septem-
ber 1987.
4 to choose a government, leader, or
representative by voting
elect put in
return vote sb to/into
re-elect nominate
elect /  'lekt/[v T]
elect sb Williams was elected with a clear majority. [ elect
a president/mayor/Pope etc Roman Catholic cardinals
are meeting at the Vatican to elect a new Pope. [ elect sb
president/chairman/mayor etc He was a very able and
popular man and it was no surprise that he was elected
chairman. [ elect sb to Congress/the Presidency etc
Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to
Congress.
return/ri 'ta:rn/a British word meaning to elect a politi-
cian as a member of parliament Iv T]
Only 96 Conservative MPs were returned in that election.
re-elect/,ri:  'lekt/to elect someone to a position that they
have held since the previous election Iv T]
They re-elected their officers for another year. [ It seems
unlikely that he'll be re-elected after his involvement in that
shares scandal.
put in/,pot 'n/ to elect a particular political party as
government [phr v T]
put in sb The people did not realize that by voting for his
party they were putting in the most corrupt regime the coun-
try hadever known. I put sb/her/them etc in Lack of con-
fidence in Socialist economic policy put the right-wing party
in.
vote sb to/into/'voot (sb) tu:, ntu:/vote someone into
power/office/Parliament etc (=give someone a position
of political power by voting for them) [phr v T]
The party was first voted into office in 1979. [If there had been
free elections, the leader would not have been voted into
power.
nominate/'nmnet [[ 'no:-/to officially suggest that a
person becomes one of the people who will be voted for in
an election Iv T ]
nominate sb Whoever is nominated today will go forward
to the leadership elections. [ She was too modest to nominate
herself so we decided to do it for her. ] nominate sb for By
now it was clear that Clinton was going to be nominated for
President.
nomination/,nom'nelfan 1[ ina:-/[n C] All nominations
(=the names that have been nominated) must be in by three
o'clock on March 21st.
5 an occasion when people vote to choose a
government, leader, or representative
election polls
electoral polling day
election I , lekfan/!n C ]
The Nationalists won the election last year. [ There are going
to be elections to choose the new committee members. I
general election (=a British expression meaning an elec-
tion to choose a government) The government are unlikely
to announce a general election this year. I presidential elec-
tion (=to choose a President) Many feel that Bush "s failure
to confront domestic issues lost him the presidential election. I
1965/June/Spring ere election We were hoping for a June
election but it doesn't look very likely at the moment.
electoral ! ' lektarol/electoral reform/system/changes/
success etc (=connected with an election) [adj only before
noun]
Support for electoral reform is growing. [ This was the first
of her many electoral successes. [ Electoral systems vary from
country to country.
polls/poolz/the occasion on which people vote in a polit-
ical election In plural]
at the polls Richards won a huge victory at the polls. I polls
The polls close at eight o'clock. If you hurry you can get there
in time to vote.
polling day / Ipaoltrj del/the day when a political election
is held In C]
Polling day is 30 May. I Despite media predictions that he
will lose, Mr Major is confident of winning on polling day.
6 someone who votes in a political election
voter
electorate
voter/'vootor/[n C]
Voters have been coming in continuously all day to vote. ] All
the voter has to do is to put a single "X" beside the name of
one candidate.
eiectorate/ lektart/all the people who can vote in a
country or area [n C with singular orplural verb in British
English ]

V OTE/ELECT 1517 vulnerable
Research showed that sixty percent of the electorate knew
which way they were going to vote before the election. I The
President claimed that he was carrying out the wishes of the
electorate
7 the right to vote in political elections
the vote franchise
have a vote enfranchise
suffrage disenfranchise
the vote Iba 'vaoq In singular]
French women got the vote much later than British women. I
People are campaigning for civil rights and especially for
the vote. I Although the country claimed to be democratic,
only two people in five had the vote.
have a vote/,hmv a 'vaot/if you have a vote, you have
the right to vote Iv phrase not in progressive]
In this country, everyone over 18 has a vote. I Only union
members have a vote.
suffrage/'sAfrds/a word meaning the right to vote in
political elections, used especially when describing peo-
ple's fight to be allowed to vote In U]
There was a fierce struggle for women's suffrage in Britain
early this century. I Suffrage reforms took place in the 18th,
19th and 20th centuries. I universal suffrage (=the right
of every person to vote) Even now, not every country in
Europe has universal suffrage.
franchise I  freentatz! a formal word meaning the right
to vote in political elections In singular]
The franchise was given to every citizen after years of
campaigning. I Education is necessary for the responsible
exercise of the franchise.
enfranchise/n'frmntfaIz/a formal word meaning to
give a person or a group of people the right to vote in polit-
ical elections Iv T]
This legislation enfranchised many thousands of people.
disenfranchise / dlsn' frmntfalz/a formal word mean-
ing to take away the right to vote in political elections Iv T]
People who refuse to pay the new tax will be disenfranchised.
ways of saying how many votes a person or
political group were given
vote
poll
vote/vaot/the total number of votes made by people in
a political election [n singular]
63% of the vote went to the National Party. I Once again, the
Democrats increased their share of the vote, gaining over 20
seats.
poll/paoli to receive a certain number of votes in a politi-
cal election Iv T]
He polled 23,579 votes. I The Socialists polled less than half
the number of votes needed to form a government.
fight Ifalt/to try very hard to get elected, especially when
this is difficult Iv T]
fight an election The Prime Minister has decided to stay
on to fight another election. I fight sb Williams fought
several rivals for leadership of the party.
candidate / kanddait II -det,-daIt/someone who tries to
get elected In C]
Geraldine Ferrara was the first American female candidate
in a presidential election. I The 1985 local council elections
saw more women candidates coming forward. I Conserva-
tive/Nationalist/Communist etc candidate My name is
Andrew Fraser. I'm your Labour candidate.
1 0 political activities before an election that are
intended to make you vote for a particular
party or person
campaign
electioneering
canvass
campaign/kmm'pen/the activities and advertising used
over a period of time in order to persuade people to vote
for a particular party or person [n C]
Richards and his team have already started planning his
campaign for election as party leader. I Throughout the cam-
paign, Baldwin believed he was going to win. I election
campaign The scandal, which was revealed in the middle
of the election campaign, couldn't have come at a worse time.
campaign Iv I] The Republicans campaigned hard (=tried
hard with their campaign) but finally were beaten.
electioneering /  ,lekJ''narrj/activities such as visit-
ing places and talking to people to try to persuade them to
vote for a party or person in a political election [n U]
Modern electioneering is sophisticated and highly organ-
ised. I Her visit to the hospital was an obvious piece of elec-
tioneering.
canvass / 'kanvas/to go round an area, especially going
to people's houses, trying to persuade them to vote for a par-
ticular party or person in a political election Iv I/T]
She was cavassing in the Greenside area of town yesterday. I
canvass for I canvass for the Democrats at election times. I
canvass sb I spent the whole afternoon canvassing voters.
voter
vouch for
VOW
voyage
vs
vulgar
vulnerable
VOTE/ELECT 6
RESPONSIBLE 6
PROMISE 4
TRAVEL 8
AGAINST SB IN A GAME 1
RUDE/OBSCENE 1, TASTE IN CLOTHES,
MUSIC ETC 5, 6
ATTACK 9, WEAK :3
9 to try to get elected
stand fight
run candidate
stand/strand/a British word meaning to try to get elected
[v I]
I hope Ian will decide to stand because he'd make an excel-
lent president. I Only eight percent of those standing for the
National Party were women. I stand for Parliament He
stood for Parliament in 1974 but was defeated in the election. I
stand for election If you want to change the way the com-
mittee does things, you should stand for election yourself.
run/r^n/an American word meaning to try to get elected,
especially by doing particular activities to make people
vote for you Iv I]
If Ellis is running too, Bob is unlikely to be elected mayor. I
run for President/mayor/office etc There are rumors
going around that I'm running for President, but they are
not true. I run against sb We've got a excellent man to run
against Harwood in the election.
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

wade
W
wade WALK 12
wade: paddle/wade WALK 12
wade through READ 5
wafer-thin: paper-thin/wafer-thin THIN OBJECT OR
MATERIAL 2
waffle TALK TO SB 10
wag SHAKE 4
wage EARN 5
wage-earner EARN 6
wage war WAR 4
wage war on FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 2
wages EARN 5, PAY SB FOR WORK 2
waggle SHAKE 4
wagon: be on the wagon DRINK 9
wait WAIT 1, 2, 7
wait: can't wait WAIT 9, WANT 4
wait: it can/will wait AFTER 11
wait: lie in wait HIDE/MAKE IT HARD TO FIND OR SEE 2
wait: make sb wait WAIT 5
wait and see WAIT 2
wait in line: stand in line/wait in line LINE 12, WAIT 3
wait up SLEEP 15, WAIT 2
wait your turn WAIT 1
Iwait or expect? I
WAIT
to wait to do something or wait for something
to happen
ways of telling someone to wait
to stand in a line of people who are all waiting
to do something
to wait happily, excitedly, or nervously for
something that you know is going to happen
to make someone wait
able to wait quietly and calmly without
becoming annoyed or bored
a period of time when you have to wait
unable to wait quietly and calmly
to try to avoid waiting by going in front of
other people
1 to wait to do something or wait for something
to happen
wait hang around
hang on/hold on hold off
await wait your turn
stand by sit sth out
wait/welt/Iv I]
Hurry up, everyone'S waiting. I Wait here until I get back. I
They made themselves comfortable in the airport departure
lounge and waited patiently. I wait for sb/sth Jim was
standing outside the supermarket, waiting for a bus. I wait
(for) a minute/two hours/a long time etc You'll have to
wait a minute or two. The prints aren't quite ready yet. I wait
to do sth All these people are waiting to see the manager. I
wait for sb/sth to do sth Everyone was waiting for some-
one else to speak.
1518
WAIT
hang on/hold on/,hmo 'Dn, ,hoold 'Dn II -'ran/to wait
a little longer in order to get an answer or result, or to see
if the situation changes [phr v I]
Do you think we should hold on for a day or so, or give up
and try to get work somewhere else? l I must have an answer
soon. I can't hang on indefinitely.
await/o'weIt/a formal word meaning to wait for some-
thing [v T]
The committee is awaiting a decision from head office before
it takes any action. I Two men have been charged with
murder and are now in prison awaiting trial.
long-awaited [adj only before noun] At six o'clock the next
morning we received the long-awaited order to attack
(=which we had waited a long time for).
stand by / ,strand ba/to wait and be ready to do some-
thing ff needed [phr v I]
A medical team is standing by in case of injuries. [ stand
by for (=wait to do something) Helicopter crews were
ordered to stand by for take-off.
hang around (also hang about in British English)
/ ,hmo 'raond ,heo  baot/an informal expression mean-
ing to wait in one place without doing anything, especially
so that you feel that you are wasting time Iv I/T]
You knew I was in a hurry, so why did you keep me hanging
around all morning? [ I wish we could get on with the job.
I hate all this hanging about. [ hang around/about sth
(=wait near a place) A few people were hanging around the
palace gates, hoping to see the prince drive out.
hold off / hoold 'of [[ -'o:f/an informal expression mean-
ing to wait a little longer before doing something you had
planned to do, in case the situation changes [phr v T]
hold off doing sth We decided to hold off making a deci-
sion until we had all the facts. I hold off sth I think we
should hold off the decision until Joe arrives.
walt your turn/,wet j:r ,t3:rn/to wait before doing
something that other people are also waiting to do, because
some of them hae the tight to do it before you Iv phrase]
You can't just walk in and see the doctor. You'll have to wait
your turn like everyone else. [ wait your t.urn to do sth Back
at the studios, I waited my turn to wash the make-up off in
the basin that we all shared.
sit sth out/,st (sth) aot! to wait patiently until some-
thing unpleasant or boring has finished [phr v T]
The flight was delayed for four hours so we just had to sit
it out in the departure lounge. [ Tony forced himself to sit the
play out.
ways of telling someone to wait
wait see how things go
hold on/hang on hold your horses
just a second/ all in good time
minute be right with you/
wait up right there
hold the line bear with me
wait and see
wait/wet/
Wait, I have a better idea. I Wait! We haven't phoned Vicky
yet! ] wait a moment/minute etc Wait a minute. I'm still
reading the instructions!
hold on/hang on/,h0old 'n, ,hmo '. [[ -'a:n/(infor-
mal expressions used to tell someone to wait for a short
time)
"Hold on, "'I cried. "There's no need to be in such a hurry.
hold on/hang on a minute/moment/see/second Hang
on a second, I think I just heard something upstairs! I Bill?
Yes, he's here. Hold on a moment and I'll get him for you.
Just a second/minute/,d3xst ) sek)nd, mInIt/(used
especially when you want someone to wait a short time
longer before going somewhere or doing something)
Just a minute love, I'll help you fasten it when I've got the
bags ready. [ Just a second, let me just check I've got my keys
with me.
wait up/,weir ^pl (an informal American expression
used when telling someone who is walking or running
ahead of you to stop and wait)

WAIT 1519 WAIT
Hey, wait up you guys! I want to come too. I Wait up, I can't
walk so fast.
hold the line/haold (3a lain/(used in official or busi-
ness telephone conversations)
If you'll just hold the line for a moment, please, I'll see if the
manager is available.
wait and see/,weit and si:/ (used when someone is
impatient to know what is going to happen in the future)
"What are you going to give me for Christmas, Dad? .... Wait
and see. "" I Don't worry. Everything will come right in the
end, just you wait and see.
see how things go/,si: hao Oirjz gao/(an informal
expression used when advising someone to wait before
deciding something, in order to see how the situation
develops) Iv phrase]
Perhaps we'll be able to afford a holiday next year - we'll
see how things go, anyway. I I'm sure your daughter's read-
ing difficulties will sort themselves out with time. See how
things go for another month.
hold your horses/haold j:r h3:rsz/ (a humorous
expression used when someone is hurrying to do
something)
Hold your horses. You can't rush into a job before you under-
stand what to do.
all in good time/:1 in god 'taim/(used when someone
wants you to hurry but you are not going to)
"'When are you going to bottle the wine, Grandad?'" "All in
good time, my boy, all in good time. ""
be right with you/right there/bi: ,rait 'wi6 u-
J., ,ralt
6ear/you say I'll be right with you or I'll be right there
when you are asking someone to wait because you will be
able to see them or talk to them very soon Iv phrase]
If you can wait just a second Mr Rumbelow will be right with
you. I "'Lunch is ready!" "'I'll be right there. ""
bear with me/'bea r wI6 mi:/(a polite expression used
when you want someone to wait patiently, for example
while you explain something complicated or finish some-
thing that you are doing)
If you'lljust bear with me. I'll explain. [ Could you bear with
me for a moment while I finish checking this list?
3 to stand in a line of people who are all waiting
to do something
line up be in the queue
queue stand in line/wait in line
queue up queue/line
line up/,lain 'Ap/to stand in a line of people who are wait-
ing to do something or waiting to be given something [phr
vii
line up to do sth We lined up to collect our prizes. I The
reporters lined up dutifully to have a few words with the
President. I line up They were made to line up at the gate
and file out one by one.
queue/kju:/a British word meaning to stand in a line of
people who are all waiting for the same thing Iv I/
queue to do sth One man said he had been queueingfor over
four hours to get into the stadium. I queue for sth (=queue
to get something) In those days we even had to queue for
bread.
queue up/kju: ^p/ a British expression meaning to
form a line or join a line of people who are all waiting for
the same thing [phr v I/
Everyone queued up and took a turn on the new machine. I
queue up for sth Early in the morning people started
queuing up for tickets to see the big game. I queue up to do
sth If you're going to see the show, it's worth queuing up to
get a good seat.
be in the queue (British) I be in the line (American)
/bi: in 6a kju:, bi: in 6a laIn/to be waiting in a line with
people who are all waiting for the same thing Iv phrase]
While I was in the queue at the bank I met an old school
friend. I be in the queue/line for sth (=to get something)
Are you in the line for tickets?
stand in line/wait in line/,stand in 'lain, ,weit in 'lain/
an expression used especially in American English, mean-
ing to stand in a line of people who are all waiting for the
same thing Iv phrase]
stand in line to do sth Ordinary customers have to stand
in line to cash checks. I stand in line After ten minutes of
standing in line behind these noisy kids I had had enough.
queue (British) l line (American) /kju:, lain/ a line of
people who are all waiting for the same thing [n C]
The queue for tickets was a hundred yards long. I People
waited patiently for hours in apparently endless lines.
food got scarce the bread-lines grew longer. I join a queue/
line (=start waiting in it) I left the station and joined the
queue at the taxi rank.
4 to wait happily, excitedly, or nervously for
something that you know is going to happen
look forward to
hold your breath
expectant
look forward to/lok fa:rward tu:/to wait happily or
excitedly for something that is going to happen [v T/
I'm really looking forward to this trip to Japan. [ We used
to look forward to the weekends because that was when we
could spend some time together. I look forward to doing
sth I look forward to meeting you next month.
hold your breath/haold ja:r breO/to wait anxiously
to see what is going to happen, especially when there is a
possibility that something bad may happen [v phrase]
We shall all be holding our breath, waiting for the test
results. I The international art market will be holding its
breath when the paintings are put on sale.
expe©tanl /Ikspektant/ expectant faces/crowds/ex-
pressions etc (=showing that people are waiting hopefully
and excitedly for something to happen) [adj usually before
noun]
Bright expectant faces were turned upward toward the
stage. I The crowd waited in expectant silence as the adjudi-
cator rose to announce the results.
expectantly [ adv ] He looked expectantly at the bottles. "'Are
those all full?" he said.
5 to make someone wait
keep sb waiting keep sb in suspense
make sb wait keep sb hanging on
keep sb waiting/,ki:p (sb) weitlrj/to make someone
wait, especially by arriving late Iv phrase]
I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I She was annoyed because she
had been kept waiting. I Come on, Lewis, we mustn't keep the
boss waiting.
make sb wait/meik (sb) 'weiq to deliberately make
someone wait Iv phrase]
Don't let people hurry you. Make them wait. I They made me
wait for half an hour before allowing me to see my father.
keep sb in suspense/,ki:p (sb) in saspens/to make
someone wait anxiously or excitedly before you tell them
something that they are eager to know Iv phrase]
I won't keepyou in suspense any longer. Here are the results
of the competition. I The audience is kept in suspense to the
very end of the play.
keep sb hanging on/ki:p (sb) herjirj 'tn/to make
someone wait a long time for something that you are not
actually going to give them Iv phrase]
They kept us hanging on for weeks then said they had decided
not to accept our offer. I He doesn't really love her - he just
keeps her hanging on.
6 able to wait quietly and calmly without
becoming annoyed or bored
patient
patience

WAIT 1520 WAKE UP/GET UP
patient/'pc:rant/[adj]
be patient (=wait and do not become annoyed or bored) I'm
sure you'll get a reply soon. Just try to be patient. I patient
He was a good lover - patient, gentle, and appreciative. I
After years of patient waiting, the artist at last received the
recognition she deserved.
patiently [adj] He sat patiently waiting for the train to start.
patience/'pefans/the ability to wait calmly for a long
time without becoming annoyed or bored [n U]
A goodfisherman needs to have a lot ofpatience. I I haven't
the time or patience to sit here until the committee makes a
decision. I lose your patience (=become less patient) I'm
starting to lose my patience. I want a full explanation and
I want it now.
7 a period of time when you have to wait
wait
wait/welt/In singular]
If you don't mind the wait, I could decorate the house before
you move in. I I'm sorry you have had such a long wait. I a
ten-minute/two-hour ere wait After a four-hour wait at
the airport, we were beginning to get impatient.
8 unable to wait quietly and calmly
 impatient
impatience
can't wait
impatient IIm'pe,antl [adj]
She's a very impatient girl, always rushing into things. I be
impatient (=not be willing to wait, and become annoyed
or bored) Don't be so impatient. Give me time to think. ] get/
become/grow impatient I could see that Matt was
growing impatient. I impatient with Our investors became
impatient with the slow progress we were making.
impatiently [adj] He suddenly remembered that Cindy
would be waiting impatiently for him downtown.
impatience/im'peansl unwillingness or inability to
wait calmly if there is a delay In U]
"'They should be here by now, "" muttered my father, staring
at the clock with obvious impatience. I There is growing
impatience over long delays in the tax reform program.
can't wait/ka:nt 'welt II ,kmnt-/ if you say you can't
wait, you mean you feel impatient because something good
is going to happen and you want it to happen as soon as
possible Iv phrase]
We're flying to Austria on Friday. I can't wait! I can't wait
to do sth You can't wait to get home to Mum, can you? ] She
couldn't wait to quit her job and get married. I can't wait
for sth School is so boring. I can't wait for the holidays to
come.
9 to try to avoid waiting by going in front of
other people
jump the queue
push in/cut into the line
Jump the queue !,ds^mp 6 'kju:/a British expression
meaning to get something before other people who have
been waiting for it longer than you Iv phrase]
I knew the woman selling the tickets so I managed to jump
the queue. I While ordinary citizens had to wait months to
get hospital treatment, government officials were able to
jump the queue.
push in (British) I cut into the line (American)/,po
n, ,kht nt b 'lain/informal expressions meaning to join
a line in front of other-people who are already waiting, so
that you get something before them [phr v I]
I was standing in the bus queue when a womanjustpushed
in in front of me. I Hey, that guy just cut into the line. t
waiting: keep sb waiting WAIT 5
waive LET/ALLOW 11
wake/wake up WAKE UP/GET UP 1, 2
wake up to the fact that REALIZE 1
WAKE UP/GET UP
to stop sleeping and get out of bed
1 to stop sleeping
2 to make someone stop sleeping
3 way of saying that someone easily stops
sleeping when there is a noise
4 to get out of bed
5 someone who usually gets out of bed early in
the morning
6 to sleep until late in the morning
7 to make someone get out of bed
1 to stop sleeping
wake/wake up stir
be awake awake
wake/wake up/weik, ,we,k 'Ap/to become awake after
being asleep [v I]
Selina usually wakes up at about six in the morning. I Babies
often wake because they are hungry. I She'd woken up in the
middle of the night to find water dripping through the ceil-
ing. I I woke up late and didn't get to work until 10 o "clock.
be awake/be: weik/to be no longer asleep Iv phrase]
Are you awake yet? I John is usually awake before everyone
else in the house. I The baby, suddenly awake and crying,
could be heard all through the house.
stir/st3:r/to move slightly and wake for a short time, then
go back to sleep again [v I]
As I entered the room she stirred slightly, then went back to
sleep. I Roger momentarily stirred, turned in the bed and
murmured something inaudible.
awake/'weik] a word used especially in literature mean-
ing to wake up Iv I]
She awoke early and stayed in bed reading till ten. I It was
warm in the room when he awoke and the sun was stream-
ing in. I My dreams are so vivid that when I awake my heart
is pounding.
2 to make someone stop sleeping
wake/wake up
rouse
wake/wake up/weIk, ,weik '^P/[v T]
wake sb Don't shout, you'll wake the children. [ wake sb/
her/them etc up Terry asked his mother to wake him up
at six o'clock. [ wake up sb The engine roared into life,
making enough noise to wake up the whole street.
rouse/raoz! to wake someone with dhTlctflty because they
are sleeping very deeply Iv T]
rouse sb Kate was sleeping so soundly that it took me a long
time to rouse her. [ When he's been drinking he's impossible
to rouse. [ rouse sb from their sleep I was roused from my
sleep at some dark hour by my mother begging me to go
downstairs to help her.
way of saying that someone easily stops
sleeping when there is a noise
be a light sleeper
be a light sleeper/bi:  ,lalt 'sli:pr/[v phrase]
Mr and Mrs Carlton are both light sleepers, so be very quiet
when you come in at night. [ She was always a light sleeper,
likely to be woken by the slightest sound.
4 to get out of bed
get out of bed
get up
be up
rise
surface

WAKE UP/GET UP 1521 WALK
get out of bed/get laot av Ibed/Iv phrase]
I was too tired to get out of bed this morning. I Isn't it about
time you got out of bed? I We couldn't have breakfast until
everyone had got out of bed.
get up / get lap! to get out of bed and start getting ready
for the day [phr v I]
Frank gets up at half past five every morning. I I got up,
made myself a drink and then went back to bed again.
be up/bi: ^p/to be out of bed and doing things [phr v I]
Is Henry up yet? I want to talk to him. I Barbara had been
up for an hour before the mail was delivered. I be up and
about (British) / be up and around (American) I'm
usually up and about by nine on Sundays.
rise/raz/a word used especially in literature meaning to
get out of bed Iv I]
The next morning he rose early and went into town to see his
lawyer, I Our grandmother grew up in the days when women
were supposed to rise at dawn.
suace / sa:rfs/an informal word meaning to get up,
especially after being in bed for a long time Iv I]
He came home from work on Friday, went straight to bed and
didn't surface until Saturday afternoon. I "'Have you seen
Cathy? .... No, she still hasn't surfaced yet.'"
someone who usually gets out of bed early in
the morning
early riser
early riser/a:rli Irazar/[n C]
He'd been an early riser ever since he was a child. I I phoned
Jenny at six, knowing that she was an early riser.
6 to sleep until late in the morning
get up late oversleep
lie in/have a lie-in stay in bed
sleep in
get up late/get ^p 'leit/[v phrase]
We got up late this morning and missed our favourite
programme. I I've had a really nice day, getting up late and
reading the newspapers.
lie In/have a lie.in/la m, hev  laI m/a British
expression meaning to deliberately get up later than usual
[phr v I]
You can't lie in this Sunday because you've got to get up and
paint the kitchen. I One of her great pleasures is to lie in,
drink tea and read her favourite book. I Great, tomorrow's
Saturday so I can have a well deserved lie-in.
sleep In / sli:p in! to deliberately get up later than usual
because you do not have to get up at a fixed time [phr v I]
I think I'll go to bed late tonight and sleep in tomorrow. I It
was Sunday and we wanted to sleep in but the telephone woke
us at seven o'clock.
oversleep ] ovo r I sli:p/to accidentally sleep for longer
than planned, so that you are late for something Iv I]
Tim was late for work this morning because he overslept. I
She has to have three alarm clocks to make sure she doesn't
oversleep.
stay in bed/stei in bed/to decide to not get out of bed,
even though you are awake Iv phrase]
Molly stayed in bed whenever she had a bad headache. I It's
freezing/I'm staying in bed.
7 to make someone get out of bed
get sb up/out of bed
get sb up/out of bed/,get (sb) '^p, aot av 'bed/[phrvT]
Go and get your brother up. It's time for him to go to work.
I'm sorry for calling so early - [ hope I didn't get you out of
bed.
walk WALK 1, 11 15, 17
walk: go for a walk/take a walk WALK 11
walk: take sb for a walk WALK 19
walk all over sb CONTROL 6
walk around WALK 10
walk away from INJURE 7
walk off with: go off with/walk off with STEAL 1
walk out LEAVE A PLACE 9, STOP WORKING/GO ON
STRIKE 1, LEAVE A RELATIONSHIP 1
walk the dog WALK 19
WALK
6
7
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
18
19
1 to walk
2 to walk very quickly
3 to walk slowly and in a relaxed way
4 to walk slowly because you are tired and
have been walking for a long time
5 to walk slowly and with difficulty, for example
because of illness, pain, or old age
to walk in an unsteady way
to walk with heavy, noisy steps
to walk quietly with light steps
to walk proudly
to walk around a place without any particular
aim
11 to walk for exercise and enjoyment
12 to walk through water
13 ways of saying that a group of people,
especially soldiers, walk together at the same
speed
to walk carefully and slowly, for example
because it is dark or the ground is not level
an occasion when you walk somewhere,
especially for exercise or enjoyment
a single movement made when you are
walking
the way someone walks
someone who is walking rather than travelling
in a car, bus etc, especially in the city
to take a person or dog out and walk with
them in order to give them exercise
I to walk
walk
on foot
walk/w:k/to move forward at an ordinary speed, putting
one foot in front of the other Iv I]
Helen and Lisa always walk to school together. I Shall we
walk or take a taxi? I Hannah learned to walk at ten months. I
On the final day we walked over 20 miles.
on foot/o foq go/travel etc on foot (=walk instead of
going by car, train etc) [adv phrase]
It's not far. It'll take you about ten minutes on foot. J They
plan to travel partly by boat and the rest of the way on foot.
' to walk very quickly
stride
march
pace
stride/straid/to walk quickly, taking large steps, espe-
cially because you feel confident, angry, or determined, or
because you are in a hurry [v I]
stride into/away/towards etc The interviewer strode con-
fidently towards me and shook my hand. I I saw Max strid-
ing angrily away. I She strode quickly and purposefully into
the room, with her head upright.
march/mo:rt/to walk quickly and with firm steps, espe-
cially because you feel angry or determined [v I]
march into/off/towards etc Sheila marched straight into
the office to demand an apology. I "'I'll never forgive you for
this, "" Marge said, marching off.

1522
What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey
said
walk (silently) 42%
tiptoe 25%
other 33%
8 to walk quietly with light steps
pad 
creep
tiptoe /'hpto/ to walk on the front part of
your feet but not on your heels, because you
want to avoid making any noise Iv I]
What the 200-English and American teachers
in our survey said:
tiptoe 86%
creep 11%
other 3%a

WALK 1523 WALK
pace/pes/to walk backwards and forwards within a
small area, especially because you are nervous, bored, or
angry Iv I/T ]
pace back and forth/up and down Sarah paced back and
forth along the corridor, waiting for the doctor to come back. I
"'We're going to be late, "" Jordan said irritably, pacing up
and down the room. I A lion paced up and down the cage,
growling. I pace the room/floor etc Mr Jacobs wouldpace
the floor at meetings, being too tense to sit down.
3 to walk slowly and in a relaxed way
stroll
amble
saunter
stroll/stmol/to walk for pleasure in a slow and relaxed
way [v I/
stroll along/through/across etc I strolled along the
beach with the warm sun on my face. I The young couple
strolled through the park, arm in arm. I In the evening
Madrid fills with people strolling unhurriedly from bar to
bar.
amble / ' embal/to walk in a slow and relaxed way, espe-
cially when you are going a short distance, or not going
anywhere in particular Iv I/
amble across/along/towards etc An old man appeared
from behind the house and ambled across the yard. I One of
the horses, a white one, slowly ambled towards me. I Cecil
was ambling along as usual without a care in the world.
saunter/'s:ntr/to walk in a slow and lazy way, often
with a confident or proud expression on your face that
other people find annoying Iv I/
"'Shouldn't you be in class?" Mr Harris asked the girls who
were sauntering down the corridor. I I sauntered into the
garden, where some friends were chatting near the bar-
beque. I saunter down/into/across etc As usual, he saun-
tered into class twenty minutes late.
4 to walk slowly because you are tired and
have been walking for a long time
trudge
plod
traipse
trudge Itr^dsl to walk slowly, with heavy steps because
you are tired and have been walking for a long time Iv I/
trudge through/back/along etc Mother walked the four
miles to the nearest store, trudging back home with her bags
of groceries. I Trudging through the sand was exhausting.
p|od/plod II pla:d/to walk slowly and steadily with heavy
steps, for example because the ground is difficult to walk
on, or because you are carrying something heavy Iv I/
plod along/through/up etc The travelers plodded
through the deep snow at the side of the railroad. I The
donkey was plodding slowly along under its heavy load.
traipse/treps/to walk a long way, especially when you
are looking for something or visiting different places, so
that you become tired [v I/
traipse around/about/in and out etc We traipsed around
every store in town, trying to find the right color paint. I After
traipsing about in the fog they found the grave sure enough.
5 to walk slowly and with difficulty, for example
because of illness, pain, or old age
hobble shuffle
limp shamble
hobble/'hobal II 'ha:-/to walk with difficulty in a slow
and unsteady way because it is painful for you to walk Iv I/
My knee was stiff and painful, and I could only hobble. [
Aunt Sophy was hobbling slowly round the room on her
crutches.
limp/limp/ to walk slowly and with difficulty, putting
more weight on one leg because the other is too painful or
has been injured [v I]
Doris limped painfully over to a chair and sat down. [ Even
though the accident was two years ago, I still limp.
limp In C/The man walked with a slight limp (=he limped
slightly).
shuffle/'I^fl/to walk slowly and noisily, without lifting
your feet off the ground properly, especially because of old
age or because you are wearing loose shoes Iv I/
shuffle along/towards/down etc Supporting herself on
Ali's arm, the old woman shuffled towards the door. I I heard
Bob shuffling around the kitchen in his slippers.
shamble/'amball to walk slowly and rather awkwardly,
bending forwards in a tired and lazy way [v I/
shamble alongCastCut ete Looking tired and fat, Parker
shambled onto the stage and started playing. [ The last of
the soldiers came shambling back through the forest.
6 to walk in an unsteady way
stagger
stumble
lurch
stagger / ' stagor/to walk very unsteadily, with your body
moving from side to side and almost falling, especially
because you are injured, very tired, or drunk Iv I/
stagger in/out/home etc I was hit on the head and jtst
managed to stagger out of the room. I My father was stag-
gering under the weight of a huge parcel.
stumble /'st^mball to walk unsteadily, often hitting
things with your feet and almost falling, especially because
it is dark, the ground is uneven, or because you are tired
or drunk Iv I/
stumble inCutCcross ete The room was dark and Stan
nearly fell over a chair as he stumbled to the phone. ] Having
drunk half a bottle of whiskey, I stumbled upstairs and into
bed.
lurch/13:rtj'/to walk very unsteadily, moving forward or
from side to side with sudden, irregular movements [v I/
lurch backwards/towards/forwards etc Paul lurched
sideways two steps as the boat rolled suddenly. I Harriet
lurched towards the bathroom, clutching her stomach in
pain.
7 to walk with heavy, noisy steps
stomp
clump
stomp/stomp II sta:mp, st:mp/to walk away with heavy
steps, making a lot of noise to show that you are angry Iv I/
stomp out/away/off ete My sister went stomping out of the
house, slamming the door behind her. ] With this dire warn-
ing Andy stomped off.
clump/kl^mp/to walk with slow, heavy, noisy steps Iv I/
clump up/out/across ete The three of us clumped up the
steps in our heavy ski boots. [ These walls are so thin we can
hear the man next door clumping about all day.
 to walk quietly with light steps
pad tiptoe
creep sneak
pad/ped/to walk quietly and steadily, without shoes or
with soft shoes, or on a soft surface Iv I/
pad along/down/in etc Nurse Garcia padded ahead of the
visitors down the long corridor. [ The cat came padding softly
across the kitchen floor and jumped into my lap.
creep/kri:p/to walk quietly, slowly, and carefully, espe-
cially so that no one notices you Iv I/
creep in/through/across etc Sara crept carefully down
the stairs in the middle of the night and left the house. ] Some-
one crept into the cloakroom and went through all our coats
and bags. [ creep up (=creep towards) I watched the cat
creep up behind a bird.
tiptoe / Ittpto/to walk on the front part of your feet but
not on your heels, because you want to avoid making any
noise [v I/

WALK 1524 WALK
tiptoe past/through/around etc Bobby tiptoed past his
daughter's bedroom so as not to wake her. I They tiptoed from
room to room, afraid to speak above a whisper.
sneak/sni:k/to walk quietly, trying to hide from some-
one, especially because you are doing something wrong
and do not want to be caught Iv I]
sneak in The thieves sneaked in when the guard had his
back turned. I Molly snuck in through the back yard so her
parents wouldn't wake up and see how late it was. I sneak
off We tried to sneak off from work early.
!9 to walk proudly
swagger
strut
parade
swagger /Iswagr/ to walk proudly, swinging your
shoulders, in a way that shows too much self-confidence
Iv I]
swagger into/down/across etc Ali swaggered arrogantly
into the boxing ring, as if he had already won the fight. [
Sally's boyfriend came swaggering down the steps with his
hands in his pockets.
swagger In singular] Bernard left the room with a swag-
ger (=swaggered out of the room) clearly pleased with
himself.
strut/str^t/to walk proudly with your head high, shoul-
ders back, and chest pushed forwards showing that you
think you are important or impressive Iv I]
strut in/through/around etc Look at him strutting across
the office. He thinks he's so important. [ During the mating
season the male bird will strut in front of the females.
parade/p'reid/to walk proudly around a place, show-
ing that you want people to notice and admire you [v I]
parade around/through/up etc On Sunday mornings,
fashionable young couples parade up and down the
Boulevard St Michel.
1 0 to walk around a place without any particular
aim
walk around wander
roam prowl
walk around/,w:k 'raond/[phr v I/T]
We walked around the market for a while before going to the
beach. [ I keep seeing these two strange men walking around.
I'm sure they're up to something.
roam/mum/to walk around freely and with no particu-
lar aim Iv I/T]
roam about/around/over etc Tourists love roaming
about the old town. [ Great herds of wild deer roamed freely
over the hills. I roam the streets/desert/hills etc You
shouldn't let your children roam the streets. I Nomadic
Bedouin tribes roam the Arabian Desert.
wander/'wnd r II 'wa:n-/to walk around with no par-
ticular aim and in no particular direction, especially in a
place you do not know or when you are lost Iv I/T]
wander about/around/through etc Tim spent most of his
free time wandering about in the woods. I For an hour and
a half we wandered around the old city, totally lost. [ Tom
wandered restlessly through the house, hoping that Mr &
Mrs Nolan would be back soon. ] wander the streets/
hills/town etc After dinner Carol left the hotel to wander
the crowded streets.
prowl Ipraoll to quietly walk around an area or building,
trying not to be seen or heard, especially in order to steal
something or attack someone Iv I/T]
prowl around The babysitter said she could hear someone
prowling around in the garden. I Several wolves prowled
round the camp, but were kept at bay by the fire. [ prowl the
streets/neighbourhood/city etc Police have warned the
public that the killer may still be prowling the streets.
1 1 to walk for exercise and enjoyment
walk hike
go for a walk/take a walk trek
go for a stroll stretch your legs
walk/w:k/[v I]
The doctor told Samuel to walk as much as possible; it was
good for his heart. ] walk in/across/along etc Sheena's
up at six every morning to walk along the beach. I I like to
go walking in the woods, just to breathe the air.
walker In C] The park was full of Sunday afternoon
walkers.
go for a walk/take a walk /go fr  w:k, teIk )-/
to walk, for relaxation, exercise, and enjoyment, especially
to a pleasant place [v phrase]
It's a lovely evening. Let's go for a walk. I The Carsons
always take a walk after breakfast. I Alison and Peter went
for a long, relaxing walk along the river.
go for a stroll/goo fr  stmol/to walk a short distance,
slowly and for pleasure and often not going anywhere in
particular Iv phrase]
Shall we go for a short stroll before dinner?
hike/halk/to walk a long way in the country, hills etc for
enjoyment Iv I]
The boys spent their vacation hiking in the Swiss Alps. I
Patricia likes doing active things like canoeing, hiking and
horse-riding. [ We're going to hike to the top of that hill over
there.
hiker In C] It's a small hostel for cyclists, hikers, and moun-
taineers.
trek/trek] to walk a very long way, especially in the moun-
tains, for enjoyment Iv I]
We trekked up Mount Calahi for five days. ] The scouts will
have to trek 40km back to the base camp. ] Maria's going
trekking in the Himalayas this year.
stretch your legs 1, stretj" jzr 'legz/to walk around for
a little exercise after a long time sitting down in a car or
train, or at a table [v phrase]
After so long on the train, we couldn't wait to get out and
stretch our legs. [ Do you feel like stopping here and stretch-
ing your legs?
12 to walk through water
wade
paddle/wade
wade/weId/to walk through deep water [v I]
Neva waded into the water then started swimming across the
river. I Rescue workers had to wade waist-deep in the muddy
water. [ The fisherman got out of the boat and waded ashore.
paddle (British) I wade (American)/'pedl, wed/to walk
in water that is not very deep, especially at the edge of the
sea, for enjoyment Iv I]
One of my earliest memories is paddling in the sea with my
parents. I Ryan took off his shoes and socks and waded about
in the shallow stream.
13 ways of saying that a group of people,
especially soldiers, walk together at the same
speed
march
in step
march/mo:rt/to walk together at the same speed, taking
long, firm, regular steps Iv I]
The soldiers marched through the town in two straight
columns. [ At the army training camp the new recruits will
learn how to march and how to shoot. [ The prisoners were
made to march around the courtyard.
in step/m step/ira group of people walk in step, they
walk at the same speed and move their feet forward at
exactly the same time lady phrase]
in step The regiment had finally learned to march in step. I
in step with sb Steve wasn't walking in step with the rest
of the class.

WALK 1525 WANT
14 to walk carefully and slowly, for example
because it is dark or the ground is not level
pick your way
edge
pick your way I Ipk j:r Iwe/ to walk carefully and
slowly because the ground is not level or because you have
to step over things, lifting your feet higher off the ground
than usual iv phrase]
The boy began to pick his way over the rocks towards the
ocean. [ Journalists picked their way slowly through the
crowded refugee camp.
edge led3l to walk slowly and carefully, especially side-
ways along or through a small space, because you do not
have enough room to walk normally iv I/
Mervyn edged sideways through the front door, which
seemed to be stuck. [ edge your way Edging my way through
the crowd I eventually managed to get to the bar.
1  an occasion when you walk somewhere,
especially for exercise or enjoyment
walk
hike
trek
walk/w3:k/[n C/
It was a pleasant walk, under cool and shady trees. I Emily
enjoyed her walks in the park with her father. [ This was a
favorite spot of mine for little walks.
hike/hak/a long walk in the country, hills etc, especially
for enjoyment in C/
We both enjoy long hikes in the hills. ] The family set off on
a 10 mile hike across the island. ] The hike back was through
the first real jungle I had ever been in.
trek/trek/a long and difficult walk in the country, moun-
tains, desert etc in C/
You'll need a guide for your treks in the mountains. [ I took
my backpack and joined some Egyptian friends for a trek in
the Sahara. [ The trek to the campsite was along bush tracks
and down cliffs.
16 a single movement made when you are
walking
step stride
footstep pace
step/step/the single movement made when you put one
foot in front of the other when walking in C/
Move a step or two nearer so I can hear you properly. [ The
woman was so breathless she could only manage a few steps
at a time. ] take a step Hilda took a step forward to let the
man pass. [She walked fast, taking quick, short steps.
footstep /fotstep/ the sound of someone's feet when
walking or running in C usually plural]
Smith heard footsteps behind him and turned to see who it
was. [ Peter could always recognize his sister's quick foot-
steps.
stride ]strad/a long step taken when walking quickly
in C/
Doctor Jameson hurried past us, taking long strides. [ In four
angry strides Stuart was through the front gate.
pace/pes/the distance you go when you take a single step
of usual walking length in Cl
James walked a few paces behind his mother. ] The waiter
came forward apace and stood by the table. [ I'd gone about
ten paces when I heard a strange sound behind me.
17 the way someone walks
walk
gait
walk/w:k/in singular]
Even before she saw Martin's face she could tell it was him
by his walk. ] Joan's stiff, agitated walk showed how nervous
she was. [ Janet has the slow, leaning walk of expectant
mothers.
gait/get/the way someone walks, especially when it is
a little strange or unusual in singular]
Melanie walked with the slightly awkward gait of a very tall
girl. [ The old man approached the counter with a stooped,
shuffling gait.
18 someone who is walking rather than travelling
in a car, bus etc, especially in the city
pedestrian
pedestrian ipi 'destrin/in C/
Traffic was delayed when a pedestrian was hit by a car on
Sunset Road. I A crowd of pedestrians stood on the sidewalk,
waiting for the signal to cross.
19 to take a person or dog out and walk with
them in order to give them exercise
take sb for a walk
walk the dog
take sb for a walk I,tek (sb) fr  'w:kl [vphrase]
I'm taking the children for a walk this afternoon. [ Are you
gonna take F/do for a walk?
walk the dog/,w:k 6 dog II -'d:g/to take your dog
for a walk iv phrase]
I get quite a lot of exercise mYself by walking the dog. [ Geoff
wants a Walkman for when he walks the dogs.
walking distance: within walking/driving distance
NEAR 4
walkover WIN 5
walks of life: from all walks of life/in all walks of life
VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS 
wall: drive sb crazy/nuts/up the wall ANNOY 2
wall: go to the wall FAIL 10
wall: it's like talking to a brick wall POINTLESS 3
wallow in ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 4, SAD/UNHAPPY 7
wally STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE 7
wander WALK 10
wander: his/her mind is wandering MENTAkLY ILL 5
wander: your mind wanders ATTENTION 5
wander around TRAVEL 7
wanderlust TRAVEL 16
wane LESS 6
wan e GET2
want ATTRACTED TO SB 1, WANT 1, 2, 7
want: don't want WANT 12
want no part in TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 13
want nothing to do with TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 13
want to know ASK A QUESTION 1
want Ј20/$40 etc for sth COST 4
WANT
to want to have something or want to do
something
to want something to happen or want
someone to do something
to want very much to do or have something
to want to have or do something immediately
continued

WANT 1526 WANT
@ WANT
continued
10
11
12
5 to want something very much and be
determined to get it
6 to very much want something that you are
unlikely to get
7 to have a particular aim in life that you want
to achieve
8 a feeling of wanting to have something
9 a feeling of wanting to do something or
wanting something to happen
a sudden feeling of wanting sqmething
something that you want to achieve or hope
to do in your life
to not want something
1
[ something
want
like
wish
feel like
wouldn't mind
to want to have something or want to do
fancy
I wouldn't say no
be interested in
take your fancy
want /wont II wa:nt, wa:nt/ Iv I/T not in progressive or
passive]
want to do sth She said she didn't want to get married. [
Please let me pay half. I really want to. [ Most people who
work hard at school do so because they want to get a good
job. [ want sth She wanted new shoes for her birthday. [
Sinn Fein wanted an independent republic for all Ireland. [
what sb wants is What I want is a set of spark plugs for
a 1976Ford Cortina. [ if you want You couldgo back to bed
for a while, if you want.
|ike/lak/a word meaning to want to have or do something,
used especially when asking someone what they want, or
when telling them what you want or what they can do
iv I/T not in progressive or passive.]
would like sth I'd like a bar of chocolate, please. [ would
like to do sth Would you like to come dancing tonight? [ I
would've liked to meet her - she sounds like a real charac-
ter. [ anything/whatever/whenever etc you like Come
over whenever you like. There's always someone in. [ keep it
as long as you like [ if you like If you like, you can watch
the video at our house.
wish IwII a formal word meaning to want to do something
Iv I/T not in progressive or passive]
wish to do sth I wish to purchase a second house in the UK
for investment purposes. [Anyone wishing to order the book
should send a cheque to the publishers. [ if you wish Every-
one has the right to smoke if he or she wishes, but not the
right to ruin the health of those around them.
feel like/,fi:l lak/to want to have something or do some-
thing, because you think it would be enjoyable [v phrase
not in progressive or passive]
feel like doing sth Do you feel like dancing?[ I felt like
saying to him: "'Paul, you are the world's biggest idiot!'" [
feel like sth It's so hot today, I reallyfeel like an ice-cream.
wouldn't mind /,wodnt 'rna;nd/you say you wouldn't
mind something when you would like to have it or do it,
even if it is unlikely that you will Iv phrase]
wouldn't mind doing sth I wouldn't mind looking like
Elizabeth Taylor when I reach her age. [ wouldn't mind
sth I wouldn't mind his job, he's always eating at expensive
restaurants and staying in exclusive hotels: [ wouldn't
mind "'Would you like another beer? .... Yes, I wouldn't
mind. ""
fancy/'fensi/an informal word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning to want to have or do something Iv T
not in progressive or passive]
fancy sth Do you fancy a drink? [ I think he's always fancied
a car like Lizzie's. [ fancy doing sth I really fancy going
for a swim.
I wouldn't say no/ai ,wodnt sei 'nao/you say wouldn't
say no to something when you would very much like to
do it or have it
wouldn't say no to I wouldn't say no to a glass of whisky! [
wouldn't say no "'How about a girls" night out on the
town?" "'I certainly wouldn't say no.'"
be interested In/hi: ' ntrXst'd n/to want to do some-
thing or get involved in something, especially because
someone has asked you to [v phrase]
be interested in doing sth I don't know if I can tell you
much, but I'd be very interested in coming to a meeting. ] If
you are interested in joining the Neighbourhood Watch
Scheme, ring this number now. [ Would you be interested in
going to the theatre with me on Friday? I have two tickets
for "Cats'.
take your fancy/,tek ja..r 'faensi/an informal expres-
sion: if something takes your fancy, you want to do or
have it as soon as you see it or think of it Iv phrase not in
progressive]
We could go to the movies or go out for a meal - whatever
takes your fancy. [ She wandered around the market stalls,
stopping occasionally to buy something that took her fancy.
2 to want something to happen or want
someone to do something
want
wish
would like
want /wont II wa:nt, wa:nt/ Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
want sb to do sth The doctor wants me to go for another
check-up in two weeks" time. [ We wanted her to come with
us but she couldn't get the time off work. [ want sth to do
sth I know you want the party to be a success. [ want sth
done She wants the room tidied before we go.
wish/wl a word meaning to want something to happen
or to want someone to do something, used especially when
what you want is unlikely or impossible Iv T not in progres-
sive or passive]
wish sb would do sth I wish you would shut up! [ Where's
that postman? I wish he'd hurry up! ] wish sth would do
sth I wish this rain would stop. [ wish (that) I wish I had
a car like that.
would like/wod laik/an expression meaning to want
someone to do something, used especially in polite
requests, instructions etc Iv T]
would like sb to do sth We would like you to record all your
conversations over the next 48 hours. [ I would like you to see
Abruzzi and visit my family at Capraccino.
3 to want very much to do or have something
 would love
would do anything
would give anything/give your right arm
be keen to do sth/be eager to do sth
be anxious to do sth
would love/wod 'l^v/Iv phrase]
would love to do sth I'd love to spend Christmas at home
this year. ] would love to "'How would you like to come shop-
ping?" "'I'd love to!"[ would love sth Dad would really love
a new car, but he can't afford one. [ would love sb to do
sth My parents would love you to come to dinner tomorrow
evening, what do you say?
would do anything /wod du: 'eniOi]]/ you say you
would do anything to achieve something or have some-
thing when you want this very much [v phrase]
would do anything to do sth When she began writing she
would have done anything to get an article printed. [ She'd
do anything to marry Ben, but he just won't ask her. [ would
do anything for I would do anything for a cup of coffee!
would give anything/give your right arm/wod ,gv
' eniO ;rj, .g,v ja: r , rat ' a:rm/if you say that you would give
anything or you would give your right arm, you mean

WANT
1527
WANT
you very much want to have something or do something,
especially something that is impossible to get or do
[ v phrase]
would give anything to do sth I'd give my right arm to
be 21 again. I Trudie would give anything to know the real
story. I would give anything for sth I would give anything
for a look at that file.
be keen to do sthlbe eager to do sth/bi: ,ki:n t
I du: (sth), bi: l i:g r t du: (sth)/expressions used especially
in British English meaning to want to do something very
much, especially because you think it will be interesting
or enjoyable or it will help other people Iv phrase]
He's really keen to meet you. I Donna is very keen to prove
her worth to our group. I I was very eager to get my hands
on these rare recordings.
be anxious to do sth/bi: mokfos to du: (sth)/to very
much want to be impressive to people or be successful in
a new job as soon as possible, and make a great effort to do
this Iv phrasel
He was anxious to gain approval. [ A newly-arrived execu-
tive is anxious to make his mark in a new firm.
4 to want to have or do something immediately
be dying can't wait
be itching to do sth need
be desperate
be dying /bi: 'da1-i/ to very much want something
immediately either because you really need it or because
it will give you a lot of pleasure Iv phrase]
be dying for sth I'm dying for a drink - let's go to a bar. I
be dying to do sth I'm dying to go to the toilet - can we walk
a bitfaster?l She's dying to find out what happened!l be
dying for sb/sth to do sth Paul was dying for someone to
recognize him after his appearance on television.
be itching to do sth/bi:, itfirJ to 'du: (sth)/to very much
want to do and be very impatient to do something, espe-
cially something that you have not had a chance to do yet
Iv phrase]
The guards stood aggressively, guns in hands. They were
itching to shoot someone. I She's just itching to tell you about
your husband's affair. She doesn "t realize you know already!
be desperate/bi: 'despart/to want or need something
so much that you will be very unhappy or disappointed if
you do not get it Iv phrasel
be desperate to do sth After having four boys, the couple
were desperate to have a little girl. [ We were desperate to
view the inside of the house once we saw the garden. I be
desperate for sth Newspapers are always desperate for sto-
ries. I be desperate I could see that they were desperate and
needed help.
can't wait/.ko:nt Iwelt [[ .kent-/if you say that you can't
wait, you mean you want to do something or want some-
thing to happen as soon as possible, especially because you
are happy and excited about it Iv phrase]
can't wait to do sth After his trip to the zoo, Philip couldn't
wait to tell his classmates. [ She can't wait to get out onto the
ski slopes this year. [ can't wait for sth I can't wait for
Christmas - it'll be great to see the family again. [ can't wait
Only another two weeks and we'll be together - I can "t wait!
need /ni:d/ a word used especially in spoken English
meaning to want something very much, especially some-
thing to eat, drink etc [v T not in progressive or passive]
I need a drink - I'm offto the bar![ badly need (=need very
much) He looks like he badly needs a holiday.
5 to want something very much and be
determined to get it
set your sights on
set your heart on
set your sights on/,setj: r sats on/to decide that you
want something that will be hard for you to get, and to
make a very determined effort to achieve it [v phrase]
Now she's set her sights on the manager's job, nothing will
stop her. [ Quite consciously, I set my sights on the best-
looking boy in the whole school.
set your heart on/,setja: r 'ha:rt on/to want something
so much that it is all you think about and aim for, so that
you will be very disappointed if you cannot have it or get
it Iv phrase]
set your heart on sth We've set our hearts on this little
house in the country. I set your heart on doing sth I had
set my heart on becoming a pilot.
6 to very much want something that you are
unlikely to get
dream of hanker after
long crave
yearn
dream of/'dri:m ov/to want something that you have
wanted for a long time, but which you are unlikely to get
Iv T/
dream of doing sth She dreamt of becoming a famous
novelist. [ Every jazz-lover at some time of his life has
dreamed of assembling a band of his own favourite musi-
cians. I dream of sth To think that what I've dreamt of all
my life is coming true! [ He owns the biggest business anyone
could dream of.
long/lorj [I la:rj/to very much want to have something or
do something, especially when this used to happen or exist
in the past, or when it may do in the future [v I/
long for sth He longed for the good old days when teachers
were shown respect. [ He was longing for everyone to leave
so that he could think in peace about what had happened that
day. I long to do sth More than anything I long to have
someone who loves me for myself.
longed-for [adj only before noun ] The day of the longed-for
visit (=that people had been longing for) eventually arrived.
yearn/ja:rn/to want something so much that you do not
feel happy or complete without it [v I/
yearn for sth Above all the prisoner yearned for freedom. [
By their mid-thirties some career women begin to yearn for
motherhood. [ yearn to do sth I have always yearned to
travel.
hanker after /heokor a:fto r [[-aft-/ to continuously
think about something you want, especially a past
experience, and be unhappy or annoyed that you cannot
have it Iv T/
After two months abroad he began to hanker after some good
home cooking. [ "I still hanker after a career in politics, "'she
confided.
crave/kretv/to want something such as food, love, or a
drug so much that this is all you can think about Iv T/
I've always craved love and acceptance. [ The review gave
Picasso a taste of the recognition he craved.
7 to have a particular aim in life that you want
to achieve
want aspiring
aspire to budding
would-be
want /wont II wo:nt, wa:nt/ Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
want to be sth What do you want to be when you grow up,
Clare?[ You don't really want to be a hairdresser, do you?[
want to do sth I never want to work in a factory, having
seen the effect it had on my father. I I want to see life, to travel
the world, and write about what I see.
aspire to/ospaIo r tu:/a formal word meaning to want
a better job, way of life, position etc than the one you have
now [v T/
aspire to sth She was a struggling writer aspiring to fame.[
He aspired to artistic perfection in all his paintings. [ aspire
to do sth He aspired to become President.
would-be /wod bi:/ would-be actor/writer etc
(=someone who hopes to be an actor, writer etc) [adj only
before noun]
The Drama Centre is a great help for all would-be actors and
actresses. ] Every seat was taken and several would-be
spectators had to be turned away.

WANT 1528 WANT
aspiring/a'spalarirj/aspiring teacher/model/poet etc
(=someone who wants to be a teacher, model, poet etc and
hopes to be successful) [adj only before noun]
All aspiring teachers in the state must learn about sex dis-
crimination. I This meeting is for aspiring writers every-
where - come along and bring some of your work.
budding I'bAdir/budding writer/singer/film star etc
(=someone who is just starting to write, sing etc and hopes
to be successful at it) [adj only before noun]
Every day he gets letters from budding actors, hoping to be
given a star part. [ The book gives the kind of advice that no
budding writer can afford to do without.
 a feeling of wanting to have something
desire lust
longing/yearning appetite
craving
desire/d'zamr/[n C]
desire for The treatment is designed to reduce the
individual's desire for alcohol. I His friendliness was due in
part to his desire for comfort or protection. I desire The
producers of goods and services aim to satisfy the consumer's
desires. I strong/powerful desire This type of advertise-
ment plays on people's powerful desire for luxury and status
in society.
longing/yearning /'lorj;l, 'ja:rn;rj II-'lo:rj-/ a very
strong and long-lasting desire for something that you are
unlikely to get [n C/U/
She felt a great longing for the sights, sounds and smells of
home. I The story gives a sensitive account of Paul's innocent
yearning for love and affection.
craving/' krevitj/a very strong and uncontrollable desire
to have something that you think about all the time, espe-
cially food, love, or a drug [n C/
The symptoms include a craving for sweet foods. I Buprenor-
phine satisfies the craving of drug addicts.
lust/lAst/a very strong desire to have something, such as
money or power, that can make you do evil things to get
what you want [n C/Ul
Throughout his career he was motivated by a lust for power. I
Her lust for money is insatiable.
appetite/'ep'tat/a strong desire to have something
regularly or do something regularly [n C/
appetite for He has a tremendous appetite for hard work. I
insatiable appetite (=extremely strong appetite) The
public has an insatiable appetite for scandal and political
controversy. I whet sb's appetite (=make it stronger) The
long walks in the woods, instead of exhausting me, merely
whetted my appetite for more.
a feeling of wanting to do something or
wanting something to happen
wish longing
desire temptation
urge compulsion
wish IwlI/[n C/
wish to do sth Her wish to be healthy has helped her shed
20 kilos in weight. I If you have an ambition to be a teacher,
or even if you only have a wish to try it, ring this informa-
tion line. I wish that It was my grandfather's last wish that
his estate be divided up between the grandchildren.
desire/d 'zaIar/a strong feeling of wanting to do some-
thing or of wanting something to happen [n C/
desire to do sth I don't miss the sea and I have no desire
to live near it again. I He told us that his greatest desire was
to prevent the outbreak Of a Third World War. I desire that
Tolstoy had an overwhelming desire that his books should
reach even the humblest people.
urge/a:rd3/a very powerful, often sudden desire to do
something [n C/
urge to do sth The urge to create things is common to all
races. I resist the urge (=fight against the urge) For three
hours I resisted the urge to phone Billy, but eventually I gave
in. I irresistible/overwhelming urge (=one that is very
difficult to control) Sammy had an irresistible urge to slap
her brother after what he'd said.
longing /'llgrjirJ II 'la:r.I;r.l/ a very strong, continuous
desire to do something, especially something that you are
unlikely to be able to do [n C/
longing to do sth Once more I was filled with a longing to
throw off my responsibilities and take to the road again. I a
primitive longing to hunt and kill, long subdued by civili-
zation and society
temptation/temp' teSan/a strong desire to do something,
even though you know it is wrong, dangerous, unnecessary
etc [n C/
resist the temptation (=not do it, even though you want
to) Resist the temptation to get involved. After all, it's not
your problem. I feel a temptation He did not feel any temp-
tation to lie to her. I temptation to do sth There is always
a temptation to blame others for your own problems.
compulsion /km'pAlSan/ an extremely strong desire,
usually an unreasonable one, that is difficult or impossi-
ble to control [n C/
The patient had a compulsion that caused him to wash his
hands 20 or 30 times a day. ] compulsion to do sth He felt
a sudden compulsion to laugh out loud.
1 0 a sudden feeling of wanting something
whim
Impulse
whim/wm/a sudden feeling that you would like to do or
have something, especially when this is not sensible or
when there is no reason at all to do it [n C/
I don't know why I bought it. Isuppose it was just a whim. I
on a whim (=because you feel a whim) I went to visit her
on a whim.
impulse/' imp^ls/a sudden strong desire to do something
before thinking about whether it is the right or sensible
thing to do [n C/
Myfirst impulse was to go straight to Henry and tell him my
news, but on reflection I thought better of it. I I've got to con-
trol these violent impulses. I on (an) impulse (=because you
feel an impulse) Buying a puppy on impulse may only cause
heartbreak later on.
1 1 something that you want to achieve or hope
to do in your life
wish ambition
dream aspirations
wish/wff/[n C]
I know it's a strange wish to have, but I've always wanted
to drive a bus. I greatest/dearest wish My mother's
greatest wish is that I become a doctor. I His dearest wish was
to see the Grand Canyon before he died.
dream/dri:ra/something that you would really like to do
or have in your life, but which is not likely to happen [n C/
Her dream was to marry a millionaire. I His dream of build-
ing new jet engines to outclass those built by Rolls-Royce
never left him.
ambition/am'banl a strong desire to do or achieve a
particular thing in your life, which you have wanted to do
for a long time [n C/
ambition to do sth I had a secret ambition to return to
politics. [ ambition "'Do you have any ambitions?" "'I'd like
to visit Africa one day. "[ lifetime ambition (=something
you have always wanted) He has achieved his lifetime ambi-
tion to run for his country in the Olympics.
aspirations/,esp' 're,anz/a word meaning the impor-
tant things that people want from their lives, used espe-
cially when you are talking about all of society or large
groups within it [n plural]
A government should reflect the hopes, values and aspira-
tions of society. ] the aspirations of the people of Eastern
Europe [ academic/democratic/revolutionary etc aspi-
rations Parents with only one child tend to have higher
academic aspirations for their child.

WANT 1529 WAR
1 2 to not want something
-] don't want
you are welcome to/you can keep
have no inclination
don't want/,dont 'wont II -'wa:ntl [v T]
No thanks. Idon't want any dinner. I don't want to do sth
She doesn't want to spend the whole evening there. I Did
Richard and Mary come along? No, they didn't want to.
you are welcome to/you can keep/ju: a: r 'welkom
tu:, ju: kon 'ki:p/an informal expression: you say that some-
one is welcome to something when you do not like it and
you are happy for them to have it instead of you
She's welcome to her smart friends and glittering parties -
I'll take the quiet life anytime. I He can keep his money - he's
not going to bribe me!
have no inclination/hev ,no , Inlcl 'nean/a formal
expression meaning to not want to do something, especially
something that you are being asked or forced to do [vphrase
not in progressive]
Sean obviously had no inclination to use his own car so even-
tually I had to ask him to. I not have the slightest incli-
nation (=be completely unwilling) I have not the slightest
inclination to take unnecessary risks.
 wanted CRIME 5
 war WAR 1, 2
 war: be at war WAR4
 war: civil war WAR 2
 war: fight a war WAR 4
: war: go to war WAR5
 war: make war WAR 4
, war: wage war WAR 4
: war: wage war on FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 2
iii war zone WAR 7
WAR
organized fighting between countries or armies
a period of war between countries or armies
a fight in a particular place between opposing
armies
to fight a war or be involved in a war
to start a war
during the time when there is a war
the place where a war is fought
always ready to fight wars
someone who wants their country to fight
wars against other countries
1 organized fighting between countries or armies
war
warfare
fighting
war/w:r/ fighting between two or more countries or
opposing groups within a country, involving large num-
bers of soldiers and weapons, especially when this lasts a
long time and a lot of people are killed In U]
The film shows the horrors of war. I Cambodia has been
ravaged by war and civil strife for the past 20 years. I war
breaks out (=war begins) When war broke out in 1939 Bri-
tain was notyet ready tofight. I the outbreak of war (=the
start of fighting in a war) In the months leading up to the
outbreak of war both countries were involved in a massive
arms build-up. I war hero Group Captain Leonard
Cheshire, war hero and founder of the Cheshire homes I war
dead (=people who died in a war) The President met rela-
tives of his country's war dead at a mosque yesterday. I war
movie/film War movies tend to glamorize fighting in wars
and killing people.
warfare /'wz:rfezr/ fighting in a war, used especially
when talking about particular methods of fighting In U]
nuclear/chemical warfare Large-scale nuclear warfare
would bring about global destruction. I guerrilla warfare
(=by members of an unofficial military force fighting
against the government) The IRA has used guerrilla war-
fare to try and force the British to leave Northern Ireland.I
warfare As the techniques of warfare have changed over the
years so have the demands made upon soldiers.
fighting l'faIuOl the process of fighting enemy forces
during a war in order to try and defeat them In U]
It took two more years of fighting before the enemy was
defeated. I There was renewed fighting in Chad when rebel
forces tried to capture the capital.
2 a period of war between countries or armies
war ,
civil war
conflict
war/wa:r/[n C]
Japan's victories in the war with China in 1894-5 and Russia
in 1904-5 gave her a new colonial empire. I Both countries
wanted to avoid a large-scale nuclear war. I The war in
Yugoslavia has already cost thousands of lives. I the First
World War/the Second World War During the Second
Worm War he fought in Europe and was wounded four
times. I World War I/World War II The Battle of the
Atlantic was the longest battle of World War II. I guerrilla
war (=involving members of an unofficial military force
fighting against the government) The guerrilla war has
devastated Mozambique's economy.
civil war/,swl 'wa:r/a war in which opposing groups
of people from the same country fight each other in order
to gain political control of that country In C/U]
The Spanish civil war lasted from 1936 to 1939. I Nearly two
decades of bloody civil war have left the country bankrupt. I
In the North there has already been a bitter civil war between
the Nationalists and the Communists.
conflict/'konfl,kt II 'ka:n-/a period of fighting between
two or more countries or groups In C/U]
The conflict lasted only a few days, but many innocent people
were killed. I This dispute could turn into a long and bloody
conflict. I Negotiators met to try and find a solution to the
conflict in the Middle East.
3 a fight in a particular place between opposing
armies
battle
skirmish
battle / 'betl/[n C]
After a long battle, the rebels were defeated. I It was one of
the greatest naval battles in history. I The Battle of the
Somme started on 1st July 1916. I the battle for (=in order
to get control of) His father had been killed in Vietnam, at
the battle for Hill 875 near Dakto.
skirmish/'ska:rm/a short, unplanned, and usually not
very important fight between two small groups of soldiers
using light weapons In C]
Last night skirmishes were reported along the border. I
Government soldiers ran into a group of rebels, and a skir-
mish followed in which several were killed on both sides.
4 to fight a war or be involved in a war
fight a war warring
wage war fight
make war clash
be at war
fight a war/,fat  'wz)zr/ [V phrase]
Britain has already fought two wars in Europe this century,
and we do not want to be involved in another one. [ Many
observers believe that neither country is capable of fighting
a long war. [ fight a war against A White House spokes-
man denied that his country was fighting a war of aggres-
sion against the people of Nicaragua.

WAR 1530 WAR
wage war I,weid5 'wa:r/to start and continue a war,
especially for a long period Iv phrase]
wage war on/against Many Americans now doubt
whether the US should have waged war on Vietnam. I wage
war In his speech he promised full support to wars of
independence waged by colonial peoples.
make war /,meik 'wa:r/to fight a war, especially by sud-
denly attacking a country that does not threaten your coun-
try Iv phrase]
He believes that men make war because they are by nature
aggressive. ] make war on Throughout the nineteenth cen-
tury the colonial powers made war on Third World countries
in order to gain territory.
be at war/hi: at wa:r/if two countries are at war with
each other, they are fighting a war against each other Iv
phrase]
be at war with In 1792 England was at war with America. [
be at war Iran and Iraq had been at war for seven years. [
He could not remember a time when his country had not been
at war.
warring / 'wa:rrrj/ warring nations/tribes/factions/
groups (=nations etc that are fighting against each other)
[adj only before noun ]
The fighting between the various warring factions in Beirut
is destroying the country. I All attempts to reconcile the two
warring groups have failed.
fight/fa;t/to take part in a war or battle Iv I/T]
As a young man he had fought on the Republican side in the
Spanish civil war. I fight about/over/for In 1982 Britain
and Argentina fought for control of the Falkland Islands.
fight sb Vietnam fought France and then the United States
for more than 30 years in order to gain its independence.
clash/kla/a word used especially in newspapers and
television reports: if two armies or groups clash, they
suddenly start fighting each other, especially for a short
time Iv I]
Iranian and Iraqi troops clashed on the border. I clash with
US planes clashed with enemy fighter aircraft again today.
clash In C] border clashes between India and Pakistan
5 to start a war
declare war
go to war
declare war/d ,kleo r wa:r/if a country declares war
on another country, it makes an official public statement
that it is going to fight a war against that country [vphrase]
He was visiting his parents in Torino when war was
declared. I Within hours of the incident, both countries had
declared war. I declare war on In April the Americans
declared war on Germany and entered the war.
go to war/,goo to 'wa:r/to start to fight a war against
another country Iv phrase]
go to war with But surely you don't think Austria would
ever go to war with us? l go to war The two countries went
to war over a small, but important, area of land.
6 during the time when there is a war
in wartime
wartime
in wartime/in 'wa:rtaIm/[adv phrase]
Cars kill more people than guns, except in wartime. I In war-
time the government can seize any assets and property that
it thinks are necessary for the war effort.
wartime/'wa:rtalm/ happening during the time when
there is a war [adj only before noun]
Orwell wrote a novel about his wartime experiences. I The
wartime shortage of labour resulted in more jobs for
women. I The film is set in wartime France.
7 the place where a war is fought
battlefield the front line
the field/ war zone
the field of battle theatre/theater
the front
battlefield /'betlfi:ld/ the place where two opposing
armies fight each other In C]
44years later I visited the battlefield and saw bones still lying
on the ground. I on the battlefield Thousands died on the
battlefields of Belgium and France. I The rebels have been
defeated on the battlefield, and now they will be defeated in
the elections.
the field/the field of battle/60 'fi:ld, 6a ,fi:ld 0v 'batl/
the time or the place where there is fighting, used espe-
cially when talking about fighting in general In singular]
on the field of battle It is better to negotiate than to settle
political disputes on the field of battle. I in the field The new
weapon has not yet been tried out in the field. I He was
awarded a medal for distinguished service in the field.
the front/6o ' fr^nt/the area where two opposing armies
meet, together with the area on either side where soldiers
and supplies are kept In singular]
He was sent to the front in the flrst year of the war. I The sold-
iers who came home on leave from the front were treated as
heroes. I The picture shows Marshal Joffre on a tour of
inspection at the front.
the front line/6o ,fr^nt 'lan/the place where an army
is closest to the enemy and where the fighting takes place
[ n phrase ]
The hospitals near the front line were filled with wounded
and dying soldiers. I in the front line Australian and New
Zealand troops were in the front line and they took the heav-
iest casualties.
front-line [adj] The front-line divisions face the greatest
danger.
war zone/'wa: r zoon/an area which is very dangerous
because a war is being fought there In C]
The main war zones are in the north and east of the coun-
try. I Apartfrom the occasional noise of gunfire in the dis-
tance there was little indication that we had entered a war
zone.
theatre (British) I theater (American)/'Orator/a mili-
tary word meaning a large area, often including several
countries, where a war is being fought, especially when the
war is taking place in several different areas In singular]
Pacific/European/Middle East etc theatre It was in the
Pacific theater of the war that the US won its first major
victories. I Many of NATO's nuclear weapons in the
European theatre are obsolete.
8 always ready to fight wars
warlike
warlike/'wa:rlaIk/[adj]
The Greek city-states were aggressive and warlike. [ In the
Middle Ages England was invaded by warlike men from the
north.
9 someone who wants their country to fight
wars against other countries
warmonger
militarist
hawk
warmonger/'wa:r,mArJgo r II -,mo:rj-,-,mAry/a person,
especially a politician or a military leader, who is too keen
to start wars or to settle arguments by means of war In C]
Some saw him as a great statesman, others saw him as a
warmonger who was responsible for leading the country into
unnecessary conflict.
militarist/'mditorst/a person, especially a'politician or
a military leader, who is too keen to increase the size and
power of their country's armed forces so that it can attack
other countries [n C]
The militarists wanted Japan to invade China.
hawk/ha:k] a person, especially a politician, who supports
the use of military force and strong action in order to settle
arguments with other countries In C]
The hawks in the government would never permit any talks
with the enemy. I We don't yet know whether the new Presi-
dent is a hawk or a dove.

ward 1531 WARN
ward HOSPITAL 3
wardrobe CLOTHES 1
warfare WAR 1
warily: tread carefully/warily CAREFUL 4
warlike WAR 8
warm FRIENDLY 1, HOT 3, 4, 6, 8
warm: get hot/warm/hotter/warmer HOT 11
warmsbup HOT13
warm sth over HOT 12
warm sth up: heat sth up/warm sth up HOT 12
warm to LIKE SB OR STH 6
warm up HOT 11
warm/warm up HOT 12
warm yourself HOT 13
warmonger WAR 9
warmth: the warmth HOT 6
warn WARN 1, 2, 4
warn off WARN 2
warn sb off THREATEN 1
WARN
to tell someone about something unpleasant
or dangerous that is likely to happen, so that
they can avoid it or prevent it
to advise someone to do something or not to
do something, in order to avoid trouble or
danger
what you say to warn someone to take care,
so that they will avoid trouble or danger
ways of saying that something makes you
realize that something unpleasant or
dangerous is likely to happen
words for describing an event, statement,
sound, object etc that warns people about
possible danger
a spoken or written statement that warns
people about danger, warns them not to do
something etc
1
to tell someone about something unpleasant
or dangerous that is likely to happen, so that
they can avoid it or prevent it
warn sound the alarm
caution forewarn
tip off I told you!/I told you so!
alert
warn/w:rn/Iv I/T]
warn sb that I warned him that the cliff was dangerous. I
Construction workers and home owners are being warned
that the fumes from insulating foam can make them seriously
ill. I warn sb "Oh, why did nobody warn me?" he sobbed. I
Don't say you haven't been warned. I warn sb of We are
trying to warn children of the dangers of smoking. I warn
sb about I don't know why she fell. She had been warned
about the stairs. I warn of On the beach was a notice warn-
ing of dangerous currents.
caution/'k:.an/to warn someone about possible difficul-
ties or problems so that they do something more carefully
or do not expect too much [v T]
caution sb about When I started medical school we were
cautioned about the hard work we had to do. [ caution sb
that Melanie's teachers cautioned her that the exam would
be very difficult. I caution that Economists are cautioning
that unemployment might remain high for a time.
tip off/,tip 'f [[ -':fl to warn someone about something
that is going to happen, especially to warn the police about
a crime, so that they can try to prevent it [phr v T I
be tipped off about The police had been tipped off about
the gang's arrival. [ be tipped off that Because the customs
had been tipped off that drugs were being moved, they
brought in extra officers. [ tip sb/her/them etc off Who
tipped you of:ft. Was it someone in the hotel? I tip off sb A
farmer noticed our foreign accents and tipped off the Secu-
rity Police.
alert/'13:rt/to officially or publicly warn people of pos-
sible danger so that they can be ready to deal with it Iv TI
alert sb When he realized that one engine was not working
the pilot alerted air traffic control. [ alert sb to sth The Aus-
trians have alerted the Germans to the danger of contami-
nated wine, after finding traces of glycol in some bottles. [
alert sb that Drivers are being alerted that an escaped
prisoner has been seen hitch-hiking on the road to Frankfurt.
sound the alarm/,saund 6i 'la:rm/to warn everyone
about something bad or dangerous that is already happen-
ing so that they can take action to stop it or avoid it [v
phrasel
sound the alarm about The Red Cross has sounded the
alarm about the danger of famine in Ethiopia and the
Sudan. [ The problem is that if you sound the alarm about
fraud in your company, you might end up out of a job. [
sound the alarm One rabbit sounds the alarm and within
seconds the field is empty.
forewarn/f:r,w:rn/a formal word meaning to warn
someone about something bad which is going to happen
soon, so that they have enough time to prepare for it Iv T]
be forewarned of sth A police team, forewarned of the raid,
had taken up positions inside the post office. [ I had been fore-
warned of my mothers arrival and had cleaned the house for
the first time in weeks. [ forewarn sb The unlocked door
might have forewarned me, but I ignored it and went
straight inside.
I told you!ll told you so!/aI 'taold ju:, a] 'taoldju: ,sao/
you say I told you! or I told you so! when you warned
someone about a possible danger that has now happened,
especially if they ignored your warning
I knew he was violent - I told you! Why did you argue with
him? [ I told you so. t It was obvious she was going to disal-
pear if she got the money.
 to advise someone to do something or not to
do something, in order to avoid trouble or
danger
warn caution
give sb a warning warn off
warn/w:rn/[v T]
warn sb to do sth Dr Symes warned her to cut down her
drinking. [ Tajura warned me not to go into the Takeida dis-
trict without apolice escort. [ warn sb against (doing) sth
I was going to give them an interview but my agent warned
me against it. [ warn sb The consequences could be serious;
I just wanted to warn you.
give sb a warning/,g;v (sb)  'w:rnn3/to tell someone
that if they continue to behave in the unsatisfactory way
they have been doing, they will be punished Iv phrasel
So you've given her a warning about her conduct in future? [
give sb a final warning They gave Monica a final warn-
ing, and told her that if she was late again she would lose
her job.
caution !'k:an/a formal word meaning to warn some-
one not to do something because it is likely to be danger-
ous Iv T]
caution sb to do sth His father cautioned him not to leave
his bicycle unlocked. [ caution sb against The policeman
cautioned the children against talking to strangers.
warn off/,wa:rn ')f [[ -'a:f/ to try to prevent someone
from doing something by warning them about the trouble
or problems it may cause for them [phr v T]
warn sb/her/them off What was she going to do about
Mark and Jenny? If she tried to warn him off he'd misun-
derstand. [ warn sb off doing sth Even though we'd been
warned off going to Pigalle, we couldn't resist it. [ warn off
sb The female rattlesnake warns off intruders by making a
loud noise.

WARN 1532 WARN
3 what you say to warn someone to take care,
so that they will avoid trouble or danger
look out/watch out take care/be careful
mind beware
watch it you'd better
look out/watch out/,luk 'aut, ,wotS 'aut II ,wa:q-/you
say look out or watch out when you are urgently warn-
ing someone that they will have an accident if they do not
immediately try to avoid it
There was a loud cracking noise, "Look out/" cried Ben, "the
tree's falling/" l Look out/The guards are coming/ I Watch
out/You nearly hit that car.
mind/maInd] (used especially in BritishEnglish when you
are warning someone not to accidentally touch something
or do so_mething that would be dangerous or cause trouble)
mind sth Mind the table Charlotte, there are drinks on it.
mind/mind out Mind out/There's a motorcycle/mind you
don't do sth Mind you don't fall into that trench as you walk
through. I mind where/how/who Mind how you go. It's
very slippery.
watch it/,wotJ it II 'wo:t-I (used when you are angrily
warning someone that they are very close to causing an
accident or to hurting someone)
"'Watch it/" yelled the driver, as the truck rolled towards his
car. I Slow down/Are you trying to kill us? Just watch it,
buddy.
take care/be careful/teik ke r, bi: Ikerfal/(used
when you are warning someone that what they are doing
could be dangerous or harmful)
I handed Phil the heavy revolver. "'Take care, it's loaded.
Be careful, it's very hot. I be careful with Be careful with
that can, because the edge is really sharp. I be careful to
Be careful not to do anything that might make him angry.
beware/bi Iweor/(used especially in written warnings
and instructions, on notices etc to warn of serious dangers)
Iv I only in imperative and infinitive]
beware of Beware of inadvertently starting the engine while
you are cleaning the blades. I Beware of overconfidence and
check all your equipment before starting a climb. I beware
Beware. Deep water.
youJd belier/ju:d betzr/(an informal expression used
when you are warning or advising someone that they
should do something, because if they do not there could be
problems or trouble)
you'd better do sth You'd better tell the police in case they
think it was your fault. I The train leaves in twenty minutes
so you'd better hurry up/I you'd better "I could ask the
manager to authorize a refund. .... You'd better, or you won't
be seeing me in this store again!'"
4 ways of saying that something makes you
realize that something unpleasant or
dangerous is likely to happen
warn
be a warning
set the alarm bells ringing
warn/wa:rn/Iv I/T]
warn sb (that) The abandoned cars and deserted buildings
warned me that I was nearing the danger area. I Something
warned Lucy that she must stop him. I warn sb how/what/
how many etc The bleached bones of cattle warn the
traveler how hot it can be in Death Valley. I warn ofsth The
dark clouds warned of the approaching storm.
be a warning/bi: o w3.*rnlrj/ if an event or fact is a
warning, it warns that .something bad could happen or is
going to happen Iv phrase]
The story of the Titanic is a warning to anyone who trusts
too much in their technology to take safety seriously. [ The
only warning was a low rumbling sound. [ be a warning
of sth Pain in the shoulder and arm can be a warning of
a heart attack.
set the alarm bells ringing/set 6i $la:rm belz ril]IrJ/
if something such as a fact or event sets the alarm bells
ringing it makes people realize that something seriously
wrong or very dangerous is happening Iv phrase]
A brief study of the company's accounts set the alarm bells
ringing - there was no trace of the $56 million loan. I These
appalling statistics have set the alarm bells ringing in
Government circles. I There were no lights on when I got
home. That immediately set the alarm bells ringing.
words for describing an event, statement,
sound, object etc that warns people about
possible danger
ominous
warning
cautionary
ominous /'omIns [i 'a:-/ frightening or worrying
because it warns that something bad has happened or is
likely to happen soon [adj]
Another wave crashed onto the deck and the mast made an
ominous creaking sound. I Katy answered the phone and
then there was an ominous silence. I An appointment with
my manager at nine o'clock on a Monday morning: it
sounded ominous.
ominously [adv] When the army moved into the city the
streets were ominously silent. I Then, ominously, she added:
"'The last teacher didn't stay very long. ""
warning / 'wa:rnn3/warning sign/cry/glance/sound
etc (=one that warns you of something or warns you not
to do something) [adj only before noun]
Aunt Lou shot a warning glance at father just as he was
about to speak. I Do not ignore warning signs, such as tired-
ness, loss of appetite and persistent headaches. I From the
trees there came a warning screech and the whole flock took
to the air.
cautionary /'kz:anari i[-neri! cautionary tale/note
(=providing a warning of something bad which may
happen or a warning against particular actions or
behaviour) [adj only before noun]
The rise and and fall of this company is a cautionary tale
for anyone investing in the property market. I The director
ended her speech on a cautionary note when she said that
next year would be even harder than this year.
6 a spoken or written statement that warns
people about danger, warns them not to do
something etc
warning
caution
tip-off
warning/'wa:rnIrJ/In C]
There is a warning on every packet: "'Smoking may cause
Cancer. "'[ Todd shouted a warning: "'Look out, they're right
behind you!" [ warning to sb Put on your headlights as a
warning to other drivers. I warning of sth a warning of
severe weather conditions [ without (any) warning
Without any warning, the soldiers started firing into the
crowd.
caution/'ka:fan/a formal word meaning a warning to
someone about a possible danger, especially a warning
added to the end of a statement or piece of information [n C]
This caution cannot be overstated: if the belts are incorrectly
adjusted they are useless. [ A caution must be added:
although this experimental method works well, even the
slightest amount of water in the vessel will make it
inaccurate.
tip-off/tp of II -aft! a warning that something bad is
going to happen, especially a warning about a crime that
is given to the police in time for them to stop it happening
In C]
Police were called to the hotel after a tip-off. I acting on a
tip-off (=doing something because of a tip-off) Acting on a
tip-off, customs officers seized 50 kilos of cocaine from a house
in Leicester.

warning
warning WARN 5, 6
warning: be a warning WARN 4
warning: give sb a warning WARN 2
warning: without warning SUDDENLY 1
warp BEND 3
warpath: be on the warpath ANGRY 2
warped BEND 6
warrant LET/ALLOW 10, REASON 10
warring WAR 4
wartime WAR 6
wartime: in wartime WAR 6
wary CAREFUL 4
wash WASH 1, 4, 5, 6
wash: be in the wash WASH 6
wash: do the washing WASH 6
wash: do the washing up WASH 7
wash: have a wash/wash up WASH 1
wash: not wash BELIEVE 13
wash down WASH 5
wash out WASH 5, 9
wash room: rest room/wash room TOILET 1
wash the dishes/do the dishes WASH 7
wash up : have a wash/wash up WASH 1
wash up/do the washing up WASH 7
wash your hands of RESPONSIBLE 10
WASH
10
to wash yourself
to wash yourself in a bath or shower
to wash someone, especially a baby or a
child, in a bath
to wash or clean a part of your body
to wash something such as an object, floor,
or surface
to clean clothes, especially by washing them
to clean the cups, plates, knives, pans etc
that have been used to prepare and eat a
meal
to wash something using water but no soap
to remove dirt, marks etc from something,
especially by washing it
words for describing clothes, materials etc
that can be washed without being damaged
1 to wash yourself
wash
have a wash/wash up
get cleaned up
freshen up
spruce yourself up/
get spruced up
wash/woS ii wad, w=l to clean yourself with soap and
water Iv I]
I'll just go and wash before dinner. [ Sue is upstairs washing.
wash In singular] You look as if you need a wash (=need
to wash yourself).
have a wash (British) I wash up (American)/hav 
'woS, ,wv '^p II -,woq/to wash your hands and face Iv
phrase]
I'm sure you'll feel better after you've had a wash and
changed your clothes. [ Tell the kids to wash up. It's time to
eat.
get cleaned up/get ,kli:nd Ap/to wash yourself after
you have got dirty doing something Iv phrase]
You start making dinner while I get cleaned up. [ He's
upstairs in the bathroom getting cleaned up.
freshen up/, freSan ' Ap/to wash your face and hands and
make yourself tidy, especially when you are tired or hot
after working hard or after a journey [phr v I]
The bathroom's through that door if you want to freshen up. [
Feeling exhausted after the long train ride, she hoped there
would be time to freshen up before the meeting.
1533
WASH
spruce yourself up/get spruced up/,spru:s ja:rself
'Ap, get ,spru:st 'Ap/to get washed and make yourself look
tidy or change your clothes, especially before you go out
somewhere for a meal, party, meeting etc [v phrase]
Can you give me a few minutes while I spruce myself up a
bit for the party? [ She went into the washroom at the air-
port to get spruced up before meeting the others.
2 to wash yourself in a bath or shower
have/take a bath have/take a shower
be in the bath/ shower
in the bathtub
have a bath (British) I take a bath (American)/,hmv
a 'ha:O, ,te;k a 'ba:O [[-'bmO/ to wash your whole body
while sitting in a bath Iv phrase]
Is it OK ifl have a bath tonight? [ See how quick you can take
a bath and get dressed.
be in the bath (British) I In the bathtub (American)
/bi: in 6a 'ba:O, in 6a ba:OtAb II -'bmO-/to be sitting in a
bath washing your whole body Iv phrase]
"Where's Barry? .... He's in the bath. "'[ My wife was still in
the bathtub when I got back from work.
have a shower (also take a shower in American
Fnglish)/,hmv  'au r, ,teik a 'aur/to wash your whole
body while standing under a shower Iv phrase]
I'll just have a quick shower and get changed. [ They usually
play squash for a half hour or so, take a shower and have
a couple of drinks in the bar.
shower I']'auar/to have a shower Iv I]
I got up early as usual, showered and shaved, and ate a full
breakfast. [ It's so hot there you have to shower three or four
times a day.
3 to wash someone, especially a baby or a
child, in a bath
bath/bathe
bath (British) I bathe (American)/ha:0, be6 II bae/[vT]
Make sure you bathe the kids and put them to bed before
eight. I Louise was such a happy baby, and she loved being
bathed. ] Grandpa's too old to look after himself now. A nurse
comes in to bath him and dress him.
4 to wash or clean a part of your body
wash shampoo
wipe cleanse
brush/clean your teeth
wash/wf II waq, wa:l/Iv I/T]
wash your hands/ears/hair etc Always washy our hands
thoroughly before preparing food. I My hair needs washing. I
wash between/behind/around etc Don't forget to wash
between your toes.
wash In singularl Give your face a good wash (=wash your
face well).
wipe/wap! to clean your hands or face by gently rubbing
them with a cloth or with your hand Iv T]
Wipe your face. There's chocolate all around your mouth. [
Wiping his oily hands on a piece of cloth, he reached into his
pocket and handed me the bill. [ Yani grunted and wiped his
moustache with the back of his hand.
wipe In singular] Give your nose a wipe (=wipe it).
brush your teeth (also clean your teeth in British
English) / ,brAj'ja: r 'ti:O, ,kli:n-/to clean your teeth by brush-
ing them Iv phrase]
I always brush my teeth after every meal. [ Did you clean your
teeth this morning?[ Brushing your teeth regularly is just
one of the things you can do to prevent tooth decay.
shampee/fmm'pu:/to wash your hair with shampoo
[vT]
Did you shampoo your hair? It looks very nice. [ It's a new
conditioner. Simply shampoo your hair, towel dry and spray
it in.

WASH 1534 WASH
cleanse/klcnz/to clean your skin or a wound, especially
using a special chemical Iv T]
Cleanse the wound thoroughly with disinfectant and cover
it with a bandage. I This lotion cleanses your skin deep down
while preserving its natural pH balance.
5 to wash something such as an object, floor,
or surface
wash mop
clean scrub
wash down wash out
wash/wu II wa-4, to clean something with water
and usually also with soap Iv T]
He used to earn a little money washing wndows. I Joan and
Sheila very kindly volunteered to wash all the curtains in
here. I When we moved in, we spent a whole day washing all
the floors and paintwork. I I really must wash the car this
weekend.
wash [n singular] Their car only gets a wash (=is washed)
once a month.
clean/klim/to clean something with soap and water, or
with a special liquid Iv T]
While I'm out, could you clean the windows and tidy the
living room? i The toilet should be cleaned regularly with
disinfectant.
clean [n singular] The kitchen walls need a good clean (=to
be cleaned well).
wash down/,woS daon ii wa:S-/ to wash something
large with a lot of water [phr v T]
wash down sth Wash down the walls and leave them to dry
before putting up new wallpaper. I wash sth/it/them
down Carol washed the van down and checked the oil and
tyres, while we got some food ready for the trip.
mop/mop il rna:p/to wash a floor using a special tool with
a long handle, which is dipped in water [v T]
At the end of each day I have to mop the kitchen floor. I Don
worked in a bar mopping floors, emptying ashtrays and
generally helping out.
scrub/skr^b/to rub something hard with a stiff brush in
order to clean it Iv I/T]
scrub sth Auntie Lou was on her knees scrubbing the floor.I
Choose three large potatoes and scrub them thoroughly
under running water. I scrub I've scrubbed and scrubbed,
but I can't seem to get this ink off my fingers.
wash out/,woS 'aut il ,wa:S-/to wash the inside of a cup,
glass, pan, or container [phr v T]
wash out sth I'lljust go and wash out these glasses. I wash
sth/it/them out When the bottle is empty, wash it out
thoroughly before refilling.
6 to clean clothes, especially by washing them
wash dry-clean
do the washing be in the wash
hand wash/handwash
wash/woS II wa:L w  :S/to clean clothes using water and
washing powder or soap [v I/T]
wash sth Have you time to wash a few shirts for me? [ He's
down at the laundromat washing his clothes. ] I always wash
the coloured clothes separately from the whites. [ wash I seem
to spend all my time washing and ironing these days.
wash In singular] Those trousers need a wash (=need to be
washed).
do the washing/,du: 6o 'woSn3 [[ -wa:-/to wash all the
clothes that need to be washed at one time Iv phrase]
I'll do the washing when I get home from work.
hand washlhandwash/'hend woj" [[ -wa:S, -w:j'/to
wash clothes by hand, not in a washing machine Iv T]
I usually hand wash the socks and underwear and put the
rest in the machine. I Delicate garments and woollens should
be handwashed.
dry-clean/,drai kli:n/to clean clothes by using special
chemicals rather than soap and water Iv T]
Don't put that jacket in the washing machine. It has to be
dry-cleaned.
dry-cleaning In U] He apologized for spilling wine over my
suit and offered to pay for the dry-cleaning.
be in the wash/bi: In 60 'wo S 1[ -'wO:S/clothes that are
in the wash are being washed or are waiting to be washed
[ v phrase ]
"Where's my yellow blouse?" "It's in the wash". I You'll have
to wear these, your other pants are in the wash.
7 to clean the cups, plates, knives, pans etc
that have been used to prepare and eat a
meal
wash the dishes/do the dishes
wash up/do the washing up
wash the dishes/do the dishes/,woS 6o 'dlSIz,
O tdlSIoz ii [v phrase]
Can I help you do the dishes? ] The worst thing about having
a dinner party is having to wash the dishes afterwards.
wash up/do the washing up I,woS 'Ap, du: 6o ,wO
np [[ wa:-/ British expressions meaning to clean the
cups, plates etc that have been used for a meal [phr v I/T]
Who's going to wash up after dinner? [ Shall we go and sit
in the other room while the men do the washing up? [ wash
sth/it/them up Can you jt wash this wl up please?
washing up In U] You can leave the washing up (=the work
of washing up) till morning.
 to wash something using water but no soap
rinse
soak/leave sth to soak
rinse/rins/to wash something quickly with water, espe-
cially running water, especially in order to remove soap
or dirt Iv T]
Rinse the vegetables under the cold running water. ] If you
don "t rinse your hair thoroughly you'll get shampoo in your
eyes. i She rinsed her mouth with water to get rid of the bitter
taste. I rinse out a cup/pan etc Remember to rinse out the
glasses when you've finished.
rinse In singular] Don't worry about washing the brushes
-just give them a quick rinse (=rinse them quickly).
soak/leave sth to soak/souk, li:v (sth) to sook/to
leave something in water for a long time in order to clean
it or make it easier to wash later [v T]
I usually just soak my shirts in cold water and then hand
wash them. I Let's leave the pots and pans to soak overnight,
and wash them in the morning.
9 to remove dirt, marks etc from something,
especially by washing it
get sth out wash out
shift mop up
come out
get sth out/,get (sth) 'aot/to remove a mark from a piece
of clothing or material [phr v T]
What can I use to get these wine stains out of the tablecloth? [
It's a pity about that mark on your shirt. Dry cleaning will
probably get it out.
shift /Sift/ a British word meaning to remove a mark
which is difficult to remove from a surface or a piece of
material Iv T]
I've tried everything but I can 't seem to shift the dirt on these
jeans. [ Try some of this stain remover, that'll shift it.
come out/, kAm aot/if dirt or a mark comes out, it is
removed by washing or cleaning [phr v I]
I hope these grass stains will come out in the wash. [ Try not
to get oil on that shirt, it won't come out no matter how many
times you wash it.
wash out/woS laut II ,w:S-/if dirt or a mark washes
out, it is removed by washing [phr v I]
Don't worry about the dirty marks on the sleeve, they'll wash
out. i Do ink stains wash out easily?
mop up /,mop '^p II ,ma:p-/ to remove liquid from a
surface by using a cloth or mop [phr v T]

WASH 1535 watch your step
mop up sth She grabbed a cloth and started to mop up the
spilled milk. I mop sth/it/them up Here, you can mop it
up with this.
1 0 words for describing clothes, materials etc
that can be washed without being damaged
washable
washable/'wD]bal II ,wa:-,
Let's have a look at the label on those trousers. Are they wash-
able? I Therese always chooses polyester and cotton blouses
that are easily washable.
ble
washa WASH 10
washed-out TIRED 8
washing: do the washing WASH 6
washing up: do the washing up WASH 7
waste RUBBISH/WASTE 1, SPEND TIME 5, WASTE
STH 1
waste: go to waste WASTE STH 2
waste away THIN PERSON 7
waste of effort: be a waste of effort POINTLESS 1
waste of time: be a waste of time POINTLESS 1
waste your breath: be wasting your breath
POINTLESS 3
waste your time: be wating your time POINTLESS 2
2 not used in a useful or sensible way
wasted
down the drain
go to waste
wasted/'weistd/[adj]
There is a lot of wasted space in our apartment. I The store
was already closed by the time we got there, so it was a wasted
journey. I The thought of the wasted years behind her made
Louise sick with bitterness.
down the drain/,daon 6a 'drein/if you say that doing
something is money down the drain, you mean that it
involves stupidly wasting money [adj phrase]
be money down the drain Buying you expensive clothes
was just money down the drain. All you ever wear are jeans
and tee-shirts. [ throw money down the drain They spent
thousands of dollars on his education, but they were just
throwing their money down the drain.
go to waste /,gao ta 'weist/if something goes to waste
or if you let something go to waste, it is wasted because
it is not used Iv phrase]
Often local fruit goes to waste because no one wants to buy
it. [ He had let all the hot water go to waste as usual. [ If no
one else wants those potatoes, I'll have them - I hate to see
good food go to waste.
WASTE STH
to use more of something than you should, or
use it in a way that is not useful or sensible
not used in a useful or sensible way
words for describing actions, processes,
people etc that waste something
1 to use more of something than you should, or
use it in a way that is not useful or sensible
waste fritter away
be a waste of dissipate
squander
waste /weist/ waste time/money/food/resources/
energy etc Iv T ]
The school kitchens waste an awful lot of food. I If you leave
the lights on all the time it wastes both electricity and money. I
It was typical of Heath not to waste any time on small talk. I
His mother had sacrificed the best years of her life for him,
and he was determined that such sacrifice should not be
wasted.
be a waste of/bi: o 'welst av/ be a waste of time/
money/effort etc (=involve the use of too much time,
money, effort etc in a way that is not useful and is often
annoying) Iv phrase]
We should never have gone there - it was a complete waste
of time. [ The book is a waste of money - I wouldn't recom-
mend it to anyone.
squander /skwDnda r [[ skwa:n-/ to waste something
valuable by using it in a stupid way that brings no useful
results Iv T]
At eighty she could only regret the precious years that she had
squandered in the past. [ Instead of using his great musical
talents he squandered them on writing soppy sentimental
songs. [ squander away sth He had squandered away the
family fortunes on gambling.
fritter away / frltr a'wei/to waste something such as
time or money in a silly way by using small amounts of it
on things you do not need [phr v T]
fritter away sth Lucinda promised not to fritter away her
time at college. [ fritter sth/it/them away They frittered
their pocket money away on chocolate and ice-cream.
dissipate / disgpelt/a formal word meaning to gradually
waste something such as your money or energy by trying
to do a lot of different and often unnecessary things Iv T]
She had dissipated her fortune by the time she was twenty-
five.
3 words for describing actions, processes,
people etc that waste something
wasteful
uneconomical
wasteful/'westfal/[adj]
This method of cooking is wasteful and expensive. [ You're
so wasteful! You throw everything away before it's finished. [
wasteful of Having everyone driving around in private cars
instead of using public transport is wasteful of precious
natural resources.
wastefulness In U] He condemned the wastefulness of people
living in Western countries.
uneconomical /,Ani:ka'nomIkal, ,Anek- [[ -'no:-/ a
process or way of doing something that is uneconomical
uses too much effort, money, or materials, especially
because there are cheaper or more efficient ways of doing
it [adj]
Hill farming is an uneconomical way of producing crops. [
This kind of heating system is uneconomical for home use,
and is more suited to factories and offices.
wasted WASTE STH 2
wasteful WASTE STH 3
wasteland EMPTY 3
watch WATCH 1, 3, 4, 6
watch: keep a watch on WATCH 4
watch it CAREFUL 8, WARN
3
watch out: look out/watch out CAREFUL 8, WARN 3
watch your step CAREFUL 4
watch

WATCH 1536 WATCH
@ WATCH
6
:7
t to look at and pay attention to something that
is happening
:2 to watch someone or something continuously
8 to watch someone or something in order to
make sure that nothing bad happens to them
4 to secretly watch a person or place
5 someone who is watching a sports event,
performance, film etc
to pay attention to the way a situation
develops over a period of time-
always watching to see if anything bad or
unusual happens
1 to look at and pay attention to something that
is happening
watch look on
observe see
watch/wotj' II wo:tl, wo:t$1 IvI/T]
watch sb/sth She watched the man with interest as he made
his way through the crowd. I watch sb do/doing sth They
watched the runners go past. I I used to love watching my
sister riding her horse. I watch television/a video/the
tennis etc Did you watch 'Roseanne" last night? I The
Presidential debate was watched by over 10 million people. I
watch There were only a couple of hundred people watch-
ing. I Do you want to join in or just sit and watch?
observe/ob 'z3:rv/to watch someone or something care-
fully in order to learn more about them Iv T]
The state visit gave us the opportunity to observe Gorbachev
at close range. I a botanist who made his own drawings of
the plants that he observed
observation In U] The practice of careful observation and
note-taking will play an important part in the course.
look on/,luk 'on II -'o:n/to watch something happening,
without taking part or trying to stop it [phr v I]
One man tried to help us, the others looked on in silence. [
The women looked on, nodding and smiling, i Mr Parsons
began to cough again, while his wife looked on helplessly.
see/si:/to watch a performance or event Iv T]
I saw 'Star Wars'years ago, when it first came out. I Did you
see that programme about the giant pandas? i We're going
to see the Yankees play on my birthday.
2 to watch someone or something continuously
not take your eyes off
stand over
not take your eyes off/not tek ja:r 'az of/to watch
someone or something continuously, especially because
you want to make sure nothing happens to them or because
you find them very attractive or interesting Iv phrase]
The detective did not move or take his eyes off us. [ You didn't
take your eyes off her all evening. I When babies start to
crawl, you can't take your eyes off them for a second.
stand over / ' stcnd oovr/to stand next to someone and
watch what they are doing, especially because you want
to make sure that they do it right Iv T]
Do I have to stand over you to make sure you do your
homework?[ The police stood over him while he signed the
confession.
3 to watch someone or something in order to
make sure that nothing bad happens to them
watch observation
keep an eye on monitor
watch/woff II wo:tL w  :q/Iv T]
Stay here and watch our bags while I go and buy some food. I
Don't let children play near water without an adult to watch
them.
keep an eye on /,ki:p on 'aI on/to watch someone or
something by occasionally going to look at them over a long
period of time Iv phrase]
Keep an eye on the baby, in case he gets too near the fire. [
Dawn kept an eye on the house while we were away. I You'd
better come into hospital where we can keep an eye on you.
observation/,obzor'veObn li to:b-/the process of care-
fully watching the state of someone's health for a period
of time, especially in a hospital In U]
Lack of government funding means that continuous obser-
vation of patients is almost impossible, i keep sb in (the
hospital) for observation (=make someone stay at a
hospital in order to check their health) The doctor said they
wanted to keep her in for observation.
monitor ! tmontr II mo:-/to carefully watch a situation
over a period of time, to see how it changes or develops Iv T]
We will be monitoring the patient's progress during the night
to see if there is any improvement in his condition. [ Her job
involved monitoring the political situation in Colombia for
the CIA.
4 to secretly watch a person or place
watch surveillance
keep a watch on observation
watch/wotJ' II wo:tJ', w:):tJ'/[v T]
watch sb/sth If the detectives were watching the house, how
did Morgan escape? [ He had the feeling that he was being
watched. [ watch sb's movements (=watch them as they
go to different places) She knew that the police were watch-
ing her movements but somehow she had to leave the country.
keep a watch on /,ki:p a 'wotS on 11 -'wmff-/if the
police keep a watch on a person or place, a group of them
are organized to watch it continuously Iv phrase]
Our orders were to keep a 24-hour watch on the cottage where
the men were staying.
surveillance/S3I r'veflans/the process of secretly watch-
ing a place or person, especially for a long period, often
using special equipment such as hidden cameras In U]
Banks are installing surveillance cameras to prevent robber-
ies. i Television surveillance in public areas should help to
make housing developments safer, i keep sb/sth under
surveillance (=secretly watch them over a long period
using special equipment) The terrorists had been kept under
constant surveillance by our officers.
observation/,obzar tvelj'an II to:b-/the process of watch-
ing a place or person carefully for a period of time In U]
Our observation of the suspect lasted a period of six months. [
keep sb/sth under observation (=secretly watch them
over a period of time) We want that place kept under cons-
tant observation.
5 someone who is watching a sports event,
performance, film etc
spectator onlooker
viewer observer
audience
spectator /spektelt r II tspekteItor/ someone who is
watching an event or game [n C l
The game was watched by over 50,O00 spectators. I The spec-
tators" section of the courtroom was filled with the defen-
dant's family and friends.
viewer/'vju:or/someone who is watching a particular tel-
evision programme In C]
Many viewers complained about a particularly violent
episode of 'Miami Vice'. i The problem for scriptwriters is
to hold the viewers' interest without making too many
demands on them.
audience/'a:dians l[ 'a:-, ,o=-I a group of people who have
come to a place to watch a play, concert, film etc In C with
singular or plural verb in British English]
Actors, wearing masks, came down among the audience, i
I know that there is a newspaper critic in the audience
tonight, i We used to put on a lot of plays for school audiences.

WATCH 1537 WATER
onlooker l'on,lokor II 'a:n-, 'o:n-I someone who is watch-
ing an event, especially when they did not come specially
to watch it but just happened to see it In C]
To the onlooker, cross-country skiing appears relatively
easy. I The last runner of the marathon appeared, to an
accompanying ragged cheer from the crowd of onlookers.
obse/er [bls3:rva r] someone who watches an event,
activity, or situation, especially someone who has been offi-
cially sent there in order to report back about it to an
organization or country In C]
She's been sent as an observer to the UN aid conference. I
Nuclear Fuels Inc say they welcome observers at any time,
as they have nothing to hide. I Military observers have been
allowed into the area to monitor the ceasefire.
6 to pay attention to the way a situation
develops over a period of time
watch
keep an eye on
watch/wotS II wc  :tS, w:tS/Iv T]
watch sth Both candidates are watching the opinion polls
carefully. I watch sb do sth He had watched her grow up
into a lovely young woman. I watch how/when/what etc
Many swimmers are videoed during training so they can
watch how their performance improves.
keep an eye on [ ,ki:p an 'ai on/to watch a situation
carefully over a period of time, especially so that you are
prepared for anything bad that might happen Iv T]
If I were you, I'd keep an eye on house prices for a while before
you decide to sell. I keep a close eye on The experts are keep-
ing a close eye on the world economy in order to predict any
major changes.
7 always watching to see if anything bad or
unusual happens
alert vigilant
watchful keep your eyes peeled/open
alert/a'la:rt/someone who is alert is always watching to
see if anything strange or unusual happens, and always
notices if it does [adj]
An alert postman noticed two men breaking into the house. [
After the recent bomb attacks, members of the public are
being warned to be alert at all times and to look out for any
suspicious packages.
watchful I'wotSfal li 'wa:tj'-, 'wa:tf-/always watching to
see what happens, either to make sure that nothing bad
happens, or simply because you are interested [adj]
Rosanna followed the conversation with a watchful expres-
sion. I The ever watchful Benson stood surveying his land. ]
keep a watchful eye on (=keep watching someone to make
sure they do not get into trouble, hurt themselves etc) Bill
was in the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the children
as he prepared lunch.
vigilant/'vldsIont/someone who is vigilant is always
watching to see what happens, especially to see ff anyone
is doing anything wrong or illegal [adj]
To combat thieves, it is important for staff to be vigilant at
all times.
vigilance In U] Looking after young children requires cons-
tant vigilance - you never know what they'll get up to next.
keep your eyes peeled/open/,ki:p ja:r alz ,pi:ld,
, upan/to watch very carefully in order to try and see some-
thing, especially something you expect that you might be
able to see Iv phrase]
There have been a lot of robberies around here recently so
keep your eyes open when you're delivering the papers. [ I'd
heard that lions had been sighted in the area, and I kept my
eyes peeled.
watchful WATCH 7
water WATER I, 4
water: make your mouth water DELICIOUS 3
water: pour cold water on SPOIL 2
water: spend money like water/like there's no
tomorrow SPEND MONEY 3
water: underwater/under water UNDER/BELOW 3
water down WATER 6
WATER
1 words meaning water
2 very large amounts of water covering a place
or area that is usually dry
3 a continuous movement of water
4 to supply farmland, plants etc with water
5 to cover an area that is usually dry with very
large amounts of water
6 to add water to another liquid
7 words for describing animals and plants that
are able to live in water
8 words for describing something that does not
let water pass through it
1 words meaning water
water
moisture
water I'wa:t r II u]
Go and get me a glass of water. ] Humans can't survive for
more than a few days without water. I The otter dived into
the dark water of the lake. I This reservoir supplies water
to half of Los Angeles. I running water (=water that flows,
not kept in a container or pool) All the rooms in the hotel
have hot and cold running water. I As we got deeper into the
forest we could hear the sound of running water. I water
shortage (=when there is not much water available) Look
how deep that bath is! Don't you realize there's a water
shortage?l water content (=how much water there is in
something) High water content contact lenses allow more
oxygen to pass through them than normal ones.
moisture / 'ma ] stj'ar/the amount of wetness in something,
especially in the earth or in the air, caused by the presence
of water In U]
• In dry weather, start to wateryour vegetables before the earth
loses too much moisture. [ Moisture is essential for keeping
your skin fresh and youthful. [ moisture content (=how
much moisture there is in something) A bowl of water
placed near a radiator will increase the moisture content of
the air.
2 very large amounts of water covering a place
or area that is usually dry
flood
flooding
deluge
flood/flAd/very large amounts of water covering an area
of land or filling a building and usually causing serious
damage In C]
Someone had left a tap running, and we came home to a dis-
astrous flood in our apartment. I Floods in Bangladesh have
resulted in over I000 deaths.
flooding/'flAdrj/a situation in which an area of land or
part of a building is covered with water, for example as
result of heavy rain or burst water pipes In U]
Widespread flooding made travel in the area impossible.
The harbour wall collapsed, causing serious flooding in the
town.
deluge / delju:ds! a situation in which an area of land is
covered with very large amounts of water as a result of
heavy rain In C usually singular]
Buildings were damaged and cars were washed away in the
deluge
a continuous movement of water
current
torrent

WATER 1538 way out
current /'kAront II 'k3:r-/ a continuous movement of
water in a particular direction in the sea or in a river in C]
It's dangerous to swim in the river here because the current
is so strong. [ The currents in these parts could carry a boat
miles out to sea.
torrent/'mront [[ 't:-, 'tfl:-/a large amount of water that
moves quickly and strongly in a particular direction in C 1
A quiet river on a summer's day may be a torrent in Febru-
ary. [ A torrent of water flowed down the street because of
the burst pipe. [ raging torrent (=very violent torrent)
After five days of heavy rain the Telle River was a raging
torrent.
4 to supply farmland, plants etc-with water
water
irrigate
water/'w:to r [[ 'w:-, 'wo:-/to pour water on plants,
crops, and grass in order to make them grow iv T]
In summer, house plants need watering very frequently. [ The
gardener was watering the lawn with a hose. [ They use low-
flying aircraft to water their crops.
irrigate/' rgeit! to provide a regular supply of water to
large areas of land, in order to grow crops there, for exam-
ple by using a system of pipes or long holes in the ground
iv T]
The first thing we need to do is to irrigate these fields. [ At
first we were enthusiastic about the farm, and talked about
planting crops and irrigating the soil.
irrigation/,[r 'geISan! in U] We can use the river for irri-
gation (=to irrigate the land).
S to cover an area that is usually dry with very
large amounts of water
flood
flood/flAd/iV T]
After two days of continuous rain, the village was flooded. [
Melting snow floods the valleys each spring. [ The washing
machine has flooded the kitchen.
flooded [adj] The President himself visited the flooded city
to see what help was needed.
6 to add water to another liquid
dilute
water down
dilute / da lu:t/to add water to another liquid in order
to make it weaker, change the taste etc iv T]
dilute sth with To make citron pressd dilute fresh lemon
juice with water and add sugar. [ dilute sth Bathe the
affected area with antiseptic solution that you have first
diluted.
diluted [adj] Try giving the baby diluted fruit juice (=fruit
juice diluted with water) once or twice a day.
water down /,wa:ta r 'daun/ to add water to another
liquid, especially alcohol, in order to make it weaker or to
increase the amount [phr v T]
water down sth I'm sure they water down the wine in this
restaurant. [ water sth/it/them down If this whisky's too
strong for you I can water it down a little.
7 words for describing animals and plants that
are able to live in water
aquatic
amphibious
aquatic/a'kwat, 'kwo- II a'kwm-, a'kwo:-/living or
growing in water [adj]
These animals eat aquatic plants such as reeds and duck-
weed. [ Hippopotamuses are semi-aquatic. [ A survey of
aquatic life in the swamp was recently carried out.
amphibious Iem'tibias/animals that are amphibious
are able to live both in water and on land [adj]
Most species of frogs are amphibious. [ Dinosaurs were prob-
ably the first ancestors of amphibious reptiles and fish.
words for describing something that does not
let water pass through it
waterproof
watertight
waterproof/'wa:torpru:f 11 'wa:-, 'wo:-/something such
as a container or material that is waterproof does not let
water pass through it [adj]
He wore a long waterproof coat. [ This suitcase is completely
waterproof. [ He dropped his new watch in the bath to see
whether it was really waterproof.
watertight/'wa:tortaIt [[ 'wa:-, 'wa:-I something such as
a box or roof that is watertight does not let water pass
through it so that what is inside does not get wet [adjl
The cameras had been stored in watertight boxes. ] To make
the roof watertight they had tied a plastic sheet over it. [
Thaw the turkey in cold water in its watertight wrapper.
waterlogged WET 2
waterproof WATER 8
watertight WATER 8
waterworks: turn on the waterworks CRY 4
watery LIQUID 3 .
wave LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 5,
SIGN/GESTURE 2
wave goodbye GOODBYE 1
wave of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 6
wave sb off GOODBYE 1
wavelength: be on a different wavelength
DIFFERENT 4
wavelength: be on the same wavelength SAME 10
wavy BEND 7
way
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way:
way
way
way
way
way
way
DIRECTION 1, WAY/MANNER 1, WAY/METHOD
1, WAY/ROUTE 1
ask sb the way WAY/ROUTE 4
be in a bad way ILL 1
be in the way PREVENT 6
be on the way out OLD-FASHIONED 1
be on the way to TRAVEL 15
be on the way up SUCCESSFUL 3
be on your way GO 1
be well on the way to ALMOST 3
by the way AND/ALSO 2
can you tell me the way to/do you know the
way to WAY/ROUTE 6
clear the way for POSSIBLE 3
feel your way CAREFUL 6
get in the way of PREVENT 1
get out of the way AVOID 6
give way BREAK 7
give way to FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENEDABORED
ETC 1, REPLACE 4
go out of your way to do sth TRY TO DO OR
GET STH 6
in a ... way/manner WAY/MANNER 2
in no way NOT2
is this the way to WAY/ROUTE 6
make way SPACE/ROOM 2
make your way GO 1
no way NO 1, REFUSE 3
out of the way FAR 5, REACH 6
show the way/lead the way FIRST 7
talk your way out of ESCAPE 9
tell sb the way WAY/ROUTE 3
there's no way IMPOSSIBLE 1, 3
the way things are SITUATION 6
which way the wind blows SITUATION 2
back: be on your way back RETURN 1
in ENTER 11
of life LIFE4
of thinking ATTITUDE 1
off FAR 3
out FAR 5, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM 2,
STRANGE 6

WAY/MANNER 1539 WAY/METHOD
way
WAY/MANNER
1 the way you do something or the way
something is done
2 done in a particular way
1 the way you do something or the way
something is done
way fashion
manner how
style
way/weI/[n C]
the way (that) sb does sth Watch the way he fastens the
saddle then you try to copy him. [ The way she behaves you'd
think she'd only just left nursery school! l I just love the way
she laughs! I Because of the complicated way he explained
what to do no one was really sure.I what a way/that's no
way to (=not an acceptable way) That's no way to talk to
a poor old lady!
manner/'mmnor/the way in which someone does some-
thing or behaves towards other people In singular]
She has a very efficient and business-like manner. [ His
appearance and manner were rather too casual. I Greg did
not like his friend's feverish manner. [ manner of doing sth
He has a rather offputting manner of monopolizing
meetings.
style/stall/the particular way that someone does some-
thing or deals with other people, especially if this way has
been chosen from several possible ways [n C]
Her friendly style of management works well with small
groups of people. [ The handwriting was shaky and hurried,
but the style resembled her husband's. I He found my style
aggressive, although I thought it was merely frank.
fashion/'fmj'n/the way in which someone does some-
thing, used especially when it seems a strange way In
singular]
He talked in such a strange fashion that at first I didn "t real-
ize he was speaking English. [ The parcel had been tied in
a very peculiar fashion.
how/haul the way in which something is done [adv]
Look at how she moves on court - what an athlete! I Did you
notice how he walks?Really strange, isn't it? I Have you seen
how she reacts when you mention marriage?
2 done in a particular way
in a ... way/manner -style
in a ... fashion along ... lines
with as if/as though
like with an air of
in a ... way/manner/In o ... weI, mmnor/[advphrase]
It is impossible to solve this equation in a normal way. i
Mother was looking at him in an odd sort of way as she was
pouring the coffee, i Shakespeare gives dramatic intensity to
a play in a way that is never even attempted by lesserplay-
wrights. I The move from Scotland to London was carried
out in a very organized manner.
In a ... fashion/in o ... 'fro[an/if you do something in
a particular fashion, you do it in the way that it is usually
done by a particular country or a particular group of people
[adv phrase]
The meal was prepared peasant fashion in a large pot over
the fire. [ Indian-fashion/Turkish-fashion etc She drinks
it Turkish-fashion, with no milk but a few cardamom pods.
with/wiS, w]0/with enthusiasm/care/envy/delight
etc (=in an enthusiastic/careful/envious/delighted way)
[prep]
A sign warned cyclists to ride with care. I With great sad-
ness he placed flowers on her grave. I The striking miners
looked on with resentment at those workers who crossed the
picket line.
like/laik/like this/that/him/them etc (=in that way)
[prep ]
People stand up and cheer and the applause goes on like this
for about ten minutes. I You must not speak like that, it's very
rude. I The young boxer moved like the great Muhammed
Ali. [ Have you ever met Louise Brooks? You talk just like her.
.style/staIl/English-style/hippie-style/country-style
etc (:done or made in a way that is typical of England, the
country, New York etc)
Although he was educated in India he went to an English-
style boarding school. [ They live in a beautiful little country-
style house on the edge of town. ] New York-style delicates-
sen salted beef[ He wore his gun at the hip, cowboy-style.
along ... lines/o,lD ... 'lanz II o,l:-/if something is
done along particular lines, it is done in a way that is
fairly close to the way you have mentioned [adv phrase]
along socialist/military/institutional etc lines The
holiday camp seemed to have been arranged along military
lines. [ along the same/similar lines We must have been
thinking along the same lines, for we said together, "Let's
get out of here. "'[ along different lines This new school is
run along different lines from my old one.
as if/as though/oz 'if, oz 'Sou/if something happens
as if or as though something else were true, it happens
in a way that reminds you of it [conjunction]
Shocked at what he had just been told, Julian put the phone
down as if he had just seen a ghost. ] Children were running
on the heath, as if blown by the wind. ] She moved her legs
slowly, as though in pain. [ After asking her age, he stood
a moment, as though embarrassed, and then he said, "'It's
only for the records.'"
with an air of/wi on eor ov/a formal or literary expres-
sion meaning in a particular way [prep]
The affair had been conducted with an air of mystery which
he disliked. [ Lila came out into the yard with an air of happy
confidence. ] That autumn, Sally announced with an air of
finality, "'There's nothing more we can do. We might as well
all go home. ""
WAY/METHOD
1 a way or method of doing something
2 the correct way of doing something
3 something you use as a way of achieving the
result you want
4 a way of achieving success, happiness etc
5 a clever and perhaps dishonest way of
getting what you want
6 ways of saying or asking by what method
something is done
1 a way or method of doing something
way strategy
method system
approach tactics
technique
way/weq In C]
There are several ways in which this can be done [ way to
do sth I tried every way I could to make the child go to bed,

WAY/METHOD 1540 WAY/METHOD
but she refused. I What's the best way to remove wine stains? l
way to do sth There's more than one way to build a house:
all builders work differently. I way of doing sth A simple
way of collecting examples of people talking naturally is to
record a conversation at a dinner table. I We're trying to find
a way ofgoing to Russia overland. I way (that) sb does sth
Brenda is always finding fault in her son; she even criticizes
the way he cleans his car. I right/wrong way I'm going to
tell you how to put on a plug. Listen carefully because if you
do it the wrong way you'll electrocute yourself.
methed ] me0d] a way of doing something, especially a
way that has several stages and is known about and used
by a lot of people In C] -
When I bake cakes they always sink in the middle; I'm going
to try a differentmethod. I method for/of doing sthA new
method for trapping solar energy has been developed. I Med-
ical science has not yet found a satisfactory method of treat-
ing cholera. I teaching methods In this school, staff are
given complete freedom in their choice of language teaching
methods.
appreach/pmutS! a way of dealing with a particular
problem, especially a way that has been carefully thought
about In C]
The main advantage of this approach is its simplicity. I
approach to sth Today's approach to advertising is very
different to that of twenty years ago, I Space scientists had
to adopt a whole new approach to material design and con-
struction.
technique/tek'ni:k! a special skill or way of doing some-
thing, especially one that has to be learned In C]
Management by objectives is a well-known management
technique. I Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to
aid recovery from injury. I You'll have to improve your driv-
ing technique if you want to pass your test. I Thanks to new
surgical techniques, hip replacement operations have become
much more successful. I technique for doing sth A tele-
phone survey is the most cost-efficient technique for screen-
ing a large number of households.
strategy ]  stretd5i! a well-planned series of actions that
are intended to achieve a particular aim, especially over
a long period of time In C]
strategy to do sth The company has to develop a strategy
to increase exports. I strategy for sth The government will
today announce its new strategy for economic recovery. I
strategy of Terry achieved what he wanted through a
strategy of persistence.
system ]sstm! a planned and effective way of doing
something that you use every time you do it In C]
I do the ironing and Andrew does the shopping; it's an excel-
lent system. I system of doing sth I work a lot more quickly
now I've developed an efficient system of working. I system
for doing sth Renata thinks she's discovered a system for
winning at roulette.
tactics ]'tmkiks] methods that you use in order to
achieve what you want, especially in a game or difficult sit-
uation In plurall
Martin Luther King achieved great things by using non-
violent tactics. I We discussed our tactics for the forthcom-
ing game.
the correct way of doing something
how to do sth
procedure
how to do sth I,hau ta 'du: (sth)/
Could you show me how to change the tyre? [ I don't know
how to load this thing. I My father taught me how to tie all
the knots correctly. Ihow to fill in your tax form
procedure/pra' si:dsar/a planned and fixed method that
is the correct or normal way of doing something In C]
I wanted to get a new passport but I didn't know the proce-
dure. I follow the procedure It is very important to follow
the safety procedures laid down in the hand-book. I proce-
dure for doing sth The Personnel Officer will tell you what
the procedure is for applying for a transfer. I observe a
procedure When ski-ing do not push into queues and always
observe the correct procedure for the use of ski-lifts. I cor-
rect/proper/standard procedure The stewards spent
hours rehearsing the proper procedure for marshalling the
huge crowds expected in the stadium. I Sorry about the body-
search. It's just standard procedure.
3 something you use as a way of achieving the
result you want
means instrument
tool medium
means/mi:nz/(plural means) In C]
means to do sth They were accused of using dishonest
means to achieve victory in the election. I means of doing
sth Video is an excellent means of bringing living language
into the classroom. I means to an end (-a way, usually
unpleasant, of achieving a particular result) The team
wanted to win the match, so foul play was a means to an end.
too| flu:l/a particular method or system that you use to
obtain a result, especially in business or politics In C]
Interest rates are one of the Finance Minister's main tools
of economic policy. I The subsidy system is the EEC's main
tool for equalizing the agricultural incomes of member coun-
tries. I Some international arms dealers see bribery as a
marketing tool.
instrument/' instrmnt/system, method, or law that is
used by people in power to get a particular result In C]
instrument for doing sth Tax cuts are the most important
instrument the government has for stimulating the economy. I
The Poor Laws were seen as an instrument of oppression.
medium/'mi:diom! (plural media) a technical word for
a physical or electronic method used for giving people
information, for example the telephone, television,
newspapers etc In C]
Newspaper advertising is the medium most frequently used
by local shops. I Video is a medium of great variety and flex-
ibility in the classroom. I Together the two directors explored
the capabilities of the camera and the film medium.
4 a way of achieving success, happiness etc
route/path key
gateway to secret
passport to recipe for/formula for
route/path/ru:t, po:O II peO/In C usually singular]
route/path to An effective plan is the best route to a profita-
ble business. I Hard work was perceived by the child as the
only available path to happiness and success. I route/path
Some people become managers by leaving school at an early
age and working their way up through a company, but most
choose the educational route.
gateway to/' geitwei tu:! an expression used especially
in advertising, meaning a way of gaining success by study-
ing, reading etc In singular]
The college claims that its diplomas are a gateway to suc-
cess. I Our new range of English Language work books are
the gateway to fluency in English.
passport to/'po:sp:rt tu: ]] pas-/a way of gaining suc-
cess that makes it easy for you to do things which most
people cannot do In singular]
This qualification is a passport to an excellent job. I Being
white, he possesses the natural passport to privileges in
South Africa.
key/ki:/the most important means of making progress or
achieving success In singular]
key to sth Good communication is the key to successful
management. I The key to survival in semi-desert regions is
the careful use of land. I key In all types of advice work, con-
fidentiality is the key.
secret/ si:krgt/a way of becoming happy, healthy, suc-
cessful etc that only one person knows and everyone else
would like to know In singular]
Mr Richie, you're a millionaire at the age of twenty; what's
the secret of your success? I I don't know what her secret is
but she always gets top marks in the exams.

WAYIMETHOD 1541 WAY/ROUTE
recipe for/formula for/'respi fa:r, ,fa:rmjOla fa:r/a
method of getting a result has been carefully planned by
someone who has considered a number of different ideas,
suggestions etc In singular]
The Minister offered a formula for economic progress. I
Patience and understanding are the recipe for a happy
marriage. I We thought that our new business strategy was
a recipe for success but the recession has made it unworkable.
5 a clever and perhaps dishonest way of
getting what you want
tactic expedient
ploy ways and means
device
tactic/'teektik] [n C]
He threatened you with legal action? It's a tactic he's used
before. I tactic of We are all familiar with the tactic of turn-
ing our back on someone to keep them out of a conversation. I
change your tactics His aggressive approach was not
making his staff work harder so he had to change his tactics. I
delaying tactic The question was not serious, just a delay-
ing tactic to stop her leaving the room.
ploy/plai/a clever method of gaining an advantage, espe-
cially by deceiving someone In C]
Susan tried to make Ian leave his wife and marry her, but
her ploy failed. I ploy to do sth He's not really ill, it's just
a ploy to make us feel sorry for him. I The opening of the new
nursery was a cunning ploy to win women's votes in the
election.
device/di 'vaIs/an action intended to achieve a certain
aim, especially an aim that is morally wrong In C]
The meeting was a cheap device to get publicity for the new
film. I The proposed voting change is nothing but a device
to secure dominance for Mr Lee's party.
expedient/:k'spi:diant/a clever way of dealing with a
difficult situation, especially one that you have had to
think of quickly and that is effective even though it may
be morally wrong In C]
The pact with the Social Democrats is just another sleazy
little expedient to help the government to cling to power. I by
the expedient of/had locked myself out of the house, so I
got in by the simple expedient of climbing through the
window.
ways and means I,weiz and 'mi:nzl clever methods of
getting an advantage, especially by doing something that
is unusual or secret In phrase]
"'How are we going to make Julie believe us?" asked Ian ner-
vously. "'Don't you worry, there are ways and means, "" replied
his friend. I ways and means of Dealers have ways and
means of making people smuggle drugs for them.
6 ways of saying or asking by what method
something is done
how by
somehow by means of
how/haul [advl
This cake is really delicious. How did you make it? l Some
dogs are obedient and some dogs aren't, it depends on how
you train them. I how to do sth My uncle taught me how
to ride a bike when I was eight years old.
somehow/' s^mhau/if you do something somehow you
do it by using any method that is available [adv]
There's a bus strike but Ian will get here somehow. I I don't
know how I'm going to get Susan to give up smoking, but
I'm going to do it somehow. I The newspaper had somehow
got hold of some secret government papers. I somehow or
other I'll find out her address somehow or other.
by/bail through the use of a particular method [prep]
by doing sth I persuaded her to come to the party by telling
her Paul would be there. I You can stop a cheque by making
a simple telephone call to your bank. I Make sure thepatient
is comfortable by lying them on their side and covering them
with a blanket. I by sth All decisions are made by a straight
vote of all club members.
by means of/ba 'mi:nz av/ if you do something by
means of a method, you achieve a result by using it [prep]
The easiest way of producing hydrogen from water is by
means of electrolysis. I The economic teacher showed, by
means of a clear diagram, how an increase in demand affects
profit.
WAY/ROUTE
1 the way to go from one place to another
2 a short way of getting somewhere
3 to tell someone the way to a place
4 to ask someone the way to a place
5 to find out how to get to a place, for example
by using maps or other information
6 what you say to ask someone the way to a
place
I
I 1 the way to go from one place to another
I way route
how to get directions
way IweII In singular]
Are you sure this is the way? I The road was blocked, so we
came back a different way. I the way to/into The main road
looked like the most t- rect way back into the town. I Which
way is it to the church? I right/wrong way I don't recog-
nize this part of town - I think we've come the wrong way. I
know the way (=know how to get somewhere) Will you
come with me? I don "t know the way. I on the way to There's
a gas station on the way to the mall.
how to get / I hau ta I getl an expression meaning the way
to a place, used especially when you are telling or asking
someone the way
how to get to I asked a policeman how to get to the station. I
She had told me, in a very complicated way, how to get to
her house. I how to get there Come with me, I know how
to get there. ] how to get home/back/out ete Nick wan-
dered around in a daze, asking passers-by how to get home.
route/ru:t II ru:t, raut/the way from one place to another,
especially a way that is regularly used and can be shown
on a map In C]
There are long delays on the highway so it would be wise to
take an alternative route. I route to/from/back ete What's
the best route from Tampa to Jacksonville? I take a route
(=use a route) The plane takes one of two routes - either
across the Atlantic, or over the North Pole. ] plan your route
(=decide which route you are going to take) The first thing
we did before setting off on vacation was to plan our route.
directions/d 'rekfdnz, dai-/instructions on how to get
to a place In plural]
I checked the directions and turned left as I was told to. ]
directions to They sent us a letter containing a wedding
invitation and directions to the church. I follow directions
l/you follow these directions you'll have no problem finding
the house.
a short way of getting somewhere
shortcut
shortcut/,fa:t'kAt II 'f  :rtkAt/a way of getting somewhere
that is shorter than the usual way In C]
This seems like an awfully long way of getting there - isn't
there a shortcut? I You should ask Phil - he knows all the
shortcuts and back roads. I take a shortcut Let's take a
shortcut across the field.
3 to tell someone the way to a place
tell sb the way show sb the way
give sb directions direct
tell sb the way/,tel (sb) 6a 'weI/Iv phrase]
He knows how to get here. I told him the way myself. I tell
sb the way to If you ask Graham he'll tell you the way to
Yvonne's house. I tell sb the way out/here/there etc
Excuse me, could you tell me the way out, please?

WAY/ROUTE 1542 WEAK
give sb directions/,glv (sb) d 'rekfdnz/to give some-
one written or spoken instructions on how to get to a place
Iv phrase ]
While mother gave directions to the taxi driver father loaded
the luggage into the trunk, i I'm not surprised you couldn't
find your way here if Peter gave you directions/
show sb the way/,fau (sb) 6a 'wez/to show someone
how to get to a place, especially by going there with them
Iv phrase]
Come along Agnes, take my arm and show me the way. I I'll
send someone with you to show you the way. I show sb the
way to The porter will show you the way to Jack's ward.
direct/d 'rekt, daz-/to show someone the way to a place,
especially by telling them or pointing to it Iv T]
direct sb behind/towards/out etc A steward directed us
behind the stage and towards the dressing rooms, i direct
sb to Go and ask that patrolman - he'll direct you to the
freeway.
4 to ask someone the way to a place
ask sb the way
ask for directions
ask sb the way I,o:sk (sb) 6a 'we: II ,eesk-/toask some-
one the way to a place, especially when you have already
started your journey Iv phrase]
ask sb the way to He stopped the first person he saw and
asked them the way to the hospital. [ ask sb the way We were
completely lost and there was no one around for us to ask
the way.
ask for directions/,o:sk fa r d' rekanz II eesk-/to ask
for instructions on how to get somewhere, either before you
start a journey or after you have started it Iv phrase]
ask for directions to I asked for directions to the town hall
and made my way there on foot. I ask for directions Some
people stopped as they passed, asking for directions.
5 to find out how to get to a place, for example
by using maps or other information
find your way
navigate
find your way/,fand ja: r 'we:/to find the way to a place,
either by remembering it from previous journeys, or just
by going the way you think is the right way Iv phrase]
find your way to/home/out/back etc Somehow, I
managed to find my way out of the forest. I find your own
way (=without anyone else's help) If I take you there do you
think you'll be able to find your own way back? l find your
way Unable to find our way, we stopped at a local hotel to
ask directions.
navigate/nvgeit/ to find the way to a place using
maps or by carefully noting the position of various objects
or places Iv I]
I don't mind driving but I'd like you to navigate, i Some birds
fly at night and navigate by the stars.
navigation/,nv 'gefan/ In U] The fog and heavy rain
made navigation difficult.
6 what you say to ask someone the way to a
 place
can you tell me the way to/
do you know the way to
how do I get to
can you direct me to
is this the way to
can you tell me the way to/do you know the way
to / kcn ju: ,tel mi: 6a 'wei tu:, ,du: ju: nau-/
Can you tell me the way to the harbor, please? I I know how
to get to the center of town but do you know the way to Doro-
thy and Mike's once we're there?
how do I get to/,hao du: ai 'get tu:/(used especially
when you know that someone knows the way to that place)
How do I get to the station from here? [ Yes, I've got her
address but how do I get there?
can you direct me to/,kn ju: d'rekt mi: tu:/(used
especially when you have stopped someone in the street
and want to ask them the way politely)
Excuse me - can you direct me to the football stadium?
Is this the way to/zz ,6zs 6a 'we tu:/(used especially
when you have already started going somewhere and want
to know if you are going the right way)
"'Is this the way to The World Trade Center? .... No, you "re
going in the wrong direction. ""
ways HABIT 1
ways: be set in your ways CHANGE/BECOME
DIFFERENT 7
ways: there are no two ways about it
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
ways and means WAY/METHOD 5
WC TOILET 1
weak BAD AT 1 BRIGHT 5, POWER 6, WEAK 1 2
weak-willed DECIDE 10
weak
WEAK
1 not physically strong
2 weak because of being old or ill
3 weak and easily hurt, attacked, or affected by
illness
4 to make someone weaker
5 ways of saying that a plant becomes weak
and looks as though it is going to die
1 not physically strong
weak weakling
puny weed
weedy
weak / wi:k/[adj]
The other boys made fun of him because he was small and
weak. I I'm too weak to carry that table upstairs on my own. I
The kitten's weak legs wouldn't support it. I Pierre felt weak
with fear. I Ibn Zubayr's followers, weak from hunger, began
to give up hope.
weakness In U] In spite of his physical weakness Harry kept
himself as busy and active as possible.
puny/pju:ni/someone, especially a boy or young man
who is puny is small, thin, and very weak [adj]
Karen's brother was a puny little guy with short hair and
glasses. I Next to him was a grey-haired woman who was so
large she made him look puny.
weedy !'wi:di! an informal or humorous word meaning
thin and weak, used especially to describe boys or young
men [adj]

WEAK 1543 WEAPON
I used to be really weedy and hated doing sports. I Her new
boyfriend was a weedy-looking bloke who wore a brown
duffle coat.
weakling/'wi:k-li0/someone, especially a boy or young
man, who is weak and is not willing to fight or defend him-
self, so that other people do not respect him [n C/
Most of the kids were weaklings and were frightened of get-
ting in alight. I In theplay Rodrigo is portrayed as a spoiled
weakling.
weed/wi:d/an informal or humorous British word mean-
ing someone, especially a boy or young man, who is thin
and weak [n C/
Everyone called me a weed when I was at school because I
was so bad at games.
2 weak because of being old or ill
weak fragile
feeble shaky
frail
weak/wi:kl not physically strong and unable to move fast,
lift heavy things etc because of old age or illness [adj]
I was so weak after the accident that I could hardly stand
up. I Looking at him now, a tired, weak old man, it's difficult
to imagine that he was once a great athlete.
weakly [adv] I asked how she was. She smiled weakly and
said: "'Not too bad, thanks. ""
weakness [n U/Early symptoms of the disease are weakness
and dizzy spells.
"feeble/'fi:bl/very weak because of being old or ill, and
unable to move or do much [adj]
She's very feeble now, she needs someone at home full-time
to look after her. I He did not remember his sister at all, except
as a tiny, feeble baby.
feebly [adv] I watched him as he tried, very slowly and
feebly, to get out of bed.
frail/fred/weak and very delicate, especially because of
old age [adj]
He was already over 80, frail and in poor health. I A frail
old woman with a walking stick came slowly down to the
gate to meet us. I His frail arms could barely hold his plate.
frailty [n U/We hadn't seen her for many years and were
shocked by her frailty.
fragile/'frad3ad II -d3l/ someone who is fragile is so
weak and delicate that they look as if their bones could
easily be broken or they could easily be hurt [adj]
When I went to see my grandmother at the hospital she had
lost a lot of weight and seemed very fragile. I Two ambulance
attendants picked up his fragile body and put him carefully
onto a stretcher. I The baby felt so fragile in his arms, he was
very afraid of dropping her.
shaky/'fekil feeling weak in your legs and only able to
walk slowly and unsteadily [adj]
Even after the long months of therapy Owen was still very
shaky. ! Her grandfather was a little shaky on his feet after
the fall and needed to be helped up. I The baby's taken her
first few shaky steps.
shakily [ adv ] As I entered the room, he reached for his stick
and got shakily to his feet.
3 weak and easily hurt, attacked, or affected by
illness
vulnerable
defenceless/defenseless
vulnerable / 'vAlnrbl/ [adj ]
The players wear pads to protect vulnerable parts of the
body. I The baby mice are at their most vulnerable shortly
after birth, when they are frequently attacked by birds of
prey. I vulnerable to The virus leaves sufferers vulnerable
to a range of infections.
vulnerability /,vAlnar'bIlti/[n U/He had an air of vul-
nerability that women found attractive.
defenceless (British) I defenseless (American)/dl-
fenslas/ someone who is defenceless or defenseless is
easy to attack because they cannot defend themselves [adj]
No one is doing anything to help these poor defenceless chil-
dren. I While the mother bird searches for food she has to
leave her chicks alone and defenseless in the nest. I defence-
less against Foreigners are defenceless against these dis-
eases, not having had time to build up a resistance to them.
4 to make someone weaker
weaken
sap sb's strength/energy
weaken/'wi:kan/[v T/
Her long illness has weakened her so much that she has great
difficulty walking, i Weakened by starvation and disease, the
whole village finally surrendered. I World War One left one
and a half million men permanently weakened by wounds
or the effects of gas.
sap sb's strength/energy/,sep (sb's) 'stre@, 'enardsi/
if something such as too much work or worry saps your
strength or energy, it gradually takes away your energy
and makes you weaker [v phrase]
They were travelling very slowly, and the heavy load they
were carrying sapped their strength. I The constant tension
was sapping my energy.
 ways of saying that a plant becomes weak
and looks as though it is going to die
wilt
droop
wilt/wilt/if a plant or flower wilts, it becomes weak and
loses its colour, freshness etc, especially because of heat
or lack of water [v I/
The flowers you bought me lasted ages. It was two weeks
before they started to wilt. ] Marigolds are a strong breed,
less likely to wilt than other plants. I He looked at the poor
plant in the corner. It was wilting, its brilliant yellow petals
on the floor.
droop/dru:p! ifa plant or flower ,'oops, it starts to hang
down, especially because it is not getting enough water,
and begins to die [v I/
These flowers are beginning to droop. You'd better water
them. I He watered the vines so little that the leaves drooped
and the tendrils withered.
weaken WEAK 4
weakling WEAK 1
weakness FAULT/STH WRONG 2, 3
weakness: have a weakness for LIKE SB OR STH 3
wealthy RICH 1
wealthy: the wealthy RICH 6
weapon WEAPON 1
@ WEAPON
something that is used to fight with, such as
a gun, a bomb, or a sword
1 a weapon or collection of weapons
 carrying a weapon, especially a gun
3 having no weapons, so that you cannot
defend yourself
4 to get weapons in order to prepare yourself
for fighting or war
5 to provide someone with weapons, especially
an army or country
1 a weapon or collection of weapons
weapon ammunition
arms arsenal
weaponry
weapon / 'wepn/[n C/
Put your weapons down and come out with your hands up! i
Police have not yet found the murder weapon. I The talks

WEAPON 1544 WEAR CLOTHES
ended with an agreement to make dramatic reductions in the
number of nuclear weapons on both sides. I lethal weapon
(=one that can kill) Several fans were carrying knives, iron
bars, and other lethal weapons.
arms/o:rmz/weapons used for fighting wars In plural]
The country has been accused of supplying the rebels with
arms. I arms sales/trade/dealers The US cut off arms sales
to Chile in the mid 1970s. I Seven of the most prominent arms
dealers have been assassinated. I arms control/reduction/
limitation In the current hostile climate, further arms
reductions seem unlikely.
weaponry !'wepanri/a word meaning weapons used for
fighting wars, used especially when talking about how
effective, modern etc they are In U]
Superior weaponry gave the invaders a lear advantage. I
It is a highly-trained army, with very sophisticated modern
weaponry.
ammunition/,emj'nidn/bullets and other objects that
are fired from guns In U]
They kept on firing until they had no more ammunition. I
round of ammunition (=one bullet or similar object) More
than 100 rifles, together with 200, 000 rounds of ammunition
were found on board a fishing boat off the Irish coast.
arsenal/' o: rsdnal/all of the weapons and military equip-
ment that a particular country or fighting force has In C]
Their arsenal includes both SAM 7 missiles and anti-tank
weapons, i When they raided the house police found what one
officer described as "a complete arsenal" of handguns,
automatic weapons and explosives.
arms race / ' o:rmz reis/a situation in which two power-
fulopposing countries continually produce or obtain more
and better weapons, because each one wants to be the stron-
gest In singular]
This agreement slowed down the arms race, but did not stop
it. I In order to stay in the arms race, the Soviet Union had
to spend enormous amounts of money.
 to provide someone with weapons, especially
an army or country
arm/o:rm/Iv T]
In 1798, armed by the French, the Irish rebelled. I The govern-
ment trained, armed, and financed the entire rebel operation
along the West Coast.
ii] weaponry WEAPON 1
.I wear CLOTHES 1 DAMAGE 8, WEAR CLOTHES 1, 3
 wear: something to wear CLOTHES 1
- wear and tear DAMAGE 8
 wear away DAMAGE 6, 7
:;! wear off DISAPPEAR 2, STOP HAPPENING 1
!2 wear off: the novelty wears off BORING 10
 wear on PASS/TIME PASSING 3
 wear out DAMAGE 7
 wear out: tire out/wear out TIRED 5
,; wear thin: be wearing thin USE STH 15
,.--.,, wear well LONG TIME 7
 carrying a weapon, especially a gun
armed
armed/o:rmd/[adj]
An armed gang hijacked a train with 40 passengers on
board. I The suspect is armed and highly dangerous. I Secu-
rity at the factory is very noticeable, with high fences and
armed guards.
3 having no weapons, so that you cannot
defend yourself
unarmed
defenceless/defenseless
unarmed / ,An ' o: r md, / [ adj ]
The police officer, who was unarmed, was able to talk Fox
into handing over his gun. I the murder of unarmed civilians
by the security forces I unarmed combat (=fighting without
using any weapons) Troops are also trained in unarmed
combat.
defenceless (British) I defenseless (American)/d-
'fenslas/a person, place, ship etc that is defenceless has
no weapons and cannot defend itself against an attack [adj]
In the first weeks of the war, dozens of defenceless merchant
ships were sunk by submarines. I The sword splintered under
the blow and Alex was left defenseless.
4 to get weapons in order to prepare yourself
for fighting or war
arm yourself
rearm
arms race
arm yourself / ' o:rm j3:rself/to get weapons in order to
prepare yourself for fighting, especially for a fight rather
than a war Iv phrase]
arm yourself with We armed ourselves with whatever we
could lay our hands otz - shovels, kitchen knives, anything
at all. ] arm yourself The villagers had already armed
themselves and were ready to fight off the intruders.
rearm/ri: ' o:rm/ifa country rearms, it gets new or better
supplies of weapons in order to prepare for fighting a war,
especially after a period of peace Iv I]
By the time Britain started to rearm in the late 1930s, Ger-
many already had a massive superiority in tanks and war-
planes. ] Our enemies are rearming and we must do the same.
't&ke'off c!oths
WEAR CLOTHES
to wear a particular piece of clothing or set of
clothes
to be wearing clothes
the amount of use that a particular piece of
clothing has had
1 to wear a particular piece of clothing or set of
clothes
wear be in/be dressed in
have on be dressed as
wear/wear/to wear clothes and shoes, or wear jewellery,
glasses etc Iv T]
wear sth She wore jeans and a T-shirt. I I hate wearing high
heels. I She always wears long dangly earrings, laver
Ј30,000 was raised by selling clothes and costumes worn by
pop stars and celebrities. I wear blue/black/green etc I
can never persuade her to wear black - she says it makes her
look toopale. I wear sth to a party/dance/interview etc
What are you wearing to the party tonight? I wear sth on/

WEAR CLOTHES 1545 WEATHER
around/under etc Around his neck he wore a brightly
coloured scarf. I You ought to wear a T-shirt under your
sweater - it may get quite cold.
have on/,hev 'n II -'a:n/to be wearing something at a
particular time [phr v T not in progressive]
have a coat/jacket/suit etc on That's Jenny Salton over
there; she has a blue dress on. I Could you read this for me?
I don't have my glasses on. I have on a coat/jacket/suit
etc Did you notice Ian? He had on a grey suit.
be in/be dressed in/bi: n, 'drest In/to be wearing a
set of clothes Iv T]
The child was dressed in white shorts and shirt. [ Everyone
else was in their best clothes, but Arthur turned up in his old
T-shirt and jeans.
be dressed as/hi: 'dmst z/to try to look like someone
who is famous, someone who does a particular job etc by
wearing the same clothes as them, especially because you
are going to a party Iv phrase]
I went to theparty dressed as a policeman. [ Dressed as Santa
Claus, he patted me on the head and asked me what I wanted
for Christmas.
2 to be wearing clothes
be dressed
be dressed Ibi: 'drcst/Iv phrase]
Are you dressed yet? It's time to go. I I want you all to be
dressed and ready for the rehearsal at 8 o'clock. I be well
dressed He's always very well dressed - nice jackets, silk ties
and so on. I be smartly dressed Make sure you're smartly
dressed for the interview. It's important to make a good
impression.
3 the amount of use that a particular piece of
clothing has had
wear
wear/wear/In U]
This coat doesn't look too bad considering how much wear
it's had. I That sweater's as good as new - but it hasn't had
much wear, has it?l have a lot of wear out of(=wear some-
thing a lot without it becoming too old, torn, dirty etc) It
was a good buy, that dress -you've had a lot of wear out of it.
weariness TIRED 7
wearing TIRED 6
wearing thin: be wearing thin USE STH 15
weary TIRED 1
weasel out of: wriggle out of/weasel out of
weather WEATHER 1
weather: in all weathers WEATHER 4
weather: make heavy weather of sth
weather: the weather WEATHER 3
weather: under the weather ILL 2
weather forecast WEATHER 3
weather report WEATHER 3
AVOID 2
DIFFICULT 11
WEATHER
the temperature and other conditiOns such as
sun, rain, and wind
words for describing conditions, changes etc
connected with the weather
information about the weather provided by
radio, television, or newspapers
continuing to happen or be used in any kind
of weather
1 the temperature and other conditions such as
sun, rain, and wind
weather conditions
climate it
weather/'weSr/[n U]
Weather patterns around the world have been changing as
a result of global warming. I The weather was really bad
- it rained almost every day of the holiday. I wet/dry/hot/
cold ete weather What's the weather like today? I We can
expect wet weather over most of the country during the next
few days. I weather permitting (=if the weather is good
enough) After lunch we'll go and play softball in the park
- weather permitting of course.
climate/'klaimt/the average weather conditions that
exist in a particular place or large area over a long period
of time In C]
Northern Europe has a mild climate and a high rainfall. I
These flowers will not grow in a cold climate. I The climate
of southern Florida attracts thousands of tourists each
winter.
conditions/kn  dnz/the weather at a particular time,
especially when considering how this will affect an event
or activity that has been planned, such as a journey or a
race In plural]
Conditions are perfect for today's boat race on the River
Thames. I If the conditions are really bad we'll have to post-
pone the trip and stay at home. I weather conditions We
can expect a return to normal weather conditions this
weekend. I freezing/icy/stormy etc conditions Freezing
conditions are making the roads extremely hazardous and
drivers are warned to take extra care.
it /t/ it is cold/hot/windy/rainy/coudy etc (=the
weather is cold, hot, windy etc) [pron]
The weather forecast says it's going to be cloudy tomorrow,
with sunny intervals. I Isn't it lovely today - I wish it could
be like this all year round. I What's it like there at this time
of year?
 words for describing conditions, changes etc
connected with the weather
climatic
meteorological
atmospheric
climatic /klal'mtlk/ climatic conditions/changes/
differences (=connected with the weather in an area over
a long period of time) [adj only before noun]
The types of rice grown in a country depend on climatic con-
ditions. I Climatic changes are caused by the increasing levels
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. I The growth of plants
is substantially affected by climatic differences between
locations.
meteorological / ,mi:tiarv'lods;kl II -'la:-/meteorolog-
ical observations/reports/research ere (=connected
with the scientific study of the weather) [adj only before
noun]
Meteorological reports are fed into a computer which
analyses the data andelps scientists make accurate predic-
tions about the weather.
atmospheric/, etms ' ferk,/atmospheric conditions/
changes/pressure etc (=connected with the air that sur-
rounds the earth and how it affects the weather) [adj only
before noun]
Snow crystals form when atmospheric conditions turn water
vapour into ice. I The cylinder swelled and contracted with
the changing atmospheric pressure.
3 information about the weather provided by
radio, television, or newspapers
weather forecast the weather
weather report the outlook
weather forecast/'weSa r ,fa:rka:st II -kest/a descrip-
tion of what the weather will probably be like in the near
future, provided by radio, television, or newspapers In C]
The news ended and the weather forecast began. "Tomorrow
will be cloudy and dull, with rain at times'. I What's the
weather forecast for the weekend? l The weather forecast is
on page 6, next to the TV schedule.

WEATHER 1546 well
weather report/'we6a r r; ,po:rt] a British expression
meaning a description of the weather conditions now and
in the near future, especially one on the radio or television
[nC]
There are weather reports every hour to keep you up to date
with driving conditions in your area. I And now over to the
London Weather Centre for the latest weather report.
the weather/6o we6ar/an informal expression mean-
ing the description of what the weather will be like in the
near future, provided by radio, television, or newspapers
In singular]
I don't know why I listen to the weather. They never get it
right. [ The weather's usually on the back page of the paper.
the outlook/6i 'autluk/what the weather will probably
be like for the next few days, especially according to infor-
mation provided by the radio, television, or newspapers In
singular]
I'm afraid the outlook isn't very good - they say it's going
to rain tomorrow. [ the outlook for tomorrow/the
weekend etc The outlook for the weekend is for continued
fine weather.
4 continuing to happen or be used in any kind
of weather
rain or shine
in all weathers
all-weather
rain or shine/,rein a: r 'fain/if you say something hap-
pens rain or shine, you mean it always happens or it
definitely will happen no matter what the weather is like
[adv phrase]
My husband plays golf every weekend, rain or shine. [ come
rain or shine Storms are forecast for tomorrow, but
organizers say the concert in Central Park will go ahead
come rain or shine.
in all weathers/in ,a:l 'we6arz/a British expression:
if someone does something in all weathers, they do it in
all kinds of weather, even when it is very cold or wet [adv
phrase]
be out in all weathers (=be outside in every kind of
weather) She loves gardening - she's out in her garden in
all weathers. [ in all weathers There are homeless people
sleeping on the streets of London in all weathers.
all.weather/'a:l we6ar/all-weather clothing/gear/
stadium/pitch etc (=which can be used in any weather
conditions) [adj only before noun]
The team now have their own all-weather stadium, and
matches are rarely cancelled.
,. weave TURN 4
: wedding MARRY8
 weed WEAK 1
 weed out GET RID OF 5
. weedy WEAK 1
: weep CRY 1
 weigh HEAVY 2, 3, MEASURE 5, WEIGH 1, 2
, weigh aton HEAVY 1
 weigh in at WEIGH 1
weigh up THINK ABOUT 3
"WEIGH
1 ways of saying how heavy something or
someone is
2 to measure how much something or someone
weighs '-
3 the amount that something or someone weighs
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 ways of saying how heavy something or
someone is
weigh how heavy
be 5 kilos/lO pounds etc weigh in at
weigh/wei/[v not in progressive]
How much do you weigh? [ weigh 20 pounds/6 tonnes etc
The turkey I bought for Christmas weighed over 20pounds. [
Cut the meat into small pieces, each weighing about 100
grams.
be 5 kilosllO pounds etc/bi: (five kilos, etc)/to weigh
5 kilos, 10 pounds etc Iv phrase]
Sandra's baby was only 4lb 7oz when it was born. I If the
parcel is over 2 kilos you have to pay 50p more.
how heavy/,hau 'hevi/[adj phrase]
How heavy is it? I don't want to hurt my back. I She hadn't
realized how heavy the piano was until she tried to move it.
weigh in at/,wei in et/weigh in at 250 pounds/80
kilos etc (=to weigh 250 pounds, 80 kilos etc, especially
when you are being weighed before a sports event) Iv]
The champion weighed in at 225pounds before his last fight. I
He was the world's heaviest man, at one time weighing in
at an incredible 420 kilos.
2 to measure how much something or someone
weighs
weigh
weigh/wei/[v T]
Weigh the fruit before adding it to the mixture; don't guess
the quantities. I The nurse weighed the baby, then handed
him back to his mother. I When you check in for your flight,
your bags will be weighed.
3 the amount that something or someone weighs
weight
weight Iwe;t/[n U]
The average weight of a baby at birth is just over seven
pounds. I 3 ounces/10 pounds/5 kilos etc in weight After
the day's fishing the biggest fish he'd caught was only three
ounces in weight.
weighed down: be weighed down with/by CARRY 5
weight HEAVY 1, 2, WEIGH 3
weight: be a weight off sb's mind WORRIED 12
weight: gain weight FAT 7
weight: not pull your weight WORK HARD 9
weight: put on weight FAT 7
weight: throw your weight around TELL/ORDER SB
TO DO STH 8
weight: throw your weight behind SUPPORT A
PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 2
weight: under the weight of CARRY 5
weighted UNFAIR 4
weightless LIGHT/NOT HEAVY 1
weighty IMPORTANT 1
weird STRANGE 1, 2, 5
weirdo CRAZY 6, STRANGE 7
welcome ACCEPT 3, HELLO 2
welcome: outstay/overstay your welcome STAY/NOT
LEAVE 4
welcome: you are welcome to/you can keep WANT 12
we/come: you're welcome THANK 6
welcoming FRIENDLY 2, 5
welfare MONEY 7, SAFE 2
well HEALTHY 1
well: be well BETTER/RECOVERED 1
well: do sth well DO WELL 1
well: do well SUCCESSFUL 1, 2
well: get well RECOVER/GET BETTER 1
weih go well SUCCEED IN DOING STH 3
well: if all goes well HOPE 2
well: not be well/be unwell ILL 1

well 1547 WET
well: not feel well ILL 4
well-advised: you'd be well-advised to do sth
ADVISE 2
well-behaved BEHAVE 2, POLITE 5
well brought up POLITE 5
well-built STRONG PERSON 1
well-connected FRIEND 5
well-deserved DESERVE 3
well done PRAISE 10
well-dressed SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
well-earned DESERVE 3
well-founded LOGICAL 1
well-groomed SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
well-heeled RICH 1
well-informed KNOW STH 7
weil-intentioned INTEND 5
well known: be well known KNOW STH 12
well known: be well known for FAMOUS 2
well known: become famous/well known FAMOUS 6
well-known FAMOUS 1
well-liked POPULAR 1
well-/it BRIGHT 4
well-mannered POLITE 1
well-matched: be well.suitedlwell-matched
SUITABLE 2
well-meaning INTEND 5
well-meant INTEND 5
well off RICH 1
well off: be well off for ENOUGH 5
well-oiled machine EFFICIENT 1
well-ordered ORGANIZE 2
well-organized EFFICIENT 3
well paid: be highly paid/well paid EARN 4
well-paid/highly-paid PAY SB FOR WORK 4
well-preserved YOUNG 9
well-publicized PUBLICIZE/MAKE KNOWN 3
well-read READ 7
well-run EFFICIENT 1
well-suited: be well-suitedlwell-matched SUITABLE 2
well thought of: be well thought of REPUTATION 2
well thought out LOGICAL 1, PLAN 10
well-timed TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME 2
well-to-do RICH 1
well-travelledlwell-traveled TRAVEL 12
well-tried: tried and testedlwell-tried DEPEND
ON/RELY ON 3
well turned out SMART/WELL-DRESSED 1
well up on : be well up on KNOW STH 9
well-ventilated AIR 3
well versed in: be well versed in KNOW STH 4
well written READ 13
wellbeing HEALTHY 5
wet WET 1, 2, 3, 6
wet: get sth wet WET 6
wet blanket SPOIL 7
WET
words for describing something that has
water or another liquid on its surface
words for describing something that is full of
water or another liquid, especially something
that is usually dry such as clothing, paper, or
the earth
wearing wet clothes especially because you
have been in the rain or fallen in water
slightly wet
words for describing air that feels wet
to make someone or something wet
to make someone or something very wet
to make something slightly wet
1 words for describing something that has
water or another liquid on its surface
wet
awash
wet/wet/[adj]
Watch out! I've just washed the floor and it's still wet. I I
looked down at the children's wet faces. They'd obviously
been crying. I Persistent rain left the roads wet and slippery.
People were advised to drive carefully. I wet paint/ink
(=that has not yet dried) All the freshly painted cupboards
had "wet paint" signs on them.
awash/a,wDf II a'wad, 'wod/an area of ground or a
floor that is awash, is covered with a lot of water or another
liquid, especially because the level of the liquid has risen
[adj not before noun ]
The ship leaned further to starboard and soon the decks were
awash. I When the children had finished their shower the
bathroom was awash. I awash with A pipe had burst and
the kitchen floor was awash with dirty water.
2
words for describing something that is full of
water or another liquid, especially something
that is usually dry such as clothing, paper, or
the earth
wet
soaked
soaking wet/sopping
wet/wringing wet
dripping/dripping wet
wet/wet/[adj]
sodden
soggy
saturated
waterlogged
be swimming in
I can "t come outjust yet. My hair's still wet. I Get out of those
wet clothes. You must be freezing to death! I The earth under-
foot was wet and heavy, making it difficult to walk. I wet
through (=very wet) Not another burst pipe. Look, the car-
pet's wet through and the furniture's ruined.
soaked/soukt/something that is soaked is very wet,
especially someone's clothes or something made of cloth
[adj not before noun]
Your clothes are soaked. Leave them in front of the fire to
dry.I Don't leave the cushions in the garden. They'll get
soaked if it rains. I soaked through (=extremely wet) The
bus was hot and crowded and the driver's shirt was soaked
through with sweat.
soaking wet/sopping wet/wringing wet/, s)okil'J
'wet, ,sDpirj 'wet, iril]irj 'wet II-,so:pII  -/clothes or things
made of cloth that are soaking wet, sopping wet, or
wringing wet are so wet that drops of water fall from them
when they are pressed [adj not usually before noun]
Oh no, it's raining! The clothes are on the washing line and
they'll be soaking wet by the time we get home. I Don't put
that blanket on the bed, it's wringing wet! I My shirt was
sopping wet but I eventually got it dry enough to wear to the
party.
dripping/dripping wet/'drip, ,drzpirj Iwet/ some-
thing that is dripping or dripping wet is so wet that it has
drops of water falling from it [adj]
Take off those damp clothes and dry your hair - it's drip-
ping wet. I When cleaning the screen your cloth should be
damp but not dripping.
sodden /tsodn II sa:dn/ very wet, heavy, and usually
spoiled as a result of holding too much water [adj]
Mary tried to read the writing in her sodden address book,
but it was impossible, i He thought he'd caught a fish but
it was just another shoe, absolutely sodden and covered in
mud.
soggy/'sogi II 'so:gi/something such as paper, food, or
wood that is soggy has become soft as a result of being wet
[adj]
Ugh! These biscuits are soggy! When did you buy them? I A
soggy pile of old leaves lay in the corner of the yard.
saturated / Isatareitd/something that is saturated is
so wet that it cannot hold any more water or liquid [adj not
before noun]

1548
illWhatl s the word:?
.
:;,:+: What word is the picture illustrating?
What the 200 English students in our survey
said:
wet 51%
accident 15%
other 34%
WET
words for describing something that
has water or another liquid on its
surface
words for describing something that
is full of water or another liquid,
especially something that is usually
dry such as clothing, paper, or the
earth
wearing wet clothes especially
because you have been in the rain or
fallen in water
What the 20d English and American teachers
in our survey said:
drenched 59%
soaked 17%
other 24%
..., .,,: ,,,;:,;,,.'..:::,;:,, :. :;.. :.: .... +..,,: , ,.,,....-
.. .... ...'....: ::,.%:. . .::..
• ./

WET 1549 WET
When the monsoon rains begin, the soil quickly becomes satu-
rated. I saturated with By the time the ambulance arrived
his bandages were absolutely saturated with blood.
waterlogged /Iwo:tohggd l] wo:torlo:gd, wo:-, -lo:gd/
ground that is waterlogged has water on the surface
because it is so wet that it cannot hold any more water [adj]
The game was cancelled because the field was waterlogged. I
You can plant the seeds anytime, as long as the soil is not
frozen or waterlogged.
be swimming in/bi: IswImI(I In/if food is swimming
in a liquid, there is a lot of liquid on it when there should
really be only a little or none at all Iv phrase]
Her supper had a been a few broad beans swimming in oil,
with stale bread. [fried eggs and bacon swimming in grease
3 wearing wet clothes especially because you
have been in the rain or fallen in water
wet be soaking/be soaking wet
soaked drenched
wet/wet/[adj]
Oh no! I'm all wet and I don't have any dry clothes. I Hurry
up with the umbrella - we're getting wetter every minute! ]
wet through (=very wet) The rain "s terrible. I've only been
outside for two minutes and I'm already wet through.
soaked/saokt/very wet [adj not before noun]
All the walkers were soaked, and were now desperately
trying to dry out in front of the camp fire. I The rain's get-
ting worse. Hurry or we'll get soaked. [ soaked to the skin
(=extremely wet) I'd been out all night in the pouring rain
and I was cold, exhausted and soaked to the skin.
be soaking/be soaking wet/bi: sotJkIl:l, bi:, sotJkII]
' wet/to be very wet, so that drops of water are falling from
your clothes Iv phrase]
You "re soaking. Take those wet clothes off before you catch
pneumonia. I Someone had thrown Sally in the swimming
pool and she was soaking wet.
drenched /drentSt/ extremely wet because water has
poured all over you [adj not before noun]
The two and a half hour walk in the wind and rain left us
drenched. I Everyone got completely drenched when a huge
wave hit the boat.
4 slightly wet
damp
moist
clammy
damp/demp/slightly wet, especially in an unpleasant
way [adj]
Our hotel room was cold and the beds were damp. I Be care-
ful you don't slip - the grass is damp. I There's a nasty damp
patch on the ceiling. I Don "t put that shirt on. It's still damp.
moist/maist! something that is moist has just the right
amount of water or liquid in it, so that it is neither too dry
nor too wet [adj]
This cake is delicious, it's so moist! I Your plants will grow
well in moist soil and in a shady place in the garden. I Frogs
have smooth, moist skins to help them breathe.
clammy / klemi/something that is clammy, especially
someone's skin, is slightly wet and feels unpleasantly cold
and sticky when you touch it [adj]
As soon as the interviewer asked my name, I felt my hands
go clammy. I He was suffering badly from malaria, making
his whole body clammy with sweat. I My little brother came
into the kitchen holding a horrible, clammy toad from the
garden.
5 words for describing air that feels wet
humid dank
damp muggy
sticky
humid/'hju:md/wet and hot, so that you feel you cannot
breathe easily [adj]
The air in tropical forests is extremely humid. I It was a
heavy humid day and I didn "t feel like doing anything. I We
dry our laundry upstairs, making it the most humid part of
the house.
humidity/hju.-midti/In U[ To grow indoorplants success-
fully you have to keep them in the right humidity (=in air
that is just humid enough).
damp/demp/slightly wet in an unpleasant way, so that
you feel cold [adj]
It's cold and damp outside - make sure you wear a warm
coat. I My rheumatism always gets worse in this damp
weather. I a damp, chilly mist
damp/dampness In U[ The constant cold and damp made
Tony's illness even worse than usual.
sticky/stIki/making you feel uncomfortable and very
hot, wet, and dirty [adjl
We left Rome on a hot sticky day in August. I The trip home
was horrible in a sticky train compartment full of scream-
ing children.
dank/der3k/air that is dank, especially in an enclosed
room or space, is unpleasantly wet and cold so that it smells
bad [adj]
Sophia showed me the dank cellar where the family kept all
their wine bottles. I The passages running beneath the castle
had a dank mouldy smell. I I'm not surprised he's misera-
ble, living alone in that dank little house.
muggy /mAgi/ if the weather is muggy, the air is
unpleasantly warm and wet without any wind, making you
feel uncomfortable [adj]
When it's hot and muggy, no one feels like working. I The
evening was muggy and airless and clouds of insects
spiralled over the cattle.
6 to make someone or something wet
wet
get sth wet
splash
wet/wet/to deliberately make something wet [v T[
Wet the toothbrush before you put the toothpaste on it. [ The
hairdresser kept wetting my hair so that it was easier to cut.]
Tom wetted his finger and held it up to see which way the
wind was blowing.
get sth wet I ,get (sth) 'wet/to make something wet, espe-
cially by not taking enough care to keep it dry Iv phrase]
Wear a hat so you don't get you hair wet. [ She stepped in
a puddle, getting her brand new shoes all wet. [ When he was
a child he wouldn't go swimming because he hated getting
his feet wet.
splash/sple! to make someone or something wet with
a lot of small drops of water or other liquid Iv T[
splash sb/sth with sth A motorcycle sped past, splashing
all the spectators with mud. I Splash your face with water
to wake yourself up. I splash sth on/over Her coffee cup had
been spilled, splashing coffee all over her new dress.
7 to make someone or something very wet
soak flood
drench swamp
saturate
soak/suk/Iv T[
Soak a piece of cotton in water and use it to clean the wound. [
The bottle fell off the table, soaking the carpet completely. ]
The rain had come in through the bottom of our tent and
completely soaked our clothes.
drench/drenff/to make someone or something extremely
wet with a large amount of water or liquid Iv T[
My naughty brother drenched my sister with the hose while
she was sunbathing. ] A passing bus drenched me as it drove
through an enormous puddle. [ Blood was pouringfrom his
wound, drenching his shirt.
saturate /  setj'reit/to completely cover or fill something
with liquid so that it is thoroughly wet all over Iv T[
He always saturates his food with vinegar.[ The ground had
been completely saturated and was turning to mud.

WET 1550 WHEN
flood/flAd/to cover an area of land with a large amount
of water Iv T]
In the rainy season the river can rise rapidly to flood the
valley in a few hours. I The land is flooded for cultivation
purposes such as rice growing.
flooded [adj] We waded up the flooded garden path to the
house.
swamp /swtmp II swfl:mp, sw:mp/ to suddenly cover
something completely with a large amount of water, espe-
cially in a way that causes damage Iv T]
Water the young plants well, but don't swamp them. [ The
rain was driving down with great force, swamping the dry
ground. ] About 3000 years ago a tidal wave swamped the
coastal lowlands of Greece, causing ma. ssive destruction.
8 to make something slightly wet
dampen/damp
moisten
lick
dampen/damp / 'dempn, damp/[v T]
She had a fever so I dampened a cloth and put it on her fore-
head. I Damp the soil a little before you put the seeds in. I If
you dampen your piece of paper before you start painting you
will find it easier to paint evenly.
moisten I'mIsanl to make something slightly wet by put-
ring very small drops of water on it, especially to stop it get-
ting too dry Iv T]
Add just enough water to moisten the cake mixture without
making it too watery. [ When the clay becomes dry, moisten
it lightly before you continue to shape it.
lick/lik/to make something slightly wet with your tongue
Iv T]
Jess licked the stamp and stuck it on the envelope. [ The
cashier licked her fingers and started to count a huge pile
• of dollar bills.
;i; whack HIT 6
::
 whale of a time: have a whale of a time ENJOY/LIKE
•  DOING STH 2
.ўz..-.
what about: how about/what about SUGGEST 3
what if IF 8
 what not: and what not NAME OF A THING 4
 what's going on SITUATION 4
 what's his/her name NAME OF A PERSON 7
,,,. what's its name NAME OF A THING 4, THING 3
i what's more AND/ALSO 2
{ii what's up? HAPPEN 7
iii what's wrong FAULT/STH WRONG 1
 what? REPEAT 7
whatever ALL/EVERYTHING 3
 whatever: and/or whatever AND/ALSO 3
i whatever/whichever/whoever NO MATTER WHAT/
HOW MUCH ETC 1
whatsit NAME OF A PERSON 7. NAME OF A THING 4,
 THING 3
ў wheel PUSH 2, TURN 5
:: wheel: be behind the wheel/at the wheel DRIVE 1
!! wheeling and dealing DISHONEST 5
; wheeze BREATHE 6
 when WHEN 1, 2, 3, 4
1 at or immediately after the time when
something happens
when
when/wen/[conjunction]
When the water boils, turn off the heat. [ When I went back
to college, I told everybody that I was engaged. [ We'd only
just finished cleaning the house when our guests arrived. ]
You can change when you get back. ] I left school when I was
15.. [ When completed, the road will link four major cities.[
The town seemed larger than when I'd last been there.
2 ways of saying that one thing always
happens when another thing happens
when
whenever
every time
when/wen/[conjunction]
When she drinks, she gets depressed, i I can't understand you
when you mumble. ] When young people today have
problems, they can't talk to their parents. [ When the demand
for a product is high, its price tends to rise. [ You know what
she's like when she's on the phone.
whenever/wen'evr/every time that a particular thing
happens [conjunction]
Whenever we come here, we see somebody we know. ] He still
visited her whenever he could. ] If the baby is allowed to feed
whenever he is hungry, you will have less difficulty with him
later.
every time/,evri ItaIm/[conjunction]
Every time she see me she says hello. [ Every time it rains we
get a flood in the bedroom. [ Don't ask me for money every
time you want to buy a drink.
3 ways of saying that one thing happens during
the time that something else is happening
when
while
whilst
when/wen/[conjunction]
I hurt my shoulder when I was playing football. ] All this
happened when we were living abroad. ] When she was at
college she wrote for a student newspaper. I Why were you
downstairs when everyone else was in bed? [ He asked them
if they'd ever climbed a tree when they were kids.
while/wail/during the time that something is happening
[conjunction]
Keep the bacon warm while you are frying the eggs. ] While
Brandy was filling out the car-rental form, I called Jimmy
from the airport. [ While observing the patient's respiratory
rate, the doctor discovered an irregularity. [ Supplies were
limited while the war was on.
whilst/wadst/a word meaning while, used especially in
British English [conjunction]
They were killed whilst attempting to reach the summit. I
Patients often comment upon lack of sleep whilst in hospi-
tal. I They keep the animals under sedation whilst they're
being transported.
WHEN
at or immediately after the time when
something happens
ways of saying that one thing always
happens when another thing happens
ways of saying that one thing happens during
the time that something else is happening
ways of asking or mentioning the time or date
that something happened or will happen
4 ways of asking or mentioning the time or date
that something happened or will happen
when
what time
at what point
when/wen/[adv/conjunction]
When are you leaving for Norway?] When did you last have
something to eat? ] Do you know when the concert will be
held? [ I can't remember when I bought this.
what time/, wvt 'taim/exactly when [adv/conjunction]
What time is dinner?] What time did you get in last night?]
What time do you usually get home from work? [ I don't know
what time Daddy's coming home.

WHEN 1551 wide range
at what point /at ,wot 'p3int/ at what point in time
during a process, situation, or activity ladyConjunction]
At what point did you try to stop the fight? [ At what point
did you realize that your book would never be published?[
So at what point did the Third Reich cease to be a democ-
racy?[ I'm not sure at what point he began to suspect the
truth.
whenever ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 2, WHEN 2
where WHERE 1
where have you been? LATE 2
where on earth/where in the world WHERE 1
where sb stands OPINION 4
where was I? SUBJECT 5
where/wherefrom WHERE 1
where/where to WHERE 1
WHERE
t at which place or in which position
1 at which place or in which position
where whereabouts
where/where to where on earth/where in
where/where from the world
where/wear/[adv/conjunetion]
Where are you? [ Philip could never remember where he'd put
his keys. [ We asked a man where the nearest restaurant was. [
This is where they usuall have their evening meals. [ It's
impossible to say where and when rug-making in China first
began.
where/where to/wea r, ,wea r 'm:/to which place, or to
the place at or in which something is, something happens
etc [adv/conjunction ]
Where are you going, Mick? I "'I'm going to where I can be
of most use," said the doctor. [ Neighbours have no idea
where the couple have moved to. [ "'Would you like to come
with us? .... Where to?'"
where/where from / ,wea r 'from/from which place or
direction [adv/conjunction ]
Where did you get that dress from? [ Where did you get those
shoes? [ In all that time, Naomi never told me where she came
from. [ Where does this area get its water supply from?
whereabouts/'wearabaots/a word meaning where used
especially in spoken English when you are asking in what
general area something is [adv]
"Whereabouts in Spain are you going on vacation? .... The
North." [ Could you tell me whereabouts I might find the
head teacher, please? [ Winston had only a very dim idea
whereabouts in the building the Fiction Department was.
where on earth/where in the world /,wear on '3:rO,
,wear in a 'wa:rld/an expression meaning where, used
especially to show surprise or disapproval
Where on earth are you going dressed like that? I Where on
earth have you been all this time? I I had no idea where in
the world she could have got her information from.
whereabouts PLACE 1, WHERE 1
whereas BUT 4
wherever you go/look EVERYWHERE 3
wherewithal: the wherewithal MONEY 1
whether you like it or not CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
which direction DIRECTION 2
which way DIRECTION 2
NO
whichever: whatever/whichever/whoever
MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC 1
whiff: get/catch a whiff of sth SMELL 9
while ALTHOUGH 1, BUT 4, DURING 2, WHEN 3
while: a little while/a short while SHORT TIME 1
while: a while/for a while PERIOD OF TIME 4
while: stop for a moment/a while/a second PAUSE 1
while away SPEND TIME 2
while/whilst TIME/AT THE SAME TIME 2
whilst WHEN 3
whim WANT 10
whimper CRY 3
whine COMPLAIN 2, SOUND 14
whinge COMPLAIN 2
whip HIT 4
whip up CAUSE 4, MAKE 6
whip-round: have a whip-round GIVE 14
whirl TURN 1, 9
whirl: give it a gola try/a whirl TRY TO DO OR GET STH 4
whirl: give it a go/whirl TRY STH TO SEE IF IT IS GOOD 1
whirr SOUND 14
whisk MIX 2
whisk sb away TAKE/BRING 1
whisk sth away TAKE STH FROM SOMEWHERE 2
whisper SAY5
whistle SI NG 2
whistle: blow the whistle TELL 11
white: go as white as a sheet FRIGHTENEO 5
white collar CLASS I SOCIETY 3
white lie LIE/TELL A LIE 2
whitewash HIDE/NOT HOW 3
whittle away REDUCE 5
whizz FAST/QUICK 7
whikid INTELLIGENT 2
who cares? DON'T CARE 1
who knows? MAYBE 1
who knows/who can say? NOT KNOW 8
whoever EVERYONE 2
whole ALL/EVERYTHING 2, COMPLETE 1
whole: on the whole IN GENERAL 1 2
whole: the whole of ALL/EVERYTHING 2
whole: the whole world/office/neighbourhood etc
EVERYONE 1
whole-headedly COMPLETELY 1
whole time: the whole time ALL THE TIME 1, 2
wholesale BUY 2
wholesaler SELL 9
wholesome GOOD/MORAL 6, HEALTHY 7
wholly COMPLETELY 1
whopper: a whopper BIG 2
whopping BIG 8
wicked BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 1, BAD
PERSON 1
wickedness BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 6
wide WIDE1
wide: be wide of the mark WRONG/INCORRECT 1
wide: how wide WIDE 2
wide berth: give sth/sb a wide berth AVOID 1
wide open OPEN 7, 9
wide range: a wide range of LOT/A LARGE NUMBER
OR AMOUNT 2
[wide
• ,....., • . + . +.+:+ ..... . .... ..... + :....:.. .... ....++.. +++
.............. .... +.++++....-.+ ,....- .... +++++++++++++ .... +;+. +
there, +s..a #rge++=++++m .... • WiDE
:/+dista,ee from :one::.
t.+!+g?+e   +P@ THICK OBJECT
++ ........ +"++. ..... + ++ + +++++++ OR MATERIAL

WIDE 1552 WILL
WIDE
1 a long distance from one side to another
2 ways of saying how wide something is
3 to become wider
4 to make something wider
make sth wider/,meek (sth) 'waIdar/[v phrase]
That hole isn't wide enough -you'll have to make it wider. I
The vibrations caused by trains made the cracks in the walls
a lot wider.
widen/'waldn/to make something such as a road wider,
especially in a deliberately planned way Iv T]
Most of the local residents are against council plans to widen
the road. I Later the tunnel was widened to accommodate
larger vehicles.
1 a long distance from one side to another
wide
broad
wide/wad! an object, space, or area that is wide meas-
ures a long distance from one side to the other [adj]
The river's too wide to swim across. I Her parents" house was
on a wide dusty avenue which was lined with cherry trees.
At its widestpoint the lake is more than 2 miles across. I The
doorway wasn't wide enough to get the piano through.
wore a wide leather belt around his waist with a gun tucked
in it.
wide [adv] Stand with your legs wide apart. I "'Open wide, ""
said the dentist.
broad/bin:d/something that is broad, such as a road,
river, or field, or a part of someone's body, is wide, espe-
cially in a way that looks good [adj]
Rocky was tall and had broad muscular shoulders. I The
broad river reflected the flickering lights of the city. I When
I asked if she'd passed her exam, her face lit up with a broad
grin.
2 ways of saying how wide something is
how wide 2 miles wide/1 metre wide etc
width 2 miles across/1 metre across etc
how wide/hau 'waid/|adj phrase]
"'How wide is the room?" "'20feet. "'[ I'm not exactly sure how
wide our car is - probably about 2 metres.
width/w;d0/the distance from one side to the other In
C/U]
The width of the bus was almost as great as the width of the
road. [ The pieces of wood are all of varying widths. [ The
cost depends on what width of frame you choose. [ in width
(=from one side to the other) The box measured 60 cm in
length, 30 cm in width, and 20 cm in height.
2 miles widell metre wide etc/(2 miles etc) wad/
2 miles, I metre etc from one side to the other [adj phrase]
At this point the river is over a mile wide. [ The canvas meas-
ures about 4 metres long and 3 metres wide.
2 miles acrossll metre across etc/(2 miles etc)
a'kms II -a'kra:s/2 miles, I metre etc from one side of some-
thing to the other, especially when there is a space or hole
between the two sides [adj phrase]
The crater measures half a mile across. I Some of the
mushrooms are as much as 10 centimetres across.
3 to become wider
get wider
widen
get wider/Iget IwaId:)r! [v phrase]
The river starts to get wider at Lyon. I The gap between the
boat and the pier was getting wider and wider. I The path
got wider as we came down off the mountain.
widen ! waldn/a word meaning to get wider, used espe-
cially in written descriptions of places Iv I]
The road widened again when we came out of the tunnel. I
From Horton, the valley widens, becoming broader and more
expansive, with views over to Litton.
4 to make something wider
make sth wider
widen
widely LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 8
widen INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, WIDE
wider: get wider WIDE 3
wider: make sth wider WIDE 4
widespread LOT/A LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT 1, 8,
COMMON 2, EVERYWHERE 3
widow MARRY 17
widowed MARRY 17
widowed: be widowed DIE 7
widower MARRY 17
width WIDE 2
wield HOLD 5
wife MARRY 13
wife: man and wife MARRY 11
wiggle SHAKE 4
wild CONTROL 21, NATURAL 1
wild: in the wild NATURAL 1
wild goose chase LOOK FOR 7
wild guess GUESS 5
wildest dreams: in your wildest dreams EXPECT 9
wilful/willful STUBBORN 1
wilfullylwillfully DELIBERATELY 2
will DETERMINED 6, GIVE 9, WILL 1, 2
will: against your will WILLING 4
will: with the best will in the world IMPOSSIBLE 2
will
WILL
1 ways of saying that something will happen in
the future
2 ways of saying that you intend to do
something or have arranged to do something
in the future
1 ways of saying that something will happen in
the future
will
be going to do sth
be starting/finishing/arriving etc
starts/finishes/arrives etc
will be starting/finishing/arriving etc
be about to
is/are to

WILL 1553 WILLING
will/wil / will have/happen/win/leave etc [modal verb]
Who do you think will win the World Series next year? I It
will rain tomorrow morning and there will be snow on the
hills.. I Will I need a coat, do you think? I I expect we'll meet
again some day. I The comet is something we won't see again
in our lifetime. I We will have finished by six o'clock at the
latest.
be going to do sth/bi: ,gooIl 3 to 'du: (sth)/be going to
happen/fall/win/leave ere (used when you expect some-
thing to happen at some time in the future, especially
because the present situation makes it seem likely) iv
phrase]
She's going to have a baby in June. [ Watch out/You'regoing
to hit the tree. I Is it going to rain? [ There isn't going to be
a party after all. I I think I'm going to be sick.
be starting/finishing/arriving etc if something is
starting/finishing/arriving ete at a particular time soon
in the future, it has already been planned and arranged to
start, finish, arrive etc at that time [v]
Her plane's arriving at Heathrow airport in an hour's time. I
She said that tomorrow's game is starting at 4 o 'clock.
starts/finishes/arrives etc if something starts/fin-
ishes/arrives etc at a particular time in the future, it will
start, finish, arrive etc at that time according to an arrange-
ment or programme [v]
Hurry up! The train leaves at 6.30 and it's already 6 o "clock! l
What times does the movie start? I Madonna arrives in Aus-
tralia tomorrow on the next leg of her world tour.
will be starting/finishing/arriving etc/wll bi: (start-
ing etc)/if something will be starting/finishing/arriv-
ing ete at a particular time in the future, you expect it to
have already started to happen and still be happening at
that time iv]
Music will be playing when the bride enters the church. I It
will be raining soon, hurry up!
be about to Ibi: obaot tu:! if something is about to
happen or someone is about to do something, it will
happen or be done almost immediately, especially because
you can see, hear, feel etc that it is almost happening [v
phrase]
The film is about to begin. [ Experts think the volcano is
about to erupt. I She looked as if she was about to faint.
is/are to /IZ, al r tu:/ if something is to happen in the
future, especially something official or public, you mean
that it has already been decided or planned that it will
happen [v phrase]
There is to be a local election in November. I Government offi-
cials are to announce the new policy on health care at the con-
ference tomorrow.
2 ways of saying that you intend to do
something or have arranged to do something
in the future
will
be going to do sth
shall
be starting/finishing/arriving etc
will be starting/finishing/arriving etc
be about to do sth
will/wI1/will go/play/do etc [modal verb]
Don't worry about the mess - I'll clear it up in the morning. I
If you lend me$5I'llpayyou back tomorrow. I Whatwillyou
do when the children leave home? I Will you ever forgive me?[
I've invited Sally to the party but I don't think she'll come.
be going to do sth/bi: ,gooIIj to 'du: (sth)/be going to
do/play/learn ete (used when someone intends to do
something and has arranged it) iv phrase]
They're going to spend a summer holiday travelling around
the Greek Islands. I He was going to learn French but the
classes have been cancelled. [ Are you going to tell him the
truth or not?
shall Ij'M; strong Sael/a formal word used especially in Brit-
ish English meaning will [modal verb used only with I and
we]
I shall write to your parents if your school work does not
improve. I Now that we've discussed the matter I shan't
mention it again.
be starting/finishing/arriving etc if someone is
starting/finishing/arriving etc at a particular time in
the near future, they have already planned and arranged
to start, finish, arrive etc at that time Iv]
Joe and I are playing tennis on Saturday. I Everyone's meet-
ing at the bus station at 3.30.
will be starting/finishing/arriving etc/wI1 bi: (start-
ing etc)/if someone will be starting/finishing/arriving
etc at a particular time in the future, you expect them to
have started doing it and still be doing it at that time Iv]
This time tomorrow l'll be having dinner with my sister. I
When you arrive we'll be sunbathing on the patio.
be about to do sth/bi: o,baot to du: (sth)/if someone
is about to do something, they have decided to do it or
intend to do it almost immediately Iv phrase]
Tom is about to start his new job. I Iwas about to speak when
he interrupted me.
willing WILLING 1, 2
willing: be willing to do sth WILLING 1
@ WILLING
1 to be willing to do something
2 doing something willingly, without being
forced to do it
3 to not be willing to do something
4 doing something unwillingly, because
someone forces you or asks you to do it
1 to be willing to do something
be willing to do sth
be ready to do sth
be prepared to do sth
not mind doing sth
be glad/happy/
pleased to do sth
agree to do sth
willing
be game
be willing to do sth/bi: ,WIIII 3 tO 'du: (sth)! to be will-
ing to do something that someone asks you to do, or some-
thing that needs to be done iv phrase]
He's willing to tell the police everything he knows. [ Have a
word with the manager and see if he's willing to reduce the
price. I We needed a new Social Secretary, but no one was
willing to take the job.
willingness [n U] The staff have indicated their willingness
to take a pay cut if this will safeguard their jobs.
be ready to do sth/bi: ,redi to 'du: (sth)/to be willing
to do something at any time, as soon as it needs to be done
[ v phrase]
My uncle was always ready to lend me small sums of money
without hesitation. [ All the terrorists are ready to die for the
cause if they have to. I Both Russia and America are now
ready to open negotiations.
be prepared to do sth/bi: pr ,peord to 'du: (sth)/to be
willing to do something, especially something difficult or
unpleasant iv phrase]
He was prepared to use force if necessary. I I don't care how
long it takes - I'm quite prepared to wait. [ You'll never learn
to speak another language unless you're prepared to make
an effort.
not mind doing sth/not ,malnd 'du:iIj (sth)/to be will-
ing to do something that someone wants you to do, even
if you are not especially keen to do it [v phrase not in
progressive]
I don "t mind driving if you're tired. ] If you don't mind wait-
ing a few minutes we can check our records for you. ] I told
her I didn't really mind going, but to be honest I'd have
preferred to stay at home.

WILLING 1554 WILLING
be glad/happy/pleased to do sth/hi: ,gland, ,hapi,
,pli:zd t 'du: (sth)/to be very willing to do something that
will help someone else Iv phrase]
Our sales staff are always pleased to help. [ "'Could you do
me a favor?'" "'I'd be glad to. "'[ John says he'd be happy to
give you a hand with the gardening. [ be only too glad/
happy/pleased to do sth (=be very willing) I'd be only too
pleased to look after the kids for you.
agree to do sth/a,gri: ta du: (sth)/to say that you are
willing to do something that someone has asked you to do,
especially when this will take some effort or involve some
inconvenience Iv phrase]
I've agreed to help Sarah move house this weekend. [ I don't
know why you agreed to teach him to drive -you'll only lose
your temper. [ kindly agree to do sth Officer Browning has
kindly agreed to come into school and give us a talk on crime
prevention.
willing/'wlli/eager, hard-working, and willing to do
.anything you are asked to do [adj]
He's not a very bright boy, but he's young, strong and will-
ing. [ She's an enthusiastic, willing learner.
be game/hi: 'geim/to be willing to try something dan-
gerous, new, difficult, or risky Iv phrase]
be game to do sth She's one of those people who's game to
try anything. [ be game "'Would you like to come surfing?'"
"'Why not? I'm game." [ be game for Tim's always game for
the difficult jobs.
2 doing something willingly, without being
forced to do it
willingly readily
of your own free will freely
voluntarily voluntary
gladly willing
willingly/'wil[li/ladv]
Some people would willingly pay extra taxes for better public
services. [ I'd give up my time willingly if I thought I could
help. [ The defendant claims that Ms Stockman had entered
his apartment quite willingly.
of your own free will/av j.o:r ,aon fri: 'wi1 / if you do
something of your own free will, you do it because you
choose to and want to, and not because you are forced to
[adv phrase]
Nobody forced her to go - she left of her own free will. [
Jimmy confessed to the crime of his own free will.
voluntarily/'volontarli, ,volon'terli II ,vo:lonteroli/if
you do something voluntarily, especially something
difficult, unpleasant, or inconvenient, you do it willingly
and not because you are forced to lady]
She wasn't fired or asked to resign; she left voluntarily. I
Most governments simply hope that people will voluntarily
limit the size of their families, but in some places legislation
has been used.
gladly/'gladli/if you do something gladly, you are very
willing and pleased to do it [advl
She wanted some advice, and I offered it gladly. I If only I
had more money in the bank, I would gladly retire.
readily/'redgli/if you do something readily, you do it
very willingly and without needing to think about whether
you should do it or not [adv]
He readily agreed to all our suggestions. I Beth was very tired
and readily accepted a seat when it was offered. I It is hard
work for him, but he readily admits that the advantages far
outweigh the disadvantages.
freely /'fri:li/ freely admit/acknowledge (=willingly
agree that something is true, especially something that
other people might be embarrassed to admit) [adv]
I freely admit I made many mistakes. I He freely
acknowledges that he behaved badly in the past.
voluntary/'volantari II 'vo:lanteri/actions that are volun-
tary are done willingly, not because you are forced to do
them or have a legal duty to do them [adj]
Most charities rely on voluntary contributions from the
public. I Playing sport on Saturday at school was entirely
voluntary. [ They have tried to avoid putting legal limits on
wage rises, and rely instead on voluntary pay restraint.
willing/'wiln3/willing accomplice/partner/partici-
pant etc (=someone who takes part in an activity with
someone else without being forced to, especially a dis-
honest or criminal activity) [adj only before noun]
The police claim Davison was a willing participant in the
murder. I I was all ready to set out on the journey - now all
I needed was a willing partner.
3 to not be willing to do something
be unwilling/not be willing
reluctant
be loath to do sth
be unwilling/not be willing Ibi: ^n'wiliIJ, ,not bi:
'wlhrj/to not be willing to do something, even though you
should do it or someone else wants you to do it Iv phrase]
be unwilling/not be willing to do sth She's unwilling to
admit her mistakes. I We're not willing to accept extra
responsibility unless we get more money. I be unwilling/
not be willing I asked him if he'd come and help us, but he
seemed rather unwilling.
unwillingness In U] No agreement was reached because of
the unwillingness of either side to compromise.
reluctant/rl 'lAktant/not willing to do something, even
though you usually do agree to do it in the end [adj]
reluctant to do sth He seemed somewhat reluctant to
explain, but finally did so. I I was very reluctant to agree to
their conditions, but I didn't really have much choice. [ reluc-
tant They dragged the reluctant pony into the stable.
reluctantly [adv] She reluctantly agreed to meet him for
lunch.
reluctance In U] After much consideration and a great deal
of reluctance we finally took the decision to close the hospital.
be loath to do sth/bi: ,1oo0 ta 'du: (sth)/ to be very
unwilling to do something, especially something which
affects you personally and which you may find upsetting
or unpleasant to do Iv phrase]
His mother was still asleep and he was loath to wake her. [
I suppose I'll have to sell the painting, but I'm loath to part
with it.
4 doing something unwillingly, because
someone forces you or asks you to do it
unwillingly grudgingly
against your will drag your feet
unwillingly /An'wdI131i / if you do something unwill-
ingly, you do it slowly or without any eagerness, in a way
that shows you are unwilling lady]
Johnson unwillingly admitted he'd been drinking that even-
ing. [ He pointed at a chair, and A lfred sat down unwillingly.
against your will/,genstja: r 'wil/if you do something
against your will, you do not want to do it but you are
forced to [adv phrase]
He said he was made to sign the agreement against his will. I
No one should be forced to marry against their will.
grudgingly/'grAd31131i/if yOU do something or say some-
thing grudgingly, especially something that gives help or
praise or pleasure to someone else, you do it very unwill-
ingly lady]
The city council has grudgingly given $100,000 towards the
new after-school care program. [ Steve grudgingly admitted
that his opponent had played a better game.
grudging [adj] Charles listened to the speech with grudg-
ing admiration.
drag your feet/,drag ja: r 'fi:t/to take too much time
to do something because you are unwilling to do it
[ v phrase ]
Tax reforms were promised for last summer, but the govern-
merit is still dragging its feet. I drag your feet over The
nuclear nations were dragging their feet over arms control
negotiations.

willingly
willingly WILLING 2
willowy THIN PERSON 3
willpower DETERMINED 6
willy nilly CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 5
wilt WEAK 5
wily INTELLIGENT 8
wimp BRAVE 6
win GET 1, WIN 1, 2, 3
win: be winning WIN 7
win: no-win situation PROBLEM 3
win back GET 10
win by a narrow margin WIN 6
win easily WIN 4
win fame: rise to fame/achieve fame/win fame
FAMOUS 6
win hands down WIN 4
win over/around PERSUADE 4
win the day WIN 2
win the hearts of LIKE SB OR STH 7
LOSE A GAME,
COMPETITION,
OR WAR
WIN
9
10
to win a race, game, or election
to win a war, fight, or argument
a situation in which someone wins a race,
competition, war etc
to easily win a race, game, or election
a situation in which someone easily wins a
race, game, or election
to only just win, and almost lose
to be in a position in which you are likely to
win because you are doing better than your
opponents
to be the person, team etc that everyone
expects to win
the person or group that has won
something that you win
I to win a race, game, or election
win first place
come first get in
finish first/come in first
win/wn/[v I/T]
win a race/competition/election etc Elliot again won the
200 meter final. ] Do you think the Republicans will win the
election?] The competition was won by an American. ] win
a prize/cup/medal etc (=get it by winning a race or com-
petition) We won the trophy twice. ] A magnificent goal from
Ricky Villa won Tottenham the FA Cup yet again. ] win at
cards/chess etc Polly always wins at cards. ] win We're
pretty sure we'll win, as long as we have Gary on our team.
1555
WIN
come first/,k^m 'f3:rst/an expression used especially
in British English, meaning to win a race or competition
[v phrase not in progressive]
come first in An Australian runner came first in the mara-
thon. I Laughing Boy came first in the 3:30 at Newmarket this
afternoon. I come first Who do you think will come first?
finish first/come in first/,finff f3:rst, ,kAm In-/to win
a race [v phrase not in progressive]
finish first in Mark finished first in two races - the 50m
backstroke and the lOOm front crawl. I come in first Andrd
Etienne came in first, having completed the course in a record
1 hour and 39 minutes.
first place/,f3:rst pleis/the position in a race or com-
petition of the person or team that wins In singular]
First place goes to Jackson High School, who won seven of
today's events. I f'mish in first place Due to a splendid team
effort, we finished in first place. I in first place And in first
place - the Japanese sprinter who did so well in the semi-
finals. I win first place in Miriam hopes to win first place
in the music competition.
get In /,get n/if a political party gets in, they win an
election, and so have the right to form a government [phr
v I not in progressive]
Do you think Labour will get in this time? I Figures released
today show that the Democrats are falling behind and their
chances of getting in are slim.
2 to win a war, fight, or argument
win prevail
come out on top win the day
be victorious carry the day
win/win/Iv I/T]
win sth I could never win an argument with my father. I
Eventually she won her case against her employers, but only
after spending $45,000 in legal fees. I For three weeks, it
remained uncertain who would win the battle. I win a vic-
tory This was the first of many victories won by the women's
rights campaigners. I win Whoever wins, the country is still
going to be faced with crippling problems.
come out on top/,km aot on 'top II -'to:p/to win a
dh%cult political struggle, or an important argument, espe-
cially one that has lasted for a long time Iv phrase not in
progressive]
At this stage in the debate, it's getting increasingly difficult
to predict who will come out on top. I Most politicians will
do everything in their power to prevent members of the oppo-
sition party coming out on top.
be victorious/bi: vik'ta:rios/a formal word meaning to
win a war, fight, or important argument very successfully
[ v phrase]
The president was confident that his armies would be vic-
torious. [ emerge victorious (=finally win) It was a long,
hard fight but All emerged victorious.
prevail/pri vei1/if a person or their ideas prevail in an
argument, or fight, they win after some time Iv I]
After a long debate the senator finally prevailed. [ prevail
over I'm glad to see that justice has prevailed over self-
interest in this case.
win the day /,win 6a deI/an expression used especially
in news reports meaning to finally win an argument or
political struggle, especially when the people you are argu-
ing with, or fighting against, are very difficult to defeat Iv
phrase not in progressive]
The moderates won the day in Parliament when they suc-
ceeded in halting the progress of an anti-government motion.
carry the day /kari 6a dei/to win by persuading people
to accept a plan, proposal, or idea, especially after a lot of
talking and arguing Iv phrase not in progressive]
The debate was very heated, but in the end the anti-
abortionists carried the day with a 72% majority. [ His
appeal to reason and common sense was what finally carried
the day.

WIN 1556 WIN
 a situation in which someone wins a race,
competition, war etc
victory success
win conquest
triumph
victory/'viktari/[n C/U]
The streets are full of cheering crowds, all celebrating Ger-
many's victory. I So far the Tories have won four consecu-
tive election victories. [ The General insisted that victory was
possible by air power alone. [ victory over Johnson's three
point shot in the final second gave the team a victory over
the Celtics.
w|n/wn! a situation in which a pergon or team wins in
a sport In C]
It was a good game and an important win for us. I They'll
need a few more wins if they're to stay in the Premier League
next season. I Nick Faldo's win in the US Masters Golf Cham-
pionship was quite spectacular.
triumph ]'traiomf/ an important victory after a long,
difficult struggle, especially in war or politics In C/U]
The triumph of the Allied forces in the Second World War
cost hundreds of thousands of lives. I Despite many local tri-
umphs, their party stands little chance of winning a national
election.
success ]sokses/ a victory, especially in a series of
games, fights etc In C/U]
With a such a strong team, France are heading for success. I
their fourth success in a row I After their spectacular success
in Crete, their forces threatened Egypt.
conquest/'korkwest II ko:-/a victory in which one
country wins a war against another country and takes con-
trol of it In C/U]
The palace was built in Cordoba, Spain, following the Arab
conquest. I The Roman legions withdrew, opening the way
for the conquest of the British Isles by the Germanic tribes. I
The Punic Wars heralded a period of conquest and colonial
expansion.
4 to easily win a race, game, or election I
win easily romp home ['"
win hands down sweep the board
sweep to victory
win easily/,win 'i:zli/Iv phrase]
Lendl won easily, in three sets. [ Everyone expected the
Democrats to win easily. [ win sth easily Said Aouita won
the race easily.
win hands down/wn handz daon/to win very easily
with no problems Iv phrase]
The Socialists will win hands down, if the election is free and
fair. [ In the race for market domination, United Plastics is
winning hands down.
sweep to victory / rswi:p to 'viktari/to win easily in a
very impressive way Iv phrase]
Olson scored twice as the Rams swept to victory. [ Nixon
swept to victory by 47 million votes to 29 million.
romp home /,romp hoom [[ ,ra:mp-/an informal British
expression meaning to win a race or game easily [vphrase]
Prost romped home in the Brazilian Grand Prix. [ No goals
were scored in the first half but Spurs romped home in the
second, scoring four.
sweep the board/,swi:p 6o 'b:rd/to win very easily
by winning all the points, money, votes etc that it is possi-
ble to win [v phrase]
The United States swept the board at the swimming cham-
pionships. [ We played four games of cards last night and
Janet completely swept the board.
a situation in which someone easily wins a
race, game, or election
easy win
walkover
landslide
easy win/i:zi 'win/ In singular]
The election was an easy win for the Christian Democrats.
walkover /w3:koovor/a situation in which someone
wins very easily, especially in a sport, because they are so
much better than the people they are playing against In
singular]
It'll be a walkover - the opposition are very weak. [
walkover for The match was a walkover for Becket.
landslide /'landsla[d/a victory in an election in which
one person or party easily gets far more votes than the
others In singular]
The newspapers were predicting a landslide for Clinton. [
by a landslide He won re-election in 1984 by a landslide. [
landslide victory Few people had expected Labour's land-
slide victory in 1945.
6 to only just win, and almost lose
win by a narrow margin
scrape home
be a close-run thing
win by a narrow margin /,w:n bai 0, n;r0u 'ma:rd3n/
to win because you get a few more votes, points etc than
your opponents Iv phrase]
We won the debate by a narrow margin. [ Winning by a
narrow margin, the Lakers now go on to play in the cham-
pionships.
scrape home/,skreIp 'hoom/to win by a very small
number of votes or points, or by a very small distance in
a race Iv phrase]
The Green Party scraped home in the local elections. [ The
referees decided that Foreman had just scraped home.
be a close-run thing/bi: o klous ran 0irj/a British
expression: if you say that a race, election etc is a close-
run thing, you mean that no one person, party etc is
clearly more likely to win than the others Iv phrase]
The election was a close-run thing, a handful of votes decided
it. [ The champions have kept their title, but it was a close-
run thing.
7 to be in a position in which you are likely to
win because you are doing better than your
opponents
be winning be in the lead
lead be in front/be out in front
be ahead
be winning/bi: 'winrj/ [V phrase]
I can't see who's winning the race. [ It looks as though John-
son is winning this election battle. [ Senna was winning
when the Grand Prix was brought to a halt because of a
crash.
lead/li:d/to be winning a game or competition Iv I/T]
lead by 10 points/three frames ete Edberg was leading
by two sets when rain stopped play. [ lead sb/sth Germany
lead Argentina 3-0 with two minutes remaining. [ Coe led the
race from start to finish, winning in record time. [ lead The
team from Bowthorpe High School are leading with 60
points.
be ahead/bi: o'hed/to be winning in a game, competi-
tion, or election, especially by a small number of points,
votes etc Iv phrase]
Kasparov is ahead 2-1 in the 11-game championship. [ Clin-
ton was still ahead in the pollsjust a week from polling day. [
Shortly afterwards Tom Smith put the Dodgers ahead with
a stunning home run.
be in the lead/bi: n 6o li:d/to be winning a game, com-
petition, or race, especially towards the end of it [vphrase]
The Dolphins are still in the lead with only 2 minutes left to
play. [ They're coming up to the last fence with April Lady
in the lead.
be in front/be out in front/bi: in 'fr^nt, bi: ,aot in 'frhnt/
to be winning a race Iv phrase]
My horse, Stargazer, was out in front and running well [
The runners came past us with the Kenyan well in front, the
others bunched together.

WIN 1557 wiser
to be the person, team etc that everyone
expects to win
be (the) favourite/be (the) favorite
be odds on to win
frontrunner
be in the running
strong contender
be (the) favourite (British) I be (the) favorite (Ameri-
can) Ibi: (6) 'fevart/Iv phrase]
be (the) favourite for sth The Danish runner was the
favouritefor the lOOm sprint. [ be (the) favourite to win
Thatcher was favourite to win the 1984 election. [ be (the)
clear favourite The Luxembourg entry is clear favourite
to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
be odds on to win/bi:,lz on t 'wn [[ -,o:dz-/an infor-
mal British expression meaning to be generally expected
to win Iv phrase]
Emma Thompson was odds on to win an Oscar for her
performance.
frontrunner !,fr^nt'r^nr/a person or team that has a
very good chance of winning a race, election, or competi-
tion In C]
He will certainly be a frontrunner in the Democratic
primaries. [ The Greens have never really been among the
frontrunners in British politics.
be in the running/bi: in 6 ' r^nj/to be one of the people
that have a good chance of winning a race or election, of
getting a job etc, when a lot of people are competing Iv
phrase]
I don't know why he expected to get the job, he was never
really in the running. [ be in the running for Lisa is defi-
nitely in the running for the nomination.
strong contender/strm] kn :tend r [[ ,stm:-/someone
who has a very good chance of winning or getting a job In C]
strong contender for Bill was always a strong contender
for the job. [ strong contender No one knows who will win
the race, but Christie is a strong contender.
9 the person or group that has won
winner victorious
winning champion
victor champ
winner/'wnr/[n C]
The winner will receive a prize of $500. [ The crowd roared
as the winner crossed the finishing line. [ Faldo, the winner
of last year's US Open, is again the favourite for this year's
tournament. [ On Thursday the judges will be announcing
the winner of this year's Booker prize.
winning / 'winirJ/winning team/player/horse etc (=the
team, player etc that wins) [adj only before noun]
The crowd cheered the winning team. [ A group of reporters
followed the winning jockey and horse into the winner's
enclosure.
victor /'v[ktr/the winner in a war, election, or impor-
tant sporting event [n C]
After the war, the victors returned in triumph. [ The victors
wave to the crowd as they do their lap of honour.
victorious/vik't:ris/victorious army/team/nation
etc (=the army, team, country etc that wins) [adj]
He shook hands with his victorious opponent. [ Three young
men from the victorious team came forward to collect their
trophy.
champion / tSampin/a person who has won a competi-
tion, especially in sport In C]
Mohammed All, the former world heavyweight boxing
champion, will appear on the "Tonight" show next week. [
defending champion (=the person who won last time and
is trying to win again) As defending champion, he is
expected to reach the final. [ reigning champion (=the
present champion who won the competition last time)
Bjorn Borg was the reigning Wimbledon champion for five
years.
champ/tSmmp/an informal word meaning someone who
has won a sports competition In C]
Here comes the champ!
10 something that you win
winnings trophy
jackpot cup
prize
winnings /'winrjz/money that you win by playing games
for money In plural]
She collected her winnings and put them into her bag. [
Scooping up his winnings, he went off to invest them at the
blackjack table.
Jackpot/d3akpot [[ -pa:t/the largest amount of money
that can be won in a game of chance In singular]
The jackpot is worth $1 million this week. [ hit the jackpot
(=win it) If I hit the jackpot, I'1l celebrate with a bottle of
champagne.
prize/praiz/something of value, such as money, a book,
or a holiday, that is given to the winner of a competition,
game, race etc In C I
He won a prize for having the best exam results in the schooL[
first prize She entered a poetry competition and won first
prize. [ The first prize is a fantastic three-week vacation in
the Caribbean.
trophy / trofi/a specially designed container or shield,
given to the winner of a competition, especially a sports
competition [n C]
The winner went to receive her trophy. [ They became the first
British team to win a major European trophy.
cup/kAp/a specially designed container, usually made of
silver or gold, given to the winner of a sports competition
In C]
She has already won several cups for golf. [Australia are
leading contenders for the Americas Cup this year.
wind BEND 8, TURN 4, 8
wind: get wind of FIND OUT 3
wind: which way the wind blows SITUATION 2
wind down STOP STH THAT IS HAPPENING 5
wind down/roll down the window OPEN 1
wind sb up ANGRY 10
wind up FINISH DOING STH 5
windbag TALK TO SB 10
winding BEND 8
window shopping: go window shopping BUY 5
wing PART 5
wink SIGN/GESTURE 2
wink: not sleep a wink SLEEP 11
winner WIN 9
winning WIN 9
winnings WIN 10
win COLD 3
wipe CLEAN 4, WASH 4
wipe off REMOVE 3
wipe out KILL 6
wipe the smile off sb's face PROUD 10
wipe up CLEAN 8
wired DRUG 4
wiry STRONG PERSON 3, THIN PERSON 2
wisdom INTELLIGENT 11
wise INTELLIGENT 6, SENSIBLE 3
wise: be wise to TRICK/DECEIVE 6
wise: get wise to FIND OUT 3
wise guy: smart-ass/wise guy INTELLIGENT 7
wisecrack JOKE 1 4
wiser: be none the wiser UNDERSTAND 12
[ "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

wish 1558 WITH
wish
wish WANT 1, 2, 9, 11
wish sb luck LUCKY 5
wish you had/hadn't done sth
wishes: go against sb's wishes
wishful thinking HOPE 6
wishy-washy DECIDE 10
wistful SAD/UNHAPPY 4
wit FUNNY 5
witch MAGIC 5
witchcraft MAGIC 1, JOKE 5
with ACTOR/ACTRESS 5, HAVE 4, INCLUDE 4,
WAY/MANNER 2, WITH 1, 3, 6
with: be with sb SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR
PLAN 1, UNDERSTAND 4, WORK FOR SB 1
with: have/be sth to do with CONNECTED WITH 2
REGRET/FEEL SORRY 1
DISOBEY 1
WITH
1 with another person or other people
2 to go somewhere with someone
3 working with someone else to achieve
something
4 working with someone else for a dishonest
purpose, especially in secret
5 someone who does something or goes
somewhere with someone else
6 with another thing or other things
7 ways of saying that something is used
together with something else
8 to come or go to where someone else is in
order to be with them, do something with
them etc
1 with another person or other people
with in sb's company
be accompanied by in sb's presence
company contact
with/wI6, wi0/[prep]
Don't leave me alone with her. I "Where's Jill?" "'I don't
know, I thought she was with you." I I try to make sure I have
a couple of hours to spend with David - he needs a lot of
attention. I We live with my parents-in-law. I At the moment,
she's in a meeting with the President. I arrive/leave/go out
etc with sb There are one or two people at work who I occa-
sionally go out with socially. I Lindsay arrived with her
husband but left by herself.
be accompanied by/bi: o'kAmpanid bai / to be with
someone, especially when this person's presence gives you
support or protection Iv phrase]
Children under four'teen must be accompanied by an adult. I
Wherever she goes these days she has to be accompanied by
a bodyguard. I The Prince, accompanied by the Princess,
spoke to many of the disaster victims in the hospital.
company / 'kmpani/the presence of another person or
other people, that gives you someone to talk to and stops
you feeling lonely In U]
I was grateful for Jean's company on the long journey up to
Edinburgh. I "'Do you mind if Ijoin you? .... No of course not,
it's nice to have some company. "' I It's the company I miss.
You know, having someone to talk to.
in sb's company/in (sb's) 'kAmpani/when you are with
a particular person [adv phrase]
I always feel very relaxed in Nick's company. [ Many people
are uneasy in the company of strangers.
in sb's presence/n (sb's) 'prezans/if you are in some-
one's presence, especially someone important or famous,
you are with them or in the same place as them [adv
phrase]
Suddenly we found ourselves in the presence of the great
man.[ None of the servants would dare to mistreat the
animals in the Queen's presence.
2 to go somewhere with someone
go with accompany
come with escort
come along
go with/'go wi6/[v T not in passive]
"'Who did you go to the party with? .... No one, I went by
myself. "" [ Jenny's gone to the dentist with her mother. [ I
bought these earrings when I went with Yvonne to Covent
Garden market.
come with /'km w6/ (used when both you and the
person you are speaking to are in the same place or are
going to the same place) Iv T not in passive]
Will you come with me to the airport? [ I came here with my
Dad for lunch just the other day. [ She's not coming with us
in the car, she's going by train.
come along /,kAm 'lj [[ -'b:rj/to come with someone
to a place where they are going, especially to a social event
[phr v I]
We spent all afternoon trying to persuade Jean to come
along. [ come along with I thought if I came along with
Penny we could make up a foursome.
accompany Io'kmpani/a formal word meaning to go
somewhere with someone [v T]
Perhaps you will be kind enough to accompany me to the
dining room? [ She was assigned a detective who from now
on would accompany her everywhere.
escort/i t sko:rt/to go somewhere with someone when it
is your official duty to do this, for example because they
are not allowed to go there alone Iv T]
A police officer escorted the witness into the court room. [ As
Master of Ceremonies, Arkwright had the privilege of escort-
ing the guests of honour to their seats.
3 working with someone else to achieve
something
with in collaboration with
in conjunction with side by side with
in partnership with shoulder to shoulder with
with/wi6, wI0/[prep]
"'Did you build this wall all on your own? .... No, I dld it with
my brother. "] I want to work closely with the staff to draw
up the new job descriptions.
in conjunction with/in kn'd3AIjkan wi61 if something
is done by one organization or group of people in conjunc-
tion with another organization or group, it is done by both
of them working together [prep]
The exhibition is sponsored by the Arts Council, in conjunc-
tion with British Airways. [ Environmental groups, work-
ing in conjunction with the River Police, found out who was
responsible for polluting the waterways.
in partnership with/In tpct:rtn)rIp WI6 / if you work
in partnership with another person or group, you work
with them and share the responsibility of deciding what
to do [prep]
If the whole community acts in partnership with the police
then maybe we can eradicate the drug problem. [ Working
in partnership with many top business leaders, she set about
tackling the country's economic ills.

WITH 1559 WITH
in collaboration with/:n k,lmb're:Sdn wI6/ if you
work on a plan or do something in collaboration with
another person or organization, you work very closely with
them in order to achieve it [prep]
The company is building the centre in collaboration with the
Institute of Offshore Engineering. I I wrote the article in col-
laboration with a number of people.
side by side with/,said baI 'said wI6/if one group of
people works or fights side by side with another group,
they work closely together with them to deal with a difficult
situation, or fight together with them against a shared
enemy [prep]
French and British doctors are working side by side with
local rescue teams to help earthquake victims. [ In the battle
that ensued, Muslims fought side by side with Christians.
shoulder to shoulder with/,j'old r
if one group of people stands or fights shoulder to shoul-
der with another group of people, they support them or
fight together with them against an enemy [prep]
British soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with American
and French troops. I We stand shoulder to shoulder with the
Namibian people in their struggle for independence.
4 working with someone else for a dishonest
purpose, especially in secret
in league with in cahoots with
in collusion with hand in glove with
in league with/In 'li:g wi6/if someone is in league
with a group of people, they are secretly planning and
working with them in order to do something dishonest or
illegal [prep[
One of the clerks was in league with the gang who robbed
the bank. I They're trying to descredit me - and you're in
league with them.t
in collusion with /in klu:3dn w:6/ if one group of
people is in collusion with another group, they are all
working secretly together to do something dishonest [prep]
The rebel groups are accused of being in collusion with the
government. I Journalists suspected that the army was either
acting in collusion with the terrorists or it was simply
pretending not to know about them.
in cahoots with/n khu:ts wi6/working secretly and
closely with another person or group in order to do some-
thing dishonest or cheat someone [prep]
She was in cahoots with the guy who was trying to sell me
the traveller's cheques.
hand in glove with/,hend in 'glAv wI/ if one organi-
zation is hand in glove with another organization, they
work together very closely in order to do something dis-
honest, or dishonestly get power [prep]
The politicians are hand in glove with the military, every-
one knows that.
5 someone who does something or goes
somewhere with someone else
partner fellow
companion sidekick
partner I'pe:rtnr/someone who takes part with you in
a business, sporting, or social activity [n C]
We called a meeting with Russco, our partners in the con-
struction project. I Yes I know him. He's one of my old tennis
partners. [ My dancing partner that evening was unbeliev-
ably clumsy and kept standing on my foot. [ be partners
Let's have a game of cards -you and Frank can be partners,
and so can Sue and I.
companion/kom'paenjon/someone that you spend a lot
of time with, especially someone that provides friendship
or conversation while you are doing something, for exam-
ple travelling In C]
All my companions had fallen asleep, and I spent the rest of
the journey staring out of the train window. I Her cats were
her only companions.
fellow/'felu/fellow passenger/worker/student etc
(=someone who is travelling, working, studying etc with
you) [adj only before noun]
His fellow passengers thought he'd fainted. I Most of my
fellow students are already looking for jobs.
sidekick / 'saldklk/an informal word meaning someone
who spends a lot of time with another person, and is
usually less important or powerful than them In C]
She never appears in public without her sidekick, Robertson. I
Tom and his sidekick Larry sauntered into the bar, plainly
looking for a fight.
6 with another thing or other things
with accompanying
along with come with
with/wI6, wIO/[prep]
"'Where's my hammer?" "'It's in the shed with your other
tools. "" [ I can't find it anywhere. Maybe I threw it out with
the garbage. [ a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey
with all the trimmings
along with /'lm3 wi6 [[ 'b:O-I in the same place as
another thing or other things [prep]
I keep my insurance policy in the top drawer, along with my
other important documents. [ Put it over there along with the
other presents.
accompanying /'khmpni-ix3/ accompanying book-
let/volume/letter ete (=one that comes with something
that you buy and tells you more about it) [adj only before
noun]
The video recorder has an accompanying booklet which con-
tains full operating instructions. I Each coursebook has an
accompanying workbook for grammar practice.
come with/'kAm wi6/if something that you buy comes
with something else, it is sold with an additional object
that is included in the price Iv T not in progressive or
passive]
Every new camera comes with a leather case and one free
film. I Most personal computers sold today come with a hard
disk as a standard item. I Finland has 5000 log cabins to rent.
All come with their own private sauna. I "'What does the steak
come with? .... Mixed salad and potatoes.'"
7 ways of saying that something is used
together with something else
together with in conjunction with
combined with alongside
together with/t'ge6 r wi6/[prep]
Use the shampoo together with our special conditioner for
best results. [ A booster cushion used together with an adult
seat belt will provide some protection for older children in
the event of an accident.
combined with/krn'baind w I6/if a treatment, method,
drug etc is combined with another, it is used with it
because this will have the most effect [adj phrase]
Heat treatment is most effective if combined with regular
physiotherapy. [ Fungicides combined with an organic fer-
tilizer provlde the best growing conditions. [ In its campaign
to increase AIDS awareness, the government has used TV
advertising combined with a nationwide poster campaign.
in conjunction with/in kn'd3^okj'an WI6/if one thing
is used in conjunction with another, it is used with it, in
order to help you do something more easily [prep]
Learners will benefit from using the book in conjunction with
the video. I The file viewing functions can be used in conjunc-
tion with the file manager.
alongside I,1o said II ,b:-/different types of things,
methods, ideas etc that are used or exist alongside each
other, are being used together or exist together at the same
time [prep]
At the moment electric and diesel trains operate alongside
each other. [ The new ad will be used alongside AMV's two
existing commercials during prime time viewing.

WITH 1560 WOMAN
 to come or go to where someone else is in
order to be with them, do something with
them etc
join
Join Id5in / Iv T]
We're sitting over there. Why don't you join us? I Her par-
ents are going to Paris next week and she will join them later.
withdraw
withdrawn
wither
withhold
within
LEAVE A PLACE 13, SAY/STATE 7, SELL 14,
TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED 12, TAKE STH
FROM SOMEWHERE 1, 5
SHY 2
DIE 8
REFUSE 4, TELL A SECRET 4
AFTER 2, IN/INSIDE ;3, 4, LESS 2
within an inch: come within an inch/inches of
ALMOST 3
within earshot HEAR 2
within range NEAR 5
within reach NEAR 4, 5
within reason SENSIBLE 3
within the law LEGAL 1
within walking/driving etc distance NEAR 4
within your rights: be within your rights RIGHT/HAVE
THE RIGHT TO 1
without IF 3, NOT HAVE 1, 4
without: be without NOT HAVE 2
without: can do without/can manage without NEED 9
without: do/manage without NOT HAVE 2
without: go without NOT HAVE 2
without a break CONTINUOUS 2
without a care in the world WORRIED 11
without a hitch SUCCEED IN DOING STH 7
without a scratch INJURE 7
without a second thought CARELESS 5
without a sound QUIET 4
without delay IMMEDIATELY 1
without doubt/without a doubt
CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 1
without exception ALL/EVERYTHING 1
without fall ALWAYS/EVERY TIME 1
without food: go without food HUNGRY/STARVING 1
without good reason WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1
without respite CONTINUOUS 4
without thinking THINK ABOUT 9
without warning SUDDENLY 1
withstand STAND/BEAR 5
witness HAPPEN 8, SEE 1
witness: bear witness to PROVE 1, SHOW/BE A SIGN
OF 2
wits: keep/have your wits about you CAREFUL 4
wits' end: be at your wits' end WORRIED 3
witter on/rabbit on TALK TO SB 10
witticism JOKE 1
witty FUNNY 1
wizard MAGIC 5
wizened OLD/NOT YOUNG 5
wobble SHAKE 2
wobbly LOOSE 6
wolf down EAT 4
woman WOMAN 1, 2
WOMAN
words for a woman
words for describing a woman who does a
particular job
for, belonging to, or connected with women
words for describing qualities or behaviour
that are typical of women
the support of equal rights for women
ways of addressing a woman when you
speak to her or write to her
1 words for a woman
woman
lady
female
woman/'womn/In C]
Who was that woman I saw you with yesterday? I His mother
is a very intelligent woman. I Do women talk less than men? l
I wasn't rude to her! I've never even met the woman!
lady/'leIdi! a polite word meaning a woman, used when
you are talking to several women or when you are talking
about a woman who is present and you do not know her
name In C]
Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to welcome you here
tonight. I Please show the ladies the way to the cloakroom. I
Excuse me, are you the lady who ordered smoked salmon? l
Open the door for the lady, Jim.
female/' fi:mcil/a word meaning a woman, used either
in technical or scientific contexts, or as an offensive way
of talking about a woman that you dislike In C]
Females reach maturity earlier than males. I Some idiotic
female nearly drove straight into my car.
2 words for describing a woman who does a
particular job
woman
female
lady
woman/'womon/woman Writer/teacher/worker etc
[nC]
Mrs Thatcher was Britain's first woman prime minister. I
an exciting new collection of short stories by women writers l
The book was compiled by three women teachers, all experts
on teaching children to read. I policewoman/business-
woman/publicity woman etc A Young policewoman was
sitting by her hospital bed. I I was impressed by the high-
flying businesswomen at the conference.
female / 'fi:meill female employees/workers/staff etc
(used especially when talking about women workers in
general) [adj only before noun]
Some employers run classes in self-defence for their female
employees. I Only two million female workers are members
of trade unions. I Female lecturers are often not as well paid
as their male colleagues.
lady ! leidi/lady doctor/councillor etc (=a polite.word,
which some women may find offensive, for a woman who
does an important or professional job) [adj only before
noun]
I'd rather see a lady doctor, if that's possible. I She is the first
lady mayor that this town has ever had.
 for, belonging to, or connected with women
female
women's
female I'fi:meIl/[adj only before noun]
He could hear excited female voices in the garden. I the female
reproductive system I Among the pictures are a number of
studies of the female form. I Freud's observations on female
psychology
women's /'wImInz/women's clothes/magazines/or-
ganizations etc (=intended for women or concerned with
women) [adj only before noun]
She is the fashion editor for a well-known women's maga-
zine. I The programme is about life in a women's prison. I
Women's interests are often directly affected by the way that
judges interpret the law.
4 words for describing qualities or behaviour
that are typical of women
feminine
womanly
effeminate

WOMAN
1561
feminine /  femonon/typical of a woman, especially in a
way that is graceful or attractive [adj]
You would look prettier if you bought some more feminine
clothes and grew your hair longer. I Nowadays many women
reject the old feminine roles of wife and mother. I "'How did
you know I was lying? .... Call it feminine intuition!'"
femininity/,femo  ninoti/In U] Tanya is very aggressive
and rather lacking in femininity (=feminine qualities).
womanly /  wornnli/womanly qualities are typical of a
grown woman, especially one who is sensible, kind etc
[adj]
She had a plump, womanly figure. [ the traditional womanly
virtues of kindness and compassion
effeminate/i  femnt/a man or boy who is effeminate
behaves or looks too much like a woman [adj]
The singer was a slender, graceful, rather effeminate young
man. [ His gestures are very effeminate.
5 the support of equal rights for women
feminism
feminist
feminism /  femnzdm/a set of beliefs based on the prin-
ciple that women are equal to men and should be treated
equally In U]
Feminism has given many women new opportunities at
work. I the militant feminism of the early Women's Movement
feminist [adj] She was one of the leading figures in the
feminist movement in the early 1970s.
feminist/'fernonost/someone who believes strongly in
the principle that men and women should be treated
equally and that society should be changed so that this can
happen In C]
She is a radical feminist and a powerful writer. I I'm not a
feminist but I don't see why I should have to do all the
housework.
6 ways of addressing a woman when you
speak to her or write to her
madam Mrs
ma'am Ms
Miss
madam /  mind,m/(a formal or respectful word, used for
example in a formal letter or when talking to a female
customer)
Good morning, Madam, how can I help you? [ Dear Madam,
I am writing in response to your advertisement. [ Madam
Chairman, I would like to reply to that point.
ma'am/mmm, ma:m, mzm 11 mmm/(a respectful Ameri-
can word used when speaking to a woman)
You don't look too well. Why don't you sit down for a while,
ma'am. I Can I help you ma'am?
Miss/ms/(used when speaking or writing to a woman
who is not married)
My secretary, Miss Evans, will show you where it is. I How
are you, Miss Jacobs? l Can I help you, Miss?
Mrs/'msz/(used before a married woman's family name
when speaking or writing to her)
Address the envelope to Mrs Thomas, 18, Newhaven Road. I
I'm going to ask Mrs Jenkins if she wants me to help with
her shopping.
Ms/miz, mzz/(used before a woman's family name when
it is not important to say whether a woman is married or
not, or when you do not know if she is married)
Would you like a drink, Ms Franklin? I For the attention of
Ms R O'Keefe.
:i womanly WOMAN 4
, women's WOMAN 3
• ..- wonder NOT SURE 1
: wonder: it makes you wonder NOT SURE 3
i wonder: no wonder SURPRISED 9
i wonder: work wonders EFFECTIVE 2
i wonderful: marvellouslwonderfullfantasticlterrific
 GOOD/EXCELLENT 2, 3, 5
WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE
wonderful time: have a goodlwonderfullmarvellousl
terrific etc time ENJOY/LIKE DOING STH 2
woo FRIEND 7
wood: not see the wood for the trees NOTICE 3
wood: touch wood/knock on wood LUCKY 8
wool: pull the wool over sb's eyes TRICK/DECEIVE 1
word WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE 1
word: be as good as your word PROMISE 7
word: give sb your word PROMISE 4
word: have a word with TALK TO SB 3
word: I give you my word PROMISE 6
word: not breathe a word TELL A SECRET 4
word: put in a good word for PRAISE 2
word: send word TELL 6
word: take sb's word for it BELIEVE 1
word for word EXACT 2, SAME 2
word of mouth: by word of mouth SPEAK A
LANGUAGE 5
WORD, PHRASE,
OR SENTENCE
a word or group of words with a particular
meaning
all the words that someone knows, learns, or
uses
a sentence or part of a sentence
1 a word or group of words with a particular
meaning
word expression
term idiom
phrase clich6
word/w:rd/[n C]
The story has to be less than 500 words long. I There were
a lot of words in the film that I couldn't understand. I The
word "gay" has completely changed from its original mean-
ing. I How do you write Hong Kong - is it one word or two? I
"'Love?" He repeated the word with loathing. I word for
(=word which means) "Danke" is the German word for
thank-you. I I just couldn't find the right word for it. I "Entrde"
is just a fancy word for the main course.
term It3:rm/a word or set of words that has an exact mean-
ing and is used in a particular scientific or technical con-
text In C]
medical/legal/scientific term The term "communications
interface' refers to any link between computers. I The medi-
cal term for bruise is "contusion'.
phrase/frelzl a short group of words that together have
a particular meaning In C]
There are some useful words and phrases at the end of each
chapter in the Student's Book. I Are you familiar with the
phrase "the old boy network'? l in sb's phrase (=according
to a phrase which someone used) The battle of E1Alamein
was, in Churchill's phrase, "the end of the beginning'. I coin
a phrase (=invent a phrase) Who first coined the phrase
"Iron Curtain'?
expression/k  spredn/a group of words that are used
together to express an idea or feeling, especially in spoken
English In C]
"It'll be alright in the end'- that was my mother's favourite
expression. I I don't normally use that expression myself, but
I've heard other people use it sometimes. I He said he didn't
care - well actually he used a rude expression that I can't
repeat!
idiom ] dizm/a group of words that has a special, fixed
meaning which is not clear from the meanings of each
word in the group In C]
"Full of beans" is an idiom meaning lively and energetic. I The
best way to learn English idioms properly is to go and live
in England.

WORD, PHRASE, OR SENTENCE
1562
cllch6 l'kli:Se II kli:'Sў,/a phrase which has been used
so often that it is no longer effective or interesting In C]
The President in his speech used a lot of clichds about free- 
dom and democracy. I "'A chain is only as strong as its
weakest link." "'Oh no - not that old clichd/'" I It's a cliche, :
I know, but the game isn't over till the final whistle blows.
all the words that someone knows, learns, or
uses
vocabulary
terminology
vocabulary /vo'kmbjlori, voo-II-leri/ [n C usually
singular]
Reading is the best way to increase yourvocabulary. I By the
end of the course students should have an active vocabulary
of around 2000 words.
terminology ! ,t3:rm 'nolod3i II -no:-/all the technical
words or expressions that are used in connection with a
particular subject In U]
One of the hardest things when studying linguistics is learn-
ing all the right terminology. I.legal/medical/scientific
ere terminology In legal terminology, a widow is the "relict"
of her late husband.
3 a senten.ce or part of a sentence
sentence
phrase
clause
sentence / ' sentons/a group of words, containing a sub-
ject and a verb, which in written English begins with a cap-
ital letter and ends with a full stop In C]
In general, short sentences are easier to understand than long
ones. I "All men by nature desire to know." - that's the open-
ing sentence of Aristotle's "Metaphysics'. I Before she could
finish her sentence there was a huge bang.
phrase/freiz/a technical word meaning a small group of
words which together form a single unit in a sentence In C]
The phrase "a big black dog' is the subject of the sentence. I
noun phrase/adverb phrase ete tA bottle of whisky' is a
noun phrase, and "really rather foolishly' is an adverb
phrase.
clause/kb:z/a technical word meaning a group of words
which has a subject and a verb but which is usually only
part of a sentence In C]
In the sentence "I left work as soon as Igot permission ", there
are two clauses, 7 left work" and "as soon as I got permis-
sion'.lsubordinate clause (=one which does not contain
the main verb of the sentence, and starts with which, that,
in order to etc) The subordinate clause in a sentence often
tells you more about what is happening in the main clause.
worded: be worded SAY 2
words WRITE 14
words: a man/woman of few words TALK TO SB 16
words: eat your words ADMIT 4
words: in other words EXPLAIN 2, MEANING 9
words: in your own words SAY 2
words: not mince your words HONEST 4
words: put sth into words/find the words to say sth
EXPRESS 1
words: put words into sb's mouth CHANGE/MAKE
STH DIFFERENT 4
words fail me SAY 8
work CONTROL 14, EFFECTIVE 1, 3, JOB/WORK 1,
SUCCEED IN DOING STH 3, WORK HARD 6,
WORK THAT SB DOES 1, 3, WORK/DO WORK
1, 2, W. QRKING/NOT BROKEN 1, 3
work: be at work WORK/DO WORK 3
work: be in work JOB/WORK 8
work: be out of work JOB/WORK 9
work: doesn't work BROKEN 2, EFFECTIVE 4
work: have your work cut out DIFFICULT 10
work: never fails/works every time EFFECTIVE 2
work: not work FAIL 3
work: set to work START DOING STH 2
work against HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work
work your fingers to the bone
against the clock HURRY 3
at PRACTISE/PRACTICE 1, WORK HARD 1
for FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST STH 1, WORK FOR SB 1
hard WORK HARD 1
like magic/like a charm EFFECTIVE 1
loose .LOOSE 7
of art GOOD/EXCELLENT 8
on PRACTISE/PRACTICE 1, WORK/DO WORK 1
out ANSWER/RESULT 3, COUNT/CALCULATE 2,
EXERCISE 1, PLAN 1, SOLVE/DEAL WITH A
PROBLEM 4, SUCCEED IN DOING STH 3,
UNDERSTAND 8
out: figure out/work out SOLVE/FIND THE
ANSWER 1
out/pan out HAPPEN 5
sb hard WORK HARD 7
together TOGETHER 3
up BECOME 1
up an appetite HUNGRY/WANT TO EAT 3
up to PREPARE 3
wonders EFFECTIVE 2
your fingers to the bone WORK HARD 2
ON/SWITCHED
"00; " OFF/SWITCHED

WORK/DO WORK 1563 WORK FOR SB
@ WORK/DO WORK
1 to do work that you want to do or that needs
to be done, for example in your home or
garden
2 to do a job that you get paid for
3 to be doing your job at this particular time
4 to work unofficially or illegally in a job that you
have as well as your usual job
1 to do work that you want to do or that needs
to be done, for example in your home or
garden
work
work on
do
work/w3:rk/[v I]
I've been working all day in the garden. I Father's in the
garage - he's working. I We had to work non-stop to get the
boat ready for the race.
work on/'w3:rk )n II -(l:n/to spend time on a piece of
work that has been started but will take quite a long time
to rmish Iv T]
He's busy working on his model airplane. I Whenever there
is time I try to work on my painting. I They spend most of
their weekends working in their house, and it's really look-
ing good.
do /du:/ do the housework/gardening/cleaning etc
(=do work that must be done regularly, especially in your
home) Iv T]
You do the cooking and I'll do the washing-up. [ It's about
time the laundry was done.
2 to do a job that you get paid for
work go into
be practise/practice
work/wa:rk/[v I]
I haven't worked since I had my first child seven years ago. I
You don't expect to see someone with a university degree
working in your local greengrocer, do you? ] work as a con-
sultant/secretary/builder etc He's changed his job and
is now working as a consultant for a German firm. I work
long hours/Sundays/nights etc My wife was working
very long hours. Some days I hardly saw her. I There's no
way I'm working Sundays!
be/bi:/if someone is a teacher, farmer, doctor etc that is
their job Iv]
"'What do you do?'" "'I'm a journalist. " l She was a teacher
for over twenty years. I Before becoming a writer, Schwarz
had been a cook, a cab driver and a door-to-door salesman.
go into/got; ' ntu/go into teaching/nursing/politics/
journalism etc (=to start working as a teacher, nurse etc,
because you have decided that this is the job you would like
to do) Iv T]
Janet says she'd like to go into teaching after she finishes col-
lege. I I'm thinking of going into politics.
practise (British) I practice (American) /'prakts/
practise medicine/law etc (=work as a doctor, lawyer etc)
Iv I/T]
practise medicine/law etc I graduated from Manchester
Law school and practised law with the firm of Arther &
Madden of Birmingham. I practise Although he is a quali-
fied dentist, he ceased to practise several years ago. I prac-
tise as A small proportion of those who complete their train-
ing do not practise as doctors.
;3 to be doing your job at this particular time
be at work on business
be on duty be on call
be at work Ibi: gt 'w3:rk/to be working in your job at a
place that is not your home, especially at a factory, office
etc owned by your employer Iv phrase]
I'm afraid Fran's not here at the moment - he's at work. I
Cheryl's usually at work from eight in the morning until five
in the evening.
be on duty/bi: on 'dju:ti II -'du:ti/to be at work in a job
where people take turns to work, so that someone is always
working, for example if you are a police officer or a nurse
Iv phrase]
It was the same nurse who had been on duty the night of
Sarah's accident. I There were over a hundred police officers
on duty at the football match. I Lunch will have to be quick
- I've got to be back on duty at two o'clock.
on business/on 'bzns/if someone is on business or
goes somewhere on business, they are doing work con-
nected with their job, especially in another city or coun-
try [ adv phrase]
I go to Birmingham quite a lot, on business. I No foreigners
were admitted to Sparta, except on business. I One time when
father was away on business the house was broken into.
be on call/bi: on 'k:l/ if someone such as a doctor,
lawyer, or engineer is on call, they can be telephoned and
are available to work whenever they are needed [vphrase]
Doctor Lalor won "t be at the surgery this afternoon, but she's
on call until midnight. I If the machine breaks down at any
time, there's always a technician on call.
4, to work unofficially or illegally in a job that you
have as well as your usual job
moonlight
moonlight/' mu:nlat/to work in a job that you have as
well as your ordinary job, without telling your main
employer or without officially declaring that you do it Iv I]
moonlight as Frankie moonlights as a taxi driver most
weekends.
moonlighting In U] By paying such low wages, many build-
ing companies simply encourage moonlighting.
WORK FOR SB
1 to work for a person, company, or
organization
2 the person, company, or organization that
you work for
3 to work independently and not for an
employer
1 to work for a person, company, or
organization
work for be on the staff
be employed by be with sb
be on the payroll
work for/'w3:rk f:r/[v T not in passivel
How long have you worked for Mr Jackson? I Nigel works
for a publishing company - he might be able to get you the
book you want cheap. I Woodward called someone he knew
who worked for the federal government. I She makes a little
extra money by working as a cleaner for some of the people
in the neighborhood.
be employed by/bi: ;rn plid bad to work for a company
or organization, especially when you have an official con-
tract and a regular or permanent job Iv phrase]
Witheroe is the first woman pilot to be employed by a com-
mercial airline. I The study focuses on the hazards faced by
workers employed by construction companies.
be on the payroll/bi: on 6a 'peiraol/to officially work
for a company or organization and to receive regular pay-
ments for your work [v phrase]
We asked a clerk in the personnel office if Howard Hunt was
on the payroll. I The company has about 70,000 workers on
its payroll.

WORK FOR SB 1564 WORK HARD
be on the staff/bi: on 6a 'sto:f II -'stmf/to be one of the
people who work for a company or organization, especially
when you have a permanent job there [v phrase]
My father was on the staff of St Luke's Hospital. I Police ques-
tioned everyone on the staff, and then everyone who had been
in the bar that night.
be with sb/bi: wi6 (sb)/to work for a company, especially
a large well-known one [v T]
I believe he's with Random House now. I I used to be with
the BBC, but then got the offer of being a producer for
Channel Four.
2 the person, company, or organization that
you work for
employer
employer/Im'pbIor/[n C]
IBM is one of the biggest employers in this area. I We will
need a reference from your last employer. I Finally, an agree-
ment was reached between employers and unions about
pension rights.
3 to work independently and not for an
employer
self-employed
have/run your own business
freelance
be your own boss
self.employed/,self im'plz) id/working independently
and not for one particular employer, and organizing your
work in your own way [adj]
Most fashion models are self-employed, and find work
through agencies. [ Phil has worked for the last two years
as a self-employed window cleaner. [ the self-employed
(=people who are self-employed) The government gives
generous tax allowances to the self-employed.
have/run your own business/,hev, ,rAn ja:r
'blznas/to own and manage a business, especially a small
one such as a shop or restaurant [v phrase]
She runs her own business, making and selling hand-knitted
clothes. I It's always been Maria's ambition to have her own
business, perhaps organizing a riding school. I set up your
own business (=begin running your own business) People
wanting to set up their own business should take expert
financial advice.
freelance /'fri:lo:ns II -Irons/ earning money by doing
work such as writing, design, or photography, usually in
your own home, and selling it to a company or organiza-
tion [adj only before noun]
freelance designer/journalist/photographer She's
trying to earn a living as a freelance photographer. ] free-
lance work/writing/photography etc He used to be a
journalist with a national newspaper, a post he abandoned
for freelance writihg.
freelance [adv] At the moment McLean works freelance,
writing articles for women's magazines.
be your own boss/bi: ja:r ,on 'bos l[ -'ba:s/to work
for yourself and therefore decide by yourself what you
should do, without being told by other people [v phrase]
I don't like taking orders from anybody - I think I'd be much
better off being my own boss. I The good thing about work-
ingfreelance is that you are your own boss and can work at
your own pace.
WORK HARD
1 to work hard
2 to work extremely hard
3 to work too hard
4 words for describing someone who works
hard
5 someone who does the hardest or most
boring work in a company, team etc
6 the effort or activity involved in working
7 to make people work hard
8 what you say to tell someone to work harder
9 to not work hard enough
1 to work hard
work hard push yourself
put a lot of effort into labour/labor
be hard at it beaver away
work at
work hard/,wa:rk ho:rd/to work hard in your job, your
studies, or something you are trying to do Iv phrase]
Tina worked hard all through summer, and by September
she needed a rest. I George had worked so hard on the assign-
ment it seemed a shame to give him a bad grade. I The com-
pany expects everyone to work hard, but in return it pays an
excellent salary. I She's been working hard in the garden all
morning.
put a lot of effort into/pot  lot ov 'efort nto/to work
hard because you are trying to do something well [vphrase]
Barbara and Frank have put a lot of effort into the prepa-
rations for the party. I Because of his disability, he has to put
a good deal of effort into the simplest tasks. ] Don't put too
much effort into the first version of your essay - you may need
to change it later.
be hard at It/hi: ho:rd It It/an informal expression
meaning to be working very hard and continuously [v
phrase]
Mike's been hard at it all afternoon and he still hasn't
finished mending the car. I For three weeks they were hard
at it, getting the house decorated.
work at I I wa:rk atl to try hard to improve something or
to improve the way you do something [v T not in passive]
She's really worked at her French conversation - you can
tell. I The only way to be successful in athletics is to really
work at it.
push yourself/'po] j:rself/to force yourself to work
very hard at something [v phrase]
If you really push yourself, you should get all the work done
on time. ]Like a lot of people who want promotion he's push-
ing himself too hard.
labour (British) I labor (American)/'leibr/to work hard,
especially doing hard physical work [v I]
When the harvest is ready, the villagers labour from sdnrise
till sunset in the fields. [ The men and women who labored
in the mines never got any of the profits.
beaver away /,bi:var 'wei/ an informal expression
used especially in British English meaning to work very
hard for a long time in a determined way [phr v I]
beaver away on/at He's been beavering away on that
report all morning. ] beaver away They beavered away for
several hours, getting everything ready, putting the finish-
ing touches to their masterpiece.
2 to work extremely hard
slave away
toil
work your fingers to the bone
slave away / ,slelv a'wei/an informal expression mean-
ing to work very hard at something you do not enjoy and
do not want to do [phr v I usually in progressive]
Downstairs, the two tailors were still slaving away in the
shop. I Look, I've been slaving away all week and I've had
enough of it!
toll/tiI/a formal word meaning to work hard for a long
time doing work that is boring and difficult [v I]
Where a hundred men had once toiled in a cotton field, now
there was one machine to do everything. I A gang of cleaners
with mops and brushes toiled all day to make the place look
habitable again.

WORK HARD 1565 WORK HARD
work your fingers to the bone/wa:rk jarr ,fingrz
ta 6a 'bon/ an informal expression meaning to work
extremely hard for a long time, used when you are com-
plaining about how hard you have to work Iv phrase]
Your mother worked her fingers to the bone to get you a good
education! I I've worked my fingers to the bone all these years,
but don't seem to be any better off for it.
3 to work too hard
be overworked
overdo it
drive yourself too hard
kill yourself
workaholic
be overworked/bi: i)uv;r'w3:rkt/to have too much
work to do Iv phrase]
We're all overworked and underpaid. I The children had
been overworked and underfed for so long they could hardly
stand up. I People in high-pressure jobs sometimes use drugs
when they're tired and overworked.
overwork In U] She had a heart condition caused by heavy
smoking and overwork (=being overworked).
overdo It/, uva r'du: it/an informal expression meaning
to work too hard so that you become ill Iv phrase]
The doctor told me to relax and not overdo it. I The Presi-
dent's advisers are worried that he might have been over-
doing it lately.
drive yourself too hard/,draiv ja:rself tu: 'ho:rd/to
force yourself to work too hard, especially because you
want very much to be successful Iv phrase]
You should slow down. You're driving yourself too hard. I
It's no wonder she had a nervous breakdown - she's been
driving herself too hard for months.
kill yourself/kll ja:r,self/an informal expression mean-
ing to work much too hard at something, especially at one
particular piece of work Iv phrase]
Take it easy. There's no need to kill yourself. I I just about
killed myself finishing that report!
workaholic/, wa:rka'ht)lxk II -'ha:'/someone who wants
to work all the time and is unable to relax when they are
not working In C]
My wife thinks I'm a workaholic, but I have a lot of fun. I
Selling is a career that seems to attract workaholics.
4 words for describing someone who works
hard
hardworking committed
industrious studious
diligent swot/grind
dedicated
hardworking/ho:rd'wa:rkIrj/[adj]
I would describe him as a quiet, hardworkingyoung man. I
She's not our best employee, but she's hardworking. I Unfor-
tunately, the school has just lost two of its most hardwork-
ing teachers.
industrious/m'dAstrias/someone who is industrious
works hard and effectively [adj]
Most of the students I knew at college were serious and indus-
trious. I The people of this town have always been law-
abiding and industrious.
diligent /'dlldsant/someone who is diligent works hard
and is very careful and thorough in their work [adj]
My students are all hardworking and diligent. I The story
was unearthed by a diligent young reporter. I Through dili-
gent work and attention to detail we managed to rebuild the
old car.
diligently [adv] She always carries out her duties diligently.
dedicated/'dedkeItId/someone who is dedicated to
something spends as much time as possible working hard
at it because they believe in it very strongly or are very
interested in it [adj]
dedicated to She has been a ballet dancer since she was
eight, and is completely dedicated to it. I dedicated The new
leaders are dedicated but lack experience. I dedicated
sportsman/gardener etc (=someone who is dedicated to
their sport, gardening etc) A dedicated sportsman, Steve
would train every day of the week.
©olglmltted/kgmitaId/someone who is committed to a
particular job or idea really believes in it and wants it to
succeed, and is willing to work very hard to achieve this
[adj]
committed to Everyone must be committed to the job or the
project will fail. [ He was thoroughly committed to achiev-
ing equal rights for women workers. [ committed Most of
the players are very committed.
studious/'stju:dias [[ ,stu=-/someone who is studious
likes to spend their time reading and studying in order to
be more successful at school, college etc [adj]
Mabel was a quiet and studious young woman who rarely
went out. I He spread his books out on his desk in an effort
to look studious.
swot (British) I grind (American)/swot, gralnd II swo:t/
informal words meaning someone who spends too much
time studying and trying to please their teachers In C]
Everyone else in the class hated him because they thought he
was a real swot.
5 someone who does the hardest or most
boring work in a company, team etc
dogsbody
drudge
dogsbody I'dogz,bodi II 'da:gzbo:di/an informal Brit-
ish word meaning a person who does the boring or unim-
portant jobs that no one else wants to do In C]
All I do is type letters, make the tea and sweep the fioor - I'm
just a dogsbody. I In mostjobs you can expect to be something
of a dogsbody at first.
drudge/dr^ds/someone who works hard at something
that is difficult and boring In C]
I used to have an interesting career, but now I'm no more
than a household drudge. [ They just think of us as drudges
- they don't realize how hard we work.
6 the effort or activity involved in working
work effort
labour/labor commitment
work/wa:rk/[n U]
David tries to avoid work at all times. [ hard work There's
a lot of hard work to be done before the job's finished. [
Finally, I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work
this year.
labour (British) I labor (American) / lelbr/hard physi-
cal work, such as digging, lifting, or cleaning In U]
For many women who work in the home, their labour is
unpaid. I Marx defined the working class as people who sell
their labour to employers.
effort/'efart/the physical or mental energy that is needed
to do something In U]
I've finished, but it took a lot of effort. I This isn't difficult
so it shouldn't require much effort. I After all the effort I put
into it they had better be satisfied!
commitment/ka'mitmant/the hard work and loyalty
that someone gives to an organization, activity, or piece of
work, because they really care about it and believe in it In
U]
Thanks to your energy and commitment, the project was a
great success. I We will pay you well and in return we will
expect your loyalty and full commitment. I commitment to
sth By now, we had begun to realize that her commitment
to the team had gone and she was losing interest.
7 to make people work hard
work sb hard
slave driver
work sb hard /,w3:rk (sb) 'ha:rd/to make someone work
hard, especially unreasonably hard Iv phrase]

WORK HARD 1566 WORK THAT SB DOES
They work us too hard in this office. I The bank's managers
admit they work their employees hard, but say they always
pay good wages.
slave driver/'sleIv ,dralvar/ an informal expression
meaning someone who makes people work too hard In C[
Our boss is a real slave driver. One of her secretaries had a
nervous breakdown last year.
8 what you say to tell someone to work harder
put your back into it/put some muscle into it
pull/get your finger out
put your back into it (British) I put some muscle
into It (American)/,pu ja: r 'bzek Into It, ,pot sam 'mAsdl
nto t/(used to tell someone to work tarder at what they
are doing)
You'll have to put your back into it - I want to see all these
boxes moved by tonight. I Come on you guys, let's see you put
some muscle into it!
pull/get your finger out/,pol, ,getj:r 'hgar aot/(an
informal British expression)
This has to be finished in an hour, so get your finger out!
9 to not work hard enough
skive goof off
not pull your weight slack
not do a stroke of work malinger
skive/skaiv/an informal British word meaning to not do
the work that you should be doing, or to be away from your
place of work without a good reason Iv I[
He says he's been ill for the past week, but I think be's just
skiving. [ skive off(=not be at your place of work) Harry's
going to get into trouble if he keeps skiving off on Friday
afternoons.
skiver In C[ Our boss thinks we're a bunch of skivers.
not pull your weight/not ,pul ja: r 'welt/to not do a fair
amount of work when you are working in a group or team
[ v phrase ]
Of all the team members only Peter doesn't pull his weight. I
It's not fair - she never pulls her weight but somehow she's
got promotion.
not do a stroke of work/not du: a ,strok av 'w3:rk/
an informal expression meaning to do no work at all Iv
phrase]
He just sits at his desk and never does a stroke of work! [ With
the help of his generous relatives, this dishonest old man had
lived well and not done a stroke of work all his life.
goof off /,gu:f 'of [] -'aft/an informal American expres-
sion meaning to not work when you are supposed to be
working [phr v I[
Hey you guys! Quit goofing off and do some work! [ When
he was fired from his job he thought sadly about all the times
he'd goofed off.
slck/slek/to deliberately do less work than you should
Iv I usually in progressive]
"'You start tomorrow at nine, '" he told them, "'and no slack-
ing, or there'll be trouble. "" [ I think some people have been
slacking.
malinger/m'l Irjgar/to avoid going to work by pretend-
ing to be ill Iv I usually in progressive]
He said he had got flu but everyone knew he was
malingering.
malingering In U[ There've been so many cases of malin-
gering that now you need a doctor's note if you're absent.
WORK THAT SB
DOES
1 work that you do in your job
2 work done by a student or pupil
3 a piece of work done by an artist, musician,
writer etc
4 unpleasant or boring work
1 work that you do in your job
work
business
duties
work Iwa:rk/[n U[
What kind of work are you lookingfor? [ Being in the police
isn't all action. Administration is a large part of the work
we do. I personnel/secretarial/bar ere work Have you
ever done bar work before? [ voluntary work (=work that
you do not get paid for) She's done a lot of voluntary work
- helping with the handicapped and things like that.
business !'bzns/work that you do in your job, espe-
cially work that involves buying and selling and travelling
to various places In U[
I was in London last month because I had some business to
do there. [ Gerald left, saying he had some important busi-
ness to attend to. I "'Is this trip for business or pleasure?"
"'Business, I'm afraid."[ business lunch/trip/meeting
(=one that you attend because of your work) "Where's
Michael? .... He's at a business meeting." I on business (=for
business, not pleasure)Ihave to go to Tokyo next month on
business.
duties I'dju:tiz II du:-/a word used especially in contracts
and official written English meaning the various things
that you have to do as part of your job In plural]
In addition to secretarial and general office work, your duties
will also include providing the directors with refreshments. [
As soon as she returned home from her honeymoon she
resumed her medical duties at the clinic.
2 work done by a student or pupil
homework coursework
schoolwork studies
homework/'haomwa:rk/the work that a student at a
school is asked to do at home as part of their studies In U[
The teacher was angry with me because I hadn't done all my
homework. I My brother always used to help me with my
homework. I for homework For homework I'd like you to
finish exercises 2 and 3 on page 24.
schoolwork/'sku:lwa:rk! all the work that a student at
a school has to do, including the work they have to do at
home and the work they do in class In U[
Johnny's had a lot of problems at home recently and it's
starting to affect his schoolwork. [ Since I took this part-time
job I've had less time to concentrate on my schoolwork.
coursework/' ka:rsw3:rk/the work that a student has to
do for the course that they are studying, especially when
this is compared with work done in examinations In U]
Half of the marks are for the exam, the rest are for course-
work. [ None of the coursework seemed to have much
relevance to being a nurse in a busy hospital.
studies/' stAdiz/a formal word meaning the work that a
student does at a school or university In plural]
As part of their studies the students all have to spend three
months working for a French company. [ After the war he
resumed his studies at the University of Turin.
3 a piece of work done by an artist, musician,
writer etc
work
piece
work/w3:rk/something such as a painting, film, book, or
long piece of music produced by an artist, writer etc In C
usually plural]
The book contains the complete works of William Shake-
speare. I The painting is one of Picasso's earlier works. I A
major new work by one of Poland's leading film directors
will be shown next Saturday.
piece /pi:s/ something that has been produced by an
artist, musician, or writer, for example a painting or draw-
ing or a short piece of music or writing In C[

WORK THAT SB DOES 1567 WORKER
The concert began with three short pieces by the Brazilian
composer Villa-Lobos. I His latest pieces remind me of Henry
Moore.
4 unpleasant or boring work
grind donkey work
be a slog drudgery
toil
grind/grand/a boring set of things that you have to do
everyday, especially as part of your job, which make you
feel tired and want to stop doing it In singular]
the daily grind The daily grind of her office job was start-
ing to bore her. I grind He couldn't face the grind of work
in the factory any longer.
be a slog/bi : 'slDg II -'sla:g/if you say that something
is a slog, you mean it is difficult, boring, and tiring Iv
phrase]
The journey across the valley to the farm is going to be a
slog. I Cutting all the wood before nightfall was a long hard
slog.
toll/td/a formal word meaning difficult and boring work
that takes a long time In U]
They were exhausted after the long hours of toil. I The awful
prospect of another week's toil lay before us.
donkey work/'dooki w3:rk [[ 'dazl3ki-/an informal word
meaning work that is boring or takes a lot of time and
effort, but that has to be done as part of a job or larger piece
of work In U]
By next year, the main computer should be able to do all the
donkey work. I You get on with the creative stuff- we'll hire
a temp to do all the donkey work.
drudgery/'dr^dsri/work that is hard and unpleasant
because it is very boring, takes a long time to do, and often
involves a lot of physical effort In U]
Technological advances have taken the drudgery out of many
jobs. [ She wanted to escape the drudgery of being a house-
wife and mother. [ Almost anything would have been more
bearable than the sheer drudgery of this job.
workable POSSIBLE 1
workaholic WORK HARD 3
worked up: be worked up
worked up: get worked up
worker WORKER 1
ANGRY 1
UPSET 4
@ WORKER
I someone who works in a company or
organization
2 all the people who work in a company,
organization, or country
3 ways of saying what type of people work in a
particular company or organization
4 someone that you work with
5 ways of saying that a company or
organization does not have enough people
working in it
6 ways of saying that a company or organization
has too many people working in it
1 someone who works in a company or
organization
worker
employee
member of staff
worker/'w3:rkor/someone who works in a job, especially
a job that does not involve managing people and that does
not pay a lot of money In C]
We want better communication between workers and
management. [ post office/factory/mine etc worker
Tony married the daughter of a post office worker. [ skilled/
unskilled worker (-who has or does not have special
skills) The wages earned by unskilled workers in Germany
are twice as high as those earned by teachers in this coun-
try. [ manual worker (=someone who does physical work,
for example in a factory, rather than working in an office)
Female manual workers always earn less than their male
counterparts.
employee /m'pli-i:, ,empli'i:/ someone who is
employed by a particular company or organization In C]
We have 140,000 employees worldwide, t As a hospital
employee, you are entitled to free eye tests. I Employee infor-
mation is held on computer in the personnel department.
member of staff/,member v 'ste:f II -'stef/someone
who is employed by a company, organization, school etc,
especially someone who belongs to a team of workers
[ n phrase ]
Training opportunities are available to all members of staff. I
Ann had a natural gift for teaching and was rated an excel-
lent member of staff. I Management regularly visit branches
and discuss with members of staff matters of current interest
and concern. I senior/junior member of staff We do not
expect such behaviour from a senior member of staff.
2 all the people who work in a company,
organization, or country
staff personnel
workforce manpower
labour/labor
staff/sta:f II stmf/all the people who work in a company,
organization, school etc In C/U with singular orplural verb
in British English]
The school has a staff of fifty-two teachers. [ This is typical
of the dreadful way they treat their staf]7. [ Staff at the Cen-
tral Hospital may soon be taking strike action overpay and
conditions. [ library/management/office etc staff
Library staff will be happy to assist if you are unable to find
the book you want.
workforce /w3:rkf:rs/ all the people that work in a
country, industry, or large organization In C usually
singular]
Women make up 41% of the workforce. I The mining indus-
try has a workforce of 45,000 - mostly young men. I Cook
began his cost-cutting campaign by getting rid of a third of
his workforce.
labour (British) I labor (American)/'lebr/all the people
that work in an industry or country, especially people
whose jobs do not involve managing other workers In U]
The company is moving out of the area because of the high
cost of labour there. I skilled/unskilled labour (=people
who have or do not have special skills) Many industries are
reporting a shortage of skilled labor. I labour force (=all
the people who work or are available to work in a particu-
lar country or organization) The labour force is growing at
a rate of 4% a year. I cheap labour (=people whose wages
are very low) In most industries women are still regarded
as a source of cheap labour.
personnel/,p3:rs'nel/a word used in official or busi-
ness contexts meaning the people employed by a particu-
lar company, organization etc In plural]
In the event of afire, all personnel must report to the recep-
tion area. I She has the responsibility of recruiting highly
trained personnel.
manpower/' mmn,paozr/all the workers available to an
employer to produce goods or services In U]
The police say they don't have sufficient manpower to patrol
the area. [ She runs a service advising companies on the most
efficient use of capital manpower and materials.
3 ways of saying what type of people work in a
particular company or organization
be staffed by
be manned by

WORKER 1568 WORKING/NOT BROKEN
be staffed by/bi: 'sta:ft bai ]] -'stmft-/ [v phrase]
The corporation is owned by American businessmen, but
staffed by Koreans. I Big outdoor holiday events for tourists
are usually staffed by temporary, seasonal workers. ] At first,
racially segregated schools were staffed by white teachers.
be manned by/bi: 'mmnd baI/if a factory, mine, farm
etc is manned by a particular group of people, they are the
people who work there [v phrase]
At that time the mines and factories were largely manned by
immigrant labour. [ Manned by a team of highly skilled
mechanics, the garage could not fail to be a success.
4 someone that you work with
colleague
workmate
co-worker
colleague/'koli:g 11 'ka:-/a word meaning someone that
you work with, used especially by professional people or
managers [n C]
I'd like you to meet a colleague of mine, Jean Michel. [ He
was never particularly popular with his colleagues.
workmate/'w3:rkmet/ someone that you work with,
especially someone who works closely with you or does a
similar job In C]
Kevin had come home early after a quarrel with a work-
mate. [ Police questioned neighbours, relatives and work-
mates of the missing woman.
co.worker /'ku ,w3:rkr/ a word used especially in
American English meaning someone that you work with
[nC]
I enjoyed my job and liked my co-workers. I found them good
fun. [ The manual explains what to do if a co-worker is
injured and in need of medical attention.
5 ways of saying that a company or
organization does not have enough people
working in it
be understaffed
be short-staffed
be short-handed
be understaffed/bi: iAnd)r'sto:ft [[ -Istmft! a company
or organization that is understaffed does not have enough
people working in it because it cannot or will not employ
more people Iv phrase]
It's crazy that unemployment is sky-high while so many com-
panies are still understaffed. [ No one can expect doctors to
always make the right decisions when emergency wards are
so understaffed.
be short.staffed/bi: i:rt 'sto:ft [1 -'stmft/to not have
as many workers as usual, for example because some are
away on holiday and there is no one to replace them [v
phrase]
If they're so short-staffed, why don't they simply hire more
staffl?. [ No-one can afford to take any time off. We're short-
staffed and everyone's under pressure.
be short-handed/bi: ,3:rt 'hmndd/if a company or
team of workers is short-handed, they do not have the
number of people they need to do a job properly or on time
Iv phrase]
Let me know if you're short-handed - I'll get a couple of the
boys to help out. [ Recently the team had been short-handed,
overworked and under considerable strain.
overmanning /;uv;r'mmnIrJ/ a situation in which a
company or organization employs too many people for the
work that needs doing and so makes less profit than it could
make In U]
The company says that last year's losses were due to over-
manning in their distribution department.
workforce WORKER 2
working: be working ON/SWITCHED ON 1
working: not be working BROKEN 2
working-class CLASS IN SOCIETY 4
working knowledge: have a working knowledge of
KNOW STH 10
working order: be in working order WORKING/NOT
BROKEN 1
working party GROUP OF PEOPLE 9
WORKING/NOT
BROKEN
1 ways of saying that a machine or piece of
equipment is working properly and is not
broken
2 ways of saying that a machine, computer
system, factory etc works properly and is
ready to be used at any time
3 ways of saying how a machine works
1 ways of saying that a machine or piece of
equipment is working properly and is not
broken
work go
be in working order function
work Iw:rk/Iv I]
Does that sewing machine work? [ The radio hasn't really
worked since the day she got it. [ I haven't used it for years
but I think it's still working.
working [adj] There was only one working telephone in the
whole building.
be in working order/bi: n ,w3:rkrj :rdar/to be work-
ing properly, especially when this is surprising because
something is old or has not been well cared for Iv phrase]
I picked up one of the old watches and found it was still in
working order. [ be in good/perfect working order (=to
work perfectly) Everything was intact and in perfect work-
ing order. [ The stereo was the one thing he possessed that
was in good working order.
go/gaol ifa machine goes, especially a car, clock, or watch,
it works properly and is not broken Iv I]
The car looks a real wreck, are you sure it goes? [ I don't know
why it won't go this morning. I tried it last night and it went
okay. [ Igor this watch for my twentyfirst birthday and it
still goes quite well.
function/' f^] kan/if something functions, especially a
complicated system or piece of equipment, it works in the
way it is supposed to Iv I]
When the camera is functioning properly, a green light comes
on. [ Try out the package to test if the modem functions
correctly.
6 ways of saying that a company or organization
has too marlypeople working in it
be overstaffed
overmanning
be overstaffed/bi: ,ouvor'sta:ft II -'stmft/[v phrase]
Workers" organizations are disputing management claims
that the industry is overstaffed. I Talk about being over-
staffed - that's the third waitress to come over and ask for
my order!
2 ways of saying that a machine, computer
system, factory etc works properly and is
ready to be used at any time
operational operative
on-stream be up and running
operational Iop'reanl, 11 ,a:-/ a place, system, or
large piece of machinery that is operational, is working
and ready to be used at any time [adj]

WORKING/NOT BROKEN 1569 worn out
fully operational The terminal is fully operational and the
crews can start work whenever they are ready. I operational
In 1986 the Space Shuttle was becoming operational and
scientific flights were about to begin. I As a result of our
bombing raids, the enemy has no operational airbases in the
southern sector.
on-stream / ')n stri-.m [[ ' a:n-/a word used especially in
business or in newspapers for describing an industrial
process, factory, or machine, especially a new one, that is
working in a productive way [adj not before noun]
Now that most of the oil rigs were established and on-stream,
the area has become more affluent. ] come on-stream
(=start to be used for the first time) When the new testing
system comes on-stream we will have to increase our
manpower.
operative/')paratIV [[ ' a:para-, 'a:parei-/a machine, fac-
tory etc that is operative is working and producing some-
thing [adj]
The engineers have said that the plant will be operative in
about two weeks. I fully operative The arrival of a fully
operative cutting machine has speeded up work consider-
ably.
be up and running/bi: ,^p end 'rAnIrJ/ifa new system
or process is up.and running it has been started and will
now work easily without many problems Iv phrase]
We needn't spend too much time on the training programme
once it's up and running. ] The New York office was up and
running in about half the time that it took us in Paris.
3 ways of saying how a machine works
work
run
work/wa:rk/Iv I]
I am very interested in how each part oft he production line
works. ] work on (=using the power from) It works on two
HP2 batteries.
run [rAn[ if a machine with an engine or motor runs in a
particular @ay, it works in that way Iv I]
The new drill runs at a higher speed than the old one. I I don "t
understand why we suddenly stopped - the engine seemed
to be running really smoothly. ] run on (=using the power
from) The new Chevrolet runs on unleaded fuel.
workmate WORKER 4
workout EXERCISE 3
works every time: never fails/works every time
EFFECTIVE 2
works wonders EFFECTIVE 2
world AREA OF KNOWLEDGE, DUTIES, STUDY ETC 1,
WORLD 2
world: all over the world EVERYWHERE 1
world: be a man/woman of the world EXPERIENCED 2
world: be/mean all the world to IMPORTANT 5
world: in an ideal world PERFECT 8
world: mean the world to LOVE 3
world: move up in the world/go up in the world
CSS IN SOCIETY 5
world: see the world "TRAVEL 6
world: the outside world OUT/OUTSIDE 2
world: the world WORLD 1
world: the world over EVERYWHERE 1
world: think the world of LOVE 3
world-famous FAMOUS 1
world of difference: there's a world of difference
between DIFFERENT 2
World view ATTITUDE 1
WORLD
the planet we live on
existing in or affecting the whole world
1 the planet we live on
the world the globe
earth the planet
the world/6 'w3:rld[ the planet we live on, and all the
people, cities, countries etc on it [n singular]
Tuberculosis is still very common in some parts of the world. [
What's the world's tallest building? [ Monica Seles is one of
the world's leading tennis players. [ He was the first person
to sail round the world single-handed. [ At that time China
was the richest and most powerful country in the world. [ all
over the world (=everywhere in the world) Players from
all over the world will take part in the competition.
eahlttath I3:rOI a word meaning the planet we live on,
used especially when comparing it with other planets in
space In singular]
the earth/the Earth The earth moves around the sun every
365 days. ] Water is one of the Earth's most precious
resources. I on earth/back to earth/'from earth Austra-
lia has some of the strangest animals to be found anywhere
on earth. I On the journey back to Earth one of the spaceship's
computers failed.
the globe 16 'glub/an expression meaning the world,
used especially when you want to show the great distance,
or large amounts involved in something that happens or
exists In singular]
Water covers over half of the globe. I Using satellites, televi-
sion pictures can be seen on the other side of the globe almost
instantly. I all over the globe (=everywhere in the world)
This garden has exotic plants from all over the globe.
the planet/6o 'plent/an expression meaning the world,
used especially to talk about the environment and things
that affect the world's natural condition In singular]
This disaster could affect the whole planet. [ Gradually the
planet is getting warmer as a result of what is called the
'greenhouse effect'.
• existing in or affecting the whole world
world
global
worldwide
world/wa:rld/[adj only before noun]
Limiting nuclear weapons should help to improve prospects
for world peace. [ A handful of companies control about 80%
of world trade. [ The government is blaming its own poor
performance on the world recession. I world champion/
record ere (=the best in the world, especially in a sport)
Mike Hawthorn had become Britain's first World Champion
in 1958.
global/'global/affecting the whole world, especially in
a damaging or worrying way [adj only before noun]
AIDS is now a global problem. I Nuclear war would end in
global destruction. [ Something must be done to reverse the
effects of global pollution.
worldwide /,wa:rld'waId-/ existing or happening in
most or all of the countries in the world [adj only before
noun]
There is a worldwide shortage of oil. [American Express has
a worldwide network of offices. I The worldwide television
audience for the concert was estimated at over a billion
people:
worldwide [adv] CNN is distributed worldwide (=every-
where or almost everywhere in the world) by satellite.
worldly EXPERIENCED 2
worlds apart: be worlds apart/be poles apart
DIFFERENT 2
worldwide EVERYWHERE 1, WORLD 2
worm sth out of FIND OUT 7
worm your way into sb's heart/affections/confidence
etc TRICK/DECEIVE 3
worm your way out of AVOID 2
worms: can of worms PROBLEM 5
worn CONDITION/STATE OF STH 6
worn out: tired out/worn out TIRED 1

worried 1570 WORRIED
worried WORRIED 1
worried: not worried/not concerned/unconcerned
WORRIED 11
worried sick: be worried sick WORRIED 3
WORRIED
10
11
12
13
14
worried about something
to feel worried about something
to be so worried that you become upset and
you cannot think clearly
worried all the time because.you have a lot of
problems or difficult work to do
worried all the time that people dislike you,
that bad things will happen to you etc, when
in fact this is not true
the feeling that you have when you are
worried about something
to make someone feel worried
words for describing a fact, situation, time etc
that makes you feel worried
a situation or personal problem, that you are
worried about
someone who worries a lot
not worried
no longer worried about something that you
were worrying about before
to make someone feel less worried or make
them stop worrying about something
what you say to tell someone not to worry
1 worried about something
 worried uneasy
anxious dismayed
concerned bothered
apprehensive not like the look of/sound of
worried /'wArid II 'wa:rid/ unhappy because you keep
thinking about a problem or because you are afraid that
something unpleasant might happen [adj]
Ron's business is losing money and he is very worried. I Don't
look so worried. No one's going to hurt you. I worried about
The doctor told me there was no reason to be worried about
my health. I It's not you I'm worried about, it's Dan - he can't
swim. I worried that I rushed into the station, worried that
I might miss my train. I get worried She gets worried when
her husband is late home from work. I worried expres-
sion/look/frown Helen looked at me with a worried expres-
sion. "Are you feeling all right?" she asked.
anxious/'mokas/very worried about something that
may happen or may have happened, so that you think
about it allthe time, especially when you have good reason
to be worried [adj]
anxious about Helen is anxious about travelling by her-
self.I anxious I knew it was a routine operation but I
couldn't help feeling anxious. I anxious look/expression
She gave me an anxious look. "He should have been home
by now." l anxious that Her relatives were anxious that it
might be cancer.
anxiously [adv] He glanced anxiously at his watch. I We
waited anxiously for news of the missing helicopter.
concerned/kan! sa:rnd/worried about something such
as a social problem, Or about someone's health, safety etc
[adj]
concerned about I'm very concerned about Veronica. She
looks so pale and she has no appetite. I The government is
becoming increasingly concerned about the rising level of
unemployment. I concerned A TVprogramme about cruelty
to children brought hundreds of letters from concerned
viewers. I concerned for Rescuers are concerned for the
safety of two men trapped in the mine.
apprehensive /,epn'hensw/ worried and nervous
about something that you are going to do or about the
future [adj]
apprehensive about I must admit that before my baby was
born I was very apprehensive about motherhood. I appre-
hensive that She was apprehensive that the injection might
be painful. I apprehensive It's natural to feel a little appre-
hensive before your first parachute jump.
apprehensively [adv ] She looked at her father apprehen-
sively, frightened of what his reaction would be.
uneasy/An'i:zi/worried and uncomfortable because you
feel that there may be something wrong and you are not
at all sure what is going to happen [adj]
feel uneasy When I answered the telephone no one was there
and it made me feel uneasy. I uneasy about We felt uneasy
about leaving the children and going away for the weekend. I
distinctly uneasy (=very uneasy) I was distinctly uneasy
in his company, but I couldn't explain why. I uneasy feel-
ing Harry had an uneasy feeling that a hurricane was about
to hit the town.
uneasily lady] He walked uneasily up and down the room
waiting for news.
dismayed/ds'med/ very worried, disappointed, and
upset by something that has happened [adj not usually
before noun]
dismayed to see/hear etc I was dismayed to learn that I
had lost my job. I dismayed "'Oh no, it can't be true!" she
said, utterly dismayed.
bothered/'bo6rd II 'bo:-/an American word meaning
anxious about something that might happen [adj not before
noun ]
bothered about Len is bothered about having to make a
speech to the rest of his class. I bothered that Aren't you
bothered that you won't make the baseball team?
not like the look of/sound of/no ,laik 6a 'lok av,
saond v/if you say that you do not like the look or the
sound of something, you mean that it makes you feel
worried, because it might possibly be threatening or
dangerous Iv phrase not in progressive]
I don't like the look of that rash on your chest. I "'They say
that tanks are massing close to the border. "" "'I don't like the
sound of that - it could mean war. "'1 Don't let anyone into
your home that you don't like the look of. I The weather fore-
cast said it wouldn't rain today, but I don't like the look of
that sky.
2 to feel worried about something
worry
fret
brood
worry/'wAri II 'wa:ri/Iv I]
My husband worries when I'm late home from work. I Don't
worry, there's plenty of time to get to the airport. I I wish
you'd all stop worrying. I can take care of myself. I worry
that He began to worry that he was going to lose his job. I
worry about Antonia tends to worry about her weight too
much. I I don't know what you're worrying about.
fret/fret/to worry about unimportant things Iv I]
Don't fret - everything will be all right. I fret about He spent
all evening fretting about the arrangements for the party. I
It's pointless fretting about something that will probably
never happen.
brood/'bru:d/to keep thinking about and worrying about
a problem for a long time after it has happened Iv I]
There's no point in brooding -forget about her. I brood
about/over He sits in his house all day and broods about
his money problems.
3 to be so worried that you become upset and
you cannot think clearly
be worried sick
be at your wits' end
frantic

WORRIED 1571 WORRIED
be worried sick/be: ,w^rid 'slk II -,w3:r-/Iv phrase]
be worried sick about She's worried sick about the possi-
bility of losing her job. I Mark's mother is in hospital and
he's worried sick about her. I be worried sick Where were
you last night? I was worried sick. I worry yourself sick
(=make yourself worried sick) Jenny had worried herself
sick trying to think of a way to pay her debts.
be at your wits' end/bi: otj3: r ,wits 'end/to be so wor-
ried about a problem that you cannot think of any way of
dealing with it Iv phrase]
I don't know what I can do to keep our marriage together
- I'm at my wits'end!l There's no one he can turn to for help
and he is at his wits" end.
frantic/' freenUk/extremely worried and frightened about
a situation so that you confuse your feelings or cannot
think clearly [adj]
get/grow/become frantic There is still no news of the
missing child and her parents are getting frantic. I As the
ship started to sink, the passengers grew more and more
frantic. I frantic with worry/fear ere When Jim found
that the documents had been stolen, he was frantic with
worry. I their frantic screams for help
4 worried all the time because you have a lot of
problems or difficult work to do
have a lot on your mind preoccupied
be under a strain stressed out
have a lot on your mind/heev o ,lot on j:r 'maind II
-,la:t-/to have a lot of problems to worry about [v phrase]
Since the divorce Linda's had a lot on her mind. I I'm sorry
I wasn't paying attention, I have a lot on my mind at the
moment.
be under a strain/bi: ,Andor o 'streIn/to have a lot of
work to do or have a lot of problems to deal with, so that
you feel worried and tired or get upset easily Iv phrase]
I must apologize for his behaviour - he's been under strain
lately and he's tired. [ be under a lot of strain Teachers
are often under a lot of mental strain, and they need the holi-
days to unwind.
preoccupied/pri: 'okjoUpaid II -' ink-/worrying so much
about a particular problem that you cannot think about
anything else [adj]
James came into my office looking worried and preoccupied. I
She stared silently out of the window with the preoccupied
look of someone who has a serious problem. I preoccupied
with He was far too preoccupied with his own marital
difficulties to give any thought to his friend's problems.
stressed out /,strest aot-/ an informal expression
meaning suffering from so much worry and tiredness that
you cannot relax because you have too much work or too
many problems [adj]
One of my adult students was a stressed out working mother. I
By the end of the tour the band was totally stressed out.
5 worried all the time that people dislike you,
that bad things will happen to you etc, when
in fact this is not true
paranoid
paranoia
paranoid/'peronaid/[adj]
Look, nobody's following you, you're just getting paranoid. I
I can't work out whether they are trying to get rid of me or
whether I am being paranoid.
paranoia/,peer'nio/the feeling that people dislike you
and are trying to harm you or that bad things will happen
to you, when in fact this is not true In U]
He suffers from paranoia - always thinking people are
laughing at him or taking advantage of him. I Just forget
it. it's pure paranoia. I The McCarthy trials created an
atmosphere of intense paranoia among artists in America.
6 the feeling that you have when you are
worried about something
worry stress
anxiety strain
concern anguish
worry/'wArt II 'w3:ri/[n U]
Why did you stay out so late? You caused us a lot of unneces-
sary worry. I Grandma's wrinkled face showed a lifetime of
worry. I worry over He's had a lot of worry over his son's
illness.
anxiety/eer]'zaoti/ the feeling of being very worried
about something that may happen or may have happened,
so that you think about it all the time In U]
Her anxiety about the pain of childbirth is understandable. I
She was now pale with fear and anxiety. I I've tried to iden-
tify all sources of anxiety and eliminate them from my life. [
The increase in the tax on heating fuel is causing a lot of
anxiety among elderly people.
concern/kon's3:rn/a feeling of worry about a situation
such as a social problem, or about someone's health, safety
etc In U]
concern over/about sth There is growing concern over the
effect of video games on children's behaviour. I Our concern
about his health was, fortunately, unjustified. I concern The
depletion of the ozone layer is causing widespread concern
among scientists and doctors. I concern for sb There is con-
cern for the hostages, who have been moved to an unknown
location. I deep concern He desperately tried to hide his deep
concern for the lost children.
stress/stres! continuous feelings of worry about your
work or your personal life that prevent you from relaxing
and may affect your mental and physical health In C/U]
Regular exercise is a wonderful cure for stress. I Areas of her
work that she cannot control are creating stress in her life. I
under stress Jack needs a .holiday - he's been under a lot
of stress lately.
strain/streln! a feeling of worry caused by having to deal
with a particular problem or having to work very hard over
a long period of time In C/U]
The strain of managing such a huge company became too
much for Anita. I put strain on Being a politician can put
an enormous amount of strain on one's family.
anguish/' erjgwif/mental suffering, caused for example
by worry or guilt, or by being in an unpleasant situation
over which you have no control In U]
The news report showed refugees waiting for transport, their
faces full of anguish. I an appallingly difficult decision that
had caused him great anguish I She spoke about her anguish
at not being able to be at her mother's deathbed.
1 to make someone feel worried
worry bother
trouble prey on your mind
concern cause concern/be a cause for
concern
worry/'wArt II 'w3:ri/[v T]
worry sb The recent changes in the Earth's climate are
beginning to worry some scientists. I it worries sb that
Doesn't it worry you that Stephen spends so much time away
from home? l what worries sb is What worried me was the
way the dog kept growling.
trouble/' trhbM/if a problem troubles you it makes you
feel worried because you do not know what to do about it
Iv T]
You must talk to your daughter and find out what's trou-
bling her. I I keep thinking about why you left so suddenly
- it's something that has troubled me all week. I His guilty
conscience still troubles him.
troubled [ adj] Kemp looked troubled. "'I'm not sure what's
wrong," he said.
concern /kon's3:rn/ if something concerns you, you
worry about it because you think it is important, even if
it does not affect you personally Iv T not in passive]

WORRIED 1572 WORRIED
Kate's behaviour at school is starting to concern her parents. I
what concerns sb is ... What concerns me most is that
despite pay increases production has not improved.
bother/boS r II ba:-/if something bothers you, espe-
cially an unimportant problem, it worries you a little Iv T/
The only thing that bothers me is how I'm going to get from
the station to the farm. I The car's fine - there's just a little
noise it makes that bothers us.
prey on your mind/prex on j:r mand/if a problem
or something bad that has happened preys on your mind,
it worries you continuously even though you do not want
to think about it Iv phrase]
Try to forget about the,accident. You mustn't let it prey on
your mind. ] The old woman's warning preyed on Mary's
mind as she continued her journey.
cause concern/be a cause for concern /k:z
kns3:rn, bi: ,k:z fo r kn's3:rn/if something that is hap-
pening causes concern or is a cause for concern, it
makes someone, especially someone in an official position,
feel worried, because it is unsatisfactory or possibly
dangerous Iv phrase]
We have to inform you that your son's behaviour has been
causing concern for some time now. I The situation in the
region has now become a major cause for concern. I cause
sb concern Your husband has almost recovered - the only
thing that's still causing us concern is his high blood
pressure.
8 words for describing a fact, situation, time etc
that makes you feel worried
worrying stressful
worrisome tense
alarming niggling
anxious alarmist
worrying/'w^ri-D II 'w3:ri-/[adj]
The possibility that I might lose my job is very worrying. I
It must have been a worrying time for you. I There are some
worrying stories about police brutality. I What's even more
worrying is how many countries are developing their own
nuclear weapons.
worrisome /'w^risdm II 'w3:ri-/ an American word
meaning worrying [adj]
She wanted to get away from her family and their worrisome
problems. ] The long-term outlook for the defense industry
is worrisome.
alarming/  lm rm  rj/a situation, experience, report etc
that is alarming is worrying and frightening [adj]
There has been an alarming increase in violent crime over
the past year. I The epidemic is spreading at an alarming
rate. I the alarming news that Soviet missiles were sited in
Cuba
alarmingly [ adv] Infant mortaility among the population
is alarmingly high. I The boat lurched alarmingly causing
the cargo to shift.
anxious / ijks/anxious time/wait/moment (=time
during which you feel worried and nervous because the sit-
uation is risky and you do not know what is going to
happen) ]adj only before noun]
For one anxious moment I thought the rope was going to
break. I We dialled 999 and faced an anxious wait for the
ambulance. I The verdict of "not guilty" has finally brought
to an end what must have been a very anxious time for the
whole family.
stressful /  stresfdl/a job, experience, or situation that is
stressful is one that makes you worry a lot because there
are so many problems to deal with [adj]
Nursing is a very stressful occupation. I Roberta had to give
up her job because she found it too stressful. I An important
part of Raymond's health programme is to try and avoid
stressful situations.
tense/tens/tense situation/moment/atmosphere etc
(=one that makes you very nervous and worried because
something bad might happen at any moment) [adj]
The atmosphere in the hospital waiting room was extremely
tense. I It was a tense moment, full of fear and uncertainty. I
In the tense silence that followed, the boys fidgeted uneasily.
niggling/nglq/niggling doubt/worry/suspicion/
feeling (=one that is slightly worrying and which you
cannot stop thinking about) [adj only before noun]
The suspect seemed to have proved his innocence, but a nig-
gling doubt remained in my mind. I I couldn't shake off a
niggling worry. Had I forgotten to lock the office door?
alarmist I'lo:rmst/ alarmist statements/reports/
warnings etc make people unnecessarily worried about
dangers that do not exist [adj only before noun]
Alarmist reports of oil pollution in the Pacific Ocean are now
known to be untrue. I Right wing newspapers are full of alar-
mist propaganda against communist groups.
9 a situation or personal problem, that you are
worried about
worry stresses and strains
concern hang-up
cares complex
worry/'whri II 'w3:ri/In C]
It's important that children can discuss their worries with
their parents. I One of our biggest worries is that we may lose
all our money. I His main worry is how he's going to payfor
his daughter's wedding.
concern/konsa:rn/a serious situation that worries you
and which you feel you should do something about In C]
The hospital's main concern is that doctors are overworked. I
The growing number of refugees around the world is one of
the UN's most pressing concerns.
cares/keorz/problems or responsibilities in your life that
make you worry In plural]
She was not really ready for the cares and responsibilities
of running a family. I Forget all your cares for an evening
and have a night out.
stresses and strains /,stresz ond 'strexnz/ the
problems and worries that are caused by having to work
hard or live in a busy place In phrase]
They moved to a little house in the country in order to get
away from the stresses and strains of city life. I More and
more people are turning to religion to help them cope with
the stresses and strains of modern civilization.
hang-up/'heerj ^p/an informal word: if you have a hang-
up about something, such as your personal appearance,
you are unreasonably worried or embarrassed about it
In C/
I want the children to understand sex and grow up without
any hang-ups. I have a hang-up about Sarah has a hang-
up about her nose - she thinks it's too big.
complex /'kt)mpleks 11 'ka:m-/ if you have a complex
about something, especially about your own character, you
have strong, confused feelings about it, which make you
feel worried and affect your behaviour In C]
have a complex about Larry feels that he's been unfairly
treated by his parents - in fact he has quite a complex about
it. I inferiority complex (-a worrying feeling that you are
not as clever or important as other people) Her inferiority
complex is destroying her life.
10 someone who worries a lot
be a worrier
worrywart
neurotic
be a worrier/bi:  'wArio r II -'wa:rior/to be the kind of
person who worries a lot, often unnecessarily Iv phrase]
He admitted to the doctor that he was a worrier and found
it hard to relax. I Dad is such a worrier. If I'm late home,
she starts phoning around to find out where I am.
worrywart/'w^riw:rt II 'w3:ri-/an informal American
word meaning someone who worries too much In C]
Don't be such a worrywart!

WORRIED 1573 worrying
neurotic/njo'rotik II no'rcr.-/always very worried, ner-
vous, and anxious about things when there is no good
reason [adj]
Very talented people are often neurotic as well. I He was a
shy, neurotic man who found it difficult to make friends.
neurotic In C] She is a complete neurotic, never relaxed.
1 1 not worried
not worried/not concerned/unconcerned
unperturbed
not lose sleep over
without a care in the world
carefree
philosophical
not worried/not concerned/unconcerned /not
'wArid, not kan'sa:rnd, ,^nkan'sa:rnd 11 -'w3:rid/[adj]
not worried etc about Kate isn't worried about being criti-
cized - she just does what she wants. I not worried etc They
can say what they like about me. I'm not worried. I I warned
her about the danger but she seemed quite unconcerned. I
Brian didn't seem at all concerned when the car broke down. I
not in the least bit worried etc (=not at all worried) Even
after losing her job she's not in the least bit worried.
unperturbed/,Anpar'ta:rbd/a formal word meaning not
worried about a particular situation or danger, even
though there is good reason to be worried [adj not before
noun]
He walked along the cliff edge, unperturbed by the danger-
ously strong winds. I When two men arrived uninvited at the
party Brigitte did her best to look unperturbed and calmly
asked them to leave.
not lose sleep over/no ,lu:z ' sli:p aovar/to not be wor-
ried by a problem because you do not think it is important
enough [ v phrase/
not lose sleep over I'm sure that Barbara won't lose any
sleep over her driving test - she can take it again if she
doesn 't pass. [ It's not that serious. I wouldn't lose any sleep
over it if I were you.
without a care in the world Iw;baot a ,kear in ba
'wa:rld/with the happy feeling of not being worried about
anything at all [adv phrase]
The two children sat playing without a care in the world. I
Joe used to come home from work without a care in the world,
but not any more.
carefree/'kearfri:/cheerful and not worried about any-
thing, because you do not have any real problems or
responsibilities in your life [adj]
In those days I was young and carefree, living from day to
day. I Sometimes she wishes she could give it all up and go
and live a carefree life in the country, without any responsi-
bilities to drag her down.
philosophical /,ffla'sohkal II-'so:-/ someone who is
philosophical calmly accepts difficulties and disappoint-
ments without feeling worried or upset, because they know
nothing can be done to change these things [adj]
philosophical about He's being very philosophical about
it all, but it's going to be hard for him to find anotherjob.[
philosophical Life can be very hard, but it does help if you
have a philosophical outlook.
philosophically [adv] I was afraid she might be upset
about not being promoted, but she took it philosophically.
12 no longer worried about something that you
were worrying about before
relieved
be a weight off sb's mind
relief
relieved/r 'li:vd/happy because you know that you no
longer need to worry about something that was causing
you a lot of worry [adj not before noun]
She felt relieved when she saw that her children were safe. [
relieved that We are relieved that the war has now
finished.[ relieved to know/hear/fred/learn sth
Graham was relieved to find that his illness was not a heart
disease.
be a weight off sb's mind/bi: a ,wet of (sb's) 'maind/
if you say that something is a weight off your mind you
mean that you are no longer worried about a serious
problem or situation because something has happened to
make you happier Iv phrase]
be a weight off sb's mind to know sth Call up your
mother - it'll be a weight off her mind to know that you have
arrived safely. I be a great weight off sb's mind If you
promise never to see those boys again it'll be a great weight
off my mind. I take a weight offsb's mind Now that Peter
has passed all his exams it's a weight off my mind.
relief/rI 'li:f/the feeling you have when you are no longer
worried about something that was causing you a lot of
worry In singular]
The relief we felt when the plane landed safely was wonder-
ful. I what a reliefi "What a relief, "" said Tanya. "'I don't
have to go into hospital. "" l breathe/heave a sigh of relief
(=breathe out deeply because you feel relief) As the customs
officer let us through without looking at our bags we
breathed a sigh of relief.
13 to make someone feel less worried or make
them stop worrying about something
reassure
set/put sb's mind at rest
put sb out of their misery
reassure/,ri:a'foar/to make someone feel less worried,
especially by saying something to comfort them Iv T]
reassure sb I tried to reassure her by saying that the police
would arrive soon. I reassure sb that He continually reas-
sures his wife that he loves her. I The company has reassured
the workers that there will be no job losses this year.
set/put sb's mind at rest/,set, ,pot (sb's) 'maind at
,rest/ to make someone feel less worried, especially by
giving them some information which shows that they have
been worrying unnecessarily Iv phrase]
The doctor set my mind at rest by explaining exactly what
effect the drug would have on me. I If you're worried about
the results of your examination, I think I can put your mind
at rest. You passed. I Just to set his mind at rest Mark checked
on the baby once more before going to bed himself.
put sb out of their misery/,put (sb) aut av bea r 'mlzari/
a humorous expression meaning to tell someone something
that they have been waiting anxiously to find out [vphrase]
Now it's time to put you all out of your misery and announce
who's won the competition.
14 what you say to tell someone not to worry
 don't worry
there's nothing to worry about
rest assured
don't worry/,daunt 'w^ri II -'wa:ri/
"'Don't worry, "' said Tom, "7 have enough money for both of
us. '" I don't worry about "'Don't worry about me - I'll be
all right, "" said Billie.
there's nothing to worry about/beorz ,nAOirj to 'wAri
abaot II -'w3:ri-/(used to comfort someone who is worrying
about something that is going to happen)
It's just a simple operation. There's nothing to worry about.
rest assured/,rest a*foard/(a formal expression used
to tell someone that they can feel sure that there is no need
to worry because everything is satisfactory)
rest assured that You can rest assured that there are no
additives in this food. I rest assured The work will be
finished in time, rest assured.
worrier: be a worrier WORRIED 10
worrisome WORRIED 8
worry WORRIED 2, 6, 7, 9
worry: don't worry WORRIED 14
worry: don't worry about it FORGIVE 2
worrying WORRIED 8

worrywart 1574 WORSE
worrywart WORRIED 10
worse WORSE 1 2
worse: get worse WORSE 3, 4, 7
worse: make things worse/make it worse
WORSE 5
WORSE
of a lower standard or quality
more unpleasant, difficult, worrying etc
to become worse in standard or quality
ways of saying that a situation becomes more
unpleasant, difficult, worrying etc
to make a bad or difficult situation even worse
worse than everything else of the same kind,
or worse than at any time before
ways of saying that someone who is ill
becomes even more ill
1 of a lower standard or quality
 worse can't/doesn't compare with
not as good not be in the same league
inferior not be a patch on
worse lw3:rsl [adj]
worse than The food here is worse than we had when I was
in prison. I This year's exam results were even worse than last
year's. I worse His last movie wasn't great, but the new one
is even worse. I a lot worse/much worse The standard of
the application we're receiving is a lot worse this year.
worse [adv] He's playing even worse today than he was
yesterday.
not as good/,not 0z 'gud/[adj phrase]
not as good as This book is not as good as her last one. I
The results were not as good as we had hoped. I not as good
I like this town better than Harrisburg, but the schools are
not as good. not nearly as good Pop music today isn't
nearly as good as when I was young.
inferior/In' fIarior/to be of a lower quality than something
else of a similar type, especially in being less well-made,
less well-designed or less well-trained [adj]
We can't hope to compete with the Japanese if we have
inferior equipment and training. [ inferior to To suggest
that women doctors are in some way inferior to men is
scandalous.
can't/doesn't compare with/,ka:nt, ,dAzant kom'pe r
wib [[ ,kent-/ if you say someone or something can't or
doesn't compare with someone or something else, you
mean that they are much worse Iv phrase]
Even the best English food can't compare with Italian food.I
Vinyl is strong and looks good but it doesn't compare with
real leather.
not be in the same league/not bi: in bo ,selm 'li:g/
if you say someone or something is not in the same
league as someone or something else, you mean they are
so much worse that it is stupid to even discuss them
together Iv phrase]
How can you compare him to Ivan Lendl? He's not in the
same league at all. I not be in the same league as quite
a good Western but not in the same league as "High Noon"
or "The Magnificent Seven'
not be a patch on/not bi: o 'petf on/an informal Brit-
ish expression meaning to be much worse than something
or someone else, especially something that came before Iv
phrase] 
The movie isn't a patch on the original novel. I My father says
that modern musicals aren't a patch on 'Kiss me, Kate'.
2 more unpleasant, difficult, worrying etc
worse
not as good as
worse/wa:rs/[adj]
worse than Conditions in Ethiopia are worse than they were
last year. I Do you think racial harassment is worse in Ger-
many than in Britain? l worse Don't complain. Life could
be worse. I The situation was even worse after the elections. I
Already we were losing 3-0, and worse was to follow. I a lot
worse/much worse At first AIDS affected only a few people
- now the situation is much worse.
not as good as/,not z 'god ez/[adj phrase]
The prospects for economic recovery are not as good as they
were. I Their economic position is not as good as they would
like you to think.
3 to become worse in standard or quality
get worse deteriorate
go down suffer
decline slip
get worse/,get 'w3:rs/[v phrase]
The food here gets worse every day. I Her dancing is getting
worse as she gets older. I get worse and worse Paul's
manners seem to get worse and worse.
go down / ,g0o daon/if standards of work go down, they
get worse Iv I]
The standard of service has gone right down since the com-
pany was privatized. I He's been very unhappy and depressed
recently, and his work has definitely gone down.
decline/dl 'k]aln/if someone's standard of work, perfor-
mance, or service declines, it gets gradually worse, espe-
cially over a long period Iv I]
If morale drops, service to customers could decline. I It was
no accident that Britain's economic performance declined
then. I Educationalists are worried about what they see as
declining standards of literacy.
decline In singular] There has been a steady decline in
standards of health care.
deteriorate/dI 'tlarioreIt/if the condition or quality of
something deteriorates, it gets gradually worse over a
period of time Iv I]
Air quality is deteriorating fast in our cities. [ The public
library service definitely deteriorated under the last govern-
ment. I Deteriorating buildings and equipment made
difficulties for the hospital patients and staff.
deterioration/dI ,tlario'reLfanl [n U] the further deteriora-
tion of relations between the two countries
suffer/'s^for/to become worse because of a change in
conditions, especially one you cannot control or prevent
Iv I]
His work suffered because he was worried about his mother. I
The ferry line denied that safety would suffer if costs were
cut. I Public health care suffered badly in the recession.
slip /shp! if standards slip, they get worse, especially
because not enough care is taken or attention is paid to
keeping them high Iv I]
The manager has let standards slip and there's a lot of work
to be done. I He used to make sure his apartment was in
immaculate condition, but he's let things slip recently.
4 ways of saying that a situation becomes more
unpleasant, difficult, worrying etc
get worse go from bad to worse
worsen go downhill
deteriorate go down the tubes
deepen
get worse/,get 'w3:rs/ IV phrase]
The tension in our house is getting worse every day. I Their
disagreement got worse after Julie got involved. [ The more
I tried to calm everyone down, the worse things got. [ get
worse and worse The traffic on this road is getting worse
and worse.
worsen/'w3:rsn/ifa situation worsens, especially one
that is already bad, it becomes worse Iv I]
The weather worsened during the night. I The unrest in the
city has worsened since Saturday. I Their already strained

WORSE 1575 worst enemy
relationship worsened after he found the letter. I Worsening
economic conditions have destroyed many small businesses.
deteriorate/dI 'tiarioreIt/to gradually get worse Iv I]
Our working conditions have deteriorated cjsiderably over
the past few years. I Kennedy concentrated on the deteriorat- .
ing military situation.
deepen/'di:pon/if a bad situation deepens, especially a
serious political or military problem, it gets worse Iv I]
As the crisis deepened it became clear that the government
was losing control. [ There was an atmosphere of deepening
discontent in the country.
go from bad to worse/,goo from ,bad to Iw3:rs/ to
become even worse than before Iv phrase]
After the new sergeant came, things went from bad to worse. [
His attitude to work seems to be going from bad to worse.
go downhill I,goo daon'hd/to start getting worse, espe-
cially after a particular time or a particular event Iv phrase]
My career has gone downhill since my illness. [ After they
won that game. things started to go downhill. I I said I didn't
like baseball, and the interview went downhill from there.
go down the tubes/goo ,daon 6o Itju:bz II -tu:bzl an
informal expression meaning to very quickly get worse
until nothing can be done to save a situation or make it
better again Iv phrase]
Our marriage was going down the tubes, and there was noth-
ing I could do about it I I'm not going to sit here and watch
our business go down the tubes.
5 to make a bad or difficult situation even worse
make things worse/ to make matters worse
make it worse to add insult to injury
aggravate compound
exacerbate
make things worse/make it worse /,meIk 0ItJZ
'wa:rs, meIk It 'w3:rs/to make a bad or difficult situation
even worse, especially when you were trying to improve
it Iv phrase]
I tried to help them, but I think I just made things worse. I
Don't interfere. You'll only make things worse. I We were all
miserable, and Sam made it worse by trying to be cheerful.
aggravate/agmve,t/to make a bad or difficult situa-
tion even worse Iv T]
The manager's illness aggravated all their problems. I This
existing situation was aggravated by the Gulf war. I Their
anxiety was aggravated by the news reports.
exacerbate /g'zasorbeit/ a formal word meaning to
make a bad or difficult situation even worse, especially a
situation that affects the public Iv T]
This policy exacerbated the economic crisis. I Tension in the
city was exacerbated by an exceptionally strong policepres-
cence. I The government's inertia continues to exacerbate the
problems faced by refugees.
to make matters worse /to ,meik matorz wa:rs/
making a bad situation even worse [adv phrase]
The kids were all tired, and to make matters worse, it began
to rain.
to add insult to injury/to ed, InSAlt tO ' Ind3ori/making
a bad situation much worse, in a way that is unfair and
unexpected [ adv phrase]
The bank won't lend me any money and, to add insult to
injury, they charged a service fee for telling me that.
compound /kom'paund! if something compounds a
problem, mistake, or difficulty, it adds to the existing
problem so that the general situation gets even worse than
before Iv T usually in passive]
be compounded by John and Val's domestic problems were
compounded by stress at work. I His difficulties are com-
pounded by the fact that people refuse to take him seriously. I
compound sth Strong nationalist sentiment is compound-
ing the deep political problems faced by the President.
6 worse than everything else of the same kind,
or worse than at any time before
worst
take the cake
hit/reach rock bottom
worst/wa:rst/[adj only before noun]
It was the worst storm in living memory. ] That was one of
the worst decisions I ever took. ] Some of the worst housing
in the city is in this neighborhood. I The worst part of the
journey was the time we spent waiting at the airport. I by
far the worst This is by far the worst book I have ever read.
take the cake (also take the biscuit in British
English)/,teik 6o 'kelk, ,teik 6o 'bskIt/an informal expres-
sion meaning to be the worst that could be imagined, espe-
cially something unexpected or very extreme Iv phrase]
You have done some stupid things, Adam, but this takes the
biscuit. [ I thought my singing was bad, but I must say yours
takes the cake.
hit/reach rock bottom/thlt, ,ri:tf rok 'botom [[ -rozk
'ba:tam/ if a situation hits or reaches rock bottom, it
becomes worse than it has ever been Iv phrase]
After we lost the contract, morale in the office reached rock
bottom. I During the summer of'89, business hit rock bottom.
7 ways of saying that someone who is ill
becomes even more ill
get worse relapse
deteriorate have a relapse
get worse/,get wa:rs/[v phrase]
I'm afraid yourfather's getting worse. I If she gets any worse
I'm calling the doctor.
deteriorate/dI 'tiarioreIt/if someone's medical condition
deteriorates, it gets worse Iv I]
After a long struggle against cancer, her condition began to
deteriorate further. I The doctors told John that his eyesight
had deteriorated considerably since his last visit.
relapse/ri 'laps/to get worse during a serious illness
after you have been getting better [v I not in progressive]
He had first used the drug on a cancer patient who had
relapsed. I Ms Smith was found to have relapsed: tumours
emerged in several organs. I Many people relapse while
they "re being treated by Alcoholics Anonymous.
have a relapse / ,hav o ri ' laps/to suddenly or unexpect-
edly get worse during a serious illness after you have been
getting better Iv phrase]
If I'd spent another few days at home recovering, I probably
wouldn't have had a relapse. ] The doctors told us that Gran-
dad was getting much better, then he had an unexpected
relapse and died within a week.
.;!! worsen WORSE 4
 worship ADMIRE 2 LOVE 3, PRAY 1 2
 worst WORSE 6
!; worst: fear the worst EXPECT 7
 worst: get the worst of it/come off worst
' GAME, COMPETITION OR WAR 1
i: worst enemy: be your own worst enemy
iii. BAD FOR 2
LOSE A
HARM/BE
the amount of .mon,, -;,- .. VALUE
;:;:i.:O:th-i:.ng' iiSi wOh :° ; ;;:;.!!i
:::.n#LЈh :it-,.*neS   POINTLESS
useful ;: :-  USEFUL

worth 1576 WRITE
worth: be worth USEFUL 1, VALUE 2
worth: it's not worth it POINTLESS 2
worth: it's worth SHOULD/OUGHT TO 2
worth: Ј10015200 ere worth AMOUNT 1, 2
worth a fortune: be worth a fortune VALUE 3
worth a fortune: be worth a fortune/be worth
millions RICH 3
worth a lot: be worth a lot VALUE 3
worth nothing: be worth nothing/not be worth
anything VALUE 8
worth reading READ 13
worth sb's while: make it worth sb's while PAY FOR 12
worthless VALUE 8
would TYPICAL 2
would-be WANT 7
wound INJURE 1, 6
wounded INJURE 5
wounded: be wounded INJURE 4
wow IMPRESS 2
wrap/twist sb round your little finger CONTROL 4,
USE A PERSON 1
wrap up COVER 1, FINISH DOING STH 6, PUT ON
CLOTHES 1
wrapped up in: be wrapped up in ATI-ENTION :3,
THINK ABOUT 8
wrapping/wrapper COVER 4
wraps: keep sth under wraps SECRET 9
wreak havoc/play havoc with HARM/BE BAD FOR 1
wreck ACCIDENT 2, DESTROY 1, 2, 5, 6, SPOIL 6
wreck: nervous wreck NERVOUS 2
wrench PULL 4
wrench: throw a spanner/wrench in the works
SPOIL 2
wrestle FIGHT 1
wretched SYMPATHIZE 5
wriggle MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 5
wriggle out of/weasel out of AVOID 2
wring out PRESS 6
wrinkle LINE 3, 4
wrinkled LINE 10, OLD/NOT YOUNG 5
write WRITE 1, 2, 3
write about DESCRIBE 2
write back ANSWER/REPLY 5
write down WRITE 1
write off DESTROY 5, OWE 9, WRITE 3
write off for/write away for ASK FOR STH/ASK SB TO
DO STH 2
write out WRITE 1, 12
write out/write WRITE 5
write up WRITE 12
write-up JUDGE 7
write your name SIGN YOUR NAME 1
WRITE
to write words or numbers using a pen, pencil
etc
to produce something by writing, such as a
book, a poem, or a song
to write a letter to someone
to write something quickly or carelessly
to write all the information necessary on an
official document, such as a form or a cheque
to write down what someone says
to write a word correctly
the way someo.ne writes with a pen, pencil
etc "
to write something using a machine such as a
typewriter or personal computer
to write something that you intend to improve
or finish later
something that you have written which you
intend to improve later
12
13
14
15
16
17
to write something again in a better or more
complete way
ways of saying that something is written and
not just spoken
something that has been written or printed
something that is written on an object, wall
etc
someone whose job is to write books, stories
etc
the person who wrote a particular book, letter
etc
1 to write words or numbers using a pen, pencil
etc
write put down
put put sth in writing
write down make a note of/note down
write out print
write/razt/[v I/T]
James didn't learn to write until he was eight. I write sth
Chris can write his name in Japanese. I write sth on Write
the price on the back of it. I I don't have my glasses. Can you
tell me what's written on this label? I Clare had written "Good
Luck' on my plane ticket.
put/put/an informal word meaning to write something
[vT]
put sth Can you just put "from Jason, with love" and send
it with the flowers. I I've written to Marian, but I didn't put
anything about Bill being arrested. I put sth in/on etc Put
your answers on a postcard, and send them in by next
Thursday.
write down / rait daon/to write information on a piece
of paper, in a book etc so that you will not forget it or so
that it can be used later [phr v T]
write down sth Here, I'll write down the address for you.I
write sth/it/them down I know I wrote that phone
number down somewhere. [ "Dear and esteemed Mr Ambas-
sador: Yes, that sounds good, write it down.
write out/,rat aot/to write something, such as a list or
a report, including all the necessary details [phr v T]
write out sth Can you do some shopping for me? I'm just
writing out the list. I By the way, you haven't written out that
accident report yet. I write sth/it/them out After the meet-
ing she wrote her notes out in full.
put down/,pot daon/to write something, especially a
name or a sum of money, on a form or list [phr v T]
put down sth Could you just put down the titles and the
names of the authors please? I I'm putting down Ј50 for travel
expenses. I Just put down your last name and initials at the
top of the page. I put sth/it/them down Because his con-
dition's not serious they've put his name down on the hospi-
tal waiting list.
put sth in writing /pot (sth) In traitirj/to give someone
a written agreement, promise, offer etc in order to show
them that you are serious about it [v phrase]
Following an informal discussion Christine decided to put
her proposals in writing. [ The Russians asked him to put
it in writing, which he was happy to do.
make a note of/note down/meik a not v, not
daon/to write down information as soon as you get it, so
that you will be able to use it later Iv phrase]
Note down any questions and ask me at the end of the lesson. I
Before leaving the station he made a note of the times of the
trains back. I Luckily someone had noted down the registra-
tion number of the car. I I'd better note that down or I'll forget
it.
print/print/to write something in separate letters instead
of joining together all the letters in each word, especially
in order to make your writing clearer [v I/T/
Please print in block capitals. [ print sth Sean was able to
print his name but he never learned to write properly. [ He

WRITE 1577 WRITE
printed the address on the envelope so that his handwriting
wouldn't be recognized.
 to produce something by writing, such as a
book, a poem, or a song
write put pen to paper
compose compile
write/raitl [v I/T]
write sth He only wrote one novel but it was a masterpiece. I
I can 't come out tonight. I have an essay to write. I Who was
"Madame Bovary" written by? l write After my children left
home, I started to write.
well/badly-written [adj] You'd enjoy this book. It's very
well written.
compose ]kmpooz] to write a poem, letter, or song,
thinking very carefully about what to say and how to say
it Iv T]
These love poems are believed to have been composed by a
poet at the court of King Henry II. I They sat down together
to compose a letter to the newspaper.
put pen to paper/pot pen to peIpor/ an expression
meaning to begin writing something, especially a letter,
often used when saying you took a long time or found it
difficult to begin writing it [v phrase]
Dear Tom, it's been a long time since I put pen to paper. [I've
got lots of ideas for a novel, but I just can't seem to put pen
to paper.
comp|ie ]kompad] to make a list or a document, book etc
containing lists of information, for example a dictionary
Iv T]
They are compiling a dictionary of new words. I Using the
computer, they compiled a list of customers, with names and
addresses. I The book was compiled by a panel of experts,
working in conjunction with the publisher.
to write a letter to someone
write
write off
correspond
write/rat/[v I/T]
write to sb Wingate wrote to his father, asking for more
money. I For further information, write to Elizabeth Bryant
at the Multiple Births Foundation. I write Keith hasn't writ-
ten for ages. I write (sb) a letter He writes her letter after
letter, begging her to see him again. I write sb (American)
Soon after I got back he wrote me. I I'll write you and give
you all the latest news!
write off/rat of II -Ia:f/to write a letter and send it in
order to buy something, take part in a competition, have
something sent to you etc [phr v I]
write off for sth Write off today for your free Barman
poster! I write offto sb I've written off to the Army Careers
Office to get some information.
correspond/,koro I Ispond II k:ro  spa:nd, ka:-/to write
letters to someone and receive letters from them Iv I]
correspond with 21-year old Kenyan student wishes to cor-
respond with students from Britain or US. I correspond
After Franz went back to Germany we corresponded for
many years.
4 to write something quickly or carelessly
jot down scrawl
scribble dash off
jot down / (dbot daon II ,dsa:t-! to write short, quick notes
of facts or ideas so that you can use them later [phr v T]
jot down sth Let me jot down your address on this piece of
paper. I jot sth/it/them down "'Terrific!" he said, and
jotted something down in a loose-leaf notebook.
scribble / ' skribal/to write something in a hurry, with the
result that it may be difficult to read [v I/T]
scribble sth Andrew scribbled a quick note and handed it
.to the waitress. I scribble I saw Bruce Harris of the Daily
News scribbling furiously, then he took up the telephone and
dictated into it.
scribbled [adj] All we found was a hastily scribbled mes-
sage on a piece of paper.
scrawl/skin:l/to write something carelessly and untidily
Iv T]
He had her number - she'd scrawled it on the corner of his
newspaper. I In the bathroom there was a message, scrawled
on the mirror in lipstick.
dash off / t deej" 'of II -:f/to write a letter, note, story etc
quickly and without much thought [phr v T]
dash off sth Dostoyevsky could dash off a short story in a
couple of days. I When I saw the advertisement l was tempted
to dash off a letter of application there and then. I dash sth/
it/them off This essay reads as if you just dashed it off. You
need to spend more time on your work.
5 to write all the information necessary on an
official document, such as a form or a cheque
fill in/fill out
write out/write
make out
fill in/fill out/,fd 'zn, ,ill 'aot/[phr v T]
fill in/out sth Mick had a beer at the airport bar while Alex
filled out the car rental form. I We got through customs after
an hour spent in line, filling informs and waiting for pass-
ports to be returned. I fill sth/it/them in Just cut out the
coupon, fill it in and send it off.
write out/write/rait aut, raIt/to write information,
such as your name, the date etc on something such as a
cheque or a form [phr v T]
write (out) sth I'll write out a cheque for Ј500 to cover
expenses. I write sb (out) sth She took the money, wrapped
up the plates, and wrote me out a receipt. I Why don't you get
the doctor to write you a prescription for some painkillers? I
write sth/it/them out Write the information out here on
this form, and I'll order the books for you.
make out /melk aut/to write the details on an official
document such as a cheque or ticket, including the name
of the person or organization it should go to [phr v T]
make out sth He made out the cheque for Ј100. I make
sth/it/them out I asked the man to make a receipt out for
me. I make sth out in sb's name The invoice was made out
in my name so that I could claim the tax. I make out a
cheque to sb (=write on a cheque the name of the person
you are paying it to) If you want to pay by cheque, make it
out to G K Fisher Ltd.
 to write down what someone says
take down
get down
take
take down /,teik daon/to write down what someone
says, as they are saying it, for future use [phr v T]
take down sth The police let me go after they'd taken down
my statement. I A pack of reporters ran after him, taking
down every word he said. I take sth/it/them down If you
tell me your requirements, I'll take them down and I'll look
through our files for a suitable house.
get down /,get 'daon/to succeed in writing down what
someone says when this is difficult, especially because they
are talking too fast [phr v T]
get sth/it/them down Did you get all those names down
OK? I She could not remember the words long enough to get
them down on paper, so I repeated them. I get down sth The
teacher was speaking so fast that it was difficult to get down
everything he said.
take/te;k/take notes/a letter/dictation (=write down
what someone says as they say it, especially as part of your
work or studies) Iv T]
You didn't take many notes in that lecture. I Before you go,
Sandra, could you take a quick letter to send to Mr Baker
of Greensted & Co? I Did you really think I would want to
be his secretary and take dictation from him?

WRITE 1578 WRITE
7 to write a word correctly
spell
spelling
spell/spel/to write a word using the correct letters in the
correct order iv I/T]
spell sth How do you spell your surname? I You can't expect
to get good marks when half the words are spelled wrong. I
spell I've never been able to spell very well.
spelling/'spcli! the correct way to spell a word In C]
This word has two equally correct spellings. I What's the
American spelling? I I knew what the word meant, but Igot
the spelling wrong.
8 the way someone writes with a pen, pencil etc
writing/handwriting
scrawl
writing/handwriting /raitirj, 'handraim3/ the par-
ticular way that someone writes, for example clearly or
untidily, or with large or small letters In U]
Your writing's terrible. I can hardly read it. [ I didn "t write
that. My handwriting slopes backwards. [ His eyes lit up
when he saw the familiar neat handwriting and Rome post-
mark on the envelope.
scrawi/skr.-1/careless and untidy writing In singular/U]
What does it say? I can't read your scrawl! [ The letter
finished in a scrawl, messy and rushed.
to write something using a machine such as a
typewriter or personal computer
type print
typing key in
type/tamp! to write with a typewriter or personal computer
[v I/T]
Can you type? I type sth Do you think I should type this job
application or write it by hand? I At the top of the page he
typed "CONFIDENTIAL'.
typing I Itaipn]/the skill of being able to write with a type-
writer In U]
My typing isn't very good and I can't use a word processor.[
I'd like to do a shorthand and typing course.
print/pnnq to produce copies of a book, letter, newspaper
etc using a printing machine Iv T usually in passive]
Most of our books are printed abroad. [ Where did you get
your wedding invitations printed? [ Due to a strike no copies
of The New York Times were printed yesterday.
key in / ,k i:  in/to write something on a computer by push-
ing the keys, especially in order to record information [phr
vT]
key in sth Just key in the name of the file you want and it'll
come up on screen. [ Details of all sales are keyed into our
computer, so we always know what we have in stock.
1 0 to write something that you intend to improve
or finish later
draft
in rough
draft/dra:ft II dreft/to write a letter, speech, official docu-
ment etc with the intention of talking about it, changing
it, and improving it before you use it Iv T]
She's busy drafting her speech for next week's conference. I
The prisoners sat down together to draft a letter to the gover-
nor. I This proposal:.as drafted contains no reference to the
status of refugees. "
in rough/in r^f/if you write something in rough, you
write a first copy of it which has all the main ideas but is
not neatly written or finally organized [adv phrase]
I've done my essay in rough. I Write the letter in rough then
read it through carefully.
rough [adj usually before noun] This is only a rough copy
(=written in rough). I'm going to write it out again.
1 1 something that you have written which you
intend to improve later
notes
draft
notes Ingots/words, sentences, and information that you
have written down, which contain the main ideas that you
are going to use for a book, speech, piece of writing etc [n
plural]
I've lost my notes for the lecture I'm due to give this evening. [
After Rob died his wife was able to piece together the last
chapter of the book from the notes he left.
draft/dra:ft I[ dreeft/a first copy of a letter, book, agree-
ment etc which will be improved before it is finally used
[nC]
By the end of the year Jim had produced a first draft of his
new novel. I An early draft of a play that O'Neill was work-
ing on at the time of his death has been sold in New York for
$100,000.
1 ' to write something again in a better or more
complete way
write out
rewrite
write up
write out/,rat 'aot/[phr v T]
write sth/it/them out First I put down the basicplot, then
I wrote the story out in more detail. I Find outwhat is wrong
with the example sentences then write them out correctly. I
write out sth This report is terrible. I'll have to write out
the introduction again.
rewrite/,ri:'raIt/to write something again using differ-
ent words, or a different style, in order to make it clearer
or more acceptable Iv T]
Perhaps you ought to rewrite the first paragraph to make
it a little clearer. I The sub-editor rewrote the headline in
order to avoid legal complications, i Martin agreed to take
the part on condition that the script was rewritten to give it
a happier ending.
write up/Irait lap/to write out notes in complete form,
making them into full sentences so that they can be read
easily later [phr v T]
write up sth I must write up my history notes this evening. I
write sth/it/them up Anna put the project file into her
briefcase - she could write it up the next day, at the office.
1  ways of saying that something is written and
not just spoken
written in black and white
in writing handwritten
on paper typed
written/'ritnl [adj]
Please send a written application by October 17. I I don 't have
a written agreement but they said I could stay as long as I
wanted. [ The United Kingdom is unusual in not having a
written constitution. ] There are many differences between
spoken and written language.
in writing/n raim]! if you give or obtain information
in writing, the information is written down, especially so
that you can later prove that you have given it or obtained
it [adv phrase]
Can I have that in writing please? [ That's agreed then. I'll
just send you confirmation in writing. [ If you wish to leave,
you should give at least four weeks" notice in writing.
on paper Ion pepar! if you put ideas, arguments etc on
paper, you write them down, especially in order to help
yourself to remember them or put them in order [adv
phrase]
If l have the time, I'd like to put it all down on paper, because
it was a very interesting experience. I It doesn't matter
whether it's tidy. Just get it down on paper so that you don't
forget it.

WRITE
in biack and white/In ,bleek and Iwaq a statement or
fact that is in black and white is written, so you believe
that it must be true lady phrase]
Students half price - it says so here in black and white. [
There it was in black and white - a receipt for one thousand
dollars dated 1st April 1992.
handwritten/Iheend'ritn4/written by hand [adj]
The envelope contained a short handwritten note from the
director.
typed/taipt/written using a typewriter [adj]
Typed transcripts of the trial are available from the clerk
of the court. I The room was bare except for a table and some
maps and typed sheets of paper.
14 something that has been written or printed
writing manuscript
words print
text
writing/'raitirj/in U]
There's some writing on the back of this photo, but I can't
make out what it says. [ piece of writing Below each pic-
ture was a short piece of writing in Arabic script.
words/w3:r4z/writing, especially a small amount of writ-
lng in plural]
The words were very faint but I could make out the name
"Cremona'. I In the middle of the plate there were the words
"SS Empress of the Pacific'. [ The picture's on the front, the
words are on the back.
text/tekst/the written part of a book, newspaper etc, not
including notes, pictures etc in U]
George wrote the text to accompany Tom's photographs for
their new book on European capitals. [ The front page had
no text on it, just a photograph of the Princess and a huge
headline. [ With the 'Wordmaster" package, you can move
whole blocks of text very easily on screen.
manuscript / menj°skrIpt/a handwritten or typed copy
of a book, before it is printed in C]
She sent the manuscript to the publishers. I A private Ameri-
can buyer paid an undisclosed sum for the original
• manuscript of Lawrence's 'Revolt in the Desert:
print /print/ a word meaning the writing in a book,
newspaper, or other printed work, used especially when
you are talking about the way the writing looks rather than
what it says in U]
This print is very small. [ For people with poor eyesight the
library has a selection of books in large print. [ bold print
(=writing printed with slightly thicker lines, to make it
more noticeable) You should pay special attention to the
sections in bold print.
•
1  something that is written on an object, wall
etc
inscription
graffiti
Inscription / in' skripfn/a piece of writing written on, or
cut into, the surface of a stone, coin etc in C]
The simple tombstone carries the inscription "To the memory
of James Winner 1917-1944". I Many scholars have been
misled by the Roman inscription above the entrance to the
temple.
graffiti/gre fi:ti, gr-/rude, humorous, or political writ-
ing on the walls of buildings, trains etc in U]
The corridors are very dirty and the walls are covered in
graffiti. I Some of the graffiti was funny, but most of it was
just obscene or boring.
1 6 someone whose job is to write books, stories
etc
writer
author
contributor
1579 wrong way round
writer/'raItr/in C]
I enjoy reading American writers. I writer on Ian Ridpath
is a noted writer on astrology and the occult. I writer of She
a writer of children's stories.
author/a:or/a writer, especially one who writes books
[nC]
Dickens is one of my favourite authors. I I'd like you to meet
Dr Cook. He's the author of a fascinating work on primitive
art.
contributor/kn tribj o°tr/someone who writes articles
or stories for newspapers, magazines etc without being per-
manently employed to do this in C]
Clare is a contributor to a number of literary journals. I He
is a regular contributor to the Washington Post, with a
weekly column on world affairs.
17 the person who wrote a particular book, letter
etc
the writer
the author
the writer/5 raitr/the person who wrote a particular
book, letter, piece of writing etc In singular]
I have reviewed many books in which the writer has tried
to put too much into the opening chapter. I The writer of the
letter had forgotten to sign it.
the author 15i :orl the person who wrote a particular
book in singular]
According to the author, there has been a real change in
people's attitudes towards the police. [ The author describes
her rich heroine's return to the town of her birth•
writer WRITE 16
writer: the writer WRITE 17
writhe MOVE/CHANGE POSITION 4
writing WRITE 14
writing: in writing WRITE 12
writing: put sth in writing WRITE 1
writing/handwriting WRITE 8
written WRITE 13
written:badly-written READ 14
written all over sb's face: be written all over sb's
face OBVIOUS 3
wrong BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS 1 2, WRONG/
'
INCORRECT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED
1, WRONG/UNSUITABLE 2
wrong: be wrong for WRONG/UNSUITABLE 6
wrong: be wrong for/not be right for
WRONG/UNSUITABLE 6
can do no wrong PERFECT 9
can't go wrong CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY 3
do sth wrong WRONG/INCORRECT 4
don't get me wrong UNDERSTAND 11
get sth wrong MISTAKE 4
go wrong BROKEN 5, FAIL 3, 9, MISTAKE 4
there's something wrong with BROKEN 4
what's wrong FAULT/STH WRONG 1
end of the stick: get the wrong end of the
stick UNDERSTAND 11
foot: get off on the wrong foot START DOING
STH 11
side: got out of bed on the wrong side/got out
of the wrong side of bed BAD-TEMPERED 2
time: the wrong time TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG
TIME 4
track: be on the wrong track/wrong tack
WRONG/INCORRECT 3
way: take sth the wrong way UNDERSTAND 11
way round ORDER/SEQUENCE 4, 5, WRONG/
INCORRECT 5
wrong:
wrong:
wrong:
wrong:
wrong:
wrong:
wrong:
wrong:
wrong
wrong
wrong
wrong
wrong
wrong
wrong
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.

WRONG/INCORRECT 1580 WRONG/INCORRECT
etc ............. UNJUSTIFIED
not +;++ + WRONG/
bad .person
bad .beihaouў:o.r
a
WRONG/
INCORRECT
words for describing information, statements,
figures etc that are not correct
words for describing a belief or idea that is
wrong
ways of saying that someone says or believes
something that is wrong
ways for describing actions, methods etc that
are not the best or right ones
ways of saying that something is in the wrong
position
to wrongly and foolishly let yourself believe
something
to make someone believe something that is
wrong or incorrect
1 words for describing information, statements,
figures etc that are not correct
wrong bad
incorrect be out
inaccurate be wide of the mark
wrong/rDr II ram/[adj]
Seven out of ten of your answers are wrong - I think you'd
better do them again for homework. I I tried to telephone him,
but he must have given me the wrong number. I Just about
everything she says in her book is wrong.
wrong/wrongly [adv] You've spelled my name wrong -
there should be an "e" at the end. I The medicine had been put
in wrongly labelled bottles.
incorrect /,nk+pekt/ a fact, detail, number etc that
incorrect, is wrong, and this can be checked and proved
[adj]
Some of the information on the computer may be incorrect
because it was compiled over a year ago. I The figure for
export sales is incorrect; it should of course say $6 million,
not $6. I factually incorrect (=not in accordance with the
true facts) The President's claim that healthcare spending
has risen is, quite simply, factually incorrect.
incorrectly [adv] The article stated, incorrectly, that over
30% of AIDS victims were drug-users.
inaccurate/n'ekjoUrt/something that is inaccurate,
for example a description, a detail, or a number, is not
exactly right or contains some mistakes [adj]
Highway maps are sometimes inaccurate about the smaller
country roads. I When they came with the carpet it didn't fit
because they had made inaccurate measurements. I wildly
inaccurate (=extremely inaccurate) The book gives an
amusing but wildly inaccurate account of his childhood.
inaccurately [adv] The incident had been inaccurately
reported on the evening news, and was not in fact as serious
as we first thought.
bad ]bed! bad grammar/English/Italian etc (=wrong
because it is not spoken or written correctly) [adj]
You will lose marks for bad grammar in the exam. I The
Englishman went and spoke to one of the waiters in bad
French. I Masanori is the worst student in the class - his
spelling's bad and his grammar's terrible.
be out/bi: 'aot/if a measurement, result etc is out, it is
wrong because the numbers have not been calculated
correctly [phr v I]
be out by $10/50 centimetres etc My last bank statement
was out by Ј60. I be out These sales figures must be out. We
certainly haven't made that much money this year.
be wide of the mark/bi: iwald v b) 'ma:rk/if some-
one's guess, opinion etc is wide of the mark, their idea
about the situation is very far from what is correct or what
actually happens Iv phrase]
Her prediction was wide of the mark; she said sales would
double but in fact they fell by almost 50%.
words for describing a belief or idea that is
wrong
wrong erroneous
mistaken misplaced
false wrongheaded
wrong leo II r:o/[cj]
People used to believe that the world was flat, but we now
know this is wrong. I I wouldn't like you to get the wrong
impression - I do enjoy the course, but I just find it very hard
work.
mistaken/mo [ 'stezkn/mistaken idea/belief/impres-
sion etc (=one that people believe is right but is in fact
wrong) [adj only before noun]
Some people have the mistaken idea that cats need to drink
milk. I Pauline was under the mistaken impression that I
didn't like her. I He had a mistaken notion that he would
make a lot of money with his invention.
false/fads/wrong because it is based on wrong ideas or
incorrect information [adj]
This title gives a false impression of what the book is actually
about. I My mother avoided visiting Bali on the quite false
assumption that the place is full of tourists.
erroneous /iratJnias/ a formal word meaning wrong,
especially because it is based on false beliefs or incorrect
information [adj]
There is some evidence - though much of it is speculative and
erroneous - that the airplane was sabotaged. I it is errone-
ous to do sth It would, however, be erroneous to conclude
that this unrest signalled a strengthening of opposition to
the government.
erroneously [ adv ] It is sometimes erroneously believed that
cutting interest rates will cure all our economic problems.
misplaced /misplelst-/ misplaced trust/loyalty/
admiration/concern etc (=which is wrong because there
is no good or sensible reason for feeling it) [adj]
Your concern for the financial problems of the very rich is
totally misplaced. I Despite her doubts, she had supported
the new legislation out of a misplaced sense of loyalty to the
leadership.
wrongheaded I,mrj'hedoId II ,r:rj-/ wrongheaded
idea/notion/policy etc (=wrong and rather stupid,
because it is based on a lack of understanding) [adj]

WRONG/INCORRECT 1581 WRONG/INCORRECT
The young man's speech was full of wrongheaded ideas
about "the evils of capitalism'. I She pushed through these
wrongheaded policies despite widespread opposition.
3 ways of saying that someone says or believes
something that is wrong
wrong be mistaken
be on the wrong track/tack be misinformed
wrong/m II ra:/[adj not before noun]
If you think that a holiday in Greece will be cheap, you're
wrong. I be wrong to do sth I can see why you are worried,
but it would be wrong to regard the problem as too serious. I
be wrong in doing sth The markets may be wrong in
assuming that inflation has been defeated. I correct me if
I'm wrong (=said when you are fairly sure that you are
right) Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you Mr Seldon? l
have got it wrong (=think that something is true which
is in fact wrong) I'm sure they've got it wrong - my son
would never be involved in drugs. I prove sb wrong We
thought it would be an easy, straightforward journey, but
events proved us wrong.
wrongly Rightly or wrongly, it is generally believed that he
is guilty. I I had assumed - wrongly, as it turned out - that
the job was a permanent one.
be mistaken/bi: m'steikon/to have formed an incor-
rect idea about a person or situation [v phrase]
"'You're from Manchester, aren't you?" "Tin afraid you're
mistaken - I was actually born in Glasgow. "[ You must be
mistaken - no one of that name lives here. [ Unless I'm very
much mistaken, the crime was committed by someone from
within the company.
mistakenly lady] We had mistakenly assumed that the
weather there would be warm and dry.
be misinformed/bi: ,m:s:n'fa:rmd/to be wrong because
you have been given information that is incorrect or
untrue [v phrase]
I think you must have been misinformed - we don't teach any
courses in business studies here. [ be misinformed about
He had been misinformed about government policy.
be on the wrong track/tack/bi: n 6o ,ml] 'track,
'trek l[ -,ra:rj-/to have the wrong idea about a situation, so
that you are unlikely to get the result you want or get the
right answer to a problem [v phrase]
It seems we were on the wrong track Inspector - Mr McTav-
ish has produced an alibi so he can't be the murderer. [ I feel
that this advertising campaign is on completely the wrong
tack.
4 words for describing actions, methods etc
that are not the best or right ones
wrong
do sth wrong
wrong/ro l[ m:/not right, and therefore likely to cause
problems or to have results that you did not want or intend
[adj]
I think we may have given him the wrong medicine. I driv-
ing on the wrong side of the road [ No, that's wrong - you're
supposed to put the flour in first. [ These subsidies simply
kept resources in the wrong industries and stifled innovation.
do sth wrong/,du: (sth) 'mrj [[ -m:rj/to do something
incorrectly or in the wrong way [v phrase]
It's quite difficult, so don't worry if you do it wrong the first
time. [ do sth all wrong (=do it in completely the wrong
way) Jason was asked to set up the new stereo, but he did
it all wrong and now it doesn't work.
5 ways of saying that something is in the wrong
position
wrong inside out
the wrong way round upside down
back to front
wrong/mI II m:i/]adj only before nounl
Someone had moved the road sign so it was pointing in the
wrong direction. [ A word in the wrong place would spoil the
effect. I The antenna will not pick up the radio signal if it
is facing the wrong way.
wrong [adv] You've assembled it wrong - the biggest part
should be on top.
the wrong way round/6o ,ml] we: 'raund II -,m:i-/a
British expression: ff something is the wrong way round,
it is pointing in the opposite direction to the one it should
be pointing in [adv phrase]
When learning to write children often write certain letters
the wrong way round. [ That hat looks a bit strange - have
you got it on the wrong way round? [ The torch will not work
if you put the batteries in the wrong way round.
ba©k to front/,bek to ' frAnt/if something, especially a
piece of clothing, is back to front, the back of it is where
the front should be [adv phrase]
You've got your sweater on back to front.
inside out/, nsa:d 'aot/if something, especially a piece
of clothing, is inside out the inside of it is on the outside
and the outside of it is on the inside [adv phrase]
I put my gloves on inside out by mistake. [ turn sth inside
out Before you wash yourjeans, it's usually best to turn them
inside out.
upside down /,Apsad 'daun/ if something is upside
down, the top of it is at the bottom and the bottom of it is
at the top [adv phrase]
At the end of the day the children put their chairs upside
down on the tables. I turn sth upside down Someone's
turned this crate upside down.
6 to wrongly and foolishly let yourself believe
something
kid yourself
delude yourself
kid yourself /'k,d ja:rself/an informalexpression mean-
ing to wrongly and stupidly let yourself believe something
that you want to believe, but which is not likely or true Iv
phrase]
He's kidding himself if he thinks he's going to be a great film
director. [ Don't kid yourself- unless you know the right
people you'll never get anywhere. [All the time I was kidding
myself. She had left me for good.
delude yourself /dI'lu:d ja:rself/ to wrongly and
stupidly let yourself believe something that you want to
believe, but which is not true Iv phrase]
Don't delude yourself. They have no intention of offering you
a job. [ Members ofthepublic are simply deluding themselves
if they think there are easy solutions to this problem.
7 to make someone believe something that is
wrong or incorrect
mislead
misleading
mislead ImIs'lI:d! [v T]
mislead sb about The public has been seriously misled
about the state of the economy. I mislead sb into believing
sth He misled his victims into believing that he was trying
to help them. I mislead sb Don't be misled by her charming
manner. I The company has been accused of deliberately
trying to mislead people by its advertisements.
misleading/mish:dn]/a statement, fact, or report that .
is misleading makes you believe something that is in fact
wrong or incorrect [adj]
You need to be careful when you're looking at statistics - they
can be very misleading. I a misleading report on passive
smoking I highly misleading His comments may not have
been deliberately untruthful, but they were highly mis-
leading.
misleadingly [adv ] It is described - somewhat misleadingly
- as a 4-seater sportscar.

WRONG/UNJUSTIFIED 1582 WRONG/UNSUITABLE
WRONG/
UNJUSTIFIED
words for describing an action, statement, or
belief that is not right and cannot be shown to
be reasonable or necessary
1
words for describing an action, statement, or
belief that is not right and cannot be shown to
be reasonable or necessary
unwarranted
gratuitous
unprovoked
without good reason
wrong
unjustified
unjustifiable
unreasonable
groundless
wrong/rm] II ra:l/radii
I don't deny that what I did was wrong, but I had no choice
at the time. I be wrong to do sth It is wrong to treat people
this way - they should be given a chance to defend them-
selves. I Sophie was wrong to take the money without asking. I
be wrong of sb to do sth It was wrong of them to expect
you to do all their work for them.
wrongly [adv] I was wrongly accused of lying.
unjustified/^n'd3Asto fad/something such as criticism
or bad treatment of someone that is unjustified is unfair
and cannot be shown to have a good reason or excuse [adj]
I think your criticisms of Mr Ward are completely unjusti-
fied. [ Many disabled people suffer from unjustified discrimi-
nation when they apply for jobs. [ Brian has the reputation,
unjustified in my opinion, of being a bit of a bore.
unjustifiable I^n'd3Astfambl/not able to be proven to
be even slightly fair or reasonable [adj]
Most of their accusations are quite unjustifiable. I Poison-
ing the earth's atmosphere by building more and more cars
is ecologically and morally unjustifiable.
unreasonable/An ' ri:zanoball unreasonable demands,
requests, or other things that you expect someone else to
do are unfair and not based on any good reason [adj]
I think your attitude is most unreasonable. I unreasonable
demands (=that cannot possibly be expected to be carried
out) Even the most caring parents will sometimes make
unreasonable demands on their children. I it is unreason-
able to do sth It is unreasonable to assume that just because
they have been living together for a long time they will get
married.
unreasonably [adv] My grandmother was unreasonably
suspicious of all young people.
groundless /'graondls/ groundless fears/assump-
tions/suspicions/accusations etc (=not based on true
facts or on a good reason) [adj]
prove groundless (=are shown to be groundless) She was
worried that there were still people trapped in the building,
but her fears proved groundless. I groundless Our suspi-
cions about Uncle Adam were in fact groundless.
unwarranted /An'worntod II-'wa:-,-Iwo:-/ unwar-
ranted interference/intrusion/criticism etc (=not
deserved, not welcome, and done without good reason)
[adj]
Nicaragua was opposed to what it regarded as unwarranted
interference in its own internal affairs. I Many sportsmen
and women consider random drug testing to be an unwar-
ranted invasion of their privacy.
gratuitous /gro'tju:tos IJ-'tu:-/ gratuitous vio-
lence/insult/cruelty etc (=which is done for no reason
and causes unnecessary harm or offence) [adj]
I didn't like thefilm - there was too much gratuitous vio-
lence. [All she ever got from him was the occasional gratui-
tous insult.
gratuitously [ adv ] A lot of the jokes were just gratuitously
offensive.
unprovoked ! AnpravatJkt/unprovoked attacks/as-
saults/aggression etc (=when someone attacks or
strongly criticizes someone who has not done anything to
deserve this) [adj]
A man died in an apparently unprovoked attack in central
Oxford last night. I Troops have been accused of unprovoked
aggression against innocent civilians.
without good reason/w[6aut gud ri:zn/ifsomeone
does something without good reason, they do not have
a good reason for doing it and this may lead to trouble or
punishment [ adv phrase]
Anyone who is late without good reason will be punished. I
An employer is unlikely to dismiss anyone without good
reason.
WRONG/
UNSUITABLE
not suitable for a particular purpose,
situation, person etc
1 not suitable for a particular purpose, person,
or situation
2 not suitable for a particular job or activity
3 not suitable because of not being good
enough
4 ways of saying that something is in a place or
situation where it is not suitable
5 ways of saying that someone is in a place or
situation that is not suitable for them
6 ways of saying that two people are not
suitable for each other
1 not suitable for a particular purpose, person,
or situation
unsuitable/not suitable
wrong
unsuited to/not suited to
inappropriate/not appropriate
hardly the time/place/person
unsuitable/not suitable /An'su:tabal, not 'su:t0bal/
[adj]
unsuitable/not suitable for These toys are unsuitable for
children under three. I Milk and yoghurt are not suitable for
freezing, l unsuitablefor heavy vehicles lunsuitable/not
suitable I can't wear these shoes on a long walk - they're
not really very suitable.
unsuitably [ adv ] Hilda was unsuitably dressed for such a
sombre occasion.
wrong/rorj II ra=  /completely unsuitable, and therefore
likely to result in failure, disappointment etc [adj only
before noun]
Northern England has the wrong climate for growing vines. I
You're using the wrong knife. [ It's so frustrating being in
the wrong job, knowing you could be more useful elsewhere.
unsuited to/not suited to/^n'su:td tu:, not su:td tu:/
not having the qualities or characteristics that are needed
for a particular purpose or situation [adj phrase]
The tomatoes didn't grow because they're unsuited to the soil
here. I Ordinary saloon cars are not suited to these kind of
driving conditions.
inappropriate/not appropriate / Ino'prooprit, not
o'pmoprit/not suitable to be used in a particular situation
or on a particular type of occasion [adj]
Everyday language is often not appropriate in speeches and
other formal situations. I Babies are often given inappropri-
ate drugs because they cannot describe their symptoms. I
inappropriate/not appropriate for Many people consider
the church's teaching on contraception to be inappropriate
for today's society. [ inappropriate/not appropriate to

WRONGIUNSUITABLE 1583 wrongly
Their flippant behaviour was not really appropriate to the
occasion.
inappropriately [ adv ] It's amazing how many people turn
up to interviews dressed completely inappropriately.
hardly the time/place/person /,ho:rdli o ttaIm,
ples, p3:rsn/if you say it is hardly the time/place/
person, you mean that it is completely the wrong time or
place in which to do something, or the person doing it is
a completely unsuitable person
This is hardly the place to talk about your sexual problems. I
I know it's hardly the moment to tell you, but Sally and I are
getting married in the spring. I With his tattered jacket and
muddy boots he was hardly the sort of person Lady Margaret
would have expected to employ.
2 not suitable for a particular job or act!vity
unsuitable/not suitable
not be cut out for
wrong
ill-suited to/not suited to
unsuitablelnot suitable/An'su:tbM, not 'su:tbl/[adj
not usually before noun]
unsuitable/not suitable for The first person we inter-
viewed was clearly unsuitable for the job. I unsuitable/not
suitable They told me that the reason I wasn't considered
suitable was that I was over-qualified.
not be cut out for/not bi: kAt 'aot fa:r/ an informal
expression meaning to be unsuitable for a job or type of
work because you do not have the right qualities to be able
to do it well and to enjoy doing it Iv phrase]
Paul was clearly not cut out for labouring. [ I've decided I'm
not really cut out for selling.
wrong ]ro II m:! completely unsuitable for a particular
job [adj not before noun]
wrong for Dave's wrong for this job. He's too short tem-
pered. I wrong We have rigorous testing procedures to make
sure we don't appoint the wrong person.
ill-suited to/not suited to /IIl Isu:tod tu:, not su:td
tu:/a formal expression meaning unsuitable for a particu-
lar job or activity, because you do not have the right qual-
ities for it [adj phrase]
The Lieutenant was by nature a man ill-suited to the discom-
forts of army life. I As a recent graduate with little experience
of managing people, Paula is not really suited to the role of
personnel director.
3 not suitable because of not being good
enough
unfit/not fit
unfit/not fit/Anfxt, not 'fit/not good enough for a par-
ticular purPose, especially when someone has officially
decided this [adj not usually before noun]
unfit/not fit for This land is so polluted it is not fit for
crops. I unfit for human consumption/habitation (-not
fit for humans to eat or live in) The meat was declared unfit
for human consumption. ] unfit to do sth Her uncle was
mentally unstable and unfit to raise a child. I The old house
was completely unsafe and totally unfit to live in.
4 ways of saying that something is in a place or
situation where it is not suitable
be out of place
be out of keeping/not be in keeping
incongruous
be out of place/bi: aut v tpleIs/ [v phrase]
The frilly pink curtains looked totally out of place in Jim's
bachelor pad. I Slang may be perfectly acceptable in ordi-
nary conversation but it is out of place in an academic essay.
be out of keeping/not be in keeping/bi: aot v
'ki:p xr3, not bi: n  ki:pr3/to not seem right or suitable when
seen together with something else that is very different in
style or character Iv phrase]
be out of keeping with Those new windows are not really
in keeping with the style of the house. I Terry's tears at her
sister's wedding were out of keeping with such a happy occa-
sion. I be out of keeping Serious poetry published in news-
papers always seems slightly out of keeping.
incongruous/n kogrus! something that is incongru-
ous seems strange and unsuitable, often in a humorous
way, because it is so unexpected in a particular situation,
so different from its surroundings etc [adj]
It seemed rather incongruous having a dance-band at the
funeral. [ Aphrodite Smith! What an incongruous-sounding
name!
5 ways of saying that someone is in a place or
situation that is not suitable for them
be out of place
misfit
be out of place/bi: ,aot ov 'pleIs/[v phrase]
In her old jeans and college sweater, Sarah looked a little
out of place in the foyer to the Grand Hotel. I Tom was a loud
extroverted type, totally out of place among these grey
academics.
misfit /'rms,ft/someone who does not seem to belong in
a group or in society because they have different attitudes,
a different appearance, different habits etc In C]
I didn't have a very happy time at school - I suppose I was
something of a misfit. I Her fingers smudged with ink and
her hair in tangles, Phoebe was an awkward misfit.
6 ways of saying that two people are not
suitable for each other
incompatible be wrong for/not be right for
not be suited not be sb's type
ill-matched
incompatible /,[nkm'petbl/ two people who are
incompatible, are unable to form a long relationship with
each other because they have very different characters,
attitudes, interests etc [adj]
After a week together on vacation they realized that they were
totally incompatible.
not be suited/not bi: su:td/ if two people are not
suited, they are not suitable for each other because they
have very different attitudes and characters Iv phrase]
I've never thought of going out with her - we're not really
suited.
ill-matched/;1 'mmtft-/two people who are having a
relationship who are ill-matched, have very different
characters, interests etc and their relationship is likely to
be very difficult or unsuccessful [adj]
Whenever you see them, they're always arguing - they seem
very ill-matched.
be wrong for/not be right for/bi: roI fa: r, not bi: 'rmt
f:r II -'m:I-/to not be the right type of person to form a
relationship with someone else, especially a long or serious
relationship Iv phrase]
I told her that man was wrong for her, but she just woukln't
listen to me.
not be sb's type/not hi: (sb's) 'talp/an informal expres-
sion meaning to not be a suitable person to form a relation-
ship or friendship with someone else, because you have
different attitudes, interests etc Iv phrase]
All he ever talks about is football - he's not really my type.
 wrongdoing BAD BEHAVlOUR OR ACTIONS 6
 wrongful UNFAIR 2
; wrongheaded WRONG/INCORRECT 2
i;i wrongly WRONG/INCORRECT 3

xenophobia
xenophobia PREJUDICED 4
xenophobic PREJUDICED 5
xerox: photocopy/xerox COPY 2
1584
yank PULL 2
yardstick JUDGE 8
yarn STORY 1
yawn TIRED 8
yeah YES 1
year CLASS/GROUP OF STUDENTS 1
yearn WANT 6
year-old: 5-year-old/10-year-old AGE 2, 3
yearning: longing/yearning WANT8
years: be 5/10/35 etc years of age AGE 2
years: be 5/10/35 etc years old AGE 2
years: hours/months/years etc LONG TIME 1
years: take ages/years/forever LONG TIME 3
years old: be years old OLD/NOT NEW 1
yell SHOUT 1, 3
yell/let out a yell SHOUT 2
yelp SCREAM 1, 3
yes YES 1, 2, 3
yes: say yes ACCEPT 2
yes-man OBEY 7
YES
yes
YES
ways of saying yes when someone asks you
a question
ways of saying yes when someone asks for
something or asks for permission to do
something
ways of saying yes when someone tells you
to do something
 "You say" is used in definitions of some
words or phrases to show they are
especially used in Spoken English.
1 ways of saying yes when someone asks you
a question
yes of course
yeah naturally
sure I'm afraid so
yes lies/
"'Have you lived here long? .... Yes, about lOyears, actually.
"'You'll be alright will you? .... Yes, yes, don't worry about
me. " l "'Did you see that programme about pollution on TV
last night? .... Yes, wasn't it interesting?" l If you're asking
me whether I thing we should do it, the answer s yes.
yeah/jeo/(an informal word)
"'It's your birthday on Monday, isn't it? .... Yeah, let's go out
for a meal." l "'Are you ready, Chrissie? .... Yeah, yeah, I'm
just coming." I "'Do you think you may have to retire from
athletics soon? .... Well, yeah, I suppose so.'"
sure Ifor/(an informal word used especially in Ameri-
can English)
"'Do you have the time, please?" "'Sure, it's three o'clock." l
"'We're going to the beach ths afternoon, would you like to
come with us? .... Yeah, sure, thanks very much.'"
of course/ov Ik3:rs/(used when you want to show clearly
that it could be expected that your reply would be yes)

YES 1585 YOUNG
"Do you know when my birthday is? .... Of course, it's next
Wednesday. "'1 "Are you going to sing at the concert? .... Yes,
of course I am. I've been practising for the last six weeks. "'
naturally/'nmtarali ]] -tarali, -tJ'arli/(used to show that
the person who asked you the question should know that
your reply will be yes)
"'Will you and your wife be going together? .... Naturally.
"'Did Sally go to the party?" "'Naturally, she was the one who
organised it. ""
I'm afraid so/aim a,freid sao/(used when you want to
be polite because you know that the person who asked the
question hopes you will say no)
"'You're not going out, are you?'" "I'm afraid so. I'll be back
in about an hour though. "'1 "Do the doctors think dennifer's
going to die?" "'I'm afraid so, dear, she has leukaemia. ""
2 ways of saying yes when someone asks for
 something or asks for permission to do
something
yes go ahead
ok/okay by all means
sure no problem
of course be my guest
certainly
yes/jes/
"'Dad, can I go swimming tonight with Lucinda? .... Yes, but
be home before eight o'clock, please. "1 "'Do you have a jacket
I can borrow? .... Yes, help yourself, it's over there on the
table."[ I asked her if I could come too and she said yes.
ok/okay/au'ke,/(used to show that you agree to give per-
mission but you are not completely happy about it)
"'Can I open the winclow please?'" "'Okay, although if it starts
raining you'll have to close it again. "'[ "'Sally, lean use your
car today, can't I? .... OK, but I need it this evening. ""
sure Iuarl (an informal word used especially in Ameri-
can English)
"'Is it all right ifI call you this evening?" "'Sure. I'll be home
about seven thirty." [ "'Do you have a photo of the baby I can
see?" "'Sure, "" said Maclcly going over to the bureau to look
for one.
of course/ov 'ka:rs/(used when you want to show dearly
that it could be expected that your reply would be yes)
"'Will we be able to visit the museum? .... Of course we will.
It's one of the reasons for visiting this town."[ "'Can I have
some money, please? .... Of course, it's your money, I'm only
looking after it."
certainly/'s3:rtnli/(used especially when you are being
polite to someone in a formal situation)
"I'd like to use the hotel sauna, please." "'Certainly, Madam.
It's down the corridor on the left. "' ] "Is it possible to view any
of the paintings in storage? .... Certainly, but you must have
an appointment. ""
go ahead / goo ' hed/(used when someone asks your per-
mission to use something that belongs to you or to do some-
thing that affects you in some way)
"'Can I take your car tonight, dames? It's faster. .... Go ahead,
the keys are in the kitchen. "'] "'Is it OK if I smoke?" "'Sure,
go ahead. ""
by all means/baI ,aft Imi:nz I (a formal expression used
to show that you are very willing to give permission)
"'Do you suppose I could stay at your house for a few days?"
"'By all means, but you may have to sleep on the floor."
no problem /noo 'prDblom [[-pm:b-/ (an informal
expression used to show that you are very willing to give
permission for something and it is not at all inconvenient
for you)
"'It's okay if I use your phone to call long distance, isn't it?'"
"'No problem, go right ahead. '"
be my guest/,bi: maI gest/(used especially when some-
one has asked for permission to use something that is
yours)
"'Can I borrow your tape recorder? .... Be my guest. "'
3 ways of saying yes when someone tells you
to do something
yes right
ok/okay sure
all right/alright
yes/jesl
"'Will you type this letter for me, please. "' "'Yes, but I want to
finish this first. "'] "'Clean the pans and scrub the floor, I want
this place spotless. "" "'Yes, sir, "" he replied loudly.
ok/okay/ao'keI/(used when you want to show that you
agree to do something but that you are not completely
happy about it)
"'Would you mind going to the bank for me? .... Okay, if you
do the laundry for me tomorrow. "' [ "'Go and tell the kids that
their teacher isn't coming. "" "'OK, but what reason should I
give?"
all rightlairight/,aft rat/(used especially when you do
not really want to do what someone is asking or telling you
to do)
"'Will you help me with my homework, Dad?" "'Alright, but
you should really do it by yourself. "'1 "'I know you said you
were busy, but I would really like to see you some time this
week." "Oh, alright then, how about a quick drink after
work?"
r|ght Iratl (used especially to show that you have under-
stood what someone wants you to do and you are going to
do it)
"'I want you to type this letter and make ten copies. '" "'Right,
I'll do it straight away. "" I "'Go down to school and try to find
Tommy. "" "'Right, I'll be back in about ten minutes."
sure Iurl (an informal word used especially in Ameri-
can English, used when you are very happy to do the thing
that someone asks or tells you to do)
"'Will you help with Jimmy's third birthday party?'" "'Sure,
I love kids." I "'Just go out to the garage, will you, and get
my tools. "" "'Sure, I'll be right back. '"
yesterday: remember sth as if it were yesterday
REMEMBER 4
yesterday morning/afternoon/evening BEFORE 7
yet BUT 2, NOW 3
yet: not yet NOW 8
yet again AGAIN 1
yield PROFIT 2
young BABY/HAVE A BABY 2, NEW 4, YOUNG 1 2
young: not be as young as you were OLD/NOT
YOUNG 1
young: the young YOUNG 7
YOUNG
1 words for describing a young person
2 words for describing young animals or plants
3 younger than someone else
4 a sister or brother who is younger than you
5 the time when you are no longer a child but
you are still young
6 a young person who is no longer a child but
not yet an adult
7 young people as a group
8 affecting or involving young people
9 looking or behaving like a young person,
even though no longer young
1 words for describing a young person
young
little
small

YOUNG 1586 YOUNG
young/jAI/[adj]
You're too young to remember the war. I There's a new young
doctor at the hospital. I When I was younger, I used to swim
in competitions a lot. I Young people are leaving rural com-
munities in their thousands to find work in the city. I Anna,
the youngest of the Tsar's daughters, died last year at the age
of 92. I At 53, he is the youngest person to hold this office.
i|ttie /'htl/young, usually less than about ten years old
[adj]
Anne has two little grandchildren of two and six. I When I
was little we used to go camping during our vacation. I There
were three bridesmaids at the wedding, and even the little
one behaved beautifully..
small/sm:l/young, usually less than about ten years old,
especially when you have interests or characteristics that
older people do not have [adj]
We loved going to the zoo when we were small. I She soon
discovered that looking after small children was very tiring. I
The kids were too small to really understand.
2 words for describing young animals or plants
young
young/j^l [adj]
A young cat is called a kitten, t Weplanted some apple trees
last year, but they're too young to produce fruit just yet. I
Asparagus is best when it is young and tender.
3 younger than someone else
younger
junior
younger I'jAIgr/ [adj]
At school, the younger children go home an hour before the
rest. I He is the most influential of the younger French photo-
graphers.
junior / Id3u:nir/ten years/18 months etc sb's junior
(-ten years, etc younger than someone else) In singular]
Sarah is six years my junior. [ He was replaced by a young
graduate, 10 years his junior.
4 a sister or brother who is younger than you
younger sister/brother
little sister/brother
kid sister/brother
younger sister/brother/,jArjga r 'SlSt:) r, 'brA6)r/[n C]
Tony's the oldest: he has two younger sisters. I The king was
killed by his younger brother.
little sisterlbrother/ll[tl ts;st; r, brA6;r/ a younger
sister or brother, especially one who is still a child [n C]
Mike's little brother is doing much better at school than he
is. [ She went to the ballet class with her little sister every
week.
kid sister/brother /tkd sista r, 'brA6or/informal words
meaning a younger sister or brother, who is usually still
a child In C]
He has a kid sister in the fourth grade at school. I I suddenly
realized Bobby was more than just an annoying kid brother
who always wanted to watch cartoons on TV.
5 the time when you are no longer a child but
you are still young
youth
adolescence
youth/ju:0/In U] :
Joe revisited the town where he had spent much of his youth. I
in sb's youth In her youth she had travelled around Europe
and America.
adolescence /mdo'lesans/ a word meaning the time
when a young person is developing into an adult, used espe-
cially when talking about the problems of this time In U]
Liz was very shy throughout her adolescence. I The book
gives a marvellous picture of a troubled adolescence.
6 a young person who is no longer a child but
not yet an adult
youth adolescent
teenager minor
in your teens
youth/ju:O/a young man, between the ages of about 15 and
25, especially one who is involved in fighting, crime etc In
C]
A youth was leaning against a wall, watching her. [ He was
attacked and robbed by a gang of youths. [As a youth, Ben
had worked in a fruit factory.
teenager / Iti:neid3or/a young person between the ages
of thirteen and nineteen In C]
Most teenagers can't wait to leave home. [ I was a rebellious
teenager, always arguing with my parents. [ A fat teenager
may suffer agonies of self-consciousness.
teenage [adj only before noun] He lives in Italy with his wife
and three teenage children.
in your teens/n j:r 'ti:nz/someone who is in their
teens is between thirteen and nineteen years old [adv
phrase]
She got married while still in her teens. [ Nell was a silent
boy in his late teens.
adolescent /mdlesant-/ a word meaning a young
person who is developing into an adult, used especially
when talking about the problems of this time In C]
Steve changed from a friendly boy into a confused and moody
adolescent. I Recent surveys reveal three out often adolescents
drink too much.
adolescent |adj] Parents tend to worry more about adoles-
cent daughters than adolescent sons.
minor / mainr/a legal word meaning a person under the
age when they legally become an adult In C]
Stores are forbidden to sell alcohol and cigarettes to minors.
7 young people as a group
the young
the youth
the young/6 'j^rj/In plural]
The show is extremely popular, especially with the young. [
Living together without getting married is increasingly
common among the young.
the youth 16 ju:0/the young people of a particular time
or place In plural]
the youth of The youth of today have much more money
than we had 50 years ago. ] The youth of industrialized
nations need to be made aware of global problems.
8 affecting or involving young people
youth
juvenile
teenage
youth/ju:0! [adj only before noun]
Youth unemployment is at its highest ever level. I A youth
club provides a safe place for young people to meet. ] She liked
to keep up with what she termed "youth culture'. I a glossy
new magazine aimed at the youth market
juvenile/'dsu:wnafl [I -nal, -nail/juvenile crime/delin-
quency/court etc (=for or connected with young people
who are involved in crime) [adj only before noun]
Juvenile crime is an increasing problem in big cities. ] We
can see the effects of worsening public housing on juvenile
delinquency.
juvenile In C] By law, a juvenile (=a young person who has
done something wrong) should be kept in a special prison.
teenage/'ti:neids/connected with young people between
the ages of thirteen and nineteen [adj only before noun]
The US has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the deve-
loped world. I Black teenage unemployment stands at almost
40%. [ Teenage fashions are becoming more and more
outrageous.

YOUNG
1587
9 looking or behaving like a young person,
even though no longer young
youthful
well-preserved
youthful/'ju--efll [adj]
At 61, she seems remarkably youthful. ] Although middle-
aged, he had a youthful appearance. I Her hair was tied back,
giving her a youthful expression. I She still manages to bring
a youthful enthusiasm and energy to her work.
well-preserved /wel pn za:rvd/someone who is well-
preserved does not show the signs of age, although they
are now getting old [adj]
Your grandmother is well-preserved, I must say. She looks
about 50 to me. [ Cliff Richard is remarkably well-preserved,
don't you think?
younger YOUNG 3
younger sister/brother YOUNG 4
youngster CHILD 1
your: my/your/his etc OWN 7
yours: be mine/yours/hers etc OWN 3
yours for the taking/asking AVAILABLE 2
yourself/herself/myself etc PERSONALLY/YOURSELF 1
yourself: be yourself again BETTER/RECOVERED 2
yourself: not feel yourself/not be yourself ILL 2
youth YOUNG 5, 6, S
youth: have youth/experience etc on your side
ADVANTAGE 3
youth: the youth YOUNG 7
youthful YOUNG 9
yuppie RICH 5
zealot
zealous
zero
zigzag
zip up
zit
zone
EXTREME 3
ENTHUSIASTIC 1
NONE/NOTHING 3
BEND 8
FASTEN/DO UP 1
MARK 4
AREA 1, 2
zone

Longman., ..
Language - "-
 The Worll's First - '
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Production l)ictionary - ....:.: 
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r you to act'ivate the words an115hrascs
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expressing yourself in speech.
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(Written Corpus)
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